Businessmirror June 14, 2019

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Friday, June 14, 2019 Vol. 14 No. 247

DTI seeks 50% budget hike to develop MSME

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By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

@alyasjah

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is asking for a 50-percent increase in its budget to expand programs for small businesses and heighten consumer protection initiatives.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said he personally attended budget meetings to appeal for a 50-percent fund hike for the DTI. If approved, it will be utilized to bankroll the trade body’s programs for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“I myself attended the technical

meetings to make sure we communicate the importance of critical programs in MSME development, like the SSF [Shared Service Facilities] and Negosyo Centers,” Lopez told the BusinessMirror.

“If we really want to achieve more inclusive growth, we need

stronger organization at the grassroots level. We are talking of municipality level, and to the extent possible, even down to the barangay level,” he added.

A 50-percent increase would put the DTI’s budget next year at about P7.24 billion, from the

₧7.24B What DTI’s budget for 2020 would be, if it gets the 50-percent increase it is seeking over the P4.83-billion budget this year

P4.83 billion this year.

According to Lopez, the DTI is targeting to fill in the balance of over 1,400 municipalities that are still without Negosyo Centers. The trade body also has to employ workers for vacant plantilla positions in the existing 1,070 Negosyo Centers.

Over one-third of the DTI’s P4.83-billion budget, or P1.83 billion, is allocated for MSME development programs.

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@BcuaresmaBM

OREIGN banks’ interest in setting up operations in the local banking industry remains high, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) governor said, five years after the sector’s full liberalization for international entrants.

BSP chief Benjamin Diokno confirmed to BusinessMirror reporters that several foreign banks are still eyeing the Philippine banking system as their next destination to put up their branches due to the country’s level of attractiveness in the investing community.

“Right now there are 12 banks that came in after the liberalization. There is a lot of interest. And

Challenging the 18th Congress to pass progressive legislations Manny F. Dooc

TELLTALES

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HERE was a time when Congress, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, was the forum where critical issues affecting our nation were deliberated and decided by the country’s greatest minds. I was a student at the Philippine Normal College during the height of student activism and my friends and I would cross Taft Avenue to observe the two Houses in session, which were then occupying the old Legislative Building, now known as the National Museum of Fine Arts. We spent late afternoons and early evenings at the gallery, regaled no end by the rhetoric and eloquence of the leading lights in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Continued on A10

See “DTI,” A2

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n

‘Amend law to set SRP for sugar’

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

“There are 12 banks that came in after the liberalization. There is a lot of interest. And I’m not surprised why because the Philippines is one of the fastest-growing countries in the world. So there’s really interest here.”—Diokno

I’m not surprised why, because the Philippines is one of the fastestgrowing countries in the world.

So there’s really interest here,” Diokno said at the recent BusinessMirror Coffee Club Forum in Makati City.

“And also we have embarked on our ‘Build, Build, Build’ program, See “Banks,” A2

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International banks still keen on putting up PHL branches–Diokno

By Bianca Cuaresma

2017 EJAP JOURNALISM AWARDS

@jearcalas

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A MAN repacks refined sugar in a public market in Quezon City. Sugar planters and Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) officials vowed to cooperate with the DTI to ensure a stable supply of the sweetener and reasonable prices in the market. NONOY LACZA

HE government is looking at amending the Price Act to pinpoint the agency that has jurisdiction over the sale of sugar, as it seeks to ensure that the retail price of the sweetener will remain “reasonable.”

Sugar Regulatory Administration officials told the BusinessMirror that the SR A and the Department of Agriculture (DA) are now working with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to review the provisions of the Price Act. The review of the law is in line with the government’s goal to set Continued on A2

US 51.9690 n JAPAN 0.4790 n UK 65.9539 n HK 6.6424 n CHINA 7.5113 n SINGAPORE 38.1195 n AUSTRALIA 38.0280 n EU 58.6834 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.8569

Source: BSP (13 June 2019 )

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Friday, June 14, 2019

‘Youth bulge’ in Asean best draw for financing for infra

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By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

HE young population in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member-countries remains its biggest asset in terms of attracting financing needed to plug the region’s infrastructure constraints like those from the United States.

In an Infrastructure forum for Asean journalists at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) headquarters on Thursday, US Embassy Counselor for Economic Affairs Lynne Gadkowski said the “youth bulge” in the region ensures the economic growth and presence of various opportunities in the Asean.

Gadkowski said the Philippines, for one, is said to already be in the demographic sweet spot where the mean age is 24 to 25 years old. The rest of Asean are on the same boat with the below-20 population accounting for 34.5 percent in 2017, according to the Jakarta-based Asean Secretariat.

“In terms of infrastructure and US support for Asean, this region is incredibly important to the United

States; it has been for decades and will continue to be for centuries.

Administrations come and go, but the prioritization of this region is incredibly important to the United States,” Gadkowski said.

“Economic growth, opportunity, I think we’re increasingly struck by the demographics as you look at the youth bulge,” she added.

However, with a lot of young people, the region also has highpopulation areas. This places pressure on countries’ infrastructure facilities, particularly where cities are concerned.

Gadkowski said with this, the region needs to invest $1.7 trillion annually to address the infrastructure needs of growing populations.

To date, the United States has

invested $119 billion between 2007 and 2017. This, she said, highlights the importance of forging partnerships in financing infrastructure in the region.

“I’d like to say every government has deep pockets to contribute that type of financing [but] it clearly cannot come from one government alone on its own without partners, which is why we are increasingly looking at the private sector and partners like ADB,” Gadkowski said.

The government aims to create over a million jobs annually until 2022. This will be fueled by the government’s massive infrastructure spending of P8 trillion to P9 trillion until 2022.

Based on documents obtained

by BusinessMirror, the national government intends to spend P4.71 trillion in the next three years for ongoing and new projects identified under the three-year rolling infrastructure plan (TRIP).

Neda said the amount covers around 7,401 projects. The TRIP is the government’s tool to strengthen the link between programming and budgeting. It ensures that the

In terms of infrastructure and US support for Asean, this region is incredibly important to the United States; it has been for decades and will continue to be for centuries. Administrations come and go, but the prioritization of this region is incredibly important to the United States.”—Gadkowski

‘Amend law to set SRP for sugar’

a suggested retail price (SRP) for sugar.

SRA officials noted that the Price Act, or Republic Act 7581, is unclear as to which agency should oversee and regulate the sale of sugar in the domestic market.

Setting an SRP for sugar will, they said, prevent unscrupulous traders from jacking up their prices without a valid basis.

The amendment of the Price Act was one of the measures identified by officials and stakeholders during a recent interagency meeting on the sugarcane industry.

“There is a jurisdictional issue insofar as local traders are concerned. There is a need to clarify if processed sugar remains under the jurisdiction of the DA or SRA for purposes of SRP,” SRA Board Member Roland Beltran, who represents the millers, told the BusinessMirror.

Beltran also said Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez’s recent statement that the deregulation of the sugar industry is now “off the table” shows that the government is “truly concerned” about

Banks. . .

the plight of over 65,00 small sugarcane farmers, workers and dependents of the industry.

SR A Board Member Emilio Yulo, who represents the planters, echoed Beltran’s remarks and vowed that the SRA “would work alongside the DTI and make sure both producers and consumers are equally protected.”

‘Price manipulation’

SRA Administrator Hermenegildo R. Serafica also expressed support for Lopez’s plan to investigate those who are manipulating the retail prices of sugar.

“Mill-gate prices have been low for several months yet some retailers and wholesalers insist on selling their sugar at exorbitant prices,” Serafica told the BusinessMirror.

The SRA has been urging the DTI for months now to look into retail prices since mill-gate prices have been stable since late last year.

“Certainly, the SRA is also determined to bring down retail prices considering that mill-gate prices are fair and, at the same time,

Continued from A1

so those who are interested in participating in the country’s construction boom, they also need their banks here,” he added.

While he could not divulge which banks have shown interest, he said most of those planning to enter the Philippine financial system include those from Taiwan and South Korea, and one from Europe.

The governor said some local banks are also planning to expand abroad to cater to Filipinos living outside the country, but everything is still in the “exploratory” stage.

The further liberalization of foreign banks’ entry to the Philippines was signed into law by former President Benigno Aquino III in July 2014.

While the entry of foreign banks in the Philippines has been fully liberalized, safety nets

right types or the needed projects are included in the pipeline and are accordingly funded.

This includes P3.42 trillion for 4,376 projects under Tier 1 or ongoing projects, and P1.287 trillion or 4,376 projects in Tier 2 or new and/or expanded projects.

In order to maximize government resources, the pipeline list of TRIP projects will include Tier 1 and Tier 2 projects.

Tier 1 will be composed of ongoing projects that need to have continuous funding in the next three years, while Tier 2 includes “new” projects.

Meanwhile, 71.19 percent, or P3.35 trillion, of the funds to be used for these projects are from the national budget; 25.18 percent, or P1.185 trillion, will be obtained from official development assistance.

Around 2.51 percent or P118.32 billion will be financed through corporate funds of governmentowned and -controlled corporations; 0.58 percent, or P27.09 billion, will be from joint ventures; and 0.54 percent, or P25.56 billion, will be financed through public-private partnerships.

remain reasonably profitable for producers,” Beltran said.

“We need to ensure our sugar supply is adequate to prevent speculation. This means that sugar imports is always an option to stabilize prices of sugar,” he added.

Planters said they will “always sell within reasonable prices as long as there are no other variables that will affect production cost,” according to Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations Inc. Spokesman Raymond Montinola.

“We welcome Secretary Lopez’s position that he is no longer supporting deregulation. We are glad that some of our Cabinet officials are finally seeing through the real situation,” Montinola told the BusinessMirror.

“We have been urging the DTI to look into the retail prices and we are glad that Secretary Lopez is finally acting on this matter,” he added.

Lopez told the BusinessMirror that the government is determined to pull down sugar prices, as requested by food manufacturers, but not through deregulation.

were put under the law, including that at least 60 percent of the banking system’s total resources shall be controlled by domestic banks which are majority-owned by Filipinos.

Data from the aggregate share of foreign banks in the total assets of the Philippine banking system remained stable at 7.1 percent in 2018.

The BSP also recently reported that foreign banks operating in the Philippines are faring well in the local banking scene, as the subsector registered double-digit income growth for 2018.

The net profit of foreign banks grew 26.9 percent to reach P12.3 billion last year from their net income of P9 billion in 2017.

This, as foreign banks generated a total operating income of P63.2 billion on account of the net interest income from loans receivables of P43 billion. The cost-to-income ratio of foreign banks also improved to 64 percent, from 66.1 percent in 2017.

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The DTI is also looking into the possibility that trader manipulation of prices accounts for the expensive local sugar. “As a policy, directionally, we want to make sure that sugar prices will be competitive,” Lopez said.

“To the extent that the local sugar producers can assure a competitive pricing and supply, then frankly there is no need to liberalize. We may not need liberalization,” he added.

L atest ava i lable SR A d ata showed the mill-gate price of raw sugar has remained below the P1,600 per 50-kilogram bag level since November 2018.

The mill-gate price of raw sugar has averaged P1,521.54 per 50-kg bag from November 2018 until May of this year.

Data from the SRA also showed that the average wholesale price of refined sugar has remained within the P2,200 to P2,250 range since November 2018.

Also, the prevailing retail price of raw sugar in Metro Manila is estimated at P40 per kg, while refined sugar sells at P50/kg.

DTI. . .

Continued from A1

Consumer protection

LOPEZ is also asking for higher funding to get more consumer protection officers. He argued this is crucial at a time authorities are intensifying efforts against substandard products, particularly construction materials.

“Additional funding is needed for our consumer protection program because, as we know, the DTI is not only tasked to take care of businesses, but also consumers,” the trade chief said.

This year the DTI’s budget for consumer protection programs is P449.3 million. It also has funding for consumer education and advocacy initiatives at P95.12 million.

“Overall, the increase we want in the DTI is about 50 percent largely on higher capital expenses,” Lopez said.

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Go spent most among Senate winners, but Roxas outspent him

GO

ROXAS

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

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DMINISTRATION-ENDORSED Christopher “Bong” Go was the top campaign spender among the seven winning 2019 senatorial candidates who submitted their Statement of Contribution and Expenditure (SOCE) the earliest.

Based on his submitted SOCE at the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the former presidential aide spent P161,418,299.31.

Among the senatorial candidates who lost, the top spender was former Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas with an expenditure of P179,193,153.04— even higher than Go’s.

Go was able to pay for his campaign expenses after being able to get P162,035,537.34 worth of contributions. Of these, P155,038,000 were cash contributions, while the remaining P6,997,537.34 were in-kind.

Former presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino was the second-biggest campaign spender with P159, 169,836.54.

He was able to accumulate P115,575,235.21 worth of campaign contributions. Senatorelect Grace Poe came in third

place in terms of campaign spending after shelling out P156,433,463.80 for her campaign.

The total contribution she got for her second senatorial bid amounted to P156,450,000.

In fourth place was senator-elect Cynthia Villar with P135,529,061.09.

To note, Villar’s campaign was self-financed after she registered no contribution in her SOCE. Rounding up the three remaining early bird SOCE filers with biggest spending expenditures are senators-elect Ramon “Bong” Revilla with P121,952,358.93; Pilar “Pia” Cayetano with P73,714,198.55; and Maria “Nancy” Binay with P56,785,472.82.

As of 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Comelec’s Campaign Finance Office (CFO) was already able to get the SOCE of 28 senators and 91 party-list groups.

The deadline for the filing of SOCEs is June 13, 2019.

Noncompliant winning candidates will not be allowed to assume their posts until they submit their SOCEs within six months from their proclamation.

All SOCE filers will be made to pay administrative fines depending on their positions.

Remitters to GSIS spared from submitting paper requirements under eBCS

By Rea Cu

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@ReaCuBM

HE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has issued a memorandum circular (MC) discontinuing the requirement for remittance agencies (RA) to submit printed copies of remittance lists, as it further streamlines its processes in accordance with the Ease of Doing Business law, or Republic Act (RA) 11032.

Under MC 008-2019, the GSIS said all RAs are no longer required to submit printed copies of their remittance lists starting July this year, in line with the adoption of its electronic billing and collection system (eBCS) facility.

“R As shall be compelled to fully adopt and utilize the functions of the eBCS, thus enhancing timely reconciliation of members’ records and allowing for the timely and accurate posting of members’ premium and loan payments to the GSIS database,” the MC said.

The eBCS will now allow the R As to download their respective billing files, as well as upload their remittance files electronically to the GSIS database,

eliminating the need for paper documents.

The MC was signed by GSIS Executive Vice President Gracita Gilda V. Bocanegra on May 21, 2019.

The discontinuance of the submission of printed files is also expected to address storage issues for physical documents by freeing up space in records rooms and work desks, as GSIS shifts to an electronic and paperless work environment.

It is also seen to provide cost efficiencies to both the GSIS and RAs as it lessens the use of physical and manpower resources, enabling both to save more funds. The reduction of documentary submissions provides the ease of doing business with the GSIS. The MC was addressed to heads of constitutional bodies, bureaus and agencies of the national government; local government units; government-owned and -controlled corporations; state universities and colleges; and all other concerned agencies.

The GSIS eBCS is a web-based application that enables RAs to download and upload their respective electronic billing and remittance files, where it will be assessed for errors.

The Nation BusinessMirror

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Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Friday, June 14, 2019 A3

Duterte slams ‘abuse’ of party-list system

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

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AVAO CIT Y—President Duterte took a swipe at the party-list system in the country, saying it is being “abused” by wealthy and influential people.

This developed as Congress released a summary of the Statement of Asset, Liabilities and Net Worth of its representatives, which showed that one of two billionaires in the Lower House emerged from the party-list group, and another one in

the top 10 richest of them also represented another party-list group.

“The rich people fund the partylist. They are named after laborers, but their nominees are the millionaires,” the President said.

He added “many of these party-list members are involved in corruption.”

Duterte made the comment during the oathtaking of newly elected officials in Cagayan de Oro City at the Xavier Sports and Country Club Convention Hall on Wednesday.

It was also during his speech where he also expressed his dismay over the “continuous ownership

of vast tracts of land by wealthy landowners despite the implementation of the government’s land reform program,” a Malacañang report said.

The report added the President named “some powerful landed elites” in the country who he accused of circumventing the agrarian law “to continue taking hold of huge agricultural lands, depriving poor farmers of lands to till.”

He vowed to aggressively carry out the land reform law and go after powerful landowners.

“Just like in Bacolod, the sugar-

cane [fields]. In Central Luzon, it’s the Cojuangcos, the Monteverdes, Benedictos,” Duterte said in his speech. “I told them that if they are not going to do it, I will go there personally. There is nothing that we can do about it because that is the law.”

He said the “ big landowners, despite having big parcels of land, cannot find satisfaction, that even after the implementation of land reform program, they remain billionaires.”

The President also criticized the communist organizations for

carrying out their own version of land reform.

“The New People’s Army formed an association and forced people to join. The NPAs then chose the people who will possess the land and not the original tenants,” he said.

“That is why they were killing each other there. That was their drama. It was just for show. Those idiots. They can’t fool me. I’ve been in and out of the mountains for so long,” Duterte said.

“To make the communist rebels irrelevant, the government must seriously implement the land re-

form program,” he added.

“I told the Cabinet you want to make the NPAs irrelevant? Give away all the lands. That was what the NPAs promised, land for the landless. They act as if they know better than you,” he said.

Also present in the oathtaking were Senator-elect Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Cagayan de Oro Second District Rep. Rolando Adlao Uy, Mayor Oscar Seriña Moreno, Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin Velez Uy and Second District Councilor Joyleen Mercedes Labis Balaba.

Indonesian nabbed for possession of ₧8.7M worth of cocaine at Naia

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N Indonesian national was arrested by airport authorities on Wednesday evening for possession of over 1.6 kilograms of cocaine.

Airport authorities identified the suspect as Agus Burhan, 62, who arrived from Doha aboard Qatar Airways Flight QR932 at 6 p.m.

Seized from Burhan were “1.6 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated value of P8,781,570 million.”

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency agent Herald Javier said the drugs were found during a random inspection of his luggage with

WALK OF LIFE A worker nimbly threads along thick and intertwined cable lines in Parañaque City during a routine maintenance check. NONIE REYES

In House speakership toss up, Atienza says he will vote ‘new, young’ leader

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

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ITH more than a month before the lower chamber elects its new Speaker, a senior lawmaker on Thursday said the chamber should have “a new and young” leader.

Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza of Buhay said he will vote for someone new and with the potential for the speakership race in the House leadership race.

“In the choice for Speaker, I choose a new name. I want a new name, I want a younger Speaker, I want somebody with potential,” he added.

“The people all over the land as gleaned from results of election both local and national want new faces and new solutions for our continuing problems in the country...[and the] Congress no

exception,” Atienza said.

Atienza said he believes newly elected members of the 18th Congress will go for a younger Speaker.

“Otherwise, year in, year out, decades here and decades there, where are we? We’re nowhere. We’re moving backwards. We have to move forward,” he said.

The Party-list Coalition is expected to name its bet for the speakership race next week along with the Visayan bloc. These two powerful groups are expected to do a bloc voting during the speakership election next week.

The Party-list Coalition has 61 members and the Visayan bloc has 47 members. At least 153 votes are needed to secure the speakership position.

On Tuesday, Party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles of Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta said the party-list bloc is narrowing its choices between Marin-

duque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez in the fight for the speakership.

It is the first time that Velasco will run as a Speaker, while Romualdez already ran but lost against former Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. during the 15th Congress.

Velasco’s speakership bid is backed by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and a powerful business magnate.

According to Nograles, partylist congressmen have decided to narrow down their choices to Velasco and Romualdez because they believe that they are the only ones who are truly serious in the bid for the speakership.

Meanwhile, other candidates for the speakership race are Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte, Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano of Taguig City and Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga.

DOLE may reimpose OFW deployment ban to Kuwait after HSW rape report

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

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HE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) may reimpose an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) deployment ban to Kuwait following the recent reported rape of a household service worker (HSW) in the Middle Eastern country.

The DOLE on Thursday said its decision will depend on the outcome of the investigation of the Kuwaiti government on the incident.

“We can impose the deployment ban again, if there is enough basis. If the allegations were true, and no actions were taken, then it might be enough ground to reimpose the ban,” Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said.

Bello issued the statement in response to the appeal of the Blas

“We can impose the deployment ban again, if there is enough basis. If the allegations were true, and no actions were taken, then it might be enough ground to reimpose the ban.”— Bello

Ople Policy Center to help the abused HSW. It was reported the Filipino HSW was allegedly raped by airport personnel in Kuwait after she arrived there on June 4.

Bello said the concerned worker is now with her employer in Kuwait.

Citing the initial report from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Bello disclosed that the sus-

pect in the incident, Fayed Naser Hamad Alajmy, has been arrested

by Kuwaiti authorities.

This was the second reported incident of an abused Filipino HSW in Kuwait this year.

Last month the DOLE also reported the death of Constancia Lago Dayag in Kuwait. Local authorities are still investigating Dayag’s case.

To recall, President Duterte ordered a deployment ban in Kuwait in 2018 after the remains of the Filipino HSW Joanna Demafelis was recovered from a freezer of her employer’s home in Kuwait.

T he d e plo y me nt b a n w a s only lifted after the arrest of Demafelis’s employers and the signing of the Philippine-Kuwait memorandum of understanding for the protection of Filipino HSWs.

the help of drug-sniffing canines at the arrival area.

According to Javier, the passenger traveled to Lima, Peru, where he picked up the cocaine from a source.

Upon his return from South America, he had a stopover in Madrid, Spain, and Doha, Qatar.

When he reached Manila, Burhan was intercepted by the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NaiaIADITG) during a regular random inspection of passenger luggage.

Javier added the drugs were sub-

jected to Bureau of Customs’s x-ray scanning machines.

The suspect’s alibi was that he was asked to bring the luggage containing gifts to the Philippines.

On October 8, 2016, the United States Embassy in Manila commended the Naia-IADITG for the apprehension of foreign cocaine smugglers at the country’s main gateway.

The US Embassy statement noted that the drug agency was established as part of a cooperative effort between the Philippine government and US Drug Enforcement Agency. Recto Mercene

A4 Friday, June 14, 2019 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

Completion of flagship projects gains headway in April–Neda

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

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HE National Economic and Development Author it y (Neda) has revealed that the majority of ongoing flagship infrastructure projects as of April this year are halfway done.

Based on the status report on the 75 flagship projects, Neda said there are already nine projects that are ongoing and six of these have completion rates of over 46 percent.

Neda added the government has already completed two projects—the improvement of sections along the Pasig River from Delpan Bridge to Napindan Channel, a component of the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Project, and the Pulangi 4 Selective Dredging Phase 3 Project.

“These projects are expected to greatly contribute to achieve the country’s development goals by enhancing connectivity and promoting growth centers outside of the urbanindustrial region centered around Metro Manila,” Neda said.

Five of the nine projects were approved by the Neda Board and the remaining other three projects do not require approval from the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC).

Neda reported that the project that exceeded a 50-percent accomplishment rate is the Malitubog-Madriagao Irrigation Project Phase II being implemented by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA). The project was

PART of what will become the national government center in Clark is seen under construction in this June 1, 2019, file photo. BERNARD TESTA

approved by the Neda Board.

The project, estimated to cost P5.44 billion, has an accomplishment rate of 54.91 percent as of March 2019. The project is being implemented in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Region 12, or Soccsksargen.

Another project that had a high rate of accomplishment is the P14.972 billion worth Clark International Airport Expansion Project. It has an accomplishment rate of 47.02 percent as of January 2019.

The project, which was approved by the Neda Board and funded through public-private partnership, is being undertaken by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

However, the project with the lowest accomplishment rate is the P4.607-billion Binondo-Intramuros Bridge funded by a grant from the Chinese government.

The project has a physical accomplishment of 5.91 percent as of April 2019. This is also below the accomplishment rate target of 7.05 percent.

There are also projects that have exceeded accomplishment rates, such as the P1.367-billion Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge that is also being financed by a grant from China. The project has a physical accomplishment rate of 8.159 percent as of April 2019.

However, there are projects that have an accomplishment rate that is below target. Data showed that these projects include the P1.896-

billion Bonifacio Global City to Ortigas Center Road Link Project Phase I, IIA and IIB. The project, which is being implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways, has an accomplishment rate of 31.33 percent. This is below the target of P49.44 percent.

The list of projects that have not met their target accomplishment rates are three projects not requiring ICC approval. These projects are all linked to the Clark Green City and have an accomplishment rate of 46.7 percent, lower than the target of 47.65 percent.

The projects include the P3.33- billion Mixed Income Housing project for the Clark Green City; the P1.78billion Government Center; and the P850-million Commercial Center.

Earlier, Neda said the majority, or 55 of the 75 flagship projects, will be financed through official development assistance (ODA).

These projects amount to $1.97 billion, or 92.56 percent, of the total amount for the projects.

Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency, provided the bulk ODA to the country accounting for 36 percent share worth $5.33 billion for 36 loans/ grants of the active ODA portfolio, according to Neda’s ODA Portfolio Review in 2017.

This is followed by the World Bank with 21 percent, or $3.07 billion, for 26 loans/grants; and the ADB with 20 percent, or $2.97 billion, for 37 loans/grants.

Safeguards in place for graft-free UHC implementation, DOH chief assures

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco Correspondent

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EALTH Secretary Francisco T. Duque III on Thursday assured that anti-corruption safeguards are in place for the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC), even as he warned all health-care providers and Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) officials not to “cheat the system nor even attempt to do it.”

“I will ensure that justice will be served to those who defraud the system,” Duque said in a news statement in response to the issue of fraud surrounding the PhilHealth.

“Stop the hocus-pocus. Many sick Filipinos are hoping to get assistance from PhilHealth,” Duque said.

He admitted that he was “deeply disappointed” about the corruption issues that is currently plaguing the PhilHealth and WellMed in connection with bogus dialysis claims amounting to more than a billion pesos.

“PhilHealth was founded with the vision of providing Filipinos with universal health coverage because it is our belief, as public health practitioners, that financial status should never hinder any Filipino from receiving quality health service,” he said.

For the system to be taken advantage of and used in corruption, he stressed, is utterly “unacceptable.” “These nefarious activities must end and PhilHealth should further strengthen its zero-tolerance policy on overpayments,” he pointed out.

Duque noted that President Duterte has issued instructions for a clean slate in PhilHealth, paving the way for a major revamp of PhilHealth’s accreditation committee.

“All false claims are to be investigated and when warranted, charges will be filed. Board members have also been asked to submit their courtesy resignation upon the order of the President,” he said, as he thanked the President for his robust leadership and swift action in this matter.

“I call for all of us to work together—the medical community, health providers, government units in the national and local levels, and the Filipino people—to fix the system and put an end to corruption and fraud.”

Moving forward, Duque said that he had already instructed his colleagues in the department to ensure anti-corruption measures are in place for the implementation of the UHC.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Finance dept awaits ‘timely’ issuance of Marawi bonds

By Rea Cu

@ReaCuBM

T

HE government will push through with its planned Marawi bonds issuance once the second phase of the Bangon Marawi Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Program (BMCRRP) that involves the construction of large-scale infrastructure projects in the war-torn area is implemented, the Department of Finance (DOF) said on Thursday.

In a news statement, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III also said that the ongoing clearing operations in Marawi City, as well as the provision of housing and basic services such as water to its residents, are currently being funded by allocations in the national budget, which are currently sufficient to fulfill such requirements at present.

“W hen we start getting into the bigger expenditures, then we will be issuing the Marawi bonds,” Dominguez said.

The finance chief pointed out that personnel involved in the clearing operations continue to find unexploded ordnance as they go about their task, which is why work has been proceeding at a “careful” pace.

“But there has been a lot of work, especially in providing housing and water and sewage disposal facilities for the residents in that area already.

So, fortunately, we’ve been able to fund it from the GAA [General Appropriations Act], and when we get to the real big construction projects, that’s when we will be issuing the bonds,” he added.

National Treasurer Rosalia V. de Leon said the government has been exploring several structures to make the Marawi bond float more attractive to both institutional investors and retail bond buyers, which include securing the approval to make the Marawi bonds eligible as alternative compliance to the Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act, or Republic Act (RA) 10000.

RA 10000 allows banks to invest in government-listed priority programs a portion of their investible funds mandated to be set aside as loans for farmers, fisherfolk and other agriculture-based workers.

She said during a news briefing that the government would have

to calibrate the amount of Marawi bonds that would be issued based on the financing requirements needed for the implementation of the rehabilitation program.

“In preparation for that, we’ve also been doing some features, including the Agri-Agra eligibility that we have secured, to make the bonds more attractive. In fact, there are also some structures that we are also considering to make it more attractive to retail investors,” de Leon said.

In November 2018, the Philippines received a total of P35.1 billion, or about $670 million, in pledges for concessional financing and grants from the international community to aid in the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts for the wardevastated Marawi City.

The pledges came from the Asian Development Bank, World Bank and International Fund for Agricultural Development; and the governments of Japan, China and Spain.

The United Nations (UN) and the governments of the United St ates, Aust ra l i a, C h ina, Germany, Japan, Korea and Spain also extended aid in the form of technical assistance and preparatory support needed to ensure the implementation of the BMCRRP. Also, the UN and its specialized agencies, as well as the governments of Australia, Italy, Japan, Korea, the United States, and private-sector partners have supported relief operations and contributed humanitarian grant assistance totaling around P6.9 billion, or approximately $132.4 million, according to the DOF. In December 2018, the DOF said that in line with complementing the pledges, the government’s planned issuance of Marawi bonds is being further studied by the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) as to when the exact timing of the issuance would be implemented.

Dominguez also confirmed that the bonds will be issued in tranches and would depend on the BTr’s judgment on when to best place them on the market, the bond offer is around P13.5 billion, or about $258 million.

President Duterte issued Administrative Order 3 creating the Task Force Bangon Marawi to oversee the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts for the war-torn city.

BSP: Industry leaders maintain bullish outlook on PHL banking system

P

HILIPPINE banks maintained their optimism on the country’s economic prospects as 86.1 percent of the respondents to a central bank survey expect the domestic economy to grow between 6 percent and 7 percent within the next two years.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) disclosed on Tuesday that it has published the Report on the Banking Sector Outlook Survey (BSOS) for the second semester of 2018.

More important, the outlook on the Philippine banking system remains stable for 70.2 percent of all respondents, with the rest mostly expecting a stronger banking system.

Upbeat projections led more than 72 percent of the respondents to expect double-digit growth in assets and deposits, while 81 percent and 92.4 percent expect loans and profits to grow more than 10 percent, respectively. The upgrade of the S&P Global Ratings Banking Industry Country Risk Assessment (BICRA) of the Philippines also contributed to the optimism.

Universal and commercial banks (U/KBs) were most eager to expand market coverage with 75.8 percent and 84.4 percent of respondents projecting double-digit growth in assets and loans, respectively.

Meanwhile, 76.9 percent of rural and cooperative banks (R/CBs), ahead of other bank types, aim to grow de-

posits by 10 percent or more. Thrift banks (TBs) are most optimistic on their profits as 97 percent of respondents anticipate double-digit net income growth. To realize the expected bank growth, the respondents set the following strategic priorities for their operations: to grow the bank; to optimize use of available technology and to protect the bank.

Meanwhile, the use of technology is expected to reshape the future landscape of the banking system as 73.5 percent of banks have plans to use technology in their transactions in the near term.

The new section on organizational conduct and risk culture reveals that most banks are satisfied with their internal risk culture and underscores the importance of inputs from internal control functions in the business decisions of the board and senior management.

The banks deem institutional risk as the main threat toward achieving their targets. Money-laundering risk, hiring or retention of talents, and credit risk top the list under institutional risks of U/KBs, TBs, and R/CBs, respectively.

Cognizant of the internal and external risks affecting their business, the BSOS disclosed that banks are formulating strategies to address these concerns and will leverage on the use of financial technology for strategic efficiencies. PNA

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Editor: Jennifer A. Ng • Friday, June 14, 2019

A9

‘BOC omission must not burden MDM importers’

T

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

RADERS appealed to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to reconsider its decision to collect the 35-percent tariff difference on imported mechanically deboned meat (MDM) of chicken retroactively since the agency did not immediately implement the higher tariff rate.

Meat Importers and Traders Association (Mita) President Jesus C. Cham said traders filed their chicken MDM shipment entries at 5-percent tariff in “good faith” and the BOC accepted and cleared the goods afterward.

This has been done by chicken MDM importers and traders for the past 12 years, Cham added.

“Customs accepted the payment as usual. Importers paid the duty, were cleared by Customs and sold the [chicken] MDM— all done in good faith. [Importers] should not be penalized for that,” he told the BusinessMirror on Thursday. “[The BOC] should not collect retroactively because it’s their omission. They could have told importers the assessment was tentative,” he added.

Cham said there was no clear pronouncement from the BOC that it would start assessing and collecting the 40-percent tariff on chicken MDM prior to the issuance of Customs Memorandum Circular 131-2019. The CMC, dated May 23, announced the reversion of the tariff rate on chicken MDM to 40 percent.

The BusinessMirror reported on Wednesday that the BOC would still collect retroactively an additional 35-percent tariff from importers of chicken MDM who paid a lower tariff of 5 percent for shipments that entered the country after Republic Act (RA) 11203 took effect.

Chicken MDM is a key component for processed meat products, such as hot dogs and canned luncheon meat.

United Broiler Raisers Association President Elias Jose Inciong told the BusinessMirror that the government should hold a dialogue with importers to thresh out the issue regarding the retroactive collection of tariff on chicken MDM. “It would be burdensome for the government to collect the tariffs if it [higher duties] would be retroactively applied,” he said.

“As a compromise, I agree and support the importers’ position that the [implementation of the 40-percent tariff] should only start the moment [the BOC] announced it,” Inciong added.

Mita’s appeal

IN his letter to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia, Cham said the government should not retroactively collect the additional 35-percent tariff since BOC cleared the imported chicken MDM at a 5-percent tariff.

The letter, a copy of which was obtained by the BusinessMirror, was sent to Pernia on June 10. The Tariff Commission is under the National Economic and Development Authority, which is also headed by Pernia.

“In the meantime until this matter has been resolved, we request that the BOC be advised to cease and desist from: issuing new demand letters and refrain from enforcing the demand letters already issued,” the letter read.

A BOC letter dated May 27 obtained by the BusinessMirror showed that the agency directed a broker to pay the government an additional P4.044 million, which represents the 35-percent tariff difference on chicken MDM. The imported MDM shipments consigned to the broker, which were already released from the Manila International Container Port, were found “short in payment” due to the Tariff Commission’s clarification on the duties applied on the goods, the letter read.

The BOC on Wednesday said the retroactive collection of the 35-percent tariff difference is in accordance with the law.

The agency cited in particular Executive Order (EO) 23 issued by the President in 2017, which stipulated that concessionary rates on certain agricultural products should go back to the 2012 levels once the quantitative restriction (QR) on rice is removed.

The QR on rice was removed and converted into ordinary customs duties when RA 11203 took effect on March 5. The Department of Agriculture had argued that the reversion of MDM tariff to 40-percent is automatic by virtue of EO 23, but meat processors, led by Pampi, disagreed with this.

“The 40 percent rate applied. Of course, we will [collect the 35-percent tariff difference] because the rate is 40 percent. So if [an importer] paid a lower rate, then the difference will be collected,” BOC Spokesman Erastus Sandino B. Austria told the BusinessMirror via SMS on Wednesday.

A10 Friday, June 14, 2019 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Mandatory ROTC?

T

HE extreme sides of the argument—for and against implementing a mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program—fall like this: On one side, this would brainwash our youth into mindless killing machines to serve the nefarious purposes of the government. On the other hand, it would create an army of warriors ready to take on any invaders, perhaps both human and from space.

Somewhere in the middle we might find some common sense.

In context, more than two-dozen nations around the globe require mandatory military service. The list includes a wide diversity, geographically and economically. Perhaps North and South Korea are not a surprise, as well as Israel and Taiwan.

Austria and Brazil require their men to serve, as does Singapore. Some are like Mexico where a man is obligated to a year of military service consisting of a few hours of drill or social services on weekends, not true military training.

While not making military service mandatory, many countries require that its men—and women on a voluntary basis—sign up to be inducted into its military based on a lottery system.

The problems with the Philippine mandatory college ROTC program—that ended in 2002—were supposed to be solved with the revised National Service Training Program (NSTP).

This had both male and female college students active in one of three sections—ROTC, Civic Welfare Training Service or the Literacy Training Service.

According to the Commission on Higher Education, over a 10-year period from 2002-2012 the Civic Welfare component produced 10,614,000 graduates, followed by the ROTC component, with 1,435,000 Armed Forces of the Philippines reservists and the Literacy Training with 538,700 graduates.

In speaking with some of our own students who went through the college program, there was general agreement that the Civic Welfare and Literacy Services was a good experience for both sides. One person who attended an exclusive school said that the students in the poor areas that he helped to read better felt more a part of the broader community than before.

Another said that it was a good feeling giving something back to the community.

One young man said that all his friends thought that his joining the ROTC was a waste of time by marching around with a wooden gun. But his final reaction was that the ROTC component helped him learn more discipline. He had to submit an excuse letter why he could not attend an ROTC training session.

However, his letter did not follow the exact format required, and he was given a demerit.

Perhaps rather than making ROTC training mandatory in senior high school, the existing NSTP format could be implemented. From all accounts, in general the NSTP has been successful for both the students and the community. If ROTC is important, then the government should explain why and how to the students. If they are old enough to be trained, then they are mature enough to make their own decisions.

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Challenging the 18th Congress to pass progressive legislations Manny F. Dooc

TELLTALES Continued from A1

T

HE 7th Congress then consisted of legal luminaries such as Sens. Jovito Salonga, Jose W. Diokno and Ambrosio Padilla, and Reps. Neptali Gonzales and Aguedo Agbayani, finance whiz Gil Puyat, Dominador Aytona and Danding Cojuangco, parliamentarian par excellence Sens. Arturo Tolentino, Lorenzo Tañada, Lorenzo Sumulong and Emmanuel Pelaez, and Reps. Justiniano Montano (whose booming voice roused us from stupor as he interpellated his colleagues), Jose Laurel Jr. and Jose de Venecia. We miss the eloquence of Sens. Ninoy Aquino, Doy Laurel, Gerardo Roxas and Congressmen Ramon Mitra, John Osmeña and most of all the intense partisanships from both sides of the political aisle, notably the Ilocano block of Floro Crisologo, Roquito Ablan, Leonardo Perez, Jose Roy and Joe Aspiras of the NP and Montano, Raul Daza, Jose Lingad, Jose Yap and Angel Macapagal of LP. Their intense rivalry and upmanship were a joy to watch and behold. It was a gilded age when our solons gave justice to their roles and skillfully fulfilled their delicate task of lawmaking.

Whenever I pass by my old haunt along Burgos Avenue in Manila, I can’t help but relapse into reverie: Aaah, those were the days when the halls of Congress were bursting with drama and excitement,

and where becoming a member thereof was the ultimate measure of prestige and respect.

I’m not saying that what we have now, as what my favorite US President Harry “Give ‘Em Hell’ Truman would love to say, is a “donothing-Congress.” Far from it.

The record of major legislations passed by the current Congress is something that the present members can crow about. What is lam-

entable is the dearth of legislators with substance and gravitas. We deeply miss the likes of a Recto debating with a Laurel, the searching questions of a Serging Osmena and the parliamentary skirmishes between Arturo Tolentino and Ambrosio Padilla. The Journals of bygone Congresses are replete with these memorable encounters among these giant lawmakers who have lorded over our political firmament.

We have come a long way since we inaugurated the First Philippine Congress in 1946 after the war. Despite the economic woes that continue to ail us, Filipinos have definitely gotten ahead in terms of better education, health care, employment opportunities and basic services. Still, some people long for the “good old days” when there was less government but opportunities were aplenty without fierce and intense competition for work, school placement and business. The bottom line is this: are we better off now than 70 years ago when we regained control of our government?

I won’t cite numbers but now we have a stable and independent government, an effectively functioning executive, Legislative and Executive branches of government, a viable defense and security force, a relatively peaceful country, a thriving trade and commerce, and a stable economy.

While there is still a wide gap between the rich and the poor, we have an emerging middle class that has significantly contributed to our economic development. In no time in our history has the government made people who need protection felt more secure. We are proud of the various social programs that the government has made available to the poor, like our Social Security System, universal health care, free education at all levels in our public schools and state colleges and universities, Cash Transfer Program, affordable housing and Senior Citizens’ benefits.

These are all products of progressive legislations. The challenge to incoming members of our 18th Congress is to surpass these achievements. The torch has been passed to them, and we expect them to live up to their tasks.

Finally, as a separate but coequal branch of the government, it behooves Congress to maintain the constitutional safeguards of checks-and-balances and not allow the other branch to encroach on its turf. This should be a nonissue to our Honorable Members of Congress. nnn

This has been a heavy stuff so let me close this issue with a bon mot: “If your father is poor, it’s your fate; if your father-in-law is poor, it’s your fault.”

Investors wary as political uncertainty persists in Thailand

By Philip J. Heijmans | Bloomberg Opinion

W

HEN Kulthirath Pakawachkrilers had to convince yet another Chinese investor that business was still a good bet in Thailand despite the political upheaval, she knew it was going to be a tough sell.

Companies once considering investing in Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy were now looking at other options—and the uncertainty surrounding the aftermath of the elections was driving much of the concern, said Kulthirath, chief executive officer of the Thailand e-Business Center, which advises companies on entering the Thai market.

Kulthirath, who’s also on the committees of the Thai Digital Trade Association and the Thai e-Commerce Association, has met with more than 600 foreign investors in the past year. She said the majority had decided now is not the right time to invest in Thailand.

“They are hesitating,” Kulthirath said from her office in Bangkok. “Half of them are very worried, especially the Chinese because their economy slightly relies on the government too, so they

say that the more a government is strong, the more that a country is strong.”

The decades-long power struggle between the country’s pro-military allies and opposition parties is threatening to further unhinge an already fragile economy, even with a new government headed by former junta leader Prayuth ChanOcha about to be sworn in.

After five years of military rule, the junta retained control of the government in the March election with only a slim four-seat majority coalition in the House of Representatives. That keeps the bitter political fighting very much alive and makes it difficult for returned Prayuth to pass meaningful legislation.

Currently, 41 members of parliament from the pro-military coalition are facing calls to be disqualified over accusations t hey broke r u les prohibiting

politicians from holding shares in media firms. The petition comes from the opposition Future Forward party, whose leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit is himself suspended from parliamentar y duties pending the court’s ruling on a similar accusation.

“If all of these lawmakers got suspended or banned, the government won’t be able to push through the vote on any issues in the lower house,” said Punchada Sirivunnabood, an expert on Thai politics and a visiting fellow at Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

Political risk is making businesses hesitant to invest in an environment of heightened global challenges. Already $20 billion of spending on transport and logistics projects has been delayed because of the three-month impasse in forming a government.

‘Limited power’

THE economy “is facing key risks from both the US-China trade war and Brexit. We need the government to steer the economy through these problems,” said Kriengkrai Thiennukul, vice chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries.

“Without the government, all businesses are in a wait-and-see mode and government officials have limited power to work.”

The political uncertainty is a shadow over an economy whose growth potential has gradually declined over the years. The exportheavy manufacturing industry has lost market share to low-cost neighbors like Vietnam, productivity has steadily declined and the nation has one of the oldest populations among developing countries. That’s even before trade wars and a global slowdown are factored in.

Lucrative free trade talks have languished under military rule and there’s urgency to get those going again.

Negotiations for a free trade agreement with the European Union were suspended back in 2014 after the junta overthrew the democratically elected government, straining relations with Thailand ’s third-biggest trade partner. While the EU went on to restore political ties with Thailand in 2017, there is no signal the two sides will resume negotiations for an agreement they spent more See “Thailand,” A11

Opinion BusinessMirror

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Friday, June 14, 2019 A11

Xi has few good options Critics honor Cebuana Gloria Sevilla after Trump’s ultimatum on G-20 meeting Tito Genova Valiente

B

Y now, Xi Jinping is used to Donald J. Trump’s tariff threats. But the US president’s latest ultimatum is personal, and the Chinese leader’s response could have farreaching consequences for his political future.

Trump on Monday said he could impose tariffs “much higher than 25 percent” on $300 billion in Chinese goods if Xi doesn’t meet him at the upcoming Group of 20 summit in Japan. China’s foreign ministry—which usually refuses to provide details of meetings until the very last minute—declined on Tuesday to say whether the meeting would take place.

The brinkmanship puts Xi— China’s strongest leader in decades—in perhaps the toughest spot of his six-year presidency.

If Xi caves to Trump’s threats, he risks looking weak at home. If he declines the meeting, he must accept the economic costs that come with Trump possibly extending the trade conflict through the 2020 presidential elections.

“Whether they meet or not, none of the possible scenarios are good for President Xi or the economy in the long run,” said Zhang Jian, an associate professor at Peking University. “You don’t have a good choice which can meet the needs of the Chinese economy or Mr. Xi’s political calculations.”

Prodded by hawks in Washington to take a “whole of government” approach toward China, Trump may make it harder for Xi to compromise at the negotiating table. The US administration’s efforts to sell arms to Taiwan and criticize China’s mass-detention of ethnic Uighurs in the remote far west of the country are fueling nationalist fears in Beijing that the US wants to weaken and contain its biggest rival.

The G-20 in late June is one of the last chances for Trump and Xi to head off a conflict between the world ’s biggest economies that appears to be worsening by the day. Besides tit-for-tat tariff increases, the US has blacklisted Huawei Technologies Co. and threatened other major Chinese tech companies, while Beijing is drawing up a list of “unreliable entities” that could face restrictions.

At the last meeting between Trump and Xi at the G-20 in Argentina last year, they emerged with a 90-day truce that opened space for more talks. Those collapsed last month after Trump accused China of reneging on parts of the agreement, leading to an increase in tariffs and stronger actions against Huawei.

The arguments for Xi to meet Trump mostly revolve around the need to prevent greater economic damage. China’s imports tumbled in May, underscoring domestic economic weakness that could hurt global growth. For China, 25-percent tariffs could result in a drag of nearly 1 percent on growth by 2021 if they remain in place, according to Bloomberg Economics.

Stalled talks

WHAT’S more, Chinese officials increasingly feel like working-level talks aren’t leading anywhere. One

Thailand. . .

continued from A10

than a year working on.

FDI slump

“MANY countries have used our military government as the reason for suspending the talks,” Kriengkrai said. “Once we return to democracy, we need to move quickly.”

Approved foreign direct investment from EU companies has

Chinese trade official said discussions with the US had reached a point where no further progress could be made without the intervention of the two presidents.

And besides, Trump has a track record of escalating tensions dramatically before cutting a deal in a personal meeting.

“The best approach for China is to not reply to Trump’s words, but wait a few days and then announce that Xi will attend the G-20,” said Wang Peng, associate research fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China.

“Meeting Trump is risky for everybody, but Xi can manage and control that risk.”

Xi, however, also has reasons to avoid a meeting with Trump.

China has repeated ly said it won’t be bullied or pressured into negotiating, and Xi could look as if he’s giving Trump a win by meeting him after an explicit threat.

Since talks collapsed, China’s state media has ramped up nationalist rhetoric. The Communist Party’s flagship People’s Daily newspaper ran a commentary last month saying China will never make decisions that “give up power and humiliate the country,” a phrase used in school textbooks to describe the treaties China signed mostly in the 19th century.

Ignoring threats

“I DON’T think the threat will work,” said He Weiwen, a former commerce ministry official who is now a senior research fellow at the Center for China and Globalization. “China will reiterate that the US side must have sincerity if they want the talks to continue.”

Prev ious interactions w ith Trump don’t help much in making the decision. When Trump flirted with a more formalized relationship with Taiwan early on in his presidency, China refused any contact until he reaffirmed the US’s “one-China” policy. Within weeks, Trump caved.

Still, Xi has also watched as Trump repeatedly escalated a trade war despite hailing a personal friendship between the two men. And even assuming they do meet, the best outcome could be another temporary truce that only prolongs the uncertainty.

Either way, Xi has a lot riding on the decision. He became China’s most powerful leader possibly since Mao Zedong after scrapping term limits last year, a move that could backfire if the economy tanks.

“You can hardly blame anyone else for the conflict between China and the United States—he is the ultimate decision-maker,” said Zhang from Peking University. “Remember that we believe he wants a third or fourth term. If in 2020 you see the Chinese economy suffer, then his road to a third term looks less rosy.” Bloomberg News plunged 32 percent since 2014 to just $1 billion last year, according to data from the Thai Board of Investment. Overall FDI rose 0.5 percent in April from a year ago, after declining in the previous two months, latest figures from the Bank of Thailand show.

“The political uncertainties are probably the greatest factor of all for the manufacturers who are thinking of investing or have already invested in manufacturing in Thailand,” said Karri Kivela, executive director of the

ANNOTATIONS

T

HERE is a reason for that appellation, “Cebuana” before the name of Gloria Sevilla. It is because of that—a cultural and a geographical identification—that the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, the oldest and reputedly most prestigious critics group in the country, will recognize the lifetime achievement of the actress.

Gloria Sevilla is recognized as the “Queen of Visayan Movies.”

She became very popular in the ’50s and the ’60s when Visayan movies or films made in Cebu started to develop massive audiences. Researches, including the paper, “The Visayan Film Industry: A Retrospective,” written by J. Vincent Noriega and Valeriano Avila with Kris Relatado and Junius F. Ranillo, however place the beginning of the Visayan film tradition as early as the 1920s when Filipino-Visayan filmmakers identified as Max Borromeo, Florentino Borromeo and Celestino Rodriguez produced El Hijo Disobediente (The Disobedient Son). Done in 1922, the black-andwhite silent picture is considered to be one of the earliest films from the Southern Philippines. 1938 is the year in which scholars claim Visayan Film Industry made its first “talkie”—Bertoldo Ug Balodoy (Bertoldo and Balodoy). As with other film activities, the Second World War stopped the production of films in Cebu. It was in the late ’40s that Cebuano films started making a comeback.

It was in the ’50s, however, when more films were made using the Cebuano language. The said decade therefore, contrary to what is written always, would be seeing not the birth but the rebirth or resurgence of Visayan movies.

To quote the paper of Noriega et al and other bloggers, it was in 1951 that the tandem of Gloria Sevilla and Mat Ranillo begun. The film was Princesa Tirana and the film

outfit was Azucena Productions.

It has been written that this first feature film of Sevilla and Ranillo was such a box office success in the Visayas and Mindanao that other features immediately followed.

Some of these films were: Leonora, 1951; Pailub Lang (Be Forebearing), 1951; Utlanan (Border), 1952; Handumanan (Memoir), 1953; and, Inahan (Mother), 1952. Mention Visayan films and the names of Gloria Sevilla and Mat Ranillo come to mind.

In 1954 Gloria Sevilla and Mat Ranillo’s marriage was followed by the setting up of their own film company called S-R Productions in 1954. It was in 1955 that they released their first film, Paradista, followed by May Luhang Nahabilin sa Baybayon (A Tear Fell on the Shore). It was around this period that the two moved into the mainstream Tagalog Film industry. Even as they were mostly based in Manila, they continued to produce Visayan films.

Gloria Sevilla would go on to make Tagalog films, the de facto Filipino film in the ’60s until the advent of regional cinema.

In Manila now and in the company of film actresses not connected with any film industry outside the main, Gloria Sevilla would be recognized for her acting skills when she was given the Famas Best Supporting Actress in 1962. It is significant to note though that her major awards for Best Actress would be for two Visayan films made when she was an actress of the mainstream Philippine movie industry. This

was in 1969 for Badlis sa Kinabuhi (The Line of Life). Mat Ranillo, who would perish in a 1969 plane crash, would be given a posthumous award. The film would be the Philippine entry to the Asean Film Festival in Indonesia, and was shown of the Berlin Film Festival. The other film recognized by the Famas was one made in 1974, Gimingaw Ako. Later in her career, Gloria Sevilla would provide a gentle and arresting presence playing a mother to many of the young actresses in mainstream cinema. Among these performances noted for intensity and sincerity were those she had made opposite Nora Aunor. This would include the film, The Flor Contemplacion Story.

The selection of Gloria Sevilla as the recipient of this year’s “Natatanging Gawad Urian” from the critics is a nod to the power and importance of regional cinema.

When Filipino films were really Tagalog films, Gloria Sevilla was a stellar and extraordinary contribution to Philippine cinema. Her importance is even more singular for this year when the country is about to formally begin the official celebration of the centenary of Philippine cinema.

For the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, the choice of an actress with an origin from the periphery continues the tradition of these critics to bestow honor to films and filmmakers coming from the margin. The fact of their marginalization is not so much the point of their prestige as it is the act of honoring where they are and where they come from that is a radical way of initiating the search for national cinema. For the nation to have cinemas that best represent the diversity and unity of regions, it is proper to see the central as a product of the social realities that there are those who are at the margins.

In 2011, a Cebuano film, An Damgo ni Eleuteria, by Remton Siega Zuasola, received the Gawad Urian Best Film. Gloria Sevilla adds gravitas, glamor, and history to this distinction of Cebuano filmmaking and, for that matter, the rest of independent, regional film industry.

The 42nd Gawad Urian will be held on June 18, at 5:30 in the afternoon, at the UP Film Center. The awarding ceremonies are presented by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

Businesses showing discontent with Trump’s trade policies

By Paul Wiseman & Steve Peoples

Corporate America was blindsided last week when Trump threatened to impose crippling taxes on Mexican imports in a push to stop the flow of Central American migrants into the United States.

The two sides reached a truce on Friday after Mexico agreed to do more to stop the migrants. But by Monday, Trump was again threatening the tariffs if Mexico didn’t abide by an unspecified commitment, to “be revealed in the not too distant future.”

Such whipsawing is now a hallmark of Trump’s trade policy. The president repeatedly threatens tariffs, sometimes imposes them, sometimes suspends them, sometimes threatens them again. Or drops them.

Business groups, already uncomfortable with Trump’s attempts to

stem immigration, are struggling to figure out where to stand in the fast-shifting political climate. They have happily supported his corporate tax cuts and his moves to loosen environmental and other regulations. But many are concerned about the president’s mercurial approach to tariffs.

The Business Roundtable, an association of CEOs, opposes the use of tariffs and has made the case to the administration about the risks they pose to economic growth. But Trump has remained a fervent advocate of the import taxes anyway.

“They are going to do what they do—it’s not up to us,” Jamie Dimon, chairman of the Business Roundtable and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, said at a gathering of reporters on Wednesday.

“Business is losing,” said Rick Tyler, a Republican strategist and fre-

quent Trump critic. “He calls himself ‘Mr. Tariff man.’ He’s proud of it... It’s bad news for the party. It’s bad news for the free market.”

Just last week, the sprawling network led by the billionaire industrialist Charles Koch announced the creation of several political action committees focused on policy—including one devoted to free trade—to back Republicans or Democrats who break with Trump’s trade policies. A powerful force in Republican politics, the network is already a year into a “multiyear multimillion dollar” campaign to promote the dangers of tariff and protectionist trade policies.

The Chamber of Commerce, too, is in the early phases of disentangling itself from the Republican Party after decades of loyalty. The Chamber, which spent at least $29 million largely to help Republicans in the 2016 election, announced earlier this year that it would devote more time and attention to Democrats on Capitol Hill while raising the possibility of supporting Democrats in 2020.

Few expect the Chamber or business-backed groups like the Koch network to suddenly embrace Democrats

European Association for Business and Commerce.

Slower investment growth and the worsening trade outlook will curb economic growth, which the central bank says may come in lower than its 3.8 percent forecast for the year—already among the weakest in Southeast Asia.

offers a number of advantages over its less-developed neighbors—especially in the vehicle industry, where Subaru Corp. and Harley Davidson Inc. have expanded operations.

Micah Shepard, president of Southeast Asia at German-based automotive parts maker Schaeffler Manufacturing Co. Ltd., said Thailand “has the full supply base of everything you more or less need to make your product,” which gives it a “big advantage” over Vietnam.

Schaeff ler Manufacturing has

factories in both countries after opening a $50 million manufacturing plant in Vietnam’s Bien Hoa last month.

Thailand is hoping to win over investors as a one-stop shop business hub with its signature project, a $54 billion infrastructure project along the eastern seaboard, which would see new industrial zones supplemented by a high-speed railway, an expanded airport and deeper ports.

Kanit Sangsubhan, secretarygeneral of the Eastern Economic

The Associated Press

W

ASHINGTON—President Donald J. Trump’s aggressive and wildly unpredictable use of tariffs is spooking American business groups, which have long formed a potent force in his Republican Party.

Economic advantages

ALTHOUGH it’s losing out to regional peers like Vietnam as businesses shift supply chains amid the US-China trade war, Thailand still

in a significant way. But even a subtle shift to withhold support from vulnerable Republican candidates could make a difference in 2020.

Trump’s boundless enthusiasm for tariffs has upended decades of Republican trade policy that favored free trade. It has left the party’s traditional allies in the business world struggling to maintain political relevance in the Trump era.

Trump’s tariffs are taxes paid by American importers and are typically passed along to their customers. They can provoke retaliatory tariffs on US exports. And they can paralyze businesses, uncertain about where they should buy supplies or situate factories.

“Knowing the rules helps us plan for the future,” said Jeff Schwager, president of Sartori, a cheese company that has had to contend with retaliatory tariffs in Mexico in an earlier dispute.

Trump seems unfazed.

Myron Brilliant, head of international affairs at the US Chamber of Commerce, went on CNBC on Monday to decry “the weaponization of tariffs” as a threat to the US economy and to relations with trading partners.

Corridor, said projects are proceeding, with a contract to build a $7 billion high-speed railway connecting three major airports already secured. “Within the next month we might be able to pass another two or three projects at the same time,” he said.

For investors, a stable government able to deliver on these investments is crucial for the economy.

“Deep down inside they want certainty,” said Kulthirath. “We pray for it.”

News BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Friday, June 14, 2019 A13

PHL awaits full report of WPS ‘collision’

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By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla Recto Mercene @rectomercene & Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

HE Philippine government said on Thursday it will calibrate its actions vis-à-vis China once it gets a full report on the June 9 “collision” at Recto Bank between a Chinese vessel and a Filipino fishing boat that sank, and will move on the basis of Beijing’s response to its protest.

Manila said it is ready to cut, if necessary, diplomatic ties with China over the apparent ramming by a Chinese vessel of the Philippine fishing boat in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) earlier this week, and the Chinese side’s abandonment of the Filipino fishermen, who were rescued by a Vietnamese group.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo said this could be their response if it is proven that the Chinese ship intentionally rammed the Philippine fishing boat.

Such act, he said, may be considered an act of aggression against the Philippines.

Earlier, however, it was not just the ramming that the Department of National Defense (DND) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) took issue with. Both Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L.

Locsin Jr. said the abandonment by the Chinese of the 22 hapless Filipinos after their boat sank was most condemnable and a violation of international law.

Panelo said the DFA has filed a diplomatic protest with the Chinese government over the incident.

Task force report

LOCSIN said on Thursday on Twitter that he “just got a fine report from Task Force. Great work, guys.”

Earlier, Locsin had cautioned critics against making hasty accusations against the Chinese fishermen, telling them to wait for the findings of Task Force West Philippine Sea. “Let us wait for the West PH Task Force to give the sort of facts on the basis of which I fire off diplomatic protests,” he tweeted, before he got the TF report.

He also corrected Wednesday’s reports that there was collision

“We don’t know if it was done intentionally or if the Chinese government already imposed sanctions [against the perpetrators] or if it is a private vessel. That is why we [are] asking them to investigate.”—Panelo

between a Filipino fishing boat and a Chinese vessel, saying it was presumably an “allision, or bumping of two vessels one of which was stationary.” Reports received by the DND said the Filipino boat was stationary when it was hit.

“Corrected myself, it is an allision not a collision when one vessel is stationary; it is ramming if we can clearly surmise that was the intention which is a state of mind,” Locsin said on Twitter.

At the same time the country’s top envoy said he has filed a diplomatic protest against the Chinese, in the wake of Sen. Antonio Trillanes’s recommendation that Locsin should also inform the Maritime Safety Committee of the IMO (International Maritime Organization), since both the Philippines and China are State parties to the same group.

Locsin, however, reminded Trillanes that he will proceed on the merits of the case “and what it calls for while the matter is studied by the IMO. Even our ally failed us in Scarborough, remember?”

The Scarborough reference pertains to the 2012 standoff between the Philippines and China where the United States, which was mediating, did not intervene when China remained on the shoal de-

Duterte prodded to invoke Unclos, file case vs China over ‘hit and run’ at sea

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

A

NGERED by reports that a Chinese boat “rammed” a Filipino fishing vessel anchored in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and then abandoned 22 fishermen as their boat sank, senators on Thursday prodded the Duterte administration to lodge a strong formal protest over what they deemed a blatant violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, however, cautioned against calls to recall Philippine Embassy officials in Beijing following the incident. “Protest, yes. But remove our embassy officials and all...silly,” Sotto said on Thursday in a text message to the B usinessM irror.

“We cannot allow a bunch of stupid and heartless fishermen in a Chinese fishing vessel [to] make us remove our diplomatic relationship with more than a billion Chinese citizens who are friendly with us,” Sotto said. Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, in a separate statement, asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to file a diplomatic protest against China after noting that the Chinese vessel’s action “violated every State’s duty to rescue under the Unclos.”

“This incident demands strong and immediate action,” said Drilon. “We cannot let this incident pass...No selfrespecting nation will allow that.” A former Justice secretary, Drilon invoked Article 98 of Unclos which required every State to render assistance to any person in distress or in danger of being lost at sea.

Drilon said under the Unclos, “it is the duty of the state to oblige masters of vessels flying their flag to follow the provision; therefore, both Stateowned vessels and private vessels flying the State’s flag are mandated

to render assistance to people in distress at sea.”

“What do you call a friend who abandons a friend in times of need?”

Drilon asked, noting that both China and the Philippines are signatories to the Unclos which, under Article 98 (1) states: “Every State shall require the master of a ship flying its flag, in so far as he can do so without serious danger to the ship, the crew or the passengers: (a) to render assistance to any person found at sea in danger of being lost; (b) to proceed with all possible speed to the rescue of persons in distress, if informed of their need of assistance, in so far as such action may reasonably be expected of him; (c) after a collision, to render assistance to the other ship, its crew and its passengers and, where possible, to inform the other ship of the name of his own ship, its port of registry and the nearest port at which it will call.”

He stressed that such failure to act on the duty to rescue “gives rise to State responsibility,” adding, “the only exception under the Unclos is that when it would endanger the rescuing vessel.”

According to the minority leader, such duty is so critical that it is even imposed during wartime.

Lacson’s, CBCP’s take CITING longtime ties between the Philippines and China, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said, “nothing short of a hard and serious punitive action by the Chinese leadership against the Chinese crew responsible for the cowardly act against our fishermen could assuage the majority of our countrymen’s strong apprehension about the sincerity of China toward us.”

He suggested a top-level meeting between senior leaders of the two countries. “This incident calls for a leader-to-leader talk,” Lacson said.

Meanwhile, officials of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines

(CBCP) expressed their concern over the incident.

CBCP-Episcopal Commission on the Laity Chairman Bishop Broderick Pabillo said the Philippine government should demand an explanation from the Chinese government on why the Filipino fishermen were abandoned by the Chinese sea vessel.

Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said the incident reflects how China treats the country amid both parties’ prevailing territorial dispute in the WPS. “This is a clear manifestation of China’s continuous bullying of the Philippines. They have no respect for our territory nor respect for Filipino lives.

Yet, Duterte sees nothing wrong with China!” Bastes said.

Balanga Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos said China’s response to the incident will determine the fate of its long-term diplomatic relations with the country.

“If they are really our friends and neighbors who propagate common peace and prosperity among Asians they should avoid provocation, maintain restraint and help our 22 fishermen,” Santos said.

‘Sum of all our fears’ MILITANT fisherfolk belonging to the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said in a statement: “This is the sum of all our fears; the continuing presence of Chinese vessels in our traditional fishing grounds leads to more bullying and harassment of our fisherfolk without accountability. The Filipino fishing vessel was moored when it was hit by a huge and negligent Chinese fishing vessel, but instead of rescuing the fishermen who were thrown out of the boat, they were left abandoned.” Pamalakaya staged a protest at the Chinese Consulate during Wednesday’s observance of the Philippines’s 121st Independence Day. With reports by Samuel P. Medenilla

and Jonathan L. Mayuga

spite an earlier agreement for both countries to leave the disputed area.

Thus, it subsequently had virtual control of the area, a traditional fishing ground of Asian fishermen for thousands of years.

In the June 9 incident, the Philippine fishing boat—the F/B Gimver 1—was anchored when it was hit by the Chinese vessel, but thanks to the help of the crew of a Vietnamese fishing vessel in the area, the Filipino fishermen were rescued, in coordination with the Philippine military.

The Armed Forces’s Western Command (Wescom)said the incident was “far from accidental” and also likened it to a “hit and run.”

“After the collision, the Chinese vessel immediately umalis, tumakas, parang hit and run [immediately left, it was like a hit and run],” AFP Wescom Spokesman Lt. Col. Stephen Penetrante said.

Navy weighs in

NAVY chief Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad, meanwhile, supported Lorenzana’s strong words in condemning the acts of the Chinese in leaving the 22 Filipinos “to the mercy of the elements” after their boat sank.

“I support the letter that was sent by the secretary of National Defense. It could not be that you will ram and then [leave],” said Empedrad. Regard less of the ship’s mark, its crewmen and the origin of the boat, the demeanor of its crew “should be condemned in the strongest terms,” he said.

The F/B Gimver 1 was on anchor in Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea with the 22 Filipino fishermen onboard when it was struck by a Chinese fishing vessel, caus-

ing it to sink on Sunday night. The Chinese boat left, leaving the Filipinos to the mercy of the weather and water.

A Vietnamese fishing boat rescued the Filipinos and did not leave them until a Philippine Navy ship that was on patrol arrived in the area. Empedrad said the investigation report will originate from the Armed Forces Western Command and go to Lorenzana through Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. Regardless of the report’s outcome, Empedrad said the acts of the Chinese fishermen were in violation of rules and regulations at sea, including the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea or what it known as the Colregs.

The Colregs mandates that even in case of a collision, it is the obligation of the less impacted or affected ship to assist the other vessel and its crewmen, regardless of who is at fault.

“You cannot just leave, lives are at stake,” he added.

Sanctions

PANELO said Manila will ask Beijing to sanction the crew of the Chinese ship involved in the incident.

The Philippines and China have had a running dispute in the strategic waters where China maintains it has “undisputed” sovereignty over the area.

However, in a landmark ruling, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated China’s so-called 9-dash-line claim. China continues to ignore the July 2016 ruling, which President Duterte said Manila will use when the time is right to invoke it.

More information

IN their diplomatic protest, Panelo said they asked the Chinese government “to probe the incident and to impose punitive action against those at fault.”

Panelo added, “We don’t know if it was done intentionally or if the Chinese government already imposed sanctions [against the perpetrators] or if it is a private vessel. That is why we [are] asking them to investigate,” Panelo said.

If they deemed insufficient the response of the Chinese government to the request, he said they will consider other diplomatic actions against Beijing, including downgrading the country’s diplomatic presence.

“The action may be even more severe...we will leave it to the President,” Panelo said.

“Our responses will always be calibrated, depending on the degree [of aggression against the country]. But definitely, we will not allow ourselves to be assaulted, to be bullied, to be the subject of such barbaric, uncivilized and outrageous actions from any source,” he added.

Multilateral patrols

TO prevent similar incidents, Panelo said they will ask the DND to consider possible interventions, such as multilateral sea patrols in the Recto Bank and other areas in the WPS. “The defense department will be the one to decide which are the best moves for that,” Panelo said.

Recto Bank, also known as Reed Bank is being claimed by China. This, despite the area’s inclusion in the Philippines’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

Group pushes power consumers’ participation in CSP discussions

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

C

onsumer group Murang Kuryente is urging the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to include electricity consumers in the discussions on the power supply agreements (PSAs) that are covered by a Supreme Court order to undergo Competitive Selection Process (CSP).

“The ERC has talked to generation companies, they have talked to distribution utilities, but they have yet to talk to the people who would pay the price for the result of their talks—the consumers,” said Murang Kuryente Spokesman Gerry Arances.

Murang Kuryente, Power for People Coalition, Philippine Movement for Climate Justice and Sanlakas held a protest rally on Monday morning in front of the ERC office in Pasig City.

They also submitted a letter to ERC Chairman Agnes Devanadera requesting for an audience to present the thoughts of consumers concerning the selection process for PSAs. Murang Kuryente, composed of leading energy consumer advocates, has been at the forefront of the campaign to lower electricity prices since its establishment the previous year. When sought for comment, ERC Spokesman Atty.

Rexie Digal said in a text message that consumer groups attended previous public hearings on CSP. “Engagement with stakeholders, may it be distribution utilities, generation companies, consumers on the CSP, was done through public consultations [pubcons]. Per our record, [MSK] Matuwid na Singil sa Kuryente attended the CSP pubcons. Comments on the second and third draft we’re, likewise, received from MSK. In fact, some of their suggestions were, made part of the current CSP draft,” said Digal.

When asked if Murang Kuryente attended previous discussions or public hearings, Digal said, “Parang wala naman [There was none as far as I could recall] before. Our invitations are posted in our web site. It’s not directed to anyone specific.”

Murang Kuryente, meanwhile, welcomed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC).

The MOA is meant to coordinate their actions on promoting market competition and investigating collusions in the power sector.

“We have been asking the government to investigate the cartellike behavior of power companies for so long. This agreement between the PCC and the DOE is a welcome development and a step forward to putting consumers first in our electricity policy, as it should be,” said Arances.

Arances also responded to San Miguel Corp. (SMC) President Ramon Ang’s assertion that renewable energy (RE) is neither economical nor affordable at this point.

“Renewable energy now accounts for a third of the global power generating capacity, according to a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency. In fact, coal is on the downturn everywhere else except in Southeast Asia.

“Study after study, and even our own experience with power supply agreements, have shown that coal is more expensive than RE sources.

You don’t have to buy the heat of the sun or movement of the wind, you just need to collect them,” he said.

Arances pointed out that all of the power plants that failed in the Philippines earlier this year and caused the yellow and red alerts are all powered by coal, demonstrating the unreliability of the highly pol-

lutive fuel.

“We welcome Mr. Ang’s statement, saying that SMC is looking to completely transition to renewables, but no, more coal will not help with that transition. There may be new technology, which will emit less, but it just means fewer people will be killed by the diseases coal produces.

Every death, every illness caused by the use of coal is one too many, especially when RE is there and able to produce electricity at a lower cost, higher reliability, and with less adverse effects on health and the environment,” said Arances.

The power business of SMC is keen on putting up more power plants that could generate 1,200 megawatts of additional capacity to help address a foreseen power shortage in the Luzon grid, Ang had said.

He added that it is likely that a power shortage looms from 2020 until 2022, mainly because of lack of new power supply, and regulatory delays in the approval of power plant construction, among others.“To ensure that progress is sustained with the continuing economic growth and aggressive infrastructure development , we have to build new power plants. But these can’t be just any power plant. New facilities should be able to address all the critical issues—affordability, reliability and, of course, environmental concerns.

That’s why we are studying hydro, tidal and wind power technologies, and have identified certain locations for these projects. But along with these efforts, we will also continue to build new clean coal technology power plants,” said Ang. He also assured that all new power facilities that will be built will utilize the latest, cleanest and safest coal combustion technology.

These are no longer the coal plants of old that burn so much fuel and emit so much pollution.

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If you have any information / objection to the above mentioned application/s, please communicate with the Regional Director thru Employment Promotion and Workers Welfare (EPWW) Division with Telephone No. 400-6011.

ATTY. ANA C. DIONE, CPA REGIONAL DIRECTOR

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Editor: Efleda P. Campos

Friday, June 14, 2019

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DOE inspects 74% of LGUs power-generating facilities

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By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

HE Department of Energy (DOE) has inspected 53 of the 72 development projects implemented by various local government units (LGUs) hosting generating facilities or power plants funded under the Energy Regulations 1-94 (ER 1-94) Program.

The number represents 74 percent of the development projects under the program.

These inspections conducted by the agency’s Electric Power Industry Management Bu-

reau–Rural Electrification Administration and Management Division (EPIMB-REAMD) are in line with Department Circular 2018-08-0021, which redirects the administration of the ER 1-94 Program to LGUs, as well as the first Implementation Advisory Letter on the guidelines for the direct remittance of financial benefits by power-generation companies (gencos) to their host communities that started this year.

Under the ER 1-94 or Benefits to Host Communities Program, pertinent LGUs are entitled to avail themselves of financial benefits for hosting energy resources and/or ener-

gy-generating facilities within their territorial jurisdiction.

The program provides for gencos and/or energy resource developers to set aside P0.01 per kilowatt-hour of their total electricity sales as financial benefits to host communities, allocated to three ty pes of funds: one-half of 1 centavo for the Electrification Fund of the concerned distribution utilities; one-fourth of 1 centavo for the Development and Livelihood Fund; and another one-fourth of 1 centavo for the Reforestation, Watershed Management, Health and/or Env ironment Enhancement Fund of the host LGUs.

“The Department has been working hard to complete the close-out of ER 1-94 projects so that the succeeding financial benefits will benefit the host communities directly,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

EPIMB-REAMD has been tasked to complete the inspection of the remaining 19 ER 1-94 projects within the year.

Cusi added the direct remittance of financial benefits to host communities would lead to a considerable increase in publicsector projects to be realized by host LGUs and their distribution utilities, which would redound to the benefit of their respective constituents and customers.

Harbor Star Malaysian unit wins contract GCash’s new feature allows users to request money from contacts

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

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HE Malaysian unit of tugboat operator Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc. has won the contract to provide harbor tug services to Westports Malaysia Sdn Bhd in Port Klang.

The company said in its disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange its unit Peak Flag Sdn Bhd has been awarded a contract to provide a 60-ton bollard pull tug for a period of three years with an option for extension for another two years.

“Peak Flag is expected to commence the harbor tug services to Westports Malaysia on the third week of June 2019,” the company said in its disclosure.

Westports Malaysia is the leading termi-

nal in Port Klang, handling approximately 75 percent of Port Klang’s throughput.

In the first quarter of 2019, Westports Malaysia handled 2.53 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEU) and 2.36 million metric tons of conventional cargo, placing it as one of Southeast Asia’s major ports.

The company said it incurred a net loss of P84.61 million for the three months of the year ending March from last year’s net income of P30.13 million.

As of end March, its recognized total service income dropped to P272.8 million from P308.4 million last year. Regular revenue sources such as harbor assistance, lighterage and towing services significantly declined by 14 percent to P251.9 million from combined P293.3 million last year.

“In addition, no salvage services were done in the first quarter of 2019 where as in first quarter of 2018, the group managed to recognize salvage revenue of P4.7 million from the wreck removal works for an LCT vessel which ran aground off the Saranggani province,” it said.

Other marine services increased by 55 percent to P16.2 million from P10.4 million last year, brought about mainly by the dredging activity entered into by the parent company in Leyte. The entry of the new service line, the feeder services, added P4.8 million into the group’s revenue.

Revenue contribution from subsidiaries, Peak Flag and Harbor Star Subic Corp., amounted to P14.3 million and P6.6 million, respectively, it said.

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

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CASH, operated by Globe Fintech Innovat ions Inc. (Mynt), claimed on Thursday its e-money platform is “transcending” telco boundaries by introducing a “request money” function in the app.

The feature, readily visible in the app’s dashboard, essentially allows users to request for money from their GCash contact list. Upon typing the amount needed, the requestor

may also explain the need for the request through the in-app messaging function of the new feature.

The GCash user, whom the money is being requested from, simply has to click on the notification and accept the request.

This will allow a “seamless” transfer of money from one mobile wallet to another.

Mynt Vice President for Money Transfer Fred Levy said this feature is one of the services that help break the boundaries between mobile service provid-

TBGI signs MOU with Chinese firm ZPI

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R ANSPACIFIC Broadband Group International Inc. (TBGI) and Chinese state-owned telecom equipment supplier “ZPI” have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the latter’s common tower initiative in the Philippines.

A quick search on the Web will not show any information about ZPI. The BusinessMirror sought for clarification from ZPI’s officials, but none were available as of press time.

Upon checking with an officer from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the list of common tower providers does not include a certain ZPI. Based on the disclosure to the stock exchange, the agreement will require TBGI to assist the Chinese state-owned enterprise (SOE) for the presite acquisition and post-construction process of its planned common tower project for budding the third telco.

“The MOU entails the formulation of the matrix of responsibilities, project schedule, contract arrangement, and milestones of the project,” the disclosure read.

For the telco tower buildup, TBGI has forwarded to ZPI a list of 3,000 towers to be built for its existing clientele of private schools. Each tower will cost roughly $100,000 per site, while land acquisition is pegged at $7,000 to $8,000 per site.

This will translate to roughly P1 billion in additional revenues for the company, according to the disclosure.

TBGI claimed that its “long and close working relationships with two major institutional organizations is key consideration for the Chinese company to gain access in a short time to many various strategic sites that dot the archipelago [sic].”

The Filipino company noted its congressional franchise and existing satellite business will be part of the strategic cooperation between the two groups.

Lorenz S. Marasigan

CSR EXPO 2019 The League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) held its 18th Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Expo Press Conference last Friday at El Calle Food and Music Hall in Resorts World

Manila. LCF announced during the press conference the launch of this year’s LCF CSR Expo on July 4 and 5 at the Jose Rizal Hall in PICC in Pasay City. Themed “Toward Collective Impact: Collaborations that Work!” LCF President Cecile Alcantara said the expo will focus on institutions working together. “The Hope of this year’s theme is for everyone to be involved; to share, inspire and empower,” Alcantara said. The two-day event will have different types of sessions featuring global speakers and government representatives. The speakers will “share stories” for a private-sector collaboration with the government.

ers. GCash is a telco agnostic app, which means that anyone with a SIM card can register for an account, regardless of mobile network provider.

“We believe in the power of inclusivity.

As we lead the push for financial inclusion across the different sectors of society, we believe providing a telco agnostic platform will help more Filipinos participate in the digital economy,” he said.

Aside from the request money feature, the GCash app also allows users to transfer money, pay for digital and physical transactions, invest in stocks and bonds, and make use of a credit line.

GCash has a 20-million strong user base as of this writing.

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Angkas riders prepare for pilot run

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By Roderick L. Abad @rodrik_28 Contributor

WO-WHEELED ride-hailing service provider Angkas said on Thursday it is hoping for the success of the government-sanctioned pilot run leading to the legalization of motorcycle taxis in the country within the year.

Angkas is now preparing for the six-month government-sanctioned pilot run of its operations in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu with the ongoing retraining of its bikerpartners.

Around 2,000 of the 27,000 riders enlisted in the Angkas network are being trained anew daily. To date, about 12,000 have already undergone retraining. The remaining 15,000 drivers will also go through riding skills assessments, written tests, and extensive safety training to ensure they meet very high safety standards.

“Basically, we will have sets of schedule when we will start the pilot implementation for everybody,” Angkas Head of Regulatory and Public Affairs George Royeca told reporters during their media briefing held in Malate, Manila. “But, hopefully, by third week or last week of June we can push through since we promised to the public that the pilot would be on June 10.”

The trial operation of Angkas is in adherence to the directive and recommendations of the technical working group (TWG) created by the Department of Transportation

(DOTr) to study the feasibility of motorcycle taxis.

Because the safety of the riding public is always a top priority, the ride-sharing app provider is equipping the drivers with safety gears to guarantee protection not only of themselves but also the passengers.

“For the pilot run, Angkas is introducing special reflectorized vests with side straps that help bikers become more visible at night and aid passengers in holding on to the biker’s waist. Each vest also has the biker’s unique ID number, ensuring that only officially registered bikers can take bookings,” said David Medrana, operations head of Angkas.

Together with two helmets given for every rider, the vest is provided at an installment fee of at least P50 a week. The provision of such safety gears, however, will not raise the fare of Angkas, he reiterated, as it remains at P50 for the first 2 kilometers, and P10 for each additional kilometer.

A ngkas biker-partners and their passengers are still insured for every ride. Insurance claims amount to P450,000 for death and dismemberment and P100,000 for

non-dismemberment.

“We also have a feedback mechanism in our app to closely monitor the performance of all our bikerpartners and address any concerns immediately,” Medrana added.

To further push the Passengers Safety Campaign of Angkas, a lot of marketing collaterals and materials will be distributed in the next couple of weeks. The additional safety measures in place during the test run could also be tweaked if needed.

“The idea here is to refine and enhance all of the implementing rules and regulations [IRRs] for this operation of a motorcycle taxi,” Royeca said.

The pilot run resulted from the long hours spent by the members of the TWG: Angkas, DOTr, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Highway Patrol Group, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and all the commuter groups, transport advocates, and members of academe.

“We’ve spent a long time working to figure out how to come up with a motorcycle taxi service that's not only fast and accessible, but also satisfies the safety requirements of the regulatory agencies as well,”

said Jobert Bolaños of the Motorcycle Rights Organization.

Angkas has been an advocate for biker education and training since the service’s inception. Proof of this is that only 27,000 biker-partners, from over 100,000 trained motorcycle bikers, have been accredited to date because of its stringent standards. This, in turn, resulted in a current safety record of 99.997 percent, with a minute accident rate of only 0.003 percent.

Grateful that the DOTr saw the merits of such safety indicators, Royeca is confident that after the six-month trial run, the law to regulate motorcycle taxis can already be passed.

“We hope to refile the bill in Congress and Senate. We hope to have a very healthy dialogue with the Committee on Public Services in the Senate and the Committee on Transportation in Congress so that we can update them on a regular basis on the operations of the pilot program, refine the implementing rules and regulations, and put that as part of the bill whatever is deemed necessary. Hopefully, within six months the bill will be passed even before the pilot run ends,” he said.

MUTUAL FUNDS

6X30 meralco

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Energy expert seeks new oil and gas exploration for PHL

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HE Philippines may experience regular power outages unless the country beefs up its oil and gas reserves and push for energy independence in the next few years.

Based on studies done by experts, the Philippines’s oil and gas reserves are steadily declining, driving the country to greater reliance on imports. And if the situation does not change, a new version of the “dark ages” with long hours of brownouts every day won’t be too far-fetched.

GlobalData power industry analyst Harshavardhan Reddy Nagatham said, “The growing population is driving electricity consumption in the Philippines. As a result, new investment in capacity addition is urgently needed.”

The problems in the country’s oil and gas exploration initiatives only make the situation worse as investors have been taking a wait-andsee stance due to currently unresolved issues that pit the government auditors against the Department of Energy (DOE).

Although many investors have expressed interest in doing oil and gas exploration in the Philippines, very little headway has been achieved toward transforming this interest into concrete steps.

A report done by First Solutions Macro Research, a unit of the Fitch Group, stated the DOE sees the Philippines’s oil dependency is already at a hefty 48 percent. The report also said this is expected to increase in the coming years “due to a growing demand for refining feedstock, next to continued declines in oil and gas production.”

June 13, 2019

NAV ONE YEAR THREE YEAR FIVE YEAR Y-T-D

PER SHARE RETURN* RETURN STOCK FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 267.34 0.62% 0.66% 1.17% 5.99% ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 1.6496 7.09% 8.9% 3.59% 14.49% ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 4.1694 -0.95% 0.9% 0.43% 6.83% CLIMBS SHARE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND CORP. -A 0.9508 2.86% N.A. N.A. 6.77% FIRST METRO CONSUMER FUND ON MSCI PHILS. IMI, INC. -A 0.8876 3.47% N.A. N.A. 8.15% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN EQUITY FUND,INC. -A 5.5472 1.65% 1.23% 1.17% 5.24% MBG EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND, INC. -A 123.19 9.16% N.A. N.A. 5.78% ONE WEALTHY NATION FUND, INC. -A 0.8902 -0.32% -3.55% N.A. 6.94% PAMI EQUITY INDEX FUND, INC. -A 52.9694 3.05% 1.59% N.A. 7.65% PHILAM STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 550.67 2.18% 0.57% 1.01% 6.98% PHILEQUITY DIVIDEND YIELD FUND, INC. -A 1.3413 4.53% 2.42% 3.59% 6.96% PHILEQUITY FUND, INC. -A 39.3966 4.57% 3.21% 3.13% 7.55% PHILEQUITY MSCI PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A,3 1.0627 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILEQUITY PSE INDEX FUND INC. -A 5.3721 3.94% 2.61% 3.37% 8.33% PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND CORP. -A 897.01 4.03% 2.32% 3.31% 8.27% SOLDIVO STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 0.9404 5.11% 1.55% N.A. 9.2% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE EQUITY FUND, INC. -A 4.3963 4.59% 2.58% 2.55% 8.31% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND, INC. -A 1.0309 3.52% 2.26% N.A. 8.03% UNITED FUND, INC. -A 3.7873 4.4% 4.23% 3.08% 8.18% EXCHANGE TRADED FUND FIRST METRO PHIL. EQUITY EXCHANGE TRADED FUND, INC. -A,C,2 120.0841 4.47% 3.3% 4.38% 8.43% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC. -B $0.9679 -12.53% 4.67% -0.51% 4.18% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY WORLD VOYAGER FUND, INC. -A $1.2782 -2.26% 7.64% N.A. 15.66% BALANCED FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ATRAM DYNAMIC ALLOCATION FUND, INC. -A 1.7506 1.23% -0.68% -1.1% 6.02% ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 2.3401 0.76% 0.76% 0.89% 5.93% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN BALANCED FUND INC. -A 2.6779 1.55% 0.28% -1.17% 5.27% GREPALIFE BALANCED FUND CORPORATION -A 1.3638 0.29% N.A. N.A. 4.56% NCM MUTUAL FUND OF THE PHILS., INC. -A 1.945 3.68% 1.13% 1.43% 5.53% PAMI HORIZON FUND, INC. -A 3.7611 2.23% 0.05% 0.67% 6.57% PHILAM FUND, INC. -A 16.9235 3.05% 0.18% 0.69% 6.39% SOLIDARITAS FUND, INC. -A 2.1631 2.35% 1.31% 1.98% 4.38% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 3.9088 4.4% 1.29% 1.63% 7.05% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2028, INC. -A,D,4 1.0228 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2038, INC. -A,D,4 1.0238 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2048, INC. -A,D,4 1.0208 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DYNAMIC FUND, INC. -A 1.0056 5.7% 1.65% N.A. 9.1% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES COCOLIFE DOLLAR FUND BUILDER, INC. -A $0.03712 7.07% 1.37% 1.77% 5.3% PAMI ASIA BALANCED FUND, INC. -A $0.9655 -8.25% 2.51% -1.25% 3.13% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ADVANTAGE FUND, INC. -A $3.7079 0.39% 5.76% 2.47% 12.08% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR WELLSPRING FUND, INC. -A $1.0987 2.01% 3.52% N.A. 8.78% BOND FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 349.64 3.28% 2% 2.17% 1.82% ATRAM CORPORATE BOND FUND, INC. -A,1 1.9004 2.43% -0.03% -0.14% 2.22% COCOLIFE FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 3.044 5.5% 5.3% 5.28% 2.46% EKKLESIA MUTUAL FUND INC. -A 2.1786 3.03% 1.08% 1.79% 2.26% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN FIXED INCOME FUND,INC. -A 2.3048 3.97% 0.99% 1.28% 4.32% GREPALIFE FIXED INCOME FUND CORP. -A P 1.6057 1.63% -0.99% -0.01% 2.64% PHILAM BOND FUND, INC. -A 4.1459 4.13% 0.05% 0.97% 5.77% PHILEQUITY PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.6634 4.96% 1.09% 1.31% 4.16% SOLDIVO BOND FUND, INC. -A 0.9357 2.9% -0.32% N.A. 4.83% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BOND FUND, INC. -A 2.941 6.98% 1.64% 1.94% 6.33% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY GS FUND, INC. -A 1.6348 6.9% 1.18% 1.51% 6.16% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $457.24 3.47% 1.83% 2.72% 2% ALFM EURO BOND FUND, INC. -A Є216.51 1.88% 1.37% 1.45% 1.82% ATRAM TOTAL RETURN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -B $1.1797 6.13% 1.86% 2.29% 4.79% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $0.0255 3.24% 0.93% N.A. 2.82% GREPALIFE DOLLAR BOND FUND CORP. -A $1.7149 1.22% -1.41% 0.59% 1.46% PAMI GLOBAL BOND FUND, INC -A $1.0809 4.45% -0.24% -1.93% 4.17% PHILAM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $2.3234 8.45% 1.17% 3.02% 7.01% PHILEQUITY DOLLAR INCOME FUND INC. -A $0.0589168 3.87% 1.5% 1.76% 3.4% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ABUNDANCE FUND, INC. -A $3.0487 5.73% 0.49% 2.38% 6.15% MONEY MARKET FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 123.21 3.6% 2.34% 1.88% 1.96% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A,5 1.0136 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILAM MANAGED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 1.21 3.61% 1.59% 0.99% 2.38% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 1.2417 3.6% 2.61% 1.98% 1.86% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR STARTER FUND, INC. -A $1.0269 2.1% N.A. N.A. 1.08%

A - NAVPS AS OF THE PREVIOUS BANKING DAY. B - NAVPS AS OF TWO BANKING DAYS AGO. C - LISTED IN THE PSE. D - IN NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT (NAVPU).

1 - ADJUSTED DUE TO CASH DIVIDEND ISSUANCE LAST JANUARY 29, 2018. 2 - ADJUSTED DUE TO STOCK DIVIDEND ISSUANCE LAST JUNE 5, 2018.

3 - LAUNCH DATE IS JANUARY 3, 2019. 4 - LAUNCH DATE IS JANUARY 28, 2019. 5 - LAUNCH DATE IS FEBRUARY 1, 2019.

Editor: Angel R. Calso | www.businessmirror.com.ph

OIL REBOUNDS AS REPORT SAYS CRUDE TANKER ON FIRE IN GULF OF OMAN

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IL rebounded from near the lowest level in five months after a report that a crude tanker was on fire in the Gulf of Oman.

Futures in New York rose more than 3 percent after the Port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates received a distress signal from the tanker Front Altair, according to a port official and a person with knowledge of the incident. Oil slumped 4 percent on Wednesday after US government data showed crude stockpiles expanded by 2.2 million barrels last week, compared with a forecast for a decline in a Bloomberg survey.

The incident in the Gulf of Oman follows attacks on oil tankers near the Persian Gulf last month and raises the possibility of a disruption of crude flows. That may give prices some reprieve after swelling American inventories and the rupturebetweentheUSandChina wiped out most of this year’s rally. WTI’s 14-day relative strength fell back into oversold territory on Wednesday, a signal recent losses may have been overdone.

“The market is waiting for any signs of progress in trade talks,”said Sungchil Will Yun, a commodities analyst at HI Investment & Futures Corp. in Seoul.“It’s also trying to assess whether the increase in stockpiles will be offset by the summer driving season in the US.” WTI futures for July delivery gained $1.62, or 3.2 percent, to $52.76 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange as of 7:39 a.m. in London after falling as much as 0.4 percent earlier. The contract closed down $2.13 on Wednesday, the biggest drop since May 31.

Brent for August settlement added $2.49, or 4.2 percent, to $62.46 a barrel on London’s ICE Futures Europe Exchange. It closed down 3.7 percent on Wednesday. The global benchmark crude traded at a premium of $9.30 to WTI for the same month.

Bloomberg News

The World BusinessMirror

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EHR AN, Iran—Japanese Pr ime Minister Shinzo Abe traveled to Tehran on Wednesday to warn that an “accidental conflict” could be sparked amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States, a message that came hours after Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels attacked a Saudi airport, wounding 26 people.

Abe’s trip is the highest-level effort yet to de-escalate the crisis as Tehran appears poised to break the 2015 nuclear deal it struck with world powers, an accord that the Trump administration pulled out of last year. It’s also the first visit of a sitting Japanese premier in the 40 years since the Islamic Revolution.

But success may prove difficult for Abe, as the Houthi rebel attack on Saudi Arabia’s Abha regional airport underscored.

The attack is just the latest in a wave of rebel drone and missile attacks targeting the kingdom, which has been mired in a years long war in Yemen that has killed an estimated 60,000 people and pushed the Arab world’s poorest nation to the brink of famine.

Iran is threatening to resume enr ic hing ura nium c loser to weapons-grade level on July 7 if European allies fail to offer it new

over the vast nation of 1.4 billion people.

Yet the mostly young throngs of well-organized protesters seemed little deterred by such threats, even as they took pains to remain anonymous by wearing masks, declining to give their full names to journalists and using cash rather than stored value cards to buy subway tickets.

The demonstrations follow the 30th anniversary of China’s bloody suppression of the student-led pro-democracy protests centered on Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989. Hong Kong held one of its biggest rallies in recent years to honor the hundreds or possibly thousands of demonstrators killed in the army assault and to demand a full investigation into the crackdown, in what was seen as a further sign of defiance against Beijing.

TAIWAN’S PRESIDENT DEFEATS PRIMARY RIVAL, CLEARING BID FOR SECOND TERM

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AIWAN’s president saw off an unprecedented challenge to her leadership from within her own party, defeating her former premier in the ruling Democratic Progressive Par ty ’s primary ahead of next January’s election.

Tsai Ing-wen, 62, secured a majority support in the telephone poll this week, DPP Spokesman Lee Yen-jong said on Thursday.

Her challenger, former Premier Lai Ching-te, is an outspoken proponent of formal independence for Taiwan.

Tsai still requires approval from the party’s executive committee next week to officially become the DPP’s nominee.

Ts a i ’s v i c t o r y g r a n t s t h e president something of a reprieve after waning public support for her culminated in her par t y ’s devastating losses to the opposition Kuomintang in regional elections in November. Concerns she would be unable to win a second term in 2020’s presidential election spurred her premier to resign and challenge her for the DPP’s nomination.

But despite the rebound in

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Japan premier warns US, Iran ‘accidental conflict’ possible terms. While President Donald Trump says he wants to talk to Tehran, the US has piled on sanctions that have seen Iran’s rial currency plummet along with its crucial oil exports.

The US also has sent an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the region, along with hundreds more troops to back up the tens of thousands already deployed across the Middle East. The US blames Iran for the Houthi assaults, as well as a mysterious attack on oil tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.

Abe called for “more patience” on all sides in the crisis, which he warned could spiral out of control.

“At the moment tension is rising. We should do anything we can to prevent an accidental conflict from happening and Iran should play its constructive role,” Abe said in an address to journalists after talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

“There is possibility of an accidental conf lict and a military conflict should be prevented at all costs.”

Rouhani for his part iterated a warning that Iran would offer a “crushing” response if attacked by the US. He also claimed that Japan wanted to again buy Iranian crude oil, something it had

stopped under threat of US sanctions. Abe did not acknowledge expressing that in their talks.

“Whenever the economic war stops, we will see a very positive development in the region and the world,” Rouhani said.

Neither leader took questions from journalists.

Abe’s plane landed at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport on Wednesday afternoon where he was greeted by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

He immediately met Rouhani at the Sadabad Palace in northern Tehran, where soldiers on horseback bearing the Iranian and Japanese flags accompanied his car.

Abe will see Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini on Thursday.

T he Japanese premier was s e e n a s a n i nt e r lo c ut or for Trump. Abe had just invited the A merican president to Japan last month and is in the process of negotiating with him over economic issues, as well.

Middle East peace is a must for Japan, which gets most of the oil fueling its economy from there.

Recent threats from Iran to close off the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth through which a third of all oil traded by sea passes, have raised concerns.

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE WORK SUSPENDED AMID POLITICAL CRISIS O N G K O N G — H o n g K o n g ’s legislature suspended meetings on Thursday following violent clashes between police and protesters who oppose a bill allowing suspects to be sent to Mainland China for trial and that is seen as tightening Beijing’s control over the territory.

The events in the former British colony mark possibly its biggest political crisis since being handed over to Chinese rule in 1997, and they pose a profound challenge to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Nearly two years ago, Xi issued a stern address in the city stating that Beijing would not tolerate Hong Kong becoming a base for what the ruling Communist Party considers a foreigninspired campaign to undermine its rule

Friday, June 14, 2019

her support, she still faces a test to avoid becoming Taiwan’s first one-term president. Five hopefuls are vying for the KMT nomination to run against her, including the populist mayor of Kaohsiung City Mayor Han Kuo-yu and Foxconn Technology Group’s billionaire founder Terry Gou. Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je is also considering a bid as an independent.

The DPP’s primary was different than most, relying on independent surveys of the general public— instead of voting—to determine which of the two contenders would fare better in the upcoming election.

The party and four polling companies sur veyed 15,000 adults, asking them whom would they prefer in a hypothetical three-way races including Han and Ko. Tsai outperformed Lai in the survey, which appeared to be an effort to find out who could mount a stronger challenge against Han, seen as the opposition’s strongest candidate. The match-ups didn’t account for a scenario in which Gou gets the KMT nomination.

Bloomberg News

Xi’s administration is also dealing with the trade war with the United States that has thrown its export-driven economic model into question, potentially threatening its relationship with China’s urban middle class that has been predicated on accepting strict political controls in exchange for improving standards of living. As one of the world’s most important financial centers, Hong Kong also stands to suffer from the continuing impasse, adding to frustrations among young people over stagnating salaries and skyrocketing housing prices.

Police kept a heav y presence around the government compound on Thursday while protesters sought to maintain pressure by blocking doors on subway trains and driving slowly on main thoroughfares. In their black

garb, use of social media and amorphous organization demonstrators appeared reflected the tactics of leftwing activists in Europe and the United States referred to as the “Black Bloc,” who have come to prominence at anti-globalization and anti-capitalist protests such as that surrounding the 2017 G20 meeting in Hamburg.

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam declared Wednesday’s violence “rioting,” that was “intolerable in any civilized society that respects the rule of law.”That designation could substantially increase the legal penalties for those arrested for taking part.

“Intense confrontation is surely not the solution to ease disputes and resolve controversies,” Lam said according to an official news release. AP

The looming threats to regional security could be seen just hours earlier in the attack on Abha.

The Houthis said they launched a cruise missile at the Saudi airport while the kingdom said 26 people were hurt.

At least one Yemeni and one Indian national were among those injured in the attack, which alTurki said struck the airport’s arrivals hall between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. State television later showed pictures of damage to a roof and debris on the airport’s tarmac, though it made a point to also show live footage from the airport of passengers queuing up to catch flights.

Though there were no fatalities, it was the largest number of civilians to be wounded in Saudi Arabia as a result of an attack by the rebels since the start of the Saudi-led war in Yemen more than four years ago.

The Houthis have previously used ballistic missiles to target the Saudi capital, R iyadh, and the airport there. More recently, they have launched bomb-laden drones targeting a key oil pipeline and the southwest city of K hamis Mushait.

A Houthi spokesman, Mohammed Abdel-Salam, said Wednesday’s attack was in response to

Saudi Arabia’s “continued aggression and blockade on Yemen.”

Iran’s nuclear deal, reached in 2015 by China, Russia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the US, saw Tehran agree to limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of crippling sanctions. Western powers feared Iran’s atomic program could allow it to build nuclear weapons, although Iran long has insisted its program was for peaceful purposes.

In withdrawing from the deal last year, Trump pointed to the accord not limiting Iran’s ballistic missile program and not addressing what American officials describe as Tehran’s malign influence across the wider Middle East.

Those who struck the deal at the time described it as a building block toward further negotiations with Iran, whose Islamic government has had a tense relationship with America since the 1979 takeover of the US Embassy in Tehran and subsequent hostage crisis.

Already, Iran says it quadrupled its production of low-enriched uranium. Meanwhile, US sanctions have cut off opportunities for Iran to trade its excess uranium and heavy water abroad, putting Tehran on course to violate terms of the nuclear deal regardless. AP

B4 Friday, June 14, 2019

CROWNE PLAZA TO HOST PHILIPPINE FASHION WEEK BROWN MADONNA COMMENDS EMPLOYEE FOR WINNING PARAÑAQUE CITY AWARD Brown Madonna Press Inc., a leading printer of textbooks, journals and other publications, has commended Leonardo L. de Jesus, assistant manager for production, for being named one of the Most Outstanding Employees of Parañaque City for the year 2018, as a pioneer employee who has served the company for 32 years. De Jesus (12th from left) received the award from Parañaque City Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez (sixth from left), assisted by Elizabeth Villanueva, head of Parañaque Workers Affairs Office; and Councilor Binky Favis (fourth and ninth from left, respectively). The award was given by the PWAO as part of the City’s Labor Day celebration. Brown Madonna Press, a major business establishment based in Parañaque City, is a member of the ALC Group of Companies founded by Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua.

It is now headed by D. Adrian C. Cabangon as president.

DATALAND’S SKY TOWER BREAKS GROUND

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GROUNDBREAKING ceremony was held to signal the construction of DataLand Inc.’s DDT Sky Tower, its flagship corporate-office development.

DataLand Inc. President Engr. Andrea Marie Tamayo-Ulep led the groundbreaking ceremony along with (from left) Gil Somblingo, chief finance officer of DDT Konstract Inc.; Edimar Ulep, chief operating officer and general manager of Whiteport Inc.; Engr. Cynthia Tamayo, vice president of DDT Konstract Inc.; Engr. Danilo Tamayo, chairman of DDT Group of Companies; Narciso Sytengco, owner of Sytengco Group of Companies; Arch. Abelardo Jojo Tolentino, president of Aidea Inc.; Engr. DJ Tamayo Jr. of DDT Konstract Inc.; Henry Lim,

chairman and president of Philstar Marketing Development Inc.; Rouen Raz, vice president for sales and marketing of DataLand Inc.; Engr. Rey Calpo, president of RJ Calpo and Partners; and Engr. John Benedict Garcia, structural design engineer of Sy Squared Associations.

The DDT Sky Tower will rise at the corner of Edsa and Mother Ignacia Street, where it is said to be the tallest structure in Quezon City at 60-story high. It is envisioned to be a demonstration of DataLand’s highest aspirations of providing clients with much more than just the basics.

There will be workspaces that are primarily designed for business-process outsourcing companies and other industries to provide highquality working environments.

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ROWNE Plaza Manila Galleria of the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) will be hosting the Philippine Fashion Week’s (PHFW) 2019 holiday-collection show on June 15 and 16 at the hotel’s grand ballroom. The two-day event kicks off the renowned fashion event’s threeyear partnership with Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria as its official venue from 2019 to 2021.

Among the roster of illustrious designers set to showcase their couture creations are EsAc by AudieAE, Boyet Dysangco, Jannette Visser, Jeffrey Rogador, Joel Rosales, JunJun Cambe, Nardie Presa, Simon Ariel Vasquez and Unity Ong Tan Ka. Shows on June 15 and 16 will be held four times each day at 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m.

On June 15 at 6 p.m., the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria bridal fashion show will feature stunning collections by some of the best and brightest names from the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines, namely, Arielle Agasang, A lbert Andrada, Mikee Andrei, Adam Balasa, Paolo Blanco, Cathy Capistrano, Mary Anne Casanova, Russ Cuevas, Danika Damo,

Maricris de la Pena, Ranel Espaldon, Ramil Estrope, Gill Granado, Marlo Javier, Marianne Martin, Cheena Ng Lio, Rowell Panlilio, Vince Sityar, Patty Valle, and Frannie Wei. The show is in conjunction with the She Said Yes! bridal fair on June 15.

“We are elated to [be a] partner [of the] Philippine Fashion Week and welcome them to their new home,” said Gibeth Gloria, executive assistant manager of Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria. “We

have consistently supported the Filipino fashion industry through previous collaborations, and [we] look forward to this long-term partnership.

Pioneered and still managed by the creative minds of Audie and Joey Espino of Runway Productions, the Philippine Fashion Week is a bi-annual event founded in1997.Theeventshowcases thecollections of world-class Filipino fashion designers and serves as an avenue for upcoming names in the local-fashion scene.

HEALTH-CARE PROVIDER IN CAVITE High Integrated Diagnostics and Wellness Center (HIDC), the first diagnostic and health-care clinic in Cavite that is equipped with the most advanced medical-imaging machines, has been recently inaugurated, officiated

by Rev. Father Efren Avenido. Caviteños can now avail themselves of the most affordable health-care and wellness services. HIDC is very accessible, now with three branches within Cavite, namely, Tanza, Rosario and Salinas. Caviteños don’t have to spend much money and travel away from their barangay just to have first-class diagnostic services and medical consultation. In photo at the MRI room are (from left) Dr. Rico Abella, medical director; Michael del Rosario, executive assistant to Mayor Nonong Ricafrente; Dr. Mariflor Gamat, general physician; and Nethel Abad, also from the mayor’s office. For consultation, e-mail at inquiries@hidc.com.ph.

GOLDEN ERA ON THE LINE

Sports BusinessMirror

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| Friday, June 14, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

TORONTO Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard guards Stephen Curry of Golden State in Game Five of the National Basketball Association Finals. AP

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By Janie McCauley The Associated Press

AKLAND, California—Stephen Curry offered a long list of things motivating the Golden State Warriors to extend their season once more and keep alive the chase for a third straight championship.

Winning for injured teammate Kevin Durant certainly ranks No. 1 heading into Game Six of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals.

A victory in the last game at Oracle Arena is right up there, too.

“I don’t think much needs to be said about the motivation that we have or are going to have tomorrow,” Curry said on Wednesday. “...To protect our home court, feed off our crowd’s energy, play for ‘K’ and try to keep our season alive. There are a lot of things that you can kind of tap into for energy tomorrow. We’ll be ready.”

Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry and the Raptors are playing for Canada’s first NBA crown, not to mention the country’s first major title since the Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series in 1993.

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AKLAND, California—Kevin Durant confirmed what everyone most feared: He underwent surgery for a ruptured right Achilles tendon.

Durant posted on social media on Wednesday the severity of his injury two days after getting hurt during Game Five of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals in Toronto in his return from a strained right calf that sidelined him a month.

The 30-year-old posted a photo on Instagram showing himself in a hospital bed and wrote: “I wanted to update you all: I did rupture my Achilles. Surgery was today and it was a success, easy money.”

Just 15 minutes before Durant went public, Warriors Coach Steve Kerr said during a finals media availability that he didn’t yet have a formal update on Durant.

Durant has made his own announcements before, such as writing on The Players’ Tribune web site about his decision to leave Oklahoma City to join Golden State in July 2016.

The Warriors said later on Wednesday that Durant had the surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley.

Kerr said everyone in the organization is “devastated,” including Dr. Rick Celebrini, the team’s director of medicine and performance. The Warriors made a “collaborative” decision to clear Durant to play—with the input of Durant and his representative—and had no idea that Durant risked a serious Achilles injury by returning from a strained calf, Kerr said.

“Now, would we go back and do it over again? Damn right,” he said. “But that’s easy to say after the results.

When we gathered all the information, our feeling was the worst thing that could happen would be a reinjure of the calf. That was the advice and the information that we had. At that point, once Kevin was cleared to play, he was comfortable with that, we were comfortable with that.

So the Achilles came as a complete shock. I don’t know what else to add to that, other than had we known that this was a possibility, that this was even in the realm of possibility, there’s no way we ever would have allowed Kevin to come back.”

After the game on Monday, a teary, emotional General Manager Bob Myers asked anyone who was looking to place blame to do so on him—not Durant, the medical staff or athletic trainers who worked so tirelessly to get him back.

Toronto lead the series 3-2 and are 3-0 on the Warriors’ home floor this season.

“For some reason I think both teams are really good road teams and have been all season,” Raptors Coach Nick Nurse said. “That’s one thing. Two, two really tough-minded teams playing and you’ve got to be a little more tough-minded on the road. And I think a lot of those games probably could have went either way.”

The Warriors might have to overcome being both emotionally and physically spent after watching two-time reigning Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) Durant go down again. Durant had returned from a monthlong absence with a strained right calf to start Game Five only to rupture his right Achilles tendon in the second quarter. Durant announced on Wednesday on Instagram the severity of his injury and that he had undergone surgery.

The Warriors also lost reserve big man Kevon Looney as he reaggravated a cartilage fracture in his right collarbone area.

Klay Thompson expects more energy than ever given the Warriors have recently gone through, not to mention all of the highs and lows during 47 seasons at Oracle.

“We’re just thinking about enjoying this last show at Oracle we’re about to give our fans. And I expect our fans

to be the loudest they have ever been, especially in the name of Kevin and bringing his type of spirit he would bring to the fight and the competitiveness,” Thompson said. “I know our fans will do that because we deserve it, but more importantly Kevin does for what he gave this team, this organization. There wouldn’t be banners if it wasn’t for his presence.”

Here are some other things to watch for going into Game Six:

SPLASH AWAY

SPLASH Brothers Curry and Thompson will be looking to repeat their hot shooting from Game Five, when they combined to go 19 for 44 from the field, and 12 of 27 from deep.

“We don’t want to give up that many to those guys,” Nurse said. “I think you got to guard them, got to find them in transition. They get a good chunk of them in that.”

Momentum maybe?

“It’s definitely a real thing,” Curry said.

SUPPORTING DURANT

SOME well-intentioned Raptors fans, meanwhile, started a

campaign to support Durant’s foundation as a way to offer their care and concern after some fans at Game Five cheered the injury. “Sorry KD. That’s not what Canada is about. We want to make it up to you!” the post read.

said of Leonard. “He just makes winning plays. He’s obviously expanded his game since then and shown offensively how dynamic he is. He requires attention at all times.”

GREEN’S TECHS

END OF AN ERA

DRAYMOND GREEN has six technicals during this postseason, and one more draws an automatic suspension.

Green needs to control his emotions in Game Six because should the Warriors win he would not want to sit out Game Seven in Toronto on Sunday.

Green had 10 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in Game Five.

MOVIN’ ON UP

LEONARD goes into Game Six with 710 points this postseason, 14 shy of passing Allen Iverson (723) for fourth place on the NBA’s single-postseason scoring list and 16 from moving past Hakeem Olajuwon (725) for third. LeBron James is second with 748 last year behind Michael Jordan’s 759 points in 1992.

“He’s a gamer. He’s shown that. He’s a Finals MVP back in the San Antonio Spurs days for a reason,” Curry

CONFIRMED: DURANT RUPTURED HIS ACHILLES TENDON

KEVIN DURANT was guided to the locker room after he tore his Achilles in Game Five. AP

GAME Six will be the final hurrah for Oracle. Golden State’s players have said all season the want to leave a legacy on this special home court—and winning a Game Six would be the ideal outcome for Warriors fans. The Warriors already watched LeBron James and the Cavaliers clinch a Game Seven finals win in Oakland three years ago—it’s not something the home team wants to repeat.

“This has been just an incredible environment in which to coach and play back in the day,” Warriors Coach Steve Kerr said. “Even when the Warriors weren’t any good, to come in here as a visitor and feel the energy in this building, you could tell that the fans loved the game.

This was a basketball hotbed. And just the atmosphere out there, the energy, the noise, over the last five years with our team’s rise, combined with that organic energy that this place has always had, it’s just been an incredible experience to coach here.”

Kerr said he also understands people wanting to point blame somewhere, though he noted, “Kevin checked all the boxes, and he was cleared to play by everybody involved,” including doctors from within the organization and from the outside.

“I completely understand the world we live in. As Bob mentioned the other night, there’s going to be blame.

There’s going to be finger-pointing. We understand that and we accept that. This is kind of what you sign up for when you get into coaching, general management, in the NBA,” Kerr said. “There’s all kinds of coverage, judgment, criticism and it’s all part of it. So we accept that. The main thing is our concern for Kevin and these last couple of days just checking on him. Obviously, everybody feels horrible for what happened.”

The two-time reigning NBA Finals Most Valuable Player was injured on Monday night in the second quarter of Golden State’s 106-105 victory that forced a Game Six at Oracle Arena on Thursday. The Raptors lead the bestof-seven series 3-2.

Durant initially was injured on May 8 in Game Five of the Western Conference semifinals against the Rockets, then missed the next nine games. A pending free agent, it’s unclear what might be next for Durant now that he is set for a long rehab and recovery. Teammate DeMarcus Cousins returned in January nearly a year after rupturing his left Achilles tendon and undergoing surgery last season while with New Orleans.

Stephen Curry can only imagine how much Durant is hurting emotionally not being able to play—but secondguessing benefits nobody at this stage, the two-time MVP said.

“Everybody has great 20/20 hindsight,” Curry said, then added: “I trust our medical staff and know Bob Myers has our best interests in terms of not just what we can do in this series, but long term in our overall health. You see how hard he took it, talking to you guys after the game. And that’s really genuine and authentic. So you can waste time talking about the what-ifs and this and that. Injuries are tough and they suck. They’re a part of our game, and they’re going to continue to be a part of our game. But everybody putting their collective brains together to make the sound, smart decisions, you kind of just live with that, because that’s what’s a part of our game.” AP

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Course charms golfers as US Open unfurls P EBBLE BEACH, California—Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth began the final day of US Open preparation with a walk along the beach.

No other US Open has such a calming effect, especially the seven-hole stretch along the Pacific coast with sweeping views of sea lions basking on the rocks below the sixth green and people walking dogs on the seashore below the 10th fairway.

“What’s not to like?” Dustin Johnson said. “The golf course is fantastic from start to finish. When you’ve got nice weather, it’s quite beautiful out there.”

About the time Woods and Spieth, along with Justin Thomas and Kevin Kisner, began their nine-hole practice round on Wednesday on No. 10, fog crept over the foothills and soon blanketed the course. Visibility was reduced to about 250 yards.

It was an ominous sign the US Open is no holiday.

Johnson is among the early starters when the 119th US Open begins on Thursday at Pebble Beach, which is celebrating its 100th year.

He is one of the favorites, not only from his sheer skill, but historical reasons whether it’s February or June. Johnson has won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am twice and was runner-up twice. The last time the US Open was at Pebble, he had a threeshot lead going into the final round until he rushed his way through a triple bogey, a double bogey and a bogey before he reached the fifth hole. Johnson shot 82 and tied for eighth.

“The golf course was great,” Johnson said about 2010. “I feel like the golf course is getting to where it’s going to play like that later on this week. It’s going to play tough. You’ve got to be very, very precise.”

The United State Golf Association (USGA) says it used 2010 as a blueprint for this US Open, with a few exceptions. A tree that seems to be in the middle of the 18th fairway is now only a few paces from the rough on the right because of how much the fairway was narrowed.

The rough is lush as ever. The greens are small,

and they look even smaller when not hitting from the fairway.

This is what a US Open is supposed to look like.

“We’re going into this week with a great plan, and part of that plan is to do what we’ve always done,” said John Bodenhamer, the senior managing director of championships for the USGA. “We will continue to endeavor to provide the toughest test, the ultimate test, the most comprehensive test, whatever you want to call it. And really just to create something where players’ shot-making ability, mental resolve, physical stamina are tested.”

Adding to the anticipation is how the other two majors turned out this year.

Nothing can top what Woods did at the Masters, where he emerged from a six-player pack on the back nine at Augusta National to win his fifth green jacket and 15th major in a career that only two years ago looked to be done in by back problems.

Brooks Koepka showed his major prowess, along with plenty of resolve, when he set a PGA Championship record with a seven-shot lead through 54 holes, nearly lost it, and then held on to beat Johnson by two shots.

Koepka now goes for three straight US Open titles, a feat only accomplished more than a century ago. Johnson looks for atonement from his US Open meltdown at Pebble Beach. No one has greater history at Pebble Beach than Woods, not so much by number of victories but margin of victory. His 15-shot win in 2000 is nearly as iconic as the course itself.

“It’s not the same body I had back in 2000,”Woods said. “I don’t think any of us have the same body we had 19 years ago. Athletically, that’s one of the challenges.”

The course figures to present its own set of challenges.

Woods recalls not missing a putt inside 10 feet in 2000. That’s not likely to happen again, for him or anyone. Power never hurts anywhere in golf, though it’s not as necessary as venues like Erin Hills or Torrey Pines. AP

CHRIS FROOME was given immediate treatment after fracturing his femur on Wednesday.

FROOME TO MISS TOUR DE FRANCE

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OANNE, France— Four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome will miss this year’s race after a “bad crash” in training on Wednesday.

Team INEOS leader Dave Brailsford said Froome sustained a suspected fractured femur in a 60-kilometers-per hour (40 miles

per hour) crash.

The British rider was being airlifted to a hospital, Brailsford said at the Criterium du Dauphine race in southeastern France.

Froome was practicing on the route of the 26-kilometer (16mile) fourth stage of the eight-day Dauphine race, which would have been the 34-year-old rider’s first

time-trial test this season.

Brailsford said Froome was riding in gusty winds and seemed to lose control of his front wheel when trying to clear his nose.

Froome received treatment quickly from medical staff with a race ambulance that was near the scene of the crash, Brailsford said.

Seeking a fourth win in the

key preparation race, Froome was eighth in the Dauphine standings, 24 seconds behind leader Dylan Teuns of Belgium. Froome won the Dauphine before his Tour wins in 2013, 2015 and 2016. He also won the 2017 Tour.

The three-week Tour de France starts on July 6. Long-time Froome teammate Geraint Thomas is the defending champion. AP

orts

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Friday, June 14, 2019

ALL SET FOR 10TH LTDF F

ROM picturesque Taal to majestic Mayon, the Le Tour de Filipinas celebrates “10 Years of Cycling” with an explosive race starting with Stage 1 of the now five-stage International Cycling Union (UCI) event on Friday.

Two of the Philippines’s iconic tourist attractions—Taal Volcano and Mount Mayon—serve as backdrop for the kick off stage and the coronation ride come Stage 5 on Tuesday in Legazpi City.

“What a way to celebrate a decade of Le Tour de Filipinas— by showcasing the best of the Philippines,” Donna Lina, chairman of the Le Tour de Filipinas, said.

The Le Tour de Filipinas kick off stage in 2009 was in the very same route for the 2019 edition—the hilly roads in and around Tagaytay City and Batangas. Irishman David McCann won the inaugurals of the race that has become the forerunner of UCIcalendared Philippine races to date.

Fourteen teams are seeing

action in the 10th edition led by the Philippine National Team of defending champion El Joshua Cariño, who won last year—the third Filipino champion of the race—with Philippine Navy Standard Insurance.

Marcelo Felipe, winner of a previous UCI race in Subic, powers 7-Eleven Cliqq-Air21 Roadbike Philippines while Best Young Rider in 2018, Daniel Ven Cariño, banners Go For Gold.

Mark John Lexer Galedo, the 2014 winner, will be riding for Celeste Cycle, while Michael Angelo Ochoa will spearhead Bike X Philippines.

The foreign field in the race— which is expected to be flagged off for Stage 1 by Tagaytay City Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Mayor Agnes Tolentino—was reduced to nine following the lastminute withdrawal of the Hong Kong National Team.

Out to challenge the Filipino teams are Nex Cycling Team (Singapore), PGN Road Cycling Team (Indonesia), Oliver’s Real Food Racing (Australia), Terrenganu Cycling Team (Malaysia), Taiyuan Moigee Cycling Team (China), Team Nero Bianchi (Australia), Team Ukyo (Japan), Team Sapura Cycling and Thailand National Team.

To mark a decade of racing,

Chan, Corpus clinch 1-2 spots; Ramos grabs last SEAG slot DEFENDING champion El Joshua Cariño (right) poses with his teammates (from left) Jhon Mark Camingao, Jan Paul Morales, Ronald Oranza and Junrey Navarra of the Philippine National Team-Philippine Navy. STEPHANIE TUMAMPOS

BAYRON, PASTOR SHARE LEAD R

UFINO BAYRON and Spain’s Marcos Pastor matched outputs in varying fashions for the second straight day, staying ahead with three-under 67s, but fancied Juvic Pagunsan and Ira Alido charged back with 65s to pull within one halfway through the ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge in Murcia, Negros Occidental, on Thursday.

Bayron actually rode on a late birdie at the front to save a 32-35, while Pastor missed grabbing the solo lead with a bogey on the 18th and settled for a 3334 in the wind and heat in afternoon play as the duo dropped erstwhile coleaders Michael Bibat and Reymon Jaraula to remain on top at eight-under 132s.

But Pagunsan and Alido assembled identical 133s, Richard Sinfuego slowed down with a 69 for a 135, and Bibat and Jaraula lost their touch and fumbled with one-over 71s but stayed within striking distance at 136s with 36 holes to play in the P2.5-million event serving as the second of a fourstage Visayan swing of the circuit sponsored by ICTSI. “It’s tough playing in the heat and with the wind picking up in the afternoon,” said Bayron, who hit two birdies but made two bogeys at the back before shooting three birdies in the first five holes at the front.

“I was able to recover at the front though I overshot the green on No. 6 and made another bogey. But I liked my chances,” added Bayron, who birdied the seventh to save a 67 and remain on course of ending a long title spell on the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT).

Unfamiliar with the short but tight and tricky Bacolod Golf Club layout, the Spanish shotmaker banked on the local pros’ tips to negate his bogeys on Nos. 1 and 18 with five birdies in a 12-hole stretch from No. 5, bolstering his drive for a maiden victory in the circuit put up by ICTSI after topping the PGT Q-School for foreign players at Splendido in February.

“Some local pros told me how to play the course where some fairways are soft and some are hard,” Pastor said. “I played so aggressive off the tee and most of my drives were good.”

Pagunsan and Alido actually dished out better games with the former, who started at the NAMBATAC

back, putting himself in contention with a five-under card he highlighted with an eagle-2 on the drivable 304-yard, par-4 No. 2 off a solid 5-wood tee shot

that rested 20 feet off the cup.

He did stumble with a bogey on the fourth but holed out with another birdie for a 32-33 round.

“I just stayed focused on my game but we’ll know tomorrow [today] if I’ll get a chance [for the championship],” said Pagunsan, who took a break from the Japan Professional Golfers’ Association Tour to prime up for his defense of the ICTSI Negros Occidential crown next week.

For his part, Alido earlier razed the backside with five birdies, including four straight from No. 14, as he moved from joint eighth to a share of third for a crack at breakthrough victory on the PGT following a missed cut stint in last week’s Club Filipino de Cebu Invitational.

After a two-birdie, two-bogey game at the front, Alido finally made full use of his driver, which he complemented with superb iron game to produce birdies at the back. He hit all but one green and missed just two fairways to complete a 35-30 card at the par-70 layout for a seven-under 133 aggregate.

But what motivates the former amateur hotshot is the rare chance to slug it out with fancied Pagunsan in one of the featured flights in the pivotal third round of the P2.5-million championship serving as the second of a fourstage Visayan swing of the circuit sponsored

by ICTSI. “I’m so excited to play with Juvic. And I think that is my reward for playing good.

RUFINO BAYRON recovers at the front to share the lead in the ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge.

NONOY LACZA

Going up against him only makes me so inspired,” Alido said.

Forty-three players made the cut pegged at 143, including Richard Abaring (72), Kris Etter (69), Enrico Gallardo (70), Colombia’s Mateo Gomez (70), Swede Oscar Karlsson (73), Elmer Saban (72) and Aussie Jack Sullivan (74).

But the likes of PGT Asia leg winners Joenard Rates and James Ryan Lam, who both groped for 73s, and last year winner and PGTA titlist Justin Quiban, who struggled with a 72, failed to advance with 144s, along with Frankie Miñoza (73-147).

Nambatac nabs weekly award

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EY NAMBATAC is fast becoming one of Rain or Shine’s reliable players this season as he continues to step up for the team in the midseason Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup. The wily guard was big for the Elasto Painters in their back-to-back victories over Barangay Ginebra and Phoenix, allowing the team to recover from a slow start and even its record at 2-2.

Nambatac had a careergame of 30 points, including 7-of-11 from three-point range in Rain or Shine’s 10481 blowout of the Kings, and then followed up his heroics by coming through in the clutch as the Elasto Painters rallied back to upstage the Fuel Masters, 89-82.

The 25-year-old former Letran standout averaged 20.5 points in his team’s last two games, earning for him a first-ever PBA Press Corps-Cignal Player of the Week honor from June 3 to 9.

Nambatac, picked seventh overall by the Elasto Painters in the 2017 draft, beat out eight other candidates for the weekly citation handed out by the men and women covering the PBA beat.

Others who vied for the honor included Nambatac’s teammate Javee Mocon, Chris Banchero and Jeron Teng of Alaska, the TnT Katropa trio of Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario, and Roger Pogoy, NorthPort’s Robert Bolick, and Blackwater rookie Bobby Ray Parks.

After their twin victories, the Elasto Painters won’t return to action until June 19 when they clash with co-league leader NorthPort at the Mall of Asia Arena.

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IDRIC CHAN and Carl Corpus clinched the first two slots as expected, while Sean Ramos beat four others for the third and last berth in the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG)-bound national men’s golf team despite a 75 at the close of the grueling twoweek qualifiers at the Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac on Thursday.

Ramos bucked a back-to-back doublebogey mishap from No. 11 with a birdie on the par-3 13th then parred the rest to salvage a 36-39 card for an eight-round total 587, edging a late-charging Gab Manotoc, who rallied with a 72, by two.

Chan and Corpus had virtually secured the first two seats after the seventh round when they pulled away from the field by at least six strokes with the duo finishing tied at 580 after

a 69 and 70, respectively.

Edward Dy, who bounced back into contention with a fiery 67 to tie Ramos at third heading to the penultimate round on Wednesday, faltered when it mattered most, hobbling with a 40 at the front and finishing with a 77, settling for joint fourth instead with Manotoc at 589.

Ramos pounced on Dy’s bogey-ridded game with a birdie-bogey frontside to zero in on the coveted third seat then hung tough despite a shaky backside start to frustrate Manotoc, who matched Ramos’s opening 36 but fell short of his own rally with another 36.

The troika will thus lead the country’s campaign against a tough set of regional rivals in the biennial games slated from November

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organizer Ube Media Inc., headed by President Donna Lina, has modified the colors of the jerseys for the various categories.

From the traditional yellow, the general classification jersey is now the Air21 Purple Jersey, the polka dot has become the NMM Blue Jersey for the King of the Mountain, the green is now the Cargohaus Orange Jersey for Points Classification, the white jersey is now the Ufreight Red Jersey for the Best Young Rider and the then purple is now the SPL Pink Jersey for the Best Filipino Rider.

Friday’s kick off is a short and demanding 129.50-km Stage 1 on an out-and-back course in Tagaytay City, followed by the 194.90-km Stage 2 on Saturday from Pagbilao in Quezon to Daet in Camarines, Norte.

Stage 3 on Sunday will be 183.70 kms from Daet to Legazpi City and Stage 4 will cover 176.00 kms from Legazpi City via Sorsogon and Gubat and back to the Albay capital.

Stage 5 on Tuesday will also be out-and-back in Legazpi City but this time it will be via Donsol in Sorsogon for a total of 145.80 kms—a crucial final leg where the cyclists will have to endure pedaling over rolling hills and strong winds.

30 to December 10 with the National Golf Association of the Philippines lining up a series of training and practice sessions at the Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed layout leading up to the SEAG week to cash in on the proverbial “home-court” advantage.

“It’s an honor to help spearhead the country’s bid in the SEA Games,” said Chan, an incoming University of Arizona freshman. “To know I could represent the Philippines in the SEAG is my greatest motivation. To be given the chance to play for flag and country is an honor and doing well [in the SEAG] will mean so much to me.”

Paolo Wong wound up sixth at 590 after a 74 followed by Ryan Monsalve and Luis Castro, who tied at 592 after a 71 and 76, respectively, Ivan Monsalve (77-600), Kristoffer Arevalo and Lanz Uy, who pooled identical 602s after 76 and 77, respectively, Rolando Bregente (80-612) and Alexander Bisera (77-615) in the event sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation, the PLDT Group, Cignal and Metro Pacific.

FRANCE STAYS UNBEATEN Sports BusinessMirror

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| Friday, June 14, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

By Daniella Matar The Associated Press

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ICE, France—Eugenie Le Sommer scored the winning goal from the penalty spot to lift host nation France to a 2-1 win over Norway at the Women’s World Cup on Wednesday.

Then she had a special embrace for one of her teammates.

France defender Wendie Renard almost cost France the game when she turned the ball into her own net to even the match at 1-1.

Le Sommer came to the rescue and moved France to 2-0 in this tournament when she scored the winner in the 72nd minute. A relieved Renard was one of the first players to celebrate with Le Sommer.

“I knew it was hard for her,” Le

Sommer said. “I know Wendie well, and I know how much she can give us. She came up to me completely naturally and thanked me and I just said ‘No.’” “In the first match she scored two goals.

What’s most important is the group. I’m happy also for her that her mistake was rectified.”

Neither goalkeeper was really tested in an entertaining first half, but France took the lead immediately after the break when Valerie Gauvin tapped in Amel Majri’s cross. Gauvin had been benched at the start of France’s opening 4-0 win over South Korea, reportedly because she was late to training.

Norway tied it eight minutes later when Renard knocked Isabell Herlovsen’s low cross into her own net.

Renard, considered one of the best defenders in the world, appeared to be in tears as she raised her face to the sky in anguish.

“I made a huge, huge mistake but we showed our character,” Renard said. “Amel was speaking to me but I couldn’t really understand what she was saying. So to be safe I went to put it out for a corner but it ended up in the back of the net.

“It could have ruined the night, it could have put us in difficulty mentally but we really showed that we are ready, that we are strong.”

Video review was used on Le Sommer’s game-winning goal, which stood because a penalty was awarded after a high tackle by Ingrid Syrstad Engen on Marion Torrent.

“I saw the replays from afar and for me there was a contact that deserved the penalty,” Le Sommer said. “If it was against us, well I don’t know.... I think the referee made the right decision. In the first match the VAR [video assistant referee] took away a goal from us, in this match it helped us get one, but what

was most important was to win this match and the VAR maybe helped us, but we have to get used to this now in football.”

France is three points ahead of Norway in Group A. Nigeria was also three points behind France, which is vying to become the first nation to hold both the men’s and women’s World Cup titles at the same time.

“It was a battle for top spot, even though we can’t denigrate the last match against Nigeria,” Le Sommer said. “It was a very important victory today for our preparation for the rest of the tournament.”

Norway, which won the competition in 1995, is playing without Ada Hegerberg. The 2018 Fifa Ballon d’Or winner stepped down from the national team because of what she says are differences in the way the federation treats the men’s and women’s teams.

“We lost the match but I thought we were equal with the French,” Norway coach Martin Sjogren said. “We knew that we were going to face a very good opponent and we had a good plan. I wasn’t surprised by the French team—we knew they were going to be athletic with fast players and speed—but we played well and I’m very proud of how my players performed out there.

“In my book, I think we deserved a 1-1.”

FRANCE’S Valerie Gauvin, on the pitch, celebrates with her teammates after scoring her side’s opening goal during the Women’s World Cup Group A soccer match between France and Norway in Nice, France, on Wednesday. Eugenia Le Sommer (above) sealed the victory for the host nation with her penalty kick. AP

Frenchman Indy 500 winner pays visit to Trump M

DRIVER Simon Pagenaud (center) speaks in front of team owner Roger Penske (left) and President Donald Trump on the South Lawn at the White House on Monday. AP

ILWAUKEE—Simon Pagenaud has been living in the United States long enough to know that in a time of revved-up partisanship, an invitation to the White House might come with some speed bumps.

Decline an invite, as some American athletes have, and you might risk being seen as a grandstander who’s dragging personal politics into the sports world. Accept and others might see you as tacitly endorsing a laundry list of policies and views. A version of this debate played out in Pagenaud’s Twitter mentions earlier this week.

But Pagenaud, a native of France, didn’t hesitate to accept President Donald J.Trump’s invitation to attend a White House ceremony with Team Penske on Monday to celebrate their Indianapolis 500 victory.

“To me, when the president of the biggest country in the world invites you to reward you for sports achievements, I think all politics aside, you say yes,” Pagenaud said. “Because it’s a recognition of your work, it’s a recognition of the hard work that was behind it. It’s very symbolic. It’s something that you can’t say no to, in my opinion. I think because it’s sports, you have to put aside any political views. It had nothing to do with politics.”

And soon, he may get to do the same thing with President Emmanuel Macron.

“The French federation of racing is working on having me go and meet with the president of France,” Pagenaud said. “We’ll see if it happens.

I hope it does. Because it’s definitely a huge achievement for the young kids who are coming up in racing in France. It’s a huge achievement for our sport, for racing in France.”

Pagenaud goes out of his way to note that it was an honor to be at the White House “as a Frenchman.”

But he has lived in the US since the mid-2000s, and it’s clear that his affinity for his adopted country is strong—so strong, in fact, that he will consider applying for dual citizenship after he marries his American fiancée, Hailey McDermott.

“It’s a difficult subject for me, because I still feel like my French roots are very strong,” he said. “But in the meantime, America has welcomed me with

such open arms that I feel Americanized. And when you read articles or you hear people talk about me everywhere in France, they say I’m Americanized— they say I’m the ‘French American.’ I’ve adopted your culture so much. My future wife is American, she’s from San Diego. I talk English 80 percent of the time.

And my way of thinking is more American than French now. So I am Americanized. I can’t deny it.”

The couple is not entirely disassociated from politics; during qualifying at Indianapolis in May, McDermott and Ashley Welch, the fiancée of Pagenaud’s Penske teammate Josef Newgarden, wore T-shirts that said, “Not YOUR Body, Not YOUR Choice,” a statement about abortion policy.

She posted a photo of the team from the White House on her Instagram account, writing, “Today we got to meet the POTUS @realdonaldtrump and regardless of political views, it was an honor to be recognized at the @whitehouse.”

For his part, Pagenaud said he enjoyed meeting Trump, whom the team presented with a souvenir racing helmet.

“He was very down to Earth,” Pagenaud said.

“Very easy to talk to.”

Pagenaud appreciated his tours of the Capitol and the White House, where he was particularly impressed by the art, décor and some behind-the-scenes access.

“Rooms where you can’t take your cell phone, so I can’t describe that too much,” Pagenaud said. “That was just, honestly, incredible to experience that, and it’s something that I’ll always have engraved in my memory.”

Pagenaud has only been home for two nights since winning Indy—and that includes just a few hours on Monday night, before flying to Milwaukee for a media tour to promote next weekend’s race at Road America.

He’s still plowing through responses to the 2,500-plus messages he received since his Indy win.

He doesn’t appear to be running on fumes. Asked to name his favorite moment since winning Indy, he quickly decides that it was pouring milk on himself in victory lane and then proceeds to rattle off four or five more things that he thought were really cool. AP

God of our ancestors

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EAR God, You lead us to the fulfillment of life. In joyful trust we pray: Lead us along the everlasting way, oh God. Sow seeds of justice and peace in Your Church. Help us to trust the growth that You cultivate in us. Strengthen Your people to resist seeds of strife and dissension sown in public discourse.

Make us aware always of the reasons why You created us; to know You more, love You most and serve You endlessly. May the spirit of Christ light our path and guide our steps this day and always.

Amen.

GIVE US THIS DAY SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • lifestylebusinessmirror@gmail.com

Life BusinessMirror

Q&A: ‘Late Night’ with Emma Thompson

The Oscar winner and Mindy Kaling talk about the new comedy that is perfect for the ‘woke’ generation

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BY LindSeY BAHR The Associated Press

OS ANGELES—Late Night, a new comedy from Mindy Kaling, establishes itself as a fantasy from the outset. It’s about a veteran late night talk show host who is a woman, after all.

Emma Thompson plays that host, Katherine Newbury, who decides to allow the hire of a very green, but very eager newcomer, Molly (Kaling) to her all

white and male writing staff. It scored a record acquisition at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and opens in select theaters on Friday and nationwide on June 14.

The Associated Press spoke to Kaling and Thompson about the film, which explores serious issues like gender bias, “diversity hires” and the grueling demands of late night with enjoyable comedy drawn from real-life stories of difficult TV bosses.

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Friday, June 14, 2019

Q&A: ‘Late Night’ with Emma Thompson

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Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Lucy Hale, 29; Kevin McHale, 30; Diablo Cody, 40; Boy George, 57.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Make this a year of positive change. Engage in activities that are conducive to getting into the best shape possible. A healthy lifestyle will promote a positive attitude that will encourage you to make better choices. Love and romance should also be priorities. Either rekindle the flame with someone you love or plan to meet someone new. Your lucky numbers are 8, 11, 20, 23, 31, 34, 44.

Continued on D1 THIS May 17 photo shows British actress Emma Thompson (left) and US actress and screenwriter Mindy Kaling posing on a hotel balcony in London to promote their film, Late Night. AP

Why did you choose the setting of late night talk shows?

Kaling: I’ve always been intrigued by late night TV. I write for scripted half hour shows which you’d think would be so similar that I would know this world, but it really is its own beast. It’s very tied to New York City, it’s a very masculine environment and the level of hyper competition in these shows both between the different hosts but also between writers on staff is so different than what I’m used to. I loved shining a light on a world that has historically not employed women. It was very easy to research because almost all of my friends have been fired from a late night talk show. There are so many great disgruntled stories of impossible hosts and mean bosses.

And you wrote the part of Katherine specifically for Emma, having never met her.

Kaling: It must be strange to be approached by someone who lives half the world away and is thinking about you to the degree that they created a story for you to star in.

Thompson: It’s not strange to write with someone in mind. I write with people in mind.

Kaling: But it is a bad idea to write when there is only one person who can play the part. That is the worst thing to do. I didn’t even know. You could be in the throes of an acrimonious divorce. You could be an alcoholic. You could have been unable to leave England legally to act for some drug-related reason.

Is it difficult to believe when someone says that they’ve written something for you?

Thompson: It doesn’t happen very often. The only other times it’s happened I’ve always been an elderly archaeologist or geography teacher or someone developing dementia or Alzheimer’s or someone whose spouse has died horribly and I’ve got to deal with it. So interestingly, yeah, this is the first time someone has said I’ve wrote you something, and not only is it funny but also incredibly smart and irresistible.

Mindy, you’ve been both the boss and the newcomer in your career. Did you draw on that while writing?

Kaling: This movie was so enjoyable because I identify so much with both of the characters. I remember vividly what it’s like to be the new person in the room, the only minority, like it was yesterday,

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Learn all you can about your heritage from older family members, friends and relatives. It will enlighten you about the likes and dislikes you have and help you overcome some of the things that have been holding you back. HH

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Your mind will be racing a mile a minute, but that doesn’t mean you have to make a hasty decision.

Use your enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge to ferret out any information that will verify that you are making the right choice. HHHH

c

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Strive to stand out when dealing with peers or work-related matters. Your contribution should be based on something that is unique as well as realistic. Don’t underestimate someone who is just as competitive and driven as you. HHH

d

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Don’t shy away from the unfamiliar or unusual. Observing what and how others are doing things will spark your imagination and encourage you to try doing things differently. HHH

even though it was 15 years ago. I also remember distinctly being the star and the showrunner of a show that I’ve been doing for 117 episodes and I’m impatient and grouchy and I’m paid a little bit too much and everyone is telling me yes all the time and I myself have a temper.

Katherine is not a stock villain who hates other women. It just seems like it’s never occurred to her that she might benefit from a diverse staff.

Thompson: It hasn’t occurred to her because she’s followed the patriarchy mold like the rest of us. You know, she’s a normal human being. What choice did she have? She wasn’t brought up in an unusual matriarchy on a small island off of America and then (said), “Hang on a minute, why are there no women in positions of power? This isn’t like this where I’m from.” She has grown up the way I did seeing everything through men’s eyes.

Why do you think there is still that bias against women in late night?

Kaling: I think there’s historically been a feeling that late night is based on hard jokes: Set up,

punchline, of daily news. And I think there’s been a bias that women can’t write those kinds of jokes. The truth is there are fewer women who are interested in it because there are almost no women who do it. So now, little by little on shows like Colbert and Jimmy Fallon, they are hiring more women. And that’s great but they need to be trained and younger women need to see that these women can succeed in these jobs.

Thompson: And have you noticed on almost all late night talk shows, the band is almost exclusively male.

Kaling: Really?

This was going to be a studio movie but ultimately went the independent route with a Sundance premiere and everything. Why did you choose that path?

Kaling: Because Fox 2000 gave me the movie back, they didn’t want to make it. And now they’re not a company. I’m not saying there’s a correlation, but that’s the truth. It was supposed to be a big, glossy New York City movie, and then the company who was going to make it like that gave it back to me.

They lost faith in it. And so it was an indie movie. To make a movie like this in 25 days with $11 million is extremely hard. n

Czech Embassy in Manila screens movie for kids in Manila

CZECH Ambassador H.E. Jana Sedivá together with Mae Caralde, the division chief of Film, Broadcast and New Media Division of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, pose with representatives of partner organizations.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

FILLED with laughter and amusement from the children, the Czech Embassy in Manila in partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines celebrated the International Day of the Children on June 1 by free screening of a Czech film, titled Angel of the Lord.

This sweet treat to the children is a story of love, forgiveness and the ability to help others selflessly, which follows the adventure of Petronel, a misbehaving angel who is exiled to winter Earth with a quest to make at least one sinner better. The mission is not all that easy when Uriah, the devil, is around and Petronel himself is scatterbrained. Filled with saints, miracles, angelic jokes, and devious pranks, the movie is meant to bring a heartwarming lesson to children and to young at hearts.

Aside from meeting Angel Petronel, the children

also got to know Krtek, a famous Czech mole, through a short screening of one of his adventure with Lollipop. An exhibition of his adventures was also displayed at the entrance of the theater.

This project was conducted under the umbrella of Viva Europa, a festival of music and dance held through a series of joint and individual activities of the European Union (EU) delegation and various EU embassies and cultural institutions aimed to celebrate the friendship of the European Union and the Philippines.

The Czech Embassy expresses thanks for the support of partner institutions catering to children and the youth, namely, Bahay Tuluyan, Pangarap Foundation, SOS Village, YMCA of Manila and YWCA of Mania, for their unceasing support to the project.

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Offer compliments and enjoy collaborating with people you find interesting. A partnership may need to be adjusted to better suit the changes that are taking place in your life. Discuss your plans and listen to suggestions. Love is featured. HHH

f

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Share your thoughts with upbeat people you can count on to give you the lowdown. A change to make a difference should be a priority. Much can be accomplished if you are diligent in your pursuits. HHHH

g

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Keep your emotions in check and focus on taking care of your responsibilities early so no one can complain if you move on to pleasurable pastimes. Don’t let what others say deter you from doing your own thing.

HH

h

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A day trip will lead to an interesting encounter, as well as knowledge, that will be useful when dealing with a friend or relative. A unique situation will result in having greater disposable income to put toward something you enjoy doing. HHHHH

i

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Take stock of how well you’ve been taking care of your health, personal finances and any pending legal matters you face. Don’t feel pressured to make a decision before you have sufficient information to do so. A physical change is encouraged. HHH

j

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Aim to stabilize your situation by building strong relationships with people who can help or deter you from reaching your goals. Changes can be made if you have the support of those willing to contribute as well. HHH

k

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t feel you have to make a physical change because someone is derogatory about the way you look. Be a trendsetter, not a follower, and please your inner voice, not someone who is too afraid to be different. HHH

l

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Trusting your judgment, not what someone insinuates, is the right way to do something. Use your voice to ensure that any changes made are in your best interest. Push for equality. HH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are sensitive, inquisitive and unique.

You are visionary and exclusive.

‘lending a hand’ BY ERIK AGARD AND WYNA LIU The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Golfer’s final shot, often 5 Administer, as Botox 11 Metric ruler divisions: Abbr.

14 Berry in a trendy bowl 15 Canadian bank deposit 16 Participate in crew 17 Rave scene (first three letters + last one) 19 It usually beats a king 20 ___ tots 21 Boy 22 Tennis legend Arthur 23 Salsa scooper (first one + last two) 27 Lil’ Kim genre 30 Sound like a dove 31 Seth’s son 32 “This is e’er so tragic!”

34 Places to hear aahs 37 Cherokee, e.g.

40 Likeness illustrator (first two + last five) 43 Colorful aquarium fish 44 “Give me a break!”

45 Blacken in the kitchen 46 Harness for oxen

8 Activist Yoko 4 50 Text format letters 51 Undiscovered knack (first two + last two) 56 Vineyard measure 57 Pointillism point 58 “Oh, yeah? Watch me!”

62 Fabrication 63 Assistance from a tutor, say...or a hint to the starred answers’ indicated letters 66 ___ Schwab 67 Without restriction 68 Boo-boo 69 Hosp. parts 70 All-___ cast 71 Game show channel?

DOWN 1 Agreement 2 Bruins’ sch.

3 Without slack 4 Lhasa’s land 5 Hosp. part 6 Maple Leafs’ org.

7 Romeo Must Die martial artist 8 Sugar substitute in a blue packet

9 What warm milk might do 10 Summer shirt 11 Places of interest to ufologists 12 Chewy rice cake 13 Win every game 18 Swamp creature, for short 22 Squirrels store them 24 Iconic Parks 25 Subject 26 Not pro 27 At peak attentiveness 28 ___ vera 29 Shift for special occasions, say 33 Took major steps?

35 $$$ dispenser 36 Thread cylinder 38 Grin from ear to ear 39 Goofs 41 Do fall yardwork 42 Hathaway of Ocean’s 8 47 Tolerate 49 A single time 51 Berry who played Dorothy Dandridge 52 More frozen over 53 Symbol carved on a pole

4 Utterly lost 5 55 Lake near Reno 59 It may be breaking or bad 60 Fall for a banana peel prank 61 ___ mic night 63 Not quite right 64 Not well 65 Turn green, e.g.

Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Society BusinessMirror

THE distinguished and ever generous donors of the International Bazaar Foundation Inc. (IBF) with Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. and IBF Overall Chairman Maria Lourdes B. Locsin, together with the IBF beneficiaries, Sr. Eva Fidela Maamo, MD; IBF scholars, Alfea Aguila; and Jeisy Rose J. Infante at the IBF Donors’ Appreciation Night held at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel on April 30.

A night of appreciation T HE International Bazaar Foundation Inc. (IBF) chaired by Maria Lourdes “Louie” B. Locsin, wife of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., hosted a special dinner to honor and give appreciation to the generous donors for the 2018 International Bazaar.

Held at the Makati Shangri-La, 33 awardees were given crystal trophies for their continued support and partnership with the IBF over the years.

Now on its 52nd year, the IBF continues to foster strong bonds of friendship and cooperation among members of the diplomatic and consular community in the Philippines.

Funds raised go to socio-civic and charitable projects in education, livelihood, medical and assistance to the elderly, the sick and the abandoned.

Among IBF’s donors are the Embassy of the State of Qatar; Honorary Consul General of Peru,

LOCSIN, Maria Lourdes B. Locsin; Dee Hua Ting Gatchalian; and William T. Gatchalian, chairman and president of Wellex Group Inc.

Francis Chua; Honorary Consul of Angola, Helen M. Ong; Honorary Consul of Tanzania, Betty L. Ang; A. Soriano Corp.; AMA Foundation Inc.; Ayala Land Inc.; BA Securities; Daiichi Properties; DoubleDragon Properties Corp.; Federal Land Inc.; Filinvest Development Corp.; Fort Bonifacio Development Corp.; Hyundai Asia Resources Inc.; Intercon Diagnostic Laboratory Inc.; International Container Terminal Services Inc.; ISOC Holdings Inc.; Jollibee Foods Corp.; Liwayway Marketing; Manila Bulletin; Manila Electric Co.; Megaworld Foundation Inc.; Metrobank Foundation Inc.; Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.; Philippine Union Realty Development; Premium Leisure Corp./Belle Corp.; Prudential Guarantee; Puregold Price Club Inc.; Robinsons Land Corp.; San Miguel Corp.; Super Prime Holdings Inc.; Tesoro’s Marketing Corp.; W Group of Cos.; Wellex Group Inc. and WSC Group. n

Friday, June 14, 2019

FROM left: Locsin, Ana Sobrepeña, IBF Overall Chairman Maria Lourdes B. Locsin and Metrobank Foundation Inc. President Aniceto Sobrepeña

FROM left: Foreign Affairs Special Projects Unit Coordinator Liz B. Riosa, IBF Adviser Fe Cabactulan, IBF Corporate Secretary Victoria Bautista and IBF Executive Director Nora C. Salazar

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Pia says there was no snub Reports say that Pia is very enthusiastic about this project, which pits her comedic talents with funnyman Vhong Navarro. In a past interview with her, Pia said that acting holds a special place in her heart because, she revealed, she always have fun becoming another person.

Since the end of her reign, Pia has done two movies under Star Cinema: Gandarrapiddo: The Revenger Squad with Vice Ganda and My Perfect You with Gerald Anderson.

So I hope this puts an end to doubters who alleged that Pia boycotted the pageant. As Rikka disclosed to me, Pia really wanted to go but her schedule just wouldn’t allow her. nnn NEW millennial lifestyle brand Tilt Asia, in partnership with SEA Institute, kicks off the call for the conservation of the Verde Island Passage with the launch of the Tilt Ultimate 10—featuring 10 millennial influencers championing different causes and advocacies, unveiled at the Tilt We Sea You Spa & Yacht Cruise Party.

Angelique Manto, Cam Lagmay, Ella Pangilinan, Janina Vela, Kara Gozali, Patrice Averilla, Princess Ybañez, and Z Saldua gathered at the exclusive event to learn more about the Verde Island Passage, deemed the “center of marine biodiversity” in the world, and help spread awareness of its conservation. They are now part of the Tilt Ultimate 10, together with Janeena Chan and Javi Cang.

A brand for travel, inspiration, living, and technology, Tilt Asia is one of the freshest digital initiatives of ABS-CBN, a leading media and entertainment company which is rapidly transitioning into an agile digital company with the biggest online presence among all media companies and a growing list of digital properties.

The Tilt We Sea You Spa & Yacht Cruise Party was also graced by content creator and endorser Janina Manipol, BYS ambassador Laura Barber, influencer-ophthalmologist Mark Agas, and travel YouTuber and filmmaker Martin Solhaugen, with Mica Pineda hosting.

Guests were treated to a delicious lunch buffet at Spiral and an exciting sparty at Le Spa with cocktails and a program where SEA Institute introduced the Verde Island Passage and ongoing campaigns to protect it. The event culminated with a serene sunset cruise party along Manila Bay. n

GAB FAB JET VALLE

@jetvalle

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AST Sunday, a new batch of beauty queens was crowned. Early favorite Gazini Ganados was crowned Binibining Pilipinas Universe, succeeding Catriona Gray. Personally, I think it was safe to get a perm or a haircut the morning after as many gays—a.k.a. beauty pageant enthusiasts—agreed with the choice for her strong look and universal appeal (pun intended).

Other winners include Binibining Pilipinas International 2019 Bea Patricia Magtanong of Bataan, Binibining Pilipinas Supranational 2019 Resham Saeed of Maguindanao, Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2019 Samantha Ashley Lo of Cebu City, Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental 2019 Emma Mary Tiglao of Pampanga, Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2019 Leren Mae Bautista of Laguna, Binibining Pilipinas 2019 1st Runner-up Maria Andrea Abesamis of Pasig, and Binibining Pilipinas 2019 2nd Runner-up Samantha Mae Bernardo of Palawan. Whew, that was a mouthful!

One hot topic that night was Vickie Rushton, who was also an early favorite and a returning candidate actually. She managed to bag a truck load of special awards but failed to make the winners’ circle. I feel bad for her as she worked hard for this but someone told me she got distracted by the audience hecklers that she wasn’t able to come up with a good answer at the Q&A round.

Another issue raised that night was that while almost all the past winners were present, conspicuously missing was Binibining Pilipinas 2014 Universe and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach.

So I messaged Pia’s handler, the indefatigable Rikka Infantado-Fernandez, and she told me that Pia had a movie shoot that day and it could not be rescheduled. The movie is under the Black Sheep productions of Star Cinema.

DINGDONG DANTES

CHERIE GIL

HEART EVANGELISTA-ESCUDERO JENNYLYN MERCADO

Search is on for the next big stars THE stage is set and the cameras are rolling as GMA brings in a brandnew season of its original realitybased artista search, StarStruck 7.

The talent search that started it all introduces a tougher, more exciting competition that promises diverse and entertaining challenges, a thrilling judging system, real-life drama and interesting reality-based stories as hopefuls compete to become the next Ultimate Female and Male Survivors.

This season of StarStruck is hosted by the first-ever StarStruck winner Jennylyn Mercado and top GMA star Dingdong Dantes. No less than three of the entertainment industry’s most respected personalities—multi-hyphenate Heart Evangelista-Escudero, comedian Jose

Manalo, and the consistently fearless multi-awarded actress Cherie Gil—will take their seats as this season’s StarStruck Council. As judges, they will be mentoring the finalists and be involved in the story-telling of the program.

Multifaceted GMA actress Kyline Alcantara joins the program as the StarStruck Insider, the host of StarStruck’s online show, Inside StarStruck. Premiering on June 10 on the show’s official YouTube channel, it streams every weeknights at 6 pm. Out of the thousands who auditioned across the country, 11 boys and 11 girls were chosen through a series of demanding tests, dubbed as the “StarStruck Experience.”

After the gruelling process, these 22 hopefuls will face their final audition

on the pilot episode as they compete for a rightful spot in the Final 14. Viewers will be able to vote and take part in the judging process as they watch the finalists physically transform on-air through workshops and challenges to help them look and perform better as the reality search unfolds every week.

StarStruck Season 7 debuts on June 15 and airs every Saturday after Daddy’s Gurl and every Sunday after Daig Kayo Ng Lola Ko on GMA. Viewers from across the globe can also catch their favorite GMA shows via the network’s international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International.

For the program guide, visit www. gmapinoytv.com.

Lawyer: Cuba Gooding Jr. will turn self in on groping charge NEW YORK—Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. will turn himself in to New York City police on Thursday to face allegations that he groped a woman at a Manhattan night spot, his lawyer said.

Gooding, the Oscar-winning star of Jerry Maguire is expected to face a charge stemming from an alleged incident over the weekend at Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge, lawyer Mark Heller said. A 29-year-old woman told police Gooding grabbed her breast while he was intoxicated around 11:15 pm on Sunday.

Gooding, 51, denies the allegations. He told TMZ that he was at the bar partying with friends but didn’t touch anyone.

He said there’s a video that shows “what really happened.”

“I trust the system and will let the process speak for itself,” Gooding said.

Gooding will surrender to the NYPD special victims unit that’s leading the investigation before going to court for an arraignment, Heller said. The lawyer expected Gooding to make a statement to the media before getting booked.

Video posted on social-media show Gooding at Magic Hour on Sunday night singing the Journey hit “Faithfully” and posing for pictures with fans.

The bar, on the roof of the Moxy Hotel

south of Times Square, features a mini-golf course and sweeping views of the Empire State Building and other Big Apple landmarks. sGooding, a Bronx native, rose to fame after starring in Boyz N the Hood in 1991. Six years later, he won an Oscar for his role as a professional football player in Jerry Maguire.

His signature line, “Show me the money,” became a popular catchphrase.

Gooding was nominated for an Emmy Award last year for playing O.J. Simpson in the FX series The People v. O.J. Simpson and recently appeared on Broadway and London’s West End as lawyer Billy Flynn in Chicago. AP

MISS Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach

Motoring BusinessMirror

Henry Ford Awards Best Motoring Section 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 2011 Hall of Fame

Editor: Tet Andolong

Friday, June 14, 2019 E1

ISUZU CONCLUDES 14TH ISSO Story & photos

by Randy S. Peregrino

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SUZU Philippines Corp.

(IPC) recently concluded another edition of its longtime running Isuzu Service Skills Olympics (ISSO).

Now on its 14th year, the ISSO has always been competitive. But this year’s edition was considered more intense as all teams evidently showcased their best in terms of skills and knowledge. Held at the grounds of IPC Plant in Laguna Technopark, 25 teams from various Isuzu dealerships nationwide—consisting of a service technician, a service advisor, and a parts staff—all converged for this much-awaited competition.

In his welcome remarks, IPC President Hajime Koso congratulated all the participating teams representing their respective Isuzu dealership. “Today, you are also called ‘Olympians’, because you

represent the best of our dealership networks, and I predict that you will exceed your own expectations. After this local staging, the world is waiting,” he said. Koso also acknowledged IPC Team Pilipinas (previous ISSO winners) for its exceptional and consistent performance at the Isuzu World Technical Competitions since 2006.

Also present was Isuzu Heart and Smile Project (IHSP) Founder Yoshinori Ida. During his welcome remarks, Ida acknowledged IPC for giving him the opportunity to create a positive impact on the lives of every Filipino. “I have always believed that the best asset of any company is its people.

And when you bring out the best from your people, the company is able to perform at its best. The Isuzu-Tesda Auto Mechanic training course program is solid proof that Filipinos, when given the opportunity, can rise to world-class

THE 14th Isuzu Service Skills Olympics Grand Dealer Champion Team Isuzu Alabang with IPC Vice President for Aftersales Sumitaka Morita (left), IPC President Hajime Koso (second from left) IHSP Founder Yoshinori Ida (second from right) and Executive Vice President Shojiro Sakoda (right).

levels. I am very thankful that our students and graduates chose to stay with us to share their talents and time. I leave you now feeling truly confident that what we have started will continue in good hands for years to come,” he said.

Further, Koso recognized Isuzu Heart and Smile Project for its invaluable contribution to the development of the IPC Aftersales program through the automotive servicing vocational

course program that Ida started in 2008. This was in collaboration with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) and World Vision Philippines—an international Christian, humanitarian, advocacy organization.

“Through this groundbreaking vocational course, IPC and its partners have been able to give once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our young, less-privileged but

ONE of the teams from the LCV bracket

hardworking Filipinos to be part of the Isuzu family. IHSP has been instrumental in improving not only the quality of our aftersales service to our loyal customers, but more importantly, the lives of many poor Filipinos,” Koso added.

Let the games begin

ALL teams in the ISSO competition consisting of service technicians, service advisors and parts staff went through five

grueling hours of written and practical exams that tested their knowledge and skills. More important, what was highlighted during the competition was the importance of every service technician and advisor roles in providing quality service and customer satisfaction, as well as the parts staff’s efficiency in parts analysis on service operations.

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THE all-new BMW 3-series 330i M Sport variant

THE 3 series cabin with clearer arrangement of surfaces emphasizing cabin space and a driver-centric cockpit

THE 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol engine equipped with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology: TwinScroll turbocharger of the 3 series

PILIPINAS Shell National Sales Manager Kit Bermudez (from left), Pilipinas Shell President and CEO Cesar Romero, AutoNation Group Inc. President Felix Ang and AutoNation Group Inc. Chief Operating Officer Frankie Ang

oring

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THE all-new BMW Z4 M40i top spec variant

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Friday, June 14, 2019

THE Z4’s driver-focused cockpit design with lines surging forward with dynamic élan

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Motoring BusinessMirror

E4 Friday, June 14, 2019

2019 Supra unveiled at Vios Cup

I

T was another weekend to remember.

Watching some 86 participants—a record— trying to outrace each other in several thrilling categories of the rejuvenated Vios Racing Festival brought waku-doki to new heights.

As Satoru Suzuki, the president of Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP), said it, “Wakudoki is Japanese for thrill and excitement.”

The fans, many coming from Metro Manila, again came in droves and jam-packed the Clark International Speedway. They were almost on their feet each time a Vios racer would zip by in this memorable day of June 8 in Angeles, Pampanga, some 80 km north of Manila. This was the fifth year of the Toyota roar-off already but interest in the event has never waned, rather it has intensified all the more.

Flaming red Supra

IF I would make a guess again, the crowd felt deeply like they were in a Formula One atmosphere.

And when the flaming red Supra came screeching to a halt at the starting grid where the Vios racing cars were parked and all ready for action, lusty cheers met its arrival.

When Suzuki-san stepped out of the iconic Toyota speedster, all smiles and waving like a triumphant F1 hero, more applause echoed at the entire length of the speedway with its main gate institutionalized by a giant billboard of San Miguel Corp.

“The Philippines became the No. 1 choice to exhibit the new Supra in the entire Southeast Asian region,” Suzuki-san said.

5 straight years

I SAW Rene So, a principal owner of Toyota dealerships in Dagupan City, Baguio City, San Fernando, La Union and Laoag, nod-

ding his head in awe of the iconic Toyota model.

“It pays to be here always,” said Rene, fresh from the United States, still a bit rankled by jet lag. “For the record, I have never missed a Vios Cup race since its inception five years ago.”

After telling him that that’s one commonality we must share with fondness, he extended his right fist, clenched, for the now-famous fist-bump. I did the same and he said, “Cheers to the Vios Cup, podner!”

Unknown to many, there is also a Vios Cup held yearly in both Thailand and Malaysia.

I told Suzuki-san about the idea of a Vios Cup featuring racers from the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia.

“That would be nice, but it can never be done,” he said. “We are left-hand drive and Thailand and Malaysia are both right-hand drive.”

So there. Sayang.

Anyway, the following is Suzuki-san’s speech opening the fifth Vios Cup at Clark: “Good morning everyone and welcome to the Vios Racing Festival!

“As our way of saying thank you for coming all the way here at the Clark International Speedway, I am very honored to announce that you are now among the first in Southeast Asia to see the 2019 Toyota Supra in the metal. More waku-doki awaits!

“After we successfully opened the motorsports season with the Vios Autocross Challenge, Toyota Motor Philippines continues to gear up the excitement with a bigger and

EDITORIAL and media relations Carlo Nemo with the Supra

better racing opportunity. Last April, the Autocross event at Mall of Asia in Pasay City was attended by many racing fans and enjoyed online by Facebook users. We wish to sustain local interest in motorsports with the return of the much-awaited circuit racing format alongside the timed trials.

“Today, we witness the first leg of the Vios Circuit Championship. This event will be the first time that the All-New Vios One Make Race Model is going to be tested at the circuit tracks since its appearance as the official pace car in Filinvest Alabang in 2018.

I hope that you are all as thrilled as I am to see the All-New Vios in action!

“For this event, we invited and trained a total of 24 racers for the Vios Circuit

TMP President Satoru Suzuki

Championship. For the Vios Autocross Challenge, we gathered a total of 60 racers comprised of car club members, motoring journalists, social-media influencers and lucky online winners.

“Once again, I would like to thank our dealer network, friends from the media and avid motoring fans for continuously supporting the Vios Racing Festival and the Toyota brand.

“Finally, this racing series is made possible with the help of our sponsors and partners: Bridgestone, Petron, Motul, Rota, TRD, Brembo, Denso, AVT, 3M, OMP and Tuason Racing.

“Ladies and gentlemen, let the races begin!”

PEE STOP

As usual, present at the Vios Cup last Saturday were TMP hotshots Jing Atienza, Shawin ChuaLim, Carlo Ablaza, Dino and Tini Arevalo, Atty. Rommel “Barry Gibb” Gutierrez, Elijahwon Sue Marcial, Lexus Manila president Raymond T. Rodriguez and Gil Angeles of Toyota Marilao/Otis/ Balintawak, among others. Of course, the event would not have been complete without the warm shepherding the media guys and other Toyota guests got from Elvin Hayes Luciano, Carlo Nemo, Jeane Sangalang, Royce Aquino, Nadinne Capistrano, Raymond Ramos and Jaemy “Tequila” Mejia. Many thanks and mabuhay kayo!

AFFORDABLE BULLETPROOF VEHICLES WITHOUT THE WAIT

T

HOSE who want to buy a bulletproof vehicle but are not willing to wait two to three months for it to finish can soon make a purchase brand-new armored vehicles from their preferred car dealerships. Impenetra Armor Protective Systems has partnered with choice leading auto dealers nationwide and will be putting on display ready to use armored vehicles. Of particular interest are its lightweight bullet-resistant vehicles.

Impenetra is making waves after it pioneered the creation of the Level BR4 Lightweight bulletproof vehicles.

It is common for many civilians to have second thoughts about buying bullet-resistant vehicles mainly due to its weight. Standard armored vehicles add 900 kilos to 1 ton on the weight of the car. Impenetra’s lightweight solution

adds only about 250 to 350 kilos of weight for the complete system.

What is even more interesting is that these Level BR4 (Pistol Protection) Lightweight “Road Rage” armored vehicles will soon be available on several auto dealership floors nationwide. There is no longer a need to wait for the vehicle to be armored, which normally takes two to three months to assemble.

Most of these auto dealers offer financing schemes, thus making the acquisition of a bulletproof vehicle much more accessible. The price of the Level BR4 Lightweight package is quite reasonable to begin with, starting at P1.5 million. A Level BR4 armored vehicle can resist all handguns with the Magnum .44 being the most powerful.

Impenetra is quite determined in providing the Filipino families with its needed protection at an affordable price. To learn more about its products and services, you can visit its booth from June 20 to 23 at the Tactical, Survival & Arms Expo (TACS Expo). It will be held at the SM Megatrade Hall in SM Megamall.

For partner auto dealerships in the Visayas and Mindanao regions, Impenetra will be placing on display its Level BR4 (Pistol Protection) and Level BR6 (Assault Rifle Protection) armored vehicles. To know more, e-mail at impenetra.armor.ph@gmail.com.

To get a firsthand look at the bulletproof vehicles, visit Impenetra’s facility at Caltex Gas Station, Molino Road, Molino III, Bacoor, Cavite.

ISUZU CONCLUDES 14TH ISSO Continued from E1

Winners for this year’s ISSO are Mark Anthony Arroyo (Tesda Tacloban Alumni) and Jan Michael Manzon from Isuzu Cavite as the Champion team for the Service Technician Category. Clinching the first runner-up position are Arjhay Pulvera (Tesda Tacloban Alumni) and Reynaldo Gepulle from Isuzu Alabang. Harvay Jay T. Ragrag (Tesda Tacloban Alumni) and Gilbert Regis (Tesda Tacloban Alumni) from Isuzu Isabela, meantime, took the second runner-up position. In the Service Advisor Category, Kevin O. Oliva from Isuzu Alabang was hailed as the Champion followed

by Joseph Clarito from Isuzu Cavite and Josie James Marilla from Isuzu Cagayan de Oro as first and second runners-up, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Parts Staff category champion is Mark Anthony Rañola from Isuzu Commonwealth followed

by Cristy Plazuela from Isuzu Iloilo as first runner-up and Christopher Garcia from Isuzu Cabanatuan as second runner-up. In the end, Isuzu Alabang was hailed dealer overall champion this year.

International competition

THE annual ISSO also serves as the main platform for developing two teams to represent the Philippines in the annual Isuzu World Technical Competition for Commercial Vehicle (CV) Division in Japan and the biennial Isuzu World Technical Competition for Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) Category in Thailand. There at least 31 countries participate in these international competitions.

Since joining in 2006, IPC teams have performed well in these competitions. A large part of their success has been attributed to the high level of competition at the ISSO, apart from the professional dedication and discipline IPC dealers’ Parts and Service personnel pour into their daily work.

Impressively, IPC teams have achieved third place (Category B) in 2013, placed second (Category B) in 2014, and as the Champion for CV Division (Category B) and second in the LCV Division back in 2015. Then in 2016, IPC team placed second in the LCV Division and third in the CV Division. In 2017, they placed fifth in the CV Division. Just last year, IPC team placed fourth in the LCV Division, and conquering the CV Division (Category B) as champion.