Manila Standard - 2016 December 13 - Tuesday

2 IMMIGRATION DEPUTIES GO ON LEAVE AMID BRIBERY PROBE

By Vito Barcelo TWO deputy commissioners of the Bureau of Immigration on Monday filed a 30-day leave of absence following allegations

that they were involved in a P50million payoff for the release of 70 Chinese nationals who were among the 1,316 arrested in an illegal online casino operation at the Fontana Leisure Park, in Clark

Field, Pampanga.

The two officials—Al Argosino and Micahel B. Robles— went on leave after Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente ordered them and the bureau’s

intelligence chief, Charles T. Calima, to explain in 24 hours their alleged participation in the suspicious escape of the arrested Chinese nationals.

In a press statement, both Argo-

sino and Robles said they want to give investigators a free hand in conducting the probe.

“In the interest of justice and in our adherence to the rule of law and our belief in the truth, we are

taking a leave of absence from our duties as deputy commissioners of the Bureau of Immigration for thirty days effective Dec. 12, 2016,” the two said in a press statement.

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Du30 dares Maute

By John Paolo Bencito and Florante S. Solmerin

VOL. XXX • NO. 304 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

PRESIDENTIAL EAR. President Rodrigo Duterte listens to National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. as the latter discusses the agenda of the National Security Council at Malacañang Monday. The Council is the principal advisory body on the proper coordination and integration of plans and policies affecting national security.

Leila faces ouster over ethics plaint

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SC chief overruled on cluster scheme

By Rey E. Requejo

House accuses senator, ex-lover of defying summons

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

H

OUSE leaders on Monday filed an ethics complaint against Senator Leila de Lima before the Senate committee on ethics for disobeying a summons when she advised her former lover and driver to go into hiding to avoid testifying before a congressional inquiry into illegal drugs.

Senator De Lima

The complaint was filed by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas and Oriental Mindoro

Rep. Reynaldo Umali, chairman of the House justice committee, ahead of separate criminal charges that are expected on

Tuesday.

They were also accompanied by former NBI deputy directors Reynaldo Esmeralda and Ruel Lasala, who filed a separate case against De Lima.

The complaint stemmed from De Lima’s advice to Ronnie Dayan, her former bodyguard and alleged bagman, not to testify before the congressional inquiry into the proliferation of illegal drugs at the New Bilibid Prison when De Lima was Justice secretary.

De Lima was on an official trip to the United States and

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte refused to order the military to stop its operations against the Maute group and dared the local jihadist group to push through with its plan to attack Marawi City in Lanao City and raze it to the ground.

“I am the government. Do not impose conditions on me. I’m the one who’ll make orders,” Duterte said during the awarding of the Ten Outstanding Filipinos in Malacañang, only hours before he presided over a meeting of the National Security Council.

“Do not make demands.

These Maute must stop and withdraw from Marawi which they threatened to raze to the ground,” Duterte said.

“Come on down and raze it.

Let’s see. I’ll go there myself just to see how you will proceed

Germany when the complaint was lodged before the Senate committee on ethics headed by Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III. She has repeatedly insisted that what he did was not an obstruction of justice, but “obstruction of persecution.”

“What justice are they talking about? I couldn’t see any justice in their proceedings. They didn’t give me any justice. There’s no justice in what they are doing to me. So why call it obstruction of justice?” De Lima had said.

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THE Supreme Court has upheld the prerogative of the President to appoint judges and justices, free from the restraints of a clustering scheme being pushed

by Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno and the Judicial and Bar Council.

In a ruling dated November 29 but released only Monday, the Supreme Court ruled against the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, which questioned the appointment by President Benigno Aquino III two Sandiganbayan justices, Geraldine Faith Econg and Michael Frederick Musngi last January, because they were chosen from the same shortlist of nominees from the JBC, and not from two separate lists for the two vacancies in the antigraft court.

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17 CHED execs demand Licuanan’s resignation

By John Paolo Bencito THE subordinates of Commission on Higher Education chairwoman Patricia Licuanan have staged a virtual coup against her, with the agency’s cxecutive director, Julito Vitriolo, walking out during Monday’s national directorate meeting and urging President Rodrigo Duterte to appoint Commissioner Prospero de Vera as officer-in-charge.

Vitriolo, the highest ranking career official inside the agency, along with 16 other career officials issued a manifesto of support for the Duterte administration and called for the ouster of Licuanan, who

was recently barred by the President from attending Cabinet meetings.

During the national directorate meeting, Vitriolo left after questioning Licuanan’s legitimacy in convening the national directorate meeting of the agency’s 26 directors, citing her lack of mandate in the agency since the President no longer considers her his alter-ego.

“I have a position on the matter that she doesn’t have the mandate anymore since the President removed her already in the Cabinet. Cabinet members serve at the pleasure of the President and as alter-egos should enjoy the trust and confidence of the President,” Next page

NCR transport board revamp: 44 reassigned

By Rio N. Araja THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on Monday reassigned its National Capital Region director Rodolfo Jaucian and 43 other officials to Mindanao.

LTFRB chief Martin Delgra said the 44 were transferred from their posts in Metro Manila over allegations of irregularity and corruption.

He said a probe showed a

“ghost database” and other anomalies within the agency’s Metro Manila office.

Delgra said the inspection of the LTFRB-NCR headquarters started when a complainant said four of the agency’s officials extorted P280,000 from him.

Amid the moratorium on the issuance of transport franchises, Delgra uncovered the ghost database that gave way to the anomalous release of franchises.

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THUMBS DOWN. A disapproving gesture Monday by disaster survivors, environmental advocates, scientists and representatives of different communities ask President Rodrigo Duterte Monday to stop the implementation of the Tacloban-Palo-Tanuan Tide Embankment project, also known as ‘The Great Wall of Leyte’ during a news conference at Max’s in Manila. Lino Santos

Yolanda Day on Nov. 8 proposed

By Maricel V. Cruz and Ronald O. Reyes LEYTE Rep. Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt-Romualdez is pushing for the passage of a proposed law declaring November 8 of every year a special non-working public holiday in Eastern Visayas to honor those killed by Super Typhoon “Yolanda” in 2013 and to recognize the

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volunteers who helped the victims.

Romualdez, a registered nurse and Miss Philippines-International 1996, said her House Bill 4383, which would be known as “Yolanda Commemoration Day,” was aimed at paying tribute to the super typhoon’s victims.

“This bill is intended to be a fitting tribute to the memory of all who died in the said disaster Next page

Garin justifies dengue drug cost

By Maricel V. Cruz FORMER Health Secretary Janette Garin on Monday defended her decision to implement a dengue vaccination program because she said dengue had become one Next page

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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with your plans,” he taunted the Maute group which has lost dozens of men in ongoing military operations.

Duterte also revealed that the Maute group was using a former Moro ambassador to lawyer for them with the offer that “they will stop terrorist operations if the military stops operations.”

“I said, ‘No. You do not make any condition.’ I am the government. Why should I stop?”

An NSC member confirmed Duterte’s claim that the Maute group was planning to attack Marawi City and said it was one of the key issues discussed during the NSC meeting.

“The report on the Maute group is that they are demanding a stop of operations against them or they will burn Marawi,” the Cabinet official said.

But the official said the President ordered continued operations against the Maute group, which has sworn allegiance to the terrorist group Daesh and the local Abu Sayyaf group which is also being pursued by the military in Sulu.

The Abu Sayyaf were forced to release two Indonesian hostages as government forces continued to press on their positions in Sulu, Major Felimon Tan Jr., spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command, said.

Tan identified the Indons as Mohammad Nazer and Robin Peter, the last two remaining from the original seven crew men of T/B Charles 00 taken on June 22, 2016 in the waters of Simisa, Sulu.

“They were released by the ASG captors to Moro National Liberation Front commander Tahir Sali in Indanan town after being pressured by non-stop military operations and pressure by the MNLF,” Tan said.

The Indons were turned over before lunch by the MNLF to Sulu vice governor and acting Governor Nurunnisa Tan. After that they were brought to Camp Bautista in Barangay Bus-Bus in Jolo town. “Their turnover to Indonesian authorities is now being arranged,” Tan said.

Meanwhile, the military said at least 10 terrorists were killed and six wounded when elements of the 35th Infantry Battalion encountered Sunday some 150 terrorists led by Radullan Sahiron, Yasser Igasan, Hatib Hajan, and Mujer Yadah in Bud Taming, Barangay Kabbontakkas in Patikul.

Earlier, the military reported three killed soldiers and 21 wounded.

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Morente said that the order giving them 24 hours to explain their side was his initiative separate from the NBI investigation ordered by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. “We will support this and any other parallel investigation on the matter,” Morente said.

“The Bureau of Immigration has been consistent in adhering to the guidance of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to upgrade the level of service to all our clients and weed out corruption in the bureaucracy. We have taken pains to address all irregularities with impartiality and will continue to take decisive action as needed,” Morente said.

The Justice secretary said that he received information that some of the arrested Chinese offered P100,000 to P250,000 per head for their release.

Aguirre ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to probe Immigration officials and personnel who conducted the raid of Fontana online casino and the questionable release and escape of some arrested Chinese nationals.

All of the arrested Chinese were working illegally in the country as most of them have no working permit while others possessed Cagayan Export Zone Authority visas.

The detainees would not have been able to escape without the aid of the Immigration employees, Aguirre said.

Form task force, PNP urged S

ENATOR Panfilo Lacson on Monday challenged Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa to form a special task force to investigate the daily summary killings in the country.

He said the task force should home in on the execution of alleged drug personalities or the death under investigation of suspects.

“Some who surrendered in Operation Tokhang were still

killed. It doesn’t speak well of the peace and order efforts of PNP,” Lacson said.

“We want to see a more vigorous, more vigilant effort on the part of the PNP and NBI and the entire government, in addressing

the vigilante killings because this is already alarming.

“If we talk of 6,000, that’s 4,000 in a matter of less than six months,” said Lacson referring to the killings perpetrated by vigilantes that accounted for two-thirds or 5,800 of the 6,000 casualties.

“One-third [of the cases] were legitimate police operations but even the legitimate police operations were sometimes questionable.

Leila...

ishment, needed a two-thirds vote of the 16 members of the ethics committee. The committee could also vote to admonish De Lima or dismiss the complaint.

Umali said he was hopeful the cases filed against De Lima would prosper.

“We expect the Senate to [take] the necessary action,” De Lima said, adding that the issue against De Lima had created “disharmony” between the two chambers of Congress.

Umali said he felt the House committee on justice was disrespected when De Lima ignored several invitations to shed light on the NBP controversy.

“Is that still within the purview if inter-chamber courtesy?” Umali asked.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, who was once a fugitive, urged De Lima to return to the country after she receives an award in the United States and delivers her speech at the Annual Conference on Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin, Germany.

“Come back. Don’t be like me,” Lacson said.

Lacson was declared a fugitive after he left the country on Jan. 5, 2010, two days before he was charged with the murders of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000.

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“It would be better called obstruction of persecution. I’m trying to obstruct the acts of persecution being done to me by this administration,” she added.

Sotto said there was no question about jurisdiction since the acts complained of happened when she was a senator.

Sotto said he planned to have the complainants and the respondent face each other during a hearing.

He said expulsion from the Senate, the most severe pun-

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Vitriolo told Manila Standard after leaving the national directorate.

“Since that’s the case, I think she no longer has legitimacy and that’s why we have a manifesto asking President to now appoint an OIC or regular chairman to prevent further demoralization in the CHED,” he added.

Vitriolo asked Duterte, through a December 9 letter to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to name former UP Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Prospero de Vera, his lone appointee in the commission, to act as officer-incharge in lieu of Licuanan.

“We humbly request that to stabilize the situation in the commission and thus,

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In a decision written by Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, the Court struck down the JBC’s clustering of nominees that creates a different shortlist for each vacancy. The Court also ruled against the removal of its recommendatory powers in the selection for positions in the Supreme Court.

“These changes in settled rules and practices recently adopted by the JBC under Chief Justice Sereno are disconcerting,” the ruling said.

“There appears to be a systematic move by the JBC, under Chief Justice Sereno, to arrogate to itself more power and influence than is actually granted by the Constitution and this Court, and at the same time, to ease out the Court from any legitimate participation in the nomination process for vacancies in the Judiciary, specifically in the Supreme Court,” the 15-member bench said.

The majority ruling, approved by nine justices, held that the sevenmember council should be censured

Garin...

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of the most prevalent killer diseases in the country.

“To my fellow doctors who are here involved in this misinformation [campaign] on the dengue vaccine, for every dengue death that could have been prevented by the vaccine, you are to blame for it,” Garin told a congressional hearing.

She said the government rejected a similar rotavirus vaccination program in the past due to “wrong information on its safety.”

“What happened? We had outbreaks of diarrhea due to rotavirus in Zamboanga and Samar where babies died from a disease that could be prevented by a vaccine,” Garin said.

She denounced the alleged disinformation campaign against the P3.2-billion nationwide anti-dengue vaccination program allegedly being orchestrated by some doctors.

Garin attended the congressional probe conducted by the House committee on health led by Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan on the alleged

gain back its credibility and respect from stakeholders, the Office of the President now designates in the interim the newly appointed conmissioner to act as officerin-charge who enjoys your trust and confidence, pending the appointment of a regular chairperson of your own choice to truly act as your alter-ego in the commission,” Vitriolo said.

“Moreover, to date, there is only one commissioner appointee or designate coming from your administration who is the only one openly and aggressively pursuing your programs in the commission,” he added.

De Vera, who took his oath as CHED commissioner on September 12 was reportedly lobbying the President to name him as CHED chairman, even joining foreign trips and some of Duterte’s meetings with education officials. In his letter,

for removing the long-standing rules that give the President a free hand to pick multiple appointments from a single shortlist and that allows the Court to submit its recommendations to the JBC before the council votes on a shortlist.

The Court said the scheme clipped the power of the President to freely choose among nominees as the clustering could be seen as a way to control or condition the appointments in multiple vacancies by inclusion of “strong bets” in the same shortlist.

The Court ruled that the President may pick two or more appointees from the same shortlist, just as President Aquino did in the case of the Sandiganbayan vacancies.

“President Aquino validly exercised his discretionary power to appoint members of the Judiciary when he disregarded the clustering of nominees into six separate shortlists for the vacancies for the 16th . . . 21st Sandiganbayan associate justices,” the Court said.

“President Aquino did not violate the Constitution or commit grave abuse of discretion in disregarding the clustering of nominees into six separate shortlists for the irregularities and corruption in the implementation of the program and the massive purchase of Dengvaxia from Sanofi of France.

Garin attended the hearing with Kenneth Hartigan-Go, a doctor and former director of the Food and Drugs Administration and Hilton Lam of the Formulary Executive Council and also a doctor.

Garin was apparently referring to the group of medical professionals led by Anthony Leachon, a doctor who questioned the efficacy as well as the process by which the previous administration pursued the Sanofi anti-dengue product on a national scale.

Leachon and certain members of the Philippine College of Physicians said the purchase process for the vaccine was rushed.

During the hearing, a Bataan father testified that his 10-year-old daughter died four days after falling ill to dengue fever last October.

Health department experts have vowed to look into the case of Christine although they noted that the incident could not be considered as evidence to point out a weakness of Dengvaxia.

“Until we see a high solution efficiency when it comes to murder cases, then the suspicion or perception that this is being sanctioned by the government will not be lost.”

Lacson said he had talked to PNP officers about the problem when they were still investigating the extrajudicial killings in the justice committee.

He said when the police officers went to his office he told them to solve the killings to avoid suspi-

cions they were involved.

When he sought the solution efficiency and solution rate in the death-under-investigation cases, he was presented with varying data.

“We intend to ask them that.

Their statistics plus the rate of solution in the DUIs. It’s low, very low. And we don’t know the status. They said they have identified the status, some were at large, some were charged in court.” Macon Ramos Araneta

De Lima was the Justice secretary when Lacson went into hiding for almost a year. He returned to the country when fhe Court of Appeal’s voided his arrest warrant.

De Lima is facing at least eight drug related charges filed with the Department of Justice and the Ombudsman.

Lacson said De Lima assured him that she would come back to face the charges against her.

The senator said there was nothing wrong with De Lima leaving the country since no warrant of arrest was issued against her and because Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III had approved the trip.

De Lima said both visits were important to her because as a senator, she will have the opportunity to speak before influential world leaders and global thinkers on raising awareness and support for human rights.

In a statement, De Lima said there is nothing to worry about as she will surely return, along with her staff, who will be with her during these foreign trips.

“I hope my brief absence would provide a welcome relief and respite to my detractors and critics. I will keep them in mind though,” she said.

Vitriolo said the newly appointed commissioner enjoys the President’s trust and confidence.

Vitriolo also accused Licuanan of “gross insubordination” for defying Duterte’s order for her to submit her courtesy resignation.

Vitriolo said Duterte’s order for Licuanan to stop attending Cabinet meetings has put CHED in peril as it appears she is “usurping the authority and power of the CHED chairmanship” since it is obvious that the President no longer has trust and confidence in her.

Licuanan, who is serving a fixed term that ends July 2018, has maintained that she will not resign, despite receiving a directive from the President, through Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr., for her to desist from attending Cabinet meetings starting December 5.

six vacancies for Sandiganbayan associate justice,” it added.

The majority also scolded the JBC for “unceremoniously relieving” Justices Leonardo-De Castro and Presbitero Velasco Jr. from their posts in the council as consultants, thereby stopping a practice since the JBC was created in 1987 of having the two most senior Supreme Court justices sit in the council.

Those who concurred with the ruling and agreed to censure the JBC without reservation were Associate Justices Arturo Brion, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano del Castillo, Jose Portugal Perez, Jose Catral Mendoza, Bienvenido Reyes, and Francis Jardeleza.

Of the nine justices, Perez and Brion are scheduled to reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 later this month.

Associate Justice Marvic Leonen submitted a qualified concurrence, saying the Court cannot meddle in the JBC’s internal rules “because doing so would be an unconstitutional affront to [its] independence.”

He was joined by five remaining justices--except for Sereno, who took no part in the delibera-

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and to salute the selflessness of all volunteers and organizations who took part and contributed in the recovery and rehabilitation efforts of the communities affected by the typhoon,” Romualdez said.

She is the wife of former Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez who is president of the Philippine Constitution Association and the LakasChristian Muslim Democrats.

Romualdez made her statement even as around 5,000 survivors of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” on Monday launched another protest march from Tacloban City to Palo, Leyte, demanding a stop to tide embankment and the anomalies in shelter projects.

The group of protesters came from the Community of Yolanda Survivors and Partners, an alliance of 163 community organizations of typhoon survivors and 10 non-government organizations with the backing from Caritas Philippines.

With Maricel V. Cruz

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An inspection of the LTFRB-NCR office showed that several important dossiers were being kept in a pantry and not at the records section.

Delgra said the dossiers could be linked to the illegal issuance of franchises.

In another development, the LTFRB partnered with different malls to encourage the riding public to report abusive taxi drivers during the Christmas season under its nationwide Oplan Isnabero starting December 14.

Delgra called on passengers to report taxi drivers who do not give change, who do not wear identification cards, who drive carelessly, who do not reach out to people with disability, pregnant women and senior citizens, who refuse to convey passengers or do not use taxi meters.

tions last November 29.

All justices agreed, however, to require the JBC to explain why it had deleted an internal rule requiring the Supreme Court justices to vet future SC justices.

Also, the justices want Sereno as JBC chairwoman to explain why Leonardo-De Castro and Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. were removed as JBC consultants.

Known as the presiding Sandiganbayan justice who convicted deposed President Joseph Estrada of plunder, Leonardo-De Castro said she and Velasco had been replaced in the JBC by retired Chief Justices Hilario Davide Jr., Artemio Panganiban and Reynato Puno “without notice, warning or explanation.”

This is not the first time that Leonardo-De Castro has clashed with Sereno on her management of the judiciary.

In late 2012, she also questioned why Sereno had approved the reopening of an administrative office in Cebu, given the pending reservations of the other justices.

And in the landmark Hacienda Luisita case, Leonardo-De Castro also set aside judicial niceties when In their seven-kilometer march to the regional offices of the Department of Public Works and Highway in Palo and the National Housing Authority in Tacloban, they also burned the picture of a house to symbolize their indignation at the anomalies in the housing projects for “Yolanda” survivors who continued to be neglected since the term of then President Benigno Aquino III up to the administration of Rodrigo Duterte.

Romualdez said her proposal covered the highly urbanized city of Tacloban and the provinces of Leyte, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Northern Samar, Western Samar and Ormoc City in Eastern Samar or Region 8.

She also cited the resilience of the people from Region 8, especially those in Tacloban City who were able to recover from the tragedy.

She reiterated her commitment to making permanent homes and providing better job opportunities and sustainable livelihood to the typhoon survivors.

“Now we have seen that so much progress has been achieved

she expressed her “vehement disagreement” on the valuation of the Cojuangco sugar estate made by her then junior colleague “which will put the land beyond the capacity of the farmer to pay, based on her [Sereno’s] strained construction/interpretation of the law.”

The seven-man JBC, which is constitutionally mandated to screen and vet nominees to the President for vacant posts in the judiciary and the Offices of the Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman, is chaired by Sereno, with ex-officio members, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, along with the legislative branch namely Senator Richard Gordon and Mindoro Oriental Rep. Reynaldo Umali, who shall have a term sharing seat in the JBC. Retired SC Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez is the head of the Executive Committee, lawyer Jose Mejia representing the academe, and Milagros Fernan-Cayosa representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and the newest member, retired judge Toribio Ilao, representing the private sector as the other regular members of the JBC. in building back our communities even better, and we have to thank our Filipino and foreign friends as well as our national and local government for their continued leadership and support in the rehabilitation efforts,” Romualdez said.

On November 8, the Romualdez couple led the third year commemoration of the “Yolanda” tragedy under the theme faith, hope and love.

Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez said 70 percent of Tacloban City had fully recovered as new malls, restaurants and hotels had risen since “Yolanda” hit the country on Nov. 8, 2013.

Martin Romualdez said local leaders were doing their best to put an end to the struggle of “Yolanda’s” survivors who experienced slow delivery of promised help and relief during the previous administration.

“Yolanda” killed 6,300 people and injured 28,689 while 1,061 went missing. It also affected 1.5-million families.

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

P100-m fund to bring home OFWs in 2017 proposed

By Macon Araneta THE Senate has adopted Minority Leader Ralph Recto’s proposal for the creation of a P100million “emergency repatriation fund” in the national budget to be used by the Labor secretary to bring home distressed OFWs next year.

Recto, however, challenged administration lawmakers to raise the amount as there are many more “out-of-luck and out-of-cash” Filipino workers abroad waiting to be reunited with their families in the Philippines.

The P3.35-trillion 2017 national budget is still being hammered out by a House-Senate conference panel that will reconcile the two chambers’ differing provisions.

The P100-million fund, he stressed, should just be “a component of a bigger help fund for OFWs,” which “must reach at least P1.5 billion,” or 300 percent bigger than what Malacañang has proposed for 2017.

For 2017, the Duterte administration has asked Congress to allocate P50 million, to be lodged under the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment, for OFW repatriation.

This is on top of the P31 million to be set aside by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration for the same purpose.

Over at the Department of Foreign Affairs, its proposed Assistance to Nationals Fund for 2017 is P400 million, the same as this year’s.

Augmenting the DFA’s ATN is the Legal Assistance Fund, which will have a proposed funding of P100 million, the same for 2016.

“That P500 million, that’s the remittance of our countrymen from Hong Kong within four days and five hours. P500 million is also what OFWs in Italy remit to their homeland in just 12 days,” Recto said.

“Half a billion pesos is our katas ng Saudi in less than 34 hours,” the senator pointed out.

The 2017 OFW aid fund is “mere four hours’ worth” of all OFW remittances, Recto said, using as basis the $28.48 billion overseas Filipinos sent home last year. “It has grown by 12.3 percent since 2013, but the OFW help fund has remained flat.”

In local currency, last year’s OFW remittances reached P1.3 trillion, or more than a tenth of the Gross Domestic Product.

TOYM AWARDEES. President Rodrigo Duterte poses with awardees of the Ten Outstanding Young Men and women of 2016 during the awarding ceremony at Malacañang on Monday. In his speech, the President urged Filipinos to report corruption in state agencies by leaving anonymous tips through government hotlines.

Du30 names Fernandez Sandiganbayan justice

By Rey E. Requejo

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed former Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Bernelito Fernandez as associate justice of the antigraft court.

He is the son of former Sandiganbayan presiding justice Bernardo Fernandez, the first bar topnotcher of San Beda College, the President’s alma mater, who also served as Tanodbayan during the term of President Ferdinand Marcos.

The older Fernandez, now in his 80s and is from Cagayan, acquitted the late Gen. Fabian Ver, a trusted military officer of Marcos, of murder charges in connection with the Aug. 21, 1983 assassination of former President Aquino’s father, former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. The younger Fernandez topped the six names the Judicial and Bar Council included in its shortlist submitted to the

President.

“I am pleased to transmit herewith the appointment letter of Mr. Bernelito Fernandez, Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan [vice Teresita DiazBaldos], signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte,” said a letter by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to the Supreme Court.

Duterte will appoint three more Sandiganbayan justices with the retirement of Associate Justices Jose Hernandez and Napoleon Inoturan, and the impending retirement of Roland Jurado.

In a transmittal letter from Malacañang sent to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Aranal-Sereno, Duterte appointed Fernandez

to the anti-graft court to succeed retired Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Teresita Diaz-Baldos.

Meanwhile, Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Perez was recognized by his colleagues for his 44 years of service in the high court during his last flag raising ceremony at the SC. Perez, the only SC justice who rose from the ranks, will retire from the judiciary tomorrow when he reaches his mandatory retirement age of 70.

The vacancy paves the way for the first appointment of President Duterte in the high tribunal.

The Judicial and Bar Council has submitted a shortlist with five candidates for the post: Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr., Associate Justices Jose Reyes Jr., Apolinario Bruselas Jr. and Japar Dimaampao, and Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Samuel Martires.

Perez was appointed the 167th justice of the high court by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in December 2009.

In 1972, upon finishing his law degree, Perez was appointed

as a legal assistant in the SC’s Office of the Reporter.

Perez became a confidential attorney in the office of Chief Justice Fred Ruiz Castro in 1977 and, 10 years later, was appointed deputy clerk of court.

In 1996, he was promoted to assistant court administrator and, in 2000, deputy court administrator.

He was designated numerous times as acting court administrator prior to his appointment as court administrator in July 2008.

Later this month, the SC will have another vacancy with the retirement of Associate Justice Arturo Brion on December 29.

He has already filed leave prior to his retirement and was already given recognition in earlier SC flag-raising ceremony.

The JBC also already came up with the shortlist of seven nominees of Brion’s post last week: CA Justices Bruselas, Dimaampao, Reyes (Jose), Rosmari Carandang, Amy Javier-Lazaro and Noel Tijam; and Centro Escolar University law school associate dean Rita Linda VenturaJimeno.

Binay urges Senate: Look into text messages delay

Solon decries probe by own party

By Macon Araneta

KABAYAN party-list Rep. Harry Roque on Monday denounced the investigation to be launched against him by his own party-list group for allegedly displaying “dishonorable behavior” when he pitched questions to Ronnie Dayan during the congressional probe into the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison.

Roque accused his partymate, Ron Salo, the second nominee of Kabayan party-list, as being behind the plot to oust him from the party.

Roque, the first nominee of the party, said Salo was the one in limbo because the court already found probable cause to proceed with the trial of

SENATOR Nancy Binay on Monday urged the Senate to look into the recently reported delays in the delivery of text messages between Smart and Globe mobile subscribers.

“There is a need to protect mobile subscribers and to ensure that appropriate government agencies proactively and continually create a responsive regulatory environment for a viable, affordable, reliable and accessible telecommunications and information infrastructure and services to guarantee the welfare and protection

of consumers,” said Binay.

Senate Resolution No. 246 cites complaints posted online by Smart mobile subscribers about the delays in sending and receiving text messages which they experienced on December 3.

These delays were explained

by Smart Communications Inc. in an advisory released on the same date to have been caused by technical difficulties in the receiving network.

Globe Telecom also issued an advisory on social networking site Facebook, stating it was coordinating with the other network to resolve the issue.

By Maricel V. Cruz

the falsification case against him.

Roque also claimed Salo had tainted image because of his involvement in the anomalous license plate contract in the Land Transportation Office.

“Salo was involved in many anomalies. It is unethical, he should be the one to be removed because of the case.Out of delicadeza, he should resign,” Roque said.

Roque, a lawyer, told Salo the party could not oust him or remove him from the party since he had been proclaimed winner by the Commission on Elections.

He said the only way to remove his membership was through an ethics complaint or by resignation—which he would not do.

Court clears Paulate, 3 others in ‘ghost employees’ case

By Rey E. Requejo THE Court of Appeals has absolved Quezon City Councilor Roderick Paulate and three others in the administrative case involving ghost employees in his office during his first term in 2010.

In a 17-page decision, the CA’s Fifth Division through Associate Justice Stephen Cruz granted the petition of the actorturned-politician and set aside the dismissal order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman in February last year against him, former councilor and 1st district Rep. Francisco Calalay Jr. and two staff members.

The appellate court overturned the findings of the antigraft office that Paulate, Calalay, Vicente Bajamunde and Flordeliza Alvarez were guilty of falsification of official documents, serious dishonesty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

The CA ruled the Ombudsman failed “to adequately prove any link between petitioners and the alleged illegal transaction.”

The appellate court instead ruled that Paulate and other petitioners were able to prove that they had no hand in the commission of the alleged irregularities.

2-M PESO RICHER. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Isidro Lapeña hands Monday

the reward of P2 million each to its civilian informants through their code names Kalbo and Master. One is from Cagayan and the other is from Las Piñas City. Manny Palmero

IN BRIEF Amendment to sin tax law is defended A HOUSE leader on Monday defended the move of the House of Representatives to pass the proposed amendment to the Sin Tax Reform Act, saying the measure, once enacted, would be a balancing act of Congress to continue the country’s tobacco farming industry and promote public health by curbing smoking and generate more revenues.

Quirino Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua, chairman of the House committee on ways and means, said a unitary taxation is “unreasonable” as this is tantamount to imposing same amount of tax in buying either an imported Mercedes-Benz or owner-type jeep.

Cua made the statement as he backed the passage of House Bill 4144 that ABS party-list Rep. Eugene Michael de Vera filed to amend the Sin Tax Reform Act which proposed higher excise tax rates for tobacco products, aimed at retaining the present two-tier structure from going to the unitary tax system.

“That is as if imposing a million excise tax for Mercedes-Benz as against an owner-type jeep; imposing the same excise tax rate for both,” Cua stressed.

He explained the local manufacturer of owner-type jeep would be displaced, similar to Filipino tobacco farmers who stand to lose their livelihood under a unitary system that would be implemented starting January next year unless the Sin Tax Law was amended.

The Lower House approved the measure on second reading last week. Maricel V. Cruz

Deadlock over ‘pork barrel’ funds CONGRESSMEN and senators are deadlocked over the alleged “pork” barrel funds in the proposed P3.35-trillion national budget for 2017, a House leader disclosed on Monday.

PBA Party-List Rep. Mark Aeron Sambar, vice chair of the House committee on appropriations, said he had been in receipt of updates on the budget and the issue on the so-called “pork funds” had come out.

“There seems to be an impasse on a portion of the budget. [Senator Panfilo] Lacson is saying something, and it is coming out in th media,” Sambar told a news forum.

Pork barrel is a term which means the use of government funds for projects designed to please voters or legislators and win votes.

Sambar said the House version of the 2017 national budget was transparent and “pork-free.”

“We are not hiding anything here at the House of Representatives. There was no pork in any form,” Sambar said, referring to lawmakers’ discretionary funds.

Lacson had earlier described as”pork barrel-like” some P8.3 billion worth of funds from the House version of the 2017 budget.

Maricel V. Cruz

A4

Opinion

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

The President’s pleasure

A

PUBLIC servant can serve government in many ways.

One can work under the Executive or Legislative branches, from the lowest local government level, the barangay, to the national scope. Constituents just have to be convinced that the candidate is worth electing into office.

It’s tough work and big money, running for election. One has to go around shaking people’s hands, delivering speeches and

most importantly raising money to fund one’s campaign. Sometimes the rivalry is intense, even fatal.

Another way to serve in government is to get oneself appointed. Primary examples of these are the Cabinet secretaries who are nominated by the President, not necessarily because they are the best persons for the job, but because they enjoy

the appointing power’s conf idence —however they may have earned it: through familiarity, personal history, friendship, prior working relationship, first impressions, credentials.

The president does not need to justify his decision—so long as the appointees hurdle the Commission on Appointments. Previous chief executives have also tried to circumvent this system by reappointing their chosen ones when Congress is in recess.

An overused phrase is that these appointees serve “at the pleasure of the president.” It does not make it any less true.

They are not called alter egos of the president for nothing. Thus, while they are responsible for their decisions in their respective spheres, in the end whatever they do is still considered an act of the president.

This “pleasure” extends itself in a number of ways. It means the president can deal with the appointees however

way he wishes. He could be collegial, but he could also be boorish or patronizing. He can even refuse to take them seriously or refuse to talk to them personally, relaying his message through another.

We may have our own opinions about all this, but in the end, the phrase —the president’s prerogative—remains.

Cabinet officials who feel they cannot be one with the appointing power have their work cut out for them. They can express their differ-

ing opinion, or agree to disagree, but in the end a choice has to be made for them to be deemed effective in their jobs—and be perceived as having even a modicum of delicadeza.

Sometimes, however, the differences are just too great. Rather than make the Executive branch appear as though it has multiple personalities with discordant voices, perhaps it is best to get out—and serve in other capacities if they feel they must stay in the public sphere.

EAGLE EYES TONY LA VIÑA

Why Licuanan must not resign

Loida the Unrepentant LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES SHE may have crossed the line when she called for the resignation of President Rodrigo Duterte. But junk-bond heiress Loida Nicolas Lewis can’t say that she’s not been told that she’s probably gone too far this time.

According to government chief peace negotiator Jesus Dureza, he told Lewis, a longtime financial supporter of the Liberal Party and Vice President Leni Robredo, just that when they met at the Philippine Consulate along New York City’s swank Fifth Avenue. But Lewis, Dureza was sad to report, did not take back her demand for Duterte to resign.

“I told her when we met that if you love your country, and I know she does, she should not

cross the line [by calling for Duterte’s resignation],” Dureza related to me in an interview. “But she would not take it back.”

Dureza said he met with Lewis last week entirely on his own initiative. The chief peace negotiator said he had known Lewis for some time, when they were both supporting then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Dureza said that he had gone on an official trip to Washington, DC, to talk to representatives of the World Bank to ask for their support for certain Duterte administration programs. He then proceeded to New York to meet with officials of the United Nations Development Programme, on a similar mission.

“When I visited the New York Consulate, I asked our ConGen [Maria Theresa Dizon-de Vega] if she had Ms. Lewis’ number,” Dureza said. “She said yes, and so I called her on the phone at her home.”

Dureza said that Lewis told

her that they could meet personally at the consulate, since she had some business there. Dureza agreed to have coffee with the rich Fil-Am in the building.

The meeting at the consulate was duly reported by Dureza in

provided any more details about the meeting.

Dureza described the meeting as cordial. He relayed his personal message, asking Lewis to support Duterte, whom Lewis had personally met in Davao City when she visited the president there right after the May 9 elections.

But Lewis, Duterte said, Think of all the was also adamant. She insisted that Duterte was hell-bent good that Lewis on installing former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos can do with her Jr. to the presidency; Lewis millions in her cited reports quoting Digong as saying that he would allow old country, if she Marcos to complete his term if he was unable to complete it. really wanted to Dureza told Lewis that he had help. never heard Duterte make such statements and that if he did, he was sure that the President did not mean that he would see to it that Marcos would take over a photograph that he posted in Malacañang. They agreed to his Facebook account. Up until I disagree. interviewed him, Dureza has not That’s when Dureza told Lew-

is that she should not cross the line because he knew that she loved our country and not just one party or candidate. As is de rigeur these days, they had their photo taken and that was that. *** What’s interesting to me is that the position taken by Lewis (except for the call for Duterte’s resignation) is practically the same as the stand of Robredo herself since she resigned recently from the Cabinet. Like Lewis, Robredo sees a plot by Marcos to “steal” the vice presidency from her with the help of Duterte.

This would be a plausible scenario, if it were really up to Duterte to oust Robredo and to replace her with the son of the late dictator. But there is simply no basis for it, simply because the removal of Robredo depends solely upon the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, which is going to hear—as soon as it gets around Turn to A5

PATRICIA Licuanan, as a matter of principle, must not resign as chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education. Officials with terms, whether laid down by the Constitution or by the law, have security of tenure during that term. There is no doubt about this. To interpret otherwise is a transgression of the rule of law and will have serious governance consequences.

Among others, it is an express violation of legislative intent in case of terms laid down by law for those who have terms provided by the Constitution.

Employees in the civil service, whether holding career or non-career positions, enjoy security of tenure. This right to security of tenure finds basis in no less than the Constitution, which provides in Section 2(3) of Article IX-B that “no officer or employee of the civil service shall be removed or suspended except for cause provided by law.”

The Supreme Court expounded this provision in the 1991 case of Jocom v. Regalado in this way: “The constitutional and statutory guarantee of security of tenure is extended to both those in the career and non-career service positions, and the cause under which an employee may be removed or suspended must naturally have some relation to the character or fitness of the officer or employee, for the discharge of the functions of his office.”

It should be recalled that Executive Order No. 292, otherwise known as the “Administrative Code of 1987,” classifies positions in the civil service into career and noncareer. The non-career service is described in Section of the Executive Order: “The NonCareer Service shall be characterized by (1) entrance on bases other than those of the usual tests of merit and fitness utilized for the career service; and (2) tenure which is limited to a period specified by law, or which is coterminous with that of the appointing authority or subject to his pleasure, or which is limited to the duration of a particular project for Turn to A5

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Opinion TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

No credible opposition It would have been a big THE unprecedented victory of President Duterte in the May embarrassment on the part of 9, 2016 national and local elec- the country if there were no tions decimated the Liberal available police motorcycles Party, despite all the cheating for the papal visit and the Apec it apparently did in favor of its summit. In fact, Pope Francis presidential and vice presiden- blessed the motorcycles before tial candidates, Mar Roxas and he returned to the Vatican.

MMDA General Manager Leni Robredo.

Former President BS Aquino Thomas Orbos has already clarIII and his cohorts in the LP, ified that the purchase of those in cahoots with the Comelec 18 pre-owned police motorcyand the Smartmatic, tried to cles were regular, above board help Mar win but Duterte’s lead and necessary.

The DBM released the necover him was just too big to essary funds all right. But Toovercome.

They succeeded, however, lentino had to do something for with Leni who was able to de- which he should be credited, not feat former Senator Bongbong condemned. *** Marcos with a slim margin.

During the BS Aquino adSanta Banana, almost immediately after the polls, the LPs ministration, investor confiin the House of Representatives dence at Camp John Hay waned and the Senate aligned them- because of the continued conselves with what they called the troversy between the Bases supermajority. This is clearly Conversion Development Aua move for self-preservation. thority and Camp John Hay deThe alliance with PDP-Laban, veloper Robert John Sobrepeña.

New BCDA president and Duterte’s party, would mean chairmanships of and member- chief executive officer Vince ships in congressional commit- Dizon was correct when he tees. This only validates that in described Camp John Hay as politics, there are no permanent “sayang” (a lost opportunity) friends or allies, only perma- when he ordered an audit of the many pending cases nent self-interest.

Thus, the role of the Liberal and lawsuits taken by his Party, which normally would be predecessor, Arnel Paciano the opposition party, went ka- Casanova, in an attempt to oust put. The LPs cannot call them- Sobrepeña’s developer of CJH. After CJHDevCo won the selves the opposition because they have aligned themselves bidding under the Ramos adwith Duterte. They also do not ministration in 1996 to develop have credibility—Duterte’s vic- the Camp, there were mutual tory was a repudiation of BS breaches of contract that enAquino and the incompetence, sued between BCDA and Soselective justice, and lack of brepeña’s firm. Case after case compassion and empathy that was filed. CJHDevCo counhis administration represented. tered with suits against BCDA My gulay, how then can Ro- for non-fulfillment of contracts when the develbredo lead the oper stopped LPs and the oppaying for position when lease contracts people know until it came that she became The Liberals to a point that Vice President the controversy by cheating? were quick to had to settled She just begged by an arbitral Duterte to be- join the tribunal. come a member supermajority.

The arbiof his Cabinet. tral tribunal in Isn’t this the 2015 directed height of opSobrepeña to portunism and leave CJH and mandated the bigotry?

Robredo wants former Presi- BCDA to pay P1.4 billion repdent Aquino and Roxas to join resenting CJHDevCo’s investher in leading the opposition. ments. Instead of paying what But these two have been reject- was due the developer, Casanova had some 1,631 investors ed by the people!

Look at the faces of some and possessors in good faith members of Congress calling evicted. The case was elevated themselves the opposition. They to the Court of Appeals which are pathetic. They do not have ruled that the investors were possessors in good faith. Casacredibility.

This is the tragedy of our nova then elevated the case the Supreme Court where it’s now times. gathering dust. *** Because of Casanova’s acSome weeks ago, the Lopezowned ABS-CBN came out tions and the non-payment of with what it called an expose the arbitral award of P1.4 billion of an anomaly during the in- to the developer, the Camp’s cumbency of Francis Tolentino full development was stymied. as Metro Manila Development More than that, the 25 percent Authority chairman. This was income due from the developwith regard to the purchase of ment the Baguio City govern18 pre-owned motorcycles used ment also ended.

Dizon, the new BCDA presiduring the 2015 Papal visit and the Asia-Pacific Economic Co- dent/CEO, must be told that it was all the fault of Casanova operation summit.

Tolentino is said to have en- who was obsessed in ousting gaged in these deals without the Sobrepeña from CJH. There benefit of public bidding. Some were rumors that Casanova had of the business addresses were wanted Ayala. He was a former executive of the Ayalas. in Cotabato and Davao. *** Just to set the record straight, It was unfair for media to the purchase of pre-owned motorcycles made by the former single out former government MMDA chairman was not only corporate counsel and former legal because Tolentino used his Secretary of Justice Agnes Deown money, something not cov- vanadera for her participation ered by the National Procure- in a 2006 deal that would have ment Act. This had to be done obligated the cash-strapped in a hurry, however, because of Philippine National Constructhe delay in the release of funds tion Corp. to pay a P6.1-billion from the Department of Budget debt that its original Japanese and Management on Jan. 12, creditor, Marubeni, had already 2015, or just three days before written off more than two decades earlier. the arrival of the Pope.

Santa Banana, since there Because of the lack of available stock of big police motorcy- were 18 other PNCC directors cles, which could be purchased and officers included in the Omonly from Japan, Tolentino did budsman’s suit over the comwhat had to be done. He used his promise deal which was said to own resources to buy pre-owned be disadvantageous to governbig police motorcycles from mo- ment, why was Devanadera singled out?As government corpotorcycle clubs nationwide.

These police motorcycles rate counsel, her participation are not available locally. They was merely ministerial.

Under Philippine law, obliare only used for recreation.

The reason some of them were gations can legally be written registered as far as Davao and off 20 years after the borrower Cotabato was that they were received the last demand letter pre-owned by motorcycle en- from the lender. This is precisely what happened. thusiasts from these places.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The Yellows have over-rated themselves HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA THE late President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino was partial to yellow. Her son, Benigno Aquino III, who ran for president in 2010 under the Liberal Party, adopted the same color during his campaign. Since then, yellow has been associated with the LP and its powerhungry and rabid anti-Marcos and anti-Duterte followers who specialize in media bashing, social harassment, and historical revisionism.

In the 2010 elections, Aquino III won but his running mate Mar Roxas lost to then-Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay.

When Binay ran for president in 2016, all the big guns of the LP political armory were trained on him.

The LP strategy proved beneficial to a rival candidate, Rodrigo Duterte. Because he was very popular with many voters nationwide even before the start of the campaign, Duterte easily won the presidency, to the chagrin of the LP. In the vice presidential race, LP candidate Leni Robredo was trailing rival Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. by over a million votes during the first few days of the canvass. Apparently due to the “very close ties” the LP enjoyed with the Commission on Elections and Smartmatic (the internationally discredited service provider of the automated counting machines), Robredo managed to “catch up” with Bongbong, and end up “winning” in the final Comelec tally by about a hundred thousand votes.

The “very close ties” the Yellows had with the Comelec and Smartmatic was obvious because before the canvass began,

Why...

From A4 which purpose employment was made.

Under the Administrative Code, the Non-Career Service shall include: “Chairman and members of commissions and boards with fixed terms of office and their personal or confidential staff”. Similarly, Civil Service Commission (CSC) Resolution No. 799, s. 2009 excludes from the coverage of the career executive service (CES) the “Chairman and members of commissions and boards with fixed terms of office.”

In the 2006 case of Office of the President v. Buenaobra, the Supreme Court categorized the position of the chairperson of the Komisyon sa Wikang Pilipino as non-career, because a statute creating the subject government agency, Republic Act (R.A.) No. 7104, specifically fixes/limits the term of the KWP chairperson, who is appointed by the President, to seven years. In ruling that the respondent in the said case was improperly removed from her non-career position, the Court reiterated that even non-career service personnel enjoy security of tenure, such that they may only be removed upon observance of due process and for just cause. Otherwise stated, non-career service personnel whose tenure is specifically fixed or provided by law cannot be removed from office at

Loida...

From A4 to actually doing so—Marcos’ election protest.

I don’t really know how the high court can steal Robredo’s post for Marcos, something that only the fevered imagination of the Yellows (Lewis and Robredo included) can dream up. All I know is, the Yellows have suddenly ratcheted up the paranoia since the tribunal found that there was no law that prevented Duterte from making good on his promise to bury the elder Marcos at the Libingan ng

Smartmatic billeted its “foreign experts” at Novotel, a plush hotel at the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City, which also served as the national campaign headquarters of the LP. As expected, the yellows continued to lust for power. By late July 2016, the LP embarked on its agenda to oust President Duterte from Malacañang and replace him with Robredo. This was an ideal arrangement for the yellows—Robredo takes her cues from Aquino III and Roxas, her masters in the LP, because she has insufficient experience in high public office.

When Duterte began delivering on his campaign promise to rid the country of the drug menace, as seen in the elimination of numerous drug lords, the yellows decided to accuse Duterte of committing “extrajudicial killlings.” They chose Senator Leila de Lima, a rabid pro-Aquino stooge, to destroy Duterte.

The mission backfired. State investigators revealed that when de Lima was still justice secretary under Aquino III, she received millions of pesos in bribe money from drug lords detained at the national penitentiary in exchange for special treatment It was also revealed that de Lima’s driver-lover was her bagman. De Lima later admitted her romance with her driver.

Duterte debunked the alleged “extrajudicial killings” by emphasizing that when cops enforce the law and are forced to defend themselves against armed drug lords and their private armies, law enforcers are authorized to use deadly force against criminals. Thus put, public approval for Duterte’s policies remained high. Even top humanitarian agencies in the international community started acknowledging the need for a better understanding of the context of the Philippine war

against narcotics.

The Yellows also tried to derail Duterte’s decision to allow the burial of ex-President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani—a promise he made to the electorate when he was campaigning for the presidency.

First, yellow zombies like Senator De Lima petitioned the Supreme Court to stop the Marcos burial. Later, when the Yellows suspected that they were going to lose the court battle, they organized a rally in the metropolis to urge the Supreme Court to rule in their favor.

Despite the musicians hired to attract public attendance, and despite verbal claims to the contrary spread in cyberspace by the yellows, the anti-Marcos burial rally was a failure.

Next, the Yellows launched a hate campaign against Marcos among the private schools.

That plan backfired after parents complained about school officials forcing elementary school pupils to participate in a political activity the youngsters did not even understand in the first place.

Thereafter, the Yellows bashed anybody who expressed pro-Duterte or pro-Marcos sentiments in the social media.

Fortunately, many of those bullied fought back.

Ultimately, the Yellows accused their critics of being historical revisionists. They were rebuffed by revelations that yellow netizens are themselves engaged in historical revisionism by conveniently forgetting that the administrations of both Corazon Aquino (19861992) and Benigno Aquino III (2010-2016) are marked by unprecedented incompetence, vindictiveness, intolerance, and corruption.

By the end of November 2016, the Yellows were discredited by President Duterte himself, who proved that the negative image

painted of him by the yellows is unfounded.

Take for instance the independent foreign policy espoused

by Duterte. The results speak for themselves. China promised the Philippines $50 billion in government and private soft loans and investments, much more than what the Yellows predicted. Japan has reiterated its commitment to assist the Philippines in trade and commerce. In an unprecedented move, Russia opened its doors to the Philippines and promised agricultural deals, employment opportunities for Filipino workers, and access to military and police weaponry.

In fact, all of Duterte’s state visits have yielded international trade deals favorable to the Philippines.

United States President-elect Donald Trump, who will assume office next month, has expressed full support for Duterte’s on-going war against drugs. Trump’s personal invitation for Duterte to visit the White House in 2017 is viewed by political observers as a welcome reboot in PhilippineAmerican relations.

What the Yellows cannot deny is that Duterte has been living up to his campaign promises. Drug lords and coddlers are on the defensive. A largescale drug rehabilitation center has been constructed. Social security and health care pensions have increased. Casino revenues have been allocated for medicines for poor Filipinos. Peace talks have resumed between the government and its local adversaries.

Duterte even travels economy class on commercial flights when he commutes to and from his native Davao City.

In their desperation to project themselves as rightful successors to the reins of power, the Yellows have certainly overrated themselves.

the pleasure of the appointing authority.

The Buenaobra case is more apropos to the situation at hand, since like the KWP chairperson, the term of office of the chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is fixed by law. Section 5 of R.A. No. 7722, otherwise known as the “Higher Education Act of 1994”, provides that the President shall appoint the full-time chairman and the commissioners for a term of four years, without prejudice to one reappointment.

The Higher Education Act of 1994, while stating that the President shall appoint the CHED chairperson and commissioners, does not specify that they hold their offices at the President’s discretion or that they shall be coterminous with the appointing authority, thus under Section 5 of this law: “The commissioners shall hold office until their successors shall have been appointed and qualified. Should a member of the Commission fail to complete the term, his successor shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines but only for the unexpired portion of the term.”

Significantly, it is also wellestablished, as articulated in the 1992 case of Aquino v.

Civil Service Commission, that “once an appointment is issued and the moment the appointee assumes a position in the civil service under a completed appointment, he acquires a legal,

not merely equitable right (to the position), which is protected not only by statute, but also by the Constitution, and cannot be taken away from him either by revocation of the appointment, or by removal, except for cause, and with previous notice and hearing.”

In Chairperson Licuanan’s case, her appointment has already been completed in 2014, when she was re-appointed (for her second term) by then-President Benigno S. Aquino III. Accordingly, she is entitled to hold such position until 2018, pursuant to the aforementioned provision in R.A. No. 7722 setting the term of the chairperson to four years. Her removal from such office/position can only be for just cause and upon compliance with due process requirements.

Notably, there appears to be no issue in this case as regards Licuanan’s satisfaction of or compliance with the qualifications required by law for holders of the subject position. Therefore, it cannot be claimed that hers was a temporary appointment, to which kind of appointment, according to jurisprudence, the general rule of security of tenure does not apply. In the 1991 case of Achacoso v. Macaraig, which concerned the position of Administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration which belongs to the career service, the Supreme Court explained that an appointment in favor a person who does not meet all the require-

ments for the position to which he is being appointed could be regarded only as temporary, and as such, “it could be withdrawn at will by the appointing authority and ‘at a moment’s notice,’ conformably to established jurisprudence.”

In the Achacoso decision, the Court also stated that the right to security of tenure hinges on the nature of the appointment, i.e., whether permanent or temporary, which in turn depends on the appointee’s eligibility or lack of it. Therefore, unless it can be shown that the appointment in favor of Licuanan is of a temporary nature because she did not meet the requirements of the position, it is submitted that her term would expire in 2018, and the same cannot be unduly shortened without just cause, even by the president as the appointing authority.

As a final note, it is important to keep in mind a pronouncement (arguably obiter or non-binding) made by the Supreme Court in a 2007 case (Collantes vs. CA) that qualifying a resignation as a courtesy resignation produces no special legal effects, and such a resignation would be just as effectual as any other resignation. This serves to guide and caution public officers such as Licuanan in addressing or responding to reports about their removal from office.

Mga Bayani.

I think it was Lewis who convinced Robredo that such a plot exists. After all, when former vice president Noli de Castro asked Robredo how Marcos intended to perpetrate this supposed thievery on his television newscast, she could not find the words to explain her strange position.

On the other hand, Lewis has been accused of illegally funding Robredo’s 2013 congressional run and also financially backed Leni and her running mate, Mar Roxas, in the last elections. Surely, Lewis’ standing as a longtime funder

of Leni and the LP gives her the right to tell Robredo what to say—especially since Robredo has not really been known for her perspicacity.

(Robredo has already admitted that she lacks the “political skill” to oust Duterte, which is why she should not be suspected of plotting against him. That is one more reason why, to my mind, she needs Lewis.)

Of course, where Lewis is getting her information about what’s going on in the Philippines is easy to find out. Like the US-based media, which has not reported on anything good that Duterte has done—and

which, like Lewis and Robredo, cannot seem to find anything wrong that Duterte’s predecessor, Noynoy Aquino, did—the widow of the richest black American, Reginald Lewis, sounds like she’s been mainlining the LP propaganda.

Which is sad, when you think of all the good that Lewis can do with her millions in her old country, if she really wanted to help. Apparently, you can take the Yellowist out of the country—and give her hundreds of millions of dollars as her inheritance, besides— but you can’t take the Yellow out of her.

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News

A6

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Comelec scored over Smartmatic

By Joel E. Zurbano

QUEEN AT HEART. Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle blesses reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach who donated bags, shoes and gowns connected with her reign as Miss Universe for the benefit of Caritas Manila which is holding its first celebrity flea market in Intramuros, Manila. Norman Cruz

THE camp of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday denounced the Commission on Elections for its alleged incompetence and recklessness in failing to anticipate election protests in its partnership with computer service provider Smartmatic Corp.

“It is the height of incompetency and recklessness that the Comelec had failed to anticipate the possible filing of election protests in its contract with Smartmatic on the Vote Counting Machines used in the last elections that has resulted in the plunder of public funds,” said Marcos lawyer Vic Rodriguez.

He said it is also not fair for Marcos to be blamed for the delayed return of the VCMs to Smartmatic because the commission should have provided a stipulation in its agreement that in case an election protest is filed, this would naturally warrant a delay in the return of the machines.

“This is another example of how the Filipino people have again been shortchanged by Smartmatic and Comelec through the many contracts they have concluded on the conduct of the elections. Contracts entered into with foreign enti-

Ombudsman again fails to prove corruption charge T

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rio N. Araja

HE Sandiganbayan on Monday dismissed the plunder case against former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante in connection with the P723-million fertilizer fund scam because the Ombudsman failed to show probable cause in the 12-year-old corruption case.

Although the anti-graft court allowed Ombudsman Conchita Morales to amend the plunder case against Bolante, the court’s Second Division said even the

amended charges did not show any probable cause to hold any of the accused liable.

“Just like the previous finding of this Court in the original In-

formation that there is no probable cause to hold the accused liable for the crime of plunder, we reiterate that even the Amended Information and the judicial affidavit of Barredo did not suffice to find the existence of probable cause against any of the accused for the crime of plunder,” the court said in a 24-page ruling.

Last August, the anti-graft court ruled the Ombudsman failed to show that Bolante diverted P728 million in fertilizer funds to the 2004 election campaign of then President

Gloria Arroyo but allowed the Ombudsman to submit additional evidence.

The Ombudsman then decided to drop the charges against one of the accused, Jose Barredo Jr., who allegedly agreed to provide “vital and indispensable” testimony to the case. He was said to be one of the “runners” in the fertilizer fund scam.

Morales, however, said she will challenge the dismissal of the Bolante case if the Sandiganbayan junks her motion for reconsideration.

“But at all events, if we can make a question of law out of it or if we feel there’s a grave abuse of discretion, if and when our motion for reconsideration should be denied then we can raise it up to the Supreme Court,” she raised.

She said she will not give up on other cases filed against Bolante.

“If there’s ground to question it, why not, isn’t it? We just cannot give up just like that if we feel there is a ground for it,” she reiterated.

FILIPINO language experts on Monday pushed for the use of Filipino as the “language of knowledge” in the education and research of various disciplines.

“We must reaffirm the Filipino and his and her national identity through the language that is organically connected with Philippine realities and the Filipino experience,” said Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino chairman and National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario, in a statement during the forum Samahang Plaridel, Kapihan sa Manila Hotel.

Almario, together with Dr. Bernardita Churchill, president of the Philippine Studies Association, are convenors of the planned Pandaigdigang Kongreso sa mga Pag-Aaral hinggil sa Filipinas sa Wikang Filipino (International Congress on Philippine Studies in

Filipino) on August 2 to 4, 2017 at the National Museum.

Dr. Galileo Zafra, head of the Filipinas Institute of Translation and congress director, said it is high time to establish Filipino as the language of knowledge in the Philippines and to use it in various disciplines and fields of knowledge, especially in the study of the nation itself.

“We must use and spread the use of Filipino in the discourse about being Filipino and in addressing the Filipino nation,” said Zafra, explaining the objectives of the congress.

For a long time now, he said many studies on the Philippines as a subject matter, from history and culture to the sciences, are conducted in English.

While there are quite a number of schools and universities abroad that have more or less strong Philippine studies programs, they are conducted in Filipino or English, he added.

LANGUAGE IS CULTURE. Scholars led by Dr. Galileo Zafra, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino chairman Virgilio

Almario and Dr. Bernadita Churchill explain the need to promote Filipino as the ‘language of knowledge’ in the country during the Samahang Plaridel Kapihan sa Manila Hotel on Monday. Lino Santos

Miss U tickets to cost P7,900 SELLING of tickets for the upcoming Miss Universe pageant on January 30 will start on December 20, with the cheapest at P7,900 or $160, an official of the Department of Tourism said Monday.

During a media briefing, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said cost of tickets ranges from $1,000 (P49,700) for VIP seats to USD160 for general admission.

Eleven Miss Universe bets who attended the pageant’s kickoff party were also present at the event and talked about their trip to Siargao Island over the weekend.

All candidates raved about their visit to the surfing destination in the south, as well as the famed Filipino hospitality.

“We had a wonderful time, everyone is so friendly. Thank you for being so welcoming.

I can’t believe how everyone here is kind, I really do appreciate it,” Miss USA Deshauna Barber said.

Reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach, Barber’s roommate in New York, told the candidates that the Siargao experience was just “a taste of more to come.”

“I’m proud that the girls had a great time. It’s just a preview of what will happen next. Girls, enjoy, it’s a once in a lifetime experience,” she said.

As for Miss Universe Organization president Paula Shugart, the Philippine hosting of the prestigious pageant is a “dream come true.”

“As I look around and heard everyone talking, I get emotional because indeed it is happening... it’s a dream come true,” Shugart said.

Shugart said spectators

IN BRIEF Pasig ferry rides up 40% THE ridership of Pasig River Ferry System has increased by about 40 percent since the Metro Manila Development Authority expanded its operation and offered free shuttle rides at the stations of Escolta in Manila and Guadalupe in Makati City.

“The ridership went up to 779 last Saturday from the average of 400 previously.

Our goal is 1,000 per day so we are getting there. Thank you to those who take the ride,” said MMDA acting chairman Thomas Orbos.

Orbos attributed the increase to the Free Shuttle Service it launched last week in partnership with Megaworld Corp. for passengers going to and from Divisoria and Lucky Chinatown in Binondo, as well as Uptown Mall in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City. Joel E. Zurbano

Airport facility opens next year

Scholars push Pinoy identity thru language

By Sandy Araneta

ties should contain provisions that would protect the Filipino people at all costs,” said Rodriguez.

He added “given our flawed electoral system, it is difficult to believe that the Comelec was not able to anticipate [the filing of election protests]. The right to vote is guaranteed by our Constitution. So is the right to ensure that our votes are counted.”

What is more alarming is the confirmation coming from Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon that the implementation of the “option to purchase” will be conducted in a closed-door meeting with Smartmatic.

Rodriguez made the statement in reaction to reports of Manila Standard that the Comelec may be compelled to pay Smartmatic P2 billion due to delayed return of the VCMs. Comelec chairman Andres Bautista said the Comelec requested to defer the delivery of some VCMs to Smartmatic because of the electoral protest filed by Marcos before the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.

Marcos has filed election protest against the proclamation of Vice President Leni Robredo who won by a slim margin of 260,000 votes.

should expect that the pageant in 2017 is going to be a “very unique” show.

The 11 candidates are staying for a week. This afternoon, they will be in Intramuros, and Cebu on Tuesday (December 13) for photoshoots.

They were Miss Australia Caris Emily Tiivel, Miss Thailand Chalita Suansane, Miss Japan Sari Nakazawa, Miss Malaysia Kiranmeet Kaur Balijeet Singh, Miss New Zealand Tania Pauline Dawson, Miss USA Deshauna Barber, Miss Korea Jenny Kim, Miss Myanmar Htet Htet Tun, Miss Indonesia Kezia Roslin Cikita Warouw, Miss Vietnam Dang Thi Le Hang, and Miss Philippines Maxine Medina.

The Philippines previously hosted the Miss Universe pageant twice, in 1974 and 1994. PNA

Fireworks makers thank Duterte for recalling ban FIREWORKS makers thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for recalling orders to impose a nationwide ban on firecrackers because of its impact on workers and investors in the industry.

“We deeply appreciate the President’s decision,” Philippine Fireworks Association president Joven Ong said, praising Duterte for balancing the interests of business, labor, other industry stakeholders and the general public.

Aside from the Presidential reprieve on a nationwide ban on all forms of fireworks, workers in Bulacan’s firecracker industry were very happy over the news that the Department of Labor and Employment has lifted a work stoppage order on 48 firecracker stores and factories after they were found to have complied with safety standards.

Forty other establishments that were suspended last month are undergoing assessment, the DoLE said in a statement.

All in all 48 establishments can continue operation guaranteeing employment

for tens of thousands of people relying on the industry for a living.

In this regard, Ong urged regulatory agencies and law enforcers to follow the presidential directive as well as the department order.

“I just got word that some provincial PNP, BFP and LGU units are not issuing permits which they normally did in the past. The president has already said that he will allow selling this year but it seems that the rest of the people in government didn’t get the directive,” Ong said.

He stressed that “the whole industry is in danger. A lot of people’s livelihood is in danger.”

“The legal industry is being given a hard time to get all the permits they are required to get, while not a single illegal firework is being caught. As a result, more people will be forced to buy from those illegals who do not get permits and sell smuggled fireworks instead of the legal companies who comply with rules and regulations,” he said.

THE construction of the P9.8billion Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Air Traffic Management facilities of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is now in its final phase and is expected to be completed early next year.

Eric Apolonio, CAAP media communication office chief, said the agency is now hastening the completion of the state-of-the-art facilities which will be fully operational by April.

On Monday, CAAP director general Capt. Jim Sydiongco accompanied Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Philippine Airlines president Jaime Bautista and other airline stakeholders in inspecting the two-story facilities at the CAAP compound along Old MIA Road in Pasay City.

Apolonio said the inspection of the facility was coincided with the observance of the International Civil Aviation Day. Joel E. Zurbano

Online scam targets Bello LABOR Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III reiterated his warning to the public against unscrupulous individuals who use his name on social media to solicit money after receiving a phone call that a total of P200,000 was deposited to his bank account.

Bello claimed he received a call from a certain Michael Mendoza, claiming to have deposited a total of P200,000 to an account given by a caller who introduced himself to be the secretary who denied having an account from the bank used by the scammer.

The Labor chief said the scammers also use a Facebook account but claimed he does not personally handle it as he does not know how to use Facebook.

He also denied that the “Sec Selvestre Bello III” account was his. Vito Barcelo

Sports

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Ronaldo poised for top award

P

ARIS—Cristiano Ronaldo looks poised to seal his fourth Ballon d’Or on Monday to get one over his old rival Lionel Messi in their long-running duel for the title of world’s best footballer.

It will be the perfect ending to another terrific year for the Real Madrid star, who won the Champions League for the second time in three seasons and then led Portugal to their first major title at Euro 2016—albeit he went off early injured and in tears in the win over France.

As has been the case for almost a decade now, the 31-year-old’s main rival will be his nemesis

Messi—but the Barcelona and Argentine maestro has had by his own lofty standards a less-thanstellar year for club and country with the top prizes eluding him on both fronts.

Never one to play down his achievements, Ronaldo was spotted midweek in training having dyed his hair gold in anticipation.

It will be Ronaldo’s fourth Ballon d’Or crown, one less than last

year’s winner Messi.

“For me there is no debate.

The Ballon will be for him,” Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said after his talisman’s hat-trick saw off Atletico Madrid last month to underpin Real’s domination in La Liga.

“He showed it last season and he shows it again and again. We expect a lot of him but he stands above everyone.”

Despite such effusive praise Ronaldo, rested at the weekend ahead of the Club World Cup in Japan, has had some negative headlines—not least pertaining to accusations of tax evasion.

Denying any wrongdoing, he

responded by publishing his financial records on Thursday, showing last year he earned a bumper 227 million euros ($240 million).

“You believe I am worried? He who owes nothing, fears nothing,” Ronaldo told broadcaster RTP. Ronaldo first won the Ballon d’Or in 2008 after Premier League and Champions League triumphs with Manchester United.

But it was only in 2013 that he added his second—Messi had hogged it before then—and Ronaldo made it a hat-trick the following year.

The first Ballon d’Or was won

by Stanley Matthews, at the time with Blackpool, who beat Alfredo

Di Stefano for the inaugural title in 1956.

This year marks the end of six years of joint awards by founders France Football and FIFA, which will revert to bestowing a “Best” accolade of its own on January 9 to both male and female players.

The Ballon d’Or will henceforth be decided by a vote of 173 journalists while national team captains and managers will no longer have a say.

Monday’s prize will be announced at 8:00 pm (1900 GMT) on Monday in Paris, but Ronaldo is not expected to be present because of the Club World Cup. AFP

2 Chiang Kai Shek teams in cage finals THE present and future of Chiang Kai Shek College look secured when it sent two teams to the finals of the 13-Under and the 18-Under Competitive Divisions of the Women’s Basketball League organized by the Best Center and sponsored by Milo over the weekend at the Xavier School gym.

Chiang Kai Shek’s young cagebelles first crushed Miriam College, 49-41, to arrange a championship duel for the 13-Under crown against St. Paul College-Pasig, which beat De la Salle-Zobel, 31-24.

Then, the CKSC’s 18-Under Competitive Division squad showed no mercy in a 55-39 demolition of La Salle College-Antipolo to set up a championship duel with DLSZ, which torched St. Bridget School, 93-52.

Surprises, however, marked the 18-Under Developmental Division when Dalig National High School smothered School of the Holy Spirit-Quezon City, 55-47, and Casimiro Ynares National High School clobbered Quezon City Academy, 38-29, to arrange their own championship duel.

The De la Salle-College of St. Benilde combine made sure it did not fall victim to University of the East, 43-40, while Polytechnic University of the Philippines waylaid University of Asia and the Pacific, 72-17, in premier 25-Under Division semifinals.

Ramirez at Forum PHILIPPINE Sports Commission Chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez perks up the final edition of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum for the year 2016 as he serves as special guest of the weekly session today at Shakey’s Malate.

Ramirez is expected to talk about the plans of the government sports agency for the coming new year especially the country’s campaign in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Joining the only two-time chairman to serve the PSC in the session aired live over DZSR Sports Radio 918 and presented by San Miguel Corp., Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. are members of the Muay Thai Association of the Philippines.

Coming over for the first part of the session are coach Roland Claro and assistant Precious Ocaya, 2016 World Championship gold medalist Rudzma Abubakar and silver medalist Ghenyan Berdon as they discuss the scheduled muay thai national championship set next week.

(FILES) This file photo taken on July 23, 2016 shows a wax statue representing Portugese forward Cristiano Ronaldo and a FIFA Ballon d’Or displayed at the new location of the CR7 museum dedicated to Ronaldo’s professional career at Funchal, on the Portuguese island of Madeira on July 23, 2016. AFP

Chinese swimmer banned for doping BEIJING—Chinese swimmer Chen Xinyi has been banned from competition for two years, the swimming federation FINA announced, after she failed a doping test at the Rio Olympics.

The 18-year-old tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic, on August 8, the same day she took part in the women’s 100m butterfly final, finishing fourth.

She is banned from competing for two years, from August 11 this year to August 10, 2018, FINA said in an announcement Saturday.

Diuretics increase urination rates and can be used as “masking agents” to hide the presence of performance-enhancing substances that are screened for in doping tests.

Chen first made headlines when she won gold in the 100m butterfly and 50m freestyle events at the 2014 Asian Games, with times that set championship records.

She also won gold at the 2015 World Championships with the Chinese 4x100m medley relay team.

The country’s swimmers have previously been embroiled in doping controversy, with athletes at Rio calling China’s star swimmer Sun Yang a “drugs cheat”.

Sun served a three-month doping ban in 2014, which was only announced retrospectively

by Chinese authorities.

In March, the Chinese Swimming Association revealed that six of the country’s swimmers had tested positive for drugs in the preceding months, including three for hydrochlorothiazide.

Two of the six athletes received only warnings. AFP

Joshua excited by Klitschko fight at Wembley MANCHESTER—Anthony Joshua says the size of the occasion will not get to him when he takes on Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley on April 29 in “the biggest fight in British boxing history”.

The Briton quickly disposed of American Eric Molina in a third round stoppage win on Saturday and his next title defence against Klitschko was then immediately announced from the ring.

Joshua, 27, made a second defence of his IBF world heavyweight title against Molina, who he floored in the third round with

a crunching right to the jaw before forcing the stoppage after the American got up from a count.

The WBA version of the world title is also expected to be on the line against Ukrainian Klitschko, who ruled for nine-and-a-half years until losing the IBF, WBA and WBO belts on points to Briton Tyson Fury a year ago.

Promoter Eddie Hearn hopes a record-breaking 90,000 fans will be inside Wembley to see the fight, and Joshua—the 2012 Olympic gold medallist—said: “That’s definitely one to get excited for.”

“I just wanted to focus on this fight with Molina but to see Klitschko here tonight makes it real,” he told a post fight press conference.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s 90,000 or nine people, it’s the same regulations and rules and it’s to win.

“I’m going to box Klitschko for 12 rounds, make him miss and make him pay, and if the knockout comes I will be able to say I did something no one else did.

“But I’m not going in there to say I’m going to knock Klitschko out in two rounds. It is the perfect time for me to move up another

step and contest my heavyweight championship belt against one of the legends of our sport.”

‘Another level’ Joshua’s sixth professional fight—all 83 seconds of it—took place at Wembley Stadium on the undercard of Carl Froch-George Groves, but most of the 80,000 had not arrived by the time he was in action early in the evening.

The rematch between Froch and Groves attracted Britain’s biggest attendance for a boxing event since the Second World War but Hearn hopes Joshua-Klitschko

sets a new record.

They will meet on Wednesday to publicise the event and Hearn hopes to extend the capacity.

“We’re looking to go to 90,000, we need to speak to the mayor of London Mr [Sadiq] Khan about transport around the venue,” Hearn told reporters.

“Every time he [Joshua] fights he could do 30,000 so I’m confident we will do that lot. They are at different stages of their careers: the hottest prospect in boxing against a legend.

It’s the biggest fight in British boxing history.” AFP

Yuzon, Alvarez rule Phoenix Invitational Slalom RONZ Yuzon and Jhon Carlo Alvarez ruled the recent 2016 RACE Motorsports Club Phoenix Slalom Invitational at Robinsons Place Calasiao Pangasinan.

Yuzon’s time of 47.76 was good for both the overall best time of the day and the Front Wheel best clocking, while Alvarez’s 49.71 emerged as the novice best time.

The Slalom Invitational is powered by Phoenix Premium’98 and Phoenix Accelerate fully synthetic motor oil and co-sponsored

by Federal Tyres, Outlast Battery and supported by Starbright Body Kits, Auto Transporter, media partners Stoplight TV, Inside Motoring, DZRJ-Am, Pinoy Speed sa mga Pahayagan, Spin.Ph Sports Interactive Network, C! Magazine, medical team Aeromed, Robinsons Malls and Robinsons Place Calasiao Pangasinan.

The event was participated in by different clubs, headed by Corolla Auto Club Baguio, Speed

Limits Pangasinan, Cabanatuan Auto Club, Wholesome Concepts, Speedjav, Team Kuneho, Greenlight La Union, MITTC, Fatboys Racing Team, Talaba Boys and privateers.

For details, contact Bing Bang O. Dulce at tel. nos. 928-6951, 0917-8119337; email racemotorsportsclub@yahoo.com or the Facebook page of RACE Motorsports Club.

Some of the official results: Novice Modified A: 1st Glenn Suba 50.22; 2nd Ram Rafanan 50.44; 3rd Joey Vergara 51.03; 4th Adriel Pacis 52.24 Novice Modified B: 1st Kiko Dysico 50.46; 2nd Glenn Suba 50.92; 3rd Ram Rafanan 52.59; 4th Jhon Carlo Alvarez 53.73; 5th John Labrado 55.46 Novice Modified C: 1st JR Vergara 50.17; 2nd Ram Rafanan 50.22; 3rd Glenn Suba 50.98; 4th Jhon Carlo Alvarez 53.80; 5th Anthonie Alcain 59.24

Ronz Yuzon, the Front Wheel and overall best time holder, and Jhon Carlo Alvarez, the novice best time winner, display their trophies.

PRO Stock A: 1st Joey Vergara 50.32; 2nd Josh Roxas 51.66; 3rd Winlord Mencio 57.28; 4th Ghe Sanchez 69.74 Pro Stock B: 1st Jeff Capiral

51.18; 2nd John Labrado 52.27; 3rd Mark Anthony Ines 53.24; 4th Dennis Dupo 53.59 Pro Stock C: 1st Ram Rafanan 51.73; 2nd Kevin Aquino 53.12; 3rd

MIND GAME CHAMPS. Escuela de Sophia of Caloocan Inc. bets Jhun Kenneth Ignacio, Lea Joy Fajardo, Patricia Germinda Ausellana and Arman Luis Bartolome, together with coaches Gil Rosialda and Jelai Paz receive their champion trophy from Engr. Maribel Bueza of Manila City Hall, representing Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada, event’s marketing manager John Tan [left] and project director Abelardo Giron during the awarding ceremony of the Mayor Erap-PLDT Quiz Bee Mind Game Challenge held recently at the covered court of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. The day-long competition, presented by Fusion Advertising Marketing Hub, Manila Inter-Commercial Athletic Association Inc., City of Manila Mayor Ejercito Estrada and supported by Metro Pacific Investments, Philippine Long Distance Telephone, Meralco, Maynilad and International Container Terminal Services Inc., was participated in by 43 schools from Metro Manila. First runner-up was St. Stephen’s School [Manila], while Lakan Dula High School [Manila] emerged second runner-up.

Rolanne Mendoza 59.26 Group 2A: 1st John Labrado 50.27; 2nd Lee Ugay 51.14; 3rd Jeck Cuaresma 52.70 Group 2B: 1st Kiko Dysico 49.80; 2nd Randelle Capiral 53.42; 3rd Lee Ugay 58.24 AUTOMATIC CLASS: 1st Mark Llaguna 53.24; 2nd J h o n Aquino 55.10; 3rd Roy Agomba 56.50 PRO A: 1st Jhon Guintu 51.12; 2nd Randelle Capiral 53.50; 3rd Mark Anthony Ines 54.66 PRO B: 1st Kiko Dysico 49.24; 2nd Ronz Yuzon 49.37; 3rd Jhon Guintu 49.94 PRO C: 1st Jhon Guintu 49.88; 2nd Adriel PAcis 50.86; 3rd Glenn Suba 51.19 Group 5A: 1st Jhon Carlo Alvarez 49.30; 2nd Jhon Guintu 49.82; 3rd Ivan Aquino 56.90 Group 5B: 1st Kiko Dysico 48.74; 2nd Jhon Carlo Alvarez 49.00; 3rd Jhon Guintu 49.42; 4th Mark Anthony Ines 53.80

LOTTO RESULTS 6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0 M+ P0 M

Sports

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

A8

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016

AMA Online to make Teng no. 1 draft pick STILL in search of its first franchise semifinals berth, AMA Online Education is set to get a significant boost to its roster as it owns the top pick in the 2016 PBA D-League Draft on Dec. 20 at PBA Cafe in Metrowalk, Pasig.

And coach Mark Herrera wasted no time making his intentions clear on who he will get first in the 128man pool.

“We’re sure that Jeron Teng be our first pick,” he said.

The La Salle winger helped the Green Archers snare the UAAP Season 79 crown and was even named as the Finals’ MVP. If Teng indeed goes to the Titans, he will form a formidable duo with double-double machine Jay-R Taganas.

Tanduay, the Foundation Cup bridesmaid, will be picking second, followed by Racal at third, Aspirants’ Cup runner-up Cafe France at four, and Wangs Basketball at five.

Newcomers Cignal, Jose Rizal University, Manuel L. Quezon University, and Province of Batangas will all be in a lottery on draft day to decide their placing in the draft order.

As a guest team, Blustar Malaysia will be ineligible to select in the draft proceedings.

There are 113 local and 15 Filforeigners eligible to be selected in the draft.

The 2017 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup opens on Jan. 19 next year.

The Oklahoma City dance team performs during the Thunder’s game against the Boston Celtics at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. AFP

Westbrook’s streak halted; Warriors rebound from loss L

OS ANGELES—Russell Westbrook had his streak of triple-double scoring snapped but he still scored a game high 37 points to power the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 99-96 victory over the Boston Celtics on Sunday.

Westbrook saw his streak of consecutive games with tripledoubles end at seven as he shot 14-of-26 and tallied 12 rebounds and six assists in front of a crowd of 18,400 at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

“We have got to be able to close the door,” Westbrook said.

“We are not going to be able to blow teams out like we used to.

We have got to grind it out.”

Steven Adams added 16 points and eight rebounds for the Thunder who improved to 15-9.

Enes Kanter came off the bench to score 14 points.

Al Horford led Boston with 19 points and six rebounds. Jae Crowder and Avery Bradley each finished with 18 points as Boston dropped to 13-11.

Westbrook, who leads the NBA in fourth quarter scoring,

had 13 in the quarter.

“I’ll say this about the tripledoubles, because I always find this interesting,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said.

“On a night like tonight, does it make it any less special if he had a couple of more assists. He did a lot of different things that impacted the game at a high level.”

With 3:20 left in the fourth, Oklahoma City’s Adams completed a three-point play to cut the deficit to 90-89. Bradley responded with a jumper on the other end.

Westbrook then sank a threepointer to tie the game. But once again Bradley answered with a

basket off a missed shot.

Westbrook tied the game with 1:20 remaining in the fourth. Boston gave the ball to Horford, but he had his shot blocked by Adams.

The Thunder got the ball with 39 seconds left and Westbrook carried down the lane to the front of the rim for a layup and Oklahoma City grabbed a 96-94 lead.

Westbrook won a tip ball and tapped it ahead to Anthony Morrow. He pushed it to Jerami Grant for an impressive twohanded dunk with 14 seconds left in the game.

The Celtics were able to cut the lead down to two, but Westbrook nailed one-of-two free throws.

Lady Falcons announce all-female coaching team PROVING that women can be just as strong in the male-dominated world of sports, Adamson University, together with its sponsor Akari Lighting and Technology Corporation, proudly announced an all-female coaching team for the Adamson University Lady Falcons in the 79th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines seniors’ women’s volleyball.

Aiming to soar higher this year, the Adamson University Lady Falcons has tapped American coach Airess Padda as head coach.

A highly successful athleteturned-coach, Padda is the founder and director of Malibu Palms Volleyball Club. She began her coaching career with the Hacienda Heights Volleyball Club in 2008 before being appointed as the head coach of the junior varsity team at Sierra Canyon whom she led to a state championship in 2013.

Padda also worked as head coach

Adamson Office of Athletics and Recreation director Fr. Aldrin R. Suan C.M. (left) is shown with (starting second from left) Asst. Coach Angeli Tabaquero; head coach Airess Padda; Asst. Coach Cherry Macatangay; Asst. Coach Michele Gumabao; and Russell Balbacal, Akari Lighting & Technology Corp. sports director and Lady Falcons’ team manager.

at Malibu High School where in her first season, she took the girl’s team to their best finish to date.

Assisting Padda are return-

ing assistant coaches Cherry Macatangay and Michele Gumabao.

Former Golden Tigress Angeli Tabaquero rounds up the all-star

Lady Falcons coaching staff.

Macatangay, a multi-titled volleyball player, is a former Adamson Lady Falcon. She was a three-time Best Scorer and a Most Valuable Player titlist for the Shakey’s V-League Conference. She was also a member of the national team where she took home a Silver Medal at the 1995 SEA Games.

Meanwhile, Gumabao led the Lady Spikers to a three-peat in the UAAP, proving that she is one of the best defensive players in her league. She bagged two Best Blocker trophies and a Finals MVP award in UAAP 75.

Most recently, she took home Finals MVP honors in Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference.

Finally, Tabaquero apart from being a UAAP and Shakey’s VLeague champion, was named team captain of the Philippine National Team in the 2013 Asian Championship. She is currently the head coach of the high school volleyball team of Saint Pedro Poveda College.

Padda and the rest of the coaching team will continue to have strong support from Akari, the country’s top lighting and technology brand, as the Lady Falcons vie for the championship title.

“For three years now, we have been supporting Adamson’s basketball and volleyball teams as part of Akari’s youth development and sports programs,” said Russell Balbacal, Akari Lighting and Technology sports director and the Lady Falcons’ team manager. “We hope that the team-up of head coach Airess with Cherry, Michele and Angeli will mold the Lady Falcons into a strong unit, and hopefully clinch the championship title. With their individual success in the UAAP and professional leagues, we are confident that their winning ways and attitude will rub off to our young team.” Akari also supports scholarship projects to reinforce their commitment to education.

Responders stun Cavaliers, 82-67 THREE-TIME runner-up PNP Responders trailed for three quarters before turning on the heat in the fourth to stun the defending champion AFP Cavaliers, 82-67, in the UNTV Cup Season 5 second-round elimination at the University of Makati Gymnasium on Sunday.

Responders’ guard Julius Criste was hailed as the Best Player of the Game after drilling 22 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals.

“Nag-usap kami that we were going to focus on defense. At the same time, ‘yun ang i-prinipare namin bago kami maglaro ng second round,” said PNP Responders’ head coach Ernie Sta. Cruz.

AFP Cavaliers Head Coach CPL. Cornelio “Sonny” Manucat III, on the other hand, admitted: “Mas gusto nilang manalo ngayon. I have to give credit to PNP.” In the second game, the MMDA Black Wolves topped the NHA Builders, 87-79.

Jeffrey Sanders, who made 13

points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks, was hailed as Best Player of the Game, alongside Maximo Guittap, who contributed 16 points and 5 rebounds.

MMDA now has won 4 games and lost 3, while the NHA has a 3-4 record and is now at the bottom spot.

In the first game of the triple-header, two-time champ Judiciary Magis moved to second place after winning over the BFP Firefighters, 76-67.

Hailed as the Best Player of the Game was Chester Tolomia, who collected 25 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal.

On the other hand, the Firefighters were led by Kurt Amores and Gilbert Malabanan.

The Scores: First Game Judiciary Magis 76—C. Tolomia 25, C. Camaso 14, W. Ybanez 10, A. Capus 9, C. Roma 6, H. Bergonio 5, J. Rabino 4, V. Puno 2, F. Salamat 1 BFP Firefighters 67—J. Jayona 15,

K. Amores 15, G. Malabanan 14, A. Lim 12, M. Adolfo 6, G. Botin 2, D. Macato 2 QUARTER SCORES 21-18, 41-31, 61-48, 76-67 Second Game MMDA Black Wolves 87—C. Santiago 23, P. Villanueva 17, M. Guittap 16, J. Sanders 13, A. Olaya 6, H. Monzon 4, J. Decena 4, E. Idria 2, B. Panican 2, NHA Builders 79—A. Vitug 32, M. Mercado 16, J. Dizon 12, A. Lustestica 8, W. Tibay 6, S. Crisostomo 3, M. Sani 2 QUARTER SCORES 19-16, 4624, 65-52, 87-79 Third Game PNP Responders 87—J. Criste 22, O. Omiping 17, J. Misola 12, A. Tolentino 10, A. Yanquiling 9, R. Cabrera 5, C. Elopre 4, H. Sta. Cruz 3 AFP Cavaliers 67—J. Quiambao 22, B. Bautista 13, P. Fernandez 10, W. Casulla 10, A. Zuniga 8, R. Araneta 4 QUARTER SCORES 22-19, 4341, 59-62, 82-67

PNP’s Jay Mann Misola forces his way inside the paint. The Responders showed up to be more aggressive in an 82-67 win over the AFP Cavaliers.

Marcus Smart had a chance to tie, but his three-point attempt missed.

In Minneapolis, the Golden State Warriors rebounded from a road loss to beat the rebuilding Minnesota Timberwolves 116-108 and extend their NBArecord streak of not losing backto-back games.

The Warriors delivered in the fourth quarter to fend off the Timberwolves and make sure their 111-game streak of not losing consecutive regular season games continued.

“It’s really one of the most impressive streaks that I’ve ever seen,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “That’s a lot of games.” AFP

Arellano U netters 2 wins shy of title ARELLANO University trounced San Sebastian, 2-1, yesterday to move two wins away from capturing its firstever title in the 92nd NCAA juniors lawn tennis competition at the Rizal Tennis Center.

Aljohn Talatayod downed Vincent Anida, 6-3, 6-4, in the opening singles and Norman Gaspar overpowered Pete Coteron, 6-2, 6-1, in the reverse singles to clinch the match for the Junior Chiefs.

The Staglets had the duel knotted at one game apiece after Sherwin Villacorte and Joseph Anida smashed John Harold Trillanes and Juan Carlos Lapore, 6-2, 6-0, in the doubles and sent it into the deciding singles’ match.

In the end, Gaspar handily beat Coteron to seal the win.

Arellano University, which clinched the first round pennant, could secure its very first title since it joined the league six years ago if it could beat defending champion San Beda and Lyceum of the Philippines University in their last two outings of the second round.

And only the Red Cubs are in the way after they trounced the Junior Pirates with wins

by Dawson Ormoc over Elvin Joseph Geluz, 6-0, 7-5, and Aldy Ignacio and Patrick Mendoza over Jason Guillermo and Joshua Cabanog, 6-0, 6-0.

LPU averted a shutout after Stefano Gurria edged Eduardo Bagaforo, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, in the non-bearing reverse singles’ match.

San Beda is currently tied with Mapua as the league’s most titled juniors teams with 16 titles apiece and if it could top the second round, force a finals and beat Arellano University in the finals, the former would end up the winningest squad.

2 infra projects readied for funding under AIIB B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016

B1

Foreign investments surge to $5.9b

By Julito G. Rada

N

et inflows of foreign direct investments jumped 25 percent in the first nine months to $5.9 billion from $4.7 billion a year ago, on sustained investors’ confidence in the economy.

Bangko Sentral said the ninemonth figure increased from a year earlier, despite the big decline in September’s investments. The nine-month tally also surpassed the full-year fig-

ure of $5.7 billion in 2015.

“The continued FDI inflows reflect investors’ confidence in the country’s economy on account of sustained growth prospects and strong macroeconomic

fundamentals,” Bangko Sentral said in a statement.

Data showed net inflows of FDIs fell 69.3 percent in September to $469 million from $1.5 billion in the same period last year, pulled down by lower investments in debt instruments.

The September figure was also 34 percent lower than $711 million net inflows registered in August 2016.

Investments in debt instruments recorded lower net inflows of $296 million in September, a

66.3-percent decrease from the year-ago level. Equity capital posted net inflows of $138 million during the month, also down from $600 million in the same period last year.

Equity capital placements in September came mainly from Japan, Taiwan, Germany, the Netherlands and the United States and were channeled into manufacturing; real estate; wholesale and retail trade; financial and insurance; and administrative and support service activities.

Meanwhile, the nine-month FDI tally rose on higher investments in debt instruments and net equity capital placements.

Investments in debt instruments, or lending by parent companies abroad to their local affiliates to fund existing operations and business expansion, contributed largely to net inflows during the nine-month period, registering an increase of 41 percent to $3.7 billion from $2.6 billion last year.

Net equity capital placements

IN BRIEF

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing December 12, 2016

Megaworld to build P5-b Antipolo project

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

6,868.89 174.27

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

Closing DECEMBER 12, 2016 43.00 45.40 46.60 47.80

P49.820

49.00

CLOSE

HIGH P49.780 LOW P49.870 AVERAGE P49.823 VOLUME 341.100M

P430.00-P661.00 LPG/11-kg tank P35.40-P44.10 Unleaded Gasoline P25.75-P29.32 Diesel

OPRICES IL TODAY

BPI PROMO WINNER. Bank of the Philippine Islands jumpstarts Christmas for software engineer Ranjith Radhamanohar who became the first lucky winner of the BPI Send Money Abroad and Win a Gadget promo. The Send Money Abroad, also known as Cross Boarder Fund Transfer, is a safe and fast service that allows clients to send money from a BPI account to any foreign bank account in the world. Shown are (from left) BPI product management and marketing manager Bess Aguinaldo, outward remittance head Gerry Kahayon, remittance division head Roy Emil Yu, Radhamanohar, E. Rodriguez Bagumbayan branch head Oliver de Castro and Pasig-Quezon City area business director Joel Laforteza.

P28.50-P36.85 Kerosene P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monday, December 12, 2016

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.7790

Japan

Yen

0.008675

0.4318

UK

Pound

1.257600

62.6021

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128888

6.4159

Switzerland

Franc

0.981932

48.8796

Canada

Dollar

0.761267

37.8951

Singapore

Dollar

0.698812

34.7862

Australia

Dollar

0.744400

37.0555

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655267

132.1765

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266631

13.2726

Brunei

Dollar

0.696379

34.6651

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.028067

1.3971

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.5542

Euro

Euro

1.053400

52.4372

Korea

Won

0.000853

0.0425

China

Yuan

0.144810

7.2085

India

Rupee

0.014823

0.7379

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.226168

11.2584

New Zealand

Dollar

0.712900

35.4874

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031421

1.5641 Source: PDS Bridge

NLEx extension road to Tondo submitted

By Darwin G. Amojelar MANILA North Tollways Corp., the builder and concessionaire of North Luzon Expressway, said it submitted to the Duterte administration a proposal to extend the NLEx Harbor Link from C3 Road in Caloocan City to R10 in Tondo, Manila.

MNTC president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco said the project would bring the NLEx Segment 10 to R10, or very near the port.

Segment 10 of NLEx is a

MRail rehabilitates 2 PNR locomotives MRAIL Inc. and partner Desco, the exclusive distributor of General Electric in the country, completed the rehabilitation of two Philippine National Railways locomotives, a project awarded to them through a solicited bidding in 2014.

“We are happy to announce that the test run for the rehabilitated locomotive has been a success,” said Ferdinand Inacay, president and chief executive of MRail, a subsidiary of Manila Electric Co. “Our engineers worked tirelessly on the rehabilitation. It is a proof that Filipinos are capable and technically-competent to embark on such a project. We are more than happy to take part in providing support for a better PNR,” Inacay said.

The team conducted a test run on Dec. 8 for the GE locomotives refurbished by the partnership to modernize the equipment of PNR. The test run started from the Tutuban station in Manila at 11:45 a.m. and reached the Alabang station in Muntinlupa City an hour later. After a brief stop

increased 9.3 percent to $1.6 billion as gross placements of $1.9 billion more than offset withdrawals of $248 million.

Gross equity capital placements in the first nine months came mainly from Japan, Singapore, the US, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

These placements were largely invested in financial and insurance; manufacturing; real estate; accommodation and food service; and wholesale and retail trade activities.

in the Alabang turn-back, the return trip to Tutuban commenced.

The train running test required the refurbished locomotives to pull five railway cars of PNR during the trip, without any revenue passengers. It travelled at an average speed of 40 kilometers per hour from Tutuban to Alabang, and vice versa.

PNR embarked in a rehabilitation program for its locomotives to provide better trains for the commuters, increase the number of operational locomotives and improve train reliability.

The all-Filipino team of MRail and Desco performed the rehabilitation works for PNR. This is the first time that the rehabilitation of PNR locomotives took place in the Philippines.

MRail and Desco replaced the aging train control system with a more modern and highlyadvanced micro-processor based computerized system to provide reliable and efficient performance of the engine. This is a new system installed in brandnew GE locomotives.

Darwin G. Amojelar

5.6-kilometer elevated highway in northwest Metro Manila linking MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela City and C3 Road in Caloocan City. MNTC plans to extend it to R10.

MNTC expects a daily traffic of 30,000 vehicles for Segment 10.

Franco said the company would spend between P6 billion and P7 billion for the project.

“We hope the government will approve it as soon as possible,” Franco said.

MNTC completed and opened

the P1.59-billion Segment 9 of the NLEx Harbor Link―a 2.42-kilometer expressway to the public in March 2015.

Segment 9 connects NLEx from Smart Connect Interchange to MacArthur Highway in Karuhatan, Valenzuela City. The new road is expected to serve as many as 27,000 vehicles daily in the first year and ease traffic in major thoroughfares.

MNTC’s net income reached P2.93 billion in January to September, up 32 percent from P2.22 billon in the same period

last year.

Revenues increased 29 percent in the nine-month period to P7.78 billion from P6.04 billion in the same period last year amid the steady increase in traffic and strong toll revenue contribution from Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway operations amounting to P1.11 billion.

The average daily traffic at NLEx hit 217,191 entries in the first nine months, or 9 percent higher than the same period in 2015. Traffic at SCTEx reached 43,835 daily vehicle entries.

CONDOMINIUM builder Megaworld Corp. said it will spend P5 billion to develop a 640-hectare property in Antipolo City, Rizal into an integrated lifestyle community.

Megaworld, through unit Global-Estate Resorts Inc., said the whole community development called Eastland Heights would include a 36-hole golf course, residential, commercial and retail projects and institutional components such as a school.

“This new community will allow Megaworld to further expand its presence in the popular area of Antipolo, which is very accessible to the major cities in Metro Manila. We capitalize on the scenic views and fresh air in this location, which can be the development’s key strengths,” Geri president Monica Salomon said.

Solomon said more than 100 hectares of the property would be allocated for residential villages while the 36-hole golf course and country club would occupy 20 percent of the entire development.

The property is known for its rolling terrains on the foot of the scenic Sierra Madre Mountain Range.

Eastland Heights will be the latest township development in the growing roster of developments that Megaworld and subsidiary brands Geri, Suntrust Properties Inc. and Empire East Holdings have built and continuously developing across the country.

Jenniffer B. Austria

SMDC eyes P22b from MoA projects

SM DEVELOPMENT Corp., the residential unit of property developer SM Prime Holdings Inc., said it expects to generate P22 billion from two newlylaunched residential condominium projects at the Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City.

SMDC executive vice president Jose Mari Banzon said in an interview the strong demand for residential projects within the Mall of Asia complex encouraged the company to launch two new projects, the three-tower S-Residences and four-tower Shore Residences 3, within the area.

“With the success of our previous resort-inspired residential developments in MaA complex, we find that it is the perfect time to launch the modern sleek S-Residences and Shore Residences 3the project,” Banzon said.

S-Residences offers about 2,000 units with sales value of P7 billion. The project is now 75 percent pre-sold with turnover slated by August 2020. Shore Residences 3, on the other hand, will offer a total of 5,000 units with total sales value of P15 billion. Jenniffer B. Austria

Local cigarette company supports 2-tier tax MIGHTY Corp., the oldest Filipino tobacco company, said it is supporting the government’s cigarette tax reforms.

“The two-tier tax system will benefit the government in terms of revenues. Not only will it benefit local farmers, it will also continue to help the economy,” Mighty Corp. president and retired Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan said.

Adan said the company would support any decision the government would make on the cigarette tax issue.

“Mighty Corp. has always been fully supportive of the government’s efforts to raise revenues from tobacco products, promote health, and support local farmers,” he said.

“We only wish to point out that House Bill 4144 is the most advantageous measure for the government because it is expected to optimize revenue generation, address the concerns of health advocates and provide local tobacco farmers with a steady stream of livelihood opportunities,” Adan said.

HB 4144 proposes the adop-

tion of a two-tier system in place of a unitary tax rate which is supposed to be implemented starting January next year.

Under Republic Act 10351 or the Sin Tax Reform law, the excise tax rates for cigarettes––currently at P25 per pack for low-

priced brands and P29 per pack for premium brands––shall be replaced by a unitary tax rate of P30 per pack.

HB 4144 aims to amend Section 145(c) of the National Internal Revenue Code which mandates the imposition of the

unitary tax rate.

Adan said the success of RA 10351, which was hailed by institutions like the World Bank as a model tax measure, and praised by health advocates, can be traced to the introduction of a two-tier system for excise taxes.

SHOPPING SPREE. Teleperformance, the world’s leading provider of outsourced omni-channel

customer experience management services, treats 100 of its new employees to P1 million worth of free Noche Buena shopping at SM Supermarkets in Manila, Cebu, Bacolod and Davao. Out of more than 2,000 applicants who were hired at Teleperformance from Oct. 17 to Nov. 30, 100 were chosen via electronic raffle as the lucky winners of The Great GroceRush. Each winner is given the chance to shop at selected SM Supermarkets nationwide for P20,000 worth of grocery items within ten minutes. Shown are new employees of Teleperformance Davao during the GroceRush shopping spree at SM City Davao.

B2

Business

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market sinks; Petron, Shell rise BDO Life posts 24% S growth in premiums TOCKS sank Monday, as investors fled from emerging markets ahead of a widely expected rate hike by the US Federal Reserve this week and as oil prices climbed.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, dipped 174 points, or 2.5 percent, to close at 6,868.80. This pulled down the bellwether to the negative territory, with 1.2-percent loss since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also dropped 67 points, or 1.6 percent, to settle at 4,162.39, on a value turnover of P6.3 billion.

Only three of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Apollo Global Capital Inc. which climbed 13.6 percent to P0.05. Petron Corp. rose

5.3 percent to P10.30, while Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. gained 0.4 percent to P68.05.

Ayala Land Inc. was among the biggest losers, as it dropped 5.6 percent to P33. Universal Robina Corp. shed 5 percent to P163.

Meanwhile, Chinese stocks slumped the most in six months as a worsening concern about the outlook for the property market and curbs on insurers’ equity investments spurred selling.

The Shanghai Composite Index fell 2.1 percent to 3,164.82 as of 2:20 p.m. local time, headed for

its biggest loss since June 13.

A measure of property companies tumbled 3.6 percent after China Vanke Co.’s president predicted home sales will drop “significantly” in the coming year.

Energy firms in Asia surged with rocketing oil prices after 11 non-Opec countries agreed to huge cuts in crude production, while Saudi Arabia also signalled a bigger reduction in output than previously agreed.

The 11 nations, led by Russia, said they would pump more than half a million fewer barrels a day from next month in an effort to address a global supply glut that has scythed prices over the past two years.

The cut will contribute to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ own initiative unveiled with Russia on Nov. 30.

Also at the weekend Opec kingpin Saudi Arabia said it will slash production beyond what was previously agreed by Opec last month, providing an additional boost for prices.

“This is a very powerful message that producers want to balance the market higher,” said Chris Weston, chief market strategist in Melbourne at IG, told Bloomberg News. “As a statement of intent, this is about as bullish as it gets.”

Both main contracts surged almost five percent in early Asian trade Monday, setting a fire under energy firms in the region.

Hong Kong-listed CNOOC added 1.5 percent and PetroChina gained 1.7 percent while in Sydney Woodside Petroleum was up 2.7 percent and Japan Petroleum jumped 6.8 percent in Tokyo.

With AFP, Bloomberg

By Julito G. Rada BDO Life Assurance Co. Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of BDO Unibank Inc., said premium income grew 24 percent in the third quarter to P6.3 billion from a year ago.

BDO Life said in a statement individual life new business premiums posted a 28-percent increase in terms of annual premium equivalents, while renewal premiums rose 30 percent over a year ago.

“BDO Life’s continuous growth for the past six years mir-

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2016

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.37 2,000 47.75 4,400 87 2,678,190 3.74 35,000 112 3,728,750 1.53 683,000 37.75 46,200 16.48 1,700 18.84 46,800 1.75 19,000 800 1,520 0.66 7,625,000 74.5 1,334,530 0.76 404,000 14.06 100 21.3 5,000 54.4 77,320 245 7,280 120 100 92.05 10 35.5 11,000 199.5 1,013,060 1,740 85 74.5 91,730 1.32 49,000

6,750 210,080 236,623,205 131,170 419,889,501 1,034,940 1,745,655 28,008 892,440 33,250 1,215,700 4,991,080 100,228,489.50 309,710 1,406 106,500 4,215,422 1,798,196 11,980 920.5 390,800 202,133,367 147,875 6,820,165 64,680

172,000 -139,151,629 16,624,830 -9,110 28,008.00 193,976 -1,361,640 -51,685,158 -1,920,203 -335,020 -156,420 10,502,850 -8,700 -800,035 -

43.4 4.24 0.89 1.28 20.05 0.198 85.45 11.34 17.18 23.4 19.5 92 95 1.92 7.18 12.6 11.12 6.12 7.19 5.34 22 67.9 12.12 16.54 6.04 1.7 210.8 75.5 3.5 25 29.7 24.5 14.8 259.8 0.25 3.16 9.94 11.3 2.04 5.75 1.4 67.6 5.05 233 4.56 2.76 4.41 0.141 1.48 161.5 4.6 1.64

INDUSTRIAL 43.7 496,000 4.29 218,000 0.91 1,000,000 1.37 3,490,000 21 21,300 0.199 30,000 85.45 260 11.6 7,618,100 17.18 768,400 23.4 204,000 21 5,800 92 760 95 110 1.92 77,000 7.25 80,500 12.6 6,600 11.14 4,711,200 6.24 327,000 7.21 639,200 5.39 13,353,600 22.2 1,202,300 68 165,420 12.6 8,900 16.74 629,200 6.06 222,300 1.7 259,000 211.4 542,630 77 1,430 3.9 6,000 26.95 1,900 29.85 530,300 25 1,053,600 15 2,085,600 260 274,610 0.25 120,000 3.25 3,757,000 10.3 10,358,000 11.3 400 2.05 3,791,000 5.79 20,000 1.4 108,000 68.05 2,846,880 5.13 437,400 233 60 4.6 239,000 2.76 98,000 4.41 17,000 0.141 310,000 1.49 105,000 163 2,710,270 4.6 5,000 1.66 1,658,000

21,701,255 937,990 904,450 4,736,220 442,775 5,950 22,217 88,681,646 13,282,880 4,773,600 118,469 71,435.50 10,450 148,700 578,969 83,436 52,585,476 2,041,071 4,603,304 72,243,853 26,570,110 11,245,311.50 110,220 10,534,362 1,346,309 441,350 116,040,914 108,610 21,400 47,910 15,848,475 26,286,100 31,614,684 71,801,536 30,050 12,374,570 106,359,932 4,520 7,766,730 115,554 151,200 193,793,562.50 2,227,869 13,990 1,096,870 271,590 75,630 43,730 156,130 447,129,392 23,000 2,743,100

-335,960 91,250 -64,190 50,662,328 12,361,018 735 -40,440 -8,080,374 231,196 -1,180,626 43,704,531 -4,881,850 -1,233,923 90,380 312,966 -15,110,848 8,466,135 -15,111,155 12,353,248 -11,524,750 -298,140 -13,878,338 601,750 -54,426 5,600 63,045,766 1,136,933 -243,298,332 -23,000 13,440

0.54 74.3 13.26 5.95 0.305 734 8.4 13.6 8.05 1,274 6 72.1 1.38 7.8 13.32 0.485 6.56 0.038 1.26 1.93 95.1 2.3 650 0.9 1.18 259.6 0.3 0.265

0.5 72.6 12.72 5.95 0.305 706 8.34 13.32 7.9 1,242 6 69 1.31 7.62 12.92 0.485 6.25 0.038 1.26 1.91 91.95 2.3 624.5 0.83 1.18 238.8 0.3 0.265

HOLDING FIRMS 0.51 44,488,000 74 759,290 12.88 2,386,500 5.95 8,700 0.305 970,000 706 293,080 8.34 770,600 13.48 4,773,200 7.91 53,000 1,260 100,265 6 5,500 69 1,894,760 1.33 2,975,000 7.8 1,046,700 13 1,987,500 0.485 160,000 6.25 21,191,900 0.038 20,400,000 1.26 7,000 1.93 500,000 94.9 408,240 2.3 3,000 645 218,790 0.9 34,000 1.18 90,000 258.2 17,710 0.3 210,000 0.265 100,000

22,673,770 55,908,220.50 30,765,766 51,765 295,850 208,535,245 6,434,384 64,309,690 421,596 126,550,660 33,000 131,677,099 3,970,350 8,096,041 25,851,108 77,600 134,712,860 775,200 8,820 960,000 38,314,422.50 6,900 139,336,855 28,850 106,200 4,425,206 63,000 26,500

-45,388,937 -23,008,902 -59,403,500 3,932,742 1,413,014 24,937,805 -47,284,700 -241,807 -4,089,646 -41,609,057 4,692,618 -46,805,790 498,550 -

7 1.15 6.18 2.13 0.43 34.8 3.05 5 0.6 1.14 1.45 0.155 0.57 39 0.71 1.73 0.98 1.28 3.72 0.149 0.255 0.41

6.89 1.11 6.18 2.13 0.405 32.95 2.96 4.9 0.57 1.05 1.32 0.151 0.56 37.5 0.71 1.7 0.95 1.22 3.51 0.143 0.255 0.4

296,370 731,550 3,090 97,980 7,142,950 639,501,940 2,164,940 751,800 17,135,680 43,940 2,623,170 242,260 982,220 11,290,120 1,420 7,044,490 3,227,900 772,080 130,283,240 3,220,960 94,350 108,100

95,878 40,500 -349,674,285.00 -410,640 -736,840 -2,283,600.00 -68,670 -12,240 -810,655 -2,397,260 -61,445,210 -8,940 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO LEASING BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK IREMIT 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

3.38 47.6 91.4 3.8 114.8 1.5 37.65 16.4 19.18 1.75 770 0.67 76.9 0.77 14.06 21.3 54.6 251.6 119 92.05 35.2 202 1,735 74.6 1.32

3.38 47.8 91.8 3.8 114.8 1.55 37.8 16.48 19.22 1.75 800 0.67 76.9 0.8 14.06 21.3 55.05 253 120 92.05 35.6 202 1,740 74.6 1.32

3.37 47.6 87 3.74 111.8 1.44 37.65 16.4 18.84 1.75 770 0.64 74.5 0.75 14.06 21.3 54.4 245 119 92.05 35.2 198.5 1,735 73.55 1.32

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY 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 GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR MABUHAY VINYL MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PEPSI COLA PETRON PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PHX SEMICNDCTR PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP PUREFOODS RFM CORP ROXAS HLDG SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH

44 4.39 0.92 1.31 22.95 0.198 85.45 11.86 17.5 23.4 22 98 95 1.97 7.35 12.68 11.4 6.24 7.2 5.45 22.2 67.95 12.14 16.9 6.06 1.72 217 75.5 3.5 25.05 30.15 25.85 14.82 265.4 0.25 3.3 10 11.3 2.09 5.75 1.4 67.7 5.1 234 4.58 2.8 4.55 0.142 1.48 170 4.6 1.64

44.4 4.39 0.92 1.45 22.95 0.199 85.45 11.86 17.5 23.4 22 99 95 1.97 7.35 12.68 11.4 6.25 7.25 5.46 22.8 68.05 12.6 16.9 6.1 1.75 217 77 3.9 26.95 30.15 25.85 15.34 270 0.255 3.3 10.4 11.3 2.09 5.79 1.4 68.4 5.13 234 4.62 2.8 4.6 0.142 1.52 170 4.6 1.69

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANSCOR ATN HLDG A AYALA CORP COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA PRIME ORION SAN MIGUEL CORP SEAFRONT RES SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER UNIOIL HLDG ZEUS HLDG

0.53 74 13.26 5.95 0.305 733 8.4 13.5 8 1,274 6 72 1.33 7.7 13.32 0.485 6.5 0.038 1.26 1.92 94.9 2.3 650 0.83 1.18 238.8 0.3 0.265

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

6.99 1.14 6.18 2.13 0.42 34.8 3 4.96 0.58 1.05 1.34 0.153 0.56 38.75 0.71 1.73 0.95 1.27 3.72 0.148 0.255 0.4

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

PRIMEX CORP PTFC REDEV CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

3.3 31.05 27.3 1.5 3.23 28.5 1.19 0.91 5.1

3.42 31.05 27.3 1.55 3.23 28.65 1.19 0.92 5.15

3.18 31.05 26.35 1.5 3.2 27.9 1.15 0.91 5.01

3.27 31.05 26.5 1.55 3.2 28.15 1.18 0.92 5.15

533,000 800 1,264,000 265,000 139,000 28,847,700 6,700,000 46,000 3,465,500

1,763,950 24,840 33,609,675 399,170 445,650 808,316,615 7,815,920 41,920 17,697,643

-34,100 7,809,435 94,670 496,487,740 -344,000 4,630,999

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

7.65 44.4 1.4 0.5 0.047 5.31 6.25 0.071 2.74 93.35 9.92 7.02 2.59 1,445 6.16 15.36 17.22 2.05 14.76 120 74.8 0.0095 9.1 0.206 1.34 3.27 13.2 5.13 2.3 4.07 3.65 20 2.45 11.3 5.29 136 13.6 1,370 1.19 0.44 39.9 73.9 5.44 2.8 0.97 3.6 0.335

7.65 44.9 1.43 0.51 0.058 5.34 6.25 0.076 2.75 95 9.92 7.03 2.59 1,445 6.18 15.36 17.22 2.12 15.3 120 74.8 0.0095 9.11 0.207 1.34 3.27 13.4 5.16 2.48 4.07 3.66 20 2.72 11.3 5.29 136 13.6 1,370 1.2 0.455 39.9 73.9 5.44 2.85 0.98 3.67 0.335

7.62 44.4 1.34 0.5 0.046 5.01 6.04 0.07 2.65 89.7 9.59 7 2.58 1,403 6.15 15 17.22 2.05 14.76 120 71.55 0.0095 9 0.191 1.33 3.26 13.2 5.02 2.3 3.86 3.63 18.1 2.45 11.2 5.29 136 12.76 1,310 1.17 0.435 39 72.5 5.43 2.69 0.95 3.32 0.335

SERVICES 7.65 44.5 1.42 0.51 0.05 5.34 6.08 0.074 2.65 90.2 9.6 7 2.58 1,403 6.16 15 17.22 2.05 14.84 120 72 0.0095 9.11 0.192 1.33 3.26 13.4 5.06 2.42 3.94 3.63 18.2 2.63 11.2 5.29 136 13 1,314 1.18 0.445 39.7 72.5 5.43 2.69 0.97 3.4 0.335

3,000 11,300 76,000 366,000 1,725,700,000 19,200 8,450,500 102,070,000 7,281,000 527,290 4,900 224,200 9,000 89,840 48,500 33,700 200 5,547,000 26,600 60 1,012,430 2,000,000 576,000 41,810,000 364,000 10,000 2,000 702,500 401,000 7,048,000 869,000 3,000 6,090,000 200 2,100 27,600 1,106,400 206,120 12,307,000 6,200,000 154,700 142,650 51,700 1,168,000 4,514,000 2,089,000 10,000

22,947 502,980 105,490 183,200 91,631,200 101,639 51,696,197 7,523,020 19,462,410 48,023,080.50 47,146 1,570,700 23,270 127,621,915 298,695 508,666 3,444 11,517,030 394,946 7,200 72,949,708 19,000 5,242,290 8,289,660 484,230 32,650 26,590 3,569,231 976,860 27,965,990 3,163,980 54,820 16,020,690 2,250 11,109 3,753,600 14,458,120 272,333,290 14,568,750 2,762,550 6,131,340 10,507,219.50 280,959 3,197,700 4,337,970 7,370,280 3,350

-1,219,700 -8,296,948 38,350 287,470 -15,399,778.50 730,100 -4,939,090 41,400 -15,297,533 196,600 1,399,849 746,870 -1,192,450 -530,060 9,522 0 341,020 103,650,205 838,980 1,843,830 -1,177,687.50 -54,300 -38,400 2,482,330 -183,130 -

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

0.0035 2.8 4.86 2.25 2.19 0.48 13.88 3.63 0.28 0.195 0.2 0.012 2.05 7.76 3.07 0.47 1.2 0.012 4.18 0.012 8.52 3.75 131.6 2.89

0.0035 2.86 4.86 2.28 2.3 0.53 13.9 3.67 0.285 0.196 0.2 0.012 2.4 8.05 3.08 0.47 1.31 0.012 4.18 0.013 8.52 3.8 131.6 3.08

0.0034 2.8 4.78 2.2 2.19 0.475 12.7 3.55 0.275 0.195 0.195 0.012 2.01 7.74 2.98 0.47 1.19 0.012 4.08 0.012 8.39 3.67 131 2.88

MINING & OIL 0.0034 264,000,000 2.83 82,000 4.81 262,000 2.28 28,000 2.3 4,000 0.52 21,260,000 13.08 157,300 3.55 1,306,000 0.28 910,000 0.195 3,280,000 0.195 1,280,000 0.012 11,700,000 2.34 11,863,000 7.9 3,441,800 3.03 187,000 0.47 1,000 1.3 3,669,000 0.012 1,200,000 4.09 79,000 0.013 2,900,000 8.45 810,300 3.67 907,000 131.4 955,600 3.05 22,000

902,200 230,430 1,262,010 61,780 8,870 10,816,750 2,065,372 4,707,890 255,300 639,900 250,450 140,400 26,297,100 27,213,001 561,100 470 4,726,190 14,400 329,060 36,700 6,836,805 3,376,240 125,488,903 64,690

340,000 -237,920 -235,150 5,406 761,680 -998,380 -9,225,425 84,000 -1,290,900 949,344 -7,380 -66,053,309 -

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

44.8 526.5 545 103 104 540 5.95 1,015 1.08 112.4 1,036 107 77.1 82 77.6 77.55 80.6

45 526.5 545 103 104 540 5.95 1,015 1.08 112.4 1,039 109.2 77.1 82 77.6 77.6 80.85

43.85 526 545 102 103.4 540 5.95 1,010 1.08 112.4 1,034 107 77.1 80.6 77.5 77.55 80.6

PREFERRED 43.85 43,900 526 2,000 545 20 102.5 28,070 103.4 15,620 540 400 5.95 14,200 1,015 12,130 1.08 2,000 112.4 10,010 1,039 5,275 109.2 400 77.1 500 80.6 16,030 77.5 30,700 77.55 36,400 80.85 31,300

1,967,800 1,052,100 10,900 2,869,629 1,624,006 216,000 84,490 12,301,450 2,160 1,125,124 5,463,550 43,240 38,550 1,292,060 2,381,850 2,822,845 2,529,545

916,140 73,840 0 38,550 -

LR WARRANT

2.42

2.53

2.42

WARRANTS 2.53 7,000

17,450

-

2,946,880 687,880 17,340 7,672,599

8,100 13,180 869,703

MS

PROPERTY 7 1.13 6.18 2.13 0.41 33 2.96 4.96 0.58 1.14 1.35 0.151 0.56 37.9 0.71 1.7 0.96 1.28 3.58 0.147 0.255 0.41

42,400 649,000 500 46,000 17,360,000 19,240,400 725,000 153,000 29,212,000 41,000 1,908,000 1,590,000 1,750,000 295,800 2,000 4,138,000 3,352,000 606,000 36,368,000 21,920,000 370,000 270,000

ALTERRA CAPITAL ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

2.85 3.42 2.89 9.55

2.89 3.42 2.89 9.55

2.67 3.27 2.89 9.4

FIRST METRO ETF

116.2

116.2

113.6

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS

SHARES

18,450,980 66,629,516 105,982,749

PROPERTY

183,353,168

SERVICES

1,940,868,022

MINING & OIL

330,623,527

GRAND TOTAL

2,648,021,853

2.68 3.28 2.89 9.5

SME

1,070,000 209,000 6,000 813,300

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 113.6 15,500

1,782,682

17,430

VALUE 1,665.86 (down) 42.66 1,036,587,098.98 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,883.05 (down) 211.65 1,361,020,870.58 HOLDING FIRMS 6,978.75 (down) 132.24 1,026,888,601.22 PROPERTY 3,100.01 (down) 79.42 SERVICES 1,277.57 (down) 35.61 1,772,060,022.775 MINING & OIL 12,034.02 (up) 20.40 842,152,595.168 PSEI 6,868.99 (down) 174.27 216,322,682.5035 All Shares Index 4,162.39 (up) 67.00 6,268,140,092.23 Gainers:82 Losers: 108; Unchanged: 40; Total: 230

rors parent BDO Unibank’s aspiration to be a major player and the leading local company in the life insurance space,” it said.

“Sales force expansion and rising sales productivity combined to power individual sales growth. BDO Life ramped up its recruitment and selection efforts to beef up its presence in more BDO branches. Efforts to develop a professional bancassurance sales force that consistently delivers sound insurance solutions to BDO clients’ needs have started to bear fruit,” it said.

It said the recent acquisition and integration of BDO Life as a wholly-owned subsidiary of BDO Unibank would accelerate the process of tapping the insurance needs of the bank’s growing client base.

It said this move opened more doors towards building synergies between BDO Life and the bank’s various business units to maximize cross-selling opportunities.

“With the BDO Life name, brand recognition is a done deal and should help provide a significant boost to in-branch insurance sales.

Leveraging the BDO brand to its fullest is a key activity that solidly positions us as a serious contender in the life insurance space,” BDO Life’s president and chief executive Renato Vergel De Dios said.

Meralco launches mini hydro project

By Alena Mae S. Flores MANILA Electric Co. and Pure Energy Holdings Corp.’s subsidiary Repower Energy Development Corp. broke ground for a 10.6-megawatt run-of-river hydropower project in Pulanai River, Bukidnon.

The parties formed Pure Meridian Hydropower Corp., the joint venture company, to oversee and operate the P2.7-billion Pulanai hydropower project in Lumbayao, Valencia City, Bukidnon.

“This will be PMHC’s vanguard project in Mindanao and will serve as a platform to roll out more run-of-river projects in the near future. This is a legacy project that we are building for the benefit of the next generations to come,” said Pure Meridian president and Pure Energy chairman Dexter Tiu. The project is expected to generate over 74 gigawatthours annually.

President Rodrigo Duterte expressed support for the project and warned rebel groups against touching the project.

“I am very happy that the company has decided to utilize renewable hydroelectric power. This is something which everyone is part of, NGO’s and even Europeans are part of this fight against climate change,” Duterte said.

The Pulanai hydropower plant, once operational, will supply clean, sustainable and renewable energy to the Mindanao grid over the next 100 years.

The project is expected to start operation by the first half of 2019. It will also employ more than 400 people during the construction phase.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Business

Manila

Standard

TODAY

B3

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Demise of Filipino life insurance sector

DAVAO BAKERS. TWENTY FIVE participants from different Aboitiz Foundation partner cooperatives in Davao City are set to be skills-certified by the government following the 6th session of Baking and Pastry Skills Training at the Philippine Baking Institute on November 26, 2016.

The session included the baking of cakes and cupcakes and cake decoration. The Aboitiz Foundation has been assisting small enterprising organizations across the country to earn additional income by providing them access to income-generating activities and livelihood opportunities.

2 infra projects readied for funding under AIIB PNOC reviewing gas reserve options

By Alena Mae S. Flores STATE-OWNED PNOC Exploration Corp. on Monday assured it will continue with the sale of the Malampaya banked gas to fund future energy projects of the government.

Newly-installed Philippine National Oil Co. president Reuben Lista, however, said the company was also studying other options aside from the sale.

“Of course, we are selling but we are also studying some options like using it for our new LNG power plants or as an equity for other joint power projects for energy,” Lista said.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has asked PNOC to study the feasibility of putting up a liquefied natural gas power plant and terminal to jumpstart the country’s LNG industry.

Lista plans to bring PNOC back to its glory days in two years time. PNOC’s subsidiary, PNOC Exploration, owns a 10-percent stake in the Malampaya gas project in northwest Palawan.

The Energy Department earlier awarded to Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., the country’s second biggest oil company, the partial volume of banked gas offered for sale by PNOC Exploration and Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. Only Shell’s 110,000 barrels per day refinery qualified during the bidding.

“There was only one qualified bidder that meets the supplier’s criteria which is the PSPC refinery that has been awarded the partial volume. The utilization of the said gas volume by PSPC will start in 2018,” department records showed.

Sources said Shell utilizes natural gas for power consumption of its refinery.

Shell is the sister company of Spex, which owns a 45-percent stake in the Malampaya gas-to-power project in Palawan.

Shell still had to bid out its banked gas after the government decided to offer its own through a public bidding.

Spex officials earlier said the banked gas sale last year drew “basement prices” amid the low global oil price environment

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

T

HE Finance Department on Monday said the government is preparing big-ticket projects for funding under the Beijingled Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, a week after the Senate ratified the country’s membership to the multilateral institution

“The Duterte administration awaits promising development and financing cooperation with the AIIB to help fund the country’s big-ticket infrastructure projects,” said National Treasurer Roberto Tan. Tan said with Philippines’ Manila formal entry as a founding Standard TODAY member of the AIIB, the government could now request AIIB to send a mission to the Philippines to discuss the proposed list of projects prepared by the National Economic and Development Authority for the bank’s financing.

He said the Edsa Bus Rapid Transit project and the Metro Manila Flood Control projects would be among the first to be presented to the AIIB for possible funding.

“These are the projects that are the most prepared in terms of government approvals, feasibility studies and other requirements, and are already in the pipeline. So these projects can be processed most expeditiously for co-financing

by AIIB,” Tan said.

Finance Secretary Carlos

Manila

Republic of the Philippines Standard REGIONAL TRIAL COURT

TODAY

National Capital Judicial Region Branch 99, Quezon City, Metro Manila GENER N. ROYO , Petitioner, - versus Dominguez III earlier said the CIVIL also CASE No. BRT was supported by R-QZN-16-04052-CV the Asian Development For: Declaration of Nullity of Bank Marriage while the fl ood control project NICOLE R. ROYO, was being Respondent. backed by the World x----------------------------------x Bank.

DominguezSUMMONS strongly Publication) supported (bythe Philippines’ membership to the AIIB, which, TO: ROYO he NICOLE said, R.would provide the Rowena’s Garden, Dolores, Taytay, Rizal government “another source ofGREETINGS: long-term funding at very WHEREAS,interest on May 18, 2016, this Court reasonable rate.” issued Summons in the above-entitled case, but “Achieving fullon July membership was returned unserved 24, 12, 2016; in WHEREAS, the AIIBon September is a signifi cant 26, 2016, this Court issued anCompleting Order for the issuance milestone. our of Summons by Publication upon respondent domestic procedures for is NICOLE R. ROYO whose last known address at Rowena’s Rizal; ratifi cationGarden, puts Dolores, us in Taytay, solidarity withWHEREAS, 56 aother countries,” Petition for Declaration of Absolute Nullity of Marriage which, as stated in the Certificate of Marriage, was solemnized on February 10, 2010 at Taytay, Rizal, has been commenced by petitioner against respondent, full text of which is heretofore quoted as follows:

Dominguez said.

“AIIB serves as the only multilateral development bank that focuses on infrastructure.

The operations and policies of the bank are designed to be lean, clean and green. It is committed to principles of transparency, independence, openness and accountability,” he added.

Tan said the Philippines was “looking at $300 million to $500 million for the initial year” from the AIIB. “Funds from AIIB will serve as an additional source of concessional financing to support our growing infrastructure requirements. Its terms and conditions are comparable became anxious and worried since Respondent to those of other multilateral did not come home that day. The following day, Petitioner was able banks,” to see a sweet conversation development Tan said. on Respondent’s cell phone and a picture of a Senate, voting 20guyThe in her possession.

Although 1, 20.ratifi edangryonand frustrated, Dec. Petitioner 5 the strived to compose himself and inquired of his Philippines’ entry into the discovery with the Respondent.

As expected, Respondent denied having any extra-marital AIIB, beating the Dec. 31, affair.

2016 deadline bank 21. Since Petitioner set couldby not the contain and accept such infidelity, he went to his mother the for members. following day to cool down his head.

Finance said 29a briefi 22.

In December of the ng samepaper year, Petitioner calmly asked the Respondent to patch “AIIB can provide fi nancing things between them for their daughter and to majorsake. capital investments of marriage’s However, Respondent the23.government and was thenonchalant private and belligerent, reiterating that she was no sector.” longer happy being with him anymore.

24.

Despite Respondent’s treatment to him, “AIIB can support the Petitioner was still hopeful to save their marriage government in reducing and gave Respondent several times to clear the her mind and also to realize the infrastructure gapsacredness in of their the marriage.

Philippines and accelerating 25. But, Respondent was still unyielding and stick to her former decision becausespending she was not annual infrastructure happy with the Petitioner anymore. to 26. account for 5 percent of GDP On January 13, 2012, Respondent finally admitted, indomestic front of the Barangay Officials, that (gross product),” the she indeed had a relationship with another guy, paper but, they said. already called it a day.

27. committed by TheDespite AIIBthe isinfidelity owned by 57 Respondent to Petitioner, Petitioner still pursued sovereign-member countries Respondent for possible reconciliation but failed to win heraback. with total capitalization of 28. Thus, on February 6, 2012, Petitioner $100 billion. flew to Dubai, UAE to work. His mother and the

POLICYMAKING can be a very tricky activity even under the best of circumstances.

There are several reasons for this.

Undoubtedly the most important of these is the fact that in the pursuit of one policy desideratum, another is often downgraded or cast aside. A prime example of this is a situation that is unfolding before our eyes.

The situation I speak of relates to the Philippine life insurance industry. I use the word ‘Philippine’ because it is to the industry’s Filipino-owned segment that I am referring. That segment is slowly being wiped out, thanks to government policy.

The incipient demise of the Filipino-owned life insurance companies is the side effect of well-intentioned government policy toward the life insurance business in this country. In this instance a good intention has—as the oft-quoted saying goes— paved the road to hell.

The policymakers’ good intention was their desire to strengthen the domestic life insurance companies to a point where they would be able to meet the more intense foreign competition that was bound to result from Philippine membership of WTO (World Trade Organization) and the coming into existence of the Asean Economic Community.

The regulator of the Philippine insurance industry—the Insurance Commission (IC), a part of the Department of Finance (DoF) family of agencies—appreciated that there could be no strengthening of the Philippine insurance industry without a firming up of the equity structures of the Filipino life insurance companies. Accordingly, it issued a circular requiring all those companies to raise their paid-in capital to a certain minimum amount. The capital buildup was to be completed by a certain date, failing which the Filipino life insurance companies would lose their operating licenses.

In essence, DoF and IC acted in a comprehensible manner in requiring the Filipino life insurance companies to undergo a capital buildup program. Meeting intensified foreign competition does, after all, require the infusion of additional equity into their companies by the owners. If the required additional capital infusion had been within the owners’ capabilities, there would have been no problem and the need-to-meet-foreign-competition issue would have been addressed.

Unfortunately that is not how things happened. DOF/IC set the levels for the required additional-capital infusion so high—several hundreds of million pesos in some instances—that the Filipinoowned life insurance companies began to ask themselves if the government wanted them to stay in business. In truth, hardly any of the Filipino life insurance companies has been in a position to produce the additional equity required by DoF/IC. And even if by one means or another—including borrowing—they were capable of raising the required additional capital, the Filipino life insurance companies have been wondering whether it would be worthwhile for them to comply with a new requirement of a government that they consider insensitive and uncaring.

Being unable—or, in one or two cases, unwilling—to comply with the government’s capital buildup program, a succession of Filipino life insurance companies has chosen to get out of an industry that they love and that has been remunerative for them.

Their ranks are gradually being depleted by receiverships and liquidations.

A case in point is Philippine Prudential Life Insurance Co., a company founded around 50 years ago by Daniel L. Mercado, a US-trained actuary. Being unable to raise the required additionalcapital infusion, the company is now in receivership. It is so sad that in the twilight of his years Mr. Mercado should contemplate the progressive demise—due to a government policy change— of a company that he brought to life and had nurtured all these years.

Back to the point I made at the outset about the tricky character of government policymaking. Must a well-intentioned change in government policy toward an industry give rise to negative effects down the line in the same industry? In the case of the Filipino-owned life insurance companies, might the desired strengthening of the Philippine insurance industry have been accomplished without killing off life insurance companies that were founded with Filipino capital, were nurtured by Filipino professionals and have not been a burden on this country’s taxpayers?

My answer is an emphatic Yes. E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

Respondent were taking turns in taking care of their child.

Ruling political party to push key reforms to boost economy

29. But Petitioner’s mother noticed that the parties’ daughter was not being well taken care of by the Respondent. There were even instances that when his daughter would come to his mother, the latter would have a lot of physical complains and obvious weight lost.

N OTICE

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 30. A year after, Petitioner learned that NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL Respondent conceived aNotice hereby given that JG SUMMIT OLEFINS baby iswith certain THE ruling PDP-Laban political party collecting agencies, increasing the REGION CORPORATION. with project site located in Barangay Patrick Banez.

QUEZON CITY Simlong and Brgy. will push key policy reforms to boost capabilities of local government31.units, Petitioner found out later that this guy wasPinamucan Ibaba, Batangas CityRespondent’s is applying for registration with the Board of BRANCH 99 the same guy who was paramour the economy. prioritizing infrastructure, developing Investments (BOI) broke as Expanding Producer of Polymer whom she claimed then that she already Grade Etylene, Polymer Grade Propylene, Mixed C4 N. ROYO The PDP Laban Research PlanningGENER agricultural finance, and encouraging up. and Pyrolysis (Py) gas under heading I. Preferred Petitioner, 32. To address his concerns on the matter, Products and its Derivatives and Development Institute, the party’sversus entrepreneurship Activities-Petrochemical Petitioner consulted of and engaged the services the 2014 IPP on a Non-Pioneer status under Book Civil Case No. R-QZN-16-04-052CV think tank, outlined a broad program The ruling party also ofaims to Ms. Nedy L. Tayag,I a Psychologist. ofClinical E.O. No. 226.

For: Declaration of Nullity of Marriage

of government that aims to boost job improve the ease of doing business, 33. Ms. Nedy L. Tayag then came up with a Any onperson with ofvalid objection/s on the abovePsychological Report based her series R. ROYO, creation, spur investments particularlyNICOLE promote regional growth, implemente mentioned may examinations and interviews, and project found out that file his/her objection in writing, Respondent. in infrastructure, and promote thex-------------------------------x appropriate economic liberalization, under oath, with the BOI Respondent is psychologically incapacitated to within three (3) days from the date of this publication. comply with “democratic socialist agenda” of strengthenPetition anti-competition andthe essential obligations of marriage since she found to be suffering from personality President Rodrigo Duterte. anti-monopoly regulations, and Petitioner, by counsel, respectfully states that: disorder known as Antisocial Personality (SGD.) EVARISTE M. CAGATAN which is grave, incurable and has been “PDP-Laban is in the process ensure competitive costs ofDisorder, energy, Director even before the parties’ marriage.

Parties Manufacturing Industries Service of putting in place the necessary telecommunications, water existing and oil 34. In view of the parties’ irreconcilable measures in the form of policy reforms1. Heproducts. is a Filipino, of legal age, married but differences and psychological incapacity of Respondent, separated,“Most with postal P. DeLa the to implement President Duterte’s ofaddress theseat #26 programs will be it is clear that the parties’ Cruz Street, Sitio Gitna, Nagkakaisang Nayon, void marriage exists in name only. Hence, vision of inclusive socio-economic realized once we present the detailed the declaration of nullity of said marriage in Novaliches, Quezon City. He may be served with with Article 36 of the Family Code of ordersproposal and other processes of thisPresident Honorable accordance development,” said Senate President to the and to Court through his undernamed counsel Real the Philippines is in order.

Aquilino Pimentel III, PDP Laban leaders of Congress for appropriate 35. The parties do not have any conjugal Brotarlo & Real Law Offices located at 4th Floor, during their marriage.

Cityland 10 TowerPDP-Laban 1, 156 HV de la Costa Street, president. action. hopes to assets establish N OTICE Ayala Avenue North, Makati City.

RELIEF “The party’s overall program of this national framework for socio2. Respondent is likewise a Filipino, of legal Notice is hereby given that CEBU AIR, INC., with it is respectfully prayed that government is anchored on two economic growth sooner than WHEREFORE, later,” age, with postal address at Rowena’s Garden, office address at Cebu Pacific Building, Domestic judgment be rendered: Dolores, Taytay, Rizal,said. where she may be served Road, Barangay 191, Zone 20, Pasay City, is applying critical areas—economic development Moncupa (i) Declaring the marriage of Petitioner with summons and other processes of this for registration withGener the Board of Investments (BOI) as and law and order. These two areas Duterte is the party N. Royo and Respondent Nicole R. Royo on HonorablePresident Court. a New Operator of Air Transport Services A330# RPFebruary 10, 2010 in Taytay, Rizal as null and go hand-in-hand and are critical in chairman while Pimentel Speaker C3347/MSN1712) with a capacity of 436 passenger Statement of Relevant Facts andvoid and of no force and effect pursuant to Article seats on a non-pioneer status with project site located achieving the President’s vision for3. Petitioner Pantaleon Alvarez aresometime party president met the Respondent 36 of the Family Code of the Philippines; and at Manila Domestic Airport, Pasay City. in July 2008 at Bayantel Main Building where (ii) Ordering that the marriage of the parties as the country,” Antonio Moncupa Jr., and secretary-general, respectively.

Petitioner worked as Maintenance Operator appearing in the Book of Entries of Marriage of Any person with valid objection/s on the aboveinstitute head, said.

“Neverworked has the had the a greater while Respondent as a country cashier in the Local Civil Registrar of Taytay,project Rizal and the file his/her objection in writing, mentioned may canteen.

National Statistics Office be cancelled forthwith.

Moncupa said the party recognized opportunity to institute genuine change under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the 4. Subsequently thereafter, the parties Other the equitable reliefs prayed for. dateare of likewise this publication. the urgency of putting in place badly thantheirnow. believe it is now exchanged phone We numbers and Petitioner Makati City for Quezon City, February 26, started to communicate with Respondent. needed reforms to spur economic party’s responsibility and obligation 2016.

5. Eventually, Petitioner courted Respondent growth. to the Filipino people to implement (SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA REAL BROTARLO & REAL and after wooing her for several months, Among the programs that PDPchange through critical reforms Law Offices Infrastructure Officer-In-Charge Respondent accepted Petitioner to bepolicy her and Services Industries Service Counsel for Petitioner sweetheart.

Laban is pushing are improving the that will ultimately benefit the4thFilipino Floor Cityland 10 Tower I, and 10th Floor 6. As boyfriend and girlfriend, parties got Cityland 10 Tower II 156 H.V. Dela Costa Street, tax efficiency of the country’s revenue nation and the people,” Pimentel said. involved in various sexual trysts.

(MS-DEC. 13, 2016)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT & EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF MANDALUYONG CITY SECURITY BANK CORPORATION, Mortgagee, -versusJENNIFER S. SANTIAGO, Mortgagor-Debtor, FRE-MC16-897 EXTRA-JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE OR REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE UNDER ACT 3135 AS AMENDED BY 4118 x---------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE Upon Extra-Judicial petition for sale under Act 3135 as amended

by Act 4118 filed by SECURITY BANK CORPORATION, Mortgagee, against JENNIFER S. SANTIAGO Mortgagor-Debtor with given address at Unit 35 3rd Floor City Residences, 420 P. Martinez St., Brgy. Bagong Silang, Mandaluyong City and 3F 33SA Gomega I.P. Martines Street, Mandaluyong City to satisfy the mortgaged indebtedness which as of October 25, 2016 amounts to TWO MILLION THREE HUNDRED FIFTY TWO THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED TWENTY EIGHT PESOS and 92/100 (P2,352,328.92) ONLY. Philippine Currency, inclusive interests, penalties and other charges but exclusive of attorney’s fees equivalent to 20% for the foreclosure and sale, the ExOfficio Sheriff of Mandaluyong City or his duly authorized deputy will sell at PUBLIC AUCTION to the HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH OR MANAGERS CHECK and in Philippine Currency on the 7th day of January 2017 of Justice Building, Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City, the following condominium unit with all the improvements existing thereon to wit:

BALCONY LOCATED AT THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE “CITY RESIDENCES” CONDOMINIUM, CONTAINING AN AREA OF 49.90 SQ.M. In the diagrammatic floor plan appended to enabling or master deed of the condominium project annotated on TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE 2010000081; 2010000082 which embraces and describes the land located at MANDALUYONG CITY with an area of TWO THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED NINE (2,809) Square Meter, is registered in the name of: Owner: JENNIFER SAN JOSE SANTIAGO, SINGLE, FILIPINO CITIZEN, OF LEGAL AGE Address: 3F 33SA GOMEGA I, P. MARTINEZ STREET, MANDALUYONG CITY “All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above stated time and date.”

“In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on January 27, 2017 9:00 A.M. or soon thereafter without further notice,” Prospective bidders or buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the title of the said property and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

Mandaluyong City, December 6, 2016.

(Sgd.) ATTY. ERWIN N. BARATA Clerk of Court VI & Ex-Officio Sheriff (Sgd.) HELDER A. DYANGCO Sheriff IV WARNING: It is absolutely prohibited to remove, deface or destroy this Notice of Sheriff’s Sale on or before the date of Auction Sale under penalty of the law.

Copy furnished:

CONDOMINIUM CERTIFICATE OF Jennifer S. Santiago TITLE No. 008-2015002244 Unit 35 3rd Floor City Residences, Registry of Deeds – 420 P. Martinez St., Brgy. Bagong City of Mandaluyong Silang, Mandaluyong City and 3F 33SA Gomega I.P. Martinez St., IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED that the Mandaluyong City unit identified and described as: Atty. Irahlyn P. Sacupayo-Lariba 3F-2BR-35 – A 2 BEDROOM TYPE 4th Floor, Security Bank Center FRONT CONDOMINIUM UNIT WITH Building, 6776 Ayala Ave., Makati City

(MS-DEC. 13, 2016)

7. Until sometime in December of 2009 when the parties discovered of Respondent’s pregnancy.

8. Thus, Petitioner talked to Respondent’s parents about Respondent’s pregnancy and as

Ayala Avenue North Makati City, Philippines Tel. Nos. 893-33-99; 753-1374; Telefax No. 893-3399 Website: www.rbrfirm.com; Email add : rbrlawfirm@gmail.com By:

Philippines,

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

B4

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016

Business

Oil surges on non-Opec deal S INGAPORE―Oil soared Monday following a landmark deal by Russia and other non-Opec producers to join the cartel in capping output, in a bid to end a stubborn global glut that has hammered prices.

Russia and 10 other states on Saturday said they will reduce their production by more than half a million barrels per day, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries announced.

The move marks the first time non-Opec members have reached an agreement since 2001, and follows a similar deal by Opec last month.

Opec members had agreed to collectively reduce output by 1.2 million bpd beginning in January.

West Texas Intermediate for January delivery rose as much as $3.01 to $54.51 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the highest intraday level since July 6, 2015. The contract was trading at $54.10 at 15:14 p.m. in Singapore.

Prices gained 3.5 percent over the previous two sessions to close at $51.50 a barrel on Friday.

Brent for February settlement jumped as much as $3.56 to $57.89 a barrel on the Lon-

don-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The global benchmark crude traded at a $1.81 premium to February WTI. “Opec and non-Opec’s signing of the production cut agreement over the weekend was clearly the catalyst, overlooking Saudi Arabia’s record high production in November,” said OANDA senior analyst Jeffrey Halley.

Opec kingpin Saudi Arabia also announced at the weekend that it will slash production beyond what was previously agreed in Vienna by Opec, providing an additional boost for prices.

“The country is also preparing a partial flotation of its crown jewel in 2018, the stateowned oil company Saudi Ar-

amco, and that certainly serves as an incentive for the oil giant,” said IG market strategist Jingyi Pan. Pan noted prices have hit their highest since February 2015 and any concerns about compliance have been put on a back burner.

Despite the spike, oil prices remain at about half their mid2014 levels.

Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih said Saturday the biggest crude exporter will “cut substantially to be below” the target agreed last month with members of Opec. Al-Falih’s comments followed a deal by eleven non-Opec countries including Mexico to join forces with the group and trim output by 558,000 barrels a day next year, the first pact between the

rivals in 15 years.

Futures in New York have gained about 20 percent since Opec announced Nov. 30 it will cut production for the first time in eight years. Saudi Arabia, which led Opec’s decision in 2014 to pump at will, is leading efforts to take back control of the market.

The Opec and non-Opec plan encompasses countries that pump 60 percent of the world’s crude, but excludes major producers such as the US, China, Canada, Norway and Brazil.

“This is a very powerful message that producers want to balance the market,” said Chris Weston, chief market strategist in Melbourne at IG Ltd. “As a statement of intent, this is about as bullish as it gets.”

AFP, Bloomberg

Shopping overtakes casinos in Singapore SINGAPORE’S casinos are so 2015. After luring tourists for half a decade, they’re now losing out to the mall.

Shopping has overtaken gambling as the biggest earner in Singapore’s tourism industry for the first time since 2012, surging 44 percent in the six months through June from a year ago, official data show.

It’s most likely thanks to first-time Chinese visitors, according to HSBC Holdings Plc, as the nation’s travelers continue to fuel growth in Singapore’s tourism industry. Some 2.1 million Chinese visited Singapore last year, more than double that of 2009―the year before the city-state opened the first of its two casinos. Among all visitors, those from China, Indonesia and India were the top three spenders in the second quarter of 2016, clocking up 40 percent of all tourist receipts. Shopping comprised a quarter of total spending, from 18 percent a year earlier.

Devoting a large chunk of one’s visit for shopping expenses is “what first time visitors do,” said Erwan Rambourg, global co-head of consumer and retail research at HSBC in London. Casinos have been a major drawcard for Chinese tourists to Singapore and it remains to be seen whether shopping will continue to outpace gambling. They are still the biggest spenders, forking out $1,205 each in the city-state last year, just ahead of Thai visitors.

Chinese travelers spent a whopping S$1.15 billion ($807 million) shopping in Singapore last year, which compares with S$112 million for Japanese and S$175 million for Indians. They also spent the least on food and accommodation, a trend that’s little changed so far this year.

Tourism is helping Singapore at a time of uncertainty for the trade-dependent country, whose economy grew at the slowest pace since 2009 last year. However, the growth in overall receipts is coming at the expense of average spending per tourist, which declined slightly in the first half from a year earlier.

That’s partly down to the growing crowds of Chinese traveling on the cheap. The number of them on budget tours who are entering Singapore by land from Malaysia is rising at an annual clip of around 55 percent, said Deborah Aitken, an analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence.

Bloomberg

Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher (right) look at diagrams of the proposed second international airport in Sydney on December 12, 2016. Sydney is to get its second international airport after the Australian government approved plans on December 12, ending decades of indecision over a facility that will initially handle 10 million passengers a year. AFP

Second Sydney airport cleared SYDNEY―Sydney is to get its second international airport after the Australian government approved plans Monday, ending decades of indecision over a facility that will initially handle 10 million passengers a year.

Badgerys Creek in the city’s western suburbs had already been selected as the site, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull signing off on its longawaited construction.

It is scheduled to open in the mid-2020s, easing pressure on Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport, the main gateway into Australia which is reaching capacity.

“The need for an airport in western Sydney has been screamingly obvious for many years,” said Turnbull, adding it would be a catalyst for investment in the area.

“We are getting on with the job, and this airport will be built. Tens of thousands of jobs will be created. It will transform the economic opportunities in western Sydney.”

The first stage will see one runway constructed, able to handle Airbus A380s and 10 million people each year, with a second expected to be needed by 2050.

“The important point is the airport is being planned for future capacity expansion,” Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher said.

“We are taking decisions that allow Sydney and Australia’s aviation capacity needs to be met not just over the next 10 or 20 years but over the next 30, 40, 50 years and beyond.”

Kingsford Smith Airport, which is eight kilometers (around five miles) from the city center, handled 39.7 million travelers in 2015 and is reaching its limit with passenger numbers through Sydney forecast to more than double in the next 20 years.

It is also subject to flight restrictions between 11 pm-6 am, with Badgerys Creek, about 45 kilometers west of Sydney’s central business district, expected to be curfew-free given that fewer people live nearby.

Badgerys Creek has been a potential site since 1986 with the federal government buying about 1,800 hectares (4,446 acres) in the area and the surrounds kept largely free of development since then. AFP

6 months on, Brexit rift among Britons remains wide

By Edouard Guihaire LONDON―One campaigned to leave the European Union, the other to stay.

Now, nearly six months after Britain’s shock referendum vote for Brexit, two thirty-somethings prove the debate is still very much alive, and just as painful.

“I’m very, very excited about the future,” says Chris Mendes, a 31-year-old software engineer who supports the anti-EU, anti-immigration UK Independence Party, which helped drive the “Leave” vote.

But Thomas Cole, a 33-yearold political analyst who used to work at the European Commission in Brussels, says the future is still up for play.

Since the vote on June 23, many Britons have had to wrestle with some of the stark and unsettling realities of what “leaving Europe” actually means.

And, for Cole and others who voted “Remain,” this jolt gives cause to stay in the fight.

“Just because the referendum has taken place doesn’t mean you say, ‘OK, I give up now’,” he says.

Outwardly similar, the two men are passionately divided on Brexit, reflecting the split that saw Britons vote 52 percent to leave the EU and 48 percent to stay.

Introduced by AFP, they traded views at cafe in London’s St Pancras station, the gateway for travelers arriving from and leaving to continental Europe.

Mendes, sporting a brown T-shirt and a three-day-old

Gina Miller (center), co-founder of investment fund SCM Private, arrives at the Supreme court in London on the final day of a four-day hearing on December 8, 2016. British Prime Minister Theresa May secured a symbolic victory on Brexit, after MPs agreed not to delay her plans to begin the EU exit talks by the end of March, although she had to promise to give them more details of her negotiating strategy. AFP

beard, acknowledges there are challenges to leaving the EU, not least pro-European MPs seeking to delay or soften the divorce.

“There’s obviously a clear resistance to Brexit, there’s no question about that, but we expected that,” he says.

But Cole, wearing a smart jumper and striped scarf tied at the neck, argues that the referendum was “legally not binding.”

He came home to campaign against Brexit and is a member of the pro-EU, centrist Liberal Democrats, who want a second referendum on the final terms of the exit deal.

Cole suggests that if the exit negotiations “become complicated,” then the 2020 general election could be effectively

run as a second referendum.

“I couldn’t disagree more,” chips in Mendes, accusing Cole of a “morally bankrupt” position.

Cole hits back: “You have to pass things through parliament, I think that’s normal.”

Taking back control Under pressure from members of her Conservative party and EU leaders, Prime Minister Theresa May has promised to begin formal exit talks by the end of March.

But she is fighting a legal challenge against calls for MPs to take the final decision on triggering Brexit, amid concerns that parliament, which overwhelmingly wanted Britain to stay in the EU, will try

to block it.

Meanwhile the cabinet itself appears divided on the key issue of whether or not to stay in the single market.

Remainers say quitting the world’s biggest trade bloc will destroy swathes of British jobs.

Brexit supporters say Britain will forge new trade deals with the rest of the world.

For Mendes, a principle is at stake. “We want to come out of the single market, we voted to take back control of our laws completely, we voted to take back control of our borders completely,” he says.

He reflects the government’s outward confidence that it will get the “best possible deal” for Britain―even if it has yet to set

out how this will happen.

Unsurprisingly, Cole says he would like to stay in the single market―and would be unhappy with some of the proposed compromises.

One option is for Britain to leave the market of 500 million consumers but continue to pay for access, while being unable to shape its rules.

“From a democratic point of view it’s frankly terrible,” he says.

An upside of a clean break with Brussels is that “you wouldn’t have somebody else telling you what to do. Having said that, for the economy, would it be good? No.” Healthy debate?

“In an ideal scenario, I want things to be as they are,” Cole admits, before he is cut off

by Mendes, insisting: “That’s not going to happen.”

The discussion is lively but good-natured, although elsewhere in Britain tensions are high, with reports of an increase in hate crime after the vote, and death threats against leading campaigners on both sides.

Mendes says the national debate is “very healthy”, adding: “We have not discussed these things for about 40 years―and now, for the first time, we are.

“The natural consequence of that is an explosion, a massive clash, a violent clash, intellectually speaking, of ideas.”

Cole agrees, and notes the recent election of Donald Trump as US president. “Ignoring people’s concerns is essentially dangerous,” he says. AFP

LGUs

Ermita budget boosted to P15m THE City of Manila has increased the budget of a barangay in the Ermita-Malate area in District 5 to more than P15 million, he sees it applying more programs and projects to bring in more visitors to the city’s tourism and entertainment district.

In a simple ceremony held Friday at City Hall’s Bulwagang Villegas, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada signed the Supplemental Budget of Barangay 699 amounting to P4,304,806, effectively increasing its annual budget for 2016 to P15,393,272.

Estrada said he did this so the barangay “will be able to implement many important programs and projects.”

“I am confident that this increase will enable them to entice more tourists, both foreign and local, to visit the various establishments here, or even stay in hotels here for short in-city vacations,” the mayor added.

“This is a great help for us. This increase in the budget means that we can do a lot here, especially as we join our mayor in his efforts to bring back the glory of Manila,” said Cynthia Llorente, the barangay’s chairman.

Llorente is also the director of the Ermita-Malate Business Owners Association, “and we can see our priorities especially as this place is a frequent tourist destination,” she added.

Llorente’s barangay is one of 13 within the Ermita-Malate district, home to several hotels, condominiums, banks, travel and tour agencies, restaurants, beauty shops, health and wellness centers, and other leisure establishments.

“Because of the programs of the mayor and our barangays, as well as the Emboa, crime rate in our area became lower,” she said. “As the mayor increased our budget, we are able to do a lot more because we want zero crime in our area. We will try our best to achieve this.”

Llorente said they want to add more closed-circuit cameras, multipurpose vehicles for patrolling the barangay alongside the police, and motorcycles “to be used for peace and order and security.”

“We are fully supportive of the programs of Mayor Estrada, such as the cleanliness and beautification programs. This clean up drive within this area is important to help increase the number of tourists,” she said. Sandy Araneta

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016

C1

Manila fetes bomb spotters

By Sandy Araneta

M

ANILA Mayor Joseph Estrada on Monday honored three government employees who discovered the improvised bomb planted near the United States Embassy, as well as the street vendor who identified one of the suspects arrested in the foiled terrorist attack and the policemen who diffused the bomb.

Estrada gave Eli Balabagan, a street sweeper employed by the Department of Public Works and Highways P100,000, and Wenifreda Francisco and Maria Dolores Ostolano of the city’s Department of Public Services P50,00 each.

All three also received plaques of appreciation.

Josie Camacho, the street vendor, also received P50,000 in cash and a plaque. She provided police with an eyewitness description of one of the suspects.

Estrada also honored SPO4 Em-

manuel Fallaria, officer-in-charge of the Manila Police District-Explosive Ordnance Division, and Chief Insp. Jay Dimaandal, chief of the Special Operations Unit, for responding at the scene, quickly disarming the explosive device and saving innocent lives. They also received P50,000.

Police said the IED, had it detonated, could have maimed or killed several people within a 100-meter radius. It consisted of an 81mm mortar round, cellphone battery and SIM card, a

blasting cap and a nine-volt battery, like the one used in the September 2 bombing of Davao City that killed 15 people.

“Just a few days ago, we marked the 153rd birth anniversary of our hero, Gat Andres Bonifacio. Today, we are honoring a new breed of heroes here in the city of Gat Andres’ birth,” Estrada said in a ceremony at the Manila City Hall.

Estrada then introduced Balabagan, Francisco, Ostolano, and Camacho as “the new heroes of the city of Manila.”

“I’m sure that even Gat Andres Bonifacio is proud of their heroism for our beloved city,” the mayor added.

Balabagan, while sweeping the center island of Roxas Boulevard, found the suspicious package inside a garbage can. To her horror, she realized it was an improvised explosive device like what she had seen numerous times in the movies.

Balabagan, Francisco, and Ostolano further exposed themselves to danger by staying at the scene

and directing pedestrians and motorists away from the explosive until police arrived.

“It was her quick observation, and just as quick reaction, that allowed personnel of MPD to move immediately and neutralize the threat of a bomb explosion in the middle of Roxas Boulevard, a bomb that could have injured and killed many innocent civilians and motorists, and caused significant damage to properties within the immediate vicinity,” Estrada said of Balabagan.

As for Camacho whom he described as “matang-lawin” (eagle eyed), the mayor said her keen observation and description of the man who left the bomb on the street led to the arrest of one of the three suspects, Jiaher Cali Guinar, in Caloocan City.

Estrada also praised the MPD officers who worked to diffuse the bomb, the investigators who tracked down the leads, and those who arrested the three suspects.

“Once again, you have all done

excellent work and made the Manila Police District worthy of the title, ‘Manila’s Finest’,” he said.

Estrada also commended MPD director Senior Supt. Joel Coronel “for his exemplary leadership of the MPD.” Manila police subsequently arrested two suspects in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City, and Bulacan, Bulacan, and another one in Barangay Matimbo, Malolos.

Both were said to be connected to the Ansar al-Khilafah in the Philippines and to the Maute Group, which MPD said have pledged allegiance to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

A third suspect was also arrested, an X-ray technician in a hospital in Malolos, who allegedly surveilled the vicinity of Rizal Park, where their group initially planted the IED. The fourth suspect was recently nabbed by police intelligence operatives in Subic, Zambales, as reported by PNP National Capital Regional Police Office Director Oscar Albayalde.

MISS U IN ALBAY. Albay Second District Rep. Joey Salceda (second from left) and Atty. Richelle Singson of the local Miss Universe organizing group (second from right) sign the memorandum of agreement making the province the first stop for the event’s tour of the Philippines, which hosts the beauty pageant in January 2017. Looking on at the ceremonies at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City are (from left) Miguel Cardeno, 2017 assistant secretary of Junior Chamber International Legazpi City Chapter; Richard Ong, JCI Legazpi 2017 President; and IPG media consultant Venus Navalta. Sonny Espiritu

‘New breed’ of traffic enforcers on tap, says Erap Painting MANILA Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada on Sunday pledged to field what he described as “a new breed” of professional traffic enforcers in the coming weeks.

Estrada said motorists who have grown tired of the corrupt activities of former members of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau could expect a “more disciplined, competent, and incorruptible” team of traffic personnel manning the city streets.

The mayor had ordered the mass resignation of 690 MTPB

enforcers on November 28 after being swamped with complaints from motorists concerning their alleged extortion activities.

Estrada has warned that he will impose a “one-strike” policy on any MTPB personnel who will be involved in any illegal activity. To discourage them from extorting money from motorists, he raised the basic pay of Job Order traffic enforcers from P6,000 to P10,000 a month.

“I have ordered a thorough and extensive screening and

retraining of recruits. We will select only the best and we’re assuring everyone that we will go harder on those who will be committing illegal activities,” he added.

Estrada has been keeping close tabs on the retraining of the first batch of 92 trainees who will fill up the vacated slots at the MTPB, but only eight of them were new recruits.

The retraining is being handled by the Manila Police District (MPD), which began last

Monday and will be completed on December 23, said Supt. Lucile Faycho, chief of the MPDTraffic Enforcement Unit.

Faycho said the training and refresher course is focused on developing discipline, proper decorum and posture, and physical fitness. They also have classroom lectures about basic road accident investigation, rescue and first aid, and basic self defense techniques.

“We’re also teaching them how to communicate with motorists

and traffic violators with utmost courtesy. They should be professional and dignified at all times because they represent the city of Manila,” Faycho pointed out.

During the first days of training, the MPD-TEU saw that most of the “old-timers” were physically unfit and unable to do the simplest exercises, while some lacked traffic management skills.

“The others, after running a little bit, they get dizzy,” she recounted. Sandy Araneta

Makati brings cheer to over 81k students THE city government of Makati recently started distributing Christmas bags containing nutritious food products to some 81,121 of its public schoolchildren from kinder to senior high school, including Special Education students, as part of its traditional “Pamaskong Handog” project.

Makati Mayor Abby Binay said she has ordered the early delivery of the bags to the schools to ensure that students will receive them before their Christmas break begins on December 22.

“We want our students to receive their Christmas bag of goodies before the holiday break so they can enjoy them at leisure. On school days, they tend to eat in a hurry to get to school on time,” Binay said.

The delivery of the bags to schools started last December 5, and target date for full delivery is on December 16.

Kindergartners and grade schoolers will each receive a

bag containing raisins, instant oatmeal, cheese, hotcake mix (double choco flavor), arroz caldo mix, champorado mix, choco milk powder, tonic food drink, choco cereal, fruit cereal, choco flakes cereal, crackers, stick biscuits, biscuits, and assorted fruit flavored jelly.

On the other hand, high school students will each receive a bag containing instant oatmeal, cheese, hotcake (double choco flavor), arroz caldo mix, champorado mix, choco milk powder, tonic food drink, crackers, instant pancit canton, canned pineapple tidbits, and canned pineapple juice.

According to DepED-Makati officer-in-charge Dr. Dominico Idanan, at least three to six schools will be covered on every scheduled date of delivery. He said that for the top two schools in terms of student population for elementary and high school, delivery was being made in two batches.

BIGGER THAN US. Children look excitedly at big Christmas lanterns lined up outside the Philippine

National Police Calabarzon regional office for its ‘Pailaw sa Kampo’ event created by Regional Director Chief Supt. Valfrie Tabian. Roy Tomandao

contest for North Cemetery MANILA Mayor Joseph Estrada is sponsoring an on-thespot wall painting contest for high school students at the Manila North Cemetery, in his continuing effort to bring back Manila’s beauty.

Estrada said the competition seeks to teach students not only the value of art but also to rouse their concern for the beauty and cleanliness of their city.

“At their young age, they should be taught how to care for the environment, and use their talent in promoting cleanliness and environmental conservation,” the mayor said.

The art competition is set on Sunday, December 18, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., outside the 54-hectare Manila North Cemetery along Bonifacio Avenue in Santa Cruz, according to cemetery director Daniel Tan. A total of 120 students from various private and public high schools in the city will participate in the event. Each participant will be given a 10 m x 2.5 m space of the 1.2-kilometer-long perimeter wall of the cemetery where they will paint their art work. The theme is “Manila Forward Ever, Backward Never.”

“We want to bring life back to the area, so visitors would know they are entering the Manila North Cemetery,” Tan said in launching the contest at the cemetery. Sandy Araneta

C2

LGUs

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016

Peza eyes more land for expansion T

UBA, Benguet—The Philippine Economic Zone Authority is looking for a 100-hectare lot that will serve as its expansion into the nearby towns here as it readies for the influx of multinational companies that want to operate in Baguio City and its surroundings, Benguet Rep. Ronald M. Cosalan said.

Cosalan served as the guest of 105th founding anniversary. honor and speaker during Tuba’s He said the land Peza is look-

ing for must be free from any conflicts and claims, and has a sufficient source of potable water to help attract prospective investors wanting to operate in and around Baguio.

“The existing Peza expansion plan will definitely be a big boost to the desired economic growth of the towns that will be able to identify the available land area where investors will operate in the future,” the lawmaker said.

“We have to closely work with

the concerned local governments to avail of the expansion plan which will be a major economic driver for the communities around Baguio City,” Cosalan stressed.

With the expansion, Tuba can expect more employment and livelihood opportunities, and the local government is guaranteed a 40-percent share from Peza’s operations in their area, apart from better infrastructure that will be built there.

The lawmaker said Tublay

town was interested to offer the whole 100 hectares if not for its mountainous terrain. The only other towns that could offer the same space are Sablan and Tuba thanks to the national roads that go through them, Cosalan said.

Tuba, he added, has the best chance of being well developed being a gateway to Baguio and La Trinidad, and being a nexus of the four major northern roads: Kennon, Palispis-Aspiras (formerly Marcos Highway), Nagu-

ilian and the Baguio-Asin-San Pascual-Tubao, La Union road.

Cosalan called on the governments of Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, Tublay and La Trinidad to start identifying the available land area, preferably at a minimum of 50 hectares, and coordinating with Peza for their assessment.

He was confident these towns could segregate the land within their jurisdiction and help in providing additional sources of income for residents here. Dexter A. See

Cooking focus of Tinungbo Festival PUGO, La Union—The municipal government here has launched the month-long 1st Tinungbo Festival to help bring back the old ways of cooking food with the use of available indigenous materials like bamboo.

Mayor Priscilla M. Martin said the crowd-drawing event will help spur the town’s ecotourism potential and empower those in the agriculture industry here to increase the production of available lowland crops to be sold to residents and visitors.

The festival was opened simultaneously with the celebration of the town’s 105th founding anniversary through an agro-industrial trade fair, featuring the various produce and handicrafts from the 14 barangays of this fifth-class municipality.

“We want to develop an identity for our town so that we will be able to have a share of the exodus of tourists to our neighboring localities like Baguio City. We want to make known to the global village that Pugo has something to be proud of,” Martin stressed.

The festival took its name from the local dialect’s “tinungbo,” an indigenous way of cooking rice and fresh water and other local delicacies like light young bamboo, locally called “tubong,” grilled over charcoal or low fire.

With their vast plantation of light bamboo or bolo along the river banks and mountains here, the old folks of Pugo started the tradition of using raw materials to cook their food. Dexter A. See

FEEDING TIME. Pupils of Northville Elementary School in San Fernando, Pampanga are fed with healthy meals during the Pagcor Feeding Program. The feeding sessions, which will run for 105 days, will benefit 436 undernourished students from Kinder to Grade 6.

Pampanga’s literature in Soto zarzuela ANGELES CITY—The masterpiece of Juan Crisostimo Cabal Soto, the father of Pampanga literature, called “Alang Dios!”

(There Is No God) will be shown on January 2017 here to commemorate his 150th birth anniversary and revive the province’s cultural heritage.

A tragic love story, “Alang Dios” premiered at the Teatro Sabina in Bacolor on Nov. 16, 1902, and was last staged at Cul-

tural Center of the Philippines in 1975. The zarzuela drama was written in 1901.

Aside from “Alang Dios,” Soto also wrote 48 plays including 20 zarzuelas, a novel, a hundred poems, dozens of short stories, essays and newspaper articles.

Because of his literary accomplishments, Soto was the best known and most revered Kapampangan writer. Together with other writers, Soto turned Bacolor into

the “Athens of Pampanga.”

Also known as Crissot, Soto was a voracious reader but never finished his studies owing to a lack of interest on the subjects offered at university. The province will celebrate his 150th birth anniversary on Jan. 27, 2017, while his 100th death anniversary will be on July 12, 2018.

Joy Soto-Walton, director and chairman of “Alang Dios!,” said the showing of the zarzuela aims

to reawaken the intellectual and artistic refinement of the Kapampangans.

Eight artists, 20 singers, and three supporting actors under the directorship of RJ L. Soto will perform the zarzuela.

Tickets are available at P500 for adults and P260 for students.

The venues are the Don Honorio School of Arts and Trade in Bacolor and Holy Angel University here. Romeo Dizon

Cavite hosts S. Tagalog Agri-Edu fair in Bacoor THE Southern Tagalog Agriculture and Aquatic Resources Research and Development Consortium showcased different products and innovations in the Calabarzon and Mimaropa regions in the recently held annual event hosted by the City of Bacoor in Cavite.

Supported by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology.

Highlighted by the twin events STARBOOKS program and Coffee and Banana Fiesta, the yearly consortium activities was lauded by Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla as it benefitted numerous schools in the country by providing easy access to S&T information. One of such schools includes Bacoor National High School.

Meanwhile, the Farms and Industry Encounters through the Science and Technology Agenda (FIESTA), a technology promotional platform, featured coffee and banana at the Bacoor City Government Center in Cavite.

The event, led by the STAARRDEC showcased different products and innovations on the said commodities both regions.

It kicked off with a press conference where programs on different agricultural and aquatic products were discussed, not only in the conference, but also in the forums. These products and innovations were likewise featured in the exhibits.

The speakers stressed the importance of science and technology in promoting agricultural productivity and viable business undertakings. Some of the technologies tackled in the forums were organic farming, use of tissue cultured planting materials, and postharvest processing of farm produce.

Bacoor City Mayor Lani MercadoRevilla visits the DOST STARBOOKS booth during the opening of exhibits of the STAARRDEC Fiesta and Regional Symposium on Research, Development and Extension Highlights 2016 at the Bacoor Government Center Grounds.

ERRATUM. In the December 9 issue of the Standard, on page C1 we misidentified the person shaking hands with Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada in this picture. We identified him as Red Romero, vice chairman of R-II Builders Inc., but it should be Janilo Rubiato, general manager of the Philippine Reclamation Authority. Others in the photo are (from left) PRA chairman Alberto Agra and R-II Builders Inc. Chairman Reghis M. Romero II. The Standard apologizes to Mr. Rubiato and Mr. Red Romero, and regrets this error.

Manny Palmero

IN BRIEF Rape suspect recaptured MARAGONDON, Cavite—A rape suspect who escaped prison last September was recaptured by police from this town on Monday morning after an informant tipped them off.

Marvin Alcedo, 23, who had been jailed in Naic but escaped last September 18, was arrested by Maragondon police after someone told them the rape suspect was seen at Barangay 4 in neighboring Magallanes town.

The Maragondon native was captured at Sitio Sumandal, Barangay Cabulusan in Magallanes.

Alcedo, who has been charged with violating Republic Act 7610, will be returned to the Naic jail, officer on case P02 Archie Arceo said. Benjamin Chavez

Drinks lead to stabbing death KAWIT, Cavite—A 33-yearold man was stabbed to death Sunday evening after a drinking session led to a fistfight at Pinagkaloob Village in Barangay Toclong here.

Lucito Jalem del Rosario was declared dead on arrival at Kalayaan Hospital here after one of his drinking mates, John Mark Illut, allegedly stabbed him several times on his back and shoulder after quarreling with and fighting Del Rosario, then fled the scene.

Two other suspects— Remuyan Walog, 19 and Reynaldo Ortega Illut Jr., 21—were detained by barangay officials who arrived at the scene.

As of Monday, John Mark Illut, a construction worker, was still at large, officer on case SPO2 Roldan Velez Requioma said. Benjamin Chavez

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

Republic of the Philippines

Where: TMED =

TODAY ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE POWER SALES AGREEMENT BETWEEN SURIGAO DEL SUR I ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. AND MAPALAD POWER CORPORATION, WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY, ERC CASE NO. 2016-139 RC SURIGAO DEL SUR 1 ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. AND MAPALAD POWER CORPORATION, Applicants.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

In the said Application, SURSECO 1 and MPC alleged the following:

24.2. Offtake Arrangement. Under the PSA, MPC shall make available, reserve, guarantee and deliver to SURSECO I the Contracted Capacity, and SURSECO I shall pay for such quantity of electric power. MPC shall utilize such Contracted Capacity to generate energy for SURSECO I.

A summation of the ED &TMED for a given Contract Year shall be made to determine true F during the Contract Year Such yearly F factor shall be basis for adjustment of the CRF for the Contract Year.

The adjustment shall be guided by the following conditions:

24.3. There is no minimum energy offtake under the PSA. As MPC will dedicate the Contracted Capacity to SURSECO I, the Capital Recovery and the Fixed Operations and Maintenance Fees are computed based on the Contracted Capacity as well as on the proportion of actual energy delivered to the energy that could have been delivered.

If ƩED= ƩTMED, F=1

24.4. Also, the capacity to be provided by MPC shall always be the Contracted Capacity. In case the actual capacity delivered by MPC, as per dispatch order or limitation of SURSECO I for a given billing month is less than the Contracted Capacity, the difference between the actual capacity’ utilized by SURSECO I and Contracted Capacity for that billing month shall be deemed delivered to and utilized by SURSECO I.

lf ƩED > ƩTMED, F> 1, excess will be carried over to the next year, if the excess is attributed to an event initiated by the Buyer calling for the dispatch of the Power station to deviate from the agreed Dispatch and Nomination Procedures (Schedule E), and which applies only on to scheduled maintenance of these generating units.

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 09 June 2016, Surigao del Sur 1 Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SURSECO 1) and Mapalad Power Corporation (MPC) filed a Joint Application for approval of their Power Sales Agreement (PSA) with a prayer for the issuance of Provisional Authority.

the projected operating expenses is attached hereto as Annex “Q.” For reference, a comparison between MPC’s updated and previous projected fixed operating expenses is attached hereto as Annex “Q-1.”

Theoretical Maximum Energy Delivered being the Contracted Capacity multiplied by the hours in the relevant month, less any adjustments· made for Allowed Outage, limitation due to dispatch order, Force Majeure of the Power Station; and allowable start-up time due to period of non-generation due to a Buyer dispatch order or an Allowed Outage, and any other hours as a consequence of Buyer’s failure to perform any of its obligations

25. Fuel supply. In order to ensure the supply of fuel for the operations of the MPC. Power Plant, MPC solicited offers from reputable suppliers in the area, and has contracted with the supplier which offered the best terms.

If ƩED <ƩTMED, F<1 2.

Fixed Operation & Maintenance Fee (FOMF)

A discussion of the fuel procurement process and a copy of the fuel supply agreement are attached hereto as Annexes “R” and “R-1,” respectively.

The Fixed Operation and Maintenance Fee (FOMF) covers the operating and maintenance costs of the Power Station. It shall be computed according to the following formula:

26. Environmental Compliance Requirements. The Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines previously approved the exemption of the MPC Power Plant from the requirement of an environmental compliance certificate. Nevertheless, the MPC Power Plant will be operated responsibly in accordance· with good utility .practice and in accordance with all relevant laws and regulations, including environmental laws.

THE APPLICANTS 1.

Surigao del Sur I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (“SURSECO I”) is a non-stock, nonprofit electric cooperative organized and existing under and by virtue of Republic Act No. 6038, as amended, with office address at National Highway, San Fernando, Bislig City, Surigao del Sur (SURSECO I) has a franchise to distribute electricity in the City of Bislig and the Municipalities of Barobo, Hinatuan, Lingig, and Tagbina, all in the Province of Surigao Del Sur.

Copies of documents evidencing such exemption are attached hereto as Annexes “S” and series.

27. DOE Certification. The Department of Energy (“DOE”) has certified that the capacity of the MPC Power Plant is consistent with the DOE’s Power Development Plan.

2.

Mapalad Power Corporation (“MPC”) is a generation company duly authorized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines; with principal address at 4th Floor, Alphaland Southgate Tower; 2258 Chino Races Ave. corner EDSA, Makati’City. ·

A copy of the said certification is attached hereto as Annex “T.”

Where: FOMFR =

Fixed O&M Fee Rate of PHP217.62/kw/month

CPin

=

Consumer Price Index for Metropolitan Manila Area (National Capital Region), all items published by NEDA/NSO for the period of price determination;

CPIo

=

Consumer Price Index for Metropolitan Manila Area (National Capital Region), all items published by NEDA/NSO for June 2010 (at 115.9, 2006 = 100)

WPCn

=

Wholesale Price Index for Mineral Fuels, Lubricants and Related Materials for the Philippines as published by NEDA/NSO for the period of price determination

WPCo

=

Wholesale Price Index for Mineral Fuels, Lubricants and Related Materials for the Philippines as published by NEDA/NSO for June 2010 (at 518.2, 1998=100)

EUn

=

Euro-Peso. Exchange Rate for the period of price determination as published by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

EUo

=

Euro-Peso Exchange Rate for June 2010 (at P56.5910/ 1Euro) as published by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

FPPin

=

Finland Producers’ Price Index for Manufacturing for. the period of price determination as published in the International Financial Statistics of IMF

6.

Furthermore, Joint Applicants have caused the publication of the present Application in its entirety, excluding its annexes, in a newspaper of general circulation within SURSECO I’s franchise area.

FPPlo

=

F

=

Finland Producers’ Price Index for Manufacturing for June 2010 (at 108.5) as published in the International financial Statistics-of IMF Outage Factor as derived using the following formula to used.

7.

Copies of the newspaper and the corresponding affidavit of publication are attached hereto as Annexes “D” and “D-1,” respectively.

Where:

Copies of MPC’s Certificate of Incorporation, Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, latest General Information Sheet and Audited Financial Statements for the year 2015 are attached hereto as Annexes “A” and series.

3.

Joint Applicants may be served orders and other processes through their respective counsel.

NATURE OF THE APPLICATION 4.

Pursuant to Rule 20 (B) of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, approved by this Honorable Commission on 22 June 2006 in Resolution No. 38, Series of 2006, this Application is submitted to this Honorable Commission for its review and approval of the Power Sales Agreement (“PSA”) dated 28 April 2016 between SURSECO I and MPC. A copy of the PSA is attached hereto as Annex “B.” COMPLIANCE WITH PRE-FILING REQUIREMENTS 5.

In compliance with Rule 6 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, Joint Applicants have furnished the legislative bodies of each of the local government units where they principally operate a copy of the present Application with all its annexes and accompanying documents. series.

The corresponding proofs of receipt are attached hereto as Annexes “C” and

STATEMENT OF FACTS

Where:

8.

Shortage of Power Supply in the Mindanao Grid. The Mindanao Grid is currently facing a deficit in its power supply. The generating capacity in the Grid is no Ionger sufficient to meet the power requirements of Mindanao.

TMED

=

RATE IMPLICATIONS OF THE POWER SALES AGREEMENT 29. In order to determine the impact of the implementation of the PSA on SURSECO l’s generation costs, an analysis was conducted using actual billing and demand data for the month of March 2016, when SURSECO I had a 3.7 MW supply deficiency.

30. Based on the analysis, the Contracted Capacity of 4 MW will address the deficiency, and will result in an upward adjustment of Php 0.1396/kWh in SURSECO I’s generation costs.

The results of the said analysis are summarized in the table below.

Assumptions: 1. The generation mix is based on the actual billings of NPC-PSALM, TMI and TSI for the month of March 2016, when SURSECO I had a 3.7 MW deficiency. When the MPC commences supply, the said deficiency will be covered by the 4MW contracted capacity.

2. The simulations consider nomination from MPC during peak hours only.

Theoretical Maximum Energy Delivered being the Contracted Capacity multiplied by the hours in the relevant month, less any adjustments made for Allowed Outage, limitation due to dispatch order, Force Majeure of the Power Station, and allowable start-up time due to period of non-generation due to a Buyer dispatch order or an Allowed Outage, and any other hours as a consequence of Buyer’s failure to perform any of its obligations

10. As a result, various parts of Mindanao have suffered from significant power outages, adversely affecting local businesses and the daily lives of all electricity consumers.

A summation of the ED & TMED for a given Contract Year shall be made to determine true F during the Contract Year. Such yearly F factor shall be basis for adjustment of the CRF for the Contract Year.

The adjustment shall be guided by the following conditions:

11. Drastic Reduction in PSALM’s Supply. In addition, the main power supplier in Mindanao significantly reduced its allocations to distribution utilities, further aggravating the power shortage.

if ƩED = ƩTMED, F=1

31. A further analysis w:as conducted using the same data, assuming that supply from MPC is maximized due to the expiration of the SURSECO I’s contract with NPC/PSALM. Based on the analysis, supply from MPC will result in an upward adjustment of Php 0.5192/ kWh in SURSECO I’s generation costs. The results’of the said analysis are summarized in the table below.

If ƩED > ƩTMED, F> 1, excess will be carried over to the next year, if the excess is attributed to an event initiated by the Buyer calling for the dispatch of the Power Station to deviate from the agreed Dispatch and Nomination Procedures (Schedule E), and which applies only on to scheduled maintenance of these generating units.

11.1. The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (“PSALM”), which took over all the power generation assets of the National Power Corporation (“NPC”) pursuant to Republic Act No. 9136, supplies the bulk of the power requirements of Mindanao. PSALM likewise supplies a significant portion of SURSECO I’s current power supply.

11.3. PSALM Certification. PSALM has certified that the capacity of the power plants under its management is insufficient to supply the increasing demand of SURSECO I.

A copy of the Certificate of Compliance is attached hereto as Annex “U.”

F = Monthly Actual Energy Delivered TMED

9.

The insufficiency in the supply of electricity is further aggravated by the recent bombings of the transmission towers in Mindanao, which prevents the delivery of the electricity. Further, the El Niño Phenomenon currently being experienced by the country has drastically reduced the power supply in Mindanao, since it is heavily dependent on hydroelectric power.

11.2. However, PSALM has significantly reduced its firm supply commitments to distribution utilities in Mindanao, including SURSECO I.

28. Certificate of Compliance. This Honorable Commission has issued a certificate that the Applicant MPC is authorized to operate the MfC Power Plant.

If ƩED<ƩTMED, F<1 3.

Variable Operation & Maintenance Fee (VOMF) The Variable Operation and Maintenance Fee (VOMF) covers the cost of the use of, among other items, chemicals, ·lubricants and spare parts, that are directly related to the generation of the Power Station. It shall be computed according to the following formula:

A copy of the said request is attached hereto as Annex “E.” A copy of the said analyses is attached hereto as Annex “V.”

12. Necessity for Additional Power Supply. In order to ensure sufficient power supply to SURSECO I’s customers, the power requirements within the franchise area of SURSECO I should be adequately covered by supply contracts.

MOTION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFORMATION 32. As mentioned above, the financial model attached as Annex “M” is hereby submitted under a motion to treat information confidential.

13. In addition to the reduction in supply from PSALM, the power demand in SURSECO 1’s franchise area is expected to steadily increase. The expected increase is indicated in SURSECO I ’s Distribution Development Plan (“DDP”) and supply-demand projections.

VOMF

14. Procurement Process for Supply. Thus, SURSECO I executed efforts to procure the appropriate power supply.

14.1. Thus, on 17 March 2016, SURSECO I conducted a public bidding for additional power supply.

Two (2) qualified bidders participated in the bidding, including MPC. SURSECO I thoroughly evaluated and verified the bids presented, and found MPC’s technical and financial proposal as the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid. 14.2. As a result, SURSECO I executed the PSA with MPC for the supply of four (4) MW of power.

An affidavit supporting the foregoing is attached hereto as Annex “H.” Copies of SURSECO I’ s invitation to submit proposal and other documents pertaining to the bid are attached hereto as Annexes “I” and series.

15. Demand Side Management. A certification from SURSECO I as regards demand side management is attached hereto as Annex “J.” 16. Under the law, no contract for the supply of power can become legally effective unless approved by this Honorable Commission. Hence, this Joint Application.

ABSTRACT OF THE POWER SALES AGREEMENT AND RELATED INFORMATION 17. The Generation Facilities. To supply power under the PSA, MPC shall operate and maintain a bunker C-fired diesel power station with a total net generating capacity of 103 MW, located in Sitio Mapalad, Barangay Dalipuga, Iligan City, Province of Lanao del Norte (the “MPC Power Plant”).

A brief description of the technical characteristics of the MPC Power Station is attached hereto as Annex “K.” 18. The net heat rate of the MPC Power Station shall not be greater than 0.2464 kg/ kWh at plant site condition of 32 deg. C ambient temperature, and is based on the Plant’s use of bunker C fuel oil with a density of 0.9855 kilogram/liter.

4.

=

19.

ED

=

kWh delivered during the billing period

CPIn

=

Consumer Price Index for Metropolitan Manila Area (National Capital Region), all items published by NEDA/NSO for the period of price determination

CPlo

=

Consumer Price Index for Metropolitan Manila Area (National Capital Region), all items published by NEDA/NSO for June 2010 (115.9, 2006 = 100)

EUn

=

Euro-Peso Exchange Rate for period of price determination published by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

EUo

=

Euro-Peso Exchange Rate for June 2010 (at P56.5910/ 1Euro) as published by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

FPPIn

=

Finland Producers’ Price Index for Manufacturing for the period of price determination as published in the International Financial Statistics of IMF

FPPIo

=

Finland Producers’ Price Index for Manufacturing for June 2010 (at 108.5) as published in the International Financial Statistics of IMF

WPCn

=

Wholesale Price Index for Mineral Fuels, Lubricants and Related Materials for the Philippines as published by NEDA/NSO for the period of price determination

WPCo

=

Wholesale Price Index for Mineral Fuels, Lubricants and Related Materials for the Philippines as published by NEDA/NSO for June 2010 (at 518.2).

19.4. Term. The term of supply and purchase under the PSA shall be for ten (10) years from the Commencement Date, unless otherwise extended or renewed by mutual agreement of the parties in writing.

19.5. On the third (3rd) anniversary of the Commencement Date, SURSECO I shall have the option to terminate the PSA or to modify, subject to the availability of supply, the Contracted Capacity, subject only to a one hundred eighty (180)-day prior written notice. In addition, the parties can agree to increase or decrease the Contracted Capacity, subject to the same tariff.

5.

20. Purchased Power Rate. The tariff under the PSA is identical to those in MPC’s power sales agreements with other electricity customers for the MPC Power Plant.

21. This is to ensure parity among customers, notwithstanding the significant additional costs incurred by MPC for the MPC Power Plant. MPC is not seeking an increase in its tariff despite such significant additional costs.

22. For the supply of power by MPC, SURSECO I shall pay the monthly payments based on the following formulae : 1.

Monthly Payments

The Monthly Payments shall be paid to the Seller on a monthly basis in accordance with the following formula: Monthly Payments = CRF+ FOMF + VOMF + AFC + SC + RCEC + BCEC + Taxes Where: CRF FOMF VOMF AFC SC RCEC BCEC Taxes

= = = = = = = =

1.1

Capital Recovery Fee (CRF)

Capital Recovery Fees Fixed Operation and Maintenance Fee Variable Operation and Maintenance Fee Actual Fuel Cost Start-Up Costs Replacement Capacity and Energy Cost Back-up Capacity and Energy Cost Value-Added Tax, other applicable taxes and government impositions, if any

CRF shall be computed as follows: CRF = CRFR x CC x F

Where: =

Capital Recovery Fee Rate of PHP 250.18/kw/month

CC

=

Contracted Capacity

F

=

Outage Factor as derived using the following formula to be used.

35. Also, the financial model was prepared and developed for the exclusive use of MPC, and is designed for the specific use of the company in its power generation business.

Consequently, should the financial modell be disclosed to the public, it could easily be copied or used by MPC’s competitors or other entities engaged in the power business for their own benefit, and to the prejudice of MPC. Thus, the commercial value of the said model will be diminished significantly.

36. Given the foregoing, the financial model qualifies as “confidential information” as defined under Section 2, Rule 4 of the ERC Rules.

37. In accordance with Section 1 (b), Rule 4 of the ERC Rules, an electronic copy of the financial model is contained in one compact disc and submitted in a sealed envelope marked with the word “Confidential.”

38. Further, all parties furnished copies of the present Application are not furnished copies of the documents subject the present motion.

39. In accordance with Sections 3 and 4, Rule 4 of the ERC Rules; Applicant MPC reserves the right to use the financial model and its contents as evidence, and respectfully moves for the issuance of a Protective Order.

ALLEGATIONS iN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

Fuel Cost; The average MOPS price of Bunker C Fuel Oil/Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) deliveries during the period of price determination in Peso/ liter

=

Efficiency Cap; 0.2464 kg/kWh 0.9855 kg/liter

ED

=

Energy Delivered, kWh

40. As discussed above, PSALM has significantly reduced its firm supply commitments to SURSECO I. Also, supply from PSALM is unreliable as PSALM often delivers much less than its supply allocation to SURSECO I. Further, the El Nino phenomenon currently being experienced by the country has significantly reduced PSALM’s supply, as it is heavily dependent on hydroelectric power.

41.

Value Added Tax

43. Since. the MPC Power Plant is already existing and operating, it can readily supply power to SURSECO l under the PSA as soon as the prayer for provisional authority is granted.

A provisional authority will help ensure sufficiency of SURSECO I`s supply in a timely manner, especially in view of the effects of the El Niño phenomenon on SURSECO I’s power supply.

VAT = (CRF + FOMF + VOMF + AFC + Start – Up Cost + RCEC + BCEC) x 0.12 6.

Start-Up Costs (SC)

44. In view of the foregoing, Joint Applicants respectfully move for the provisional approval of the instant Application pursuant to Rule 14 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure.

The Buyer, on a pro rata basis of the capacity of the Power Station allocated to the Buyer, shall pay the Seller Start-Up Costs for the cost of starting up the MPC Power Station after a period of shutdown due to any reason attributable to all the buyers of the Seller; The Start-Up Costs shall be computed based on the prevailing price of diesel fuel at the time of the Start Up and paid in accordance with the following schedule: Type of Start-Up

Liters of Diesel Fuel

Cold Start-up (more than 10 hours of shutdown)

600

Warm Start-up (less than 10 hours of shutdown)

300

7.

In addition, the power demand in SURSECO I’s franchise area is steadily increasing.

42. Thus, in order of to help ensure sufficiency of power supply to SURSECO I’s customers, the supply under the PSA must be available in a timely manner.

A copy of a sworn statement supporting the said motion is attached hereto as Annex “W.” 45.

The Applicant SURSECO I and MPC prayed that the Commission will:

a) Issue an Order declaring the financial model attached hereto as Annex “M” as confidential information within the purview of Rule 4 of the ERC Rules, as well as directing that the financial model be treated with confidentiality and be protected from public disclosure; b).

Issue the corresponding Protective Order in accordance with Section 2 and 4 of the said Rule 4;

Replacement Capacity and Energy Cost Fee (if applicable)

The Buyer shall pay the Seller Replacement Capacity and Energy Cost in accordance with the invoice provided by the supplier of Replacement Capacity and Energy Cost.

c).

Immediately issue an Order provisionally approving the present Joint Application; and

8.

d) After due hearing, render judgment approving the Power Sales Agreement subject of the instant Joint Application, as well as the generation rate and adjustment mechanisms indicated therein.

Backup Capacity and Backup Energy Costs Fee (if applicable).

The Buyer shall pay the Seller Backup Capacity and Energy Cost equivalent to the Monthly Payment had there been no Forced Outage.

For reference, a sample computation of the rate is contained in Schedule C of the PSA. 22.1. Basis for indexation. As indicated in the formulas above, the monthly fees to be paid by SURSECO I are subject to adjustments based on various indices or factors in order to properly reflect the fluctuation of MPC’s costs in producing electricity.

22.2 The components of the Operation and Maintenance Fees representing foreign currency denominated costs are adjusted based on the foreign exchange rate and the appropriate foreign price indices; those representing local costs are adjusted based on local price indices. The Actual Fuel Costs vary based on the applicable fuel cost index.

22.3. Financial Model. A copy of MPC’s financial model for the tariff is attached hereto as Annex “M.” As discussed below, the financial inodel is the subject of a Motion for Confidential Treatment of Information.

23.

Sources of Funds/Financial Plans.

23.1. Debt Equity Ratio. The project was funded through loans and equity; with a debt-equity ratio of 68:32. For the costs of an additional unit brought back to the MPC Power Station, the debt-equity ratio is 70:30.

23.2. Project Cost. The total project cost for the MPC Power Plant as of March 2014 is P1.456 billion.

A breakdown of the said total project cost is attached hereto as Annex “N.” For reference, a comparison between the said total project cost and earlier project cost totals used to compute the tariff is attached hereto as Annex “N-1.”

Annual Interest. MPC’s actual interest cost is 6.5% p.a.

e)

Joint Applicants likewise pray for other just and equitable relief under the premises.

The Commission has set the application for initial hearing, expository presentation, pre-trial conference and evidentiary hearing on 19 January 2017 (Thursday) at· nine o’clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.) at SURSECO I’s Principal Office, National Highway, San Fernando, Bislig City, Surigao del Sur. All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the proceeding may become· a party by filing, at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements in the ERC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, a verified petition with the Commission giving the docket number and title of the proceeding and stating: (1) the petitioner’s name and address; (2) the nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding, and the way and All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the proceeding may file their opposition to the application or comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before the applicant concludes the presentation of its evidence. No particular form of opposition or comment is required, but the document, letter or writing should contain the name and address of such person and a concise statement of the opposition or comment and the grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the application may request from the applicant that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing. The applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairman JOSE VICENTE B. SALAZAR, and the Honorable Commissioners ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASlRIT, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 13th day of September 2016 in Pasig.City.

A copy of MPC’s loan agreement is attached hereto as Annex “0.”

ATTY. NATHAN J. MARASIGAN Chief of Staff Office of the Chairman and CEO

23.4. Computation of Weighted Average Cost of Capital. The nominal pre-tax Weighted Average Cost of Capital (“WACC”) of the project is 12.38%.

A computation of the WACC is attached hereto as Annex “P.”

Where: F

“A trade secret is defined as a plan or process, tool, mechanism or compound known only to its owner and those of his employees to whom it is necessary to confide it. The definition also extends to a secret formula or process not patented, but known, only to certain individuals using it in compounding some article of trade having commercial value.

A trade secret may consist of any formula, pattern, device, or compilation of information that (1) is used in one’s business; and (2) gives the: employer an opportunity to obtain advantage over competitors who do not possess the information. Generally, a trade secret is a process or device intended for continuous operation · of the business, for example, a machine or formula, but can be .a price list or catalogue or specialized customer list. It is indubitable that trade secrets constitute proprietary rights.”

Total AFC = FC x EC x ED

EC

23.3.

CRFR

34.2. In the case “Air Philippines Corporation vs. Pennswell Inc,”1 the Supreme Court defined “trade secret” as follows:

The relative Value Added Taxes (“VAT’’) of the above fee payments 12% shall be computed as follows:

19.6. Effective Date. The obligations under the PSA shall become effective on the Effective Date, which shall be upon this Honorable Commission’s approval of the PSA and the pricing structure therein.

19.7. Allowed Outages. MPC is entitled to allowed outages equivalent to 5,256 MWh per year.

34.1. The financial model qualifies as a ”trade secret” as contemplated under existing jurisprudence.

Actual Fuel Cost (AFC)

Where: FC =

19.1. Supply of Power Requirements. Under the PSA, MPC shall make available, reserve, guarantee and deliver to SURSECO I the contracted electric power (“Contracted Capacity’’) of four (4) MW and the Dispatchable Energy, as indicated in and subject to the terms and conditions of the PSA

19.3. Commencement of Supply. MPC shall commence supplying power on the date designated by MPC to SURSECO I in writing as the date on which MPC is ready to commence supply (“Commencement Date”.

34. In accordance with. Section 1, Rule 4 of this Honorable Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (“ERC Rules”), Applicant MPC respectfully moves that the financial model be treated as Confidential information for the following reasons:

Variable O&M. Fee Rate of php 0.17/kWh

The Actual Fuel Cost (AFC) is the fee paid to the Seller as payment for the procurement and delivery of the fuel oil (Bunker C) used in the operation of the MPC Power Station. The Actual Fuel Cost shall be computed as follows:

Salient Features of the PSA.

19.2. MPC shall have the option of supplying the Contracted Capacity or any part thereof, from other sources, provided that the cost of such supply is lower than or equal to the cost of supply from the MPC Power Plant. The cost of such alternative supply to SURSECO I shall be a full pass-through cost to SURSECO I.

Variable O&M Fee, in Pesos

VOMFR =

A copy of a certification on the Plant’s net heat rate is attached hereto as Annex

“L.”

33. The financial model discloses the basis for the tariff under the PSA. It includes all the formulas and calculations as well as the assumptions and values considered therein.

Where:

Copies of SURSECO 1 ’s DDP and supply-demand projections are attached to the Application as Annexes “F” and “G,” respectively:

= Monthty Actual Energy Delivered TMED

24. Cash Flow.

24.1.

Breakdown of Operating and Maintenance Expenses. A breakdown of

1

G. R. No. 172835, 13 December 2007.

(MS-DEC. 13 & 20, 2016)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

C4

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016

Governor stands trial in Indonesia

World

Indian villages on path of cyclone CHENNAI, India―India on Monday started evacuating thousands of people from fishing villages as Cyclone Vardah barreled towards its southeastern coast at speeds of more than 100 kilometers per hour.

Heavy rain accompanied by high-velocity winds pounded the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh states, uprooting trees and disrupting power supply lines.

A high alert was issued in several affected districts, with eight fishermen having so far been rescued from the sea in view of the “very severe” cyclonic storm.

“We have already moved over 9,400 persons in seven vulnerable mandals (blocks) to safety.

All necessary measures have been taken to ensure safety of people,” P Narayana, a minister in the Andhra Pradesh state government, told the Press Trust of India news agency.

Another 7,000 were evacuated in Tamil Nadu state, the National Disaster Management Authority said.

Two navy ships with doctors, food packets and other relief material have also been put on standby, said a navy spokesman.

More than 15 teams of the National Disaster Response Force were deployed, with the storm expected to make landfall in the late afternoon close to Chennai, the state capital of Tamil Nadu.

The Tamil Nadu government ordered all educational institutions in coastal districts to be shut as a precaution.

Devastating floods last year killed at least 250 people in Chennai, India’s fourth-largest city, which is home to nearly 4.6 million people. AFP

Trump’s remarks worries Beijing BEIJING―Beijing is “seriously concerned” by US presidentelect Donald Trump’s suggestion that he could drop Washington’s One China policy unless the mainland makes concessions on trade and other issues, it said Monday.

If the One China principle, which guides relations with self-ruling Taiwan, is “compromised or disrupted, the sound and steady growth of China-US relations as well as bilateral cooperation in major fields would be out of the question”, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular briefing.

Beijing considers Taiwan a “core interest” that affects China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said, adding that adherence to the One China policy was the “political bedrock” for relations with the US. The comments came in response to Trump’s remarks in an interview Sunday that he did not see why Washington must “be bound by a One China policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade”.

He vehemently defended taking a call earlier this month from Tsai Ing-wen, the president of democratically self-ruling Taiwan, which Beijing has not controlled for more than 60 years but considers a rogue province awaiting unification.

Although the United States is Taiwan’s main ally and arms supplier, Washington has not had official diplomatic relations with Taipei since 1979, when it switched recognition to Beijing.

AFP

FOGGY DAY. Indian devotees pay their respects on a foggy day at the Sikh Golden Temple in Amritsar on December 12. Seasonal heavy fog and cold weather disturbed train, bus and air schedules in northern India as temperatures dipped toward freezing. AFP

JAKARTA―Jakarta’s Christian governor will stand trial Tuesday accused of blasphemy in a high-profile case that has emboldened hard-line groups and stoked fears of growing intolerance in the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation.

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama -- the first Christian to govern Jakarta in more than 50 years -- will defend allegations that he insulted the Koran and fight calls for his imprisonment under Indonesia’s tough blasphemy laws.

Purnama, known for his outspoken style, outraged Muslims when he controversially quoted a passage from the Islamic holy text while campaigning in elections for the Jakarta governorship.

His remarks ignited a protest movement by hardliners, who have long railed against a nonMuslim in city hall but failed to dent the governor’s popularity.

But their rallying cry to defend Islam and punish “the blasphemer” attracted unprecedented support from Muslims both moderate and conservative, who marched against the governor in numbers not seen in many years.

The case is being viewed in part as a test of religious tolerance in Indonesia, where a spike in attacks on minorities has eroded a reputation for diversity and inclusiveness.

“If he’s found guilty, this could be the biggest setback for pluralism in Indonesia’s history,” said Tobias Basuki from the Jakarta-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Purnama fell foul of Indonesia’s archaic blasphemy laws when he insinuated that his opponents had used a Koranic verse to trick people into voting against him.

An edited version of his speech went viral online, sparking outrage far beyond Jakarta, where Purnama has ruled since his predecessor Joko Widodo became president in late 2014.

The governor apologized but Indonesia’s highest clerical body, and a slew of radical groups, declared the remarks blasphemous and urged authorities to bring charges.

Critics want the country’s blasphemy laws overhauled. The legislation was rarely used during the 32-year rule of strongman Suharto, but in recent years it has been exploited to persecute minorities, rights groups say. AFP

Russian meddling dismissed W ASHINGTON―President-elect Donald Trump dismissed a brewing storm over Russian cyber meddling in the US election, rejecting as “ridiculous” US intelligence reports that Moscow tried to help him win the White House.

“I don’t believe it,” Trump said in a pre-recorded interview that was broadcast Sunday on Fox News.

“I think it’s ridiculous,” Trump said, putting it down as an attempt by Democrats to find an excuse for their embarrassing election loss.

In the interview Trump touched on other issues -- questioning US commitment to the “one China policy” without concessions from Beijing, and hailing Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson, who is under consideration for secretary of state, as “a world class player.”

But the controversy over the latest US intelligence consensus on Russia and Trump’s skepticism of the findings dominated the conversation at a time of deepening political divisions over how to respond to the hacking attacks.

Two top Republican senators -- John McCain and Lindsey Graham -- joined leading Democrats Sunday in calling for greater public disclosure about “recent cyber attacks that have cut to the heart of our free society.”

“This cannot become a partisan issue. The stakes are too high for our country,” they said in a joint statement with Chuck Schumer, the incoming Democratic leader in the Senate, and Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

They pledged to work across party lines to have the incidents investigated, but other Republicans said the evidence does not support the conclusions that the Russian meddling was aimed at helping Trump.

Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelli-

gence Committee, said the hacking was definitely the work of the Russians.

“This was not China. This wasn’t a 400-pound guy in New Jersey or anyone else,” Schiff said, mocking similar comments Trump has made. “This was the Russians.”

Trump’s willingness to disregard the intelligence community’s “overwhelming evidence” was “extraordinarily damaging,” he said.

US intelligence has previously linked Russia to leaks of damaging email from Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton’s campaign but saw it as a broad bid to undermine confidence in the US political process.

On Friday, however, the Washington Post reported that the CIA has since concluded that the aim of the cyber intrusions was to help Trump win the election.

The New York Times quoted senior administration officials as saying there was “high confidence” that the Russians hacked both the Democratic and Republican National Committees, but leaked only documents damaging to Clinton through WikiLeaks.

Reince Priebus, the Republican National Committee chairman and Trump’s incoming White House chief of staff, said the FBI had investigated and told the RNC it had not been hacked.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has denied links with Russia’s government.

Trump dismissed the intelligence reports, asserting there is “great confusion” over the issue within the spy agencies. AFP

PRESENT. Actress Lily Collins arrives for the 22nd Annual Critics’ Choice Awards at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, on December 11, 2016. AFP

‘La La Land’ expected to lead Globe nominees LOS ANGELES-The nominations for the Golden Globes will be unveiled Monday, with critics expecting musical “La La Land” to lead the pack ahead of “Moonlight,” “Manchester by the Sea” and “Lion.”

In a departure from last year’s awards calendar, the announcements come before the influential Screen Actors Guild nominations, making them the first major bellwether of momentum going into

the Oscars race.

The Globe nominations, to be revealed at the crack of dawn in Beverly Hills, are decided by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), a group of entertainment journalists who are wined and dined by publicists.

There has been controversy in the past over the category placement of films, with last year’s inclusion of “The Martian” and “Joy” in comedy/musi-

cal raising eyebrows.

Awards prediction site Gold Derby has Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land” -- uncontroversially both a musical and a romantic comedy -- comfortably in the lead in several races.

“Normally the Globe voters like to spread the wealth among a lot of different films, but I could honestly see it winning the (best) film award and (awards) for Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone,” managing

director Chris Beachum told AFP. “It’s got a very good shot at ‘directing’ and maybe the score or song categories -- it could do really well.”

Experts say Kenneth Lonergan’s unflinching “Manchester by the Sea,” which has won acclaim for its central performance by Casey Affleck, has been getting the most recent attention on the drama side.

Another front runner is Barry

Jenkins’s coming-of-age story “Moonlight,” with cast members Naomie Harris and Mahershala Ali garnering acting nominations.

“Lion,” Garth Davis’s drama about a young man from India adopted by an Australian family who searches for his long-lost blood relatives using Google Earth, is also expected to earn several nominations, including in acting for Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman.

AFP

Life CULTURE & MEDIA

ARTIST. Multi-talented Kapuso actress Solenn Heussaff exhibits her painting whose proceeds will be entirely donated. Also, she holds the product of an impromptu painting session that she did using makeup.

G

MA Network is proud that its employees and talents are not boxed into simply television performance.

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016

D1

Kapuso shows off talents in

fine arts

Recently, the network displayed the artworks of its employees and talents, showcasing the breadth of the Kapuso in the field of the arts in the exhibition called Art Gap 2016 that ran until Dec. 9 at the GMA Network Center in Quezon City.

Art Gap featured almost 50 paintings of various subjects and media.

GMA’s socio-civic arm, GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF), was the beneficiary of the exhibition.

The exhibit opened on Nov. 24 on the mezzanine floor of the GMA Network building. It featured works by talented featured artists, among them Solenn Heussaff, Isabelle de Leon, and GMA News and Public Affairs’ Connie Sison.

At the opening, GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon, along with other officers including EVP and CFO Felipe S. Yalong, GMAKF EVP and COO Rikki Escudero-Catibog, GMAKF Founder and Ambassador Mel C. Tiangco, GMA First VP for Post Production Edward Achacoso, GMA VP for Professional Development Howie Severino and GMA VP for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angela Javier Cruz were all there to show support for the network’s artists.

Dingdong Dantes, the network’s Primetime King, was the special guest.

Now on its 15th year, Art Gap began in 2001 as a painting exhibit featuring some of the finest works of GMA employees and select on-cam talents, like Joey de Leon, Michael V., and the late Francis Magalona.

Through the years, it has developed into an art competition that showcases the creativity and talent of the GMA workforce. The competition has featured various artwork including painting, photography GMA Chairman and CEO Felipe Gozon admiring some of the paintings mounted at the Art Gap 2016 exhibit and caricature drawings.

Filipinos’ artworks make it to Starbucks red holiday cups

Illustrate what Christmas means to you for a chance to win P3000-worth of Muji gift certificates

Christmas art contest WHAT is Christmas to you?

Is it the warm feeling of being surrounded by Christmas trees decorated with shimmering ornaments and bright lights?

Is it the joy of unwrapping presents tied with ribbons of red and gold on Christmas mornings? Or is it the aroma of food in the air as your mom cooks at home for Noche Buena?

Traditions and memories make Christmas different and special for everyone and this season, Muji is inviting you to share these moments through art, as it launches its Christmas Art Contest.

Simply purchase P300 worth of Muji writing materials and draw your meaning of Christmas, for a chance to win P3,000 worth of Muji Gift Certificates and a Muji Manila Bag. Promo runs until Dec. 18.

For more details about the contest, visit http://woobox.com/3r6yia or visit Muji Philippines official Facebook page.

Muji is located at C1 Bonifacio High Street Central, Ayala Center Cebu, Greenbelt 3, Power Plant Mall at Rockwell, Robinsons’ Magnolia, Shangri-La Plaza East Wing, and SM Mall of Asia.

STARBUCKS red holiday cups are Illinois. Even though I’ve experienced a back, with a special twist. This year, for blizzard, getting stuck in snow, and exthe first time, Starbucks red cups feature treme winter temperatures, I have come designs created by customers with 13 to appreciate the beauty of trees and fields distinct cups in Starbucks stores around all covered in white snow,” she said. the world—and two of the customers, Chloe also studied multimedia arts Anz Soza and Chloe Deogaygay—are and have always been into graphic Filipinos. Their designs, Ornaments and design. As an avid Starbucks card Birch Forest, are now printed on this collector, she shows her creativity in year’s Starbucks red cups. designing envelopes with washi tapes Taking a cue from customers who and white pens to surprise fellow colhad been using their red holiday cups lectors she swaps with. as a canvas, last December Starbucks The red holiday cup designs, ininvited customers to share their designs spired by the stories of Starbucks cuson Instagram. In just eight days, Startomers, feature traditional Christmas bucks received more than 1,200 indilights and ornaments, snowflakes and vidual submissions from 13 countries. winter landscapes that express the “We were surprised and inspired shared spirit of the holidays. by the amount of incredible art sub“We loved how the red cups with white mitted by our customers, the designs designs naturally created a collection. were beautiful, expressive and en- Chloe Deogaygay with her Birch They hang together as one idea but each gaging,” said Dena Blevins, creative Forest design expression is unique.” said Blevins. director, Starbucks Global Creative Studio. “We quickly realized that there was potential to use the customer created art for our holiday cups.”

Anz, an interior designer now based in Dubai, made a hobby of doodling Starbucks cups, collecting more than 75 creations. She uses her designs to prove that sometimes, all we need is a change in perspective.

“Every time I draw on my cups, I always imagine myself as another person using the cup I designed.

It’s like talking to them through my drawings. I want the other person to feel that whatever situation he/she is in right now, everything’s gonna be okay,” she said. Her winning design, Ornaments, shows the joyous holiday season through dream catchers.

Meanwhile, Chloe, a nurse now based in Chicago, created a wintery design which reminds her of her home in the States. “I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with winter since I moved to The 13 Starbucks Red Cups 2016 designs made by customers from around the world

Life

D2

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

DANCE

Stepping into iconic shoes

Ballet Manila’s production of ‘The Swan, The Fairy & The Princess’ is a tribute to the artistic brilliance of Russian composer Peter Tchaikovsky. Mark Sumaylo and Abigail Oliveiro led this scene.

B

ALLET Manila’s dancers leave the audience breathless while playing timeless roles.

They say that the mark of a really good dancer lies in his ability to perform the classics. If that’s the case, then anyone who has seen the recently concluded run of Ballet Manila’s The Swan, The Fairy & The Princess can only make the inevitable conclusion that the company’s ballerinas and danseurs are worthy of international acclaim.

Ballet Manila’s Vaganova styletrained dancers’ recent homage to one of the world’s most distinguished composers, Peter Tchaikovsky, was the result of hours upon hours of hard work and the great discipline that the company is famous for. All the dancers gracefully and almost effortlessly executed choreographies that made the audience either hold their breath, break into long applause, or utter words of disbelief.

Flaws, if there were any, were well hidden from plain sight.

Joining the company’s homegrown dancers in a splendid display of strong and well-calculated jumps, precise movements, and long clean lines are

Rudy de Dios plays Prince Desire while Katherine Barkman as Aurora

respected masters in their own fields, including Kremlin Ballet Theater’s Premier Danseur Mikhail Martynyuk, who wowed members of the audience when he played the dashing Prince Désiré in Sleeping Beauty. There was also Maestro Alexander Vikulov, who con-

ducted the Manila Symphony Orchestra for the ballet’s live musical scoring. In addition, there was also veteran theater and TV actor Miguel Faustmann, who gave a very entertaining performance as the master composer, Tchaikovsky.

“We are very proud of our dancers

and everyone else who made this show possible,” shares Prima Ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, Ballet Manila’s CEO and artistic director. “Everyone surpassed my expectations, and—going by their reaction—something tells me that we exceeded our audience’s expec-

tations as well. I honestly can’t be happier about the turn out of these performances.”

The Swan, The Fairy & The Princess was co-presented by the Manila Broadcasting Company, Star City and Aliw Theater.

DESIGN

Collaborating with global design legend Karim Rashid DESIGN ingenuity and innovation were at the forefront of the furniture art exhibit that featured the works of legendary and award-winning designer Karim Rashid.

Rashid, born in Egypt and raised in Canada, collaborated recently with Sixinch Philippines, a joint venture between the RGC Group of Companies, makers of Uratex foam in the Philippines, and Belgiumbased foam maker SixInch Design B.V.B.A., whose mantra is to develop foam designs and furniture for today’s modern living spaces.

One of Rashid’s most recent and renowned creations, “River Must Flow,” is a featured piece at the exhibit organized by Sixinch Philippines at the South Court of the Power

Plant Mall in Rockwell, Makati City.

His designs continue to astound the world because of its timelessness and creativity that won for him a long list of acclamations from all over the world. Rashid’s works are perennial winners of the esteemed Red Dot Award, the Chicago Athenaeum Good Design award, I.D. Magazine Annual Design Review, and IDSA Industrial Design Excellence Award.

Among his award-winning designs include luxury goods that were used by prestigious brands such as silver flatware and home accessories maker Christofle, champagne brand Veuve Clicquot, Italian house-ware brand Alessi, Paris Baguette, French luxury

fashion house Kenzo and German luxury fashion brand Hugo Boss, to name a few.

Big Boy Cheng, Sixinch Philippines president, said they are excited in this fruitful collaboration with this design superstar whose renown in the design world remains unmatched.

“We are elated that Karim Rashid agreed to partner with us in continuing to create modernity, chicness and style in today’s modern spaces, particularly in the Philippines. His ideas will truly be great contributions to our desire to make world-class furniture available to discriminating customers in the Philippine market.

We know that his furniture collection will be a big hit in the country

because of its modernity in design and uniqueness, fueled by the global acclamation his creations garnered that are truly invaluable,” declared Cheng during the exhibit.

He added the collaboration between Sixinch Philippines and Rashid would be a continuing relationship that will definitely elevate Sixinch Philippines’ stature as a premier maker of not just aesthetically appealing furniture but also functional and more importantly, unconventional and revolutionary.

Visit the Sixinch Philippines showroom located at the Ronac Center along Ortigas Avenue, Greenhills, San Juan City. For more about Sixinch Philippines, Karim Rashid features one of his most recent and renowned creations, ‘River Must Flow’ visit www.sixinch.ph.

Young artist uses digital art to convey richness and imagery of Paskong Pinoy NO OTHER holiday is more awaited and celebrated by Filipinos than Christmas. Playing Christmas carols even with the entry of the “Ber” months and setting up Christmas trees and decorations so early are just some of the things that are proof of Pinoys’s deep passion for the occasion.

Pan de Manila’s fans will certainly look forward to Christmas time as the country’s favorite bread chain has released its 2016 Paskong Pinoy art, this time by young and promising digital artist Bibsy Ann Torio.

Her art piece graces the packaging of Pan de Manila, the Christmas paper bags, boxes and limited edition canvas tote bags containing Pan de Manila mga palaman.

Bibsy’s work, which took months of conceptualization and days of meticulous execution, centers on the iconic Pinoy Parol featuring a family of carolers, with colors that radiate vivid shades of pastel. Often captured in fluid, dream-like scenes, Bibsy has always been fascinated by

Digital artist Bibsy Ann Torio creates a design featuring the parol for Pan de Manila

the Filipino family culture, which she finds most beautiful and endearing.

“I believe my purpose in this life is to show this kind of appreciation to other people. Often whimsical but always with a touch of warmth—this

is my happy place, which I hope to share with my audience, wishing that they may find their way home through my art,” she shares.

“In this artwork, I thought of a Filipino family that is freely sharing the

spirit of Christmas of giving love and spreading joy. Christmas is both a festive and sacred celebration, about our love for home; our love for being together; our love for salu-salo. And Pan De Manila is about that, too. It reminds us to love and preserve our values as a nation with the Filipino family as its core,” Bibsy says of her latest masterpiece.

Bibsy has been doing digital design since 2005, but this is her first time to create a commissioned artwork for a well-known brand like Pan de Manila.

“Digital art is my life. Because of this platform, I could paint whatever it is that my mind could conceive. I used to paint using traditional mediums yet found out lately that paint has contents I am allergic to. For me, digital art is like a second chance to pursue my purpose,” she says.

“My other artworks, apart from showcasing the richness and diversity of our quirks as Filipinos, are also about our culture of close family relationships—the unspeakable

bond between mother and child; the love that endures the test of time, we so movingly see every time we look at our grandparents being happy and content with each other.”

The exciting design collaboration with Bibsy Torio marks Pan de Manila’s ninth year of commemorating timeless Filipino holiday traditions and customs. The seasonal packaging campaign that began in 2008 has since become a yearly tribute that widely recognizes unique Filipino culture through showcasing artworks by seasoned and upcoming local artists. Among those featured in the Christmas paper bags were Albert Magsumbol, Larry Memije, Rina Albert-Llamas, the late Dante Hipolito, Amador Barquilla and Jovan Benito.

Visit Pan de Manila bakeshop located in Metro Manila, north and south Luzon, Cebu, Iloilo and Bacolod. To keep updated with the latest news and promos, visit PandeManilaOfficial on Facebook and Instagram.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016

W

ITH several hit shows, D5STUDIO’s focus on producing original digital content that seeks to connect with audiences through fresh and different concepts has recently paid off in a huge way.

Two hit web shows, Forever Sucks and Bolero Rap Battles in particular, paved the way for D5STUDIO Originals’ entertainment offerings.

Since its debut in February, Forever Sucks has quickly developed a solid and loyal following among its millennial fan base.

The show, which stars Jasmine CurtisSmith playing Izabel (a 170-yearold vampire pretending to be a normal lovelorn twentysomething), returned for a second season with a new twist and a new love interest.

Despite the departure of theater actor JC Santos who co-starred with Jasmine in Season 1, viewership for Forever Sucks remained solid and became even more phenomenal in Season 2.

With the introduction of Kiko, the character Felix Roco plays in the second season, the show even reached a new high as it garnered almost three million views in less than a month within its new season premiere last Halloween, Oct.31.

Forever Sucks has always been known for its exceptional production quality, but the second season has truly solidified the show’s storytelling. The web series has now reached a level that it is being touted as a benchmark that Philippine television must catch up to.

While the season ended with Izabel and Kiko in each other’s arms, fans remain optimistic for a possible return, given that Izabel’s immortality and Kiko’s humanity mean that they can’t and won’t be together forever. Walang forever pero meron pa ring Forever Sucks.

Meanwhile, one show that music fans, especially rap and hip-hop fans can definitely watch forever on D5Studio is Bolero Rap Battles.

Hosted by hip-hop superstars Ron Henley and Loonie, Bolero Rap Battles is actually a

D5STUDIO hits millions of views for online original shows

Hip-hop superstars Ron Henley and Loonie, hosts of the trending fliptop battle, ‘Bolero Rap Battles’

The main cast of the web series ‘Forever Sucks’ led by Jasmine Curtis-Smith (center) and Felix Roco (second from right)

fresh spin off of the biggest rap battle league in the country, Fliptop Battles.

What makes the show unique is its “Purian, hindi siraan!” concept that places emphasis on the battling rappers complimenting, rather than bashing, each other. The fresh, new concept has resonated well with the Fliptop Battles cult-like community and whose members welcomed it with open arms.

With over 3.5 million views broken down into an average of 300,000 views per battle, the show recently culminated with the final battle between Apekz and Shernan.

In three epic rounds, Apekz and Shernan expressed their mutual admiration for each other as they took in a freestyle way into amazing bits that are at times both marvelous and hilarious. In the end, it was the pride of Valenzuela, Apekz that prevailed even as the impressive efforts of Muntinlupa native Shernan made him equally deserving to stand on the same stage.

With the success of Forever Sucks 2 and Bolero Rap Battles, expect D5STUDIO to continue exceeding expectations as it delivers more inspired entertainment content in the years to come.

You can watch D5STUDIO’s original shows online for free at http://www.d5.studio.

St. Pedro Poveda’s life in a movie

The highly acclaimed and award-winning movie ‘Poveda,’ about the inspiring true story of the revolutionary St. Pedro Poveda will open in select Ayala Malls Cinemas across the country

THE highly acclaimed and award-winning movie Poveda about the inspiring true story of the revolutionary St. Pedro Poveda is screening in select Ayala Malls Cinemas across the country.

Awarded with Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director at the recently concluded Buenos Aires Non Stop Art Festival, the film is based on a true story directed by Pablo Moreno basedon a screenplay he also wrote along with Pedro Delgado.

Raul Escudero plays the role of Pedro Poveda in the film and Elena Furiase as Josefa Segovia.

The film has also received the prestigious Best Film award given to a producer from the jury of the International Catholic Film Festival Mirabile Dictu 2016 among more than 1,200 participants in the festival. It was also recently awarded the International Film Festival for Peace, Inspiration, and Equality” held in Jakarta winning the “Outstanding International Award of Excellence.”

Presented by the Teresian Association International, Inc., the film tells the story of Pedro Poveda (Linares, 1874 - Madrid, 1936), a tenacious and innovative priest who opens paths in the field of education and who

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Tuesday, December 13, 2016

ACROSS 1 Pronto on “ER” 5 VH1 rival 8 Blow hard?

12 — up (hiding) 14 Breezy greeting 15 Distant past 16 Eager, plus 17 Down Under rockers 18 Genesis garden 19 Yucatan’s — Roo 21 Somewhere else 23 Mi. above sea level 24 Heat meas.

25 NATO cousin 26 Rock’s — Brothers 30 Slinkies 32 Burns’ partner 33 Type of squash 37 Approach 38 Lament 39 Persia, today 40 They coo a lot 42 Light incense to 43 Pool problem 44 Teeter-totter 45 Raw metal 48 Website 49 Badger 50 Pilot fish 52 Breadth 57 Ambush

58 Eggnog time 60 Ventricle neighbor 61 Bristle 62 Zoomed 63 Trekkie idol 64 Nothing but 65 That girl 66 Seance sounds DOWN 1 Hoops nickname 2 Soybean food 3 Et — 4 Coastal flier 5 Translucent mineral 6 Skosh 7 Trade 8 Tournament passes 9 Calgary Stampede 10 Ice-show venue 11 Well-bred chaps 13 Hold up 14 Hypocrisy 20 Malt brew 22 Lion’s share 24 Oafs 26 Boone, informally 27 Low-fat spread 28 Patron saint of Norway

29 Cleveland exurb 30 Makeshift 31 Catty 33 Reef material 34 Psyche’s beloved 35 Irene of “Fame” 36 Was in on 38 Farm workers, often 41 Get fuzzy 42 Sea off Greece 44 In the doldrums 45 Lawn products brand

46 Put on the late show 47 PC message 49 Nefertiti’s river 51 Grand Ole — 52 As it — 53 Roulette color 54 “Cope Book” aunt 55 Avast!

56 Puts into words 59 Cry of delight

pioneered the rights of women in early 20th century Spain. UNESCO recognized him in 1974 as “Educator and Humanist” and Pope John Paul II canonized him in 2003.

Poveda began his priestly work in the caves of Guadix (Granada) in 1901, a marginalized and forgotten reality at the time. There he sees the problem with education and responds to this situation by building a school for the gypsies.

This was received with great appreciation and adhesion while, at the same time, unleashed suspicion and envy in the well-educated sectors of society and the clergy.

He painfully left Guadix and went to Covadonga, the Asturian region of Spain. With time to pray, to plan and to envision, surrounded by green mountain landscapes and drawing inspiration from the shrine of the Santina of Covadonga, his interest in the national educational situation would allow him to write the itinerary of all his pedagogical essays. In 1911 he started a new movement, driven by young women, which would give birth to the Teresian Association, with the desire to train well-qualified Catholic teachers.

His work spread all over Spain with the establishment of pedagogical academies, training centers and residences for women. In

Jaen he met Josefa Segovia, the first woman in the city to graduate in education and who would be the first President of the Teresian Association. Josefa was a key pillar in the development of the Association, both in and out of Spain. Poveda then moved to Madrid in 1921 where he combined various priestly duties with social and educational tasks.

Pedro Poveda lived in turbulent times in Spain when during the thirties - social, educational and religious conflicts are exacerbated and that led to a civil war. In this context, Poveda, a man of peace and dialogue, will be a victim of violence and intolerance, leaving a trail of light and hope after his death on July 28, 1936, bearing witness to his faith. His last years in Madrid were in defense of freedom of education of Catholics against the dominance of uncompromising secularism.

Don’t miss this inspiring movie that will surely touch your hearts. Poveda now screening exclusively at selected Ayala Malls Cinemas - Glorietta 4, Trinoma, Ayala Center Cebu, Abreeza, Centrio and Ayala Malls’ Legazpi Cinemas. Trailer link: https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=Sn2F8uApccs Check out Ayala Malls Cinemas’ www.sureseats. com to book seats and buy tickets in advance.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016

‘Salamat’ new version marks 1M STAR MUSIC YOUTUBE SUBSCRIBERS

STAR POWER. Janella Salvador, Yeng Constantino, Morissette, Liezel Garcia, and Enchong Dee receive plaques from Star Music for having some of the most viewed videos on its YouTube channel

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BS-CBN’s music label Star Music has brought together a musical powerhouse of more than 30 of its most popular artists to record a new version of the 2007 hit song “Salamat” to mark a major milestone: its YouTube channel reaching more than one million subscribers.

Star Music is one of the only seven channels in the country to have hit a million-subscriber base on the videosharing service.

The 2016 version of “Salamat,” written and originally performed by Yeng Constantino, premiered on Dec. 9 on MOR 101.9, Myx, OneMusic.PH, Spotify, and iTunes. It features Yeng, Janella Salvador, Ylona Garcia, Bailey May, Angeline Quinto, Erik Santos, Kaye Cal, Marion Aunor, Daryl Ong, Bugoy Drilon, Liezel Garcia, Jovit Baldivino, Sue Ramirez, Inigo Pascual, Michael Pangilinan, Jed Madela, Morissette Amon, Klarisse De Guzman, Jamie Rivera, Jolina Magdangal-Escueta, Juris, Vina Morales, Jona, Migz & Maya, Gloc 9, KZ, Piolo Pascual, Kim Chiu, Xian Lim, Enchong Dee, Tim Pavino, Alex Gonzaga, Enrique Gil, Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla, and Vice Ganda.

Yeng said, “My song has been given a new life. This is my way of thanking all of my fans who have supported me for the past 10 years, as well as all of Star Music’s Kapamilya fans.”

Recently, Star Music was awarded with the YouTube Gold Play Button, a framed limited-edition gold-plated play button given by YouTube to channels that pass one million subscribers. It is also the first Filipino recording company to reach one million subscribers, and the third among ABS-CBN channels.

It is currently the sixth top YouTube channel in the Philippines.

YouTube is the top online video platform in the world with more than a billion monthly active users. It is also one of the world’s most popular websites for finding music. As such, Filipinos from all over the world use YouTube to find their favorite

Original Pilipino Music (OPM) tunes.

Star Music reported that, apart from the Philippines, users and subscribers are from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the United States, Kuwait, and Canada.

It also has Filipino fans in different parts of the world searching for and watching its videos.

Although YouTube can be accessed for free by its users it earns revenues through advertising, which it shares with producers, record companies, and composers.

Star Music head Roxy Liquigan said YouTube does more than to help music labels and musicians to fight piracy. He added, “Because of YouTube, fans have a legitimate source of free music, which helps the music industry in a big way. YouTube doesn’t just earn revenues for us, it also gives us a level playing field to compete with other music producers on a global platform.”

The most viewed OPM video on the Star Music channel and in the world is “Ikaw,” penned and performed by Yeng. The official music video, which features actual video footage from her wedding to Yam Asuncion, has garnered more than 50 million views so far, with an additional 20 million views from lyric videos and uploads by fans.

Meanwhile, KZ’s music video for “Mahal Ko O Mahal Ako,” the Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs grand prize winner, is the second most viewed Star Music video with more than 35 million views.

ABS-CBN, the Philippines’ leading media and entertainment company, is rapidly transitioning into an agile digital company with the biggest online presence among all media companies, and a growing list of digital properties.

ISAH V. RED

ABS-CBN also manages the country’s number one YouTube channel – the ABS-CBN Entertainment channel with almost four million subscribers and five billion views, and the second most subscribed channel, ABS-CBN News, with 2.6 million subscribers.

Moreover, some of the fastestgrowing YouTube channels in the country are part of multi-channel network Chicken Pork Adobo, such as like Lloyd Cadena, Kristel Fulgar, Alexa Ilacad, Andrea Brillantes, and Mich Liggayu.

With an undisputed online reach and an army of stars with huge online following, ABS-CBN harnesses different digital platforms to make OPM available to more Filipinos worldwide. Its online music portal OneMusic.PH not only features the best and brightest music artists in the country but also serves as a launching platform for aspiring artists and up-and-coming musicians. This year, OneMusic.PH has also staged successful digital concerts for Yeng, teen singer Ylona Garcia, The Dawn, Sue Ramirez, Loisa Andalio, Maris Racal, and Kristel Fulgar, and Darren Espanto.

Aside from the use of homegrown songs and talents for theme songs in teleseryes and Star Cinema movies, ABS-CBN also actively promotes OPM through programs such I Love OPM, and its spin-off We Love OPM, new episodes of Ryan, Ryan, Musikahan on Jeepney TV, as well as the top-rating “Tawag ng Tanghalan” in It’s Showtime” and “ASAPINOY” on ASAP. ABSCBN also operates Manila’s no.

1 FM radio station, MOR 101.9, which devotes most of its airtime to playing Filipino music.

Star Music head Roxy Liquigan (third from right) and Star Songs and New Media head Atty. Marivic Benedicto (second from left) unveil the YouTube Gold Play Button

Beauty Queens Venus Raj and Shamcey Supsup take viewers into the glamorous world of pageantry in ETC’s ‘Journey to the Crown’ series

Celebration of beauty

exclusively on ETC WHAT does it take to win the Miss Universe crown?

Learning to catwalk in 5-inch heels, following a strict diet and fitness regimen, daily dance training sessions and mastering the art of every subtle movement onstage --these are what we think aspiring beauty queens go for a chance at donning that coveted crown.

ETC’s latest show Journey to the Crown: A Celebration of Beauty, aims to give fans a rare glimpse into what really happens in the world of beauty pageants. Hosted by 2010 Miss Universe 4th Runner-up Venus Raj and 2011 Miss Universe 3rd Runner-up Shamcey Supsup-Lee, this show takes viewers through the highs and lows of being a beauty queen.

“The fans will be amazed that the journey [to Miss Universe] also entails drama, excitement, pride, struggles and even controversy,” says Shamcey.

Viewers and fans will also learn about Miss Universe Philippines 2016 Maxine Medina and reigning Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach in the upcoming episodes as they share their own stories in preparing for their respective pageants.

In addition to that, the show also looks back at some of the finest

Binibining Pilipinas and Miss Universe candidates in the country.

“In this part of the world, our passion for beauty pageants is unparalleled.

This [Journey to the Crown] also gives the fans a closer look at our country’s past representatives such as Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz and Miss Universe 1999 1st runnerup Miriam Quiambao—from their pageant days to their present day lives,” Venus says.

Young women who also dream of becoming beauty queens can take inspiration from the show, and fans will be able to better appreciate the passion and determination of the women who work hard in order to bring pride to the country.

Watch aspiring Filipinas take their beauty, wit and feistiness to the next level as they make their way to the most coveted pageant crown in the universe.

Journey to the Crown: A Celebration of Beauty airs on ETC at 7:30 PM every Sunday. Don’t miss out and join the conversation at #MsU2016onETC. For more updates, visit http://www. solarentertainmentcorp.com/channel/ whats_new/etc/ and check out etc on www.facebook.com/etctv, on Twitter and Instagram via @etc_channel.