Manila Standard - 2016 September 24 - Saturday

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VOL. XXX • NO. 224 • 4 SECTIONS 22 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

SENATOR LEILA DE LIMA

PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE

Digong tags Leila as top ‘narco-pol’ Vows to dig deeper if ‘there are people higher than her’

By John Paolo Bencito Word war’s ugly turn: Name-calling SENATOR Leila de Lima on Friday called President Rodrigo Duterte a misogynist and a chauvinist, but the Chief Executive shrugged off her comments, saying she was ugly anyway.

De Lima on Friday reacted to Duterte, who said “she not only screwed her driver, she was screwing her nation”--referring to alle-

gations that she used her former driver and lover to collect drug money from the national penitentiary.

In a text message to reporters, De Lima said: “Duterte’s latest verbal abuse against me is simply characteristic of his being a misogynist and chauvinist.”

“That’s all it is and there is no

need to dignify it with any further reply,” she said, saying it was regrettable that the President has sunk so low. “God help our country,” she added.

Duterte, however, showed no signs of letting up on the abuse, saying he chose to ignore De Lima because she was ugly (“pangit”).

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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said Senator Leila de Lima was so far the highest elected government official to use drug money to win office, but asked government lawyers to see if there were any officials higher than her who condoned the illegal drug trade.

“I thought before that narco-politics wasn’t evident in this country, but as the revelations would show, De Lima was elected using drug money,” Duterte said in a chance interview in Davao City.

Others who benefitted from

drug money could number in the thousands, he said, and include congressmen, judges and barangay captains.

Duterte, who asked De Lima to hang herself for “screwing the nation,” said that Justice officials are now starting to probe the accountability of other high officials under the Aquino administration who might have also benefitted from the illegal drug trade.

“At that time when I said you better ‘hang yourself,’ I knew already about everything. I had already read the testimonies and talked with the people involved,” Duterte said. Next page

‘Feel like a dead woman walking’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta RECEIVING numerous threats to her safety, Senator Leila de Lima admitted Friday she feels like “a dead woman walking.”

“I do not know what will be the end of this, what will happen next. My feeling is I live by the day. I do not know what will happen tomorrow. I still do not know whether I will be here tomorrow,” said De Lima in an interview over radio dzBB. The beleaguered senator, whom President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to destroy, likened herself to Edgar Matobato, the selfconfessed hitman who linked Duterte to the Davao Death Squad, a vigilante group that was Next page

Focus on Du30-nomics, not on his mouth ‘‘

By Othel V. Campos THE European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines on Friday played down President Rodrigo Duterte’s expletive-laden attack on the European Parliament after it condemned his brutal crackdown on crime.

“It makes more sense to focus on the 10-point socioeconomic

DURESS DENIED. Marine Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino, facing drug-related charges, denies at a news briefing Thursday night Senator Leila de Lima’s claim he is being coerced to testify against her. With him is his counsel Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta. Manny Palmero

‘Hitman’ fails to link Rody to DDS—NBI THE affidavit of witness and confessed hitman Edgar Matobato did not give any details on the alleged direct involvement of then Davao City Mayor and now President Rodrigo Duterte in the Davao Death Squad, and Duterte had not spoken to the confessed killer, an official said Friday. “[Duterte was not directly

identified by Matobato],” NBI spokesman Ferdinand Lavin said when asked if Matobato identified Duterte.

‘Not directly.’

He made the statement after the hearing of the Senate committee on justice on Thursday night.

The NBI was earlier ordered by then Justice secretary and

Invitation to UN, EU hits a snag

Sprawling shabu lab raided

FOREIGN Affairs is still awaiting Malacañang’s letter inviting experts from the United Nations and the European Union to probe the alleged summary killings in the country that is said to have resulted in the death of more than 2,000 people since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed the Next page Presidency.

CAMP OLIVAS―A Chinese national was arrested while four other Chinese escaped on Friday after police raided one of the biggest shabu laboratories in the country in Laquios village in Arayat, Pampanga, an official said.

Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino said the suspect was now under custody while his four countrymen were being hunted down.

He made his statement even as Senator Panfilo Lacson said President Rodrigo Duterte should stop dreaming he could totally eliminate twitter.com/ MlaStandard

now Senator Leila de Lima to assess Matobato’s affidavit in 2014 when Matobato executed it.

Senator Richard Gordon on Friday said they voted to oust Senator Leila de Lima as head of the Senate’s justice and human rights committee, which is investigating

agenda of the new administration and get things done. We have been discussing this with Secretary [Carlos] Dominguez,” said ECCP senior advocacy adviser Henry Schumacher.

He added it would be best if the world took the matter in a stride and moved on.

The President on Monday vented his ire on the European Parlia-

ment for criticizing the Philippine government’s approach to ending criminality, and urging Manila to put an end to the extrajudicial killings in its war on illegal drugs.

But Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the government will continue with ongoing negotiations to reach a free trade agreement with the European Union, regardless of Mr. Duterte’s rhetoric. Next page

NDF: Lasting truce ‘untenable’ if . . .

By John Paolo Bencito THE communist National Democratic Front said Friday forging a permanent ceasefire with the government by October may be “untenable” because of violations of the prevailing truce but President Rodrigo Duterte or-

dered the military to control all militia groups while the peace talks are ongoing.

“The continued violations [make the permanent ceasefire] untenable,” and it is important for the government to address this already,” said NDF consultant Adelberto Silva, a ranking

official of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

“In the next round of talks, we will try to move forward the bilateral ceasefire agreement. The NDF had already raised the matter with the [government of the Republic of the Philippines],” Silva said in a media forum on Friday.

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the drug problem, calling it “wishful thinking.”

Duterte had only recently asked for a six-month extension to his anti-drug campaign to eliminate all drug pushers. He said he had no idea that hundreds of thousands of people were in the business of making and selling illegal drugs.

“That [the problem of illegal drugs] cannot be eliminated,” said Lacson who was CRIMELESS CATS. A suspected drug pusher lies out cold on the pavement Friday next to a crashed motorchief of police during the Es- cycle and tenderfoot kittens following what witnesses described as an encounter with police in Pasig City—as trada administration. Next page the government’s anti-drugs campaign goes full throttle. AFP

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016

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Sino poachers kill coral reefs

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

C

HINESE poachers are using the propellers of their boats to destroy coral reefs at the disputed islands Spratlys and Pag-asa, marine biologist John McManus said, but no comment has been made by the foreign affairs department.

McManus said satellite images prove that since last year, the Chi-

nese poachers have been killing the corals in the part of the West Phil-

ippine Sea where the Chinese built artificial islands.

“Giant clam fishers used their boats to dig up the reef flat, killing all the corals in the islands,” McManus told GMA-7’s “News To Go.” The biologist said coral bleaching and reef scarring was caused by systematic crushing through repeated scratching or scraping by Chinese poachers to harvest giant clams.

He also added, aside from discovering China’s poaching method, the data also showed that China’s construction of artificial islands also destroys the corals.

“They said their scientists went there. They looked around and they say ‘Oh, this is all dead coral.’ It was! It’s the truth—it had been killed by the Chinese fishers,” said McManus, a professor of marine biology and fisheries at the University of Miami and the

director of the National Center for Coral Reef Research at the Rosenstiel School in the same university.

His research has been cited in the case filed by the Philippines against China’s excessive nine-dash line claim.

The case was filed by President Rodrigo Duterte’s predecessor Benigno Aquino III. McManus is pushing for a large Spratly Island International Peace

New typhoon threatens Batanes

By Rio N. Araja and Anna Leah E. Gonzales STILL reeling from the effects of typhoons “Ferdie” and “Gener,” Batanes must brace for another tropical storm that enters the Philippine area of responsibility Saturday.

Danilo Bonabon, National Food Authority director for the National Capital Region, said some 6,000 bags of rice are loaded on a vessel bound for Batanes to augment its current rice stocks and the NFA office in the province is preparing to distribute them.

Forecaster Salvador Javier, said the weather bureau is monitoring another storm (internationally named “Megi’’) forecast to hit extreme Northern Luzon, particularly the province of Batanes, and spawn light to moderate rain or moderate to heavy rain “depending on the height of its upward direction.”

“The storm is moving on the same track as that of ‘Gener.’ It is moving very fast,” he told the Manila Standard.

The eye of Megi was located at 1,975 kilometers east of Central Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour

near the center and gustiness of up to 85 kph.

Megi was seen moving west northwest at 25 kph.

Once it enters the PAR, “Megi’’ would be named “Helen” and may develop into a tropical typhoon.

“Helen will enhance the southwest monsoon to trigger rains and affect the whole of Luzon, including Metro Manila, and the eastern part of the Visayas,” Javier said.

On the other hand, Mindanao will have fair weather, he added.

Javier clarified that isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms in several parts of the National Capital region had nothing to do with the weather disturbance outside the PAR. Currently, NFA Batanes Unit Office has 5,768 bags of rice that will last for 55 days.

The office is closely coordinating with local government units in the area on continuous rice releases.

It encouraged accredited retailers from Itbayat and Sabang Islands to increase their purchases of NFA rice to ensure availability of quality, low-priced rice especially during typhoons.

NFA rice is sold at P27 per kilogram for regular-milled and P32 per kilogram for well-milled.

Word...

From A1

Speaking at the inauguration of a power plant in Misamis Oriental, Duterte assailed De Lima’s “propensity for sex.”

He also said her attacks on his human rights record was “just politics” and said former House Speaker Prospero Nograles, a political rival, was helping her by sending photos of anyone who had died in Mindanao— even if they had just been run over in a road accident.

“They’re friends,” he said in Filipino of De Lima and Nograles.

“They’re both ugly.” Macon Ramos-Araneta and John Paolo Bencito

NDF:...

From A1

If the supposed violations are not ironed out in the next round of talks, Silva said the prevailing ceasefire may not be renewed after it expires on Oct. 28.

Silva, along with NDF consultants Alan Jazmines, Rafael Baylosis, Randall Echanis, Loida Magpatoc, Ruben Saluta, Renato Baleros, Kennedy Bangibang and Jaime Soledad are preparing for the next round of talks in Oslo from October 6 to 10.

But Duterte already ordered the military to control anti-communist paramilitary groups, that were organized to help the military secure hot spots across the country, while the talks are ongoing.

Speaking to reporters during his visit in Camp Vicente Alagar in Cagayan de Oro City on Thursday, Duterte said the presence of the civilian armed groups could undermine the peace talks.

“Paramilitary men operating with firearms issued by the government would undermine the peace process. I hope this ends because we are really trying our best to come up with a peaceful country,” he said.

Duterte particularly mentioned the Magahat-Bagani Force operating in Surigao del Sur and another

Sprawling...

From A1 “As I said, there is no need to ask for an extension. Crime and corruption and drugs will outlive all of us,” he told dzMM radio.

Aquino said the shabu laboratory masquerading as a piggery was raided after a month-long surveillance.

He said the laboratory covered several hectares of land between

group in Arakan, North Cotabato.

In his speech before policemen, he said he was to meet with NDF chief peace negotiator Luis Jalandoni in Davao City on Thursday night but did not reveal details.

“Jalandoni is waiting for me in Davao. He’s there right now and I’ve invited them for dinner,” he said, adding that he is pushing for an “inclusive government” and not a coalition government with the communists.

Duterte added he could come up with a peace deal with the NDF so long as they do not insist on having posts in the country’s police and military organizations.

The Duterte administration is also talking with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Moro National Liberation Front and the Communist Party of the Philippines, headed by Jose Maria Sison, in a bid to achieve lasting peace in the country, particularly in Mindanao.

Both the government and NDF negotiating panels signed an agreement in Oslo last August to enforce a ceasefire for 60 days ending Oct. 28 while talks are ongoing in Oslo.

While the NDF welcomed Duterte’s pronouncements to address threats from paramilitary groups, they stressed that this in not enough to resolve the threats looming the continuation of the ceasefire agreement.

‘Feel...

From A1

DEADLY MISHAP. Two people, including a toddler, were killed when this 14-wheeler truck rammed a fruit stand and some electric posts along the Molino-Paliparan Road in Dasmariñas City, Cavite on Friday.

Danny Pata

Digong...

From A1

He added that he would leave it up to Justice Department officials to conduct further investigations.

“I don’t want it to appear that I’m chasing my enemies,” he said.

Duterte recently supported a move to postpone the barangay elections for fear that drug money would seep into the process.

Earlier, the President accused De Lima of taking money from drug lords inside the New Bilibid Prison when she was still Justice secretary to bankroll her run for the Senate.

He said she used her long time driver and bodyguard, Ronnie Dayan, as a bag man.

Recently, the President said he had a list of some 1,000 politicians and public officials involved in the drug trade, including policemen, judges, barangay captains, mayors and governors.

Duterte also dismissed De Lima’s accusation that the government was fabricating evidence against her, saying the testimony of so many witnesses could not be orchestrated.

Duterte again defended his campaign against illegal drugs, which has drawn widespread international condemnation for the rising death toll of drug suspects, now numbering more than 3,000.

Focus...

From A1

“When we talked to our counterparts, we do not touch on those issues, even with the US. We are moving forward towards strengthening commercial ties,” he said.

The government is stepping up consultation with Philippine stakeholders in preparation for the next round of talks with EU representatives in November.

The consultation aims to solicit reactions and suggestions on ongoing free trade negotiations with the EU, as well as to brief them on the Philippine-European Free Trade Association and the EU Generalized System of Preferences Plus Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto said Friday hard-nosed in-

Invitation... the villages of San Juan Bano and Laquios in Arayat.

He said the lab was surrounded by a piggery and poultry farm with a capacity to produce large quantities of shabu as shown by the seven distilleries seized there.

But the lab was still to start operations because the shabu producers were still awaiting the arrival of raw materials and chemicals from abroad, Aquino said. Romeo Dizon and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Park to be managed together by concerned countries.

“There has to be coordination of fisheries management and coral reef management across the whole South China Sea or it will collapse,” he said.

Duterte said on Thursday that China’s claim over the West Philippine Sea was made “in good faith,” despite the Arbitral Tribunal ruling that Beijing’s claim to the sea was illegal and excessive.

From A1

Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said there was no formal memo yet from Malacañang for UN and the European Union to probe the summary killings of alleged drug pushers and users.

“There is no memo yet, but I understand that President Rodrigo Duterte has already appointed [Executive Secretary Salvador] Medialdea to come up with an official letter [inviting the UN and

Some of these killings, he said, were carried out by rival drug gangs.

On Thursday, Duterte challenged the United Nations and the European Union to send their observers to the Philippines to investigate his administration’s war on drugs.

The invitation however, would be made on the condition they also agree to be grilled by him personally.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, meanwhile, said the National Bureau of Investigation would investigate the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison after the Justice Department received bank documents from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) related to possible drug transactions.

Aguirre said the NBI has been ordered to determine if the proceeds from these transactions went to people linked to the drug trade, such as De Lima.

He also hinted that some private corporations may also have benefitted from the drug trade, but declined to say which companies might be involved.

De Lima has consistently denied government charges against her.

Also on Friday, Aguirre said he doubted De Lima’s claim that NBP drug lord Jaybee Sebastian was a government asset that was working

for the Justice Department.

Aguirre said Sebastian could not be considered a government asset since he was involved in the illegal drugs trade inside the New Bilibid Prisons.

“How can I believe that Jaybee Sebastian is an asset when you allowed him to lead the drug trade inside [the NBP in] Muntinlupa?”

Aguirre said.

He added that if Sebastian was government asset, his name should be on the list of agencies such as the NBI or the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, not under the office of the Justice secretary.

In December 2014, De Lima personally led the raid at the maximum-security compound of the NBP where authorities recovered contraband items such as illegal drugs, arms and ammunition, cellular phones, pornographic materials, luxury items and cash. She then ordered the transfer of 19 high-profile inmates to the NBI as part of the crackdown on illegal drug trade inside the NBP, but Sebastian was not among those transferred.

Witnesses presented before the House Committee on Justice hearing on the proliferation of the illegal drugs inside the NBP testified that Sebastian was given preferential treatment by De Lima because he was tasked to collect drug money to help finance her senatorial bid.

vestors are attracted by incentives, and are not easily repelled by invectives.

“The leader of the land where they’ll be sinking their money in can drop ‘F’ bombs for all they care. In search for the almighty profit, business will go where it can be made, even to places where real bombs explode on a daily basis,” said Recto.

While not mentioning names, Recto was obviously referring to President Duterte, who has been criticized for hurling invectives at international leaders for interfering with local politics.

Senator Leila de Lima, a staunch critic of Duterte, said the President has single-handedly put the country in a bad light before the international community.

But Recto said the President’s

colorful language is nota risk to be managed. He said trading does not stop because the President has again thrown a tantrum.

“They go to where money can be made, and the Philippines is an irresistible large market of over 100 million consumers,” Recto said.

He added that investors are not complaining about the President’s foul mouth, but are more bothered by the bad traffic, inadequate infrastructure and slow Internet speeds.

“But this is not to say that we should condone presidential outbursts. I think those close to him should start speaking truth to power and remind him that good statecraft requires the discipline of carefully choosing the right words for the right occasion,” Recto added. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

EU to probe the alleged summary killings],” Jose told the reporters.

“We are waiting for further instructions from Malacañang,” Jose said.

He said once they received the letter, that would be the time they could discuss the parameters of the probe.

He said the UN had a standard protocol on how to conduct the probe and what the Philippines, a signatory to the convention on human rights, would follow.

But he said the government would be the one to set the guide-

lines in case the UN and the EU agreed to conduct their investigations on the alleged summary killings.

“The guidelines should be agreed by both our government and the international organizations on how they will conduct the investigation,” Jose said.

He said the investigators would also have to ask the government’s permission before they could interview the families of the alleged victims of summary killings.

Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

held responsible for more than 1,000 deaths when Duterte was still the mayor of Davao City.

“My feeling is that Matobato and I are in the same situation. I’m like Edgar Matobato, but I’m just doing my job,” said De Lima.

On Thursday, De Lima said she could no longer rely on institutions such as the Philippine National Police or the National Bureau of Investigation to keep her safe.

“So what is my choice? They are violating my rights-- [my] right to security, right to privacy,” she said.

De Lima said she could see Duterte wanted her expelled from the Senate.

“That’s not far… How many times have we heard that he will destroy me. In one of the press [conference], he said, ‘You’re finished.’ There’s a continuation of efforts until it’s over--until I’m devastated,” De Lima said.

Aside from the House investigation that linked her to illegal drugs, there is also the threat of a criminal case that Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has raised. In the Senate, complaints have been filed against her with the ethics committee, which could recommend her expulsion.

What’s more, she said, an election protest could knock her out of the Senate, if the candidate that she beat out wins his appeal.

All these actions, De Lima said, were meant to remove her from the Senate.

Even her allies in the Liberal Party cannot come out in the open in support of her, she said, because of the administration’s belief that her moves against Duterte are part of an LP plot to remove him from office and to install Vice President Leni Robredo, a Liberal, in his place.

‘Hitman’...

From A1

the alleged summary killings in the police’s anti-drug operations, due to some pressure.

“We took her out because there was pressure for the Senate to show objectivity,” Gordon told ANC Headstart.

Gordon, also chairman of the Senate’s Blue Ribbon committee, replaced De Lima.

Also Friday, the Philippine National Police expressed willingness to present lawmen belonging to the alleged Davao Death Squad to the ongoing Senate inquiry on the investigation of their alleged involvement in the series of summary killings perpetrated by the DDS as insinuated by Matobato.

PNP spokesman Dionardo Carlos said the policemen that Matobato claimed had been with him in the summary killings in Davao City during Duterte’s incumbency will appear to comply with the Senate invitation.

When asked what he meant by “not directly,” Lavin said “Hindi direct na inutos sa amin ni Mayor Duterte. It’s all general statements na inutos, pero hindi detailed paano inutos. Hinahanap namin kung inutos directly sa iyo (Matobato), na nandyan ka.”

When asked who told Matobato it was Duterte, Lavin said, “It’s all [SPO4 Arthur] Lascanas [who said it was all Duterte who ordered].”

Reports in September 2015 said five Davao City policemen implicated in the alleged Davao Death Squad’s killings were absent during the preliminary hearing of their cases at the Department of Justice. The case is still pending according to Lavin.

The policemen headed by Sr. Supt. Vicente Danao Jr. were SPO1 Reynante Medina, SPO2 Rizalino Aquino, SPO2 Bienvenido Furog and SPO4 Arthur Lascanas, who Matobato had identified. Sandy Araneta, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Francisco Tuyay

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Debate on rice imports pushed

By Macon Araneta SENATE Minority Leader Ralph Recto is pressing the Senate to host a face-off between supporters and critics of the administration’s audacious plan to liberalize the importation of rice.

In Senate Resolution 146, Recto said “the ramifications of the rice trade liberalization” should be studied to ensure that “purported benefits are realized and the welfare of our farmers and agricultural workers are protected.”

The head of the National Economic Development Authority and other economic managers have been calling for the lifting of the quantitative import restrictions on rice, saying it would bring rice prices down and raise farmers’ incomes as they will be enticed to shift to more profitable crops.

Agriculture officials, however, have expressed initial reservations on the plan, especially if such a policy would be implemented without providing safety nets that would aid the farm sector during the transition period.

Recto agrees, saying “liberalization without ample and appropriate financial and technical support from the government” would not improve the lot and competitiveness of Filipino farmers.

He said “the sheer number of farmers and people involved and dependent on domestic rice production calls for a plan that will cushion the disruptive effects of such major policy shift.”

“If we have seen how many towns have economically collapsed because of the closure of the only factory in those places, then many towns in the country are basically rice factories,” he said.

Because no public hearings on the proposal have been called, Recto said the Senate should provide the venue where its far-reaching repercussions can be discussed with all stakeholders present.

Recto said a balancing of interests is needed due to projections that while the lifting of import restriction will reduce rice prices by as much as 27 percent, it will erode the income of rice farmers by 29 percent.

BUSINESS AS USUAL. Shops at Claro M. Recto Avenue in Sta. Cruz, Manila continue to be Filipinos’ go-to places for bargains as it has been for over a century. Lino Santos

Lawmaker backs tax plan for poor

By Maricel V. Cruz

A

N INDEPENDENT bloc lawmaker on Friday rallied behind the Department of Finance’s (DoF) plan to give the poor a higher income-tax exemption.

Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said he would push for the measure’s immediate passage in Congress to eliminate tax burden, especially the poor.

“I support the Finance department’s move to remove the income taxes of low-income earners and to reduce the income taxes of middle-income earners. We have the same goal in mind: to eliminate the iniquitous tax burden among indi-

vidual taxpayers especially the poor,” Tiangco said.

“My office is ready and willing to work with them to ensure the swift passage of the tax reform program. It’s high time our taxpayers enjoy their hard-earned money,” he added.

At a congressional hearing of the House committee on ways and means early this week, Finance Undersecretary

Karl Kendrick Chua noted that Tiangco’s House Bill 411 closely resembled the DoF proposal.

HB 411 pushes for incometax exemption for those earning not more than P360,000 annually.

It also seeks to give the lowand middle-income earners an adjusted, restructured and revised income-tax bracket that will approximate current consumer prices, which will, to a certain extent, increase their real purchasing power.

Tiangco said the current system of taxation is severely outdated and is no longer fair and equitable.

“It is a fact that Congress determined the tax brackets [now] provided under Section 24 of RA [Republic Act] 8284

as early as 1986. It has remained unchanged to date. On the other hand, the increase in inflation has gone up as high as 300 percent,” he said in the bill’s explanatory note.

“With the current income tax brackets, the Philippines effectively imposes the highest personal income tax in the whole Asean region,” he added.

Tiangco also filed HB 947 in July, with the intent to exempt public school teachers, health workers, and police and military uniformed personnel from paying income tax.

Tiangco appealed to the House leadership to also prioritize the passage of his measure, along with other proposals deemed urgent by the lower house.

Lawmaker proposes Inclusion, not dole, urged more rehab centers By Macon Ramos-Araneta

By Maricel V Cruz THE chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs on Friday asked the House leadership to prioritize the passage of a measure seeking the establishment of rehabilitation centers following the Duterte administration’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs.

Surigao de Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, the panel chairman, stressed the need for Congress to pass a law for the purpose despite an existing law prescribing the construction of at least one facility in each province—due to its

funding component.

“Although it is provided in Section 75 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 on the need to establish at least one treatment and rehabilitation center in each province, the cost of constructing, operating and managing these facilities must be taken into consideration,” Barbers said.

“The funding needed for the implementation of the proposed bills, if passed into law, shall be included in the General Appropriations Act which Congress legislates,” he added.

SENATOR Cynthia Villar has said social inclusion is a key component of putting an end to the country’s extreme poverty, stressing that mere dole outs do not help the poor at all.

The World Bank defines social inclusion as “the process of improving the terms for individuals and groups to take part in society” and promotes shared prosperity and equal access to opportunities.

She noted that even in the private sector, foundations and corporate social responsibility (CSR) arms of companies are implementing social development programs that go beyond the livelihood skills training implementation.

“Many are now using livelihood enterprise

development as a holistic strategy to improve the socioeconomic status of indigent communities,” said Villar, chairman of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development.

Due to this, Villar, who transitioned from being a business entrepreneur to becoming a social entrepreneur, said she used her role as a public servant and legislator not only to advance the causes of social entrepreneurship, but also establish her own livelihood programs or social enterprises.

As a social entrepreneur, the senator said she is aware it is hard to pursue and sustain a project. So her support does not start and end with providing legislative support through Senate bills, but also establishing livelihood projects as well as providing skills training.

SMC eyes facilities in Sulu—DA chief SAN Miguel Corp. plans to put up a power plant and feed mills in Sulu before the year ends, Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol said on Friday.

Piñol bared SMC’s planned investments after a meeting on Wednesday with SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang, who considered these interventions their “important contributions to the peace efforts” of President Rodrigo Duterte.

While these investments may

be considered risky by other entrepreneurs, Ang said “Yes, we are willing to take the risks just so we could help President Duterte achieve peace and stability in the Southern Philippines, especially in the troubled island of Sulu.”

Piñol said the conglomerate will put up a 20-megawatt power plant for the main island.

“For the small islands, I will ask the Department of Energy to establish solar farms,” he noted.

BUDGET HEARING. Senator Cynthia Villar, chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment, questions officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on the P28.67-billion budget they are seeking from Congress.

IN BRIEF Isabela now in calamity CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela— The province of Isabela has been declared under a state of calamity after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan assessed that the dry spell has caused some P1 billion worth of damages on corn and palay.

Acting vice governor and SP Presiding Officer Atty. Faustino Dy IV said that the Office of the Governor of Isabela had earlier written the Sanggunian to recommend placing the province under a state of calamity due to the huge damages on corn and palay crops affected by dry spell during the vegetative and reproductive stages.

During the SP’s regular session Thursday, the members led by Dy, considering the huge damages on the agriculture sector, affirmed the request of the local chief executive and declared Isabela under state of calamity.

The provincial leaders fear that the production of corn this harvest season might decrease due to the dry spell that caused minimal yield.

The provincial agriculture office has recommended the allotment of P200 million to be used in helping the affected farmers particularly through provisions of fuel and corn seeds.

Corn farmers here are hoping that the assistance will soon be given to be used in the next cropping season. PNA

Online FOI inaugurated CEBU CITY—Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Friday said the national government will rollout the e-FOI or the online version of the Freedom of Information executive order on November 25.

Andanar was in Cebu Friday as keynote speaker on the forum on the “FOI and the Media,” as part of the celebration of the 22nd Cebu Press Freedom Week which opened on Sunday.

President Rodrigo Duterte has issued Executive Order No. 2 which covers the FOI in the executive department.

An FOI bill is pending in the House of Representatives which, if enacted into law, will cover all the branches of the government from the executive, legislative and judiciary.

Andanar said the 166 exceptions to the FOI proposed by the Office of the Solicitor General and the Department of Justice are still being discussed.

Andanar said the government will be proactive and publish online through the e-FOI documents which are not classified or does not contain sensitive information.

He said these will prevent the agencies under the executive department from being saddled with numerous requests for information under EO No. 2. PNA

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Opinion

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

The alienator

W

HEN Rodrigo Duterte was elected president, he said he would undergo a metamorphosis once he was sworn in as leader of the land. He was referring to his penchant for cursing and for tough talk. He gave us the impression that he would tone down his language and behave in a more presidential manner, befitting his high office.

We thought his inaugural address gave us a glimpse of what was to come. The 15-minute speech was honest and to the point, and it complemented well what appeared to be Mr. Duterte’s clear grasp of the ills hounding the nation, ills he sought to address.

We were mistaken.

Nearing his 100-day mark, it seems any changes in the demeanor of the President came in the form of ramped-up rhetoric, not only against his political opponents but against the international community.

He cursed United States President Barack Obama and called United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon a fool.

Both men had criticized Duterte’s manner of implementing his war against illegal drugs. Since Mr. Duterte assumed office in June, over 3,000 suspected drug dealers and users have been killed—and more bodies are turning up every day.

This week, he expanded his reach to the European Union, which he said was scolding him as if he were its subordinate. The EU had called on the Duterte administration to “put an end to the current wave of extrajudicial executions and killings,” and had expressed alarm over the “extraordi-

narily high numbers killed during police operations.”

On Tuesday, during a speech, Mr. Duterte told the EU “F**k you” while making an obscene gesture with his finger.

This has gone beyond politics.

The stock exchange—in both the general decline in stock prices and in the net fund outflow—this week reflected what could be investors’ growing uncertainty over the President’s rhetoric. Market analysts say both long- and short-term investors see the President’s behavior as disruptive, potentially affecting economic and business policy.

Mr. Duterte also said he did not care about the opinion of credit rating services, like Moody’s, Fitch and Standard and Poor’s, which rate the Philippines’ attractiveness as a borrower. Moody’s had said in a statement that “increasingly contro-

versial law and order policies could exact an opportunity cost for reform.”

We have no doubt that Mr. Duterte has the country’s best interest in mind. The policies he pursues—even if we don’t agree with all of them—reflect the most effective ways he believes our national problems can be solved.

We object, however, to his propensity to rant and to speak like a thug.

President Duterte’s aversion to criticism and his vicious response to anybody who does not agree with him will become his undoing. His closest, most trusted advisers need not effect the metamorphosis they once promised. That may be too late, given the President’s age and temperament. By at least tempering his speeches, however, Mr. Duterte can come off as less unhinged— and a lot more credible.

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

De Lima’s selective justice

Testosterone overload POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO THIS is what we see happening in the country now. We are ruled by a mindset so macho that approaches employed to address most problems are like those we see in gangster movies.

Indeed, all elements of the recipe for a blockbuster film is used—a macho hero whose heart is supposed to be in the right place, bad guys creating problems for the “bida,” killings, lots of cursing, women as helpless sacrificial lamb. In the movies, of course the “bida” always wins. After all the violence, he is able to right the wrong, and as a bonus, save the damsel in distress.

We are familiar with all these.

“Kumita na yan,” we say. Some characters from such movies have even become local legends, and heroes in people’s minds. “Nardong Putik” of Ramon Revilla Sr., Lito Lapid’s

“Leon Guerrero”, “Asiong Salonga” of Erap Estrada, and FPJ’s “Panday” are but some.

Incidentally, these characters played by these macho actors helped catapult them to political power (save for FPJ who people claim was cheated when he ran for the presidency). Their popularity and IMAGE facilitated their electoral victories. This fact demonstrates how powerful the macho mindset is.

It is a mindset that unfortunately, even women are not immune from having and exhibiting. There are women who are the first to discriminate against other women. However, it must be stressed that men, as a class, benefit from this ideology.

President Rodrigo Duterte epitomizes the macho ultimate image. He is a political superstar seen as a strong but kind “bida” out to get the bad guys. He is the hero needed to save the people and the country, and bring real change about. Millions trust that Duterte can singlehandedly do this. People are willing to accept his unorthodox ways, in-

cluding questionable strategies.

Just like in the movies.

The problem is, this is not a movie. This is real life, not make believe. Duterte is not an actor. He is the president of a country of more than 100-million citizens. In movies, actors who are beaten up are not really

This needs to be put in check. hurt, women who are raped are just acting, those who get killed get up and continue with their lives after the shoot. Machismo in movies though also harmful in terms of further reinforcing the mindset, does not maim, hurt or kill people.

The Duterte presidency is different. His actions, his words, and his manner of doing things have an impact on an entire na-

tion, half of the entire populace of which are women, even the country’s relationship with the international community.

People criticize the president because of his penchant for cursing. He has cursed US President Barack Obama, United Nation’s Ban Ki Moon, and lately, the European Union over criticisms of Duterte’s war against drugs which has killed around three thousand suspected drug users and pushers. From the campaign trail until now, the president has been speaking like a gangster always ready to fight, kill people.

This display of machismo takes its toll on our image as a people, as a country. This is a source of embarrassment especially for Filipinos here and abroad. Several overseas Filipinos who are quietly living and working in other countries have already spoken against the president’s crassness.

Recently, the President explained that he speaks a certain way because he is from the province. Certainly, this is not

true of rural folk. People from provinces are not bereft of good manners. On the contrary, they are observably generally more polite and respectful than city dwellers.

Sadly, the gutter language regularly used by President Duterte influences others. Just read social media posts and one will see how cursing has become “acceptable.” Is this the new normal?

Children are growing up hearing people curse left and right, hurl invectives at others, and generally, just behave like “kanto boys.” Do we really want our young to pick this up?

What do we do when kids curse their parents, other elders, or even friends because they see this routinely done by no less than the President? Are we supposed to just look away?

The President’s slut shaming of Senator Leila De Lima is just unacceptable. Having political foes is nothing new in our kind of politics. This, however, is the first time that a president has done Turn to A5

SENATOR Leila de Lima professed to the news media that she is not a coddler of drug lords, and that during her incumbency as the Secretary of Justice, she never took a bribe from any of the drug lords detained at the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa, which was under her control.

Despite her protestations of innocence, De Lima declared she will not participate in the inquiry currently being undertaken by the Department of Justice regarding allegations that she received bribes from the drug lords, enough to fund her Senate campaign, in exchange for special treatment during their detention. De Lima claims that the evidence the DoJ has against her are fabricated, and that the witnesses the DoJ expects to testify against her were coerced or paid to do so.

It will be recalled that even when De Lima was still the Justice secretary, the news media revealed that the convicted drug lords serving time at the national penitentiary were allowed spacious, air-conditioned quarters with all the conveniences of a modern hotel, including access to restaurant food, appliances, mobile telephones, the internet, firearms, narcotics, and cash.

Despite repeated raids conducted by DoJ officials at the national penitentiary, the special treatment enjoyed by the detained drug lords continued after each raid. The amenities taken away were simply replaced by new ones.

Considering the extent of the special treatment afforded by prison officials to the convicted drug lords, it is difficult not to believe that this glaring anomaly took place without the knowledge, or at least the tacit consent, of De Lima as Justice secretary.

The latest accusation lodged against her is that her personal driver is her lover, and that this driver is her collection agent for the bribe money allegedly paid to her by the convicted drug lords.

Since then, the story has been all over the social media.

If De Lima insists that she is innocent, and that the evidence against her in the DoJ inquiry is fabricated or perjured, she should still attend the DoJ hearings to clear her name. The seasoned litigation lawyer that she is, De Lima should not be easily intimidated by sham evidence and perjured witnesses. As the former head of the investigation department of the government, De Lima should be able to discredit anybody who isn’t telling the truth.

Surely, if all of the witnesses produced by the DoJ are perjured, as De Lima alleges, then she just Turn to A5

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Opinion BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

President Duterte and the mainstream media THE mainstream media will never admit they are no longer engaged in the dissemination of information, but deeply engaged in propaganda.

The propaganda against President Rodrigo Duterte is not really about human rights violations presented in its most graphic way of public execution of suspected drug pushers, but of the truth that the oligarchy, which controls the so-called mainstream media, has been given the green light to discredit his administration.

To be accurate, the term mainstream media is a misnomer.

Rather, it is a syndicated media controlled by the oligarchy whose interest is indivisible to the interest of their Western brokers. The thrust of their denunciations on the surface is about human rights and the extrajudicial killings much that they easily elicit human emotion than educate the people on how the state should operate to work for their interest. Gullible people, especially the youth whose idealism is apparent by their raw understanding of freedom, reject the idea that the mainstream media are capable of deceiving them.

Even those who profess to have a highly developed sense of political c o n s c io u s n e s s would insist that for the media to maintain its independence, it should remain in private hands, but would not accept the same proposition that if given the chance, would allow the private media to compete with the state-owned media in the same way that the neoliberals continue to malign stateowned media as nothing more but a propaganda mouthpiece of the government.

The belief that only the government is capable of carrying out propaganda is rooted in the fact that freedom of information can only be expressed to the fullest if in the hands of the private sector.

Unfortunately, this weak point has been used as entry point of foreign governments to interfere and subvert in our domestic affairs. The cover of Time magazine showing a bullet-riddled dead body whose face was wrapped with masking tape has a serious impact about the EJK allegedly being carried out by the government.

The picture is more than enough to convey what the saboteur of the government means. It reduces one’s thinking of issue to something personal. To abate the gangland execution of alleged drug pushers would deter discussion why many of our people go hungry, why squatters proliferate alongside luxurious condominiums, and why there is chaos in our society with a great number of our population afflicted with maladies of drug addiction, crimes against property, prostitution, and a general decline in law and order. Yet, the same mainstream media are always quick to caution the government about martial law because it will violate their hypocritical principles of freedom and democracy.

Any drastic measure to cleanse our society of the dregs that live side by side with our corrupt politicians is dangerous if the President happens to express his disgust of the deep economic and social wedge in our society. For instance, it is far difficult for our people to understand why we have to make a paradigm shift in our alliance with the US or to stop the forays of terrorism in Mindanao than in showing pictures of suspected dead criminals soaked in their own blood for which the mainstream media are quick to condemn as morally unacceptable.

Invariably, any attempt to disseminate information of what the government is doing and what it has accomplished is easily branded as propaganda. To them, the media should confine itself to disseminating information, not to educating our people. These wrong notions embedded in the public mind are being exploited by the oligarchs and the foreign enemies to demolish the credibility of our govern-

ment. The mainstream media could hardly comprehend the distinction between public interest and that of the private, in relation to the role of informing the people.

While the oligarchs do not tell media people, which literally are their employees, what to say and what not to say, this has become pivotal. When President Duterte became critical of the US, they automatically aligned themselves with their Western partners. This explains why the mainstream media or the private sector media seldom go beyond their duty of critically analyzing issues that would allow the public to narrate their status in relations to the government that provides them scaffolds for their economic well-being.

Right now, it is President Duterte who is doing the role of educating our people, explaining it to them his plans in their own language. President Duterte is lucky much that in his time, the oligarchy and the imperialists no longer have a monopoly of the media. They thought they could forever manipulate public opinion to promote their own vagaries. Today, the social media reflect more of the opinion of people who defy what the mainstream media peddle as news.

A misinformed, not uninformed, public brings about divisiveness in our perception of the issue presented as news. The mainstream media tend to blackmail the government, thus automatically derailing its noble objectives of serving the interest of the people. This explains why newspapers have greatly declined in circulation, and many of those who have cable television shy away from the traditional Western cable news outlet like CNN, Fox News, BBC or Al Jazeera in favor of CCTV and RT. What many of our people do not know is that in the dissemination of information, the trick is to present specific and narrowed down topic that would touch on the raw nerve of people like EJK. That could easily ignite passion and hatred against the President. The mainstream media and their foreign consort instantly easily get the desired result.

Once the sitting President becomes so unpopular, that would then pressure him to resign. The Left, having assumed the role of perennial agitator, could not detach itself from joining the bandwagon, because that would deepen their isolation from the people or worse, be accused of betrayal. Despite the fact that President Duterte is considered by many as independentminded, a populist, and nationalistic, the Left has no choice but join because the people have been conditioned to their strategy of street indignation.

At present, they are committed to support President Duterte because of the peace talks with the NDF; for his appointment of leftist personalities into his government, even if some of them disobey the official line like his desire to have President Marcos buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani; the paradigm shift in our relations with the US, and of his contempt for the oligarchs.

Given this possibilities, could the Left continue to support him in the event he is forced to impose martial law, the same recourse that President Marcos did to save the Republic? Already, many of them feel uneasy in explaining and defending the alleged human rights violations and EJK being raised against President Duterte by the yellow oligarchs. As said, the President is on the right track in talking straight because it is the only way for our people to understand. But the sensationalism of alleged human rights violations only shuts off serious public discussion about poverty, unemployment and hunger that now stalk our nation, which reason why Duterte ran for President.

The sensationalism of alleged human rights violations only shuts off serious public discussion about poverty, unemployment and hunger that now stalk our nation.

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Lingering Martial Law jurisprudence EAGLE EYES TONY LA VIÑA THE lapse of more than 40 years since the proclamation of Martial Law did not render obsolete a number of jurisprudential doctrines, which until the present remain part of our case law.

That’s how long the legal shadow of Martial Law is in our society.

The most notorious are the doctrines of warrantless arrests, precedents now cited in the war against illegal drugs. An example is the doctrine of continuing offense that justified warrantless arrests, enunciated in the 1990 case of Umil v. Ramos, but which was first proposed in the notorious decision in 1995 of GarciaPadilla vs. Enrile decision where the Marcos Presidential Commitment Order was declared valid.

According to Garcia-Padilla, the arrest of persons involved in rebellion whether as its fighting armed elements, or for committing nonviolent acts but in furtherance of the rebellion, is more an act of capturing them in the course of an armed conflict, to quell the rebellion, than for the purpose of immediately prosecuting them in court for a statutory offense. Hence, the arrest and detention of persons ordered by the president through the issuance of Presidential Commitment Order PCO is merely preventive.

The majority further stated that a Presidential Commitment Order, the issuance of which is the exclusive prerogative of the president under the Constitution, may not be declared void by the courts, under the doctrine of “political question.”

In Umil vs. Ramos, the illegal warrantless arrests were justified on the ground that subversion was a form of a continuing crime— together with rebellion and similar crimes. Justice Abraham Sarmiento dissented from that decision of the Court that was packed by Cory

Aquino appointees.

Another bad decision is llagan v.

Enrile, decided in 1985 but not yet repudiated by the Supreme Court.

In this case, the Supreme Court delimited the scope and applicability of the writ of habeas corpus by ruling that the unlawfulness of an arrest becomes moot and academic or an illegal arrest becomes “legal” once charges are filed in a court of law.

Lawyer Laurente C. Ilagan was arrested in Davao City by elements of the PC-INP and detained at Camp Catitipan on the basis of a Mission Order allegedly issued by the Ministry of National Defense.

On that same day, 15 lawyers from the IBP Davao Chapter visited Ilagan. One of the visiting lawyers, Antonio Arellano, was also arrested and detained on the basis of an unsigned Mission Order. Later, lawyer Marcos Risonar was also arrested.

A petition for habeas corpus was then filed by and on behalf of the three arrested lawyers, who become known as the Davao 3 or AIR (after Arellano, Ilagan, and Risonar) on the ground that their arrests were illegal and violative of the Constitution, since arrests cannot be made on the basis of Mission Orders and that there appears to be a military campaign to harass lawyers involved in national security cases.

In Ilagan, the Supreme Court issued the Writ, required a Return, and set the petition for hearing.

However, eventually, the Court ruled that the petition for habeas corpus was already moot and academic. Ilagan, Arellano, and Risonar had a warrant of arrest issued

by Regional Trial Court of Davao City in relation to a criminal case of rebellion filed against them before the said court. It argued that the function of a special proceeding of habeas corpus is to inquire into the legality of one’s detention. But because the detained lawyers’ incarceration was already by virtue of a judicial action in relation to a criminal case, no matter if such case was filed more than two weeks after

the arrests were made, the remedy of habeas corpus supposedly no longer applies. The SC added that questions to the legality of the arrest or lack of preliminary investigation should now be addressed to the Davao City trial court.

In his dissenting opinion on this case, then Associate Justice, later Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee wrote: “More than four agonizing months after this Court issued its near unanimous Resolution… ordering the immediate release of the three petitioners-detainees… this Court has now refused to enforce its own release order… It has instead dismissed the petition for habeas corpus for having become moot and academic because of the arbitrary filing of precipitate, vindictive, and oppressive charges against them for the capital crime of rebellion without hearing or preliminary investigation and in gross violation of their constitutional right and rudimentary requirements of due process and fair play.”

Finally, in a more recent case, the 2006 case of David vs. Arroyo, the lingering shadow of Martial Law on human rights jurisprudence once again nearly reared its ugly head.

Fortunately, the Supreme Court took the side of the Bill of Rights and the worst outcomes were avoided.

In this case several groups challenged before the Supreme Court then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s issuance of Proclamation 1017 declaring a State of National emergency.

Petitioners contend that PP 1017 is void on its face because of its overbreadth. They claim that its enforcement encroached on both unprotected and protected rights under Section 4, Article III of the Constitution and sent a chilling effect to the citizens.

In resolving the constitutional challenge against Arroyo’s proclamation, the Supreme Court partially granted the consolidated petitions, ruling that Proclamation 1017 was constitutional insofar as it constituted a call by President Arroyo on the AFP to prevent or suppress lawless

violence. However, it was unconstitutional insofar as it commands the AFP to enforce laws not related to lawless violence, as well as decrees promulgated by the president.

Citing Section 17, Article VII of the Constitution which allows the president to declare national emergencies, the Court said that Arroyo’s declaration was not unconstitutional, but the Court made sure to point out that such declaration does not authorize the president to take over privately owned public utility or business affected with public interest without prior legislation.

In David vs. Arroyo, the Supreme Court also ruled that the warrantless arrest of Randolf S. David and Ronald Llamas; the dispersal and warrantless arrest of the KMU and NAFLU-KMU members during their rallies were invalid. This was because, in the absence of proof that these petitioners were committing acts constituting lawless violence, invasion or rebellion and violating other laws, warrantless arrests were not justified. Likewise, the Court ruled that the imposition of standards on media or any form of prior restraint on the press, as well as the warrantless search of the Tribune offices and whimsical seizure of its articles for publication and other materials, were unconstitutional.

As I end this series on the longterm impact of Martial Law, it would be good to acknowledge that, in the time of Duterte, due process has been described as applicable only to the Judiciary and the Bill or Rights is being set aside to win the war against illegal drugs. In this time, we must be vigilant that the worst of our Martial Law experience will not be repeated. If not, the cycle begins again and the shadow of the Marcos dictatorship will never go away. It would then be useless to shout “Never Again!” because Martial Law, with such a lingering impact, never left anyway.

Facebook: tonylavs5 or Dean Tony La Viña Twitter: tonylavs

‘Trust’ gains as a fudge factor in economics

By Noah Smith THE legendary economist Robert Solow once joked that every discussion about the relative performances of European economies “ends up in a blaze of amateur sociology.” The joke has an element of truth. Economists are fond of invoking “culture” to explain large-scale outcomes they don’t understand. This often comes up in discussions about Japan, whose macroeconomy defies every standard textbook theory.

Culture, I often hear, is at the root of all the mysteries.

But “culture” is just one of many large-scale fudge factors that economists are tempted to fall back on.

There’s also “technology,” which macroeconomists often invoke to account for inexplicable productivity changes. Or “power,” which some left-leaning economists use as a rationale for outcomes that benefit the rich.

Now “trust” is in fashion and has earned a place on the fudge-factor list.

Before I criticize the use of “trust” to explain economic outcomes, let me admit that I am absolutely guilty of it. In a recent article, I worried about decreasing trust in US institutions. Though I think my worry is legitimate, it’s also easy for me and other writers and

De Lima’s...

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needs to discredit them on cross examination. That way, the credibility of her accusers will be put to naught and, as the good book says, the truth shall set her free.

If De Lima so wishes, she can have some of her trusted lawyers assist or represent her during the DoJ investigation. That will be less stressful for her, than if she were to defend herself personally.

De Lima can expect courteous treatment from the DoJ investigation panel.

Since De Lima is a former Justice secretary herself, it is certain that the incumbent justice secretary, Vitaliano Aguirre II, will not allow her to be disrespected during any of the proceedings.

By refusing to participate in the DoJ investigation, however, De Lima is encouraging suspicion that she may have

Testosterone...

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something like this to another government official. However one views De Lima, Duterte’s tirades against her is unacceptable. Perhaps it hurts more when a woman stands up against a super macho President so he needs to “put her in her place.”

This testosterone overload has killed people. War and violence are two strategies that men use against opponents.

economists to take the trust thing too far. There are good reasons to think that trust, in some sense of the word, really matters for economic outcomes. In many interactions in markets and elsewhere, various forms of trust can help achieve results that are better for everyone involved. If buyers and sellers trust each other not to cheat, they can do more deals. If insurers trust drivers not to be reckless, they can insure them more cheaply. Cooperation— between employees in a company, for instance—is also dependent on trust. The famous prisoner’s dilemma describes a situation in which trust can lead to much better outcomes for everyone—as long as the game is repeated many times. In open-ended relationships, where the number of interactions is uncertain, trust helps people cooperate repeatedly instead of just betraying each other over and over.

It’s tempting to take this realization and start using as it an excuse to invoke “trust” to explain lots of things in the world around us. And so there is a boomlet in citing trust to explain things like happiness and economic development. But we should resist this temptation, for at least three reasons.

First, trust is hard to measure.

The typical indicator of social trust comes from surveys. For example,

the World Value Survey asks people whether they believe that “most people can be trusted,” or whether one “can’t be too careful.” But this doesn’t necessarily tell us about the kind of trust that matters in economic models.

Let’s suppose that in one country, people have very close, trusting relationships with business partners, but distrust strangers on the street.

That country might have the kind of trust needed to facilitate economic exchange, but might still rank low on the World Value Survey’s measure.

Trust is also relative. There could be a country where everyone trusts each other a lot compared to other countries, but because the culture has such a high standard for saying you “trust” someone, people respond negatively to the World Value Survey’s question. This kind of problem crops up a lot in economists’ surveys of self-reported happiness in different countries, so it’s reasonable to expect it to rear its head here as well.

A second, related problem with trust is that there are different kinds. Although the World Value Survey asks about attitudes toward “most people,” other surveys ask about trust in institutions, or the government. But there may be yet more forms of trust that the surveys don’t tease apart. Trust in businesses may be more important than

trust in strangers or trust in family. Alternatively, how quickly people build up trust with new people might be more important than how much trust they have in the people in the town they grew up in. There is just no automatic correspondence between survey measures and the objects in economists’ models.

The third problem is the most insidious of all. Because trust is a concept that most people deal with in their daily lives, economists are naturally tempted to think they know how it works. For example, we may assume that because we trust people at our church, religious homogeneity produces social trust.

We may therefore jump from the theoretical and survey literature on trust to the conclusion that nations should encourage religious homogeneity in order to make themselves richer and happier. But this kind of intuitive leap, though tempting, isn’t supported by hard evidence.

So although trust, in some form, is probably important in our economic lives, we don’t yet have the tools to measure it, we don’t know exactly how it’s important, and we definitely don’t know how to control or alter a society’s level of trust.

Until we understand trust a lot better, it would be a mistake to rely on it too much when trying to explain the world around us. Bloomberg

had a role in the anomalies uncovered at the national penitentiary. Thus, De Lima owes the public a credible explanation for her refusal to attend the DoJ hearings, other than her self-serving claim that the evidence against her is fabricated.

De Lima’s presence in the DoJ hearings is vital to the credibility of the ongoing Senate investigation she is pursuing regarding alleged extra-judicial killings arising from the government’s anti-drug campaign. If De Lima has gone to the extent of pursuing a Senatesponsored investigation into alleged lawlessness, she should not have any reservations about facing a separate state-sponsored investigation into alleged lawlessness in the DoJ during her watch.

All citizens have the civic obligation to cooperate with government investigators. Thus, De Lima can’t go around investigating anomalies at public expense, and at the same time renege on her civic

obligation to cooperate with the DoJ. Her refusal to do so is not only wrong; it also sets a bad example to others, and suggests that high office exempts one from fulfilling his or her civic duties.

Political analysts are still smarting from De Lima’s refusal to have herself interpellated by her colleagues in the Senate after she delivered her first privilege speech. Was she hiding something, or was she unsure of herself?

De Lima’s refusal to consent to any interpellation raised even more queries because after Manny Pacquiao (a freshman senator like her) delivered his first privilege speech about the death penalty, De Lima subjected Pacquiao to a series of questions about constitutional law and statistics which Pacquiao could not be expected to be familiar with. If Pacquiao agreed to be interpellated, how come De Lima is afraid to do so?

Another disturbing incident involves De Lima’s presence at the hearing of the arbitration case the Philippines lodged

against Communist China at The Hague in the Netherlands last year. The Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the Secretary of National Defense, and the Solicitor General attended the hearing because the nature of their offices demanded their presence. De Lima may have been the justice secretary back then, but her presence was not needed at the hearing because the Solicitor General, not the Secretary of Justice, is the lawyer of the government in arbitration cases abroad.

Even the presence of then-House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. at the hearing was just as unnecessary, but that’s the subject of another story.

De Lima still owes taxpayers an explanation as to why she spent public money for her needless trip to and stay in Holland. Her refusal to do so clearly underscores her penchant to choose when she will cooperate with the justice system, and when she will not. That’s De Lima’s selective understanding of justice.

In his war against drugs, Duterte has repeatedly said that he does not mind drug users and pushers killed. After all, they are sub-humans and they do not have human rights. To date, around 3,000 lives have already been permanently lost.

Nobody knows if those killed were innocent because they were not given the chance to defend themselves. Many groups and countries have already expressed serious concerns about the killings that happen on a daily basis.

This macho mindset does not value human lives and human rights. In an extreme form, the more people are killed, the more macho one is. It is about power and abuse of power. This is far from correct but for a macho leader, only he has the power over the lives of the people. He decide; no one should go against his decisions.

This macho, gangster mentality and the methods employed to “solve” problems is beginning to take a toll on the country and its people. Far from feeling safe

and secure, people are scared.

After all, anyone can be the next subject of “cardboard justice” or collateral damage.

Foreign investment continuously is being removed from the country. The international community is alarmed at what is happening here.

This machismo should be put in check. This testosterone overload needs to be tempered. bethangsioco@gmail.com @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

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News

Standard SATURDAY, A6 TODAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Comelec affirms Binay victory

By Joel E. Zurbano and Vito Barcelo

T

HE Commission on Elections has dismissed the election protest filed by former Makati City acting Mayor Romulo Peña Jr. against elected Mayor Abigail Binay for lack of evidence.

In an order dated Sept. 20, the Comelec’s First Division, composed of Commissioners Christian Robert Lim, Luie Tito Guia and Rowena Amelia Guanzon, ruled that Peña’s protest “suffered from insufficiency in form and content.”

The order stated that even considering any of the versions of the election protest filed by Peña, “the same still suffers from the same flaw as it “failed to indicate a detailed specification of the acts or omissions complained of showing the electoral frauds, anomalies or irregularities in the protested precincts.”

It further stated that Peña failed to indicate the particular precincts where alleged errors in the scanning of the ballots or appreciation thereof by the vote counting machines took place.

Peña also failed to state any specific details on the ballots allegedly rejected by the machine or precincts where ballots were allegedly prepared and fed by people other than the voters.

The order stated “the allegations that votes cast do not accurately reflect the election receipts, vote-buying, harassment and intimidation allegedly done by the protestee, and

vote-shaving should be considered as general statements as they are devoid of specific instances where these happened or how these took place.”

“The use by the Protestant of phrases like numerous instances, in some instances, in one instance, etc. reflects that these statements of irregularities are broad and general in description, which the law does not allow.”

The camp of Mayor Binay thanked the Comelec for coming up with the decision, thus conforming her victory in the May 9 elections.

“Mayor Abby is thankful to the Comelec for seeing the protest filed by Peña for what it is, a sham pleading filed by a losing candidate who could not accept the reality of being soundly rejected by the Makati citizenry,” said Binay’s lawyer Daniel Subido.

“Mayor Abby is determined to fix the mess left by Peña and restore the highest standard of service to the Makati citizens.

One should only look at the deplorable condition of the Ospital ng Makati during the brief stint of Peña’s administration, which is now being addressed with great difficulty considering its magnitude,” he added.

Agusan rehab opens

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—The 401st Brigade in Agusan del Sur opened a 2-hectare facility camp for the constructions of rehabilitation center as part of the military’s partnership with President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs.

The center, named as the Residential Treatment and Rehabilitation Center, was inaugurated on Thursday with lawyer Salvador Panelo as Guest of Honor represented the president.

The RTRC can accommodate 60 patients at a time and shall be managed and administered by the provincial government of Agusan del Sur. The establishment of the RTRC is in line with the province’s drug rehabilitation program called, Substance Use Recovery and Enlightenment.

SURE aims to give victims of drug use a second chance in life and

keep them away from drug syndicates who are covering their tracks.

Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza of Agusan del Sur praised the local Army unit for the significant support in his anti-drug campaign.

Plaza said that his province takes pride of having the 401st Brigade as an adopted Army unit and a partner in his provincial development programs.

The Army brigade camp based in the town of Prosperidad of the province has a total land area of 334 hectares.

Col. Cristobal N. Zaragoza, the Army’s 401st Brigade Commander, said that this is part of a team collaboration existing between the military and the local government.

“We will give our all-out support to this campaign,” Zaragoza.

“A drug-free province is necessary for a drug-free country.”

REAL SERVICE AND PROTECTION. In a scene rarely seen nowadays, a Quezon City policeman helps an elderly woman cross busy Scout Chuatoco Street on Friday. Manny Palmero

RTC judge, cop ambushed

By Francisco Tuyay A REGIONAL Trial Court judge was critically wounded along with his policeman-bodyguard after they were ambushed by a still unidentified car-riding gunmen in Butuan City Friday morning.

Initial reports identified the victims as Hector Salise, presiding judge of the Bayugan City Regional Trial Court in Agusan del Sur and PO3 Edmund Narvasa, 40.

Salise was on board his red Toyota Innova driven by Narvasa and were heading toward Bayugan City when they were waylaid by four gunmen

who were armed with automatic rifles.

The report said the fourth suspects on board a silver Misubishi Montero overtook them and immediately fired at them. But Narvasa managed to turn the and headed back to Butuan City to escape the gunmen.

Although wounded himself, Narvasa rushed to the Bayugan Community Police Assistance Center situated in Barangay Villa Kananga to seek assistance.

Salise sustained a gunshot wound in the head and shoulder while Narvasa was hit in the back, leg and waist. Both were immediately transported to the

Manuel Santos Hospital for treatment.

Police investigators could not yet determined the motive behind the ambush of Salise.

Shortly after the ambush, the Bayugan police immediately flashed an alarm to other police units in the periphery and set up checkpoints to possibly interdict the fleeing suspects.

Butuan City Police Station-4 under Senior Insp Regino Precioso along with a team of Scene of the Crime Operatives proceeded to the crime scene to gather evidence. Recovered from the scene were 15 cartridges of M16 and two cartridge of .45 cal.

Republic of the Philippines PROVINCE OF QUIRINO Cabarroguis -oOoBIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID September 24, 2016 The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino invites all interested contractors to apply for eligibility and to tender bids for the following project/s: Project Number

Name of Project

Location of Project

Source of Fund

Project Cost

2016-050

Improvement/ Concreting of San Marcos – Ricarte Sur Road

Cabarroguis & Diffun, Quirino

DA Trust Fund

5,790,000.00

68

6,000.00

2016-058

Furnishing of Saguday, Diffun Home Materials & Aglipay, to 1,880 families Quirino with partially blown down houses during Typhoon Lando

NHA Trust Fund

9,000,000.00

90

10,000.00

Construction/ Rehabilitation/ Repair/Upgrading and Improvement of Quirino Province Medical Center (QPMC) OB-Gyne and Pediatric Building (Phase II)

DOH Trust Fund

2016-059

Mangandingay, Cabarroguis, Quirino

49,677,995.83

Calendar Days

360

FOOTWEAR MART. Despite the sidewalk cleanup being implemented by city hall, street vendors con-

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino now invites bids for the following projects stated above. Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

2.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 9:00 AM to 4:00PM. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from September 24, 2016 to October 10, 2016 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount stated above.

The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents at the BAC Secretariat, Capitol Hills, Cabarroguis, Quirino, upon payment of the applicable non-refundable fee. The Pre-Bid Conference shall open only to interested parties who have purchased the BD’s. Bids must be accompanied by a bid security, in the amount and acceptable form, as stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR.

5.

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on September 27, 2016, 3:00PM at Special Projects Unit Conference Hall, 2nd Floor, Commercial Bldg., Capitol Compound, Capitol Hills, Cabarroguis, Quirino, which shall be open to all interested parties.

6.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before October 10, 2016, 3:00PM at Special Projects Unit Conference Hall, 2nd Floor, Commercial Bldg., Capitol Compound, Capitol Hills, Cabarroguis, Quirino.

All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

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

Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the BD’s in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid. The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and the post-qualification.

7.

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

For further information, please refer to: (SGD) ENGR. DENCIO A. PAGBILAO Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee Province of Quirino +639175007275

DEPARTMENT of Tourism Undersecretary Katherine de Castro on Friday attended the international conference on sports and tourism organized by the UN World Tourism Organization in Da Nang City, Vietnam on the occasion of the 5th Asian Beach Games.

The conference, with “Cooperation on Tourism and Sports for Mutual Development and Friendship” as its theme, runs until Sunday and will focus on the development of tourism with the involvement of sporting activities, mutual relations between sports and tourism, as well as contributions of sports tourism to the sustainable development of a nation.

The event will be attended by UNWTO Sec. Gen. Taleb Rafai, about 300 leaders of tourism organizations, tourism enterprises, sporting officials, investors, and lecturers, among others.

The conference is relevant to DoT’s aim to position the country as a preferred outdoor travel destination with main focus on diving.

Currently, the Philippines has a 1.7 percent market share of the 7.3million active divers worldwide.

Other popular adventure destinations and activities in the country are surfing in Siargao, whitewater rafting in Cagayan de Oro, wakeboarding in Camarines Sur, and volcanic climbing in Albay. PNA

Airline gets new planes

30,000.000

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

4.

PH joins Vietnam meeting

Bid Documents Fee

1.

3.

IN BRIEF

(MS-SEPT. 24, 2016)

tinue to obstruct sidewalks on Rizal Avenue in Manila on Friday. Lino Santos

DoH: Check yourself for thyroid cancer

By Macon Ramos-Araneta ture may be abnormal and These include how fast you burn THE Department of Health called on the public to check themselves for thyroid cancer as it led the observation of National Thyroid Cancer Awareness Week.

Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial said anyone can now detect signs and symptoms of thyroid cancer through selfcheck.

Ubial said the easiest way is to examine the neck for abnormal lumps. She said one should just stand in front of a mirror with a glass of water and look at the neck in the mirror and see if there are any visible lumps moving up and down while taking a sip of water.

She said that for men, the most visible structure on the neck is Adam’s apple.

“Any lump below this struc-

must be further investigated,” she said.

The Health chief stressed that prevention is better than cure but prevention may only be attained if we have the proper information as our weapon against these diseases.

Aside from regular checkup, she cited the need to maintain a healthy and well-balanced diet, exercise and avoid smoking and alcohol. Hand in hand, let us attain our vision of All for Health towards Health for All. This year, teachers and parents are taught on how to do a proper self-check for early signs of thyroid cancer and to address myths regarding the illness.

Thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, just above the collarbone. Thyroid hormones control the body’s metabolism.

calories and how fast your heart beats.

Thyroid diseases include goiter, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroid cancer and thyroid nodules. These are highly prevalent, yet neglected diseases in the Philippines.

Data from the 2012 Philippine Thyroid Diseases Study (PhilTiDeS) revealed that almost one out of 10 Filipinos is affected by goiter.

Thyroid function abnormalities affect around eight percent of the population, with an estimated three percent affected by some form of hypothyroidism, and about six percent affected by some form of hyperthyroidism. These thyroid diseases affect women disproportionately, with women affected three times as much as men.

CEBU Pacific Air on Friday announced the delivery of its first Airbus ATR 72-600 High Capacity turboprops aircraft as part of its program to better serve domestic flight passengers.

The new ATR 72-600 which will be operated by Cebgo, the wholly owned subsidiary of CEB, features advanced avionics, enhanced performance in hot and high environments and increased cabin space along with additional seating capacity.

CEB will progressively replace its current fleet of eight ATR 72500s—which are configured with 72 seats—with the fleet of 16 new ATR 72-600s, with 78 seats. The additional seating capacity will help further lower unit seat costs enabling CEB to pass on the benefits through lower fares to its customers.

Deliveries of the ATR 72-600s will run until 2020.

The Cebu Pacific is in the process of modernizing its fleet with the most popular regional aircraft to substantially expand its route network and frequencies across the archipelago and continue to support the growing Philippine economy.

In a particularly competitive environment, the new high capacity ATR72-600s will help the airline reduce its fleet’s fuel consumption and cost per seat while answering the growing demand for interisland connectivity. Joel Zurbano

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

Manila

Standard

TODAY

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Late birdie carries Johnson to golf lead W

SPIKEFEST. John Sy (right), president of Mighty Sports Apparel, shakes hands with Philippine Volleyball Federation deputy secretary general and Cantada Sports Center manager Gerald Cantada after signing the agreement making Mighty Sports Apparel the title sponsor in this Sunday’s beach volleyball event at the Cantada Sports Center in Taguig City—the Mighty Sports Beach Volleyball Challenge. With them is Michelle Murriel, Mighty Sports Corporate Affair assistant. La Salle, University of the Philippines, Adamson, Far Eastern University, National University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, New Era University, Perpetual Help-Cavite, UPH-Laguna, Air Force, Navy and Army will see action.

Procurement of Two (2) Units Municipal Ambulance GOODS 100-16-09-045 (REBID) 1.

The Local Government of Dinalupihan, through MDRRMF – Trust Fund intends to apply the sum of Three Million Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php3,200,000.00)being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Procurement of Two (2) Units Municipal Ambulance. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The Local Government of Dinalupihan now invites bids for Procurement of Two (2) Units Municipal Ambulance. Delivery of ambulance vehicle is upon received of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project equivalent to at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

4.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

5.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Bids and Awards Committee and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours at eight o’clock in the morning to five o’clock in the afternoon.

6.

The LGU Dinalupihan, Bataan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on September 23, 2016 at 9:00 AM at BAC Office 2nd Flr. Municipal Bldg., Dinalupihan, Bataan which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the bidding documents.

7.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on September 20-28, 2016 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (Php5,000.00).

8.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before September 29, 2016 at 9:00 AM. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on September 29, 2016 at 9:00 AM at BAC Office 2nd Floor Municipal Bldg, Dinalupihan, Bataan. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

9.

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

For further information, please refer to: (SGD) AMELITA E. PEÑAFLOR BAC Chairman San Ramon, Dinalupihan, Bataan (SGD) ARCELI SAMSON BAC Secretariat San Ramon, Dinalupihan, Bataan

(MS-SEPT. 24, 2016)

Procurement of 1 unit Brand New Hydraulic Excavator GOODS 300-16-09-047 1.

The Local Government of Dinalupihan, through MDRRMF – Trust Fund intends to apply the sum of Four Million Eight Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 4,800,000.00)being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Procurement of 1 unit Brand New Hydraulic Excavator. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The Local Government of Dinalupihan now invites bids for Procurement of 1 unit Brand New Hydraulic Excavator. Delivery of Hydraulic Excavator is upon received of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project equivalent to at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

4.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

5.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Bids and Awards Committee and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours at eight o’clock in the morning to five o’clock in the afternoon.

6.

The LGU Dinalupihan, Bataan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on September 23, 2016 at 1:30 pm at BAC Office 2nd Flr. Municipal Bldg., Dinalupihan, Bataan which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the bidding documents.

7.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on September 20-28, 2016 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (Php5,000.00).

8.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before September 29, 2016 at 1:30 pm. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on September 29, 2016 at 1:30 pm at BAC Office 2nd Floor Municipal Bldg, Dinalupihan, Bataan. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

9.

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

For further information, please refer to: (SGD) AMELITA E. PEÑAFLOR BAC Chairman San Ramon, Dinalupihan, Bataan (SGD) ARCELI SAMSON BAC Secretariat San Ramon, Dinalupihan, Bataan

(MS-SEPT. 24, 2016)

ASHINGTON—US Open champion Dustin Johnson birdied the final hole to cap a four-under-par 66 and grab a share of the first-round lead alongside Hideki Matsuyama and Kevin Chappell at the USPGA Tour Championship in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday.

World number two Johnson arrived at East Lake Golf Club for the $8.5 million season finale atop the FedExCup playoff standings after his victory in the penultimate playoff event, the BMW Championship, two weeks ago.

The $10 million bonus on offer to the playoff series winner was still clearly in the 32-year-old’s sights after a round of five birdies and one bogey.

“I know there’s a lot on the

line, but there’s a lot on the line every week,” said Johnson, who was four-under through 12 to join the leading group, bogeyed 13 but regained a share of the lead at the par-five 18th.

“I come out with the same mentality. Today I felt really relaxed out there all day,” added Johnson, who opened with a birdie from a bunker at the first hole and finished with a birdie at the last, where he belted his approach shot to 58 feet and made a

four-footer for birdie. “I felt like I had good mojo going all day and swung it very nicely.”

With three victories this season, including his first major title and a WGC trophy at the Bridgestone Invitational, Johnson is also the frontrunner in the US tour’s player of the year race.

Japan’s Matsuyama rode a hot putter to his 66. The 24-year-old known as one of the best ballstrikers in the game struggled with his irons, hitting just 11 greens in regulation.

“My putting and short game saved me today,” Matsuyama said. “I wasn’t hitting the ball real crisp.”

Chappell, in contrast, hit 16 greens in regulation, making all four of his birdies on the front nine and coming home in even par to maintain his place atop the leaderboard.

- Spieth battles back The leading trio were one stroke in front of a group led by world number one Jason Day of Australia, who had four birdies and one bogey in a 67 that left him tied with South Korea’s Kim Si-Woo and American Kevin Kisner.

Day, who pulled out of the BMW Championship with a bad back, is seeking his first title in four months.

Last year’s FedExCup champion Jordan Spieth was in a quartet a further stroke back on 68 that also included Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, England’s Paul Casey and US Ryder Cup hopeful Justin Thomas.

Spieth roared back from his bogey-double bogey start, holing out from a bunker for birdie at 13 and rolling in two 20-foot birdie putts to cap his round. AFP

Perlas shoots for title Games today

(Bukit Serindit Indoor Stadium) 4 p.m. – Thailand vs Laos 6 p.m. – Singapore vs Vietnam 8 p.m. – Malaysia vs Philippines

DC Drift team is composed (from right) of Pro Racer and 2014 Pilipinas Got Talent Semifinalist Ralph Tan, three-time Champion and Drift Car Builder Atoy Llave, Victoria Court Managing Director and Car Porn Racing owner Angie Mead King and 16-year-old Gab

DC PH launches Overdrive DC Philippines recently held an exclusive media event to unveil an adrenaline pumping video, which ultimately showcased its roster of DC Drift Team last Sept. 20 at Europarts Makati.

In attendance were no less than top media personalities, alongside celebrity car enthusiasts, drifters, and inf luential figures in the local car scene.

Hosted by Michaela German, the program kicked off with the official introduction of the DC Ambassadors, who embody the

brand’s quest to defy conventions.

These four top caliber athletes had their first taste of teamwork with the production of the DC Overdrive video.

The DC Drift team is comprised of Pro Racer and 2014 Pilipinas Got Talent Semifinalist Ralph Tan, three-time Champion and Drift Car Builder Atoy Llave, Victoria Court Managing Director and Car Porn Racing owner Angie Mead King and 16-year-old Gabe Tayao, a multi-awarded karter, who is now training for Drifting and Formula racing.

Incidentally, both King and Tayao are likewise slated to see action next month when they represent the country in Formula 4 Southeast Asia series.

Debuting this year, F4 is the official entry level to Formula 1 and has ongoing regional races worldwide.

Also highlighting the event was the launch of the latest DC Ken Block Collection, a superior range of casual footwear that showcases the Custom Livery Artwork designed by international graffiti artist Felipe Pantone.

A welcome fit for a champ

AT LONG last, International Boxing Federation flyweight champion Johnreil Casimero is getting the attention he richly deserves as the vaunted “Road Warrior,” following his rousing 10th-round TKO victory over unbeaten British flyweight champion Charlie Edwards before 18,500 fight fans at the O2 Arena in London last week.

Casimero hoped for a hero’s welcome on his return from London after retaining the title he won with a rousing 4th-round knockout of Thailand’s Amnat Ruenroeng in Beijing, China, where referee Tony Weeks was the third man in the ring, unlike the utterly incompetent Leslie Doggett, who presided over a farcical bout in their first meeting in Thailand.

Doggett allowed Amnat to resort to all sorts of illegal acts, but after a protest filed by promoter Sammy Gello-ani, the IBF allowed a rematch and named the competent Weeks as third man in the ring. And he did the kind of job you would expect of him, resulting in a smashing 4th-round knockout by Casimero, who did

not allow Amnat to get away with illegal blows and Muay Thai style takedowns.

Over at London’s famous O2 Arena where, Casimero put on a show and dismantled Edwards in 10 rounds, winning nine rounds and conceding only the 5th round.

Casimero toyed with the 23-yearold British champion en route to a smashing 10th-round TKO. In London, Casimero, described by boxing man Sean Gibbons in an interview with us on the sidelines of the Jerwin Ancajas-McJoe Arroyo super flyweight title bout as “the best kept secret in Philippine boxing,” had asked his co-promoter Sammy Gello-ani whether he would get a hero’s welcome on his return.

He got much more than that.

We were at the airport with a Viva Sports crew to cover his arrival, along with our friends from ABS-CBN and had an interview with him, trainer Jhun Agrabio, who has done a tremendous job with promoter Gello-ani.

But the best was yet to come.

The Games and Amusements Board, under newly appointed chairman Abraham Mitra, son of the illustrious former speaker Ramon “Monching” Mitra, boxing division chief Dr. Nasser Cruz and the entire GAB staff, gave Casimero a raucous welcome, complete with pom-pomps, confetti, music and resounding cheers extolling “Cas-I-

MALACCA -- Perlas Pilipinas plays Malaysia in a virtual championship game tonight as the Filipinas try to win the gold medal of the SEABA Women’s Championship for the first time in six years.

The two teams clash at 8 p.m. at the Bukit Serindit Indoor Stadium, with both teams looking to win this all-important game that could probably assure them of the title.

Pending the result of the Philippines’ game against Indonesia, which is being played as of press time, the Filipinas are expected to win their fourth straight game.

Malaysia has won its first three games with ease and after the Philippines, its next three games would be against lowly Laos and Thailand, games they are likely to hurdle.

For head coach Patrick Aquino, the game against Malaysia is the biggest match of the tournament.

Although the Philippines was able to beat Malaysia in the Southeast Asian Games last year in Singapore, the Filipinas lost to the Malaysians in the FIBA Asia Women’s Championship in 2015.

“Malaysia is a team you want to emulate. They’ve been together for so long. The program is solid, the system is great and they have the strong support both by the association and the government,” said Aquino.

Mero! Cas-I-Mero!

It was truly a welcome fit for a champion and a sign that the new GAB chairman had our champions order, was the good luck charm, having seen Marlon Tapales win like Casimero close to his heart.

His welcome remarks were the WBO bantamweight title from touching and Casimero’s response Thailand’s Pungluang Sor Singyu when he couldn’t help but almost and Jerwin Ancajas’ lopsided debreak down and shed a tear was cision over Puerto Rico’s champion Arroyo. equally emotional.

In the Senate, Casimero was also Gello-ani recalled how Casimero left the country for Argentina to accorded a rousing welcome from fight the IBF light flyweight cham- the Senate leadership, headed by pion Luis Lazarte and won by a Senate president Koko Pimentel 10th-round TKO in a riot-marred and eight-division world champion fight, where Johnreil had to be Manny Pacquiao and the other leadbundled under the ring to save him ers, giving Casimero the hero’s welfrom irate and drunken fans and come he had longed for.

Boxing is the one sport that has couldn’t even receive his belt.

Johnreil’s brother had died be- brought our country innumerable fore he left for his historic jour- honors and it’s only right and just ney and he asked that the burial that our leaders give our courabe held only when he returns as a geous champions the welcome champion…and he did, adding to they deserve. the glory of the road warrior.

Since then, Casimero fought against opponents in their hometowns in Panama, Colombia, Mexico, Thailand and China, where he won the IBF 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ flyweight rematch with Amnat.

DIGITS 00-00-00-00 His GAB welcome was by far the most amazing and showed that ChairDIGITS 00-00-00 man Mitra, who pointed out that president Rody Duterte, who himself was EZ2 00-00 a fighter of the highest

LOTTO RESULTS

6/45 4 3 2

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Salvador blasts way to 3-shot ICTSI led

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

A8

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016

ELMER Salvador flashed superb bunker shots at the front to save five pars then unleashed a strong finishing kick to card a four-under 68 and storm past Tony Lascuña for a huge three-stroke lead in the third round of the P3.5 million ICTSI Tournament Players Championship at Wack Wack East yesterday.

A pitch-in birdie from around 10 yards on the par-3 16th and another bunker save on the 18th spiked Salvador’s surge on a bogey-free 35-33 card as Lascuña faltered with a 72 after a 67 Thursday and the Davaoeno aces switched places heading to the final round of the 72-hole championship sponsored by ICTSI. “I felt like I couldn’t do wrong despite a number of bunker visits. I had an incredible feeling each time I got out of the trap. It further boosted my confidence,” said Salvador, who pooled a nine-under 207 and moved 18 holes away from nailing a second victory in the last three legs of the circuit after ruling the Splendido Taal tournament three weeks ago.

Lascuña, who went on a roller-coaster ride after a near-flawless stint in the second round that netted him a one-stroke lead, failed to rescue a par from the bunker on the 16th, giving Salvador a crucial twoshot swing and a big cushion in their final round duel for the top P650,000 purse.

Despite his mediocre four-birdie, three-bogey effort, Lascuña stayed just one behind Salvador heading to No. 15 but the four-leg winner muffed a threefoot birdie putt on the par-4 hole then missed a 10-footer for par on the next to fall behind by three.

Sports A par save off the greenside bunker on No. 2 kept Elmer Salvador going.

Daquis is PSL Manila skipper

Beermen edge Warriors, st book 1 seat in semifinals

SUPERSTAR Rachel Anne Daquis will serve as skipper when PSL Manila battles the world’s best club teams in the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship at the Mall of Asia Arena from Oct. 18 to 23.

Daquis, the comely open spiker from RC Cola-Army in the Philippine Superliga is one of the most seasoned players among seven Filipinas, who will clash with the best players from Turkey, Thailand, Italy, Brazil, Switzerland and Japan in the week-long volleyball spectacle.

PSL president Ramon “Tats” Suzara said that aside from her valuable international experience, the 28-year-old Daquis also has the leadership and the personality that makes her popular to her teammates, even to the foreign players like Tinchaya Boonlert of Thailand, Ekaterina Krivets of Russia, Lynda Morales of Puerto Rico, Yevgeniya Nyukhalova of Ukraine, Lindsay Stalzer and Stephanie Niemer of the United States and Yuri Fukuda of Japan.

Save for Morales, who just arrived Wednesday, all of the reinforcements already trained with the rest of the team and were given a pep talk by Suzara, PSL chairman Philip Ella Juico and Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. vice president Pete Cayco Friday at the Arellano gym.

Also in attendance were local players Jovelyn Gonzaga of RC Cola-Army and Jen Reyes of Petron.

Jaja Santiago of Foton, Frances Molina of Petron and Mika Reyes and Kim Fajardo of F2 Logistics, however, failed to make the session due to various reasons.

By Jeric Lopez

M

ETHODICALLY, defending champion San Miguel Beer is back in the semifinals.

The heavily favored Beermen qualified for the next phase after regaining order in the fourth quarter, just in time after blowing a double-digit lead to oust NLEX, 114-110, in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Elijah Millsap was in beast mode, pouring in a team-high 39 to backstop San Miguel, which capitalized on its twice-

to-beat advantage, while getting a lot of backing from June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter and Alex Cabagnot.

Fajardo added 17 points, while Lassiter and Cabagnot each chipped in 14.

The title defense continues for San Miguel as it will now await its opponent in the best-of-seven semifinals. That can either be Barangay Ginebra or Alaska, two of its fiercest longtime rivals.

San Miguel Beer leaned on

its championship experience and poise down the stretch to shrug off the pesky Road Warriors after losing its double-digit lead in the second half.

The game was still hanging in the balance at 100-all with under five minutes left and the Beermen took control once again to take it away.

A vital 10-2 run in the waning minutes capped by a closing triple from Lassiter gave San Miguel a safe 110-102 distance with just 1:10 remaining.

The Road Warriors made a lastditch effort with a 5-0 run inside the last 20 seconds to cut it to just two, 112-110, but it was just a little too late for them as Millsap’s two free throws with two seconds left sealed the deal.

San Miguel led by 15 points, 6348, at the half after a rousing second period. It also held the same amount of lead in the third multiple times before NLEX clawed its way back to make it anyone’s game in the payoff period.

However, the Beermen kept their composure to finish off the Road Warriors.

Millsap, Lassiter and Fajardo were already right on point from the get-go.

The trio already combined for 40 first half points as they torched the Road Warriors from all over the floor with their effective offensive onslaught.

NLEX’s season once again ended in disappointment as it had another quarterfinals exit.

Games Today

3 p.m. Meralco vs Mahindra 5:15 p.m. TNT vs Phoenix

The Road Warriors were led by Henry Walker’s monster numbers of 45 points and 17 rebounds, though these clearly weren’t enough for NLEX to force a decider.

The scores: SAN MIGUEL 114—Millsap 39, Fajardo 17, Lassiter 14, Cabagnot 14, Santos 11, Espinas 7, Tubid 6, Ross 4, De Ocampo 2.

NLEX 110—Walker 45, Villanueva J. 17, Lanete 13, Taulava 13, Anthony 11, Villanueva E. 6, Khobuntin 3, Alas 2, Baracael 0, Monfort 0.

Quarterscores: 24-23, 63-48, 86-82, 114-110

Mighty Sports gets boost from Chris Tiu

OVER A HUNDRED EMPLOYEES of Smart Communications joined the Nokia Run for a Cause 2016 recently at the University of the Philippines Diliman. Because of Smart’s strong support for the event, organizers gave the company the Biggest Delegation Award. Registration fees for the activity would benefit Acay Missions Philippines and Bahay Aruga Foundation. Employees who participated in the run are members of Samahang Mananakbo ng Smart (SMS), one of 22 clubs in the company that encourage the workforce to live a well-rounded life.

Archers take on Falcons, eye 5th straight victory FOR the La Salle Green Archers, every up,” said Ayo after their 75-55 triumph over the National University Bulldogs last Sunday. game is considered a battle for survival.

Ayo, who is thankful for the support Fortunately for them, they have emerged on top after winning four straight games of team patron Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, believes that the and taking the solo lead in the Games Today team with the better shape 79th University Athletic As(MOA Arena) sociation of the Philippines 2 p.m. Adamson vs La Salle will win the game.

Fans will be looking forward to men’s basketball tournament.

4 p.m. Ateneo vs UE the matchup of big men Papi Sarr Against the Adamson Soaring Falcons, coach Aldin Ayo hopes that the of Adamson and Ben Mbala the Green Archers.

Mbala has been dominating the boards Green Archers can pull off their fifth consecutive triumph in their 2 p.m. clash at the in the last four matches and so has Sarr after the Soaring Falcons emerged secMall of Asia Arena.

Later, the Ateneo Blue Eagles, who have ond with their 3-1 slate.

For Falcons’ mentor, Franz Pumaren, it a 2-2 card in a four-way tie for third, battle will be a reunion with old friends when he winless University of the East at 4 p.m.

“With the support we have, kahit ganu’n coaches his team against his alma mater kahirap, we just play our game and don’t give and former team. Peter Atencioi

SINGAPORE—Rain or Shine guard Chris Tiu is arriving today as Mighty Sports Apparel Philippines presses its bid for a finals berth in the 2016 Merlion Cup basketball tournament.

Getting the green light from ROS owners Raymund Yu and Terry Que after the Painters missed the playoffs of the ongoing PBA Governors’ Cup, Tiu hopes to help younger brother Charles win his first international trophy as a coach.

This marks the first time that Xavier School’s deadly trio of Tiu, TY Tang and Joseph Yeo will play together since their celebrated high school years.

The Philippine squad beat the tough Seoul Samsung Thunders, 92-87, Wednesday night

at the OCBC Arena behind the big games of imports Alford Thornton, Dewarick Spencer and Hamady N’Dyiaye.

The team was playing the Westports Malaysia Dragons last night.

A victory over the Dragons will push Mighty Sports into the semifinals of the Merlion Cup, which is making a comeback after a 20-year hiatus under the aegis of the Basketball Association of Singapore.

Mighty Sports, which is supported by HC Technology Pte. Ltd., Huishi International Group Co. Ltd., Cebuana Lhuillier and Scratch It, is hoping to win backto-back international titles after his historic win of the William Jones Cup tournament in Taiwan last July.

Cardinals claim no. 3 seed; Blazers halt skid THE Mapua Cardinals charged back from an 11-point deficit and leaned on the heroics of Joseph Eriobu to escape with a 67-63 beating of the Perpetual Help Altas Friday at The Arena in San Juan.

Allwell Oraeme tallied a game-high 14 points for the Cardinals, who finished the eliminations with a 12-6 record that earned them the no. 3 seeding in the 92nd National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.

Darren Menina only had five points, but he capped a big comeback from 11 points down at the end of the third with a triple in the last 2:56, allowing the Cards to overtake the Altas, 63-62, in the ensuing play.

The Altas, playing without Bright

Akhuetie after he was benched for disciplinary reasons, took the no. 4 seeding after absorbing their seventh setback against 11 wins.

Eriobu scored on the right side off CJ Isit’s pass following a turnover in the last 1:15, and the Cards moved away, 65-62.

Prince Eze hit 15 points for the Altas, but misfired twice as he tried to help his team move back into the lead in the final minute.

Then, Eriobu struck again after he got scolded by coach Atoy Co for not passing the ball quickly, getting fouled in the process by Altas cager Daryl Singontiko in the last 3.4 seconds. His two charities in the ensuing play handed the Cards a four-point edge as time expired.

Meanwhile, the College of St. Benilde

Blazers finally won, pulling off a 65-61 victory over Lyceum of the Philippines University.

The Blazers, led by Senegalese Clement Lentcheu with 18, rallied from a 13-point, fourth-quarter deficit to nail their first win after dropping 17 straight games.

“This is an emotional win not just for me but also the players and the team,” said St. Benilde coach Gabby Velasco.

Meanwhile, Javee Mocon unloaded 19 points, including seven in the pivotal third period, to help power the San Beda Red Lions to a 91-81 subduing of the Arellano Braves. With their similar 14-4 slates, the Red Lions and the Chiefs will meet on Tuesday in a playoff for the no. 1 seeding. Peter Atencio

Lopez tells miners to accept audit report B2

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016

Finance plans 10% fixed tax on sugar

ABACA REVIVAL.

Agriculture Secretary Manuel Piñol (second from right) awards to the Sogod municipal government, represented by Mayor Imelda Tan (second from left), P50 million in funds to be used for an abaca nursery project to produce abaca suckers that will be dispersed in the whole of Region VIII. The Sogod Bay area in Southern Leyte is home to hectares of abaca before it was wiped out by the bunchy top virus in the early 2000s. Witnessing the turnover are DA-VIII director Wilson Cerbito and PhilFida OIC-Director Victor Prodigo.

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

PSe comPoSite index

Closing September 23, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

7,723.60 38.75

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P47.990

44.00

CLOSE

43.00

Economic managers try to calm investors B

ANGKO Sentral Governor Amando HIGH P47.860 LOW P48.000 AVERAGE P47.940 Tetangco sought to soothe investors spooked by President Rodrigo Duterte’s VOLUME 590.500M rhetoric around his anti-drug war, with stocks poised for the longest outflow since 2007.

P392-P620.00 LPG/11-kg tank P35.70-P42.50 Unleaded Gasoline

oPriceS il P today

P24.84-P28.27 Diesel P28.50-P36.85 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, September 23, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States Dollar

1.000000

47.8350

Japan

Yen

0.009928

0.4749

UK

Pound

1.308300

62.5825

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128949

6.1683

Switzerland

Franc

1.032738

49.4010

Canada

Dollar

0.766871

36.6833

Singapore

Dollar

0.737463

35.2765

Australia

Dollar

0.764200

36.5555

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655196

127.0113

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266716

12.7584

Brunei

Dollar

0.734754

35.1470

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000076

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.028894

1.3821

UAE

Dirham 0.272287

13.0248

Euro

Euro

1.120800

53.6135

Korea

Won

0.000907

0.0434

China

Yuan

0.150002

7.1753

India

Rupee

0.015010

0.7180

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.243546

11.6500

New Zealand

Dollar

0.731000

34.9674

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031934

1.5276 Source: PDS Bridge

“If you take out the noise and look at the fundamentals, look at the economic program, look at the quality of the members appointed to the economic team, then these are all solid,” Tetangco told bankers, traders and fund managers late Thursday in Manila.

Tetangco joins a host of economic officials including Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, who on Wednesday said economic policies have been clear and consis-

tent since Duterte took office in June. S&P Global Ratings this week warned of “rising uncertainties surrounding the stability, predictability, and accountability” under the new government.

“All this negative news about the president is going to affect investor sentiment, but as long as the economic team can push through with their plans, the economy will remain strong,” said Gundy Cahyadi, an economist with DBS Group Hold-

ings Ltd. in Singapore. “For the time being, we still think there is plenty of positives to look at.”

Money that flowed into the Philippines after the May elections is drying up. Philippine stocks slid 0.5 percent on Friday, and foreign funds have been selling for 21 straight days as of Thursday, the longest outflow since 2007.

The peso slumped to an eightmonth low against the US dollar and is the worst-performing Asian currency after the yuan this year. Foreign direct investment shrank 41 percent in June from a year earlier.

Duterte has defied international criticism of his anti-drug war that has killed more than 3,000 people, lashing out at the United

Nations and European Union and unleashing an obscenityladen tirade where he warned US President Barack Obama against interfering in his campaign.

The current account and balance-of-payments will remain in surplus, economic growth will continue to be strong, and stability in monetary and financial conditions will be preserved, Tetangco said. The Philippine economy expanded 7 percent last quarter from a year earlier, the fastest in Asia after India.

“Political noise is part of transition,” central bank Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said on Thursday. The “President is getting used to the position and the responsibilities that it involves. Let’s focus on the message.” Bloomberg

Transportation to end common rail station row

By Darwin G Amojelar THE Transportation Department said it expects to end by next week the dispute over the location of the common station that will link Metro Manila’s overhead train system in Quezon City .

“Hopefully by September 28, all the four stakeholders will sign the common station [agreement],” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said, referring to SM Prime Holdings Inc., Ayala Land Corp., Metro Pacific Investments Corp and San Miguel Corp.

“The only thing missing right now are certain technicalities

which include the access either overpass or underpass. I think the design issue is about to be addressed with the blessing of the DPWH [Department of Public Works and Highways]. So, you will have the common station soon,” he added.

Tugade had said the common station would be built between SM North and Trinoma mall.

San Miguel, the proponent of MRT 7, preferred SM North as the location of the common station under a 25-year concession agreement with the government.

SM Prime earlier secured a Supreme Court stay order, barring the department from trans-

ferring the location of the common station to Trinoma mall of Ayala Land Inc. Transportation decided to relocate the common station to Trinoma from SM North, saying the government could save P1 billion from the transfer.

To resolve the conflict with the SM Group, the Transportation Department proposed building two common stations, one near SM North Edsa and the other beside Trinoma Mall.

Under an earlier agreement between SM Prime and state-run Light Rail Transit Authority, the common station would be situated beside SM North Edsa. SM

Prime has paid the government P200 million for the naming rights for the proposed station.

MPIC chairman Manuel Pangilinan earlier said the best solution to resolve the issue on common station was to build it somewhere between SM North Edsa and Trinoma.

Pangilinan said the two common stations for MRT Line 3, LRT Line 1 and the proposed MRT Line 7 would be inefficient.

LRMC earlier proposed to Transportation the construction of an interim station between SM City North Edsa and Trinoma to connect the existing LRT1, MRT3 and the planned MRT7.

Tetangco sees increases in term deposit auctions

By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said further increases in the weekly volume of the term deposit facility auctions could be expected in the coming months to further siphon off excess money in the financial system.

Tetangco in a speech delivered before financial market players Thursday evening in Makati City that recent auctions showed banks and trust entities were becoming more familiar with the interest rate corridor system and responding positively to higher auction sizes.

“You can expect further upward adjustments to the auction

B1

sizes. The objective is to siphon off a sufficient amount of liquidity such that the gap between the policy rate and the term auction rates would have narrowed and are more closely aligned,” Tetangco said.

“Together with refinements in auction sizes, we will continue to implement the agreed phaseout of access by trust entities to the ODF [overnight deposit facility] and TDF [term deposit facility] windows by June 2017,” Tetangco said.

Bangko Sentral adopted the interest rate corridor system in June so that the transmission of monetary policy would improve through calibrated auctioning.

THE Finance Department plans to impose a fixed tax of P10 per liter on all sugar-sweetened beverage regardless of form.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the government under the tax reform package to be submitted to Congress expected to book P18.1 billion in additional revenues from the so-called “sugar tax.”

Dominguez said in a speech the government wanted to package the sugar tax as a health measure similar to the sin tax law.

Dominguez said Finance wanted to impose an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages at a uniform rate of P10 per liter whether in liquid or powdered form.

The tax aims to cover soft drinks, soda pop, energy drinks and sweetened teas and coffees.

“When all these reform measures are undertaken, we expect a net revenue gain that will help finance inclusive growth,” Dominguez said.

House Bill No. 292 filed by Sultan Kudarat 2nd District Rep. Horacio Suansing and Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrellita Suansing seeks to impose an excise tax of P10 on sugar sweetened beverages.

The bill also seeks to increase the rate by 4 percent every years from January 2017.

The bill proposes to allocate 50 percent of the revenues to the general fund, 20 percent to the Health Department, 20 percent to the Education Department, 3 percent to the Department of Interior and Local government’s Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat program and 2 percent to the Bureau of Internal Revenue for tax administration.

IN BRIEF Peso depreciates to 47.99 vs dollar

THE peso declined to an eightmonth low against the greenback Friday, touching 48 before closing at 47.99.

The local currency lost P0.16 from Thursday’s close of 47.83.

It was the peso’s weakest level since the 47.995 posted on Jan. 26, 2016. Total volume turnover stood at $590 million, higher than $502.855 million a day ago.

The peso opened at 47.86 against the greenback, touching the 48-a-dollar level at one point during the trading day.

Security Bank said in its daily report that that US dollar was “now trading off the lows post FOMC [Federal Open Market Committee meeting].” FOMC met on Sept. 21 to 22.

On Thursday, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said the decision of the US Federal Reserve to keep interest rates unchanged Wednesday would slow the weakness of the peso against the greenback.

Julito G. Rada

Exports likely up by just 1% in 2016

SECURITY BANK AWARDS. Security Bank Corp. executive vice president and chief financial officer Joey Mape (center) and Investor Relations head Ropi Dangazo (left) receive the awards from Alpha Southeast Asia’s publisher and chief executive Siddiq Bazarwala. Alpha Southeast Asia Magazine recognized Security Bank with two awards during its 6th Annual Southeast Asia’s Institutional Investor Awards for Corporates 2016 and 10th Annual Best Financial Institutions in Southeast Asia held on September 1 at the Conrad Centennial Singapore.

MERCHANDISE exports may grow by less than 1 percent in 2016 after contracting for 16 consecutive months.

“The devaluation of our peso will help subdue the losses. However, other economies in the region are also experiencing the same problem,” Philippine Export Confederation president Sergio OrtizLuis said Friday at the sidelines of the 2nd Philippine Homestyle Congress in Pasay City.

He said the double-digit growth of the services sector would help the industry post positive exports growth in 2016.

The Philippine Export Development Council in July reduced export growth forecast to 3 percent from 6 percent earlier in 2016.

The weak European, American and Chinese markets have slowed down demand for goods from the Philippines. Othel V. Campos

B2

Business

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market slides; Nickel Asia up S

TOCKS fell Friday, ending a four-day rally, as investors took their foot off the pedal in Asia following the US Federal Reserve’s decision to hold interest rates.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, shed 38 points, or 0.5 percent, to close at 7,723.60. Despite the loss, the bellwether was still up 11.1 percent this year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also dropped 16 points, or 0.4 percent, to settle at 4,586.71 on a value turnover of P7.6 billion.

Advancers edged losers, 90 to 89, while 51 issues were unchanged.

Seven of the 20 most active

stocks ended in the green, led by mining company Nickel Asia Corp. which surged 6.6 percent to P6.94. Property developer Megaworld Corp. gained 1.9 percent to P4.79, while Metro Pacific Investments Corp. added 1.3 percent to close at P7.19.

Meanwhile, Asian shares also traded lower Friday, as trading floors calmed down after two days of strong gains. Traders piled into equities, bonds and commodities after the Federal Reserve reined in its outlook

for future interest-rate increases, soothing concern that central banks globally would taper stimulus efforts.

World equities and high-yielding currencies have soared since Wednesday when the Bank of Japan said it would target boosting inflation and the Federal Reserve pressed on with policies that makes cash cheap.

But trading floors calmed down as dealers headed into the weekend, with markets moving in and out of positive territory during early exchanges.

The announcements soothed concerns that the years of ultralow borrowing costs could be nearing an end as central bankers run out of ideas on how to kickstart torpid growth.

“There’s a very bullish case for equities considering that the Fed is now expecting only two rate hikes in 2017,” James Woods, a strategist at Rivkin Securities in Sydney, told Bloomberg News.

“There are uncertainties that could shake up some volatility in the market, including the US elections in November.”

Tokyo’s Nikkei—which was closed Thursday for a holiday a day after surging 1.9 percent –was down 0.1 percent by the break, with a stronger yen offsetting the euphoria of the BoJ’s easy money move.

Hong Kong added 0.3 percent and Shanghai gained 0.1 percent, while Sydney put on 0.5 percent and Seoul gained 0.2 percent.

With Bloomberg, AFP

Lopez advises miners to accept audit report

By Norman P. Aquino and Cecilia Yap THE Philippines said the audit of the nation’s mining industry will carry the full force of law and producers that don’t follow findings and recommendations face closure, reinforcing the government’s tough message in a showdown in the top nickel producer that may see mass suspensions.

“They have to follow, because if they don’t, they face

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 2.6 890 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 75 91.5 137 80 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 12.02 19.6 1.02 625 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 58 62 88.35 52 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

AG Finance 3.6 Asia United Bank 48.5 Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. 110.60 Bank of PI 105.90 China Bank 38 BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. 3.70 Bright Kindle Resources 1.45 COL Financial 16.1 Eastwest Bank 21.15 I-Remit Inc. 1.87 Manulife Fin. Corp.

629.00 MEDCO Holdings 0.970 Metrobank 86.7 Natl. Reinsurance Corp. 0.92 PB Bank 14.04 Phil Bank of Comm 24.00 Phil. National Bank 58.40 Phil. Savings Bank 97 Philippine trust Co. 245 PSE 272 RCBC `A’ 35.8 Security Bank 255 Sun Life Financial 1415.00 Union Bank 73.25 Vantage Equities 1.46

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92

20.6 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 79 4 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 0.62 5 5.25 12.98 15 2.65 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 1450 3.28 0.315 2.18 234 5.28 1.3 2.17

15.32 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 1.06 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 5.34 0.395 173 34.1 1.63 33 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 0.335 3.37 3.87 8.45 10.04 2.09 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 801 1.55 0.138 1.02 152 4.28 0.640 1.2

0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5 76 9.25 0.85 17.3 5.53 0.0670 1.61 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 1.39 156 0.435 0.510

0.44 48.1 20.85 1.6 6.62 0.225 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 2.26 0.152 837 5.3 49.55 4.84 0.59 12 4.2 0.030 0.550 59.3 1.5 751 1.13 0.93 80 0.179 0.310

Aboitiz Power Corp.

45.65 Agrinurture Inc. 3.3 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.99 Alsons Cons.

1.6 Asiabest Group 16.3 Cemex Holdings 12.04 Century Food 17 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 23.95 Concepcion 56.85 Crown Asia 2.14 Da Vinci Capital 6.15 Del Monte 12.16 DNL Industries Inc. 11.800 Emperador 7.10 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 6.00 EEI 7.93 Euro-Med Lab 1.76 First Gen Corp.

25.35 First Holdings ‘A’ 72.5 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 13.00 Holcim Philippines Inc. 16.60 Integ. Micro-Electronics 6.2 Ionics Inc 2.210 Jollibee Foods Corp.

249.40 Liberty Flour 54.70 Mabuhay Vinyl 4.35 Macay Holdings 27.75 Manila Water Co. Inc. 29.5 Maxs Group 28.8 Megawide 15.18 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 315.20 MG Holdings 0.260 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 4.76 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.21 Petron Corporation 10.30 Phinma Corporation 11.60 Phinma Energy 2.22 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 6.00 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.55 Pryce Corp. `A’ 3.76 RFM Corporation 4.19 San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ 221.6 Splash Corporation 3.1 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.165 TKC Steel Corp.

1.78 Universal Robina 187.7 Victorias Milling 4.6 Vitarich Corp.

2.47 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.22 HOLDING FIRMS Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.390 Aboitiz Equity 79.20 Alliance Global Inc. 16.50 Anglo Holdings A 1.25 Anscor `A’ 6.19 ATN Holdings A 0.370 Ayala Corp `A’ 865 Cosco Capital 8.5 DMCI Holdings 12.00 F&J Prince ‘A’ 6.38 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

8.05 Forum Pacific 0.211 GT Capital 1480 House of Inv. 6.30 JG Summit Holdings 79.00 Lopez Holdings Corp.

8.23 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.8 LT Group 16.4 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 7.1 Pacifica `A’ 0.0350 Prime Orion 2.050 San Miguel Corp `A’ 83.00 Seafront `A’ 2.28 SM Investments Inc. 668.50 Solid Group Inc. 1.28 South China Res. Inc. 1.02 Top Frontier 225.000 Wellex Industries 0.2070 Zeus Holdings 0.280

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

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

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

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

Double Dragon Empire East Land Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Realty `A’ Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp.

Robinson’s Land `B’

High

Low

FINANCIAL 3.64 3.42 48.5 48.1 111.80 110.30 105.90 103.90 38.1 38 3.72 3.72 1.47 1.42 16.6 16.2 21.75 21.3 1.87 1.87 629.00 605.00 0.990 0.960 86.8 85 0.92 0.91 14.5 14.06 23.40 23.30 59.85 58.00 98 97.5 250 245 272 270 36 35.8 255 250.2 1430.00 1410.00 73.60 73.30 1.46 1.46 INDUSTRIAL 45.95 44.7 3.33 3.25 1.05 0.99 1.66 1.61 16.6 16.28 12.2 11.96 17 16.86 23.9 23.6 57 57 2.19 2.15 6.16 6.02 12.3 12.18 12.000 11.720 7.21 7.09 6.00 5.90 8.00 7.94 1.74 1.74 26.15 25.2 72.5 71.8 13.48 12.40 16.64 16.60 6.2 6.14 2.220 2.180 249.40 245.40 55.00 54.70 4.41 4.29 27.90 26.25 29.5 29.35 28.95 28.6 15.4 14.88 317.00 313.20 0.265 0.255 4.76 4.70 3.24 3.23 10.46 10.22 11.60 11.60 2.24 2.22 6.00 5.89 1.59 1.56 3.76 3.58 4.20 4.19 230 223 3.1 2.48 0.169 0.165 1.82 1.78 188 182.8 4.67 4.67 2.54 2.33 1.27 1.27

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.64 48.25 111.10 105.50 38.05 3.72 1.42 16.2 21.45 1.87 605.00 0.970 85.15 0.92 14.2 23.30 59.30 98 249.6 272 35.95 253 1410.00 73.35 1.46

1.11 -0.52 0.45 -0.38 0.13 0.54 -2.07 0.62 1.42 0.00 -3.82 0.00 -1.79 0.00 1.14 -2.92 1.54 1.03 1.88 0.00 0.42 -0.78 -0.35 0.14 0.00

6,000 28,400 1,493,720 1,621,480 128,200 20,000 43,000 180,100 1,500,700 14,000 600 1,293,000 3,981,660 436,000 39,000 1,000 11,780 1,100 3,990 2,710 356,300 1,017,630 210 219,670 11,000

45.15 3.32 1 1.63 16.5 12.1 16.94 23.9 57 2.18 6.03 12.26 11.740 7.21 5.97 7.97 1.74 25.4 72 13.00 16.60 6.15 2.180 247.80 54.70 4.38 27.40 29.45 28.95 14.98 314.00 0.260 4.76 3.23 10.24 11.60 2.24 6.00 1.58 3.58 4.20 223 3.1 0.165 1.79 183.3 4.67 2.35 1.27

-1.10 0.61 1.01 1.87 1.23 0.50 -0.35 -0.21 0.26 1.87 -1.95 0.82 -0.51 1.55 -0.50 0.50 -1.14 0.20 -0.69 0.00 0.00 -0.81 -1.36 -0.64 0.00 0.69 -1.26 -0.17 0.52 -1.32 -0.38 0.00 0.00 0.62 -0.58 0.00 0.90 0.00 1.94 -4.79 0.24 0.63 0.00 0.00 0.56 -2.34 1.52 -4.86 4.10

2,041,100 732,000 6,120,000 289,000 105,200 22,485,600 3,250,600 1,175,100 126,000 313,000 34,400 29,100 3,689,000 995,600 8,049,900 335,200 2,000 3,929,600 313,540 14,400 296,100 735,800 420,000 428,320 1,380 60,000 1,900 5,604,400 114,200 1,565,600 175,030 100,000 10,000 149,000 2,468,900 410,000 153,000 549,100 121,000 247,000 261,000 8,370 3,530,000 6,830,000 1,380,000 1,968,970 10,000 14,835,000 82,000

0.390 78.00 16.40 1.25 6.01 0.365 872 8.53 11.94 6.38 8.12 0.211 1480 6.34 76.35 8.25 0.81 16.36 7.19 0.0370 2.020 82.50 2.45 669.00 1.23 1.01 228.000 0.1980 0.275

0.00 -1.52 -0.61 0.00 -2.91 -1.35 0.81 0.35 -0.50 0.00 0.87 0.00 0.00 0.63 -3.35 0.24 1.25 -0.24 1.27 5.71 -1.46 -0.60 7.46 0.07 -3.91 -0.98 1.33 -4.35 -1.79

1,530,000 1,257,890 3,316,300 92,000 52,000 760,000 399,990 2,731,200 9,006,000 5,300 1,094,200 230,000 140,915 1,900 2,960,960 2,508,900 13,000 3,035,300 42,103,700 69,300,000 303,000 194,800 16,000 407,020 107,000 2,000 2,670 710,000 1,050,000

7.500 1.30 2.700 0.275 39.000 2.91 5.1 0.590 1.10 0.990 0.167 0.600 59 0.780 1.02 1.91 1.18 4.79 0.230 0.415 35.00 3.81 30.85

1.35 -0.76 -3.57 -1.79 0.00 -2.35 0.00 1.72 0.00 0.00 -1.76 0.00 0.00 0.00 -2.86 1.60 0.00 1.91 1.77 0.00 -5.41 5.83 0.42

61,800 500,000 1,461,000 2,800,000 12,427,300 516,000 4,700 3,284,000 468,000 160,000 8,580,000 1,672,000 809,130 89,000 8,666,000 16,433,000 36,000 35,112,000 233,210,000 10,000 200 2,559,000 2,757,300

255,920.00 42,933,994 -42,823,335.00 700,575.00 -477,178.00 -19,054,345.00 19,400.00 -57,679,195.50 219,336.00 115,923.50 625,000.00 2,700.00 -31,700 -167,154,368.00 -256,633.50

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 1.62 8.59

1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 0.83 5.73

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 28.5 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 7.67 4 2720 8.41

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

70.5 1.97 119.5 7 0.017

17.02 1.23 102.6 3.01 0.011

0.8200 2.2800 5.93

0.041 1.200 2.34

12.28 3.32 1 15.2

6.5 1.91 0.650 6

1.040 22.8 6.41 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.37 14.54 3 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 5 0.315 1.14

0.0098 5.45 17.24 25 0.330 12.7 12.8 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 1.72 6.47 9.43 0.236 6.5 5.11 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.012 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

70 553 525

33 490 500

8.21 12.28 1060 1047 78.95 84.8

5.88 6.5 997 1011 74.5 75

Close

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

High 1.64 3.34 28.00 1.07 1.040 5.200

Low

1.7 1.6 3.36 3.32 28.50 27.75 1.09 1.05 1.040 1.020 5.280 5.170 SERVICES 2GO Group’ 7.5 7.49 7.35 ABS-CBN 49 49.1 48.9 Acesite Hotel 1.29 1.37 1.29 APC Group, Inc. 0.560 0.570 0.560 Berjaya Phils. Inc. 5.62 5.54 5.53 Bloomberry 5.39 5.44 5.35 Boulevard Holdings 0.1000 0.1080 0.1020 Calata Corp.

3.51 3.52 3.45 Cebu Air Inc. (5J) 118.5 119 118.4 Centro Esc. Univ.

10 10.12 10 DFNN Inc. 7.00 7.22 7.00 Easy Call “Common” 3.18 3.18 3.01 Globe Telecom 2100 2134 2070 GMA Network Inc. 6.30 6.33 6.28 Golden Haven 14.16 14.16 13.70 Grand Plaza Hotel 20.20 20.20 20.20 Harbor Star 1.94 1.97 1.85 I.C.T.S.I. 81.6 82.3 80.95 Imperial Res. `A’ 19.00 19.18 18.52 IP E-Game Ventures Inc. 0.0099 0.0100 0.0099 IPM Holdings 9.24 9.24 9.15 Island Info 0.250 0.270 0.255 ISM Communications 1.4200 1.4600 1.4000 Jackstones 3.93 4.08 3.75 LBC Express 12.3 12.3 12.3 Leisure & Resorts 4.41 4.45 4.35 Liberty Telecom 2.36 2.40 2.24 Manila Bulletin 0.570 0.570 0.570 Melco Crown 4.56 4.6 4.32 Metro Retail 5.85 5.83 5.66 NOW Corp.

3.720 3.750 3.580 Pacific Online Sys. Corp. 11.36 11.36 11.36 PAL Holdings Inc. 5.62 5.62 5.40 Phil. Seven Corp.

156.00 160.00 148.20 Philweb.Com Inc. 5.99 6.02 5.79 PLDT Common 1756.00 1770.00 1730.00 PremiereHorizon 0.415 0.420 0.405 Premium Leisure 1.050 1.050 1.030 Puregold 44.00 44.15 43.95 Robinsons RTL 80.00 80.20 78.60 SBS Phil. Corp.

6.15 6.26 6.03 SSI Group 3.01 3.09 2.99 STI Holdings 0.620 0.630 0.610 Travellers 3.38 3.39 3.31 Waterfront Phils.

0.370 0.370 0.355 Yehey 5.300 5.450 5.120 MINING & OIL Abra Mining 0.0038 0.0039 0.0037 Apex `A’ 2.88 3.13 2.86 Atlas Cons. `A’ 4.12 4.24 4.22 Atok-Big Wedge `A’ 9.66 9.70 9.66 Basic Energy Corp.

0.220 0.220 0.205 Benguet Corp `A’ 2.1500 2.15 2.1200 Benguet Corp `B’ 2.1700 2.1700 2.1700 Century Peak Metals Hldgs0.59 0.62 0.59 Coal Asia 0.400 0.440 0.405 Dizon 8.30 8.40 8.22 Ferronickel 0.840 0.860 0.830 Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. 0.270 0.275 0.265 Lepanto `A’ 0.206 0.212 0.206 Lepanto `B’ 0.216 0.221 0.217 Manila Mining `A’ 0.0110 0.0120 0.0110 Manila Mining `B’ 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. 1.59 1.64 1.59 Nickelasia 6.51 6.98 6.51 Nihao Mineral Resources 2.92 2.98 2.89 Omico 0.5100 0.5100 0.5100 Oriental Peninsula Res. 0.9700 0.9900 0.9600 Oriental Pet. `A’ 0.0110 0.0110 0.0100 Oriental Pet. `B’ 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 Petroenergy Res. Corp. 4.03 4.16 4.16 Philex `A’ 8.59 8.60 8.50 PhilexPetroleum 3.27 3.41 3.28 Philodrill Corp. `A’ 0.0110 0.0120 0.0110 Semirara Corp.

117.00 117.90 115.50 TA Petroleum 3.13 3.15 3.14 United Paragon 0.0097 0.0097 0.0097 PREFERRED ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. 49 49.05 48.95 Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ 531 531 531 Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ 535 535 535 DD Pref 105 105.4 105 GMA Holdings Inc. 6.05 6.05 6.04 Leisure and Resort 1.03 1.03 1.03 PCOR-Preferred A 1120 1098 1098 PF Pref 2 1022 1022 1020 SMC Preferred B 77.8 77.8 75 SMC Preferred C 81 81.05 81 SMC Preferred E 78.2 78.8 78.2 SMC Preferred F 80.5 80.5 80.05 SMC Preferred G 79 79 79 SMC Preferred H 78.2 78.2 78.2 SMC Preferred I 78 78.1 78 Swift Pref 1.9 1.9 1.9 WARRANTS & BONDS LR Warrant 2.440 2.500 2.400 SME Alterra Capital 2.8 3.02 2.75 Makati Fin. Corp.

3.1 3.1 3.06 Italpinas 4.93 4.97 4.9 Xurpas 14.1 14.32 14.2 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS First Metro ETF 128.2 128.2 127.1

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

1.65 3.36 27.90 1.07 1.030 5.170

0.61 0.60 -0.36 0.00 -0.96 -0.58

921,000 192,000.00 65,000 7,766,400 10,867,130.00 1,110,000 368,000 19,340,000 -57,594,823.00

7.4 49 1.29 0.560 5.54 5.35 0.1020 3.45 119 10.12 7.00 3.18 2092 6.28 13.70 20.20 1.89 81.6 18.70 0.0099 9.24 0.260 1.4400 3.82 12.3 4.40 2.32 0.570 4.35 5.66 3.620 11.36 5.62 148.20 5.98 1752.00 0.420 1.040 43.95 78.60 6.09 3.00 0.630 3.31 0.355 5.430

-1.33 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.42 -0.74 2.00 -1.71 0.42 1.20 0.00 0.00 -0.38 -0.32 -3.25 0.00 -2.58 0.00 -1.58 0.00 0.00 4.00 1.41 -2.80 0.00 -0.23 -1.69 0.00 -4.61 -3.25 -2.69 0.00 0.00 -5.00 -0.17 -0.23 1.20 -0.95 -0.11 -1.75 -0.98 -0.33 1.61 -2.07 -4.05 2.45

47,800 43,700 2,000 34,000 900 4,807,200 255,670,000 915,000 886,560 300 112,600 2,000 84,895 111,000 68,900 500 4,208,000 1,254,550 2,200 20,000,000 497,500 70,600,000 514,000 501,000 100 2,123,000 2,409,000 259,000 8,924,000 2,088,500 3,295,000 11,300 20,500 6,860 1,480,300 170,255 5,910,000 9,944,000 2,931,600 901,540 61,100 1,913,000 8,765,000 2,218,000 630,000 140,700

0.0038 3.10 4.22 9.66 0.220 2.1200 2.1700 0.62 0.420 8.35 0.860 0.270 0.210 0.221 0.0120 0.0110 1.61 6.94 2.93 0.5100 0.9700 0.0110 0.0110 4.16 8.60 3.31 0.0120 116.50 3.15 0.0097

0.00 7.64 2.43 0.00 0.00 -1.40 0.00 5.08 5.00 0.60 2.38 0.00 1.94 2.31 9.09 0.00 1.26 6.61 0.34 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.23 0.12 1.22 9.09 -0.43 0.64 0.00

96,000,000 851,000 14,000 300 230,000 26,000 1,000 1,199,000 2,790,000 15,400 10,487,000 520,000 6,500,000 30,000 2,100,000 200,000 214,000 20,152,600 198,000 140,000 89,000 106,400,000 800,000 2,000 612,600 4,878,000 9,400,000 746,390 32,000 2,000,000

7,700.00 1,998,560.00 -12,720.00

49.05 531 535 105 6.05 1.03 1098 1022 77.8 81 78.2 80.5 79 78.2 78 1.9

0.10 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.96 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

70,000 4,400 90 1,860 86,000 300,000 50 8,295 76,730 16,000 14,900 24,800 134,510 6,650 65,430 5,000

-2,504,150.00

6,395,612.00 978,750.00 -22,928,164.00

31,788,810.00

16,393,108.00

MS 7.400 1.31 2.800 0.280 39.000 2.98 5.1 0.580 1.10 0.990 0.170 0.600 59 0.780 1.05 1.88 1.18 4.7 0.226 0.415 37.00 3.6 30.72

0.390 0.375 79.25 76.80 16.50 16.24 1.25 1.20 6.15 6.01 0.370 0.365 878 862.5 8.57 8.52 12.00 11.80 6.38 6.38 8.15 8.05 0.211 0.200 1486 1461 6.34 6.34 78.35 76.00 8.3 8.18 0.81 0.8 16.7 16.3 7.19 7 0.0380 0.0350 2.050 2.020 82.80 82.00 2.49 2.45 676.50 666.50 1.25 1.23 1.01 1.01 228.000 224.400 0.2030 0.1980 0.275 0.275 PROPERTY 7.730 7.500 1.32 1.30 2.820 2.700 0.285 0.270 39.100 38.200 2.99 2.9 5.1 5.1 0.600 0.580 1.25 0.98 1.070 0.990 0.017 0.167 0.600 0.590 60.8 58.9 0.790 0.770 1.05 1.02 1.93 1.89 1.18 1.18 4.8 4.7 0.243 0.224 0.415 0.415 34.00 35.00 3.81 3.61 31.10 30.55

34,057,175.00 -84,760.00

38,342,958.00 94,096.00 -12,960.00

-13,126,106.00 -2,265,767.00 6,362,847.00 127,335.00 56,168,735.00 -13,436,437.50 2,198,196.00 -999,313.00

-20,987,126.00

154,689,045.00 576,955.00 7,300,524.00 -19,233,392.00 161,500.00 7,452,606.00

-2,400,000.00

75,350.00 733,200.00 269,308.00

1,650.00 21,840.00 -123,864,124

-1,192,010.00

34,076,941.00 -3,902,866.00

16,996,650 8,981,427.00 -66,929,424.00

30,118.00

47,604,005.00

-125,125,145.50 -2,033,569.00 5,940,054.00 104,194,401.00 -7,400.00 -2,411,635.50

-15,756,005.00

1.34

1

6.98

0.8900

-29,640.00 15

3.5

402,704.00

12.88

5.95

-1,008,810.00 193,850.00 -5,114,285.00 29,790.00

130.7

105.6

-31,580.00

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

44,080.00

FINANCIAL

14,459,586

-4,940,062.50

INDUSTRIAL

97,103,775

-3,062,600.00 12,013,790.00

HOLDING FIRMS

143,789,357

43,028,090.00 524,640.00

PROPERTY

361,209,927

SERVICES

420,618,353

MINING & OIL

266,964,930

-437,400.00 -51,186,285.00

GRAND TOTAL

1,307,753,953

10,000.00 123,816.00 363,800.00

2,399,690 -438,900.00 -19,823,040.00 -2,985,522.00 -36,240.00

-542,460.00 53,908.00 35,269,290.00 245,440.00 -107,418,505.00 -52,284,212.50 -521,900.00 4,579,440.00 -999,210.00

-31,000.00 -42,000.00 2,526,800.00

9,111,072.00 87,000.00

207,006.00 -1,382,170.00 3,600.00 7,080,707.00

-10,626,290.00

2.440

0.00

160,000

2.88 3.1 4.9 14.22

2.86 0.00 -0.61 0.85

2,620,000 149,000 146,000 681,000

12,660.00

127.8

-0.31

3,990

1,277.00

479,822.00

VALUE 1,861.03 (down) 7.22 1,215,203,574.02 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,904.86 (down) 108.54 1,614,612,586.39 HOLDING FIRMS 7,664.43 (down) 43.07 1,855,854,535.18 PROPERTY 3,458.56 (up) 1.35 1,542.37 (down) 6.26 1,222,830,125.47 SERVICES MINING & OIL 11,011.35 (up) 151.08 1,418,972,160.328 PSEI 7,723.60 (down) 38.75 263,838,944.608 All Shares Index 4,586.71 (down) 16.34 7,610,376,267.668 Gainers: 90; Losers: 89; Unchanged: 51; Total: 230

closure,” Environment Secretary Gina Lopez said in a text message from New York, commenting a day after local suppliers challenged the integrity of the probe ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte. “I am not suggesting things, I am mandating the law.”

Nickel is the best-performing commodity so far this quarter as concern that the Philippine audit will disrupt shipments boosted prices that have already been supported by projections for a global deficit.

The nation accounts for about 20 percent of global mined nickel supply, with most cargoes feeding China’s stainless-steel industry.

After several delays, the full results of the audit are due for release on Monday.

“We are an island ecosystem that is densely populated, so we cannot afford mistakes,” Lopez said in the text message.

The secretary, who’s said the environment agency would recommend further actions on specific mines to ensure they operate at the highest standards, wants an industry that’s better than Canada or Australia’s, she said.

Nickel surged to $11,030 a metric ton on the London Metal Exchange last month as the audit got under way, the highest level in a year, and the metal leads all members of the Bloomberg Commodity Index so far this quarter. Prices jumped 3 percent to $10,660 on Thursday and traded at $10,540 at 1:48 p.m. in Manila.

The Philippines’ principal mining group has challenged the legitimacy of the audit, saying it’s concerned about how the checks were carried out. The probe was ordered by Duterte and Lopez to ensure suppliers met environmental and welfare standards. Ten mines have been suspended so far, and Lopez said this week more than 10 additional suppliers face closure. Bloomberg

RCBC receives 5 awards THE Treasury Group of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. once again received recognition from one of the most respectable finance publications in the region, Asiamoney magazine.

In its annual poll of the best banks in foreign exchange products, Asiamoney/Global Capital recognized RCBC’s Treasury Group as the number one in four categories and number two in one category for a total of five awards.

RCBC Treasury vas voted by corporates as the best domestic provider of FX services, best for FX options, best for FX research and market coverage and second place in the best for FX products and services category.

It was also voted as best domestic provider by financial institutions.

RCBC Treasury received the five awards at Asiamoney’s Summer Awards program held at JW Marriott Hotel in Hong Kong on Sept. 21.

World

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016

B Syria car blast

kills ‘minister’ Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

CRF PhpO&M PhCPIc

= Capital Recovery Fee = Php 2.3096 per kWh = Peso-based O&M Fee = Php 0.2736 per kWh = Philippine Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all items for the Current month as published by the National Statistics Coordination Board, www.nscb.gov.oh = Base Philippine CPI = 138.30 May 14 PhCPIb USDO&M = USD-based O&M Fee = $ 0.0092 per kWh = US Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all items for the USCPIC Current Month as published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov = Base US CPI = 237.07 May 14 USCPIb Reference exchange rate (in Php per USD) on the Forex meter reading date, as published by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), www.bsp.gov.ph E = in kWh, Minimum Contracted Energy (MCE) or Actual Energy Delivered, whichever is higher Base Coal Price = Base reference coal price = $ 56.33 USD per MT Newcastlec = Preceding quarter’s average coal price for 6,700kcal/ kg ADB per the Global CoaI Newcastle Physical Trading Index, www.globalcoal.com (in USD/MTl) Base Newcastle Index = $ 77.31 USD per MT NewcastleB Transport Cost = Cost of freight, insurance, brokerage, taxes, and other costs in USD per MT Consumption Rate = 0.68kg/kWh, escalated at a rate of 1.5% per year or actual, whichever is lower En = Nominated Energy of Buyer to Seller in kWh

ERC CASE NO. 2016-096 RC ANTIQUE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. AND PANAY ENERGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, Applicants. x-----------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 29 April 2016, Antique Electric Cooperative, Inc. (“ANTECO”) 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.

On even date, PEDC also submitted a separate “Motion to Treat Data Confidential” dated 28 April 2016 wherein PEDC prayed that Annexes “S”1 and “Z”2 attached to the Application be treated as confidential and be not disclosed to any other party or entity.

On 06 May 2016, PEDC filed a “Compliance with Motion to Admit” dated 05 May 2016 in compliance with the directive of the Commission during pre-filing conference to submit the complete issue of the Daily Tribune where the instant Application was published. Likewise, PEDC submitted the Official Receipt No. 0006723 dated 29 April 2016 evidencing payment of filing fees and prayed that the same be admitted by the Commission.

7.

Applicant ANTECO 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. Funda-Dalipe, San Jose de Buenavista, Antique. It is a franchised electric utility servicing its member-consumers in the Province of Antique, specifically the Municipalities of Anini-y, Tobias Fornier, Hamtic, San Jose, Sibalom, San Remegio, Belison, Patnongon, Valderrama, Bugasong, Laua-an, Barbaza, Tibiao, Culasi, Sebaste and the Island Municipality of Caluya.

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

Salient Features of the EPPA

Type of Plant

8.

6.

As indicated above, PEDC agreed to supply and deliver, and ANTECO agreed to take and pay for electricity supplied by PEDC at a contracted capacity of 8 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: Load Factor :

1 2

100%

Electricity Fee =

Energy Fees + Fuel Cost

Energy Fees =

Tariff Fee x E

Tariff Fee

=

CRF +

Fuel Cost

=

Cost of Coal 1000

Cost of Coal

=

Project Brief of the Expansion Plant.

Projected Cash flows of PEDC.

Fuel Cost

=

Cost of Coal

=

Cost of Coal 1000

x Consumption Rate

x

Forex

x

En

Moreover, upon completion of the commissioning of the Expansion Plant, ANTECO 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:

Electricity Fee =

Energy Fees + Fuel Cost

Energy Fees =

75% x Tariff Fee x E

x

Forex

x

En

Without PEDC EPPA With PEDC EPPA GENERATION RATE INCREASE/(DECREASE) (rounded off figure)

Rate, PhP/kWh 6.70 5.90 (0.80)

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.

Tariff Fee

CRF +

=

18. Considering that ANTECO is in need of additional supply of power beginning 2016, it is imperative that ANTECO obtain this Honorable Commission’s approval of the EPPA with PEDC. 19. The supply of additional 8 MW from the Expansion Plant to ANTECO (and ultimately, to its consumers) will not only secure the power requirements of ANTECO but also lessen ANTECO II’s exposure to the volatility of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) prices and reduce its dependence on the Negros-Panay submarine cable.

20. Under the terms of the EPPA, among the conditions precedent to the performance by ANTECO 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 ANTECO 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 ANTECO to receive power during these periods.

22. As mentioned in the foregoing paragraphs, should the Honorable Commission grant a provisional authority for PEDC to deliver and ANTECO to receive power during Testing and Commissioning, there will be an indicative net reduction in its generation cost of PhP1.73 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 PhP1.27 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 Bayan of San Jose de Buenavista, a copy of which is attached hereto as Annex “B”; 23.2. Affidavit of Service re: service of the Application with Annexes to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Province of Antique, a copy of which is attached as Annex “C”; 23.3. 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 “D”;

23.5. A copy of the Board Resolution authorizing ANTECO to jointly file the instant application with PEDC, which is herein attached as Annex “F”; 23.6. A copy of the Board Resolution authorizing PEDC to jointly file the instant application with ANTECO, which is herein attached as Annex “G”; and 23.7. Proof of payment of filing fees, a copy of which is attached as Annex “H”.

24. ANTECO and PEDC prays that the Commission will:

Fuel Cost

=

Cost of Coal

=

Cost of Coal 1000

x Consumption Rate

x

Forex

x

En

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 ANTECO, thereby authorizing PEDC to charge and collect from ANTECO the respective Electricity Fees corresponding to the (1) Testing and Commissioning, (2) Pre-Commercial Operation Period, and (3) Commercial Operation Date, and authorizing ANTECO 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 ANTECO, thereby authorizing PEDC to charge and collect from ANTECO the respective Electricity Fees corresponding to the (1) Testing and Commissioning, (2) Pre-Commercial Operation Period, and (3) Commercial Operation Date, and authorizing ANTECO to pass the full amount thereof to its consumers.

c)

Grant such other reliefs just and equitable under the premises are likewise prayed for.

Where: CRF PhpO&M PhCPIc

= Capital Recovery Fee = Php 2.3096 per kWh = Peso-based O&M Fee = Php 0.2736 per kWh = Philippine Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all items for the Current month as published by the National Statistics Coordination Board, www.nscb.gov.oh = Base Philippine CPI = 138.30 May 14 PhCPIb USDO&M = USD-based O&M Fee = $ 0.0092 per kWh = US Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all items for the USCPIC Current Month as published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov = Base US CPI = 237.07 May 14 USCPIb Reference exchange rate (in Php per USD) on the Forex meter reading date, as published by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), www.bsp.gov.ph E = in kWh, Minimum Contracted Energy (MCE) or Actual Energy Delivered, whichever is higher Base Coal Price = Base reference coal price = $ 56.33 USD per MT Newcastlec = Preceding quarter’s average coal price for 6,700kcal/ kg ADB per the Global CoaI Newcastle Physical Trading Index, www.globalcoal.com (in USD/MTl) Base Newcastle Index = $ 77.31 USD per MT NewcastleB Transport Cost = Cost of freight, insurance, brokerage, taxes, and othercosts in USD per MT Consumption Rate = 0.68 kg/kWh, escalated at a rate of 1.5% per year or actual, whichever is lower En = Nominated Energy of Buyer to Seller in kWh

9.

The EPPA thus proposes separate rates on the power delivered by PEDC to ANTECO, 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. x Consumption Rate

Projected Rate Impact at Commercial Operation, as follows:

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

Load Factor : 100%

The delivery point shall mean the physical point(s) at which ANTECO receives power from PEDC where billing meters to measure electricity energy flowing to ANTECO’s electric system are installed The allowable scheduled and unscheduled outages are forty (40) days per year.

Outages

Rate, PhP/kWh Without PEDC EPPA 6.70 With PEDC EPPA 4-97 GENERATION RATE INCREASE/(DECREASE) (1.73) (rounded off figure) Projected Rate Impact during 2016 Pre-Commercial Operations, as follows: Rate, PhP/kWh Without PEDC EPPA 6.70 With PEDC EPPA 5-44 GENERATION RATE INCREASE/(DECREASE) (1.27) (rounded off figure)

Allegations in Support of the Praver for Provisional Authority

Pre-Commercial Operations at 100% Load Factor

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

Minimum Energy Off-Take Billing Month Minimum Contracted Energy kWh January 5,952,000 February 5,952,000 March 5,376,000 March (Leap Year) 5,568,000 April 5,952,000 May 5,760,000 June 5,952,000 July 5,760,000 August 5,952,000 September 5,952,000 October 5,760,000 November 5,952,000 December 5,760,000 Delivery Point

Projected Rate Impact during 2016 Testing and Commissioning, as follows:

16. The current demand of ANTECO is 18.15MW. To meet this demand, ANTECO sources 11MW of its electric power requirements from PEDC’s Existing Plant, lMW from Green Core Geothermal, Inc., and 1.5MW from Salcon Island Power Corp. It also sources about 4.65MW from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (“WESM”) during peak hours.

= Capital Recovery Fee = Php 2.3096 per kWh = Peso-based O&M Fee = Php 0.2736 per kWh = Philippine Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all items for the Current month as published by the National Statistics Coordination Board, www.nscb.gov.oh = Base Philippine CPI = 138.30 May 14 PhCPIb USDO&M = USD-based O&M Fee = $ 0.0092 per kWh = US Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all items forthe USCPIC Current Month as published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov = Base US CPI = 237.07 May 14 USCPIb Reference exchange rate (in Php per USD) on the Forex meter reading date, as published by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), www.bsp.gov.ph E = in kWh, Minimum Contracted Energy (MCE) or Actual Energy Delivered, whichever is higher Base Coal Price = Base reference coal price = $ 56.33 USD per MT Newcastlec = Preceding quarter’s average coal price for 6,700kcal/ kg ADB per the Global CoaI Newcastle Physical Trading Index, www.globalcoal.com (in USD/MTl) Base Newcastle Index = $ 77.31 USD per MT NewcastleB Transport Cost = Cost of freight, insurance, brokerage, taxes, and other costs in USD per MT Consumption Rate = 0.68kg/kWh, escalated at a rate of 1.5% per year or actual, whichever is lower En = Nominated Energy of Buyer to Seller in kWh

The salient features of the EPPA are indicated below: Coal-fired power plant expansion located in Brgy. Ingore, La Paz, Iloilo City Installed Capacity 1 x 150 MW Cooperation Period Twenty Five (25) years commencing on the Commercial Operation Date and ending on the 25th year anniversary of such commencement date Commercial Operation Date When the Expansion Plant has been completed, inspected, tested and is ready to commence operation as confirmed in a written communication from PEDC to ANTECO, which date should not be later than 26 July 2016 or such later date as PEDC and ANTECO may agree upon in writing Contracted Capacity 8 MW

CRF +

=

CRF PhpO&M PhCPIc

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 ANTECO executed separate EPPAs with PEDG. 5.

50% x Tariff Fee x E

Tariff Fee

Where:

Statement of Facts and of the Case

4.

Energy Fees + Fuel Cost

Energy Fees =

13. As seen in the Rate Impact below, for the duration of the term of the EPPA between PEDC and ANTECO, the simulated delivered price thereunder would result in an overall savings of PhP1.73/kWh, PhP1.27/kWh, and PhP0.80/kWh during Testing and Commissioning Period, Pre-Commercial Operations Period, and Commercial Operations Period, respectively.

17. It is expected that ANTECO’s current demand will increase to over 19.71MW by 2016 and 19.79MW by 2017 based on ANTECO’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.

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 ANTECO as Buyer (the “EPPA”).

Electricity Fee =

12. It should be pointed out however that during testing and commissioning, the Parties agreed that PEDC would deliver to ANTECO 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 ANTECO on a firm basis and subject to the payment of the applicable Electricity Fees.

15. Should the Honorable Commission approve the Electricity Fees under the EPPA, there will be an indicative decrease in generation cost of PhP0.80 per kWh on the Commercial Operation Date.

Load Factor : 100%

Parties to the Case

3.

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

Testing and Commissioning at 100% Load Factor

In the said Application, ANTECO and PEDC alleged the following:

2.

The Islamic State group (IS) claimed the attack in a statement on Telegram, saying one of its jihadists had detonated an explosive vest at an opposition meeting.

According to the opposition, the attack targeted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a police station in Inkhil, in Syria’s southern province of Daraa.

“Twelve people, including the (opposition) provisional government’s local administration minister, Yaacoub al-Ammar, were killed” and dozens more were wounded, Shadi al-Jundi told AFP by telephone.

The victims included “opposition figures, rebels, and local officials”, Jundi said.

In its online statement, IS identified the bomber as Abu Ayub al-Darawi and said there were nearly 50 casualties.

It said the attack was carried out inside “a meeting for the heads of apostasy in the city of Inkhil”, killing “a number from top leaders of the apostasy”. AFP

Where:

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE ELECTRIC POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT (EPPA) BETWEEN ANTIQUE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. AND PANAY ENERGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY.

1.

EIRUT—A “minister” in Syria’s opposition government was among at least 12 people killed in a car bomb attack in the south of the country on Thursday, the body’s spokesman said.

B3

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.

The Commission has set the Application for initial hearing, expository presentation, pre-trial conference and evidentiary hearing on 06 October 2016 (Thursday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.) at ANTECO’s Principal Office, at Brgy.

Funda-Dalipe, San Jose de Buenavista, Antique.

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 Applicants conclude the presentation of their 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 Applicants that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing.

The Applicants are 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 – Sept. 17 & 24, 2016

B4

World

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016

‘Russians to sabotage polls’ W

ASHINGTON—Two US lawmakers who are members of their respective intelligence committees said Thursday that a spate of recent cyber attacks suggests Russia is trying to disrupt the November election.

“Based on briefings we have received, we have concluded that the Russian intelligence agencies are making a serious and concerted effort to influence the US election,” said a statement from Senator Dianne Feinstein and Representative Adam Schiff, both

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE ELECTRIC POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT (EPPA) BETWEEN ILOILO I ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. AND PANAY ENERGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

Democrats from California.

“At the least, this effort is intended to sow doubt about the security of our election and may well be intended to influence the outcomes of the election -- we can see no other rationale for the behavior of the Russians.”

US officials have stopped short of =

USDO&M

= USD-based O&M Fee

USCPIc

= US Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all items for the Current Month as published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov = Base US CPI

Forex

= Reference exchange rate (in Php per USD) on the meter reading date, as published by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), www.bsp.gov.ph

=

Applicants, x-----------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING 7.

= Base Newcastle Index

Transport Cost

= Cost of freight, insurance, brokerage, taxes, and other costs in USD per MT

=

= Nominated Energy of Buyer to Seller in kWh

Electricity Fee = Energy Fees + Fuel Cost

Prior to the execution of the EPPA, in November 2013, a competitive selection process was undertaken by ILECO I, 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 ILECO I executed separate EPPAs with PEDC.

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

Installed Capacity

1 x 150 MW

Cooperation Period

Twenty Five (25) years commencing on the Commercial Operation Date and ending on the 25th year anniversary of such commencement date When the Expansion Plant has been completed, inspected, tested and is ready to commence operation as confirmed in a written communication from PEDC to ILECO I, which date should not be later than 26 July 2016 or such later date as PEDC and ILECO I may agree upon in writing

Minimum Energy Off-Take January February March March (Leap Year) April May June July August September October November December

As indicated above, PEDC agreed to supply and deliver, and ILECO I agreed to take and pay for electricity supplied by PEDC at a contracted capacity of 8 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: Load Factor: 100% +

Fuel Cost

x

E

Tariff Fee

=

CRF (USDO&M

+

( PhpO&M

x

x

USCPIc USCPIb

PhCFc ) + PhCPIb

x

Forex )

Fuel Cost

= Cost of Coal 1,000

x Consumption x Rate

Forex

Cost of Coal

= ( Base Coal Price

x Newcastlec ) + Newcastleb

Transport Cost

Where:

x En

CRF

= Capital Recovery Fee

= Php 2,3096 per kWh

PhpO&M

= Peso-based O&M Fee

=

PhCPIc

= Philippine Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all items for the Current month as published by the National Statistics Coordination Board, www.nscb.gov.ph

PhCPIb

= Base Philippine CPI

=

= CRF

+

(PhpO&M

=

(USDO&M

x

USCPIC USCPIb

x

Forex)

Cost of Coal = 1,000

Consumption x Rate x

= ( Base Coal Price

x NewcastleC ) + NewcastleB

Forex

+

En

Transport Cost

Php 0.2736 per kWh

138.30

May-14

Php 2.3096 per kWh

PhpO&M

= Peso-based O&M Fee =

Php 0.2736 per kWh

PhCPIc

= Philippine Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all items for the Current month as published by the National Statistics Coordination Board, www.nscb.gov.ph = Base Philippine CPl = 138.30 May-14

USDO&M

= USD-based O&M Fee

USCPIC

= US Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all items for the Current Month as published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov

$ 0.0092 per kWh

USCPIb

= Base US CPI

Forex

= Reference exchange rate (in Php per USD) on the meter reading date, as published by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), www.bsp.gov.ph

E

= in kWh, Minimum Contracted Energy (MCE) or Actual Energy Delivered, whichever is higher

Base Coal Price

= Base reference coal price = $ 56.33 USD per MT

NewcastleC

= Preceding quarter’s average coal price for 6,700kcal/kg ADB per the Gloabl Coal Newcastle Physical Trading Index, www.elobalcoal.com (in USD/MTI = Base Newcastle Index = $ 77.31 USD per MT

237.07

May-14

= Cost of freight, insurance, brokerage, taxes, and other costs in USD per MT 0.68kg/kWh, escalated at a rate of 1.5% per year or actual, whichever is lower

= Nominated Energy of Buyer to Seller in kWh

Moreover, upon completion of the commissioning of the Expansion Plant, ILECO I 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: Load Factor: 100% Electricity Fee

= Energy Fees

+ Fuel Cost

Energy Fees

= 75%

x

Tariff Fee

= CRF (USDO&M

Fuel Cost Cost of Coal

Tariff Fee

x

E

+ ( PhpO&M

x

PhCPIc + PhCPIb

x USCPIc USCPIb

x

Forex)

Cost of Coal = 1,000

Consumption x Rate x

= ( Base Coal Price

x NewcastleC ) + NewcastleB

Forex

x

En

Transport Cost

= Capital Recovery Fee

=

Php 2.3096 per kWh

= Peso-based O&M Fee =

Php 0.2736 per kWh

PhCPIc

= Philippine Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all items for the Current month as published by the National Statistics Coordination Board, www.nscb.gov.ph = Base Philippine CPl = 138.30 May-14

USDO&M

= USD-based O&M Fee

USCPIC

= US Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all items for the Current Month as published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov

USCPIb

= Base US CPI

Forex

= Reference exchange rate (in Php per USD) on the meter reading date, as published by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), www.bsp.gov.ph

E

= in kWh, Minimum Contracted Energy (MCE) or Actual Energy Delivered, whichever is higher

Base Coal Price

= Base reference coal price = $ 56.33 USD per MT

NewcastleC

= Preceding quarter’s average coal price for 6,700kcal/kg ADB per the Gloabl Coal Newcastle Physical Trading Index, www.elobalcoal.com (in USD/MTI = Base Newcastle Index = $ 77.31 USD per MT

NewcastleB Transport Cost

En

May-14

= Cost of freight, insurance, brokerage, taxes, and other costs in USD per MT

Consumption Rate =

9.

$ 0.0092 per kWh

237.07

Rate, PhP/kWh 5.75 5.29

Without PEDC EPPA With PEDC EPPA GENERATION RATE INCREASE/ (DECREASE) (rounded off figure)

(0.46)

Projected Rate Impact at Commercial Operation, as follows: Rate, PhP/kWh 5.75 5.47

Without PEDC EPPA With PEDC EPPA GENERATION RATE INCREASE/(DECREASE) (rounded off figure)

(0.28)

16. The current demand of ILECO I is 46.129 MW. To meet this demand, ILECO I sources 3.5 MW of its electric power requirements from PEDC’s Existing Plant, 18 MW from Green Core Geothermal, Inc. (“GCGI”), 8 MW from Panay Power Corporation and 4 MW from Salcon Island Power Corp. It also sources about 12.629 MW from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (“WESM”) during peak hours.

18. Considering that ILECO I is in need of additional supply of power beginning 2016, it is imperative that ILECO I obtain this Honorable Commission’s approval of the EPPA with PEDC. 19. The supply of additional 8 MW from the Expansion Plant to ILECO I (and ultimately, to its consumers) will not only secure the power requirements of ILECO I but also lessen ILECO I’s exposure to the volatility of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) prices and reduce its dependence on the Negros-Panay submarine cable.

20. Under the terms of the EPPA, among the conditions precedent to the performance by ILECO I 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 ILECO I 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 ILECO I to receive power during these periods.

22. As mentioned in the foregoing paragraphs, should the Honorable Commission grant a provisional authority for PEDC to deliver and ILECO I to receive power during Testing and Commissioning, there will be an indicative net reduction in its generation cost of PhP0.63 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 PhP0.46 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 Tigbuan, a copy of which is attached hereto as Annex “C”;

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

PhpO&M

=

Projected Rate Impact during 2016 Pre-Commercial Operations, as follows:

23.4. 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 “E”;

CRF

=

(0.63)

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

Where:

PhCPIb

Rate, PhP/kWh 5.75 5.12

Without PEDC EPPA With PEDC EPPA GENERATION RATE INCREASE/(DECREASE) (rounded off figure)

17. It is expected that ILECO I’s current demand will increase to over 49 MW by 2016 and 52 MW by 2017 based on ILECO I’s load forecast.

=

=

Projected Rate Impact during 2016 Testing and Commissioning, as follows:

Allegations in Support of the Prayer for Provisional Authority

= Capital Recovery Fee

=

13. As seen in the Rate Impact below, for the duration of the term of the EPPA between PEDC and ILECO I, the simulated delivered price thereunder would result in an overall savings of PhP0.63, PhP0.46, and PhP0.28 during Testing and Commissioning Period, Pre-Commercial Operations Period, and Commercial Operations Period, respectively.

15. Should the Honorable Commission approve the Electricity Fees under the EPPA, there will be an indicative decrease in generation cost of PhP0.28 per kWh on the Commercial Operation Date.

Pre-Commercial Operations at 100% Load Factor

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

Tariff Fee

E

CRF

En 8.

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

Energy Fees

x

PhCPlc ) + PhCPlb

Consumption Rate =

Minimum Contracted Energy, kWh 5,952,000 5,952,000 5,376,000 5,568,000 5,952,000 5,760,000 5,952,000 5,760,000 5,952,000 5,952,000 5,760,000 5,952,000 5,760,000

Billing Month

=

Tariff Fee

Transport Cost

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

=

x

NewcastleB

8 MW

Energy Fees

= 50%

PhCPIb

The salient features of the EPPA are indicated below:

Electricity Fee

Energy Fees

by ILECO I on a firm basis and subject to the payment of the applicable Electricity Fees.

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.

Where:

Salient Features of the EPPA

6.

Fuel Cost

Fuel Cost

Statement of Facts and of the Case

Outages

+

Cost of Coal

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 ILECO I as Buyer (the “EPPA”).

Delivery Point

= Energy Fees

Tariff Fee

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.

Contracted Capacity

Tariff Fee

only from very senior levels of the Russian government” and called in Russian President Vladimir Putin “to immediately order a halt to this activity.”

“Americans will not stand for any foreign government trying to influence our election,” they said. AFP

77.31 USD per MT

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

Commercial Operation Date

$

Testing and Commissioning at 100% Load Factor

Applicant ILECO I 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. Namucon, Tigbauan, Iloilo. It is a franchised electric utility servicing its member-consumers in the Province of Iloilo, specifically the Municipalities of Alimodian, Cabatuan, Guimbal, Igbaras, Leganes, Leon, Maasin, Miagao, Oton, Pavia, San Joaquin, Sta. Barbara, San Miguel, Tigbauan, and Tubungan.

Type of Plant

56.33 USD per MT

NewcastleB

1.

5.

$

= Preceding quarter’s average coal price for 6,700kcal/kg ADB per the Global Coal Newcastle Physical Trading Index, www.globalcoal.com (in USD/MT)

In the said Application, ILECO I and PEDC alleged the following:

4.

=

Newcastlec

En

Notice is hereby given that on 29 April 2016, the Iloilo I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ILECO I) and Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC) filed an Application for approval of the electric power purchase agreement (EPPA), with prayer for the issuance of provisional authority.

3.

May-14

Consumption Rate = 0.68kg/kWh, escalated at a rate of 1.5% per year or actual, whichever is lower

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

2.

237.07

= in kWh, Minimum Contracted Energy (MCE) or Actual Energy Delivered, whichever is higher

Base Coal Price = Base reference coal price

ILOILO I ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. AND PANAY ENERGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

$ 0.0092 per kWh

USCPIb

E

ERC CASE NO. 2016-097 RC

blaming Moscow for the wave of computer intrusions, but many analysts have said the attacks appear to be from Russian hackers.

Feinstein and Schiff, who as members of their intelligence committees receive classified briefings, said they believe that the hacks “could come

0.68kg/kWh, escalated at a rate of 1.5% per year or actual, whichever is lower

= Nominated Energy of Buyer to Seller in kWh

The EPPA thus proposes separate rates on the power delivered by PEDC to ILECO I, 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 were 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 the Pre-Commercial 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 also be pointed out however that during testing and commissioning, the Parties agreed that PEDC would deliver to ILECO I 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

23.6. A copy of the Board Resolution authorizing ILECO I to jointly file the instant application with PEDC, which is herein attached as Annex “G”; 23.7. A copy of the Board Resolution authorizing PEDC to jointly file the instant application with ILECO I, which is herein attached as Annex “H”; and 23.8. Proof of payment of filing fees, a copy of which is attached as Annex “I”.

24. ILECO I and PEDC pray that the Commission will: 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 ILECO I, thereby authorizing PEDC to charge and collect from ILECO I the respective Electricity Fees corresponding to the (1) Testing and Commissioning, (2) Pre- Commercial Operation Period, and (3) Commercial Operation Date, and authorizing ILECO I 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 ILECO I, thereby authorizing PEDC to charge and collect from ILECO I the respective Electricity Fees corresponding to the (1) Testing and Commissioning, (2) Pre- Commercial Operation Period, and (3) Commercial Operation Date, and authorizing ILECO I to pass the full amount thereof to its consumers; and c) Grant such other reliefs just and equitable under the premises are likewise prayed for.

The Commission has set the Application for initial hearing, expository presentation, pre-trial conference and evidentiary hearing on 05 October 2016 (Wednesday) at two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.) at the ILECO I’s Main Office’ in Brgy.

Namucon, Tigbauan, Iloilo.

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 Applicants conclude the presentation of their 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 Applicants that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing.

The Applicants are 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 3rd day of August, 2016 at Pasig City.

ATTY. NATHAN J. MARASIGAN Chief of Staff Office of the Chairman and CEO Standard – Sept. 17 & 24, 2016

LGUs

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016

B5

5 Pinoys get Searca award

By Brenda Jocson

F

IVE Filipinos made it to the list of 11 outstanding alumni of the Philippinehosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca).

The five Filipinos recipients of the first Outstanding Searca Scholarship Alumni (OSSA) award are: Dr. Naomi Tangonan (teaching), Dr. Lucrecio Rebugio and Dr. Generoso Octavio (ad-

vocacy), and Dr. Delfin Ganapin, Jr. and Dr. Segfredo Serrano (public policy and governance).

Dr. Gil Saguiguit Jr., Searca director, said the awardees were selected from the 1,370 Searca

Graduate Scholarship Program alumni throughout the Southeast Asian region.

“The awardees are honored for having personified Searca’s values and philosophy, their professional achievements and the impacts they made on the fields of teaching, research, public policy and governance, and advocacy in agricultural and rural development in Southeast Asia,” Saguiguit said.

On Searca’s 50th founding anniversary, the center will present the award to the five alumni from the Philippines, two each from

Indonesia and Thailand, and one each from Malaysia and Vietnam.

Non-Filipino awardees are Dr. Klanarong Sriroth of Thailand, Prof. Dr. Mahiran Basri of Malaysia, and Dr. Phan Hieu Hien of Vietnam (research); Prof. Dr. Ir. Mochammad Maksum of Indonesia (advocacy); and Prof. Dr. Musliar Kasim of Indonesia and Dr. Chya Suthiwanith of Thailand (public policy and governance).

Aside from the 11 OSSA awardees, two Searca alumni will also be presented the Emerging Leaders in Transition Economies

(Elite) award.

This special citation, Saguiguit said, recognizes the center’s scholars-alumni who help rebuild their nation through their transformative leadership.

The Elite awardees are Dr. Seng Mom of Cambodia and Mr. Agustinho Da Costa Ximenes of Timor-Leste.

The center’s director said the remarkable achievements of scholars-alumni affirm that the Center has carried out its mandate.

“The Center has been helping Southeast Asian countries

Female councilor backs burqa search

Quezon drug suspects nabbed

By Funny Pearl Gajunera hijab which shows their face DAVAO CITY—A female Muslim member of the Davao City Council has thrown her full support for the decision of the local government to check the faces of Muslim women wearing burqa and niqab.

Councilor Halila Sudagar believed that such an inspection was necessary and downplayed insinuations of discrimination against Muslims or disrespect of their religion.

The policy, proposed by security officials to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte following the September 2 blast that killed 15 people and wounded 69 others, also discourages the wearing of other garments that cover the faces such as balaclavas, sunglasses, caps, masks or even paint.

Muslim women wearing niqab or burqa will be asked by authorities to show their faces when they are in public places such as malls and parks.

Duterte earlier said the sentiments of the Muslims women were understandable and suggested that they “wear the

produce highly trained human resources in agriculture and related fields to accelerate agricultural and rural development in the region,”he said.

The Searca is now on its 50th year of service to Southeast Asia and continue to carry out its mandate to build capacities of institutions working in agriculture and rural development in the region through its programs on graduate education and institutional development, research and development, and knowledge management.

or cooperate with the security personnel and show their face if they are wearing the burqa.”

Sudagar said the security protocol was consistent with the objective of the local government to protect the public from lawless elements.

“For the purpose of achieving lasting peace, both for Muslims and non-Muslims, I humbly suggest that we cooperate with the authorities,” she said. “For those who wear niqab and burqa, let us submit ourselves to appropriate inspection, and remove the face cover if necessary under given circumstances.”

Sudagar said there are terrorist groups that use Muslim clothing to cover themselves.

“We are aware that some terrorists who pretend to be Muslims wear hijab and niqab to conceal their identities, thus evading apprehension or identification by authorities,” she said.

The councilor said it was high time the public was assured that Muslims are against terrorism.

By Benjie Antioquia

HOUSING. Vice President and Housing Czar Leni Robredo joins Senator JV Ejercito and San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez on a visit to San Juan City’s first in-city low-cost housing project Saint Josephville, a ‘Kalinga sa Pamilya’ program of the mayor for the people of San Juan. Ey Acasio

CARAA...

From B6

for the third consecutive year.

“We already gave instructions to concerned stakeholders to start preparing for the CARAA so that our shortcomings during the previous hostings will be corrected considering that we are a highly urbanized city,” he stressed.

Domogan revealed that the two-year rehabilitation of the Baguio Athletic Bowl should be completed by February next year when the regional sports competition will be held. Indoor and combative games will

be done in other sports venues around the city, he said.

According to Domogan, the funds to be allocated by the local government will augment the budget earmarked by the Department of Education, the lead agency hosting the athletic meet.

CARAA winners will represent the CAR in the Palarong Pambansa that will be held in the Visayas next year. Baguio will bid for the hosting of the Palaro in 2018.

Domogan said the P60-million multipurpose sports building to be built in the Baguio Athletic Bowl will be completed by the end of next year and will be used

for the possible hosting of the Palaro two years from now.

The mayor explained that Baguio and Benguet will co-host the Palaro to maximize available sports facilities for the scheduled events.

He claimed Baguio will bid for the hosting of the 2018 Palarong Pambansa once the DepEd and the Philippine Sports Commission open the bid proceedings before the closing of the national games next year.

Part of the rehabilitation of the Baguio Athletic Bowl is funded by the national government through the Department of Public Works and Highways-Baguio City District Engineering Office.

LUCENA CITY—Eleven persons suspected of involvement in the drug trade were arrested by the Quezon Province police on Wednesday.

A suspected member of the Alcala drug group was arrested by elements of the Tayabas City police on the strength of a warrant issued by Hon. Agripino Morga, executive judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 29-32 in San Pablo City.

Provincial Director Sr. Supt.

Antonio Yarra identified the suspect as Rhine Christine Briones Alcala alias Arlene, 37, from Barangay Isabang, Tayabas City. According to the PNP she is high-value target of the police in Quezon province.

The arresting officers seized .85 grams of a crystalline substance believed to be shabu and two magazines of a .45-caliber gun from her house.

Meanwhile, 10 more suspected drug personalities were arrested in in Chillz Billiards on C.M. Recto Street in Lucena City also on Wednesday.

Yarra identified the suspects as Jervie Sebastian Olavides, 29; Aleli Marie Literatus Wagwag, 23; Nikki Paulo Verzo Espinosa, 29; Aldrin Russel Palmero Maldonado, 20; Thom David Magpantay Viñas, 20; Neonelon Villanueva Gonzales, 42; Mark Angelo Custudio Merjudio, 29; Neil Driz Reyes, 27; Mark ArgudoWetack, 30; and alias Rex, 15.

A joint team led by Police Chief Insp. Juson Sumibcay and Philippine Air Force men trapped Olavides in buy-bust operation after he attempted to sell one heatsealed transparent plastic sachet containing a white crystalline substance believed to be shabu for ₱1,000. A similar sachet was also confiscated. Wagwag was allegedly Olavides’ accomplice.

The other suspects were caught in the act of sniffing shabu and the police seized two strips of aluminum foil, one unsealed sachet containing the residue of suspected shabu and two lighters. Also confiscated from Merjudio and Gonzales were one sachet each of a suspicious substance.

Iloilo not in state of calamity—gov THE Iloilo provincial government has no reason to declare state of calamity due to dengue, Gov. Arthur Defensor said.

Defensor based his decision on data from the Hospital Management Office (HMO) that showed the decreasing incidence and prevalence of dengue in the province.

Last week, the towns of Sta. Barbara and Estancia were placed

under a state of calamity due to high number of dengue cases.

Sta. Barbara saw the highest cases of dengue in the province with 728 victims, three of whom died, while Estancia ranked eight with 276 cases and one death.

“We still have to look at the morbidity report next week, to see if there will be basis to declare the whole province under state of

calamity,” said Raul Banias, provincial administrator and chief of the HMO. “However, so far, the pattern of the incidence and prevalence is going down compared to the last three weeks when the cases continuously increased,” Banias added.

As of September 10, Iloilo recorded 6,808 dengue cases. However, he said, 6,793 of those pa-

tients have recovered.

Banias reported that only about 200 dengue patients have been admitted to district hospitals.

Although the district hospitals have high occupancy rates, only 10-15 percent of admitted patients have dengue. Most of the patients have respiratory tract inspection, pneumonia and intestinal diseases, he said. PNA

Samar Sea yielding less fish, says BFAR FISHERMEN in the Samar Sea are catching much less fish than they did 30 years ago due to what the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Samar State University call loss of biodiversity in that body of water.

The FAO has warned that by

2050, catches of main fish species could decline by up to 40 percent in the tropics, where livelihoods, food and nutrition security strongly depend on the fisheries sector.

In the Samar Sea however, the situation is much more urgent. In the last 30 years, fish catch has dropped from eight kilos per day to less than 3.5 kilos, according

to the Samar Sea Fisheries Management Plan of 2016.

A study by the bureau, the FAO and the SSU revealed that earlier survey found that of the 50 commercially important fish species in the Samar Sea in the 1980s, only 10 remained a decade later.

“The continued degradation of resources poses severe

implications to the livelihoods and food security of the areas’ more than 23,000 fishers,” said José Luis Fernández, FAO representative to the Philippines.

“We are presented with the challenge of balancing human development needs with resource conservation efforts to ensure long-term and sustainable benefits.”

B6

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

GIVING OFF SPARKS. A fire dancer performs in Tribu Ka Mindanawan at Crocodile Park in Davao City. Roland Jumawan

CARAA 2017 in Baguio

By Dexter A. See

B

AGUIO CITY—Mayor Mauricio Domogan announced that the country’s Summer Capital will again host the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) games next year after the different provinces in the region failed to submit prompt hosting bids.

Domogan said the City School its P81 million 2017 budget to Board approved the allocation fund the regional sports meet of more than P2.6 million from Turn to B5

Davao City empowers businesswomen DAVAO CITY—A Davao-based women’s empowerment group is planning to revive the ‘MagNegosyo Ta ‘Day’ to enhance the way of living of the women in the city.

Integrated Gender Development Division (IGDD) chief Lorna Mandin said the program shall instill social entrepreneurship in Dabawenyas

to stop their being passive recipients of financial assistance from the local government.

Mandin said the program has identified active participants and beneficiaries from organized native women, barangaybased micro-entrepreneurs, and some members of the indigenous peoples.

“It would be a total waste to

Estrada clears Juan Luna Street anew

By Sandy Araneta MANILA officials cleared a portion of Juan Luna Street in Divisoria anew on Thursday and removed at least 250 illegal vendors and dozens of illegally parked vehicles and other obstructions.

Mayor Joseph Estrada ordered another raid on the stretch of Juan Luna between Sta. Elena and Padre Rada streets, after illegal vendors again occupied a huge portion of the busy street.

The raid also drove out illegal vendors on Recto Bridge near the Dragon 8 Shopping Center.

“Illegal vendors really have to be moved to the side streets where they would not hamper traffic,” Estrada said.

“We constantly explain to the vendors and those who illegally park their vehicles that the more they clog the streets the less business and livelihood will come to them. Clearing roads will make Manila attractive again as a commercial hub and more people will shop here,” he pointed out.

During previous operations in Divisoria, illegal vendors were only asked to move aside to at least keep the vehicular and pedestrian traffic flowing.

But since the illegal vendors kept returning to the road, Estrada this morning ordered Task Force Manila Cleanup headed

by Che Borromeo to see to it that Juan Luna Street is “vendor-free 24/7.”

“We will zero-in,” Borromeo quipped, “even if we have to put up people to man and guard this street the whole day.”

The vendors who were asked to leave Juan Luna Street have been operating without permits for three years, according to him. He warned repeat offenders would be arrested.

Some 200 men from the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB), the Department of Public Services, the Manila Police District, the Office of the City Engineer, and the Manila Tricycle Regulatory Office carried out the road clearing operation.

MTPB personnel towed away illegally parked vehicles, tricycles, motorized pedicabs and

motorcycles.

During the road clearing operation in Rizal Avenue on September 15, the MTPB impounded 30 tricycles, five motorcycles, 15 light vehicles and two motorized pedicabs.

MTPB chief Dennis Alcoreza said parked cars and makeshift stalls cause clog Manila’s roads.

Since June, Estrada has evicted more than 3,500 illegal vendors and removed countless obstructions and illegal structures.

Estrada led clearing operations in Divisoria, Blumentritt, Quiapo, Binondo, Sta. Cruz, R-10 and Pedro Gil and major roads leading to and from the Port of Manila. He has also cleaned up the University Belt weeks before the June 13 opening of classes.

let an advantageous program lapse when we have interested participants and recipients,” Mandin said.

The program, she said, enables women to help local government achieve social change through job creation.

The division chief added that MTD gave training before it was shelved some three

years ago.

It also deploys specially designed carts strategically located in prominent places and establishments around the city to promote handicrafts, food and other products.

Mandin said the program will definitely further Mayor Inday Sara Duterte’s agenda against poverty.

NLEX, SCTEX men get body cameras THE Manila North Tollways Corp. announced that high technology has again enhanced the enforcement capability of North Luzon Expressway and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway enforcers.

The MNTC, concessionaire of the NLEX and SCTEX, has introduced body and dashboard cameras to better document interactions between traffic enforcers and motorists.

“When a tollway enforcer approaches you, be on alert as he wears a built-in camera like it is part of his or her uniform. The enforcer’s vehicle also sports a dashboard camera,” MNTC chief operating officer Raul Ignacio warned.

Ignacio explained that the body-hugging cameras will en-

sure the accuracy of incident reports and provide evidence for investigations.

“The use of body cameras will further ensure that motorists are properly served by NLEX-SCTEX traffic enforcers during apprehensions,” Ignacio added.

Tollways Management Corp. president Roberto Bontia also said that dashboard cameras have been installed in NLEXSCTEX patrol vehicles to record events inside and outside the vehicles to help patrol officers implement traffic laws on the integrated expressway.

The NLEX-SCTEX traffic enforcers have started wearing body cameras when apprehending traffic violators to advance operational efficiency and transparency.

Mapsa enforcers trained further

By Joel E. Zurbano

HARVEST. A farmer holds up a dragon fruit in an experimental organic farm in Barangay Cogon in Ozamis City. Lance Baconguis

MAYOR Abigail Binay has ordered the retraining of some 536 traffic enforcers to improve their management of traffic especially in the central business district.

The Makati Public Safety Administration (Mapsa) enforcers were given a series of lectures and seminars last September 3, 4, 10 and 11 at the Traffic Summit Office in the city hall.

“We are serious about giving our traffic enforcers skills retraining. Their competence as frontliners and peacekeepers commands respect and obedience from the public,” Binay said.

The mayor also encouraged the public to relay to her through Facebook complaints involving the Mapsa, and assured it that she will act on them.

Binay earlier announced that she wanted to improve the image of Mapsa enforcers, who have been the butt of criticisms on social media. Aside from new uniforms, they will also be equipped with lapel cameras to ensure transparency in their dealings with motorists.

The lectures and seminars advised adherence to Mapsa’s code of conduct and ethical standards, particularly the procedural apprehension of violators and issuance of citation tickets, and proper traffic hand gestures.

Each day of the refresher course was divided into two sessions, with one batch of trainees scheduled in the morning and another batch in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, Mapsa will also retrain some 500 traffic personnel and enforcers to be detailed in the barangays in the coming months.

Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

C1

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016

Gadgets / Games

GOOGLE takes aim

at rivals

People stand next to a statue donated by Google during its inauguration in Montelimar, as Google decided to launch a new version of the android operating system called Android 7.0 or Nougat. AFP

W

ASHINGTON—Google took aim Wednesday at the red-hot mobile messaging market, with a new artificial intelligence-powered Allo app that seeks to compete with popular rivals such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

But the app’s reliance on Google’s predictive software drew immediate criticism from privacy advocates who argued it could open up user data to law enforcement—with former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden warning people not to use it.

Google defended its privacy stand, saying users can opt for a more secure “incognito” mode if they prefer.

The app includes Google Assistant, an artificial intelligence program which makes live suggestions as you chat.

“You no longer need to leave a conversation with friends just to grab an address, share your favorite YouTube video, or pick a dinner spot,” Google said in a blog post.

“Google Allo can help you make plans, find information, and express yourself more easily in chat. And the more you use it, the more it improves over time,” Google said.

The app will adjust according to whether its user’s style is usually an emoji or written response, for example.

Like rival apps, it has tools for personalizing chat messages including changing the size of emojis and a choice of stickers.

Keeping pace

Allo was unveiled by Google in May at the same time as Google Duo, an app for video calls, which hit the market last month.

The app is available on smartphones using Google’s Android system and Apple’s iOS. Google faces a challenge in carving a place in a sector dominated by popular apps such as WhatsApp, which Facebook acquired for some $20 billion in 2014 and which counts more than a billion users.

In July, Facebook said that users of its own Messenger application had also passed the one billion mark.

Apple has also moved to catch up with rivals, upgrading the messaging app in its latest iOS 10 launched last week.

Google and its earlier messaging app Hangouts had failed to keep pace in a market that also includes Snapchat, Skype and global rivals such as WeChat, Viber, Line, Kik and Telegram.

Privacy, encryption

Conversations in Allo will be encrypted, according to Google. And additional privacy will be offered with an “incognito” option in which messages will disappear after a fixed period.

But some analysts expressed disappointment that Google did not go further in agreeing not to store messages on its servers, where they can be accessed by authorities.

Christopher Soghioan, a privacy researcher with the American Civil Liberties Union, lamented that Google “decided that improving auto responses was worth making all messages accessible to law enforcement.”

Snowden, the former US intelligence contractor wanted for leaking National Security Agency documents on surveillance, said in a tweet, “Don’t use Allo.”

A later tweet from Snowden called Allo an “app that records every message you ever send and makes it available to police upon request.”

Google argues that the “smart” features of the application require “data processing” and that the tech giant needs to store chats to improve responses.

“We’ve given users transparency and control over their data in Google Allo,” a Google statement emailed to AFP said.

“Our approach is simple—your chat history is saved for you until you choose to delete it. You can delete single messages or entire conversations in Allo.

“We also provide the option to chat in Incognito mode, where messages are end-to-end encrypted and you can set a timer to automatically delete messages for your device and the person you’re chatting with’s device at a set time.” AFP

Future of television is here

IN three to five years, Philippine television is expected to shift from analog broadcast to digital, said the National Telecommunications Commission last May. The shift promises consistently clear audio-visual quality no matter the distance from the station, on top of having more channels to watch from local networks.

The transition does come with a catch: homes will need to upgrade their analog TV setups.

This is currently being satisfied by “digi-boxes,” or external digital tuners, offered by cable providers to subscribers.

For households that are only after local programs, having to pay for an external digital tuner along with cable subscription might be too much for a limited budget. Fortunately, TVs are now being designed to address that possible problem.

“Advances in TV broadcasting shouldn’t become an inconvenience to the average Filipino family,” Haier’s Director of Product Planning for TV and PC Joseph Bandol said. “That is true especially when it comes to the cost. Tel-

Designed with a built-in ISDB-T-compliant digital tuner, Haier’s new sets make the shift to digital less of a hassle.

evision is meant to be enjoyed, not cause worry.”

Haier responds to the coming transition with the introduction of digital TVs. Designed with a built-in ISDB-T-compliant digital tuner, these new sets not only make the shift less of a hassle, they also come with features for fully immersive entertainment the whole family can enjoy.

Crisp, crystal-clear reception Unlike their analog counterparts, digital TVs receive signals without degradation or interruption. This means

that viewers get to fully enjoy channels that offer shows in high definition with Dolby Digital audio.

To add to image quality, Haier digital TVs are designed with in-plane switching panels for the LCD screen along with the latest in picture enhancing technologies. The sleek, two-tone design and metallic strip detail further create a polished, classy look without the high price.

Haier also adds a “Timeshift” feature for those who want to record shows ei-

ther in real-time or by schedule. This lets families avoid rushing home to catch their favorite programs, with the benefit of getting to watch together for that much-needed quality time.

“Ultimately, Filipinos look forward to quality family time at the end of the day, which is usually spent in front of the TV after dinner,” Bandol added. “This makes the viewing experience important. With a TV that delivers great image and sound quality, families can fully appreciate the rare moments they spend together.”

Haier currently offers two digital TV lines: the B8500 series and the K5000 Smart digital series. Available in 32-, 40-, 50-, and 55-inch screen sizes, the K5000 has a YouTube TV feature for browsing online videos, as well as a Smart Share function that enables users to connect their smartphones to the TV and play media.

All Haier digital TVs come with a two-year warranty on parts and labor.

Flash launches Christmas sale

Flash 2

FLASH Philippines is gracing the onset of yuletide season with a bang!

As Flash Plus 2 continuously gain love and support from its solid users across the country, Flash launched its early Christmas sale last Sept. 6.

Avail of the Flash Plus 2 (2+ 16GB) for the lowest price of Php 5,990 until Sept. 30. This phone has been making its incredible mark with features like the fingerprint scanner, high-

quality audio capabilities, and premium camera functions.

There will be limited stocks, so act now and get yourself with the best gift for yourself and your loved ones!

The Flash Plus 2 (2+ 16GB) is now available at Lazada.com. Both Luna Silver and Venus Gold will be available.

To know more about this amazing offer, just click this link - http://bit.ly/ XmasinSeptember.

Rain-soaked youth revelers welcome radio-friendly EDM

Japanese DJ Ken Ishi performs during the Japan Ultra Music Festival at Odaiba Ultra Park in Tokyo. A glittery haven for hardcore EDM junkies, Ultra’s mega-rave has pitched up in 19 far-flung locations: including Argentina, Brazil and Chile in South America, and across the Atlantic in Spain and Croatia. Farther east, Ultra has extended its reach in Asia from Seoul to Tokyo, Taipei, Singapore, Bali, Bangkok and Hong Kong—with organisers set to announce ‘major additional expansion plans’ for 2017. AFP

TOKYO—Once a modest beach party in Miami, the uber-hip Ultra Music Festival has bold plans to further expand the global juggernaut after another year of empire building.

While techno-heads accuse Ultra of helping to ‘commercialise’ electronic dance music, or EDM, in recent years, 120,000 rainsoaked revellers appeared to heartily disagree after being whipped into a frenzy in Tokyo this past weekend.

“There’s a place for all genres of electronic music,” co-founder Russell Faibisch told AFP. “A festival is all about having different genres.

“In the last few years, EDM has worked on the main stage for the masses but

underground music always has and always will have its place.

“Everything feeds off each other.”

A glittery haven for hardcore EDM junkies, Ultra’s mega-rave has pitched up in 19 far-flung locations: including Argentina, Brazil and Chile in South America, and across the Atlantic in Spain and Croatia.

Farther east, Ultra has extended its reach in Asia from Seoul to Tokyo, Taipei, Singapore, Bali, Bangkok and Hong Kong—with organisers set to announce “major additional expansion plans” for next year.

“We’ve always had a master-plan,” said Faibisch, who staged the first edition of Ultra in 1999. “During the

mid to late nineties in South Beach the club scene was really thriving.

“There were a lot of great clubs like Liquid and Shadow Lounge so it was the right timing for everything to come together. It was just like the perfect storm.”

A powerful typhoon failed to dampen spirits at last weekend’s Ultra Japan, where over 70 acts, including chart-topping headliners Hardwell, Tiesto and Deadmau5, rocked enormous crowds with throbbing electronic beats over three days in Tokyo.

A less radio-friendly ‘Resistance’ tent featured top house and techno artists such as Dubfire and Art Department -- the yin to the cheesier yang on offer on the main

stage, where it was often hard to work out where one track ended and the next began.

‘Dig below the surface’

“In society, there’s the commercial end of the spectrum, and then there’s the alternative,” said Dubfire, addressing the issue of processed electronica.

“The same can be said of the electronic music scene.

There are a lot of people who, once they dig below the surface of EDM, they find there is music there that is more interesting.”

British techno heavyweight Carl Cox has been the driving force behind Ultra’s underground stage production, while organisers will launch stand-alone ‘Resistance’ events in South America next month. AFP

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016

Communication of the Nation

DevCom as a means to accelerate growth

By Jimbo Gulle

C

OMMUNICATION, in any form and whether through old or new media, is a key to developing the Philippines as a nation.

Let’s face it: life would be terribly lifeless without communication.

People talk to each other not just by the spoken or printed word, but even through nonverbal ways like touch, smell, gestures, and expressions. We humans also have the unique talent of conversing even in the abstract— through ideas and concepts and, as some would like to believe, by reading each other’s minds.

Thus it’s not hard to grasp how important communication is to the life of a nation, and in particular to our nation of Filipinos, who love to talk about everything under the sun.

Back in ancient times—actually, just in 1993, when the term “social media” was still somewhere in the ether—a man named Jacques Diouf said the role of communication to a nation was as a “key to human development.”

Diouf was not a communicator in the sense of being a writer, editor, author, journalist, columnist, broadcaster, or anyone else who makes a living in the mass media.

He was Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and he wrote that communication played “a decisive role in promoting human development in today’s new climate of social change.”

Quoting the UN’s Human Development Report in 1993, the Senegalese official added: “People’s participation is becoming the central issue of our time, to which we add, ‘and participation requires communication.”

To Diouf, if development is seen as a fabric woven out of the activities of millions of people, communication represents the essential thread that binds them together.

Development communication The FAO and Diouf wrote their project paper over 20 years ago

not just to talk about issues related to the environment, sustainable agricultural development, and food production, but also about population growth, rural poverty, malnutrition and women in development. It is but one example of what we now call “development communication.”

“DevCom,” as used by its practitioners, is defined as the use of communication to facilitate social development. It “engages stakeholders and policy makers, establishes conducive environments, assesses risks and opportunities, and promotes information exchanges to bring about positive social change via sustainable development,” as defined by Nora C. Quebral, Professor Emeritus at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños—who is also considered the “mother” of this practice.

Used in this manner, communication is done not just for spreading information and educating people—as we are used to receiving from newspapers, TV, radio, and now the internet—but also for changing behaviors, marketing to specific social groups, mobilizing communities, advocating issues in the general media and clamoring for changes to society.

UPLB’s Quebral, who has been discussing development communication since the 1970s, later expanded its definition, calling it “the art and science of human communication applied to the speedy transformation of a country and the mass of its people from poverty to a dynamic state of economic growth that makes possible greater social equality and the larger fulfilment of the human potential.”

Texting and new ICTs With communication playing such an important factor in devel-

Used in this manner, communication is done not just for spreading information through TV, radio and now the internet.

People’s participation is becoming the central issue of our time and participation requires communication.

oping a country, it’s painfully ironic that the Philippines isn’t as economically progressive as it should be, given the vitality of its media and the modern communication technologies available in the country.

If we look at the so-called old media, statistics say the Philippines has 19 active television stations (seven VHF and 12 UHF), more than 1,000 cable TV operators, over 600 radio

stations, 500-plus newspaper titles (tabloids included), and hundreds of magazines and periodicals for every niche and interest. Even before the Internet era, Filipinos were not lacking in ways to get their news and issues of the day.

But the dam of information practically broke for Pinoys in 1995, when the local telecommunications industry was deregulat-

ed, leading to private companies becoming service providers for mobile or cellular phones, fixedline or landline phones, and internet and other data services. Just six years later, Filipinos used information from the old media and the power of “text”—the mobile phone short messaging service (SMS)—to fuel arguably the world’s first “e-revolution” in “People Power II.” “It was the use of cellphones for ‘texting’ rather than calls that was the most intriguing part of People Power II, and was also the key to its success,” Julius Court, a Programme Officer at the United Nations University and co-director of the World Governance Survey project, says of the four-day revolution in 2001 that deposed thenPresident Joseph Estrada and installed Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Also called “EDSA Dos,” the revolt was “a change of government brought about by new forms of ICT (information and communications technology,” Court says.

He was surprised by “the lack of attention to the role of technology (in the uprising),” but it came as no surprise to Filipinos, who are among the world’s best in adopting new forms of communication.

Social media and the future Truly, People Power II was a landmark moment for communications in the country, and Court asserts that “this exact form of revolution could probably only have happened in the Philippines.”

Why? Court adds: “Manila is the texting capital of the world. The Philippines, a relatively poor country, has 4.5 million mobile phones (in 2001). Texting is much cheaper than making phone calls, making it so popular in a country like the Philippines. Filipinos can often text with either—and sometimes even both—hands. They also text while driving—no mean feat on Manila’s dangerous streets.”

Fifteen years later, the number of mobile connections in the country is a staggering 114.6 million, ac-

Fight against cyber crimes intensifies MALAYAN Insurance Co., Inc., the leading non-life insurer in the country, has recognized intensified calls for greater cyber security in Philippine business.

Answering this demand, Malayan Insurance recently gathered together various industry leaders for a Forum in Makati City to discuss the importance of cyber security insurance.

Malayan’s Forum on Cyber Insurance provided a broad overview on the different risks on a corporation’s information technology systems and database, and the latest preventive measures against cybercrimes.

The event was attended by 200 high-profile guests from banking and finance, engineering, education, aviation, IT and other industries.

“With threats devised through ‘hacktivism’ and cybercriminals, among others, we at Malayan Insurance recognize the need to protect your business systems and data through cyber insurance,” said Malayan Insurance President Yvonne S. Yuchengco.

The Forum featured field experts from Munich Re, one of the world’s leading reinsurance companies, and

Shown in photo are (from left to right) Munich Re Casualty Underwriter Wan Shahrezal, Munich Re Chief Underwriting Officer Thomas Peter, Malayan Insurance President Yvonne S. Yuchengco, Malayan Insurance Chairperson Helen Y. Dee, and Ultimate Risk Solutions Managing Director David Piesse.

Ultimate Risk Solutions, an independent financial modeling and predictive analytics company. The speakers gave insights on cyber insurance as a vital component of businesses’ IT infrastructure.

As businesses become more digitally-connected, they become more vulnerable to cyber attacks

such as hacking and malware. Reports say that cybercrimes account for approximately $300 billion of total losses to businesses worldwide in the past 12 months.

According to Wan Shahrezal, Casualty Underwriter of Munich Re, cyber-related losses have quadrupled from 2013 to 2015, and are

expected to quadruple again from 2016 to 2019.

The Philippines’ disturbing state of cyber security has been highlighted in the past months alone with a series of data breaches and defaced websites. Malayan Insurance urged corporate leaders to seize the opportunities for cyber protection and further improve their cyber security management programs with cyber insurance.

Cyber insurance intends to protect corporations and institutions from risks associated with the Internet, e-business, networks, and information assets.

“High profile cyber attacks on business are fuelling the sharp rise in demand for cyber insurance,” said David Piesse, Managing Director of Ultimate Risk Solutions. “Insurance submissions in the [global] cyber market reportedly rose by 50% in the first quarter of 2015.”

For more information about Malayan’s cyber insurance, visit the nearest Malayan Insurance branch, call (02) 628-8738/6288849, e-mail malayan@malayan. com/kpanganiban@malayan.com/ acalimag@malayan.com, or visit www.malayan.com.

cording to a study by the National Telehealth Center, a group affiliated with the University of the Philippines in Manila. At least 44.2 million Filipinos—nearly half the country’s population—use the Internet through these connections, the study adds.

So even if the medium of communication has changed—SMS is “so the ‘90s,” say today’s millennials—Filipinos will still love to communicate. The preferred platform now, and indeed the whole world’s, is social media— Facebook, Twitter, blogs and any messaging program like Viber or WhatsApp that allows you to chat via mobile or the Internet.

Sadly, social media has also become a warzone: while it helped tremendously in bringing former Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte into power as the Philippines’ 16th President, it also caused a deep rift between Filipinos who voted for him and those who didn’t. Months after the elections, “keyboard warriors” and fanatics from each side continue to wage a pitched battle online, shouting each other down for anyone who cares to read their posts and tweets or watch the videos they share.

That is a shame, because proper communication—in any form, whether through old or new media —is vital for an emerging nation like the Philippines. At least that’s what Wilbur Schramm, considered the father of modern mass communications, believed when he stated how development communication “can serve to accelerate political, economic, and social growth.”

As the director of the Institute for Communication Research at Stanford University, Schramm believed mass media can be used for “explaining goals, raising aspirations, and creating a climate for national development.” Communication, he adds, “assists in public understanding and acceptance of national goals, and the individual’s responsibilities for attaining them.”

But a loftier idea for communication may come from its own Latin root word, “communicare,” meaning “to share.”

So if we apply what Diouf, Quebral, Court and Schramm have implied, if Filipinos exchange words and ideas in the spirit of sharing —not with a motive of bashing opponents, especially on social media—then true communication, the type that builds a nation, can emerge. And Pinoys won’t have to read each other’s minds to find out if they’re right.

Digital Walker’s September Christmas DIGITAL Walker welcomes all gadget and tech enthusiasts at SM Megamall-Mega Trade Hall 3 from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 for their very first Christmas Comes Early Sale.

With discounts up to 90% off, it’s definitely an early Holiday treat for the tech crazy fans out there.

The much-anticipated sale includes several well-known brands such as Fitbit, Belkin accessories, Coloud headphones, Marshall speakers, Crumpler bags and more.

The three-day event has surprises in store for lucky buyers. A raffle promo is open to anyone with a minimum purchase of P3,000, while one lucky customer per day will get to take home one of these coveted gadgets: iPad Mini4, iPhone 6s, or a Marshall Woburn amplifier!

There will also be lots of random giveaways during the sale.

Digital Walker carries the widest selection of consumer technology products that range from smartphones, tablets, cameras, cases, speakers, headphones, earphones and many more. Whether you’re a true technophile or just someone who just wants to enjoy technology, Digital Walker surely has the product that’s perfect for you.

For more information, follow Digital Walker on Facebook or on Instagram and Twitter @digitalwalkerph.

Momax iPower Xtra

Dassault Systèmes introduces Solidworks ‘17 THE world leader in 3D design software, Dassault Systèmes announced the release of Solidworks 2017, a revamped and improved version of the company’s flagship product, promising more core power and performance, as well as newer capabilities.

The latest software, updated to make performance 5-times faster, was unveiled during the company’s media launch yesterday at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati.

“Solidworks 2017 simplifies the design and development process with a better user experience, new capabilities for emerging technologies, and improved functionality for seamless collaboration with teams and networks,” said Gian Paolo Bassi, CEO, Solidworks, Dassault Systèmes.

“Each year, our Solidworks community’s feedback drives our research and development to offer a flexible product portfolio for business, design and engineering needs.

We are excited to put even more power and performance in their hands with Solidworks 2017,” he added.

Executives also Tan bared that the Philippines is a primary “growth driver,” highlighting that the core of the company’s thrust is centered on the benefit of the consumers.

“The Philippines is a major country for us in terms of Solidworks

technology,” said Benjamin Tan, Director of Professional Channels, Asia-Pacific South.

“Our mission is to make great design happen. Over the years, our developers have actually created powerful, reliable and easy to use design technology.”

He also added that “one of the greatest thing about Solidworks is that it is intuitive” and wants users to “focus on their design,” noting as well that over the years, Solidworks has really developed as a leader in 3D software design.

Powered by Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform, Solid-

works 2017 helps innovators design, validate, collaborate, build and manage their product development processes with integrated applications.

Solidworks 2017 features more core power and performance, as well as new capabilities to address paperless manufacturing through the support of Model Based Definition, and printed circuit board design.

Both new and experienced users can improve productivity with simulation to analyze, solve, visualize and verify functionality of designs, before any prototype is created. New tools unlock any 3D model for better collaboration with vendors and customers, and dynamic product data management from concept through to manufacturing allows for stronger support of multi-site and remote teams. Peter Paul Duran

Coloud Pop

Braven BRV-X

Fitbit Charge HR

GLOBE TELECOM POSITIONS DAVAO IN GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY MAP Inaugurates power feed equipment facility for PH first undersea cable system directly connecting Davao with the rest of the world GLOBE Telecom is positioning Davao in the global connectivity map by aggressively building on its network infrastructure in the city.

This includes the construction of the Philippine end of an international undersea cable system, the only facility of such kind in the country to directly connect Davao with the rest of the world.

“Both facilities will help underpin local economic growth as it will provide support for the expanding business requirement for data not only in Mindanao region, but also in the country as a whole. Both the data center and the undersea cable systems are critical in ensuring the resiliency of the country’s internet connectivity with the rest of world, particularly US, where much of internet content is sourced,” said Globe President & CEO Ernest Cu. The two facilities will play a major role in providing the ideal IT Infrastructure and International connectivity requirement not only of businesses located in Davao, but also for enterprises in Luzon and Visayas in line with the company’s vision of enhancing business capacities of enterprises and help usher the Philippines to become a digital nation, said Cu. “Enterprises located in northern and central Philippines may consider the data center as the primary site for Mindanao and secondary site of Luzon and Visayas in the event of natural or man-made disasters,” explained Cu, emphasizing that the “two facilities will help strengthen the company’s overall network resiliency ensuring its customers will have seamless connectivity, and providing constant support for next-generation technologies.”

According to him, the data center situated in the same location as the

Globe President & CEO Ernest Cu (second from right) and Davao City chairman of the Association of Barangay Captains and Councilor January Duterte (third from left) lead the opening of the power feed equipment site of the SEA-US cable landing facility located in Barangay Talomo, Davao City.

SEA-US cable landing station, will cater to BPOs, financial institutions, internet service providers and other content providers in southern Philippines. The project, once completed, will address ICT requirements of major trade and industry centers in Mindanao region, he emphasized.

Cu explained the Globe Business’ Davao Data Center is the best location for customers looking for a data center in the Mindanao region as it is located within the region’s central business hubs. He said the facility is Seismic

Zone 4 compliant, which means that it has been retrofitted for earthquake safety. Also, infrastructure and redundant security solutions have been put in place to ensure that systems remain continuously available and secure. The data center is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2017.

The SEA-US cable system, on the other hand, will ease the country’s dependence on international cable systems routed through northern Philippines, said Cu. This could prevent a repeat of a 2008 incident where major

international cables were broken because of the Taiwan earthquake. As a result, the Philippines became isolated for a few days in terms of internet connectivity.

To date, Globe already completed the construction of the Davao Power Feed Equipment, a facility that will address the energy requirement of SEA-US cable system. At a project cost of approximately $250 million, the SEA-US undersea cable system will provide superior latency, delivering an additional 20 Terabits per/second capacity, utiliz-

ing the latest 100 gigabits per second transmission technology. Such additional capacity will cater to the exponential growth of bandwidth between the two continents.

The SEA-US cable is being built by a consortium of 7 international telecommunication companies, including Globe Telecom, and will link 5 countries and territories such as Manado (Indonesia), Davao (Philippines), Piti (Guam), Oahu (Hawaii, United States) and Los Angeles (California, United States).

The SEA-US project will be approximately 15,000 kilometers in length, and provides route diversity from the North Pacific, avoiding earthquake prone areas in East Asia. The cable system is expected to provide more efficient connectivity to approximately 1.5 billion people.

Aside from Globe Telecom, members of the SEA-US consortium include PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia International (Telin), Telkom USA, GTI Corporation (a member of the Globe Group of companies), RAM Telecom International (RTI), Teleguam Holdings (GTA) and Hawaiian Telcom (HTEL).

In addition to the construction of the data center and the SEA-US undersea cable system, the telecommunications operator is also embarking on an aggressive deployment of fiber-optic broadband technology and utilization of additional spectrum assets such as those in the 700 megahertz (MHz), 1800 MHz and 2600 MHz bands in Davao City.

Furthermore, Globe is also rolling out a fiber optic cable system in the country, including Davao.

The objective is to create an internet superhighway by deploying fiber in 20,000 barangays by 2020 and provide ultra-fast internet access to around 2 million homes nationwide.

From left are Globe Vice President for Sales, Enterprise Group Dion Asencio; Globe Director for Site Acquisition Vincent Tempongko, Globe Senior Advisor for Enterprise and IT-Enabled Services Group Mike Frausing; Globe President & CEO Ernest Cu; MMDA Chairman Emerson Carlos; MMDA OIC-AGM for Operations Director Baltazar Melgar; and MMDA OIC, Office of the AGM for Finance & Administrator, Director Carolina Salgado.

GLOBE PARTNERS WITH MMDA TO ENHANCE NETWORK COVERAGE, CAPACITIES Collaboration expected to further improve customer internet experience

GLOBE Telecom and the Metro Manila Development Authority signed a deal that will allow the leading telecommunicationscompanytodeploy wireless infrastructure in MMDA controlled areas as part of its efforts to enhance network coverage and capacities and improve its customers’ internet experience.

The landmark agreementwill enable the telco operator to fast track deployment of LTE 700 MHz, LTE 1800 LTE 2600 which are additional frequencies the company recently acquired from San Miguel. Globe President & CEO Ernest Cu and MMDA Chairman Emerson Carlos signed the deal August 8 at the MMDA

headquarters.

“The permitting process for the deployment of wireless infrastructure has been a major challenge for telecommunication operators like Globe and the MMDA’s decision to support our efforts in providing better mobile coverage for our customers is a groundbreaking development that will lend valuable support for our endeavor of ushering the Philippines to become a digital nation,” said Cu. According to him, the partnership will particularly improve mobile coverage and network capacities in major thoroughfares in Metro Manila.

The agreement initially covers MMDA flood control facilities located

in different areas in Metro Manila such Diosdado Macapagal Blvd and Barangay 190 in Pasay City; Sta Ana, Tondo, Quiapo, Pandacan, Sta. Cruz, Binondo, Sampaloc, Paco and Sta Mesa in Manila; Balong Bato in San Juan City; Channel Taguig, Barangay Wawa and Barangay Hagonoy in Taguig City; and C6 Tapayan in Taytay, Rizal.

With the deployment of wireless mobile infrastructure in these locations, Globe will be able to provide better mobile service and capacity particularly for data, said Cu. He also said the two organizations are also working on expanding the agreement to include MMDA pylons and street lights to cover major thoroughfares that include

EDSA, C5 Road, Ortigas Ave., Quezon Ave., Espana Blvd., Roxas Blvd., Commonwealth Ave., Marcos Highway and SLEX. Aside from enhancing mobile coverage and capacities in MMDA controlled areas, Globe will also provide connectivity support as well as video monitoring equipment in flood control facilities of MMDA which will enhance public safety program of the agency particularly since a number of locations in Metro Manila are flood-prone areas.

Following its recent acquisition of new spectrum assets, Globe has been aggressively expanding its wireless infrastructure to improve mobile coverage and enhance network

capacities as more and more Filipinos are shifting to smartphone use. In early June, Globe also signed a similar agreement to provide free Wi-Fi connectivity in all 13 MRT stations along EDSA. The company also signed a similar agreement to provide free WiFi services in all 20 LRT 1 stations.

Globe has set aside for 2016 a capital expenditure of $750 million, bulk of which will be used to boost data capacity and expand network reach.

In line with its vision of ushering in a digital nation, the network build will also increase the capacity of its network for both mobile and wire lines using different technologies including 3G, LTE and Wi-Fi.

Life

Guests can explore nature and take in picturesque vistas while on an ATV

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

WEEKEND LIVING

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016

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Taking leisure up a notch higher

Aspenhills is a hilltop development in Tagaytay Highlands reminiscent of the rustic charm of Aspen in Colorado

T

AGAYTAY certainly has its fair share of leisure attractions, but Tagaytay Highlands definitely adds to its draw.

With a master plan that redefines mountain resort living ideals, the communities at Tagaytay Highlands lets you enjoy its natural surroundings—an impressive mountain and lake panorama amid the convenience of luxe, country club amenities.

The natural beauty inherent to the place is rivaled only by the structures surrounding it. Following a concept that brings together urban conveniences with natural topography, the residential developments rise seamlessly within nature’s embrace, more especially in its newest properties—Aspenhills and Sycamore Heights.

Countryside family bonding at Aspenhills

Inspired by the vivid summers of the rocky mountain cities of Colorado, Aspenhills is a 27-hectare luxury hilltop enclave that fuses countryside design and architectural elements with the comforts of modern city living. Located at the Highlands and with lots ranging from 306 to 801 square meters, Aspen-

hills allows residents to make their private cabin home dreams a reality.

Residents also get exclusive access to Aspenhills’ amenities that promote family convergence. Quiet barbecue weekends may be enjoyed at the Sunshine Picnic Grove, active explorers can bike through dedicated pathways of the Nature Trail, while kids can bask around the Little Ranch Playground. Its centerpiece— The Village Hall—serves as a celebration venue for private milestones overlooking impressive environment views.

Be one with nature at Sycamore Heights

The Asian contemporary themed haven is tucked in the lush environs of the Midlands. With 40 percent of its land area dedicated to open spaces, Sycamore Heights makes an ideal abode for nature lovers. It features a Central Park with a pavilion, great lawn, jogging path, tree court, children’s playground and infinity pool that complement the refreshing foliage backdrop. Other amenities include a Lounge Garden,

Highlander Steakhouse serves delectable steaks, grilled specialties and sumptuous wine

Garden and Bird Watch Park for your tranquil pursuits.

Sycamore Heights is an exclusive residential subdivision within the Tagaytay Midlands communities. It offers residential lots ranging from 250 to 959 square meters, which boasts of stunning scenes of Taal Volcano and Lake and the Midlands Fairways and Golf Course.

Leisurely ideals at The Country Club

Property purchase at the Aspenhills and Sycamore Heights comes with membership rights to The Country Club at Tagaytay Highlands.

This membership gives residents access to world-class amenities offering a wide-range of activity options from

active sports like swimming, tennis, bowling and badminton to other recreational selections like Pedal Go Kart Racing, Oxboard Maze, Sporting Arrow, Console Gaming and life-size board games at the Supersized Game Park. Animal lovers may opt to do horseback and pony rides or discover different species of fauna at the Animal Farm. For the adventurous spirits, the All-Terrain Vehicle ride and mountain trek are a must.

The Club also highlights quite a number of gastronomical delights like the famous Highlander Steakhouse known for its prime steaks and fine wines, The China Palace, which serves premium authentic Chinese cuisines and The Country Club’s Gourmet Avenue, which presents an assortment of international cuisines.

The idyllic scenery of the sprawling grounds may also be enjoyed riding in the country’s first and only Swiss cable car and funicular train system. For some peace and quiet, The Spa & Lodge awaits guests for rejuvenating treatments and services.

There are more surprises waiting to be told at Tagaytay Highlands. Celebrate the mountain resort lifestyle like no other and start your story.

GMA Kapuso Foundation founder and ambassador Mel Tiangco reads a story to the students of Kapuso Village Integrated School (top left); which she inaugurated together with local DepEd officials, school sponsors, Tacloban Mayor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez and GMAKF EVP and COO Rikki Escudero-Catibog (bottom left). The Kapuso Village Integrated School is built for the children of survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda (right).

GMA Kapuso Foundation’s first ‘Kapuso school’ ON Aug. 26, GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF), the foundation arm of media giant GMA Network, inaugurated its typhoon resistant Kapuso Village Integrated School in Tacloban, Leyte.

The Kapuso Village Integrated School is the biggest built by the GMA Kapuso Foundation, meant to benefit the children of survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda who were

relocated to government-owned acreage, far inland Tacloban.

Due to the trauma of living through the strongest typhoon in known history, GMAKF, through the donations of millions of Filipinos abroad and at home, wanted to build a sturdy structure that would stand the test of time. The community did its share to secure the future of its youth by donating sweat equity to

help finish the school’s construction.

The U-shaped two-story school building features a toilet and lavatory in every classroom. The lower ground comfort rooms are fed by an easy to maintain rainwater catchment system to take advantage of the rainy season. The collected rainwater can also be used for the daily needs of the school like watering plants and cleaning purposes.

Each classroom is bright and airy, complete with blackboards, students’ desk/chairs and two rotary ceiling fans for a learning-conducive environment for the children. Water dispensers were also provided. Around 700 elementary and high school pupils are projected to study in the Kapuso Village Integrated School.

Guests at the inauguration ceremony

included representatives from project partners Hanabishi (for all the appliances), Mariwasa (for all the tiles and ceramic ware in the comfort rooms), Republic Cement (for the cement for the school) and Latter-day Saint Charities (for the 740 brand new student desk/chairs).

Rev. Fr. Andres B. Guban, SVD, officiated the blessing of the classrooms.

Life

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

Orbik lights up Team Kramer T

HE husband and wife team of Doug and Cheska Kramer are always a-light with great ideas for their home. But, sometimes, practical situations hinder them from achieving their needs and wants.

Like any other family, the Kramers only want the best appliances and fixtures, but are also conscious of how much they spend for it. One of the few things the couple invests on is good bulbs.

LED bulbs are touted for its low environmental impact and cost-effectiveness as its outdated predecessor for lasting over three times longer. “There are several types of LED bulbs to choose from,” says Doug. “You can pick white or warm light—white is best for reading and studying while warm gives off a more relaxed mood, which is perfect for our TV room!”

Cheska uses a mix of white and warm bulbs for her dresser because it gives a more natural light when she needs to put on makeup. “Another great thing about LED bulbs is that they use less electricity than regular bulbs and they don’t emit heat.”

LED bulbs may be expensive at first but you save more in the long term because you don’t need to change it after a few months. Orbik features a full range of environmentally friendly, affordable and energy efficient lightbulbs. Unlike other light bulb brands, Orbik focuses on solutions for lighting needs rather than on price.

The Kramers are an icon in good

family rearing and housekeeping, and they set a good example on how to make most of what a family has at home. They know that a typical family of four usually spends too much on electricity, especially when there are so many gadgets to charge, and more often than not, there are dark rooms to

AT HOME WITH THE KRAMERS. The family makes it a point to turn off lights and appliances when they’re not in use Doug Kramer believes that investing on quality LED bulbs is value for money

light up. “Electricity isn’t cheap so we make it a point to turn off lights and appliances when they are not in use, said the Kramers. They believe to inspire parents to be more creative and

insightful in looking for ways to save up on the electricity bill.

For more home-lighting solutions, follow Orbik’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.

CHILDHAUS celebrates 13th anniversary CHILDHAUS (Center for Health Improvement & Life Development), an organization that helps ease the stress of coping with a child’s life-threatening illness, opened its doors to give hope and life to cancer patients from all over the country to provide the best possible chance of recovery and cure through constant nurturing and unconditional support in an environment that promotes healing and meets the complex challenges of children’s cancers and blood disorders.

CHILDHAUS, founded by beauty master and philanthropist Ricky Reyes, is now on its 13th year and continues to house and support cancer patients while undergoing treatment in various government hospitals. The late Inquirer editor-in-chief Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc was instrumental in the founding of CHILDHAUS after she invited Reyes to visit the female cancer patients at Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

To date, CHILDHAUS has helped around 14,000 cancer patients and their families from all over the country.

The children-centric organization was built through the kindness of Good Samaritans starting with Hans Sy who took it upon himself to help the kids

find a permanent home in the city while enduring all the necessary treatment brought about by their sickness. Sy said he did this as a testament of his love and salute to his father, SM patriarch Henry Sy, Sr., who has always taught them the value of helping the underprivileged.

Reyes believes that when a child is diagnosed, the entire family is really diagnosed. Therefore, CHILDHAUS’ programs and services address the needs of all family members affected.

“Our mission is to help families get through their own cancer struggles. We know all too well the heartache a family faces as their child undergoes treatment.

So we give support not just to the patients but to the family as well so they can create precious memories together.” Reyes said.

Most of the children at CHILDHAUS get better because they are happy in the shelter. They are in a community where they get support and are treated like they are not sick. Both kids and their parents are provided counseling so they don’t get depressed despite their challenges.

Reyes also emphasizes the importance of prayers and cultivating their spiritual lives among the kids. Holy masses are celebrated at CHILDHAUS every Sun-

CHILDHAUS unveils the Tree of Hope ni Kuya Hans where guests imprinted their hands on to signify their support for the institution (left) while Hans Sy browses through the gifts the kids gave him for his birthday (right)

day. At 5 p.m. the kids pray the rosary.

This helps them learn to accept, be closer and still be thankful to God for whatever they are going through.

Volunteer teachers regularly visit CHILDHAUS to tutor the kids. Performers, dancers and singers cheer them up once in a while by way of shows and entertainment numbers. Celebrities also tirelessly share their time and resources and the organization continues to attract additional contributions from generous donors.

CHILDHAUS marked its anniversa-

ry through a simple celebration, which started with a mass for all the guests.

Performers were also invited to give the children entertainment and food overflowed donated by various sponsors.

Most of the donors happily graced the simple yet very meaningful 13th anniversary celebration of the institution sharing the happy day with the children who also performed and wrote letters of thanks to Hans Sy during the occasion.

Coinciding with Hans Sy’s birthday is the unveiling of the Tree of Hope ni

From PWD to POD

IRL (IN REAL LIFE) MENCHU AQUINO SARMIENTO AS a young girl in San Juan, Batangas, Marites Valencia Odarbe had it all.

Her father Roger and her mother Paz vowed their children would never experience poverty, as they had. ROPAZ Enterprises was into everything: trading in agricultural supplies and firearms; leasing out farm equipment, delivery trucks and heavy machinery; real estate development and money lending.

Marites was her daddy’s girl. Roger indulged her speech, voice and even modeling lessons. She won elocution contests and declaimed during ROPAZ events. She tasted teenage independence as the only one among her siblings sent to high school in Manila, at the UST, then to college at the UP Diliman. Roger unflaggingly supported her dream of becoming a lawyer despite a succession of law schools, from UP down to the so-called “others.”

Crippling migraines and inexplicable fatigue afflicted Marites throughout her college years. Her neat cursive script became illegible. These were the first mysterious symptoms of the disease that has since shaped her life. When she stood up to recite in her Ateneo

Marites Odarbe with her daughter JM, a consistent honor student (left); Marites during her college years at UP Diliman (right)

law class, the earth moved. It was no earthquake but her body taken over by uncontrollable tremors. After years of consulting specialists and getting medical tests, she was finally diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s Disease, a progressively degenerative movement disorder.

Marites jokes about her various Parkinsonian personalities: the Dancing Queen (Uncontrollable Tremors), the Frozen Princess (immobile or catatonic), the Robot (jerky movements). The champion declaimer now stammered.

Most debilitating of all was the ensuing deep depression that totally destroyed her dream of becoming a lawyer.

Unlike the Biblical Job who lost his health last, for Marites this tragedy was

just the first in a rapid onslaught: the ROPAZ businesses fell like dominos, and her parents died within a year of one another. The saving grace in this downturn was that Marites met and married the love of her life: Jan Odarbe, also a member of the local Living Waters charismatic community. Because of Marites’ disability, Jan took on most of the household chores and physically cared for his wife and their only daughter Jeanne Marie or JM, a consistent honor student. However, he was “paextra extra lang” and Parkinson’s medication isn’t cheap.

When Marites was nearing 40, having spent almost half of her life as a PWD, she decided it was time to let her light shine. This was not so she could bask

in the spotlight like the Marites of old, but that through her witness, the power that is greater than us all might shine through. Proving that this movement disorder would not get the better of her, Marites finally moved. She joined the UP-initiated Community Based Rehabilitation Program (CBR) and was elected chair of the San Juan Agapayan PWD Cooperative.

As the Good Book says: ask and you shall be given. Without a padrino, Marites approached San Juan Mayor Rodolfo Manalo who promptly appointed her the focal person of the Office for PWD Affairs. Despite her Civil Service eligibility and a degree in Public Administration from UP, the depression which often accompanies Parkinson’s

Kuya Hans where guests happily imprinted their hands on, signifying their support for the institution.

To cap the program, Asia’s Queen of Songs Pilita Corrales rendered her timeless piece “A Million Thanks to You” to Hans Sy for his undying love for CHILDHAUS. With a relentless spirit and dedication to improving the lives of every CHILDHAUS cancer patient and their families, Ricky Reyes looks forward to another 13 years of CHILDHAUS.

had caused Marites to behave as if Parkinson’s Disease meant the end of a productive life.

The elocution and personality development lessons of her girlhood came into play when Marites was a co-presenter at the 2nd Asia Pacific Community Based Rehab (CBR) Congress in 2011 in Manila. Then it was on to a larger international stage and a standing ovation at the 2012 CBR World Congress in Agra, India.

From her wheelchair, Marites spoke of CBR as the means to achieve the government’s good intentions for PWDs as embodied in the Convention on the Rights of PWDs (CRPD): “CBR and CRPD cannot be defined by mere words but by moments which transform. The real measure of how effective they are, is when those like me, who once saw themselves as PWDs, see themselves as PODs or persons of destiny.”

It was a struggle with a miracle at every turn, starting with funding for the conference registration; being allowed to register after the deadline; getting the visa a day before the flight then being left behind by the plane... “But it was worth it as now I can face the world and shout it out, that I am no longer a PWD, but a POD.” In the prime of her life, it seemed as though Marites had lost everything.

But God wasn’t done with her. At every stage of her long hard journey from being the girl with everything to a PWD and now to a POD, Marites learned above all, to trust His will. That is the title of the book she has just published through the Komiks Guild of the Philippines. For as Marites declares in her earthy Batangueno Tagalog: “Kapag sa iyo nauukol, talagang bubukol.”

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

H

ERBERT Chavez has long been a Superman fanatic since his childhood.

He collects figures of his superhero characters. He earned a spot in the Guiness Book of World Records for looking like Superman.

Ricky Reyes

talks about a new lease on life in ‘GRR TNT’ LIAM Neeson, widely known for his role as Bryan Mills in the worldwide blockbuster Taken film franchise, will once again surprise the audience with his newfound skills in his latest film A Monster Calls.

Based on the award-winning novel of the same title by Patrick Ness, A Monster Calls is directed by highly celebrated director J.A. Bayona wherein Neeson stars in the titular role.

Twelve-year old Conor O’Malley (Lewis MacDougall) who escapes into a fantastical world of monsters and fairy tales sees Neeson’s character as the monster.

Dealing with his mother’s (Felicity Jones) illness has necessitated Conor’s spending time with his less-thansympathetic grandmother (Sigourney Weaver). His daily existence at his U.K. school is one of academic disinterest and bullying by classmates.

As Conor’s father (Toby Kebbell) has resettled thousands of miles away in the U.S., the boy yearns for guidance.

Connor unexpectedly summons a most unlikely ally, who bursts forth with terrifying grandeur from an ancient towering yew tree and the powerful earth below it: a 40-foot-high colossus of a creature.

Portrayed in performancecapture and voiceover by Neeson, the monster appears at Conor’s bedroom window at the strike of 12:07 one night – and at the same time on nights thereafter. The

BRACE yourselves for a more thrilling and exciting new season as Quantico returns on Sept. 26 on AXN. In the first season, Special Agent Alex Parrish (Priyanka Chopra) finds herself the subject of an FBI manhunt after being targeted as the prime suspect in the biggest terrorist attack in New York City since 9/11.

Despite all clues pointing to her and the odds against her, she clears her name and saves millions of lives.

With colleagues Shelby Wyatt (Johanna Braddy), twins Nimah and Raina Amin (Yasmine Al Masri), Simon Asher (Tate Ellington), Caleb Haas (Graham Rogers), Natalie Vasquez (Anabelle Acosta), and Ryan Booth (Jake McLaughlin) finally on her side, Alex discovers that the mastermind behind it all is one of her mentors at the FBI Training Academy in Quantico.

The world of secrets and spies continues in Season 2, where Alex embarks on a new mission as a CIA agent after a oneyear training at The Farm,

the CIA’s covert training facility.

Faced with a greater challenge, Alex tries to adjust herself to a new chapter in her life, as she deals new characters– cunning thief Harry Doyle (Russell Tovey), ambitious Harvard lawyer Dayana Mampasi (Pearl Thusi), daring photojournalist León Velez (Aarón Diaz), and mysterious CIA officer Owen Hall (Blair Underwood).

This time, Alex is not on the run, but in the middle of a deadly conspiracy that not only threatens the lives of her countrymen but also others around the globe. With the lies and deception all around her, she is determined to finding the truth even if it keeps her guessing until the end.

Quantico Season 2 premieres within 12 Hours of the U.S. telecast on Sept. 26, and airs every Monday at 9:45 p.m. on AXN seen on Cable Link Channel 38, Cignal Digital TV Channel 61, Global Destiny Cable Channel 61, Dream Channel 20, GSat Channel 51, and SKYCable Channel 49.

Liam Neeson voices monster in ‘A Monster Calls’ In ‘A Monster Calls,’ Liam Neeson is a big friendly giant tree monster, while newcomer Lewis MacDougall plays Conor, a 12-year-old boy struggling to cope up with bullying at school

Monster has stories to tell, and he insists that Conor hear them and powerfully visualize them.

Conor’s fear gives way to feistiness and then to looking within; for, The Monster demands that once the tales are told it will be time for Conor to tell his own story in return.

Ancient, wild, and relentless, the Monster guides Conor on a journey of courage, faith, and truth.

As an actor utterly distinct in personality, voice, and stature, Liam Neeson was everyone’s first choice to portray the Monster, in both voiceover and performance-capture. The Academy Award-nominated actor was drawn to the story immediately, seeing it as “a fable about the complexity of our emotions, and navigating that complexity as we grow up.”

“Bayona is a real cinema

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, September 24, 2016

ACROSS 1 Bank agcy.

5 Prince Val’s wife 10 Belmont Stakes 14 Actual 15 Mr. Spock’s forte 16 Mongolia’s — Bator 17 Old Dodge model 18 Seattle’s Sound 19 Flintstone pet 20 Dragonfly prey 22 Root beer treats 24 Samovar 25 Novelist Jean — 26 Assert without proof 29 Sign of a cold 33 Make fun of 34 Crepe cousin 36 — Red Riding Hood 37 Neutral shade 38 Sylvan 39 Jackie’s second 40 Ugh! 41 Den or burrow 42 No-fat Jack 44 Oona or Geraldine 47 Omelet extra 48 Slime 49 Teacup handle 50 Reserve anew

Watch how he transformed to look so much like his idol superhero.

Meanwhile, former drug dependent Cenen “Tok” Corpus manages a rehab facility, the Center for Christian Recovery in Antipolo City, which incorporates art therapy as a means of treatment for former drug addicts to give them a new lease on life.

In a separate episode, herbalist Fely Guy Ong of FGO Foundation talks on the four areas of natural healing starting with the food we take. Advocating on the Chinese philosophy’s Yin & Yang where everything should be balanced, Fely talks on what to eat for good health at the same time citing ways to veer away from the bad stuff.

In Showbiz Express, Aster Amoyo chats with Kapuso actor Ken Chan who shares how his role as Destiny Rose changed his career.

All these and more 9 a.m. today in Gandang Ricky Reyes Todo na Toh (GRR TNT) on GMA News TV.

Another chapter in Agent Alex Parrish’s life

53 58 59 61 62

Spring flowers Roman poet Mukluk wearer Minor setback Honeycomb unit 63 No rocket scientist 64 Checkbook no.

65 Trouser part 66 Take the helm 67 Bonny miss DOWN 1 Gift-tag word 2 Showroom deal 3 Woosnam and Fleming 4 Snobbish sets 5 Type of skiing 6 Boorish fellow 7 Frozen-waffle brand 8 Deadlock 9 Arouse suspicion (2 wds.)

10 Ballet’s — Nureyev 11 Others, to Ovid 12 Tilt 13 1960s space chimp 21 Strongly advise 23 Flower wreath 25 Step — (resign)

26 Cobweb site 27 Filter 28 Sri — 30 Highway alert 31 Turkish coins 32 The upper crust 34 Frontiersman Daniel — 35 Herbert of “Pink Panther” films 38 Gifted students (2 wds.)

42 Hoops nickname 43 Careful reading 45 Pet often

named Fifi 46 London lav 47 Football lineman 50 Push a cradle 51 Not bumpy 52 Ill humor 53 Month for Geminis 54 Belgian river 55 Pizarro foe 56 Resinous deposits 57 Bane of pvts.

60 After expenses

talent,” states Liam Neeson.

“Occasionally you get to work with directors who are steeped in the love of what they do, and Bayona is one of those. He eats, sleeps, and drinks movies. He’s a walking film encyclopedia. He’s a bit like Martin Scorsese in that way. He’s also very sensitive.

He takes care of, guides, and nurtures his actors and that’s what I always hope a director

will do. He allows you to experiment, so you both can get at the truth of what a scene is – and he will try for as long as it takes. I love working with a director like that.”

As part of Bayona’s approach, Neeson worked alongside Lewis MacDougall so that both actors could share ownership of their scenes together. Neeson reflects, “I’ve worked with children who’ve been swamped by the

industry, and they’ve lost a kind of childlike innocence. Lewis has all that intact. He’s still a real kid – but also a powerful young actor.”

A Monster Calls is a visually spectacular and stunning adventure that will open in cinemas on Nov. 2 from Pioneer Films.

Trailer link: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=q2HpxnO8o0

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016

Showbiz Carla Humphries and Mikael Daez give life to the love story of Senator Sonny Angara and wife Tootsy

K

APUSO star Mikael Daez is joined by Carla Humphries in giving life to Senator Sonny Angara and wife Tootsy’s love story in Wagas today.

While others claim lo ve at first sight, Senator Sonny Angara and wife Tootsy’s romance is different—they refer to it as “love at second sight”.

Tootsy was in high school when Sonny was introduced to her. She claims that back then, she did not feel any spark between them.

Meanwhile, Sonny barely remembers that first meeting.

But eight years after, Cupid’s arrow seemed to have hit the bull’s eye.

Sonny claims that while he used to be torpe, Tootsy changed that. He overcame his shyness and learned to fight for his love for Tootsy.

Sonny had to go through Tootsy’s strict dad before Tootsy could become his girlfriend. Their relationship was also not an easy one— there was even a time the two had to be apart from each other because of their studies.

After five years of being a couple, Sonny and Tootsy got married. The woman behind Sonny’s success, Tootsy also supported her husband in difficulties, especially when Sonny entered politics. But never did they imagine that the biggest challenge their family had to face would be the news about Tootsy having a brain tumor. It was hard for her to accept the possibility that she would not be able to be with her husband and kids for a long time. Yet Sonny stood by Tootsy, becoming the wall she could lean on to.

Prayers and love combined were powerful against Tootsy’s illness. The couple overcame this burden and now Sonny and Tootsy are together for 13 years, living “happily ever after”.

Catch another inspiring love story in Wagas, 7 p.m., today on GMA News TV.

Producer and actress Viola Davis in her bold and progressive role in ‘How To Get Away With Murder’

More surprising twists and turns ‘How To Get Away With Murder’

Sonny and Tootsy Angara Angara’s love story in

‘Wagas’ LOVE AT SECOND SIGHT. Couple Sonny and Tootsy have been together for 13 years now

FUJIFILM Philippines endorser Bea Alonzo and some of the country’s top social media influencers will gather and celebrate the launch of Fujifilm’s newest products, X-A3 mirrorless camera and instax Share SP-2 Printer, at the FUJIFILM Lifestyle Photofest happening today at Trinoma activity center, from 10 a.m. onwards.

Aside from seeing Bea and mingling with popular bloggers and online personalities, camera enthusiasts and Fujifilm fans can avail of great deals with its one-day only promos. Buy the new X-A3 16-50MM Kit and Leather Case for P37,590, and get free instax Share SP-2 priced at P9,999.

Meanwhile, buyers get free 40 pieces of film (two twin-pack package) priced at P 1,520 and NP-45 LI-ON Rechargable Battery priced at P1,200 when they purchase an instax Share SP-2 Printer for P9,999. Again, these exciting promos are valid only on that day.

Guests can also enjoy the different lifestyle offerings at the Beauty, Fashion, Travel and Food booths. Experience a glam makeover by the Sample Room, try the hottest style finds with Kashieca, and

Bea Alonzo

win exciting prizes with TripKada.

X-A3, dubbed as the camera for the selfie generation, is a high precision mirrorless camera that offers outstanding image quality with built-in features ideal for self portraits. A favorite among many bloggers and celebrities, X-A3 comes in a cool and stylish design.

The instax Share SP-2 Printer is a small, compact printer that allows users to produce instax prints using images sent wirelessly from a smartphone. With the use of the instax Share app, users can enjoy editing their p h o t o s w i t h different filters and templates before they print. It’s the perfect accessory

Daez and Humphries in a scene from today’s episode of ‘Wagas’

for mobile photography lovers, who are always on the go.

Don’t miss this chance have your own Fujifilm cameras and products. Join the FUJIFILM Lifestyle Photofest and find out why it’s the top choice among the fun, stylish and trendy camera u s e r s in the metro.

THE new season of How to Get Away With Murder brings more absorbing twists and surprising turns in the lives of brilliant criminal defense lawyer Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) and her Middleton law student interns on Sony Channel.

Previously, Annalise, student interns Wes Gibbins (Alfred Enoch), Michaela Pratt (Aja Naomi King), Laurel Castillo (Karla Souza), Connor Walsh (Jack Falahee), and Asher Millstone (Matt McGorry), and associates Bonnie Winterbottom (Liza Weil) and Frank Delfino (Charlie Weber) get involve in two murder investigations.

While winning high profile cases at all costs, Annalise finds the means with the unwilling help of her students to circumvent the truth to her advantage to protect themselves from the clutches of the criminal justice system. But this compromises the values and convictions her students hold dear.

Season 3 weaves a new web of secrets and lies as the series moves forward and delves deeper into each and every character’s personal relationships – Michaela’s adopted family, the true identity of Laurel’s dad, a conflict between Connor and his boyfriend Oliver, Asher and Michaela’s romance, Annalise’s new lover, and many more.

The new season also shows Annalise facing a tough decision to make as they struggle to go back to their normal lives.

More intriguing questions will be answered, foremost of which is: Who killed Wes’ biological father?

As they cope with the impact of the horrific events that happened, Annalise, her students, and associates are entangled in a new murder mystery that will change the course of their lives forever.

How to Get Away With Murder Season 3 airs every Friday at 8:50 p.m. on Sony Channel seen on SKYCable Channel 35, Cignal Digital TV Channel 60, GSat Channel 48, Global Destiny Cable Channel 62, and Cable Link Channel 39.

German films at Glorietta 4, Trinoma AYALA Malls Cinemas opens its screens at Glorietta 4 and Trinoma for the first edition of German Film Week ongoing until Sept. 27, presented by the Goethe-Institut Philippinen.

German Film Week 2016, marks the first all-German film event in the Philippines in recent years.

Who Am I—No System Is Safe (Who Am I—Kein System ist sicher) by director Baran bo Odar opened the film week on Sept. 221 at Glorietta 4. The film is about a gifted hacker who only feels at home in the virtual reality who finds an opportunity to demonstrate his talent to a wider audience.

Regular screenings of films are ongoing until Sept. 27 at Glorietta 4 and Trinoma cinemas. The Film Week is comprised of 13 handpicked features released in Germany in the last two years. Tickets are priced at P100.00 and are available via www.

SureSeats.com or at the cinema counters.

Featured in the festival are the Emma Watson starrer The Colony, with other highly acclaimed films, like 24 Weeks, As We Were Dreaming, The Dark Side of the Moon, Head Full of Honey, Hördur: Between the Worlds, I’m Off Then, Labyrinth of Lies, Stations of the Cross, Meteor Street, Rough Road Ahead, and Wild.

The German Film Week 2016 is made possible by the support of the Film Development Council of the Philippines and Ayala Malls Cinemas. For details, visit the Goethe Web site.