Manila Standard - 2017 January 26 - Thursday

OFW hanged for murder

VOL. XXX • NO. 348 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

THE Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday confirmed that Jakatia Pawa from Zamboanga del Norte was hanged at 10:19 a.m. in Kuwait or at 3:19 p.m.

Manila time on Wednesday.

The Filipina was sentenced to death in April 2008 for allegedly killing the 22-year-old daughter of her employer.

“We extend our sincere condolences and sympathies to the family of Ms. Pawa,” For-

eign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose told reporters.

He said the Philippine government was informed about Pawa’s execution only on Tuesday, Jan. 24.

Malacañang on Wednesday expressed condolences to Pawa’s family.

“It is with sadness that we confirm the execution of Jakatia Pawa,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement. Next page

Noy camp taunts Du30 New panel, new facts , says former spokesman

By John Paolo Bencito and Macon Ramos-Araneta

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to form a commission to look into the botched January 2015 Mamasapano raid in which 44 police commandos were killed will only produce “alternative facts,” the camp of former President Benigno Aquino III said Wednesday.

Playing down the President’s decision to revisit the ill-fated incident, former presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda denied Duterte’s claim that Aquino deliberately hid the truth about the covert operation, or that then peace adviser Teresita Deles had advised against reinforcing the police commandos for fear that this would violate the ceasefire with Muslim rebels.

“Alternative commission, al- HONOR AND HEROISM. Members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force headed by its director C/Supt. Benjamin ternative facts,” Lacierda said in Lusad honor Wednesday the Gallant 44, a reference to the men who were killed two years ago in a police operation against terrorists in Next page Maguindanao. Norman Cruz a Twitter post.

SC chief bewails Rody to crucify officials liable for Yolanda foul-up ‘killings’

By John Paolo Bencito

CROSSES FOR CRUCIFIXION. President Rodrigo Duterte brings hope to victims of Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ and promises to bring crosses to crucify officials who fail to meet their deadline in the resettlement program. With him during the inspection Wednesday are officials including Secretary Leoncio Evasco, Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Romualdez, and Leyte Rep. Yedda Romualdez. Mel Caspe

‘Joma, CCP no longer terrorists’

By John Paolo Bencito THE government will ask the United States to remove Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison from its list of international terrorists to pave the way for his return to the Philippines without being arrested, an official said Wednesday.

Labor Secretary and government chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III said the delisting of the CPP from the US list of international terrorist organizations would allow Sison to keep his promise to Duterte to return to the Philippines as part of the ongoing peace negotiations.

Next page

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday he would bring five crosses to crucify officials involved in the resettlement program for victims of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” by March this year, if they again miss their deadline to build more than 200,000 houses for the survivors.

Speaking to typhoon-ravaged victims at New Hope Village in Tacloban City, Duterte once again gave a deadline of March 2017 to finish all housing targets after government agencies failed to meet his December 2016 target completion date.

“January, February, March—by then, you can now transfer [to your new homes,] I’ll return. If it can’t be finished by March, I’ll make you a cross. Like the one carried by Christ.

I’ll make [officials] carry them then have them march in the streets. P***, nagpako na,” the President said dur-

Two NBI agents linked to Jee’s murder

By Sandy Araneta JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II ordered the National Bureau of Investigation Wednesday to look into claims that two of its employees may have been involved in the kidnapping and murder of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo. NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin, the NBI spokesperson,

ducked questions about the report, however.

“I am out of the office,” said Lavin in a text message to Manila Standard on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Lavin declined to respond to text messages again asking for comment on the allegations that NBI agents were involved.

Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa on Tuesday

identified one of the NBI agents only as “Jerry” and said the other’s identity has yet to be determined.

“We will investigate through the NBI,” Aguirre said.

Dela Rosa said Jerry was a driver of an NBI official and was seen in one of the CCTV footage with SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, the main suspect in the case, when he was withdrawing money from an ATM in Greenhills, Next page San Juan City.

Koreans vs Koreans eyed in KFR modus

By Francisco Tuyay POLICE on Wednesday said they were looking at the possible involvement of another policeman in the robbery and extortion of three visiting Korean golfers, but said they were also investigating the involvement of other Koreans twitter.com/ MlaStandard

Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, chief Police Regional Office-3, told a radio interview that the inclusion of another suspect brings to eight the number of lawmen that reportedly victimized the three Koreans.

Earlier, police identified the seven suspects as PO3s Arnold Nagayo, Gomerson Evangelista,

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and Roentjen Domingo; PO2s Richard King and Ruben Rodriguez; and PO1s Jayson Ibe and Mark Joseph Pineda.

Also ordered relieved were Chief Insp. Wendel Arinas, commander of Station 5 and his deputy Senior Insp. Rolando Yutuc for command responsibility.

Next page

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ing a visit to Tacloban City.

Duterte made the call after Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco reported to him that many of the government’s deliverables to typhoon-struck victims have not been met since he visited Tacloban City, the epicenter of “Yolanda,” in November 2016.

At the time, he tasked Presidential Adviser for the Visayas Michael Dino to oversee all recovery efforts and for then housing czar Vice President Leni Robredo “to finish her job on time.”

Next page

THE perception of the rule of law in the country has suffered due to the unresolved killings of drug suspects, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said on Wednesday.

In a speech during the 68th inaugural meeting of the Management Association of the Philippines in Makati City, Sereno said the improvement in the perception of the administration of justice in the country through judicial reform initiatives suffered a setback due to the killings over the past months.

“We have to face the reality of the daily accounts of unsolved killings, many of them committed brazenly with public warnings against drug pushing or addiction,” Sereno said.

“It is not surprising, therefore, that the perception of the rule of law in our country has swung from marked improvement to a Next page downgrade.”

IN TOWN. 1993 Miss

Universe Dayanara Torres of Puerto Rico arrives in Manila Tuesday night for the 65th edition of the international pageant, where she will sit as judge both in the preliminary competition and the coronation event on Jan. 30.

Eric Apolonio

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Prove your calumny, Digong told N

OVALICHES Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani Jr. said Wednesday he might file defamation and libel cases against President Rodrigo Duterte for accusing him of having two wives.

“I do not have even one wife. I hope anyone who says I have two will produce even one,” Bacani told Radyo Veritas.

“I pity him, but I will pray for him.”

Bacani was critical of Duterte during the 2016 national elections, when he told voters not to elect him president.

Duterte, who was guest speaker during the second anniversary of the death of 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force in Mamasapano, slammed the Catholic Church but focused on Bacani. He claimed Bacani had two wives and even harassed a secretary.

Bacani said Duterte’s remarks were disrespectful to the Catholic Church, but he would still forgive him.

He hoped the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines

would announce a collective stand against the summary killings as a result of the government’s fight to stop illegal drugs.

The latest data from the Philippine National Police says at least 6,200 people were killed during the six months of the Duterte administration.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas, CBCP president, expressed hope Duterte would not see the Church as an enemy.

Villegas has remained silent despite Duterte’s attacks on the Church, saying “There is virtue in silence. Wisdom is knowing the time for silence and the time for speech.

“Mine is the silence of Jesus before the arrogance of Pilate,” Villegas said.

“Silence indeed is the language of God and only those who speak silence will be able to grasp Him.” Vito Barcelo

Two...

ing told that he was already dead.

Dumlao said they are checking the records of Sta. Isabel, who appeared to have a lot of business interests.

“We are also conducting financial investigation on Sta. Isabel. We are checking with the BIR [Bureau of Internal Revenue], SEC [Securities and Exchange Commission] and we will be seeking the help of AMLC [Anti-Money Laundering Council],” he said.

Dela Rosa, meanwhile said a source within the bureau confirmed that two NBI employees were involved.

Sta. Isabel on Wednesday asked the Angeles City Regional Trial Court to order his transfer of custody to the National Bureau of Investigation from the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame.

In an urgent motion filed through his lawyer from the Public Attorneys Office, Sta. Isabel also appealed to the Angeles City RTC, Branch 58, to order the DoJ to reinvestigate charges of kidnapping for ransom with homicide against him.

The detained policeman said he does not feel safe inside Camp Crame after he implicated several senior officials in the case, including his superiors PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group - Pampanga head Supt. Rafael Dumlao and Senior Supt. Allan Macapagal of the PNP AntiKidnapping Group.

“Since accused herein is a member of the Philippine National Police, detained at the institution’s detention facility, he fears for his life’s security as the same is in imminent danger as he continuously receives death threats,” Sta. Isabel’s lawyer said.

Aguirre II earlier cited the possibility that higher PNP officials were involved in the kidnap-slay case after Sta. Isabel and wife Jinky submitted evidence pointing to involvement of his superiors.

With Rey E. Requejo

From A1

Sta. Isabel is already under the custody of the PNP after an Angeles City court ordered him and six others arrested for kidnapping for ransom with homicide.

Jerry was also named as one of Sta. Isabel’s co-accused in the case.

Senior Supt. Glenn Dumlao, chief of the Anti-Kidnapping Group, said Senior Police Officer 4 Roy Villegas, one of those implicated in the crime, was the one who revealed that an NBI agent was involved in the kidnapping and murder case.

Dumlao said Sta. Isabel, who is accused of strangling Jee , sought refuge with the NBI “because he has many friends there.”

One of the suspects, identified as a certain Jerry Boy, showed an NBI badge, Dumlao said.

“We have coordinated with the NBI and that will be part of our investigation,” he said.

The other suspects include a police officer from the National Capital Region Police Office and three civilians.

Dumlao said he is not in anyway related to Supt. Rafael Dumlao III, Sta. Isabel’s team leader in the Anti-Illegal Drug Group, who was also tagged in Jee’s murder.

Rafael Dumlao III was placed under restricted custody of the Philippine National Police Headquarters Support Service.

The Department of Justice has filed a case against Sta. Isabel, Villegas, Ramon Yalung and four others identified only as Pulis, Jerry, Sir Dumlao and Ding.

The policemen detained Jee with a fake arrest warrant in October 2016 with the intent of holding him for ransom.

However, the Korean was killed the same day, strangled inside police headquarters in Camp Crame.

The Korean’s family paid a P5-million ransom without be-

'Joma,...

From A1

As an asylum seeker in The Netherlands, Sison could be barred from reentering Europe once he travels outside the continent.

“Maybe the talks can be held in the Philippines because we are trying to get support from the people,” Bello, who is in Rome for the ongoing peace talks, said in a statement.

The US, through its control of the International Police, can always have Sison arrested outside the EU, which protects the rights of people seeking political asylum in its member countries.

Sison, whose inclusion in the US terrorist list has become a stumbling block for his return, has been living in Utrecht after the Philippine government under President Corazon Aquino canceled his passport in 1987.

Duterte and Sison had earlier agreed to meet in any neutral Asian country once Sison was removed from the list of international terrorists.

The European Union had long ago taken Sison out of its terrorist list.

Bello said with new US President Donald Trump, Sison could be removed from the list of personalities considered by the American government as terrorists.

Noy...

From A1

Aquino, meanwhile, said he would answer questions directed at him by Duterte after checking the facts.

“There were a lot of points raised in yesterday’s speech, so we just wanted to make sure of our reply,” Aquino said after hearing a Mass celebrated for the 84th birthday of his mother, the late Corazon Aquino. “So I’ve been spending this morning checking on those facts.”

He said he would meet with his lawyers in the afternoon and have a statement released Thursday.

On Tuesday, Duterte said he would create a seven-man commission to look into the culpability of Aquino and his officials.

Duterte, in the same speech, asked Aquino to explain what really happened.

“Let it be brought in the open. It was an American adventure, with the cooperation of some. And apparently with your blessing,” Duterte said, describing the raid to neutralize Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, as a CIA operation.

“You said ‘It’s my fault.’ But that’s not enough. Tell me how you sinned,” he added.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said that the investigation will look into the “criminal responsibility” of Aquino, who was commander-in-chief during that time.

Because Aquino’s political allies were partial in investigating the Mamasapano case, it was time to conduct another investigation to get at the truth, Panelo said.

“The Senate hearings found that the person ultimately responsible for the snafu [was] President Aquino,” he added.

Panelo also denied allegations that they were raising the issue to deflect attention away from a scandal at the Philippine National Police, in which crooked police kidnapped a South Korean businessman and strangled him inside police headquarters in Camp Crame.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano

Rody...

From A1 Duterte then vowed to return by December last year, but many transition shelters have yet to be built.

Evasco took over Robredo’s job as housing czar after she resigned last year following Duterte’s order for her to stop attending Cabinet meetings.

As of December 2016, the National Housing Authority has yet to start 63,334 housing units from the 205,128 housing units intended for typhoon-affected victims. Only 32,919 have been completed while construction is still ongoing for 108,875 housing units.

Duterte vowed to keep his word on erring government officials.

“Just tell me, I can place there five

Aguirre II said the commission could shed light on unanswered questions.

Aguirre said among these questions are: Did President Aquino give an order to stand down and not to reinforce the pinned down SAF troopers? Why was it that the military fired phosphorous rounds only after most if not all of our SAF troopers had died?

“Last but most important of all, why were the mobile phones of all those involved in the planning and the directing of Oplan Exodus from President Aquino down to the officers not submitted for forensic examination?” he said.

Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno, meanwhile, assured the families of the 44 police commandos slain in Mamasapano that the government would help send their children to school.

“As of Jan. 16 this year, at least 16 beneficiaries of the SAF 44 members have not yet filed or received their claim for educational assistance because the intended beneficiaries are not yet studying or their petitions for claim are still pending,” he said.

Sueno also called on all members of the Philippine National Police to remember and be inspired by the sacrifices of the SAF 44.

“Sacrifices such as those of the SAF 44 should not be forgotten,” Sueno said.

Duterte’s decision to create a commission to look into the Mamasapano case was welcomed by senators allied with the President, but criticized by those who oppose him.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said Aquino can now be summoned to answer questions after he has lost his immunity from suit.

“How will it [the commission] arrive at the truth if there’s a person exempted from subpoena or being questioned?” he said.

He said the Senate was ready to help, but would not reinvestigate the case.

“If they need transcripts of our hearings here, we will give them to avoid repetition,” he said.

Senator Grace Poe welcomed the President’s creation of an independent commission that would

look into the Mamasapano incident as she recognized the limitations of the Senate probe she conducted during the last Congress.

Her committee said Aquino was ultimately responsible for the death of the members of the police elite force.

“Given the nature and inherent limitations of a legislative investigation, it is the prerogative of the President to create a commission for its reinvestigation that may... add to what had been unearthed previously given the greater powers of the executive and under much different political circumstances,” she said in a statement.

Poe said the Office of the Ombudsman had “essentially adopted” the recommendation of the committee with the recent filing of charges against former Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisima and SAF Director Getulio Napeñas.

Senator Panfilo Lacson also backed the creation of the commission, saying it’s the President’s prerogative.

“If the President feels that the investigation conducted by the Board of Inquiry is lacking, including the investigation conducted by the Senate, that is always his prerogative,” said Lacson.

He said a separate inquiry by an independent body could also pave the way for the filing of additional charges against those people responsible for the Mamasapano debacle and could be used to correct the mistakes and avoid committing the same mistakes in the future.

But Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Leila de Lima accused Duterte of using the Mamasapano massacre not only to “demonize” the past administration, but also to divert attention from the crisis of his own leadership.

“That’s just a diversionary tactic to mask the failures of his administration,” Trillanes said in a text message to reporters.

De Lima supported the stance of Trillanes, saying the second anniversary of the Mamasapano incident is again being used by Duterte to divert attention from the crisis his current leadership is

lazy people,” he said. “July is too far away.”

The National Housing Authority reported that there are already 3,236 dwellers in northern relocation sites as of Jan. 13. At least 6,116 units have been awarded to beneficiaries. Overall, the target is to build more than 14,000 permanent houses for “Yolanda” survivors in the city.

During his visit last year, President Duterte ordered government agencies to urgently address bottlenecks in the relocation of families badly hit by the 2013 super typhoon.

The President had expressed disappointment over the slow pace of relocation efforts three years after the monster typhoon’s powerful winds and storm surges decimated the city.

In more than two months, the Army’s engineering brigade has been providing trucking services to beneficiaries of housing projects using military vehicles.

Water needs have been regularly provided by the Department of Public Works and Highways and Leyte Metropolitan Water District pending the completion of medium term and long-term water supply projects.

The Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Labor and Employment have lined up activities to generate livelihood activities of relocated families.

The Leyte II Electric Cooperative has completed power connections to transmission lines near permanent houses.

Duterte ordered Dino to closely monitor housing projects and ensure that the electricity and water supply project is done.

Dino also sent six Ceres Liner buses to Tacloban to help in the relocation of survivors. The buses have been used to shuttle the students and those working at the city center from their homes in the northern resettlement sites to the city for the next six months. This is a stop-gap solution until new public vehicles are established in the relocation sites.

The local government also started a weekly market day in the area to spur economic activities and make available basic goods and commodities.

On Nov. 8, 2013, Super Typhoon “Yolanda” unleashed its wrath in central Philippines, killing around 6,300 people and leaving more than 4.4 million people displaced and homeless.

Tacloban City, the regional hub of Eastern Visayas region, was considered as Yolanda’s ground zero. PNA

Koreans...

From A1

On Wednesday, Aquino, also ordered the relief of Sr. Supt Sidney Villaflor, Angeles City Police Chief for command responsibility over the acts of his men.

The policemen raided the temporary residence of the three Koreans—two of them identified as Park Min-hoon and Lee Ki-hoon, on the pretext that they were involved in illegal online gaming.

After the raid failed to establish any evidence against the Koreans, the lawmen robbed them of their expensive personal belongings, not sparing even their shoes.

The three Koreans were then brought to the police station where they made to pay the policemen P200,000.

Aquino said they are also investigating if some Koreans were involved.

Aquino also suggested that the accused policemen had operated not only in Angeles City but also in other parts of Pampanga and Bulacan.

Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa ordered summary dismissal proceedings against the seven policemen who robbed and extorted money from the three visiting Korean golfers in Angeles City, Pampanga in December last year.

Aquino said he was waiting for the charge sheet and said they could finish the case in 60 days.

Also on Wednesday, PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Dionardo Carlos acknowledged that rogue policemen were taking advantage of the government’s war on illegal drugs.

“Well I’ll be frank with you, yes, there are. These are rogue cops that we still have in our ranks and we are taking them away,” Carlos said.

Meanwhile, Bello said the government and the NDF had agreed to separately discuss the joint bilateral ceasefire when both negotiating panels meet in February in time for the depositing of identification documents of rebel leaders who are to be covered by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantee.

He said the meeting for the bilateral ceasefire will be held in Utrecht.

NDF chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili said they will study the draft government proposal and submit their own draft.

A joint bilateral ceasefire can be reached and signed on or be-

fore the fourth round of negotiations set for April in Oslo, according to both panels.

The negotiating panels agreed to expand the agenda of the February special meeting after intense back-channeling by panel members from both sides, and after the NDF initially declined to include the bilateral ceasefire in the agenda of the third round of talks.

The names and proper identification of a sealed document that will contain the names of 87 NDF leaders who will be immune from government arrests will also be deposited in a Netherlands bank to replace the Jasig list reconstituted last year.

OFW...

From A1 “The Department of Foreign Affairs is now closely coordinating with Ms. Pawa’s family and continues to facilitate assistance.

We pray for her and her bereaved family.”

But a workers’ group slammed the government for its failure to save Pawa’s life.

“The previous administrations are guilty of criminal neglect and the current regime is liable for acting too late to stop her execution,” Mic Catuira, acting secretary general of Migrante International, said in a statement.

Foreign Affairs earlier said it tried to save the life of Pawa, who was sentenced to death for stabbing her employer’s daughter while she was asleep on May 14, 2007, but failed.

On June 15, 2009, Kuwait’s Court of Appeals upheld the decision of the trial court, and on Jan. 19, 2010, the Kuwaiti Supreme Court affirmed the death sentence.

PNA, with John Paolo Bencito

facing.

“This appears to be the primary motivation of the President in continuously harping on the Mamasapano incident. It is to continuously demonize the past administration in order to cover up for his own lack of accomplishments and direction after six months into his term,” she added.

But De Lima said any further probe on the Mamasapano incident “is best conducted shorn of politics.”

“Duterte is the least qualified in directing such a probe given his propensity for prejudgement and to preempt the results of any investigation, as he himself has already declared the Mamasapano police action as a CIA operation,” she added.

Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales on Wednesday said she scolded a chief records officer of the Office of the Special Prosecutor for the late filing of graft and usurpation raps against former PNP chief Alan Purisima and former SAF commander Getulio Napeñas.

She said the charges, filed on Tuesday, should have been filed in June last year before the Sandiganbayan.

Morales said she had asked the concerned employee to explain the delay in the filing of raps against the two PNP officials.

“I issued a show-cause order to explain within 24 hours why she should not be faulted for not filing the information contrary to the standing order of the Ombudsman that if you submit a case for filing, it should be within a reasonable time,” Morales said.

In April 2016, Morales found the two criminally liable for the botched operation to serve arrest warrants on Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Basit Usman in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano in Maguindanao on Jan. 25, 2014.

Napeñas was found liable for taking orders from Purisima despite his suspension.

Purisima was dismissed from the service in June 2015, while Napeñas retired in July 2015.

With Rey E. Requejo, Rio N. Araja and Maricel V. Cruz

SC...

From A1

Sereno cited the drop in the country’s ranking in the World

Justice Project Rule of Law Index from 51st in 2015 to 70th last year as an “indicator of the serious erosion of trust in the criminal justice system, in the civil justice system and in regulatory agencies.”

She said the drop in perception of the rule of law in the country called on all three branches of government and independent constitutional bodies “to reflect on how they have been discharging their roles in a way that has brought about this state of affairs.”

She also suggested to the pillars of the criminal justice system―the judiciary, the Department of Justice and it’s attached agencies and the Philippine National Police―to work together and come up with genuine changes.

“It is only when institutions faithfully comply with what the law requires can we experience long-term stability as a country even beyond changes in administration,” Sereno said.

“At the same time, all institutions involved in the administration of justice are duty bound to pro-actively report to the people the improvements they are trying to carry out in their areas.”

Sereno stressed that the Supreme Court would pursue its efforts to reform the judiciary.

“If you believe that the judiciary leadership is sincere, what I will ask of you in return is to continue to believe in the rule of law,” she said.

The Philippine National Police says the latest update on Project Double Barrel Alpha from July 1, 2016 to Jan. 8, 2017 indicated that 2,208 drug pushers and users were killed after they allegedly tried to fight it out with the police. The figure was higher by 41 compared to the report from July 1 to Dec. 31.

From July 1 to Dec. 14 last year, an average of 30 drug suspects were killed daily, or a total of 2,102 during the first 167 days of the Duterte administration as the PNP carried out a brutal campaign against illegal drugs nationwide.

Rey E. Requejo

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Lacson ponders new Senate building

By Macon Araneta

ALL SET. National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde and Tourism Assistant Secretary Ricky Alegre inspect Wednesday the bayside Mall of Asia Arena, venue of the Miss Universe Finals on Jan. 30 at 8 a.m., for the strategic deployment of police security in the area. Lino Santos

IN BRIEF Court orders arrest of governor THE Sandiganbayan on Wednesday ordered the arrest of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and two others for graft in connection with the alleged illegal disbursement of P480-million calamity funds for infrastructure projects in the province.

The anti-graft court’s order came after it found probable cause to try Degamo, Provincial Treasurer Danilo Mendez and Provincial Accountant Teodorico Reyes for graft for the violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act over the alleged illegal disbursement of calamity funds to repair structures damaged by natural calamities. “[T]he absence or presence of the elements of the crime are evidentiary matters which ought to be established during the trial of the case,” the court said.

“It must be stressed… the court cannot rule at this early stage of the proceedings on the presence or absence of the elements of the crime charged,” the court said.

The accused officials denied the charges. Maricel Cruz

Roque still congressman —Fariñas KABAYAN party-list Rep. Harry Roque is still a member of the House of Representatives, House Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas of Ilocos Norte said.

The House leadership still recognizes Roque as duly elected member of Congress being the first nominee of the Kabayan party-list, Fariñas said, adding “Of course [he is still a congressman]; there is a procedure to be followed.”

Fariñas said the matter could be resolved either through the Commission on Elections or the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal.

“We will study [based on these two schools of thoughts], and then decide,” Fariñas said.

Maricel Cruz

MoA on common station ‘onerous, unconstitutional’

By Maricrel V. Cruz

S

PEAKER Pantaleon Alvarez on Wednesday said the Memorandum of Agreement signed last week on the P2.8billion MRT-LRT common station in Quezon City was “onerous and unconstitutional.”

At a congressional hearing conducted by the House committee on transportation, Alvarez, a former DoTC official, also lambasted the Department of Transportation officials for insisting on the common station to be built near Trinoma Mall of the Ayalas to advance the interests of major businessmen.

Alvarez said the common station could not operate without securing first a legislative franchise from Congress.

But Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Raoul Creencia said the DOTr followed the Build-Operate-Transfer Law which provides for a “concession agreement.”

“Railways business involves

public utility. You must have a legislative franchise to operate a public utility business,” Alvarez said in the hearing.

Alvarez also threatened to launch a congressional investigation on the matter should the DOTr insist on the proposal.

Alvarez warned the DOTr officials might be facing cases in court if they insisted on the onerous contract.

Alvarez doubted the DOTr’s common staton project that was perfected during the Aquino administration.

“Aren’t you pulling our legs there? It might be that business interests were being accommodated here,” Alvarez said in Filipino.

Creencia told the House panel the common station proposal had gone thru “technical” studies to ensure “convenience” of the riding public.

But Alvarez was not convinced with Creencia’s explanation, saying “You’re wasting our time. The technical study, that is a justification for the things you want done.”

The agreement was signed last week by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Public Works Secretary Mark Villar with LRT Authority Administrator Reynaldo Berroya, SM Prime Holdings Inc. executive chairman Hans Sy, Light Rail Manila Corp. vice chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, San Miguel Corp. president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang and North Triangle Depot Commercial Corp. represented by Ayala Land Inc. vice chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala.

Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said the proposed common station, per the MoA design would cost the government P2.8 billion, saying this cost higher than the previously ap-

‘Gov’t should assure Korean safety’ 2 ex-Miss U winners

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Sonny Angara on Wednesday said the Philippine government should assure the safety of Korean nationals in the country as they make up the most numerous and the most generous group of tourists who pour billions of pesos into the economy annually.

The senator, a former vice chairman of the Senate committee on tourism, has urged the Tourism and Foreign Affairs departments to do an aggressive charm offensive, in light of the unfortunate kidnapslaying of a Korean national right inside the national police office.

But more than a charm offensive, he stressed the perpetrators must be punished swiftly.

“We expect the Philippine National Police to come up with its investigation result at the soonest possible time,” Angara said.

He lauded Malacañang for apologizing Wednesday to the South Korean government for the death of the Korean executive.

“But more than apologies, there should be concrete moves that will assuage whatever trepidations they have caused. There should be grand gestures of assurance to millions of Koreans who treat the Philippines as their favorite vacation place,” he said.

Some 1,331,701 Koreans had arrived from January to November of 2016, the most among nationalities. Using the November 2016 per visitor expenditure, Angara estimates “the Koreans spent almost P60 billion here in those 11 months.”

BoC seizes smuggled cigarettes SOME P14 million worth of smuggled imported cigarettes from Singapore were seized by the Bureau of Customs which were declared as plastic film and cut plastic materials at the Port of Manila.

Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon said the shipment was confiscated after Federation of Philippine Industries chairman Jesus Arranza asked the BoC to look into the two suspicious container vans consigned to Faith Achieve Plastic Corp.

The BoC conducted an inspection and found out that the two vans contained imported cigarettes which were declared as plastic cut films. Vito Barcelo

proved designs.

“We would like to revisit this new design as we hope to avoid the blunder of the Gateway Mall connection [under the LRT 2], where commuters have to walk approximately 700 meters to transfer from MRT Line 3 to LRT Line 2. This imposes an unjustifiable inconvenience to commuters, and strongly implies no other persuasive reason but corporate greed,” Suarez told a news conference.

In 2009, Suarez said the National Economic Development Authority Investment Coordinating Council approved DoTC’s common station project proposal originally located in SM City North Edsa Annex.

“This would have been an ideal location because all roads converge in the North Edsa. During the last administration, the common station was moved to Trinoma Mall.

P1.4 billion was approved in 2013 by the Neda Board chaired by President Benigno Aquino III. A Temporary Restraining Order was issued but we understand this will be lifted in light of the recently signed MOA,” Suarez said.

SENATOR Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate committee on accounts, is brooding over a P200million “submissions” for each of the 24 senators to build for the Senate of the Philippines its own building in Taguig City by 2020.

“If all 24 of us would submit our earmarks, for example, why don’t we just—including myself, including Senator [Vicente] Sotto, Senator [Kiko] Pangilinan who did not submit for 2017— submit say P200 million each, or even P100 million each because this would not be finished within one budget year, that’s already P2.4 billion. And imagine a building costing P2.4 billion or P4.8 billion, that would be so beautiful,” explained Lacson.

Lacson, along with Sotto and Pangilinan, did not submit submissions or did not identify projects in the previous year’s narional budget.

Asked how much would the Senate need to move to another site from its current location at the GSIS building in Pasay City, Lacson said they were still doing their math now.

The Senate is paying P170 million a year to use part of the GSIS building in Pasay City.

“That’s why I secured the assistance of the Department of Budget and Management to help them out, including their finance director and in the accounts,” said Lacson.

He said Navy Village in Bonifacio Global City was the most viable site for the new Senate building as it is not hounded by any issue.

He said the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, also in BGC, another possible site, still has to negotiate with the US government.

“And there are uncertainties there. It would be better that everything is under control, the situation is under our control, the Navy village, there’s no issue there because there’s a Supreme Court ruling awarding ownership to BCDA. There were retired Philippine Navy officers left there,” he said.

In Wednesday’s hearing on the transfer of the Senate to another site presided by Lacson, BCDA president and chief executive officer Vivencio Dizon said some senators prefered the Navy Village to two other locations—the Diplomatic Consular area, and the BHIT Park area, both also in Taguig City.

CHILD CARE. Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros delivers her sponsorship speech Wednesday for Expanded Maternity Bill of 2017 which seeks to update the antiquated maternity leave policy by aligning it with international standards.

arrive ahead of pageant

By Eton Concepcion FORMER Miss Universe titlists Riyo Mori (2007) and Dayanara Torres (1993) arrived in Manila ahead of the Miss Universe pageant on Jan. 30 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Japan’s Mori arrived on Tuesday night while Puerto Rico’s Torres arrived in the Manila airport on Wednesday morning.

Miss Universe president Paula Shugart previously confirmed that Torres would sit as judge both in the preliminary competition and the coronation event.

The Puerto Rican beauty, who first came to Manila in 1994 to crown her successor, started her movie career after her reign and became local TV’s “Dancing Queen” and also confirmed her plan to return to the local entertainment scene.

Meanwhile, Mori, the second Miss Universe from Japan, will sit as one of the judges along with India’s first winner Sushmita Sen, who was crowned in 1994.

Sen, now 41, who has become an award-winning Bollywood actress, expressed excitement on her ‘returning home’ to the Philippines after 23 years.

The 65th Miss Universe pageant will feature another gathering of past Miss Universe winners with five former titlists flying to Manila to grace the coronation finals.

Some of the confirmed names are Mexico’s Lupita Jones (1991), Canada’s Natalie Glebova (2005), and Angola’s Leila Lopes (2011).

Jones, the first Mexican woman to win in 1991, is the first to arrive in the country for the Miss Universe pageant.

The 42-year-old, actress and currently the director of Nuestra Belleza Mexico, the Miss Universe pageant franchise in Mexico, came to give support to this year’s Mexican delegate, Kristal Silva.

The 65th Miss Universe coronation will be telecast live on Solar, ETC, ABS-CBN Channel 2 and GMA 7. American TV personality Steve Harvey will return as host with model Ashley Graham.

This year’s format will be different from the pageant’s previous edition. Instead of a Top 15, only 12 semifinalists will be announced.

The Top 12, predetermined by the judges during the preliminary round of the competition, will then be trimmed down to the Top 9, determined by the scores of the judges and the fans’ votes after the swimsuit segment.

Then the Top 6 will be announced. The six finalists will advance to the Q and A round.

From the Top 6 will emerge the Top 3 who will only get a “Final Look” from the judges and fans (home viewers) who will be asked to make a decision based on their overall performance through the Final Look.

Rather than score, this segment is ranked, which means the judges and home viewers will base their vote on who they think should win the title.

A4

Opinion

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Taking responsibility

M

EETING on Tuesday with the families of the cops who were slain in Mamasapano, Maguindanao two years go, President Rodrigo Duterte said he would create a commission that would determine what really happened when 44 members of the Special Action Force were slain and to establish accountability for their deaths.

Seven men of integrity and honor will make up the commission, he said. They will be independent and they would be free to summon anybody—even the former president of the country—they deemed necessary.

Duterte believes that the massacre was

the result of an America adventure. “You fed [SAF troopers] to the lion’s den,” he said, addressing his immediate predecessor.

We agree the case should be re-opened, and resolved swiftly. At the height of the issue, the public was united in disgust over the incompetence, insensitivity and self-righteousness of the Aquino administration. The days after the massacre —specifically when Mr. Aquino chose to attend a motoring event over meeting the bodies of the slain cops, or when he talked about his own loss of a parent instead of comforting the grieving relatives, or when it was apparent he was protecting some people while eager to put the blame on others—showed us exactly what kind of leader, or person, Mr. Aquino was. And so far he has not been made accountable for his excesses and inadequacies.

But the indignation, as everything that

catches the people’s fancy at any given time, the indignation faded and we moved on to other issues. Now two years have passed and we have a new president, and the lessons of Mamasapano seem to have been lost.

We wonder though how the investigation, if it comes to pass, will be able to hold itself up given the many other concerns of the Duterte administration.

Because Jan. 25 just recently passed, it is easy to work up the zeal to say let’s dig into the case anew. What happens three, six months from now?

In Mamasapano, cops were victims. It’s difficult to imagine this now when in the current context, it’s the cops committing dastardly deeds in the name of the so-called war on illegal drugs. And by the way, did we not witness yet another call to investigate what really happened

in the death of Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo and all other victims of policemen twisting their mandate to suit their own purposes.

In both cases, however, one thing stands out: The crucial role that leadership plays.

Members of an institution take their cue from the words and demeanor of whoever it is at the helm of the organization.

In Mamasapano, Mr. Aquino’s refusal to follow the chain of command and his succeeding efforts to play down what he did wrong just contributed to the demoralization of the force and the entire nation desperate for forthrightness.

Consequently, Mr. Duterte’s pronouncements on taking responsibility will fall flat if he does not demonstrate that he, too, is ready to be held accountable for what his cops do in the name of the war on drugs.

DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA

The Korean kidnapping

Silence and noise LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES I WAS waiting for Vice President Leni Robredo to restate on her position opposing any new official investigation of the Mamasapano Massacre, now that President Rodrigo Duterte has called for the creation of a fact-finding commission on the sensational incident. For the moment, it seems, Robredo has decided that prudence is the better part of the Yellow Medal of Valor that she wears.

Yesterday, Robredo was once again in safe motherhood mode, discussing what political scientists call the “soft power” of women in a speech at the Asia Women’s Summit. Riffing on the women’s marches against new US President Donald Trump, Robredo called for the empowerment of women in a still-patriarchal Philippine society.

It’s not as if Robredo has de-

cided that she will no longer express views that are in open opposition to Duterte’s. Just a few days ago, Robredo asked the President not to antagonize the Catholic Church—a call that only made Duterte castigate clergymen once again in his speech in Malacañang before the relatives of the 44 slain SAF troopers.

And it was only early last year that Robredo said she saw no need to reopen yet another investigation of the massacre in Maguindanao. Robredo, who was campaigning for the vice presidency when she made the statement, said a lot of time had already been spent looking into the matter and that there was really no compelling reason to do so.

It’s perfectly possible that Robredo realizes that she cannot reiterate her opposition to any new investigation of the slaughter of the SAF 44, now that she is no longer a candidate entirely dependent on the Liberal Party and Noynoy Aquino. Especially since Duterte has indicated that Aqui-

no’s involvement as the official who approved and oversaw the implementation of Oplan Exodus will be the focus of the new probe, I guess Robredo understands that

Robredo realizes that she cannot reiterate her opposition to any new investigation of the slaughter of the SAF 44. she really should dodge this particular bullet if she can.

It’s certainly inconceivable that Robredo now refuses to comment on something, given her record of riding on every

burning issue that her PR strategists want her to ride. But I think that, for once, she concedes that the massacre is not something that she can attack Duterte about —and she is certainly not inclined to agree with something that the President has said.

Given the prevailing sentiment in favor of getting to the bottom of the wholesale execution of the SAF 44, Robredo also knows that she cannot restate her opposition to any new probe, never mind if it goes very well with her policy of kneejerk opposition to Malacañang.

So I fully expect Robredo to just flash her sweetest, cutest smile when asked about Mamasapano and, as the young people say these days, “shut up na lang.” *** But while Robredo, the supposed leader of the opposition, has apparently taken a vow of silence, some of her most vocal self-appointed sidekicks have decided to weigh in on the massacre case reopening. Senator Antonio Trillanes and ex-pop

singer Jim Paredes, to name just two, have come up with the strange theory that Duterte has called for a new probe in order to distract people from the killing of a South Korean businessman inside Camp Crame.

But in order for this theory to make sense, Duterte would have had to just suddenly declared that he wanted a new Mamasapano investigation. He would not have said during the campaign that he would reopen the case if he became president, nor would he offer the Medal of Valor to the 42 out of the 44 SAF commandos who were killed by Moro rebels during that same time.

It would make no sense for Duterte to call the relatives of the SAF 44 to Malacañang from all over the country on the eve of the second anniversary of the massacre. If he was just diverting the public’s attention, he would not have to say he was giving out the medals posthumously and that he was constituting a probe body patterned after the Agrava

BRUTAL and heinous crimes happen every now and then.

As terrible as these crimes are, the public somehow understands this. There are, after all, people bent on pursuing careers in crime.

What the public cannot accept is if the people committing these crimes are those who are supposed to protect us from criminals.

This is what happened to the South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo who was kidnapped last October from his house in Angeles City. The operation was done under the guise of a drug raid. Three out of the eight suspects are policemen assigned to the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping unit based in Camp Crame. The victim was brought to Camp Crame where he was allegedly strangled, his remains cremated. His ashes were flushed into the toilet.

The suspects then proceeded to demand ransom from the dead man’s family.They were paid about $100,000.

As soon as the story broke, there were already inconsistencies in the narrative. Now, there are claims and counter claims. The principal suspect SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel is even applying to be placed in the witness protection program claiming that he is just being used as the fall guy.

To add to the already confusing situation, Sta. Isabel’s wife has also joined the fray, defending her husband as a faithful wife should. Now she is also in hot water.

One of the first questions that should be answered is why an Anti-Kidnapping Police unit is also involved in the drug campaign. If this question can be answered satisfactorily, then the rest of the story will be easier to uncover because the motive can then be established. It must be pointed out that the head of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Unit is Sr. Supt. Glenn Dumlao who as a Junior Officer in the PNP Highway Patrol Group uncovered the Kuratong Baleleng Gang’s activities which led to the now infamous Kuratong Baleleng case. He was also apparently the last PNP officer who saw newspaperman Bubby Dacer

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Opinion TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Aquino’s culpability IT HAS been two years since but the questions linger. the Mamasapano (MaguOnly a truth commission indanao) massacre where 44 can provide answers to all members of the Special Ac- these questions. The Presition Force of the Philippine dent did not give a timeline National Police were killed. as to when the issue will be The tragedy was commemo- resolved, but at least he has rated with the families of the given the grieving families a slain cops still crying out for glimmer of hope. justice.

The fact that those responThe families of the SAF sible among the MILF and the members met with President BIFF have already been idenDuterte, who promised them tified gives us some hope that he would create a truth com- justice will finally be given to mission to find out what really the relatives of the Fallen 44 happened and establish who SAF members. was truly responsible.

Santa Banana, Mr. AquiMr. Duterte called on former no’s, displaying his lack of President Aquino to answer compassion and empathy, did specific questions about Oplan not even take the time to meet Exodus, which was led by then- the bodies when these arrived PNP Director General Alan at Villamor Air Base. He chose Purisima, Aquino’s friend, instead to attend the inauguraeven as he was on preventive tion of a car plant. suspension at that time.

The Duterte administration Despite the deaths of the should charge President AquiSAF members, President no for his role.

Aquino never acknowledged *** any responsibility for what Reports have it that the Philhappened. ippine National Police and the The truth commission, if it Armed Forces of the Philipcomes to pass, would be com- pines are zeroing in on the war posed of Supreme Court jus- against illegal gambling. This tices and private individuals would supposedly show that of known integrity and inde- drug lords are also gambling pendence. lords.

These are some of my quesIllegal gambling is so pervations in relation to the Ma- sive and deep-rooted, more so masapano massacre: than illegal drugs nationwide.

Why were former Interior This has corrupted not only and Local Governments Sec- local executives and cops, but retary Mar generals in the Roxas and AFP all the way fo r m e r to Camp Crame PNP Chief and Camp AguLeonardo inaldo.

Too many E s pi n a In some comb y p a s s e d questions linger. munities in Ludespite the zon, gambling chain of lords have becommand? come so brazen Obviously, that jueteng BS Aquino did not trust them. results are broadcast two or Why did BS Aquino put three times a day. a suspended police chief in In fact, I am told that in charge of a sensitive opera- some parts of Luzon, people tion? would protest in the outlawing Was it truly a CIA (Central of jueteng because residents Intelligence Agency) operation are employed as “cabos” or like what President Duterte collectors of bets. Gambling said? It would seem so, since the lords also have their own “coAmericans who were stationed bradores” or collectors of losat Zamboanga City helped the ing bets.

SAF operation with drones, and I have my doubts as to how were quick to provide medical far the PNP and the AFP can relief and ambulances, even go against illegal gambling. helicopters, to the victims of the There is just too much money Mamasapano operation. going around.

Why did BS Aquino have The war on illegal gambling the SAF undertake the op- may not as be as brutal and eration when, as President bloody as the war on illegal Duterte said, when it comes drugs, but if the President to operation against terror wants to get to the bottom groups, it should be the army? of it, he’ll be surprised that The police is only mandated to corruption goes all way up counter urban terrorism. to Camp Crame and Camp Was it true that the army, Aguinaldo. Santa Banana, which was stationed close by, would you believe that even did not lift a finger to do any- parish priests get donations thing to help the SAF police- from gambling lords? men despite the fact that the The Philippine Charity AFP generals were fully aware Sweepstakes Office has adoptof what was going on? ed what is called Small Town Did BS Aquino’s peace ad- Lottery to replace jueteng. The viser, Teresita Deles, really problem is that the same gammake the army stand down for bling lords are operating them. fear that the military’s inter- My gulay, with the PCSO exvention would adversely af- panding the STLs, it’s like the fect the peace process with the government is also expanding MILF? She has denied this, jueteng and masiao.

Silence...

From A4 Commission—both of which he promised to do.

But Trillanes and Paredes are just engaging in their usual trolling when they unveiled their latest conspiracy theory.

How, after all, could the death of one Korean by some corrupt cops be compared to the slaughter of 44 elite policemen because of an insensitive, incompetent president who was “ultimately responsible” for the massacre, as the Senate said?

To paraphrase a relative of the Yellows’ fairy godmother in New York, any statement coming from Trillanes, Paredes and their kind doesn’t really have to be true. They just have to make it sound like it is.

However, the days are long gone when the newspapers

would suddenly come up with news about Noynoy Aquino’s latest supposed “love interest” whenever he got in trouble.

And diversionary propaganda reached its height (or its absolute nadir), after all, during the Aquino years, when we were bombarded with reports of glowing credit ratings and other great-sounding economic news, while people were foraging in garbage cans for leftover food thrown away by restaurants.

The “sundalong kanin” of the Yellows are still at it, seeing phantasmagorical coverups in their own minds while somehow failing to cast even a passing glance at the proverbial elephant in the room— and the biggest cover-up of all time: The effort by the entire Aquino government to pretend that the killing of 44 policemen never happened.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

A5

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When the solution becomes the problem OVERSIGHT DANILO SUAREZ THE most effective solution to the traffic problem is to build, and implement a reliable public transportation system.

Signed last week was the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on the construction of a common station located in between SM City North Edsa and Ayala’s Trinoma Mall, that would link LRT Line 1, MRT Line 3, and the future MRT Line 7. The Department of Transportation, Department of Public Works and Highways, Light Rail Manila Corp., SM Prime Holdings Inc., Ayala Corp., San Miguel Corp., Metro Pacific Investments, and their affiliates, agreed to construct the common station, which shall be completed by 2019. It was designed to accommodate around 80,000 transferring passengers during peak hours.

In 2009, the National Economic and Development Authority Investment Coordinating Council approved DOTC’s common station project proposal origi-

nally located in SM City North Edsa Annex. This would have been an ideal location because all roads converge in the North Edsa. During the last administration, the common station was moved to Trinoma Mall. P1.4 billion was approved in 2013 by the Neda Board chaired by President Benigno Aquino III. A temporary restraining order was issued, but we understand this will be lifted in light of the recently signed MoA. The delays and other anomalies surrounding the Common Station project since its inception prompted lawmakers, including myself, to further question it. With the convenience of the commuters in mind, we believe that a common station would ease the daily transportation grind of the working class.

The proposed common station, per the MoA design, which puts the common station in between SM North and Trinoma, would cost the government P2.8 billion. This costs higher than the previously approved designs. We would like to revisit this new design as we hope to avoid the blunder of the Gateway Mall connection, where commuters have to

walk approximately 700 meters to transfer from MRT Line 3 to LRT Line 2. This imposes an unjustifiable inconvenience to commuters, and strongly implies no other persuasive reason but corporate greed.

In this so-called Golden Age of Infrastructure, we expect the government to invest only in projects that would serve public interest. As an advocate of long-term traffic solutions and proponent of the Common Station project, I would monitor the progress of this project and ensure that no one else benefits but the public. I firmly believe that a truly developed and progressive country presents an efficient and convenient public transportation.

On another matter, it was revealed that SP03 Ricky Sta. Isabel, SP04 Roy Villegas, a man named Ramon Yalung, and four other men were responsible for the kidnapping and killing of Korean businessman, Jee Ick Joo on Oct. 18, 2016. It has been alleged that this was “tokhang for ransom” incident.

Under the principle of command responsibility, ultimately, PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has a measure of ac-

countability for these atrocities committed by his own men.

Let me remind General dela Rosa that his person, that institution he heads, is a reflection on the President.

There are two lessons here.

First, the success of the campaign in maintaining peace and order depends on the integrity of the police. These incidents question not only the moral quality of the police, but the sustainability, and credibility, of the President’s drive against crime. Second, on a macro-level, we can see how corruption is deeply embedded in our government. These policemen are brazen and fearless, and have resorted to creative means to make money, despite the President’s tough stance on crime and corruption.

We in Congress will perform checks and balances, and measure if the performance of the PNP is with faithful to their mandate. I call on General Bato dela Rosa to conduct the necessary unbiased investigations to punish those guilty of this crime. He should also regularly assess and regularly monitor his ranks to prevent acts that tarnish the reputation of the police force.

The Duterte and Trump phenomenon: A ripe field for research NOW that Donald Trump has been president of the United States for six days, we are seeing quite a few parallels between him and Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in their mindset, personality, and leadership style.

The similarities are so striking that I look forward to the research made on this by fellow social scientists. Certainly there are lessons to be learnt and knowledge to be created in this area that will aid in understanding them and this part of history, particularly with regard to their sudden rise and prominence on the world scene.

Both leaders are unconventional, egoistic, and narcissistic.

These characteristics and their respective ideologies—Duterte left-leaning but sexist, Trump conservative and sexist—have caused them to reshape public policies to fit their agendas.

Duterte’s ferocious hatred of drugs has led to his creation of a vicious strategy that has killed thousands of petty drug users and pushers as well as innocents caught in the crossfire.

Operation Tokhang has claimed

The Korean...

From A4 and his driver Emmanuel Corbito alive. He is therefore not new to controversial cases.

As a result, cases were filed against him and he had to disappear for a while.

All these, apparently, have not dampened his career. He is now back in harness. Some might like to ask: If he is so controversial, why still put him in charge of a sensitive unit?

The answer perhaps is because Glenn Dumlao is a good intelligence operator. He is resourceful and dependable. Now, he is in for another battle in his controversial career. Will he again be able to wiggle his way out of this predicament? We will have to wait and see.

The other issue that came out as a result of this case is the call for Director General Ronald dela Rosa to resign to take responsibility for what

the lives of many without due process.

Trump’s eager dismantling of former US President Barack Obama’s liberal legacy started on Day One of his administration.

He has signed approval orders for the construction of the Keystone and Dakota pipeline, formerly scuttled for environmental reasons. He has ordered the immediate construction of The Wall on the border between the US and Mexico. He has gagged the external communications of at least 17 federal agencies.

These two began their meteoric rise as longshots, so their accession to power shocked the globe. With Russia’s Vladimir Putin also on the scene, are we looking at a return of the strongman figure to world politics?

Students of history will recall that previous instances of the same ultimately failed because political absolutism has proved inimical to the best interests of a society. The careers of Hitler, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, Marcos, Mengistu, and Mao, to name a few, have been scarred by the countless killed and tortured in their efforts to seize, consolidate, and keep power. Duterte has floated the idea of imposing martial law in response to alleged slay plots against himself, a tactic reminiscent of Marcos.

Many social scientists—histo-

rians, psychologists, sociologists, and the like—as well as journalists and writers, have delved into the lives of dictators in an attempt to understand them and their actions, and the results and consequences of those actions.

After all, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” said Santayana, and it is disappointing that despite this aphorism becoming so well known that it is a cliché, a great swath of humanity, particularly those in power, have not taken it to heart.

For many it seems that we are repeating the past, returning to the days when one man’s whim directed the course of a nation.

Perhaps as we gather and construct knowledge and understanding of these matters, we will be more prepared and capable of averting any catastrophes that may arise in the future, though of course we hope that it does not come to that.

But if it should, then let us be ready. *** In relation to my thoughts on studying the renewed ascent of the autocrat, here is a venue for researchers to share their work with others.

The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino has issued a call for papers for the Pandaigdigang Kongreso sa mga Pag-Aaral Hinggil

sa Filipinas sa Wikang Filipino (International Conference on Philippine Studies in the Filipino Language).

Focus will be placed on the disciplines of history, culture and cultural studies, literature, and languages and linguistics.

Filipino is the language to be used in the written work and oral presentation.

Some of the topics suggested by the KWF are: Ang Bayan at Kasaysayan, Pagwawasto sa Kasaysayan, Ang Etniko at ang Popular, Wika at Media, Gramatikang Filipino, Kasalukuyang Tunguhin sa Lingguwistika, and others.

This year’s conference theme is “Pagbabalik, Pagbabantayog sa Filipino” and will be held Aug. 2 to 4 at the National Museum. The deadline for submission of abstracts of papers has been extended to Feb. 16.

Email kongreso2017@gmail. com the following information: name, affiliation, abstract not exceeding 250 words, organization, and telephone number, or send a letter to the KWF at 2/F Gusaling Watson, 1610 Jose P. Laurel St., San Miguel, 1005 Manila.

happened. There are pros and cons to this issue. There is no practice among government officials in this country resigning to save the integrity of the organization they lead.

Another reason perhaps is the doctrine of command responsibility where it says that if the head of the unit or agency knows of illegal activities going on in his organization and does nothing about it, then that official can be removed and charged. In the case of Bato dela Rosa, the culprits were caught and are now under investigation. The only unknown at this time is who among them will be charged of the crime because of conflicting stories.

Going further, it is worth asking why members of our police keep getting involved in gruesome crimes. This deserves serious examination and answers. The public deserves a police force that they can trust to protect them. Why this is happening with apparent regu-

larity especially with a government whose number one focus is peace and order is hard to fathom.

We are now hearing once again that this case is wakeup call. But there have been so many wake up calls before yet no serious effort of reform is being undertaken by the government and PNP leadership.

The only time we hear of the word reform is when there is a huge reshuffle of senior-level positions which is actually no reform at all. There was an effort to reform the PNP few years ago but this appears to have now been buried under the new administration because of the focus on the war on drugs. The PNP right now is badly in need of reform, not only to cleanse the organizations of scalawags but also to see to it that only the best are recruited and trained properly.

There is a big crisis of confidence regarding the quality of recruits, their training to-

gether with their competence and dedication once out in the field performing their duties. Efforts in the past by the PNP to reform itself always involved using its own personnel. It is therefore like a lawyer representing himself in a case.

There is resistance within the PNP to recruit qualified people outside the agency. It is as if the PNP leadership is afraid that these outsiders would find out many of the trade secrets that is causing the rot within.

If this is the case, then our PNP will always be like the way it is. Archaic, unresponsive to the changing world of crime and will always be beleaguered with serious problems and deficiencies. Hopefully, future generation of PNP leaders will produce a group that will look first at what is best for the organization and institute the needed reforms and not look first at what is good for themselves. The people deserve better.

Dr. Ortuoste is a Californiabased writer. Follow her on Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste, Instagram: @jensdecember

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

News

A6 THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017 Standard Manila

TODAY mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Luisita ‘sacadas’ dispute claims A MID accusations of “slave-like conditions” and cases of human trafficking filed against a labor recruiter and a sugar mill in Tarlac, a number of farmers have described very different and contradictory accounts about their working environment.

Ricky Mahinay and Nancy Rama, part of a group of nearly 1,000 sugar workers from Mindanao who were hired to work during the harvest season in Hacienda Luisita, were perplexed why some of their co-workers made allegations that they believe are completely false.

“They were the ones who left.

Our work here was fine. Then all of a sudden we heard that they went to the media and claimed that we were made to suffer, starved, and not paid. That’s not true at all,” Mahinay said in Tagalog.

Rama echoed this sentiment,

adding that most of the farmers were actually thankful for the employment opportunity.

“We are grateful that we were given work and a chance to help our families. We don’t know what their agenda is for relaying different stories, but it’s quite hard to believe their accusations,” she said.

Greenhand Labor Service Cooperative, the recruitment agency responsible for bringing the workers to Tarlac, likewise denied the charges against them.

“It is totally untrue that their living conditions are inadequate. We have four buildings with good running water

and continuous electricity for everyone,” explained Greenhand general manager Billy Baitus.

“In fact, DoLE Regional Office 3 has approved and given us a Certificate of Adequate Temporary Dwelling Facility for those four buildings.”

In addition to the temporary living accommodations, Baitus asserted that they gave the farmers everything that was promised to them: a steady salary of P220 per ton subsistence within the contract period, free transportation between Tarlac and Bukidnon, cash advance of P2,500 upon departure and P2,500 on arrival, accident and health insurance, as well as

social security benefits.

“Another very curious thing is why these disgruntled farmers included entities that clearly have nothing to do with the situation in their complaints,” Baitus emphasized.

“A company called Agrikulto contracted us to hire these farmers, while Central Azucarera de Tarlac is even more detached from the issue, since they are simply the sugar mill that processes raw materials. They were not involved in the recruitment and hiring at all, and yet both companies were named as respondents and repeatedly mentioned in media,” he said.

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street Manila 1004

INVITATION TO BID FOR THE PROVISION OF SECURITY SERVICES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE COVERING THE PERIOD MARCH 1, 2017 TO DECEMBER 31, 2017 1.

The DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE (DOF), through the Government of the Philippines under the General Appropriations Act for FY 2016, intends to apply the sum of ELEVEN MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED TWENTY FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE PESOS (PhP 11,724,525.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments for the Provision of Security Services in the Department of Finance Covering the Period March 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017 (the “Project”) for a total of forty-five (45) security personnel/guards. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The DOF, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), now invites Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) registered contractors to apply for eligibility and to bid for the Provision of Security Services in the Department of Finance Covering the Period March 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017. Bidders should have completed, within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project which is equivalent to fifty percent (50%) of the ABC for the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) No. 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

4.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens, sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA No. 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act No. 138. The bidder should be a member of PADPAO of current and good standing.

5.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders starting on January 26, 2017 up to February 14, 2017 at the General Services Division, 7th Floor, EDPC Building, BSP Complex, Pablo Ocampo Sr. St., Roxas Blvd., Manila and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Twenty Five Thousand Pesos (PhP25,000.00). It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the PhilGEPS and the website of the DOF, provided that the Bidders shall pay the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

6.

The schedule of bidding activities is as follows: ACTIVITIES Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid Issuance and Availability of Bid Documents Pre-Bid Conference Request for Clarification Issuance of Supplemental Bid Bulletin Deadline for Submission of Bids Opening of Bids

SCHEDULE January 26, 2017 starting January 26, 2017 February 2, 2017, 9:00 am February 4, 2017 by email February 7, 2017 February 14, 2017, 8:45 am February 14, 2017, 10:00 am

7.

Bids must be delivered to the BAC Secretariat, General Services Division 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex, P. Ocampo Sr., Street corner Roxas Boulevard, Manila on or before February 14, 2017, 8:45 am. The bidders shall drop their duly accomplished eligibility requirements, technical and financial proposals in two (2) separate envelopes in the bid box located at the abovementioned address. All the bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the Instructions to Bidders (ITB) Clause 18.

8.

Bid opening shall be on the date indicated above at the DFG Conference Room, 4th Floor DOF Building. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend. “LATE BIDS SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED”

9.

The DOF reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. In instances, that may arise and not specifically mentioned herein, the DOF shall resolve bidding issues by resorting to and applying the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations.

10.

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

(MS-JAN. 26, 2017)

TRANSPORTATION ISSUES. MMDA Chairman Thomas Orbos (right) and Ninoy Aquino International Airport general manager Eddie Monreal (center) and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines deputy director general Manuel Tamayo discuss transportation issues during a news forum at Cafe Adriatico in Manila. Lino Santos

: : : ROXAS HOLDINGS, INC.: x----------------------------------x

MSRD Order No. 2 Series of 2017

ORDER

By Sandy Araneta TOURISM Secretary Wanda TulfoTeo on Wednesday welcomed the announcement of Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Zhao Jianhua who said he expects onemillion tourists from China to visit the Philippines this year.

Teo said Zhao’s forecast is consistent with this year’s goals set by the DoT and its attached agencies

There was an error in the ad placement of CITY OF MAKATI dated January 24, 2017.

The correct text should have read as follows:

WHEREAS, on 04 January 2017, the company requested to be allowed to amend the Definitive Information Statement submitted last 22 December 2016, particularly the Management Report, to include a discussion of the financial statements and results of operations for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 20162017, not later than five (5) business days prior to the date of the meeting.

WHEREAS, SEC Resolution No. 196, Series of 2015, require a Publication of a Notice or an Advisory, in two (2) newspapers of general circulation, that copies of the unaudited interim financial statements (SEC Form 17-Q) will be made available to their stockholders at least five (5) days before holding the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting and that such reports can be viewed at the company’s official website. Moreover, that in case Stockholders request for hardcopies of said unaudited interim financial statements, the same should be provided to them.

WHEREFORE, pursuant to the authority given by the Commission en Banc in SEC Resolution No. 196, Series of 2015, the Markets and Securities Regulation Department hereby approves on 05 January 2017 the company’s request to amend the Definitive Information Statement (DIS) submitted last 22 December 2016, particularly the Management Report, to include a discussion of the financial statements and results of operations for the company’s 1” Quarter Report ended 31 December 2016 subject to its full compliance of SRC Rule 20.3.3.4 VICENTE GRACIANO P. FELIZMENO Director (MS-JAN. 26, 2017)

of attracting at least seven million international visitors.

“We are emboldened to shoot for the stars by the Chinese New Year forecast, coming from such a distinguished personality in Ambassador Zhao,” Teo said at the sidelines of the Miss Universe National Gift Auction on Monday night at the Conrad Hotel Manila in Pasay City.

During Chinese New Year, which falls this year on Jan. 28, some six-

million Chinese travel for leisure to various destinations within the mainland and abroad.

Teo noted the improved diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China since President Rodrigo Duterte’s state visit to Beijing last October, leading to the lifting of the Chinese restriction on travels to the Philippines.

“Following the lifting of Beijing’s advisory against travel to the Philippines, Chinese tourists came in droves by air

RESERVE YOUR ADe m aSPACE NOW! il us at advertise@ the standard.com.ph or call us at 832-5547

CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2016-A-001 And not as published.

WHEREAS, on 22 December 2016, Roxas Holdings, Inc. (“Company”) submitted its Definitive Information Statement (“DIS”) and Management Report (“MR”) relative to the scheduled stockholders’ meeting on 15 February 2017.

WHEREAS, the Company’s SEC Form 17-Q containing the Management Discussion and Analysis and Interim Financial Statements (collectively referred to as “Reports”) for the quarter ended 31 December 2016, would be not be available for filing and distribution within the fifteen (15) business days before the stockholders’ meeting.

By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday admonished government workers to shape up and said he will implement severe measures to reform the government this February to address corruption and bureaucratic red tape.

In a speech before victims of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” in Tacloban City, Duterte threatened to charge government officials with neglect of duty after government’s efforts were slowing down in various departments.

“By the end of February, God willing, if I’m still alive, I will impose severe steps on the government. The salaries of government workers amount to [billions]. They have to stop [being lazy]. I only receive P130,000 [and] I have two families. That’s true,” Duterte said.

“Let’s not fool ourselves here.

Shape up. If you don’t, I’ll file a [case],” he said, warning government directors and even department secretaries to fast-track processing permits and signing documents or face administrative charges.

“I’m warning everybody: directors, 15 days; departments, DPWH, Evasco, 30 days. If it’s just a permit, two to three days.

If you don’t follow, then I’ll charge you for neglect of duty, either simple or serious,” he said.

“I will charge you administratively, not criminal charges because that takes too long.

Dereliction of duty then I can suspend you and you can go to court. I’ll be happy if you would go to court,” he added.

The President reminded government workers not to “leave your office until you’ve finished your work” to finish jobs required of the bureaucracy.

DoT ready for 1-million Chinese tourists

ERRATUM

IN THE MATTER OF

Duterte pledges steps vs red tape

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of Roxas Holdings, Inc. will be held on 15 February 2017 at ten o’clock in the morning at Turf Room, Manila Polo Club, McKinley Road, Forbes Park, Makati City, Metro Manila.

The Agenda of the Meeting is:

(4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)

MMDA eyes higher traffic violation fines

By Joel E. Zurbano

ROXAS HOLDINGS, INC.

(1) (2) (3)

and by cruise ships,” said Teo. According to the latest available data, China is the third largest contributor of foreign visitors to the country totalling 630,327 in November, trailing behind Korea’s 1,331,701 and USA’s 771,849.

Teo said there is a great diversity of attractions available to the Chinese market, including the sun and beach resorts, tropical nature and adventure destinations.

Call to Order Certification of Notice and Quorum Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on 2 March 2016 Presentation and Approval of the Annual Report to Stockholders Ratification of All Acts and Resolutions of the Board of Directors and Management Approval in the Amendment of Article VII of the Articles of Incorporation to Increase the Authorized Capital Stock from One Billion Five Hundred Million Pesos (PhP 1,500,000.00) to Two Billion Pesos (PhP 2,000,000,000.00) Election of the Board of Directors Election of External Auditors Other Matters Adjournment

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on 28 December 2016 as the Record Date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Registration for the meeting shall start at 9:30 in the morning. Please bring a valid identification paper or document such as a passport, driver’s license or company I.D. to facilitate registration.

IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU MAY SUBMIT A PROXY THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT CORPORATE SECRETARY LOCATED AT THE 14F, Net One Center, 26th cor. 3rd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila ON OR BEFORE 3 FEBRUARY 2017.

By Order of the Board of Directors.

FLORENCIO M. MAMAUAG, JR. Assistant Corporate Secretary 22 December 2016.

(MS-JAN. 26, 2017)

THE Metro Manila Development Authority is mapping out plans with the Office of the Ombudsman and the National Bureau of Investigation to impose heavier penalties for illegal parking of vehicles and other traffic violations.

MMDA acting chairman Thomas Orbos said the government must impose stiffer penalties to discipline drivers who keep on illegally parking their vehicles on both major and secondary roads in the National Capital Region despite repeated reminders and continuous clearing and towing operations.

“The Ombudsman and the NBI both agreed.

We started discussing this last October, and we will come up with the [implementing rules and regulations]. Hopefully it will come up soon or before the end of January,” said Orbos during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay Forum at Cafe Adriatico in Malate.

Orbos said he also wants to penalize barangay officials who fail to curb illegal parking in their respective areas.

The Ombudsman will handle the case of barangay officials and other government personnel involved in traffic management and those who will not cooperate with the government’s campaign against illegal parking while motorists with bad records in the MMDA will be placed on the watchlist of the NBI. “We want the Ombudsman to join. There was illegal parking because there was negligence on duty as a public servant. You didn’t do your job and there was negligence. We already talked and we are coming out with an agreement to put up an Ombudsman Desk to primarily tackle issues involving government personnel pertaining traffic,” said Orbos.

He added that violators will be automatically placed under the blacklist of the MMDA and other government agencies under the Department of Transportation, like the the Land Transportation Office if they fail to pay corresponding penalties.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

A7

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Spurs turn back Raptors L

OS ANGELES—LaMarcus Aldridge scored 21 points as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Toronto Raptors 108-106 on Tuesday to stay on the heels of the Golden State Warriors at the top of the Western Conference.

Aldridge, who also grabbed seven rebounds and two assists, led the scoring as the Spurs notched their fifth win on the trot to improve to 36-9, two games behind the Warriors (38-7).

Toronto’s defeat was their fourth straight loss however, and their challenge was hampered by the absence of DeMar DeRozan, who sprained an ankle at the weekend.

The Spurs, missing Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker and Pau Gasol, had surged into a 13-point lead at one stage in the first half but Toronto drew level in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter at the Air Canada Centre.

Dejounte Murray gave San Antonio a two-point lead with a jump shot before Toronto’s Terrence Ross missed a

25-foot effort with 1:17 to play.

The Raptors meanwhile were unable to punish a Spurs turnover with 45 seconds left before Aldridge scored two key free throws to help get San Antonio over the line.

Patty Mills was the other main scorer for San Antonio with 18 points while Dave Bertans (12) and David Lee (11) also made key contributions.

Kyle Lowry topped Toronto’s scoring with 30 points, while Ross added 21 points off the bench.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said the absences on both teams had evened each other out.

“You know they’re missing Mr. DeRozan, so we both had players missing,” Popovich said.

“I thought it was a really competitive game, anybody could have won the thing. ... Down the stretch, very honestly, it went our way. We didn’t do anything special to deserve it other than playing hard just like they did so we’re thrilled with the win.”

In Orlando, Dwyane Wade scored 21 points and Jimmy Butler 20 as the Chicago Bulls eased past the Orlando Magic 100-92 at the Amway Center.

Wade finally came good after a slow start, missing his first six shots before hitting eight of his next nine to give Chicago a third period lead which they never relinquished.

Chicago improved to 23-23 with the win while Orlando fell to 18-29.

Sixers stun Clippers The biggest upset of Tuesday’s early games came in Philadelphia, where the 16-27 76ers stunned the Los Angeles Clippers 121-110.

Nerlens Noel—replacing the injured Joel Embiid—was the star for Philly, scoring a season-high 19 points as the Clippers fell to 30-17. AFP

Best college stars to be feted

LaMarcus Aldridge of the San Antonio Spurs handles the ball against Lucas Nogueira of the Toronto Raptors. AFP

Ravena, Teng lead Mighty 5 in Dubai KIEFER Ravena and Jeron Teng, former star players of Ateneo and La Salle, respectively, reunite eight years after playing together in the Philippine Under-16 team as they spearhead Mighty Sports’ campaign in the Dubai International Basketball Championship next month.

Teng, who capped a glittering collegiate career after leading the Archers to the UAAP championship via a two-game sweep of the Ateneo Eagles last year, is already looking forward to a memorable partnership with his long-time buddy.

“I’m sure Kiefer is also happy that we’re going to play for one team this time and we thank the management of Mighty Sports for this opportunity,” said the exXavier School standout, who debuted for AMA team in the PBA D-League in style by dropping 42 points.

The high-leaping Ravena is currently training with the Texas Legends in the NBA D-League, determined to toughen up for his expected entry in the PBA next season.

While Ravena and Teng have yet to practice with the team, Mighty Sports coach Charles Tiu believes the challenge to play in one of the toughest tournaments in Asia will bring out the very best from the two future PBA stars.

“The level of competition is very strong because we’ll be facing the top club teams of Asia and Africa. But I’m confident the two will not back down from the challenge,” said the younger brother of Rain or Shine star guard Chris Tiu. Tiu, however, is battling against time to complete the team for the Feb. 18-25 event although they have already secured the services of former Ginebra import Justin Brownlee and NBA D-League veteran Hasheem Thabeet.

TANDUAY VOLLEYFEST. The kickoff leg of the 2017 Tanduay Beach Volleyball Challenge was held last Sunday at the sand courts of the Cantada Sports Center. Jessa Aranda and Alarnie Puylong Pesebre of Team Antipolo won the women’s division title, while Jason Uy and Joel Villonson of Team Army captured the men’s division. A total of 19 teams in the women’s division and 14 teams in the men’s class participated in this one day, fun-filled event supported by Century Park Hotel. The event was organized by Joe Cantada Sports and the Philippine Volleyball Federation.

Ronda PH faithful to its goal of helping national team THE LBC Ronda Pilipinas will continue to be faithful to its original goal of producing promising young riders that it hopes to blossom into elite athletes ready for the international scene.

Moe Chulani, Ronda project director and LBC Sports Development head, said they are allowing national team members George Luis Oconer and Ronald Lomotos to skip this year’s LBC Ronda 2017 edition to race for flag and country in another local race as required by PhilCycling.

“As always, we will support PhilCycling’s program and any-

thing that will be done for flag and country,” said Chulani. “And rest assured that we will be relentless in our pursuit of discovering and producing future talents from the far-flung areas in the country.”

Oconer and Lomotos were supposed to suit up for Go for Gold and Navy, respectively, in this year’s race slated Feb. 4 to March 4 from Vigan, Ilocos Sur to Iloilo City, but a recent memo from PhilCycling forced them to skip the event to re-join the national squad.

Go for Gold coach Eds Hualda said they are also in one with LBC and Ronda in its decision to

let their cyclist join the national squad.

“Our team was founded on the principles of giving our national and elite level athletes opportunities to develop through additional trainin and races, both here and abroad and develop the next generation of elite athletes through our junior development program,” said Hualda.

Hualda’s husband, Ronnel, will skipper the Go for Gold team that will also be bannered by Jerry Aquino, Jr., Jonel Carcueva, Elmer Navarro, Agustin Queremit, Ryan Cayubit and Ismael Gorospe.

Hualda said they are now in the process of seeking a replacement of Oconer, who topped the qualifying races in Subic Bay and Bacolod City late last year.

“Yes, we’re finding another rider to fill in the spot left by George,” said Hualda.

A top purse worth P1 million prize awaits the champion courtesy of presentor LBC and in partnership with MVP Sports Foundation, Petron, Mitsubishi, Versa.ph, Victory Liner, Maynilad, Standard Insurance, CCN, Bike Xtreme, NLEX, PhilCycling and 3Q Sports Event Management.

THE AFP Cavaliers dominated the BOC Transformers, 96-91, to clinch a berth in the quarterfinals in the UNTV Cup Sunday at the Pasig City Sports Arena.

Point guard Boyet Bautista scored 10 points in the second quarter as the Cavaliers finally set the tone of the match after trailing in the first canto.

Kenneth Duremdes struck for 18 in the final quarter, but his firepower was not enough against the Cavaliers.

Hailed as the Best Players of the

Game were Bautista with 25 points, and Jeffrey Quiambao with 17 for AFP, which raised its record to 6-4.

Despite the loss, the semifinalists Transformers still lead with an 8-2 record.

Joining BOC into the semis was two-time champion Judiciary Magis, which defeated the MMDA Black Wolves, 77-62.

With the win, the Magis’ eight in 10 games, they punched an an automatic ticket to the semifinal round with a twice-to-beat advantage, just like the Transformers.

Team Championship, won by him with Lavazza-Allegra; he played with Madala and against Colarassi-Severini of the Team Pacini from Pisa. (Round 9/9 Board 12) N-S vulnerable North Bocchi ♠95 ♥4 ♦Q63 ♣KQJ9653 West East Colarossi Severini ♠72 ♠QJ10643 ♥93 ♥QJ2 ♦AJ10975 ♦842 ♣10872 ♣A South Madala ♠AK8 ♥AK108765 ♦AK ♣4 West North East Colarossi Bocchi erini Madala 3♣ 3♠ Pass 4NT Pass All Pass

South Sev4♠ 6♣

Severini led ♠Q, taken by dummy’s ace, then ♣K won

by East, who returned spades for dummy’s king. Now Bocchi moved spade again, ruffed and played the trump queen, discovering the unlucky break.

Unlucky but not hopeless; there is a way to catch the club ten: this is to go a final of trump only and the led on dummy, making an automatic ruff finesse. This is the final Bocchi envisaged: North Bocchi ♠-♥-♦-♣J9 West East Colarossi Severini ♠-(Immaterial) ♥-♦-♣102 South Dummy *on lead ♠-♥52 ♦-♣--

The other teams seeing action are Bike Extreme, Neopolitan, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Mindanao, South Luzon, Kinetix Lab-Army, Zambales, Salic and One Tarlac.

The main race starts on Feb. 4 with two stages in Ilocos Sur and will pass by Angeles (Feb. 8), Subic (Feb. 9), Lucena, Quezon (Feb. 12), Pili, Camarines Norte (Feb. 14 and 16), Daet (Feb. 17), Paseo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna (Feb. 19), Tagaytay and Batangas (Feb. 20), Calamba and Antipolo (Feb. 21) before wrapping up with a pair of stages in Iloilo City (March 2, 3 and 4).

UST Tiger Cubs notch 4th victory

Magis enter semifinals; Cavs make quarterfinals

By Peter Atencio

Judiciary Magis’ Chester Tolomia tries to penetrate the Black Wolves’ defense during their matchup on Sunday in the UNTV Cup.

2015 Italian Open Team Championship: The Bocchi’s Grand Coup

THERE is in Italy an important book published in 1994 and never translated in English: it is “II Gioco di Compressione nel Bridge”, di Aldolfo Giannuzi (translation: squeeze play; but this article is not dealing with squeeze). In the first pages the author explains that there are six main techniques to make tricks in declarer play; three basic and three advanced. The three basic are finessing, ruffing and suit establishing (“basic” is by no means synonym for “easy” but this is another story).

The three advanced techniques are elimination and thrown in, the squeeze, and the Grand Coup.

The last technique is rare and is deemed the most difficult to see and to realize.

Norberto Bocchi saw and realized it this morning in the last round of the 2015 Italian Open

THE presentation of the Smart Player of the Year highlights the gathering of the best and brightest in the Collegiate Basketball Awards set tonight at the Montgomery Place Social Hall in E. Rodriguez Ave., Quezon City.

Named as candidates for the prestigious award are the members of the Mighty Sports Mythical Five in La Salle’s Ben Mbala and Jeron Teng, Arellano University’s Jio Jalalon, San Beda’s Javee Mocon and Mapua’s Allwell Oraeme.

The award is one of many that will be handed in the event backed by Smart, Accel, Mighty Sports, MJM Productions and Chooks to Go and hosted by 2016 Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia Pacific International and Far Eastern University courtside reporter Ganiel Krishnan.

Also to be recognized are Aldin Ayo and Jamike Jarin with the Coach of the Year honors for guiding La Salle and San Beda to the championship of the UAAP and NCAA, respectively.

Ayo will make history as the first coach to win the UAAP and NCAA Coach of the Year in the awards night held every year by scribes covering the collegiate beat.

Jarin, now with National University, is a first-time winner of the award after leading San Beda to its ninth championship in 11 seasons.

Also to be cited are La Salle’s Kib Montalbo and San Beda’s Davon Potts with the Pivotal Player for their major roles in the championship run of their teams.

Let us count: Bochi started with seven trumps; Colarossi with four, therefore to enter this final Bocchi had to shorten thrice by ruff. He needed four entries in dummy: three to ruff and one to get the final position with the lead on the duly side.

First entry: the second spade played by Severini after he took by ♣A. First ruff: the third dummy’s spade. Bocchi now played club queen, discovering the 4-1 break; he just exposed his cards and called made, explaining at the table his playing plan. The hand ended, and tens of kibitzers complained against the poor vugrapher because she result the scored, that is made (instead of -1, as kibitzers thought). Let us continue the analysis.

Second entry: the hearth ace (not diamond!). Now it must be played hearth king too and cast a diamond; the diamond is winning but Declarer only must shorten himself. Second ruff: the third

round of hearth.

Third entry: diamond ace. Third ruff; another hearth. Note that even this hearth is winning, and this is the second winner Declarer wasted; that is why the “Grand Coup” is so called: in his march toward the trump equality, any richness can be cast save entries.

Fourth entry: diamond king and we arrived to the two card final and dummy on lead. Note that if East led or returned diamond he would have forced Declarer to use and entry untimely, defeating the contract.

-oOoHactor Tarrazona Shrikant Wad topped the Alejandro Duplicate Game on January 17, 2017 Hector Tarrazona–Shrikant Wad 88.54 Susan Kwee–Barry Randle 81.91 Justo Manlogat–Satomi Suzuki 78.41 Comments to: sylvia.alejandro@yahoo

INAND Fornillos made his baskets and his presence count in the closing minute as the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs rolled past the Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws, 54-52, yesterday in the 79th University Athletic Association of the Philippines junior basketball tournament at the Arena in San Juan.

Fornillos scored only seven points, with his putback, assist and split free throw in the final minute allowing the Tiger Cubs to pick up their fourth win in 11 matches.

His efforts saw the Baby Tams falling to third spot with their 8-3 card.

This put the Adamson Baby Falcons and the defending champion National University Bullpups closer to the twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four semifinals.

The Baby Tams were enjoying a 52-49 lead when Fornillos struck with a putback that allowed UST to threaten, 51-52, in the last 1:12.

Crispin Cansino, who showed the way with 20 points, then got an assist from Fornillos in the last 45 seconds and hit a layup that allowed UST to move ahead, 53-52.

Fornillos’ freebie in the remaining six seconds finally put the game away in favor of UST. Meanwhile, Gerry Abadiano shot 15 of his 18-point output in the first half for the Baby Falcons, who smashed De La Salle Zobel, 78-51.

LOTTO RESULTS

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

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

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

Sports

Serena, Baroni set rematch —19 years later

Croatia’s Mirjana Lucic-Baroni falls on her knees as she celebrates her victory against Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova during their women’s singles quarter-final match on Day 10 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. AFP

Big 2nd-quarter surge lifts Hotshots past Elite, 111-95 A

By Jeric Lopez

N explosive second-quarter surge propelled Star to a vital victory as it trounced Blackwater, 111-95, to secure its second straight win that put itself in a good spot in the wild race for the quarterfinals in 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City yesterday.

Allein Maliksi had a fine performance, scoring a season-high 26 points to go with five rebounds to lead the charge for the Hotshots.

Four more Star chargers registered double-digit scoring, with Paul Lee having 15 points, four rebounds and four assists; Justin Melton also scoring 15; Jio Jalalon striking for 14 and Ian Sangalang

notching 10.

This critical victory improved Star to 5-4 and it just needs to win at least one of its final two assignments to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals.

On the other hand, this second straight defeat was huge blow to Blackwater as it placed the team in a dangerous situation.

They wrapped up their elimination-round campaign at 5-6, their fate not in their hands anymore as they need to play the waiting game to see if they can enter the playoffs or not.

Once the smoke clears, only the top eight teams will move forward to the quarterfinals, with the top two earning twice-to-beat incentives against lower ranked foes.

As of now, top-ranked San Miguel Beer and current second-runner Phoenix are the only teams which are safely in the playoffs, while the other squads in the middle battle it out for the remaining six slots, with the eliminations dwindling down to the last few games.

One more team will be eliminated and join already ousted Mahindra, Meralco and NLEX in vacation.

Following a flat start wherein it trailed by six, 23-29, at the end of one, the Hotshots got their rhythm going in a snap to produce a blistering second-quarter blitz that eventually got them the win.

Riding the hot hands of Jalalon and Melton, Star whipped Blackwater by 20 points, 36-16, in the second to take a commanding 5945 spread at the half.

The guard combo of Jalalon and Melton was mainly responsible for that, combining for 27 of Star’s 49 first half points with Melton having 15 and Melton 12.

Though Blackwater came within striking distance multiple times in the second half, Star remained in control as it was able to withstand each rally the Elite offered.

The Hotshots ended up strong as they did in the second period

to get more point up in quotient for leverage.

After struggling in his last game, Arthur Dela Cruz made it a point to bounce back, scoring 11 points right away in the opening salvo to finish with a team-high 23 points for the Elite.

But his efforts weren’t enough as his team was hardly in the game from the second quarter onwards.

The scores: STAR 111—Maliksi 26, Lee 15, Melton 15, Jalalon 14, Sangalang 10, Barroca 8, Ramos 7, Dela Rosa 6, Pingris 5, Reavis 4, Brondial 1.

BLACKWATER 95—Dela Cruz 23, Pinto 13, Sumang 13, Buenafe 10, Aguilar 10, Sena 9, Belo 6, Miranda 5, Gamalinda 4, Cervantes 2, Ababou 0, Pascual 0.

Quarterscores: 23-29, 59-45, 78-70111-95

Punch Your Clock chessfest set

Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares (seated, left) and UP Vanguard Inc. National Commander Guido Delgado sign the contract for the holding of the Punch Your Clock. They are joined here by NCFP Director Raymond Linsangan (right), Atty. Florimon Bernardo and Ronald Bancod, tournament director (standing, right). Lino Santos

PUNCH Your Clock, a five-day chess tournament hosted by the University of the Philippines, takes the spotlight from March 29 to April 2 at the UP Department of Military Science and Tactics in Diliman.

International Master Ronald Bancod, who will serve as tournament director, hopes to elevate the level of competition of young players in Rapid and Blitz so they can eventually match up with the world standard.

The UP VI Silver Jubilarian

Class of ’92 is at the forefront of the event in close coordination with the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

“The tournament will be patterned after the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships for men and women,” said Bancod during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Golden Phoenix Hotel that was attended as well by NCFP vice-president and former congressman Nery Colmenares.

Competitions will be played

in four categories: Rapid Open, Blitz Open, Women’s Rapid and Women’s Blitz.

A cash prize of P240,000 has been earmarked in the Rapid and P240,000 in the Blitz. The top prize in the Rapid and Blitz is P40,000 each.

Participants being eyed to compete include members of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association squads as well as regional and provincial entries.

So plays Armenian to a draw, keeps Tata chess lead FILIPINO grandmaster Wesley So avoided complications and played Armenian Levi Aronian to a draw in 38 moves in Round 9 of the ongoing 2017 Tata Steel Chess Masters in Wijk aan Zee, The Netherlands.

Playing white, So used the delayed Open Catalan in his opening

moves and it turned into a complicated Vienna Game later on.

A repetition of moves by the rook compelled So to split his point with Aronian and keep the solo lead with six points.

Analyst Alejandro Ramirez of chessbase.com looked at So’s 19th move with his rook as a novelty

against Aronian in a complicated Vienna.

Aronian did not have an advantage afterwards and the game simplified into a completely drawn rook endgame quite early, according to Ramirez’s analysis.

The 23-year-old So is half a point ahead of world no. 1 GM Magnus

PH Cuppers confident vs Indonesians LONG-TIME Philippine tennis sports patron and Davis Cup team manager Jean Henri Lhuillier is upbeat of the team’s chances in next week’s tie with Indonesia, citing the intense preparations being made by the team.

The Philippines hosts Indonesia in the first round of zonal tennis tournament to be held at the Philippine Columbian Association shell-clay courts in Paco, Manila on Feb. 3 to 5.

“We have assembled a very strong squad that is a nice combination of youth and experience. All of them have been

competing a lot and have toughened up in international competitions and have been doing well.

The goal for this year is to win all our matches to move back to Asia-Oceana Group 1 next year and I strongly believe that this team has what it takes to accomplish the task,” Lhuillier said.

The team is bannered by world-class doubles’ specialist Treat Huey, who is ranked 22nd in the world and is fresh from campaigning in the Australian Open.

Joining him are Francis Casey Alcantara, Ruben Gonzales and world-class junior

netter Alberto Lim Jr. Alcantara is coming off a strong campaign last year, rising to world no. 875 in singles’ rankings to become the country’s number 1 singles player.

Gonzales has been a force to reckon with in international doubles’ competitions with a ranking of 242.

Lim on the other hand is ranked 35 in world juniors and is currently seeing in the Australian Open Juniors.

Karl Santamaria will serve as team captain while Martin Misa will be the Philippine Davis Cup administrator.

Carlsen, who bounced back from his upset loss to Richard Rapport.

Carlsen pulled off a 54-move triumph over Loek Van Wely in a Sicilian Defense game.

He enjoyed an opening advantage, which Carlsen used to gain an extra pawn at endgame.

Carlsen shares 5.5 points with

Pavel Eljanov and Wei Yi. Eljanov drew with Dmitry Andreikin in 54 moves of a Queen’s Pawn Game, while Wei halved his point with Baskaran Adhiban in 85 moves of a King’s Indian Defense.

Aronian has five points with Adhiban and Sergey Karjakin.

Peter Atencio

Davis Cup Team Manager Jean Henri Lhuillier is confident that his team, which includes the country’s no. 1 singles player Francis Casey Alcantara, can rise above Indonesia in the upcoming matches.

MELBOURNE—Serena Williams brushed aside Britain’s Johanna Konta to set up an Australian Open semi-final with an emotional Mirjana Lucic-Baroni on Wednesday —19 years after they last met as fellow teenage prodigies.

The American great overcame a misfiring serve to halt Konta’s nine-match winning streak 6-2, 6-3, staying on course for a potential allWilliams final with her sister Venus.

In the men’s draw, Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov knocked out Belgian hope David Goffin 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to earn a semifinal against Rafael Nadal or Canada’s Milos Raonic.

Williams, 35, has come a long way since her last meeting with Lucic-Baroni in the second round at Wimbledon in 1998, when they were both 16 and without a trophy to their names.

While Williams is now eyeing an Open-era-record 23rd Grand Slam title and a return to world number one, the Croatian is into her first major semi since 1999 after her career was derailed by personal trauma.

Unseeded Lucic-Baroni wept freely and gasped, “This has truly made my life,” after she upset Czech world number five Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

“I can’t believe this. This is crazy,” said the 34-year-old, who disappeared from the tennis scene after being forced to flee her abusive father.

“The only thing I can say is God is good. That’s all I can say. I can’t believe it. I feel a little bit in shock.”

Williams said she could take inspiration from Lucic-Baroni, against whom she will be the strong favourite in Thursday’s semi-finals.

‘Remarkable story’ “I’m really happy for Mirjana. I was there when she first started. To see her be able to never give up actually is superinspiring to me. It’s a wonderful story,” she said.

Williams added: “Honestly, we have totally different games now, the both of us. We both have gone through a lot.

We both have survived, and here we are, which I think is a really remarkable story.” AFP

Lady Stags sweep their way to finals SAN Sebastian College overcame a slow start by playing aggressive in the final sets to turn back defending champion St. Benilde, 22-25, 25-22, 25-13, 25-14, yesterday and sweep its way straight to the finals in the women’s division of the 92nd NCAA volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan City.

Reigning back-to-back MVP Grethcel Soltones came through with a monster game, unleashing a match-high 30 hits, including 29 on kills to power the Lady Stags to a ninegame sweep of the elimination round and straight to the finals where they are ensured of a thrice-to-beat edge.

It marked the second straight season that San Sebastian swept the elims and booked an automatic slot in the championship round after also accomplishing the feat a year ago only to get ambushed by eventual winner St. Benilde in the finals.

It will also be the Lady Stags’ third straight appearance in the biggest stage but lost the first two, including a series against Arellano University two years ago.

San Sebastian, however, does not want to dwell on it and just concentrate on the present.

“Past is past, we have to move forward and try to focus on what we have right now, and that is how to prepare the finals and win the title,” said San Sebastian coach Roger Gorayeb.

Katherine Villegas and Joyce Sta. Rita chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively, while Vira Guillema did the facilitating with 48 excellent hits.

It was the power-hitting Soltones who shone the brightest.

SMC offers cheap power

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Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

B1

Govt cuts Q3 growth to 7%

S&R GOES TO CIRCUIT. S&R Membership Shopping is set to open at Circuit Makati, a project of Ayala Land Inc. Shown cementing the partnership are (from left) S&R Membership Shopping site development director Tony See, senior vice president Darren Eugene Bates, president Anthony Sy, Ayala Land vice president and project development head for Makati Manny Blas and Circuit Makati project development head Shiella Aguilar.

IN BRIEF BSP auction sells P180-b term deposits

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas fully awarded P180 billion worth of term deposits during its regular auction Wednesday.

Bangko Sentral said the term deposit auction was oversubscribed, as both the sevenday and 28-day deposit facilities received total tenders of P243.395 billion, exceeding the original offer of P180 billion.

Rates for the 7-day debt facility settled at 3.0269 percent, or 1.62 basis point lower than the previous rate of 3.0431 percent.

The week-long debt papers or the seven-day P30 billion was fully awarded with tenders reaching P43.664 billion.

Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said in a text message the TDF auction result was within expectations. “Today’s TDF auction results were more along what is expected, as the relatively heavy funding requirements reported last week were no longer present this week.. Right now we don’t see any need to make any adjustments to our market operations but we will continue to monitor market liquidity conditions,” Tetangco said. Gabrielle H. Binaday

Petron, PNOC set to discuss rentals

PETRON Corp. wants a third-party valuation advisor to determine the rental fees for the properties that the oil company is using.

“We want a fairness valuation then we can talk,” said Petron president and chief executive Ramon Ang. “It’s okay if they want to increase the rental payment. But how do we determine?

How to price it? We need to get a thirdparty valuation. We can both hire. I hire or they hire, then we show it to each other,” Ang said.

Ang said he would meet with Philippine National Oil Co. president Reuben Lista next week to discuss the latter’s request for higher fees for a 4.27-hectare property in Mabini, Batangas, where the oil firm’s fuel storage and distribution terminal is located. The facility supplies the Calabarzon region.

“Should Petron fail to agree to our required rental fee, we shall exclude the site for renewal of lease agreement for bulk plants and transform the site as part of the energy hub that PNOC envisions for the ESB land,” Lista earlier said. Darwin G. Amojelar

Malayan Insurance shares New Year tips

MALAYAN Insurance shares valuable tips for everyone to make the most out of the Year of the Fire Rooster.

The company said the Year of the Fire Rooster is the year to be aggressive and uncompromising in reaching for goals.

“It may be tough, but you have to dedicate yourself to the grind. The year of the Fire Rooster will be dominated by development, but only if you put in the work,” said Jun Cotoco, Malayan Insurance head of sales division. “More than ever, 2017 will be the year that you can expect to enjoy the rewards of your hard work.”

Another tip is to set a schedule, and stick to it. “This year, say goodbye to being late to meetings and to missing deadlines. Figure out how you should best manage your time and follow your schedule religiously,” Cotoco said.

One also need to practice patience.

“We’ve all grown accustomed to instant gratification in recent years. But 2017 will be the ideal time to trust that the long hours you spend working will pay off in the end,” he said.

PH seeks China aid for 40 infra projects

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

T

he government is seeking China’s support for 40 infrastructure projects in the Philippines, including the $3-billion South Line of the North-South Railway from Manila to Legaspi City.

The Finance Department said it submitted a list of 40 “large and small” infrastructure projects for the approval of the government of China during the visit of the Duterte administration’s economic managers to Beijing.

The infrastructure projects were presented to China for possible loan financing and assistance in conducting feasibility studies, with further discussions on the details of the proposals to take place in Manila next month.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the meeting of the high-level Philippine team with officials of China’s Commerce Ministry was a

“productive first step towards achieving the desire of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping in further reinforcing ties between the two countries.”

Of the 40 projects, 15 are being proposed for loan financing while another 25 were submitted for feasibility study support.

Aside from Dominguez, the Philippine delegation included Secretaries Benjamin Diokno of the Budget Department, Arthur Tugade of the Transportation Department, Mark Villar of the Public Works Department and Ernesto Pernia of the National Economic and Development Authority.

“It was a very positive and very productive meeting,” Dominguez said in an interview in Beijing with members of the Chinese media.

“My expectation is that the projects that we have discussed would be implemented very quickly and that it would benefit both [the[ people [of China and the Philippines],” he said.

Three of the large-scale projects submitted for Chinese loan financing are meant to raise the productivity of small farmers, improve transportation and logistics services in underserved areas of Luzon and ensure a steady water supply to Metro Manila.

These three projects, with a combined total of $3.4 billion, are the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project in the provinces of Cagayan and Kalinga with an estimated total project cost of $53.6 million; the New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project in Quezon, $374.03 million; and the South Line of the

Mighty denies fake stamps allegation MIGHTY Corp., a Filipinoowned cigarette manufacturer, denied Wednesday reports that it is using fake stamps in its operation.

“Our operation is transparent and closely monitored by revenue authorities from sourcing of raw materials to manufacturing and withdrawals of cigarettes,” said MC executive vice president and spokesman Oscar Barrientos.

“In fact, our company’s operation is the only one monitored by close-circuit cameras required by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and it’s also on records that MC has spearheaded the campaign all over the country against the proliferation of fake cigarettes using fake stamps,” said Barrientos, a retired regional court judge.

Barrientos reacted to reports quoting BIR commissioner Cesar Dulay that “BIR is investigating homegrown cigarette manufacturer Mighty Corp. for allegedly using fake tax stamps on its products.”

Barrientos said as of Wednesday, MC had not received any notice of investigation by the BIR and if there were, “we are prepared for it as our records are always open for scrutiny by the BIR.” “We are hoping that if ever this is done, BIR should include in its investigation not only local manufacturers but also multinational companies and their local partners who are known for importing large quantities of raw materials without paying correct taxes to the prejudice of our local

farmers,” Barrientos said.

“It’s on records that as early as two years ago, Mighty has coordinated with BIR, Bureau of Customs, police and the National Bureau of Investigation in the seizures of fake Mighty cigarettes and other brands and the arrest and indictment of persons involved in the smuggling, manufacturing and marketing of contraband cigarettes,” Barrientos said.

Barrientos said Mighty was subjected to unfair publicity by its rivals after its products, known for their smooth and superior blending, ate a large share of their market in the low-priced category once dominated by multinational rivals who remitted abroad a large part of their income to the prejudice of the Philippine economy.

Ayala focuses on Naia, shuns other airport deals

By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATE Ayala Corp. wants to focus on the bidding of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport redevelopment project and is not interested in other airport deals, a top executive said Wednesday.

Ayala Infrastructure Holdings president and chief executive Rene Almendras said the company was not keen on participating in the bidding of five provincial airport projects because it wanted to focus on the country’s main gateway.

“We are getting ready for the big-

ger one which is the Naia. Let the others fix the domestic airports. But you still need to fix the main airport and expand its capacity,” Almendras said.

Almerdras said the group already formed a consortium that would include foreign and local partners to bid for Naia.

Almendras said the Naia redevelopment was a critical project that needed to be fixed.

“There is a bigger problem in Naia.

You need to fix Naia. Even if you increase the capacity of all the domestic airports, the additional flights would

have nowhere to go, if we would not fix Naia,” Almendras said.

“We are not saying the [unbundled airport projects] are bad investments. They’re all good. They’re all nice, interesting and all that. It’s just that we have to choose. We don’t want to be all over the place because we want to be focused,” he said.

The Transportation Department on Tuesday opened the bidding for five regional airports to other groups aside from the five consortiums that passed the qualifications set by the previous administration.

The five provincial airports include

the P20.26-billion Bacolod-Silay International Airport, the P30.4-billion Iloilo International Airport, the P14.62-billion Laguindingan Airport, the P2.34-billion New Bohol (Panglao) Airport and the P40.57-billion Davao International Airport.

The Aquino administration earlier pre-qualified Maya Consortium led

by Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Philippine Airports Consortium of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., San Miguel Holdings Corp.-IIAC Airport Consortium, GMR-Megawide Consortium and Filinvest-JATCOSojitz Consortium for the project.

Manila

North-South Railway running Standard TODAY from Manila to Legaspi City in Bicol, $3.01 billion.

THE Philippine Statistics Authority revised downward the thirdquarter gross domestic product growth to 7 percent from the previous estimate of 7.1 percent.

The downward revision brought the average growth in the first three quarters of 2016 to 6.9 percent, still within the 2016 target of the Development Budget Coordination Committee at 6 percent to 7 percent.

The official full-year GDP growth rate will be announced today.

PSA said in a statement on its website that the top contributors to the growth revision were financial intermediation, real estate, renting and business activities and agriculture and forestry.

Life insurer Sun Life Financial of Canada (Philippines) Inc. said the economy likely expanded 7 percent in the whole of 2016 on the back of robust consumer and government spending.

Sun Life chief investments officer Michael Enriquez said the outlook for the country remained strong and fundamentally positive.

“Remittances from overseas Filipino workers, the business process putsourcing industry and the large number of Filipinos who are of working age are among the factors boosting our economy from the consumer’s end,” Enriquez said.

Gabrielle H. Binaday

TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES PHILIPPINES CORPORATION 32nd Floor G. T. Tower International, Ayala Avenue corner H. V. dela Costa Street,Salcedo Village, 1226 Makati City

STATEMENT OF CONDITION As of December 31, 2016 ASSETS Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas P Deposit in Banks GS Purchased Under Reverse Repurchase Agreement with BSP GS Purchased Under RRA Sold Under Resale Agreement Loans and Receivables (Net) (Long-Term Portion of P41,508,843,672) Available-for-Sale Securities (Net) Real Estate for Sale/Lease (Net) Real Property, Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment (Net) Real and Other Properties Acquired (Net) Other Assets (Net) TOTAL ASSETS P

8,877,127,149 508,896,796 0 0 42,796,727,148 0 1,500,000 0 90,096,550 112,333,180 3,194,764,452 55,581,445,275

LIABILITIES Bills Payable Accrued Taxes and Other Expenses Other Liabilities TOTAL LIABILITIES

P P

46,850,075,920 409,740,228 3,380,127,455 50,639,943,603

CAPITAL ACCOUNTS Capital Stock Retained Earnings Sub - Total Less: Treasury Stock TOTAL CAPITAL ACCOUNTS

P

P

1,700,000,000 3,241,501,672 4,941,501,672 0 4,941,501,672

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL ACCOUNTS

P

55,581,445,275

P

COMMITMENT AND OTHER CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS Other Contingent Accounts

P

0

Note: 1. Held for Trading Securities comprise of Government Securities of P0 and Equity Securities - Common Shares of P0 2. Non-performing loans and ratio to total loan portfolio: P 605,673,093 ; 1.17%

3. Classified loans and other risk assets: P 1,989,751,944 4. General loan loss reserve: P 494,965,582

5. Specific loan loss reserve: P415,304,877 6. Return on equity (ROE): 11.98% 7. DOSRI loans/advances and ratio to total loan portfolio: None 8. Past due DOSRI loans/advances and ratio to total portfolio: None REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) We, Ma. Fe S. Medrano, Assistant Vice-President and Atsushi Murakami, President of the above-mentioned NBQB, do solemnly swear that all matters set forth in the statement of condition are true and correct to the best of our knowledge and belief.

(Sgd.) MA. FE S. MEDRANO Assistant Vice-President

(Sgd.) ATSUSHI MURAKAMI President

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 19th day of January 2017, affiants exhibiting to me their Driver’s License No. N0410001084 issued at Manila and Passport No. TZ1056363 issued at Japan.

Doc. No. 481 Page No. 98 Book No. 5 Series of 2017

(Sgd.) XERXES E. CORTEL Commission No. M-115 Notary Public of Makati City Until December 31, 2017 Suite 1015, 10F Cityland Condominium 10 Tower 1 Ayala Ave. cor. H.V. dela Costa Street, Makati City Roll No. 40927 / April 12, 1996 PTR No. 5329597; January 6, 2015; Makati City IBP No. 1012327; November 26, 2015; Nueva Ecija MCLE Compliance No. V-0010755 Valid until April 14, 2019

B2

Business

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market falls; Shakey’s tops gainers

S

TOCKS fell for a second day, ahead of the release of fourth-quarter economic growth data and on concerns US President Donald Trump’s protectionist policy will affect the business process outsourcing sector.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, dropped 47 points, or 0.6 percent, to close at 7,323.36 Wednesday. This trimmed total gains this year to 7.1 percent.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also shed 20 points, or 0.5 percent, to settle at 4,406.73, on a value turnover of P5.5 billion. Advancers outnumbered losers, 106 to 79, while 52 issues were unchanged.

Five of the six sectoral indices declined, while only five of the

20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by restaurant chain operator Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. which climbed 1.9 percent to P12.60 and LT Group Inc., the holding company of tycoon Lucio Tan, which rose 1.1 percent to P12.40.

Meanwhile, Asian markets pushed higher Wednesday, tracking a record close on Wall Street as investor concerns about Donald Trump’s lack of domestic policies were eased, while the dollar held gains against the yen.

After a slack start to the year for global markets, US traders took up the reins Tuesday to press back on with the November-December Trump rally after the tycoon gave the green light to two big oil pipeline deals.

The new president signed off on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline—which would carry oil from Canadian tar sands to US Gulf Coast refineries—and another crossing in North Dakota.

The move reverses decisions taken recently by Barack Obama and is the latest effort to wipe out the former president’s legacy.

Also Tuesday it emerged that House Speaker Paul Ryan signalled support for public works spending, while reports surfaced that Senate Democrats will unveil a $1 trillion infrastructure plan, offering the president their

support if he backs it.

The developments soothed anxiety on markets that promised economy-firing spending and tax-cutting measures were being put on the back burner by Trump in favour of reviewing global trade deals.

“The fact that the US economy is strong is positive for the global economy, and right at this moment, investor sentiment is tipped toward hope that President Trump is trying something new,” said Chihiro Ohta, a Tokyo-based senior strategist at SMBC Nikko Securities.

On Wall Street the S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended at all-time highs, while the Dow got within spitting distance of breaking the 20,000-point barrier for the first time.

With Bloomberg, AFP

Manila Water wins P443-m Obando deal

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales Manila Water Company Inc. said it won a contract to develop the P442.9-million Obando water supply project in Bulacan province.

Manila Water said consortium Manila Water Philippines Ventures Inc. received the notice of award dated Jan. 24, 2017 from Obando Water District.

The award will be for the implementation of the joint venture project for the design, construction, rehabilitation, maintenance, operation, financing, expansion

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.73 2,000 48.25 12,100 91.5 565,020 4.14 10,000 112 1,749,300 1.4 303,000 38.5 72,200 16.1 19,900 19.3 518,900 6.66 4,300 0.68 18,000 1.7 96,000 0.75 16,955,000 77.85 1,600,120 0.77 1,055,000 14.3 4,300 23.85 400 54 87,840 240 490 144 190 90.3 1,160 36.1 61,600 213.4 398,980 1,750 510 78.2 58,510

7,250 582,285 51,692,275 40,140 196,955,718 423,700 2,779,685 320,390 10,030,738 28,604 12,240 162,270 12,751,090 124,754,506 813,820 61,358 9,540 4,755,818.50 117,600 27,360 104,517 2,223,760 85,441,008 895,825 4,567,896

404,500 -16,482,584 79,407,432 385,000 313,950 -6,331,332 -181,000 -21,361,132.50 -1,317,987 -117,600 -1,552,300 -8,885,304 -

43.6 4.61 0.89 1.47 18.38 0.197 11.28 16.28 157.6 22.6 14.5 57.35 97 115 2.08 6.44 12 12.24 7.8 7 5.61 22.25 69.2 12.16 16.3 6.1 1.76 207 73 2.79 3.66 30.3 26.95 14.9 286 0.26 3.16 9.68 3.61 11.26 2.23 5.93 1.52 77 5.24 246.6 4.9 2.84 12.34 4.18 0.147 1.54 167.1 4.49 1.92

INDUSTRIAL 43.9 1,206,100 4.7 1,064,000 0.91 1,345,000 1.51 1,424,000 19.18 1,800 0.197 1,280,000 11.32 5,961,500 16.66 1,053,400 158 60 22.8 108,100 14.5 132,800 57.35 5,220 97 170 115 10 2.11 1,486,000 6.44 499,600 12.04 10,200 12.28 2,120,700 8.1 2,710,200 7 794,400 5.67 13,557,900 22.3 1,348,800 69.6 122,460 12.5 17,600 16.5 59,200 6.12 71,900 1.8 188,000 207.2 414,310 73 100 3.1 1,095,000 3.66 5,000 30.3 3,235,500 26.95 220,900 15.4 3,970,200 289 426,710 0.26 30,000 3.17 281,000 9.69 1,050,200 3.61 4,000 11.28 48,100 2.25 570,000 6 608,800 1.53 98,000 77.3 722,080 5.24 170,600 246.6 8,600 4.9 963,000 2.92 179,000 12.6 8,032,900 4.18 55,000 0.149 1,940,000 1.58 249,000 167.6 1,526,120 4.49 10,000 2.07 37,383,000

52,740,595 4,979,630 1,218,540 2,118,900 34,232 254,030 67,781,404 17,360,674 9,473 2,453,170 2,058,810 301,178.50 16,560 1,150 3,143,770 3,221,262 122,788 26,072,146 21,858,520 5,572,044 76,444,819 30,501,385 8,495,617.50 214,424 976,000 440,118 333,130 85,954,292 7,310 3,427,620 18,300 98,492,265 5,973,540 60,708,166 123,447,158 7,800 894,240 10,191,727 14,440 542,904 1,274,980 3,650,228 149,640 55,740,246.50 901,051 2,144,744 4,720,660 515,570 101,826,252 229,900 286,710 385,530 255,788,073 44,900 75,171,750

268,325 -4,910 -7,200 -15,793,622 3,567,262 -4,560 150,000 -221,948.50 164,780 10,463 -784,806 -4,228,348 -3,838,734 61,443,006 -4,755,155 5,881,182 -620,500.00 41,300 6,999,212 4,850 -58,722,845 610,625 -4,986,922 21,354,724 149,540 -4,277,295.00 628,860 89,488 13,453,007.50 -131,870 1,191,800 -14,036,550 6,000 -113,276,265 -1,411,690.00

0.42 74.75 12.78 1.1 6.12 0.305 814 9.07 12.86 8 1,330 6 76.25 1.17 7.82 12.36 6.8 0.043 1.98 2.57 99 701.5 1.33 261 0.29 0.181 0.255

HOLDING FIRMS 0.425 7,800,000 74.9 1,074,770 12.86 2,611,400 1.17 212,000 6.12 49,900 0.31 230,000 814 83,590 9.09 4,755,500 12.86 9,119,900 8.15 3,400 1,341 48,470 6.05 10,100 76.4 722,680 1.17 6,459,000 8 855,000 12.4 18,026,300 6.8 31,011,900 0.043 133,400,000 1.98 282,000 2.57 1,000 99 733,650 710.5 343,730 1.41 1,859,000 264.2 12,380 0.29 110,000 0.181 330,000 0.255 20,000

3,305,800 80,462,877.50 33,672,466 239,280 305,988 70,950 68,485,505 43,304,029 118,183,748 27,495 65,000,815 60,710 55,362,691 7,799,290 6,783,634 224,387,540 213,925,514 5,821,800 560,510 2,570 73,247,429.50 244,453,010 2,581,120 3,264,800 32,150 60,660 5,100

-46,985,075 657,552 244,188 -28,523,815 -5,103,732 -78,882,358 48,975,995 -13,226,314 -12,400 -3,123,365.00 -43,524,462 -73,493,108 86,000 69,650 -2,812,321.50 45,295,610 11,020 -578,288 -

1,895,881 842,170 483,620 18,305,710 199,652,195 13,971,880 45,682,600 5,200 58,590 18,681,260 4,186,700 13,764,392 325,840 145,610 1,433,510 2,560,280 130,200 21,250 140,110,270 2,144,310 50,450 28,600 2,970,880 31,446,085

-1,420,168 1,220 -31,850 -47,400 79,594,460.00 -4,327,140 -18,723,400 191,000 399,000.00 735,259.50 -1,263,530 -21,566,750 49,490 -260,990 -3,485,095

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

3.52 47.5 92.5 4 113 1.39 38.5 16.1 19.28 6.58 0.68 1.69 0.73 78.5 0.77 14.18 23.85 54 240 144 90 36.1 216.4 1,765 78.2

3.73 48.25 92.5 4.14 113.2 1.43 38.5 16.1 19.42 6.66 0.68 1.7 0.77 78.75 0.78 14.3 23.85 54.25 240 144 90.3 36.1 217.4 1,765 78.4

3.52 47.5 91 4 112 1.36 38.45 16.1 19.2 6.58 0.68 1.69 0.73 77.6 0.77 14.18 23.85 53.9 240 144 90 36.1 213.4 1,750 78

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION 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 LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PEPSI COLA PETRON PHIL H2O PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PHX SEMICNDCTR PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP PUREFOODS RFM CORP ROXAS HLDG SHAKEYS PIZZA SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH

43.9 4.68 0.91 1.49 19.38 0.199 11.52 16.28 157.9 22.65 15.8 58 98 115 2.09 6.59 12.02 12.32 7.8 7.05 5.64 22.9 69.25 12.16 16.44 6.11 1.76 209.8 74 2.79 3.66 30.75 27 15.38 286.2 0.26 3.2 9.78 3.61 11.36 2.25 6 1.54 77 5.33 249 4.96 2.85 12.38 4.18 0.15 1.57 168.5 4.49 2.02

44 4.75 0.92 1.51 19.38 0.2 11.58 16.7 158 22.8 17 59 98 115 2.15 6.59 12.08 12.38 8.15 7.08 5.67 23 69.6 12.5 16.5 6.17 1.8 209.8 74 3.48 3.66 30.85 27.8 15.48 291 0.26 3.2 9.78 3.61 11.36 2.25 6 1.54 77.5 5.33 254 4.96 2.92 12.8 4.18 0.15 1.58 169.9 4.49 2.07

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

0.425 74.95 12.96 1.12 6.18 0.31 833 9.07 13.16 8.11 1,345 6 76.3 1.23 8.03 12.36 6.92 0.045 2 2.57 99.7 710 1.36 264 0.29 0.184 0.255

0.43 74.95 13.02 1.18 6.18 0.31 833 9.15 13.16 8.15 1,355 6.1 77.6 1.25 8.03 12.74 7.02 0.045 2 2.57 101.5 713 1.41 264.4 0.3 0.184 0.255

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

7.39 1.21 2.45 0.8 36 3.25 0.55 1.04 1.36 0.195 0.57 52.4 0.72 0.15 1.65 1.01 1.17 4.25 3.71 0.164 0.265 0.4 4.1 26.4

7.39 1.22 2.45 0.84 36.25 3.37 0.58 1.04 1.37 0.196 0.58 53 0.72 0.15 1.66 1.03 1.19 4.25 3.73 0.165 0.28 0.41 4.28 26.5

7.3 1.21 2.42 0.78 35.9 3.24 0.54 1.04 1.36 0.189 0.57 51.8 0.7 0.143 1.64 1.01 1.17 4.25 3.61 0.163 0.26 0.4 4.1 25.9

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

1.62 3.24 30.7 1.1 6.39 0.94 5.02

1.67 3.27 30.95 1.11 6.98 0.94 5.08

1.62 3.24 30.05 1.07 6.39 0.91 4.98

1.65 3.27 30.05 1.07 6.98 0.92 4.99

36,000 7,000 17,923,700 16,479,000 2,200 94,000 852,000

59,460 22,710 547,328,950 17,778,480 15,238 86,460 4,269,946

-3,240 226,940,220 -21,600 -1,148,221.00

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CALATA CORP CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN HAVEN 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 PAXYS PHIL RACING PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT

7.5 48.1 1.37 0.53 0.055 10.6 7.85 0.071 2.87 98 9.8 9.05 2.13 1,788 6.28 16 2.98 16.28 112 77.05 0.0099 9.07 0.213 1.39 3.11 15 4.14 2.6 4.65 4.14 20 2.78 11.28 5.25 3.1 9.91 139.9 9.99 1,526 1.45 0.47 43 77 6.2 2.79 1.09 3.26 0.37

7.5 48.15 1.37 0.54 0.055 10.76 7.89 0.073 2.88 98 9.92 9.09 2.14 1,788 6.3 16.4 3.11 16.3 119 78.05 0.01 9.07 0.213 1.48 3.2 15 4.16 2.62 4.85 4.14 20 2.82 11.3 5.29 3.1 9.91 139.9 10.2 1,543 1.46 0.48 43.15 77.85 6.31 2.85 1.1 3.3 0.37

7.5 48 1.36 0.53 0.054 10.6 7.54 0.071 2.8 95.8 9.8 8.9 2.13 1,740 6.2 16 2.98 15.92 112 77.05 0.0099 9.05 0.21 1.38 3.11 15 4.06 2.6 4.63 4 18.2 2.75 11.28 5.1 3.1 9.89 137 9.95 1,490 1.45 0.47 42 76.5 6.11 2.79 1.07 3.25 0.37

SERVICES 7.5 48.15 1.36 0.53 0.054 10.76 7.8 0.072 2.8 95.8 9.92 9.05 2.14 1,769 6.28 16.38 3.05 15.94 119 77.8 0.0099 9.07 0.211 1.44 3.2 15 4.12 2.61 4.8 4 18.5 2.77 11.3 5.1 3.1 9.89 137 9.95 1,490 1.46 0.47 42 77.45 6.3 2.8 1.09 3.29 0.37

7,400 5,500 49,000 199,000 33,880,000 11,000 15,543,100 10,840,000 2,634,000 329,630 4,900 536,600 5,000 42,815 187,900 67,700 4,101,000 3,600 270 917,810 13,000,000 467,000 6,470,000 580,000 20,000 200 699,000 27,000 12,902,000 4,309,000 3,800 1,218,000 3,600 39,000 10,000 1,700 936,130 1,175,000 113,850 13,086,000 4,770,000 1,198,900 890,480 102,100 2,569,000 8,364,000 760,000 400,000

55,500 264,280 66,740 106,600 1,840,620 118,200 119,857,052 779,110 7,426,670 32,123,613.50 48,364 4,845,052 10,660 75,242,085 1,169,018 1,101,580 12,477,170 57,480 31,220 71,387,392 129,600 4,235,390 1,371,220 819,200 62,650 3,000 2,874,400 70,330 61,551,260 17,385,840 71,580 3,401,010 40,650 201,424 31,000 16,826 128,249,949 11,740,954 170,953,655 19,063,220 2,257,950 51,156,500 68,972,130 633,725 7,234,770 9,060,130 2,491,590 148,000

13,700 -7,020 108,000 -117,140 -7,190,426 -140,500 116,054.50 -181,000 16,945,695 1,301,410 2,957,902 63,600 -1,235,970 -9,088,780 -3,120,610 -95,540 -49,459 -150,150 -31,109,505 -6,370,870 6,383,115 30,184,310 -61,600 -1,585,750 2,256,130 -1,298,830.00 -

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

0.0034 2.71 5.4 2.17 2.12 0.51 0.46 12.46 2.88 0.255 0.22 0.221 0.012 0.012 2.21 6.85 2.76 0.49 1.05 0.011 0.011 4.05 0.012 9.08 3.74 138.6 2.94 0.009

0.0034 2.77 5.54 2.2 2.19 0.51 0.47 12.46 2.95 0.26 0.227 0.227 0.012 0.012 2.32 6.9 2.76 0.49 1.05 0.012 0.011 4.17 0.013 9.35 3.74 138.8 2.97 0.009

0.0033 2.71 5.31 2.17 2.12 0.51 0.455 11.78 2.88 0.255 0.214 0.221 0.012 0.012 2.2 6.7 2.7 0.49 1.05 0.011 0.011 4.05 0.012 9.08 3.64 138.4 2.88 0.009

MINING & OIL 0.0033 49,000,000 2.72 754,000 5.42 1,072,400 2.2 45,000 2.19 15,000 0.51 120,000 0.47 1,190,000 12.1 59,400 2.92 1,939,000 0.26 1,860,000 0.224 12,380,000 0.225 1,090,000 0.012 4,000,000 0.012 100,000 2.25 1,152,000 6.89 3,024,900 2.76 20,000 0.49 100,000 1.05 77,000 0.011 18,200,000 0.011 500,000 4.17 8,000 0.013 5,400,000 9.15 7,238,500 3.65 1,236,000 138.5 734,870 2.97 302,000 0.009 11,000,000

161,800 2,060,110 5,862,237 98,240 32,110 61,200 545,400 713,334 5,649,310 476,050 2,756,840 245,930 48,000 1,200 2,632,160 20,701,451 54,540 49,000 80,850 206,200 5,500 32,520 65,400 66,394,935 4,543,080 101,824,154 876,820 99,000

16,500 -1,130,823 -6,540 9,200 -303,820 11,250 -2,300 -5,961,475 4,303,592 -172,330 29,447,600 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

48.4 537 106.7 104.5 116 520 5.9 1,020 1,040 1.03 108.9 1,178 80.55 77 78.2 80 79.5 77.7

48.4 543 106.9 104.6 116 520 5.9 1,020 1,041 1.03 109.2 1,178 82 77 78.3 80 79.5 79.1

48 537 106.7 104.3 116 520 5.89 1,020 1,040 1.03 108.9 1,178 80.55 75.5 78.2 79.65 79.5 77.7

PREFERRED 48 1,303,600 543 1,420 106.9 10,000 104.6 2,530 116 3,280 520 2,340 5.89 526,500 1,020 5 1,041 1,330 1.03 200,000 109.1 2,610 1,178 235 81.5 36,180 75.5 66,600 78.3 6,500 79.65 7,570 79.5 60 79.1 24,520

62,579,840 766,860 1,068,880 264,309 380,480 1,216,800 3,103,960 5,100 1,383,700 206,000 284,829 276,830 2,949,275.50 5,057,060 508,450 604,690 4,770 1,911,832

-7,398,580 -3,092,180 -4,884,580 -

LR WARRANT

2.25

2.32

2.24

WARRANTS 2.28 42,000

95,270

-

ALTERRA CAPITAL ITALPINAS XURPAS

6.9 4.25 8.36

6.9 4.4 8.61

6.7 4.25 8.36

6.78 4.31 8.49

2,163,324 453,950 6,312,643

13,500 -1,559,290

FIRST METRO ETF

121.6

121.6

120.8

309,651

-

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 7.3 1.21 2.45 0.82 35.9 3.29 0.56 1.04 1.37 0.189 0.57 52.15 0.71 0.144 1.64 1.01 1.18 4.25 3.61 0.163 0.26 0.41 4.27 26

258,500 696,000 198,000 22,541,000 5,537,800 4,227,000 81,006,000 5,000 43,000 97,180,000 7,312,000 263,220 463,000 1,010,000 869,000 2,524,000 110,000 5,000 38,253,000 13,100,000 190,000 70,000 710,000 1,207,200

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

23,595,403

INDUSTRIAL

101,889,777

HOLDING FIRMS

220,860,232

PROPERTY

313,201,648

SERVICES

146,580,408

MINING & OIL

122,805,661

GRAND TOTAL

930,105,586

SME

319,600 105,000 744,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 120.8 2,560

VALUE 1,743.24 (down) 5.29 499,576,245.43 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,151,60 (down) 25.06 1,245,187,434.574 HOLDING FIRMS 7,504.92 (down) 45.29 1,424,504,870.351 PROPERTY 3,318.55 (down) 32.11 SERVICES 1,432.50 (down) 11.32 1,069,844,861.48 MINING & OIL 12,347.90 (up) 57.58 990,690,452.314 PSEI 7,323.36 (down) 47.29 216,304,711.795 All Shares Index 4,406.73 (down) 20.57 5,455,354,421.594 Gainers:106; Losers: 79; Unchanged: 52; Total: 237

and management of the water supply system and sanitation facilities in Obando, Bulacan.

“Upon completion of the conditions precedent specified in the notice, the consortium and OWD shall enter into a joint venture agreement that will require the formation of a joint venture company which will implement the project,” Manila Water said.

“Thereafter, the JVC will enter into a concession agreement with OWD where the latter will grant the JVC, as contractor to perform certain functions and as agent for the exercise of OWD’s rights and powers, as contractor to perform certain functions and as agent for the exercise of its right and poers, the sole right to develop, manage, operate, maintain, repair, refurbish and improve, expand and as appropriate, decommission, the Facilities in the area, including the right to bill and collect tariff for water and sanitation services supplied in the service area,” Manila Water said.

Manila Water currently serves more than 6.3 million customers in the eastern portion of Metro Manila that covers 23 cities and municipalities including Makati, Marikina, Pateros, Taguig, San Juan, Mandaluyong, parts of Quezon City and Manila and the province of Rizal.

PTT signs deal with CebuPac

By Alena Mae S. Flores OIL company PTT Philippines signed a new contract to supply most of Cebu Pacific’s jet fuel requirements this year.

PTT Philippines president and chief executive Sukanya Seriyothin and Cebu Pacific Air president and chief executive Lance Gokongwei signed on Tuesday the jet fuel supply contract for 2017 involving 1,680,000 US barrels or 267 million liters of aviation fuel.

“We are always grateful to have partnered with Cebu Air. Our partnership has been growing stronger that is anchored on trust, loyalty, and commitment to provide the best and quality products and services that we could afford them,” Seriyothin said.

PTT Philippines has been supplying jet fuel to Cebu Air for over 10 years and currently accounts for most of the airline’s total jet fuel requirements especially for flights using the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Diosdado Macapagal Airport and the Visayas route.

PTT has been in the Philippines for 20 years and is also into retail with more than 100 service stations spread across Luzon and in Cebu.

Its wholesale business also serves the maritime industry.

It diversified into non-oil business with the introduction to the Philippine market of coffee shop chain Café Amazon that originated from Thailand.

PTT Philippines announced plans to invest P5 billion to expand its retail network to 300 stations over the next five years.

The company sees an 11-percent average volume increase annually over the five-year period.

The company opened this year its biggest station in the Philippines―the two-hectare PTT SCTEx in Concepcion, Tarlac.

§ 4511N.4 Change of registered/business name. RTC/MC/FXD shall not change its registered/business name without submitting to the appropriate department of the SES the following documents: a. Certificate of Registration from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), as the case may be, indicating the new business/registered name; and

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

b. Original copy of Bangko Sentral COR issued under the old name.

Circular No. 942

The Bangko Sentral shall issue a new COR indicating the new registered/business name of the RTC/MC/FXD.

Series of 2017

Subject: Amendment to Section 4511N of the Manual of Regulations for Non-Bank Financial Institutions The Monetary Board in its Resolution No. 38 dated 05 January 2017, approved the amendments in Section 4511N and Appendix N-8 of the Manual of Regulations for Non-Bank Financial Institutions.

Section 1. Section 4511N of the Manual of Regulations for Non-Bank Financial Institutions (MORNBFI) shall be entirely deleted and amended to read as follows: “Section 4511N Money Service Business Operations. The following rules and regulations shall govern the operations and reporting obligations of non-bank entities engaged in remittance, money changing, and/or foreign exchange dealing, pursuant to Section 3 in relation to Section 11 of Republic Act No. 9160 [Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) of 2001], as amended, and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations as well as the implementing rules issued by the Bangko Sentral, and Section 80 of Republic Act No. 7653 (The New Central Bank Act). § 4511N.1 Definition of terms. a. Remittance and Transfer Company (RTC) - refers to any entity that provides Money or Value Transfer Service (MVTS). MVTS refers to financial services that involve the acceptance of cash, cheques, other monetary instruments or other stores of value and the payment of a corresponding sum in cash or other form to a beneficiary by means of a communication, message, transfer, or through a clearing network. This includes the following:

§ 4511N.5 Change of ownership or control. RTC/MC/FXD shall obtain prior approval from the Bangko Sentral for any change in: ownership of a sole proprietorship or partnership; or control of a corporation. Control shall refer to any transaction involving voting shares of stock of an RTC/MC/FXD that will result in ownership or control of at least twenty percent (20%) of voting shares of stock of RTC/MC/FXD by any person, whether natural or juridical, or which will enable such person to elect, or be elected as, a director of such RTC/MC/FXD. RTC/MC/FXD shall submit the names of its proposed new owner/s or controlling shareholder for evaluation. Failure to seek prior approval may result in cancellation of registration. § 4511N.6 Reports. a. Required reports. RTCs/MCs/FXDs shall maintain records and submit the following required reports, duly certified by the Proprietor/Managing Partner/President or any officer of equivalent rank, to the appropriate department of the SES: (1) List of operating, accredited and closed/delisted RTC/MC/FXD offices which shall be submitted within ten (10) business days from the end of the reference quarter; (2) Audited financial statements (AFS) which shall be submitted not later than 30 June following the reference calendar year. The AFS for entities with total assets of at least fifty (50) million pesos shall be opined upon by any of the Bangko Sentral-selected External Auditors; (3) Quarterly reports on the total value of money changing/foreign exchange transactions which shall be submitted within ten (10) business days from the end of the reference quarter; and (4) Quarterly reports on the total value of foreign remittance transactions which shall be submitted within ten (10) business days from the end of the reference quarter.

RTCs/MCs/FXDs shall adhere to the guidelines issued by the Bangko Sentral on the maintenance of records and the manner of submission of required reports to the Bangko Sentral in such forms as may be determined and required by the SES, Bangko Sentral.

(1) Remittance Agent (RA) - refers to any entity that operates a remittance business network which includes any or combination of the following: (a) Remittance Direct Agent (RDA) - refers to any entity that is covered by a direct contracted remittance agreement or similar agreement to act in behalf of a third party engaged in remittance business. (b) Remittance Agent Network Provider (RANP) – refers to any entity that provides a network to perform remittance business. (c) Such other similar entities as may be determined by the Monetary Board.

For the purpose of this Section, entities already registered as RA shall be automatically classified as such, notwithstanding whether they are acting as Remittance Sub-Agent (RSA) of a third party engaged in local/ international remittance business.

(2) Remittance Platform Provider (RPP) – refers to any entity that provides a shared or common platform/ IT infrastructure and maintains settlement accounts in order to provide funds for remittance transactions within its network.

Foreign RPP shall do business in the Philippines through its locally incorporated subsidiary: Provided, That an existing foreign RPP doing business in the Philippines shall have two (2) years within which to incorporate a local subsidiary: Provided, further, That in the meantime that the foreign RPP does not have a locally incorporated subsidiary, it shall constitute a resident agent which shall, among others, be liable for all its obligations in the Philippines.

(3) E-Money Issuer (EMI) – refers to any entity authorized by the Bangko Sentral under Subsection X780.2 of MORB which provides money transfer or remittance services using electronic stored money value system and similar digital financial services. b.

Remittance Sub-Agent (RSA) – refers to any person authorized by the RTC to perform certain relevant undertakings in the remittance business. This includes any person that is allowed by an RDA, RANP, and/or EMI to do any part of the remittance business in their behalf.

b. Delayed/erroneous/unsubmitted report. Violation of the foregoing reporting requirements consisting of erroneous, delayed or unsubmitted reports, shall subject the RTC/MC/FXD concerned to the appropriate penalties after observance of due process.

A submitted report that, upon validation by the Bangko Sentral, is found to be non-compliant with the reporting requirements prescribed herein or in subsequent guidelines may be considered as willful failure or refusal to comply with a regulation and shall be classified as “Erroneous”. On the other hand, a report that was able to comply with the reporting requirements or guidelines of this regulation after the submission deadline for said report may be considered as willful delay and shall be classified as “Delayed”. Finally, a report that was not able to comply with the reporting requirements or guidelines of this regulation by the time the next report becomes due or upon the lapse of thirty (30) business days from the report’s submission deadline, whichever comes first, may be considered as willful failure or refusal to comply with a regulation and shall be classified as “Unsubmitted”.

The reports required under this Subsection shall be considered Unsubmitted after the lapse of thirty (30) business days from the submission deadline. § 4511N.7 Internal control. RTCs/MCs/FXDs shall maintain an internal control system commensurate to the nature, size and complexity of their respective businesses.

RTCs/MCs/FXDs shall adhere to the guidelines issued by the Bangko Sentral on the minimum control standards that RTCs/MCs/FXDs are expected to observe on their operations. § 4511N.8 Fees. Registration and annual service fees shall be paid by RTCs/ MCs/FXDs to the Bangko Sentral. a. Registration fee. The one-time, non-refundable registration fee for RTCs/MCs/FXDs shall be as follows:

For purposes of registration, an RSA with at least one (1) branch shall be considered and registered as an RA. c. Money Changer (MC)/Foreign Exchange Dealer (FXD) - refers to any entity who engages in money changing/foreign exchange dealing business. This includes Authorized Agent Banks’ subsidiary/affiliate forex corporations (AAB-forex corps), among others. d. Remittance business – refers to the transferring of funds or facilitating the movement of funds or monetary instruments from the sender or originator to a receiver or beneficiary locally and/or internationally and undertaken by any financial institution. e. Money changing/Foreign exchange dealing - refers to the buying or selling of currencies in exchange for another currency. f.

Monetary instrument - refers to:

(1)

Coins or currency of legal tender of the Philippines, or of any other country;

(2)

Drafts, checks, and notes; and

(3)

Other similar instruments where title thereto passes to another by endorsement, assignment or delivery.

g. Head office - refers to the principal or main place of business of an RTC/MC/FXD. h.

Branch – refers to any office or place of business other than the Head Office of an RTC/MC/FXD.

i.

Offices – refer collectively to the head office and branches.

§ 4511N.2 Requirements for registration. RTCs/MCs/FXDs shall be registered with the Bangko Sentral before they can operate. All existing RTCs/MCs/FXDs shall apply/re-apply for registration. a. Registration of RTCs/MCs/FXDs. For registration purposes, RTCs/MCs/FXDs shall be classified into six (6) categories with the following criteria: Classification

Type

Benchmark Capital

C

Large-Scale Operator - Remittance Agent with or without money changing/ foreign exchange dealing operations with average monthly network volume of transactions of at least P75.00 million.

Small-Scale Operator - Remittance Agent with or without money changing/ foreign exchange dealing operations with average monthly network volume of transactions of less than P75.00 million E-Money Issuer as authorized under Subsection X780.2 of MORB

P100.00 million

D

Remittance Platform Provider

P10.00 million

E

Large-Scale Operator - Money Changer/Foreign Exchange Dealer with average monthly network volume of transactions of at least P50.00 million

At least P10.00 million

F

Small-Scale Operator - Money Changer/Foreign Exchange Dealer with average monthly network volume of transactions of less than P50.00 million.

Less than P10.00 million

A

B

At least P50.00 million Less than P50.00 million

Type

Registration Fee

A

P100,000

B

P20,000

C

P100,000

D

P100,000

E P100,000 F P20,000 Further, except for E-Money Issuers, a non-refundable supplemental registration fee of P1,000 shall be paid for each office other than the head office. b. Annual service fee. RTCs/MCs/FXDs shall pay, not later than March of every year, commencing in 2018 the following as annual service fee for continued registration: Type Annual Service Fee A P100,000 B P20,000 C P300,000 and/or as determined by Monetary Board D P100,000 E P100,000 F P20,000 c. Processing fee for replacement of Bangko Sentral COR. A non-refundable processing fee of P1,000 shall be assessed for replacement of Bangko Sentral COR for whatever reason. § 4511N.9 Transactional requirements for RTCs/MCs/FXDs. a. Regulation on large value pay-outs. Large value pay-outs of more than P500,000 or its foreign currency equivalent, in any single transaction with customers or counterparties, shall only be made via check payment or direct credit to deposit accounts. b. Sale of foreign currencies. MCs/FXDs, except AAB-forex corps, shall be allowed to sell foreign currencies in an amount not exceeding USD10,000 or its equivalent and not to exceed USD50,000 or its equivalent per month per customer. Exemption or higher limits may be granted by the appropriate department of the SES if justified by the business model of the MC/FXD. The MCs/FXDs shall also require an accomplished application form and submission/presentation of supporting documents listed in Item “A” of Appendix N-8-c for the sale of foreign exchange in the amount exceeding USD10,000 or its equivalent for non-trade current account purposes.

For sale of foreign exchange for all other purposes, FXDs/MCs shall require submission of an accomplished application form and supporting documents listed in Items “B to D” of Appendix N-8-c, regardless of the amount involved. § 4511N.10 - § 4511N.14 (Reserved) § 4511N.15 Sanctions. Monetary penalties and other sanctions committed by erring RTCs/MCs/FXDs shall be imposed for the following violations: Nature of Violation/Exception Bangko

Sentral

• Applicable penalty prescribed under Section 36 of R.A. No. 7653 (New Central Bank Act) • Disqualification from registration

RTCs/MCs/FXDs shall submit the Application for Registration and Notarized Deeds of Undertaking (Appendices N-8-b-1 and N-8-b-2) to the Bangko Sentral through the appropriate department of the Supervision and Examination Sector (SES).

a.

Operating without registration

RTCs/MCs/FXDs shall adhere to the registration procedures (Appendix N-8-a) issued by the SES, Bangko Sentral.

b.

Violation of any of the provisions of R.A. No. 9160 (Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001, as amended) and its revised implementing rules and regulations

• Written reprimand • Disqualification from holding any position in any Bangko Sentral supervised or regulated institution • Applicable penalty prescribed under the Act • Cancellation of registration

c.

Violation of any provisions/ requirements of this Section

• Penalties and sanctions under applicable laws, rules, and regulations • Cancellation of registration

Erroneous/delayed/Unsubmitted report

• Monetary penalty of P60 for each occurrence (in case of Erroneous report) or for each day (in case of Delayed or Unsubmitted reports) which will accumulate until such time the report has been determined compliant with the reporting requirements prescribed herein or in subsequent guidelines

b. Issuance of Bangko Sentral Certificate of Registration (COR). RTCs/MCs/FXDs shall be issued with the corresponding COR upon fulfillment of the registration requirements. Within three (3) months from the date of issuance of the COR, a Bangko Sentral-registered RTC/MC/FXD shall commence operations.

prior

Possible Sanctions/Penalties

However, the Bangko Sentral shall not issue a COR in cases of the following: (1) Failure to provide the complete required documents; and (2) Any of the RTC/MC/FXD’s proprietors, or any of its partners, directors, or principal officers, as applicable, is not fit and proper.

In considering the application for COR, the Bangko Sentral shall take into account the fitness and propriety of the proprietor, partner, directors, or principal officers. In determining whether a person is fit and proper, regard shall be given to the following: integrity/probity, market reputation, competence, and financial capacity. c. Accreditation of Remittance Sub-Agents (RSA). Duly registered RTCs may accredit their own RSAs. The RSA shall be treated as an extension of the RTC and shall be subject to the same obligations of an RTC as provided in this Section and stated in the Deed of Undertaking. In this regard, the RTC shall ensure that it conducts appropriate due diligence in the accreditation and shall provide effective continuing oversight of its RSAs. d. Registration with the Anti-Money Laundering Council Secretariat (AMLCS). RTCs/MCs/FXDs are required to register with the AMLCS within thirty (30) calendar days from the actual date of commencement of money service business operations and shall submit to the appropriate department of the SES proof of registration with AMLCS within five (5) business days from registration thereat. Failure to register shall result in the automatic cancellation of the Bangko Sentral registration as RTC/MC/FXD. e. Mandatory training requirement. All proprietors, partners, directors, officers and other personnel directly involved in the money service business operations shall attend a Bangko Sentral - or AMLC-accredited seminar before start of operations on the requirements of the AMLA, as amended, particularly on customer due diligence, reporting of covered and suspicious transactions, and record keeping.

Refresher training shall likewise be conducted at least every two (2) years. § 4511N.3 Notification requirements. RTCs/MCs/FXDs shall inform the appropriate department of the SES of the following events: a. Commencement of operations. RTC/MC/FXD shall notify within five (5) business days from the start of operations of each of its offices. b. Newly-accredited RSAs. Except for E-Money Issuer, RTC shall notify within five (5) business days from contract signing of its newly accredited RSAs. c. Change of tie-up partner/s. RTC shall notify within five (5) business days from the addition and/or termination of tie-up partner/s and shall submit the following documents, if applicable: (1) Notarized tie-up agreement/s which shall be consularized if originated/signed abroad; and

d.

For a report initially considered Erroneous but subsequently complied with the reporting requirements or guidelines within the prescribed deadline, the penalty shall be derived by multiplying the penalty of P60 against the number of times the subject report was submitted before being considered compliant.

For Delayed reports, the penalty of P60 shall be multiplied by the number of calendar days delayed. If the report is initially considered Erroneous but was able to comply with the reporting requirements or guidelines but after the prescribed deadline (i.e., Delayed), the penalty shall be the sum of the penalty for being Erroneous before deadline and the penalty for being Delayed as previously described.

For Unsubmitted reports, computation of the penalty shall be based on three times (3x) the number of days applied for determining a report to be unsubmitted (i.e., 30 days). § 4511N.16 Transitory Provisions. All Bangko Sentral CORs previously issued to RTCs/MCs/FXDs shall remain effective for a period of six (6) months from effectivity of this Circular. Upon the expiration of the transitory period, all previously-issued Bangko Sentral CORs shall be considered automatically cancelled, unless otherwise extended by the Bangko Sentral.

Section 2. Appendix N-8 shall be entirely deleted and amended to include Appendices N-8-a (Registration Procedures for RTC/MC/FXD), N-8-b-1 and N-8-b-2 (Deeds of Undertaking) and N-8-c (Minimum Documentary Requirements for the Sale of Foreign Currencies).

Section 3. Appendix N-1 shall be amended to include the required reports for RTCs/MCs/FXDs listed in Appendix N-8-d.

Section 4. Effectivity. This Circular shall take effect fifteen (15) calendar days following its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

(2) Proof that the RTC or counterparty is authorized to engage in the remittance business and is subject to the antimoney laundering laws of the country where it operates. d. Transfer of location. RTC/MC/FXD shall notify within five (5) business days from actual date of transfer.

For the Monetary Board:

e. Closure of office. RTC/MC/FXD shall notify within five (5) business days from the actual date of closure. f.

Closure of business. RTC/MC/FXD shall notify within five (5) business days from the actual date of closure and shall submit the following documents:

(Sgd.) AMANDO M. TETANGCO, JR. Governor

(1) Certification by the owner or partnership/board resolution, as the case may be, authorizing/ attesting the closure of RTC/MC/FXD; and (2) Original copy of Bangko Sentral COR issued to RTC/MC/FXD.

20 January 2017 Note: This Circular along with its appendices can be accessed at the BSP website: www.bsp.gov.ph under “Regulations\Circulars”

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

B4

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

SMC offers cheap power

Jasareno’s DENR stay is untenable

By Darwin G. Amojelar

FIGHTING corruption in the government is an ideal that every president wants to inspire on the population.

His success on his campaign promise, however, will depend on his consistency to apply the rule of law, without fear or favor.

Over three out of four Filipinos, or 76 percent, said in a December survey conducted by Pulse Asia that they approved of the current administration’s performance with regard to fighting corruption in government. The perception is that President Rodrigo Duterte is tough on graft, and his numerous statements on the matter seemed to have reinforced the message.

In a speech directed at government officials last month, President Duterte said, “if you are corrupt, I will fetch you using a helicopter to Manila and I will throw you out; I have done this before, why would I not do it again?”

A week ago he issued a similar threat, telling mayors from around the country that if they were corrupt, they should resign now or he would kill them.

Whether or not the President makes good on his threats to crack down on corruption will determine his ability to maintain his stellar approval ratings. The last administration also pledged to rid the government’s ranks of scalawags, but accusations that it selectively enforced the law against erring public officials fueled perceptions that it was not serious about eradicating graft in government.

For the most part, fear of the President has forced many unsavory characters in government to keep a low profile. Some have even chosen to quietly leave the civil service, especially after the President demanded the resignation of all officials appointed by his predecessor.

But some characters are tougher than others. Former Mining and Geosciences Bureau chief and later Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Leo Jasareno was one of the officials who supposedly submitted his resignation to the President in August 2016, but it appears his resignation was all form and no substance.

Energy Regulatory Commission chairman Jose Vicente Salazar, in contrast, was more decent. The ERC chief went on a month-long leave following suggestions he step down to give way to the investigation of corruption allegations raised by an employee who committed suicide as a result of it.

Jasareno’s supposed departure from the DENR was, it should be pointed out, welcomed by both anti-mining advocates and the mining industry, both of whom had no love lost for Jasareno.

AlyansaTigil Mina (ATM) National Coordinator Jaybee Garganera earlier called on DENR Secretary Gina Lopez “to investigate and hold accountable liable officials found to have abused their authorities or violated their mandates or engaged in corruption.” Among those tagged by ATM was Jasareno.

Jasareno is also not popular with the country’s mining companies. One mining firm sued him in a cased filed with the Office of the Ombudsman.

Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co., one of the oldest mining companies in the Philippines, charged Jasareno for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Lepanto accused Jasareno of bad faith and gross inexcusable negligence for announcing that Lepanto had been recommended for suspension by the DENR auditing team.

Lepanto claimed that contrary to the announcement, the audit team actually signed a report concluding that “the company substantially complied with the pertinent provisions of the environmental and mining laws, rules and regulations” and subsequently did not recommend a penalty.

Despite all the controversies hounding Jasareno, he continues to work at the DENR, although it is unclear in what capacity, since Lopez earlier announced that he had resigned.

Notwithstanding the pronouncement, Jasareno is still a fixture in the DENR, and is reportedly still involved in the DENR’s mining-related activities.

Jasareno’s presence at the DENR is highly irregular, given the absence of an appointment from Malacañang and the President’s clear marching orders to kick out officials tainted by corruption.

Jasareno has no business working at the DENR, and perhaps it’s time the President and his men make it their business to find out why.

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or business@thestandard.com.ph or extrastory2000@gmail.com

S

MC Global Power Holdings Corp., the energy arm of San Miguel Corp., offered to supply cheap power to the Luzon grid from a unit of its 600-megawatt Limay power plant in Bataan to help ease the tight power supply during the 20-day shutdown of the Malampaya natural gas facility.

“We can help during the Malampaya shutdown because our unit 1 is now producing 150 megawatts, but it’s expensive because it is currently running on diesel. But we will help the grid to make sure that there will be no [power] shortage,” San Miguel president Ramon Ang told reporters.

San Miguel’s Limay plant is now undergoing testing and commissioning while the first unit is targeted to start operations in May. All units are expected to be in full

commercial operations by August next year.

Ang said his company was willing to sell power at a lower price. Natural gas only costs around P4 per kilowatt-hour while diesel costs P6 to P8 per kWh. SMC’s coal power plants sell electricity at an average rate of P3 per kWh. Ang said Limay plant was one of the cleanest in the country, as he denied reports that the facility did not follow environmental rules set by the Environment Department.

“Limay is not yet running on coal, but on diesel. So, how can ash come from us?” Ang said.

The company was issued notices of violation on Dec. 28, 2016 and Jan. 6, 2017 by the Environmental Management Bureau for ash that had allegedly polluted a waterway.

Ang offered to supply power from Limay after the Energy Department said it was looking at ways to avert a power supply shortage once the Malampaya gas facility went offline starting Jan. 28.

Around 2,170 MW in power capacity is expected to go offline during the scheduled maintenance of the Malampaya gas field in northwest Palawan.

The Malampaya gas project powers major

power plants in Batangas with a combined capacity of 2,700 MW. These facilities include Calaca U1 (200 MW), Quezon Power (456 MW) and Ilijan Block 1 (600 MW) that will go on planned outage. They also include the 414-MW San Gabriel plant which will not be able to run due to fuel constraints and Ilijan Block 2 (180 MW).

The Energy Department also works to ensure that government-owned 470MW Malaya thermal power plant in Pililia, Rizal will run during the period.

The agency aims to ensure readiness of Interruptible Load Program participants with a total of 900 MW to augment supply during the critical period.

The agency said it would monitor and secure generation capabilities of renewable energy facilities, particularly geothermal, hydropower and biomass power plants.

Water resources for hydropower plants will be impounded to increase generation output during the maintenance period.

Based on estimates, the highest demand is projected to reach 8,610 MW on Feb. 9, while the lowest reserve level is projected at 706 MW on Feb. 16, which would lead to a possible yellow alert.

WEATHER 101. More than 4,000 Filipinos are now equipped with basic knowledge on weather, not only for disaster preparedness, but also to help evaluate its impact on businesses and socio-economic growth. Private weather information provider WeatherPhilippines Foundation Inc. said 4,076 individuals participated in Weather 101 and Tropical Cyclone 101 programs as of end-2016. Shown is WeatherPhilippines general manager Dave Michael Valeriano showing the the WeatherPhilippines mobile application that can be downloaded for free on both Android and Apple devices.

PH-Australia trade doubled to A$3.9b in 7 years

By Othel V. Campos BILATERAL trade between the Philippines and Australia doubled to A$3.9 billion in 2016 from A$1.5 billion in 2010, the Australian Embassy said.

Australian Embassy senior trade commissioner Elodie Journet said Tuesday during the annual reception night at the Ambassador’s residence in Forbes Park that trade between the two countries continued to improve.

“What is interesting for us is the shift in the sectors traded.

Traditionally, Australia has been active in the commodities sector, in terms of food and beverage. Now, one of the areas we see a lot of traction is the services area – the BPOs and KPOs,” she said.

Journet said Australia has been investing a lot in the Philippines’ BPO industry.

She said there were 280 Australian companies investing in the Philippines. As of 2016, investments by Australian companies hit A$10 billion while their total employment reached 30,000 workers.

Companies such as Telstra and start-ups like Canva are looking for increased footprint and bigger exposure in the Philippines, she said.

Telstra with its contractor in the Philippines employs about 15,000 Filipinos.

“We’re not thinking anymore of the Philippines as your basic call center type of BPO. We’re looking at elevating the services, making them more technical, more knowledge-based,” she said.

She said Australia aimed to bring in more Australian provid-

ers that specialize in the “jobs of the future” such cyber security and data analytics.

“It’s good news on the part of Australia or any economy to move into services, develop this sector as additional source of revenue,” said Journet.

Meanwhile, the Australian government is seeking increased cooperation with the Philippines’ Environment Department on the mining sector.

Australia offers to share knowledge with the Environment Department on how it created its mining policy.

What does NDF/CPP mean by industrialization?

LAST week the government and the group of rebels known as NDFCPP (National Democratic FrontCommunist Party of the Philippines) began the third of the present round of Norway-brokered negotiations aimed at ending one of the two remaining communist rebellions in Asia. Both parties to the negotiations have indicated that the current round will take on the issue of “socio-economic reforms” and that one of the reforms to be discussed is industrialization.

In a September 8, 2016 column on the issue (“What kind of economic reforms?”) I made the point that, since socio-economic reforms were going to be addressed by the negotiations, it was only right, in the interest of transparency and fairness, that the Filipino people

be told what the “socio-economic reforms” phase of the negotiations will cover. They need to know what existing socio-economic policies and arrangements the government—in representation of the nation—will be asked to reform or give up.

Today I intend to focus on “industrialization.” This presumably means manufacturing. The NDF-CPP presumably means the improvement of existing manufacturing industries and the establishment of manufacturing industries that are missing from the economic landscape.

And so I ask, what exactly do our communist friends mean when they tell the government that they want to discuss when the word “industrialization” appears on the negotiations’ agenda?

Do the comments mean the

installation of manufacturing industries that are not on the scene, the re-establishment and the re-installation of manufacturing industries that have ceased to exist and the closure of manufacturing industries whose operations are thought to be inimical to the people’s welfare as perceived by them? The government negotiators— and the people whom they represent— need to know. And the NDF-CPP should give them specifics, not motherhood-type information.

How about policies and programs?

What industrial practices, mechanisms and procedures does NDF-CPP want to see discontinued or reformed (almost certainly radically)? Do our communist friends disfavor subsidies, incentives, preferences and other accepted means employed by economic policymakers

to encourage manufacturing industries that they regard as desirable parts of the nation’s industrial infrastructure?

Again, the government negotiators— and the Filipino people—want, and deserve, specifics.

Finally, after the ‘what,’ there is the ‘how’ of industrialization. How do our communist friends want their desired manufacturing industries to come into being? Do they want them to be installed on the basis of government funding—and therefore be publicly owned? If the answer is yes, that will mean allocations in the national budgetary allocations for other desirable government expenditures, including those for social services. The question bears asking whether at this point, when the government is in the midst of privatizing publicly owned

assets, a fresh round of government financing of manufacturing industries is the desirable way to go.

Putting up government-owned industries—if that is what our communist friends mean by industrialization—is a very expensive business. Manufacturing industries do not fall out of the sky. They must be financed, and the costs must be borne by somebody. They do not come into being on the basis of ideologically based wishing, no matter how elegantly done.

And so I return to the title of this column. When it speaks of industrialization, what does NDF-CPP really want? The Filipino people awaits the answer with bated breath.

E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

Security tight for Manila CNY fete

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

C1

By Sandy Araneta MANILA Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada on Wednesday ordered the Manila Police District to maintain its heightened alert status for the two-day celebration of the Chinese New Year this weekend.

Estrada, who has been participating in the CNY festivities in Binondo every year, said he wants the occasion welcoming the Year of the Fire Rooster to be as peaceful and orderly as possible.

“The Chinese-Filipino community has been supportive of the city government and during their special day, we will ensure that our law enforcement units and other security and emergency personnel are on full alert to protect them and maintain peace and order,” Estrada said.

The mayor also signed Executive Order No. 2, declaring the suspension of work at City Hall and classes in all schools in Manila’s District 3, which covers the Binondo, Sta. Cruz and Quiapo areas.

Estrada said he leaves it to the “capable hands” of MPD Director Chief Supt. Joel Coronel to secure the CNY’s different events, especially the countdown and parade in Binondo.

The New Year’s Eve countdown will be held on Friday, January 27, at the San Lorenzo Ruiz Plaza in front of Binondo Church, where the program will start as early as 5 p.m., Coronel said. Police are securing this area “as early as lunch time of Friday,” he added.

Manila police will deploy their advanced security personnel, complete with Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams and K-9 units to “panel” the area and close it to pedestrians and vehicular traffic, Coronel said.

“The (road) closures will only be implemented when the program starts. There will be ‘stop-and-go’ traffic management to clear the streets leading to the Plaza San Ruiz,” the police chief said.

To reinforce the 155 policemen assigned in Binondo, the MPD will field an additional 500 policemen to the area.

“So, far, we have not received any actual or direct threats of imminent nature that would constitute clear and present danger on this particular activity,” Turn to C2

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

DRUG WEAPONS. Calamba City Chief of Police Supt. Albert Tapulao holds a hand grenade and a. 22-caliber rifle that were confiscated from six suspects in a recent drug buy-bust at the Santa Cecilia Compound in Barangay Parian, Calamba, Laguna on Wednesday. The suspects are now detained at the Calamba PNP jail. Roy Tomandao

Makati earns P5.1b in 6 mos M

By Joel E. Zurbano

AKATI has collected more than P5 billion in revenue during the first six months of Mayor Abigail Binay’s tenure, the city government reported Wednesday.

The amount is P600 million, or 14 percent, better than what the city collected for the same period in 2015 under the previous administration.

City treasurer Jesusa Cuneta said actual collections from July to December 2016 reached P5.1 billion.

She cited a 30-percent increase in real property tax collection, which surpassed by P393.6 million the total RPT collection from the same period in 2015, as the biggest contributor to the collection.

Other local sources of revenue for Makati that posted an increase include business taxes, up by six percent this year to P2.5 billion; fees and charges, up 11 percent; and interest income, up 22 percent.

The city’s share from the national government through the Internal Revenue Allotment also increased by nine percent, Cuneta reported.

The Binay administration attributed the significant increase

in RPT collection to improved efficiency and accessibility of satellite RPT payment centers in the barangays.

The Computerized Barangay Realty Tax Payment System was launched in 2005 during the term of former mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr., Abby’s brother, for the convenience of taxpayers, the city said. On scheduled dates every quarter, satellite payment centers electronically linked to the Treasury Department at City Hall are set up in barangay halls to accept realty tax payments.

To date, 31 out of Makati’s 33 barangays are covered by the program.

Meanwhile, the Business Permit Office has processed and approved 2,033 new applications for business permits during the same six-month period.

In a recent dialogue with members of the Rotary Club, Binay assured the business community there will be no increase in tax rates this year. She said she has directed her finance team to study on lowering tax rates, which have remained unchanged for the past ten years.

As she began her term last July, Binay promised to use technology to promote transparency and eventually implement a “no physical contact” policy in transactions with the city government.

She has prioritized the creation of a one-stop-shop for the issuance of business permits and licenses and tax payments to facilitate transactions with City Hall.

Recently, the city government received positive feedback from taxpayers who expressed their satisfaction with the city’s im-

proved frontline services, particularly the more systematic and faster processing of applications for permits and tax payments.

“The computerization of the city’s financial systems and operations has been a major factor for the sustained revenue generation of the city government,” Binay said.

With more efficient collection and monitoring systems in place, Makati continues to be one of a few local government units in the country that are not dependent on the IRA from the national government. To date, income from IRA accounts for only nine percent of the city’s total revenue.

For three decades now, Makati has remained deficit-free as its annual revenue collections continue to increase year after year, Binay added.

Taguig cuts kids’ malnutrition cases in half in 2016 P100k CASES of malnutrition in Taguig City went down by nearly half to just 563 cases in 2016, the city government announced Wednesday.

In a report submitted to Mayor Laarni Cayetano, the Taguig City Nutrition Office reported that the malnutrition prevalence rate in Taguig dropped to 0.45 percent in 2016 from 0.54 percent or 1,035 cases in 2015.

For the last two years, Taguig has also recorded the lowest malnutrition prevalence among

the 17 local government units in the National Capital Region.

This achievement “has been the result of extensive and innovative programs in the city,” the nutrition office said.

Julie Bernabe, Nutrition Office officer-in-charge, said 43 barangay nutrition scholars are dispatched to all the 28 Taguig barangays for a wider, more effective advocacy campaign among the residents of its intervention programs.

“Our local government has seven interventions against malnutrition, which we conduct yearly with the help of various departments in the city,” Bernabe added.

These interventions include supplementary feeding schemes provided to thin and stunted pregnant women, young children from six months to six years old, and underweight schoolchildren in Grades 1 and 2, and a massive administering of vitamin and mineral supplements like Vita-

min A and Iron to prevent and cure micronutrient deficiencies.

In addition, Taguig has adopted desirable practices that ensure nutritional well-being, such as the “Ten Kumainments” guidelines and other nutrition-related messages. It also provides livelihood assistance to poor and malnourished households, and delivers maternal and child health and nutrition package services, Bernabe said.

The local government has started its annual nutrition in-

tervention by conducting “Oplan Timbang” in which the height and weight of children up to five years old in each barangay are collated to determine their nutritional status as severely underweight, underweight, normal, or overweight.

Oplan Timbang will run until March. Once its data are collected and analyzed, the nutrition office will determine the proper intervention depending on the child’s nutritional status. Joel E. Zurbano

Philex eyes Padcal life beyond 2022

By Dexter A. See TUBA, Benguet—The mandate of the management of Philex Mining Corp. is to extend its Padcal mine operations here beyond its projected life of 2022, president and chief executive officer engineer Eulalio B. Austin Jr. said.

Experts had projected Padcal to have a mine life up to 2022 based on its existing ore deposits in its tenement area in this town, the head the country’s largest gold and copper producer said.

“The company is trying its best to make sure that Philex will operate beyond 2022, because there will be a great social problem in the area once the mine firm will not be able to extend its projected mine life,” Austin stressed.

Philex’s total tenement

area is more than 14,000 hectares, but its current operations only cover five percent of it. Thus, Austin said there is a possibility they can find sufficient older deposits or higher grades of ore that will allow Philex to extend Padcal.

Prevailing world metal prices is another factor in Padcal’s extension, Austin said, because the price of copper has been stable but that of gold remains unpredictable, although it is on the rise.

The firm’s exploration team is working double time to look for possible sufficient ore deposits within Padcal, which would help extend its mine life and maximize its existing facilities “beneficial to the economic growth of its host and neighboring communities,” he said.

NEW SCHOOL. Valenzuela City Mayor Rexlon Gatchalian (right) leads the inauguration of Eliezer R. Delos Santos National High School at the boundary of Barangays Gen. T. De Leon and Ugong. With the mayor is Gen. T. De Leon National High School principal Lagrimas Bayle. Jun David

incentive for QC’s ‘100’ folk

QUEZON City Mayor Herbert Bautista has approved an ordinance increasing tenfold cash incentives to residents who have reached the age of 100.

The city government’s incentive will be given on top of other incentives from the national government, Bautista said.

Under City Ordinance Sangguniang Panlungsod No. 2542, the city’s centenarians will now be rewarded with a cash incentive of P100,000, from P10,000 previously.

Principally authored by District 6 Councilor Roger Juan, the measure highlights the city government’s continuing effort to promote the welfare of its elderly residents, especially those who are aged 100 and older, the mayor said.

According to the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs, Quezon City has about 126 living centenarians, 102 of them female.

Based on OSCA records, Quezon City’s oldest living centenarian is 109-year-old Salamah Guiama Shalik of Barangay Culiat. Rio N. Araja

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

C2

LGUs

TODAY JANUARY 26, 2017 THURSDAY,

French traders eyeing Davao, too

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera

D

AVAO CITY—French businessmen are also interested in investing in this city, French Embassy Deputy Head Laurent Le Godec told reporters here ahead of a business mission from the European country.

Le Godec met with Mayor Sara Duterte on Monday to discuss possible business cooperation between France and Davao, which the diplomat considers “an important city in Mindanao.”

He was seeking the support of the city government for a possible business forum between French and local companies so

they would be able “to find room to expand their economic cooperation.” The incoming French business delegation would attend this forum, Le Godec added.

The dialogue would enable French traders “to see for themselves what projects they can put up” in the city.

Le Godec also told Duterte an annual French film festival

could also be held in the city for Davaoeños to appreciate French movies and culture. He underscored that France “has long realized the potential of Mindanao, particularly Davao City.”

The French government was also “confident of the city’s future, in terms of economic and business environment,” the diplomat said.

City Hall rehab

In another development, the City Hall lobby and Commission on Audit office will undergo a P7-million rehabilitation after the flooring of these areas collapsed last Friday.

City Hall’s entire structure is made from wood, and was first

Republic of the Philippines

Republic of the Philippines

National Irrigation Administration

National Irrigation Administration

(PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) Regional Office No. III

(PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) Regional Office No. III

Office Address : Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Email Address:niar03@yahoo.com Telephone Nos. : (044) 766-2467 766-4839, 816-6808 Telefax No.(044) 766-2467 Website : niar03@yahoo.com TIN: 000-979-570-000

Invitation to Bid Restoration of Diversion Works and Canal System of Ted Ted Ti Ling-It CIS Laur, Nueva, Ecija ITB NO. NIAR3-2017-TYP-NE-11

constructed in 1926. The budget for the rehab will come from the Mayor’s Office funds.

City Engineer’s Office head Engineer Joseph Dominic Felizarta said they will need to close the city hall lobby for up to six months to retrofit the foyer and the COA office.

“We also looked at the foundation of the main lobby and we found out there are a lot of termites already,” Felizarta said.

The building’s underground is full of water that causes moisture on the flooring, the city engineer added. Because the building is mostly made of wood, termites have weakened its foundations as well.

Felizarta said CEO will now

Office Address : Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Email Address:niar03@yahoo.com Telephone Nos. : (044) 766-2467 766-4839, 816-6808 Telefax No.(044) 766-2467 Website : niar03@yahoo.com TIN: 000-979-570-000

Invitation to Bid Improvement of Canal System of TAGUMPAY BAGONG SIKAT CIS ITB NO. NIAR3-2017-TYP-NE-9 1.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3, hereby invite all interested Phil-GEPS registered contractors to bid for the project, through the GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT of CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of THIRTY TWO MILLION SIX HUNDRED TWENTY EIGHT THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED NINETY SIX PESOS (P 32,628,996.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for NIAR3-2017-TYP-NE-9. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

Only those Letter of Intent with a company profile, submitted by the owner or its authorized liaison officer, will be accepted to participate in the bidding.

3.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3, now invites bids for Improvement of Canal System of TAGUMPAY BAGONG SIKAT CIS. Completion of the Works is required within Two Hundred Seventy (270) calendar days. Bidders should have completed within the last three (3) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project.

The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instruction to Bidders.

4.

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

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

5.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Monday to Friday.

1.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3,hereby invites all interested Phil-GEPS registered Contractors to bid for the project through the General Appropriations Act of CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of Eighteen Million Five Hundred Ninety Five Thousand Five Hundred Forty Eight Pesos and 77/100 (P 18,595,548.77)being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)to payments under the contract for NIAR3-2017-TYPNE-11. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

Only those Letter of Intent with a company profile, submitted by the owner or its authorized liaison officer, will be accepted to participate in the bidding.

3.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3, now invites bids for Restoration of Diversion Works and Canal System of Ted Ted Ti Ling-It CIS, Laur, Nueva, Ecija. Completion of the Works is required within Two Hundred Seventy (270) calendar days. Bidders should have completed within the last three (3) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instruction to Bidders.

4.

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

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

5.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Monday to Friday.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on January 20, 2017 to February 10, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, and February 13, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., except holidays from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Twenty Thousand Pesos (P 20,000.00).

6.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later that the submission of their bids.

6.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later that the submission of their bids.

7.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on January 27, 2017, 2:00 p.m. at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

7.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on January 27, 2017, 1:00 p.m. at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

8.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 2:45 p.m. (PST) of February 13, 2017 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

8.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 1:30 p.m. (PST) of February 13, 2017 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on 3:00 p.m. (PST) of February 13, 2017 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

Bid opening shall be on 1:45 p.m. (PST) of February 13, 2017 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

9.

All particulars relative to the eligibility screening, bid security, performance security, pre-bid conference/s, evaluation of bids, post qualification and award of contracts shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its revised IRR.

9.

All particulars relative to the eligibility screening, bid security, performance security, pre-bid conference/s, evaluation of bids, post qualification and award of contracts shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its revised IRR.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

10.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

11. For further information, please refer to:

11. For further information, please refer to:

BAC Secretariat/s; NIA – Region 3,Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Tel No. (044) 766-4839 and 816-8608

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on January 20, 2017 to February 12, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, and February 13, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., except holidays from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Thirty Five Thousand Pesos (P 35,000.00).

BAC Secretariat/s; NIA – Region 3,Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Tel No. (044) 766-4839 and 816-8608

Republic of the Philippines

(SGD) Angela Jeannine M. Salud President

Republic of the Philippines

National Irrigation Administration (PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) Regional Office No. III

Office Address : Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Email Address:niar03@yahoo.com Telephone Nos. : (044) 766-2467 766-4839, 816-6808 Telefax No.(044) 766-2467 Website : niar03@yahoo.com TIN: 000-979-570-000

Invitation to Bid Restoration of Canal System of Calaanan CIS, Bongabon, Nueva, Ecija ITB NO. NIAR3-2017-TYP-NE-12

Invitation to Bid Rehabilitation of Diversion Works and Canal System of Camiling River Irrigation System, Mayantoc and Camiling, Tarlac ITB NO. NIAR3-2017-TYP-TAR-20 1.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3,hereby invites all interested Phil-GEPS registered Contractors to bid for the project through the General Appropriations Act of CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of Forty Five Million Nine Hundred Seventy Four Thousand Three Hundred Ninety Four Pesos and 94/100 (P 45,974,394.94)being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)to payments under the contract for NIAR32017-TYP-TAR-20. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

Only those Letter of Intent with a company profile, submitted by the owner or its authorized liaison officer, will be accepted to participate in the bidding.

3.

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

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3, now invites bids for Rehabilitation of Diversion Works and Canal System of Camiling River Irrigation System, Mayantoc and Camiling, Tarlac. Completion of the Works is required within Three Hundred (300) calendar days. Bidders should have completed within the last three (3) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instruction to Bidders.

4.

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

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

5.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Monday to Friday.

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

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on January 20, 2017 to February 10, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, and February 13, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except holidays from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Thirty Three Thousand Pesos (P 33,000.00).

Interested bidders may obtain further information from NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Monday to Friday.

6.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later that the submission of their bids.

7.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on January 27, 2017, 3:00 p.m. at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

8.

Bid opening shall be on 8:30 a.m. (PST) of February 15, 2017 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 4:00 p.m. (PST) of February 13, 2017 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

All particulars relative to the eligibility screening, bid security, performance security, prebid conference/s, evaluation of bids, post qualification and award of contracts shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its revised IRR.

Bid opening shall be on 4:15 p.m. (PST) of February 13, 2017 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

9.

All particulars relative to the eligibility screening, bid security, performance security, pre-bid conference/s, evaluation of bids, post qualification and award of contracts shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its revised IRR.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3,hereby invites all interested Phil-GEPS registered Contractors to bid for the project through theGeneral Appropriations Act of CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of Eighteen Million Nine Hundred Thousand Pesos (P 18,900,000.00)being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)to payments under the contract for NIAR3-2017-TYP-AU-1. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

1.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3,hereby invites all interested Phil-GEPS registered Contractors to bid for the project through the General Appropriations Act of CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of Thirty One Million Nine Hundred Forty Thousand Five Hundred Sixty Nine Pesos and 20/100 (P 31,940,569.20)being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)to payments under the contract for NIAR3-2017-TYPNE-12. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

Only those Letter of Intent with a company profile, submitted by the owner or its authorized liaison officer, will be accepted to participate in the bidding.

2.

Only those Letter of Intent with a company profile, submitted by the owner or its authorized liaison officer, will be accepted to participate in the bidding.

3.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3, now invites bids for Rehabilitation of Diversion Works / Canal Structures of AMRO RIS, Casiguran, Aurora. Completion of the Works is required within Two Hundred Seventy (270) calendar days. Bidders should have completed within the last three (3) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instruction to Bidders.

3.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3, now invites bids for Restoration of Canal System of Calaanan CIS, Bongabon, Nueva, Ecija. Completion of the Works is required within Two Hundred Seventy (270) calendar days. Bidders should have completed within the last three (3) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instruction to Bidders.

4.

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

4.

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

5.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Monday to Friday.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on January 20, 2017 to February 14, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, and February 15, 2017 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., except holidays from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Twenty Thousand Pesos (P 20,000.00).

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later that the submission of their bids.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on January 31, 2017, 9:00 a.m. at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy.

Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 8:15 a.m. (PST) of February15, 2017 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

10. The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

11. For further information, please refer to:

All persons having claims against the said corporation are requested to present their claims to Ms. Angela Jeannine M. Salud at D1b-D2b Molave Industrial Estate, Paliparan Road, Paliparan 2, Dasmarinas, Cavite.

Office Address : Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Email Address:niar03@yahoo.com Telephone Nos. : (044) 766-2467 766-4839, 816-6808 Telefax No.(044) 766-2467 Website : niar03@yahoo.com TIN: 000-979-570-000

1.

9.

Notice is hereby given that the Resolution of the Board of Directors of Buckingham English Learning Institute Inc. authorizing the de-registration/dissolution of its corporate registration and consider it closed as of October 13, 2016 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) Regional Office No. III

Invitation to Bid Rehabilitation of Diversion Works / Canal Structures of AMRO RIS, Casiguran, Aurora ITB NO. NIAR3-2017-TYP-AU-1

be coordinating with the flower industry in upland Kayapa town to join the mainstream of cutflower farmers to the market link, the governor added.

“We were assured that every supply they will get will be paid because the quality of our agricultural products can be at par with other provinces, that is why they want to transact directly with our farmers,” Padilla said.

The provincial government also holds a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Agriculture, Quezon City government and the NVAT for Vizcayano produce.

Aurelio Bibay, Provincial Cooperative Affairs Office administrative officer, said 11 farmers’ groups are now earning from the farm-to-consumer project since its launching in August 2014.

The farmers also earned through scheduled market fairs in Quezon City Hall and its adjacent barangays such as Pansol, White Plains, Bagumbayan, Old Balara and Kaingin.

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF BUCKINGHAM ENGLISH LEARNING INSTITUTE INC.

Republic of the Philippines

Office Address : Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Email Address:niar03@yahoo.com Telephone Nos. : (044) 766-2467 766-4839, 816-6808 Telefax No.(044) 766-2467 Website : niar03@yahoo.com TIN: 000-979-570-000

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya —The provincial government is partnering with the Juliana Market in Balintawak, Quezon City to serve as an outlet for agricultural products from here.

Gov. Carlos Padilla said his office has coordinated with the market’s owners to help Vizcayano farmers earn more from their produce.

“This is another opportunity for us to help our farmers by providing them a direct link to various outlets, thereby eliminating middlemen, who usually get more profit than our farmers,” he said.

Padilla said farmers would most likely send fruits and vegetables to Juliana Market, a wet and dry market in Balintawak, which receives most goods from the provinces north of Manila for distribution elsewhere in the metropolis.

Gilbert Cumila, manager of the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal in Bambang town, will

National Irrigation Administration

(PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) Regional Office No. III

8.

By Ben Moses Ebreo

(MS-JAN. 12,19 & 26, 2017)

(MS-JAN. 26, 2017)

National Irrigation Administration

7.

N. Vizcaya eyes pact with Juliana Market

(SGD) VIRGILIO J. ILAO BAC - Chairman

(MS-JAN. 26, 2017)

Coronel said. “Of course, the PNP remains on high alert. It has never been lifted nor lowered, so we will have full deployment in that particular area.”

For the parade on January 28, its route will be closed from the time the participants start it, Coronel said.

“And as soon as the parade passes by, we will open again the part of the route it passes.

It’s a stop-and-go closure, no permanent closure, until at the Lucky Chinatown Mall where all of them will converge and with the start of the program, we will temporarily close those roads,” he said.

Coronel estimated that up to 30,000 people will join the parade, and close to 10,000 people will converge at the Plaza San Ruiz for the countdown.

This serve as notice to all parties concerned of the legal retirement of Buckingham English Learning Institute Inc. from its business operation in the Philippines.

(SGD) VIRGILIO J. ILAO BAC - Chairman

6.

make cement columns to prop up the structure and avoid more collapses.

“This is so that we can avoid repetition of our job. Cement can also hold moisture better, unlike wood,” he said.

While construction is ongoing, most people can use City Hall’s back door as the main entrance and exit, while employees will use the building’s side doors, the engineer said.

After the COA office’s flooring collapsed, the department transferred to another office in City Hall to continue their jobs.

Felizarta said there is no need for other offices to relocate, since the construction will only affect the lobby and the ground floor.

Security...

From C1

BAC Secretariat/s; NIA – Region 3,Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Tel No. (044) 766-4839 and 816-8608 (SGD) VIRGILIO J. ILAO BAC - Chairman (MS-JAN. 26, 2017)

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on January 31, 2017 to February 14, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, and February 15, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., except holidays from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P 50,000.00).

6.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later that the submission of their bids.

7.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on January 31, 2017, 2:00 p.m. at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy.

Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

8.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 1:30 p.m. (PST) of February 15, 2017 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on 1:45 p.m. (PST) of February 15, 2017 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

9.

All particulars relative to the eligibility screening, bid security, performance security, pre-bid conference/s, evaluation of bids, post qualification and award of contracts shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its revised IRR.

10. The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

10. The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

11. For further information, please refer to:

11. For further information, please refer to:

BAC Secretariat/s; NIA – Region 3,Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Tel No. (044) 766-4839 and 816-8608

(MS-JAN. 26, 2017)

BAC Secretariat/s; NIA – Region 3,Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Tel No. (044) 766-4839 and 816-8608

(SGD) VIRGILIO J. ILAO Chairman, Bids and Award Committee

(SGD) VIRGILIO J. ILAO BAC - Chairman (MS-JAN. 26, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

Trump set to build his wall

IN BRIEF Top court upholds murder sentence on American

W

ASHINGTON― Donald Trump will take a first step toward enacting his pledge to “build a wall” on the Mexican border Wednesday by issuing an executive decree.

The White House said that Trump will visit the Department of Homeland Security in the afternoon, when he is expected to roll out a series of immigration-related measures.

“Big day planned on NATIONAL SECURITY tomorrow.

Among many other things, we will build the wall!” Trump tweeted late Tuesday.

Stemming immigration to the United States was a central plank of Trump’s election campaign.

His signature policy was to build a wall across the 3,200-kilometer border between the United States and Mexico.

Some of the border is already fenced, but Trump has argued that a wall is needed to stop illegal immigrants entering from Latin America.

Experts have voiced serious doubts about whether a wall would actually stem illegal immigration, or if its worth investing billions in such a project when there are other cost effective methods of achieving similar results.

But the issue has become a clarion call for the US right and far right, the core of Trump’s support.

After four days in office some are wondering why the populist president’s policies have been largely indistinguishable from those of orthodox Republicans.

His promised executive order may be a way to slake that thirst.

Still, any action from the White House would be piecemeal, diverting only existing funds toward the project.

The Republican-controlled Congress would need to supply new money if the project is to be anywhere near completed, and Trump’s party has spent years preaching fiscal prudence.

Furthermore, much of the land needed to build the wall is privately owned, implying lengthy legal proceedings, political blowback, and substantial expropriation payments.

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly even told his confirmation hearing that the border wall might not “be built anytime soon.”

Trump had promised to make “Mexico pay” for the wall, something that the Mexican government says is fanciful.

Trump aides have weighed increasing border tariffs or border transit costs as one way to “make Mexico pay.”

Trump has also floated the idea of a ban on Muslims coming to the United States.

He is said to be considering moves to halt or slow refugee flows, particularly from Syria and other Muslim-majority countries.

Around 4.8 million Syrians have fled to neighboring countries alone, according to the United Nations. AFP

SEOUL―South Korea’s top court upheld an US citizen’s 20-year murder sentence on Wednesday, finally drawing a line under a tortuous legal saga two decades after he stabbed a Korean to death in a Burger King toilet.

The random killing of Jo Jung-Pil was made into a hit movie in 2009, reviving public anger over the crime and forcing South Korean prosecutors to reopen the case.

Arthur Patterson, now 37, was convicted by a Seoul court last year and the Supreme Court of Korea upheld the ruling Wednesday, adding in a statement that his sentence was “justified”.

Patterson, the son of a US military contractor, was 17 at the time, and 20 years in jail is the maximum penalty in South Korea for an offender under 18.

He had denied any involvement in the killing in the nightlife district of Itaewon, close to the US military base in Seoul.

Patterson was tried and convicted in 1997 as an accomplice to Edward Lee, a Korean-American man, who was jailed for 20 years for murder. Each accused the other of killing Jo. Patterson served 18 months in prison for lesser charges including obstruction of justice, and was released in 1998 as part of an amnesty program, only to find himself a murder suspect again after Lee was acquitted on appeal for lack of evidence.

He fled to the United States a year later after investigators failed to renew his travel ban—a mistake that sparked a storm of criticism.

Patterson was formally charged in absentia with Jo’s murder in 2011 and was extradited from the United States in September 2015 to face trial. AFP

PROMO. Indian Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut poses during a promotional event for the forthcoming Hindi film ‘Rangoon’ in Mumbai. AFP

Judge urges fast decision on Park SEOUL―South Korea’s top judge urged his colleagues to come to a quick verdict on the impeachment of President Park Geun-Hye Wednesday, at his last hearing before stepping down.

The rapidly dwindling number of judges at the country’s Constitutional Court could throw Park a lifeline, after millions of people have taken to the streets to demand her resignation and she was impeached by parliament last month.

Pak Han-Chul will retire as the court’s chief justice next week at the end of his six-year term, with another of his colleagues following suit on March 13.

That will leave the court with only seven sitting judges, but by law six votes -- a two-thirds majority of the full court -- will still be needed to uphold Park’s removal from office.

As such, Park would need the backing of only

two justices to return to the Blue House and see out her term.

The outgoing judges will not be replaced until a new president is elected.

The absence of two justices “could seriously distort the court’s decisions”, warned Park Han-Chul, who was appointed by the impeached politician.

The president was impeached over a corruption and power abuse scandal centered on her friend and confidante Choi Soon-sil.

The Constitutional Court has until June to decide whether to approve the decision, in which case new elections must be held within 60 days, or reinstate her.

An opinion poll by Real Meter published Wednesday put the main opposition Democratic Party’s presidential hopeful Moon Jae-In well ahead of a pack of five other candidates including former UN Secretary General Ban KiMoon. AFP

3 foreigners jailed for ATM heist TAIPEI―Three eastern Europeans were jailed for five years in Taiwan Wednesday over a $2.6-million cyberheist that used malware to hack into a major local bank’s ATM network.

The attack, the first of its kind in Taiwan, targeted the First Commercial Bank’s ATM network in July and saw money withdrawn from dozens of machines in three cities.

The suspects had uncovered a security loophole in a server at the bank’s London branch office and used it to plant the malware, according to Taiwanese authorities.

Latvian Andrejs Peregudovs, together with Mihail Colibaba from Romania and Niklae Penkov from Moldova, were convicted of causing damage to the public by breaching com-

C3

puter security, said the Taipei district court.

They were also each fined Tw$600,000 ($19,00) and will be deported after completing their sentences, the court said. They can appeal the ruling.

Prosecutors had sought 12-year jail terms, saying their multiple actions had “seriously disrupted financial order and caused public panic”.

But court spokesman Liao Chien-yu said the judges had considered the illegal bank withdrawals as one case, which carries a maximum five-year sentence.

Prosecutors have said it was the first case of a multinational crime ring hacking into a bank’s computer system to plant malware.

Thai police said a gang of foreign criminals stole mil-

lions of baht by hacking a local bank’s ATM network in a theft last year believed to be linked to the one in Taiwan.

Taiwan’s government has added 19 other suspects, including one Australian, one French national and an unknown number of eastern Europeans, to the wanted list after they fled the island following the heist.

Surveillance images released by the bank showed masked robbers working in two-man teams targeting 41 ATMs in three cities from July 9-11. Within five to 10 minutes, the thieves were seen walking away with bags full of stolen cash.

Police arrested the trio in Taipei and northeastern Yilan county several days after the heist and recovered most of the stolen money. AFP

Manila

Standard

TODAY

NOTICE OF LOSS Notice is hereby given of the loss of the following provisional receipt forms: Serial Number From To 251 300 301 350 351 400 401 450 601 700 701 750 751 1000 1151 1200 1201 1250 1251 1300 2151 2200 2201 2250 2601 2650 2651 2700 2751 2800 2951 3000 3001 3050 3051 3100 3101 3200 3251 3300 3551 3600 3601 3650 3701 3800 3801 3850 11651 11700 34751 34800 34801 34950 34951 35000 35001 35050 35051 35100 35101 35150 35151 35200 36051 36100 36151 36300 36501 36600 36751 36800 36801 36900 37001 37100 37101 37200 37201 37450

Missing Series Number of From To Booklets Pieces 288 300 1 13 301 350 1 50 361 400 1 40 411 450 1 40 601 700 2 100 701 702 2 751 1000 5 250 1152 1200 1 49 1201 1250 1 50 1251 1300 1 50 2157 2200 1 44 2234 2250 1 17 2601 2650 1 50 2652 2700 1 49 2751 2800 1 50 2999 3000 1 2 3001 3050 1 50 3053 3100 1 48 3101 3200 2 100 3251 3300 1 50 3569 3600 1 32 3601 3650 1 50 3701 3800 2 100 3801 3850 1 50 11661 11700 1 40 34751 34800 1 50 34801 34950 3 150 34951 35000 1 50 35006 35050 1 45 35051 35100 1 50 35112 35150 1 39 35152 35200 1 49 36051 36100 1 50 36151 36300 3 150 36501 36600 2 100 36756 36800 1 45 36801 36900 2 100 37001 37100 2 100 37101 37200 2 100 37201 37450 5 250

Serial Number From To 37451 37550 37851 37900 37901 37950 38051 38100 38101 38150 38201 38250 38501 38550 38551 38600 38601 38650 38651 38700 38851 38900 38901 39000 39001 39100 39251 39350 39351 39400 39651 39801 39751

39750 39850 39800

40051 70251 70651 70851 71001 73251 73301 74151 74901 75201 75251 75451

40100 70300 70750 70900 71050 73300 73350 74200 74950 75250 75450 75500

Missing Series Number of Booklets Pieces From To 37451 37550 2 100 37851 37900 1 50 37901 37950 1 50 38051 38100 1 50 38101 38150 1 50 38201 38250 1 50 38504 38550 1 47 38551 38600 1 50 38601 38650 1 50 38651 38700 1 50 38851 38900 1 50 38901 39000 2 100 39001 39100 2 100 39251 39350 2 100 39351 39376 1 41 39386 39400 39651 39750 2 100 39801 39850 1 50 39751 39760 1 49 39762 39800 40051 40100 1 50 70251 70300 1 50 70651 70750 2 100 70851 70900 1 50 71001 71050 1 50 73251 73300 1 50 73303 73350 1 48 74151 74200 1 50 74901 74950 1 50 75211 75250 1 40 75251 75450 4 200 75451 75500 1 50

75551 75601 75651 75701 75751 76951

75600 75650 75700 75750 75800 77000

75554 75605 75656 75712 75756 76951

75600 75650 75700 75750 75800 77000

1 1 1 1 1 1

47 46 45 39 45 50

Consequently, all of the forms described above have been cancelled effective immediately. All transactions for which those provisional receipts were issued shall not be honored.

Persons in possession of the provisional receipts are requested to promptly notify this office and to take the necessary measures to prevent the improper or fraudulent disposition or use of the same and surrender said provisional receipts to PDIC.Those who have been issued provisional receipts bearing serial numbers as hereinabove identified are called upon to personally validate with PDIC the status of their payments. All communications may be made thru PDIC’s Public Assistance Department at telephone numbers(632) 841-4630/(632) 841-4631 (for Metro Manila) and 1-800-888-7342 (toll free, for outside Metro Manila) or thru e-mail address pad@pdic.com.ph.

(SGD.) MA. ANA CARMELA L. VILLEGAS OIC, Receivership & Liquidation Sector (MS-JAN. 26, 2017)

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

C4

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

World

Millions of Chinese travel for New Year B EIJING―Thousands of people wearing thick coats and clutching suitcases line up in freezing conditions at Beijing Railway Station in the hope of snagging a ticket home for China’s Lunar New Year.

They are among hundreds of millions of migrant workers traveling to far-flung towns and cities to see their families and celebrate the most important holiday on the Chinese calendar, which falls on January 28 this year.

The demand for tickets is so high that some people spend days trying to snare seats on public transport for the annual mega migration. Qi Xi is one of the lucky ones.

Unable to nab a high-speed rail ticket to whisk him from Beijing to his hometown in

the northeastern province of Heilongjiang in just four hours, Qi will have to spend almost a full day on a hard, uncomfortable seat to reach his destination.

But he’s not complaining.

“My coworker who’s from Harbin still hasn’t been able to buy a train ticket and doesn’t know how else to get home, so he might just not go back at all this year,” Qi said, chainsmoking outside the station as endless hordes of passengers carrying rucksacks and suitcases streamed past.

The holiday, also known as Spring Festival, is a time for families to gather their members for plentiful food and fireworks.

Travelers taking part in the world’s largest annual human migration must be home by Friday to usher in the new year on Saturday.

Transport officials predict that Chinese passengers will make almost three billion trips during the 40-day Lunar New Year period, including more than 2.5 billion journeys by road, the official Xinhua news agency said.

High travel volumes mean that navigating stations can be as much of a nightmare as nabbing a ticket in the first place.

Without internet access or a smartphone, 65-year-old Wang Wentai asked a more plugged-

in friend to help him buy his train ticket back to Handan city in neighboring Hebei Province.

Excited to go home after a year of washing dishes at a Korean restaurant to supplement his son’s income from a factory job, he arrived at the station two hours early -- but still ended up missing his train due to the crowds.

“There were so many people in line, and I just didn’t know which line to wait in, so I wasted a lot of time,” he said.

The next available ticket was for a train that left 14 hours later.

“I can’t wait inside the station because it’s still too early, but I don’t know where else to go,” he said, standing in front of the entrance with his hands in his pockets to protect them from the sub-zero chill. AFP

MEMENTO. Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi General Sheikh Mohammed

Bin Zayed Al Nahyan receives a memento during his visit to Rajghat, the memorial for Mahatama Gandhi, in New Delhi. AFP

Haitians may be deported from US

EU seeks curb for migrants from Libya BRUSSELS―After blocking the main migrant route from the Middle East, the EU will this week seek ways to check a feared spring surge from Libya and North Africa across the Mediterranean.

The European Union lacks a reliable partner in chaotic Libya, the launchpad for almost all migrant crossings over the central Mediterranean, while some African governments along the trail north have been reluctant to cooperate, EU sources and experts said.

The European Commission, the executive of the 28-nation EU, is due to unveil new proposals to tackle the issue on Wednesday, before ministers address it at talks in Malta on Thursday and Friday.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat—whose country is using its six-month presidency of the EU to highlight a crisis that has badly affected the island—warned two weeks ago that the EU should meet soon with Libyan authorities to try to avert the risk of an “unprecedented” migrant flow in the spring.

Trafficking on the central Mediterranean route is picking up sharply with more than 180,000 migrants landing in Italy last year, compared with a previous annual record of 170,100 in 2014.

Muscat wants a Libya deal that copies aspects of a controversial EU aid-for-cooperation deal with Turkey that has sharply slowed the number of Syrian and other asylum seekers landing in Greece.

But that will be tough, as the UN-backed Libyan unity government is locked in a power struggle with a rival administration in eastern Libya as it seeks to end years of lawlessness following the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi.

Meanwhile the EU’s naval operation “Sophia”, launched in 2015 to crack down on smugglers on the high seas, has no green light to intervene in Libyan waters.

“The operation is only partly useful because we can’t really act against the smugglers,” a European diplomat said. “They abandon people on rickety boats before the international waters and then let them drift.” AFP

GENERAL AUDIENCE. People greet Pope Francis as he arrives for his weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican. AFP

Americans wary after hacking epidemic WASHINGTON―Nearly twothirds of Americans have experienced some kind of data theft or fraud, leaving many mistrustful of institutions charged with safeguarding their information, a poll showed Wednesday.

The Pew Research Center survey found 41 percent of Americans have encountered fraudulent charges on their credit cards, and 35 percent had sensitive information like an account number compromised.

Smaller percentages said their email or social media accounts had been compromised or that

someone had impersonated them in order to file fraudulent tax returns.

Taken together, the survey found 64 percent said they had some form of personal data stolen or compromised.

Following the epidemic of data breaches and hacks, “many Americans lack faith in specific public and private institutions to protect their personal information from bad actors,” the study authors wrote.

Those surveyed were concerned about telecom firms, credit card companies and oth-

ers, but especially wary of the government and social media companies.

Only 12 percent said they had a high level of confidence in the government’s ability to protect their data and nine percent said the same of social media sites.

Yet the survey also found most Americans fail to take a proactive role in their own security with steps such as password management and enhanced authentication.

While have of those surveyed said they have used two-factor authentication on their online ac-

counts -- requiring a code sent to a phone or separate account -- many use similar passwords in multiple sites or share passwords with others, Pew found.

The vast majority -- 86 percent -- said they keep track of passwords by memory, and only 12 percent used password management software which is believed to be the most secure.

More than one in four respondents said they did not lock their smartphone screen, and some neglect to install important updates for their phones or applications. AFP

MIAMI―Bernedy Prosper is afraid his 23-year-old son Harold will die if he is deported from the United States back to Haiti.

Prosper, 52, had hoped Harold could benefit from a special status granted to Haitian immigrants in 2010 after a devastating earthquake struck the impoverished Caribbean nation.

Instead, Harold is one of more than 4,000 Haitians awaiting deportation due to a sudden policy reversal late last year as thenpresident Barack Obama was preparing to leave office.

With President Donald Trump now in power, elected on a vow to build a wall on the Mexican border and halt illegal immigration, Harold’s situation looks bleak.

“I ran away for my life and now my kid had to do the same,” said a despairing Prosper as he stood in an immigration aid center in Little Haiti, the heart of the Haitian diaspora in dilapidated north Miami.

Prosper himself arrived in Florida on a boat without immigration documents in 2000 and obtained political asylum.

He tried to bring his son over to join him, but Harold got tired of waiting for the legal process to run its course, and decided to try his luck crossing the Mexican border illegally.

Instead he was caught in San Diego, California, just as deportations of Haitians are ramping up dramatically compared to last January when, according to government figures, only 267 Haitians were awaiting deportation.

“I believe that if he is put back to Haiti, I have no more son,” said Prosper, his head down and voice a low monotone.

“I know they will kill him,” he said.

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, and has not fully recovered from the earthquake -- some 55,000 people still live in temporary housing, most in appalling conditions.

But late last year, Obama decided Haitians no longer qualified for Temporary Protection Status (TPS), as the status reserved for victims of natural disasters is known.

“The situation in Haiti has improved sufficiently to permit the US government to remove Haitian nationals on a more regular basis, consistent with the practice for nationals from other nations,” said then-Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson in announcing the policy change September 22. AFP

Life HEALTH & WELLNESS

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

D1

Professor Enrique Soriano III and Alphonse Cassone, inventor of Medsonix

M

ILLIONS of Filipinos are suffering in silence because of the pain of arthritis, migraine, diabetes and other medical conditions bring about.

Although pain relief is a basic human right, the Pain Society of the Philippines said lack of knowledge, the indifference of certain doctors, and the reluctance and refusal of some patients to get the right pain treatment have prevented many Filipinos from exercising this right. This not only affects a person’s health and wellbeing, but also his work and relationships with other people.

Hopefully, all that may change with the introduction of a new medical device that offers quick relief from pain and inflammation.

The Medsonix Acoustic Resonating Therapy is a non-invasive, drug-free, pain-free, prescriptionfree, safe and effective method of relieving pain and discomfort that will soon be available in the Philippines. Developed over 10 years by Alphonse Cassone of Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, this US FDA-registered device uses low frequency sound waves to increase blood f low, decrease inf lammation and pain, and relieve the painful symptoms of a host of medical problems.

Pilot studies conducted at the School of Nursing and Physical Therapy at the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 2000 published in an international medical journal in 2002 showed that the Medsonix Therapy System improved range of motion and decreased pain in over 85% of patients.

“Immediate and sustained pain relief has been experienced by many patients after only one therapy session to six sessions are normally required for maximum benefit,” according to Cassone,

New pain treatment to benefit millions of Filipinos

42, who has experimented with sound waves for the past 15 years.

“We are confident that the Medsonix Therapy System will be embraced by many Filipinos who have suffered long enough and want immediate relief from pain. This revolutionary method will help improve the quality of life of many patients who have tried almost everything to get rid of pain,” added Professor Enrique Soriano III, an educator, family business coach, author, columnist and professor of global marketing, program director for real estate, and chair of the Marketing Cluster at Ateneo Graduate School of Business.

Each Medsonix session lasts for about 30 minutes and can be done while patients are reading, listening to music or checking their emails. There is no need to disrobe but patients are required to wear sound reduction headphones during treatment. As they are enveloped with low frequency sound waves, patients often feel a warm, tingly sensation throughout the body or around the affected area.

Among the many medical conditions that can be helped by the Medsonix Therapy System are arthritis, bursitis, migraine, carpal tunnel syndrome, back and joint pain, multiple sclerosis, Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, sciatica, diabetic neuropathy, lupus, and peripheral vascular disease.

The Medsonix Device is now available at Clinica Manila in SM Megamall. For scheduling of those who’ d like to avail should call (02) 730-3237 / 0947-5951524 or email info@medsonix.com.ph.

SOUND HEALTH. The Medsonix Acoustic Resonating Therapy is a non-invasive, drug-free and effective method of relieving pain and discomfort—a device (inset) Enrique Soriano III, chair of Marketing Cluster at Ateneo Graduate School of Business, vouches for.

MEDICAL MISSION

benefits Taguig residents

FedEx Express managing director for Philippines, Indonesia, and Brunei John Peterson led the donation of solar lampposts and solar-powered lanters to Villa Maria community

METRO Retail Stores Group, Inc (MRSGI) in partnership with Habitat for Humanity recently conducted a medical mission that benefited over 300 residents of MRB Habitat, Brgy.

Bagumbayan, Taguig, as part of its continuing corporate social responsibility program.

“MRSGI strongly believes in making a difference in the community where it operates and where most employees live and work as this allows us to help alleviate the quality of life of the people we serve. Our partnership with Habitat for Humanity, as well as with pharmaceutical companies, helps us render meaningful volunteer work,

which we hope can be replicated in other areas where we operate,” says Anna Marie Periquet, MRSGI vice president for Corporate Affairs.

Nineteen medical professionals and volunteers from J.A.R Medical Networkers Mobile and Diagnostic Services (Jarmed), Hovid Pharma, and Hisamitsu joined MRSGI and Metro Pharmacy officials and volunteers in giving health services to residents and non-residents of MRB Habitat, from consultation to laboratory work-ups, and ophthalmological assessment.

Metro Pharmacy donated over P275,000 worth of assorted medi-

cines, from multivitamins to prescribed cardiovascular drugs. Apart from medicines, members of Metro Pharmacy conducted a seminar on Wellness Management and proper use of antibiotics.

Product samples of Salonpas medicated patch and liniment were distributed to the community, as staff from Hisamitsu provided product demo.

To further build goodwill among its beneficiary communities, MRSGI is set on partnering with other civil society groups and non-government organizations to implement philanthropic programs in the Visayan region.

Solar lanterns light up Villa Maria Community FEDEX Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and the world’s largest express transportation company brought light to the community of Villa Maria in Porac, Pampanga with a donation of 80 solar-powered lanterns and five solar lampposts. The activity, in collaboration with Hands On Manila (HOM), was in celebration of the annual FedEx Cares Week, a worldwide volunteerism campaign that supports communities where FedEx team members live and work.

Through a long-term community development program called All Lights Village, FedEx provided solar-powered lights to Villa Maria, a rural community with limited access to electrical power, to help improve the overall quality of life of its residents.

This year, 30 FedEx volunteers helped install solar lampposts, distributed solar lanterns, refurbished the day care center and facilitated hygiene workshops for children in the community.

The volunteer activity is the third All Lights Village project sponsored

by FedEx. Since its participation in

2015, FedEx has delivered light to 220 families in indigenous communities in Luzon.

“We at FedEx have a long-standing tradition of service to deliver hope to the communities where we live and work through volunteer activities,” said John Peterson, FedEx Express managing director for Philippines, Indonesia, and Brunei. “By giving the community of Villa Maria access to crucial lighting upgrades, we hope to improve safety and security within their community and enable them to share quality and productive time with their families even when the sun sets.”

FedEx Cares is the company’s global giving platform through which FedEx is investing $200 million in more than 200 global communities by 2020 to create opportunities and deliver positive change around the world. Local volunteers supplement and enrich these community investments in their respective markets.

FedEx Corp. began this volunteer tradition in a handful of U.S. cities in 2005 and has since expanded it to 120 countries around the world.

Metro Pharmacy general manager Myra Cobangbang (seated, left) and Metro Retail Stores Group, Inc. vice president for Corporate Affairs Anna Marie Periquet (seated, third from left) at the medical mission held in partnership with Habitat for Humanity

Life

D2

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

T

Say goodbye to

O the frustration of many, some body fat just won’t go away.

Women have to deal with the stubborn fats in their hips, thighs, and buttocks while men do their best to rid their bodies of love handles. For both men and women, eliminating belly fat is a common challenge.

Belly fat could either be subcutaneous or visceral. Subcutaneous fat is stored directly below the skin while visceral fat is stored around the abdominal region. The presence of excess abdominal fat poses different health risks like diabetes, heart disease, and different types of cancer.

Waist size is one way to tell if a person has dangerous levels of visceral fat. A waist size of 40 inches is a cause for alarm among men, while a waist size of 35 inches is an indicator of excess visceral fat among women.

CLINGY BELLY FATS

More Filipino women at risk

According to the 8th National Nutrition Survey (NNS) of the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), many adult Filipinas have a high waist circumference, a marker of high abdominal fat levels.

In 2013, the percentage of women with a high waist circumference went up from 19.9 to 23.1. The 8th NNS also showed that the number of women with high waist-hip ratio remained high.

The 8th NNS also showed the number of Filipino men with high waisthip ratio and waist circumference was steadier in the last few years compared to women.

Why belly fat remains stubborn

Though exercise and a healthy diet are crucial to removing belly fat, there are a number of different factors that make abdominal fat harder to manage.

Hormones, genes, and age are all complicating variables.

A person’s metabolism tends to slow down as they age. Hormonal changes in both and women also result in more abdominal fat.

When a woman reaches menopause, production of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone slows down and her belly tends to amass more fat. Hormonal changes in a man—specifically the drop in testosterone levels—can make for a larger gut.

Loss of muscle mass makes it harder for both men and women to use their

Those who have a hard time shedding stubborn fat through diet and exercise may find help in SculpSure, the latest laser applicator used for non-invasive body contouring treatment

bodies’ calories. As a result, the abdominal area accumulates more visceral fat.

Stress is another factor behind those unwanted pounds. A high-sugar and high-calorie diet is just one of many behaviors found in stressed people. It is the stress hormone cortisol, however, that causes enlargement of fat cells.

A study also revealed that that those who slept five hours or less increase their

chances of gaining 30 pounds or more.

The US National Institute of Health recommends seven to eight hours of sleep at night to prevent weight gain.

used to remove unwanted fat but thermal or heat-based injuries to the skin that tend to be painful and inconvenient.

They also cause significant erythema, a reddening of the skin.

Body contouring as a choice Body contouring is a new clinical apFor people who can’t shed stubborn plication of laser technology. SculpSure, fat through diet and exercise, fat-remov- the latest laser applicator used for body ing procedures remain an option. contouring treatment is much smaller and Conventional laser devices have been shortens treatment time to 25 minutes.

Healing stress urinary incontinence STRESS urinary incontinence is a medical condition that mothers experience but do not discuss or even consult with a doctor, for fear of embarrassment or shame. It is a series of temporary, fast, but very palpable urinary leaks that are triggered by ordinary things like laughter or sneezing.

You’re in the middle of a conversation with friends, a business meeting, or a parent-teacher dialogue and laugh at a joke. You feel that short muscle spasm down under, followed by the familiar wetness that comes with a pee. It is a very awkward, uncomfortable moment.

Stress urinary incontinence happens when the vaginal muscle becomes lax and is unable to prevent those sporadic involuntary leaks. Several factors cause this laxity in mothers: such as natural ageing, a few childbirths, and a very active sexual life. One or all of these factors can strain the orifice’s tightness and loosen it up.

One more thing to remember about stress urinary incontinence is that it can happen to all women, regardless of age, profession, or social status. The involuntary urine leaks are triggered by laughter, sneezing, and reactions to the heavy lifting of weights.

Femilift is the cutting-edge treatment that can heal ladies of this medical condition, and restore their confidence as a woman. Dr. Lalaine Salazar, Medical Director of the SvelT’i Health and Beauty Centre, explains: “Femilift applies concentrated thermal healing and micro-abalation to the vagina’s inner layers. A laser probe is inserted into the vagina up to the cervix. It releases a laser beam deep enough into the vagina’s submucosa level where new collagen is formed. This stimulates the regeneration of collagen which tightens the tissue. At the same time, it contracts the vagina’s elastin fibers.”

Dr. Salazar continues, “The restored female genital tissue strengthens the vaginal wall and reduces or eliminates stress urinary incontinence. It also restores vaginal laxity and enhances lubrication and the sensi-

tivity of vaginal tissue.”

SvelT’i Health and Beauty Centre also conducts medical screening for each patient before administering or approving the treatment. Procedure cannot continue if any of the contra-indications are found: active bacterial infection, immune system deficiency diseases, pregnancy, malignancy, vaginal bleeding, photosensitivity to laser, pelvic organ prolapse, pacemakers in the body, uncontrolled diabetes and menstruation.

The renewed sensitivity and tightness of the muscle can be experienced after three short sessions.

The treatment takes place in a quick 30 minutes and requires no downtime; you can go back to work immediately. It is non-invasive, and very safe, using separate individual probes for each patient.

“The one post-treatment requirement is no sexual activity for three days after undergoing the Femilift procedure. It’s a little sacrifice considering the benefits the patient will gain. Stress urinary incontinence can diminish if not disappear after a session,” says Dr. Salazar. “The removal of the vaginal laxity also adds pleasure during sexual intercourse. The results are more than worth the wait.”

To know more about SvelT’i’s Femilift, you may call (02) 3327546 / 09188-SVELTI (783584) or visit the clinic at 5F South Insula Condominium #61 Timog Avenue, Quezon City from Mondays to Fridays from 9am-6pm and Saturdays from 8am-1pm.

Tricks to maintain

regular exercising habits LIVING a healthier lifestyle is not only about eating the proper kinds of food; it is also about exerting the right amount of physical activity per day. Recent studies have shown that adults need at least 30 minutes of exercise daily, to maintain their healthy and active outlook.

Unfortunately, not everyone is able to practice regular exercising habits.

Most individuals would argue that they simply do not have the time for it; while others would say that they didn’t know where to start. This delay in exercise, in effect, encourages sedentary lifestyles, which can later cause adverse effects to the body.

However, it’s not too late for us to avoid these potentially harmful outcomes and start practicing regular exercise.

Here, we give you three simple tricks to get you started on achieving that proper daily exercise regimen.

Set-up alarms for your physical activities

It can sometimes get challenging to exercise on a busy day, but it’s not impossible. By simply setting up alarms on your watch or mobile phone, you can easily get reminded of your commitment to do more physical activities.

Keep in mind, though, that these activities can also be divided in time increments to fit into your daily schedule.

For example, by setting off an alarm for five-minute walks across the room after an hour of work, you can easily accomplish your needed dose of physical activities within the day.

So, whether you opt to schedule in time increments or workout continuously within the advised thirty-minute time span, having an alarm can help condition your body to a regular routine.

Find fun in exercising

Femilift is a device that helps stimulate the regeneration of collagen which tightens the tissue and contracts elastin fibers

This spares patients from the inconveniences of conventional laser treatment.

SculpSure has US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for non-invasive lipolysis of the abdomen among individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or less.

Cynosure Inc., the creator of SculpSure, is a leader in medical devices for surgeries and aesthetic procedures.

Quietly jogging on a treadmill can be a bit of a bore; so when you exercise, be sure to find something that will make the activity more fun for you.

For one, this can make exercising seem like less of a hassle and more of a treat. Second, it can make you better appreciate your everyday physical routine.

XSTM Rhodiola 110 helps maximize mental and physical performance during exercise

Whatever you choose to occupy your mind—be it through listening to music while you work out, or by finding a friend to join your training sessions— be sure that it is something that will keep you smiling until you reach the end of your exercise scheme.

Supplement your workout sessions

Sudden physical activities can sometimes startle your body. So, take the proper vitamins and supplements before working out, to help your body adjust better to the activity at hand.

The XSTM Rhodiola 110, for instance, helps maximize mental and physical performance during exercise.

By taking just one to two tablets of this supplement, before workouts, you can surely feel a change in the way you begin exercising.

So don’t be afraid to jump into the healthier and more active lifestyle today, enjoy practicing regular exercising habits with XSTM Rhodiola 110!

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

Calm after the storm T

HE Philippines is known for its 7,100 beautiful islands and its 110 million warm and caring residents. However, it has also become famous for being one of the most disaster-prone areas in the world. The past couple of years have been like no other, with disasters – both man-made and natural – coming in left and right, without much warning, and causing destruction to countless lives and livelihoods. With this, the MVP group of companies, through its social corporate responsibility organization, Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc. (AKFI) aims to provide a helping hand when the strength and resiliency of the Filipino spirit is no longer enough. The need for immediate help and assistance with food, shelter and medicine is always going to be there whenever there is a calamity, and AKFI hopes to be the preferred media-based organization to deliver immediate, efficient and effective support to disadvantaged people.

“We believe that we can play a vital role in making the lives of the people a little better, especially during those times when forces beyond their control have made things very difficult for them,” said Menchie Silverstre, executive director of AKFI. It is no secret that the Philippines’ disaster risk has always been very high, so much so that the Philippines has been tagged as the fourth most disaster-prone country in the world. Super storms and earthquakes have now become the norm here, where a multitude of these disasters has brought about death and destruction. In 2013, the twin disasters of the Bohol earthquake and Typhoon Yolanda combined to kill more than 6,500 people and caused almost 580 Billion worth of destruction in the Visayas area. Just this 2016, super typhoons Karen and Lawin, coming within days of one another, displaced around 32,000 families. Aside from these, the unstable political and civil situation that in the country has been the cause of distress for a lot of families, such as for the Lumads in Mindanao and the almost 40,000 families affected by the government’s controversial war on drugs. Through these all, the families the are affected by these are left with very little to start over, and this is where AFKI aims to provide assistance.

With a vision and commitment to promoting and supporting humanitarian causes, AFKI was established in 2011 and became a fully operational non-stock and non-profit organization in May of 2012. Through its board of directors headed by Manny V. Pangilinan, the organization has become one of the country’s most adaptive media-based foundations and has already established a reputation for being being able to provide assistance even to farflung, hard-to-reach areas.

Since 2012, 161,893 families and 45,120 individuals have been provided assistance through relief efforts, soup kitchens, and psycho-social and stress debriefing programs by the organization, including the victims of Yolanda, Pablo, the Bohol quake, and the Zamboanga conflict. The foundation also runs several medical missions aimed at street dwellers, people who have no proper documentation that makes it hard for them to ask for government medical assistance, as well as other disaster response and preparedness programs and several rehabilitation programs, especially in schools inside conflict- and disaster-stricken areas, including in Zamboanga, Surigao, Samar and Leyte.

AFKI’s programs are planned and conceptualized to be engaging both to the beneficiaries and to the network that AFKI uses: the Tulong Kapatid group, which is the MVP CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Council composed of PLDT Smart Foundation, One Meralco Foundation, Maynilad, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), Smart Communications, De Los Santos Medical Center, Makati Medical Center, Asian Hospital, and Cardinal Santos Medical Center, among others. The program makes use of best practices in its efforts like responding within 24-36 hours of the calamity, integration of the efforts of the different partner companies with one streamlined and efficient direction, minimal use of plastic and maintaining partnerships with several government agencies to aid in relief efforts This year, AKFI plans to continue its focus on disaster response, recovery, and rehabilitation and deliver help where it is needed the most. As a way to encourage more partners to join in the organization’s humanitarian efforts, these programs will be featured on a television program “Alagang Kapatid”, an extension of the AFKI, on the MVP group’s flagship television station TV5.

“I am inviting everyone – corporations, groups, and individuals – to be a part of AKFI’s drive to make a difference in the country,” said TV5’s President and CEO, Vincent “Coach Chot” Reyes.

Aside from the regular support from Tulong Kapatid, AKFI has also partnered with other businesses such as SL Agritech, Unilever, RiteMed, civic organizations such as The Latter Day Saints Charities, and National Bookstore Foundation. With this, AKFI is hoping to have more corporations and groups help them provide help that is fast and effective where it is needed the most.

For more inquiries on how and where you can partner up with Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc., please call (02) 3764413, (02) 6893100 locals 45191 or 45192 or email alagangkapatidfoundation@ tv5.com.ph, alagangkapatidfoundation.tv5@gmail.com or alagangkapatidfoundationtv5@yahoo.com.

What secrets lurk behind the shadows of the digital world?

THE Internet has undoubtedly become an all-toofamiliar facet of everyday life, but when people like 41-year-old Sydney man Liam Gordon Murphy makes headlines, it seems the digital realm still has plenty of hidden things not for the faint of heart.

In 2015, Liam Gordon Murphy, the online bondage, domination, sadism, and masochism (BDSM) star nicknamed “The Wolf” got acquainted with a 21-year-old woman through a fetish website. A year after they met at a hotel in Kings Cross, Murphy was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault. He pleaded not guilty to the charges at court.

Murphy has thousands of followers on FetLife, a website catering to the BDSM, kink, and fetish community. Though it has more than five million users who remain anonymous, the profiles give out the age, gender, and the role members want to play, that is, whether they want to be submissive or dominant in a BDSM relationship.

Just like any website requiring membership, this social network has terms for its users. Those who choose to be slaves must agree to the invasion of their privacy while their masters must promise to avoid abusing their power.

Relationships may sound bizarre, but they are surprisingly commonplace for those who know their way around the underground world of the

internet—where possibilities are just as exciting as Deep Web, unindexed digital content such as medical records and government databases lie they are dangerous. beyond ordinary search engines; entry would Digital unknown Murphy’s arrest calls attention to only one of require a specific type of software called Tor, which many sexual niches that thrive in the web, from originally started out as an intelligence project by sugar baby-sugar daddy/mommy relationships the US Navy. With this tool, users can explore the to erotic “furries” that involve anthropomorphic net while remaining anonymous.

Because Tor provides animal costumes. Outside anonymity, the Deep conventional networks Web has become a haven like Facebook, these for drug transactions, websites enable what hackers, and even the public would call assassins, creating a deviants to form their shadier section of the own communities under online world aptly their own rules, free from named the Dark Net. judgment.

Pirated libraries and But these communities political activism have are still somewhat also made their home accessible to the public here. with the right keywords.

These activities in Delving deeper, a vast the Dark Net do not portion of the web—like go unnoticed by the the underwater part of authorities. One such an iceberg—are websites case was the 2014 arrest that are unreachable via Google Chrome or “Dark Net” is a documentary that delves into life of Ross Ulbricht, owner of the famed online Firefox. of people caught in bio-hacking, digital warfare drug market called Silk In what is called the and online romance

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, January 26, 2017

ACROSS 1 — lazuli 6 Rapper — Moe Dee 10 Visored cap 14 Discharge 15 Wine valley 16 Declare invalid 17 Hearth goddess 18 Clapton of “Slowhand” 19 Reed instrument 20 To date 21 Moon position 23 Lingerie buys 24 Loafed around 26 Hayloft stash 27 Sajak and Trebek 29 Obscures 31 Wildlife refuge 32 Repairs socks 33 Shoulder enhancer 36 Our next-door neighbor (2 wds.)

40 Born as 41 Ruses 42 Perry’s creator 43 Autumn beverage 44 Like cobras and parkas 46 Crepe cousins 48 Keyboard

instrument 49 Teen lingo 50 Bird call 52 Robin’s beak 55 Ocean fish 56 Dinner-table faux pas 57 Minneapolis exurb 59 Footnote word 60 Novelist Kingsley — 61 Wedding bands 62 Butte cousin 63 — spumante 64 Lao-tzu and Confucius DOWN 1 Tariff 2 Screenwriter James — 3 Debugger?

4 Devotee 5 Paper fastener 6 Work clay 7 Dinghy’s need 8 Sheriff Andy’s son 9 Varnish resin 10 Gentle hills 11 Ragtime’s — Blake 12 Falls softly 13 Tahiti et al.

22 “— a Rebel” 23 Tortilla dip

25 26 27 28 29

Earl — Biggers Sweet cherry Zest for life Lion’s pride Darth of “Star Wars” 30 Periods of note 32 Edit out 33 Forgiving 34 Grease gun target 35 Did Easter eggs 37 Not paid 38 Longish skirt 39 Ponce de — 43 Movie theater

44 Hurry along 45 Wayne genre 46 Leaf of grass 47 Summer-camp sites 48 Coke rival 49 Thin wedge 50 Rolaids rival 51 Judicial order 53 “Bus Stop” author 54 Low voice 56 Moo companion 58 Width of a cir.

Road. This did not stop drug dealers, however, from finding other ways to trade narcotics free of censorship.

Going mainstream?

In a TED Talk exploring this digital underbelly, Jamie Bartlett, author of the book The Dark Net, explained that while these sites are always at risk of being shut down, their creation is a staggering and phenomenal achievement.

According to Bartlett, the Dark Net is the future of the Internet because of increasing concerns on privacy. There are now about two to three million Tor users who use the browser for legitimate purposes. This growing number will further push the Dark Net into the mainstream, Bartlett said.

Soon, more social media companies, news outlets, and ordinary internet users will be on the Dark Net, Bartlett predicted—a development that gives triumph to freedom fighters and drug dealers alike. This will make the Internet more exciting, but perhaps not without consequences.

This complex world of the internet comes to light in the TV series Dark Net, an eight-part documentary that tells the stories of people caught in bio-hacking, digital warfare, online romances, and cyber crimes among others. Dark Net airs Sundays, 9:35 p.m. first and exclusive on RTL CBS Extreme.

BIRTH OF ACTION HERO.

Matteo Guidicelli plays a Muslim soldier, who fights crimes in Mindanao, in the upcoming action drama

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

‘Across the Crescent Moon’ TACKLES UNITY, BEAUTY IN DIVERSITY ISAH V. RED

A

FILM every Filipino must see.

That’s the consensus of those who saw the advanced screening of Across the Crescent Moon with Matteo Guidicelli and some of the country’s finest thespians.

But why is it a must-see?

Across the Crescent Moon has a powerful, relevant, and timely message. There’s unity and beauty in diversity. It doesn’t really matter whether one is Muslim or Christian or belonging to another faith. Only one country unites us all, the Philippines, regardless of color, faith, belief, sex, or origin.

And yes, there’s beauty in diversity – varied traditions, arts, practices, rituals, cultures make the country so much more colorful, interesting. Yes, beautiful.

But aside from the message, Across the Crescent Moon is also entertaining, enlightening, and inspiring action-drama rarely seen on the big screen.

Writer-director-producer Baby E. Nebrida made sure it is.

The film saw the birth of an action hero, Matteo Guidicelli, playing a Muslim soldier who fights human trafficking and other crimes in the South, but at the same time keeping his marriage to Christian girl (Alex Godinez) intact.

Christopher de Leon and Sandy Andolong also star as Matteo’s Muslim parents and Gabby Concepcion and Dina Bonnevie as Alex’s Christian parents. Playing other important roles are Joem Bascon, Jerene Tan, Jerico Estregan, Kuh Aquino, Sasha Tajaran, and Ivan Carapiet.

Executive producer is Bong Tan. Nebrida notes that the crescent moon symbolizes the Islam faith, while the cross personifies Christianity. The film does

The cast of “Across the Crescent Moon” led by Matteo Guidicelli, Alex Godinez, Christopher de Leon, and Sandy Andolong

not pass judgment on the two religions, but rather shows they can live in harmony and peace.

She notes that while shooting in Mindanao, Muslims and Christians alike were of great help. “Ang babait ng mga taga Mindanao,” says Nebrida The director says even guest and small roles in Across the Crescent Moon were played by fine actors, the likes of Leo Martinez, Jason Abalos, Rez Cortez, Jackie Aquino, Gerald Ejercito, and Dianne Medina.

Across the Crescent Moon combines hard action and drama, capturing the beauty of Tawi-

Tawi and nearby undiscovered islands in Mindanao. *** Filipinos are tuning in to ABS-CBN newest family drama A Love To Last not only its lead stars are Bea Alonzo and Ian Veneracion and both are spreading kilig vibes, but the stories reflect Filipinos values and sensibilities that resonate with the audiences.

On its pilot week, the program showed how Filipino families are ready to support and help each other during difficult times like how Andeng (Bea) was comforted by her family, who

stood by her after she caught her fiancé cheating on her. Andeng drew strength from them during this trial.

Viewers, like student Roselle Arao who was moved by these touching moments in the program, shared, “It really struck me how Andeng was so broken and she has her family with her to back her up in all her battles in life.”

Gemma Bacani, meanwhile, shared that her mother, father, two kids, and herself could relate to the Agoncillo family. She said, “They are very much intact just like us.”

Ian Veneracion and Iza Calzado in “A Love to Last”

Seasoned actress Sylvia Sanchez in an intense scene in “The Greatest Love”

Apart from Andeng, Anton’s (Ian) story also highlighted the importance of family, how Anton fought for his marriage and tried to save his family, and how children are affected if their parents are not on good terms.

While some viewers can relate with the situations and draw life lessons, others are drawn by the kilig and undeniable chemistry between Bea and Ian on-screen.

“Nakakakilig especially when Ian sings. He’s very handsome,” said housewife Vivian Baranda.

Based on Kantar Media’s TV ratings data covering both urban and rural homes nationwide from Jan. 9 to Jan. 13, A Love to Last ruled on its timeslot during its pilot week with an average national TV rating of 25.8 percent.. The show is also a consistent trending topic on Twitter nationwide every weeknight.

As the story continues, viewers are in for a total kilig experience as Anton and Andeng finally bond and get to know each other more in Germany.

How will romance blossom between the two?

A Love to Last airs on its new timeslot after My Dear Heart on ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN HD (Sky Cable ch.167). *** The Greatest Love kept viewers on the edge of their seats as it finally aired the iconic scene where Gloria (Sylvia Sanchez) suffers from sudden and profound memory loss unable to recognize her own children.

In the episode, Gloria’s children finally found out their mother has Alzheimer’s Disease. It garnered its all-time high national TV rating of 20.4 percent, according to data from Kantar Media.

Meanwhile, Gloria is set to face more changes in her life now that her children know about her condition and race against time to save her from her disease.

Will this mark a new beginning for their family? What challenges will they endure with Gloria’s worsening condition?

The Greatest Love airs after Doble Kara on ABS-CBN or ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167).

Is DK Tijam back in Manila to restart career?

Former “Star In A Million” finalist DK Tijam

YOU may remember DK Tijam as a grand finalist in season 1 of Star In A Million, where it produced the likes of Erik Santos, Christian Bautista, and Sheryn Regis. He was just 16 years old then.

He is best known for his versions of “Run To You” and Ella Mae Saison’s “Til My Heartaches End”, which he recorded and released in 2003. With his raspy and soulful voice, he has been called the R&B heartthrob back then.

He also released a self-titled album under Star Records around the same time and suddenly left for Canada in 2006 leaving everything behind.

He has since been working as a barista and voice coach in Canada and has been constantly recording and sharing his covers on Soundcloud and other social media sites. This was his way of keeping in touch with his fans and the local music industry.

Fast forward to 2017, he is back in Manila for a homecoming

show entitled Restart, 8 p.m. tomorrow at Teatrino in Greenhills, San Juan.

Aside from it being a homecoming show, it is also his first major concert since his Star In A Million days and many are asking if he is back for good to restart his career.

Joining him in are long-time friends Musica Cristobal, Tim Pavino, Froilan Canlas (“Tawag ng Tanghalan” grand finalist), Erik Santos and their fellow Star In A Million season 1 finalists and the R&B Princess, Kyla. Front acts include Soundcloud Philippines and Elements (DK’s voice students in Canada).

Restart is a concert 11 years in the making and hopefully this show would pave the way for a new beginning in DK’s singing career.

Tickets are available at all Ticketworld outlets, online at ticketworld.com.ph, call 891-9999 or at Teatrino.