Manila Standard - 2016 August 22 - Monday

RODY THREATENS TO PULL PHILIPPINES OUT OF UN

By Funny Pearl A. Gajunera PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte threatened on Sunday to pull out of the United Nations, as he launched another profanity-laced tirade against the organization for criticizing his bloody war on crime.

More than 1,500 people have been killed since Duterte took office and immediately began his law-and-order crackdown, according to police statistics, triggering fierce criticism from the UN and rights groups.

Duterte, a lawyer famous for an acid

tongue who has repeatedly told the UN not to interfere, on Sunday stepped up his rhetoric.

“Maybe we’ll just have to decide to separate from the United Nations. If you are that disrespectful, son of a whore, then I will just leave you,” Duterte said

in a press conference in his home city of Davao that started about 1:00 a.m.

Duterte said he would pull out of the UN only if it returned all of the country’s

contributions to the organization since it joined in 1945, but said he might even look at setting up a rival international organization.

“I would invite everybody. I would invite maybe China, the African [nations],” he said.

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VOL. XXX • NO. 191 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016 • WWW.THESTANDARD.COM.PH • EDITORIAL@THESTANDARD.COM.PH

ACID TONGUE. An angry President Duterte fires a series of profanity-laden tirades against the United Nations and Senator Leila de Lima during a press conference held at the Presidential Guest House in Davao City. Malacañang Photo

Du30 appointees told: Vacate posts 2 transport execs quit; Cabinet spared

Leila’s love ‘gave rise to Bilibid corruption’

By Sandy Araneta

By Sandy Araneta and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday accused Senator Leila de Lima of giving her driver—whom he said was also her lover—the authority to grant special privileges to inmates at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa when she was still the Justice secretary.

In an early morning press conference in Davao, Duterte also defended his exposé of De Lima’s alleged affair with her driver, a married man.

“Some of my relatives, the women, were asking me, why did you have to include the relationship between De Lima and her driver,” Duterte said.

“The crux of the matter is if I do not talk about that relationship… there is no topic to talk about. Because what is really very crucial there is that… the relationship… gave rise to the Next page

P BIKERS FOR PEACE. The leader of bike enthusiasts flashes the peace sign to show his support for the declaration of truce between the government and the communist rebels ahead of the peace talks to be held in Oslo.

Manny Palmero

Truce: Troopers in ‘passive defense’

By Florante S. Solmerin COMBAT operations have been stopped since midnight Saturday but troops will stay put in their areas of operation and have strict orders not to launch offensives against the New People’s Army in view of the truce declared by

the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines, which begin formal peace talks Monday in Oslo, Norway, Army spokesman Col. Benjamin Hao said Sunday.

“All combat operations have been already canceled. Just like the last time after the Sona [State

of the Nation Address] announcement, we are now going back to barracks,” Hao said.

But Hao said law enforcement operations against criminal groups including the campaign against illegal drugs will continue.

“There is no instruction for our Next page

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday declared all positions for presidential appointees vacant to address corruption in government offices which he said persists despite his warnings.

In an early morning press conference in Davao aired live over government television network PTV 4, Duterte said that the revocation is applicable nationwide.

“If you are there because of a presidential appointment, I will declare all your positions throughout the country vacant,” Duterte said.

Duterte expressed disappointment Next page

3 ISIS terrorists killed in Sarangani skirmish THREE members of a jihadist group calling itself Ansar alKhilafah Philippines or AKP, a group that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, were killed Saturday in an encounter with policemen and soldiers in Maasim, Sarangani, the military said Sunday.

AKP leader Mohammad Jaafar Sabiwang Maguid alias Com-

mander Tokboy was not with the group of terrorists who served as rear guards when the encountered happened, said Major General Rafael Valencia, commander of the 10th Infantry Division.

During his rounds of military camps, President Rodrigo Duterte had warned not only of the menace from the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Next page

3 ‘narco generals’ facing raps

By Sandy Araneta and Francisco Tuyay THE Palace said Sunday it is expecting that formal charges will be filed against some of the police generals that President Rodrigo Duterte had identified as protectors of the illegal drug trade.

“We must file charges first against the narco-generals,” said Communications Secretary Martin Andanar over state-run radio dzRB. “The narco-generals will be first. Charges against two or three [narco-generals] will be filed tomorrow. But I don’t want to preempt the secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government, since this is his job,” said Andanar.

Andanar said next to be charged will be local government officials.

Duterte earlier named five police generals that he said were protecting drug lords, relieved three Next page

Telecom firms summoned to House probe THE telecommunications duopoly will be summoned by Congress to explain why their legislative franchises should not be revoked due to poor service, an official says in a House resolution.

“The House of Representatives requests the major telecommunication providers, Smart Telecommunications and Globe Telecommunications, to explain why the Filipino people are not receiving the quality of service that they deserve, and to show cause why they should have the privilege to keep their franchises despite the same,” Kabayan Rep. Harry Roque says in House Resolution 238 that he has filed.

He invoked Section 20 of Republic Act 7925, which gives all telecommunications users the right to reliable services and demands that all telecoms providers comply with the standards set by the National Telecommunications Commission.

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Budget move clears way for ‘unli’ pork

GIGANTIC FUN. Children frolic at Plaza Ferguson’s fountain area inside gigantic bowl-shaped objects after an early morning rain in Manila. Ey Acasio twitter.com/ MlaStandard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

SENATORS and congressmen now have “unlimited pork” after Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno removed the cap on project allocations―such as the P70 million for congressmen and P200 million for senators.

Now up for grabs is a total of

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P860.7 billion for infrastructure projects.

And today, Monday, the country’s economic managers led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and Diokno will be in Congress as the House begins its deliberations on President Duterte’s P3.35-tril-

lion national budget for 2017.

Diokno said there was “no pork” in the national budget in compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Priority Development Assistance Fund and the Disbursement Allocation Next page

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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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The UN’s special rapporteur on summary executions, Agnes Callamard, last week said Duterte’s promise of immunity and bounties to security forces who killed drug suspects violated international law.

Duterte on Sunday challenged Callamard to speak to him directly in Davao.

“You seem to be characterized as UN expert. Fine! I am just a simple trial lawyer, so why don’t you come here and let’s talk about what you are talking about?” he said.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in June also strongly criticized Duterte, who during the election campaign promised to kill 100,000 people and dump so many bodies in Manila Bay that the fish would grow fat from feeding on them.

“I unequivocally condemn his apparent endorsement of extrajudicial killings, which is illegal and a breach of fundamental rights and freedoms,” Ban said.

Duterte frequently peppers his public comments with swear words—he has also called Pope Francis and the US ambassador to Manila sons of whores—and days after his election win used typical language to criticize the UN. “Fuck you, UN, you can’t even solve the Middle East carnage... couldn’t even lift a finger in Africa,” he said then.

Last month Duterte said he may not ratify the Philippines’ commitments to a historic UN climate change pact agreed by his predecessor last year.

On Sunday morning Duterte said the UN had done nothing for the Philippines—ignoring its poverty reduction programs and enormous help following typhoons and other natural disasters—as he continued to curse it.

“I don’t give a shit to them.

They are the ones interfering,” he said.

On the day he was sworn into office, Duterte called for people in slums to kill neighbors whom they believed were drug addicts, repeating a campaign line.

His aides have since said such comments are merely hyperbole and not meant to be taken literally.

However, nearly 900 people have been murdered by unknown people during Duterte’s time in power, with police killing another 665 alleged drug suspects, according to the national police chief.

The killings represent a massive increase on crime deaths before Duterte took office.

Duterte has repeatedly insisted police have only killed in self defense, while maintaining the other deaths are due to drug syndicates killing each other.

Duterte said that he will only allow the withdrawal if the UN will return all the contributions of the Philippines from the start that the country joined the organization.

He said that he can build several rehabilitation centers for drug dependents out of the money that the Philippines have been contributing to the United Nations.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar could not say if the President was serious about his threat to leave the UN. “I will have to ask the President about it. I understand the Presidente said this last night in his press conference in Panacan. Tomorrow [Monday], there will be a Cabinet meeting, I will ask the President,” said Andanar.

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Program, portions of which were

declared illegal by the Supreme Court.

“It is still pork by any other name.

Congressmen are still allowed to identify and endorse projects without a ceiling,” said ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, an ally of the President.

Diokno said while the ceiling for project allocations had been removed, there was “no hard and fast rule” as

News

Pork-tainted solons next target—Palace P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Sunday he is next going after any senator or congressman involved in illegal drugs and in the pork barrel scam in which, he said, former Justice Secretary and now Senator Lilia de Lima had also been involved.

ond look for it also involves corruption and De Lima.”

Duterte was referring to Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the scam involving the pork barrel or Priority Development Assistance Fund.

He said illegal drugs and corruption was pervasive in the government.

“Drug and corruption in government, so you might as well include it,” said Duterte in challenging the senators and congressmen

“Drug and corruption is there, so why set a limit? Go ahead and let the chips fall as they may,” Duterte said during an earlymorning press conference in

Davao City aired live over government television PTV 4.

“I have some revealing things to tell you, so you just wait. The Napoles case also deserves a sec-

Leila’s...

used as a “political weapon.”

The Liberals questioned the timing of the proposed House investigation, coming on the heels of an investigation in the Senate, spearheaded by De Lima, into the spate of drug-related killings after Duterte took office.

“The Liberal Party stands for free and open debate, for due process of law, and for respect and civility in public discourse. Senator Leila de Lima is doing her job as a senator of the republic. She deserves support, not condemnation; respect, and not gutter language; she and our people deserve the facts, not innuendo,” the LP said in a statement.

LP stalwart Ifugao Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat Jr. questioned the “logic and propriety” of the Alvarezauthored House Resolution 105 calling for an investigation “in aid of legislation” of the accountability of De Lima for the proliferation of drugs in the NBP during De Lima’s term as secretary of Justice.

“In the same way that Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said no new legislation could come out of an investigation into the rampant extrajudicial killings that have cost hundreds of innocent lives, how can any new law come out of an investigation looking for accountability of past officials?”

Baguilat said.

“This proposed investigation in fact reeks of harassment and various constitutional violations as it seeks to spend people’s money on a witch hunt, forgetting that the role of Congress is

primarily to make laws, not look for criminal evidence, which is an executive function,” Baguilat added.

“Obviously the proposed investigation, which singles out Senator De Lima, wants to discredit the ongoing investigation at the Senate on drug-related killings. It is outrageous that the leadership of the House would allow this venerable institution to be used as a political weapon,” Baguilat said.

The Liberals called on Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, the President’s party mate in the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan or PDP-Laban “to uphold the independence of the Senate whose membership must always be vigorously supported as they fulfill the people’s mandate to make inquiries in aid of legislation.”

In the Senate, Minority Leader Ralph Recto said he does not believe De Lima was involved in illegal drugs.

He said he expected the Senate to call an all-member caucus to determine how to deal with the President’s attack on one of its members.

“Senator De Lima is presumed innocent. Those who allege must show proof,” said Recto, a member of the LP. The Senate minority leader said he was “surprised, shocked and saddened” by the President’s attacks on De Lima.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Mr. Duterte’s attack on De Lima showed that the President did not brook opposition.

charges in court. The accused will now be given the opportunity to answer the charges against them. Let them have their day in court and defend themselves,” Carlos said.

Carlos said Napolcom has already completed its investigation on Director Joel Pagdilao, then chief of the National Capital Region Police Office; Chief Supt. Bernardo Diaz, former Western Visayas regional police head; and Chief Supt Edgardo Tinio, former Quezon City Police District.

The three police officials and two retired police generals—Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr., the former deputy PNP chief for operations and Chief Supt. Vicente Loot, now mayor of Daanbantayan, Cebu, were linked to illegal drugs by the President.

Earlier, DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno said his department has established prima facie evidence against the police officials based on the evidence presented by investigators but refused to offer specifics.

The Interior Department has jurisdiction over Loot, now a mayor, but has not provided any updates about its investigation.

On Sunday, the President warned all officials connected to the national penitentiary—from supervisors down to prison guards—that they would be charged if they do not tell the truth about drug manufacturing and trafficking that is happening within the penal system.

“Now I am now warning everybody connected with the Bureau of Prisons in Muntinlupa, all the guards there and the supervisors, because if you do not tell the truth before any committee or any governmental body, be it the Senate or the House of Representatives, be prepared to be charged for what that [appears to be] a serious negligence of duty,” Duterte said during an early morning press conference in Davao City.

Duterte said those who will not speak the truth will either be ousted or will be assigned to Basilan or Jolo.

troops to pull out. The only instruction is to stop combat operations. In effect, we are in passive defense mode to protect communities from lawless attack together with the police,” he said.

Two days before the start of the Olso negotiations, the NPA declared a seven-day ceasefire that begins Monday.

This was followed by Malacañang’s declaration of an indefinite ceasefire that Office of the

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Secretary Jesus Dureza said shows that Duterte is willing to “walk [the] extra mile” to achieve genuine peace.

On Monday, the government peace panel led by Dureza and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace panel led by Luis Jalandoni will start peace talks brokered by the Norwegian government.

But while ceasefire is in effect, Hao said the military will not let their guard.

“We do not operate but we are also on alert and that includes

personal security measures,” Hao said.

“We hope they are sincere. We hope they are happy with that.

And we hope we can achieve a lot, especially about peace this time,” he added.

On the eve of the peace talks, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said he believes communist rebels will not lay down their arms because of their deeply rooted ideology.

In an interview on radio dwIZ, Trillanes added that the rebels would just take advantage of the peace talks to strengthen their forces. Macon Ramos-Araneta

to how much the lawmakers could request in funding for projects in their respective districts.

He said it would be the Department of Budget and Management that will reject or approve the projects to be endorsed by lawmakers.

He said the total infrastructure spending for 2017 amounted to P860.7 billion, or about 5.4 percent of the gross domestic product.

Lawmakers may have to go through the heads of agencies, such as the Departments of Public Works and Highways and Transportation, to request for projects.

“They may go to some heads of agencies and ask for projects, but there is no hard and fast rule how much they will get,” Diokno said.

He said lawmakers must make sure the projects they wanted funded should cater to the needs of their constituents.

Tinio, a member of the eight-member Makabayan bloc that belongs to the supermajority coalition, said the Makabayan had maintained its position rejecting the pork barrel as this had always been used for “political patronage.”

Tinio said some of the 293 House

members had already submitted their requests for projects.

“While it is true that Congress could no longer be given projects post-enactment of the budget, which the SC found illegal, the danger here is the funds would be dangled like carrot and stick that could be used for political considerations,” Tinio said.

He said even if the Makabayan bloc was a member of the majority, the members would continue to scrutinize the budget and ensure there would be no lump sum appropriations. Christine F. Herrera

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corruption inside the national penitentiary,” Duterte said.

“That’s why there were special privileges,” he said, noting there were guns inside the prison, and that there were parties being held almost every night, alcoholic drinks flowed freely and women went in and out of the prison.

“Now if I do not mention the connect between the senator, who was then a secretary of Justice and her driver, how would you now explain [why] these things happened, the partying, drugs and even cooking shabu, went unbridled, unhampered because of the driver? Would you think that a driver of the Department of Justice could have allowed these things all by himself?”

Duterte said all of these could have only happened if there was a go-signal from the secretary.

Duterte also said an undersecretary also served as a bagman.

“Were it not for that authority, these cellphones and everything else, the guns, would not have happened,” Duterte said.

He warned all Bureau of Prisons employees to tell the truth about what happened in the NBP. De Lima’s Liberal Party on Sunday expressed outrage of a House investigation of the NBP during De Lima’s watch, and slammed Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and other House leaders of allowing Congress to be

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of them and ordered them to report to Philippine National Police chief Director-General Ronald dela Rosa.

The police generals denied Duterte’s accusations, and one of them decried the lack of due process.

But Dela Rosa said he would give them the opportunity to clear their names.

On Sunday, a spokesman for the PNP said the National Police Commission has established legal grounds to file charges against the high-ranking police officials.

PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos, however, refused to divulged details nor provide the names of the senior PNP officials that Napolcom would be filing charges against.

“Napolcom has conducted the investigations on the named police officials and the results gave legal grounds for the filing of appropriate

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to continue their investigation.

Duterte said the list of lawmakers implicated in the multi-billionpeso pork-barrel scam in 2013 should be revisited.

He said he would also be reading a second list of police and judges linked to the illegal drug trade.

Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar told dzRB radio that the Department of Justice will initiate the reopening of the case against Na-

poles.

So far only three senators― Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada―have been charged with plunder before the anti-graft court for misusing their pork barrel.

Napoles, in an affidavit after surrendering in August 2013, produced a list of senators and congressmen who, she claimed, took advantage of their discretionary funds and benefited from the scam. Sandy Araneta

Du30...

He also mentioned of the “laglag bala” scheme, referring to the bullet planting incidents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to bilk travelers.

LTO Chairman Edgar Galvante on Sunday immediately vacated his post after Duterte’s announcement.

“I will comply. That’s what the President’s had asked. I will comply,” he said, adding that he would go to office Monday to clear his desk.

On June 3, Duterte appointed Galvante, a retired police general who was the Dangerous Drugs Board director, as an assistant secretary of the Department of Transportation to head LTO. A week before the President’s order for all presidential appointees to leave their posts, Galvante admitted corruption was still rampant at the LTO, especially in the process of application and issuance of driver’s licenses, and vowed to cleanse the agency of scalawags.

He said he took steps to cut corruption, but did not “act fast enough.”

Galvante said the President’s message was loud and clear.

“The President needs the space to choose and give the job to others who can do the job better,” he said.

His absence will not affect the agency’s operations, he said.

At least 19 other LTO officials will have to vacate their positions, including regional directors and assistant regional directors.

Another Transport assistant secretary, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra, said he, too, would vacate his post.

“I will comply. That is the President’s order,” he said.

Delgra, who has been touring the different regional offices, admitted that corruption is still rampant in his agency, and said cases would be filed against erring employees. With Rio N. Araja

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over reports that corruption persists in most government posts, especially in regulatory offices, and mentioned the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and the Land Transportation Office specificially.

“Until now in my provincial visits, I still hear corruption being committed by people, especially in the regulatory agencies,” he added.

So that government operations will not be disrupted, the President named the deputies as officers-incharge, who automatically assume the vacated position until a new appointment is issued.

For the appointed officials of the LTFRB, he said: “Come to me and see me in Malacañang.”

For officials of the LTO, he said: “Consider your positions vacant at this hour.” Duterte’s two-hour press conference ended past 3 a.m.

The President said his pronouncement excludes Cabinet positions.

“All of them. It will number in the thousands. Consider yourself in the crucible of the truth about corruption in this country......I hate it [corruption]. I do not want to give the slightest hint of it in any human being...,” he said.

“I will give you a clean government,” he said, adding that he is serious about ridding the government of corruption.

The President said that the vacancies will be applied to all positions in the agencies.

“If the rule is enforced, it must be enforced on all or none at all,” Duterte said.

He said that from the start of his administration, he ordered all the government agencies to put a stop to corruption in their own backyard.

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Group but also of the influence being exerted by ISIS among the Muslim radicals in Mindanao.

The clash on Saturday happened around 5 p.m. in Sitio Lebe in Daliao village, where the three still unidentified terrorists were slain.

Recovered from the slain terrorists were a Carbine rifle, an M79 grenade launcher, a rifle scope, a black flag with the ISIS logo and a spent shell for an M203 grenade.

Valencia said the civilians who saw Tokboy’s group of 17 fully armed men had told the military that some foreign-looking nationals

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But Roque says “common experience would reveal that the services provided by the major telecommunications service providers have been below standard or inadequate as evidenced by the poor signal reception, frequently dropped calls, unexplained exorbitant bills and sudden and abrupt disconnection of contract services.”

Roque is the second lawmaker to demand answers from Smart and Globe.

1Pacman Rep. Enrico Pineda last week delivered a privilege speech denouncing the “greed” of the telecom duopoly which, he claims, rake in some P104 million in net profits daily despite their “lousy internet service.”

Pineda echoed President Rodrigo Duterte’s warning to the telecoms duopoly to “shape up or

were with them.

He said this was now the subject of military intelligence operations to identify and arrest the foreign nationals.

According to division public affairs officer Captain Rhyan Batchar, before the encounter joint personnel of the military and police had served an arrest warrant around 4:25 p.m. the same day and at the same place against Mustapha Gansing.

Gansing was subsequently arrested for possession of UZI machine pistol and various subversive documents Valencia said Tokboy and his men came to Daliao probably to visit some relatives as he was not from the place. Florante S. Solmerin face the consequences.”

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

He says 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,” Pineda said.

“Telecommunications companies are bound to comply with the provisions of general telecommunications and broadcast laws as provided by their franchises,” Roque said.

“Failure to comply with the statutory obligations provided under one’s franchise is a ground for penalty, suspension or removal of such franchise.” Christine F. Herrera

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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Cash transfer program fails’

BY Christine F. Herrera

T

HE chairman of the House committee on poverty alleviation on Sunday said despite the increased budget of P78.7 billion for the Conditional Cash Transfer and livehood programs, the system remains an exponent of the culture of dole mentality, mendicancy and disunity in the communities.

Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus said disunity is now prevalent in the poor communities because some of those who consider themselves poorer than the 4.6-million CCT beneficiaries now consider the latter as “enemies” due to the government’s failure to enlist the

poorest of the poor as a result of “political patronage.”

In an interview over radio dzBB, De Jesus said the panel would push for jobs creation to really alleviate the poor from poverty.

“Even in the previous Congress-

es, my colleagues and I believe the CCT program is not the answer to poverty alleviation,” she said.

De Jesus acknowledged that some of her colleagues in the present Congress under President Rodrigo Duterte have changed their tune after the President increased the budget for CCT from P65 billion to P78.7 billion, including P23.4 billion for the 20kilo rice subsidy for some three million household beneficiaries.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said some households house two families but the two families will get 20-kilo bag rice subsidy.

“Some P129.9 billion was allocated for the Department of Social Welfare and Development

with P17.9 billion allotted for social pensions for all indigent senior citizens, P78.7 billion to fund the CCT, wherein some P23.4 billion to fund rice allowance for three million eligible household beneficiaries and P9.6 billion for the sustainable livelihood program that aims to benefit 381,978 families,” Diokno said.

“Since we have new President, who increased the budget for CCT and added rice subsidy, the number of those who think CCT is dole now believe that help is still help, no matter if the help is only worth P100,” De Jesus told dzBB. “That was the knee-jerk reaction.”

In fact, she said, there were already several bills filed seeking to institutionalize the CCT

program. The bills are slated for discussion by the panel.

But De Jesus insisted the CCT only provides immediate relief and palliative solution to poverty problems and that the beneficiaries still desire for gainful employment that is sustainable.

She said the panel would try to fix the major problems created by the CCT. One of the major problems, she said, was that community members who were poorer than the beneficiaries and not recruited to the program consider those enlisted as enemies.

“It is alarming because instead of the CCT fostering unity, some members of the communities consider those beneficiaries who are

not as poor as they, as enemies and expose them as they having been enlisted because of palakasan system, as a result of political patronage,” De Jesus said.

She said for as long as there is no comprehensive approach to the problems such as maternal health, education and livelihood programs, the mendicancy and poverty will remain.

“If the education sector is well-funded, then parents will have no problem sending their children to school because education is free,” De Jesus said.

De Jesus said the panel would scrutinize the budget and study the poverty alleviation programs that would give answers to poverty alleviation permanently.

Retailers poised to hike oil prices

By Alena Flores OIL prices are expected to go up by more than P1 per liter this week due to market speculations of a possible production freeze by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

An industry source said gasoline and diesel prices will likely go up by more than P1 per liter this week, reflecting the market’s optimism on a meeting by Opec and non-Opec members at the sidelines of an energy conference in September.

The Energy Department’s price monitor said that oil prices are expected to go up.

The department said higher oil prices also received support due to forecasts of supply decline due to refinery situations in China and Thailand.

It said losses in Nigerian output and increase in the number of rigs operating in the US oil fields also pushed up oil prices.

Analysts, meanwhile, expect world oil prices to settle between $50 to $60 per barrel by the end of the year.

World oil prices have been on a a downward trend since late 2014 due to oversupply.

Oil prices also went up last August 16 by P0.55 for gasoline, P0.70 for diesel and P0.65 for kerosene.

Diesel prices in Metro Manila currently range from P23.80 to P29.85 per liter while gasoline sells from P33.55 to P43.10.

Kerosene, meanwhile sells from P27.10 to P37.30 per liter.

Pump prices vary depending on the brand, location of the station and market forces.

REMEMBERING NINOY. Rebecca Quijano, the ‘crying lady’ who saw Benigno Aquino Jr. shot at the airport tarmac, talks with former senator Heherson Alvarez during a ceremony celebrating the 33rd death anniversary of the late senator on Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Airport in Pasay City. Danny Pata

House begins scrutiny of budget bill

By Rio N. Araja

THE committee on appropriations at the House of Representatives will begin today deliberations of the Duterte administration’s first national budget under the P3.35-trillion General Appropriations Bill.

Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, who chairs the panel, said the Development Budget Coordinating Committee is set to present a budget overview, including the mac-

ro-economic assumptions, projected borrowings and sources of funds for the country’s annual operations.

“We will begin the budget briefings all the way up to Sept. 13. On Sept. 19, we will bring the budget to the floor for plenary debates,” he said.

He said he is optimistic that President Rodrigo Duterte would be able to sign the national budget into law on Dec. 7.

The DBCC is an inter-agency body composed of the Department of Budget and Management, National

OFWs thrive in Dubai, trading hub NOTED for being the center of commerce not only in the United Arab Emirates but in the whole Middle East, Dubai—where hundreds of thousands of overseas Filipino workers have found jobs—has also become one of the most improved places to live in over the past five years.

It is based on the analysis made by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) which assessed 140 cities to determine the locations around the world which had the best or worst living conditions.

In determining the scores, the EIU considered 30 factors ranging from stability, health care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.

The scores are compiled and weighted between one and 100 with one considered intolerable and 100 being ideal.

Based on the EIU findings, Dubai was the second most improved city among Arab countries in terms of liveability, second only to Tehran.

Dubai’s overall liveability score was at 74.7 out of 100, an improvement of 4.6 percent since 2011. In comparison, the worst city to decline, Damascus, had a score of 30.2.

Despite ranking in the lower tiers, Middle Eastern cities have seen massive improvements as civil stability has recovered—such as in Tehran and Saudi Arabia’s Al Khobar.

While Dubai ranks 74 out of 140, the EIU said that there were only six cities that had improved scores over the past year.

Half of the cities evaluated saw declines in liveability given global turmoil ranging from terrorist attacks to civil unrest and diplomatic tensions.

HIGH RISE, HIGH RISK.

Workers fasten themselves with harness as they rush the completion of a steel structure at a Pasay City mall.

Ey Acasio

Economic and Development Authority, Department of Finance and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

The P3.35-trillion budget proposal, which is 11.6 percent higher than 2016’s P3.002-trillion appropriation, reflects the Duterte administration’s priorities in 2017, the lawmaker said.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, House majority floor leader, said Congress is inclined to ratify the national budget by December.

“We will pass the General Appro-

priations Bill in time for the President to sign it into the GAA on or before we adjourn on Dec. 14. This will be the first national expenditure program of the President to push for his priorities for his first year in office,” he said.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the budgets for 2017 until 2022 would back the President’s commitment to improve the country’s infrastructure, invest in human resources, modernize agriculture and rural development, and develop lagging regions.

‘Informer’ loses bid for tax reward

By Rio N. Araja

THE Commission on Audit has rejected a claim for a P3.032-billion reward filed by a certain Danilo A. Lihaylihay who presented himself as a government informer in a tax evasion case.

In an Aug. 8 decision, the Commission Proper denied Lihaylihay’s petition for lack of jurisdiction.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue had jurisdiction over the claim, it said. His petition also smacked of forum shopping, the commission said.

According to Lihaylihay, he was entitled to a 25-percent share of the P3.6-billion settlement deal between BIR and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in July 2008 and in the P6.64billion tax deficiency assessment paid by the latter based on a sworn information he filed with the BIR on April 24, 2006.

His sworn statement formed the basis for the BIR to assess the BSP for deficiency in remitting gross receipt tax in 2004 totaling P1.33 billion and final withholding tax of P858.623 million in 2004 and P7.371 billion from 2005 to 2007.

Commissioners Jose Fabia and Isabel Agito said Lihaylihay did not only file his claim before the wrong government agency, but he also previously tried to collect from BIR through a similar scheme.

“It appears that the claim filed before this Commission by Mr. Lihaylihay to collect the alleged informer’s reward was in view of the denial by the BIR of the same. The filing of such claim, aside from being infirm on jurisdictional grounds, must likewise fail due to forum shopping,” the decision read.

In 2007, Lihaylihay also filed a reward claim with the Sandiganbayan, saying that he must receive P6.25 billion from the proceeds of the sale of recovered shares of the Philippine Telecommunications Investment Corp. (PTIC).

He claimed that he held shares of Philtranco Service Enterprises Inc., a company supposedly belonging to the late President Ferdinand Marcos and his family.

The Presidential Commission on Good Government said Lihaylihay’s claim was baseless, adding that the P25-billion proceeds of the sale of the PTIC shares had been acquired by the government without Lihaylihay’s involvement.

Lihaylihay filed a certificate of candidacy to join the presidential race in the last May 9 elections, but the Commission on Elections declared him a nuisance candidate.

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Opinion

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016

mstdaydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

I

It’s been done before

T is difficult not to sympathize with Senator Leila de Lima.

For days now, she has come under a withering, personal attack from the highest elected official in the land.

For two days running last week, she felt compelled to called a press conference to deny President Rodrigo Duterte’s allegations that she was an “immoral woman” who carried on with a married man—her driver, who also allegedly served as her bagman for drug payoffs from notorious inmates from the national

Adelle Chua, Editor

penitentiary.

The senator, previously the Justice secretary who had overall authority over the penal system, vigorously denied the allegation that she was taking dirty money from drug lords—but remained silent on her relationship with her driver.

Instead, she complained, with some justification, that the President was abusing and misusing executive power.

“I don’t think the Constitution has ever

contemplated such abuse of power on such scale, as it assumes every President to conduct himself in a manner befitting the office he holds,” said De Lima.

“It seems that this is not the case for this President,” said De Lima of Duterte.

A visibly upset De Lima said words could not express what she was feeling right now.

“I guess no one can, because no one has ever been attacked in such a manner by no less than the highest official of the land, until now,” she said.

“How does one defend oneself, when the attacker is immune from suit, and has

all the backing of executive power to support him in his personal attack?” she asked.

The question is worthwhile, for truly, nobody can escape the ferocity of a determined attack launched from the Palace, and we can only pity those who, like De Lima, are the targets of such attacks.

But De Lima, who was the Justice secretary of President Benigno Aquino III, ought to know what that feels like, because she was on the other end of the stick not too long ago, when she used her office to persecute former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo—even defying a direct order from

the Supreme Court to arrest her at the airport.

What followed her arrest—her detention without bail for almost four year— was denounced by the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights as a violation of Mrs. Arroyo’s rights and international law.

The same kind of Palacedirected media assault was visited upon former chief justice Renato Corona, who was hounded from office by a concerted effort that began with bribery in Congress and character assassination in the press, and ended in a guilty verdict from an impeachment court in which each senator

who voted for conviction was gifted with pork barrel of P100 million.

Senator De Lima was party to all this—and an active participant.

Certainly, she was part of the executive machinery that was brought to bear against the hapless chief justice, who faced a determined attack from a source immune from suit—then President Aquino.

We hear Senator De Lima and sympathize. Nobody should be the target of such a vicious attack: not the senator, or the chief justice she helped persecute in similar fashion, when she was still part of the executive department.

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

Leila’s limpwristed response

PENSEES

Do we have to be a democracy?

FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO I HAVE every good reason to predict the angry ripostes I will get—whether as comments to the online version, or on social media. Of course, we must be democratic—thus will the anticipated angry responses go. I am not too sure, and I think the question has to be raised once more. This is not a question about “the best form of government” that is to me as pointless as it is fruitless. It is rather an ontological question—an inquiry into the nature of things. Is there something about being human that requires that we live in a democracy?

Put otherwise: Is democracy that political system that corresponds to human nature? Aside from the notorious ambiguity in respect to “democracy,” “human nature” is also vexatiously elusive. That which is closest, ancients used to say, we cannot grasp. And I always cringe when people claim that there is so much about human nature that they know.

“Government with the consent of the governed” was at one time thought to be an apt summary of a democracy, but Richard Posner correctly points out that a dictatorship, installed into power with the consent of the governed, would still be

a dictatorship. For the purpose then of the present discussion, by “democracy” I mean the popular election of officials, a system of the distribution of powers of government between coordinate branches and the resultant operation of checks and balances.

As far as we can tell, the human person is a self-determining, selfgoverning being. That is usually what is referred to as the autonomy of personhood; in more scholastic terms—the freedom of the will.

But there would be nothing counterhuman with an authoritarian government for a person might very well, of his own volition, submit to the dictates and commands of a dictator or an autocrat, and not necessarily for reasons of fear. The Pope was—and in many ways still is—an autocrat, and except for a handful, Catholics have not thought of themselves any less human for submitting to the Pope’s authority. That is just one of the decisions people can make—to submit to the authority of one whom they think superior in intelligence, or possessed of the charisma of leadership, or especially chosen by God to lead. Many Islamic states are auto-

Nobody will link separation of powers which we think to be an essential feature of a democracy with efficient government. cratic, and they are not all the worse for that! What dehumanizes is submission because one has been cowed into submission. But when one freely chooses a leader who has beforehand made clear that he believes that authoritarianism is the antidote to our national malaise, then no strong man has really forced himself on us.

We chose to have him there.

Nobody will link separation of powers (which we think to be an essential feature of a democracy)

with efficient government. In fact, it is the formula for inefficiency, but we have long thought that the inefficiency that will many times make itself felt is the price we are willing to pay to forestall the concentration of awesome powers of government in only man or in one clique. The theory is plausible, except that when the branches become enclaves of disparate interests, or there is dissonance in the values that each branch maintains as premium, then that can neither be good nor promising at all. It even becomes worse when the departments of government interdict each other—then the lure of the simplicity, directness and efficacy of authoritarian government becomes almost irresistible.

I am a believer in communicative action—and in the discourse theory of democracy that it engenders. But communicative action presupposes such an ideal speech situation that I have tried hard in vain to find in our midst: the willingness to be persuaded by the better reason, and to admit that one is wrong, when it is competently shown that one is wrong. It does seem then indeed that we have assumed the trap-

pings of a system that presupposes a speech-situation that just does not exist.

In response to one of my posts, Professor Clarita Carlos for whom I have tremendous respect wrote: “We need a benevolent dictatorship to deal with our democratic deficits.” At first I thought that odd, as I have always thought all reference to a “benevolent dictatorship” if not oxymoronic, at least paradoxical. But after having given the matter more thought and after having re-read Aristotle and his suspiciousness of democracy, I must draw the sobering conclusion that there is really no ontological necessity that we abide by the democracy that we have. I do not think that the only alternative to the present incoherence that we call a democracy is repression and the crass violation of human rights. That creates too neat—and simplistic—a disjunction where one should rather appreciate gradations.

And if we are dead set on rewriting our constitution, then this is no idle question that should preoccupy us! rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

I WAS a bit disappointed in Senator Leila de Lima’s limpwristed response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s shocking accusation she had used dirty money from drug lords to fund her senatorial run. It is not that we wanted to see Miriam Defensor Santiagolike firewords fly in the direction of Malacañang. But we had expected a stronger statement, more than the one De Lima delivered in the Senate.

It seemed she was intimidated and still stunned by Duterte’s shock-and-awe bombshell that she and her driver-cum-alleged lover collected money from detained drug lords in Muntinlupa.

“This is a clear case of presidential abuse and misuse of executive power,” said De Lima, adding she’s scared for herself and her family. In another interview with Senate reporters, De Lima admitted “snippets of truths” to what President Duterte accused her of. She did not specify what the snippet of truth was but branded as an “absolute lie” she received payoffs from drug lords.

This is a case of he says, she says. Unless the President can present a paper trail linking De Lima to drug money, Duterte’s case could be mere hearsay. For sure, the detained drug lords don’t issue checks for political contributions. All their transactions and dealings are only on cash basis. Even if they do confess to paying off De Lima, it would be still the word of convicted felons against the word of an elected senator.

The weak link in the chain here is Ronnie Palisoc Dayan, her driver and alleged lover who supposedly collected the money for his boss. Duterte said he would use him as a state witness in the case. If the President can turn the driver against De Lima, and if the driver produces deposit slips in huge amounts to De Lima’s bank account during a suspicious period of time of the political campaign, then there is probable cause for filing a case. ”I am not the enemy,” said De Lima as she asked the President to spare her family Turn to A5

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Opinion Houses THERE is something in our political history that is triggered by the picture of houses.

When I was a grade school student, and Carlos P. Garcia was president, a colorful politician from Zamboanga City, Cesar Climaco, climbed a tree in what was then called Bohol Avenue in Quezon City, and took a picture of the house built by the Nacionalista president. Climaco, a member of the opposition Liberal Party, made it to the front pages of the major dailies, claiming that the “mansion” built by the sitting president who was due for re-election, was scandalously expensive.

It really was not all that grand. It sat on a huge property though, but at the time, land in what seemed like far-away QC was not really expensive.

Garcia lost his reelection bid to his vice president, Diosdado P. Macapagal, the Liberal Party candidate who was called the “poor boy from Lubao,” because he indeed came from poor origins.

But so was Garcia of humble origin, the son of a public school teacher. In any case, Macapagal also had a single term of four years, defeated by then Senator Ferdinand E. Marcos, his former protégé in the Liberal Party who transferred to the Nacionalista Party the year before the elections of 1965.

Macapagal, after the defeat, also built his own house—in Forbes Park. Again, it wasn’t that luxurious a home by today’s standards, but then again, that was millionaire’s row, then and now.

The issue against the public school teacher’s son, Garcia

of Bohol, was “cor r uption.”

The issue against Macapagal was likewise “corruption.” Both built houses, then labeled “mansions” by their political enemies, but history now vindicates them as upright and honest leaders.

Yet the houses seem to have “proved,” at the time’s public perception, that they were less than clean.

Then there was Ferdinand E. Marcos, the political star of the North. He had a huge house in what was then Ortega St. in San Juan’s undulating hills, built even before he became president in 1965. But after moving to Malacañang, winning reelection in 1969, and thence declaring Martial Law that ushered in a dictatorship of 13-and-a-half more years, he built so many houses for himself and his family that one could only describe as excessive by any standard.

There was a Malacañang of the North overlooking Lake Paoay, while his wife Imelda built a beautiful mansion in Tacloban, plus a seaside home in Tolosa by the Leyte Gulf.

There was another mansion atop a hill in Canlubang, overlooking the golf course where the president loved to play. There was a huge house in Baguio, in the Mines View Park area, supposedly acquired from pharmaceutical king Jose Yao Campos. And another, a so-called “palace in the sky” in Barangay Calabuso in Tagaytay, supposedly built for Ronald Reagan to spend a night during his state

visit to his bosom friend Ferd i na nd.

There was a seaside villa LITO in Mariveles, BANAYO where the former strongman loved to water-ski.

After Ninoy Aquino died on Aug. 21, 1983 (yesterday marked the 33rd anniversary of the death on the tarmac), then opposition leader Salvador H. Laurel sent a rag-tag team of then Batasang Pambansa member Orly Mercado (later to become senator after the Edsa Uno revolt), Sal Marte and a videographer to the United States. There, on a shoestring budget, they took pictures of the Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan where the First Lady, Imelda Marcos, supposedly owned a luxurious apartment. It was a beautiful townhouse filled with precious art on Park Avenue in uptown Manhattan, proximate to the Central Park. And a lovely mansion in Long Island, again supposedly owned by the First Couple.

Replicated via beta-max all over the country by the thenstruggling opposition, the extravagant lifestyle became one more reason for the public, already incensed by Ninoy’s murder (which incidentally has yet to be convincingly solved up to now), to get more resentful at the long reign of the Marcoses.

Then came President Estrada. Already rich because of movie fame to begin with, the president had a taste for beautiful houses. In the year 2000, when Chavit Singson

SO I SEE

exposed the president’s supposed jueteng payola, pictures and plans of mansions here and there were exposed to the public. A big house in WackWack, a “Boracay Mansion” in New Manila upon which property bought from the Madrigals our newly minted vice president now holds office. A significantly noisy and militant opposition, egged on by media exposés, shortened the reign of the idol of the masang Pilipino.

Now both traditional and social media are “scandalized” at the pictures of a pair of houses supposedly built by a female senator for her “driver” in a sleepy barangay in a sleepy part of central Pangasinan. There is a “white house” and an “orange house”.

How could a driver, people ask, no matter how powerful the boss he was driving for, afford such houses on what ought to be “measly” pay? So our fascination over houses once again becomes grist for gossip and speculation on the lives of public figures.

Especially when the accuser is, no matter the fact that he is now president of the Republic who for almost 30 years presided over the richest city in Mindanao, still lives in a house that looks nothing compared to the stately “digs” of the female senator’s supposed driver.

One wonders if there is a lowly “tabo” in the bathroom of the “white house,” like the one in the mayor’s, now president’s abode in a middle-class subdivision in Davao City.

Ah, how all these houses have discombobulated public lives!

The silver lining in China’s gold drought

By Adam Minter AFTER last week’s closing ceremonies, critics will have plenty of time to dissect all that went wrong with this year’s Games in Rio—from pool water that turned mysteriously and dangerously green, to empty stands, even for premier events. A different but no less agonizing debate is likely to take place in China. Just a few weeks ago, international and local analysts were predicting that the country would repeat its recent success as a dominant No. 2 in the medal tallies. Yet entering the final weekend, Chinese athletes are far behind their pace for gold in the last two Olympics—and in real danger of coming in third in the standings behind Great Britain.

For a country that’s long viewed success on the Olympic medal platform as a proxy for its international standing, the prospect is causing consternation. Earlier this week, Xinhua, China’s official news agency, tweeted the medal table and a horrified question: “Are you kidding me?” In truth, though, China’s Olympic slump may be something for the country to celebrate.

China’s rise as an Olympic superpower was as quick and unexpected as its economic renaissance. The 1984 Games in Los Angeles were the country’s first since 1952, and yet it

managed to notch fourth place in a medal table that lacked the boycotting Soviet bloc.

What made that result possible was a massive state-run athletic program launched in the 1950s. The goal was simple: Use the funds and power of the Chinese state to find the best athletes and train them up to world-class standards.

Over the years, China developed thousands of sports schools that accepted kids as young as four years old for training. Administrators scouted some potential stars; others were enrolled by their parents. For many rural Chinese especially, the schools offered a route—for some, the only one—out of the countryside and to a better life. The benefits could be considerable: China’s gold medalists are rewarded with large cash bonuses and even real estate.

At the same time, the downsides of the system were obvious. Young athletes were stretched, pulled and pushed to limits that verged on abuse— and more than occasionally exceeded it. Parents are regularly kept far away from their kids, often for years. Worse yet, the “school” part of sports school is typically downplayed, leaving graduates unprepared for a life after sports. In recent years, there’s been a steady stream of stories about graduates—among them Olympic champions—who are destitute

Leila’s...

From A4 and co-workers in the Justice Department which she used to head as secretary. This is an ironic reversal of fortune that the former DoJ secretary and Commission on Human Rights chief is now the one in the docket.

This is the risk one takes when running for public office. But it need not be the case.

Trial by publicity should be shunned in favor of charges backed by solid evidence. What the President did was perform a strip-tease act by revealing De Lima’s alleged immoral relationship with her driver. But he has not provided proof. As any student of law knows, the burden of proof is on the accuser Duterte, a former prosecutor.

“Hinay-hinay lang,” (slowly and little by little only) Duterte told a crowd pressing him to reveal more details. But Digong, just like a good strip teaser, knows how to whet the appetite of his audience.

and unemployable.

At one level, the system worked handsomely, culminating in China’s record haul of gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. But even at its zenith, the central factor that made that success possible—a large pool of parents desperate for better opportunities for their kids—was disappearing.

Over the last five years, rural incomes have grown faster than urban incomes, while China’s falling birthrates— and greater economic opportunities—mean that Chinese parents are less willing to gamble their child’s future on the slim chance of Olympic success.

The impact on China’s sports schools has been debilitating.

As of May, there were 2,183 sports schools in China, producing 95 percent of Olympians. While that might sound like a lot, in 1990 there were 3,687 such schools. In just one sport—table tennis—enrollment has declined 75 percent since 1987.

Given the smaller set of athletes to choose from, and fewer schools in which to train them, China’s medal table was bound to fall off. This year, the Chinese gymnastics team—a traditional powerhouse—failed to produce a single gold medalist. Other usually successful squads, such as those in badminton and shooting, have also turned in disappointments.

With luck, a disappoint-

The President must truly have the goods on De Lima. Otherwise, he won’t bare such a serious allegations of sleaze and dirty money— ingredients of what turns on a vicarious populace who feed on scandals involving public officials. Duterte claims he will turn De Lima’s driver against her, using him as a witness to tell all. The driver’s alleged big house in Urbiztondo, Pangasinan, which costs at least P3 million, is the subject of speculation among the town’s folk who say they have seen De Lima spend overnight weekends in the white house.

The house, however, turned out to be owned by Dayan’s sibling. Sometimes, the two are seen in the town public market buying food to cook . Aside from his driversecurity duties, maybe Dayan’s other talent is also being a good cook. It’s hard to find good help these days—this must be why De Lima depends a lot on Dayan.

Nonetheless, there are many who feel that De Lima became the object of presidential

ing medal tally could inspire the government to rethink its Olympic ambitions. Making sports academies more humane—and improving their academic credentials—would attract more willing candidates. More importantly, China needs to find a way to open up its national teams to athletes who train outside of the state system. The surprisingly talented basketball players found at many downtown Shanghai parks not only lack access to high-school-level coaching, there aren’t any meaningful high school or college athletic programs in which they can play and be noticed by professional and national team coaches.

The good news is that China already has a model for how to fix some of the problem. This year, the government designated thousands of non-sport schools as “soccer academies,” where soccer-specific training will be available to students. The best prospects can then move up through the system to China’s burgeoning professional leagues and eventually the national team. While such schemes won’t work for every sport, they’re a start in the long-term process of spreading athletic resources and training more widely throughout schools and communities.

Ultimately, that’s going to be the best way for China to cement its place atop the medal podium.

Bloomberg

ire because she sought a Senate hearing on the extra-judicial killings of suspects whose death toll is nearing 1,000 since Duterte’s take- no -prisoners war on drugs.

The United Nations has also expressed concern over the spate of killings of suspects. This drew stinging words from the mercurial President.

The Liberal Party has called on LP members to rally around their party mate but the damage done to De Lima’s reputation can no longer be undone. Duterte did a preemptive strike on De Lima and the Senate committee on public order and safety hearing. Liberal Party Senator Riza Hontiveros stepped up to call Duterte a misogynist for his constant attack on women and making light of serious crime like the gang rape of an Australian missionary in his stronghold of Davao.

Careful, Riza. Digong might dig up something against you. This resourceful President won’t hesitate to use sleaze if he has some inside track info on you.

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016

A5

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OUT OF THE BOX RITA LINDA V. JIMENO

The historical basis of federalism IF THE extent of the drug problem—which now turns out to have existed for the past many years—caught most of us by surprise, there are a number of revelations culled from Philippine history about federalism that could astonish us even more.

Since President Rodrigo R. Duterte started talking about federalism, using it as a campaign platform and reiterating it in his first State of the Nation Address, people have begun asking what federalism is, anyway. Without so much as giving it enough study, some have condemned it outright as an alien concept not suited to the Philippine setting. But what federalism’s detractors may not know is that even before the president started saying that there is a need to shift our form of government to federalism, history reveals that federalism has long been desired by our forebears and that many regions and provinces have been clamoring for it for years now.

Last week, for instance, when I was invited to speak on the subject of federalism along with Lito Lorenzana, the president of the Centrist Democracy Political Institute, in Puerto Princesa, I thought we would try to explain federalism as a concept to get the Palawenyos thinking on whether it would be good for their province or not and to prepare them to make an informed vote should Congress propose a Constitution federalizing the Philippines. I was awe-struck to realize that the Palawenyos who attended the forum fully understood what federalism was. In fact, it turned out that there has been a Federal State of Palawan Movement for years now. We were even presented with a paper titled, Palawan as a self-sufficient state, showing that with Palawan’s tourism, agriculture, mineral, oil and gas resources, it can well stand as an autonomous territory, able to raise The toorevenues of its own.

But, one significant centralized fact that could surprise unitary system many Filipinos, espewe now have cially those who say that federalism is alien to the favors the Philippines, is that no oligarchic elites less than our national hero, Jose P. Rizal, had as it perpetrates advocated in his time poverty and that the Philippine should be a federal republic. He destitution in the prophesied that after libregions. eration, the Philippines would probably adopt a federal republic, in his essay “Las Filipinas Dentro de Cien Anos (The Philippines a Century Hence)” published in La Solidaridad in 1889 to 1990. Historian and professor of law, Pablo Trillana III said that when Rizal died, Emilio Aguinaldo pursued the federalist idea. He said that Aguinaldo directed the Ilonggos to set up a federal state for the Visayas, and to invite the Muslims of Maguindanao and Sulu, to join the revolution and establish a similar state organization. Aguinaldo was pursuing Rizal’s 1890 idea of a federal republic covering the archipelago, which explains why the flag of the Revolution and the First Republic had the three stars within the triangle, representing Aguinaldo’s image of the major island groups constituting the archipelago as a federation.

However, Trillana wrote, the 1898 Malolos Congress decided, in a time of war, that the more pressing concern then was to present a united front against the American enemy.

Thus, the Malolos Congress adopted a unitary form of government with powers firmly exercised at the center. However, the US wrested away the independence the Filipinos declared in 1898. Then, when US President McKinley created the First Philippine Commission headed by Jacob Shurman to study the conditions in the Philippine Islands and make recommendations, two proposals for a federal form of government were crafted and offered to the Shurman Commission in 1899-1900. The first draft constitution for a federal republic was made by prominent Filipinos while the second one was by Isabelo de los Reyes. Expectedly, the American colonizers rejected both; decentralization would make it difficult for them to control the islands they seized for their own benefit.

The 1935 Constitution, the Commonwealth and the 1946 independence saw the institutionalization of a highly centralized unitary government patterned after the American Constitution, minus its significant federal foundations, Trillana wrote. Another author and historian, Erwin S. Fernandez, said that while the unitary system of government we now have was necessary in 1896 as we were then at war, it no longer works in this day and age. The unitary system has benefited only the center and it became the template for controlling regions outside the capital. The 1935 up to the 1987 Constitutions have paved the way for control by selfish elites residing in the enclaves of Manila while the regions wallow in poverty and destitution, Fernandez wrote.

These revelations are grounded on fact and history. The too-centralized unitary system we now have favors the oligarchic elites as it perpetrates poverty and destitution in the regions. It makes the effort to understand and support federalism easy.

Email: ritalindaj@gmail.com Visit: www.jimenolaw.com.ph

A6

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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016

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Erap favors hero’s burial for Marcos

By Sandy Araneta

AMID the raging debate on the planned burial of the remains of former president Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Sunday called on everyone to “respect the dead.”

“We are all Christians.

We all must respect the dead,” Estrada said.

“With due respect to the dead, the officials have already decided. We must not quarrel over this,” he added.

Estrada said the country must now “move on” even as he assured protesters that they will be allowed to hold rallies in Manila for as long as they have the appropriate permits.

“We have to move on.

Let’s devote more time on the problems of the country.

Move on. Let go anything of the past,” he added.

The Supreme Court has earlier consolidated the three petitions seeking to stop the

burial of the late strongman as announced by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Ibarra Gutierrez, the lawyer for some of the petitioners, said Marcos should not be buried at the Heroes’ Cemetery because he was “a criminal, a plunderer and a human rights violator.”

Gutierrez also insisted that the 1987 Constitution prohibits Marcos’ burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Duterte said that the late strongman, who served the country for more than three decades, should be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, not because he is a hero but because he was a soldier.

“The issue about Marcos’ burial at the Libingan has created division amongst our people. Almost all Ilocanos have bad feelings about that,” the President said. “If you don’t want to call him a hero, then just think of him as a soldier.”

Duterte said it is important to settle the matter soon because it has been simmering for a long time.

SCREENING. Bureau of immigration personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport conduct thorough inspection and questioning of Filipino Muslims who are attending the Hajj in Saudi Arabia after some 177 Indonesian nationals were caught using Filipino passports for the pilgrimage on Friday at Terminal 2. Eric Apolonio

SC: Sulpicio must pay mishap survivor P2m

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Supreme Court has affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeals ordering Sulpicio Lines Inc. to pay damages to one of the survivors of the ill-fated m/v Princess of the Orient that sank near Fortune Island in Batangas in 1998.

In a 19-page decision written by Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin, the SC junked for lack of merit the petition of Sulpicio assailing the CA ruling directing the owners of Sulpicio Lines to compensate

survivor Napoleon Sesante.

“Moral damages are meant to enable the injured party to obtain the means, diversions or amusements in order to alleviate the moral suffering. Exemplary damages are designed to permit

the courts to reshape the behavior that is socially deleterious in its consequence by creating negative incentives or deterrents against such behavior,” the high court said.

The tribunal upheld the CA’s June 27, 2005 decision, placing moral damages at P1 million, exemplary damages at P1 million, and temperate damages at P120,000—all of which will be paid to the heirs of the late Sesante who has already passed away.

The SC ruled that all the monetary amounts shall earn an interest of 6 percent per annum un-

til Sulpicio Lines has fully paid Sesante’s heirs.

Sulpicio Lines earlier sought the dismissal of complaint, arguing that Sesante’s complaint for damages was purely personal and cannot be transferred to his heirs upon his death.

The high court, however, rejected the argument, citing Section 16, Rule 3 of the Rules of Court which states that “Whenever a party to a pending action dies, and the claim is not thereby extinguished… the heirs of the deceased may be allowed to be substituted for the deceased.”

Maternal mortality, stillbirths on the rise

Comelec starts ballot printing THE Commission on Elections on Sunday started the printing of 85-million ballots to be used in the Oct. 31 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said they have started printing the ballots despite uncertainties on whether or not the scheduled polls will push through.

“The long and short of it is we must follow the law, whatever the law may be. Right now, the law says we must have an election on Oct. 31. As long as there is no law that postpones it, we don’t have a choice but to implement the law,” he said.

“And because there is no law yet, and as it is, there are only 70 days before the elections, we are left with no choice but to start printing the ballots already,” Bautista added.

Of the 85-million ballots, 57 million will be for voters in the barangay polls and 28 million are for the SK elections.

“We are allotting 60 days for the printing.

Hopefully, we will finish by Oct. 21,” the Comelec chief added.

But Comelec–Printing Committee head Genevieve Guevarra admitted that they will not be printing in full swing since there is a possibility that Congress will postpone the polls.

“The instruction to us is not to go full speed with the printing because there are several bills for the postponement. What we want to avoid is we already have millions printed, then it will just be postponed,” she said.

Bautista said that they are hoping to know the fate of the October elections in the next 10 days.

“I would hope that by the end of August, they already have a decision on whether it will be postponed or not. Once we get a word that the law postponing it will be passed, we will stop with the preparations already,” he added.

Last week, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano filed a bill seeking the postponement of the barangay and SK polls, proposing instead to hold it on the last Monday of October 2018. PNA

Even assuming the seaworthiness of the m/v Princess of the Orient, the SC said Sulpicio could not escape liability considering that based on the findings of the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI), the immediate and proximate cause of the sinking of the vessel had been the gross negligence of its captain in maneuvering the vessel.

Of the 388 recorded passengers of the ship, 150 were killed in the mishap. Sesante, then a member of the Philippine National Police and a lawyer, was one of the passengers who survived the sinking.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

MOTORISTS’ WOES. Traffic builds up along Roxas Boulevard in front of the Manila Yacht Club late Saturday. Revoli Cortez

Angara wants estate tax slashed

By Macon RamosAraneta SENATOR Sonny Angara has vowed to prioritize an estate tax reform proposal of the Duterte administration.

Angara, chairman of the Senate ways and means committee, said estate tax rates must be reduced while tax deductible expenses— such as medical expenses incurred by the deceased— should be increased.

“The end result is that a grieving family will be spared the further anguish of paying high estate taxes

which often delay the distribution of the assets to the heirs,” he said.

“This tax hurdle, plus unfamiliarity with estate taxes and cultural avoidance to discuss death-related affairs, has led families to delay settling the estate, resulting in huge penalties and surcharges while the use of assets are not maximized,” he said.

In revamping the estate tax regime, Angara assured the public that his committee will adopt a “family first philosophy” by setting rules that are easy to comply with and rates that are affordable.

“Present estate tax rates,

like those for income taxes, were pegged in 1997, so it is time to adjust them because some exemptions are ridiculously low,” the senator said.

Angara said adjusting the estate tax rates to inflation “would result in doubling the tax-exempt values.”

He added that the standard deduction must also be increased from P1 million to P2 million in recognition of “the high cost of dying in the country.”

Angara’s bill also allows an authorized heir or estate administrator to withdraw up to P200,000 from the bank deposits of the deceased.

THE World Health Organization has raised the alarm on underreported maternal and neonatal deaths by as much as 30 percent worldwide.

Ian Askew, director of Reproductive Health and Research at WHO, said official records will show that yearly, at least 303,000 women die during pregnancy and childbirth while 2.7-million babies die during the first 28 days of their life and another 2.6 million are stillborn.

“We must ensure that all births and deaths are counted so that we can understand what to do to prevent future deaths, no matter where they occur,” Askew said.

He said the true magnitude of stillbirths and maternal and neonatal deaths remained unreported as the figures are higher than what have been recorded officially.

“By reviewing the causes of maternal and infant deaths, countries can improve quality of health care, take corrective actions and prevent millions of families from enduring the pain of losing their infants or mothers,” he added.

In some countries, Askew said official reports have underestimated the magnitude of maternal mortality by up to 70 percent.

“Every time a death is reviewed it has the potential to tell a story about what could have been done to save a mother and her baby,” said WHO director of Maternal, Children’s and Adolescents’ Heath Anthony Costello.

SC junks Davao ban on aerial spraying

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court has declared as unconstitutional a 2007 ordinance approved by President Rodrigo Duterte when he was still Davao mayor banning aerial spray of pesticides in banana plantations in the city and imposing a 30-meter buffer zone in all agricultural lands regardless of the size of landholdings.

In a unanimous decision, the SC upheld the 2009 ruling of the Court of Appeals declaring as unconstitutional Davao City Ordinance No. 0309-07 upon the petition of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association Inc. The tribunal dismissed for lack of merit the separate petitions of the city government and city residents led by Wilfredo Mosquesda seeking the reversal of the appellate court’s decision.

The SC said the ordinance violated constitutional provisions on equal protection and due process as it prohibited aerial spraying regardless of the substance or the level of concentration of the chemicals to be applied “The Court found that there was no substantial distinctions made in the ordinance and thus it violated equal protection,” the SC said in its ruling.

Gordon proposes Mindanao railway

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Richard Gordon has proposed the creation of a railway system in Mindanao to spur economic growth and development in the second largest island in the country.

He said the creation of the Mindanao Railway Corp. is a crucial step in the government’s efforts to fully harness the natural and human resources of Mindanao.

“To invest money and time in the Mindanao Railway System would be risky beyond anything ever before attempted, but when it is completed, it would link the entire island of Mindanao, forever changing the nature of Mindanao’s politics and economy,” Gordon said.

Gordon has filed Senate Bill No. 103 which aims to create a Mindanao Railway Corp., an agency that would be authorized to establish and maintain an efficient railway system in the country’s southern region.

Sports

A7

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

China blames fierce competition for flop R IO DE JANEIRO—China blamed fierce competition for their Rio flop and promised to examine their “shortcomings” on Saturday after slumping to their worst Olympic performance in 20 years.

China sent 410 athletes, their biggest team at a foreign Olympics, but by the penultimate day they had won just 26 gold medals, their fewest since Atlanta 1996.

Worse, China trailed not only the United States but also Britain on the medals table, a fact that has prompted splutterings of indignation in Chinese media.

China topped the table in 2008 and were second in 2004 and 2012, but Chinese Olympic committee chief Liu Peng said rising standards had taken them

by surprise.

“There are a few problems we cannot overlook. In the Rio Games we didn’t win so many medals... we didn’t assess objectively the challenges we might face at these Games,” said Liu. “In recent years more countries have attached importance to the Olympic Games, so the level of play internationally has come up and the competition has become fierce.

“We need to employ a new mentality and new understanding

how to improve our performances and ability. We need more experiences and learning.”

Liu said inexperience particularly had cost China, whose team was young with threequarters of them competing at their first Olympics.

“We have trained these athletes but the training isn’t enough,” he said.

“Because when these athletes are facing fierce competition and challenges they have to too much to think about and too many mental burdens and they didn’t play at their highest level.”

But he had warm words for swimmer Fu Yuanhui, whose bubbly personality and frank comments—rare for a Chinese athlete—won hearts at

home and abroad.

“Her happiness, starting from the bottom of her heart, fully demonstrated her spirit to continue to challenge herself and achieve excellence,” said Liu. “This is something that touched audiences on the very deepest level.

“Her ‘prehistoric strength’ as she put it fully demonstrated the modern Chinese athletes: they’re confident, they’re active and they’ve fully pushing forward.”

Liu also praised China’s athletes for competing in the right spirit and not appearing desperate to win at all costs.

“We have fully demonstrated our Chinese spirit. We’re not arrogant when we win, we don’t give up easily and we continue to strive forward,” he said. AFP Johnny Arcilla (left) and Khim Iglupas hold their trophies after copping the singles Open titles in the seventh Olivarez Cup Tennis Championship at the Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat, Parañaque yesterday.

Iglupas, Arcilla capture Olivarez Cup net crowns

Michelle Morente (3), scoring a hit against NU’s Jaja Santiago and Aiko Urdas in their duel late Saturday, hopes to dish out another solid game for Ateneo in its knockout match with Technological Institute of the Philippines today.

Ateneo, TIP dispute last quarterfinal slot Games today (Philsports Arena, Pasig) 10 a.m. – San Beda vs UP (S Turf) 12 noon – FEU vs Perpetual Help (S Turf) 4 p.m. – NU vs UST (V League quarters) 6 p.m. – Ateneo vs TIP (V League playoff)

ATENEO and Technological Institute of the Philippines dispute the last quarterfinals berth even as National University and University Santo Tomas kick off their semifinal drive as action in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Collegiate Conference heats up at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

With Michelle Morente on the firing end, the Lady Eagles pulled the rug from under the defending champion Lady Bulldogs, 2515, 27-25, 25-17, late Saturday to force a playoff with the Lady Engineers after the two teams finished the single round Group A elims at 2-2.

Gametime is at 6 p.m.

“We gave it all our best because it was a do-or-die game,” said Morente, who took ever as team captain following the graduation of two-time league MVP Alyssa Valdez.

“We hope to play the same way, perhaps better, in our playoff against TIP and get to the quarterfinals,” she added.

Playing minus Jhoanna Maraguinot and Bea de Leon, Ateneo

fell to TIP, 24-26, 25-14, 21-25, 25-18, 12-15, in their elims faceoff last Aug. 3.

The Lady Eagles will still miss Maraguinot, sidelined by a foot injury, but will have de Leon back in the fold and a re-energized Morente.

Still, the Lady Enginners will be out to prove their worth with guest players Mylene Paat and Relea Saet expected to step up their respective games and steer the team to the next round of the mid-season conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s and backed by Mikasa as official ball and Accel as official outfitter.

Meanwhile, NU and UST, which finished with 3-1 and 2-2, respectively, after the group elims, collide at 4 p.m. with both teams raring to regain their winning ways after dropping their last matches.

Both games will be aired live on ABS-CBN Sports + Action Channel 23 and via streaming on www.sports.abs-cbn.com, according to the organizing Sports Vision.

KHIM Iglupas put on another solid game to put away Clarice Patrimonio, 6-3, 6-3, and capture the ladies Open singles crown of the Olivarez Cup Tennis Championship for the third straight time at the Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat, Parañaque late Saturday.

The Iligan City-based ace outplayed Patrimonio with her superb baseline game, breaking her secondseeded rival once in each set while holding serve all throughout to fashion out the victory and complete a first-ever three-peat feat in the annual event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and backed by backed by Milestone Guaranty and Assurance Corp. and Slazenger as official ball.

Johnny Arcilla , on the other hand, held off doubles partner Patrick John Tierro, 7-6(4), 7-5, 4-6, 6-1, to nail the men’s singles crown, his third in the last four staging of the event put up by Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez along with Rep. Eric Olivarez and Dr. Pablo Olivarez as part of the family’s long-time commitment to boost the development of the sport.

Arcilla, who eased out No. 3 Elbert Anasta, 6-3, 6-2, in the semis, struck back strong from a third set defeat, winning the first five games in the fourth, including the second where he broke Tierro in a lovegame. He sustained his charge and swept the third, dropped just one point to take the fourth then racked up four straight points to go 5-0.

Tierro, who trounced Bryan Otico,

6-2, 6-3, in the Final Four, broke the spell by taking the sixth game but Arcilla finished off his doubles pal by taking the last two points after Tierro forced a 30-all count.

It was an anti-climactic ending to what had started out to be a fierce duel of the country’s aces with Arcilla pulling off back-to-back cliffhangers before Tierro broke Arcilla once to snatch the third frame.

Earlier, on her way to the finals, the Philippine Tennis Academy mainstay hacked out a 6-7(8), 7-5, 6-3, semis upset over top seed Marian Capadocia, whom she also upended in last year’s finale.

The win netted Iglupas P25,000 and boosted her local ranking, this being a top-level tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association which drew the cream of the ladies crop and a slew of rising stars.

Iglupas’ triumph also foiled Patrimonio’s bid for a sweep after she and sister Christine took the ladies doubles diadem with a 6-3, 6-0 romp over top seed Shaira Rivera and Marinel Rudas.

Meanwhile, Arcilla and Tierro pulled off a tough 3-6, 6-3, 11-9 victory over last year’s men’s singles champion Francis Casey Alcantara and Bryan Otico to pocket the doubles crown.

La Salle, on the other hand, nailed the men’s in the Olivarez Open Interschool team championship while DLS-Zobel took the women’s diadem.

MCW, Chuck, Wolves’ dancers grace NBA 3X

By Maxine Lagman THE Philippines is considered as one of the countries with an extreme passion for basketball. Whether kids or grown-up, Filipinos strive to be the best basketball players.

That is why it did not come much of a shock that the NBA 3X is always crowded with people of all ages, eager to learn from the best.

About 200 participants from all over the country took part in the 6th year of the NBA 3X, with NBA Rookie of the Year, Michael Carter-Williams (MCW), heading the tip-off of the three-day event at the Mall of Asia Music Hall on Friday.

LA Clippers’ Mascot, Chuck the Condor, opened the event with his dance moves and was joined by dancers of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who

showed their breathtaking routines, letting the fans experience a part of the NBA action.

Carter-Williams was overwhelmed by the number of people present during the event and was excited to interact with the fans throughout his stay.

“I’m excited to experience the Filipino fans’ passion for basketball. Being a part of this event is a great opportu-

nity to see the growth of the game internationally, and I look forward to working with these talented athletes,” he said.

“We are proud to stage the sixth edition of NBA 3X in the Philippines, which continues to provide fans with a platform to interact with some of the league’s marquee talents,” said NBA Philippines Managing Director Carlo Singson.

Caresosa, Caparino wrest Shell CDO chess lead AARON Caresosa and Abraham Caparino swept their first six matches to seize the solo lead in their respective divisions while Kiel Villa and Euniel Capilitan took charge in kiddies play in the 24th Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship’s Northern Mindanao leg at SM City Cagayan de Oro Cyberzone last Saturday.

Caresosa, from Panabo Faith Mission Academy, toppled Gwyneth Amper, Jemima Japay, Bruce Gabing, Marc Villarojo, Philgymn Villajuan and Mary Joy Tan to take command in the juniors division with six points, half-a-point ahead of Romeo Canino and Aldin Ranario, both of MOGCHS.

Jay Maureal, Adrian Bohol, Villajuan and Tan stayed in the hunt for the top two spots in the 13-16 age category with five points heading into the last three rounds of the Swiss system tournament sponsored by Pilipinas Shell and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

Caparino also posted a six-point output in the seniors category with the University of San Carlos ace trampling Carl Bahian, Niel Crisologo, Jeff Rivera, Janes Caingles, Marvin Maribojoc and Kenneth Honculada to gain a onepoint cushion over Ahmad Azote, Rivera, Maribojoc and Honculada, who all had five points.

CEU Dance Squad rules Hataw Na! LOTTO RESULTS THE Centro Escolar University Dance Squad convincingly grabbed the trophy and the bragging rights of being the first Hataw Na! Champions after stomping their class among other collegiate dance groups Friday afternoon at Fisher Mall in Quezon City.

The squad rendered the audience speechless after combining acrobatic movements with electrifying choreography en route to pocketing the P15,000 cash prize

at DiabetEASE Magazine’s Sweet Escape: Hataw Galaw Intercollegiate Urban Dance Competition.

The ICCT Sibol Dance Crew came in second despite most of their members having little to no sleep as they managed to pull off an energizing performance, while AMA Makati earned the second runnersup trophy with a dynamic number.

The squads were among the eight universities and colleges invited to the event to “dance diabetes away”

but only five were able to compete due to inclement weather.

The event also featured a Zumba party afterwards, with top experts gathering to talk about diabetes in a forum earlier in the morning. Booth exhibitions were also at hand while games for people living with diabetes, families, advocacy and support groups, magazine readers and diabetes specialists came in for a worthwhile and meaningful event.

Peter Paul Duran

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-0

P16M

3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

Sports

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

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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016

Morocco’s Wiam Dislam (right) competes against the Philippines’ Kirstie Elaine Alora during their women’s taekwondo repechage bout in the +67kg category as part of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, at the Carioca Arena 3, in Rio de Janeiro. AFP

Neymar sends Brazil on a high RIO DE JANEIRO—Neymar sent Brazil into ecstasy as he clinched Olympic football gold and Mo Farah sealed a rare distance double-double in a pulsating final evening of track action in Rio on Saturday.

Neymar swept home a brilliant free-kick and scored a trademark stutter-run penalty to win a shoot-out against Germany as the hosts headed towards Sunday’s closing ceremony on a high.

Later, Britain’s Farah headlined the last night of track and field as he won a thrilling 5,000m race to earn the first consecutive 5,000m10,000m doubles in 40 years.

Matt Centrowitz produced the biggest upset when he beat defending champion Taoufik Makhloufi of Algeria to become America’s first 1,500m champion in more than a century.

And the United States ran away with both the men’s and women’s 4x400m relays as the curtain closed on the last full day of competition, with only 12 gold medals available on Sunday.

With 294 of 306 titles decided, the United States led the medals table with 43 golds, with Britain in surprise second place with 27 to China’s 26.

China won their third Olympic Games women’s volleyball gold with a 3-1 victory over Serbia. Only the former Soviet Union -- with four golds -- has been more successful in Olympics women’s volleyball than China.

South Korea’s Park In-Bee won the first women’s golf Olympic gold in 116 years by a commanding five strokes, and the USA routed Spain in the women’s basketball final.

Millions of Brazilians were glued to the men’s football and celebrations were long and loud when the five-time world champions grabbed their first Olympic title at the Maracana stadium. AFP

No medal for Pinoy jin Alora, just tears

R

IO DE JANEIRO—The Philippine campaign in the 2016 Rio Olympics came to a close Saturday evening with taekwondo’s Kirstie Elaine Alora breaking down in tears after absorbing two bitter defeats at the Carioca 3 of the Olympic Park here.

Alora, the last Filipino athlete to vie for a medal here, bowed to Olympic champion Maria Espinoza of Mexico, 4-1, in her opening match.

Then, she blew her chance to salvage at least a bronze when she lost to Wiam Dislam of Morocco. 7-5.

The loss to Espinoza, gold medal winner in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and bronze medalist in London four years ago, left Alora figuring in the repechage (losers’ round). She needed two wins to get the bronze that but could not get past the first challenge.

Dislam stood 5’11” and was easily three inches taller than Alora. But it didn’t turn out to be a breeze for the

flag-bearer of the Moroccan delegation to the 2012 London Olympics. She trailed Alora in the third round, and was down, 5-4, with only 20 seconds left.

Alora lowered her guard and got caught with the equalizer, and then with two more quick points to the body. By the time the final buzzer sounded, the 26-year-old Alora had lost a won match, and kissed her Olympic medal hopes in the +67 kg class goodbye.

Alora was in tears as she spoke to reporters.

“Another sad moment because it was my second chance. But I was denied.

I think I should continue fighting in this sport because

f I won a medal here I might end up saying, ‘This is my last,’” said the 26-year-old after losing to Dislam.

“The Lord has plans for me to continue fighting.

I’m happy with the results here but I was not fortunate enough. It’s God’s will.

Maybe he wants me to win in the Asian Championships or the World Championships before I become an Olympic champion,” said Alora.

With her loss, the Philippines will close the book on this campaign with a silver medal courtesy of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz in the women’s 53 kg division. It’s a historic win for Diaz because she became the country’s first female athlete to win a medal in the Olympics.

It was also the country’s first medal in 20 years.

“It was a good historic run. Our gallant 13 athletes have made our country proud. All went fighting and doing everything they can and they are the best we

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

Up 5-4 lead, she suddenly trailed 7-5 in the closing seconds. She launched a lastditch effort and could have turned things around. However, a head kick that could have netted her three points did not register on the sensor, allowing Dislam to go on with the win.

Alora’s coach, Roberto “Kitoy” Cruz, raised a challenge. Still, there was nothing to reverse the outcome as Alora’s kick touched Dislam’s head gear instead of the face.

“I really thought Elaine hit the face and not the head gear. That was worth three points. From 5-7 we could have won the fight, 8-7. At least, she fought better in the repechage than in her first fight,” said Cruz as he waited for Alora to face reporters.

Cruz said Alora looked better facing a taller opponent like Dislam than Espinoza. AFP

Jalalon is Lochte takes full responsibility for Rio scandal NCAA’s top cager ARELLANO University continues to live up to its lofty billing in the 92nd NCAA seniors’ basketball tourney and prized playmaker Jiovani Jalalon, as expected, is at the forefront of the Chiefs’ rampage.

The 5’10” Jalalon proved that anew last week when he led Arellano University to a pair of convincing victories, stretching the league’s hottest winning streak to six, while staying hot on the heels of pace-setting San Beda.

As his fellow Chiefs, notably rejuvenated American center Dioncee Holts, provided the needed support on both ends, Jalalon remained as the biggest driving force, averaging 25.0 points, 7.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 steal in their last two wins which helped them improve to 9-2, just a full-game behind the Red Lions (10-1).

“He makes life easier for us,” said the 6’6” Holts of Jalalon, the latest recipient of the ACCEL Quantum/3XVI-NCAA Press Corps Player of the Week honors.

Arguably the finest pointguard in the collegiate ranks today, Jalalon showcased his vastly-improved offensive skills in Arellano U’s 89-84 win over San Sebastian last August 16, firing away a personal season-high of 33 points, 14 of them coming in an explosive third-quarter performance marred by a head injury scare.

NEW YORK—Star American swimmer Ryan Lochte said Saturday he took “full responsibility” for vandalizing a gas station bathroom and then telling police an “overexaggerated” story about it during the Rio Olympics.

The episode, which has embarrassed the US sporting superpower, saw Lochte and three other gold-winning US swimmers embroiled in a controversy after he gave a shocking -- and

false -- account of how they had been robbed at gunpoint.

“That’s why I’m taking full responsibility for it, is because I overexaggerated that story and if I had never done that, we wouldn’t be in this mess,” said Lochte in an interview broadcast in part late Saturday, the peroxide color washed out of his hair.

The full interview will be aired later

by NBC television.

Lochte had already apologized on Friday for saying that the swimmers had been mugged by robbers pretending to be police on their way back from an all-night party.

It was only after police declared the story bogus—saying that the four had only been detained by security and made to pay compensation for their drunken vandalization of a gas station bathroom —that Lochte finally came clean.

“I left details out... I left certain things out, and I overexaggerated some parts of the story,” he said in the interview.

Following the incident, Lochte flew back to the United States, while the other -- Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen -- three stayed in Brazil.

On Wednesday, a Rio judge ordered that their passports be confiscated so that they could not leave the country, with all three questioned by police. AFP

Takayama wins title for 5th time

By Ronnie Nathanielsz VETERAN Katsunari Takayama of Japan, who at one time was under the promotional banner of ALA Promotions, has won the vacant WBO minimum weight title for the fifth time, beating 18-year-old prospect Riku Kano in Sanda, Japan.

Takayama had a cut, which Hall of Fame media man Joe Koizumi said deteriorated in the sixth round, forcing referee Danrex Tapdasan to call a halt at 0:58 of the round and go to the scorecards of the three judges, The Philippines’ Salven Lagumbay scored the competitive fight, 58-56, Waleska Roldan (US) and Lynne Carter (US) had it 59-56 and 59-55 respectively, all for the 33-year-old ex-champion Takayama.

Koizumi reported: “As expected, the notorious bleeder Takayama bled from a gash over the left eyebrow due to an accidental butt from the third on, but not as expected, the victor wasn’t his opponent but Takayama.

BLOODY FIGHT. Conor McGregor (left) and Nate Diaz battle during their welterweight

rematch at the UFC 202 event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. McGregor beat Diaz by majority decision to avenge his UFC 196 defeat. AFP

Enforcers end slide

By Jeric Lopez Games Wednesday (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:15 p.m. - NLEX vs. Meralco 7 p.m. - San Miguel vs. Alaska RIGHT back on track.

Mahindra is back to its winning ways as it snapped its twogame losing slide with a masterful 97-88 wire-to-wire rout of ailing Blackwater in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.

James White was back to his steady self, tallying another double-double of 23 points and 19 rebounds for another solid showing.

This win pushed Mahindra back to solo second place with its 5-2 slate, but more importantly, it moved a step closer to clinching its first playoff berth as a franchise.

The Enforcers never trailed and led from start to finish as they turned out a methodical dominance of the Elite, leading by double-digits for most part en route to the easy win.

“We’re able to come in with some urgency and we were able to execute better compared to our last two losses,” said Mahindra deputy coach Chris Gavina.

On the other hand, this defeat was the fifth straight for the woeful Elite as it fell to the bottom with a league-worst 1-6 mark.

Senator Manny Pacquiao, the Enforcers’ playing coach, was around and made his presence felt on and of the court.

Pacquiao, who entered the game in the latter part of the second period, was actually the one that gave Mahindra its first double-digit lead, 46-36, after hitting his first career threepoint field goal with under a minute left in the opening half.

He returned with under three minutes left with the game already decided and had a careerhigh four points in total.

Meanwhile, in respect to legendary coach Virgilio ‘Baby’ Dalupan, who passed away last Wednesday night, the league held a ‘final buzzer’ to honor his legacy and give him a fitting tribute.

The acknowledging rite was held in between the two scheduled games yesterday.

3-way fight in golf tour FOUR-LEG winner Tony Lascuña stays on track to regaining the Philippine Golf Tour’s Order of Merit crown but a surging Jay Bayron and Clyde Mondilla moved threateningly close, making it a three-way battle for the coveted plum with four legs left in the season.

Bayron’s back-to-back wins at Aboitiz Invitational and ICTSI Riviera Classic the last two weeks have put the former Asian Development Tour topnotcher within the pacesetting Lascuna in the money ranking, piling up earnings of P2,043,028.

Lascuna, who won the Luisita Championship last April and strung up three straight at Eagle Ridge, Forest Hills and Bacolod, has earnings of P2,470,948.

Mondilla, who scored backto-back wins at Eastridge and Calatagan and placed second at Riviera, firmed up his hold of third place with P2,005,687.

Defending OOM winner Miguel Tabuena, who won the circuit’s kickoff leg at Anvaya but skipped a number of PGT tournaments to campaign abroad as part of his buildup for his stint at the Olympics, has slipped to No. 4 with P976,058.

Dutch Guido Van der Valk, who has had a number of lateround foldups that stymied his bid for a breakthrough win in the circuit sponsored by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., is at No. 5 with P773,456 while Zanieboy Gialon has pooled P711,454 for sixth.

SR Metals expects fair review B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016

B1

Govt shelves MRT buyout plan

By Darwin G. Amojelar

T

HE Transportation Department shelved the Aquino administration’s plan to buy the private investors out of Metro Rail Transit Line 3, an official said over the weekend.

“I think it’s not in the table.

Our priority is to improve the service of MRT 3. I think [Budget Secretary Benjamin] Diokno mentioned it. That’s reflective of the agency because he is a Cabinet secretary,” Transportation in-

dersecretary for rail and toll roads Noel Kintanar said.

Diokno earlier disclosed that the government did not allocate funds for the equity buyout of the MRT 3 for 2017.

Former President Benigno

Aquino III issued Executive Order No. 126 in 2013, directing the Transportation and Finance Departments to buy MRTC out of MRT 3, under the build-leasetransfer agreement.

The planned buyout of the private investors aimed to wind down the 1- percent equity rental that the government was paying under the contract.

The Transportation Department under the Aquino administration earlier estimated that the MRT3 buyout would cost the government over P40 billion.

Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines own a combined economic interest in MRT 3, while creditors of Metro Rail Transit Corp. hold the balance.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. earlier said it submitted a new proposal to Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to expand and maintain MRT 3.

Metro Pacific first submitted a proposal to the Transportation Department in 2011, offering $523-million investments to rehabilitate and upgrade MRT 3.

The Aquino administration rejected Metro Pacific’s proposal and opted for an equity value buyout of MRT 3.

Metro Pacific signed a cooperation agreement in 2011 with several groups holding rights and interests in MRT 3, including MRTC, Metro Rail Transit Holdings Inc., Metro Rail Transit 2 Inc. and Monumento Rail Transit Corp., giving the First Pacific unit an option to acquire 48 percent. It did not exercise the option.

Metro Pacific chairman Manuel Pangilinan earlier said the

company could exercise the option to acquire a substantial stake in Metro Rail Transit Corp. led by businessman Robert John Sobrepeña, once the government approved the proposal to expand the MRT 3 system.

MRT 3, which runs along Edsa from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, serves 500,000 passengers a day, way beyond its rated capacity of 350,000.

The line has a fleet of 73 Czech-made air-conditioned rail cars.

Govt debt seen falling to 35% of GDP by 2022

AYALA LAND’S AWARD. Ayala Land Inc. emerges as a top winner in Land Bank of the Philippines’ Gawad Kaagapay Awards 2016. ALI receives the recognition

under the “large corporation non-agri-based” category and is cited for its innovative sustainability practices and relevant corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Shown are ALI president and chief executive Bernard Vincent Dy (6th from left) and chief finance officer Jaime Ysmael (first from left) receiving the award from Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez (seventh from left) and LandBank directors Tomas de Leon Jr. (left) and Crispino Aguelo (second from left).

Govt wants to rationalize senior citizens’ VAT exemptions

By Gabrielle H. Binaday THE Finance Department said it will rationalize the value added tax exemptions enjoyed by senior citizens to make sure the tax reform program will be fair to all.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III told reporters the agency wanted the tax reform package to be enjoyed justly by the public.

“Now on that VAT on senior citizens, let us analyze it. Where do you use that? You

use that in expensive restaurants. I go by a meal that is P1,000. So I get a subsidy of P120 because I don’t pay the VAT. But the guy who needs the P120 cannot get it because he doesn’t have to money to pay an expensive meal,” Dominguez said.

“Now is that fair? Is it? If you put it in that way, we want it to be fair. Why should I or he or she be subsidized when that guy cannot get it,” Dominguez said.

The Finance chief said the tax reform package aimed to make sure the govern-

ment had enough funds to make the necessary investments in infrastructure, education and health and while being fair to all.

The Finance Department earlier confirmed that while the government would broaden the tax base to compensate for losses from the possible tax rate cuts, several tax exemptions would be lifted.

Dominguez said tax exemptions on food, medicine and education would not be affected. “Those are very necessary,” he said.

The department said despite the proposals to reduce income tax rates, the government would have enough revenues to support the program of the Duterte administration.

“We are preparing our tax reform program that will lower tax rates for individual and corporations. However, we have counter measures to cover those erosions in revenue and we will certainly end up with more revenue in the long run,” Dominguez said.

Third telco player needs to invest P30b

By Darwin G. Amojelar

DREAM IN A SHOEBOX. Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines executive committee chairman Benedict Hernandez and TeamAsia president and chief executive Monette Iturralde-Hamlin sign a partnership agreement for this year’s My Dream in a Shoebox. In its eighth year, My Dream in a Shoebox aims to collect 75,000 shoeboxes filled with school supplies to help underprivileged children across the country continue their education and achieve their dreams.

THE highly competitive mobile telecom market is unlikely to have a third player in the short term, given the huge investment required to roll out network infrastructure, a senior official of the National Telecommunications Commission said.

NTC deputy commissioner Edgardo Cabarios said the aspiring third player in the telecom market needed to invest at least P30 billion for the initial rollout of mobile telecom infrastructure.

Cabarios also said the new player should match the investments of PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc. to catch up with the service of the existing players.

Both PLDT and Globe were investing more than P40 billion a year to increase their network capacity in a bid to provide better services.

“More players is better, but can the market support it? So, you think twice before entering the market,” he said.

ABS-CBN Convergence Inc. and Now Telecom both have the authority to roll out cellular mobile telephone service.

A third potential player—San Miguel Corp. backed out from challenging the duopoly of PLDT and Globe after its $1-billion joint venture with Telstra Corp. of Australia did not push though.

Instead of challenging the duopoly, San Miguel sold its telecom assets to PLDT and Globe for P70 billion.

Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu agreed with Cabarios, saying “this industry is very difficult to penetrate because the barriers to entry are very expensive to overcome and because deployment of networks are very challenging due to local government issues.”

THE Finance Department disclosed a plan to reduce government debt to 35 percent of gross domestic product by 2022, despite the increase in public spending under the Duterte administration.

National government debt stood at 44.8 percent as of end2015, data showed.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III assured local and foreign investors and fund managers that the intended increase in public spending would go hand in hand with a strict observance of fiscal discipline.

Dominguez said the targeted budget-deficit ceiling of 3 percent of GDP up to 2022 would be religiously observed.

“We are fortunate that the last two administrations have managed government finances well, as this has given us headroom for higher public spending… We will absolutely make sure we do not breach the deficit ceiling,” Dominguez said.

The deficit-to-GDP ceiling of 3 percent set by President Rodrigo Duterte’s economic team is a percentage point higher than the 2-percent limit set by the Aquino administration.

The new economic team cited plans to significantly boost government spending on infrastructure, which Dominguez described as the country’s next pillar of growth.

Dominguez said infrastructure spending would cover the sub-areas of logistics and transportation, information technology, telecommunications and power. It will also focus on areas outside Metro Manila to achieve a more geographically broad-based economic growth.

Gabrielle H. Binaday

B2

Business

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks seen moving sideways

By Jenniffer B. Austria

A

NALYSTS expect share prices to move sideways this week with a downward bias, as investors remain on a wait-and-see mode in the absence of strong drivers that could lure investors back to the market.

Investors are also waiting the market to correct on concerns prices are now overvalued. “We expect the index to continue moving sideways this week with a narrower trading range of 7,900 to 8,000,” Regina Capital Development Corp. managing director Luis Limlingan said.

“Last week’s bearish trend bias is also ex-

pected to start shifting slowly on the neutral side, making a range trade strategy more appropriate this week. However a cautious trading approach is still advised as some directional indicators remain bearish, albeit rather weak in terms of price momentum,” he said.

Online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia.com said the current wait-and-see mode would likely persist until the end of the so-called ‘ghost month,’ referring to August.

“Overall, portfolio selection in equities will still shine, in light of negative yields provided in fixed-income alternatives.

Monitor momentum progression and trade the range,” 2TradeAsia.com said.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index last week closed lower by 0.3 percent to 7,930.75 on Aug. 19, even as the government reported that gross domestic product grew 7 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, beating market estimates.

Except for mining and oil and holding firms, which posted week-on-week gains of 6.2 percent and 0.8 percent respectively, all other sub-indices ended in the red.

Foreign investors were net sellers last week of P3.32 billion as total overseas selling hit P26.5 billion while overseas buying amounted to P23.18 billion.

Top gainers last week were Semirara Mining and Power Corp. which climbed 11.1 percent to P112, LT Group Inc. which gained 8.5 percent to P17.38 and Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. which advanced 7.6 percent to P6.36.

Heavy losers were gaming stocks PhilWeb Corp. which fell 35.68 percent to P5.66 and Leisure & Resorts World Corp. which dropped 23.3 percent to P4.60, after state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. reiterated the Duterte administration’s stance against online and on-site gaming activities.

SEC agrees to review merger of exchanges

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission wants the Philippine Stock Exchange to have concrete plans on transaction cost reduction and definite corporate structure when the latter submits a new proposal to merge the fixed-income and equities exchanges.

SEC chairperson Terestita Herbosa said in an interview the corporate regulator was open to reviewing another proposal from PSE on the merger of the

THE MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

AUGUST 15-19, 2016 Close Volume

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

3.45 47.6 113.20 105.00 38.3 3.70 1.50 16.4 21.25 6.95 0.78 1.87 580.00 0.690 89.8 0.89 14.7 24.00 60.60 100.2 321 280 32.3 215.6 1395.00 73.40 1.5

293,000 125,800 9,226,900 14,035,200 192,400 139,000 981,000 255,900 10,846,000 31,700 35,025,000 454,000 870 45,018,000 38,463,380 199,000 491,700 19,700 653,960 1,380 70 165,510 999,300 5,956,450 10 236,690 218,000

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Chemphil Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ MG Holdings Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

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

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings `A’ Keppel Holdings `B’ Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

LT Group Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

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

46.4 3.13 0.83 1.8 14.18 207.80 12.66 16.84 136 147 23.5 59.85 2.23 5.78 12.7 11.300 7.72 6.00 8.99 1.79 25.2 72.2 12.20 16.00 6.75 2.320 252.60 41.00 2 4.15 29.75 26.5 32.1 14.24 313.00 0.270 4.80 3.5 11.36 3.16 11.50 6.33 1.68 3.86 4.21 2.21 3.7 220.2 3.05 0.153 1.99 2.36 191.5 4.68 2.24 34.90 1.24

5,488,600 13,608,890 3,312,000 9,963,000 26,700 120 123,196,900 22,186,500 120 6,220 47,425,700 17,410 3,234,000 1,604,200 592,100 20,355,400 3,937,600 76,451,400 5,215,900 26,000 11,387,800 1,337,330 52,900 462,300 36,006,900 5,703,000 1,892,160 1,200 824,000 248,000 6,000 5,009,100 5,131,600 28,734,600 1,456,000 1,300,000 95,000 5,027,000 21,528,200 100,000 87,600 5,513,000 1,944,000 5,911,000 1,630,000 71,000 126,000 81,550 592,000 21,850,000 7,419,000 3,947,000 27,232,620 83,000 204,236,000 300 2,613,000

0.390 75.65 16.04 1.22 6.18 0.390 0.385 896 1050.00 8.81 12.70 6.28 7.05 0.215 1530 6.49 82.00 4.02 5.15 5.28 7.77 0.78 17.38 7.29 3.1 0.0360 1.210 1.900 2.63 84.00 2.28 988.00 1.37 0.95 188.00 207.000 0.3100 0.2010 0.285

2,580,000 10,540,060 19,503,100 142,000 73,600 20,110,000 11,080,000 1,132,040 155 14,896,400 37,234,500 173,300 1,390,000 8,600,000 1,151,750 21,500 9,905,900 6,000 3,300 4,000 8,996,600 754,000 52,962,500 166,026,000 6,000 108,700,000 130,000 1,119,200 19,000 1,478,070 13,000 1,413,040 3,669,000 736,000 120 42,110 7,430,000 6,030,000 7,580,000

8990 HLDG Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 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.

7.990 6.99 1.25 2.950 0.260 41.100 3.1 5.11 5.6 0.570 1.07 1.000 0.160 0.650 59.95 0.800 0.146 1.08 1.94 1.14 4.88 0.128 0.2900

2,940,900 4,700 8,901,000 21,217,000 3,060,000 35,564,800 4,512,000 183,000 1,338,200 34,313,000 19,040 741,000 103,950,000 43,534,000 2,933,160 7,610,000 460,000 14,562,000 160,552,000 1,585,000 267,263,900 36,140,000 1,850,000

Value FINANCIAL 982,520.00 5,933,625.00 1,049,766,532 1,314,033,161.00 7,357,225.00 534,950.00 1,406,240.00 4,209,026.00 234,880,650.00 220,332 28,094,700 867,350.00 488,650.00 31,717,040.00 3,442,838,487.00 177,230.00 7,222,286.00 473,120.00 39,662,038.50 134,354.00 27,410.00 46,285,688.00 32,236,280 1,277,304,144.00 13,950 17,373,555.50 328,590.00 INDUSTRIAL 252,821,150.00 17,033,090.00 2,680,590.00 18,142,780.00 344,170.00 22,204.00 1,486,358,766.00 376,718,936 16,320.00 928,072.00 1,107,274,365.00 1,013,905 7,300,090.00 8,392,411.00 7,501,364.00 230,201,790.00 30,022,345.00 457,326,974.00 47,909,047.00 46,170.00 287,052,905.00 95,441,836.00 648,282.00 7,434,730.00 261,309,136.00 13,238,500.00 477,882,160.00 49,000.00 1,644,410.00 1,036,150.00 172,675.00 134,639,655.00 170,829,050.00 402,058,590.00 469,009,680.00 336,550.00 469,681.00 17,395,630.00 243,516,842.00 318,560.00 1,007,920.00 34,495,989.00 3,191,720.00 22,600,210.00 6,832,450.00 156,750.00 467,210.00 18,586,470.00 1,803,230 3,357,920.00 14,441,900.00 9,237,200.00 5,118,416,000 385,350.00 421,319,070.00 10,110.00 3,222,370.00 1,025,150.00 792,718,665.50 311,193,744.00 176,280.00 455,447.00 7,938,200.00 4,263,200.00 1,016,234,020 165,845.00 132,634,728.00 457,684,638.00 1,092,380.00 9,609,018.00 1,822,190.00 1,761,403,835.00 137,862.00 813,976,503.00 24,170.00 16,991.00 21,061.00 69,303,720.00 589,030.00 899,366,846.00 1,201,310,412.00 18,760.00 3,836,200.00 157,030.00 2,455,610.00 49,430.00 125,507,261.00 29,400.00 969,885,270.00 4,983,430.00 726,150.00 22,560.00 8,708,586.00 2,327,100.00 1,215,740.00 2,049,800.00 PROPERTY 23,295,823.00 30,884.00 11,240,640.00 60,697,620.00 805,400.00 1,474,246,055.00 14,108,280.00 940,711.00 7,494,622.00 20,338,470.00 15,270.00 741,750.00 16,984,060.00 27,322,200.00 173,167,402.00 5,988,550.00 67,250.00 15,687,180.00 307,563,780.00 1,819,820.00 1,331,414,054.00 4,578,060.00 483,100.00

Close

AUGUST 8-12, 2016 Volume Value

3.33 47.7 116.60 103.30 38.3 4.00 1.41 16.2 20.6 6.96 0.65 1.96 580.00 0.630 91.5 0.9 14.8 24.50 60.50 100.7 400 278.8 32.5 208 1395.00 73.80 1.49

297,000 78,900 9,515,230 8,615,190 1,063,600 117,000 1,194,000 434,800 3,577,400 2,400 27,000 148,000 240 5,599,000 9,876,100 350,000 390,200 6,600 546,410 17,250 20 44,370 1,015,800 5,422,340 1,190 782,730 72,000

1,004,950.00 3,761,545.00 1,117,587,821 884,392,918.00 40,758,595.00 453,390.00 1,771,480.00 7,080,280.00 72,706,233.00 16,692 18,250 285,700.00 140,850.00 3,611,090.00 919,451,516.00 316,900.00 5,750,110.00 163,300.00 31,631,475.50 1,731,557.50 8,000.00 12,469,198.00 32,777,090 1,171,705,900.00 1,670,245 57,787,677.00 107,850.00

45.85 3.22 0.83 1.9 12.26 180.00 11.82 16.9 136 153.2 22.85 57.2 2.23 5.6 12.7 11.160 7.40 5.89 9.58 1.87 24.85 71 12.08 16.10 5.67 2.330 253.00 41.45 1.96 4.6 29.00 26.6 34.5 13.76 325.00 0.260 5.10 3.517092 11.32 3.47 11.66 6.15 1.67 3.42 4.19 2.22 3.76 223 3.04 0.154 2.00 2.36 199.9 4.59 1.85 31.55 1.23

11,683,300 4,539,000 4,462,000 7,627,000 7,400 30 56,701,700 17,256,900 20 3,970 46,156,800 110,660 2,810,000 2,003,500 105,000 47,184,800 3,265,900 131,858,200 2,800,300 5,000 9,520,200 872,070 64,800 657,600 1,222,200 11,786,000 2,453,680 800 12,000 919,000 41,200 13,321,500 14,638,500 65,285,900 930,030 1,020,000 373,000 28,415,990 26,388,900 69,000 56,800 2,167,000 1,299,000 1,001,000 2,406,000 16,000 126,000 54,220 792,000 36,400,000 14,429,000 6,123,000 7,323,330 68,000 283,614,000 100 2,030,000

533,863,380.00 15,083,970.00 3,749,820.00 14,809,140.00 91,884.00 5,400.00 681,223,216.00 304,464,464 2,720.00 613,217.00 1,036,747,535.00 6,567,894 6,265,660.00 11,586,136.00 1,339,904.00 522,836,710.00 24,386,908.00 788,963,274.00 26,895,272.00 8,820.00 237,543,485.00 62,227,519.50 796,096.00 10,589,062.00 6,940,470.00 27,645,460.00 623,398,340.00 32,645.00 24,160.00 4,079,520.00 1,204,170.00 345,879,750.00 488,710,495.00 803,725,926.00 301,595,262.00 266,750.00 1,823,170.00 12,181,810.00 293,765,750.00 216,120.00 657,582.00 13,165,788.00 2,160,640.00 3,407,970.00 10,167,300.00 35,520.00 478,640.00 12,094,792.00 2,411,870 5,866,640.00 29,658,220.00 14,564,410.00 1,488,636,654 311,270.00 500,243,750.00 3,155.00 2,530,840.00

0.400 75.00 16.00 1.25 6.30 0.400 0.385 898 1004.00 8.64 12.28 6.15 6.85 0.221 1535 6.60 81.85 4.05 5.14 5.28 7.54 0.76 16.02 7.1 3.14 0.0360 1.210 1.880 2.73 84.30

3,500,000 15,013,700 18,468,400 81,000 394,800 56,410,000 4,850,000 1,593,900 20 61,871,100 41,101,100 285,000 2,227,100 1,230,000 1,520,980 9,200 9,088,570 20,000 14,900 10,700 7,003,100 118,000 24,017,400 257,452,500 9,000 276,000,000 149,000 2,128,000 67,000 1,106,520

1,364,750.00 1,126,367,103.00 298,634,428.00 100,160.00 2,477,855.00 22,627,400.00 1,951,750.00 1,429,928,145.00 11,060.00 551,191,796.00 520,884,292.00 1,821,730.00 15,480,878.00 277,330.00 2,400,007,810.00 61,248.00 754,770,035.00 81,000.00 76,710.00 56,758.00 53,591,037.00 90,750.00 384,382,836.00 1,888,377,695.00 28,170.00 10,127,500.00 182,170.00 4,048,440.00 170,460.00 92,597,874.00

685.00 1.37 0.85 188.00 204.000 0.3150 0.2130 0.285

1,352,230 13,083,000 38,000 580 39,050 11,650,000 19,860,000 8,240,000

932,106,000.00 17,865,210.00 32,300.00 111,040.00 7,872,377.00 3,621,450.00 4,318,220.00 2,366,250.00

7.890 6.60 1.27 2.630 0.275 41.200 3.22 5.15

585,400 3,900 25,517,000 29,240,000 3,620,000 51,047,100 3,270,600 203,100

4,675,534.00 26,300.00 33,743,390.00 79,501,270.00 971,500.00 2,091,379,365.00 12,277,850.00 1,028,331.00

0.620 1.02 1.010 0.167 0.630 58.75 0.810 0.158 1.08 1.86 1.21 5.15 0.124 0.2900

34,635,000 36,000 577,000 204,510,000 32,295,000 4,421,710 2,540,000 1,150,000 44,656,000 137,194,000 407,000 263,479,600 136,280,000 40,000

21,675,720.00 36,990.00 580,860.00 35,065,200.00 21,077,760.00 253,112,114.00 2,071,310.00 180,570.00 49,171,370.00 218,698,000.00 484,720.00 1,394,540,189.00 17,447,260.00 10,700.00

STOCKS

AUGUST 15-19, 2016 Close Volume

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

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

0.450 39.00 3.37 30.00 1.69 3.29 28.65 0.94 7.05 1.030 6.360

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp.

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

Discovery World DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ Imperial Res. `B’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp.

SSI Group STI Holdings Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

7.16 50.3 1.26 0.600 11.6 5.75 6.44 0.0950 2.74 122 9.13 2.1 5.06 3.05 941 2146 6.37 15.80 20.40 1.36 80.6 21.00 171.5 11.58 0.0087 9.30 0.300 1.4900 3.5 12.6 4.60 2.90 1.02 2.35 21.45 0.570 1.99 4.18 5.40 3.910 11.26 6.09 2.5 9.19 130.00 5.66 1824.00 0.440 1.020 45.40 82.00 6.35 3.24 0.640 3.5 0.330 6.390

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ Basic Energy Corp.

Benguet Corp `A’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Semirara Corp.

TA Petroleum United Paragon

0.0040 3.12 4.00 9.62 0.215 2.2100 2.5500 0.58 0.425 8.31 0.840 0.275 0.198 0.217 0.0110 0.0110 1.7 5.74 2.74 0.5100 1.0300 0.0120 0.0120 4.14 8.74 3.90 0.0130 112.00 3.54 0.0095

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ DD PREF First Gen F First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I Swift Pref

50.4 538 539.5 104 103 119 527 6.08 1 110 1040 1150 1038 111 78.5 81.5 78 79 79 79 77.25 77.7 2.42

LR Warrant

2.000

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

4.75 4.1 5.13 16.2

First Metro ETF

131.3

Value

Close

1,218,000 17,100 7,224,100 9,317,200 1,788,000 294,000 60,132,810 6,875,000 33,800 1,323,000 61,419,000

885,300.00 705,140.00 36,256,606.00 286,838,115.00 3,079,200.00 968,000.00 2,276,612,830.00 6,557,520.00 234,060.00 1,363,010.00 385,187,342.00 SERVICES 373,900 2,694,728.00 216,590 10,896,935.50 219,000 281,290.00 4,504,000 2,665,210.00 297,400 3,417,710.00 116,600 656,896 97,876,100 632,562,731.00 534,740,000 51,919,030.00 10,196,000 28,047,440.00 4,753,090 574,557,687.00 35,500 332,538.00 244,000 538,650 2,102,800 11,557,928.00 40,000 125,250.00 3,870 3,649,170.00 341,645 727,252,990 586,000 3,722,291.00 2,728,100 44,723,022.00 51,000 1,037,880 5,485,000 7,611,020.00 21,657,230 1,751,245,974.00 485,300 10,208,893 1,350 217,930 106,900 1,210,680.00 97,000,000 840,100.00 5,527,000 51,245,185.00 90,820,000 27,282,350.00 13,176,000 19,568,220.00 5,090,000 20,343,530.00 15,800 200,608.00 7,721,500 37,977,260 901,000 2,619,030.00 92,000 96,430.00 60,000 140,040.00 32,300 672,377 309,000 177,270.00 267,000 532,330.00 77,104,000 302,994,040.00 30,167,300 148,519,417.00 34,727,000 135,479,810.00 464,400 5,296,982.00 959,400 5,824,254 13,000 33,590.00 1,200 10,627.00 1,780 237,245.00 61,380,700 459,897,882.00 627,915 1,163,097,165.00 6,030,000 2,640,250.00 311,943,000 311,393,490.00 8,460,100 383,253,270.00 6,540,230 533,139,690.50 6,482,100 40,990,084.00 57,893,000 190,668,090.00 9,054,001 6,996,180.00 8,351,000 29,142,170.00 650,000 214,350.00 183,400 1,156,999.00 MINING & OIL 724,000,000 2,898,500.00 2,275,000 7,100,270.00 1,631,000 6,362,820.00 4,400 42,463.00 1,600,000 353,980.00 1,508,000 3,919,860.00 616,000 1,575,610.00 1,628,000 939,290.00 4,800,000 2,051,050.00 126,500 1,025,605.00 50,973,000 42,837,720.00 6,830,000 1,880,750.00 61,702,000 14,305,550.00 5,336,000 1,224,850.00 94,300,000 1,037,600.00 92,500,000 1,109,900.00 5,214,000 8,595,180.00 21,726,400 120,109,920.00 761,000 2,023,700.00 117,000 60,350.00 1,399,400 1,431,500.00 146,900,000 1,658,900.00 6,400,000 72,400.00 83,000 338,650.00 7,151,100 237,689,892.00 20,818,000 81,890,920.00 452,800,000 5,452,300.00 11,335,180 1,194,586,457.50 832,000 3,013,950.00 264,000,000 2,539,400.00 PREFERRED 205,370 10,322,492.00 2,580 1,370,975.00 9,820 5,301,300 286,750 29,872,018.00 47,950 4,938,850.00 4,000 476,000.00 10,130 5,324,840.00 85,600 520,514.00 11,377,000 11,516,450 730 80,220.00 2,650 2,760,210.00 25 28,750.00 4,130 4,270,110.00 1,110 123,134.00 52,000 4,077,356.00 87,430 7,058,870 55,840 4,581,802.00 135,400 10,696,600.00 48,560 3,815,299.00 2,460 194,500.00 1,899,490 147,186,523.50 485,110 37,706,977.50 4,000 9,680.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 3,583,000 7,298,380.00 SME 50,522,600 269,664,722.00 170,000 687,150.00 5,283,200 28,080,730.00 9,890,000 161,121,946.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 26,740 3,494,052.00

AUGUST 8-12, 2016 Volume Value

0.450 37.80 15.18 32.30 1.78 3.35 29.45 0.95 6.84 1.030 5.910

1,330,000 6,700 1,090,200 8,770,100 1,322,000 648,000 444,200,155 8,779,000 2,100 2,698,000 33,007,600

613,500.00 258,160.00 13,667,318.00 283,112,400.00 2,345,670.00 2,154,320.00 1,279,326,965.00 8,387,710.00 13,584.00 2,805,640.00 196,522,884.00

7.2 50.2 1.23 0.600 11 5.65 6.19 0.0930 2.72 120 9.8 2.1 5.28 3.34 941 2130 6.39 15.86 21.80 1.32 74.9 20.50 173 11.02 0.0086 9.30 0.310 1.4400 3.07 12.9 6.00 2.90 1.03 2.40 19.98 0.570 2 3.68 5.15 3.910 11.38 6.10 2.65 9.9 135.00 8.80 1876.00 0.450 1.020 44.10 86.00 6.40 3.25 0.610 3.45 0.330 6.520

603,900 373,470 64,000 7,297,000 1,033,900 74,200 62,553,100 692,980,000 29,987,000 5,097,340 19,200 183,000 4,124,900 12,000 18,400 597,860 3,210,000 797,100 1,300 4,942,000 30,179,230 208,200 910 10,000 236,000,000 3,440,700 53,800,000 42,916,000 1,459,000 64,800 4,673,000 1,695,000 374,000 1,279,000 1,500 99,000 26,000 55,539,000 51,160,400 108,847,000 343,600 2,235,600 6,000 1,400 6,040 51,324,400 660,955 12,700,000 72,094,000 13,464,300 4,288,030 5,389,000 54,808,000 17,969,000 6,355,000 1,470,000 850,400

4,395,965.00 19,006,263.00 82,400.00 4,453,030.00 11,391,130.00 425,108 376,939,007.00 68,271,730.00 83,553,560.00 612,118,125.00 189,180.00 402,070 21,148,199.00 39,800.00 17,308,550.00 1,298,149,620 20,603,584.00 12,325,178.00 28,150 6,453,780.00 2,087,773,334.50 4,314,795 149,228 111,080.00 2,054,100.00 32,090,430.00 17,051,500.00 61,110,040.00 4,560,090.00 846,740.00 28,020,452 4,857,640.00 388,940.00 3,096,610.00 29,336 57,450.00 52,000.00 200,949,570.00 278,371,688.00 435,329,800.00 3,951,302.00 13,579,142 15,900.00 13,327.00 797,980.00 336,178,499.00 1,249,613,025.00 5,646,550.00 75,612,460.00 621,151,940.00 371,328,239.50 34,821,455.00 185,951,770.00 10,960,000.00 22,043,690.00 490,800.00 5,661,347.00

0.0040 3.26 3.93 10.00 0.218 6.2500 6.9900 0.57 0.420 8.07 0.840 0.275 0.192 0.210 0.0110 0.0120 1.7 5.28 2.65 0.5300 0.9200 0.0120 0.0110 4.05 8.50 3.90 0.0130 100.80 3.7 0.0099

1,449,000,000 20,534,000 1,065,000 9,100 2,050,000 88,100 5,300 4,194,000 7,420,000 47,700 124,176,000 8,140,000 170,020,000 96,710,000 846,500,000 279,400,000 6,620,000 24,946,700 1,666,000 266,000 5,844,000 44,700,000 4,000,000 78,000 10,742,100 12,021,000 104,900,000 7,987,640 435,000 146,700,000

5,854,400.00 71,003,990.00 4,286,780.00 89,314.00 449,250.00 540,933.00 34,962.00 2,477,210.00 3,236,000.00 385,376.00 101,012,270.00 2,285,850.00 35,148,020.00 3,749,570.00 9,410,800.00 3,372,800.00 11,580,420.00 136,639,537.00 4,531,560.00 140,480.00 5,690,460.00 497,300.00 47,200.00 274,080.00 90,150,789.00 44,842,590.00 1,266,200.00 864,463,014.00 1,620,030.00 1,445,460.00

50.1

389,640

19,674,970.00

545 104.5 116 119 510 6.09 1.03 111.5 1040

12,120 764,630 200 66,100 23,510 5,582,400 9,961,000 35,320 3,240

6,535,565 79,833,834.00 23,200.00 7,865,900.00 12,321,090.00 33,985,262.00 10,312,750 3,846,884.00 3,370,670.00

1022 110.8 78 80.3 76 79 78.5 79 77.45 77.5 2.42

12,120 100 30,600 157,140 502,000 128,280 150,320 66,430 659,780 283,600 21,000

12,388,540.00 11,080.00 2,397,255.00 12,719,438 38,174,133.50 10,134,170.00 11,802,920.00 5,260,048.00 50,936,161.00 21,941,198.00 50,220.00

2.230

7,919,000

17,699,450.00

5.94 3.89 5.18 16.8

29,299,100 111,000 3,808,200 3,261,600

157,345,572.00 426,990.00 19,601,216.00 54,669,640.00

131

61,310

8,096,037.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Boulevard Holdings Philodrill Corp. `A’ Premium Leisure Megaworld United Paragon Vitarich Corp.

Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Filinvest Land,Inc. Oriental Pet. `A’

VOLUME 724,000,000 534,740,000 452,800,000 311,943,000 267,263,900 264,000,000 204,236,000 166,026,000 160,552,000 146,900,000

STOCKS Universal Robina Metrobank SM Prime Holdings GT Capital I.C.T.S.I. Cemex Holdings Ayala Land `B’ Megaworld Bank of PI Security Bank

VALUE 5,118,416,000 3,442,838,487.00 2,276,612,830.00 1,761,403,835.00 1,751,245,974.00 1,486,358,766.00 1,474,246,055.00 1,331,414,054.00 1,314,033,161.00 1,277,304,144.00

two exchanges.

Herbosa, however, said PSE in its new application should address certain provisions that were contained in SEC’s previous letter explaining why it had rejected PSE’s first merger proposal.

“We did tell them, more or less, that you have our last letter, all the things that we require there, you’re supposed to submit to us. We wanted them to make a concrete plan on how to reduce the cost of the transaction.

Also, they should come up with the definite permanent structure of the consolidated operations and the joining of the two companies,” Herbosa said.

Herbosa said it was up to PSE on when it would file a new merger application.

“They are probably putting together already the documents needed as well as new plans,” she said.

She said SEC would reconsider the union of the two exchanges. “Of course, we are also enthusiastic to receive a new proposal from the PSE because we really want to approve applications rather than disapprove,” Herbosa said.

PSE president Hans Sicat said last week the bourse revived plans to merge the country’s equities and bond exchanges and intended to submit a new proposal to SEC within the year.

Sicat said PSE also talked to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and other government officials about the plan.

Sicat said he was optimistic the planned merger would not be problem with the newly-formed Philippine Competition Commission.

Insular launches new plan for firms INSULAR Life, the first and largest Filipino-owned insurance company, has launched Group Healthcare Access, a comprehensive medical insurance plan that offers companies one of the widest access to healthcare services in the Philippines.

“A comprehensive medical insurance plan is one of the best benefits that companies could offer its employees, and Group Healthcare Access is one such plan,” said Insular Life vice president and group marketing division head Carlito Lucas.

Group Healthcare Access provides members with cashless access to medical services within Insular Health Care’s network of more than 335 hospitals, 360 health clinics and 20,988 accredited doctors all over the country.

Members also get access to a 24/7 hotline facility during hospital confinements and a visit from Insular Health Care’s liaison officer.

“But what makes this more responsive to one’s needs is its reimbursement feature. If a member is hospitalized in a non-accredited medical facility, he or she may reimburse all applicable expenses under the plan,” said Lucas.

Group Healthcare Access also comes with life and accident insurance coverage.

Business

B3

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

SR Metals expects fair review T

Banks upgrade outlook for PH

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

By Julito G. Rada GLOBAL financial institutions raised their growth forecasts for the Philippines this year, after the government announced a gross domestic product expansion of 7 percent in the second quarter.

The second-quarter expansion was faster than the revised 6.8-percent growth in the first quarter. This brought the firsthalf average to 6.9 percent, near the upper bound of the government’s official target range of 6 percent to 7 percent.

Japanese financial firm Nomura said it raised its 2016 GDP growth forecast for the Philippines to 6.7 percent from 6.3 percent.

“This revision is supported by the solid first-half growth average of 6.9 percent, an impact from the Brexit vote that was more contained than our initial expectations and, more importantly, by the Duterte administration’s commitment to policy continuity in implementing economic reforms and building infrastructure,” Nomura said in a report over the weekend.

“In our view, these factors should keep GDP growth robust in the second half, averaging 6.5 percent even as the election-related boost to growth in the first half fades,” Nomura said.

Nomura also raised its 2017 GDP growth forecast to 6.3 percent from 6 percent, saying fiscal support to growth would remain strong, given the pragmatic and pro-growth stance of the new government.

The strong second-quarter performance also encouraged Credit Suisse to upgrade its growth forecast for the Philippines this year to 6.5 percent from a previous estimate of 6.2 percent, despite the expected slowdown in the second half.

“We expect some slowdown in the second half of 2016 reflecting fading of election effect, but maintain our above consensus call on GDP. We raise our already above consensus Philippines GDP forecast further, to 6.5 percent from 6.2 percent, on the back of the stronger first-half GDP,” it said.

UBAY, Agusan del Norte—SR Metals Inc. said it is hoping for a positive review by the mining audit team which assessed the operations of Tubay nickel mining project in Barangay La Fraternidad in this town.

“The audit was tough but I think it was fair. The parameters were fair. The technical audit is a listing of papers that they will ask you to give for the technical audit. We submitted all 145 documents that they asked,” said SRMI mining tenements manager Alfredo Belen Jr. “For the social audit, I would say, very thorough but it was an independent audit. We did not go with them. They

went out to the local community. The rules are very strict.

They were not allowed to ask if the respondent was pro or anti SRMI. The question was, if the people benefitted from the mining operations,” Belen said.

“And I would think that what they asked were reflected sentiments on the ground. They asked around and the questions and observations they put it down on paper, they gave it to us and asked to comment,” Belen said.

SRMI’s mineral production sharing agreement covers more than 1,000 hectares. The company received its revised MPSA in 2015.

Agusan del Norte Governor Angel Amante-Matba said the mining company had been “responsible” and asked the Environment Department to allow the operations of SRMI to continue. “ Before, our province is so laid back. People have no jobs and they would really go to politicians but we cannot accommodate them all. You cannot accommodate a growing population. That’s impossible,” said Matba.

Matba said the workforce of SRMI alone was now 1,7000. Taxes paid by the company reached more than P23 million last year, he said.

“I’ve seen it myself and honestly I was impressed.

If you’re gonna ask me, their operations have been a great help to the community. If you say that mining does not contribute, I don’t know where that’s coming from,” Matba said. “ You don’t just see the number of people employed.

You also have to look at the multiplier effect. If they are compliant, why should you close it?” Matba said.

Matba said suspending the operations of SRMI would be a burden on the local government.

“Not all mining companies are bad. I would understand if you close the companies destroying the environment, but if companies are following the rules of the country, why will you close it? How will DENR secretary help me accommodate all those people who would be displaced? I will be the one answerable to them because I am the leader here,” Matba said.

Batangas Container Terminal

Batangas Port now a key trade enabler BATANGAS Container Terminal, operated by listed Asian Terminals Inc., has steadily sustained its role as a key trade enabler outside Metro Manila, keeping vital goods flowing for major industries in south Luzon and supporting government efforts in spreading economic activity outside the National Capital Region.

BCT handled over 85,000 twentyfoot equivalent units of international containers as of end-July, setting it on course to yet another record performance this year after handling over 130,000 TEUs in 2015.

ATI attributed BCT’s solid volume growth to its expanding list of customers in Calabarzon (Cavite, Lagu-

na, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) led

by Japanese electronics giants, food and beverage conglomerates, retailers, agri-exporters and leading car manufacturers, all taking advantage of a comprehensive and competitive international gateway port within their reach.

BCT is conveniently accessible 24/7 to industrial zones 10- to 50-kilometers away through modern highways and seamless road infrastructure. Ample third-party truckers, duly accredited by the local government units, also offer reliable services at competitive rates.

Seven freight services call Batangas weekly, while another docks fortnightly, providing shippers a direct and fast

link to Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and other global trade hubs.

Aside from proximity and connectivity, efficient services are delivered

by Calabarzon’s preferred trade gateway as backed by modern port systems and streamlined processes.

BCT upgraded to Navis Sparcs in 2014, the same system which powers the biggest marine terminals in the world. This resulted in greater port efficiency and productivity, bannered by BCT’s record production of 30 gross moves per crane per hour in July 2015, which puts it up to par with world class container hubs like Singapore and Hong Kong.

Therma asks ERC to dismiss anti-competition case

By Alena Mae S. Flores THERMA Mobile Inc., a unit of Aboitiz Power Corp., asked the Energy Regulatory Commission to dismiss an anti-competition complaint, saying the regulator has no jurisdiction over the case.

Therma Mobile said it was adopting a similar motion filed by power distributor Manila Electric Co. with ERC. Meralco earlier moved to dismiss the anti-competition complaint “on the basis of lack of subject mat-

ter jurisdiction.”

“A judgment issued by a quasi-judicial body without jurisdiction is void…

TMO respectfully adopts the Meralco motion questioning the commission’s subject matter jurisdiction,” it said.

Therma Mobile cited the position of Meralco that it was the Philippine Competition Commission which had jurisdiction over cases involving anticompetitive activities.

Meralco, in a separate urgent motion, said ERC’s jurisdiction over anti-competition cases was transferred to PCC.

“Consequently, in keeping with the intent of the PCA [Philippine Competition Act] to have all competition related issues enforced and regulated by the PCA, this honorable commission must, with due respect, dismiss the complaint,” Meralco said.

Meralco also moved for the suspension of all proceedings, including the pre-trial until the jurisdiction issue was resolved.

Meralco said in a previous filing with the commission it had no reason or intent to restrict competition

in the market and increase prices.

Meralco pointed to the withholding of the capacity of other power generators that caused the spike of power rates at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market in November to December 2013 supply months.

The power distributor said the company’s bidding procedure as contained in its power supply agreement with Therma Mobile “was not for the purpose of competing and did not result in restricting competition in any market for electricity.”

Ikea plans to build PH furniture factory

By Othel V. Campos SWEDISH furniture retailer Ikea is mulling over a plan to build a manufacturing facility in the Philippines through a joint venture with local partners.

One of the local retailers privy to the talks said the multinational company was looking not only for a big retail space but also for another site for manufacturing.

“I met with one of their representatives here.

He said one of their issues is where to operate [here]. They need a large space for retail, standalone, which is their MO [modus operandi] in all the markets they are in,” he said.

The source said Ikea wanted to go into furniture manufacturing “but that plan has not solidified yet.”

“The furnitures that they sell [include] beds, cabinets, dressers.... They want to do it here as well. But that is dependent on their search for a partner and the corporate structure that will be forged between them,” he said.

The source said Ikea had been looking at the Philippine market for a long time now, but concerns on investment limitations dampened its initial interest.

He said the Philippines might be included in the second wave of expansion of the Swedish brand.

“We were just overtaken by other economies in the Asean. It [Ikea] is now in Malaysia and Singapore. It will be in Vietnam soon. The Philippines is positively on the second wave,” he said.

Employee motivation: a millennial’s perspective MICHELLE M. FIDEL

GREEN LIGHT THE millennial generation’s share in the active workforce is increasing. Millennial, born between the early 1980s and early 2000, now occupy entrylevel up to top executive posts in the corporate world. They are optimistic, cooperative team players, rule followers and racially and ethnically diverse (Howe and Strauss, 2000). And since they are fast becoming the most influential population in the workforce today, millennials are considered the future of business.

However, studies have shown that they tend to change jobs more often than the older generations. According to Deloitte

Touche Tohmatsu Limited’s fifth annual Millennial Survey, millennials express little loyalty to their current employers and that they are likely to quit their current job whenever a better opportunity comes. Thus, many companies struggle to manage and retain valuable millennial employees.

Keeping millennials engaged Being a millennial myself, I often had discussions with my friends and co-millennials who work in different industries about the things that motivate us to stay with our employers.

While most of us agree that competitive pay and benefits are still one of the top motivating factors in keeping our jobs, other non-monetary components that keep us engaged in our jobs also cropped up. Aside

from fat pay checks, most millennials look for these things to keep them motivated: meaningful work, job flexibility and mentoring.

Our generation is more likely to look for meaning in work.

That is, millennials want to know that every task that they do has a purpose. We want to set clear objectives and know our role towards achieving the company’s goals. By helping us find our niche in the overall plan and set-up of the company gives us a clearer sense of purpose, which could help us become more productive. Also, a work environment where we feel that our opinion and decisions matter makes us empowered and provides us with a better sense of responsibility for all our actions and decisions.

Providing work-life balance Millennials are more motivated to perform better if they have flexible work environment.

Work-life balance is important for this tech-savvy generation.

While we value our career and are willing to allot a significant portion of our lives building it, it is also imperative that we still have time to spend with our loved ones, to travel or to do whatever that we would like and need to do aside from work.

For an MBA student like me, having a flexible work schedule is important so that I can attend my class during weekdays.

Since we can bring our work anywhere with the help of new technology, we also appreciate if we can do work from home from time to time especially when there are strong typhoons

or for some reason we cannot go to the office but are still required to report for work. In this case, flexibility is beneficial for both employee and employer.

Finding good mentors Millennials also tend to look for mentors who would help us succeed in our chosen field.

We need guidance from more experienced employees to help us define our career goals and objectives.

Good mentors would stir us in the right direction to achieve our career goals and keep us on track if we are veering away from it. We expect honest and constant feedbacks from mentors so that we know if there are areas that we should improve on. We need outstanding individuals whom we can model ourselves after.

Based on the observations

above, it can be noted that millennials know their worth and they want to feel in control of their careers. What the employers can do to retain millennial employees is to focus not only on pay and financial benefits but also on the non-monetary factors that will keep them engaged, committed and satisfied at work.

Michelle M. Fidel is an MBA student of Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business at De La Salle University. This essay is part of the requirements of the course, Strategic Human Resource Management The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of De La Salle University, its faculty and its administrators.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

B4

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016

Business

Longer retirement age riles Germans T

HE German central bank’s call for people to work until age 69 has reignited a fierce debate in Europe’s fast-aging top economy, with analysts backing it while politicians show their opposition ahead of key elections.

Economy Minister and Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel was swift to condemn it, saying: “A factory worker, a shop assistant, a nurse, a care-giver would find this idea nuts.

So do I.” The offending idea is a passage in this month’s Bundesbank report, which noted that “the currently satisfactory financial situation of public pension treasuries should not distract from the fact that other changes would have to be made to ensure its sustainability”.

And what the bank proposed to ensure stability of the pensions system is a further gradual increase in the legal retirement age,

already set to go from 65 to 67 by 2029, to reach 69 years by 2060.

Life expectancy in Germany at present is 78 for men and 83 for women, and it is continuing to rise.

Even if Germans are increasingly delaying their retirement, the effective age when most leave employment is 62.

That means around two decades worth of pensions need financing while at the same time, the working population funding these payments is shrinking as the country ages rapidly.

The Bundesbank had already come up with the magic number back in 2009.

But it resuscitated the 69 figure this week as it wanted to “contribute to the debate” and incite politicians to adopt a more long-term vision, a spokesman told AFP. Political parties, which are already warming up for general elections next year, are expected to make pensions a key theme of their campaigns.

With 20 million retirees eligible to vote, politicians will be seeking to win on issues ranging from the level of future pensions and the question of equalizing pension payments

in east and west Germany, to the amount of contributions to be levied on future working generations.

But no one expects to win votes by telling Germans they would have to work two years longer.

Gabriel’s Social Democrats—a junior partner in the ruling right-left coalition— have firmly rejected the idea of raising further the retirement age.

For Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats, the question has not even arisen, the party’s general secretary said, stressing that 67 is the right age for retirement.

But economists threw their weight behind the Bundesbank and some even challenged the bank’s estimate as falling on the low end.

According to estimates by the economic think-tank IW Institute in Cologne, Germans would need to work until 73 if they want to maintain their pensions and contributions at current levels.

Axel Boersch-Supan, an economist at the Max Planck institute, meanwhile suggested that the retirement age should be pegged to the development of life expectancy. AFP

Coca-Cola scores at Rio Olympics Traders cash in on Pokemon WHEN the music started blaring, kids barged one another aside to snatch free sodas at Coca-Cola Co.’s bayside fan center. To get in, visitors queued for hours on Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic Boulevard.

Two blocks back from the water there were only a couple dozen spectators at an Aug. 13 show of dance, drumming and capoeira in a plaza. That’s bad news for Afoxe Filhos de Gandhi, the city’s oldest group promoting Afro-Brazilian culture, which had hoped to profit enough from the event to repair the roof of a former slave market that is its headquarters.

The re-vamping of Rio’s historic downtown port area in advance of the world’s biggest sporting event costs billions of dollars and was meant to showcase gleaming new office towers, museums and a host of historical sites to lure tourists, residents and companies. The region owes much of its soul to Africa; freed and escaped slaves settled in the area, and samba was born on its cobblestone streets. As the games cruise to a conclusion, it’s the sponsor venues that have hogged all the attention.

Last weekend alone 350,000 visitors flocked to the waterfront Boulevard to see the Olympic

flame, eat at food trucks, and watch live musicians playing in the shadows of a massive cruise liner where U.S. basketball players reside. Less than two blocks back from the bay, the Valongo Quay, a recently-excavated site where more slaves made landfall than any other port in the Americas, was empty. Partly because there were no signs to direct tourists.

Maria Vittoria Branchini, 16, whose Italian family watched the Olympics opening ceremony live on the Boulevard, said they never would’ve found Valongo without a guided tour. The group of nine was led by Rayane Rosignoli, who said there’s a need to talk more about “the B-side of Brazil’s history,’’ which includes favelas and slavery. The opening ceremony didn’t gloss over Brazil’s stained past, with slaves marching to a soundtrack that featured a whip’s lash.

On the Boulevard there also aren’t signs pointing to a nearby archaeological center that’s atop a slave cemetery. It hasn’t seen an increase in visitors during the Olympics, according to its founder, Merced Guimaraes.

Winning Gold Back at the Coke gift shop kids could pick up a plastic Coca-Cola cup, a pair of per-

sonalized sandals, or Olympic pins released daily that form the shape of a bottle when complete.

“They’ve become a craze,’’ says store manager Mauricio Lima Salvador.

The beverage company set a target of 80,000 visitors during the Olympics, and is set to surpass it by 10 percent with lines lasting as long as four-and-a-half hours. “We’re going for gold,” spokeswoman Kate Hartman said in an e-mail.

Coke paid about 1 million reais to rent its warehouse, according to Antonio Mello, who has been Rio’s tourism secretary since before the city won hosting rights. He estimates the company shelled out another 12 to 15 million reais to “activate’’ the space. It was just one of the Olympics sponsors called upon to help bring alive the port area, which is in the midst of a roughly 8 billion-real overhaul. CocaCola declined to comment on its marketing budget.

“Some sponsors came in, others didn’t,’’ Mello said. “I’m sure those that didn’t—Claro, Visa—must regret not being on the Olympic Boulevard. They could’ve been there exposing their brand, getting brand experience. And it’s a success.’’

Bloomberg

PARIS, France—Pokemon Go has sent millions of people onto the streets in a worldwide hunt for virtual monsters—and from neighborhood restaurants to multi-national corporations, businesses smell a profit.

“It’s going really well—this is the fourth time we’ve had to restock our Pokemon cuddly toys in two weeks,” said salesman Corentin Flamand, surveying a row of mini Pikachus at the Micromania store in Paris’ bustling Bastille area.

The chain has brought in mugs, baseball caps and a slew of other products to mark this year’s 20th anniversary of the cult Japanese franchise, and is now hoping to profit from the surge of new fans created by the smartphone game.

Beyond products, companies see huge potential in the app’s ability to attract crowds to places in a way that typical advertising does not, by tempting them with the prospect of adding new Pokemon to their collections.

Bars and restaurants from New York to Sydney are reportedly paying for “lures”, a feature of the game which draws Pokemon to a location, hoping this will draw in customers to linger and spend money.

“If you run a bar/ restaurant and aren’t spending $10/day on lures and advertising the fact, what are you even thinking?”

Eric Neustadter, former head of Microsoft’s Xbox Live gaming service, wrote in a widely-shared tweet.

Philippe Bonnasse, a retail expert at French consultancy CA Com, said companies could profit from showing “that their brand is in sync with the times -- that they’re ‘Pokemon Go compatible’.”

Some firms are offering Pokecoins— the game’s currency, which players can spend on accessories to help them hunt— as prizes for competitions. AFP

CAST IN STONE

Present from left: Acting Director - Anti-Illegal Drugs Group PSSupt Albert Ignatius D Ferro, Chief - National Operations Center PCSupt Nestor M Bergonia, Director – Directorate for Comptrollership PCSupt Archie Francisco F Gamboa, PNP Dir. Gen. Ronald Dela Rosa, MVP Group of Companies Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, PLDT-SMART Foundation President Esther O. Santos, SVP for Public and Regulatory Affairs and MVP Group Media Bureau Head Atty. Michael T. Toledo, MMC Foundation Executive Director Marge Barro, MPIC VP for PR and Corp Comm Melody del Rosario, PLDT AVP and CRB Head, Public Sector Joy Rodriguez Hilao and PLDT AVP and CRM Head, Public Sector Dennis Magbatoc.

“ITAGA mo sa bato” is the first adage that comes to mind when we speak about stones.

Or rocks. Cast it in stone. Indelible, unchangeable, unflinching.

Rock solid. Rock hard. Solid rock. Hard rock.

When President Duterte appointed then-Chief Superintendent Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa as the new Chief of the Philippine National Police, he might as well have proclaimed, to paraphrase the Bible, that “upon this Rock I will build my crusade against crime” I had the opportunity last week to accompany our Chairman, Manuel V. Pangilinan, or MVP, to a meeting with Director General “Bato” at Camp Crame. Also composing part of the MVP Group contingent were PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF) President Esther O. Santos, Metro Pacific VicePresident for PR and Corporate Communications Melody del Rosario, Makati Medical Center Foundation Executive Director Marge Barro, PLDT AVP and CRB Head, Public Sector, Joy Rodriguez Hilao, and PLDT AVP and CRM Head, Public Sector, Dennis Magbatoc.

In that meeting we discussed the Group’s intentions in assisting the PNP particularly with regard to the 911 hotline and long-term programs for drug rehabilitation. We also discussed ways to partner with the PNP hospitals and the modernization of their facilities.

One of the programs that the PNP Chief wanted expedited was the National Operations

Center. He shared that in his visits abroad his counterparts from other countries would bring him to their own national operations centers. He would want to replicate that facility here.

One of the more serious discussions dwelt with the issue of national security vis-a-vis cyber security and how our country has been vulnerable to cyber attacks, particularly in the realm of financial security. The attacks on our systems reached a feverish pitch when the arbitral award on the West Philippine Sea was about to be released.

The meeting was also occasion for PLDT-SMART Foundation to turn over a check signifying a part of its commitment to the PNP-PSF Educational Fund. The PSF has been supporting the program for PNP dependents since 2008.

All in all it was a very fruitful meeting. General Bato is reputed to be like some kind of Godfather of Rock, harsh and unapproachable. Nothing can be farther from the truth. He is a warm, approachable and endearing fellow, but don’t let that soft side fool you. He may be warm, but he can be also be fiery hot when it comes to the serious business of combatting and preventing crime, particularly the current drug menace.

And that you can cast in stone.

From left: Acting Director - Anti-Illegal Drugs Group PSSupt Albert Ignatius D Ferro, Chief - National Operations Center PCSupt Nestor M Bergonia, Director – Directorate for Comptrollership PCSupt Archie Francisco F Gamboa, PNP Dir. Gen. Ronald Dela Rosa, MV.P Group of Companies Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, PLDT-SMART Foundation President Esther O. Santos, SVP for Public and Regulatory Affairs and MVP Group Media Bureau Head Atty. Michael T. Toledo, MMC Foundation Executive Director Marge Barro, MPIC VP for PR and Corp Comm Melody del Rosario, PLDT AVP and CRB Head, Public Sector Joy Rodriguez Hilao and PLDT AVP and CRM Head, Public Sector Dennis Magbatoc.

Selfie with PNP Dir. Gen. Ronald Dela Rosa and MVP Group

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016

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SKYLINE. Despite its socioeconomic diversity, Makati has earned a name as an environmentally progressive city.

Erap allots P3m to repair houses hit by tornado, fire MANILA Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada on Friday gave away P3 million worth of construction materials to enable families in Baseco Compound and Quiapo who were hit by a tornado and a fire last Sunday to rebuild their houses.

Estrada donated 2,000 pieces of galvanized iron sheets, hundreds of board feet of lumber, nails and other supplies to residents of Aplaya area in Baseco, Oroquieta Street in Sta. Cruz, and Quiapo.

“The city government is always with the Manileños in their times of need,” the mayor said during his visit to Baseco.

Estrada told the residents, “I can never forsake you. Even after my term I will come here.

You can depend on it.”

The mayor earlier directed the Office of the City Engineer to determine what assistance can be provided to the communities hit by a tornado and a subsequent fire last Sunday.

“We will first finance the repair of the roofs of their houses,” Estrada said.

He added he will send 100 city hall workers to help in the repair work.

According to the Office of the City Engineer, the homes of 22 families in Quiapo were damaged by the tornado, while in Baseco, 292 houses sustained varying degrees of damage, including around 50 shanties razed by a huge fire that took place just a few hours after the tornado struck.

“Right now, we are working on providing initial aid to victims through the provision of construction materials. Most of them lost their roofs,” City Engineer Rogelio Legazpi said.

It was not the first time Estrada has helped residents displaced by calamities. Last March, he donated P7.3 million worth of construction supplies to families who lost their homes in separate fires in barangays 775 and 770 in Sta. Ana.

Makati City: A ‘Green Development Hub’—WWF

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE City of Makati has been recognized by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) as one of only three cities on its list of the most environmentally progressive local government units in the Philippines.

Makati placed 19th in the We Love Cites Campaign organized by the WWF from May 13 to June 26.

The WWF cited “Makati City in the National Capital Region is developing a center to provide barangay officials with the basic knowledge and design skills to be able to promote urban design projects designed not just to be eco-friendly, but to promote the respective cultural identity of each barangay.”

Lawyer Michael Arthur Camina, Makati City legal officer and spokesperson of Mayor Abigail Binay, acknowledged and thanked the WWF for rec-

ognizing the city as one of the “Green Development Hubs” in the Philippines.

“The Makati City government is humbled and greatly honored by the recognition given by such a prestigious body as the World Wildlife Fund for Nature. More importantly, the recognition is an inspiration and encouragement for the City of Makati, under the leadership of Mayor Abby Binay, to continue and expand programs aimed at protecting the environment and promoting environmental awareness among residents and the general public,” said Camina.

He added that residents should

“rest assured that the city shall always lead the way and be in the forefront of environmental innovation in the country. This can be achieved through strengthened and meaningful coordination among the city, barangays and residents in our unified effort to ensure that environment protection and preservation is achieved and sustained for this generation and the succeeding generation.”

Meanwhile, the WWF proclaimed the City of Sta. Rosa in Laguna as the country’s Earth Hour National Capital because of its initiative programs ranging from the erection of solar street lights to the construction of a composting facility designed to minimize landfill waste.

The City of San Carlos in Negros Occidental, on the other hand, placed 4th in the campaign.

The WWF said San Carlos City has positioned itself as the emerging Renewable Energy hub of Asia, hosting two solar parks, a bioethanol and biomass power plants. It added that a

The We Love Cities Campaign uses the power of social media to raise additional awareness for the 47 finalist cities of the Earth Hour City Challenge, while giving the public a chance to celebrate, vote for and suggest improvements for their home cities.

“Cities play a major role as contributors to climate change and rapid development. They are centers for consumption and carbon emissions—generating 70 percent of global emissions,” explains Earth Hour Philippines Director Atty. Gia Ibay.

“With the cities of Santa Rosa, San Carlos, Makati and our other green hubs leading the way, we can create cleaner and more livable spaces for Pinoys.

We hope the example set by our seven Earth Hour City Challenge entries convinces other Pinoy cities to develop sustainably. Homegrown solutions are already available to transform our cities into eco-friendly, stress-free and low-carbon urban spaces.”

WB builds biomass power plants in Negros Occidental

ENDANGERED. An idyllic scene on the Enchanted River in Surigao del Sur.

‘Protect Mindanao’s Enchanted River, Little Niagara Falls’ TWO of the country’s fastestgrowing ecotourism havens— Enchanted River and Tinuy-an Falls—are being eyed for tagging as “protected natural parks” to preserve their unique physical and biological features and shield them from potentially destructive human exploitation.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel has filed House Bills 1903 and 2116, proposing to add the two wonders of nature, both located in his home province, to the national registry of 240 protected areas.

“No effort must be spared to conserve the magical river and the majestic falls, both of which are now clearly in danger of deg-

swift but careful transition to renewable energy is critical to curb climate change.

The awarding ceremonies were part of a workshop for 50 local and national government representatives to share best practices on low-carbon urban development. The workshop was held from Aug. 17 to 18 at the Hotel Novotel Manila in Cubao, Quezon City.

First launched in 2011, the challenge is a year-long initiative designed to mobilize action and support cities in the global transition towards a climate friendly and one-planet future by stimulating the development and dissemination of best practices for climate mitigation and adaptation.

Last year, seven cities in the country joined—Cagayan de Oro, Makati, Naga, Parañaque, San Carlos, Santa Rosa and Quezon City. A total of 124 cities from 20 countries around the world joined the 2015 to 2016 challenge.

radation on account of unchecked human activities, spurred mainly by the growing number of local and foreign visitors,” Pimentel, a member of the House committee on natural resources, said.

“We want the proposed Enchanted River and Tinuy-an Falls natural parks to become the focus of highly aggressive conservation efforts, so that future generations of Filipinos may delight in their marvels,” Pimentel, a three-term former provincial governor, said.

Enchanted River is a scenic, deep spring tributary situated in Barangays Talisay and Cambatong in the municipality of Hinatuan.

The river was named by the late

Modesto Farolan, the country’s first tourism commissioner (now the equivalent of tourism secretary), who was captivated by the waterway’s natural beauty and splendor during a tour, and wrote a romantic poem, “Rio Encantado,” about it.

The extraordinarily clear blue, 270-meter river flows into the Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean through Hinatuan Bay. Dubbed as the country’s “Little Niagara Falls” after the great chutes that straddle the CanadaUnited States border, the multitiered cascades of Tinuy-an Falls are 55 meters high and 95 meters wide—the broadest falls in the Philippines.

Situated in Barangay Burboanan, Bislig City, Tinuy-an Falls has a highly diverse ecosystem that includes 235 varieties of plant and animal life, many of which have been marked “vulnerable” or “endangered.”

Under the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992, portions of land and water may be reserved as “protected areas,” by law or by presidential proclamation, to safeguard and enrich their exceptional qualities.

The Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau oversees all protected areas, mostly with the help of local governments, or the state-run corporation that owns or controls the area.

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has invested $161 million in three biomass power plants in Negros Occidental with support from the Canadian government and the Clean Technology Fund.

The project is expected to generate 70 megawatts of clean renewable energy for the country.

The power plants are being built in the towns of Manapla, San Carlos and La Carlota and will convert sugarcane waste to electricity using a low carbonemitting process called circulating fluidized bed boiler technology. Before it was identified as feedstock for biomass power plants, sugarcane waste was burned in the fields, a practice that contributed to air pollution.

IFC country manager Yuan Xu said “energy is central to the country’s development, and the Philippines needs to further diversify and secure its energy sources. Converting agricultural waste to biomass power is a sustainable way of creating economic value while caring for the environment.”

The Clean Technology Fund as well as the Canada’s contribution to the project through the IFC-Canada Climate Change Program helped make this investment viable. To date, Canada has provided CA$271 million to the program, to enable climate change investments that are generating significant environmen-

tal and economic benefits in developing countries.

“We are pleased to support innovative projects abroad that help reduce global greenhouse gases.

Through our partnership with the IFC, Canada will deliver funds that will enable the growth of renewable energy while supporting the creation of green jobs,” said Catherine McKenna, Canada’s minister of environment and climate change.

“We are happy to receive this support from IFC and the development partners,” said Jose Maria Zabaleta, CEO of Bronzeoak Philippines, one of the shareholders for the project. “This funding will help utilize agricultural waste to generate reliable base load power, providing additional income to farmers, reducing fertilizer costs and helping contribute to a healthful ecology.”

“ThomasLloyd is delighted that IFC has chosen to participate in these investments. With its use of local sugar cane waste, this project is an exciting development for all the stakeholders and especially for the local community,” said Tony Coveney, executive director of ThomasLloyd Group Ltd. ThomasLloyd CTI Asia Holdings is the principal financial sponsor. WBE (Hong Kong) International Green Energy Limited, another shareholder, will provide engineering and construction services.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

LGUs

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TODAY MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016

SM donates relief goods to Marilao flood victims

By Jun David SM CITY Marilao distributed about 1,000 bags of relief goods to flood-ravaged areas where thousands of families were affected by the week-long monsoon rains in the city.

The Bulacan mall said SM Foundation Inc.’s Operation Tulong Express program donated “kalinga” packs containing rice, canned sardines, noodles and bottled water.

Manila ERRORS & OMISSIONS In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published. We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

The foundation’s emergency response to victims of natural calamities and disasters was made in close coordination with Save More and Hypermarket, SM City Marilao mall administration employees and volunteers from the customer relations service team and the local government of Marilao.

The relief distribution prioritized senior citizens and persons with disability affected by the floods.

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TODAY NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION

CENTURY LUXURY PROPERTIES, INC. CENTURY LUXURY PROPERTIES, INC. announces that it is dissolved as of April 7, 2016. This notice shall serve as public notice that the Company requests that persons with claims against CENTURY LUXURY PROPERTIES, INC. present them in writing to the Company with complete information on the identity of the claimant and substance of such claim. All claims must be sent to the Company’s principal address at 21st Floor, Pacific Star Building, Sen. Gil Puyat cor.

Makati Ave., Makati City on or before September 30, 2016.

Amend Bataan freeport law—Mariveles officials

M

ARIVELES—Local officials of Mariveles voiced out their support for the proposed amendments on the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan Law.

The town officials led by Mayor Ace Jello Concepcion recently met Bataan 2nd District Rep. Joet Garcia and an AFAB representative to push for the amendments of the law.

In 2009, Republic Act 9728 or the Freeport Area of Bataan Act of 2009 converted the Bataan Economic Zone in this town into the special economic zone Freeport Area of Bataan.

“Cong. Joet called the consultation meeting between Mariveles and AFAB officials regarding the amendments and discussed the functions of each party,” Councilor Tito Catipon explained.

“The amendments will include, among others, the sea waters to become part of the Freeport,” said Angel Sunga.

“This move amending the Freeport law is timely and good, it will further boost develop-

ment inside FAB and in the town of Mariveles. We in the LGU through the leadership of Mayor Concepcion and Vice Mayor Lito Rubia fully support this initiative,” Sunga added.

Aside from Concepcion, CatCYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BL ipon and Sunga, Councilors Joey Carandang and Emson Reyes, and Municipal Administrator Danilo Velasco attended the consultation meeting in Congress.

Butch Gunio

(Sgd) CARLOS BENEDICT K. RIVILLA IV Corporate Secretary (MS-AUG. 19,22 & 29, 2016)

A Sure Bet for Progress in Gaming, Entertainment and Nation Building

INVITATION TO BID FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF SERVICES FOR THE INSTALLATION, UPGRADE, CONFIGURATION, MIGRATION AND TESTING OF ACTIVE DIRECTORY, MS EXCHANGE AND MICROSOFT LYNC UNDER ITB NO. PB16-077COR-08 The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming public bidding for the Procurement of Services for the Installation, Upgrade, Configuration, Migration and Testing of Active Directory, MS Exchange and Microsoft Lync under ITB No.PB16-077-08.

Brief Description

S e r v i c e s f o r t h e I n s t a l l a t i o n , U p g r a d e, M i g r a t i o n a n d Te s t i n g o f A c t i ve D i r e c t o r y, M S E xc h a n g e a n d M i c r o s o f t Ly n c .

D e l i ve r y S c h e d u l e

T h e c o m p l e t e s c h e d u l e o f d e l i ve r i e s i s p r ov i d e d i n t h e S e c t i o n V I (S c h e d u l e o f Re q u i r e m e n t s) o f t h e B i d d i n g D o c u m e n t s w h i c h will commence from the ef fectivity date specified in the Notice t o P r o c e e d.

A p p r ove d B u d g e t for the Contract ( A B C):

T h r e e M i l l i o n N i n e H u n d r e d T h i r t y - E i g h t T h o u s a n d Pe s o s ( P h P 3 , 9 3 8 , 0 0 0 . 0 0), Va t E xc l u s i ve, Z e r o - R a t e d Tr a n s a c t i o n .

S o u r c e o f Fu n d s:

I n t e r n a l l y Fu n d e d

Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) years before the date of submission and receipt of bids, 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 through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR. The schedule of activities is listed, as follows: Activities 1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference

Schedule August 22, 2016 (Mon) to September 12, 2016 (Mon)

3. Deadline for the Submission & Receipt of Bids

August 30, 2016 (Tue),11:00 a.m.

September 12, 2016 (Mon),2:00 p.m.

4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

September 12, 2016 (Mon),2:00 p.m. onwards

Complete details of the project are indicated in the bidding documents which will be available to prospective bidders at the Procurement Department (PD), acting as the BAC Secretariat, upon payment of the non-refundable fee for the sale of Bidding Documents in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (PhP5,000.00).

Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidders shall pay the non-refundable fee for the sale of Bidding Documents not later than the date of the submission of bids. The Pre-bid Conference is open to all prospective bidders. Prospective bidders should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier located at the Sixth (6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, New World Manila Bay Hotel, 1588 M.H. del Pilar Street corner Pedro Gil Street, Malate, Manila either the Fee Slip for the sale of Bidding Documents which may be secured from PD or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - Tie-Breaking Method, the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 2 shall use a non-discretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidders have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having the LCRB, based on the following procedures: 1. In alphabetical order, the bidders shall pick one rolled paper.

2. The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

PAGCOR reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid, and to annul the bidding process and reject all Bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

Please address all communications to the Bids and Awards Committee thru PD, Room 203, Second (2nd) Floor, PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, Tel No.: 524-3911, 521-1542 local 223 or 671.

(SGD) RODERICK R. CONSOLACION Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 2 (MS-AUG. 22, 2016)

A Sure Bet for Progress in Gaming, Entertainment and Nation Building

InvItatIon to BId for the Supply and delIvery of It related equIpment under ItB no. pB16-025anG The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming public bidding for the Supply and Delivery of IT Related Equipment under ITB No. PB16-025ANG. Brief Description

IT Related Equipment

Delivery Period

Within sixty (60) calendar days from the effectivity date specified in the Notice to Proceed

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC):

The total ABC is Four Million Eight Hundred Eighteen Thousand Five Hundred Fifty Pesos (P4,818,550.00), VAT-Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction.

Lot 1 : Various IT Equipment and Software Licenses - Four Million Three Hundred Eight Thousand Five Hundred Fifty Pesos (P4,308,550.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero Rated Transaction Lot 2 : A/V Accessories – Two Hundred Sixty Thousand Pesos (P260,000.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero Rated Transaction Lot 3 – Distribution Amplifier – Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P 250,000.00), VAT Exclusive, Zero Rated Transaction

Source of Funds:

Internally Funded

Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) years before the date of submission and receipt of bids, 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 through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR. The schedule of activities is listed, as follows: Activities 1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference 3. Deadline for the Submission and Receipt of Bids 4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

Schedule August 22, 2016 to Sept. 12, 2016 August 30, 2016 (Tuesday), 2:00 p.m.

September 12, 2016 (Monday), 2:00 p.m.

September 12, 2016 (Monday), 2:00 p.m., onwards

Complete details of the project are indicated in the bidding documents which will be available to prospective bidders at the Procurement Section, upon payment of the non-refundable cost for the sale of bidding documents based on the following matrix: Approved Budget for the Contract 500,000.00 and below

Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Pesos) 500.00

More than 500,000.00 up to 1 Million

1,000.00

More than 1 Million up to 5 Million

5,000.00

Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidders shall pay the non-refundable bidding fee not later than the date of the submission of bids. The Pre-bid Conference is open to all prospective bidders. Prospective bidders should present to Finance Section located at the Mezzanine Floor, Casino Filipino – Angeles, Mac Arthur Highway, Balibago, Angeles City either the Bidding Fee Slip which may be secured from the Procurement Section or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - Tie-Breaking Method, the Branch Bids and Awards Committee (BBAC)shall use a non-discretionary and nondiscriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidders have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final LCRB, based on the following procedures: 1. In alphabetical order, the bidders shall pick one rolled paper.

2. The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

PAGCOR reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid, and to annul the bidding process and reject all Bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

Please address all communications to the Branch Bids and Awards Committee through the Procurement Section, Mezzanine Floor, Casino Filipino – Angeles, Mac Arthur Highway, Balibago, Angeles City at Tel No.: 892-5073 local 401.

(SGD) GLECY B. DANGA Chairperson Branch Bids and Awards Committee (BBAC)

(MS-AUG. 22, 2016)

LIFE-GIVING. Seafarers, Manila Police District Command men and MPD Press Corps members donate blood in the Philippine Red Cross drive for indigent patients. Danny Pata

Davao city hall has free Wi-fi but bans Pokemon Go, Dota

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—City Administrator lawyer Zuleika Lopez has banned online games Pokemon Go, Dota and other mobile applications in the city hall building.

Lopez issued the order just after the building was given free internet access under the Juan Konek project of the Department of Information and Communication Technology.

The memorandum was addressed to all local government employees, ordering them to refrain from using social networking and online shopping sites during office hours.

Among the restricted sites are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Lazada.

“Even more so, playing games such as Pokemon Go, Candy Crush, Dota as well as blogging, downloading and watching videos [are prohibited],” the memo read.

Last Friday, the city hall became a Wi-Fi hotspot along with the different parks of the city.

The free Wi-Fi covers the People’s Park, Osmeña and Rizal parks under a joint project of the City Government and the DICT. With the free Wi-Fi, people can enjoy 100 megabytes of data for free.

The project was launched a week before the 31st Kadayawan Festival of the city.

It is also in line with the city’s vision to make the entire city a Wi-Fi free city in the coming years.

DoT to push less-known LGUs THE Department of Tourism announced that it will intensify its promotion of lesser-known provinces and not just the top tourist destinations in the country.

This was revealed by Tourism Undersecretary Kat de Castro following her recent visit to Baler, Aurora during their annual Coco-Sabutan Festival.

De Castro said Baler Mayor Nelianto Bihasa asked her to join the panel of judges for the Miss Baler pageant, one of the highlights of the festival.

De Castro said the mayor asked the DoT to help promote his province as a vacation destination. ”I told him that shouldn’t be a problem because one of Secretary [Wanda Corazon] Teo’s priorities as DoT head is to put the spotlight also on lesser known destinations,” she said.

De Castro said she assured Bihasa that DoT would “shift its focus from popular destinations, such as Boracay and Cebu, to destinations that would need more promotions.”

She said the mayor likewise pointed out the need for infrastructure development, particularly roads leading to their town.

The DoT official said she also discussed the possibility of reviving regular flights to Baler with Bihasa. ”As of now, there are no flights to Baler even though they have an airport. A representative of PAL [Philippine Airlines], who was also one of the judges, will bring it up to their bosses,” she said.

The Coco Sabutan Festival is an annual celebration of the people of Baler in honor of its patron, San Luis Obispo, and in commemoration of the birth of the late President Manuel L. Quezon.

The festival also marks the 407th founding anniversary of the province.

Aside from the Miss Baler pageant, the week-long celebration also features street dancing, the Search for Little Ms. Baler, a Historical Quiz Bee and other fun activities. PNA

Dispose of waste properly—Gozon

By Butch Gunio BALANGA CITY—Vice Mayor Vianca Venzon-Gozon has urged city folks to support the city’s proper waste disposal program.

Mayor Francis Garcia and Gozon are prioritizing proper waste disposal in the city.

“When I was city councilor, it was under my committee on environment and solid waste management, so I ask you to help clean up the city and preserve our environment,” Gozon told the recent Learning Barangay Week Program in Cupang Proper.

“I want to share this with you. Many know that I am using the old-fashioned, reusable diaper for my child. You should try going back to the old ways,” she shared.

“Based on my estimate I am saving about P25,000 a year using reusable diapers. More than that, commercial diapers take a very, very long time before totally decomposing,” the vice mayor said.

Environmentalists lament that commercial diapers take 250-500 years to decompose.

Proper waste disposal practices are included in the week-long barangay program.

MOBILITY. Leyte 1st District Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez (right), in partnership with Department of Health, turn over a wheelchair to polio patient Mira Joy Jomadiao at Barangay Sto. Niño, Alang Alang, Leyte. Ver Noveno CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016

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Russians shiver in summer S

AINT PETERSBURG―For Russians it is a sure sign that summer has really come―the annual, rolling switch-off of municipal hot water that hits homes across the vast country.

From Vladivostok on the Pacific coast to the European exclave Kaliningrad, millions of residents are forced each year to shiver through icy showers as authorities say they have to switch off the system carrying hot water underground, in order to fix aging pipes.

The ritual shutdown―which usually lasts several weeks in

July or August―dates back to the Soviet era and has become a notorious bugbear for those who cannot afford their own boiler.

And while many stoically accept the authorities’ reasoning, for others the prospect of no warm water still grates― and they scramble to find ways around it.

“It is like this every summer

but it always annoys me as if it was the first time,” an irritated Yuliya Galitch, 43, told AFP after water was switched off at her flat in Russia’s second city of Saint Petersburg.

The explanation for why exactly hot water is turned off is often hazy at best and some argue this is a hangover from the Communist period that should have been ditched long ago.

But municipalities around the country insist it gives them an important window to repair creaking infrastructure after the rigors of Russia’s freezing winters.

“These works allow us to prepare for the new season of heating,

to test the drainage system and monitor the aging of the pipes,” the local state-run utilities company in Saint Petersburg said.

As the hot water runs dry each year, Russians take to Internet forums to discuss experiences and tips on how to get by.

“Ten ways to wash your hair without hot water” reads one advice column. “How to wash a baby if you’re alone and the hot water has been cut off” says another.

Some users suggest bathers simply suck it up and get on with it―hopping under a cold shower and getting their bodies acclimatised to it.

But others recommend an

elaborate scheme of boiling water in stove-top pots and kettles to limit one’s exposure.

“My shower each morning and evening is transformed into a real circus act with a system of saucepans and buckets,” says Saint Petersburg resident Galitch.

Fittingly for a legacy of the Communist era the annual freeze also sparks a burst of solidarity among Russians now more used to capitalist individualism than communal living.

For Pyotr Romanov, 35, the break in hot water gives him a good excuse to revive another typically Russian tradition -- going to the public bathhouse.

With a glint in his eyes he recalls the times when as a single man he used to “invite girls over to my place to wash”.

Up until last year musician Yevgeny used to go to his friends’ houses to take a shower when times got tough.

But this year he finally bit the bullet and invested in a boiler― which means he is now the one laying on the hospitality.

“Now it’s my friends who are coming round to my house,” he says.

“In general when they come to take a shower they bring tea or vodka and it becomes a real social call.” AFP

Trial starts without the main suspects BANGKOK―Two Chinese nationals will go on trial this week for their alleged roles in a deadly bombing at a Bangkok shrine one year ago, an attack whose motive remains clouded in mystery following a murky and at times surreal investigation.

The trial, which starts on Tuesday, is being held at a military court in Bangkok and is expected to last more than a year.

The bombing was the worst assault of its kind in Thailand’s recent history.

But one year later, more than a dozen key suspects named during the investigation remain at large, while analysts say Thai authorities have yet to offer a convincing motive.

The small but powerful bomb packed with ball bearings killed 20 people and wounded more than 100 when it ripped through Erawan shrine in the heart of Bangkok’s shopping district on August 17, 2015.

The Hindu shrine is popular among ethnic Chinese visitors, who made up a majority of the dead with five from Malaysia, five from China and two from Hong Kong.

Two members of China’s Muslim minority Uighur population―Yusufu Mieraili and Bilal Mohammed―have been charged with involvement.

Analysts have largely coalesced around the theory that the bombing was in revenge for the Thai junta’s forcible return of 109 Uighurs to China weeks earlier.

But Thai authorities have said the two incidents are unrelated and insist the bombing was carried out by a people smuggling gang angered by recent policing successes against human trafficking.

The Uighur minority say they face cultural and religious repression in their homeland of Xinjiang in northwest China, and many are believed to have fled the restive region in recent years.

The junta’s deportations sparked international condemnation and violent protests outside Thailand’s diplomatic missions in Turkey, which has given refuge to many of the Turkicspeaking group.

Throughout the investigation Thai police and military officials sent out conflicting and at times contradictory messages.

Junta officials initially pointed the finger at domestic critics of their rule.

Then after investigators arrested the two Uighur suspects, they refused to confirm their Chinese nationality for more than a week.

Thai authorities have also refused to call the assault a terrorist attack despite the mass civilian casualties.

Police eventually outlined a group of around 15 suspects, including Chinese Uighur, Turkish and Thai nationals, some of whom had either fled or allegedly organized the attack out of Turkey.

But none of those people is in the dock and there has been no publicly announced attempt to seek any extraditions from Turkey.

Thai police drew further attention when the force’s thenchief―who has since gone on to become head of Thailand’s football federation―handed his officers a $80,000 reward that had been open to the public.

The investigation wound down shortly afterwards. AFP

Publisher to clone mysterious book BURGOS, Spain―It’s one of the world’s most mysterious books, a centuries-old manuscript written in an unknown or coded language that no one― not even the best cryptographers―has cracked.

Scholars have spent their lives puzzling over the Voynich Manuscript, whose intriguing mix of elegant writing and drawings of strange plants and naked women has some believing it holds magical powers.

The weathered book is locked away in a vault at Yale University’s Beinecke Library, emerging only occasionally.

But after a ten-year quest for access, Siloe, a small publishing house nestled deep in northern Spain, has secured the right to clone the document―to the delight of its director.

“Touching the Voynich is an experience,” says Juan Jose Garcia, sitting on the top floor of a book museum in the quaint centre of Burgos where Siloe’s office is, a few paved streets away from the city’s famed Gothic cathedral.

“It’s a book that has such an aura of mystery that when you see it for the first time... it fills you with an emotion that is very hard to describe.”

Siloe, which specializes in

making facsimiles of old manuscripts, has bought the rights to make 898 exact replicas of the Voynich―so faithful that every stain, hole, sewn-up tear in the parchment will be reproduced.

The company always publishes 898 replicas of each work it clones―a number which is a palindrome, or a figure that reads the same backwards or forwards―after the success of their first facsimile that they made 696 copies of… another palindrome.

The publishing house plans to sell the facsimiles for 7,000 to 8,000 euros ($7,800 to $8,900) apiece once completed―and close to 300 people have already put in pre-orders.

Raymond Clemens, curator at the Beinecke Library, said Yale decided to have facsimiles done because of the many people who want to consult the fragile manuscript.

“We thought that the facsimile would provide the look and feel of the original for those who were interested,” he said.

“It also enables libraries and museums to have a copy for instructional purposes and we will use the facsimile ourselves to show the manuscript outside of the library to students or others who might be interested.” AFP

BOMB ATTACK. People stand near the explosion scene following a late-night attack on a wedding party that left at least 30 dead in Gaziantep in

southeastern Turkey near the Syrian border on August 21, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said the Islamic State group was the “likely erpetrator” of the bomb attack. AFP

Son of ‘El Chapo’ released CULIACAN, Mexico―The son of jailed Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman has been released following his abduction earlier this week, a member of the Sinaloa cartel leader’s family said Saturday.

Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, 29, reportedly was freed late Friday along with the five other men with whom he was kidnapped from a bar, a relative who requested anonymity for security reasons told AFP. “They were negotiating all this time, but now are free

and well,” the source said, adding that some of the captured men were already back in Sinaloa state.

Guzman Salazar―one of Guzman’s sons from his first marriage―was attending a celebration early Monday at an upscale restaurant and bar in the resort city of Puerto Vallarta when gunmen in pick-up trucks swooped in and kidnapped him and five of his six companions.

Several women who were also at the fete were allowed to leave unharmed.

The younger Guzman―him-

self a key operator in the Sinaloa cartel who is wanted for arrest under a 2009 warrant―was identified by the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office based on security camera footage.

Notified by AFP about the reported release, the Mexico Attorney General’s office said simply that it is “still working on the investigation.”

Authorities had said they suspected the gunmen who seized the men were from the Jalisco New Generation cartel, an upstart rival of the Sinaloa cartel. AFP

PERFORMANCE. Singer Bishop Briggs

performs at the Rose Bowl on August 20, 2016, in Pasadena, California. AFP

In Benin, hoping to revive railway

COTONOU, Benin―At the old train station in Benin’s economic capital Cotonou, a rundown locomotive imported from France in the 1960s arduously roars to life, ready to haul 600 tons of goods to an inland city.

“If it doesn’t break down, it will get there in 12 hours,” says Marcel Agon, who has been stationmaster since 1985, about the 430 kilometER trip to Parakou.

Only 20 good trains leave the small terminal each month, yet a fine new regional express passenger train with blue seats and bright paintwork, also from France, has never rolled out of Cotonou.

When French industrial giant Bollore took Benin’s rail network in hand in April 2014, railway employees thought things were getting back on track, until a court stopped work the next year. It upheld a complaint from a Beninese businessman with his own plans to knock the railroad back into shape.

Now Benin’s new businessman president has promised to find a solution to the conflicting interests that have blocked the hopes of modern rail transport.

“We are going to get out of this hornet’s nest soon,” President Patrice Talon recently told journalists.

It was in November 2013 that the heads of state of little Benin and landlocked Niger to the north initially decided to establish Benirail, a multinational firm with Bollore as a strategic partner.

In barely three months, Bollore Africa Logistics (BAL) renovated the station, paid wage arrears and imported track to link Cotonou with Niger’s capital Niamey, with further plans to extend the railway to Burkina Faso and Togo and on to Abidjan in Ivory Coast. AFP

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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016

World

PARTY. Sir Ivan lights the candles at his Sinful 60th Birthday and “Imagine” Record Release Party at his Castle on August 20, 2016, in Water Mill, New York. AFP

Milk tea is king in HK H

ONG KONG―Some cities are fueled by coffee. In Hong Kong, it’s milk tea that keeps things running―a potent nostalgia-infused caffeine hit, with fierce competition to brew the best in town.

There are thousands of restaurants offering the full gamut of international cuisines, but the city’s no-frills diner-style cafes, some of them decades old, remain perennial favorites with locals, and still do a roaring trade.

Known in Cantonese as “cha

chaan tengs” or “tea restaurants”, they serve up cheap local favorites, from fried egg sandwiches and buttery French toast to noodle soups and macaroni.

The standard accompaniment is a milk tea, or “lai cha”―a tangy, deep-tan brew made from blends

of black tea strained repeatedly for strength, then mixed with condensed or evaporated milk.

The city gulps down around 2.5 million cups a day.

At family-run tea shop Lan Fong Yuen, on a hilly market street in Hong Kong’s Central district, business shows no sign of slowing after 60 years.

Owner Lam Chun-chung says the no-fuss nature of Hong Kong’s tea restaurants plays a big role in their popularity in a fast-paced city.

“People are always in a rush.

N. Korea demands return of defectors SEOUL―North Korea on Sunday demanded the repatriation of a dozen restaurant workers who jointly fled to South Korea, a day after blasting Seoul over a separate high-profile defection.

Sunday’s statement was Pyongyang’s first reaction to Seoul’s announcement last week that the 12 restaurant staff and their manager had been released from government custody.

The group had been “released into society”, the South’s unification ministry said, after the intelligence service had completed investigations into their case.

North Korea claims the group was kidnapped.

A spokesman for its emergency committee set up for “rescuing” abductees described the ministry’s announcement as a “mean plot” aimed at “covering up the truth behind the group abduction”.

“Keeping them hidden from the public... citing ‘safety reasons’ shows that the puppet government’s announcement is a complete fabrication,” he said.

“We will continue fighting until we can rescue and bring back our female citizens,” the spokesman added in a statement carried by the North’s official KCNA news agency.

The waitresses had been working at a North Koreathemed restaurant in China.

They made headlines when they arrived in the South in April as the largest group defection for years. AFP

Having a quick bite with milk tea is fast and convenient,” says Lam, who adds that his cafe has much more character than the growing number of sterile coffee shops.

“We represent the grassroots.

When you are here you feel a sense of community,” he says.

Customers sit around shared wooden tables, many stopping for just 10 minutes to grab a quick breakfast or mid-morning boost.

A tea master juggles steaming pots on an electric stove, straining the hot brews through long cloth sieves―a key utensil for any seri-

FESTIVAL. People dance and cheer during a performance by musician Manu Chao during the FM4 Frequency Festival on August 20, 2016, in St. Poelten. AFP

ous Hong Kong “lai cha” joint.

The sock-like strainer has lent Hong Kong milk tea one of its nicknames: “stocking milk tea”.

At this cafe, tea is strained seven times to intensify the flavor.

Lam taught the current tea master his skills and still drinks a cup or two of milk tea each day.

It is an addiction, he says, but also a way to monitor standards.

Milk tea is a local institution and has even made it onto an official list of the city’s “intangible cultural heritage”. Hong Kong’s Association of Coffee and Tea says

it is also building a global fanbase.

The association has been running Hong Kong milk tea contests worldwide for the past seven years, and they are growing.

Earlier this month, competitors from Hong Kong, mainland China, Canada and Australia all competed for the “KamCha” or “Golden Cup” award in the association’s largest tea competition, on home turf.

Local contestant Chen Chiping, 44, emerged victorious― he has been making milk tea in Hong Kong “cha chaan tengs” for 22 years. AFP

Ratings minnow aims at US whales BERLIN―The latest European challenge to the allpowerful US credit ratings agencies doesn’t come from the continent’s financial capital Frankfurt―but Berlin, better known for raves than banking.

“We want to become the European voice on the ratings market,” declares Torsten Hinrichs, chief executive of Scope Ratings.

From his office overlooking the huge Tiergarten park, once the hunting ground of Prussian kings, Hinrichs outlines grand ambitions of his own.

His firm is owned by wealthy, traditional German economic actors, including the Schoeller family whose businesses stretch from an eponymous bank to textile to oilfield equipment, and Stefan Quandt, the billionaire heir to a big

chunk of BMW. Now Scope Ratings is attempting what others have failed at in challenging the dominance of the three massive ratings agencies.

Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard and Poor’s currently control 92 percent of the European ratings market.

Companies and institutions that borrow money pay the agencies to evaluate their creditworthiness.

The highest score on offer is the sought-after “triple-A”― and the better the score, the easier it is to raise money on favorable terms.

Scope notched up a big milestone in August, signing up its first client on the benchmark DAX 30 index of leading German shares in the shape of Munich-based industrial gases firm Linde. AFP

Nespresso investor says his wife inspired him SAINT-BARTHELEMY, Switzerland― Had Eric Favre not married an Italian woman, it’s possible none of us would be drinking Nespresso.

The man who conceived of singleportion coffee capsules four decades ago told AFP he was always destined to be an inventor, but some teasing by his wife Anna-Maria steered him towards the idea that revolutionized home coffee

consumption.

A trained rocket engineer, Favre said he joined Nestle’s packaging department in 1975 to learn the inner workings of a multinational corporation before branching out on his own.

That’s when Anna-Maria told her Swiss husband that his country knew nothing about making coffee.

“I wanted to prove to my new wife that

I have the capacity to make the best espresso,” Favre, 69, said during a tour of his office in Saint Barthelemy, Switzerland, which includes a small museum devoted to his iconic invention.

In the coming months he scoured Rome in search of the perfect brew and developed a prototype espresso machine that looked like an unused prop from one of the “Back to the Future” films―an awk-

ward assembly of cylinders and tubes.

Resistance within Nestle against homemade espresso was stiff.

Nescafe, its enormously popular instant coffee blend, was enjoying its initial boom and company executives saw little need to invest in expensive home espresso machines, certain the instant mix would remain home consumers’ preferred brew. AFP

Zambia faces battle to revive econonic growth LUSAKA―Zambia’s newly re-elected President Edgar Lungu faces an uphill battle to revive an economy reeling from a slump in copper prices, with a free-falling currency and widening budget deficit.

After winning last week’s disputed vote, Lungu moved to assure supporters that a new government will work to

improve the welfare of Zambians grappling with high inflation and rising food prices.

A drop in copper prices of almost onethird from their peak in February 2011 has resulted in thousands of job losses in the mining industry, where most companies are owned by foreign, notably Chi-

nese, investors.

The crisis saw some companies suspend production, dealing a further blow to the southern African country’s top export.

“The new government needs to work hard to restore economic growth,” said Oliver Saasa, the chief executive of business consultancy Premier Consult.

Saasa believes that Lungu, who first took office in January 2015 after the death of president Michael Sata, had been restricted by policies of his late predecessor.

“A government policy shake-up is needed in order to turn things around and inspire confidence in the system,” he told AFP. AFP

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016

D1

SIP & SAVOR

A 14-member Swiss Army Band serenaded guests who were treated to five kinds of cheese, including a 45-kilogram slab of Emmental.

A VERY

THE JOYCE OF EATING JOYCE BABE PAÑARES

SWISS AFFAIR

A

45-KILOGRAM half-wheel of Emmental cheese greeted select guests at Marco Polo Ortigas as a 14-member Swiss Army Band performed traditional music. The ballroom’s ceiling was adorned with red flags with white crosses. The only thing missing, perhaps, was a view of the majestic Alps, but there was no denying this was to be a very Swiss affair.

A wheel of classic Appenzeller, a kind of hard cheese that is mildly spicy and aged for at least three to four months.

For three generations now, Kambly SA has produced biscuits for the Swiss military.

Beef carpaccio with beef tartar, quail egg, mache leaves and lemon pepper marinade

“We want to showcase the diversity of Swiss food, besides cheese and fondue,” Raoul Imbach, deputy head of mission of the Embassy of Switzerland in the Philippines, told Manila Standard.

“Swiss cuisine is very good quality for money. We hope that more authentic Swiss restaurants will open here in the Philippines, and that we can grow and prosper together.

There is a lot of good things in store for the Philippines and Switzerland,” he added.

Swiss food is influenced by French, German and Italian cuisines, building on staple produce from farming communities such as potatoes and cheese, which is such a big part of the Swiss heritage, with dairy farms concentrated in the alpine areas.

According to Imbach, there are three dishes that any visitor to Switzerland must try: polenta, Zürcher geschnetzeltes served with roesti and papet vaudois.

Polenta, hailing from the Italian-speak-

ing region, is a traditional cornmeal dish cooked into a thick, hearty porridge. In winter, this rustic cuisine is usually served with either savory braised beef or rabbit.

Zürcher geschnetzeltes is an iconic national dish that is heavily influenced by German cuisine. Also usually served during the colder season, it is made of sliced veal with kidneys sautéed in a gravy of onions, butter, white wine, cream and mushrooms. It comes with roesti, thinly grated potatoes fried until crisp and golden.

Papet vaudois, from Vaud, the Frenchspeaking region of Switzerland, is best described as sausage cooked with leeks and potatoes that have been stewed for hours.

It is an earthy dish that complements the Swiss sausage’s strong flavors.

Marco Polo Ortigas’ general manager, Frank Reichenbach, said it’s only proper to shine the spotlight on Swiss cuisine, which he described as diverse, just like the Swiss culture.

“I am a Swiss national. I was raised and grew up in Switzerland. It is a country that is known for its stunning mountains and majestic views. Through its towns lie and live the culture of Switzerland, something that is simple, but rich, just like our food,” said Reichenbach. (He, however, had to apologize as the event started an hour late – “Not very Swiss,” he said.)

The hotel’s All Things Swiss celebration will run until Sept. 4, with guest Swiss chef from Marco Polo Hongkong Rolf Jaeggi hosting a cooking class on Aug. 21. Bringing with him his vast international experience, Chef Jaeggi specializes in Swiss cuisine with over 30 years of distinguished experience with royalties and heads of states from all over the world. His culinary class will feature traditional dishes such as the tasty appetizer beef carpaccio with beef tartar, quail egg, mache leaves and lemon pepper marinade; Zürcher geschnetzeltes with roesti; and plum tart with vanilla snaps and whipped cream.

Guests may also try a wine dinner that features a special four-course set menu at Switzerland at Cucina for P2888.00. A wide variety of Alpine Pralines will also be available at Café Pronto with boxes of three, six, and 12 while a Swiss cheese buffet and wine will be available every night at Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge for the whole duration of the celebration for P1900.00.

For feedback, send comments to joyce.panares@gmail.com

Greenwich celebrates National Bacon Lover’s Day AUGUST 20 marked a holiday that is special to many people—National Bacon Lover’s Day. The cured meat, which has been a favorite of kids and adults all over the world for centuries, has also Greenwich’s Bacon Crispy Thin Pizza been known to have properties that can lift anybody’s spirits. It is no wonder then that a full day has been dedicated for the sole purpose of showing gratitude for the world’s favorite salted pork belly. And because it’s National Bacon Lover’s Day on Aug.20, Greenwich gave out free Bacon Crispy Thins pizza slices in select stores nationwide.

This one-of-a-kind limited edition pizza has delectable bacon, cream cheese, mozzarella, ham and mushroom sitting on top of a crispy thin crust. The rich cheese complements the salty, sharp taste and savory bite of bacon, for an unforgettable sharable treat.

The Bacon Crispy Thins pizza will be sold in Greenwich branches nationwide at a starting price of P220.00 from July to Sep. 30 or until supplies last.

Grab your barkada and experience the #BaconEffect at your favorite Greenwich pizzeria, or call Greenwich delivery at 5-55-55 and get that goodness delivered straight to your door.

Chef Rolf Jaeggi from Marco Polo Hongkong held a culinary class featuring traditional Swiss dishes.

Life

D2

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

Y

OU’VE probably seen it— in the mall, in your school, in a cafeteria. It doesn’t make your heart skip a beat like your crush, but it is that reliable friend you can count on for delicious comfort.

For 15 years, Plato Wraps has been quietly but assuredly serving value-for-money handheld meals to Filipinos on-the-go. When the family was given the opportunity to expand their bakery, they came up with something new for their customers. A true family effort, Tony Seen produced the flatbread that his wife, Kamela, decided worked better with filling. The plate-shaped sandwich was thus named Plato Wraps. From its first filling of chicken—a family recipe—Plato Wraps has launched a full menu, with Ham and Cheese, Yummy Tuna, Beef Gyro, and more. They also offer seasonal fillings, like Adoboritto, Cheese Pimiento, and Platopizza.

It’s never been a better time for this enduring and successful brand. With the abundance of dining options available, Filipinos have become more discerning about what they eat and Plato Wraps fits right into what today’s busy cubicle-dwellers are looking for—portable, af affordable and healthy.

“Customers are now more healthconscious. They understand products that are made with less preservatives and additives.

They want food that is prepared fast without sacrificing the quality and taste,” says Plato Wraps Brand Manager Kreme Seen.

To celebrate their milestone and to keep up with the changing times, Plato Wraps has adopted a newer, more streamlined look.

The green logo is inspired by their signature ridged flatbread, making their brand much more identifiable.

What’s more, Kamela, who heads kitchen duties, is also busy concocting new items to look forward to. Plato Wraps’ fans will be interested to learn that they’re developing a chia wrap, as well as experimenting with fillings like bean sprouts and gourmet tuyo. The most exciting part? Plato Wraps will also come out with package filling and flatbread that customers can take home and enjoy at their leisure.

A standalone store is also in the pipeline once the Seens’ nail a good location. A PlatoWraps “Café” so to speak would allow them to feature many other delectable items.

Experience and taste your favorites to go meals at @PlatoWraps and @PlatoWrapsOf- Plato Wraps Founder and President Kamela Seen and Brand Manager Kreme Seen lead ficial or visit www.platowraps.com.ph the 15th anniversary celebration of the plate-shaped sandwich brand Plato Wraps

Wrap on for another 15 years

The Manila Hotel observes the Mid-Autumn Festival with its own mooncake offerings

Mooncake Festival at The Manila Hotel

MOONCAKES are making a comeback For more information, call (02) 527 -0011 as the Grand Dame observes the Mid- or visit www.manila-hotel.com.ph.

Autumn Festival.

Celebrate one of the most important festivals in China with your loved ones in this exciting time of year by admiring the beauty of the full moon and looking forward to an auspicious year ahead. Make this festive occasion more special with these Chinese delicacies. Available in thin soft pastry skin or snow skin, these mooncakes come in a variety of flavors—red bean, chocolate, purple yam, green tea and many more.

In Chinese culture, during the ancient times, mooncakes were offered to the moon. They symbolize completeness, togetherness and a reunion for the whole family. Considered as perfect gifts to family and friends to express love and best wishes, these delicacies are packaged beautifully in oriental gift boxes. Come and purchase now at the Hotel’s Mooncake The Grand Dame’s mooncakes come in booth at the Grand Lobby from 9 a.m. a variety of flavors, including red bean, to 10 p.m. until Sept. 16. chocolate, purple yam and many more

CHOOKS-to-Go named the grand prize winners in its nationwide promo Chooks-to-Win that concluded in June.

This six-month raffle promo launched in December 2015 gave its customers a chance to own one of 30 Apple iPad Mini’s; and major cash prizes of P100,000.00, P250,000.00 and the grand prize of P1 million.

The major prize winners are Margarita Asayas of Cebu (P100,000.00); Blesilda Ong of Bulacan (P250,00.00; and Janice Bulan of General Santos City (P1 million. The first-prize winner is a 34-year old working student taking a post-graduate education in Gensan.

The grand winners received their prizes at the Chooks-to-Win promo awarding ceremony held at the Discovery Suites Ortigas on July 29. Present at the ceremony were Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. (BAVI) President Ronald R. Mascariñas, along with the Business Center heads and Regional Operation heads in Bulacan, General Santos and Cebu City to formally congratulate the winners and award their respective cash prizes.

Chooks-to-Win

From left: Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. President Ronald R. Mascariñas, DTI Representative Rosila Egmilan and Brand Ambassador Michael Angelo Lobrin

The Vikings Group supports Appledrive Project in Payatas GIVE. Educate. Inspire. This is the core advocacy of The Appledrive Project as a way to educate indigent kids in both rural and urban areas in the country to advocate a healthier lifestyle by eating apples instead of candies or chocolates.

The project goes out to communities to promote good personal hygiene and an overall improved way of life through activities like book reading, medical missions, feeding programs and more.

Recently, The Vikings Group of restaurants namely Vikings Luxury Buffet, Niu by Vikings and Four Seasons Buffet and Hotpot extended a helping hand to this program during the activity held at the Payatas Elementary School where the company shared food to the children who benefitted from this undertaking.

The Vikings Group is into continued support as part of its corporate social responsibility in sharing blessings to other communities and individuals. They operate the Largest Buffet Restaurant Chain in the Philippines providing excellent standards of food service and quality in Metro Manila, Davao, Bacolod and Cebu catering to thousands of diners daily.

Vikings continues its commitment to similar organizations and individuals who care for the community. The Appledrive started as a hobby giving out apples to kids who have never seen, held nor tasted apples.

Students at Payatas Elementary School receive apples from The Vikings Group and Appledrive Project

Showbiz

“I

T WAS an experience so traumatic that I would not wish it for my worst enemy,” said Angel Locsin of her having contracted dengue fever twice.

She first contracted the virus while filming the 2006 romantic film I Will Always Love You with Richard Gutierrez in San Francisco, California.

“It wasn’t detected immediately.

The doctors thought I had bronchitis or sinusitis. I kept returning to the hospital but didn’t want to be confined because I had to finish the film,” she recalled. “When I returned to Manila, I went straight to the taping of Darna because we needed additional scenes for immediate airing.”

She only found out months later that she got infected with the killer dengue virus.

“The second time I got it was really horrible,” she said, adding that it was while doing Love

Me Again with Piolo Pascual in 2008. “In the beginning, I thought it was just stomach flu. I kept vomiting so I did self-medication. I then stopped eating, but the vomiting kept on so I stopped drinking fluids, too. The retching feeling turned nastier. I also had convulsions,” she recalled.

“Don’t commit the same mistake I did. Don’t selfmedicate. If you suspect that you have the dengue virus, have yourself checked immediately.

It’s better to be safe than sorry,” said the award-winning actress.

Actor Edgar Allan Guzman contracted the dengue fever in 2011. He was taping for the TV5 soap series Enchanted Garden in Bataan when he was brought

Vhong Navarro reprises Chiquito’s Mang Kepweng

Kapamilya star Angel Locsin, who has contracted dengue fever twice, encourages the public to seek professional assistance and not to self-medicate

Filipino celebrities

and their dengue stories

Actors Ryan Agoncillo (left) and Edgar Allan (right) Guzman share their experience after their successful bout against the killer disease

to a hospital in Olongapo because he had felt weak and feverish. “I had to finish several fight scenes that day, but I just couldn’t do it. I asked to be brought to the E.R. (emergency room), where it was confirmed that I got dengue infection. After doctors there put IV drip on me, I requested to be transferred to St. Luke’s (in Quezon City).”

Eat Bulaga TV host Ryan Agoncillo said he contracted the virus twice, “once when I was a kid and the second time (in 2013), I already had kids.” Newspaper reports said Ryan was confined at the Asian Hospital in Muntinlupa, and that he had asked his friends and followers to donate blood.

Ryan’s platelet count dropped so low that it also led to his contracting pneumonia, reports added.

“Have yourself checked as soon as you’re able to. Avoid putting yourself in situations that can expose you to potential breeding grounds,” advised Ryan. “As much as possible, clean your surroundings. When in

doubt, mosquito repellent is your friend. Apply generously.”

A study conducted by the Dengue Antigenic Cartography Consortium said that the first dengue infection was often mild while many second infections were life threatening. This was because an individual infected with one type may not be protected against anti-genically different viruses of the same type.

These celebrities are happy now that there is a dengue vaccine available in the market. According to denguevaccines.org, only one vaccine for dengue is currently approved in the Philippines, Brazil and Mexico. With four different serotypes of the dengue virus that can cause the disease, the vaccine must immunize against all four types to be effective, the report added.

“That’s definitely great news,” said Ryan of the vaccine. “But I always believed that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure---so clean up, clean up!”

SNAPSHOTS

Mermaids of Boracay VACATIONING Bloggers, sponsored

by Skyjet Airlines, the Manila’s boutique airlines, wear mermaid rig in Rieseling Boracay Resort as they introduced the Philippine Mermaid Swimming Academy in the area.

The bloggers are led by Say Alonso.

Rieseling Boracay is located at Bulabog Bay, Boracay island, Malay, Aklan.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Monday, August 22, 2016

ACROSS 1 Take hastily 5 Wall Street index 8 Bangs 12 Locomotive need 14 Char a steak 15 Healing plant 16 Mate’s ma (hyph.)

17 Greek Juno 18 Diet 19 Serves (2 wds.)

21 Computer language 23 Karate level 24 PD dispatch 25 Double curve 26 Spooked 30 Fish basket 32 Eagle’s gripper 33 Calves or colts 37 Karachi language 38 Daffodil starters 39 Honk 40 Blowhards 42 Rodeo venue 43 Gives a party 44 Very heavy 45 Aunt or bro.

48 Legal matter 49 Andy Gump’s wife 50 Slim Shady 52 Little Dipper

extremity 57 Insensible state 58 Anagram for near 60 Milan’s land 61 Two fives for —— 62 Final Four org.

63 Doctrine 64 Tijuana coin 65 Speaker pro — 66 Slippery — — eel DOWN 1 Matrix 2 Indian noblewoman 3 Feels under par 4 Humdrum 5 Thoughtprovoking 6 Boat implement 7 Bathrobes 8 Roach and Linden 9 Tea-party crasher 10 Jots 11 Staggers 13 Viking kingdom, once 14 Avoid 20 Melancholy 22 I.W. or Walter 24 Bedouins 26 Ticket remnant

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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

27 “It Walks by Night” author 28 “Hawkeye” Pierce 29 Coarse 30 Roman foes 31 Virgo neighbor 33 Mongol tents 34 Have to have 35 Chromosome part 36 Full extent 38 Bargain bin site 41 Writer — Vidal 42 Epic by Virgil 44 Small, in

Dogpatch 45 News summary 46 Chew the scenery 47 Margarita ingredients 49 Ms. Freeman 51 Billionth, in combos 52 Tot’s transport 53 Portico 54 Song refrains 55 Mme. Gluck of opera 56 Nolan or Meg 59 Top gun

VHONG Navarro is so elated to reprise a classic role of the late comedian Chiquito in Mang Kepweng Returns under Cineko Production.

“Well, who wouldn’t be, right?” he avers. “It’s an honor to breathe life to one of Papang’s most popular screen characters. For the record, Mang Kepweng had four screen installations: 1976, 1977, 1979 and 1981, as proof of its commercial viability. Now, after more than three decades, I’m headlining its grand reboot.

Definitely, I feel proud with this development.”

The movie is actually intended for the forthcoming 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival.

“Yes! That’s why we are in the thick of shooting the entire movie. Our young producers are really keen on entering this to the MMFF come December. We have to submit the finished product by October for the evaluation of the committee. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we will make the cut.”

Many say that he fits the role to a T. “Oh, thank you! Actually, according to my producers, I have many movements which resemble the character, the reason why they unanimously picked me. I’ve seen some of Papang’s old Mang Kepweng movies before and tried to mimic his moves. I think that’s what they’ve seen in me and presto! I’m the modern-day Mang Kepweng,” reveals Vhong.

Written by Volta delos Santos and directed by GB Sampedro, this remake is already creating buzz at this point and has the makings of another landmark role for the talented comedian.

“I’m glad because it has instant recall among the viewing public. That can be considered a good head start in the race, so to speak. One more thing, the movie has an interesting plot that will glue the audience to their seats. It has the combined elements of comedy, horror, suspense and fantasy. The viewers will surely love Mang Kepweng’s adventures and misadventures including his entry into a magical world and his epic battle against an equally-powerful nemesis.”

Apart from the story line, the film boasts of a great cast.

“Oh, yes! Joining me here are acting stalwarts Jaclyn Jose, Pen Medina, Lotlot de Leon, Matet de Leon and Sunshine Cruz plus an array of the most popular young stars in contemporary times like Louise delos Reyes, Juancho Triviño, Jackie Rice, Valeen Montenegro, James Blanco, Ahron Villena and Jhong Hilario. Meanwhile, newcomer Kim Domingo is my leading lady.”

This early, many are positive that the project will become an instant hit.

“Well, hopefully. All of us are doing our best to make this highly-entertaining. I believe that it has a strong chance to make it to the official MMFF entries this year. I’m certain the public will support this at the tills,” ends Vhong. ******** Derrick Monasterio is the latest Regal Baby.

The handsome Kapuso has recently inked a contract with Mother Lily Monteverde’s popular film outfit. In fact, the Regal matriarch tagged him as “The Millenial Regal Baby.”

“I’m really happy and proud to sign-up with them,” says Derrick. “I know they will help a lot to further my showbiz career. Everybody knows that Mother Lily is one of local showbiz’s strongest pillars. I’m grateful for this huge opportunity that she has given me!”

Many are already excited with his launching flick as a solo male star.

“Actually, I haven’t officially sat down with Regal yet to discuss it but Mother mentioned that it will be a bit sexy.”

Since Regal is a neutral ground, it’s possible that he’ll get to work with stars from rival home studios.

“That’s a welcome idea for me! Honestly, that’s what I want to experience. I also like to work with say, Kapamilya talents. There will be a different chemistry. For sure, I will learn from them,” Derrick states.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com

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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016

Showbiz

CAMPUS HOTTIES.

Taking off from the success of its previous campaigns, Chalk Magazine opens its door for the next Bright Young Manila Campus Hotties

16 students in bright young manila search S

IXTEEN college students made the cut in this year’s Chalk Bright Young Manila Campus Hotties, the annual search for the next Chalk ambassadors that embody the ideals and talents of today’s Filipino youth.

The crop of this year’s finalists hail from various leading colleges and universities in the country including the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas, Mapua Institute of Technology, De La Salle College of St. Benilde, Miriam College,

and Colegio de San Juan de Letran.

Majority of this year’s finalists come from DLSU. The six Chalk Bright Young Manila finalists from the UAAP season 78 champion school are Abiel “The Bae of All Trades” Anselmo, Dani “The Future Diplomat” Camcam, Hannah

“The Trendsetter” Locsin, Jay “The Korean Cutie” Kim, Philip “The Cool Geek” Tai, and Vivien “The Multimedia Maven” Nelsen.

Representatives from the University of Santo Tomas meanwhile, are ramp model Patrick “The Ramp Rocker” Yu and student achiever Sabrina

“The Multitalented Chick” San Diego. De La Salle College of St. Benilde and Mapua also have two representatives. Jana “The Dancefloor Diva” Mahusay and Izumi “The Deviant Artist” Nagai are CSB’s bets, while Justin “The Social Media Hottie” Torio and Ace “The Model Student” Yabut hail from Mapua.

Other hopefuls include UP’s Cholo “The Radio Jock” Dela Cruz, Miriam College’s Kimberly “The Fierce Footballer” Amatong, Ateneo’s

H&M’s The Big University Night, a celebration of school pride in SM Megamall.

Since 2006, Chalk’s Bright Young Manila search has become a status symbol among the Filipino youth and has produced the best and brightest young students who have made a legacy in various industries.

It aims to become a platform to inspire young Filipinos that they can conquer life’s challenges by harnessing their potential.

For more information, visit chalkmagazine.abs-cbn.com.

‘PBB Lucky Season 7’

‘Encantadia’ stars join first live commentary video GMA Network, Inc. continues to offer unique entertainment to viewers by launching Encantadia Sessions, the Philippines’ first live commentary video for a local TV series.

Started on July 18 along with GMA’s iconic --Encantadia, Encantadia Sessions lets Kapuso viewers watch the GMA Telebabad show with fans and official correspondents namely Francis Libiran PR Manager Victor Harry, GMA Artist Center talents Nar Cabico and Marlann Flores, and StarStruck Season VI alumnus Avery Paraiso.

To thank the viewers for their unwavering support to the Kapuso show, Encantadia Sessions has invited telefantasya artists Rochelle Pangilinan, Vaness del Moral, Ruru Madrid, Solenn Heussaff, and Glaiza De Castro to join the correspondents in the online event.

Rochelle, who gives life to the character of Agane, was the first Encantadia cast member to appear in Encantadia Sessions on July 28. The Kapuso actress shared how much she enjoyed the unique experience of engaging with the viewers through the online event. On Aug. 4, Vaness del Moral, who currently plays Gurna in the iconic telefantasya, also experienced the one of a kind engagement with Kapuso viewers. Glaiza de Castro, Encantadia’s Pirena, surprised the fans by joining the live event together with Kapuso actor Ken Alfonso on Aug.11.

Aside from the live event, GMA Network also produces a weekly roundtable discussion for Encantadia Sessions, which users can watch on the official microsite of Encantadia. Solenn, who plays the character of Cassiopea, was the first Encantadia cast to join the Encantadia Sessions weekly roundtable discussion. After her, Ruru Madrid, Encantadia’s Ybarro, also bonded with the correspondents. The latest cast who appeared in Encantadia Sessions roundtable discussion was Vaness del Moral.

More Encantadia artists will be joining Encantadia Sessions, so make sure to catch them live every Monday and Thursday night during Encantadia’s air time, 7:45 p.m. on Encantadia 2016 official Facebook page or log on to Encantadia’s official microsite. Also get updated with the weekly episode review by watching Encantadia Sessions weekly roundtable discussion on Encantadia’s website.

Kimberly “The Blogger Belle” Cruz, and Letran’s Marco “The Hardcourt Hotshot” Sario.

All finalists will be part of Chalk’s campus tours to talk about youth-oriented issues.

Winners will be chosen based on online votes via chalkmagazine. abs-cbn.com and average scores from a panel of judges on Sept.

19.

The newest Chalk young finalists vying to be the next ambassadors of the country’s leading youth magazine were revealed during Chalk and

Heaven cries after spending a minute with her mom inside the confession room

PINOY Big Brother Lucky Season 7 teen housemates successfully accomplished two major tasks during the initial week as they came together and proved the value of teamwork. The teens as a unit achieved their goals for the benefit of their fellow housemates.

Under the leadership of Kisses and Christian, the group rehearsed tirelessly and helped one another in order to achieve the first of several tasks that will help turn an aspiring housemate into a regular housemate.

The 12 PBB teens managed to dance to the tune of “Just Got Lucky” on top of a cornstarch mixture without sinking their feet deep into the sticky substance.

Since its launch in 2005, Pinoy Big Brother has mirrored the hopes, plight, and aspirations of Filipinos through its diverse

highlights value of teamwork

Heaven is visited by her mom, who is a cancer patient, inside PBB House

PBB Teen housemates on a mission to successfully complete their first task

mix of housemates. Big Brother formulates tasks and challenges for the housemates to bring out their best, test their strengths, and foster camaraderie as they undergo a transformative journey inside the house.

During rehearsals, Kristine stepped up by motivating and encouraging her fellow housemates, while reminding them that another teen housemate’s dream was at stake.

Prior to the dance challenge, teen housemates Maymay and Marco completed their secret tasks that enabled Heaven to spend one

minute with her mom inside the confession room.

Before entering the PBB house, Heaven was not able to see her mom, who was being treated for cancer in the hospital at that time.

Knowing the importance of the meeting, Maymay and Marco focused on the various tasks with the added challenge of having to keep theirs tasks a secret from the other housemates.

Don’t miss Pinoy Big Brother Lucky Season 7, Monday to Friday after Born For You on ABS-CBN or on ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable Ch 167).