Manila Standard - 2016 August 18 - Thursday

PDu30: 16 mileposts in 50 days

By John Paolo Bencito and Sandy Araneta VOL. XXX • NO. 187 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016 • WWW.THESTANDARD.COM.PH • EDITORIAL@THESTANDARD.COM.PH

THE Palace on Wednesday played up 16 milestones in President Rodrigo Duterte’s first 50 days in office, bucking the practice of looking back on the first 100 days in office.

“We are confident that even at an early stage, we have effected change in our government while calling everyone to be our partner for change,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a statement.

“Change is happening everyday. It feels like everyday is a new day for a new Philippines.

That is why we chose to tag it as the 50 First Days,” he said.

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#50FirstDays milestones

Leila’s dilemma: Drug links bared ALLEGATIONS DENOUNCED. Senator Leila de Lima, Secretary of Justice in the Aquino administration, de-

Senator fires back: Free airfare Rody: Unrelenting war Character assassination to Oslo for on drugs forges ahead By John Paolo Bencito nounces in her privilege speech Tuesday on the floor of the Senate allegations of coddling and protecting detained high profile drug lords at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City in the past six years. Ey Acasio

Reds’ panel

By John Paolo Bencito

THE government will spend for airfare to fly recently released communist leaders to Oslo, Norway, to participate in the resumption of peace talks, Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza said Wednesday.

“I do not think that the NDF [National Democratic Front] will spend. As a matter of principle, [we] agree that they travel at [government] expense,” Dureza told the Manila Standard in an interview.

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By Francisco Tuyay and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday urged the Philippine National Police to continue the unrelenting war against illegal drugs.

In his speech at the PNP 115th anniversary celebrations in Camp Crame, the Chief Executive said the fight against crime and criminality is eternal.

“In every generation, in every political body, whenever there is a congregation of men, human beings would have problems about establishing law and order. Filipinos are no exemp-

tion,” he said.

“We have our share of our agony and misery. In my generation especially now we are seeing our country devastated by drugs. It has not only affected millions, but a lot of them are no longer viable as human beings in this planet,” the President said.

And yet, he said despite statistics which showed the large number of drug dependents and the devastation wrought by drugs to our society, “we see a lot of ranting about human rights in my campaign against [illegal] drugs.”

Critics say the war on drugs has already caused the deaths of Next page

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday accused Senator Leila de Lima and her driver of taking drug money during the campaign for the 2016 elections.

“Here is a senator complaining [about the spate of drugrelated killings],” Duterte told policemen at Camp Crame in Quezon City, without naming De Lima. “One day I will tell you that her driver who was her lover was the one collecting money for her during the campaign.”

“She’s politicking and posturing when… [she herself has] a very sordid personal and official

life,” he added.

In a press briefing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport later in the afternoon, Duterte named the “crusading lady of human rights” that he referred to in his speech as De Lima, with whom he has had a long-running feud.

“She thinks she is the conscience of the country. You want to know the name? De Lima,” Next page Duterte said.

Ex-RCBC executive arrested

By Joel Zurbano LAWMEN arrested former Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. branch manager Maia Santos Deguito in connection with the perjury case filed against her.

Senior Supt. Alex Fulgar, deputy chief for administration of the Makati Police, said Deguito’s arrest was made on the basis of a warrant issued by Pasay City Regional Trial Court Judge Eduardo Cruz Solangon Jr. He added Deguito was arrested in a supermarket Wednesday Next page afternoon.

PEACE TALKS WITH CPP-NPA-NDF

TRAIN FROM TUTUBAN TO MALOLOS, BULACAN

ONE-STOP-SHOP FOR OFWS

MISS UNIVERSE HOSTING OF MISS UNIVERSE

NAMING AND SHAMING OF NARCO-POLS

Euro Union warns of IS Mindanao expansion THE European Union on Wednesday expressed concern over the recruitment efforts of the Islamic State and other selfdescribed jihadist groups in Southern Mindanao.

In a study cited by Tim Johnson, Asia program director for the International Crisis Group, the EU also warned the Philippines that, after watching at least three other peace talks, the people in Mindanao might lose faith in the process and return to guerrilla warfare or tip deeper into lawlessness in the “next few months.”

“The next few months will make or break this process,” Johnson told reporters in a round-table discussion hosted by the EU delegation and attended Next page

Noy allies bitter over junked BUB

WEATHER MONSOON rain will continue to affect the western section of Northern and Central Luzon in the next 24 hours, the weather bureau said Wednesday.

The Ilocos region will have cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rain, while light to moderate rain and thunderstorms will be experienced in the Cordillera region, Cagayan Valley, Zambales and Bataan.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will also have partly cloudy to cloudy skies and isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Luzon’s coastal waters will be moderate to rough, while the other areas will experience light to moderate winds from the southwest. PNA

FOI EXCUTIVE ORDER

ROAD TRAGEDY. Four persons are hurt in an eight-vehicle smashup Wednesday in Barangay Pinagkaisahan in Makati City. The vehicles included two passenger jeepneys, two UV Express passenger vans, three sedans and a pick-up. Danny Pata

Terror threat, economy top Rody’s Asean agenda ADDRESSING terrorism and exploring the economic possibilities with the Philippines’ neighbors will be President Rodrigo Duterte’s focus in his first foreign trip as head of state to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Malacañang said Wednesday. twitter.com/ MlaStandard

“Part of it is the security agreements which have been raised in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines’ [tripartite talks],” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

He made the statement even as President Rodrigo Duterte said the Philippines’ row with China over

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S

the West Philippine Sea will not be raised in any of his foreign trips this month and in September.

“I won’t talk with the Asean about the West Philippine Sea issue. I will only talk directly to China when I face them,” Duterte told reporters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

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“War is not an option.”

Duterte made his statement even as China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations approved two documents on handling unplanned encounters and emergencies in the disputed waters, Chinese media reported Wednesday.

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THE allies of former President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday protested the “killing” of Bottom-up-Budgeting, warning that removing the BuB would make the national budget “even more detached” from the lives of the communities.

Siquijor Rep. Ramon Vicente Antonio Rocamora of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP-Laban was joined by Ifugao Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat, Akbayan Rep. Tomasito Villarin, and Pampanga Rep. Carmelo Lazatin in filing House Joint Resolution 4 seeking to institutionalize the BuB, and former Akbayan Rep. and now LP Senator Risa Next page

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Palace clueless on who will pay for Marcos funeral

By John Paolo Bencito

M

ALACAÑANG on Wednesday insisted that the late President Ferdinand Marcos will be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani unless the Supreme Court issues a temporary restraining order.

Thus, the question of who will pay for the grand funeral came up.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said he had no information yet on whether

the government will shoulder the burial cost.

“With regard to the expenses, that will be my assignment. I’ll find out from [Defense] Secretary

Delfin Lorenzana who will do the expenses,” Andanar said.

The SC has scheduled oral arguments on August 24 on the petitions filed by Martial Law victims and

Leila’s...

concerned, it’s adultery,” Duterte said.

“Here is a woman who funded the house of her lover and yet we do not see any complaint about it.

That money came readily from her,” he added.

Administration allies have accused De Lima of being in cahoots with the drug lords in the national penitentiary.

Duterte also brought up De Lima’s attempts to pin him to the Davao Death Squads when she was still commissioner on human rights.

“Until now she keeps on yapping,” Duterte said.

In his press briefing at Naia, Duterte said that he is not joking about his revelations against De Lima.

“It is not the business of a President to lie to the public,” he said.

He also reiterated that the ongoing war against drugs will continue whether they like it, or not.

“We will overcome the resistance, but if the resistance is violent, shoot. Can I be more clear than that?” Duterte said.

“Be careful with me because if I say I will do it, I will do it, even if have to kill you or be killed in the process,” he added, referring to the senators who are set to investigate the spate of drug-related killings.

Duterte was at the airport to condole with the widow of Petty

Officer 3 Darwin Espallardo whose wife Cleofe and son Dwyndyll John Espallardo flew from Legazpi City to fetch his cadaver.

Duterte told newsman during an impromptu interview that the family of Espallardo will receive a burial assistance of P250,000 cash and other benefits while the son will get a full scholarship grant until he finishes his college degree.

Also on Wednesday, one of the so-called narco-judges named by Duterte denied any involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Judge Exequil Dagala of the Dapa-Socorro, Surigao del Norte Municipal Circuit Trial Court said he has served the judiciary in the last 10 years with integrity.

He said his income was barely enough to sustain the needs of his family as he submitted himself to lifestyle check by the Supreme Court, which already initiated an administrative investigation against him and the three other active judges.

Dagala admitted owning a “small island” off Del Carmen town in Siargao, but said that he bought the property years ago for only about P40,000.

The island, known in the town as “Isla Verde,” was inspected by local police earlier this week even without court warrant on suspicion that it was housing a drug laboratory. With Eric B. Apolonio

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Philippine National Police Director-General Rolando dela Rosa said he will order a probe on De Lima’s driver.

“I will conduct my investigation,” dela Rosa said.

De Lima accused Duterte of character assassination.

“My first reaction is I don’t want to dignify that. It’s so foul.

It’s character assassination,” said De Lima who was on the verge of tears.

“We are both professional.

We are both public servants. He should not have resorted to such foul means. That’s very foul,” said De Lima.

She said Duterte should have double checked the source of his information.

She also vowed that Duterte’s attack would not stop her from pursuing the Senate investigation on the spate of killings of drug suspects under his watch.

During his speech, Duterte accused De Lima of commuting adultery with her “driver and lover,” claiming that she used illegal drug money from the New Bilibid Prison to bankroll her successful 2016 senatorial bid.

“Here is an immoral woman, flaunting. Well of course, in so far as the wife of the driver was

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Hontiveros who filed the counterpart measure.

“The whole purpose of the BuB is to ensure that the people have a say in government spending,” Rocamora said.

“The BuB is a crucial anti-poverty measure that caters to those on the fringes of society. Instead of deleting it, it should even be expanded.”

Rocamora said that while the Budget Department increased the funding allocation for local government units, that did not necessarily have the same effect as the BuB did since there were little mechanisms to ensure citizen participation in identifying projects and programs that the LGUs should undertake.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said he killed the BuB because it was used as a “political tool” by the previous administration, citing the province of LP-led Camiguin, which was allocated P600 million.

Diokno said only the allies of the Liberals made a killing out of the BuB. The budget for the financial assistance for the LGUs was increased from P25 billion this year to P65 billion in 2017.

The BuB was a brainchild of former Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II who ran under the LP banner but lost and placed third in the May presi-

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some 1,000 suspected drug pushers, while others have accused the government of being behind the extra-judicial killings.

“Let me be frank with you this afternoon. The fight against [illegal] drugs will continue and [be] unrelenting until we destroy the apparatus operating in the entire country,” the President said.

“A lot of bleeding hearts, including senators of this republic are complaining about the death rate in the fight against drugs.

You know, it is very easy to complain,” he said.

“We in government, and I myself who ordered the campaign against [illegal] drugs, take full sole responsibility for it and for those who are killed in a police operation and a firefight, we are willing to submit ourselves for an investigation before anybody,” Duterte said.

The President also asked why the UN could be so easily interfere in the affairs of the republic while not lifting a finger in other countries whose human rights records are far much worse.

dential polls.

Rocamora said he was dismayed by the deletion of the BuB from the 2017 national budget and vowed to push for its reinstatement and the creation of a BuB law.

He said the BuB was an integral program for democratizing the budget process and empowering the poorest of the poor.

“Removing the BuB makes the national budget even more detached from the lives of the communities that the government should be serving. The whole purpose of the BuB is to ensure that the people have a say in the government’s spending,” Rocamora said.

Under the BuB program, the civil society group, the academe, the church-backed organizations and the local community could participate in identifying projects that would be funded by it.

Under President Rodrigo Duterte’s 2017 budget, it would be the national government that will have control over which projects are to be given to an LGU in terms of “financial assistance.”

In his budget message to Congress, Duterte said the total allocations to the LGUs would reach P552.7 billion next year, or an increase of 14.2 percent from this year.

Of the P552.7 billion, Duterte said, some P486.9 billion was for the automatically appropriated Internal Revenue Allotment or IRA, and the rest or P65.8 billion would come as financial assistance to projects. Christine F. Herrera

On Aug. 3, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) issued a statement expressing great concern about reports of extra-judicial killing of suspected drug dealers and users in the Philippines.

The President said that while there are drug pushers killed in the country, there are a lot of people, innocent women, children, young women, young men, old men, old women being killed elsewhere without even seeing the slightest justice.

The President then called on the police force not to be intimidated by the UN’s statements on human rights and urged them to increase their efforts in the fight against drugs.

PNP chief Ronaldo dela Rosa on Wednesday told his lieutenants to take a more aggressive stance against drug dealers and threatened to relieve three regional directors whom he said turned in a poor performance in stamping out illegal drugs in their jurisdiction.

Dela Rosa also said he was worried because the number of drug users and pushers surrendering to the police had plateaued at about 600,000. With PNA

Terror...

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The two documents envision the establishment of a hot line for senior officials to enable them to respond to emergency situations in the South China Sea. Abella said Malaysia aside, Duterte will also visit Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore on Aug. 23 to 30.

“We’re also preparing our leadership when we tale over Asean.

That’s part of the preparation, and after Laos we’ll be taking over,” he said.

Also to be discussed at the Asean meetings is how to revitalize the BIMP-EAGA Growth Area consisting of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, a subregional economic cooperation initiative founded in Davao City.

The key sectors benefiting from the trade agreement are agriculture and industry, fisheries, tourism, transportation,shipping and energy.

Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go earlier confirmed that Duterte will visit Laos on Sept.

6 to 8 for the turnover of the chairmanship of the Asean. John Paolo Bencito, with PNA

their families earlier this week.

Abella reiterated that Duterte will abide by whatever ruling of the SC on the matter.

President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday that he will attend the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos if his health and schedule will permit.

Duterte made this statement at the arrival of the remains of Navy Petty Officer 3 Darwin Espallardo at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Espallardo is one of the three gov-

PDu30...

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Among the achievements cited were: 1. The signing of an executive order on the freedom of information; 2. The creation of a one-stop shop government center at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) where citizens can process all their needed documents from the government; 3. A vow to end the practice of contractualization; 4. Establishment of a Malacañang of the South in Panacanan, Davao City in efforts to shift priority to Mindanao.

5. The resumption of the peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and the implementation of its signed agreements with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front; 6. A revitalized economy, particularly the stability of the stock market since the President took office; 7. A P2.4-billion loan from the Japanese government to revive and extend the operations of the Philippine National Railways from Tutuban to Malolos in Bulacan; 8. Reorganization of 12 line agencies under the helm of Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco to

Free...

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Dureza added that the Norwegian government will provide logistical support for the NDF consultants.

Dureza made this clarification after the NDF admitted that they were having problems raising the bail for their consultants.

In a message to reporters, NDF’s chief legal consultant Edre Olalia said that while many of the political prisoners have already secured court orders for their release, they are having problems pending the need to post bail from different regional trial courts where they have pending cases, ranging from murder to kidnapping, among others.

“My clients do not have any money. They are having problems right now on where to secure the bail amounts for them to be released,” Olalia said.

As of Wednesday, five out of 22 jailed consultants were already

ernment troops killed in anti-drug operations in North Cotabato. The others are Corporal Jose Miravalles and Private 1st Class Jaypee Duran of the Philippine Army.

President Duterte reiterated that he allowed the burial of the former dictator at the Libingan ng mga Bayani “because it is in the law.” ”He was a soldier. As a soldier he is qualified. He is not a hero? Fine.

But he was a president and no nobody can deny that,” the President explained. With PNA

respond to the administration’s anti-poverty initiatives, under the President’s first executive order; 9. Making the government “inclusive” with the appointment of three leftists in the Cabinet-Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo and the National AntiPoverty Commission Secretary Liza Maza; 10. A proposed administrative order creating a Presidential Task Force on Media Killings; 11. Hosting of the Miss Universe pageant next year; 12. Increased allowance and benefits for athletes competing in the Rio Olympics; 13. Reshuffling and takeover of the Special Action Force to curb the illegal drug trade inside the national penitentiary; 14. Opening of the gates of the Department of Agrarian Reform to farmers; 15. A specialized hotline for emergencies (999) and anti-graft and red tape in government (8888); 16. The name-and-shame campaign on politicians, and members of the uniformed personnel involved in the illegal drug trade.

A documentary on Duterte’s day-to-day activities since Day 1 until his 50th day will be aired over state-run PTV4.

At a public forum, however, Andanar highlighted different achievements that were not on the list released by his office. released.

Those released were Jaime Soledad, Ruben Saluta, Kennedy Bangibang, and Winona and Alexander Birondo.

Also awating release were Renante Gamara, Ernesto Lorenzo and Allan Jazmines, who are all incarcerated at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.

The NDF is seeking for the release of 16 other political prisoners, including Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, Concha Araneta Bocala, Adelberto Silva, Loida Magpatoc, Alfredo Mapano, Emeterio Antalan, Leopoldo Caloza, Eduardo Sarmiento, Pedro Codaste, Porferio Tuna, Tirso Alcantara, Eduardo Genelsa, Ariel Arbitrario, Renato Baleros Sr. and Edgardo Friginal to join the Oslo peace talks.

Dureza said that while the government will shoulder money for their flights, it will not post bail for them.

He added that the final list of consultants has yet to be determined, since this depends on the courts. With Sandy Araneta, Lance Baconguis

Philconsa hails Du30 decision THE Philippine Constitution Association through former congressman, Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and Manuel M. Lazaro, president and chairman/ CEO, respectively, lauded the judicious decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to allow the burial of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos at the National Pantheon, better known as Libingan ng Mga Bayani, in the specific area assigned exclusively to all Presidents of the Philippines in accordance with and pursuant to RA 289. Section 2 of the law mandates the Board of National Pantheon to determine the suitable site for the construction of the Pantheon and “to set aside a portion thereof wherein shall be interred the remains of all Presidents of the Philippines and another portion wherein the remains of heroes, patriots and other great men of the country shall likewise be interred.”

Lazaro stated that RA 289 expressly vested the duty and function of the executive department that the mortal remains of all Presidents of the Philippines, without any distinction or qualification of whatever nature or character as the person or as the President, be interred in the burial place specifically assigned, only to all former Presidents of the Philippines. Lazaro further remarked, when President Duterte directed the burial of former President Marcos in the LNMB, he was merely executing his solemn oath as President to “faithfully and conscientiously fulfill his duties as President of the Philippines to preserve and defend the Constitution, execute [enforce] its laws and do justice to every man.” President Marcos is buried as the former President of the Philippines, an undisputed fact, and not as otherwise perceived by detractors.

Philconsa president Romualdez intoned the only eligibility required to be buried to the specific place assigned to former Presidents of the Philippines is he was a President. Hence, the protests, rallies and oppositions against the burial are devoid of factual and legal basis. The protesters irreverently and irrelevantly claim Marcos was not a hero or a patriot. The late President Marcos’ remains are being interred as the former President of the Philippines.

Romualdez said that there is a specific burial place separate and distinct for heroes and patriots and other persons qualified to be buried. Romualdez concluded it is ironic that the avid protesters or haters of Marcos opposed to his interment and none opposed to what has been publicized and reported, the interment of the dog of former President Corazon Aquino named “Shadow” buried in the LNMB. The dog is neither a President, nor a hero or patriot.

Shadow was an animal not even a human being.

Philconsa salutes Duterte’s audacious decision to enforce RA 289, wittingly or unwittingly neglected, unfortunately, by the past Presidents in violation of their oath of office to execute and enforce all laws. “President Duterte’s decision gives closure to a long and hanging issue.”

RCBC...

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by representatives from the government, civil society and nongovernment organizations.

“The new government came into office with the goodwill of all the key players in the South, but the honeymoon period will end and violent alternatives-including jihadi militancy and criminality--are available for those who become disaffected,” Johnson said.

He made the statement even as Malacañang said the formal holding of the peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front will be on a “highlevel,” with several ranking government officials being involved.

“The biggest development here is the development that the government is open for talks with the MILF, and having additional members of MILF in the Bangsamoro Transition Committee,”

Presidential Spokesman Martin Andanar said in a breakfast forum.

Other factions were invited to have seats aside from the MILF.” Johnson also warned of the efforts by the IS and other jihadist groups to foment disorder outside the Middle East.

He said his team conducted a one-year study funded by the EU entitled “The Philippines: Renewing Prospects for Peace in Mindanao,” where they interviewed dozens of stakeholders from the government, the MILF, community activists and ordinary citizens.

He said the study found that the people from Mindanao were now being skeptical after witnessing at least three other proposed agreements founder.

He said that behavior might put the greatest danger to peace should the people return to guerrilla warfare or tip deeper into lawlessness.

Sara Susanne D. Fabunan and Sandy Araneta

It was learned that the controversial bank manager was taken to the Ospital ng Makati for the routine medical examination before she was detained overnight at the jail of the Makati City Police headquarters.

Fulgar said Deguito will be able to get out of jail temporarily after posting bail.

Businessman William Go tagged Deguito to a multi-billion peso money laundering scheme involving $81 million, which was moved from the account of the Bangladesh Bank at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to several accounts in the RCBC Jupiter branch.

Deguito allegedly confided to Go that she opened “fictitious” accounts--dollar and peso--at the branch on Feb. 23, 2016. The accounts were made under Go’s brokerage firm Centurytex Trading.

The money laundering case is now being investigated by the Anti-Money Laundering Council and the Senate.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Gloria trip approved THE Sandiganbayan allowed former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to travel to Europe for stem cell treatment and a vacation.

In a resolution, the anti-graft court allowed Arroyo to travel to Munich, Germany; Paris, France; and Hong Kong despite the two graft charges leveled against her in connection with the allegedly anomalous National Broadband Network-ZTE deal during her presidency.

In her travel motion, Arroyo said she will travel with her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, to Munich for a medical consultation from September 20 to 29, and for a vacation in Paris from September 29 to October 2. The former first gentleman is Arroyo’s co-accused in one graft charge. Maricel V. Cruz

FDA rules on C2 amid online raps THE Food and Drug Administration has declared local and imported C2 Cool and Clean drinks as safe for human consumption following a spate of anonymous Facebook and online posts claiming otherwise.

In a public advisory issued on August 16, the FDA also said it had inspected the two manufacturing plants of URC that produce C2 and found them complying with FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practices.

FDA conducted the tests in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao following reports that certain production batches of C2 in Vietnam were ordered recalled because of allegedly high lead content. The recall order was followed by a vicious online campaign in Vietnam against C2.

Of late, however, the online campaign has spread to local provinces with claims that one mining employee in Baguio had died after drinking C2. This was denied by the mining company.

Unilab holds health fair THE Unilab Foundation will hold the third leg of its Health Science on the Go Traveling Science Centrum in Isabela State UniversityCauayan Campus from August 8 to September 9 to “address the country’s health literacy gap.”

The Philippines listed a low health literacy rate in 2014, a case reflected in the country’s top causes of death that are mostly due to unhealthy lifestyle, according the Philippine College of Physicians report.

Cathrine Mae V. Gonzales

EASTERN VISAYAN VOICE. Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez (right) and other congressmen from the Eastern Visayas meet with Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade over plans to transfer flights from Tacloban to Clark International Airport in Pampanga. Looking on are Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado (2nd left) and Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone (2nd right). Ver Noveno

DoTr takes charge of traffic problems

By Joel E. Zurbano and Darwin G. Amojelar

T

HE Department of Transportation will take over traffic management along national roads in Metro Manila, with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Highway Patrol Group hoping to resolve the worsening vehicular logjams in the national capital.

Following a directive from Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, an inter-agency traffic management team composed of the heads and key officials of the MMDA and the HPG will be merged to attached agencies of the Transportation Department to strengthen traffic enforcement with a united chain of command.

The attached agencies include the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

Officials said Metro Manila will be split into at least 10 traf-

fic sectors with a sectoral head for each.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, said that while the Executive is still awaiting Congress to grant emergency powers to President Rodrigo Duterte, “we just cannot sit idly.”

“Government has to provide immediate solution to bring relief to many of our weary commuters,” Andanar told the Manila Standard.

In related developments: • The minority bloc in the House of Representatives proposed measures to help the na-

tional government’s resolve to address the worsening traffic gridlocks in Metro Manila, coinciding with a call by a member urging the local government units to shift gear in ensuring an effective enforcement of traffic rules and regulations.

House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said the problem on traffic congestion has become alarming and shortterm solutions should also be considered.

• Authorities in Metro Manila arrested 18,401 persons caught violating the capital’s anti-jaywalking policy—described as a minor offense but among causes of accidents and traffic congestion.

MMDA Chairman Emerson Carlos urged the public to use the footbridges—at least 100 in the metropolis—as he stressed the dangers of jaywalking, telling pedestrians to use designated crosswalks.

• The HPG told a news briefing that a seven-minute reduction has been noted on travel time along the 23.8-km Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA),

which stretches from Monumento in Caloocan City to the Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

But HPG Chief Supt. Antonio Gardiola stopped short of going into specifics, saying only “this is due to closer coordination among traffic units of the national government and the local government units.”

Transportation Department spokesperson Cherie MercadoSantos said the inter-agency initiative is a necessary to ease traffic congestion pending the resolution of an appeal for Emergency Powers.

“We are focusing on enforcement now while waiting for Congress to grant us emergency powers. We have to do what we can do now,” she said.

Gardiola said streamlining the different traffic agencies is seen to address Metro traffic better.

“Kapag watak-watak tayo, mahihirapan ang mga tao on the ground. But if we will be given authority under one chain of command, we can now easily issue orders,” he said.

PH eyes border pact with MY, ID BoC seeks higher

By Sandy Araneta collections at ports A PALACE official said on Wednesday a trilateral agreement is being considered by the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia to open up sea lanes, with the aim to secure the three nations against terrorists, as well as improve trade relations between these countries.

This was revealed by Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar, during the weekly “Kapihan sa Manila Bay, at Café Adriatico”

in Manila.

Andanar’s revelation came after the Philippine government’s recent meeting with Malaysia.

“From my perspective, Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Razak was very welcoming and warm to all of us Filipino delegates led by Secretary [Jesus] Dureza. He mentioned several times the security problem here in Sulu,” Andanar said.

“We have very close proximity between Malaysia and Sulu. Unless we solve this

problem, the security will always pose dangers to our economic growth and bilateral relations. The security will always pose as one of the dangers,” said Andanar.

“The Prime Minister reiterated the need to establish to official sea lanes between the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.

We will know how superior the navy of Malaysia and Indonesia.

Through a trilateral agreement we will have Official Sea Lanes between the three countries,” Andanar said.

By Gabrielle H. Binaday THE Bureau of Customs said Wednesday they will focus on their mandate to ensure border security that will eventually lead to higher collections.

“If we want to improve our collection target, we have to do our part in border security” in order to help stop smuggling, Faeldon said during the first public consultation of the Implementing Rules and Regulation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act under the new administration.

Faeldon made the comment as he mentions that there are

93 private wharfs operating in Zamboanga Peninsula.

“Now in order to grow our collection target, we need to do our part in the border security, if we can’t stop this shipment of commodities then we will collect nothing. Instead of P55 million target per year in the port of Zamboanga we can collect at least a billion in that port, based on the movement of commodities from foreign vessels,” Faeldon said.

“If we want to improve our collection target, we have to do our part in border security” in order to help stop smuggling, he said.

Suspect trying to buy silence, lawyer claims

By Rio N. Araja

VOTER EXPECTATIONS. Commission on Elections chairman Andres Bautista stresses a point during a

forum organized by Democracy Satch and Stratbase on voter perception of the 2016 elections. Also at the forum were Stratbase president and political analyst Ramon Casiple. Sonny Espiritu

A PRIVATE prosecutor in the Maguindanao massacre case on Wednesday accused one of the principal suspects for his supposed “continuing attempt” to bribe the kin of the victims in exchange for an amicable settlement of the civil case he is facing before the Quezon City court.

In an interview, lawyer Nena Santos representing Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said seven of the complainants

informed her that the lawyers of former Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan are offering them P3 million for their silence.

“I had been receiving information of continuing attempts

by Zaldy to bribe the complainants residing in Koronadal City,” she told the Manila Standard.

She said she was able to validate the information “because I am from that area and have double-checked the facts... I also wanted to know who the lawyer was.”

Solon slams internet service

By Christine F. Herrera A PARTY-LIST lawmaker has accused telco companies of shortchanging the public and embarrassing President Rodrigo Duterte and the country for the “lousy internet service” of a veritable “duopoly.”

In a privilege speech Tuesday evening, 1Pacman Rep. Enrico Pineda echoed Duterte’s warning to the telecom duopoly to “shape up or face the consequences.”

“The lucrative telecom industry is controlled only by a duopoly which easily rakes in a net profit of P104 million a day,” Pineda told the plenary.

Pineda did not name the telecom duopoly but only two telcos corner the business— Globe Telecom Inc. and Smart Communications Inc. Pineda also lashed at the National Telecomunications Commission for penalizing the telcos only P200 a day because that would only total P73 million and it would take 1,000 years for the duopoly feel the impact of the fine.

“Compared to the telco tycoons, I am a mere speck of dust. But this speck has a constituency to protect and a duty to fulfill,” Pineda said.

“Mr. Speaker, the Filipino people deserve better services.

And they will get it, because the telcos will give it to them.

I will toil. I will fight. I will not stop until this is done,” Pineda vowed.

Pineda lamented that the country’s Internet speed is 22 times slower than Japan’s, but it is 96 times more expensive.

“Not only are we being given the poorest service, we are also being forced to pay the highest rates. To say that we are being shortchanged is an understatement,” he stressed.

“The irony here is that we have reaped accolades which would have made internet speed as fast as the growth in the number of its users here.

We’re the texting capital of the world, a selfie hotspot. Our Facebook subscribers dwarf the population of most countries in the world.

“We are the world’s back office, a BPO superpower. But why in the world are we lagging in terms of internet connectivity and cellular service?” he said.

Foregone opportunities range from students kept in the digital dark to businesses burdened by high broadband costs, Pineda said.

“For ordinary folks, the forfeited benefits are obvious, from dropped calls they have to pay, to cellphone loads that disappear,” he added.

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Opinion

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Beyond shock and awe

I

N a speech at the Philippine National Police anniversary at Camp Crame on Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte linked a female senator to the drug menace, saying she funded the construction of her lover’s house with collections from illegal drugs in Muntinlupa—where the National Bilibid Prison, and supposedly powerful convicted drug lords, are.

Later in the day, he named the senator as Leila de Lima, the former Justice secretary and Human Rights commissioner who had called for a congressional investigation into the spate of killings related to the supposed campaign against illegal drugs.

The hearings are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday next week.

In fact De Lima, who chairs the Senate committee on justice and human rights, has advised the President and the PNP chief, Director General Rolando dela

Rosa, to follow the probe.

In her open letter to the two officials, De Lima said that not all the killings were related to the government’s war against illegal drugs.

But the senator, who reacted to President’s words before he actually named her, said it was a case of character assassination that would not deter her from leading next week’s probe on the killings.

It is easy to be distracted by the shaming method in which the President conducts his campaign.

The idea of people in high plac-

es, posturing themselves as the “conscience of the country” but who turn out to lead double lives is always fodder for gossip and derision.

Shock and awe is a good way to impress upon the public the enormity of the drug problem, and beyond it, the erosion of confidence in our public officials.

A swift trial that considers evidence in a real court, not that of public opinion, is the only logical next step. As a former prosecutor, President must know and inspire this.

DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA

The Marcos burial

Gloves off LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES THE gloves are now off. President Rodrigo Duterte has thrown down the gauntlet in the direction of Senator Leila de Lima, ahead of her highly-publicized Senate investigation on the socalled extra-judicial killings that have taken place under his administration.

“You want to know the name?

De Lima.”

Earlier, at the national police headquarters in Camp Crame, Duterte told of an unnamed senator—or more precisely, the senator’s driver and lover—receiving money “from Muntinlupa.”

He was referring, of course, to the national penitentiary, where drug lords supposedly continue to ply their nefarious trade despite their incarceration.

But at a press conference late in the afternoon at the Manila airport, Duterte was coy no longer. It was his old nemesis, De Lima, that he was referring to as the senator who benefited (albeit once removed) from the illegal drug trade, he said.

The declaration ended hours of speculation about the identity of the senator, even if many had already concluded that it was, in fact, the former justice secretary.

And De Lima and Duterte, as everyone knows, have clashed publicly before, ever since the latter’s name came up as a presidential candidate.

I suspect that Duterte was attempting to take the wind out of De Lima’s sails by making the announcement. As many who have publicly jousted with the president know by now, Duterte is not one to shy away from a fight, whether your name is Jose Ma. Sison or Philip Lustre, that colleague of mine who claimed that the former Davao City may-

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This is not about being ‘immoral’ or not. It’s about promising and then not delivering.” or has been stricken with a lifethreatening disease.

It’s true that Duterte has also reconciled with people whom he has been feuding with. The most prominent of these is Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, to whom Duterte apologized after admitting that he made unnecessarily harsh remarks after the

Benjamin Philip G. Romualdez Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Maan Ilustre Edgar M. Valmorida

top magistrate wrote him about the judges named in his first “narco-list.”

But that feud ended only after Sereno probably realized that fighting a very public war of words with the president was going to be counter-productive.

Sereno declared that she would no longer say anything about the matter after Duterte unleashed a verbal barrage against her. That gave the president, a lawyer and an officer of the court, time to realize, as well, that he should not be fighting with the highest magistrate in the land; so he apologized profusely in his oldschool manner.

De Lima, however, is another matter entirely. Duterte has long been stewing about the former justice secretary ever since she brought up the issue of Duterte’s alleged creation and sponsorship of the Davao Death Squad, the feared (and near-mythical) vigilante group in that city.

Chairman Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager Advertising and Marketing Head Circulation Manager

*** De Lima, of course, can be expected to say in her defense that she is just doing her job as a senator and as the chairman of the chamber’s committee on justice and human rights. And whatever the other motives imputed on De Lima in her unrelenting pursuit of Duterte, at least she’s been a consistent critic, even when the president was still a mayor thinking of running for president.

But De Lima took it one step further, deciding to play the victim card. She described Duterte’s allegations as “character assassination,” something she “did not expect from the president.”

How the latest flareup in the long-running Duterte-De Lima word war will affect the senator’s upcoming investigation of the recent killings is uncertain.

Even if Duterte had truly intended to take the senator down a Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Francis Lagniton News Editor Emil P. Jurado

IT IS now up to the Supreme Court to decide whether the late President Ferdinand Marcos will finally be buried at the military cemetery at Fort Bonifacio or Libingan ng mga Bayani as it is popularly known.

Twenty-seven years after the death of the former strongman, the “war” is still raging. His enemies are as determined as ever to deny him burial at Fort Bonifacio where soldiers and former soldiers are buried. Admittedly, Marcos is altogether a different case. He was democratically elected twice as president but ruled as a virtual dictator for 12 years for a total of 20 years. This makes him the longest-serving president of the country. During his long reign, many abuses that caused his eventual downfall in a military—civilian uprising in 1986 were committed.

He was driven into exile to Hawaii where he died in 1989.

His remains was eventually brought to Ilocos Norte during the term of former President Fidel Ramos where it remains to this day.

During the campaign leading to the May elections, thencandidate Rodrigo Duterte made a promise to allow the burial of the late president at the Libingan ng mga Bayani if he won the elections. He is now fulfilling that promise. This has, however, rekindled the controversy between the late strongman and his enemies.

One would think that his burial should simply be governed by regulations which in this case is the Armed Forces of the Philippines Regulations 161375 issued on 9 April 1986 during the term of the late President Cory Aquino.

In that AFPR, it is clear that Marcos is entitled to be buried at the LNMB. But Cory Aquino exercised her prerogative as President and Commander-inChief and prohibited the burial of Marcos at the LNMB. Now, President Duterte is also exercising his prerogative as President and Commander-in-Chief by allowing the burial—but the opponents of Marcos cannot accept this.

The case of Marcos is not unique in history. There have been many controversial leaders in recent times who should be resting in peace after their

Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Turn to A5

City Editor Senior Deskman Art Director Chief Photographer

Opinion All extra-judicial killings must stop TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO DURING a command conference at the PNP National Headquarters, National Police Chief Director General Rolando dela Rosa, without batting an eyelash, said that drug syndicates, not vigilantes, are behind the recent spate of killings.

He added that the PNP had already identified these syndicates.

Clearly, Dela Rosa’s statement was meant to exonerate the police from the culture of violence, lawlessness and impunity.

Doesn’t Dela Rosa realize that whoever is behind them, they still are extra-judicial killings that must be stopped?

Since Dela Rosa has admitted that he has “scientific evidence” about the killings, he must be act quickly and with the same determination and commitment as his boss, President Duterte, to go against those responsible.

The President and his police chief must realize that continued extra-judicial killings have spawned other problems like lawlessness and violence. These could lead to the breakdown of peace and order. Will this eventually translate to martial law or the declaration of a revolutionary government?

The United Nations, Amnesty International and even the United States have already reacted to what’s happening in the Philippines.

I am sure that the Mr. Duterte can become a great President with his political will and determination to end criminality, illegal drugs and corruption in the shortest time possible.

But he must also have the will to call for an end to the killings because they are outside of the law.

the President’s unwavering will to put closure to the Marcos remains issue once and for all?

If the answer is a no, then September 18 will be the date when the Marcos remains will be interred. *** When Lopez clan heiress Gina Lopez, a self-proclaimed environment advocate, and anti-mining crusader, was appointed Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources, businessman Manny V. Pangilinan said it was like putting an elephant in the room.

But she has become more of a bull in the China shop. She is dedicated to making mining a sunset industry.

She has suspended the operations of 10 mining firms including the biggest, multi-billion goldcopper project Tampakan Mining.

Now she is threatening to close Semirara of the Consunjis for alleged violation of its Environmental Clearance Certificate.

Without Semirara, several power plants would stop operating!

The country can no longer rely on coal shipped from Indonesia.

Doesn’t President Duterte realize what Lopez is doing, bullying the mining industry?

The appointment of Gina Lopez was deemed a masterstroke of Duterte. Now he can have the support of the powerful ABS-CBN broadcast network. The minus side is that Duterte is also making mining a sunset industry. Tell me: What investor would now come?

Of course, irresponsible miners must go. But, Tampakan and Semirara are not per se irresponsible mining firms.

If they have violated the ECC, they must be told to shape up or ship out.

The fault lies on the DENR’s division that issues the ECCs. It is perceived as a corrupt division where personnel extort money from those who want to be given their certificates.

Santa Banana, doesn’t Lopez realize that even small business and factories must get ECC permits to operate?

Her appointment must be reviewed if this administration must attract foreign investors. By the way, doesn’t Mr. Duterte realize Lopez is part of the oligarchy he so despises?

These have spawned other problems.

*** In an obvious attempt to make herself relevant, Vice President Leni Robredo says that she will seek an audience with the president to convince him not to have the remains of the late strongman and President Ferdinand E. Marcos buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

If you ask me, there should be an attemptt to change the name of the LNMB into just a cemetery, like Arlington Cemetery. After all, not only heroes can be buried there.

Even the dog of the late President Corazon Aquino was buried there.

By definition and regulation approved by no less than former President Cory and then-Chief of Staff Fidel V. Ramos, it is clear that Marcos as former President, Commander-in-Chief, former National Defense Secretary, and a war veteran is qualified to be buried at the LNMB. So what will Robredo now tell Duterte? Can she deny that Marcos was a President and a war veteran who is qualified to be interred at the Libingan?

I am sure that as a gentleman, the President will see her. But he will not be convinced.

Santa Banana, are the more than 16 million Filipinos who voted for Duterte rallying and protesting? Is there a nationwide clamor against

Gloves...

From A4 notch or two ahead of the hearings that she will preside over, in order to discredit them, De Lima does not have the option of backing down; after all, she has already declared that she has witnesses lined up who will talk about who perpetrated the killings and why.

If De Lima is truly the “professional public servant” that she claims to be, she will not allow Duterte’s allegations to bother her as she conducts her investigation. If anything, she should prove that she is better than the president because she can actually substantiate the charges that she has made.

The senator is certainly no stranger to the brickbats lobbed by her critics, who have long accused her of everything from

*** Ramon Ang, president and COO of the San Miguel conglomerate, has vowed to give P1 billion to the Duterte government for building rehabilitation centers and facilities for the thousands of illegal drug users and addicts that have surrendered to the police.

I must congratulate Ang for this endeavor. The illegal drug menace will always be with us unless drug dependents get rehabilitated.

I know for a fact that so long as there’s a demand for illegal drugs, the matter will not go away.

The P1 billion from San Miguel to put up drug rehabilitation centers could start the establishment of other rehabilitation facilities nationwide. Still, it is not enough.

It will take more than that—such centers will also since need doctors, psychiatrists and personnel.

All in all I estimate about P50 billion for rehab centers nationwide. protecting the drug lords inside the national penitentiary to having an affair with her driver. If it is true that she simply ignores these allegations, now is the time for her to put her stoic “refusal to engage” her critics to the test.

I certainly hope that De Lima is able to deliver on her promise to uncover what really happened to the hundreds of alleged drug pushers and users who have died in Duterte’s war on drugs.

If she can’t do that and instead uses Duterte’s latest broadsides against her as an excuse, then I will be forced to conclude that she has no evidence and is merely engaged in the usual Senate grandstanding.

This is not about being “immoral” or not. It’s about promising and then not delivering —which, while not politically fatal, can be truly debilitating, especially in the eyes of ordinary Filipinos.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016

Marcos in context

MINORITY REPORT DANILO SUAREZ THE Marcos burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani has sparked a polarizing, heated debate. Much of the protests are based on the abuses committed by the military during Martial Law. I remember that the theory proffered by the previous administration against FM was that while there was no direct evidence linking him to the abuses during that time, he was responsible for creating a climate which fostered such violations. However, as one of those who was already an adult during that era, I can say that the FM’s decision then to declare Martial Law was a prudent decision which any self-respecting leader could have made under the same circumstances.

During that time, the communist movement was practically knocking at the doorstep of Metro Manila. This was during the time that the Communist movement was at its peak and the South East Asia Treaty

Organization was still in existence. The Seato was a response to the demand that Southeast Asia be protected against communist expansionism, especially as manifested through military aggression in Korea and Indochina and through subversion backed by organized armed forces in Malaysia and the Philippines. The worldwide threat of communism at that time provided the violent context by which Martial Law was declared, something that is lost in the debate.

Moreover, there is no question that it was during the time of FM that much of the beloved infrastructure that we are still using now was built. Setting aside the fact that he was the longest serving president, a study found that on a per-year basis, he led all the presidents in infrastructure investments.

Only Fidel Ramos bested him in road building for a period of one year. FM’s infra record was not only marked by sheer volume; they were of quality and interrelated and complemented sector-development objectives.

If one is familiar with the Quezon City area, you can locate our specialty hospitals, such as the

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, and the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, just across each other. Road networks and bridges that are still being used now were constructed during FM’s time, such as, the Manila North Diversion Road, precursor of the North Luzon Expressway (Nlex), the Marcos Highway to Baguio and the San Juanico Bridge that links the islands of Samar and Leyte. In order to foster our cultural heritage, FM’s administration built the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Folk Arts Theatre, Philippine International Convention Center, Makiling Center for the Arts (National Arts Center), Malacañang ti Amianan in Laoag, Nayong Pilipino, Museum for Native Art in Tacloban, and Palace in the Sky. I read an anti-Marcos argument that goes along the line that FM’s supporters should not use his infrabuilding record to claim that he is the best president we ever had since those were built using public funds anyway. This line of reasoning totally misses the point. The real success of FM’s infrastructure legacy is his vision and legacy of building so

much within a span of time, at such quality, and with such cohesive planning. After all, all our previous presidents also had at their disposal public funds to build the proper infrastructure – but were they able to match FM’s infra success rate?

And let us not forget Masagana 99, against the backdrop of the previous administration’s repeated failure to achieve its promise of rice self-sufficiency.

Masagana 99 promoted the planting of varieties of rice developed by the International Rice Research Institute. It was so called because of the target of 99 cavans [4,900 kilos] per hectare per season for irrigated rice. That was the only time that the Philippines achieved rice self-sufficiency and it was even able to export rice from 1977-1978.

I do not imagine the preceding to be enough to persuade anti-Marcoses to change their mind. Nor it is my intention. I have come to accept that when it comes to this issue, everything is yellow to the jaundiced eye. I only ask that all our arguments, too much colored by emotion, be put in the proper context that was prevailing at that time.

Returning to my roots POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE MY FIRST Pop Goes the World column came out in Manila Standard in 2010.

Since then, I’ve written about current events, culture, politics, the environment, women’s issues, and many other topics that have impact upon society, belong to my advocacies, or are of general interest.

However, I realize that along the way I’ve strayed from the raison d’etre for this column, which is to discuss popular culture and cultural matters, their place in the Philippine milieu, and their effect on the public, if any. It’s time for me to go back to the basics and deliver what I and my editor originally intended this column to provide.

I took the title of my column from an ‘80s hit song

by Men Without Hats. The song’s narrative jived with what I initially thought to explore—popular culture. However, my inclination and academic training, as well as my assessment of present gaps in the public discourse, direct a return to a cultural studies perspective informed by a multi-disciplinary viewpoint (anthropology, sociology, communication, media studies, psychology, etc.).

As a social scientist, this will be my way of bringing awareness of how global and local popular culture informs, entertains, educates, and engages Filipinos, often to an extent that we fail to observe. As part of this effort, I will be reviewing different forms of media such as books, films, events, as well as studying and analyzing cultural phenomena. Culture can be sneaky in its approach and persistent in its effect, and it will be interesting to trace the media content that we have unconsciously made a part of our lives.

A clarification of what “culture” means: that which we generally think of as culture— visual art, music, dance—are the manifestations of a people’s arts. These are only a part of a people’s culture—its belief systems, norms, values, traditions, meaning systems, and other aspects of a society that make it operate. We will look into the aspects that make up our culture and those of others.

I would also like to inform the readers of this column —all three of them—that I will be undergoing a big life change in the coming weeks, something that will have a definite impact on the pieces I will write for this space, so please do not be surprised when this happens sometime next month.

I decided to take up this new life direction because I believe that humans need challenges to learn and grow stronger, and any lessons we learn along the way should be shared so that others may benefit. There’ll be some of that too here.

So if you are looking for the

latest political gossip, you will not find any in Pop Goes the World. I’ll still be discussing current events, though that will not be the main topic of this new and hopefully improved column.

Do stick around if you want to read about things that are out of the ordinary, things that will make you think and learn and hopefully be interested enough to conduct your own research about the matters that make us Filipinos, and citizens of the world.

As always I welcome your comments and suggestions. A shout-out to WG Balderrama, a frequent commenter on the MS website, and nednared and janns_med on Twitter.

Expect my “return to my roots” pieces after this one.

Thanks for reading this column for the past six years. I hope you’ll continue to keep me company on this journey, wherever it takes us. I promise you that you won’t be bored. *** Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste, Instagram: @jensdecember

Providing opportunities for women

By Phumzile MlamboNgcuka ON 19 AUGUST, World Humanitarian Day, we honor the women, girls, men and boys who have demonstrated resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship and persistent violence, and we salute the first responders and aid workers who continue to work towards recovery, even after peace has been established.

According to the report of the United Nations Secretary General for the World Humanitarian Summit, conflicts drive 80 percent of all humanitarian needs.

I had the opportunity to witness the impact of conflict and recovery firsthand when I visited Afghanistan this year.

In Kabul, I presented certificates to 48 graduates of the UN Women-

The Marcos...

From A4 deaths but are not. Two cases come to mind that although not the same, are somewhat similar. Philippe Petain was a distinguished soldier and leader of France during the first half of the 20th century. He was known as the Lion of Verdun. As the allied commander during the battle of Verdun during World War I, he stopped the advance of the German army and subsequently cemented his reputation as one of the ablest and respected French generals. He was eventually promoted to the exulted title of Marshal of France for his services during World War I. During World War II, he took on the responsibility of taking charge of the part of France that was not occupied by the Germans whose capital was located in the spa town of Vichy. It is better

supported “Six-months Internship Programme for Afghan Recent Graduates,” which provides women and girls with opportunities for economic empowerment with the aim of bringing stability to families, thereby building sustainable peace.

Despite growing up amidst years of violent conflict and repression that was especially targeted at women and girls, these inspiring young women spoke of their hopes for a future where peace was accompanied by an end to discriminatory social norms, and they could live truly empowered lives.

Women and girls in Afghanistan continue to be affected by protracted conflict and recurrent natural disasters, as well as by poverty, discrimination and exploitation. For instance, restrictions on movement and a lack of access to schools, whether through closures or occupation by

fighters, present monumental obstacles to women and girls. While school enrollment is improving in Afghanistan, only 36 percent of primary and secondary school students are girls, and women comprise just 20 percent of university students.

A critical part of humanitarian action involves the restoring of day-to-day life post-conflict, including rebuilding infrastructure, ensuring access to clean water and sanitation, combatting the violence that often continues to erupt, and providing women with vital economic skills that will empower them in the long term. UN Women is using pilots such as our internship programme in Afghanistan to introduce models that include both economic advancement and agency to achieve women’s economic empowerment.

Humanitarian situations can also

provide opportunities to advance the position of women. Despite the extreme difficulties Afghan women encounter in the economic and social spheres, the Afghan parliament currently comprises 28 per cent women—which is above the global average of 22 per cent—because of quotas introduced after the fall of the Taliban. In recovering from humanitarian crises, we must ensure that women’s lived experiences on the ground match the gains made in women’s access to leadership in political spheres, and in international rhetoric. By providing more opportunities for women, such as our internship programme, we can ensure that women can play central roles alongside international humanitarian workers and assist in the rebuilding of our nations.

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is executive director for UN Women

known today as the Vichy regime. Petain’s government was accused of collaborating with the Germans so much so that after the war, Petain was charged with treason and was found guilty after a controversial trial and sentenced to death. All his titles and decorations were also taken away from him except his title as Marshal of France. But due to his old age, the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. He was originally jailed in mainland France but later transferred to the little French island of ile d’Yeu in the Atlantic ocean where he eventually died at the age of 95 in 1951. He is buried there to this day.

What makes this case similar to Marcos is that there are people to this day who want Petain to be reburied at the military cemetery at Douamont in Verdun where the military dead of France are buried. In fact, sometime in 1973, the coffin of Petain

was stolen purportedly for burial at Douamont. It was subsequently found and was again reburied with a Presidential wreath on top of the coffin but not in Douamont as Petain supporters wanted but still ile d’ Yeu. This controversy is very much alive up to this day.

This Douamont cemetery is the equivalent of our Libingan ng mga Bayani. Unlike Petain, however, Marcos was never charged or convicted of any crime that would have disqualified his burial at the LNMB. President Duterte believes that burying Marcos at the LNMB will put closure to the Marcos controversy but Rep. Edcel Lagman does not believe so. It is hard to say who is right.

Perhaps if all the actors of the so-called Edsa uprising are all gone, a more objective assessment of those tumultuous events of the last 12 years of the Marcos rule can be made

devoid of biases. But if the Petain experience can teach us anything, it is not that simple.

The other case was that of the Ugandan strongman Idi Armin who was driven like Marcos out of his country in 1979. He initially went to live in Libya after his ouster but eventually moved to Saudi Arabia where he died in 2003. Before his death, he tried to seek permission from the Ugandan government to go home to die but his request was denied with the warning that if he steps inside Uganda, he will be put on trial for the crimes committed during his reign as president. He is now buried in Saudi Arabia.

Is there another lesson to be learned here? Yes. This controversy should be a warning to aspiring leaders who want to go the Marcos way that when they die as we all do, it will not be altogether sure that they will be resting in peace.

A7

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Miranda grabs BWC national finals’ lead VETERAN Raoul Miranda started strong and then held off a fierce comeback by Nicco Olaivar to move into the final day of the Quibica/AMF Bowling World Cup national finals on top of the remaining eight-man field at Paeng’s Midtown Bowl.

Miranda shot 256, 258 and 236 in the first three of 12 secondround games to chalk up 5091 pinfalls after 24 games. Miranda’s other games were 245, 229, 222, 220, 217, 206, 201 and 173.

Miranda finished 124 pins ahead of Olaivar, who rallied with 249, 263, 247, 212 and 266 from the 20th game, after rolling 206, 189, 246, 195, 213, 214 and 202.

Merwin Tan, 17-year-old member of the Philippine team who led after the opening 12 games with 2478, dropped to third with 4937 as he stumbled with a 174 in the 24th game.

H. No. 2185

Jay R. Tan came in fourth with 4861, followed by Sammy Say Sy (4827), Paulo Valdez (4766), Alex Ngoi (4710) and Kevin Cu (4675).

Thirty-four lady aspirants headed by well-known international campaigner Liza del Rosario rolled 10 more games yesterday also at Paeng’s Midtown Bowl in a bid to join Miranda and company in the quarterfinal, semifinal and final competitions tomorrow at the SM North Edsa center in Quezon City.

The men’s and ladies’ champions will represent the Philippines in the 2016 BWC international finals scheduled on October 14-23 at Hao’s Bowling Center in Shanghai, China.

Del Rosario is aiming for another shot at the international crown, having played in last year’s World event at Sam’s Town in Las Vegas, Nevada together with former FIQ World titlist Biboy Rivera.

Republic of the Philippines Congress of the Philippines Metro Manila Sixteenth Congress Third Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-seventh day of July, two thousand fifteen.

[REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10891] AN ACT GRANTING THEFIRST BAY POWER CORP. (FBPC) A FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT, INSTALL. ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF ELECTRIC POWER TO THE END USERS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BAUAN, PROVINCE OF BATANGAS Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: SECTION 1. Nature and Scope of Franchise. - Subject to the provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution and applicable laws, rules and regulations, there is hereby granted to First Bay Power Corp. (FBPC), hereunder referred to as the grantee, its successors or assigns, a franchise to construct, install, establish, operate and maintain for commercial purposes and in the public interest, a distribution system for the conveyance of electric power to the end users in the Municipality of Bauan, Province of Batangas.

As used in this Act, distribution system refers to the systems of wires and associated facilities including subtransmission lines belonging to a franchised distribution utility extending between the delivery point on the national transmission system or generating facility and the metering point/facility of the end users.

SEC. 2. Manner of Operation of Facilities. – All electric distribution facilities, lines and systems for electric services owned, maintained, operated, or managed by the grantee , its successors or assigns, shall be operated and maintained at all times in a superior manner, and it shall be the duty of the grantee, its successors or assigns whenever required to do so by the Energy Regulatory Commission, hereinafter referred to as the ERC, or its legal successor, or the Department of Energy, hereinafter referred to as the DOE, or its legal successor, or any other government agency concerned to modify, improve, and change such facilities or systems in such a manner and to such extent as the progress in science and improvement in the electric power services may render reasonable and proper.

Whenever practicable and for purposes of maintaining order safety and aesthetics along highways, roads, streets, alleys or right-of-way, the grantee may allow the use of free spaces in its poles, facilities, or right-of-way by interested parties upon reasonable compensation to the grantee, considering the cost incurred to accommodate and administer the use of the grantee’s facilities by such parties. The ERC shall decide in case of dispute or disagreement between parties SEC. 3. Authority of ERC/DOE.–The grantee shall secure from the ERC/DOE or any other government agency which has jurisdiction over the operation of the herein grantee, the necessary certificate of public convenience and necessity and other appropriate permits and licenses for the construction and operation of its electric distribution system.

SEC. 4. Excavation and Restoration Works. - For the purpose of erecting and maintaining poles, pipes and other supports for wires or other conductors for the purpose of laying and maintaining said facilities, wires, cables, pipes, or other conductors, it shall be lawful for the grantee, its successors or assigns with the prior approval of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) or the local government unit (LGU) concerned, as may be appropriate, to make excavations or lay conduits in any of the public places, roads, highways, streets, lanes, alleys, avenues, sidewalks, or bridges of said province, cities and/or municipalities: Provided, however, That a public place, road, highway, street, lane, alley, avenue, sidewalk,. or bridge disturbed, altered, or changed by reason of erection of poles or other supports or the underground laying of wires, other conductors or conduits, shall be repaired and replaced in workmanlike manner at the expense of the grantee, its successors or assigns, in accordance with the standards set by the DPWH or the LGU concerned. Should the grantee, its successors or assigns, after the ten (10)day notice from the said authority, fail, refuse or neglect to repair or replace any part of a public place, road, highway, street, lane, alley, avenue, sidewalk, or bridge, altered, changed or disturbed by the said grantee, its successors or assigns, then the DPWH or the LGU concerned shall have the right to have the same repaired and placed in good order and condition at double expense to be charged against the grantee, its successors or assigns.

SEC. 5. Responsibility to the Public.– The grantee shall supply electricity to its captive market in the least costly manner. In the interest of the public good and as far as feasible and whenever required by the ERC, the grantee shall modify, improve or change its facilities, poles, lines, systems and equipment for the purpose of providing efficient and reliable service and reduced electricity costs. The grantee shall charge reasonable and just power rates for its services to all types of consumers within its franchise areas in order that business and industries shall be able to compete.

The grantee shall have the obligation to provide open and nondiscriminatory access to its distribution system and services for any end user within its franchise area consistent with Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the “Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001”. The grantee shall not engage in any activity that will constitute an abuse of market power such as, but not limited to, unfair trade practices, monopolistic schemes and any other activities that will hinder competitiveness of business and industries.

SEC. 6. Rates for Services. – The retail rates and charges for the distribution of electric power by the grantee to its end users shall be regulated by and subject to the approval of the ERC or its legal successor.

The grantee shall identify and segregate in its electricity bill to the end users the components of the retail rate pursuant to Republic Act No. 9136, unless otherwise amended. Such rates charged by the grantee to the end users shall be made public and transparent. The grantee shall implement lifeline rate to marginalized end users as mandated under Republic Act No. 9136.

SEC. 7. Promotion of Consumer Interest. – The herein grantee shall establish a consumer desk that will handle consumer complaints and ensure adequate promotion of consumer interests. The grantee shall act with dispatch on all complaints brought before it.

SEC. 8. Right of Government. – A special right is hereby reserved to the President of the Philippines, in times of war, rebellion, public peril, calamity, emergency, disaster, or disturbance of peace and order: to temporarily take over and operate the stations, or facilities of the grantee; to temporarily suspend the operation of any station or facility, in the interest of public safety, security, and public welfare; or to authorize the temporary use and operation thereof by any agency of the government, upon due compensation to the grantee, for the use of the stations, or facilities, during the period when these shall be so operated.

SEC. 9. Right of Eminent Domain.–Subject to the limitations and procedures prescribed by law, the grantee is authorized to exercise the right of eminent domain insofar as it may be reasonably necessary for the efficient maintenance and operation of services. The grantee is authorized to install and maintain its poles, wires and other facilities over and across public property, including streets, highways, forest reserves and other similar property of the Government of the Philippines, its branches or any of its instrumentalities. The grantee may acquire such private property as it actually necessary for the realization of the purposes for which this franchise is granted; Provided, That proper condemnation proceedings shall have been instituted and just compensation paid.

SEC. 10. Term of Franchise – This franchise shall be in effect for a period of twenty-five (25) years from the date of effectivity of this Act, unless sooner cancelled. This franchise shall be deemed ipso facto revoked in the event the grantee fails to operate continuously for two (2) years.

SEC. 11. Acceptance and Compliance.– Acceptance of this franchise shall be given in writing to the Congress of the Philippines, through the Committee on Legislative Franchises of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Public Services of the Senate, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act. Upon giving such acceptance, the grantee shall exercise the privileges granted under this Act. Nonacceptance shall render the franchise void.

SEC. 12. Warranty in Favor of the National and Local Governments.– The grantee shall hold the national, provincial, city and municipal governments of the Philippines free from all claims, accounts, demands or actions arising out of accidents or injuries, whether to property or to persons, caused by the construction ,installation, operation and maintenance of the distribution system of the grantee.

SEC. 13. Liability to Damages. – The grantee shall be liable for any injury and damage arising from or caused by accident to persons and property by reason of any defective construction under this franchise or of any neglect or omission to keep its poles and wires in safe condition.

SEC. 14. Sale, Lease, Transfer, Usufruct, etc. – The grantee shall not sell, lease, transfer, grant the usufruct of, nor assign this franchise or the rights and privileges acquired thereunder to any person, firm, company, corporation, or other commercial or legal entity, nor merge with any other corporation or entity, nor shall transfer the controlling interest of the grantee, whether as a whole or in parts, and whether simultaneously or contemporaneously, to any such person, firm , company, corporation, or entity without the prior approval of the Congress of the Philippines: Provided, That Congress shall be informed of any lease, transfer, grant of usufruct, sale or assignment of franchise or the rights and privileges acquired thereunder, within sixty (60) days after the completion of said transaction: Provided, further, That any such transfer, sale or assignment is in accordance with the constitutional limitations. Provided, furthermore, That failure to report to Congress such change of ownership shall render the franchise ipso facto revoked: Provided, finally, That any person or entity to which this franchise is sold, transferred, or assigned shall be subject to the same conditions, terms, restrictions, and limitations of this Act. SEC. 15. Dispersal of Ownership. – In accordance with the constitutional provision to encourage public participation in public utilities, the grantee shall offer to Filipino citizens at least thirty percent (30%) of its outstanding capitol stock or a higher percentage that may hereafter be provided by law in any securities exchange in the Philippines within five (5) years from the commencement of its operations: Provided, That in cases where public offer of shares is not applicable, establishment of cooperatives and other methods of encouraging public participation by citizens and corporations operating public utilities must be implemented.

Noncompliance therewith shall render the franchise ipso facto revoked.

SEC. 16. Reportorial Requirement. - The grantee shall submit an annual report to the Congress of the Philippines, through the Committee on Legislative Franchises of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Public Services of the Senate, on its compliance with the terms and conditions of the franchise and on its operations on or before April 30 of succeeding year.

SEC. 17. Penalty Clause. – Any grantee who fails to submit the requisite annual report to Congress shall be penalized by a fine of five hundred pesos (P500.00) per working day of noncompliance. The fine shall be collected by the ERC from said delinquent franchise grantee separate from the reportorial penalties imposed by the ERC. All proceeds from the fines or penalties shall accrue to the monitoring fund of the ERC in line with its supervisory and regulatory functions. The reportorial compliance certificate issued by Congress shall be required before any application for permit or certificate is accepted by the ERC. SEC. 18. Equality Clause. – Any advantage, favor, privilege, exemption, or immunity granted under existing franchises, or which may hereafter be granted, upon prior review and approval of Congress, shall become part of this franchise and shall be accorded immediately and unconditionally to the herein grantee: Provided, however That the foregoing shall neither apply to nor affect provisions concerning territory covered by the franchise, the life span of the franchise or the type of service authorized by the franchise. Provided, further, That the foregoing shall not apply to the sale, lease, transfer, grant of usufruct, or assignment of legislative franchises with prior congressional approval.

SEC. 19. Applicability Clause. - The grantee shall comply with and be subject to the provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 146 as amended, otherwise known as the “Public Service Act” and Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the “Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001”.

SEC. 20. Separability Clause. - If any of the sections or provisions of this Act is held invalid, all other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid.

SEC. 21. Repealability and Nonexclusivity Clause. - This franchise shall be subject to amendment, alteration, or repeal by the Congress of the Philippines when the public interest so requires and shall not be interpreted as an exclusive grant of the privileges herein provided for.

SEC. 22. Publication. - This Act shall be published, through the initiative of the grantee, fifteen (15) days after it has been signed by the President of the Philippines or has lapsed into law SEC. 23. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) newspaper of general circulation.

Approved, FRANKLIN M. DRILON President of the Senate

FELICIANO BELMONTE JR. Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on October 9, 2015 and May 23, 2016, respectively.

OSCAR G. YABES Secretary of the Senate

MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP Secretary General House of Representatives BENIGNO S. AQUINO III President of the Philippines

(MS-AUG. 18, 2016)

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@thestandard.com.ph sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016

Walker’s 39 points lift NLEX Games Friday

(Ynares Center, Antipolo City) 4:15 p.m. - TNT Katropa vs. Phoenix Petroleum 7 p.m. - GlobalPort vs. San Miguel

By Jeric Lopez HENRY Walker scored five of his game-high 39 points in crunch time to help NLEX carve a hardearned 82-81 squeaker over Mahindra for its second straight triumph in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Down by eight with under five minutes left, the Road Warriors fought their way back and ended the contest emphatically with an 11-2 finishing kick to snatch the game away from the Enforcers, who had another meltdown for the second straight game.

The burly Walker, who nailed seven triples and also had 13 rebounds, capped off the pivotal run by scoring NLEX’s last five markers. His go-ahead triple with 3:15 left gave the Road Warriors the lead, 80-79, and his jumper at the two-minute mark stretched his team’s edge to 82-79.

Those baskets proved to be the margin that NLEX needed to come through.

The Road Warriors now have an even slate with their 3-3 card, while the erstwhile co-league leading Enforcers slipped to 4-2 after this second straight setback following a 4-0 start.

“I credit this win to our defense. We made three good stops in the final three minutes,” said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez.

“I hope this win will help us in our back-to-back games ahead against Meralco and Phoenix.”

James White trimmed Mahindra’s deficit to just one, 81-82, after hitting two free throws with 1:40 remaining.

Unfortunately for the Enforcers, that proved to be the last points of the game as both teams failed to score in the final minute.

With ball in hand with 11 seconds, Mahindra still had a chance to take the game, but White fumbled the ball and Kevin Alas took it from him, securing victory for NLEX in the process.

R

IO DE JANEIRO—The Philippines suffered twin defeats in athletics Tuesday with Eric Cray failing to get past the semis of the men’s 400m hurdles and Marestella Torres Sunang unable to advance in the women’s long jump at the Nilton Santos Stadium here.

With Cray and Sunang out of contention and flying home on Aug. 19, taekwondo jin Kirstie Elaine Alora is the only Philippine bet still in contention.

The 26-year-old Alora, who has been here in Rio since July 23, will see action in the women’s +67 kg on Aug. 20, against the 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medalist from Mexico, Maria Espinoza.

Alora is confident she can handle Espinoza, also a bronze medalist in the 2012 London Olympics. If the

Filipina succeeds against the Mexican, she boosts her chances of making it to the medal rounds.

A medal of any color from Alora will give the Philippines its best finish it the Olympics.

Ten days ago, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won the silver medal in the women’s 63 kg division.

It was the first Olympic medal for the Philippines since boxer Mansueto Velasco won the silver in Atlanta in 1996.

“Anything is possible in tae-

kwondo,” said chef-de-mission Jose Romasanta.

Cray, who made it to the semis by clocking 49.05 seconds in his heat the other night, ran a little slower this time at 49.37. He finished seventh among eight runners in his heat and 17th among 24 semifinalists. The top eight made it to Thursday’s finals.

Sunang, who’s in her last Olympics, said she hurt her hips during warmup and had a best jump of 6.22 meters, on her first attempt. It was off her personal best of 6.72 meters, which he established at the Kazkhstan Open last month.

The 35-year-old Sunang jumped 6.10 on her second jump and 6.15 on her third and final attempt. She said she hurt herself on her warmup jump when her feet landed on an uneven portion on the sand that was

left unattended by officials.

Cray, who was born in Olongapo but now based in El Paso in Texas, came to Rio carrying a personal best of 48.96 set in Madrid only last June.

From 38 jumpers, a dozen made it to Wednesday’s finals, led by Ivana Spanovic of Serbia (6.87) and followed by Malaika Mihambo of Germany at 6.82 and Reese Brittney of the United States at 6.78. The 12th and last finalist, Jazmin Sawyers of Great Britain, was at 6.53.

Sunang could have made it to the finals without equalling or surpassing her personal best. All she needed to finally make it to the Olympic finals of her event was to do 6.53 or longer. She wound up 28th among 38 entries in women’s long jump.

Marestella Sunang competes in the Women’s Long Jump Qualifying Round during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. AFP

Calma swept Abarquez, 7-5, 6-3, for the 18-under girls’ title, but lost to the latter in the earlier 16-under championship match, 6-1, 3-6, 10-7 win.

In the boys’ side, Cebu City’s Marc Nicole Suson, who dominated the 16-under and 18-under categories, lost both finals’ matches in the two age-groups. His fellow Cebuano Norman Joseph Enriquez retired him in the second set, while Janus AlNajeeb Ringia from Koronadal won in three sets over Suson, 6-4, 3-6, 10-5, in the 16-under champion-

ship match.

“Mindanao will always be a good area for young tennis players with potentials to make good if given the opportunity.

This is why we hold a lot of legs in this region. We are happy with the turnouts in all the legs here,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, President/CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier and current PHILTA Chairman.

It was Lhuillier, who initiated this nation-wide grassroots tennis program 10 years ago, which has produced champions in the last decade.

Lady Bulldogs in quarterfinals NATIONAL University overtoo powerful for the Las Games Saturday powered Perpetual Help even Piñas-based squad, com(Arena, San Juan) without Jaja Santiago, posting ing away with 56 attack 4 p.m. – UP vs FEU a 25-10, 21-25, 25-16, 27-25 points, more than dou6 p.m. – NU vs Ateneo victory to join San Sebastian bling their rivals’ measly College in the quarterfinal round of the 27-spike output.

Shakey’s V-League Season 13 ColleThe win was NU’s third straight giate Conference at the Philsports Arena as it regained the solo lead in Group in Pasig Wednesday.

A, boosting its record heading to the Roselyn Doria and Aiko Urdas took carryover quarters starting next week charge for the Bulldogs, combining for where they will be joined by Group 29 hits, while Risa Sato backed them up A qualifiers University of the Philipwith 12 points and Jasmine Nabor added pines, Far Eastern U and University of 11 markers while dishing out 62 excel- Santo Tomas. lent sets for the defending champions.

Santiago, a key figure in NU’s title-reThough they struggled a bit in the tention bid in the mid-season conference second frame and were dragged by of the league sponsored by Shakey’s, the Lady Altas in an extended fourth didn’t see action to anchor a team in anset duel, the Lady Bulldogs proved other tournament.

ACBL suspends Piekarek and Smirnov

THE American Contract Bridge League has just announced at Bridge Winners that “Josef Piekarek and Alexander Smirnov have been suspended for four years, beginning June 14, 2016, and given a lifetime ban from playing together as a pair in all ACBL-sanctioned events.”

In response to the discipline imposed by the European Bridge League on June 14, 2016, the ACBL discipline has been imposed pursuant to 2.2.3 (f) of the ACBL Code of Disciplinary Regulations (CDR).

CDR 2.2.3 (f) The ACBL Board of Directors has original jurisdiction of the following: f) When an ACBL member has been disciplined by another

6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M+ 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

Best-ever PH finish now rests on Alora’s shoulders

Familiar names top Cebuana tilt IN the absence of strong local opponents, familiar names again dominated the recent Cebuana Lhuillier Age-Group Championship Series in the Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental leg that attracted 134 entries.

The duo of Cagayan de Oro’s Mary Aubrey Calma and Carcar City’s Elizabeth Abarquez faced each other in two finals matches in the tournament hosted by the Oroquieta Lawn Tennis Association and supported by Dunlop Sports, with Dunlop as the official ball.

LOTTO RESULTS

bridge organization for an ethical violation, the CEO of the ACBL may refer the matter to the Ethical Oversight Committee for resentencing purposes, but only if the sentence imposed was less than that contained in the suggested sentencing guidelines enacted by the World Bridge Federation. In all other cases, the ACBL shall honor the discipline imposed, enforcing it in ACBL events, unless the ACBL member requests a hearing under ACBL rules and regulations and provides substantial evidence that 1. he was not accorded a fair process in the hearing held by the other bridge organization and/or 2.the penalty imposed is grossly inappropriate for the violation proven. If the rehearing is granted, the sanctions will not be enforced until and unless the findings and sanctions are confirmed by the ACBL. The decision as to whether or not substantial evidence of a lack of a fair process was provided or that the penalty imposed was

grossly iappropriate shall be made by the CEO of the ACBL with the advice of League Counsel. If a new hearing is requested, the ACBL is entitled to impose its own sentence if the conviction is affirmed or it is found that the penalty imposed was inappropriate. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the ACBL from initiating a disciplinary process for ethical violations in ACBL sanctioned events.

-oOoSPINGOLD 2015 By: Kit Wolsey I feature this tournament report by Kit Wolsey and this is a one-tournament report where the famous pair of Fantoni and Nunes will be the last appearance by the virtue of the recent ruling against them.

After three quarters of the final of the 2015 Spingold CAYNE (Cayne, Seamon; Fisher, Scwartz; Lauria, Versace) held a slim lead, 3 imps, over MONACO (Fan-

toni, Nunes, Helgemo, Helness; Multon, Zimmermann).

Fourth Quarter Both teams retained the lineup from the third quarter.

On Board 47, MONACO tied the match when CAYNE was unable to extract a sufficient penalty against a doubled partscore: North dealer Neither side vulnerable North ♠A987 ♥Q ♦63 ♣K109653 West East ♠KQJ10 ♠653 ♥104 ♥AK753 ♦KQ8 ♦1074 ♣AJ72 ♣Q8 South ♠42 ♥J9862 ♦AJ952 ♣4 Open Room South West North East Fischer Nunes Schwartz Fantoni

Pass Pass Pass 1♣* Pass 1♦+ Double Pass Pass Redouble Pass 1NT Pass 3NT Pass Pass Pass Closed Room South West North East Helgemo Versace Helness Lauria Pass Pass 2♥ Double (All Pass) *15-plus HCP; clubs or a balanced hand hearts Against the normal contract in the Open Room, North led a diamond to the nine and king.

When Nunes knocked out the ace of spades, the defense continued diamonds. Declarer rans spades, crossed in hearts, and took a club finesse into the safe hand for nine tricks.

Against the abnormal contract in the Closed Room, Versace led the ten of hearts. Lauria won and shifted to a spade. Helgemo ducked, won the second spade, then played the ace and another diamond.

Versace took two diamonds,

cashed the ace of clubs, and continued with a spade; now, there was no way to prevent declarer from scoring the king of clubs to achieve down only two.

Versace’s trump lead may seem strange, but it was quite reasonable. He had control of all the suits, so he didn’t want declarer to score low trumps in either hand. The contract could have been defeated another trick if Versace had continued spades before cashing the ace of clubs; this would have given Lauria the opportunity to discard his losing club on the fourth round of spades. Verscae was afraid that if he didn’t get the ace of clubs out of his hand, he would eventually be forced to give dummy a club trick. Had he deduced the diamond position, he would would have worked out that continuing spades had to be right, since declarer would be five-five in the red suits.

Comments to: sylvia.alejandro@yahoo

F2 bags Superliga volley title THE F2 Cargo Movers banked on Mika Reyes’ leadership on the floor in the fourth set to put away the Foton Tornadoes, 18-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-19, and clinch the 2016 Philippine Super Liga All Filipino Conference Wednesday night at The Arena in San Juan.

A brilliant floor defense on Jaja Santiago, Patty Orendain and Cherry Rondina worked wonders for the Cargo Movers, who took Game 1 last Thursday with a 25-20, 25-14, 9-25, 20-25, 15-10 win, before Foton scored the equalizer with a four-set victory in Game 2, 18-25, 25-17, 2522, 25-18, over the weekend.

Reyes only had nine points for the Cargo Movers, who drew 12 points from Ara Galang.

But she ripped through Foton’s floor defense for a decisive 12-7 edge in the fourth.

The Cargo Movers broke through a 19-all deadlock with a 5-0 blast, with Reyes touching it off with her kill off Orendain’s block in the third Galang then hit three points off her spikes during their thirdset offensive as they went near their third match point, 24-19.

The Tornadoes grabbed the upperhand in the initial set, 11-8, with Santiago effectively covering the middle.

In the second set, the Cargo Movers bounced back with their defense on Rondina and Orendain at the left flank through the presence of Galang and Kim Fajardo at the front. Peter Atencio

Ex-champ Diaz now trains kids

By Ronnie Nathanielsz FORMER World Boxing Council lightweight champion, southpaw David Diaz who fought out of Chicago, works with kids who find a refuge off the streets and stay away from drugs and a downward path to crime.

The extremely likeable and charismatic Mexican-American, who was also an outstanding amateur, hasn’t forgotten the sport he loves.

After beating Mexican legend Erik “El Terrible” Morales in a title defense on Aug. 4, 2007, Diaz lost his title to Filipino southpaw Manny Pacquiao, who bloodied and battered him en route to a ninthround TKO at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino.

It was Pacquiao’s fifth world title in five different divisions.

It began a run of devastating victories after Alex Ariza took over as Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach that led to his becoming an eight-division world champion.

The WBC reported that after his retirement in 2011 following a knockout loss to Henry Lundy in the sixth round of a scheduled 10-round lightweight bout in Indiana for the North American Boxing Federation lightweight title in August that year, David decided to train youngsters at his gym in Chicago.

“Being able to transmit my knowledge and helping the youth is the most important thing I have fondly found and cherish after leaving the ring,” said David, who represented the United States in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

UnionBank, big Euro fund tie up B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016

Ongpin to give stake in PhilWeb to Pagcor

By Jenniffer B. Austria

B

USINESSMAN Roberto Ongpin is abandoning a plan to conduct an open bidding for his majority stake in gaming company PhilWeb Corp., saying he now plans to donate the entire shares to state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and Ateneo de Manila JVO Scholarship Fund.

Ongping said in a letter addressed to Pagcor chief executive Andrea Domingo that while he received five bids for his 53.76-percent stake in Philweb, he would not award the shares to

any bidder, after Pagcor stated that PhilWeb’s gaming license would not be renewed under any circumstances.

Ongpin said he would donate, or sell for P1 to Pagcor, his

49-percent stake in PhilWeb and the balance of 4.7 percent to Ateneo de Manila JVO Scholarship Fund, which was named after his late brother Jaime.

“Why 49 percent? This is to simply avoid PhilWeb being classified as a government-owned and controlled corporation, which would make the various restrictions applicable to GOCC’s result in making PhilWeb’s operation untenable,” Ongpin said.

Ongpin, who earlier said he was ‘struck by lightning’ when President Rodrigo Duterte named him an oligarch that his administration wanted to destroy, said there was no reason

why Pagcor would be prevented from being the largest shareholder in PhilWeb. He said under its charter, the state-owned gaming firm was both a regulator and operator of casinos.

“I also wish to point out that this donation comes with no strings attached. Thus, Pagcor can decide whether to retain it as a permanent investment or auction all or part of it off to the highest bidder,” Ongpin said.

Ongpin said with this move, he was hoping that Pagcor would renew the license of PhilWeb and in the process save the jobs of about 6,000 employees.

Govt to build P374-b subway

PSe comPoSite index Closing August 17, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

7,946.19 37.19

“This has not been an easy decision for me to make, but I can only face reality,” Ongin said.

“I hope and pray that Pagcor will seriously consider the offer contained in this letter. My only objective and consolation is that if Pagcor agrees to accept this donation, I would have saved the jobs and livelihood of some 6,000 people, including PhilWeb employees,” Ongpin said.

Share price of PhilWeb on Wednesday closed lower by P1 to P6.50 per share.

This means Ongpin’s 53.76-percent stake in PhilWeb has a value of a little over P5 billion.

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing AUGUST 17, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P46.410

44.00

CLOSE

43.00

HIGH P46.280 LOW P46.450 AVERAGE P46.373 VOLUME 595.800M

oPriceS il P

P400-P640.00 LPG/11-kg tank

today

P34.15-P41.20 Unleaded Gasoline P24.35-P27.75 Diesel P28.50-P36.85 Kerosene

PHILAB-UP PARTNERSHIP.

Philab Industries, a market leader in the healthcare and education market, joins hands with the University of the Philippines to construct the P1.6billion National Institute of Health Building in Manila City. Shown during the groundbreaking ceremony for the 18-story building are (from left) NIH executive director Eva De La Paz, UP chancellor Carmencita Padilla and Philab chairman and chief executive Tom Navasero.

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Transportation Department said it will pursue the construction of a P374-billion subway to connect business districts and decongest Metro Manila traffic.

“Definitely, we will pursue the subway project connecting the business districts. There’s an existing feasibility study,” Transportation Undersecretary for rail and toll roads Noel Kintanar told reporters after the ANC Forum Tuesday night.

The P374-billion MakatiPasay-Taguig Mass Transport System Loop was not approved by the previous board of the National Economic and Development Authority because of the complexity of the project.

The project involves the connection of Bonifacio Global City, Makati central business district and the Mall of Asia area in Pasay City. The proposed new rail line would run for about 12 kilometers underground.

Kintanar said the Duterte administration would pursue the subway project because of the demand and need to resolve the traffic congestion along Edsa.

Traffic along Edsa and other major roads in Metro Manila slowed down in recent months, as vehicles sales surged while no major infrastructure projects were completed in the capital region.

Data from Metropolitan Manila Development Authority showed some 7,000 vehicles were plying Edsa an hour.

B1

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Wednesday, August 17, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.3120

Japan

Yen

0.009972

0.4618

UK

Pound

1.304600

60.4186

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128977

5.9732

Switzerland

Franc

1.040042

48.1664

Canada

Dollar

0.777726

36.0180

Singapore

Dollar

0.746436

34.5689

Australia

Dollar

0.769400

35.6325

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652590

122.8467

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

12.3499

Brunei

Dollar

0.743660

34.4404

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000076

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.028927

1.3397

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

12.6102

Euro

Euro

1.128000

52.2399

Korea

Won

0.000913

0.0423

China

Yuan

0.150905

6.9887

India

Rupee

0.014957

0.6927

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.251067

11.6274

New Zealand

Dollar

0.727700

33.7012

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031960

1.4801 Source: PDS Bridge

IN BRIEF Q1 growth reduced

URC buys Australian snacks maker for P21b

By Jenniffer B. Austria FOOD manufacturer Universal Robina Corp. said it is acquiring Consolidated Snacks Pty. Ltd., Australia’s second largest salty snacks maker, for A$600 million or P21.34 billion to accelerate expansion in the Asia-Pacific.

URC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange subsidiary URC International Co. Ltd. would buy 100 percent of Sydney-based Consolidated Snacks in a cash free, debt-free deal.

Consolidated Snacks trades under the name Snackbrands Australia, the second largest player in salty snacks with a total

market share of close to 30 percent in Australia. It produces a wide portfolio of chips, including iconic brands Kettles, Thins, CC’s and Cheezels.

URC said with the acquisition, it planned to create a wider footprint in Australia and Oceania, with SBA providing a solid anchor in the highly competitive Australian fast-moving consumer goods and retailing market.

The deal is also synergistic with URC & Griffin’s, New Zealand’s top snackfoods company which was acquired by URC in November 2014.

“URC in the past three years has started to look for strategic

STAR MOBILE EXPANSION.

Star Telecom Alliance Resources Inc., the parent company of Philippine smart devices brand Starmobile, signs an agreement with international network solutions company TP-Link for the distribution of network devices such as routers, APs and switches in partnership with systems integrators nationwide. Shown sealing the agreement are TP-Link Philippines country manager Sidney Zheng (left) and Star Inc. chief operating officer Jerry Manus.

options on acquisitions or partnerships, given the emerging competitive challenges being brought upon by the lifting of trade barriers and the attractiveness of the region where we operate. While we continue to push for innovation as an anchor to sustain our growth, the opportunity came at the right time to acquire a company like Snackbrands,” URC president Lance Gokongwei said.

The transaction was approved by the board of directors of both companies and is expected to close by Sept. 30, 2016 subject to the approval of the Australian Foreign Investment Review

Boardand fulfillment of customary closing conditions.

SBA has grown topline at a compounded annual growth rate of 7.4 percent over the past four years, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization has grown 32.6 percent over the same time.

It operates two manufacturing facilities in Sydney which are located in Smithfield and Blacktown.

URC is one of the largest food and beverage product companies in the Philippines, with a market capitalization of almost $9-billion, with a growing presence in Asean and Oceania.

DoF wants corporate tax reduced to 25% in 3 years

By Gabrielle H. Binaday THE Finance Department plans to implement the tax reform package within the first three years of the Duterte administration.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III told reporters the agency proposed to reduce the corporate income tax rate from 30 percent to 25 percent to attract more foreign investors.

“The first thing they look at is the headline tax rates. Ours is, right now, at 30 percent and in other areas, it is much less than that,” Dominguez said.

He said along with the plan to reduce corporate income taxes, the department wanted to reduce individual income tax rate, as promised by President Rodrigo Duterte in his first state of the nation address.

“Our plan is to reduce the tax rates over three years from 30 percent to 25 percent. We will do the same for individual income tax rates. So that will be done. Incidentally, we will do the same for individual tax rates,” he said.

Dominguez said the agency also planned to adjust the tax tables which was last amended in 1997. “We hope to be able to adjust it with inflation and the top tax rate will be much higher than P500,000 a year,” he said.

THE government revised downward the gross domestic product growth performance in the first quarter to 6.8 percent from the previous estimate of 6.9 percent.

The Philippine Statistics Authority said it revised the firstquarter GDP figure, after incorporating more data into the national accounts. It said the 0.1-percentage-point decline was due to downward revision in trade, other services and public administration and defense.

PSA is set to release the second-quarter GDP data today.

The inter-agency Development Budget and Coordination Committee set the 2016 growth target at 6 percent to 7 percent.

Analysts polled by Manila Standard showed economic growth in April to June likely ranged from 6.1 percent to 7.2 percent.

The Philippine economy expanded 5.9 percent in 2015, missing the 7 percent to 8 percent growth target set by the government. Gabrielle H. Binaday

Golden Haven nets P84m

NEWLY listed Golden Haven Memorial Park Inc. said it posted record net income and revenues in the first half amid aggressive expansion.

Golden Haven said in disclosure to the stock exchange six-month net income rose 23 percent to P84 million from P68.2 million in the same period last year.

Six-month revenues climbed 30 percent to P418.9 million from the previous year’s P321.8 million, on higher sales of memorial park lots and columbarium vaults.

Golden Haven chairman Jerry Navarrete said the P788million fresh capital raised by the company during the initial public offering would enable it to expand across the country.

“We aim for Golden Haven to become the nationally-recognized brand in the deathcare products and service industry,” Navarrete said.

Jenniffer B. Austria

B2

Business

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market drops; ICTSI climbs

S

TOCKS retreated Wednesday, ahead of the release of second-quarter gross domestic product data today and following overnight losses on Wall Street.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, shed 37 points, or 0.5 percent, to close at 7,946.19 Wednesday.

The broader all-share index also lost 16 points, or 0.4 percent, to settle at 4,697.11, on a value turnover of P9.5 billion. Gainers outnumbered losers, 97 to 87, while 54 issues were unchanged.

Seven of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by cement manufacturer Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. which climbed 6.2 percent to P12.4 and port opera-

tor International Container Terminal Services Inc. which gained 4.8 percent to P85. GT Capital Holdings Inc., the investment company of tycoon George Ty, rose 2.6 percent to P1,539.

Semirara Mining and Power Corp., a unit of DMCI Holdings Inc., was the biggest loser among the most active stocks, as it fell 4.1 percent to P103.70.

Meanwhile, Tokyo stocks made solid gains Wednesday as the yen halted its rally and energy and banking stocks rose, while elsewhere in the region

rose to 100.70 yen from 100.30 yen in New York, where it briefly touched as low as 99.54 yen, falling under the 100 level for only the second time this year.

“Considering how much the yen has strengthened, Japanese shares are showing resilience,” Chihiro Ohta, a senior strategist with SMBC Nikko Securities, told Bloomberg News.

Petroleum-linked stocks were among the top performers, with explorer Inpex soaring 6.46 percent and refiner JX Holdings jumping 3.37 percent.

Elsewhere investors were cautious, with Sydney ending flat while Seoul and Bangkok were all down.

But some energy stocks in other markets also got a lift after oil pric-

trade was lackluster after a weak lead from Wall Street.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index climbed 0.9 percent, snapping a two-day losing streak as a drop in the safe haven currency lifted exporters—making them more competitive overseas.

The dollar picked up against the yen Wednesday after comments from a senior US central banker suggested the Federal Reserve could hike interest rates as early as September.

William Dudley, head of the Fed’s New York branch, said a rate hike was possible next month and that Wall Street investors were too “complacent” about the prospect of higher rates over the next year.

In Asia trade, the greenback

es held overnight gains above $46 on hopes producers would decide to freeze output at a meeting next month.

Sydney-listed Oil Search gained 2.4 percent and GS Holdings Corp in Seoul climbed 1.3 percent.

In Chinese markets, Shanghai was flat and Hong Kong lost 0.3 percent but Shenzhen gained 0.3 percent after news that the government had approved plans to link trading between the Shenzhen and Hong Kong stock exchanges.

China’s powerful State Council said Tuesday that the government had approved plans to link trading between the Shenzhen stock exchange and the Hong Kong market, paving the way for the long-awaited reform. with AFP, Bloomberg

THE STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 4.2 17 30.45 10.4 2.6 890 1.01 100 30.5 75 91.5 361.2 57 180 1700 124

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.68 12.02 19.6 6.12 1.02 625 0.225 78 17.8 58 62 276 41 118.2 1200 59

AG Finance 3.45 Asia United Bank 47.75 Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. 115.00 Bank of PI 104.50 China Bank 38.3 Bright Kindle Resources 1.44 COL Financial 16 Eastwest Bank 21.1 Filipino Fund Inc. 6.96 I-Remit Inc. 1.94 Manulife Fin. Corp.

590.00 MEDCO Holdings 0.620 Metrobank 89.9 PB Bank 14.7 Phil Bank of Comm 24.00 Phil. National Bank 60.50 PSE Inc. 280 RCBC `A’ 32.4 Security Bank 223 Sun Life Financial 1395.00 Union Bank 73.80

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 148

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 32

20.6 85 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 0.98 241 3.95 4 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 0.62 5 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.34 1450 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 2.17

15.32 20.2 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 1.06 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 0.395 173 2.3 1.63 33 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 0.335 3.37 3.87 8.45 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 5.9 801 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 4.28 0.640 1.2

Aboitiz Power Corp.

46.45 Agrinurture Inc. 3.31 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.82 Alsons Cons.

1.86 Asiabest Group 12.28 C. Azuc De Tarlac 170.20 Cemex Holdings 11.7 Century Food 16.92 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 150 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 23.4 Concepcion 60 Crown Asia 2.26 Da Vinci Capital 5.55 Del Monte 12.62 DNL Industries Inc. 11.360 Emperador 7.54 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 6.09 EEI 9.15 Euro-Med Lab 1.8 First Gen Corp.

25.1 First Holdings ‘A’ 71.25 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 12.20 Holcim Philippines Inc. 16.22 Ionics Inc 2.310 Jollibee Foods Corp.

253.00 LMG Chemicals 2 Mabuhay Vinyl 4.3 Macay Holdings 29.50 Manila Water Co. Inc. 26.75 Maxs Group 34 Megawide 13.4 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 325.40 MG Holdings 0.260 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 5.05 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.42 Petron Corporation 11.40 Phinma Corporation 11.50 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 6.19 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.63 Pryce Corp. `A’ 3.43 RFM Corporation 4.19 Roxas Holdings 3.72 San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ 224 Splash Corporation 3.05 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.153 TKC Steel Corp.

1.94 Trans-Asia Oil 2.32 Universal Robina 194 Victorias Milling 4.75 Vitarich Corp.

1.9 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.26

0.59 59.2 30.05 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 1455 7.5 76 5.29 9.25 0.85 17.3 5.53 9.66 0.0670 2.31 1.61 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

0.44 48.1 20.85 6.62 0.225 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 2.26 837 5.3 49.55 3 4.84 0.59 12 4.2 3 0.030 1.23 0.550 59.3 1.5 751 1.13 0.93 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anscor `A’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp.

GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Keppel Holdings `A’ Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

LT Group Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

MJCI Investments Inc. Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.400 75.00 15.92 6.20 0.385 0.385 900 8.83 12.24 6.6 6.89 1500 6.60 82.60 5.14 7.65 0.77 17.5 7.25 3.14 0.0340 1.210 1.920 86.00 2.44 695.00 1.36 0.97 206.000 0.3100 0.2080 0.275

10.5 1.99 1.75 0.375 41.4 5.6 5.59 5.6 1.44 1.97 1.48 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 27 8.54 31.8

6.74 0.65 1.2 0.192 30.05 3.36 4.96 2.8 0.79 1.1 0.97 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 23 2.69 22.15

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings Cebu Prop. `A’ Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’ Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp.

Robinson’s Land `B’

7.900 1.29 2.700 0.265 41.600 3.17 5.15 5.6 0.610 1.01 1.000 0.162 0.630 58.95 0.790 0.158 1.06 1.93 1.21 5.08 0.121 0.2900 0.435 42.30 16.9 31.95

High

Low

FINANCIAL 3.45 3.45 47.5 46.5 114.20 113.20 104.60 103.50 38.25 38.2 1.46 1.41 16.5 16.1 22.3 21.1 6.96 6.95 1.94 1.93 580.00 520.00 0.640 0.610 90 89.9 14.7 14.68 24.30 24.00 61.50 60.50 280 277 32.5 32.2 222.6 217 1395.00 1395.00 73.80 73.30 INDUSTRIAL 46.5 45.5 3.43 3.23 0.82 0.81 1.86 1.81 13 12.1 200.00 181.00 12.42 11.6 17.28 16.92 150 149 23.5 22.7 59.95 57 2.28 2.23 5.77 5.59 12.7 12.56 11.640 11.260 7.65 7.42 6.08 5.88 9.28 9.16 1.8 1.8 25.75 24.9 71.5 70.9 12.80 12.20 16.10 15.62 2.370 2.300 253.00 251.20 2 1.96 4.2 4.02 30.95 29.45 27.2 26.6 33.95 32.25 14.02 13.56 326.40 325.60 0.270 0.255 4.99 4.80 3.49 3.4 11.38 10.90 11.66 11.58 6.25 6.10 1.64 1.63 3.53 3.43 4.21 4.20 3.74 3.7 230 223 3.05 3.04 0.154 0.152 1.94 1.90 2.34 2.32 185.6 181.6 4.75 4.6 2.06 1.98 1.23 1.23 HOLDING FIRMS 0.405 0.400 77.10 74.90 16.00 15.66 6.30 6.15 0.395 0.385 0.385 0.385 904.5 896 9.12 8.89 12.34 12.06 6.55 6.05 6.90 6.80 1539 1506 6.55 6.55 83.55 81.55 5.15 5.15 7.7 7.56 0.8 0.77 17.54 16.82 7.25 7.14 3.14 3.14 0.0360 0.0340 1.210 1.210 1.930 1.910 86.10 85.00 2.26 2.26 695.00 687.00 1.37 1.34 0.98 0.97 207.000 206.600 0.3150 0.3050 0.2080 0.2060 0.280 0.275 PROPERTY 7.900 7.800 1.29 1.27 2.930 2.700 0.265 0.265 42.150 41.200 3.17 3.1 5.16 5.06 5.6 5.6 0.61 0.590 1.01 1.01 1.050 1.010 0.170 0.162 0.640 0.630 59.05 58 0.800 0.790 0.146 0.146 1.08 1.06 1.97 1.93 1.20 1.16 5.09 4.91 0.133 0.121 0.2900 0.2550 0.465 0.440 40.50 40.00 3.76 3.25 32.35 31.05

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.45 47.5 114.00 104.10 38.2 1.46 16.5 21.75 6.95 1.93 520.00 0.630 89.95 14.68 24.30 60.70 277 32.4 217 1395.00 73.50

0.00 -0.52 -0.87 -0.38 -0.26 1.39 3.13 3.08 -0.14 -0.52 -11.86 1.61 0.06 -0.14 1.25 0.33 -1.07 0.00 -2.69 0.00 -0.41

5,000 69,900 1,657,040 1,204,530 83,600 208,000 133,600 5,863,900 31,200 38,000 720 150,000 3,900,540 150,700 1,100 150,530 1,060 114,900 913,410 5 94,780

45.7 3.25 0.82 1.82 12.62 200.00 12.42 17.04 150 23.4 59.85 2.24 5.77 12.7 11.400 7.56 5.95 9.18 1.8 24.9 71.1 12.20 15.90 2.360 251.20 2 4.05 30.50 27 33 13.88 326.00 0.270 4.99 3.49 11.22 11.58 6.25 1.63 3.48 4.21 3.7 223 3.04 0.153 1.92 2.32 184.2 4.7 2.04 1.23

-1.61 -1.81 0.00 -2.15 2.77 17.51 6.15 0.71 0.00 0.00 -0.25 -0.88 3.96 0.63 0.35 0.27 -2.30 0.33 0.00 -0.80 -0.21 0.00 -1.97 2.16 -0.71 0.00 -5.81 3.39 0.93 -2.94 3.58 0.18 3.85 -1.19 2.05 -1.58 0.70 0.97 0.00 1.46 0.48 -0.54 -0.45 -0.33 0.00 -1.03 0.00 -5.05 -1.05 7.37 -2.38

1,354,400 1,328,000 244,000 2,316,000 5,600 60 42,736,500 5,443,000 710 11,445,400 8,720 868,000 119,300 144,700 7,166,800 339,800 17,718,800 397,000 5,000 5,292,900 217,180 11,300 144,800 1,443,000 380,300 453,000 67,000 700 1,299,400 1,297,500 3,649,100 139,340 190,000 42,200 547,000 4,550,200 1,300 1,103,600 418,000 114,000 63,000 26,000 14,470 220,000 2,250,000 1,038,000 1,003,000 4,452,350 40,000 34,049,000 47,000

0.400 75.10 16.00 6.18 0.390 0.385 900 9.08 12.10 6.05 6.90 1539 6.55 82.00 5.15 7.65 0.78 16.98 7.22 3.14 0.0360 1.210 1.910 86.00 2.26 692.00 1.36 0.97 207.000 0.3050 0.2080 0.280

0.00 0.13 0.50 -0.32 1.30 0.00 0.00 2.83 -1.14 -8.33 0.15 2.60 -0.76 -0.73 0.19 0.00 1.30 -2.97 -0.41 0.00 5.88 0.00 -0.52 0.00 -7.38 -0.43 0.00 0.00 0.49 -1.61 0.00 1.82

30,000 2,916,890 4,147,400 26,600 520,000 470,000 176,630 4,541,800 4,098,500 20,000 586,100 402,460 2,000 4,005,710 2,900 985,700 245,000 3,164,700 60,970,000 4,000 26,100,000 83,000 139,000 149,080 12,000 429,490 372,000 16,000 1,220 900,000 320,000 620,000

7.900 1.27 2.860 0.265 41.200 3.16 5.16 5.6 0.590 1.01 1.050 0.165 0.640 58.85 0.790 0.146 1.08 1.95 1.20 4.92 0.128 0.2900 0.465 40.50 3.25 31.05

0.00 -1.55 5.93 0.00 -0.96 -0.32 0.19 0.00 -3.28 0.00 5.00 1.85 1.59 -0.17 0.00 -7.59 1.89 1.04 -0.83 -3.15 5.79 0.00 6.90 -4.26 -80.77 -2.82

756,700 1,582,000 6,393,000 300,000 7,174,500 797,000 39,500 9,000 9,511,000 13,000 7,000 18,570,000 1,505,000 482,680 48,000 60,000 1,977,000 19,066,000 102,000 68,616,300 22,110,000 1,020,000 110,000 900 3,806,000 1,644,800

2,388,640.00 -60,900,908 -3,159,915.00 76,400.00 -1,201,500.00 -31,881,525.00 -208,500

-108,135,545.50 -2,202,052.00 -854,560.00 -180,458.00 1,333,160 -76,931,750.00 190,396.00 25,464,930.00 -882,610.00 -1,803,150.00 4,296,342.00 -34,607,682.00 -216,125.00 183,830.00 -10,185,574.00 624,508.00 6,952,629.00 -829,097.00 30,353,465.00 -3,202,147.00 166,474.00 -115,500.00 -28,425,006.00 -2,945.00 -6,675,745.00 -9,355,060.00 4,296,502.00 3,961,598.00 1,610,980.00 -5,331,326.00 -2,540,690.00 -17,650.00 4,200.00 -11,850.00 -7,600.00 57,300.00 11,600.00 -423,476,012 -4,750.00 -184,800.00

-3,038,660.00 1,777,270.00

58,653,345.00 20,145,023.00 5,931,718.00 2,069,000.00 77,384,610.00 -134,639,473.50 420,129.00 -77,420.00 -14,353,232.00 -19,781,230.00 29,000.00 1,568,282.50

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

0.5 66 1.44 1.09 14.88 28.5 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 2.6 7.67 4 2720 8.41

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 10.5 18.2 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 1.6 4.8 2.58 1600 5.95

1.97 119.5 7 5.8 12.5 0.017

1.23 102.6 3.01 4 8.72 0.011

0.8200 2.2800 5.93

0.041 1.200 2.34

12.28 3.32 3.2 95.5 2.46 15.2

6.5 1.91 1.95 3.1 1.8 6

1.040 22.8 6.41 4 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.37 14.54 3 2.28 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 10 1.9

7.59 0.63 5 1.14

0.0098 5.45 17.24 0.330 12.7 12.8 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 1.72 6.47 0.236 6.5 5.11 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.012 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

515 8.21 12.28 111 1060 1047 78.95 84.8

480 5.88 6.5 101 997 1011 74.5 75

44,232,380.00 12,416.00

324,068.00 -2,316,270.00 -38,603,815.00 124,440.00 149,621.00 42,920.00

11,454,013.50

25,260,070.00 2,400.00 -121,554,895.00 122,000.00

-305,870.00 -7,503,705.00

6.98

0.8900

15

3.5

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6

Close

Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

High

1.79 1.78 3.37 3.28 29.70 29.05 0.98 0.95 6.85 6.85 1.050 1.020 6.470 6.250 SERVICES 2GO Group’ 7.19 7.25 7.18 ABS-CBN 50.5 50.55 50 Acesite Hotel 1.25 1.26 1.26 APC Group, Inc. 0.590 0.600 0.590 Asian Terminals Inc. 10.74 11.6 11.56 Berjaya Phils. Inc. 5.55 5.55 5.55 Bloomberry 6.70 6.83 6.41 Boulevard Holdings 0.0990 0.1010 0.0970 Calata Corp.

2.68 2.84 2.72 Cebu Air Inc. (5J) 120.1 124 120 Centro Esc. Univ.

9.75105 9.8 9.75 Discovery World 1.93 2.3 2.1 DFNN Inc. 5.41 5.69 5.43 Easy Call “Common” 3.04 3.20 3.15 Globe Telecom 2144 2146 2106 GMA Network Inc. 6.37 6.37 6.30 Golden Haven 15.94 16.90 15.82 Harbor Star 1.35 1.45 1.38 I.C.T.S.I. 81.1 85 79.5 Imperial Res. `A’ 21.00 22.20 20.60 Imperial Res. `B’ 172 159.1 157.1 IPeople Inc. `A’ 11.5 11.5 11.5 IP E-Game Ventures Inc. 0.0086 0.0088 0.0087 IPM Holdings 9.30 9.33 9.20 Island Info 0.300 0.300 0.295 ISM Communications 1.4500 1.5000 1.4500 Jackstones 3.57 3.79 3.41 LBC Express 12.7 12.68 12.64 Leisure & Resorts 5.85 6.00 5.80 Liberty Telecom 2.82 2.89 2.88 Macroasia Corp.

2.29 2.50 2.30 Manila Broadcasting 22.30 22.20 19.50 Manila Jockey 1.99 2 1.99 Melco Crown 3.91 4.06 3.76 Metro Retail 5.30 5.30 5.22 NOW Corp.

3.840 3.950 3.830 Pacific Online Sys. Corp. 11.4 11.5 11.38 PAL Holdings Inc. 6.00 6.25 5.80 Paxys Inc. 2.65 2.6 2.6 Phil. Seven Corp.

135.00 134.50 134.50 Philweb.Com Inc. 7.50 7.28 6.15 PLDT Common 1890.00 1888.00 1865.00 PremiereHorizon 0.435 0.440 0.435 Premium Leisure 0.990 1.000 0.980 Puregold 44.70 46.40 44.70 Robinsons RTL 82.00 82.50 78.50 SBS Phil. Corp.

6.30 6.39 6.32 SSI Group 3.33 3.37 3.33 STI Holdings 0.610 0.610 0.620 Travellers 3.5 3.51 3.45 Yehey 6.300 6.700 6.200 MINING & OIL Abra Mining 0.0040 0.0041 0.0040 Apex `A’ 3.10 3.14 3.09 Atlas Cons. `A’ 3.90 4.00 3.89 Basic Energy Corp.

0.222 0.226 0.223 Benguet Corp `A’ 2.5400 2.78 2.3 Benguet Corp `B’ 2.5000 2.6000 2.0300 Century Peak Metals Hldgs0.57 0.6 0.56 Coal Asia 0.425 0.430 0.430 Dizon 8.02 8.20 8.02 Ferronickel 0.860 0.870 0.850 Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. 0.275 0.280 0.275 Lepanto `A’ 0.200 0.201 0.190 Lepanto `B’ 0.210 0.210 0.210 Manila Mining `A’ 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 Manila Mining `B’ 0.0110 0.0120 0.0120 Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. 1.64 1.66 1.6 Nickelasia 5.4 5.42 5.29 Nihao Mineral Resources 2.7 2.75 2.67 Omico 0.5100 0.5100 0.5100 Oriental Peninsula Res. 0.9500 1.0400 0.9500 Oriental Pet. `A’ 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 Oriental Pet. `B’ 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 Petroenergy Res. Corp. 3.96 4.00 3.96 Philex `A’ 8.65 8.70 8.47 PhilexPetroleum 3.96 4.15 3.93 Philodrill Corp. `A’ 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 Semirara Corp.

108.10 110.00 102.70 TA Petroleum 3.7 3.71 3.66 United Paragon 0.0099 0.0099 0.0098 PREFERRED DD Pref 104.2 104.3 103.6 GLOBE PREF P 527 527 527 GMA Holdings Inc. 6.03 6.09 6.03 Leisure and Resort 1.03 1.02 1.01 MWIDE PREF 110 110 110 PCOR-Preferred A 1040 1050 1041 PF Pref 2 1022 1038 1038 SMC Preferred B 78.5 78.9 78.9 SMC Preferred C 81 81.5 81.1 SMC Preferred D 76.25 77 77 SMC Preferred E 79 79 79 SMC Preferred F 78.5 79 78.95 SMC Preferred G 79.8 79 79 SMC Preferred H 77.55 77.8 77.45 SMC Preferred I 77.75 77.8 77.7 WARRANTS & BONDS LR Warrant 2.200 2.270 2.180 SME Alterra Capital 4.85 5.09 4.82 Makati Fin. Corp.

3.85 4.19 3.85 Italpinas 5.58 5.68 5.23 Xurpas 16.8 16.74 16.24 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS First Metro ETF 131.2 131.2 130.5

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

14,774,468

INDUSTRIAL

156,656,623

HOLDING FIRMS

124,999,821

PROPERTY

184,609,016

SERVICES

225,282,316

MINING & OIL

490,286,198

GRAND TOTAL

1,204,752,632

1.75 3.3 29.60 0.96 7.05 1.050 6.450

Low

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

1.78 3.37 29.35 0.96 6.85 1.030 6.350

1.71 2.12 -0.84 0.00 -2.84 -1.90 -1.55

44,000 51,000 8,530,500 3,672,000 16,000 410,000 6,068,600

7.25 50.5 1.26 0.600 11.56 5.55 6.50 0.0970 2.8 123 9.75 2.3 5.43 3.15 2126 6.34 16.70 1.38 85 20.60 157.1 11.5 0.0088 9.33 0.300 1.4800 3.61 12.64 5.89 2.88 2.30 21.95 2 3.97 5.30 3.840 11.42 6.10 2.6 134.50 6.50 1870.00 0.435 0.990 46.00 79.60 6.38 3.33 0.610 3.49 6.600

0.83 0.00 0.80 1.69 7.64 0.00 -2.99 -2.02 4.48 2.41 -0.01 19.17 0.37 3.62 -0.84 -0.47 4.77 2.22 4.81 -1.90 -8.66 0.00 2.33 0.32 0.00 2.07 1.12 -0.47 0.68 2.13 0.44 -1.57 0.50 1.53 0.00 0.00 0.18 1.67 -1.89 -0.37 -13.33 -1.06 0.00 0.00 2.91 -2.93 1.27 0.00 0.00 -0.29 4.76

29,000 23,420 3,000 219,000 52,900 6,200 24,639,600 58,490,000 3,612,000 1,333,380 4,500 133,000 278,200 3,000 157,375 82,600 1,198,700 1,966,000 4,366,280 46,700 690 20,000 22,000,000 300,000 5,730,000 1,782,000 583,000 2,000 240,300 9,000 22,000 2,900 29,000 17,455,000 2,522,900 4,773,000 37,200 501,700 3,000 70 5,108,200 89,850 850,000 34,685,000 1,371,600 2,245,610 61,300 21,393,000 1 2,737,000 24,500

0.0040 3.13 3.90 0.223 2.4400 2.4400 0.6 0.430 8.12 0.860 0.280 0.194 0.210 0.0110 0.0120 1.6 5.36 2.67 0.5100 1.0300 0.0110 0.0110 3.96 8.70 3.95 0.0120 103.70 3.66 0.0098

0.00 0.97 0.00 0.45 -3.94 -2.40 5.26 1.18 1.25 0.00 1.82 -3.00 0.00 0.00 9.09 -2.44 -0.74 -1.11 0.00 8.42 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.58 -0.25 0.00 -4.07 -1.08 -1.01

366,000,000 277,000 131,000 630,000 349,000 163,000 630,000 920,000 37,700 4,397,000 610,000 16,650,000 1,170,000 11,700,000 6,200,000 483,000 1,846,700 65,000 39,000 628,000 45,100,000 2,800,000 31,000 1,291,000 8,788,000 2,400,000 1,742,390 60,000 14,000,000

103.6 527 6.09 1.02 110 1041 1038 78.9 81.1 77 79 79 79 77.55 77.8

-0.58 0.00 1.00 -0.97 0.00 0.10 1.57 0.51 0.12 0.98 0.64 -1.00 0.00 0.06

103,820 10 46,100 875,000 200 400 100 850 22,470 400 64,600 2,710 1,380 1,622,980 119,700

2.200

0.00

201,000

4.9 4 5.26 16.36

1.03 3.90 -5.73 -2.62

2,111,000 73,000 1,507,600 4,441,600

130.5

-0.53

2,420

-106,687,385.00 -107,545.00 8,398,917.00

-43,407,313.00 9,860.00 -156,050.00 58,227,071.00 155,946.00 3,150.00 36,557,980.00 168,662.00 115,124,496.00

465,060.00 -8,880.00 1,235,797

-11,816,090.00 86,859.00 -41,330.00 309,000.00 -129,856.00 -13,171,135.00 -15,538,030.00 -6,081,175.00 -108,645,926.00 63,150,820.00 890,550.00 -3,920,510.00 -200,000.00 11,740.00 200.00 4,300.00 -275,520.00 1,712,050.00

-877,896.00

-1,388,264.00 -2,799,600.00 -13,107,984.00 49,000.00

-177,219.00

-1,823,305 -77,000.00

19,400.00 205,777.00 -17,455,674.00

VALUE 1,835.29 (down) 13.76 1,025,173,513.43 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 12,018.96 (down) 48.27 2,608,524,844.476 HOLDING FIRMS 7,841.55 (down) 8.14 2,524,778,771.90 PROPERTY 3,631.83 (down) 40.53 1,618.54 (up) 3.01 1,117,801,901.605 SERVICES MINING & OIL 10,129.48 (down) 174.81 1,848,468,173.075 PSEI 7,946.19 (down) 37.19 257,023,060.0884 All Shares Index 4,697.11 (down) 16.49 9,473,864,108.615 Gainers: 97; Losers: 87; Unchanged: 54; Total: 238

IMI buys 76% stake in German company

By Jenniffer B. Austria INTEGRATED Microelectronics Inc., the manufacturing unit of Ayala Corp., said it is acquiring a 76-percent stake in Via Optronics GmbH of Germany, a leading optical bonding and display solutions provider, for 47.4 million euros or P2.47 billion.

IMI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the acquisition was expected to be accretive to IMI’s earnings per share starting 2017.

The transaction, which will be financed through debt, is expected to close in the third quarter of 2016.

IMI chief executive Arthur Tan said the acquisition would enable the company to accelerate growth and broaden Via’s opportunity leveraging on IMI’s global footprint and resources.

“Together IMI and Via will be best positioned to revolutionize the way the world experiences vision and touch on displays. We believe the acquisition will allow IMI to strengthen its partnership with customers by offering complementary automotive camera and display monitor solutions for advanced driver assistance systems. We look forward to further developing and utilising the synergies between the two companies,” Tan said.

Via founder Jurgen Eichner will retain a 24-percent ownership and continue to lead Via as managing director, reporting to Tan. “We announce today an exciting next chapter for Via as we have found the perfect strategic partner that is aligned with our values and growth ambitions,” Eicher said.

BDO rises to 243rd in global ranking

By Julito G. Rada BDO UNIBANK Inc., the country’s largest lender controlled by tycoon Henry Sy, climbed 12 places to rank 243rd among the world’s biggest in 2016, according to The Banker.

BDO moved up from 255th place in 2015 in the Top 1000 World Banks, compiled by the British financial publication.

BDO was also the highest ranked bank in the Philippines given its strength, size, healthy earnings and stable performance.

BDO posted a record net income of P25 billion in 2015, on robust growth across all business segments.

This represented an increase of 10 percent year-on-year, matching the bank’s earnings guidance for 2015 despite the challenging operating environment.

BDO also achieved another milestone by becoming the first domestic bank to reach the P2trillion mark in total assets.

BDO posted a 13-percent increase in net income in the first half to P13.2 billion from P11.7 billion a year ago.

The bank said this was a result of broad-based improvement across the bank’s businesses and a one-time gain from the consolidation of BDO Life.

Customer loan portfolio grew to P1.4 trillion, outpacing the industry with a 21-percent increase. Total deposits went up 17 percent to P1.8 trillion, driven by the 23-percent jump in low-cost deposits.

Business

UnionBank, big Euro fund tie up

By Julito G. Rada

U

nion Bank of the Philippines, the banking unit of the Aboitiz Group and the tenth largest lender in terms of assets, signed a cooperation agreement with Europe-based Bank Lombard Odier & Co. Ltd. for the launch of a global and diversified multiasset fund in the country.

UnionBank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Wednesday it signed the agreement on Aug. 16, 2016.

“The agreement will see the launch of a global and diversified multi-asset fund with a risk profile matching UnionBank’s specific needs for its high-net worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients,” UnionBank said.

Lombard Odier is a leading global wealth and asset manager with $224 billion in total client assets as of end-December 2015. It was founded in 1796 in Geneva, where it has its headquarters.

Information on its Web site said the fund manager, which has been a family business for seven generations, was run by its partners.

The fund, which is present in all major financial centers in the

world, has a network of 26 offices covering 19 jurisdictions and employs around 2,180 people. Lombard Odier has decided to accelerate the development of its private client activities in Europe, Asia and Switzerland, strengthen its asset management services, and make its technology platform available to finance professionals.

Lombard Odier offers its private clients a range of wealth management solutions such as portfolio management under a discretionary or advisory mandate, succession planning, tax reporting, or custody services.

Earlier, UnionBank president and chief operating officer Edwin Bautista said the bank was seeking to further improve its products and services “that take on a more customer-centric approach.”

The bank in the first half of 2016 posted a 30-percent increase in net income to P3.9 billion from P3 billion a year ago on the strength of its core businesses.

Net interest income jumped 30 percent to P7.3 billion as a result of the year-on-year expansion in loan portfolio, while fees-based income grew 11 percent to P2 billion due to an expanded customer base in both loans and deposits.

The bank’s lending activity rose 12 percent to P202 billion, while total deposits rose 8 percent to P336 billion. UnionBank’s assets stood at P439 billion as of end-June.

The bank earlier said it was spending P1 billion for capital expenditures this year. It plans to spend the bulk of the amount for the bank’s digitalization efforts, and the balance to expand its current network of 300 branches.

Through its branch LOIM (Lombard Odier Investment Managers), Lombard Odier offers its clients risk-based asset allocation, themed equity investments, convertible bonds, and absolute return strategies.

Lombard Odier also provides clients of banking and technology services with access to its IT and operational infrastructure, as well as global custody and reporting services.

Manila

Standard

TODAY

B3

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Semirara sinks in the abyss; Dengue test kits developed THE fortunes of Semirara Mining and Power Corp. are fast changing, like the hot desert climates that can rapidly drop to freezing level in the nighttime.

Semirara’s share price sank to a year low of P95.50 last week from a 12-month high of P143, after Environment Secretary Gina Lopez threatened to shut down the coal mine for polluting the environment. Semirara, from a purely coal mining concern when it was formerly known as Semirara Coal Corp. to a power company, has definitely seen better days when its shares were first offered to the public in 1983 for P1,000 apiece.

It has undergone ownership restructuring after finding itself caught in the Philippine debt crisis in the 1980’s. And after stabilizing its financial condition with its expansion into the lucrative power generation business, Semirara has become one of the stock market darlings in the last two years.

Lopez’s assumption of office, however, ended Semirara’s stock market streak. The mining and power company is again on a familiar defensive pose. It is buying back shares from the market in a bid to stop the drop in stock prices after the government’s threat to close down the coal mine.

Semirara’s board approved a 60-day share buyback program involving 20 million shares starting Aug. 18 based on the prevailing market price. The stock rebounded to P108.10 Tuesday, following the announcement of a share repurchase program, and retreated to P103.70 Wednesday.

The Environment Department in a show cause letter on Aug. 12 asked Semirara to explain and comply within seven days why its environmental compliance certificate should not be canceled.

Environment, which conducted an inter-agency fact finding and field visit on May 23 to 27, claimed that the company did not comply with one of the conditions provided in the ECC relative to the Molave coal mine expansion project in Barangay Semirara, Caluya, Antique province.

The letter noted that there was no proper stockpiling and disposal of the materials scooped out from the settling ponds, stable areas to avoid pollution of any water body and drainage systems to keep them in safe and non-polluting conditions.

Environment Undersecretary Leo Jasareno also cited complaints against Semirara, including massive clearing affecting the island ecosystem, degradation of water quality and siltation of the marine environment.

“The problem with Semirara is the open pit mine is now below sea level. How would DMCI

[Holdings Inc.] rehabilitate the area?” Jasareno asked.

Philab’s diagnostic tools Dengue test kits will be made available soon in the Philippine market, or in drug stores nationwide.

Philab Industries, a pioneer in the healthcare business in the Philippines, is expanding to healthcare science and technology to bring in the most advanced diagnostic tools to the country.

Philab chief executive officer Hector “Tom” Navasero has vowed to revolutionize the healthcare system in the Philippines by providing simple and sophisticated solutions to the Filipinos. The company, with over 50 years of experience, remains one of the most reliable and profitable corporations in its industry.

Philab, as of the end of the first quarter of 2016, has received an initial P3.19 billion in new contracts from the Department of Education, the Department of Health and the National Institutes of Health UP Manila until 2018.

Its self-test kits, however, may prove to be a game changer in the Philippine diagnosis system. Self-test kits are plastic trips about two inches long and one to two millimeters thick containing chemicals that react to different disease indicators.

Philab is introducing the Dengue test kit—a two-inch plastic strip that contains Denguespecific antibodies placed on a conjugate pad in the test region of the strip while the NS-1 protein is suspended on a membrane. NS-1 protein is present in the blood stream of individuals infected with dengue.

An individual only has to extract blood from his/her fingers using the lancet provided in the kit, drop two to three drops of blood on the test region and wait 15 to 20 minutes. The result bands are somehow identical to pregnancy test kits sold in the drugstores. Two bands will show for positive and one for negative. The test is invalid if there are no bands visible.

The test kits will cost around P200 to P300, with the result at hand in 20 minutes. Going to the hospital to have a blood test would cost an average of P400, with the results coming out after two hours or the following day.

The DoH Epidemiology Bureau recorded 59,585 dengue cases from January to July 2, up 31 percent from 45,338 cases during the same period last year. The bureau registered 263 deaths from159 in the same period last year.

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or business@thestandard.com.ph or extrastory2000@gmail.com

SLEx operator increases profit to P1.7b

By Darwin G. Amojelar

HOUSEKEEPING TRAINING. Clark Development Corp. officer-in-charge Noel Manankil (left) congratulates one of the graduates of housekeeping, food and veverage training during the awarding of certificates of completion at Midori Hotel and Casino in Clark Freeport, Pampanga. With Manankil is Vic Chan, general manager of Midori Hotel.

Mindanao has had its influential legislators Two of the salient facts of political life in a democratic society are that some individuals elected by the people as Senators and Representatives have greater national influence than others and that their higher degree of influence makes them better able to “bring home the bacon,” i.e., to channel government funds and projects to their home regions and districts.

Every one of the three subdivisions of this country—Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao—has had its fair share of nationally influential people.

Mindanao has not been an exception, and every time I hear a person from Mindanao complain about “Imperial Manila,” I am reminded of the men from that island who have figured prominently in this country’s political life over the years.

Any of the influential men who have represented Mindanao in the halls of Congress were in a position to influence the structure and composition of the national budget—more properly known as the General Appropriations Act—in a way that would maximize the flow of government resources to the nation’s second largest island. That’s what influential legislators are supposed to do. If the flow of government resources to Mindanao has been inadequate— as the proponents of a shift to federalism hotly claim—a large part of the blame should be laid at the door of the influential Mindanaoan legislators of yesterday and today.

Mindanao has produced a Vice-President of the Republic, no less. Emmanuel Pelaez of Cagayan de Oro City was the nation’s second highest official from 1962 to 1965, during Diosdado Macapagal’s Presidency. Mindanao would have had its first Chief Executive much earlier had not Senate President Ferdinand Marcos maneuvered Pelaez out of the choice to be the Nacionalista Party’s Presidential candidate in the 1965 election.

Aside from Emmanuel Pelaez, Mindanao has

produced four other Senators, three of whom were Muslim. The four other members of the upper chamber of Congress were Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Salipada Pendatun, Domocao Alonto and Mamintal Tamano. Pimentel was later to go on to become Senate President.

The Muslim community has also had its share of influential members of the House of Representatives, from which, under the Constitution, all revenue measures must originate. Three Muslim Representatives are particularly noteworthy because of their closeness to Malacañang during their incumbencies. I am referring to Ali Dimaporo, Simeon Datumanong and Romulo Espaldon. Dimaporo and Admiral Espaldon (who was born a Christian) were very close to President Marcos and Datumanong was very close to President Gloria Arroyo.

A region’s being influential is not just a matter of numbers or of geographical distance. It is—and probably more so—a matter of closeness to, and knowledgeability about, the locus of power, be it Imperial Manila or Imperial Washington D.C. or Imperial Canberra. Pendatun, Alonto, Dimaporo et al. were in a position to influence policy and to obtain fiscal, physical and other government benefits for Mindanao. That’s what Congressmen, deputies and members of parliament from the farthest reaches of the US, Canada or Germany keep trying to do for their constituencies; they don’t go around weeping and complaining about the alleged imperial character of their respective countries’ capital.

Clearly, Mindanao has had a more than fair chance of influencing, through their powerful Congress members, policymaking in ‘Imperial Manila.’ The explanation for any inadequacy in the flow of government resources to that island— if such be the fact—must be sought elsewhere.

E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

THE operator of South Luzon Expressway said Wednesday net income climbed 22 precent in the first six months of the year to P1.7 billion from P1.39 billion year-on-year on the back of higher vehicle traffic.

South Luzon Tollways Corp., a unit of San Miguel Corp., said revenues rose 13 percent to P1.41 billion from P1.24 billion last year on higher traffic volume.

Majority of the vehicles travelling SLEx come from the Class 1 category, which account for about 80 percent of the total traffic volume.

SLTC also said it was investing in toll equipment, spending an additional P5.8 million for the toll collection system upgrade. It also spent P39.1 million on expansion of other major works aimed at improving traffic flow and generating more income, as well as pre-construction activities for TR4 worth P16.2 million.

South Luzon’s parent San Miguel earlier earmarked P13.1 billion to extend the SLEx from Sto. Tomas Batangas to Lucena in Quezon province, or SLEXToll Road 4.

The project is divided into five sections. Section 1 covers Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Macban, Laguna (10.58 kms); Macban, Laguna to San Pablo, Laguna (12.2 kms); San Pablo, Laguna to Tiaong, Quezon (8.1 kms); Tiaong to Candelaria, Quezon (14.4 kms); and Candelaria to Lucena City, Quezon (12.31 kms).

South Luzon said it planned to complete the first section from Santo Tomas to Macban by mid-2017 and the entire project by 2019.

The four-lane, expressway project is seen to make travel to and from Southern Tagalog provinces such as Batangas, Laguna, Quezon and the Bicol region faster and safer.

The project is expected to cut travel time between Sto. Tomas and Lucena to just one hour from

the usual four hours.

The SLEx-Toll Road 4 is the latest project in San Miguel’s infrastructure portfolio, which already includes the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, the

at-grade and elevated Skyway system and Skyway Stage 3, the Naia Expressway, the existing SLEx and the recently upgraded and expanded Southern Tagalog Arterial Road, or STAR Tollway.

Republic of the Philippines Philippine Rural Development Project Invitation to Bid Concreting of Farm to Market Road, Brgy. Olo-Olo, Mabilog na Bundok, Nagtaluntong ( Phase I) Identification No. PRDP-IB-R04A-BTG-001-LOB-001-2015 Loan No. 8421-PH 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

August 18, 2016 The Government of the Philippines (GOP) has received a Loan from the World Bank towards the cost of Philippine Rural Development Project and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of this Loan to payments under the contract for the Concreting of Farm-to-Market Road, Barangay Olo-olo, Mabilog na Bundok and Nagtaluntong (Phase I)/ PRDP-IB-R04A-BTG-001-LOB-001-2015.

The Municipality of Lobo, Province of Batangas implementing partner of the Department of Agriculture, now invites bids for the Concreting of Farm-toMarket Road, Barangay Olo-olo, Mabilog na Bundok and Nagtaluntong (Phase I). Completion of the Works is required by 392 calendar days. Bidders should have completed, within the last five (5) years, a contract similar to the Project.

The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted in accordance with relevant procedures for open competitive bidding as specified in the IRR of RA 9184 (R.A. 9184), with some amendments, as stated in these bidding documents and is open to all bidders from eligible source countries as defined in the applicable procurement guidelines of the World Bank. The contract shall be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bidder (LCRB) who was determined as such during post-qualification.

The Estimated Project Cost for this project is One Hundred Twenty Six Million Twelve Thousand Pesos (PhP 126,012,000.00).

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Bids and Awards Committee of the Municipality of Lobo, Batangas and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 9:00am to 4:00pm, Mondays to Fridays.

Interested Bidders may purchase a complete set of Bidding Documents from August 18, 2016 to September 16, 2016 from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the bidding documents in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (PhP 5,000.00).

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the PRDP website (http://www.daprdp.net) provided that bidders shall pay the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

As part of the transparency measures being instituted by the Department of Agriculture (DA) the bidders can virtually visit the site of the above-described subproject at http://www.daprdp.net where geotagged base photographs on 50 meter interval and track are viewable. The DA, however, requires that all potential contractors who will be awarded contract under the project shall have undergone geotagging training provided by the PRDP Project Support Office.

The Municipality of Lobo, Batangas will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on September 6, 2016 at 11:00AM at the Municipal Conference Hall 2nd Floor, Municipal Building, Lobo, Batangas that shall be open to all interested parties.

Bids must be delivered on or before September 19, 2016, 11:00AM at the Municipal Conference Hall 2nd Floor, Municipal Building, Lobo, Batangas.

All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Securing Declaration or bid security in the amount of PhP 2,521,000.00 in the form of Cash or Cashier’s/ Manager’s check or Bank Guarantee issued by a universal or commercial Bank.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The Municipality of Lobo, Batangas reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: ISAGANI T. LABRADOR Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee Office of the Municipal Planning & Development 2rd Floor, Sotto Bldg. Mun. Compound, Poblacion,, Lobo, Batangas Tel No. 09175452067, Sgd. ISAGANI T. LABRADOR BAC-Chairman

(MS-AUG. 18, 2016)

B4

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016

World

11 die, 40,000 homes flooded in Louisiana G

onzales—The death toll from historic flooding in Louisiana climbed to 11 on Tuesday as the expanding flood zone prompted authorities to declare disasters in 20 parishes of the southeastern US state.

While flooding receded in parts of southern Louisiana, other areas saw rising waters. The National Weather Service issued renewed flood warnings.

“We’re seeing unprecedented flood levels as the waters move south,” Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said at a news conference.

Officials said 40,000 homes have been impacted by the floods and more than 8,000 people were in shelters.

More than 20,000 have been rescued or evacuated, they said.

Twenty parishes—similar to counties in other states—were declared emergency disaster areas, up from four on Monday and 12 earlier on Tuesday.

The designation frees up federal money to aid with rescue operations and emergency housing, among other things.

“We’re just now moving into recovery phase. We’re still rescuing in the southern part of the parish,” said Layton Ricks, the president of Livingston Parish— more than 75 percent of which was affected by flooding.

There were reports of looting in areas where homes and businesses were abandoned by fleeing residents.

Many municipalities implemented evening curfews to combat the problem, and to allow rescue crews to move freely at night.

“I felt this is the best way to protect our residents,” said East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux, adding that 10 people were arrested for looting since Monday afternoon.

Edwards said there were still some 34,000 households and businesses without electricity in torrid summer heat and humidity—raising concerns of mold in waterlogged buildings.

“There are still a lot of people who are suffering,” he said.

The Louisiana governor’s office confirmed to Agence France Presse late Tuesday that 11 people had died in the flooding.

Rescue crews were searching for more victims, with officials uncertain about how many people remain missing.

“We are going door to door,” said Baton Rouge Fire Department Chief Ed Smith, describing a search and rescue process that he estimated could take another five to seven days.

Rescue workers are also searching cars that were inundated or carried away by flood waters.

“We are going to have to search and mark each of those automobiles,” the governor said.

Ordinary citizens in small boats—who in the last few days have earned the title, “Cajun navy”—appeared to outnumber formal rescue crews. AFP

Hollande to meet Pope after French priest’s slay PARIS—French President Francois Hollande will meet Pope Francis at the Vatican on Wednesday to discuss the aftermath of the jihadist murder of a French priest, Hollande’s office said.

An official told Agence France Presse the meeting was organized “following the events in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray,” the northern town where 85-year-old priest Jacques Hamel was killed by two teens claiming allegiance to the Islamic State group (IS).

They are also expected to discuss the situation facing Christians in the Middle East.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve is likely to accompany Hollande, the official at the Elysee presidential palace said.

Hollande may also visit San Luigi dei Francesi (Saint-Louisdes-Francais), a French church in central Rome, to pay tribute to the victims of terrorism.

Adel Kermiche and Abdel Ma-

lik Petitjean stormed Hamel’s church on July 26 and slit his throat in front of a small group of worshippers while he was conducting mass.

The attack was the first committed in the name of IS against a church in the West.

Both Kermiche and Petitjean were shot dead by police.

On July 14, a jihadist ploughed a 19-ton truck into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day on the seafront in Nice, killing 85 people and leaving 434 injured.

It will be Hollande’s second visit to the Vatican, after a trip he made in January 2014.

Relations between the Socialist Party leader and the Holy See have seen periods of tension, triggered by Hollande’s failed attempt to appoint an openly gay diplomat as ambassador to the Vatican and a 2013 law in France that approved same-sex marriage. AFP

UK delays nuke plant, mulls over renewables LONDON—Britain’s decision to stall a Franco-Chinese project to build its first nuclear power plant in a generation has fuelled speculation that the new government is reviewing its energy strategy to boost the role of renewables.

Prime Minister Theresa May has given no clear reason for delaying final approval of the Hinkley Point plant, with her spokesman saying only that it was “an extremely important decision that we have to get right.”

Critics cite the enormous cost of the £18-billion (21-billion-euro or $23-billion) project as well as security concerns about the involvement of China’s major energy group CGN. They also question whether France’s EDF energy giant can deliver on the latest EPR reactors which have been plagued by delays and cost overruns at projects in France and Finland.

Others have asked if a new nuclear plant is the best way to address Britain’s energy needs during a time of advances in renewables, particularly wind power, a promising source of energy on an island nation.

Peter Williamson, professor of international management at the University of Cambridge, said the reasons for the delay were “multiple and complicated”.

“Not only the questions some people have raised about security but also the question of the economics and the high guaranteed price for the electricity,” he told Agence France Presse.

EDF would be guaranteed £92.50 per megawatt hour produced by Hinkley Point over 35 years, but that is looking increasingly generous as energy prices fall.

There was also “the question of whether we should opt for a few large nuclear plants or consider new ‘mini-nuclear’ technologies or other energy alternatives”, Williamson said.

The Hinkley Point plant in Somerset, south-west England, is projected to provide seven percent of Britain’s electricity needs, filling a gap in capacity while also helping the country meet its climate change targets. AFP

82,000 flee California forest fires

STAR. Actress Eyelet Zurer attends the Paramount premiere of “Ben Hur” in Hollywood, California, on Tuesday. AFP

Rockers to raise funds vs AIDS, malaria, TB

MILKED. The restaurant “La Leche” (the milk) is seen on Tuesday in Puerto Vallarta, in the western Mexican state of Jalisco, where a Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, son of drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, was among a group kidnapped, authorities confirmed Tuesday. AFP

MONTREAL—US R&B star Usher and Canadian indie rock groups Metric and Half Moon Run will headline a free concert in Montreal next month aimed at ending AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

Advocacy group Global Citizen, the concert sponsor, said the September 17 show would be held at the city’s Bell Centre a day after an international donor conference to raise money for the fight against the epidemics.

Global Citizen said that some 10,000 tickets will be distributed to anyone who has helped in the fight by signing a petition or writing to a lawmaker to urge them to support the fund.

Prime Minister Justin

Trudeau is scheduled to attend the concert.

Trudeau is hosting the Global Fund Replenishment conference in Montreal on September 16.

The fund is mainly supported by governments and spends nearly $4 billion annually in its fight to eradicate HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis by 2030.

The organization has set a fund-raising target of $13 billion for its next three-year cycle, from 2017 to 2019.

Canada has already pledged about $600 million for the coming three years. Other countries that have offered aid include Japan, at $800 million, and France, at $1 billion. AFP

LOS ANGELES—A rapidly spreading fire raging east of Los Angeles forced the evacuation of more than 82,000 people Tuesday as the governor of California declared a state of emergency.

Around 34,500 buildings were threatened by the blaze, according to the multi-agency Inciweb information site.

Gov. Jerry Brown declared the state of emergency for San Bernardino County, located just 60 miles (100 kilometers) east of Los Angeles, where the blaze, which has been named the Blue Cut fire, was quickly growing.

The fire, which began around 10:30 am (1730 GMT) Tuesday, has already burned more than 9,000 acres (3,600 hectares), according to Inciweb.

It poses “imminent threat to public safety, rail traffic and structures,” according to the website, which said 82,640 people fell under an evacuation warning.

California is in its fifth year of a record drought and undergoing an extreme heat wave.

Two firefighters were lightly injured by the blaze, which some 700 fire personnel are battling, according to Inciweb.

Fire season is in full swing in California, where another fire has been burning 100 miles north of San Francisco since Saturday.

The Clayton Fire, as it is called, has burned more than 4,000 acres and is being fought by around 1,700 fire personnel who have brought some 35 percent of the blaze under control, according to the website Cal Fire.

More than 175 buildings have been destroyed as the blaze continues to move aggressively to the north, it said. AFP

UPGRADING PHILIPPINE PORTS

By Vito Barcelo

T

HE Philippine Ports Authority has allocated P2 billion for the construction of at least 44 new projects this year.

The amount will also cover the repair and maintenance of 199 carry-over projects across the country.

PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago said the projects are in line with the agency’s effort to address the increasing volume of cargoes and passengers in the regions and container loads in the three

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PPA TO CONSTRUCT 40 NEW PROJECTS

Full steam ahead major ports under the PPA, namely the Port of Manila, Manila International Container Port and the Port of Cebu.

Santiago said as of end-June this year, the agency has already completed 57 projects while 58 are still ongoing.

The load capacity of the two Manila ports, he said, is almost in the near threshold because of unclaimed, abandoned and overstaying shipments which could not be immediately disposed because of pending court cases.

Santiago said the rehabilitation and expansion of three major ports outside Metro Manila, which will cost around P624 million, will address the potential excess of cargoes in the next two to five years.

He said PPA will also put up modern cranes to increase the efficiency of the ports by almost

three-fold.

Meanwhile, PPA will also improve the berths for international cruise ships in top island destinations across the country, including Bohol, Caticlan, Puerto Princesa and Currimao, and expand roll-on and roll-off (RoRo) facilities to boost domestic tourism.

“We will improve the RoRo facilities, provided there is traffic and there is volume. We also want to have a facility that can accommodate cruise ships similar to the Hong Kong Ferry terminal where

passengers can immediately access land transportation and retail establishments,” he added.

Santiago said the state-run agency will audit safety measures and safety protocols in all passenger terminals.

“What I would like to concentrate within the first 100 days is to make sure that we follow a l l

safety protocols on our passenger terminals. We will audit all our safety protocols and safety measures to address security threat in our port facilities particularly on the passenger terminal,” Santiago said.

“We want to make sure that they are safe and comfortable and they have the amenities that they need and they deserve such as improvements of toilet facilities and free Wifi access,” he added.

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UPGRADING PHILIPPINE PORTS

BoC vows to meet collection target as CMTA takes effect

By Vito Barcelo

T

HE Bureau of Customs, the government’s second biggest revenue source, expressed optimism that it will meet its revenue collection target this year with the full implementation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon inspects some P2.5-million worth of misdeclared goods from China seized at Manila’s South Harbor. Ey Acasio

Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon said the CMTA will help the bureau arrest the dismal revenue collection trend in the last six years.

CMTA or Republic Act No. 10863 aims to simplify, modernize and align with global best practices the country’s customs procedures, including import clearances and valuations, making the release of goods much faster.

It will also benefit millions of overseas Filipino workers as the new law increases the tax-exempt value of items sent by OFWs through balikbayan boxes.

Under the CMTA, OFWs can send up to three P150,000-worth of taxand duty-free balikbayan boxes in a year, given that the goods are not in commercial quantities nor intended for barter, sale or for hire.

Faeldon earlier said he would instill several reforms in the bureau, including pushing for the computerization of processes to reduce red tape and opportunities for corruption.

“There are at least four reforms that we are envisioning to do. One is we have to fast track the computerization.

Another thing is that we want to remove the compulsory utilization of brokerage, because some unscrupulous brokers are using their services to smuggle commodities into the country. We will see what the CMTA can do to aid us in the transition from compulsory to optional usage of brokerage,” he said.

“We really what to predetermine

the quantity and quality of goods or commodities before leaving the ports of origin. And finally, we really want to coordinate with importing countries to our country to give us a more accurate government certified prices of commodities. These are not very easy things to be done because we need approval and participation of the importing and exporting parties,” Faeldon added.

Faeldon also vowed to implement a “daily” monitoring of shipment valuation coupled with updated scanning systems to prevent smuggling.

He adopted the ongoing graveyard shifts and 24/7 operations of Customs personnel which was meant to declog ports.

Faeldon also began cracking the whip on corrupt officials and personnel suspected of being involved in the illegal “tara” system or the practice of accepting grease money in the BoC, which was earlier identified by President Rodrigo Duterte as one of the most corrupt government agencies.

“I am already investigating some people involved in the tara system.

We have already asked the DoJ to do a probe. I cannot name them yet because I do not want to jeopardize the formal investigation, which could be expanded to include other officials or personnel,” he said.

“But if there is culpability, we will let the public know. For now, let us leave the probe with the DoJ because that is within their mandate,” Faeldon said.

PPA: spreading development through modern gateways AS AN archipelagic country, growth is concentrated in highly-urbanized regions like Metro Manila, leaving far-flung areas hungry for economic development.

Enter the Philippine Ports Authority—the agency tasked to make sure that ports effectively respond to economic times. PPA, since it was created in 1974, has evolved from mere port administration to a selfsustaining agency.

Among PPA’s major accomplishments are as follows: -Modernization and Privatization of the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) Since the Razon-led company International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) took over the MICT, it has become the country’s major international gateway. It now has the capability to handle postpanamax vessels while port capacity has already reached at least 2.9 million TEUs. It now handles the bulk of the country’s foreign trade. The total investment poured in

by ICTSI has already totaled P20 billion.

-Modernization and Privatization of the Manila South Harbor The evolution of the Manila South Harbor is somewhat similar to that of the MICT. The South Harbor is the second gateway of the Philippines to the rest of the world. The Manila South Harbor also has the capability to handle post-panamax vessels and its capacity has already reached more than 1 million TEUs. Total investment to be poured in by operator Asian Terminals, Inc. is pegged at about $500 million until the late 2030s.

-Modernization and Privatization of the Manila

North Harbor Considered as the premier domestic port, the Manila North Harbor waited too long before it received its muchneeded facelift. After two or more failed bids to privatize the terminal, PPA was finally able to find a taker for the North Harbor, the Manila North Harbour Port, Inc. (MNHPI)―a joint venture between the Harbour Centre Port Terminals, Inc. and San Miguel Corp. MNHPI was awarded the contract in 2009. As of the moment, the North Harbor―now known as the North Port― now boasts of a world-class passenger terminal building while its cargo terminal is likewise being upgraded.

Total investment committed to modernize the port in 25 years is P14 billion.

-Construction and Privatization of the Batangas Port This port is considered as the alternative port outside

of Manila. Government has poured close to P5 billion to construct this port. It is groomed to handle the spillover cargo of Asia’s cargo hubs like Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, among others, for its 400,000-TEU capacity. Built in 2005, private operator Asian Terminals, Inc.Batangas is slowly putting into place all the needed cargo-handling equipment as well as aggressively marketing the port to the international market to form its base cargo to lure more foreign direct callers at the port.

-Upgrade to world standards six (6) more ports to make sure that the Philippines is able to accommodate the increasing demands in the international markets.

These include the ports of Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, General Santos, Ozamiz and Davao.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

COOLING OFF. A group of children

take advantage of the sunny weather to develop their diving skills at the port of Carigara, Leyte last weekend. Mel Caspe

Feature

Estrada to revive

Manila’s old glory

By Sandy Araneta

M

ANILA Mayor Joseph Estrada is now working to bring back the old glory of Manila, the “Pearl of the Orient.”

Estrada, who in his first term as Manila mayor in 2013 had to solve first the city’s debt crisis, started his latest crusade by clearing the most clogged streets of the city to give them back to residents.

“The biggest problem was the fact that when I assumed office in 2013, I discovered that the city government was mired in debt. The previous administration left at least P5.5 billion in unpaid obligations. The city’s coffers only had about P200 million, barely enough to pay for a month’s salary of its employees.

Meralco had threatened to cut off the city hall’s power supply because our unpaid bills have reached P600 million. The city was bankrupt,” he emphasized.

Estrada said he had to come up with measures to keep the city government running and by 2015, the city government had a general fund of P5 billion after paying all previous debts.

“We had to devote our first two years raising funds, stabilizing the government and put-

ting up multibillion-peso infrastructure projects,” he said.

“So, with the city debt-free, stable and infrastructure and social projects in full blast, it is now time that I can fully attend to doing what I set out to do in my first day of office and that is to clear up the streets of Manila as one strong way to bring back its old glory and pride as the one of Asia’s oldest and most beautiful cities,” Estrada added..

For Manila to regain its old status as the ‘Paris of Asia,’ Estrada said the city must make itself attractive to investors, tourists and shoppers from all over the Philippines and abroad.

“You cannot do this with its shopping areas inaccessible to shoppers and their vehicles.

Thus, we really must bring back order in the roads and return them to pedestrians and motorists. Make no mistake about it, there is no stopping our traffic clearing operations. There will be no let-up to our street clearing campaign,” he said.

“More progress will come if we put order in our streets,” said Estrada, as he stressed that clearing the roads of Manila of all obstructions would also help address traffic gridlocks led

by Task Force Manila Cleanup head Che Borromeo.

Raon, the country’s “electronics capital,” was the latest thoroughfare to be cleared of all traffic obstructions.

“Try going to Raon and you’ll find how chaotic the street is.

Sidewalks are occupied by illegal vendors and their stalls, forcing people to walk in the street. There are many illegally parked vehicles, eyesores are everywhere,” the mayor said.

Borromeo said the Raon cleanup, long overdue, was conducted after the city hall’s Bureau of Permits revoked the special permits given to sidewalk vendors in the area. The permits allow them to sell their wares in designated areas for a certain period of time.

“But the problem was, the number of sidewalk vendors have swelled,” Borromeo said.

Estrada also led the road clearing of Blumentritt Road, also known for its bottleneck, where at least 600 illegal vendors had to be removed, as well as Divisoria where some 2,000 illegal vendors

were evicted. Nearby side streets such as Oroquieta, Felix Huertas and P. Guevarra were also cleared of obstructions.

While he said it pained him to deprive the vendors of their livelihood, Estrada stressed he has to think of the welfare of the general public.

City engineer Roberto Bernardo said they also cleared Juan Luna, Recto Avenue, Soler, Dapitan, and adjacent roads.

“We should take out the root of the problem. And the root is these individuals and groups that provide protection to illegal vendors and terminals. Whoever they are, whoever their backers are, they should be demolished,” the mayor said.

Estrada directed Borromeo to exhaust “all available legal methods” to identify protectors of illegal vendors and terminals and bring them to court.

Borromeo said these protectors “lease out” portions of sidewalks and even valuable road spaces to vendors where they could put up tents and sell their wares, promising that the police and city hall would not touch them.

To further decongest traffic along Recto Avenue, particularly the portion leading to and from Divisoria Market, Estrada has

likewise prohibited vegetable cargo trucks from traversing the roadway. He noted that truckers block traffic along the 500-meter stretch of Recto Avenue.

He told vegetable dealers they can use the side streets around Divisoria to park their vehicles and unload their merchandise.

Dennis Alcoreza, head of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau, said about 20 to 30 vegetable trucks from Benguet, Baguio, and other provinces unload their cargoes along the subject portion of Recto Avenue every night, disrupting traffic flow.

“It’s Wild, Wild, West there.

They don’t care because they know it’s the government that’s cleaning their mess,” Alcoreza lamented.

Estrada also encouraged the public to go out of their vehicles and walk. He said that in highly urbanized cities such as Tokyo, Seoul, New York, and Beijing, people seldom use their private vehicles as they prefer the mass transport system.

“They usually walk and explore the cities on foot, which is a good exercise and stressreliever, and incidentally helps reduce traffic volume in the road,” he said.

“We are putting order back in our streets,” the mayor added.

SWEPT AWAY. Photos show Claro M. Recto Avenue in Divisoria before (left) and after (right) the Manila City Hall’s road-clearing operations.

Retired dignitary is new Makati centenarian awardee

By Joel E. Zurbano THE city government of Makati said a former official representative of the Philippines to the Convention of the American Association of Port Authorities in New York in 1951 is among the latest Centenarian Awardees of the city.

Francisco Delgado, also a former Chancellor of the Mexican Consu-

late in Manila, was among the three centenarians to whom Mayor Abigail Binay gave a P100,000 cash gift and a plaque of recognition at the city hall on Monday.

Delgado was born on June 4, 1916 in San Pablo City. He married Carmencita Delgado and they had six children.

A pre-law graduate of San Beda College with a Bachelor of Sci-

ence degree in Foreign Service and master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Santo Tomas, Delgado also served as aide-de-camp to the Philippine Army chief of staff and to the late Justice Jose Abad Santos.

The two other awardees were 102-year-old Maria Martinez and Paz Ramos, a mother of seven children.

Martinez was born on Sept. 14, 1913. Orphaned at the age of 13, she took on various jobs to feed her two-year-old brother. With great perseverance, she was able to support the schooling of her brother, who later became a certified public accountant. She married Francisco Martinez and their union was blessed with two children, one of whom is in New York City.

Ramos turned 100 years old on April 12, 1916. She has been residing in Barangay Bangkal since the 1960s. She has seven children, four girls and three boys.

Makati is the first local government to extend cash gifts to centenarians. Initiated by former mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr., a total of 29 centenarians have so far been honored.

2 Bicol firms end ‘endo’

By Cathrine Mae V. Gonzales TWO local firms in Bicol voluntarily absorbed short-term employees in compliance with the government’s campaign to end contractualization and other prohibited practices in the labor industry.

The Department of Labor and Employment lauded this move of the Hotel St. Ellis in Legazpi City and Stance Sales Distribution in Naga City as Secretary Silvestre Bello III commanded regional offices to observe workers’ right to security of tenure.

“We thank these firms for positively answering our call to absorb contractual employees. We are positive that more establishments in the region will follow suit,” said Atty.

Ma. Karina Perida-Trayvilla, officer-in-charge and regional director of the DoLE’s Bicol arm.

DoLE also lauded Personnel Solutions, the manpower provider of the said firms, for supporting its campaign.

“Five former agency-based employees are now enjoying permanent direct hire status, two for Hotel St. Ellis and three for Stance Sales and Distribution, and more regularization is coming,” Trayvilla said.

“Weekly, we will monitor the number of workers who will be absorbed by their principals here in Bicol,” she added.

The employees who were declared regular workers include field office associates, accounting staff, sales personnel, company driver and helper.

Earlier in May, 22 short-term workers were also absorbed by Casureco IV after a successful Single Entry Approach proceedings in the regional office.

DoLE encouraged other companies to do the same move.

“We want other establishments here in Bicol to look up to Casureco IV, Hotel St. Ellis and Stance Distribution. If these companies can make it happen, then others can, too,” Trayvilla said.

Over the weeks, the labor department already assessed 15 of 27 manpower agencies in the region through its Labor Compliance System program.

The rest are set to be reviewed in the coming weeks.

“We want to know the exact number of contract employees in the region and from there, we move on with the subsequent campaign on eliminating contractualization,” OICRD Trayvilla added.

Life

UNICEF notes the importance of breastfeeding in a child’s survival, health and development.

Danny Pata

Isah V. Red, Editor Writers Bernadette Lunas Nickie Wang isahred@gmail.com

HEALTH AND WELLNESS SPECIAL ISSUE

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016

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Living a healthy lifestyle is a lifetime investment H

EALTHWAY Medical, with its partnership with the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP), on June 27, opened to public a series of health and wellness activities at the Alabang Town Center to cap off its celebration of the National Wellness Day. The primary goal of the event, which carried the theme “Your Life Lived Well,” was to promote the importance of embarking on a journey towards a healthier lifestyle.

Health advocates and mall goers were immersed in experiential activities like the seven-minute Wellness Moment workout and breathing exercises, as well as wellness talks from experts that tackled topics about proper diet, the benefits of spa and wellness services, oral health and SEED lifestyle. Free health and wellness services and freebies were also made available.

According to Carmie de Leon, vice president for Sales and Marketing of Healthway Medical, actively living a SEED lifestyle (Sleep, Eat right, Exercise, De-stress) translates to better health outcomes. Healthway has been actively promoting this habit for the past years.

“Not many people realize the importance of balancing what we do every day, especially those who are already working. This is why Healthway, with the representatives from PMAP and all of the event partners, are holding

this event—we want working Filipinos to be able to maintain a healthy work-life balance despite the stress that comes with work,” De Leon said.

She added, “Being healthy doesn’t only include preparing a healthy meal and doing daily exercises. It should be a 360-degree campaign you set for yourself.”

“Have enough hours of sleep, maintain a healthy diet, be active, and find ways to de-stress,” De Leon pointed out. “If people are watchful of their health, they will be able to either maintain or improve it.”

One of the event highlights was the Zumba session, which was participated in by the representatives from PMAP and Healthway Medical including De Leon and Zumba enthusiasts, among others.

According to Conrad Perreras, chairman of PMAP’s Fellowship, Engagement and Wellness Committee, the National Wellness Day gave Filipinos in the workforce an opportunity to learn more about their health and the importance of valuing it. He cited that “being able to live a life that’s deeply anchored on health and wellness

Carmie De Leon (second from right), Wellness Sub-committee chairperson for PMAP and Healthway Medical vice president for Sales and Marketing, along with PMAP representatives Vilma Valera (leftmost), Ma. Paz V. Malubay (third from left) and Freda Linda Lupac (rightmost) presented the certificates of recognition to selected participants of the National Wellness Day

means giving yourself the quality of life you deserve.”

“Our activities promote quality of life and happiness in the workplace. With our activities, we proved that Filipinos can balance life and work without com-

77 million newborns

globally not breastfed within first hour of life - UNICEF SOME 77 million newborns – or one in two globally – are not breastfed within an hour of birth, depriving them of the essential nutrients, antibodies and skin-to-skin contact with their mother that protect them from disease and death, UNICEF said.

In the Philippines, the National Demographic Health Survey of 2013 shows only about half of children are breastfed within the first hour of birth. Meanwhile, the Food and Nutrition Research Institute says only 28 percent of children aged five months remain exclusively breastfed.

“Making babies wait too long for the first critical contact with their mother outside the womb decreases the newborn’s chances of survival, limits milk supply and reduces the chances of exclusive breastfeeding,” said France Bégin, UNICEF Senior Nutrition adviser. “If all babies are fed nothing but breast milk from the moment they are born until they are six months old, over 800,000 lives would be saved every year.”

The longer breastfeeding is delayed, the higher the risk of death in the first month of life. Delaying breastfeeding by two to 23 hours after birth increases the risk of dying in the first 28 days of life by 40 percent. Delaying it by 24 hours or more increases that risk to 80 percent.

Progress in getting more newborns breastfed within the first hour of life has been slow over the past 15 years, UNICEF data show. Across South Asia, where rates of early breastfeeding initiation tripled in 15 years – from 16 percent in 2000 to 45 percent in 2015 – the increase is far from enough: 21 million newborns still wait too long before they are breastfed.

“Breastfeeding has the single largest potential impact on child mortality of any preventive intervention. It is a cornerstone of child survival, health and development – providing the best nutrition, protecting against lifethreatening diseases, and against obesity and non-communicable diseases. Breastfeeding also remains a cornerstone in the strategy to reduce stunting and other forms of malnutrition,” said UNICEF Philippines Representative Lotta Sylwander.

One of the recommended evidence-based actions to improve breastfeeding rates is to

support paid maternity leave and to encourage and support women to breastfeed in the workplace. The Expanded Breastfeeding Act (RA 10028 of 2009) requires the provision of workplace breastfeeding support for working women so that they can continue to breastfeed their children even when they go back to work.

Sylwander added that UNICEF continues to work with government and civil society partners to strengthen mechanisms to improve implementation of the existing laws and push for the formulation of policies that further protect, support and promote breastfeeding; to enable more mothers and children to reap its benefits.

“Newborns accounting for nearly half of all deaths of children under five, early breastfeeding can make the difference between life and death,” Bégin added.

UNICEF analyses show women do not get the help they need to start breastfeeding immediately after birth even when a doctor, nurse or midwife assists their delivery.

Feeding babies other liquids or foods is another reason early breastfeeding is delayed. In many countries, it is customary to feed a baby infant formula, cow’s milk or sugar water in the first three days of life. Almost half of all newborns are fed these liquids. When babies are given less nutritious alternatives to breast milk and breastfed less often, it makes it harder for mothers to start and continue breastfeeding.

Globally, only 43 percent of infants under six months old are exclusively breastfed.

Babies who are not breastfed at all are 14 times more likely to die than those who are fed only breast milk.

But any amount of breast milk reduces a child’s risk of death. Babies who received no breast milk at all are seven times more likely to die from infections than those who received at least some breast milk in their first six months of life.

“Much has to be done to improve the support we provide to breastfeeding mothers – in changing behaviors and making breastfeeding the norm. Strong legislation and policies have a crucial role, too. They lay the needed framework for action and remove system bottlenecks to essential service delivery,” Sylwander concluded.

promising one from the other,” Perreras said.

De Leon concluded, “Our partnership with PMAP strengthened our advocacy of promoting a well-rounded lifestyle, one that keeps working Filipinos from

suffering from the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle. Together, we can enhance the way people live, without letting stress come at the expense of their health.”

Visit any of Healthway Medical clinics at the Alabang Town

Center, Shangri-la Plaza, Market! Market!, Festival Mall, 8 Adriatico Manila, SM The Block and Greenbelt 5 to avail of its healthcare services.

For more details, visit healthway.com.ph/.

Life

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

Quick cleaning tips to avoid

food-borne illnesses

K

EEPING the kitchen clean and germ-free is challenging especially since it is where we prepare the food of our entire family. It is important that we remember the vital role of hygiene in food handling and preparation in achieving good nutrition.

Cleanliness goes beyond what can be seen with the naked eye, because the real culprit behind food contamination is microscopic. A study by the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that kitchens are breeding ground to 200 types of disease-causing microorganisms, the leading cause of diarrhea and food poisoning.

To avoid sickness in the family, it pays to know how you can steer clear of diseases that can be contracted because of poor sanitation.

The key to combat the growth of

disease-carrying microorganisms lie in proper cleaning.

To help you get started, follow these simple steps to keep your kitchen sanitary: • The sink can be just as dirty as the toilet seat. The best advice is to always keep it dry to avoid the buildup of germs like E. coli bacteria. To clean the sink deeply, rinse it with hot water mixed with white vinegar. Another way is to scrub it using detergent or baking soda paste.

• After cleaning the sink, next is the faucet. It is a part of the kitch-

en that is difficult to clean as grime forms in the interstices or in spaces that are hard to reach. When cleaning, put baking soda on an old brush and scrub the faucet. The water and vinegar solution spray can also work.

Use paper towels to dry it up.

• Another place where germs stay is the kitchen countertop. Bits of food and liquid spills spur the growth of bacteria. For a total wipeout, use paper towels and soak it in a bleach solution (seven parts water and three parts bleach). Cover the surface with soaked paper towels and leave it for two to three minutes. Afterwards, wipe it with dry paper towels.

• Microbes from meat and other raw food stay and thrive on chopping boards when not cleaned properly. As a result, it has more than 200 percent bacteria compared to the toilet bowl.

Quick fix: soak the chopping board in a basin full of water and vinegar mixture overnight.

• Look for areas in the kitchen where mildew and molds are present. Usually, these are found in ladle and spatula.

Spatula, particularly the rubber ones, is one of the unexpected places where bacteria live. These tools are used in a daily basis, and if not cleaned properly, germs like Salmonella and Norovirus will grow. To clean these items, soak it in hot water and detergent and leave it for three minutes. A baking soda paste used as scrub also does wonders in cleaning the dirty areas.

• One of the places in the kitchen that needs attention is the stove knob. These are always greasy due to oil that came from cooking. A paper towel that is partly soaked in water and vinegar solution will quickly remove the grease on

the knobs. Before cleaning, make sure that the gas tank is off. Gently wipe the knobs. Dry it also using paper towels.

• For general cleaning in the kitchen, paper towels are more convenient, have lower risk of cross contamination, and are effective absorbent of liquids like water and oils. It can be used in the kitchen and in the dining room. Do away with using rags or towels because these could be host also to disease-carrying microbes.

To ensure the safety of the family during meal time, start by maintaining proper food hygiene from preparation to serving. Always keep the kitchen clean and free from germs by securing a trusted and handy partner—the Sanicare Paper and Kitchen Towels.

For more information on the Philippines’ leading tissue brand, visit www. scpa.com.ph

Therapeutic Hypothermia after Sudden Cardiac Arrest CARDIAC arrest leads to a sudden termination of blood flow leading to a quick exhaustion of cerebral oxygen, in short, a Neuronal damage happens. And it is highly suggested that Therapeutic Hypothermia is done right away after a successful resuscitation.

According to a study, only one out of six patients survive from in-hospital cardiac arrest and 2-9 percent out-of-hospital patients survive and are able to go home. However, even if the patient can come home, some have poor quality survival as only 3-7 percent are able to return to their previous level of functioning.

Therapeutic Hypothermia is one of the most important clinical advancements in the science of resuscitation.

It is a protocol that after receiving resuscitation, the patient is induced in a Therapeutic Hypothermia (TH) treatment. This is done through cooling the body temperature until the target temperature between 32°C to 34°C. TH remains to be the best and “extremely robust and important therapy

for cardiac arrest survivors and so far the only therapy consistently shown to reduce mortality and improve neurological outcomes in cardiac arrest survivors,” the study stated.

According to NCBI in its study titled “Therapeutic Hypothermia for Neuroprotection: History, Mechanisms, Risks, and Clinical Applications,” TH is said to date back 5000 years ago and was initially recommended to use snow and ice packing in treating a patient suffering from Hemorrhage.

Currently, there are numerous known cooling and rewarming methods. These include the use of ice packs, blankets, helmets, catheter-based technologies, infusion of cold fluids and surface heatexchange devices to achieve the necessary body temperature for a long-term neurologically intact survival rates.

Since TH has a known beneficial effect in comatose survivors especially those out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients, it should be initiated within 24 hours if not immediately. And NCBI suggests that although all methods are

proven to be effective, the most useful and accurate to use are usually devices featuring pads with a thermal gel connected to a thermoregulator unit.

The device can either reduce or increase the circulating water temperature to reach the target temperature for the patient. And since it can be controlled and monitored, overcooling rarely happens and NCBI suggests that this is a safe and effective method.

HealthSolutions, the distributor of the Bard Arctic Sun 5000 offers the new temperature management system that assures a new standard for performance and simplicity.

The Bard Arctic Sun 5000 is a device used to induce Therapeutic Hypothermia to a patient in a fast, and easy method because it includes a user-friendly touchscreen interface system to guide clinicians to initiate treatment with a few steps.

It performs in a way that assures targeted time because of its enhanced chiller and precondition function. It also has a customized feature that fits each hospital’s protocols as it stores and

operates hospital-specific protocols to achieve treatment consistency.

The device also assures excellent clinician-to-patient ratio that features the revolutionary Arcticgel Pads feature a thin hydrogel coating that ensures they maintain contact with the patient’s skin throughout the treatment.

The pads, which are able to conduce energy transfer, when placed on different parts of the body, mimic water immersion.

In order for families and friends to spend more valuable time with each other, we have to make each minute count and invest on the best way to have the highest possible chance of survival and functionality.

For inquiries and more information on Therapeutic Hypothermia or Bard’s Arctic Sun 5000 Temperature Management System, contact Tao Corporate Center at (02) 836-5858 to 62; fax (02) 836-5863; and Service Hotline (02) 836-5853 The Bard Arctic Sun 5000 device that is used to induce Therapeutic Hypothermia

A delicious way to keep

fit and healthy MAINTAINING good health should always be a top priority no matter one’s age.

Keeping fit and healthy allows us to take part in activities with family and friends, to be more productive at work, or to just generally have the energy to enjoy everyday life.

One of the best ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle is through proper nutrition. Milk is considered as an important component of a healthy diet as it is packed with nutrients beneficial for the body, such as vitamins B1, B2 and B12, protein, and essential amino acids. These nutrients are also vital to achieving bone health, helping one avoid low bone mass that leads to osteoporosis, as well as other illnesses.

Now, Filipino families can start and maintain a fit and healthy lifestyle through good nutrition with Regilait. The No.1 milk brand from France, Regilait is formulated to deliver complete nutritional benefits in a nonfat formulation, providing a delicious milk drink Filipinos can truly enjoy.

Regilait is made of 100 percent pure cow’s milk collected only from French dairy farms. The collected milk is dried and packed in France, has no additives, and has zero percent fat. Regilait also has 100

ADVT

percent perfect dissolubility, thanks to the granulation process that results to a smooth and delicious drink.

Regilait milk comes in four delicious variants delivering full nutrition for varying dietary needs and lifestyles. One of these is Regilait Bone Nutrition, which is enriched with vitamin D3 to help build and strengthen bone mass. Two glasses of Regilait Bone Nutrition also provide for one’s daily calcium requirements.

The Regilait Low Fat variant is rich in calcium, protein and phosphorus but has 46 percent less fat than full-cream milk powder. Regilait Low Fat delivers balance between nutrition and good taste, the perfect accompaniment or ingredient when making healthy dishes for the family.

For weight management, Regilait Calorie Control is the ideal option. High in calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D3, this variant helps prevent insulin resistance due to weight issues and has a low glycemic index.

It only contains 89 calories.

Lastly, Regilait Vitamins Plus is perfect for boosting vitality and performance. It is enriched with vitamins A, D3, C, B1, B2, B6, B9, and B12, which are ideal for those with an active and sporty lifestyle.

French milk brand Regilait is formulated to deliver complete nutritional benefits

Showbiz

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

H

E IS known around the world as the swashbuckling, drop-dead gorgeous lead singer of the Grammy Award winning band, Maroon 5. Throughout his entire career, his signature voice swept throngs of women off their feet, and their albums produced hit after hit and blasted onto the top of the charts. He is also a well-loved judge on the Emmy Award-winning singing contest The Voice and recently took a crack at the movies by starring in the indie film Begin Again, where one of the songs that he produced under his 222 Records label, “Lost Stars,” was nominated for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards.

You probably wouldn’t think so, but music superstar Adam Levine used to struggle with skin problem

Despite his hot looks and glowing achievements in his remarkable career, Adam Levine, the “Sexiest Man Alive” for 2013 was, once upon a time, someone who struggled with acne breakouts during his teenage years.

This man, the envy of many men because of his undeniable charisma and confidence, also suffered because of acne just like any normal teenager, and grappled with lack of confidence. For someone who looked so natural in front of the camera, Adam was once forced to stay away from the crowd.

“I was just ashamed of my acne,” Adam shared. “I had horrible breakouts. I would hide from cameras, hide in my room.

Acne just shows up and causes trouble and it messes with my confidence.” And even today, when his schedule gets busy, the

stress can take a toll on his skin. “I am a very active person and it kind of lead to zits, which is unfortunately a reality for me,” he chuckled.

“My life for now is unbelievably busy and I feel fortunate and blessed every day,” Adam said. He also shared that while celebrities do look so good on screen, they also suffered from the same skin problems at one time in their lives that made them lose their self-confidence and shun from the many good things in life. “I always want to make sure that people understand that even though we are celebrities or successful, we are no different than anybody else.”

Fortunately, America’s no. 1 acne treatment system, Proactiv Solution, gave him the answer to his acne problems.

Proactiv’s 3-Step System is dermatologistdeveloped and is designed to help clear existing acne and prevent future outbreaks, while gently taking care of the skin. “It is so

great that there is something out there now that is legitimate,” Adam added.

It takes no more than five minutes to complete this system, which is great for busy people like Adam Levine. Each Proactiv kit comes with a free Refining Mask that helps keep skin clear and acnefree. Formulated with sulfur, a proven acnefighting ingredient, reaches deep into the pores where blemishes begin. The Refining Mask unclogs pores, pampers inflamed skin, and softens the skin’s texture.

Now with clear skin, Adam Levine no longer feels the need to hide. “It is a game changer; it treats acne and treats your skin right,” Adam said. “As a guy, I don’t like a lot of male acne products. But with this, it’s just three easy steps and you’re doing all you need to do.”

Proactiv Solution comes in 30-Day kit (P2495.00) and 60-Day kit (P3995.00) and is available at all Watsons and SM stores nationwide.

Adam Levine

His story of confidence BrainMaster for enhanced memory

The wonders of

magnesium A LOT of people know about nutrients essential for their health and beauty. Still, there are other minerals and vitamins that are overlooked or ignored. One of these is the fourth most abundant mineral – magnesium.

What many of us do not realize is that the ailments we suffer from are negative effects of magnesium deficiency in the body.

Magnesium, tagged as the forgotten mineral, has many health benefits for normal body functioning such as prevention of osteoporosis, averts heart diseases, regulates diabetes and high blood pressure, relief of muscle aches, prevents sports injuries, offers care of the feet, cures headaches, migraine and gingivitis, cures hiccups, addresses erectile dysfunction and prevents body odor.

Magnesium also has its skin benefits like anti-allergic, anti-wrinkle, cures pimples and used for brushing dry skin.

It also fights hair loss.

Noted findings of magnesium used for beauty ingredients are found effective because it acts as a natural cellular protectant, a safe and effective detoxification, provides relief for aches, pains, spasms, and encourages healthy skin tissue growth.

Magnesium can do wonders to the

skin; in fact it is called the “mineral of beauty” in traditional Chinese medicine.

Lack of it results in low levels of fatty acids on the skin thus reducing elasticity and moisture, which creates a condition of dryness and inflammation.

This is precisely why Ricky Reyes makes the most of the wonders of this mineral to add more confidence and enhanced beauty to its valued patrons through ‘The Healing Facial Treatment’, using the magic of magnesium.

Transdermal Magnesium therapy is a powerful new tool that combines the healing power of the body’s largest organ—the skin. As the name implies, it passes directly into the tissues via the skin, where it is quickly transported to cells throughout the body.

“The Healing Facial Treatment” does just that as its procedure starts with cleaning the face first and preps up opening of the pores through steaming for the magnesium to enter the skin.

The Transdermal Magnesium with Nanotechnology is diluted with water and then brushed, masking the whole face and neck and left for 20 minutes for full absorption.

After washing the face and neck, the skin will be soft and clean and a noticeably fairer skin will emerge. The

Studies say the use of magnesium in beauty regimens can stabilize acne hormones

Magnesium exfoliates and removes dead skin at the same time cleanses and detoxifies the skin.

As Magnesiumis also said to be the most powerful relaxation mineral, another service Reyes brings is the clean and cure effect of his “Therapeutic Foot Massage” which cleans all the bacteria and help cure the existing sickness they suffer from. This is very beneficial to individuals who have psoriasis, eczema, fungal infections, gangrene from Diabetes, arthritis and foul odors.

With the life sustaining properties of this essential forgotten mineral, Transdermal Magnesium is primed to be the next big thing in the health industry. And one can get it for a very affordable price in all Gandang Ricky Reyes salons nationwide.

Visit the nearest Gandang Ricky Reyes Salons now. For more info call 725 1184.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, August 18, 2016

ACROSS 1 Showtime rival 4 Take stealthily 8 Hot-tub locales 12 Moon ring 13 The chills 14 Ship of 1492 16 Cousin of PDQ 17 Tumbler of rhyme 18 Humerus neighbors 19 Natural elev.

20 Come to naught (2 wds.)

22 “Knot” craft 24 Opposed 25 Snake River loc.

26 — up to (admits) 28 Dam agcy.

31 Tree with pods 34 Goody-goody 35 Favoritism 36 Help a hoodlum 37 Thwarts a villain 38 Mardi Gras follower 39 — morgana 40 Gin-fizz flavor 41 — nova 42 NASA counterpart 43 This must weigh — —!

44 Cager — Holman

45 Outdoor disguise 47 Awful 51 Very steep 55 Potato bud 56 Found out about 57 At close quarters 58 Pavarotti piece 59 Victor Borge and Niels Bohr 60 “Elder” statesman 61 Room offerers 62 Ahem!

63 Club, briefly 64 Chinese food additive DOWN 1 “— la vista, baby!”

2 White, to Monet 3 Dinny’s rider 4 Kind of party 5 Sprightly 6 Breathing spell 7 Defrost 8 Rejects 9 Sitcom demo 10 Pension-like incomes 11 Unescorted 12 Mia — of soccer 15 Fire residue 20 Lisbon folk

music 21 Dangles 23 Saddle extra 26 The Dog Star follows him 27 Ploy 29 UPS trucks 30 Thin Man’s terrier 31 Sidewalk — 32 Goat’s-hair garments 33 Whales, e.g.

34 Game played on horseback 35 Pats dry

37 35mm setting 41 Meadow plaints 43 In the thick of 44 Dendrite’s place 46 Farm measure 47 Regatta lineup 48 Sea swallows 49 Recumbent 50 Team cheers 51 Prof’s degree 52 Gather a crop 53 Conquistador victim 54 London socials 58 Draw a bead on

WHEN we forget stuff or have difficulty recalling something, we refer to it as a “senior moment.” While it is true that aging takes a toll on the brain, memory lapse is not exclusive to those aged 60 and up. Even younger people need to keep their brains healthy.

To help avoid “senior moments,” nourish your brain the all-natural way with BrainMaster. This brain supplement provides the vital natural nutrients that our brain needs to function normally and helps prevent or minimize forgetfulness.

BrainMaster combines Bacopa Monnieri (Brahmi), Ginkgo Biloba, Vitamin B12 and B6, all working together towards memory recovery.

Bacopa Monnieri is an Ayurvedic herb used in India for centuries as a memory enhancer. It has antioxidant properties and acts as a brain tonic to enhance the brain’s neurotransmitters for memory development, learning and concentration.

Ginkgo Biloba is one of the most popular memory enhancing herbs known to improve blood circulation in the brain. It also contains antioxidants that neutralize dangerous free radicals. Ginkgo Biloba is proven to improve memory and mental alertness.

Considered among the most important of all B-complex vitamins, Vitamin B12 is essential for the production and regeneration of red blood cells. It keeps the central nervous

system functioning properly and improves concentration and memory balance. Vitamin B6 is a coenzyme for the central nervous system.

Taking a capsule of BrainMaster daily, ideally before breakfast, will help ensure a continuous supply of all these nutrients that the brain needs to function normally, helping maintain mental wellness and alertness.

Students and professionals of all ages, just like their elders, can benefit from BrainMaster, which is like a brain vitamins.

It jumpstarts the brain to enable it to work more efficiently for better memory and to keep “senior moments” at bay.

BrainMaster is FDA-approved (FR97171) and available at selected Mercury Drug outlets in sachet foil of 10 capsules (P240.00) and pharmacist pack containing 10 sachet foils (P2400.00). It also comes in jars of 30 capsules (P720.00).

Its customer hotlines are 524-6549, 3542208 to 09 and 09474890262.

BrainMaster has an active ingredient that is proven to improve mental alertness

Isah V. Red, Editor Writers Nickie Wang Bernadette Lunas, isahred@gmail.com

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016

NE of the most phenomenal things about mothers is their unique ability to produce milk for their babies. It’s definitely a “superpower” no one can claim to have. And just in time for National Breastfeeding Month, Pigeon, the leading baby and mother care brand launches its campaign ‘‘Only Moms’’ to highlight that very fact.

Life

First-time mom and beauty queen Shamcey Supsup-Lee shares personal hacks in ensuring her baby’s health

HEALTH AND WELLNESS SPECIAL ISSUE

Pigeon holds exciting event for

Moms

Making sure to be present every step of the way, the brand is holding a wonderful event that also invites everyone who supports and looks out for mom as she goes through her all-important breastfeeding journey. Catch the exciting and educational Pigeon Only Moms Event on Aug. 15 to 21 at the 3rd floor of SM Makati. Entrance to the event is free.

A line-up of fun activities, breastfeeding solutions booths, and amazing prizes are in store during the week-long event.

Moms and dads can learn more about why breastfeeding is indeed #BestFeeding, both in terms of health and practicality, with useful tips and advice from the experts. While everyone else can gain an

understanding and appreciation of what breastfeeding moms go through to better help and support them.

On Aug. 20 at 1:30 p.m., participants will be hearing from Pigeon Brand Ambassador, and beauty queen Shamcey Supsup-Lee, who’s all set to share her experiences as a new mom, as well as her personal hacks in keeping her baby’s health and well-being a top priority.

For more inquiries, please call our customer care hotline at (632) 990 5437 or visit www.pigeon.com.ph. Like and follow Pigeon Philippines on Facebook, and on Instagram and Twitter @pigeonbabyph, for updates and more information on the Pigeon Only Moms Event.

Continuous health recovery at an affordable price THE World Health Organization (WHO) classifies the Philippines as one of the top countries where less than 30 percent of its population have regular access to essential drugs. This means that, almost 70 percent of Filipinos are deprived of the medicines they need for faster health recovery.

With this alarming healthcare condition in the country, experts noted that the cost of medication is posed as one of the leading factors as to why most Filipinos do not have access to quality medication.

“In Asia, the Philippines is among the countries with the highest prices of medicines.

This means that the cost of medication is far beyond the reach of many,” said Tomas Marcelo Agana III, president and CEO of Pharex HealthCorp. “A simple illness becomes a serious threat to one’s life because of the complications that are being triggered by non adherence to medical prescription or inadequacy of maintenance medicines.”

Because of this, Pharex HealthCorp. maximizes all its resources and efforts to help patients comply with their prescribed medications to speed up their recovery and prevent the worst consequences of their diseases.

Agana emphasized that by offering medicines beyond affordable, more Filipinos will be able to go back to their normal lives without allotting more budget for medicines.

“Starting with the patients who have high cholesterol levels, we are proud to introduce high-quality maintenance medicine that not only helps curb their diseases but also helps them allocate more budge for other necessities,” Agana emphasized.

With this, Pharex HealthCorp. Introduces its 15-day Compliance Pouch for Cholesterol, which “assures patients of effective medication without the added price.”

The new Pharex Compliance Pouch for cholesterol offers 15-day supply of medication in a re-sealable foil pouch. It contains the same quality of medicine with up to 50 percent more savings compared with other branded medicines. The Compliance Pouchis designed for patients who have high levels of cholesterol, especially those with LowDensity Lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol.

“This pouch is a product of our longstanding dedication to help in minimizing the growing mortality rate among patients who are affected by non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes.” which are all rooting from excessive cholesterol levels in body,” said Agana.

He added, “At Pharex, we believe that in achieving this goal, affordability of the medicines should always be prioritized. With low-priced medicines, patients can fully focus on their continuous recovery instead of worrying about their budget constraints.”

Pharex’s affordable 15-Day Compliance Pouch is available in all leading drugstores nationwide, making it accessible to Filipinos when they need it. Health experts have also proven its effectiveness, that’s why patients are assured that their cholesterol levels can be maintained at a normal level for better health outcomes.

Agana concluded, “Medicines need not be expensive. With Pharex 15-day Compliance Pouch for Cholesterol, Filipinos are guaranteed an affordable and reliable companion that can bolster their fast health recovery without the added costs.”

The new Pharex Compliance Pouch is available in all leading drugstores. For more information, please contact 4338088 (local 820).