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A broader look at today’s business n

Monday, January 1, 2018 Vol. 13 No. 82

PRIORITIES INCLUDE A BILL SEEKING TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION

Congress to approve business-friendly bills

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By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

@joveemarie

eaders of the House of Representatives vowed to pass early this year all pending measures that would help promote the Philippines as a business-friendly economy.

LECHON GALORE One of the most in-demand food during the yuletide season is lechon, a Filipino tradition that is often the centerpiece of joyous celebrations. On New Year’s Eve, this shop in Baclaran gets good business as customers prepare a lot of food for the media noche to welcome a prosperous new year. ALYSA SALEN

PESO exchange rates n US 49.9230

The top priorities include the ease of doing business bill, “Part B” of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN), the measure seeking to abolish quantitative restriction (QR) on rice and the bill seeking to amend the 1987 Constitution. The lower chamber is seen focusing on its legislative priorities despite the hearings on the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes A. Sereno. House Committee on Trade and Industry Chairman Ferjenel Biron of the Fourth District of Iloilo said the congressional bicameral conference committee tackling the proposal seeking to establish a national policy on ease of doing business will consolidate the Senate and House versions when session resumes on January 15. Biron said the measure is needed to simplify issuances of licenses, clearances or permits to business entities. Earlier, the World Bank released its “Ease of Doing Business Report 2018,” which showed the country’s ranking at 113th, from 99th in the 2017 edition. “The purpose of this bill is to provide an easy, simple, straightforward and trouble-free avenue for entrepreneurs, micro, small and medium businesses and ordinary citizens who would like to venture into business in the country,” Biron said. Rep. Luis Raymund F. Villa-

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8,528 L

Number of measures filed at the House of Representatives since the 17th Congress opened in July 2016

2016 ejap journalism awards

ast week this columnist wrote about a viand that the government has to order—whether to court or bid out projects in a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement; or allow itself to be courted or consider an unsolicited proposal from a private sector proponent (PSP). Continued on A6

fuerte Jr. of the Second District of Camarines Sur, one of the authors of the bill, said the Philippines ranked as the second-most favored destination for foreign direct investments in Southeast Asia. However, Villafuerte said the Philippines’s rank in ease of doing business is one of the lowest in the world in 2017, at 171st, out of 185 countries. The House version of the bill aims to provide a business environment that is conducive for the establishment and operation of enterprises in the country. The measure also intends to promote transparency in the government with regard to business registration and other manner of public transactions, to reduce red tape and expedite permitting, licensing and other similar transactions in the government. It seeks to ensure timely and expeditious processing of business requirements by national government agencies (NGAs) and local government units (LGUs). The bill calls for the creation of the National Policy in the Ease of Doing Business, which is a comprehensive and regulatory management policy to improve competitiveness and ease undue bureaucratic and regulatory burden to business entities. It also provides for the creation

of the Ease of Doing Business Commission, an attached agency of the Office of the President, which shall be the policy-making body on business registration and regulatory management and shall set the overall direction for the implementation of the National Policy on Ease of Doing Business. It mandates further that the prescribed processing time shall in no case be longer than one working day for barangay governments. For NGAs and LGUs approving a simple application, the prescribed processing time shall be three working days while, for national government agencies and LGUs in case of complex applications, the prescribed processing time shall be 10 working days from the time of receipt of the application. For special types of businesses that require clearances, accreditation, or licenses issued by government agencies, including regulatory agencies as provided for by law, where technical evaluation or such necessary condition is required in the processing of license, clearances or permits, the prescribed processing time shall in no case be longer than 30 working days or as determined by the government agency or instrumentality concerned, whichever is shorter.

n japan 0.4423 n UK 67.1165 n HK 6.3882 n CHINA 7.6413 n singapore 37.3228 n australia 38.9050 n EU 59.6131 n SAUDI arabia 13.3121

Continued on A2

Source: BSP (29 December 2017 )

BMReports BusinessMirror

A2 Monday, January 1, 2018

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Congress to approve business-friendly bills Continued from A1

Order 23 in July to extend the concessions made by the Philippines in securing the waiver in 2014.

Tax package

Rep. Dakila Carlo E. Cua of the Lone District of Quirino, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, said Congress will pass in the first quarter of 2018 Part B of Package 1 of the TRAIN. Cua said Part B of Package 1 will focus on the amnesty package, which include the estate tax amnesty and a general tax amnesty. The proposed adjustments in the Motor Vehicle Users Charge and amendments to the bank secrecy law and automatic exchange of information are also included in the Part B of Package 1 of TRAIN. Currently, there are separate pending bills in the lower chamber seeking for estate tax amnesty, a general tax amnesty and amendments to the bank secrecy law. The Part A of the TRAIN Act, which is the first of five tax packages of the Duterte administration, is targeting to raise P130 billion in revenues to finance the administration’s infrastructure program.

Rice tariffication

House Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairman Jose T. Panganiban Jr. of Anac-IP said lawmakers will also start discussing the measure scrapping the rice QR and converting it into tariffs at the plenary early this year. The passage of the bill allowing the tariffication of rice is included in the priority bills identified as urgent by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council. The House Committee on Ways and Means and the House Committee on Agriculture and Food have already endorsed the measure for plenary approval before Congress went on a Christmas break. The House Committee on Agriculture and Food has set the bound tariff rate for rice imports outside the minimum access volume (MAV) at 180 percent. Under the bill, the Philippines will impose a bound tariff rate of 35 percent for rice originating from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regardless of its volume. Manila would also impose a 40-percent bound tariff most-favored nation rate for in-quota rice imports from countries outside the Asean. Once the substitute bill is enacted into law, the country’s MAV for rice shall revert to its 2012 level at 350,000 metric tons (MT), from the current 805,000 MT. The Philippines is under pressure to convert its QR on rice into ordinary Customs duties after its waiver on the special treatment on rice expired on June 30. The World Trade Organization (WTO) General Council approved the waiver, which allowed Manila to keep its rice QR until June 30, on the condition that the Philippines will subject its rice imports to ordinary Customs duties by July 1. In March the Philippines informed WTO members that it is facing delays in converting the QR because it has not amended RA 8178, which imposed the import caps on rice indefinitely. As a sign of “goodwill” to its trading partners, President Duterte signed Executive

(

Con-ass

Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez said Congress will convene into a constituent assembly in 2018 to craft a new constitution that would pave the way for the shift to a federal form of government, in line with one of the President’s campaign promises. Alvarez said leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate agreed to meet to lay down their timetable and determine the best time for Congress to convene into a constituent assembly (Con-ass) for the purpose of drafting a new federal constitution. The House committee on constitutional amendments has created four technical working groups (TWGs), which will draft the Philippine Federal Constitution. The PDP Federalism Institute also turned over to the committee the draft “Constitution of the Federal Republic of the Philippines,” for consideration by the various TWGs created by the House panel. Rep. Roger G. Mercado of the Lone District of Southern Leyte, chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Reforms, has called for the swift adoption of House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 9 convening Congress into a constituent assembly. The HCR 9, consolidates 29 various bills and resolutions calling for the immediate revision of the 1987 Constitution. Mercado said the high public trust ratings of Duterte is a strong reason to push for the proposal. “We have conducted nine hearings and four public consultations nationwide, which showed that there is a need to amend or revise the 1987 Constitution,” Mercado added. He said Con-ass is the most practical, least expensive and fastest mode of amending the Constitution.

Accomplishments

Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Rodolfo C. Fariñas Sr. of Ilocos Norte said a total of 8,528 bills have been filed since the 17th Congress opened in July 2016, with the figure representing 6,911 House Bills (HB) and 1,617 House Resolutions (HR). Fariñas said the House processed a total of 2,100 measures in the past 145 session days of the First Regular Session and since its opening for the Second Regular Session of the 17th Congress, or an average of 14 measures processed per day. As of December 14, 2017, he said there were 39 measures enacted into law, which include: ■ The 2018 General Appropriations Act. ■ T he “ Ta x R efor m for A cce lerat ion a nd Inclusion” bill. ■ HB 5670,“An Act Strengthening Assistance To All Farmers By Providing Free Irrigation Service Fee And All Other Similar Or Related Fees Or Charges.” ■ HB 4863, “An Act Strengthening The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation And Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) By Restoring Its Authority To Issue Subpoena Ad Testificandum Or Subpoena Duces Tecum.” ■ “An Act Declaring December 8 Of Every Year A

Special Non-Working Holiday In The Entire Country To Commemorate The Feast Of The Immaculate Conception Of Mary, The Principal Patroness Of The Philippines.” Meanwhile, measures that are still pending in the bicameral committee are: ■ HB 684, “An Act Amending Republic Act 53, As Amended, Otherwise Known As ‘An Act To Exempt The Publisher, Editor Or Reporter Of Any Publication From Revealing The Source Of Published News Or Information Obtained In Confidence’ “By Including Within Its Coverage Journalists From Broadcast, News Agencies And Internet Publications.” ■ HB 6452, “An Act Establishing A National Mental Health Policy For The Purpose Of Enhancing The Delivery Of Integrated Mental Health Services, Promoting And Protecting The Rights Of Persons Utilizing Psychiatric, Neurologic And Psychosocial Health Services And Appropriating Funds Therefor.” Meanwhile, for enrollment is HB 6016, “Act Regulating The Issuance, Use And Redemption Of Gift Checks, Gift Certificates And Gift Cards.” The House also adopted Senate Bill 209, “An Act Declaring The TwentyFifth Day Of August Of Every Year As The National Tech-Voc Day.” Other major accomplishments of the House include the approval on third and final reading of 354 bills; adoption of 100 resolutions, including those calling for motu proprio inquiry; consolidation/ substitution of 1,017 measures; and referral of 549 resolution on inquiries. The lower chamber has adopted several resolutions, which include HR 1050, expressing full support for the President for declaring martial law in Mindanao; Resolutions on Impeachment, HR 1015 dismissing the impeachment complaint against Duterte and HR 1397 dismissing the impeachment complaint filed by Jacinto Paras and Ferdinand Topacio against Commission on Elections Chairman Andres D. Bautista; Resolutions of Both House 11 extending martial law in Mindanao or Proclamation 216 until December 2018.

Third reading

Among the bills and resolutions approved by the House on third reading, and awaiting Senate action, are: ■ HB 5811, “Act Providing For A Magna Carta Of The Poor.” ■ HB 691, “An Act Simplifying The Procedure In The Disposition Of Public Agricultural Lands.” ■ HB 5750, “An Act Defining The Offenses Of Discharge Of Firearms And Indiscriminate Firing Of Firearms And Providing Stiffer Penalties Therefor.” ■ HB 5792, “Institutionalizing The Balik Scientist Program And Appropriating Funds Therefor.” ■ HB 5818 “An Act Regulating The Practice Of Employers In Posting Notices Of Termination Of Employment Of Former Employees In Newspapers, Social Media And Other Public Information Venues.” ■ HB 6024 , “An Act Recognizing The Observance Of July 25 Of Every Year As The National Campus Press Freedom Day.” ■ HB 6152, “An Act Increasing The Normal

Work Hours Per Day Under A Compressed Work Week Scheme.” ■ HB 5675, “An Act Allowing The Rectification Of Simulated Birth Records And Prescribing Administrative Adoption Proceedings For The Purpose.” ■ HB 6112, “Act Mandating The Installation Of Safety Monitoring Devices In Public Utility Vehicles And Providing Penalties For Violation Thereof.” ■ HB 5784, HB 5784, “An Act Providing Universal Health Care For All Filipinos And Appropriating Funds Therefor.” ■ HB 5828, “An Act Providing For The Definition Of Public Utility, Further Amending For The Purpose Commonwealth Act 146, Otherwise Known As The Public Service Act, As Amended.” ■ HB 6221, “An Act Establishing The Filipino Identification System.” ■ HB 6177, “An Act Rationalizing The Income Requirements For The Creation Of A Municipality, The Declaration Of Highly Urbanized Status In The Case Of Component Cities And The Creation Of A Province.” ■ HB 6283, “An Act Recognizing The Observance Of November 17 Of Every Year As National Students’ Day.” ■ HB 4982, “An Act Prohibiting Discrimination On The Basis Of Sexual Orientation Or Gender Identity Or Expression And Providing Penalties Therefor.” ■ HB 5747, “An Act Establishing The Coconut Farmers And Industry Development Trust Fund And Providing For Its Management And Utilization.” ■ HB 6276, “An Act Ensuring The Continuous And Uninterrupted Transmission And Distribution Of Electricity, The Protection Of The Integrity And Reliability Of The Transmission And Distribution Systems, And The Promotion Of Public Safety, And Providing Penalties In Violation Thereof.” ■ HB 5777, “An Act Strengthening The National And Local Health And Nutrition Programs For Pregnant And Lactating Women, Adolescent Girls Of Reproductive Age And Teen-Age Mothers, Infants And Young Children In The First 1,000 Days, And Appropriating Funds Therefor.” ■ HB 5799, “An Act Reverting Fish Ponds Which Have Been Unutilized Or Abandoned For A Period Of Three Years To Forest Lands.” ■ HB 1530, “An Act Requiring Government Agencies To Indicate The Blood Type Of Individuals In The Identification Cards, Certificates And Licenses.” ■ HB 6396, “An Act Instituting Policies For The Protection And Welfare Of Caregivers In The Practice Of Their Profession.” ■ HB 6571, “An Act Establishing A Medical Scholarship And Return Service Program For Deserving Students And Appropriating Funds Therefor.” ■ HB 6589, “An Act Rationalizing The Requirements Imposed By The Department Of Agrarian Reform Regarding Land Registration To Facilitate Speed And Efficiency In Land Registration.” ■ HB 6590, ”An Act Amending Section 13 Of Republic Act No. 3019, As Amended, Entitled The ‘Anti-Graft And Corrupt Practices Act.” ■ HB 6578, “An Act Establishing A Retirement Benefit System In The Office Of The Ombudsman, Augmenting Its Employee Benefits, And Appropriating Funds Therefor.” ■ HB 159, “An Act Strengthening The Right Of Government To Expropriate Lands For Socialized Housing.” ■ HB 6550, “An Act Instituting The Magna Carta Of Day Care Workers And Providing Funds Therefor.” ■ HB 6557, “An Act Promoting Open Access In Data Transmission, Providing Additional Powers To The National Telecommunications Commission.” ■ HB 6558, “An Act Strengthening The Powers Of The National Telecommunications Commission, Amending For The Purpose Republic Act 7925, Otherwise Known As The Public Telecommunications Policy Act Of The Philippines.” ■ HB 6572, “An Act Institutionalizing The Philippine Qualifications Framewor, Establishing The National Coordinating Council And Appropriating Funds Therefor.” ■ HB 1616, “An Act Exempting The System Loss Charge Component In The Sale Of Electricity By Distribution Companies And Electric Cooperatives From The Coverage Of The Value Added Tax.” ■ HB 6570, “An Act Prohibiting Leaving Children Below Eight Years Old Unattended In Motor Vehicles.” ■ HB 6617, “Act Strengthening The Philippine Comprehensive Policy On Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) And Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome [Aids] Prevention, Treatment, Care And Support, And Establishing The Philippine National HIV And Aids Plan”. ■ HB 6604, “An Act Regulating The Rates Of Political Propaganda On Television, Radio And Print During An Electoral Campaign Period.” ■ HB 6702, “An Act Regulating The Importation, Manufacture, Distribution And Sale Of Children’s Products Containing Hazardous Chemicals, And Providing Penalties For Violation Thereof.” ■ HB 6714, “An Act Regulating The Practice Of Food Technology In The Philippines, Creating For The Purpose The Board Of Food Technology, And Appropriating Funds Therefor.” ■ HB 3222, “An Act Establishing A National Vision Screening Program For Kindergarten Pupils And Appropriating Funds Therefor.” ■ House Joint Resolution 18, “Joint Resolution Authorizing The Increase In Base Pay Of Military And Uniformed Personnel In The Government, And For Other Purposes.”

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Red Cross executive points out dangers W in uncontrolled tourism

Monday, January 1, 2018

A3

‘PHL has huge potential for cashless transactions’ By Lorenz S. Marasigan

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By Ma. Stella f. Arnaldo

Special to the BusinessMirror

UE to the rising number of tourists going to destinations via air transport, tourism inadvertently contributes to the rise in greenhouse gases that increase the number of weather-related disasters. Unfortunately, being an archipelago and due to its geographic location, the Philippines is vulnerable to these natural disasters, as what happened in 2013, when Supertyphoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan) cut across the Visayas region, resulting in more than 6,000 death and rendering many people homeless. In his presentation at the recent Tourism Crisis Management Symposium hosted by the Department of Tourism (DOT), Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Secretary-General Oscar Palabyab said “global tourism is closely linked to climate change,” adding that “tourism involves the movement of people from their homes to other destinations and accounts for about 50 percent of traffic movements.” He added: “Rapidly expanding air traffic contributes about 2.5 percent of the production of carbon monoxide. Tourism is, thus, a significant contributor to the increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.” He said that, according to a World Wildlife Fund study: “Air travel itself is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect. Passenger jets are the fastest-growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. The number of international travelers is expected to increase from 594 million in 1996 to 1.6 billion by 2020, adding greatly to the problem unless steps are taken to reduce emissions.” A former DOT undersecretary, Palabyab also expressed fears that because the Philippines’s tourist destinations are mostly natural resources, increasing foot traffic, and uncontrolled exploitation of these destinations could damage them. He likewise cited the 2003 pa-

per of Ege University’s Ugur Sunlu on the environmental impacts of tourism: “Uncontrolled conventional tourism poses potential threats to many natural areas around the world. It can put enormous pressure on an area and lead to impacts, such as soil erosion, increased pollution, discharges into the sea, natural habitat loss, increased pressure on endangered species and heightened vulnerability to forest fires. It often puts a strain on water resources, and it can force local populations to compete for the use of critical resources.” Natural disasters can have an impact on tourism in several ways, Palabyab said, such as damaging natural resources like what happened when an earthquake rocked Bohol in 2013; damaging infrastructure like road networks that disrupts transport services, hampering travel; and disrupting basic services and businesses. He added that “catastrophes like floods, earthquakes, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, avalanches, drought and diseases can have a serious effect on inbound and domestic tourism and, thus, on local tourism industries.” Climate change has already been scientifically proven to cause more powerful storms and drier droughts, which can impact places like the Philippines. Palabyab noted that the Philippines sustained about P90 billion ($1.94 billion) in economic damage in 2015 due to weatherrelated disasters. That year, there were at least four natural disasters caused by typhoons, beginning with typhoon Amang, which rained out Pope Francis’s historic visit to the Philippines, specifically in Leyte,

which was also ground zero for Yolanda. Amang was followed by Ineng in August, which battered Metro Manila and surrounding provinces; Lando in October, which mostly damaged the Cordillera Administrative Region; and Nona in December, which moved across Southern Luzon and the Visayas. Foreign visitor arrivals grew by 9.6 percent to some 4.7 million in 2015, but this was way off the government’s arrivals target of 8.2-million. Tourism accounted for some 8.2 percent of the local economic output as expressed in GDP. Palabyab recommended ways for the Philippines to minimize the impact of disasters on the tourism sector:

n Conserve and protect natural resources.

“Negative impacts from tourism occur when the level of visitor use is greater than the environment’s ability to cope with this use within the acceptable limits of change.”

n Risk-informed and sustainable infrastructure development.

“The quality of the environment, both natural and manmade, is essential to tourism. The development of tourism facilities, such as accommodation, water supplies, restaurants and recreation facilities, can involve sand mining, beach and sand erosion, soil erosion and extensive paving. In addition, road and airport construction can lead to land degradation and loss of wildlife habitats and deterioration of scenery.”

n Help businesses prepare for disasters.

“Disasters are bad for business. These catastrophic events can compromise capital, logistics, product market and labor, which compromise business continuity and recovery. Physical damage and disruptions in supply and labor can cause temporary business closure, while structural repairs to buildings and recovery or replacement of damaged equipment needed to restore operations require large amount of resources.” Palabyab said the PRC has helped many firms train in disaster-risk reduction.

Trumpets for a safe New Year A vendor sells various kinds of trumpets along Roxas Boulevard in Parañaque City a few hours before welcoming the New Year. As the government bans the use of firecrackers to celebrate the coming of 2018, trumpets are among the safe alternatives. ALYSA SALEN

hile some countries thrive in a digitalised economy—where transactions are done without paper bills and coins—the Philippines remains a cash-heavy society, a state that robs most Filipinos of the social and economic opportunities that mobile and Internet technologies bring. Imagine the huge contrast in this. In India paying for a piece of naan bread through a street vendor is done mostly via mobile phone. But in the Philippines, paying for a proper meal in a mid-range restaurant requires diners to pay in cash or credit card—mobile payments are widely not accepted. Hence,cashisstillkinginthePhilippineeconomy.And data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reflects this trend. People still keep their money in a safe box inside their houses, and take them out only when needed. Data from the Central Bank confirmed this, showing that seven of 10 Filipinos remain unbanked. This means that they are robbed of potential gains from financial tools—such as credit, savings and insurance. But with this kind of scenario, is it possible for the Philippines to be cashless in the future? Voyager Innovations Inc. President Orlando B. Vea believes so, citing the huge potential of the highly mobile Philippine population. “Being a cashless society is inevitable for the Philippines, especially with our high mobile phoneownership rate. This, combined with the Central Bank and the private sector’s initiatives being put in place to increase the share of e-payments in the country is aligned with the goal to make the Philippines a cashlite economy,” he said. He explained that a cashless society would help reduce costs, provide ease for transactions and will ultimately provide Filipinos formal financial access. “Being a cashless society will be a breakthrough for an archipelago like the Philippines. It will not only mean reduced cost for financial institutions, seamless transactions for business and consumers, but also access to the formal financial sector for every Filipino family,” he said. Fintqnologies Corp. Managing Director Lito M. Villanuevasaidthatfinancial-technologyplayerscouldhelp

the government in promoting financial inclusion given the right regulation and environment. “The government and financial-technology firms haveapivotalroleinbringingdownthenumberofpeople who are unbanked and uncarded. And we see the mobile phone as the tool that will be the great equalizer for all Filipinos. It will allow those that live in far-flung areas or far-off islands to gain access to the formal financial products, such as savings, insurance, loans, investments and payments,” he said.

‘Cash-lite’

RegulationsthatcouldhelppromotefinancialtechnologiesinthePhilippines,accordingtoVea,wouldstrengthen theNationalRetailPaymentsSystem(NRPS)andthePhilippine Electronic Fund Transfer and Operations Network. “This will pave the way in shifting the Philippines to become a cash-lite from being a cash-heavy economy, whichisseentoeventuallybenefitthegovernment,businesses and consumers in terms of speed and efficiency of transactions, lower costs and improved security, among others,” he said. In addition, these two initiatives of the BSP and the private sector are seen to provide easy access to financial services to all Filipinos, Vea said. “They will further strengthen the financial system and the economy as a whole,” he added. GXchange Inc. President Albert O. Tinio agreed, noting that the Central Bank should also put more emphasis on the automated clearinghouse (ACH) provision of the NRPS, an initiative launched in December 2015. “This enables movement across bank and non bank financial institutions,” Tinio explained. With the ACH, funds can be made available to recipientaccountswithinthesamebankingdayorimmediately upon clearing. Payees receive the funds transferred in full andshallnotpayforelectroniccreditingtotheiraccounts. Its benefits range from lower cost of doing business and as alternative to the check system, as transactions are processed the same day compared to next-day check clearing. In turn, businesses and enterprises will have better grasp of liquidity management through the digital pathway and is expected to result in the in-

crease of economic activities in the country.

Adopt a new concept

Tinio added that, in order to facilitate ease in using digital accounts, and protect consumers from the risks of online transactions, the government should look into the Payment Services Directive of the Europe. “We also recommend the adoption of the openbanking concept. While this is a European concept, it should be studied and adopted by the BSP,” Tinio said. The system calls for the regulation of payment services and its providers to increase competition and participation in the payments industry. Among others, the ordinance calls for the promotion of the development and use of online and mobile transactions through open banking. Open banking refers to the use of application programminginterfacestogiveusersaccesstotheirpersonal data, providing them with financial information that can help them make sound financial decisions. Forexample,throughtheuseofanapplication,auser may check which financial tool he could use to purchase a house, based on his credit level or actual capability. The concept also provides transparency, ease of transfer of funds from one account to another, and even help lenders evaluate a customer’s financial situation or risk level.

Regulatory sandbox

Tinio also recommended the introduction of a regulatory sandbox. TheWorldBankdefinesitasa“setofrulesthatallows innovatorstotesttheirproductsorbusinessmodelsinlive environmentwithoutfollowingsomeoralllegalrequirements, subject to predefined restrictions.” Because of this, product tests are done with lower costs, while supporting the identification of consumerprotectionrules.Aroundtheworld,sandboxesarefound in the United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. “The regulatory sandbox allows businesses to test innovative products, services, business models and delivery mechanisms in the real market, with real consumers,” Tinio said.

A4

Monday, January 1, 2018 • Editor: Lyn Resurreccion

The World BusinessMirror

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Extreme cold, snow to test New Year’s revelers Hundreds of thousands have withstood very cold weather over the years for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we expect this year to be no different.”—Tompkins

Kevin Deiner of Erie, Pennsylvania, digs out his Ford Escape buried on West Sixth Street last Saturday. Forecasters say 1 to 3 inches of snow could fall in most areas before the precipitation end by late Saturday afternoon. But several inches of snow were expected in Erie, which was under a lake-effect snow warning issued by the National Weather Service. Jack Hanrahan/Erie Times-News via AP

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ress in layers, lay off the booze and bring some hand warmers. Those are some of the tips offered for the huge crowd of revelers expected in Times Square for what could be one of the coldest New Year’s Eve ball drops on record.

Brutal weather has iced plans for scores of events in the Northeast from New Year’s Eve through New Year’s Day, but not in New York City, where people will start

gathering in Times Square up to nine hours before the famous ball drop. “Hundreds of thousands have withstood very cold weather over

the years for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we expect this year to be no different,” said Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance, which puts on the event. The coldest New Year’s Eve in Times Square came in 1917, when it was 1 degree at midnight. This year, the forecast is for 11 degrees with a wind chill around zero, which would tie for second with 1962. City and state health officials are advising people to cover all exposed skin, and wear a hat, scarf and gloves. Drinking alcohol is discouraged because it causes the body to lose heat faster.

Extra New York Fire Department personnel are going to be on hand to provide medical support, and a National Weather Service meteorologist will be on site with the city’s emergency-management officia ls to monitor weat her conditions. In other areas gripped by the cold, some events are being canceled or reconsidered. The annual Lobster Dip at Old Orchard Beach in Maine has been rescheduled for the first time in 30 years. Organizers of the Penguin Plunge in Narragansett, Rhode Island, say it’s still on for New Year’s Day but advised the thousands of expected participants to “use their good judgment” and avoid taking the plunge if they have a medical condition or have been sick. With temperatures only expected to reach 9 degrees in Springfield, Illinois, last Sunday organizers of its annual New Year’s Eve fireworks display have decided to cancel this year’s show. Officials say they plan to reschedule it for a warmer date. In Ohio where some communities saw digit temperatures last Saturday, fireworks have been canceled and events moved inside in Miami Township and the New Year’s Eve ball drop and other activities in New Carlisle have been reduced to an hour. Despite the drawn-out deep f ree z e ac ross Pen n s ylv a n i a ,

officials said last Saturday that the annual New Year’s Day Mummers Parade would still be held. The event features thousands of performers in colorful costumes ador ned w it h sequins and feathers strutting through Philadelphia’s streets. The village of Orchard Park near Buffalo, New York, has canceled its New Year’s Eve event because subzero temperatures have been forecast. “ Wit h f r ig id weat her, t he chance of a water-line break is higher, and I’d rather have my public works crew fixing it than hoisting a ball up to drop,” said Mayor Jo Ann Litwin Clinton. At Long Lake in the heart of New York state’s Adirondack Park, intrepid souls in swimsuits or funny costumes will jump into frigid water through a hole cut by the fire department for the fifth annual Polar Plunge, a fund-raiser for High Peaks Hospice. With temperatures expected to top out around 13 degrees, the rescue squad will be checking participants’ blood pressure, and buses will provide warm shelter, said Alexandra Roalsvig, the town’s director of recreation and tourism. “People get excited about the cold here; we grew up with it,” Roalsvig said. “We’re counting on a good cold winter and snow because we’re so reliant on snowmobiling for the winter economy.” AP

Bitcoin could boost Japan’s econ in 2018

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itcoin’s about to boost the world’s third-largest economy, according to analysts at Nomura. The digital coin’s 1,500-percent rally this year has left crypto-crazed Japanese investors likely sitting on hefty gains that Nomura thinks will spur consumer spending. “Rises in asset values often result in a rise in consumer spending, too, known as the wealth effect,” the team, led by Yoshiyuki Suimon, wrote last Friday. “We estimate the wealth effect from unrealized gains on Bitcoin trading by Japanese investors since the start of fiscal year 2017, and estimate a potential boost to consumer spending of ¥23.2 billion to ¥96.0 billion.” The note points out that trading volume in the Bitcoin market is roughly 40 percent yen, which is larger than even the US dollar’s share. Bitcoin has fallen about 25 percent since closing in on $20,000 on December 18, trading around $14,500 in New York last Friday afternoon. Still, Nomura is confident that the share of investors who have benefited is much larger than those who may have lost money due to the recent decline. “Moreover, the fact that the rise in Bitcoin prices was concentrated in 2017 fourth quarter could result in the wealth effect materializing in 2018 first quarter and, if that is the case, we estimate a potential boost to real GDP growth on an annualized quarter over quarter basis of up to about 0.3 percentage points,” Nomura said. BloombergNews

China factory momentum remains briefs intact amid smog and debt curbs C

New protests in Tehran challenge Iran’s govt

hina’s official factory gauge maintained momentum, signaling that campaigns to reduce both pollution and debt risk haven’t curbed output. The manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) edged down to 51.6 in December, in line with the forecast in Bloomberg’s survey of economists, from 51.8 the prior month. T he nonmanufactur ing PMI stood at 55, compared with a projected 54.7 reading and 54.8 in November, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said last Sunday. Numbers above 50 indicate improving conditions while those below signal deterioration Steadiness in manufacturing comes even amid intensifying efforts to curb smog and a push to reduce excessive borrowing. Top leaders have been signaling less emphasis on pursuing expansion at all costs and this month, at their main economic planning conclave for 2018, they pledged to focus on “critical battles” against financial risk, pollution and poverty. “The relatively healthy PMI number

shows the government can still tolerate the impact of deleveraging,” said Ding Shuang, chief China economist at Standard Chartered Plc. in Hong Kong. “The PMI decline reflects the impact of financial deleveraging and property curbs on the economy. Deleveraging has pushed up interest rates and slowed credit growth.” “Growth momentum still seems to be steady and, thereby, monetary policy will continue to stay on put,” said Larry Hu, chief China economist at Macquarie Securities Ltd. in Hong Kong. “We see the risk in 2018 biasing toward the downside, especially from the infrastructure spending side, due to the government’s push on deleveraging.” “The drop in PMI is probably due to the credit tightening toward the end of this year,” said Shen Jianguang, chief Asia economist at Mizuho Securities Asia Ltd. in Hong Kong. “The trend of economic slowdown may become more and more obvious, but the economy’s quality may be improved.” “ The moderate decline in headline

PMI was mainly attributable to the lower inventory, while production growth remained solid,” Liu Wenqi, an analyst at China International Capital Corp. in Beijing, wrote in a report. “Manufacturing PMI indicated continued strength in the cyclical recovery. Looking forward, there may be more room for restocking demand if the economic growth came in higher than the market expected at the beginning of 2018.” The trend of economic stability will be extended, the NBS said in a statement, adding that market demand recovered and industrial restructuring accelerated, leading to shortage of energy and raw materials. The PMI surveys show companies are confident about economic development, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said in a statement last Sunday. The agency, which jointly releases PMI with the NBS, said it projects 2018 economic growth of about 6.5 percent. “A lower reading but stil l slight ly above the 50-mark points to a factory sector still expanding but at a slightly slower pace,” Tom Orlik, a Bloomberg economist in Beijing, wrote in a report. “Growth remains remarkably robust, underpinned by resurgent global demand, stimulus-boosted infrastructure spending, and a deleveraging program that remains more honored in the breach than the observance.” Increases in PMI gauges for input and output prices suggest China’s industrial-reflation story will stay strong into 2018, and initial PMI readings for China’s major export markets point to continued strong demand, he said. New manufactur ing ex por t orders climbed to a six-month high of 51.9 from 50.8. Input prices increased to 62.2, from 59.8. Order backlogs slipped to 46.3, from 46.6. The nonmanufacturing gauge of construction activity climbed to 63.9, from 61.4. Bloomberg News

TEHRAN, Iran—A wave of spontaneous protests over Iran’s weak economy swept into Tehran last Saturday, with college students and others chanting against the government just hours after hard-liners held their own rally in support of the Islamic Republic’s clerical establishment. The demonstrations appear to be the largest to strike against the Islamic Republic since the protests that followed the country’s disputed 2009 presidential election. Thousands already have taken to the streets of cities across Iran, beginning at first last Thursday in Mashhad, the country’s second-largest city and a holy site for Shiite pilgrims. The protests in the Iranian capital, as well as President Donald J. Trump tweeting about them, raised the stakes. It also apparently forced state television to break its silence, acknowledging it hadn’t reported on them on orders from security officials. AP

State Department releases e-mails from Clinton aide WASHINGTON—The State Department has released e-mails from Huma Abedin, a top aide to Hillary Clinton, that were found by the FBI on her husband’s laptop. Some of the e-mails found on former Rep. Anthony Weiner’s laptop were marked classified. It was unclear whether they were deemed classified at the time they were sent or when the State Department was preparing them for release. The e-mails were released in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch. AP

Garner dies; fought police brutality after dad’s death NEW YORK—The daughter of key Black Lives Matter figure Eric Garner died last Saturday after a weeklong hospital stay following a heart attack. “She was a warrior to the end. She stood up for justice for her father,” the Rev. Al Sharpton said in announcing the death of Garner, 27, at a New York hospital. Garner’s official Twitter account, run by her family and friends since she became ill, asked that she be remembered as a mother, daughter, sister and aunt with a heart “bigger than the world.” AP

Australian diplomat’s tip a factor in FBI’s Russia probe WASHINGTON—An Australian diplomat’s tip appears to have helped persuade the FBI to investigate Russian meddling in the United States election and possible coordination with the Trump campaign, The New York Times reported last Saturday. Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos told the diplomat, Alexander Downer, during a meeting in London in May 2016 that Russia had thousands of e-mails that would embarrass Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, the report said. Downer, a former foreign minister, is Australia’s top diplomat in Britain. Australia passed the information on to the FBI after the Democratic e-mails were leaked, according to The Times, which cited four current and former US and foreign officials with direct knowledge of the Australians’ role. AP

‘Make America Gay Again’ sign greets Pence in Colorado ASPEN, Colorado—Neighbors of the home where Vice President Mike Pence has been staying in Colorado this week have a message. They’ve placed a rainbow-colored banner on a stone pillar at the end of the driveways to both homes near the posh ski resort of Aspen. The banner reads “Make America Gay Again”— a play on President Donald J. Trump’s campaign slogan “Make America Great Again.” Pitkin County sheriff’s deputy Michael Buglione tells the Aspen Times that Secret Service agents weren’t bothered by the sign. AP

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BusinessMirror

Monday, January 1, 2018 A5

A6 Monday, January 1, 2018 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

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editorial

01012018

2018: No more apathy

W

elcome to 2018. As we close the books on 2017 and start the recordkeeping for 2018, we note that Filipinos are optimistic that their personal quality of life and that the economy will get better in 2018. Filipinos are usually optimistic about the future, but with caution from being disappointed so many times.

There is no doubt that conditions, both personal and national, have improved over the past decade. We have reason to be looking to and expecting a brighter future. There has been a general thought for several years that a better Philippines requires better Filipinos. So, if the Philippines is “better,” then maybe Filipinos have also become better. The Seven Deadly Sins—dating back to Christian monk and ascetic Evagrius Ponticus who died in 399—are lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride. These are the opposite of the Seven Virtues and theoretically if we avoid the “sins” then we reap the “virtues.” Maybe as a nation we have been at least a little more successful in tempering our sins. Pope Gregory and Saint Thomas Aquinas elaborated on this list by including the idea of Acedia from the Latin meaning “without care”—the neglect to take care of something that one should do. The word transformed over the centuries to “apathy”—a lack of interest or concern. In the modern context though, we want to think of apathy as a failure to do something better or to change something for the better as a result of being lazy. Sloth also can be interpreted as being lazy, characterized being like “Juan Tamad.” But laziness is not just sitting under the mango tree watching the clouds drift by. Modern apathy manifests itself as being unwilling to tackle the hard problems by making hard decisions. The recent passage of the tax-reform bill illustrates this. Certainly, there are going to objections and complaints with the final law. That is inevitable, as everyone cannot be made happy. But that is where the hard decisions come in. Taxation always and forever comes down to “lower taxes for me; higher taxes for them.” There may be some changes made to the new law, but at least there was an effort made to use the tax laws to attempt to improve economic growth. Apathy to make changes not only comes from “laziness.” It also comes from wanting to stay in your comfort zone. We personally make excuses for not trying something new because we are comfortable with the status quo. We work and stay in jobs that do not develop our personal and financial potential. We hesitate to reach out and build relationships with new friends because we are comfortable with the old. The same can apply to nations. President Duterte’s foreign policy initiatives deserve intensive scrutiny and constructive criticism and monitoring. However, in a changing world with new players and new alliances, do we stay with the “old” because that is the best or because that is what we are most comfortable doing? The Philippines can no longer afford to be apathetic because we are lazy or because we are comfortable. We have seen major global changes in the last decade, in the past year, and will experience more changes in 2018. Now more than ever we must remember the Latin proverb “audentes fortuna iuvat” variously translated as “fortune favors the bold,” “fortune favors the brave” and “fortune favors the strong.” Since 2005

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

PPP Menu No. 3: Public and/or private resources … Choice of the cuisine By Alberto Agra

PPP Lead

I

Continued from A1

n the sequence of decisions, this, however, is not the first choice which the government, through an implementing agency (IA), has to make. To choose this viand means that an IA has already decided to embark on a PPP. Before an IA opens its PPP Menu, it must first choose from a host of development strategies.

The pure public choice. An IA may opt to use its own (public) money to fund a project—road, bridge, airport, bulk water supply, monorail, among others. The IA may also borrow money. It may construct the project by administration. The concerned agency may also operate and maintain the facility. The IA may set up a subsidiary as its public corporate vehicle for a project. The IA performs all the functions, as-

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The private-only PPP choice. The IA, without contributing any public resource, may decide to allow a PSP to undertake a project from end-to-end. The government here chooses the project, chooses the PSP, and retains its power to regulate and set policies. The PSP uses private money,

T hey become coow ners, corisk-takers, coinvestors and cochampions. Project-related functions and responsibilities are divided or shared between the parties. When not disallowed by law, the IA can subsidize, extend equity, guarantee, partially fund a project; allow its property to be used, undertake the ROW, facilitate regulatory approvals, provide assistance to or enter into a joint venture with a PSP.

The ‘buffet.’ The all-of-theabove, or all-at-the-same-time option, combines the public and private viands. PSPs will trust more in a PPP project or program if the government has a skin-in-the-game. Partners in any arrangement do not only share in the upside. Parties, who believe in the feasibility of the relationship, must have a recognizable stake in the project.

The hybrid choice. This viand, popularized under the current administration, offers a sequential oneafter-another approach. The IA does it first (i.e., funds the project and/or constructs the facility; or the PSP, through procurement, designs and builds the facility), then the same or different PSP, through a PPP scheme or procurement of services, operates, manages and maintains the governmental asset. The determinative decision of which of the four cuisines to choose lies with the government. There could be others. Let us know.

O’Neill improved several processes, which resulted in Alcoa’s annual net income being five times higher than when he started. O’Neill said, “If I could start disrupting the habits around one thing, it would spread throughout the entire company.” In our personal capacity, we, too, can also use a keystone habit that can serve as an anchor to change our routine and develop other habits. If O’Neil used safety to kick-start new corporate habits in Alcoa, starting 2018, I will use gratitude in my desire to change some of my own personal habits. Frankly speaking, the past year was far from being a banner year for me. Nonetheless, there is so much to be thankful for. These people include pastors Niels, Gary and Ernie, who have provided me spiritual guidance as I walk in faith; my immediate bosses in Philippine Airline, Jimmy and Stewart and colleagues in senior management, who have provided me professional support as I learn the intricacies in the aviation industry. Also included are my instructors and coaches in yoga (Maidee and Dax), in scuba diving (Ross) and my constant adversaries in golf (Natus, Renny and Irwin), all of whom taught me better techniques in their respective disciplines. Though I do not see these friends often, JB, Jojo, Jess, Alex, Boy P and Dino deserve as much gratitude as they provide me with a unique kind of brotherly love. Special mention, however, goes to my BFF Raul and Ir-

win, and my three loyal boys (dogs), Bucky, Blue and Bonggo whose constant availability makes living alone more manageable. Worth mentioning as well are my children Nica, Jason and Elena, whose brand of love has taught me to be a more prayerful person, and my parents Salvador and Ione whose unwavering support is beyond comparison. I also give thanks to a special friend who helped me discover healthier ways of eating, exposed me to recreational activities that gave me work-life balance, and, as a result of our quality conversations, allowed me to mature in all of my personal relationships. The transformational process continues to help me learn how to love, one day at a time. All the events, good and bad, that happened to me in 2017, I attribute to His mighty grace and power. In Psalms 30:11-12, the Bible says, “You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever.” We will always have reasons to wail and “put on a sackcloth.” My brother-in-law Albert sent that verse to me and emphasized that the verse did not say “give thanks IF”; it just said to give thanks and the heart will sing.” Showing gratitude for all things, good and bad, and making our own keystone habit can ultimately lead to other habits, such as kindness, happiness and, most important, love.

Keystone habit

✝ Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Publisher

sumes all the risks and earns from the public investment.

whether borrowed or from its own pocket, to fully fund a project. It also designs, constructs, operates and maintains the facility, procures supplies and equipment, hires the officers and staff, buys realties, and assumes rightof-way (ROW) obligations. The PSP sets up a special corporate project-based vehicle. The PSP assumes almost everything. It bears all the functions and assumes the corresponding risks. Such a close-to-nil-public-participation may produce high tariffs and, therefore, high rewards for the PSP.

M

the patriot

ost Filipinos have the habit of making New Year’s resolutions, such as having a fireworks display to usher in the New Year. This holiday season, almost all Filipinos will indulge in the habit of hosting parties with the usual calorie overload of lechon, ham, quezo de bola, among the so many other gastronomically delightful foods. These culturally ingrained habits are meant to celebrate the past year with family and loved ones. In his book, The Power of Habit, Pulitzer Prize winning author Charles Duhigg talked about the cycle of a habit, which starts from a cue, develops to a routine and ends in a result. Cues will always be there and our human nature will always yearn for a desired result. The key to change a habit is to focus on changing the routine. Duhigg also discussed the concept of a keystone habit using the example of thenCEO Paul O’Neill of Alcoa, the biggest aluminum manufacturer in America at that time. In his inaugural speech as CEO, he deviated from the usual announcements of profit targets and revenue maximization. He simply said, “I intend to make Alcoa the safest company in America. I intend to go for zero injuries.” Duhigg wrote that O’Neill’s keystone habit of safety led to u ne x pected c ha nges in how

things were done in Alcoa. O’Neill required all managers to report all kinds of safety incidents, even the most mundane ones, by e-mail. After a plant manager who failed to report a safety issue was fired, everyone was consciously sending e-mail reports to O’Neill. It started the habit of always communicating to the CEO. Unconsciously, O’Neill started the first e-mail group in corporate America where managers were sending suggestions to improve Alcoa’s safety record. Innovations, some no longer connected with safety, were brought to the attention of the CEO. Employee morale was enhanced, not only because the leaders were concerned about their safety, but also because they now had a voice in the company. With higher morale, employee productivity increased and operational efficiency was at its highest. By focusing on safety,

Sports BusinessMirror

Editor: Jun Lomibao | mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

Monday, January 1, 2018

LADIES GOLF TOUR ON T

HE Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT) launches its new season on Wednesday with a stellar field headed by the cream of the country’s pro crop and a number of Thailand aces bracing for a spirited battle for top honors in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Ayala Greenfield Ladies Challenge in Calamba, Laguna. Symetra Tour campaigners Dottie Ardina, Cyna Rodriguez and Princess Superal hope to come out strong coming off a failed bid at South Forbes two weeks ago, which the Thais dominated via a 1-2 finish to sweep the last two legs of the

2017 LPGT season. But the locals are all primed to open the sixth season of the country’s premier ladies circuit sponsored by ICTSI on a winning note with last year’s LPGT Order of Merit winner Pauline del Rosario also raring to rebound from a mediocre showing at South Forbes. Del Rosario racked up four victories in her rookie campaign in the record 11-leg circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. but struggled with poor health and form in the last tournament, ending up 10th. But the 19-year-old rising star is expected to have recovered, ready to slug it out with her fellow fancied Filipinas and a slew of Thais out to extend their domination of the tour backed by Custom Clubmakers, BDO, Meralco, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and K&G Golf. They include former LPGT

Crack field gears up for Phl Am Open

Others vying in the 54-hole championship are former leg champions Chihiro Ikeda and Sarah Ababa along with Anya Tanpinco, Apple Fudolin, last year’s Luisita stage champion Euna Koh of Korea and South African Madeleen Grosskoph.

SYMETRA Tour campaigners Dottie Ardina (right) and Cyna Rodriguez hope to come out strong at the in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Ayala Greenfield Ladies Challenge.

GINEBRA THANKSGIVING

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel rookies Mikey Cabahug and Jett Manuel play a game with fans during the team’s thanksgiving party held recently at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City. The Gin Kings celebrated their championship win in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup with their die-hard fans, who were also treated to performances by top local bands Itchyworms and Silent Sanctuary. For more updates on Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, check out the official Facebook page of Ginebra San Miguel www.facebook.com/ barangayginebra or log on to www.ginebra.com.ph.

A

N early roster of 116 players, including 84 in the men’s side, braces for a spirited battle for top honors in the Philippine Amateur Open Golf Championship, which gets under way on Thursday at Riviera Golf Club’s Couples Course in Silang, Cavite. Club bet Tom Kim of Korea banners the field that drew top and rising players from Australia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Canada and the United States, ensuring four days of fierce action in chase of the country’s premier amateur golfing championship. Thai Sadom Kaewkanjana, who beat Kim by seven to run away with last year’s crown, won’t be around to defend the crown but the depth of the field remains as talentladen as ever with the cream of the local crop also eager to stamp their class in the blueribbon event sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation. Paolo Wong and Don Petil, for one, hope to sustain the momentum of their imposing five-shot romp in the just-concluded National Doubles, although they will have to do it individually this time with former champion Rupert Zaragosa, Northern Luzon Regional champion Aidric Chan and Weiwei Gao also tipped to contend for the crown in the event organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines and held as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Golf Tour. But they will have their hands full against the likes of Kim Dong-hyun and Lim Su-min of South Korea, Malaysians Muhammad Afif Mohd Fathi and Rhaasrikanesh A/L Kanavathi and Brandon Han, Donovan Lee, Sean Lee and Jeryl Tan of Singapore. Keen competition is also seen in the women’s side with Harmie Constantino, Lois Go, Clare Legaspi, Sofia Legaspi and Junia Gabasa all primed up against top rivals from Canada, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Team The Country Club spearhead Mikha Fortuna is also expected to figure in the title race, her confidence boosted by her victory in the Malaysia Junior Open early-December, along with Nicole Abelar, Annika Cedo, Laurea Duque, Annika Guangko, Felicia Medalla, Kayla Nocum and Kristine Torralba. But the locals will be in for a tough outing against an elite foreign cast, headed by Thai Tunrada Piddon and last year’s runner-up Kim Hee-ji and fellow South Korean Hwang Min-jeong, who has won a tournament in the country’s premier ladies pro tour.

leg winners Saruttaya Ngam-usawan and Wannasiri Sirisampant, with Chonlada Chayanun also eyeing her first win after turning in back-toback runner-up finishes in the Philippine Ladies Masters and South Forbes. Others in the Thai fold are Numa Gulyanamitta, Pakpring Duangchan, Chitawadee Duangchan, Hathaikarn Wongwaikijphaisal, Jaruporn P Na Ayuttaya, Ploychompoo Wilairungrueng, Punpaka Phuntumabamrung, Saraporn Chamchoi, Sarinee Thitiratanakorn, Supakchaya Pattaranakrueng, Thanuttra Boonraksasat and Tiranan Yoopan. Meanwhile, Ayala Greenfield has been spruced up in time for its first hosting of an LPGT tournament with the par-72 layout expected to provide a different kind of challenge for the competing field especially in the presence of the wind.

Superliga teams tinker with coaching staff

A

NEW year and a new coaching staff for a number of teams in the Philippine Superliga (PSL), which kicks off its 2018 season with the Grand Prix Conference next month. George Pascua, the erstwhile Cignal coach, was surprisingly announced as the new head coach of Santa Lucia last Saturday. “As we transition into our team’s sophomore year, we would like to officially welcome to the Santa Lucia family our new head coach, George Pascua,” Santa Lucia’s official twitter account announced. The current head coach of Far Eastern University women’s team will replace Jerry Yee, who is on his way to the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) joining

an expansion squad that has yet to be disclosed. Pascua, who steered Petron to two titles three years ago, will bring his winning tradition and try to resuscitate the Lady Realtors, who went winless in the Invitational Cup before finishing in sixth place in both the All-Filipino and Grand Prix. Cignal has yet to find a replacement. The team will also limp into the new season without star spiker Jovelyn Gonzaga, who is out for the conference because of an ACL injury. Cocolife, meanwhile, also tinkered with its coaching staff and took Serbian Moro Branislav from Foton. After a modest debut in 2017—

highlighted by a fourth-place finish in the recent Grand Prix—the Asset Managers are looking to take a big leap in 2018 with Branislav, who led the Tornadoes to a Grand Prix title in 2016 before failing to enter the Finals in both conferences last year. Foton’s high-scoring import Sara Klisura is also set to join her fellow Serbian coach at Cocolife. Michele Gumabao, however, is reportedly headed for the PVL and is also joining a beauty pageant. Foton, on the other hand, signed former Pocari Sweat head coach, Rommel Abella, who steered his former team to three titles in the PVL. Lance Agcaoili

PSC HEAD PREDICTS GOLD FROM JUDO, WEIGHTLIFTING T

HE country’s first Olympic gold would come from a female athlete in judo or weightlifting. Philippine Sports

Diaz

Commission Chairman William Ramirez made the bold forecast as he unveiled the government sports agency’s grand plan for 2018, which includes a string of overseas training and competition for sports that could potentially bring the gold medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Ramirez said he has high hopes for judokas Kiyoma Watanabe and Mariya Takahashi, and specifically Rio de Janeiro weightlifting silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz to bag the gold in Tokyo. “It can be in judo, or it can be in weightlifting,” Ramirez said before the New Year break. Watanabe and Takahashi, both Filipino-Japanese, won gold in the Malaysia 29th Southeast Asian Games in August.

Diaz, on the other hand, captured a silver and bronze in the world championships in California and a silver in the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Turkmenistan. The PSC prepared a busy calendar leading to the Tokyo Olympics. Also tops in its agenda is the Asian Games Indonesia is hosting later this year and the Manila 30th SEA Games. Ramirez has identified 25 athletes in 10 sports who will get the most exposures leading to the Tokyo Games. Although he refused to name the athletes, he guaranteed that Watanabe, Takahashi and Diaz will undergo specialized training. Ramon Rafael Bonilla

A7

Rick Olivares bleachersbrew@gmail.com

Bleachers’ Brew

The 2017 Brewskies

IT’S the end of 2017 as we know it, and I feel fine. Yes, thus sang Michael Stipe and 2017, but the quote of the year—for me—is former Memphis Grizzlies Coach David Fizdale’s postgame rant following a loss to the San Antonio Spurs in April. Fizdale, who I had the good fortune to interview on a couple of occasions prior to his appointment over at Memphis, took shots at the disparity of the calls and free throws that ultimately led to the loss. Fizdale concluded his postgame rant by saying, “Take that for data,” then banging the table with his fist. That quote has since become the stuff of memes and even folks doing their own version of it. Yet, Fizdale spake the truth! And our traditional year-end awards called “the Brewskies” for dubious achievements, quotes or results in sports will all be for data in this 2017. To wit: Adalaide Byrd must have watched another fight. The boxing match between Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez saw a controversial draw not because it was such but the way judge Adalaide Byrd scored the fight, 118-110, for Alvarez. One judge had it 115-113 for Golovkin, while the other submitted an even 114-114 score. Mysteriously, Byrd scored five rounds for Alvarez that the other two judges gave to Golovkin. Byrd was lambasted online by boxing officials and was asked to explain her scoring. She has since stepped down from officiating major boxing matches. It’s déjà vu all over again for Manny Pacquiao. Manny Pacquiao lost another fight. No, I am not surprised that his record in recent years has been less than stellar. The man has been stubborn trying to defeat Father Time while trying to multitask when he is horrible at it. But make no mistake, I do not think he lost that fight to Jeff Horn that cost him the World Boxing Organization belt. In a fight where Pacman was expected to walk all over his Australian foe, Manny left Brisbane having been snakebit for the second time in his career (the first was against Timothy Bradley in 2012, where the Filipino lost via split decision. Manny threw 573 punches and landed 182 (32 percent) while Horn only landed 92 of 625 punches thrown for 15 percent. While volume isn’t indicative of a win (just look at football where dominance of possession and shots at the goal doesn’t guarantee a win), most if not practically all boxing analysts saw a Pacquiao win. But all three judges gave the fight to Horn. Some decried this as a hometown decision. Whatever it is...take that for data! What were you watching Ovidiu Hategan? Speaking of football...this is proof positive of bad officiating and data—in a reversal sort of way of what Fizdale was ranting about. During the first game of a two-legged World Cup qualification match (for the 2018 World Cup) between Switzerland and Northern Ireland, the Swiss pounded Northern Ireland’s goal with 33 attempts but were unable to find the back of the net. Shockingly, the Swiss were awarded a 34th attempt when Hategan, the match official, whistled a penalty (in the 58th minute) where he adjudged Correy Evans for a handball when he turned his back to a Xherdan Shaqiri volley. It was a phantom call. No one watching the match whether live in Belfast or on television saw a penalty. Ricardo Rodriguez slotted home the spot kick for a controversial 1-nil win. In the next leg, both figured in a scoreless draw. Switzerland advanced while Northern Ireland went home. Yep. Thirty-three attempts and nothing to show for until that call? Take that for data? Hmm. Maybe it should be for the referees. And on that note, I will leave you with Game Three of the recently concluded University Athletic Association of the Philippines’s (UAAP) men’s basketball finals where the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles emerged triumphant over archrival De La Salle. All season long, the UAAP referees blew so many contentious calls. Yet, come Game Three, it was close to being perfect (well, they were still some bad calls but, generally, they zebras allowed the players to play). The common view was “kaya naman pala maayos ’yung tawag” in reference to the officiating. Yep. So let me end by offering this year’s truckload of Brewskies—dubious sports achievements—to data and the refs.

Sports BusinessMirror

A8 Monday, January 1, 2018

Editor: Jun Lomibao | mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

IS SERENA READY? A

SERENA WILLIAMS loses in comeback match since giving birth. AP

SENSATIONAL COMEBACK By Janie McCauley

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The Associated Press

AKLAND, California—Stephen Curry made a sensational return from injury by scoring 38 points with a season-high 10 three-pointers, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 141-128, last Saturday night. Curry shot 13 for 17 and 10 of 13 from deep in 26 minutes for his ninth 30-point game this season after missing 11 games with a sprained right ankle. His mere presence brought an energy to the Warriors and all of Oracle Arena, and he spent much of the fourth quarter pacing, gesturing in delight while cheering his teammates with a towel draped over his head. Kevin Durant added 20 points, nine assists and five rebounds, and Klay Thompson scored 21 points as the Warriors wrapped up nearly three weeks at home in California. Zaza Pachulia scored a season-best 17 points and also had eight rebounds and six assists. Marc Gasol led six Memphis players in double figures with 27 points on 10-for-13 shooting. With his parents, wife and two daughters in attendance, Curry got his first points on a layup at 10:27 that put the Warriors out front 7-0 and led to a Memphis timeout. He hit a three-pointer at 9:52 before Memphis scored its first points. Curry received roars from the sellout crowd during pregame introductions, and Durant threw his right arm into the air to cheer his pal’s comeback. Curry pounded his chest after a three-pointer late in the second that put the Warriors up 64-57. In the game’s closing minutes, he hit a three-pointer, held his follow-through and jubilantly hopped up and down on his left foot. This marked Curry’s ninth career game with 10 or more 3s, most by any player in National Basketball Association history. “Sometimes the absence of a month of basketball gives you a little more excitement and energy, and I know he feels that way and it’ll probably do the same thing with our crowd and with our team, too,” Coach Steve Kerr said before the game. Curry was all smiles during pregame warmups. He hoisted his signature tunnel shot, signed a few quick autographs when daughter Riley arrived to greet him and briefly held his arm around her before turning around to do his customary hallway sprint. His little girl cleared the way, and off her dad went to the locker room. “Solid,” Curry said with a grin of his sprint. He’s healthy at last—and it showed immediately. Kerr had hoped to play his two-time MVP 20 to 25 minutes, and Curry conferred with the coaching staff during a timeout with 4:36 left in the third before staying in the game to hit another 3 just 30 seconds later. Curry sat down to cheers with 2:55 left in the third his team up 103-87. Memphis lost 97-84 on December 20, then watched the Warriors match their season

high for points in a half this season by leading 78-67 at the break. Draymond Green was ejected with 9:45 left in the second quarter after a second technical foul in a 43-second span. Both were for arguing. The emotional forward has been ejected twice this season. Green had five assists and three points in 10 minutes. In New Orleans Jarrett Jack figured the Pelicans’ defense was more concerned with Kristaps Porzingis than with him. Porzingis had just scored seven consecutive points to help the New York Knicks forge a tie with New Orleans in the final minute. With the Knicks looking to take the lead, Jack knew what to do. He found an opening between Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, drew a foul from Jrue Holiday and made two free throws with nine seconds left to lead New York past New Orleans, 105-103, last Saturday night. “KP had just hit a couple of shots, so I knew they weren’t leaving him,” said Jack,

a former Pelican. “That left me with a nice lane to drive toward the basket. I made an aggressive play, got fouled and did my job by knocking down two free throws.” Jack’s play completed a comeback from an eight-point deficit in the final three minutes. He finished with 15 points, scoring 13 in 17 minutes of second-half action after scoring two in the first half. “That’s why they have two halves in this game,” Jarrett said. The Pelicans had a chance to tie or win at the end, but Davis, who had 31 points and nine rebounds, missed a three-pointer just before the buzzer. “That was one of the options,” Pelicans Coach Alvin Gentry said of the final play. “We know we didn’t need a three, but if the three was available to us, we were going to shoot it. It was a great shot. We just didn’t knock it in, but I’ll take that shot any time of the day.” Cousins had 29 points and 19 rebounds, Holiday scored 13 and E’Twaun Moore had 12. “You have to close out a game like that,”

Gentry said. “We had every opportunity to do it, and they did it. We didn’t and they did. They came back and made some shots.” Holiday began the fourth-quarter scoring with a three-point play that started an 8-0 New Orleans run, giving the Pelicans an 86-79 lead. Frank Ntilikina started an 8-2 run that got the Knicks within 88-87 midway through the fourth. “We missed a lot of open shots in the beginning of the fourth quarter, must have had five or six in a row we couldn’t make and at the end we got down by eight,” Knicks Coach Jeff Hornacek said. “The team kept their poise and they made the plays. They didn’t try to do anything they were incapable of doing.” The Knicks led by 11 at halftime, but Davis led a surge in the third quarter. He scored 14 points, including seven straight, as New Orleans got within 75-71. Holiday’s three-pointer helped the Pelicans get within 79-78 after three quarters. The New York bench outscored the New Orleans reserves 23-8 in the second quarter, and the Knicks led, 56-45, at halftime.

BU DHABI, United Arab Emirates—Serena Williams lost in her return to tennis after giving birth in September, beaten by French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in an exhibition last Saturday, and still unsure if she will defend her Australian Open title. Williams called it a “wonderful” match despite the defeat—she took the second set in a score of 6-2, 3-6 and 10-5 in a super tiebreaker. The Australian Open, the year’s first Grand Slam tournament, begins on January 15. “I don’t know if I am totally ready to come back on the tour, yet. I know that when I come back I definitely want to be competing for championships. I am definitely looking forward to getting back out there,” Williams said. “I am taking it one day at a time. I am going to assess everything with my team before deciding.” The 36-year-old Williams took time off after winning the Australian Open in January while pregnant. She gave birth to her first child, a girl named Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., on September 1. She married Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian in November. Williams struggled with her serve in the 67-minute match at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. But, after nearly a year away from the game, she did win a set against the world’s No. 7 player. “I don’t think I am going to rate my performance,” Williams said. “I have plenty of comebacks, from injuries, from surgeries, but I’ve never had a comeback after actually giving birth to a human being. So, in my eyes, I feel it was a wonderful, wonderful match for me.” Williams insisted she has a lot more tennis to play. “Knowing that I have won 23 Grand Slam titles and several other titles, I don’t think I have

NBA apologizes for ‘Palestine’ wording after Israel complaint

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ERUSALEM—The National Basketball Association (NBA) has apologized and removed wording from its website referring to “Palestine-occupied territory” last Friday after complaints by an Israeli minister. Israeli sports minister Miri Regev had sent a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver calling Palestine “an imaginary ‘state’,” and asking for the reference to be removed from the basketball league’s web site. “We do not produce the country listings for NBA.com and as soon as we became aware of it, the site was updated,” said Kathy Behrens, the NBA’s president for Social Responsibility. “We apologize for this oversight, and have corrected it.” The United Nations, along with most of the

Detroit 93, San Antonio 79 Miami 117, Orlando 111 New York 105, New Orleans 103 Atlanta 104, Portland 89 Utah 104, Cleveland 101 Golden State 141, Memphis 128 Philadelphia 107, Denver 102 STEPHEN CURRY makes season-best 10 three-pointers in his return from injury. AP

international community, considers the West Bank and east Jerusalem, areas Israel captured in the 1967 war that the Palestinians claim for a future state, as occupied territory. Regev, a hawkish minister from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party, thanked Silver last Friday for removing the language, saying “Israel’s lands are not occupied; therefore what was written was false and should have been deleted.” She added that the NBA listing was not in line with President Donald J. Trump’s recent recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Trump’s declaration this month sparked protests across the Palestinian territories, and Palestinian leaders said the US could no longer serve as a Mideast peace broker. AP

Djokovic’s elbow still not right

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NBA RESULTS

anything more left to prove,” she added. “But I am not done yet.” Williams won her opening game, breaking Ostapenko. But she was nowhere near her best in the first set before fighting back and winning the second. After the initial break, Ostapenko latched onto Williams’ weak serves and capitalized on several unforced errors to go up 4-1 with two breaks. Williams again struggled with her serve in the second set. But she went ahead 3-0 with a couple of early breaks and hit with more confidence, including several crowd-pleasing double-handed passing shots. Another break in the ninth game gave her the set. “In the beginning, it felt a little tough. But as the match moved on, I was less afraid. I knew I was not going to fall over and break,” she said. “The more I played, the more confident I felt that I would be able to go for shots that I was afraid to go for in the first set.” In the super tiebreaker, Ostapenko raced to an 8-2 lead before halting a brief recovery by Williams. “For me, it is all about physical, how I am feeling physically.... I am just proud being out here and playing in Abu Dhabi and to be able to just compete,” Williams said. “I have had a tough few months and I am just excited to be able to play again.” It was the first time a women’s match had been played in the traditionally men’s only exhibition. United States Open runner-up Kevin Anderson defeated Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 7-6 (0) in the men’s final. The 14th-ranked Anderson immediately broke Bautista Agut and was never in danger of losing serve in the first set. AP

BU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (UAE)—Novak Djokovic withdrew from another tournament last Saturday, this time his final warm-up event for the Australian Open, saying he still has pain in his right elbow and isn’t sure when he will return to action. The elbow problem forced Djokovic to withdraw from an exhibition tournament in the UAE last Friday. The 30-year-old Serb said last Saturday his elbow had not improved and he was going to miss next week’s Qatar Open. The tournament in Qatar, where Djokovic is the two-time defending champion, was the last on his schedule before the Australian Open starts on January 15. “Unfortunately, the situation with the elbow has not changed for [the] better since yesterday. I still feel the pain,” Djokovic said in a statement. “Only when I’m 100 percent ready to play, I will be able to come back. I hope it will be soon. I want to thank everyone for [their] patience and understanding.” Djokovic will continue with treatment to his elbow after consulting with his medical team, he said. He didn’t say what his plans were for the Australian Open in Melbourne, where he has won six of his 12 Grand Slam titles and where he claimed back-to-back titles in 2015-2016. Djokovic hasn’t played a competitive match since he retired in this year’s Wimbledon quarterfinals because of the elbow injury. He was scheduled to meet Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain in the semifinals of the exhibition event in the UAE last Friday, his first match in nearly five months. Djokovic won three Grand Slam titles in 2015 and another two in 2016, but his performances slipped this year. He was upset in the second round of the Australian Open by No. 117 Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan and went out in the quarterfinals of the French Open. He retired in the last eight at Wimbledon and missed the United States Open in an attempt to recover from his elbow injury. AP