Manila Standard - 2016 October 17 - Monday

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unity, we all need to pull an oar or plug a leak [instead of adding more holes],” Ramos said.

Duterte, he said, “cannot just continue skippering our ship willynilly headlong, oblivious of danger signs, without addressing the stra“Because we are all together is still leaky and slow-moving, tegic imperatives of public safety, onboard Ship Pilipinas—which because of internal strife and dis- community harmony, and national

HE ship of state is leaking and sinking as its captain, President Rodrigo Duterte, has been oblivious of the danger signs, former President Fidel V. Ramos said Saturday.

development,.”

Regardless of political affiliation, ethnic origin, religious faith or socioeconomic status, everyone needs to work more closely together and “pull more forcefully together to keep the ship seaworthy, competitive, and fast-moving in the right direction—and thereby

achieve, without further reversals, aspirations for a better future.”

With the Philippines now ranked 12th in terms of population size, it was now time for the President to put the house in order. “[It is President Duterte’s] inescapable responsibility to first put our divided house in order. That’s

the only way our nation can move forward steadily in the war against poverty, endemic disease, hunger, climate change, environmental degradation, dangerous drugs, joblessness and criminality,” said Ramos.

Citing an article in BizNewsAsia, Ramos said three things stand Next page

VOL. XXX • NO. 247 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

LIFE GOES ON. People sit around a stove as children play at a swollen creek under a bridge in Manila on Oct. 16 following the onslaught of Typhoon ‘Sarika.’ AFP

Karen’s fury leaves 12,000 displaced TYPHOON “Karen” (international name: Sarika) lashed Luzon on Sunday, ripping off roofs, toppling power pylons and forcing more than 12,000 people to flee to safer ground, officials said.

Minor landslides and flooding were also reported a day after the cyclone brushed past a remote island and left one person drowned and three others missing, they said.

“The roofs of some house were blown away and power was cut in some areas,” Mina Marasigan, spokeswoman for the government’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said.

However, she said it was too early to say if Luzon had escaped any casualties, with local governments still assessing the extent of the damage in their areas.

Government crews and util-

ity workers immediately went to work clearing roads buried by landslides, toppled trees and posts and other debris while some towns began sending people in shelters back to their homes as the danger passed, officials said.

“Karen” swept out into the South China Sea early afternoon after dumping heavy rain across a broad section of the island, the state weather service said.

The typhoon had struck Luzon’s mountainous east coast 11 hours earlier.

However, the weather service warned the nation to brace for a second storm expected to strike the same area as early as Thursday.

The disaster agency said nearly 12,500 people had left their homes shortly before “Karen” struck, seeking refuge in government-run shelters and relatives’ homes.

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Transgender named one of Time’s ‘most inspiring women’ BATAAN Rep. Geraldine Roman, a transgender, joined Hillary Clinton, singer Beyonce and Olympian Yusra Mardini as three of Time magazine’s 13 Most Inspiring Women of 2016.

Roman made it to the list as part of the recent celebration of the International Day of the Girl, a United Nations initiative to promote greater gender equality worldwide.

Time cited Clinton for making history as the first female nominee for a major party in a presidential race, and singer Beyonce for her global success as a recording artist. It cited her recent album Lemonade.

In an article written

by Kate Samuelson and Suyin Haynes, Roman was cited for her trailblazing electoral victory as a transgender, and for her advocacy of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender or LGBT rights.

Next page Rep. Geraldine Roman

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WHATEVER WORKS. Residents of Cavite ride on an old refrigerator to cross a swollen river in Las Piñas City. N. Araga

House panel: No evidence vs de Lima

By Christine F. Herrera DESPITE claims that “all roads lead to [Senator Leila] de Lima” in its investigation into the illegal drug trade in the national penitentiary, the House committee on justice will not recommend charges against her, as some members of the panel said they did not have direct evidence to tag her as the leader of the drug matrix exposed

by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Instead, the committee found the need to reimpose the death penalty and to legalize wire-tapping in cases involving illegal drugs.

Panel chairman Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali said Sunday a committee report would be presented to the 55-member panel Monday for approval after four hearings, where 22 witnesses, mostly drug lords, had testified, along with nine resource persons from various institutions, for a to-

tal of 47 hours.

In an interview over radio dzBB Sunday, Umali said the panel would not recommend the filing of charges against De Lima but would recommend that authorities pursue the drug probe and determine the culpability of public officials involved in the proliferation of the illegal drugs at the New Bilibid Prison during her stint as Justice secretary.

Next page Rep. Reynaldo Umali

Duterte vows no sellout in China DAVAO CITY―President Rodrigo Duterte vowed Sunday he will not “barter” away territory and economic rights ahead of a visit to Beijing, where he hopes to mend ties frayed by a row over the South China Sea. Duterte will head to Beijing

on Tuesday―after a state visit to Brunei that kicked off late Sunday―and will be bringing along a large business delegation in a bid to secure Chinese investment as relations sour between Manila and its traditional ally the United States.

Duterte said he would also raise with Chinese President Xi Jinping a ruling by an international tribunal that outlawed Beijing’s claim to most of the South China Sea, including waters close to the Philippine coast.

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Traffic decongest plan lacking—solons SENATOR Ralph Recto criticized the Transport Department on Sunday for failing to come up with a plan to decongest the traffic gridlock and to propose projects that it can pursue once it is given emergency powers to solve the problem.

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S

“Congress is willing to provide those emergency powers because we know that there is a crisis, that there is a problem,” Recto said.

“But there should be focus.

Many of their projects just have titles. There are no detailed engineer designs, no feasibility stud-

thestandard.com.ph

ies―not to mention there is no funding in 2017.”

Recto managed to make Transport Undersecretary Raoul Creencia to admit that his department still had no plan to decongest the traffic particularly in Metro MaNext page nila.

SSS amnesty for employers proposed SENATE President Aquilino Pimentel III has proposed a onetime amnesty to allow employers to settle the unpaid Social Security System contributions of their household help.

Despite a 1993 law that makes SSS membership for domestic helpers earning at least P1,000 a month mandatory, only a few of some twomillion household help are members of the SSS, and the number of household employer who have complied with the Next page

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out during Duterte’s first 100 days: first, a vicious and bloody campaign against illegal drugs and its users and dealers; second, a hardening of presidential policy statements against longtime ally and mentor, the US; and three, failure to cut red tape and corruption in the bureaucracy.

“One can only hope, that in the next 100 days, we will have more of the good than the bad,” Ramos said.

He said getting elected officials, government agencies, peace advocates, the business sector, and other components of society to work together as a team at national and local levels is crucial. “Together, let us propel our ship forward and upward, then stay steady on course to a brighter future,” he said.

This universal hope for a brighter future should provide strategic guidance to the decisions and policies of today’s leaders and their successors, Ramos said.

“It is toward such a better world that leaders—in their roles as ‘custodians of the nation’s ideals, values and permanent interests’—must lead their peoples,” he said.

“This is the kind of governance the Philippines needs—which [President Duterte] must deliver,” Ramos said.

“We need leaders who—because of their visionary qualities and political skills—can see beyond the gloom of the moment to brighter possibilities of the future, enough to carry out painful reforms. Obviously, today’s complex and delicate world must be managed through efficient governance,” said Ramos.

Talking from experience, Ramos said he believes that confronted with many serious concerns, President Duterte is like “a juggler, balancing and keeping aloft at least 10 balls, which are transnational problems.”

“But, as Chief Executive and Commander-in-Chief, he must perform with greater agility and competence than the ordinary circus juggler handling hot potatoes while on a tight [rope] 100 meters up, catching and managing the balls in a calm, harmonious manner, and not drop any in the process,” he said.

While the task is challenging, Ramos said, the “presidency is no place for panicky, self-centered, onion-skinned or fragile characters.”

Ramos urged the administration not to waste opportunities in the next 100 days.

The Philippine ship, in the course of time, had been battered and buffeted by turbulent politics and social unrest, particularly since the 1970s. Poverty continues to be the primary problem, he said.

“We need to work double time to solve it. We must involve every Filipino—every man, woman, and child. We should start them young, teach them the right values while still tender and malleable.

We must challenge them to rise, be strong in values, be different from the preceding bad examples, be good citizens of the world,” he said.

“Most of all, we have to teach everyone teamwork. Filipinos cannot anymore afford to be fragmented and fractious.

We need to be and act as one nation. We have to move together, in the right direction. We need to care for each other. We need to share and contribute whatever talent one has. We must dare and try all proper means to get results faster, which outcomes should be greater than the sum of the parts,” said Ramos.

No one person can single-handedly bring about progress, Ramos said.

“The job of nation-building requires every citizen, no matter what his or her stature in life is, to do his or her share,” he said.

Ramos said from day one, a national leader must define where he will bring the nation and show the people how to get there. He leads by setting the right example that the citizenry should emulate.

He leads by making the correct decisions for the betterment of the many, not the enrichment of the few.

The bottom line is, Ramos said, Duterte cannot do it alone. Nether can the government do it alone.

“But when all of us strive together with one goal in mind, and abide by the same precious values and commitments—we become a strong nation, able to achieve the higher quality of life we have always yearned for—in an environment of enduring peace and sustainable development,” he said.

Ramos, 88, whom Duterte credits for getting him elected, has spoken out against some of the President’s policies in the last two weeks.

Last week, he said the government was “losing badly” after Duterte’s first 100 days because the administration gave priority to the war on drugs at the expense of alleviating poverty, bringing down the cost of living, attracting foreign investments and generating jobs.

A West Point graduate, Ramos questioned Duterte’s anti-American policies and his move to cut military ties with Washington.

Although he was named Duterte’s special envoy to China, Ramos will not be joining the President when he goes on a state visit on Oct. 18. Earlier, Duterte cancelled a scheduled meeting between Ramos and Chinese officials slated for Oct. 1. Reports said Duterte decided to do this because Chinese officials had refused to accept conditions set by Ramos for the meeting to go through. Sandy Araneta

Dick rejects Leila claim of govt-inspired killings S

ENATOR Richard Gordon said Sunday there was no proof of state-sponsored killings as a result of the government’s war on illegal drugs.

MARCOS BURIAL. President Rodrigo Duterte makes a whirlwind visit to Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos. Duterte supports the move to bury the late Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani despite opposition from Marcos critics.

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Olympic hero Yusra Mardini, 18, a Syrian refugee who now lives in Germany, also made it to the list, after competing as part of the Refugee Olympic Team―the first year that the Games featured a group made up of stateless refugees.

Mardini and three other people had pushed the boat that she and other refugees were traveling in to flee Syria when it began to sink until it reached the safety of Lesbos.

Roman said her inclusion in

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“We do not have a plan yet,” Creencia said.

When asked what specific areas nationwide the traffic crisis manager would handle, Creencia again admitted that his department had not yet made a list.

“You want a single authority, in effect a traffic crisis manager for the entire Philippines,” Recto said.

“You are asking for vast powers, and it is alarming that you do not have any plan.”

Recto also got Transport Undersecretary for Finance Gerry

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Eleven people were rescued after a boat capsized off the eastern island of Samar on Friday, while about 1,000 boats and 6,500 passengers were stranded at ports as the Coast Guard barred smaller vessels from putting to sea.

The disaster agency said 290 commercial flights, including 63 to international destinations, were cancelled due to bad weather.

Eighty-four climbers were also rescued from three mountains in the typhoon’s path, it added.

The Philippine islands are often the first major landmass to be hit by storms that generate over the Pacific Ocean. The Southeast Asian archipelago endures about 20 major storms each year, many of them deadly.

“Yolanda” (international

Time’s list of inspiring women strengthened her resolve to push for greater gender equality across all regions.

“A person’s gender should not stand in the way of educational and employment opportunities, or be the basis for exclusion in any meaningful activity,” Roman said.

She said she looked forward to the first public hearing by the House committee on women and gender equality on her bill to stop discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity to be held on Monday. Christine F. Herrera de Guzman to admit that the P1.27 trillion worth of projects submitted under the emergency powers package had no funding.

De Guzman initially said that his department was asking for a “special power budget” but he was immediately rebuffed by Recto, who told him that the emergency powers package measure was not a supplemental budget bill.

Senator Grace Poe, who heads the Senate committee on public services, also criticized the department.

“Perhaps, the [department] should focus on projects that will immediately solve the traffic problem,” Poe said. Macon Ramos-Araneta name: Haiyan”) the strongest typhoon ever recorded to hit land, smashed into the central Philippines on Nov. 8, 2013, leaving 7,350 people dead or missing.

“Karen” battered Catanduanes as it toppled power poles and communication lines and flooded low lying areas, isolating remote areas due to landslides triggered by heavy rains.

Catanduanes provincial police director Sr. Supt. Jesus Martirez identified the fatality as Rene Magtangob, 38, who died of drowning. He said he was still verifying if two other deaths were related to the typhoon.

The three fishermen missing off the coast of Catanduanes were identified as Zaldy de Jesus and Luis Tupig of Brgy Buenavista and Renerio del Valle of Tambongon village.

Francisco Tuyay, Florante S. Solmerin, Romeo Dizon, AFP, PNA

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China, which rejected the ruling, claims nearly all of the strategically vital waters and has in recent years built artificial islands in the disputed areas that are capable of hosting military bases.

Duterte made his statement even as the fishermen’s group Pamalakaya challenged Duterte to fight for the Philippines’ rights to its exclusive economic zone that China had been violating, preventing Filipino fishermen from fishing in the area and threatening their livelihood.

Duterte had earlier vowed not to “taunt or flaunt” the July ruling as he aimed to improve trade and investment ties, which some critics warned could entail surrendering exclusive economic rights to the sea to Manila’s powerful neighbor.

“I will be very careful not to bar-

He made the statement after six Senate hearings on the alleged summary killings of drug users and pushers by the police under the Duterte administration.

Gordon, chairman of the Senate justice and human rights committee, said President Rodrigo Duterte was motivated to stop the distribution and use of illegal drugs because he wanted to eradicate illegal drugs.

“I don’t think he is really going to push anybody and say kill,” Gordon said.

But Senator Leila de Lima insisted that the killing of suspected drug personalities was systematic because it was “state-inspired at the very least.

“Of course they would always [say] ‘No, it’s not state-sponsored.’

Okay, it’s not state-sponsored but state-inspired. They’re just the same.

“Look at all the pronouncements of the President, all his lieutenants like [Police Chief Ronald] Dela Rosa. And then the reports about policemen themselves doing the killings in the course of police operations.

Not only in police operations, but these so-called vigilante killings. It’s a mixture—the ones responsible for the vigilante killings, unidentified perpetrators or assailants, those we see with masking tape.”

Gordon, who intends to file a committee report either today (Monday) or within the week on the result of his committee’s hearings, said things were not perfect but the rule of law prevailed in the land.

“You can see that the branches of

government are working. There is a rule of law. The Rule Book has not been thrown out of the window.”

He said they had gathered sufficient information to submit a report with recommendations as to the possible remedies to the problem― including proposed measures that would make law enforcers to follow the law.

He said his committee would also recommend amendments to existing laws so that lawmen could be sanctioned if proven remiss in their duties.

He would also push for a a law requiring bigger plate numbers for motorcycles.

He would require the police to regularly submit to both Houses of Congress a list of index crimes across the country, which would serve as a reference for creating proposed legislation.

The hearing on the extrajudicial killings was initiated by De Lima who was ousted justice committee chairperson after presented Edgar Matobato, who claimed to be a former hitman of the Davao Death Squad which killings were allefedly sanctioned by President Rodrigo Duterte.

De Lima said the International Criminal Court could soon intervene in the country as a result of the alleged summary killings.

“The Chief Prosecutor of the ICC, who happens to be a woman, has already expressed deep concern, and that they are monitoring the developments in the country.

That could be a prelude to possible intervention,” De Lima said.

“We are actually looking at acts against humanity or crimes against humanity.” Macon Ramos-Araneta

gain anything [away] for, after all, I cannot give what is not mine and which I am not empowered to do by any stretch of [the] imagination,” he told reporters.

“The international tribunal’s decision will be taken up, but there will be no hard impositions. We will talk and we will maybe paraphrase everything in the judgment and set the limits of our territories and [exclusive] economic zones.”

During the election campaign, Duterte said he was willing to “set aside” the sea dispute in return for China building a railway through the impoverished southern Philippine region of Mindanao.

His willingness to launch negotiations with China over the dispute has been welcomed by Beijing.

On Sunday, Duterte said he agreed with senior Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio that the president could be impeached and removed from office if he gave

away Scarborough Shoal, a fishing ground within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone that China seized in 2012.

“He is correct. I would be impeached. It’s an impeachable offense. I don’t fight with that statement. It’s all correct, it’s all legal and so I agree with him,” Duterte said.

“It belongs to the Filipino people. I cannot be the sole authorized agent, for that is not allowed under the Constitution.”

Since coming to power in May, Duterte’s push to restore ties with China has been accompanied by fiery rhetoric against the United States.

He scrapped a series of annual war games and joint South China Sea patrols with the US military after President Barack Obama criticized Manila’s brutal war on drug crime which has left more than 3,000 people dead.

AFP, with F. Pearl A. Gajunera and Sandy Araneta

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De Lima was accused of being behind the proliferation of illegal drugs at the maximum security compound of the national penitentiary by giving protection to the operations of select drug lords and other inmates.

“The panel has no case. It has a weak case versus Senator De Lima,” panel member Ifugao Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat told the Manila Standard.

“Because all the evidence they can come out with in the hearing all came from hurried testimonies of criminals without a cause except self preservation,” Baguilat said.

“The panel should not have allowed itself to be used as a forum for a shame and vilification campaign against the lady senator,” said panel member Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, who described the House probe as “vaudeville.”

On Monday, Umali said the panel would approve its report that he will sponsor and defend it in the plenary for the approval of 293-member House of Representatives before Congress goes on recess this week.

“We’re almost ready to submit our report to the committee tomorrow [Monday] for deliberation and approval. [We hope] within the week, before we close and go on a break, we would have gotten the approval also of the plenary,” Umali told dzBB. Umali said the panel found that drug syndicates thrived inside the national penitentiary during de Lima’s stint as secretary of the Department of Justice. In

fact, some drug lords testified that they had sold drugs to raise campaign funds for De Lima’s senatorial campaign.

“You have heard everything on national television. The public saw what happened and heard the witnesses. So I believe the public already knew what our findings are,” said Umali, who was careful not to disclose details of the findings before the panel members had signed the committee report.

Umali said he agreed with House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who said his committee should not recommend the prosecution of any individual because it was focused on drafting laws or amendments.

Alvarez had initiated the congressional inquiry through a House resolution.

“I agree with the Speaker that since this probe is in aid of legislation, that we focus more on the legislation. After all, a case has already been filed against De Lima and other officials,” said Umali, referring to the drug trafficking charges filed by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption against De Lima and seven other people.

“It will be unfair that we make recommendations on the filing of charges since we have not gone deeper into the culpability of each official or who was responsible for the drug trade at the maximum security compound in the national penitentiary,” Umali said.

With clear involvement of former NBP officials in the drug trade, Umali said his panel would also recommend to Congress the reimposition of the death penalty as being advocated by Duterte. With Rey E. Requejo

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law is quite low, Pimentel said, citing Labor department records.

Pimentel said many employers were concerned about the heavy penalties imposed by the Social Security Law on employers who fail to deduct and remit SSS contributions to their household help.

He said a significant number of employers who wanted to comply with the registration requirements were deterred by the huge penalties, and did not push through with their registration.

Pimentel said his bill would provide employers with a one-time amnesty to settle their SSS contributions as mandated by law without any penalty imposed upon them.

“This financial relief will hopefully jumpstart the long delayed compliance of the kasambahay employers to cover their househelpers with SSS benefits,” he added. Macon RamosAraneta

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

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LGUs scoff at funding Du30’s war

By Christine F. Herrera

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs as well as his campaigns on public safety, security and traffic have hit a snag after local government units protested against funding the solutions to these problems.

The House committee on public order and safety, chaired

by Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, found it “contentious” that the bill seeking to create the Department of Public Safety or DPS in every province, city and municipality to be under the direct control and supervision of the provincial governor, city or municipal mayor.

The DPS will enforce public order and safety laws and ordinances, help reduce vehicular traffic congestion and address the effects of man-made and natural disasters.

Lawmakers consider as rather contentious Section 5 of the bill titled Funding, which provides “the amount necessary for the initial implementation of the Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of LGUs. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for continued implementation shall be included in the annual budget of the LGUs.” The League of the Provinces represented by its Executive Director Sandy Paredes said that although they fully support the bill, their only apprehension is the funding of the establishment of the new department.

House Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia, former governor of Cebu, said the funding proposal for the DPS would surely eat into the budget of each LGU. “This is exactly what I expected to hear from the local governments. Perhaps, a proper amendment could be done particularly of Section 5 of the bill, which is about the DPS funding. The DPS that we will be creating could be passed if we can consider using the calamity funds of each LGU since the funding cannot be a continuing appropriation,” Garcia said.

The panel members are pushing for a more viable budget source to fund the proposed DPS so it can effectively implement its tasks to improve the capability of LGUs to meet the demand for greater safety and security, better local traffic management, and enhanced disaster preparedness and response.

The panel members discussed the funding component for the

proposed DPS during the panel’s initial deliberation of House Bill 6 or the proposed “Public Safety Act” authored by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, Deputy Speakers Rolando Andaya Jr. and Raneo Abu, Reps.

Karlo Alexei Nograles, Rodel Batocabe, Michael John Duavit, Carlos Cojuangco, Elisa Kho and Benhur Salimbangon.

Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe proposed that HB 6 should also be tackled in the House committee on local government since the creation of the new department will amend the provisions of the Local Government Code and affect the budget of LGUs. “If this will become a law, it will be added in the Local Government Code. Moreover, if there is a new department, it would also entail or create new plantilla positions that would affect the local government’s funds,” Dalipe pointed out.

Among the DPS powers and functions provided in the bill are: Prepare, integrate, coordinate, supervise and control all plans, programs, projects and activities of the local government relative to the promotion and maintenance of peace and order and the protection of life, liberty and property; Secure the general public and maintain public order in conjunction with the police and other national law enforcement agencies; Augment auxiliary traffic services and support other agencies tasked to enforce traffic management; Issue temporary terminal permits to public utility vehicles and manage public utility vehicle terminals; Monitor and supervise private security agencies and security guards and issue their security clearances and business or work permits; Issue traffic clearance certificates to business establishments; Clear sidewalks, public parks and other public areas of obstructions; and Organize plans for and undertake evacuation, rescue and relief operations in times of disasters, calamities and civil disturbances.

ARMM CHAMPS. Ambassador Roberto R. Romulo hands the certificate of appreciation to Vice President Leni Robredo at the Moro Leaders’

Health Champions in ARMM through Health Leadership colloquium held at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City. Romulo is also chairman of the Zuellig Family Foundation which spearheaded the Community Health Partnership Program as part of its CSR projects. Sonny Espiritu

Moratorium on land conversion pushed

By Christine F. Herrera LEFTIST groups on Sunday backed President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for a two-year moratorium on land conversion and asked him to reject efforts being made by Vice President Leni Robred to push for the entry of foreign investors in acquiring lands for affordable housing.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said it was good that Duterte and the Department of Agrarian Reform or DAR were now pushing for at least a two-

year moratorium on land use conversion.

“This will definitely help in addressing the rice self-sufficiency problem of the Philippines and may stem to some extent the exodus of farmers and farm workers to urban centers because they are being displaced by land grabbers who use land use conversion as their cover,” Zarate stressed.

The Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap or Kadamay on the other hand, hit out at Robredo and Housing and Urban Devel-

opment Coordinating Coucil chief for petitioning the reversal of the moratorium on land use conversion and for favoring foreign investors despite the President’s push for an independent foreign policy.

The group said that these moves are a throwback to measures undertaken by former President Benigno Aquino III’s Daang Matuwid.

“These pronouncements favor local and foreign corporations that pilfer through social services in the guise of alleviating

poverty,” Kadamay chairperson Gloria Arellano said. “[Robredo] cannot use resettlement projects as a justification for opposing the moratorium on land conversion when socialized housing has only served to further impoverish urban poor Filipinos,” Arellano stressed.

“If we allow land conversion and corporate housing to continue, both rural and urban poor Filipinos will suffer. This [reeks] of ‘daang matuwid’ politics, which consistently favored profit over people [‘s welfare]” Arellano said.

Auditors: CamSur liable for SEF mess

HEAVY.

Backhoe falls into a drainage along MRT Avenue near C5 Road following heavy rains spawned by typhoon ‘Karen.’

The driver suffered fractured bones during the accident.

Manny Palmero

By Rio Araja WITH finality, the Commission on Audit has denied the plea of the provincial government of Camarines Sur to set aside a notice of disallowance issued on Nov. 15, 2011 questioning the irregularity in the release of P5.82 million in its special education fund.

Commission chairman Michael Aguinaldo and commissioners Jose Fabia and Isabel Agito denied for lack of merit the motion for reconsideration filed by the province’s legal officer and the office of Governor Miguel Luis Villafuerte.

Held accountable were human resources officer Nora Cariño; accountant officials Lizerna Molave, Ma. Teresa Genova and Ruby Estefani, and

assistant HR management officer Susan Laqhindanum.

Villafuerte was spared from any liability.

Investigations said the disbursement was improper due to some violations, such as the non-compliance with provisions of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code.

The law limits the spending of SEF for salaries and authorized allowances of teaching personnel who are handling “new classes as extension to existing elementary and secondary schools” and absence of required documentary support like approval by the provincial governor and the budget officer, as well as certifications from head teachers and recipient teachers at specified schools.

MMDA, Rotarians ‘adopt an intersection’ ROTARIANS in Quezon City have pledged to support the various plans and projects of the Metro Manila Development Authority as part of their civic duties to do their bit in helping solve the traffic crisis anchored on the “shared burden, shared responsibility principle.”

MMDA chairman and general manager Tim Orbos urged the Rotarians to help the government in dealing with traffic, garbage, flooding, illegal parking and vending even as he assured that massive efforts are being done to address these problems. Orbos addressed the District 3780 Rotary club presidents

and other Rotarians at the Joint Interclub meeting at Annabel’s Restaurant in Tomas Morato over the weekend.

“We cannot do it alone in government and for the metropolis which has 12.5-million residents and a high of 15-million people during daytime with about 2.3-million vehicles traversing the streets especially Edsa and 30,000 new added every month, we simply needs everyone’s support and understanding,” said Orbos.

He said that since traffic is everybody’s problem that affects everyone, he encouraged all sectors to be part of the solution and every little input and

contribution such as observing traffic and parking rules will go a long way in easing the burden of majority.

Orbos proposed the implementation of an “Adopt an Intersection Project” to be pioneered in Quezon by more than 100 Rotary clubs that will make possible the participation of civic clubs in various choke points in Quezon City in terms of logistical support from manpower thru traffic volunteers, donation of raincoats and boots to traffic enforcers and street cleaners including installation of public announcement system to monitor pedestrians an drivers.

Among the suggestions of Orbos

when it comes to “attitudinal change” include planning travel trips ahead by hitting the road two hours ahead, carpooling, less use of hazard lights while parking that normally cause traffic, reporting choke points and proper and disciplined driving.

On traffic enforcement, Orbos said that on any given day, there are about 2,300 MMDA traffic enforcers augmented by at least 800 HPG men from all over the country and only a handful 40 Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to monitor 12,000 buses mostly colorum driven by undisciplined drivers.

MMDA Chairman Thomas Orbos

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Opinion

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Lacking credibility

T

HE Senate committee on justice last week wrapped up its investigation of the rise in drug-related killings since the Duterte administration took power, concluding that law enforcement agencies are following due process in their war on illegal drugs.

The conclusion seemed counterintuitive, given the 3,700 drug-related killings since June, more than 1,000 of them deemed summary executions.

But the chairman of the committee, Senator Richard Gordon, said that after hours of grilling by senators, top police officials gave the impression that there is an effort to carry out the anti-drug campaign properly, within legal limits.

Adelle Chua, Editor

The most the police got during the hearings was a scolding for not moving faster to solve the extrajudicial killings.

“The way I am looking at it, the policemen who reported here, looks like you guys...are doing your job,” Gordon said, praising the Philippine National Police at the end of hearings that were often contentious.

Amid international condemnation of the high

death toll and the number of extrajudicial killings, the Palace quickly seized on Gordon’s remarks as proof that none of the killings were statesanctioned.

The process by which the Senate committee reached its conclusion, however, tarnished the credibility of its findings at every step of the way.

First, when Senator Leila de Lima was still the head of the committee, she allowed her personal and political biases against President Rodrigo Duterte steer her off course, casting a shadow on the proceedings.

De Lima, a staunch opponent of Duterte, did herself no favors by straying from the scope of the investigation she initiated—

which was to investigate the extrajudicial killings after the President came to power.

Instead, she introduced a witness who was clearly aimed at discrediting the President, based on his record as a mayor, reviving old accusations that he had been behind the so-called Davao Death Squad.

De Lima’s motives were unabashedly political and it was obvious that she hoped to do by publicity what she was unable to do by law in her many years as chairman of the Commission on Human Rights and Justice secretary—pin Duterte down on human rights abuses.

In doing so, she hijacked the Senate investigation, steered it toward her own objective, and tarnished its credibility.

Her sudden replacement by Gordon, a Duterte ally, cast further doubts on the credibility of the process. The verbal tussles that followed between the prickly Gordon and the combative De Lima generated heat but shed no new light on the subject of the investigation.

Given that De Lima herself had overstepped the bounds of the investigation, it was no surprise that Gordon threw out the witness she introduced. But when Gordon also refused to allow the Commission on Human Rights to testify over some perceived slight, this made his findings less believable.

His promise to include sworn statements from the CHR as part of the committee report

certainly was not equivalent to a public airing of perceived human rights abuses that Gordon’s panel ought to have investigated.

In closing, Gordon urged the police to respect human rights at all level of their jobs because the privileges of carrying a firearm to enforce the law comes with a great privilege of trust.

It was vital, he said, to show the world that Filipinos were capable of running a democracy, and that when we see a wrong, we will right it.

True as these sentiments might be, Senator Gordon ought to know that wishing doesn’t make it so, and closing his panel’s investigation by no means closes the book on extrajudicial killings.

SO I SEE LITO BANAYO

Hopefully not

PENSEES

The prosecutor and the President

FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO PRESIDENT Digong was once a prosecutor—and this item on his CV he has mentioned repeatedly to assure all that he knows the law, particularly on arrests and searches. But I write not about President Digong, the former prosecutor, but about the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. Many Filipinos know that there is such a court. The late Miriam Defensor-Santiago was nominated to the court, and Dr. Raul Pangalangan, former dean of UP Law, sits in it as a judge. But its workings are still unknown to many, mainly because it was not too long ago that we acceded to the treaty that constitutes its statute.

Earlier I wrote on this same corner that I did not see any basis for any proceeding against President Digong before the ICC, considering the very limited jurisdiction of the court: genocide, crimes against humanity and violation of the laws and customs of war (war crimes).

Theoretically, aggression is a fourth offense but there can be no prosecutions under this title because the crime remains to be defined—and opinions remain sharply divided over what constitutes aggression.

But the prosecutor of the ICC has reportedly made statements warning that if the pattern of the killing of suspected drugdealers and pushers continues unabated, there may be reason for her office to take action.

Certainly, it will not be for war crimes, neither for genocide.

If anything at all, it will be for crimes against humanity—the chapeau requirement for this crime being “widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population.” I have very serious problems about applying the concept of “widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population” to the deaths caused by law-enforcers in relation to the aggressive anti-drug campaign. But that is a point I earlier discussed and may take

It does President Digong no service then to prevent the testimony of witnesses, and for senator-inquirers to silence fellow senators who have issues to ventilate and valid points to make. up again at some later point.

Under the Statute of the International Criminal Court, the Prosecutor has ample discretion to commence investigations of her own accord. She does not await the filing of a formal com-

plaint, nor does she have need of one. What she needs to do though is, after initial inquiry, to refer the matter to the Pre-Trial Chamber of the Court that may order her to proceed with investigation, when it finds merit with the investigation, or to desist from further proceeding. The Prosecutor exercises a wide latitude of discretion, including the possibility of deciding against filing a case when, in her estimation, owing to the particularities of a case, pursuing criminal process will not achieve the ends of justice. There is also sufficient pragmatism—a concession to the inevitability of global politics—in the Statute, for the Security Council may forbid the prosecutor from further proceeding, regardless of the merits of the case.

The Court’s exercise of jurisdiction rests on the principle of complementarity: It tries accused persons only when the relevant jurisdictions are unable or incapable of trying them.

While some have argued that the constitutional immunity from criminal prosecution that the Philippine President enjoys results in our inability to prosecute and to try him, I do not share the thesis—because he remains susceptible to prosecution, trial and criminal conviction after his term of office, which is definite and fixed! But one feature of the International Criminal Court is that it is no respecter of positions: one’s official position is totally irrelevant for purposes of prosecution and trial. So it has been that incumbent presidents have been charged before and tried by the Court.

Nothing much may happen in respect to haling President Digong to the dock at the International Criminal Court. And by the way, if the news reports are to be trusted, it was not really President Digong that the ICC Prosecutor warned, but the perpetrators of the killings of suspects. But it should make the hearings and inquiries

I AM writing this article Sunday morning here in Taipei, where the sun came out gloriously as I woke up at six and the brightness pores into my hotel window at half past seven. On Saturday morning, my flight from Manila was delayed by more than two hours, as Taipei watched first where Typhoon ‘‘Karen” was headed.

I was lucky to get here even if the delay was almost three hours. The late afternoon and evening flights to Manila were all canceled.

But the weather bulletins from back home are quite distressing. Typhoon “Karen” promises to be quite “destructive,” so it is reported. Last night it was confirmed that it should barrel through Aurora, thence Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and exit through Pangasinan, covering a wide swath of some 500 kilometers.

Wow! That’s the country’s rice bowl. And it’s two or three weeks before farmers harvest our major palay crop. Hopefully not.

Presciently, the National Food Authority bought some 250,000 metric tons of rice recently. Much of these are already being unloaded in our ports, or en route from Vietnam. That’s the equivalent of less than 400,000 tons of palay.

On September 26, 2011, Typhoon “Pepeng” unleashed an awful lot of rain at exactly the same area which “Karen” is now pummeling. The following morning, as we traveled from Candaba and San Simon, through La Paz in Tarlac, Zaragosa and San Antonio, to Gapan in Nueva Ecija, the tragedy of a single day of massive rainfall hit us. Thousands of hectares of palay were down, drowned by flood and mud.

Just as the “pregnant” palay stalks, heavy with the golden grain that feeds our massive population were about to be harvested.

Days after, the sad estimates of damage came out: that single day, some 980,000 metric tons of harvestable palay were lost. That was more than 600,000 tons of milled rice.

Nueva Ecija is the country’s biggest palay granary, followed

by Isabela, which is tops in corn, then Pangasinan, where “Karen” is supposed to exit.

If the typhoon maintains its strength and water load as predicted, we may have a Turn to A5

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ManilaStandard

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Opinion Railroading Con-Ass OUR lawmakers can’t fix the country’s public railways system. After the first 100 days of Digong’s administration, the daily breakdown of the Metro Rail Transit and the Light Rail Transit continues to plague the 500,000 daily commuters in Metro Manila without any solution in sight.

Yet our congressmen are doing what they do best—railroading the onerous Constitutional Assembly or Con-Ass choo choo train that will benefit themselves but not the people. The House committee on charter change debating the issue was overshadowed by two Surigao del Sur congressmen, Reps. Robert “Ace” Barbers and Prospero Pichay Jr., who jumped ship to join the ruling party. The two nearly came to blows after Pichay sided with Buhay partylist Rep. Lito Atienza who was stonewalling a move to rush voting favoring Con-Ass over ConCon or Constitutional Convention of delegates elected by the people. The “supermajority” in the House is a rainbow coalition composed of congressmen from the various political parties, including the spent force Liberal Party.

“They wanted to vote on a non-specific motion other than the mode of how to amend the charter by convening them-

A t i e n z a selves into a BACK claimed it’s susConstituent AsCHANNEL picious and highsembly or Conly irregular the Ass,” protested ALEJANDRO House majority Atienza, adding DEL ROSARIO wanted to rush “this is a brazen voting on Conattempt to subvert the will of the people.” He Ass without the issue being fully pointed out that a plenary vote debated. He said the congresswould require a roll call in a men want to hijack the process House often marked by absen- and arrogate onto themselves the teeism He singled out Cebu Rep. power to amend the charter to Gwendolyn Garcia, a former serve their vested interests. One Liberal Party member who was of these needed changes is to end zealous in pushing for a vote political dynasties in the country. on Con-Ass. Garcia, in a case But of course the congressmen filed by Ombudsman Conchita will never allow any meaningful Morales, signed without public change inimical to their interests.

This is what Con-Ass is all bidding, the multi-million Cebu International Convention Center about. The a*sholes want to in 2006 when she was then Cebu con us and continue doing what they have been getting away governor.

Pichay, the former head of with all these years. If not for the Local Water Utilities Ad- a few decent lawmakers in the ministration, is involved in the House like Lito Atienza, they anomalous buyout of a bankrupt would have gotten their way all Laguna rural bank owned by the time. He vowed to take the the Gatchalian family. Pichay, fight to the street where he said according to the Ombudsman, he can whip up the outrage of a funneled P880 million in LWUA million people into a firestorm funds into a deal that allegedly protest against Con Ass. Atienza is one of few men made Pichay prosperous. Nearly the entire Gatchalian family, standing who are blocking the including Wellex Plastics king Con-Ass charter train from beWilliam Gatchalian, his wife, ing railroaded by the superSenator Sherwin Gatchalian and majority composed of opporbrother party-list Rep. Wesley tunistic congressmen from the Gatchalian have been charged various parties who saw the benfor plunder by the Office of the efits of transferring their affiliations to the ruling PDP-Laban of Ombudsman .

President Rodrigo Duterte.

Meanwhile, the so-called opposition in the House and the minority leader have been strangely silent about the whole thing.

Fortunately, there are built- in mechanisms in our Constitution providing check and balance.

Even if rammed through by the Con-Ass gang, the approved amendments will still have to be deliberated by the Senate which votes separately on the matter. If both chambers pass the amended charter, it will still need to be approved by the people in a plebiscite. Actually the sooner the congressional gang rams it through, the better and earlier for the people to reject a flawed new charter.

A former member of the interim Batasang Pambansa and street parliamentarian during the Marcos Martial Law years, Atienza said Filipinos should not allow the rule of a minority passing themselves off as representatives of the people but who are really brigands robbing the citizenry of their right to elect the delegates to a Constitutional Convention to amend or draft a new charter replacing the one approved in the time of Cory Aquino’s revolutionary government.

The much-abused political slogan “ time for change” must now be given its true meaning.

A Nobel that helps explain why a bagel always has a hole

By Mark Buchanan LAST week’s announcement of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics seems to have left many people perplexed. Three physicists—Michael Kosterlitz, David Thouless and Duncan Haldane—received the prize for work on “topological phase transitions and topological states of matter.”

Scientists at the awards press conference vaguely implied it had something to do with the holes in bagels and pretzels, and with topology, an arcane branch of mathematics.

And yet, the work isn’t as obscure as it may seem. It’s one more step in the study of ordinary matter that has been going on for centuries.

Substances often change form; make some water cold enough, and it will abruptly freeze. The water molecules don’t change, only their organization does: the molecules that moved freely in the liquid at the higher temperature, when they had more energy, suddenly get locked in place, making a solid. Physicists call this a phase transition, and similar transformations of organization happen everywhere—in crystals, magnetic materials, superconductors, you name it. Making anything from good steel alloys to tasty chocolate requires careful control over such organizational changes.

Scientists have known about

Hopefully...

From A4 similar if not worse situation as that single day in 2011.

Remember “Ondoy” in 2009, which inundated Metro Manila and stranded us all in our cars for a day and a night? Well, the result in Central Luzon of that torrential rain was worse. Then “Pedring” followed “Ondoy” weeks after. And Pangasinan was heavily damaged. Again, hopefully not.

Malacañang should immediately order the NFA to buy storm-damaged palay at cost (that’s P11 per kilo). Makabawi man lang sa gastos ang magsasaka. Otherwise, families in the central plains will go hungry, just as Christmas is around the corner. Good if they have an overseas worker who can send some dollars to tide them over.

This requires quick action,

phase transitions for centuries, of course, yet physicists really only gained a deep understanding of them in the 1960s and early ’70s. One thing they discovered is quite amazing —that such changes, even in totally different materials that would seem to have almost nothing in common, often happen in exactly the same way.

For example, phase transitions in some liquids, metals and magnetic materials are exactly identical, despite there being almost no physical similarities in the substances. There are zillions of different physical materials, yet across the board, when organization changes from one form to another, it typically happens in one of a very small number of ways.

Most physical stuff exists in three dimensions, of course, but physicists can also make extremely thin two-dimensional films or even microscopically fine one-dimensional wires. What happens to phase transitions in these weirder conditions?

Here, it turns out, the beautiful 1970s theory implied for various reasons that in many real systems, they should simply never occur. But in 1973, Kosterlitz and Thouless found a loophole in the theory.

Think of the surface of a liquid, which is a two-dimension system. One unique thing about it is that it can support vortices, or regions of circular flow. In fact, it can have vorti-

because storm-damaged palay is basically useless.

Caked in mud, recovery is practically nil. And the NFA cannot buy such palay whose rice recovery is zilch unless allowed by the Office of the President, from where augmentation funds could be authorized.

In 2011, we asked Malacañang for an emergency meeting so we could be authorized to buy storm-damaged palay. It wasn’t until October 15 when the President and Secretary Butch Abad of the DBM deemed it proper to hear us and the Department of Agriculture officials. By that time, there was hardly anything to buy or recover. The NFA requested for just about 40 million, while the DA asked for 500 million. 40 million because there was little more to buy from the impoverished farmers who sold their caked-in-mud palay to the commercial traders for much

ces of two kinds, clockwise or counterclockwise, which we might call a vortex and an anti-vortex. In a liquid, it’s easy to stir up a pair of vortices— one vortex and one anti-vortex —by running a finger through it. Kosterlitz and Thouless showed that for two-dimensional systems much more generally—sadly, the analogy to the liquid surface only goes so far—that the ordinary jostling of atoms associated with temperature should stir up vortex pairs like this all the time, creating a kind of gas of weakly bound vortex pairs. They also showed that, as temperature increases, these pairs should eventually get ripped apart, shifting the system’s organization from one form to another—a phase transition in two dimensions, and of a kind never before imagined by physicists.

What about the bagels and pretzels? Topology is the study of properties of objects that remain unchanged even as the object gets distorted and stretched. Stretch a rubber bagel into any weird shape you like—without ripping it —and you’ll always only have a single hole. Vortices in two dimensions work much like holes, and with the mathematics of topology, Kosterlitz and Thouless were able to add another layer to our fundamental understanding of how, in our world, one kind of organization can give way to another.

less than the cost of planting and nurturing the would-be harvest.

Abad, who used to chair the Committee on Agriculture in the lower House years ago, merely smiled at the DA Secretary’s request. “Forty million lang pala, ok na,” he remarked.

We were told by DBM officials to advance the funds and a SARO would soon be released.

As far as I recall, no funds were ever released thereafter.

Hopefully not this time. Better yet, as I write this in sunny Taipei this Sunday morning, “Karen” weakens as it hits the Sierra Madre and spares the nation from a food crisis. Those farmers are still reeling from the effects of the severe El Niño that parched their paddy fields of much-needed water. They delayed their wet-season planting, and now that they are about to harvest (early November), “Karen” strikes.

(Some visuals of the transition really help, and I recommend physicist John Baez’s excellent explanation.)

And, sure enough, this thing turns out to happen in real physical systems. It’s been seen in thin films of both superconducting solids and superfluid helium, as well as in the melting of fragile two dimensional solids. This matter is “exotic” in the sense that it doesn’t exist in nature, even though physicists build it up out of the ordinary particles that make up everything else. The third Nobel winner, Duncan Haldane, did important work also using topological concepts, culminating in the recent discover of solids called topological insulators, weird materials that don’t conduct electricity on the inside, but do at their surfaces, again for topological reasons.

When people think of physics, they usually think of Albert Einstein or quantum theory or Stephen Hawking and cosmology. But most physics during the past 50 years has been in so-called “condensed matter physics”—the study of the stuff around us, the liquids, solids, gases and everything else from plastics to superconductors. It’s all about understanding the kinds of organization that are possible, and how they can change form. This Nobel work fits within a very old tradition.

Bloomberg

The prosecutor...

From A4 conducted locally legally relevant and potent—for the Philippines is thereby demonstrating its willingness and its ability to investigate and, if necessary, to prosecute and try offenders. It does President Digong no service then to prevent the testimony of witnesses, and for senator-inquirers to silence fellow senators who have issues to ventilate and valid points to make. It is a show of a credible attempt on our part to inquire into the killings and to do something about them—as well as to bring the perpetrators to account for their misdeeds—that should be most helpful to President Digong and to his image. rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

OUT OF THE BOX RITA LINDA V. JIMENO

The ICC’s warning ON SATURDAY, the newspapers blared that the Chief Prosecutor of the International Court has warned Philippine authorities of prosecution for extrajudicial killings.

What is the ICC and can President Rodrigo R. Duterte be prosecuted in that court? What crimes fall under the jurisdiction of the ICC? The ICC is part of the world’s global justice system and sits in The Hague, Netherlands. It came into force on July 1, 2002 after 60 countries ratified the Rome statute creating the ICC. As of March 2016, 124 sovereign states have become state-parties. The Philippines ratified the treaty on August 30, 2011. The ICC can take jurisdiction over three crimes only: genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Genocide is the killing or destruction of any ethnic group or race; or, the imposition of any measure to prevent births within that group, etc. War crimes, on the other hand, are grave breaches of the Geneva Convention such as torture or inhuman treatment of prisoners of war including using them for biological experiments; extensive destruction of property without justification, and several others. Crimes against humanity refer to the widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population pursuant to, or in furtherance of, a State policy to commit such an attack.

The Court’s first conviction was in 2012 against Thomas Lubanga, the leader of the militia in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was convicted for using children in the country’s conflict. A high-profile case tried by the ICC was that of the former president of the Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo who was charged with murder, rape, persecution, inhumane acts and other forms of sexual violence. Gbagbo who ran for reelection was narrowly defeated in a runoff.

He insisted he won and refused to cede power to the winner. A political upheaval ensued Can President resulting in the persecution and death of Duterte or any more than 3,000 of his official in his perceived political enemies. Another presiadministration dent, Uhuru Kenyatta be prosecuted for of Kenya, was charged by the ICC for postcrimes against election ethnic viohumanity in lence where 1,200 died. relation to The ICC, however, later dismissed the case the deaths against Kenyatta for connected with failure of the prosecutors to establish their the government’s case. war against Can President Duterte or any official in drugs? his administration be prosecuted for crimes against humanity in relation to the deaths connected with the government’s war against drugs? The answer is riddled with many “ifs.” In the first place, the ICC is a court of last resort.

It can only intervene and take jurisdiction if the national authorities or the state refuses or fails to prosecute the offenders of such serious crimes. In the administration’s war against drugs, investigations are being done to determine the perpetrators of the so-called extrajudicial killings. The police officials have maintained their position that the ones responsible for the killings are the moneyed drug lords themselves who kill pushers to eliminate witnesses who can point to them. The police also say that those killed by their men resisted arrest and fought back. They further add that many police officers have, in fact, been killed or injured too in the fight against drugs. It is reported that drug lords and big-time pushers have high-powered arms.

As a result of the government’s war on drugs, many suspects have surrendered and many cases have been filed against those accused of crimes relating to the trade of illegal drugs. Arguably, the government is working toward a legitimate objective, that is, to eradicate a menace that has been plaguing the country for years resulting in the commission of heinous crimes by drug-crazed criminals.

There is no systematic destruction or persecution against any identifiable group or collectivity based on political, racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, or gender classification.

Neither is there a systematic attack on civilian populations in furtherance of a state policy to carry out such attacks.

What the government authorities are pursuing in the war against drugs are criminals of unidentifiable nationalities, ethnicity, social standing, or political leaning, if they have any at all.

How do cases commence in the ICC for the prosecution of persons? The ICC prosecutor begins an investigation if a case is referred to her or him either by the UN Security Council or by a ratifying state. The prosecutor can also take independent action if and when a panel of ICC judges approve that an investigation be undertaken. Given these pre-conditions before any investigation may even be commenced against the president or any of his officials, the warning by the ICC prosecutor should be taken by the Duterte administration as, at best, a warning that despite the legitimacy of the government’s objective in fighting drugs, it has to mind the rule of law.

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

A6

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Cancer survivors support smoking ban

By Macon Ramos-Araneta LARYNGEAL cancer survivors have urged local government units to prepare this early for a nationwide smoking ban ahead of an executive order to be signed by President Rodrigo Duterte this month.

New Vois Association of the Philippines president Emer Rojas said the draft EO will leave it to local governments to impose appropriate penalties for smoking ban violators.

“As we anticipate the signing of the EO on nationwide smoking ban, we urge all LGU to prepare ordinances to further strengthen the order,” Rojas said.

The nationwide smoking ban, an election promise made by Duterte, was revealed by Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial, whose department submitted the draft EO to the president.

It is presumed to be similar to the total smoking ban that Duterte started in Davao City.

When signed, the EO will effectively ban smoking in all public spaces, including parks, bus stations, and even in designated indoor smoking areas such as airport lounges and restaurants.

News

CoA orders return of P18.45-m PDAF

By Rio N. Araja

T

HE Commission on Audit has called the attention of the provincial government of Agusan del Sur for failing to return over P18.451 million in unused Priority Development Assistance Fund in 2015.

The provincial government claimed it was not aware of a 2013 ruling of the Supreme Court declaring pork barrel funds as unconstitutional.

CoA, however, did not give credence to the province’s defense, saying ignorance of the law was not an excuse and that

the PDAF’s unconstitutionality was widely publicized.

The province kept the money in its coffers in violation of the high court’s decision that unspent pork barrel funds must be remitted to the Bureau of Treasury.

“The disbursements/release of

the remaining PDAF funds allocated for the year 2013, as well as for all other years are hereby enjoined,” CoA said.

“The remaining PDAF funds covered by this injunction shall not be disbursed/released but instead reverted to the unappropriated surplus of the general fund.”

Students will ‘dash w/o trash’ AIMING for zero-waste, more than three thousand students of Malate Catholic School, Sta. Clara Parish School and Ermita Catholic School will “dash without trash” along a three-kilometer route in scenic Roxas Boulevard on Nov. 27, 2016.

“We are raising the awareness of our students on how much trash they produce and how they manage their waste,” Directress for the three schools Sister Sally Asuncion said.

In many occasions, irresponsible runners just toss their plastic cups or water bottles resulting to mountains of trash usually left behind after fun runs, concerts and public events leaving the MMDA and local sanitation to clean up.

“Maynilad will set up water stations along the route where people can fill their own water bottles or jugs for hydration. We will not distribute plastic cups or bottles,” said Vangge Giorgetti, Go100 FUN RUN Project manager.

“We have organized enough to scatter trash bins along the route and we are organized enough to take them to where we are supposed to bring our trash. It is just simple courtesy,” said Abet Ocampo of Rundezvous- race consultants.

A bikers group to collect trash along the route will also be activated.

Bikers volunteers will be given trash bags to help collect trash left along the route. The Bikers Basura Squad will be led by Charie Villa and those willing to sign up should email go100funrun@gmail.com.

A video contest among the student-runners on “ A hundred hacks on trash management and recycling” was also launched and the winning video will be shown during the awards ceremony for the GO 100 Fun Run. The awarding will be held in Malate Catholic School gymnasium, which will be converted into a Race Village.

Miss Earth candidates will get to enjoy the white beach of Pandan Grande Island. Robert Evora (Inset) Apo Reef Natural Park, the world’s second largest contiguous coral reef, hosts different species of fish, marine mammals and invertibrates. From the website of Apo Reef Club

Miss Earth bets to visit Sablayan town

By Robert A. Evora SABLAYAN, Occidental Mindoro—Five foreign candidates of Miss Earth 2016 will pay a three-day visit to tthis “fairly unknown” rural town to explore its ecotourism destinations and “how these newly-discovered ecotourism spots are protected.”

“Our town and people of Sablayan, although fairly unknown, gladly welcome our visitors. We are lucky that our town was chosen as a venue of their visit despite the presence of other beautiful places in the Philippines,” Mayor Eduardo

Gadiano said.

The five international candidates who will visit Sablayan from October 21 to 23 are Lyndie Kean (Australia); Candisha Rolle (Bahamas); Fenne Verecas (Belgium); Eliana Villegas (Bolivia), and Gloria Nelson (Guam).

According to pageant founder Lorraine Schuck, whoever will be crowned Miss Earth “will be expected to travel the world and carry out the mission to encourage the global community to make a change to save and protect the environment.”

“These are not just mere leisure activities. They will have a

chance to meet with the locals and learn how these ecotourism spots are protected,” she said.

“We need to understand the need to raise funds through the promotion of our tourist spots, but not to the point of compromising nature. We also need to strike a balance between creating profit and conserving the environment for the benefit of small communities,” Schuck added.

Aside from Sablayan, the rest of the 90 Miss Earth candidates are also scheduled to visit Davao City, Island Garden City of Samal, Isabela, Tacloban City, Guimaras, Cebu, Boracay Is-

land, Sorsogon, Benguet, Lanao and Butuan.

Among the places that they will visit in Sablayan are the Apo Reef Natural Park, Pandan Grande Island, Parola Park, and Libuao Lake. The candidates will also get to ride the world’s longest islandto-island zipline stretching 1.5 kilometers from Parola Park to Pandan Piqueno Island.

Other activities include a glass-bottom boat ride, mangrove planting, coastal clean-up, ribbon-cutting of a photo exhibit inside the Sablayan municipal hall and a grand motorcade around Sablayan town.

Raise native animals, Villar tells farmers WALKING DEAD.

A zombie soldier is one of the ‘mosters’ of the Ghostbusters halloween adventure at Enchanted Kingdom in Laguna. Sonny Espiritu

By Macon Ramos-Araneta to feed the country’s 105-milWITH the current volume of meat production insufficient to feed the country’s growing population, Senator Cynthia Villar said farmers and breeders should turn to native animals, which are cheaper to raise and more adaptable to the country’s changing climate.

During the budget hearing on the proposed P50.5-billion budget of the Department of Agriculture, Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said Filipinos’ consumption of meat rose from 15 kilos per capita to 35 kilos per capita.

Piñol said the inventory of 2.5-million cattle is not enough

lion population.

“We have seen problems raising imported cows: our climate is changing and these animals cannot adapt. Whereas native animals can easily do that,” Villar said.

“And besides, with the native animals, they will no longer buy feeds. They can live on grass that we can plant. In effect, for our poor farmers, this is more sustainable because there is no seed capital to buy feeds; they can just plant grass. There are high-protein grasses to produce bigger sizes of native animals.

Let’s look at our native animals and let them grow in the Philippines,” Villar added.

Erap: brace for more Zika cases

By Sandy Araneta AS TWO new Zika virus infections have been reported in the cities of Makati and Mandaluyong, the city health officer of Manila has warned that it is only a matter of time before the virus hits the country’s capital.

This prompted Mayor Joseph Estrada to alert the city hospitals and health emergency units to brace for possible Zika cases as well as other mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya.

Estrada on Sunday also called on the 1.7-million Manileños to equip themselves with the proper knowledge about Zika even as he assured that the six public hospitals and 59 community health centers of the city are capable to handle the cases.

“We need to be ready. Everybody should be ready,” he said.

“The Zika virus has been suddenly prevalent in our country, where before this was only in Iloilo and Cebu only, now it is within NCR [National Capital Region] already. It is getting nearer. So I am ordering Manila hospitals to be ready because we can’t say when this will hit us,” Estrada added.

Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said a 27-year-old female in Mandaluyong and a 42-year-old male in Makati have been infected with Zika virus.

Sports

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Manila volley tilt has strongest cast

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ANGKOK Glass and Hisamitsu Springs Rio checked into the Diamond Hotel Sunday, formally completing what is billed as the strongest cast ever to compete in the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship presented by PLDT which fires off tomorrow at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Thais and the Japanese landed at high noon from Bangkok and Osaka, respectively, ready to wage a war against other elite club teams seeing action in this world-class tourney organized by the Philippine Superliga and Eventcourt, with TV5, Petron, Asics, BMW and F2 Logistics as sponsors, Diamond Hotel as official residence and Turkish Airlines as official airlines.

Powered by Asian superstars Pleumjit Thinkaow, Thi Ngoc Hoa Nguyen, Wilavan Apinyapong, Pornpun Guedpard and American Ashley Frazier, the reigning Asian champions will come out in full force in its world debut, eager to make an impact following the death of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The grieving Thai side will compete in all-white kit throughout this prestigious battle that is also bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission, Rexona,

Mall of Asia Arena, Foton and Price Waterhouse Cooper.

On the other hand, Hisamitsu Springs Rio will be marching with the nucleus of Olympians Miyu Nagaoka and Yuki Ishii as well as Risa Shinnabe and Risa Ishibashi.

The Thais and the Japanese will be stacked against a very competitive field headed by Rio Olympics Most Valuable Player Zhu Ting, Lonneke Sloetjes, Kim Hill and Naz Aydemir Aykol of VakifBank Istanbul; Tijana Boskovic, Thaisa Menezes and Titiana Kosheleva of Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul; and Foluke Akinradewo, Olesia Rykhliuk and the Mariana Costa of Volero Zurich, who quickly swept locals fans off their feet with her charm, beauty and power.

Not to be outdone, South American powerhouse Rexona-Sesc Rio will parade Anne Bujis, Carol, Gabi and Juicely

while European champion Pomi Casalmaggiore will be powered by Rio Olympics bronze medalist Carli Lloyd, Jovana Stevanovic and Valentina Tirrozi.

In all, the spectacle will feature the best and brightest volleyball players, coaches, technical officials and special guests from 25 countries, including those coming from Great Britain, Greece, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Tunisia and Cuba.

“The level of competition and star power of this event could match – or even surpass – that of the Olympic Games,” said local organizing committee chairman Philip Ella Juico during the top level meeting led by honorary president Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, organizing committee president Shanrit Wongprasert and director general Ramon Suzara yesterday, also at the Diamond Hotel.

“All the world’s best players are here.

We also have our national government giving its all-out support, the latest volleyball technology and innovations as well as the support from local and international fans and media. We’re looking forward to a successful hosting of the tournament.”

The home team will carry the colors

BEST PLAYER. Healthwell Nutraceuticals Inc., maker of Nice Day Coffee, the official

sponsor of the PBA Governors’ Cup, awards the Best Player of the Conference title to TNT KaTropa star Jayson Castro through its President Paulo Legaspi. Castro topped the statistical race with 38.3 SPs, narrowly beating San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo (37.8 SPs). It was Castro’s fourth Best Player of the Conference award.

Coach E classes in 7 venues YOUNG students who want to bring their game to the next level will have a chance to improve their skills more as the Coach E Basketball School begins its second semester classes in seven venues.

Classes began on Oct. 14 at the Celebrity Sports Plaza from 5 to 7 p.m.

The Zone and Mother Goose held sessions starting Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, while classes at Valle Verde 2, Greenhills West, San Beda Alabang and Ateneo were held on the same day, but with a different schedule of 2 to 4 p.m.

The second semester classes will have eight-sessions and will run until Dec. 11.

A one-day tournament will be arranged for all participants which will be divided according to their skills level to be followed by the graduation rites in this event which will have Molten as its official ball and partner.

Interested participants can contact 6311195 /6684347 09088846947 or email coachebasketball@gmail.com Online payment is available through Coach E website, www. coach-e.com, via Paypal.

Cavs, JR Smith finally ink pact

Fans gathered to greet and meet their international volleyball idols in the 2016 FIVB Women’s Club World Championship.

Swimmer dies in Hong Kong Harbour race HONG KONG—A swimmer drowned Sunday in Hong Kong and another was left in critical condition as they took part in the city’s annual cross-harbour swim, which attracts world-class international competitors.

Local media said the man who died was rushed to hospital after being pulled unconscious from the water by a rescue boat.

He was reported to be in his forties.

A woman thought to be in her 60s was separately pulled unconscious from the water and is reported to be in intensive

care in hospital.

The 1,500-metre race saw around 3,000 people swim between two piers on opposite sides of Hong Kong’s famous harbour -- 500 up from the previous year according to reports.

Some local media questioned why only 10 extra lifeguards had been added when the field had expanded so much.

There was a total of 120 lifeguards at the event, local broadcaster RTHK reported on its website.

Swimmers are split into racing and

recreational groups -- both the dead man and the hospitalised woman were taking part in the leisure category, which is for slower swimmers, according to reports.

Local media cited the president of the Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association defending the number of lifeguards as sufficient for the event.

“We are very saddened by the news and will do whatever possible to help his family get through this difficult time,” the South China Morning Post cited Ronnie Wong as saying. AFP

WASHINGTON—J.R. Smith will return to the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers after signing a new deal following a lengthy offseason negotiation for the veteran shooting guard, the team announced Saturday.

Smith’s contract is reportedly a four-year agreement worth as much as $57 million, incentives potentially boosting the dal beyond the $14 million a season he had sought.

The 31-year-old long-range sharpshooter played in 77 games last season for the Cavaliers, averaging 12.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 30.7 minutes a contest.

“Bringing J.R. back as part of our core group was a priority for us,” Cavaliers general manager David Griffin said. “He’s a special part of this family and we are very pleased to have reached an agreement that we all can feel good about.”

Cleveland made the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history to defeat the Golden State Warriors in seven games and claim the city’s first major sports crown in half a century.

“We know he can’t wait to get back on the court with his brothers and we are certain that everyone in this organization and city feels the same way,” Griffin said.

Smith ranked seventh in the NBA last season with a club-record 204 3-pointers, shooting better than 40 percent from beyond the arc.

In the playoffs, Snmith started all 21 games for the Cavaliers, averaging 11.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 34.8 minutes a game. His club record 65 playoff 3-pointers were the fourth-most by any NBA player in a post-season run. AFP

Madis sisters dominate Borja, Noble top Anvaya Super Tri Kids tourney Bukidnon tennis meet JAZELLE and Tenielle Madis pulled of a sister act, nailing two titles each to dominate the girls’ side of the Palawan PawnshopPalawan Express Pera Padala Dangcagan, Bukidnon leg regional tennis tournament at the Dangcagan and Kitaotao Tennis Club Sunday.

The top-seeded Jazelle lived up to her billing and trounced Winona Cabardo, 6-0, 6-3, to nail the 16-and-under crown but the Southern Baptist College mainstay needed to toughen up to foil Ma. Angelica Novis, 5-7, 6-2, 10-7, and snare the 18-U title in the Group 5 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger.

Not to be outdone, Tenielle, also from SBC, trampled Reyman Saldivar Jr., 4-0, 4-2, to bag another 10-unisex plum then the rising Mlang star outplayed Jillian Manangking, 6-0, 6-1, to claim the 12-U diadem in the event sanctioned by Philta and backed by Asiatraders Corp., exclusively distributor of Slazenger, the official ball.

‘The Madis sisters displayed awesome form they honed up by regularly competing in the circuit. Hard work breeds success and we hope they inspire other young players to strive for excel-

lence with so many opportunities in our year-long, nationwide tour,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Novis, from Malita, Davao Oriental, earlier took the 14-U crown via walkover win over Joy Poliquit before bowing to Jazelle in their thrilling three-set duel for the premier crown.

Top seeded Ivan Malinis stamped his class in the boys’ 18-U division, beating No. 2 Von Tabuco, 6-1, 6-1; while Aaron Duhaylungsod, who also hails from Maramag like Malinis, edged local ace Yvu Dandasan in a pair of pulsating tiebreaks, 7-6(2), 7-6(4), to clinch the 16-U title.

But Vince Dandasan gave the local crowd something to cheer about as he snatched the 14-U plum with a convincing 6-2, 6-2 reversal over top seed John Peter Linsagan while Mlang, Cotabato’s Cedric Pamplona also upset top seed Saldivar, 6-1, 6-2, to capture the 12-U diadem.

Meanwhile, action shifts to Bacolod for the Bacolod Masskara Festival on Oct. 20-24 while San Carlos City will host the next stop on Oct. 27-31 for the Pintaflores Festival which will also feature the men’s and women’s Open on Oct. 31-Nov. 6.

AFTER coming out second in the swim leg, Zedrick James Borja boosted himself to victory in the 11-12 boys Super Tri Kids competition during the 9th Anvaya Cove Invitational Triathlon held last Saturday afternoon at the Anvaya Cove Beach & Nature Club in Bataan.

The Philippine Team member was a few seconds behind Daniel Nazarro in the 300-meter swim on slightly choppy sea waters, before accelerating himself in the 4-kilometer bike and the 2-KM run legs to finish with the gold in 18 minutes and 38 seconds in front of a cheering audience of parents and relatives.

Navarro ended in second place (20:23), while the bronze went to Juan Miguel Tayag (21:11).

On the 11-12 girls’ race in the event sponsored by Ayala Land Premier, Globe Telecom, MHECO, Folded & Hung, A.C. Lazaga, Veda Spa, Island Fantasy,

Gatorade, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Glyptic Art Enterprise, Globalinens Worldwide, Inc., Powel Chem, Royal Duty Free, Bio-Diesel, Vantage Point Photography, Universal Towel, Olongapo Gas, and Kaakbay sa Kinabukasan Cooperative, Alison Ann Noble banked on a large lead in the bike leg, which was enough for her to survive Katrina Salazar’s strong run to win the gold in 21:46.

Salazar won the silver in 22:23, while Finela Bianca Silamor was a distant third with 36:28.

On the 9-10 triathlon race (200M swim – 2 Km bike – 1 Km run) for boys, Dayshaun Karl Ramos emerged as the champion with 13:37 followed by Connor Thomas Hodges, with 14:27 and Mark Grist finishing third with 16:03 despite making a wrong turn. The girls’ race saw Aubrey Tom (15:23) and Calista Felisa Si-

lamor (18:53) as the only participants.

The aquathlon (25 meter swim – 200 meter run) for participants aged 8-10 years-old had Maria Sabine Magsanoc (1:21), Angel Cenizal (1:28) and Jazmine Fay Borja (1:35) as the girls’ winners, while the boys’ race saw a photo finish between champion Evan Arrow Ramos and Sky Guevarra timing almost identically at 1:12. The bronze went to Ener Antonio Regis with 1:32.

Due to the weather disturbance caused by Typhoon Karen, the Triathlon Association of the Philippines and Anvaya Cove Beach & Nature Club decided to reset the rest of the events originally set for Oct. 16 (Standard, Sprint and Mini-Sprint distances) to Nov. 6.

The weather of last Saturday was relatively manageable for the STK races to push through with cloudy skies and slightly choppy water in the sea.

CESAFI finals aired on Aksyon TV LOTTO RESULTS

By Ronnie Nathanielsz GAME 1 of the 16th Smart CESAFI men’s basketball collegiate league championship match in Cebu between the Visayas Green Lancers and defending champions University of San Carlos Warriors will be telecast on Akyson TV at 5 p.m. on Monday .

Although the USC Warriors are favorites to retain their title in the best-of-five series, the University of Visayas Green Lancers are expected to provide a tough battle at the Cebu Coliseum, which is expected to be jam-packed.

The Visayas Green Archers will be bannered by

Liberian big man Bassiere Sackour and dependable wingman Rey Suerte as well as veteran guard Alfred Codilla, while the USC Warriors are anchored around Congolese big man Scotty Ntumba, backed up by the talented duo of Ian Tagapan and Kevin Oleodo.

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6 DIGITS 00-00-00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

Sports

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

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

Badminton Open tourney starts today H

OSTILITIES in the men’s Open singles kick off the 2016 Bingo Bonanza National Open Badminton Tournament with 20 matches on tap in a day-long action at the CW Home Depot Ortigas on Doña Julia Vargas Ave. near corner Meralco in Pasig today, Oct. 17.

Adamson’s Johnrick Macabenta slugs it out with veteran campaigner JC Clarito of HP2 while Cris Sanchez battles fellow Team Prima Adrian Ramos in the first two matches at 10 a.m. in the upper half of the 64-player draw headed by top seed Kevin Cudiamat, No. 2 Frell Gabuelo and No. 3 Ros Pedrosa, all members of PBA Smash Pilipinas and fourth seed Orlan Ticala of Team Prima.

Other pairings pit Jervin Carlos of National U against Letran-Calamba’s Edwin Dodds; Andrei Babad of UP versus wildcard Justin Vanzuela of Jumpsmash Academy of Badminton; Clarence Filart of Ateneo against Team Prima’s Marc Lo; Christian Yabut of UST versus Jommel Saragena, also of Team Prima/ La Salle.

Mark Alcala, who upset Cudiamat to snare the crown in last year’s staging of the annual event sponsored by Bingo Bonanza Corp. and sanctioned by the Philippine Bad-

minton Association headed by president Jejomar Binay and Sec-Gen Rep. Albee Benitez, won’t be around as he is in the US. But the depth of the competing field remains as talentladen as ever with a slew of rising stars raring to prove their worth in the top-ranking event organized by EventKing Corp. and backed by Victor PCOME as the official equipment, SM Megamall, Smash Pilipinas and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

The top collegiate and club players from Metro Manila and the different provinces are also in the hunt for the winners’ purse of P100,000 for the men’s and women’s singles champions and P120,000 for the men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles of the event.

The qualifiers and quarterfinals will cover five days of action at the CW Home Depot before the tournament moves to the SM Megamall for the semis and finals on Oct. 22

Laoag battles UP Lady Maroons Games today (Philsports Arena) 12:30 p.m. – Champion vs 100 Plus (S Turf) 4 p.m. – Air Force vs BaliPure (V-League) 6 p.m. – Laoag vs UP (V-League)

TEAM Laoag resumes its semifinal drive today, hoping to cash in against a skidding UP side and catch Customs at second even as BaliPure and Air Force tangle in a pair of crucial matches halfway through the single round eliminations of the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Reinforced Conference.

Action shifts back to the Philsports Arena in Pasig with the Power Smashers looking for their third win in four games against the Lady Maroons reeling from back-to-back shutout losses to the UST Tigresses and the Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors.

The Power Smashers remain wary of their rivals in their 6 p.m. encounter although Grethcel Soltones, Jorelle Singh, Aiko Urdas and Wenneth Eulalio as well as setter Relea Saet remain confident of their chances following their 3-1 victory over the Air Force Jet Spikers last week.

BaliPure, meanwhile, tries to ride the crest of its impressive sweep of fancied Customs last Wednesday as it collides with a struggling Air Force squad at 4 p.m.

The Water Defenders, with imports Katherine Morrell and Kaylee Manns settling down with the locals, surprised Alyssa Valdez and the Transformers to score a 26-24, 25-21, 25-21 victory, putting the team back in contention after dropping a 1-3 setback to UST last Oct. 8.

and 23.

Action in the women’s Open singles begins tomorrow (Tuesday) with Angela Ramos of Ateneo clashing with Adamson’s Mika Aquino; Danica Bolos of Makisig Badminton Academy colliding with Clydel Pada, also of Adamson; and Ateneo’s Cassandra Lim mixing it up with Jellene de Vera of PBA Smash Pilipinas.

National player Sarah Joy Barredo is the defending champion but the PBA Smash Pilipinas mainstay will have her hands full this time with a host of strong players in the fold, including Charmane Salvador of Makisig BA, Nicole Albo and Mariya Sevilla, both of PBA Smash Pilipinas, Ateneo’s Bianca Carlos and UP’s Malvinne Ann Alcala.

The top-level event also serves as part of the national team’s buildup for next year’s Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia with national team head coach Paulus Firman expecting his wards to dominate.

Possible inclusion in the national team also awaits the top finishers in various divisions of the event.

In today’s other men’s Open matches, Adrian Clemente faces Elben Concha; Marvin Nalangan takes on Keoni Asuncion; Gerloth Delizo collides with Christian Cuyno; Jason Vanzuela clashes with Angelo Santiaguel.

REASON TO CHEER. Members of the Los Angeles Laker Girls cheerleaders give fans plenty of reasons to cheer as they perform during the team’s preseason game against the Golden State Warriors at T-Mobile Arena on Oct. 15 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Golden State won 112-107. AFP

Red Robins end 16 years of frustration

By Peter Atencio IT took a while to sink in. And when it finally did, the Mapua Red Robins are finally celebrating their title conquest in the 92nd National Collegiate Athletic Association Junior Basketball Tournament.

It came after a 16-year wait and two years of frustration.

“I can’t describe the feeling. It was given to us. God gave us this win,” said Red Robins coach Randy Alcantara after they finally got past the

defending champion San Beda Red Cubs, 84-67, to snatch the junior crown last Friday in Game 3 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The last time they tried was in 2014. But the Red Cubs prevailed in overtime of Game 3, 78-65.

This time around, the Red Robins took charge in the first two quarters and put the Red Cubs in an unfamiliar situation of being behind all throughout the game.

“The boys sacrificed all year.

They really worked hard for this.

We suffered injuries. We lacked the manpower. But we came to win,” said Alcantara.

The Red Robins sustained their momentum in the last two periods and continued to frustrate the Red Cubs with their firm grip of the lead until the end.

They finally put an end to the Red Cubs’ reign.

One of the team’s newcomers is Brian Lacap, a transferee from University of Santo Tomas.

He tallied 16 game-high points

for the Red Robins.

His triple and jumper in the last seven minutes of the third period was also instrumental as they improved on their runner-up finish to the Red Cubs in 2014.

“We avenged our loss in 2014.

We were one shot away then,” said Alcantara, who recalled how Noah Lugo could not convert two successive attempts from long range. The first with a second left and the second missing its mark as the buzzer sounded to send the

game into overtime and the eventual San Beda victory.

Lacap’s basket came as he and Warren Bonifacio led a 9-0 blast that gave the Red Robins a 25-point lead, 47-24.

Clint Escamis, who came from San Beda-Alabang, gave himself a fitting birthday present a day after his 16th birthday.

He chipped in 14 points, with his two charities during an 11-4 run in the first half sending the Red Robins to a 24-13 first quarter edge.

Elasto Painters start new chapter

By Jeric Lopez

Barangay Ginebra’s Sol Mercado (left) tries to dribble past Meralco Bolts defender Jimmy Alapag (3). Ginebra and Meralco are battling for the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup title.

THE Rain or Shine Elasto Painters are staring at a new beginning ahead of the Philippine Basketball Association’s next season.

After a stunning series of movements and transactions which took place within a week, the Elasto Painters, a team which just won the Commissioner’s Cup championship, are suddenly an overhauled squad with an unfamiliar composition.

Their longtime coach Yeng Guiao left for NLEX last week after negotiations for a contract renewal didn’t push through.

Following that, coach Caloy Garcia was reinstated as the head

mentor for the team and that change was only the beginning.

Last Thursday, Rain or Shine shocked the league as it continued to make maneuvers.

It surprisingly dealt away its superstar Paul Lee, after also failing to come to terms on a new contract, to Star in exchange for two-time Most Valuable Player James Yap in one of the biggest trades in the PBA of all time.

On that same day, the Elasto Painters also moved JR Quinahan, who has been the team’s most consistent player all-season long, to GlobalPort in exchange for another veteran in Jay Washington.

La Salle coach Ayo preaches spontaneous basketball LA SALLE coach Aldin Ayo is preaching the principle of playing spontaneous basketball.

Ayo said this is the type of game that the Green Archers want to do for the rest of the season in the 79th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament.

This how the Green Archers secured a 78-72 win over the Maroons to stay unbeaten in nine games.

Jeron Teng led with 21 points while Ben Mbala dominated the paint with 17 markers and 20 rebounds.

Teng was not around and was still recovering from an ankle injury when La Salle relied on other

players to beat Adamson, 86-79, last week.

“We miss JT (Teng). But, in this kind of situation, you can’t go to just one go-to guy. We will lose the spontaneous game that we play,” said Ayo who found good reason to celebrate his 39th birthday the other day.

Ayo said he was glad that the Green Archers were able to show their resolve despite a tough stand by the Maroons.

He said he is is also impressed that the Green Archers responded well to the adjustments made by the Maroons on defense.

Their defensive adjustments

allowed them to be in the ballgame against La Salle.

“Our game was disrupted by their camouflage defense. We’ve been practicing against that type of defense. But they were still able to disrupt our game. Good thing that we stuck together,” said Ayo. Peter Atencio

Business

State’s role in RE questioned B3

Neda asking Duterte to back climate treaty

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

T

HE National Economic and Development Authority said over the weekend it will try to convince President Rodrigo Duterte to acknowledge the Paris agreement on climate change signed by the vulnerable and developed countries together with the United Nations last year.

Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia told reporters Neda along with the Climate Change Commission would also try to convince other government agencies to show their support for the Climate Change Agreement, which aimed to mitigate the emission of harmful gases to limit global warming.

Pernia said Duterte’s acknowledgment of the Paris accord was expected to lead to the ratification of the funding needed to fully participate in the deal.

“We will sign. We will convince him [Duterte]. If the predominant number of agencies signed, then it will be difficult for him not to sign,” Pernia said.

Duterte earlier expressed his strong

opposition to the Paris agreement, saying it would hinder the industrialization efforts of the Philippines.

“We have not reached the age of industrialization. We are going into it.

But you are trying to [cite an] agreement that will impose limitations on us. We maintain the present emission.

That’s stupid,” Duterte said earlier. “I will not honor that.”

Former Finance Sectary Cesar Purisima said earlier the Philippines along with other vulnerable countries in the world were expected to lose about $400 billion if stronger measures were not implemented to mitigate destructive effects of climate change.

Purisima, who chaired the V20 group under the previous administration, said the initial annual losses of $45 billion

since 2010 were expected to escalate to $400 billion in the next 20 years.

Purisima said the possible losses could account for at least 2.5 percent of the GDP of the vulnerable countries.

Purisima cited a possible sea level rise that would partially or completely submerge the island nations of Kiribati, Maldive and Tuvalu and displace at least 500,000 people.

He said the inundation of 17 percent of land areas and the displacement of about 18 million people by 2050 in the case of Bangladesh would be more likely.

The V20 group was founded in October 2015 in Lima, Peru composed by finance ministers of countries that are so-called the most vulnerable to climate change.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

B1

IN BRIEF BDO bonds get Baa2 credit rating

GLOBAL debt watcher Moody’s Investors Service assigned a provisional investment grade rating of ‘Baa2’ to the $2-billion medium-term note program established in 2012

by BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s biggest bank.

Moody’s said the medium-term note program rating also applied to the BDO branch in Hong Kong.

“The provisional ratings are in line with BDO’s Baa2 long-term and short-term deposit ratings and reflect the structure of the proposed issuance,” Moody’s said.

“The notes issued under the program constitute the issuer’s direct, unconditional, unsubordinated and unsecured obligations…,” it said. However, Moody’s said that the ratings did not apply to any individual notes issued under the program.

BDO said the establishment of a $2-billion euro medium-term note program in 2012 would enable the bank to manage its liabilities.

The EMTN program is a medium-term foreign currency funding facility that will allow BDO the flexibility to issue foreign currency denominated notes, from time to time, in the international capital markets. Julito G. Rada

SMC taps Uber to transport staff

CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. said it teamed up with ride sharing firm Uber in a bid to help ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

Under the partnership, Uber will provide San Miguel employees a convenient, affordable and environment-friendly alternative to driving or commuting alone through its new UberHop service, which allows up to six people travelling the same route to share just one vehicle to and from work.

The first-of-its-kind program was launched on Oct. 3 for San Miguel employees based in its Ortigas head office.

“We recognize the difficulty that the public—our employees included—go through everyday in traffic. We’re hoping that through this program, we can contribute to easing the situation by offering a viable way for our employees to lessen their impact—however small,” San Miguel president Ramon Ang said.

SMC has about 5,000 employees based in its head office in Ortigas. Ang said the SMC-Uber tie-up would encourage employees to leave their cars at home. Separately, carpooling is also encouraged, he said. Darwin G. Amojelar

Neda pushes law on national land use

FIBER OPTICS TECHNOLOGY. Technology provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. rolls out a pure fiber optics technology service in Metro Manila to empower business

process outsourcing, financial, education and hospitality sectors. The company announced its plan to invest P2.7 billion next year to expand in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Shown during a news briefing at Legend restaurant in Pasay City are Converge ICT chief operating officer Jesus Romero and chief executive Dennis Anthony Uy. Lino Santos

Banana growers urge DAR to keep agricultural lease

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales BANANA stakeholders appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to stop the Department of Agrarian Reform from reviewing the so-called agribusiness ventures arrangement in the industry.

AVA refers to the entrepreneurial collaboration between agrarian reform beneficiaries and private investors in the implementation of an agriculturally-related business venture involving lands distributed under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

The Department of Agrarian Reform is currently reviewing existing AVAs, also known as leasebacks agreements.

Banana stakeholders said the government’s interference in live contracts was unconstitutional and would provide disincentives to local and foreign investors.

“This interference has changed the strategic direction of local corporate farms in relations to their expansion plans,” the stakeholders said The Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association also expressed concern over a proposed bill in Congress that aims to regulate agribusiness ventures in areas under land reform.

House Bill 5161 proposed to make all agribusiness venture agreements subject to the approval of the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council.

Stakeholders said government policy and consistency would play a very vital role in the stability of supply of banana and strategic direction of investors who were contemplating to invest in large-scale banana farming.

Ratings firm upgrades PH credit score

By Julito G. Rada RAM Ratings, a Malaysia-based credit watchdog, upgraded the Philippines’ Asean credit rating by one notch to “A1,” or five notches higher than the minimum investment grade, amid the country’s resilience against global economic shocks.

RAM said in a report released over the weekend it also affirmed the Philippines’ global credit rating at “BBB3,” or the minimum investment grade.

Both ratings have a stable outlook.

RAM explained the term “Asean credit rating” took into account a sovereign’s credit-rating performance visà-vis its peers in the Southeast Asian region, while the term “global credit rating” considered the country’s performance in comparison with other countries in the world.

“The upgrade of the Philippines’ ratings, both on the Asean and Ma-

laysia national rating scales, reflects impressive progress in the enactment of key legislative and administrative reforms as well as the country’s resilience, especially its ability to withstand external volatilities that compares favorably by Asean peers,” RAM said.

It said despite a slower pace of growth in workers’ cash remittances, domestic private consumption expanded further. The Philippines also weathered a bout of financial volatility in 2015 relatively well, it said.

“A robust growth momentum driven by the acceleration of public infrastructure spending and the country’s persistently strong external position anchors its global-scale rating at BBB3/stable [outlook] while structural issues such as elevated underemployment and poverty rates remain long-term constraints,” RAM said.

RAM said given the robust domestic demand and acceleration of public spending in the second half, the Philippine economy was expected to grow 6.5 percent in 2016, the midpoint of the Duterte administration’s target range of 6 percent to 7 percent.

GDP grew 6.8 percent in the first quarter, before accelerating 7 percent in the second quarter driven by robust election-related spending, strong domestic demand and investment. This brought the first-half average to 6.9 percent, near the upper bound of the target range.

RAM said in giving a stable outlook for the Philippine ratings on global, Asean and Malaysian national scales, this was premised on expectations that the new Duterte government would maintain current macroeconomic policies and continue to make progress in reforms achieved in the last few years.

ITALIAN LUXURY CAR.

Formula Sports Inc., the exclusive Philippine distributor of Maserati, an Italian brand of luxury vehicles, introduces Levante, its newest SUV. Levante, Maserati’s first crossover, is named after the warm Mediterranean wind.

Shown during the launching of the Levante model at The Palace Pool Club in Bonifacio Global City are (from left) Maserati Asia director of sales Domenico La Marte, Formula Sports managing director Jason Soong, Maserati Philippines chairman and president Wellington Soong and Formula Sports executive director Marc Soong. Manny Palmero

THE National Economic and Development Authority is pushing for the enactment of a national land use law.

Cabinet economic managers and Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo, in a joint position paper, earlier supported a proposal by the Agrarian Reform Department to create a task force that will assess the status of land use conversion in the country.

“In the immediate term, the government should strictly implement existing law, regulating land use conversion [which already cover non-conversion of prime agricultural land, lands subject to land reform, irrigated lands, irrigable lands, protected areas and other areas non-negotiable for conversion] and quickly clarify and decide the parameters for land use conversion,” the position paper stated.

The paper also called on Congress to enact a national land use code covering not only land use conversion regulation but also effective land administration such as timely titling of lands Neda also suggested to tax idle lands sufficiently so that owners would put them to appropriate uses. “A national land use code would help reduce congestion in Metro Manila and other emerging metropolitan cities, such as Cebu and Cagayan de Oro,” it said.

Gabrielle H. Binaday

B2

Business

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market seen falling to 7,000

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

TOCKS are likely to move sideways with a downward bias this week, as investors shun emerging markets such as the Philippines on increased possibility of a US Federal Reserve rate hike by yearend.

BDO chief market strategist Jonathan Ravelas said last week’s close below the 7,500-point level for the first time since May 27 implied that there was still room for further weakness toward the 7,000 to 7,200 levels.

Ravelas, however, said the market’s rebound towards the end of the trading week to close at 7,389.30 hinted that the week’s low of 7,312.18 registered a year earlier

could be the near-term bottom.

“Look for a move above the 7,500 to confirm said bottom,” Ravelas said.

Luis Limlingan, managing director of Regina Capital Development Corp., said the index was still generally on a downtrend and that investors should expect heavy selling pressure.

“This leads us to take a very cautious approach in trading this week by picking only issues that are showing signs of stability both in price and technical signals,” Limlingan said.

On the domestic front, investors will be looking forward to President Rodrigo Duterte’s state visit to China if this would translate into increased investments and business opportunities for the country.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, fell 2.5 percent over last week’s five-day market trading to close at 7,389.30 on Oct. 14, while the broader all-share index slipped 2.3 per-

cent to 4,402.69 amid continued outflow of foreign funds.

Despite the loss, the bellwether was still up 6.3 percent this year.

Except for the mining and oil index which rose 0.4 percent, the other five sectors ended in the red led by property which declined 4.3 percent, holding firms which dropped 2.6 percent and industrial sector which went down by 2.3 percent.

Foreign investors were net sellers last week by P2.8 billion.

Top gainers last week were PhilWeb Corp. which jumped 18.3 percent to P9.10, Bloomberry Resorts Corp. which advanced 13.7 percent to P5.15 and Semirara Mining and Power Corp. which climbed 1.8 percent to P122.70.

Heavy losers were Xurpas Inc. which declined 15.6 percent to P12.22, Megaworld Corp. which lost 8 percent to P4.14 and Megawide Construction Corp. which fell 7.7 percent to P14.48.

ICTSI still joining Sasa port auction

By Darwin G. Amojelar PORT operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. is still interested in joining the bidding for the Davao Sasa Port Modernization Project despite the government’s decision to downscale the project, an executive said over the weekend.

“For sure, anything that promotes regional development as long as it is sensible from private sector point of view, we will certainly be interested and

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

OCTOBER 10-14, 2016 Close Volume

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

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

3.45 48 107.50 103.20 38 3.80 1.33 16.8 18.82 6.61 0.67 1.83 671.00 0.750 83.25 0.87 14 22.00 55.00 96 220 260 35.85 215.8 1495.00 75.00 1.42

81,000 105,400 14,122,830 7,817,070 1,467,600 351,000 599,160 390,800 3,448,200 1,900 7,815,000 116,000 2,050 59,615,000 12,262,640 15,695,000 1,282,400 8,000 730,360 570 1,340 2,500 872,600 8,266,360 860 543,990 472,000

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

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

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

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

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

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

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

45.65 3.91 0.88 1.45 15.5 63.05 164.90 11.12 15.58 140.1 100 23.5 60 2 6.2 12.18 10.980 7.37 5.93 7.25 1.78 23.5 71.5 12.00 16.20 5.8 2.010 241.00 61.00 2.11 4.1 27.40 30.4 27.4 14.48 290.40 0.245 4.95 3 10.68 3.39 11.58 2.15 5.89 1.46 3.32 4.16 3.29 215 0.147 1.70 179 4.61 2.19 32.95 1.19

7,714,500 16,832,000 7,139,000 15,232,000 68,500 26,080 260 20,880,300 12,420,000 60 5,500 2,020,400 375,590 4,103,000 5,545,000 274,000 30,049,200 5,230,900 44,284,500 1,437,800 390,000 9,848,400 1,248,050 243,400 1,760,500 5,762,400 7,536,000 2,036,580 11,330 3,000 186,000 300 15,141,900 1,294,600 12,669,700 1,557,810 5,630,000 1,000 1,375,000 17,459,500 10,000 76,200 7,507,000 2,732,300 1,357,000 1,782,000 2,389,000 52,000 19,700 22,490,000 2,780,000 6,428,960 14,000 58,624,000 400 290,000

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

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

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

LT Group Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

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

0.370 76.50 15.00 1.24 6.01 0.340 0.360 840.5 1050.00 8.25 12.68 6.52 8.12 0.206 1335 6.15 71.15 5.2 5.3 8 0.78 15.06 0.485 7.11 0.0370 1.280 1.900 2.53 81.00 2.29 662.50 1.19 0.92 233.600 0.3000 0.2020 0.245

3,500,000 5,269,840 17,778,500 103,000 10,800 10,890,000 1,870,000 2,915,440 5 12,496,400 31,022,500 110,000 1,326,500 650,000 1,161,170 106,400 8,982,440 1,600 1,700 12,974,100 1,298,000 45,182,700 30,000 158,120,300 173,700,000 22,000 3,743,000 9,000 958,570 30,000 1,876,440 1,280,000 122,000 26,530 12,820,000 1,770,000 4,540,000

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

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

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

Phil. Realty `A’

7.230 1.05 2.330 0.265 36.850 2.83 5.12 6.34 0.570 1.24 1.040 0.152 0.540 53.8 0.740 0.150 0.98 1.79 1.16 4.20 4.14 0.163 0.2700 0.400

839,300 10,516,000 5,990,000 5,880,000 94,364,600 5,598,000 900 100 30,678,000 486,000 415,000 85,750,000 17,265,000 5,466,230 396,000 170,000 21,125,000 54,719,000 1,376,000 46,000 249,694,000 540,690,000 760,000 460,000

Value FINANCIAL 280,820.00 5,032,455.00 1,535,511,301 809,981,999.00 48,236,630.00 1,334,250.00 455,370.00 6,482,248.00 63,913,544.00 12,613 5,693,190 211,180.00 1,380,170.00 43,972,120.00 1,023,735,773.00 13,655,600.00 18,017,766.00 176,955.00 40,415,874.00 56,113.00 304,964.00 651,600.00 31,210,675 1,756,845,406.00 1,283,890 40,750,160.00 672,360.00 INDUSTRIAL 350,992,150.00 70,379,300.00 6,238,830.00 22,630,460.00 1,063,628.00 1,698,151.00 42,874.00 237,604,114.00 196,499,716 8,931.00 574,237.00 47,338,540.00 22,535,919 8,273,060.00 34,706,594.00 3,337,038.00 326,525,116.00 38,136,122.00 261,180,490.00 10,521,962.00 721,700.00 230,984,650.00 89,293,359.00 2,918,520.00 28,621,288.00 34,049,533.00 15,494,550.00 493,667,160.00 653,971.00 6,330.00 748,120.00 8,220.00 462,325,800.00 35,006,995.00 192,260,322.00 459,557,596.00 1,428,850.00 4,950.00 4,165,550.00 184,562,708.00 31,950.00 869,414.00 16,033,080.00 16,247,301.00 2,023,630.00 6,222,680.00 9,980,890.00 173,870.00 4,249,708.00 3,277,780.00 4,780,840.00 1,157,694,407 64,590.00 134,677,090.00 13,180.00 346,240.00 HOLDING FIRMS 1,299,000.00 399,157,007.00 275,468,578.00 126,540.00 66,392.00 3,608,950.00 612,800.00 2,470,965,635 5,250.00 101,408,838.00 390,333,404.00 713,118.00 10,787,693.00 130,520.00 1,597,860,485.00 654,931.00 642,684,562.00 8,385.00 9,010.00 103,161,826.00 1,007,950.00 645,260,084.00 14,550.00 1,115,306,905.00 6,258,400.00 25,760.00 7,264,030.00 22,870.00 77,385,632.50 68,900.00 1,247,369,030.00 1,517,660.00 109,160.00 6,186,526.00 3,922,850.00 346,840.00 1,154,600.00 PROPERTY 6,107,707.00 11,507,730.00 14,350,240.00 1,558,700.00 3,526,138,230.00 15,829,160.00 4,608.00 634.00 17,782,700.00 594,960.00 438,440.00 13,197,040.00 9,941,470.00 289,658,789.50 293,280.00 25,280.00 20,876,890.00 97,580,430.00 1,557,100.00 208,000.00 1,067,891,650.00 93,053,430.00 194,350.00 184,500.00

Close

OCTOBER 3-7, 2016 Volume Value

3.65 48 109.00 103.30 38 3.80 1.34 16.6 18.88 6.63 0.74 1.83 698.00 0.790 84 0.88 14.4 22.50 57.50 100.9 230 269.6 35.8 223 1470.00 75.15 1.44

65,000 364,000 9,509,690 5,852,690 322,200 534,000 199,000 595,800 4,547,200 7,900 8,256,000 29,000 1,020 40,037,000 20,421,320 269,000 180,800 11,900 435,390 430 1,630 12,800 900,300 6,605,070 600 763,210 323,050

230,870.00 17,255,905.00 1,044,761,416 612,973,179.00 12,259,490.00 2,024,240.00 265,990.00 9,609,304.00 88,992,471.00 53,499 6,120,580 53,210.00 668,395.00 37,925,280.00 1,732,207,633.50 240,220.00 2,590,898.00 267,750.00 25,242,540.50 41,656.50 388,064.00 3,361,726.00 32,189,245 1,508,134,848.00 877,480 57,446,365.50 296,004.00

45.7 3.89 0.87 1.6 16.08 50.2 164.90 11.8 16.32 135.2 117 23.65 60 2.08 6.45 12.28 11.540 7.24 5.90 7.40 1.75 24.45 71.85 13.00 16.40 6.04 2.180 245.80 55.00 2.16 4.11 27.50 30.85 28.5 15.7 308.60 0.260 4.57 3.18 10.60 3 11.60 2.23 5.97 1.52 3.77 4.20 3.38 216 0.148 1.81 184.3 4.61 2.38 34.40 1.19

5,376,200 15,220,000 10,399,000 4,102,000 6,100 5,000 1,220 15,887,100 5,087,100 70 1,830 1,892,900 439,070 1,828,000 38,025,200 302,600 11,296,700 7,144,100 29,238,600 2,556,000 28,000 12,707,700 592,520 7,000 346,900 2,747,200 3,770,000 2,498,060 1,310 55,000 163,000 2,200 16,602,100 1,292,500 6,700,500 486,910 910,000 31,000 10,947,000 37,215,000 39,000 37,300 3,522,000 5,456,500 1,588,000 1,435,000 3,852,000 57,000 458,850 34,450,000 6,815,000 5,455,400 88,000 33,030,000 900 753,000

245,221,740.00 58,106,430.00 9,287,060.00 6,663,120.00 96,080.00 251,100.00 194,527.00 188,919,034.00 83,325,556 9,464.00 211,434.00 44,628,425.00 26,088,816 3,822,110.00 260,953,168.00 3,696,188.00 130,173,862.00 51,925,061.00 173,705,624.00 19,381,607.00 49,210.00 312,659,265.00 42,653,220.00 91,106.00 5,690,266.00 16,707,887.00 8,283,330.00 622,627,676.00 70,425.00 114,500.00 691,630.00 59,860.00 512,003,635.00 36,412,620.00 105,029,510.00 150,360,342.00 232,550.00 141,370.00 34,077,630.00 393,301,596.00 117,040.00 430,606.00 7,882,270.00 32,532,905.00 2,449,960.00 5,422,680.00 16,171,310.00 183,230.00 99,837,544.00 5,094,190.00 12,376,430.00 1,003,004,687 387,270.00 76,443,460.00 28,485.00 908,960.00

0.370 77.00 15.80 1.20 6.10 0.355 0.360 860 1010.00 8.36 12.70 6.5 8.17 0.206 1410 6.27 75.10 5.4 5.31 8.24 0.79 14.46

3,980,000 6,444,240 15,837,900 76,000 50,200 7,690,000 740,000 1,193,710 10 6,604,100 31,040,500 36,400 1,185,800 420,000 1,132,170 8,700 5,575,410 3,800 300 4,328,200 1,717,000 32,400,200

1,466,650.00 492,402,959.00 251,399,522.00 91,220.00 305,429.00 2,699,950.00 266,350.00 1,034,090,650 10,100.00 54,898,476.00 393,441,682.00 234,709.00 9,639,580.00 85,020.00 1,597,495,755.00 53,777.00 420,811,668.50 20,216.00 1,593.00 35,658,966.00 1,365,300.00 475,406,012.00

7.4 0.0370 1.160 1.930 2.54 81.40 2.3 675.00 1.21 0.91 233.800 0.3100 0.2020 0.275

185,401,700 563,700,000 102,000 4,426,000 47,000 359,810 26,000 1,358,260 1,143,000 497,000 125,700 5,420,000 490,000 740,000

1,344,514,437.00 21,962,700.00 118,490.00 8,603,900.00 121,030.00 29,256,352.50 60,020.00 918,159,270.00 1,383,860.00 453,980.00 28,686,406.00 1,710,700.00 97,850.00 198,400.00

7.380 1.15 2.560 0.265 38.100 2.9 5.15

2,899,100 138,221,000 6,877,000 10,600,000 53,444,100 4,906,000 604,500

21,442,272.00 161,484,450.00 17,507,140.00 2,809,350.00 2,080,405,100.00 14,441,750.00 3,081,887.00

0.580 1.20 1.000 0.160 0.560 55.95 0.750 0.138 1.00 1.79 1.17 4.20 4.5 0.195 0.2750 0.405

14,552,200 1,666,000 288,000 83,390,000 18,821,000 1,704,200 2,934,000 490,000 13,523,000 103,878,000 479,000 3,000 195,531,000 744,650,000 250,000 250,000

9,966,620.00 2,127,650.00 294,160.00 13,717,100.00 10,760,950.00 97,773,939.00 2,204,920.00 68,440.00 13,610,020.00 188,615,010.00 558,490.00 12,600.00 909,537,600.00 155,639,700.00 64,950.00 102,100.00

STOCKS

OCTOBER 10-14, 2016 Close Volume

Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp.

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

34.60 3.5 29.50 1.61 3.25 26.75 1.04 7.15 0.980 5.060

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

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

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

Manila Broadcasting Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

7.56 48 1.27 0.520 11.7 5.45 5.15 0.0890 3.15 103.8 9.52 2.5 6.60 3.18 992 1835 6.23 13.96 1.92 75.1 16.74 136 11.8 0.0097 9.23 0.210 1.4700 3.67 12.68 4.95 2.19 1.03 2.15 25.20 2 3.88 4.88 3.050 11.38 5.29 2.53 8.75 147.90 9.10 1613.00 0.405 1.050 41.00 73.25 5.63 2.78 0.760 1.85 3.22 0.355 4.980

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

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

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon

0.0037 2.96 4.10 10.46 0.203 2.1400 2.1000 0.57 0.380 8.32 1.020 0.265 0.192 0.195 0.0110 0.0110 1.45 7.03 2.86 0.8400 0.0110 0.0110 4.22 8.11 3.95 0.0130 122.70 3.15 0.0090

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

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

48.35 535 535 103.6 102.8 115.4 505 540 5.98 1.04 108 1091 1155 1025 108 110.7 76.5 80.5 76.4 78.2 79 79 77.5 77.8 2.35

LR Warrant

2.360

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

3.39 3.07 3.8 12.22

First Metro ETF

122

Value

Close

3,400 20,513,000 13,502,000 1,134,000 207,000 49,545,700 19,042,000 1,400 2,907,000 29,560,100

121,605.00 77,659,270.00 406,517,350.00 1,829,460.00 677,960.00 1,343,686,480.00 20,004,030.00 9,908.00 2,814,150.00 150,505,885.00 SERVICES 806,400 6,142,297.00 196,100 9,451,125.00 577,000 749,600.00 1,923,000 1,022,210.00 1,000 11,700.00 38,000 178,385 84,348,400 279,333,133.00 547,380,000 48,832,470.00 14,064,000 45,376,200.00 3,087,700 322,164,570.00 22,400 215,268.00 144,000 363,230 483,700 3,280,509.00 10,000 31,330.00 2,710 2,636,345.00 419,110 764,653,260 422,300 2,635,945.00 394,600 5,409,854.00 20,519,000 41,610,840.00 9,438,630 708,264,358.50 119,000 2,113,170 140 20,120 3,200 37,580.00 94,000,000 905,100.00 2,380,600 21,971,970.00 91,610,000 20,176,260.00 5,893,000 8,703,710.00 264,000 924,890.00 1,769,100 21,659,636.00 5,069,400 25,484,927 4,494,000 10,080,810.00 8,000 8,480.00 56,000 120,420.00 655,000 21,872,065 151,000 300,560.00 52,716,000 203,570,160.00 35,999,100 175,760,321.00 20,616,000 64,713,360.00 81,500 918,230.00 60,500 322,930 12,000 30,400.00 2,000 17,500.00 14,480 2,011,372.00 42,213,300 371,084,973.00 1,048,875 1,684,209,085.00 7,950,000 3,259,000.00 80,108,000 84,967,240.00 3,960,200 163,070,450.00 5,556,350 415,430,778.00 10,700,900 63,775,740.00 7,284,000 20,406,970.00 56,112,000 39,193,350.00 2,000 3,650.00 4,766,000 15,300,420.00 140,000 48,300.00 9,329,000 54,800,250.00 MINING & OIL 1,341,000,000 6,534,300.00 927,000 2,758,350.00 301,000 1,234,320.00 5,300 52,875.00 3,460,000 749,270.00 92,000 192,570.00 13,000 26,500.00 515,000 294,800.00 3,970,000 1,526,000.00 18,400 152,373.00 150,059,000 152,100,040.00 1,450,000 380,850.00 31,320,000 5,827,120.00 8,760,000 1,680,200.00 68,000,000 746,100.00 29,700,000 334,100.00 1,146,000 1,632,400.00 23,018,200 162,434,112.00 428,000 1,210,300.00 398,000 339,310.00 70,600,000 802,800.00 31,900,000 351,100.00 2,371,000 8,875,470.00 2,267,400 18,463,024.00 22,958,000 90,126,100.00 74,800,000 900,300.00 3,390,130 414,397,025.00 427,000 1,370,460.00 103,000,000 950,600.00 PREFERRED 737,600 35,588,870.00 21,480 11,491,850.00 1,810 968,350 107,350 11,141,639.00 15,000 1,554,844.00 31,350 3,680,250.00 2,000 1,010,000.00 31,250 16,883,940.00 434,000 2,608,596.00 167,000 174,930 19,000 2,102,130.00 9,380 10,078,590.00 3,320 3,664,600.00 1,730 1,768,200.00 1,950 210,640.00 9,910 1,097,037.00 281,080 21,502,660.00 182,340 14,779,587.50 34,060 2,605,570.00 79,600 6,258,255.00 221,930 17,536,952.00 549,540 43,120,810.00 446,430 34,375,934.50 830,380 64,392,903.00 16,000 36,780.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 1,546,000 3,697,890.00 SME 16,776,000 58,415,630.00 186,000 576,850.00 1,804,000 6,019,050.00 18,644,400 235,091,882.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 68,000 8,330,449.00

OCTOBER 3-7, 2016 Volume Value

33.70 3.93 31.20 1.6 3.3 28.20 1.08 6.99 1.020 5.310

1,500 20,955,000 13,784,900 600,000 593,000 40,508,100 46,054,000 800 2,246,000 18,929,700

51,140.00 89,611,850.00 441,430,165.00 986,660.00 1,944,430.00 1,137,591,385.00 48,789,370.00 5,424.00 2,249,990.00 100,624,633.00

7.69 48.5 1.26 0.540 11.96 5.21 4.53 0.0940 3.34 108 9.76 2.77 6.86 3.16 958 1821 6.32 14.42 2.08 80 19.54 140 11.7 0.0099 9.24 0.238 1.4900 3.66 12.76 5.40 2.26 1.07 2.22 19.06 2 3.83 5.18 3.450 11.42 5.70 2.54 8.74 140.00 7.69 1610.00 0.430 1.030 42.00 76.00 6.06 2.87 0.710 1.87 3.23 0.365 5.300

1,430,000 88,300 13,000 2,214,000 5,400 17,400 38,876,000 249,004,000 26,059,000 6,317,170 56,000 91,000 1,240,400 5,000 710 564,320 1,008,100 921,000 96,494,000 5,917,130 179,100 130 6,500 143,500,000 2,428,000 217,990,000 7,798,000 504,000 1,173,500 8,440,900 11,576,600 127,000 115,000 108,300 90,000 22,422,000 24,768,200 10,855,000 94,800 152,500 36,000 200 4,660 51,271,600 1,004,035 38,530,000 38,178,000 4,320,200 4,451,400 1,844,500 7,096,000 149,590,000 3,000 1,868,000 530,000 95,900

10,782,262.00 4,308,920.00 16,870.00 1,214,530.00 57,644.00 92,274 176,101,110.00 33,547,110.00 89,033,350.00 678,643,692.00 538,292.00 241,750 8,533,476.00 15,350.00 689,880.00 1,088,704,990 6,309,594.00 13,328,024.00 214,637,060.00 467,921,714.50 3,567,557 18,361 75,848.00 1,445,420.00 22,421,830.00 54,035,110.00 11,641,760.00 1,804,460.00 14,154,468.00 45,144,450 28,879,860.00 134,460.00 252,090.00 2,264,960 178,600.00 86,254,120.00 130,735,379.00 36,941,680.00 1,079,870.00 854,048 91,240.00 1,784.00 648,130.00 397,199,231.00 1,651,619,565.00 16,311,800.00 38,768,880.00 185,838,755.00 340,397,517.50 11,112,280.00 20,488,390.00 103,105,140.00 5,310.00 6,049,640.00 188,650.00 507,177.00

0.0036 3.08 4.12

6,551,000,000 23,772,000.00 2,499,000 7,447,260.00 351,000 1,469,730.00

0.220 2.1000 2.1800 0.58 0.410 8.38 1.040 0.275 0.186 0.193 0.0110 0.0110 1.45 7.08 2.88 0.8700 0.0110 0.0110 4.20 8.33 3.85 0.0130 120.50 3.4 0.0096

17,640,000 177,000 141,000 1,078,000 2,120,000 31,000 451,124,000 990,000 48,770,000 8,080,000 81,400,000 8,200,000 7,305,000 68,966,800 552,000 1,717,000 118,500,000 1,700,000 38,000 7,287,400 42,762,000 131,800,000 4,491,420 909,000 20,019,100

4,139,960.00 372,880.00 300,700.00 629,530.00 858,250.00 260,786.00 475,951,940.00 264,100.00 9,291,320.00 1,581,640.00 906,700.00 90,200.00 10,912,640.00 511,212,087.00 1,588,540.00 1,470,910.00 1,281,600.00 18,800.00 156,610.00 60,991,636.00 166,540,950.00 1,617,000.00 532,908,168.00 3,071,780.00 203,100.00

48.5 540 545 103.8

2,020,500 4,550 14,160 227,640

39,719,480.00 2,455,765.00 7,647,800 23,546,488.00

118.6 505 541 6.01 1.04 110

18,120 5,400 18,260 1,106,400 7,816,000 110

2,149,032.00 2,727,060.00 9,880,230.00 6,658,367.00 8,069,660 12,220.00

1157 108 113.9 76.4 81 78 78.5 80 79 78 77.6 2.39

3,205 3,200 230 9,700 151,720 34,800 47,200 79,780 46,280 107,670 445,420 24,000

3,439,930.00 345,730.00 26,206.00 748,900.00 12,329,940 2,671,300.00 3,703,310.00 6,311,529.00 3,656,120.00 8,399,620.00 34,684,776.50 55,500.00

2.380

1,643,000

3,988,040.00

3.1 3.23 4.5 14.48

8,218,000 104,000 444,000 8,746,500

26,782,710.00 335,800.00 1,999,380.00 126,347,006.00

125.2

36,940

4,648,895.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining MRC Allied Ind. Pacifica `A’ Ferronickel Boulevard Holdings Island Info Megaworld Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

STI Holdings IP E-Game Ventures Inc.

VOLUME 6,551,000,000 744,650,000 563,700,000 451,124,000 249,004,000 217,990,000 195,531,000 185,401,700 149,590,000 143,500,000

STOCKS Ayala Land `B’ Metrobank PLDT Common GT Capital Security Bank Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

SM Prime Holdings Globe Telecom Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Ayala Corp `A’

VALUE 2,080,405,100.00 1,732,207,633.50 1,651,619,565.00 1,597,495,755.00 1,508,134,848.00 1,344,514,437.00 1,137,591,385.00 1,088,704,990 1,044,761,416 1,034,090,650

definitely participate,” ICTSI senior vice president and MICT head Christian Gonzalez said.

The Transportation Department earlier said the P19-billion Davao Sasa Port Modernization Project that was being pursued under the government’s public private partnership scheme would be downscaled to only P4 billon due to capacity issue.

Transportation Undersecretary for maritime sector Felipe Judan said the original P19-billion project cost of the Davao Sasa project was not “justifiable” because of the small traffic volume.

Judan said the agency was coordinating with the National Economic and Development Authority about the new proposal.

Gonzalez agreed, saying that “the P19 billion [project cost] was not viable.”

“I think now the DOTr and PPA [Philippine Ports Authority] are taking a more pragmatic and more reasonable approach while still not sacrificing the long-term development of the city but we have to remember that ports are serious infrastructure projects and we have to study the competitive environment, the market and all of that before making a firm commitment,” Gonzalez said.

The Transportation Department recently pre-qualified ICTSI along with Asian Terminals Inc., Bollore Africa Logistics, Singaporebased Portek International Pte. Ltd. and San Miguel Corp. for the Davao Sasa Port project.

Sasa Port is actually designed for break bulk cargo vessels, which is vital to the economy of Davao City.

TV firms claim lead in ratings GMA Network Inc. said it reclaimed the lead in nationwide television ratings from rival ABS-CBN Corp., but the latter disputed the former’s claim.

Data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement showed GMA overtook ABS-CBN in National Urban Television Audience Measurement with an average people audience share of 38.3 percent for the period Sept. 1 to Oct. 13, besting ABS-CBN’s 37.6 percent.

GMA also remained the undisputed ratings leader in viewer-rich Urban Luzon, which accounts for 77 percent of all viewers in urban TV homes in the entire country, with 43.4 percent, ahead of ABS-CBN’s 32.3 percent.

GMA said in Mega Manila, representing 59 percent of urban viewers nationwide, the network kept its total day ratings advantage with 46.1 percent versus ABS-CBN’s 28.2 percent.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN said it continued to be the country’s most watched TV network with a national average audience share of 45.7 percent, or a 12 point lead over GMA’s 33.6 percent from Sept. 1 to Oct. 13 covering both urban and rural homes, based on Kantar Media data that represent 100 percent of Philippine TV viewing population.

ABS-CBN also led in September with a national average audience share of 46 percent covering urban and rural homes vs GMA’s 34 percent. Darwin G. Amojelar

Business BIR open to settling tax cases

By Gabrielle H. Binaday THE Bureau of Internal Revenue said it is open to a compromise with delinquent taxpayers to meet its P1.6-trillion collection target.

BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay told reporters recently the agency was reviewing options in raising revenues. “… we’d rather encourage tax payers to compromise as long as it’s within the law, to compromise whatever pending assessments they have,” Dulay said.

“We also have a number of cases with the Court of Tax Appeals. Those were the assessments often being questioned and my instruction to our legal department is to try to work out compromise and mediation, because mitigation takes a long time, and it does not help the taxpayer or the government in raising revenue...,” Dulay added.

He said BIR was studying the possible expansion of the compromise settlement program of the bureau. “… the principle we’d like to adapt is to encourage compromise agreements within the limits of the law,” the BIR chief said.

He said the agency would still pursue existing tax cases filed in the Court of Tax Appeals “in accordance with the rules.”

“I had a meeting with the presiding justice of the CTA and we discussed quite extensively the process of mediation. Mediation is a process where even while the case is pending in court, or pending with the CTA, parties can still discuss and work out some agreements,” Dulay said.

He said aside to the compromise with delinquent taxpayers, the BIR, would continue to address the concerns in the organization, particularly cleaning the agency from corruption and red tape.

“I can say if you look at the website on our accomplishments that we have progressed quite a few in addressing the internal administrative investigation cases...,” Dulay said.

B3

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

State’s role in RE questioned S

By Alena Mae S. Flores

EN. Sherwin Gatchalian is seeking a review of the operations of PNOC Renewables Corp., saying there is no need for government to go into renewable energy development.

“I was questioning the intention of PNOC-RC to go into renewables because without them, the renewable sector is already flourishing. So why are we competing with the private sector?”

Gatchalian told reporters at the sidelines of the recently concluded The 1st Philippine Clean Energy Summit.

PNOC Renewables is a unit of state-owned Philippine National Oil Co. The Energy Department is considering transferring the op-

erations of the Agus-Pulangi hydro power plants in Mindanao to PNOC Renewables or other government-owned and controlled corporation.

“If you ask me, there’s no need for government to go into the renewables sector. I think the private sector is doing fine without government intervention...

So, I don’t see any rationale,” Gatchalian said.

He said the company could focus on renewable energy for missionary areas, but the role is

already being done by National Power. Corp.

He said PNOC Renewables should shy away from missionary areas because to avoid significant losses to the government.

Gatchalian said the government should instead empower electric cooperatives to serve the missionary areas, or those not covered by the main electricity grid.

“I think as a policy, I don’t see the rationale why PNOCRC should continue going into the renewable... I see it as another layer of inefficiency,” he said.

PNOC Renewables has been pursuing small hydro, roof-topsolar projects, irrigation canals for power, among others in partnership with the private sector.

It is the government’s corporate vehicle in the promotion and development of new and renewable energy sources in the country.

Officials earlier said PNOC Renewables was looking at up to 300 megawatts of power projects until 2018.

SN Aboitiz Power Corp., meanwhile, is securing an environmental compliance certificate from the Environment and Natural Resources Department for its proposed 390-megawatt Alimit hydro power plant in Ifugao province.

SN Aboitiz has started public hearings in four municipalities to be affected by the project, namely Lagawe, Lamut, Mayoyao and Aguinaldo.

The Alimit hydropower complex is composed of three power facilities—the 20-MW Olilicon

IN BRIEF DoubleDragon eyes sale of P10-b bonds

DOUBLEDRAGON Properties Inc. plans to hold a P10billion retail bond offering next month.

DoubleDragon in a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission set the offering period for the bonds from Nov. 11 to 17.

DoubleDragon plans to use nearly half of the proceeds to finance land development and construction of CityMalls.

It also plans to use part of the proceeds to finance the construction of five to 10 CityMalls outlets and acquisition of 12 to 19 CityMall sites.

The 10 CityMalls currently under construction are in Sultan Kudarat, Surigao City, San Jose Antique, Ozamiz City, Pagadian City, Calamba Laguna, Palo Leyte, Ormoc City, Pangasinan and Sorsogon City. Jenniffer B.

Austria

TransCo to recover P4b from consumers

EASTWEST AWARD. EastWest Banking Corp. receives the ‘Best Consumer Finance Product’ award for its innovative and versatile Personal Loans at The Asian Banker Philippine Country Awards 2016 held October 7 at the Shangri-la at the Fort in Bonifacio Global City. At the awarding ceremony are (from left) Foo Boon Ping, managing editor of The Asian Banker; EastWest’s Allan Tumbaga, vice president and bank marketing and corporate communications head; Alastair de Lara, VP and Unsecured Lending Sales head; Efren dela Cruz Jr., VP and Unsecured Credit Underwriting head; Jacqueline Fernandez, executiive VP and Consumer Lending head; Markus Gnirck, partner & co-founder or Tryb; and Alex Medana, CEO of FinFabrik.

Asia-Pacific ports to absorb worst impact of slow growth THE ports sector in the Asia-Pacific sector will suffer the strongest impact from the headwind of slowing economies in the region, Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services said in its latest report.

In the report “Asia-Pacific Sector Outlook 4Q 2016: Net Negative Outlook Bias Rises to 13 percent from 11 percent,” S&P said ports across the region were facing the strongest headwind with softening gross domestic product growth and potential short-term impact from the recent bankruptcy filing of South Korean cargo liner Hanjin Shipping.

S&P said shipping ports were

faring the worst because of weak volume growth.

“Ports dedicated to commodity trades could benefit from the recent rebound of coal prices although this would reduce the downside risk rather than providing true upside,” S&P said.

S&P said it expect business conditions for other transportation subsectors such as road, airport and rail to remain broadly stable with some potential upside for rail operators exposed to commodity prices.

However, it warned that for the ports sub-sector, the situation was more about “reducing downside risks.”

“The current negative rating bias is primarily because of the negative outlook on the China and Australia sovereign ratings, which impacts the ratings on state-owned enterprises,” the report added.

The report noted that in emerging Asia, the main risk “is a material slowdown since investments continue to be high and lumpy, with assets having limited ability to adjust.”

“The second risk is the tightening in credit markets as a result, which would further stretch balance sheets as earnings weaken,” it added.

Container shipping is also grap-

pling with overcapacity, the report said.

It said capacity issues in container shipping freight were weighing on earnings despite the recent bankruptcy of Hanjin.

“Dry bulk shipping should be nearing a bottom, with volume recovery likely in 2017,” the report said.

S&P added container shipping freight had been weak due to stagnant economies and persisting capacity pressure, which prompted consolidation and alliances among key global players.

“We expect container operators to remain under strong earnings pressure even after Hanjin Shipping’s

Deepwater Horizon CRISELDA MARIE MALABANAN

GREEN LIGHT I RECENTLY watched the movie, Deepwater Horizon, together with my officemates.

More than the usual team bonding, we wanted to see this movie because we work in a company that is part of the oil industry.

The movie is about one of the largest oil spills in history and choosing this movie will help us be more aware of the challenges in operating oil companies.

An eye opening disaster It is an eye opening disaster.

In the course of the movie, two important things were evident, which could have had a large impact in preventing a massive destruction: Safety and Empowerment of employees.

In the first part of the movie, as the main characters arrived in the onshore rig, they were greeted by technicians who are leaving the rig and confirmed that there was no testing done

and 120-MW Alimit plants and the 250-MW Alimit pumped storage project.

“We learned a lot from the local government units, communities and indigenous people groups over the course of these public hearings and we are thankful for their participation. As a responsible developer, SNAP values their inputs and we will factor these as we review the final design and mitigation plans for the project to minimize impact,” SN Aboitiz chief operating officer Joseph Yu said.

The hearings were held for community members to learn more about the projects and raise concerns on social and environmental impacts, which will be part of the basis for Environment’s review or recommendations.

in one of the wells. They fled the rig as ordered by the BP (British Petroleum) executives, mainly because they were already days behind the planned completion.

The General Operational Supervisor Jimmy Harrell and Chief Electrical Engineer Mike Williams left under protest because they were only thinking of safety. As a result, they conducted similar tests, which eventually blew up the BOP (Blowout Preventer), a secondary means of well control.

Failing to empower employees Another point that has a large impact on the explosion is the empowerment of employees to execute an action even in this massive incident. Andrea Fleytas, a crew member, decided to push the button to prohibit more damage but somebody stopped her because she had no authority to do it even in that situation.

The incident could have been avoided if the different companies/operators involved exercised leadership and valued the

safety of the employees and most especially the environment.

A safety mindset As part of a company in the oil industry, we have safety processes in place. Although I am under the HR organization, and not involved in the core operations, we are still guided by the same safety principles.

Everything we do, whether these are process documentations, checklists, safety manuals, etc., we must have a safety mindset. We were trained to prioritize safety because in the end, whatever our action is, it will affect the organization. In my responsibility to ensure the quality of employee data in the system, I contribute to the reliability of the systems that the company has.

Ensuring well-being For employee empowerment, we all have the equal authority to Stop Work if we have identified it to be a potential issue. In supporting the HR systems, we stop groups from further manipulating data if we can see possible loopholes that could cause an incident, especially if it

would affect employee reports.

Given these processes in place by our company, I feel that we are in a way lucky that the company takes care of its employees because then they, in turn, conduct safe operations. And because I believe that our aim is to conduct safe operations, we are doing it not only to care for the environment and to provide globally safe products, but also to ensure our continued well-being, from both a financial and HR perspective.

The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business. This essay is part of a journal she kept in fulfillment of the requirements of the course, Lasallian Business Leadership with Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics. Visit her blog at https:// criseldamarie.wordpress.com/.

The views expressed here are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

filing for court protection,” it said.

In addition, S&P said, the tanker market was likely to weaken because of higher capacity pressure.

“The dry bulk shipping market has been at a historical low since the beginning of the year. We believe this is near a bottom and that the market is likely to show gradual improvement given expectations of trade volume recovery and tighter capacity control in 2017,” it said.

It said a slowdown of the Chinese economy that is worse than expected “has a low possibility of occurring but (it will have a) high impact, particularly on the dry bulk and tanker segments.”

STATE-owned National Transmission Corp. will seek to recover about P4 billion worth of under-recovery from consumers as part of its feed-in tariff allowance application for 2017.

Dina Dizon, who heads TransCo’s feed-in tariff team, said the company would use the amount to pay renewable energy developers that received feed-in tariff from the Energy Regulatory Commission. The tariff is an incentive that guarantees a fixed rate to renewable energy technologies over a 20year period.

TransCo manages the feedin tariff allowance fund that is used to pay qualified renewable energy developers.

Dizon conceded that TransCo was delayed in its payment to developers by about five to six months.

“We can file that in the 2017 rate as part of the under-recovery for 2016... Our 2016 rate application allows updating of data,” Dizon said. Alena Mae S. Flores

Posh villages hamper bid to improve phone service THE opposition of exclusive villages in Metro Manila to the installation of cell sites within their respective areas has hampered efforts to improve coverage and internet experience of subscribers, Smart Communications Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc. said over the weekend.

Smart just last month provided the House of Representatives a list of 100 villages or subdivisions in Metro Manila opposed to the construction of cell sites within their jurisdiction.

Among those in the list were Alabang Hills, Ayala Alabang, Greenmeadows, Loyola Grand Villas, Xavierville, Valle Verde, White Plains, St. Ignatius, McKinley Hills, One McKinley Place, BF Homes, Better Living, Bel-Air, Dasmariñas Village, Forbes Park, Multinational, Capitol Hills, Ferndale, Corinthian Gardens, Montgomery Place, North Greenhills, Horseshoe, Phil-Am Homes, Tierra Pura, Filinvest Homes and Hillsborough.

The list was part of the additional documentary requirements submitted by Smart to the House of Representatives’ Committee on Legislative Franchises after the company applied for the renewal of its legislative franchise.

Globe also recently informed the National Telecommunications Commission about several villages that rejected outright its request to build additional facilities within their subdivisions.

These villages include Bel-Air, Corinthian Gardens, Dasmariñas, North Greenhills, Greenmeadows, New Manila, BF Resort, BF Homes, BF Almanza, Moonwalk, Philamlife, Horeshoe, Greenwood Executive, Better Living, Tahanan, and St. Ignatius.

In another letter to NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordova in July, Smart reported that the operation of an Outdoor Distributed Antenna System in La Vista subdivision in Quezon City was stopped by a ceaseand-desist order from the city’s department of building official on February 7 this year.

ODAS is a technical solution usually applied to villages and subdivisions to improve connectivity.

Smart said that while it obtained the consent of the owners of the land where the ODAS was installed, it had to accede to the cease-anddesist order from a Quezon City official based on a complaint filed by certain individuals.

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

B4

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

Business

ECB under pressure to clear stimulus plan

F

RANKFURT, Germany―European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi will be under pressure this week to clarify the bank’s stimulus plans after investors were spooked by talk of an end to its massive bond-buying program.

The ECB governing council is not expected to make any changes to its ultra-loose monetary policy most analysts expect the cenat its regular meeting on Thurs- tral bank to extend the so-called day, keeping interest rates at re- “quantitative easing” (QE) procord lows. gram, which aims to encourage But analysts will be listen- spending by pumping money ing for clues about the future of into the economy, and is currentthe bank’s monthly 80-billion- ly due to expire in March. euro ($88 billion) asset-buying Despite some positive sigscheme, after a Bloomberg re- nals in recent months, eurozone port said policymakers were con- growth has remained sluggish sidering “tapering”―or gradu- and inflation stubbornly low― ally phasing out―the program. suggesting more, not less, stimuThe ECB strongly denied the lus is needed. speculation but markets were rat“There are some good reasons tled nonetheless, sparking a sell- to believe that the ECB’s work off that pushed down bond prices is not yet done,” said Jonathan in what more sanguine commen- Loynes of Capital Economics. tators dubbed a “taper tantrum.”

“Most obviously, while growth Far from winding it down, has stabilized, it is still distinctly

lackluster.”

The ECB itself has repeatedly indicated that it is ready “if necessary” to continue with the corporate and government bond purchases beyond the March deadline.

But investors are worried the eurozone central bank could run out of eligible bonds to buy under its own self-imposed restrictions.

In a nod to those concerns, Draghi last month said he had asked staff to look at possibly tweaking some of those rules.

Thursday’s meeting “should come too early for any great breakthrough” on that front, said Carsten Brzeski, chief economist at ING-Diba.

“Still, we expect ECB president Draghi to lift the veil a bit and open the door for an extension of QE beyond March 2017.”

At its last meeting in September, the ECB again held its monetary policy fire and pleaded for

patience to give its remedy of low interest rates, cheap loans to banks and the huge injection of liquidity a chance to work.

“The governing council has been firmly in wait-and-see mode,” said Jonathan Loynes of Capital Economics.

In a sign that the unprecedented stimulus may be delivering, consumer prices rose to a near two-year high in the 19-country euro area in September.

At 0.4 percent, however, inflation is still far below the ECB’s target of just under 2.0 percent.

The ECB said in its most recent forecast that it expects inflation to reach 1.6 percent by 2018 as the stimulus efforts pay off.

Most analysts believe the bank will hold off on announcing any fresh monetary support until a key meeting on December 8, when it will unveil its latest growth and inflation projections for the euro area which help guide its decisions. AFP

ANTI-CANADA TRADE.

A woman holds picture of an injured Marianne made from the one drawn by French artist Aslan during a demonstration for the protection of agriculture and against the Tafta and Ceta trade agreements on October 15, 2016 in Paris.

Several hundred people demonstrated on October 15, 2016 afternoon in Paris to denounce the Ceta, the free trade agreement between EU and Canada, to be signed on October 27. AFP

Passengers with Samsung Note 7 face US fines AIRLINE passengers who try to carry Samsung Electronics Co. Note 7 smartphones on flights will have them confiscated and may face fines under an emergency US order that significantly expands restrictions on the devices linked to almost 100 incidents of overheating and fires.

The devices won’t be allowed aboard passenger or cargo aircraft even if they’ve been shut off, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration announced Friday.

Flight restrictions will be extended to each of the 1.9 million Note 7s sold in the US starting at noon New York time on Saturday.

“We recognize that banning these phones from airlines will inconvenience some passengers, but the safety of all those aboard an aircraft must take priority,” US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement.

“We are taking this additional step because even one fire incident in flight poses a high risk of severe personal injury and puts many lives at risk.”

Samsung on Tuesday said it was halting production and sales of the device following the latest spate of smoke, overheating and fire incidents in what was supposed to be a version that replaced a faulty lithium-ion battery with a safe one. The compa-

ny estimates the crisis will cost it $5.3 billion in profits.

The government urged passengers not to side-step the order. “Passengers who attempt to evade the ban by packing their phone in checked luggage are increasing the risk of a catastrophic incident,” the DOT said in a release. “Anyone violating the ban may be subject to criminal prosecution in addition to fines.”

People in the midst of travel who have the phones were urged by the government to contact Samsung or their wireless carrier “immediately” to arrange for a replacement phone.

The government now considers the Note 7s “forbidden hazardous

material” under US law. Anyone observed with one of the phones will be prohibited from boarding an aircraft, the release said.

Airlines and an industry trade group were notified of the impending ban by the FAA on Friday.

Samsung is working with US officials and airlines to notify owners of the phone about the emergency order, SungIn Cho, a spokeswoman for Samsung Electronics America, said in an e-mail.

“We have encouraged airlines to issue similar communications directly to their passengers,” Cho said. “We realize this is an inconvenience but your safety has to remain our top priority.”

remarks as investors digested a speech that lacked specific observations on the outlook for the economy and monetary policy, but which may have come across as an explanation of the Fed Chair’s dovish policy position.

“If nothing else, this is another lower-for-longer prescription. However, these comments do not preclude a 25-basis-point rate hike this year as another step in the normalization process,” Thomas Simons, senior economist at Jefferies LLC in New York, wrote in a note to clients.

Minutes of the Sept. 20-21 meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee showed that “several” members of the central bank’s policy-setting panel

judged that it would be appropriate to raise the benchmark lending rate “relatively soon.”

Pricing in federal funds future contracts indicates that investors see a roughly two-thirds probability of a move in December versus less than 20 percent next month, when the FOMC meets a week before the U.S. presidential election.

The US economic recovery that began in the middle of 2009 has proceeded at sluggish pace.

It took more than six years to drive the unemployment rate close to Fed officials’ definition of full employment. Inflation has remained below the Fed’s 2 percent target since 2012, and wages haven’t grown as fast as

THE ASEAN LAW ASSOCIATION LEGAL FORUM THIS couldn’t have come at a better time.

Talk nowadays center on our relations with other countries and international organizations, but none can be more significant than our membership and participation in ASEAN. The ASEAN Law Association (ALA), established in 1979, is a non-government organization that brings together all the members of the legal profession in the region.

According to its website, the ALA is “a dynamic organization, moving forward in collaborative efforts, to understand and harmonize laws in the region. It continues to play a complementary role in promoting a common ASEAN focus on key issues and policies.”

The first ALA President was former Senate and University of the Philippines President Edgardo J. Angara, a distinguished lawyer and legislator in his own right.

The current President for 20152018, himself a distinguished legal practitioner, is Avelino V. Cruz, who, together with Senator Angara, was one of the founding partners of the ACCRA law firm (Disclosure: Right after graduation from the UP College of Law, I joined ACCRA became part of its Litigation Group).

Just recently, the ALA had a Legal Forum at the Dusit Thani Hotel hosted by its Philippine National Committee headed by retired Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban. I’ve always said, both in public and in private, that reading Chief Justice Panganiban’s decisions was akin to reading The Great Classics.

Two working groups, the “ALA at the Crossroads” headed by Justice Lee Seiu Kin of Singapore, and the “Harmonization of Laws” group headed by lawyer Llewellyn Llanillo from the Philippines, a respected member of the legal profession, maximized the forum as a venue for preparatory work leading to the respective Resolutions up for submission to the ALA Governing Council in March 2017 in Brunei.

Not coincidentally, 2017 will also be the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN. The Legal Forum was capped with a Reception which had, as its highlight, the induction to the position of Philippine Minister-Representative to the ALA Governing Council of some key members of the Duterte Cabinet who have been active with ALA through the years.

These were Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre

II, Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Rodolfo A. Salalima, PAGCOR President and COO Alfredo C. Lim, and Solicitor General Jose C. Calida.

Executive Secretary Medialdea, Secretary Salalima, and PAGCOR President Lim are long-time members and officials of the ALA Philippine National Committee and ALA Philippines Golf Chapter.

Modesty aside, I share with them many common experiences and anecdotes in the years of our participation in several ALA summits and council meetings around ASEAN: from the pedantic rigors of preparing position papers and resolutions in academic fashion, to the not-so-pedantic-yetequally-meticulous travails of golf tournaments that are as intense and passionate as the Ryder Cup; to the camaraderie and fun every time the Philippine delegation performs with song-and-dance numbers that invariably sweeps every audience off their feet.

Modesty aside, again, I am honored to inform you, dear readers, that the Philippine presentation is the benchmark of all our other ASEAN brothers and sisters. It is also worthy to note that the performers of these presentations are members of the judiciary, legislature, the academe and the legal profession. Believe me, many was there a time when the Philippine performers were mistaken for those of the local entertainment scene.

Executive Secretary Medialdea is the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the ten-country ASEAN Summit to be held and celebrated in Manila for the whole year of 2017 as part of the ASEAN 50th Anniversary Celebration. A very good development, indeed, since this will facilitate the much needed coordination between ASEAN and ALA. With the current move to ASEAN Integration, there is a need not just to strengthen our ties with our ASEAN brothers, but more so to fully know how our respective laws can be harmonized and applied with each other and to one another. The ALA has been at the forefront of this move, bridging the gaps and unifying the nations into something that can distinctly be called ASEAN.

Bloomberg

Yellen cites ‘plausible ways’ to heal economy FEDERAL Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said there are “plausible ways” that running the US economy hot could fix damage caused by the Great Recession, laying out the argument for keeping monetary policy easy without taking an interest-rate hike off the table this year.

“Increased business sales would almost certainly raise the productive capacity of the economy by encouraging additional capital spending,” Yellen told a Boston Fed conference Friday dedicated to examining the elusive economic recovery. “A tight labor market might draw in potential workers who would otherwise sit on the sidelines.”

US stocks fluctuated after her

ALA Philippine National Committee chair retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Rodolfo Salalima,Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, PAGCOR President and COO Alfredo C. Lim and Solicitor General Jose Calida

in previous expansions. Economists at the Boston Fed conference scrutinized explanations for the slow recovery, with some arguing that demographic trends already in place before the recession are largely to blame.

Yellen pondered whether a “high-pressure economy” could reverse some of the damage done in the recession, including declines in research spending and labor force participation. In effect, that has been the Federal Open Market Committee’s bet this year, though Yellen cautioned that running a low-rate policy for too long “could have costs that exceed the benefits” by increasing financial risk or inflation. Bloomberg

With Solicitor General Jose Calida and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade ES taking a break from the pressures of being the little president. He sounded like “old blue eyes”.

From left: Atty. Jeremy Z. Parulan, Managing Partner of Parulan Soncuya Trinidad Law Offices and ALA Golf Chapter Secretary General, Justice Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr. , Philippine Supreme Court and Chairman of ALA Golf Chapter, and the ALA Golf Winner Gen. Pete Bulaong (Ret.) , National Bureau of Investigation

From left: with Atty. Leni Papa; ALA PNC Secretary General Atty. Regina Geraldez; ALA Philippine National Committee chair retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban; Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea; ALA President Avelino Cruz; Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II; Information and Communications Technology Secretary Rodolfo Salalima ; Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade; Pagcor president & COO Alfredo C. Lim; Solicitor General Jose Calida

ALI improves Makati traffic A NEW traffic scheme has been implemented starting October 15 on South Avenue and Ayala Avenue Extension in Makati following the completion of a traffic improvement project by Ayala Land Inc..

According to the city Public Safety Department, the new scheme is expected to substantially reduce travel time and enhance road safety, and also reduce air pollution in the said areas.

Newly installed and upgraded traffic signals along South Avenue and its intersections J.P. Rizal, Kalayaan Avenue and P. Ocampo (formerly Vito Cruz St.) will be made operational.

Improvements done by ALI also include a median island opening along Ayala Avenue Extension, a segregated lane along Kamagong Street, installed traffic signs and road safety facilities, and fresh lane markings.

Kamagong will remain oneway eastward (toward Ayala Extension). However, a dedicated flow lane segregated by a concrete divider is provided for vehicles coming from Ayala Avenue Extension going to and turning left into Metropolitan Avenue.

Metropolitan Avenue will be one-way (toward Chino Roces) starting from the intersection of Ayala Ave. Extension, South Ave., Metropolitan Ave., up to Chino Roces.

No right turn into Metropolitan Avenue will be imposed for vehicles coming from Kamagong Street.

Kamagong Extension (the short road connecting Kamagong and Metropolitan) will remain one-way northward.

Ayala Ave. Extension will remain two-way. Right turn merging from Kamagong into Ayala Avenue Extension is allowed.

However, right turners must yield right of way to through traffic along Ayala Ave. Extension. Vehicles bound for Sen. Gil Puyat and Ayala CBD may turn right into Ayala Ave. Extension anytime.

Vehicles bound for South Ave. and Metropolitan Ave. may, on green light, turn left via the new median opening along Ayala Ave. Extension and proceed straight northwards into South Avenue,

or turn right into Metropolitan Avenue for those bound for BelAir side. Metropolitan Ave. (BelAir side) starting at Ayala Ave. Extension will remain two-way streets.

Vehicles using the Kamagong Extension (short road connecting Kamagong and Metropolitan) coming from Kamagong must turn left upon reaching Metropolitan Avenue which is designated one-way westward to Chino Roces from South Ave./ Ayala Ave. Extension.

All vehicles coming from Kamagong / Kamagong Extension are not allowed to enter Metropolitan Avenue.

No left turn into Metropolitan (toward Bel-Air-Jupiter) will be imposed from both South Avenue and Ayala Ave. Extension (toward Chino Roces side).

Except for no U-turn along Metropolitan Avenue (Bel-AirJupiter side), all movements allowed for Metropolitan, such as, crossing into Metropolitan (Chino Roces side); right turn to South Avenue (toward Kalayaan/ J.P. Rizal); and, left turn to Ayala Extension (toward Buendia/Ayala CBD), as indicated by traffic signals.

Yakal Street will remain oneway westward (toward Chino Roces) starting from Ayala Ave. Extension. Vehicles travelling northward (to Metropolitan) along Ayala Ave. Extension, may, on green light, turn left into Yakal Street.

Emergency vehicles and light private vehicles are allowed to U-Turn along Ayala Extension when left turn signal at Yakal Street is green.

To execute left or U-turning movement, vehicle must queue on a single lane closest to median of northbound lanes and wait for left turn green signal.

Vehicles straying out of designated turning lane must proceed straight.

Due to the impending construction of Ayala/Sen. Gil Puyat Footbridge, Ayala Ave. Extension/Malugay intersection will be opened to vehicular traffic.

This is aimed to reduce vehicles travelling within the construction site wherein Sen. Gil Puyat will be reduced by one lane per direction.

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

Leni vows housing for IPs in the North

By Dexter A. See

N

ATONIN—Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo said the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Committee is developing a housing program for Indigenous Peoples in the north.

During her visit to this town in the Mountain Province on October 13, Robredo said “we have found a way to help in housing needs for the areas without land titles,” she said, referring to the fact that government funds to develop lands require land title ownership documents.

She cited the case of the Emergency Shelter Response for the “Yolanda” victims when three years passed but the funds could not be used due to the absence of land titles for the proposed sites.

“Such is not anymore true. Tax declarations can now be used,” Robredo said assuring that the change of rules is a result of a conference between government agencies such as Commission on Audit, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Land Registration Authority, the HUDCC and other concerned agencies.

“We are budgeting for housing to IP communities by adopting municipalities in the Cordillera aside from Kibungan,” she said.

It was not clear if this town will also be given housing program.

During her visit, the vice president was adopted by the town and given the native name “Farangaw” which means a woman for all seasons, a provider in times of need.

After her was named one of the barangays in the municipality—barangay Balangao.

She referred to the visit as her way to gauge the peoples’ pulse on prevailing issues and her advocacies such as the war against poverty and housing shortage.

BJMP: Jail gangs protect drug lords

By John Paolo Bencito THE Bureau of Jail Management and Penology is disbanding gangs in the Manila City Jail because they have members who are drug lords whom they protect, Director Chief Supt. Serafin Barreto Jr. said.

Barretto disclosed that Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno directed him to deploy additional jail personnel in the MCJ following the recent noise barrage by inmates facing illegal drug activities.

He said the segregation of inmates with drug cases, dismantling of kubols and disbandment of gangs are part of Oplan Rody.

Under Oplan Rody, the BJMP will rid all jails of scalawags, illegal drugs and contrabands.

Members of different gangs or organization like Batang City Jail, Sigue-Sigue Sputnik, Commando group or any other gangs will be disbanded.

Inmates at the Manila jail held noise barrage at the prison compound to protest the segregation of inmates with drug-related cas-

es, disbandment of gangs and dismantling of kubols or makeshift houses inside.

In his directive, Sueno also told Barretto to ensure that a follow up prison inspection be conducted in the jail.

“We have to show them [inmates] that we will not relent in our efforts to rid the country of illegal drugs, including in jail facilities.

We do not tolerate such actions because there is a corresponding penalty if they will not abide by the rules,” he said.

Based on the report from Barreto and Manila City Jail Warden Supt. Gerald Bantag, the Batang City Jail members instigated the noise barrage.

Other gangs like Sigue-Sigue Sputnik, Commando and other gangs followed the disbandment orders.

Bantag said a few inmates were hurt, while others got slight injuries when they jumped from the rooftop as the jail guards approached them.

The total jail population of Manila City Jail is 3,900, of whom 2,085 have drug-related cases.

Barangays step up anti-drug campaign ANIME. A man on the

street named Eboy helps MMDA traffic enforcers on the Edsa-Quezon Avenue intersection while garbed in improvised cosplay. Ey Acasio

Truck sideswipes Valenzuela enforcer

By Jun David

MOBILITY. Calamba City Mayor Timmy Chipeco donates wheelchairs

to persons with diabilities in cooperation with the Church of Jesus of Latter Day Saints charities, Akap-Pinoy, Calamba Federation and the city government of Calamba on October 12. Roy Tomandao

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A MEMBER of the Valenzuela city hall traffic enforcement unit died after he was sideswiped by a truck on the afternoon of October 13.

The fatality identified as Raymart Discaya, 25, member of the Public Order and Safety Management Office of the Valenzuela City Hall, was maneuvering his motorcycle on Gen. Luis Street in Barangay Paso de Blas at 4:25 p.m. when he was hit by an Isuzu truck with licensed plate AGA-7608 driven by one Charly Turtoga, 28, of 1001 Gen. San

Miguel Street, Sangandaan, Caloocan City.

SPO2 Tirso Delina of the Vehicle Traffic Investigation Unit said the victim’s service motorcycle was travelling side by side with the truck.

Although he was wearing a helmet, the victim’s head suffered severe injuries due to the strong impact of the collision.

Turtoga was later arrested and police charged him with reckless imprudence resulting to homicide and damage to property.

Still in Camanava, two suspected drug pushers were ar-

rested by the Caloocan police on Thursday for attempting to sell 30 grams of suspected shabu.

The suspects were identified as Raymart Salonga, 22, of Bagong Silang, and Gasanara Baranbangan, of Tala, Caloocan.

Senior Supt. Johnson Almazan confiscated from Salonga a plastic sachet containing five grams of shabu.

On the basis of information given by Salonga, another buybust operation was conducted outside a Shop and Ride terminal market in Quezon City that led to the arrest of Baranbangan who yielded five grams of shabu.

CALOOCAN City Mayor Oscar Malapitan directed all 188 barangays to drum up community-based participation in the revitalized Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council in support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s all-out war against illegal drugs and crime at the barangay level.

Local officials including those in the barangay level were assigned as the first line of defense against illegal drugs and crime.

Malapitan said the Badac must disseminate information on illegal drugs and formulate plans and programs to prevent its proliferation in their barangays. It must monitor dug cases, make confidential lists of suspected users, pushers, financiers and protectors, and maintain a rehabilitation or referral desks for users wanting treatment for addiction.

Barangay leaders who fail to do their tasks in the Badac face administrative cases for dereliction of duty under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act. They will also face criminal cases if they are found to be using or selling illegal drugs, or protecting drug traders.

The chief of police serves as Badac adviser.

DILG Memorandum 2015-63, issued on June 2016, intensified the Badac, which is headed by the barangay captain and the kagawad leading the peace and order committee.

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LGUs

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

HI-TECH. Smart Communications recently donated digital learning packages to two schools in indigenous communities in Bukidnon. The School-in-a-Bag packages given to Sta. Teresita of Miarayon Community School and Paaralang Elementarya ng Miarayon each contain a solar panel as the schools have no electricity, a laptop, a tablet, a mobile phone, a pocket WiFi with starter load, LED TV and learning modules.

Pangasinan grand celebration cited

L

INGAYEN—Pangasinan won more Pearl Awards for its Tourism Month celebration (first runner-up, best provincial tourism month celebration) and Pistay Dayat, dubbed as Pangasinan’s mother of all local festivals (second runner-up, best provincial tourism event/festival) of the Philippines Awards.

Gov. Amado Espino, III bared during his first 100 days report which he delivered at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) session hall on October 10 that the province of Pangasinan has maintained its status as a perennial top contender for best tourism practices given by the Department of Tourism and the Association of Tourism Officers’ in the Philippines.

At the 17th ATOP National Convention held in Clark, Pam-

panga on October 6, Espino said his predecessor, former Pangasinan governor and now 5th District Rep. Amado Espino Jr. helped establish the Center for Pangasinen Studies, which was jointly initiated by the provincial government and the University of the Philippines.

Later on, a consortium of five higher education institutions in the province joined the CPS to research, preserve and enrich the province’s cultural heritage and

promote tourism to increase economic opportunities for Pangasinenses.

Launching the CPS lecture series, former UP vice president for Public Affairs and now Higher Education Commissioner Prospero de Vera, III, a Pangasinense who hails from Tayug town, delivered the inaugural lecture which focused on “The Challenges and Opportunities for a Federal Philippines.”

The provincial chief executive disclosed that CPS will soon launch cultural mapping activities in three pilot municipalities that will be funded and guided by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

The provincial government through the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office on September 29 sponsored the 1st Pangasinan Tourism Youth Conference and hosted the 3rd

Regional Tourism Convention in partnership with Alaminos City government.

More tourism and industry immersion tours are now offered in Pangasinan. It was learned that a Lingayen-based travel company has already started accommodating tour packages including a Lingayen heritage tour, a Pangasinan aquaculture and culinary tour, a Bolinao escapade tour and a Hundred Islands’ tour.

In cognizance with the tourism promotions master plan, Espino also launched the Friday coastal clean-up drive by Capitol employees clustered in four teams who clean designated areas on the Lingayen beach.

Other coastal areas in Pangasinan shall be visited by clustered teams from the provincial government for the series of weekly coastal cleanup.

Scrap Cisa—Mt Province co-ops BONTOC—Cooperatives in Mountain Province are joining the call of others in the Philippines for either the delay or stop of the implementation of the Credit Information System Act. Passed into law in 2008, Republic Act 9510 or the Cisa, mandates all lending institutions to submit their clients’ basic and credit data to the Credit Information Corp.

It calls on lending agencies like banks to submit the credit track record of their borrowers to the CIC so that every time the persons borrow, any lending agency could access the record when deciding to grant loans.

During the Provincial Cooperative Month celebration in Paracelis on Oct. 7 to 8, 2016, many cooperatives in Mountain Province said they are contemplating resolutions for the suspension of RA 9510 until they are capable of complying with the requirements.

The cooperatives also agreed to meet this month to discuss and share inputs to the resolutions which they plan to present in the Regional Cooperative Month celebration in the last week of October.

During the occasion, Paracelis Mayor Avelino Amangyen, in his opening statement warmly welcomed all the participants in the Provincial Cooperative Month.

He also acknowledged the role and significance of cooperatives in the community.

Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Stephen Afuyog who also heads the committee on cooperatives, lauded cooperatives in the province for being partners of the government in uplifting the economic status of their members and the community.

Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan Jr., in a message, urged the participants to always remember the cooperative spirit and their role as members.

Lacwasan emphasized that “cooperatives exist to correct humanity’s tendency towards individualism–or the motivation for personal gain. In place of individualism, cooperatives advocate the advancement of the interests of every member, not just a few.”

The governor, however, lamented that some become members or officers of cooperatives for personal benefit, at the expense of other members and to the neglect of the cooperative’s responsibility to the community and society.

In celebration of the Cooperative Month, the Lacwasan said, every cooperative should be reminded of the many that have gone bankrupt from mismanagement.

He said that “while every member of the cooperative has the same responsibility, the officers or board of directors have the doubly challenging task of being more diligent members; as officers they must embody the cooperative spirit with more dedication.”

Demo farms yield popular jackfruit

By Brenda Jocson

BUILDING HOPE. The BDO Foundation and the Consuelo Foundation of Honolulu have built a second two-story, four-classroom school building in the Lawaan National School of Craftsmanship and Home Industries in Eastern Samar that was hit by Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ in 2013.

Mariveles regulates DAR ends LGUs’ land dispute firecracker trade

By Butch Gunio MARIVELES—The municipality of Mariveles will regulate the selling, distribution and use of firecrackers for the safety of its residents, Councilor Tito Catipon said.

Catipon said the Sangguniang Bayan conducted its first public hearing on Moday that was attended by barangay captains and kagawad for the passing of an ordinance.

“The village officials recognize the need to regulate firecrackers. They are supporting it,” the councilor said.

“I think there will be a smooth passage of the ordinance from what I saw on village officials in last Monday’s public hearing,” he added.

“We need to adopt this ordinance for the safety of our constituents,” Catipon concluded.

THE Department of Agrarian Reform, its partner agencies, concerned landowners and agrarian reform beneficiaries have resolved a territorial dispute over an 800-hectare parcel of land in Cagayan.

DAR Undersecretary for Field Operations Office Marcos Risonar Jr. said the municipalities of Piat and Solana hold different certificates of title for the land.

Risonar said the parties after thorough discussion resolved the political boundary claims by citing the map creating the municipality of Piat that shows that the land in question is within the jurisdiction of Piat.

Land Bank of the Philippines legal adviser Atty. Gilbert Barsaban said the situation was unique in involving one lot with two claimants, two municipalities and two titles.

Barsatan said his office would determine

the valuation of the subject land.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources assistant regional director Wilfredo Malvar vowed that upon completion of all documents, they will release a new municipal map by the end of the year.

Representatives from Landbank, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Register of Deeds, the Department of Interior Local Government, the provincial government of Cagayan, the municipal government of Solana, the municipal government of Piat, the landowners and the farmer-beneficiaries attended the dialogue.

DAR regional director Marjorie Ayson, Atty. Annabelle Oandasan, of the Bureau of Land Tenure Improvement director Leandro Caymo, and the PARPO II of all the provinces in Region II were also present.

THE increasing demand for vacuum-dried and dehydrated jackfruit has led to the establishment of demonstration farms to boost production in Inopacan, Leyte.

The municipality of Inopacan in Leyte has established demonstration farms which include a vegetebake farm, a tiliapia fishpond and two jackfruit farms, Mayor Silvestre Lumarda said.

Lumarda said the farms aim to help the town attain food sufficiency and reduce poverty incidence.

A ceremonial tree planting led

by Searca program manager for research Bessie Burgos, Dr. Othello Capuno, VSU vice president for research and development; and representatives from the municipal government Inopacan town marked the launch of the demonstration farms.

The activity which was participated in by Inopacan Jackfruit Growers Association members was preceded by a series of farm visits and exposure trips by the growers in established vegetable and jackfruit farms.

“These are part of the exposure to experts and ‘experienced’ scheme of building capacities among the grower cooperators of

the Inclusive and Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development pilot project,” Burgos added.

The jackfruit farms are in the higher lands of Inopacan town where there is good drainage.

Seedlings were sourced from the Department of Agriculture’s Abuyog Experiment Station in the town of Abuyog in Leyte and will be reimbursed on a “Plant now, Pay later” scheme as agreed upon by the grower-cooperators.

The various demonstration farms were launched on September 28 under the Piloting and Upscaling Effective Models of the ISARD program.

Spearheaded by the Philippine-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, the farms were established with the help of the Visayas State University, the local government of Inopacan and the Visayas Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Resources Program.

Also under the pilot project Strengthening Linkages among Farmers, Government, and Industry Sector through ISARD, the vegetable farm covers a 1,000-square-meter plot and is planted to okra, alugbati and eggplant.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

World

Standard

TODAY

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

Trump challenges Clinton to drug test P

ORTSMOUTH―Donald Trump has challenged his rival Hillary Clinton to a drug test before their next debate, suggesting the Democrat was “pumped up” on performance-enhancing drugs in a stunning new twist to the brutal White House race.

The unsubstantiated attack from the Republican nominee came as a new poll out Sunday shows Clinton with a four-point lead over her Republican rival, suggesting that Trump still holds a solid core of voters despite a week of snowballing claims of sexual misconduct that have thrown his presidential campaign into chaos.

Trump has trampled all conventions in his treatment of his opponent, vowing if elected to jail her over her email practices as secretary of state―and making “Lock Her Up” a rallying cry for his fired-up supporters.

His campaign has actively

fueled right-wing conspiracy theories about Clinton’s health, seizing on her bout of pneumonia last month to suggest she is concealing a major health problem, and is unfit for office.

In the latest attack, leveled without proof, Trump suggested she had taken drugs during their last debate, and called for testing ahead of their final duel Wednesday in Las Vegas.

“At the beginning of her last debate, she was all pumped up at the beginning. At the end, it was like, ‘Take me down,’ she could barely reach her car,” the 70-year-old told a rally Saturday

US in new drive for peace in Syria LAUSANNE―US Secretary of State John Kerry was trying to build momentum behind a new drive to end the Syrian civil war Sunday after high-level talks with Russia and the country’s neighbors.

Kerry was due to fly to London to brief Washington’s European allies after “brainstorming” talks in Lausanne with the main players in Syria’s bloody five-year-old conflict.

The Swiss meeting did not produce a concrete plan to restore the truce that collapsed last month amid bitter recriminations between Washington and Moscow and new fighting on the ground.

But Kerry insisted the new, leaner contact group had come up with some plausible ideas that would be fleshed out in the coming days and might lead to a new, stronger ceasefire.

“The way it wrapped up was to have several ideas that need to be quickly followed up,” he said after talks with Russia, Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey.

“The next contact on trying to follow up on this is going to be immediately, because this is urgent, and we’re not letting any grass grow under our feet.”

But he said it was too early to reveal what the ideas were, and that high-level contacts―but not a ministerial-level meeting―would continue on Monday to develop them.

He was expected, however, to raise the issues with Britain’s Foreign Minister Boris Johnson and senior European colleagues, after flying to London later on Sunday.

Britain, France, Germany and Italy are members of the International Syria Support Group and have met before with other countries interested in resolving the Syrian crisis.

But US officials now say the full group is too unwieldy to make rapid decisions, and that Saturday’s Lausanne meeting was more productive for being focused on the main regional players.

The US envoy’s tone was upbeat, but diplomats from all sides warned against hopes of a rapid ceasefire. AFP

in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

“Athletes, they make them take a drug test. I think we should take a drug test prior to the debate. Why don’t we do that?” Trump said.

The Manhattan billionaire has spent the week claiming the me-

BID AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID FOR CONSTRUCTION OF MUNICIPAL BUILDING 1.

2.

3.

The Local Government Unit of Polangui-BAC, through a Loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) with LGU Counterpart intends to Bid for the CONSTRUCTION OF MUNICIPAL BUILDING of Polangui, Albay in the amount of Php 85,000,000.00 being the Approved Budget (ABC) for the Contract. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Local Government Unit of Polangui-BAC Polangui, Albay now invites bids for CONSTRUCTION OF MUNICIPAL BUILDING Polangui including demolition of the existing old building. Expected contract duration is maximum of 540 Calendar Days. Bidders should possess a valid PCAB License applicable to the contract and with complete single similar contract within the past ten (10) years with a value of at least 50’% of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Revised 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.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Local Government Unit of PolanguiBAC located at JICA Bldg. PNCES, Polangui, Albay and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours: 8:00 a.m.’ 5:00 p.m. (No Noon Break).

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased in the amount of Fifty Thousand Pesos (php 50,000.00) by interested Bidders from the address and on the date specified below, who comply with the following conditions: a. b. o. d. e.

Submission of duly notarized Letter of Intent; Submission of Certified True Copy of Valid Contractor’s License issued by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) with Category “B” Medium A at least with 50% experience to related project.

Presentation of Valid Identification Card of the Contractor or of his/her authorized representative; Submission of Letter of Contractor (Single Proprietor/Corporation) authorizing his/her authorized representative to submit Letter of Intent duly notarized; Presentation of Certified True Copy of Updated Tax Clearance.

6.

The LGU Polangul-BAC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on October 21, 2016, 10:00 o’clock in the morning at the Budget Offlce, JICA Bldg, Polangui, Albay which shall be open to all interested parties. However, only those that have bought the bidding documents have the liberty to ask queries regarding technicalities of the project.

7.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before November 8, 2016, 10:00 a.m. in the morning at the 2th Floor of Municipal Library. 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.

8.

9.

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES: Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid/Request Issuance and Availability of Bidding Documents Pre-Bid Conference

-

October 17-24, 2016

-

Opening of Bids

-

October 17-November 8, 2016 October 21, 2016 @ 10:00 a.m. Budget Office JICA Bldg., PNCES, Polangui, Albay November 8, 2016 2nd Floor Municipal Library 10:00 a.m.

November 9-11, 2016 November 14-17, 2016 November 18-December 2, 2016 December 5, 2016 December 6, 2016 December 7-8 2016 December 9, 2016

Submission of additional requirements Bid Evaluation Post Qualification Approval of BAC Resolution Issuance of Notice of Award Contract Preparation and Signing Approval of Contract Issuance of Notice of Proceed The Local Government Unit of Polangui BAC 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

.

10. For further information, please refer to:

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), through its Disposal Committee, invites bidders to participate in the auction for the sale of the following: Item ITEM DESCRIPTION LOCATION FLOOR PRICE No. 1 1 Unit Komori Sheet Fed double PHP47,503,698.85 deck 6 x 6 colors offset printing press with rainbow printing device 2 1 Unit Automatic Assembly and Bldg. B 13,809,284.57 Finishing Machine 3 1 Unit Automatic Folding Machine 318,897.00 4

IN THE MATTER OF

5

: : REGISTRATION OF COMMERCIAL PAPERS

YOUR

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that on 30 September 2016 a sworn Registration Statement was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf of CITYLAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION for the registration of One Billion Three Hundred Million Pesos (Php1,300,000,000.00) worth of Commercial Papers.

AD

According to the papers presented, the following persons are the officers/directors of the corporation: Name Washington SyCip Stephen C. Roxas Andrew I. Liuson Grace C. Liuson Josef C. Gohoc Sabino R. Padilla, Jr. Peter S. Dee Alice C. Gohoc Helen C. Roxas Emma A. Choa Rudy Go Eden F. Go Melita M. Revuelta Romeo E. Ng Melita L. Tan Emma G. Jularbal Catherine Grace T. Wong

SPACE NOW! email us at advertise@ the standard.com.ph or call us at 832-5547

Municipality of Sugpon, Ilocos Sur

The Municipal Government of Sugpon, Ilocos Sur through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites supplier/contractore to bid for the hereunder contract:

Location Brief Description Approved Budget for the Contract Contract Duration

ANNOUNCEMENT

PhP 499

PhP 999

Plan Package

• (1) Postpaid line • Unlimited texts to ALL networks • Unlimited call to ABSCBNmobile

• (2) Postpaid lines • Unlimited texts to ALL networks • Unlimited call to ABS-CBNmobile

• (5) Postpaid lines • Unlimited texts to ALL networks • Unlimited call to ABS-CBNmobile

Lock-in Period • •

SIM Only FREE Device: Samsung Keystone/Postpaid Plan

Toll Rates

•

Calls made from ABS-CBNmobile Plan to other mobile network providers or landline (based on prevailing rates) International Call & Text (based on prevailing rates) Internet – P1/MB or or based on SKU promo if available

• •

The schedule of BAC activities are listed, as follows: Activities 1. Pre-Procurement Conference 2. Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid 3. Issuance of Bid Documents 4. Pre-Bid Conference 5. Eligibility Check, Submission & Receipt of Bids 6. Bid Evaluation 7. Post-Qualification 8. Approval of Resolution/Issuance of Notice of Award 9. Contract Preparation & Signing 10. Approval of Contract by higher authority 11. Issuance of Notice to Proceed

The BAC assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid.

Approved by:

(

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President National Irrigation Administration (PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) Region 3

Standard Form No. SF – GOOD-05 Revised on: July 28, 2004

The LGU MERCEDES, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites suppliers/manufacturers/distributors/contractors to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder project: Name of Project Location Brief Description

Approved Budget for the Contract Contract Duration Delivery Period

: Procurementof RescueEquipments : Municipal Government, Mercedes, E. Samar______ : Procurement of Brand new DUMP TRUCK, BOOM TRUCK, RESCUE VEHICLE, SPEED BOAT&OTHER DRR EQUIPMENTS( Flash Lights, Megaphones, Satellite Phone, 300 Amps. Inverter, 12 Volts Battery, Battery Charger & Retractable Ladder) : P5M : : 45 DAYS UPON ISSUANCE OF NTP

Office Address : Telephone Nos. : Website :

1.

2.

3.

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, PostQualification and Award of contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR).

4.

The complete schedule of activities is listed, as follows: Activities 1. Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid 2. Submission of Letter and Application for Eligibility 3. Issuance of Eligibility Forms 4. Receipt of Eligibility Requirements 5. Eligibility Checking and Screening 6. Notice of Results of Eligibility Checking 7. Issuance of Bid Documents 8. Pre-Bid Conference 9. Receipt and Opening of Bids 10. Bid Evaluation 11. Post Qualification 12. Approval of Resolution and Issuance of Notice of Award 13. Contract Preparation and Contract Signing 14. Issuance of NTP

5.

The BAC will issue to the prospective bidders ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FORM at the Office of the BAC – TWG / BAC – Secretariat, LGU Mercedes, upon submission of Letter of Intent (LOI). Prospective bidders shall submit the Eligibility Requirements to the BAC and obtain the results of Eligibility Checking at same address.

Bid Documents will be available only to BAC - declared eligible prospective bidders upon payment of non – refundable amount of Five Thousand Pesos only (P 5,000.00) to the LGU – Mercedes Treasurer / Cashier.

6.

7.

8.

9.

(SGD) IRENE NENETTE A. GONZALES BAC CHAIRMAN (MS-OCT. 17, 2016)

Telefax No.(044) 766-2467 TIN: 000-979-570-000

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3, through the General Appropriations Act of Cy 20161 intends to apply the sum of Three Million Pesos (P 3,000,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for NIAR3-2016-DRSTW-3. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 now invites bids for Supply and Delivery of Drilling Rig for Shallow Tube Well.2 Delivery of the Goods is required Sixty (60) Calendar Days. Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding 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.

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”. (i) 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. (ii) Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the IRR of RA 9184.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Monday to Friday.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on October 14, 2016 to November 09, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, and November 10, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., except holidays from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (P 5,000.00).

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on October 27, 2016, 10:30 a.m. at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy.

Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 9:30 a.m. (PST) of November 10, 2016. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause.

Bid opening shall be on 10:30 a.m. (PST) of November 10,2016 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. 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.

All particulars relative to the eligibility screening, bid security, performance security, prebid conference/s, evaluation of bids, post qualification and award of contracts shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its revised IRR. The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 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: BAC Secretariat/s; NIA Region 3,Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Tel No. (044) 766-4839 and 816-8608 (SGD) VIRGILIO J. ILAO Chairman, Bids and Award Committee

Approved by: (SGD) LUZ S. REFRAN BAC Chairperson

Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan (044) 766-2467 766-4839, 673-0630 niar03@yahoo.com

INVITATION TO BID FOR SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF DRILLING RIG FOR SHALLOW TUBE WELL

Prospective bidders should have experience in undertaking a similar project within the last five 5 years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding. The Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids shall use non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Post-qualification of the lowest calculated bid shall be conducted.

Schedule October 17 – 23, 2016 October 24, 2016 October 25, 2016 October 26, 2016 October 27, 2016 October 28, 2016 October 31, 2016 November 2, 2016 November 14,2016 November 15, 2016 November 16, 2016 November 17 – 18, 2016 November 21,2016 November 22, 2016

(Sgd.) VIRGILIO B. ABAAG BAC Chairman

M S - O C T. 17, 2 016)

Contract Reference No. Name of Contract Location of the Contract: Mercedes, E. Samar

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID

Schedule October 18, 2016 October 20-27, 2016 October 20, 2016 -November 8, 2016 October 28, 2016 November 8, 2016 November 11, 2016 November 11, 2016 November 14, 2016/ November 15, 2016 November 16, 2016/ November 17, 2016 November 17, 2016 November 18, 2016

A complete set of bidding documents and other detailed information may be acquired from the BAC Secretariat, Municipal Hall, Sugpon, Ilocos Sur. All prospective bidders shall be charged a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest guidelines issued the GPPB, in the amount of the Ten Thousand Pesos (Php10,000.00) only.

Apply through accredited ABS-CBNmobile agents. Please see flyers for details.

Procuring Entity: LGU Mercedes

: Php7,649,272.61 : 90 calendar days

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR).

12 months

Subscription

: CONSTRUCTION OF POBLACION/BALBALAYANG POTABLE WATER SYSTEM : Pob./Balbalayang, Sugpon, Ilocos Sur : CONSTRUCTION

Prospective bidders should posses a valid license applicable to the contract, have completed a similar contract a value of at least 50% of the ABC, and have key personnel and equipment (listed in the Eligibility Forms) available for the prosecution of the contract.

The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids. The BAC will conduct post=qualification of the lowest calculated bid.

Starting October 20, 2016, ABS-CBN Convergence will also offer the following Postpaid Plans:

PhP 349

2016LGU-10-01 Const of Pob/Bal Potable H2O System Pob./Balbalayang, Sugpon, I. Sur

INVITATION TO BID

EMMA A. VALENCIA Officer-in-Charge Markets and Securities Regulation Department

ABS-CBNmobile Plan 999

(SGD) ROUENA L. ROSAL Chairperson

(MS-OCT. 15,16 & 17, 2016)

Name of Contract

ABS-CBNmobile Plan 499

301,339.42

Furthermore, the BSP reserves the right to waive any minor defect or formality and to accept the proposal most advantageous to the Bank.

Said registration statement and other papers/documents attached thereto (collectively known as *RS*) are open to inspection by interested parties during business hours, and copies thereof, photostatic or otherwise, shall be furnished to any party, upon request, at such fees as the Commission may prescribe. The RS and the Prospectus dated 30 September 2016 and the corresponding updated version may be downloaded from www.cityland.net.

ABS-CBNmobile Plan 349

4,960.00

The BSP reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to declare the bidding a failure, to annul the bidding process and to reject all bids at any given time prior to award of contract, without thereby incurring any liability to the bidders.

Position Independent Director/Chairman of the Board Director/Chairman of the Executive Committee Director/Vice Chairman of the Board Director/Deputy Vice Chairman of the Board Director/President Director Independent Director Director Director Executive Vice President/Treasurer Senior Vice President/Compliance Officer Vice President Vice President Vice President Vice President Vice President-Legal Affairs/Corporate Secretary Assistant Corporate Secretary

(MS-OCT. 14 & 17, 2016)

Monthly Service Fee (MSF)

2 Units Fornigrafica Pressing Machine 1 Unit Special double semiautomatic book pressing machine

The schedule of activities is as follows: 1. Issuance of Bid Documents Room 405, 4th Floor, Building A, Starting date: 17 October 2016 BSP SPC, East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Date/Time : 17 October 2016 to 2. Inspection of Items for Auction 21 October 2016 at 9:00 am and 1:00 p.m.

Date/Time: 20 October 2016 3. Pre-bid Conference at 9:00 am 4. Opening of Bids 3/F Staff Dining Date/Time: 26 October 2016 Room at 10:00 a.m.

CITYLAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION : : x----------------------------------------x

The LGU – Mercedes assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid.

MRS. LUZ S. REFRAN BAC Chairperson Office of the Bids and Awards Committee LGU-Polangui, Albay Lgu_polangui@yahoo.com

(MS-OCT. 17, 2016)

NOTICE OF AUCTION

dia and a “global elite” are working against him.

“The election is being rigged by corrupt media pushing completely false allegations and outright lies in an effort to elect her president,” he charged in New Hampshire. AFP

(MS-OCT. 17, 2016)

Republic of the Philippines MUNICIPALITY OF POLANGUI Province of Albay

SECURITY PLANT COMPLEX (SPC) DISPOSAL COMMITTEE

Republic of the Philippines Department of Finance Securities and Exchange Commission

RESERVE

C3

1

In the case of National Government Agencies, the General Appropriations Act and/or continuing appropriations; in the case of GOCCs, GFIs, and SUCs, the Corporate Budget for the contract approved by the governing Boards; in the case of (LGUs, the Budget for the contract approved by the respective Sanggunian. (Section 5(a), R.A. 9184)

2

A brief description of the type(s) of Goods should be provided, including quantities, location of project, and other information necessary to enable potential bidders to decide whether or not to respond to the invitation.

(MS-OCT. 17, 2016)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

C4

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

World

REENACTMENT. Actors take part in the re-enactment of the Battle of Hastings at Battle Abbey in Battle, southern England. AFP

Hornbill nears extinction P

ONTIANAK, Indonesia―A striking bird with monochrome plumage and a formidable “beak”, the helmeted hornbill is being hunted to extinction, one of the latest victims of a thriving global trade in exotic wildlife.

For decades poachers in Borneo’s western forests focused on capturing orangutans and sun bears, but in the past few years a surge in demand for hornbill “ivory” has pushed the avian species to the brink.

The product has become so popular in China, where wealthy

collectors are keen to show off their status by acquiring rare or unusual animals, that it is fetching up to five times the price of elephant tusk on the black market.

“The demand for these luxury items is just going through the roof,” Chris Shepherd, from

wildlife trade watchdog TRAFFIC, told AFP. “In Asia, it’s really at a scale where species like the helmeted hornbill are just being completely decimated.”

Poachers aren’t interested in their brilliant plumage or large bills, but a helmet-like block of reddish-gold keratin at the front of the skulls known as a casque.

It’s this soft, ivory-like substance that’s carved by craftsmen in China into luxury ornaments, statues and jewelry―trendy topshelf trinkets that have soared in

value as so-called “red ivory” has grown more prestigious.

Experts say a single casque can fetch up to $1000, eclipsing the average black market price of traditional “white” ivory sourced from elephant tusk several times over.

- ‘Systematic slaughter’ -Researchers say thousands of these majestic birds have been killed in half a decade alone as demand for red ivory has taken off.

Yokyok Hadiprakarsa, a leading expert in helmeted hornbills, estimates as many as 500 were killed every month in 2013―or 6,000

Thais wear black to mourn Bhumibol BANGKOK―On his birthday Thais wore yellow, when he got sick they put on pink, and now that King Bhumibol Adulyadej has passed Bangkok’s streets have turned monochrome in a extraordinary display of collective grief.

The venerated monarch died at the age of 88 on Thursday, plunging the nation into mourning and

leaving a politically divided people bereft of a rare unifying figure.

Thailand is a country that leans heavily on symbols and people have long expressed devotion to the king through clothing, with many in Bangkok sporting yellow every Monday, the day he was born.

Pink became the hue of choice

in the sovereign’s final days out of the belief that it would bring him good luck as his health declined.

But since his passing most in the distraught nation have for the first time honored the late king in black, with tens of thousands pouring onto the streets in unprecedented displays of sombre devotion.

All government staff have

been ordered to forgo colours for an entire year and many private businesses are asking employees to don black for at least a month.

That has sent shoppers rushing to snaffle up black garments from street vendors and luxury malls who swiftly replaced their stocks―and even their mannequins―with mourning attire. AFP

annually―just in West Kalimantan, a jungle-clad province in Indonesia’s half of Borneo.

Helmeted hornbills had been traditionally hunted in the past

by Borneo’s indigenous tribes, but never at levels that posed any conservation risk.

This “complete, systematic slaughter of the species” came virtually out of nowhere, Shepherd said. It wasn’t until 2011 that red ivory first began showing up on websites catering to Chinese buyers and at high-end wildlife markets along the coun-

try’s borders, such as in Myanmar and Laos.

Hunting rapidly intensified, especially among trafficking networks already well entrenched in West Kalimantan, a key wildlife smuggling hub with an international airport in the capital Pontianak.

By the close of 2015, the species had progressed from vulnerable to critically endangered―leapfrogging two threat levels to the highest possible risk category on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s “red list”. AFP

Russia academics battle plagiarism MOSCOW―A dissertation council reviewing work on the medieval era is not normally national news, but Russia was abuzz this month when historians convened to pass judgment: was the culture minister a fraud?

Vladimir Medinsky’s history dissertation focusing on foreign opinions about mediaeval Russia had long irritated local historians.

They insisted it was a botched job with no academic merit and should never have been approved. This year they finally lodged a request to have his degree revoked.

The scandal over the minister’s dissertation is just the latest example of Russian intellectuals fighting back against what they see as rampant fraud in academia and the devaluing of serious research under President Vladimir

Putin’s conservative rule.

“Medinsky’s dissertation is scandalous, a real parody,” said Ivan Babitsky, an activist with Dissernet, a group of researchers exposing dissertation fraud who helped two history professors lodge a formal complaint.

The complaint, which said that Medinsky’s work “cannot in principle be considered historical research” prompted the education minister to send the dissertation for review.

Among the glaring errors in the work, Medinsky―who states up front that the merit of a historical fact should be determined by whether it is in Russian national interests―implies that Catholicism is not a part of Christianity and does not appear to know that Denmark is in Scandinavia. AFP

US says new test

by N. Korea failed

THUMBS UP. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gives a thumbs up from behind the curtain before taking the stage at an event in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. AFP

WASHINGTON―The US military said Saturday it had detected an unsuccessful launch by North Korea of a powerful mediumrange missile capable of hitting US bases as far away as Guam.

UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from using ballistic missile technology, and this latest test came as the UN Security Council is debating fresh sanctions on Pyongyang following its fifth nuclear test in September.

The US Strategic Command said the launch, detected just after midday Saturday Korea time, was believed to be of a much-hyped Musudan missile which North Korea has now test-fired seven times―with

one partial success.

Pentagon spokesman Gary Ross condemned what he called a clear violation of UN resolutions and urged Pyongyang to refrain from any further actions that might raise already elevated tensions on the Korean peninsula.

Seoul’s defense ministry also confirmed the failed launch, held near an air base in the northwestern city of Kusong in North Korea at 1203 Pyongyang time (0333 GMT).

“This provocation only serves to increase the international community’s resolve to counter [North Korea’s] prohibited activities,” said Pentagon spokesman Gary Ross. AFP

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

SIP & SAVOR

D1

Chef Boy Logro’s creations to celebrate Acacia Hotel’s fifth anniversary reflect a common philosophy that Filipino food can be world-class.

THE JOYCE OF EATING JOYCE BABE PAÑARES

I

T was a collaboration that took half a decade in the making. But it was, in more ways than one, meant to happen.

A Filipino like no other Appetizer trio – beef salficados, German sausage and shrimp popper

At Acacia Hotel Manila, the country’s first all-Filipino five-star hotel, Chef Pablo “Boy” Logro brought to life Spanish-inspired dishes with a Filipino twist reflective of the country’s diversity. His was a special menu for a special occasion: the hotel’s fifth anniversary. beauti “For five beautiful years, Acacia has remained true to our belief that an all-Filipino hotel can make it. There is that wrong impression that we need a foreigner to make our Grilled rack of lamb with potato malunggay purée

Kahlua chocolate marquis using traditional tablea (cocoa blocks)

hotel better. But Filipino hospitality is already world-class, so that makes us at par if not better than other hotels,” said the hotel’s general manager Bobby Horrigan who, despite his foreign-sounding name, is a Filipino.

“So we were thinking: who can repre represent our philosophy best in terms of food?

And while there are several other Filipino chefs who could easily fit the bill, we felt that it can only

Corn soup with avocado and shrimp tartar

be Chef Boy – he has a lot of heart and charisma, and that’s what we are all about, too, as a hotel showcasing great Filipino hospitality and serving great Filipino food,” Horrigan added.

It was also a reunion of sorts for Logro and his former colleague and kumpare, Aldo Palaypay, who is now Acacia’s executive sous chef.

Using locally-sourced ingredients, Logro came up with his own creations exclusive to the hotel: Continued on D2

Healthy Bento Recipe PACKING a well-balanced snack – whether it’s for you or for your Mind’ Bento recipe!

Here are two recipes – Gardenia Oriental Tuna Salad Sandwich little one – is essential for setting healthy eating habits. And while The healthy bento recipe ingredients are packed with vitamins (main dish) and Gardenia Strawberry and Blueberry Fruity Cream trying to come up with something different yet easy-to-create snack and minerals like B vitamins and Iron which aid in memory en- Cheese Tart (dessert)—to try out that will satisfy your cravings could be difficult, Gardenia brings help with its very own ‘Master hancement and helps prevent age-related decline in mental health. and aid for a healthy mind.

Gardenia Oriental Tuna Salad Sandwich

Ingredients: Gardenia Classic White Bread 1 can tuna solid in water (drained) ¼ cup oriental dressing 2 pcs sliced tomato 8 pcs. Lettuce leaves Procedure: Combine tuna and oriental dressing in a bowl. Mix well.

Prepare a slice of Gardenia Classic White Bread and top it with lettuce leaves, tuna mixture and tomato.

Cover with another slice of bread.

Serve 4 sandwiches and enjoy!

Did you know that tuna is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids that help keep your brain healthy? This makes your Gardenia Oriental Tuna Salad Sandwich even healthier, especially when paired with Gardenia White Bread that contains essential vitamins such as Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, C and minerals like Calcium, Iodine, Iron and Folate.

Gardenia Strawberry and Blueberry Fruity Cream Cheese Tart

Ingredients: Gardenia Strawberry and Blueberry Loaf ¼ cup fruit cocktail 2 tbsp sugar 25g gelatin 1 bar cream cheese ½ cup all-purpose cream

Procedure: Get 6 slices of Gardenia Strawberry and Blueberry loaf and trim the sides.

Flatten the Gardenia Strawberry and Blueberry slices and form it into cups on a muffin tin Chill for 30 minutes.

Prepare the gelatin and let it cool for two minutes.

Combine cream cheese, all-purpose cream and sugar until it becomes smooth.

Set aside 4 tbsp. of gelatin and add the remaining into the cream cheese mixture.

Mix the 4 tbsp. of gelatin into the fruit cocktail. Mix well.

Scoop out the cream cheese mixture and place it on the chilled breads then top it with fruit cocktail mixture.

Chill for at least 30 minutes.

Serve 6 tarts and share with your friends.

Did you know that fruits like berries are rich source of Anthocyanins and antioxidants that help prevent age-related concern in mental condition?

Gardenia Oriental Tuna Salad Sandwich and Gardenia Strawberry and Blueberry Fruity Cream Cheese Tart are made nutritious not only because of the nutrients of the bread but also with the vitamins and minerals the ingredients have which aid in enhancing the memory.

For more Gardenia Healthy Bento recipe, visit www.gardenia.com.ph or www.facebook.com/gardeniaph.

Life

D2

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

Healthy food in an instant I

N this fast-paced world, many people want everything in an instant, and that also includes food. There are ways you can prepare healthy food in an instant, according to Chef Louise Mabulo, ambassador of Breville, a 17-year-old cook who has made a name as a finalist in Pinoy Junior MasterChef.

Growing produce in the backyard is the first step to healthy living, she shares as you cook with freshly picked ingredients and it is also very economical while relieving stress when planting herbs, spices, vegetables and fruits.

“My earliest memory of cooking was when I was five. I used to make blueberry muffins fresh out of the oven and from freshly picked blueberries in our backyard. My parents, grandmother and my uncle (who is a chef) would always drag me to the kitchen and teach me simple techniques in cooking.

It was bonding time for us and it rubbed off on me and I eventually felt the love for cooking,” said Chef Louise.

Aside from growing your own produce, preparing food in an instant requires quality kitchen tools. Chef Louis says Australian brand Breville, has helped her in making delicious and healthy meals.

In preparing food or drinks, a powerful blender is a requirement. In Chef Louis’ kitchen, the Breville Kinetix Twist Blender is a star and it comes with five task controls with preprogrammed settings for easy operation. It is also easy to use, efficient, fast, and at a competitive price.

For more information about Breville products, visit www.breville.com.ph.

17-year-old chef Louise Mabulo gets aid in preparing food and drinks from Breville Kinetix Twist Blender

Home-cooked meals made even healthier DINING out is usual for most people, especially to those who haven’t got enough time to prepare their food at home. Kids get their meals at the school canteen, while college students and working professionals have their meals at their favorite eatery, fast food, or a newly opened restaurants.

Home-cooked meals are making a comeback especially for those want to save from buying meals at cheap eatery or having dinner or lunch at a fancy casual dining place. Bringing home-cooked meals for lunch to school or the office is healthier because every ingredient is handpicked.

It is also popular to health buffs who plan their own diet program and count the calories, while getting specific nutrients that they need.

Midea, the world’s leading consumer appliances manufacturer, offers a solution in creating home-cooked meals with their lineup of cookers that make preparing dishes easy and turn the freshest ingredients into not just delicious meals, but healthier as well. Their home solutions have always been surprisingly friendly in more ways than one. They are known for their ease of use, finishing every chore faster than usual, which gives people more time for themselves and the whole family.

Midea products are also easy on the pocket and its features make it safe around kids. One of Midea’s brand ambassadors and an avid fan of Midea’s Induction Cooker, Chef Rob Pengson shares, “Midea’s Induction Cooker is top level technology which is great for cooking and it is very efficient because it doesn’t waste energy.”

Some people might think that induction cookers would be very costly on the electric bill, but unlike the conven-

Midea’s Digital Multi-Cooker and Induction Cooker help families prepare homecooked dishes

tional electric cooker, Midea’s Induction Cookers could actually give a lot of savings even as compared to buying gas tanks regularly. And because it heats faster, it saves 37 percent of the electric consumption against the conventional electric stove. This quick cooking feature locks in the nutrients in the food, which make every homecooked meal healthier for everyone in the family.

It has safety features like flameless heating, auto safety shut-off function and auto cooling that are very relevant especially if there are kids in the house.

Pre-programmed functions make it user friendly, even for first-time users as well.

Midea has a very versatile Digital Multi-Cooker that not only cooks the

perfect rice with its Thermal Circulation Technology that ensures even heating in the cooking pot, but it could also create other dishes with its eight pre-programmed functions that make preparing home-cooked meals fast and easy. It has the Smart Fuzzy Logic Control Technology, which makes automatic adjustments to the cooking time and temperature— without having to worry about it while everyone is preparing for the day ahead.

These time friendly features make every household free from all the stress in the kitchen. And it only costs P5 of electric consumption to cook the perfect rice, while the same quick cooking feature locks all the nutrients in the food.

To make sure that everyone gets all the nutrients needed from every homecooked meal, Chefs Rob and Sunshine

Pengson suggest that everyone should be diligent enough to immediately consume most of the perishable ingredients. “We tend not to overstock and just buy what we’ll need for few days or a week. It involves more trips to the grocery but it ensures that you’re buying ingredients at the height of their freshness.”

The Chefs added that people should always go for the freshest ingredients and always check the colors and firmness of every ingredient. Smelling though is the best way to tell if an ingredient is still fit for cooking. This ensures that every meal prepared with Midea’s line-up of cookers will have better flavor and will always be rich in nutrients. This is very important for both Chefs Rob and Sunshine, especially now that they have a toddler at home, who needs all the nutrients for him to grow strong.

“My son loves spaghetti, so sometimes I try to add some vegetables, like carrots and mushrooms, in there,” Chef Rob shares. “We explain to him how fruits and vegetables will make him big and strong, so he will be more open to eating them,” Chef Sunshine adds. The whole family enjoys eating pasta like their son, because it can also produce a great dish just by using some leftover food. And having these dishes cooked with Midea’s Induction Cooker or Digital Multi-Cooker, every family can enjoy not only the most delicious and healthy home-cooked meals, but also the time they spend together at the dining table.

For more information on Midea’s products, check out their website at midea.com.ph and Midea Philippines on Facebook.

The secret is in the sauce IF you go to a restaurant in the United States of America, there is a good chance you would encounter a Ventura foods product when you dine out or go to a grocery.

Ventura Foods is a leading manufacturer of custom and branded oil, shortening, margarine, mayonnaise, sauce and dressing in the United States.

The company currently supplies many Quick Service and Fast Casual Restaurants in the United States and many other countries around the world.

Their presence in the Philippines is expected to gain them a foothold not just in the expanding dining scene in the country but in the whole of the Asia-Pacific Region. One of their main strengths is that they specialize in custom made products. Big retailers that supply the service industry will often deliver the same product they already manufacture. “We really believe in customization to help

Jann Kervoern introduced to the country Ventura Foods’ product lineup

our customers give the right solutions for consumers,” says Jann Kervoern, president of Ventura Foods International. “We don’t make one product that we sell to everybody.”

Ventura Foods is a leading manufacturer of custom mayonnaise, among others

“Taste is important,” says Kervoern.

“But in our market of sauces, dressings, mayonnaise and margarine, texture and mouthfeel are other components that are equally just as important.”

Ventura Foods and Oleo-Fats, Inc.

office address is at #5 Mercury Avenue, Bagumbayan, Quezon City 1110 Philippines. For more information, visit www.venturafoods.com. You may contact them directly at (02) 709-6536 or (02) 635-0680.

A Filipino...

From D1 cream of corn soup with avocado and shrimp tartar; grilled rack of lamb with potato malunggay purée, asparagus, cherry tomatoes and guava mint glaze; spiced coffee-rubbed baby pork ribs; soya-poached chicken with kailan leaves; turmeric lentil-crusted snapper fillet; pan-fried tilapia with chorizo and bean ragout topped with citrus Beurre Blanc (white butter with citrus juice); and a trio of appetizers – beef salficados, grilled German sausage with sauerkraut, and nacho crispy shrimp popper.

But it was Logro’s rabo del toro or oxtail stew that was the real pièce de résistance of his special menu: the meat was tender and flavorful, and paired really well with the sliced chorizo.

“Don’t be afraid to use local ingredients. You get the freshest possible items, plus you end up helping our farmers, too,” Logro told Manila Standard in an interview.

“We have lots of fruits that are in season. There’s avocado and guava so there’s no need to use bottled or canned imported fruits. Malunggay grows abundantly in our country, and it is a good, healthy alternative to basil or tarragon,” he added.

For dessert, Logro decided to use the native table to create the Kahlua chocolate marquis.

“Allow yourself to innovate, but not too much to the point that your guests no longer recognize their food. You can be creative in your presentation without sacrificing the essence of the Filipino dish,” he said.

To mark its fifth anniversary, a threecourse set menu is offered at The Lobby at Acacia or A Steakhouse for just P 980+ per person while Acaci Coffee Shop presents a different buffet spread for just P1,395 featuring hot dishes curated by the culinary tandem of Logro and Palaypay.

Acacia Hotel’ slogan – Filipino like no other – could very well have been coined with Logro in mind. The chef has come a long way from the 13-yearold houseboy who also had to mix dough for siopao. That boy eventually became a dishwasher who ate leftovers to learn the taste of good food, and years later, the head chef at the palace of Omani Sultan Qabass bin Said.

“We have the same philosophy, Acacia Hotel and I. I believe the Filipino food is now ready for the global dining scene.

We have to respect and give importance to our own dishes,” Logro said. *** P.S. Now it can be told. It was at Acacia Hotel where President Rodrigo Duterte stayed for five days while his transition team was still arranging his room in Malacañang. And despite the culinary spread of the hotel, the kitchen was not prepared for Duterte’s orders: nilagang mani and monggo soup.

For feedback, send comments to joyce.panares@gmail.com PHOTOS BY SONNY ESPIRITU

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

Bea and Zanjoe in friend zone

Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher play Jeff and Karen Gaffney in the action comedy film

Double dose of comedy in

‘Keeping Up With The Joneses’ M ULTI-TALENTED actors Zach Galifianakis, Jon Hamm, Isla Fisher, and Gal Gadot join forces in the explosive sexy action comedy Keeping Up With the Joneses.

Galifianakis, best known for his breakout role in the Hangover film series, pairs up with the versatile Fisher (known for her roles in Confessions of a Shopaholic and Now You See Me) as husband and wife - Jeff and Karen Gaffney, a suburban couple living an ideal quiet life, until their new neighbors moved in, the Joneses.

The Joneses, played by Gadot a.k.a. Wonder Woman and award-

wining Hamm (Mad Men on TV) are secret government agents in the movie. The Joneses are camouflaged as a glamorous, sophisticated, picture-perfect couple that rocked the Gaffney’s world on the first day they moved into the neighborhood.

After the initial meet-and-greet, the Gaffneys and the Joneses form a special bond, but Karen soon notices there is something odd with the

Joneses. With Karen’s prodding, she convinces Jeff to spy on the couple’s house while they’re away. Only to find out that the Joneses are spies!

Soon, the Gaffneys are embroiled into the dizzying and dangerous world of espionage so much that they realize it’s not easy keeping up with the Joneses.

The great chemistry between Galifianakis and Hamm in the movie as good friends is rooted from a real off-cam friendship. “I’ve known Jon, I’ve known Jon before Jon was truly Jon Hamm, and he’s a comedy guy. He’s really funny, you know.

A lot of leading type guys like that, they don’t have humor. They think they do, but they don’t. It’s almost unfair that he can do both. It’s really

frustrating because I’m certainly not going to be a, no one is ever going to go, ‘You know, Zach does handsome really well.’ So, Jon, he just is funny, and he’s funny like a comedian is funny, you know, not, ‘Look, an actor is funny.’ He’s funny, and so Jon and I had this, just a friendship, and I’d hoped we’d work together. I think Jon and I got together over the last couple of years and we talked about a couple of things that, and then this kind of happened and I’m glad that it did. It seemed like a good fit,” shares Zach from his recent interviews for the movie.

Keeping Up with the Joneses opens in cinemas nationwide on Wednesday from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Triple send-off for Binibining Pilipinas beauties WHO will bring home a crown? Reigning Bb. Pilipinas queens Kylie Verzosa, Jennifer Hammond, and Nicole Cordoves are leaving the country to compete in the Miss International 2016, Miss Intercontinental 2016 and Miss Grand International 2016 pageants, respectively, this month.

Excitement filled the air at the Monet 2 Ballroom of Novotel in Araneta Center recently as the three regal ladies, calm and collected, promised well wishers of a good showing following the victory of a former Bb. Pilipinas candidate at the Miss United Continents 2016 pageant.

Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Maxine Medina, Bb. PilipinasSupranational Joanna Eden and Bb. Pilipinas Globe Nichole Manalo joined Verzosa, Hammond and Cordoves on stage for the brief send-off ceremony each conveying their inspiring words of support, with Medina even handing the three papers with her written messages.

Conchitina Sevilla Bernardo and Betsy Westendorp also graced the event as representatives of the Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc.(BPCI).

The three Philippine bets are to be dressed by local designers namely, Val Taguba for Cordoves, Francis

Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental 2016 Jennifer Hammond (third from left), Bb. Pilipinas Grand International 2016 Nicole Cordoves (fifth from left) and Bb. Pilipinas International 2016 Kylie Versoza (seventh from left) are given a send-off by fellow beauty queens and BPCI representatives (from left) Bb. Pilipinas Globe 2016 Nichole Marie Manalo, Bb. Pilipinas Supranational 2016 Joanna Eden, Betsy Westendorp, Conchitina Sevilla-Bernardo, and Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2016 Maxine Medina

Libiran for Verzosa and Nat Balibag for Hammond.

Verzosa, a 24-year-old Business Management graduate at Ateneo and a member of Professional Models Association of the Philippines (PMAP), is aiming for the Philippines’ 6th win at the Miss

International 2016 pageant in Tokyo on Oct. 27.

Hammond, a 25-year-old registered nurse and PMAP model, hopes to do better than her predecessors in 2014 and 2015 at the Miss Intercontinental in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Oct. 16.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Monday, October 17, 2016

ACROSS 1 Kind of eclipse 6 Malamute’s load 10 “Fernando” band 14 Midwest airport 15 Antidote 16 Hula-dance fete 17 Dismantle a tent 18 Argue for 19 Bona fide 20 Not out of the question 22 Ivan of the courts 23 — de mer 24 Beatles drummer 26 Stage whispers 30 Endures (2 wds.)

32 Quarrel (hyph.)

33 Rumormonger 34 Subzero comment 36 Lb. and oz.

37 Pedro’s coins 38 Online auction 39 Sweater letter 40 Early — (morning person) 41 Garbo 42 Hair ornament 44 Like a wasteland

45 Heavy reading 46 Once owned 47 Stadium hoverer 49 Breeziest 54 Downtown Chicago 55 Beat to a froth 57 Sun Valley site 58 One, in Munich 59 Kennel noise 60 Not at any time 61 Soyuz launcher 62 Well-aware of 63 Overhead honkers DOWN 1 Tureen contents 2 Don’t tell me!

(2 wds.)

3 Swimmers’ units 4 Mars, to Plato 5 Diet 6 Racing shell 7 Tempt 8 Joule fraction 9 Poor grade 10 Makes different 11 Go faster (2 wds.)

12 Modem-speed unit 13 “The Mammoth Hunters” author 21 Univ. degrees 22 Pasternak

heroine 24 Mexican gent 25 Does lacework 26 What Hamlet smelled (2 wds.)

27 Tannin source 28 Vibes 29 Bad-mouth 30 Assail 31 Chatter 33 Toadies’ responses 35 No-hitter king 37 Heap 38 Be off base 40 Mounties’ org.

41 Traipsing about 43 Frolicsome one 44 Not allow 46 Zoo heavyweight 47 Roquefort hue 48 Daily Planet reporter 49 Become limp 50 — fixe 51 Roof overhang 52 Cows and sows 53 Zoomed 55 Cheyenne’s st.

56 Biddy

Cordoves, a 24-year-old, Ateneo economics graduate and a former Miss Chinatown Philippines, will also try to do better than last year’s 3rd runner up finish of Parul Shah at the Miss Grand International 2016 in Las Vegas, U.S.A on Oct. 25.

Eton B. Concepcion

ASKED if it’s possible that he can be friend with former flame Bea Alonzo, Zanjoe Marudo avers, “Actually, it’s very difficult to let go of someone who had been an important part of your life. No matter how hard you try to evade her, the bottom line is, it’s not nice if you will ignore her.”

The actor, part of Star Cinema’s latest offering The Third Party that also stars Angel Locsin and Sam Milby, knows it’s inevitable that their paths will cross.

The ‘biz is just a small world. You have to face it head on and move forward. I’m proud to say that I’m okay with all my ex-girlfriends. I cannot exactly say that I’m a friend to them but at least, I don’t feel icky or uncomfortable when I see them in public accidentally. I can even hold conversations with them so there’s no uneasiness whatsoever.”

It can be remembered that Zanjoe broke his silence in January amid speculations confirming his break-up with Bea. “We’ve been together for five years. Lack of time for each other was the culprit why we parted ways then. Well, some good things never last, as they say.”

At this point when Bea is being romantically linked to Gerald Anderson, it seems all is quiet at his camp.

“Admittedly, I’m still single up to now. I’m not really searching but if the right girl comes along, why not?” says Zanjoe. ******** Dennis Trillo is glad and proud that he was able to do a movie opposite Anne Curtis via Bakit Lahat ng Gwapo, May Boyfriend?

“I’m grateful to Viva Films and Ideal First for the opportunity to share the screen with a gorgeous leading lady like Anne. This is a dream-come-true actually. It’s been my foremost wish to do a movie with her,” he states.

The handsome Kapuso actor is not shy to admit that he got star-struck with Anne.

“Oh yes! And even until now that we’ve wrapped up shooting and are on the promotion stage, I still get mesmerized by her beauty and charm.”

Dennis couldn’t forget their first shooting day.

“Funny because Anne and I were tasked to do a kissing scene. Imagine, for a first day of shoot? It was a tall order. One thing more, in said scene, Anne was making sounds while we’re kissing. I’m sure viewers will rollick in laughter!”

The award-winning actor is confident that the public will patronize their potboiler.

“It’s a timely story and is well-written. A perfect treat for those who want an intelligent comedy, which tackles one of contemporary times’ most intriguing issues: that on gay romance. With director Jun Lana at the helm, expect sparks to fly on screen with his witty handling of the scenes.

Paolo Ballesteros is also part of the film, by the way,” ends Dennis. ******** According to Anne Curtis, she wouldn’t know what to do if ever she’ll discover that her boyfriend is having an affair with another guy.

“I really can’t imagine how I’ll react or what step I would take if ever,” she says. “But I know of some who happened to experience that. In fact, they even have children. Of course, it’s painful. If ever that happens to me, I will find it hard to accept at first.

But if you love the guy, I guess, you’ll treat him as your ‘sister’ eventually!”

In line with her soon-to-be-shown movie Bakit Lahat ng Gwapo, May Boyfriend, the sultry actress is aware that these days, said film title holds true.

“For one, I’m surrounded with lots of gays in my life, especially that I’m in showbiz. Actually, it’s the present norm. Most good and straight-looking guys have secret relationships with their fellow males.

Sometimes, you will really think why but we’re in the modern times. Perhaps, people now are more brave and expressive on what they truly want and desire so it’s just a matter of acceptance.”

She only has one wish though if ever she has a gay husband.

“Yes, I hope he’ll still be able to give me a baby despite the fact,” states Anne.

Showbiz

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com

D4

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

Serious take on

Eli Roth’s 2002

horror classic

The Cabin Fever remake by director Travis Zariwny focuses on characters with whom the audience can relate while removing the comedy horror aspects in the original film

C

ABIN Fever, a film about five friends who fall victim to a mysterious flesh-eating virus, earned nearly $35 million at the box office worldwide in 2002. It was Eli Roth’s directorial debut, and it won third as Best International Film at the Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal, Canada. With the film’s huge success, Quentin Tarantino referred to Eli Roth as “the future of horror.”

Today’s generation of viewers will also get the feel of that horrifying story as Viva International Pictures (the same movie outfit that released blockbuster horror movies such as The Boy, Insidious 1, and Clown) presents the Cabin Fever remake by director Travis Zariwny.

This film came into being because of the initiative of two producers – Evan Astrowsky (Cabin Fever 3: Patient Zero and the original Cabin Fever) and Cassian Elwes (Dallas Buyers Club, Lawless, and All is Lost) who had the idea to reshoot the exact same script Roth and Randy Pearlstein created years ago. They raised the matter to Eli Roth (who is also famous for directing Hostel and its sequel, as well as his role in Inglourious

Basterds), and he agreed to be the film’s Executive Producer.

Cabin Fever begins with a man walking in the woods and chances upon a dog, which he discovers to have a rotted flesh after poking it several times. Meanwhile, college friends Jeff, Marcy, Paul, Karen, and Bert are on their way to their rented cabin in the woods for a weeklong vacation. When they make a stop at a local convenience store, one of them gets into a nasty encounter with a retarded child and they all receive suspicious looks from the locals. Nevertheless, the friends go on with their organized trip. Their drinking spree and sexy time soon follow but don’t last long. All of a sudden, one of the

The horror flick follows five friends who fall victim to a mysterious flesh-eating virus while they are on vacation

girls incurs rotten boils, putting all of them in panic mode. Each tries to figure out where the dreadful infection came from and how they can stop themselves from succumbing to the flesh-eating virus.

Zariwny, who is a seasoned production designer, recalls his meeting with Roth before shooting the movie, “I asked Eli about scenes he wish he could have redone, what he would have like to add or take away, and if there was anything they had to previously cut due to time or resources.” From there, they began talking about how to make the new film even better than the original.

Shot in Oregon in only 20 days, Zariwny’s film is portrayed in a much more serious manner than the original, removing the “comedy horror” aspects in films such as the original Cabin Fever or The Cabin in the Woods. “One major aspect of my film is focusing on characters the audience can connect with. I want them to feel bad when/ if certain characters die, as well as avoid the stereotypical horror film characters,” he says.

Zariwny also wanted to make each of the deaths have its own new twist which would not only keep the story moving forward, but also keep the old fans guessing. He says, “I was able to use sound and visual effects as their own character to intensify major scenes and events throughout the film, impacting the final product immensely.”

Playing the roles of the five friends are Gage Golightly (from the Nickelodeon series The Troop), Dustin Ingram (from Paranormal Activity 3, and the cult hit Meet Monica Velour), Nadine Crocker (from the TV series No Ordinary Family, 10 Things I Hate About You), Matthew Daddario (Delivery Man, When the Game Stands Tall), and Samuel

Young actors Gage Golightly, Dustin Ingram, Nadine Crocker, Matthew Daddario and Samuel Davis play the lead roles

Davis (A Close Divide and New Hope).

Zariwny commends the young actors for their professionalism. He reveals that he instructed them to remain in character between takes so they could be as one with their characters as they could possibly be.

He says, “It may have been a more serious time on set than many were expecting, but everyone was game and in the end it lead to a great film.”

Cabin Fever is showing in cinemas on Wednesday from Viva International Pictures.