Manila Standard - 2016 August 28 - Sunday

VOL. XXX • NO. 197 • 4 SECTIONS 24 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016 • WWW.THESTANDARD.COM.PH • EDITORIAL@THESTANDARD.COM.PH

15 Abu killed in Sulu battles

By Florante S. Solmerin A TOTAL 15 Abu Sayyaf members were killed while 17 soldiers were wounded in two separate clashes places Friday in Patikul, Sulu, the military said.

But based on the official report of the Army’s Special Operation Command, only six Abu Sayyaf bodies were recovered although a separate media report said the ASG claimed they suffered only 12 casualties.

Earlier, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesman Jamor Felimon Tan Jr. said the six casualties included an ASG sub-leader from an encounter that started at sunrise in Sitio Makaita, Barangay Bunkaong.

But in the SOCOM report, the two separate encounters happened in Sitio Tubig Magkawas Next page

FROM A GRATEFUL NATION. President Rodrigo Duterte pins a medal on a government trooper during the 10th anniversary celebration of the Eastern Mindanao Command held at the Naval Station Felix Apolinario in Davao City.

Reds slam AFP patrols Mishap still bothers me, Rody admits

By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte blamed a “terrible headache” as reason for him to skip two events in Eastern Visayas on Thursday.

The 71-year-old Duterte explained in his speech before troops at the Eastern Mindanao Command headquarters in Camp Panacan, Davao City that his headache “was caused by his misaligned spine” as a result of a mo-

torcycle accident four years ago.

“I was supposed [to appear] yesterday, but I had this spinal thing, uh, going crazy again, and a migraine... I vomitted in the morning so I said I could not make it,” Duterte said.

“I had this terrible headache because of the misaligned spine when I met an accident when I was already 67-years-old in a motorcycle spill,” he added.

The President was supposed to

visit the wake of PO1 Gary Cabaguing, a policeman killed in an anti-drug operation in Samar, and the other policemen and soldiers who were wounded in the performance of their duties in Tacloban City later that day.

Duterte maintained that he would still go to places where there is a military man or a policeman who dies in the line of duty.

“That’s the only thing that I can give, to honor them. My presence

and to be there and to give them a snappy salute, for dying for their country,” he said.

Duterte, the oldest candidate to win the presidency, has previously admitted that he has Buerger’s disease and Barrett’s esophagus.

Buerger’s disease, associated with smoking, causes inflammation and thrombosis in small and medium-sized blood vessels, usually in the legs and the gangrene.

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Highway cop jumps off building

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OMMUNIST rebels on Saturday scored the military for allegedly maintaining troops in communities despite the promise to recall troops from combat operations, a day after they agreed to an indefinite ceasefire to create mechanisms for a binding interim truce with the government. statement.

“There have been persistent reports of continuing presence of armed operating troops of the AFP in barangay centers, occupying barangay halls, community schools and day care centers, senior citizen centers and other civilian structures. They continue to set up detachments or physical bases in the center of civilian population,” the group added.

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Resign Senate post, critics urge De Lima

By John Paolo Bencito

RECORD DEVOURER. Filipino Rix ‘Terabite’ Francisco sets a new world record after eating five burgers in a minute. Francisco, during the History Con at the World Trade Center on Saturday, bested the previous Guinness World Record of Canadian Peter Czerwinski who ate four burgers in a minute in 2013.

Couple vows to spill beans on govt execs INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno said suspected drug lord Melvin Odicta and his wife Merriam will reveal the names of government officials allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.

The Iloilo couple met with Sueno at Camp Crame to clear their names and seek protection from retaliation by the persons

By John Paolo Bencito

But the military insisted that routine law enforcement operations and patrols “will continue” despite the ceasefire to ensure the safety of their bases and the community.

“The CPP strongly criticizes the Armed Forces of the Philippines [AFP] for maintaining their presence and continuing to make aggressive moves in and around the areas of operations of the NPA,” the CPP said in a

By Francisco Tuyay ONE of the two highway patrol cops who were charged of killing a motorist inside a police squad car last month jumped to his death from a building in Camp Crame Saturday morning, a day after the first hearing of the murder charges against him.

Police Officer 3 Jeremiah de Villa was declared dead on arrival by physicians at the Philippine National Police Hospital at about 9:45 a.m. after he jumped from the rooftop of the Police Security Protection Group building, said acting Highway Patrol Group chief Senior Supt. Antonio Gardiola.

“This morning, he was seen walking around and heading toward the neighboring [PSPG] building. He was assigned there before. We don’t know why, we

Just usual activity, military maintains

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Holdover officials hit for derailing programs

they are naming.

They told Sueno that they have the lists of government officials involved in drug dealing operations, but the lists do not contain the names of senators or congressmen.

According to their lawyer, Raymund Fortun, the couple is not on the drug list of President Rodrigo Duterte.

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CRITICS of Senator Leila de Lima on Saturday demanded that she resign the chairmanship of the powerful Senate committee on justice and human rights as she herself was now under scrutiny for her alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

Lawyer Larry Gadon said De Lima’s credibility and partiality has been tainted following allega-

tions of involvement in the illegal drug trade and rumors about “paramours.”

As this developed, relatives of Warren Cristobal, the man whom President Rodrigo Duterte identified as the new “boyfriend” of Senator Leila de Lima, said there was no truth to the President’s claim that the two had an affair.

“I do hope that these issues will be resolved, these has no truth.

By John Paolo Bencito and Funny Pearl A. Gajunera AGRICULTURE Secretary Emmanuel Piñol has accused National Irrigation Administration Administrator Florencio Padernal and other holdover officials in derailing President Rodrigo Duterte’s Free Irrigation Program.

Piñol had told a budget hearing

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that irrigation fees be removed from the expenses of farmers seeking irrigation aid from government.

But Piñol said the additional P4 billion intended to cover the Irrigation Service Fees were not included in the NIA budget for 2017.

“After the Committee hearing, the DA officials and the other officials of the four agriculturerelated agencies —NIA, National

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Food Authority, Philippine Coconut Authority and the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority (FPA) —were invited to a caucus by Appropriations Committee vice chairperson Rep. Magnolia Antonino,” Piñol said.

“It was there when I realized that the opposition to the Free Irrigation Policy of the President came within the NIA itself, especially among officials who are holdovers from the previous ad-

ministration, including the holdover administrator Florencio Padernal,” he added.

“During the caucus, he just sat there looking like a boy who just committed a mischief, edgy and uncomfortable.”

Piñol said the same NIA administrator earlier told him in a transition meeting “that giving Free Irrigation Water to the Filipino rice farmers would be very difficult.”

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

NPA releases 4 more captives T

HE Communist Party of the PhilippinesNew People’s Army again released on Saturday three policemen and one police employee who were abducted in Surigao City last month.

The Caraga regional police office identified the policemen as Senior Police Officer 3 Santiago Lamanilao, Police Officer 3 Jayroll Bagayas, Police Officer 2 Caleb Sinaca and civilian police

employee Rodrigo Angub.

“The police force thanks the Surigao Crisis Management Committee and third-party facilitators who helped in the release of the three policemen

Reds...

tarization efforts by the army.

Security operations , focused on the neutralization of other threats to national security, such as the ASG and other terrorist groups, and the protection of communities, government facilities, military camps and other vital installations will continue despite the truce.

President Duterte, who welcomed CPP’s declaration of ceasefire, had reiterated “there is no such thing as militarization.”

“Every inch of this property of the Republic must be occupied by the soldiers of the government. There is no such thing as hindi kayo papasok diyan kasi (do not enter that because) no militarization there,” the President said in Davao City.

The CPP, however, slammed the military’s excuses, saying “people are made to suffer by the oppressive presence of armed operating troops.”

It said: “The AFP must also stop making the stupid counter-demand for the NPA to also withdraw from their communities. These are nothing but empty noise to drown the clamor for their removal.

“In the first place NPA units do not set up detachments inside the communities or use barangay halls as their barracks,” the group said, claiming the people’s right to free movement is restricted for fear of being accosted by the soldiers.

“Economic activity is affected as peasants choose not to tend their fields for fear of being questioned by soldiers. There have been restrictions on commerce, particularly, on the amount of goods that can be purchased by community stores.

Community leaders, especially those active in struggles for land and against mining are being summoned or ‘invited’ by the AFP.” But the NPA said “If the AFP will insist on maintaining its presence in communities and launching aggressive operations into the interior areas, armed skirmishes are bound to erupt despite the NPA’s effort to maintain the ceasefire.”

The CPP also announced that the NPA is set to release “at least seven prisoners-of-war in Surigao and Compostela Valley.”

“In Northern Mindanao, the NPA command took the initiative of extending the effectivity of the ceasefire to facilitate the safe and orderly release of the prisoners, all of whom are GRP police officers accosted to undergo preliminary investigation,” it added.

Meanwhile, the Royal Norwegian Government welcomed the signing of the joint statement between representatives of the Philippine Government and the communist movement National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in Oslo this week.

‘In the course of a few days, the parties in the Philippine peace process have reached agreement on issues that have blocked progress for many years.

The agreement to recommend amnesties and a ceasefire is a breakthrough.

It is also of crucial importance that the whole of the communist movement National Democratic Front of the Philippines is now represented here in Oslo,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende.

‘I would like to congratulate the parties, who have shown considerable flexibility and the desire to achieve this important joint declaration. The intentions behind the declaration, combined with the constructive negotiation climate, will form the basis for further peace talks,” he added.

The AFP also lauded the decision of the National Democratic Front to extend indefinitely its week-long ceasefire in view of its peace talks with the government.

“The AFP have noted with elation and optimism this breakthrough in the peace negotiations,” AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said.

“It is a laudable move on the part of the CPP-NPA-NDF to respond positively to President Duterte’s declaration of the reimposition of the ceasefire ‘for as a long as necessary’ to attain lasting peace in the land,” Arevalo said.

He said: “The nation can rely on every soldier, sailor, marine and airman to help provide an environment conducive to peace so that negotiators from both panels can work under the climate of trust and [push for] prospect of reconciliation.” With PNA

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“The presence and operations of the AFP in rural communities undermine the credibility of the Duterte government among the people as it projects an image of disunity within the GRP or refusal of the AFP to abide by the order of its commander-in-chief.”

The CPP said: “According to our reports, when questioned, field commanders invariably justify their presence with claims of ‘peace and development’, ‘anti-drug’, ‘anti-logging’ and ‘visitations’. To the people, these are nothing but thinly-veiled pretexts to impose their armed presence and to carry out psywar, surveillance and search and combat operations against the NPA.” On Friday, the government and the communist rebels agreed in Oslo, Norway to extend indefinitely their ceasefires and create mechanisms within 60 days for a binding interim truce agreement before returning to the negotiating tables next October.

The government and NDF panels agreed on six major contentious issues that would move the negotiations forward.

They also re-affirmed previously signed agreements, among them The Hague Joint Declaration in 1992, Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) in 1996, and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) in 1998.

Both panels also agreed to reconstitute the JASIG list, which will be on an encrypted file and will contain photos and identities of NDF consultants still in hiding but will enjoy immunity from arrest.

The list will contain the names and photos of 54 NDF “publicly known” consultants and 87 guerrilla leaders publicly known by their “assumed names.”

Also given a thumbs up during the meeting were the revitalization of the joint monitoring committee, the submission of a recommendation to President Rodrigo Duterte on the issuance of an Amnesty Proclamation, subject to Congress concurrence, for the arrested, imprisoned and charged NDF members.

After more than half a decade of impasse, both negotiating panels signed the “Joint Statement on the Resumption of the Formal Peace Talks in the Peace Negotiations” as a result of the formal peace talks from August 22 to 26.

Military officials had earlier confirmed that troops had been recalled from combat operations, insisting however, that there won’t be any pull-out of troops.

Army spokesperson Col. Benjamin Hao said all combat operations have been canceled and their troops are returning to the barracks.

“Some field units are still on their way [to barracks],” Hao said. “But definitely we no longer have ongoing combat operations.”

“There is no instruction (from higher authorities) for us to pull out from the communities. The instruction is for us to stop combat operations so we will stop our combat operations. Focused military operations have corresponding orders so these were already cancelled,” Hao said.

The Suspension of Offensive Military Operations (SOMO) against the CPP-NPA-NDF reiterated that AFP troops shall remain in communities.

Should the NPA conduct actual attacks against soldiers or communities, the AFP leadership authorized military action to “defeat” the enemy.

“Commanders must clearly understand the strategic implications of any actions so as not to jeopardize the implementation of the [ceasefire] and, more importantly, the realization of the President’s intent for a lasting agreement with the CPP,” the SOMO read.

“In cases of actual NPA violent attacks, the AFP shall treat the incidents as law enforcement operations in coordination with the PNP and immediate use of military force to repel and defeat the attack is authorized,” the instruction from AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Ricardo Visaya added.

The Oplan Bayanihan, the military’s anti-insurgency measure, will also continue despite calls from leftist groups for Duterte to rescind the alleged mili-

and one civilian employee,” said Chief Inspector Charity Galvez.

On Friday morning, the CPPNPA also released Police Officer 1 Richard Yu in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur. The policemen were released after the government and the National Democratic Front agreed on an indefinite unilateral ceasefire order to the NPA and their people’s militia.

The indefinite ceasefire capped the six-day marathon sessions

of the resumption of peace talks between the government and the communist insurgents in Oslo, Norway from August 22 to 26.

The CPP-NDF-New People’s Army ceasefire will start Aug. 28 after the seven-day (August 21 27) ceasefire declared earlier by the NDF during the Oslo talks.

It was the highlight of the six agenda agreed by both panels at the end of the GRP-NDF round of talks.

In a statement, Presidential

Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said the Oslo round is a milestone under the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

It is an accomplishment that would be welcomed by the Filipino people, he said.

“Not only has President Duterte walked the extra mile. He has also taken a step back to give the NDF space under his democratic and inclusive government,” Dureza said.

Dureza said they are coming home with a promise of a just and lasting peace and our soldiers and the combatants of the NDF finally coming to terms that the war must end.

Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, head of the GRP negotiating panel, also expressed thanks and appreciation for the patience and candidness of their counterparts with whom he has been holding formal and backdoor negotiations for more than 14 years.

Mishap...

From A1 Barrett’s esophagus, meanwhile, is a complication in the lining of the esophagus, usually due to chronic severe gastrointestinal reflux disease.

Shortly after winning the presidency, Duterte admitted contracting a bronchial infection during the campaign.

Last year, rumors that Duterte has throat cancer circulated after a journalist posted on his Facebook account that a reliable source told him Duterte was suffering from the fatal disease.

15 Abu...

From A1 Free again. Police Chief Inspector Arnold Ongachen and Police Officer 1 Michael Grande relate to President Rodrigo Duterte their experience in the hands of the New People’s Army rebels who detained them as prisoners of war. The two were released by the NPA on Thursday.

Highway...

From A1 just learned that he went to the roof deck and jumped,” Gardiola said.

Sources at the HPG said De Villa appeared to be disturbed since shortly before his preliminary investigation at the Department of Justice on Friday because his mother had recently died.

De Villa and PO2 Jonjie Manonog both went to the DoJ to attend the preliminary investigation on the robbery, torture and killing of motorcyclist John dela Riarte who was shot inside a patrol car while on their way to Camp Crame for a traffic violation.

The two policemen claimed Dela Riarte twice attempted to snatch their firearms, first, when De Villa approached him when

Resign...

From A1 to the President's claim that the two hd an affair.

“I do hope that these issues will be resolved, these has no truth. His kids’ school performance is already affected,” Luisa Maniquis, Cristobal’s aunt, told GMA News.

Duterte earlier said a certain “Warren,” who the President said used to work in the Metro Manila Development Authority, was De Lima’s newest “beau” after she parted ways with Ronnie Palisoc Dayan, who is now accused of having been her bagman in the national penitentiary.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada, in his Facebook account accused De Lima of giving a house, three jeepneys and a sports utility vehicle (SUV) to the 40-year-old Cristobal, who has two children, and a wife who is a teacher in Maypajo in Caloocan City.

The lady solon has denied having an affair with Cristobal, but has not made any categorical statement about Dayan.

“Is that evidence of our relationship? My God, this is too much!”

De Lima exclaimed during a press briefing, after Duterte revealed that the former justice secretary wrote a letter to former MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino.

She explained that she wrote To-

Holdover...

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“When I found this out, I immediately manifested during the hearing my position as Agriculture Secretary that Free Irrigation is a commitment of President Duterte to the Filipino farmers and that it must fulfilled,” he added.

Meanwhile, in Davao City, two regional directors of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board had left the agency after the regional visit of the board, said chairman Martin Delgra.

Region 10 director Mandangan Darimbang filed his early retirement effective August 31

he was allegedly kicking and smashing a car using his crash helmet and second, when he was inside the patrol vehicle while on their way to Camp Crame.

De Villa narrated in his counter-affidavit that MMDA constables Bayani B. Batac III and Jeslie M. Manlangit tried to subdue Dela Riarte, but he was tall and strong, prompting him to hit the motorcyclist in the stomach and the side of his abdomen.

De Villa said he told Dela Riarte to stop and then he was handcuffed. The victim, however, continued cursing and spewing invectives at them so they decided to take Dela Riarte to Camp Crame.

Manon-og rode with Dela Riarte at the backseat while he drove the patrol car.

Manon-og claimed that while

on their way to Camp Crame, Dela Riarte head butted him and tried to grab his service firearm. De Villa, on the other hand, tried to stop Dela Riarte by shouting at him.

“At that time, the only thin foremost in my mind was to maim and disable John B. Dela Riarte so that he could not be a danger to PO2 Jonjie Manon-og and to the public or other motorists as we were in Edsa and the cars were slow moving as it was traffic,” De Villa said.

“In a split second, instinctively, I got my gun and while shouting ‘tumigil ka, tumigil ka! turning half sideways to my right, I pulled the trigger of my gun to disable John B. Dela Riarte. The incident happened so fast that I could feel panic rising to my throat when I realized he was bleeding,” he added.

lentino an official request regarding the enforcer, but declined to elaborate on the nature of the request.

Gadon, who is also a member of the legal team of former President and reelected Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, said that as chairman of the committee on justice, De Lima has the power to influence appointments to the judiciary.

De Lima, a former justice secretary, automatically sits as member of the Judicial and Bar Council tasked to recommend to the Office of the President candidates for appointment to the metropolitan and regional trial courts, the Sandiganbayan, the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court.

“If doubt is cast on a member of the Judicial and Bar Council, how can she administer justice to suspected drug dealers?” he asked.

Gadon added that De Lima’s resignation as justice committee chairman would not mean that she is guilty of the allegations, but to clear the JBC from any doubts or controversy.

A church official in Cebu also urged the lady senator to abstain from attending the investigations on the rampant killing of suspected drug pushers and users.

Msgr. Joseph Tan, spokesman of the Archdiocese of Cebu, said that even though De Lima deserves to be given due process, she must ab-

stain as head of the investigation panel to avoid casting doubt on the Senate inquiry.

Tan also hoped that the investigations would unearth the truth and determine who are involved in the extrajudicial killing of suspected drug personalities.

Malacañang on Friday said President Rodrigo Duterte holds “wiretapped” evidence that could possibly implicate De Lima in the narcotics web within the National Bilibid Prison, along with former Pangasinan governor and now Rep. Amado Espino Jr., and De Lima’s driver Ronnie Palisoc Dayan.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Friday said birthday wish for Senator Leila de Lima was “a good night’s sleep.”

“According to President Duterte, De Lima has been having nightmares. So my birthday wish for the good senator is I hope she sleeps soundly tonight and thereafter,” said Panelo.

Panelo added that Duterte’s exposés about the former justice secretary was just beginning.

“Stop? But the President has not even begun. That was just a foretaste,” he said, smiling.

De Lima, Aquino’s former justice secretary, is the highest ranking government official in the National Penitentiary drug matrix released

by Duterte.

while Region 11 Director Benjamine Go resigned August 24 effective immediately.

Delgra said after he visited the regional offices and confronted the officials, the two Regional Directors left the offices.

But he said no charges have been filed against the two officials since their audit is continuing.

“Although they have left the office, they are still subject to usual accountability in the office,” he said.

He introduced the OIC regional director of Region 11 lawyer Teresita Yñiguez.

Three inspectors he identified as John Acosta, Reynante Famoso and Ernesto Abad had their services terminated after they admitted

bribing the operators, he said.

Delgra said authorities already have two boxes of documents that will be part of their audit to investigate if corruption was in their ranks.

LTFRB board member lawyer Aileen Lizada said “we see a lot of lost souls in LTFRB.” In Manila, Piñol proposed the NIA should be brought back under the supervision of the DA, after President Aquino placed the agency along with three others under the supervision of the Presidential Adviser on Food Security.

The NIA receives 60 percent of the total collection from the Irrigation Service Fees by the irrigators’ associations to pay for the salaries of its employees.

in Barangay Langhub and Sitio Pangi in Barangay Bunkaong where the 15 Abu Sayyaf casualties were recorded.

It said the bodies of the six ASG casualties were recovered from the encounter sites, while nine bodies were hauled away by the fleeing bandits.

It also confirmed the death of Mohammad Said, an ASB subleader, who was involved in the abduction in September 2015 of John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, both Canadians; Kjartan Sekkingstad, a Norwegian; and Hall’s Filipina girlfriend Maritess Flor from a resort in the Island Garden City of Samal.

The ASG beheaded Hall and Ridsdel after their families failed to deliver a P300-million ransom for each victim. Flor was freed later while Sekkingstad was still in custody.

This week, the ASG beheaded another kidnap victim, Jhames Almodavar, after his family failed to produce P1 million ransom.

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to eliminate the ASG menace in Basilan and Sulu.

Couple...

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Fortun said the couple did not submit a drug matrix because they didn’t have one. They only named individuals on the level of barangays, he said.

Meanwhile, Sueno clarified that the lists and other documents given by the couple were highly confidential and are now in the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

He also stressed that only President Duterte had the authority to divulge names involved in illegal drug operations.

Odicta allegedly led one of the two main drug groups operating in Iloilo and was on the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency list of suspected drug personalities in Region 6. PNA Piñol had proposed that the NIA charter be amended to bring the agency back to its old status as a service agency rather than a government corporation as he asked lawmakers for an additional P4 billion added on to the NIA budget to cover the ISF collections for 2017.

Meanwhile, Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon ordered the immediate reassignment to Sulu of a police official who is facing graft charges.

Faeldon identified the official as Customs Special Police Capt. Arnel Baylosis, detailed to the sub-port of Jolo, following the corruption case filed against him by the Department of Justice. With Vito Barcelo

News

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

Pagcor, PCSO earnings to boost DoH by P40b

By Joel E. Zurbano

E

ARMARKING all state gambling income for the purchase of medicines “is the shot in the arm” that will boost anemic government purchases of essential drugs, Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto said.

Recto said about P40 billion in Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation income next year could be added to the Department of Health’s allocation for medicines of P16.4 billion, raising its 2017 budget for drugs purchases

to almost P57 billion.

“If this happens, then it is as if the DoH has won the lottery.

Using gaming income for medicines, however you look at it, is a winning combination,” Recto said.

The net effect is that DoH will be getting an additional P110

million a day to buy drugs, the senator said. “This is a good prescription from Digong.”

Recto said Pagcor’s forecast income for 2016 is P45.4 billion, less P14.7 billion in operating expenses, or a net income before tax of about P30 billion.

“If this is the formula used in computing what will be remitted to the DoH, then it is a sizeable amount,” Recto said.

To be added to this is the PCSO Charity Fund, representing 30 percent of its gross revenue. This reached P9.6 billion, on total sales of P37.4 billion last year.

“So combined, that’s easily P40 billion in additional money

for health,” Recto said. “This will bump up the gross DoH budget to P181.6 billion next year.”

Under the 2017 national budget, the DoH is proposed to receive P90.9 billion plus P50.2 billion for the payment of PhilHealth premiums to cover poor families and senior citizens, and P500 million for calamity aid.

If part of the “gambling dividends” will be distributed to local government-run hospitals, “then it doesn’t matter, because we are merely diversifying the conduits; the beneficiaries―the people―remain the same,” Recto said.

Local government-run hospi-

tals number 777 nationwide, ten times more than the 71 DoH-run facilities.

If, as President Duterte had proposed, the PCSO and PAGCOR income will be used to stock up Botika ng Barangay outlets, whose network will have to be expanded after many have been shuttered during the Aquino administration, “then the people win also,” Recto said.

The senator recommended that these village pharmacies and the 3,074 town and city health centers officially known as Rural Health Units, be tapped as frontline dispensaries of needed medicines.

More rehab centers needed

By Funny Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—President Rodrigo Duterte said that he would rather use the billions of pesos intended for the barangay election to build additional rehabilitation centers in the country.

Duterte agrees with legislators who believed the barangay election should be postponed because he is afraid that it will be funded with drug money.

“I am afraid that drug money will deep through the electoral process, you will just be adding headache,” he said, adding it will just create more problems.

He said that there is a big possibility that those who will sit in the position will be funded by drug money and if barangay level positions are filled up with the candidates of narco-politicians, the country will need martial law, which he does not intend to do.

“Who will win? Those who are funded with drug money will win and I need to declare martial law to illuminate it, which I will never do,” he added.

He said that the budget for the barangay election can be used to build additional rehabilitation centers since there is an increasing number of drug surrenders who needs treatment.

Duterte also said that he asked the military to give space for the construction of rehabilitation centers inside their camps since they have the biggest area given by the government.

The Duterte administration is eyeing to develop an area in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija as one of its rehabilitation centers.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Friday the proposal was aimed to address the scarcity of rehabilitation centers in the country amidst the government’s war on illegal drugs.

An estimated 600,000 drug “users” and “pushers” nationwide have already surrendered to the government in its massive anti-drug campaign.

“Of the hundred percent (drug pushers), 90 percent of that are experiential users and about nine percent of that are actual heavy users and one percent are hardcore.

So I believe, out of the 600,000, they (the Department of Health or DoH) can give attention, special attention to about the 60,000 or more,” he said.

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IN BRIEF Cha-Cha tops Philconsa gab

THE Philippine Constitution Association, its president Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and chairman Manuel M. Lazaro, announced that Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez will be the guest of honor and speaker at Philconsa’s monthly membership meeting on August 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the Manila Golf & Country Club in Makati City.

Alvarez is expected to discuss the paramount need and importance to revisit the Constitution to make it conform with and push his legislative priority, the realization of the President’s advocacy and the centerpiece of his administration which is federalism.

The singing of the national anthem will be led by Associate Dean Rita Linda V. Jimeno, vice president for constitutional reforms. The invocation will be delivered

by Former Senator Francisco S. Tatad. The Philconsa Creed will be led by Dr. Margarita R. Cojuangco, VP for Academic Affairs.

The welcome remarks will be delivered by chairman Lazaro. The new members will be presented by Retired Justice Oswaldo D. Agcaoili, VP for Constitutional Reforms, to be inducted by Retired Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno, president emeritus.

Alvarez will be introduced

by Romualdez. Immediately after Alvarez’s speech, an open forum will be held. BizNews publisher and editorin-chief Antonio S. Lopez, Philconsa governor, will act as moderator and master of ceremonies.

Groups hit alcoholism

MY HERO. A street sweeper glances at a statue of Filipino hero and Nagtahan, Manila native Apolinario Mabini, the first prime minister of the Philippines who is known as the Great Paralytic. Ey Acasio

Duterte to lead Heroes Day rites at Libingan PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will lead annual rites commemorating the heroes who started the Philippine Revolution with the Cry of Pugad Lawin 119 years ago and all the others who sacrificed their lives for the republic.

Duterte will lead flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City on Monday morning along with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and other agencies, local government units and nongovernment organizations.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Gen. Tirso A. Dolina will lead the invocation; followed by Taguig Mayor Maria Laarni Cayetano who will deliver the welcome remarks. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana will introduce Duterte as guest of honor.

The NHCP is the national government agency mandated to promote Philippine history through its museums, research and publication, and preserve the nation’s historical heritage through conservation and the marking of historic sites and structures.

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment reminded private sector employers to observe proper pay rules for National Heroes Day which is a regular holiday.

“Proper observance of the pay rules on regular holidays and special non-working days will lead to more productive and competent employees,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said.

The department said an employee shall be paid 200 percent of his or her regular salary if he is required to work on National

Heroes Day for the first eight hours. If work is done in excess of eight hours, workers shall be paid an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day.

For work done during a regular holiday that also falls on the worker’s rest day, they shall be paid an additional 30 percent of the rate of 200 percent.

For work done in excess of eight hours (overtime work) during a holiday that also falls on the workers’ rest day, they shall be paid an additional 30 percent of their hourly rate on said day.

ACTION for Economic Reforms, World Health Organization and National Youth for Sin Tax Movement on Saturday highlighted the need to control and reduce the harms of alcohol, especially among the young generations.

Dr. Alvin Francis Domingo, WHO health policy consultant to the Division of NonCommunicable Diseases, said young people’s exposure to alcohol should be limited by coming-out with appropriate interventions through formulation of policies.

In a forum coincided with the “Bawas Bisyo Youth Convention” held at Bayview Park Hotel in Manila, Domingo urged media and advertising industries to help in changing and shaping the way people look at alcoholism.

He said that there was a need to gather data on the impacts of alcohol on the adolescents, whose ages are below 14 years old.

Magat spill-over possible—Pagasa FLOOD-PRONE downstream communities near Magat Dam in Isabela province must prepare for a possible release of water from the facility by the end of September.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration hydrologist Sonia Serrano warned of such a possibility as Pagasa projected rainfall to increase next month and bring Magat’s water to spilling level.

“If that happens, release of water from Magat is likely,” she said, adding that Magat’s wet season spilling level is 190 meters.

Pagasa reported Magat’s water level at a lower 172.18 meters as of 6 a.m. Saturday.

The risk for flooding increases if Magat water’s release coincides with downpour, Pagasa hydrologist Jason Bausa warned.

Such downpour can cause overspilling in waterways where Magat water discharges, he noted.

“Communities concerned must be alert and heed government advisories on the matter,” he said.

Inaugurated in 1982, Magat Dam provides water for irrigation, power production as well as domestic, industrial and commercial use.

The dam is within the Cagayan river basin, noted Pagasa.

Pagasa earlier forecast September rainfall in the basin to reach almost 433 mm.

According to the environment department, the Cagayan river basin covers 123 municipalities in the Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Central Luzon regions.

Pagasa’s forecast means rainfall in such regions next month could reach 331 mm, 464 mm and 472 mm, respectively. PNA

BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY. An elderly woman probes the flooded street for manholes before crossing Burgos Avenue in Manila amid a traffic jam. Danny Pata

Filipinos warned of bogus overseas employment thru Mindanao

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan Malaysia stressed that the Sabah hension by Sabah authorities for Philippine Overseas EmployTHE Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur warned Filipinos to be cautious of illegal recruitment syndicates that promise overseas jobs to Filipinos and bring them out through Western Mindanao to Sabah then to Dubai or other countries.

The Philippine embassy in

authorities are now very active in arresting Filipinos who illegally cross the borders to Sandakan in Sabah.

“Being made to exit via Zamboanga or Tawi-Tawi is a sure tell-tale sign of illegal trafficking and should ring alarm bells to job-seekers,” the embassy said in a statement. “They risk appre-

unauthorized entry or fall victim to sex and other traffickers.”

The embassy reminded Filipinos that legitimate employment requires working visas issued by the embassy or consulate in Manila of their destination country.

Aside from that, Filipinos who wish to work abroad must acquire work permits from the

ment Agency.

“If the job offer requires the applicant to exit through Mindanao, it is most likely a human trafficking ploy,” the embassy stressed.

So far, Sabah authorities have apprehended more than 20 Filipino women who were promised employment abroad.

The embassy cited the case of a Filipina who was offered a job as a domestic helper in Dubai by a certain Layes Lynian of Al Eternad Labor Supply company based in Manila.

According to her husband who alerted the Embassy, the Filipina and other recruits were made to go to Zamboanga, and then boarded a ferry to Sandakan,

Sabah, where they were apprehended by Sabah authorities and jailed.

Another Filipina also confessed that they were recruited to work as household service workers through a social media by a certain Flordeliza Flores Eborde, who referred them to a “Ms. Venus” who can be contacted only through mobile phone.

A4

Opinion

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2016 SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2016 28,20,

mst.daydesk@gmail.com mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

Shortchanged Here’s a complaint

EDITORIAL

Quality of growth

A T

SENATOR hasDepartment filed a bill seeking The concern plagued the millions of enterprise.

We get by,land anyway, as we often do—don’t THIS time it is the of withtothe anti-corruption fight has of the his family’s real-estate him a seat in Congress—before of prepaid and administration. mobile phone subscribers in raised the Philippines, saythe Filipinos are a his resilient lot?and saying Public prohibit Worksthe expiration and Highways Duterte Many a howl about they it when abandoning mandate electronic load. an estimated 80 percentappointment of which usewas prepaid It willbut be interesting to seepost howatfar this newest launching a line for citizens to raise We, however, find the connection first made, yes to the plum Public Works Senator Ralph Recto, the author of Senate credit for their accounts, for so long. bill progresses.

After all, did not the President HE economy grew 6.9 perThat thelaunching administration of Presithe of previous to these opportunities.” complaints, questions and between the hotline and —something nothing came out it and asleaderusual, cess —which decides, among others, Bill 848, wants consumers to be able to use up However much they complain, however, the himself express derision of the cent inabout the second Rodrigo Duterte was not inclined This roads soundsarelike a real suggestions anythingquarter, related dent fighting corruption a bithas of aassured stretch. ship and the country moved ontotodo thewith next which tooligarchy—the be built plan and all the load they put into their mobile accounts status quo has held sway.

There is not much very few members of the elite who determine aided by the spending that the publiccan of consistency and conto sustain the growth, and not to its projects.

Anybody dial the number and its hotown topic.immediate predecessor. where. and without having to be mindful of a period choice between the two giant telecommunicathe condition and course theterms. rest ofyet us? accompanied the MayMark elections in its policies expected to ItIt isdoes a source of comfort that Soabsolute Previous Public Worksin Secretary Villar tinuity cite irregularities in isthis or that not mean it is any less just Thein idea ofoflaunching another beyond which their money goes to waste. tion companies that provide the service.

Leave Lowly prepaid consumers do not complain and, on the 165-02 supplywill side,bethe good maintain the confidence of busiSecretary have given said number available project. Whether the department will cioeconomic acceptable now.Planning Villar’s father built a presidents hotline so that citizens mayemphasis feel free The bill mandates companies to refund subone, and the other may just be as bad—even all that much because they need the service soa performance the the industry and nesses consumers alike.

“Thebecame chal- to voice achieving high growth but for feedback onofhow department even actand on the call, or even putThe the Ernesto property Pernia empire said: and then their concerns is in itself scribers theiritslost credit.programs, ViolatorsPresident will face Thus, may be muchincluand nolittle alternatives.

Butthat it does not services sectors. hasworse. talked aboutitwithin plans toa smarter lenge istotostay make this growth did to bring ensure wealth can improve policies, issue through a queue Speaker of put, theand House of see good way to the government the possibility of fine, imprisonment, and a resuffer. mean we must go easy on basic The strong showing offset the further relax business restrictions so that more people and opportunity are more justly activities and projects. reasonable time, is another matter sive Representatives, then contribute Senate to the people but demanding does not translate vocation ofasking license. same telco have responsible respect fromdistributed. providers even as we drop production cut taxes The to attract moregiants in- to, andbeen benefit from it. For this, we to the telco inclusive governance “Weinareagricultural the help of every and altogether.

President, before launching a failed The measure not new. inwonder, pre-and fortoo, theifdismal quality internet service thesixknow and profits brought by isthe El Similar Niño bills vestment hence spur employimprove theincompetitiveness The Duterte government is truly stylautomatically.

How they the are agencies Filipino in ensuring that the projects We anything wouldofmust presidential campaign years it’s ago.domination vious congresses have been filed but have not country amid relatively high costs.

Again, after. phenomenon. growth. call of markets and business cli- ing itselfmuch as one breaks handle, less that respond, to old the are implemented well and at the right ment come for outlong-term of a hypothetical Hisour mother was a House representative gone beyond first reading.

We suppose big leaving one brand for the other is not an atPerhaps the government can stand up for its The gross domestic product complaining Notably, the economic manag- mate advantage of the new patterns and will occasions genuine issues raised determine their quality,” Villar said. about the appointment and isto antake incumbent senator. business has itsmakes way ofthe making politicians toe tractive option for consumers.

Providers givein managed people, for once, byWe ensuring business at (GDP) growth Philipers of this surge investments the region. shouldbig watch how in it sincerity in opening up the lines The secretary added the hotline of Villar to administration the post given thecredited glaring The of secretary himself to change. the line. equally poor quality, anyway. the very least plays fair. pines fastest-growing previous administration of Importantly, we of must at the the firstmake place.good on its word to ensuresthe transparency and is incountry keeping the conflict of interest in his position and convince voters hislook district to would in Asia and the achievement of the President Benigno Aquino III for sectors and geographic areas that achieve the kind of growth that full-year target of 6 percent to 7 putting in place sound macroeco- have been lagging behind and de- is actually experienced—not just percent likely. nomic, fiscal and monetary policy termine how to improve their ac- read about in the papers.

Suburban Waging voters shun peace inTO3 HAIL TrumpTHE inCHAIR Colombia key states VICTOR

By Mac Margolis AVECILLA

By Albert R. Hunt

IN THE coming weeks, Colombians will be asked to cast DONALD Trump’s presidena vote like none in the tial campaign hasother a lot of country’s history.

The problems. Near the top of sole the question on the ballot will be list is this: Suburban voters whether Latin America’s third want to nation do withshould him, mostnothing populous especially in three states where ratify a historic peace agreehement needs compete. to toend the longest-runThe latest ning guerrilla indicator insurgencywas in this week’s Washington the Western Hemisphere.Post It seems a silly quessurvey, whichlike showed Hillary tion: After a conflict that has Clinton up by 14 percentage raged in forVirginia half aHero century, taken points among reg-of COUNCILOR Bautista 220,000 lives and uprooted istered voters and eight with Quezon City has finally admitmorethat than people, likely voters.

Thecitydriving ted he 6is million the official what’s to decide?

And yet, who tested positiveafor drugit’s use force: She enjoys 45-point a measure the ago. parlous more than ina of week More advantage the voter-rich mood in Latin America’s specifically, the councilor said Washington suburbs, almost most conflicted nation that the that hethe hadmargin been using shabu double rolled up fate of the Colombian peace and marijuana.

Bautista also there four years ago

by Presiprocess is still anyone’s guess. claimed that although he used dentAfter Barack Obama. theatalks between drugs, heall, was victim of the the government of President This follows similar find- it drug menace. For whatever Juaninworth, Manuel Santos and leadings Philadelphia’s suburbs, was Bautista suggested ers of the Revolutionary where Clinton’s big to the city council thatlead drug Armed should Forces ofgiven Colombia threatens to put be Pennsylvania testing a new (orofFARC) have draggedabuse on out Trump’s reach. label—illegal substance since November 2012, sufintake checking.

Goodpoll grief!

A Marist College out fered multiple setbacks and Days earlier, word already this week shows the Demoleft some vexing details hanggot nominee around with that a 14-point Councilor cratic ing. One flunked sticking the point is that Bautista drug test. lead in Colorado.

Lee Mirindespite their tacit agreement Even the news media learned goff, director the poll, says to the lay downof weapons, of incident.

Evidently,the the looking at the statewide reFARC will not be fullyto disadmission was made prearmed aby thecan time Colombisponse, “You extrapolate empt more embarrassing ans vote on the referendum, that she has almost a 3-to-1 public exposé by national auwhich is scheduled early lead in the Denver suburbs.” thorities including for President October.

The endhimself. ofadvantage the insurThis is aDuterte bigger Rodrigo gency doesn’t mean drug trafthanHero Obama held is while carryBautista the younger ficking will stop, nor will it brother of in incumbent ing the state 2008 and Quezon 2012. compel holdout groups, such City Mayor ex-film threeandstates haveacasThese the estimated 2,000-strong tor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista been considered crucial for National Liberation Army of the abusive Liberal Party Trump—among the half-doz(ELN), toformer cease President their hostili(LP) Been or soofstates he has to switch ties. nigno Aquino III and ex-House fromWhile the Democratic column no one imagined Speaker Feliciano Belmonte that ending the longest-runtoJr. win.

The growing suburbs Although Hero Bautista is war the toAmericas inaning these statesincouncilor, seem be he makfirst-time was would be simple, Colombians ing that impossible.

If he given the chairmanshiploses of the wouldcouncil’s be Pennsylvania forgiven for wonColorado, and city powerful comdering what comes next and Virginia, a pathway victory mittee on public to works and who’ll pay the price.

In many isinfrastructure. hard to see. Analysts attribways, the 297-page agreeute his quick rise to power and Trump is especially unpopment unveiled in Havana on influence to his brother.

That ular in these venues, which Aug.is24not is just the beginning idea because include a lotfar-fetched of college-eduof an even trickier moment Quezon City is known for pocated residents, for the Andean rising nation diversiof nearlitical dynasties. tyly and voters people. who are more 50 million About a week ago,ColomMayor bian lawmakers must still tolerant on social But Bautista hinted toissues. the public sign off on the plan, which this only is accelerating a pothat his councilor-brother Santos submitted to them on litical trend in fail suburbs outside did, indeed, the drug test Thursday.

Likewise, the guerthe Deep South, which have for Quezon City officials. rilla trending leaders will have to conbeen Democratic forthe This probably prompted sult their top guns undiscouncilor to insistattoanthe news almost a quarter-century.

As closed that location in the media his brother—the recently as 1988, they were Colombian jungle. mayor—was not protecting Republican bastions.

Santos doggedly a insists him.

Demonstrating twisted A few things changed.

The that once the accord iscouncilor finally sense of logic, the growing numbers of minoritysigned, Colombians stressed that he waswill thevote one group suburbanites are mainly “overwhelmingly” to support protecting his brother. peace. hastheargued, conDemocrats.

White suburbanRightHe after long-belated vincingly, that war’s end will ites aren’t drawn to the Repubadmission, Councilor Bautista encourage investment, bringlican Party’s campaign to condeclared that he was going on ingindefinite a “peace dividend” of up nect with religious and cultural an leave from public to 1.5 percent annual growth. conservatives. office to undergo rehabilita(Of course, that will the be city at tion.

Belmonte, “TheJoyRepublicans’ posileast partly offset by the estivice mayor, announced that tioning resonates with rural mated billion the city$16.8 council willColombia appoint a voters and some workingwill spend rebuilding the

The narco-city of Bistek and Hero Bautista

Leisure Sendoffs and symphonies

LONG STORY SHORT

ADELLE CHUA IN A recent Facebook post, I FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD violinist conducted a poll by asking Adrian Nicolas Ong is leaving friends what they would do if today. He is starting tenth grade they had just do and spending theone nextday threeto years anything they liked. as a scholar at POWER the Interlochen The answers did not vary Arts Academy in Traverse City, much: My friends would like POINT Michigan. On Friday evening, to catch up on sleep and go to August 26, he ELIZABETH had a free-admisthe spa for a massage. sion concertinoANGSIOCO at the Cultural Some like to catch Center of would the Philippines Little up on —his their way reading, see a Theater of saying Ithanks ASKED the participants in movie orhis binge watch fato mentors andtheir friends this reproductive health forum voritehave TV been series.around for him who if theyheknow of young who since started the vioExercise (orlearning yoga)girls comes have gotten pregnant.

There was lin atmore age nine. up than once, as well. a chorus of yesses.

I again asked His mother Jeannie tries to be Some would go toage the beach, about the youngest of these chirpy about her son’s leaving. go on a food trip or cook for girls.

A are groupways of young people “There to keep in their loved ones. loudly said: “Ten citing years old!” touch,” she says, the variYet alone another wouldwhy loveproto This explains ous means of communication tidy groups up herare home, rearrange RH not stopping on that technology affordsorganize us these things andimplementation. perhaps the law’s days.

She alsobeen says too thatbusy he We althose she had to continue to go to provinces and ways has the option of coming attend to. cities local government home to to help the Philippines Onein said she did notduring want units their make vacations. That,efforts or theto family to think of anything at all. this important law benefit their goes there to visit. constituents.

The provincial The question is relevant A former schoolmate at for the government of Benguet those of usHigh who, for fiveheaded or six Philippine School for the by Cresencio Pacalso days a week, find ourselves ArtsGovernor shares an anecdote about is one of these LGUs. bogged Like down most by the things Adrian. teenagers, I have write this inthat Baguio City we we have Adrian wasto andoavid gamer.

But where I was invited by the Philneither time nor energy to do one day he decided he would get ippine Legislators Committee the things we want to do. rid of his (gaming) account and on Population Development And increasingly now, in concentrate on and his music.

responding to the question It appears Adrian has never what we want to do, the looked back since. And on Friday emerging answer seems to night, what a sight: he awkwardbe... “nothing.” ly reading his thank yous in a entation on Reproductive Health I do not meanwritten that there is prepared speech on his and Sustainable Development no answer.

I mean that the anmobile phone, his friends from Goals where I Orchestackled swerManila is(SDGs)” “nothing.” the Symphony “Issues and Challenges in the “Nothing”—“wala” in Tatra-Junior Orchestra (MSJO) RH Law Implementation.” galog—has been underrated wishing him well. were all forThe tooother long.

We other always be“We’ll seespeakers each again,” among the leaders in the RH lieve all the spaces have to be he said. movement including filled, and that there hasIfugao to be ••• Representative Teddy Baguilat some onmenthe The agenda orchestrawritten kids are Jr.; DIWA Representative and tored by conductor Soblank spaces of ourJeffrey organizChair of the lares.

He putHouse up theCommittee MSJO in ers.Women on and Gender Equality 2014 with think his Manila Symphony Many silence is Nanot Em Aglipay-Villar; UNFPA Orchestra colleagues—Arturo desirable—it has to be broken tional Programme Officer for Molina, Gina Medina Perez and by music, or,and infinitely worse, Population Development Sara Gonzales.

“We wanted this mindless chatter.

Advocacy Vic Jurlano; orchestra to have the holidays bestPresifrom Weekends and dent of the Forum for Family all over the Philippines and not must beand celebrated and Planning Development, Inc. just be students of onegoing school.” spent outside, to BenToday de Leon; and PLCPD’s Exthe group haspeople, 22 vioplaces, meeting ecutive Director, Romfive Dongeto. lins, four violas and cramming up were so cellos. many Different LGUs amply The kids’ age range between things to do that “vacation” represented and young people eight and 18. It has developed its losesamong its essence turns were the participants. own repertoire andand regularly Because barriers and chalinto hard work. holds public concerts. lenges to the full implementaThose who do nothing He looks back fondly at are the tion ofdays the law and beeither boring orremain, lazy, early of the juniormissing group, cause LGU that officials out onthere many life practicing in are a things 15-square meter who defy the law, particularly has to offer.

The more sucspace at the MSO’s cramped rethe provision modern cessful peopleofare those famwho hearsal room. ily planning to their poor have a full plate, lifeconto “I had to plan thelive position of

I have not yet read the of: catching up on sleep, getconsider what wereading, do as ‘enterting a massage, tidytainment,’ per se. Our mission is ing up, spending time with closer to developing people.” loved ones, conversing with Solares acknowledges that decision has put levels a major legal friends. there are differing of profiimpediment in effectively adIn my case it is writing ciency and natural aptitude dressing teenage pregnancy, things that do not have a deadamong his students. “This re-a most problem we line, serious but as each compelling quires that are I treat onehave acnow.

Our girls are getting pregand urgent as today’s hottest cordingly.” nant andme right. adolesnews.

And staring out the “Itleft gives joy Our to see many cent pregnancy rates are among window,achieve feelingasmall and inchildren high level of the highest, ifand not yet theand highest in significant sothey alive musical proficiency, all the world.

In virtually counamid the view. must pull each other up.allThe sotries, the numbers of teenage I do‘star notsystem’—giving mean to say we called atpregnancies areprodigies down— tention a few or senshould to give in togoing the leisure of but NOT in the Philippines. sationalize theall extraordinary doing nothing the time.

We The High Court’s decision to achievements of ahave few—tends to are adults—we commitonly allow access to contracepencourage unhealthy competiments to honor, reputations to tives to minors who tion among parents andhave kids,been and uphold, bills tobypay.

But how given consent their Ibusy don’twe likeare to does fosternot thisparents atmoand/or guardians makes itdefine very sphere.” us. difficult for government to adWhat try to do in It the is, they instead, invery theMSJO, few dress problem of young instead, ishours to instill joyweand apprecious when allow girls becoming mothers.

Minors preciation for each other’s ourselves to docontexts. exactly what have different achievements and mutual Some coopwe already feel likesexually doing, whatever it are active, eration among parents and even chilis, that we are most alive. cohabiting with their boyfriends dren. “What we are trying to and noislonger living their Let’s be excellent kind to with ourselves build an orchestra, parents or guardians.

Having and assert our claim to leisure and you need everybody to no be access to modern family reasonably regularly.

It’s planhow that way.” ning methods is a problem fora we“We keep sane,excellence and it’s how want to bewe them.

Teenage pregnancy must create wonders. normal thing.”

Going local on RH Law implementation the 12 young violinists so they would not hit each other with their bows.”

It’s days how These the children often use contraceptives, always rehearse at the mall,itinisan open we keep sane, heartwarming to meet pro-RH space between the MSO AcadeLGU officials. and it’sand how we store at my branch an Apple We were told that Benguet the top level of Glorietta 5. It’s create Pacalso wonders.

Governor have always a treat for wants Sundaytoshopa Gender and Development (GAD) Code in the province and is enlisting the assistance of NGOs in the crafting of the the fullest, and wear numercode.

The province, through the Excellence

ous hats. should be are dangerThese notions ous as they are wrong. the norm.

An article published last year Opponents on the website Brainpickings.org about a of this lawtalks have book by the German philosopher called LeinottoJosef stopped in holding pers seePieper teenagers sure,instruments—not the Basis of Culture. their their gadderailing it.”

Thefor author of the online argets, once—and creating ticle, Maria Popova, describes beautiful music. the magnificent kids’ parents theAlways, book too, as “a would be for standing or sitting manifesto reclaiming huhelp of waiting PLCPD,for hastheir alsokids organnearby, and man dignity in a culture of ized anamong advocacy groupfosterthat talking each other, compulsive workaholicalism, includes LGU ofrepresentatives. ing friendships theirinown. triply timely an law, age While RH istoday, already Nonetheless, the malla area, when we have commodified doing advocacy both at the lowhile “good forso the public see, our and aliveness much totomiscal national levels remains is notmaking ideal forawoking on truly take living fora havvery important because the artistic level for us.

That is of why it ing a life.”

Foundation Inc. to its “Issue Ori- stituents who want and need to hurdles it faces. The initiatives

is very but urgent for us to to get the our book subscribe own rehearsal venue where we thinking that leisure—mocan work in detail,” Solares says. ments of unburdened con••• of the Benguet provincial govtemplation, of absolute presSolares is not just a musician ernment are commendable. ence with the universe and teacher—he is also an advoTo specifically illustrate theoffact that we within one’s own mind and cate, the promoneed to remain on guard in absolute attentiveness to tion of classical music for educadefending our RH gains, I inlife—is not the same as betion and human development. cluded in my talk ing devoid of to activity.

“What we try sellthe are actual goods timeline of legal hurdles faced according to forAthetragedy, spirit, things that nurture and continue to be faced by Popova, the soul.” that leisure is not the law.

Consider these: itof was seen asgoes essential the He back to onehuman the signed into law on December spirit butthea self-indulgent luxaims of MSO Music Acade21, January my,2012. whichHowever, is for to encourage peoury reserved theon privileged 2, 2013, the first work day not afple to take up musical study, or deplorable idleness reanti-RH groups ter New Year, for the for explicit purpose of beserved the lazy. already started petitioning the coming professional musicians But who’s being lazy?

We Supreme Court on assailing and joining orchestras but as an wear ourselves out most days the law’s constitutionality.

Just avenue for personal growth.

“We of thetwo week that after it is incomover months (March want to promote thewepractice of prehensible that can go 19, 2013), the SC issued a Staclassical music as an essential from day to day without needtus Quoquality Ante Order on the part education for RH eving aofThis breather.

That breather is Law. meant the law could eryone.” leisure. not be implemented yet.

On July How to promote classical muIt’s waking on Saturday 16, SCupthe extended SQA sic, 2013, then, the given impression morning and declaring to indefinitely.

It was only in April that it is only for the educated, 2014 after prolonged oral arguyourself and to everyone that nay, the elite? ments, SCbe decided that today isthat going to your “lazy “I do notthe claim that I already RH Law is NOT unconstitutionday”—you will do exactly know the answer to that, but I do al save athe fewstar provisions. just thefor things you’d like to not see that system is the We rejoiced because at last, do, and nothing more. way to do it. Ths star system the law’s implementation could Often, these are the most might work for people in the enalready start.

However, we are rewarding things weBut can think tertainment industry.

I do not now finding out that the SC’s

be curbed significantly.

But the anti-RH groups did not adellechua@gmail.com adellechua@gmail.com Turn to A5

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

What the new planet says about life in the universe

By Faye Flam

Calling for survivors in Amatrice hours after the quake. AFP

Paradise lost

By Ella Ide and Giovanni Grezzi AMATRICE, Italy—We were deep in southern Italy working on a feature story when we got word about the quake. We set off immediately but it was a good six-hour drive from where we were. It was frustrating being so far away—you know that with each passing hour, it’s going to be more difficult for you to get to the affected areas because the roads are going to be closed off.

We got to the area around midday. The tricky thing about this earthquake is that it affected a hilly area where there are lots of small hamlets. There isn’t one main point where you work, like there was in the 2009 L’Aquila quake. The access to the biggest town was blocked, so we headed first to a little hamlet, Illica.

We drove as far as we could and then we grabbed our equipment and we hiked up the rest of the way. We had been in the south on another sort of story entirely, so we had our sandals, bikinis. Not really proper attire for

hiking in the mountains.

The Italians may be famous for being disorganized, but I have to say, they’re very good at emergency situations. It was immediate mobilization. When we got on the spot, they had blankets, food, and first aid, among others, already distributed to those affected.

You brace yourself for the human aspect of it, but it still hits you. This place is very small, so everyone knows everyone else here. We spoke to one young man who told us he lost five friends. As we spoke, they pulled out a body of a girl he knew out of the rubble. “When does it stop?” he asked.

You can be interviewing someone and their relatives are under the rubble not far from you. And they still have a tiny glimmer of hope that they’re alive. Or they could be dying as you’re speaking. One woman sobbed as she told us her 75-yearold sister was trapped but they couldn’t get to her as the buildings around were so unstable.

Another woman we met had

lived through the L’Aquila earthquake but moved here because it was safer. A lot of people were resigned to life with quakes, saying “We’ll just rebuild, life goes on.”

We haven’t seen much anger, but there have been rumblings about buildings that were supposed to be quake-proof but weren’t. We haven’t been able to access all of the areas yet, but from the death toll, it would seem there was a lot of damage, people are saying it’s worse than L’Aquila. There, you had 70,000 people living in the area and 300 dead. Here, you have 5,000 people max and a similarly high death toll. The houses collapse and become tombs in seconds.

Because the area where the quake hit is so spread out, it’s been challenging logistically. We have to hike anywhere from a half hour to a few hours to get to each scene. The first 24 hours it was almost impossible to access electricity so when the equipment ran down we had to call it a day and trudge back to the car.

Same goes for the sleeping arrangements. In L’Aquila, the

journalists could stay in a hotel in the city so it was easy to work around the clock. But here, we have the option of sleeping in the car—not great when you only slept a couple of hours the night before and are shattered—or drive for an hour to an undamaged area.

It’s a bit surreal working here because the surroundings are so stunning—we’re nestled among the mountains, it’s very green, bright sunshine, blue skies. And you’re covering death and tragedy. You have to drop everything and dart to safety when the afterquakes hit. There were a lot of people here because there was supposed to be an Amatriciana festival this weekend, with tourists coming from far and wide to taste one of Italy’s most famous pasta dishes. Plus it’s the last week of summer holidays. It was much fuller than it would have been otherwise.

One woman told me—“We had everything—a lovely community with little shops, tourists loved it here. This was paradise and we’ve lost everything.” AFP

Trump’s 2,000-mile mistake

By Francis Wilkinson EVEN Donald Trump recognizes that he has an immigration problem. No, I’m not talking about his wife, Melania, whose promised news conference detailing her sketchy immigration history has, almost three weeks after Trump announced it, still failed to materialize. I’m talking about the pronouncements— mass deportations, the famous Mexicanfinanced border wall—that have been the centerpiece of Trump’s presidential campaign.

With November’s election fast approaching, it seems Trump is having second thoughts. Given this particular candidacy, it’s equally plausible that Trump is having first thoughts. There is no evidence that he has ever seriously considered any issue, including immigration. His purpose throughout the Republican primary was to convey hostility to Hispanic immigrants, and to validate the hostilityof his crowds. Accusing Mexicans of crimes and promising deportations and a wall to keep them out accomplished his goal. Were his pronouncements actual policies that Trump intended to carry out? I don’t know. Maybe.

Now, polls are showing the limits of bigotry and boorishness in a general election. While the horse-race numbers have been generally bad for Trump, a Pew

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country). That’s one reason why two-thirds of Colombia’s small businesses, which generate 67 percent of the country’s jobs, back the peace plan.

An August poll by Invamer backed this claim, showing that two-thirds of those surveyed planned to vote for the deal. (Another poll showed Colombians more evenly divided.) But that’s not the whole story.

Research poll released this week is arguably worse. It reveals why he might want to wiggle out of his promises to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants and erect an impenetrable wall along the southwestern border.

Public opinion has been moving away from Trump. In 2014, Pew Research found that Americans valued border security over a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, with 33 percent opting for security and 23 percent for a pathway to citizenship. Now, after more than a year of Trump’s nativist chants, 24 percent prefer security and 29 percent choose a pathway.

A year ago, Pew found 46 percent supported fencing the Mexican border and 48 percent opposed it. In the survey released this week, Pew uses the term “wall”—Trump’s lingo—instead of “fence.” The numbers are devastating for him, with 36 percent supporting a wall and 61 percent opposed. Trump is not winning converts. If anything, his campaign is helping to discredit his positions.

The context is broader than Trump. In 2014, when Pew last asked the security versus pathway question, “unaccompanied minors from Central America were entering the country in large numbers [relatively speaking],” said Mark Hugo Lopez, Pew’s director of Hispanic re-

search, via e-mail. “And there was a lot of news coverage of the event. That may have increased the share of Americans who said better border security should be the priority.”

President Barack Obama, in conjunction with the Mexican government, cracked down on the flow of migrants from Central America. This has appalled advocates for child migrants, but it has removed some of the kindling from Trump’s fire.

Immigration, in Trump’s crude vernacular, is only partly about immigration in any case. It is mostly about race. And here, too, Trump is losing.

From August 18 to 24, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,498 likely voters nationwide, asking them: “Do you think the way Donald Trump talks appeals to bigotry, or not?”

Voters accustomed to a steady purr of racial politics appear to register that Trump is a different

kind of cat. By 59 percent to 36 percent they said that, yes, he does appeal to bigotry.

In the Washington Post, Philip Bump wrote: Even worse for Trump, a plurality of every demographic save Republicans felt that he appealed to bigotry, including majorities of independents, men, women, whites with or without college degrees, people aged 64 or younger and both whites and nonwhites. Among all whites, 54 percent felt that Trump appeals to bigotry (with 50 percent of white men agreeing). Among nonwhites, the figure was 72 percent.

On Thursday, Hillary Clinton unleashed a searing attack on Trump, citing his own racially charged language, his links to racists and hisdocumented history of racially biased business practices. Her campaign accented the speech with a 17-page fact sheet it had been saving for the occasion.

Trump’s “deportation force” and “beautiful wall” may never have been more than a slapdash hoax—or, as some have called the wall, a “metaphor.”

Perhaps, on the other hand, Trump was always deadly serious. Either way, Trump’s immigration stance is teetering. Without an abrupt change in the campaign’s trajectory, he’ll be buried beneath the rubble one way or another. Bloomberg

Invamer also reported that few Colombians believed that peace will spread wealth in the countryside (37 percent), reduce ideologically motivated violence (22 percent), impel the FARC to compensate their victims (20 percent) or lead ex-combatants to fight drug trafficking (17 percent).

There’s reason for skepticism. Start with the fact that Santos’s peace initiative was seen by many Colombians not just as a gamble but an act of political sedition. After all,

Santos’s predecessor Alvaro Uribe had waged an outright war against the FARC, vastly reducing their numbers and firepower—with Santos as his defense minister.

Uribe left office with soaring ratings, and his protege, a political novice, swept into power on a hero’s coattails. By reversing course and reaching out to the FARC, Santos not only scrapped Uribe’s hawkish line but also turned his former mentor into his fiercest rival, who still commands a respectable following.

What’s clear now is that the fate of Colombian peace turns less on the nuances of the proposal than it does on the battle between the country’s political brokers, which is raging.

Though war-weary Colombians gave Santos the benefit of doubt, re-electing him over a hardliner in 2014, the arduous talks and relentless attacks by “Uribistas” have taken their toll. After Santos’s six years in office, only one in four Colombians approve of his government.

Public opinion has been moving away from Trump.

THE newly discovered planet Proxima b is about to change the focus of astronomy for decades to come—and maybe longer, if it reveals signs of life. The planet, some 25 trillion miles away from our own, is like a twin to Earth, but one separated at birth and living a very different kind of life.

The discovery, which was announced Wednesday in the journal Nature, represents by far the closest habitable planet to Earth—near enough that humans could take pictures of it, if not with today’s telescopes, then with ones that will come online soon. If the planet is like Earth, these near-future telescopes could pick up hints of vegetation and sunlight glinting off the ocean.

And Proxima b looks a lot like Earth. It’s only a little bigger than our planet, according to scientists’ calculations, and it sustains about the same average temperature. The star it orbits, Proxima Centauri, is the sun’s closest neighbor. Significantly, astronomers believe the planet, like ours, is in the “habitable zone” of its star, which means liquid water could exist on its surface. And liquid water could mean life.

Studying this planet could reveal something important about the timeline of life in the universe, and whether we earthlings are early to the party. That’s because stars like Proxima Centauri are the future of the universe. Called red dwarfs, these make up the majority of stars in the galaxy, and they live about 1,000 times as long as our sun.

In a paper made public last month, Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb looked at the cosmic implications of life surrounding red dwarfs. Loeb calculated that if life is just as likely to form around these stars as sun-like ones, then the vast majority of life in the universe has yet to be born, and we earthlings are not just early, he said, but “premature.”

That’s because scientists believe eventually, all the raw materials for star formation will be used up and If the planet all the stars will die, leavturns out to be a ing a dark universe of dust and black holes. For most nice place, we may of the trillions of years end up moving stretching between now there. and cosmic darkness, red dwarfs will be the only game in town.

Why wouldn’t red dwarfs be just as good at nurturing life as stars like the sun? There are many hazards. The main requirement scientists use for habitability is the potential for water to remain in liquid form, since all life on Earth requires it. But because red dwarfs are dim, their planets would have to orbit so close that they get “tidally locked,” with one side of the planet roasting in permanent daylight and the other trapped in perpetual darkness. This is what happened to Mercury, the planet closest to our sun.

Still, while planets like Mercury are hellish, tidal locking isn’t necessarily the end of the world, according to planetary scientist James Kasting of Penn State University. With enough air and water circulation, even a locked planet might sustain life.

The other, slightly more serious problem is that red dwarfs start out very hot when they are young and then cool off. As an analogy, University of Washington astronomer Victoria Meadows says, think of turning on a gas stove. That initial burst of high heat would likely boil off any water and destroy any atmosphere on nearby planets.

Still, that doesn’t mean life couldn’t exist on a planet orbiting a red dwarf. Planets can move around in the early stages of a forming solar system, she said, so it’s possible Proxima b was at a safer distance when the star was firing up.

A pair of papers on the potential habitability of Proxima b came out alongside the announcement of its discovery. One author, Villanova University astronomer Edward Guinan, said he was surprised life looks to be possible there. “When they first told me about it, I thought ‘This doesn’t have a chance,” he said.

Not only is the star hot in its first billion years, it would bombard the planet with hundreds of times the intensity of X-rays and ultraviolet light that our planet gets from the sun.

But scientific models showed that a protective magnetic field could preserve an ocean and an atmosphere on the planet.

The scientists say that until they look closer, they won’t know if Proxima b is a desert planet, barren as Mars, or perhaps overheated as Venus. But they can’t rule out the possibility that it’s lush, watery and blue. Scientists may learn more from the successor to the Hubble, called the James Webb Space Telescope, to be launched later this decade. Greater hopes are pinned on a couple of enormous ground-based telescopes, one planned for the high desert in Chile.

If there is life on Proxima b, it has a better future than Earth, which is already more than halfway through its habitable existence. The sun won’t actually die for another few billion years, but scientists say that a billion years from now it may brighten enough to sterilize our poor planet. Proxima b’s star is just a child, by contrast, with trillions of years stretching into its future. If the planet turns out to be a nice place, said Harvard’s Loeb, we may end up moving there.

Bloomberg Santos’ error was not trying to woo the enemy into a deal but in misreading the country’s misgivings over the terms of peace. After half a century of bloody insurgency and failed truces, loathing for the FARC runs deep in Colombia, and the government’s concessions to former combatants risk seeming overly generous. Critics are especially galled by the provisions that allow penitent guerrillas to avoid jail and even run for political office if they come clean.

“Colombians clearly wanted an end to war, but not necessarily this agreement,” Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue, a policy research center, told me. “They wonder if the government has given up too much to a group already on the run and with little political support.”

With an unprecedented truce at hand, Santos hasn’t flinched.

Only now he must not just bring home the peace but also convince his compatriots that it wasn’t surrender. Bloomberg

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

More men dispatched for eastern MM traffic

5th P2P service rolls out Tuesday

By Joel E. Zurbano

By John Paolo Bencito

T

HE Metro Manila Development Authority has deployed more personnel to help ease up traffic congestion in eastern Metro Manila amid public complaints over the construction of the Light Railway Transit-2 East Expansion Project.

Irked commuters and motorists residing in the cities of Marikina, Pasig and Antipolo said the Department of Transportation and its contractor D.M. Consunji Inc. should have first made an efficient traffic plan before they started the construction last year.

MMDA concurrent general manager and officer-in-charge Thomas Orbos said he deployed

more men to direct and manage traffic along Marcos Highway to address the gridlock in the area connecting the three cities.

He said the MMDA, in close coordination with the newly formed Inter-Agency Committee on Traffic Management, will also deputize personnel from the private contractor to help government traffic enforcers in manning

traffic from Ligaya Street in Pasig City to Masinag in Antipolo City.

“We have to address and ease the traffic situation along Marcos Highway as soon as possible with these traffic measures such as deployment of traffic personnel and come out with the rerouting plan,” Orbos said.

He said the MMDA will also implement a traffic rerouting scheme for Marcos Highway: Motorists coming from Cubao/ Katipunan to Antipolo shall take Aurora Blvd., right at Katipunan, Carlos P. Garcia Avenue, left at Ortigas Avenue extension to destination and vice versa. They can also take A. Bonifacio Avenue (to Marikina City proper), straight to Sumulong Highway to destination

and vice versa.

Those coming from Antipolo City to Quezon City are advised to take Ortigas Avenue extension, left at Kaytikling towards Taytay Palengke, East Bank Service Road, left at Legaspi Bridge, left at C. Raymundo to destination to vice versa.

Motorists from Cainta, Rizal going to Quezon City may take Felix Avenue left at Kagihawaan Street/Magsaysay Street, right at Amang Rodriguez Avenue, left at Calle Industria to Carlos P. Garcia, to destination and vice versa, while those coming from Caintavia Valley Golf to Cubao, Quezon City from Ortigas Avenue extension left Don Celso Tuazon Avenue, take Sumulong Highway to destination and vice versa.

Orbos ordered his men to install six closed-circuit television cameras in strategic areas to continue monitor the traffic situation along the major thoroughfare which serves as the main gateway of vehicles coming from eastern Metro Manila as well as from the provinces of Rizal.

The MMDA also coordinated with the local government units and other stakeholders in the affected localities on what other measures could be done to ease traffic along Marcos Highway.

MMDA officials admitted that the snail-paced traffic along Marcos Highway was mainly due to the high volume of vehicles plying the route and the current construction of the LRT-2 extension.

IN BRIEF Energy data bill pushed THE chairman of the House committee on energy stressed the need for Congress to pass an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Bill to improve the collection of baseline information on energy consumption and modernize the country’s electric grid infrastructure.

Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco of Marinduque said a “Smart Grid” would be a key enable towards achieving greater grid reliability, and cost savings for customers in the long term.

“Through smart grid, utilities will be able to deliver power more consistently and can prevent overloads and outages as well as real-time troubleshooting allowing problems to get fixed faster,” Velasco said during an energy forum organized by the Stratbase Albert Del Rosario lnstitute (ADRi).

A Smart Grid is a flexible electric management system that adds communication and computer intelligence to a local electricity distribution network. This enables the user to track and manage power usage, leading to ways to reduce energy wastage. Its system of flexible distribution and smart generation, which works in renewable energy, makes for efficient homes or enterprises.

The hardware provides realtime pricing information, helping customers use electricity at reduced rates. Any operational issues that arise will be easily handled by the Smart Power Grid’s digitization of all the data it records to expedite the troubleshooting process. Maricel V. Cruz

‘Fix payment to solar roof contributors’ THE Philippine Solar Power Alliance is asking the Energy Regulatory Commission to correct the payment scheme for homeowners with solar rooftop facilities exporting their excess power to the grid.

PSPA submitted its position paper to the ERC wherein the group describe the manner by which utility companies calculate the credit due to the homeowners who sell their excess power to the grid.

The group filed its comments stressing the needed correction in the payment system as the present mechanism is contrary to the spirit of the Renewable Energy Law of 2008 and its implementing rules and regulation.

PSPA president Tetchi Capellan said in a statement that under the law, “net-metering customer is only charged for his net electricity consumption and is credited for any overall contribution to the electricity grid.”

Net metering is a non-fiscal incentives given to solar rooftop owners provided in the RE Law by way of granting credits earned from electricity produced net of consumption.

“Electric power generated by an end-user may be used to offset electric energy provided by the utility company to the enduser during the applicable period.

Thus, the net-metering customer is only charged or credited, as the case may be, the difference between its import energy and export energy.” Alena Mae S. Flores

EMPOWERING WOMEN. Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez (2nd, left) hands over a check for P100,000 to Erlinda Cesana, president of the Active Women Association of Barangay Lingyan in Alang-Alang, Leyte, as a contribution to the capital of their hog raising, rice farming and village store business. Also in photo is Jude Acidre of Tingog ng Sinirangan. Ver Noveno

A NEW point-to-point (P2P) service for passengers coming from Fairview going to Makati will be launched on Tuesday, the Transportation Department said Saturday.

The fifth bus route to be operational starting September 16 will kick off from Robinsons Novaliches in Quezon City, before traversing the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue going to Ayala Park Square in Makati CBD. The buses will be air-conditioned, with a maximum of four seats per row, will have free wifi, low entry with wheelchair ramp, off-street loading and unloading and fixed schedules unlike regular buses.

Routes that are already operational for the P2P service from Ortigas to Makati, North Edsa to Ortigas, Ortigas to Makati, and North Edsa to Makati.

Future routes from Alabang to Ortigas, Fairview to Ortigas, Fairview to Cubao, Alabang to BGC, and Alabang to Cubao.

The Transportation Deparment said that the new project will allow passengers “to have a more convenient, reliable, and safe transportation” and “allows shorter travel time” from Fairview area to Makati.

The new buses will also be linked to the Beep automated fare collection system and will have a Persons with Disabilityfriendly design.

The Dtr is in the process of selecting bus operators for several premium P2P routes, linking several high-traffic origin and destination points, such as Makati, Ortigas Center, Alabang, and Fairview.

The winning premium P2P bus operators have the option to operate an interim service while the required buses are being manufactured.

The buses should be equipped with modern features, such as automatic fare collection system, global positioning system devices, on-board closed-circuit television cameras, and free wifi.

Atienza supports Metro subway proposal

By Maricel V. Cruz AN OPPOSITION lawmaker on Saturday backed the plan to build a fast-moving subway train as part of a long-term solution to Metro Manila’s growing road congestion.

“We absolutely need an underground train system long-term. In the years ahead, there’s simply no way we can efficiently move large numbers of people around the national capital without a subway,” said House deputy minority leader and Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, former three-term mayor of Manila.

Atienza noted that urban planners project Metro Manila’s population to hit 20 million by 2020, up by 7.1 million from 12.9 million in 2015.

Atienza expressed optimism that the Duterte administration will be able to jump-start major infrastructure projects that will help resolve the heavy traffic in Metro Manila.

“Right now, we can no longer widen our roads. So we have only two options left—to construct new mass transport systems up in the air, which we are already doing with the additional elevated trains, or to burrow underground and create

subways,” Atienza said.

The lawmaker said he had counted on the previous administration to firm up the blueprint for a Metro subway. “But they failed to plan ahead. This time, under President Rodrigo Duterte, we are hoping transport engineers will finally get things done,” he said.

The Management Association of the Philippines, which groups more than 800 of the country’s largest private corporations, supports the notion a subway under the 23.8-kilometer Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.

Atienza said a Metro subway

could be built in phases, just like the elevated trains. “But we have to start somewhere,” he said.

Besides the Edsa subway, the Department of Transportation has preliminary plans to put together a 12-kilometer underground loop around Makati City, Pasay City and Taguig City—estimated to cost some P375 billion.

Another alternative along Edsa, Atienza said, is to construct a dualpurpose tunnel possibly patterned after Malaysia’s Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel.

“The advantage of a Malaysian-

type SMART tunnel is that it would help us fight both road congestion and flash flooding at the same time,” he said.

Malaysia spent $515 million to put up the 9.7-kilometer Smart .

The two-channel tunnel serves as a motorway for light vehicles under normal conditions.

However, during the wet season, the tunnel has two modes. In the first mode, with light rainfall, some floodwater may be diverted into the lower bypass channel, while the upper section remains open to motor vehicle passage, Atienza said.

No taking the country out of ‘Ka Paeng’

By John Paolo Bencito

STILL FIGHTING. Agrarian Secretary Rafael Mariano still finds time to join demonstrations even after being appointed to a key Cabinet portfolio.

AN EXPERIENCE of land displacement has led him to pursue a life-long advocacy for genuine land reform and, more than 40 years after the fact, that is still what truly defines Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano.

Mariano was still a student of agriculture in Nueva Ecija when he decided to embark on a militant’s life in the 1970’s after the Department of Public Works and Highways decided to build a flood control dike at their barrio at the very heart of Talavera town.

“We were displaced from our lands for the flood control dike. Our crops and houses were transferred from our barrios to the other one,” recalled the 60-year-old Mariano, who now leads an agency with a budget of P10.38 billion last year.

“But even after the dike and irrigation were built, we did even benefit from it. The floods from the canals caused the destruction of our crops.

That’s why we decided to fight the anti-people project of the government,” said Mariano, who is known as “Ka Paeng” in peasant circles.

From then on, Mariano pursued the struggle of a peasant leader, serving as the first secretary-general of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, a farmers group who opposed the regime of former

President Ferdinand Marcos.

Mariano said he “graduated” from local issues, like small-town dikes and irrigation canals, to the greater issues confronting farmers.

“The farmer thinks that his problem alone is just boxed within his own barrio but we need to raise this thinking,” Mariano said. “Our eyes should open to the situation in our own barrios and the struggles in other places.”

“I saw how farmers were being exploited. They work very hard and yet they become poorer. Gradually, I saw the roots of exploitation and oppression and how rotten the system really is,” said Mariano, who represented the party-list group Anakpawis before being appointed Agrarian reform secretary.

He said one of the roots of the agrarian problem is that nine out of 10 farmers do not own the land that they till and that means he must now prioritize the inventory of lands that still have to be distributed, properties that were already turned over to farmer-beneficiaries, among others.

He said he will initiate a review of resolutions, exemptions, cancellation of land titles and emancipation patents which, he admitted, are still flawed and products of loopholes in the existing agrarian reform law.

During his time as partylist congressman, Mariano and his fellow leftist lawmakers pushed for a Genuine

Agrarian Reform Law and he hopes it will be passed in Congress while he is agrarian reform secretary.

On top of his priorities is the inventory of Hacienda Luisita, owned by the clan of former President Benigno Aquino III. “It’s not only in Hacienda Luisita that there are many land distribution problems, there are also problems in Negros,” he said.

As of December 2015, the DAR has distributed 4.7 million hectares, but this comprises only 10 percent of the total number of hectares that still have to be awarded to farmer-beneficiaries.

Mariano was among those who criticized the implementation of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program and its sucessor program.

While there have been some success in improving food security and reducing overall poverty, Mariano said that there are still many implementation problems, including resistance of landowners, legislative gaps and funding shortfalls.

The problems of farmers, however, “does not stop at receiving land because there are other issues and payments that have to be considered, such as land amortization and real property tax,” he added, hoping that he would be able to fulfill his original objective so many years ago.

“No farmer should be evicted from the land that he tills,” he promised.

Sports

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Locals step up to enforce Mahindra game plan

By Reuel Vidal

M

AHINDRA Enforcer import James White is not the only reason the team has been winning consistently this 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. The biggest reason is actually the way the local players have stepped up this conference.

LA Revilla and Mike DiGregorio alternate at point guard giving the Enforcer a quickstepping facilitator who can create his own shots or set up teammates.

Both guards can drill the outside shot, have the ability to move closer and score from midrange and are strong enough to drive inside and finish at the hoop.

Paolo Taha, Keith Agovida

and KG Canaleta are the explosive wings. All three are frighteningly athletic slashers who are virtually unstoppable when they drive to the paint. All three have the range to drill the outside shot all the way from threepoint distance.

Mahindra Enforcer forward Niño Canaleta (9) drives strong to the hoop against Alaska Aces defender Calvin Abueva (8).

Mahindra Enforcer guard Paolo Taha (0) splits the defense of TNT Ka Tropa defenders Jayson Castro (17) and Ryan Reyes (10).

Additionally, Taha and Agovida are the team’s most tenacious wing defenders who are usually assigned to shackle the top offensive players of their opponents.

Stretch forwards Aldrech Ramos and Hyram Bagatsing give them size for rebounding and defense as well as long-range sniping from the outside at the

Three Mahindra Enforcer defenders, from left: Aldrech Ramos, Nard Pinto and import James White surround Alaska Aces point guard Jvee Casio. Mahindra locals have stepped up at both ends of the court to help propel their team to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

offensive end.

Big man bangers Bradwyn Guinto and Jason Ballesteros man the paint, gobble up rebounds and sacrifice their bodies for screens and for boxing out opponents.

Tying it all up nicely is the longlimbed White who serves as the last line of defense for the press-

ing, trapping wing defenders of Mahindra. White is also a nearly unstoppable scorer who combines athleticism and a reliable mid-range shot to score when needed. He can also be counted upon to make rimrattling dunks when he gets drop passes from Revilla or DiGregorio.

Mahindra tallied its biggest win this conference with a

Mahindra Enforcer import James White (33) and teammate Aldrech Ramos lock up GlobalPort Batang Pier big man Yousef Taha (00).

107-104 decision over TNT Ka Tropa last Friday. TNT endured its first loss this conference while Mahindra clinched a playoff appearance for the first time in franchise history.

The Enforcer led early against TNT Ka Tropa posting a 51-44 edge at halftime and protecting a 78-72 advantage after three quarters. TNT cut that margin late in the game coming to within three, 90-87, before Canaleta and Revilla each drilled a triple while White flushed the ball with his right hand after getting a nice alley-oop pass from Revilla that pushed Mahindra to a 101-92 lead with barely two minutes left to play.

Mahindra coach Chris Gavina praised the effort displayed by his players as they notched another victory to add to their record.

“Our guys were really dialed in and we had nothing less than a championship effort. Our selfless style of basketball really kicked in,” said Gavina during the post-game interview even as he admitted sweating bullets when Jason Castro led the TNT rally which almost overhauled the Mahindra lead.

White led Mahindra with 24 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, three assists and two steals in over 40 minutes of burn.

“It was a nerve-wracking game. I would really like to commend TNT. (Jason) Castro is definitely the best point guard in all of Asia. This is definitely new ground for us. We’re happy we made franchise history by reaching six wins in a conference,” said coach Gavina.

The soft spoken Mahindra import on the other hand said his teammates were just grateful for beating a powerhouse team like TNT and for being where they are this conference.

“We’re just thankful for this opportunity and we’re still going to keep building off of it.

We’re just having fun from it.

It’s a blessing from God. We understood that Talk ‘N Text is a great team and we understood that on the offensive and defensive end, we got to execute on every play and maximize every possession,” said White.

With the victory Mahindra (6 wins, 2 losses) grabbed solo second place behind TNT Ka Tropa (6-1). Right behind them are Barangay Ginebra (5-2), San Miguel Beer (5-2) and the Meralco Bolts (5-3).

The other teams include the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (33), the Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters (3-4), the NLEX Road Warriors (3-5), the GlobalPort Batang Pier (2-4), the Alaska Aces (2-5), the Star Hotshots (1-5) and the Blackwater Elite (1-6).

Mahindra has already qualified to the playoffs. They are now gunning for more victories to gain a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

Their next games will be against championship contenders Rain Or Shine, Ginebra and Meralco. The level-headed attitude of the team members of Mahindra serves them well. They said they haven’t proven anything yet and aim to do even better than just making it to the playoffs.

Celebrities join 2016 NBA3X Philippines EVERYONE loves basketball in the Philippines. Nobody is exempted from being a basketball crazy fan who believes he can ball. With that in mind the National Basketball Association organized the NBA 3X Philippines tournament of three-on-three matchups which included virtually everyone who wanted to see how well he can play the game.

Team Yan won the Celebrity Division by beating three-time champion Team Alcaraz led by actor Marco Alcaraz.

Members include American born Filipino footballer and long-time captain of the Philippine national Azkals team Aly Borromeo, commercial model and male pageant winner June Macasaet, three-time NBA 3X slam dunk champion and TV and broadcast personality Bobby Yan host of the popular TV program Swak na Swak (formerly known as Kabuhayang Swak na Swak which features ways, means and techniques of how to start, set up and maintain a business enterprise).

Other personalities who saw action in this division included running guru Rio

de la Cruz, PBA Legend Alvin Patrimonio, ex-PBA players and collegiate stars Vince Hizon, Christian Luanzon and Derick Hubalde, musicians Yael Yuzon and Mong Alcaraz, and media personalities TJ Manotoc, Mark Zambrano, Nikko Ramos, and Marco Benitez.

EGS-Elite won its fourth consecutive NBA 3X Philippines title.

“We have been looking forward to this tournament all year and have kept ourselves active ever since to play well on this stage. NBA 3X has inspired us to work harder on improving our skills and chemistry for future competitions,” said Ian Garrido, who together with playing coach Rocky Acidre, Rutger Acidre and Mark Anthony Dolimon, aced their fourth appearance in the tournament with solid rebounding, consistent outside shooting and strong defensive play.

Team Jacob Liit topped the Under-16 Boys Division, and BRODIAC, headlined by Kenjie Duremdes and National University standout Rhayyan Amsali grabbed the Under-18 Boys category. NBA Philippines managing director Carlo Singson, left, joins Team Yan members, from In the Girls Division, Balon Dagupan A left: Aly Borromeo, June Macasaet, David Carlos and Bobby Yan. With them are Milwaukee won the Under-16 crown while National Bucks point guard Michael Carter Williams and LA Clippers mascot Chuck the Condor.

Uni-versity-A took home the Women’s Open Division trophy.

In the individual categories, Jerome Hamac from Zamboanga is this year’s Panasonic Three-Point Shootout Champion, Gabriel Aveno from Bulacan is the Sprite Diskarte Like A King Challenge Champion and Axl Tolentino of Caloocan is the Panasonic Shooting Stars Champion.

The official partners of NBA 3X Philippines 2016 presented by Panasonic include CloudFone, Globe Telecom, Touch Mobile, and Sprite, with SM Mall of Asia and Spalding serving as Sup-porting Partners. Official NBA broadcasters for the event are ABSCBN Sports and Action, Basketball TV and NBA Premium TV. For more information on NBA 3X Philippines 2016, log on to www. nba3x.com/philippines. Fans can also get event updates by following the NBA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ nba_philippines and through Facebook at www.facebook.com/nba3xasia and www.facebook.com/philsnba. For all things NBA, visit www.nba.com.

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

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

Sports

MARK’S fight against bullying Mark ‘The Filipino Wrecking Machine’ Muñoz is a role model and inspiration to kids through his nationwide anti-bullying campaign, encouraging the youth to speak up, get involved and help others in need. Peter Paul Duran

By Peter Paul Duran

I

NDEED, no one is safe from bullying, even if you’re a former UFC Fighter and champion collegiate wrestler.

Mixed martial arts star Mark “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” Muñoz recalled that he was bullied as a kid and that negative domineering was what steered him to wrestling and eventually MMA, and it all started because of a pair of stolen Js. “I was bullied myself, believe it or not, because I was a big kid,” he reminisced during UFC Fight Night Manila’s press launch at the Conrad Manila Hotel in Pasay.

“I was taba (fat), I was shy, my shoes were taken away from me, my Air Jordans were taken away and that led me to wrestling and wrestling got me to MMA,” Mark said.

That moment in his life started a chain of events that would catapult him into the successful person he is today.

“It’s about making choices and developing who you are and what you can do,” said Muñoz, who is an Ambassador for the UFC which partnered with Called To Rescue to raise awareness against bullying among local schools.

The Non-Governmental Organization, together with the premier fight group,

will go to select schools in the Philippines to teach self-defense tips, talk about human trafficking, and stamp out bullying.

“The Department of Education has given us really great access and so we thank them, always. But we try to go to as many schools as possible,” said Called To Rescue President Dr. Cyndi Romine, who believes that small kids won’t be intimidated by the hulking fighters teaching them.

“I don’t think they will because these guys are very normal people. They love kids, they’re just gonna get in and just scrap around with the kids and I think the kids will have a great time,” she added.

“Speak up. Someone has to take the initiative,” stressed Muñoz, noting that those who get bullied also need to be involved in a group that can protect them from further abuse.

“When someone gets bullied, (it seems) we don’t know what to do. Everybody needs to help,” he added.

Muñoz is in the country with UFC fighters Ricardo Lamas and BJ Penn as well as Asia general manager Ken Berger

to promote the Fight Night Manila set Oct.15 at the MOA Arena.

Meanwhile, on every last Monday of August, Filipino stake the time to celebrate and honor their country’s national heroes.They include soldiers, presidents, artists,writers and many more proud Filipinos who have demonstrated an unquestionable love for the Philippines and dedicated their life’s work for the betterment of the country. In celebration of National Heroes Day, UFC – home

of the world’s best mixed martial artists —also pays homage to their athletes who double up as modern-day heroes outside the sport; some of whom include our very own kababayans.

Leading the list, of course, is Muñoz.

The retired UFC Middleweight contender Muñoz grew up watching superheroes on TV. Today, he gets to reenact that as a role model and inspiration to kids through his nationwide anti-bullying campaign, encouraging the youth to speak up, get involved and help others in need. Muñoz is also the event ambassador for the upcoming UFC Fight Night Manila.

Stipe Miocic, UFC Heavy Weight Champion UFC Heavyweight Champion and “baddest man on the planet”, Stipe Miocic still works as a fireman and paramedic for the Oakwood Village and Valley View Fire Departments in Cleveland, Ohio. Although he is currently training for his first title defense against No. 3 ranked UFC Heavyweight Alistair “The Reem” Overeem at UFC 203, Miocic still remains committed to hisfirefighting duties because it allows him to do what he loves most: helping others.

Tim Kennedy, No. 12 Middleweight contender The No. 12-ranked UFC Middleweight contender is one of the few professional mixed martial artists today who also ac-

tively serves as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army National Guard.

While proudly filling the roles as both a fighter and soldier, Tim Kennedy has won 3 of his 4 UFC bouts which includes a win against current UFC Middleweight champion Michael “The Count” Bisping.

Phillipe Nover, UFC Bantamweight Known for his explosiveness and heavy hands, Phillipe“The Filipino Assassin” Nover understands that he must tone it all the way down when he is in the Lutheran Medical Center where he works as a full-time nurse. When he is not busy saving lives, the proud Filipino-American is currently training for his upcoming Featherweight bout against former UFC Bantamweight champion Renan Barao as the co-main event of UFC FIGHT NIGHT: Cyborg vs. Lansberg.

Brian Stann, former UFC Middleweight Contender Brian “All-American” Stann is one of those fighters whose nickname is just a perfect fit. A former UFC Middleweight contender, Stann is also a retired US Marine and was awarded the Silver Star Medal for his leadership, endurance and gallantry in combat. Stann currently serves as President and CEO of Hire Heroes USA, a non-profit organization that helps veterans find a job after they’ve completed their service. He is also a color commentator for UFC.

Crosby: Fitness expo open to everyone THE Gemmalyn Crosby Sports Festival, which will hold the third Philippine Fitness & Wellness Expo on Sept. 3 at the SMX Convention Center, has announced that all bodybuilders regardless of past affiliations can compete at all GCSF events.

For the past two GCSF events, Crosby has partnered with the Philippine Committee of Bodybuilding Federation and Crosby, as the first IFBB Pro representing the Philippines, has supported the PCBF with her knowledge and real-life experiences as an international competitor and IFBB Pro. Crosby is saddened by the news that many bodybuilders in the Philippines will be banned from joining PCBF events if they compete in the GCSF. “I really want to join, or even just to visit as a guest, but we have been told that it’s prohibited. Otherwise, we will be banned from the PCBF organization,” said a bodybuilder, who asked not to be named.

Another female bodybuilder admitted that Crosby invited her to be a judge in the GCSF event, but she has received information that those who will join the sports festival will not be allowed to participate in the Shawn Rhoden PCBF event in October.

“This is the reason why sports in the Philippines does not progress. I have big plans for Philippine sports organizations who partner with GCSF and the future is bright for all athletes. Because of my love for this sport, I now reside full time in the Philippines to give every athlete the opportunity to become internationally recognized without fear of getting banned or fined by organizations that try to control their competitors,” said Crosby.

Regine Tolentino, a partner of the GCSF, only has good words for Crosby, who, like her, is a fitness model and actress.

“Gemmalyn makes me proud to be a Filipino, because she keeps on coming back home to share her talent, her resources, everything she has. She truly wants to promote the sport in our country,” said Tolentino.

Former junior bantamweight and bantamweight titleholder in boxing, Gerry Peñalosa also praised Crosby, a mixed martial artist and certified personal trainer.

“She has shown selflessness in her passion to promote fitness and wellness in the Philippines,” said Peñalosa, who has also been a partner of GCSF for the past

two years, with the 2015 event attended by over 2,000 participants and guests.

Despite the recent news, Crosby is confident that the 2016 Filipino Fitness and Wellness Expo will be the biggest fitness event of the year, giving all athletes international exposure and recognition. The multi-sport event will feature the best, as well as promote the latest trends in the fitness, sports and wellness industry. Athletes, sports enthusiasts and celebrity guests from all around the Philippines and the world will participate and grace the event.

Events include Filipino Martial Arts & Arnis Championships, Bodybuilding Championships, Karatedo Championships, Arnis Best of the Best of the Philippines, Filipino Martial Arts, Table Tennis Games and Exhibitions, Yoga Classes, Boxing, Zumba and much more.

Tickets are available at SM Tickets (www.smtickets.com). For booth info and other inquiries, visit the website atwww.philippinefitnessexpo.com or call 09226882982.

The GCSF’s Instagram is @philippinefitnessexpo and on Facebook page PhilippineFitnessandWellnessEx po.

Fitness guru Gemmalyn Crosby

Manila

Standard

TODAY

REAL ESTATE AND

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

GOGGLES ON, CHECKS AWAY:

HOW

VIRTUAL REALITY

WILL REIMAGINE REAL ESTATE SALES Stitching away.

The process of “stitching” a condo out of thin air takes only about a month and a half. Views are stitched in from actual photos taken of an architect’s perspective, while paintings on the walls, fancy light fixtures and furniture are based on real items.

By Joel Lacsamana

T

he goggles were strapped to my face like a scuba mask.

Only instead of fish, a studio apartment was wavering in my field of vision.

I moved forward, trying to enter the bathroom. Feeling slightly seasick, I hit the wall.

This was embarrassing. I tried again and smacked into the door frame.

“Are you teleporting?” asked Jacqueline van den Ende, founder and CEO of Lamudi Philippines and MyProperty.ph.

I am at a press briefing of property portal Lamudi Philippines, which will host the country’s first ever Virtual Reality Real Estate Expo (VR Expo) on September 3 to 4 at the Bonifacio High Street activity center.

Journalists attending the briefing tried out the virtual

BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY. While the press watches, Lamudi Philippines’ Jacqueline van den Ende “walks” around an apartment, without ever having to set foot inside.

reality technology that will be on tap at the expo; in my case, I perused through a 200-square meter luxury condominium in Makati using a P5,000 Samsung gear headset (though less inexpensive models at P2,500, are available in the market).

Starship Enterprise it is not…yet I move out to the pool, a must for any luxury condo in Metro Manila, and a menu appears offering me the chance to change the time of day simply by looking at the choice. I select sunset, the water in the pool moves with the breeze.

Later, I am clutching the edge of the table to give myself a

sense of where my body is in space. My eyes are telling me that I have just walked into a generously sized kitchen where different countertop marble color choices are now floating in front of me.

Van de Ende said the VR technology can be used by real estate sellers to pitch developments that do not yet exist. Technology companies can create a virtual rendering based on the architectural plans. The idea is to have potential buyers wear a headset and “walk” around the building. The more realistic the experience, the more likely a client - an OFW half a world Turn to C2

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REAL ESTATE AND

CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

7

STEPS TO FOLLOW WHEN PROPERTYHUNTING

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. Check out the

surroundings, and ask about existing, planned, or ongoing developments in the area.

New economic agenda. The ostensible plans of the Duterte government to relax restrictions to foreign ownership rules and limits to land lease would encourage investors, and open the economy up to strategic industries, bring in capital in public utilities and other infrastructure. This would augur well to the growing local real estate industry, said KMC head of research Antton Nordberg (shown in photo below with VP for marketing services Yves Luethi.

T

he optimism about the real estate sector’s prospects in 2016 is backed up by the results of stress tests conducted early this year by the Banko Stentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), which declared that there are no signs of property bubble in the Philippines.

“There may be some locations that have more than enough supply of residential units and may take a few years to have these absorbed by actual occupants,” acknowledged Andy Manalac, former chairman of the president and Chairman of the National Real Estate Association (NREA). “But there are still a lot of areas not only in Metro Manila, but actually all over the country, that present a lot of potential.”

Manalac, one of the most active local executives in the field of real estate sales and marketing, said he is optimistic despite persistent predictions of some economic experts

Investment opportunities galore Other industry experts said that the government’s boost in infrastructure spending and countryside development opens more opportunities for Philippine real estate, as infrastructure eases the costs of logistics for industrial firms.

“The industrial and manufacturing sectors have been dormant for a long time, but it looks like it could finally be on the rise,” said Michael McCullough, co-founder and managing director of KMC Savills.

In an industry briefing held last week, McCullough pointed out that some 60 percent of FDI applications over the past five years “have been directed in the manufacturing sector, and we believe that this high interest will continue given the new administration’s plans. It is, in fact, probable that the industrial sector will be the next boom.”

KMC Savills head of research Antton Nordberg agreed that the real estate industry is in a sweet spot. “The Philippines has a strategic location, a large and fastgrowing market, and knowledge of English. Growth rates in the industrial segment could even double in the next years,” he said. “Office spaces will also continue to be on the rise, as we

about the impending glut in the residential property section of the industry.

“Investors are starting to realize that the actively growing market for tenants to lease their units are the BPO workers, and no longer limited to the expats, although the latter are still the ones patronizing the high-end and luxury condominium projects,” he said.

have a 40-million strong workforce and cheap labor,” he said.

“The economic agenda for the country prioritizes countryside development, infrastructure and agriculture growth, and increased government spending,” said McCullough. “The property sector is continuing its growth momentum, led by the strong office space segment in Metro Manila. The industrial sector, which

has long lagged behind, is also beginning to pick up as foreign manufacturing companies show eagerness in opening up facilities in and outside of Manila.”

Rick Santos, founder, chairman of real estate advisor C.B. Richard Ellis (CBRE) Philippines supported this claim as he cited that “from Clark up north to Davao City down south, the playing field is becoming more exciting especially for the BPO sector which will sustain the momentum and drive for the coming years” “We are very positive on the way things are going for the real estate market,” Santos said. “As we have noted before, the transformation of areas outside of the central business districts are continuously creating more investment opportunities.”

What are your reason for buying?

But Manalac warns prospective investors about missing their “investment objective” with the property they are buying.

“Everyone has a different reason for buying,” he explained.

“Some may have been dreaming about having their own property for a long time while some have absolutely no plans of buying but were enticed by the beautiful collaterals, presentation videos, and the convincing power of the sales

agents.”

The pitfall, Manalac said, is when buyers base their decisions on their personal preferences rather than the important factors to consider to improve their chances of having a profitable investment.

“I said ‘to improve their chances’ because just like any other investments, it will always involve a certain amount of risk. But one

should always keep in mind that real estate is the only investment wherein there are no mistakes that cannot be corrected by time,” he said.

How do you improve your chances of nailing down a good investment? Look out for the following signs: Potential of the location. Some areas look nice, fancy and fully developed. But it might also be a mature location that gives little movement in terms of appreciation. Look at the surroundings, and ask about the planned, or ongoing developments in the area.

Infrastructure projects. The area may be choked by traffic now, but this may be due to ongoing infrastructure projects like road widening, improving of drainage, new rail stations, etc.

Population of office workers. Can the type of workers in a particular location afford the rent for the project you are buying? Right now, the biggest market for tenants for affordable condominium units are the employees of BPO offices. Beware of nice projects in upscale locations, where the workers cannot afford the rent.

Cost of living of workers where project is located. While the units may be affordable especially if the tenants share the rent, the standard of living within the immediate vicinity may not be practical. A specific example of this is Bonifacio Global City (BGC) where everything seems too expensive for the typical worker.

Size of unit to match target market. If you are eyeing expatriates as your tenants, then invest in bigger-sized units ( at least 60 square meters for one bedroom units). But if you can only afford to invest in smaller units like 23-29 square meter cuts, then expect to have regular employees who are looking for affordable rent as your target tenants. If you invested in a small unit in a high end project located in an upscale location, you may also consider short term leasing, like daily or weekly at higher rates.

24 hour access to public transportation. One of the best examples for this factor is the Washington area in Buendia, Makati where you will find residential condominiums that are almost fully occupied.

You will always find available transportation from pedicabs, to tricyles, to jeepneys, buses, and even PNR trains just a few steps away from your building. This area also provides the BPO workers, who are the major tenants of these condominiums, a plethora of affordable restaurants and eateries serving low-priced, but good home-cooked meals.

Property management. Ask your agent who will be managing the property after the project is turned over to the condominium corporation. Check the background of that property management company.

Ask about the other projects that they are handling, and see how they maintain the properties they manage. Ask also if they offer lease management services.

Once all of above check out positively, the timing of your decision is critical.

Sometimes windows of opportunity in property-hunting do not last long. Be ready to make an immediate, but not rushed, decision.

Virtual...

From A1 away, or a rich businessman shopping for a luxury condo in the BGC district — might be willing to buy before construction crews even broke ground — at least that is the hope.

“VR sells based on emotion and attaching that emotion to a vision,” said van de Ende. This revolutionary upgrade in real estate buying is likely to open up the market to buyers and can make home-buying a faster and more efficient process.”

“Imagine a buyer walking out onto the terrace and thinking: ‘If I bought this home and was having breakfast here, this is exactly what I’d see.’ That’s incredible. For a salesperson, it’s a dream come true,” she said.

So was I teleporting? I kept bumping into virtual walls because the headset was making me dizzy. The Starship Enterprise this was not.

from sci-fi writers including Ray Bradbury and Neal Stephenson, has moved into the real estate world in a big way.

Goldman Sachs estimates that by 2025, virtual reality software for real estate applications will be a $2.6 billion market.

In the meantime, overseas companies are beginning to create websites for viewing homes in virtual reality. van de Ende hopes local real estate agencies will follow suit, and used the technology to entice clients.

She predicted that more real estate player will jump into the virtual reality bandwagon as the technology becomes more ubiquitous and hardware gets cheaper, allowing it to eventually trickle down to the non-luxury real estate market.

As virtual reality apps and headsets are becoming more quotidian, entering more homes, usually as an entertainment tool, competition in the world of virGrowing technology tual reality real estate will become tighter, said van Virtual reality, a technology that most associate de Ende. with gaming, entertainment and dystopic warnings “All the big real estate companies are looking at

exploring this technology,” she claimed, with more and more programmers busy trying to create a more realistic view of the future.

Someday soon, people could spend hours being transported into everything from Makati CBD penthouses to sprawling luxury resorts in the Visayas or Mindanao, van de Ende predicted.

Even with the current limitations in the physical hardware, which limits the sharpness of the image, virtual reality makes a lot of sense when selling a new development, said van Ende. She explained that instead of spending money to build a model apartment and furnish it, real estate companies can have virtual versions created that can go where the agent does.

While virtual mockups are not cheap, they cost a fraction of the cost that a furnished and decorated model luxury apartment would cost, she pointed out.

ality set that can easily travel takes away the burden of bringing a buyer halfway across the world to see a model apartment. The novelty of walking through a virtual reality home adds to the allure.

The entire process of creating an oversized condo, with tastefully bland furniture in neutral tones, out of thin air takes only about a month and a half.

A bathroom, or dining area can be generated in just a week. The paintings on the walls, fancy light fixtures and furniture are all based on real items.

Views are stitched in from actual photos taken from an architect’s perspective, among others.

The major sponsors for the VR expo are Robinsons Communities, Right Homes, and SMDC. The exhibitors include New San Jose Builders, Hamilo Coast, and Union Bank, while the event’s official provider of VR goggles is VRLABPH. The expo is open to all buyers, sellers, renters, landOFWS, well-heeled buyers targeted lords, brokers, investors, and everyone who wants to At a time OFWs, or wealthy buyers are scouting experience cutting-edge technology applied to one of around for property investments, having a virtual re- the most bustling sectors in the Philippines.

REAL ESTATE AND

CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016 jdlacsamana@gmail.com

B3

Six benefits of owning San Antonio Residence Megaworld’s 40-storey residential tower in San Antonio Village features unique amenities and affordable paying schemes, making it perfect as a first home investment for working millennials

T

here might be a lot of home options in Makati, but there’s one rising development that stands out. San Antonio Residence, developed by real estate giant Megaworld, continues to be an attractive investment to a lot of people, especially to the working millennials, because of these reasons:

For P8,000 per month with no downpayment.

Now, own a Megaworld property within your reach.

For more information on San Antonio Residence, please contact + 63917-887-6223, email info@megaworldmakaticbd.com or visit www.megaworldmakaticbd.com.

1. Everything is within reach.

Located along Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue (formerly Buendia Avenue), San Antonio Residence is accessible to all major points of Makati CBD and is in close proximity to a unique mix of galleries, delicatessens

2. It can save you money and gas from daily traffic.

The everyday traffic situation of Metro Manila does not only test your patience, it also tests your bank account, because for every ten minutes you leave the car idle, you’re using between 0.1 to 0.6 liters of fuel. And if fuel costs Php 41 a liter, that’s at least Php 24.60 per hour. If you multiply that by the extra 700 hours you spend in traffic in Metro Manila that translates to at least Php 17,220 wasted on fuel! The good news is that living in San Antonio Residence can empower you to avoid wasting this much money.

5. You can generate passive income by renting it out.

Renting out your home can diversify your investments and income streams, enabling you to reduce your financial risk. This means that if you someday decide to quit your job, you would still have some income from the rental, or if find your retirement savings are insufficient, you’ve got a piece of real estate you can sell. And what’s more, having a San Antonio Residence unit is even more valuable than other properties because it is located in the priced Makati CBD.

3. You’ll have more time to spend with your loved ones.

With today’s fast-paced, career-driven lifestyle, families often have difficulty finding time to spend together, and the only place they can truly do that is at home. At San Antonio Residence, you will have a home where you can easily spend more time with your family, without compromising your career responsibilities; a home that gives you the true meaning of a work-life balance.

4. Your money will go to owning, not renting.

Each month, renters are throwing away money on rent--more money than what they will actually spend when they choose to buy a home of their own. So instead of renting, consider owning. When you are an owner at San Antonio Residence, you will be able to build equity, have full decorating control, be free of landlords and avoid shelling more from your hard-earned money.

6. Your road to financial maturity begins here.

You have worked hard and have not let anything stray from your goals. With this, you deserve to elevate further your standard of living and tread a new road--the road to financial maturity. Start the first ever wise investment you can make at San Antonio Residence.

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REAL ESTATE AND

CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK

Lifestyle trail-blazer

MEGAWORLD’S

‘CREATIVE’ TOWER TO RISE IN MAKATI CBD

‘PAUSE AND PLAY’ ROOM. Residents can hangs out with friends while playing board or computer games in this space.

How do you make it big in this day and age?

For young go-getters who want to stand out and create their own brand, this can only mean being creative, business-minded and street-smart.

To nail down the lifestyle of this new breed of high fliers, Megaworld is building its 28th residential development in the Makati central business district (CBD): The Ellis.

Located at L.P. Leviste St., Salcedo Village, The Ellis will have amenities that are designed for the modern, distinctive needs of its future residents. These include “colab” shared spaces, which is a non-conventional working space where residents can walk in, grab a cup of coffee, plug in their laptops and start working.

The “town hall” is a space for casual socials, intimate galas, movie showings, acoustic sessions or even art exhibits.

And for some more down time, residents will also have an al fresco poolside experience with a splendid view of the Makati CBD skyline.

“We want to provided a place where everything is an amenity for the creative mind,” Eugene Em Lozano, vice president for sales and marketing, Megaworld Makati CBD, told The Standard at the media unveiling of the Ellis last week. “This project won’t just be a residential condo. It’ll be an outlook for a distinctive life,mindset, and lifestyle.”

The Ellis will have studio ( 58 units at 24 square meters each; 68 units at 34.5 square meters each); 42 units of one bedroom and 21 units of one bedroom plus studio unit configurations); and 21 two bedroom as well as 21 two-bedroom plus studio (103 square meters) configurations.

There will also be loft units in the 8th floor, with a mezzanine.

Start of construction is expected next year, and Megaworld expects a sell-out product.

The developer is eyeing established businesses, including start-up entrepreneurs, entrylevel employees, as well as young nesters looking to invest in a modern, unconventional project where units can be linked to a main unit, then converted into a workspace, e.g. a small firm, studio workshop area, gallery or home office.

RENAISSANCE DEVELOPMENT. Century Spire (Inset), the first luxury mixed-

use tower in the Asia-Pacific region designed by Giorgio Armani, continues to draw interest from well-heeled Filipinos and foreign investors in search of rare finds. “Excitement always surrounds such developments, especially if its value is magnified by a design brand that is revered the world over,” said Robbie Antonio, managing director of the Century Properties Group. “Through its i nterior design for Century Spire, Armani/Casa captures the Asian market with finer tastes in luxury,” he added. Complementing the elegance of Armani/Casa’s design is the arresting tower architecture of Daniel Libeskind. “I’m interested in the dialogue between two companies that have different “languages”: that of a rigorous Armani style and the unpredictable style of architecture called “deconstructive”, with shapes that seem to break the rules,” explained Armani.

Shown in photo are (from left to right): Daniel Libeskind, Giorgio Armani and Robbie Antonio.

REAL ESTATE AND

CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

B5

VP ROBREDO GREENLIGHTS NEW RULES TO SPEED UP

PROCESSING FOR HOUSING

CUT RED TAPE. The new HUDCC rules also seek to prevent communities from being subjected to the payment of illegal “facilitation fees.”

T

he Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), and the Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC), issued new rules recently on socialized housing projects under the High Density Housing and the Community Mortgage Program (CMP), to cut down processing time for documents.

For CMP, communities and homeowners associations will now only have to submit 9 documents from the previous 27 documents.

The new rules were signed recently by Vice President and HUDCC chairperson Leni Robredo and SHFC President

Ana Oliveros at the Villa Robredo CMP Project in Naga City.

“SHFC itself will procure several documents from government agencies and LGUs on behalf the communities,” said Oliveros.

Over the years, stakeholders

contended with bureaucratic red tape that takes them as long as 2 years for documents to be processed.

“We want to make our services for efficient so we can scale up the number of families we can serve,” said the Vice President.

HUBS FOR COMMUNITIES. Vista Land is moving into mall development in Luzon and Mindanao, and is targeting 20 malls to be built nationwide in 2016. Vista Malls can go trendy, laid-back, be an entertainment hub, a backyard community center, be sports and activity-centered, or a creativity haven. All are carefully designed complexes that are tailor-fit for the communities in the various Vista Land developments. “We focus on the communities we cater to,” said Camille Villar, managing director of Vista Land. “We don’t aim to offer everything, but we take great effort to understand our communities and give them what they need. Vista Land has built over 30 master-planned communities all over the Philippines in the past 40 years. Currently being built or redeveloped are community retail centers of six Vista Group projects in Pampanga, Antipolo, Cagayan de Oro, Makati, Sucat, and Vista City. Upcoming community retail centers are also being eyed for projects in Manila, Pasig and Quezon City.

“Ultimately, our goal is streamline all processes and processing time will be reduced to 15 - 30 days.”

Socialized housing projects were delayed in the past due to conflicting registrations of homeowners associations in HLURB. For the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), beneficiaries of housing programs had to be absent from work, or their livelihoods, and incur travel expenses since the processing of capital gains tax exemptions (CGTE) were

centralized at the head office in Manila.

Under the proposed agreements, HLURB is developing an online integrated database for the registration of homeowners, while the BIR will decentralize processing of CGTE applications.

HLURB is also working with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to come up with a land use plan that will eliminate the need for communities to get another level of clearance from DAR to convert agricultural to

residential lands for on-site projects.

SHFC will likewise coordinate with the Land Registration Authority (LRA) to facilitate the issuance of the titles covering communityhousing projects.

The initiative stemmed from a series of consultations with various groups from the urban poor.

“This is also in line with our strategy to mainstream community-driven approaches to urban development and housing,” Robredo said

SOUTHERN GETAWAY. Ascott Limited Philippine recently opened its sixth property in the

Philippines, its first foray into the southern part of Manila with Somerset Alabang Manila.

The spanking new development has 150 units that offers various prime apartment choices studios, one-, two-and three-bedroom apartments, as well as serviced offices, function rooms and boardrooms. At the ribbon-cutting were Ascott Limited’s regional general manager for the Philippines and Thailand, Arthur Gindap (third from right); LBL Prime Properties Incorporated’s director Alex Lao (second from right) and president Edwin Lao (extreme right). Guests of honor were Muntinlupa City Congressman Ruffy Biazon (third from left), Department of Tourism’s assistant secretary Shalimar Tamano (second from left) and Muntinlupa department head of city competitiveness office Jerome James Arriola (extreme left), who represented Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi.

Business

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

B7

Company agrees to reduce cost of drinkable water in PH

By Othel V. Campos

T

HE unreasonably expensive cost of clean and potable water in the Philippines has pushed a multinational consumer goods company to team up with people’s organizations to reach out to poor families and bring down the price of drinkable water.

Unilever Philippines vowed to make potable water an inexpensive basic necessity for all households.

“This a commitment we are more than glad to offer Filipinos. It is a responsibility we are happy to take on,” says Brian Duruin, head of Pureit Philippines, a unit of Unilever.

The company signed a memorandum of agreement with Tulay sa Pagbabago Inc., a nongovernment organization that provides financing to poor Filipino families, so that they will have access to purified water right in their own homes.

The agreement is the ninth partnership Unilever has forged, and the biggest so far, since it introduced Pureit in the Philippines in 2014.

TSPI is a micro-financing organization with over a hundred members. “We are preparing to have this product available in all of our 147 branches. We service 187,000 clients. I must way this a good start to scale up the program,” says TSPI executive director Eduardo Mendoza.

All members of the TSPI are given a 10-percent price cut on every unit based on loan term payment from TSPI. A family is given the

opportunity to buy a PureIt unit with the capacity to purify 1,500 liters to as much as 3,000 liters.

“They do order because of the savings they get. It is 50-percent cheaper than every gallon of water you buy,” says Unilever Philippines vice president for corporate affairs Ed Sunico.

“We are actually pushing this for the rural areas. Right now, there are so many refilling stations. There are several in just a block. Right at every corner, there is one. But what we are not really sure of is how safe

the quality of water they deliver.

These water stations can claim theirs is safe but what is more safe, I dare say, is the water we ourselves and you yourselves filtered and purified at our own homes,” says Sunico.

Sunico says when PureIt was launched in the Philippines, most of the buyers were from the upper middle to the upper income groups.

“This had very limited social impact. So we looked for ways to penetrate a bigger, wider base. That’s when we decided to tap NGOs and people’s organizations to assist us in delivering this very sound product to families who are more in need of this.

There are millions who have access to piped in water, but not potable water,” Sunico says.

Government data show that 7.5 million Filipinos do not have access to clean water, compared to the private sector’s estimate of at least 20 million Filipinos.

Unilever, in its Vision 2020, targets to bring Pureit to at least 20 million households and protect 10 million lives.

In about two years since its introduction, Pureit has sold about 40,000 units as of July 2016, with at least 100,000 lives protected.

A study by Verify Market shows that PureIt is the world’s largest seller of in-home drinking water treatment systems based on unit shipment sales

in 2011.

The world’s best selling water purifier is available at online selling platforms such as Lazada and mortar and brick stores such as Abenson’s and select groceries and home and appliance stores.

“The PureIt advantage is that you’re sure and in control. No one else touches or transports your water. You’re safety is not up to strangers. You see it working – no tricks here. You see for yourself how water is purified. And you get it when you want. That means saying goodbye to running out of water and waiting for delivery,” Duruin says.

Unilever India is the sole manufacturer of Pureit. The technology was developed at the company’s R&D facility in Port Sunlight, the United Kingdom in 1999. In 2004, the unit was tested in Chennai, India where manufacturing for the global market started.

Pureit does not only filter solids and other imperfections from the water, it also takes away free-radicals such as bacteria, viruses and parasites, according to Unilever. All Pureit

models meet US Environmental Protection Agency’s microbiological safety standards.

Unilever says it adheres to the UN Millennium Development Goals of 2000 to halve the number of people without access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

Globally, there are 2 billion people who do not have access to clean and safe drinking water. And about 80 percent of diseases in developing countries are water-borne with as many as 1.5 million children, mostly below five years dying from waterborne disease.

“Our vision is to double the size of the business while reducing our environmental footprint and increasing our positive social impact. By 2020, we will help more than a billion people take action to improve their health and well-being. We aim to protect 500 million lives. While doing this, we also want to build a 1-billion-euro business.

Unilever’s global initiative to help poor communities have access to clean potable water is enabling enterprises to earn while doing good,” Duruin says.

BackOffice opens PH delivery center

By Aries F. Fallorina BACKOFFICE Associates Llc, a US-based data management company, has teamed up with Third Pillar Business Applications Inc., a local information technology consultancy company, to open a new global delivery center in Ortigas.

BackOffice, in a news briefing, announced the launching of data governance and modernization services, designed to provide holistic data management across the entire systems landscape.

Kriss Datta, chief executive of BackOffice Associates Asia Pacific, Japan and the Middle East, said Asia Pacific was now the fastest growing market for BackOffice Associates globally.

Datta said the strong talent pool and market demand in the Philippines would be a crucial part of that continued growth.

“The Philippines is the new and largest market outside Singapore and Australia, where BackOffice’s headquarters are located, ” Datta said in explaining why BackOffice chose the country as its new market.

“With the opening of our Manila office, we are the only specialist provider in the market with the right combination of local presence, global resources and world class solutions to fulfill the Philippines’ data modernization and EPM needs in the most cost effective manner possible,” Datta said.

Jennifer Ligones, president and chief executive of Third Pillar, said the decision of BackOffice Associates to open an office in the county reinforced Third Pillar’s commitment to provide a solid foundation for business services among the enterprises in the country.

“Large enterprises in the Philippines are steadily adopting advanced technologies to increase digitization and automation of their businesses as the country continues to post strong economic growth,” Datta said.

BackOffice has been serving local customers such as Ayala Land Inc., Manila Electric Co. and JG Summit Holdings since 2011.

Datta said that with BackOffice now in the Philippines, local companies could save millions of dollars from data quality management.

Third Pillar president and chief executive Jennifer Ligones (right) and BackOffice Associates chief executive for Asia-Pacific Kriss Datta

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Business

Company agrees to reduce cost of drinkable water in PH B7

Victoria International Container Terminal, with Melbourne commercial business district at the background

Filipino company becomes a game changer in Australia M

ELBOURNE—A Filipino company is making a difference in what is considered the most livable city in the world by building a fully automated and highly sophisticated container terminal that sets the bar higher in port operations.

“We are sincerely very proud of the work that we have done to be able to achieve something like this. We are very proud to be probably the only Filipino company that has been able to deliver a product in the world stage that is truly the most sophisticated and the best of its kind,” says 41-year-old Christian Gonzales, the senior vice president and head for Asia-Pacific region of Manilabased International Container Terminal Services Inc. Melbourne, the capital of the state of Victoria, is Australia’s second most populated city and listed by Economist Intelligence Unit as the world’s most livable city. Port of Melbourne is the largest container and general cargo port in Australia with a capacity of 2.5 million standard containers and absorbs around 80 percent of international container traffic in the advanced economy. ICTSI is building the third container terminal in Port of Melbourne.

“I cannot emphasize enough how happy we are with what our team here is doing and we are hoping it translates into a business that really defines us going into our next wave of expansion.

It is a big change in Australia in the sense that we are bringing a new form of efficiency to this market. We are going to deliver a very unique product.

Going back to ICTSI, it also allows us to really go into the next wave of container terminal industry,” Gonzales says in an interview in this city.

Victoria International Container Terminal Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of ICTSI led by Filipino businessman Enrique Razon Jr., is envisioned to become the third and most fully automated container terminal in Port of Melbourne once it becomes fully operational by December this year or January next year, says Australian national Anthony Desira.

“Hopefully when we go live, we will become the most fully automated terminal in the world,” says Desira, a 20-year veteran of the port industry, who now serves as manager of operations at VICT. VICT won an international bid and signed a 26-year contract with Port of Melbourne Corp. to design, build,

finance and operate the container terminal. The contract covers July 2014 to June 2040.

Desira, who had driven container cranes at Port of Brisbane for six years before he became a systems superintendent in another company, is now leading a team of technical experts to prepare the commercial operations of VICT. “The difference is the level of automation and the level of efficiency we will be able to provide,” says Desira.

“Those new efficiencies include increasing the container to truck ratio from 1.7 containers per truck to over two to three containers per truck. Essentially what that means for Australia is getting trucks off the road, so there are less truck movements for more containers being moved through the port. That’s one of the key and substantial differences that we will offer,” Desira says.

“We will also offer vast improvements in employee safety. We will replace the human element with fully autonomous robots. The aim there is not to replace the human but actually to make the jobs that we have for humans as safe as they can be. Traditionally, this is a very, very dangerous industry. Last year around Australia, there were three deaths. We aim to have zero fatalities in VICT,” Desira says.

Gonzales agrees, saying VICT “would be the only terminal in the world without any human on the landside, including the ship-to-shore crane,” he says. Everything will be controlled from the comfort of VICT offices.

ICTSI invested A$550 million or $400 million in Australia, according to Marcell Judkins, a Melbourne resident and chief financial officer of VICT. Judkins says while Australians have yet to know ICTSI as a global company, the start of operations of VICT will deliver a level of efficiency in port operations that will define ICTSI among Australians. Leading the VICT team as chief executive is Dutch national Anders Dommestrup, who used to work in Manila.

“We are a very global team,” says Claire Jordan-Whillans, a British national who is married to a Melbourne

VICT post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes being delivered

ICTSI senior vice president and head for Asia-Pacific region Christian Gonzales

resident. She serves as media and community relations manager at VICT, which employs less than a hundred people. “VICT is gonna do things that have never been done before. Our automation technology is game changer here,” says Whillans.

Whillans is involved in community relations, such as talking to truckers and residents near the terminal and funding a scholarship program. “We have met the trucking companies, the shipping lines, the exporters and the importers. We have involved people in the process. The community engagement has been a big part of this project,” Whillans says.

Gonzales says VICT is the third largest investment made by ICTSI, next to those in Manila and Ecuador. “We are extremely committed to making a difference here in Australia. Like we do in other countries, we have taken a major risk with the investment and also with what we paid to be here. We feel this really changes the logistics landscape in Australia. This is a game changer in so many ways,” says Gonzales.

“We always say that MICT [Manila International Container Terminal] is our flagship. It will always be our flagship, but this [VICT] will be from a technology point of view probably our new international flagship,” says Gonzales.

Desira says VICT will also open Melbourne to bigger vessels from around the world. “VICT will be able to open the eastern seaboard of this country for the first time ever to Neo Panamax vessels which at the moment are restricted at the Port of Melbourne. Desira is referring to the biggest modern container ships.

Desira says phase 1 of the terminal will have one berth of 330 meters fitted with three Neo-Panamax robotic shipto-shore cranes, 23.7 hectares of yard and off-dock area with fully automated operations from the gate to the quayside to deliver an estimated capacity of 350,000 standard containers. Expansion of the project will involve a second phase.

Victoria International Container Terminal Ltd. manager of operations Anthony Desira and community relations manager Claire Jordan-Whillans

The yard will be fully automated, with giant cranes, robots, magnets, sensors and control systems combining their functions to do the heavy lifting, without direct presence of humans on the land side.

“It is fully automated really. If you compare us to fully automated terminals around the world, especially in Europe in Rotterdam, the lack of human involvement is enormous in VICT,” Desira says.

Located at Webb Dock East near two posh communities and the central business district, VICT began construction in late 2014, with phase one of the project expected to become operational by December 2016.

Desira says vessel traffic into the two other container terminals at the Port of Melbourne is restricted at this time by the height of West Gate Bridge, which can only have a maximum of 6,500 TEU (twenty-equivalent unit) vessels.

VICT is located downstream from the West Gate Bridge. “For us, we have no restriction, because we are south of the bridge. Immediately, we don’t have the impact of having to restrict ourselves

Melbourne’s tourist center

to 6,500 TEU vessels. We will be able to have 8,000 TEU to 10,000 TEU vessels,” Desira says.

The container terminal area covers 35.4 hectares that can handle 1.4 million standard containers annually once it is fully built. It will have two berths and six post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes.

Desira says VICT’s two competitors are feeling the pressure to keep up with what VICT has to offer. “At this stage, everyone is watching. Everyone was probably hoping that we won’t be successful. But with the combination with our contractors here that have done civil works and collaboration with all the vendors of equipment and software, we have been able to deliver already at this early stage a very successful project,” says Desira.

“For our competitors that were hoping we would stumble at the last hurdle, we have taken the hurdle, we have taken the lead and we are well ahead of where we need to be. So we are setting the bar higher and setting the challenge. By December and early January 2017, we will be commercial,” says Desira. Roderick T. dela Cruz

LGUs

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

C1

Erap: Harbor expansion to unclog Pasig River

By Sandy Araneta

A

SIDE from the economic gains it would provide to Manila, the planned P7.4billion expansion of the Manila Harbour Centre will help unclog and clean up the Pasig River, where informal settlers and factories have been dumping their waste for decades, Mayor Joseph Estrada said on Friday.

Lighting up. Lamp post line the Baywalk on Roxas Boulevard in Manila. Mayor Joseph Estrada promised 800 more lamp posts next year. Lino Santos

Valenzuela deploys 101 more lawmen

By Jun David TO BEEF up its campaign against illegal drugs, the local government of Valenzuela has added 101 lawmen to the city police force.

The new law enforcers were recruited from the Regional

Public Safety Battalion of the National Capital Regional Police Office.

The new cops—10 females and 91 males—will be detailed to 12 community precincts in 33 barangays in the city.

According to Valenzuela chief of police Senior Supt. Ronaldo

Mendoza, the usual citizenpoliceman ratio of 1:833 will be reduced to 1:734. Mendoza said the standard ratio is 1:500.

Meanwhile, nine suspected drug pushers were arrested by Valenzuela police in different operations. The suspects were identified as Christian de Vera,

Ryan Margallo, Armando Quintal, Leonora Pondivida, Ramoncito Lopez, Ronald Ricamara, Ernesto Austria, Marissa Adoc and Allan Herrera.

The suspects are now facing charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Estrada said the Sangguniang Panglunsod ratified early this week the joint venture agreement of the city government and the consortium R-II Builders Inc. for the multibillion-peso expansion of the 79-hectare North Harbor facility in Tondo.

“The developer told me that oil depots and many industries along the Pasig River will be transferring to the soon-to-be expanded port once it is completed, which means there will be less polluters in the river.

This is good news, considering we, too, support the rehabilitation of our beloved Pasig River,” the mayor said.

He lamented that the Pasig River has become a huge sewer system because industries and the thousands of informal settlers that have settled on its

SC approves SM Baguio expansion

By Dexter A. See BAGUIO CITY—The Supreme Court en banc has approved the multimillion-peso expansion of SM City Baguio and excluded it from the coverage of a temporary restraining order it issued more than a year ago.

In a three-page en banc resolution, the High Court ordered all the contending parties, particularly the Cordillera Green Network, Save 182 Movement, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and SM Prime Holdings Inc., to submit their respective memoranda within a non-extendible period of 20 days to serve as a basis for the tribunal to make a final ruling on the matter.

While the SC maintained the validity of the TRO it issued on March 24, 2015, in so far as the cutting and balling of trees, it ruled that the phase covering the expansion plan of the giant chain of malls shall be ‘excluded from the scope of the temporary restraining order.’

Earlier, the petitioners elevated to the SC their objection to the December 2014 decision of the Court of Appeals that lifted the Temporary Environmental Protection Order dated April 10, 2012, paving the way for the mall’s Sky Park project in Baguio in December 2014.

SM was able to secure the final approval and necessary permits for the project from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the city government of Baguio and other concerned agencies. Prior to this, inputs from various community groups were gathered and considered to help put this project together.

To help preserve and protect the city’s environment, the project will feature ‘green facilities’ to help absorb the impact

of climate change such as a Sky Park, a state-of-the-art sewerage treatment plant, and an underground rainwater catchment tank having a capacity of 7,432.54 cubic meters of water which could be used in mall operations.

Furthermore, “green walls’ consisting of live plants will help improve the air quality in the area, making the mall both relaxing and enjoyable for shoppers. In certain parts of the mall, natural lighting will be used to cater to energy efficiency endeavors.

SM’s Sky Park will include ‘green foliage and water features to help mitigate heat island effect and absorb rainwater. It is a landscape area, park, and viewdeck with ‘green space’ located on the third floor of the existing mall. It will have an area of approximately 4,333 square meters designed as an elevated garden, which contains up to 53 species of trees and plants, with canopied walkways, ponds, and waterscapes.

The project will add a total of 68,123.75 square meters to the original 106,939.35 square meters of the existing mall bringing for a total mall area of around 176,073.26 square meters.

The project will generate 652 additional parking slots, bringing the total parking slots within the mall to around 1,419. Additional pedestrian and vehicle entrances along Gov. Pack Road will be provided by the mall management to help decongest traffic along Session Road, the only gateway to the giant mall in the city.

In addition to the new mall features, eco-friendly LED lights and park finders will also be used in the existing and additional parking spaces to help minimize the emission of harmful carbon or smoke coming from vehicles.

banks pollute it.

Reghis Romero II, chairman of R-II Builders Inc., said a number of industries such as shoe manufacturers, textiles and oil depots on the Pasig River have expressed interest to transfer to the North Harbor port once the expansion is completed.

“They’ve been looking for a light industrial estate that can accommodate them since they’ve been clogging the Pasig River,” Romero said.

Estrada said Manila stands to gain much from the multi-billionpeso project, including its share of a 15-hectare land with a market value of P2.7 billion that the city government intends to develop into a new industrial, commercial and cultural complex.

Next page

CHILL. A bevy

of beauties vying for the Miss Baguio 2016 crown beam at the cameras during the media presentation.

David Chan

Engineer builds electric car for LGUs A MECHANICAL engineer with a passion for automobiles has invented an electric mini sedan that he plans to sell as a taxi or as a service vehicle for local government units.

The sedan is now the flagship product of Clima Mobility, the newest member of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines, which was founded by Adonis Lagangan, a 1994 alumnus of the Mapua Institute of

Technology.

Even at a young age, Lagangan had an intense passion for automobiles. He dreamt of one day designing and assembling his own electric car. To acquire the needed funding, he became an overseas Filipino worker in coal-fired power plant projects around Asia as a project-based commissioning engineer for Marubeni Corp.

He narrates that he was so

POWER-DRIVEN. Lagangan poses with his invention.

passionate about pursuing his dream such that in between deployments, he honed his skills in forming and 3D CADD designing. “I then worked to complete the design of the prototype of my dream electric car. I fervently hoped that one day, I will become a full-time EV manufacturer.”

Lagangan got his wish. As soon as he got the chance to be home more often, he set up Clima Mobility and went about building the prototype of his electric car. This became their flagship product, an electric mini sedan they call the Genius EV. The Genius EV has a seating capacity of five persons and is powered by a 10-kilowatt, 72volt brushless DC motor. Power is provided by six pieces of 12volt, 120-ampere-hour Motolite batteries. It has a maximum speed of 75 kilometers per hour with a range of 60 to 70 kilometers after charging for four to five hours. He expects to sell the Genius EV for a target SRP of about P450,000 to P500,000.

Lagangan’s plan is to offer

the Genius EV to local government units and other government agencies, corporate clients, taxi operators, and individuals. “It can be used as a small electric taxi for Metro Manila, as a patrol car for the barangays, as a service vehicle for LGUs, government agencies and big companies and as a delivery car for logistics companies with the rear portion modified as an enclosed van. Even individuals who wish to save on fuel and help reduce pollution in the city will find the Genius EV the perfect solution.”

“However, first, we need to gear up for bigger manufacturing prospects,” he says. “Right now, we manufacture on a build-to-order basis. We need green financing to help finance our operations and an inventory of electric cars. Thus, we are now in search for grants and funding to build up our plant capacity. We are also open to partnership, whether local or foreign, for funding and technical assistance to improve our product.”

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LGUs

Stranded OFWs get OWWA aid

By A. Perez Rimando

Z

AMBOANGA CITY—The families of close to 50 overseas Filipino workers from the Zamboanga Peninsula who were recently stranded in Saudi Arabia after their companies reportedly closed shop were provided with funding assistance by the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration, a welfare officer said.

OWWA Region IX family welfare officer Khalil Isser Lorena said the agency will give P20,000 (1,599 Rial) to each of the affected OFWs at the jobsite and another P20,000 to each of the repatriated employees.

Lorena told media that each of the affected workers’ local families will also be given with P6,000 cash assistance, and added that the fund aid “is given through the Relief Assistance Program (RAP),” OWWA’s arm for crisis inter-

vention.

The RAP, she explained, is designed “to enable affected OFWs and their families to cope with economic and social adjustments about the loss of their jobs in the Middle East.”

According to Lorena, hundreds of OFWs from different places in the Philippines became jobless after their companies reportedly shut down “after incurring financial difficulties,” with many of them still not getting their

salaries.

Not a few of them were earlier reported to have picked food from garbage drums to ease their hunger, which later prompted the Department of Foreign Affairs to send aircraft to f ly them back home.

Those who lost their jobs, Lorena said, included engineers, office personnel, and construction workers who came from Zamboanga City and other parts of Region IX.

93 EWDs installed in Zambo region

By A. Perez Rimando DIPOLOG CITY—The Department of Science and Technology has established 93 units of an early warning device (EWD) in various highrisk prone areas in Zamboanga Peninsula, Thelma San Diego, DoST Region 9 focal person for disaster risk reduction and management, announced during the latest Regional Science and Technology Week celebration held at the Top Plaza Hotel.

San Diego explained that an EWD seeks “to prevent loss of lives and lessen damage to properties in certain areas during heavy rains that might cause flooding and landslide.”

She added that EWDs “have the capacity to send warnings to people living in low-lying communities some six hours

before an impending flood to enable them to prepare for evacuation to elevated areas.”

San Diego reported that 29 EWDs were installed in different towns of Zamboanga del Norte, known for their high-risk flood-prone areas, while 24 others were placed in Zamboanga del Sur, 14 in Zamboanga Sibugay, four in Isabela City and two in Zamboanga City.

The celebration focused on the theme “Juan Science, One Nation” was attended by more than 200 local DRRM officers from different local government units in the region. It sought “to provide the LGUs with latest innovations in technology to enhance their capabilities to respond during emergency situations since La Niña started to batter the region,” San Diego said.

RAFTING. A resident of Baseco Compound in Tondo, Manila rides a banca made of plastic bottles to clean the shore lane of Manila Bay. Danny Pata

Cebu rotisserie eyes foreign markets

By Alessandra Patterson CEBU has long been known for its excellent food: especially its take on the famous Lechon Cebu.

Slowly but surely it developed into a global tourist destination because of its pristine beaches, sumptuous food and landmark churches.

One of the food chains making a name in the country is Bounty Agro Ventures Inc., which started in Cebu. It has expanded its

roast chicken chain Chooks to Go by diversifying into other types of foods-to-go and is gearing up to conquer the international market.

BAVI and its sister company, Bounty Fresh Foods Inc., are the biggest egg producers and the second largest poultry integrators in the Philippines. BAVI also operates the largest and fastest-growing roasted chicken chain in the country, with more than a thousand retail outlets, to date.

To sustain its massive operations, BAVI relies on a network of 19 business centers, 70 distributors, over 500 broiler contract farms, 16 hatcheries, nine feed mills, 19 processing plants and a network of close to 1,300 company operated stores roasting about 100,000 chickens every day.

Huge investments in people development and a forwardthinking company culture were the keys for BAVI to serve the huge market demand for quality and flavorful cooked food-togo— through its chicken rotisserie lines that started with its flagship brand, Chooks-to-Go. BAVI is continually expanding its consumer base with the addition of new brands, Uling Roasters, Reyal and Marô Established in 2008, Chooksto-Go has grown to be the Philippines’ largest rotisserie chain with over 1,000 retail stores serving oven-roasted chicken.

It has enabled the farm-to-table freshness concept to reach millions of Filipino households as the best value-for-money meal, along with its fresh and frozen poultry products.

Giving a wider selection to the traditional Filipino palate is BAVI’s charcoal-roasted chicken line, Uling Roasters.

This second addition to BAVI’s

ready-to-go food concept offers fresh recipes to the classic Filipino favorite, litson manok.

It offers the traditional inasal and the flagship and best selling variant UR Special that uses special spices sourced all the way from Africa. From a few stores in Zamboanga in 2013, Uling Roasters now has close to 200 outlets nationwide and growing.

Reyal, which was launched last year, is BAVI’s version of affordable, roasted “butterfly-cut” chicken served with sumptuous honey garlic sauce combined with chili oil and a generous sprinkling of crunch garlic bits. With the huge acceptance of the new roasted chicken variant, BAVI expects to have over a hundred stores by year-end.

The latest addition to the brand is Marô, which serves freshly cooked viands. Marô offers a wide range of Asian cuisine from beef, pork, fish, and of course, the Filipino favorite chicken. Since its launch in 2015, BAVI is slowly expanding Marô in key central business districts and university areas nationwide.

Filipinos overseas will soon have access to their favorite food in the Philippines wherever they are in the Asian region with the rollout of BAVI rotisserie stores overseas this year.

Erap:...

From A1

of the North Harbor further out to sea, the existing port facility will now be able to handle larger vessels, thus, reducing the costs of and speeding the process of cargo handling.

Romero said they see no more hurdles in the implementation of the port expansion project.

The 36-member city council led by Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna approved the JVA signed

by Estrada and Romero on July 21. The council approval is a requirement to get the approval of the Philippine Reclamation Authority.

Once approved by the PRA, the project will then be submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority for President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval.

Under the JVA, R-II will reclaim 50 more hectares of Manila Bay to expand the existing 79-hectare Manila North Harbour Centre, popularly known as North Harbor, in Tondo. The port is owned and operated by Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc. Phase 1 of the project involves the reclamation of 20 hectares, including a kilometerlong berthing apron and backup area for cargoes, while Phase 2 will be another 30 hectares for mixed-use development, including road utilities and other facilities such as warehouses and storage facilities.

Half of the 30-hectare reclaimed land will be given to the city government of Manila as its share once reclamation and construction works are completed in two-and-a-half years.

“This is what I’ve been envisioning, a huge piece of land where we could extend our local government offices and put up other useful facilities,” the mayor said.

Romero said the city government can very well put up its own cultural center at the new site.

Estrada said the project would also provide thousands of job opportunities for Manileños and millions of tax revenues for the city government, aside from boosting the country’s economy.

“At the same time it will ease the congestion at the Port of Manila, which is being blamed for the rising cost of commodities,” he pointed out.

Romero pointed out that the current congestion at the Port of Manila is blamed for rising logistical costs of the cargo companies and other major stakeholders in the shipping industry.

Romero said the port expansion is also badly needed to make the operation of Port of Manila at par with international standards; with the expansion

World

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

C3

UN condemns Nokor missile tests U

nited Nations—The UN Security Council on Friday strongly condemned North Korea for test-firing ballistic missiles and agreed to take “significant measures” in response the latest series of launches.

Council members agreed to “continue to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures,” said the statement, without elaborating.

North Korea has been hit by five sets of UN sanctions since it first tested a nuclear device in 2006.

The 15-member council issued drafted by the United States and In March, the council adopted the toughly-worded condemna- backed by China, Pyongyang’s the toughest sanctions resolution tion in a unanimous statement main ally. to date, targeting North Korea’s

trade in minerals and tightening banking restrictions.

The council met behind closed doors on Wednesday after North Korea launched a missile from a submarine towards Japan, the latest provocation from Pyongyang.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the missile breached his country’s Air Defense Identification Zone and condemned what he

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

load Factor :100% 7.

GUIMARAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. AND PANAY ENERGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION,

Nonetheless, during Testing and Commissioning of the Expansion Plant, PEDC will deliver to GUIMELCO on a non-firm basis electric power, subject to the payment of Electricity Fees for actual energy taken by GUIMELCO computed as follows: Testing and Commissioning at 100% Load Factor

Applicants.

Load Factor

x-----------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Parties to the Case

19. The supply of additional 2 MW from the Expansion Plant to GUIMELCO (and ultimately, to its consumers) will not only secure the power requirements of GUIMELCO but also lessen GUIMELCO’s exposure to higher prices during peak hours as well as the volatility of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) prices and reduce its dependence on the Negros-Panay submarine cable.

Statement of Facts and of the Case

20. Under the terms of the EPPA, among the conditions precedent to the performance by GUIMELCO and PEDC of their respective obligations thereunder is the approval of this Application by the Honorable Commission.

21. Thus, for PEDC to be able to deliver and GUIMELCO to be able to receive power from PEDC as early as the Testing and Commissioning and the PreCommercial Operation Period of the Expansion Plant/it is imperative that a provisional authority be granted for the EPPA to allow PEDC to deliver and GUIMELCO to receive power during these periods.

Prior to the execution of the EPPA, in November 2013, a competitive selection process was undertaken by GUIMELCO, through the Panay-Guimaras Power Supply Consortium (PPSC), using the Swiss Challenge method.

The initial offer/bid of PEDC was published in two separate newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines, each newspaper publishing the notice for two consecutive weeks. Since, the consortium did not receive any offers or challenges despite the time given for other generation companies to submit their offers, PPSC awarded the supply contract of the consortium to PEDC. As a result of the award by the consortium, each cooperative member, including GUIMELCO executed separate EPPAs with PEDC. 8.

The salient features of the EPPA are indicated below:

Moreover, upon completion of the commissioning of the Expansion Plant, GUIMELCO shall take the proportionate net electrical output of the Expansion Plant delivered by PEDC during the Pre-Commercial Operation Period on a firm basis, subject to the payment of Electricity Fees computed as follows:

Type of Plant

Coal-fired power plant expansion located in Brgy. Ingore, La Paz, Iloilo City

Installed Capacity

1 x 150 MW

Pre-Commercial Operations at 100% Load Factor

Cooperation Period

Twenty Five (25) years commencing on the Commercial Operation Date and ending on the 25th year anniversary of such commencement Date

Load Factor

When the Expansion Plant has been completed, inspected, tested and is ready to commence operation as confirmed in a written communication from PEDC to GUIMELCO, which date should not be later than 26 July 2016 or such later date as PEDC and GUIMELCO may agree upon in writing

Billing Month January February March March (Leap Year) April May June July August September October November December

Delivery Point

Outages 6.

22. As mentioned in the foregoing paragraphs, should the Honorable Commission grant a provisional authority for PEDC to deliver and GUIMELCO to receive power during Testing and Commissioning, there will be an indicative net reduction in its generation cost of PhPi.98 per kWh during this period. Should a provisional authority be given for the Pre-Commercial Operation Period, there will be an indicative net reduction in its generation cost of PhPi .66 per kWh during this period.

Compliance with Pre-Filing Requirements 23. Applicants manifest their compliance with the pre-filing requirements mandated under Rule 3, Section 4(e) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2011, or the “EPIRA”, and Rule 6 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedures, as evidenced by the following attachments: 23.1

Affidavit of Service re: service of the Application with Annexes to the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Iloilo City, a copy of which is attached as Annex “B”;

23.2

Affidavit of Service re: service of the Application with Annexes to the Sangguniang Bayan of Jordan, a copy of which is attached hereto as Annex “C”;

23.3

Affidavit of Service re: service of the Application with Annexes to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Province of Guimaras, a copy of which is attached as Annex “D”;

23.5

Affidavit of Publication stating that the instant Application had been published in a newspaper of general circulation, a copy of which is attached as Annex “F”;

23.6

Newspaper issue where the Application appeared, as published, a copy of which is attached as Annex “G”;

23.7

A copy of the Board Resolution authorizing GUIMELCO to jointly file the instant application with PEDC, which is herein attached as Annex “H”;

23.8

A copy of the Board Resolution authorizing PEDC to jointly file the instant application with GUIMELCO, which is herein attached as Annex “I”; and

23.9

Proof of payment of filing fees, a copy of which is attached as Annex “J”.

2 MW In addition, subject to availability of capacity of the Expansion Plant, PEDC is given priority to supply GUIMELCO any additional capacity requirements it may have, subject to mutually acceptable terms and conditions.

Minimum Energy Off-Take

INCREASE/(DECREASE)(rounded off fiqure)

18. Considering that GUIMELCO is in need of additional supply of power beginning 2016, it is imperative that GUIMELCO obtain this Honorable Commission’s approval of the EPPA with PEDC.

Pursuant to Rule 20 (B) of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Energy Regulatory Commission (“ERC”), this Application is submitted to this Honorable Commission for its review and approval of the Electric Power Purchase Agreement dated 14 April 2015 between PEDC as Seller and GUIMELCO as Buyer (the “EPPA”).

Contracted Capacity

Minimum Contracted Energy, kWh 1,488,000 1,488,000 1,344,000 1,392,000 1,488,000 1,440,000 1,488,000 1,440,000 1,488,000 1,488,000 1,440,000 1,488,000 1,440,000

24. The Applicant GUIMELCO and PEDC prayed that the Commission will:

The delivery point shall mean the physical point(s) at which GUIMELCO receives power from PEDC where billing meters to measure electricity energy flowing to GUIMELCO’s electric system are installed

a)

Upon initial review of the instant Application and pending trial on the merits, issue a provisional authority for the terms of the 14 April 2015 EPPA between PEDC and GUIMELCO, thereby authorizing PEDC to charge and collect from GUIMELCO the respective Electricity Fees corresponding to the (1) Testing and Commissioning, (2) PreCommercial Operation Period, and (3) Commercial Operation Date, and authorizing GUIMELCO to pass the full amount thereof to its consumers;

b)

After trial on the merits, issue a permanent approval of the terms of the 14 April 2015 EPPA between PEDC and GUIMELCO, thereby authorizing PEDC to charge and collect from GUIMELCO the respective Electricity Fees corresponding to the (1) Testing and Commissioning, (2) Pre-Commercial Operation Period, and (3) Commercial Operation Date, and authorizing GUIMELCO to pass the full amount thereof to its consumers; and

c)

Grant such other reliefs just and equitable under the premises.

The allowable scheduled and unscheduled outages are forty (40) days per year.

As indicated above, PEDC agreed to supply and deliver, and GUIMELCO agreed to take and pay for electricity supplied by PEOC at a contracted capacity of 2 MW (the “Contracted Capacity”), at 100% load factor, commencing on the Commercial Operation Date of the Expansion Plant (i.e., the date when the Expansion Plant has been completed, inspected, tested, and is ready to commence operation as confirmed in a written communication from Seller to Buyer, which date should not be later than 26 July 2016 or such later date as the parties may agree upon in writing), at an Electricity Fee (Schedule 4 of the EPPA) computed as follows:

RATE

Rate,PhP/kWh 7.21 5.88 (1.33)

17. It is expected that GUIMELCO’s current demand will increase to over 6.47MW by 2016 and 6.82MW by 2017 based on GUIMELCO’s load forecast.

Applicant PEDC is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines with principal office address at Brgy. Ingore, La Paz, Iloilo City. PEDC owns and operates a 2x82 MW coal-fired power plant (“Existing Plant”) located in Brgy. Ingore, La Paz, Iloilo City. It has embarked on an expansion project through the construction of a 1x150 MW coal-fired power plant (“Expansion Plant”) in the same location.

Commercial Operation Date

Without PEDC EPPA With PEDC EPPA GENERATION

Allegations in Support of the Prayer for Provisional Authority

Applicant GUIMELCO is an electric cooperative duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at Brgy. San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras. It is a franchised electric utility servicing its member-consumers in the Province of Guimaras, specifically the Municipalities of Jordan, Nueva Valencia, Buenavista, Sibunag, and San Lorenzo.

Salient Features of the EPPA

Projected Rate Impact at Commercial Operation, as follows:

16. The current demand of GUIMELCO is 6.32MW. To meet this demand, GUIMELCO sources 3.0MW of its electric power requirements from Green Core Geothermal, Inc. Also, it sources about 2.8MW from the diesel plant of Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corporation during peak hours. Likewise, it secures power deficit from its existing suppliers with the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).

In the said Application, GUIMELCO and PEDC alleged among others, the following:

5.

Rate, PhP/kWh 7.21 5.56 (1.66)

15. Should the Honorable Commission approve the Electricity Fees under the EPPA, there will be an indicative decrease in generation cost of PhPi .33 per kWh on the Commercial Operation Date.

Notice is hereby given that on 29 April 2016, Guimaras Electric Cooperative, Inc. (GUIMELCO) and Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC) filed a Joint Application for approval of their Electric Power Purchase Agreement (EPPA) with a prayer for the issuance of Provisional Authority.

4.

Without PEDC EPPA With PiEDC EPPA GENERATION RATE INCREASE/(DECREASE) (rounded off figure)

14. The foregoing agreed terms, among others, are embodied in the EPPA, a copy of which is attached to this Application as Annex “A” and made an integral part hereof.

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

3.

Rate, PhP/kWh 7.21 5.23 (1.98)

Projected Rate Impact during 2016 Pre-Commercial Operation, as follows:

ERC CASE NO. 2016-095 RC

2.

UN resolutions from any use of ballistic missile technology, but Pyongyang has carried out several launches following its fourth nuclear test in January.

The council statement was adopted after several rounds of negotiations with China, which has insisted over recent weeks on the need to avoid an escalation of tension on the Korean peninsula. AFP

Without PEDC EPPA With PEDC EPPA GENERATION RATE INCREASE/(DECREASE) (rounded off figure)

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE ELECTRIC POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT (EPPA) BETWEEN THE GUIMARAS ELECTRIC COOPERATrVE, INC. AND PANAY ENERGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY.

1.

called an “unforgivable, reckless act” and a grave threat to Japan’s security.

The council condemned that launch as well as another on August 2 that for the first time fell in Japanese controlled-waters and two other missile tests on July 9 and 18, saying these were all “in grave violation” of UN resolutions.

North Korea is barred under

9.

The EPPA thus proposes separate rates on the power delivered by PEDC to GUIMELCO, depending on the stage of the plant development (i.e., during Testing and Commissioning, during the Pre-Commercial Operation Period, or on Commercial Operation Date).

10. The cost of fuel shall be on a pass through basis in all stages (i.e., during Testing and Commissioning, during the Pre-Commercial Operation Period, or on Commercial Operation Date). In deriving Fuel Cost, the actual consumption rate of coal or up to the consumption cap, whichever is lower, shall always be multiplied by the actual energy delivered.

11. It should be noted that the expenses to be incurred by PEDC for the testing and commissioning the Expansion Plant during Testing and Commissioning and the Pre-Commercial Operation Period was not included in the rate agreed upon in the EPPA inasmuch as the Parties agreed on a tariff formula for energy delivered during Testing and Commissioning as well as during the PreCommercial Operation Period which PEDC intended to serve as recovery for testing and commissioning costs to be incurred by PEDC for the commissioning cost of the Expansion Plant.

12. It should be pointed out however that during testing and commissioning, the Parties agreed that PEDC would deliver to GUIMELCO the proportionate net electrical output of the Power Plant on a non-firm basis and subject to the payment of the applicable Electricity Fees. However, once testing has been completed but prior to Commercial Operations, the proportionate net electrical output of the Power Plant shall be delivered by PEDC and shall be taken

by GUIMELCO on a firm basis and subject to the payment of the applicable Electricity Fees.

13. As seen in the Rate Impact below, for the duration of the term of the EPPA between PEDC and GUIMELCO, the simulated delivered price thereunder would result in an overall savings of PhPi.98 per kWh, PhPi.66 per kWh, and PhPi.33 per kWh during Testing and Commissioning Period, Pre-Commercial Operations Period, and Commercial Operations Period, respectively.

Projected Rate Impact during 2016 Testing and Commissioning, as follows:

The Commission has set the application for initial hearing, expository presentation, pre-trial conference and evidentiary hearing on presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 15 September 2016 (Thursday) at two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.) at GUIMELCO’s Principal Office, Brgy. San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the proceeding may become a party by filing, at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements in the ERC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, a verified petition with the Commission giving the docket number and title of the proceeding and stating: (1) the petitioner’s name and address; (2) the nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding, and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and (3) a statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the proceeding may file their opposition to the application or comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before the applicant concludes the presentation of its evidence. No particular form of opposition or comment is required, but the document, letter or writing should contain the name and address of such person and a concise statement of the opposition or comment and the grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the application may request from the applicant that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing.

The applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairman, JOSE VICENTE B. SALAZAR, and the Honorable Commissioners, ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT, and GERONIMO- D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 27th day of July, 2016 at Pasig City.

ATTY. NATHAN J. MARASIGAN Chief of Staff Office of the Chairman and CEO Standard – Aug. 28 & Sept. 4, 2016

C4

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

World

Canada pledges peacekeepers to UN OTTAWA—Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government on Friday committed 600 troops and Can$450 million (US$350 million) over three years to United Nations peacekeeping operations around the world.

Touted by the Liberal administration as a recommitment to multilateralism, the move also positions Canada to make a stronger bid for a rotating seat on the UN Security Council.

Ottawa’s “commitment to in-

crease Canadian participation in UN peace operations and supporting its mediation efforts, preventing conflicts, and engaging in post-conflict reconstruction” will give Canada “a stronger voice on the world stage,” Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion told a news conference.

The announcement comes ahead of a major peacekeeping conference in London in two weeks. In order to attend, countries must make a tangible peace-

MTV awards let stars run wild

Bourses close mixed after Yellen speech

NEW YORK—The MTV Video Music Awards have long been more about the show than the actual winners, and this year the network will go all-out by letting the stars run wild.

Stepping back from award ceremonies’ traditional penchant for down-to-the-second scripts, MTV producers said they have simply selected the artists for Sunday’s extravaganza and will leave it to them to decide what to do.

The show, to be broadcast to more than 120 countries, will provide an open platform for outspoken stars including rapper Kanye West, who used last year’s show to announce, however improbably, that he will run for president in 2020.

The setup could encourage the outlandish—or allow for more serious gestures in a year marked by global conflict, souring race relations in the West, and one of the most foul-toned US presidential elections ever.

“Last year we took a bit more of a playful approach. This year it’s like this is a canvas for artists—not just for their art but for their statements, what they believe is going on in the world,” said Erik Flannigan, an executive producer of the show.

“You’ve got to strike a balance between topicality and being heavy—and this is also a gigantic party. We kind of want to do both,” he told Agence France Presse.

After shock diva Miley Cyrus took much of the limelight as last year’s MC in Los Angeles, the awards do not plan a single host, spreading the duties to a wide cast. AFP

keeping pledge.

A decision, however, has not yet been made about where to deploy the military personnel, said Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan.

Trudeau is likely to identify a specific mission or missions when he goes to the UN General Assembly next month.

Whereas his Conservative predecessor Stephen Harper sought distance from the UN, Trudeau has signaled that Canada now intends to play an increased role

beyond its borders through the global body.

Speaking separately Friday with reporters, he said the 600 troops and nearly half a billion dollar contribution was only the “first part” of Canada’s reengagement with the United Nations.

“It’s recognition of the fact that Canada has a duty to be engaged and to be a positive player in the world in the coming years,” Trudeau said. AFP

e-mails or foreign entities’ ties to her husband’s charitable foundation will derail her bid for the US presidency. AFP

N

ew York—European and US equities markets were split on Friday after US Fed chief Janet Yellen suggested interest rates could rise in the near-term In words carefully parsed by market watchers, Yellen said recent months had seen conditions in the US economy increasingly favor an increase in interest rates but she did not give a clear signal of timing.

The US Federal Reserve has suffered stinging criticism in recent months for a perceived lack of coherence in its public positions on monetary policy, and markets had eagerly awaited her speech for some policy clarity.

But the reaction of traders on both sides of the Atlantic suggested that there remained many questions about the Yellen-led Federal Open Market Committee’s path of US monetary policy.

Major US indices were mixed, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing down 0.3 percent, the broader S&P 500 losing 0.2 but the tech-heavy Nasdaq rising 0.1 percent.

European stocks advanced marginally with London and Frankfurt rising 0.3 percent and Paris gaining 0.8 percent by the close.

Noting strong US job growth, Yellen said gradual increases in the Fed’s benchmark rate in the coming years should be expected.

“In light of the continued solid performance of the labor market and our outlook for economic ac-

tivity and inflation, I believe the case for an increase in the federal funds rate has strengthened in recent months,” Yellen said.

Traders appeared to see her remarks as a mix of both hawkish and dovish views.

Joel Naroff of Naroff Economic Advisors said US policymakers could easily be dissuaded from increasing rates if skies darkened.

“If we get a softer than expected jobs report or weaker consumption numbers or whatever... the committee could or will likely do nothing,” he said in a client note.

Speculation has grown that the bank could lift interest rates as early as next month, although most experts say that is unlikely and that December or February would be safer bets.

“Our view is that most officials will want to see more concrete evidence of a rebound in GDP growth and a rise in inflation towards the 2 percent target, with a December move still appearing the most likely outcome” for a rate rise, Capital Economics ventured.

With an interest rate hike still viewed unlikely in the immediate future, the dollar struggled to gain traction during the day, but ended higher against the euro at $1.1195 and the yen at 101.77 yen. AFP

Facebook automates trending stories feature

Amazon tries 30-hour workweeks SAN FRANCISCO—US online retail titan Amazon, which has been accused of fostering a cutthroat workplace atmosphere, will try out teams that log 30hour work weeks, the Washington Post reported on Friday.

The employees will receive the same benefits as those putting in 40-hour weeks, but get three-quarters of the pay, according to the Post, which is owned

by Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos.

Many people at Amazon already work part-time, but the program would be novel in that entire teams including managers would be scheduled for 30 hours weekly on the job, the Seattlebased company said in an informational session invitation posted online at eventbrite.com.

“This initiative was created with Amazon’s diverse workforce in mind and the realization that the traditional full-time schedule may not be a one-sizefits-all model,” Amazon said in the post.

“We want to create a work environment that is tailored to a reduced schedule and still fosters success and career growth.” AFP

BENT. Hillary Clinton said on Friday she was certain no revelations from

STAR. Flo Rida attends an MTV VMA concert featuring Cash Cash, Nathan Sykes, and very special guest, Flo Rida presented by Time Warner Cable & GLAAD at Terminal 5 on Friday in New York City. AFP

SAN FRANCISCO—Facebook said Friday it is further automating its “trending” stories feature, a move that will scale back human input to prevent personal bias from influencing which stories get highlighted.

The social media giant will rely more heavily on an algorithm to operate the feature—which lists what news or events are hot topics—no longer requiring people to write descriptions, according to a Facebook blog post.

The feature prompted controversy earlier this year, with critics alleging that Facebook’s news curators were deliberately omitting stories from politically conservative outlets, allegations the company denied.

Facebook said relying more heavily on software will allow the feature to cover a wider scale, while lessening the risk that personal bias could manipulate the list of trending topics.

“We looked into these claims and found no evidence of systematic bias,” Facebook reiterated in its blog post Friday, but added that “making these changes to the product allows our team to make fewer individual decisions about topics.”

With the change, instead of seeing story summaries in the trending list, users will simply see

topics and the number of people talking about them.

Letting a cursor hover over a topic will show “an automatically selected original news story with an excerpt pulled directly from the top article itself.”

Humans will still be involved in the process to ensure that topics are real-world news and not based on an internet trend like #lunch.

Facebook in May made changes aimed at keeping political bias out of its “trending” stories list even though an internal investigation revealed no evidence that it was an issue.

“Our investigation has revealed no evidence of systematic political bias in the selection or prominence of stories included in the Trending Topics feature,” Facebook general counsel Colin Stretch said in a letter responding to a query from Republican US Senator John Thune, who chairs the commerce committee.

“In fact, our analysis indicated that the rates of approval of conservative and liberal topics are virtually identical in Trending Topics.”

Facebook updated terminology in its guidelines to be clearer and gave reviewers refresher training that emphasized content decisions may not be based on politics or ideology, the letter said. AFP

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

D1

SUNDAY LIVING

Christine AmourLevar is a social entrepreneur, marketing consultant, author and a proud Filipina who empowers women around the world

CHRISTINE AMOUR-LEVAR

Empowering

Filipinas by living a life of purpose

into the corporate world as a young account executive for McCann Erickson Advertising Agency in Tokyo. Shortly after, her language skills (she speaks six) and her passion for sports led her to the doors of Nike where she did more marketing work for the brand in the United States, Latin America and Europe.

She also worked for Philippe Starck in Paris after earning her degree from the New York School of Interior Design before moving to Singapore in 2005 to join Nike once again.

Her extensive experience in retail honed her knack for spotting trends.

She eventually launched Singapore’s first and only Brazilian multi-brand fashion boutique, Beijaflor, and in 2010 successfully sold her retail business.

“I put 200 percent of myself in any project I decide to focus on and spend my energy developing,” Amour-Levar describes her career journey. “I always try to go the extra mile.”

Amour-Levar currently heads the Marketing and Communications at Temasek Trust and Temasek Management Services, two wholly owned subsidiaries of Temasek Holdings - a global investment firm with headquarters in Singapore that manages a net portfolio of $180 billion.

Outside of Temasek, she works for iRace Group, one of Asia’s leading horse-racing media and publishing companies, as its Group Chief Marketing Officer.

W

HAT does it mean to be a Filipino woman in today’s world? For Christine Amour-Levar, it means helping people see the limitless possibilities ahead and empowering them in a positive, actionoriented way.

Since 2012, Amour-Levar has been deeply involved with a non-profit organization she co-founded that advances the position of women around the world, including raising awareness and support for women survivors of war and for women who have been subjected to violence and abuse.

A proud Filipina based in Singapore, Amour-Levar is also a member of the Filipino Women’s Network (FWN) and a new awardee of the organization’s 100 Most Influential Filipino Women in the World Award. The said award is reserved for exceptional Filipinas who are influencing the face of leadership in the global workplace and are recognized for their leadership, achievement and contributions to society, “femtorship” and legacy. This year, FWN’s 13th Filipina Leadership Global Summit was at the Shangri-La Mactan Hotel in Cebu from Aug. 21 to 24.

As a mother, Christine always reminds her children that each person’s uniqueness is his or her power

nents, whether in business, marketing A truly global experience Over the past years, Amour-Levar or social work. And she seized them all has been presented with countless op- with zeal and dedication.

Banking on her education at Sophia portunities to lead, across four conti-

University in Tokyo where she earned her BA in International Business and Economics and a minor in Japanese language, Amour-Levar made her foray

Woman on a mission Amour-Levar considers herself fortunate to be involved with things that she loves doing. But closest to her heart is the advocacy work she does for Women On A Mission (WOAM), a non-profit organization she co-founded which leads challenging, self-funded, expeditions to remote locations around the world as a means to raise awareness and funds for humanitarian causes.

She leads yearly expeditions and fundraising initiatives that include organizing inspirational events and leadership development workshops, spearheading communications campaigns to increase awareness and rally support Continued on D2

Manila’s icons of art and retail leaders as Smart Infinity’s newest ambassadors STEADFAST in its commitment to welcome change, Smart unveiled a new set of faces to lead its premium postpaid brand, Smart Infinity. The couples embody the vision of Smart as it moves forward to change the way people connect in meaningful ways. Smart renews ties with retail royalties Donnie and Crickette Tantoco, who are joined this year by fashion’s power couple Raul and Joanna Francisco, to support Smart Infinity in its goal of delivering topnotch service to Filipinos who aspire to lead the change.

Retail industry’s power couple Donnie and Crickette Tantoco

Game Changers As transformative figures in their fields of influence, the Tantocos and the Franciscos seek to bridge gaps for the Filipinos. They fully embody the vision of Smart Infinity of allowing every Smart Infinity member to experience the best of the digital world and curate according to their passions.

Smart Infinity ambassador Donnie Tantoco describes how he makes the choices that set the trends.

“First of all, we have to understand our customer

very, very well–how she likes to dress herself in the different occasions of her life, whether she’s at work, whether she’s socializing, whether she’s travelling. So we try to understand her lifestyle.”

“If you look at the DNA of Smart and the innovation they have done over the years, I see them paralleled with us in our own small way that we are also innovators. We embrace that DNA of leading change, we saw this is something we can really integrate into our lives—the privileges, the services, the concierge,” says new brand ambassador Raul Francisco.

Lead the change Smart recently launched a new logo and along with it, a slew of innovations that make it easier for its members to fully live the Smart Life.

“We want to recognize not only those who have conquered their boundaries and attained success in their own lives, but those who have done well in Continued on D2

Popular couple in the fashion industry Raul and Joanna Francisco

Life

D2

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

A lasting commitment to learning T

HE value of education can never be understated.

It not only provides a strong foundation in life, but also opens doors and offers opportunities for a secure and bright future.

As an advocate of oral health, ColgatePalmolive recognizes its contribution to better school performance among children. An estimated 13 percent of Grade 1 pupils drop out and never move to the second grade owing to several factors, including poor oral health.

The Bright Smiles, Bright Futures (BSBF) program, one of the most far-reaching, successful children’s oral health initiatives in the world, through its partnerships with governments, schools and communities, has reached more than 800 million children and their families across 80 countries, enabling children to achieve healthier smiles through free dental screenings and oral health education. This year, the pro- A Colgate-Palmolive scholar from University of the East (middle) gram turns 25 years globally.

In the Philippines, Colgate-Palmolive works together with the Department of The Colgate-Palmolive Scholarship Education to implement the BSBF pro- Program Further underscoring its focus on edgram and drive oral health education ucation, Colgate-Palmolive Philippines across public schools.

Colgate-Palmolive works with Department of Education to drive oral health education across public schools

also recently introduced the Colgate Scholarship Promo, which gives Filipinos a chance for their children to receive financial assistance to support their studies. With every purchase of specially marked Colgate Maximum Cavity Protection Great Regular Flavor toothpaste cartons or any Colgate toothpaste sachet, they are given a chance to win over P3.5 million worth of scholarships and prizes. There will be 25 winners of scholarship grants worth P100,000.00, 100 winners of P10,000.00 scholarship subsidy, 250 winners of P500.00 National Bookstore and 2,000 P15.00 mobile load. The promo is set to run until Dec. 15.

“This program is another way for Colgate-Palmolive to help more Filipinos achieve their academic goals,” noted Jay Custodio, Associate Colgate Director for Oral Care. “More importantly, we want to give them access to education so they can take advantage of the opportunities it opens to achieve a brighter future that they can smile about.”

Supporting future dentists today This commitment is evident in Colgate-Palmolive Philippines’ Dental School Program, an education initiative that the company has been implementing in partnership with the Philippine Association of Dental Colleges (PADC)

since 2001. The program provides financial assistance to deserving Filipino dentistry students in their third or fourth year in college. Colgate-Palmolive also provides continuous learning by having its own oral care experts participate in forums and symposia on dental health.

“We believe that supporting future dental health professionals will eventually benefit communities as it will help improve access to oral health care services,” said Dr. Angel David, head of Colgate Professional Oral Care. David noted that the program has produced 248 scholars in 25 dental schools, all of whom also support the Company’s various dental missions across the country.

Dyson captures the invisible threat in your home Amaia Land and CLC Marketing Ventures executives sign a partnership that would offer fully furnished homes to homeowners

Fully furnished units at Skies Sta. Mesa AMAIA Land recently joined with CLC Marketing Ventures (CLCMV) to offer fully furnished units at Skies Sta. Mesa, making the moving-in process more convenient and hassle-free for homeowners who do not have a lot of time in their hands.

“These contemporary units are ideal for investors who plan to lease out homes—a very strategic income source,” Joel C. Punzalan, Project Development head for Luzon Projects said.

He also emphasized that the undertaking with CLCMV addresses the needs of clients who put a premium on time and mobility, like young professionals and newly married couples who want a fresh start.

Amaia Land asserts that its fully furnished homes are noted for both quality and affordability and that customers’ satisfaction remains the company’s main consideration. Model units may now be viewed at Amaia Skies Sta. Mesa.

Adhering to functional and contemporary design aesthetic, the fully furnished units come in either space saver or student pod options. Space saver units best suit start-up families and newly-weds, while student pod is ideal for college students who would want to live close to their schools to avoid having to hurdle the metro’s traffic. These ready-for-occupancy units feature amenities such as bed, toilet and bath and kitchen.

The convenience offered by the fully furnished units is complemented by

Modern and functional, fully furnished units come in space saver or student pod choices.

the building’s top-of-the-line features and amenities, such as retail outlets on the ground floor, multi-purpose halls, swimming pool, children’s play area, landscape gardens, CCTV, 24-hour security, and many more.

The contract signing between Amaia Land and CLC Marketing Ventures held on May 17 was attended by Amaia and CLC executives, namely Amaia North GEO Head Joel Punzalan, Amaia North PD Manager Raizel Matibag, CLC’s Vice President for Sales and Marketing Charles Lincoln Ching, Chief Operating Officer

to find my ‘blue flame’, that intersection where passion and ability From D1 come together,” she adds.

Over the last three and half years, for women’s rights as well as lead- WOAM has raised over $600000.00 ing challenging missions to some of to support organizations that advance the position of women around the world’s remotest locations.

“I feel extremely fortunate to the world. have found a way to bring together my passion for trekking, sports Finding the right balance One of the challenges successful and adventure with my desire to support the less fortunate and em- women like Amour-Levar face evepower women via WOAM,” says ry day is that of pursuing personal Amour-Levar, who is also the and professional commitments with author behind the motivational equal dedication. Amour-Levar beguide, The Smart Girl’s Handbook lieves it is never about having it all to Being MUMMYLICIOUS pub- but rather about having more options and feeling comfortable with lished in May 2012.

“WOAM has enriched my life in the choices one makes at the differcountless ways. This experience has ent stages of one’s life.

“We all have the right to develop ignited talents I didn’t even know I had. I believe that everyone has a our potential, at our own pace, and distinct mission inside him or her, when it suits us. What’s important is one that has the capacity to inspire. supporting each other. I feel passionSetting up WOAM has allowed me ately that women need to empower

Empowering...

Charles Lester Ching, and Business Development Head Fernando Pahati.

CLC manufactures and markets a wide variety of furniture products from home decors and interior architecture to hotel and other establishments’ indoor and outdoor furnishings. It has gained prominence here and abroad, having provided upscale Asian markets, most especially Japan, with high-quality and affordable products.

For inquiries about Amaia properties, visit www.amaialand.com or www. facebook.com/AmaiaLand.

each other more, so that we have the courage to define success on our own terms. I believe each person’s uniqueness is her power, and I remind my children about this often,” shares Amour-Levar profoundly.

Clearly an epitome of the global Filipina leader, Amour-Levar says that having strong values, dedication, grit and heart are the qualities that will make a Filipina woman stand out and become a successful leader.

“I’ve learned that it is vital to try to lead a life that matters, a life that empowers and uplifts others with kindness and true generosity of spirit. This is what will give us the greatest satisfaction in life. To me, to love what you do and feel that somehow it matters, that you are making a difference, that’s where it all begins.

We are indeed all so privileged, and because of this we should be driven by a great sense of responsibility and a desire to give back.”

THE Dyson Pure Cool™ Link purifier noise, which can trap ultrafine and fan automatically removes 99.95 per- potentially harmful particles inside cent of indoor allergens and pollutants the home. Air purifiers can help comas small as 0.1 microns from the air. bat indoor air pollution. But existing Globally, air quality in cities is purifiers can use inefficient filters aldeteriorating. But the air pollution lowing potentially harmful, ultrafine inside your home can be up to five particles to escape back into the room. times worse than outside, and we spend approximately 90 perSolution cent of our time indoors.

The new Dyson Pure Major indoor air polCool™ Link purifier fan Dyson Pure lutants include gases uses a unique 360° Glass Cool Link’s from cooking and HEPA filter. This techadvanced technology central heating, nology captures 99.95 helps purify mould, pet hair, polpercent of ultrafine the air len and allergens. allergens, odors and indoors up Invisible to the naked pollutants as small as to 99.95 eye, it is these ultrafine 0.1µ from the air – keeppercent and potentially harmful ing them in the filter. It particles that can travel doesn’t stop there; sensors easily through the air that inside the machine detect surrounds us in the home. changes in conditions, beDyson engineers have fore automatically adjustcombined their expertise in ing airflow to maintain the fluid dynamics and filtratarget air quality. The mation systems with software chine projects cleaner puto develop the new Dyson rified air around the room Pure Cool™ Link. This is evenly and quietly. a purifier that gives you an A team of 50 Dyson indication of the air quality software and mechaniin your home automatically cal engineers were tasked purifying the pollutants it detects, to make the problem of indoor whilst reporting the live indoor and air pollution visible. The new Dyson outdoor air quality to the Dyson Link Link App, developed for iOS and AnApp – making the invisible visible, at droid, will allow users to: the tap of a finger.

• Remotely monitor the inside air James Dyson says, “We think it quality via the app – even if they are is polluted outside of our homes, but out of the house. This way, users can the air inside can be far worse. Dy- stay on top of the air quality inside son engineers focused on developing their homes, can see the purifier and a purifier that automatically removes set a new target before ‘very poor’ ultrafine allergens, odors and pollut- levels are reached. ants from the indoor air, feeding real • Keep track of the air quality histime air quality data back to you.” tory, allowing them to oversee peak pollution times, for example during Problem pollen seasons or when cleaning or Modern buildings are often built cooking. If auto-mode is selected, the sealed in order to help maintain a machine can then automatically react constant air temperature and block to the monitored air quality.

Manila’s...

From D1

15GB data allocation and a hefty monthly consumable allocation. New Plan 5000 and Plan 8000 members will also receive a complimentary Level Box Pro speaker.

In addition, subscribers can enjoy the limited edition Samsung S7 Edge Silver, Samsung Gear VR, and the new Samsung Gear 360. All three devices may be enjoyed with a Plan 8000, while Plan 5000 members receive the Samsung S7 Edge Silver with a Samsung Gear 360.

On top of these devices, Smart Infinity curates the plan according to the needs of members, whether you’re a traveler that needs to stay in touch, a family that stays connected to each other through a reliable network, or even enthusiasts who seek more out of life and their mobile needs.

Smart Infinity enables everyone to lead the change through priority services and exclusive privileges such as a dedicated infinity officer, a worldwide concierge, and access to special events.

sparking change in other people’s lives as well.

We want to inspire others to follow suit by providing them excellent technology and services —tools they need to start leading the change,” says Julie Carceller, Head of Smart Infinity and Smart’s Multi-Segment Marketing.

Held at the Provenance Art Gallery at the Fort, the launch provided a well-curated experience for guests as they were treated to an evening of exquisite art, food, and music.

Apart from the introduction of Smart Infinity’s new ambassadors, guests were given a glimpse of the premium lifestyle that is in store for Smart Infinity members. With the anticipated release of the new Samsung Galaxy Note 7, Smart Infinity is offering two Galaxy Note 7 devices with the Roaming Plan 8000 (24 months) or a Galaxy Note 7 and a Galaxy S7 for the Roaming Plan 5000 (30 months).

Members may experience their new devices Visit www.smart.com.ph/infinity or get updates with discounted outbound roaming rates, from the brand on Instagram @smartinfinity.

Showbiz

D3

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

N

ATASHA Angela Manuel won the first Jewel of the World Philippines title at the glittering finals of the Jewel of the Philippines 2016 pageant held at Tanghalang Pasigueño in Pasig City.

The 21-year-old accountancy major at University of San Carlos won the Miss Cebu title in 2014. She works as a freelance model with Moonwalk Cebu and Limerick Production and Model Management and as accountant at Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation. Manuel earned the right to compete at the Jewel of the World pageant to be held in Manila early next year.

Jewel of the Philippines 2016 also crowned Inna Patricia Gita as Miss Globe International Philippines, Romellean Joy Pontino as Miss United Continents Philippines, Cindy de Vera as Miss Charity Queen International Philippines and Gladys Louise Santos as Miss World Peace Philippines.

Gita, a 20-year-old, model and student majoring in Mass Communication-Broadcasting at Bulacan State University (BSU), also won best in swimsuit. She won Binibining Unibersidad (BSU) 2012 and was a grand finalist in It’s Showtime “Gandang Babae” contest in 2014. Gita will vie at the Miss Globe International in Istanbul, Turkey in 2017.

SMART Communications Inc. announced that the free and unlimited access to Pokémon Go for all Smart and TNT subscribers is extended until Sep. 15. This is for Android and iOS users.

“You asked, we listened...No catch, no fine print,” said PLDT-Smart Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan.

Smart initially offered unlimited data for Pokémon GO, a GPS-based augmented reality mobile game, for seven days starting Aug. 8.

Thousands of shoppers braved the Friday traffic and turned out at 50 SM Supermalls and SMDC properties across the country as the country’s leading developer teamed up with Smart Communications Inc., the Philippines leading telco, for a Pokémon Lure Party with free data and other surprises.

At SM Mall of Asia, where the iconic ball was transformed into a giant Pokeball, Smart gave out free data to the first 100 postpaid and prepaid subscribers who signed up for the Pokémon GO party. Postpaid subscribers got P50 off their next bill while prepaid customers were enrolled in Smart’s new blockbuster promo GIGASURF50 can enjoy 1GB of Internet for three days for only P50.

Players explored the five Pokestops at SM MOA seeking Dragonite and other prized Pokémon to add to their collections. Pokémon is short for “Pocket Monsters.”

Developed by Niantic Labs in partnership with Nintendo affiliate The Pokemon Company, Pokemon GO has swept gamers since it was first launched in the United States, Australia and New Zealand since July 6. The game is now available in over 30 countries, including Japan, where the original Pokemon game and anime series originated.

The franchise started in a gaming magazine called Game Freak in the early 1980s in Japan. Pokémon was

Pontino, 19, graduated at Sierra College, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. The Information Technology major was named best in long gown. Pontino will be sent to Ecuador to compete at the Miss United Continents pageant in 2017.

De Vera, a 23-year-old freelance model, finished Architecture and works with SC&A Architects and Planners.

She will represent the country at the 2016 Miss Charity Queen International in Taipei.

Santos, a 20-year-old BS Hospitality Management holder from Polytechnic University of the Philippine, is an intern at Diamond Hotel Manila. She will be the country’s bet at the Miss World Peace pageant to be held in China in 2017.

Jewel of the Philippines 2016 was organized by stage and pageant director John de la Vega, with the vision to celebrate the power and beauty of modern-day Filipina. Beauty Queens Karla Henry, Nina Ricci Alagao and Kris Tiffany Janson hosted the finals, which will be aired on GMA New TV at 9 tonight. – Words and photos

by Eton B. Concepcion

Cebuana

is Jewel of the World Philippines 2016 Jewel of the Philippines Natasha Angela Manuel (center) and her court during the grand coronation of the pageant that celebrates the power and beauty of modern Filipina

Smart extends unlimited free access to Pokemon GO until Sept. 15

The iconic globe at the SM Mall of Asia is lit up in colors resembling a Poke Ball in line with the Lure Party that happened in 50 SM Malls and SMDC properties

created by writer Satoshi Tajiri and illustrator Ken Sugimori.

The Pokémon franchise debuted in 1996 on the Game Boy in Japan.

Pocket Monsters: Red and Green was a very basic Japanese role-playing game. You play as a Pokémon trainer traveling the world and collecting the little monsters (inspired by Tajiri’s

childhood love for insect collection) and training them in battles with other Pokémon.

Cathy Bernardo, 28, played Pokémon when she was a child.

Now, she’s an avid Pokémon GO player.

“I’m just happy Smart has free unlimited data for playing because

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Sunday, August 28, 2016

ACROSS 1 Frat letter 6 Nearly all 10 Light drizzles 15 Overstuffs 20 Less cooked 21 Yard tool 22 Saloon sign (2 wds.)

23 Column type 24 “— — You Knockin’” 25 Skirt type (hyph.)

26 Port near Kyoto 27 Reed or Summer 28 Renowned recluse 29 Actress — Hunt 30 Sleight of hand 32 Cafe feature, maybe 34 Confound it!

36 Galena 37 “Dukes of Hazzard” Boss 40 Passport datum 41 Codgers’ queries 42 Erving’s nickname (2 wds.)

44 Learning method 48 MPG monitor 49 Hosp. employee 50 Impolite sound 53 Relish 55 Spanish article 56 Trinket stealer 58 Half of CCVI 59 Sultans’ cousins 61 Hunches 63 Tearful requests 64 Accra’s country 65 Narrow street 66 Float locale 67 Wildest-tasting 69 Humerus neighbor 70 Pharaoh’s god 71 “Off the Court” author 74 Bruins’ great 75 Loss of memory 78 Cheap and gaudy 81 Greek P 82 Crewmate of Uhura 83 Olduvai loc.

84 Back muscles 86 At all times, to Poe 87 Caged talkers 89 Horse chestnut 93 Previously 94 Barking noises 95 Mine and thine 96 Firmly fixed 97 Beadier?

100 “Ode to — Joe” 102 In — (as found) 103 Correspond 104 Bald comics character 108 Chopin opus 109 Plantation drink 110 Cartwright brother 111 Movie rentals 112 Hair goop 113 Kevin in “Dave”

115 116 117 118 120 121 123 124 125 127 129 131 136 138 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153

Ceremonial fire Seek to persuade AAA suggestion Gloating Turtle-to-be Aug. hours T’ai — ch’uan Omnia vincit — Dundee refusal “Heavy” music In twos Mir experience (2 wds.)

Happening Celtic priest Bakery lure Friend of Che Condor’s abode Ravine Sitcom demo Humble Ribs of a leaf “The — Sanction” Public tiff Hits the hammock — Stanley Gardner Grim

DOWN 1 Nice and neat 2 Very funny! (hyph.)

3 Aquarius’ tote 4 Pekoe packet (2 wds.)

5 Turn signal 6 Illinois city 7 Unpaid 8 Email option 9 Stair part 10 Dough 11 Itty-bitty maps 12 Unattached males 13 “— on Me” (a-ha song) 14 Pole on a ship 15 It may be hard 16 Paying guest 17 Magnani or Moffo 18 Kind of series 19 Look over quickly 21 Slander 31 Karate studio 33 Where hackles rise 35 Sales agent 37 Fiber plant 38 Translucent gem 39 Knight’s glove 42 Risk it 43 KOA visitors 45 Flowering shrub 46 Garden hopper 47 Latin I verb 49 Simpson kid 50 Preconceived notion 51 Rockies range 52 Narrow inlet 53 Red Sea peninsula

54 57 58 59 60 62 64 66 68 69 71 72 73 76 77 79 80 82 85 88 90 91 92 94 98 99 100 101 102

Gauchos’ gear Book part Amoretto Fictional Queen Occupies, as a post Sketched Minx Greeted Rover Frothy dessert Famished Shirt part Reserved Hawaii’s capital Lipstick and such Kayak users NBA official Cen. fractions React to a mouse Former Sec. of Ed. — Duncan “— Lang Syne” Handy Quote from Fielder’s blunder Dry as dust Seine feeder Opera’s — Pinza Seeks alms News article Warbled

103 105 106 107 109 111 114 115 116 119 121 122 123 124 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 137 139 140 141

Scientist’s question Virus — — bat for Belgian river Lively dance To see, in Lyon Smirk’s kin “Harper Valley —” Yolks’ companions Sundial part Loathe Vogues Feline nemesis Deft Rock tumbler stone “Golden touch” king Permission Source of danger Brinks Shocks Ambler or Clapton Cameo, maybe Like the horizon Intuition Swerve Persuade Disney CEO Bob — Bruce or Laura

that’s what I usually do during lunch break,” said Bernardo, who has a Smart prepaid account.

“I love how Smart’s signal is strong everywhere so I can play whenever and wherever I want to,” she added.

Tricia went to SM MOA with her mother Jane for the Pokémon Lure Party with the intention of using her mom’s Smart postpaid line as a hotspot.

“I’m very thankful for Smart because I got GIGASURF50 for free for the Pokémon Lure Party. Now, my mother wants me to teach her how to play,” said Tricia.

Augmented reality is a technology that combines the real world with digital information. For example, you can overlay 3D pictures or videos of Pokémons on the images of people on a real-time basis.

“Smart subscribers nationwide can look forward to more special treats and promos that will allow them to make the most of their Pokemon GO experience,” said Kathy C. Carag, Smart Mobile Business Head.

Smart and TNT subscribers can easily level up their gameplay via convenient and secure Pokémon GO in-app purchases even without a credit card.

With Smart’s Google Direct Carrier Billing for Android users, subscribers can easily purchase Pokecoins, Pokémon GO’s currency mainly used for buying items that will help gamers catch Pokémondirectly charged to their prepaid load or postpaid account.

Smart Postpaid subscribers who are iPhone users can buy Pokecoins and charge it to their monthly billing, through Smart’s Pay-With-Mobile service.

For more information on Smart and their Pokémon Go promos, follow https://www.facebook.com/ SmartCommunications .

Medical series in a world of crime and mystery PHENOMENAL TV series Body of Proof proves to be a masterful piece of work, which mesmerizes viewers with the shadowy appeal of each episode.

Dr. Megan Hunt was the head neurosurgeon at a Philadelphia hospital. She eventually lost her job due to an unfortunate accident which caused her to have paresthesia, a condition brought about by severe nerve damage and which brings about tingling and numbness to her hands. Without prior awareness of the condition, she performed an operation in which the patient died.

After a few years, Dr. Hunt was able to acquire a job as a medical examiner. Considering her extensive experience as a medical practitioner, she is able to dig deeper into some of the most mind-boggling crimes performed on a dead person’s body. Mimicking a seemingly modern day Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Hunt utilizes extraordinary ways of solving the puzzles.

While on the job, she is supported by her boss, Dr. Kate Murphy, and her fellow medical examiner, Peter Dunlop, who is a former policeman. Dr. Hunt may be the best in her field, but how does she juggle her personal and work life with the pressures from the police department?

Body of Proof is created by Christopher Murphey. It stars Dana Delaney as Dr. Megan Hunt, Jeri Ryan as Dr. Kate Murphy, and Nicholas Bishop as Peter Dunlop.

Body of Proof airs at 8:50 p.m. on Sony Channel every Thursday.

Sony Channel is available on SKYCable Channel 35, Cignal Digital TV Channel 60, Destiny Cable Channel 62, Cable Link Channel 39.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com

D4

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

Showbiz

MISS UNIVERSE.

The two-decker yacht named after the beauty pageant is made in Italy and will be delivered to Manila from Spain, (inset) one of the luxury buses that will shuttle Miss Universe contestants for their tours and official engagements

From politics,

A

S A sign of positive things to come, Luis “Chavit” Singson will be more visible on the showbiz scene in the succeeding days.

“That’s right!” he says. “I will venture into movie production in an attempt to help the industry.

I know that many film workers need a job at this point.”

Unknown to some, the former Ilocos Sur governor is not really new to producing movies.

“My mother used to produce films in the ‘60s via Northern Star Productions. I know the ins and outs of the business. Now, I’m just reviving our film outfit for a good cause. I want to come up with commercially viable projects as well as promising indie offerings for movie aficionados” Apart from producing films, Chavit is also excited with his upcoming TV show titled Happy Life.

“Actually, this is one of my ways to give back to the people. In this show, deserving beneficiaries will be given the chance to travel while surprise gifts await them when they reach their journey’s end … like a house and lot. Yes, we will search for a donor or if we cannot find one, I will provide the prize myself.

“Through this program, we also want to give a fresh start to hardworking individuals and organizations. My team is actually making the rounds in various parts of the country to shoot lovely tourist spots. We want to finish 12 episodes and as of now, we already shot seven.

The show has a good concept and I’m just making negotiations as to which network we would air it.”

Speaking of huge projects, the still very agile political kingpin will be one of the major sponsors of the 2017 Miss Universe beauty pageant to be held in the Philippines.

“It’s almost 80 percent sure that we will host next year’s edition of the prestigious beauty tilt which date will be on Jan. 30.

What’s lacking is formalities.

Actually, even before our recent elections, I was already in talks with the Miss Universe Organization. They requested me to take a huge and active part in the implementation of the grand project. I committed right away since I know this will be very good for our tourism. It’s also one way to show my support to the Duterte administration,” he reveals.

A whopping $12 M is the amount needed in order to mount the production of the biggest beauty pageant in the world.

“Well, it really entails a very huge amount to cover such popular event. For this gargantuan venture, I’m partnering with the Department of Tourism headed by Ms. Wanda Teo plus the private sector, which I’m personally coordinating. We are all working hard to come up with the said amount. This will be a big help to our government because it

Chavit Singsong

goes showbiz We’re not expecting that we will earn out of this (Miss Universe). Of course, we’ll have sponsors but looking at the amount, it’s difficult to grow your capital. But we don’t mind since all of our local businesses will have exposure in the proceedings’ – Governor Luis “ Chavit” Singson, Ilocos Sur politician

Former governor Chavit Singson (right) with son Ronald

will not shell out money for this event.

“So, we’re asking support from various NGO’s (non-government organizations), my companies and other private groups which have the resources. Mr. Tonyboy Cojuangco is with me in this endeavor. Also extending their support are Mr. Henry Sy of SM who agreed for the Mall of Asia (MOA) to be used in one of the huge activities of the pageant.

And so does the big hotels and the leading casinos like Kazuo Okada’s team, Resorts World, Solaire and City of Dreams

which all pledged to help in the accommodations of the candidates and their respective entourage, the media and other important guests. They’ll be staying in the country for almost a month.”

Converted to Philippine Peso, the total budget will reach five hundred million pesos.

“And it’s a very huge amount, right? We’re not expecting that we will earn out of this. Of course, we’ll have sponsors but looking at the amount, it’s difficult to grow your capital. But we

don’t mind since all of our local businesses will have exposure in the proceedings,” states Chavit.

It is reported that for the Miss Universe beauty pageant, his team will also prepare various modes of transportation to be used by the candidates.

“We have a 148-seater plane, luxury buses and a mega yacht.

The two-decker yacht is made in Italy and will be delivered here from Spain. It’s designed by the world-renowned yacht designer Alpha Marine. As for its name, we’re still choosing between Miss Universe and Happy Life, the title of my upcoming travel show.”

Expectedly, Vigan will be featured in the pageant as one of the pageant’s main destinations.

“Oh yes! Especially that it’s officially declared as one of the New Seven Wonder Cities of the World. But we agreed that we split destinations, like one preliminary event can be held in Vigan while another one is being staged simultaneously in Davao.

I don’t think one province can accommodate everybody.”

Chavit also takes pride in Baluarte, an interactive wildlife sanctuary he designed and developed whose main aim is to facilitate education apart from conserving and protecting endangered species.

“Actually, what inspired me to put up this zoo is my hunting hobby,” he avers. “For years, I’ve been traveling the world for this purpose and was able to reach countries as far as South Africa, Zimbabwe, Australia, Sweden and New Zealand. From each destination, I brought home beautiful souvenirs like elephant, buffalo, rhino, lions, etc. I had all these animals shipped to Baluarte so that Filipinos who can’t afford to visit said countries will see them in the flesh for free.”

Baluarte is getting more exciting over the years since it was first built.

“When I finished my term as Ilocos Sur Governor, I had more time to travel and hunt so, more animals were added in here. They surely

provide more excitement and fanfare to the place and that’s my goal for Baluarte to become the ultimate fauna spot in the country.”

Interestingly, he may no longer hold the key post in Ilocos Sur but Chavit continues to be a pillar of support and inspiration to the new generation of leaders, particularly his children.

“I already relinquished my throne to them, so to speak. For one, they’re more aggressive, dynamic and idealistic at this point. Who knows, they have better ideas, right? You can never tell. All I do is support and guide them considering my vast experience in the field. Actually, I’m training my children to continue my legacy and I’m happy that they’re on the right track.”

Despite his announcement the previous year that he’s no longer interested to run for public office, many got surprised when he ran for a seat in the council of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. “For those who don’t know yet, my maiden political experience was running as councilor for Vigan which I topped then. This time though, I just wanted to help this small town shine and realize its huge potential. I went to Narvacan on purpose since it’s the only town that boasts of a big budget but hasn’t shown any progress. Imagine, among Ilocos Sur’s 32 municipalities, Narvacan is the only one which doesn’t have new municipal buildings and market and yet, it’s the biggest beneficiary of Republic Act 7171 which I authored,” ends Chavit.