Manila Standard - 2016 October 29 - Saturday

DU30: GOD TOLD ME TO STOP CURSING

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—President Rodrigo Duterte said God talked to him on his flight back from Japan and admonished him to stop cursing.

“Everybody was asleep, snoring, but a voice said that, you know, if you don’t stop epithets, I will bring down this plane now,” Duterte said in his arrival speech at the Davao International Airport after an official three-day visit to Japan.

He said he even asked the voice who he was, but only later realized that it was God. “So, I promise God to—not to express slang, cuss words and everything,” he said.

He said that a promise to God is also a promise to the Filipino people, the reason why he must be careful not to use curse words.

Asked if he would no longer curse at the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Senator Leila de Lima, Duterte said: “There is always time for everything.”

Duterte is well known for using profanity when he is angry, and has cursed the Pope, US President Barack Obama, and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

“Ask anyone who really knows me. There’s always a time for everything—a time to be foul mouthed… I do not want anyone reading my mind,” he said Friday.

In one interview during the presidential campaign, Duterte said cursing was part of his strategy to connect with the masses.

Baguio beauty is Miss Intl

By Nickie Wang VERSUS DEUM. President Rodrigo

FILIPINO beauty queen Kylie Verzosa won the Miss International title at the beauty pageant held at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo on Thursday.

The 24-year-old model and Business Management graduate of Ateneo de Manila University bested 68 other candidates from around the globe.

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Duterte, deep in prayer, in obvious contemplation of what he called God’s admonition to him on his flight back from Japan this week, quoting the Almighty, thusly, ‘if you don’t stop epithets, I will bring down this plane now.’ Then added posthaste ‘I do not want anyone reading my mind.’

Piracy up in Rody’s KL visit

VOL. XXX • NO. 259 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Zika virus afflicts 2 in Cavite

TWO more people were afflicted with the Zika virus, bringing to 17 the total number of Zika cases so far, the Department of Health said Friday.

Health Undersecretary Gerardo Bayugo said a boy and an adult female, both from Cavite, contracted the disease, and that they were yet to be brought to a hospital.

The two aside,15 more Zika patients have been listed in Cavite, Iloilo, Makati, Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa, Antipolo and Cebu.

The Zika virus is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. It is usually not life-threatening but has been linked to a rise in birth defects in other countries, where hundreds of babies have been born with unusually small heads.

The virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito from the Aedes genus, and mainly the Aedes aegypti in the urban areas and the Aedes albopictus in the rural areas.

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M’sapano reopening not Noy’s problem FORMER President Benigno Aquino III said Friday he was ready to face the revival of the Mamasapano case that left 44 police commandos dead and derailed the peace negotiations with the Moro rebels.

“For me there’s no problem.

If they want to investigate, why not?” Aquino said in a chance interview at the Thai Embassy after signing the Book of Condolences for the passing of the Thai King.

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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte says he will be raising the issue of piracy when he visits Malaysia to complete his Asian tour.

“I am going there to complete my tour and discuss piracy because we have this piracy going on every now and then,” Duterte told reporters in Davao City Thursday night.

He made his statement even as Malacañang said Friday Duterte’s Japan trip

yielded US$1.8 billion in business-tobusiness deals.

“These are not government contracts but private-to-private joint undertakings,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella told reporters.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez also signed a P6.4-billion loan agreement Next page

Mayor, 9 men die in gunfight vs cops K

IDAPAWAN—A mayor accused of drug trafficking was killed along with nine bodyguards in a shootout with police Friday, authorities said, hours after President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to intensify his crackdown on crime.

BLOODY BRUSH-OFF. Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom (in circle)

of Datu Saudi Ampatuan town, one of local chief executives named in President Rodrigo Duterte’s list of narco-politicians, is introduced during the 29th founding anniversary of the 6th Infantry Division as guest of honor in Maguindanao on Oct. 24, four days before he was gunned down in what has been officially reported as a police encounter in Makilala town, North Cotabato. Omar Mangorsi

Samsudin Dimaukom, the mayor of Saudi Ampatuan, was one of more than 150 local government officials, judges and police identified by Duterte earlier this year as being involved in the illegal drug trade.

The deadly crime war has claimed more than 3,800 lives and drawn criticism from the United States, the United Nations and international rights groups who have accused police of summarily executing suspects.

Police spokesman Supt. Romeo Galgo said that Dimaukom and his security personnel

opened fire after anti-narcotics police stopped their vehicles at a checkpoint on suspicion they were transporting illegal drugs.

Officers returned fire, killing the men in the town of Makilala.

“Suspects [were] heavily armed and fired upon the law enforcers, which prompted them to fire back,” Galgo said.

Police said they suffered no casualties.

Dimaukom made a name for himself by funding the construction of a pink mosque in Saudi Ampatuan in a plea for peace in the town which has been wracked by violence.

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Disbar De Lima for impropriety, SC urged

By Rey E. Requejo THE Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption and former officials of the National Bureau of Investigation have asked the Supreme Court to disbar Senator Leila De Lima for improprieties and violation of the code of conduct for lawyers.

In a complaint filed with SC’s Office of the Bar Confidant, the VACC, former NBI officials Reynaldo Esmeralda and Ruel Lasala and whistleblower Sandra Cam said De Lima should be disbarred for impropriety and for violating the Lawyers Oath and the Code of Professional Responsibility.

“The practice of law is a privilege…It is a privilege that can be revoked, subject to the

mandate of due process once a lawyer violates his oath and the dictates of legal ethics,” the complainants said.

The complainants cited the testimonies of witnesses before the House committee on justice’s probe on the proliferation of illegal drugs

inside the New Bilibid Prison.

Based on the testimony of witnesses, including NBI officials and inmates, the complainants said De Lima knew that prohibited drugs were being sold and traded, and provided protection for the incarcerated drug lords so

as to raise funds for her senatorial campaign.

The complainants noted that De Lima spent P86.1 million during the campaign, questioned where she got the funds, and suggested she had “generous benefactors from inside the Bilibid.” Next page

SAF called in to stop drug deals in Bilibid

By Rey E. Requejo THE Justice department is considering deploying police commandos at the medium security compound of the New Bilibid Prison after receiving reports that drug deals had moved there from the maximum security compound.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguire II said the Special Action Forces of the Philippine National Police had recently managed to confiscate a plastic bag of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” inside the maximum security compound where they have been deployed.

Aguirre said he is confident illegal drugs can no longer be smuggled inside, but said there may still be illegal drugs hidden inside.

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Pinoys now free to fish in Scarborough—Palace

By John Paolo Bencito FILIPINO fishermen are now be able to fish in the disputed Scarborough Shoal without being intercepted by Chinese Coast Guard vessels more than four years after the Chinese gained control of the area, Malacañang said Friday.

“For the past three days, it has been observed that there are no longer any Chinese Coast Guard vessels and that Filipino fishing boats are no longer being intercepted and that they are now able to fish in the area,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a Palace press briefing.

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TIME FOR PRAYER. Surviving relatives flock to the well-manicured Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City Friday to offer flowers and light candles for departed loved ones—correspondingly seen in other graveyards across the country—under an otherwise scorching sun, with umbrellas protecting them from the blazing heat. Lino Santos

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Du30 hails Pinay beauty’s win AVAO CITY―Beauty queen Kylie Versoza brought honor to her country for being crowned Miss International 2016 at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo on Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte said Friday.

D

“I am happy,” he said. titles.” ricio Domogan said Versoza “I am always happy if our Duterte made his statement brought the city to the limebeautiful women win all the even as Baguio Mayor Mau- light with her victory.

Pinoys...

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“All I can say is that at this stage, it has been observed that there are no longer any Chinese coast guards in the area,” Abella told reporters.

In a television interview, Kabayan partylist Rep. Harry Roque, who was part of the President’s delegation to China during his state visit there, said the two governments had already reached an agreement on fishing rights in the disputed shoal, but have yet to sign the actual document.

Roque said that China wanted the Philippines to agree to a formal declaration that Beijing was “allowing” Filipino fishermen to return to Scarborough Shoal, but Manila did not agree because the proposal would go against the ruling of an international tribunal that the common fishing ground did not belong to any one state.

“My understanding is there is already a modus vivendi, there is already an agreement that we can fish. What has kept us from signing anything in writing is apparently the problem with words to be used,” he told ANC. “China wants to say that they have allowed us to fish and Philippine authorities refuse that language because we don’t need anyone’s permission to fish in traditional fishing grounds, but even if they have not completely threshed out the language of the agreement, there’s already a modus vivendi, an understanding that Scarborough fishermen can fish again and to me that’s very important because the fishermen are my clients,” Roque said.

But Abella would not say that an agreement had been reached.

“All we know is based on results, the fishermen can now go into those waters,” he said.

In his visit to typhoon victims last Sunday, President Rodrigo Duterte said that fishermen may soon be allowed to fish again, after the issue was discussed during his four-day visit to China last week.

“We’ll just wait for a few more days. We may be able to return to the Scarborough Shoal and our countrymen may be able to fish there again,” the President said during his visit to typhoon victims in Tuguegarao Sunday.

China Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin had earlier denied that the issue was discussed during the meeting between Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying that the two leaders had only agreed to

M'sapano...

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Aquino made his statement after his successor, President Rodrigo Duterte, said he wanted to find where the $5-million reward for the tipsters who helped security forces track down high-profile terrorists had gone.

“In the days ahead I will order the opening of that issue again. Not really to prosecute people but just to know what happened,” Duterte said in Beijing.

He likewise questioned details of the Mamasapano operation, which was kept secret even to some Cabinet and police officials. “[Was] the tip of the finger of [wanted terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias] Marwan [taken] by the Special Forces of the United States or was it really brought to the forensic division in [Camp]

strengthen fisheries cooperation in the disputed waters.

Scarborough is a flashpoint in the South China Sea conflict.

The shoal, which the Chinese call Huangyan and the Filipinos call Panatag, is a U-shaped chain of reefs and rocks that lies about 120 miles off the coast of Luzon, not far from Subic Bay, the former US naval base that still sees regular visits from US ships.

China claims historical rights over the shoal even if the traditional fishing ground is well within the country’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

Chinese occupation of the shoal started in April 2012 when Chinese surveillance ships blocked a Philippine Navy vessel that was chasing Chinese poachers.

Chinese aggression heightened however after the Philippines scored a victory in an arbitration ruling that China’s nine-dash line has no legal basis.

Duterte and Xi have agreed to enter into bilateral negotiations to resolve the maritime dispute, far from the Aquino administration’s previous stance of engaging only in multilateral talks on overlapping territorial claims.

Roque, citing a Philippine source who was present at the closed-door meetings, said language was the primary constraint that kept China and the Philippines from formalizing the agreement, though “in principle” both sides agreed that Filipinos should be able to fish again at the shoal.

Despite Beijing’s push over on the matter, the administration apparently invoked the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which was reflected in Duterte’s joint statement with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued Wednesday after visiting Japan.

The fishermen’s group Pamalakaya welcomed the developments in the Scarborough Shoal.

Since Tuesday, Filipino fishermen from Zambales and Pangasinan have been fishing in Scarborough Shoal without being harassed or chased by the Chinese Coast Guard.

“We welcome President Duterte’s concrete deeds to make our fishermen return to their traditional fishing grounds in Scarborough Shoal. Moreover, it is an initial victory for the Filipino fishermen who consistently aired their collective voices to assert their rights to the West Philippine Sea,” Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya chairman, said in a statement.

With Sandy Araneta Crame?” Duterte said.

“These are the lies that are imposed upon the people, which is not good. Let us go for the truth. Let it out. Never mind corruption. Too late in the day.”

While insisting that the case was already a “case closed,” Aquino said he was ready to face any possible probe in the future.

The 44 commandos of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force were killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, following an anti-terror operation in January 2015 to go after high-profile terrorist Marwan.

During the presidential campaign, Duterte claimed that he was with Aquino and losing presidential aspirant Manuel Roxas II in Zamboanga City when the incident happened.

Former SAF chief Getulio Napeñas maintains that it was Aquino who ordered the ill-fated mission. John Paolo Bencito

“We are proud that a Baguio girl was able to bring home the Miss International title,” Domogan said.

“We are happy that she was able to prove that local beauties have a place in international competitions. We hope that other local beauties will be able to follow in her footsteps.”

Domogan said he was looking

forward to meeting Versoza to congratulate her personally.

Versoza, 24, hails from Baguio City. She finished Business Management at the Ateneo de Manila University.

She first joined the Miss Philippines beauty pageant in 2015, when she placed in the top 15.

She was then crowned Miss Philippines-International 2016

when she joined the same contest this year.

The 5-foot-nine Versoza is the 6th Filipina to bring home the Miss International crown after Bea Santiago (2013), Precious Lara Quigaman (2005), Mimilanie Marquez (1979), Aurora Pijuan (1970) and Gemma Teresa Cruz (1964). F. Pearl A. Gajunera and Dexter A. See

INDEPENDENCE. Hundreds of Filipino women troop to the US Embassy on Friday to renew their demand for an end to the US political and economic domination of the Philippines and reiterate their support for President Duterte's declaration of an independent foreign policy for the country.

Norman Cruz

Disbar...

From A1

The complaint also mentioned De Lima’s alleged illicit relationship with her former driver Ronnie Dayan, and the alleged existence of two sex videos of the two.

“Measured against the definition of gross immorality, we find Senator De Lima’s actions grossly immoral. Her actions were so corrupt as to approximate a criminal act, for she has a relationship with a married man... Her actions were also unprincipled and reprehensible to the highest degree,” the complaint said.

De Lima has three other disbarment cases pending. All the other cases were filed in 2012.

Private lawyer Agustin Sundiam asked the high court to take disciplinary action

SAF...

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At the medium security compound, he noted the authorities arrested inmates in a buy-bust operation last August. The inmates were charged and moved to the maximum-security compound.

The department also installed two South Korea-made signal jammers at the maximum security compound to prevent inmates from communicating with their contacts outside the penitentiary. More closed-circuit TV cameras have also been installed.

More than 300 PNP-SAF personnel were deployed to secure the maximum-security compound, replacing jail guards of the Bureau of Corrections, who

Piracy...

against De Lima and former presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda for their utterances and remarks on national television where they called Chief Justice Renato Corona a “lawless tyrant.”

Sundiam said the two secretaries violated their oath as lawyers requiring them to “observe and maintain the respect and dignity due to the courts of justice and judicial offers.”

The other complaints against De Lima were filed separately, all questioning her defiance of the Supreme Court when she stopped former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo from leaving the country.

The Arroyo camp on Friday dismissed De Lima’s allegations that they were behind the attempt to implicate her in the illegal drug trade inside the national penitentiary.

Arroyo, through her lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, maintained she had nothing to do with De Lima’s accusations of connivance with the lawmakers and President Rodrigo Duterte as well to besmirch her reputation over supposed involvement of drug money at the national penitentiary.

Topacio hit De Lima, saying she created her own problems through her own deeds, and that her situation was not brought about by political vendetta.

He said De Lima must take responsibility for her act to raise campaign funds for her supposed senatorial bid in 2013.

In addition, he said, Arroyo did not have the time to sow political vendetta against De Lima, saying his client was too busy attending to the needs of her constituents in Pampanga.

With Rio N. Araja

were made to undergo retraining by the bureau.

In the campaign against illegal drugs, police arrested a suspected “shabu queen” and three of her sons at dawn Friday.

Supt. Vicente Cabatingan, chief of police of Los Baños, Laguna identified the arrested woman as Rosalina Lumaybay, 56; her sons Roberto, alias Betong, 30; Rolando, alias Gibo, 33 and Leo, 20, alias Adaw, al residents of No. 3330 Tagpuan St. Brgy. Bayog.

Cabatingan said Lumaybay was arrested shortly after she sold a plastic sachet of shabu worth P500 to a narcotics agent at their compound in Purok 1, Tagpuan Street.

“Rosalina has been selling shabu in the towns of Pila, Bay, Victoria and Los Baños. She took over the selling of shabu

from his husband after the latter was arrested and convicted of selling illegal drugs,” Cabatingan said.

In Cebu City, agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and local police arrested a notorious pusher following an entrapment operation.

PDEA Director General Isidro S. Lapeña identified the suspect as Jonathan Bolo, 35, a resident of Balud, San Fernando, Cebu City, who was nabbed during a drug bust in Sitio Magtalisay, Barangay Balud, San Fernando, Cebu.

Police seized four packs of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, weighing about 25 grams, with an estimated street value of P90,000.

Bolo’s brother Michael, 31, evaded arrest and is still at large.

With Francisco Tuyay

Mayor...

From A1

Duterte, who swept to power in May elections on a pledge to eradicate drugs, has described his critics as “fools” and said he is not breaking any domestic laws by threatening to kill criminals.

After returning from a trip to Japan late Thursday, he threatened to step up police killings of drug suspects.

“If my wish to get rid [of illegal drugs] in my country is not granted, you can expect about 20,000 or 30,000 more.

There is a war going on,” he said.

In Malabon City, two Filipino-Chinese were killed in a shootout with officers from the Northern Police District.

Dead on the spot were Reggie Wong, 40, and his brother Charlie Wong, 44, both Tondo residents.

Police said they were conducting a buy-bust operation but Reggie Wong pulled a gun and fired at the policeman posing as a buyer when he sensed that he was dealing with a cop. Florante S. Solmerin, Jun David with AFP

Zika...

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Aedes bites aggressively during the day and is the same mosquito that transmits Dengue and Chikungunya The Health department says people who are experiencing Zika symptoms―skin rashes, fever, red eyes and a headache―to immediately consult a doctor.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

fishing,” he said.

During his trip to Brunei, Duterte committed to joint air patrols From A1 to fight terrorism and piracy in the waters of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. with Japan to finance the Philippines’ purchase of coast guard vesDuterte has previously visited Indonesia where he discussed secusels to patrol the country’s borders. rity issues with his counterpart Joko Widodo. John Paolo Bencito “These coast guard vessels are going to be used against illegal and F. Pearl A. Gajunera

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Graft body probes 29 dumps in Mindanao

BANNED.

National Capital Region Police Office acting Police Chief Oscar Albayalde (right) and QCPD District Director Police Senior Supt. Guillermo Eleazar confiscate a cooking gas cylinder at the Araneta Bus terminal in Quezon City. It is among prohibited cargoes that can’t be loaded onto bus units as passengers make the annual exodus to the provinces to celebrate All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day. Manny Palmero

By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman has directed Mindanao officials to shed light into the operation of illegal dumps within their jurisdiction.

Investigators from the Environmental Ombudsman Program had conducted an in-depth fact-finding probe of illegal dumps maintained in Mindanao.

The Ombudsman ordered officials from the cities of Kidapawan, Koronadal, Valencia, Cagayan de Oro, and the towns of General Luna in Surigao del Norte, Marihatag in Surigao del Sur and Loreto in Agusan del Sur to attend a string of clarificatory hearings from Oct. 25 to Oct. 28.

The probe was conducted as part of a national campaign to ensure compliance with Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

As of September 2016, the Ombudsman environmental team successfully caused the closure of 29 open dumpsites nationwide, said the Ombudsman’s statement posted on its official website.

Tans of Sulu sacked on Morales’ directive

By Rio N. Araja OMBUDSMAN Conchita Carpio Morales ordered on Friday the six-month suspension of four local officials in Sulu for irregularity in the filing of their Statements of Assets and Liablities Net Worth.

Ordered suspended were Sulu Vice Governor Abdusakur Tan, Mayor Samier Abubakar Tan of Maimbung and Mayor Al-Zhudurie Asmadun of Lugus for violating Section 8 of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, or Republic Act 6713.

The Office of the Ombudsman said Vice Governor Tan, and Mayors Tan and Asmadun habitually failed to file their SALN on or before April 30 of every year.

Governor Tan filed his SALNs for 2013 and 2014 without executing under oath, it added.

He was found guilty of simple neglect of duty and was ordered suspended for one month.

Under the law, all public officials and employees are required to annually file under oath, their SALNs and a disclosure of business interests and financial connections and those of their spouses and unmarried children under 18 years of age living in their households.

If US troops leave, be ready—Recto

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

S

ENATE Minority Leader Ralph Recto has said he will “not oppose” President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to “mothball the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca)” but the Philippines should be ready to “finance and fill” whatever logistical void is left by American troops.

“The vacuum will be felt more in disaster relief operations because in many typhoons in the past, Americans have been the first responders, even sending entire carrier battle groups to help in rescue and reconstruction,” Recto said.

“And in this era of climate change, with its powerful typhoons, we need all the help we can get due to our lack of resources to airlift aid to damaged places,” he also said.

Recto said Duterte’s statement that he would “not want

to see any military man of any other nation except for the Philippine soldier” in the country should not be read by other nations as “a signal that their troops, even in mercy missions, are no longer allowed to set foot here.”

If Duterte’s latest announcement morphs into policy, Recto said the government should be able to make the distinction, that while it no longer welcomes foreign boots on the ground to fight our wars, it would welcome them still if they’re from workmen doing non-security

chores,” Recto said.

“There’s an element of internationalism in doing calamity relief so it is hoped that Duterte’s self-reliant defense posture should not dampen the desire of other countries to send their troops to help us in our time of need,” Recto said.

On Edca, the minority bloc leader said his position from Day One is to have it ratified by the Senate.

“And I have issued statements, signed reports and voted for a resolution that the consent of the Senate must first be secured to make it binding.”

“There was a proper way in doing it, but the Senate was bypassed, and I think one of the reasons for Edca’s vulnerability is that it did not get the seal of approval of an institution that was supposed to ratify it,” he further stated.

Recto said Edca’s “sidelining” will not radically alter US-Philippine relations. “Edca sprang from the US-PH Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951 and the Visiting Forces Agreement. It

is the offspring of these two pacts. And we’re not abrogating them.”

Recto said many quarters believe that the objective of the MDT “can be advanced sans Edca.”

In the event of Edca’s downgrading, Recto said it will be up to the diplomatic skills of Duterte officials to negotiate the retention of Edca’s “humanitarian assistance and disaster response [HADR]” component.

“Edca allows the ‘storage and prepositioning of HADR equipment, supplies and material.’ It is to our country’s benefit that such an arrangement will continue to be in force,” he said.

In the aftermath of typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ in November 2013, the US military sent the USS George Washington carrier strike group, dispatched 13,400 personnel including Marines in two ships, deployed 66 aircraft and 12 other ships.

In June 2008, the USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike group also parked itself in the Visayan Sea to bring aid to victims of typhoon ‘‘Frank.’’

GCG chief quits, first among Du30 appointees

By Gabrielle Marie Consuelo H. Binaday CHAIRMAN Jose Maria Flores II has resigned from his post at the Governance Commission for Government -Owned and -Controlled Corporations after less than three months in office, making him the first member of the Duterte administration to quit.

Flores’ resignation, according to GCG director Gene Carlo Tupalan, was effective last October 24. Flores was sworn into office by Duterte last August 2 in Malacañang.

“Atty. Jaime Ma. F. Flores II has resigned from his position as Chairman of the Governance Commission for Government Owned or Con-

trolled Corporations [GCG] effective on 24th of October 2016,” the GCG said in a statement.

The GCG said it is waiting for the official acceptance of the chairman’s resignation from the Office of the President.

“Nevertheless, despite the chairman’s resignation, the GCG will continue to function and perform its legal mandate as a collegial body,” it said.

“As an agency attached to the Office of the President, the GCG will abide by the directives to be later set out by the OP. We assure the transacting public that our services will not be hampered and we will continue to serve the Filipino People as always,” it added.

EO counts on tribal leaders for peace panel’s guidance

By John Paolo Bencito ETHNIC groups and tribal leaders will form part of an advisory council that will help provide guidance to the peace negotiations with the communist rebels and the creation of a Bangsamoro enabling law, Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza said on Friday.

An executive order, which will pave the way for the reconstitution of a more inclusive and more transparent Bangsamoro Transition Commission is now awaiting the signature of the President. It counts on ethnic minorities to play an important role in ensuring the success of the peace negotiations, Dureza said. “[T]he IPs compose a very important sector in our work. I have already taken up that with the President and he approved,”

Dureza said. “[T]his will be the first that we will be having what we will call the IP advisory council that will advise the panels—panel that is handling the BTC, panels handling the CPP-NPA-NDF— so may inputs sila doon sa mangyayari [they have inputs on what would happen].”

Dureza maintained that the active participation of indigenous peoples’ is essential to ensure that the peace negotiations will culminate in the ending of armed insurgencies and the achievement of a just, sustainable peace across the country.

“They have an opportunity to express their intention to be included in the law so we will be creating an IP advisory council that will advise the OPAPP and provide inputs to all the panels,” he further explained.

DISBARMENT. Former National Bureau of Investigation lawyer Reynaldo Esmeralda (left), Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption chairman Dante Jimenez, whistleblower Sandra Cam and former NBI officer Ruel Lasala sign documents seeking the disbarment of Senator Leila De Lima for gross immorality, violation of lawyer’s oath and the code of professional responsibility at the Supreme Court. Lino Santos (Story on A1)

Groups unite to end abuse of workers THE Philippine Association of Legitimate Service Contractors, linked up with other groups with the hopes of sending a united voice to end the illegal employment practice of “contractualization” or “End of Contract,” more popularly known as “endo” and “5-5-5.’’

During its recent General Membership Meeting held in this city, Palscon invited various employers’ groups and other associations such as the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, the Makati Business Club, the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries of the Philippines Inc. and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to name a few, for a dialogue on the issue.

The objective of the historic dialogue between Palscon and the associations was to unite and find winnable solutions to end “Endo” and “5-5-5.”

Many from the government and labor groups are clamoring for an end to these illegal labor practices that they see as detrimental to the economy and the growth of the Filipino labor force.

Palscon has come up with a draft manifesto and provided it to all the groups, who promised to look and review said manifesto. As soon as all issues are thoroughly discussed, Palscon and the groups will issue a joint statement regarding the result of their discussion.

Ecop president Donald Dee said he welcomed the invitation of Palscon to dialogue regarding the issue. “We are glad that Palscon invited us to sit down with them together with other concerned groups and hopefully, we can resolve this together very soon.”

George Barcelon, president of PCCI, for his part, said that they fully support Palscon and the call to end “Endo” and “55-5”once and for all.

Both acknowledged that Palscon’s draft manifesto is a good step to have the voice of the service contractors be heard and promised that they will both study its contents.

“Time and again, Palscon is at the forefront of combating illegal labor practices. ‘Service contracting’ is already a globally accepted labor trend.

Our objective is to help educate the public and our Filipino workers and of course the government regarding service contracting and hopefully, we will reach our objective together with our partners here today,” declares Rhoda Caliwara, president of Palscon.

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016

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EDITORIAL

Face value

I

F WE are to go by the glowing statements made in the aftermath of President Rodrigo Duterte’s trip to China last week, we would say it was a huge success.

We were able to renew our ties with our neighbor, calm the tension brought by the territorial dispute and the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that was favorable to us but not to China, and assure it that we were willing to pursue bilateral relations instead of involving other parties in our issues.

Adelle Chua, Editor

In fact Mr. Duterte felt so comfortable with his Chinese hosts that he was able to say anew how he really felt about the United States, announcing our separation with it. Hurray for independent foreign policy.

For those inclined to rely on empirical proof, however, the best manifestation of the trip’s suc-

cess was the pledge of billions of dollars worth of loans and investments for the country.

The thinking goes that all the provocative talk was for theatrical purposes; what really matters are the infrastructure, the jobs and eventual income that would eventually redound to the Filipino people.

For many, this was a good-enough tradeoff.

Unfortunately, we now hear reports that exaggerations may have been made. Some of the Chi-

nese firms which have supposedly pledged to undertake big-ticket projects in the Philippines may have blemished records: banned due to malpractice or involved in accidents in other countries. At least one has been said to be undercapitalized, hence lacking in capability for the projects they have committed.

A lawmaker on Thursday emphasized the need to conduct due diligence on the projects that would be undertaken by foreign governments and corpo-

rations in the country.

This call is an insult to every member of the team that went out there and went for the pledges. It assumes that they do not know how fundamental it is to know, foremost, the kind of entities they are dealing with. It tells us they are gullible enough to fall for false representations or stupid enough to still deal with these firms.

Worse, it presupposes that the government is just too desperate to report to the people that there were pledges, what-

ever the quality of these pledges are. Sounds a lot like embellishments— no, lies.

It would be good if the reports we received reflected whatever it was that was happening, and we did not have to read the fine print to know what is truly going on.

Filipinos are still getting used to their President saying one thing and his subalterns insisting he really meant another. How easy and simple it would be if we could take our leader’s words at face value.

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

More on Bistek Bautista’s mismanagement of QC

Juan Ledesma, Brothers Jose Blanco, Benny Mayo, George Gorospe, hitched a ride in several trucks and finally arrived in Manila. They recounted how rough the ride had been with the tenwheelers appearing to jolt every now and then, but they arrived in the city. At La Ignaciana, they learned that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt had died.”

As the war ends, Padre Roque shares a story about his encounter with a dead Japanese soldier and the truth about humanity he learns from that experience. I reproduce the Filipino version followed by the English translation in parenthesis: “Nakita ko roon ang isang sundalong Hapon na nakabulagta. Nakilala kong sundalong Hapon siya dahil sa kaniyang mga sapatos. Pero wala siyang ibang suot maliban sa sapatos. Siya ay hubo’t hubad at ang kaniyang ari ay nakatayo.

May nagsabog ng lupa sa kanyang katawan. At may nagtapon ng aseyteng itim sa kaniyang mukha. Pero kitang-kita mo pa ang huling damdamin niya bago

AS DISCUSSED in the previous essay, Quezon City has been mismanaged by the incumbent city mayor, Herbert “Bistek” Bautista, and his allies in the city council.

The mayor’s younger brother, Quezon City Councilor Hero Bautista, used to head the city council’s very powerful infrastructure committee until he went on leave after he publicly admitted being a drug addict. This drug scandal prompted a noted civic group to file criminal and administrative charges against the Bautista brothers before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Many residents of Quezon City suspect that the numerous squatter colonies in the city provide sanctuary for drug dealers and addicts. These colonies consist of intricate nooks and alleys which make them ideal hideouts for drug pushers and their willing victims. Veteran policemen find it difficult and dangerous to chase criminals inside these squatter colonies.

Not everybody who lives in these squatter colonies is poor.

The shanties have access to electricity, and many of them have modern amenities including cable television connection, internet access, and even air-conditioning.

Enterprising colony dwellers operate stores, beauty shops and lotto outlets; adjacent sidewalks are often cluttered with cages holding fighting cocks; and gambling openly takes place at nighttime. Many dwellers own vehicles, motorcycles, or tricycles.

Roads near squatter colonies become makeshift wakes and gambling casinos whenever somebody in the colony dies.

The big squatter colonies are located at the back of the Lung Center of Philippines, at New Manila, at the Araneta Avenue area near the Quezon City-Manila border, and along the entire stretch of Commonwealth Avenue up to Fairview.

They have been in the city for decades, and they actually expanded under the Bautista administration.

Every local government tax assessor knows that the government collects more taxes (real estate taxes, business taxes, etc.) from real properties that are actually utilized by their lawful owners. On the other hand, when real property is occupied by squatters, the government is unable to collect taxes. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the city that squatter colonies are dismantled, and that the real

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Excerpts from Padre Roque’s ‘Glimpses’ EAGLE EYES TONY LA VIÑA IN MY last column, I recommended to my readers for themselves and for gift-giving in the coming holiday season Jesuit philosopher and priest Roque Ferriols’ “Glimpses into my beginnings,” published by the Ateneo University Press and edited

by Dr. Leovino Garcia.

In this column, I share excerpts from the book, including in a couple of instances, the original Filipino text (the original title is “Sulyap sa aking pinanggalingan”) as translated by Dr. Soledad Reyes. Sol, who was my English teacher and who influenced me strongly as a writer and humanist in my formative years, is the country’s most influential cultural thinker.

Reading the original and English versions side by side and one after the other is an immensely enjoyable experience.

The book is about the first four

years of Padre Roque as a Jesuit, covering the years 1941 to 1945, thus the setting is the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, from the capture to the liberation of Manila. The Ateneo de Manila is frequently mentioned in the Ferriols narrative as that was where the young Jesuits went when the war began. See how in the excerpt below, Padre Roque describes both the encounter with Japanese planes and his love for the Ateneo.

“Then we received a new order. ‘Proceed to Ateneo Padre Faura.’ Once again, we slung our laundry bags over our shoulders. One group passed by the Lourdes Church, where American soldiers and marines were deployed. One of them approached Brother Arevalo and said, ‘My youngest brother I left back home looks like you.’ Our group left through the iron door of the fortress. We found ourselves on Bonifacio Drive. There were huge real palm trees. All of a sudden, a squadron of Japanese planes came out of the blue, and they seemed to poised to strafe us. Down we dove under the

trees, although we were certain the trees would not be able to protect us, but we had nowhere to go. But the planes just flew overhead and then vanished. We got back on our feet and hastily ran past the monument of

The book delights the reader with spiritual insights that can help the reader’s faith grow.

Legaspi and Urdaneta, past the Rizal monument, into Florida Street, until we reached the Ateneo on Padre Faura. Until that day, this was the only Ateneo I knew because I spent my high school years here. But the memories were deeply etched in my

mind. I would say even then that I could be forcibly taken from the Ateneo, but never would the Ateneo be taken away from me.”

Four years later, Padre Roque narrates the return of the Jesuits to Manila as the war begins to wind down: “Thousands of people left Manila when it became clear that war was imminent, and now that the bloody encounters were gradually ending, they decided to return. The scholastics who had earlier left for home were also coming back to the Jesuit houses, even those who fought in the war, bent to pursue their vocation. The scholastics who went to Baguio endured much hardship.

The American troops could not scale the mountainous Baguio.

And when the Jesuits saw the effects of continuous bombing of Engineering Hill, they decided to trek down the hill. They traveled on foot through the hilly city until they reached the town of Tubao in La Union. By this time, the Americans were in control of the town. The Americans had tenwheeler trucks that went regularly to Manila. The Jesuits—Fr.

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Opinion BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

A win-win solution TODAY, we have a fixed mini- hibited because cooperativism mum wage that almost nobody is contrary to the rights of labor. observes. It is enforced without Their right cannot be delegated regard to the affordability of the without infringing their status employer to pay. It is more of a as free men.

Wage deregulation is a winpolitical appeasement that stultifies the income of our workers win solution because workers and nullifies our long-range eco- will be assured of their security nomic development goal. Legis- of tenure until they reach the lated wage has no consideration retirement age. The only varito the workers’ length of service ation is that the accumulated much that it applies irrespective and incremental benefits like of whether one is regular, per- the SSS, PhilHealth, employee’s manent, casual or temporary. It compensation, Pag-IBIG Home is costly because employers are Fund, and other non-wage benforced to make wage adjustment efits must continue to increase, to prevent wage distortion with- counted on the day they were out considering the skill, expe- employed and registered with rience and productive output of the system up to the time of the individual worker to merit their retirement. Contribution to the system will be based on the grant of adjusted wage.

Legislated wage is now prov- their length of service.

Accumulated and incremental ing to be expensive because employers engaging the services of benefits should be controlled by contracted-out workers remain the state much that as the worksolidarily liable for the payment ers grow old, their need for such of backwages and other benefits benefits becomes more urgent. to contracted-out workers ille- Through this method, the state gally terminated through their will be able to save and provide crafted two-tier contracting sys- a more comprehensive health tem before six months to prevent care, hospitalization, medical them from becoming permanent. service and pension funds for Whether it is a case of il- our retirees, most especially if legal termination or for viola- they are disabled.

Workers should not begrudge tion of the minimum wage and incremental and accumulated their reduced take-home pay bebenefits, employers engaging cause they will get more than the the services of labor-only con- equivalent of what they initially tractors must pay the monthly lost as a result of wage deregupremium fee just the same. Be- lation. Foremost, it will result cause competition is cutthroat, in the revival of trade unionism and give them instead of deducting their the opporpremium fees tunity to become regular, from employerbenef iciar ies, As production recover their lost amount of they deduct wage through it from their increases, collective barcontracted-out employers gaining agreeworkers for ment, enjoy fear of losing will hire more added incentheir contract workers. tives of seniorfor manpower ity rights and services. This reduces further length of serthe contractedvice, merits ratout workers’ net earnings be- ing, and other non-wage benefits cause this is in addition to their employers are willing to offer.

Employers, on the other hand, withholding tax, SSS contributions, PhilHealth, and other will be forced to revert back to the old system of direct hirmoney-making insurance.

Notorious labor-only contrac- ing because deregulated wage tors make their double killing means they can hire workers at by charging both employer- cheaper cost to economically beneficiaries and their contract- defeat the purpose of labor-only ed-out workers without their contracting. Besides, labor-only knowledge or for the fact that contracting is anachronistic to the agency is a front of the cor- the system of deregulated wage. poration engaging the services Employers now will find the payment premium and placeof contracted-out workers.

The high value of the dollar ment fees as added expenses Deregulated wage is fair beand other currencies against the peso is only incidental. cause it will operate within the Overseas employment is more parameter on what the economy stable and secure as they offer dictates, and not on what the law incentives of increased salary says. The only instance where for length of service, merit rat- the state should be allowed to ing and other benefits for which intervene is when unions are they are able to remit sufficient engaged in a cabo system or is amount to afford them to buy promoting an ideology which house and lot, send their chil- has nothing to do in improving dren to college, provide them the welfare of the members.

The effect in the reduction of little savings for hospitalization and other emergency needs, and wage will have great impact in to enjoy simple amenities as the cost of production. Residually, it will increase our competgesture for their labor.

This explains why we have a itiveness, commonly referred to continuing diaspora of Filipino by David Ricardo as “comparaworkers. Our overseas workers tive advantage.” As production pay a terrible price of broken increases, employers will hire families and eroded moral values. more workers. Our locally manWorse, the Department of ufactured goods will be able to Labor and Employment has al- ward off imports through lower lowed cooperatives fronting as production cost, not through workers’ cooperatives to openly tariff that made a double kill of supply labor on the naive belief reducing our customs revenue. that the workers themselves ben- Our exports will likewise have efit from such unusual endeav- a chance to increase because we or. It is those that control the co- would now be able to compete operatives that make profit but in the world market. cleverly calling it dividend. This rpkapunan@gmail.com modus operandi should be pro-

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siya namatay. Ang mukha niya ay mukha ng isang bata na natatakot. Kung ano man ang huling nakita niya, ito ay ikinatakot niya. At may tinig na nagsabi sa akin: “Huwag mong kalilimutan na pati ang mga Hapon ay mga tao. Huwag mong kalimutan iyan kailanman. Lahat ng mga tao ay tao.” (“I saw a dead Japanese soldier sprawled on the street, face up. I knew he was a Japa-

nese soldier because of his shoes.

Except for his pair of shoes, he was not wearing anything. He was completely naked, and his penis was erect. Someone threw some earth at his body. Oil had been dumped on his face. But you could make out the emotions he had before he died. His face was that of a young boy gripped by fear. The last thing he saw in his dying moments was what triggered his fears. And a voice told me, “Don’t forget that these Japanese are human. Never for-

EVERYMAN

By Chin Wong ONE of my favorite childhood memories is walking along Rizal Avenue and stopping by each bookstore along the way.

This was the tail end of the 1960s, and my brother, who must have been 14 or 15 at the time— four years my senior—would start from my aunt’s apartment on Ongpin Street with me in tow.

We would begin at National Book Store at the corner of Soler and Avenida Rizal and walk toward Azcarraga, (now C.M. Recto Avenue), making stops at Goodwill Bookstore, then Alemar’s.

Sometimes, we would also stop by a hole-in-the-wall second-hand bookstore, where my brother—a fan of detective fiction at the time—would pick up old issues of Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine.

Often, we would also walk to T. Pinpin to visit yet another shop near the Escolta, Bookmark.

Like my mom, my brother was a voracious reader—and I tagged along on his bookstore jaunts. Paperbacks were cheap at the time—maybe P1 or P2 each. While my brother scoured the shelves for his favorites—Leslie Charteris and Agatha Christie, I mainly admired the artwork on the Mickey Spillane books that featured

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A lost pleasure provocatively clad women.

And, of course, there were the comic books.

One year, we built up a sizable collection of Spider-Man, The X-men and The Avengers issues during a massive sale at National Book Store.

Although our interests were narrow at that age, the bookstores were well stocked with a good variety of books covering many forms of fiction and many areas of non-fiction. Most would have fairly extensive collections of classic literature on paperback.

As we grew older and our interests broadened, we discovered the other shelves—science fiction, fantasy, modern fiction and non-fiction. Years later, it was through these bookstores that I came to obtain my own copies of the works of Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, Kurt Vonnegut, Isaac Asimov, Jack Vance, J. R. R. Tolkien, Truman Capote, Gay Talese, Tom Wolfe, Theodore H. White, David Halberstam and many others.

In a pre-digital age where the printed page was a window to a wider world, bookstores were portals, and there was magic on the shelves—and even in the bargain bins.

Years later when I traveled abroad as a young man, I discovered even bigger stores such

as Barnes & Noble and Borders, where I could stay for the entire afternoon, wondering which of the many hardcover books I found I could actually afford to lug home with me.

As an early chronicler of computer technology, I had always believed that all the world’s wisdom—its art, its history, humanity’s collective knowledge—could one day be preserved in digital form, perhaps like Asimov’s fictional Encyclopedia Galactica from his Foundation books. Today, the Internet is the repository of much of this knowledge, and people routinely buy electronic books for their e-book readers, computers, tablets or phones. Or, they order a hardcover or paperback copy of books online.

All this has taken its toll on brick-and-mortar bookstores. In the United States, for example, a series of mergers and bankruptcies that began in the 1990s left Barnes & Noble as the last remaining national bookstore chain. In 2011, Borders declared bankruptcy and liquidated its 399 stores.

Here at home, the bookstores have all but withered away, or become something else altogether. National Book Store has become a chain of shops selling textbooks, school supplies and stationery, with a few

shelves of books thrown in just to maintain the facade that it is still a book seller. Goodwill and Bookmark, though they still exist, are practically invisible. Alemar’s, it seems, has been long gone.

The entry of Fully Booked in 2003 was a breath of fresh air, with well stocked shelves and a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction books, decked out in a pleasant atmosphere that actually encouraged people to sit and read—a far cry from some of the old stores that wrapped their books tightly in plastic and admonished shoppers with signs that said “No Private Reading.”

But 13 years later, Fully Booked—with perhaps the exception of its Bonifacio High Street branch—seems to have gone the way of National Book Store, hawking stationery, art supplies and doodads, and a narrow selection of books pandering to a market made up almost exclusively of “young adults” or “millennials.”

What are the rest of us supposed to read?

There are online stores, of course, but these simply don’t evoke the kind of anticipation, wonder and excitement that the old bookstores did, when I went exploring, first with my brother, then on my own, through aisles and aisles of books.

Imagining federalism would be the lucky guy at that time. O, ‘di, limitahan mo lang.

Ceremonial powers. Power to dissolve, power to accept the resolution or whatever, mandating you this, do that, or ceremonial powers except yung in times of need, if there’s a demand for action. You must have a president. Wala na ako niyan. I said if you can give me that document, I will urge you to conduct a—to order — to order, call for an election the following day, following week. And even if there is still two years, three years I will go….”

Duterte’s party, the PDP-Laban, has been the foremost proponent of Federalism which seeks to redistribute power and resources from “Imperial Manila” to regions left behind by rising economic growth, particularly resource-rich but underdeveloped Mindanao.

In a recent speech at conference of local government executives, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III declared that Filipinos are “ready for federalism” and the “conditions are ripe” for changing the 1987 Constitution.

“We must act quickly. There is no time to lose,” said Pimentel, whose father, then Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., first proposed the shift, 30 years ago, from a unitary/presidential to a federal/parliamentary system of government.

Charter change The prospects for charter change in Duterte’s time is undoubtedly favorable, given the

high popularity and trust ratings of the first president from Mindanao and his administration’s supermajority in both Houses of Congress.

The latest Pulse Asia survey, conducted from July 2-8, 2016, shows that 44 percent of Filipinos do not want charter change at this time, 37 percent are in favor, while 19 percent are undecided.

Compared to the November 14, 2015 survey, the numbers of those who oppose charter change have gone down, from 49 to 44 percent, while those supportive of the move have increased from 27 to 37 percent, Pulse Asia pointed out.

It also said that majority of Filipinos (73 percent) have “little” to “no knowledge” of the Constitution and that many are not aware (59 percent) of the plans to amend the constitution.

Initiatives to amend or change the 1987 charter failed during the presidencies of Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph Estrada, and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The Philippines has had three constitutions since the antiSpanish revolutionary forces led

by Emilio Aguinaldo adopted the Malolos Constitution in 1899 that saw the birth of Asia’s First Republic.

The 1935 Constitution was crafted under the auspices of US colonial authorities; the 1973 Constitution was ratified during the martial law regime of President Ferdinand Marcos, while the 1987

Constitution was a by-product of the revolutionary government of President Corazon Aquino.

In an interview with a Japanese newspaper Manila Shimbun, Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Institute for Economic and Electoral Reform (IPER), said: “The president wants to finish the whole thing in 4-5 years before he leaves office. The current deadline says by the end of the year there should be a draft because there is a proposal on the table to convene a constitutional commission which will actually formalize the draft.”

“The target is in two years time there should be an approved constitution so the ratification will be simultaneous with the 2019 general elections, and the transition will be from 2019 to 2022,” said Casiple who is a member of the Federalism study group of the PDP-Laban.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has submitted a draft Executive Order to the Office of the President proposing the creation of a Constitutional Commission which will not only flesh out the Federalist structure but also “entirely overhaul” the current constitution.

The members of the Concom will be appointed by President Duterte and is expected to finish the draft in six months which will then be submitted for approval by Congress sitting as a Constituent Assembly, Alvarez said.

Continued tomorrow

oped by their lawful owners.

Why then does Mayor Bautista’s administration tolerate the squatter colonies in Quezon City?

Answer—the city government allows these colonies to remain where they are, in exchange for the thousands of votes they deliver during elections.

The old, decripit cinema houses along Aurora Boulevard in Cubao, which dominated the district in the 1970s and the 1980s, still operate despite an obvious dearth in regular clientele. There are complaints that they are filthy, and that they are used as make-shift motels by sexual perverts.

Prostitution houses masquerading as bars proliferate in the side streets near these dilapidated theaters. They operate apparently with the permission of the city government, even if there is a private school for girls just meters away.

Many sidewalks in Quezon City are occupied by parked vehicles.

Thus, pedestrians are forced to walk on the streets and narrow the road space available to vehicles. Anybody who has been to Bohol Avenue, Timog Avenue, West Avenue, and Katipunan Avenue knows this.

The Quezon City government under Mayor Bautista has not done anything to solve this problem.

A skyscraper of stratospheric proportions is quickly rising at the corner of Edsa and Quezon Avenue.

Motorists headed for Edsa from Commonwealth Avenue can readily see that this building is so tall, it drawfs the nearby Quezon Monument. Isn’t there an existing city ordinance which prohibits constructing in Quezon City any structure higher than the Quezon Monument?

Even assuming that the said city ordinance has been repealed, that building ruins the skyline and destroys the majesty of the Quezon Monument. Are the nation’s heritage conservationists—the ones who opposed the Torre de Manila building in Manila on the ground that it ruins the background of the Rizal Monument—aware of this radical construction allowed by Quezon

City local government authorities?

The old reliable Manila Seedling Bank, which used to provide the public with tree seedlings, closed shop during the watch of Mayor Bautista. Located at the corner of Edsa and Quezon Avenue, the seedling bank contributed to the greening of the metropolis. Alas, the land on which the seedling bank once stood became too valuable for the city government to ignore.

Although the seedling bank had vested rights over the land it was using, the city government managed to evict the seedling bank. A veteran newspaper columnist, now deceased, exposed the details of this anomaly.

His exposés can still be read in the internet.

During the incumbency of Mayor Adelina Rodriguez, the Quezon City Hall compound included a small forest located between Kalayaan Avenue and the main entrance along the Elliptical Road. Carnivals used to be held there during the yuletide season.

That forest is gone. It has been replaced by several makeshift structures, a filthy depot, and a two-storey office building bear-

ing the sign, “Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs.” Since the sign is in wrong English (the word “the” is not necessary), some officials in Quezon City Hall should take a crash course in basic English.

Even if the mayor used to be a comedian in Philippine cinema, that sign isn’t funny to many.

When Quezon City was established during the commonwealth era, President Manuel L. Quezon envisioned the city as the haven of the Filipino workingman. Sadly, the Quezon City of today is nowhere near that description. Taxes in Quezon City are among the highest in Metropolitan Manila. A number of city councilors are facing graft raps in the Ombudsman. The city mayor beats up suspects on live television, and went on a needless junket to Norway at government expense.

His brother, a city councilor who heads a powerful committee, is a drug addict. Quezon City Hall employees have a parking lot taxpayers cannot use.

What a way to remember President Quezon on the 77th anniversary of the city named in his honor.

get this. All human beings are human.”)

Aside from stories about the war, the book delights the reader with spiritual insights that can help the reader’s faith grow. For example, Padre Roque writes about the song of silence when he wrote about the 30-day Ignatian retreat as a first year Jesuit novice (again I reproduce the original text first, followed by the English translation in parenthesis:) “At bakit kailangang manatiling tahimik ang mga gumaga-

nap sa banal na pagsasanay?

Itong mabigat na pasanin, na huwag magsalita, ay unti-unting nagiging isang kaibigan, sapagkat sa katahimikan naririning ang salita ng Diyos, at natatauhan ang tao na ang Diyos ang naghahanap sa kanya. Hindi mo maririnig sa hangin ang salita ni Jesus, pero sa katahimikan maririnig siya. Kailangan ng isang tagapagturo, upang makilatis nang matino ang tawag ni Kristo.” (“And why do those who take the retreat need to remain

silent? Gradually, this heavy burden of keeping quiet becomes a friend, because only in silence can one hear the voice of God, as man realizes that it is God who is searching for him. You do not hear the words of Jesus in the wind, but in silence. A teacher is needed to explain the call of Christ clearly and wisely.”)

For those giving the Ferriols book as Christmas gift, Padre Roque shares a lovely poem.

In a world of so much cruelty and hatred, in the Philippines

where rich people and the elite are cheering the massacre of the poor, this poem, written when war was in the air, resonates loudly: “What are your dreams, my little king, asleep on the manger straw? Are you dreaming of play mid the stars in swing that cherubs rock to and fro? But down his cheek rolls a little tear and angels whisper in my ear, “He is dreaming of saving you?”

By Virgilio C. Galvez Part 1 UNDER President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s watch, will federalism grow sturdy like a molave or remain as the mythical tikbalang in our imagination?

The former mayor from Davao sowed the seeds of federalism during his presidential campaign.

With his landslide victory, his lieutenants are busy doing the groundwork for the big push for charter change.

In his first State-of-the-Nation Address, Duterte gave lawmakers advice on how to go about crafting the Federalist structure and even vowed to step down if it is adopted during his six-year term: “You know my advice to you is maintain a federal system, a parliament, but be sure to have a president. Huwag… Hindi na ako niyan. I’m disqualified and by that time I would longer be here. But, I can commit today to the Republic of the Philippines and its people: If you hurry up the federal system of government and you can submit it to the Filipino people by the fourth, fifth year, proseso ‘yan e. You call for a referendum and after that call for a presidential election, I will go. Sibat na ako.

But you just have a president. You copy the France system. Huwag mo hayaan yung puro na parliament. Delikado iyon. …You can have a president, you can elect. Maybe [Sen.] Tito Sotto

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Pangilinan: Farmers can increase their incomes

By Macon Ramos-Araneta through a multi-sectoral apSENATOR Francis Pangilinan has said farmers can supply the requirements of local and multinational food giants and increase their incomes in the process.

More than lack of capacities, Filipino farmers lack the confidence that they can meet the standards of food conglomerates, Pangilinan said during Thursday’s hearing on the Farmers and Fisherfolk Entrepreneurship and Development Act of 2016 or Sagip Saka.

Sagip Saka was Pangilinan’s program when he was on his second term as senator in 2012, when they partnered with the private sector to increase the income of select farmers’ cooperatives.

This bill aims to institutionalize that program, uplifting the lives and increase the income of farmers and fisherfolk through agricultural enterprise and development.

“From the norm of subsistence farming, we must move toward farming enterprise. Sagip Saka hopes to mobilize capital to the producer, the farmer,” Pangilinan said.

“We will be able to do this

proach. The government, the private sector, local government units, farmer and fisher groups working together,” he added.

Gisella Tiongson of the Jollibee Foundation shared how the program helped farmers reach their full potential. Sagip Saka and Jollibee partnered with the Kalasag Farmers Cooperative in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija in 2011.

“There is this lack of trust in our farmers, they themselves, and the other sectors,” she said.

Partly with Sagip Saka’s help, 20 percent of Jollibee’s vegetable requirements are now sourced directly from farmers groups, the Jollibee Foundation official said.

For Nestlé, Ruth Novales said her company was trying to change the mindset of the coffee farmers in Bukidnon, where Sagip Saka and Nestlé partnered.

The two-year partnership led to the tripling of the yield and income of the farmers.

“We want them to think as ‘agripreneurs’. We hope to make agriculture sexy again.

Because unlike what is generally believed, there is money in farming,” she said.

HOLIDAY RUSH. Vehicular traffic and stranded passengers, like this one in Metro Manila’s posh Makati City Friday, form part of the

godawful eyesores in the metropolis particularly during long weekends, with tens of thousands of residents working or off school going home to the provinces for the annual All Saints' Day celebration. Sonny Espiritu

Grant of P2,000 pension hike for SSS members supported

By Rio N. Araja

N

EWLY appointed Social Security System Chairman Amado Valdez on Friday said the agency backs the grant of a P2,000 pension increase for its two million pensioners—but with conditions.

Valdez told a news conference the pension hike that could total P56 billion could “go back to the economy, and create a lot of employment.”

“We are looking more at benefits than the contribution aspect,” he said, adding the pension increase could be granted on a staggered basis.

The agency is studying at least five options to implement P2,000 pension increase in the monthly

pension of retirees without impacting the welfare of its members.

“We need an additional P56 billion in the first year alone to fund the 12 monthly pensions and 13th month benefit of the SSS pensioners,” Valdez said.

At 8 percent, the disbursement of pension is rising since 2011, he said.

“Since 1980 to 2002, pensions went up to 20 percent and implemented a total of 19 times. There

were times [the increase] was implemented twice a year,” he added.

The members’ contribution rate was estimated at 8.4 percent for a 23-year period that brought about the funds’ short life, he noted.

The first option shall be implemented in P500 installments over four years to start next year.

Under the scheme, the life of the SSS fund could last up to 2027.

The second alternative could be implemented yearly based on five age groups.

The first tranche prioritizes those 70 years old and above.

The oldest pensioners, while the third option is somehow related to the second option, except the increase for the second tranche, shall have their pensions granted in 2019.

On the other hand, a retiree, under the fourth voluntary or compulsory option, could leave his or her P2,000 pension hike as a provident fund that could be withdrawn after five years.

Two or three other options are still being studied, Valdez said.

Meanwhile, a radio blocktimer earned the wrath of Valdez in a question-and-answer portion of the news conference.

He blocked the involved person, one Ed Dural, to further ask questions, saying “you stop.

I have to check it out if you really belong to that radio station [Radyo Inquirer].”

The new agency official welcomed the line of questioning of the other members of the media, and even called them his friends.

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street Manila 1004

Request for Expression of Interest for CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR THE TAX INCENTIVES DATABASE BUILDUP AND ANALYSIS (TIDBA) FOR TAX EXPENDITURE ESTIMATION AND POLICY ANALYSES PURPOSES 1.

2.

The Department of Finance (DOF), through the General Appropriations Act for CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of Seven Million Pesos (PhP7,000,000.00), being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC), to payments under the contract for Consultancy Services for the Tax Incentives Database Build-up and Analysis (TIDBA) for Tax Expenditure Estimation and Policy Analyses Purposes. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of the financial proposals.

The DOF now calls for the submission of eligibility documents for the procurement of consulting services of a consulting firm/company affiliated with an internationally recognized audit firm with extensive experience in large scale auditing and accounting projects in extractive and financial sectors. Interested consultants must submit their eligibility documents on or before November 7, 2016, 09:45 a.m. at the BAC Secretariat, c/o General Services Division, 7th Floor EDPC Building, Roxas Blvd., Malate, Manila. Applications for eligibility will be evaluated based on a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion.

The BAC shall draw up the short list of consultants from those who have submitted eligibility documents and have been determined as eligible in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 9184 (RA No. 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The short list shall consist of at least one (1) prospective bidder who will be entitled to submit bids. The criteria and rating system for short listing are: I. II. III.

Applicable Experience Quality of Personnel to be Assigned Capacity to Execute the Project Total

-

25% 60% 15% 100%

The passing score is at least seventy percent (75%).

4.

5.

House panel approves 100-day maternity leave THE House of Representatives’ committee on women and gender equality has endorsed for plenary approval a bill to increase the maternity leave period to 100 days with pay and an option to extend for an additional 30 days without pay for female workers.

“The bill reached second reading in the House and a version of the bill from the Senate was passed and transmitted for concurrence during the 16th Congress,”

said Diwa Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar who chairs the committee.

The measure aims to protect the maternal and postnatal health of female employees as well as the welfare of the child.

Once passed, House Bill 4113 or the “100-Day Maternity Leave Law” will also assure the security of tenure to female workers who will receive not less than two-thirds of their regular monthly wages while on maternity leave.

Elizabeth Angsioco,

national chairperson of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines and one of the resource persons during the committee hearing, said the existing maternity leave benefit of 60 to 78 days was extremely inadequate.

“We belong to a group of countries with the shortest maternity leaves in the whole world based on the International Labor Organization resources,” she said.

Rio N. Araja

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the IRR of RA No. 9184.

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.

‘Cremate, but don’t keep ashes’

The Procuring Entity shall evaluate bids using the Quality Cost Based Evaluation (QCBE) procedure. The Procuring Entity shall indicate the weights to be allocated for the Technical and Financial Proposals. The criteria and rating system for the evaluation of bids shall be provided in the Instructions to Bidders.

By Vito Barcelo

6.

The contract shall be completed within a period of twelve (12) months from issuance of Notice to Proceed.

7.

The DOF reserves the right to reject any and all bids, annul the bidding process, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

8.

For further information, please refer to: Lilia R. Tan, Head - BAC Secretariat Department of Finance BAC Secretariat, General Services Division 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex P. Ocampo, Sr. Street corner Roxas Boulevard, Manila Telephone No.: 526-8475 Telefax No.: 525-4227 Email Address: ltan@dof.gov.ph (SGD) GIL S. BELTRAN Undersecretary and BAC Chairman

(MS-OCT. 29, 2016)

THE overcrowding of cemeteries in Metro Manila has prompted the Catholic Church to approve cremation but discouraged the faithful from keeping the ashes in their homes or scattering it on open land or sea.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said the government or private companies should already build new cemeteries to accommodate the growing number of the dead.

The CBCP said the cremated re-

mains of the body be treated with respect, including the use of a “worthy urn” for it.

The CBCP also requires that a columbaria or a crypt be built to keep the ashes.

It said cremation is only prohibited if the person choosing such method is doing so to deny the teachings of the Church, especially that of the resurrection of the dead and the immortality of the soul.

The Catholic Church, however, continues to prefer and encourage the faithful to bury or entomb the bodies of their departed loved ones.

IN BRIEF Monsanto gives free check-up to 500 poor kids MONSANTO Philippines recently led a free medical outreach to over 500 children from underserved communities in Pulilan, Bulacan. In joint partnership with volunteer pediatricians and general medical practitioners in the area, the activity also provided vitamin supplements to sustainably address the different medical needs of young beneficiaries in the said area.

Monsanto’s Bulacan plant manager Kris Palarca shared that before the outreach, the company conducted surveys in terms of the health needs of the communities near the company’s Refuge-in-a-Bag Plant and cold warehouse located in Bulacan. Palarca said that despite some progress made in quality and affordable healthcare provisions, a number of children in the said area still continue to suffer from stunted growth, compromised cognitive development and poor physical health.

“This very helpful initiative by our colleagues at our Pulilan Plant aims to help sustain healthy communities where poverty and lack of basic healthcare remain daunting problems,” said Monsanto’s Corporate Affairs Lead Charina Ocampo. “Monsanto will continue to build strong roots in the local communities where we operate, empowering families not only in health, but also through education, livelihood and environment programs,” Ocampo added.

Aside from the medical check-up, Monsanto also entertained the kids with the presentation of the digital animation of Monsanto’s published children’s book titled Lina’s Town Rises Again, which was inspired by the tale of triumph of a lady corn farmer from Sultan Kudarat. Monsanto also gave copies of the said book along with school supplies such as crayons and coloring paper.

PAL prepares for ‘Undas’ long weekend PREPARATIONS are in place, including contingency measures, as Philippine Airlines braces for the large volume of passengers traveling to the provinces during this year’s All Saints’ and All Souls’ long weekend.

PAL advises its passengers flying to various domestic points or abroad for family vacations to allocate extra time in going to the airport due to heavy traffic around Naia’s four terminals.

PAL is dedicating more ground staff at Terminals 2 and 3 to assist passengers as the flag carrier expects its daily average of 130 flights capable of accommodating the increased number of passengers.

For any travel-related concerns, passengers may call PAL’s 24-hour Reservations hotline—855-8888. Travel updates will also be posted on PAL’s Facebook page.

Sports Pocari, BaliPure eye share of lead Games today

10:30 a.m. – IEM vs Army (Spikers) 12:30 p.m. – 100 Plus vs Cignal (Spikers) 4 p.m. – Pocari vs BaliPure (V-League) 6 p.m. – Air Force vs Customs (V-League)

POCARI Sweat and BaliPure clash Saturday in a potential semifinal match-up while Customs primes up for the Final Four against also-ran Air Force in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Reinforced Conference at the Philsports Arena.

Though assured of berths in the next round, the Lady Warriors and the Purest Water Defenders are still expected to pour it all out in their 4 p.m. encounter with a crack at No. 1 at stake in the penultimate elims playdate of the season-ending conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.

Toting identical 4-1 cards, Pocari and BaliPure could still end up at the top after the elims with frontrunning UST just a shade ahead at 5-1.

Customs, on the other hand, is fancied to get past ousted Air Force at 6 p.m. and close out its campaign in the league backed

by Mikasa as official ball and Accel as official outfitter at 5-2.

The Transformers-Jet Spikers clash will be shown live over ABS-CBN Sports + Action Channel 17 or 23 and via streaming on www.sports.abs-cbn.com and via streaming on www.vleague,ph, according to the organizing Sports Vision.

The Pocari-BaliPure duel, however, will be aired on a delayed basis.

The semis ranking remains unclear with the winner in the Pocari-BaliPure duel joining UST at No. 1. A Pocari victory will set the stage for a slambang final elims match between the Lady Warriors and the Tigresses on Wednesday.

One streak will actually be snapped in the Pocari-BaliPure clash with both teams racking up four straight victories each after dropping their respective opening game assignments.

A7

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

McIlroy shakes off rust; Matsuyama storms ahead S

HANGHAI—Rory McIlroy shook off the rust and regained his putting mojo Friday to climb into contention at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

McIlroy had just 26 putts en route to a 66 after taking 32 on the greens Thursday and moved to seven-under par for the tournament.

“When you miss a few putts it starts to get into your head a little bit, it was just hard,” he told AFP after his second round on

Friday. “I felt a little more comfortable with it today.”

McIlroy’s round was eclipsed by runaway leader Hideki Matsuyama who followed his opening 66 with a best-of-the-day 65 that contained nine birdies to open a three-shot advantage on 13-under par.

But Japan’s in-form Matsuyama put himself in pole position to the be the first man from the host continent to win “Asia’s Major” since it became a WGC event in 2009 with a round that contained nine birdies.

Matsuyama broke into the world’s top 10 for the first time following his second place finish behind Justin Thomas in the PGA Tour’s CIMB Classic in Malaysia last Sunday and victory at the Japan Open the week before.

He has already proved this year that he is the man for

the big occasion by finishing tied seventh at the Masters and tied fourth at the US PGA Championship.

“I haven’t really played well here before,” Matsuyama told reporters.

“I was a little bit nervous thinking it’s not going to be a good week for me. But then I decided, let’s just have fun this week. It’s made a difference.”

Three-week layoff He was one of only a handful of players to master the blustery conditions Friday by playing aggressively and peppering the

Arcilla seeks 4th net title

GOLF QUEEN. Thai Saruttaya Ngam-usawan (second from right) holds her trophy as she poses with (from left) Royal Northwoods Operations manager Ireneo Marcelo, low amateur Hwang Min-jeong of Korea and ICTSI Public Relations head Narlene Soriano after winning the ICTSI Royal Northwoods Ladies Challenge at Royal Northwoods Golf Club in San Rafael, Bulacan last Thursday.

Bodybuilding’s best clash

Shawn ‘Flexatron’ Rhoden, flaunts his awesome form during yesterday’s launch of the Shawn Rhoden Classic Philippines at the Gold Gym at Blueway Walk in Pasay. The Jamaican-American pro body builder and Fitness Pro Bikini champion Janet Layug will grace the SRC Philippines at SMX Convention Center Saturday.

THE country’s top bodybuilders, physique, fitness, figure and bikini contenders face off in the Shawn Rhoden Classic Philippines today, with various titles at stake at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay.

Categories on tap are the men’s Bodybuilding with the field vying in the below 65kg, 65-70kg, 754-80kg, above 80kg, novice and masters; the men’s Physique-Overall which features the novice, short and tall categories; the Classic Bodybuilding Open, the Women’s Figure Open, the Women’s Bikini Overall which features the short and tall events.

The prejudging will be held at 11 a.m. with the finals set at 5 p.m. For details, contact Gib Ang at

0918-9678192 or Oscar Gan at oscarpcbf@yahoo.com or visit Facebook/ShawnRhodenClassicPH. Shawn Rhoden and IFBB’s (International Federation of Body Building) and Fitness Pro Bikini champion Janet Layug will grace the event.

SRC Philippines is a franchise under Shawn “Flexatron” Rhoden, one of the top global names in bodybuilding. Rhoden began his endeavor in 1992 when he met with former Mr. Universe Yohnnie Shambourger who provided Shawn with superb blocks in bodybuilding. From then on, Shawn has become one of the most sculpted, muscular physiques today that he placed second in the

recently concluded 2016 Olympia.

Working on a “Dream to Believe” slogan, Rhoden is now a celebrated brand in the field and shares his dedication for bodybuilding to the rest of the world. His passion reached the Philippine scene in 2013 with the staging of the Shawn Rhoden Classic Philippines powered by Pro Media Productions and the Philippine Committee of Bodybuilding and Fitness (PCBF) with the support of IFBB. The SRC is currently the biggest, most prestigious bodybuilding and fitness event in the country as bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts from all over compete in the hopes of garnering recognition for their hard work.

Powerhouse Kamao faces Cavaliers ONE of the most awaited games in the UNTV Cup eliminations will happen this Sunday at the Pasig City Sports Center as the Malacañang Kamao plays defending champion AFP Cavaliers in the 5 p.m. main game of a triple-header.

UNTV Cup, now on its 5th season, is giving away more than P12 million pesos in total prizes to the chosen charities of all 13 participating government teams.

Malacañang Kamao, one of only two remaining unbeaten teams in the elimination round, currently leads Group A with a 3-0 slate.

Just behind them are the BFP Firefighters, who they have beaten last Sunday, 92-77.

The Cavaliers and Firefighters both have identical 2-1 records.

Kamao’s Ian Garrido, who was chosen Best Player of the Game against BFP, after post-

pins with arrow-straight iron play.

“I thought maybe just a couple under par would be a good score.

So I’m really happy with how it ended up today,” added the first Japanese player to be ranked in the top 10 since Jumbo Ozaki in April 1998.

Defending champion Russell Knox kept his hopes alive of becoming the first player to record back-to-back WGC-HSBC Champions wins with a 68 Friday to share second place on 10-under par with American Bill Haas, who carded a 67. AFP

Games on Sunday

(Pasig City Sports Center) 2 p.m. - GSIS vs NHA 3:30 p.m. - Senate vs BFP 5:00 p.m. - AFP vs Malacañang

ing 19 markers, six boards, three assists, a steal and a block, will have his hands full this time facing league veterans with championship experience like Jeffrey Quiambao and Ronaldo Pascual.

Also expected to be a good matchup is the battle of the league’s best point guards-AFP’s Boyet Bautista and Malacanang’s Eric dela Cuesta.

AFP’s only loss came at the hands of BFP, which Kamao knocked down in their last game.

In the first game at 2 p.m., GSIS and NHA try to go for win no. 2.

Both toting 1-2 records, NHA and GSIS will have to outsmart each other as they both need the victory in order

to advance to the next phase of the tournament.

With seven teams in Group B and only the top four advancing to the next round, the Builders and the Furies currently stand at 5th and 6th places, respectively.

The NHA Builders got their first win last Sunday-a comefrom-behind 102-100 squeaker over HOR Solons.

The GSIS Furies, on the other hand, got their first win two Sundays ago after defeating the last-placed DOJ Justice Boosters, 94-84.

In another game at 3:30 p.m., BFP tries to go bounce back as it tackles the Senate Defenders, who have a very slim chance of making it to the next round.

UNTV Cup Season 5, ang Liga ng Public Servants, is a brainchild of UNTV CEO and Mr. Public Service Kuya Daniel Razon and is aired by UNTV News and Rescue TV Channel.

JOHNNY Arcilla is brimming with confidence as he gears up for another crack at the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Open crown starting Monday for the Pintaflores Festival at the Sakata Tennis Club in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.

The Davis Cup veteran won the Olivarez Cup men’s Open crown last Aug., ruled the Tuna Festival Open in Gen. Santos City last September then dominated the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo last week, lining him up for another shot at a sweep of the five premier titles on the PPS-PEPP calendar for the second straight year.

The last PPS-PEPP Open tilt is the Dagitab Festival in Naga City, Cebu on Dec. 18-22.

But a slew of rivals are out to stop the many-time PCA Open champion, including Olivarez Cup finalist PJ Tierro and Leander Lazaro, whom Arcilla repulsed in Gen. Santos. Also in the fold are Vicente Anasta, Leander Lazaro, Fritz Verdad, Marc Reyes, Arvin Ruel and Roel Capangpangan.

“This is a great two weeks of tennis and we’re inviting all tennis aficionados and fans to watch the Pintaflores Tennis Festival, which features not just the country’s top and upcoming junior players but also the elite,” said San Carlos City Mayor Gerardo Valmayor Jr., who also cited the all-out support of local organizer councilor Criston Carmona and the LGUs of San Carlos.

Vazquez, Lopez in near brawl

By Ronnie Nathanielsz A NEAR brawl broke out between former world champions Wilfredo “Papito” Vázquez, Jr. (24-6-1, 19 KOs) and Juan Manuel “JuanMa” Lopez (34-5, 31 KOs) at a press conference during the traditional face-off picture in advance of this Saturday night’s grudge showdown, airing live on pay-per-view from Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“JuanMa Lopez and many people have belittled me. They have disparaged my sacrifice, the food that I put on the table for my family, but Saturday I will hurt him. I have a Machiavelli plan to destroy him so he will respect me. I respect everybody that has had a rough time,” said Vazquez.

Lopez responded by saying: “Vasquez was interrupting at all times during the press conference. He was singing out loud and during the face-to-face picture, he tried to kiss me and I did not permit. I understand that he’s afraid and what a better moment than in front of everybody including the press to release his emotions.”

Vazquez and even his wife have a history of getting on the nerves of opponents with their behavior.

It happened prior to his title defense against Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire at the Alamadome in Texas, when his wife insulted Nonito’s wife and champion blackbelter Rachel and nearly paid the price.

LOTTO RESULTS 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00 The Senate Defenders hope that Senator Joel Villanueva recovers from his injury and suits up against BFP on Sunday.

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

A8

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016

Sports

Manny Pacquiao (right) shows off his speed during a public workout.

Koncz: Pacquiao is 100 percent ready

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

E

IGHT-DIVISION world champion, Fighter of the Decade and Philippine senator Manny Pacquiao is ripped and ready to go after the WBO welterweight title currently held

by Jessie Vargas.

The former champion Pacquiao and current champion Vargas clash at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas on Nov. 6 (Manila time) in an eagerly awaited title fight, with the Top Rank card spiced up by the WBO super bantamweight title defense of Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire against unbeaten Jessie Magdaleno.

The fights will be telecast on ABS-CBN Sky Cable and Cignal

pay-per-view and on Solar Sports and GMA 7.

Former WBO/WBA flyweight champion Brian Viloria will be one of the TV panelists, alongside Mike Ochosa, now a Philippine boxing judge and this reporter/ columnist of the Manila Standard, philboxing and boxing scene.com and host of Viva Sports’ top-rating weekly show “The Main Event.”

Pacquiao’s longtime adviser

and confidant Michael Koncz told Manila Standard that “training was very good. Manny sparred six rounds with many-time sparring partner Ray Beltran. Manny is 100 percent ready for the fight.”

Speaking to members of the media after a light public workout the day before, Pacquiao said: “It took discipline to manage my time effectively, to balance my training camp and my senatorial duties. I feel good. Everyday, I was able to get in all my training.”

He added: “I ran every morning and did my strength and conditioning with Justin Fortune. I worked with Freddie every evening at the gym after work. There were some days where I would have to come in later if my work in the Senate demanded I stay

longer. Between the two jobs, I was averaging 14-hour workdays.

Luckily, the gym was very close to the Senate so I didn’t have to deal with traffic. I had no real free time to be with friends.”

Pacquiao said he is now well-rested.

“I arrived in the US Saturday evening and today, I feel I have recovered from my jet lag. I sparred six rounds yesterday [Tuesday with Ray Beltran]. I will spar Thursday, Saturday and Monday before driving to Las Vegas.”

Pacquiao revealed: “We have three different plans for Jessie Vargas. My first concern is for the fans, that the people who are going to watch the fight will be happy and satisfied. I want this to be a fight for fans to remember.”

The Filipino ring icon said he is fighting for history.

“I was the first sitting congressman to win a world title. For this one, it is not enough to be the first sitting senator to fight for a world title, I want to be the first senator to become world champion. For me, that would be quite an accomplishment,” he said.

The fighting senator also added he wants to be prove that he is still one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world today.

“I feel I still have a lot to prove.

I am not done with boxing. I will continue to keep fighting as long as I love boxing and boxing still loves me. I do not feel old. I feel like I am still 27.”

Pacquiao will be 38 this December.

Vargas files motion for POC consideration RICKY Vargas, the president of the Amateur Boxing Alliance of the Philippines, has filed a motion for reconsideration of the decision of the Philippine Olympic Committee-Comelec’ three-man committee, headed

by Frank Elizalde, that disqualified him from running against incumbent POC president 82-year-old Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, who is seeking an unprecedented fourth term.

There has been a groundswell of criticism from various leading sports personalities, including former senator Nikki Coseteng, Philippine Sports Commissioner Mon Fernandez and several members of National Sports Associations, led by football president Mariano Araneta and others clamoring for change.

In his motion for reconsideration, Vargas contended that the POC-Comelec decision is

“flawed and defective for lack of due process, both procedural and substantive. It must be reversed.”

Vargas spokesman, former Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Atty. Chito Salud said that “first, the decision was made without any objection or opposition from a known third party. Second, it was hastily rendered without the basic requisite hearing having been accorded to Mr. Vargas. Third, while the disqualification was made public via a verbal declaration, no written resolution has to date been issued by the election committee specifying and explaining the grounds for exclusion. Fourth, without such written eligibility order, the decision to deemed to be based on a myopic and an unsubstantiated interpretation of the words ‘active member’ in the POC general assembly.”

Atty. Salud pointed out that

‘active member’ is at best a nebulous eligibility requirement that has been left undefined by a clearcut set of parameters and criteria in the POC by laws.

“The election committee, however, chose to limit the member’s activity, solely to attendance and physical presence at the general assembly. This is deficient. Active membership is more than attendance. Physical presence does not equate to active participation. The arbitrary and whimsical interpretation applied by the election committee unjustly prejudices the substantive rights of the ABAP and Ricky Vargas. It is too simplistic,” said Salud.

He ended: “In the end, it is our athletes and NSAs who shall invariably be deprived of their right to a free and f air democratic exercise in hopes of reinvigorating Philippine sports.”

Ronnie Nathanielsz

Maroons, Bulldogs win THE University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, the National University Bulldogs and the Chiang Kai Shek Blue Dragons turned back separate rivals last Saturday to reach the next phase of the 14th Fr. Martin Division 2 Cup basketball tournament at the St. Placid gym of the San Beda College-Manila campus in Mendiola, Manila.

The Fighting Maroons, led by Ibrahim Outtara with 20 points and Jun Manzo with 13, toppled the Arellano University Chiefs, 79-74, to stay unbeaten after five matches in Group A of the senior division.

This allowed the Maroons to move into the quarterfinal round with San Beda-B and the Adamson Falcons.

Free throws from Outtara and Manzo in the last 4.8 seconds allowed UP to keep their record unblemished in their bracket.

The NU Bullpups got nine points from Michael Malonzo and turned back the Arellano University Chiefs, 72-54, to post their sixth straight triumph in Group B of the junior side.

The Bullpups are expected to enter the junior semifinals with Manila Patriotic School, which currently have a 4-1 record in their nine-team bracket.

The CKSC Blue Dragons drew 13 points from Joshua Ramirez in their 86-48 smashing of the Rich Montessori Center Spartans.

The Dragons moved on to win no. 4 in Group A and are close to a semis slot with the Spartans and the Letran Squires.

Russell Calimag had 13 points while Jade Talampas made 11 for the San Beda-Rizal Red Cubs, who turned back St. Michael College-Laguna, 98-54. They improved in Group B with their 5-3 card.

Sister Act. Siblings Mika and Monique Arroyo (right) won in their respective age-groups in the recent Inter-Schools Golf Championships 2016 held in six different golf courses in Metro Manila. Mika topped the Grade 7 to 9 division, while Monique ran away with Grade 5 to 6 title by a wide margin. The golf tournament was participated in by various schools in Metro Manila.

Centro Escolar eyes sweep CENTRO Escolar University goes for a sweep of the firstround elims when it collides with dangerous Olivarez College side today in the Universities and Colleges Basketball League at the Olivarez Sports Center in Parañaque City.

Led by JK Casino and Congolese center Rodrigue Ebondo, the CEU Scorpions romped to their fifth straight win in the seven-team tournament with a 107-75 rout of the Bulacan State University last Thursday.

The Scorpions, however, will have their hands full

Games Today

(Olivarez Sports Center) 12 noon – Olivarez vs CEU 2 p.m. – UB vs CDSL

against the Sea Lions when they clash 12 noon.

For one, the Sea Lions are on a roll, having won their last three games after dropping their opening game to the BSU Gold Gears, 96-91.

In their latest win, Casino produced 15 points and five assists while the 6’6” Ebondo added 13 points and 12 boards.

While CEU Coach Yong

Garcia has still Orlan Wamar and Samboy de Leon to count for the additional firepower, he’s not taking the Sea Lions for granted.

“You can’t assume to be the best in the tournament until it’s over. Besides, Olivarez College is also a strong team,” said Garcia.

Clashing at 2 p.m. are University of Batangas and Colegio De San Lorenzo with former going for its first win in six starts.

The CDSL Griffins are likewise out to improve their 1-3 mark.

Wade starts Bulls’ career in style CHICAGO—Dwyane Wade tallied 22 points in his Chicago homecoming as the Bulls showed off their retooled roster with a 105-99 win over the Boston Celtics on Thursday at the United Center.

After trading point guard Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks, Chicago overhauled last season’s roster with the addition of Wade and Rajon Rondo, who signed with the Bulls in the offseason.

Wade, who finished with 22 points, hit four-of-six from the three-point line in his first game with the Bulls. Wade had just seven threes during all of the last NBA season for the Miami Heat.

Wade, who grew up in Chicago, sealed the victory Thursday with his final three pointer of the night. He nailed a longrange shot over guard Avery Bradley with 26 seconds left in the fourth quarter to put Chicago up 104-99.

“It was special,” he said of getting a chance to play for his hometown team. “I had an amazing career and 23 years ago I had a dream of playing basketball and a dream of playing with this organization and tonight it became a reality.”

Wade has never been known as a three-point shooter but he’s been working on getting better at it.

“For a guy who has been in the league that long it says a lot that he is willing to work hard and add a new element to his game,” said Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg.

Jimmy Butler led Chicago with 24 points and Rondo added four points and nine assists.

“For some guys who can’t shoot, I think we did pretty well tonight,” said Butler. AFP

PBA teams get Gilas jr players

By Jeric Lopez MOST of the Gilas Cadets were already distributed in principle to Philippine Basketball Association teams following a marathon league board meeting Thursday night.

The special draft for the Gilas aspirants, which was originally to be conducted tomorrow during draft day itself, took place earlier than expected in a shotgun procedure, where the PBA teams decided an undisclosed pre-draft order and tabbed their preferred players from the national team program.

“In a lengthy meeting held October 27, 2016, the PBA board decided on the procedure for the drafting of Gilas Players,” said the PBA in a statement. “It was approved by the PBA board that each team will select one player from the Gilas cadets pool.”

As expected, sources confirmed that former Far Eastern University star Mac Belo was the top pick and was selected by Blackwater, while Phoenix reportedly went with Filipino-American wingman Matthew Wright.

Recently-crowned Governors’ Cup Barangay Ginebra further bolstered its already strong lineup as it tapped versatile forward Kevin Ferrer out of University of Santo Tomas.

Despite the acquisition of playmaker Paul Lee and already having a surplus of guards, Star still went with Jio Jalalon, widely considered as the top guard in the amateur ranks and the MVP of the one-day rookie camp tournament the other day, considering that he might be the best available talent during its turn.

San Miguel went big as it got La Salle slotman Arnold Van Opstal, who is expected to play a back-up role to superstar June Mar Fajardo, while vastly improving Mahindra bolstered its frontcourt by getting Russell Escoto, also from FEU. TNT KaTropa, GlobalPort, NLEX, Alaska and Meralco are teams who were still left undecided on their picks. They have Mike Tolomia, Roger Pogoy, Ed Daquioag, Carl Bryan Cruz and Fonso Gotladera to choose from.

Market drops; JG tops gainers B2

Business

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

By Darwin G. Amojelar

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing October 28, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

7,404.80 40.34

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

43.00 45.40 46.60 47.80

P48.405

49.00

CLOSE

HIGH P48.390 LOW P48.580 AVERAGE P48.485 VOLUME 490.000M

P400.00-P620.00 LPG/11-kg tank P35.40-P44.94 Unleaded Gasoline P27.40-P30.75 Diesel P28.50-P36.85 Kerosene

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, October 28, 2016

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

SSS offers options on pension increase

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

OPRICES IL P TODAY

US Dollar Peso

United States Dollar

1.000000

48.5150

Japan

Yen

0.009498

0.4608

UK

Pound

1.216400

59.0136

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128949

6.2560

Switzerland

Franc

1.006948

48.8521

Canada

Dollar

0.747105

36.2458

Singapore

Dollar

0.717103

34.7903

Australia

Dollar

0.758800

36.8132

Bahrain

Dinar

2.654844

128.7998

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

12.9366

Brunei

Dollar

0.714541

34.6660

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000077

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.028506

1.3830

UAE

Dirham 0.272301

13.2107

Euro

Euro

1.090000

52.8814

Korea

Won

0.000872

0.0423

China

Yuan

0.147471

7.1546

India

Rupee

0.014954

0.7255

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.239120

11.6009

New Zealand

Dollar

0.712000

34.5427

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031515

1.5290 Source: PDS Bridge

RIVATE pension fund Social Security System said Friday it may not increase the monthly contribution of members amid the possible implementation of the P2,000 acrossthe-board pension hike.

Newly-appointed Social Security Commission chairman Amado Valdez said in a press briefing SSS would propose six options if the P2,000 pension increase was signed into law.

SSS’s maximum life is expected to reach 2027 if the pension increase is staggered P500 annually.

The option calls for a P500 increase to all pensioners for four consecutive years starting in 2017 until

THE Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority urged shipping lines to take advantage of the co-loading law to cut cost and improve efficiency.

SBMA chairman Martin Diño said the co-loading law would help increase the competitiveness of the country’s exporters and importers in the face of a more dynamic trading business.

“The co-loading law will allow ships calling to one destination to load or unload goods to another domestic port. This scheme is seen to help businesses cut their costs and save time,” he said.

The co-loading law signed in June 2015 allows foreign ves-

it reaches the full P2,000 by January 2020. This will cost the pension fund P56 billion more annually.

SSS paid about P102 billion in pensions in 2015.

Another option seen by SSS is the implementation of the pension increase on a yearly and age group staggered basis.

“Under this option, pensioners are arranged by age and divided into five tranches. The first tranche includes the oldest pen-

sioners,” SSS said.

It said the first group will receive the P2,000 monthly pensions increase in 2017, followed by the second in 2018 and so forth. This will cut the fund life to 2025.

Former President Benigno Aquino III vetoed the SSS pension hike in January following the recommendation of then Finance secretary Cesar Purisima after noting that the pension fund life would be cut by 27 years from the current life of until 2049.

Valdez told reporters the agency would not raise contributions and instead use the remaining 10 years after the hike to “catch up” to lengthen the pension fund.

Valdez, however, said that the 10-year period would not be a “comfortable period” and a

“challenge” to SSS. “This is where patriotism comes in. It’s a cooperative effort... One possibility is to ask for government subsidy from Congress. But that will also be hard,” he said.

SSS said in a position paper submitted to the House of Representatives that a 17-percent increase on members’ monthly contribution would likely offset the possible revenues losses if the P2,000 across-the-board pension increase pushed through in the new administration.

SSS said in presentations to the House Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization that the P2,000 pension hike was possible as long as a funding mechanism would sustain the life of the pension fund.

Finance sees October inflation rate rising to 2.5% THE Finance Department expects the inflation rate to rise to 2.5 percent in October following the spike in basic food prices and base effects.

Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran said in an internal economic bulletin inflation might rose to 2.5 percent in October, higher than the 18-month high 2.3 percent in September and 0.4 percent in the same month in 2015.

“Just like last month, the apparent surge in inflation rate is the result of base effects. October last year registered inflation rate of 0.4 percent,” Beltran said

Subic body asks shipping lines to use co-loading law

By Othel V. Campos

B1

Cemex sales up by 7% to P19.8b

MANGO EXPORTS.

Agriculture Undersecretary Segfredo Serrano (right) and Australian Ambassador Amanda Gorely sign an agreement on the export of fresh mangoes to Australia on October 27, 2016. The signing formalizes Australia’s recognition of the area freedom status of the Philippines from seed weevil and pulp weevil, except for the island of Palawan. As such, mangoes from all over the country, with the exception of Palawan, may now be shipped to Australia.

Closing OCTOBER 28, 2016

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016

sels to transport and co-load foreign cargoes for domestic transshipment and other purposes.

Two shipping lines calling in Subic Bay have availed of the benefits of the co-loading law.

“We hope that more shipping lines will use this advantage. This is not only for the businesses but also for the end consumers of the transported goods,” Diño said.

Transportation costs play a huge part in pricing commodities and other goods. Reduced transportation costs would benefit consumers, Diño added.

The two shipping lines that have capitalized on the co-loading law made Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. its port of call.

in a report.

The expected uptick would peg the 10-month inflation rate at 1.6 percent, still below the inter-agency Development Budget Coordination Committee’s target range of 2.0 percent to 4.0 percent.

“The benign inflation will continue to support economic growth and steel the economy from external volatilities,” Beltran said.

Index heavyweights non-alcoholic beverages and food may rise to 3.3 percent in October from 3.1 percent, while prices of

alcoholic beverages and tobacco could increase 6.5 percent from September’s 6.2 percent.

The prices of clothing and footwear may increase from 2.7 percent in September to 2.8 percent; furnishings, households equipment from 2.3 percent to 2.4 percent; and recreation and culture from 1.7 percent to 1.8 percent.

Housing, utilities and fuels could also rise from 0.9 percent to 1.1 percent this month; and transport from 0.2 percent to 0.6 percent.

Health (2.7 percent), restau-

rant and miscellaneous services (2.4 percent), education (1.8 percent), and communication (0.1 percent) will remain from their levels from the previous month.

The rate of Manila Electric Co. in the four weeks of October for those with an average consumption of 300 kilowatts dipped to P8.65 per kilowatt hour from P8.77 in September and P8.74 a year ago.

Meralco’s generation rate per kwh also fell to P3.89 during the month from P3.94 in September and P4.0 in the previous year.

Gabrielle H. Binaday

NEW MEDIA CITED. Tour-

ism Secretary Wanda Corazon Tulfo-Teo conveys her gratitude to the participants of the recently concluded Travel Blog Exchange Asia Pacific 2016. Held in Manila for first time, TBEX is the world’s largest annual conference for travel bloggers, writers, content media creators and industry professionals.

CEMEX Holdings Philippines Inc. said on Friday net sales rose 7 percent to P19.8 billion in the first nine months of 2016.

“I am very pleased with our operating results. We have managed to grow and improve in many respects, such as increasing volumes and prices in a highly competitive environment and achieving cost efficiencies,” Cemex president and chief executive Pedro Jose Palomino said.

Earlier, Cemex Holdings said it would spend $300 million to build a new plant with an annual capacity of 1.5 million metric tons.

The plant, scheduled to be operational by the second half of 2019, would be funded using the company’s cashflow.

Cemex Philippines raised P25.13 billion in the Philippines’ biggest IPO since 2013.

It offered over 2.3 billion shares, including 304 million shares to cover additional demand. The IPO shares represent 45 percent of the company’s capital stock.

The company is one of the leading cement producers in the Philippines based on installed annual capacity.

It produces and markets cement and cement products, such as ready-mix concrete and clinker, in the Philippines through direct sales using its extensive marine and land distribution network.

Cemex’s manufacturing subsidiaries have been operating in the Philippines for over 17 years, and have well established brands, such as “APO,” “Island,” and “Rizal,” each of which has a multi-decade history in the country.

IN BRIEF ABS-CBN’s profit up 50% to P2.85b ABS-CBN Corp. said on Friday net income rose 50 percent in the first nine months due to higher advertising sales.

The country’s leading media and entertainment company reported a net income of P2.85 billion in the January-to-September period from P1.89 billion year-on-year.

ABS-CBN’s revenues amounted to P31 billion, up 12 percent from P27.76 billion last year.

ABS-CBN chief financial officer Aldrin Cerrado attributed the growth to strong advertising revenues during the first nine months, which were boosted by electionrelated spending and the continued leadership in ratings of our primetime shows.

“Our ratings performance is key since we have adopted the cost per individual rating point pricing (CPIRP) scheme,” Cerrado said.

“We are confident that we will meet our earnings guidance of between P3.2 to P3.5 billion for 2016,” he added. Darwin G. Amojelar

Megawide raises P2.2b in equity sale MEGAWIDE Construction Corp. said on Friday it raised P2.2 billion through an overnight equity placement.

Megawide said it sold 150 million common shares held in treasury at a price of P14.90 per share, raising P2.2 billion via an accelerated overnight equity placement.

“The proceeds of the placement will be used for partial repayment of the bridge loan availed for the purchase of Megawide common shares from Sybase Equity Investments,” Megawide said.

Megawide in July signed a share buyback agreement with Sybase Equity, a privately-held company owned by the family of retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr involving 410,842,702 million common shares in the company. The shares represent roughly 17.2 percent of Megawide.

Darwin G. Amojelar

B2

Business

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market drops; JG tops gainers

S

TOCKS fell for a seventh day, dragging down the benchmark index to the 7,400-point level, following a Wall Street sell-off and amid speculation major central banks are moving closer to reining in stimulus.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, dropped 40 points, or 0.5 percent, to close at 7,404.80 Friday. The bellwether lost 3 percent this week but was still up 6.5 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also shed 20 points, or 0.5 percent, to settle at 4,398.58, on a value turnover of P9.1 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 117 to 66, while 44 issues were unchanged.

Six of the 20 most active

stocks ended in the green, led by JG Summit Holdings Inc., the investment company of tycoon John Gokongwei which rose 1.9 percent to P76 and cement maker Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. which gained 1.8 percent to P11.42.

Conglomerate Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. rose 1.7 percent to P78, while food manufacturer Universal Robina Corp. advanced 0.9 percent to P182. Infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. added 0.7 percent to close at P7.20,

while GT Capital Holdings Inc. of tycoon George Ty rose 0.1 percent to P1,311.

Meanwhile, Japanese stocks were again boosted by a weaker yen as another feeble inflation reading put fresh pressure on Tokyo.

The dollar extended gains in Tokyo after breaking 105 yen Thursday on increasing expectations the Federal Reserve will lift interest rates by year’s end, helping Japan’s exporters.

Rate hike talk comes as analysts suggest years of cheap borrowing are nearing an end, a point reinforced by a surprise jump in British economic growth that shattered any chance of another Bank of England cut.

That has in turn put upward pressure on bond yields from the US to Australia as traders shift

out of the ultra safe investments to seek better returns. Bond yields go up as prices go down.

“We are seeing a shift, with global central banks unlikely to provide additional stimulus and that’s driving bond yields higher and is strengthening the US dollar,” Niv Dagan, Melbournebased executive director at Peak Asset Management LLC, told Bloomberg News.

The dollar’s gains were cemented Friday by news that Japanese consumer prices fell for a seventh straight month, which Michinori Naruse, an analyst at Japan Research Institute, told AFP meant “the Bank of Japan has no choice but to delay the deadline of the (two percent inflation) target”.

While the greenback dipped slightly against the pound and

euro, it kicked on against most other higher-yielding Asia-Pacific currencies with the South Korean won 0.2 percent lower, Australia’s dollar 0.6 percent off and the Malaysian ringgit down 0.3 percent.

The weaker yen lifted the Nikkei, which ended 0.6 percent higher. But Shanghai closed down 0.3 percent while Hong Kong lost one percent in late trade.

Sydney fell 0.3 percent, Seoul shed 0.2 percent and Singapore was 0.5 percent lower. There were also losses in Jakarta and Bangkok.

Oil markets were subdued after Thursday’s bounce but worries over Iraq and Russia’s comments about being exempt from a planned output cut fed anxiety.

With Bloomberg, AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.57 20,000 47.75 37,200 101.1 2,226,830 3.74 37,000 112.8 1,614,560 1.38 24,000 37.95 699,600 9 500 16.08 61,000 19.12 228,000 0.72 52,000 1.88 25,000 665 100 0.83 3,482,000 81.3 8,529,550 14.2 400,200 58 69,730 255 4,340 150 110 35.9 108,600 220.4 860,840 1,496 80 74.95 150,710 1.38 259,000

69,300 1,766,395 223,137,790 144,140 179,875,298 32,160 26,546,725 4,500 981,250 4,359,294 34,890 47,000 66,250 2,896,310 696,416,836.50 5,682,842 4,070,516 1,115,414 16,100 3,907,870 189,501,644 119,860 11,295,832.50 358,180

1,191,195 -74,943,712.50 -3,084,785 1,381,730 -976,420 31,938 -622,500 -263,367,511 3,186,625 -520,166.00 -257,965.00 4,270,550 -29,900 1,991,877 -

45.05 3.8 0.92 1.39 17.12 129 11.26 16.3 22.85 34 60 100.1 2.06 6.78 12.48 10.92 7.2 7.22 5.75 1.87 22.55 69.05 12.46 16.6 6.03 2.01 236.8 80 2 3.9 30 26.55 14.98 275 0.243 3.08 10.28 2.13 5.82 1.48 3.65 220 4.26 3.15 4.05 0.146 1.7 179 4.37 2.15 1.15

INDUSTRIAL 45.95 2,056,400 3.88 1,145,000 0.93 1,117,000 1.4 3,062,000 18 26,700 132 1,210 11.42 10,300,100 16.7 595,100 23 262,100 34 60,100 62 15,920 100.1 1,590 2.07 176,000 6.8 8,992,300 12.5 95,100 10.98 1,854,200 7.2 166,900 7.25 2,997,100 5.9 7,059,500 1.87 65,000 22.95 1,865,000 69.35 140,700 12.46 800 16.6 900 6.06 242,600 2.02 988,000 238 773,470 82 5,270 2 5,000 3.91 23,000 30.25 1,868,000 27 644,400 15 14,313,000 276 337,680 0.26 40,000 3.11 10,067,000 10.38 1,656,800 2.17 1,422,000 5.82 90,100 1.48 168,000 3.67 61,000 225 5,010 4.3 584,000 3.15 15,000 4.1 90,000 0.147 7,070,000 1.7 226,000 182 1,323,020 4.58 667,000 2.17 2,624,000 1.15 12,196,000

93,270,945 4,409,560 1,040,910 4,314,990 480,416 158,560 117,660,690 9,825,746 6,096,470 2,162,445 988,868.50 164,557 364,150 64,487,970 1,193,784 20,381,154 1,206,379 21,746,693 41,160,429 121,550 42,315,935 9,733,457.50 9,968 14,948 1,477,409 2,027,330 184,570,530 441,071.50 10,000 90,160 56,474,780 17,364,490 217,067,998 93,303,554 9,890 31,215,430 17,367,958 3,058,020 527,098 248,640 224,750 1,121,830 2,508,800 47,630 378,810 1,048,390 385,560 238,917,799 3,066,170 5,676,920 14,025,400

8,387,000 3,820 -3,797,860 19,826,244 456,854 -1,057,675 10,710 580,308.50 -3,803,432 7,500 718,592 -517,866 -9,120,403 -17,250,375 -881,310 -3,105,345.50 1,099,810 366,680 -119,345,884 -39,000 -10,138,195 -12,974,600 -53,209,788 -9,492,292 1,819,350 3,298,878 1,719,880 -175,200 148,000 492,180 173,900 -8,940 -70,936,471 -10,800 13,890,850.00

0.395 75 14.04 5.95 831.5 8.4 12.22 8.09 6.04 1,298 72.05 4 0.98 7.72 14.38 6.98 0.036 1.91 79.5 2.21 671 1.19 232.4 0.3 0.26

HOLDING FIRMS 0.395 280,000 78 1,887,750 14.26 6,454,000 5.95 86,300 835 573,290 8.5 1,814,400 12.5 3,199,400 8.17 3,745,900 6.04 6,900 1,311 151,670 76 2,344,180 4 2,000 0.99 20,132,000 7.95 697,800 14.44 4,109,300 7.2 21,113,800 0.038 526,300,000 1.91 81,000 80.5 71,890 2.21 14,000 672 308,040 1.19 88,000 235 8,030 0.3 960,000 0.26 160,000

110,700 143,917,690 91,336,618 514,841 479,780,440 15,350,540 39,667,170 30,494,389 42,094 197,868,665 173,008,869 8,000 20,115,390 5,502,138 59,268,662 149,835,392 18,972,200 154,960 5,762,804.50 30,940 207,034,260 104,840 1,880,812 288,000 41,600

-65,853,662 -40,700,450 -124,979,565 7,364,652 -16,440,396 -8,312,360 -39,076,452 -35,750 -2,298,484 -5,645,596 -56,900,125 18,057,600 -48,000 -2,566,429 -138,627,600 15,000 -

1,978,422 2,484,680 1,140,220 1,111,450 655,116,515 7,175,630 420,022 4,918,930 8,980 10,500 323,510 6,690,550 28,298,664.50 760 495,080 7,424,970 2,240,950 55,680 158,348,580 7,974,520 1,560,000 10,575 41,573,125 71,500 104,030

1,357,661 294,550 -282,964,330.00 -3,174,160 -2,890,840.00 -2,748,526.50 51,060 -2,629,050 -70,936,270 -57,360 201,600 -11,400,330 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO LEASING BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK CITYSTATE BANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FIRST ABACUS IREMIT MANULIFE MEDCO HLDG METROBANK PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK VANTAGE

3.36 47.5 102 3.9 112.8 1.32 37.95 9 16.1 19.2 0.67 1.88 660 0.85 85.2 14.2 58.45 258.6 146 36.3 222 1,500 74.7 1.39

3.57 47.75 102 3.9 112.8 1.38 38 9 16.1 19.2 0.72 1.88 665 0.85 85.2 14.22 58.9 259 150 36.95 222 1,500 75 1.39

3.36 47.2 99 3.74 110 1.32 37.6 9 16.08 19.06 0.67 1.88 660 0.82 80 14.2 57.4 255 146 35.85 216 1,495 74.7 1.38

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT EUROMED FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PEPSI COLA PETRON PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PHX SEMICNDCTR PRYCE CORP PUREFOODS RFM CORP ROXAS HLDG SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

45.35 3.88 0.95 1.44 17.12 131 11.26 16.54 23.4 34 63 106 2.08 7.39 12.88 11.1 7.39 7.28 5.88 1.87 22.75 69.8 12.46 16.64 6.04 2.06 243 80 2 3.9 30.15 27.7 15.2 279.6 0.243 3.1 10.5 2.16 5.85 1.48 3.74 223.8 4.3 3.2 4.05 0.146 1.74 180.5 4.59 2.22 1.15

45.95 3.9 0.97 1.47 18.52 132 11.7 16.76 23.4 37.8 63 109 2.08 7.47 12.88 11.1 7.39 7.29 5.9 1.87 22.95 69.8 12.46 16.64 6.1 2.09 245 89.5 2 4.15 30.5 27.7 15.52 279.6 0.26 3.11 10.62 2.17 5.95 1.48 3.74 225 4.3 3.2 4.4 0.15 1.74 182 4.64 2.24 1.15

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANSCOR AYALA CORP COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FJ PRINCE A GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME ORION SAN MIGUEL CORP SEAFRONT RES SM INVESTMENTS SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER UNIOIL HLDG ZEUS HLDG

0.395 76.5 14.2 6 847 8.46 12.32 8.09 6.14 1,310 75 4 1.04 7.9 14.7 7.15 0.037 1.92 80.3 2.21 680 1.2 234 0.3 0.26

0.4 78 14.26 6 850.5 8.5 12.5 8.18 6.14 1,321 76 4 1.05 7.95 14.7 7.2 0.038 1.92 80.5 2.21 680 1.2 235 0.3 0.26

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PRIMEX CORP PTFC REDEV CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP

7.1 1.11 2.3 0.29 37 2.86 5.06 0.6 1.1 1.05 0.152 0.67 55.9 0.76 0.139 1.77 0.98 1.09 4.1 0.171 3.39 35.25 30 1.59 3.26

7.25 1.11 2.3 0.3 37.1 2.92 5.16 0.6 1.16 1.05 0.155 0.68 56.3 0.76 0.139 1.78 0.99 1.09 4.12 0.171 3.39 35.25 30.95 1.63 3.28

7.09 1.08 2.25 0.29 36 2.8 5.05 0.58 1.1 1.05 0.152 0.65 54 0.76 0.137 1.74 0.97 1.07 4.02 0.166 3.34 35.25 29.9 1.57 3.24

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

27.1 1 0.98 5.35

27.2 1.02 0.98 5.35

26.5 1 0.97 5.2

26.9 1 0.97 5.23

11,130,500 881,000 22,000 7,104,100

299,083,955 885,240 21,420 37,182,906

-207,530,260 1,152,881

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CALATA CORP CEBU AIR DFNN INC GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN HAVEN GRAND PLAZA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL A INTL CONTAINER IP EGAME IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LIBERTY TELECOM LORENZO SHIPPNG MANILA JOCKEY MELCO CROWN METRO RETAIL MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT

7.65 47.15 1.29 0.57 0.058 5.39 5.84 0.082 3.1 107 6.7 1,800 6.29 13.74 17.44 2.11 16.5 75.1 0.0096 9.15 0.209 1.5 3.38 13.4 5.28 1.71 1.02 2 4.15 4.92 23.7 3.01 11.72 5.16 158 8.59 1,574 1.13 0.415 42 76.85 5.77 2.81 0.8 3.38 0.33

7.8 47.15 1.29 0.57 0.058 5.39 5.92 0.083 3.1 107 6.7 1,890 6.29 13.74 17.44 2.14 17 77.8 0.0096 9.17 0.209 1.52 3.5 13.4 5.28 1.71 1.02 2 4.3 4.92 24.3 3.03 11.76 5.2 160 8.84 1,574 1.13 0.415 42 78 5.77 2.81 0.8 3.38 0.355

7.64 46.4 1.29 0.55 0.056 5.39 5.67 0.082 3.05 105 6.7 1,776 6.19 13.3 17.44 2.04 16.4 74.8 0.0094 9.15 0.206 1.45 3.37 12.8 5.15 1.7 1.02 2 4.02 4.73 22.5 3 11.72 5.16 158 8.58 1,511 1.1 0.4 40.75 76.85 5.54 2.75 0.78 3.33 0.33

SERVICES 7.8 46.4 1.29 0.55 0.057 5.39 5.92 0.083 3.05 105 6.7 1,780 6.26 13.6 17.44 2.05 17 77.8 0.0096 9.17 0.207 1.49 3.5 13 5.15 1.71 1.02 2 4.3 4.74 23 3 11.72 5.16 158.1 8.79 1,530 1.13 0.4 40.75 77.3 5.6 2.76 0.78 3.35 0.355

89,700 22,300 66,000 311,000 64,500,000 500 10,474,000 15,760,000 761,000 927,120 12,500 90,495 105,200 36,100 100 2,260,000 4,400 987,820 9,000,000 462,000 2,430,000 756,000 7,000 16,800 783,100 70,000 2,000 15,000 14,126,000 6,668,000 3,000 609,000 7,300 9,100 920 348,000 186,445 7,981,000 1,310,000 994,300 120,330 67,700 2,140,000 37,218,000 301,000 1,300,000

686,544 1,046,275 85,140 174,670 3,652,030 2,695 60,726,378 1,301,180 2,340,960 97,621,530 83,750 161,979,035 656,568 483,716 1,744 4,657,840 73,778 76,098,011.50 85,800 4,236,400 502,760 1,124,450 23,770 218,598 4,059,699 119,630 2,040 30,000 58,815,180 31,967,090 68,575 1,830,320 85,616 47,116 145,423 3,032,242 284,784,025 8,950,320 527,550 41,024,065 9,290,409.50 381,167 5,910,400 29,331,830 1,010,730 430,100

3,280 9,434,615 18,269,585 -60,557,890 -51,250 23,157,582 31,050 -12,000 3,519,210 -1,177,620 -18,969 61,260 -46,848,485 -1,582,910 -18,414,700 -1,965,823 -2,438,590 10,782,740 -10,050 396,000

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING BENGUET A BENGUET B CENTURY PEAK COAL ASIA HLDG DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A LEPANTO B MANILA MINING A MARCVENTURES NICKEL ASIA NIHAO ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING TA PETROLEUM UNITED PARAGON

0.0035 2.96 4.07 2.31 2.22 0.59 0.39 8.12 1.22 0.275 0.201 0.201 0.011 1.66 6.9 2.79 0.97 0.012 0.011 0.012 8.32 4.16 126.6 3.15 0.0092

0.0035 2.96 4.07 2.4 2.48 0.59 0.4 8.5 1.24 0.28 0.201 0.201 0.012 1.66 6.94 2.83 0.97 0.012 0.011 0.012 8.34 4.24 126.6 3.15 0.0092

0.0035 2.94 3.97 2.23 2.2 0.58 0.39 8.08 1.21 0.265 0.198 0.197 0.011 1.62 6.75 2.72 0.94 0.011 0.011 0.012 8.18 3.96 125 3.13 0.0092

MINING & OIL 0.0035 223,000,000 2.96 3,598,000 3.97 876,000 2.26 206,000 2.22 354,000 0.58 5,926,000 0.39 330,000 8.3 73,200 1.22 8,879,000 0.27 1,040,000 0.198 4,330,000 0.197 420,000 0.011 173,000,000 1.65 1,960,000 6.83 2,222,200 2.8 201,000 0.94 97,000 0.011 5,600,000 0.011 1,000,000 0.012 1,000,000 8.18 240,500 4.02 2,934,000 125.9 200,570 3.15 21,000 0.0092 2,000,000

780,500 10,579,130 3,518,880 479,960 820,550 3,437,090 131,400 594,915 10,836,630 275,950 858,180 83,110 1,983,000 3,197,760 15,142,920 554,990 92,560 63,700 11,000 12,000 1,980,995 11,802,570 25,233,321 66,030 18,400

10,304,700 -2,146,750 -110,100 3,422,000.00 3,757,550 -81,100 2,725,360 -183,193 -11,000 672,132 326,830.00 1,147,458 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A PCOR PREF 2B PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3B SFI PREF SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2I

46.05 521 535 104 540 6.05 1,003 1,013 1.05 111 1,094 1,160 1,028 110.8 2.3 80.4 76.1 79.5 79.4 79.5 77.7

46.1 521 535 104 540 6.05 1,008 1,013 1.05 111 1,094 1,160 1,028 110.8 2.3 80.4 76.1 79.5 79.5 79.5 78.1

46.05 521 535 104 540 5.97 1,003 1,005 1.05 110 1,094 1,160 1,028 110.5 2.3 80.1 76.1 79.5 79.4 79.5 77.7

PREFERRED 46.05 128,900 521 10 535 1,500 104 17,390 540 6,400 5.99 270,400 1,003 7,490 1,005 2,085 1.05 21,000 110 2,610 1,094 760 1,160 800 1,028 120 110.5 900 2.3 1,000 80.1 15,000 76.1 5,300 79.5 10,000 79.5 31,000 79.5 14,500 78 305,480

5,941,345 5,210 802,500 1,808,560 3,456,000 1,621,141 7,546,770 2,096,275 22,050 287,110 831,440 928,000 123,360 99,607 2,300 1,202,700 403,330 795,000 2,463,345 1,152,750 23,767,458

-3,175,345 1,201,200 -1,621,141 6,914,880 -

LR WARRANT

2.41

2.41

2.35

WARRANTS 2.41 82,000

194,770

-

ALTERRA CAPITAL ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

3.4 4.05 2.95 11.86

3.45 4.05 3.03 11.86

2.97 3.96 2.95 11.6

SME 3.11 4.03 2.95 11.62

30,307,350 167,390 23,840 12,193,618

31,430 4,050 -3,299,250

FIRST METRO ETF

122.9

122.9

121.1

5,346,124

145,920

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 7.12 1.11 2.3 0.295 36.25 2.92 5.16 0.6 1.16 1.05 0.152 0.65 55.8 0.76 0.137 1.77 0.97 1.07 4.02 0.166 3.36 35.25 30.95 1.63 3.28

276,700 2,270,000 501,000 3,790,000 18,053,000 2,515,000 83,000 8,347,000 8,000 10,000 2,120,000 10,229,000 515,470 1,000 3,610,000 4,219,000 2,279,000 52,000 39,219,000 47,610,000 465,000 300 1,370,800 44,000 32,000

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

SHARES

18,891,313

INDUSTRIAL

249,770,135

HOLDING FIRMS

600,351,138

PROPERTY

167,639,153

SERVICES

183,853,426

MINING & OIL

439,521,495

GRAND TOTAL

1,670,988,130

9,816,000 42,000 8,000 1,048,100

EXCHANGE TRADE FUNDS 122.4 43,970

VALUE 1,791.70 (down) 22.27 1,352,477,610.80 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,592.25 (down) 24.50 3,609,356,932.04 HOLDING FIRMS 7,479.60 (up) 0.44 1,786,691,708.51 PROPERTY 3,266.64 (down) 35.74 1,418.18 (down) 14.00 1,291,779,129.63 SERVICES MINING & OIL 11,397.68 (down) 122.00 910,972,040.16 PSEI 7,404.80 (down) 40.34 92,563,696.45 All Shares Index 4,398.58 (down) 20.72 9,091,890,399.19 Gainers: 66 Losers: 117; Unchanged: 44; Total: 227

UBP’s income up 122% to P8.1b

By Gabrielle H. Binaday UNION Bank of the Philippines, the financial arm of the Aboitiz Group, said net income jumped 122 percent to P8.1 billion in the first nine months of the year from P3.7 billion a year ago.

“Our customer businesses grew faster than anticipated.

We are ahead in delivering our financial goals for 2016.

We now have a substantial level of core earning assets that will continue to provide us with a recurring revenue stream,” said UnionBank chief finance officer and treasurer Jesus Roberto Reyes.

Data showed UnionBank’s loan portfolio grew 34.7 percent to P221.2 billion year-on-year, coming from double-digit growth across retail, commercial and corporate business segments.

Total deposits went up by 16.8 percent to P364 billion, with low-cost Casa (current account, savings account] increasing by 17.3 percent.

The combined growth in customer loans and deposits led recurring revenues to increase by P2.6 billion to P14.1 billion.

Meanwhile, net interest income grew P2.2 billion to P10.9 billion, while fees rose

by P4 million to P3.2 billion.

“The third-quarter result was also enhanced by profits from securities sold to support the bank’s loan growth strategy,” the bank said.

SMC unit gets relief on power contracts

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Energy Regulatory Commission has granted an interim relief on the power supply contracts between San Miguel Consolidated Power Corp. and five Mindanao distribution utilities.

ERC said in a statement the interim relief would enable San Miguel Consolidated Power to obtain financial closing with various lenders.

San Miguel Consolidated Power would be authorized to implement its respective supply agreements with the said distribution firms, pending ERC’s completion of the adjudication process and technical evaluations of the subject applications.

The temporary relief was given to five separate applications jointly filed by San Miguel with Cotabato Electric Cooperative Inc., Surigao del Sur II Electric Cooperative Inc., Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative Inc., Davao del Sur Electric Cooperative Inc. and Agusan del Sur Electric Cooperative Inc..

San Miguel’s supply agreements cover a period of 10 years and involve a contract capacity of 10 MW for Cotabato Electric; 5 MW for Surigal del Sur Electric II; 35 MW for Zamboanga City Electric; 10 MW for Davao Del Sur Electric and 10 MW for Agusan del Sur Electric.

San Miguel will supply the electric cooperatives a part of its capacity from the 300MW circulating fluidized bed coal-fired power plant in Malita, Davao del Sur. “The ERC’s decision to grant interim relief to SMCPC pertaining to its PSCs will help augment the deficient supply of power in Mindanao and ensure continuous power supply through the timely delivery of committed new capacities,” ERC chairman Jose Vicente Salazar said.

Business

B3

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Qualcomm buys NXP for $47b in mega deal

By Maude Brulard

T

HE HAGUE, Netherlands―US semiconductor maker Qualcomm said Thursday it will buy Dutch rival NXP in a $47-billion mega-deal to extend its footprint into the internet of things and the automobile sector.

BREAKTHROUGH. Belgian Prime minister Charles Michel (left) and Foreign Minister Didier Reynders give a joint press conference after the meeting of all Belgium federal entities on the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreemen in Brussels on October 27, 2016.

Belgian political leaders have reached a consensus in support of the EU-Canada trade deal, Prime Minister Charles Michel said, raising hopes it can be signed soon. AFP

Hanjin Shipping draws five initial bids

In the biggest ever deal in the semiconductor market, the agreement will boost the US company amid falling mobile phone sales and stiff market competition.

According to the unanimous agreement published Thursday, Qualcomm will offer NXP a $110 per share cash deal, 11.5 percent above Wednesday’s market close, the US company said in a statement.

That would value the company, based in the Netherlands but quoted on the New York Nasdaq index, at $47 billion (43 billion euros).

“With innovation and invention at our core, Qualcomm has played a critical role in driving the evolution of the mobile industry,” chief executive Steve Mollenkopf said.

“The NXP acquisition accelerates our strategy to extend our leading mobile technology into robust new opportunities, where we will be well positioned to lead by delivering integrated semiconductor solutions at scale.”

The deal would help Qualcomm “empower customers and consumers to realize all the benefits of the intelligently connected world,” he added.

The new combined company is forecast to have annual revenues topping $30 billion and serviceable markets of $138 billion in 2020, Qualcomm indicated, adding it hoped the deal would

be complete by the end of 2017.

Based in the Dutch town of Eindhoven, NXP is a leading maker of chips for the auto industry, as well as for contactless payment systems.

A former division of the Dutch electronics giant Philips, it became independent in 2006 and was floated on the stock market in 2010 for $14 a share.

Turnover in 2015 was $6.1 billion, with net profits of $1.5 billion.

On the Nasdaq, NXP gained 1.6 percent on opening Thursday on the news of its takeover by Qualcomm, which advanced 3.6 percent.

“Qualcomm is predominantly exposed to the smartphone market,” technology analyst Janardan Menon, from Liberum, told AFP. “This market has slowed down already, with further slowing ahead.

They are also losing some share at Apple to Intel, with the business getting more challenging.”

Qualcomm has “virtually no position” in the automotive industry “one of the fastest growing end markets for semiconductors,” he added.

“NXP is the market leader. So by buying NXP they can continue to be a growth story,” Menon said, adding Qualcomm was “one of the few companies with the cash to” snap up the Dutch company. AFP

HANJIN Shipping Co. received five initial bids for its Asia-US business as a South Korean court kicked off the process to sell the nation’s largest container line that fell victim to excess capacity and slowing global trade.

Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. and four others have expressed interest, according to Hyundai and the Seoul Central District Court, overseeing the bankruptcy protection filing. The submissions will be followed by a due diligence of the assets, which include offices and vessels that operate on the trans-Pacific trade. Final bids are due by Nov. 7.

The process heralds the beginning of the end of Hanjin, which filed for bankruptcy protection late August after creditors balked, setting off disruptions in supply chains

around the world. Hanjin Shipping, once the world’s seventh largest container line, this week said it’s winding down its Europe route.

“The real issue will be the price and how one evaluates intangible assets,” said Ma Ji-hwang, a senior researcher at Hana Institute of Finance in Seoul.

“That’s why the due diligence process will be important to shed light on what assets will be available in the sale. The AsiaUS shipping operation is pretty much what’s going to be left of Hanjin.”

A decision on the winning bid is due later next month. The South Korean company, whose market value is about 196 billion won ($171 million), is also in talks to sell its 54 percent stake in the Long Beach port container

Taiwan’s economic expansion tops 2%

US financial markets not fully buying a Clinton win

TAIPEI―Taiwan’s economy grew at the fastest pace in more than a year during the July-September period, data showed Friday, fueled by a strong recovery in the electronics sector.

The 2.06 percent year-onyear growth, which beat expectations, was the best performance since the first-quarter of 2015 when the economy expanded 4.04 percent.

The second straight quarter of growth is encouraging for the island, which just came out of recession in April-June.

Traditionally an export-driven technology hub, Taiwan is home to industry giants such as Foxconn and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)―key suppliers for Apple’s iPhone.

The statistics bureau said Friday that quarterly exports turned positive for the first time in more than a year thanks to a 12.3-percent growth in electronics shipments.

“The export growth is driven by a turn in the semiconductor market and new mobile device products,” the DirectorateGeneral of Budget, Accounting and Statistics said in a statement.

Revived electronics demand also led semiconductor companies to expand manufacturing capabilities, boosting national investments.

“We feel this Apple-led strength may support activity in the fourth quarter,” said Barclays analyst Angela Hsieh.

Hsieh says the biggest surprise from Friday’s data release was the 2.37-percent growth in private consumption. AFP

terminal, according to the Seoul court.

The government has said that Hyundai Merchant, which is owned by state-owned Korea Development Bank, will serve as the national flag carrier for the country’s exports and is looking at measures to help improve the industry’s competitiveness.

“Exports are very important for South Korea,” Hana’s Ma said.

“That’s why the government will try to bolster Hyundai Merchant and buying Hanjin’s asset could help build up scale.”

Hyundai Merchant said in a separate e-mailed statement that it’s considering various measures to strengthen its position, including taking over Hanjin’s assets and manpower.

Michael Storgaard, a

spokesman for A.P. MoellerMaersk A/S, declined to comment if the Copenhagenbased company’s shipping line was interested in buying the Hanjin assets before the initial bidding deadline.

Hanjin had 7 percent market share on the Asia-US trade in the first six months of this year, according to the company. It hauled 1.85 million 20-foot containers on the route in 2015, accounting for 40 percent of its total 4.62 million.

Of the 97 container vessels it operated, unloading of cargo from 82 ships has been completed as of Oct. 26, according to Hanjin’s website. On the court’s advice, the company has been returning chartered vessels to owners as soon as they are unloaded.

Bloomberg

By John Biers NEW YORK―As the US presidential election moves into the home stretch, financial markets are not fully invested in polls that show a win for Hillary Clinton.

Even though polls show the Democratic candidate with a strong lead over Republican Donald Trump, analysts say investors are waiting until after November 8 to lay their money on the table.

“I don’t think it’s fully 100 percent Clinton is in,” said JJ Kinahan, chief market strategist at TD Ameritrade, who sees a pullback in risk-oriented investments as a sign of investor caution.

“Usually people are looking to take on extra risk for reward,” he said. “I think this is one case where people are paring back on their risk.”

Wall Street is thought to generally favor Clinton over Trump for president, and equity markets have hovered at historically high levels since July, with the S&P 500 less than three percent below its all-time peak.

Clinton is considered the more market-friendly outcome, expected to maintain the policies of outgoing President Barack Obama, while the market views Trump as a great unknown, both because of his penchant for controversy and his lack of a record in public office.

Trump has attacked trade part-

US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speaks during a homecoming rehearsal at the North Carolina A&T university in Greensboro, North Carolina, on October 27, 2016. AFP

ners China and Mexico and accused Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen of being a political tool of the Democratic party.

Investors are also unsettled by Trump’s seeming embrace of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a sign he may take foreign policy in radical new directions.

Signs of nervousness have been seen in certain trades, analysts say, like the Mexican peso.

Trump’s pledge of immigration controls and trade restrictions with Mexico have raised worries over its economy.

The peso sank against the dollar as Trump’s campaign added momentum, but then rebounded on Clinton’s gains following the first presidential debate on September 26.

But it remains down about 9 percent since Trump secured his party’s nomination in May. On the other hand, another gauge of market sentiment has been the biotechnology sector, which is seen as vulnerable in a Clinton presidency given the Democrat’s vow to address runaway drug prices. The Nasdaq

biotechnology index has fallen about nine percent over the last month.

Some analysts say the markets have already assumed a Clinton victory.

“To me, the markets clearly want a Clinton win and they have priced that in,” said Nathan Thooft, senior managing director at Manulife Asset Management.

“That’s what they predict, and that’s what they want. If that doesn’t happen, I feel there’s a great level of uncertainty and possible downside to the markets.”

‘Complacency’ over Trump Indeed, investors are aware that Trump has been consistently underestimated by the political, media and business establishment. Many are also loath to repeat the error of Britain’s June referendum to leave the European Union, when polling supported the market bet on a “stay” vote, only to be thrown into turmoil when Brexit passed.

“There’s a bit of complacency in the market.” said Kathy Lien of BK Asset Management, “I think the market’s underestimating the possibility of things going wrong as a result of either a Trump victory or the possibility of internal strife in the nation as a result of Clinton winning,” she said.

Briefing.com analyst Patrick O’Hare cited sluggish trading volume, as well as the flatness of the S&P 500, as a sign investors are in “seeing is believing mode” with respect to polls pointing to a Clinton triumph.

One sign of a pickup in caution is the VIX volatility index, also known as the “fear” index.

The index has risen the last three days and jumped nearly 8 percent Thursday to 15.36. Still, that is far below the 25.76 level on the day after the Brexit shock.

A big jump in the VIX before November 8 would signal “that the market is fearing something odd,” Kinahan said. AFP

Japan consumer prices fell for 7th straight month in September TOKYO―Japan’s consumer prices fell in September for the seventh straight month, data showed Friday, heaping more pressure on the central bank to push back its inflation target deadline.

The disappointing data came as the world’s third largest economy struggles to kick-start growth and conquer a long battle against defla-

tion.

Core consumer prices, excluding volatile fresh food costs, declined 0.5 percent on-year―in line with the market forecast―putting the Bank of Japan’s 2.0 percent inflation target further out of reach.

The BoJ has repeated pledges to continue monetary easing as needed until inflation reaches and stabilizes

at the target, which was first unveiled over three years ago as a cornerstone of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s economic revival policy.

With prices still nowhere near that level, BoJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda is reportedly considering rolling back the deadline for the goal, currently set in March 2018.

The Mainichi Shimbun said last

week that the bank started considering the postponement and was likely to make a final decision following discussions at a policy meeting next week.

“Falling energy prices as well as the impact of the yen’s appreciation continued pressuring CPI figures,” said Michinori Naruse, an analyst at Japan Research Institute.

“Under this situation, the Bank of Japan has no choice but to delay the deadline of the target,” Naruse told AFP. Separately, government figures also showed that household spending in September shrank 2.1 percent from a year ago, slightly better than expectations for a drop of 2.7 percent. AFP

Property

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

B4

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016

New San Jose Builders steps up its game

EXPANSION,

REACH FOR THE SKY.

NSJBI is putting its money on residential projects like Victoria Towers, a fourtower edifice along EDSA. which houses the MLQU law school, and one of the biggest sports complexes in Asia.

‘HUMAN

DEVELOPMENT’ PROJECTS IN PIPELINE

By Joel Lacsamana

O

n the eve of the 30th anniversary of construction and property development company New San Jose Builders, Inc. (NSJBI), founder Jose Rizalino L. Acuzar, acknowledged that he is casting his sights on “more important things”, other than physical edifices.

“We were founded in 1986, just after the EDSA revolution,” NSJBI chairman Acuzar told The Manila Standard.

The former draftsman/architecture student from Balanga, Bataan who later set up NSJBI as a landscaping and steel works outfit in its early years, took advantage of the halcyon post-EDSA years, beginning with a contract to develop National Housing Authority land and infrastructure in Bagong Silang and nearby areas in Caloocan City.

Over the years, NSJBI has been involved in the 10-hectare Bureau of Internal Revenue housing project in Fairview, the renovation and expansion of the Court of Appeals building, the building of the Quezon City Hall of Justice and the construction of a portion of Southern Tagalog Arterial Road, among other projects.

Recently, NSJBI-built condominiums have included Victoria Towers in Quezon City and three-tower luxury development, The Fort Victoria, in Bonifacio Global City.

Acuzar also owns heritage town Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan.

Not yet finished With NSJBI’s “AAA” rating as a contractor, Mr. Acuzar established numerous real estate developments in key cities. In 2014, he led the company to finish the construction of The Philippine Arena which made it to the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest indoor arena.

“I’m not yet finished, “ said Acuzar, who is also the chairman of Manuel L. Quezon University since NSJBI acquired the school back in 2014. “In all my years in business, I’ve learned that human development is most important in running a successful company. A lot more people benefit, and that’s what i intend to do next.”

Acuzar kickstarted his new advocacy last year by training groups of

employees at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. “I want them to be independent and more values-oriented, and thus be more productive in terms of family and community development. “ The plain-spoken builder revealed that his program is in the “experimental” stage. “I add a little bit of this, tweak a little bit of that, but mostly it’s all about focusing on the important things in life: sustainability, family, community, values,” he said. “People have to believe in what they’re building, what they’re working for. If it were just about money, or employment, then it will not last.”

Expansion in the works Acuzar said NSJBI’s main business will still be housing. “We have already built almost 50,000 units.

But we are focusing more on housing and tourism now,” he said.

He explained that there is an increasing demand for residential products, fuelled by low interest rates and easy financing packages.

“We believe in the next five years, demand will continue to be strong,” he averred.

Catering to the affordable segment of the market, NSJBI offers condominium units priced below P2 million. It also offers down payments as low as 20% of the amount, payable in a 24-month period.

The company brings more than 10,000 units to the market annually to make up for the 3.9 million housing backlog.

RALLYING THE TROOPS. The big boss (center) whoops its up with his employees.

said.

He stressed that NSJBI will continue building high-rise towers in Metro Manila to fill in the demand for affordable housing. “I’m partial to vertical projects: they’re easier t manage,” he confessed.

NSJBI’s latest two projects – Victoria de Manila 2 in Manila

Going public?

Because of the continued growth of the real estate market, NSJBI is planning to go public, so as to fund its expansion beyond Metro Manila.

Acuzar told The Manila Standard that he is eying urban centers like Cebu or Davao for this growth.

“We are preparing for that. I believe within a five-year period, we will be a public company,” Acuzar

LANDBANK BAGS ’BEST SME PRODUCT’ PLUM. Landbank’s builder’s program was recently awarded “Best SME Product” at the Asian Banker’s Philippine Country Awards 2016. The Builder’s program provides business loans to SMEs in the local construction market. It forms part of the Bank’s contribution to the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects of the national government by extending credit support to private and public sector players in the industry. As of June 2016, the program generated roughly one-third or 29% of the outstanding revenue of the Bank’s SME business with loan releases amounting to P19.6 billion lent to 230 contractors. This helped fund various projects, including farm-to-market roads and bridges, telecommunications infrastructure, residential units, commercial buildings, sanitary landfills, water and sewerage systems, sea walls, among other development projects. At the awarding were Landbank officer-in-Charge Cecilia C. Borromeo; Asian Banker managing director Foo Boon Ping, Landbank executive vice president Julio D. Climaco, Jr.; Landbank senior vice president Edward John T. Reyes; Startupbootcamp FinTech co-founder and Global COO Markus Gnirck; and FinFabrik CEO Alex Medana.

and Victoria Station 2 in Quezon City – make it the first and only company in the country to provide its residents with a world-class sports centre. Facilities include badminton, basketball, tennis and squash courts, a billiard and table tennis hall, a shooting range and an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

DECA FAMILY AFFAIR. Urban Deca Homes, the affordable housing brand of 8990 Holdings Inc., together with its online property search portal partner PropertyAsia.ph, recently held a concert featuring Sam Concepcion and Gary Valenciano at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Dubbed “Future Perfect”, the event was a pre-Christmas gift of the company to its current and future homeowners. Seen partying at the event were (left to right) Weyn Relleve, PropertyAsia. ph business development director; Atencio; Oliver Oliveros, PropertyAsia.ph social media, community manager, and Jekelyn Nisola, PropertyAsia.ph marketing assistant HIGH SPEED BUSINESS SPACE.

Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation (FBDC) recently unveiled a 600-square meter area, at 31st Street, corner 2nd avenue, Bonifacio Global City. Square One BGC is the latest venture of FBDC to service the growing number of start-ups looking for cost-effective measures for their businesses. The development follows the open space design touted by companies like Google. Square One BGC throws in large doses of coffee and refreshments, hot desk areas for transitory guests, and a 200 sqm social hall fit to host gatherings, from townhall meetings to formal conferences with up to 70 attendees. FBDC tied up service provider, Eastern Communications, to handle internet direct services.

DREAM TOWER. Nuvoland Philippines’ board of directors recently led the topping-off ceremony of the

developer’s latest project, Dream Tower, at Libis, Quezon City. Dream Tower provides a wide range of units to choose from, including studio, one bedroom and two bedroom units, to exclusive ‘sky lofts’, garden homes and office suites. At the ceremonies were (from left to right) Kay Jimenez and Nuvoland Philippines, Inc. board of directors Joel Jimenez, Kevin Belmonte, chairman Oscar Orbos, chairman emeritus Menardo Jimenez, president Joji Cullado, Laurie Jimenez-Westfall, and VG Martinez. The top off shindig was held at the ground floor of Dream Tower, E-Rodriguez Jr. Ave. corner Calle Industria, Brgy. Bagumbayan Quezon City.

LGUs

Free burrial for slain suspects in Manila

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

By Sandy Araneta MAKE no mistake about it.

Even drug suspects killed in police operations can be buried for free in Manila’s public cemeteries, especially at the newly built columbarium and apartment crypt at the Manila North Cemetery, Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada said on Friday.

Estrada said the city government did not discriminate on who could avail themselves of the city’s free burial services, and all the other social services being offered by the city government.

“As long as one is a resident of Manila, there is no discrimination,” Estrada said.

Estrada also said families of slain drug suspects were entitled to avail themselves of the columbarium service and the free burial package of the city government.

Estrada inaugurated last Monday the newly built P90million columbarium and apartment crypt at the Manila North Cemetery that that has 4,088 niches for funeral urns and 1,218 tombs.

Built for Manila’s indigents, the columbarium and an apartment-type crypt were put up in a four-story building inside the city-owned cemetery.

Since Manila’s re-intensified anti-drug war and in the continued implementation of Oplan Tokhang and Oplan Double Barrel of the Philippine National Police, at least 200 drug suspects have been killed in the city during encounters with members of the Manila Police District.

Manila also has the most number of drug suspects arrested and voluntarily surrendered to the city police.

By police latest count, 500 were arrested and 10,000 have presented themselves to the police authorities during Oplan Tokhang operations.

Estrada noted that the 54-hectare Manila North Cemetery has reached its capacity, prompting the city government to construct a columbarium.

“All cemeteries are fully loaded. No more space. There is also no room for expansion, but up,” he said, noting it was the first major improvement done at the Manila North Cemetery since 1904.

Built in 1904, the Manila North Cemetery, or Cementerio del Norte, is one of the oldest and biggest cemeteries in Metro Manila.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016

ACHIEVEMENT PRAISED. Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno congratulates Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan, escorted by DILG Director Analyn Baltazar, during the awarding of the Seal of Good Local Governance at the upscale Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel in Metro Manila on Thursday. Jun David

2-way traffic exchange up

By Joel E. Zurbano

I

N LINE with the program to solve the worsening traffic situation in the metropolis, the Metro Manila Development Authority on Friday announced partnership with Waze through its Connected Citizens Program, a twoway data exchange program with governments worldwide.

MMDA acting chairman Thomas Orbos said the agency would be sharing with Waze data on trafficcongested areas, road accidents, floods, and road closures so the public would be given the best possible route real-time.

“They can now better decide on what roads to traverse to get to their destination, as they can avoid areas that are heavily congested,” said Orbos.

MMDA assistant general manager for operations Julia Nebrija seconded Orbos, saying the move was a win-win partnership which would benefit both the private motorists and the commuters.

“MMDA’s data will contribute to better routes and Waze data will give MMDA wider incident coverage and public outreach, which we can study to improve our traffic management today and in the longterm,” she said.

MMDA is the first Philippine government agency to partner with Waze.

Waze, a community based traffic and navigation mobile application, ranked the Philippines No. 2 in the list of countries with worst traffic situation in 2015.

Based on the app’s Global Driver Satisfaction Index, Phil-

ippines with a 3.9 rating is following Costa Rica (4.5) who ranked No. 1 in the list of countries that offer the worst driving experiences in the world.

Panama came in third with a 3.8 rating followed by Indonesia, Romania and Ecuador, all with 3.7 rating; Columbia (3.3), Venezuela (3.3), Guatemala (3.0) and El Salvador (2.1).

Meanwhile, the MMDA reminded the public about the traffic regulations the Inter-agency Council on Traffic (I-ACT) will be implementing beginning next week to reduce the expected traffic congestion during the holiday season.

These are: - Moratorium on all excavations or diggings on all national and city roads starting midnight of Nov. 1 up to midnight of Jan. 9, 2017; - Ban on weekday mall sales starting Nov. 1 up to Jan. 9, 2017.

Further, shopping malls shall adjust their operating hours from 11am to 11pm during the same period.

- Mall deliveries during night-

time only from 11pm to 5am only, from Nov. 1 to Jan. 9, 2017.

Deliveries of perishable goods such as food and ice cream are exempted from this.

- Expanded Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program or number coding scheme and “No Window Hours” starting Nov. 2.

“These traffic-alleviating measures are intended to facilitate the free flow of motorists and Christmas shoppers even before December,” said Orbos.

The early implementation of these measures would offset the usual 20-percent increase in traffic volume every Christmas season because of the influx of people and vehicles from nearby provinces such as Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, and Central Luzon.

Two months since I-ACT was formed as a single authority in traffic management in the metropolis, Metro Manila mayors and traffic managers from various local government units have expressed support and optimism in the direction taken to solve the traffic problem.

In a workshop in Camp Crame

30,000 scholarship slots available for Cordillerans BAGUIO City—The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority has at least 30,000 available technical-vocational scholarship slots for Cordillerans to help enhance the government’s aggressive campaign for Filipinos to become entrepreneurs and become productive citizens of the country.

Tesda Director-General Guiling Mamondiong said the slots for the Cordillera region are part of the one-million slots made available by the agency for the

whole country under the Barangay Kasanayan Para sa Kaunlaran at Kapayapaan.

However, the Tesda official gave Cordillera officials until April next year to avail themselves of the available scholarship allocation for the region to test their absorptive capacity before possibly increasing the available slots for interested trainees regionwide.

“We want to empower the youth to become productive in terms of becoming entrepreneurs or land-

ing in gainful employment once they are able to acquire the needed skills from the scholarship grants that are available,” Mamondiong stressed.

On data obtained from TesdaCAR, the Cordillera region was able to get some 40,000 scholarship grants in various fields of expertise from the agency over the past six years.

The Tesda official encouraged the youth to visit their respective barangay officials and enlist themselves in the on-going barangay

skills registration program, the basis for approving the beneficiaries of the available scholarship.

He advised interested individuals interested in the scholarship grants that slots from the accredited technical-vocational institutions will be available by next month.

Mamondiong said training interested youth on appropriate skills for entrepreneurship or skilled work would boost the economy of remote communities because the skilled workers

would contribute to improving lives wherever they are.

Mamondiong said enlistment for the barangay skills registration program was underway and the results would be the basis of municipal, city and provincial executives to endorse whatever results to the regional Tesda offices.

The offices in turn would forward the data obtained to the central office for the formulation of the administration’s skills development program. Dexter See

30% drop in Kalinga rice production seen

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet— The Cordillera office of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA-CAR) predicted there would be a 30-percent decline in the production of Kalinga rice farmers for this cropping season.

This followed the damage caused last week by Super Typhoon “Lawin” on the local agriculture industry.

Engineer John Socalo, the NIACAR regional irrigation manager, said the expected decrease in the production of rice farmers would be applicable to the farms covered by the NIA-assisted irrigation projects in Kalinga.

Socalo reported NIA facilities regionwide suffered over P362.5 million worth of damage while damage to crops within the NIA assisted irrigation systems were initially pegged at P355.5 million.

C1

“Our field personnel are still conducting evaluation and assessment on the extent of damage inflicted by “Lawin” [on] our irrigation systems and the crops within the systems, thus, we expect that the initial estimates will increase in the coming days as soon as we will receive reports from the field,” Socalo stressed.

The NIA-CAR official said the initially reported damage had been inflicted on the agency’s national irrigation systems and communal irrigation systems in Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province.

According to him, if Kalinga rice farmers were able to produce 150 cavanas of palay per hectare, their production for the current cropping season would only be at least 100 to 105 cavans per hectare. Dexter See

COMMITMENT ECHOED. Mayor Cristina Romualdez reiterates the commitment of Tacloban City in the fight against illegal drugs during the Anti-drug Summit and Masa Masid launching at the city’s Convention Center on Tuesday. Mel Caspe

on Wednesday, LGU traffic managers joined officials and personnel from the Department of Transportation, Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board, MMDA, and Police-Highway Patrol Group in drafting guidelines to ensure smooth implementation of a unified ticketing system.

This came after the local chief executives agreed to pass uniform ordinances on traffic violation fines and penalties.

The move is consistent with the I-ACT’s vision to harmonize traffic laws and ordinances and integrate a single enforcement system under one chain of command.

Apart from strict enforcement along national roads, the I-ACT also intensified its campaign against illegally-parked and colorum vehicles.

From July 6 to Oct. 26, 2016, the team impounded 236 colorum vehicles, towed 5,696 illegally-parked vehicles, and cleared 2,330 sidewalk vendors.

The council also issued 25, 635 traffic violation tickets.

Snap, Benguet settle tax dispute LA TRINIDAD, Benguet—Hydroelectric power company SN Aboitiz Power (Snap) and its host province Benguet reached a compromise agreement on a real property tax dispute that has reached P157.7 million, representing three years of taxes to the towns of Bokod and Itogon and for Benguet province.

The parties signed the agreement in a ceremony on Oct. 25 in Baguio City.

Gov. Crescencio Pacalso represented the provincial government of Benguet while Chief Operating Officer Joseph Yu represented Snap.

Other Benguet representatives were Vice Gov. Florence Tingbaoen, Provincial Administrator Noel Ngolob, Bokod mayor Thomas Wales, Jr., and Itogon mayor Victorio Palangdan.

Representatives from Snap were Chief Finance Officer Eleanor Blomdahl, Chief Corporate Services officer Mike Hosillos, Chief Technology officer Emmanuel Lopez, OIC-Plant manager Fernan Tongco and Assistant Vice President for Legal and Compliance David Ocampo.

In 2010, Benguet issued an ordinance lowering the tax rate of structures from 80 percent to 40 percent. Dexter See

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

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

TODAY

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE POWER SALES AGREEMENT (PSA) ENTERED INTO BY AND BETWEEN DAVAO LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY, INC. (DLPC)AND SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES POWER CORPORATION WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY AND CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFORMATION

SC

= Start-Up Costs

RCEC

= Replacement Capacity and Energy Costs

Due Date shall earn interest at the 91-day T-Bill Rate plus three percent (3%) per annum, from the day after the Payment Due Date until the date upon which such amount was received by the Seller12.

BCEC

= Back-up Capacity and Energy Costs

Taxes

= Value-Added Tax as collected from DLPC’s customers and other applicable taxes, if any, net of any withholding tax, as applicable.

1.1

Capital Recovery Fee (CRF)

19.10 Payment Made Prior to Due Date. The Buyer shall be given a one and a half percent (1.5%) prompt payment discount on the payment in full of the applicable Capital Recovery Fees twenty (20) days prior to the relevant Payment Due Date13.

20.

CRF shall be computed as follows:

ERC CASE NO.2016-068 RC DAVAO LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY, INC. (DLPC) AND SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES POWER CORPORATION (SPPC), Applicants. x------------------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Further, Applicant SPPC respectfully manifests that the said financial model is only for the purpose of illustration and does not reflect the real tariff basis of SPPC. 21.

Where: CRFR CC F

= Capital Recovery Fee Rate of PHP 250.18/kw/month = Contracted Capacity = Factor as derived using the following formula to be used.

22.

Where: TMED

2.

3.

Statement of Facts 4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Based on the demand and supply outlook of DLPC for the remaining months of 2016 up to 2020,DLPC sees a deficit between its current supply portfolio and its current and projected demand requirements. This deficit is projected at an average of 83.72 MW with a projected peak deficit of 142.47 MW. A major contributing factor to this deficit is the El Niño phenomenon that is adversely affecting Mindanao, resulting in the reduction in the capacity allocation to DLPC by its hydroelectric power plant suppliers such as NPC/ PSALM1. From January 22, 2016 to March 30, 2016, NPC/PSALM, on the average, allocated only about 86.79 MW from a maximum equivalent capacity of 167.261MW, or the average actual energy of 62,155,237.33 MWh per month, from the average contracted energy of 76,376,108.66 MWh per month for the said period.

Moreover, DLPC’s firm supply contract for 18 megawatts of capacity with one of it suppliers will expire on April 28, 2016.

Thus, to augment its supply requirements, DLPC sought separate competitive offers from any peak load generation source and base load generation source from prospective suppliers. For the peak load generation source requirement, only one bid was received for each of the two competitive biddings conducted by DLPC, resulting in a failed bid.

Thus, DLPC entered into direct negotiations with SPPC. Accordingly, DLPC and SPPC entered into a Power Sales Agreement (PSA) for the supply of fifty megawatts (50 MW) for two (2) years from the Commencement Date, as defined in the PSA. The term may be extended for an additional one (1) year period.

Section 45 (b) of Republic Act No. 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, provides that distribution utilities may enter into bilateral power supply contracts subject to review by the ERC. In connection with this, ERC Resolution No. 2, Series of 2015, provides that the distribution utilities and generation companies jointly file with the Honorable Commission their respective power supply agreements.

2

The Generation Facilities. SPPC shall supply power under the PSA from its 55 MW bunker C-fired diesel power generating plant located in Alabel,Saranggani Province (the “Power Station”).A brief description of the technical characteristics of the Power Station is attached hereto as Annex “N.”

12.

The specific fuel oil consumption (“SFOC”) of the Power Station shall not be greater than 0.2464 kg/kWh at site condition of 32 deg. C ambient temperature. The SFOC is based on a bunker C fuel oil density of 0.9855 kilogram/liter.A copy of a certification on the Power Station’s specific fuel oil consumption rate is attached hereto as Annex “O.”

13.

Project Cost and Operating Expenses. A summary of the costs of the project and its supporting documents are attached as Annexes “P” and series. A detailed breakdown of the projected operating expenses is attached hereto as Annex “Q.”

14.

Project Finance; Weighted Average Cost of Capital (“WACC”). The project is being funded through loans and equity. A computation of the WACC indicating the debt-equity ratio, and the interest cost is attached hereto as Annex “R.”

15.

Fuel Supply.In order to ensure the supply of fuel for the operations of the Power Station, SPPC is currently in the process of selecting a fuel supplier.

A copy of a document on the fuel procurement process is attached hereto as Annex “S.” 15.1.

16.

A copy of the ECC is attached hereto as Annex “T.” 17.

18.

DOE Accreditation. The Department of Energy has accredited the Power Station as a Block Power Production Facility under the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Executive Order No. 215.A copy of the pertinent certificate of accreditation is attached hereto as Annex “U.”

If If Fixed Operation & Maintenance Fee (FOMF)

2.

The Fixed Operation and Maintenance Fee (FOMF) covers the operating and maintenance costs of the Power Station. It shall be computed according to the following formula:

Salient Terms and Conditions. The PSA contains the following salient features and conditions:

FOMR

= Fixed O&M Fee Rate of PHP 219.00/kw/month

CPIn

= Consumer Price Index for Metropolitan Manila Area (National Capital Region), all items published by NEDA/NSO for the period of price determination

CPIo

= Consumer Price Index for Metropolitan Manila Area (National Capital Region), all item published by NEDA/NSO as of December 31, 2013.

WPCn

= Wholesale Price Index for Mineral Fuels, Lubricants and Related Materials for the Philippines as published by NEDA/NSO for the period of price determination

WPCo

EUn

= Euro-Peso Exchange Rate for the period of price determination as published by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

EUo

= Euro-Peso Exchange Rate as of December 31, 2013 as published by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

FPPIn

= Finland Producers’ Price Index for Manufacturing for the period of price determination as published in the International Financial Statistics of IMF

FPPIo

= Finland Producers’ Price Index for Manufacturing as of December 31, 2013 as published in the International Financial Statistics of IMF

F

= Outage Factor as derived using the following formula to be used.

Document 1st Invitation to Submit Proposal for the Supply of Power

B

2nd Invitation to Submit Proposal for the Supply of Power Offer of Alsons Power Group for SPPC

D

DLPC BAC Evaluation Reportsand Letter Request to Negotiate a PSA

E

Secretary’s Certificate re Board Resolution on DLPC BAC Evaluation Reports

F

Secretary’s Certificate re Board Resolution on the authority of DLPC to enter into the supply agreement and DLPC’s authorized signatory

G

Power Sales Agreement

H

DLPC Distribution Development Plan

I

Rate Impact Analysis

J

Contract for the Supply of Electric Energy between DLPC and PSALM

K

Demand Side Management (DSM) Programs of DLPC

L

SPPC’s Certificate of Incorporation, Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws

M

General Information Sheet of SPPC for the Year 2015

N

Brief description of the technical characteristics of the Power Station

O

Specific Fuel Oil Consumption Certificate of the Power Station Project Cost and its supporting documents

Q

Detailed Breakdown of the Projected Operating Expenses

R

Computation of the WACC with Debt-Equity Ratio and Interest Cost

S

Fuel Procurement Process

T

Environmental Compliance Certificate issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources

U

Certificate of Accreditation issued by the Department of Energy

V

Certificate of Compliance issued by the Energy Regulatory Commission

W

Sample Computation of the Monthly Payments

X

Financial Model

Y

SPPC 2015 Audited Financial Statements

Allegations in Support of the Motion for Confidential Treatment

= Wholesale Price Index for Mineral Fuels, Lubricants and Related Materials for the Philippines as published by NEDA/NSO for as of December 31, 2013.

23.

As mentioned above, the financial model attached hereto as Annex “X” is hereby submitted under a motion to treat information confidential (“Motion”).

24.

The financial model discloses the basis for the tariff under the PSA. It includes all the formulas and calculations as well as the assumptions and values considered therein.

25.

In accordance with Section 1, Rule 4 of this Honorable Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (“ERC Rules”), Applicant SPPC respectfully moves that the financial model be treated as confidential information for the following reasons: 25.1

The financial model qualifies as a “trade secret” as contemplated under existing jurisprudence.

25.2

In the case “Air Philippines Corporation vs. Pennswell Inc.”14, the Supreme Court defined “trade secret” as follows: “A trade secret is defined as a plan or process, tool, mechanism or compound known only to its owner and those of his employees to whom it is necessary to confide it. The definition also extends to a secret formula or process not patented, but known only to certain individuals using it in compounding some article of trade having commercial value. A trade secret may consist of any formula, pattern, device, or compilation of information that (1) is used in one’s business; and (2) gives the employer an opportunity to obtain advantage over competitors who do not possess the information. Generally, a trade secret is a process or device intended for continuous operation of the business, for example, a machine or formula, but can be a price list or catalogue or specialized customer list. It is indubitable that trade secrets constitute proprietary rights.” (Emphasis supplied)

Where:

Where: TMED

= Theoretical Maximum Energy Delivered being the Contracted Capacity multiplied by the hours in the relevant month, less any adjustments made for Allowed Outage, limitation due to Buyer’s dispatch order, and allowable start-up time due to period of non-generation due to a Buyer dispatch order, and any other hours as a consequence of Buyer’s failure to perform any of its obligations

F

= 1 if the foregoing formula result in F being greater than 1

A summation of the ED & TMED for a given Contract Year shall be made to determine true F during the Contract Year. Such yearly F factor shall be basis for adjustment of the CRF for the Contract Year. The adjustment shall be guided by the following conditions: If

26.

Also, the financial model was prepared and developed for the exclusive use of SPPC, and is designed for the specific use of the company in its power generation business. Consequently, should the financial model be disclosed to the public, it could easily be copied or used by SPPC’s competitors or other entities engaged in the power business for their own benefit, and to the prejudice of SPPC. Thus, the commercial value of the said model will be diminished significantly.

27.

Given the foregoing, the financial model qualifies as “confidential information” as defined under Section 2, Rule 4 of the ERC Rules.

28.

In accordance with Section 1 (b), Rule 4 of the ERC Rules, an electronic copy of the financial model is contained in one compact disc and submitted in a sealed envelope marked with the word “Confidential.”

29.

Further, all parties furnished copies of the present Application are not furnished copies of the model subject the present motion.

30.

In accordance with Sections 3 and 4, Rule 4 of the ERC Rules, Applicant SPPC reserves the right to use the financial model and its contents as evidence, and respectfully moves for the issuance of a Protective Order.

If

Allegations in Support of the Prayer for Provisional Authority

Variable Operation & Maintenance Fee (VOMF) 31.

The Variable Operation and Maintenance Fee (VOMF) covers the cost of the use of, among other items, chemicals, lubricants and spare parts, that are directly related to the generation of the Power Station. It shall be computed according to the following formula:

The Applicants move for the issuance of a provisional approval of the PSA pending trial on the merits for the following reasons: a.

Mindanao Power Crisis and upcoming May 9, 2016 Presidential Elections. Due to the continuing power shortage in Mindanao, the area served by DLPC continues to suffer power outages. From January 1, 2016 to April 13, 2016, DLPC was compelled to implement rotational brownouts from three to four hours as a result of the tight supply.

Hence, the PSA with SPPC will greatly aid in narrowing the power supply gap that DLPC requires in order to minimize the power outages in its franchise area. Minimizing power outages due to lack of supply has become especially urgent with the upcoming presidential elections in May 9, 2016.

b.

Continuing demand growth. As illustrated in the DDP, DLPC is expecting a growth in the total demand of its end-users. This, coupled with the lack of supply in Mindanao and the continued reduction in the supply allocation by NPC/PSALM will result in a widening of the supply gap, which DLPC may not immediately attend to. This will greatly disadvantage the end-users of DLPC who will then be forced to suffer frequent and prolonged outages.

Where : VOMF

= Variable O&M Fee, in Pesos

Term. The PSA shall be effective from the Effective Date until two (2) years from Commencement Date (“Term”) or unless otherwise earlier terminated or extended in accordance with the terms of the PSA.

VOMFR

= Variable O&M Fee Rate of Php 0.18/kWh

ED

= kWh delivered during the billing period

The PSA may be extended for an additional one (1) year period after the end of the original Term, at the option of the Buyer and under the same terms and conditions of the PSA3.

CPIn

= Consumer Price Index for Metropolitan Manila Area (National Capital Region), all items published by NEDA/NSO for the period of price determination

19.2

Contracted Capacity.The Contracted Capacity is fifty megawatts (50 MW) as may be increased or reduced in accordance with the PSA.4

CPIo

= Consumer Price Index for Metropolitan Manila Area (National Capital Region), all items published by NEDA/NSO as of December 31, 2013.

19.3

Adjustments to Contracted Capacity and Dispatchable Energy.

At any time during the Term of the PSA, the Parties may agree to permanently increase or decrease the Contracted Capacity and Dispatchable Energy. Any additional Contracted Capacity and Dispatchable Energy agreed by the Parties shall be paid for by the Buyer at the same rates specified in Schedule B (Payments to the Seller)5.

EUn

= Euro-Peso Exchange Rate for the period of price determination as published by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

EUo

= Euro-Peso Exchange Rate as of December 31, 2013 as published by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

FPPIn

= Finland Producers’ Price Index for Manufacturing for the period of price determination as published in the International Financial Statistics of IMF

FPPIo

= Finland Producers’ Price Index for Manufacturing as of December 31, 2013 as published in the International Financial Statistics of IMF

WPCn

= Wholesale Price Index for Mineral Fuels, Lubricants and Related Materials for the Philippines as published by NEDA/NSO for the period of price determination

WPCo

= Wholesale Price Index for Mineral Fuels, Lubricants and Related Materials for the Philippines as published by NEDA/NSO as of December 31, 2013.

19.1

19.4

19.5

Allowed Outages. The PSA provides for an Allowed Outage not exceeding 65,700 MWh in the relevant Contract Year, or the proportionate number of hours if a Contract Year is less than 12 months6.

Replacement Capacity and Energy. During any period of Outage within the Allowed Outage and subject to the availability of Replacement Capacity and Energy from the System, the Seller shall use its best efforts to deliver Replacement Capacity and Energy to the Buyer. If Replacement Capacity and Energy is requested by the Buyer, the Replacement Capacity and Energy Cost of the Replacement Capacity and Energy delivered by the Seller to the Buyer shall be a full pass-through cost to the Buyer7. The cost of transmission line losses and congestion from the Receiving Point, or Alternative Receiving Point in the case of Replacement Capacity and Energy, to the Buyer’s substation shall be for the account of the Buyer8.

19.6

Backup Capacity and Energy. During any Forced Outage9, the Seller shall have the obligation to deliver Backup Capacity and Backup Energy to the Buyer10.

19.7

Monthly Payments11. Commencing on the Commencement Date and continuing throughout the Term, the Buyer shall pay to the Seller an amount (the “Monthly Payment”) calculated in accordance with the formula set out in Schedule B (Payments to the Seller).

Subject to Section 6.3 (Settlement), billings shall be based on the Contracted Capacity and monthly energy delivered to the Buyer at the Receiving Point or Alternative Receiving Point and in accordance with the provisions of Schedule F (Measurement and Recording of Electricity).

All Ancillary Service charges, taxes, fees, imposts and other similar charges shall also be included in the monthly billing.

The Monthly Payment in respect of a Billing Month shall include Replacement Capacity and Energy Costs and Backup Capacity Costs and Backup Energy Costs to the extent applicable.

The Monthly Payment shall be subject to further adjustments if there are new taxes, fees, imposts and similar charges, or any increase in existing taxes, fees, imposts and charges.

19.8

Schedule B (Payments to the Seller) of the PSA is reproduced below: PAYMENTS TO THE SELLER

The Buyer shall make the following payments to the Seller in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement: 1.

Monthly Payments

Actual Fuel Cost (AFC)

4.

The Actual Fuel Cost (AFC) is the fee paid to the Seller as payment for the procurement and delivery of the fuel oil (Bunker C) used in the operation of the SPPC Power Station. The Actual Fuel Cost shall be computed as follows: AFC = FC x EC x ED

Where: FC

= Fuel Cost; The average MOPS price of Bunker C Fuel Oil/Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) deliveries during the period of price determination in Peso/liter

EC

= Efficiency Cap; 0.2464 kg/kwh 0.9855 kg/liter

ED 5.

= Energy Delivered, kwh Start-Up Costs (SC)

The Buyer, on a pro rata basis of the capacity of the Power Station allocated to the Buyer, shall pay the Seller Start-Up Costs for the cost of starting up the SPPC Power Station, or any portion thereof, after a period of shutdown due to any reason attributable to the Buyer. The Start-Up Costs shall be computed based on the prevailing price of diesel fuel at the time of the Start Up and paid in accordance with the following: Type of Start-Up

Liters of Diesel Fuel per Unit

Cold Start-up (more than 10 hours of shutdown)

600

Warm Start-up (less than 10 hours of shutdown)

300

6.

Monthly Payments = CRF + FOMF + VOMF + AFC + SC + RCEC + BCEC + Taxes

The Buyer shall pay the Seller Backup Capacity and Energy Cost equivalent to the Monthly Payment had there been no Forced Outage.

Where:

8.

FOMF

= Fixed Operation and Maintenance Fee

VOMF

= Variable Operation and Maintenance Fee

AFC

= Actual Fuel Cost

The immediate approval of the PSA will allow DLPC to immediately draw power from an available plant in order to serve the power needs of its customers. Thus, the immediate approval of the PSA will ultimately redound to the benefit of the customers of DLPC in terms of continuous, reliable, efficient and affordable power supply.Attached as Annex “Z” of this Application is the Judicial Affidavit of Mr.Reynold B. Felix, DLPC’s Assistant Vice President – Engineering Support, in support of the request for Provisional Authority.

PRAYER

WHEREFORE, in view of all the foregoing, it is most respectfully prayed that this Honorable Commission: 1.

ISSUE an Order declaring the financial model attached hereto as Annex “X” as confidential information within the purview of Rule 4 of the ERC Rules, as well as directing that the financial model be treated with confidentiality and be protected from public disclosure;

2.

ISSUE the corresponding Protective Order in accordance with Sections 2 and 4 of the said Rule 4;

3.

Pending trial on the merits PROVISIONALLY APPROVE, the PSA, including all the rates, fees, charges and tariff adjustment mechanisms set out therein; and

4.

After trial on the merits, APPROVE with FINALITY the PSA, including all the rates, fees, charges and tariff adjustment mechanisms set out therein.

Other reliefs just and equitable are likewise prayed for.

The Commission has set the application for jurisdictional hearing, Expository Presentation, Pre-trial Conference and evidentiary hearing on 16 November 2016 (Wednesday) at nine o’clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.) at DLPC’s Principal Office, C. Bangoy St., Davao City.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the proceeding may become a party by filing, at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements in the ERC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, a verified petition with the Commission giving the docket number and title of the proceeding and stating: (1) the petitioner’s name and address; (2) the nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding, and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and (3) a statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the proceeding may file their opposition to the application or comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before the applicant concludes the presentation of its evidence. No particular form of opposition or comment is required, but the document, letter or writing should contain the name and address of such person and a concise statement of the opposition or comment and the grounds relied upon.

All such persons who may wish to have a copy of the application may request from the applicant, prior to the date of the initial hearing, that they be furnished with a copy of the application. The applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the application and its attachments, subject to reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Likewise, any such person may examine the application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the usual office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairman JOSE VICENTE B. SALAZAR, and the Honorable Commissioners ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission this 26th of August 2016 at Pasig City.

ATTY. NATHAN J. MARASIGAN Chief of Staff Office of the Chairman and CEO

The Buyer shall pay the Seller Replacement Capacity and Energy Cost in accordance with the invoice provided by the supplier of Replacement Capacity and Energy Cost.

7.

= Capital Recovery Fees

32.

Replacement Capacity and Energy Cost Fee (if applicable)

The Monthly Payments shall be paid to the Seller on a monthly basis in accordance with the following formula:

CRF

0.3346

C

P and series

Where:

3.

Impact

4.3072

In support of the instant application, the following documents are attached as annexes hereof:

Certificate of Compliance. This Honorable Commission has issued the necessary Certificate of Compliance for the Plant. A copy of the said certification is attached hereto as Annex “V.” Salient Terms and Conditions of the PSA

19.

A summation of the ED & TMED for a given Contract Year shall be made to determine true F during the Contract Year. Such yearly F factor shall be basis for adjustment of the CRF for the Contract Year. The adjustment shall be guided by the following conditions:

It must be stressed that, in accordance with the relevant policy of this Honorable Commission, SPPC shall derive no revenue whatsoever from the fuel supply.

Environmental Compliance Certificate. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has issued the necessary Environmental Compliance Certificates (“ECC”) covering the Power Station.

A

= 1 if the foregoing formula result in F being greater than 1

Thus the instant Application.

Overview of the 55 MW SPPC Power Station

11.

F

SPPC is a generation company duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at the 4th Floor Alphaland Southgate Tower, corner EDSA and Chino Roces Extension, Makati City.

Applicants may be served with notices, orders and other processes of the Honorable Commission through their respective undersigned counsels.

With SPPC

3.9726

Annex

= Theoretical Maximum Energy Delivered being the Contracted Capacity multiplied by the hours in the relevant month, less any adjustments made for Allowed Outage, limitation due to Buyer’s dispatch order, and allowable start-up time due to period of non-generation due to a Buyer dispatch order, and any other hours as a consequence of Buyer’s failure to perform any of its obligations

Applicants DLPC is a domestic corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines with office address at C. Bangoy St., Davao City. It is a grantee of a legislative franchise under Republic Act No. 8960 to maintain and operate an electric light and power system for the purpose of distributing electric light, heat and power, in the Cities of Davao and Panabo, and the Municipalities of Carmen, Sto. Tomas and Braulio Dujali, all in the Province of Davao del Norte.

Without SPPC Total (Php/kWh)

In the said application, DLPC and SPPC alleged the following:

1.

Rate Implication. An analysis was conducted to determine the estimated impact of the implementation of the PSA on DLPC’s generation costs, a copy of which is attached as Annex “I” hereof. The following table shows the indicative rate impact: Generation Charge

Where:

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 28 April 2016, Davao Light and Power Company, Inc. (DLPC) and Southern Philippines Power Corporation(SPPC) filed a joint Application for approval of their Power Sales Agreement (PSA), with Prayer for the Issuance of Provisional Authority and Confidential Treatment of Information.

Financial Model. A copy of SPPC’s financial model is attached hereto as Annex “X.” The said financial model is subject to a motion for confidential treatment of information discussed below.

Backup Capacity applicable)

and

Backup

Energy

Costs

Fee

(if

Value Added Tax

1 2 3 4 5

The relative Value Added Taxes (“VAT”) of the above fee payments of 12% shall be computed as follows:

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

This computation notwithstanding, the VAT to be paid by the Buyer to the Seller is as collected by the Buyer from its Customers.

19.9. Overdue Charges. Any amounts not paid on or before the Payment

13 14

NPC stands for National Power Corporation. PSALM stands for Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation Net Dependable Capacity See Section 3.2, PSA. Section 1.1 (Definitions), PSA. Par. 3, Section 4.1, PSA. See Definitions, Section 1.1 of the PSA. See Section 6.6, PSA. See paragraph 3, Section 5.5, PSA. “Forced Outage” means, after the Commencement Date, any Outage in excess of the Allowed Outage, whether due to unplanned partial or total plant shutdown, for reasons other than Force Majeure.

Par. 1, Section 6.7, PSA. Section 7.2, PSA. See Section 7.4 (a), PSA. Section 7.4 (b), PSA. G. R. No. 172835, 13 December 2007.

(MS-OCT. 29 & NOV. 5, 2016)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

World

TODAY

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016

C3

Strike threat on Maduro

C

ARACAS―Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro faces renewed pressure Friday as the opposition calls for a nationwide strike, which he has threatened to break with army takeovers of paralyzed firms.

Up in arms over the authorities’ decision to block a referendum on removing Maduro from power, the opposition has declared a 12-hour general strike, threatening to exacerbate the shortages of food and basic goods gripping the country.

“This is a call to a citizens’ strike for the people: to leave streets and workplaces empty... to pressure the government to obey the constitution and respect our right to choose,” the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable said in a statement.

The strike is scheduled to start at 6:00 am (1000 GMT).

The center-right coalition’s latest move to pressure the unpopular leftist leader comes after antigovernment protests drew hun-

dreds of thousands of people on Wednesday.

Maduro has vowed to respond forcefully.

“If a company stops, it will be taken over,” he said Thursday in a televised speech.

He also extended a carrot to the struggling workers who have served as his socialist party’s traditional base: a 40 percent increase in the minimum wage, to the equivalent of about $140 a month.

But economic analysts called that a drop in the bucket for a country the International Monetary Fund says is facing inflation of 475 percent this year, rising to 1,660 percent next year.

And a wage hike may only add fuel to the inflationary fire.

Although Venezuela boasts march next week on the presithe world’s largest oil reserves, dential palace, the scene of a falling crude prices have short-lived opposition coup atplunged the country into an eco- tempt against Chavez in 2002. nomic crisis.

Army chief Vladimir Padrino That has coincided with a has declared loyalty to Maduro, messy political crisis ever since vowing to defend the socialist the opposition won a majority in government “with [his] life.” the National Assembly last DeThe army will inspect some cember.

700 companies Friday to see The election setback has whether they observe the strike, forced the president to share Maduro said. power with an opposition legHe wants to address the crisis islature for the first time since in a “national dialogue” with opMaduro’s predecessor and men- ponents from Sunday, a plan he tor, the late socialist firebrand says is backed by Pope Francis.

Hugo Chavez, came to power in The MUD said it would agree 1999. to talks only if the government Maduro accuses the National respects the constitutional right Assembly of staging a “parlia- to a referendum and frees immentary coup” by voting to put prisoned activists and leaders, him on trial for allegedRepublic breach other demands. of theamong Philippines DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE of duty.

Maduro has vowed to travel Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street The opposition says it is Madto the Caribbean island of MarManila 1004 uro who is staging a coup d’etat garita, where he has proposed Request for Expression of Interest for CONSULTANCY bySERVICES blocking a referendum. starting talks on Sunday.

FOR THE TAX INCENTIVES DATABASE BUILDUP AND ANALYSIS (TIDBA) Fears of violent unrest are FOR ButTAX it isEXPENDITURE unclear whether he ESTIMATION AND POLICY ANALYSES PURPOSES mounting in the country, where will have anyone to talk to. The rioting at anti-government pro- opposition insists that any talks 1. The Department of Finance (DOF), through the General Appropriations Act for CY tests killed 43 people in sum 2014. held in Caracas, “in thebeing pub2016, intends to apply the of Seven be Million Pesos (PhP7,000,000.00), the opposition Approved Budget the Contract to payments The hasforvowed to (ABC), lic eye.”

AFP under the contract for

I. II. III.

Applicable Experience Quality of Personnel to be Assigned Capacity to Execute the Project Total

-

25% 60% 15% 100%

4.

Source of Fund

ITEM NO. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76

6.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the IRR of RA No. 9184.

The Procuring Entity shall evaluate bids using the Quality Cost Based Evaluation (QCBE) procedure. The Procuring Entity shall indicate the weights to be allocated for the Technical and Financial Proposals. The criteria and rating system for the evaluation of bids shall be provided in the Instructions to Bidders.

The contract shall be completed within a period of twelve (12) months from issuance of Notice to Proceed.

7.

The DOF reserves the right to reject any and all bids, annul the bidding process, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

8.

For further information, please refer to: Lilia R. Tan, Head - BAC Secretariat Department of Finance BAC Secretariat, General Services Division 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex P. Ocampo, Sr. Street corner Roxas Boulevard, Manila Telephone No.: 526-8475 Telefax No.: 525-4227 Email Address: ltan@dof.gov.ph

(MS-OCT. 29, 2016)

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street Manila 1004

InvItatIon to BId for the ProCUreMent of Motor vehICLeS In the dePartMent of fInanCe

3.

The DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE (DOF), through the Government of the Philippines under the General Appropriations Act for FY 2015 and 2016, intends to apply the sum of Eight Million Two Hundred Forty Five Thousand Pesos (PhP8,245,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Procurement of Motor Vehicles in the Department of Finance FY 2015 and 2016 (the “Project”). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The DOF, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), now invites Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) registered contractors to apply for eligibility and to bid for the Procurement of Motor Vehicles in the Department of Finance FY 2015 and 2016.

Bidders should have completed, within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project which is equivalent to at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC for 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 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (R-IRR) of Republic Act (RA) No. 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

However, only those who have purchased the Bidding Documents shall be allowed to participate in the pre-bid conference, and raise or submit written queries or clarifications.

4.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA No. 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act No. 138.

5.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on November 2, 2016 at the General Services Division, 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex, corner Pablo Ocampo Sr. St., Roxas Blvd., Manila upon payment of a non-refundable fee provided as follows: Lot No. 1 2

Particulars Passenger Van Asian Utility Vehicle (AUV) or Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)

ABC PhP 1,245,000.00

Non-refundable fee PhP 5,000.00

PhP 7,000,000.00

PhP 10,000.00

The Bidding Documents may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the PhilGEPS and the website of the DOF, provided that the Bidders shall pay the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

6.

The schedule of bidding activities are as follows: ACTIVITIES Posting of Invitation to Bid Issuance and Availability of Bid Documents Pre-Bid Conference Request for Clarification Issuance of Supplemental Bid Bulletin Deadline for Submission of Bids Opening of Bids

7.

Schedules October 29, 2016 Starting November 2, 2016 November 7, 2016, 10:45 a.m.

November 11, 2016 (by email) November 14, 2016 November 21, 2016, 9:45 a.m.

November 21, 2016, 11:00 a.m.

Bids must be delivered to General Services Division, 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex, Pablo Ocampo Sr. St., Roxas Blvd., Manila on or before November 21, 2016, 9:45 a.m. The bidders shall drop their duly accomplished eligibility requirements, technical and financial proposals in two (2) separate envelopes in the bid box located at the abovementioned address.

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

Bid opening shall be on the date indicated above at the DFG Conference Room, 4th Floor DOF Building. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend.

“LATE BIDS SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED”

8.

9.

DOF reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids, 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: Lilia R. Tan, Head – BAC Secretariat Department of Finance BAC Secretariat, General Services Division 7th Floor, EDPC Bldg., BSP Complex P. Ocampo Sr. St., cor. Roxas Blvd., Manila Telephone No.: 526-8475 Telefax No.: 525-4227 Email address: ltan@dof.gov.ph

(MS-OCT. 29, 2016)

UNIT

QTY 300 400 300 160 150 60 100 120 200 150 100 250 200 400 150 150 320 150 400 100 150 500 300 200 200 50 250 220 50 20 200 300 250 150 50 200 500 25 350 100 50 100 300 80 450 5000 100 80 50 30 350 30 50 200 400 125 150 100 70 80 200 200 120 300 300 1500 300 200 200 300 50 320 320 320 50 160

ITEM DESCRIPTION

SACK KILO KILO BOTTLE BOTTLE PACK KILO KILO KILO KILO KILO BOTTLE KILO TRAY KILO KILO KILO KILO BUNDLE KILO KILO BUNDLE BUNDLE KILO BOTTLE KILO KILO KILO KILO KILO BOTTLE KILO KILO BOX KILO PACK PACK KILO KILO PACK PIECES KILO KILO KILO PACK PIECES PACK PACK BUNDLE KILO BUNDLE KILO KILO KILO BUNDLE CAN BOX KILO KILO KILO CAN CAN PACK KILO BOX (96CANS) PIECES KILO KILO KILO KILO KILO KILO KILO KILO BOX BOX

Rice (50KG) Chicken (breast) PORK (GINILING) SOY SAUCE (11) VINEGAR (11) BLACK PEPPER POWDER (250GMS) SUGAR (WHITE) GARLIC ONIONS SAGING (SABA) BAGUIO BEANS COOKING OIL (11) SALT (IODIZED) EGGS UPO TOMATOES GALONGGONG KAMOTE19 PETSAY GINGER CARROTS KANGKONG MALUNGGAY FLOUR PAPA KETCHUP (500ML) PATOLA MISUA (1/4 K AND 1/2 K) PAPAYA GABI SILI (BELL PEPPER) PATIS (11) MONGGO SAYOTE CORNSTARCH (200GMS) CABBAGE TOMATO SAUCE (250GMS) COCONUT MILK (200GMS) KALAMANSI KALABASA MARGARINE/BUTTER (250GMS) CHICKEN BROTH SOTANGHON (1/2K AND 1K) BEEF YELLOW CORN (FRESH) TONGUE TOKWA LUMPIA WRAPPER (50 PCS) BREAD CRUMBS (500GMS) KULITIS DILIS SITAW BATAW KAMIAS KIDNEY BEANS CHINESE PETCHAY LIVER SPREAD (SMALL) FISH BROTH TALONG SUGAR (RED) SHRIMP CORN WHOLE KERNEL( MEDIUM) GREEN PEAS (SMALL) MOLO WRAPPER ELBOW MACARONI MILK EVAP (SMALL) BREAD (ROOTCROP OR KAKANIN) PUTONG PUTI LOMI/MIKI MAMI NOODLES PORK (PIGUE) SILI (HABA) FISH (ALUMAHAN) FISH (TILAPIA) PORK BROTH CHEESE (180GMS) CHEESE (180GMS)

APPROVED BUDGET FOR THE CONTRACT TRUST FUND

Contract Duration : 90 days Prospective bidders should have experienced in undertaking a similar project within the last three (3) 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 the bids shall use non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Post-Qualification of the lowest calculated bid shall be conducted.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Pre-Procurement Conference Issuance of Bid Documents Pre-bid Conference Opening of Bids Bid Evaluation Post Qualification Notice of Award Notice to Proceed

(SGD) GIL S. BELTRAN Undersecretary and DOF-BAC Chairman

Schedule Oct. 7, 2016 -2pm/Conference Rm., Municipal Hall Binmaley, Pangasian Oct. 11, 2016 - Oct. 31, 2016 /BAC Office, Municipal Hall Binmaley, Pangasinan Oct. 20, 2016-2pm/ Conference Rm., Municipal Hall Binmaley, Pangasian Nov. 3, 2016-2pm/Conference Room, Municipal Hall Binmaley, Pangasinan Nov. 4, 2016 Nov. 7, 2016 - 2pm/ Conference Rm., Municipal Hall Nov. 9, 2016 Nov. 11, 2016

Bid Documents will be available only to prospective bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount of Php 5,000.00 to the office of the Treasurer, Binmaley, Pangasinan.

The Municipal Government of Binmaley assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bids and reserves the right to reject any or all bids, waive minor defects therein and accept the offer most advantageous to the government.

CONTACT PERSON: SGD. CATALINA R. FLORES BAC Secretariat-HEAD Poblacion, Binmaley, Pangasinan Tel. No. 075-632-3881

APPROVED BY:

(MS-OCT. 29, 2016)

SGD. MAY ANNELLE V. PEREZ BAC Chairman

AUCTION SALE CINTHY PAWNSHOP All unredeemed pledges during the month of JUNE 2016 will be sold to public auction on: NOVEMBER 25, 2016 STA. MESA – 8:00 AM # 3630 Ramon Magsaysay Blvd. Sta. Mesa, Manila at JUAN LANUZA & SONS- AUCTIONEER

AUCTION SALE

FLIGHT A raven flies in front of a tree in a park in Stuttgart, southwestern Germany. AFP

2.

Php 2,070,000.00 Trust Fund - Supplementary Feeding Program

( M S - O C T. 2 9 , 2 0 16 )

(SGD) GIL S. BELTRAN Undersecretary and BAC Chairman

1.

:

SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF FOOD COMMODITIES FOR THE SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING PROGRAM OF DSWD Thirty (30) Day Care Centers of Binmaley, Pangasinan

The complete schedule of activities is listed as follows:

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.

5.

:

Location : Approved Budget for the Contract :

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 Regulations (IRR).

The passing score is at least seventy percent (75%).

none other than Stoker’s greatgrandnephew who will play host for the evening.

After a candlelit dinner, the visitors will then be shown to their night’s resting place―two large velvet-lined coffins.

“We want to instil a sense of fear in an authentic way, not like some fairground attraction,” Dacre Stoker, a self-proclaimed “vampire expert” and author, told AFP. “During his first few hours at the castle, Harker had no idea about the horror that was about to befall him,” he added with a conspiratorial grin.

But while the Airbnb pair may be the sole overnight guests, they certainly won’t be the only living souls to haunt around the premises during Halloween.

Of the 500,000 annual tourists, many choose this time of year to cram inside the castle and explore its many spooky nooks and crannies.

“The castle has 57 rooms across four floors. But I can’t tell you how many vampires there are,” guide Anemona Todor told a group during a recent tour.

The fortress’s fear factor left some visitors unfazed, however.

“We know that Dracula is just a legend so the situation is under control,” said an Israeli woman Dorit who was visiting the place with her husband and five-year-old son.

For those more interested in real ghosts of the past, Bran also offers a rich treasure trove in history. AFP

Name of Project

The DOF now calls for the submission of eligibility documents for the procurement of consulting services of a consulting firm/company affiliated with an internationally recognized audit firm with extensive experience in large scale auditing and accounting projects in extractive and financial sectors. Interested consultants must submit their eligibility documents on or before November 7, 2016, 09:45 a.m. at the BAC Secretariat, c/o General Services Division, 7th Floor EDPC Building, Roxas Blvd., Malate, Manila. Applications for eligibility will be evaluated based on a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion.

The BAC shall draw up the short list of consultants from those who have submitted eligibility documents and have been determined as eligible in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 9184 (RA No. 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The short list shall consist of at least one (1) prospective bidder who will be entitled to submit bids. The criteria and rating system for short listing are:

BRAN, Romania―Armed with courage and hopefully garlic, two horror fans dying for a thrill will become the first guests in almost 70 years to spend a night at Dracula’s castle in Transylvania on Halloween.

More than 80,000 subscribers to the home-sharing service Airbnb have taken part in a global contest for the unique chance to stay at the brooding fortress, perched on a rock above the misty Carpathian valley in central Romania.

Officially called Bran Castle, the 11th-century mansion is a landmark tourist attraction made famous by Irish author Bram Stoker’s 1897 Gothic novel “Dracula”.

In the book’s opening pages, unsuspecting London lawyer Jonathan Harker travels to the remote Transylvanian woods for business dealings with the mysterious Count Dracula.

Several blood-drenched chapters later, the reclusive aristocrat reveals himself to be an ancient vampire with an unsatiable appetite for young women’s arteries.

Although Stoker never visited Romania, his description of the count’s eery home matches that of the Bran fortress, thus giving rise to the myth.

Like young Harker in the novel, a horse carriage will take the Airbnb competition winners―to be announced by Friday―up a winding road to Bran Castle on October 31.

Here, they will be greeted by

The Municipality of Binmaley, through the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) invites suppliers to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder project.

Consultancy Services for the Tax Incentives Database Build-up and Analysis (TIDBA) for Tax Expenditure Estimation and Policy Analyses Purposes. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of the financial proposals.

2.

Fans spend a night at Dracula’s castle

Republic of the Philippines OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL MAYOR BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE Binmaley, Pangasinan INVITATION TO BID

PENTHOUSE PAWNSHOP All unredeemed pledges during the month of JUNE 2016 will be sold to public auction on NOVEMBER 4, 2016 at BETTER - 8:00 AM at # 82 Betterliving Subd. Parañaque City at JUAN LANUZA & SONS- AUCTIONEER

( M S - O C T. 2 9 , 2 0 16 )

AUCTION SALE P O B CASA D E E M PE Ñ O S All unredeemed pledges during the month of JUNE 2016 will be sold to public auction on NOVEMBER 23, 2016 at the ff. branches: ST. FRANCIS - 10:30 AM at # 40 Kingfisher St., St. Francis, Meycauayan, Bulacan POBLACION – 11:30 AM # 721 Barrera St., Poblacion, Baliuag, Bulacan at JUAN LANUZA & SONS- AUCTIONEER ( M S - O C T. 2 9 , 2 0 16 )

AUCTION SALE TAMCAR PAWNSHOP CORP. All unredeemed pledges during the month of JUNE 2016 will be sold to public auction on NOVEMBER 11, 2016 at the ff. branches: BUSTILLOS -2:00 PM at # L2522-28 Road 216, Earnshaw Bustillos, Manila NOVEMBER 25, 2016 CALOOCAN – 1:00 PM # 434 J. RODRIGUEZ ST., at JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER ( M S - O C T. 2 9 , 2 0 16 )

AUCTION SALE PEARLAS PAWNSHOP CO., INC. All unredeemed pledges during the month of JUNE 2016 will be sold to public auction on NOVEMBER 04, 2016 at the ff . branches: MONTILLANO 12:30 PM at 249 Montillano St., Alabang, Muntinlupa City NOVEMBER 07, 2016 SUMULONG – 9:00 AM # 24 Sumulong Hway Sto. Niño, Marikina City CONCEPCION – 10:00 AM # 1 9 B a y a n B a y a n a n Av e . , Concepcion, Marikina City NOVEMBER 12, 2016 G. N U E V O – 9 : 0 0 A M Ta n H o c k B l d g . , C o r. E D S A , Makati City NOVEMBER 23, 2016 B. BARRIO 11 : 3 0 A M # 3 5 M a l o l o s Av e . , B . B a r r i o , C a l o o c a n City NOVEMBER 23, 2016 VA L E N Z U E L A – 1 2 : 0 0 P M # 11 5 F a u s t i n o S t . , P u n t u r i n , Va l e n z u e l a City at JUAN LANUZA & SONS- AUCTIONEER ( M S - O C T. 2 9 , 2 0 16 )

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AUCTION SALE

AUCTION SALE

NORTHERN LEGASPI All unredeemed pledges during the month of JUNE 2016 will be sold to public auction on NOVEMBER 25, 2016 at NAVOTAS - 2:30 PM at # 256 Champaca St., Navotas Metro Manila at JUAN LANUZA & SONS- AUCTIONEER

N.C. TAMBUNTING

( M S - O C T. 2 9 , 2 0 16 )

All unredeemed pledges during the month of JUNE 2016 will be sold to public auction on NOVEMBER 7, 2016 at PATEROS 8:00 AM at # M. Almeda Cor. B. Morcilla St., Pateros, Metro Manila at JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER ( M S - O C T. 2 9 , 2 0 16 )

AUCTION SALE

AUCTION SALE

WESTCHESTER

RACATAM PAWNSHOP CO., INC.

All unredeemed pledges during the month of JUNE 2016 will be sold to public auction on NOVEMBER 11, 2016 at the ff. branches: HERRAN - 8:00 AM at # 1101 P. Gil St., Paco, Manila STA. ANA – 10:00 AM # 390 AP Reyes Cor. JP Rizal St., Makati City at JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER ( M S - O C T. 2 9 , 2 0 16 )

AUCTION SALE CITRINE PAWNSHOP CO., INC All unredeemed pledges during the month of JUNE 2016 will be sold to public auction on NOVEMBER 4, 2016 at RITZ - 12:00 PM at Stall # New Muntinlupa Public Market, Alabang Muntinlupa City JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER

All unredeemed pledges during the month of JUNE 2016 will be sold to public auction on NOVEMBER 18, 2016 at the ff. branches: PRITIL - 8:00 AM at 1833 N. Zamora St., Pritil, Tondo, Manila BLUMENTRITT – 10:30 AM #1687 M. Hizon St., Blumentritt, Manila VARONA – 8:30 AM 1872 F. VARONA ST., BRGY 95, ZONE 8, TONDO, MANILA NOVEMBER 24, 2016 ALTURA – 9:00 AM # 418 Altura St. Sta. Mesa, Manila at JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER

( M S - O C T. 2 9 , 2 0 16 )

AUCTION SALE PANG NEGOSYO PAWNSHOP

( M S - O C T. 2 9 , 2 0 16 )

All unredeemed pledges during the month of JUNE 2016 will be sold to public auction on NOVEMBER 07, 2016 at the ff. branches: COUNTRYSIDE - 12:30 PM at 49 Countryside Ave., Sta. Lucia, Pasig City JUNCTION – 2:30 PM # Star Valley Plaza Mall, Junction at JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER

AUCTION SALE

AUCTION SALE

LUIROM PAWNSHOP CO., INC.

MAKATI LUXURY JEWELRY PAWNSHOP CO.,

All unredeemed pledges during the month of JUNE 2016 will be sold to public auction on NOVEMBER 04, 2016 at the ff. branches: SUCAT - 9:00 AM at #3 Dr., A. Santos Ave., Sucat, Parañaque City MUNTI – 1:30 PM #659 National Road, Poblacion St., Muntinlupa City NOVEMBER 08, 2016 SAN JOAQUIN – 1:30 PM # 9 M. Concepcion San Joaquin, Pasig City NOVEMBER 24, 2016 10TH AVE. – 2:00 PM # 245-B 10TH Ave., Brgy., 60 Zone 6, Caloocan City NOVEMBER 23, 2016 MARILAO – 1 PM #5 NETWORK AVE., MERALCO VILL. LIAS MARILAO BULACAN NOVEMBER 12, 2016 SAGRADA – 11:00AM #1978 ESTRADA ST., FORMER SAGRADA FAMILIA STA. ANA, MLA. NOVEMBER 18, 2016 GAGALANGIN – 8:45 AM #2 JUAN LUNA ST., COR. GUIDO ST., TONDO MANILA NOVEMBER 23, 2016 STO NIÑO – 9:30 AM #30 ST., THERESE COR, ST. PETER, P3 STO NIÑO MEYCAUAN BULACAN at JUAN LANUZA & SONS- AUCTIONEER ( M S - O C T. 2 9 , 2 0 16 )

( M S - O C T. 2 9 , 2 0 16 )

All unredeemed pledges during the month of JUNE 2016 will be sold to public auction on NOVEMBER 04, 2016 at BF Homes – 10:00 AM # 43 President’s Ave., BF Homes, Parañaque City SPL - 3:00 PM at Casa Hacienda San Pedro, Laguna on NOVEMBER 07, 2016 at the ff. branches: ROMULO - 10:00 AM at 135 13TH Ave., Cor. P. Tuazon, Cubao, QC SANTOLAN – 4:00 PM 526 ADR Bldg., Dela Paz, Santolan, Pasig City on NOVEMBER 11, 2016 JP RIZAL – 11:00 AM # 529 Olympia St., JP Rizal, Makati City ALPHALAND – 5:00 PM G11 South Gate Towers, P. Tamo Ext., Makati City MANUELA – 3:00 PM G/F Starmall, Wack2, Mandaluyong City NOVEMBER 18, 2016 LALOMA – 11:30 AM # 67 Calavite St., Brgy., P. Bundok, QC RETIRO - 12:30 PM # 270 N.S. amoranto Street, Retiro QC. ROTONDA – 2:00 PM # 1 Sto. Tomas St., Rotonda QC at JUAN LANUZA & SONSAUCTIONEER ( T S - O C T. 2 9 , 2 0 16 )

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

C4

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016

Michelin food hawker starts new eatery

World

SUNSET. Migrants walk at sunset near the “Jungle” migrant camp in Calais, northern France, on October 27, 2016, during a massive operation to clear the camp. AFP

Casette tapes gain new following SUBANG JAYA, MalaysiaCollectors and music fans wearing the t-shirts of obscure rock bands brave the tropical heat outside a record store near Malaysia’s capital, waiting to get their hands on new cassette tapes.

No, this isn’t a flashback to the 1980s, but an event marking recent International Cassette Store Day, an annual celebration of a music format once thought headed for extinction but now enjoying a rebirth.

Vinyl’s renaissance is welldocumented and now it seems cassettes are rising from the grave, with artists such as Kanye West and Justin Bieber releasing songs on tape.

In Southeast Asia low production costs and a retro-cool image have made cassettes an underground-music fixture, especially for struggling bands getting their name out.

“Cassettes are our best sellers,” Mohammad Radzi Jasni, owner of the store, Teenage Head Records, said after shoving one by Singaporean surfpunk band Force Vomit into a bulky tape player.

“They are still the best way to discover new bands here. It’s very affordable for the guys releasing it and the fans buying them,” he added.

Manufacturing costs can be as low as four ringgit ($1) per tape in Malaysia, compared to 60 to 80 ringgit for a vinyl record.

Vinyl’s cost is a hurdle for young bands and DIY labels in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.

There are no vinyl-pressing plants in Southeast Asia, cassette lovers say, while cassette plants still dot the region.

To mark International Cassette Store Day, Teenage Head Records released 200 cassettes featuring Malaysian rock band Bittersweet. Almost all were sold out by the day’s end.

Bittersweet has released three CD albums but keyboardist Fadhilul Iqmal said pressing a few more songs on cassette helps pump up the band’s discography at low cost, while the format’s compact size makes it more mobile than vinyl.

Such thinking has helped fuel a burgeoning DIY cassette label industry in the region. In Indonesia, they have a newfound novelty appeal among youths who grew up with digital music. AFP

SINGAPORE―A Singapore street-food chef who was awarded a Michelin star this year announced Friday a partnership with a multinational culinary company to offer customers across Asia a taste of his prize-winning braised chicken dish.

Chan Hon Meng announced in a joint press conference with Singapore-based Hersing Culinary, which holds the Asia franchise for the popular Tim Ho Wan chain, that the partners will collaborate on a new Singaporean restaurant before expanding across the region.

“I’m very happy to find the right partner,” Chan told reporters.

“It’s important that they are very enthusiastic about the food and beverage industry and they put their customers first.”

Their first venture will be a restaurant called Hawker Chan, which will offer the signature chicken dishes Chan serves at his stall in Singapore’s Chinatown.

Malaysian-born Chan is one of two “hawkers”―so-called because many started out as street peddlers-awarded one star by the culinary bible when it launched its inaugural Singapore guide in July.

The 80-seater Hawker Chan, just three minutes’ walk from the current stall, will feature air-conditioning and sit-down dining at higher prices.

Chan will get a 50-percent stake in the restaurant, whose set-up costs are estimated at S$1 million ($720,000).

Chan’s stall, which serves up his awardwinning dish for just S$2.50 ($1.80), has been called the cheapest Michelin-starred food establishment in the world.

His wife and other family members will continue to run his stall while he will oversee operations at both outlets.

Hersing chairman Harry Chua declined to give a time line for international expansion, with financial terms for future outlets to be negotiated between the two parties.

Hersing holds the Asia Pacific franchise rights to Tim Ho Wan, a Hong Kong dim sum chain that has also been awarded one Michelin star. AFP

Big marine reserve okayed in Antarctica

ONSTAGE. A model parades a creation from TaoLouLan at China Fashion Week in Beijing. AFP

SYDNEY—The world’s largest marine reserve aimed at protecting the pristine wilderness of Antarctica will be created after a “momentous” agreement was finally reached Friday, with Russia dropping its long-held opposition.

The deal, sealed by the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources at an annual meeting in Hobart after years of negotiations, will see a massive US and New Zealand-backed marine protected area established in the Ross Sea. It will cover more than 1.55 million square kilometers― roughly the size of Britain, Germany and France combined―of which 1.12 million square kilometers will be a no-fishing zone.

“The proposal required some changes in order to gain the unanimous support of all 25 CCAMLR members and the final agreement balances marine protection, sustainable fishing and science interests,” New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully said.

“The boundaries of the MPA, however, remain unchanged.”

The Ross Sea is one of the last intact marine ecosystems in the world, home to penguins, seals, Antarctic toothfish, whales and huge numbers of krill, a staple food for many species.

It is considered critical for scientists to study how marine ecosystems function and to understand the impacts of climate change on the ocean.

Moscow was the last government opposing the move, largely due to concerns over fishing

rights, after China offered its support last year.

“We had a lot of talks with them. Secretary (John) Kerry reached out to Russian President (Vladimir) Putin and (Foreign Minister Sergei) Lavrov and I think that helped a great deal to convince Russia to come on board,” Evan Bloom, head of the US delegation at the meeting, told AFP. “This decision is very important not just for the Antarctic but for efforts to promote world marine conservation.”

Moscow has signaled more commitment to conservation in recent times, designating 2017 as the Year of Ecology. It moved in August to significantly increase the size of a protected zone around Franz Josef Land in the Arctic.

While the Ross Sea plan got the go-ahead, time ran out at the meeting to reach agreement on a second proposed protected area―the Australia and Franceled East Antarctica sanctuary covering another one million square kilometer zone.

Both reserve proposals have been on the table since 2012 with CCAMLR―a treaty tasked with overseeing conservation and sustainable exploitation of the Antarctic Ocean, also known as the Southern Ocean.

Consensus is needed from all 24 member countries and the European Union.

A third German-proposed plan is also in the works to protect the Weddell Sea, which extends from the southeast of South America over an area of some 2.8 million square kilometers. AFP

Pygmy anteaters are VIPs at a zoo in Peru LIMA―Paulina struggles to open her eyes, sees strange people in her space and raises her tiny claws in warning.

Despite the threat, it’s hard not to want to cuddle the pint-sized furball and her mate Freddy, the only pygmy anteaters in the world to be kept in a zoo.

Since being rescued from animal traffickers a decade ago, when they were a year old, the

pair have lived in the Huachipa Zoo in Lima, Peru.

Native to Central and South America, pygmy anteaters measure about 20 centimeters (eight inches) long―the smallest anteaters in the world.

Also called silky anteaters, or Cyclopes didactylus, they are known as creatures of the night, wrapping their little goldenbrown bodies around tropical

tree branches to feed on ants.

They are much smaller than their cousins, such as the Tamandua anteaters, which can measure up to a meter long, or the giant anteater, which reaches two meters long.

They spend their entire lives in the treetops, never touching the ground.

But the destruction of the Amazon rain forest is leaving them without a home.

Because of their fragility, Paulina and Freddy are not on public display.

They are kept in a special enclosure designed to mimic their arboreal habitat.

The pair are believed to be the longest-lived pygmy anteaters in captivity.

Sometimes captured to be kept as pets, the animals typically stay alive only a short time outside

their native habitat.

“There’s not much information about them because they’re not very visible. They are being affected by deforestation, and because of that we are losing them,” said the biologist who cares for the Lima pair, Gina Ccarhuas.

It is difficult to estimate how many pygmy anteaters there are in the Amazon because they are so solitary and shy. AFP

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

WEEKEND LIVING

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016

D1

Moments

ALL SMILES.

Shangri-La Plaza invites mall goers to immortalize happy moments with their loved ones through a free photo session.

of Happiness S

HANGRI-LA Plaza on its 25th anniversary celebration is sharing special Shang moments with all mall guests.

This time, through a free photo studio session with photographer Patrick Uy, allowing mall goers and their loved ones have their very own #SilverPortraitsofHappiness.

Enjoy the free photo session on Oct. 29, Nov. 5 and Nov. 12 from 1:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Level 3 of the mall’s Main Wing.

Capture your Shang moment with

friends, family or even solo and watch out for the official portraits to be uploaded on Shangri-La Plaza’s official Facebook page.

You will also be able to view behind the scenes shots on Shang’s Instagram account (@

shangrilaplazaofficial).

Share your photos with the hashtags #ShangMoments and #SilverPortraitsofHappiness on your own Facebook and Instagram accounts and you can get a chance to be the lucky winner of a special thank you gift from Shangri-La Plaza.

So, head on over to the metro’s top lifestyle spot and celebrate Shang’s anniversary through happy moments in portraits.

For inquiries, call (02) 370-2597 or 98 or visit www.facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficialfanpage.

Children can be whoever they want to be as seasoned photographer Patrick Uy captures their heroic and fun moments in portraits

Acacia Hotel counts 5 THIS month, Acacia Hotel Manila marks its 5th year in the service industry. The darling Filipino deluxe hotel in the South has grown to be the choice destination for both business travelers and vacationers. Its tagline “Filipino Like No Other” remains strong with its commitment to provide guests signature Filipino hospital-

Acacia Head Chef Aldo Palaypay teams up with celebrity chef Boy Logro this October

ity along with topnotch facilities and amenities. To thank its patrons, Acacia Hotel Manila is rolling out monthlong room, spa, membership and restaurant anniversary treats.

Acacia Hotel Manila’s Dream Beds have always been a reason to stay at the independent local hotel brand. Experience the much-raved about sweet slumber by booking the Anniversary Room Package for only P5,000 ++ and enjoy an overnight stay in a Deluxe Room that comes with five amazing perks each good for two persons: buffet breakfast at Acaci Coffee Shop, 15-minute head and shoulder massage, refreshing drinks at Tree Top Lounge, a delectable three-course feast at The Lobby at Acacia and 40 percent off for dinner buffet.

During your stay take advantage of free WiFi access, use of the swimming pool and fitness center and shuttle service within the Alabang commercial area, plus a special turndown amenity. This package is valid all weekends for local residents until the end of the month.

For relaxation, Lurra Wellness Spa is extending 30 percent discount on treatments from 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. for all guests.

Lurra Wellness is Acacia Hotel Manila’s very own spa, which offers traditional massages executed by well-trained therapists. Services in-

The Alabang hotel’s much-raved about Dream Beds invite guests for a luxurious slumber

clude Relaxation, Combination, Filipino Hilot, Foot Reflexology and Body Scrub. Ask for the R & R Spa Packages for that complete rejuvenation.

To fully experience Acacia Hotel Manila, purchase the Acacia Circle membership card for only P7,000 nett instead of the regular rate of P7,888 nett. Enjoy a free stay, buffet, repeated use of swimming pool and gym as well as year round hotel dis-

counts simply by being a member.

Last but most certainly not the least is Acacia Hotel Manila’s foodie treat for October. To celebrate its 5th year and to promote Filipinos at its best, the hotel is presenting their first ever guest chef at its buffet restaurant, Acaci Coffee Shop. The special guest chef is none other than Chef Boy Logro who is the first-ever Filipino Executive Chef in the Philippines.

Chef Boy will team up with Acacia’s Head Chef Aldo Palaypay and the hotel’s culinary team to offer a spread of uniquely Pinoy creations that Chef Boy has personally concocted. This special food trip is until Oct. 31 and available for lunch and dinner buffet.

For more information on Acacia Hotel Manila’s anniversary treats, call (02) 720-2000 or email enquiry@acaciahotelsmanila.com

A festive welcome for TBEX Asia Pacific 2016 delegates INTERNATIONAL delegates of the Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX) Asia Pacific 2016, the world’s biggest gathering for travel bloggers, writers, content media creators and tourism industry professionals, were treated to impressive cultural performances by some of the country’s top performers.

Presented by the Department of Tourism (DoT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), in coordination with NMX Events, TBEX afforded the delegates from North America, Europe and Asia a glimpse of the country’s diverse culture and colorful festivals.

The cultural numbers included an entertaining narrative of the country’s Malay, Chinese, Muslim and Spanish cultural influences. Also featured were some of the country’s most popular festivals such as the Flores de Mayo, Masskara of Bacolod, Dinag-

yang of Iloilo, Sagayan and Moriones of Marinduque, Pintados of Tacloban, Kadayawan of Davao, Sinulog of Cebu, and Ati-Atihan of Aklan.

TBEX 2016 was made possible with the support of Philippine Airlines, Globe Telecom, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), and Duty Free Philippines.

Other sponsors included Amorita Resort, The Lind Boracay, Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel, Limketkai Luxe Hotel, Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa, Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa, Pearl Farm Beach Resort, Primer Group of Companies, The Funny Lion Palawan, Merrell Philippines, Lakan, Banana Peel, Le Spa at Sofitel, Park Inn by Radisson, Hotel Luna, Bluewater Maribago Resort and Spa, Sonya’s Garden, Museo Orlina, and Grab Philippines.

Festive and colorful performances welcomed the international delegates of TBEX Asia Pacific 2016

The event was also made possible the University of the Philippines, Cen- Santo Tomas, and Philippine Women’s by the participation of volunteers from tro Escolar University, University of University.

Life

D2

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

LPG label fuels Filipino values

By Bernadette Lunas

A

LIQUEFIED petroleum gas brand wants to be part of Filipinos’s everyday lives as it launched an advocacy program that reminds consumers of the importance of family, honesty, integrity, hard work and respect for others.

Isla LPG Corporation (ILC), owner of LPG brand Solane, revives and puts the spotlight on Filipino values with its “Dapat Lang” campaign. A popular Filipino expression, “dapat lang” loosely translates to “that’s how it should be, rightly so” in English.

The program emphasizes the importance of doing the right thing in the workplace, at home and in the society.

ILC CEO Ruben Domingo said their company has been implementing the values promotion program among employees, an advocacy that they’re now sharing with their customers as part of their corporate social responsibility.

“When we came up with the campaign, we wanted something that consumers will understand,” Solane Marketing Manager Valeri Villano told Manila Standard. She continued, “In our business, it (“dapat lang”) is an expression because we operate in terms of safety, product quality and service.”

“Dapat Lang” highlights the value of making sure that wherever a person is, he should make sure that safety, reliability and quality, among others are taken into account much like how Solane complies with the highest standards in the industry.

According to Villano, Solane’s core values, which are excellence, honesty, integrity and respect for people are aligned and same with traditional Filipino values.

“We want to bring it back through the campaign, which is not only corporate but can also be used by anyone,” the Solane official added.

The advocacy program of the fiveyear-old LPG label also aims to humanize the product. “It makes consumers, even us, feel connected to

‘Dapat Lang’ campaign highlights the importance of traditional Filipino values and emphasizes the importance of doing the right thing at home or in the workplace.

Photo from Solane website

Isla LPG Corp. CEO Ruben Domingo

Nancy Reyes-Lumen, Suzi Abrera and Rizza Padilla-Singson

Retooling Physical Education and School Sports in Asia

LTE in Boracay SMART Communications’ ongoing deployment of its mobile internet service via a combination of low-band and high-band frequencies is starting to pay off, with subscribers in initial deployment areas reporting significant improvement in their mobile data experience, particularly indoors.

Subscribers in Boracay experienced stronger mobile internet connectivity after Smart implemented a quad-band LTE (Long-Term Evolution) setup on the island. This involves the use of the low-band 850 MHz frequency and the high-band 1800, 2100 and 2300 MHz frequencies.

“I used to get EDGE signal but now I get LTE. My connection remains strong even when I’m inside a building. I’m really happy, especially because I need mobile Internet now more than ever,” said Joyce Mationg, a local.

Low-band frequencies like 700 and 850 MHz have longer range and better indoor penetration.

These enable Smart subscribers with compatible phones to have strong and stable Internet connectivity in more areas, even inside buildings. Improving indoor penetration is critical, as international and Smart’s own studies show that bulk of mobile internet users use data services inside buildings.

High-band frequencies, on the other hand, provide additional capacity. These allow the Smart network to support more mobile data users and provide them with more bandwidth.

Smart subscribers on Boracay island experience stronger mobile Internet connectivity following the network’s accelerated LTE deployment

quency previously assigned to San Miguel Corp.

(SMC), under the co-use arrangement approved by the National Telecommunications Commission when Smart’s parent company PLDT acquired the SMC telecom business.

Under the same arrangement, Smart also gained access to 2300 MHz frequencies it already deployed in Boracay.

Smart is rapidly deploying frequencies specifically for LTE, which is the fastest wireless data service commercially available. These efforts are part of a three-year network rollout plan submitted

by PLDT to the NTC. The plan includes Smart’s goal to cover 95 percent of the country’s cities and Accelerated LTE deployment The use of these frequencies is being further municipalities with high-speed mobile internet enhanced by Smart’s ongoing deployment of 700 service by the end of 2018.

“We are accelerating our LTE deployment beMHz in different areas of the country. Smart recently gained access to the 700 MHz radio fre- cause this will enable us to deliver faster, more reBoracay tourists Mikhail Tornilla, Kevin Pineda and Rhaymond Ursal are ‘very happy’ with their Smart LTE experience on the island

the brand. We’re able to feel the brand and make it part of our everyday lives,” said Villano.

As part of the campaign, Solane also launched its new website, www. solane.com.ph, which outlines the various ways with which consumers can live out the new campaign principle, communicate directly with the company and enjoy access to quick and easy recipes and various helpful time-saving tips.

The website’s About Us page shares vital information about ILC and Solane. It also has an order form at the Pa-deliver Ka Na! page which allows consumers to order LPG right at the convenience of their home. Alternatively, a Store Locator tab helps users track the nearest LPG store.

liable, and affordable Internet services throughout the country,” said Joachim Horn, chief technology and information advisor at PLDT and Smart.

Rhaymond Ursal, a tourist in Boracay, and his friends said they were “very happy” with their Smart LTE experience on the island.

“We’ve had a lot of uses for our mobile data connection here. Apps download quickly, and there’s no lag when we play Pokemon Go.” “Signal is good even indoors. Last night, we streamed movies in our room and there was no long buffering,” added Ursal.

Boracay was the site of several technological firsts for Smart as well as the Philippines, including the firing up of LTE in 2012 and the deployment of LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) in April. Smart fired up LTE-A using a capability called carrier aggregation, which involves the combination of two or more frequency bands to deliver bigger bandwidth and faster data speeds to mobile users.

Hard figures back customer testimonials

Smart LTE tests conducted in Boracay in mid-June showed that page loading was fast, consistent, and successful 99 percent of the time. This figure is much higher than the 61 percent success rate recorded in April.

Smart also achieved a 100 percent success rate in loading web pages on the first try. All attempts to stream videos without buffering were successful.

Smart LTE’s average download speeds also improved by 50 percent, from 14 Mbps to 21 Mbps.

Meanwhile, an LTE-A speed test conducted in August posted a download speed of 120 Mbps, and an upload speed of 28 Mbps.

THE University of the Philippines’ College of Human Kinetics (UP-CHK) and the Sport Management Council of the Philippines (SportPhil) are in deep preparations for the 2016 International Conference on Sport Pedagogy, Health, and Wellness (ICSPHW 2016 — the first-ever three-day international academic sporting event to be held in the Philippines.

Entitled “P.E. Plus: Retooling Physical Education and School Sports for Inclusion, Development and Competition,” the international confab will be held from Nov. 18 to 20 at the Celebrity Sports Plaza and the UP campus in Quezon City. Foreign and local sports experts and educators will take part in the event.

The conference aims to highlight the importance of games, play, and physical activity for the development of students, and looks to attract P.E. teachers, coaches, instructors, trainers, managers, students, athletes and sports advocates. Participants will hear meaningful and substantial lectures and get training from distinguished sports scholars from all over the world, including the Philippines.

“This year’s conference promises to equip attendees with the latest pedagogy and workshops and will open up opportunities for them to showcase their research papers and posters,” said UP-CHK Dean Ronualdo Dizer. The event is focused on improving sports education in the country.

Since 2012, UP-CHK has been organizing the National Conference on Sport Pedagogy, which has been well-attended by physical educators, sport science practitioners, coaches and human movement specialists from all over the Philippines.

Now that it has gone international, the conference has a bevy of more than 20 foreign and local speakers, an expected attendance of some 850 participants, and has been endorsed by the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and the Asian Council of Exercise and Sports Science, among other international institutions.

The sporting event is co-presented by Milo Philippines, and with GoldToe and Delos Santos Medical Center as assisting sponsors. Ticket prices for the three-day affair are P4,500 for local participants and P3,000 for undergraduate students.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016

‘Wagas’ features

‘Horror Queen’ Lilia Cuntapay’s secret love story

On ASOP’s 5th Year, 12 new songs of Praise vie for “Song of the Year”

I

NSPIRING hymns will once again fill the Big Dome as UNTV’s A Song of Praise (ASOP) Music Festival’s Grand Finals unspools on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with a total of more than a million in cash prizes at stake.

Twelve masterpieces from monthly winners beginning November 2015, will vie for the “Song of the Year” grand title.

Now on its fifth year, the grand champion will receive P500,000 cash prize while non-winning entries will each receive P20,000. The Best Interpreter Award comes with a P50,000 cash prize and the same for

the winner of the People’s Choice Award.

Here is a full line-up of this year’s grand finalists: “God Will Always Make a Way” - Composition and Lyrics by Glenn Bawa and Ronald Calpis, interpreted

by BugoyDrilon “Tapat Mong Pangako” composition and lyrics by Gulliver Enverga, performed by The Voysing “Ikaw Lamang” - composition and lyrics by Jonathan Sta. Rita, Tim Pavino performed “Ikaw Pala” - composition and lyrics by Wilfredo Gaspar, performed by Ima Castro “Tanging Ligaya” - composition and lyrics by Angelica Soriano, interpreted by Zendee “Ang Iyong Pangalan” composition and lyrics by RomaricoMendiola Jr., performed

by Jovit Baldovino “Patawarin Mo Ako” - composition and lyrics by Fernando Gardon, Kris Lawrence performed “Araw at Ulan” - composition

and lyrics by Joselito Caleon, Sitti performed “Pag-ibig Ka, Oh Dios” composition and lyrics by LJ Manzano, performed by JBK “Mula sa Aking Puso” - composition and lyrics by Joseph Ponce, and performed by Carlo David “Kumapit Ka Lang” - composition and lyrics by Noemi Ocio, with the performance of Mela “You Stood By Me’ - composition and lyrics by Vincent Labating, interpreted by Jason Fernandez.

Sponsored by Kuya Daniel and Bro. Eli Soriano of the Members Church of God International (MCGI), commonly known for its religious program “Ang Dating Daan” (The Old Path), the ASOP Music Festival aims at encouraging amateur and professional songwriters to write and share songs for the glory of God. Last year’s ASOP Music Festival awarded the “Song of the Year” prize to Christian Malinias’ “Kung PagibigMo’y Ulan.” Malinias took home

the P500,000 cash prize. His song entry’s interpreter, Leah Patricio, won the Best Interpreter award, which came with a P50,000 cash prize.

Created for television by Breakthrough and Milestones Production, Inc.-UNTV Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kuya Daniel Razon, the ASOP Music Festival has been in search for half a decade now of original compositions proclaiming the power and greatness of the Lord Almighty.

For more information about ASOP Music Festival, visit its official website at https://www.asoptv.com.

You can follow ASOP on Facebook via facebook.com/asop.untv and Twitter at twitter.com/asoptv.

You can also vote for your choice of song in https://www.asoptv.com/ pollfor the People’s Choice Award and support Original Pilipino Praise Music by subscribing to our official YouTube channel https://www. youtube.com/asoptv All 12 songs are now being played on Wish FM 107.5.

Miss Earth rocks

By Robbie Pangilinan MISS Philippines Earth 2016 Imelda Bautista Schweighart had always wanted to be a rock star.

“I like ACDC and Metallica. I write songs and I actually want to enter the rock music industry after Miss Earth,” says the FilipinoGerman beauty.

But for the time being, Imelda is preparing for the 16th edition of Miss Earth with empowered women at the forefront of promoting environmental awareness. More than the beauty queen training, Imelda is preparing for the pageant emotionally and spiritually.

“I am into healing first from the wounds I got from the national competition where I was surrounded by toxic people. For my country, I am willing to battle with inner balance,” adds Imelda who lived in Switzerland for years before coming back home to the Philippines.

Imelda’s advocacy for the earth, particularly in the country, is organic farming. She also believes that more Filipinos should possess positivity in thoughts and attitude and we must have good leaders.

For Imelda, the Filipina is beautiful because “we have to fight in order to get honor and respect all over the world and country.” She adds, “As a woman living in a third world country, people tend to drag each other down for survival. To surpass the degradation of our own

countrymen is enough to say that Filipinas are most beautiful in their sense of hope, wonder, and strength. We deserve to influence people globally,” says Imelda.

Imelda describes being a beauty queen as a lifestyle. She ensures being consistent in the things she does and showing royalty in her thoughts, actions, and choices. Having parents from different cultural backgrounds also kept Imelda’s life both interesting and challenging.

Her mother is a tribal queen and her father is a Bavarian prince.

Part of being a beauty queen is maintaining her fitness and health through diet and exercise.

Imelda is engaged in surfing, yoga, and dancing.

She takes the stairs, walks to avoid heavy traffic, and bikes if the weather is good. She was a swimmer in her younger years and while she has not found time to train in swimming again, Imelda is proud to have influenced her niece, Kyla Soguilon, to pursue swimming. Kyla is a young swimming medalist competing for the pride of the Philippines.

After Miss Earth, Imelda just wants to share her art: music. She describes herself as an artist standing her ground no matter how difficult it is in this time and age. Imelda used to study theatre arts because her parents thought she was a natural born actor, but her passion is really into music.

“I want to influence with my own interpretation of life, art and mind,” ends Imelda.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, October 29, 2016

ACROSS 1 Tarzan’s transport 5 Facets 10 Seafood choice 14 Karras or Trebek 15 Whiff 16 Igneous rock, once 17 Vault 18 Crummy 19 Elevator pioneer 20 Getting inside info? (hyph.)

22 Urbane 23 Business suit color 24 Thrill 26 Russian export 28 Grand 32 Chromosome units 33 Lug along 34 Diner staple 35 Needing irrigation 36 “If I Ran the Zoo” author 37 Opposite of wax 38 GI hangout 39 Freshwater catch 40 Charters 41 Tongue 43 Rumor squelchers 44 Some NCOs

45 Take a flier 46 Hocus- — 49 Eyes, slangily 52 Feng — 53 Whitish gems 55 Tedious 57 River deposit 58 Not spelled out 59 Online auction 60 Moppets 61 Sweater letter 62 Nerve network DOWN 1 Actor — Kilmer 2 Holly shrub 3 At close quarters 4 Got bigger 5 Digestive fluid 6 Wry humor 7 QB — Williams 8 911 responder 9 Remark 10 Sun blockers 11 Pro — (in proportion) 12 Tel — 13 Headquarters 21 Wild oxen of Tibet 22 Tight-fitting 24 — kebab 25 Geological periods 26 Vice — 27 Stew ingredient

28 Cease-fire 29 Not touching 30 Dice throws 31 Poor grades 32 It had three parts 33 Ice floes 36 Straphanger’s lack 37 More blackhearted 39 Short-muzzled dogs 40 Briefcase closer 42 NASA outfits (hyph.)

43 Baja bash 45 Put another match to 46 Furtive sound 47 John Glenn’s state 48 Extremist sect 49 Tempo 50 Hick 51 Miniblind part 53 Home run hitter of old 54 Baloney!

56 Drain cleaner

FILIPINOS know her as Philippine Cinema’s “Horror Queen.” Today, Wagas shows another facet in the late Lilia Cuntapay’s life—her secret love story—and portraying Lilia is Meryll Soriano.

Lilia had been a familiar face in local horror movies and TV specials during Halloween season. Unknown to many, even until her last breathe in August this year, Lilia only held one man in her heart—Basilio, her first and only love.

Before venturing into show business, Lilia was a simple teacher in Tuguegarao. She would meet Basilio here. Lilia would later accept Basilio’s love and they would be together. Yet being a cadet, Basilio would be assigned to Baguio so that they had to part ways. Unfortunately, Basilio would be forced into marriage with another girl. He was not able to tell Lilia, who was waiting for his return.

Lilia, as it turned out, was already carrying Basilio’s child when he left. Blinded by her anger, she never bothered to let him know of her condition. After giving birth to Gimo, Lilia went to Manila and here she found herself playing aswang roles in movies.

Gimo was also left in the dark. He grew up calling his grandmother his mother. It was only after 17 years when Lilia decided to go home and reveal herself to her son. In 2016, Lilia suffered a complication in her spinal cord. Aware that her life was nearing its end, Lilia decided to tell Gimo the truth. And just about this time, Basilio would find out that he got Lilia pregnant.

Joining Meryll in her unique performance are Gabby Eigenmann and Jeric Gonzales.

Don’t miss the last episode of Wagas October Love Specials at 7 tonight on GMA News TV.

Actors Meryll Soriano and Gabby Eigenmann as Lilia Cuntapay and her secret love Basilio in today’s episode of “Wagas”

No. 1 all-hits compilation of 2016

Philippine bet at the Miss Earth 2016 Imelda Bautista Schweighart

MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines) is proud to bring you their latest holiday offering --- Hottest Hits… Ever 9!

Tagged as “The No.1 AllHits Compilation of 2016”, this powerful compilation is loaded with twenty one of the biggest international chart-busters and record-breaking singles by all original artists. This sizzling new album includes viral tunes “Trumpets” by Sak Noel, Salvi featuring Sean Paul, and “Shaky Shaky” by Daddy Yankee, plus more smash hits.

Hottest Hits… Ever 9! is indeed the perfect playlist to ring in this Christmas season.

Don’t miss out on this special holiday offering—Get it

now on CDs for P459.00 at Astroplus/Astrovision stores or download online via SPINNR or iTunes!

Also, for a limited time only, get The Hottest Hits Ever 3-8 at a discounted price of $4.99 on iTunes!

The Hottest Hits Ever series is exclusively distributed by MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines).

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com

D4

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016

Showbiz Sam YG goes on a I

T’S a different travel show.

Apart from the countryside sceneries, you will also see rare collectible pieces that speak a lot about the history and beginnings of an object, a product and even a place.

TV host and radio jock Sam YG takes viewers for the ride in the new travel show that also features vintage rarities.

It is called Vintage Trip and it goes on the air every Saturday 11:30 a.m. on GMA News TV. The half-hour television program features vintage rarities. It also discovers what makes them worthy to be a collectible and why certain people can’t part with them. Is it because of the object’s sentimental value or it’s historical significance in society or how important it is in the shaping of contemporary culture?

Radio personality and quondam TV host Sam YG, a Filipino of Indian ancestry, anchors the show. He said, during an interview at Via Mare on Timog Avenue in Quezon City, “I accepted this because bawal na 5-6,” obviously a self deprecating remark referring to his parents’ “Bombay culture. It was meant to be funny, but on a serious note, he said, “Interesting concept. I am meeting a lot of people and most of them collect things that I can’t imagine I’d be collecting myself. No, I am not a collector, not of cars or objects. One of the persons we featured is a collector of Coke bottles. I was amazed to see that he has a basement-full of collected items from way, way back.”

Sam YG is a full-blooded Indian born and named Samir Gogna on Aug. 18 1987.

His parents. Both immigrants from India raised their son in the Philippines. He was naturalized in 2011. He became popular as a disc jockey on Magic 89.9 and Sam is from his first name while YG is the contraction of “Young Gun.” He also became famous as Shivaker in Boys Night Out. Sam YG travels across the country, in search of the most interesting vintage finds plus the unique story behind them, explained in an animated and truly Pinoy perspective and context.

Vintage Trip, the first Philippine-produced TV show encapsulating a bygone era, the first of its kind on local TV, print, and digital media promises to offer a unique viewing experience which is both informative and entertaining.

The show’s tag line is “Sa Vintage Trip, bibigyang-buhay

ISAH V. RED

ang mga lumang bagay.” *** AHA: Horror Fest—the month-long Halloween presentation of top-rating science and infotainment program AHA!—draws to a close tomorrow with the story of “Matilda”.

In the third and final “mini-movie” featuring Kapuso child star Chlaui Malayao, an urban kid joins her mom to visit her lola’s house in their sleepy provincial town. Little did she know that what seems like a boring trip will turn out to be a hair-raising and terrifying experience for her.

How true is it that the doll, Matilda, springs to life to scare the wits out of the spoiled brat and give her a lesson?

Are the strange events in the house just

coincidences and can actually be explained by science?

Joining Chlaui Malayao are Maey Bautista and Flora Gasser, with Bedick and Ever.

In celebration of the Halloween season, AHA! produced three “mini-movies” full of fright, fun, and information. “Gamer” kicked off the month-long specials, followed by “Maria, Maria” last Sunday.

Don’t miss the fun, learning, and terror in the third and final part of “AHA: Horror Fest” with Drew Arellano this Sunday, 8:15 a.m. on GMA 7. *** This week in Modern Living TV, Stephanie Zubiri sits down with businesswoman Audrey Zubiri to talk about her world-class furniture line, Designa Italia. Audrey will also share ideas on how these quality and Italian-made furniture will turn anyone’s room from plain to lavish.

Stephanie also meets jeweler Macky Fah who will show her latest line of elegant sparkles perfect for daily wear, FahLux. Macky will also present her newest product, Fae, a luxurious collection of organic beeswax candles that are fast becoming a cult favorite among the metro’s stylish set.

Also featured in this week’s episode are the beautiful and inspiring travel journals of artist and writer, Abbey Sy. Together with Bianca, Abbey will teach you how to create a visual diary. She will also give time-tested tips and insights on the art of journaling.

Every episode of Modern Living TV features the latest eye candy in the form of breathtaking living spaces and other elements of modern living.

Don’t miss Modern Living TV’s latest episode. Now on its 6th season, it airs every Saturday on ANC at 6 p.m., with replays on Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

Modern Living TV is the first lifestyle TV show by a news media organization.

In this week’s episode of Modern Living TV, host Stephanie Zubiri talks about world-class furniture line, Designa Italia

Cinema One Originals challenges viewers perspectives CINEMA One Originals has made a name for itself as the film festival that breaks new ground and opens eyes to new modes of cinema, new forms of narrative, and new perspectives of storytelling. On its 12th year, Cinema One Originals celebrates this with its new tagline: Anong Tingin Mo? The literal translation of Anong Tingin Mo is “What do you think?” and in many ways, it encapsulates how a film can be different things to different people, but also exemplifies the multilayered diversity that has been the hallmark of Cinema One Originals. This year will be all about different ways of looking at the same thing.

For the first time, Cinema One Originals gave grants to three original feature documentaries.

Teng Mangansakan’s Forbidden Memory lifts the veil on the events of September 1974 as it talks to the survivors of a gruesome mass murder that has been kept under wraps for decades. Paolo Picones and Gym Lumbera’s Piding traces the history of Oliver Carlos, a grieving ornithologist reeling from tragedy who comes back to his hometown. John Torres’ dreamlike, mysterious People Power Bombshell unearths a lost film by Celso Ad Castillo and probes its circumstances and implications.

Seven original narrative features were also given grants, three to Cinema One Originals alumni: Lily, about a woman

rumored to be a half-monster.

It is Keith Deligero’s first foray into horror and myth.

The quirky love story Every Room Is A Planet resumes Malay Javier’s fondness for juxtaposing science fiction with youth culture.

And Borgy Torre’s basketball crime film Tisay transposes his noir inflections onto a unique milieu.

Four first-time

filmmakers will also make their debuts this year; Petersen Vargas dark high school comedy 2 Cool 2Be 4gotten, Samantha Lee’s millennial love story Baka Bukas, Jose Abdel Langit’s ethnographic m y s t e r y Malinak Ya Labi and Jules Katanyag’s geriatric action film Si Magdalola At

Ang Mga Gago.

This year’s festival will also screen a slew of acclaimed foreign films including some of this year’s world cinema highlights like Ashdar Fajardi’s The Salesman, Bruno Dumont’s Slack Bay, Xavier Dolan’s It’s Only The End of the World, Ciro Guerrera’s Embrace of the Serpent, Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinart’s Swiss Army Man and Ken Loach’s I, Daniel Blake, critically-acclaimed documentaries, such as Gianfranco Rossi’s Fuocuoammare, Noah Baumbach & Jake Paltrow’s De Palma and Pierre Film’s Close Encounters with Vilmos Szigmond as well as a slate of the best horror films of the year: Na Hong-Jin’s The Wailing, Veronica Franz & Severin Fiala’s Goodnight Mommy, Robert Eggers’ The Witch, and Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Creepy.

Among the restored classics to be showcased this year are Mario O’Hara’s Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos, Danny Zialcita’s Nagalit Ang Buwan Sa Haba Ng Gabi, Lino Brocka’s Cain At Abel, and Ishmael Bernal’s Pagdating sa Dulo.

There will also be special screenings of Lav Diaz’s Golden Lion-winning Ang Babaeng Humayo and Sherad Sanchez’s found footage horror Salvage.

Cinema One Originals runs from Nov. 14 to 22 at Trinoma, Glorietta, Gateway, Greenhills and Cinematheque.