Businessmirror july 09, 2016

“If you have a firearm or you scare the wrong people, you’re going to get shot.

You’re going to get killed. The perception of the scary black man still exists. The threat of the slave going rogue, it’s still there. The bad gangbanger.”—Rev. Kenn Blanchard, a former firearms instructor who runs BlackManWithAGun.com. AP

media partner of the year

“Would this have happened if those passengers would have been white? I don’t think it would have.”—Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, referring to the shooting of Philando Castile by a police officer during a traffic stop in a Saint Paul suburb. AP

“We cannot allow that to happen. I will not allow that to happen.”—President Barack Obama, who cited the need to prevent terrorists from regaining control of territory in Afghanistan as a primary reason for not cutting American forces in the country before leaving office. AP

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Saturday, July 9, 2016 Vol. 11 No. 273

CRACKDOWN AGAINST‘IRRESPONSIBLE’MINERS BEGINS IN ZAMBALES

Govt starts tightening screws on mining firms

INSIDE

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BusinessMirror

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| SAturdAy, July 9, 2016 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph sports@businessmirror.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

NO ALL-WILLIAMS FINAL

By Howard Fendrich The Associated Press

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ONDON—Instead of the ninth all-Williams final at a Grand Slam tournament, there will be a rematch of another sort to determine the title at Wimbledon.

And so, as Serena Williams again stands one victory from her recordtying 22nd major title, she will need to beat a woman who already stopped her once this year in that pursuit, Angelique Kerber.

After Williams needed all of 48 minutes to overwhelm Elena Vesnina, 6-2, 6-0, at the All England Club, older sister Venus failed to join in the family fun, losing to Kerber, 6-4, 6-4, in Thursday’s second semifinal.

Since winning her sixth Wimbledon trophy a year ago to raise her career count at Grand Slam events to 21, Serena has come quite close to pulling even with Steffi Graf at 22—the most in the Open era, which began in 1968 (Margaret Court’s all-time mark is 24). But the American was surprisingly beaten by Roberta Vinci in the US Open semifinals last September, then by Kerber in the Australian Open final in January, and by Garbine Muguruza in the French Open final last month.

Reaching the final at each of a year’s first three major tournaments might sound good to other players.

Not to this one.

“For anyone else in this whole planet, it would be a wonderful accomplishment,” Serena said.

“For me, it’s about, obviously, holding the trophy and winning, which would make it a better

UST beats NU, captures girls volleyball title

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NIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) turned what was expected to be a down-tothe-wire decider into a lopsided finish, overpowering National University (NU) in the fifth set for a 21-25, 2520, 25-19, 13-25, 15-4 victory and capture the Shakey’s Girls’ Volleyball League (GVL) of Champions Season 14 crown at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City on Thursday.

The Junior Tigresses bounced back strong from a fourth-set meltdown with a dominating performance in the fifth with Ejiya Laure leading the attack while drawing solid backup from Janna Torres, Bernadett Pepito and Ma. Regina Mangulabnan to deliver another Shakey’s GVL crown to the España-based school.

It was UST’s fourth championship since the league, sponsored by Shakey’s, started as the Tournament of Champions.

UST actually ruled the first edition with Alyssa Valdez, now one of the faces of Philippine women’s volleyball, as spearhead before Hope Christian College took five of 14 titles disputed in the league, backed

by MyPhone, Asics and Mikasa and organized by Metro Sports.

Laure went on to bag the Most Valuable Player trophy and was named the first Best Outside Attacker, with Torres taking the second Best Middle Blocker title, Pepito copping the Best Libero honors and Mangulabnan nailing the Best Setter award. NU’s Thea Gagate won the first Best Middle Blocker plum and teammate Faith Nisperos was named the second Best Outside Attacker and De La SalleLipa’s Alleiah Malaluan took the Best Opposite Attacker trophy.

accomplishment for me. For me, it’s not enough. But I think that’s what makes me different. That’s what makes me Serena.”

Yes, she is one of a kind.

When a reporter asked what she makes of it when others talk about her as one of history’s greatest female athletes, this was the reply: “I prefer the word, one of the greatest ‘athletes’ of all time.”

Hard to argue.

And the case will be even stronger if she can do what she couldn’t in Melbourne: solve Kerber’s left-handed game.

“I know,” Kerber said, “she will go out and try everything to beat me right now.”

That Australian Open victory gave Kerber her first Grand Slam title in her first Grand Slam final.

She insisted on Thursday she’s more relaxed and more confident on court, thanks to that big moment.

Didn’t necessarily look that way at the outset against Venus, who at 36 was the oldest major semifinalist since Martina Navratilova was 37 at the All England Club in 1994.

Venus is a five-time Wimbledon champion but hadn’t been to the semifinals since she was the runner-up to Serena seven years ago.

“Steps away from making it to the end,” Venus said. “That’s the position I want to be in, is playing in the semifinals, playing for a space in the final.”

But against Kerber, Venus was broken the first four times she served.

She never recovered.

“A very shaky match from her.

She was fighting hard, but she was frustrated. I could tell,” said Venus’s coach, David Witt. “Her

concentration was up-and-down.

The focus was up-and-down. That made her game up-and-down.”

Perhaps, the accumulated court time during this fortnight simply took a toll on Venus, who revealed in 2011 that she had Sjongren’s syndrome, which can cause fatigue and joint pain.

She was a half-step slow to some balls, was breathing heavily after longer points, and wound up with 21 unforced errors, 10 more than Kerber.

“I was trying to [move] her, as well,” the fourth-seeded Kerber said. “That was the plan.”

After a running cross-court forehand winner capped the 19-stroke exchange that ended her victory, Kerber tossed aside her racket and dropped to her knees at the baseline.

That match managed to be more competitive than what transpired earlier, which more closely

CAVENDISH RULES SIXTH STAGE

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ONTAUBAN, France—Mark Cavendish started the Tour de France fearing that his training on the track for the Olympic Games would affect his chances of stage wins at cycling’s biggest race.

After the sprinter from the Isle of Man posted a third stage win in less than a week, it’s now obvious that the long hours spent on the boards have helped him improve his speed.

The 31-year-old “Manx Missile,” as he is known in the peloton, used his great tactical sense and impressive burst of speed to win the sixth stage of the three-week race in another mass finish on Thursday. It was Cavendish’s

ANGELIQUE KERBER bundles out Venus Williams, foiling what could have been a historic showdown at the All England Club. AP

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ICAH SHIN and Jay Bayron pounced on Tony Lascuña’s disastrous “9” on No. 13 and finished off with two birdies each to surge ahead after a topsy-turvy third round of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Bacolod Golf Challenge at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club in Binitin on Friday.

Lascuña quickly overcame a three-stroke deficit to storm ahead by three with a solid 30 start but drove out-of-bounds twice while trying to reach the 283-yard par-4 13th which he birdied in the first two days. He fell short on his third try, made it in six then three-putted.

“I gambled and lost. That’s golf,” said Lascuña, who bogeyed the next but birdied two of the last four to salvage a 69.

That enabled Shin and Bayron to take charge and zero in one top P270,000 purse in this ninth leg of the tour with the former birdieing three of the last six to shoot a 68 and the latter gunning down two birdies in the last five to card a 69 for 202s.

From three down at the turn, Shin and

29th Tour stage win overall.

“Oh my God, that was terrifying,” said Cavendish, who also wore the yellow jersey for the first time of his career after winning the first stage of the race last weekend in Normandy. “That was like the old days, wheel surfing.”

Cavendish, who had never been as successful during the first week of the Tour before, beat German ace sprinter Marcel Kittel by half a wheel, with Daniel McLay third.

Kittel launched the sprint but Cavendish attached himself patiently to Kittel’s wheel before overtaking him in the final 200 meters.

Cavendish passed five-time Tour winner Bernard Hinault to be alone in second on the all-time list of stage winners. Eddy Merckx holds the record with 34 to Cavendish’s 29.

While Cavendish benefited from the great work of his teammates in his two previous stage wins, he was left by himself in the southwestern town of Montauban after his lead-out riders fell away. AP

HUEY, PARTNER LOSE IN SEMIS

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REAT HUEY missed making Wimbledon history for Philippine tennis after his 12th-seeded partnership with Max Mirnyi of Belarus lost to the top-ranked pair of Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut of France, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4, in the men’s doubles semifinals on Thursday at the All-England Club.

Huey’s feat, however, was unprecedented enough. He is the first Filipino to reach a semifinals at Wimbledon, passing the accomplishment of the late Filipino tennis legend Felicisimo Ampon, who reached the major’s third round on three occasions—1949, 1950 and 1953.

Herbert and Mahut will face in the finals fellow Frenchmen Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, who defeated Raven Klaasen of South Africa and Rajeev Ram of the United States, 7-5, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (5), also on Thursday.

Huey and Mirnyi beat the British-Canadian tandem of Jonathan Marray and Adil Shamasdinz, 6-4, 7-6, 6-3, in the quarterfinals.

Huey, a mainstay of the Philippine Davis Cup team and a threetime Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, reached the men’s doubles quarterfinals of the Australian Open earlier this year. He also got that far in the 2013 US Open.

Philippine tennis patron Jean Henri Lhuillier praised the performance of Huey, a Cebuana Lhuillier Sports ambassador, at Wimbledon.

“Treat is showing the world that we Filipinos can be worldclass in tennis. He’s doing it sans the hype and attention. He just keeps on winning. This will augur well for the confidence of the rest of our Davis Cup team against Chinese Taipei next week,” Lhuillier said. Lance Agcaoili

resembled a training session for the No. 1-ranked Serena—except she probably gets more of a workout when she practices.

SHIN, BAYRON SNATCH LEAD

@jonlmayuga

he government has started tightening the screws on miners, as widely feared with the appointment of known antimining advocate Regina Paz L. Lopez as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

no all-williams final

Sports

By Jonathan Mayuga

Regulators have suspended the operations of two large-scale mining companies in Zambales, effectively stopping all mining activities in the province, a declared mineral-reservation area.

The preventive suspension order was jointly issued against the Benguet Corp.

Nickel Mines Inc. (BCNMI) and Zambales Diversified Nickel Corp. (ZDNC) by three regional officials of the DENR in Central Luzon—Francisco E. Milla Jr., Lope O. Cariño Jr. of the Mines and Continued on A2

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BATTLE royale looms, as Dewey Boulevard and Radioactive clash in the third and final leg of the Philippine Racing Commission’s (Philracom) Triple Crown—hosted by the Manila Jockey Club—on Sunday at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.

Dewey Boulevard, owned by Hermie Esguerra, was the early favorite in the first leg, but Radioactive scored an upset triumph. Dewey Boulevard, however, foiled Radioactive’s sweep bid in the second leg.

Underwood, Homonhon Island and Hopeful Stakes Race first-leg winner Guatemala, however, will be looking to upset the favorites in the 2,000-meter race which offers P1.8 million to the champion from the P3 million total pot.

“This is the third fight and we expect a thrilling race,” Philracom commissioner Atty.

Dondon Bagatsing said. The Triple Crown is the ultimate test for three-year-old, island born thoroughbreds, having started its first leg in May. Radioactive is under SC Stockfarm, while Underwood is owned Stony Road Horse Farm.

Guatemala is with Engr.

Jun Sevilla, while Homonhon Island is owned by Wilbert Tan. “We expect another exciting day at the racetrack,” Philracom Chairman Andrew Sanchez said. “When you have the best runners of the season bunched together in a major race setting such as the Triple Crown, you can anticipate a good show for all Filipino racing fans.”

sports

By Joel Orellana

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in the National Basketball Association (NBA), will suit up against Turkey, making the Les Bleus of Head Coach Vincent Collet deadlier. Batum missed the team’s first two games against host Philippines and the Tall Blacks, but France was simply too strong in its group with NBA veteran Tony Parker and Boris Diaw in command.

Collet’s wards topped Group B after pulling off a come-from-behind win over New Zealand, 66-59. Les Bleus trailed 38-50 early in the fourth quarter but France responded with a 22-2 blast to seize control of

the match.

With the loss, the Tall Blacks of Head Coach Paul Henare have to deal with the Canadians, who had the luxury of a two-day rest after sweeping Turkey (77-69) and Senegal (58-55).

Turkey secured the last semifinal berth of the Manila OQT following a 68-62 victory over Senegal behind Ali Muhammed’s 23-point explosion.

Muhammed, formerly known as Bobby Dixon, was held to just one

point in France’s loss to Canada.

The winners will face off at 9 p.m. on Sunday for the golden ticket to Rio. In other OQT semifinals, it will be Latvia versus Puerto Rico and host Serbia versus the Czech Republic in Belgrade, and Greece against Croatia and host Italy against Mexico in Turin.

The Philippines is the only host of the three OQTs that failed to reach the semifinal round. Gilas Pilipinas lost to France (84-93) and New Zealand (8089) in the Group B preliminaries.

prioritize the elderly HE teams picked to do well in the International Basketball Federation Manila Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) clash in Saturday’s semifinal at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Group A topnotcher Canada faces Group B second-placer New Zealand in the first game at 6:30 p.m., while Group B’s No. 1 France tangles with Group B’s No. 2 Turkey at 9 p.m.

Nicolas Batum, who recently signed up with the Charlotte Hornets

B4 Saturday, July 9, 2016 • Editor: Efleda P. Campos

OurTime BusinessMirror

NGO to Duterte: Prioritize the elderly

By Sandra Sendingan | Special to the BusinessMirror

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ITH the Philippines well on its way to reaching the United Nations’s (UN) definition of an aging country, the necessary structures, social-assistance programs and national policies should already be put into order to make way for the impending change in demographics, a nongovernmental organization (NGO) for the elderly asked the Duterte administration.

The UN defines an aging country as one whose elderly demographic (60 years old and above) composes 7 percent or more of its total national population. As of the 2010 census, the Philippines’s elderly sector has

already reached 6.76 percent, or 6.23 million, of the country’s total population of 91.2 million.

“When you have an aging population, it has certain implications [on] policies so you need to prepare

these things. Otherwise, it will not be a celebration of people living longer. If not addressed, the burgeoning number of older people will burden our health care and pension system,” said Aura Sevilla, project coordinator of Coalition of Services of the Elderly (Cose).

To respond to demands of the growing elderly population, Sevilla offered the organization’s six-policy legislative agenda, which aims to expand social pension for older persons, create a law against elder abuse, draft a policy on long-term care, seek tax exemption for family caregivers, and create a comprehensive antidiscrimination bill.

The more resolute request of Cose, however, lies in its call to create a government body specifically dedicated to addressing the concerns of the elderly.

Sevilla laments that up to now, only ad-hoc committees with no institutional commitments are

created to provide short-term solutions to issues of the elderly, while the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs found at the local level answers to no centralized or monitoring entity.

“Pinu-push namin na batas is magkaron ng commission or council for older persons kasi…very weak ang implementation ng batas kasi nga walang nagmo-monitor. Walang focal agency na pwedeng takbuhan ’pag may issues iyong older persons,” she said.

Sevilla also called for support in the creation of a UN convention on the rights of older persons, which would ensure than an international, legally binding document exists to safeguard the welfare of senior citizens all over the world.

“If you have a convention, it would mean that older persons have their own rights. They could claim for that, which would help for more dignified aging,” he said.

DSWD accepts application for social pension of senior citizens

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AMBOANGA CIT Y—The Department of Social Welf a re a nd De ve lopme nt (DSWD) has announced that indigent senior citizens aged 60 years and above may now apply to avail themselves of the agency’s Social Pension Program.

Lei Madeline Espiritusanto, DSWD regional information officer, told the Philippines News Agency the application can be submitted to the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) or at the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs.

Eligible to apply are the following: indigent senior citizens 60 years old and above; and senior citizens without pension from the Social Security System (SSS) or Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

They are advised to bring with them their senior citizen identification card and certificate of indigency when they submit their application documents.

Espiritusanto said the applicants will be assessed by the social workers and will endorse the application to the DSWD regional office for final approval.

They are entitled to receive P1,500 social pension per quarter.

However, Espiritusanto said the qualified applicants are not expected to immediately start receiving pension since they will be included in the pensioners’ wait-list.

“They will wait until such time there will be replacement which happens by death or delisting of senior citizen pensioners,” she added.

She said they will be wait-listed since the funds of the DSWD intended for Social Pension Program have already been apportioned to the program’s pensioners. The existing social pensions are aged 65 and above.

She said there are a total of 81,251 social pensioners aged 65 and above in Region 9. PNA

BALANCING ACT Marjorie Banageg, 61, balances a basket of young coconuts (buko) on her head at the Baguio City public market

vendor.

news@businessmirror.com.ph

A PNEUMONIA-FREE LIFE FOR THE ELDERLY

MAU VICTA

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NEUMONIA continues to be a major public-health concern around the world. It can affect the quality of life of people of all ages. The elderly, in particular, are most affected by the deadly disease because of weakened immune systems caused by aging.

In the Philippines, data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed pneumonia has consistently figured in the top 5 leading causes of deaths among adults, with an average ranking of fourth in the past 10 years. “ The elderly aged 60 years old and above is one of the age groups with a high mortality rate due to pneumonia in the country,” said Dr. Rontgene Solante, former president and current council adviser at the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID). “The elderly generally have a weakened immune system, and may be ex periencing other health concerns, which further aggravate their condition.”

This also points to the increasing health-care needs of a growing elderly sector in the country. The number of Filipinos 60 years or older was recorded at 3.7 million in 1995, representing 5.4 percent of the total population. By 2000, the figure has increased to around 4.8 million, or almost 6 percent of the country’s population.

In answer to the call for intensified healthcare efforts for a growing population, the DOH has been administering nationwide vaccination drives against pneumonia and other vaccine-preventable diseases as part of its commitment to expand the National Immunization Program (NIP).

The government health agency has been implementing a nationwide pneumococcal vaccination program for the elderly aged 60, and another dose to be administered at 65 years old.

“Two doses should be provided in order to maintain the immune response—t he ant ibody pro duced by the vaccine. The vaccines can also be administered at 70 and 75 years old, but the body’s immune system will not

be as receptive,” Solante said.

Vaccination is very important, especially since the risk of mortality among senior citizens due to pneumonia is 60 percent to 70 percent, according to Solante. “This means that, even if you’re taking antibiotics, and have regular checkups at the hospital, the risk of mortality is still high. Why? Most of the elderly may also have cardiovascular problems, diabetes, lung diseases, etc., that double the rate of mortality caused by pneumonia.”

The DOH currently administers the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23), which protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria that comes from the strain Streptococcus pneumoniae that causes 80 percent to 90 percent of deaths in the community. “The vaccine efficacy is around 50 percent. In medical terms, a 50-percent efficacy against pneumonia is very significant. This is already an important step toward pneumonia prevention for the elderly.”

The symptoms of pneumonia among the elderly are commonly associated with a feeling of weakness, lack of appetite and in severe cases, difficulty of breathing and severe coughing.

More than prevention of pneumonia, Solante also emphasized the vital role of vaccination in eradicating other dreaded vaccinepreventable diseases.

The PSMID particularly promotes disease prevention, and is making clinical guidelines for physicians on adult immunization, proper usage of antibiotics and management of diseases, such as pneumonia, dengue, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases, among others.

“We are fully supporting the DOH’s initiatives, especially on prevention,” he said. “Prevention of diseases in a country would really depend on the government. They have the means and the capability to spread immunity nationwide through vaccination. This is one of the steps toward promoting nationwide health, and I think the government is on the right track.

I hope this gets sustained by the next administration.”

PRA marks 31 years of continuous excellence T

HE Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) marks its 31st year as the leading agency in promoting the Philippines as a significant retirement destination this side of the globe.

Reaching another milestone, PRA awarded its outstanding personnel with 15, 25 and 30 years of government service, top marketers and exemplary retiree-members.

The event was held on July 1 at the Philippine International Convention Centre with the theme “Recognizing the Achievers in the Retirement Industry.”

In this event, General Manager Valentino Cabansag and PRA employees welcomed the newly appointed Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon T. Teo who attended the event.

PRA is a government-owned and -controlled corporation established under Executive Order 1037 by the Office of the President in 1985. PRA is mandated to attract foreign nationals and former Filipino citizens to invest, reside and retire in the Philippines with the end-view of accelerating the

socioeconomic development of the country, contributing to the foreign currency reserve of the economy and by providing them the best quality of life in the most attractive package.

It issues the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa for foreigners and former Filipino citizens who want to retire in the country. The SRRV entitles the holder to reside in the Philippines indefinitely with multiple entry and exit privileges.

In over three decades of service, PRA works dynamically, with the combined efforts of the Department of Tourism, Bureau of Immigration and Development Bank of the Philippines, to improve its services and convince more foreign retirees to settle in the country. It is clear that the agency is continuously prospering. PRA has already enrolled close to 45,000 foreign retirees, 10 percent of which was accumulated in 2015. In addition, PRA recently remitted dividends amounting to P190.44 million to the Bureau of Treasury for Fiscal Year 2015.

See “China,” A2 PHILIPPINE Retirement Authority (PRA) Japanese Club President Masahiko Ieda (left) joins PRA General Manager Valentino Cabansag and Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon T. Teo in a toast during the recent PRA Foundation Day celebration held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. ALYSA SALEN

OUR TIME

Antique gov elated with passage of Centenarians Act; vows to continue own program

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AN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique—Antique Gov. Rhodora J. Cadiao expressed elation over the signing by former President Benigno S. Aquino III of the Centenarians Act just before he ended his term.

Cadiao proudly said in the prov-

ince of Antique under her administration, there is already a similar program, which she launched October 24 last year during the provincial senior citizens’ congress in Valderrama, Antique.

“It is really important for the government to be looking after its

senior citizens and to recognize their important contributions to society,” the governor said.

The program, dubbed “Kabalaka sang Gobernadora sa Lolo kag Lola sa Probinsya,” or “The Governor’s Concern for Grandfathers and Grandmothers in the Province,” entitles the

Lt. Gen. Thomas Vandal (center), the commander of US Forces Korea’s Eighth Army, speaks to the media about deploying the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense, as South Korean Defense Ministry Deputy Minister for Policy Yoo Jeh-seung (right) listens during a media briefing at the Defense Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, on Friday. AP

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EXPLOSIVE SEMIFINALS N.g.o. to duterte: NEW ZEALAND’S Cory Webster tries to shake off France’s Charles Kahudi.

CHINA BLASTS U.S., SOUTH KOREA PLAN TO DEPLOY THAAD

outh Korea and the United States have agreed to deploy the Thaad antiballistic missile system on the Korean peninsula, a move that drew immediate condemnation from China. Related story on B2-1.

South Korea’s military said on Friday the US will deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) system in the country by the end of 2017 at the latest. The decision was made in response to a growing ballistic-missile threat from North Korea, a South Korean defense ministry official said in a televised briefing.

The international reaction to the deployment was swift. China’s foreign ministry said it strongly opposed the deployment, and urged Seoul and Washington to reconsider the move.

The deployment “doesn’t help achieve the objective of denuclearization in the peninsula, doesn’t benefit maintaining peace and stability in the peninsula,” China’s foreign ministry said in a statement. “It’s going toward the opposite direction of solving the problem

Triple Crown third leg on at San Lazaro

Bayron found themselves leading by three over Lascuña, Dutch Guido van der Valk and a rallying Orlan Sumcad, who all pooled a 205 heading to the last 18 holes of the P1.5million event.

Van der Valk failed to sustain a 65 in the second round and fumbled with a one-over 71, while Sumcad finally found his touch and form, rattling off three birdies in the last eight to fire a 67 and revive his bid for a maiden victory in his hometown.

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elderly identified by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, headed by Lazaro G. Petinglay, to receive an amount ranging from P3,000 to P10,000 annually depending on their age bracket as support for their food and medicines.

Cadiao said that, with Republic

Act 10868, or Centenarians Act of 2016, signed by former President Aquino on June 23, the elderly could now receive a bigger amount of P100,000 cash gift from the national government with a letter of felicitation from the president of the Philippines and the local official.

The governor said the provincial government will still continue its support to the Antiqueño elderly in adherence to the newly signed law and give recognition during the National Respect for Centenarians Day, which is set on September 25 of every year. PNA

Farmers still have chance to regain coco-levy shares

B4

MAKESHIFT RAFT Enterprising residents of Mandaluyong City carry a huge styrofoam

that they will use as a makeshift raft to ferry commuters across the flooded streets in the area.

Heavy rains left several parts of the National Capital Region flooded, prompting the government to suspend classes in Metro Manila on Monday. ALYSA SALEN

WITH SINCERE SORROW Dear Lord, if we feel perfectly healed and renewed in our hearts, God’s forgiveness , through You, we are like other humans forgiven in the sacrament of reconciliation. And this is what You continue to do with the sinners who approach You with sincere sorrow and the desire to start a new life. God’s merciful and healing love can, indeed, work wonders in all sinners who are properly disposed.

We thank You, Lord, for having established the sacrament of reconciliation, through which we receive forgiveness of our sins. Amen!

Word & Life, Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB and Luisa M. Lacson, HFL

Lopez vows to shutter failed miners T

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iners in the Philippines will be shuttered this year if they fail environmental checks, according to the country’s environment secretary, who’s spearheading tougher regulation of the resources sector.

Regina Paz L. Lopez, hired by new President Rodrigo Duterte to clean up mining, announced the probe last week on assuming the post. The audit will be completed in three to four weeks and may result in mines being closed in the next six months, Lopez said in

PESO exchange rates n US 47.0400

How can their business interest be more important than the lives of our people?”—Lopez

a Bloomberg interview.

“If they are killing our rivers, how can their business interest be more important than the lives of our people? I

By David Cagahastian

@davecaga

will not allow suffering,” said Lopez, who has previously disclosed that she doesn’t like mining. “The main thing is that whatever we do, the welfare of the people must be paramount.”

The Philippines is the world’s biggest source of mined nickel, and supplies almost all of the nickel ore imported by China and used to make stainless steel.

Nickel surged about 8 percent in two days, after Lopez announced the probe, amid concerns that closures would cut

he fate of the coco-levy fund and all its proceeds, including the shares of stocks of farmers in governmentcontrolled United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB), is now in the hands of President Duterte.

A ranking UCPB official said Mr. Duterte may even opt to voluntarily honor the shares of stocks in UCPB that were earlier issued to farmers, but the ownership of which has already been resolved by the Supreme Court (SC) in favor of the government, in a decision in 2012.

This uncertainty in the actual process to be resorted to by the Duterte administration in effecting his directive of distributing the coco-levy fund to the farmers could further stall the privatization of the UCPB, to the benefit of farmers who are opposing such privatization earlier ordered by former President Benigno S. Aquino III. “It would be up to the President on how to distribute the coco-levy fund. As of now, I doubt that there would

Continued on A2

Continued on A2

n japan 0.4669 n UK 60.7380 n HK 6.0636 n CHINA 7.0385 n singapore 34.8573 n australia 35.1718 n EU 52.0592 n SAUDI arabia 12.5396

Source: BSP (8 July 2016 )

BMReports

A2 Saturday, July 9, 2016

Think tank: PHL victory in arbitration case to level playing field in sea row

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ays before the Permanent Court of Arbitration decides on the case, an independent think tank said a decision favorable to the Philippines on the South China Sea will strengthen a nonmilitary scenario and pave the way toward further diplomacy.

“If we get the verdict we expect, it is imperative to cull the best thinking on different postarbitration scenarios and initiate dialogue on strategically approaching geopolitical, economic and social changes in the region,” said Dindo Manhit, president of the Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute (ADRi).

“On an immediate term, the Philippines must capitalize on the international interest in the case to garner international support for its position and elicit strong statements from other countries. While we pursue diplomatic initiatives, the Philippines needs to take steps to protect itself from any adverse Chinese reaction.

“On a medium term, we need to make peace and foster a new era of relations with China based on mutual respect,” Manhit said.

Stratbase ADRi Trustee and International Criminal Court Justice Raul Pangalangan said filing the case was a game changer for the Philippines, which would have been at a disadvantage in a bilateral setup.

“In a David-versus-Goliath scenario, the Philippines would have been helpless; by filing the case, we have shifted it from a two-party settlement and submitted it to a third-party decision-maker in the tribunal,” he said. Subjecting the case to arbitration also undermined the military aspect of the dispute and instead highlighted the primacy of international law, Pangalangan said, which becomes a venue for alliance-building.

“It will provide our neighbors in Asia and our allies abroad a neutral ground upon which to take a position on the issue. In other words, with-

China. . .

Continued from A1

via dialogue and negotiation.”

The US Defense Department said in a statement on Friday that the Thaad system will be “focused solely on North Korean nuclear and missile threats, and would not be directed toward any third-party nations.”

Meanwhile, Japanese government spokesman Koichi Hagiuda told reporters in Tokyo that the advance in defense cooperation between the US and South Korea would contribute to regional stability. Japan, South Korea and the US last month held their first joint military exercises aimed at tracking North Korean missiles.

out states saying ‘China is right’ or ‘Philippines is right,’ we provide even the erstwhile hesitant Asean states an opportunity to take a decision without riling China’s sensitivities.”

But getting other, more capable countries involved in the case is something that China doesn’t like, said Renato de Castro, also an ADRi trustee. “ Th e Ph i l i p p i n e s h a s s o u g ht c l o s e r security arrangements with the US and Japan, which have shown interest in providing security and diplomatic support to the Philippines.”

If you have both the US and Japan involved, it might further complicate the dispute, as this makes China more belligerent and more uncompromising in dealing with the Philippines, especially after the case was filed.

ADRi will host a forum with the UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea on the subject on July 15, 9 a.m. at the Malcolm Theater of the UP College of Law in Diliman. Entitled “Upholding the Law of the Sea Convention and the PostArbitration Philippine Challenge,” the forum will be graced by international experts.

South Korea and Washington have been in talks about deploying the antimissile-defense system since Kim Jong Un’s regime conducted a nuclear test in January and then followed it up with several ballistic missile tests in violation of United Nation’s ban. The decision to deploy the system comes as North Korea called recent financial sanctions imposed against its leader a “declaration of war.”

The US Treasury Department for the first time on Thursday imposed sanctions on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, targeting him and other top officials for widespread human-rights abuses.

The sanctions make it harder for banks or other financial institutions worldwide to hold or move assets owned by those on the list. Bloomberg News

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Govt starts tightening screws on mining firms Continued from A1

Geosciences Bureau (MGB), and Lormelyn E. Claudio of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).

On July 1 the provincial government of Zambales issued an order stopping all mining operations in the province. The order, however, affects only small-scale mining, as large-scale mining falls under the jurisdiction of the national government through the DENR, or the Mining Industry Coordinating Council.

MGB Director Leo L. Jasareno said the order, dated July 7, was due to the numerous complaints against mining operations in the province coming from concerned residents and other stakeholders.

The order took effect immediately.

This is the first to be issued against “irresponsible” mining companies under the administration of President Duterte and Lopez, who earlier declared that mining will undergo strict regulatory process. “ The preventive suspension order against BCNMI and ZDNC was issued in view of the writ of kalikasan issued by the

Supreme Court [SC], Executive Order 1 issued by the governor of Zambales, and the numerous complaints aired by concerned residents and other stakeholders against mining operation in the province,” Jasareno said.

“In order to ensure that the environment, particularly the communities, farmlands and water bodies are not in any way compromised as a result of the mining operations, pursuant to the pertinent mining and environmental laws, your operations in Santa Cruz, Zambales, are hereby suspended immediately…,” the order stated.

The companies were ordered to address issues arising from tree-cutting and earth-balling operations; complete the construction of an exclusive minehaul road; rehabilitate mined-out areas, deposit Final Mine Rehabilitation/Decommissioning funds; compensate towns and rehabilitate their affected farmlands, fishponds, including water bodies; and repair all damaged portions of the roads affected by their operations.

The MGB suspended the two mining companies for nine months, starting July

2014, for violation of environmental and mining laws.

To recall, the MGB ordered the suspension of four mining companies, including Zambales Diversified Metals Corp., BenguetCorp Nickel Mines Inc., Eramen Minerals Inc. and Lnl Archipelago Minerals Inc., which stemmed from an earlier show-cause order, requiring the companies to defend their unsystematic mining or stripping method in their respective mining areas following numerous complaints aired by community stakeholders in Zambales.

The suspension order against ZDMC and BCNMI were temporarily lifted last year after substantial compliance of corrective measures ordered by the DENR-MGB. On June 21 the SC en banc issued a writ of kalikasan against five mining companies operating in Zambales.

Aside from BCNMI and ZDMC, also ordered to defend themselves against allegations of causing environmental degradations were Eranmen Minerals Inc., LNL Archipelago Minerals Inc. and Shangil Mining and Trading Corp.

Farmers still have chance to regain coco-levy shares Continued from A1

be any more takers [in the privatization of UCPB] because of the level of government intervention,” the source told the BusinessMirror.

This dampening of interest from the private sector is aside from the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the SC stopping the implementation of Mr. Aquino’s executive orders (EO) to sell the government’s stake in UCPB.

Status of privatization

In March 2015 former President Benigno S. Aquino III issued Executive Orders 179 and 180, directing the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) and other relevant agencies to conduct an inventory of the coco-levy assets—which, the High Court said in a ruling in 2012, belong to the government—then proceed to privatizing these assets.

The SC’s ruling in the 2012 case of Philippine Coconut Producers Federation Inc. (Cocofed) v Republic of the Philippines said the shares of stock in UCPB distributed by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) to some 1.4 million coconut farmers as their

private property should be reverted to the government, since the funds used by the PCA in buying those shares of stock are public funds.

The SC decision also said the investments made by UCPB in coconut-oil mills corporations and in holding companies organized using proceeds of the coco-levy funds also belong to the government.

Because of the court’s decision, the government now owns 74 percent of the outstanding capital-stock of UCPB, with the farmers holding stock certificates now viewed by UCPB as mere “beneficial owners” of those stocks, along with the rest of the small coconut farmers who contributed to the coco-levy fund during the Marcos era.

However, the privatization of the assets was stalled by a TRO issued by the SC on Aquino’s EOs directing the sale. It is now unclear if the privatization would still push through.

Distribution proposals

Before assuming office, Mr. Duterte set the general policy direction of his government to release the coco-levy funds to the farmers, but several proposals have f loated on how to go about

the release of the funds.

It appears that the coconut farmers, who have the most legitimate legal standing in this issue of what should happen to the assets bought using the coco-levy fund, want the government to use these assets for sustainable programs that will redound to their long-term benefit.

In a statement released recently, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), representing coconut farmers, belied interpretations that the demand for the distribution of the coco-levy assets involved payment in cold cash.

“Small coconut farmers are not demanding P20,000. They are demanding the cash distribution of the coco-levy money through social benefits, including, but not limited to, pension benefits, medical and hospitalization benefits, maternity benefits and educational assistance, including scholarships, among others,” KMP Secretary-General Antonio Flores said.

He said the amount of P20,000 per coconut farmer being floated as a possible distribution scheme by some politicians is merely a desperate ploy to privatize the coco-levy assets.

Lopez vows to shutter failed miners Continued from a1

supply and deepen an emerging global shortage. Nickel Asia Corp. and Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc., the nation’s top two producers of nickel ore, say they operate according to the standards demanded by their new regulator.

Open-pit ban

The new environment chief said on Thursday she will oppose the Tampakan copper and gold-mine project on Mindanao island in the south of the Philippines, which has been on hold because of a local government ban on open-pit mining.

“Open-pit mining? It’s horrible,” Lopez said. “Tampakan is on top of hundreds of hectares of agricultural land, the food basket of Mindanao, and you want to put a 700-hectare open-pit mine? I don’t care how much money they give us. It’s not worth it. Who is making the money here, and who is taking the risk?”

Mining has been halted in other areas, too. Operations in Zambales province, in the north of the Philippines, have been suspended by the local government because of “complaints on environmental degradation,” according to Mines and Geosciences Bureau Director Leo L. Jasareno. The Supreme Court separately issued a stop order against mining companies in the province in June.

Fiery campaign

Duterte was sworn in last month after a fiery campaign, including pledges to crush crime, fight corruption and halt environmental abuses. The country also has significant resources of gold, copper and other minerals.

The worst hit by the measures will be nickel miners, because “increased costs from compliance to environmental regulation will be exacerbated by the current low nickel prices and the probable reentry of Indonesian nickel ore into the global market,” analysts from BMI Research said in a note on Thursday. Indonesia banned exports of raw materials, including nickel ore, from the start of 2014, handing the Philippines a bigger role in supply of the material.

Nickel on the London Metal Exchange is up 10 percent this year, but remains at less than a fifth of its record price in 2007, as consumers work through high inventories. There will be no very big price increases, while inventories stay high and commodity markets depressed, Dmitry Kuznetsov, overseas marketing manager at GMK Norilsk Nickel PJSC, said last month. Citigroup Inc. forecasts nickel sliding to $8,500 a metric ton this year, compared with $9,725 on Friday. Bloomberg News

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Editors: Vittorio V. Vitug and Max V. de Leon • Saturday, July 9, 2016 A3

Now is perfect time to cut income-tax rates–Villar

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By Butch Fernandez

@butchfBM

he stage is set for the 17th Congress, which formally convenes on July 25, to approve proposed downward adjustments in existing income-tax brackets set two decades ago.

Senate Bill 147, filed by Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, seeks to amend Section 24 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, proposing lower tax rates on taxable income of Filipino workers.

Under the bill, taxable income of individuals earning not more than P20,000 will have 5-percent tax rate beginning January 1, 2016, while tax rates for those earning more than that will be set as follows: over P20,000, but not over P60,000, will pay P1,000 + 10 percent of the excess over P20,000; over P60,000, but not over P140,000, will be taxed P5,000 + 15 percent of the excess over P60,000; over P140,000, but not over P280,000, will be taxed P17,000 + 20 percent of the excess over P140,000; over P280,000, but not over P500,000, will be taxed P45,000 + 25 percent of the excess over P280,000; over P500,000, but

32%

The uniform tax rate charged among those who net P500,000 a month and for those earning millions of pesos

not over P1 million, will be taxed P100,000 + 30 percent of the excess over P500,000; and over P1 million will be taxed P250,000 + 32 percent of excess over P1 million.

“To ease the burden of our Filipino workers, and for our country to be at par with regional standards and to make the Philippine work force more competitive with its neighbors, this bill seeks to amend the Tax Code by adjusting the individual

Lawmakers move to end ‘endo’

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

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o put to stop, once and for all, what they described as an unfair labor practice and a tool of exploitation against the working class, several lawmakers have recently filed measures against the contractual-employment scheme, or contractualization, in the country.

Party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao of Anak Pawis said contractualization, also known as endo, or short for end of contract, is not a mere short-term tactic to reduce costs or to defeat a unionorganizing drive, but a “long-term strategy for shedding all obligations to workers and eliminating all employee rights based on the existence of an employment relationship.”

“It removes various obstacles to the extreme exploitation of workers, which they have won through decades of struggles,” Casilao said.

The lawmaker, citing recent studies, said that contractualization is extensive in the Philippines, with seven out of 10 firms implementing combinations of flexiblework arrangements, and with estimates showing that contractuals now outnumber regulars among Filipino workers.

Casilao said majority of the country’s 37.6 million employed persons are either employed in contractual, temporary, probationary, seasonal and odd jobs.

“Based on official government data, an estimate of 44 percent of workers employed in various industries are not regulars,” he said.

The rate of contractual employment, Casilao added, is also high in the construction sector at 81 percent and quarrying sector at 59 percent.

In the past decade, he said contractual employment proliferated due to the “neoliberal policies of globalization.”

“In fact, a big chunk of locally generated employment is attributed to contractual or temporary jobs across industries particularly in special economic zones, the service sector and industries concentrated on export-oriented production mainly of semi-manufactures with little value-added,” he said.

The bill defines a contractor or subcontractor as a person or an

entity with whom an employer or principal enters into a contract for the performance of the latter’s work.

Under the bill, when the contractor or subcontractor contracts to perform work that is necessary and desirable for the business of the employer, the employees or workers of the contractor or subcontractor shall be considered the employees of the employer and not of the contractor or subcontractor.

The measure also provides that the contractor, subcontractor, agency, person or intermediary shall be considered merely as agent of the employer or the principal who shall be responsible for the workers in the same manner and extent as if the latter were directly employed by the said employer or principal.

Party-list Reps. Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas of Gabriela, along with Rep. Harry Roque of Kabayan, are also pushing for the passage of bills against job contractualization.

Gabriela lawmakers said their Regular Employment Bill seeks to end the practice of repeated temporary contracting, and ensure workers are regularized and entitled to benefits due them, along with a steady stream of income.

De Jesus explained labor-only contracting schemes affect seven out of 10 women workers in the service sector.

“Women workers’ exploitation and poverty worsened with contractualization,” she said.

For his part, Roque said his bill gives fixed-term or contractual employees the right in principle not be treated less favorably than permanent employees of the same employer doing similar work.

He said the bill also provides that where a fixed-term employee, who has been continuously employed on fixed-term contracts for four years or more is re-engaged in a fixed-term contract without his continuity being broken, the new contract has effect under the proposed law as a permanent contract, unless the renewal on a fixed-term basis was objectively justified.

“This bill seeks to remove discrimination in statutory rights between fixed-term employees and permanent employees, while implementing the constitutional right of the people to security of tenure,” he said.

income-tax brackets and reducing the rates of individual income- tax,” Villar said.

The senator asserted that now is “the perfect time to pass a law reducing taxes after more than a decade without much necessary amendment to the Tax Code.”

Villar cited that an analysis of tax policies of the countries comprising the Asean that the Philippines as “one

of the highest average tax rate” following Vietnam and Thailand.

“Those earning just a little over P500,000 pay the same income tax rate at 32 percent, as those earning in the millions. The injustice in the present tax system is apparent and should be immediately addressed,” Villar stressed.

She added: “Our tax policy should follow the lead of richer neighbors in

the Asean that allows more disposable cash or purchasing power to be left in the hands of taxpayers to enable them to have good quality of life and provide for their families.”

The senator pointed out that at present, the tax rates are computed as follows: Not over P10,000, 5 percent; Over P10,000, but not over P30,000, P500 + 10 percent of the excess over P10,000; Over P30,000, but not over

P70,000, P2,500 + 15 percent of the excess over P30,000; Over P70,000, but not over P140,000, P8,500 + 20 percent of the excess over P70,000; Over P140,000, but not over P250,000, P22,500 + 25 percent of the excess over P140,00; Over P250,000, but not over P500,000, P50,000 + 30 percent of the excess over P250,000; and over P500,000, P125,000 + 32 percent of the excess over P500,000.

A4 Saturday, July 9, 2016 • Editor: Dionisio L. Pelayo

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Ombudsman receives malversation, graft complaints vs Aquino, Abad

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By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

ROGRESSIVE groups on Friday filed a malversation complaint before the Ombudsman against former President Benigno S. Aquino III and former Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad over the implementation of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), parts of which were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

In a 26-page technical malversation complaint, Party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani T. Zarate of Bayan Muna, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Secretar y-General Renato M. Reyes Jr. and Alliance of Concerned Teachers National Chairman Benjamin Valbuena also accused Aquino and Abad usurpation of legislative powers, as well as graft and corruption, for violating Section 3 (e)4 of Repub-

lic Act 3019, or the Antigraft and Corrupt Practices Act. “The DAP was nothing more than presidential pork taken from forced savings then realigned for pet projects of the president. It was not a stimulus program, as many of the projects approved by Aquino had nothing to do with stimulating the economy. It was presidential pork used to entice lawmakers to impeach then-convict former

Chief Justice Renato C. Corona,” Zarate said.

Reyes, meanwhile, said the allegations in the complaint were originally aired in the impeachment complaint filed before the House of Representatives in 2014.

“However, the Liberal Partydominated chamber did not give the impeachment complainants a chance to present evidence on the culpability of Aquino. It is only now that Aquino is no longer in power that we are able to revive our push for accountability,” he added.

The complainants, citing a Senate hearing, said “respondent Abad admitted that respondent Aquino and he declared under the DAP a total of P237.5 billion in savings.”

“Being the authors and implementors of DAP, respondents Aquino and Abad cannot raise the presumption of regularity in the performance of official functions in light of the conclusive and clear clarificatory confirmation or affirmation by the Supreme Court in Araullo [Araullo, et al. v Aquino et al. (GR 209287, July 1, 2014, and February 3, 2015)] that the implementation of DAP contravened the Constitution and the

abad

aquino

various GAAs [General Appropriations Acts],” they added.

In the complaint the group said the Supreme Court ruled that “[u]nreleased appropriations and withdrawn unobligated allotments under the DAP were not savings, and the use of such appropriations contravened Section 25(5), Article VI of the 1987 Constitution.”

The complainants added that the Court also ruled that “[c]rossborder augmentations from savings were prohibited by the Constitution” and that the so-called savings pooled under the DAP were allocated to “nonexistent programs, activities, or projects,” or PAPs, that were not covered by

any appropriations in the pertinent GAAs.” Complainants a lso include Confederation For Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees President Ferdinand R. Gaite, Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption founding Chairman and President Dante LA Jimenez, Mae P. Paner of the Juana Change Movement, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Philipinas Secretary General Antonio Flores, Gabriela Secretary General Joan Mae Salvador, Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap National Chairman Gloria G. Arellano and Philippine Heart Center Employees Association-Alliance of Health Workers President Bonifacio S.

Carmona Jr. Besides ma lversation complaint, Aquino is also facing multiple homicide complaints over his role in the botched Mamasapano operation on January 25, 2015, that killed 44 National PoliceSpecial Action Force troopers.

In May Martin Diño has filed treason and espionage charges against Aquino and Sen. A ntonio F. Trillanes IV for backchannel talks with China over a territorial row over the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

In September 2012 lawyer Oliver Lozano also filed a treason complaint against Aquino and Trillanes.

Law yer Homobono A. Adaza and a newspaper columnist have also filed a separate charges of treason against Aquino for suppor t ing t he proposed Bangsamoro basic law.

In October last year former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Augusto L. Syjuco Jr. filed a complaint against Aquino, in connection with the implementation of DAP and misuse of porkbarrel funds in the Department of Agriculture.

Freedom of information: CA rebuffs Manila RTC judge over extradition pact with US Duterte set to sign EO

By Joel R. San Juan

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R ESIDENT Duter te w i l l soon sign the executive order (EO) t h at a l lows freedom of infor mation over government transactions in the Executive branch.

Duterte said the draft of the EO has been submitted to him after consultations between the Presidential Communications Operations Office and various media groups.

“I have decided to hurry up the process. I have the copy of the draft, this is the one, the executive order on freedom of information,” Duterte said late on Thursday.

The EO will put into operation in the Executive branch the people’s constitutional right to information and the Duterte administration’s policy of full public disclosure and transparency in public service.

Duterte said the EO will only cover transactions in the Executive branch, and it is up to Congress to pass the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill pending before it to

enforce the right to information in the two other branches of the government.

“Now, first, I would like to remind everybody that I can only mind the Executive department, my branch of government. I cannot mind the other two, the Judiciary and Congress, because of the separation of powers. But it is up to Congress also if they want that they can file and/or maybe come up with a copy of the FOI law,” he said.

During the campaign, Duterte vowed to prioritize the EO that will allow freedom of information, since the bills pending before Congress were not passed by the Liberal Party-led Congress under former President Benigno S. Aquino III. He said the EO will be signed and released next week at the latest.

“So, this will be implemented, at the ver y least, next week.

This was just submitted to me after the Cabinet meeting, and I have to review it personally,” he said. David Cagahastian

@jrsanjuan1573

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HE Court of Appeals (CA) has permanently barred the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Manila City from compelling the Department of Justice (DOJ) to present documents that would prove that the Philippines has a valid extradition treaty with the United States.

In a nine-page decision written

by Associate Justice Manuel M. Barrios, the CA’s Twelfth Division quashed the subpoena duces tecum ad testificandum issued on February 2, 2015, by Judge Tita Bughao Alisuag of Branch 1 of the RTC in Manila directing Chief State Counsel Ricardo V. Paras III to bring the certified true copy of the instrument of ratification to prove that an extradition treaty, indeed, exists between the Philippines and the US. The order was issued in connection with the extradition case that the US filed through the Philippines’s DOJ against Eric Uy Chan, a Filipino physician

accused of defrauding a California health-care program of more than $3 million.

Chan was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation in 2012 after fleeing the US to evade arrest and prosecution for cases, including grand theft before the Los Angeles Superior Court.

The US government has opposed the judge’s order, as it allowed Chan’s camp to launch a collateral attack on the extradition treaty, a move which is prohibited by law and procedure.

In setting aside the subpoena, the CA held that proving the existence of an extradition treaty between the Philippines and the US is irrelevant in the extradition case filed against Chan.

The CA noted that the SC has previously ruled that a subpoena may only be issued if the documents requested appear relevant to the issue subject of the case and such document must be reasonably described by the parties for purposes of easy identification.

In Chan’s case, the CA noted the

Jica proposes five measures vs traffic woes

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HE Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) study in 2014 that is often cited as basis for the emergency powers sought to enable President Duterte to address the vehicular traffic crisis in Metro Manila contains five tough proposals as medium-term solutions to decongest roads in the capital city.

The proposals included a restudy of the gateway airport options for Metro Manila, the feasibility of a Mega Manila Subway System, reform of the road-based public-transport system, feasibility of secondary mass-transport system lines and a redevelopment of the congested North Harbor.

Senate President Franklin M. Drilon in submitting Senate Bill 11, or the Transportation Crisis Act of 2016, which seeks to grant Duterte extra powers to address the Metro Manila vehiculartraffic congestion, cited as basis the Jica study titled “Roadmap for Infrastructure Development for Metro Manila and Surrounding Areas.”

The study estimated productivity loss of around P2.4 billion a day or more than P800 billion a year from the daily traffic jams.

“If the traffic congestion continues to

be unabated, the traffic cost is expected to increase to P6 billion a day,” Drilon said citing findings of the study.

Under Drilon’s bill, Duterte will be granted the power to adopt alternative methods of procurement for the construction repair, rehabilitation, improvement or maintenance of transportation projects aimed at the reduction of traffic congestion in the Metro Manila and other urban areas.

Transporation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade who spearheaded the proposal to give Duterte emergency powers to solve road congestion also cited the results of the study, which showed the economic impact of traffic and its effect on families and their quality of life.

“Children are waiting for their parents after work. But they are stuck in traffic, instead of being with their family. Our quality of life has drastically changed from bad to worst. That has to be addressed,” he said.

Under the proposal, the emergency power will be in effect for only two years and its coverage will depend on Congress.

As a mid-term solution to the traffic problem, Jica has proposed finding a replacement for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) within a short

radius of 50 kilometers and to “examine the full range of costs.”

“Redeveloping Sangley [a former US naval base in Cavite] combined with an access system or expropriating land to create a second runway on Naia may turn out to be cheaper,” it said in relation to a proposal to transfer the main gateway to Clark.

It also said that time may have come to address the growing commuting requirements of major central business districts (CBDs) in Metro Manila with an underground mass transit system.

It classifed the CBDs to be connected through a subway system the Manila Bay area, Makati City, Bonifacio Global City, Ortigas, North Triangle and the Food Terminal Inc. complex in Alabang.

In January the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda)Investment Coordinating Committee (ICC) approved the P374 billion subway project from Fort Bonifacio to the Mall of Asia in the reclamation area along Manila Bay based on the Jica proposal.

The study added the “atomized” operations of more than 35,000 jeepneys and 5,000 buses in Metro Manila are ill-suited to the requirements of a modern metropolis. “They are, how-

ever, necessary modes of public transport now and in the future—not withstanding the massive expansion of the railway network,” Jica said.

It added that since domestic shipping is primarily from the south of Manila, there would be savings in ship operating cost if they dock as Batangas, rather than at Manila North Harbor.

“This would also trigger a shift of cargo movements away from Manila and provide a volume of exportable TEUs [twenty-foot equivalent units] that may entice foreign vessels to call at Batangas port,” the study said.

“This would free up North Harbor, which has an area of about 600 hectares, for possible conversion into a mixeduse waterfront-property development,” it added.

The Jica study said “for the city of Manila, it represents an opportunity to revitalize a city and regain its old glory.”

Seven choke points along Edsa and the roads leading to Manila North Harbor were on the list of traffic-prone areas the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority identified the other day as immediately needing resolution and where emergency powers of the President will be needed most. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

issue pertains to his extradition, which is merely an administrative proceeding.

In extradition cases, the CA explained the principal issues are limited to: “whether the requesting authorities have complied with the formal requisites under the subject treaty; whether offense and individual are extraditable; and whether there is sufficient evidence to establish probable cause that the individual sought to be extradited committed the offense charged.”

On the other hand, the CA pointed out the subject of t he subpoen a i s t he i nst r ument which ratified the RP-US Extradition Treaty.

“From the facts of the case, it cannot be gainsaid that the requested ‘instruments of ratification’ have no relation to the aforementioned issues, much less can these be considered relevant, so as to justify the issuance of a subpoena duces tecum based on the aforementioned grounds,” the CA pointed out.

“This is a hard-pressed position that would permit a situation wherein the validity and efficacy of the aforesaid treaty would be questioned in a proceeding, which is akin to an administrative action and which is summary in nature,” it added.

Furthermore, the appellate court held that the RP-US Extradition Treaty has been enforced in several previous extradition cases.

It stressed that the treaty remains valid and constitutional, unless declared otherwise by the Supreme Court.

“It is Horbook Doctrine that treaties—much like laws—are not subject to collateral attack. In fact, until stricken down and declared void by a competent court in a direct proceeding for such purpose, laws and treaties are deemed valid in all aspects and must be complied with in good faith…,” the decision read.

Concurring with the ruling were Associate Justices Ramon M. Bato Jr. and Mar ia El isa Sempio Diy.

Troops kill 9 Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu clash

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INE Abu Sayyaf bandits and a soldier were killed in fresh clashes between the lawless group and government forces in the provinces of Sulu and Basilan on Thursday, the military said.

The encounters happened as the Armed Forces refocused its operations on the Abu Sayyaf as part of the overall effort to rid the country of criminality, as ordered by President Duterte.

Maj. Filemon Tan, Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command spokesman, said troops of the Army’s 45th Infantry Battalion clashed with at least 130 terrorists believed to be led by Commander Radullan Sahiron at around 3 p.m. on Thursday.

He said the troops were operating at Barangay Kabuntakas, Patikul, Sulu, “under an intensive focused military operations,” when they encountered the large group of bandits.

As a result, nine terrorists and one soldier were killed.

Nineteen others, including six soldiers, were wounded in the gun battle, which raged until early evening.

Ta n sa id t he ba nd its were pounded with artillery, while other ground forces, which reinforced the Army troops, also engaged Sahiron’s group.

In Basilan a series of encounters also broke out between troops of the Joint Task Force Basilan and a combined group of the bandits with 200 members led by Commanders Isnilon Hapilon and Furiji Indama.

The Abu Sayyaf group under Hapilon has pledged with allegiance with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.

Tan said the firefight with the bandits occurred at around 8 p.m. on Wednesday and raged for about five hours. The clash reignited at around 7 a.m. on Wednesday in several villages in Ungkaya Pukan and Magcawa in Albarka.

Tan said airstrikes and shelling were carried out against the bandits. Rene Acosta

ModelExecutive BusinessMirror

Editor: Max V. de Leon

Saturday, July 9, 2016

A5

Cherry Mobile Ceo Maynard Ngu continues to create possibilities for the filipino consumers

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t 37 years old, Maynard Ngu, the young CEO and visionary of Cherry Mobile has proven to many that a proudly local mobile brand can compete even against international tech titans. Through premium and affordable smartphones and devices that promise a seamless mobile experience, Cherry Mobile aims to hold onto its position as the leading local mobile phone brand in the country.

In 2009, seven years ago, entrepreneur Maynard Ngu had first considered breaking into the mobile phone scene by launching his own brand - Cherry Mobile, his brainchild. During that time, it seemed like an impossible feat as the market then was dominated by international tech giants such as Nokia and Blackberry.

Even with the surging “Proudly Pinoy” sentiments that urged consumers to support local brands, it posed a definite challenge.

But there was a great opportunity for business, and, more importantly, an even greater demand for affordable phones, which Maynard knew he could fill with Cherry Mobile. Starting with four models, Maynard launched Cherry Mobile to be in the competition.

“At that time, handsets were so expensive - ranging around P25,000, so we offered a quality product that appealed greatly to consumers who were looking for a more affordable device,” explains Maynard.

Maynard was undoubtedly impressed, but not content. He had bigger visions for the brand.

Cherry Mobile was not here simply to provide mobile phones that the market wanted, but offer products that would elevate the mobile experience, as well as complement each individual’s lifestyle. He envisioned Cherry Mobile to be a brand that has “Everything for everyone.”

JOURNEY TO SUCCESS

Thanks to the impressive reception of the first four models, Cherry Mobile rose to prominence with astonishing speed and secured its position as one of the rising stars in the local mobile phone market.

In 2010, a mere year after it was founded, Cherry Mobile was recognized as the “IT Company of the Year” by the Cyber press Awards. It would snag another prestigious award, this time from Yugatech, as the “Top Selling Mobile Phone Brand” in 2013, beating industry heavyweights.

The impressive reception of Cherry Mobile pushed as well exponential growth within the company. Maynard’s once small operation, consisting of a lean team of 50, has grown to include around 750 employees.

“I am very lucky to have teams who have brilliant minds. We all work together, it’s a collective effort which is very important when you want to grow your business.” Maynard shares.

Cherry Mobile has continued to take a lead in the race by developing more innovative devices, improving image and

quality of all products, and at the same time, making their phones more accessible through competitive pricing.

Cherry Mobile released products and rolled them out to the market quickly, ensuring that it was always the first. Thanks to Maynard’s keen business acumen, he steered Cherry Mobile to swiftly overtake its rivals.

“I am thankful that we have developed a very strong relationship with our dealers who gave their full support since we launched Cherry Mobile” Maynard added.

In 2012, Cherry Mobile Flare was successfully launched. This model has become the best-selling smartphone in the market then.

It has the right features, right price point and targeted the right market who wants to aspire on having an affordable smartphone that was feature-packed. In this success, Cherry Mobile has launched several Flare Series which became game-changers in the smartphone segment.

Last year, Maynard ventured into the telecom business, by launching Cherry Prepaid SIM. This was in partnership with Globe Telecoms. “Cherry Prepaid SIM is powered by Globe. Our prepaid sim is data-centric. Aside from the call and text features, consumers get to enjoy a longer internet surfing through longer data promo duration.” Maynard says.

CREATING POSSIBILITIES

Maynard assured quality in Cherry Mobile products, despite the continuous release of new phones, and it has proved credibility by partnering up with respected manufacturers and tech industry leaders such as Intel, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Qualcomm, and MediaTek, among others in the development of its new phones.

Cherry Mobile recently launched Cherry Mobile M1, a product of such partnerships and the epitome of integrated tech design. Cherry Mobile partnered with Mediatek, one of the largest chip-design and systemon-chip solution for wireless communications companies in the world, to create the first local smartphone which utilizes a Deca-core processor. In addition to Mediatek’s Helio X20 decacore processor, Cherry Mobile M1 boasts a Sony IMX230 Exmor RS smartphone camera sensor, which allows high speed image capturing and uncompromised photo quality.

“I think for any local brand, we should always aim to take the lead in pushing innovation.”

Not simply limiting Cherry Mobile’s influence in the mobile phone market, Maynard also

Maynard Ngu

diversified his business portfolio to include lifestyle devices such as the recent Cherry Mobile Explorer 2, the first ever Android-powered action camera. “Cherry Mobile is now exploring in developing our own apps as well as IoTs (or Internet of Things),” he reveals.

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

In gratitude of the massive growth of Cherry Mobile, Maynard is giving back his success through Cherry Mobile’s CSR programs and initiatives

guided by the principles Cherry Cares (Customer, Natural Resources, Employees and Society. From providing school kits to building classrooms to underprivileged community through CherrySkwela, to planting seedlings for sustainable livelihood and many other acts of stewardship, Cherry Mobile aims to uplift the lives of the Filipinos and build a progressive and better place they deserve.

“This is our contribution to nation-building,” explains Maynard.

BREAKING NEW GROUND

With Cherry Mobile’s strong presence in the local industry, Maynard has gained the confidence to seek newer, bigger horizons – success on a global scale.

“To date, Cherry Mobile is also present in Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and other Southeast Asian countries. We distribute in Papua New Guinea, Tunisia, and Africa.

We have also started recently in South America.

“Last February, Cherry Mobile participated in CeBIT 2016 held

in Hannover, Germany, a signal to explore the possibility of doing business in EU. We are still quite small, but we’re slowlybuilding towards becoming a global brand and we want to have presence in areas where we are needed,” shares Maynard.

“At the end of the day, my vision is that everybody will have a Cherry Mobile in their hands. We want to bring the Cherry Mobile experience to everybody, because Cherry Mobile is and will always be “everybody’s everyday device,” adds Maynard.

A6 Saturday, July 9, 2016 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

editorial

Finally, common sense solutions

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e wrote that it was time for elected and appointed government officials to start using some creativity in addressing and solving the nation’s problems. Unfortunately, the previous administration seemed to show creativity and ingenuity only when finding ways to increase and to distribute pork-barrel funds.

Fortunately, in the week that the current administration has been running the government, we are already seeing an improvement.

Often, it is the “little things” that needed to be taken care of to be able to solve the larger problems. Basic issues unresolved become significant concerns if left unattended. What could be more basic than the cleanliness and maintenance of toilets and washrooms?

The previous government management found maintaining the 121 toilet facilities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) way beyond its capabilities. Never mind the virtually unlimited resources of the government; clean “comfort rooms” for international and domestic airline passengers just were too much for the office of the Naia general manager to handle.

Our new transportation secretary, Arthur P. Tugade, decided to take the idea of public-private partnership to a new level. Tugade: “So it has come to me that one way to approach the issue of poor toilet maintenance is to remove that activity from government, and give it to the people [who] are operating in the airport.” Enlisting the cooperation of local airline companies, Tugade has gotten the private companies that utilize the airport to undertake the maintenance of public restrooms at the Naia’s four terminals—at no cost to the government. That is just brilliant.

Who has more of a vested public relations and financial interest in a userfriendly airport than the airlines themselves. Further, Tugade said his team will also ask help from the two telecommunication companies to set up free Wi-Fi in almost all airports. Again, who has the most vested interest in Internet than Smart and Globe?

But common sense is not limited to Tugade. Customs Commissioner Nicanor E. Faeldon intends to reduce releasing time from five days to five hours for normal shipments. His analysis is that the problem with delays is incomplete paperwork that Customs needs to do its job. So he will coordinate with other agencies, like the National Food Authority, to fulfill President Duterte’s inauguration speech mandate to streamline the paperwork of all agencies.

And the private sector also comes in on the process. The Federation of Philippine Industries—comprised of 34 industry associations, 96 manufacturing corporations and 22 manufacturing-allied companies—will, no doubt, be called upon for their import, as they have expressed full support of Custom’s antismuggling drive. It is in their best financial interest.

It is like a breath of fresh clean air to hear government officials talk and act with practical purpose and intelligence. It has been a long time since we have had that happen, and it is overdue. Positive change has already come.

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Watch the PSE John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

B

ack in the good old days, stock markets actually used to make sense. Those were the times that people bought shares of companies they knew and patronized. My first stock purchases were of Sears, Roebuck and Company Department Store and Union Oil of California, because we shopped in those places.

When I first became a stockbroker on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), I built my business investing client funds in Anheuser-Busch Co. because everyone drank Budweiser beer. My client calls were, “You drink Bud, right? Then why don’t you own the company that makes your beer?”

Total transactions on the New York stock market were dominated by retail investors. In 1950 retail investors owned over 90 percent of the stock of US corporations. When

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US stock-market investors started changing, and from 60-percent retail during my time, trading shifted to the financial institutions and “experts”. Today retail investors own less than 30 percent, and trades by individual investors represent, on average, less than 2 percent of NYSE trading volume.

So what do share-price movements on the NYSE represent in the bigger picture of the ordinary person’s finances and the US economy today? The answer is nothing.

Look at the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) in the last 10 years. The market reflected investors’ positive outlook from 2009 to 2013, even when the economy had some ups and downs. Even as the economy was going a little lower—which is supposed to push stock prices down

—the market went higher from late2013 to 2015. Then as the economy went up more strongly, stock prices went down.

The PSE did not follow the economy. The PSE followed ordinary retail-investor sentiment, and that is what it is doing today.

On a short-term basis, some— not all—investors can act wisely.

Look at the recent PSE reaction to the “Brexit”. The “experts” and their followers panicked; the rest stepped back from buying, but took a waitand-see attitude with their selling.

Guess which group turned out to be right. The PSE index has regained all it lost on Brexit day.

The PSE fell in the year leading up to the 2016 election, even as the economy was stronger. Draw your own conclusion if, overall, investors wanted political continuity or change.

E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Visit my web site at www.mangunonmarkets.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stockmarket information and technical analysis tools provided by the COL Financial Group Inc.

Brexit casts doubt on the wisdom of crowds Mark Buchanan

BLOOMBERG VIEW

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times were financially good for ordinary people, stock prices went up. There was no such thing as “irrational exuberance,” because most people then never go “full irrational” with their hard-earned money.

The period from 1962 to 1983 saw the market fall almost continuously as the Vietnam War economic policies were a total mess. The quintupling of oil prices badly hurt the average worker, who was also the average stock-market investor.

But in the late-1980s the mix of

The PSE fell in the year leading up to the 2016 election, even as the economy was stronger.

Draw your own conclusion if, overall, investors wanted political continuity or change.

D

uring the next couple months, the various candidates to replace United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron will debate what to do now that voters have decided to leave the European Union (EU). They should keep in mind that doing exactly what the voters said might not be the wisest—or even the most democratic—approach.

Direct democracy, in which voters decide specific issues en masse, is actually rather unusual. Typically, they leave such decisions to elected officials, such as a president or legislature, whom they provide with the time and resources needed to make well-informed choices.

As it happens, there may be a very good reason that government has historically developed this way: Smaller groups can actually make better decisions, particularly on complex issues. As researchers from Berlin’s Max Planck Institute for Human Development note in a recent paper, the wisdom of crowds works well only on questions that individuals

can answer relatively easily.

Suppose you’re asking whether California’s population is larger than Britain’s (it’s not). If you get nine people to vote, they’ll probably get the right answer. If you get a million people to vote, they’ll almost certainly get it right. The power of the crowd washes away the possibility of error.

But now try a harder question: If you fold a piece of paper on itself 25 times, will the result be taller than the Empire State Building? Most people would say no, even though the actual thickness would be about 10 miles. Asking a larger group to vote would only increase the

Voters clearly expressed their discontent on a number of issues, including immigration and globalization. UK leaders can’t ignore this, but they should also question the naïve view that respecting democracy demands invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, triggering the formal process of taking the UK out of the EU. There’s a good reason that voters gave them the power and resources to examine such choices carefully. In deciding how to respect the voters’ will, and whether this requires Britain to leave or stay, that is precisely what they should do.

certainty of getting it wrong.

The Max Planck researchers show that smaller groups perform particularly well when questions come in an unpredictable mix of easy and difficult. Under general conditions, they suggest, the optimal group size for making good decisions is fairly small—often around 10 to 15, and typically less than 40.

No wonder decision-making bodies around the world work with small

numbers. Think of juries, parish councils, central-bank boards or parliamentary committees, which tend to have between five and 40 members.

Granted, this research might not apply directly to the UK referendum, which arguably didn’t have a right answer. Yet, it certainly suggests that a referendum was an awfully crude instrument for deciding such an important and difficult issue—especially given that the British public holds wildly distorted views on, say, the number of immigrants in the country (estimated by the public at more than twice the actual level).

Voters clearly expressed their discontent on a number of issues, including immigration and globalization. UK leaders can’t ignore this, but they should also question the naïve view that respecting democracy demands invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, triggering the formal process of taking the UK out of the EU. There’s a good reason that voters gave them the power and resources to examine such choices carefully. In deciding how to respect the voters’ will, and whether this requires Britain to leave or stay, that is precisely what they should do.

opinion@businessmirror.com.ph

Opinion

The Bank of England makes a capital mistake

Caritas Society of Servant Leaders holds its second general assembly

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he Bank of England (BOE) is right to do everything in its power to support the UK economy following the vote to leave the European Union. Weakening the finances of the country’s banks, though, is the wrong way to go about it.

Governor Mark Carney has announced that, among other measures, the BOE will let banks operate with less equity than previously planned. The idea is to make banks more willing to lend, by relieving them of the concern that new loans would bring their equity levels below regulatory minimums.

In principle, it makes sense to require banks to raise their capital ratios when the economy is strong, then let them decline a bit when it’s weak—what regulators call a countercyclical capital buffer. It’s vital, though, that capital is built up sufficiently when conditions allow, so that when the rules are relaxed, banks have enough to weather any downturn. Right now, they don’t.

The BOE’s efforts to increase requirements since the 2008 financial crisis have fallen short.

British banks have been allowed to return a lot of capital to shareholders in the form of dividends and stock buybacks. According to data compiled by Bloomberg, the total from 2009 through 2015 for the

BusinessMirror

five largest UK banks was £63 billion. That would have been enough to boost capital by more than £1 for every £100 in assets. Today they have a little over £6 in equity per £100 in assets—far short of what’s required to avoid distress in a severe crisis, as the banks’ beaten-down stock prices suggest.

Why Britain is leaving the EU

Banks with more equity would be better equipped to support the economy through the difficult times that Brexit is likely to entail.

Bear in mind, equity isn’t money taken out of circulation: It’s stable funding that banks can use to make loans. A recent paper from the Bank for International Settlements shows that well-capitalized banks tend to borrow on better terms and lend more throughout the cycle—which makes central banks’ stimulus efforts more effective.

During and after the 2008 crisis, despite falling short of what was needed, the UK was ahead of other governments in understanding the importance of capital for a healthy banking system. If the BOE wants to show that it has the resolve to protect the economy at a time of great uncertainty, building on that reputation would be better than instituting a quick fix that will make them more fragile. Bloomberg View

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SERVANT LEADER

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raduate-beneficiaries of Caritas Manila’s Youth Servant Leadership and Education Program (YSLEP) will gather later today, July 9, for the Second General Assembly of Caritas Society of Servant Leader (CSSL).

With the theme “Moving Our Nation Through Faith, Excellence and Service,” the event will be held at the Caritas Manila Compound in Pandacan, Manila. The assembly will feature testimonies from some of the graduate-beneficiaries, with the Eucharistic celebration to be presided by Rev. Fr. Benito Tuazon, parish priest of Saint Anthony of Padua Parish and a former Caritas scholar.

CSSL is the community of Caritas

Manila’s scholar graduates under the Educational Assistance Program (EAP—1953 to 2007), which evolved into the Youth Servant Leadership and Education Program (YSLEP—2008 to present). CSSL members are helping out current scholars by means of tithing or donating a percentage of one’s salary or earnings. It is their way of giving back for the generosity and kindness they received through Caritas Manila. This project aims

Jemain Tinio Diaz de Rivera

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ike many Filipinos, I visited Cebu many times, twice as a child and almost a dozen times as a professional for work and fun.

Investment flows into Cebu City, making it a prosperous port capital where investors find more than a hospitable business community but a home with a 16th-century Spanish colonial past, including the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño church and the triangular Fort San Pedro. It is a gateway to dive sites and beach resorts.

also beef up its ability to coordinate its member-countries’ intelligence resources, not least to monitor the surprise military training exercises that Russia has been conducting.

At the same time, Nato countries should seize every opportunity for dialogue with Russia, to try to dispel the paranoia that colors Putin’s worldview, and to be prepared to avert any unintended military confrontations.

More fundamentally, the alliance has to step up its military spending. Nato’s membership has nearly doubled since 1990, but its total defense spending has fallen by one-quarter over the same period, as the US accounts for a growing share of the total. Notwithstanding last year’s small uptick in defense budgets, all but five Nato countries have fallen short of the alliance’s goal of dedicating 2 percent of GDP to military spending.

This shortfall constrains Nato’s ability to take on critical new missions such as supporting the fight against Islamic State or expanding its patrols to stop human trafficking in the Mediterranean.

Moreover, the 2 percent goal is an important political symbol.

Nato’s members will always argue among themselves over strategies and priorities—that is democracy’s messy prerogative. But in the long run, the alliance must demonstrate to Putin and the world that it can depend on the support and shared commitment of all its members.

Bloomberg View

To date, Caritas Manila has produced over 10,000 graduates, and continues to provide educational assistance, valuesformation workshops and leadership trainings to almost 5,000 students nationwide, with an average of 300 college and technical/vocational graduates yearly.

to support more youth to benefit from Caritas YSLEP. YSLEP is the flagship program of Caritas Manila, which extends financial assistance to poor but deserving youth, and trains and hones the youth not only for academic excellence, but also to become servant leaders and good members of the community To date, Caritas Manila has produced over 10,000 graduates, and continues to provide educational assistance, values-formation workshops and leadership trainings

Cebu, queen city of the Philippines Forward Moving

Nato needs to stand strong against Putin

he political turmoil stirred up by Britain’s decision to leave the European Union has left North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) with an urgent task: to demonstrate to Russia’s Vladimir Putin that Europe remains strong, united and invulnerable to his meddling.

In recent months, through espionage and efforts to incite unrest (notably in Germany), Putin has sought to exploit European political and social divisions to advance his goals. After occupying one-fifth of Georgia, taking over Crimea and invading eastern Ukraine, Putin has responded to sanctions by threatening Russia’s other European neighbors and sending planes and ships far and wide to probe and play chicken with Nato forces.

Meanwhile, Russian hackers have reportedly targeted not just web sites, but the Ukrainian power grid, Estonia’s financial system, and a German steel mill.

Nato’s 28 member-countries, meeting this week in Warsaw, have to recognize this behavior for what it is—an escalating threat to their interests and values—and respond with a long-term strategy.

The alliance should, for one thing, expand and strengthen its deployment of four battalions to the Baltic nations, to make it a more credible deterrent. It should conduct more joint exercises in Europe, especially in the Baltic Sea, and see that Germany begins to participate more fully. It should

Rev. Fr. Antonio Cecilio T. Pascual

Saturday, July 9, 2016 A7

The city is highly urbanized and Metro Cebu has around 2.6 million residents. It is the second mostpopulous metropolitan area after Metro Manila. The city is a significant center of commerce, trade and education in the Visayas region. It is also building a reputation for health and cancer treatment with the Chong Hua Hospital Mandaue & Cancer Center, Center for Cancer in Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital and the Cancer Survivorship Center at Robinsons Cybergate Complex.

Rapid economic development of both Cebu City and Cebu province was noted since the early-1990s.

With the city’s proximity to many islands, beaches, hotels and resorts, diving locations and heritage sites, high domestic and foreign tourist arrivals have fueled growth. Due to its geographic location, accessibility by air, land and sea transportation, the city has become the tourism gateway to Central and Southern Philippines.

It is a hub for the information technology and business-process management (IT-BPM) industry, and identified as a Center of Excellence by the Information and Communication Technology Office of the Department of Science and Technology. Deputy Executive Director Mon Ibrahim noted that Cebu is an ideal location for the industry, as it moves into higher levels of service. It ranks seventh worldwide in the “2016 Top 100 Outsourcing Destinations” by global advisory firm Tholons in an industry that targets to earn $25 billion this year for the country.

Ayala Corp. and Cebu Property developed the Cebu Park District, where you will find both Cebu Business Park and Cebu IT Park, which host the regional headquarters for various companies in the banking, finance, IT and tourism sectors.

The real-estate industry is the fastest-growing sector in Cebu.

The South Road Properties is a

With the city’s proximity to many islands, beaches, hotels and resorts, diving locations and heritage sites, high domestic and foreign tourist arrivals have fueled growth. Due to its geographic location, accessibility by air, land and sea transportation, the city has become the tourism gateway to Central and Southern Philippines.

300-hectare property-development project on a reclaimed land a few meters off the coast of Cebu’s central business district for entertainment, leisure, residential and IT-BPM. It is registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

Shipbuilding companies are also found in Cebu. This sector is responsible for making the Philippines the fourth-largest shipbuilding country in the world.

Cebu City is a cultural center in the Visayas. The Spanish and Roman Catholic culture is evident with the landmark Magellan’s Cross. This cross is reputed to have been erected

by Ferdinand Magellan when he arrived in the country in 1521. Near the cross, you will also find the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, which was the first church established on the islands. It is also where the Sinulog Festival is celebrated during the island’s cultural festivities.

A few years back members of District 3780 of the Rotary Club were billeted at the Waterfront Hotel, and they toured the Cebu Taoist Temple, Fort San Pedro, Casa Gorordo

to almost 5,000 students nationwide, with an average of 300 college and technical/vocational graduates yearly.

Meanwhile, Segunda Mana, one of Caritas Manila’s social-entrepreneurship programs, recently opened its 26th charity outlet in Good Earth Plaza, Rizal Avenue, Santa Cruz, Manila. This donations-in-kind program helps fund YSLEP. It also provides opportunities for livelihood to about 400 Segunda Mana suki microentrepreneurs, and it advocates the 3Rs: reuse, reduce and recycle. We accept preloved items, such as clothes, shoes, bags, toys, home and fashion accessories as gifts of charity.

To know more about YSELP, Segunda Mana and the other programs of Caritas Manila, visit www.caritas.org.ph. For donations, call 5639311. For inquiries, call 563-9308 or 563- 9298.

Make it a habit to listen to Radio Veritas 846 in the AM band, or through live streaming at www. veritas846.ph. For comments, e-mail veritas846pr@ gmail.com.

Museum, Colon Street (oldest street in the Philippines), Fuente Osmeña and Lapu-Lapu Monument. Rotary music lovers came back to the city to enjoy the Cebu Reggae Festival and the Jose Gullas Halad Museum.

The city is accessible by the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City, and is served by a domestic and international port.

Mass transportation throughout the city and the metropolitan area is provided by jeepneys buses and taxis.

Telecommunication facilities, broadband and wireless Internet connections are available, and are provided by the country’s largest telecommunication companies.

Cebu City has 11 large universities and more than a dozen other schools specializing in various courses. They include the University of San Carlos, University of the Philippines Cebu, University of San Jose-Recoletos, Cebu Normal University, Cebu Doctors’ University, University of Cebu, University of the Visayas, Don Bosco Technology Center Cebu, Cebu Institute of Technology University, Southwestern University, Saint Theresa’s College, University of Southern Philippines Foundation, Cebu Technological University, Cebu Institute of Medicine, Cebu Eastern College, Cebu International School, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu and the Colegio de la Immaculada Concepcion.

Cebu is one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation, with an annual growth of over 5 percent per year, but the reason I continue to go there is because it has a heart, and each time I visit I discover another side of Cebu.

Saudis in their sights: The kingdom as guardian comes into question

B

omb attacks on Monday at three sites in Saudi Arabia, including one in Medina near the believed tomb of the Prophet Muhammad, may have signaled a serious day of reckoning for the Saudi monarchy.

Another blast took place near the American Consulate General in Jeddah and a third at a Shiite mosque in the eastern Qatif region. Four guards were killed. The attacks took place as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan drew to a close, two days before the festival of Eid. Saudi Arabia is predominantly Sunni Muslim, as are the Islamic State and alQaeda. King Salman of Saudi Arabia is deemed the custodian of the Two Holy Mosques of Islam, in Mecca and Medina. The Medina mosque with the tomb is one of the two.

Americans must express condolences at the loss of life and also at the increase in violence to Saudi Arabia, a longtime ally of the United States in spite of all.

Saudi Arabia should be playing a truly neutral religious role in the intrafaith Shiite-Sunni rivalry. The three bomb attacks in Saudi Arabia on Monday should serve as a bell tolling loudly for the Saudi monarchy, particularly in its role as guardian of Islam’s holy places.

The tottering of the Saudi monarchy is predictable as a result of the spread of extremist violence in Saudi Arabia and particularly the attack on the king’s role in Islam that the Medina bomb constitutes.

The institution of class rule that the family control of the monarchy over Saudi Arabia’s huge oil wealth represents is probably a fated anachronism in 2016—at risk not only in Saudi Arabia but also in the other Persian Gulf states that the US has put its money on in that region.

All of them—Bahrain, Kuwait,

Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates—are ruled by Sunni Muslim families, with the bulk of their populations more ordinary natives of those states or workers imported from East Asia, South Asia or Africa.

The role of Saudi Arabia, with a king who is deemed to be a Muslim spiritual leader, with responsibility for Mecca and Medina, and which is also waging a brutal, extended war in neighboring Yemen and sees itself as the champion of the Sunnis in a war against Shiite Muslims led by Iran—the Middle East equivalent of the old Catholic-Protestant wars in Europe—is increasingly vulnerable, to the point of being untenable.

The US has been fighting alongside Saudi Arabia in its religious war with Yemen, including in its savage bombing campaign there.

At this point, it needs to get out of the way of the tree, rotten in the interior, beginning to emit cracks in the form of terrorist attacks within

its borders, including against a holy place the king is pledged to guard.

The fact that one of Monday’s bomb attacks took place near an American consulate general underlined the perception by the monarchy’s armed critics that America is entirely complicit in what the Saudis are doing in Yemen.

It should be the case, in strictly Muslim terms, that Saudi Arabia should be playing a truly neutral religious role in the intrafaith Shiite-Sunni rivalry. It would be as if Pope Francis were even now, in 2016, playing an active role in fanning flames of hatred and leading the fighting from one side within Christianity, as opposed to trying to patch up matters between Catholics and Orthodox Christians, as he is currently seeking to do.

The three bomb attacks in Saudi Arabia on Monday should serve as a bell tolling loudly for the Saudi monarchy, particularly in its role as guardian of Islam’s holy places. TNS

Sports BusinessMirror

NO ALL-WILLIAMS FINAL

By Howard Fendrich The Associated Press

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ONDON—Instead of the ninth all-Williams final at a Grand Slam tournament, there will be a rematch of another sort to determine the title at Wimbledon.

And so, as Serena Williams again stands one victory from her recordtying 22nd major title, she will need to beat a woman who already stopped her once this year in that pursuit, Angelique Kerber.

After Williams needed all of 48 minutes to overwhelm Elena Vesnina, 6-2, 6-0, at the All England Club, older sister Venus failed to join in the family fun, losing to Kerber, 6-4, 6-4, in Thursday’s second semifinal.

Since winning her sixth Wimbledon trophy a year ago to raise her career count at Grand Slam events to 21, Serena has come quite close to pulling even with Steffi Graf at 22—the most in the Open era, which began in 1968 (Margaret Court’s all-time mark is 24). But the American was surprisingly beaten by Roberta Vinci in the US Open semifinals last September, then by Kerber in the Australian Open final in January, and by Garbine Muguruza in the French Open final last month.

Reaching the final at each of a year’s first three major tournaments might sound good to other players.

Not to this one.

“For anyone else in this whole planet, it would be a wonderful accomplishment,” Serena said.

“For me, it’s about, obviously, holding the trophy and winning, which would make it a better

UST beats NU, captures girls volleyball title

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NIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) turned what was expected to be a down-tothe-wire decider into a lopsided finish, overpowering National University (NU) in the fifth set for a 21-25, 2520, 25-19, 13-25, 15-4 victory and capture the Shakey’s Girls’ Volleyball League (GVL) of Champions Season 14 crown at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City on Thursday.

The Junior Tigresses bounced back strong from a fourth-set meltdown with a dominating performance in the fifth with Ejiya Laure leading the attack while drawing solid backup from Janna Torres, Bernadett Pepito and Ma. Regina Mangulabnan to deliver another Shakey’s GVL crown to the España-based school.

It was UST’s fourth championship since the league, sponsored by Shakey’s, started as the Tournament of Champions.

UST actually ruled the first edition with Alyssa Valdez, now one of the faces of Philippine women’s volleyball, as spearhead before Hope Christian College took five of 14 titles disputed in the league, backed

by MyPhone, Asics and Mikasa and organized by Metro Sports.

Laure went on to bag the Most Valuable Player trophy and was named the first Best Outside Attacker, with Torres taking the second Best Middle Blocker title, Pepito copping the Best Libero honors and Mangulabnan nailing the Best Setter award. NU’s Thea Gagate won the first Best Middle Blocker plum and teammate Faith Nisperos was named the second Best Outside Attacker and De La SalleLipa’s Alleiah Malaluan took the Best Opposite Attacker trophy.

accomplishment for me. For me, it’s not enough. But I think that’s what makes me different. That’s what makes me Serena.”

Yes, she is one of a kind.

When a reporter asked what she makes of it when others talk about her as one of history’s greatest female athletes, this was the reply: “I prefer the word, one of the greatest ‘athletes’ of all time.”

Hard to argue.

And the case will be even stronger if she can do what she couldn’t in Melbourne: solve Kerber’s left-handed game.

“I know,” Kerber said, “she will go out and try everything to beat me right now.”

That Australian Open victory gave Kerber her first Grand Slam title in her first Grand Slam final.

She insisted on Thursday she’s more relaxed and more confident on court, thanks to that big moment.

Didn’t necessarily look that way at the outset against Venus, who at 36 was the oldest major semifinalist since Martina Navratilova was 37 at the All England Club in 1994.

Venus is a five-time Wimbledon champion but hadn’t been to the semifinals since she was the runner-up to Serena seven years ago.

“Steps away from making it to the end,” Venus said. “That’s the position I want to be in, is playing in the semifinals, playing for a space in the final.”

But against Kerber, Venus was broken the first four times she served.

She never recovered.

“A very shaky match from her.

She was fighting hard, but she was frustrated. I could tell,” said Venus’s coach, David Witt. “Her

concentration was up-and-down.

The focus was up-and-down. That made her game up-and-down.”

Perhaps, the accumulated court time during this fortnight simply took a toll on Venus, who revealed in 2011 that she had Sjongren’s syndrome, which can cause fatigue and joint pain.

She was a half-step slow to some balls, was breathing heavily after longer points, and wound up with 21 unforced errors, 10 more than Kerber.

“I was trying to [move] her, as well,” the fourth-seeded Kerber said. “That was the plan.”

After a running cross-court forehand winner capped the 19-stroke exchange that ended her victory, Kerber tossed aside her racket and dropped to her knees at the baseline.

That match managed to be more competitive than what transpired earlier, which more closely

ANGELIQUE KERBER bundles out Venus Williams, foiling what could have been a historic showdown at the All England Club. AP

A8 | S

aturday, July 9, 2016 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph sports@businessmirror.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

CAVENDISH RULES SIXTH STAGE

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ONTAUBAN, France—Mark Cavendish started the Tour de France fearing that his training on the track for the Olympic Games would affect his chances of stage wins at cycling’s biggest race.

After the sprinter from the Isle of Man posted a third stage win in less than a week, it’s now obvious that the long hours spent on the boards have helped him improve his speed.

The 31-year-old “Manx Missile,” as he is known in the peloton, used his great tactical sense and impressive burst of speed to win the sixth stage of the three-week race in another mass finish on Thursday. It was Cavendish’s

HUEY, PARTNER LOSE IN SEMIS

T

REAT HUEY missed making Wimbledon history for Philippine tennis after his 12th-seeded partnership with Max Mirnyi of Belarus lost to the top-ranked pair of Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut of France, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4, in the men’s doubles semifinals on Thursday at the All-England Club.

Huey’s feat, however, was unprecedented enough. He is the first Filipino to reach a semifinals at Wimbledon, passing the accomplishment of the late Filipino tennis legend Felicisimo Ampon, who reached the major’s third round on three occasions—1949, 1950 and 1953.

Herbert and Mahut will face in the finals fellow Frenchmen Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, who defeated Raven Klaasen of South Africa and Rajeev Ram of the United States, 7-5, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (5), also on Thursday.

Huey and Mirnyi beat the British-Canadian tandem of Jonathan Marray and Adil Shamasdinz, 6-4, 7-6, 6-3, in the quarterfinals.

Huey, a mainstay of the Philippine Davis Cup team and a threetime Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, reached the men’s doubles quarterfinals of the Australian Open earlier this year. He also got that far in the 2013 US Open.

Philippine tennis patron Jean Henri Lhuillier praised the performance of Huey, a Cebuana Lhuillier Sports ambassador, at Wimbledon.

“Treat is showing the world that we Filipinos can be worldclass in tennis. He’s doing it sans the hype and attention. He just keeps on winning. This will augur well for the confidence of the rest of our Davis Cup team against Chinese Taipei next week,” Lhuillier said. Lance Agcaoili

resembled a training session for the No. 1-ranked Serena—except she probably gets more of a workout when she practices.

SHIN, BAYRON SNATCH LEAD

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ICAH SHIN and Jay Bayron pounced on Tony Lascuña’s disastrous “9” on No. 13 and finished off with two birdies each to surge ahead after a topsy-turvy third round of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Bacolod Golf Challenge at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club in Binitin on Friday.

Lascuña quickly overcame a three-stroke deficit to storm ahead by three with a solid 30 start but drove out-of-bounds twice while trying to reach the 283-yard par-4 13th which he birdied in the first two days. He fell short on his third try, made it in six then three-putted.

“I gambled and lost. That’s golf,” said Lascuña, who bogeyed the next but birdied two of the last four to salvage a 69.

That enabled Shin and Bayron to take charge and zero in one top P270,000 purse in this ninth leg of the tour with the former birdieing three of the last six to shoot a 68 and the latter gunning down two birdies in the last five to card a 69 for 202s.

From three down at the turn, Shin and

By Joel Orellana

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HE teams picked to do well in the International Basketball Federation Manila Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) clash in Saturday’s semifinal at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Group A topnotcher Canada faces Group B second-placer New Zealand in the first game at 6:30 p.m., while Group B’s No. 1 France tangles with Group B’s No. 2 Turkey at 9 p.m.

Nicolas Batum, who recently signed up with the Charlotte Hornets

Triple Crown third leg on at San Lazaro

Bayron found themselves leading by three over Lascuña, Dutch Guido van der Valk and a rallying Orlan Sumcad, who all pooled a 205 heading to the last 18 holes of the P1.5million event.

Van der Valk failed to sustain a 65 in the second round and fumbled with a one-over 71, while Sumcad finally found his touch and form, rattling off three birdies in the last eight to fire a 67 and revive his bid for a maiden victory in his hometown.

EXPLOSIVE SEMIFINALS

in the National Basketball Association (NBA), will suit up against Turkey, making the Les Bleus of Head Coach Vincent Collet deadlier. Batum missed the team’s first two games against host Philippines and the Tall Blacks, but France was simply too strong in its group with NBA veteran Tony Parker and Boris Diaw in command.

Collet’s wards topped Group B after pulling off a come-from-behind win over New Zealand, 66-59. Les Bleus trailed 38-50 early in the fourth quarter but France responded with a 22-2 blast to seize control of

29th Tour stage win overall.

“Oh my God, that was terrifying,” said Cavendish, who also wore the yellow jersey for the first time of his career after winning the first stage of the race last weekend in Normandy. “That was like the old days, wheel surfing.”

Cavendish, who had never been as successful during the first week of the Tour before, beat German ace sprinter Marcel Kittel by half a wheel, with Daniel McLay third.

Kittel launched the sprint but Cavendish attached himself patiently to Kittel’s wheel before overtaking him in the final 200 meters.

Cavendish passed five-time Tour winner Bernard Hinault to be alone in second on the all-time list of stage winners. Eddy Merckx holds the record with 34 to Cavendish’s 29.

While Cavendish benefited from the great work of his teammates in his two previous stage wins, he was left by himself in the southwestern town of Montauban after his lead-out riders fell away. AP

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NEW ZEALAND’S Cory Webster tries to shake off France’s Charles Kahudi.

the match.

With the loss, the Tall Blacks of Head Coach Paul Henare have to deal with the Canadians, who had the luxury of a two-day rest after sweeping Turkey (77-69) and Senegal (58-55).

Turkey secured the last semifinal berth of the Manila OQT following a 68-62 victory over Senegal behind Ali Muhammed’s 23-point explosion.

Muhammed, formerly known as Bobby Dixon, was held to just one

point in France’s loss to Canada.

The winners will face off at 9 p.m. on Sunday for the golden ticket to Rio. In other OQT semifinals, it will be Latvia versus Puerto Rico and host Serbia versus the Czech Republic in Belgrade, and Greece against Croatia and host Italy against Mexico in Turin.

The Philippines is the only host of the three OQTs that failed to reach the semifinal round. Gilas Pilipinas lost to France (84-93) and New Zealand (8089) in the Group B preliminaries.

BATTLE royale looms, as Dewey Boulevard and Radioactive clash in the third and final leg of the Philippine Racing Commission’s (Philracom) Triple Crown—hosted by the Manila Jockey Club—on Sunday at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.

Dewey Boulevard, owned by Hermie Esguerra, was the early favorite in the first leg, but Radioactive scored an upset triumph. Dewey Boulevard, however, foiled Radioactive’s sweep bid in the second leg.

Underwood, Homonhon Island and Hopeful Stakes Race first-leg winner Guatemala, however, will be looking to upset the favorites in the 2,000-meter race which offers P1.8 million to the champion from the P3 million total pot.

“This is the third fight and we expect a thrilling race,” Philracom commissioner Atty.

Dondon Bagatsing said. The Triple Crown is the ultimate test for three-year-old, island born thoroughbreds, having started its first leg in May. Radioactive is under SC Stockfarm, while Underwood is owned Stony Road Horse Farm.

Guatemala is with Engr.

Jun Sevilla, while Homonhon Island is owned by Wilbert Tan. “We expect another exciting day at the racetrack,” Philracom Chairman Andrew Sanchez said. “When you have the best runners of the season bunched together in a major race setting such as the Triple Crown, you can anticipate a good show for all Filipino racing fans.”