BusinessMirror February 18, 2019

FOREIGNERS LIST ‘THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY’ IN PHL–TOURISM POLL

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

@akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

A

S the Department of Tourism (DOT) launches a refreshed “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” advertising campaign, a global survey indicated the challenges to the country’s goal of becoming a major tourism player.

This includes overcoming foreigners’ perceptions about the country’s rampant poverty, lack of adequate infrastructure, traffic congestion and safety risks.

At the same time, the Global Survey

TOURISTS are drawn to the underground river in Puerto Princesa in Palawan in this file photo courtesy of Cebu Pacific. According to a global survey, “beautiful nature” tops the list of positive things that draw tourists to the Philippines. Also, “ease of communication, diversity of activities, happy laid-back people and its good hotels.”

The negatives: the “overly visible poverty, traffic, dirtiness, tight security in malls and the expensive airfare.” FILE PHOTO

DEPT. OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY

2018 BANTOG DATA MEDIA AWARDS CHAMPION

on Foreign Tourists: Perception of the Philippines and the Branding Campaign ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’ 2016 by Nielsen Inc. also acknowledged common beliefs about the Philippines in terms of desirable vacation offerings, and the warmth and hospitality of Filipinos.

Using the survey results, the media research firm offered tweaks to the advertising campaign and communications program of the DOT to boost visitor arrivals. One option suggested targeted strategies per cluster of tourists. Another option suggested was for

the DOT to undertake similar strategies across markets from increasing the Philippines’s digital presence, strengthening the Philippines brand itself, to improving the potential tourist’s interest in the country.

The DOT had earlier implemented two phases in its advertising campaign: the first, in 2012, sought to increase the general awareness on the Philippines; the second, in 2015, produced ads promoting various destinations such as Davao, Boracay, Cebu, Manila, Iloilo, Banaue, among others.

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

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n

Monday, February 18, 2019 Vol. 14 No. 131

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

HE farm-gate price of palay— which has already sunk to P14 per kilogram from P20 per kilogram—is seen to further decline once the harvest season starts, following the enactment of the rice tariffication law last Friday, and this has caused alarm among rice industry stakeholders.

Some of them are leaving open the option to seek a court restraining order if the implementing rules of the new law would deepen the damage to their sector.

Philippine Farmers Advisory

Board (PFAB) Chairman Edwin Y. Paraluman said the buying price of traders for palay suddenly declined in January as they anticipated the passage of the rice tariffication law, which would liberalize

the industry and would make the importation easier.

“Traders do not want to buy anymore. Even before the tariffication the prevailing buying price was just, P14 per kilogram to P15 per kilogram,” Paraluman told the BusinessMirror on Sunday.

“Farmers are now going to the NFA [National Food Authority] because everyone else is buying their produce at very low price.”

Para luman, who represents the farmers’ sector in the N FA Cou nc i l , s a id t he y a re worried that the farm-gate price of palay could decline further to a breakeven level once the market is full of imported rice.

“Our production cost is around P12 per kilogram, and if the buying price would be only at P12, then we’re dead,” he said. “And that is

“Our production cost is around P12 per kilogram, and if the buying price would be only at P12, then we’re dead....

And that is possible.

Right now we are just importing through the outquota program and the price is already P14 per kilogram. So, the difference between P14 and P12 is just P2.”—Paraluman

possible. Right now we are just importing through the out-quota program and the price is already P14 per kilogram. So, the difference between P14 and P12 is just P2,” he added.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said the drop in the

farm-gate price of palay could be “a result of speculation fueled by the anticipated flooding of the market with cheap imported rice, which is expected with the opening up of the market.”

“Initially, there would be a drop in the buying price of palay, but the farmers are expected to adjust by increasing productivity with funds coming from tariffication,” he said.

“Properly used, the RCEF [Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund] could actually increase the productivity of Filipino rice farmers because farm mechanization alone will increase production efficiency and reduce postharvest losses estimated at 16 percent of total production,” he added.

@alyasjah

ONG KONG, CHINA—The government should put in place balanced regulatory measures on heated tobacco products if it wants to introduce alternatives to cigarette smoking, top tobacco firm Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) has said.

PMI Director for Regulatory Strategy and Engagement in South and Southeast Asia James Arnold said the government has to craft regulations on smoking alternatives to allow their entry and sale in the market. Making these products available and accessible, he argued, will help manage the smoking problem of the Philippines.

Data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2015 reported there are 15.9 million smokers in the country.

The government placed heavier taxes on tobacco products in a bid to reduce the number of smokers by raising the cost of cigarettes.

Arnold said there could be a better way to wean the population away from cigarettes, and that is by legitimizing alternatives, such as heated tobacco.

Heated tobacco products, according to PMI, are far safer to use than traditional cigarettes.

Operated by batteries, they heat

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 52.2630

See “Govt,” A6

Andaya, Diokno tangle on ‘P100-B payables’

E

@caiordinario

& Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

F

See “Rice tariffs,” A2

17, drawing foodies, home bakers, hobbyists, MSME entrepreneurs, bakery and café operators and pastry students. It is a unique civic project of Filipino Chinese Bakery Association Inc. to help uplift standards and draw attention to the Philippine baking industry. It featured local and foreign exhibitors, seminars and demonstrations by Filipino and international pastry experts. ROY DOMINGO

to P100 billion, and this allegedly forced some contractors to resort to bribery just to be paid. He said this critically affects the salaries of both government and private employees.

In a statement, the Camarines Sur First District congressman said concerned employees of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Department of Public

By Cai U. Ordinario

See “Andaya,” A12

BAKERY FAIR A woman checks out a booth at the biennial “Bakery Fair 2019,” held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City from February 15 to

VEN after ratification by both congressional chambers of the reconciled version of the national budget for 2019, the word war between House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rolando Andaya Jr. and Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno continues.

Andaya on Friday said the unpaid contracts for infrastructure projects in 2018 have ballooned

Full impact of rice tariffs not felt till early Q2–Neda

Works and Highways (DWPH) have intimated to him that the payables for 2018 infrastructure projects have risen from P44 billion last November 2018 to more than P100 billion at the end of the year.

“Utang ito ng DBM sa mga government contractors na lumobo nang mahigit sa P100 bilyon sa pagsasara ng taon. Hanggang ngayon, malaki

See “Farm groups,” A6

“Smokers around the world have options, and when they have options and information, millions can switch.

More than 40 million smokers have tried and used e-cigarettes, [while] more than 10 million have switched to our heated tobacco products.”—Arnold

at a temperature that is enough to release nicotine and generate aerosol, but never gets to the point that the tobacco burns. Arnold explained this is in contrast to cigarettes, which are dangerous to the health largely due to chemicals produced when it is lighted up.

“Smokers around the world have options, and when they have options and information, millions can switch. More than 40 million smokers have tried and used e-cigarettes, [while] more than 10 million have switched to our heated tobacco products,” Arnold told reporters.

However, PMI is still assessing the domestic market before bringing their heated tobacco products in the Philippines.

The multinational is also waiting for the government to place the

BUSINESS NEWS SOURCE OF THE YEAR

ILIPINOS cannot enjoy the supposed benefits of rice tariffication until early next quarter, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) and local economists.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia told the BusinessMirror the P2- to P7per-kilogram reduction in rice prices could be felt around March or April or even later, depending on the supply and demand for rice.

Neda Undersecretary for Planning and Policy Rosemarie G. Edillon said the lag time could even stretch to the last part of the second quarter or in the third quarter. The impact on agriculture productivity, she added, could take even longer at around one to two years. “[Reduction in rice prices will be felt] when supply from tariffied imports, as opposed to NFA’s [National Food Authority] MAV [Minimum Access Volume] imports, matches or exceeds demand for rice,” Pernia said via SMS on Sunday.

Edillon said others factors that could affect the impact of the new law on rice prices include global supply and demand. She said the estimate of a P2- to P7-per-kilogram reduction of rice prices is based on global prices, a tariff of 35 percent, and logistics costs.

However, under the newly signed law, tariff rates can be adjusted by the President. Edillon said this can happen when there are extreme weather events, such as a bad case of El Niño.

Alyansa ng Industriyang Bigas (Anib) Founding Chairman Robert Hernandez said he supports the Neda’s pronouncement that the effect of the rice tariffication law on the prices of the staple could be seen by March or April.

Govt must craft policies to encourage alternatives to cigarette smoking–PMI

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

2017 EJAP JOURNALISM AWARDS

P25.00 nationwide | 5 sections 32 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK

Farm groups eye TRO option vs rice tariff law as prices sink T

H

See “Foreigners,” A2

n JAPAN 0.4729 n UK 66.8653 n HK 6.6601 n CHINA 7.7177 n SINGAPORE 38.4909 n AUSTRALIA 37.1015 n EU 59.0206 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.9360

Source: BSP (15 February 2019 )

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Monday, February 18, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

DOF backs DU30 push for lifting of bank secrecy

By Rea Cu

@ReaCuBM

T

HE Department of Finance (DOF) has expressed support for the passage of the Tax Amnesty Act of 2019, but pointed out that President Duterte is still encouraging Congress to pass a general amnesty law with provisions on lifting of bank secrecy and automatic exchange of information (AEOI).

Congress fast-tracks Road Board abolition bill

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

A

CONGRESS-APPROVED bill abolishing the “graft-tainted” Road Board Regulatory Agency, transmitted to the Palace on February 8, awaits President Duterte’s signature, the last stage for the remedial legislation to become a law.

To pave the way for its early enactment, the Senate adopted without amendments House Bill (HB) 7426, dispensing with the bicameral conference committee usually tasked to reconcile conflicting provisions in the Senate- and Houseapproved versions of a bill.

The Road Board abolition bill was forthwith transmitted to Malacañang on February 8 for President Duterte to approve or veto within 30 days, beyond which it will automatically lapse into law.

Congress insiders, however, ruled out a presi-

Rice tariffs. . .

Continued from A1

Port congestion, logistics woes

HOWEVER, Hernandez cautioned that the present port congestion, particularly at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), could increase importers’ total costs, which would effectively add on to the retail value of the staple.

Hernandez said Anib applied to import 10,000 metric tons (MT) of rice under the NFA’s out-quota program but they have already faced problems in unloading 10,000 MT of the volume in the MICT due to port congestion.

The 10,000 MT imported by Anib arrived on February 9 but has yet to be unloaded at the MICT and the group will soon incur additional costs due to demurrage, according to Hernandez.

Due to the problem, Anib was forced to divert the remaining 380 containers or about 9,500 MT of rice, which are yet to be imported, to Subic port for unloading there in order to avoid additional costs in MICT, he added. However, Hernandez said the change in port of discharge would still entail them additional costs, which would be added on to the price of the bag imported, due to more expensive trucking costs.

“The trucking costs of transporting the rice from Subic port to our Bocaue warehouse would be double or even triple the trucking cost if it would be unloaded from MICT,” he said. “[Because of the higher trucking costs] we would be incurring additional costs of P10 per bag. But [the additional cost] would be even higher if our containers stay in MICT, so it is better to divert the remaining containers now to Subic [to cut additional costs],” he added.

Hernandez urged the government to address the port congestion concerns in MICT, especially with the anticipated influx of imported rice abroad. Any delays in unloading would mean higher price of rice as importers would just pass on the additional costs they incurred, plus prolonged unloading

dential veto, recalling that it was Duterte who earlier prodded legislators to pass a law abolishing the Road Board amid reports of anomalies in managing funds from the Motor Vehicle User’s Charge (MVUC) supposed to be used exclusively for road maintenance and improvement of road drainage, installation of traffic lights and roadsafety devices, as well as air-pollution control.

The President himself complained that billions of revenue from the road user’s tax found its way to corrupt officials’ pockets, even as the Commission on Audit (COA) consistently flagged the utilization of MVUC funds.

For his part, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III recalled that the COA had also questioned the use of P90 billion of over P160-billion MVUC funds collected last year.

Records provided to the Senate showed the Road Board collection from 2001 to May 2018 for MVUC added up to P166.18 billion, of

time could cause quality of the staple to deteriorate, he added.

“In the rice business, timing is of the essence. We might lose clients if we missed to supply them on the right time.

When there is demand then you should have the stock. If you could not supply them right away then they might find another supplier,” Hernandez said.

However, Edillon said the government expects the port congestion problem to be “easily resolved.”

She said rice importation is an easy fix since importers can get their shipments from other ports nationwide. Edillon said the inspection required for rice shipments is not as complicated as other goods.

Special Customs window

HOUSE Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairman Jose Panganiban Jr. added that there was a provision in the newly signed law that will allow the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to open a special window for rice importation.

Rice imports will be part of the BOC’s National Single Window program, which seeks to facilitate trade transactions 180 days from the effectivity of the law in accordance with Executive Order (EO) 482.

The Philippines National Single Window will facilitate trade through efficiencies in the Customs and authorization processes. Strongly supported by the Office of the President and mandated to be implemented via EO 482, the NSW will allow single submission and accelerated processing of applications for licenses, permits and other authorizations required prior to undertaking a trade transaction.

“We can use other ports, especially if its rice which only requires one kind of inspection, so it can be processed easily.

I think it [port congestion] can be resolved immediately, there are alternatives, [there are] solutions that we can suggest, recommend,” Edillon said.

Depends on IRR

ECONOMISTS such as University of Asia and the Pacific School of Economics Dean Cid Terosa and Philippine

which P136.87 billion were released. Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno, however, confirmed that the board still had an unspent MVUC fund of P45 billion.

Senate probers recall that Duterte had earlier asked Congress in 2017 to abolish the Road Board as part of his administration’s effort to streamline services and stop corruption in the agency.

Acting on the presidential request, Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri on January 22 formally moved for the Senate to adopt HB 7426 abolishing the Road Board to enable Congress to submit the bill for signing into law sooner.

As approved, the Senate and the House of Representatives agreed to adopt a provision to remit the road users’ tax to the National Treasury to fund priority programs and projects of the government, with allocations of the fund to be decided by Congress in crafting the annual national budget law.

Institute for Development Studies Senior Research Fellow Roehlano Briones said the impact of the tariffication will also depend on the government’s efforts in crafting the implementing rules and regulations (IRR).

Terosa hopes the IRR will be completed before the dry season. “There will definitely be a lag. Given the urgency of the bill, I hope the IRR to be processed before the start of the dry season.”

Briones, for his part said, said the content of the IRR will be crucial. He said that if the National Food Authority (NFA) will still control the importation at least during the transition period, this will reduce the impact of the tariffication law on rice prices.

Meanwhile, Action for Economic Reform (AER) Coordinator Filomeno Sta. Ana III said that, while there will be transition problems, the impact of the rice tariffication is already being felt with commodity prices declining.

Many economists chimed in on the issue and even extended their congratulations to the President’s economic team for passing a law that has languished in Congress for 30 years. “[The rice tariffication law] will manage inflation expectations. In fact, food inflation has already slowed down,” Sta. Ana told the BusinessMirror.

The landed cost of a 50-kilogram bag of imported rice with 5-percent brokens from Vietnam is about P1,650, while those sourced from Thailand are priced at around P1,700 per bag, Hernandez said. This means that rice that is 5-percent brokens from Vietnam is about P34 per kilogram, while those from Thailand is around P33 per kilogram at wholesale, Hernandez added.

Based on the list published by the NFA on its web site about 180 farmers cooperatives, organizations, businesses and private traders have applied to import rice —amounting to about 1.185 million metric tons under its out-quota program. Of the total applied volume only around 55,134 MT of imported rice has entered the country, the NFA list as of February 11 showed.

With a report from Jasper Y. Arcalas

In a text message to reporters, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said that the DOF applauds the recent passage of the Tax Amnesty Act of 2019, calling it a landmark bill which aims to encourage taxpayers to pay the right taxes, and be more empowered to be good taxpayers in the future.

“We applaud the passage of the Tax Amnesty Act of 2019. With this landmark legislation, availers may now free up property that have long been estate-locked and allow heirs to make good economic use of the properties they have inherited. This also allows those that have long-due liabilities and pending criminal cases to start anew, scot-free. We hope that in availing of this amnesty—a very, very generous reprieve from the State, taxpayers would feel more encouraged to pay the right taxes, and be more empowered to be good taxpayers in the future,” Dominguez said.

However, he noted that Duterte is encouraging Congress to pass another general amnesty law bearing measures in line with the lifting of the bank secrecy law in certain cases, and setting the framework for complying with international standards on exchange

Foreigners. . .

Continued from A1

The DOT aims to attract 12 million visitors by the end of 2022, from this year’s target of 8.2 million. Last year, some 7.1 million foreign tourists visited the Philippines, an historic-high despite the target of 7.4 million missed by the DOT. Over 61 percent of the foreign visitors were from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) region (530,309) and East Asia (3.84 million).

Lack of info in Europe

OF the European respondents (dubbed “The Explorer” due to travel motivation and country’s distance to the Philippines), 44 percent were aware of the Philippines as a vacation destination, but only 6 percent intended to visit it. (Asean destinations were ranked lower primarily because of their distance.)

Those who know of the Philippines and have visited it before see it as an “affordable vacation destination, with untapped/unspoiled nature and a unique culture; diversity is something that they expect from the [destination].”

The respondents particularly viewed Filipinos as “happy/ positive disposition, warm, welcoming, hospitable, easy to communicate with,” because most speak English.

But the survey noted the“lack of information about the Philippines often leads to wrong impressions. Non-visitors claim they have no clear motivation to go to the Philippines for vacation.” Further, the survey showed “negative news about the country gives the impression that [the country is] unsafe, poor and underdeveloped,” while visitors also shared some of their experiences on traffic and poor infrastructure during their stay.

For Canadians and Americans (“No-Frills Traveler”), 76 percent of the online respondents were aware of the Philippines, but 14 percent only intended to visit. (The same view was held of other Asean destinations.)

The positives, for the Philippines, are its “beautiful nature, ease of communication, diversity of activities, happy laid-back people and its good hotels. ”The negatives, however, were the “overly visible poverty, traffic, dirtiness, tight security in malls and the expensive airfare.”

Similar regional offerings

THE Japanese, Indians, Saudis, and Australians (“The Great Escape”) have a high awareness of the Philippines at 66 percent, but only 8 percent of the respondents intended to visit.

They noted “amazing and relaxing nature spots, especially in terms of marine-related activities; warm weather beaches especially Boracay; friendly and hospitable people, and knows how to communicate in English; currency is lower compared to one’s own country; and the beautiful Spanish and Chinese history, and existing old churches.”

Among the negative perceptions include “minimal

of information, among others.

It was reported over the weekend that Duterte partially vetoed the general amnesty provision under the Tax Amnesty Act of 2019, retaining only the provisions on estate tax amnesty and the amnesty on delinquency taxes.

“The DOF supports a general tax amnesty for everyone with pending tax cases; however, like what we have been advocating in Congress, the President saw it fit that this happens with the corresponding tax administration measures to strengthen enforcement against current tax evasion—the lifting of bank secrecy laws and setting the legal framework for the automatic exchange of information mechanisms. Thus, the general tax amnesty provisions were vetoed.

The President thus encourages Congress to pass another general amnesty law with these provisions,” he added.

It was pointed out that under the tax amnesty measure, the President also vetoed the provision on a one-time settlement of estates for properties under multiple unsettled estates, as well as the provision on the presumption of correctness of estate tax amnesty returns.

The signed measure, Republic Act 11213, seeks to enhance revenue administration and collection by granting an amnesty on all unpaid internal revenue taxes imposed by the national government for taxable year 2017 and prior years. This is with respect to estate tax and other internal revenue taxes and tax on delinquencies.

“We will work with Congress to pass a general tax amnesty with the proper safeguards, such as the lifting of bank secrecy provisions and the AEOI, if not in this Congress, then in the next. We shall work with them, like we always have, to have it passed immediately,” Dominguez said.

activities to do; difficult traveling from one place to another; lack of security to keep visiting tourists safe (e.g., Abu Sayyaf); underdeveloped and numerous slum areas; more expensive in accommodations, food and activities than similar destinations, such as Thailand or Cambodia; lacks promotions on the country and quite unpopular compared to other Asean countries.”

Most Asians (“The Quick Getaway”) don’t consider the Philippines as a vacation destination despite its proximity because they don’t see it as unique, especially when compared to their respective countries. Negative perceptions about the country are prevalent (e.g., unsafe, dirty, traffic, poor roads, lack of halal food, long journey to destination, “chaotic” airport, corruption, terrorism, etc.) and outweigh the positives (e.g., beach, cheap, rich history, natural attractions, etc.)

Improving the message

NIELSEN suggested two options for the DOT to improve its messaging through its ads.

Under the first option, Nielsen said there was still a need to raise awareness of the Philippines itself, especially for the Europeans, considered larger-spending and longer-staying tourists. For the other markets, Nielsen suggested to strengthen the conversion rates, in the case of the North Americans; improve the quality of perception of the Philippines (Japan, India, Saudi Arabia, Australia); and differentiate the Philippines from other regional destinations (Asean countries).

For its second option, Nielsen suggested to “hit all markets,” by reinforcing the country’s digital presence (“Create buzz online; explore making use of key influencers, e.g., celebrities, politicians; make use of positive testimonials”). The research firm also endorsed the continued use of the destination-based advertising campaign and highlighting their diverse offerings, but with a strengthened Philippines branding.

Finally, Nielsen suggested the DOT “build on authenticity by leveraging on our people and unique culture, this will also help to differentiate us from other countries.” It added that communications must include elements that involve the tourist’s motivation to choose a country, e.g., cuisine, culture, city attractions and the promise of relaxation.

The survey, a copy of which was obtained by the the BusinessMirror, was conducted in 19 countries via focus group discussions and online interviews, with respondents ranging from 25 to 60 years old (FGD), and 18 years and above (online interview). None of the respondents had Filipino ancestry.

Respondents were categorized based on their proximity to the Philippines and their motivation for travel: The Explorer (Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany and France); the No-Frills Traveler (Canada and US-New York and Los Angeles); The Great Escape (Japan, India, Saudi Arabia and Australia); and Quick Getaway (Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore,Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Thailand).

www.businessmirror.com.ph

The Nation BusinessMirror

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Monday, February 18, 2019 A3

‘PhilPost printing of INC stamps constitutional’

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

C

ITING its principle of “benevolent neutrality” in resolving disputes between the State and the Church, the Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that the Philippine Postal Corp. (PhilPost) did not violate the Constitution when it allowed the printing and sale of more than 1.2 million postage stamps to commemorate the 100th founding anniversary of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) in 2014.

In a 26-page ruling penned by Associate Justice Noel Tijam, the Court en banc affirmed the July 24, 2015, decision and the resolution dated March 8, 2016, of the Court of Appeals (CA), which declared PhilPost’s

use of public funds to print the commemorative stamps did not violate Section 29 (2) Article VI of the Constitution which bars the use of public funds to support a religious sect.

Tijam recently retired, after the ruling was issued.

“The printing of the INC commemorative stamp is no different.

It is simply an acknowledgment of INC’s existence for a hundred years. It does not necessarily equate to the State sponsoring the INC,” the Court ruled.

In Estrada v. Escritor, the Court ruled that “benevolent neutrality recognizes the religious nature of the Filipino people and the elevating influence of religion in society; at the same time, it acknowledges that [the] government

must pursue its secular goals.”

The policy, according to the Court, gives room for accommodation of religious exercises as required under the Constitution.

Thus, the Court said, when asked to determine whether there has been a violation of the provision on separation of the Church and the State, it has adopted a stance of “benevolent neutrality.”

“Rightfully so, for this incorporates the Constitutional principle of separation of the Church and the State while recognizing the people’s right to express their belief or nonbelief of a Supreme Being,” the SC averred.

The Court did not give weight to the argument of petitioner Renato Peralta that the printing and issu-

ance of the INC commemorative stamp involved disbursement of public funds and smacks of sponsorship of religious activities, thus, violating the principle of separation of powers between the State and the Church, and the non-establishment of religion clause.

Peralta, who filed the suit in his capacity as taxpayer, insisted that printing and issuance of INC commemorative stamps constitute free advertisement for the INC at the expense of taxpayers’ money.

PhilPost printed a total of 1.2 million stamps although the memorandum of agreement between INC and PhilPost covered only 50,000 pieces, he noted.

However, the Court held that the printing of the INC commemorative

stamps did not breach the non-establishment or religion clause.

It said the costs for the printing and issuance of the 50,000 stamps were all paid for by INC. “Any perceived use of the government property, machines or otherwise, is de minimis [about minimal things] and certainly do not amount to a sponsorship of a specific religion,” the SC said.

The court also saw no violation of the constitutional prohibition on the establishment of religion with regard to the remaining 1,150 pieces of commemorative stamps printed and distributed by PhilPost.

It noted that PhilPost has also issued stamps for the Catholic Church, such as those featuring heritage churches, the International Eucharistic Congress and Pope Francis.

It also printed in the past stamps celebrating 300 years of Islam.

“Based on the foregoing, this Court is not convinced that PhilPost has actually used its resources to endorse, nor encourage Filipinos to join INC or observe the latter’s doctrines. On the contrary, this Court agrees with the respondents that the printing of the INC commemorative stamp was endeavored merely as part of PhilPost’s ordinary business,” the Court said.

It shot down Peralta’s claim of an illegal disbursement of funds under Section 29 (2) of Article VI of the Constitution.The records, according to the Court, do not show that the State has been using the resources and manpower of PhilPost for INC’s advantage.

A4 Monday, February 18, 2019 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PHL natural-gas output peaked in 2018

T

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

HE country’s natural-gas production peaked in 2018 at 150,804 million standard cubic feet (MMcf), bringing the total output since 1994 to 2,093,564 billion cubic feet (Bcf).

The latest data from the Department of Energy (DOE) showed that gas output was recorded at 150,804 MMcf last year, higher than the previous year’s 139,209 MMcf. Of the total natural-gas output last year, 145,273 MMcf was consumed by the power and industrial sectors.

The DOE said 142,723 MMcf was utilized to boost the country’s power generation, meaning the gas went to power-generation use. The industrial sector took up 2,550 cubic feet. The transport industry recorded zero consumption.

In 2017, natural-gas output reached 139,209 MMcf, slightly down from the previous year’s 140,516 MMcf. Of the volume, 132,256 MMcf was utilized for power-generation use, while the industrial sector took up 2,255 cubic feet.

From 1994 up to 2018, the same data showed that output reached 2,093,564 Bcf, while consumption stood at 2,017,258 Bcf. D u r i n g t he 24 -y e a r p e r i od, natura l-gas consumption for power generation totaled 1,980,595 Bcf, 36,479 MMcf for industrial sector; and 184 cubic feet for the transport sector.

Gas production from the San Antonio gas field of state-owned Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) was included in the 1994 to 2008 data.

PNOC retired its San Antonio gas field in Isabela after 14 years of operation. PNOC had said the 3-megawatt (MW) power plant was shut down on July 31, 2008, since the well could no longer supply the required amount of gas to keep the power plant running.

The San Antonio gas power

MALAMPAYA gas field in offshore Palawan. FILE PHOTO

plant was the first natural gas power plant in the country. The plant was fueled by natural gas coming from the San Antonio gas field, which was drilled in 1991 and was confirmed to contain as much as 4 Bcf of gas.

Commissioned in 1994, the power plant has generated 187.48 gigawatt-hours of electricit y, while the well has produced 3.54 Bcf of natural gas.

The data also included production from the Libertad gas field

in northern Cebu, which started commercial operation on February 3, 2012, but now awaits the final notice of abandonment.

DOE officials said the country’s natural gas is being consumed domestically. It relies on the Malam-

paya deep-water gas field.

At present, the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power project is producing 3,400 MW. The gas field in offshore Palawan fuels three natural gas-fired power stations with a total generating capacity of 2,700 MW to provide 30 percent of Luzon’s power generation requirements.

The agency highlighted the need to expand the country’s gas facility before the depletion of the Malampaya gas reserves. The DOE said gas reserves may drop to 1,000 MW seven years from now.

The Malampaya project is a joint undertaking of the Philippine government and the private sector. The project is spearheaded by the DOE, and developed and operated by SPEX (Shell Philippines Exploration B.V) with a 45-percent stake on behalf of joint-venture partners Chevron Malampaya Llc.—also with a 45-percent stake—and PNOC Exploration Corp. The PNOC Exploration Corp. holds the remaining 10 percent.

In its assessment, SPEX said the Malampaya gas reserves can last between 2027 and 2029, depending on the demand.

According to SPEX Managing Director Don Paulino, the group can still provide 60 to 100 percent of the current demand for natural gas by 2022 following the installation of a depletion compressor.

‘Grateful’ DepEd allocates P800 million for teachers’ allowance Manila Bay rehabilitation

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco | Correspondent

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HE Department of Education (DepEd) welcomed the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed 2019 national budget, which includes an allocation for teachers’ allowance and the construction of more classrooms.

“The DepEd comes to Congress with a budget proposal that is significantly lower than previous’ year’s appropriations, but this is not necessarily because of poor performance.”— Magtolis-Briones

The DepEd said a “significant provision” of the agency’s budget for 2019 is the P800-million teachers’ allowance which will be given on World Teachers’ Day. The agency said it negotiated for the allocation as a “simple yet necessary” expression of gratitude for the hard work and contribution of public school teachers to nation-building. “ The leadership of the DepEd remains committed to continuously expanding the scope of employee welfare, empowering teachers through sustained personal and professional development, and improving their working conditions through thorough review and simplification of systems and processes,” it said in a statement.

The DepEd is the agency with the largest number of stakeholders that benefit from the government’s timely delivery of service and resources.

Based on the cash-based budget prepared by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) as part of the 2019 National Expenditure Program (NEP), the DepEd’s allocated budget of P528.8 billion is 72.1 percent of its original proposed budget of P732.28 billion. The amount is 8.9 percent lower than the P580.6 billion the DepEd received last year.

The reduction has been noted by the DepEd as something that is “expected” due to the proposed shift to a cash-based budget system.

“The DepEd comes to Congress with a budget proposal that is significantly lower than previous’ year’s appropriations, but this is not necessarily because of poor performance,” Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis-Briones said.

However, the DepEd assured that public schools nationwide will continue to have additional classrooms amid the decrease in the allocation for new classrooms in the proposed budget for 2019.

The DepEd is set to deliver 81,630 classrooms, which are currently in various stages of implementation, until the end of December 2019.

In its original 2019 budget proposal, the DepEd allocated 47,000 new classrooms as part of its Basic Education Facilities program. However, the DBM’s NEP reflected a significant reduction with 4,110 new classrooms instead.

revives bid for creation of water department

By Cai U. Ordinario

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@caiordinario

HE closure of Boracay and the Manila Bay cleanup have raised hopes that a Department of Water Resources will finally be created, according to a former secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

In a recent forum, former Environment Secretary Elisea Gozon, the lead author of the Water Executive Order and the bill to create the Department of Water, said recent developments are “encouraging.”

Gozon said the proposal to create a separate Department of Water has been around since the time of former President Fidel V. Ramos. However, it was only now under the Duterte administration, that it was given serious attention.

“We need an apex body that has the strong political support and clout. I’m really happy that in the past months, the President has also focused on issues of water,” she said.

“We hope to build on that. Beyond just the water quality, its really more overall water management and we need to ensure that all aspects of water management are actually covered,” Gozon added.

In order to fast track efforts to create the new department, Gozon said the government will come up with an Executive Order (EO) on water. The EO seeks to transform the National Water Resources Board into the National Water Management Council (NWMC).

The NWMC will now act as the interim body to pave the way for the Department of Water or Department of Water Resources, which is wellwithin the powers of the President.

The President, Gozon said, has the authority to restructure the entire Executive branch.

“They can initiate the process of integration, coordinated decisionmaking of all government agencies with water-related functions,” Gozon said.

The former DENR chief said the country’s water resources are already under stress. Majority, or around 73.05 percent, of its consumptive use is allocated to irrigation; 17.27 percent, for industrial uses; 7.79 percent, for domestic or municipal use; and 2 percent, for other uses.

In terms of nonconsumptive use, the largest allocation is for power at 57.09 percent; irrigation, 31.35 percent; industrial, 7.4 percent; domestic/municipal, 3.34 percent; and others, 0.81 percent.

She added that while 87.7 percent of Filipinos have access to water, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, less than 50 percent have piped water in their premises and majority of these are located in urban areas.

Unfortunately, Gozon said some 332 municipalities nationwide continue to be “waterless” as of December 2015. Waterless means supply is below 50 percent, she said.

In terms of sanitation, the picture is “quite incomplete.” Gozon said that while over 90 percent of Filipinos have toilets, there are places nationwide where open defecation has not yet been eradicated, including the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas and Western Visayas.

Efforts to address water supply and sanitation are included in the Sustainable Development Goals. Under SDG 6, signatories like the Philippines must “ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all” by 2030.

The targets include universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water by 2030; access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations; and improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, as well as halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally, among others.

Around 193 United Nation membercountries like the Philippines committed to meet the SDGs by 2030. The SDGs were adopted in September 2015.

Apart from SDG 6, the Global Goals aim to end poverty and hunger, promote universal health, education for all and lifelong learning, achieve gender equality, ensure sustainable energy for all, decent work for all, resilient infrastructure, and reduce income inequality between and among countries.

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Editor: Jennifer A. Ng • Monday, February 18, 2019

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Envoy: Blanket ban on Belgian pork ‘unfair’

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By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

RUSSELS urged Manila anew to lift the blanket import ban it imposed on pork products from Belgium last year following the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF), as Belgian traders have lost €4 million due to the trade restriction.

Instead of a blanket ban, Belgian Ambassador to the Philippines Michel Goffin said the embassy is urging Department of Agriculture (DA) officials to just restrict pork products from affected areas in Belgium.

Goffin said ASF struck mostly wild boars in the southern region of Wallonia in Belgium. Pork for domestic consumption and the export market, he said, is produced in Flanders in the north.

He also said Belgian authorities have already culled all domestic pigs and wild boars in ASF-affected areas and that the virus has not spread in the northern region of Belgium.

“We can say now it has been contained and no ASF virus has been spotted outside the zone. We are asking the Philippines to lift the country embargo because it is unfair,” he told the BusinessMirror in an interview.

“It is unfair to embargo the whole country when it was only a localized outbreak and has already been contained. It doesn’t make any sense and it is against the standards [of the World Organisation for Animal

Health or OIE] and even against the spirit of the World Trade Organization,” Goffin added.

Belgium Embassy in Manila Trade Commissioner Mia Santamaria-Abela said the import ban on Belgian pork products has already caused a “major” impact on the European nation’s export revenues.

Belgium has not shipped any pork products to the Philippines since September. Pork products account for at least a quarter of Belgium’s revenues of €12 million from exports to the Philippines, Santamaria-Abela added.

“There was a 20-percent growth [in our pork exports revenues to the Philippines] from 2016 to 2017. The Philippines is a major market; it is one of the top 5 Asian markets [for Belgium],” she said.

Santamaria-Abela said some countries, such as Malaysia and Singapore, have already reconsidered their blanket ban on Belgian pork products and have adopted a “regionalized importation ban” instead.

Data provided by the embassy

BELGIAN authorities culled wild boars following an outbreak of African swine fever in September 2018. BLOOMBERG NEWS

showed that Belgium’s pork exports to the Philippines reached nearly €12.9 million in 2017, from €10.72 million in 2016.

European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen told the BusinessMirror that the EU wants to address the import ban imposed on Belgian pork products through bilateral talks.

In fact, Goffin disclosed that the EU wrote a letter, which was signed by its commissioners on

Duterte administration must start agri revolution–Angara

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HE Duterte administration was prodded on Thursday to pour more energy and resources on the agriculture sector to propel inclusive growth and ensure food security.

Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara suggested that the key lies in government increasing investments in the agriculture sector.

“If we invest more on revitalizing the agriculture sector, we provide not only food stability for the country’s growing population, but also jobs and livelihoods for millions of Filipinos dependent on agriculture,” the senator said.

For instance, Angara cited Pangasinan, which, he noted, has a land area of 536,819 hectares, 44 percent of which is devoted to agricultural production of major crops including rice, mangoes, corn and sugarcane.

The senator issued the statement after attending a campaign sortie in Pangasinan organized by pro-administration Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) political party, led by presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who endorsed Angara’s reelection bid in the upcoming midterm polls.

Angara said that, apart from infrastructure development, the country “needs nothing short of an agricultural revolution,” which the Duterte administration can spearhead alongside its “Build, Build, Build” initiative.

“An agricultural revolution is necessary to help revive the agriculture sector and improve the lives of impoverished farmers and fishermen, who belong to 60 percent of the country’s poorest,” said Angara, adding: “Where there’s Build, Build, Build, there should also be ‘grow, grow, grow’; ‘plant, plant, plant’ or even ‘fish, fish, fish.’”

To drive home his point, Angara cited government records that agriculture remains of crucial importance to the economy, even as its relative contribution to GDP has been declining over the years. He noted that from 1998 to 2009, the sector accounted for 13 to 14 percent of the total GDP, but steadily declined to 10 percent in 2017.

“By investing heavily in agriculture,” Angara said, “the government would be able to make the country’s economic growth more inclusive or felt by a larger population.” Butch Fernandez

Group detects illegal-fishing activities during Visayan Sea’s closed season

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CEANA Philippines expressed alarm over probable illegal-fishing activities in the Visayan Sea during the enforcement of the three-month closed fishing season.

The international organization made the pronouncement after analyzing data from satellite sensor called Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) to detect by satellites, in a supposedly dark environment such as large bodies of water, artificial light sources like superlights.

Ocena said these are likely used by fishing boats, such as purse seiners and ring netters, and were found inside the prohibited area and in this case, the Visayan Sea covered by the closed fishing season order.

According to the VIIRS data during the threemonth period prior to the Visayan Sea closed season, from August 16 to November 14, 2018, the monthly average of lights detected in the delineated area was 142. Oceana said during the three-month closed season from November 15, 2018 to February 14, the monthly average was 48.

Oceana said these were detected in the Visayan Sea off Iloilo, in the municipalities of Carles, Concepcion, Barotac Viejo and Aruy; Cadiz City, Negros Occidental; and in Madridejos and Bantayan in Cebu.

“While their presence decreased, we can see that probable intrusion in the prohibited areas continued in the period of November to February,” Gloria Estenzo Ramos, vice president of Oceana Philippines, said in a statement.

The closed season was observed from November 15, 2018 to February 15, 2019 in the Visayan Sea. It is enforced every year through the Fisheries Administrative Order 167-3, prohibiting the catching, killing, selling or possessing the sexually mature, young, fry or larvae of herring, mackerel and sardines, the three most common and abundant group of fish caught in the Visayan Sea. Ramos said the closed fishing season gave tunsoy and tamban—the major sardine species found in the Visayan Sea—a “resting period” from fishing pressure, to spawn and reproduce. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

trade, health and agriculture, to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol and Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez. The letter appealed to Philippine officals to reconsider the import ban.

“It said that the principle of regionalization should be the standard, as it is the international standard. So, it should be accepted [by the Philippines],” he said.

Goffin said Brussels is open to the possibility of inviting Philippine

authorities to inspect and evaluate the measures undertaken by Belgium to control the outbreak of ASF. On February 11 Belgium reported its 52nd ASF outbreak, which affected wild boars in a forest, to the OIE.

‘Prudence’

THE Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) said, however, that the government is just being “prudent” when it imposed the blanket ban

on Belgian pork products as ASF could cripple the P200-billion local hog industry.

“We have to protect the domestic hog industry,” BAI OIC-Director Ronnie D. Domingo told the BusinessMirror.

He said the OIE allows country some elbow room to implement precautionary measures such as imposing embargos, especially if the potential damage that may be caused by a disease or virus is huge.

Also, Domingo noted that the ASF virus found in Wallonia could easily be transferred to hog farms in Flanders, as the distance between the regions is only 200 kilometers.

The BAI official noted that ASF managed to spread in China even if hog farms were thousands of kilometers apart.

In response to the appeal of Belgium, Domingo said the BAI would seek more information from Brussels on the actions it has undertaken to contain ASF, particularly measures to ensure the safety of the Belgian animal feeds. This is because ASF could thrive even in animal feeds and plants, he said.

“We want to be guaranteed by other countries that even the plants that grew within the area of the affected farms have been secured or cleared of ASF,” he said.

“We want Belgium to prove that the source of their feed ingredients is safe. It’s true they have showed their laborator y results, biosecurity measures and control measures, are okay. But our other concerns include the handling of Belgium’s animal feeds,” he added.

The country’s pork imports from Belgium in 2018 declined by 7.34 percent to 13,995.328 metric tons, from 15,103.634 MT recorded in 2017, BAI data showed.

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BIR joins DOLE, BI in task force on Pogo

By Rea Cu

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@ReaCuBM

HE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has signified its intention to join the interagency task force led by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI), which aims to check and monitor the number of Chinese nationals working in the online gaming industry.

In a report to Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, BIR Deputy Commissioner Arnel SD. Guballa said the bureau has also asked for the cooperation of the

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) in requiring foreign and Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo) to register with the BIR before their

licenses to operate can be renewed by the state-run firm.

“We want to trace these Chinese nationals employed by these gaming operators. They allowed us to join the task force because we are asking data from Immigration and DOLE on the list of these foreign nationals,” Guballa said during a recent Department of Finance Executive Committee meeting.

He reported that with the issuance by the BIR of Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) 78-2018 last year, all foreign and Philippinebased gaming operators, including those with offshore licenses, are now required to register with the tax agency as a prerequisite for renewal of their Pagcor licenses. According

to the BIR, the registration of offshore gaming operators with the bureau shall be done with the agency’s regional district office having jurisdiction over the place where the head office and/or branch of the Pogo hub is located.

“All foreign-based and Philippine-based operators, including those that have already been issued an offshore gaming license

by Pagcor, are required to register with the BIR on or before the commencement of business; or before payment of any tax due; or before or upon filing of any applicable tax return, statement or declaration,” RMC 78-2018 said.

In December 2018, the DOLE said it was set to start in January

2019 its census for foreign workers employed by Pogos.

The DOLE’s Bureau of Local Employment Director Dominique R. Tutay pointed out that they will also be joined by the DOLE’s regional offices, Pagcor and the BI for the said initiative.

Aside from determining the number of foreign workers in the Pogo, the mapping also aims to weed out those illegally working in the country.

Foreigners without the necessary Alien Employment Permit or Special Work Permit (SWP) will face possible deportation from BI. In September 2018, Pagcor reported it was cracking down on online gaming firms operating without a license in the country

and those found to be violating the agency’s Offshore Gaming Regulatory Manual.

Pagcor Chairman and CEO Andrea D. Domingo said in a statement that the agency is cooperating with law-enforcement offices to identify illegal online gaming operators, and that investigations and raids are regularly undertaken by the agency in line with this.

It was also reported that revenues from Pogo in 2017 reached P3.9 billion; license fees charged to each Pogo operator amount to $200,000; while the application and processing fees cost $15,000.

On top of the fees, Pagcor requires operators to put up a $250,000 cash fund just in case they can’t pay bets that win.

DENR reviews forest-protection strat; illegal logging declines Urban poor group nixes

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

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@jonlmayuga

HE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is eyeing to revisit its forest-protection strategy and find ways to enhance the campaign against illegal-logging activities.

Director Nonito M. Tamayo of the DENR’s Forest Management Bureau (FMB) said it has been five years since the forest-protection strategy of the DENR was revised.

“In the next few weeks, we will call a national meeting to revisit our forest-protection strategy. We might need to update our strategy and look for new technology,” he said.

The official said there is “no letup” in the DENR’s campaign against illegal-logging activities and, in fact, the number of illegallogging hot spots has been reduced from 23 to 15.

“Our effort to bring down the number of illegal-logging hot spot has paid off,” Tamayo said.

Ildefonso L. Quilloy, senior forest management specialist and technical staff of Tamayo, sent this list of illegal-logging hot spots as of December 2018: 1. Mangatarem, Pangasinan 2. Baggao, Isabela 3. Peñablanca, Cagayan 4. Dingalan, Aurora 5. Brooke’s Point, Palawan

6. Taytay, Palawan 7. Cateel, Davao Oriental 8. Nabunturan, Compostella Valley 9. Loreto, Agusan del Sur 10. San Luis, Agusan del Sur 11. Talacogon, Agusan del Sur 12. La Paz, Agusan del Sur 13. Esperanza, Agusan del Sur 14. Lingig, Surigao del Sur 15. Lianga, Surigao del Sur Tamayo said he is not keen on recommending a policy change when it comes to the logging ban imposed through Executive Order 23 on February 1, 2011, by thenPresident Benigno S. Aquino III. The order declared a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of

timber in the natural land residual forests. It also paved the way for the creation of the anti-illegal-logging task force.

The idea to lift the logging moratorium was brought up during the recent Forest and Wood Industry Summit held in Mandaluyong City on January 29.

With the theme “Sustainable Forest Management: The Role of Wood Industry in Nation Building,” the summit aimed to come up with a comprehensive strategy to revitalize the forestry and wood products sector, and transform it into a growth industry.

“I was asked if I can consider recommending to the secretary the logging moratorium. I said ‘no.’ Personally, I like it and that is what the President [Duterte] and Secretary Cimatu really want,” he said.

The Philippines has been dependent on imported wood to meet its domestic wood requirements over the past several decades, “causing a huge drain in the country’s dollar reserves.”

During the period 2006-2015, locally sourced wood accounted for only 25 percent or 1.5 million cubic meters, while 75 percent or 4.5 million cubic meters are imported.

Today, Tamayo said, the Philippines is producing only around 1 million cubic meters and is importing around 5 million cubic meters of wood to meet the estimated demand of 6 million cubic meters for the country’s wood industry.

new housing department

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REATING a new housing department will not address the plight of, and will only further endanger urban poor Filipinos, urban poor group Kadamay said at the weekend, as it urged President Duterte to veto the proposed measure, which got Senate approval last month.

The measure sets up a Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), which takes the place of all seven shelter agencies in a matter of two years after its establishment.

The group said the move will cause massive layoffs of government employees, while the DHSUD itself will gain unprecedented powers that will not really benefit the poor.

Kadamay Chairman Gloria “Ka Bea” Arellano said in a statement that creating the DHSUD and putting all the key mandates of seven shelter agencies into one is dangerous. “The proposed DHSUD is dangerous. Only one agency will

Fuel prices going up by 70 centavos a liter

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UEL prices will increase on Tuesday morning, the second price hike for the month.

Oil firms announced late Sunday afternoon that they are going to implement a price increase in gasoline by P0.70 per liter, diesel by P0.70 per liter and kerosene by P0.35 per liter.

Govt. . .

Farm groups. . .

necessary rules and regulations on smoking alternatives, such as the allowable minimum age for purchasing one and health warning labels.

Although the executive order on public smoking ban does not cover smoking alternatives, it does not stop local government units from making their own ordinances against them. Baguio, for one, issued a ban on the use of vape in public.

“Generally, introducing a new product into an unregulated space is not ideal, but it raises real concerns among tobacco regulators that no nicotine product should be unregulated,” Arnold said.

“We know that they [smokers] are ready in the Philippines, but I also know that currently, legislators are trying to figure out what to do with this category. When that gets a bit settled, we will know better how and when,” he added.

In a survey by PMI in July of last year, 60 percent, or three out of five, of Filipino respondents said they are willing to switch to smoking alternatives should they be made more available in the market. However, PMI admitted it has yet to study how much more consumers are willing to pay for these products, which are known to be way more expensive than traditional cigarette.

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have the power to order demolition and it has the power to arbitrarily increase housing amortization,” she said.

Part of the powers of the DHSUD would be to increase the amortization fees in relocation areas every two years based on what it deems to be the “prevailing economic condition.”

Worse, the group said, this is the first iteration of the law to explicitly allow foreign investors a larger role in reshaping the urban landscape.

Under the “Build, Build, Build” program, corruption will be easier.

Other countries will benefit from projects in urban centers, while urban poor face eviction, she said.

Instead of signing into law the DHSUD, Arellano said Duterte should change the orientation of the government’s housing policies. “Instead of demolition and increases in housing amortization, mass-housing projects should be made affordable,” she said.

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Furthermore, Piñol said he doesn’t see the local rice market being oversupplied in the near future due to the thin volume of staple being traded abroad.

“Even if the importers would want to bring in huge volumes of imported rice, there is not much rice supply available in the world market,”he said.

“As it is now, the volume of rice traded in the world market every year is only about 40 million metric tons, of which about 38 million is already committed to specific non-rice producing countries,” he added.

How much can NFA absorb?

MEANWHILE, Paraluman said they are also concerned over how much volume the NFA could absorb or purchase from local production given its limited budgetary support this year of P7 billion.

“If their budget is depleted, then where will they get their funds for buying palay?” he asked aloud, adding that the NFA’s P7-billion subsidy can only purchase around 340,000 metric tons of palay based on the food agency’s present P20.70-per-kilogram buying price.

Piñol and NFA OIC-Administrator Tomas R. Escarez are cognizant that the buying price of palay has started to fall since, and vowed to help farmers to their fullest capacity.

“We are now able to buy palay from nontraditional regions due to the decline of prices.

Like, for example, in Mindanao, we are buying a lot in that region,” Escarez said in a recent interview. “We are prepared for the influx of farmers that would sell their produce to the NFA. We have an instruction from the Department of Agriculture [DA] to prepare for it.”

The oil-price hike takes effect 6 a.m. of Tuesday, February 19.

Pilipinas Shell, Petro Gazz and PTT Philippines led the oil-price hike.

Other oil firms will announce their price adjustment by Monday. Most local oil firms adjust their prices every Tuesday morning. Lenie Lectura

Last resort: TRO

NONETHELESS, Paraluman said they are waiting for the final copy of the signed Rice Tariffication Act and its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to determine the next measure or action the industry will undertake in relation to the liberalization of the industry.

Paraluman disclosed that one of their options is seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the court and questioning the legality of some of the provisions of the law.

He added that a questionable item in the law for them is the provision that effectively overrode Presidential Decree 4, or the NFA Charter, without directly amending the said measure.

Furthermore, the PFAB chairman said rice industry stakeholders are complaining that they were not consulted about the law at the Senate level, where Senate Bill 1998, which is the basis of the law, emanated from.

“We are still planning to question the law before the court. But we are still studying it,” Paraluman said. “But if we see that the IRR would be somehow favorable to the farmers, then we might not push through with it. It is our last resort,” Paraluman added.

Raul Q. Montemayor, national manager of the Federation of Free Farmers Inc., said his group is willing to support anyone seeking a TRO on the rice tariffication law.

Rice industry stakeholders submitted their position paper to Malacañang last week containing the provisions of the rice tariffication law that they want to be amended or changed.

Two of the most important things that the industry is lobbying for is the retention of the NFA’s regulatory power over the rice trade together with its marketing power, or its capability to sell cheaper staple in the market.

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Alsons to operate second power plant in Sarangani

By Manuel T. Cayon| Mindanao Bureau Chief

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AVAO CITY—The Alcantara and Sons (Alsons) is set to run its second power plant in Sarangani following its completion of commissioning tests early this year.

The Alsons-owned Sarangani Energy (SE) Corp. has set its eyes on accepting supply contracts from its second 105-megawatt (MW) power plant.

It said its power plant could help supply power to blackout- and brownoutprone areas such as Davao del Sur, Misamis Oriental, North Cotabato, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, and the cities of Dapitan, Digos, Dipolog, Koronadal, Kidapawan and Pagadian.

The other areas in South Cotabato

that were not being serviced by its first 105-MW unit may avail themselves of the second power plant.

The first power plant started commercial operation in 2017.

Aside from SE Corp.’s coal-fired plant, the company was also investing $650 million in renewable energy for the next six years starting with a 15-MW run-of-river hydroelectric power plant project in Siguil River also located in Maasim, Sarangani.

DOH Calabarzon records 1,645 measles cases, 40 deaths in 45 days T

HE Department of Health (DOH) in Calabarzon recently conducted another emergency response meeting to address the rapidly increasing measles cases in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.

Regional Director Dr. Eduardo C. Janairo outlined the latest directives and key strategies in the ongoing mass immunization against measles.

“We will be implementing key strategies on measles outbreak response, including surveillance, public awareness and education, vaccination and taking care of measles patients in healthcare facilities,” Janairo said on February 14 at a hotel in Manila.

Provincial, city and municipal health officers, National Immunization Program coordinators, provincial health team officers and development management officers of the region participated in the meeting wherein Janairo presented plans and objectives of the DOH for Calabarzon.

“Because of the severity and the comprehensive coverage of the measles outbreak, the DOH will be collaborating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development to involve their daycare workers in ensuring that all their pupils will be vaccinated and the Department of Education also to ensure that all schoolchildren will get their dose of measles vaccine,” he said.

“Everyone’s cooperation and support are essential to be able to successfully prevent the spread and lessen the cases of measles in the country,” Janairo added. “Even incumbent local officials can help in the dissemination of information by including measles information in their tarpaulins and campaign materials, provided they will be properly placed in designated poster areas.”

He said the DOH aims to vaccinate a total of 430,292 children in Calabarzon from a projected population of 15,936,725.

“In Cavite, we will be aiming to immunize 113,064 eligible children; in Laguna, 90,160; Batangas, 79,839; Rizal, 87,019; and Quezon, 60,210.”

According to the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, Antipolo City in Rizal still holds the highest cases of measles in the region with 441, followed by the City of Biñan in Laguna with 126 cases; Municipalities of Rodriguez and Taytay in Rizal with 105 and 95, respectively; and 91 cases in Lipa City, Batangas.

A total of 1,645 measles cases were recorded with 40 deaths from January 1, 2019, to February 14, 2019, compared to 66 cases and two deaths within the same period in 2018.

“With everything in place, we are expecting cases to decrease next month,” Janairo said.

He added, the DOH will also collaborate with the Department of the Interior and Local Government to request for the extension of immunization schedules beyond regular hours and implementation to be able to provide supplemental immunization activity from February to March.

Janairo said the DOH would also work with the Department of Transportation to provide transport in times of emergency, the World Health Organization who will be assisting in the development of checklist for local government units and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the deployment of medical personnel in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas and conflict areas, and ensure the safety of personnel.

He said the DOH would also work with the Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Prevention to provide additional personnel and logistical support, the Philippine Information Agency for continuous advocacy and awareness promotion, and the private partners and societies who will be assisting in the awareness campaign and also to augment vaccination teams.

DEPARTMENT of Health-Calabarzon Regional Director Dr. Eduardo C. Janairo answers concerns and requests from health workers during the emergency meeting on measles outbreak response to health workers held at the New World Manila Bay Hotel in Malate, Manila, on February 14. PHOTO COURTESY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH-CALABARZON

Monday, February 18, 2019

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DPWH to open road easing traffic flow to Northern Luzon

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ITY OF SAN FERNANDO— Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar has announced the opening to the motoring public this month of the elevated expressway that he expects would ease traffic flow to Northern Luzon.

“We are now ready to inaugurate this traffic decongestion project to help provide travel convenience and ease the traffic woes of the public,” Villar was quoted in a statement as saying.

The 5.65-kilometer North Luzon Expressway Harbor Link Segment 10 (Nlex HLS-10) is expected to ease travel between key areas of Metro Manila and Northern Luzon via the Nlex.

Once opened, travel time between C3 and Nlex will take approximately 10 minutes, and around 30,000 vehicles are expected to use this road, according to Villar.

Featured as one of the big-ticket projects in the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program, the Nlex HLS-10 is being anticipated to improve accessibility and connectivity between key areas of Metro Manila and the northern provinces of Luzon via the Nlex.

The Nlex HLS-10 is seen to advance transport logistics, as it will

serve as an alternative southbound route to Metro Manila, by passing Balintawak Cloverleaf and Edsa.

It will also facilitate efficient delivery of goods, as cargo trucks will have 24/7 direct access from the port area to the provinces in Northern Luzon and vice versa via the Nlex.

“With this alternative route, travelers from Manila to Central and North Luzon may have shorter travel time as they can head straight to the Nlex bypassing Edsa and the Balintawak Toll Plaza,” Villar said.

He added that the next phase of this project is the 2.6-kilometer section from C3 Road, Caloocan City to R10, Navotas City.

Villar was instrumental in the acceleration of the project’s construction activities when he formed a task force to speed up the delivery of right-of-way for this vital infrastructure, which not only aims to address traffic problems but also generate massive investments to boost the economy.

To ensure the immediate completion of the Nlex HLS-10, he also initiated several site inspections and coordination meetings to ramp up the progress of this traffic decongestion project. Ashley Manabat

Green Monday BusinessMirror

B4 Monday, February 18, 2019 A8

www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Lyn Resurreccion

2B hectares of land globally degraded

G

EORGETOWN—New data show that globally 2 billion hectares of land—roughly twice the size of China—have been degraded. And of this amount, 500 million hectares are abandoned agricultural lands.

The 17th Session of the Committee for the Review of Implementation of the Convention (CRIC17) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was held in the Guyana capital last month with the release of this staggering data in relation to land degradation and desertification.

“We know also that every year we destroy totally, 12 million hectares of land. So, clearly all those lands that we destroy we have a potential for restoration,” UNCCD Executive Secretary Monique Barbut told Inter Press Service (IPS).

It’s for this reason that Barbut said that land degradation and desertification is “a subject of hope.”

Desertification is the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation or inappropriate agriculture.

UNCCD said desertification is a silent, invisible crisis that is destabilizing communities on a global scale, and more should be done to combat it, reverse land degradation and mitigate the effects of drought.

But unlike the finality that comes with the loss of biodiversity, Barbut said humans get second chances when it comes to land degradation and desertification.

“When you have lost a species, you have lost a species. Land does not work like that, and can be restored, everywhere, in every single

country,” she told IPS. “So, it’s not just a subject of depression like many other subjects on the environment. The more you restore land, the better a number of things to come.”

She pointed to China’s Loess Plateau—the biggest program of land restoration in the world that can be referred to as an example of what is possible.

“They restored in one go 400 million hectares of land and transformed it into an agroforestry program,” Barbut said.

“This program has helped [uplift] out of poverty, 6.7 million people. Secondly, we have seen now that the rain patterns have changed. Where there was no rain before, rain is coming back, so there are many positive impacts of land restoration.”

The new data also show that there is a direct link between land restoration and the reduction in the number of people living in poverty in rural areas.

Barbut said the data show a 27 percent decline in the number of people in rural communities living in poverty.

“This is a positive signal,” she said, while noting that, at the same time, urban poverty is increasing. “ That’s something interesting to note, that instead of sending people to cities, you better restore the land, make sure they can live on the land.”

Zainab Samo (right), along with her son and daughter, plant a lemon seedling on her farm in oan village in Pakistan’s southern desert district of Tharparkar to fight desert’s advance. new data shows that globally 2 billion hectares of land—roughly twice the size of China—have been degraded. SALEEM SHAIKH/IPS

Barbut said the data show that the main human causes of land degradation are deforestation, overgrazing and improper soil management.

There are also other indirect human causes like population pressure, land tenure, bad governance and lack of education.

The Caribbean has its own example of desertification with one scientist telling IPS that Haiti is the Caribbean’s desert.

Dr. Richard Byron-Cox, action program alignment and capacity building officer at UNCCD, said more than 100 years ago, Haiti had the best soils and was also

the Caribbean’s leading producer sugar cane.

“As you know, Haiti is one of two countries on the island of Hispaniola. W hen you f ly over Hispaniola, one part is green, and the other part is brown.

Why? Because one has desertification, that’s Haiti,” Byron-Cox told IPS. “That same country, 150 years ago, had the best soils in the entire Caribbean. Today it is a desert. Desertification has nothing to do with natural deserts. So, when you talk about combatting desertification, this does not include natural deserts, it’s good

We know also that every year we destroy totally, 12 million hectares of land. So, clearly all those lands that we destroy we have a potential for restoration.”—Barbut

land becoming bad.”

In addition to deforestation, devastating f loods and landslides have left bare many areas in Haiti, which were once covered with forests.

In 2013, World Vision Australia carried out a scoping mission to examine the potential for natural regeneration of forests through farmer-managed natural regeneration (FMNR). This was inspired by the success of a similar program in Ethiopia, developed under the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

The CDM allows for reforestation projects to earn credits (certified emission reductions or CER’s) for each ton of carbon dioxide equivalent sequestered or absorbed by the forest.

Desertification was also on the mind of Guyana’s Minister of State Joseph Harmon as he welcomed representatives from 135 countries to the capital for CRIC17.

Rapa Nui’s stone statues and marine resources face threats from climate change

H

ANGA ROA, Chile—Social activists and local authorities in Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, are calling for urgent action to address rising sea temperatures, declining rainfall and rising tides that threaten their fishing resources and their Moais, the mysterious volcanic stone monoliths.

On this island in the Polynesia region of the Pacific Ocean, 3,800 kilometers from the coast of Chile, to which it belongs, the effects of climate change are already evident.

Ludovic Burws, a teacher at the Hanga Roa Educational Village, the island’s primary and secondary school, says that with “rising water temperatures some corals are beginning to bleach” on the shores of Rapa Nui. “You look at the island and now [in February] it should be yellow, but it’s green. There is a seasonal lag. It’s raining more at a time when it shouldn’t be. The rains are heavier, shorter and very intense, causing erosion that reaches the sea and covers the corals,” he told Inter Press News Service (IPS).

“The temperature has risen, but mixed with the garbage, a new algae has been generated at a depth of 80 meters [still under study], which begins to grow and eat the coral,” said Burws, who is also a technical advisor to the organization Te Mau o te Vaikava o Rapa Nui (Rapa Nui Ocean Round Table).

The Round Table is a collective of 22 representatives of various organizations that has been operating since 2014, with the aim of monitoring the problems associated with the marine environment of this 164-squarekilometer island that is home to 8,000 permanent inhabitants, mainly native Rapa Nui people.

Other damage caused by the rise in temperature is the near disappearance of auke, an endemic algae “that used to be very abundant,” Burws said.

A problem, he said, compounded by another major issue: “All the garbage we receive from outside is transformed into micro plastic that the fish eat and then we eat.”

Pedro Edmunds Paoa, mayor of the municipality of Easter Island, of which Hanga Roa is the capital, told IPS that “since the El Niño current was identified in 1984, the island has

The 200-meter-long ahu Tongariki is the largest funerary platform in Rapa nui, or easter island. it has 15 Moais, or volcanic stone statues, located on the southeastern coast of the island, in front of the Rano Raraku volcano. over them hangs the threat of the impact of climate change on this vulnerable Chilean island territory. ORLANDO MILESI/IPS

been suffering declines in its marine fauna and flora populations.”

“Today they’re catching small tunas. We have names for each species and each size. The one being fished is called an auhohu which is a 40-centimeter tuna, a baby tuna. Because in our waters the tuna lay their eggs, hatch, grow up and then migrate,” he said.

“I want to repopulate my sea,” stressed the mayor. “Our sea has suffered and is suffering from global warming; the temperature is 5 degrees to 6 degrees above what it should normally be,” he said with alarm.

He added that a measurement taken some time ago by a scientific ship of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) “detected temperatures of 29 degrees [Celsius] 800 meters offshore from Hanga Roa and 40 meters deep. Traditionally, the surface temperature in the area did not exceed 24 degrees and at that depth it was much lower.”

To repopulate the sea, Edmunds is promoting an agreement with Chile’s Universidad del Norte (Northern University), which has a station for the study, development and reproduction of species ranging from algae to blue fish, such as tuna, swordfish and others.

The mayor is also concerned about the depletion of corals, which “are accustomed to a certain temperature.... Killing corals kills species that are born from them, because corals are life that embraces other lives and from there the chain is created from the least to the greatest,” he explained.

Edmunds said climate change is not solely responsible for the decline of tuna and other marine species. The decline, he said, is also driven “by overfishing by foreign vessels that enter our waters, even though they insist that they do not fish in our waters.”

“We are going to have a great shortage of water resources and our heritage is going to be heavily affected by the rise in sea level and the tidal waves,” Atty. Tiare Aguilera Hey, who works on urban and territorial planning, told IPS. This heritage includes the Moais, the gigantic, mythical volcanic statues that are unique to Rapa Nui, and the Ahus or ceremonial stone altars, put on the World Heritage list

by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1995.

This heritage “is concentrated mainly in coastal areas,” she explained.

In addition, “rainfall will decrease and, therefore, erosion, acidification and a series of consequences that will be detrimental to agriculture and fishing, mainly,” said Aguilera.

Aguilera is originally from the island, to which she returned in 2013 after studying in Spain and China. Since then, she has advised the Easter Island Development Commission, an indigenous Rapa Nui decision-making body.

Park, council and sea conservation area

THE Motu Motiro Hiva marine park will contribute to improving the situation of the marine environment. The park was created by decree in

February 2018, along with the Sea Council, which is responsible for its management and is drawing up a plan that should be ready in August.

The 150,000-sq-km park is part of Easter Island’s Multiple-Use Protected Coastal Marine Area, which was established in June 2018, covering 720,000 sq km, making it the largest of its kind in Latin America.

On June 29, 2018, the 11 members of the Sea Council, chaired by Easter Island Gov. Laura Terita Alarcón Rapu, were elected. In accordance with the statute that created it, six of its members are indigenous Rapa Nui people and were elected by their community using a traditional system.

“But to truly manage [the park], some 8 billion pesos [$12.3 million] are needed, and in the country’s 2019 budget no more than 300 million pesos are allocated,” Burws said based on estimates from nongovernment organizations.

The new marine park joins the Rapa Nui park, created in 1996 and whose administration was handed over by the government to the Ma’u Henua Indigenous Community in 2016.

It covers 40 percent of Easter Island’s territory and is home to the Moai human statues, which are between 1 meter and 10 meters tall and are carved from solidified volcanic ash, and Ahus or ceremonial altars—the main attraction for the 120,000 tourists who visit the island annually.

Aguilera pointed out that under the administration of the local indigenous community, the park “has reinvented itself.”

Among the new actions, “a climate change department was created to study the wetlands, where the level of freshwater has declined considerably, and reforestation has pushed forward,” she said.

“At a local level, many initiatives are being taken by various institutions that have taken the lead on climate change,” she said.

Among the positive environmental measures that emerged in Rapa Nui, Aguilera also cited several promoted by the mayor’s office, such as a major recycling campaign, an annual cultural and sports festival called Tapati, actions to reduce the use of plastic bags and light bulbs, and the creation of a public transportation system. IPS

In his speech at the opening, he told a packed hall at the Arthur Chung Conference Center that in its implementation of the UNCCD, Guyana aspires to be a success story and example for fellow countries and parties. “ W h i l e G u y a n a’s c o nt e x t may not be seen as extreme to be considered ‘ desertification,’ the impact of land degradation is being ta ken into consideration as we plan and strateg ize for the sustainable use of our land resources.”

He later told IPS that Guyana is deeply conscious that land represents a link between people and the environment and that it connects economic, social, cultural and geographical spheres.

“Guyana is fully committed to the protection and conservation of its natural patrimony, inc lud ing its land resources.

Our record of env ironmental protection and conservation of land and its resources provides a global model for good practice,” Harmon told IPS. “Guyana endorses and fully support UNCCD’s vision which is to support the development and implementation of national and regional policies, programs and measures to prevent, control and reverse desertification and land degradation and mitigate the effects of drought.”

Guyana has finalized its Land Degradation Neutrality Target Setting Program and its aligned national plan to combat land degradation.

Harmon said they have also operationalized the Sustainable Land Development and Management project, which seeks to establish an enabling environment for promoting sustainable and climate-resilient land development, management and reclamation in support of Guyana’s Green State trajectory. IPS

CommenTaRy

Healthy diets to combat malnutrition and climate change

By Shenggen Fan

T

HE global food system faces major challenges and trends related to rapid urbanization, changing diets, climate change, political uncertainties and antiglobalization sentiments.

At the same time, there has been growing recognition that, in addition to addressing multiple burdens of malnutrition, there is an increasing need to seek an environmentally sustainable food system in light of climate change.

The new EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet, Health report on healthy diets from sustainable food systems, which I had the pleasure of contributing to as a commission member, provides strategies for countries and stakeholders to navigate food systems at a critical crossroads.

Food systems play a key role in nurturing human health and supporting environmental sustainability, yet currently, they are threatening both. Thus, global efforts are urgently needed to collectively transform diets and food production.

In this regard, the report draws from the latest evidence from around the globe, including the International Food Policy Research Institute’s (IFPRI) Impact model, to present scientific targets, as well as overall strategies for food systems.

As the report highlights, transforming to healthy diets by 2050 will require drastic changes. Global consumption of healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, will need to double, while overconsumption of foods like added sugars and red meat will need to be more than halved (primarily to address excessive consumption in wealthier countries).

At the same time, it will be equally important to take a differentiated approach for healthy and sustainable diets in developing countries and for poor populations.

For many developing countries and the poor,

undernutrition and access to healthy foods remain as persistent challenges, as noted in the report.

Small amounts of animal-sourced foods (ASFs), like dairy, eggs, fish or chicken, for young children and women during pregnancy and lactation is crucial for nutrition and health, especially in poor populations.

For instance, research finds a strong association between reduction in stunting and ASF consumption.

Furthermore, the accessibility and affordability of healthy and nutritious foods—both animalsourced and plant-based—will be key.

Many nutrient-dense foods—such as fruits, vegetables and animal foods—are highly perishable, often making prices significantly higher than that of ultra-processed, nutrient-poor and calorie-dense staple foods. This makes cost a barrier to the consumption of healthy diets among the poor, as seen in urban Malawi, as well as in many other countries.

A study in Ethiopia found that doubling the price of dairy reduces consumption by about half.

Promoting enhanced production and productivity of healthy and nutritious foods, while also improving markets in low-income countries will be important to lower prices and increase accessibility of healthy and sustainable diets.

Healthy and sustainable diets may look different from country to country, and we will need more evidence on what drives and challenges the diets of various populations face.

For the transformation of food systems to ensure human and planetary health for all, it will be crucial for stakeholders to continue to work together in sharing experiences and expanding the knowledge base.

Shenggen Fan is director general of IFPRI and a member of the EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet, Health.

Biodiversity Monday BusinessMirror

Asean Champions of Biodiversity Media Category 2014

Monday, February 18, 2019

Editor: Lyn Resurreccion • www.businessmirror.com.ph

A9 B5

A healthy river is a wealthy river ‘G

Story & photo by Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

is caused by the denudation of forest cover, massive disturbance of topsoil and tailings spill caused by projects, such as big mines and mega dams, he said. “ T he nationa l gover nment has to be able to assess the risks of these projects and impose heavy regulations on them given the very degraded state of our watersheds,” Dulce said.

ourami, please buy some. it’s fresh; it’s alive!” a man in his 40s cried out at a public market in Candaba, Pampanga.

A freshwater fish, gourami is seldom sold in Metro Manila market nowadays. Some fish vendors are even oblivious about its conservation status.

W hen asked by this writer where it came from, the vendor quickly said: “From the river. Look at it, it’s fresh,” he added.

The vendor was referring to the 260 -k ilometer Pampanga River, the second-largest river in Luzon and the country’s fourthlongest river. It traverses the provinces of Pampanga, Bulacan and Nueva Ecija.

Feeding the Pampanga River are smaller rivers and streams from the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. Its mouth that drains water to Manila Bay is in Hagonoy, Bulacan.

T he Pa mp a n g a R i v e r w a s highlighted, along with Candaba Swamp, by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) during the celebration of the World Wetlands Day on February 2.

Incidentally, Pampanga River is just one of the 17 principal rivers being eyed for massive cleanup as part of the ambitious Manila Bay rehabilitation program, a P47-billion, seven-year campaign to save the country’s historic bay from environmental degradation.

Economic importance

RIvERS are economically important. They are major sources of natural food—fish, shellfish and other food that naturally occur in rivers, including fruits and vegetables.

Rivers, or healthy rivers for that matter, are key to the survival not only of the human race but of other wildlife, as well.

T h e i nt e r c o n n e c t i v i t y o f ecosystems, citing the case of the Pampanga R iver and the Candaba Swamp, highlights the importance of protecting and conserving them.

During the dry season, the Candaba Swamp dries up, allowing farmers in many areas like those in Barangay Paligui to cultivate their rice paddies. Just before the rainy season sets in, the farmers make their once-ayear rice harvest.

As the Candaba Swamp acts like a sponge that stores excess water from Pampanga River during the rainy season, or in the event of excessive heavy rains induced by typhoons, the swamp becomes a virtual “water world.”

River, estero cleanups

O nc e t he f lo o d s u b s id e s , the swamp is blessed with the abundance from the river—different species of native fish, freshwater shrimp and other natural food that help farmers cope with economic hardship.

“During the rainy season, most farmers turn to fish. The swamp teems with fish from the Pampanga River,” said virgilio Manalili, chairman of Barangay Paligui in Candaba, Pampanga, in an interview with the BusinessMirror on February 2.

Threatened

HOW Ev ER , the Candaba Swa mp a nd Pa mpa nga R iver a re b ot h t h re ate ne d b y u n br id led development.

In the case of the swamp, it is affected by massive land conversion for agriculture purposes, and extreme weather events—whether excessive rainfall or a long season of drought that exceeds its water storage capacity.

The Pampanga River is threatened by pollution from garbage, untreated wastewater and other pollutants. The situation of the river mirrors that of other rivers in the country.

Fortunately, the river is still healthy enough to provide important ecosystem services that other rivers can no longer provide.

“It is still teeming with fish and other natural food, more importantly. That is why you can still buy native fish in the market. They are caught from the rivers here in Pampanga,” said Joel Pelayo of the Livestock Division and Rice Program of the Department of AgricultureCandaba Office.

Ecosystem services

DIR ECTOR Cr isanta Marlene Rodr ig uez of the DENR’s Biodiversit y Management Bureau s a i d r i v e r s p r o v i d e v a r io u s ecosystem ser v ices essent i a l to human sur v iva l.

Besides food and drinking water, rivers provide irrigation that is important to agriculture.

In some provinces, rivers also provide a means of transportation.

“In Metro Manila, it could provide alternative means of transportation,” she told the BusinessMirror in an interview on February 11.

Speaking in mixed English and Filipino, Rodriguez, a forester, underscored the importance of keep-

A vendor shows the fresh, live gourami he is selling to marketgoers in Candaba, Pampanga.

ing rivers healthy.

Used properly, rivers can be drivers of growth. They can be a major source of job or livelihood.

She said the key is having a balance between natural-resource exploitation and use to ensure sustainability.

“We really need to strike a balance. Like the human body, if you abuse the river, it will die,” she explained.

Dying rivers

IN Metro Manila, rivers are severely polluted, or degraded, that in some of them, fish cannot possibly survive or even if they do, they are unsafe for human consumption because of contamination.

The Tullahan River—which starts at the La Mesa Reservoir in Quezon City and flows through Malabon and valenzuela and empties into the Manila Bay—was once declared by scientists as biologi-

cally dead owing to pollution.

The once-mighty Pasig River has been the subject of massive rehabilitation for decades in a bid to revive this once economically important water body.

The Marikina River is heavily silted because of the denudation of the forest in the surrounding watershed. This prompted the government to finally establish the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape.

Leon Dulce, national coordinator of the environmental group Kalikasan-People’s Network for the Environment, said the degradation of the country’s rivers is caused by pollution, siltation and the buildup of massive infrastructure.

Major pollution sources include commercial, middle-income residential and industrial establishments “from ridge to reef.”

This means that heavy siltation

The government must formulate a scientific and holistic program that will restore the capacity of rivers to shelter aquatic and other fishery resources.”—Hicap

ON Tuesday Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, tasked to lead the Manila Bay Inter-Agency Task Force, called on mayors of cities and municipalities surrounding Manila Bay to do their share in the rehabilitation by cleaning up rivers and estuaries leading to the heavily polluted water body.

In a statement, Cimatu said the cleanup of all 47 esteros and all rivers that contribute to the pollution of Manila Bay is important, as he vowed to do it even one estero and one river at a time.

Along with Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, Cimatu met with 178 city and municipal mayors during the Local Executives’ Forum on the Manila Bay Cleanup, Rehabilitation and Preservation Program held in Manila on February 11.

During the forum, Cimatu reminded the local chief executives of their duty to implement environmental laws and to clear waterways of informal settlers, who contribute to water pollution.

Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, provides that local government units (LGUs) are primarily responsible for waste segregation and disposal.

Cimatu also urged LGUs to identify the sources of water pollution in their localities and do something about it.

“Once we clean the esteros and rivers, garbage will not go out to Manila Bay. We’ll make it a point that the water that reaches Manila Bay is clean,” Cimatu said.

T he Pambansang Lakas ng Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) agrees. It said that a massive cleanup and rehabilitation of rivers are important.

However, it pointed out that these should be done to boost fish security and sustain the livelihood of small fishermen who depend on rivers and other water bodies for food and as a major source of income.

In an e-mail to the BusinessMirror on February 12, Pamalakaya national coordinator Fernando Hicap said rivers, along with other bodies of water, must also undergo a rehabilitation in order to protect the livelihood of the fisherfolk and ensure food security for all. “ W hi le t he gover nment is wag ing a massive rehabilitation campaign in Manila Bay,

connected rivers, such as Pasig River and Pampanga River, must also be cleaned because they also serve as passageways of pollution and various wastes coming from industrial and commercial establishments. “ The government must formulate a scientific and holistic program that will restore the capacity of rivers to shelter aquatic and other fisher y resources,” he said.

Multifaceted problems

JIMELy FLORES, in-country science consultant at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), a United States-based nonprofit environmental advocacy group, said major causes of the problems besetting Philippine rivers are the large dam constructions, massive quarryings and pollution brought about by indiscriminate dumping of garbage and agrochemicals.

Saving the countr y’s dying rivers, she said, is easier said than done.

“It is difficult because of complex stakeholder landscape,” she said, adding that most of the country’s rivers have not been fully explored and studied in terms of biodiversity and their economic value, or the ecosystem services they provide if left as they are.

Flores said dams have killed many major rivers, but the other tributaries died too because of agriculture and deforestation.

But she said that even with the construction of large dams, by allowing water to flow continuously, drying up of rivers that lead to its death can be avoided Another major problem is the unchecked quarrying activities.

Long-term planning

“I THINK the only way to save them [rivers] is [through] longterm planning and a vision that doesn’t change whoever is in power. There should be a national or inter-regional mandate,” she said, noting that LGUs cannot make a dent in addressing the multifaceted problems besetting the county’s rivers.

“Biodiversity-wise, they [rivers] are known to be rich. But most are dying and dried because they were sacrificed for other purposes,” Flores said.

Most rivers, she said, are already polluted and yet they still remain a source of fish and other invertebrates.

“Some are eels, gobies, carps, tilapia, dalag, biya, hito, gouramietc. Freshwater lobster, prawns and crabs are also abundant, plus shellfishes,” she added.

“The abundance of rivers is enough to feed those communities near them, only if they are protected and managed,” Flores said.

As they say, a healthy river is a wealthy river.

‘FoREsTs pRoviDE ThE woRLD wiTh oxygEn, buT MoRE cLiMaTE-changE FinancE is nEEDED’

P

ARAMARIBO—Suriname, the most forested country in the world, hosted a major international conference on climate financing for High Forest Cover and Low Deforestation (HFLD) countries.

Among other things, the February 12 to 14 conference aimed to make the international community more aware of the significant global importance of HFLD countries and the role their productive landscapes play in combatting climate change.

HFLD countries also include Panama, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Peru, Belize, Gabon, Guyana, Bhutan, Zambia and French Guiana. The conference also aimed to strengthen the payment structure for ecosystem services that will be used to advance sustainable development, while mitigating the risk of forest destruction and biodiversity loss.

“Forests bring pleasure to our lives. Next to culture and leisure, it provides us with, among other things, food, timber, clean air and oxygen. But [it] also has important benefits, such as mitigation and the adaptation to climate change,” Suriname Vice President Michael Ashwin Adhin said at the opening of the conference.

“I would like to stress the fact that Suriname has long maintained 93-percent forest cover of its total land area, which has been providing multiple benefits to the global community, in particular, combatting climate change for current and future generations.”

Adhin said climate change and sea-level rise present huge threats to the Caribbean nation—a low-lying coastal state where more than 75 percent of the population and the majority of its economic and social infrastructure is located along the coast.

“We are faced with finding remedies to these problems which we did not cause. We are aware of the similarity of the situation for many other countries,” he said.

Adhin reiterated Suriname’s aspirations to maintain an HFLD rate. He noted that based on the country’s record, they feel obliged to champion this cause on international and multilevel agendas.

“We have taken the initiative for this conference as we recognize that, together as HFLD countries, we can stand stronger and create a critical mass, leading a movement for recognition of our contribution to the global community and cooperate to increase the debt contribution while we enjoy equitable and sustainable economic growth,” he said.

But he admitted that “the challenges are huge,” especially with regards to the mobilization of financial and other resources.

Winston Lackin, Suriname’s ambassador for the Environment, said the government took the decision two years ago to commit to maintaining its position of being the most forested country in the world, and to continue being one of the few carbonnegative countries in the world.

“When we committed ourselves in November 2017 at the UNFCCC [United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change] meeting in Bonn, we also said that we will not be in a position to do this alone, we would need technical cooperation, expertise, financial support, durable partnership, and political will at the national level but also at the international level,” Lackin told Inter Press Service (IPS).

“We know that 30 percent of the land area of the world is covered by forests. From this 30 percent, nearly a quarter is in the HFLD developing countries. And when we know

the value and role of forests when it comes to mitigation and adaptation and the added effects of climate change, then we feel that it is time for a different kind of discussion when it comes to accessing finance.”

Pointing out that only 8 percent of international financial resources has been directed to HFLD developing countries in the last decade, Lackin said one cannot expect these developing countries to meet their commitments when it comes to the Paris Agreement. The goals of the Paris Agreement include boosting adaptation and limiting the global temperature increase to well below 2°C. He said a very important fact is that the HFLD countries have been contributing to the mitigation of the negative effects of climate change even before the existence of the climate-change conferences.

He said these countries were facing serious

problems to meet their daily economic and social development challenges, while at the same time being the victims of the negative effects, which were not of their making.

Lackin said the expectation is that the conference will help Suriname and other HFLD countries meet the challenges, facilitate access to financial resources, meet their commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in 2020, when the Paris Agreement is enforced, countries should be able to meet their ambitions.

“I’m convinced that this conference will help us, will guide us to the next step.

The environment is not only our life, it is our survival,” he told IPS. “We have an obligation to leave a world behind for the youth, for the next generation.

So, it is our common responsibility, the joint responsibility of us all.” IPS

A10 Monday, February 18, 2019 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Press freedom and its responsibilities

O

N Wednesday, August 27, 2014, the title of our Editorial was, “They just shot your freedom”.

We said: “Early yesterday morning, Mr. Orlando ‘Orly’ Navarro was shot in the back by an unidentified gunman but fortunately survived the attack. An act of violence against another human being that we do not know is something that happens all the time. We hardly think about it. As long as we are not directly touched, it is really not our problem.

However, in the case of Mr. Navarro, it is our problem—it is everyone’s problem”.

“Orly Navarro is better known as ‘Kabog’ in his area. He is President of the Pangasinan Press Club and station manager of DWIZ 89.3 FM News, a sister company of the BusinessMirror”.

We took this personally. It was not just another attack on press freedom but a physical, ‘bullet-in-the-head’ attack on a friend and colleague. Other members of the local press and media dutifully reported the shooting.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines Pangasinan chapter, in a statement, called on authorities to “ensure the safety of media practitioners who are only doing their job of exposing the threats and dangers to society.” Interestingly, though, no determination seemed to be ever made if this was “business” or “personal.” Navarro was a sometimes-fierce critic of certain local politicians and had many commentaries against illegal-drugs pushers and users in the area.

We wrote then that “an attack on his freedom of speech is an attack on the freedom of all Filipinos.”

However, since then not one of the press and media, even those biggest defenders of “press freedom,” has written one word about Mr. Navarro. At the time it was a press freedom issue. Did this event turn out not to be about freedom of the press? Is it because Dagupan is too far away from Manila and foreign journalists to be “front page news” around the globe? Perhaps, the shooting of Navarro could not be spun as a government attack on press freedom.

We wrote: “During successive presidential administrations, the government has treated incidents like this as isolated. But over time it became a pattern by those who prefer that we all, those in the press and ordinary citizens, keep our mouths shut.”

The freedom of public and private speech and therefore the press is the single most important pillar of a free society and a free people. But is there any chance that this “freedom” may be used as a justification for advancing a political agenda? The Society of Professional Journalists—the oldest organization in the US since 1909—has this Code of Ethics.

“Ethical journalism should be accurate and fair even as recognizing a special obligation to serve as watchdogs over public affairs and government. Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived. Refuse gifts, favors, and special treatment, and avoid political and other outside activities that may compromise integrity or impartiality, or may damage credibility. Expose unethical conduct in journalism, including within their organizations and abide by the same high standards they expect of others.”

Since 2005

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

Need free psychiatric consultation?

Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II

O

UR modern society is associated with stress and anxiety. The work place, our relationships, school and even our homes bring about different issues or problems that we need to face on a daily basis. We read or hear about individuals who have given up or been driven over the edge and succumbed to depression or, worse, chose to end it all. Mental health challenges choose no age, gender or social standing.

In recent years, cases have been increasing, and I am sure we all know someone, directly or indirectly, who is dealing with a mental health problem.

It would be good to know that certain institutions have established departments that can help those in need, for free. Here is a list of hospitals where patients can go, together with numbers to call.

Friends or relatives of people who are having problems may also want to keep this list handy. n Philippine General Hospital Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila Department: PGH Psychia-

Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.

THE PATRIOT

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Editor in Chief Associate Editor News Editor Senior Editors

T. Anthony C. Cabangon Lourdes M. Fernandez Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug Lorenzo M. Lomibao Jr., Gerard S. Ramos Lyn B. Resurreccion, Efleda P. Campos Dennis D. Estopace

Online Editor Social Media Editor

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Creative Director Chief Photographer

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Chairman of the Board & Ombudsman President VP-Finance VP Advertising Sales Advertising Sales Manager Group Circulation Manager

Judge Pedro T. Santiago (Ret.) Benjamin V. Ramos Adebelo D. Gasmin Marvin Nisperos Estigoy Aldwin Maralit Tolosa Rolando M. Manangan

BusinessMirror is published daily by the Philippine Business Daily Mirror Publishing, Inc., with offices on the 3rd floor of Dominga Building III 2113 Chino Roces Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Makati City, Philippines.

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try and Behavioral Medicine Department, 2F Ward 7.

Provides free psychiatric consultation (24 hours).

Contact numbers: (02) 554-8400 loc 2436 or 2440; (02) 554-8847; (02) 526-0150; (02) 554-8469 n National Center for Mental Health Nueve de Febrero Street, Mandaluyong City.

Provides free meals to pa-

We are champions

✝ Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Publisher

RISING SUN

In the end, the scoreboard reads: “PAL 93, Cebu Pacific 91”.

I

N the recently concluded third Philippine Aviation Basketball Association tournament, the Philippine Airlines team, composed of officers from the flight operations department, bested the team from Cebu Pacific in an evenly fought best-of-three finals series. Cebu Pacific won Game One, while PAL won Games Two and Three. Previous Paba champions were Cebu Pacific (2016) and Caticlan International Airport Authority (2017). Players in “Flight Deck”, the team that represented PAL in this third Paba, were relatively taller and heftier than their Cebu Pacific counterparts. To me, Flight Deck had more talent and depth, but their opponents appeared to be faster and considerably younger. I was impressed by the grit and passion exhibited by players from both teams, as if their jobs depended on winning the game. Worth commending was how de facto playing coach Chester Alvarez of PAL motivated the team after an early lead by Cebu Pacific in the first quarter, and how he controlled the nerves of his teammates when the game went into overtime. Most of all, what I found truly admirable is the vision of tournament organizer and Paba Chairman Carmelo L. Arcilla, the current executive director of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).

Init iat ing t he tour nament three years ago with just eight teams, the third installment of this Paba now has 16 teams, all coming from the aviation and the transportation industry. Director

Arcilla, a widely known sports enthusiast, envisioned a venue where stakeholders (government agencies, airlines, freight forwarders, aviation schools and other transportation-related entities)

tients from Monday to Friday, except Thursdays.

Contact numbers: (02) 531-9001; (02) 531-9002. n Ateneo Center for Family Ministries Foundation Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City Department: Spiritual-Pastoral Center.

Provides free consultation, family and individual counseling via a psycho-spiritual approach.

Contact numbers: (02) 426-4289 to 92. n UST Graduate School PsychoTraumatic Clinic España Boulevard, Sampaloc, Manila Room 104, GF Thomas Aquinas Research Complex, UST. Provides free psychological services from Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except holidays, school breaks and class suspensions.

Contact number: (02) 406-1611 loc 4012. E-mail: ustgsptc@yahoo.com. n Cainta Municipal Hospital Bonifacio Avenue, Rose Pack Compound, Cainta, Rizal.

Provides free consultation for residents and free medicines if available (24 hours).

Contact number: (02) 696-2604. n Amang Rodriguez Memorial

Medical Center Sumulong Highway, Santo Niño, Marikina City.

Provides basic consulting, brief psychotherapeutic techniques.

Consulting hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., from Monday to Friday (excluding nonworking holidays and work cancellations). Registration cutoff: 8 to 10 a.m.; 1 to 2 p.m.

Contact number: (02) 941-6289. n Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center Corner Enage St., Magsaysay Boulevard, Tacloban City, Leyte.

Provides free consultation and medication.

Contact number: (053) 323-7110.

E-mail: evrmcmccoffice@gmail.com n Batangas Medical Center Bihi Road, Kumintang Ibaba, Batangas.

Provides free consultation.

Consultation schedule: Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays—8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Contact number: (043) 740-8307.

The Natasha Goulbourn Foundation also runs the 24/7 HOPELINE at (02) 804-HOPE (4673), 0917-558-HOPE (4673), 2919 (tollfree number for all Globe and TM subscribers).

would compete in the fields of friendly strife with the objective of promoting unity through sports and fellowship. During the opening ceremonies of the third Paba tournament a few months ago, I can vividly recall the message of Director Arcilla to all athletes. He said that, while each business and/ or agency might appear to have conflicting interests, the love for sports like basketball will always unite everyone.

To me, sports is not just a physical activity where the “Faster, Higher, Stronger” (Olympic Motto) always wins. Contrary to football coach Vince Lombardi’s frequently quoted remark that winning is not everything but the only thing, to me, the essence of sports is neither about winning nor losing. The joy of simply competing transcends the value of medals and recognition. I believe sports competition brings some kind of emotional unity to all contestants. Winning is just gravy, and unity is the main course!

Pursuant to Director Arcilla’s vision, this kind of unity generated by team sports can be used to strategically create social relationships through which professional issues and concerns are addressed in an atmosphere of cooperation. Author and journalist James Dorsey provides examples of countries in the Middle East where sports fans and players form and sustain relationships

focused on social and political issues. According to Dorsey, these relationships may be used to “convert the unity associated with sports into relationships and actions that go beyond changing hearts.” My pastor, Gary, once said, “Change starts from the heart, but our hearts can only be changed by God.” And activities such as sports and people like Arcilla are sent our way to help us change how we see others from the other side.

In Philippians 2:3-4, the Bible tells us, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Through these Paba tournaments, CAB Director Arcilla has planted the seeds to change the mindset of all stakeholders in the aviation industry. I can see the passionate sincerity of Director Arcilla as he actively encourages those around him at work and in his community to play sports.

Toward economic development, we must be united in words and in deed and, more important, we have to be selfless, knowing that others need us as much as we need them. Similar to a basketball game or any other team sport, talent can get you somewhere, but selflessness can take all of us everywhere. We, as in all of us, are champions!

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

India’s sleepwalking to trouble on builder debt

By Andy Mukherjee / Bloomberg Opinion

F

IVE months. That’s how long it takes Country Garden Holdings Co. to start selling apartments after acquiring land. A spate of fatal accidents forced the Chinese builder to slow things down a notch last year, but the pace of construction may pick up again when robots start plastering the walls.

The pressure to finish comes from the markets: Of the $14.6 billion the builder has to pay creditors between now and 2021, as much as 86 percent is return of principal. It has to give back that money (plus interest) and borrow afresh. Keeping up this live-wire act is how Country Garden acquired the scale to tackle 2,200 projects in 2018, a 13-fold jump in five years.

Compare this with the somnolent life of India’s developers. A six-year loan while they build at leisure? No problem. Don’t want to repay principal for the first four years? Even better. Maybe a six-month moratorium on interest, as well? Shadow lenders can’t stop lining up at their doors.

After all, the financiers earn a fee for every concession they make, and that juices up their returns.

Until there’s no juice left to go around. The funding squeeze faced

by Indian nonbank finance companies after the collapse of IL&FS Group in September has seen embattled firms such as Dewan Housing Finance Corp. sell down some of their builder loans, offering a glimpse of the generous terms they’ve been offering.

Take India RE Opportunities Trust, assembled recently by Dewan to package and securitize two loans.

The borrowers belong to the Wadia Group, which built the ship on which the American national anthem was composed. India’s oldest conglomerate is redeveloping its former mill land in Mumbai into residential towers. The two Dewan loans are for 72 months, including a principal moratorium of 48 months. Investors in the trust’s pass-through certificates will start receiving principal only in December 2021.

The time for masking such equity-type investments as loans has passed. Real estate in India is fac-

ing a glut, with $110 billion worth of unsold homes across the top 8 markets, including Mumbai. That’s almost four years of sales, according to property analytics firm Liases Foras. Back in 2009, when apartment inventory was equal to about one year of sales, only 25 percent of construction funding came from shadow financiers. Banks controlled 75 percent.

The tables have now turned: Housing-finance firms and other nonbank lenders, more adventurous than conventional banks, account for 55 percent of advances to builders. Lenders pocketing 2 percent to 3 percent of the loan value as upfront fees in exchange for not collecting on the principal for years has allowed a buildup of poor-quality debt. Moratoriums have delayed builder bankruptcies, and prevented timely detection of the problem.

Now that the underlying demand-supply situation has turned extremely slippery, the question is whether developers will feel enough pressure from struggling financiers to cut apartment prices and clear inventory, or if they’ll be bailed out.

The absence of market discipline has kept Indian real-estate prices far too high for far too long.

Indian shadow banking has gone from being a growth multiplier to a dampener. The regulator for housing-finance firms has allowed an accumulation of illiquid long-term assets with liquid short-term liabilities.

Don’t be surprised if a lack of project cash flows, combined with costlier refinancing, forces some of those property assets to head straight to the morgue when they come out of moratorium. Meanwhile, the stockmarket regulator hasn’t exercised enough oversight on mutual funds that invest in securities for which there’s no market: DHFL Pramerica Ultra Short-Term Fund had more than 34 percent of its net assets in a zero-coupon bond issued by its parent Dewan Housing at the end of last month. And this is a fund that claims to have a “moderately low” degree of risk.

Predicting the bursting of China’s credit bubble is a global cottage industry. But the risks of disorderly deleveraging in India should no longer be ignored.

Trump’s ‘national emergency’ is a dangerous fraud

P

RESIDENT Trump has followed through on his earlier threat to declare a national emergency over border security, and use executive authority to spend more than Congress has allowed on his so-called wall. This is an abuse of his office. Trump is letting the country down—and so are the Republicans in Congress who’ve said they’ll go along.

To begin with, there’s no emergency at the border. There’s an ongoing problem of illegal crossings—but on the whole it’s less serious now than in previous years.

Securing the border does matter: Trump is right about that, and Democrats look foolish when they seem to deny it. But spending billions more on a wall built to Trump’s specifications is not the answer.

The compromise spending bill that Congress and the president just agreed to includes $1.375 billion on additional barriers and other border-security measures. The idea that the country is imperiled by the failure to spend an additional $6 billion and up, on a wall that’s mainly intended to save Trump’s face, is risible.

Making his announcement, the president said that national emergencies are no big deal. “It’s been signed by other presidents,” he said. “There’s rarely been a problem.

They sign it, nobody cares.” It’s true that many declarations of emergency are currently on the books, but this ignores the central point.

The proper use of these measures is to speed the urgent deployment of resources when ordinary budget procedures can’t move quickly

enough. It is emphatically not to provide resources for purposes that Congress—granted the power of the purse by the Constitution—has overtly rejected.

This is why Trump’s use of the emergency power is in fact a big deal: It’s an assault on the division of powers.

His action is certain to face legal challenge on multiple fronts, as the president wearily acknowledged. In the end, the courts may grant him some flexibility to repurpose funds already appropriated, and could even grant him some circumscribed version of emergency authority. It’s likely, though, that Trump doesn’t actually care. For the moment, he can claim that he’s doing all he can, and if the law tells him to stop, he can hardly be blamed for failing.

In other words, this initiative may in the end prove to be just more pointless, divisive theater, rather than a conscientious attempt to seize illegal power.

Even if that’s true, the action is grossly irresponsible—because it does challenge the Constitution’s division of powers as though this is a small matter. It’s shocking that Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell says he backs Trump’s initiative. (Some Republicans, to their credit, have refused to go along with this.)

McConnell’s position is both disgraceful and ill-advised, because if Trump does somehow succeed in expanding the scope of executive authority, the next Democratic president will be equally empowered to override Congress’s spending priorities. Bloomberg Opinion

Monday, February 18, 2019 A11

Moving forward with Cipag Joel L. Tan-Torres

DEBIT CREDIT Part 5

W

HAT advocacy activities have you been involved in recently in your capacity as a Certified Public Accountant? For most CPAs, perhaps these may consist of such undertakings as taking part in tree-planting activities and medical missions as members of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants, which undertakes these during Accountancy Week Celebration. Perhaps, some of you have been part of the Picpa chapter collaboration with the local Bureau of Internal Revenue in the taxpayer information and assistance activities. Other CPAs have been active in assisting pro bono the small and medium enterprises in their communities by teaching them their accounting and regulatory compliance responsibilities.

CPAs should be in the forefront of pursuing advocacy activities for society and the public. Their extensive training and exposure to public accountability and safeguarding of financial resources make the CPAs fully capable of contributing to advocacy initiatives. What are the other advocacies (the “A” in this Cipag series of articles) that a CPA can be part of?

Involvement in the Prequalification, Bid and Award Committee

of the local government is an advocacy for the CPA. A local PBAC in every province, city and municipality is primarily responsible for the conduct of prequalification of contractors, bidding, evaluation of bids and the recommendation of awards concerning local infrastructure projects. In fact, Section 37 of the Local Government Code recognizes the important role of accountants as this provides that “any practicing CPA from the pri-

‘Safe space’ Atty. Lorna Patajo-Kapunan

E

LEGALLY SPEAKING

XISTING legislation does not penalize gender-based street and public spaces harassment. The Revised Penal Code on unjust vexation does not cover with exactitude genderbased, misogynistic and homophobic public spaces harassment, while the present law on sexual harassment (Republic Act 7877) only covers harassment between a superior and subordinate.

To address this gap in the law, both the Senate and the House of Representatives has enacted Senate Bill (SB) 1558 and House Bill (HB) 8794, respectively known as the “Safe Streets, Workplaces and Public Spaces Act.” A bicameral conference committee reconciled both bills that seek to impose heavier penalties for any unwarranted and uninvited sexual actions or remarks against any person in public spaces or online, which constitute invasion of a person’s personal space and physical safety. With the Senate approving the reconciled version on February 7 and once the House of Representatives ratifies the proposed reconciled version, it will be sent to Malacañang for the President’s signatur—hopefully before the start of the campaign period.

“Public spaces” refer to streets and alleys, public parks, schools, buildings, malls, bars, restaurants, transportation terminals, public markets, public-utility vehicles, as well as private vehicles covered by app-based transport network services and other recreational spaces, such as cinema halls, theaters and spas.

HB 8794 sets different penalties for specific violations: (1) For acts like cursing, wolfwhistling, catcalling, leering and intrusive gazing, taunting, cursing, unwanted invitations, misogynistic and sexist slurs, persistent unwanted comments on one’s appearance, relentless requests for one’s personal details, the use of words, gestures, or actions that ridicule on the basis of sex, gender or sexual orientation, identity, and expression, the persistent telling of sexual jokes, use of sexual names, comments, and demands, and any statement that has made an invasion on a person’s personal space or threatens the person’s sense of personal safety: 1st offense: P10,000 fine or

12-hour community service, with mandatory attendance in a gender sensitivity seminar 2nd offense: one day to 10 days in prison or P20,000 fine 3rd offense: 11 to 20 days in prison or P30,000 fine (2) For acts like making offensive body gestures at someone and exposing private parts: 1st offense: P30,000 fine and 12-hour community service with mandatory attendance in a gender sensitivity seminar 2nd offense: 11 to 20 days in prison or P40,000 fine 3rd offense: four to six months in prison or P50,000 fine (3) For acts like stalking, as well as offensive body gestures and exposure of private parts accompanied by touching, pinching, or brushing against the body of the offended person, or touching, pinching or brushing against the genitalia, face, arms, anus, groin, breasts, inner thighs, face, buttocks or any part of the victim’s body: 1st offense: 11 to 20 days in prison or P100,000 fine, and mandatory attendance in a gender sensitivity seminar 2nd offense: two to four months in prison or P150,000 fine 3rd offense: four to six months in prison or P200,000 fine (4) For gender-based online sexual harassment: two to four years and two months in prison, or P100,000 to P500,000 fine.

Under SB 1558, the penalties for the above acts are lower and range from P1,000 to P10,000 and imprisonment from six days to six months depending on whether light, medium and severe violation. The Bicameral version is expected to reconcile the difference in penalties.

HB 8794 mandates the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for Metro Manila, the lo-

vate sector, to be designated by the local chapter of the Picpa” shall be a member of the local PBAC. Sometime in December 2015, the Commission on Audit (COA), Bureau of Customs and the Picpa under the auspices of the Board of Accountancy (BOA) signed a memorandum of agreement for a collaboration on the Citizens Participatory Audit (“CPA”) program of the COA. This CPA aims to enhance transparency in government operations and public accountability with the CoA’s collaboration with citizens’ groups. Under the MOA, the COA will be assisted by Picpa in its audit of the revenue assessment systems of the BOC. Once this project is fully implemented, the CPAs are enjoined to participate as part of their advocacy.

When I was the BOA chairman, I had continuously challenged the CPAs to be involved in the oversight in the passage of the National Expenditure Budget. In one Picpa Annual National Convention where Sen. Panfilo Lacson was speaker, I suggested that CPAs assist the senator in his crusade of being a watchdog of the NEB. CPAs will be very competent in scrutinizing the pork barrel insertions in the NEB. CPAs can also be involved in the advocacy to reform the Continuing Professional Development program. Republic Act 10912 or the Continuing Development Act has

been receiving a lot of flak on the difficulty of complying with the CPD rules for renewing the professional licenses. I believe that the recent promulgation by the Professional Regulatory Commission of its Resolution 2019-1146 will not appease those opposing the CPD rules. For the CPAs, the new developments in the CPD program of the International Federation of Accountants can be used as the basis for effecting changes in the CPD for CPAs. For details on this, go to the link http://www.ifac.org/ news-events/2019-01/new-education-standard-focuses-professionaldevelopment?fbclid=IwAR1XYIQJl_ R IUOZMT X9tHD4bgLWdfZQULf F08QVGV YtRosoJGN36SgY7M. There are also several developments in the Philippine and global accounting community where our local CPAs can play an advocate role. These include the review of the BOA Resolution 3-2016 mandating the accreditation of CPAs in Commerce and Industry and the submission of Compilation Certificates; the revision of Republic Act 9892 or the Accountancy Law that is pending in Congress since 2016; and the growing importance of Sustainability and Integrated Reporting.

It is time to be more active in being a CPA advocate.

cal units of the Philippine National Police for other provinces, and the Women and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD) of the PNP to apprehend harassers and enforce the law provided that they have undergone prior Gender Sensitivity Training (GST). The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) shall be national bodies responsible for oversight of the law and to formulate policies as needed for strict implementation.

The MMDA for Metro Manila and the local units of the PNP for other provinces are mandated to deputize enforcers to be Anti-Sexual Harassment Enforcers (A-SHE) for genderbased street and public spaces sexual harassment. They will be deputized to receive complaints on the street and immediately apprehend the harasser if the same was caught in flagrante delicto. The harasser will be immediately brought to the nearest PNP station to face charges of the offense he/she committed. The A-SHE unit together with the Women’s and Children’s Desk of PNP stations will keep a ledger of harassers for this Act for purposes of determining if the harasser is a first, second or third offender. The DILG shall also ensure that all local government bodies have Anti-Sexual Harassment Desks in all barangay and city halls, and to ensure set-up of CCTVs in major roads, alleys and sidewalks in their respective regions to aid in the filing of cases and gathering of evidence.

The DILG, the DSWD in coordination with the Department of Health and the PCW shall coordinate if necessary to ensure that victims are provided the proper psychological counseling support services.

The PNP Anti-Cyber Crime Group (PNP-ACG) is mandated as the National Operational Unit of the PNP primarily responsible for the implementation of pertinent Philippine laws on cyber crimes to receive complaints of online sexual harassment and develop an online mechanism for reporting real-time online sexual harassment acts and apprehend harassers. The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) of the DICT shall also coordinate with the PNP-ACG to prepare appropriate and effective measures to monitor and penalize online sexual harassment cases.

Privately owned places open to the public, such as restaurants and

cafés, bars and clubs, resorts and water parks, hotels and casinos, cinemas, malls, buildings and the like are required to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against harassment. These establishments are obliged to provide assistance to victims of harassment by coordinating with local police authorities immediately after harassment is reported, making CCTV footage available when ordered by the Court and providing a safe gendersensitive environment to encourage victims to report harassment at the first instance.

All restaurants, bars, cinemas and other places of recreation are, likewise, required to install in their business establishments clearly visible warning signs against public spaces harassment, including the anti-harassment hotline number in bold letters, and shall designate at least one anti-sexual harassment officer to receive gender-based harassment complaints. Security guards in these places may be deputized to apprehend harassers caught in flagrante delicto and are required to immediately coordinate with local authorities.

Educational institutions must designate an officer in charge for receiving complaints regarding violations and shall ensure that the victims are provided with a gendersensitive environment that is both respectful of victims’ needs and conducive to truth-telling. Schools are required to adopt and publish grievance procedures to facilitate the filing of complaints by students and faculty members.

Under SB 1558, the definition of ‘”sexual harassment” under Section 3 of RA 7877 has been expanded to include acts “between peers and those committed to a superior officer by a subordinate, or to a teacher by a student, or to a trainer by a trainee.” The existing law covers sexual harassment in the workplace only between a superior and subordinate.

A 2016 SWS survey reports that an overwhelming 88 percent of women aged 18 to 24 years old experienced sexual harassment in the streets.

Other incidents have been reported to happen in public vehicles, public washrooms, schools and workplaces not only to women but to LGBTs. The creation of “Safe Spaces” for women and LGBTs is long overdue.

Is it misplaced optimism to think that our President shares the same sentiment and will sign the bill into law?

Don’t hold your breath!

To be continued

2nd Front Page BusinessMirror

A12 Monday, February 18, 2019

Govt crafts contingency plan to deal with ASF outbreaks

T

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

HE Philippines has readied a contingency plan that outlines the measures and protocols that the government will undertake to deal with possible outbreaks of the dreaded African swine fever (ASF) in the country.

The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) said it has come up with the third version of its ASF Contingency Plan (ASF-CP) which details the government’s action plan in case of a local outbreak.

“This contingency plan is important as it would determine the procedures that should be undertaken by the government if ever there would be an ASF outbreak locally. This is like the avian influenza protection program,” Dr.

Joy Lagayan, BAI’s focal person for ASF, told the BusinessMirror in an interview.

“The contingency plan outlines the command structure and responsibilities of every concerned stakeholder during an outbreak,” Lagayan added.

BAI OIC-Director Ronnie D. Domingo told the BusinessMirror that the present version of the contingency plan will be updated as needed whenever new information

on ASF becomes available.

Domingo also appealed to stakeholders, especially to Filipino consumers and tourists, to cooperate in implementing the plan.

The BAI has flagged pork products, particularly those brought in by returning Filipinos overseas, as possible carriers of the ASF virus.

The virus could thrive in processed meat products and could be transferred to live hogs.

“It’s on paper but it would need a multisectoral approach in implementing it. If we put x-ray machines, foot baths, but if Filipinos would insist on bringing pork products into the country, then we might still lose the fight against ASF,” Domingo said.

He said meat products from countries that Manila has banned from exporting pork to the Philippines will be confiscated and destroyed. Pork products from other countries should have the necessary sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance.

Requirements

THE BAI said implementing the plan would initially require P41 million for the procurement of laboratory equipment, diagnostic kits and information materials. The amount does not yet include indemnifica-

tion and payment to hired laborers, to strengthen the agency’s capacity in monitoring ASF. “We are still determining the amount, in consultation with higher officials so we will be ready in case there is an outbreak,” Domingo said.

The ASF-CP, a copy of which was obtained by the BusinessMirror, has outlined precautions to be taken to avert the entry of the virus in the country such as an import ban on infected countries, swill feeding and the application of biosecurity measures in ports.

The plan calls for the identification of three zones and the corresponding radius that the government would declare once a farm is positive for ASF: infected zone (1 kilometer from the affected farm); quarantine zone (7 km) and surveillance zone (10 km).

The ASF-CP details the actions to be undertaken in each identified zone, such as closure of farms and slaughtering of affected animals in infected zone, while movement of hogs is limited in quarantine zones.

Some of the provisions of the ASF-CP came from the government’s experience in handling outbreaks of Ebola reston and avian influenza.

P520M in OP budget allocated for senior citizens’commish

W

ITH the expected enactment into law of the creation of the National Commission of Senior Citizens, a lawmaker on Sunday said the government will allocate P520 million for the commission.

Rep. Francisco Datol of Senior

Citizens party-list said the commission has a P520-million allocation in the 2019 national budget under the Office of the President.

With this, Datol asked the Department of Social Welfare and Development to lay the groundwork for its operation at the soonest time.

“Most probably, by the third or fourth quarter of this year, the seniors’ commission would be operational.

T he sea rc h for appointees to t he commission ca n beg in now,” said Datol, vice chairman of t he House Senior Cit i zens

committee.

Datol also said, “unlike like most agency charters, this law has six commissioners to represent different geographical regions.”

“This commission is an opportunity to show that seniors still have some of the best years of their lives ahead of them. That they can serve in the commission and urgently take action on their constituents’ concerns,” Datol said.

Adopt Senate version

NORTHEAST MONSOON AFFECTING THE WHOLE COUNTRY as of 4:00 am - February 17, 2019

TO avoid delay in implementation, Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo recently assured the senior citizens that the House will adopt the Senate version on the creation of the National Commission of Senior Citizens.

House Bill 8837 seeks to create the National Commission of Senior Citizens, provide for its functions, abolish the National Coordinating Council and Monitoring Board and amend for the purpose Republic Act 7432, as amended and appropriate funds therefor.

Both the House and the Senate have passed the bill on the senior citizens national commission on third reading.

“In order to speed up the sending of the bill to the President for his signature, on May 20 after election when we convene, the House will adopt the Senate version so that there will be no more delay, after which we will send the consolidated version, which is the Senate version, to the Office of the President,” she said.

Meanwhile, A r royo recommended another oversight committee hear ing after May 20 to call those who will do the implementing rules and regulations, namely, the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, League of Cities of the Philippines, League of Municipalities of the Philippines and other stakeholders to do the first draft of the IRR. “So that as soon the President signs the bill, they can proceed to do the official draft of the IRR,” the Speaker said. Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

www.businessmirror.com.ph

U.S. STILL THE NO. 1 REMITTANCE SOURCE FOR THE PHILIPPINES

By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

D

ESPITE stricter rules on immigration and labor policies, the United States remained to be the top country source of remittances to the Philippines in 2018, latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed.

Remittances that came from the US amounted to $9.986 billion in end-2018, making up more than a third or about 34.5 percent of the total remittance inflows to the country during the year.

Analysts had earlier raised concern on the possible effect of US President Donald Trump’s protectionist policies and immigration laws in the US on the level of remittances from the US to the Philippines.

But remittances in 2018 proved to be resilient, as Filipino migrant workers in the US were still able to grow their remittances by 6 percent compared to the level of cash they sent back home in 2017.

Saudi Arabia is the secondlargest remittance source during the year, with $2.23 billion in cash sent to the Philippines during the year. This represents 7.7 percent of the total remittance stock of the country in 2018. This is followed by the United Arab Emirates with $2.04-billion remittance flows to the Philippines in 2018.

Singapore is the fourth-largest remittance source in 2018, with cash flows from Filipino migrant workers in the country to the Phil-

Andaya. . .

Continued from A1

pa ang halagang hindi nababayaran ng DBM sa mga utang na ito [This is DBM’s debt to government contractors, which swelled to more than P100 billion at the end of 2018.

Until now, the amount DBM has failed to pay the contractors remains huge],” Andaya explained.

But Diokno said DBM is not aware how Andaya got his figure, noting that the department just released P64 billion for accounts payable of the DPWH. He refuted Andaya’s new wave of accusations, saying the Duterte administration has the “reputation for honoring its contractual obligations.”

“Unlike in the past, when settlement of APs [accounts payable] takes months, even years, we settle them within reasonable period.

That’s the essence of annual cashbased budgeting.

That’s why we are now attracting big, reputable contractors,” Diokno said in a text message to the BusinessMirror.

APs refer to the amount of shortterm debt or money owed. In this case, by the government to the contractors for projects completed.

Despite opposition from some lawmakers, the DBM is still pushing for the cash-based budgeting system, which it said will enhance the efficiency of national government disbursements.

Kickbacks?

IN his statement late on Friday, Andaya had said this “gargantuan amount of payables” forces DPWH contractors to “cough up kickbacks just to be paid for completed infrastructure projects.”

Andaya quoted his sources as saying the release of payment from the DBM to DPWH varies per engineering district. Some districts were paid 10 percent only, others 30 percent. “Depende sa lagayan. ‘Yung hindi naglalagay [It depends on the bribery—those who don’t pay bribes at

ippines amounting to $1.85 billion in 2018. Japan follows with $1.5-billion remittances during the year.

Filipino migrant workers from the United Kingdom also sent a significant amount of remittances back home in 2018, with $1.497-billion cash flows during the year, making them the sixth-largest country source for remittances in 2018.

Total cash remittances to the Philippines hit $28.9 billion in 2018, registering a 3.1-percent growth from the previous year. The growth in cash remittances was supported by the transfers from both landbased and sea-based overseas FIlipino workers, which grew by 2.8 percent and 4.6 percent from 2017, respectively.

“Cash remittances in 2018 remained strong amid political uncertainties across the globe. This is evident in Asia, the Americas and Europe, which grew annually by 12.3 percent, 9.7 percent and 7.7 percent, respectively,” the BSP said.

“The growth in these regions made up for the 15.3-percent decrease in remittances from the Middle East, partly due to the continued repatriation program of the government,” the central bank added.

The BSP noted limitations to remittances by data source, however, as a practice of some remittance centers abroad is to course remittances through correspondent banks. Most of these correspondent banks are in the US.

all get] zero payment,” the congressman said, claiming that notices of cash allocation were given in lump sum, and discretion was given to regional directors, so some contractors “have to resort to bribery.”

‘Govt, private employees not paid’

DPWH casuals were also not paid their salaries for three months and were only given payment last week, while 99 percent of the contractors were still not paid fully for the completed projects, according to Andaya.

A persistent failure to pay salaries can critically affect the daily lives of these employees and can also prompt some of them to resign and claim constructive dismissal.

“In short, the DBM has resorted to rationing of payments. If there was rice shortage before, now there is cash shortage, thanks to Sec. Diokno,” he added.

The congressman then warned that legitimate contractors might not continue bidding for infrastructure projects due to fears that the government could not pay them on time and might make it to the point that banks will be demanding payments.

“A contractors’ revolt is possible.

The Build, Build, Build program may turn out to be Stop, Stop, Stop program, courtesy of Sec. Diokno.

Given this scenario, an economic slowdown is imminent,” Andaya added.

Diokno, however, insisted that the DBM has released the equivalent of one fourth of the DPWH’s 2018 budget since the budget is reenacted. “How it will allocate the budget is the agency’s concern—not DBM’s,” he said.

On Thursday, President Duterte also admitted in a speech that the lack of skilled workers is also hampering the government’s massive infrastructure program.

The government has vowed to usher in a golden age of infrastructure as it aims to roll out 75 flagship infrastructure projects under its Build, Build, Build program. With a report from Bernadette D. Nicolas

Editor: Efleda P. Campos

Companies BusinessMirror

Monday, February 18, 2019

B1

Ayala Land must grow 17% p.a. to earn ₧40B by 2020

By VG Cabuag

P

@villygc

ROPERTY developer Ayala Land Inc. needs to grow at least 17 percent for the next two years to achieve its target of reaching P40 billion in income by 2020.

Bernard Vincent O. Dy, the company’s president and CEO, said its 2020 target is within striking distance, but it will all depend on how fast the Philippine economy will grow in order to absorb the company’s expansion, composed mainly of putting up more shopping malls, offices, resorts and mixed-use areas across the country.

“For 2019 we’re hopeful the economy will grow to continue to support our growth,” he said.

The company set the goal using 2013 as its base year when the company’s income was at P11.7 billion.

Last year the company’s income grew 16 percent to P29.24 billion, from the previous year's P25.3 billion.

Revenues were up 17 percent to P166.24 billion, from P142.29 billion in 2017.

For the fourth quarter alone, net income rose 13 percent to P8.4 billion from the previous P7.4 billion, while

ETERNAL CHAPELS Naga City Mayor John G. Bongat (first row, second from left) leads the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the blessing and inauguration of the Eternal Chapels in Naga City. With him are (first row, from left): Eternal Chapels Chairman and CEO D. Edgard A. Cabangon, Roberto Obiedo, Eternal Plans Inc. Chairman T. Anthony C. Cabangon and Caceres Archbishop Rolando J. Tria Tirona. See related story on B2

revenues grew 7 percent to P46.5 billion, from the previous P43.3 billion.

The company said it will spend P130 billion in capital expenditures, 18 percent higher than the previous year’s P110 billion.

Augusto Cesar D. Bengzon, Ayala Land chief finance officer, said 41 percent of this year's capex will be for residential development, 23 percent for leasing projects, 15 percent for land acquisition and the remaining

will be for general corporate purposes. Bengzon said the company may file a P50-billion shelf registration debt with the Securities and Exchange Commission within the next two weeks.

The amount to be raised this year will be a combination of those secured from the banks and bond offering. Last year the company launched P139.4 billion worth of residential and office for sale projects. Reservation sales reached P141.9 billion, 16 percent higher than P122 billion of the previous year, driven by strong demand from local and overseas Filipinos who accounted for 82 percent of total sales. Net booked sales grew 14 percent to P110.8 billion, from P96.9 billion the previous year.

Revenues from the sale of residential lots and units rose 18 percent to P94.6 billion in 2018, while revenues from the sale of office spaces reached

P11 billion, 16 percent higher driven by bookings from One Vertis Plaza in Vertis North, Quezon City and The Stiles East Enterprise Plaza in Circuit Makati.

The company opened three new malls in 2018, namely Circuit Mall in Makati with 52,000 square meters of gross leasable area (GLA), Capitol Central Mall in Bacolod with 67,000 sq m and One Bonifacio High Street in Taguig with 23,000 sq m.

This brings the total GLA of shopping centers to 1.90 million sq m at the end of 2018. Revenues from shopping centers reached P19.9 billion last year, 13 percent higher than a year ago.

B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Monday, February 18, 2019

Mobile banking to grow from tie-ups with e-money

T

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

HE mobile-banking industry is expected to see “greater integration” in the coming years, as more and more banks introduce their own digital services, and this, an industry player said, will result in greater financial inclusion in the long run.

Joseph Lim, a vice president at Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), said mobile-banking services may be more prevalent in the coming years, as more and more banks integrate their services in the

digital space through partnerships with electronic money issuers such as GCash.

“In general, they are going to bring more of these services online, and we’re going to see greater inte-

gration moving forward—and that’s something that excites us because we see ourselves as a partner of banks to bring financial services to everyone,” he said.

Just this Friday, Mynt, the digital financial services arm of Globe Telecom Inc., unveiled a new service that allows users to transfer funds from their GCash wallet to banks listed in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas-led (BSP) Instapay portal.

There are over 30 banks that are included in the new service, which virtually removes the need to queue for a banking transaction, as fund transfers can now be done digitally.

“Fund transfers used to be a long, bogging process where customers will just wait for their turn on the

cashier just to have money delivered onto another account. With GCash’s new feature, over 15 million customers can now transfer funds to more than 30 banks for free, and without taking hours,” Mynt President Anthony Thomas said.

He said fund transfers are an integral part of the Philippine financial ecosystem, as it is used for sending money for personal purposes such as for family needs, bills payments, or even paying online sellers for products ordered on social-media platforms.

GCash is pushing for the development of the e-money industry in the Philippines, as it aims to help the Central Bank reach its target of migrating 20 percent of financial transactions to noncash means by 2020.

ETERNAL CHAPELS CELEBRATES INAUGURATION IN NAGA CITY STOCK-MARKET OUTLOOK LAST WEEK

SHARE prices fell last week after investors decided to cash in on their gains, with the main index returning back to the 7,900-point level.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) dropped 162 point to close at 7,908.89 points.

“This is the first time the index dropped more than 2 percent since its rally in mid-November of last year,” said Christopher Mangun, research head at Eagle Equities Inc. “This could be attributed to profit-taking after the massive inflows we have seen in the last few weeks. The main index failed to stay above the psychological support of 8,000,” he said.

Foreign investors were net sellers at P141.59 million, while the average daily value of trade for the week was at P6.76 billion.

Most of the subindices were down with the exception of the Property index that gained 38.85 points to 4,036.7.

The broader All Shares index fell 73 points to 4,823.32; the Financials index gave up 61 to 1,786.39; the Industrial index shed 220.88 to 11,457.29; the Holding Firms index dropped 131.07; the Services index was down 50.8 to 1,568.54; and the Mining and Oil index plunged 246.71 to 8,492.91.

For the week, losers led gainers 135 to 96 and 18 shares were unchanged.

Top gainers were Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp., Vista Land and Lifescapes Inc., TKC Metals Corp., Manila Mining Corp. B, 8990 Holdings Inc. and Lorenzo Shipping Corp.

Top losers were Concrete Aggregates Corp. B, Asiabest Group International Inc., Macay Holdings Inc., Roxas and Co. Inc., PH Resorts Group Holdings Inc. and Berjaya Philippines Inc.

THIS WEEK

SHARE prices may go either way this week as investors will decide based on the result of corporate earnings for 2018.

“Market gauges are likely to form a new base as 2018 results are released, especially among large-cap stocks. Possibilities for monetary authorities to maintain their status quo on interest rates might gain support, pending the US Fed’s next card given the latest US retail spending data,” broker 2TradeAsia said.

It said investors are cautious with local elections coming in, “especially for a market that’s in search for a firmer direction on pending economic policies.”

Mangun said foreign inflows may slow down after the massive inflows seen since the beginning of the year.

“The PSEi has been trading sideways within the range of 7,800 and 8,100 for the last few weeks and it may continue to do so for a few more weeks. This could also be classified as consolidation which strengthens the market as it builds more momentum for more upside growth in the longer term,” he said.

STOCK PICKS

BROKER Regina Capital and Development Corp. gave a hold recommendation on Lucio Tan-led Philippine National Bank.

“With earnings soon to be disclosed, the Lucio Tan-led thrift bank PNB can finally close a chapter, with 2018 results almost certain to clock in at double-digit profit growth, coming from the industry-leading 66-percent jump in the three quarters of 2018,” it said.

“Now, investors are looking into what PNB can offer in 2019, given the normalization in 2018 from the low base of prior years,” it added.

PNB shares closed at P48.30 apiece. The broker gave a target price on the stock at P60 per share.

The broker gave a buy recommendation on LT Group Inc., the holding firm of most businesses of Tan. “Generally, LTG’s business segments have managed to perform strongly during the first nine months of 2018. The only weak performer in the conglomerate’s portfolio is Asia Brewery. Its beverage segment was affected by the sugar-excise tax and has experienced a lower volume, dragging profitability during the period,” it said.

LTG shares on Friday closed at P15.30 apiece. VG Cabuag

T

HE Eternal Chapels Mortuary and Chapel Services at Eternal Gardens in Barangay Balatas, Naga City, had its blessing and inauguration last Saturday, February 16, 2019.

Naga City Mayor John G. Bongat headed the local government officials who graced the event. They were welcomed by Eternal Chapels executives, led by Chairman and CEO D. Edgard A. Cabangon.

A thanksgiving Mass was concelebrated by Most. Rev. Rolando J. Tria Tirona, OCD, DD, Archbishop of Caceres, and Fr. Eric Bobis, followed by the blessing of the hearses, four viewing chapels, the mortuary facility and the chapel office.

Bongat thanked the Cabangon Family and the Eternal Group for choosing Naga City as the site of their investments in the Bicol region.

Cabangon thanked Archbishop Tirona and the guests for gracing

the event. He also thanked the Eternal sales team for their unwavering support.

Designed by Arch. Lerma E. Balolong, Eternal Chapels Naga is the second full-service mortuary and chapel of the company to open, following Eternal Chapels Cagayan de Oro, which started operations in 2017.

Also present at the blessing and inauguration of Eternal Chapels Naga were its officials, namely D. Antoinette C. Cabangon-Jacinto, treasurer; Jaime B. Bangalan, vice president for Mortuary and Chapel Operations; Marvin C. Timbol, vice president for Finance; Jose Antonio V. Rivera, vice president for Marketing, and Richard B. Bringas, branch manager.

Eternal Chapels is part of the ALC Group of companies founded by the late Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua.

briefs

N.E.A., D.I.C.T. URGE STRONG SUPPORT FOR N.B.P.

The National Electrification Administration (NEA) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) are strongly pushing for the colloboration among electric cooperatives, local cable television operators and telecommunication companies to support the government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP). The NBP offers high-speed and affordable broadband in remote rural areas because they are mainly unserved. The collaboration would involve the co-use of cables or allowing one to tap the existing infrastructure of the other in order to bring broadband connectivity into the countryside. Lenie Lectura

SMART CLAIMS PROVIDING ‘CONSISTENT’ MOBILE SERVICES IN DEC

SMART Communications Inc. claimed to have provided “consistent quality” in terms of mobile services in December, citing data from Canadian crowd-sourced mobile data company Tutela. Smart Vice President Mario G. Tamayo said Tutela reported that Smart scored 91 percent in terms of “basic consistent quality,” and 48.8 percent in the “excellent” category. Globe Telecom Inc. scored 89.3 percent and 23.8 percent, respectively. Tutela uses a metric called “consistent quality score,” which essentially tracks the percentage of instances where users experience basic and excellent quality connections in a specific network or country. Lorenz S. Marasigan

M.M.F.C. TIES UP WITH SAP FOR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

MULTI-M Food Corp. (MMFC) has partnered with SAP as it shifted to digitization to transform operations and sustain its provision of quality food products with reliable customer service.

Last January, the company launched the so-called Project SAPFIRE aimed at improving operations, finance, inventory, sales and supply chain while managing its growth strategy and expansion into new markets. Roderick L. Abad

Editor: Efleda P. Campos

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

February 15, 2019

Net Foreign Stocks Bid Ask Open High Low Close Volume Value Trade (Peso) Buy (Sell) FINANCIALS

ASIA UNITED 58.15 59.25 58.15 59 58.15 58.15 19850 1158527.5 BDO UNIBANK 137.5 138 139 139.4 136.4 137.5 2731190 375490817 BANK PH ISLANDS 88.6 88.75 90 90.15 88.5 88.6 1923760 171868253.5 CHINABANK 27.95 28 27.9 28 27.75 27.95 78500 2190280 EAST WEST BANK 12.78 12.8 13 13.08 12.74 12.8 1626200 20925232 METROBANK 81 81.2 82.35 82.45 81 81 2461510 200579967.5 PB BANK 13.82 13.9 14.1 14.42 13.9 13.9 47100 667210 PHIL NATL BANK 48.5 48.85 49.25 49.25 48.1 48.5 598300 29226635 PSBANK 59.1 59.4 59 59.5 59 59.1 1030 60940 PHILTRUST 115 120 122 122 112.1 120 70 8421 RCBC 26 26.1 26.6 26.6 26.1 26.1 204600 5344080 SECURITY BANK 171.5 172 176.4 178.5 169.9 171.5 575560 98708386 UNION BANK 62 62.3 63.55 63.55 62 62 18400 1156015.5 BRIGHT KINDLE 1.43 1.48 1.43 1.49 1.41 1.48 200000 287850 BDO LEASING 2.27 2.3 2.29 2.3 2.27 2.27 716000 1626070 COL FINANCIAL 17.1 17.2 17.18 17.18 16.8 17.1 7140800 121475298 FIRST ABACUS 0.63 0.66 0.66 0.66 0.66 0.66 151000 99660 FERRONOUX HLDG 4.5 4.55 4.6 4.6 4.39 4.55 477000 2155400 IREMIT 1.47 1.5 1.45 1.59 1.39 1.5 239000 348700 MEDCO HLDG 0.49 0.53 0.495 0.57 0.495 0.5 15934000 8437280 MANULIFE 760 800 760 760 750 760 210 158750 NTL REINSURANCE 1.28 1.3 1.32 1.32 1.27 1.3 3250000 4215840 PHIL STOCK EXCH 185 186.8 185 185 185 185 620 114700 VANTAGE 1.15 1.16 1.18 1.18 1.14 1.15 111000 128120

INDUSTRIAL ALSONS CONS 1.56 1.57 1.4 1.59 1.4 1.56 15180000 23189410 ABOITIZ POWER 35.95 36 37 37 36 36 1256300 45547090 BASIC ENERGY 0.246 0.25 0.25 0.255 0.245 0.25 2840000 703260 FIRST GEN 20.8 20.85 21.25 21.4 20.5 20.8 3329800 69334630 FIRST PHIL HLDG 72.85 72.9 73.8 73.8 72.9 72.9 294600 21511061.5 MERALCO 360 361 365.6 366 359.4 360 425320 153336328 MANILA WATER 27.05 27.25 26.95 27.1 26.9 27.1 274300 7421180 PETRON 6.77 6.78 6.8 6.91 6.76 6.78 12130300 82221939 PETROENERGY 3.69 3.72 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 182000 673400 PHINMA ENERGY 1.29 1.3 1.3 1.31 1.28 1.29 15394000 19889120 PHX PETROLEUM 11.12 11.3 11.2 11.5 11.1 11.3 1098600 12413948 PILIPINAS SHELL 46.65 46.8 47 47 46.55 46.65 628900 29344290 SPC POWER 6.3 6.35 6.36 6.36 6.28 6.35 52000 328079 VIVANT 16.04 16.98 16.04 16.98 16 16.98 11700 195972 #NAME? 16.56 16.66 16.22 16.72 16.22 16.66 1850700 30732140 BOGO MEDELLIN 92 97 97 97 97 97 160 15520 CNTRL AZUCARERA 16.6 17.26 17.2 18.4 16.52 16.52 70700 1249818 CENTURY FOOD 16 16.14 15.94 16.2 15.92 16 1622400 26088414 DEL MONTE 6.61 6.8 6.72 6.72 6.62 6.62 29500 197682 DNL INDUS 11.6 11.64 11.7 11.7 11.6 11.6 1162700 13,522,320( EMPERADOR 7.62 7.65 7.63 7.72 7.6 7.62 5320300 40488460 SMC FOODANDBEV 91 91.25 92.6 92.6 90.5 91.25 335290 30549614 ALLIANCE SELECT 1.05 1.06 1.08 1.08 1.02 1.05 8439000 8833370 GINEBRA 26.5 26.95 26.5 26.5 26.5 26.5 2000 53000 JOLLIBEE 316 317 314 317 311.2 316 820960 258044220 LIBERTY FLOUR 42.45 - 42.1 42.2 42.05 42.2 900 37915 MACAY HLDG 14 14.2 14.78 15.5 13.5 14.2 208900 2993780 MAXS GROUP 12.7 12.86 12.9 12.9 12.6 12.72 212900 2707454 MG HLDG 0.222 0.224 0.234 0.234 0.221 0.221 6640000 1501720 PEPSI COLA 1.37 1.38 1.43 1.44 1.34 1.38 15147000 20847090 SHAKEYS PIZZA 12.5 12.52 12.7 13 12.5 12.52 66400 837614 ROXAS AND CO 2.15 2.16 2.11 2.21 2.11 2.16 709000 1534270 RFM CORP 4.7 4.84 4.72 4.72 4.7 4.7 500000 2350080 ROXAS HLDG 3.02 3.07 3.05 3.1 3.02 3.02 78000 237700 SWIFT FOODS 0.132 0.139 0.13 0.14 0.13 0.14 1870000 253490 UNIV ROBINA 140.5 142 142 142.3 140.3 140.5 694570 97824220 VITARICH 1.72 1.73 1.76 1.76 1.7 1.72 3956000 6842940 Err:509 63.5 68.8 64 64 63.5 63.5 420 26789 CONCRETE B 71 80 72.5 72.5 71 71 650 46485 CEMEX HLDG 2.45 2.48 2.52 2.55 2.43 2.45 9682000 24076910 DAVINCI CAPITAL 6.11 6.38 6.08 6.38 6.08 6.38 41100 256716 EAGLE CEMENT 15.8 15.94 16 16 15.8 15.96 474900 7503702 EEI CORP 8.26 8.4 8.47 8.47 8.08 8.4 319000 2658092 HOLCIM 9.21 9.26 9.55 9.56 9 9.21 1772400 16580392 MEGAWIDE 18.08 18.1 18.4 18.4 18.06 18.08 4234800 76,607,760( PHINMA 8.93 9.35 9.12 9.35 8.92 9.35 2500 22970 Err:509 1.36 1.38 1.64 1.76 1.28 1.38 52649000 83324170 VULCAN INDL 1.39 1.42 1.4 1.43 1.38 1.4 2777000 3889510 #NAME? 129.9 130 130 130 126.1 129.9 330 42422 CROWN ASIA 1.84 1.88 1.86 1.9 1.79 1.89 1055000 1924400 Err:509 4.34 4.5 4.34 4.34 4.33 4.33 50000 216780 MABUHAY VINYL 3.51 3.69 3.34 3.89 3.34 3.69 355000 1298660 PRYCE CORP 6.02 6.1 6.02 6.1 6 6.1 412800 2477315 #NAME? 41.6 43.95 42 43 41.6 43 700 29520 GREENERGY 3.15 3.16 3.23 3.23 3.15 3.15 6739000 21380450 INTEGRATED MICR 12.5 12.52 12.82 13.14 12.38 12.52 1391200 17696778 IONICS 1.77 1.78 1.75 1.8 1.75 1.78 398000 704260 PANASONIC 5.94 6.17 5.92 5.92 5.92 5.92 2500 14800 SFA SEMICON 1.41 1.43 1.42 1.45 1.42 1.43 310000 447400 CIRTEK HLDG 29.65 29.9 30 30.65 29.5 29.9 286400 8562100

HOLDING & FRIMS Err:509 0.83 0.84 0.81 0.84 0.78 0.83 38575000 31360560 ASIABEST GROUP 24.75 24.9 27 27.45 24.7 24.9 629600 16250205 AYALA CORP 926.5 930 933 934.5 920.5 930 282370 261684970 ABOITIZ EQUITY 62.75 63 63.95 63.95 62.7 63 572790 36060714.5 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 13.66 13.8 14.3 14.3 13.66 13.66 6548900 90833350 ANSCOR 6.51 6.59 6.32 6.59 6.32 6.51 9400 60613 ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.81 0.84 0.84 0.84 0.84 0.84 322000 270480 ATN HLDG A 1.42 1.43 1.47 1.47 1.41 1.42 6720000 9619510 ATN HLDG B 1.42 1.44 1.47 1.47 1.42 1.44 1822000 2622630 Err:509 7.38 7.4 7.5 7.5 7.38 7.4 273000 2020568 DMCI HLDG 12.12 12.2 12.12 12.22 12.1 12.12 4433400 53762256 FILINVEST DEV 12.52 12.62 12.68 12.8 12.5 12.62 134200 1688966 Err:509 1048 1050 1070 1070 1038 1048 133110 139410380 HOUSE OF INV 6.07 6.14 6.14 6.14 6.07 6.07 13000 79050 JG SUMMIT 63.25 63.4 65.8 66 62.65 63.25 1082090 68597212.5 JOLLIVILLE HLDG 5.51 5.55 5.55 5.55 5.55 5.55 3500 19425 KEPPEL HLDG A 4.51 5.55 5.42 5.43 5.41 5.43 1600 8681 #NAME? 0.6 0.63 0.62 0.63 0.59 0.63 1561000 944370 LOPEZ HLDG 5.26 5.29 5.27 5.3 5.26 5.29 340600 1797733 LT GROUP 15.18 15.2 15.42 15.54 15.16 15.2 1726600 26337388 Err:509 0.58 0.59 0.58 0.59 0.58 0.59 68000 39740 Err:509 4.84 4.85 4.89 4.91 4.84 4.85 18120000 88021760 PACIFICA 0.05 0.051 0.04 0.058 0.04 0.051 2473300000 129343700 PRIME ORION 2.7 2.72 2.82 2.82 2.69 2.72 635000 1730900 PRIME MEDIA 1.25 1.28 1.18 1.36 1.18 1.28 2698000 3464430 Err:509 1.38 1.43 1.39 1.45 1.37 1.44 248000 348340 SYNERGY GRID 450 497.8 489 499 489 499 270 133090 SM INVESTMENTS 980 983 999 999.5 968.5 983 420680 410774415 SAN MIGUEL CORP 161 161.9 162 162.1 160 161.9 291390 46986615 SOC RESOURCES 0.8 0.82 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.8 1457000 1197370 SEAFRONT RES 2.32 2.6 2.79 2.79 2.6 2.6 14000 37590 TOP FRONTIER 274 279 275 280 275 280 330 92198 Err:509 0.27 0.275 0.255 0.285 0.255 0.27 30020000 8157700 ZEUS HLDG 0.335 0.34 0.365 0.365 0.335 0.34 26790000 9153750

PROPERTY Err:509 0.89 0.92 0.91 0.93 0.88 0.92 1287000 1158410 ANCHOR LAND 10.62 11.06 10.7 10.7 10.6 10.64 9800 104172 AYALA LAND 44.35 44.4 44.85 44.9 43.9 44.4 13515400 600147325 ARANETA PROP 1.85 1.88 1.81 1.89 1.81 1.85 147000 269400 BELLE CORP 2.5 2.53 2.55 2.55 2.46 2.53 1709000 4297410 A BROWN 0.79 0.8 0.81 0.81 0.78 0.8 1359000 1074310 CITYLAND DEVT 0.92 0.93 0.94 0.95 0.91 0.93 283000 263660 CROWN EQUITIES 0.25 0.255 0.25 0.255 0.25 0.255 6360000 1610250 CEBU HLDG 6.42 6.48 6.42 6.48 6.42 6.48 60200 389337 CEB LANDMASTERS 4.05 4.14 4.1 4.19 4.03 4.05 1434000 5823490 CENTURY PROP 0.5 0.51 0.51 0.52 0.495 0.51 13594000 6814325 Err:509 0.425 0.43 0.41 0.45 0.405 0.425 13070000 5664200 DOUBLEDRAGON 22.2 22.25 22.1 22.5 21.75 22.2 767800 16931725 DM WENCESLAO 9.96 10.04 10.2 10.2 9.86 9.96 1551900 15444394 EMPIRE EAST 0.51 0.53 0.5 0.53 0.5 0.53 1674000 866510 EVER GOTESCO 0.141 0.147 0.14 0.145 0.133 0.145 910000 125470 FILINVEST LAND 1.53 1.54 1.55 1.56 1.53 1.53 9775000 15026110 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.23 1.24 1.23 1.26 1.23 1.24 1166000 1438800 8990 HLDG 11.02 11.14 11.18 11.24 10.9 11.14 1215000 13431592 PHIL INFRADEV 2.21 2.23 2.22 2.25 2.2 2.21 3377000 7477830 Err:509 0.85 0.87 0.84 0.85 0.84 0.85 267000 226890 MEGAWORLD 5.06 5.08 5.2 5.2 5.06 5.06 10723200 54660227 MRC ALLIED 0.435 0.44 0.425 0.435 0.42 0.435 25190000 10777500 PHIL ESTATES 0.48 0.485 0.455 0.53 0.445 0.485 43490000 21694600 Err:509 2.82 2.85 3.1 3.1 2.81 2.82 6156000 18020040 ROBINSONS LAND 22.4 22.5 22.9 22.9 22.15 22.5 2174400 48991235 PHIL REALTY 0.49 0.495 0.495 0.5 0.485 0.49 970000 474800 ROCKWELL 2.05 2.06 2.11 2.11 2.05 2.06 342000 708940 SHANG PROP 3.13 3.15 3.15 3.15 3.13 3.15 435000 1369860 STA LUCIA LAND 1.34 1.38 1.41 1.41 1.33 1.38 1819000 2436910 SM PRIME HLDG 38.3 38.5 39 39 37.8 38.5 6896800 264710905 STARMALLS 6.56 6.57 6.36 6.75 6.25 6.56 2568600 16744794 SUNTRUST HOME 0.81 0.82 0.7 0.95 0.7 0.81 12456000 10923860 Err:509 6.19 6.2 6.2 6.29 6.19 6.2 6033800 37438255

SERVICES Err:509 22.6 22.65 23.3 23.3 22.5 22.65 202900 4635880 GMA NETWORK 5.78 5.8 5.82 5.82 5.78 5.8 22700 131540 MANILA BULLETIN 0.91 0.93 0.85 1.14 0.82 0.91 198572000 203930070 MLA BRDCASTING 14.24 17.36 17.98 17.98 16.02 16.02 6500 105140 GLOBE TELECOM 1920 1945 1968 1972 1920 1920 41850 81468715 PLDT 1188 1190 1238 1238 1170 1190 150540 179467230 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.042 0.044 0.041 0.052 0.041 0.042 445600000 20858100 DFNN INC 7.23 7.55 7.21 7.55 7.21 7.55 11100 80251 IMPERIAL 2.01 2.1 1.9 2.12 1.89 2.01 167000 336710 ISLAND INFO 0.14 0.143 0.134 0.159 0.134 0.14 133230000 19545580 ISM COMM 6.33 6.34 6.13 6.33 6.03 6.33 6670600 40955902 JACKSTONES 3.17 3.37 3.33 3.46 3.16 3.38 214000 717070 NOW CORP 3.1 3.11 3.16 3.16 3.1 3.1 2121000 6610930 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.44 0.445 0.45 0.455 0.44 0.445 12370000 5509800 PHILWEB 3.24 3.26 3.47 3.69 3.2 3.24 8039000 27495430 2GO GROUP 13.18 13.2 13.18 13.34 13 13.18 53500 701894 CEBU AIR 86.9 87 87.5 87.9 86.9 87 94100 8191989.5 CHELSEA 6.39 6.4 6.52 6.52 6.39 6.4 2015100 12953287 INTL CONTAINER 114.9 115 116.5 118.3 113.7 115 2615570 301750686 LBC EXPRESS 15.52 15.98 15.7 16.38 15.5 15.52 263900 4090960 LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.91 0.92 0.99 1.01 0.89 0.92 4736000 4505240 MACROASIA 19.18 19.22 19.14 19.36 19.1 19.22 977300 18775564 METROALLIANCE A 2.15 2.19 2.2 2.38 2.1 2.15 1358000 3066960 METROALLIANCE B 2.11 2.2 2.25 2.3 2.11 2.11 69000 153130 PAL HLDG 12.16 12.2 12.72 12.72 12.14 12.2 329500 4085724 HARBOR STAR 2.72 2.74 2.77 2.77 2.69 2.74 2142000 5805580 ACESITE HOTEL 1.32 1.36 1.31 1.38 1.31 1.32 189000 253100 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.066 0.067 0.068 0.068 0.066 0.067 65120000 4325580 DISCOVERY WORLD 2.12 2.31 2.23 2.42 2.23 2.34 123000 279670 WATERFRONT 0.73 0.74 0.75 0.76 0.71 0.74 4326000 3168900 CENTRO ESCOLAR 7.68 8.38 8.39 8.39 8.39 8.39 1400 11746 IPEOPLE 11.16 11.24 11.16 11.28 11.16 11.28 15000 168380 STI HLDG 0.77 0.78 0.78 0.79 0.77 0.77 4364000 3387030 BERJAYA 3.03 3.04 3.1 3.1 3.01 3.04 944000 2872060 BLOOMBERRY 11.68 11.7 11.96 11.96 11.5 11.7 26731200 313590118 PACIFIC ONLINE 9.27 9.51 9.3 9.3 9.3 9.3 5400 50220 LEISURE AND RES 3.33 3.37 3.43 3.45 3.31 3.33 397000 1328530 MANILA JOCKEY 4.74 4.85 4.84 4.84 4.84 4.84 1000 4840 PH RESORTS GRP 6.34 6.44 6.35 6.48 6.34 6.34 119600 766514 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.95 0.96 1.02 1.02 0.95 0.95 31152000 30308360 TRAVELLERS 5.59 5.62 5.68 5.68 5.56 5.6 747700 4181294 METRO RETAIL 2.76 2.8 2.73 2.82 2.73 2.8 1833000 5120470 PUREGOLD 46.7 47 47.7 47.8 46.2 46.7 1561700 73045025 ROBINSONS RTL 85.5 85.55 86 86.15 85 85.5 778880 66547426 PHIL SEVEN CORP 132.9 133 133 133 132.8 132.8 880 116896 SSI GROUP 2.37 2.38 2.34 2.38 2.32 2.37 6730000 15882050 WILCON DEPOT 14.54 14.6 14.92 14.96 14.12 14.6 5025500 73224502 APC GROUP 0.465 0.47 0.475 0.475 0.46 0.47 4820000 2255200 EASYCALL 15.12 15.34 15.12 16 15 15.34 523500 8031060 GOLDEN BRIA 355 359 359 359 355 359 1350 484530 IPM HLDG 7.22 7.23 7.22 7.23 7.2 7.22 6000 43271 PAXYS 3.32 3.44 3.36 3.44 3.36 3.44 2000 6800 PRMIERE HORIZON 1.45 1.46 1.4 1.46 1.33 1.45 52245000 73655440 SBS PHIL CORP 8.63 8.9 8.98 9.02 8.32 8.9 651000 5734062

MINING & OIL ATOK 13.68 13.9 13.92 14.14 13.6 13.96 27600 384786 APEX MINING 1.51 1.52 1.53 1.55 1.5 1.51 4032000 6104950 ABRA MINING 0.0021 0.0023 0.0023 0.0023 0.0022 0.0023 359000000 791900 ATLAS MINING 2.95 2.98 2.95 3.05 2.95 2.96 91000 269700 BENGUET A 1.4 1.45 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1000 1400 COAL ASIA HLDG 0.32 0.325 0.365 0.37 0.32 0.32 11660000 3934350 CENTURY PEAK 2.1 2.14 2.1 2.14 2.1 2.14 178000 379800 DIZON MINES 8 8.14 8.12 8.14 7.93 8.13 4300 34815 FERRONICKEL 1.45 1.47 1.47 1.49 1.45 1.45 2021000 2966150 GEOGRACE 0.3 0.305 0.315 0.32 0.305 0.31 3870000 1186700 LEPANTO A 0.123 0.127 0.128 0.13 0.122 0.127 4590000 572000 LEPANTO B 0.13 0.134 0.134 0.134 0.134 0.134 80000 10720 MANILA MINING A 0.0087 0.0089 0.0084 0.0088 0.0084 0.0088 29000000 252500 MANILA MINING B 0.0084 0.009 0.0086 0.0086 0.0086 0.0086 1000000 8600 MARCVENTURES 1.1 1.11 1.08 1.11 1.06 1.1 574000 624140 NIHAO 1.13 1.14 1.1 1.13 1.08 1.13 274000 304570 NICKEL ASIA 2.65 2.67 2.65 2.7 2.64 2.65 2834000 7592480 OMICO CORP 0.78 0.8 0.82 0.86 0.7 0.78 19666000 15456510 ORNTL PENINSULA 1.01 1.03 1.08 1.12 1 1.03 3393000 3540480 PX MINING 4.08 4.16 4.2 4.25 4.08 4.08 2322000 9565320 SEMIRARA MINING 23.15 23.7 23.3 23.7 23.05 23.7 1137400 26375990 UNITED PARAGON 0.0082 0.0087 0.0086 0.0088 0.0084 0.0086 42000000 359800 ORNTL PETROL A 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 3200000 38600 ORNTL PETROL B 0.012 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.012 0.012 6000000 74500 PHILODRILL 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 5400000 64800 PXP ENERGY 14.3 14.32 15 15.5 14.28 14.32 1122200 16435546

PREFFERED HOUSE PREF A AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF SMC FB PREF 2 FGEN PREF G FPH PREF C GTCAP PREF B LR PREF MWIDE PREF PNX PREF 3A PCOR PREF 2A SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

95.95 460.2 482 97 991 103 430.8 899 0.99 99 102 971.5 75.1 76.3 73.5 72.1 75.3 72.95 72.15 73.4

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR GMA HLDG PDR

20.75 5.61 1.95

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ITALPINAS 4.69 XURPAS 1.87

118

20910 563670 1209320 -2671216 -38695422 632 1725100 -231411 -17609820 40468 38914530 6140 10213074 -459150 884398 -19118260 12974530 255400 -131969.9999 -93994890 -635260 89100 -16784 70900.0002 2760 49441460 -549480 208347 -823579.9999 -36700 -121500 1272155 7462500 -4888050 189566 -193370 -25500 -6814015 -273550 198750 1185500 9625355 34550 57120 -44146780 -102822 416600 -23257626 -28766790 55552165 -13200 -422790.0001 -564267 -312190 -3700 9930 3824643 -7174078 95667195 5219118 146854 -65480 -19800 2517 -470090 -129300 -110951490 3340 262170 -450964 1673330 -6488375 -46549677 88988 3182190 14174454 -141000 -25936 1939620 -88800 -1502230 -26400 888790 22000 -1368600 -44640 15650 -1332470 -13923560 1269720

96.5 475 498 98.4 994 104 431 900 1 101.3 102 971 75.5 76.4 73.9 72.15 76.8 73.5 74.25 73.5

96.5 475 498 98.4 994 104 431 900 1 101.3 102 971 75.5 76.4 73.9 73 76.8 74 74.25 73.5

95.95 475 498 98.4 993 104 430.8 900 0.99 96.1 102 971 75.1 76.4 73.5 71.5 76.8 73 73 73.4

95.95 475 498 98.4 993 104 430.8 900 0.99 101.3 102 971 75.1 76.4 73.5 73 76.8 73 73 73.4

2860 50 10 500 20 210 100 4050 273000 660 970 20 440 42000 1980 18370 200 57120 400 4280

274604 23750 4980 49200 19870 21840 43090 3645000 272440 65818 98940 19420 33124 3208800 145893.5 1316030 15360 4170600.5 29450 314472

-

21 5.75

21 5.75

21.1 5.75

20.7 5.75

21 5.75

40700 30000

848610 172500

2110 -

1.99

1.94

2

1.92

1.95

173000

334080

-

4.7 1.88

4.6 2

4.69 2.06

4.6 1.85

4.69 1.88

402000 36248000

1874100 69750160

-8651990

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

-448080 -17170630 -35466745 -1530844 -86415120 1144700 1733408 -83180 429620 -12460990 -107896 -151122 24080302 -382896 110544 2,429,734.0003) 309001 -5404190 873660 -43359924 577710 -2240 541340 502622 -75470 -35912853 -248650 -437969.9997 -7277532 106660 5561718 2,880,255.9996) 9350 315480 56600 111230 70140 -54025 2223520 -2362722 -1044080

96 475.8 498 98.4 993 104 469 900 1 102 102.4 1000 75.5 76.5 73.85 73 76.6 73 73.7 73.5

WARRANTS LR WARRANT

35326659 -67705782 557485 -912240 -10623078 -322000 2533405 -57956421 -227525 11400 741740 -104000 -

118.5

118.8

119

118

118

18340

2174435

291484

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Monday, February 18, 2019

B3

SSS cites jump in 2018 member contributions

T

By Rea Cu

@ReaCuBM

HE Social Security System (SSS) has reported that it registered a jump in its total member contributions for 2018 of 13.89 percent amounting to P181.92 billion, on the back of “strengthened collection efforts.”

“We are very pleased that we have ended the year 2018 on a positive notch,” SSS President and CEO Emmanuel F. Dooc said.

“Contribution collection comprised more than 86 percent of

our total revenue last year.”

Dooc said the SSS recorded total member contribution in 2017 at P159.72 billion.

Based on the SSS’s unaudited financial statement, total

r e v e nu e s f o r 2 01 8 r e a c h e d P212.57 billion, which grew 6.02 percent from the P200.50 billion recorded in 2017.

Total expenditures also increased 5.33 percent to P189.84 billion compared to the P180.23 billion recorded in the previous year.

Under the agency’s expenditures, benefit payments amounte d to P 18 0.0 8 bi l l ion f rom P170.69 billion in 2017, following the adjustments in Employees’ Compensation (EC) benefits in the middle of the year, which contributed largely to the increase in expenditures.

Meanwhile, the agency’s operating expenses settled at P9.76 billion registering a slight uptick of 2.3 percent from the P9.54 billion recorded a year ago.

BSP welcomes new Central Bank Act

By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

T

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas welcomed the enactment of the new Central Bank Act over the weekend, saying the new provisions will align the BSP further with international best practices.

BSP Governor Nestor A. Espenilla Jr. issued a statement following President Duterte’s signing into law of Republic Act 11211, or “An Act Amending Republic Act 7653, Otherwise Known as the ‘New Central Bank Act’, and for Other Purposes.”

“The BSP appreciates the support of the Office of the President, the Senate and the House of Representatives in passing the law that bolsters the BSP’s capability to promote the stability of prices and the financial system,” Espenilla said. “The amendments to the BSP Charter are both timely and attuned to a fast-evolving market landscape.”

According to Espenilla, the new BSP Charter embodies a package of reforms that will further align its operations with global best practices, improve the BSP’s corporate viability, and enhance its capacity for crafting proactive policies amid rising interlinkages in the financial markets and the broader economy.

The new law authorizes the increase in BSP ’s capitalization from P50 billion to P200 billion, which shall be sourced from dividends declared by the BSP in favor of the national government.

Under the new BSP Charter, the BSP is also exempt from taxes on income derived from its governmental functions.

“These reforms place the BSP in a stronger position to pursue its price and financial stability mandate amid a growing economy and the increasing sophistication of the financial system,” Espenilla said in a statement.

R A 11211 also restores the

Central Bank’s authority to issue debt papers as part of its regular operation.

“This gives the BSP greater flexibility in determining the timing and size of its monetary operations,” the BSP governor said.

In terms of mandate, the law removes money supply and credit levels as basis for determining monetary policy.

“The focus on these indicators has declined among central banks over the years, as fostering price stability now considers a broader set of indicators,” Espenilla said.

Also among the salient points of the new law include the wider coverage of institutions under BSP supervision to include money service businesses, credit granting businesses and payment system operators.

“This puts the BSP in a strategic position to address potential risks arising from the linkages of banks and these financial entities,” Espenilla said.

Labor group alarmed over ‘more power’ given to officials of SSS

A

LABOR group called for the inclusion of safeguards against arbitrary premium hikes in the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the newly signed Republic Act (RA) 11199 or the Social Security System (SSS) Rationalization Act. Federation of Free Workers (FFW) Vice President Julius H. Cainglet expressed concern over the provision of RA 11199 giving the Social Security Commission (SSC) the power to adjust SSS premium rate without resorting to a law.

“It’s a bit dangerous, as one of the built-in safeguards against unbridled increases in premium contributions [were] just removed,” Cainglet was quoted

in a statement as saying. “This is the formula for destruction.

Giving more power to a commission whose members do not represent the interests of its main contributors—its members.”

FFW, together with other members of the Nagkaisa labor coalition, has been questioning the composition of the SSC, which they claimed does not genuinely represent the interest of labor and even employers’ groups.

Cainglet said as a precaution against “unbridled” increases, he said other stakeholders, and not just the SSC, should craft the IRR for RA 11199.

He added the guidelines should include a mechanism, wherein stakeholders could oppose a

SSS premium hike.

“Opposition by trade unions to an increase should be enough to prevent them from implementing an increase,” Cainglet added.

President Duterte signed RA 111 on February 7 in an effort to prolong the viability of the SSS fund.

Among the salient provisions of the new law is allowing the SSC to increase contributions based on the result of an actuarial study of the SSS fund.

It also makes it mandatory for overseas Filipino workers who are below 60 years old, as well as tasked the SSS to come up with an unemployment insurance for its members, who were involuntarily displaced. Samuel P. Medenilla

DBP loan aids CamSur electric cooperative

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TATE-OWNED Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the Camarines Sur III Electric Cooperative Inc. (Casureco III) recently signed a P624-million loan agreement in support of the electric co-op’s various programs aimed at improving its services to more than 82,000 households, a top official said.

DBP President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo said the loan will be used to finance the electric cooperative’s initiatives to improve power distribution and reduce systems loss as well as the training of its personnel.

The approved loan to Casureco III brings to three the number of electric cooperatives in Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte that received DBP’s support. The majority of the water districts in the Bicol region are also funded by the DBP. Casureco III covers Iriga City and the towns of Nabua, Bato, Buhi, Balatan, Bula and Baao, with a combined population of around 412,450. It has accomplished 100-percent electrification of all 229 barangays in its areas of coverage. Incorporated in 1975, the electric cooperative was upgraded

by the National Electrification Administration to Category C in 2016 and Category B the following year because of its compliance with key performance standards.

Casureco III maintains deposits with DBP Iriga. The electric cooperative has also availed itself of other DBP services such as payroll servicing, deposit pickup, e-Gov facility and salary loan program for its employees. A DBP automated teller machine is also installed at the Casureco III office to facilitate the delivery of electronic banking services to its officers, employees and customers.

“As you can see, benefit payment was P9.39 billion higher than last year. Increase in the number of benefit claims rose by an average of 7 percent in the last six months of the year,” Dooc said. “The implementation of the EC benefit adjustment also contributed to the increase in benefit disbursements along with the release of the 13th-month pension of qualified pensioners and their dependents.”

Last year, the SSS announced the release of P442.38 million for the pension adjustment of EC pensioners following President Duterte’s approval in May. According to the SSS, more than P442.38 million was dis-

bursed to 17,619 EC pensioners for the additional benefit of P1,150 per month starting January 2017 until October 2018. This includes the 13th- month pension for 2017 and for the additional P425 per carer’s allowance month starting May 2018 to October 2018.

T he SSS said its f inancia l standing remained well-managed with total resources amounting to P507.32 billion for 2018, which grew slightly by 0.48 percent than the 2017 year-end level of P504.87 billion.

“We hope to continue this positive growth performance in terms of our collections this year,” he said. “We are hopeful, especially with the anticipation of the pass-

ing of the SS Act of 2018, to continue to post positive growth performance and further serve our members and pensioners quality programs and privileges.”

Over the weekend, Duterte signed into law the bill seeking to amend the charter of the SSS in a bid to ensure the longterm viability of the state-run pension fund.

The measure aims to increase monthly contributions from the current 11 percent to an additional 1 percent starting on the year of implementation until it reaches 15 percent in 2025. There will also be a gradual adjustment of the minimum and maximum monthly salary credit, among others.

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HAITI PRESIDENT TO UNVEIL ECONOMIC MEASURES TO QUELL VIOLENT PROTESTS

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ORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti—Haitians on Friday vow to keep protesting until President Jovenel Moise resigns, despite his announcement of upcoming economic measures designed to quell more than a week of violent demonstrations across the country.

Moise said during a televised address late on Thursday that he would not surrender the country to armed gangs and drug dealers, and he accused people of freeing prisoners to kill him. It was the first time Moise had spoken since the demonstrations began, and he made another call for dialogue with the opposition.

“I heard the voice of the people. I know the problems that torment them.

That’s why the government has taken a lot of measures,” he said. “I asked the Prime Minister to come and explain them and implement them without delay in order to relieve misery.”

He said Prime Minister Jean-Henry Ceant would share details of the new economic measures on Friday, but none were announced as protesters once again clashed with police in the Port-au-Prince neighborhood of Delmas. Unrest also was reported in cities, including Gonaives and Mirebalais, while opposition leaders said they would join in and head to Moise’s home.

Protesters remain angry about skyrocketing inflation and the government’s failure to prosecute embezzlement from a multibillion dollar Venezuelan program that sent discounted oil to Haiti. Few believe the government will take any steps to alleviate the crisis.

Widler Saintil, a 35-year-old shop owner, said he has been forced to reduce the amount of food he eats because he can’t afford to buy as much milk, bread, sugar, rice or beans as before. He also has been unable to work or send his two children to school.

“The situation has gotten worse,” he said, adding that he will take part in the demonstrations until Moise resigns.

Protesters also continued to block roads across Haiti as food, water and gas became scarce and schools, businesses and government offices remain closed.

Louis Didie Herold, who oversees Haiti’s National Ambulance Center, told Radio Vision 2000 that the center would likely not be able to provide service after Friday because of gas shortages. Meanwhile, a hospital in Desjardines north of the capital said it was running out of oxygen and medicine.

Moise was sworn in as president in February 2017 for a five-year term and promised to fight corruption and bring investment and jobs to one of the least developed nations in the world. His swearing-in marked Haiti’s return to constitutional rule a year after ex-President Michel Martelly left office without an elected successor amid waves of opposition protests and a political stalemate that resulted in suspended elections.

Moise is a businessman from northern Haiti and had never run for office until Martelly handpicked him in 2015 to be the Tet Kale party candidate.

On Thursday, the US Department of State issued a travel advisory warning people not to travel to Haiti because of crime and civil unrest. It recalled all nonemergency US personnel and their families and warned that it had limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in the Caribbean country.

The US government said in a statement that it supported Moise’s call for dialogue and urged people to express themselves peacefully.

“We also encourage the full implementation of sound economic policy measures for the benefit of the Haitian people,” it stated, adding: “We urge the government to redouble its efforts in fighting corruption and in holding those implicated in the PetroCaribe scandal accountable.”

Meanwhile, the Canadian embassy in Port-au-Prince has been temporarily closed, and officials said they’re trying to fly Canadians home, including 113 tourists staying at a Haitian resort.

Some tourists and missionary groups along with foreign doctors and nurses have been unable to leave Haiti because protests and barricades have blocked access to the airport, according to social-media posts.

Chris Bessey, with Catholic Relief Services in Haiti, said in a phone

interview that their offices have remained closed since February 8 as a result of the demonstrations and that non-Haitian staffers have flown home.

“Essentially, we’re stopped in terms of our program, which is devastating because the need is even greater than it was before,” he said. AP

Merkel defends Iran de

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UNICH—German Chancellor Angela Merkel drew lengthy applause on Saturday for her spirited defense of a multilateral approach to global affairs and support for Europe’s decision to stand by a nuclear deal with Iran.

US Vice President Mike Pence was not among the impressed, however, and he doubled down on American criticism of Europe.

Merkel’s comments at the Munich Security Conference, an annual gathering of world leaders and top global defense and foreign policy officials, followed days of acrimony between the US and Europe over Iran.

Merkel told the group—which included the largest US delegation ever with dozens of members of Congress, Ivanka Trump, Pence and others—that she shared American concerns about many Iranian efforts to increase its power in the region.

But while she said the split with the US over Iran’s nuclear agreement “depresses me very much,” she defended it as an important channel to Tehran, stressing the need for international diplomacy.

“I see the ballistic missile program, I see Iran in Yemen and above all I see Iran in Syria,” she said. “The only question that stands between us on this issue is, do we help our common cause, our common aim of containing the damaging or difficult development of Iran, by withdrawing from the one remaining agreement? Or do we help it more by keeping the small anchor we have in order maybe to exert pressure in other areas?”

Germany, Britain, France, China, Russia and the European Union have been trying to keep the 2015 deal with Iran alive since President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled out of it last year.

The deal offers Iran sanctions relief for limiting its nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency has said that, so far, Tehran is sticking to the agreement.

But the US argues that the deal just puts off when Iran might be able to build a nuclear bomb. Speaking after Merkel, Pence pushed for Europeans to end their involvement in the nuclear deal, calling Iran “the leading state sponsor of terrorism in the world.”

“The time has come for our European partners to stop undermining US sanctions against this murderous revolutionary regime,” Pence said. “The time has come for our European partners to stand with us and with the Iranian people, our allies and friends in the region. The time has come for our European partners to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.”

Merkel’s speech was warmly received, while Pence’s was met with polite applause.

“This was a big and say-it-as-itis Merkel speech,” Daniela Schwarzer, the director of the German Council on Foreign Relations think tank, wrote on Twitter. “Minutes of applause and standing ovations for a powerful commitment to picking up the pieces of a shattered [world] order and working on a European and [international] order that creates win-win situations.”

Former US Vice President Joe Biden, who was in office when the Iran nuclear deal was negotiated, went out of his way to thank Merkel and defended the Iran deal

as a “significant agreement.”

Biden told the group that many Americans did not agree with the Trump administration’s “America first” approach.

“You heard a lot today about leadership, but in my experience, leadership only exists if somebody and others are with you,” he said after Pence’s address. “Leadership in the absence of people who are with you is not leadership.”

In her speech, Merkel also questioned whether it was a good idea for the US to withdraw troops quickly from Syria “or is that not also strengthening the possibilities for Iran and Russia to exert influence there?”

Turning to nuclear disarmament, Merkel said the recent US announcement that it was pulling out of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty was “inevitable” because of Russian violations.

Moscow followed suit by also withdrawing from the treaty, strongly denying any breaches. The US administration was also worried that the pact was an obstacle to efforts to counter intermediate-range missiles deployed by China, which is not covered by the treaty.

Merkel noted the treaty was conceived “essentially for Europe,” where such missiles were stationed during the Cold War. She said “the answer cannot lie in blind rearmament.”

“Disarmament is something that concerns us all, and we would of course be glad if such negotiations were conducted not just between the United States...and Russia, but also with China,” she said.

Merkel also defended Germany’s progress in fulfilling north atlantic treaty organization the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) guidelines for countries to move toward spending 2 percent of their gross domestic product on defense by 2024, which has been criticized as too slow. And overall, she rejected the idea of a go-italone foreign policy.

She said it’s better to “put yourself in the other’s shoes...and see whether we can get win-win

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solutions together.”

Pence stuck to the US line that the 2-percent Nato guideline is a strict commitment rather than a target, saying while more alliance members have met the criteria, “the truth is, many of our Nato allies still need to do more.”

He also reiterated American opposition to the joint German-Russian Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, which Washington fears will make Europe overly reliant on Russian gas.

“The United States commends all our European partners who’ve taken a strong stand against Nord Stream 2,” he said.

“And we commend others to do that same.”

He added: “We cannot ensure the

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defense of the West if our allies grow dependent on the East.”

Merkel defended the pipeline under the Baltic Sea, dismissing the American concerns as unfounded and assuring Ukraine that it won’t get cut off from Russian fuel.

Speaking as Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko looked on, she told him his country would continue to be a transit country for Russian gas even after the pipeline is complete.

Merkel noted that Europe also has enough terminals to receive more liquefied gas from the US, among other options.

“There’s nothing that speaks against getting gas from the United States, but to exclude Russia is the wrong strategic signal,” she said. AP

Anti-Opec bill sponsor expects ‘positive reception’ from Trump

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GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel delivers her speech during the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany on Saturday, February 16, 2019. KERSTIN JOENSSON PHOTO VIA AP

HE congressman behind a bill that would allow the US to sue the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) for manipulating oil prices expects President Donald Trump to back the effort once it clears Congress.

“My sense is that the administration is waiting to determine whether we can actually get it through both houses of Congress before they spend any capital on it,” US Representative Steve Chabot, an Ohio Republican, said in an interview on Friday. “I am cautiously optimistic we will be able to get it through both houses and get it to the president’s desk.”

The “No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act” quickly cleared its first hurdle when it was approved by the House Judiciary Committee earlier this month, but a floor vote hasn’t been scheduled yet. The proposed law would subject the Opec to possible antitrust action by the Justice Department through an amendment of the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, the law used more than a century ago to break up the oil empire of John Rockefeller.

Congressional support for the bill intensified last fall as crude prices neared a four-year high on the back of production limits set by Opec, and Trump publicly blamed Opec for high pump prices in the US. While the producer group hasn’t set prices since the 1980s, its members periodically agree to boost or cut their production to keep the oil market in balance.

A 2007 version of the so-called “Nopec” bill passed the House and Senate by large margins, only to face a White House veto. Other attempts to approve the legislation have met similar fates. The difference this time is that Trump has consistently bashed the oil cartel on Twitter for keeping prices artificially high.

“This year, we seem to have a sympathetic White House,” Chabot said. “I hope the president will listen to the right people and be with us.”

The Justice Department is still reviewing the legislation, and the White House hasn’t taken a stance on it. Both the Chamber of Commerce and the American Petroleum Institute oppose the bill, arguing that the role of the US as the world’s biggest oil and gas producer has increased its leverage against Opec and provided protection against price volatility.

Prices have fallen from last year’s but that hasn’t shaken Chabot’s resolve.

“These things are temporary and can change in the blink of an eye,” he said. “Prices in general seem to go up very quickly whereas they go down very slowly.”

Passage doesn’t necessarily mean that any lawsuits are actually brought against the cartel, Chabot said. But the threat may be enough to “keep Opec nations more in check so they’re reasonable and not manipulating the world market.”

Companion legislation targeting Opec has also been introduced in the Senate. Bloomberg News

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Nuclear fears haunt leaders with US-Russia pact’s demise P

RESIDENT Donald J. Trump’s decision to pull out of a landmark arms control treaty with Russia is turning the worst fears of a dangerous weapons race into reality.

The United States and its allies are laying the groundwork to deploy new intermediate-range missiles in Europe for the first time since they were banned in a 1987 treaty, a move that would prompt a tit-for-tat Russian response. With a second nuclear pact likely to expire in two years, the risks of confrontation are growing.

Jens Stoltenberg, Nato’s top civilian, cited recent Russian deployments and evoked a Cold War-style threat of nuclear destruction at a global conference of security and defense officials this weekend in Munich, the baroque German metropolis that’s one of Europe’s richest cities.

“These missiles are mobile, easy to hide and nuclear-capable,” Stoltenberg said. “They can reach European cities, like Munich, with little warning.”

As US officials accused Russia of provoking the crisis by violating the accord, German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced a sense of alarm that’s spreading in Europe as the two big powers trade blame.

“We’re stuck with the consequences,” she said on Saturday. At the same time, “blind rearmament can’t be the answer.”

Cold War echoes

THE looming standoff puts Washington and Moscow on a path back to the era of the 1950s and 1960s when the two superpowers were rapidly building up their strategic forces.

It risks destroying decades of arms control efforts under which the rivals accepted limits on their arsenals in the wake of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, which took them to the brink of a nuclear clash.

“Are we getting closer to the ’60s when we had an uncontrolled Cold War?” said Finnish President Sauli Niinisto. “Are we heading to a situation where we must see that it’s the end of diplomacy?”

Poland, which already hosts US missile-defense systems that have angered Russia, is seen as a potential site to host the American weapons, along with the ex-Soviet Baltic countries and other neighbors. Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said any missile deployment in his country would be decided “collectively by allies.”

If US missiles were stationed right on Russia’s borders, that would be “provocative” and increase the risk of preemptive Russian action, warned Steven Pifer, a former State Department official who’s a fellow at Stanford University.

Clashing versions

THE US has defended its move to pull out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty, accusing Russia of breaking the pact by deploying several battalions of SSC-8 intermediate-range missiles. The weapon is believed by Western military experts to have a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles), which Russia denies.

INF banned any land-based missiles from Europe with a range between 500 and 5,500 kilometers, whether nuclear or conventional.

While the US says it won’t deploy new land-based nuclear weapons in Europe, it’s developing intermediate-range conventional missiles for ground deployment.

“We are now talking next steps,” US Undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security Andrea Thompson said. “We’re talking about conventional systems.”

Intercontinental arsenals

THE concerns about the potential for an armed buildup in Europe are amplified by the fact that New START, the last such arms control agreement still in place, looks set to expire in 2021.

Under New START, which followed from the 1991 START treaty and was signed in 2010, the Russian and US arsenals are restricted to no more than 1,550 deployed strategic warheads on no more than 700 deployed strategic missiles and bombers. Each side can inspect the other’s arsenals 18 times a year.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Munich that Russia is ready to hold talks on extending New START for another five years, while complaining that the Trump administration is unwilling to have any “meaningful consultations” on the issue.

His deputy in charge of arms control, Sergei Ryabkov, warned that the collapse of the treaty “would be another extraordinary shock for the arms control system.”

Back to the ’70s?

“THE most frightening thing is when in the absence of information, the two sides will have to go back to the logic of seeking a military advan-

tage,” said Konstantin Kosachyov, head of the foreign affairs committee of the upper house of Russian parliament. “It means we’ll have to spend vast resources and confront the risk for each other and the entire world of a direct armed clash.”

The INF treaty was a response to a regional arms race that began with the Soviet deployment of SS-20 missiles in the European theater in 1977. The US responded by deploying Pershing II missiles with a similar range. At one point, almost 3,000 intermediate-range nuclear weapons were stationed in Europe and it took a decade to end the standoff.

Closer to Russia

WITH the Iron Curtain gone, the difference is that now the missiles would be deployed in eastern Europe or in former Soviet republics, closer to key Russian political, military and industrial facilities.

The US has proposed replacing the INF with a broader treaty bringing in other military powers, including China. That’s considered unlikely: of China’s 501 land-based missile launchers, 431 would be covered by the INF treaty, so agreeing to a ban on intermediate-range weapons would require destroying 80 percent of this arsenal, according to the Londonbased International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Losing the pact without any replacement would make it impossible for either side to know whether newly deployed missiles are nuclear or conventional, said Francois Heisbourg, a former French diplomat and Defense Ministry adviser. Bloomberg

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Indonesia land-burning fines still unpaid years after fires

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AKARTA, Indonesia—Indonesian plantation companies fined for burning huge areas of land since 2009 have failed to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties meant to hold them accountable for actions that took a devastating environmental and human toll.

The 10 palm oil and pulp wood companies involved in fires owe more than $220 million in fines and the figure for unpaid penalties for environmental destruction swells to $1.3 billion when an illegal logging case from 2013 is included, according to separate summaries of the cases compiled by Greenpeace and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

Indonesia’s annual dry season fires were particularly disastrous in 2015, burning 2.6 million hectares (10,000 square miles) of land and spreading health-damaging haze across Indonesia, Singapore, southern Thailand and Malaysia. The World Bank estimated the fires cost Indonesia $16 billion and a Harvard and Columbia study estimated the haze hastened 100,000 deaths in the region.

President Joko Widodo and other senior officials vowed action but repeated legal appeals by companies taken to court by the environment ministry have dragged the cases out for years.

The ministry has issued statements trumpeted progress in sanctioning companies involved in land fires. But the two companies mentioned in those statements that have paid fines totaling $2 million involved environmental damage from open cast mining, not fires, the ministry’s law-enforcement director-general, Rasio Ridho Sani, told The Associated Press.

Greenpeace Indonesia said the unpaid fines are money owed to the Indonesian people that could pay for large-scale forest restoration and for

health and emergency infrastructure for when the fires strike again.

“By not enforcing these laws, the government is sending a dangerous message: company profit comes before law, clean air, health and forest protection,” forests campaigner Arie Rompas said in a statement on Friday.

In a case that cited fires between 2009 and 2012, palm oil company Kallista Alam appealed its 336-billion-rupiah ($24 million) fine all the way to the Supreme Court and then sought a judicial review of the Supreme Court decision against it.

Fires intentionally set by the company in 2012 to clear land for palm oil tore through the Tripa peat swamp in Aceh on the island of Sumatra, killing wildlife including endangered Sumatran orangutans and blanketed surrounding areas in a thick haze.

Tripa is part of the 2.6-millionhectare (6.4 million acre) Leuser national park, which is that last place on Earth where endangered Sumatran orangutans, tigers, elephants and rhinos share the same wild environment.

When the Supreme Court rejected Kallista Alam’s judicial review, the company appeared to have exhausted all its legal options.

But it avoided payment by getting a legal protection order last year from the Meulaboh district court in Aceh, which is responsible for enforcing the fine, according to a ministry document that details the court’s numerous instances of apparent non-cooperation in the case.

The ministry said it has appealed the order to the Supreme Court.

Activists who said they’d gathered 200,000 signatures on a petition against Kallista Alam protested outside the Meulaboh court in January, media in Aceh reported. Kallista Alam couldn’t be a contacted. The phone number listed for it in an online companies database is inactive. AP

Spain to get third govt in four years amid fragmenting politics

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ADRID—Spain will elect its third government in less than four years after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s fragile socialist government acknowledged on Friday its support had evaporated and called an early general election.

Sanchez’s eight-month-old administration met its end after failing to get parliament’s approval for its 2019 budget proposal earlier this week, adding to the political uncertainty that has dogged Spain in recent years.

“Between doing nothing and continuing without a budget, or giving the chance for Spaniards to speak, Spain should continue looking ahead,” Sanchez said in a televised appearance from the Moncloa Palace, the seat of government, after an urgent Cabinet meeting.

The ballot will take place on April 28. It is expected to highlight the increasingly fragmented political landscape that has denied the European Union country a stable government in recent elections.

The 46-year-old prime minister ousted his conservative predecessor Mariano Rajoy last June, when he won a no-confidence vote triggered by a damaging corruption conviction affecting Rajoy’s Popular Party.

But the simple majority of Socialists, anti-austerity parties and regional nationalists that united against Rajoy crumbled in the past week after Sanchez broke off talks with the Catalan separatists over their demands for the independence of their prosperous northeastern region.

Sanchez saw the Catalan separatists join opposition lawmakers to vote down his spending plans, including social problems he had hoped would boost his party’s popularity.

Sanchez had the shortest term in power for any prime minister since Spain transitioned to democracy four decades ago.

Without mentioning Catalonia directly, Sanchez said he remained committed to dialogue with the country’s regions as long as their demands fell “within the constitu-

WATCHED by the media, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez delivers a statement at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, Spain, on Friday, February 15, 2019. Sanchez has called early general elections for late April, the third such ballot in less than four years. AP/ANDREA COMAS

tion and the law,” which don’t allow a region to secede. He blamed the conservatives for not supporting his Catalan negotiations.

Popular Party leader Pablo Casado celebrated what he called the “defeat” of the Socialists, attacking Sanchez for yielding to some of the Catalan separatists’ demands.

“We will be deciding [in this election] if Spain wants to remain as a hostage of the parties that want to destroy it,” or welcome the leadership of the conservatives, Casado said.

Catalonia’s regional government spokesman, Elsa Artadi, retorted that “Spain will be ungovernable as long as it doesn’t confront the Catalan problem.”

Opinion polls indicate the April vote isn’t likely to produce a clear winner, a shift from the traditional bipartisan results that dominated Spanish politics for decades.

Although Sanchez’s Socialists appear to be ahead, their two main opponents—the Popular Party and the center-right Ciudadanos (Citizens)—could repeat their recent coalition in the southern Andalusia region, where they unseated the Socialists with the help of the far-right Vox party.

Vox last year scored the far-right’s first significant gain in post-dicta-

torship Spain, and surveys predict it could grab seats in the national parliament for the first time.

Vox’s leader, Santiago Abascal, vowed to use the election to “reconquer” the future, a term that refers back to how Spanish Catholic kings defeated Muslim rulers in 15thcentury Spain.

Meanwhile, the Socialists are unlikely to be able to form a new government even if they come to a coalition deal with the anti-establishment Podemos (We Can) party, so a third partner will likely be needed.

Sanchez’s options are limited. On the right, a deal with the Citizens party seemed off the table, as its leader Albert Rivera has vetoed any possible agreement with a Socialist party led by Sanchez himself.

And the prospect of Catalan nationalists joining any ensuing coalition is remote, both in the light of the recent failed talks and the ongoing trial of a dozen Catalan politicians and activists for their roles in an independence bid two years ago.

“The Socialists don’t want an election marked by Catalonia because the issue creates internal division, but right-wing parties will use it as a weapon,” said Antonio Barroso of the Teneo consulting firm. AP

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Trump says he might extend deadline in US-China talks

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EIJING—President Donald Trump said that “there’s a possibility” he would extend a March 2 deadline in trade talks with China if the two countries are closing in on a deal.

Trump made the remarks after two days of high-level negotiations broke up in Beijing on Friday, and the two countries announced plans to resume talks next week in Washington.

The world’s two biggest economies are locked in a dispute over China’s aggressive push to challenge American technological dominance.

The US is scheduled to hike import taxes on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods on March 2. But Trump told reporters that he might extend the deadline “if I see that we’re close to a deal or the deal is going in the right direction.” He had made similar comments on Tuesday.

Earlier on Friday, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told Chinese President Xi Jinping negotiators “made headway” in talks this week in Beijing.

Economists said this week’s two days of talks were too brief to resolve the sprawling dispute that extends to cyber spying and China’s trade surplus. They said Beijing is trying

to persuade Trump enough progress is being made to postpone the penalties.

“I hope you will continue to work hard to promote a mutually beneficial and win-win agreement,” Chinese President Xi Jinping told Lighthizer in a meeting after the negotiations ended, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

The decision to hold more talks suggested they were making progress. But there was no indication of movement on the thorniest dispute: US pressure on Beijing to scale back plans for government-led creation of Chinese global leaders in robotics and other technologies.

“We feel we have made headway on very, very important and difficult issues,” Lighthizer told Xi. “We have additional work we have to do but we are hopeful.”

Xi said Beijing and Washington “share broad mutual interests” in promoting global economic prosperity and stability.

CHINESE President Xi Jinping, center, meets with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer (fifth from left), US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (fourth from left) and delegations from both countries at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday, February 15, 2019. AP PHOTO/ANDY WONG

“We shoulder important responsibilities,” the Chinese leader said.

Washington, Europe, Japan and other governments say Beijing’s industry plans violate its marketopening obligations. Some American officials worry they might erode US industrial leadership.

Trump raised tariffs in July over complaints that Beijing steals or pressures companies to hand over technology. He imposed 25 percent penalties on $50 billion of goods from China and 10 percent on $200 billion.

China retaliated by raising duties on American soybeans and other imports and ordering its companies to find other suppliers. Imports of American goods plunged 41.2 percent in January compared with a year earlier, according to customs data.

Trump agreed on December 1 to postpone further penalties by 90 days while the two sides negotiate.

Once that expires on March 1, the charges on $200 billion of goods are due to rise to 25 percent.

Both governments face growing pressure to make peace as global eco-

nomic growth weakens and the cost to their companies increases.

Beijing has offered to narrow its trade surplus by purchasing more American soybeans, natural gas and other exports. But the government has resisted pressure to cut back development plans it sees as a path to prosperity and global influence.

“From politics to economy to ideology, the United States hopes to intervene in China’s affairs,” said the newspaper Global Times, published by the ruling Communist Party.

Companies on both sides have

been battered by penalties. Foreign manufacturers in China are starting to shift production of goods bound for the US market to other countries to avoid Trump’s tariffs, suggesting they anticipate an extended conflict.

A possible sticking point is Chinese reluctance to agree to an enforcement mechanism demanded by American officials to monitor whether Beijing carries out its promises.

Beijing has tried to deflect pressure by emphasizing China’s growth as an export market. It has announced changes over the past year to open finance and other fields, including allowing full foreign ownership in its auto industry for the first time.

The US delegation also included Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and David Malpass, a Treasury undersecretary who is Trump’s nominee for World Bank president.

The Chinese delegation was led

by Vice Premier Liu He, Xi’s chief economic adviser.

Chinese regulators also have announced plans to improve protection of foreign patents and copyrights.

It is unclear whether that will satisfy Washington and other governments that complain the system is rigged to extract technology from foreign companies and to use official industrial standards to shield Chinese enterprises from competition. AP

Bankers sick of choosing sides between Qatar and Saudi Arabia

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HEN Saudi Arabia cut ties with Qatar in mid-2017, many international bankers chose to chase a potential fee windfall in Riyadh over doing deals with its rich but isolated neighbor.

They’re not willing to pick sides anymore.

Executives from HSBC Holdings Plc., Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and other global banks are intensifying efforts to repair ties with Qatar’s finance ministry and sovereign wealth fund, according to interviews with people close to the lenders and Qatar’s government. While the kingdom remains key for business, some bankers regret diverting their attention from Doha after being blindsided when the Saudis delayed the sale of a stake with oil giant Aramco in July, they said.

“Banks are never fond of picking sides, but decreasing tensions in this affair provide an opportunity for executives to explore normalizing their activity,” said Ayham Kamel, Eurasia Group’s London-based practice head for Middle East and North Africa. “The geopolitical context for the Qatar crisis has changed, and at the very least, the crisis will not move in an escalatory direction.”

Bankers are especially keen to win back the trust of Finance Minister Ali Shareef Al-Emadi, a man who sits on the boards of the country’s biggest bank, national airline and sovereign wealth fund, said one person with direct knowledge of the government. In December, about a dozen managing directors from global banks descended in Doha for the Euromoney conference where Emadi was speaking. Some flew in from Dubai via Oman or Kuwait since direct flights were banned after the feud erupted. Almost none had shown up to the same event a year earlier.

The stakes of doing business with Qatar seemed a lot higher at the time because Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were informally warning bankers that close ties with Doha could have consequences, according to some of the executives who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the subject. Central banks even demanded that lenders reveal their exposure to Qatari clients, people familiar had said.

Along with Bahrain and Egypt, the two countries were several months into an economic, diplomatic and political boycott of Qatar, which they accuse of financing terrorism and cozying up to Iran—allegations Doha denies. More broadly, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s young leader known as MBS, has made enemies with a series of aggressive foreign policies. “MBS has changed the rules of the game in terms of Saudi domestic and economic policy, without much sense of what the new rules are,” said Gregory Gause, a professor of international affairs and a Saudi specialist at Texas A&M University. “That is going to discourage investment. His risk-taking on the international scene is similarly going to cause doubts for international investors.”

“There are deals coming up in Qatar that are too lucrative to miss” For a while, the coercion worked. Bankers had spent years arranging cheap loans and bonds for the kingdom’s borrowers so they’d be favored once more lucrative initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions came to fruition.

With Aramco presumably months away from raising as much as $100 billion in an IPO and another $40 billion in privatizations on the horizon, staying on the fence was risky.

So, while they kept offices and staff in Doha and said nothing publicly about the political quandary, behind the scenes many chose to play it safe and distance themselves from Qatar, people said. Meanwhile, a lot of Qatari business started to be done from London or New York instead of Dubai, the Middle East’s financial hub.

HSBC, traditionally the region’s biggest dealmaker, hasn’t arranged a single public transaction in Qatar since the standoff started in June 2017, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. It worked on 15 bond sales in the country in the previous two years, the data show.

Japan’s Mizuho Bank Ltd. wasn’t as careful. It was hired to help Qatar arrange $12 billion of bonds last year, but later quit the deal because officials from Saudi Arabia’s Debt Management Office made the bank choose which bond it wanted to work on, according to a person with direct knowledge of the events.

The peace offering wasn’t enough—the Saudis ended up kicking Mizuho off their $11 billion Eurobond, too. Mizuho declined to comment. The Debt Management Office didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Not everyone who played both sides got stung. Standard Chartered Plc. arranged $12 billion of bonds for the Qatari government in 2018 and still managed to carve out another $1.4 billion from Saudi issuers. It overtook HSBC as the biggest manager of regional bonds for the first time as a result.

Representatives from HSBC, Standard Chartered and Goldman Sachs declined to comment on how they’ve navigated the political turmoil. Qatar’s finance ministry and the Qatar Investment Authority

didn’t respond to requests to comment.

The tide moved in Doha’s favor when Saudi Arabia did an about-face on the Aramco IPO that many banks were counting for big fee payouts, according to

people familiar. Some privatization plans — the sale of the Riyadh airport, a stake in the stock exchange and others—have also gone nowhere. Even so, bankers prefer to rebuild bridges with Qatar quietly so as

not to jeopardize their Saudi business, people said, especially with the privatization authority hoping to generate about $11 billion from asset sales this year.

Bloomberg News

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VILLAR LEADS DISTRIBUTION OF FISHING BOATS, TRI-BIKES TO BASECO RESIDENTS SUN LIFE FOUNDATION, BANTAY KALIKASAN TIE UP FOR ECO-TOURISM PROJECT

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U N Life Fou nd at ion, t he philanthropy arm of Sun Life Fi n a nc i a l Ph i l ippi nes, joi ns hands with Bantay Kalikasan, the env ironment a l a r m of A BS - CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, for the construction of the Panganiban mangrove-forest boardwalk in Gubat,

Sorsogon, to promote environmental sustainability while boosting income generation for the locals.

Once completed, the Panganiban mangrove-forest boardwalk will provide easier access to the mangrove park and open path for activities like strolling along the white sands of Luneta Island,

visiting the Mangrove Nursery and learning more about crab aquaculture.

T he place w ill be open to the public upon its completion in July, and is projected to boost eco-tourism and provide additional income for the residents.

QuotingSunLifeFoundationPresident Alex Narciso, “Given Sun Life’s f inancia l-literac y thrust, we aim to promote the preservation of nature without compromising the people’s livelihood. This eco-tourism initiative with Bantay Kalikasan perfectly combines both advocacies.”

T he g roundbrea k ing for the Panganiban mangrove-forest boardwalk was recent ly held w ith the following attendance: Narciso, Sun Life Chief Marketing Officer Mylene Lopa, Sun Life Foundation executive director Kristine Millete, along with Bantay Kalikasan Chief Financial Officer Lita Lara, Bantay Kalikasan program director Jen Santos and Bantay K a l i k a sa n c lu ster lead Mikhail Dizon.

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EN. Cynthia Villar led the distribution of fishing boats and tri-bikes to residents of Baseco Compound in Tondo, Manila. Kitchen utensils were also given to three schools in the area, namely, Sen Benigno Aquino Jr. Elementary School, Pres. Corazon Aquino High School and Herminigildo J. Atienza Elementary School.

The distribution of 10 fishing boats, five tri-bikes and utensils was initiated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). BFAR is a partner of Villar and the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (Villar Sipag) in providing livelihood opportunities to Baseco residents through aquaculture.

“We are very thankful for the help and intervention dedicated to the improvement of Baseco and its residents.

Soon, we can all be proud of our hard work and showcase Baseco as a model site for a community rehabilitation project coupled with urban agriculture, aquaculture and other livelihood projects,” Villar said.

The day’s activity also included the planting of 500 mangrove seedlings participated by representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Education, Department of Public Works and Highways, Metro Manila Development Authority, Kabalikat sa Kaunlaran ng Baseco, MBC-DZRH and barangay officials of Gasangan.

Villar, chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Food and the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, also took the opportunity to thank government and private agencies who have been working with her years

before the biggest Manila Bay rehab plan was conceived.

Since 2015 Villar has been returning to Gasangan, Barangay 649 in Baseco, a coastal community along Manila Bay, to conduct monthly cleanup and tree-planting activities, as well as to check on the progress of the construction of toilets.

After Villar raised the issue of poor sanitary conditions in Baseco, the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), City of Manila and Maynilad came together to launch zero open defecation for Baseco Compound project in May 2017.

As one of the densely populated barangays in Manila, Barangay 649 has a total population of 42,908. Of the 7,801 households, 80 percent have no access to a sanitary toilet.

At the beginning of the project, Villar has also taken the initiative to pave the street and build a communal septic tank.

She also sought the commitment of authorities for the regular collection of garbage to prevent solid-waste accumulation in Manila Bay. Under the zero open defecation program, the DOH is the overall lead agency in the construction of 5,000 toilets, with DSWD leading the screening and selection of Pantawid Pamilya partner-beneficiaries for cash-for-work who will serve as the primary work force of the project.

Through the help of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management, Villar established urban gardens, which has been the source of vegetables for residents’ own consumption and livelihood. Recycling projects were also initiated in the area provided by the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission.

EMPOWERING WOMEN, DEVELOPING THE NATION

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HE Asia Women’s Summit 2019, recently held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, focused on empowering women and developing the nation.

Presented by Airspeed and Bio-Oil, the summit gathered a roster of inspiring female powerhouses who shared how they overcame their obstacles while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Speakers shared their own success stories and imparted the valuable lessons that have helped shape them into the strong women they are today.

Among the summit’s speakers were Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, who shared her advocacy for sustainable tourism in the Philippines.

Multiplatinum songwriter Jana Stansfield serenaded the crowd with an empowering song celebrating women, while maritime industry expert lawyer Iris Baguilat focused on employee engagement and satisfaction in the workplace. MFT Group of Companies Chief Executive Officer Mica Tan spoke on family legacy and ABS-CBN Foundation managing director Susan Afan closed off the summit by discussing how empowering women is an important part of nation building.

Another powerhouse female who continues to thrive in a male-dominated industry, Rosemarie P. Rafael, chairman and president of logistics company Airspeed, served as moderator in the morning panel discussion.

The Asia Women’s Summit continues to break boundaries and lift women up year after year, and 2019’s summit was no different. In the words of Romulo-Puyat: “Our nation’s success largely depends on us women. We can fight, we can achieve, we can dream”.

Airspeed is a corporate logistics company focused in freight-forwarding solutions, customs releasing, customized logistics, warehousing and distribution. With its growing network, Airspeed aims to make it happen to all of its stakeholders as it has for over 30 years. Founded in 1985 as an international air freight forwarder, Airspeed is now one of the country’s most trusted and fastest growing logistics brand serving the business-tobusiness and business-to-consumer market.

Visit www.airspeed.ph.

DLSU LIBRARIES, OMF LITERATURE HOLD JOURNALING WORKSHOP, PLANNER LAUNCH

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HE De La Salle University Libraries, in partnership with OMF Literature Inc. held a basic journaling workshop and planner launch at the university’s learning commons on January 29.

Facilitated by Ida Torres, a former teacher with an advertising and marketing career spanning 18 years, the basic journaling workshop was designed for students, faculty members and staff. It tackled how journaling is a means of practicing self-care, making time for reflection and introspection, learning how to manage time, cultivating problem-solving skills and encouraging creativity through small artistic endeavors.

The workshop coincided with the launch of “Whatever is True,” a poetry and praise planner published

by OMF Literature Inc. The planner features writing prompts, poetry, inspirational quotes and a biblereading plan for the entire year. It is the publishing house’s first planner.

Co-organized by the DLSU Libraries, the event is part of an ongoing effort to create an interactive environment that fosters multiple ways of teaching and learning.

YES, THE MOM CAN SHOOT 3S!

By Steve Reed

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The Associated Press

HARLOTTE, North Carolina—The Curry family All-Star Weekend is off to a rousing start—a Curry knocked down a big shot on Friday.

Not surprising, except it was Sonya Curry. Yes, Dell’s wife and the mother of Stephen and Seth showed she also hit a dramatic game-winning shot from deep.

Sonya sank a one-handed, half-court shot—that she took underhanded—to beat the clock and help her three-person team topple squads led by her National Basketball Association (NBA) sons and one led by her daughter in a family shootout during a dedication of a refurbished Charlotte community center.

And she let her sons know about it. Sonya raced around the court after the ball went through the basket as fans in the crowded center cheered. She danced, taunting her sons as they looked on in amazement while her teammate and husband applauded.

“I was trash talking with the kids and I said, ‘me and your pops, we are going to take this thing from you.’ And they were like, ‘whatever, whatever,” Sonya said.

She joked that she now has “bragging rights” as the family’s best shooter, holding up a black-and-gold championship belt with the letters “SC” on it.

“I got the belt,” Sonya proudly proclaimed.

Dell said Sonya practiced the shot last week and “she told me she was going to make it— she called it. I was shocked, surprised, amazed.”

So was Stephen, the Golden State Warriors two-time league MVP who said, “Unbelievable—absolutely unbelievable.”

Seth couldn’t hold back laughter knowing he just got beat by his mom, a former volleyball player—and knowing he’s probably not going to hear the end of it. The Portland guard said afterward “that was a lucky shot, but she knocked it down on the big stage.”

He said he was just happy he didn’t lose to his brother.

The shootout featured that included the Curry children and their families. Each team had to make a layup, a foul shot, two three-pointers from the corner and the top of the key and, finally a half-court shot in the timed event.

It was part of a busy day of All-Star Weekend activities for the Currys in their hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina.

After the community center dedication, Stephen headed 30 miles north to Davidson College, where he cheered on his alma mater against Saint Joseph’s. It wasn’t just polite claps or nods after good plays, he really got into it.

At one point he tipped over a beer under his seat. He gave an incredulous look and pumped his fist when 6-foot-10 freshman center Luka Brajkovic threw a no-look over-the shoulder pass to teammate KiShawn Pritchett for an easy layup. And he clapped to “Cotton-Eyed Joe” at the halftime show featuring kids performing a Wizard of Oz dance routine.

And after Davidson won, Stephen jumped into the student section and posed for a picture with the Davidson men’s swim team—who were wearing nothing but Speedos.

The crowd roared with delight, chanting, “MVP, MVP, MVP.” While Stephen was taking in the Davidson game, Seth was heading downtown to meet with old friends and have some dinner.

Stephen will join younger brother Seth in the three-point shootout on Saturday night at the Spectrum Center and then play in his sixth straight All-Star game on Sunday. Seth is planning on taking in a high-school game at his alma mater, Charlotte Christian, on Saturday and Dell is being honored at the NBA Legends brunch on Sunday.

The fact that Seth is involved makes it extra special. Stephen said that the family group text was “buzzing” when everyone learned Seth was invited to compete in the three-point contest.

Dell isn’t sure what to expect from his highly competitive sons.

“At my daughter’s wedding we played ‘Liar’s Dice’ for about two hours and that was the most competitive thing I have seen in a long time,” the proud papa said with a laugh.

The NBA is accommodating the Currys with extra tickets, knowing how big of a weekend it is for the family. Stephen has his own guest list— separate from the rest of the family—and hopes to limit it to 30 people.

The immediate family is staying in downtown hotels, which Stephen said feels “really weird.”

Some of the out-of-towners will stay at Dell and Sonya’s house while the couple bunks downtown so they can be close to family.

Dell was overjoyed that all of his kids—and their children—made it back to Charlotte.

Stephen is married to Ayesha and the couple has three children. Seth has a child with Callie Rivers, the daughter of NBA Coach Doc Rivers. And the players’ sister, Sydell, who recently married Stephen’s Warriors’s teammate Damion Lee, a two-way player with Golden State, is in town, too.

Dell was beaming about the improvements to the Carole Hoefener Center, which was partly funded by the Currys.

“What makes me the proudest is that all the kids were here,” Dell said of the dedication, “everyone contributed and long after the All-Star game is gone kids in Charlotte will still be able to use the community center.”

Sports

SONYA CURRY (right) steals the show from the hot-shooting Stephen Curry.

BusinessMirror

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| Monday, February 18, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

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SPOTLIGHT ON DAVIS

HARLOTTE, North Carolina—Anthony Davis isn’t completely sure if he’s going to play in Sunday’s All-Star game. He doesn’t know how much the New Orleans Pelicans will have him play the rest of this season.

Or where he’ll play next season. Or where he’ll play the season after that, either.

So Davis, obviously, has a lot of questions.

At All-Star media day, he also had some answers.

Yes, Davis wants to keep playing through the end of the season with New Orleans. No, he didn’t eliminate Boston from the list of cities where he would consider playing. Yes, he will test the free agent market in the summer of 2020. And above all else, big market or small market, he insists that having a chance to win is all that matters going forward.

“It’s time to go play ball,” Davis said.

“That’s what I’m trying to do.”

Davis—provided a shoulder strain doesn’t keep him out— will finally be LeBron James’s teammate on Sunday night, when Team LeBron takes on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Team Giannis in the All-Star Game.

The league’s annual showcase

exhibition always comes with subplots, and this year, the one where Davis just asked for a trade that didn’t come seemed to generate more All-Star weekend buzz than anything else.

“I’m just keeping it real, to be honest,” Davis said while talking with reporters. “I knew that’s all you guys wanted to talk about. I just stated how I feel, I stated my intentions and I go on from there.”

Davis confirmed that there was a list of teams on his preferred get-traded-to list—James’s Los Angeles Lakers, along with the New York Knicks, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Milwaukee Bucks.

He also denied that the Celtics were not on his list, news sure to delight fans in Boston and not the rest of the Eastern Conference.

“They are on my list,” Davis said.

The Lakers unsuccessfully tried to acquire Davis, and the Pelicans aren’t exactly sure what happens now. They fired General Manager Dell Demps on Friday and replaced him on an interim basis with Danny Ferry, a move that Davis said caught him by surprise but also doesn’t change his thinking that a change of scenery is needed. It’s been argued that the Pelicans might be best served not playing Davis, though the National Basketball Association—which has already fined the 2017 All-Star MVP for saying he wanted a trade—would surely come down hard if they sat him for no reason. AP

ANTHONY DAVIS has a lot of questions. AP

SLAM DUNK KING

Oklahoma City’s Hamidou Diallo soars over Shaquille O’Neal on his way to topping the National Basketball Association Slam Dunk contest on Saturday in Charlotte, North Carolina. Diallo beats New York’s Dennis Smith Jr., 88-85 in the finale. Charlotte’s Miles Bridges and Atlanta’s John Collins went out in the first round. He pulls off a dunk that will be talked about for years in the first round—dunking over O’Neal, hanging on the rim by his elbow, then tearing open his jersey to reveal a “Superman” shirt underneath. And then he plucks the ball from Quavo as he goes airborne for the dunk that seals the title. AP

NBA, Fiba bare plans for pro league in Africa C

HARLOTTE, North Carolina—The National Basketball Association (NBA) is bringing a pro league to Africa.

The Basketball Africa League, a new collaboration between the NBA and the sport’s global governing body Fiba, was announced on Saturday. The initial plan is for the 12-team league to begin play in January, and former President Barack Obama is among those who are expected to have direct involvement with the league’s plan to keep growing the game in Africa through the league and other initiatives.

The scope of what Obama’s involvement remains unknown, and it has yet to be determined which existing club teams will be part of the league.

Qualification tournaments will be held later this year to determine those clubs, with teams from Angola, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia expected to be among those taking part. No nation will have more than two teams in the league.

“As we’ve been talking about this concept over the last several months, there’s been a tremendous reception from many of our NBA team owners ... and in addition, several of the partners of the NBA have expressed a strong desire to

work with us in Africa,” Silver said.

Silver said Pepsi and Nike’s Jordan Brand—Charlotte owner Michael Jordan was among the owners in the room where Silver made the announcement—are among the partners who have reached out to the NBA and said they want to be part of the Africa league. Silver also said that Obama, an enormous basketball fan, has told him he wants to “be directly involved with these activities in Africa.”

Silver said talks between the NBA and Obama are ongoing. Obama spoke on a video that was shown during the event where Silver announced the league.

“I hope you know through sport, that if you put in effort, you will be rewarded,” Obama said. “I hope you learn through sport what it means to play as a team, and even if you are the best player, your job is not just to show off but your job is to make your teammates better.”

The NBA and Fiba’s involvement will include financial support and resources toward continued growth of the game

on the continent, as well as providing training for players, coaches and referees and some infrastructure for the new league. Silver said there are 438 companies in Africa that generate more than $1 billion in revenue annually, but that sport there has not seen the same growth—yet.

“Africa is a huge economic engine,” Silver said. “And one place, though, where we haven’t seen enormous economic growth yet is in the industry of sport. And that’s something that we are all particularly focused on.”

The NBA has held three games in Africa since 2015, all of them selling out—two games in Johannesburg, the other in Pretoria. Many of the league’s current players and coaches, along with several legends and Hall of Famers, have been part of those trips.

“I went with them last year,” Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said. “The NBA reaches out across the world.”

The league has an office in South Africa, has helped create 87 learn-and-play facilities in seven African nations, and 13 players who were born in Africa on opening-night NBA rosters this season. The league also built an academy in Senegal that opened nearly two years ago.

“It’s a huge joy to see our partnership with the NBA enter unchartered territory as we work together for the first time to maximize the potential of professional basketball in Africa,” said Andreas Zagklis, Fiba’s secretary-general.

This marks the first time the NBA has been involved with the operation of a league outside of North America. AP

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TRI-Factor up in Clark

THE focus will also be on recent W Express RVF Cup winner Junia Gabasa.

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HE TRI-Factor Asian Series Run-Bike-Run 2019 duathlon event will be launched in Clark on March 31.

The event, one of the qualifying races for the national team to the 30th Southeast Asian Games later this year, is copresented by Clark Development Corp. Bases Conversion and Development Authority.

Competitions will be in the Standard Distance (10-kilometer run, 40-km bike and 5-km run), Sprint Distance (5-km run, 20-km bike and 2.5-km run) and Super Sprint Distance (2.5-km run, 10-km bike and 2.5-km run). The run segments will be held at Clark parade grounds, while cycling will be at Clark Speedway.

“We are happy with the strong reception we got from the local swim-bike-run community in our inaugural event. This partnership with the TRAP [Triathlon Association of the Philippines] will create innovative initiatives in building the sport the country,” said Allan Majadillas, One of a Kind Marketing COO and TRI-Factor Philippines country director.

“We are excited to welcome the alliance with TRI-Factor as we work together to grow and improve our exciting sports of triathlon and duathlon,”TRAP President Tom Carrasco said.

EYES ON TAIWANESE A 31-PLAYER strong Taiwanese contingent sets out for the Champion Philippine Ladies

Amateur Open, all raring to grab the spotlight in the country’s premier championship unfolding on Tuesday at the posh Manila Golf Club in Forbes Park.

Sung You-Chuan, Chiang Su-Er and Lee Shu Fen spearhead the big crew from Chinese-Taipei out to snap the domination of the locals and the Thais in the annual event, which drew an elite international cast, including six each from Singapore and the United States, four from South Korea, three from Australia and two from Japan.

The hosts are fielding in 39 players, headed by defending champion and Asian Games gold medalist Yuka Saso, upbeat of their chances to extend their reign to a fourth straight year but wary of one of

CANLUBANG, LUISITA BRING RIVALRY TO CEBU

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EFENDING champion Canlubang and Luisita renew their rivalry in the 33rd Philippine Airlines Seniors Interclub golf team championships starting February 27 in Cebu City.

Canlubang and Luisita, which have 26

titles between them, are fielding almost the same teams that fought last year in Davao City.

The Laguna-based squad won by eight points over 16-time champion Luisita.

Canlubang will again rely on brothers Abe and Pem Rosal, Rolly Viray, Mari Hechanova,

Abe Avena, Zaldy Villa and Damasus Wong.

Tommy Manotoc, the team’s biggest star, returns after an absence of two years, taking the place of Dave Hernandez.

Luisita, which last won the title two years ago in Bacolod City, is fielding former pro

the strongest fields ever assembled in the annual event presented by Champion and sponsored by Hana Shampoo, EVA Air, San Miguel Corp. and Diamond Motor Corp.

Tipped to back Sung, Chiang and Lee in their title chase in the 54-hole championship organized and conducted by the Womens’ Golf Association of the Philippines are Huang Jo Chan, Wang Ya Chin, Tang Su Nu, Su Daphne, Wang Hsin Yu, Tsai Hsin Hui and Shih Li Mei. Still, the focus will be on Saso and a crack bunch of local aces, including recent W Express RVF Cup winner Junia Gabasa, along with the three young Thais seeking to reclaim the crown last won by compatriot Pimnipa Panthong at Wack Wack in 2015.

Like the rest of the field, 16-yearolds Yosita Khawnuna and Natthakritta Vongtaveelap and Chanettee Wannasaen, who will turn 15 in April, are all primed up for the event, eager to slug it out it with the best and the brightest in three days of top-

Demy Saclot to replace Jingy Tuason.

Other returning Luisita mainstays are Eddie Bagtas, Benjie Sumulong, Rodel Mangulabnan, Raffy Garcia, Chino Raymundo, Edmund Yee and Chito Laureta.

The four-day tournament will be played at the Alta Vista Golf Club and Club Filipino de Cebu.

The last time Cebu hosted the event was in

notch shotmaking and putting.

Koreans Park Eun Suk and Lim Mi Jin also aim to duplicate compatriot Lee Jeong Hwa’s title feat in 2012, while Japanese Airi Mitsuhashi and Ikuko Kito, a regular campaigner on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, also seek to contend in the tournament backed by Cherrylume, Elm’s Kapihan Group, Atty. Gilberto Duavit, G&W Club Shares Inc., Pascual Laboratories, Metro Pacific Corp., Ayala Land Premiere, Venice Godio and Taishan Insurance Brokers Phils.

The other Filipinas vying in the event, supported by the ladies chapters of Alabang, Forest Hills, Tagaytay Highlands, Canlubang and Manila Golf Club with Vermogen, Sports + Action and Sports U channels of ABS-CBN, are Nicole Abelar, Sunshine Baraquiel, Laia Barro, Sophia Blanco, Annyka Cayabyab, Laurea Duque, Sophia Legaspi, Pamela Mariano, Kayla Nocum, Rafaela Singson, Eagle Ace Superal and Rianne Malixi.

2013 when Canlubang edged Luisita by six points.

Much has changed, however, in the roster of both teams, particularly Luisita, which has no carryovers from that 2013 squad.

A total of 108 teams have signed up for the four-to-play, three-to-count tournament, including 60 from abroad.

As in the past, the Molave scoring system will be used. Par is worth three points.

Regulation score is equivalent to 54 points.

This year’s Interclub is sponsored by Asian Air Safari and Radio Mindanao Network. Also extending support are ABS-CBN Global Ltd. (The Filipino Channel), Rolls Royce, Primax Broadcasting Network, UM Broadcasting Network (Mindanao), Fox Sports, GECAS, Boeing and Lufthansa Technik AG. Official hotel is Quest Hotel Conference Center Cebu.

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Monday, February 18, 2019

Team Joola bags T semifinals berth

EAM Joola beat Philippine Army, 3-0, on Saturday to reach the semifinal of the men’s team open of the Ninth Flexible Cup International Table Tennis Championships at the Harrison Plaza Activity Center in Malate, Manila.

World Championships of Pingpong campaigner John Russell Misal bounced back from a sloppy start to beat George Quijano, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-9, and anchor Team Joola’s victory in the tournament organized by the Table Tennis Association for National Development headed by Honorary President Charlie Lim and supported by Flexible Packaging Corp.

Chinese import Chen Lei Xin defeated Kim Ramos, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6, and Alexis Bolante won via walkover against Homer Tiongson as Team Joola

entered the semifinals unscathed.

Also in the semifinals are Indonesia, Hua Ching and University of Taipei. Indonesia—composed of Zahru Nailufar, Bima Abdi Negara and Luki Purkani—scored a 3-0 victory over Malaysia.

National team members Richard Gonzales and Jann Mari Nayre, meanwhile, powered Hua Ching to a 3-0 win over Jade Dragon, while University of Taipei—Huang Yu-Jen, Chen Chun-Hsiang and Sung Min-Hong—overwhelmed Green Paddle, 3-0.

Joola—also composed of Jong “The Asian Killer” Ortalla, Charlie Lim and Philip Uy—downed Malaysia (3-1), Fleet Marine (3-0) and University of Santo Tomas (3-0) in the first round to gain a quarterfinal slot.

HE National University Lady Bulldogs have set a new standard for excellence last year after winning their 80th straight game on the way to retaining the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s basketball crown.

Coached by Pat Aquino and bannered by Finals Most Valuable Player and national team player Jack Animam, the Sampaloc-based school rewrote history by extending its long unbeaten streak and claim a fifth straight championship in Season 81 of the league.

It was the fifth straight year that the team went undefeated, while, at the same time, breaking the longest winning streak in any sport in UAAP history previously held by the Adamson University women’s softball team at 73.

Incidentally, Ria Nabalan and Jhianne Layug played in all of the Lady Bulldogs’ five straight championships.

The remarkable feat is one for the books

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PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR LADY BULLDOGS and the Lady Bulldogs will be bestowed with the President’s Award in the San Miguel Corp.Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Annual Awards Night at the Manila Hotel.

The event, presented by Milo, the Philippine Sports Commission and Cignal TV, will be held on February 26.

“Theirs is an inspiring story of what individual talent coupled with the right chemistry can do. The Lady Bulldogs certainly deserve this accolade, which comes at a time when the PSA also recognizes five young ladies as its cowinners of the Athlete of the Year

award,” said PSA President Eduardo “Dodo” Catacutan of SPIN.ph.

The Lady Bulldogs now join the elite ranks of previous President’s Award winners such as Manuel V. Pangilinan, Gilas Pilipinas 3.0, Ateneo Blue Eagles, NU Bulldogs and pool champions Rubilen Amit, Dennis Orcollo and Lee Van Corteza, among others.

Hidilyn Diaz, Margielyn Didal, and golfers Yuka Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go will receive the highest honor given out by the country’s oldest media organization during the gala night also backed by the Philippine

Basketball Association, Mighty Sports, ICTSI, SM Prime Holdings, Tapa King, Rain or Shine, NorthPort and Chooks To Go. A total of 75 awardees are on the honor roll for the Lifetime Achievement Award, National Sports Association of the Year, Executive of the Year, Special Awards (Mighty Sports Mr. Basketball, Mr. and Ms. Volleyball and Mr. Football), Major Awards, Citations, Tony Siddayao Awards, Special Recognition, Posthumous, Milo Junior Athletes of the Year and Mr. Fan Favorite “Manok ng Bayan” Award.

U.S.T. GALS IN TIGHT WIN

By Ramon Rafael Bonilla

U

NIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) displayed a resiliency the Tigresses would want to wield in Season 81 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines by edging a stubborn Adamson University, 25-21, 25-21, 24-26, 24-26, 15-6 in women’s volleyball action on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The day was supposed to belong to the early showdown between reigning champion De La Salle and Ateneo later in the afternoon, but the Tigresses and Lady Falcons made sure they took a chunk out of the limelight.

Eya Laure sparkled in her seniors debut ATENEO’S Pauline Marie Monique Gaston blocks De La Salle’s Norielle Ipac as her teammate Jolina de la Cruz stands by during their first showdown of the season which the Lady Spikers won, 25-14, 25-17, 16-25, 25-19.

7-ELEVEN TRAIL

Cyclists answer the gun in the 7-Eleven Trail 2019 at the Timberland Heights in San Mateo, Rizal, on Sunday morning.

NONOY LACZA

The Rising RICK OLIVARES | bleachersbrew@gmail.com

BLEACHERS’ BREW ANTON ASISTIO beamed. His team, 1Bataan Risers, had just defeated Zark’s Jawbreakers Quezon City, 21-14, in the Chooks to Go Pilipinas 3x3 League. It was their first win in what would be a four-game sweep en route to the first leg championship that netted the team a leg up on the rest of the league for those prized points to get them a shot at an Olympic slot, as well as P100,000.

The young-looking Asistio with an assassin’s heart sat in an area reserved for the players participating in the tournament. He was surrounded by former foes and even teammates when he was playing for Ateneo.

His teammates—Sean Manganti, Alvin Pasaol and Leonard Santillan—were exchanging high-fives and talking about the match. “The adjustment wasn’t all that difficult,” Asistio revealed.

“Back in college, we had all these scouting reports about Sean, Alvin and Santi. Knowing that really helped the adjustment phase of knowing your new teammates while learning 3x3 ball.”

In taking down Zark’s, Manganti, who balled for Adamson University, was incandescent.

The 6-foot-4 forward out of California is like a throwback. Aside from his now trademark short shorts, his jumper looks so Reggie Miller-ish— full extension, with the knees angled in a certain manner. Manganti scored a bunch of points to earn himself immediate crowd favorite status at the SM Megamall Events Center. Even the hosts—former cager Sudan Daniel and rapper Mike Swift—certified that. “The legend of Sean

‘Short-Shorts’ is just beginning,” dropped Daniel, boxing-clever.

“You have to go with the hot hand,” remarked Asistio. And his teammates gave Manganti the ball. Although he hit the first game’s last points, Manganti would struggle in the next two before finding his groove in the finals, where he even stuffed the ball that had the crowd jumping.

Legend status sealed.

One person who Asistio’s initial impressions were all wrong was Pasaol. “If you look at him, he’s so serious and intense. He’s like that on the court; that’s his game face. But off the court, I have never seen anybody talk so much. Talk as in make jokes, say funny things and keep things light. Alvin has something to say about anything and everything. It’s funny.”

By day’s end, none of the 1Bataan Risers’ opponents were laughing. Following the demolition of Zark’s, the quartet of ex-University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) stars, smashed the Bacoor City Strikers, 21-12, to earn a place in the semifinals. And Pasaol was a force of nature. Just as he did to his UAAP foes, he attacked the rim without a care if the man was much taller than him.

In the semis, they ran up against another crowd favorite, Carga Valenzuela. Entering the semis, no team dropped more crazy dimes, hit booming shots, or simply dazzled the crowd with their game and flair than Valenzuela.

However, come semis, the long day had taken a toll on everyone. And teams had to grind out a

win. It was Santillan’s turn to shine (although it was Manganti who scored the game-winner on a reverse lay-up). “At this time of the day, we’re tired but we want to keep going,” said Asistio after the semis win. “You play a game, then you rest. Play again, rest. Your focus is probably the most important factor right now.”

Although Asistio didn’t score a point in the championship game against Pasig, he played his man, Joshua Munzon, tough. “The game—3x3 ball—is more physical than the conventional five-on-five. Some of the contact here will be an automatic foul in the UAAP. But they give you more leeway here. And if that is what I could contribute by playing Munzon who is bigger and faster than me, then that will help.”

And help it did. His teammates were no less tough or resilient. After Pasig took an early lead and later rallied to come within a point, the Risers’ hung tough at the very end where they fought for every possession until time simply ran out on Pasig, as Bataan held on for a 19-18 win and the first leg championship.

While the quartet of ex-UAAP stars whooped it up by the sidelines, Pasaol grabbed Manganti and touched his head against his head. Not many people saw that. But it was a sign of respect and a way of saying, you’re my brother now.

“You know, I played against these guys,” summed up Asistio of his Risers teammates. “It is one thing to see them do it and it is another thing to be their teammate and see them do their thing and celebrate together. I think it’s a great start not only for our individual dreams, but an Olympic dream or even ours as teammates.”

As the Risers trooped back to their reserved area by the food gallery, Pasaol kept talking.

“Hindi naman ako nagmura,” he said of an earlier incident where he was whistled for a technical foul; one that Pasig was unable to take advantage. “Magandang bawi ‘yung nangyari.

Nakita mo ‘to?” Yada yada yada.

Asistio sank in his seat and laughed. “See what I mean?”

with 17 points built on 13 spikes and three blocks, and Sisi Rondina flashed her veteran smarts to tally 17 points on 15 attacks for UST. The Tigresses went two sets up but lost steam and allowed the Lady Falcons to sway the momentum in the third and fourth sets.

Luckily, the UST side stood held fort in the final set and with five unanswered points, never looked back.

Winning their first game since Season 78, Head Coach Kungfu Reyes heaved a sigh of relief after surviving the two-hour-plus match to the delight of the 15,400 in attendance for the day’s featured duel.

“This is a historic win for us. The game went up and down. Adamson had the breaks of the game in the third and fourth sets but we were

able to finish it strong,” Reyes said.

“We are still learning. This is a test of character,” he added.

For her brilliant performance, Laure expressed her gratitude to the school that honed her from the junior ranks.

“I’m very thankful because I can finally showcase the skill I got from Coach Kungfu from my high-school days,” the 19-year-old Laure said.

Despite trailing in the first two frames, Adamson University showed it could be as unbending in the next two as Bernadette Flora and Christine Joy Soyud pounced on an errorprone UST. Needing only a point to seal the match in the fourth, the Lady Falcons mounted a fightback to force deuce and steal the set.

But that was the best Adamson University could muster as Rondina and Laure took control.

Flora led the Lady Falcons with 14 points on 11 attacks, while Soyud added 13 points.

In men’s play, Adamson University did the reverse against UST to also win in a five sets, 33-31, 23-25, 16-25, 25-15, 16-14.

Paolo Pablico delivered 21 attacks for 23 points, while Lheo Miranda added 13 points on 12 spikes.

Joshua Umandal topscored for the Tigers with 22 points on 19 attacks.

Ateneo downed De La Salle, 25-23, 25-22, 25-15, in the other men’s match. Antony Koyfman had 15 points, while Ishmael Rivera and Chumason Njigha each had 10 points for the Blue Eagles.

Sports BusinessMirror

THE seven holes Tiger Woods completes at Riviera has the gallery in a frenzy. AP

C4

| Monday, February 18, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

TIGER WATCH AT RIVIERA

By Doug Ferguson

L

The Associated Press

OS ANGELES—Tiger Woods had Riviera rocking with cheers that could be heard a half-mile away, three birdies and an eagle in his opening four holes for his hottest start on the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour in nearly 10 years.

On the other side of the course, and still well ahead of him on the leaderboard, Justin Thomas made a 12-foot eagle putt to take a one-shot lead over Adam Scott, who narrowly missed his eagle attempt from 10 feet.

It was the kind of Saturday drama at the Genesis Open that sets the table for the final round, with one big difference.

The third round was just getting started at rain-delayed Riviera.

“There’s so much golf to play,” Scott said.

“It feels like it’s late in the tourney, but it’s only halfway.”

Thomas got a lot done in the eight holes he played on Saturday—six in the morning to complete the second round, two in the twilight to at least leave Riviera with the lead. He nearly

By Tim Dahlberg

The Associated Press

M

ATT KUCHAR could have avoided a lot of damage by keeping his wallet open and his mouth closed.

Like many of golf’s entitled multimillionaires, though, he simply didn’t have a clue.

Not when he paid his temporary caddie $5,000 while picking up the winner’s check of $1.296 million a few months ago in Mexico.

Certainly not when Kuchar defended his miserly ways by suggesting local caddie David Ortiz should be grateful for the crumbs he threw his way.

“For a guy who makes $200 a

MIKAELA SHIFFRIN skis through sickness to capture the slalom title at the world championships and become the first Alpine skier—male or female—to win the same event at four straight worlds. AP

SWEETEST 60 SECONDS FOR SHIFFRIN

A

holed a 9-iron on No. 5 for a tap-in birdie, and then clipped a flop shot from the putting green and over the bunker to make par on the par-3 sixth on his way to a six-under 65. Scott played behind him—he got in nine holes—and matched his 65 to join him in the 36-hole lead at 11-under 131.

Both made tough par saves on No. 2 in the third round. Both hit their tee shots on the next hole, wanting to get in as many holes as possible in superb conditions and to keep on Sunday even a little bit shorter.

But they ran out of light.

Scott always leaves the flagstick in, anyway, but he couldn’t see it from 136 yards away.

Thomas decided to mark his ball in the right rough. Play stopped across Riviera, as Woods chose to mark his ball well short of the green at the par-5 17th, where he will return to try to get up-and-down for par.

The third round was to resume at 6:45 a.m., and then the 76 players who make the cut will head right back out in the same groups.

Thomas got a lot done in eight holes at raindelayed Riviera—six in the morning.

Thomas was at 13-under par through two

holes of the third round.

The seven holes Woods completed had the gallery in a frenzy.

Hours earlier, he made a 25-foot birdie putt from the fringe on his final hole of the second round for a 71 to assure he would make the cut—he ultimately made it with one shot to spare, 10 shots out of the lead—and then he looked like a different player.

Woods hit a delicate pitch to 5 feet for birdie on No. 10, hit 3-wood to 10 feet for eagle on the par-5 11th, holed a 20-foot birdie putt on the 12th and a 15-foot birdie putt on the 13th. Just like that, he was tied for 12th as the leaders were just getting going.

It was the first time since the second round of the Buick Open in 2009 that he started five under through four holes. Cody Gribble and Peter Malnati, playing with golf’s biggest star for the first time, could hang with him. If this were Woods against the best score of both of them, he would have been five up through seven holes.

Even so, Woods remained seven shots behind, with Thomas and Scott looking sharp.

Patrick Rodgers, who completed a 67, opened with an eagle and was two shots behind Thomas.

The start of the tournament was delayed seven hours by rain on Thursday and has been trying to catch up, creating a disjointed feel to the week. Thomas said he could barely feel his toes when he warmed up on Saturday morning in temperatures in the low 40s and darkness as he set out to finish the second round. He also was up before dawn on Friday to get ready to start his opening round.

Imagine how he felt when told when the third round was to resume.

“I’m still trying to get over that 6:45 a.m. start I just heard,” he said. “That’s in a couple of hours.”

Michael Thompson, who didn’t get into the tournament as the first alternate until Sunday, was at 10 under.

But there is a long way to go. Saturday night usually feels like the end is near. Instead, the final group still has just under half the tournament to go. Woods, while seven shots behind, still had 29 holes to play.

All of us have to deal with it,” Woods said.

“I’ve got to get in two solid rounds. They’re pushing us to get through it. Give us a bag lunch and we’re off.”

RE, Sweden—Mikaela Shiffrin couldn’t breathe. She felt like she was suffocating. She had no energy, and self-doubt had set in.

Then came some words of encouragement from her coaches: “The reality is you have to push for 60 seconds. Everything else doesn’t matter.

Just 60 seconds.”

They were the sweetest 60 seconds of her career.

Fighting off a lung infection, Shiffrin delivered her most resilient performance yet to capture the slalom title at the world championships and become the first Alpine skier—male or female—to win the same event at four straight worlds.

The drama added another layer of legend around a 23-year-old American who is on course to be the greatest skier of all time.

“I was just not feeling very good for the whole day,” she said, her voice noticeably croaky, “except for the 60 seconds that it mattered.”

After crossing the line, she collapsed to the snow for a while. She roused herself to get up only because she thought she was being

disrespectful to the two skiers yet to come down.

First it was Anna Swenn Larsson, who finished 0.58 seconds behind Shiffrin to take silver. Then came first-run leader Wendy Holdener, who went round a few gates before going off the course.

Just like that, it was official: Shiffrin was a world champion for the fifth time—and the second time at these championships after winning the super-G on the opening day of competition in Are. She barely had any energy to celebrate.

“A testament to her grittiness,” Shiffrin’s coach, Jeff Lackie, told The Associated Press, “and what she was able to accomplish in that second run was nothing short of incredible.”

This was the kind of situation that Lindsey Vonn, Shiffrin’s idol, used to revel in: Battling adversity, proving the critics wrong, coming from behind.

Now Vonn is retired, Shiffrin is center stage—the poster girl of Alpine skiing whether she likes it or not.

This is some way to kick off the post-Vonn era. AP

day, a $5,000 week is a really big week,” Kuchar told golf.com.

It is, perhaps, when looked at from the perspective of a guy who carries the bags of tourists for a living. It is, perhaps, until you consider that most Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour caddies not only get expenses but 10 percent of a winner’s paycheck.

That would have translated into just shy of $130,000, which really would have been a big week for Ortiz.

But this was Mexico, and this was a caddie for the week. They had an agreement, Kuchar insisted, and Ortiz didn’t deserve a penny more.

Until Friday, that is. That’s when Kuchar—feeling the heat on social media and from on-course hecklers— issued a statement

between rounds in Los Angeles that he would pay Ortiz the $50,000 he had been seeking.

“I made comments that were out of touch and insensitive, making a bad situation worse,” Kuchar said. “I read them again and cringed.”

A lot of other people cringed, too, while wondering just how tone-deaf both Kuchar and his agent, Mark Steinberg, could be.

“Go low, Kuch, go low. Just not on the gratuity!” one fan shouted to him on the sixth tee on Friday.

The backlash on Twitter was even worse.

One golf observer noted that an

Australian journeyman named Cameron Percy gave his caddie $2,900 after winning $23,750 for fifth place in last week’s Web.com event. Percy then went on Twitter to confirm the payment.

“I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror if I didn’t,” he wrote.

I like people like Percy, a 44-year-old who so far this year has won $46,250. I caddied for one long ago in a PGA Tour event while trying to make a few bucks in high school.

In those days there weren’t many traveling caddies and I just happened to draw an unknown named Babe Hiskey who had never won on tour. I didn’t have high hopes for working the weekend of the Sahara Invitational with Babe, especially on Friday when he had to go on a birdie streak on the back nine to make the cut.

How Babe got to Las Vegas I have no idea, but he was staying with his wife and three young

kids in a dingy $30-a-week motel in a seedy part of town where most customers weren’t looking for a good night’s sleep. He needed me to pick him up every day in my mother’s station wagon to take him to the course.

Of course, Babe shot 65 on Saturday to move into the lead and ended up winning the Sahara Invitational, with me on his bag. He beat Miller Barber and Bob Goalby by a shot, and earned a cool $20,000 for his only PGA Tour win.

I got $500 and was thrilled. No, it wasn’t 10 percent, but I didn’t have a family to support and, besides, I figured Babe needed the money more than me.

Kuchar, of course, doesn’t need the money.

He’s 10th on the all-time money list with earnings of $46.6 million and likely deducts any caddie payments as business expenses anyway.

Still, if Kuchar had paid his caddie the same

percentage of his winnings that Babe paid me, he would have gotten $32,400.

Kuchar talked on Saturday about how he now understands he should have paid Ortiz more. He seemed contrite and said he called the caddie a night before and left him a message.

He’s finally doing the right thing, even if it’s three months too late and he had to be shamed into it by the reaction on social media and from his peers. It was a far cry from a few days earlier when Kuchar dismissed suggestions he was at fault and said, “I certainly don’t lose sleep over this.”

Kuchar’s sense of entitlement was jawdropping, but not terribly surprising. Like other top pros, he lives in a world of luxury cars, private jets and fancy country clubs. On tournament weeks, his every need is taken care of from the moment he wakes up until he goes to bed. AP

Stiffing your caddie’s never a good look WORLD RECORD Ethiopian teenager Samuel Tefera broke a 22-year-old indoor world record in the 1,500 meters on Saturday, clocking three minutes and 31.04 seconds at the KUCHAR

Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix in England. The 19-year-old Tefera, who won the indoor world title in the distance in Birmingham last year, goes past countryman Yomif Kejelcha as the duo enter the final bend and had the stronger finish to win by 0.54 seconds. He shaves 0.14 off the old mark of 3:31.18 set by Moroccan great Hicham El Guerrouj in February 1997. AP

D

Faithful God

EAR GOD, all creation gives You praise and we adore You. In joy we pray: Bless us, oh God, You send us forth in Your name; help us to proclaim Your marvelous deeds and extravagant love shown forth in Jesus. You rescue us from darkness; renew Your Church’s preferential option for the poor. You bring us back to You; reconcile divisions among Christians and other organizations, strengthen all the baptized to live as one body in Christ. May God open our ears to the Lord’s call and help us to respond with courage and generosity. Amen.

GIVE US THIS DAY SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • lifestylebusinessmirror@gmail.com

Life BusinessMirror

ALL ACCESS: ‘NOLI ME TANGERE’ GOES OPERA D3

Monday, February 18, 2019

D1

When the Oscars wear Filipino PHOTOGRAPHED BY BONG REGALA

TOTA PULCHRA MISS CHARLIZE

@misscharlize

I

’M still gagging over the finale of Rupaul’s Drag Race All Stars 4. (Manila Luzon was robbed! And so was Katya in All Stars 2!) It’s like RuPaul didn’t want it to be a “blond and white Hall of Fame” (with previous winners Chad Michaels, Alaska Thunderfuck and Trixie Mattel) so the drag legend crowned both the blond and white Trinity the Tuck and black sponge queen Monet X Change as Season 4 winners. #diversity A regular Season 11 is about to start, so I might forget about this All-Stars “shenanigans, tomfoolery and buffoonery.” What I’m heavily invested on next is the 2019 Academy Awards this weekend. So far, it seems that my sentimental favorite to win Best Actress, Glenn Close (The Wife), is on track to winning Hollywood’s top plum. She won

GARIMON ROFEROS for Lady Gaga ALEX FLINT

MONIQUE LHUILLIER for Rachel Weisz MONIQUELHUILLIER.COM

Best Actress in a Drama at the Globes, tied with Lady Gaga (A Star is Born) at the Critics’ Choice, and won the Screen Actors Guild prize. Olivia Colman (The Favourite) won at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta), as well as the Globe for comedy actress.

Glenn was nominated for an Oscar for Dangerous Liaisons (1988), where she traipsed around in pre-Revolution Paris as the scheming Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil. As a highsociety doyenne, she was dressed in the finest clothes. James Acheson won an Oscar for Best Costume Design for the film.

Glenn is safe with her fashion choices at award shows, usually wearing sedate Armani pieces. This year as she receives her long overdue statuette, I wish she gives a throwback to the Marquise and wears something like a Michael Cinco couture creation, still with Glenn’s favored collar but more grandiose.

Gaga is a fashion editorial in motion. She has eschewed her outlandish costumes at the awards circuit, however, and opted to be glamorous like her predecessor Judy Garland.

But the fashion rebel in her can’t be contained, so a Garimon Roferos acrylic film embroidered ball gown is order. She can saunter onstage in this volume when she receives the Oscar for Best Song for “Shallow.” The best accessory would be her collaborator, Bradley Cooper.

CONTINUED ON D2

D2

Style

BusinessMirror

Monday, February 18, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

z

Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Molly Ringwald, 51; Matt Dillon, 55; John Travolta, 65; Yoko Ono, 86.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Make changes for the right reason. Consider what will benefit you the most. Look for opportunities that will encourage you to update and use your skills to fit a trend or job market. Spice up your resume and find a way to branch out. Expand your circle of friends, your knowledge and your experience.

Your lucky numbers are 4, 9, 22, 29, 30, 37, 46.

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take one step at a time. If you act on an assumption, you will have regrets. Getting along and seeing the positive in whatever situation you face will be liberating.

Accept the inevitable, and work with what you’ve got. ★★★

b CARY SANTIAGO for Regina King ARIEL SALUPAN

FRANCIS LIBIRAN for Emma Stone

RAJO LAUREL for Olivia Colman BRUCE CASANOVA

When the Oscars wear Filipino CONTINUED FROM D1 Olivia, as Queen Anne of Great Britain, played the insecure monarch in dowdy garbs. But Oscar night can be her chance to be regal and radiant, by wearing a Rajo Laurel cape gown encrusted with circular details.

It’s the Best Supporting Actress race that’s becoming the most unpredictable. Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk) won at the Globes and Critics’ Choice, Emily Blunt (A Quiet Place) won at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and Rachel Weisz (The Favourite) won at the Bafta.

Regina, as a suffering mother, should take the

Oscar. Just as her career is soaring, she should wear a Cary Santiago sculptural dress from his “Aviary” collection. Emily isn’t nominated for her showstopping turn as Mary Poppins, the 1964 original of which won Julie Andrews the Oscar.

Rachel, perhaps tired of the cumbersome corseted gowns she poured herself into for her role as Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, will select a pared-down piece such as Monique Lhuillier’s strapless number. Laidback but luxurious, something that a real-life princess like Lee Radziwill would wear.

Emma, nominated as the ambitious Abigail

Masham, or Baroness Masham, should come as a contrast to her court rival, in something more attention-grabbing like a lethal Francis Libiran cocktail creation intricately embroidered for a royal soiree.

Filipino designers have dominated the stage at Miss Universe and other pageants. Their designs have also been worn at the Globes, Grammys, Emmys and Cannes. But the Oscars—and The Met Gala—remain elusive to our word-class talents. Here’s hoping that someday soon, if not this year, a Filipino-made gown (like Rita Moreno’s Pitoy Moreno) will conquer the biggest red carpet of all. n

Brow dos and don’ts BENEFIT KaBrow Cream Gel

AND THEN SOME DINNA CHAN VASQUEZ @dinnachanvasquez luckydinna@gmail.com

B

ROWS have been very big in the past three or four years. “Kilay [eyebrow] is life” is what a lot of women live by. Hardly anyone I know goes out with eyebrows that are messy and ungroomed, myself included. messy I am lucky to have my brows done monthly by Benefit Cosmetics Philippines’s National Brow Artist Celina Fernandez. Otherwise, my brows would be a big mess. I am scared of anything semi-permanent so Benefit’s grooming technique works for me. Celina and I go on a “brow date” each month, meaning we meet up at a Benefit boutique where I get my brows done.

Without this, my brows would probably be a mess. It is so easy to make mistakes that could ruin your brows in the long term.

Here are the most common ones: n OVERPLUCKING OR TOO MUCH SHAVING. Yes, it’s just hair and it will always grow back. It doesn’t do that all the time. I have younger friends whose brows have been overplucked and the hair never grew back, leaving them with a thin line that needs to be filled in every single day. Have your brows

done by a professional, if you can afford it. It is not that expensive (around P700+ at Benefit) and what you are paying for is the training that these people have been through before they were allowed to do anyone’s brows. n THE WRONG SHADE OF BROW PRODUCTS. To be honest, I only use brow products from brands that I use over and over (like Benefit, MAC Cosmetics and Anastasia) because of the colors. The thing with inexpensive brow products is that they are usually reddish or grayish. So I stick with products that already work for me like Benefit Ka-brow (a gel) and MAC Great Brows (a powder kit) in Lingering. My pet peeve is when the brows are too dark and don’t match the person’s hair color. n NOT REMOVING BROW MAKEUP PROPERLY. I was guilty of this in the past until I started getting small pimples. Remove all your makeup and that includes your brows. Sometimes actually, brow products are more difficult to remove than other products. n HAVING BROWS MICROBLADED OR TATTOOED WITHOUT ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS. Microblading and tattooing are semi-permanent procedures. In the case of microblading, the results last for about a year so you need to make the right decisions. Make sure the aesthetician doing your brows is properly trained for it. You would be surprised at how receptive they are to being asked about the procedures and even their qualifications. They much rather prefer that than leaving you unhappy about the results. Discuss the procedure thoroughly and do your own research. n DOING INSTAGRAM BROWS ALL THE TIME IN REAL LIFE. Instagram brows always look good on Instagram.

For real life, however, it can be too harsh sometimes.

Do your brows according to your look for the day. For

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Lay down some ground rules, and pick up the pace. Make a unique contribution to change someone’s life. Love, romance and personal improvements will bring you joy and set you on a path that will add to your security. ★★★★

c

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t trust what someone tells you; believe in yourself, what you know to be factual and what you are capable of doing. It’s OK to think big, but when it comes to putting your plans in motion, practicality should be enforced. ★★★★

d

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Use your imagination, surprise someone you love and focus on what’s important to you.

Partnerships deserve more attention, and discussing your intentions and plans will bring you closer to the person you want to spend time with most. ★★★

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You need a boost. It’s time to get moving and to get things done. Change begins when you’ve mastered your skills and you have the confidence to use them in your own special way. Don’t ponder over what to do next. ★★★

f

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Take a critical look at yourself, your life and your prospects. Do something that will turn your dream into a reality. Look inward and strive for personal growth and obtaining the knowledge required to be successful. ★★★

g

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Look beyond your situation and consider how best to maintain balance and peace in your life and still be able to achieve your goals. Reflect on what’s happened in the past, and avoid making the same mistakes. ★★★

h

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Use your imagination and originality. How you separate what you have to offer from others will invite opportunities with people who are open to doing things differently. ★★

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SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Concentrate on personal goals and changes that will give you the edge in a competitive situation. Understanding what others want and are willing to do will help you direct your energy wisely.

Recognize who is truthful. ★★★

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CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It’s OK to show emotions and to tell someone how you feel. Speak up; you will be able to bring about a change that will make your life better. Emotional anger will not help you find a solution. ★★★

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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Keep busy and accomplish as much as possible. The less time you waste explaining yourself and the more time spent being productive, the better.

Pull in the people you know can do a good job without supervision. ★★

CELINA FERNANDEZ (@browsbycelina on Instagram) is Benefit Cosmetics Philippines’s National Brow Artist

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PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Stand up and help those less fortunate. Being fair and nonjudgmental will lead to greater recognition and opportunities. A personal change will prepare you for an offer that is too good to turn down.

Networking will pay off. ★★★★

example, if your look is casual, maybe you can just use a setting gel or mascara on your brows. This is assuming that they are shaped properly already. n

BIRTHDAY BABY: You are enthusiastic, adaptable and friendly.

You are ambitious and studious.

‘name game’ BY PAUL COULTER The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Try, as a case 5 Great time 10 Documentary, for one 14 Highest point 15 Like The X-Files 16 Garfield dog 17 Celebrations attended by Behar and Reid?

20 Put one’s foot down 21 Sunday school stack 22 Thailand neighbor 24 Starbucks size 25 Inattention perpetrated by Rogers and Smith?

31 Adam’s grandson 32 League members 33 Soccer guard spot 35 ___ Arbor 36 Salsa or guacamole 37 College e-mail ender 38 Beer barrels 40 Leers at 42 Beowulf beverage

43 Magazine issue with no mention of Ginsburg and West-heimer?

46 Cincinnati MLB squad 47 Snitched 48 Invisible 51 Work boot tip 55 Movie that bombed after Lange and Davis backed out?

59 Condo, e.g.

60 Brandish 61 ___ Brockovich 62 Coop group 63 Collar inserts 64 Admissions office figure DOWN 1 Muslim pilgrim 2 Business school subj.

3 Vegetarian meal brand 4 Sometimes-free soda servings 5 Sing loudly 6 Summer zodiac sign 7 Parenthesis shape 8 (Not my error) 9 Oolong holders

10 11 12 13 18 19 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 34 39 40 41 42 44 45 48 49 50

Minor faults False god ___ Clutter Pilots’ mil. branch Window base Large hammers Violent storm Watered-down ___ tube (river float) It sounds like “you” Manicure focuses Baby bird sound Kind of basin or wave Naked D and C, in D.C. Stale report Candidates’ TV purchases Sat for a photo shoot Dog walker’s command H. G. Wells race “Don’t think so” All alternative Wheel of Fortune motion

52 53 54 56 57 58

Remedy Solo by Verdi Philly Ivy Simple dog command ___ urchin Wing it?

Solution to Friday’s puzzle:

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Monday, February 18, 2019

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‘Noli Me Tangere’ goes opera NOEL COMIA JR. as Basilio in Noli Me Tangere, The Opera.

ALL ACCESS RICKY GALLARDO

rickygallardoTFI@gmail.com

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N celebration of the golden year of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the timeless tales of many of Philippine history’s interesting characters from national hero Jose Rizal’s classic novel about love, betrayal and nationalism will be restaged in early March.

Noli Me Tangere, The Opera, an original creation of National Artists Guillermo Tolentino and Felipe de Leon, will be given a totally modern look and feel by an esteemed team of artists and collaborators headed by New York-based Jerry Sibal and actordirector Jeffrey Camañag, who are codirecting this grand production.

A 53-piece symphony orchestra will provide the musical backdrop for this historical opera spectacle, under the baton of Maestro Herminigildo Ranera. To be presented in three acts, the show will follow the story of its lead character Crisostomo Ibarra, fresh from his studies in Europe who journeys back to the country where conflicts both personal and national await him. The age-old rift between the church and the government will also be clearly depicted in the opera.

“We are all excited to showcase and share this production to the art patrons of the new generation.

We will be using LED walls of mapping projections that will blend with contemporary set design, to give the show a premium production value,” volunteered Sibal, who is a well-respected event stylist and floral

design expert in the United States.

After the shows, Jerry Sibal will also run a workshop in floristry and events design on the third week of March at Dusit Thani Manila. “It’s my way of giving back to my mother country,” he shared, adding, “There are so many talents just waiting to be discovered and given the breaks. I am just happy to be able to share whatever I have learned through my many years of working in New York.”

For his role as codirector, Camañag, who has been doing excellent work for the Gantimpala Theater Co. for the past few years, is excited about this collaboration with Sibal. “I am just happy that we are usually on the same page, sharing the same visions for the show, and we are privileged to work with some

of the best minds and creators in theater and the performing arts,” he enthused.

“We have well-loved fashion designer Albert Figueras coming in to help Jerry in creating the many wonderful costumes for the characters. Jospeh Matheu will serve as our lighting designer and Ronan Ferrer will be our vocal coach. Then there’s Raul Sunico who will sit as the project artistic director,” Camañag added. The opera will have an illustrious roster of classical artists playing pivotal roles: Ivan Niccolo Nery, Bianca Camille Lopez, Nerissa de Juan, Nomher Rival, Allison Cervantes, Nazer Salcedo, Greg de Leon, Ronnie Abarquez, Mia Bolañoas, Micah Galang, Nils Flores, Lawrence Roxas, Santino Santiago and award-winning child actor Noel Comia Jr.

Comia reprises the same role he played a few years ago. He has certainly evolved into a fine young man who takes his craft very seriously. The teen rose to fame when he played the lead role in the Cinemalaya entry Kiko Boksingero, the film which gave him a lot of accolades.

His 2019 looks more than colorful. He has just wrapped up work for the movie Ang Huling Gitarista, by new filmmaker Jason Orfalas. And he gets to stand toe to toe as an actor with Sunshine Dizon and Gabby Eigenmann in a new movie project, titled Versus.

“I like to widen my horizons as an actor, and projects like this opera certainly will give me more knowledge which I can use for future work,” said Comia. n

Show

D4 Monday, February 18, 2019

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Ara Minastarrer opens international filmfest T HE dramatic and controversial Immaculada, Pag-Ibig ng Isang Ina, starring award-winning actress Ara Mina, was the opening film of the 2019 Singkuwento International Film Festival Manila Philippines (SIFFMP). The screening was held on Friday, February 15, at the Leandro Locsin Theater of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in Intramuros, Manila.

Written and directed by broadcast journalist turned filmmaker Arlyn de la Cruz, Immaculada also stars Elizabeth Oropesa, John Estrada, Akihiro Blanco and Elijah Canlas, among others.

Based on a true story, the film is a dark tale of a mother’s love for her son that ends with an incomprehensible act of that love.

“All the actors in this film gave their all. I have never seen Ara succumb in total abandon to a character. John’s silent agony was [powerful].

Elizabeth displayed an understanding of her character that allowed her to deliver what could be the most unforgettable yet disturbing portrayal of Elizabeth Oropesa onscreen. Watch out for Akihiro Blanco—he is a revelation,” said de la Cruz.

In celebration of the 100th year of Philippine cinema this year and the National Arts month, the festival is ongoing until February 22 exclusively at the Leandro Locsin Theater.

Founded by Festival Director Perry Escaño, himself an independent filmmaker, Immaculada was presented by MPJ Entertainment Productions, in cooperation with Asian Television Content Corp. and Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

The festival’s main objective is to feature works of various Filipino and foreign filmmakers. It is an avenue for Filipinos both here and abroad to share their voice, sentiments and thoughts via the films they have created. It is also the festival’s aim to provide a channel for non-Filipinos to share their impressions of the

Philippines and its people.

This year, the legendary and iconic Eddie Garcia is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, based on his outstanding achievements in his long career, and whose contributions to the improvement and promotion of the local film industry over the years are truly exceptional. Past recipients include world-renowned Filipino director Brillante Mendoza and the legendary multiawarded actress, Superstar Nora Aunor.

The SIFFMP Awards Night 2019 will be held on February 22 at NCCA Theater, where Eddie Garcia will receive his award, as well as the winners in the various categories. The awarding ceremonies will have a delayed telecast over IBC (airing date to be announced).

The jury members in the Documentary Shorts and Full Length Films categories are entertainment journalist Marinel Cruz, film critic Noy Lauzon, and award-winning director Joselito Altarejos. Meanwhile, the jury members for the Short Film competition are awardwinning filmmaker Zig Dulay, FDCP Executive Director Will Fredo, and producer-filmmaker Albert Almendralejo.

The closing film is Tale of the Lost Boys, an LGBT-themed movie starring Oliver Aquino and Ta Su, directed by Joselito Altarejos. The film will be shown on February 22, 5 pm, before the awarding ceremonies. The sponsors of the film festival are FDCP, NCCA, Boysen, Fern-C, FWD Insurance, Kultura, Smile and Style Dental Clinic, Sogo, and the media partners include GMA, PEP.ph, Adobo Magazine, BusinessMirror and WhenInManila.

Tickets are at P150 per screening, available at major Ticket World outlets and at the entrance lobby of NCCA. For ticket inquires, call Ticket World at 891-9999 or text Louise Cruz at 09453784412. More information is available at www. facebook.com/5kuwento. n

THE stars of GMA’s most anticipated and groundbreaking prime-time soap, Kara Mia: Paul Salas (from left), Mika de la Cruz, Barbie Forteza and Jak Roberto

BARBIE, MIKA PLAY THE GIRL WITH TWO FACES IN NEW SERIES TWO different faces. Two different minds. Two different natures. Both trapped in one body.

Tonight, February 18, marks the debut of GMA’s most anticipated and groundbreaking prime-time soap this 2019: Kara Mia, which tells the dramatic tale of two sisters facing literally and figuratively good and evil.

The fantasy drama series is based on a true story from India and an English urban legend in Great Britain.

Ever since the announcement of the program, memes on the characters ranging from funny to witty have been circulating online, creating extended buzz on social media.

Headlining the prime-time series are Barbie Forteza and Mika de la Cruz as Kara and Mia, respectively, who were born with Diprosopus or craniofacial duplication, a congenital defect where they have two faces but share only one body. Until today, the origin of this condition, which is one of the rarest malformations in humans, is still unexplained.

Kara’s face is in front, while Mia’s face is on what should be the back of the head. Little do they know that they are probably the children of a mystical being, an engkanto, who watches over them as they grow up. But even if they are “one” person, the two sisters cannot be more different. Kara is kind, jolly, smart, and aspires to

become a doctor to continue what their mother wasn’t able to achieve, while Mia is lazy, pessimistic and dreams of becoming an actress. She is envious of Kara and wants nothing more than to be her own person.

Also in the cast are Carmina Villarroel as the doting mother of the sisters, John Estrada as Aya’s husband and the father of Kara and Mia, Glydel Mercado as the crazy ex-girlfriend of Aya’s husband, Mike Tan as the mischievous engkanto, Jak Roberto as the lola’s boy and a loving gentleman who likes Kara but captures Mia’s heart; and Paul Salas as the man who seeks to steal Kara’s heart.

Completing the cast are Liezel Lopez, Althea Ablan, Arthur Solinap, Karenina Haniel and April Gustilo.

Heightening the drama are Alicia Alonzo as Aya’s hostile mother who looks at Kara and Mia as freaks, and Gina Pareño as Corazon, the reclusive grandmother of Iswal.

Under the helm of esteemed director Dominic Zapata, the series also showcases the scenic beauty of the City of Bacolod, where the story takes place.

GMA fans from across the globe can catch their favorite shows via GMA’s international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International. For the program guide, visit www. gmapinoytv.com.

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Monday, February 18, 2019 E1

HOW RECRUITERS CAN STAY RELEVANT IN THE AGE OF LINKEDIN

By Atta Tarki & Ken Kanara

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HE era of the specialized Rolodex as the main way to differentiate recruiters is over. LinkedIn killed it. This is not to say that talent acquisition professionals can no longer add value, however. On the contrary, technological change has made it possible for recruiters to make themselves more critical to organizations than ever before. They can do this by following these steps: n Help hiring managers define strategy. Strong recruiters will play

a crucial role as thought partners in conversations with hiring managers, even if that means breaking the traditional transactional recruiter relationship. A few minutes invested upfront in such discussions will allow recruiters to focus their efforts from the beginning of a search, target more ideal profiles and land candidates faster. n Get the best candidates to apply. Successful recruiters help organizations by building a repeatable and a scalable formula for finding and engaging star performers. Recruiters can do this by experimenting with and increasing the efficiency of other sourcing channels. n Select the best of the best. The next step is to help hiring managers better understand how to predict job performance. Google’s recruiting team is perhaps the best in the world at this: They help hiring managers understand what categories of questions they should ask candidates and even provide hiring managers with sample questions. n Get candidates over the finish line. Strong recruiters will help

hiring managers get candidates over the finish line by helping their companies create a positive candidate experience, as well as organizing and managing the interview and offer process. n Evaluate. Finally, recruiters should evaluate their hiring practices on an ongoing basis and apply an iterative process to continuously improve their methods. Without establishing this critical step, it is difficult to determine what is working and what isn’t.

CEOs who position their talentacquisition teams to follow these five steps will gain a significant advantage in attracting the right talent.

Atta Tarki is the founder and chief executive of ECA. Ken Kanara is the president of ECA.

Yes, sustainability can be a strategy

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By Ioannis Ioannou & George Serafeim

N recent years, a growing number of companies around the world have voluntarily adopted and implemented a broad range of sustainability practices.

On the one hand, there are those who argue that sustainability is spreading as a “common practice” and, as such, it may be a necessary condition for survival, but it cannot

be a sufficient condition for building a competitive advantage. On the other, there are those who argue that sustainability can be a strategy that generates a competitive advantage

and, therefore, results in above-average performance (i.e., “doing well by doing good”).

The arguments on both sides conceptually relate to Michael Porter’s seminal 1996 article “What Is Strategy?” in which he draws a sharp distinction between operational effectiveness and strategy. He argues that strategy “is about being different” and that “the essence of strategy is choosing a unique and valuable position rooted in systems of activities that are much more difficult to match.”

In a new paper, we find that within most industries, sustainability practices have converged over time. This

finding implies that, on average, companies have adopted an increasingly similar set of sustainability practices, raising the possibility that they are becoming common practices and, as such, are less likely to serve as a strategic differentiator. We also find that there is more convergence in industries where environmental and social issues are dominant, rather than issues of governance.

Our exploratory results confirm that the adoption of strategic sustainability practices is significantly and positively associated with both return on capital and market valuation multiples, even after accounting for the focal firm’s past financial per-

formance. In contrast, the adoption of common sustainability practices is not associated with return on capital, but it is positively associated with market valuation multiples.

Some sustainability activities are simply becoming “best practices” and so are a necessity. But the data suggests that some companies are creating real strategic advantage by adopting sustainability measures that their competitors can’t easily match.

Ioannis Ioannou is an associate professor at London Business School.

George Serafeim is a professor at Harvard Business School.

Companies are failing in their efforts to become data-driven Why customer feedback tools are vital for nonprofits

By Randy Bean & Thomas H. Davenport

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EADING corporations seem to be failing in their efforts to become data-driven. This is a central and alarming finding of NewVantage Partners’ 2019 Big Data and AI Executive Survey, published earlier this month. The survey participants comprised C-level technology and business executives representing very large corporations, such as American Express, Ford Motors, General Electric, General Motors and Johnson & Johnson.

Here are some of the results from the survey: Of participants, 72 percent report that they have yet to forge a data culture; 69 percent report that they have not created a data-driven organization; 53 percent state that they are not yet treating data as a business asset; and 52 percent admit that they are not competing on data and analytics.

Furthermore, the percentage of

firms identifying themselves as being data-driven has declined in each of the past three years, from 37.1 percent in 2017 to 31.0 percent this year.

These sobering results and declines come despite increasing investment in big data and artificialintelligence initiatives. Of survey respondents, 92 percent reported that the pace of their big data and AI investments is accelerating; 88 percent report a greater urgency to invest in big data and AI; and 75 percent cite a fear of disruption as a motivating factor for big data/AI investment.

Yet critical obstacles still must be overcome before companies begin to see meaningful benefits from their big data and AI investments. Executives who responded to the survey say that the challenges to successful business adoption do not appear to stem from technology obstacles.

Rather, 93 percent of respondents identify people and process issues as the obstacle. Clearly, the difficulty of cultural change has been

© 2019 Harvard Business School Publishing Corp. (Distributed by The New York Times Syndicate)

dramatically underestimated.

Chief data and analytics officers from many of the participating companies commented that senior leaders who strongly advocate for data and analytics within their organizations are incredibly valuable, but more the exception than the rule.

Whatever the reasons for the failure to achieve transformational results from data initiatives, the amount of data continues to rise in business and society. Analytical decisions and actions continue to be generally superior to those based on intuition and experience. Firms must become much more serious and creative about addressing the human side of data if they truly expect to derive meaningful business benefits.

Randy Bean is chief executive and managing partner of NewVantage Partners. Thomas H. Davenport is a professor at Babson College, a research fellow at the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy and a senior adviser at Deloitte Analytics.

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By Fay Twersky & Fred Reichheld

RECENT survey by Stanford Social Innovation Review confirmed a surprising fact. In an era where customer feedback is ubiquitous in the for-profit world, both doers and donors in the social-innovation sphere struggle to systematically understand the preferences and experiences of the people they are seeking to help: the nonprofit customer.

Now, however, in an era of human-centered design, client feedback is surfacing as the right and smart complement to measuring results. This has inspired the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation to join forces with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the James Irvine Foundation and many other grant-makers in a funder collaborative called the Fund for Shared Insight to create tools that will make it simple and affordable to listen to end users.

Here are two key benefits we’re seeing gained by gathering this type of feedback. n Helping clients feel included.

An evaluation found that of the organizations that implemented efforts to collect feedback, 63 percent are making changes to program offerings, 45 percent are making changes to their operations to be more respectful of client preferences and experiences and 31 percent are offering new services. Such changes, based on feedback, effectively give beneficiaries a seat at the decision table, a simple way to bolster their belief in self-advocacy. n Helping staff do their jobs better. The staff at Epiphany Com-

munity Health Outreach Services in Houston began surveying clients in 2017 and what they heard, initially, was sobering: Clients expressed frustration with long waits for help filling out forms to get on county health and public aid

and they found staff (themselves stretched and stressed) unfriendly.

Today, staff start their day with a morning meeting where they anticipate challenges to come and divide up work accordingly. Staff welcome clients into a sitting area with snacks, and triage them into working groups according to the services they seek. In these groups, staff counselors called “navigators” now check client papers and explain what’s required.

Intentional listening dignifies the lives of those heard. There’s a saying in Talmudic wisdom: The wise person learns from everybody. With feasible tools for gathering customer feedback widely available, this too-often missing measure in social enterprise can make us all wiser.

Fay Twersky is director of effective philanthropy at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and a cochairman of the Fund for Shared Insight. Fred Reichheld is a fellow at Bain & Company.

E2 Monday, February 18, 2019 • Editor: Efleda P. Campos

Education BusinessMirror

Ayta students in Capas, Tarlac to move into new dormitory

By Ashley Manabat

C

Correspondent

APAS, Tarlac—Ayta students who live in their mountain residences were given a much-needed facility by the municipal government here to ease their daily routine.

A dormitory building with two rooms that can accommodate 80 students will serve as temporary residence for Ayta students so that they no longer have to travel back to their mountain residences after school each day.

There are no fixed roads going to the mountain sitios in this town and the students have to wade through creeks and rivers and rough trails to go to school and back.

Located in Sitio Bilad of Barangay O’Donnell, the facility has two rooms, with each room

accommodating approximately 40 students, Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan said.

“It will be utilized by our Ayta students residing in several mountain sitios here in Capas. We launched this to provide shelter for them while they are studying so that they will no longer spend much time traveling to their school and back to their sitios every day,” Catacutan said.

“We also want to ensure the safety and welfare of our Ayta students and as much as possible, help them have a comfortable and normal life,”

the mayor added.

The affected students are mostly studying in high school and college.

The dormitory will be managed by the municipal government in cooperation with barangay officials to ensure the security and safety of

the students.

The project was funded by Good People International, a global development, nongovernment organization with special consultative status granted by the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

A.P.O. HOLDS OBLATION RUN 2019 IN U.P. DILIMAN @brownindio Contributor

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HE Alpha Phi Omega (APO)-University of the Philippines in Diliman on February 8 stressed the importance of freedom of expression and the people’s right to selfdetermination during this year’s edition of its annual Oblation Run at the Diliman campus.

“The theme was inspired by what we in the fraternity have observed in the last 12 months.

There have been a number of attacks on media institutions and journalists, and some voices critical of the government have been silenced through arrests and intimidation both online and offline,” APO UP Diliman Spokesman Cole Asuncion said in a press statement.

Carrying blank placards and donning stark white masks with mouths taped over, the fraternity members ran through the corridors of Palma Hall and out onto the steps of the College of Arts and Sciences, where thousands of onlookers—mostly students and visitors to the university—had assembled to witness the yearly spectacle.

The theme for the 2019 Oblation Run was “Sa Aming Sariling Landas: Takbo para sa Kalayaan ng Pamamahayag at Pansariling Determinasyon” (On Our Own Path: An Oblation Run for Freedom of Expression and Self-Determination).

Asuncion said the blank placards represented APO’s willingness to become an avenue for other people’s concerns and issues in staging the Oblation Run. He added the fraternity also urged all Filipinos to exercise their right to freedom of expression and self-determination to better themselves and the nation.

“We call on the Filipino people to continue being vigilant and critical against threats to our democracy, be informed about and engaged with the plight of different sectors in society.

This is the bayanihan—solidarity—that we need to live out,” the APO said. “We are steadfast in championing social justice and the achievement of true development for the people, and will continue to support those who seek these ends. This is our charge—to encourage every Filipino to say what they want to say, to better themselves and the nation.”

The Oblation Run started in 1977 when two members of the Eta chapter of APO based in UP Diliman, streaked in front of Palma Hall as part of a marketing gimmick for a screening of the film Hubad na Bayani (The Naked Hero) the fraternity was sponsoring at the time.

Over the years, the Oblation Run has become a way for the fraternity to put certain issues in the public spotlight. The event has even been replicated by APO chapters in other universities in the country.

Traditionally held in December near the international founding anniversary of APO, this year’s Oblation Run was held on the week of the UP Diliman chapter’s founding anniversary on February 9. “This is a homecoming of sorts for the Oblation Run. Holding it during our chapter anniversary brings the Oblation Run back to its roots,” Asuncion said.

ANGARA BILL SEEKS TO GRANT 5% DISCOUNT PRIVILEGE TO POOR STUDENTS

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ANGASINAN—In a bid to further reduce out-of-pocket expenses related to education, reelectionist Sen. Sonny M. Angara is now pushing for a 5-percent discount on restaurants, medicines, textbooks and school supplies for impoverished students in all levels under a proposal aimed at encouraging more Filipino families to send their children to schools.

Even with implementation of the free college education law and expansion of the government’s scholarship system, Angara said poor families still have to shell out significant amounts for their children’s education.

“We are doing everything we can to ensure the continuous education of our learners through laws we have authored and support,” said Angara, who is seeking a second term as senator in the May midterm elections under the platform Alagang Angara.

Angara is one of the authors of both the free college education law and the bill institutionalizing the grant of 20-percent fare discounts to students even during weekends and holidays which covers all means of transportation year round. The student fare discount bill is now awaiting the signature of President Duterte after it was approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The senator issued the statement while campaigning in Pangasinan,

home to close to 60 higher-education institutions, including the Pangasinan State University whose main campus is in Lingayen City which has nine satellite campuses across the province.

Angara’s Senate Bill (SB) 134 or the proposed Underprivileged Students’ Discount Act seeks to grant covered poor elementary, highschool and college students, including those enrolled in technical-vocational institutions, a 5-percent discount on food establishments, medicines, textbooks and school supplies, and on entrance fees to museums and cultural events.

During a hearing conducted by the Senate education committee in January 2017, the Commission on Higher Education said that tuition only comprised 30 to 40 percent of a family’s out-of-pocket education expenses.

Angara said the 5-percent student discount, along with 20-percent student fare discount, will help unburden underprivileged students and their families from getting an education.

“Our proposed student discount aims to ease the financial burden of underprivileged students and their families to help them cope with the high cost of education and daily school expenses,” he added.

SB 134 also provides tax incentives to establishments that grant discounts, while those that refuse would be penalized.

iAcademy earns COE accreditation from Hollywood animation software maker

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

www.businessmirror.com.ph

By Roderick L. Abad @rodrik_28

S OFFICIALS of PSBank join the staff and children of Resources for the Blind Inc. during a visit to their facility in Quezon City after presenting a check donation. PSBank officials include Vice President and Human Resources Group Head Mark Limson, Culture and Engagement Division Head Rex Jardinero and Employee Events Specialist Lezlly Martinez.

PSBank renews support for visually impaired special children

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SBANK renewed its support in providing for the welfare of visually impaired and special children through its three Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partners.

A total of P300,000 was recently turned over by PSBank for the various programs and activities of World Vision, Resources for the Blind Inc. (RBI), and Chosen Children Village Foundation (CCVF). The financial support of P300,000 given by PSBank would help provide shelter, education and nurturing to underprivileged, visually impaired, and mentally and physically challenged children. PSBank has been a strong supporter of these nongovernment organizations for many years now.

RBI has been a strong advocate for the education and integration of visually impaired children to society. Visually impaired children across the nation are taught Braille, values education, and computer in the respective RBI facilities in Quezon City, Davao and Cebu. RBI also ensures

that books and other learning materials are made available to persons with visual impairment by producing them in accessible digital formats such as RBI’s Mobile Phone Library app. “We’re very grateful for PSBank’s help. Our projects for the children won’t be possible without the bank,” RBI Executive Director Amy Mojica said.

In December last year, the PSBank Glee Club visited the Chosen Children Village Foundation Inc. where the group presented the Bank’s P100,000 financial support.

Alongside the donation, the Glee Club members also gave gifts and serenaded the children. CCVFI provides abandoned children with mental and physical handicaps a place they can call home. They train these children to become productive and self-reliant members of society despite their disabilities. To date, there are 75 children housed in 11 cottages they rehabilitate and care for in their property in Silang, Cavite. For most of these children, this will be home for the rest of their lives.

“I would like to thank PSBank for its generosity. We accept infants as young as 1 month old. Some are fortunate enough to have adoptive families, but most stay with us for life which is why we need all the help we can get to provide for them, just like what PSBank does, “ CCVFI sponsorship coordinator Grace Cueno said.

World Vision is committed in building a better world for children by providing education, health care and a source of livelihood for their families in World Vision communities nationwide. They also provide emergency assistance to children and families affected by natural disasters.

A financial support of P100,000 was also provided by PSBank to World Vision.

PSBank has also sponsored the completion of the elementary and high-school education of nearly 100 children from Resources for the Blind and World Vision under its Save It Forward program since 2009. To date, nearly 90 scholars have graduated from the program.

2019 Mandatory Training for Lawyers

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ITH the clamor of lawyers who have yet to comply with the 2019 Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement, the Center for Global Best Practices and the Lyceum of the Philippines College of Law will host a special four-day training, entitled“2019 MCLE Program” on March 13, 14, 15 and 16, 2019, at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel, Mandaluyong City.

This event will feature the most seasoned lecturers and practitioners in their field of expertise to present interesting and unique topics you will find useful and relevant to one’s legal

practice. The content of the lectures will include new laws and regulations to keep lawyers updated.

Registration is open to the general public. Lawyers attending the MCLE training can earn full 36 MCLE credit units. CGBP is accredited by the Civil Service Commission. Attendees from the government can earn points for their career advancement and are exempted from the P2,000 limit when attending training conducted by the private sectors based on DBM Circular 563 dated April 22, 2016.

Interested participants availing of the whole package may avail themselves of the early payment savings

and group discounts. Preregistration is required.

For details, check www.cgbp.org for a complete list of best practices programs including “Best Practices in Corporate Housekeeping for Corporate Secretaries of the Board,” “Weapons in Argumentation,” “Masterclass on Writing Minutes of Meetings,” “Refresher Course on Business English, Write Right for Positive Results,” “PPP Certification Course” and many more. You may also call landlines in Manila (+63 2) 842-7148/59 and (+63 2) 556-8968/69, in Baguio (+63 74) 423-2914 and in Cebu (+63 32) 5123106 or 07.

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TUDENTS who want to follow in the footsteps of notable Filipino animators that penetrated Hollywood has another reason to pursue their dreams.

Their potential to become globally competitive and recognized as such is now within reach at the iAcademy, the only education institution in the Philippines and throughout Southeast Asia to gain accreditation as a “Center of Excellence” (COE) of leading American animation software maker Toon Boom.

To the latter’s credit, Walt Disney, Warner Bros., Sony, Lucasfilm, Dreamworks, and Nickelodeon, among others, are just some of the biggest animation and entertainment studios worldwide that exclusively use its outstanding animation software or platform.

Toon Boom is, likewise, in-demand among local animation firms.

Even schools in the country use this software in their animation classes, yet some of them are neither certified nor qualified to use 100 percent of the platform. They can only teach their students 1/8th of its amazing capabilities.

Getting a COE now makes the academic institution fully qualified and equipped to expertly teach senior high-school and animation college students how to make full use of the platform.

“Having Toon Boom and their trainers to iAcademy will greatly improve the way we teach animation in our school,” said Vanessa L. Tanco, president and CEO of iAcademy.

Such recognition is awarded only to schools or universities that offer exceptional courses in Animation and Storyboarding with Toon Boom software as their program platform.

Applying for this, however, was not initiated by iAcademy itself. It came from Toon Boom Asia Pacific Director of Sales Bernard Boiteux.

Upon knowing that Toon Boom has been included in the school’s curriculum since it started offering animation course in 2008, he approached Peter Brown, faculty of Animation Department of iAcade-

my, and suggested to him that they must get a COE status.

In just a short span of one year of application, Toon Boom approved it and officially gave the COE certification in a recent awarding ceremony held at iAcademy’s campus in Makati City.

“The reason we chose iAcademy comes from the industry. When you take a look at the growth of the animation [sector] within the Philippines, the school’s name that comes up all the time is iAcademy.

The local studios come here to grab the talent because they know it will work on the productions they do internationally,” Boiteux said. “It took us a few years just to get going, and now the school is a COE. We’re very proud of that. It’s a lot of work. The school has done a lot to become that, and the students are going to benefit heavily internationally.” iAcademy uses in its School of Design the Toon Boom Harmony 16 in the Anipri (2-5), Thesis (1-3), and 2D Effects animation courses.

The Toon Boom Storyboard Pro 6 is taught particularly in Storyboarding (1-2) and Thesis 1 subjects. iAcademy Animation Program Chairman Weena Espardinez said they are working closely with Toon Boom regarding all the new features of the software and the latest international standards in animation.

“We’re going to be teaching them to our students so that they have to be up-to-date and whenever they go outside of the Philippines, they are well-equipped,” she said.

With its credential as a hub for teaching this top animation software and platform, the school is bullish that it will help bolster not only the enrollment for such program, but also the quality and quantity of graduates.

“By June [2019], we will actually be graduating 100, double of what we used to graduate. And we expect to have an increase in our animation graduates because this is the start of the pilot senior high-school students—thousands of them— coming into college now. So in the next three or four years, it’s going to be more than 100,” iAcademy Dean for School of Design Mark Meily said.

Marketing BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Efleda P. Campos • Monday, February 18, 2019 E3

FAKE NEWS, FAKE INFLUENCERS?

HERE’S HOW TO SPOT THEM L

By Millie F. Dizon

NEW BUSINESS: SERIES E’S ¥3-BILLION ($27-M) FUNDED START-UP, SANSAN, APPOINTS NEO MEDIA WORLD AS AGENCY OF RECORD

ASIA PACIFIC—Neo, the global performance marketing agency network that is part of Mindshare has been appointed by Sansan as its agency partner, effective February of 2019. Neo is designed to work with digital economy businesses to scale at speed. This will see the agency handling media investment, planning and management for the newly funded start-up. The scope of work also covers Sansan and its portfolio of products.

Tokyo-based Sansan has, since 2007, developed unique cloudbased contact management tools for corporations and individuals.

Centered on business cards as building blocks, Sansan’s main offerings enable remarkably fast and accurate building of a cloud-based contact database, accessible anywhere. Sansan’s flagship businessto-business system is at work in over 6,000 companies, including Lenovo Group Ltd, Merck & Co and Seven & i Holdings Co. The most recent round of investment by Japan Post Capital, T. Rowe Price, SBI Investment and DCM Ventures brings Sansan’s total funding to over $100 million.

Sansan boasts an overwhelming 82-percent market share in Japan. The company launched its namesake B2B product, Sansan, in Singapore in 2015 and its businessto-consumer service, Eight, in India in 2017. Sansan’s products digitize contact data with superb accuracy enabled by proprietary optical character recognition (OCR) enhanced by AI and human input.

“When I started the global expansion for Eight, I sought agency partners that can truly provide

Sansan with scale and speed,” says Edward Senju, executive producer and leader for Eight India. “With the Neo and GroupM partnership in Singapore, we aim to capture a region ripe for disruption.”

“In this new economy world, growing and matured start-ups seek unconventional thinking and solutions to effectively scale in an important growth period. Our understanding of audience, tools and thought-provoking ideas for this blue ocean market gives us an edge in forming this partnership.

Our global network of 116 offices in 86 countries makes it possible for Sansan to tap into our agility and on-the-ground strengths,” says Animesh Kumar, CEO of Neo Singapore.

“At this build stage of Sansan— and Eight, we are young and it’s hard to consider a partnership with a GroupM agency,” says Krishna Agarwal, Sansan senior marketing manager. “Chatting with Animesh was enlightening: Neo somewhat resembles a start-up agency with GroupM wings. Its ability to move with the quickness of a start-up, yet with stable and reliable operations and support of a large network agency, is a major plus.”

“Neo has been investing in people, which has led to the deep specialism in what we do. The team brings more than 15 years of experience in connected media, which has resulted in awardwinning campaigns over the years.

Partnership with Sansan comes at an opportune time and we are confident in strengthening their brand and business in the coming years”, added Aashay Shah, Neo’s regional media director for Sansan.

With the Series E funding, Sansan is now looking to expand globally with Singapore and the rest of Southeast Asia as their focus markets.

ISOBAR INDIA LAUNCHES AN AUTO INDUSTRY-FIRST BLOCKCHAIN-POWERED CAMPAIGN FOR CEAT TYRES

MUMBAI—Isobar India, the digital agency from Dentsu Aegis Net-

3. Does their bio reveal personal details to verify that they exist?

4. Look at the type of people the influencer follows and who follows them. Is everyone a gorgeous Ukrainian model or is there a nice mix of everyday people?

5. Do they have real comments on their site or are the comments spammy and asking for likes?

6. Also, look at their entire digital presence. If they’re only on one platform, that’s a red flag.

WWW.FREEPIK.COM

PR Matters

AST week’s column on influencer marketing trends for 2019 must have been interesting to readers, as we got many inquiries about the subject. One of these was the issue of influencer fraud.

According to Ian Samuel of Buzzoole, an influencer platform, “the industry obsession with reach has driven the rise of fraud and fake followers.”

A recent report from the New York Times found that “dozens of TV personalities and athletes were customers of companies that specialized in inflating their social-media status through the use of fake followers.

Those dishonest practices have resulted in a crisis of confidence in the industry.”

Indeed, in an era of fake news, are there also fake influencers? How can we tell the difference?

In an article in www.socialshakepupshow.com Samantha Woods talks about “Follower Bots Exposed: How to Spot Fake Influencers.” With regards to fake influencers for our discussion, the issue is not their existence, but rather their actual reach.

First, some hard facts. The New York Times recently published an expose on the practice of buying followers, a sizeable number of which are bots or robots that either steal a person’s identity or use a random string of letters and numbers as a username.

The piece specifically targeted a company that peddles Twitter followers and retweets “to anyone who wants to appear more popular or exert more influence online.”

Woods said the Times “estimates that up to 48 million of Twitter’s users—nearly 25 percent—fall into

the category of fake accounts. And on Facebook, as many as 60 million automated accounts may be lurking among the population of the world’s largest platform.”

In short, when it comes to social media, “not all that glitters is gold.”

In short, we have to rethink the practice of valuing an influencer’s true reach using the number of followers as a main gauge.

So how can our brands separate influencer fact from fiction? Woods reached out to Danica Kombol, CEO of Everywhere Agency, an influencer marketing firm that works with Fortune 500 companies, for some tips on spotting influencers with fake followings. She shared some tips with us.

Consider all aspects of an influencer’s ecosystem

SERVICES such as TwitterAudit.com can be a helpful tool during the vetting process. But fake followers can work, launched a novel blockchainpowered campaign to enable transparency throughout campaign delivery and performance.

By leveraging blockchain technology to create, deliver, and measure the campaign, CEAT Tyres will be able to transparently track all payment transactions that are written to an immutable ledger for every valid ad impression. This will enable them to be assured with confidence that the KPIs of their campaign are met and reported unambiguously. Thus, allowing for reconciliation of their data with an independent ledger which is verified by multiple unbiased parties.

Commenting on the launch, Nitish Bajaj, senior vice president, Marketing, CEAT Tyres said, “CEAT Tyres focuses on building best-in-class trusted products through a culture of continuous innovation. With that belief, and the promise of this platform powered by blockchain technology to reach out to a targeted audience is an absolute win-win situation where we put our media investments to maximum use without any spillage, in addition to tracking the campaign at every stage.”

“Isobar has always been pioneering in putting to use the latest technology innovation in all spheres of its business, and for the ultimate benefit of its clients. Blockchain, which is making waves in every industry, couldn’t be left behind when it comes to offering absolute unambiguous view of transactions, deliveries, and measurement of a digital media campaign. We are proud to introduce this as the first digital media campaign in the auto industry with CEAT Tyres,” states Shekhar Mhaskar, executive vice president, Isobar, India.

Speaking on the launch of the campaign, Prachi Karan, senior director, Media, Isobar India states, “This is an auto industry first initiative and we are extremely proud to have introduced this with CEAT Tyres. Staying ahead of the curve, using a creative application of new technology and innovation is something that as a brand both Isobar and CEAT stand for.”

slip through these vetting tools, too, so Kombol sticks to human research.

“While we rely on lots of technology, at the end of the day, human beings do all our vetting,” she said. “We look at all aspects of an influencer’s ecosystem.”

She suggested that brands and agencies looking for influencers should ask the following questions: 1. Where are they located? Do they have an actual address or PO Box? 2. Are there multiple photos of this influencer on their site, or do they use the same photo over and over again?

Don’t focus only on quantity

“FOLLOWER count is an important measure of influence,” Woods said.

“But beyond sheer numbers, the key to proving out an influencer’s worth lies in real engagement and interaction.”

Kombo shared with us a tip on the type of influencers they don’t work with. “It’s hard to prove definitely that an influencer has fake followers,” she said, “but when you see one with thousands of followers on Instagram and no comments on a post—well, it does make one wonder.”

Fake followers aren’t a new issue

“THE issue of fake followers has been around forever, so no surprise there,” Kombol said. “I am hoping this will trigger an ‘a-ha’ moment for brands and agencies of the importance of human connection.”

After all, “influencer marketing is a relationship. Tech platforms that promise to pair you with the right platforms that promise to pair you with the right kind of influencers can’t do the due diligence to uncover the kind of fraud that is inherent in the digital space.”

All in all, if we are to go into influencer marketing, we have to be aware that buying influencers has been around nearly as long as social media itself.

And it’s still unclear whether platforms like Twitter and Facebook are responsible for weeding out the fake accounts.

At a time when boosting is a buzzword, we have to be very careful in selecting influencers, and our choices have to be beyond claimed numbers and followers.

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Millie Dizon, the senior vice president for Marketing and Communications of SM, is the former local chairman.

We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.

Perspective BusinessMirror

E4 Monday, February 18, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

AS DEMOCRATS LEAN LEFT,

WILL VOTERS FOLLOW?

IN this January 19, 2019, file photo, US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, waves to the crowd after speaking at Women’s Unity Rally organized by Women’s March NYC at Foley Square in Lower Manhattan in New York. AP/KATHY WILLENS

By Lisa Mascaro & Steve Peoples

W

The Associated Press

ASHINGTON—What is happening to the Democrats? Captivated by a handful of liberal superstars, they are venturing where the party has long feared to tread: Steep taxes on the rich. Abolishing an immigration enforcement agency. And proposing a sweeping Green New Deal that calls for an “economic transformation” to combat climate change.

On Thursday, newly elected Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez led a chorus of cheers as Amazon announced it was abandoning plans to build a sought-after headquarters in New York City. Activists berated the online giant for a $3-billion package of tax breaks she said the city could better invest in hiring teachers or fixing the subway.

This is not the Democratic Party of yesteryear. Or even last year.

“The Amazon New York fight is an illustration of how power is moving to the left,” said Ben Wikler, of the liberal group MoveOn. “One of the world’s most powerful organizations doesn’t want to pick a fight with progressive activists.”

As the liberal flank celebrates

its sudden ascendance in the party, energized by the new House freshmen pushing the party toward bold policy solutions, others wonder if the Democrats are veering so far left they’re about to fall off a cliff.

It’s a valid question ahead of a presidential primary season with an unusually robust roster of contenders trying to wrest the White House from President Donald Trump. The race comes at a time of shifting party loyalties and eroding confidence in traditional corridors of power, a dynamic that has recast the policy prescriptions of both parties.

The big questions for 2020: Will Democrats move beyond the center-left policies that have domi-

nated the party since Bill Clinton’s presidency? And if so, will they find the electorate is repelled, as Republicans claim, or will they discover that a country long described as “center-right” is receptive to a return to liberalism?

Democratic pollster John Anzalone said the leftward lurch that’s playing out in the Amazon fight wouldn’t necessarily hurt the party heading into 2020 and could resonate with voters.

“When you’re doing corporate giveaways, whether for a big company or a sports team, it’s not as cut-and-dry as most people think,” Anzalone said. “The fact is there tends to be a belief that these big corporations have a lot of money and use their power to get deals they don’t need.”

As if to highlight the churn within the party, the 2020 class was mixed in their reactions.

A spokesman for former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg didn’t respond to a request for comment. Howard Schultz, another business-minded former Democrat who’s now weighing an independent bid for president, also declined to comment.

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who have long railed against the influence of corporations, weighed in, as did New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

“The people of New York and America are increasingly concerned about the power of large multinational corporations and

the billions in corporate welfare they receive,” Sanders said in a statement. “Our job is to end the race to the bottom where taxpayers in one city or state are forced to bid against each other for desperately needed jobs. This is what the rigged economy is all about.”

Warren tweeted: “One of the wealthiest companies on the planet—just walked away from billions in taxpayer bribes, all because some elected officials in New York aren’t sucking up to them enough.

How long will we allow giant corporations to hold our democracy hostage?”

And Gillibrand said, “Walking away so quickly shows that Amazon was interested in the taxpayer assistance and not being a good neighbor in Queens hiring the greatest workers in the world.”

As liberal activists across the country welcomed Amazon’s decision as a fresh demonstration of the increasing power of the Democratic Party’s far-left wing, Republicans highlighted the same thing, using the situation to cast the modern-day Democratic Party as extreme. Following Trump’s lead, they pepper their speeches with claims that Democrats are veering toward socialism.

“Now, thousands of #New Yorkers will be deprived of good paying jobs at #amazon because of socialists like @AOC—and unfortunately the promise of a #greenjob won’t pay the bills,” former Trump aide Sean Spicer said on Twitter.

On Capitol Hill, it’s hard not to

compare the arrival of Ocasio-Cortez and the emerging Democratic divide to the tea party class of 2010 that took control of the House and pushed the Republican agenda rightward, ultimately helping give rise to the politics of Trump.

It’s not just Ocasio-Cortez.

She and House colleagues—Reps.

Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts—jointly announced their opposition to the bipartisan border security deal.

They want to cut the Department of Homeland Security’s budget over the administration’s deportation policies, including those that separated families at the border.

The four lawmakers were urged on by activists outside the Capitol, protesting what’s seen as ICE’s unnecessarily harsh deportations and raids against immigrants here illegally.

Omar, who is Muslim-American, pushed the party further into conflict this week with comments about Israel that were widely seen as anti-Semitic. She apologized.

But the questions she and others are raising about the longstanding US ally reflect a growing unease among some Democrats with Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the Democratic Party’s diversity in the House is its strength, as evidenced by the way her caucus held unified against Trump’s demand for money from Congress to build the wall on the border with Mexico.

“Welcome to the Democratic Party,” Pelosi said Thursday. “We are not a monolith, never have been. And who would want to lead a party that would be described that way?”

While some high-profile newcomers are capturing media attention, the House majority was also won with new lawmakers who are more measured in their approach to governing even as they battle Trump. All but 19 Democrats approved the bipartisan border package late Thursday.

But other Democrats marvel at how quickly the party has shifted even since the 2016 election.

This week, when the Republican leader of the Senate, Mitch McConnell, announced an upcoming vote on the Green New Deal climate change plan as a way to force Democrats into an awkward vote, the Democrats responded, “Bring it on.” They say Americans want answers on climate change, and Republicans have none.

Ocasio-Cortez, who stunned Washington when she knocked off an incumbent party leader during a primary last year, recently suggested a 70-percent marginal tax rate on top earners.

“Anything is possible,” OcasioCortez tweeted Thursday, “today was the day a group of dedicated, everyday New Yorkers & their neighbors defeated Amazon’s corporate greed, its worker exploitation, and the power of the richest man in the world.”