Businessmirror january 31, 2016

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A broader look at today’s business

n Sunday, January 31, 2016 Vol. 11 No. 115

P25.00 nationwide | 3 sections 16 pages | 7 days a week

Philippine economic growth seen to slow to 5.5% in 2016 D

week ahead

ECONOMIC DATA PREVIEW Peso

n Previous week: The local currency neared the 48 territory in the early days of the week’s trade, but the weakness was subdued by the strong growth of the country.

The peso on Monday hit 47.88 to a dollar, depreciating to its lowest point of the week on Tuesday at 47.995 to a dollar. The peso then started to appreciate on Wednesday at 47.815 to a dollar and at 47.73 to a dollar on Thursday. The peso ended the week at 47.65 to a dollar.

The average trade value of the peso during the week was at 47.814 to a dollar and the total traded value was at $2.89 billion.

n Week ahead: After the GDP report is out, markets are seen to take cues from data coming from the US. Risk on sentiment is also seen to spill over next year as the country exudes good fundamentals amid external volatility.

Inflation (January)

n December inflation: As widely expected by the market, the country’s average inflation rate on average for the year has formally missed its 2015 target range, with the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) announcement on Tuesday of a 1.5-percent inflation rate in December 2015.

“But our forecasts for 2016 to 2017 show an inflation path consistent with the national government’s target of 2 percent to 4 percent,” Central Bank Gov. Amando M.

See “Outlook,” A2

By Bianca Cuaresma

US economy faces doldrums as consumers temper spending

ESPITE affirmations of the country’s strong growth momentum following the Philippine Statistics Authority’s announcement of a recovery in the country’s GDP expansion rate in the fourth quarter of the year, the Philippines is still seen to lose traction this year as external factors continue to weigh in on the economy.

In a reaction to the country’s October-to-December growth report, Barclays Research said the Philippines is still poised to grow slower in 2016 at 5.5 percent, although the GDP grew 6.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015.

The fourth-quarter GDP expansion brought the average 2015 Philippine growth to 5.8 percent.

Barclays’s statement is a contrast to the government’s 7-percent to 8-percent target growth

range, which has been said to be “achievable” by government officials following the positive sentiment brought about by the fourthquarter growth.

Barclays said the gains in the expected pickup in government spending is expected to be negated by the soft global growth outlook for the year.

“Although [the GDP] print was above expectations, we remain comfortable with our 2016 growth

A customer refuels her car at a Costco in Robinson Township, Pennsylvania. The plunging price of oil in 2016 is dragging stock markets to their worst start to a year ever, even though low fuel prices are great for consumers and most companies. AP/Gene J. Puskar

T

HE US economy expanded at a slower pace in the fourth quarter, as households tempered spending and businesses cut back on capital investment and adjusted inventories.

GDP rose at a 0.7-percent annualized rate in the three months ended in December after a 2-percent gain in the third quarter, Commerce Department figures showed on Friday. The advance was in line with the Bloomberg survey

See “Growth,” A2

One-half of PHL population now has access to Internet

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

E

NTERPRISES— from micro to large companies—can now access almost half of the country’s population through the Internet.

With Internet penetration in the Philippines now at about 44 percent, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have the potential of expanding their businesses through the Web.

However, these companies must have the guts to also invest in digital technology to effectively maximize their potential for growth.

“There are over 95,000 small to medium enterprises in the country, with each and every one having the potential to grow and compete on a global scale. With a wide assort-

PESO exchange rates n US 47.8230

32M

Number of mobile Internet users in the Philippines

ment of online tools now within reach, there is no better time to be an SME than today,” IP Converge Data Services Inc. (IPC) President Reynaldo R. Huergas said.

Customers are largely mobile, with about 32 million active mobile Internet users in the Philippines.

This makes going digital and embracing the consumerization of information technology (IT), now more critical than ever, Huergas said.

Enterprises need to be easily reached by their customers through See “Internet,” A2

median forecast of 0.8 percent.

Growth has downshifted, as producers contend with slowing markets abroad; the negative effect on exports from a stronger dollar; and plunging oil prices that has caused drilling firms to retrench. Consumers, enjoying the fruits of a robust labor market and cheaper fuel bills, will have to pick up the slack if growth is expected to get back on track.

“The economy, perhaps, isn’t

quite as strong as we thought it was—there’s clearly some very weak spots, but there’s a solid foundation to growth,” said Nariman Behravesh, chief economist at IHS Inc. in Lexington, Massachusetts, who is the best forecaster of GDP over the past two years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Even after the fourth-quarter slowdown, “the stars are aligned for consumer spending to return.”

Continued on A2

Luzon has 9 of best places to live in 10 best places to live in

HDI

Benguet

0.842

Metro Manila

0.829

Rizal

0.805

Cavite

0.773

Ilocos Norte

0.731

Bataan

0.729

Pampanga

0.727

Laguna

0.721

Bulacan

0.705

Iloilo

0.691

M

By Cai U. Ordinario

OST of the 10 best places to live in in the Philippines are in Luzon, according to the 2012 Human Development Index (HDI) data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Based on the HDI data, PSA said the three places that got the highest HDI are Benguet, Metro Manila and Rizal, which had the highest HDI of 0.842, 0.829 and 0.805, respectively.

The HDI is measured based on three indices, life expectancy index, education index, and income index.

“First of all, incomes, access to resources...iyong mga health, etc. Siguro makikita mo in terms of distribution ng educational opportunities, health facilities,” National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Officer in Charge Emmanuel F. Esguerra said. “It reflects ang previous actions mo with respect to [public] investment.”

Other places in Luzon that had high HDI are Cavite, with an HDI of 0.773, followed by Ilocos Norte, 0.731; Bataan, 0.729; Pampanga, 0.727; Laguna, 0.721; and Bulacan, 0.705.

See “Luzon,” A2

n japan 0.4025 n UK 68.6595 n HK 6.1370 n CHINA 7.2730 n singapore 33.4965 n australia 33.9074 n EU 52.3184 n SAUDI arabia 12.7528

Source: BSP (29 January 2016 )

NewsSunday A2 Sunday, January 31, 2016

BusinessMirror

Growth…

Continued from a1

forecast of 5.5 percent, as upside risks from higher government and investment spending are mitigated by downside risks from a deteriorating external economy, which is weighing on export of goods and services,” Barclays said in a report.

Meanwhile, in terms of monetary policy, Barclays said the Bangko Sentral will likely stand pat and retain current monetary-policy settings in its first meeting for the year two weeks from now.

According to Barclays, the central bank will likely wait for the growth to regain its pace before hiking interest rates.

“On the monetary-policy front, we continue to expect BSP’s next policy move to be a hike, though we only see a first hike coming in the second quarter of 2017,” Barclays said.

“We think the central bank is likely to hike when growth has recovered sufficiently and inflation is high enough to justify an increase in interest rates,” it added.

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At present, monthly inflation rates continue to be short of the central bank’s 2-percent to 4-percent target range, owing mainly to the steep slump in oil prices in recent weeks.

Most recently, central bank Gov. Amando M. Tetangco Jr. forecast inflation to fall between 0.8 percent and 1.6 percent, as the decline in power rates, lower domestic oil prices and downward adjustment in the minimum jeepney fare could offset the slight uptick in rice prices, as well as the annual sin-tax adjustments.

“Although there is external uncertainty in the form of the Fed rate-hike cycle, we think the Philippines’s strong external position and low level of short-term debt provide the BSP with enough policy space to maintain an accommodative stance even if US rates head higher,” Barclays said.

The central bank is set to have its first monetary-policy meeting for the year on February 11.

Continued from a1

various channels, such as social media, e-mail and mobile, he added.

“People want information in real time and if they can’t get it from you, they’ll get it from your competitors. Business is lost,” Huergas said.

Thus, he added that enterprises should consider tapping big data and analytics, both of which can give valuable insights about customers and target market.

“In essence, it uses statistics to understand customer behavior, which allows for more effective campaigns and product or service developments that help achieve optimum results,” he said.

Going digital also requires businesses and their employees to be mobile. They must be able to work remotely, from wherever they are, to ensure that operations go on no matter what.

“For instance, businesses can maximize

Google Apps for Work to help them communicate, store and collaborate with one another. There are also Cloud-based products that help businesses in customer-relationship management that will allow them to achieve and maintain leadership and profitability,” Huergas said.

“Moreover, the World Wide Web has long opened the channels to access international markets. With social media and a myriad of available digital tools, local enterprises can overcome geographical boundaries and access new markets, particularly overseas.”

Hence, the e-commerce market in the Philippines will see itself growing immensely this year, Huergas predicted.

“There is definitely room for growth in e-commerce in the Philippines and the current data may well be the signal for enterprises to go digital this 2016.”

Luzon…

Continued from a1

Only Iloilo, which had an HDI of 0.691, was outside Luzon. It rounded up the top 10 best places to live in the Philippines.

In terms of the life expectancy index, the average nationwide is 0.822. The highest score in the index was registered by La Union at 0.896.

The other top provinces were Misamis Occidental, Cavite, Benguet, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Ilocos Norte, Bulacan, Sorsogon, Isabela and Zamboanga del Norte.

The longest life expectancy at birth was 78.3 years old in La Union, while the shortest was 54.4 years old in Tawi-Tawi.

The average life expectancy at birth nationwide was at 73.4 years old in 2012.

In the education index, the average nationwide was 0.880, while the highest score of 1 was posted in Benguet.

The other provinces that had the highest scores were Metro Manila, Camiguin, Rizal, Cavite, Iloilo, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Catanduanes, Laguna and Misamis Oriental.

The average mean years of schooling nationwide was 9.2 years, while the longest mean years of schooling was 11 years, registered in Metro Manila.

The average expected years of schooling was 12.2 and the longest was 14.1, posted by Camiguin. The shortest expected years of schooling nationwide is seven years, posted by Batanes.

The income index, meanwhile, averaged 0.369 nationwide. Metro Manila had the highest income index at 0.703.

Provinces that posted the highest scores in this index were Benguet, Rizal, Cavite, Bataan, Pampanga, Laguna, Ilocos, Siquijor and Bulacan.

The average per-capita income in the Philippines is at P49,903 in 2012. The highest was P79,488 in Metro Manila and the lowest was at P19,139 in Lanao del Sur.

The HDI provides a measure of how well the provinces have performed, not only in terms of real-income growth, but also in terms of social indicators of people’s ability to lead a long and healthy life; to acquire knowledge and skills; and to have access to the resources needed to afford a decent standard of living.

US economy faces doldrums as consumers temper spending Continued from a1

Economists’ projections for GDP, the value of all goods and services produced, ranged from a 0.2-percent decline to a 1.7-percent increase. The Commerce Department’s estimate is the first of three for the quarter, with the other releases scheduled for February and March when more information becomes available.

Consumer spending

GDP expanded 2.4 percent for a second straight year, led by the biggest gain in consumer spending in a decade. The economy got off to a rocky start in 2015, partly owing to bad winter weather and a West Coast port workers dispute, before rebounding in the second quarter.

Growth moderated in the ensuing months as companies worked down bloated stockpiles and continued to battle weak exports markets.

Friday’s report showed household purchases rose at a 2.2-percent annualized pace in the fourth quarter, compared with a 3-percent rate in the previous period.

Personal consumption added 1.46 percentage points to growth.

Final sales to domestic purchasers, or GDP excluding trade and inventories, climbed at an inflation-adjusted 1.6-percent annualized rate in the fourth quarter, compared with a 2.9-percent pace in the previous three months.

Household incomes

A PICKUP in household purchases will be needed to help the economy fight through the negative effects of the global slowdown and the rout in commodities that’s diminishing investment.

While businesses are struggling, American households have plenty of ammunition to assist the economy. Last year, aftertax income adjusted for inflation climbed 3.5 percent, the most since 2006, the Commerce Department’s report showed.

Consumer-confidence levels have held in, powered by solid gains in the job market and low inflation.

So far, households are looking beyond the recent volatility in the stock market.

Gasoline prices are still low, which gives households some room to improve spending in the first quarter. The average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline fell 13 percent in the final three months of last year and has slipped another 8.7 percent to $1.82 in the year through January 27.

Business investment

WEAK global demand, combined with the plunge in oil prices, has led to cutbacks at some companies. Business investment decreased at a 1.8-percent annualized rate, the first drop since the third quarter of 2012, and compared with a 2.6-percent pace in the third quarter. Corporate spending on equipment fell at a 2.5-percent pace after 9.9 percent.

Fourth-quarter spending on structures retreated at a 5.3-percent rate, led by a 38.7-percent annualized decrease in mining and oil and gas well drilling rigs, after a slump of 7.2 percent in the previous three months. For all of last year, outlays for structures used in mining and to extract oil and gas plunged 35 percent, the most since 1986.

Business inventories in the fourth quarter subtracted 0.45 percentage point from growth after a 0.71-percentage-point drag in the previous three months, the Commerce report showed.

‘Better balance’

LOOKING ahead, “it looks like inventories are in a better balance now,” said Michael Feroli, chief US economist at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in New York.

Still, “the No. 1 headwind for growth is foreign trade,” Feroli said.

“The strength of the dollar and the weakness in global growth continued to hurt exporters.”

The trade deficit widened to $566.5 billion, shaving 0.47 percentage point from GDP growth last quarter. Trade has subtracted from GDP in four of the last five quarters.

Homebuilding was a bright spot in the GDP figures, increased an annualized 8.1 percent after an 8.2 percent in the third quarter.

Federal Reserve policy-makers said on Wednesday they are keeping close watch over financial and global developments, as they assess how much of a threat they pose to their economic outlook.

The central bank last month raised interest rates for the first time in almost a decade, though deterioration in growth prospects may lead them to slow the pace of future hikes and make a move in March less likely.

Robert Kaplan, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, said in an interview on Friday that he’s not ready to commit to any timing for the next increase in interest rates, emphasizing the central bank needed more time to assess how financial-market turbulence and economic developments abroad would affect the US economy. Bloomberg

Outlook…

Continued from a1

Tetangco Jr. said in a text message after the PSA’s announcement of the December 2015 inflation.

n January inflation: No significant acceleration is expected on the growth of the prices of consumer goods and services in the first month of the year, as lower oil prices and transportation costs continue to dominate the overall price basket of the country during the month. In his monthly inflation forecast, Tetangco said that inflation in January could have settled within 0.8 percent to 1.6 percent, putting a small possibility on the continuation of an acceleration for the third consecutive time in January. Bianca Cuaresma

NewsSunday

www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Dionisio L. Pelayo

BusinessMirror

Ex-Neda chief, MB member Paderanga, 67

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo Special to the BusinessMirror

E

CONOMIST Cayetano W. Paderanga Jr., fondly called “Dondon” by family and friends, passed away at 11:35 p.m. on January 29 at the St. Luke’s Medical Hospital at Bonifacio Global City. He was 67.

Malacañang condoled with the family of Paderanga, who was just recently economic planning secretary and director general of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) under President Aquino (2010-2012), and the latter’s mother, President Corazon Aquino (1990-1992). He was also a member of the Monetary Board (MB) (1993-1999), the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral.

Presidential Spokesman Eduardo Lacierda said: “Under [Paderanga’s] watch, the PPP [Public-Private Partnership] Center was established, which has played a significant role in the revitalization of the economy. His institutional memory and personal integrity made him an effective undersecretary of agriculture and chief negotiator of the country for the World Trade Organization and earned him the respect of his peers in academe.

“His good cheer, humble disposition and intellectual rigor earned him the respect of so many, whether at home or abroad. We condole with his family and join all who pause to reflect on his service to the nation during a life well-lived.”

Sources close to Paderanga’s family said that on January 18 he had undergone a delicate surgical procedure to repair his heart, which had suffered a thoracic aortic aneurysm, or a bulging of

the part of the aorta that runs through the chest. According to Vascular Web, “thoracic aortic aneurysms are serious health risks because they can burst or rupture. A ruptured aneurysm can cause severe internal bleeding, which can rapidly lead to shock or death.”

The same sources disclose that additional procedures were made, such as a heart bypass and valve replacement, which “went well” even as the family called for A+ blood type donations. But his apparent weak heart could still not function on its own, when doctors tried to wean him away from an external corporeal membrane oxgenation machine.

Tributes from fellow economists poured in for Paderanga, whose often soft-spoken, mild-mannered demeanor and patience for explaining economic concepts made him a favorite source of news stories by economic and banking journalists.

Former Economic Planning Secretary Cielito F. Habito, who was Paderanga’s deputy under Mrs. Aquino said: “I will remember Dondon as a great friend [a ninong to my youngest daughter], a competent and highly respected fellow economist and a dedicated public servant, who was the first direct mentor to me on what public service is all about. The single incident I remember him most for was when he walked into my office is in 1991 with great anguish showing in his face. He asked me, as his senior deputy at the Neda then, to get ready to succeed him as he believed he should resign because the economy was not doing, as well as hoped and planned, missing the growth targets under the Medium Term Philippine Development

Plan of the Cory Aquino administration, seeing double-digit inflation, etc.

“I told him he was unfairly taking personal responsibility for all of it, when the economy had been buffeted by repeated coup attempts and a succession of natural disasters, especially the Baguio earthquake and the Mount Pinatubo eruption.

I dissuaded him from resigning then, and I managed to convince him to hold on. [As history would have it, I ended up succeeding him anyway after Cory’s term ended, without my even expecting or aspiring for it. But that’s another story.] To me, that demonstrated how very seriously he had taken on his responsibility as economic planning secretary as a solemn personal mission. The country has just lost a great man, whose mark in our country’s economic history is well established,” he added.

A fellow professor at the University of the Philippines School of Economics and former Neda Directgor General Dante B. Canlas, for his part, said: “Dondon Paderanga was a policy reformminded economist who had the courage of his conviction. He’ll be missed, especially by his family and colleagues.

May his soul rest in peace.”

A Wikipedia entry noted that Paderanga was born on October 9, 1948, in Camiguin and was an accounting graduate of De La Salle University in 1968. He pursued graduate studies at the University of Asia and the Pacific (formerly the Center for Research and Communication). He also held a doctorate in economics from Stanford University.

Unconfirmed reports said the wake for Paderanga will be at the Santa Maria della Strada Church on Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City.

Sunday, January 31, 2016 A3

Tech-voc institutions in danger of closing down due to K to 12

S

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco | Correspondent

OME technical-vocational education and training (TVET) institutions may shut down owing to the implementation of the K to 12 Program this year.

This was the concern expressed by Horacio Motefrio, president of the Technical-Vocational Schools Association during the Education Nation’s Driving Forces Meeting that was highlighted by the presentation of the “Report Card on Philippines’s State of Education” late last week.

Although the number of TVET institutions has slightly increased from 4,328 in 2010 to 4,670 in 2015, Motefrio said they are already anticipating the number of schools to decrease dramatically starting School Year 2016 to 2017.

He cited the K to 12 curriculum as the No. 1 reason. “[Owing to] K to 12, the number of students expected to enroll in TVET [institutions] will decrease since the Grade 10 students are expected to continue to Grades 11 to 12,” he said.

He also said that another contributing factor is the certification requirement of the trainers being strictly required by Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (Tesda) before they can teach.

“Recently the TVET schools are required by the Tesda to migrate to new programs NC-III, NC-IV and diploma, in the process they must not only be certified NC-II, NC-III, but must

undergo trainers methodology course...they can even earn their trainers’ certificate, they can be qualified to teach,” he added, lamenting that such process is not only “expensive but very difficult.”

He also pushed for the diploma program expected to bridge TVET and the Commission on Higher Education requirements.

“And since many of our programs are now downwarding to high school, we are looking forward that this year or next year, the two-year or three-year diploma program is already in place so that we can offer this as an alternative for those who will be graduating Grades 11 and 12,” he said, explaining that once implemented, the diploma program will hopefully be the bridge between the engineers and the technician and this called the “engineering technician.”

Data from Education Nation showed that the gross enrollment in TVET in 2010 reached 1,568,617; number of graduates, 1,344,371; assessed, 716,220; certified, 594,323; and employed were 342,510.

In 2015 the enrollment was 2,033,437; graduates, 1,785,679; assessed, 1,232,116; certified, 1,125,273 and 347,811 were employed.

SundayV

Busine

A4 Sunday, January 31, 2016 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

editorial

The emperor’s visit: A boon to Philippine-Japan relations

T

HE official visit to the Philippines of Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko has been most successful, strengthening relations between the Philippines and Japan in all fields, from the cultural to the economic. From all indications, the imperial couple found their visit fruitful and enjoyable.

Our Philippine government, we note with pride, under the leadership of President Aquino, left no stone unturned to ensure the success of the visit.

All departments made a contribution to the realization of the goal of deepening and broadening the relations between the two countries.

At a banquet in Malacañang held in their honor, the emperor reminisced about an earlier visit to the Philippines by the newly married imperial couple. In a mark of cordiality, the emperor was reported to have said that in that visit, the imperial couple failed to see Tagaytay Lake because it was engulfed in fog; whereupon the President offered to take the imperial couple to the lake, but the emperor declined because of the tightness of their schedule. The emperor set the tone of the visit when the imperial couple paid respects to a war memorial in Laguna. There, the emperor expressed remorse over the loss of many Filipino lives in World War II and articulated the hope that countries live together in peace and harmony.

Japan is the Philippines’s biggest trading partner, the most generous source of official development assistance, and the creative genius that formulated the Plan for the Expansion and Modernization of the Transportation Network for the Greater Metro Manila Area, elements of which the Philippine government has been bidding out to contractors for completion up to year 2030. Lately Japan has been extending support to our Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program by donating to us military equipment.

Japan used to be the country with the highest per-capita income in the world, exceeding even the United States—until about the 1990s when it began running into difficulties that included pressures toward deflation and stagnation. A succession of corrective measures in the decades of the 1990s and 2000s failed to reverse the downward trend.

All that is about to end. By most accounts, the current revitalization program is lifting the economy out of the doldrums and restoring it to the path of high growth. The program has been deliberately weakening the yen, extending financial support to corporations, embarking on a quantitative-easing program, trying to raise wages and incomes, all to stimulate consumption and investment demand. As shown by economic indicators, the program is succeeding and Japan can be expected to resume its role of leadership in the world economy in the coming days. The visit of the imperial couple was not aimed specifically at the strengthening of economic relations, but to the extent that its benign effects spilled into the economic arena it contributed to this strengthening.

We join the Philippine national community in wishing Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko all the best on their travel home.

Mamasapano slaughter could have been prevented

W

ITHOUT any doubt during that Senate hearing on Wednesday, the Mamasapano tragedy could have been prevented had the Commander in Chief (President Aquino) exercised leadership and followed the chain of command.

Database

By Cecilio T. Arillo

Gospel

Sunday, January 31, 2016

“President Aquino should be held liable for the tragedy after he ‘compartmentalized’ the planning and implementation of Operation Plan Exodus and, eventually, failed to act promptly to help the beleaguered commandos,” Senate Minority Floor Leader Juan Ponce Enrile said.

“In Oplan Exodus, President Aquino appeared to have actively, directly involved himself. He was briefed, consented and informed by Police Director General Alan Purisima and by you on all aspects of Oplan Exodus,” Enrile told Gen. Getulio Napeñas, the Special Action Force (SAF) chief at the time.

“As a matter of fact, he issued orders and gave instructions to PDG Purisima and to you… planning execution of Oplan Exodus,” Enrile told Napeñas, basing his observations on the exchanges of text messages among the officers.

At that time, Purisima was under suspension by the Ombudsman and had no command responsibility and accountability on matters of internal security.

Strangely, two Cabinet members, Manuel A. Roxas II, then in charge of the nation’s internal security, and Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin, the man at the forefront

A

The transcripts of the text messages have been in the Senate possession since last year, but it was only at the hearing that officials confirmed the contents of the incriminating messages on Enrile’s initiative that led to the reopening of the hearing on the Mamasapano Massacre. of national security, who were with the President at that time along with a number of ranking generals, did not do anything to save the beleaguered SAF troopers.

The transcripts of the text messages have been in the Senate possession since last year, but it was only at the hearing that officials confirmed the contents of the incriminating messages on Enrile’s initiative that led to the reopening of the hearing on the Mamasapano Massacre.

Enrile read the text messages between Mr. Aquino and Purisima, showing the latter informing President Aquino at 5:45 a.m. about the launch of the operation for the capture of Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan; and Basit Usman, another bomb maker.

According to Enrile, President Aquino replied at 7:36 a.m. to Purisima’s message, asking him “why Marwan’s body was left behind, and what happened to the other targets.”

Enrile was surprised to know from the exchange of messages as to why top officials were more concerned to check on the progress of a minor bombing incident in Zamboanga City

ND He began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

And all spoke well of Him and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His Mouth; and they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”

And He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to Me this proverb, `Physician, heal Yourself; what we have heard You did at Capernaum, do here also in Your own country.’”

And He said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in His own country. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was

that day than the unfolding slaughter of the SAF soldiers in Mamasapano.

“It was discomfiting to realize that Aquino was more concerned about the remains of a terrorist than the condition of his troops,” Enrile said.

Answering critics that his move was to get back at the President, Enrile made it clear at the start of the hearing that he was not being vindictive against “powerful people” when he called for the reopening of the Senate hearing on the Mamasapano tragedy.

“I’m doing this for the country so that never again shall a similar gruesome butchery happen in this land.

I’m doing this for the people so that they will know the national leaders who failed them because of ineptness and lack of leadership,” he said.

Enrile told the media after the hearing that he was able to prove the President’s responsibility and accountability based on the text messages between the Chief Executive and his officials.

“His role was inexcusable,” he said.

To reach the writer, e-mail cecilio.arillo@ gmail.com

shut up three years and six months, when there came a great famine over all the land; and Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up and put Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down headlong. But passing through the midst of them, He went away.— Luke 4:21-30

Voices

essMirror

opinion@businessmirror.com.ph • Sunday, January 31, 2016 A5

Idiotic suggestion

A

t the opening of the Senate probe on the Mamasapano Massacre, an idiot argument was floated that taking out the Malaysian Zulkifli bin Hir was a mistake.

It imperilled the one-sided peace talks and the Bangsamaoro basic law agreement which gave away a portion of Mindanao as a homeland for terrorists within the ambit of Malaysia. Now, as the well-educated know, taking out terrorists is always a good thing, especially when they come from so close by.

Free Fire

By Teddy Locsin Jr.

In principle taking into custody, or taking out terrorists altogether, is an international obligation of every civilized state. It commits the President to discharge that duty whatever the price his countrymen must pay.

This is above argument.

Taking out terrorists is just the sort of thing that civilized people do.

To be sure in the time of Cory Aquino, Tamil Tigers came over here for rest and recreation.

They had no issue with us and we had no idea what do with them. So we asked a neighboring state, a very successful state I might add, for suggestions. They said we have them, too.

They come for rest and recreation, and we look the other way or they will do to us what they do in their country, which is to wear garlands of grenades, stand beside government officials and detonate themselves.

So we, too, over here left them alone. But Noynoy could not treat Malaysian terrorists that way. Tamil Tigers were operating far away while Malaysian terrorists were living in our backyard. They were preparing terrorist actions that would leave half a million dead. That was told

to us after 9/11 by a homeland security expert. A container of Muslim explosives parked even at the edge of a parking lot will flatten a giant mall like pancake. That is why we cannot dilly-dally, not to mention pussyfoot, when it comes to terrorism, be the threat of it imminent or a bit remote but it is never far-fetched at all.

Malaysian-backed Muslims have, over four decades, killed tens of thousands of our soldiers, burned communities and slaughtered innocent men, women and children whose torn bodies and shattered bones cry for justice like those of the 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF). So how could we forego taking in or taking out Zulkifli bin Hir? How stupid are these people? It is equally stupid to suggest that we should have cleared the operation with the very people hiding Zulfee. If we did that, sure the SAF would not be killed, but they would be frustrated.

Coming to Zulfee’s hiding place, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would have told the SAF, “Zulkifli’s been here, but he’s gone already.” By now, Zulfee will have detonated a mall. It was earlier

In principle taking into custody, or taking out terrorists altogether, is an international obligation of every civilized state. It commits the President to discharge that duty whatever the price his countrymen must pay. This is above argument. Taking out terrorists is just the sort of thing that civilized people do. To be sure in the time of Cory Aquino, Tamil Tigers came over here for rest and recreation. suggested that the peace panel should have been informed so they could alert the MILF of the SAF mission and to leave them alone.

Well, someone alerted the MILF, and they left just one SAF alive and not for want of trying to kill him.

It is sheer idiocy, nay it is treason, to suggest that we should have shirked our bounden duty to take out a murderous Malaysian, all for the sake of a territorial giveaway backed by equally-idiotic foreign diplomats whose countries do owe Muslims a huge historical debt, for everything they stole from them including Palestine.

If Noynoy did anything right, it was that he boldly went ahead with his duty as a civilized head of state to take out a terrorist hidden by the friends of his peace panel. That alone is evidence that whatever the peace panel, the terrorists, and their foreign sponsors had in mind, our President never contemplated giving away and withholding the reach of our laws from a part of our sacred land. On top of which, his critics today were his sycophants yesterday when they kept silent over Mamasapano, because they were still the charitable objects of his political patronage. Keep well.

Pharmacists have right to exercise religious beliefs

By Elizabeth Slattery | The Heritage Foundation/TNS Forum

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AN a state force pharmacists to prescribe abortion-inducing drugs at the expense of their religious beliefs? This is the central issue in a case the Supreme Court may agree to hear in its next term.

In 2007 the state of Washington passed a law requiring all pharmacies to deliver “all lawfully-prescribed drugs or devices” in a timely manner to all customers. This “delivery rule” contains several exemptions, such as business or convenience reasons for not stocking certain drugs, but there is no exemption for religious objections.

Ralph’s Thriftway, a small familyrun grocery store and pharmacy, was investigated by the state’s Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission for refusing to stock any form of

abortifacient, such as plan B. The Stormans family, who owns Ralph’s, cites religious beliefs as its justification for refusing to stock abortifacient drugs. The Stormans believe that by dispensing these drugs, they would be aiding in the destruction of human life, directly contradicting their Christian faith.

Although Ralph’s does not carry plan B, if a customer requests it, employees provide a list of local pharmacies and drug stores that carry the drug, even going so far as to call other pharmacies to confirm that the drug is in stock. There are over 30 other pharmacies and drug stores that carry plan B within 5 miles of Ralph’s, all of which are included on their referral list. Thus, not a single Ralph’s customer in search of plan B has ever been denied timely access to it.

Every other state in the US allows such referrals, and the state of Washington itself has stipulated that conscience-based referrals “do

not pose a threat to timely access to lawfully prescribed medications.”

Abortion-rights activists learned about Ralph’s conscience-based referrals and began sending test shoppers to the store, who filed complaints with the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission after they received a referral rather than a filled prescription. This led to an investigation, and Ralph’s was threatened with losing its pharmacy license. Subsequently, the Stormans filed suit against the state of Washington, arguing that the delivery rule violates the First Amendment’s free-exercise clause, among other claims. A federal district court ruled in favor of the Stormans, finding that the delivery rule intentionally targeted religious practice for disfavored treatment and failed strict scrutiny review.

The judge noted: “A pharmacy is permitted to refuse to stock oxycodone because it fears robbery, but the same pharmacy cannot refuse

to stock plan B because it objects on religious grounds.... Both pharmacies refuse and refer, both refusals inhibit patient access, yet the secular refusal is permitted and the religious refusal is not.” The district court pointed out that pharmacies nationwide, as well as in Washington, refuse to carry different drugs for various reasons: If the drug is unprofitable, requires additional equipment or training, or attracts an “undesirable clientele.”

The exemptions would allow a pharmacy to refuse to sell just about any drug, as long as it is not for religious reasons. On appeal, a threejudge panel of the 9th US Court of Appeals reversed the district court decision, holding that the delivery rule is a neutral and generally applicable law and is, therefore, subject to rational-basis review (a lower standard of review than strict scrutiny).

The panel found that the law easily survived rational-basis review because it was rationally related to the

state’s legitimate interest in “ensuring that its citizens have safe and timely access to their lawful...medications.”

Now the Stormans have petitioned the Supreme Court to review their case, which the court should consider sometime in March. The First Amendment’s free-exercise clause was intended to protect citizens from exactly this form of targeting by the government.

Washington state, in an attempt to force a secular set of values upon its citizens, has violated one of the principle rights guaranteed to all Americans in the First Amendment. While some people might not agree with the Stormans, or share their opposition to abortion, it is essential to recognize that the government should not be able to force Americans to set aside their deeply held beliefs simply because they step outside the four walls of a church. Pharmacists, just like everyone else, have a right to exercise their religious beliefs.

Oil’s plunge won’t drag down the US economy

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By Justin Fox | Bloomberg View

.S. real GDP grew at a 0.7-percent annualized pace in the fourth quarter of 2015, the government announced.

Now, forget that number. It is the “advance estimate,” and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) will revise it again and again over the coming months and years. These revisions tend to be especially big at points where the economy tips from growth into recession, or vice versa. Consider what happened to GDP growth estimates for the first quarter of 2008, which turned out to be the beginning of the Great Recession.

There are those who fear the US economy might be tipping into recession now. Could be, but clearly today’s advance GDP number won’t tell you much about the likelihood of that. There’s another BEA report, though—released last week, on GDP by industry in the third quarter of 2015—that might offer some more insight into the likelihood of recession.

There’s one industry in particular that I’m curious about: Oil and gas. Oil and gas prices have plummeted, partly because of reduced global demand and partly because of new supply. In general, lower energy prices are good for the US economy. In the 1990s oil was mostly cheap, and the economy was mostly great. In 1997 and 1998, as crude oil prices fell 50 percent in the face of emerging-market economic troubles, US GDP grew at a 4.5-percent

annual pace. Now emerging-market economic troubles are back and the Brent crude benchmark price is down 70 percent since June 2014.

The boom must be just around the corner, right?

In the 1990s, though, US oil production was dwindling, while since 2008 it has almost doubled, thanks to new technologies such as hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and horizontal drilling. The US is even exporting crude oil again, for the first time in four decades.

Is it possible that the oil and gas industry has become so important to the US that its troubles will drag the economy down?

Still, the oil and gas industry wasn’t that big a part of GDP growth over the past few years. The previous chart seems to indicate that it was from about 2003 through 2008, when the fracking boom was gearing up, that the industry’s contribution to growth was greatest.

Meanwhile, the US economy continues to use much more crude oil than it produces (net imports accounted for about 27 percent of US petroleum consumption in 2014, according to the Energy Information Administration). With natural gas, net imports are negligible. But in general, the consumers of both oil and natural gas account for far

There are those who fear the US economy might be tipping into recession now. Could be, but clearly today’s advance GDP number won’t tell you much about the likelihood of that. There’s another BEA report, though—released last week, on GDP by industry in the third quarter of 2015— that might offer some more insight into the likelihood of recession.

more of US economic activity than the producers do. For consumers, cheap energy is good. So eventually, whatever drag the oil and gas industry’s troubles exert on the economy should be more than compensated for by gains in other sectors. I’m guessing that, for the US economy at least, the parallel with the 1990s will hold up.

Natural-gas production has gone from rising slowly to rising quickly.

“Oil and gas field machinery and equipment manufacturing,” “oil and gas pipeline and related structures construction,” “utility system construction” and other such related industries can’t be included here because the BEA doesn’t break the

manufacturing sector down to quite that level of detail.

This measures an industry’s output minus all its inputs from other industries. The BEA does things this way because if you just added together the output of, say, oil and gas extraction, petroleum and coal products, truck transportation, and food and beverage stores, you’d be quadruple-counting the oil that was the feedstock for the refinery that made the diesel that fueled the trucks that carried the food to the store.

I’m talking in purely cyclical economic terms here. I realize that low fossil fuel prices can be problematic for all sorts of other reasons.

A6 Sunday, January 31, 2016

NewsSunday BusinessMirror

‘BPI-inspected’ boxes yield tarsiers, endemic wildlife

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UTHORITIES seized on Thursday night five boxes containing tarsiers, a critically endangered species, and other endemic wildlife, and arrested an employee of the Office of the Transport Security (OTS) of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) following a sting operation in Pasay City.

The operation uncovered an elaborate scheme to illegally export endemic Philippine wildlife, a modus operandi believed employed by members of a syndicate engaged in the illegal wildlife trade, currently estimated to be worth $20 billion in Southeast Asia alone.

Officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the seized boxes, bearing stickers of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) which say “Inspected,” yielded 11 tarsiers, 11 monitor lizards, eight sailfin lizards, six watersnakes,

five ratsnakes, three scops owls, and two juvenile and one adult Philippine Eagle owls. The rescued wildlife were taken to the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Rescue Center in Quezon City for quarantine and rehabilitation.

The authorities, who include agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and led by wildlife law enforcers from the DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), stopped the shipment at the Philippine Air Lines (PAL) cargo area just as it was about to be loaded to a waiting aircraft.

Arrested by authorities in connection with the illegal activity was Gerald Bravo, who works at the OTS under the DOTC. Authorities said Bravo is the middle man who prepares the wildlife, applies for the permits and physically sends the animals to Japan via PAL’s cargo service. He is now facing charges for violation of the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. The boxes were supposed to contain an acquatic plant species, Echinidorous amazonicus and Alocasia macrorrhizos, based on the phytosanitary permit granted by the BPI-Central Office.

Authorities are still determining the identify of the applicant of the special permit to export what was initially declared as aquatic plant, but turned out to be live animals.

It was learned that the shipment is for one Shoji Masuyama of Japan.

A certain “Taguro,” who buys large number of endangered Philippine wildlife, is believed to be the buyer of the rescued wildlife, and authorities are still investigating whether Masuyama and

Taguro are the same person.

DENR-BMB’s wildlife enforcement unit earlier received information that Taguro even paid P50,000 in advance for his orders.

This does not include the actual cost of every wildlife species delivered to him by his suppliers.

Generally, once a cargo has a phytosanitar y permit from the BPI and with the sticker indicating that it has passed the Plant Quarantine-Philippines inspection, it will be loaded into the waiting aircraft immed iately a nd w i l l not pass a ny ot her inspection, said a report prepared by the team that conducted the operation.

Bravo, who has been under s u r ve i l l a nce b y aut hor it ie s, exploited his position and his knowledge of the system to facilitate the illegal activity, the report said.

Meanwhile, BMB Director Theresa Mundita Lim said the BPI had been asked to shed light on the incident.

She said the BPI should explain how boxes with “BPI Inspected” stickers, surprisingly, yielded the endangered wildlife.

Jonathan L. Mayuga

www.businessmirror.com.ph

‘Prepare for disaster, establish Fema now’

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LAWMAKER said the country needs its equivalent to the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), saying that “we need to seriously consider retooling and upgrading the existing National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council [NDRRMC] from the ground up to make the country’s disaster preparation and response systems more comprehensive.”

Fema is an agency connected with the US Department of Homeland Security. Its main purpose is to coordinate with federal government efforts during those times local and state authorities are overwhelmed in times of disasters and natural calamities.

“We need to elevate disaster management to a permanent position in the Cabinet,” said Lakas Rep. Martin Romualdez of Leyte, whose district was devastated by Supertyphoon Yolanda.

“The country experiences an average of 20 typhoons a year, the effects of which cost billions of pesos to rehabilitate. We are in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire that’s very prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

These factors clearly justify the creation of a full-time, Cabinetrank agency similar to the Fema,” Romualdez urged.

He cited the limitations of the

current NDRRMC. “The reality is, the NDRRMC operates mostly adhoc, and ‘as the need arises.’ You don’t hear about it and you don’t feel its presence when there’s no actual disaster or calamity.”

With the creation of a Femapatterned agency, Romualdez said the government would be able to implement comprehensive nationwide disaster trainings, coordinated through the appropr i ate i n st r u ment a l ities, such as the departments of National Defense, Education and, the Interior and Local Government.

“What would make a Fema-like entity different from the existing NDRRMC, among others, is the capacity to provide trained personnel and experts to local governments for more training and preparation on a more regular basis.”

“A department similar to Fema could be entrusted with the authority to provide calamity victims needed loans that cut the red tape. We’ve complained about how inefficiently the Department of Social Welfare and Development manages delivery of disaster assistance. This can be solved if there’s a permanent government agency dedicated to the sole purpose of addressing issues before, during and after disasters,” Romualdez maintained. Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

Sports BusinessMirror

Sunday, January 31, 2016 A7

SPIETH MAKES MIXED START S INGAPORE—Jordan Spieth made three birdies in his last nine holes to get himself within four strokes of the lead after the weather-delayed second round of the Singapore Open on Saturday.

Spieth followed up his opening round 67 with a 1-under 70 to reach the halfway stage at 5-under, four shots behind South Korea’s Song Young-han, who finished his second round on Friday, before play was abandoned because of a tropical thunderstorm.

Back at the Sentosa Golf Club at sunrise to complete his last 11 holes, Spieth made a mixed start to what loomed as a long day for the world’s top-ranked player, mixing his three birdies with two bogeys.

“This has happened before, it is not unusual,” he said. “You have delays where you have to come out and be prepared to play a lot of golf the next day and you hope that that day you are on rhythm.

“We were 1-under after the delay today and, hopefully, we can post a good one this

afternoon, that course is gettable.”

Spieth registered back-to-back birdies on the 10th and 11th holes, hitting his approaches to around 10 feet from the hole then knocking in both putts.

He also birdied the par-3 17th when he found the heart of the green with his tee shot, but missed his chance to inch a little closer to Song with two dropped shots.

The 22-year-old bogeyed the 13th hole when he landed in a greenside bunker and was unable to get up and down, then

dropped another shot at the par-5 18th when he missed a short downhill putt for par.

Normally, one of the best putters in the game, Spieth also struggled with the flatstick in Abu Dhabi but said he was confident of getting back in the groove for his third round, scheduled to start later on Saturday.

“I missed probably five or six today, a few for birdie and a few for par, so I’ve just got to get comfortable on the shorter length putts,” he said.

LOVE, IRVING SHARP AS CAVS BEAT PISTONS A

UBURN HILLS, Michigan—Kevin Love scored 19 of his 29 points in the first half, Kyrie Irving had 28 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers rolled to a 114-106 win over the Detroit Pistons on Friday.

LeBron James had 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, shrugging off a rare missed dunk in the third quarter. He surpassed the 26,000-point mark during that period, becoming the youngest player to do so at 31 years, 30 days.

Andre Drummond had 20 points and eight rebounds for Detroit.

Cleveland has the best record in the Eastern Conference at 33-12, but it’s hardly been a smooth ride of late for the defending conference champions. Tyronn Lue took over when Coach David Blatt was fired, and Cleveland ended up with only one player (James) picked for the All-Star team.

James was one point shy of 26,000 when he breezed in on a breakaway in the third.

As he went up for a dunk, the ball came loose from his right hand, and by the time he reached up with his left, he’d lost control.

James reached the milestone on a free throw with 4:04 left in the quarter.

The Cavaliers have won three straight since losing to Chicago in Lue’s first game as Cleveland’s coach.

Dwyane Wade scored 24 points and hit a long jumper with 44.5 seconds left, and the Miami Heat won their third straight road game by beating the Milwaukee Bucks, 107-103.

Wade led a balanced scoring effort with all five Miami starters scoring in double figures.

Chris Bosh added 20.

Wade’s step-back jumper from just inside the arc gave Miami a 103-101 lead. The Heat could have had a smoother finish if Wade hadn’t gone two of four from the foul line after his jumper.

But Wade finished off the Bucks by hitting two foul shots with 3.9 seconds left to give the Heat a four-point edge.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 28 points.

Russell Westbrook’s sixth triple-double of the season helped the Thunder defeat the Houston Rockets, 116-108.

Westbrook finished with 26 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds. It was the 25th tripledouble of his career.

Kevin Durant had 33 points and 12 rebounds and Enes Kanter scored 20 of his 22 points in the second half for the Thunder, who have won 10 of 11 overall and six straight at home.

James Harden had 33 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Rockets.

Chris Paul scored 27 points and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Lakers, 105-93, for its franchise-record ninth straight victory over its city rivals.

Austin Rivers added 17 points off the bench for the Clippers, who improved to 14-3 without Blake Griffin. Their star forward is out for at least a month with a broken right hand after punching a team staff member on the road last weekend.

Kelly Olynyk and Marcus Smart scored 16 points apiece as the Boston Celtics won a season-high fifth straight game, beating the slumping Orlando Magic, 113-94.

San Miguel Beer players huddle at midcourt after forcing a Game Seven in their championship series against Alaska on Friday. NONOY LACZA

Carmelo Anthony had 19 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in his return from a two-game absence, and the New York Knicks ended a four-game losing streak with a 102-

84 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

Also on Friday, the Portland Trail Blazers had a 109-91 victory over the Charlotte Hornets, the Utah Jazz beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 103-90, and Chandler Parsons had 19 points and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Brooklyn Nets, 91-79.

Jordan Spieth of the United States tees off on the 16th hole during the second round of the SMBC Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong Course. AP

Yao joins Basketball without Borders

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EW YORK—Former National Basketball Association (NBA), great Yao Ming will help provide instruction at the Basketball without Borders camp during All-Star weekend in Toronto.

Current players Danilo Gallinari of Denver, Bruno Caboclo and Bismack Biyombo of the hometown Raptors, Greivis Vasquez of Milwaukee and Jeremy Lamb of Charlotte will also work at the February 12 to 14 camp at Mattamy Athletic Centre.

The NBA said on Friday that 53 boys and girls from 27 countries will participate in the camp, run jointly by the NBA and International Basketball Federation. The camp includes staff members from a number of teams, including Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri.

Yao, the No. 1 pick in the 2002 draft, could be chosen as finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame during All-Star weekend. Yao, whose success was a catalyst for basketball’s growth in China, retired after the 2010-2011 season.

Ateneo volleyball teams begin UAAP title-defense bids

Detroit Pistons forward Ersan Ilyasova (left) reaches in on Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James. AP

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BEERMEN CHASING PBA TITLE, HISTORY

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By Joel Orellana

XACTLY a week ago, San Miguel Beer was facing the biggest battle of its storied franchise.

The Beermen were one loss away of absorbing the worst defeat in their finals history as Alaska was minutes away of sweeping the defending champions in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup. But San Miguel came back strong, beating the Aces Games Four and Five, both in overtime, and forced a deciding Game Seven after a 100-89 win in Game Six on Friday.

Now the Beermen are trying to become the first basketball team in any professional basketball league in the world to come back from a 0-3 deficit and win the title.

And it’s no longer a secret that they will be chasing history on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

“I believe in miracles. It happen every day. This is history in the making,” San Miguel Head Coach Leo Austria said moments after knotting the series to three games apiece.

“Importante sa amin ang history, but we have not achieved anything yet. We just tied the series,” Austria added.

Marcio Lassiter continued to carry the team offensively with 26 points, while reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) June Mar Fajardo added 16 markers in his second game in the finals.

But Austria’s role players—Yancy de Ocampo, Gabby Espinas and Jay-R Reyes—are providing qualities with Fajardo not yet in his best shape.

Alex Cabagnot and Chris Ross are holding their own against the pesky defense of the Aces backcourt with seldom-used Brian Heruela also starting to contribute in the series.

And with Game Seven still to be played three days from now, Austria Fajardo will be better in the do-or-die encounter.

“June Mar will be able to recover. But with or without June Mar, I’m proud of my team. They showed character,” Austria said.

“Game Seven is a winner-take-all. Lahat ng stats ng first six games, tapon na ‘yun,” he added.

Fajardo promised to go all out in Game Seven, adding that people will remember the championship and not the individual accolades or incentives they will be getting if they win and make history in the sport of basketball.

TENEO de Manila men’s and women’s teams begin their respective title-defense bids at the start of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 78 volleyball tournament on Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.

The Lady Eagles take on National University (NU) at 4 p.m. after the 2 p.m. match between University of the East and University of the Philippines (UP).

The Blue Eagles collide with University of Santo Tomas (UST) at 10 a.m., after the first game of the season between Far Eastern University and Fighting Maroons at 8 a.m.

The Ateneo women’s squad starts its quest for three-peat with reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player (MVP) Alyssa Valdez playing in her final season in the league.

Valdez and the rest of the Tai Bunditcoached team, bannered by setter Jia Morado, Amy Ahomiro and Jhoana Maranguinot, will show what they got from their training camp in Thailand.

Valdez will tangle with his former mentor NU Head Coach Roger Gorayeb who is banking heavily on his promising roster led by 6-foot-5 Jaja Santiago, Myla Pablo, setter Ivy Perez and libero Bia General.

The Lady Bulldogs settled for bronze last season.Meanwhile, this season’s host UP is out to improve their last season’s sixth-place finish, facing the Lady Warriors who try to get a win in the opener after a winless campaign last year.

In the men’s action, the Blue Eagles try to open their title bid on a high note facing last season’s third placer Growling Tigers.

Head Coach Oliver Almadro is bringing back his intact roster led by the trio of reigning MVP Marck Espejo, Finals MVP setter Esmilzo Polvoroza and Rex Intal.

UST mentor Odjie Mamon, on the other hand, seeks a good start from his revamped team after losing Mark Gil Alfafara and Romnick Rico due to graduation. Lance Agcaoili

Sports

187 days

BusinessMirror

AUGUST 5, 2016

Andy Murray of Britain celebrates after beating Milos Raonic of Canada to face top seed Novak Djokovic in the finals of the Australian Open. AP

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ELBOURNE, Australia—Andy Murray arrived at the Australian Open fully prepared to become a father before becoming champion.

Murray left his pregnant wife in Britain ahead of the start of the tournament, promising to fly home at any time if needed.

However, the 28-year-old Murray has now given himself a chance of becoming a champion first following his five-set win over Milos Raonic on Friday to reach the final for the fifth time.

His 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-2 victory sets up a final against fivetime champion Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s title match.

Murray is 0-4 in finals at Melbourne Park, with Djokovic having won all five previous Australian Open finals.

“Five finals is a great achievement. You can’t take that away from me,” Murray said.

“So I have to be proud of that achievement.

A8 |

Sunday, January 31, 2016 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph sports@businessmirror.com.ph

Murray beats Raonic to reach 5th Australian Open final

FROM DAD TO CHAMP?

“Doesn’t matter what’s happened in the past. What matters is what happens on Sunday.”

Three of Djokovic’s wins in Australia have come in finals against his old friend Murray, every odd-numbered year since 2011.

“He loves playing on this court, we’ve played a bunch of times here,” Murray said. “Hopefully, it can be a different result.”

Murray has had a lot on his mind this time. His wife, Kim, is expecting their first baby next month. His father-in-law, Nigel Sears, was in Melbourne as coach for Ana Ivanovic and had to be rushed to a hospital by ambulance during a match on Rod Laver Arena, which happened to coincide with Murray’s third-round match on an adjacent arena.

Sears spent a night in a nearby hospital, but was considered well enough to return home. While his father-in-law was being treated in hospital, Murray at times thought his departure from Australia may have been earlier than expected.

He stayed, and won his next two matches in straight sets, shaking out some of the emotions.

He had more to contend with against Raonic, who was playing in the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament for only the second time, and aiming to be the first Canadian man to reach the final of a major.

In an unusual start, the first seven points of the match went against serve, with Raonic breaking at love and then facing triple break point before holding for a 2-0 lead. It was Raonic’s only service break of the match, with Murray fending off six other break-point chances.

Raonic was hampered by an adductor problem in his upper right leg from late in the third set.

He needed a medical time-out, and later in the fourth set had a massage from the trainer.

“I couldn’t push off, I couldn’t get up to serve, and I couldn’t change direction,” Raonic said.

“Probably the most heartbroken I’ve felt on court.”

After having his serve broken to open the fifth set, Raonic walked back to his chair and angrily smashed his racket on the hard court surface twice, breaking it.

“I guess that was sort of just the whole frustration of everything sort of getting out,” said Raonic, who tends not to be demonstrative on court.

Murray went on a run of winning 20 of 25 points to go ahead 4-0 and all but clinch the four-hour match, and a spot in a ninth Grand Slam final.

Murray said he sensed Raonic slowing down, but had to keep his mind on his own side of the court.

He’ll have to do that again against top-ranked Djokovic, who won 27 of his 28 matches in Grand Slams in 2015.

There hasn’t been a walkover in the final of a Grand Slam tournament since Wimbledon in 1931, when Sidney Wood Jr. won the title because fellow American Francis Shields withdrew because of injury. For now, Murray is planning on playing.

“I need to keep my game plan very well, not have any lapses in concentration and just play the best I can,” said Murray, who has won only nine of his 30 career meetings with Djokovic.

Brother Jamie is in the doubles final with Bruno Soares against Daniel Nestor and Radek Stepanek on Saturday, giving the Murray siblings the distinction of being the first brothers to appear in the singles and doubles finals at the same major in the Open era.

The men’s doubles decider follows the women’s final between six-time champion Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber.

In the women’s doubles final on Friday, Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza beat the Czech pair of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka, 7-6 (1), 6-3, to claim their third Grand Slam title together.

Mirza couldn’t extend her run in mixed doubles, losing with her partner Ivan Dodig of Croatia, 7-5, 7-6 (4), later on Friday to Elena Vesnina and Soares in the semifinals. AP

Iraq beats Qatar for last Rio slot

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OHA, Qatar—Iraq pipped Qatar to the last Olympic qualifying place for Asian nations at the Rio de Janeiro Games after a 2-1 win on Friday in a thirdplace playoff match at the Asian Under-23 Championship in Doha.

The Iraqis join South Korea and Japan—who play in Saturday’s final—as Asia’s three teams in the 16-nation tournament line up in Brazil.

Qatar hoped to take the Olympics berth as a key stage in its players’ development for the 2022 World Cup it will host, and was just minutes from victory.

In the 86th minute, Mohannad Abdul-Raheem scored for Iraq to level a 27th-minute goal for Qatar by Ahmed Alaa.

Iraq won it in the 109th through a headed goal by Ayman Hussein. AP