Manila Standard - 2016 November 24 - Thursday

Kerwin: P8m to Leila DRUG PAYOLA. Suspected

‘20 police officers got P300k weekly payola’

Eastern Visayas drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, after being sworn in during a Senate inquiry Wednesday, admits he had illegal drug transactions with police officers aside from giving them a weekly “payola” and gave Senator Leila de Lima drug money through her former driver Ronnie Dayan—accusations denied during the inquiry by the former justice secretary.

Lino Santos

By Sandy Araneta and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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USPECTED Eastern Visayas drug lord Kerwin Espinosa admitted Wednesday that he paid more than P300,000 weekly to bribe at least 20 top police officials in exchange for protection and funding for the elections—a revelation that made Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa shed tears at the Senate.

Espinosa also said he gave P8 million in several installments to Senator Leila de Lima through her driver/bodyguard Ronnie Dayan.

At the hearing on the killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa, Dela Rosa told the senators that it was difficult for him to see the public losing trust in the PNP. An emotional Dela Rosa said he loved the institution and vowed to cleanse the organization of corrupt cops.

Testifying during the hearing of the Senate committee on public order and illegal drugs, Espinosa, the son of the slain Albuera mayor, said he gave the chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Region 8, P/Supt. Marvin Marcos, P3 million after the official went to him to demand money

for his wife’s vice mayoralty run.

“He got a total of P3 million,” Espinosa said, referring to the CIDG chief only as “Colonel Marcos” throughout the hearing.

Espinosa said it was Chief Insp. Wilfredo Abordo who introduced him to Marcos in the first week of May 2016.

In the meeting, he said, Marcos demanded money to bankroll his wife’s vice mayoral bid.

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Dayan fled on De Lima advice—solon

By Maricel V. Cruz SENATOR Leila de Lima had advised her former bodyguard and lover Ronnie Dayan to go into hiding at the height of the New Bilibid Prison drug scandal, Negros Oriental Rep. Reynaldo Umali said Wednesday.

“He [Dayan] claimed that was the advice of madam,” Umali told a TV interview, referring to De Lima.

Umali said Dayan offered his account during a meeting with House leaders at the Batasan complex Tuesday night.

In the same interview, Umali confirmed that Dayan was indeed arrested by the police, and had not surrendered, as some reports said.

Umali, chairman of the House committee on justice that investigated the proliferation of illegal drugs in the NBP, said Dayan’s arrest would bring closure to the panel’s probe.

The panel will reopen its investigation today [Thursday].

Dayan, who said he accepted millions from the drug lord Kerwin Espinosa for De Lima when she was still Justice secretary, is expected to ask for immunity in exchange for his testimony, but Umali said this would depend on the contents Next page of his affidavit.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

UNDER CUSTODY. Ronnie Dayan, former driver-bodyguard and self-confessed lover for seven years of Senator Leila de Lima, answers questions Tuesday night from House media, only hours after he was presented to newsmen at Camp Crame where he was brought immediately after his arrest in a barangay in San Juan, La Union. He is now under House custody. Ver Noveno

SENATOR Leila de Lima said she has already forgiven the drug lord Kerwin Espinosa for the lies he has told about her at the Senate.

“May God forgive you for all your sins, and may God forgive you for all your lies about me. And I forgive you,” De Lima said.

The senator also declined to question Espinosa on his judicial affidavit when he appeared before the Senate on Wednesday.

“I have no intention to ask questions from him, even if I want to because I think it would be a crossexaminer’s dream. But I feel that it would be pointless, useless, futile

NZ minister: Rody’s tough, charming NEW Zealand’s Foreign Minister Murray McCully described President Rodrigo Duterte as a “tough” but “warm and charming” leader on Wednesday after meeting with him before Duterte returned to Davao.

“He’s a tough guy but he was warm, courteous and actually quite charming,” McCully told the Wellington-based New Zealand

Leila forgives Kerwin, Ronnie for their ‘lies’

Herald after he paid a courtesy call on Duterte in Auckland before Duterte returned home.

“He doesn’t beat around the bush. He has got quite firm views and he expresses them, and very colorfully.

“He’s a very engaging character and it’s not difficult to discuss sensitive issues with him. He is very happy to engage on those issues.”

New Zealand had earlier expressed strong concern over Duterte’s war on drugs and cited his low regard for human rights.

McCully said he and Duterte had a wide-ranging discussion including the Philippines’ position on the West Philippine Sea, but he declined to comment on whether Duterte’s controversial drugs crackdown was discussed.

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Kintanar’s resignation will be effective on November 29, and it stemmed from his rather intimate relations with Ayala Corp.

Before his stint at the department, Kintanar was Ayala Corp.’s head of Business Development and Corporate Strategy and executive vice president of AC Infrastructure Holdings Inc. He acted as point man of the Ayala Group in the public-private partnership bidding under the Aquino administration where it won a number of projects.

These were the P2.01-billion Daang Hari-South Luzon Expressway Link Project, the P65-billion LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension Project, and the P1.72-billion Automatic Fare Collection System in partnership with Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

Tugade has yet to name KinNext page tanar’s replacement.

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

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Bishops, police press for drug trade probe

By Vito Barcelo THE Catholic Church supports the investigation of top government officials linked to the illegal drug trade by arrested drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippine President Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said in a letter entitled “Our Country and Our Faith,” that

Transport deputy quits over ‘conflicted’ charge TRANSPORTATION Secretary Arthur Tugade on Wednesday accepted the resignation of Undersecretary for Rails Noel Kintanar amid the continuing criticism of potential conflicts of interest at the department. Kintana is one of three Transportation deputies whose resignation was sought by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez who also expressed alarm over potential abuse in negotiated contracts under the department’s proposed special powers.

“Mr. Kintanar said he would like to give Secretary Tugade a free hand in addressing any and all misconceptions or doubts as to the impartiality and independence of the [department] in addressing the many issues and concerns on transportation,” the Transportation Department said in an emailed statement Wednesday.

for me to do so given a very nice script, at least insofar as the portions of his testimony about me are concerned,” she said.

“But let me say to my colleagues here, and everyone in this hall, and to everyone listening and watching these proceedings. I say this to you: I categorically, firmly, and absolutely deny having known Mr. Kerwin Espinosa. I do not remember any instance or occasion of having met him,” De Lima added.

De Lima denied having received any money from Espinosa, either directly or indirectly through anyone else, on any occasion at any time, and whether the money was

the Church is disturbed that highranking officials could have been involved, and that the investigation must spare no one.

In the same statement, however, the CBCP president also criticized the government’s bloody war on drugs that has resulted in the deaths of more than 3,000 suspected drug pushers and users since President Rodrigo Duterte Next page took office.

Putin backs Du30 pivot against US

SECOND SALVO. Members of the 2nd Marine Battalion, with rifles at the ready, prepare Wednesday to

board a vessel that will take them to Central Mindanao to fight terrorists during a send-off ceremony at the Capt. Salvo Pier, Sangley Point, Cavite City. Norman Cruz

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RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin praised President Rodrigo Duterte for pursuing a pivot to China and vowed that his leadership would not be bullied or taken for granted by his newfound allies, an official said Wednesday.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. quoted Putin as telling Duterte about his approval of Duterte’s pivot against the United States when they met in Lima at the sidelines of the Apec meeting there.

“This is what President Putin essentially said to PRRD Next page

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Bishops...

From A1 “The daily reports of suspects and detainees shot by law enforcers supposedly because they fought back or grabbed a police escort’s gun are very disturbing and truly distressing,” Villegas said.

“There is no way that a government can credibly claim that it is waging a relentless war on drugs to preserve life, while in the process abetting, encouraging or fomenting the destruction of life…,” he said.

“The observations of international watchers and monitoring groups should not be cavalierly dismissed as statements of those who do not know the reality ‘on the ground.’ These are specialized agencies of an international stature, and when they warn that human rights are egregiously violated, their warnings ought to be heeded by any conscientious government,” he added.

The Lingayen-Dagupan archbishop said the campaign against drugs and upholding of human rights can go hand in hand and should not oppose the other.

“There can be no opposition between the campaign against drugs and the campaign for human rights. In fact, any opposition renders one or the other meaningless and fruitless. We seek the elimination of the drug trade and an end to the proliferation of habituating substances because they constitute a real threat to well-being. But we cannot be consistent in this resolve by denying some the right to their own well-being, fundamental to which is the right to life,” the archbishop said in his letter.

On Wednesday, the Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Services said it would deepen its investigation of policemen implicated by Espinosa.

PNP-IAS deputy inspector general Chief Supt. Angelo Leuterio said all policemen named by Espinosa would be immediately placed under the PNP-Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit.

Leuterio said they will summon to Camp Crame all the policemen mentioned by Espinosa in the Senate hearing Wednesday. With PNA

Dayan...

From A1 A group of lawyers is expected to help Dayan work on his affidavit ahead of Thursday’s hearing.

Officials from the Justice fepartment are also expected to speak at the hearing.

Dayan, when he was presented to the press Tuesday night at the House, said he would seek immunity to protect him from liability if he tells all he knows about the illegal drug trade inside the NBP. Dayan is under the custody of the House’s Legislative Security Bureau inside the Batasan Pambansa complex in light of the arrest warrant issued against him by the Umali panel for his failure to attend the previous hearings.

Dayan was captured in La Union Tuesday by police who were tipped by Dayan’s relatives about his whereabouts.

Dayan denied receiving money from NBP inmates but said he took payments from Espinosa in 2014 meant for De Lima.

Transport...

From A1 Meanwhile, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Wednesday has raised an alarm over the negotiated contracts that would be covered by an emergency-powers package being sought by the Transportation department to solve the worsening traffic problem in the country.

He said in a radio interview that it would be difficult to pass the emergency powers bill that will give Tugade special powers for the next two to three years as his department has failed to present a detailed plan to solve the problem.

“We need a detailed plan so we will know what they really intend to do and what kind of emergency powers can we give,” said Alvarez who was a former Transportation chief and a principal author of the emergency powers measure.

John Paolo Bencito, Darwin G. Amojelar and Maricel V. Cruz

News

2009 massacre: Justice elusive A

MEMBER of the House minority bloc on Wednesday asked Congress to declare November 23 a day to remember all victims of summary killings―including the victims of the Maguindanao massacre in 2009.

In filing House Bill 4502, an act declaring November 23 “A National Day of Commemoration for all Victims of Extralegal Killings,” Kabayan party-list Rep. Harry Roque also pressed for justice for the 58 victims of the Maguindanao massacre.

Roque filed his bill even as the Justice department said justice

will be served to the families of the victims of the Maguindanao massacre on Nov. 23, 2009, “in the next few years.”

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said his team of prosecutors was doing its best to secure the conviction of Andal “Datu Unsay” Ampatuan Jr. and brother Zaldy Ampatuan, the

two main accused in the case.

“We will do all that we can to make the wheels of justice turn faster not only in this case but in other cases,” Aguirre said in a statement.

He made his statement even as an independent nongovernment organization on Wednesday held a National Day of Prayer in Baclaran Church for the victims of the Ampatuan massacre.

“Today, on the seventh anniversary of the Ampatuan Massacre, we hold a National Day of Prayer and Solidarity for the Victims of Extra-judicial Kill-

DU30 ADMIRER. President Rodrigo Duterte (right) meets with Foreign Minister Murray McCully during a courtesy call at Langham Hotel in Auckland, New Zealand on Nov. 22, 2016. Malacañang Photo (Story on A1)

Kerwin...

From A1 “My wife is running for vice mayor in Pastrana in our area, our funding is lacking,” Espinosa quoted Marcos as saying.

In exchange for the money, Marcos told Espinosa where police checkpoints would be, and in one instance, even had one moved to allow the drug lord’s men to get through.

“In other words, he [Marcos] was the protector of our people,” Espinosa said in Filipino.

Espinosa also said if his father won the mayoralty race in Albuera, Marcos would get a bonus. When the elder Espinosa won, they gave Marcos P500,000, Espinosa said.

Marcos denied all of Espinosa’s allegations during the same hearing, noting that he and his wife had lived separately long before the 2016 elections and that he would not possibly demand money to help her campaign.

In another incident, Espinosa said, a police general demanded millions of pesos through a middleman to provide protection for his drug operations.

Espinosa said he issued checks for a total of at least P6 million.

The P3 million was allegedly for Chief Supt. Asher Dolina, former Eastern Visayas police regional director, given through a middleman, Victor Espina, brother-in-law of former PNP officer-incharge, retired deputy director general Leonardo Espina, in 2015.

Dolina received P300,000 monthly, while Victor Espina took P1.25 million, Espinosa said. P1.75 million was used to buy guns in Manila.

Former PNP OIC Espina denied any involvement with Espinosa, however, saying his brother-in-law merely used his name to transact with the suspected drug lord.

Espinosa said that some time in 2015, Victor Espina told him that Dolina was asking for P500,000 a month for “protection.”

Espinosa said he asked Victor to lower this to P300,000 because there were many others on his payroll.

The next day, he said, they agreed on the price, and Victor Espina went to his house and let him talk with Dolina. After a week, Espinosa deposited P2 million as an advance for Dolina’s monthly fee, so he could buy a sports utility vehicle.

Espinosa said he also paid Victor Espina P1.25 million and his brother Martin an agent’s fee. Espinosa said he had bank statements to prove the deposits.

Dolina is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1983. He is set to retire on Sept. 22, 2017.

In 2009, Dolina was dismissed after the Ombudsman held him liable for grave misconduct and dishonesty over a questionable P4.54 million procurement of rubber boats. But in June this year, the Court of Appeals reversed the Ombudsman’s decision, reinstating Dolina and 18 other officials.

Espinosa also identified other policemen, whom he said were on his monthly payroll. He described thse payments as “SOP” or protection money.

Espinosa also testified that he gave a

total of P8 million to the former bodyguard and lover of Senator Leila de Lima.

He said he was able to comply with Dayan’s demand that the payments be made before the May elections.

Dayan was earlier named by President Rodrigo Duterte as the bagman who collected payoffs from convicted drug lord inside New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) to bankroll De Lima’s senatorial run.

De Lima has consistently denied the allegations, but admitted that she had an affair with Dayan.

Espinosa said he was driving in Anilao, Batangas in August when he talked to Dayan for the first time over the phone.

He said he remembered Insp. Jovie Espenido, Albuera police chief, had told him that De Lima’s bodyguard wanted to talk to him.

Dayan told him he was instructed by De Lima to say she needed funds for the 2016 elections, Espinosa said.

Later, Espinosa said, he called up Jeffrey Diaz alias “Jaguar,” another suspected drug lord, who advised him to call the NBP to confirm that the demand was real.

Espinosa said he called Peter Co, a convicted drug lord detained in the NBP and asked him if he would enter into the transaction and if they would be protected.

He said Co told him: “OK, pare, OK yan. Wala problema (That’s OK, man. No problem.)”

Two days after the first call, he met Dayan and negotiations started.

Dayan introduced himself only as “Ronnie” and did not give Espinosa his last name.

He said Dayan wanted P2 million monthly, but he haggled this down to P700,000 on condition that he give him P2 million initially as goodwill money.

Espinosa said he handed the P2 million in a plastic bag to Dayan, who was driving a black Toyota Fortuner, while they were on the 5th floor of the SM Mall of Asia parking building in August 2015.

On Oct, 15, 2015, Espinosa met again with Dayan, who went to the meeting alone, to hand him bundles of cash worth P1.7 million at the Dampa restaurant on Macapagal Avenue.

Espinosa said he never made the monthly P700,000 payoffs because Dayan told him that “ma’am Leila” wanted P8 million before the election.

Espinosa said he also met De Lima at Burnham Park in Baguio City just to be sure that Dayan was not lying about the payoffs.

Previously, he had asked Dayan for a meeting with De Lima after the P8 million was paid. Dayan said that would not be a problem, but said the meeting could not be in Manila.

In Noember, Espinosa said he got a call from Dayan and told him they would meet at Burnham Park—and he was told to bring the P2 million with him.

While he was walking towards De Lima, he heard Dayan tell the Justice secretary, “Ma’am, si Batman,” referring to him by his drug alias.

After giving Dayan the P2 million, Espinosa entered the park with his family and had their picture taken with De Lima.

Afterward, he shook De Lima’s hand and whispered to her that the money ws already there.

She just nodded, he said.

During the first week of February 2016,

Espinosa said he again gave P2.3 million to Dayan when they met at the 4th floor Parking Building A, SM Mall of Asia.

Espinosa also cleared the names of some personalities and government officials, including actor-turned-politician Ormoc, Leyte Mayor Richard Gomez, who were linked to the “Espinosa drug group.”

Under questioning by Senator Panfilo Lacson, Espinosa denied transacting with Gomez.

When asked if Gomez was in his payroll, Espinosa said the Ormoc mayor was innocent.

Other officials named were Baybay Vice Mayor Mike Cari, Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso, a former appellate justice, and Leyte Gov. Leopoldo Petilla. All denied their alleged ties with Kerwin Espinosa.

Asked about Veloso, Espinosa said he did not know the congressman and had no dealings with him.

He also denied transacting with Petilla.

Espinosa said when he was transferred to the NBP, he met big-time drug pushers such as Laco Larranaga and Jusman Aznar.

He was also being visited in the Medium Security compound by Hubert Webb and a Marco and convinced him to join the Sputnik after knowing that he’s into the drug business.

Retired police general and now Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot threatened to file charges against Espinosa, who identified him as a drug trade protector.

“I will start with filing of charges against those who used my name in collecting drug money. This will now be the opportunity for me to clear my name,” he said.

“I am a victim of influence peddling by unscrupulous people. When a person has the rank, position, influence and credibility, his name is easily peddled and sold to law breakers by scalawags in the service or persons with personal interests,” he added.

In his affidavit, Espinosa claimed to have bribed: Gen. Vicente Loot - P120,000 monthly Inspector Rio Tan, Ormoc City police P15,000 weekly Jose Estopin, member of the intelligence unit of Ormoc City police - P15,000 weekly A certain Villamor - P5,000 weekly A certain Parak - P5,000 weekly Major Abordo - beginning P12,000 until he received P80,000 weekly as Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) officer Supt. Santi Noel Matira - P15,000 to P25,000 weekly A certain Senior Inspector Chua P15,000 weekly A certain Senior Inspector Jabinez P15,000 weekly as chief of Albuera Police Station A certain Senior Inspector Camacho no amount mentioned SPO3 Bituin - P8,000 weekly as check point team leader A certain Magamay - P10,000 weekly ass chief of check point A certain Sir Arafol - P5,000 weekly as member of checkpoint team Capt. Angay-Angay - P15,000 weekly as chief of CIDG Ormoc City A certain Ludo - P15,000 weekly as chief of Ormoc City Station 3 A certain Torrifiel - P10,000 weekly as member of CIDG A certain Macanas - P25,000 weekly as Ormoc City Police Director. With John Paolo Bencito

ings and Their Families at the Shrine of the Mother of Perpetual Help, Redemptorist Church, Baclaran, in Manila,” said NAKPhilippines.

This is our way of acknowledging the pain and anguish of the families of the thousands of victims of Duterte’s war on drugs and to press for our continuing demand for accountability and justice.

Roque said justice was still to be served for the 58 people, 32 of them journalists and media workers, who were killed by then Datu Unsay town Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. and his

henchmen in Sept. 28, 2009.

“We believe Congress needs to pass a law that will set aside a day to commemorate the victims of extralegal killings, including the victims of the Ampatuan massacre, to stress [the government’s] resolve to fight impunity and to honor the memory of those who perished by rejecting impunity as a state policy,” Roque, a counsel for the victims’ families, said.

“All we need is one conviction to send them all to Muntinlupa.”

Leila...

From A1

lords in the NBP or from Espinosa.

De Lima said Dayan was just forced to lie against her.

But Philippine National Police chief Director Gen. Ronald Dela Rosa said nobody was exerting pressure on Dayan.

“Ronnie’s claim is absolutely untrue. I don’t know Kerwin and neither does Ronnie. He knows that,” said De Lima, adding that Dayan was no longer employed with her during the time she had supposedly received the money from Espinosa.

She pointed out the contradicting media reports of the timeline that she had allegedly received the money. Some reports said that she received the money from Espinosa in October, November, and December 2015 while some said she got it in 2014.

“If it’s 2015, Ronnie was no longer employed under me. So how could I have ordered him to get money from Kerwin? But maybe, and as expected, Ronnie was already forced to lie,” also said De Lima.

De Lima said she has consistently challenged her accusers to bring their cases against her before the courts because she is prepared to prove her innocence before the proper forum.

“And even as they portrayed Ronnie Dayan as the missing link to their drug conspiracies, his arrest and so-called admissions on Tuesday night present an opportunity for me to put this issue to a close,” said De Lima.

“I still hope that the authorities, in the exercise of their duties, act within the bounds of the law, without abusing their powers and using force and intimidation on purported witnesses, including Ronnie Dayan,” she added.

She branded all accusations against her “fiction stories of the underworld” that were “weaved into a complete but grotesque tapestry.”

Regardless of the Goebel’s playbook that her accusers are following, De Lima said, a lie repeatedly told can never become the truth.

“Instead, the truth revealed will set us all free from this madness that we should stop from becoming our new normal,” De Lima added.

supposedly for either protection or fund-raising for her senatorial bid.

“Mr. Kerwin Espinosa knows that that part of his testimony about me having received money, having talked to him, having met him anywhere, whether it’s Burnham, anywhere, is total fabrication,” she said.

De Lima said he believes Espinosa’s testimony was made under duress.

At the same time, she decried that her former lover and bodyguard, Ronnie Dayan, has been turned by the administration against her.

De Lima is facing drug charges before the Justice department over the proliferation of illegal drugs inside the New Bilibid Prisons when she was still Justice secretary.

High-profile convicts at NBP had testified that Dayan received payoffs for De Lima’s senatorial campaign in exchange for protection on their drug operations.

De Lima branded as “absolutely untrue” the statements of Dayan that he received drug money from Espinosa on five occasions and gave them to her when she was still Justice secretary.

“I received money from Kerwin. I received money as instructed by ma’am. She was still Justice secretary at the time,” Dayan said in response to the query by House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas following his arrest in Barangay Locong, San Gariel town, La Union, on November 22.

But Dayan insisted he did not know the money was from drugs.

He also denied reports he was involved in illegal drugs.

Dayan admitted that he and De Lima had an affair, which ended before she ran for the Senate.

“It’s true, we had a relationship for seven years,” said Dayan. He said his last contact with De Lima was shortly before the last senatorial election. He remembered De Lima called him and thanked him for his support. He helped in putting up election posters for the senator’s candidacy.

De Lima had earlier admitted she had an affair with Daysn, but maintained she was never involved in drugs or received payoffs from drug

NZ...

From A1 “We talked about everything,” McCully said.

“I don’t want to talk publicly about what was a private discussion, but we discussed the full range of issues.”

McCully said his meeting was during a courtesy call because Duterte was in the country on his return from the Apec meeting, and it was “the appropriate thing to do to have someone from the government call on him and welcome him and make sure that he is being looked after here.”

The meeting in Auckland comes at a tense time for relations between the Philippines and the United States, its strongest Western ally.

Duterte lashed out at Western

Putin...

From A1 [Duterte] when they first met in Lima: “The toughness and dedication you showed in directing an independent foreign policy and separating from dependency and submission made everyone listen. Now the Philippines under your leadership will not be bullied or taken for granted,” Yasay said in a Facebook post.

He told reporters in Lima before leaving for Auckland

Maricel V. Cruz, Rey E. Requejo and Sandy Araneta

“bullying” and “hypocrisy” during his first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Peru on Saturday.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said McCully discussed “agricultural cooperation particularly in the dairy industry,” noting that New Zealand was the Philippines’ biggest source of dairy products.

New Zealand’s exports to the Philippines in 2010 amounted to US$475 million, a 30-percent increase from 2009.

Duterte expressed sympathy for the victims of the earthquake that struck New Zealand’s South Island this month.

He also expressed gratitude to New Zealand for hosting more than 44,000 Filipinos and for its assistance to the victims of typhoons in the Philippines.

John Paolo Bencito that Duterte expressed joy after he and Putin became “fast friends” and Putin repeatedly invited him to Russia.

Duterte said he repeatedly told Putin that he was already shifting toward China and Russia as he embarked on an independent foreign policy and said America was bullying small nations.

Putin’s response to Duterte’s attacks on the United States was never known after the journalists covering the bilateral talks were asked to leave the room. John Paolo Bencito

News

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Panel okays Sharia banks

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House committee on banks and financial intermediaries has approved the twin measures, including that of former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, that would pave the way for the expansion of Islamic banking in the country alongside with the conventional banking system to help sustain the country’s economic growth.

Arroyo and Anak Mindanao (Amin) party-list Rep. Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman lauded the panel’s approval of House Bill Nos. 3957 and 492 that they filed, respectively, which seek to amend the Philippine’s lone Islamic bank, the AlAmanah Islamic Investment Bank to regulate and organize an expanded Islamic banking system in the Philippines.

Arroyo said the enactment of the measure was very timely as this would help the country’ growth inclusive and sustainable.

Turabin-Hataman also thanked Arroyo for having filed a similar measure she filed.

“We also thank Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who authored a similar bill. Having a former President and a renowned economist share the same legislation is not only an honor but further validates our advocacy. Our bills have been consolidated,” said Hataman, chairman of the House committee on Muslim affairs.

Hataman said her proposal “for the establishment of a national framework for Islamic banking in the Philippines” contained in her measure would be treated as another separate bill.

“My bill originally drafted to amend the Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank and expand Islamic banking in the Philippines gave birth to to separate bills, one for the establishment of a national framework for Islamic banking in the Philippines and, another, solely on the amendments of the Al Amanah Charter,” said Hataman.

Hataman added: “We agreed to the committee chair’s recommendation to separate the two ideas in one bill aimed at preventing a constitutional prohibition on having two subject matters in one legislative measure.

RODY FISTS IN AUCKLAND. President Rodrigo Duterte poses with Filipino expatriates outside a hotel in Auckland, New Zealand on November 22. Malacañang Photo

Solons: Yellow camp using FM burial vs Rody

By Maricel V. Cruz

ADMINISTRATION and opposition lawmakers in the House played down Wednesday the seeming pattern of government critics, including the so-called “yellow forces” of the previous administration, to use the burial of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City as launching pad to reportedly push the ouster of President Rodrigo Duterte from power.

Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu of Batangas and House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez of Quezon belittled the planned broad protest movement to greet President Duterte on his return from Lima, Peru tomorrow to show the people’s indignation over the burial of Marcos at LBN. Abu, a House deputy speaker, said critics of the govern-

Ricky Agcaoili, 72 JOURNALIST Frederick “Ricky” K. Agcaoili died peacefully in his sleep at 5:45 a.m., November 23, after a bout with pneumonia. He was 72.

A veteran and respected editor, he last worked as a consultant at Business Insight Malaya upon his retirement as section editor at Manila Bulletin in 2012.

He was former editor-inchief of The Manila Times under the Gokongweis and its executive editor under Chino Roces.

He was among the founding editors of The Philippine Star.

He also worked as an editor at the Tribune, Times Journal, Times Mirror, Philippine Daily Express, and the Evening News.

He also served as editor-in-

chief of the Presidential News Desk under President Fidel V. Ramos and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

His remains lie in state at Chapel C, Krus na Wawa Memorial Park, 371 MacArthur Highway, Wakas, Bocaue, Bulacan.

His cremated remains will be brought to the Garden of the Divine Word Chapel, Christ the King Seminary Compound, 1101 E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave., Quezon City on Saturday at 8 p.m. Interment will be on Sunday at 11 a.m.

He is survived by his loved ones: Zeny and Meloi; Allan, Pinky, Peachy, Jay, Agnes, Xavier and TJ; Sr. Monsy, Dick, Ken and Margie.

ment will not succeed to pull down President Duterte’s trust and approval ratings.

“They will not succeed. Still the President enjoys support from a great majority of Filipino people. When these noisy people filed petition [with] the Supreme Court asking the legality of the burial, the President said he would follow whatever

the decision of the SC as the interpreter of the law,” Abu said.

He said the high court ruling giving the green light to the burial of Marcos at the LNMB must be respected.

“The SC decided that there’s no reason to prohibit the burial. So what is the reason why they will oust PRRD [President Duterte] when he only followed what is the rule of the Law,” Abu stressed.

Suarez said the rallies would not prosper into bigger protest actions to topple the government.

“The President continues to enjoy widespread and overwhelming support from the people and he is doing his very best to address the problems of the country, especially the illegal drug trade,” Suarez said.

“Attempts to oust him [President Duterte] is just a pigment of imagination,” said Suarez, adding the people will not sup-

port any ouster attempt from any group that would create chaos in the country.

Bonifacio Ilagan, convenor of the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacañang said Marcos’ burial on Friday at LNMB was a direct affront to the victims of Martial Law and the activists who fought against the dictatorship.

Earlier, Deputy Speaker and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro said President Duterte’s executives and the Marcos family did not violate any law after the remains of the former President were interred at LNMB Castro said there was no more order from the Supreme Court that barred the government’s issuance of the “green light” for the Marcos burial.

Castro added the SC would not reverse its 9-5-1 ruling that paved the way for the burial of Marcos at the national heroes cemetery.

Recto eyes more govt docs

By Macon Ramos-Araneta WITH only a third of the slots in its Doctors to the Barrios program filled for lack of applicants, the government appears to have no choice but to produce its own doctors under a program in which scholars will repay tuition and other schooling expenses by serving in their hometowns for four years.

Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto aired this point during debates on the Department of Health budget for next year—after it was revealed that out of a yearly target of 946, the DoH managed to recruit only 320 doctors in 2015 and the same number in 2016.

Health officials present cited “unattractive pay” and also “the desire to undergo further training” as reasons for lack of takers of the DoH offers for rural practice which pay a monthly minimum of P56,000.

To fill this “talent void,” Recto said the government might have to “infuse more incentives” into the medical scholarship program being run by the DoH, “by putting it at par with what cadets at the Philippine Military Academy and Philippine National Police Academy get.”

“If taxpayers are spending P2.5 million to produce one PMA graduate, why can’t we spend the same in training future surgeons?” Recto asked.

AFP gives rewards to 2 tipsters THE Armed Forces of the Philippines on Wednesday has formally turned over P5.9 million worth of reward money to two confidential informants who provided crucial information which led to the neutralization of two Abu Sayyaf Group bandits involved in kidnap for ransom activities.

Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP public affairs office chief, said the two informants will share in the reward.

He added their “actionable intelligence information” led to the arrest of ASG member Suhud Yakan alias Ben Yasser and the death of sub-leader Sihatra Muallam Asmad alias Latip.

Asmad was involved in the kidnapping of foreign guests and workers of Sipadan Beach Resort in Sabah, Malaysia in April 2000 and members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Patikul, Sulu in August 2000. PNA

Peza head backs Rody agenda THE newly appointed head of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority has reaffirmed the agency’s support for the administration’s goal to further develop Mindanao.

Peza director general Charito Plaza said in an interview that among the agency’s initiatives to promote development in Mindanao are reducing energy cost and establishing more economic zones in the southern part of the country.

Plaza said she had discussions with Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi to consider cutting power rates in economic zones that will be established in Mindanao. PNA

UN probers arrive 2017

UK backs drug war

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan BRITISH ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad urged the Duterte administration to suppress the flow of drug money in the country to address the narco-problem more effectively.

Ahmad has discussed a critical yet diplomatic point of view about President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody campaign against alleged drug users and dealers, stressing there are more effective ways to address the issue effectively than wiping out alleged drug users and dealers.

Although the United Kingdom is also facing the same problem and there is no absolute solution in wiping out the drug menace, Ahmad suggested two effective methods to solve the drug addictions and trade business by “choking” the flow of money and the need to send drug suspects to community-based treatment programs rather than prison.

“If you start to address the flow of money, you stop to choke the business,” Ahmad said in an ambush interview during a dinner honoring individuals for their service at the British ambassador residence.

IN BRIEF

FOLLOW THE MONEY. British Ambassador Asif Ahmad (right) urged the government to tighten

monetary controls against drug traffickers to ensure the success of the country’s drug war. Ahmad made the remark at a news forum in Quezon City hosted by journalist Wilson Lee Flores. Ey Acasio

THE United Nations Human Rights rapporteurs has asked the Philippine government to have a joint fact finding visit to the country in the first quarter of 2017.

Dainius Puras, a UN Human Rights expert said in his letter that the objective of their joint visit, which was posted on the UN Human Rights Office of the high commissioner website, would be “to examine issues related to the Special Rapporteur’s mandates and to identify good practices and challenges, as well as the most effective ways to assist the Philippines in guaranteeing the protection of the right to life and the right to health, particularly in the context of the antidrug campaign.” PNA

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Opinion

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

A continuing injustice

A

MID the spectacle at the Senate on Wednesday and the speculation surrounding the involvement of high-level officials in the illegal drug trade, it was almost easy to forget that it was, as well, the seventh anniversary of the massacre in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao.

It is even easier to lose track of what has been happening with the case after all these years, when many other national issues—controversies—have emerged and tak-

en up the public’s attention.

Remember how furious and outraged and indignant we all were when we first heard about the impunity with which 58 people were murdered in broad daylight. What gall the perpetrators had, we said, not without a trace of frustration. It was true they felt emboldened to do what they did because they believed they controlled everything and they would never be made to pay for what happened.

Seven years on, it appears the perpetrators are right.

When the patriarch of the main suspects’ family died in detention, it felt like the victims’ families

were robbed of the opportunity to see justice delivered by way of conviction and rightful punishment.

Sure, there are several suspects in jail. Trial is proceeding. But it has been years and the pace of the hearings has often been stymied by technical issues raised precisely to delay proceedings. The protracted trial has also sapped the energy out of the victims’ families, who must likewise deal with moving forward despite their setback. There must be food on the table and children have to be sent to school—all this, while attending trials and monitoring developments in the case to ensure

the memory of the dead is kept and honored.

There is no doubt that the country faces equally important challenges on many different fronts. Underlying all these, however, is the sense of impunity with which crimes are committed. Nothing has changed, really, since that dark day in 2009.

Many still feel they can do anything they want and not reap their consequences.

We need convictions and sentences soon—not in a century, not in two. The most grievous injustice would be not only for the case to drag on, but for the people to, eventually, forget.

DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA

A swan song for Hillary?

is fed up with the drug syndicates’ destructive, life-draining grip on the lives of millions of Filipinos to show Dela Rosa how valuable and appreciated his work is. *** Expectedly, the police officials present at the hearing took exception to Espinosa’s wide-ranging allegations of corruption. This was particularly true of the officials of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Eastern Visayas who were implicated in the highly irregular killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa inside his jail cell—including Superintendent Marvin Marcos, who dissolved in tears like Dela Rosa himself when he denied Espinosa’s claim that he demanded money from Kerwin in order to finance his wife’s failed mayoralty run in Leyte.

But the CIDG in Region 8, much like Kerwin Espinosa himself, suffers from a crisis of credibility. The Senate com-

UNITED States Presidentelect Donald Trump and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were the oldest presidential candidates in US history. Trump is 70 years old and Clinton is 69. The campaign was also the most bruising in recent memory. No quarter was asked and none was given. Both went at each other with such intensity that many Americans were disappointed with the way the campaign was conducted.

In the end, although Clinton bested Trump in the so-called popular votes, Trump won more electoral votes, thereby the election. Unlike us in the Philippines where cornering the popular votes ensures victory, in the US, it is the electoral votes that win the election.

It was a stunning upset. Poll after poll predicted a Clinton victory but in the end it was not to be for the first woman candidate for US president of a major political party. The US presidential elections are closely watched in this country, not only because of our close historical ties with the Americans but also the number of migrant Filipinos who live and work there.

The US is also a major trading partner and the biggest source of funds from overseas filipino workers constituting a little over 3 percent of our GDP, not to mention the impact of the American culture in the daily lives of Filipinos. McDonalds, Starbucks, Hollywood and the National Basketball Association are just but a few that Filipinos are crazy about.

Our trade and security relationships also hang in the balance, depending on which party wins the election. Republicans are generally viewed as stronger on defense issues while Democrats are more favored by minorities because of the party’s program on social issues.

Trump, the political outsider who bested all the Republican presidential aspirants and went on to win the elections may significantly affect our trade relations with the US. This is because of his many campaign pronouncements, which were protectionist and might impact our fastest-

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‘Bato’ tears up LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES PHILIPPINE National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa broke down and cried during yesterday’s hearing in the Senate. Belying his toughguy nickname and reputation, the country’s top cop apparently could no longer take the accusations made by alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa that Bato’s men in Leyte were very much involved in the illegal drug trade that he ran so lucratively for many years.

It must have been really hard for Bato to hear Espinosa’s testimony, especially since he has repeatedly proclaimed that the police force is making giant inroads in the war declared

by President Rodrigo Duterte against illegal drug syndicates.

And yet, in his long narration of his life as a self-made regional

drug lord, Kerwin once again proved the now-common belief that the police is very much to blame for the proliferation of illegal narcotics.

It was Inspector Jovie Espenido, the straight-talking chief of police of Albuera, the town that was the epicenter of the Espinosa drug syndicate (and the most credible of the police officials who were at the hearing, in my opinion), who said it best: There will be no illegal drug problem if the policemen were not involved in the nefarious trade.

(A morose Dela Rosa, under questioning by Senator Richard Gordon, admitted that he was also disappointed in Espenido, after hearing allegations that he, too, had received bribes. Espenido, when he was given the chance to speak, apologized for letting Bato down, even as he denied Espinosa’s charge that he received bribe money, as well.)

It was easy to see that Dela Rosa was not in his element in the Senate. Here is a police official who thrives in the field,

chasing criminals and other people wanted by the law; Bato, for instance, never looked happier as when he presented Ronnie Dayan the other day at Camp Crame, where the long search

Everyone fed up with the drug syndicates should show Dela Rosa how valuable and appreciated his work is.

for the former driver-lover of Senator Leila de Lima ended.

Yet there was Dela Rosa, cooped up in the Senate for the whole day, listening to politicians jostling for camera face-

time and to the very damaging allegations of bribery made by Kerwin against his men. It’s enough to make a hard-ass cop cry.

Dela Rosa, of course, has taken on the superhuman task of leading the charge in Duterte’s war on drugs. Even at this late date and despite his obvious frustration, Bato has vowed never to give up and to give his all in the fight.

Dela Rosa’s predicament is not even something that is limited to the police. It is a phenomenon that is endemic in all of government, especially when people like Duterte and Dela Rosa arrive on the scene and want to stop corruption and official malfeasance.

I think Dela Rosa deserves all the support from a citizenry that, by voting for Duterte, expressed its desire to put an end to the country’s headlong descent into narco-statism. Bato may feel sometimes like he’s butting his shiny head against a wall—it is up to everyone who

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Opinion TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Embedded in government A competent, honest and PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has supposedly received infor- strong administration may mation that some supporters succeed in minimizing graft of former President Benigno and corruption, but the human Aquino III are going around element in government makes key cities in the United States. the difference. How do you The goal is to convince mem- stop an employee from bringbers of Filipino communities ing home pencils and pens, to campaign for the ouster of and even sheets of bond paper? the President in the wake of al- Yes, it starts from these small leged summary killings in the things.

Soon enough President Duwar against illegal drugs.

This is why Mr. Duterte was terte may realize that his war compelled to float the idea of against illegal drugs, crimithe suspension of the writ of nality and corruption in govhabeas corpus and even mar- ernment may take more than his six years in office. He may tial law.

How pathetic. I wonder how be a strong president, but he is far these anti-Duterte groups just one person. He is not “superman.” would go.

There must be a moral re*** With the House of Repre- awakening not only in governsentatives in custody of former ment, but among the people fugitive Ronnie Dayan, the for- themselves since corruption mer lover-driver-bodyguard of is a two-way street: the one Senator Leila de Lima, there’s who gives, and the one who a lot of anticipation on what he receives. *** would say about the senator’s With the threat of climate involvement in the illegal drug trade, both inside the New change coming over the world for the past decades, the deBilibid Prison and outside it.

Dayan has earlier said he mand for renewable energy got P8 million from Kerwin sources is at an all-time high.

To support RE initiatives, Espinosa to help De Lima in and to entice her Senate investors an campaign. energy proWill this ducers to be enough? move to RE, Normally it It will continue the Energy would, beReg u lat or y cause allega- to be there, as Commission tions against long as there is i mplementthe accused ed a “Feedmust be cor- human discretion ing Tariff” roborated. scheme in But De Lima in transactions.

2010 which can always entitles the deny them. former to a She has always said there was no paper subsidy per kilowatthour protrail to support the accusa- duced, depending on the type of energy (e.g hydro, Biomass, tions.

Whatever happens, De Lima gas, wind or solar).

Naturally, the FIT should be is perceived as damaged goods anyway. She is destroyed as a a front loaded scheme, meaning that the subsidy should senator and a public official.

To me, it was a grievous start out high, then gets lower mistake for De Lima to admit and lower, until it is finally over television that because of eliminated as more RE sourcthe “frailties of a woman,” she es become available and more fell in love with Dayan. Frail- people get access to RE. Easy ties, my gulay, when as chair- enough to understand, isn’t it?

Apparently, not as some person of the Human Rights Commission and secretary of people still cannot fathom that justice, she had great and awe- investing in RE is a long-term commitment that will require some powers!

Just how the Department of some sacrifices along the way.

Justice and the Office of the My gulay, it’s like these peoOmbudsman will pin down De ple are five-year-old children Lima is the question. Will the who want instant gratificatestimony of De Lima’s lover tion. I suppose it is time for a of seven years be enough to refresher course in being an adult, and why we need and send her to jail? Abangan. deserve RE. This is actually *** How deep graft and cor- a work of government, but it ruption are embedded in gov- seems some government itself ernment is illustrated by two does not understand it.

Since 2010, household events. First is the defiance of Energy Regulatory Commis- that tap into RE sources are sioners who refuse to resign charged part of the FIT, redespite the call from President flected directly on their reDuterte for them to vacate their spective electric bills. Because offices. Second is the resigna- of his extra that has to be paid, tion of the chairman and mem- change-resistant skeptics latch bers of the Bids and Awards on to this in their efforts to vilCommittee of the National ify the FIT. They say that FIT Printing Office. They say they is a way for rich companies to are being pressured by their get money of the government, newly-appointed director to de- simply because we’re paying cide in favor of certain bidders for something that we have yet for equipment-lease contracts to seem or feel.

Santa Banana, that just within the agency.

The committee’s secretariat reeks of short-term thinking likewise resigned for the same instead of reducing or, heaven forbid, abolishing the FIT. I reason.

The President is somewhat dare say we need to increase it succeeding in his war against while the implementation has the illegal drug menace de- not yet been running too long. spite local and international Why? Because the more funds condemnation. I say somewhat we infuse to subsidize RE probecause there remains the task jects, the sooner we will reap of rehabilitating the drug users. the rewards. And many studies His war against crime and have been done to prove it.

One specific 2012 study corruption, however, may take from the Melbourne Energy longer.

I have been a journalist for Institute of Australia, entitled the past six decades, and I “Impact of Renewable Generhave seen presidents come and ation on the Philippine Wholego. I have seen wars against sale Electric Spot Market,” corruption—and seen them supports this hypothesis. The fail. Corruption is embedded study was made by observing in the system, and will contin- the energy costs of households ue to be so for as long as hu- in Luzon and the Visayas, man discretion is involved in where renewable energy plants contracts, procurements and have been established earlier in the decade. As per study, bidding.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

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Good cops gone MINORITY REPORT DANILO SUAREZ IN A span of just a week, there has been a series of assassinations of top government officials. Bureau of Customs Deputy Chief Arturo Lachica was ambushed on the evening of November 17. A few days later, on the morning of November 21, Bureau of Internal Revenue regional director Jonas Amora was gunned down.

President Duterte, at the

start of his term, warned the BIR and BoC corrupt officials and employees that he’s closely watching them. President Duterte ordered new BoC Chief Nicanor Faeldon and new BIR Chief Cesar Dulay to stop corruption in their respective agencies.

In a statement of Senator Koko Pimentel, the recent killings of senior officials of revenue collection agencies may be related to the President’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign.

He also added that the government should double its efforts in catching the suspects and setting right the injustice against

the victims’ families.

The BIR and BoC recognize the two slain officials as notable and good public servants with untainted and distinguished reputation and without known enemies. Amora was known for efficient revenue collection while Lachica was known for fighting smugglers and violators of importation rules. They both performed well in their jobs and inspired others to do the same. Is this how we recognize their value to government?

Is this how we reward public officers who maintain their integrity in the notoriously corrupt agencies?

I extend my condolences to the family and loved ones of Lachica and Amora.

The minority denounces these killings. We call on the President to categorically condemn violence against all government officials.

The minority will be filing a resolution for the investigation of the deaths of these highranking finance officials, and the possible relation of these tragic events to the performance of their duties. We will pursue these cases to honor the memories of those who have dedicated their lives to serving the public.

Washington won’t have last word on climate change

By Michael R. Bloomberg The following is adapted from remarks delivered to the China General Chamber of Commerce.

CHINA is America’s largest trading partner, and the US is the largest partner for China.

And while it’s true that our two countries have differences, we know that when we work together, we can accomplish extraordinary things. Cooperation between the US and China, after all, is what made the Paris climate agreement possible.

In the wake of the presidential election, there has been much speculation about whether the US will fulfill the pledges our nation made in Paris. Last week, China’s chief climate negotiator, Minister Xie Zhenhua, said that no matter what the US does, China will remain committed to taking action. That’s a responsible thing to do for the Chinese people and the world.

I can’t tell you what Donald Trump’s administration will do—and in all fairness, they will need time to figure it out themselves. What’s said on the campaign trail is one thing; actually carrying out a specific

policy is another. I hope they’ll recognize the importance of the issue. But I am confident that no matter what happens in Washington, no matter what regulations the next administration adopts or rescinds, no matter what laws the next Congress may pass, we will meet the pledges that the US made in Paris.

The reason is simple: Cities, businesses and citizens will continue reducing emissions, because they have concluded—just as China has—that doing so is in their own self-interest.

The US’s success in fighting climate change has never been primarily dependent on Washington. Bear in mind: Over the past decade, Congress has not passed a single bill that takes direct aim at climate change. Yet at the same time, the US has led the world in reducing emissions.

That progress has been driven by cities, businesses and citizens—and none of them are letting up now. Just the opposite: All are looking for ways to expand their efforts.

Mayors and local leaders around the country are determined to keep pushing ahead on climate change—because it is in their interest to do so.

Over time, as more and more Americans come to recognize what climate change means to their families and their futures— by seeing the increasingly severe impact of storms, droughts and other weather events —they will demand action from the federal government, too.

But in the meantime, mayors and other local officials will lead the way.

Last June in Beijing, during the US-China Cities Summit on Climate Change, we announced a partnership between the Compact of Mayors and China’s Alliance of Peaking Pioneer Cities. Since then, the Compact of Mayors has joined forces with the European Union’s Covenant of Mayors, making the new Global Covenant of Mayors the single largest and most ambitious coalition of mayors on climate change.

In fact, if the Trump administration does withdraw from the Paris accord, I will recommend that the 128 US mayors who are part of the Global Covenant of Mayors seek to join in its place.

Washington will not have the last word on the fate of the Paris agreement in the US— mayors will, together with business leaders and citizens. Bloomberg

Islamophobia not a national security strategy said “Islam hates us,” while he and several underlings have called for a registry for all Muslims in the US (the fate of this proposal is now uncertain). His adviser Stephen Bannon compares the fight against terrorism to medieval Christendom’s fight against the Turks. Some of Trump’s closest campaign advisers have called for ideological tests for all Muslims and widespread surveillance of mosques.

Purely from a practical standpoint—again, leaving aside moral or constitutional qualms—these views are profoundly unhelpful.

Islam is the world’s second-largest and fastest-growing faith, encompassing one-quarter of its population and divided among numerous sects. Overwhelming majorities of the world’s Muslims reject violence against civilians in the name

of Islam.

These are exactly the people whose help is most necessary in fighting the threat of Islamic terrorism—and this is exactly the rhetoric most likely to alienate them. Such language also feeds Islamic State’s narrative that the West will never accept Muslims living in their midst and weakens the best line of defense against radicalization: the willingness of communities to police themselves and report suspicious activity.

And then there are the wider policy implications. The fight against radical Islamic terrorism is important, but it is only one of many geopolitical challenges—from Russian revanchism to the rise of China —facing the US Elevating it to the level of a millennial struggle seems more likely to be a dangerous self-

fulfilling prophecy than a wise strategic decision.

Finally, the incoming administration’s stance is encouraging to autocrats such as Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, who says he wants to reform Islam, and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who praised Trump as a “natural ally.” But stiffer repression (in Egypt) or continued war crimes (in Syria) will not dim the allure of violent jihad.

The only thing that will do that is support for better governance, more economic opportunity, greater political freedom, and stronger, more open communities.

These are values the US has long stood for, admittedly sometimes more strongly than others, and they remain worth defending no matter who is president.

terte to issue a statement to the effect that he expects President-elect Trump to be fair in the treatment of Filipino migrants in the US, even those who are now considered undocumented. One thing is for sure, immigrating to the US will now be a lot harder under the new Republican administration.

And as the Cabinet of Trump is beginning to take shape, many with a hard-line stance on immigration appear close to being appointed.

We will have to wait and see.

Even in the recently concluded 24th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru, President-elect Trump, even if he was not there, loomed high on the sidelines. Many of the leaders were understandably concerned about whether current trade agreements will be maintained by the incoming US administration or thrown

out. President Barack Obama had to reassure the other leaders that the US would not be making precipitous or unilateral decisions.

President Duterte already said that he wants a reset on our relationship with the US which has suffered a great deal over the last few months on account of perceived US criticism on President Duterte’s war on drugs. How this reset will take shape remains to be seen. Our President has not said anything on how he wants to improve Phil-US relationship with The Donald who many in the press say have a lot of similarities especially in their rhetorical style.

Meanwhile, does Clinton’s defeat spell the end of her public life? She has been a public figure for so long.

First, as the wife of the governor of the State of Arkansas, then as the first lady of the US, a senator, then

as Secretary of State. Her career has spanned almost four decades and would have continued for at least another four years.

Clinton, from the very beginning of her public life, showed herself an extraordinary woman: Intelligent, ambitious and independent.

Because of all these, her public life was hounded with controversy. She overcame them all, and almost became the first female president of the US. I doubt whether she would still be able to make a run for the presidency, but she can run again for the Senate. The Clinton Foundation is still there. She can still use this as a vehicle for her charitable work on health, education and others. She can still make an impact. She must consider going beyond her country and make the world her stage where she still remains popular.

mittee, of course, is conducting this particular investigation because Mayor Espinosa was killed (some say in cold blood) by the police, supposedly to prevent him from telling all he knows about the syndicate run by his son.

It is unfortunate that the police (or at least one small unit of it assigned in one far-flung region) elic-

its about the same sympathy as a self-confessed drug lord. But this should not deter the PNP leadership and the Duterte administration from pursuing its campaign against illegal drugs.

The cleansing process must continue, not only to rid the country of illegal drug lords and their murderous products, but also of the policemen who make a lucrative living on the side as the protectors of drug rings. None of them deserve to continue on as if

nothing happened. *** Speaking of Gordon, it is to his credit that, late in the hearing, he pointed out the proverbial elephant in the room—the supposed involvement of De Lima in this whose sorry spectacle. Gordon called the attention of Espinosa to a controversial picture purportedly taken in Baguio City featuring Kerwin, his common-law wife and the then-secretary of justice.

None of the other senators

delved into De Lima’s involvement with Espinosa, as if they were hell-bent on according her some weird form of parliamentary courtesy. This aspect of the Espinosa case, unlike the apparent complicity of some members of the police in Kerwin’s syndicate, is still far from being settled.

Espinosa implicated De Lima’s paramour Dayan in his long and detail-filled testimony. I guess we’ll just have to hear the version of Dayan himself soon.

by increasing support mechanism (such as FIT), that fund the deploy of RE initiatives, customers will sooner receive financial benefits through investments. The results are undeniable. Renewable energy helps lower energy costs over

time. The key phrase here is “over time.”

The benefits (or magic, if you prefer to be more whimsical and imaginative) of Renewable Energy takes time to be fulfilled. In demonizing FIT and its funding of RE initia-

tives, just because we have to pay extra for our electric bill, we deprive ourselves a resource that can be beneficial to the whole nation—and I’m not talking about lowered electricity bills, Santa Banana!

We need to learn long term

if we want our country’s RE initiatives to succeed. As with anything, we need to earn what we deserve. I’ll take a lot of patience, hard work, small sacrifices and cooperation, but it’ll all be worth it... over time.

Bloomberg editorial AS A CANDIDATE, Presidentelect Donald Trump famously promised not only to use the phrase but also to fight “radical Islamic terrorism.” Yet as his administration comes together, it’s getting harder to make the distinction between that fight and outright Islamophobia.

Religious prejudice should have no place in American life, a oncepat observation that bears repeating now. Moreover, claiming that “fear of Muslims is rational”— as has General Michael Flynn, Trump’s selection as national security adviser—makes the fight against terrorism more difficult, and distracts from equally profound challenges facing the US Flynn’s comment is hardly unrepresentative. Trump himself has

A swan...

From A4 growing ser vice sector industry,

business process outsourcing.

The BPO industry is poised to overtake OFW remittances as the biggest source of dollars to the Philippine economy in the next few years. If Trump makes good on all his campaign promises of bringing back to America all jobs lost to foreign countries, the growth of our BPO industry will slow down. The industry might even contract. Trump also mentioned the deportation of about 2 million to 3 million illegal immigrants with criminal cases, including about 271,000 Filipino TNTs (the so-called tago ng tago Filipinos in the US).

This prompted President Du-

‘Bato’...

From A4

News

A6

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Estrada okays anti-FM rally FORMER President and now Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada on Wednesday ordered the Manila Police District to ensure that the planned “Black Friday” protest at the Luneta on November 25 will be peaceful and orderly.

“We will allow the protest actions provided the rallyists will not resort to violence or destruction of properties. Also, they should not cause inconvenience to other people, particularly motorists and commuters,” Estrada said after a security briefing with MPD director Senior Supt. Joel Coronel.

Estrada strictly ordered Coronel to exercise maximum tolerance but see to it that there will not be a repeat of the incident at the US Embassy on October 19 where a number of protesters and policemen were hurt during a violent dispersal.

In compliance with the mayor’s orders, Coronel said they will be deploying about 200 to 300 Civil Disturbance Management personnel at the Quirino Grandstand. Sandy Araneta

MMDA opens new detour M

By Joel E. Zurbano

ORE alternate routes will be opened next week to further decongest traffic along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue this coming holiday season, the Metro Manila Development Authority announced on Wednesday.

MMDA acting chairman Thomas Orbos said aside from Camp Aguinaldo, the Inter-agency Council on Traffic will also open the Bonifacio Naval Station to accommodate private and public motorists coming to and from the areas of Makati, Taguig and neighboring cities.

Orbos said the decals or pass cards to be issued to motorists in Camp Aguinaldo will be honored to be able to enter the BNS facility. He said the motorists coming from Villamor Airbase in Pasay City going to Bonifacio Global

City area and vice-versa can use the BNS to bypass the traffic snarl along Lawton Avenue.

At present, only vehicles of military personnel and those with decals or pass cards are allowed to pass and enter BNS going to Pasong Tamo Extension from Lawton Avenue.

Orbos said motorists wanting to avail of the route can apply for the issuance of a decal or pass card beginning today, November 24. The application forms will be available at the MMDA main office in Makati City.

Orbos said I-ACT is expecting

that opening the gate of Naval Station will cut the travel time of motorists by at least 10 minutes.

The I-ACT is continuously finding ways and solutions to further improve the traffic condition in the metropolis, particularly along the 23.8-kilometer highway from Monumento Circle in Caloocan City to President Diosdado Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City.

The council is composed of the Department of Transportation, MMDA, Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group, Land Transportation Office, and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

Last week, the MMDA announced that private motorists will allow to use Camp Aguinaldo as their alternate routes to lessen traffic on Edsa. The scheme will be implemented next week until January 15.

Camp Aguinaldo is one of the

government properties identified as access road for motorists from EDSA-Santolan and Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City, vise versa.

Motorists have started filling up application forms to avail of the stickers that will serve as access gate to the camp. To get the stickers, motorists were advised to present Official Receipt/Certificate Registration of vehicle and pay about P200.

The stickers will be put in the front windshield of the vehicle so it will be easily seen by the soldiers manning the gates of the camp.

The sticker is required for “security reasons.” “This is a privilege to the public to enter this grounds to ease traffic flow this Christmas,” Orbos said.

Private vehicles from Katipunan going to Edsa can use Gate 6 in Boni Serrano and exit in Edsa-Santolan in Gate 3 and vice versa while vehicles from Boni Serrano can also use

QC dads approve Payatas facility

Little clues in death of singer THERE are no signs of defensive wounds nor forced entry in the rented room where singer and comedian Blakdyak was found dead on Monday, the police said Wednesday.

“We did not see any defense wounds nor any evidence that he fought. We did not find any evidence that he was with someone. At the same time, there is no evidence that there was forced entry,” Chief Inspector Romel Anicete said.

The MPD said they recovered a plastic bag earlier used by Blakdyak and several bottles of liquor in the celebrity’s rented room.

Blakdyak, Joseph Formoran Amoto in real life, was found dead on Monday evening lying on the floor with a plastic bag in his head. Blakdyak’s neighbors had earlier complained about the singer in his two months in the apartment for usually roaming the premises topless.

A laundry attendant, identified as Len Balasabas, said she last saw Blakdyak last Sunday when the singer suddenly visited their laundry shop to grab a plastic bag.

Balasabas said Blakdyak placed the plastic bag on his head and told him not to because he might not be able to breath. Then the singer took it off. Balasabas said she never heard of Blakdyak again until she learned of his death.

Blakdyak, best known as the singer behind hit novelty songs in the ‘90s, was found dead in his condominium unit in Manila on Monday, November 21. Sandy Araneta

Probe supplier, DepEd pushed A GROUP advocating transparency and good governance asked Education Secretary Leonor Briones to look into reports that several DepEd inspectors have been given free trips to China by one of their bidders.

The Filipino Alliance for Transparency and Empowerment said it received reports that Multifocus, a DepEd supplier sponsored a junket to China for some DepEd inspectors to check the “cabinets for bidding.”

“We are calling the attention of our good Secretary Briones to investigate the report. We will start our own investigation. This should stop at once,” the group said in a statement.

The group asked if the DepEd inspectors involved change the specifications to accommodate the bidder and demanded that the supplier divulge details of the trip.

Earlier, Multifocus Corp. threatened to file charges against the DepEd Bids and Awards Committee for alleged inaction on its complaint. Multifocus Corp. claimed to have lost P1.5 billion in various contracts at DepEd. The company accused the Bids and Awards Committee of alleged inaction on its complaint to censure a fellow supplier.

The DepEd is one of the government agencies bombarded with complaints from losing bidders. Francisco Tuyay

Gate 6 and exit to Gate 5 in White Plains going to C5.

Orbos said I-ACT is expecting to reduce at least 200 vehicles per hour when this route inside the military camp will be opened to vehicles.

He added the government will also open an alternate route—the right turning lane inside the Office of Transport Security in Pasay City and an access road in Buendia in Makati City. Vehicles going to Domestic Road and Roxas Boulevard can use the alternate right turning lane inside OTS in Tramo and exit in Andrews Avenue to help lessen travel time.

“We are hoping that all of these measures would be able to alleviate the worsening traffic congestion because of Christmas season,” Orbos said, noting that there are already early Christmas shoppers coming from nearby provinces that add up to the number of vehicles on the roads.

By Rio N. Araja

PRO-RED. Supporters of the left-wing Communist Party of the Philippines and National Democratic Front hold up communist standards during a rally at the Mendiola Bridge in Manila on Wednesday. Norman Cruz

‘Balikbayan’ boxes up for auction

By Vito Barcelo AT LEAST 400 balikbayan boxes which have been overstaying at the Manila International Container Port for almost nine months will be released to their proper recipients, the Bureau of Customs said.

Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon ordered the release of overstaying balikbayan boxes at a very reasonable cost due to the appeal of the recipients after their brokers abandoned their shipments.

Pherica International, who won in a bidding for the aban-

doned balikbayan boxes, urged the BoC that instead of selling the boxes to other parties, the boxes be released to their rightful recipients at a reasonable cost in time for the Christmas season.

The 400 balikbayan boxes arrived through US-based international cargo forwarder RDR Forwarding. The said forwarder failed to secure a local forwarder to process the shipment due to bankruptcy. Since the abandonment, balikbayan box senders said they can no longer contact RDR Forwarding.

Based on Section 1129 of the

Customs Tariff and Modernization Act, an imported shipment is deemed “abandoned” when the importer, owner or consignee fails to file an entry within 30 days from the date of discharge of the last package, or having filed such entry but fails to claim the importation within 15 days after.

Faeldon has previously instructed MICP officials to look into this special case and exhaust all possible remedies so that the overseas Filipino workers and their families won’t be troubled for long by the forwarder’s negligence.

He stressed the significance of each balikbayan box, which symbolizes the hardship of OFWs and their love for families left behind.

Pherica International said it will coordinate with MICP and with the recipients to process the immediate release of the balikbayan boxes.

Faeldon reminded OFWs to be extra careful in sending balikbayan boxes by ensuring that they transact only with legitimate cargo forwarders saying the list of accredited international and local forwarders is available on BoC and DTI websites.

WITH the closure of the Payatas landfill in 2019, the 38-member Quezon City has given Mayor Herbert Bautista the green light to put up a multimillionpeso waste-to-energy facility in Barangay Payatas.

The city council passed a resolution to pursue the establishment of an integrated wasteto-energy facility to give way for the closure of the Payatas dump, handle 2,000 tons to 3,000 tons of wastes a day, and generate 30 to 35 megawatts of power.

City administrator Aldrin Cuña, however, clarified despite the project was originally proposed by business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan of the Metro Pacific Investments Corp., the city government will still invite other infrastructure companies through open competitive bidding procedures.

“We will publicize the bid and invite other parties. There will be a Swiss challenge,” he told the Manila Standard.

Under the resolution, the city government shall ensure that the project configuration of the proposed waste-to-energy facility is compliant with the laws and regulations, “including but not limited to the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, Clean Air Act, Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Act, Renewable Energy Act of 2008, and guidelines governing the establishment and operation of waste-to-energy technologies for solid wastes.”

The city councilors have authorized Bautista to enter into a joint venture agreement under a public-private partnership.

Airline passengers urged not to bring banned items

DRILL COMPETITION. Firefighters practice a rescue scene as a part of Fire Fighting Olympics at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Wednesday. Norman Cruz

THE Aviation Security Group on Wednesday reminded all passengers that lighters and other flammable substances such as perfumes are still banned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Avsegroup director Supt. Mao Aplasca said in line with strict security measures being implemented by the Manila International Airport Authority to protect all out-bound travelers, any flammable substance are not allowed to hand carry inside the aircraft.

Aplasca said his men and members of the Office of Transportation Security manning the security X-ray machines at the initial and final check of the Naia terminals will continue confiscating all kinds of lighters from check-in luggage and especially from hand carry of departing passengers.

MIAA records of the four international and domestic passenger terminals showed that OTS Screening Officers assigned at the gates confiscated more than 50 pieces of lighters almost every day in a continuing effort after it was declared “banned item and among others” on board the plane.

The strict measure prohibiting travelers from carrying lighters even from check-in luggage came after a Chinese passenger in Guangzhou, China tried to light a fire on board a Chinese airline last July 26, 2015.

Reports showed that the attempted arson happened aboard Shenzhen Airlines flight ZH 9648 from the city of Taizhou to Guangzhou, near Hong Kong. Passengers and crew restrained the man in the flight before he was taken into custody.

Before the arrest, the pilot issued a mayday call and the plane was guided into Guangzhou airport. Slides were deployed and 95 passengers and nine crew members were evacuated. Two people were injured.

Aside from lighters, airport and airline authorities also banned use and battery charging of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 at the airports and aircrafts to ensure the safety of passengers.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines earlier urged airline operators, MIAA officials and other airport managers nationwide to prohibit the device. Joel E. Zurbano

Sports

A7

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

No Davis, no problem for Pelicans N

EW YORK—Playing without NBA All-Star forward Anthony Davis most of the night after he suffered a bruised right knee, the New Orleans Pelicans still routed Atlanta 112-94 Tuesday.

Tim Frazier matched his career high with 21 points and added 14 assists for the Pelicans, who led by as many as 35 points in the third quarter.

“We came out hungry. We jumped on them from the

start and continued to fight the whole game,” Frazier said.

“When (Davis) went down everyone stepped up, but we already had the lead and just kept rolling.”

Davis, averaging 31.7 points

and 11.3 rebounds entering the game, was hurt diving into the stands trying to retrieve a loose ball late in the first quarter, crashing into a seat in the fourth row.

“I banged (my knee) on a chair,” Davis said. “They worked on my knee and it was good enough to go back in. I’m OK.” Davis returned to start the fourth quarter and finished with 13 points.

“He came back out and said that he could go,” Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said. “We put him

back in to see if he was ready for (Wednesday’s game against Minnesota) and then took him back out.”

Terrence Jones scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half and the Pelicans led 34-14 after the first quarter.

“We started off the game the right way,” Gentry said. “We were really good defensively in the first quarter and because of that we ended up with some easy shots. It was a really good win for us against a quality team.”

New York’s Kristaps Porzingis scored 31 points to power the Knicks over Portland 107-103 for their fifth victory in a row at Madison Square Garden. The Trail Blazers had won their prior six visits.

Derrick Rose scored six of his 18 points in the final 3:40 and Brandon Jennings came off the bench to pass out 11 assists for the Knicks. Portland had 22 points from Damian Lillard and 16 from C.J. McCollum.

Jamal Murray came off the

India site of NBA training center NEW YORK—An elite NBA Academy training center for India’s top male and female players will open next April near Delhi, the league announced Tuesday.

The academy will be the fifth of its kind in the world, following three in China and another in Australia.

The NBA will conduct a national scouting program starting later this month to identify the inaugural pool of 24 elite prospects who will train at the academy, with selections to be made by next February.

“The NBA remains committed to growing the game in India, and the launch of NBA Academy India marks our most significant investment in basketball development in the market,” said Brooks Meek, NBA Vice President of International Basketball Operations.

“This academy will provide the top male and female prospects in India with world-class coaching and training, as well as academic support and an emphasis on life skills.”

Each center will feature under-18 and under-16 teams, with travel sides selected for international events.

Prospects will have NBAlevel coaching, facilities and competition and a global network to maximize achievement possibilities as well as development of education, leadership and character skills off the court.

“NBA Academy India will help us identify and develop elite homegrown prospects and shape the next generation of national players,”said NBA India Managing Director Yannick Colaco.

“Youth basketball players in India have had relatable figures to look up to in Sim Bhullar and Satnam Singh, and now NBA Academy India will give them a platform to prepare for the opportunity to develop into a professional-level prospect.” AFP

Sea Lions, Engineers eye no. 2 Games Today

(Olivarez Sports Center, Parañaque city) 12 noon – Olivarez vs TIP 2 p.m. – CEU vs BulSU

PH-VIETNAM PARTNERSHIP. ACCEL, the no. 1 local sports brand, has explored a partnership with Bitis Company, a leading footwear

manufacturer and distributor in Vietnam. Bitis Company has been in the footwear business for more than 32 years with over 9,000 employees, with official tie-ups in 40 countries. The partnership allows ACCEL to become the official distributor of the shoe line of the Bitis company in the Philippines and vice versa. The move is aligned with the current direction of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to strengthen the relationship between Vietnam and Philippines, allowing ACCEL to cater to the growing overseas Filipino workers’ population in Vietnam and opening the door for Asian countries to trade their products freely with their south East Asian neighbors. Proponents of the agreement are shown here (from left) Louie Laroza, ACCEL Technical and Sourcing Director; Dinah Ilaban,VP for Business Operations, Asian M & A Links; Cindy Vuu, Bitis Sales and Marketing Director; Lai Khiem, Bitis Founder; Willie Ortiz, ACCEL President; and Hideki Tanifuji, CEO of Asian M & A Links.

Rivera wins

DONATION. Standard

insurance represented by its vice president Christina Defensor (right) signs the purchase agreement with Shanghai Far East Frp Boat Co., Ltd. Chairman Demolar Du for six Far East 28R boats to be donated to the Philippine Sailing Association in Barleno, Spain, recently. The Far East 28R, the 2016 Boat of the Year, winner from Sailing World Magazine, is a high performance yacht issued in the World Match Racing Tour will be used to train the Philippine team for keelboat racing in preparation for the SEA Games in 2019 to be held in the Philippines and for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. The favorable terms of the purchase for Standard Insurance had been facilitated by the China Yachting Association Chairman Quanhai Li, in support to the PSA.

SHAIRA Rivera battled back from a set down to foil Kanon Yasumoto, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, while Frances Santiago dominated Tameka Peterson in Day 2 of the Phinma-PSC International Juniors Tennis Championships Week 2 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

The 17-year-old Rivera recovered from an erratic first set performance with a strong showing in the next then completely dominated her Japanese rival in the decider to fashion out the win and stay in the hunt in the Grade 4 ITF 18-under category event sponsored by the Phinma Group of Companies and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Rivera fell short of her bid in Week 1 of the annual event backed by Mariposa Foundation, Technifibre and Century Park Hotel last week, losing to eventual champion Lee Kuan Yi of Taiwan in the quarters. But the tall Ozamiz City bet vowed to better her previous showing although she is set to face Lee again in the next round.

Subic hosts Football for a Better Life at Remy Field REMY Field inside the Subic Freeport will be the venue for the ninth leg of the Football For A Better Life this weekend, coinciding with the 6th Olongapo City Football Cup with 600 kids coming from 50 teams expected to join both the tournament and the free football clinic.

The event, sponsored by Pru Life

UK, is part of the 10-leg grassroots football developmental and talentidentification program presently on its second straight year.

Young football players from Olongapo, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga and Tarlac are expected to join, according to local organizer Mariel Basa, President of the Olongapo City-

Zambales Football Association.

Competition will be for boys’ under-10, under-12 and under-14 aside from the boys’ Open and girls’ Open.

It is also supported by the City Sports Council and the Department of Education of Olongapo.

For the football clinic, current Azkals Simone Rota and Ashley

Flores, former Azkal skipper Chieffy Caligdong, and Pru Life UK football ambassador and UFL player Graham Caygill will be teaching basic skills to kids and encourage them to get into the game.

“After our last leg in Baguio and still with the NCR leg remaining after Subic, we have already

exceeded the total number of participants from last year’s series.

Even the Philippine Sports Commission is extending help for our final leg, which will be played either in ULTRA or at the Rizal Memorial football field,” said series organizer Albert Almendralejo of Spears Activation & PR.

Congratulations to Gemma Tan, Viksi Egan

ON NOVEMBER 12, 2016, the PTBA held the Pairs game. Gemma Tan and Viksi Egan copped first place while Manny Tanjauangco and Romy Virola placed second.

-oOo15th World Bridge Games; Wroclaw, Poland – 3rd -17 September 2016 I feature two interesting deals taken during the Games written by Mark Horton.

Lady Luck When the last round of the Open Series started it seemed clear that the last qualifying spot would rest between two of the teams in Group C, Canada and Denmark. The North Americans had the bye, giving them a total of 201.71 that could not realistically be passed by anyone except Denmark, who had 191.14. To over-

bench to score 24 points, leading six double-figure scorers for Denver in the Nuggets’ 110-107 victory over the visiting Chicago Bulls.

Denver’s Will Barton sank two free throws with nine seconds remaining and teammate Danilo Gallinari added another to create the final margin.

Jusuf Nurkic scored 14 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for the Nuggets, who also had 16 points and nine points off the bench from Wilson Chandler. Jimmy Butler had 25 points in a losing cause. AFP

take the Canadians the Danes needed a narrow win, but they were facing the fourth placed team from Spain.

Denmark got an early indication of which way the wind might be blowing: Board 2 North Dealer East ♠NS Vul ♥82 ♦Q10963 ♣KQ9843 West East ♠732 ♠AKQ986 ♥KJ9753 ♥A6 ♦A8 ♦K5 ♣A2 ♣1065 South ♠J1054 ♥Q104 ♦J742 ♣J7 Open Room West North East South Lantaran D Bilde Goded Bilde 1♠ Pass 2♥ 3♣ 3♠ Pass 4♣* Pass 4♦* Pass 4♠ Pass 5♠ Pass 6♠ All Pass

4♣ Cue Bid 4♦ Cue Bid Declarer won the club lead with dummy’s ace and played a spade to the ace, revealing the 4-0 split. He cashed the ace of hearts and played a heart to the jack. He could get rid of his clubs on the hearts, and although South could ruff in that was the only trick for the defence.

Closed Room West North East South Graversen Knap Clemmensen Wasik

2♥ 4♣* Rdbl* 5♠* 7♠

1♠ Pass 3♠ Dbl Pass Pass 4♦ Pass 5NT* All Pass

Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass

4♣ Cue Bid Rdbl First round control 4♦ Cue Bid 4♥ Cue Bid 4NT RKCB 5♠ 2 key cards 5NT Grand slam try I’m not sure if 5♠ was intended to show extra length in spades,

but whatever, the decent grand slam was reached.

Declarer won the club lead in dummy and played a spade. What a blow when South discarded. He took two more rounds of trumps then cashed the ace of hearts and played a heart to the king. That meant he was two down,100 and 14 IMPs for Spain.

Board 4 North Dealer West ♠KQ All Vul. ♥AQ985 ♦Q32 ♣AJ6 West East ♠J98543 ♠♥K2 ♥107643 ♦J8 ♦K75 ♣Q53 ♣109842 South ♠A10762 ♥J ♦A10964 ♣K7 Open Room West North East South Lantaran D Bilde Goded Bilde Pass 1♥ Pass 1♠ Pass 2♣* Pass 2♦*

Pass 2NT* Pass 3♣* Pass 3NT* Pass ♦ Pass 4♥ Pass 4♠ Pass 4NT* Pass 5♥* Pass 6♦ All Pass 2♣ Gazzili Declarer won West’s club lead with dummy’s jack. The odds of losing only one diamond trick are 71.21%-you can either start by playing the queen or playing low to the ten.

When declarer took the latter course, West won with the jack and switched to the five of spades- a cruel one down.

Notice that East did not make a Lightner double for fear of driving N/S into 6NT. Closed Room West North East South Graversen Knap Clemmensen Wasik

2♦* 2♥ Pass 3NT All Pass Declarer collected ten tricks, losing two diamonds and a heart, for +630 and another 12 IMPs that left Denmark with a virtually impossible task.

Sometimes it’s just not your day.

Comments to: sylvia.alejandro@yahoo

OLIVAREZ College and Technological Institute of the Philippines dispute the No. 2 seeding today even as Centro Escolar University shoots for its 11th straight win in the Universities and Colleges Basketball League at the Olivarez Sports Center in Parañaque City.

Both toting similar 7-3 records and assured already of semis berths, the Olivarez Sea Lions and the TIP Engineers are expected to bring their A-game when they clash at 12 noon, knowing full well a twice-to-beat advantage is at stake in the game.

Though the Sea Lions are on a roll, they have to play consistently and smartly from start to finish so they have a chance of avenging their 69-65 loss to the Engineers in the first round.

The Sea Lions have been on fire since that defeat as they won their last four games almost without trouble.

And the Engineers?

They were rampant the last time as they humbled the Colegio De San Lorenzo Griffins, 72-55.

“We really played with urgency, but in all our games since the start, we took it seriously one at a time. But you know, our target really is to finish the elims at no. 2. So our game against Olivarez on Thursday is very crucial,” said TIP coach Petit de Vera.

“We have the chance to secure a twiceto-beat advantage so we have to play aggressively,” added de Vera.

Meantime, the CEU Scorpions are heavily favored to repeat over Bulacan State University in their 2 p.m. encounter.

If the BSU Gold Gears can do the unthinkable of beating the still unbeaten Scorpions (10-0) today, they will clinch the fourth semis berth.

But if they fail against Scorpions, the Gold Gears need to beat Diliman College on Saturday to have a chance of forcing a playoff with the Griffins.

However, that will only happen if the Griffins hurdle the University of Batangas Brahmans also on Saturday.

The Brahmans won their last two matches—the latest was a 77-74 thriller over the Diliman Blue Dragons—after dropping their first nine games.

Cebu, Bacolod split title duels in Milo caging CEBU and Bacolod teams split their two championship duels over the weekend to come out as winners in the 2016 SBP-Passerelle twin tournaments organized by the Best Center and backed by Milo at the Capiz Gymnasium.

Cebu champion University of the Visayas nipped University of St. La Salle of Bacolod, 47-46, to bag the Small Basketeers Philippines Visayas championship, while Bacolod Tay Tung High School ruled the Passerelle Visayas with a 52-56 win over UV. Over at the Xavier Gym in Quezon City, University of Asia and the Pacific clipped St. Scholastica’s College, 27-22, for its second win and three games to earn a semifinal ticket in Group A of the premier 25-and-Under category of the 29th Women’s Basketball League, also organized by the Best Center.

UA&P thus joined unbeaten University of Santo Tomas (3-0) in the next round.

The semifinalists in Group B are Polytechnic University of the Philippines, with three wins in as many number of matches played, and De la Salle-College of St. Benilde with two wins against a loss.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M+ 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

Phil: Azkals still have a chance

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

A8

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

By Peter Atencio

Sports Phoenix’s Cyrus Baguio tries to score against Blackwater’s Ronjay Buenafe and Kyle Pascual in a PBA Philippine Cup game at the Araneta Coliseum.

Belo’s solid debut lifts Blackwater past Phoenix

By Jeric Lopez

N

EW season, new hope for Blackwater.

Showing brand new form, the Elite started the 2016-17 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup on the right note by winning over Phoenix, 94-87, last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

With a lot of expectations buted with a bang, topscoring from him, top rookie Mac Belo for Blackwater with 17 points, rose to the occasion and de- on 77 percent shooting (7-of-9),

on top of nine rebounds for a near double-double performance.

Sophomore sensation Arthur Dela Cruz completed the night’s one-two punch for Blackwater with an equally stellar doubledouble production of 12 points and 10 rebounds.

It was a hard-fought contest but Blackwater proved to be the better team at the clutch to claim victory.

The Elite showed poised down the stretch as it broke away from 73-all deadlock with over

10 minutes left in the game.

Blackwater’s 12-4 run in the next five minutes allowed it to take an 85-77 cushion, good enough to hold on until the final horn as the Elite fended off repeated rallies by Phoenix in the waning minutes.

The Elite joined defending champion San Miguel in the winning column.

Dennis Miranda and Dylan Ababou came off the bench and provided sparks by adding 11 and

Transformers, Kamao stay unbeaten in UNTV

Tang new coach of Blazers COLLEGE of St. Benilde named former pro Tyrone Tang as its new seniors’ basketball coach in the coming 93rd season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball season.

School officials are keen on having the Blazers make it to the Final Four in the NCAA after many years of disappointments.

Tang, 32, took his first head coaching job after his successes as a player with championships in high school with Xavier, in the UAAP with La Salle, the defunct Philippine Basketball League with Welcoat and the PBA with Rain or Shine.

He replaces Gabby Velasco.

Under Velasco, the team had a 22-50 slate.

CSB finished 10th and dead last this season with a 1-17 mark.

Velasco’s best finish as coach in his four years with the Blazers came three years ago when they ranked fifth with an 11-7 record.

Meanwhile, in the UAAP, the Adamson Lady Falcons led from start to finish to eliminate University of Santo Tomas, 73-58, and clinch the last semifinals berth in women’s basketball action.

Kaye Pingol had 17 points, while Nathalia Prado added 15 points and 10 rebounds as the Lady Falcons led by as much as 28 points.

The Lady Falcons will play third-ranked University of the East in the first step-ladder semis on Saturday.

“They want to prove something that we are in the Final Four. For me, it’s accomplishment in itself,” said Lady Falcons’ coach Mike Fermin. Peter Atencio

nine points, respectively.

Phoenix was led by Simon Enciso’s game-high 25 points down went down the drain.

The two teams fought neckto-neck in the first three quarters as they went through rallies after rallies that ended with Blackwater running away in the payoff period.

Meanwhile, TNT Katropa and Rain or Shine were still fighting it out in the first game as they bid to join Blackwater and San Miguel in the winners’ circle.

THE Philippine Azkals need to overcome their disappointments in the 2016 AFF-Suzuki Cup football tournament.

Veteran striker Phil Younghusband said this after the Azkals drew with Indonesia, 2-all, Tuesday night in their Group A encounter at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bocaue, Bulacan.

It was their second straight draw and because of this, the Azkals did not get enough points to make it to the semifinal round.

“It’s a disappointing result.

But we still have a chance to qualify. We showed good character coming back twice. But we know we shouldn’t be in this position in the first place,” said Younghusband.

The six-foot Fil-British striker bailed the Azkals out of trouble in the 82nd minute when he scored on a free-kick, a volley shot from right outside the box that went past a nineman wall, into the top corner, and over the head of goalie Kumie Hermansyah Meiga.

The draw turned their final elimination-round match against the Thailand War Elephants a crucial one on Friday.

If the Azkals lose, they’re out. They need a win, coupled by a drawn game in the Singapore-Indonesia encounter in a simultaneous match over at the Rizal Memorial Football Field, and the Azkals will have a good chance of making it.

“We have to play very, very well against Thailand.

We have not beaten them. If we qualify, we make history,” added Younghusband.

So far, Younghusband has scored a total of 42 international goals since he started playing for the Azkals in 2006.

Singapore and Indonesia also have good chances of reaching the semis if any of them wins and the Philippines settles for a draw again, or loses.

The Merah Putihs were the first to score in the the seventh minute when Stefano Lilipaly made a free-kick that went to teammate Fachruddin Aryanto, who then outjumped Martin Steuble and then scored it off a powerful header.

In the 31st minute, Azkals’ booter Misagh Bahadoran scored when he beat Kurnia Meiga in a chase for the ball inside the box, after he received Stephan Schrock’s free kick.

Chris Santos (#24) of the NHA Builders tries to ward off Marlou Aquino of BOC Transformers to create space for a field goal during their game at the Pasig Sports Center, Pasig City.

UNTV Cup spectators witwin in as many games.

Games on Thursday nessed a championship-level, Meanwhile, the Kamao’s (Pasig City Sports Center, Telecast hard-court battle between fortough offense was led by one on Sunday) mer defending champion Juof the hailed Best Player of the 2 p.m. HOR vs Judiciary 3:30 p.m. AFP vs Ombudsman diciary Magis and three-time Game in Christian Luanzon 5 p.m. PNP vs GSIS runner-up PNP Responders in with 17 points, 9 rebounds, an Sunday’s main game of the assist and a steal as he helped 2016 UNTV Cup. Malacanang defeat the MMDA Black Wolves, In the last 33 seconds of the ballgame, the 72-55, for a 5-0 mark.

PNP Responders were ahead by three points His co-awardee in John Michael Jimenez until Magis big man Don Camaso hit a shot provided relevant production both in offense from downtown to force an overtime period at and defense department.

70-all, before the Judiciary eventually pulled Some of the scores: off an 82–80 win.

First Game Chester Tolomia was hailed as the Best PlayBOC Transformers (77)—M. Aquino 19, er of the Game with 23 points, 8 in the overtime R. Ignacio 14, K. Duremdes 13, S. Ignacio 8, B. period, to go with 6 rebounds and 2 assists.

Franco 8, G. Ejercito 7, M. Sumalinog 4, J. De The Judiciary Magis now have a 3-1 re- Belen 2, M. Rodriguez 2 cord, while PNP has a 3-2 slate.

NHA BUILDERS (75)—A. Lustestica 26, Action between the BOC Transformers and W. Tibay 13, A. Vitug 10, R. Tibay 7, M. Ladia the NHA Builders was another thriller at the 5, C. Santos 5, J. Dizon 5, M. Mercado 4 Pasig City Sports Center, with the Transformers QUARTER SCORES 14-18, 30-34, 54pulling off a 77-75 victory – their sixth straight 54, 77-75

‘Youthful’ Pacman wants Floyd WORLD Boxing Organization welterweight world champion Manny Pacquiao said Tuesday he felt like a young man in his twenties and would relish another crack at Floyd Mayweather.

The Filipino icon, 37, made a winning comeback from his brief retirement earlier this month and said he was in great shape to try to avenge his defeat to Mayweather last year in the richest fight in boxing history.

“I feel young. I feel like I’m just 25, or that I’m just 28 years old,” Pacquiao told ABS-CBN television.

Asked if he wanted to fight

Mayweather again, Pacquiao said: “Of course, if he wants to come back (to) boxing”.

Pacquiao fuelled talk of “Pacquiao-Mayweather 2” when he invited the undefeated American, who retired in September 2015, to attend his successful comeback against Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas on November 5.

Last week, Pacquiao teased fans about a possible rematch by posting pictures on social media wearing a suit bearing photos of him and Mayweather in the lining.

But Mayweather, 39, said days later he had no plans to come out of retirement.

Pacquiao originally retired in May after beating American Timothy Bradley in a non-title fight before standing for and winning a seat in the Philippines Senate.

But he said he would not be stepping away from the ring again any time soon.

“I still believe in my skills.

You just need discipline, how you discipline yourself and work hard,” Pacquiao said, adding he would only walk away once he no longer wanted to put in the long hours of training.

“Because once you get lazy, that’s the start of the decline of your performance and your body.” AFP

Foton, Petron dispute top spot REIGNING champion Foton and heavyweight Petron tangle for the top semifinal slot of the Asics Philippine Superliga Grand Prix presented by PLDT Home Ultera women’s volleyball tournament today at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan.

After emerging on top of the team standings with identical 8-1 marks, it would be hard to pick between the Tornadoes and the Tri-Activ Spikers in their blockbuster 7 p.m. showdown in this prestigious inter-club tourney bankrolled by Mikasa, Mueller, Grand Sport and Senoh with TV5 as official broadcast partner.

Cignal will also try to avoid the sixth spot when it tackles RC Cola-Army in the 5 p.m. appetizer in the final day of the

preliminaries of this league, which also has Focus Athletics, KLab Cyscorpions, Petron, Foton and F2 Logistics as sponsors.

Dubbed as a possible preview of this year’s finals, the battle between Foton and Petron would be extremely important as the winner would go on to seal the top spot in the semifinals set on Dec. 3 at the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation in Legazpi City.

The top seed would trek an easier route going to the finals as it faces the survivor in the playoff battle between the fourth seed and fifth seed in the semis.

The second seed has to overcome the victor between the third and sixth seeds in the semis before punching a ticket to the best-of-three finals series starting Dec. 8.

Power cost seen rising next year B3

Business

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

B1

Construction firms to hire 6m by 2022

By Othel V. Campos THE construction sector expects to employ another 6 million workers in the next six years under the Duterte administration, the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines said Wednesday.

Trade undersecretary for construction and CIAP head Ruth Castelo said the target employment in the construction sector would be spread out in the next six years, “but we are seeing additional employment of 2 million by 2017 if we are to include mining, agriculture and manufacturing.”

“Every year we will be needing more [workers]. Each year, there will be more infrastructure

NEW POWER PLANT. Panay Development Corp. inaugurates the 150-megawatt

expansion project of its clean coal power plant in Barangay Ingore, La Paz District in Iloilo City which was built at a cost of P15.6 billion. The project—the largest single generation unit in the Visayas—is projected to provide adequate, reliable, clean and cost-efficient power to the residents and businesses in the region. PEDC is a subsidiary of Global Business Power Corp. Shown during the switch-on ceremony are (from left) Formosa Heavy Industries senior vice president Peter Horng, GBP president Rolando Bacani, GBP director Alfonso Uy, PEDC chairman Jose Ma. Lim, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Iloilo City mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, Iloilo governor Arthur Defensor Sr. and Iloilo vice mayor Jose Espinosa III.

BSP: Growth set to continue B

By Julito G. Rada

ANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said Wednesday the strong economic growth will continue in the coming years, supported by solid macroeconomic fundamentals.

“Is growth sustainable? My answer is yes.... our economy will continue to grow,” Tetangco said during the 10th ING Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines CFO of the Year Award at Makati Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City.

“Moving forward, we have sufficient buffers. The strength of the Philippine economy was driven by more than two decades of reforms,” Tetangco said.

He said the strength of the economy was not only driven by the sound and strong banking system, as “the condition of the whole can be the sum of respective parts.”

He said the government should continue to address risks threatening the economy and find ways to make institutions healthy and sound.

He said the 7.1-percent gross domestic product growth in the third quarter this year was the 71st quarter of uninterrupted economic growth that began a few years ago.

The 7.1-percent GDP growth was the fastest

IN BRIEF

World Bank asks govt to sustain CCT

THE Duterte administration should continue to imple-

ment and expand the conditional cash transfer program to achieve its goal of eradicating poverty by 2040, the World Bank said Wednesday.

A working paper by the Washington-based multilateral agency on the impact evaluation of the CCT program in the Philippines said the safety net program remained an effective investment to eradicate poverty.

“The positive results from the second impact evaluation and spin-off papers [on nutrition, spill-over effects, regional heterogeneity, and child labor] solidified support for the continuation of the CCT program as an effective investment to break the cycle of poverty,” the World Bank said.

“Among other things, the second IE highlighted that the CCT continues to deliver on its development objective of keeping children healthy and in school. This finding was consistent with the results of the first IE that was released in 2012,” the bank said.

The report said the findings in the second impact evaluation were similar to the first one produced in 2012.

“In two rounds of IEs, the CCT program proved to sustain its developmental impact on poor households since it was piloted in 2007 and its effectiveness as a long-term investment for the government to combat poverty,” the report said. Gabrielle H. Binaday

SLEx operator nets higher profit

THE operator of South Luzon Expressway said net income rose 25.6 precent in the first nine months of the year to P2.59 billion from P2.06 billion a year ago.

South Luzon Tollways Corp., a unit of San Miguel Corp., said revenues from toll operations went up 13.8 percent to P4.04 billion from P3.55 billion last year on higher traffic volume.

Majority of the vehicles traveling along SLEx come from the Class 1 category, which account for about 80 percent of the total traffic volume.

South Luzon’s parent San Miguel Corp. earlier earmarked P13.1 billion to extend SLEx from Sto. Tomas Batangas to Lucena City in Quezon province through SLEx-Toll Road 4.

The project is divided into five sections. Section 1 covers Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Macban, Laguna (10.58 kms); Macban, Laguna to San Pablo, Laguna (12.2 kms); San Pablo, Laguna to Tiaong, Quezon (8.1 kms); Tiaong to Candelaria, Quezon (14.4 kms); and Candelaria to Lucena City, Quezon (12.31 kms).

South Luzon said it planned to complete the first sec-

in the Asian region in the third quarter.

Tetangco said latest economic data suggested that the country was poised for further growth in the coming years. He said inflation rate in the first 10 months averaged 1.6 percent, below the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for the year.

Meanwhile, Tetangco said the depreciation of the peso to an eight-year low of 49.86 against the US dollar on Wednesday was a result of global financial volatility and the general strength of the dollar.

“Because the expectation was that interest rates are going to rise in the US as the new administration pushes for spending for higher economic growth which may trigger higher inflation and therefore higher rates,” Tetangco said.

“So we see the flow of capital out of emerging markets and back to the US. So if you look at movements of Asian currencies, the peso is basically in the middle of the range...,” Tetangco said.

He said Bangko Sentral was sticking to its current foreign exchange policy of allowing market forces to drive exchange rates while ensuring that the exchange rate would not be out of line.

“So most of these are externally induced.

If you look at our macroeconomic fundamentals, we grew by 7.1 percent in the third quarter, inflation average is 1.6 percent in the first 10 months, reserves at a comfortable level, and the banking system remains sound. So we are in a good position at this moment,” Tetangco said. tion from Santo Tomas to Macban by mid-2017 and the entire project by 2019. Darwin G. Amojelar

Smart completes expansion in Davao

SMART Communications Inc. said Wednesday it completed its network expansion in Metro Davao and surrounding municipalities.

“In Metro Davao, the biggest change is the huge improvement in indoor coverage for LTE. This is important because people use mobile internet services mostly indoors—in their homes, offices, restaurants, coffee shops and the like. As a result, Davao is setting the pace for the country’s major urban centers in terms of mobile internet experience and is the best place to enjoy fast mobile internet services,” PLDT and Smart chief technology and information advisor Joachim Horn said.

LTE, a fourth-generation mobile phone technology, is an all-IP (internet protocol) network that delivers a superior data experience to customers, compared to 3G technologies. It is the fastest wireless data service that is commercially available.

Smart’s LTE outdoor coverage now blankets 98 percent of Metro Davao, matching the outdoor coverage of its 3G service. LTE indoor coverage increased six times from 11 percent to 66 percent of the Metro Davao area.

Mario Tamayo, the head of network planning for Smart, said the company was also rolling out the same network improvement program in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu. “This is part of our three-year plan to bring highspeed LTE all over the country,” Tamayo said.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Neda lists projects for China funding THE National Economic and Development Authority said

Wednesday it will submit a list of possible projects that can be supported by the Chinese government or companies before the end of the year.

Neda deputy director-general Rolando Tungpalan told reporters at the sidelines of the Global Investment Forum that the Investment Coordination Committee would soon come out with an indicative list of projects for the appraisal of the Chinese government.

“We will be submitting in two weeks time or a week time an indicative list of projects for which we would like to work with China including those that are requiring feasibility studies or capital assistance, even public-private partnership project,” Tungpalan said.

Tungpalan said the list would be approved first by the chairs of the Neda-ICC including Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Socioeconomic Planning secretary Ernesto Pernia.

He said once the list was submitted to the Chinese government, the Neda-ICC counterpart in China would evaluate the projects and make their choice. Gabrielle H. Binaday

projects. If we could get 1 million more jobs a year over the next six years, that will be a very good number,” she told reporters at the sidelines of the Philippine Construction Congress in Manila.

Currently, the construction industry employs about 3 million workers.

As a regulatory agency, CIAP encourages more contractors to register and be accredited by the government.

“We will speed up accreditation. There are many contractors, but only a few are licensed. That’s why we encourage them to register this year because they will not be granted government projects, if they haven’t registered with the government yet,” said Castelo.

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

Circular No. 930 Series of 2016

Subject:

Amendments to the Manual of Regulations for Banks and Manual of Regulations for Non-Bank Financial Institutions as of 31 March 2016

The Monetary Board, in its Resolution No. 1635 dated 8 September 2016, approved the following amendments to the Manual of Regulations for Banks (MORB) and Manual of Regulations for Non-Bank Financial Institutions (MORNBFI) as of 31 March 2016.

Section 1. The following subsections/appendix of the MORB/MORNBFI are amended to codify the provisions on Transitional Arrangements under Circular No. 905 dated 18 March 2016 and Effectivity of the Cooling-Off Provisions under Circular No. 898 dated 14 January 2016, as follows: Subsections/Appendix of the MORB/ MORNBFI

Source

Last paragraph, Subsection 1176.1 on 1st sentence , Section 2, Circular No. 905 dated 18 March 2016 Liquidity Coverage Ratio Part III, Appendix 74a on Basel III 2nd sentence up to last sentence Framework on Liquidity Standards-Li- Section 2, Circular No. 905 dated 18 March 2016 quidity Coverage Ratio Footnote of Item “c”, Subsections X1 Section 3, 002.3/41002Q.3/4402S.3/4402P.3/ Circular No. 898 dated 14 January 2016 4702N.3 on Cooling Off Period Section 2. The following appendices of the MORB/MORNBFI are added to codify the annexes of Circular Nos. 888 and 908 dated 09 October 2015 and 14 March 2016, respectively, as follows: MORB/MORNBFI Appendix No.

Source

114/Q-68

Annex A (Format Certification on Compliance with Requirements on Dividend Declaration) Circular No. 888 dated 09 October 2015

115/Q-69

Annex A (Agriculture Value Chain – Business Models) Circular No. 908 dated 14 March 2016

Section 3. The cited Subsection 4197N.4 under Section 6 of Circular No. 900 dated 18 January 2016 is corrected to Subsection 4198N.4, as follows: “Section 6. Subsections X179.4/4179Q.4/4198N.4/ 4179T.4 Operational risk management framework. xxx” Section 4. Subsection X162.7 of the MORB is amended to correct the cross-reference from “Subsection X162.7 on intra-group outsourcing” to “Subsection X162.6 on intra-group outsourcing”.

Section 5. The following section/subsections and appendix of the MORB are amended to correct the cross-references from “Subsection X181.4” to “Subsection X181.5”: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Item b (1), Subsection X151.8; Item c, Section X152; 1st paragraph, Subsection X156.1; and Item 3. a, Post Approval, Appendix 37.

Section 6. The following subsections of the MORB/MORNBFI are amended to change the cross-references from “Circular No. 871 dated 5 March 2015/Circular No. 875 dated 15 April 2015” to specific sections/subsections/appendices of the MORB/MORNBFI to which the said circulars were codified, as follows: Subsections of the MORB/ MORNBFI Item c, Subsection X179.4

Old cross-reference

Circular No. 871 dated 5 March 2015

New cross-reference

Section X185 Section X186 Subsec. X426.1 Appendix 112

Item c, Subsection 4179Q.4

Section 4185Q Section 4186Q Subsec. 4426Q.1 Appendix Q-66

Item c, Subsection 4198N.4

Section 4163N Section 4164N

Item c, Subsection 4179T.4

Section 4185T Section 4186T

Subsection X179.11 Subsection X162.9 Subsection X950.8 Subsection 4179Q.11 Subsection 4198N.11 Subsection 4179T.11

Circular No. 875 dated 15 April 2015

Section X009

Section 4009Q

Section 4009T

For the Monetary Board: (Sgd.) VICENTE S. AQUINO Office-in-Charge 18 November 2016

B2

Business

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market advances; PLDT climbs S

TOCKS advanced Wednesday, tracking another record close on Wall Street, while the dollar extended its march against the yen on expectations of a US interest rate hike.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, rose 33 points, or 0.5 percent, to close at 6,836.64.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also gained 10 points, or 0.3 percent, to settle at 4,149.10, on a value turnover of P6.7 billion.

Losers outnumbered gainers, 110 to 71, while 38 issues were unchanged.

Ten of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by online gaming company PhilWeb Corp. which surged 30.8

percent to P14.36 and PLDT Inc. which climbed 5.4 percent to P1,365.

GT Capital Holdings Inc. of tycoon George Ty rose 4 percent to P1,165, while property developer Megaworld Corp. went up 3.1 percent to P3.71.

Meanwhile, the Dow ended above 19,000 for the first time Tuesday as US traders, while still uncertain about the long term, bet on a near-term bump for the world’s top economy from Donald Trump’s growth plans.

Investors are betting a Trump administration will cut taxes, ramp up infrastructure spending and slash regulations, all of which would likely fan inflation, in turn putting pressure on the Federal Reserve to hike interest rates.

“Bulls have got control here and US equity and many other developed markets are going higher, at least in the short term,” said Chris Weston, chief markets analyst in Melbourne at IG Ltd, in an e-mail.

“The Fed has been guiding market participants to believe they always wanted a hike in December, they just needed a little more information before increasing rates and now they have more than enough information to con-

vince them.”

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 0.5 percent, Sydney put on 0.9 percent, Shanghai added 0.4 percent and Seoul gained 0.3 percent. Singapore, Taipei and Wellington were also sharply higher.

Tokyo was closed for a public holiday.

The Fed is due to release minutes later Wednesday of its most recent policy meeting and while it will be pored over for clues about its future rate plans, traders are all but certain it will lift costs in December.

Expectations of higher rates have sent the dollar soaring against the yen this month. On Tuesday it hit a seven-month high of 111.36 yen before easing slightly. With Bloomberg, AFP

Jollibee takes over China venture firm

By Jennifer B. Austria RESTAURANT chain operator Jollibee Foods Corp. said Wednesday it gained full control of its food manufacturing venture in China.

Jollibee said in a disclosure to the stock exchange wholly-owned subsidiary Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. now owns 100 percent of Happy Bee Foods Processing Pte. Ltd., after obtaining governmental and regulatory approvals in China for the transfer of assets.

Jollibee signed an agreement

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2016

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 47.6 9,600 94 754,120 3.74 1,000 111.1 2,278,250 1.32 16,000 37.6 26,200 16.7 500 19 66,800 6.6 6,000 715 300 0.71 13,114,000 70.7 7,812,370 0.81 61,000 14.1 75,400 21.2 5,000 55.45 12,000 255.8 160 131 310 95 600 35.75 321,800 189.5 1,092,380 1,700 430 74.6 48,540 1.31 30,000

456,030 69,740,127 3,740 252,461,872 20,950 991,415 8,350 1,271,496 39,600 216,530 9,226,430 558,905,895.50 49,350 1,063,640 106,000 664,140 40,928 40,820 56,097 11,496,550 208,134,197 733,095 3,627,555 39,300

422,820 -39,953,861 -7,831,770 97,064 -5,966,390 -356,705,757 209,177 968,605 -113,638,175 8,745 561,921 -

41.7 3.82 0.87 1.29 23.25 90 10.84 17.08 23 23.1 100 110 1.98 7.28 11.88 11 6.5 6.95 5.02 21.65 66.7 15.94 5.95 1.78 208.6 78 3.7 29.85 26 14.78 267.6 4.78 3.18 9 11.26 2.05 5.73 1.38 67.2 4.15 220 4.39 0.142 1.55 173.9 4.07 1.86 31.2 1.1

INDUSTRIAL 42.4 2,642,300 4 1,169,000 0.88 308,000 1.31 452,000 26 294,600 90 820 10.9 5,387,500 17.14 1,245,400 23.45 286,100 25 3,800 100 850 115 1,460 2 246,000 7.32 2,544,900 12 31,900 11.04 860,100 6.5 125,800 7.14 324,600 5.09 9,583,400 21.8 2,951,700 67.6 102,380 15.94 213,300 6 136,500 1.8 850,000 210 620,200 84.75 30 3.7 6,000 29.95 635,300 26.5 189,300 14.78 109,800 268 485,120 4.78 1,000 3.2 1,177,000 9.1 5,898,600 11.26 10,000 2.08 2,151,000 5.8 79,100 1.4 230,000 67.4 2,075,570 4.78 1,683,000 222 130 4.4 354,000 0.142 1,890,000 1.6 2,698,000 178 1,271,060 4.07 22,000 1.9 6,483,000 31.2 700 1.1 50,000

111,954,325 4,654,020 269,160 591,050 7,431,805 76,419 59,034,848 21,368,756 6,704,020 93,730 86,290 173,150 490,250 19,920,984 381,428 9,482,868 823,449 2,292,861 48,807,546 64,413,135 6,926,659 3,409,568 821,171 1,541,650 130,334,236 2,475 22,200 19,074,865 4,989,295 1,626,006 131,413,836 4,780 3,754,680 53,734,163 112,618 4,467,700 455,373 320,780 139,937,855 7,706,400 28,742 1,557,440 270,980 4,461,650 224,382,755 89,970 12,604,770 21,840 55,000

-54,776,935 91,040 675,735 -13,078,488 7,641,838.00 -141,600 5,970 -15,900,000 -59,532 4,008,502.00 -534,979 7,626 -9,542,151.00 -15,753,965 -1,280,028 -2,098,094 758,160 -50,973,158 -6,575,270 -1,146,140 -211,566 -74,802,406 2,866,350 -32,077,916.00 2,657,400 -139,320 10,819,673.50 3,856,970 756,680 72,593,418 201,040.00 -

0.365 72.7 12.8 1.17 5.79 0.305 722 8.28 13.02 7.6 5.05 1,127 67.95 5.97 1.45 7.51 13.5 6.38 0.037 1.86 2.29 79.8 610 0.84 1.16 239.4 0.285 0.198 0.265

HOLDING FIRMS 0.365 130,000 74 1,490,800 12.94 3,432,500 1.17 1,000 5.79 14,400 0.31 2,490,000 725 388,180 8.29 4,740,100 13.2 4,330,100 8.05 55,700 5.2 82,300 1,165 285,260 72.3 1,132,500 5.97 11,900 1.53 16,870,000 7.7 755,800 13.6 3,710,000 6.44 25,432,400 0.038 20,400,000 1.86 4,000 2.29 13,000 80.15 172,390 634.5 788,670 0.84 1,000 1.16 539,000 239.4 3,960 0.295 110,000 0.198 110,000 0.275 2,080,000

48,050 109,348,318 44,379,228 1,170 83,470 771,200 281,998,445 39,302,756 57,114,232 445,867 424,290 330,181,225 79,166,056.50 71,276 25,256,390 5,815,569 50,387,896 164,837,223 765,200 7,440 29,770 13,798,022 490,050,755 840 626,150 948,404 31,450 21,780 571,700

-15,217,409 809,210 -81,156,810 32,062,821 1,007,328 25,000 80,232,585 7,446,550 69,430 -2,727,940 5,138,476 -23,814,949 186,656 -102,676,750 -28,500.00 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO LEASING BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FILIPINO FUND MANULIFE MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK VANTAGE

47.5 92.95 3.74 110.9 1.25 37.8 16.7 18.94 6.6 730 0.73 74.15 0.8 14.1 21.2 55.4 255.8 132 92.05 35.8 198.5 1,705 75 1.31

47.6 94 3.74 111.7 1.32 37.95 16.7 19.26 6.6 750 0.73 74.15 0.84 14.2 21.2 55.7 255.8 132 97.9 35.8 198.5 1,749 75.1 1.31

47.2 91.2 3.74 110.5 1.25 37.6 16.7 18.94 6.6 710 0.69 70.5 0.78 14.1 21.2 55.3 255.8 131 92 35.6 188.1 1,700 74.2 1.31

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

42.45 4.05 0.89 1.29 23.25 96 11.1 17.44 23.5 24.9 102 130 2.01 7.88 12.26 11 6.6 6.95 5.02 22.3 68.9 16.22 6.04 1.84 216 78 3.7 30.4 26.4 14.9 274 4.78 3.18 9.29 11.28 2.1 5.75 1.4 67.5 4.25 224.2 4.4 0.143 1.58 176.2 4.12 2.02 31.2 1.1

43.2 4.08 0.89 1.32 26 102.9 11.12 17.44 23.5 25 110 130 2.04 7.99 12.26 11.06 6.69 7.14 5.12 22.45 68.9 16.22 6.04 1.85 216 84.75 3.7 30.4 26.5 14.9 274 4.78 3.22 9.3 11.28 2.1 5.8 1.4 68.2 4.95 224.2 4.4 0.145 1.73 178 4.12 2.03 31.2 1.1

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ATN HLDG A AYALA CORP COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FJ PRINCE A GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT KEPPEL HLDG A LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME ORION REPUBLIC GLASS SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER UNIOIL HLDG WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.375 73.25 12.8 1.17 5.8 0.31 734 8.42 13.44 7.6 5.2 1,140 68.05 5.99 1.45 7.7 13.8 6.56 0.037 1.86 2.29 80 628 0.84 1.18 240 0.285 0.198 0.265

0.375 74.5 12.98 1.17 5.8 0.32 740 8.42 13.44 8.05 5.55 1,167 72.3 5.99 1.56 7.72 14 6.7 0.038 1.86 2.29 80.15 634.5 0.84 1.2 240 0.295 0.198 0.285

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP

7 1.08 2.11 0.345 31.75 3.15 5.1 0.53 1.13 0.159 0.52 50.9 1.75 0.95 1.04 3.72 0.149 0.25 0.415 3.22

7 1.08 2.11 0.345 31.75 3.15 5.1 0.53 1.13 0.163 0.53 51 1.75 0.95 1.12 3.74 0.149 0.25 0.415 3.29

6.95 1.06 2.07 0.3 30.2 3.08 5.02 0.51 1.12 0.159 0.52 48.6 1.72 0.93 1.04 3.61 0.14 0.25 0.415 3.09

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

26.2 1.55 3.22 26.25 0.96 0.93 5.13

27 1.55 3.22 26.5 0.96 0.93 5.16

25.95 1.5 3.22 25.3 0.94 0.9 5.07

27 1.52 3.22 26.5 0.95 0.92 5.11

1,518,400 344,000 105,000 17,789,000 644,000 22,000 3,167,300

39,949,455 519,320 338,100 462,101,880 615,390 20,080 16,261,354

-2,498,815 169,330 25,830,830 -619,050

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CALATA CORP CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR DFNN INC FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN HAVEN HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL A INTL CONTAINER IP EGAME IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA JOCKEY MELCO CROWN METRO RETAIL MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PAL HLDG PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT

7.9 45.4 1.28 0.53 0.041 10.98 5.01 6.21 0.072 2.87 104.2 9.94 6.68 954 1,430 6.11 14 2.04 14.7 74.25 0.009 12.44 9.12 0.181 1.33 4.92 0.95 2.07 2 4.06 3.7 19 2.06 5.2 11.06 1,299 1.14 0.4 39.55 72 5.3 2.58 0.93 3.08 0.33

7.99 45.4 1.28 0.53 0.044 10.98 5.01 6.47 0.072 2.94 105 9.95 6.68 954 1,440 6.12 14 2.06 14.7 75 0.0093 12.44 9.12 0.181 1.37 5.13 0.95 2.07 2 4.13 3.73 19.06 2.06 5.2 14.9 1,365 1.14 0.42 40 74.85 5.3 2.58 0.93 3.14 0.35

7.7 45.1 1.28 0.52 0.04 10.98 5 6.02 0.07 2.78 102.7 9.8 6.6 954 1,390 6.09 13.22 1.93 14.02 73.5 0.009 12.44 9.1 0.176 1.33 4.9 0.95 2.07 2 4.02 3.62 19 1.95 5.04 11.02 1,297 1.13 0.4 39.5 72 5.05 2.51 0.9 3.05 0.33

SERVICES 7.75 45.1 1.28 0.52 0.041 10.98 5 6.45 0.07 2.82 103 9.8 6.68 954 1,421 6.1 13.96 1.98 14.1 74.5 0.0093 12.44 9.12 0.177 1.36 5.1 0.95 2.07 2 4.1 3.65 19 2.05 5.04 14.36 1,365 1.14 0.42 39.5 73 5.3 2.54 0.9 3.13 0.35

114,000 13,700 1,000 713,000 103,700,000 2,300 6,300 14,062,300 47,700,000 1,938,000 355,370 5,000 50,000 100 273,340 54,300 149,200 3,827,000 2,900 395,070 18,000,000 7,200 498,100 7,750,000 475,000 1,768,000 2,000 5,000 34,000 2,197,000 1,094,000 8,900 2,525,000 1,000 8,524,000 98,330 7,765,000 1,490,000 329,000 242,230 433,000 930,000 19,778,000 486,000 480,000

885,779 618,880 1,280 372,870 4,327,000 25,254 31,520 88,941,668 3,372,280 5,469,950 36,763,448 49,426 332,552 95,400 388,847,165 331,473 2,063,912 7,545,470 41,016 29,311,989 167,100 89,568 4,542,670 1,387,810 640,260 8,942,850 1,900 10,350 68,000 8,984,120 3,997,820 169,240 5,044,840 5,074 111,125,922 131,244,905 8,850,070 614,500 13,082,895 17,689,909.50 2,220,086 2,353,540 17,887,760 1,499,300 163,750

-218,046 104,000 38,000 -17,185,849 -4,260 -25,920 -4,136,736 -66,958,685 3,383,390 35,400 2,422,420.00 -3,045,510 730,730 114,840 3,024 -2,857,028 24,361,475 2,438,245 1,401,964.50 -225,120 7,281,120 -15,420 -

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 MANILA MINING B MARCVENTURES NICKEL ASIA NIHAO ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING TA PETROLEUM

0.0035 2.97 4.98 2.17 2.3 0.56 0.395 10.3 3.76 0.29 0.2 0.203 0.013 0.013 1.88 8.4 3.23 1.18 0.011 0.01 0.012 8.26 3.85 130 3.1

0.0035 2.97 4.98 2.34 2.3 0.56 0.395 11.98 3.78 0.295 0.221 0.224 0.013 0.013 1.88 8.52 3.36 1.2 0.011 0.011 0.012 8.29 3.95 132 3.1

0.0034 2.9 4.88 2.17 2.3 0.56 0.395 10.08 3.68 0.285 0.2 0.203 0.012 0.013 1.8 8.15 3.17 1.14 0.011 0.01 0.011 8.2 3.76 129.5 2.92

MINING & OIL 0.0034 138,000,000 2.95 30,000 4.88 141,000 2.3 542,000 2.3 67,000 0.56 326,000 0.395 210,000 11.38 431,100 3.7 3,948,000 0.285 360,000 0.211 61,880,000 0.214 6,290,000 0.012 1,200,000 0.013 3,300,000 1.85 1,217,000 8.47 5,988,400 3.25 612,000 1.18 3,078,000 0.011 1,000,000 0.011 11,500,000 0.012 112,400,000 8.28 366,300 3.8 1,109,000 129.8 392,400 3.05 15,000

469,600 88,180 691,930 1,246,250 154,100 182,560 82,950 4,832,932 14,775,400 104,500 13,137,470 1,351,560 15,000 42,900 2,226,720 50,329,000 1,984,710 3,615,620 11,000 118,000 1,309,800 3,030,281 4,209,570 51,000,228 44,290

-4,880 3,678,490 -53,860 -1,840 141,713 -35,100.00 -67,453 22,636,462 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B MWIDE PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

45.1 542 531 104.1 118 5.86 1,018 110.7 77.25 82 80 79.5 77.55 78.3

45.1 545 531 104.8 122.7 5.86 1,018 110.7 77.25 82 80 79.5 77.55 78.3

45 542 531 104.1 118 5.86 1,018 110.7 77.25 81 79.5 79.5 77.5 78.3

PREFERRED 45 71,600 544.5 400 531 20 104.2 10,110 122.7 10,010 5.86 26,600 1,018 100 110.7 1,500 77.25 1,000 81 13,590 79.95 2,400 79.5 49,710 77.5 35,560 78.3 47,990

3,223,910 217,325 10,620 1,059,161 1,181,227 155,876 101,800 166,050 77,250 1,100,891.50 191,490 3,951,945 2,757,405 3,757,617

-3,151,750 2,496,300 -2,326,500 -

LR WARRANT

2.24

2.26

2.21

WARRANTS 2.25 118,000

264,780

-

ALTERRA CAPITAL ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

2.71 3.51 2.8 9.84

2.71 3.6 2.81 9.91

2.58 3.45 2.8 9.71

2.59 3.59 2.8 9.8

1,472,370 1,300,840 168,160 6,178,553

-116,250 10,600 -1,186,164

FIRST METRO ETF

114.6

114.6

113

1,838,634

-52,102

MS

PROPERTY 6.95 1.08 2.07 0.3 30.6 3.1 5.02 0.52 1.12 0.162 0.53 48.8 1.73 0.94 1.09 3.71 0.142 0.25 0.415 3.11

29,600 477,000 538,000 17,910,000 22,973,000 8,566,000 375,000 8,777,000 103,000 1,880,000 3,109,000 698,650 95,539,000 3,089,000 615,000 46,461,000 13,720,000 200,000 10,000 866,000

206,711 508,520 1,120,940 5,624,350 705,308,155 26,571,280 1,882,660 4,574,080 115,370 302,340 1,633,180 34,471,721 165,299,550 2,912,660 671,630 171,529,460 1,959,300 50,000 4,150 2,718,670

25,091 42,500 -261,113,690 -21,430,790 -211,260 -16,300 3,526,386.50 -3,953,110 8,342,810 -

SME

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

25,733,568

INDUSTRIAL

57,898,118

HOLDING FIRMS

89,725,783

PROPERTY

249,543,840

SERVICES

249,395,377

MINING & OIL

354,451,201

GRAND TOTAL

1,028,387,257

566,000 365,000 60,000 629,900

EXCHANGE TRADED FUND 113 16,230

VALUE 1,669.40 (down) 18.69 1,119,415,389.29 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,998.79 (down) 35.30 1,114,550,649.45 HOLDING FIRMS 6,967.99 (up) 104.08 1,708,674,617.025 PROPERTY 2,985.78 (down) 23.19 1,311.28 (up) 24.11 1,648,359,861.39 SERVICES MINING & OIL 12,144.34 (up) 103.28 913,910,085.535 PSEI 6,836.64 (up) 33.91 155,095,857.121 All Shares Index 4,149.10 (up) 10.94 6,670,970,752.81 Gainers: 71 Losers:110; Unchanged: 38; Total: 219

with Hua Xia Harvest Holdings Pte. Ltd. in February to acquire the latter’s 30-percent equity shareholding in the joint venture entity, Happy Bee via asset for equity deal.

Jollibee said as consideration for the acquisition of the additional 30 percent, its subsidiaries effectively conveyed to Hua Xia certain manufacturing facility assets worth $10.34 million related to the production and sale of products for outside institutions.

Happy Bee Anhui operates a manufacturing facility in Anhui, China that services the requirements of Jollibee’s Yonghe King business and produces and sells foods for business institutions other than Jollibee brands.

With the change in ownership, Happy Bee will no longer produce and sell food products to institutions other than Jollibee-owned restaurant businesses.

Jollibee said the move to acquire 100 percent ownership of Happy Bee would enable the fast-food chain to concentrate on supporting the growth of its Yonghe King business and on further improving its food quality and increasing the assurance of its food safety.

Yonghe King is Jollibee’s largest business in China with a total of 316 stores as of Oct. 31, 2016 and contributes 8 percent to the group’s worldwide system wide sales.

Jollibee operates a total of 22 commissaries worldwide, including 15 in the Philippines, three in China, three in the US and one in Vietnam.

SM Prime set to open its biggest China mall SM PRIME Holdings Inc. said Wednesday it will open its biggest mall in China on Dec. 17.

SM Prime president Jeffrey Lim said in an interview at the sidelines of a corporate governance forum that SM Tianjin, which offers more 540,000 square meters of gross leasable area, would have a soft opening next month.

Lim said he expected SM Tianjin to be 60-percent leased out to various tenants

by December.

“We will soft open on Dec. 17. We will not open entire the entire mall yet, only the first two buildings,” Lim said.

SM Tianjin will be the seventh mall to be opened by the Sy family in China.

The six existing malls are located in Xiamen, Jinjiang, Chengdu, Suzhou, Chongqing and Zibo.

SM Prime earlier said it was open to acquiring existing malls in Fujian province to help accelerate its expansion in the world’s second largest economy.

SM Prime chairman of the executive committee Hans Sy said the company was considering mall acquisitions as land values in China became expensive because of its strong growth over the past several years.

SM Prime’s China mall revenues rose 5 percent to P3.1 billion in the first nine months from P2.9 billion recorded in the same period last year.

Operating income from China malls also grew 6 percent to P1.5 billion from P1.4 billion, maintaining the previous year’s operating income margin of 49 percent.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

B3

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Healthcare workers highest paid OFWs

By Othel V. Campos

SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING. The Global Reporting Initiative launches the new global sustainability reporting standards in the Philippines, giving companies a common language for disclosing non-financial information. Shown during a forum in Makati City are GRI director of reporting standards Bastian Buck (left) and GRI board director Roberto de Ocampo. Teddy Pelaez

HEALTHCARE remains the highest paid specialization among jobs for overseas Filipino workers, according to an annual overseas report by WorkAbroad.ph.

The report disclosed that OFWs in the healthcare field, particularly doctors, received an average monthly income of P111,620.

Other top paid specializations were process design and control, public relations or communications, aviation or aircraft maintenance, legal services, education, quality control, IT-related, engineering-related and architecture or interior design.

Each specialization’s monthly income ranged from about P55,000 to P90,000.

WorkAbroad.ph business unit manager Rhea Suiza said the site used data from January to September 2016 from 117,000 jobs as base to come up with 2016 overseas salary report.

“Being the leading overseas jobs board [in the country], we believe that Filipinos are glob-

ally competitive so we make sure that we look out for them as well,” she said.

Although jobs in the field of healthcare topped the list of highest paid OFW specializations, engineering-related specializations maintained their place as the most in-demand with 30,972 posted jobs in WorkAbroad.ph, creating the most overseas job opportunities.

Among other high in-demand specializations were general work, hospitality-related, healthcare, manufacturing/production operations, maintenance/repair, personal care/beauty/fitness, sales-related, clerical/administrative support and arts/creative/ graphics design.

The annual report showed the United Arab Emirates was the highest paying country.

A doctor in UAE may earn as high as P253,826 a month.

UAE is followed by Qatar and Canada ― having aviation/aircraft maintenance and nurse/ medical support & assistant as the highest paying industries, respectively.

Power cost seen rising next year

By Alena Mae S. Flores

C

onsumers will pay for higher power rates next year, or once the Energy Regulatory Commission approves the “close to P0.23 per kilowatt-hour” feed-in tariff application of National Transmission Corp.

TransCo is set to file its feedin tariff allowance application to the ERC next week.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, who sits on the TransCo board, told reporters during the inauguration of the Panay Energy Development Corp.’s coal power plant in Iloilo City that

TransCo was preparing the application for submission.

Cusi said the FIT-All would be around P0.22 per kWh, but a TransCo source said the application would be closer to P0.23 per kWh. Cusi said while he was hoping not to pass on the feed-in tariff

allowance to consumers next year, the application needed to be filed.

Consumers are now paying P0.1240 per kWh under the FIT allowance, a line item in the power bill which is used to compensate the renewable energy generators.

TransCo was supposed to file its application every July, but asked for extension to Oct. 31 and sought another one-month extension.

TransCo included in its computation the feed-in tariff of mostly wind projects. It also included the P3 billion to P4

billion worth of under-recovery from consumers as a part of its feed-in tariff allowance application for 2017.

The feed-in tariff is an incentive that guarantees a fixed rate to renewable energy technologies over a 20-year period.

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

TransCo delayed their payment to developers because the previously approved rate of P0.1240 per kilowatt-hour was not enough to pay all the developers.

FIT-All is set by the ERC on an

Tetangco to study 3rd term in BSP

By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. is not closing the door to serving as the head of the Monetary Board and bank regulator for the third term.

President Rodrigo Duterte was considering amending existing laws, particularly the BSP charter to extend the term of Tetangco for another six years, according to previous reports.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez confirmed a report he was authorized by Duterte to ask Tetangco to stay once his second term ended in July 2017.

Tetangco said at the sidelines of the Security Bank Economic Forum 2016 at Fairmont Makati that it was an honor to get the offer for a third term.

“But under the BSP charter, the governor is allowed only one reappointment and I have that in 2011. I was first appointed in 2005 and reappointed in 2011, “ he said.

“The Congress is now deliberating on the amendments to the BSP charter. So it is still in the process and I don’t want to preempt the legislators,” he said.

He said the BSP―created in 1993 as an independent entity that replaced the old Central Bank of the Philippines―has over the years been able to develop itself into a world-class monetary authority and was able to deliver on its mandate of maintaining price and financial stability in the country.

“I think this is going to continue and whoever is appointed as the next governor, he will have the support of a committed and competent team of the BSP and all our people in the BSP,” Tetangco said.

Tetangco did not answer directly if he would accept or deny a third term if an offer was presented to him.

HOUSING FAIR. Property portal Lamudi Philippines held the Lamudi Housing Fair which brought

together real estate movers and players at the Megatrade Hall 3, SM Megamall on Nov. 18 to 20. Shown during the ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of the housing fair are (from left) Lhoopa Inc. senior account manager Cristina Cruz, Solid Pattern Homebuilders Corp. senior project consultant Armie Nozal, Lamudi Group Philippines managing director Jacqueline van den Ende, rofessional Regulation Commission - Board for Real Estate Service chairman Eduardo Ong, JLL associate director for research Claro Cordero and Lamudi Group Philippines head of corporate partnerships Gilles Hage.

Global Business Power eyes renewables LAPAZ, Iloilo City- Global Business Power Corp. is expanding its power generation portfolio in the Visayas to include hydro and biomass power plants with more than 100 megawatts of combined capacity.

Global Business Power executive vice president Jaime Azurin told reporters here during the Panay Energy Development Corp.’s inauguration that the biomass plant would be located in Negros.

Azurin said the company was also looking at possible expansion of a coal facility in Negros and Iloilo but further developments would depend on social acceptability and transmission line availability.

“We have the available land here to put up additional capacity if and when it is needed,” he said.

Azurin said the company would have to determine whether to build a greenfield or entirely new coal power plant or simply expand the Iloilo power facility.

“This is something that we have to weigh,” he said, adding that any expansion would be driven by demand.

Panay Energy, a subsidiary of Global Business Power, on Tuesday inaugurated a 150-MW expansion project in Barangay Ingore, La Paz, Iloilo City.

Global Business Power owns a total of 854 MW through its subsidiaries.

The 150-MW clean-coal power plant is the largest single generation unit in the Visayas and is projected to provide adequate, reliable, clean, and cost-efficient power to the residents and businesses in the region.

The P15.6-billion coal plant expansion project is Global Business’s latest investment in the province. It invested a total of P20 billion for Panay Energy’s first two 82-MW clean-coal plants in 2011.

“By providing adequate power supply, we are fueling the growth of industries and the availability of

jobs in Panay, thereby providing a viable alternative to the already congested Metro Manila,” Global Business chairman Jose Maria Lim said.

“We are hopeful that in supporting the accelerated growth in Panay, particularly in Iloilo, we are contributing to the government’s quest for sustainable and inclusive growth in all areas of the country,” said Lim. “We are proud to be able to respond to the region’s growing energy requirements and contribute significantly to its baseload capacity,” said Global Business Power president Rolando Bacani.

Bacani said that because of its size, Panay Energy would be able to offer a good rate in the market because the expansion project had lesser operating cost.

“We can expect efficient use of fuel from a single larger plant of 150 MW that is equipped with the latest circulating fluidized bed boiler technology,” he said.

Alena Mae S. Flores

annual basis taking into account the forecast annual required revenue of the eligible renewable energy plants, previous year’s under or over recoveries, administration costs, forecasted annual electricity sales, among others.

The government allowed the installation of 500 MW of solar power projects, 400 MW of wind

power projects, 250 MW of small hydros and 250 MW of biomass projects.

ERC approved a feed-in tariff rate of P6.63 per kWh for biomass, P5.90 per kWh for hydro, P9.68 per kWh for solar 1, P8.69 for solar 2, P8.53 per kWh for wind 1 and P7.40 per kWh for wind2.

Need to track foreign investment pledges IN A COLUMN that I wrote last week (“What Retiring Presidents Should Stop Doing”, Nov. 17), I raised questions about the practice whereby Presidents of the Philippines, upon their return from foreign trip, issue statements indicating receipt of financial benefits – investments, loans and grants – from the countries visited by them?

I said that the practice was unnecessary and demeaning.

Rodrigo Duterte is the latest Chief Executive to indulge in this Presidential malpractice. Upon his return from his visit to China he grandiosely announced that in the course of his stay in that country, the Philippines received $24 billion worth of investment offers to establish private-sector and government projects. In addition, he spoke of several billion dollars worth of loans for the financing of government and private-sector projects.

Before Duterte, there was Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and before Mrs. Arroyo there were Joseph Ejercito Estrada and Fidel Ramos. Like the incumbent Chief Executive, these former Presidents also felt a need to render a report to the Filipino people, upon their return from foreign trips, on the proverbial bacon that they had brought home.

As I pondered Mr. Duterte’s $24 billion newly-obtained –investments claim, it occurred to me that no determination, official or otherwise, of the eventual outcome of the financial benefits said to have been generated by the returning President’s foreign trips.

No follow-through work has ever been done to determine how much, or what percentage, of a claim of a total of trip-generated foreign financial foods eventually translated into concrete results – public facilities installed, factories erected, products manufactured. Did all of the claimed trip-generated investments materialize? If not the entire amount, then what percentage of it? Did any of the claimed investment commitments fail to materialize completely, and what was the reason for its non-materialization?

Thus, the Filipino people don’t know if the trip-generated financial benefits claimed by former Presidents Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, Arroyo and Aquino were largely or partly hyperbolic or eventually translated 100 percent into actual structures, facilities and goods-producing entities. The arrival statements of the Chief Executives were delivered and that has been the end of it. There has never been any closing of the books on any claim of foreigntrip-generated investment commitment.

There should be a closing of the books on any such claim. A closing would be useful for two reasons. One reason is that there is a need to establish the batting average for the foreign-benefits package touted by each President returning from a trip. The other reason is the need to establish a pattern of actualization and nonactualization with regard to the investments or loan commitments made to Philippine Presidents in the course of their state visits or working visits to other countries: There is a need to know why some commitments become realities and why some don’t.

This is a research project worthy of a serious student of economic development. It is not a particularly difficult research project. All that the researcher has to do it to retrieve from the official records or newspaper libraries the arrival statements of returning Presidents, list down the investment commitments indicated in the statements and determine if concrete things resulted from the commitments. For the reasons stated above, the findings of such a research project will be of great value to economists and laymen alike.

Certainly, returning Presidents will, in the future, be less inclined to indulge in hype and braggadocio if they know that the contents of their arrival statements will be tracked and verified.

E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

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

B4

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Business

Lufthansa cancels 900 flights over strike FRANKFURT, Germany— Germany’s flagship carrier Lufthansa said it would cancel nearly 900 flights on Wednesday because of a strike by pilots, causing travel disruption for tens of thousands of passengers in the latest escalation of a long-simmering pay dispute.

The stoppage, called by the pilots’ union Cockpit, would start at midnight and affect Lufthansa flights at airports across Germany.

Out of its roughly 3,000 scheduled flights, 876 would be cancelled due to the strike, “affecting some 100,000 passengers”, Lufthansa said in a statement.

It is the union’s 14th strike since April 2014.

Cockpit had initially called for a 24-hour stoppage but said late Tuesday that the strike would continue into Thursday for both long- and short-haul flights leaving Germany.

Meanwhile a separate walkout by cabin crew at Lufthansa’s low-cost airline Eurowings led to the cancellation of more than 60 flights at airports in Hamburg and Duesseldorf on Tuesday.

The industrial action was called by Germany’s biggest services union Verdi in a row over pay and working conditions.

The Lufthansa pilots going on strike are demanding a pay rise of an average of 3.66 percent per year, retroactive for the past five years.

The union says pilots have endured a wage freeze over that time and suffered a “significant loss of purchasing power” due to inflation, while Lufthansa has made billions in profits.

It had offered a 2.5 percent wage hike. AFP

PAKISTAN’S ECONOMY PICKS UP. Pakistani Naval personnel stand guard near a ship carrying containers at the Gwadar port, some 700 kms west of Karachi, during the opening ceremony of a pilot trade program between Pakistan and China. Shah Nawaz walks Karachi’s dusty streets, one of thousands in the financial hub who are being fed by charities as Pakistan’s economy picks up pace -- but, some say, not fast enough for its poverty-stricken millions. Confidence in Pakistan is growing, with the International Monetary Fund claiming in October 2016 that the country has emerged from crisis and stabilized its economy after completing a bailout program. AFP

World needs Trump to revitalize economy P aris, France—President-elect Donald Trump’s big-spending plan to revitalize US infrastructure could be just the ticket to drag the world economy out of its post-crisis torpor, experts say.

But there is a huge caveat, they warn: the plan’s benefits would be eroded if Trump executes his avowed aim of putting “America first” and tearing up commercial pacts, potentially igniting a trade war.

The Republican property tycoon’s team says he will devote $550 billion to rebuilding decrepit highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, schools and hospitals -- something that President Barack Obama failed to persuade Republicans in Congress to back.

The idea has support from the International Monetary Fund, the Federal Reserve and Democrats, all keen to see the United States raise its productive capacity, despite the likelihood it will also ramp up its debt.

“All public money invested in US infrastructure—which badly needs it—can only be welcome,” said Ludovic Subran, chief economist at the trade insurance company Euler Hermes.

The United States suffers from congested highways, collapsing bridges and a ramshackle rail network. Bemoaning the state of US airports during the election campaign, Trump said “we’ve become

a Third World country”.

Economies further afield would benefit at a time when Europe and Japan are struggling with the debilitating effects of deflation or anaemic growth.

“Inflation would spread everywhere in the world,” in a welcome filip to the central banks of Europe and Japan, according to Laurent Geronimi, a senior asset manager at the private bank Swiss Life.

Indeed, the bond markets have already signalled as much with trillions of dollars wiped off valuations since Trump’s election—a sign that investors expect a debtfuelled spending splurge to drive up interest rates.

That would benefit millions of savers and investors in pension funds who have struggled since the 2008 financial crisis ushered

in a period of rock-bottom rates across the West.

Emerging markets could also win out if the dollar continues its recent bull run sparked by expectations of higher inflation and borrowing costs.

“If the American currency appreciates, that’s a good thing for us because we are exporters of oil and of raw materials that are priced in dollars. And when the dollar appreciates, we earn a bit more,” said Lucas Abaga Nchama, governor of the Bank of Central African States.

But inflation, of course, is a double-edged sword. Workers worldwide risk losing out in their pay packets—including those Americans who rallied to Trump’s banner. US homeowners would also suffer from dearer mortgage costs. AFP

S. Africa faces junk credit rating JOHANNESBURG, South Africa—South Africa’s political turmoil and weakening economy will come under the harsh spotlight of international credit ratings from this week amid predictions the country could lose its investment-level status.

Moody’s will release its updated grading on Friday, before Standard & Poor issues its key announcement a week later on Dec. 2.

S&P currently has South Africa—the continent’s most developed economy—rated at the lowest investment grade, and a downgrade would put the country’s bonds into so-called “junk” status.

Moody’s currently rates it one level higher than S&P. Any downgrade would trigger a further crisis of confidence among investors who have become increasingly wary of South Africa’s economic prospects under President Jacob Zuma.

The country has endured a year of political scandals and falling economic growth, set against record unemployment and huge social inequality more than two decades after the end of apartheid.

The outcome of the ratings reviews is uncertain, but more than half of 12 economists surveyed by Bloomberg said the S&P would downgrade South Africa to junk.

Peter Montalto, Nomura bank analyst, however said S&P could freeze its rating until next year, while Moody’s might cut it by one notch.

“The agencies may want to see the outcome of the budget in February for specifics on revenue changes and also where growth is at the time,” he said.

“Many policy makers have been talking up the chances of ratings staying on hold in recent days.”

A rating downgrade could trigger a bout of bond selling by foreign investors. Some investment funds have rules that allow them to only hold bonds that have investment-grade ratings.

A downgrade would also likely fuel fierce criticism of Zuma’s leadership.

South Africa’s struggle to retain its investment-grade status has been at the centre of a political battle in recent months.

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, who is widely feted by investors, has appeared to have only a fragile hold on his job in a clash with Zuma. AFP

How Apple lost China to 2 local phone makers

Sales of existing US homes highest since 2007 SALES of previously owned US homes unexpectedly climbed in October to the highest level since February 2007, a sign of momentum in the housing market a month before a jump in borrowing costs, National Association of Realtors data showed Tuesday.

Contract closings rose 2 percent to a 5.60 million annual rate (forecast was 5.44 million).

Sales increased 0.5 percent from October 2015 before seasonal adjustment.

Median sales price rose 6 percent from October 2015 to $232,200.

Inventory of available properties fell 4.3 percent from October 2015 to 2.02 million, marking the 17th straight year-over-year decline.

Steady hiring, a pickup in incomes, and better household finances are propelling demand in the repeat sales market, even as a shortage of available properties limits choices and pushes up prices. Bigger advances may prove difficult after a surge in mortgage rates on speculation President-elect Donald Trump’s economic plans will spark inflation. Higher borrowing costs could discourage first-time

buyers who may already have trouble qualifying for a loan --a hurdle for further improvement in the housing recovery.

The October advance “may be indicative of pent-up demand that was unrealized in the summer,” Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the Realtors group in Washington, told reporters as the data were released.

More recently, “with the rise in rates, we may begin to see some modest reduction in home sales.”

As long as there’s job creation, the impact should be “minimal.”

Sales advanced in all four regions, led by a 2.8 percent

gain in the South and a 2.3 percent rise in the Midwest.At the current pace, it would take 4.3 months to sell the houses on the market, the quickest since January and down from 4.4 months in September.

Realtors group considers six months’ supply as normal. Single-family home sales increased 2.3 percent to an annual rate of 4.99 million; purchases of condominium and co-op units were steady at a 610,000 pace.

First-time buyers accounted for 33 percent of all sales, compared with 34 percent the prior month. Bloomberg

TWO years ago, Oppo and Vivo couldn’t crack the top five in China’s smartphone market.

Now they outrank everyone after elbowing Apple aside, thanks to people like Cheng Xiaoning.

Cheng runs a thriving electronics store in the rural town of Miaoxia, tapping into her WeChat social media account to promote the brands that pay the biggest commission, and in her case that’s Oppo and Vivo.

While such payments start at about 40 yuan ($6), they escalate for more expensive handsets and reach almost 200 yuan for Oppo’s high-end smartphones.

“That’s why I like to introduce the Oppo R9 Plus to potential customers,” she said. “Business has been perfect, actually never been better.”

Cheng and tens of thousands of like-minded boosters form the vanguard of the pair’s charge against Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. Working with the local stores that dominate sales in China’s far-flung provinces, Oppo and Vivo came out of nowhere to upend the industry order and squeeze out former local darling Xiaomi Corp.

Their labels graced one out of every three smartphones sold within China in the third quarter, while the iPhone’s market share at 7 percent stood at its lowest in almost three years.

Oppo and Vivo trace their origins to reclusive billionaire Duan Yong Ping and employ similar strategies. That includes harnessing the spending power of rural customers away from top-tier cities such as Beijing

and Shanghai. It’s where Apple’s vulnerable given the iPhone’s lofty price tag. They eschewed e-commerce to instead court the stores where three-quarters of smartphone sales take place.

Apple has been more reluctant to relinquish the retail experience to local free-agents, who sometimes charge brands for instore displays and posters.

“Oppo and Vivo are willing to share their profit with local sales. The reward was an extremely active and loyal nationwide sales network,” said Jin Di, an IDC analyst based in Beijing. While they declined to detail their subsidy program, she estimates the two were the top spenders in the past year.

“They’re doing something different--they do local marketing.”

China had for years driven Apple’s and Samsung’s growth.

The US company generated almost $59 billion of sales from the region in fiscal 2015, which was more than double the level just two years earlier. During that time its shares surged more than 60 percent.

At its peak, Greater China yielded almost 30 percent of its revenue and Apple was neckand-neck with Xiaomi for the mantle of market leader as users clamored for the larger iPhone 6 models. Even as the domestic economy began to sputter, Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook spent a good chunk of an earnings call last year talking up the country’s promise, saying Apple’s investing there “for the decades ahead.” Bloomberg

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

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CHEERS TO CHAIRS. Students of the Epifanio Delos Santos Elementary School in Singalong, Manila raise their cups in a toast for receiving upcycled chairs, made from milk wrappers and laminates, for their classroom. Bear Brand PMD donated 50 chairs in line with their Laki sa Tibay campaign for schoolchildren. Lino Santos

‘LGUs need to lead tourism push’ S

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

ENATOR Nancy Binay is pushing for the retooling of local government units and empowering them to create their own tourism opportunities through collaborative planning with the Department of Tourism and Regional Development Councils, in line with the Duterte administration’s Philippine Development Plan for 2040.

In her speech during the Tour- Diamond Hotel Manila, Binay ism Summit of the DoT at the emphasized the role of LGUs in

improving and developing the country’s local tourism industry.

“The national government must help each LGU to come up with its own tourism development plan, which should be in line with the national tourism development plan,” Binay said.

The National Economic Development Authority is currently updating the national development plan in line with the administration’s 25-year vision, the “Ambisyon Natin 2040,” which is government says is the “collective long-term vision and aspirations of the Filipino people for

themselves and for the country for the next 25 years.”

“Ambisyon Nation 2040” aims to serve as an anchor for development planning across at least four administrations.

As the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Tourism, Binay also called for LGUs to collaborate and align their own tourism development plans with neighboring municipalities, and work together to promote their regional tourism destinations.

“Towns and provinces should not look only for their own inter-

ests in the tourism pie but should look at how they can interconnect and relate to each other in terms of tourism development and promotion,” she said.

The senator also called for the LGUs’ continued protection of existing and prospective tourism sites.

“The tourism plan should also be incorporated in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan so tourism sites can be properly identified and protected,” Binay said.

The senator said the national government should also empower tourism officers and frontlin-

Bicol lawyer sues DPWH 5 director

By Vito Barcelo

A PUBLIC works legal officer has filed graft charges against his superior, the DPWH regional director of Bicol, before the office of the Ombudsman over alleged anomalous bidding and promotion of personnel.

Lawyer Oliver Rodulfo has also asked Public Works Secretary Mark Villar to suspend Region V director Reynaldo Tagudando, who is facing administrative and criminal complaints before the Ombudsman docketed as OMB-L-A-16-0388 and OMB-l-C-16-0399.

In his complaint, Rodulfo claimed that Tagudando abused his authority; committed grave misconduct, gross ignorance of the law; dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

In his letter to Villar, Rodul-

fo said Tagudando has been anointing officials to be promoted instead of the regular and usual selection process for reasons only known to the director.

He also accused the director of “rigged and fixed” bidding by DPWH Region V employees in the bids and awards committee secretariat and technical working group, with the winning bids always sticking to a five-percent variance.

As for the implementation of projects, DPWH-Bicol has been deliberately and arbitrarily granting “unjustified” suspension orders and extensions despite the high percentage of slippages, Rodulfo claimed, citing the Masbate-Cataingan-Placer Road project, among others.

The lawyer said he is willing to testify despite knowledge that Tagudando is “moneyed, armed, and dangerous,” according to the letter-complaint.

Davao to see more Chinese tourists

DANGEROUS TOYS. Task Force Disiplina of San Juan City, headed by Melchor Robles—following a directive from Mayor Guia G. Gomez—has been going around the 21 barangays of the ‘Rising City of Excellence,’ confiscating toys like these (pictured) in the different stores and marketplaces, which authorities say have been found to be dangerous weapons.

Aurora provincial board crafting tourism code BALER, Aurora—To boost tourist arrivals in this province, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is crafting a tourism code that will govern all tourism activities here and prevent overdevelopment, Vice Governor Rico Teh Angara said.

Angara, who presides over the SP or provincial board, said both

the tourism code and the environmental code are important pieces of legislation they intend to pass.

Board Member Cesar Pimentel is drafting the tourism code while the SP is coordinating with Aurora’s local government units to pass their respective tourism codes and harmonize it

with the code supported by the provincial government, the vice governor added.

Through the code, the provincial government also hopes to avoid the overdevelopment of other tourist sites in the country like Boracay, Angara said.

Tourist arrivals in this province,

located in a horseshoe-shaped coastal valley overlooking the Pacific Ocean, have been on the rise since a decade ago when Baler became a surfer’s haven.

However, only 10 percent of Aurora’s tourist potential has been harnessed, according to Michael Palispis, provincial tourism officer.

Tourist arrivals may have reached an all-time high of 770,000 in 2015, but the number could have been much higher if other prospective tourist destinations in Aurora had been developed, particularly in the northern portion of the province, he added. Ferdie G. Domingo

House urged to pass free irrigation services bill THE militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas expressed full support to House Bill 558 or the Free Irrigation Services Act filed by Anakpawis partylist, as well as other measures in Congress pushing for free irrigation services to farmers.

“Irrigation is necessary and

vital to agricultural production and overall rural development.

To genuinely uplift the state of farmers, the State should provide necessary support and services, including free irrigation,” said KMP Chairperson Joseph Canlas.

“We are also raising our ur-

ers. “Tourism officers are vital point persons in the planning and execution of tourism plans, and it should be made a regular part of all LGU staff,” she added.

To further drive growth in the grassroots, Binay suggested the standardization of training and development of human resources.

“Standardized regular trainings and seminars should be given by the DoT and its partners not only to our local tourism staff and guides, but also to drivers, policemen, hospitality staff and other frontliners,” she said.

gent demand to the Duterte administration to implement a moratorium on the collection of irrigation service fees especially areas affected by calamities, pending the legislation of a free irrigation measure,” Canlas said.

Successive typhoons “Ka-

ren” and “Lawin” have severely devastated farmlands in Central Luzon, Northern Luzon and Ilocos-Cordillera regions, he noted.

The National Irrigation Administration’s Memorandum Circular No. 46 reiterated the collection of ISF, the militant

leader said.

Majority of ricelands are still rain-fed, and farmers still rely on rainwater for irrigation. In areas with National Irrigation Systems and Communal Irrigation Systems, farmers endure inefficient irrigation services and high ISF. Sandy Araneta

DAVAO CITY—This city’s tourism industry should see an uptick with more direct flights from Chinese cities, said Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre.

Alejandre, who chairs the City Council’s tourism and beautification committee, said more Chinato-Davao flights can be expected after Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte’s visit to Shanghai last month.

A plane from Xiamen arrived in the city last week, marking the start of the Xiamen-Davao route, and Alejandre said the Guangzhou-Davao route should open next year.

These new international flights are significant because they are expected to bring in over one million new tourists from China, the councilor said.

Also, thanks to the vice mayor’s official visit to Shanghai, the Chinese government is urging more businessmen to invest in Davao, Alejandro said.

Paolo Duterte is the eldest son of President Rodrigo Duterte, Davao City’s mayor for more than two decades. His sister Sarah is the current mayor.

Alejandre said the Chinese government asked their Davao counterparts to give them 10 priority projects their businessmen could invest in.

The city government will also look to develop more tourist spots to showcase the city’s rich culture and variety of offerings.

“We also would like to promote the Paquibato District to showcase the cultures of the lumads living there. It is also a good opportunity for our lumads to earn through this,” Alejandre said. F. Pearl A. Gajunera

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

LGUs

Mt. Province to update revenue code

By Dexter A. See

M

OUNTAIN PROVINCE—Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan has issued an executive order to update the province’s existing five-year-old revenue code.

Executive Order No. 29 series 2016, dated Oct. 25, 2016, formed the Revenue Review Committee and the Technical Working Group to revise the code as provided under Section 191 of Local Government Code, Lacwasan said.

The governor has been pushing for amendments to the tax ordinance to maintain the province’s financial stability.

Local government units have the authority to adjust the tax rate as prescribed once every five years, but in no case shall

the adjustment exceed 10 percent of the rates fixed under the LGC, the governor added.

The Office of the Provincial Treasurer deemed it necessary to update and rationalize the revenue code, especially for regulatory fees and charges commensurate to the escalating costs of the regulations and services provided by the provincial government.

Provincial Administrator Amador P. Batay-an and Provincial Treasurer Cawed A. Gamonnac lead the Revenue Review Committee as chairman and vice

chairman, respectively.

The committee members are Oliver A. Culallad, Provincial budget officer; Lily Rose T. Kollin, provincial planning officer; Dr. Nenita A. Lizardo, provincial health officer; John K. Likigan, provincial agriculturist; Marjorie Q. Kiat-ong, provincial assessor; Atty. Tomas A. Kiwang, provincial attorney; and Gary A. Pekas, representative from the Governor’s Office.

The provincial treasurer heads the Technical Working Group with Rafael L. Lingbanan, Jr., Gemma Teresita R. Fateg, Ran-

dy B. Tic-chap, Florence R. Gutomen, Concepcion A. Wangdali, Alfaretta D. Diaz, Mary Jane S. Tumapang and Dr. Penelope Domogo as members.

The committee shall update and finalize the draft of the Revenue Code of Mountain Province and present it to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for evaluation and enactment after the proper legislative procedures.

Meanwhile, Provincial Assessor Marjorie Q. Kiat-ong sought the general revision of real property tax valuation in the province in compliance with the provi-

sions of the New Local Government Code or the Republic Act No. 7160 mandating a general tax revision of real properties, every three years.

The Provincial Assessor’s office is currently working on a new schedule of market rates and undergoing field validations of problematic real properties to come up with doable and realistic tax records.

The local officials are optimistic that the revenue collections will increase once the revenue code and tax records have been updated.

Davao fighting terrorism with pins

MARANAO PRIDE. A young Maranao dancer performs the ‘sagayan’ during the tribal costume parade marking of the ARMM’s 27th founding anniversary dubbed ‘Pakaradjaan sa ARMM’ inside the ARMM compound in Cotabato City. The feast highlighted the various cultures of Muslim Mindanao’s five provinces. Omar Mangorsi

IN BRIEF CSOs who helped out ‘Lawin’ survivors lauded John Earl’s mom still in shock

DAVAO CITY—The mother of the two-year-old boy who was mauled to death by his own relatives said she felt “nothing but pain” thinking that she trusted her relatives to take care of her son while she worked abroad in Bahrain.

Erlinda Cagalitan arrived last Saturday in Davao City after learning her son John Earl died apparently at the hands of her cousin Sarah Jane and her husband Ronilo.

Cagalitan said she was totally shocked by the death of her son, as before the night he died she was chatting with Sarah Jane about their possible noche buena Christmas dinner.

John Earl’s case was the second case in Davao of death due to child abuse in less than four months. Last month, the city government launched the Kean Gabriel hotline, named after the four-year-old who was mauled to death by his stepfather. F. Pearl A. Gajunera

SOCIAL Welfare Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo recently expressed her full appreciation for the collective efforts of Civil Society Organizations that provided “compassionate service” to Super Typhoon “Lawin” survivors in Cagayan Valley.

Based on reports received by Taguiwalo from the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office II, the Cagayan Valley Disaster Response

Center and Aguilang Pilipino teamed up with the department to distribute family food packs and other assistance to typhoon survivors in Barangays Abariongan Uneg and Calasitan, Sto. Niño, Cagayan.

Abariongan Uneg and Calasitan are both located in far-flung areas in Region II and are homes to the Indigenous Peoples of Aggay who were also devastated by the typhoon, Taguiwalo noted.

The Aggays were given FFPs in plastic bags for easier transport to their communities.

“We are grateful that CSOs and NGOs are in solidarity with the DSWD in extending compassionate service and assistance to our kababayans affected by the typhoon,” she said.

“This is proof that the collective action between the government and private institutions plays a valuable role to address the fun-

damental issues of our country.”

Taguiwalo also asked the public to continue reporting to DSWD and to other agencies instances where affected communities still have not received any form of assistance from the government, a month after typhoon “Lawin” hit Luzon.

The people are “essential partners in ensuring that adequate and timely services are delivered to those in need,” she added. PIA

DAVAO CITY—Davaoeños are now wearing “anti-terrorism pins” as the Task Force Davao launched its “No to Terror” advocacy on Monday during the flag-raising ceremony at City Hall here.

Task Force Davao commander Col. Erwin Bernard Neri said using the pin is a sign that Davaoeños stand up and are united in the fight against terrorism.

“After that incident on September 2, we emphasized that we have to raise the level of awareness and vigilance of the people against terrorism,” Neri said.

Suspected terrorists bombed the Roxas Night Market here just as longtime city mayor Rodrigo Duterte assumed the presidency, leaving 15 people dead.

“Security forces can’t do this alone, so we need the help of the community,” Neri added.

Davao resident Kent Jason Capute, 34, said he fully supports the antiterrorism campaign for the safety of civilians like him.

“I want the other people to see that we Davaoeños are standing against terrorism and it can never bring us down. Through this we will be more vigilant to have a safer city,” he said.

Neri also called on businesses to replicate the pins and put it on their employees to show unity within the city.

F. Pearl A. Gajunera

NEW PCA CHIEF.

Secretary to the Cabinet Leoncio Evasco Jr. (left) administers the oath of office to Avelino ‘Billy’ Andal (right) as the new administrator of the Philippine Coconut Authority in a simple ceremony at Malacañang.

Police nab 6 studes after pot session MARAGONDON, Cavite— Six students were caught in the act smoking marijuana by police who had just conducted an Oplan Tokhang operation at Barangay Bucal-1 here.

Arrested were Adamson de Jesus, 19 years old; Mark Jovin Alcantara, 18; Jaypee San Jose, 18; Dan Christian Inguanzo, 16; Julius Irvin Completo, 16; and Kimdea Arvie Maglalang, 17, all residents of Barangay Bucal-1.

According to PO1 Arnel Rodriguez Serrano, officer on case, seven members of the Maragondon police were coming from their Tokhang patrol when they noticed the students gathered on the side of the road and smelled burnt marijuana.

On inspecting the students, the police recovered a total of three grams of marijuana in plastic sachets, another stick with marijuana that the students tried to throw away, and a glass tube used for smoking pot. Benjamin Chavez

Antique barangay contender for Lupong Tagapamayapa Award SAN JOSE, Antique—The peacekeeping group from Barangay Igbonglo, San Jose is a national contender of this year’s Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentive Award representing Region 6.

Raymund Palanog, program manager of the Department of the Interior and Local Govern-

ment in Antique, said Igbonglo’s Lupong Tagapamayapa was among the three finalists shortlisted for the national level competition after winning at the regional level.

For four years now, Barangay Igbonglo consistently earned the Incentive award in Region 6 for its exemplary compliance

to laws on settlement of barangay disputes.

DILG also noted some innovations made by Igbonglo’s local government unit to enhance the operations of the Barangay Justice System, making it more responsive to its constituents.

For the past few years, the

peacekeepers also have not endorsed any case to the courts.

Punong Barangay Farly dela Cruz and other village officials received the validating team led by a DILG central office group last October.

Meanwhile, the peacekeepers of Poblacion Belison were also declared Regional Winner for

Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentive Award for 4th to 6th Class Municipalities.

Established by virtue of Executive Order No. 394 series of 1997, the Incentive Award recognizes the Best Performing Lupong Tagapamayapa in consonance with their significant role in barangay governance. PIA

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

World

Standard

TODAY

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

De Niro, Springsteen and Jordan honored W ASHINGTON―Basketball star Michael Jordan, actor Robert De Niro and music legend Bruce Springsteen were among the 21 people honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Tuesday.

During a ceremony at the White House President Barack Obama gave out the awards― the nation’s highest civilian honor―for his last time to a diverse group of sports stars, scientists, artists and philanthropists.

“Everybody on this stage has touched me in a very powerful personal way,” Obama said.

“It’s useful when you think about this incredible collection of people to realize that this is what makes us the greatest nation on earth.

“Not because of what we are, not because of our differences, but because in our difference we find something common to share.”

The star-studded group included actors Tom Hanks and Robert Redford, basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, cultural icon Diana Ross and comedian and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres.

While speaking on the accomplishments of DeGeneres, Obama lauded the comedian’s courage for coming out as gay.

“What an incredible burden

that was to bear, to risk her career like that,” he said. “People don’t do that very often, and then to have the hopes of millions on your shoulders.”

As is his style Obama broke up the weightier moments during the ceremony with a humorous touch.

“But it’s like Ellen says: ‘We all want a tortilla chip that can support the weight of guacamole.’ Which really makes no sense to me, but I thought that would break the mood because I was getting kind of choked up.”

Obama also praised actor De Niro’s many iconic roles.

“A Sicilian father turned New York mobster, a mobster who runs a casino, a mobster who needs therapy,” the president read off, drawing laughter from the crowd. “A father-in-law scarier than a mobster, Al Ca-

Trump softens his stance on climate

pone, a mobster.”

De Niro has been in the spotlight recently for his candid disapproval of President-elect Donald Trump. The actor hasn’t minced words in his criticism of the Republican, describing him as “a punk,” “a pig,” and “an idiot.”

“I’d like to punch him in the face,” he said before the election.

Many of the award recipients have been outspoken against Trump or have given support to Democrats.

Rocker Springsteen performed during Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton’s last campaign push.

The prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom recognizes achievements and contributions to US national interests, security, culture, peace and philanthropy. AFP

PROTEST. Congress Party Vice President Rahul Gandhi (2L) leaves after addressing the media at Parliament House in New Delhi.

India’s oppposition parties are protesting over the countrywide demonitization process introduced

by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8, 2016.

Long queues snaking outside banks have become a ubiquitous sight in India two weeks after the government’s shock decision to withdraw the two highest denomination notes from circulation.

AFP

WA S H I N G T O N ― D o n a l d Trump signaled Tuesday his campaign trail dismissal of the threat of climate change may have been hot air after all, saying he was “open-minded” on supporting global accords.

The US president-elect emerged from cabinet-building talks in his Trump Tower headquarters and traveled ten minutes across town to The New York Times to give a wide-ranging interview on his plans.

He disavowed “alt-right” activists who hailed his election as a victory for white supremacy, distanced himself from calls to prosecute Hillary Clinton and defended his global business empire.

And he appeared to soften his pledge to pull the United States out of accords such as last year’s COP21 Paris Agreement, that binds countries to national pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“I’m looking at it very closely.

I have an open mind to it,” he told New York Times executives and journalists over lunch at their headquarters, according to the paper’s own account.

Campaigning ahead of November 8, Trump repeatedly told crowds of rust belt and southern voters―factory workers, coal miners and oilmen among them― that he would tear up international climate agreements.

As far back as 2012 he had tweeted: “The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive.”

Now elected and due to become president on January 20, when he was confronted by Times columnist Thomas Friedman he admitted there may be a link between human industry and global warming.

“I think there is some connectivity. Some, something. It depends on how much,” he said, adding he would nevertheless remain concerned about how much green measures would “cost our companies.”

The New York Times sitdown, which followed a reportedly hostile off-the-record clash with TV network chiefs on Monday, appeared to represent a perhaps temporary truce with the hated media. AFP

Republic of the Philippines MUNICIPALITY OF PUERTO GALERA Poblacion, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, 5203 Invitation to Bid for the Water System Repair & Maintenance 1.

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Syrians flee as regime’s forces move to Aleppo ALEPPO―Syrian pro-government forces pushed deeper into rebel-held eastern Aleppo on Tuesday, forcing civilians to flee to southern neighborhoods to escape the onslaught as the regime pressed an assault to recapture the entire city.

Recapturing east Aleppo would be the government’s biggest victory yet in Syria’s five-year conflict and deal a potentially decisive blow to the opposition.

The city was once the country’s economic powerhouse, but it has been ravaged by the war that has killed 300,000 people since it began with anti-government protests in March 2011.

Military aircraft dropped leaflets over east Aleppo, urging rebels to distribute food to civilians, leave the area and allow residents to do so too.

Government forces pounded the area with air strikes and barrel bombs as ground troops advanced in the key eastern district of Masaken Hanano, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

A week into the latest round of fighting for the city, the regime controls around a third of the district, the Observatory said.

The area has been shelled heavily during the war, and many residents had already fled, but the latest fighting prompted even the last holdouts to leave.

Milad Shahabi, a member of the local council, told AFP that residents were fleeing to southern parts of the opposition-controlled east.

Masaken Hanano was the first Aleppo district to fall to rebels in 2012, and it is strategically vital.

Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said that if regime forces manage to take the district they will be able to “cut off the northern parts of rebel-held Aleppo from the rest of the oppositionheld districts”.

At least 143 civilians, including 19 children, have been killed in the city’s east since the latest assault began on November 15,

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according to the Britain-based monitor.

Another 16 civilians, including 10 children, have been killed in rebel fire on government-controlled western Aleppo, it said.

It added that residents of eastern districts had suffered from “suffocation” after four barrel bomb attacks and that medical officials suspected a chlorine gas attack.

The Organization for the Prohibition for Chemical Weapons said that the regime’s key backer Russia had offered it “samples” relating to an alleged chemical attack in Aleppo.

The global watchdog tasked with destroying chemical weapons is probing more than 20 reports of the alleged use of toxic arms in Syria since August.

Government troops, backed

by Lebanon’s Shiite Hezbollah group and Russian and Iranian forces, are battling rebels on several fronts inside opposition-held districts.

Iran’s veterans’ affairs office said that more than 1,000 combatants sent from Iran to fight in support of President Bashar al-Assad had been killed in the conflict.

Tehran has sent military advisers, as well as fighters recruited from Afghanistan and Pakistan, to work with Assad’s forces.

The renewed fighting comes amid international concern for the fate of more than 250,000 civilians trapped in besieged rebelheld areas of Aleppo.

Despite searing international criticism, there is little sign that the government advance will be halted.

For the past four years, Aleppo has been divided between the government-controlled west and rebel-held east, which has been sealed off from the outside world since the army surrounded it in mid-July.

No food aid has entered since then, and locals suffer severe shortages of food, fuel, electricity and water. AFP

Republic of the Philippines CITY OF SAN PEDRO Province of Laguna BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID PR NO. 2016-3231

8.

1.

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna through the 2016 Budget Approved by the Sangguniang Panglungsodintends to apply the sum of Php 4,114,080.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Supply and Delivery of Food Packs for Senior Citizen General Assembly(under GAD FUND FY 2016. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna now invites bids forthe following: QTY UNIT 11428 packs

DESCRIPTION Food Packs for General Assembly -luncheon meat 165g -meat loaf 150g -corned beef 150g -vienna sausage 70g -pork & beans 165g -macaroni 250g -rice 3kls -storage box

Republic of the Philippines Mariano Marcos State University Batac City 2906, Ilocos Norte

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

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

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from City Government of San Pedro, Laguna and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during 8:30AM to 9:30 AM only.

Office of the BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on thedate, time and address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Php 5,000.00.

ISSUANCE OF ELIGIBILITY AND BIDDING DOCUMENTS: November 23 – December 13, 2016 8:30AM – 9:30AM BAC Secretariat - 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office, City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna PRE-BID:December 1, 2016 10:00 AM BAC Secretariat - 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office, City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna

5.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before the specified date and time. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION OF ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND OPENING OF BIDS: December 13, 2016 10:00 AM BAC Secretariat - 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office, City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna Bid opening shall be on the same date and time for deadline of submission of eligibility requirements and submission of bids and shall be conducted at the Office of the BAC Secretariat. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address given above. Late bids shall not be accepted.

6.

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bid.

Further, City Government of San Pedro, Laguna, reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

7.

(SGD) HECTOR A. YLAGAN BAC Chairman (MS-NOV. 24, 2016)

Delivery of the Goods is required within thirty (30) days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

9.

The Municipal Government of Puerto Galera, through the Approved Budget for FY 2016 intends to apply the sum of Ten Million Two Hundred Ninety Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty Two Pesos & Eighty Nine Centavos (Php 10,299,922.89) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Water System Repair & Maintenance. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Municipal Government of Puerto Galera now invites bids for the Water System Repair & Maintenance. Completion of the Works is required within 155 calendar days. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project.

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

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

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Municipal Government of Puerto Galeraand inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on November 7, 2016 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Php 10,000.00.

The Municipal Government of Puerto Galera will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 9:30 am of November 17, 2016 at the Conference Room, Second Floor, Municipal Building, Poblacion, Puerto Galera, Or. Mindoro, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 9:30 am of November 29, 2016 at the Conference Room, Second Floor, Municipal Building, Poblacion, Puerto Galera, Or. Mindoro. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on 9:30 am of November 29, 2016 at the Conference Room, Second Floor, Municipal Building, Poblacion, Puerto Galera, Or. Mindoro. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

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

For further information, please refer to: MICHAEL ANGELO J. PARAS, REA BAC Secretary LGU – Puerto Galera, Or. Mindoro Tel. # (043)287-3045: Fax No. (043)442-0182

For further information, please refer to: Mr. Merlin B. Paala Office of the BAC Secretariat San Pedro City Hall San Pedro, Laguna Telefax No. 847.1722

BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID:GOODS/SERVICES 16-026 Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), with offices at Quiling Sur, City of Batac, Ilocos Norte, invites suppliers/ manufacturers/distributors to apply for eligibility and/or to bid for the hereunder project: Pre-Bid Opening of BID DOCS PROJECT ABC Conference Bids FEE 1. Re-bid of the P18,410,000.00 December 6, 2016; December P18,000.00 State of the 3:30 PM 20, 2016; Art Advance 2:00 PM Science and Technology Equipment for COE Bidding will be conducted via open and public competitive bidding using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion in accordance with Republic Act 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act,” and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), particularly, but not limited to the following: a) A bidder must be a Filipino citizen; for corporations, partnerships, or organizations, at least seventy five percent (75%) interest, or outstanding capital stock, must be owned by Filipino citizens. b) All bids must be accompanied by a valid bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the prescribed amount. c) A bidder must have been awarded a contract similar to the Project, the cost of which is at least fifty percent (50%) of thereof, completed and accepted within the last two (2) years, reckoned from the date of the opening of bidsas herein above indicated, d) Bids must be delivered/submitted to the Conference Room, FEM Hall, Mariano Marcos State University, Quiling Sur, City of Batac, Ilocos Norte on or before. e) Bids received in excess of the ABC will be automatically rejected.

Public bidding is an invitation to make an offer. It is therefore understood that any bid may be accepted or rejected orthe bid process invalidated, at any time prior to contract award, without liability to anyone.

Complete set of bid documents may be secured from the MMSU BAC Secretariat at the address below or downloaded from the MMSU website or from the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) website. A bidder must pay a non-refundable fee as above indicated, due and payable upon issuance of the set of bid document or if secured via any of the websites, prior to submission of the bid documents.

For further information, please course your queries/questions in writing (via email or courier) to the BAC Chairman, Mariano Marcos State University, Attention: Agnes L. Gabriel, Secretariat, at the addresses indicated below.

For account information, please deposit payments/fees in the name of MARIANO MARCOS STATE UNIVERSITY, Account No. 2132-1021-66 ,Landbank of the Philippines, City of Batac Branch. Verbal or phone-in question/queries are not to be entertained.

AGNES L. GABRIEL Office of the MMSU BAC Secretariat FEM Hall, Mariano Marcos State University Quiling Sur, Batac City E-mail Address: aslgabriel@yahoo.com

(signed) ENGR. FILEMON I. SIBULO Chairman Bids and Awards Committee

(SGD) RAMON A. LEAÑO BAC Chairman (MS-NOV. 24, 2016)

(MS-NOV. 24, 2016)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Toilet paper donated to police

World

RIO DE JANEIRO―Maria Thereza Sombra may rely on Rio de Janeiro’s police to keep her safe―but in the grip of financial crisis they rely on the 82-year-old to supply them with toilet paper.

Severe budget shortfalls in Brazil’s recent Olympic host city have left police scrounging for equipment, fuel and even the most basic hygiene items.

Hospitals are equally hard hit, compounding a deepening sense of insecurity in a city plagued by violent crime.

Sombra said that ordinary citizens need to step in where the state is failing.

“If the police have their hands tied what will happen to us?” she asked. “We have to help those who are defending us. Otherwise no one will be able to go out of their homes.”

A retired teacher and president of Rio’s Flamengo neighborhood association, Sombra began helping police back in April when the city was already descending into a pre-Olympic financial abyss.

However, what started off as a spontaneous initiative among Rio residents was enshrined this month in an official program called “Together with the Police.”

Security “is the responsibility of the state but it is the duty of all,” the police department says. AFP

POPULAR PASTIME. Indonesians gather to fish at a pond in Jakarta on November 23, 2016, as fishing is one of the most popular pastimes in Indonesia. AFP

Life sentences on Khmers upheld P HNOM PENH―Cambodia’s UNbacked court upheld life sentences for two top former Khmer Rouge leaders on Wednesday for crimes against humanity, in a verdict welcomed by the survivors of the brutal regime.

“Brother Number Two” Nuon Chea, 90, and ex-head of state Khieu Samphan, 85, were the first top leaders to be jailed in 2014 from a regime responsible for the deaths of up to two million Cambodians from 1975-1979.

They appealed their convictions, accusing the court of a string of errors and the judges of failing to remain impartial due to their personal experiences under the regime.

In a lengthy ruling on Wednes-

day after months of hearings, the bench upheld the bulk of the convictions and the jail terms, but accepted some legal errors had been made in the initial trial.

Kong Srim, the Supreme Court Chamber’s top judge, said the pair “had a complete lack of consideration for the ultimate fate of the Cambodian population”, adding that the scale of their crimes was “massive”.

“The Supreme Court Chamber considers that the imposition of a life sentence for each of the accused is appropriate,” he said.

Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan sat impassively as the decision was read out.

The Khmer Rouge regime dismantled modern society in Cambodia in their quest for an agrarian Marxist utopia, killing vast numbers and leaving a generational scar.

“I am so happy with the convictions,” Chhun Leap, 74, who lost around 50 relatives during the Khmer Rouge years, told AFP after leaving the courtroom.

“They are monsters and this is their fate.”

The tribunal, known as the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, is a complex hybrid court on the outskirts of Phnom Penh combining elements of international and domestic law.

It was set up following an agreement between Cambodia and the United Nations to prosecute senior Khmer Rouge leaders.

The number of allegations against Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan―and the complexity of their cases―was so vast that the court split their trials into a series of smaller hearings in 2011, fear-

ful the pair might die before justice could be served.

Their convictions in August 2014 followed a two-year trial focused on the forced evacuation of around two million Cambodians from Phnom Penh into rural labor camps and the murders of hundreds of enemy soldiers at one of several execution sites.

Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan are also currently undergoing a second trial for genocide of ethnic Vietnamese and Muslim minorities, forced marriage and rape. AFP

Purchase of Viagra explained SEOUL―A scandal over South Korean President Park Geun-Hye’s shadowy confidante took an even more bizarre turn Wednesday when Park’s office was forced to explain a mass purchase of Viagra.

The revelations about Park’s decades-long ties with close friend Choi Soon-Sil and with Choi’s father―the late founder of a cult-like religious group―have sparked huge media interest in the president’s personal life.

On Tuesday an opposition party lawmaker revealed that Park’s office last year bought hundreds of pills which can treat erectile dysfunction, including Viagra and the generic version of the drug.

As the revelation sparked a media frenzy, Park’s spokesman said the drug was purchased to ease possible mountain sickness during Park’s visit in May to high-altitude African nations including Ethiopia.

“We bought it for the trip but did not use it,” Jung Youn-Kuk told reporters, adding the drug is known to be effective in treating altitude sickness.

Park has never married and has no known partner.

Her office in recent years also bought hundreds of injectable doses of human placenta extract and vitamin shots―commonly used for detoxification and anti-aging treatment.

Jung said the doses were bought for workers at the presidential office including Park’s bodyguards.

Prosecutors are investigating whether Park also had various injections prescribed for herself using Choi’s name at private clinics, without the knowledge of the official presidential medical staff.

In a scandal which has engulfed the presidency, Park and Choi are accused of colluding to coerce local firms to donate tens of millions of dollars to dubious non-profit foundations controlled by Choi.

Choi allegedly used some of the money for personal gain. Park is also accused of letting Choi meddle in state affairs to the extent of nominating top officials and editing her speeches.

Park faces a criminal probe by prosecutors and a growing push for her impeachment. Hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets in recent weeks to call for her resignation. AFP

LANDING. A Singapore Airlines passenger plane approaches for landing at Changi International airport in Singapore. AFP

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

WELLNESS & ENVIRONMENT

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

D1

Strong ALONE,

empowered

TOGETHER

Philippines’ first and biggest fitness festival for women

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adidas girls Cassie Umali, Lexi Gancayco, Ida Paras, Nickey Reyes, and Rachel Que-Love embody collaboration and empowerment -- the core values of adidas Women FitSquad

DIDAS culminates its monthly workouts as it holds the adidas Women FitSquad FitFest, a fitness, food and music festival rolled into one. Over a hundred women came together at the Globe Live Amphitheatre in BGC, to move a step closer towards their fitness goals and give support to other women to become creators.

20 years of environmental solutions AN upland farmer who now has access to drinking water, whale shark guide who sent two of his children to college, and boat-builder who helped rebuild boats in Leyte were just some of the faces featured at the World Wide Fund for Nature’s Partners’ Night, where the conservation organization celebrated 20 years of environmental solutions in the Philippines.

Hosted by WWF national ambassadors Marc Nelson and Iza Calzado, Partners’ Night is an annual event to thank public and private sector allies of WWF-Philippines, which has been conserving the country’s natural resources, protecting endangered species and alleviating poverty since 1996.

Among the organization’s projects is the transformation of the town of Donsol in Sorsogon from a sleepy fishing village to a bustling center for wild whale shark ecotourism, where many residents rose from poverty because of the hefty influx of tourists.

WWF Officials with Chichi

WWF works with many allies to conserve the country’s most significant coral reefs and forests, such as the Tubbataha Reefs of Palawan and the Sierra Madre mountain range covering 10 provinces in Luzon. Held yearly on the last Saturday of March, Earth Hour—the world’s largest mass-action to fight climate change— is also an annual WWF initiative.

“Our work has taken us far and wide over the past 20 years—through the Turtle Islands in Tawi-Tawi, the sugarcane fields of Negros—even international battlegrounds like COP-22,” says WWF-Philippines President and CEO Joel Palma. “Through it all, our goal has always transcended mere conservation. We don’t just protect a coral reef – we want to make it healthy enough so fishers can fish there forever. We work to positively transform lives and create a future where people live in harmony with nature.”

A photo exhibit, calendar, newspaper supplement and video series showcas-

ing people whose lives were touched by conservation were unveiled. Heroes of the environment, such as WWFPhilippines founder Dr. Celso Roque, Tubbataha Reefs guardian Angelique Songco, and slain whale shark guide Joel Briones, were recognized.

“Our corporate, public sector, civil society, media and academic allies have helped ensure that our core thrusts— food and water security, climate change solutions and species conservation—continue to deliver long-term solutions in line with modern times,” adds WWF-Philippines Chairman Aurelio Montinola III. “Alone, we form individual drops – but collectively, we have the strength of a raging river.”

Two decades in, WWF’s work hasn’t let up. Climate change, coastal and land degradation, pollution and overconsumption still threaten the planet – but paw-in-paw with its allies, WWF stands ready to develop solutions to the dynamic environmental challenges the country shall face.

WWF National Youth Council

adidas girl Ida Paras unleashes girl power as she coaches Combat Training sessions during the FitFest

“adidas Women FitSquad FitFest serves as the fulfillment of FitSquad’s mission to inspire all women, regardless of age, physique, or level of athleticism, to discover their true strength and push their limit, and ultimately, to become their fittest and healthiest selves. We know that doing this can pose a challenge, but FitSquad cultivates a strong culture of support,” says Jen Dacasin, Brand Communications and Sports marketing manager, adidas Philippines.

Having an entire day filled with activities ranging from rocket yoga to combat training, FitFest aims to engage all women with unified commitment

Whale shark guide Joel Briones is one of the individuals recognized at the World Wide Fund for Nature’s Partners’ Night

to fitness. The day started off with a morning run, followed by a series of fitness activities led by adidas Women influencers Nikki Torres, Ida Paras and Rachel Que-Love.

“It’s surreal to have witnessed FitSquad grow through the months since the start of the year, to what it has become today. Aside from ensuring that we offer quality workout sessions every month, we have always placed collaboration and camaraderie at the core of adidas Women FitSquad. This month, we keep that in mind as we invite everyone—FitSquad members and non-members alike—to join FitFest Turn on D2

Life

D2

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

NO TRAFFIC Quezon City representative Alfred Vargas shares his experience riding the Pasig River ferry and his insights about the great potential of this transport system

By Alfred Vargas

T

RAFFIC. It is part of every conversation I encounter each day whether with constituents or friends, and is almost always partnered with a deep sigh of exasperation, infuriation and powerlessness. It is also the timeless, classic excuse for being late.

While much has been said about the impending emergency powers the Administration may execute to fix the traffic, there is one mode of transportation that has not been fully tapped but can be very useful in helping ease the dire traffic situation in the metropolis.

The Pasig River Ferry System

Land traffic is inescapable. Air traffic is also looming. But have you ever heard of heavy traffic in a body of water? Probably not, because traffic will always be flowing, no pun intended.

This dawned on me upon taking a tour of the Pasig River before the budget deliberations in Congress (as Vice Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, one of the specific agencies assigned for me to defend is the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission or PRRC).

Interestingly enough, it is supposed to be one of the solutions to the traffic congestion in Metro Manila. But unfortunately, only a few commuters know about this. Some officials do not even know its existence. So out of curiosity and in line with my Congressional duties, I decided to try it myself.

Let me share my enjoyable water commute with you

The terminal was difficult to locate for a first-timer like me.

It was small but clean. I paid only P40.00 for my ticket. The line was short. And only a few people boarded with me for the direct trip to the Escolta station in Manila.

Pasig River is roughly the length of Edsa. It is the only straight route going east to west across Metro Manila. The river runs through five popular cities. These are Taguig, Pasig, Makati, Mandaluyong and Manila. The Ferry system has 11 of the 17 proposed stations operational. These are Plaza Mexico, Escolta, Lawton, PUP, Sta. Ana, Lambingan, Valenzuela, Hulo, Guadalupe, San Joaquin and Pinagbuhatan.

Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised at how my Valenzuela-Escolta Ferry ride turned out. Pasig River is not the same filthy, pun-

gent, polluted river anymore that it has always been reputed to be, thanks to the efforts of PRRC, MMDA, the LGUs and other environmental groups through the years.

Although there is still a lot to be done, the improvements are noteworthy. The water is clean. The air has a hint of freshness. There is greenery left and right. There are different species of fish and birds. The speed of the ferry was just right. The crew members were polite and professional. The view was remarkable as we passed by the Makati skyline, Arroceros Park, Malacanang Palace and the Post Office. The ride was relaxing.

But for me, the most gratifying was... there was no traffic at all.

What improvements can be made? Perhaps more boats and more accessible stations in better locations with intermodal transport features. Of course, let’s not forget the most important thing: a bigger budget for the years to come.

The Pasig River Ferry System, if it becomes successful, may serve as one of the simple solutions to one of the most complex urban governance problems that we call TRAFFIC. My Pasig River experience reminded me of my ferry rides in Hong Kong and Paris. It may be not as spectacular, but given the right vision, program, funding, and public and private sector support, the Pasig River may once again be the magnificent, gorgeous river where vibrant businesses, cultures and commerce flow, as beautifully described by Jose Rizal in his works.

Acknowledgments: MMDA General Manager Tim Orbos, MMDA Assistant General Manager Julia Nebrija, and PRRC Executive Director Ramil Tan.

MakatiMed helps make sense of the most prevalent pain disorder HEADACHES are one of the most common ailments; people experience it at least once in their life. A headache may come as a sharp pain, a throbbing sensation or a dull ache. Most headaches are attributed to stress, hunger or lack of sleep, and are often treated quickly with over-the-counter pain relievers, or left untreated until the symptoms go away on their own.

But while headaches aren’t considered by most people as a medical emergency, it can actually be a symptom of a much more serious ailment. So how do you know if that throbbing in your head needs a more serious check-up? Makati Medical Center, the Philippines’ premier healthcare institution, discusses the headaches you should watch out for.

According to Regina MacalintalCanlas, MD, president of the Philippine Headache Society, head of the Headache Council of the Philippine Neurological Association, and chairperson of the MakatiMed Department of Neurological Sciences, most headaches are tension-type headaches. People who have tension-type headaches describe the pain as a “cap-like” tightness over the head that can radiate to the nape and shoulders. “These headaches are usually mild to moderate, and are easily treated with over-thecounter medications.”

She continues, “More severe headaches can be classified as migraines, which feel like pounding or throbbing on one side or both sides of the head. They can last for four to 72 hours, with photophobia and phonophobia, or sensitivity to light and sound, respectively.”

The most severe pains come from cluster headaches, with pain localized in the eye region. “Cluster headaches occur one to three times per day during a cluster period, which may last from two weeks to three months,” says Dr. Macalintal-Canlas. Treatments of tension, migraine and cluster headaches include bed rest and anti-seizure medications, among others.

Then there are other headaches that

While headache is a general condition experienced by everyone, it could also be a symptom for underlying conditions

require further investigation. In these scenarios, the headaches are merely symptoms for underlying conditions, and are best checked by a specialist.

Costen’s Syndrome, also known as temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, is a painful condition which affects the joint connecting the jawbone to the skull. “It can be caused by overuse or misuse of muscles in the face and neck, such as too much yawning, poor posture, and grinding of teeth. But it can also be from an abnormal structure of the joint, present

at birth or caused by joint diseases,” she explains. One of its symptoms is headaches, which can be treated by treating the joints themselves.

Low cerebrospinal fluid pressure headache is caused by an internal spinal fluid leak. Its main symptom is pain at the back of the head, and may be accompanied by some neck discomfort and nausea. Dr. Macalintal-Canlas says, “When the pressure of the spinal fluid, wherein the brain rests is too low, the brain may stretch the meninges, or its tissue layers, and the nerves lining

the brain, which causes pain. Treatment starts with bed rest and increased fluid intake. Caffeine is also given to induce vasoconstriction, or narrowing of the blood vessels. Invasive treatment may be needed in some cases, when doctors need to seal the hole from where the spinal fluid leaks.”

Headaches coupled with scalp tenderness and jaw pain merit a trip to your doctor. These are symptoms of temporal arteritis, which can lead to stroke or blindness. “Temporal arteritis is an inflammation of the lining of your arteries in the temples. While the causes of the condition are relatively unknown, it’s best to ensure your health with a checkup when the symptoms start to show.”

If the headaches come with pain in one eye, along with decreased and painful eye movements, it could be a symptom of Tolosa-Hunt syndrome or THS. THS is a rare syndrome known to be associated with inflammation of certain areas behind the eye. If left untreated, THS can lead to blindness.

Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve which carries sensation from your face to your brain. “Sometimes, merely brushing your teeth or chewing your food can send jolts of excruciating pain to your head,” points out Dr. Macalintal-Canlas.

Treatment will involve medications that will lessen or block the pain signals sent to your brain.

A general problem such as a headache isn’t a sure sign of a worse condition. But Dr. Macalintal-Canlas concludes, “It’s good to pay close attention to what other symptoms you may be experiencing alongside the headaches.

If the pain persists, or if it’s coupled with confusion or trouble understanding speech, fainting, or very high fever, which are red flags, it’s best to visit your doctor.”

For more information, contact MakatiMed On-Call at (02) 888-8999, email mmc@makatimed.net.ph, or visit www.makatimed.net.ph.

Strong...

From D1 and be part of a community of women who inspire and empower each other,” shares Dacasin.

While adidas Women welcomes FitSquad non-members to their group with utmost enthusiasm, they celebrate the squad’s first year by awarding its loyal members during the event.

More than giving an opportunity for women to achieve their fitness goals, FitSquad continues to provide a platform for women to form a community that thrives in mutual support and encouragement.

“This is just the beginning. Recognizing the success of this campaign, we are looking forward to having more and better FitSquad initiatives in 2017,” ends Dacasin.

adidas influencer Ida Paras displays her incredible strength as she participates in one of the Boot Camp sessions by Primal Ape

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

A

Jodi on Int’l Emmy nod

CTORRECORDING star Matteo Guidicelli proved Cebuanos are among the best performers after filling up WaterFront Cebu Hotel in Lahug to the rafters on Nov.18 at his concert titled #MatteoMadeinCebu.

Apart from showcasing the different kinds of music that he loves, Matteo’s three-hour show also served as the celebration of his 10th anniversary in the business. What made his concert special was the fact that it was for the benefit of the Kythe Foundation.

The new singer’s “dream team” composed of director Rowell Santiago and musical director Louie Ocampo put the show together along with guests Martin Nievera, KZ Tandingan and the G-Force.

The “Ipapadama Na Lang” singer also had Cebuano singer Kurt Fick as one of his guests. Although they weren’t physically present on the show, Matteo also shared a song with two of his favorite singers namely Randy Santiago and Rico J. Puno, both on screen.

Much to Matteo’s fans delight, his girlfriend Sarah Geronimo was on the front row. His Dolce Amore co-star Ruben Soriquez also enjoyed the show.

Matteo showed his talent in singing songs in different languages and of different genres for all types of audiences who came to see his show.

In honor of his most recent teleserye role as Gian Carlo in Dolce Amore, Matteo sang its theme song “Your Love.” He also performed his hit carrier single “Ipapadama Na Lang” and a couple of modern hits like “Cake By the Ocean” and “Secret Love Song,” among others.

But Matteo particularly soared during his duets. Matteo proved that his Bisaya-speaking skills were spot on when he sang the Bisaya song “Hahaha Hasula” together with its original singer

“Dolce Amore” star Matteo Guidicelli flanked by Sinulog dancers while doing a Ricky Martin medley during a concert in Cebu

MATTEO GUIDICELLI’S

“THIS moment is a proof that dreams do come true.”

This is how actress Jodi Sta. Maria described her nomination in the Best Performance by an Actress category at this year’s International Emmy Awards.

In her short speech during the iEmmys Nominee Medal Ceremony, Sta. Maria also thanked the iEmmys for the recognition, as well as ABS-CBN, Star Creatives, Star Magic, and her family for their understanding and support.

Jodi, along with Star Creatives business unit head Des Tanwangco and creative manager Henry Quitain who are representing the program Bridges of Love for the Best Telenovela nomination attended various iEmmy’s events and the gala on Monday at the Hilton New York Hotel.

Aside from the Nominee Medal Ceremony, Sta. Maria also sat down at the Nominee Panel Ceremony recently where she talked about her role as Amor Powers in Pangako Sa ’Yo alongside other Best Actor and Best Actress nominees.

Tanwangco and Quitain also attended the Telenovela Panel Ceremony and discussed the story of Bridges of Love.

Apart from Sta. Maria, Tanwangco, and Quitain, the country is also represented by ABS-CBN chief content officer Charo Santos-Concio, who graced last year’s iEmmys as gala chair, and ABS-CBN Integrated Program Acquisitions and International Sales and Distribution head Leng Raymundo, who served as one of the jurors.

first sold-out concert in Cebu Kurt Fick.

His balladeer side came out further when he performed “Wag Ka Nang Umiyak” with KZ, especially since he changed the lyrics to “Hindi ko siya pababayaan” much to the audiences’ kilig.

It was his duet with the Martin Nievera, which he totally looked forward to, that

made him shine the most as he sang portions of the former’s hit “Say That You Love Me” in Italian with so much ease.

Aside from displaying his skills, Matteo also showed his soft side by dedicating songs to his family, to his grand mother and to his ladylove.

The actor also teased the crowd during

the Ricky Martin medley together with Sinulog dancers donning colorful and bejeweled outfits as he showed his chiseled arms and abs while wearing an unbuttoned denim vest.

He concluded the party with a Maroon 5 medley where he thanked the Cebuanos for enjoying the night with him and his guests.

Kapamilya star Jodi Sta. Maria at the Nominee Medal Ceremony where she talks about her role as Amor Powers

Ivy Grace Paredes performs in Asian Television Awards 2016

Heartthrobs Daniel Padilla and Gerald Anderson lead the Kapamilya all-star basketball game at the MoA Arena

Are you for Team Daniel or Team Gerald?

KAPAMILYA fans are in for a treat as the hottest and most popular Kapamilya heartthrobs show off their hoop skills and battle each other on the court in the All-Star Basketball Game: Kapamilya Playoffs on Sunday, Nov. 27, 3 p.m. at MOA Arena.

The first team, to be headed by Daniel Padilla, is comprised of Zanjoe Marudo, Xian Lim, Joseph Marco, Ronnie Alonte, Vin Abrenica, Anjo Damiles, Marco Gumabao, Patrick Sugui, Axel Torres, Jon Lucas, and Paolo Angeles.

They will face the team led by Gerald Anderson with Rayver Cruz, Ejay Falcon, Arron Villaflor, Jayson Abalos, Matt Evans, Diego Loyzaga, Ejay Falcon, Young JV Kapunan, Jimboy Martin, Gerhard Acao, and Joe Vargas.

Which team will win this year’s competition?

Which star will be named the game’s MVP? Tickets are prized at P1,590 (VIP), P1,060 (Patron), P850 (Lower Box), P530 (Upper Box), and P320 (General Admission). For tickets, call 470-2222 or visit smtickets.com.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, November 24, 2016

ACROSS 1 Secret supply 6 Pony halter 10 Breathe hard 14 Willow tree 15 Pitcher handles 16 Term paper abbr. (2 wds.)

17 Pave over 18 Flatfoot’s lack 19 Flying prefix 20 Novelist — Binchy 21 Practice 23 Sullivan and Murrow 25 Fortune 500 abbr.

26 Nail with no head 29 He played Shane 32 — Rica 37 Belly dance instrument 38 Freighter hazard 39 Brawl 40 At a snail’s pace (3 wds.)

43 Weekly program 44 Sheepfold 45 Maiden-name indicator 46 Wrestling venue 47 Letterman rival 48 Wisecrack

49 1101, to Caesar 51 Nicklaus’ org.

53 Overdramatizes (3 wds.)

58 Goes to earth 62 — vu 63 Bouquet holder 64 Martini extra 65 Tow along 66 Scholarly org.

67 Stars in the Big Dipper 68 Roll down the runway 69 Orpheus’ harp 70 Gallup finding DOWN 1 Crocus “bulb” 2 Between ports 3 Quote from 4 Flung 5 Went wrong 6 Prove durable 7 “— Krishna” 8 Corsage bloom 9 Pale 10 Lumpy fruit 11 Versatile vehicles 12 Ticket price 13 Ziegfeld nickname 22 Build, as assets 24 Does in 26 — nova

27 King or queen 28 Delight in 30 Linen vestment 31 Playing card 33 Paddle 34 Landscape 35 Bedtime stories 36 Up till now (2 wds.)

38 Shines 39 35mm setting (hyph.)

41 Finish first 42 Won — soup 47 Tedious account

48 Warden 50 Polite 52 Seance invitee 53 Zeus’ wife 54 “The foaming cleanser” 55 Astrologers of yore 56 Soyuz launcher 57 Mr. Sampras 59 Cruddy joint 60 Fifty-fifty 61 Transmit 62 Banned bug spray

THE X Factor UK Filipino contestant is performing in Asian Television Awards 2016, according to RTL CBS Entertainment, the regional broadcaster of the Awards.

The 33-year-old Ivy Grace Paredes is the Filipino singer who impressed the judges on the current season of The X Factor UK with her powerful vocals.

“As this year’s regional broadcaster, we are excited to have Ivy Grace Paredes in the Asian Television Awards. She is a shining example of how Asian talent can cross borders and step on to the world stage,” said Jonas Engwall, CEO of RTL CBS Asia Entertainment Network.

Added Cindy Ng, managing director, Asian Television Awards, “Fresh off X Factor UK, the Asian Television Awards is the platform to expose Ivy Grace Paredes to the greater Asian audience and show them the potential that the judges Nicole Scherzinger and Simon Cowell saw in her.”

The Asian Television Awards has previously confirmed Adrian Pang, Stephanie Carrington, Alden Richards and Baki Zainal as the hosts for the live televised segment.

The 21st Asian Television Awards returns to the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre on Dec. 2.

Engwall, said, “We are delighted to include the Asian Television Awards in our roster of the world’s biggest awards shows. We are excited to be celebrating

the best that Asian Television has to offer.”

Apart from Paredes, confirmed performers include JJ Lin, Charli XCX, and Rossa Hosts for this year’s event are Adrian Pang, Alden Richards, Baki Zainal.and Stephanie Carrington, who regularly appears on RTL CBS Entertainment as channel host.

“X Factor UK” contestant Ivy Grace Paredes joins Asian superstars as one of the performers at the much awaited Asian television event

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

JONA in first major concert as Kapamilya L

ESS than a year after being welcomed into her new home ABS-CBN, power belter Jona has already achieved several milestones in her career: recording the theme song of a Kapamilya teleserye (We Will Survive), interpreting a song in the Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs 2016 competition, and performing alongside the Birit Queens of ASAP. Jona’s blessings just keep on coming. Recently, she formally became a Kapamilya after signing a contract with Star Music and Star Magic. The signing was also attended

by Star Music head Roxy Liquigan, Star Music audio content head Jonathan Manalo, her Star Magic handler Love Capulong, and comanager Arlene Meyer.

At the moment, Jona is busy recording her first album for the label that her fans will soon enjoy.

“I’m very happy. I’m more inspired to do my work here in ABS-CBN. It’s like everything has finally begun,” said Jona about her contract signing.

And for the first time as a Kapamilya, Jona will be staging her first solo concert titled Queen of the Night: Jona at Kia Theater tomorrow.

Join her as she rocks the stage and perform breathtaking numbers with special guests Jed Madela, Daryl Ong, and Regine VelasquezAlcasid.

Soc Mina directs Queen of the Night: Jona with Marvin Caldito as stage director. Joe Abuda of dance crew The Addlib choreographs the dance numbers.

Tickets at P2,970 (VIP), P2,120 (Orchestra A), P1,910 (Orchestra B), P1,060 (Loge), at P640 (Balcony) at Ticketnet outlets are available at 9115555 or visit ticketnet.com.ph.

Queen of the Night: Jona is produced by Star Events, Big Eyes Events & Productions, and Creative Media Entertainment, and co-sponsored by PLDT HOME.

GMA Network’s Pinoy superhero comedy adventure Tsuperhero is off to a promising start after posting high numbers during its debut on Nov. 13, according to data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

Based on overnight household ratings data recorded in National Urban Philippines (NUTAM), Tsuperhero scored 19.4 percent beating ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Boyband Superstar with 16.9 percent.

Derrick Monasterio couldn’t be prouder and happier with the positive feedback the show got from netizens and support from the audience for Tsuperhero’s initial telecast.

The actor said, “Nagpapasalamat po ako sa lahat ng tumangkilik sa aming pilot episode!

Sobrang saya ko na halos maiyak sa magandang reviews at comments pati na rin

sa mataas na ratings. Nag-trend din siya sa Twitter kaya super saya ko talaga. Sana patuloy niyong suportahan ang aming programa tuwing Linggo.”

The story of Tsuperhero gets more exciting and interesting every week, an original concept of Michael V. Watch the adventures of Tsuperhero every Sunday nights after 24 Oras Weekend on GMA Sunday Grande.

Get the latest updates about Tsuperhero from the official website of GMA Network www. gmanetwork.com, official Facebook page of GMA Network www.facebook.com/GMANetwork, from the official Facebook page of Tsuperhero www.facebook.com/GMATsuperhero and from its Twitter account @TsuperheroGMA.

QUEEN OF THE NIGHT. Jona’s playground is the concert stage, and on Friday, fans are in for a treat as the power belter performs some of her hits

A dramedy on the

American dream FILMMAKER John Paul is deeply attracted to cultural DNA, and Toto is a satire of the veneration Toto’s story, a dark comedy-drama about a young of wealth and celebrity in a society where Filipino bellboy determined to secure a U.S. Visa. opportunity and resources are still scarce.

Set in the Philippines in the aftermath of But it is also an allegory of the immigrant Typhoon Haiyan, the film takes its audience on experience in general, seizing upon the luxury hotel a fun emotional roller coaster ride that leaves where Toto works— with its glamorous classic them inspired and moved.

Hollywood facade — as a symbol of the American “In moments of self-doubt, do you give up or Dream, and the sordid infrastructure as a persistent do you soldier forward in pursuit of the dream? reminder, to Toto and to us, of the often treacherous This is a question that, as a filmmaker in a new underworld upon which that facade depends on. land where I was a complete(ly) unknown, I was In this film, all the characters have dreams and constantly forced to ask myself,” says Paul who aspirations, be it about love, career, or simply is an immigrant himself. friendship. But how far will one go to reach his The premise of the film is the pursuit of the dream?

American dream. Toto, played by Sid Lucero, Toto has been sweeping awards on the is from Tacloban, a place ravaged by Typhoon international scene, most recent of which is the Yolanda (Haiyan). His mother has cancer. He Audience Choice Award for Best Film at the works at a hotel in Manila, and tries every 39th Asian American International Film Festival which way to get to the U.S. so he can support in New York. It also won two more international his family – which he’s been doing since his awards when it bagged the Best Foreign Feature father died and left them penniless.

Film award and Best Actor for Lucero at 19th L.A. Toto’s father had made it to Las Vegas to Comedy Festival. become a stage act and promised to petition his In the Philippines, Toto competed at the 41st family, but he ended Metro Manila Film up a dishwasher who Festival’s New Wave drank and gambled section, and walked away everything. The home with numerous only thing Toto inherited awards including Special from his father is the Jury Prize, Best Director, obsession of the dream, Best Supporting Actress which he has forged into (for Bibeth Orteza), and his own, and is intent Best Supporting Actor on fulfilling it, because (for Thou Reyes). it was also once his Toto is currently mother’s hope. touring the festival circuit Undeterred by his lack around the world. It has of education and scant made it to the official prospects, Toto schemes selection at numerous relentlessly to achieve his film festival including goal. When his antics put Hawaii International the lives of his loved ones Film Festival, Newport in danger, however, he is Beach Film Festival, forced to question the Palm Beach International extremity of his actions Film Festival and Rome and to re-evaluate the Independent Film cost and implication of Festival, to name a few. fulfilling his dreams.

Graded A by the Despite (or perhaps Cinema Evaluation because of) the huge Board (CEB), Toto divide between rich and premiered on Nov. poor in the Philippines, Sid Lucero playing the titular role in a film about 23 and is now showing a young man who tries all possible ways to get “dreaming big” is an a U.S. visa, work in the States and provide for his nationwide in SM integral part of the family Cinemas.