Manila Standard - 2017 January 30 - Monday

FULL-SCALE REHEARSAL. Candidates of the 65th Miss Universe pageant show their best form as they rehearse prior to the pageant proper today at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. The 86 candidates, in the run up to the final day this morning, have worn cocktail dresses, casual wear, and high heels, as they practiced their ramp walk and introduction for the competition.

Who’ll wear Miss U crown?

By Nickie Wang AFTER weeks of touring, filming and preparing to compete for the Miss Universe crown in Manila, the women representing 86 countries are now rehearsing for coronation night.

The three-hour event will be telecast live simultaneously by the major televi-

sion networks from the Mall of Asia Arena starting at 8. a.m. today Since Saturday, host Steve Harvey and the 86 contestants have been rehearsing for the contest that will choose Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach’s successor.

Model and designer Ashley Graham joins as Backstage Host while the Next page

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Jakarta terrorist killed Lanao strikes claim 14 other jihadists Carnage prompts

By Florante S. Solmerin call for SC IFTEEN terrorists including an Indonesian jihadist have been killed in artillery barrages new rules and air strikes in Butig, Lanao del Sur,

F

Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año said Sunday.

POUNDING POSITIONS. As the Philippine military continues to

swoop down on enemy lairs Sunday after 15 terrorists were killed in Mindanao, AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Año says they are looking into possible terrorist affiliations of one of the slain men.

“According to intelligence reports, a total of 15 already perished from the Maute and Hapilon groups,” Año said, referring to terrorists associated with the Islamic State [ISIS]. “There are ongoing ground operations and we expect there will be encounters forthcoming.”

The Indonesian was identified as “Mohisen,” who was among

the small group of followers that Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Isnilon Hapilon took with him from Basilan to Butig to assess the feasibility of establishing a “wilyat” or Islamic province in Central Mindanao, allegedly at the behest of ISIS. “Based on intelligence reports, there are two more foreign jihadists with Hapilon and the Maute

brothers. We’re still trying to get their names from sources on the ground. These foreigners are not necessarily fighters but they look like jihad advisers,” Año said.

Earlier, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Hapilon was seriously wounded in the first salvo against his group and the Maute Group that provided him sanctuary.

Año said Hapilon had to be carried on an improvised stretcher.

“Hapilon badly needs blood transfusion. If he can’t get proper medical treatment, he will die,” the Armed Forces chief said.

The Maute Group is led by brothers Mohammad and Omar, who declared their allegiance to Next page ISIS.

Cop tagged in Jee slay Aguirre fuels oust-Morales clamor bucks arrest, back to hq By Rey E. Requejo

By Francisco Tuyay A POLICE officer tagged in the kidnap-slaying of Korean trader Jee Ick Joo was brought back to police headquarters in Camp Crame on Saturday, hours after he left without permission.

Supt. Raphael Dumlao, the head of the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Group in Pampanga, was brought back by police escorts and is again under restrictive custody, said

Senior Supt. Glenn Dumlao (no relation), chief of the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG).

“He is being secured by the quick response team of Camp Crame because he is in restrictive custody. He’s not in his home, Raphael Dumlao is already inside Camp Crame,” the AKG chief said.

Dumlao left the camp Friday evening for his home in Antipolo City to attend to his ailing wife.

Pursuing policemen tried to arrest Next page

Senator wants taxman to look into P17-m cop SENATOR Grace Poe said Sunday she was pursuing a review of the financial records of SPO3 Ricky Santa Isabel, the principal suspect in the kidnapping and killing of a South Korean businessman last year, to determine the sources of his wealth and whether or not he was paying the correct taxes.

Poe, who earlier called for lifestyle checks on rogue cops involved in “Tokhang-for-ransom”

JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Sunday questioned the Office of the Ombudsman for absolving former President Benigno Aquino III of liability for the bungled Mamasapano operation that resulted in the death of 44 po-

Opposition solon snipes at DoJ chief

By Macon R. Araneta

cases and other illegal activities, said although Santa Isabel claimed he secured loans to run their businesses and his wife was managing them, it was necessary that the public be enlightened on the sources of his wealth and the discrepancies in his income.

“Nakita natin bumaba yung SALN ni Santa Isabel. Nag-umpisa sa P20 million tapos naging P14 million, may mga depreciation

SENATOR Antonio Trillanes IV on Sunday said Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II knew all the illegal operations of Jack Lam’s Fontana Leisure Park Hotel and Casino because he was the vice president and chief legal counsel of Clark Development Corporation during the Aquino administration.

“Since Aguirre was VP and chief legal counsel of CDC from March 2013 to June 2016, he surely knew about this operation,” Trillanes said.

Aguirre said no raid was conducted against Lam because

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lice commandos in January 2015.

“The BOI [Board of Inquiry] as well the Senate inquiry found his [Aquino’s] liability. That’s why I really wonder why he was not charged [by the Ombudsman] now that he doesn’t have immunity [from criminal suits] anymore,” Aguirre said.

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“Why was the official who gave the order absolved when those who just followed it are the ones charged in court now?” he asked.

Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte announced the creation of an independent commission to reinvestigate the ill-fated operation Next page

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court is considering new rules aimed at expediting the resolution of mass injury cases such as the Nov. 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre, Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno said in a recent speech.

The new rules, she said, would speed up the prosecution and trial of class action suits involving hundreds of parties.

“The idea is to delegate factual issues to commissioners who are experts in their fields. Most of these cases revolve around the specific damage to each victim: How it was incurred and at what cost,” Sereno said.

Sereno explained that by tapping commissioners duly designated by the court for the reception of evidence, “trial time will be significantly reduced, since the judge will only have to rule on legal and procedural matters.”

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WELL-LOVED FIGURE. The

Sto. Niño, cherished by many Catholic Filipino families, has Sunday out in glorious style as the 39th annual Sto. Niño grand procession takes place in Pasay City, with vehicular traffic literally screeching to a halt as the carrozas traverse Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue Extension through Roxas Boulevard.

Norman Cruz

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NBI multi-use clearance sought H

OUSE Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Sunday urged the National Bureau of Investigation to simplify and speed up the process of issuing its clearance and make it valid for all purposes.

whom President Duterte accused of preventing Aquino from sending back-up forces to the SAF men supposedly in the interest of the previous administration’s peace talks with the MILF. “There are many questions that remained unanswered. That’s why this reinvestigation will be very helpful in getting the closure and justice that the families of the SAF 44 are waiting for,” Aguirre said.

Aguirre added that he plans to inhibit himself from the investigation because of his relation with Napeñas.

The Palace said it expects to announce the members of the new commission within the next few weeks.

“The President would like to have a fast investigation,” said Communications Assistant Secretary Ana Maria Paz Banaag on state-run dzRB. With Sandy Araneta

Alvarez recently summoned NBI Director Dante Gierran to a meeting at his office and proposed that Gierran make the NBI clearance “valid for multipurpose use.”

He made the suggestion following complaints from the public.

“We have to speed up and simplify the process,” Alvarez said.

“Improving the system will ease the burden of ordinary Filipinos. That is the public service they deserve and part of the President’s order to make government offices function effectively.”

Alvarez said Gierran welcomed his proposal.

“Our NBI director is receptive to my proposal because this is for the common good of the people,” he said.

“Why not make this a one-time application that is valid for all purposes within a specific period of time?”

Alvarez said the NBI must also computerize its system of updating court records.

“Usually, an applicant has to secure first a court approval before getting an NBI clearance despite the fact that a case against him was dismissed a long time ago.

“There is also the case of a person whose namesake is facing a case in court but with a different surname.

“Why can’t we issue a clearance at once in such cases?”

Alvarez wondered why NBI could easily be updated if a person was facing a court case but now when the case had been dismissed.

“This is not right,” he said.

“The current system of NBI clearance issuance is costly and unfair to many applicants, especially to ordinary Filipinos.” Rio N. Araja

221.

The Court designated the RTC under Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes to exclusively hear the multiple murder cases involving 58 victims, 197 accused, 147 prosecution witnesses and 300 defense witnesses.

The trial is already halfway through, with the court now hearing the presentation of evidence by the defense.

Sereno lauded Reyes for the speedy pace of the trial and for conducting hearings three times a week.

“For a criminal case of such magnitude, our judge has remarkably been performing fast,” Sereno said.

She added that as of Jan. 24,

the trial court has already heard a total of 233 witnesses—131 prosecution witnesses, 58 private complainants, and 44 defense witnesses.

The RTC earlier denied the bail petition of accused Zaldy Ampatuan and is set to rule on a similar application of his brother, Andal “Datu Unsay” Ampatuan Jr. But while the court is doing its part to expedite the resolution of this case, actions by both parties have an undeniable impact on the trial period, Sereno said.

“No matter how diligent our judge has been, what we badly need is the full and consistent cooperation of the defense and prosecution to conclude the trial soonest,” she said.

IMMIGRATION BAN. Demonstrators protest against President Trump’s executive immigration ban at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Jan. 28, 2017. Trump signed the controversial executive order that halted refugees from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Trump boasted Saturday that his ‘very strict’ crackdown on Muslim immigration was working ‘very nicely,’ amid mounting resistance to the order which has been branded by many as blatantly discriminatory. AFP

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approved by Aquino to neutralize Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan.

The Senate inquiry led by Senator Grace Poe found Aquino “ultimately responsible” for the Mamasapano mission, Aguirre noted.

At the time, however, the Senate report did not carry any specific recommendation to file charges against Aquino because he was immune from suit at the time, Aguirre said.

But even after Aquino’s term ended in July 2016, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales still has not filed any charges against the former president.

Two years after the incident, her office filed cases only against former Philippine National Police

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him on the strength of an arrest warrant issued by an Angeles City court after he was identified by another principal suspect in the case, SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel.

But AIDG chief, who is also a lawyer, disputed the validity of the arrest warrant because it was under the name of a certain “Sir Dumlao.”

Senior Supt. Benjamin Acorda said Raphael Dumlao took a cab outside Camp Crame with his wife and a police escort.

On Saturday afternoon, Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa ordered a manhunt, not knowing that Dumlao was already back in Camp Crame early Saturday.

Glenn Dumlao said they have already requested the Pampanga court through the Justice department to amend the arrest warrant so that it will bear the name of Supt. Raphael Dumlao.

Dumlao was implicated by Sta. Isabel in the kidnapping but he has denied the accusation.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre on Sunday confirmed that Raphael Dumlao could not be arrested using the warrant issued by the Angeles City court, which did not use his full name.

The same, he said, could be said of those listed only by their aliases, such as “Pulis,” “Jerry”

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CDC thought his operation was legal because he was duly authorized by the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority.

“As CDC’s chief legal counsel, Aguirre should [have known] that immigration laws were being violated by Jack Lam’s casino and that Ceza’s permits cannot be used

chief Alan Purisima and former Special Action Force chief Getulio Napeñas for graft and usurpation of public functions.

The anti-crime watchdog Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption has already pushed for the impeachment of Morales for her supposed failure to investigate and prosecute those found liable for the death of the SAF 44.

The group also criticized her for her alleged inaction on the multiple homicide charges filed by families of some of the slain policemen.

The VACC said the Ombudsman, who was appointed by Aquino, should be impeached for criminal negligence, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.

Aguirre said proof of liability of the former president in the Mamasapano clash had already been and “Ding.”

Aguirre earlier identified “Ding” as Gerardo Santiago, the retired police officer who owns the Gream funeral parlor where Joo’s body was cremated, while the alias “Jerry” is a National Bureau of Investigation asset who was allegedly among those who forcibly took the Korean from his home in a supposed anti-narcotics operation.

“This Jerry is a confidential informant of the NBI and he has a lot of things to tell on this case,”Aguirre said.

Both suspects have already surrendered to the NBI. Santiago immediately surrendered to the authorities upon his arrival from Canada.

Aguirre said investigators are still determining the identity of alias “Pulis”, but assumed that the person is also a police officer.

Aguirre said the AKG, which filed the complaint against Sta. Isabel, has already asked the Justice department to amend the aliases in the case filed in the RTC for the issuance of arrest warrant against Dumlao and the two other identified accused.

The amended arrest warrants must be issued before Dumlao can again be taken into its custody.

Aguirre said the immigration lookout bulletin order issued by his office against the accused in the kidnap-slay case would be amended accordingly. in other free ports in the country,” Trillanes said.

“But he still allowed it to operate. So the 100- million-peso question now is, Is the shakedown Aguirre’s way of saying he is the new boss in town?”

Trillanes earlier asked why Aguirre met with the suspects in a case inside a hotel. He also asked why Aguirre invited his frat brother (former Bureau of Immigration Deputy Commissioner Al) Argosino to the

established in previous investigations.

Aguirre, a cousin of Napeñas and who served previously as his lawyer, specifically cited the text exchange of messages between Aquino and Purisima the night before the actual operation.

“He [Aquino] was giving orders and being given updates on Marwan and Usman. This means he was on top of the situation. He knew what was happening,” Aguirre said.

Aguirre recalled that Aquino himself has admitted that he was informed about Marwan’s death, adding that it was impossible for the former president to be kept out of the loop by authorities.

Aguirre accused Aquino of lying when he said he was not informed before the operation, and that Napeñas did not coordinate with the Armed Forces.

“That is what he always says, but he is lying... He claimed he wasn’t talking to someone on the phone about it because its battery was dead for two hours. But that’s impossible. It was a very important operation and you can’t expect him to let his phone off for that long,” Aguirre said.

He challenged Aquino to submit his mobile phone for examination by the independent commission.

“He should let his cellphone examined so we will know what he really told the generals—if there was a stand down order or none,” Aguirre said.

The official suggested that the mobile phones of Purisima and other generals privy to the operations should also be submitted for examination.

Aguirre said the new probe should also cover Presidential Peace Adviser Teresita Deles,

Senator...

Carnage...

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cost doon at mga utang,” Poe said in a radio interview.

“Pero yun naman, tingnan mo, bakit sa isang punto ay umabot sa ganoong halaga? Hindi naman natin sinasabi na baka naman yung kanyang misis ay talagang matagumpay sa kanyang trabaho, pero titingnan natin yung kanilang taxes. Sila ba ay nagbayad ng kaukulang buwis para dito? Maraming paraan, sabi nga, kung talagang gusto ay mahahanapan iyan ng paraan.”

Poe said the review should include the ITR of the wife to determine not just the payment of taxes but also the income from where the pieces of property listed in the SALN could be sourced. In the absence of such, it would be evident that the pieces of property were ill-gotten.

It was revealed during the Senate investigation that Santa Isabel declared multi-million-peso assets despite his P8,000 monthly salary in the police service.

In 2014 he had a net worth of P20.3 million but that went down to P14.4 million in 2015. The police officer also had five houses in Bagombong, Caloocan, a four-story commercial building in Cubao, Quezon City, a 2014 Toyota Hi-Lux, a 2012 Toyota Vios, a 2014 Honda tricycle and 2012 Kawasaki tricycle.

“Our aim is to give greater access to justice to those who seek redress in mass injury cases, whether through civil or criminal proceedings,” the chief magistrate said.

Sereno said the proposals from the families of the Maguindanao massacre victims as well as from the judiciary were still at a preliminary stage and would need the approval of the Supreme Court.

Just recently, the Court adjusted rules specifically for the Maguindanao massacre case, which remains pending before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch

meeting instead of (Immigration Commissioner Jaime) Morente.”

Argosino, along with former Immigration Deputy Commissioner Michael Robles, received a P50million bribe from Lam through retired police Supt. Wally Sombero.

Argosino and Robles are fraternity brothers of Aguirre and President Duterte at the Lex Taliones Fraternias Inc. Trillanes also asked why, before Aguirre left the meeting with

Grammy-winning group Boyz II Men joins the artists who will perform during the finals.

The group, best known for the hits such as “I’ll Make Love To You” and “On Bended Knee,” will perform on the same stage as American rapper Flo Rida.

Fans may take a virtual seat on the judges’ panel by visiting vote. missuniverse.comvote.missuniverse.com to vote for their favorite contestant. Unlike in the previous edition, 12 candidates will advance to the semifinals and the 13th slot will be decided through

fan votes.

Pageant experts put the Philippines’ Maxine Medina, Venezuela’s Mariam Habach, Colombia’s Andrea Tovar, Thailand’s Chalita Suansane, Brazil’s Raissa Santana, and Australia’s Caris Tiivel as the contestants who are likely to win the crown based on their performance during the preliminary competition on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, BetOnline posted odds on who will win the Miss Universe Pageant with Miss Colombia listed as the favorite. She is followed by Miss Peru, Miss Brazil, Miss Belgium, Miss Bolivia and Miss Mexico. The bettors placed Miss Philippines in 19th place.

Lam, he told Argosino “ikaw na ang bahala”?

“Why did he tell Argosino not to coordinate with [former BI Intelligence chief Charles] Calima?

Why did he tell Sombero to coordinate with Argosino and not Calima? How did he know the amount of the supposed bribe of 50 to 100 million pesos as early as Dec. 1, when nobody told him about it?

Why did Argosino ask 100 million from Sombero if his frat brother/

boss Aguirre did not approve of it?” further asked Trillanes.

If Aguirre wasn’t in on the extortion/bribery, why would Sombero give 50 million pesos to Argosino when he knew that the latter did not have the authority to release the Chinese workers?

Trillanes said he suspected Aguirre knew about the transactions and he only came out in the media because it had already been exposed.

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Jakarta...

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Last year, Hapilon and his men also declared allegiance to ISIS. Año said foreign jihad advisers were in Mindanao to unite all homegrown terror groups. Aside from ASG and the Mautes, these include the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, a faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Ansar al-Khilafa Philippines, and rouge groups from the MILF and Moro National Liberation Front.

Just recently, government troops killed AKP’s leader Mohammad Jaafar Maguid alias Tokboy in a shootout in Sarangani.

The military and police are also monitoring a new umbrella terror organization of all the homegrown terror groups under one banner, Dawlatul Islamiyah Waliyatul Masrik, with Hapilon as their top leader.

News Duterte to convene NAPC assembly

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Roa Duterte will convene the en banc assembly of the National AntiPoverty Commission today— the first time in 10 years a sitting President will do so.

An en banc assembly is the event where the President meets with NAPC officers, representatives from the basic sectors, and heads of national government agencies to come up with a national, synchronized action plan to alleviate poverty in the Philippines.

Before the en banc assembly, NAPC Undersecretary for Basic Sectors Maria Corazon Tan—on behalf of NAPC lead convenor Liza Maza who is in Rome—met with the NAPC Technical Action Officers-Technical Working Group at the Department of Agriculture last Jan. 23, Tan said in a press statement.

The Tao-TWG “serves as the converging point for basic sectors and national agencies in coming up with pro-poor, antipoverty resolutions,” Tan said.

She added matters that could not be resolved at the Tao-TWG level would be elevated to the en banc for the President’s decision.

“The en banc is crucial for coming up with coordinated and sustained anti-poverty programs

and projects across all agencies of government. It ensures harmony and efficiency in the implementation of the President’s anti-poverty thrust,” Tan said.

The last NAPC en banc assembly was held on July 30, 2007, during the time of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. No en banc assembly was held during the entire six years of President Benigno Aquino.

Maza, in Rome as part of the government’s delegation in the ongoing peace talks with the National Democratic Front, said in a text message: “We take steps to ensure that the voices of the poor reach the halls of Malacañang. We, in NAPC, are glad that a sitting President, after 10 years, has once again taken the lead in addressing poverty issues and concerns.”

NAPC, created in 1998 thru Republic Act 8425, serves as the coordinating advisory body for the implementation of the President’s Social Reform Agenda.

Maza reiterated that NAPC was not an implementing agency but rather “an agency tasked to coordinate, monitor, evaluate and exercise policy oversight of the government’s anti-poverty programs and projects.”

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MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2017

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Atienza: Pass tax cuts before death debate T HE House should first pass the bill slashing individual as well as corporate income taxes before debating lengthily on the measure reviving the death penalty, House senior deputy minority leader and Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza said Sunday.

“If we want our economy to grow faster and create more jobs, we should first bring down personal income taxes from 32 percent to 25 percent, and cut corporate income taxes from 30 percent to 25 percent,” Atienza said in a press statement.

“We should take the cue from the Senate, which has categorically declared that while reducing income taxes is among their main concerns, the reimposition of death sentences is not among their priorities,” Atienza said.

The proposed restoration of the death penalty is not among the urgent bills the Senate plans to approve in the 17th Congress, since there was no assurance it would get the sup-

port of the chamber, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said last week.

“The bill lowering income taxes is obviously among the priorities of both chambers, so we should approve it first, more so because the Senate cannot pass any tax reform bill until it has been endorsed by the House,” Atienza said.

He cited Article 6, Section 24 of the 1987 Constitution, which mandates that: “All appropriation, revenue or tariff bills, bills authorizing increase of the public debt, bills of local application, and private bills shall originate exclusively in the House of Representatives, but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments.”

“Let us focus on passing the positives, and abandon the negatives. Tax cuts are highly positive. The death penalty is extremely negative,” Atienza said.

He said tax cuts would put more money at the disposal of low- and middle-income families, and help drive household final consumption spending, thus creating greater demand for goods and services, and encouraging industries to expand capacity and increase hiring.

Household final consumption spending accounts for 75.1

percent of the country’s gross domestic product, according to the National Economic Development Authority.

Atienza said lower taxes would also encourage corporate investment spending that would in turn help spur even more jobs.

The House is set to begin this week plenary consideration of the bill restoring the death penalty.

Meanwhile, the bill pruning income taxes is still being threshed out by the House ways and means committee.

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION This is to inform the public and all interested parties that Excellar Pet Products Incorporated has filed its application for dissolution effective on July 31, 2016 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(MS-JAN. 23,30 & FEB. 6, 2017)

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PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO - Presiding Officer SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR. DIVINA A. JACOME LUIS S. JAVIER JR. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA NELSON S. PASIA ENRICO J. PUNO MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

ABSENT: Councilor

ROMEO C. MEDINA-Sick Leave

================================================================== On motion presented by Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Resolution No. 2017-001 on second and final reading.

CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2017-001 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N.S. Yabut Jr., Hon. A.P. Padilla, Hon. R.C. Medina and Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino Co Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. F.T. Eusebio, Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr., Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. L.M. Magpantay, Hon. M.A.M Ortega, Hon. N.S. Pasia, Hon. E.J. Puno and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor

BLOT THEM OUT. Government forces, led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Laguna Lake Development Authority, have started the massive dismantling of wildcat fish pens in Laguna de Bay in compliance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to clear the lake of illegal structures. LLDA general manager Joey Medina and DENR Crime Task Force chief Arturo Valdez (inset) supervise the operations.

BSP urged to give banks leeway for agri sector

By Rio N. Araja CAMARINES Sur Rep. Luis Ray Villafuerte is urging Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to give more leeway to banks to enable them to comply with the Agri-Agra Law. “I understand that banks are having a hard time complying with the provisions of the law because of the status of the credit worthiness of our farmers, who cannot meet the collateral requirements for loan applications. As for

the agrarian reform communities, most banks, even rural banks, do not want to accept the certificates of land ownership awards as collateral,” he said.

He said the BSP should allow more alternative forms of compliance to encourage banks to comply with the provisions of the Agri-Agra Law or Republic Act 10000.

He reacted to reports that loans extended by banks to the agriculture sector in the first nine months

of 2016 amounted to P405.78 billion for a 12.96-percent compliance ratio or below the required 15-percent.

The compliance ratio of the banking system also fell way short of the 10-percent threshold for agrarian reform credit, he said, adding the banks extended loans amounting to only P29.98 billion for a compliance ratio of a paltry 0.96 percent.

Villafuerte noted while the Duterte administration had

scored a “very good” satisfaction rating of +61 in the 2016 fourth quarter survey of the Social Weather Stations, its efforts in “ensuring that no family will ever be hungry” was a mere “good” at +34, which was down from a “good” grade of +37 in the September survey.

Its efforts in “fighting inflation” was only “moderate” at +25 in the fourth quarter, which was a grade down from “good” at +33 in September.

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE HONORABLE MAYOR MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY TO NEGOTIATE, ENTER INTO AND SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (MOA), ON BEHALF OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF MAKATI, WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MAKATI EMPLOYEES MULTI-PURPOSE COOPERATIVE (UMEMPC) REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PAYROLL SALARY DEDUCTION SCHEME ON LOANS AVAILED BY THE LATTER’S MEMBERS, SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS. WHEREAS, the University of Makati Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (UMEMPC) is a cooperative duly registered under Republic Act No. 9520, of the Cooperative Development Authority and organized by the University of Makati employees with business operation in the University of Makati campus; WHEREAS, the University of Makati Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (UMEMPC)’s major service is to grant loans with affordable terms to its members who are employees of the University of Makati; WHEREAS, the UMEMPC and its members agreed that payments to all availed loans shall be collected through salary deduction every 15th and 30th pay period of the month from the payrolls of employees of the City Government of Makati; WHEREAS, the City Government of Makati maintains its commitment to its longstanding collaboration with the cooperative movement in promoting self-reliance and in harnessing people’s skills for economic development considering that research has shown that in times of crisis, cooperatives are reliable sources of resilience and stability and contribute to social inclusion and poverty reduction; WHEREAS, the Sanggunian Panlungsod hereby gives authority to Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay to sign the aforesaid MOA pursuant to Section 8 (a) (6), Article III of R.A. 7854, otherwise known as the Charter of the City of Makati.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, to authorize the Honorable Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay to enter into and sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on behalf of the City Government of Makati with the University of Makati Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (UMEMPC) regarding the implementation of payroll salary deduction scheme on loans availed by the latter’s members, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.

Let Copy of this Resolution be furnished to UMEMPC, HRDO payroll, Accounting and other offices concerned for their information, guidance and reference.

160-year jail term for ex-Fape man

This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

APPROVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its Regular Session held on 25January 2017.

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

P HON. NELSON S. PASIA

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO HON.

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR HON.

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

ON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT HON.

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

By Rio N. Araja THE Sandiganbayan has sentenced a former Fund for Assistance to Private Education official to a maximum jail term of 160 years for seven counts of graft and five counts of malversation of public funds committed in 1994 and 1995.

The First Division found Ex-Fape president Adrian Arcelo guilty of the charges for allowing personal loans, and not for schools.

In a 57-page decision, the anti-graft court ruled Arcelo must suffer imprisonment of six years to 10 years for each count of graft and 10 years to 18 years for each count of malversation of public funds.

The Sandiganbayan rejected Arcelo’s defense that the involved money was not a public fund.

“Assuming arguendo [for the sake of argument] that Fape account 1003 comes from co-mingled funds from investments of private educational institutes, the moment they are received

by Fape officers, they are considered government funds,” it ruled.

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President Certified true and correct by: ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod Attested by:

UNFAIRLY PREJUDICED. A foreign journalist shows Sunday the photo of one of the more than 80

candidates of Miss Universe she wants to win, on the eve of the 65th Miss Universe pageant at the Mall of Asia today. Manny Palmero

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer (MS-JAN. 30, 2017)

A4

Opinion

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Fear and loathing

R

EVELATIONS last week that a South Korean businessman was strangled inside national police headquarters after being kidnapped by anti-drug officers to extort money from his wife have sparked fears of more abusive policemen taking advantage of the government’s anti-narcotics war.

The subsequent Senate inquiry into the case, in fact, uncovered at least 12 more instances in which corrupt policemen had victimized hapless civilians.

In one of these instances, CCTV footage captured police officers in civilian clothing planting drugs at a

Adelle Chua, Editor

call center, just ahead of a raiding party that “discovered” the planted evidence.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, who showed the video, said the police officers took P7 million worth of loot from the raid, and even asked the business owner for an additional P2 million to ensure

they would not return.

Lacson, a former national police chief, emphasized that the killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo—who was kidnapped from his home in Angeles City on Oct. 18, 2016—was not an isolated incident.

He said there were at least 12 cases of rogue policemen victimizing Chinese nationals, based on information from the anti-crime watchdog Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order.

In one case, eight armed policemen kidnapped Xia Xin Ming from his house in Manila and demanded P3 million from the family. Lacson said the victim was still subjected to

inquest proceedings even after the ransom was paid.

In another case, the victim’s family paid P1 million in ransom, even as the victim was made to withdraw more money from an ATM machine while under police custody.

On Oct. 24, Lacson said, policemen took another victim in Muntinlupa and demanded P500,000 from the family. But because they only gave P200,000, they filed an illegal drugs case against the victim, who is still in jail.

There are also several cases in Bulacan and Makati, he added.

“These are incidents to show there are really excesses being committed by our policemen,”

Lacson said But Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa, who said he wanted to “melt in shame” at the news of Jee’s death at the hands of police, nonetheless said these were “isolated cases” and should not be used to discredit President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on illegal drugs.

Dela Rosa, who has promised a major shakeup at the PNP, misses the point.

It doesn’t matter if the Jee case and other documented instances of police abuse are isolated incidents, and it is meaningless to say that the vast majority of the police force is honest and hardworking.

Even if this were true,

significant damage has been done to the already tarnished image of the PNP. The fact that a policeman had the temerity to commit murder inside police headquarters suggests that he fully expected to get away with it, and throws open the possibility that others among the ranks feel the same way.

Calling the police for help should not be a matter of rolling the dice and hoping that a crooked one doesn’t respond. Police are supposed to protect the people, not victimize them. In an ideal world, they ought to bring a sense of security and respect.

In the Philippines, they bring fear and loathing.

A blunt and counter productive travel ban

By Mohamed A. El-Erian

PENSEES

Is Trump just being weird?

FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO HAVING barely warmed his chair at the Oval Office, Donald Trump fired off a series of executive orders, tightening the lid on immigration, identifying some Middle Eastern countries as “suspect” from which he wanted no nationals coming into the United States and making it clear that the fire and brimstone he had threatened against America’s enemies—or those who in the Trumpian scheme of things merited the label “enemy”— were for real! He did more. He de-fanged planned parenthood including access to abortion by clamping down on federal funding. Predictably, women (and many men as well) have taken to the streets in behalf of what, to them, are women’s rights.

Those awaiting on the shores of war-ravaged countries for an opportunity to move to the Land of Promise are wailing in despair.

But, interestingly, not everyone is hooting!

In fact, it was not Trump

who first shut the borders to migrants.

Eastern Europe, alarmed by the deluge of humanity that was making its way for Europe, triggered reminiscences of the Cold War era: barbed wire, roadblocks and snarling guard dogs. Angela Merkel, who was unqualified in her hospitality, is in very real danger of losing her job as Germany reels from the truly frightening influx. The warmth from her welcome has since disappeared and she has lately hinted that there are limits to German endurance.

There is much to be said for a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural society. There is much that commends pluralism. But just as the promise of governance by Reason alone captivated the period of the Enlightenment, only to be followed by disenchantment with the imperialism of reason and disclosures of its dark side—the oppression and the repression

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I am not for intolerance, much less for violence, not even in the name of God—especially not in the name of God. But the problem has to be recognized.

that the guardians and champions of Reason visited on the “irrational”, so too there is another side to the liberalism that has consigned to impertinence race, ethnicity, belief, and tradition. Ethnicity and traditions

BenjaminPhilip PhilipG.G.Romualdez Romualdez Benjamin FormerChief ChiefJustice JusticeReynato ReynatoS.S.Puno Puno Former AnitaF.F.Grefal Grefal Anita BaldwinR.R.Felipe Felipe Baldwin EdgarM. M.Valmorida Valmorida Edgar

are directly related to “ontological security”: the sense of living in a familiar world where one is aware of what others expect and one is sure of what one can legitimately expect from others.

In Putin’s Orthodox Russia, for example, the level of ontological security is high: Orthodox Russians have fixed points by which to orientate their lives, know what fellow Russians expect of them, and are secure in their legitimate expectations of others!

To some extent, inroads into culture and tradition will allow for evolution and adaptation.

But when all sense of identity is threatened and one is left totally insecure because of the radical unfamiliarity by which pluralism has stripped the landscape of all recognizable signposts, then the temptation is almost irresistible to revive that form of tribalism that keeps “us” in and shuts “them” out! Was not Brexit spun from the very same material? And now, of course, The-

Chairman Chairman BoardMember Member&&Chief ChiefLegal LegalAdviser Adviser Board TreasuryManager Manager Treasury OIC-AdSolutions Solutions OIC-Ad CirculationManager Manager Circulation

resa May is hard put to say how she can keep the UK “in” (trade, scholarly exchange, technology transfer, etc.) after she and her allies had ardently campaigned to be “out”. A justly angered EU has warned her against cherry-picking—and the plan she presented to Westminster was exactly that: A menu of cherrypicking!

So there is more that makes of Trump and Islamic militants kindred spirits than he would ever admit. Militant fundamentalism is the backlash of unbridled pluralism. It is the spirited if not violent movement towards holding to that security that is threatened by the corrosive effects of making of race, religion and ethnicity marginal concerns in the name of tolerance. Similarly, Trump’s notion of a “great America” includes a rediscovery of spiritual roots and a confidence about religious heritage that liberals had

SOME bold and simple policies have merit; Friday’s executive order that temporarily bans the citizens of certain countries from coming to the US, and stops indefinitely the entry of Syrian refugees, is not one of them.

As designed and implemented, there are genuine doubts about the order’s effectiveness in meeting its stated objective of preventing terrorism. It also risks a lot of collateral damage and unintended consequences that ultimately could prove counterproductive and harmful to national security, the economy, and America’s moral authority, values and standing in the world. Even the order’s merits as a domestic signal are in doubt, and it risks damaging the credibility and effectiveness of future policy initiatives from the White House.

The travel ban is succinctly stated: “To protect the American people from terrorist attacks by foreign nationals admitted to the United States.”

With immediate effect, it forbids entry for specified periods of time to citizens from seven countries (Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen).

But this is an extremely blunt approach to an important issue. Early reports on its application suggest that even long-time holders of multiyear visas for the US, together with green card holders and dual nationals, are are being refused entry at airports or being prevented from boarding planes destined for America. This includes people who have been living in the US legally for many years, have been vetted, and are productive and integrated members of their local communities. Judging

by Google, which stated that more than 100 of its employees traveling abroad are impacted by the order, it also covers tax-paying US-based workers who productively contribute to national growth and, as of this weekend, were on business trips or holidays abroad. They may now be stranded.

It is not clear whether the Turn to A5

Turn to A5 RolandoG.G.Estabillo EstabilloPublisher Publisher Rolando

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EmilP.P.Jurado Jurado Chairman ChairmanEmeritus, Emeritus,Editorial EditorialBoard Board Emil

Opinion On the threshold of war IN AN opinion piece in Time Magazine, former president of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev raised the specter of a third world war. Gorby is best remembered as the last man to preside over the then Soviet empire. His conciliatory move defanged the powerful Soviet empire with his policy of Perestroika which restructured the top leadership of the Communist Party. Doing so created a more stable world order but it also saw the dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Gorbachev cautioned both Russia and the US of the looming arms race wherein funds are readily found for developing more powerful nuclear weapons while money meant for social and humanitarian causes are getting scarce. He suggested US President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin take the initiative in the United Nations Security Council to pass a resolution for a nuclear weapons moratorium. Gorbachev, however did not make mention of China’s military buildup in Southeast Asia and North Korea’s nuclear saberrattling. Yet, it is the simmering territorial dispute in the South China Sea which has turned the region into a virtual power keg.

China reclaimed land from the sea to build artificial islands to install military facilities such as an airstrip and naval stations to advance its aggressive ninedash line claiming nearly 90 percent of the South China Sea.

The seabed under Boris YeltBACK the SCS is seen as sin foiled CHANNEL potentially rich a military in oil, mineral coup that and gas which tried to reALEJANDRO could make a risDEL ROSARIO move Goring China more bachev from powerful in the power as the region, if not the world. old order saw the peril of GorIs the world in 2017 really by’s wide policy of reform. Pehurtling toward self destruction restroika has reached the other with the rise of Donald Trump, republics and loosened the SoVladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and viet grip on its other satellites North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un? states.

Let’s not forget our own belIn a speech at the United Naligerent and bellicose Rodrigo tions, Gorbachev astounded the Duterte who’s adding to the world when he declared that all heady mix of loose cannons by the other countries under the aligning himself with China and Soviet Union should be free to Russia. choose and form their own reBut let me go back to Gor- publics. On Dec. 25, 1991, Gorbachev and his Perestroika pol- bachev resigned from the presiicy which helped him win the dency of a nation that no longer Nobel Peace Prize in 1988. Only existed as the Soviet empire dis54 when he stepped into the So- solved into 15 individual repubviet presidency, Gorbachev had lics. The world owes Gorbachev a new outlook and applied a new that much. approach to the challenges that But the world is again in flux faced his country. Perestroika, with the ascendancy of Donald which means restructuring was Trump as US president. The the key word that Gorbachev man is prone to riling other used to undertake major internal countries with his abrasive reforms that were matched by tone and unpredictable foreign new directions in foreign policy. policy. There is reason to be Although he and US President concerned with the statement Ronald Reagan were diametri- of White House Secretary Sean cally opposed as leaders of the Spicer that North Korea’s infree world and communism, tercontinental ballistic missile they found common ground test “won’t happen.” Does that to hold five summits between mean a preemptive US strike at 1985 and 1988 that resulted in Pyongyang? the signing of the Intermediate What about the US pledge Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in to protect international ship1997 that reduced Russia’s and ping lanes from falling into the the US nuclear stockpile. clutches of China? Is the US

ready to confront China to protect its own interests as a Pacific power which was the compelling reason for its pivot to Asia?

These are vexing questions that can only be answered by America’s response to the global challenges confronting it and the rest of the world.

At the UN, the European Union is trying to verify reports Trump is going to lift economic sanctions on Russia. Although on the surface that looks conciliatory, in fact an act of appeasement, EU members see the move as removal of the world sanctions for Russia’s territorial grab of Crimea from Ukraine.

Because of his announcement to build a wall along the US-Mexican border to prevent illegal migrants from south of the border, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto cancelled a planned meeting with Trump at the White House. While this may seem a minor border and migration problem, the issue could alienate Mexico to seek alliances with other countries, Russia and China included.

How would this affect the staunch US Monroe doctrine to keep off hostile powers from gaining a foothold in South America? Recall that President John F. Kennedy almost went to war with Russia when Nikita Kruschev installed Russian missile launching pads in Cuba.

Mexico is nearer and shares a border with the US. This is an even more serious threat if it falls into unfriendly hands.

EVERYMAN

Who’s afraid of Donald Trump?

By Ernesto Banawis THE dire forebodings that the world is on the edge of extinction or that war is inevitable with Donald Trump’s election to the presidency of the most powerful nation are all wishful dark thoughts and nightmarish dreams. World War III is not going to happen.

The new US president may be a braggart and a liar. He may be deceptive, vindictive and outlandish—but he is not stupid. He must be sharp, smooth and gregarious for having made himself rich. Adorable to beautiful women, too.

What will restrain Trump from pushing the red button, which will release the nuclear arsenal of the United States, is not fear of retaliation from another powerful nation but the vigilance of Congress and the preponderant majority of American people.

No matter how cavalierly he dismisses the rousing demonstration of over 4 million people the day following his assumption of office, he knows that he cannot ignore the sentiments—the wrath—of the American public. Mr. Trump knows that no matter how he bluntly and haughtily denies it, he did not receive the popular mandate. A guilty conscience is a strong deterrent.

The US Congress will not declare war unless an invasion or attack of the United States takes place.

Trump’s threats against China and his disdain for the one-China policy are all sound and rhetoric, no fury. He may test the patience of Xi Jinping but he will not arouse his anger or condemnation. If his moves

Is Trump...

From A4 all but jettisoned from public life. And just as it should be clear now that you cannot quell Islamic fundamentalism in its militant form by more firepower and by boots stomping on the ground, we should be wise to realize that for many people—both in the East and in the West—some precincts are sacred, and believers will fight tooth and nail to keep sacred space from profanation.

reach the point of brinkmanship, the US Congress and the American public will call him down. If he persists and puts his country in real danger of being engaged in war, the American citizenry will rise to demand his resignation.

The other man to watch in the geopolitical scene is the head of state of China, Xi Jinping, Trump’s favorite target.

Xi is reticent, sphinx-like, reserved, and always proper in public. But beneath his granite persona and measured warmth lies a calculating genius.

Xi is today the most powerful head of state, the president of the second most powerful nation on earth.

No paramount leader of China has ever gained control of power in both the party and the government in so short a time and almost seamless manner than Xi Jinping.

From the time he became a governor of Fujian province to the time he became a member of the Politburo, Xi steadily and forcefully inched himself up to all the most powerful centers of authority. He made his presence known starting from the 3rd plenum in 2013.

Xi is determined to pursue reforms and to solidify his hold on power. In the coming plenum in November this year, he will put his most trusted allies in the Politburo and in the most sensitive agencies of the government. His keen awareness of possible threats or dangers to his leadership is evident in his being the head of both the intelligence and military apparatus of the party and the government.

The other man to watch is Vladimir Putin, the enigmatic Russian leader. Since it seems

that Trump and Putin are secret friends, the likelihood of Russia teaming with China against the United States, seems unlikely at the moment.

What is interesting in this three-party equation is that Putin could now be a referee or a conciliator whenever Xi and Trump are at each other’s throat. Since Xi and Putin remain respectful and friendly with each other, there are very good chances that the three could work together.

Xi is a wise and sure-footed leader. He will not risk his country’s future and his own leadership by being belligerent or provocative. China is not prepared to go to war.

The awesome firepower of the United States is too dreadful and harrowing.

It is in the economic sphere where China can outpace the United States and overshadow even the European Union. This is where Xi is concentrating. Interestingly, perhaps unknowingly, Trump is helping Xi attain his objective. By his isolationist moves, the US will be losing allies in centers of international trade, finance and banking. China has been aggressive in its economic pivot into even the most depressed nations in Africa.

Her early investments and new commitments to the Philippines are already outstanding and remarkable.

It now appears that President Duterte’s pivot to China is not only prescient but timely.

Let us hope that DU30s dalliance with China will not be at the expense of our democratic institutions.

So it is that when Paris woke in shock to the heinous Charlie Hebdo massacre, not everyone took up the refrain “Je suis Charlie Hebdo” because many had the good sense to realize that when the magazine caricatured the Prophet revered by so many, the earnestness of its cry for freedom of press and expression was pathetically feeble against the full-throated refrain: “God is great!”

I am not for intolerance, much less for violence, not even in the name of God—

especially not in the name of God. But the problem has to be recognized. We cannot make the world insecure for so many with deep faith, we cannot wantonly dismantle the familiar by sacrificing tradition and its values at the altar of liberalism, and we cannot barge into sacred precincts and expect to remain unscathed!

A blunt...

From A4 travel ban also applies to those working at the international institutions that the US hosts, including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The uncertainty is enough to stop some staff from traveling abroad on business, thereby reducing the effectiveness of these institutions. Then there are the students at US educational institutions, some of whom are still in the process of returning for their new terms.

No wonder so many people from across the

Ernesto Banawis is formerly general manager of the Philippine New Agency.

rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

political spectrum are questioning the executive order—and deploring its highly discriminatory nature and the related threats to what makes the US so special and so admired. The ban risks undermining the US’s moral authority, along with its standing and the respect it commands. In turn, this can undermine the credibility of President Donald Trump’s administration, creating potential headwinds to the effectiveness of its future measures in a wide range of areas.

I suppose that some may feel that all this would be warranted if the ban can deliver on its objective. But here, too, there are problems.

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2017

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SO I SEE LITO BANAYO

One great ad ONE piece of really good news that comes with the start of the Year of the Fire Rooster is the new tourism ad recently launched by our Tourism department and McCann Erickson.

I saw the ad on youtube recently and it was beautiful.

For beginners, it did not change the successful “It’s more fun in the Philippines” slogan. If it works, why change it? And we are glad our new Tourism secretary, Ms. Wanda Teo, opted not to reinvent the wheel, so to speak.

But what made the newly launched ad great was, apart from great visuals, its successful portrayal of a truly Filipino character—hospitality and friendliness even to foreigners and strangers. The empathy generated by the mother sharing a snack for her kids with a complete stranger, and calling him “anak” really touches the emotions.

In a jaded world where everything has been reduced to soundbyte or a tweet, the simple values, the caring character (which is truly Filipino) so vividly captured in the many nuances of the word “anak” is a sure winner!

I have always believed that selling Selling the the Philippines to Philippines to the the world should go beyond just the sun, world should go the sand and the beyond just the beaches, a gift of nature we are blesssun, the sand and ed with. Rather, it the beaches. must capitalize on the genuineness of our people’s friendship and hospitable nature.

The late Tourism secretary, Smiling Joe Aspiras, epitomized this Filipino hospitality when he proclaimed the “Philippines, where Asia wears a smile” as tagline for our campaigns.

The new ad of the Tourism department reinforces the “smile” with a truly caring empathy.

Congratulations are in order for the DoT on this ad campaign. *** But the good news is blackened by the bad news on the peace and order front just as the year began.

And I refer to the continuing ghastly revelations surrounding the murder of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo. That the kidnapping followed by cold-blooded murder was perpetrated by police officers in the guise of pursuing our president’s war on drugs is truly disgusting.

That the murder was perpetrated right inside Camp Crame, headquarters of the Philippine police, is shocking. It makes General Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa humiliated beyond words to describe.

That the ill-fated businessman’s corpus was instantly cremated to erase all physical evidence about his death is so inhuman and so un-Filipino. Worse is that the cremated remains were just flushed down the water closet: It is so un-Christian.

How have Filipinos, no matter how low-life, descended to such pits of cruelty and inhumanity?

It is not only South Korean tourists who will think twice about coming to our shores. It is everyone who has read or learned about this dastardly criminal act.

The only possible balm to this sad episode is the sure and unforgiving justice that must be rendered swiftly by the authorities. *** Jitters over the policy pronouncements done in staccato fashion by the new POTUS, Donald Trump, is destabilizing so many in the world where assumptions and givens are suddenly upturned.

The markets are roiled; once-solid friendships are disturbed, as in Mexico and the US of A, Europe and its once-assumed “ally”, not to mention the lack of clarity in America’s relationship with Asia, both minor, mainland and the Far East.

We Filipinos must thank our president for reading the signs well, for abandoning our sacrificial lamb role in Obama’s “pivot” to Asia just in time for the change of administration, and the major shift in American foreign policy.

Duterte has wisely hedged against the Trump irascibility and placed his bets on maintaining friendly ties with China. How the Philippines is able to capitalize on this aperture Chinoise, through investments, trade, tourism and bilateral cooperation will define the next few years, and will jumpstart, hopefully through the Build, Build, Build fervor, our economic take-off after languishing so long in Rostow’s “pre-conditions” stage.

Kiong Hee Huat Tsai! And Mabuhay!

Several people have already pointed out to reduce terrorist risks. As currently designed that none of the terrorist incidents suffered by and implemented, the travel ban is not a good the US in recent times, including the horrible way to do so. Bloomberg Sept. 11 attacks, were perpetuated by citizens from the seven designated countries. The ban could have other harmful consequences. Some OUT OF THE have noted that it applies to people who fought BOX alongside American troops in dangerous situations, and includes some who acted heroically, RITA LINDA saving our men and women in uniform. This is V. JIMENO but one of the adverse signals that the executive order transmits to the many supporters and fans Atty. Jimeno’s column will of the US living in the named countries. resume next week.

I understand, and very much share, the desire

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

News

A6 Standard

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2017

Manila

mst.daydesk@gmail.com TODAY

‘$7.5-m grant for drug rehab’ T

HE Philippines will use half of a $15-million grant from China to build drug rehabilitation centers across the country, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said.

Health has requested that at least $7.5 million of the total grant be used to set up drug rehabilitation facilities.

“We have confirmed our intention to avail of the RMB50 million [$7.5 million] grant for the provision of drug rehab facilities for the DoH during our meeting with China Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng,” he said.

“The Chinese side has alDominguez said this is part of ready began a preliminary feasithe agreements signed between bility study on the drug rehabiliManila and Beijing last year. tation center and plans to send He said the Department of an expert team to the Philip-

pines,” Dominguez added.

The remaining half of the grant will be used to procure additional law enforcement equipment for the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to strengthen the government’s war against drugs, Dominguez said.

He said the Philippine delegation has also asked Chinese officials to consider supporting, through grant financing, the construction of health centers in rural areas, particularly in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. PNA

PNP-PCSO pact to end payola

NO CARE IN THE WORLD. Children enjoy playing at the color slides in Luneta, Manila on

Sunday. Manny Palmero

THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine National Police to end payola from illegal numbers games.

PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan, in a recent meeting with PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Roel Obusan, said policemen now have no excuse for their corrupt

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO - Presiding Officer SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR. DIVINA A. JACOME LUIS S. JAVIER JR. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA NELSON S. PASIA ENRICO J. PUNO MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO - Presiding Officer SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR. DIVINA A. JACOME LUIS S. JAVIER JR. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA NELSON S. PASIA ENRICO J. PUNO MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

ABSENT: ROMEO C. MEDINA-Sick Leave

Councilor

================================================================== On motion presented by Hon. A.P. Padilla, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Resolution No. 2017-003 on second and final reading.

CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2017-003 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N.S. Yabut Jr., Hon. A.P. Padilla, Hon. E.J. Puno and Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino Co Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. F.T. Eusebio, Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr., Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. L.M. Magpantay, Hon. M.A.M Ortega, Hon. N.S. Pasia and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor

ROMEO C. MEDINA-Sick Leave

================================================================== On motion presented by Hon. E.J. Puno, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Resolution No. 2017-004 on second and final reading.

CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2017-004 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N.S. Yabut Jr., Hon. E.J. Puno, Hon. R.C. Medina, Hon. N.S. Pasia and Hon. A.P. Padilla Co Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. F.T. Eusebio, Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr., Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. L.M. Magpantay, Hon. M.A.M Ortega, Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE HONORABLE MAYOR MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY TO NEGOTIATE, ENTER INTO AND SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (MOA), ON BEHALF OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF MAKATI, WITH THE WORLD ASSOCIATION OF UNITED CITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (UCLG), REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY GENERAL JOSEP ROIG MARTI, FOR THE COLLABORATION TO IMPLEMENT A CULTURE 21 LAB IN THE CITY OF MAKATI IN 2017, SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS. WHEREAS, the world association of United Cities and Local Government (UCLG) is a global network of cities that represents and defends the interests of local governments on the world stage; founded in 2004 and headquartered in Barcelona, the organization represents towns, cities, regions, metropolises, and local and regional government associations in 140 countries;

WHEREAS, Career Academy Asia (CAA) is a newly-opened design and management senior high school located in PHINMA Plaza Building, Rockwell Center, Poblacion, Makati City that offers courses in Multimedia, Graphic Design, Fashion Design and Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism Management, and Events Management;

WHEREAS, UCLG has launched and implements, through its Committee on Culture, three capacity-building and peer-learning programmes aimed to support cities through activities in the fields of leadership, advocacy, communication, learning and cooperation, namely: Culture 21 Lab, Pilot Cities and Leading Cities; WHEREAS, Culture 21 Lab is a short workshop on “culture in sustainable cities” which enables cities to self-evaluate their work in this field and provides key basic information on the place of culture in sustainable development, and is a useful way to raise awareness of this field among local stakeholders;

WHEREAS, CAA’s educational methodology includes exposing their students to holistically experiential lessons that are relevant to real-life, concrete scenarios expertly designed from careful study and review of top methodologies around the world; WHEREAS, the Makati Poblacion Heritage Conservation Project (MPHCP) will be a showcase of urban sustainability anchored on the city’s cultural assets mainly found in the Heritage District of Makati located in Barangay Poblacion; WHEREAS, CAA, has identified the Heritage District and other specified location in the city as suitable experiential laboratories where opportunities and inspirations for design maybe taken advantage of by their students and where they may contribute to community development;

WHEREAS, the City Government of Makati, in its belief that the conduct of Culture 21 Lab will be highly beneficial to the city, especially in its efforts for local cultural development, has expressed intent to host the same;

WHEREAS, CAA envisions its student to be participative with their affairs of their local community, and the City Government of Makati sees the need to develop better avenues to promote awareness of and interest in the Heritage District to larger local and foreign audiences. Hence, both parties see the benefits of this project, have a desire to pursue the project and have determined that each brings unique expertise and experience necessary to accomplish the objectives;

WHEREAS, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the City Government of Makati and UCLG is required to be executed in order to effectuate the abovementioned purpose;

WHEREAS, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the City Government of Makati and Career Academy Asia is required to be executed in order to effectuate the abovementioned purpose;

WHEREAS, considering the benefits that the city will obtain from hosting the said workshop, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, pursuant to Section 8 (a) (6), Article III, of R.A. 7854, otherwise known as the Charter of the City of Makati, hereby authorizes the Honorable Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay to sign such Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with United Cities and Local Governments;

WHEREAS, considering the benefits that this partnership will bring to both our institutions and constituencies, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, pursuant to Section 8 (a) (6), Article III, of R.A. 7854, otherwise known as the Charter of the City of Makati, hereby authorizes the Honorable Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay and/or Makati PoblacionHeritage Conservation Project (MPHCP) Director Vissia Marie P. Aldon to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on behalf of the City Government of Makati with Career Academy Asia.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, to authorize the Honorable Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay to negotiate, enter into and sign a Memorandum Of Agreement (MOA), on behalf of the City Government of Makati, with the World Association of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), represented by its Secretary General Josep Roig Marti, for the collaboration to implement a Culture 21 Lab in the City of Makati in 2017, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.

Let copies of this Resolution be furnished to the key officials of Makati City and other agencies related to the implementation of the Program for their immediate action.

This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

APPROVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its Regular Session held on 25 January 2017.

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. NELSON S. PASIA P

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

HON. ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

HON. ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. ON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANGLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IS SESSION ASSEMBLED, to authorize the Honorable Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay to negotiate, enter into and sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), on behalf of the City Government of Makati, with the Career Academy Asia (CAA), represented by its Chairperson, Roberto M. Laviña, regarding the collaboration on the planning and designing of Environmental Graphics for Heritage Sites found within the Makati Poblacion Heritage District and other specified locations as an academic exercise of the school, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.

Let copies of this Resolution be furnished to the key officials of Makati City and other agencies related to the implementation of the Program for their immediate action.

APPROVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its Regular Session held on 25 January 2017.

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. NELSON S. PASIA P

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

HON. ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

HON. ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT H

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod Attested by:

(MS-JAN. 30, 2017)

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO ROMEO C. MEDINA-Sick Leave

===================================================================== On motion presented by Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Ordinance No. 2017-007 on third and final reading.

CITY ORDINANCE NO. 2017-007 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. N.S. Yabut Jr., Hon. L.S. Javier Jr., Hon. R.C. Medina, Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor Co-Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon. F.T. Eusebio, Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr., Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. L.M. Magpantay, Hon. A.P. Padilla and Hon. N.S. Pasia AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY ORDINANCE NO. 2014-051, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “CITY OF MAKATI PPP CODE”.

WHEREAS, under Section 20, Article II of the 1987 Constitution, the “State recognizes the indispensable role of the private sector, encourages private enterprise, and provides incentives to needed investments”; WHEREAS, the private sector participates in infrastructure, development and social servicerelated projects of the State and local government units (LGUs) through what is popularly known as Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs); WHEREAS, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Legal Opinion No. 8, S. 2014 declared that “there is no specific statute on PPP nor guidelines on joint ventures for local governments” and that a “duly enacted local legislation (PPP Code) must be complied with in undertaking (its) PPP projects.”

WHEREAS, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ) Opinion No. 18, S. 2012, “xxx local governments may enact their own Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code or omnibus ordinance outlining, among others, all applicable modalities. xxx A local government, through an enabling ordinance, is free to act to address local concerns, even without an enabling ordinance, provided no statute will be infringed”; WHEREAS, in Legal Opinion No. 10, S. 2014, the DILG affirmed the above-quoted DOJ Opinion and further said that, “the LGUs’ discretion xxx is consistent with the state policy of local autonomy and is in line with the operative principle of decentralization and the national goal of propelling social and economic growth and development through the active participation of the private sector”; WHEREAS, in furtherance of and consistent with local autonomy, fiscal autonomy, the principle of subsidiarity, public good and welfare, general welfare, and full autonomy over proprietary powers, the City is free, provided no statute is violated, to adopt its definition of a PPP undertaking and prescribe the requirements, procedures and conditions for City PPPs, and incorporate these in an operative framework; and WHEREAS, having a framework in ordinance form will ensure and facilitate consistency, integrity, reliability, sustainability, accountability and transparency, and enforceability; WHEREAS, in view of the foregoing, there is a need to amend City Ordinance No. 2014-051 otherwise known as the “City of Makati PPP Code”; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED, AS IT IS HEREBY ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT

BY LAW, IN SESSI0N ASSEMBLED, that: Section 1. The amendments to City Ordinance No. 2014-051, otherwise known as the “City of Makati PPP Code”, indicated in Annex “A” hereof are approved.

Section 2. All provisions of City Ordinance No. 2014-051 and other ordinances and resolutions or parts thereof inconsistent with the foregoing amendments to City Ordinance No. 2014-051 are hereby repealed or modified accordingly; Section 3. All provisions of City Ordinance No. 2014-051 not inconsistent with the foregoing amendments to City Ordinance No. 2014-051 remain in force and effect.

Section 4. A copy of this Ordinance be furnished all offices, departments and agencies concerned for their information, guidance and reference.

Section 5. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its Regular Session held on 18 January 2017.

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. NELSON S. P PASIA

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO HON.

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

HON. ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT H

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President Certified true and correct by: ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

Certified true and correct by:

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO - Presiding Officer SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR. DIVINA A. JACOME LUIS S. JAVIER JR. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA NELSON S. PASIA ENRICO J. PUNO MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

Attested by:

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

Councilor “ “

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE HONORABLE MAYOR MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY TO NEGOTIATE, ENTER INTO AND SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (MOA), ON BEHALF OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF MAKATI, WITH THE CAREER ACADEMY ASIA (CAA), REPRESENTED BY ITS CHAIRPERSON, ROBERTO M. LAVIÑA, REGARDING THE COLLABORATION ON THE PLANNING AND DESIGNING OF ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHICS FOR HERITAGE SITES FOUND WITHIN THE MAKATI POBLACION HERITAGE DISTRICT AND OTHER SPECIFIED LOCATIONS AS AN ACADEMIC EXERCISE OF THE SCHOOL, SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.

WHEREAS, Makati is a member of UCLG ASPAC and UCLG members share knowledge on a wide range of themes under different committees and working groups, including the Committee on Culture;

“Let us be frank with each other: A lot of you will lose your payola. Some of you have become so used to accepting bribes that you might find it difficult to change your ways,” Balutan said.

In return, PCSO will allocate 2.5 percent of its Charity Fund to the PNP and its offices that have jurisdiction over areas where STL tickets are sold.

ABSENT:

ABSENT:

Councilor

activities to continue.

The agreement, Balutan said, is aligned with President Rodrigo Duterte’s marching orders to eliminate illegal gambling and to boost revenues from the Small Town Lottery which the government will use to provide free medicines to indigents.

With the accord, the PNP is tasked to help the PCSO in stamping out illegal numbers games.

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

Certified true and correct by:

Attested by:

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer Approved by: MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY City Mayor

(MS-JAN. 30, 2017)

(MS-JAN. 30, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

Manila

Standard

TODAY

Abarquez leads net champions ZAMBOANGA del Norte bet Sydney Enriquez and Elizabeth Abarquez from Carcar City, Cebu led the winners in the recent inaugural leg of the 2017 Cebuana Lhuillier Age-Group Tennis Championships, hosted by the Citigreen Tennis Resort, Alta Vista Golf and Country Club, and Pardo Tennis Club in Cebu City.

Enriquez beat Minette April Bentino from Sultan Kudarat, 6-3, 6-1 for the 14-under girls’ championship and partnered with Bentino to share the 14-under girls’ doubles crown with an 8-0 victory over Helary Coderos and Corazon Lambunao.

Abarquez defeated Sultan Kudarat’s Carlyn Bless Guarde, 6-3, 6-3, to bag the girls’ 16-under title and teamed up with Shyne Villareal as they fashioned out an 8-4 win over Ghylliana Yu and Pherl Bless Coderos to share the the 18-under doubles’ crown in the tournament supported by Dunlop as the official ball.

Guarde avenged her defeat to Abarquez in the 18-under finals as she eked out a 7-5, 6-3 beating of Abarquez to win the title, while another familiar name in Jose Maria Pague from Zamboanga Sibugay beat old nemesis and 16-under boys’ titlist Vince Tugade, 6- 4, 6-3, in the boys’ 18-under finals.

Tugade earlier copped the 16-under crown over local bet Marc Nicole Suson, 7-6, 6-1.

Curry’s 43 points carry Dubs

L

OS ANGELES—Stephen Curry scored 43 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to their most dominant victory of the NBA season, a 114-98 rout of the Los Angeles Clippers in Oakland.

“It feels great,” said Curry, who electrified the crowd with a 51-foot shot to close the first half. “I felt like I was always in a rhythm and the guys were setting great screens.”

After the break he drained five three-pointers in the third quarter en route to 25 points in the period.

“It was one of those quarters where everything seems to go right,” Curry said.

The 46-point margin of victory was the Warriors’ biggest of the season while the Clippers hadn’t lost by more than 26 this year.

Curry notched his third 40-point game of the season and came tantalizingly close to his season high of 46 points despite sitting out the entire fourth quarter.

Even Warriors coach Steve Kerr couldn’t help but be in awe of Curry’s performance.

Kerr, who played over 900 games in the NBA, told his star player during one timeout on the bench that he could only dream of having a game like that.

“How does it feel whatever the hell you are feeling right now?” Kerr asked in the middle of the game. “Just once in my life ... for me if I went like five for six and made four threes that was about the best I ever did.”

Kevin Durant added 23 points and a team-high seven assists, and Klay Thompson had 16 points for the Warriors, who notched their fifth straight home win.

Curry also found time for a team-high nine rebounds and six assists.

The Clippers dropped to 1-4 since losing star guard Chris Paul to injury despite having Blake Griffin back in the lineup. Griffin, who finished with 20 points, was playing

in his second game since returning from knee injury.

J.J. Redick added 13 points for the Clippers, who haven’t beaten the Warriors in the regular season since Christmas Day in 2014.

Elsewhere, Goran Dragic tallied eight of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and the Miami Heat extended their NBA win streak to seven games with a 116-103 win over the Detroit Pistons.

Wayne Ellington scored 19 points and James Johnson finished with 18 for the Heat, who have the longest active winning streak in the league.

“Our toughest, most physical, most committed minutes were in the fourth quarter.

MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO - Presiding Officer SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR. DIVINA A. JACOME LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY ROMEO C. MEDINA MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA NELSON S. PASIA ENRICO J. PUNO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

LnB President

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO - Presiding Officer SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR. DIVINA A. JACOME LUIS S. JAVIER JR. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA NELSON S. PASIA ENRICO J. PUNO MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE BARANGAY BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE, SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.

ABSENT: Councilor “ “

WHEREAS, Art. II, Sec. 25 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the“State shall ensure autonomy of local governments”;

MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO ROMEO C. MEDINA-Sick Leave

===================================================================== On motion presented by Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Ordinance No. 2017-008 on third and final reading.

CITY ORDINANCE NO. 2017-008 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N.S. Yabut Jr., Hon. M.A.M. Ortega and Hon. F.T. Eusebio Co-Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr., Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. L.M. Magpantay, Hon. R.C. Medina, Hon. A.P. Padilla, Hon. N.S. Pasia, Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor

WHEREAS, relative thereto, R.A 9640, otherwise known as “An Act Amending Section 140 (A) of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government of Code of 1991, has reduced the maximum allowable local amusement tax rate from 30% to 10%. Unfortunately, such amendment was not reflected in RMRC, specifically in Sec. 3F.01; WHEREAS, Sec. 10 (b) (2), Article IV of R.A. 7854, otherwise known as the City Charter of Makati provides:

Co-Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. F.T. Eusebio, Hon. V.V. Hilario Jr., Hon. L.M. Magpantay, Hon. R.C. Medina, Hon. N.S. Pasia and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR ACCREDITATION OF CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION (STEPPING STONE) FOUNDATION, INC. AS A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (NGO), SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS. WHEREAS, the Center for Excellence in Special Education (Stepping Stone) Foundation, Inc. applied for accreditation with the City Government of Makati; WHEREAS, Section 108 of R.A. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 provides that the authority to accredit NGOs, POs, CSOs and other similar aggrupation is vested upon the Sangguniang Panlungsod; WHEREAS, under the Articles of Incorporation of Center for Excellence in Special Education (Stepping Stone) Foundation, Inc., which was approved and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 09 March 1987, its main objective is to provide quality special education and other auxiliary services and interventions for persons with special needs from the indigent sectors;

WHEREAS, there has been a lot of innovations and mandates from the national government to include certain programs and projects in the Annual Investment Plan of the barangays in the whole country; WHEREAS, the said innovation requires sound technical expertise from key executive officials to determine the barangay budget’s conformity in form and in substance to the various mandates; WHEREAS, the City Government finds it wise to create a body in reviewing the barangay budget proposals which shall produce a speedier and efficient result.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, that: Section 1.

COMMITTEE - The Barangay Budget Review Committee (BRC) is hereby created and shall have the power to review Barangay Annual and Supplemental Budgets of the different barangays of the City of Makati.

Section 2.

COMPOSITION. The Barangay Budget Review Committee (BRC) shall be composed of the following:

Section 1. Sections 3F.01 and 3F.03 of the RMRC is hereby amended and stated as follows:

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. NELSON S. PASIA P

d.

Section 5. Let copy of this ordinance be furnished the Finance Department, Accounting Department and other offices concerned for their information and guidance.

Shall convene as a body after the conduct of the City Program Review and Planning Workshop to identify the policy agenda of the city that needs emphasis in the programs, project and activity of each barangay in Makati.

Shall convene as a body before the conduct of the Barangay Program Review and Planning Workshop to revisit guidelines in the preparation of the Barangay budget proposals.

Shall have the power to initiate deliberations and invite representatives from the barangay for clarifications pertaining to the latter’s budget appropriation.

Shall endorsed pre-qualified barangay appropriations to the City Budget, subject to the latter’s final commitments.

Shall perform other functions as may be deemed implied/necessary to accomplish the goals of this ordinance.

Section 3.1 –The Urban Development Department (UDD)shall also perform secretariat functions with the following duties and responsibilities: a.

b.

Shall prepare a summary of the matters taken up during the deliberation of the BRC and comments on the budget proposal of the barangays. The said summary shall form part of attachments of the proposed budget to be endorsed to the City Budget.

Shall be responsible in preparing all communication, letters and correspondence for and in behalf of the Barangay Review Committee.

Shall perform other functions as may be deemed implied/necessary to accomplish the goals of this ordinance.

Section 4.

The favorable recommendation of Barangay Budget Review Committee and endorsement of the City Budget shall be required before a Barangay Appropriation Ordinance shall be forwarded to the Sangguniang Panlungsod for review and approval.

Section 5.

The Members of the Barangay Budget Review Committee may receive honorarium for the additional services they rendered, subject to auditing laws, rules and procedures.

Section 6.

REPEALING CLAUSE. All ordinances, resolutions and executive orders which are inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 7.

SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. If any provision or part of this Ordinance is declared invalid, other provisions or part not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 8.

This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon approval.

Section 3. If any provision or part of this Ordinance is declared invalid, other provisions or parts not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA,in its Regular Session held on 18January 2017.

ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its Regular Session held on 18 January 2017.

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. NELSON S. P PASIA

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

HON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

HON. ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

HON. ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

b.

c.

Sec. 3F.03 – Exemptions – The holding of operas, concerts, dramas, recitals, paintings and art exhibitions, flower shows, musical programs, literary and oratorical presentations including presentations sponsored by non-profit organizations collecting minimal fee for its operation and with the main purpose of promoting language and culture or discover and showcase the works of Filipino filmmakers, except pop, rock, or similar concerts, shall be exempt from the payment of the tax imposed herein subject to permits and regulatory fees imposed in the Makati Revenue Code. “

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

DUTIES and FUNCTIONS. The Barangay Budget Review Committee (BRC) shall perform the following duties and functions: a.

Sec. 3F.02 – Manner of computing - xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xx

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

Section 3.

“Sec. 3F.01. Imposition of Tax – There is levied a tax to be collected from the proprietress, lessees, or operators of theaters, cinemas, concert hall, circuses, boxing stadia, and other amusement places at the rate of ten percent (10%) of the gross receipt from admission fee.

Section 6. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

Committee Members: Urban Development Department (secretariat) City Budget Office City Accounting DRRMO GAD DILG Makati

e.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that copy of this Resolution be furnished the Center for Excellence in Special Education (Stepping Stone) Foundation, Inc., City Administrator’s Office and all offices, departments and agencies concerned for their information, guidance and reference.

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

• • • • • •

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED AS IT IS HEREBY ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, THAT:

Section 4. All ordinances, executive orders and rules and regulations inconsistent or in conflict with any provisions of this ordinance are deemed repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

APPROVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its regular session held on 31 August 2016.

Chairperson - Ligang mga Barangay

c.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, to approve the application for accreditation of Center for Excellence in Special Education (Stepping Stone) Foundation, Inc. as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations.

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. NELSON S. P PASIA

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR HON.

HON. ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. ON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. ON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

Certified true and correct by:

Certified true and correct by:

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

Certified true and correct by: Attested by:

Attested by:

WHEREAS, Art. IV, Sec. 10 (A) (1) of RA 7854, otherwise known as the Charter of the City of Makati, provides that “the Sangguniang Panlungsod shall review all ordinances approved by the sangguniang barangay and executive orders issued by the Punong Barangay to determine whether these are within the scope of the prescribed powers of the Sanggunian and the Punong Barangay”;

WHEREAS, upon careful perusal of Sections 3F.01 and 3F.03 of RMRC and thorough deliberation between the Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Makati City hereby considers to redefine the coverage and exemptions of the amusement tax under the abovementioned provisions of RMRC.

Section 2. The Finance Department shall formulate the Implementing Rules and Regulations within 30 days after the effectivity of this ordinance.

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

WHEREAS, Sec. 458 (a) (1) (i) of RA 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code provides that “the Sangguniang Panlungsod, as the legislative body of the city, shall enact ordinances, approve resolutions and appropriate funds for the general welfare of the city and its inhabitants”;

“(2) Subject to the provisions of Book II of the Local Government Code and applicable laws and upon majority vote of all the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, enact ordinances levying taxes, fees and charges, prescribing rate thereof for general and specific purposes and granting tax exemption, incentive or reliefs”;

WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, after a thorough deliberation, ruled that Center for Excellence in Special Education (Stepping Stone) Foundation, Inc. is compliant with all the requirements provided for by the Local Government Code and its Implementing Rules and Regulations and DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2016-97 dated 19 July 2016.

This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO ROMEO C. MEDINA-Sick Leave

Co-Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. F.T. Eusebio, Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. L.M. Magpantay, Hon. N.S. Pasia and Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino

WHEREAS, as such, the Office of the Mayor referred such requests for tax exemptions to the Sangguniang Panlungsod for its consideration;

CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2016–A–012 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N. S. Yabut Jr., Hon. A.P. Padilla, Hon. E.J. Puno, Hon. M.A.M. Ortega and Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

“Sec. 192. Authority to Grant Tax Exemption Privileges. – Local government units may, through ordinances duly approved, grant tax exemptions, incentives or reliefs under such terms and conditions as they may deem necessary.”

===================================================================== On motion presented by Hon. D.A. Jacome, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Resolution No. 2016-A-012 on second and final reading.

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

LnB President

CITY ORDINANCE NO. 2017-013 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N.S. Yabut Jr., Hon. A.P. Padilla, Hon. E.D.E. Villamor, Hon. V.V. Hilario Jr., Hon. R.C. Medina and Hon. M.A.M. Ortega

WHEREAS, Sec. 192, Book II of RA 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, provides that:

LUIS S. JAVIER JR. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO - Presiding Officer SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR. DIVINA A. JACOME LUIS S. JAVIER JR. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA NELSON S. PASIA ENRICO J. PUNO MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

===================================================================== On motion presented by Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Ordinance No. 2017-013 on third and final reading.

WHEREAS, the abovementioned non-profit organizations intend to engage in activities which promote language and culture, discover and showcase the works of Filipino filmmakers, among others;

ABSENT:

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

(MS-JAN. 30, 2017)

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

Attested by:

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

Approved by:

Approved by:

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

Detroit dropped to 21-26 on the season despite getting a team-high 24 points from Reggie Jackson.

In Milwaukee, Isaiah Thomas scored 37 points and Jae Crowder added 20 as the Boston Celtics beat the Milwaukee Bucks a 112-108 in overtime at the Bradley Center.

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

Councilor “ “

WHEREAS, the City Government of Makati, through the Office of the Mayor, is constantly receiving requests from various non-profit organizations seeking assistance for the exemption on the application of amusement tax under Sec. 3F.01 of the Revised Makati Revenue Code (RMRC).

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

That was good to see,” said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra.

Miami improved to 18-30 on the season, giving them their longest winning streak since February 2014.

Dion Waiters scored 13 of his 17 points in the first quarter in front of a crowd of 19,600.

ABSENT:

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 3F.01 AND 3F.03 OF CITY ORDINANCE NO. 2004-A-025, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED MAKATI REVENUE CODE (RMRC), SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAWS AND AUDITING RULES AND PROCEDURES.

Councilor “

A7

MONDAY, JANUARY30, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY City Mayor

(MS-JAN. 30, 2017)

MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY City Mayor

(MS-JAN. 30, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

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

A8

MONDAY, JANUARY30, 2017

Cassius Casas will be out to defy overwhelming odds.

GlobalPort enters quarterfinals Blue Eaglets make semis

By Jeric Lopez

THE kids of two former Philippine Basketball Association stars showed the way as the Ateneo Blue Eaglets smothered La Salle-Zobel, 69-53, Saturday in the 79th University Athletic Association of the Philippines junior basketball tournament at the Arena in San Juan.

Dave Ildefonso and Kai Sotto made their presence felt in the first period as the Blue Eaglets took charge right away and formally snared the last Final Four playoff slot.

The 6’5” Ildefonso, son of former two-time PBA MVP Danny Ildefonso, backed up top-scorer Sam Josef Belangel and mainstay Jason Credo, with 15 points and 13 points, as their efforts helped send the Eaglets to their seventh win in 12 games.

Sotto, the 6’9” 14-year-old son of former 6’7” Petron big man Ervin Sotto, debuted for the Blue Eaglets with a putback during Ateneo’s opening salvo and finished with nine points and 13 rebounds.

Belangel and Credo, a 6’4” power forward, hit 19 points and 13 points for the the Blue Eaglets, who set themselves up for a Final Four matchup with the solo-leading Adamson Baby Falcons.

Peter Atencio

G

LOBALPORT produced one of its best performances thus far, taking a masterful 117-99 drubbing of ailing Rain or Shine to finally punch a ticket in the quarterfinals of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City Sunday.

In probably having his best game of his career, superstar Terrence Romeo exploded for a career-high 44 points, including eight triples to go with six rebounds and six assists to power his team.

Again at their best, the tandem of Romeo and Stanley Pringle struck big, each having tremendous nights to lead the Batang Pier to this much-needed victory.

Pringle, likewise, had a rocksolid game, grabbing 28 points, six rebounds and four assists as he and Romeo relentlessly killed the Elasto Painters with their scoring.

“Confidence lang going into the game. Hindi kami puwede mag-relax, so binuhos ko talaga

lahat,” said Romeo of his remarkable performance.

GlobalPort wrapped up its campaign at 6-5. It not only made the quarters officially, but also kept its chance of claiming the No. 2 seed and the twice-tobeat advantage that goes with it in the next phase.

The woes continued for Rain or Shine (5-5) as it lost its third straight. Now, it needs to win its last assignment against Alaska on Wednesday to ensure itself a spot in the next round.

Led by the sensational scoring prowess of Romeo and Pringle, GlobalPort was able to cruise its way over Rain or Shine.

After a 50-all standstill after the first half, it was all Batang Pier the rest of the way as it

powered its way in the second half.

GlobalPort took the third quarter, 25-15, to carry a 75-65 lead into the fourth.

It continued its onslaught in the fourth, where it even led by more than 20 points.

The scores: GLOBALPORT 117 - Romeo 44, Pringle 28, Quinahan 11, Semerad 9, Pessumal 6, Canaleta 6, Maierhofer 4, Pennisi 3, Andrada 2, Cortez 2, Paredes 2, Mamaril 0, Urbiztondo 0.

RAIN OR SHINE 99 - Chan 26, Washington 11, Yap 9, Cruz 9, Ponferada 8, Norwood 7, Belga 7, Tiu 7, Tolomia 5, Maiquez 4, Ahanmisi 3, Matias 3.

Quarterscores: 16-22, 50-50, 75-65, 117-99

So draws with Chinese GM, stays in the lead FILIPINO grandmaster Wesley So and young Chinese GM Wei Yi played to a draw in 32 moves of a Reti opening in Round 12 of the 2017 Tata Steel Masters Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee, The Netherlands.

With So’s eighth draws against four wins, he stayed in the solo lead with still a round left.

The 23-year-old So, who lost his full-point lead in the 11th round, repeated a line of moves that Ding Liren played in his game with Wei two years ago, according to analysts.

He was able to check the king, but because So was playing it safe, he accepted Wei’s offer to split the point.

Sharing second to third with

the 17-year-old Wei are super GMs Levi Aronian and world no. 1 Magnus Carlsen.

Aronian prevailed over Loek Van Wely in 34 moves of a Reti, while Carlsen came away with a 60-move triumph over Pavel Eljanov in their Dutch Defense game.

In the final round, So is expected to have a tough time with Russian Ian Nepom-

niachtchi, who is seeking payback from their encounter in the Baku Olympiad.

So, who has stayed undefeated in 54 games since winning the Sinquefield Cup and the London Chess Classic and taking the overall crown in the Grand Chess Tour last year, is close to his third crown in two years.

Peter Atencio

Pacman-Horn almost a done deal SYDNEY—WBO welterweight world champion Manny Pacquiao could fight Australian Jeff Horn in Queensland state after officials confirmed Sunday they were in negotiations to host the bout.

There has been weeks of speculation that the 38-yearold Filipino dubbed “PacMan” will get into the ring with Horn in April, possibly in Australia.

“We now are getting the pieces together to deliver this major fight,” Queensland’s tourism minister Kate Jones told reporters in Brisbane.

“We are working very closely with Duco Events, (venue manager) AEG Ogden

and as well as the (Brisbane City) Council to secure this fight here in Brisbane.

“We’re hoping to lock this down as soon as possible.”

Describing it as the “largest boxing event in Australia”, Jones said her government was keen to secure the fight at the 52,500-capacity Suncorp Stadium.

Suncorp Stadium general manager Alan Graham said 28-year-old Horn was keen to fight at the Brisbane venue.

“He’s personally said that he couldn’t think of anything more exhilarating than walking out in the middle of Suncorp Stadium with a full house and people backing him... for a fight,” Graham

told reporters.

Horn’s promoter Duco Events was not immediately available for comment.

Brisbane’s Courier Mail newspaper said Sunday the fight had been pencilled in for April 23.

Pacquiao, who has parlayed his sporting fame into a career in politics as a senator in the Philippines, is a veteran of 67 fights with 59 victories.

His record easily dwarfs that of Horn, who hails from Queensland, who has notched up only 17 fights with 16 wins.

Pacquiao said last week that negotiations for the fight, including the date and opponent, were still ongoing. AFP

MINDORO CAGE CHAMP. Metro Manila amateur/commercial multi-titlist Magsaysay Sealions won the Mansalay Inter-Town/City Basketball Tournament recently in Mindoro Oriental. Team owner/coach Jemuel Laron led his team’s visit to Mansalay Mayor Jose Ildefonso Maliwanag. Members of the team are [from left] Cenon Paz, Jun Panares, Eman Navalta, Oliver Villareal, JR Lumantad, Rodel Vaygan, Alvin Facun, Chris Aqualifull, Reymark Cortado, Geson Tariga, Ceamar Fernandez, team captain Lester Canete, Francis Camacho, Mark Fernandez, Elmo Reyes and co-team owner Katherine Garcia. The Sealions also won the Cinco Capitan Rene Fabular Cup Basketball Open in Occidental Mindoro.

Lorbes, Manayon rule age-group triathlon in Subic INAKI Emil Lorbes and Karen Manayon topped their respective categories in yesterday’s 2017 National Age Group TriathlonSubic Bay Freeport race, earning precious qualifying points needed for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

Lorbes was locked in a very close fight with Joshua Ramos before emerging victorious at the finish line at ACEA in the Super

Sprint (600 M swim – 16 Kilometer bike – 2.5 KM run) Male YOG race with a time 47 minutes and 38 seconds.

Ramos fell short with 47:46, while Russel Villaraza finished 3rd with 48:43.

In the distaff side, a very similar situation occurred as Karen Manayon defeated Lauren Plaza at the finish line, finishing only 8 seconds ahead (51:54 to 52:02).

Nicole Eijansantos landed 3rd with 52:47.

Still on the youth triathletes in the event supported by Century Tuna, Harbor Point, Ayala Mall, Gatorade, Standard Insurance, PLDT Subictel, BUMA Hotel, Asian Center for Insulation, Seafood Island, Raceday, SBR.ph, Trilife Magazine, Sports Radio and Tri Asia.Com, Andrew Remolino survived a

tight race with Julius Constantino in the Sprint Distance (750 M swim – 20 Km bike – 5 Km run) 16-19 male race winning by only 20 second at 1:06:37.

At 3rd was Tonito Alejo.

The Sprint Distance 16-19 female title went to Jacqui Rosee Lampanero, who timed 1:19:45 followed by Marga Delos Reyes and Una Sibayan.

Another highlight was the par-

ticipation of the national team in the Elite Category (Olympic Distance 1.5 Km swim – 40 Km bike – 10 Km run), whose members 2015 SEA Games gold medalist Claire Adorna, John Chicano and 2015 SEA Games gold medalist Nikko Huelgas competed with other triathletes aspiring to join their team after doing well in other races (both local and overseas) last year.

Casas confident of TCC repeat CASSIUS Casas hopes to turn back time and a mix of young and fellow veteran rivals he had bested the last time out as he seeks a second straight championship and third overall in The Country Club Invitational unfolding Thursday at the TCC course in Laguna.

Three years after outduelling Tony Lascuña in a thrilling finale to win by one in 2014, Casas believes he still has what it takes to win in this kind of top-level championship which features an elite cast – the top 30 players in last year’s Order of Merit of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour and the event’s former winners.

“I think I’m still good for five more wins,” said Casas, still hungry for title at 49.

That hunger should serve as an impetus for the former Philippine Open champion to outdo himself and the rest of the stellar field as he slugs it out with the country’s aces, including reigning OOM champion Lascuña, young Miguel Tabuena and former three-time champions Angelo Que and Juvic Pagunsan.

“I know it will be tough with all these players around. But I’m in shape and feel good about my chances,” said the inaugural champion and last winner of what has long been regarded as the country’s premier golf championship outside of the Philippine Open.

The TCC Invitational, put up

by ICTSI boss Ricky Razon in 2003 to honor the memory of his father and ICTSI founder Don Pocholo, himself an avid golfer, was shelved the last two years to give way to the renovation of the exclusive Tom Weiskophdesigned course.

That should make the par-72 layout more daunting and the battle for the top P1.5 million purse doubly interesting with former winners Frankie Miñoza and Artemio Murakami also in the title hunt in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Que and Pagunsan are actually chasing their fourth TCC crown but they will be in for a tough challenge against a select field of local players who finished among the top 30 in last year’s OOM ranking. Que won in 2007, 2010-11 while Pagunsan ruled in 2006, 2008 and 2012. Murakami topped the 2009 edition while Miñoza foiled Pagunsan to capture the 2013 diadem.

Prima Pasta badminton set Feb. 23 THE Prima Pasta Badminton Championship, on its 10th year, is inviting all badminton players all over the country, to compete in the prestigious annual tournament on Feb. 23 to 26, and March 4 and 5 at the Powersmash Badminton Courts on Pasong Tamo, Makati City.

More than 2,000 participants from different cities and provinces are expected to join the six-day tournament, organized by committee chairman Alexander Lim, in partnership with the Philippine Badminton Association and affiliated with the Philippine National Ranking System.

“In our 10th year, we are expecting the most exciting badminton competition not only from the open divisions, but also in other divisions as well,” said Lim. “It’s also a decade of excellence in Prima Pasta badminton championship. Every year, we see a lot of players that excel and we’re hoping this will be another banner year for our badminton tournament.”

The tournament, sponsored by Babolat and SMART Communications through MVP Sports Foundation, will include the following events: Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles from Open class, to Levels A to G, while Open Class and Levels B to F will be available in the Women’s Doubles.

The Open singles will be available only in the men’s and women’s category.

The event is also supported

by Boysen Paints, Morning Star Milling Corporation, Mabz Builders, ILO Construction, Monolith Construction, Monocrete Construction, Pioneer Insurance, Promax International, Regent Foods Corp., RFM Corp and Del Monte Phils.

DoF vows to oppose two-tier cigarette tax B3

IN BRIEF Mining law needs full implementation

REPEALING the Mining Act of 1995 could only encourage illegal mining activities that do not respect government regulations, according to an environment group.

The Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship warned against moves by Congress to repeal the Mining Act and replace it with proposed legislation collectively referred to as Alternative Mining Bills.

PBEST said the House committee on natural resources had started conducting technical working group meetings to deliberate on the AMBs. “The law has technically been just in operation for less than eight years, and a cycle in the mining industry spans more or less 20 years. There is no need to repeal the mining law. The real problem is implementation,” said Prof. Dindo Manhit, convenor of PBEST and president of Stratbase-Albert Del Rosario Institute.

The Mining Act – or Republic Act 7942 – faced constitutional challenges while Executive Order No 79 in 2012 effectively stymied its implementation.

Changing the rules in the middle of the game may just foster illegal mining activities that do not follow environmental regulations, Manhit said.

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2017

Duterte backs coal plants

By Alena Mae S. Flores

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said the Philippines will continue to use coal in power generation but will implement new technologies to minimize emissions.

“But for as long as the most viable fuel is coal and cheapest so that the power can also be delivered the energy to the people at a much lower price, then we’ll have no other alternative except to upgrade the technology to its fullest―to limit,” Duterte said during a visit to Sarangani for the groundbreaking of the coal plant of Alsons Consolidated Resources Corp.

“At this time, whoever is the president of the Philippines would always contend with coal. There’s so much coal still that can be utilized by civilization for the next 50 to 70 years. And to be worrying about pollution, well, we just have to come to terms with that in our time, in our generation, it is really what it is. There is nothing you can do about it,” Duterte said.

The president said the use of coal for power continued to face challenges.

“And as a matter of fact, the new one is really the movement to limit or do away with coal whether liquidized or you burn it solid. But the problem is, there is no alternative in the price, money,” Duterte said.

He said the government wanted to balance the need for power and clean energy.

“We would like to have a clean planet but that would be impossible really to insist on it because

civilization needs to have light. So you strike a happy balance,” he said.

Duterte also defended his decision not to sign the Paris Climate Change agreement on two reasons “First, there is a five billion fund. The agreement does not state who gives it. It’s either the high―the highest energy countries may do it but there is no compulsion. Second is if there is violation, it leaves it at that. There is no sanction at all,” he said.

“So we allow coal to come in because that is the cheapest and we are not that rich. So people would always cry about the prices, electricity,” Duterte said.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said Philippines was pushing for adaptation to climate change not mitigation. “What we want is adaptation on how we can improve the Philippine situation…We have to upgrade… We are requiring the new technology has to be used,” Cusi said.

ASEAN COIN.

President Rodrigo Duterte (left) and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco, Jr. unveil the 1-piso Asean 2017 commemorative coin during the launch of the Philippines’ Asean 2017 chairmanship in Davao City. The obverse side of the coin bears the various elements of the logo of the Philippines’ chairmanship of Asean. It includes 10 stars representing the 10 member states with their names engraved in micro text on the right side.

On the edge is the theme “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World.”

Auto makers assess impact of higher tax

THE automotive industry tapped a third party to conduct an independent study on the impact of the proposed excise tax hike on automotive vehicles.

Toyota Manufacturing Philippines Corp. vice chairman Alfred Ty said while the industry understood the revenue generating measures the government was trying to implement, “taxes should be tempered.”

“How bullish we will be depends on regulations like this. We understand the government program in reducing revenue in some segments and recovering it from other segments including the car industry,” he said.

“But in this industry, an increase of P5,000 in price per unit will result for [sales] volume to dip. At P10,000 to 20,000 price hike, people will start to think twice [of buying]. Now, if we are talking about 40 to 50 percent increase in prices, that is detrimental,” Ty said.

He said the government signified its intention to listen to automotive stakeholders, giving the players enough time to prepare a position paper.

“I hope we can have a transparent and open dialog and consider our point as well because it will save the industry. We just have to be able to share the information to balance all the positions presented, by government and by the industry,” Ty said. Othel V. Campos

Govt told not to rely on BPO for growth

The Philippine economy will remain resilient in the next couple of years but the country should not rely too much on the business process outsourcing industry to sustain growth, Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. said over the weekend.

The British bank said in a report that economic expansion would continue despite the threats of protectionist policies of US President Donald Trump on the business process outsourcing sector and remittances from Filipino workers.

“We expect remittances and consumption to remain as resilient drivers of growth in 2017.

There are currently fears among some investors that a change to immigration policies in the US may impact remittances [the US is the largest contributor to total remittances],” the bank said.

HSBC said that was the case last year when there were fears of a slump in Middle East remittances which never materialized. The status of Filipinos in the US was unlikely to be significantly impacted by any new policy, it said.

The bank said concerns about the impact of protectionist US policies on the Philippines’ business process outsourcing sector were understandable, but “our base case is for Philippines economic growth to remain robust over the next two years, though over the longer term the Philippines needs to diversify away from BPO to ensure more sustainable growth,” it said. Julito G. Rada

Subic declares war on fuel smuggling

SUBIC Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Martin Dino declared a war on smugglers using Subic as entry port for fuel products estimated to be worth billions of pesos.

He made the statement following the recent foiled importation of 200,000 metric tons of refined sugar from Thailand through Subic Freeport.

Dino said to stop smuggling of fuel product, all gasoline and diesel fuel should be marked before they could be shipped out of Subic.

“In other words, color-coding. It is a strong deterrent to fuel smuggling,” Dino, who was named by President Rodrigo Duterte in September to head SBMA, said in a statement.

Dino said this practice would make it easier for SBMA law enforcers “to catch the marked fuel being sold around Subic.”

“This will be a strong basis for us to take the necessary legal action against those involved,” he said.

B1

Manila

Standard

TODAY

San Miguel pushes airport in Bulacan

By Darwin G. Amojelar SAN Miguel Corp. is awaiting the government’s decision on the company’s plan to build an international airport in Bulacan province to replace the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City, a top executive said.

“I offered to build an airport in Bulacan and if they want it, we will build it but if they don’t like it, it’s okay,” San Miguel president Ramon Ang said.

San Miguel offered to build the new airport in Bulacan, north of Manila, in a revision from its 2014 proposal for a $10-billion airport on reclaimed part of Metro Manila.

The conglomerate wanted to build an airport with at least four runways and covering 2,000 hectares in Bulacan towns near Manila Bay. Ang earlier offered to build a $10-billion airport on another

site in Manila Bay, but this was rejected by the Aquino administration.

Another conglomerate expressed an interest to build an airport in Sangley Point, Cavite, but Ang said the project should undergo public bidding.

All-Asia Resources and Reclamation Corp., a consortium led by by tycoon Henry Sy and the Tieng family, offered to build a new international airport in Sangley.

ARRC plans to reclaim 2,500 hectares at Sangley Point. The company expects to complete the reclamation in 12 months.

The new airport would be designed to have a capacity of 50 million to 100 million passengers which would be completed in five years.

The project would also provide efficient and transportation connectivity for private and public vehicles and rail system.

Finance asks House to pass tax bill in full

By Gabrielle H. Binaday PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will only sign into law the proposed comprehensive tax reform program if Congress will pass it in full, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said.

“If only the tax reducing measures are passed, they can bet their lives, it’s not going to pass.

It’s not going to be signed into law. It has to be a package deal,” Dominguez said in an interview at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

“Someone mentioned, you’re raising so much money abroad anyway through long term ODA [official development assistance]. We raised a total of something like P800 billion to P900 billion. That will [be] spent over six or seven years.

Certainly that’s not enough to

cover P8-trillion program that we need to spend on. So we have to somehow pay for it, and the way to pay for it is to have a tax reform program,” Dominguez said.

The department submitted its tax reform proposal to Congress on Sept. 26 but was only filed this month by Quirino Rep. Dakila Cua, chairman of the House ways and means committee, under House Bill 4774.

HB 4774 covers the reduction of personal income tax rates and a corresponding set of revenue-compensating measures, including lowering the rates for estate and donor’s taxes, expanding the valueadded tax base, but retaining the exemptions enjoyed by senior citizens and persons with disabilities, adjusting automobile and fuel excise taxes.

METRO SOUTH COOPERATIVE BANK

IDC Centre, Zapote Street cor. Kalayaan Avenue, Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Makati City

040608 (Bank Code)

BALANCE SHEET

As of DECEMBER 31, 2016 ASSETS Cash and Cash Items Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Due from Other Banks Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Available-for-Sale Financial Assets-Net Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets-Net Unquoted Debt Securities Classified as Loans-Net Investments in Non-Marketable Equity Security-Net Loans and Receivables - Net Loans to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Interbank Loans Receivable Loans and Receivables - Others Loans and Receivables Arising from RA/CA/PR/SLB General Loan Loss Provision Other Financial Assets Equity Investment in Subsidiaries, Associates and Joint Ventures-Net Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixture and Equipment-Net Real and Other Properties Acquired-Net Non-Current Assets Held for Sale Other Assets-Net Net Due from Head Office/Branches/Agencies, if any (Philippine branch of a foreign bank) TOTAL ASSETS LIABILITIES Financial Liabilities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Deposit Liabilities Due to Other Banks Bills Payable a) BSP (Rediscounting and Other Advances) b) Interbank Loans Payable c) Other Deposit Substitute d) Others Bonds Payable-Net Unsecured Subordinated Debt-Net Redeemable Preferred Shares Special Time Deposit Due to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Other Financial Liabilities Other Liabilities Net Due to Head Office/Branches/Agencies (Philippine branch of a foreign bank) TOTAL LIABILITIES Stockholders’ Equity Capital Stock Other Capital Accounts Retained Earnings Assigned Capital TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS Guarantees Issued Financial Standby Letters of Credit Performance Standby Letters of Credit Commercial Letters of Credit Trade Related Guarantees Commitments Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts Securities Held Under Custodianship by Bank Proper Trust Department Accounts a) Trust and Other Fiduciary Accounts b) Agency Accounts c) Advisory/Consultancy Derivatives Others TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Gross total loan portfolio (TLP) Specific allowance for credit losses on the TLP Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) a. Gross NPLs b. Ratio of gross NPLs to gross TLP (%) c. Net NPLs d. Ratio of Net NPLs to gross TLP (%) Classified Loans & Other Risk Assets, gross of allowance for credit losses DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross allowance of credit losses Ratio of DOSRI loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses, to gross TLP (%) Gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables Ratio of gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables to TLP (%) Percent Compliance with Magna Carta (%) a. 8% for Micro and Small Enterprises b. 2% for Medium Enterprises Return on Equity (ROE) (%) Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Solo Basis, as prescribed under existing regulations a. Total CAR (%) b. Tier 1 Ratio (%) c. Common Tier 1 Ratio (%) 1/ Deferred Charges not yet Written Down Unbooked Allowance for Credit Losses on Financial Instruments Received

Account Code 108000000000000000 105150000000000000 105200000000000000 112000000000000000 195200000000000000 195250000000000000 195300000000000000 195350000000000000 195400000000000000 140050000000000000 195401000000000000 140150500000000000 195402000000000000 175150000000000000 148000000000000000 195452500000000000 195500500000000000 195501000000000000 150150000000000000 152000000000000000 155250000000000000 100000000000000000

Amount Current Quarter Previous Quarter 2,411,433.55 625,483.01 51,840,637.11 46,843,157.11 815,665,881 .94 668,786,890.06 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 10,000 000.00 10,000,000,00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,112,525,267.85 1,907,830,604.57 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,172,663,471.38 1,958,968,808.10 0.00 0.00 60,138,203.53 51,138,203.53 19,345,526.34 22,639,040.04 0.00 0.00 39,297,903.14 40,132,126.75 19,025,607.36 19,220,431.02 0.00 0.00 8,083,789.13 8,729,998.42 0.00 0.00 3,078,196,046.42 2,724,807,730.98

208000000000000000 215000000000000000 220050000000000000 220100000000000000 220100001500000000 220100002000000000 220100002500000000 220100003000000000 295201500000000000 295202000000000000 220250000000000000 220300000000000000 230350000000000000 240050000000000000 240100000000000000 230850000000000000 200000000000000000

0.00 1,639,334,031.99 0.00 809,379.166,68 0.00 809,379.166,68 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 6,497,627.41 122,620,962.30 0.00 2,577,831,788.38

0.00 1,625 243,851.64 0.00 471,841,666.68 0.00 471,841,666.68 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 6,023,916.66 107,811,227.45 0.00 2,210,920,662.43

335050000000000000 335100000000000000 315000000000000000 325200000000000000 300000000000000000 905000000000000000

438,024,300.00 -6,751,79.00 63,015,137.04 0.00 500,364,258.04 3,078,196,046.42

439 024 300,00 27,974,203.22 46,888,565.33 0.00 513,887,068.55 2,724,807,730.98

405000000000000000 410050000000000000 410100000000000000 415000000000000000 420000000000000000 425000000000000000 430000000000000000 495220000000000000 495250000000000000 495250500000000000 495251000000000000 495251500000000000 435000000000000000 440000000000000000 400000000000000000

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3,277,216.91 3,277,216.91

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3,411,560.91 3,411,560.91

499020000000000000 499300000000000000

2,213,966,794.72 41,303,323.34

1,991,637,207.56 32,668,399.46

499100500000000000 499150500000000000 499101000000000000 499151000000000000 499200000000000000 499400000000000000 499480000000000000 499500000000000000 499550000000000000

300,070,131.80 13.55 258,766,808.46 11.69 45.00 252,487,429.23 11.40 0.00 0.00

291,820,460.21 14.65 259,152,060.75 13.01 45.00 90,888,384.78 4.56 0.00 0.00

499050500000000000 499051000000000000 499350000000000000

12.95 30.32 3.00

13.44 30.62 5.00

499650500500000000 499650501000000000 499650501500000000 499700000000000000 499750000000000000

14.95 438.63 0.00 0.00 0.00

17.86 489.84 0.00 0.00 0.00

1/ Common Equity Tier 1 is only applicable to all Universal and Commercial Banks and their subsidiary banks.

Republic of the Philippines ) Makati City) s.s.

I/We, RODA L. CRUZ and RENELIA V. ESTIOKO of the above-mentioned bank do solemnly swear that all matters set forth in the above balance sheet are true and correct to the best of my/our knowledge and belief.

RODA L. CRUZ Finance Head

RENELIA V. ESTIOKO President

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 19th day of January 2017 at Makati City, affiant exhibiting his/her/their Passport No.P1057056A, issued at DFA NCR EAST on December 01, 2016 and Passport No. EB6029990, issued at Manila City on July 25, 2012.

Doc. No. 17 Book No. 05 Page No. 440 Series of 2017

B2

Business

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Profit taking likely to hit market

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

TOCKS are expected to consolidate under current levels in the absence of catalysts that could sustain the 7.2-percent rise in January 2017.

RBCB Securities said the market’s strong rise in the first trading weeks of the year could also encourage investors to book profits.

“The bellwether index climbed by 7.2 percent in just the first four weeks of the year. Consequently, selling pressures may emerge next week as market participants look to book their profits for January,” RCBC Securities said.

Investors also may opt to stay on the

sidelines after the release of the 2016 gross domestic product data and China’s market hiatus with the Lunar year celebration.

“The Fed is set to convene for its first meeting this year, and all will wait for its overall stance whether or not to adopt more aggressive moves in adjusting benchmark interest rates. For now, expect the local mart to move within 7,150 to 7,400, unless significant boosters are announced at the macro level,” F. Yap Securities said.

One factor that could push the market forward is the better-than-expected earnings report of listed companies, it said.

Analysts said investors would await the release of 2016 earnings reports of listed firms and their earnings guidance for 2017, before taking a more aggressive stance in the market.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, gained 1.4 percent over last week’s five-day market trading to close at 7,333.67 on Jan. 27, as

investors took net long positions ahead of the GDP announcement which showed a growth of 6.8 percent in 2016, the fastest in three years.

The broader all-share index also climbed 1.1 percent to 4,414.90, as most sectoral indices ended in the green, led by services and financials.

Foreign investors, however, were net sellers last week by P1.3 billion, while average daily turnover reached P6.2 billion.

Top gainers last week were gaming stocks Bloomberry Resorts Corp. which climbed 12.1 percent to P12.06 and Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corp. which went up 10.4 percent to P4.92 and conglomerate LT Group Inc. which rose 9.4 percent to P13.26.

Heavy losers included Concepcion Industrial which dropped 6.7 percent to P56 and SM Prime Holdings Inc. which declined 3.2 percent to P30.

Ayala prices P10-b bond offering higher at 4.82% CONGLOMERATE Ayala Corp. set the interest rate for the planned P10-billion eightyear bond offering at 4.82 percent per annum, one of the underwriters handling the transaction said.

BPI Capital Corp. managing director Eric Luchangco said the 4.82-percent interest rate was higher than the P10-billion seven-year bonds issued by the conglomerate in July last year which was priced at 3.92 percent per annum.

“It is higher because interest

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

JANUARY 23-27, 2017 Close Volume

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

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

3.64 48.3 114.50 92.30 38.55 4.12 1.38 16 20 6.62 0.68 1.68 850.00 0.720 79.25 0.77 14.24 24.80 54.00 90 136 240 36.1 213.6 1770.00 77.80 1.26

49,000 86,900 9,702,910 5,759,360 277,500 19,000 956,000 72,000 2,521,400 24,900 18,000 748,000 650 61,105,000 15,496,190 6,211,000 150,100 26,000 178,800 5,940 900 4,500 520,200 3,437,300 2,200 232,450 10,000

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Basic Energy Corp.

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

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

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

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

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

Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas Holdings San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ Shakeys Pizza SPC Power Corp.

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

43.7 4.9 0.92 1.55 18.38 0.199 90.15 15.90 11.28 16.8 174.8 98 97.05 22.8 56 2.09 6.64 12.08 12.480 7.02 5.64 7.98 1.75 22.8 70.55 12.14 16.50 6.17 1.890 208.00 73.00 4.51 3.6 30.2 27.4 15.2 285.00 0.260 5.34 3.2 9.42 3.61 78.05 11.26 2.29 6.00 1.52 5.34 5.00 2.85 251 12.9 4.21 0.147 1.60 168 4.35 1.95 1.10

5,957,700 10,375,000 17,467,000 15,099,000 22,500 2,310,000 3,010 566,100 36,761,200 19,118,500 1,140 2,880 170 647,500 526,140 2,119,000 1,365,900 50,600 32,211,800 4,813,900 71,132,900 7,230,300 2,000 7,920,600 1,178,380 46,000 1,449,400 813,000 3,615,000 3,660,390 850 13,864,000 50,000 19,218,800 1,654,500 20,068,700 1,217,530 2,930,000 14,400 1,028,000 18,208,100 4,000 3,653,980 148,600 2,668,000 3,612,500 629,000 3,845,300 1,997,000 659,000 187,840 28,404,300 278,000 5,440,000 900,000 5,734,400 236,000 84,212,000 16,000

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

LT Group Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

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

0.410 74.80 12.86 1.13 6.11 0.305 0.310 800 9.24 13.00 8.18 0.183 1381 6.07 76.30 7.99 1.16 13.26 6.8 0.0440 1.220 2.020 2.56 99.00 2.21 705.00 1.40 0.85 264.200 0.2900 0.1860 0.255

66,670,000 6,359,620 29,176,900 262,000 169,700 1,950,000 660,000 1,493,130 15,268,000 41,889,700 573,400 150,000 685,860 30,200 6,615,160 3,905,000 37,107,000 83,436,400 147,565,600 357,600,000 8,000 1,105,000 53,000 2,282,760 130,000 2,246,520 3,687,000 21,000 36,470 4,600,000 3,410,000 120,000

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

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

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

Phil. Realty `A’

7.300 6.11 1.27 2.590 0.790 35.350 3.25 5.13 5.4 0.550 1.06 1.350 0.191 0.560 52.4 0.770 0.145 1.01 1.64 1.18 4.25 3.64 0.175 0.2600 0.400

691,700 700 9,447,000 2,788,000 150,776,000 37,376,500 15,909,000 37,300 44,300 133,959,000 6,624,000 21,772,000 222,600,000 125,409,000 1,391,570 1,518,000 1,410,000 12,446,000 24,545,000 236,000 5,000 174,664,000 357,400,000 2,230,000 120,000

Value FINANCIAL 179,320.00 4,187,400.00 1,101,198,123 526,942,429.00 10,684,755.00 77,310.00 1,312,250.00 1,158,506.00 49,189,136.00 165,576 12,240 1,255,440.00 550,900.00 44,595,050.00 1,211,491,203.50 4,795,570.00 2,132,898.00 628,360.00 9,665,675.00 533,286.00 128,342.00 1,079,226.00 18,767,655 735,390,758.00 3,872,995 18,152,236.00 12,570.00 INDUSTRIAL 261,346,160.00 48,907,260.00 16,537,110.00 23,232,820.00 426,566.00 892,990.00 290,819.50 6,333,798.00 422,950,678.00 317,163,678 189,282.00 277,801.00 16,560.50 14,677,050.00 30,294,358 4,447,740.00 8,823,304.00 608,482.00 399,348,419.00 33,731,962.00 399,024,895.00 57,930,564.00 3,500.00 179,236,810.00 82,540,814.50 561,758.00 23,931,654.00 4,974,597.00 6,652,830.00 759,315,982.00 61,842.50 58,902,720.00 182,270.00 584,223,690.00 45,261,485.00 303,277,660.00 350,157,830.00 736,650.00 76,231.00 3,303,770.00 174,862,289.00 14,440.00 282,636,362.00 1,686,066.00 6,055,880.00 21,622,568.00 965,830.00 20,186,009.00 9,827,560.00 1,915,480.00 46,360,118.00 359,034,408.00 1,163,940.00 806,140.00 1,419,070.00 962,163,724 1,051,410.00 166,133,540.00 17,450.00 HOLDING FIRMS 28,421,250.00 476,988,438.00 373,144,912.00 296,300.00 1,026,332.00 597,150.00 202,900.00 1,221,706,770 194,182,375.00 546,014,914.00 4,641,192.00 27,330.00 930,496,340.00 182,003.00 508,668,098.00 31,197,012.00 43,934,890.00 1,049,752,948.00 1,015,355,635.00 13,243,508.00 9,670.00 2,205,350.00 135,250.00 226,457,742.00 288,360.00 1,590,446,230.00 5,088,720.00 17,860.00 9,622,054.00 1,334,600.00 647,250.00 30,500.00 PROPERTY 5,077,422.00 4,277.00 11,707,400.00 7,133,820.00 123,625,710.00 1,340,225,915.00 51,719,270.00 188,340.00 242,520.00 75,036,940.00 6,807,460.00 29,299,470.00 42,876,290.00 71,443,280.00 72,503,241.50 1,106,630.00 202,920.00 12,583,020.00 40,377,730.00 279,580.00 21,250.00 644,433,730.00 61,544,810.00 621,350.00 48,850.00

JANUARY 16-20, 2017 Close Volume Value 3.79 48.25 111.00 90.00 38.5 4.18 1.37 16.2 19 6.60 0.68 1.69 825.00 0.750 76.4 0.77 14.2 22.10 54.50 89.5 151 239 36.1 213 1747.00 78.00 1.23

122,000 85,200 9,881,900 9,828,970 583,800 96,000 2,110,000 77,200 776,700 12,600 3,000 435,000 340 164,390,000 11,872,470 14,761,000 116,300 15,000 851,830 4,080 940 22,270 177,500 2,579,140 1,450 493,240 78,000

454,820.00 4,081,385.00 1,098,668,059 882,253,810.50 22,434,730.00 395,240.00 2,835,190.00 1,250,430.00 14,781,400.00 83,320 2,040 735,010.00 284,880.00 121,569,420.00 908,751,739.00 11,776,070.00 1,651,958.00 333,500.00 45,375,968.00 366,495.00 141,167.00 5,172,300.00 6,389,580 547,635,186.00 2,518,200 38,213,404.50 97,250.00

43.6 4.5 0.92 1.48 18.8 0.210 96 18.00 11.48 15.98 143 96 95.15 23 60 2.01 6.66 12.02 12.600 7.00 5.46 7.90 1.78 22 68.9 12.90 16.30 6.2 1.800 203.00 76.45 2.78 3.66 29.8 27.5 14.2 284.40 0.250 5.20 3.23 9.56

7,108,400 6,144,000 4,299,000 16,859,000 82,500 830,000 5,120 95,900 29,548,300 12,184,200 10 2,360 150 794,100 373,260 5,030,000 1,098,000 157,000 30,319,000 3,265,900 90,832,900 13,190,700 1,000 11,389,300 745,190 97,200 400,400 1,546,200 4,417,000 2,221,530 150 576,000 104,000 4,909,600 1,043,900 4,121,500 1,621,550 4,050,000 134,500 17,835,000 15,903,700

311,375,400.00 27,004,820.00 3,850,670.00 24,410,960.00 1,471,234.00 173,840.00 481,301.50 1,830,354.00 343,291,468.00 194,054,580 1,430.00 230,923.50 14,824.00 18,130,730.00 22,386,636 10,004,360.00 7,097,037.00 1,885,218.00 376,502,980.00 23,123,622.00 484,925,148.00 96,178,021.00 1,780.00 254,510,415.00 51,374,690.00 1,181,048.00 6,487,640.00 9,573,820.00 7,782,310.00 459,008,536.00 11,173.00 1,549,370.00 383,760.00 146,856,125.00 28,260,880.00 58,772,414.00 449,883,092.00 1,019,900.00 705,476.00 57,412,750.00 152,704,873.00

75 11.50 2.28 5.90 1.54 5.06 4.95 2.9 242 12.56 4.16 0.148 1.56 166.1 4.47 1.8 1.06

4,068,640 29,000 4,273,000 1,774,500 752,600 521,600 2,161,000 897,000 63,360 41,359,300 446,000 23,090,000 1,830,000 4,381,240 98,000 18,426,000 678,000

306,292,647.50 333,220.00 9,725,960.00 10,214,854.00 1,331,240.00 2,642,134.00 10,666,554.00 2,558,980.00 15,434,929.00 507,483,526.00 1,867,480.00 3,439,100.00 2,900,310.00 741,447,907 427,160.00 32,818,830.00 731,470.00

0.420 74.90 12.76 1.15 6.04 0.315 0.330 788 8.89 13.06 8.10 0.181 1340 5.95 77.10 7.96 1.13 12.12 6.84 0.0460 1.250 1.990 2.56 98.00 2.29 670.00 1.32 0.89 264.000 0.2950 0.1800 0.250

88,230,000 5,359,280 24,235,300 121,000 712,300 2,070,000 470,000 1,069,370 3,508,000 34,670,100 263,100 750,000 1,006,435 18,300 6,023,620 2,005,900 29,751,000 20,229,600 102,875,000 761,500,000 8,000 8,339,000 5,000 701,950 30,000 1,023,220 5,138,000 324,000 33,480 1,380,000 2,800,000 3,190,000

37,063,300.00 400,623,183.00 311,628,838.00 141,590.00 4,268,735.00 638,400.00 144,150.00 844,136,990 30,834,065.00 452,588,024.00 2,122,338.00 136,370.00 1,345,089,915.00 108,752.00 455,859,560.50 16,099,951.00 33,728,330.00 167,889,734.00 700,955,919.00 33,705,600.00 9,910.00 16,929,250.00 12,800.00 68,243,386.00 74,580.00 695,689,895.00 6,779,970.00 288,110.00 8,802,180.00 405,600.00 534,670.00 808,140.00

7.340 6.10 1.19 2.490 0.800 35.200 3.25 5.1

1,245,000 10,600 11,189,000 1,329,000 598,258,000 39,551,100 20,929,000 11,400

9,270,683.00 65,300.00 13,500,400.00 3,233,490.00 472,311,560.00 1,358,314,200.00 67,777,650.00 58,140.00

0.570 1.05 1.390 0.189 0.590 51.85 0.720 0.145 1.02 1.64 1.18

82,955,000 64,000 2,411,000 409,790,000 147,942,000 2,065,950 384,000 1,980,000 8,843,000 30,858,000 2,090,000

47,179,330.00 67,230.00 3,335,540.00 77,810,460.00 93,459,080.00 107,445,987.50 273,040.00 293,400.00 8,903,720.00 50,992,190.00 2,497,500.00

3.73 0.164 0.2650 0.415

217,502,000 257,200,000 1,730,000 500,000

791,989,260.00 42,477,180.00 471,450.00 203,300.00

STOCKS

JANUARY 23-27, 2017 Close Volume

Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp.

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

30.95 4.92 26.10 1.68 3.23 30.00 1.05 6.98 1.010 5.080

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

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

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

Manila Broadcasting Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

7.5 47.9 1.36 0.530 0.054 10.52 5.32 7.90 0.0720 2.85 94.75 9.6 2.12 8.90 960 1805 6.15 16.50 15.20 3.01 78.65 16.26 119 12 0.0100 9.06 0.215 1.4800 3.1 15 4.14 2.56 18.20 2 4.88 4.15 2.770 11.3 5.34 3.1 9.89 132.00 9.95 1495.00 0.475 1.440 44.25 78.05 6.44 2.74 1.080 1.8 3.26 0.380

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ Benguet Corp `A’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon

0.0033 2.71 5.32 11.48 2.1700 2.1900 0.5 0.465 12.18 2.810 0.255 0.219 0.220 0.012 0.0130 2.23 6.75 2.7 0.4900 1.0500 0.0110 0.0120 4.19 9.10 3.70 0.0140 136.60 2.98 0.0090

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

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

47.95 542 535 105 104.3 112.9 116 520 5.85 1020 1040 1.04 109 1070 1178 1012 108 115 76.85 81.2 76 78.25 79.7 77.55 79.5 77.95

LR Warrant

2.250

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

6.81 2.93 4.3 8.38

First Metro ETF

120.4

JANUARY 16-20, 2017 Close Volume Value

Value

28,900 16,693,000 5,275,600 1,138,000 49,000 57,372,900 71,967,000 42,500 246,410,000 11,194,200

867,540.00 77,878,880.00 137,983,210.00 1,938,350.00 158,880.00 1,747,085,525.00 76,018,490.00 296,502.00 225,109,540.00 57,270,160.00 SERVICES 75,500 565,306.00 116,200 5,569,245.00 106,080 99,430.00 1,336,000 697,710.00 189,080,000 10,257,770.00 17,900 192,102.00 15,200 82,880 74,796,200 566,188,064.00 32,680,000 2,336,780.00 30,444,000 86,676,000.00 2,421,140 231,658,714.00 10,200 100,047.00 70,000 145,490 3,279,800 29,215,576.00 105 101,225.00 205,460 361,071,940 1,569,900 9,765,791.00 391,700 6,409,474.00 1,200 18,936 22,021,000 65,381,080.00 9,269,820 714,967,357.50 82,800 1,351,244 940 105,890 5,800 69,600.00 123,800,000 1,241,900.00 2,504,000 22,694,620.00 42,680,000 9,059,980.00 1,965,000 2,840,620.00 538,000 1,719,900.00 15,100 220,362.00 4,509,000 18,569,040 445,000 1,149,370.00 10,600 196,408 2,000 4,000.00 66,791,000 311,747,910.00 10,427,000 42,609,570.00 9,779,000 26,991,360.00 21,200 239,022.00 82,000 426,863 59,000 187,000.00 2,700 17,815.00 949,730 130,149,561.00 6,568,000 66,825,203.00 468,475 701,935,260.00 18,060,000 8,480,850.00 72,261,000 104,772,860.00 10,997,200 479,783,445.00 6,493,040 471,441,622.00 1,462,500 9,274,814.00 31,175,000 86,939,980.00 47,036,000 51,037,420.00 32,000 56,170.00 1,719,000 5,628,660.00 2,430,000 915,800.00 MINING & OIL 723,000,000 2,385,900.00 9,205,000 25,230,910.00 2,207,300 11,914,455.00 5,700 62,240.00 78,000 170,030.00 82,000 56,100.00 4,759,000 2,386,860.00 4,610,000 2,121,500.00 185,700 2,240,430.00 26,821,000 77,060,270.00 3,360,000 859,600.00 30,000,000 6,613,400.00 2,840,000 629,130.00 173,500,000 2,082,200.00 116,800,000 2,569,900.00 4,629,000 10,405,340.00 31,554,200 211,513,560.00 604,000 1,651,330.00 130,000 63,750.00 1,020,000 1,081,790.00 254,600,000 2,907,400.00 75,500,000 941,900.00 49,000 199,230.00 13,017,400 118,992,195.00 14,923,000 55,363,120.00 2,101,400,000 29,244,700.00 5,443,670 750,773,236.00 407,000 1,185,380.00 17,000,000 153,000.00 PREFERRED 3,370,500 161,783,930.00 9,940 5,326,600.00 40 21,400 69,860 7,443,456 106,630 11,140,674.00 10 1,129.00 7,000 812,000.00 4,040 2,103,100.00 16,851,400 98,813,105.00 1,905 1,943,100.00 18,935 19,718,920.00 453,000 466,740 10,190 1,109,573.00 4,800 5,444,000.00 1,405 1,627,770.00 1,000 1,013,810.00 5,110 538,430.00 1,110 127,650.00 249,710 19,195,629.50 101,620 8,230,759.00 104,500 7,972,335.00 147,150 11,511,113.00 278,690 22,335,195.00 33,880 2,627,204.00 119,170 9,376,024.00 517,990 40,730,653.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 578,000 1,309,200.00 SME 1,171,800 8,073,441.00 11,000 32,350.00 576,000 2,413,430.00 7,027,000 59,741,328.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 158,130 18,957,913.00

30.00 4.31 25.15 1.62 3.28 31.00 1.02 6.98 0.930 5.040

2,100 17,710,000 7,972,800 641,000 1,267,000 30,840,200 40,321,000 1,600 671,000 9,864,100

63,015.00 74,094,780.00 201,601,885.00 1,036,670.00 4,094,920.00 934,085,445.00 41,435,760.00 11,168.00 599,860.00 48,965,710.00

7.5 48.3 1.37 0.520 0.054 10.6 5.64 7.05 0.0720 2.75 94.95 9.8 2.1 8.50 1000 1682 6.25 15.90 17.98 2.95 73.9 15.68 125 12 0.0094 9.07 0.218 1.4000 3.23 15.3 4.25 2.48 20.00 2 4.42 4.20 2.780 11.28 5.10 3.3 8.01 139.90 10.52 1507.00 0.465 1.430 41.90 75.80 6.30 2.57 1.100

181,400 126,200 466,000 2,361,000 642,850,000 29,100 26,000 106,307,700 130,860,000 27,313,000 1,650,430 16,000 198,000 1,415,400 3,730 433,365 1,093,400 315,800 52,800 44,326,000 7,996,790 46,800 990 32,500 2,460,200,000 2,560,200 176,510,000 1,473,000 344,000 9,500 2,854,000 12,000 700 1,000 59,989,000 13,454,000 7,702,000 30,400 55,700 64,000 100 280,660 6,512,100 376,065 128,180,000 63,966,000 7,593,900 2,802,240 6,972,000 4,965,000 115,985,000

1,357,575.00 6,061,405.00 646,740.00 1,258,930.00 35,085,310.00 306,612.00 142,422 718,111,973.00 9,440,530.00 73,217,200.00 156,870,243.00 156,939.00 408,470 11,975,352.00 3,804,000.00 726,760,010 6,882,277.00 4,988,142.00 949,344 135,459,050.00 578,110,367.50 739,402 114,200 386,546.00 23,034,860.00 23,204,400.00 28,374,800.00 2,034,370.00 1,125,220.00 141,572.00 12,116,920 28,380.00 14,190 2,000.00 254,747,630.00 56,468,000.00 21,117,700.00 342,036.00 290,754 203,850.00 801.00 37,259,446.00 67,076,105.00 557,808,845.00 61,680,950.00 90,518,480.00 302,644,210.00 206,838,480.50 44,220,568.00 12,869,720.00 125,193,740.00

3.26 0.350

1,706,000 4,330,000

5,534,750.00 1,618,800.00

0.0033 2.79 5.22 10.98 2.2000 2.1400 0.5 0.465 12.02 2.880 0.255 0.216 0.222 0.013 0.0120 2.23 6.6 2.78 0.4950 1.0600 0.0110 0.0110 4.07 9.00 3.59 0.0130 139.70 2.91 0.0092

3,112,000,000 62,224,000 1,699,200 2,500 97,000 36,000 2,412,000 9,220,000 117,900 26,919,000 4,760,000 32,600,000 9,290,000 24,600,000 8,100,000 13,736,000 55,808,500 4,000,000 100,000 2,017,000 158,000,000 27,900,000 85,000 6,552,400 8,260,000 197,000,000 4,239,370 141,000 52,000,000

10,420,600.00 172,767,690.00 8,956,418.00 25,716.00 218,000.00 77,910.00 1,231,170.00 4,348,800.00 1,399,450.00 80,181,880.00 1,206,780.00 7,484,840.00 2,056,610.00 296,100.00 103,100.00 31,319,320.00 382,431,547.00 11,045,150.00 48,750.00 1,959,140.00 1,769,400.00 332,600.00 345,550.00 59,224,598.00 29,779,480.00 2,474,900.00 577,428,589.00 413,130.00 480,400.00

48.2 525 535 105 104.4

535,600 27,420 600 155,070 331,200

25,791,340.00 14,399,500.00 318,210 16,120,829 34,567,961.00

113.5 530 5.9 1016 1035 1.04 108 1060 1150 1030 107.9

10,700 44,920 3,469,000 3,360 14,170 251,000 150 1,090 5,315 4,080 11,500

1,214,450.00 23,566,200.00 20,467,919.00 3,425,760.00 14,722,100.00 258,540 16,075.00 1,154,510.00 6,112,250.00 4,202,400.00 1,232,300.00

77 81 77 78.2 79.7 79.35 78.5 78.9

21,030 257,450 19,010 150,510 407,910 35,210 102,060 804,250

1,624,522.00 20,836,970.00 1,470,855.00 11,735,902.00 32,405,549.50 2,740,550.00 7,894,959.50 62,537,428.00

2.310

337,000

761,550.00

6.95 3.08 4.13 8.65

3,761,800 55,000 486,000 5,866,300

28,095,730.00 163,030.00 2,012,220.00 49,498,215.00

119.8

24,320

2,886,690.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Philodrill Corp. `A’ Abra Mining Pacifica `A’ MRC Allied Ind. Oriental Pet. `A’ Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Crown Equities Inc. Apollo Global Megaworld Manila Mining `A’

VOLUME 2,101,400,000 723,000,000 357,600,000 357,400,000 254,600,000 246,410,000 222,600,000 189,080,000 174,664,000 173,500,000

STOCKS SM Prime Holdings SM Investments Inc. Ayala Land `B’ Ayala Corp `A’ Metrobank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. LT Group Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Universal Robina GT Capital

VALUE 1,747,085,525.00 1,590,446,230.00 1,340,225,915.00 1,221,706,770.00 1,211,491,203.50 1,101,198,123.00 1,049,752,948.00 1,015,355,635.00 962,163,724.00 930,496,340.00

rates have gone up since that time,” Luchangco said.

Luchangco said while the offer period would start Tuesday, there was a significantly strong demand for Ayala Corp.’s P10-billion bonds.

“Demand is very strong.

The bond is highly subscribed and there is more than enough to fill the requirements. Basically we have little left to be offered to investors,” Luchangco said.

Ayala Corp. plans to issue P10-billion fixed-rate bonds due 2025, the second and last issuance of the company in relation to its three-year fixed rate bonds program worth P20 billion earlier approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The proceeds from the bond issuance will be used to refinance the group’s outstanding PRS-rated bond issuance of P10 billion maturing on April 30, 2017.

The conglomerate hired BPI Capital, China Bank Capital Corp. and PNB Capital and Investments Corp. as joint issue managers and BDO Capital & Investments Corp., BPI Capital, China Bank, East West Banking Corp., First Metro Investments Corp. and PNB Capital as joint lead underwriters. Jenniffer B. Austria

Developer considers IPO to fund expansion TORRE Lorenzo Development Corp., the real estate company of the Lorenzo group, is considering an initial public offering as a part of its plan to become a midsize property developer by 2020.

TLDC chief finance officer and senior vice-president for support services Emmanuel Rapadas said the IPO was an option the company was considering to sustain growth beyond the next five years.

He did not give a timetable for the planned IPO. “TLDC has a 10-year business plan. At this point, how we fund the projects is already well-planned and IPO is one of the options we’re looking at as a funding mechanism, funding opportunity to sustain the growth of the company beyond the next five years,” Rapadas said.

He said this would also depend on market conditions and valuations and readiness of the company.

Rapadas said even without the IPO, the company would be able to sustain its growth and achieve its target consolidated annual growth rate of 25 percent to 33 percent.

TLDC, known for developing premium student residences, said it would spend P30 billion to P32 billion to finance the construction of 22 projects until 2020.

It also expeÅcts to generate P60 billion in revenues from all 22 projects.

Rapadas said the company ended 2016 with P2.4 billion in gross revenues and expected a 29.2-percent growth in revenues this year to P3.1 billion.

Lorenzo said this year, the company was set to turn over four to five projects to buyers, including Torre Central near University of Sto. Tomas in Manila and Torre Sur near University of Perpetual Help in Las Piñas City. Jenniffer B. Austria

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Business

Manila

Standard

TODAY

Biliran geothermal problem addressed

By Alena Mae S. Flores FILIPINO scientists have found a way to address the acidity of the Biliran geothermal power project in Leyte for its successful development.

Biliran Geothermal Inc. disclosed in a statement over the weekend that a series of tests effectively treated the acidic nature of the fluids from the drilled wells, making the field fit for the generation of geothermal power.

The company said initial developments in the Biliran site started in the 1980s but the 49-megawatt project was not completed due to acidity of the geothermal brine.

Biliran is considered one of the largest greenfield geothermal projects in the Philippines with a

potential of 350 MW. “Acidic wells are very problematic. This is a challenge faced by every geothermal energy developer much like Biliran,” said Aylmer Marbello, a Biliran geothermal geologist.

Emerging Power Inc. last year acquired 60 percent of BGI and proceeded with the development of the project.

Emerging Power is majority owned by Nickel Asia Corp., one of the country’s biggest mining companies.

“When we completed the drilling, majority of the wells were acidic. We had to address the situation to ensure the success of the project. After a number of studies, we identified the solution we now call as the FMS,” Biliran geothermal geophysicist Nilo Apuada said.

B3

DoF vows to oppose two-tier cigarette tax

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

T

HE Finance Department said it will oppose a bill reverting to the two-tier tax system on cigarette packs in the country once it reaches deliberations in the Senate.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III reiterated the department’s opposition to House Bill 4144 filed by ABS Rep. Eugene Devera, which aims to switch back to a two-tier system classifying cigarette packs as “low-tier” and “high-tier.”

“The way that bill moved was with more than lightning speed. I guess it was a priority of people in Congress. However, it hasn’t started in Senate yet so it’s not really that fast,” Dominguez said during a forum last week.

“We’re against it, and we know that we have three other places where we can get our own ideas... the Senate, the (bicameral conference) and the presidency, there’s still time to modify approach,” he said.

Dominguez earlier said “it would be difficult” to shift from two-tier to unitary then to the two-tier tax system again.

Republic Act No. 10351, or the Sin Tax Reform Act, passed in 2017, called for a shift to a unitary tax system.

The law mandated the merger of the current two-tiered tax rate into a unitary tax rate of P30 per cigarette pack for all brands starting Jan. 1, 2017, and the rate indexed to inflation by increasing to 4 percent annually.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Philippine Industries asked the Senate last week to junk the House-approved bill seeking to revert to the two-tier system of taxation for cigarettes. quoted the legal doctrine “he

who comes to court should come with clean hands.”

“How can the Senate act on a tax bill openly being pushed by a company now under investigation for tax evasion? No senator especially the re-electionists would want to be associated with this bill,” FPI chairman Jesus Arranza said, referring Bulacanbased Mighty Corp.

BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay ordered the investigation of Mighty after receiving field reports from his agents, who discovered fake tax stamps affixed on Mighty products. Dominguez backed Dulay’s move and ordered tighter

monitoring and enforcement. Tax stamps on cigarette packs are proof of excise tax payment.

Arranza said government revenue losses from the non-payment of excise taxes had reached an alarming P10 billion a year.

Mighty, represented by former National Economic and Development Authority director-general Romulo Neri, testified before the House Ways and Means committee, that the company favored House Bill 4144.

All cigarette manufacturers also objected to the bill, except Mighty, the leading producer of cheap cigarettes.

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO - Presiding Officer SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR. DIVINA A. JACOME LUIS S. JAVIER JR. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA NELSON S. PASIA ENRICO J. PUNO MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

ABSENT:

PHILIPS AWARD. Philips Lighting receives the Gold Partner Award

at the inaugural BCI Asia FairBuilding Network Awards 2016 for giving more than 7,000 light bulbs to the Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore Warehouse in Las Piñas City. At the awarding ceremony are (from left) Philips Lighting Philippines channel marketer for business-to-business Andrew Yan, Philips Lighting general manager for Philippines Jagan Srinivasan and BCI Asia Chairman and CEO Matthias Krups.

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO - Presiding Officer SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR. DIVINA A. JACOME LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY ROMEO C. MEDINA MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA NELSON S. PASIA ENRICO J. PUNO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO - Presiding Officer SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR. DIVINA A. JACOME LUIS S. JAVIER JR. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA NELSON S. PASIA ENRICO J. PUNO MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

ABSENT: Councilor

ROMEO C. MEDINA-Sick Leave

CITY ORDINANCE NO. 2017-015 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N.S. Yabut Jr., Hon. M.A.M. Ortega, Hon. F.T. Eusebio, Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr. and Hon. R.C. Medina Co-Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. L.M. Magpantay, Hon. N.S. Pasia, Hon. E.J. Puno, Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino, Hon. E.D.E. Villamor and Hon. A.P. Padilla

CITY ORDINANCE NO. 2017-014 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N.S. Yabut Jr., Hon. M.A.M. Ortega, Hon. A.P. Padilla, Hon. E.J. Puno and Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino Co-Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. F.T. Eusebio, Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr., Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. L.M. Magpantay, Hon. N.S. Pasiaand Hon. E.D.E. Villamor

LUIS S. JAVIER JR. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

===================================================================== On motion presented by Hon. A.P. Padilla, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Resolution No. 2016-A-016 on second and final reading.

CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2016–A–015 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I. de LaraBes, Hon. N. S. Yabut Jr., Hon. A.P. Padilla, Hon. E.J. Puno, Hon. M.A.M. Ortega and Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino Co-Authors: Hon. Aspillaga, Hon. F.T. Eusebio, Hon. V.V. Hilario Jr., Hon. L.M. Magpantay, Hon. R.C. Medina, Hon. N.S. Pasia and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR ACCREDITATION OF MAKATI TOURISM FOUNDATION, INC. AS A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (NGO), SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS. WHEREAS, Makati Tourism Foundation, Inc. applied for accreditation with the City Government of Makati; WHEREAS, Section 108 of R.A. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 provides that the authority to accredit NGOs, POs, CSOs and other similar aggrupation is vested upon the Sangguniang Panlungsod; WHEREAS, under the Articles of Incorporation of Makati Tourism Foundation, Inc., which was approved and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 02 August 2000, its main objective is to be the leading non-government tourism organization which shall develop and promote the City of Makati as the premier urban tourism destination; WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, after a thorough deliberation, ruled that Makati Tourism Foundation, Inc. is compliant with all the requirements provided for by the Local Government Code and its Implementing Rules and Regulations and DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2016-97 dated 19 July 2016.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, to approve the application for accreditation of Makati Tourism Foundation,Inc. as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that copy of this Resolution be furnished the Makati Tourism Foundation, Inc., City Administrator’s Office and all offices, departments and agencies concerned for their information, guidance and reference.

This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING THE AMOUNT OF TEN MILLION PESOS (P10,000,000.00) AS THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF MAKATI’S ASSISTANCE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM (DOT) IN CONNECTION WITH THE HOLDING OF THE 65TH EDITION OF THE ANNUAL MISS UNIVERSE, TO BE HELD IN MALL OF ASIA (MOA) ARENA, ON THE 30TH DAY OF JANUARY 2017, FUNDS OF WHICH SHALL BE TAKEN FROM THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET OF C.Y. 2017, UNDER THE DISCRETIONARY FUND – OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE HONORABLE MAYOR MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY TO ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (MOA) WITH DOT REGARDING THE AFOREMENTIONED ASSISTANCE, SUBJECT TO ALL LAWS AND AUDITING RULES AND PROCEDURES. WHEREAS, on 30 January 2017, the Republic of the Philippines through the Department of Tourism (DOT), will be hosting the 65th Edition of the Miss Universe Pageant, to be held in Mall of Asia Arena (MOA-Arena); WHEREAS, this is an opportune moment to showcase the country before half a billion audiences worldwide and thus, will create a potent impact in the country’s economy; WHEREAS, on 12 January 2017, the Honorable City Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay received a letter from the Secretary of the Department of Tourism, Miss Wanda Corazon Tulfo-Teo,enjoining the local government heads of the National Capital Region (NCR) to be part of this historical event; WHEREAS, the Department of Tourism likewise asked for assistance from the City Government of Makati, by way of sponsoring one of the major events of the above said affair; WHEREAS, the City Government of Makati, in response to DOT’s request, hereby grants assistance by giving Ten Million Pesos (Php10,000,000.00).

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED, AS IT IS HEREBY ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THEPOWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED,that: Section 1. The amount of Ten Million Pesos (Php10,000.000.00) is hereby appropriatedas City Government of Makati’s assistance to the Department of Tourism (DOT), in connection with the holding of the 65th Edition of the Annual Miss Universe Pageant,on 30 January 2017, funds of which shall be taken from the City Executive Budget CY 2017, under the Discretionary Fund-Office of the Mayor, subject to all laws and auditing rules and procedures.

Section 2. The Honorable Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay is further authorized to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Tourism regarding the aforementioned assistance to the Annual Miss Universe pageant.

Section 3. Let copy of this Ordinance be furnished the Department of Tourism, City Budget Office, Accounting Department, City Treasurer’s Office, City Administrator’s Office and all other departments, offices or agencies concerned for their information, guidance and reference.

Section 4. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

P HON. NELSON S. PASIA

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO HON.

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR HON.

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

Attested by: HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

(MS-JAN. 30, 2017)

WHEREAS, Super Typhoon “NINA” (International name: Nock-ten), which according to PAGASA had maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness at 180 kph, was one of the strongest typhoons to hit the Philippines last year 2016; WHEREAS, this typhoon left devastating and depressing marks in the City of Calapan, Province of Oriental Mindoro, on 25 December 2016. Trees were uprooted, buildings were stripped of their roofs, crops flattened to the ground, landslides and flash floods occurred and families were rendered homeless because their houses were crashed by strong winds; WHEREAS, Section 21 of R.A. 10121, otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, provides: “Section 21. Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF). – The present Local calamity Fund shall henceforth be known as the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF). Not less than five percent (5%) of the estimated revenue from regular sources shall be set aside as the LDRRMF to support disaster risk management activities such as, but not limited to, pre-disaster preparedness programs including training, purchasing, lifesaving rescue equipment, supplies and medicines, for post-disaster risk activities, and for the payment of premiums on calamity insurance. The LDRRMC shall monitor and evaluate the use and disbursement on the LDRRMF based on the LDRRMP as incorporated in the local development plan and annual work and financial plan. Upon recommendation of the LDRRMO and approval of the sanggunian concerned, the LDRRMC may transfer the said fund to support disaster risk reduction work of other LDRRMCs which are declared under the state of calamity.

Of the amount appropriated for LDRRMF, thirty percent (30%) shall be allocated as Quick Response Fund (QRF) or stand-by fund for relief and recovery programs in order that situation and living conditions of people in communities or areas stricken by disasters, calamities, epidemics, or complex emergencies, may be normalized as quickly as possible. xxx” (Emphasis supplied.)

WHEREAS, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of the City of Makati promulgated Resolution No. 2017-04, Series of 2017, which recommend the appropriation of funds for the purpose of giving financial assistance to the victims of Super Typhoon Nina in the City of Calapan, Province of Oriental Mindoro; WHEREAS, pursuant to the abovementioned provisions of the law and considering the recommendations of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (LDRRMC) of the City of Makati, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati hereby appropriates the aforesaid amount to be used as relief for assistance to the victims of Super Typhoon Nina which aims to provide the necessary respite from the devastation caused to them by this powerful typhoon, and while in the process of recovery and rehabilitation.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED, AS IT IS HEREBY ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, that: Section 1. The Amount of Seven Hundred Fifty Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 750,000.00) or so much thereof as may be necessary to be made available for relief assistance to the victims of typhoon “Nina” in the City of Calapan, Province of Oriental Mindoro, declared as under the State of Calamity, funds of which shall be taken from the C.Y. 2017 Executive Budget under the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund-Quick Response Fund, subject to applicable laws and auditing rules and procedures.

Section 2. Let copy of this Ordinance be furnished the City Budget Office, Accounting Department, City Treasurer’s Office and other departments, offices or agencies concerned for their information, guidance and reference.

ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA,in its Regular Session held on 25 January 2017.

ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA,in its Regular Session held on 25 January 2017.

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. NELSON S. P PASIA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. NELSON S. P PASIA

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO HON.

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

HON. ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR HON.

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

HON. ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. ON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. ON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

Attested by:

Certified true and correct by:

AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING THE AMOUNT OF SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P750,000.00) OR SO MUCH THEREOF AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR RELIEF ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIMS OF TYPHOON “NINA” IN THE CITY OF CALAPAN, PROVINCE OF ORIENTAL MINDORO, DECLARED AS UNDER THE STATE OF CALAMITY, FUNDS OF WHICH SHALL BE TAKEN FROM THE C.Y. 2017 EXECUTIVE BUDGET UNDER THE LOCAL DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT FUND-QUICK RESPONSE FUND, SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAWS AND AUDITING RULES AND PROCEDURES.

Section 3. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

APPROVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its regular session held on 31 August 2016.

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

ROMEO C. MEDINA-Sick Leave

======================================================================= On motion presented by Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Ordinance No. 2017-015 on third and final reading.

====================================================================== On motion presented by Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Ordinance No. 2017-014 on third and final reading.

ABSENT: Councilor “

Councilor

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

Certified true and correct by:

Certified true and correct by:

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

Attested by:

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

Approved by:

Approved by:

MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY City Mayor

MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY City Mayor (MS-JAN. 30, 2017)

(MS-JAN. 30, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Business

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

B4

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2017

Fed to stand pat despite Trump

By Douglas Gillison

W

ASHINGTON―President Donald Trump’s plans to upend US trade policy with import tariffs and new negotiations, slash taxes, and spend on infrastructure makes the Federal Reserve’s work more challenging this week.

Since his election in November, certainty” for monetary policy unTrump’s pronouncements have til they turn into specific policies. left US central bankers guessing Fed members have raised the and citing the “considerable un- possibility they may have to

Women and ad ethics in PH NIKE, Adidas and other sports brands portray their MICHELLE women endorsers as strong RONDARIO and fit women. This has probably evolved from 1980’s REEN IGHT and earlier years wherein the sports advertisements are mostly endorsed by men athletes.

As a woman, it is flattering that the market is now less genderdiscriminating, and is now recognizing and widely accepting women as sports endorsers. However, it is also disappointing to know that some advertisers don’t respect the sacredness of women’s body.

Using women as sex objects Some companies are using women as sex objects, and not as endorsers per se. There are also instances wherein the use of women as endorsers does not have any connection with the product, for instance, women endorsers and alcohol products. The 2003 World Health Survey (Philippines) showed that 1.7 percent and 0.5 percent of the survey population are male and female heavy/hazardous drinkers, respectively; 13.2 percent and 1.6 percent are male and female episodic drinkers, respectively; and that out of 41.6 percent youth drinkers, 61.2 percent are males, while 23.9 percent are females. Given these statistics, men in general, are the target market of alcohol companies. However, in their advertisements, women are more often used as alcohol endorsers, which they traditionally call as “calendar girls.” And if you were to assess these women, they don’t like they are heavy drinkers either. These women are more likely used as sex objects than actual endorsers of their products.

As a mother, I think I would be struggling if my son would ask me why are those sexy women used for calendars. How would I explain the rationale behind it to a six-year-old boy? As much as I want to shield my sons from some photos or advertisements that would possibly pollute their minds, it is really inevitable since they always pass by Edsa and C5, crowded with a lot of these materials.

Distorting reality Aside from using women as sex objects in advertisements, other advertisers excessively manipulate the image of a woman and her body. In Vatican’s paper on ethics in advertising, the first moral principle mentioned was the “truthfulness in advertising.”

Advertisements, magazines, social media and other publication do a lot of fabrication of women’s images, and most often, an exaggerated one. As influenced by these advertisements, women tend to be too idealistic, and sometimes lead to lower self-esteem, anxiety, eating disorders and living beyond their means.

There’s nothing wrong celebrating the beauty of women, but what’s wrong with some advertisements is when they deliberately distort the reality and mislead the audience. Pope John Paul II noted that advertising can be a tool of the “phenomenon of consumerism” and that “it is not wrong to want to live better; what is wrong is a style of life which is presumed to be better when it is directed toward “having” rather than “being.”

Instead of appreciating God’s natural gift of beauty, some women tend to become someone that they are not. Women, even the young girls, are pressuring themselves to look better and become thinner, as they compare their bodies with the models appearing in advertisements and magazines. It’s good that some organizations are driving some changes in how media portrays its endorsers.

Creating positive change Change.Org for instance, started a campaign to “create positive change for young women by reducing photoshop in magazines.”

According to the organization, the extreme post-production editing of images elevate the problem especially for young women.

Post-production edits portray too ideal bodies, which create high insecurities among women. In one study for instance, “75 percent of ‘normal’ weight women think they are overweight and 90 percent of women overestimate their body size.”

Some women resort to excessive weight reduction and worse, health problems. I do hope Change.Org’s campaign will become more popular, and that more celebrities will be ambassadors for these changes. One good example was Kate Winslet, the famous “Rose” in the movie Titanic. Before she turned 40 last year, she posted a make-up free picture in Facebook, urging her followers to “embrace who they are, including their perceived flaws.” If celebrities were used to influence the public to look flawless, celebrities can also be used to change mindset of the public, on how to perceive the real beauty and embracing their flaws.

Respecting dignity More than the celebrity endorsers, the main responsibility lies with the companies, followed by the advertisers and regulating bodies. The companies and their contracted advertisers should respect the dignity of the endorsers, their target market as well as the general public.

The regulating bodies on the other hand, particularly here in the Philippines, should revisit their guidelines when it comes to advertising ethics. Lastly, the public audience should take active participation in communicating to the government or regulatory bodies if some advertisements are offensive.

G

increase interest rates faster than they had planned before Trump’s surprise election victory, and have said they will be watching for the new administration’s policies.

But meanwhile, economists say that when the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee gathers in Washington Tuesday and Wednesday to review monetary policy, it is likely to stand pat, as the outcome of any new Trump fiscal and trade moves remains far off.

“My guess is there won’t be any action,” said Edwin Truman, a former FOMC staff economist now at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in

Washington.

“The outlook looks a bit stronger, both in the United States and the world,” he told AFP. “But as for the shape of fiscal policy... we don’t really know a lot more than we did in December.”

The Fed in December raised rates for only the second time in a decade, increasing the target range by a quarter point to 0.50.75 percent to help head off inflation as the somewhat sluggish recovery from the Great Recession continues.

The odds of another increase remain below 40 percent until the third meeting of the year in May, according to Fed fund futures markets.

US central bankers have made clear that despite the fairly tepid recovery, the economy appears to be on track to achieve its primary goals of full employment and two percent inflation.

The unemployment rate has remained under five percent and job creation has been steady at an average of 165,000 new positions a month. Despite years of low inflation, the Fed’s favored price measure, the personal consumption expenditures index, has been trending up slowly.

However, economic growth slowed sharply in the final quarter of last year, pulling 2016 growth down to 1.6 percent, the lowest since 2011.

Adding another wrinkle to the attempts to gauge how the Fed will react, the composition of the Federal Open Market Committee will change as it always does at the first meeting of the year, and this time will include three firsttime voters.

The change might mean the committee could become less hawkish than it was in 2016, when Esther George of the Kansas City Fed dissented at six of last year’s eight Fed meetings to vote in favor of rate hikes. The Boston Fed’s Eric Rosengren dissented in September, while Cleveland’s Loretta Mester dissented in September and November. AFP

L

The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business. This essay is part of a journal she kept in fulfillment of the requirements of the course, LasallianBusiness Leadership with Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics.

Visit her blog at http://momrathoner.blogspot.com/.

SOUTHERN EU SUMMIT. (Left to right) Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Spanish Prime Minister Maiano Rajoy, French President

Francois Hollande, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Cupriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni pose for a group photo at Belem cultural center in Lisbon on January 28, 2017, during the Southern EU Country Summit. Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa meets with the leaders of six other southern European nations including France and Italy in a summit that is expected to push for action to boost flagging growth in the bloc and fight the ongoing migration crisis. AFP

Taiwan’s convenience stores serve as one-stop shop

By Michelle Yun TAIPEI, Taiwan―Borrow library books, buy train tickets, pick up online orders or even eat dinner with friends―Taiwan’s expansive network of convenience stores takes the concept to a whole new level.

The island of 23 million people is home to the highest density of convenience stores in the world, with more than 10,000 in total―one per 2,300 people.

But as the number of physical shops plateaus, the retail chains are turning to alternative ways to keep money rolling in.

As well as selling standard snacks and toiletries, Taiwan’s plethora of 7-Elevens and FamilyMarts then moved to serve up hot meals, from steamed buns to soups and stews, day and night.

Now they are revamping their dining areas and adding fancier meals to the menu―Japanese ramen, Korean kimchi stew, pesto pasta―complete with calorie labels.

FamilyMart, a Japanese chain, has even introduced crossover stores with Taiwanese organic produce vendor Tanhou, selling frozen fish and naturally yeasted breads.

But it is by tapping into the island’s thriving online retail culture that the ubiquitous stores hope to become the ultimate onestop shop.

Taiwan’s e-commerce market is worth Tw$1.1 trillion ($35 billion) and is set to grow another 11 percent this year.

However, cash is still most online customers’ preferred form of payment and many choose to have their internet orders delivered to convenience stores where they then pay for them.

Morning Shop, a popular new online vendor of imported breakfast cereals and granola bars says 85 percent of its sales are settled at convenience stores rather than paid for online.

“Doubts over the safety of online payments are still quite high and seen as more troublesome,” said the firm’s product manager

Chris Chen.

The firm has seen its monthly sales surge from Tw$620,000 ($19,739) in 2015 to an expected Tw$30 million within the first quarter this year.

Convenience stores are also reaping benefits from the arrangement.

They make a slim profit from each transaction and are hoping volume will turn it into a money spinner.

delivery network, enabling residents to send belongings from one part of the island to the other.

Student Lee Yun-hsuan uses them as a postal service when she needs to haul books to and from university.

Lee, 20, sends a box of books from a convenience store near her university on Taiwan’s east coast to the closest outlet near her home in Taipei.

“Post offices aren’t every-

or paying parking fines.

Taiwanese franchise owner PCSC is working on expanding iBon’s reach by turning it into a mobile application.

“We want to get to the point where everyone can have an iBon in their pocket,” it said.

As they ratchet up their tech credentials, residents are increasingly using convenience stores as a catch-all.

Taipei resident Serena Chen,

This picture taken on January 24, 2017 shows a customer choosing a box of noodles at a 7-Eleven convenience store in Taipei. Borrow library books, buy train tickets, pick up online orders or even eat dinner with friends—Taiwan’s expansive network of convenience stores takes the concept to a whole new level. AFP

FamilyMart aims to up e-commerce to 10 percent of its revenue in five years.

President Chain Store Corp., which owns the Taiwan franchise of US chain 7-Eleven, says cash payments for online purchases “abolish the non-trust issue.”

“Taiwan can do this while other countries can’t because we’re a relatively small island,” it said in a statement to AFP. Plugged in Convenience stores are also finding a place in the logistics of daily life.

The shop chains double as a

where and they’re not always open,” she told AFP. They have even linked up with libraries in Taipei so readers can pick up borrowed books at a convenience store of their choice.

Now they want to take things to the next level so shoppers can access their services on smartphones.

7-Eleven has introduced the ‘iBon’ system, with machines installed in most of its shops performing a myriad of functions, including photo printing, purchasing train and concert tickets,

40, says she goes to a local store at least twice a week, paying her bills over the counter and using photocopying and scanning services.

She also has books and magazines ordered online delivered to the stores for pick-up and payment.

But Chen says the shops’ more basic offerings―from sugary treats to potato chips―still play their part.

“When I was stressed out at my last job I went every day,” Chen told AFP. “I needed snacks!” AFP

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2017

C1

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada hands out ‘ang pao’ or Chinese red gift envelopes to the city’s residents during the float parade for the Chinese New Year celebrations last Saturday in Binondo.

Estrada vows to hasten Binondo redevelopment

By Sandy Araneta

M

ANILA Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada has pledged to members of the Filipino-Chinese community he will speed up the redevelopment of Binondo, the world’s oldest Chinatown.

In his speech during the Chinese New Year’s Eve Countdown at Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz in Binondo, Estrada said he will spend his last years in office “beautifying and improving” this old Chinese enclave and hub of commerce.

“As mayor of Manila I have made it one of my top priorities to redevelop Binondo and surrounding areas, because Binondo is the oldest Chinatown outside of China,” he said.

“That’s why we are proud of Binondo. This is what we are going to fix,” the mayor added of the

district, established in 1594 by the Spaniards.

By next month, Estrada said the city government will introduce electric tricycles or Etrikes in the streets of Binondo to attract local and foreign tourists and boost local businesses.

Binondo is one of the priority areas of the Estrada administration’s Urban Renewal Program, aimed at reviving Manila’s “old beauty and glory.”

“We will continue to undertake a massive cleanup and rehabilitation here in Binondo, so that all

tourists can go here and give us more business,” the mayor said.

Estrada, accompanied by Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua, led the grand Chinese New Year’s Eve Countdown with a great firework display and the traditional dragon and lion dances. The two leaders later distributed “tikoy” (Chinese sticky cakes) to the crowd.

“We’re looking forward to another year of possibilities, and because the Chinese community here in Manila is the largest and oldest community in the world, its custom and traditions have become part of our national heritage,” Estrada stressed in his message.

For his part, Zhao conveyed the Chinese government’s gratitude to the Philippines and the City of Manila for enhancing bilateral relations with China.

“A new beginning signals new changes and new opportunities,” Zhao said in his message. “Let’s work

together to make sure the Year of the Fire Rooster will give every one of us good luck and good fortune.”

With Philippine-China ties getting stronger, Zhao said “more bridges will be built, more railways will be built, and more Chinese tourists will come, that means more rapid progress for the Philippines.”

Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Anatolyevich Khovaev also graced the countdown, thanking Estrada for inviting him to the event.

“It’s a big pleasure to be present tonight with you, and celebrate with you this great holiday,” Khovaev said. “In this occasion, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best, to have a more prosperous year, happiness and good health to all of you, to all your family, to all your loved ones, and I strongly believe that our future will be better and in the future all of us achieve new success.”

Chinese biz leaders heap praise on Erap THE Chinese community in Manila thanked Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada for ensuring the successful, safe and orderly celebration of the Chinese New Year, as well as his “big programs” for the development of the city’s Chinatown.

Filipino-Chinese groups praised Mayor Estrada for the extravaganza of celebrations starting from the CNY countdown at Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz at the heart of Binondo on Friday, and the grand parade on Saturday.

Joey Go, honorary president of the Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, praised Estrada for ensuring the CNY celebration would be successful and orderly.

“Just like what the ambassador of China [Zhao Jianhua] said, we work together for the two countries, whether for economy, or for friendship,” Go said.

Delfin So, president of 168 Mall, added: “The mayor’s programs are good. We saw there

Quezon City eyes ties with five cities

‘Lawin’ lessons key in Cagayan summit

By Jessica M. Bacud TUGUEGARAO CITY—The two-day Summit on Climate Change, Agriculture, Environment and Infrastructure that just ended at the Hotel Carmelita here should help Cagayan province “build back better” from the damages wrought

by Typhoon “Lawin” and make it more disaster resilient.

Gov. Manuel N. Mamba said the summit’s focus on educating the public on the effects of climate change on agriculture and the potential damages to infrastructure will help Cagayan plan its programs better.

The country’s northernmost mainland province is a major rice and corn producer, but has always been on the losing end every time floods and disasters hit the prov-

ince, Mamba stressed.

The province lost about P5 billion worth of crops and P3 billion in damaged infrastructure when “Lawin” (international name “Haima”) struck Cagayan on Oct. 19, 2016, the governor said.

Mamba recalled that 25,000 houses were “totally blown away” and 100,000 were partially destroyed, which prompted the first-ever provincial Climate Change Summit.

It mirrored a summit in August last year on agriculture and climate change held in Palo, Leyte, ground zero of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” (“Haiyan”) in 2013.

PMFTC Inc., an affiliate of tobacco firm Phillip Morris International, and the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc. supported the two-day Summit.

NEW BUILDING. The city of Bacoor recently unveiled the Bulwagan ng Liga ng mga Barangay, one of the new buildings at the Bacoor Government Center Grounds in Barangay Bayanan. City Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla, Rep. Strike B. Revilla, Vice Mayor Karen Sarino, members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, and Councilor Victorio “Toto” Guerrero Jr., the ABC President and the Chairman of the Committee on Barangay Affairs, attended its inauguration. Benjamin Chavez

Trece Martires gains school building, covered courts TRECE MARTIRES, Cavite—Cavite sixth district Rep. Luis “Jon Jon” Ferrer IV recently led local officials in inaugurating two covered courts and a fourstorey senior high school in this city.

The building, named after Francisco Osorio—one of the 13 Filipino martyrs from Cavite during the Spanish rule over the Philippines, from which this city takes its name—is at Barangay

is great improvement in Manila, especially for the business community. What I like the most is his order to become stricter with the police. That’s why we see good performance of the police.”

Dr. William Lee, Director of the FCCCI, emphasized: “Manila now, from what I have observed, is already improving.

Peace and order, no problem; cleanliness is okay.”

Jeric Chua, president of Eng Bee Tin, said: “Definitely, every year we would like to see a better Manila… and slowly we saw that we achieved this. Regarding peace and order and security, we see more police visibility today. So, there is peace of mind with the people here. Especially today, regarding the drug busts, the Chinese community can see that the government is serious about change.”

Russian Ambassador Igor Anatolyevich Khovaev was among the guests who joined the CNY countdown. Sandy Araneta

Osorio together with the covered court at the National High School also bearing his name.

The other covered court was turned over at Golden Horizon in Barangay Hugo Perez here.

Joining Ferrer in the ceremonies were Mayor Ony Ferrer and Cavite Councilor’s League Federation president Kerby Salazar.

The lawmaker also said road widening projects will continue in this city. The General Trias-Amadeo road is being widened from two lanes to four, same with the roads and bridges along Governor’s Drive from Barangay Manggahan to Trece Martires City.

Footbridge projects are also nearly finished at Lyceum-Manggahan near the Export Processing Zone in Bacao and at

Robinson’s Place in Barangay Tejero.

Meanwhile, Imus City Rep. Alex “AA” Advincula also turned over three new Isuzu NHR ambulances for Barangays Anabu-II, Bucandala III and Tanzang Luma I. Barangay Chairmen David Sapitan Jr, (Anabu II), Amado Sarreal (Bucandala I) and Roberto Dones (Tanzang Luma I) received the ambulances from Advincula.

FIVE cities in Asia will soon be added to Quezon City’s long list of sister cities.

The City Council has passed several resolutions expressing QC’s willingness to establish sister-city agreements with Yangon in Myanmar, Hanoi in Vietnam, Bangkok in Thailand, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

The council has authorized Mayor Herbert Bautista to establish sistercity relationships with these five cities by the resolutions it approved.

Quezon City is trying to promote socio-cultural, trade and economic development, especially in the areas of transportation and tourism; education, culture, youth and sports; environment and urban management and human resources; and science and technology.

To date, QC has international sister cities relations with Daly City, California, USA; Agana, Guam; Yuci City, Shanxi Province, China; Shenyang City, China; New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada; Fort Walton Beach, Florida, USA; Kenosha City, Wisconsin, USA; Chiba City, Japan; Maui, Hawaii, USA; and Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2017 Standard C2 TODAY Manila

Casecnan permit held up by town

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—Due to unpaid Real Property Taxes, the local government of Alfonso Castaneda town has refused to renew the business permit of the Casecnan Water and Energy Co. Inc., operator of the Casecnan Multi-Purpose Irrigation and Power Project.

“They cannot operate the CMIPP because they no longer have their legal business permit. We will soon enforce its closure. This is what we are doing now,” said Alfonso Castañeda Mayor Jerry Pasigian.

CWECI owns and operates the CMIPP, a 150-megawatt hydro power generation facility composed of two impounding dams and a

power plant connected by a pair of 26-kilometer diversion tunnels.

He said withholding the business permit “is part of the [town’s] administrative remedies to encourage the payment of the firm’s RPT arrears.”

“Failure to do the RPT settlement will result to the issuance of a closure order and if still, the firm refuses to pay its RPT obligation, we will be forced to conduct a public auction of its properties and facilities,” Pasigian said.

He also said they are consulting with leaders of the indigenous Bugkalot tribe and barangay officials of Pelaway, Lublub, Lipuga, Abuyo, Cauayan and Galintuja on their plan to protest the company owing to its unpaid RPT arrears.

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO - Presiding Officer SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR. DIVINA A. JACOME LUIS S. JAVIER JR. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA NELSON S. PASIA ENRICO J. PUNO MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

ABSENT: Councilor

ROMEO C. MEDINA-Sick Leave

REMEMBERING THE 44. Two years after the

Mamasapano incident, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte joined the country in calling for justice for Ilocano policeman PO2 Omar Nacionales and the other 43 Special Action Force commandos slain in Mindanao in a simple and solemn tribute. Starting with a flag raising ceremony and a short prayer, hundreds of provincial police officers, local officials, government employees, and the bereaved family of PO2 Nacionales attended the commemoration.

9 Mt. Province roads set for improvement B

By Dexter A. See

ONTOC, Mountain Province—Nine road sections in different parts of this landlocked province will be improved this year, Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan Jr. said.

====================================================================== On motion presented by Hon. N.S. Yabut, Jr., which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Ordinance No. 2017-016 on third and final reading.

CITY ORDINANCE NO. 2017-016 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N.S. Yabut Jr., Hon. M.A.M. Ortega, Hon. F.T. Eusebio, Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr. and Hon. R.C. Medina Co-Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. L.M. Magpantay, Hon. N.S. Pasia, Hon. E.J. Puno, Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino, Hon. E.D.E. Villamor and Hon. A.P. Padilla AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING THE AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P100,000.00) OR SO MUCH THEREOF AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR RELIEF ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIMS OF TYPHOON “NINA” IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF TIGAON, PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR, DECLARED AS UNDER THE STATE OF CALAMITY, FUNDS OF WHICH SHALL BE TAKEN FROM THE C.Y. 2017 EXECUTIVE BUDGET UNDER THE LOCAL DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT FUND-QUICK RESPONSE FUND, SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAWS AND AUDITING RULES AND PROCEDURES. WHEREAS, Super Typhoon “NINA” (International name: Nock-ten), which according to PAGASA had maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness at 180 kph, was one of the strongest typhoons to hit the Philippines last year 2016; WHEREAS, this typhoon left devastating and depressing marks in the Municipality of Tigaon, Province of Camarines Sur, on 23 December 2016. Trees were uprooted, buildings were stripped of their roofs, crops flattened to the ground, landslides and flash floods occurred and families were rendered homeless because their houses were crashed by strong winds; WHEREAS, Section 21 of R.A. 10121, otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, provides: “Section 21. Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF). – The present Local calamity Fund shall henceforth be known as the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF). Not less than five percent (5%) of the estimated revenue from regular sources shall be set aside as the LDRRMF to support disaster risk management activities such as, but not limited to, pre-disaster preparedness programs including training, purchasing, lifesaving rescue equipment, supplies and medicines, for post-disaster risk activities, and for the payment of premiums on calamity insurance. The LDRRMC shall monitor and evaluate the use and disbursement on the LDRRMF based on the LDRRMP as incorporated in the local development plan and annual work and financial plan. Upon recommendation of the LDRRMO and approval of the sanggunian concerned, the LDRRMC may transfer the said fund to support disaster risk reduction work of other LDRRMCs which are declared under the state of calamity.

Of the amount appropriated for LDRRMF, thirty percent (30%) shall be allocated as Quick Response Fund (QRF) or stand-by fund for relief and recovery programs in order that situation and living conditions of people in communities or areas stricken by disasters, calamities, epidemics, or complex emergencies, may be normalized as quickly as possible. xxx” (Emphasis supplied.)

Four road projects will be funded under the Department of Agriculture’s foreign-assisted Philippine Rural Development Project, Lacwasan said. Three projects will be funded from the Kalsada program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, while two will be funded under the Office of

the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, he added.

The 4 PRDP projects include the P65-million Banata-Sumeyang-Sadsadan road, which already has the green light from the provincial government; the P92-million Besao-Nacawang road; the P104-million Nacawang-Mabalite road; and the

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO - Presiding Officer SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR. DIVINA A. JACOME LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY ROMEO C. MEDINA MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA NELSON S. PASIA ENRICO J. PUNO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

The provincial government is still completing the documents needed to release the funds for these projects and have it bid out before their construction, he added.

Using the OPAPP funds, Lacwasan said they sourced P50 million for the improvement of the Besao, Mountain Province to Tubo, Abra road via Tambuan in Besao; P40 million for the concreting and improvement of the NatoninTubyoy provincial road in Natonin; and P1.5 million for post-harvest equipment support to agricultural production for Paracelis town.

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO - Presiding Officer SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR. DIVINA A. JACOME LUIS S. JAVIER JR. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY ROMEO C. MEDINA MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA NELSON S. PASIA MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

ABSENT:

ABSENT: Councilor “

P40-million Poblacion-Bantay farm to market road in Paracelis, Lacwasan disclosed.

The governor explained the Besao-Nacawang, NacwangMabalite and PoblacionBantay farm to market roads are still subject to the regular bidding processes for government projects.

In the pipeline are three road projects under the DILG’s Kalsada program that include the P79-million Sinto-Paktil, Pua road in Bauko; the P70-million Poblacion-Aba-Bacarri road in Paracelis; and the P30-million Nacawang-Panabungen-Maliteg road in Besao, Lacwasan said.

LUIS S. JAVIER JR. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

======================================================================= On motion presented by Hon. A.P. Padilla, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Resolution No. 2016-A-016 on second and final reading.

CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2016–A–016 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N. S. Yabut Jr., Hon. A.P. Padilla, Hon. E.J. Puno, Hon. M.A.M. Ortega and Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino Co-Authors: Hon. Aspillaga, Hon. F.T. Eusebio, Hon. V.V. Hilario Jr., Hon. L.M. Magpantay, Hon. R.C. Medina, Hon. N.S. Pasia and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor

Councilor MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY “ FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO “ ENRICO J. PUNO ======================================================================= On motion presented by Hon. G.I. de Lara-Bes, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the SangguniangPanlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Resolution No. 2016A-018 on second and final reading.

CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2016–A–018 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N. S. Yabut Jr., Hon. A.P. Padilla, Hon. E.J. Puno, Hon. M.A.M. Ortega and Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino Co-Authors: Hon. Aspillaga, Hon. V.V. Hilario Jr., Hon. L.S. Javier Jr., Hon. L.M. Magpantay, Hon. R.C. Medina, Hon. N.S. Pasia and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor

WHEREAS, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of the City of Makati promulgated Resolution No. 2017-05, Series of 2017, which recommend the appropriation of funds for the purpose of giving financial assistance to the victims of Super Typhoon Nina in the Municipality of Tigaon, Province of Camarines Sur;

A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR ACCREDITATION OF KAILYAN KAMI KABSAT ASSOCIATION, INC. AS A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (NGO) SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.

A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR ACCREDITATION OF DON BOSCO PUGAD: HOME OF STREET CHILDREN & MIGRANT YOUTH, INC. AS A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (NGO), SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.

WHEREAS, pursuant to the abovementioned provisions of the law and considering the recommendations of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (LDRRMC) of the City of Makati, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati hereby appropriates the aforesaid amount to be used as relief for assistance to the victims of Super Typhoon Nina which aims to provide the necessary respite from the devastation caused to them by this powerful typhoon, and while in the process of recovery and rehabilitation.

WHEREAS, the Kailyan Kami Kabsat Association, Inc. applied for accreditation with the City Government of Makati;

WHEREAS,Don Bosco Pugad: Home of Street Children & Migrant Youth, Inc. applied for accreditation with the City Government of Makati;

WHEREAS, Section 108 of R.A. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 provides that the authority to accredit NGOs, POs, CSOs and other similar aggrupation is vested upon the Sangguniang Panlungsod;

WHEREAS, Section 108 of R.A. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 provides that the authority to accredit NGOs, POs, CSOs and other similar aggrupation is vested upon the Sangguniang Panlungsod;

WHEREAS,under the Articles of Incorporation of Kailyan Kami Kabsat Association, Inc., which was approved and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 26 August 2011, its main objective is to foster closer relationship among the Ilocanos, Ibanags, Itawis and other ethnic groups from Northern Luzon who are presently residing in Makati City;

WHEREAS,the vision of Don Bosco Pugad: Home of Street Children & Migrant Youth, Inc. is “(T)o empower poor and needy migrant youth to become dignified, productive agents of change in their respective families and communities, by means of Salesian Youth Spirituality and the acquisition of technical and livelihood skills education.”;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED, AS IT IS HEREBY ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, that: Section 1. The Amount of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 100,000.00) or so much thereof as may be necessary to be made available for relief assistance to the victims of typhoon “Nina” in the Municipality of Tigaon, Province of Camarines Sur, declared as under the State of Calamity, funds of which shall be taken from the C.Y. 2017 Executive Budget under the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund-Quick Response Fund, subject to applicable laws and auditing rules and procedures.

Section 2. Let copy of this Ordinance be furnished the City Budget Office, Accounting Department, City Treasurer’s Office and other departments, offices or agencies concerned for their information, guidance and reference.

Section 3. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA,in its Regular Session held on 25 January 2017.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, to approve the application for accreditation of Kailyan Kami Kabsat Association, Inc. as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that copy of this Resolution be furnished Kailyan Kami Kabsat Association, Inc., City Administrator’s Office and all offices, departments and agencies concerned for their information, guidance and reference.

This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. NELSON S. P PASIA

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, after a thorough deliberation, ruled that Kailyan Kami Kabsat Association, Inc.,is compliant with all the requirements provided for by the Local Government Code and its Implementing Rules and Regulations and DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2016-97 dated 19 July 2016.

WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, after a thorough deliberation, ruled that Don Bosco Pugad: Home of Street Children & Migrant Youth, Inc. is compliant with all the requirements provided for by the Local Government Code and its Implementing Rules and Regulations and DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2016-97 dated 19 July 2016.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, to approve the application for accreditation of Don Bosco Pugad: Home of Street Children & Migrant Youth, Inc.as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that copy of this Resolution be furnished the Don Bosco Pugad: Home of Street Children & Migrant Youth, Inc., City Administrator’s Office and all offices, departments and agencies concerned for their information, guidance and reference.

This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

APPROVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its regular session held on 31 August 2016.

APPROVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its regular session held on 31 August 2016.

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

PASIA HON. NELSON S. P

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. NELSON S. PASIA P

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO HON.

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

HON. ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR HON.

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

HON. ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

HON. ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

HON. ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. ON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President Certified true and correct by:

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

Attested by:

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

Certified true and correct by:

Attested by:

Approved by:

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President Certified true and correct by:

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod Attested by:

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY City Mayor (MS-JAN. 30, 2017)

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer (MS-JAN. 30, 2017)

(MS-JAN. 30, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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World

Manila

Standard

TODAY

New wave of robots to deliver the goods WASHINGTON―The robots of the future will be coming soon, rolling along at a lumbering pace with those goods you just ordered.

The six-wheeled, knee-high robots from startup Starship Technologies are part of a new wave of automated systems taking aim at the “last mile” delivery of goods to consumers.

Starship is launching a pilot project of robotic deliveries of parcels, groceries and prepared foods in early February in the US capital Washington, with a similar test taking place in Redwood City, California.

The startup, created by two of the founders of Skype, Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis, has already begun testing in several European cities as part of an effort to bring new efficiencies to local delivery.

The goal is to enable delivery within a radius of two miles (three kilometers) within 15-30 minutes of an order, for $1 or less, with the autonomous robots traveling on sidewalks and alerting consumers of their arrival via smartphone app.

Starship spokesman Henry Harris-Burland said the founders were looking to “disrupt” an industry which had seen little efficiency improvement from new technology.

“We’re trying to solve real social and economic problems,” Harris-Burland said during a demonstration of the delivery bots in Washington.

“This will take cars and vans off the road. We can also provide deliveries to the elderly and handicapped who have difficulty

getting around.”

The company, which has its business office in London, engineering in Estonia and some 90 employees, announced in January it had raised $17.2 million, led by Daimler AG with other investors as it moves to expand its testing and partnerships.

While the Starship robots roll at a modest pace of around four miles (six kilometers) per hour, Harris-Burland said they offer a more efficient and economical delivery model than drones, which are being tested by online retail giant Amazon and others.

The rolling robots are far less expensive to build and operate than drones and face fewer regulatory issues.

He said drones might be bettersuited to remote and rural areas, while the Starship bots are designed for cities and suburbs, where they can roll along on sidewalks.

“We don’t see these as competing with drones, we see it as complementary,” Harris-Burland said.

The Starship robots, which look like high-tech plastic picnic coolers, can carry about 20 pounds (nine kilograms) of goods, suited to three to four grocery bags. They do not offer heating or chilled compartments because rapid deliveries would not need them, according to Harris-Burland.

They will not have the capacity to leave items on doorsteps, he said, because “customers will get delivery within 30 minutes, when they are home” and collect the goods at the door. AFP

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO - Presiding Officer SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR. DIVINA A. JACOME LUIS S. JAVIER JR. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY ROMEO C. MEDINA MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA NELSON S. PASIA MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

ABSENT: Councilor MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY “ FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO “ ENRICO J. PUNO ====================================================================== On motion presented by Hon. N.S. Yabut Jr., which was duly seconded by all Members present, the SangguniangPanlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Resolution No. 2016-A-021 on second and final reading.

CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2016–A–021 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N. S. Yabut Jr., Hon. A.P. Padilla, Hon. E.J. Puno, Hon. M.A.M. Ortega and Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR ACCREDITATION OF VIRLANIE FOUNDATION, INC. AS A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (NGO), SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS. WHEREAS, Virlanie Foundation, Inc. applied for accreditation with the City Government of Makati; WHEREAS, Section 108 of R.A. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 provides that the authority to accredit NGOs, POs, CSOs and other similar aggrupation is vested upon the Sangguniang Panlungsod; WHEREAS, as provided by its official website, http://www.virlanie.org/about-us/who-weare/, Virlanie Foundation Inc.’s main objective is to provide care and support “to children in need of special protection - those who are among the poorest of the poor, the abandoned, abused, exploited, neglected, and orphaned”.

WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, after a thorough deliberation, ruled that Virlanie Foundation, Inc. is compliant with all the requirements provided for by the Local Government Code and its Implementing Rules and Regulations and DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2016-97 dated 19 July 2016.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, to approve the application for accreditation of Virlanie Foundation,Inc. as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that copy of this Resolution be furnished the Virlanie Foundation, Inc., City Administrator’s Office and all offices, departments and agencies concerned for their information, guidance and reference.

This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

APPROVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its regular session held on 7 September 2016.

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. NELSON S. P PASIA

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

HON. ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

HON. ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

C3

Hollande urges firm stand against Trump L ISBON―French President Francois Hollande urged Europe to form a united front and provide a “firm” response to US President Donald Trump, at a gathering Saturday of southern European Union leaders.

“We must conduct firm dialogue with the new American administration which has shown it has its own approach to the problems we all face,” he said at the end of the gathering as he was flanked by the other leaders who took part.

Trump has rattled America’s traditional European allies with a range of radical policy plans.

He has called NATO “obsolete”, announced he would rip up a planned transatlantic trade plan and supported Britain’s move to leave the EU, praising the decision as “a wonderful thing” during a meeting Friday with British Prime Minister Theresa May. On Friday he also signed a sweeping executive order to suspend the arrival of refugees and impose tough controls on travelers from seven Muslim countries.

During his first phone conversation with Trump late Saturday, Hollande stressed

the “economic and political consequences of a protectionist approach”, adding that the principle of “acceptance of refugees” should be respected.

“Faced with an unstable and uncertain world, withdrawal into oneself is a dead-end response,” Hollande was quoted as saying in an Elysee Palace statement.

Hollande had earlier told the gathering that “when he adopts protectionist measures, which could destabilise economies not just in Europe but the economies of the main countries of the world, we have to respond”.

“And when he refuses the arrival of refugees, while Europe has done its duty, we have to respond.”

While officially the new administration in Washington was not on the agenda, the six other European leaders who took part in the summit also alluded to Trump.

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said Europe was

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO - Presiding Officer SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR. DIVINA A. JACOME LUIS S. JAVIER JR. ROMEO C. MEDINA MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA ENRICO J. PUNO NELSON S. PASIA MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

Councilor “ “

“ready, interested and willing to cooperate” with the Trump administration.

“But we are Europe, and we cherish our values,” he added.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy defended the EU project, saying it had helped transform Europe into the world region with the “highest level of progress, civil rights and well being”.

Also meeting in Lisbon were the leaders of Malta, Cyprus, Greece and Portugal.

The summit was a follow up to a first gathering in Athens in September 2016 as part of a push by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to create a strong southern “axis” to counter the influence of nations in northern Europe.

The group is often referred to -- sometimes dismissively -- as “Club Med”, even though one of its members, Portugal, is not on the Mediterranean.

It includes some of the nations hardest hit by the financial crisis.

Portugal and Greece both needed international bailouts worth tens of billions of euros which came with demands for tough austerity measures and economic reforms.

As in the first meeting in

Greece, the mostly centre-left leaders gathered in Portugal urged Brussels to do more to boost flagging growth in the bloc.

A joint declaration signed by the participating countries said the EU should boost funding for strategic investment.

“We share the urgency of promoting investment, growth, employment, with a special focus on youth employment,” it read.

The Lisbon summit comes ahead of a February 3 meeting of EU leaders in Malta to look at the future of the bloc without Britain, its second-largest economy and its richest financial center.

Rajoy said Madrid would host a third summit of southern EU nations in April.

“These countries meet informally and they have no other goal other than to work for the people of the entire European Union,” he said.

The goal is not to create an “organization” inside Europe but to act “in the service of the entire European Union,” added Hollande.

The so-called Visegrad group -- made up of Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland -- have also held their own meetings to present a united front. AFP

PRESENT: Vice Mayor Councilor “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO - Presiding Officer SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR. DIVINA A. JACOME LUIS S. JAVIER JR. ROMEO C. MEDINA MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA ENRICO J. PUNO MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

ABSENT:

ABSENT: FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY NELSON S. PASIA

====================================================================== On motion presented by Hon. N.S. Yabut, Jr., which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Resolution No. 2016-A-027 on second and final reading.

CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2016-A-027 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N.S. Yabut Jr., Hon. A.P. Padilla, Hon. E.J. Puno, Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino and Hon. M.A.M. Ortega Co-Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. V.V. Hilario Jr., Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. R.C. Medina and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR ACCREDITATION OF EREMBO WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION, INC. (ERWAI) AS A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (NGO), SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS. WHEREAS, Erembo Women’s Association, Inc. applied for accreditation with the City Government of Makati; WHEREAS, Section 108 of R.A. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 provides that the authority to accredit NGOs, POs, CSOs and other similar aggrupation is vested upon the Sangguniang Panlungsod; WHEREAS, Erembo Women’s Association, Inc. (ERWAI)’s primary purpose is to enhance the development of community by conducting programs that will uplift the standards of living of the poor in the community; WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, after a thorough deliberation, ruled that Erembo Women’s Association, Inc. (ERWAI) is compliant with all the requirements provided for by the Local Government Code and its Implementing Rules and Regulations and DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2016-97 dated 19 July 2016.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, to approve the application for accreditation of Erembo Women’s Association, Inc. (ERWAI) as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that copy of this Resolution be furnished Erembo Women’s Association, Inc. (ERWAI), City Administrator’s Office and all offices, departments and agencies concerned for their information, guidance and reference.

This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

APPROVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its regular session held on 26 October 2016.

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

Councilor FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO “ LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY “ NELSON S. PASIA ====================================================================== On motion presented by Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Resolution No. 2016-A-028 on second and final reading.

CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2016-A-028 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N.S. Yabut Jr., Hon. A.P. Padilla, Hon. M.A.M. Ortega, Hon. E.J. Puno and Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino Co-Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. V.V. Hilario Jr., Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. R.C. Medina and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR ACCREDITATION OF MAKATI BARANGAY BUSINESS COUNCIL, INC. AS A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (NGO), SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS. WHEREAS, the Makati Barangay Business Council, Inc. applied for accreditation with the City Government of Makati; WHEREAS, Section 108 of R.A. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 provides that the authority to accredit NGOs, POs, CSOs and other similar aggrupation is vested upon the Sangguniang Panlungsod; WHEREAS, the primary purpose of Makati Barangay Business Council, Inc. is to initiate, stimulate encourage, promote, develop, support, assist, undertake, provide, establish, manage, operate and/or maintain programs, plans, projects, or enterprises for business, commerce and industry, scientific, educational, or cultural aims, objectives, endeavors, or activities geared towards the uplift of the material, physical, social, economic and moral welfare of all human beings, regardless of race, creed or religion; WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, after a thorough deliberation, ruled that Makati Barangay Business Council, Inc. is compliant with all the requirements provided for by the Local Government Code and its Implementing Rules and Regulations and DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2016-97 dated 19 July 2016.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, to approve the application for accreditation of Makati Barangay Business Council, Inc. as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that copy of this Resolution be furnished Makati Barangay Business Council, Inc., City Administrator’s Office and all offices, departments and agencies concerned for their information, guidance and reference.

This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

APPROVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its regular session held on 26 October 2016.

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

P HON. NELSON S. PASIA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. NELSON S. P PASIA

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO HON.

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

HON. ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR HON.

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

HON. ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

Certified true and correct by:

Attested by:

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2017

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod Attested by:

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer (MS-JAN. 30, 2017)

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

Certified true and correct by:

Certified true and correct by:

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

(MS-JAN. 30, 2017)

Attested by: HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

(MS-JAN. 30, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

C4

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2017

World

In one week Trump shakes up the world W ASHINGTON―Donald Trump hurtled through his first week in power, punching out at critics, dishing up “alternative facts,” polarizing public opinion and making good on an electoral promise to shake up Washington and the world.

One week into the Trump era and there is a serious case of political whiplash in America’s capital.

Just a week ago, an outsider who never before held elected office rode into town. Seven days later, norms and doctrine that have guided the United States for decades are being re-examined.

Trump’s down-to-the-studs gut job began with a feisty inaugural address: a call to arms that tested old distinctions between left and right.

“Today, we are not merely transferring power from one ad-

ministration to another or from one party to another,” he said.

“We are transferring power from Washington, DC, and giving it back to you, the people.”

The establishment “elites” in big cities, in politics and the media were no longer the technocrats in charge of the world’s only superpower, they were the enemy.

The new president also put the rest of the world on notice.

For the last 75 years, America had been what Barack Obama described as the “indispensable nation” -- the glue that bound the

global order.

The era of Trump would be the era of “America first,” he said, of naked self-interest and zero-sum diplomacy. Old alliances would be reassessed, new alliances would be explored.

Before his inauguration, many asked if the presidency would change Donald Trump, or whether Donald Trump would change the presidency.

Barely 20 minutes into his fouryear term, anyone who was listening had their answer.

Before arriving to the Oval Office, Trump’s strategists had decided to use the first few weeks to unleash a daily wave of executive orders.

The aim was to unbalance opponents, define Trump as a man of action and slake his supporters’ thirst for change.

For much of middle America, globalization, automation and the Great Recession had been apocalyptic.

Politics had passed them over and worse, they felt steamrollered by “coastal elites” in America’s “culture wars” over abortion, gay rights, immigration, global warming and religion.

Trump had won the election by promising to be their champion, and he was going to -- as Ronald Reagan said -- “dance with the one that brung ya.”

For the most part, the CEOin-chief put forward actions that could have come from any Republican in the country: defunding abortion, preening the military and approving oil pipelines.

But it was coated with a thick veneer of nationalist and populist rhetoric, and accompanying policies championed by top aide Steve Bannon.

Trump ripped up a trans-Pacific trade deal designed to counterbalance China’s regional economic power, imposed a ban on refugees from Syria and migrants from seven other Muslim countries. AFP

GALA Actress Nicole Kidman attends the 2017 G’Day Black Tie Gala

at the Governors Ballroom At Hollywood And Highland on January 28, 2017 in Hollywood, California. AFP

Ye glad her film did not make it

Dreamy musical wins PGA best film

BEIJING—Ye Haiyan, one of China’s most prominent women’s rights activist, huddled in her unheated apartment on the outskirts of Beijing, waiting to learn if the documentary that propelled her to international fame would receive an Oscar nod.

Last month, “Hooligan Sparrow”, a documentary following her activism on behalf of sexually abused children, made a short list for the Academy Awards.

Last week, local authorities killed her gas, water, electricity and Internet.

When she learned the film was not included among the final five nominees announced Tuesday, she breathed a sigh of relief.

“If many people started paying attention to me because of the film, I suspect I wouldn’t be able to stay in China much longer,” she said.

“I don’t want to stand up and become an even more prominent dissident here.”

Since 2012, Ye has gained a huge online following for shocktactic human rights activism: working for free in a brothel to advocate for sex worker rights and making a tongue-in-cheek offer to sleep with a school principal who raped and pimped out his students in the southern island province of Hainan.

Her work drew the attention of internationally renowned Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, who posed nude with her in a controversial photograph.

But the spotlight also attracted the attention of the country’s police, who ruthlessly persecuted the single mother for her role in organising protests over the school rape case.

The director of “Hooligan Sparrow”, New York-based Nanfu Wang, captured the drama of intimidation, detention and evictions Ye suffered in the summer of 2013, weaving the tense footage into a thriller-esque narrative.

The first-time director’s documentary would have become one of only a handful of movies by a mainland Chinese filmmaker to ever be nominated for an Oscar.

Wang was disappointed the film was not included among the final five nominees.

“A nomination would have been big news in China –- the kind of news that state censorship would struggle to manage,” Wang said. AFP

LOS ANGELES―Dreamy musical “La La Land” took home best movie at the Producers Guild Awards on Saturday, putting it in the box seat for the much-anticipated Oscars next month.

The movie beat industry favorites and leading Academy Awards contenders including coming-of-age tale “Moonlight”, stylish alien thriller “Arrival” and visceral family drama “Manchester by the Sea.” Damien Chazelle’s whimsical tribute to Hollywood’s Golden Age of musicals has 14 nominations going into February’s Academy awards, including for best picture, best director and for its two stars, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.

Earlier in January it scooped seven awards at the Golden Globes, also considered a dryrun for the Oscars, the climax of Hollywood’s awards season.

One of its supporting actors, singer-songwriter John Legend, used the spotlight to call on Americans to stand against President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.

“We are the voice, the face of America. Our America is big, it is free and it is open to dreamers of all races, all countries, all religions,” said Legend, 38, who has an Oscar and a collection of Grammys for his songwriting.

“Our vision of America is directly antithetical to that of President Trump and I want specifically tonight to reject his vision and affirm that America has to be better than that.”

Legend’s condemnation came after Trump signed a sweeping executive order to suspend the arrival of refugees for at least 120 days and impose tough new controls on travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.

Hollywood heavyweights including Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, Dustin Hoffman, Casey Affleck, Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake, and Jeff Bridges were at the gala in Beverly Hills.

“Zootopia” won best animated picture, while ESPN’s “O.J. Simpson: Made in America” won best documentary.

- Consolation In the TV section, Nicole Kidman gave the first trophy of the night to widely acclaimed “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” for best longform show. AFP

ONSTAGE. Musician Brad Gillis of Night Ranger performs during the iHeart80s Party 2017 at SAP Center on January 28 in San Jose, California. AFP

John Legend: US must be better than Trump LOS ANGELES―Oscar-winning singer-songwriter John Legend implored Hollywood Saturday to stand against Donald Trump, telling the Producers Guild Awards the Republican president’s political outlook was anti-American.

Legend, 38, was at the glitzy ceremony in Beverly Hills to represent the musical “La La Land,” in which he stars opposite Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.

“We are the voice, the face of America. Our America is big, it is free and it is open to dreamers of all races, all countries, all reli-

gions,” Legend said as he introduced a clip to Damien Chazelle’s acclaimed movie.

“Our vision of America is directly antithetical to that of President Trump and I want specifically tonight reject his vision and affirm that America has to be better than that.”

Legend’s speech came after Trump signed a sweeping executive order to suspend the arrival of refugees for at least 120 days and impose tough new controls on travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen for the next three months.

Since then, travelers from those countries have been stopped from boarding US-bound planes, triggering angry protests and detentions at airports.

“This is a film about love, about dreams and about this lovely city we call home, Los Angeles, California,” continued Legend, who has 10 Grammys and an Oscar for penning the song “Glory” for the 2014 civil rights movie “Selma.”

“Los Angeles is the home of so many immigrants, so many creative people, so many dreamers, and those of us who work in

this business have the privilege of shaping how the world perceives this country we love.”

Legend said he and his wife were considering not turning up to the awards in solidarity with protesters who have taken to streets and airports against the measure.

Instead, he said, he decided to make a donation to the American Civil Liberties Union.

“There’s a lot of money and power in this room and I hope you will use it for something good,” Legend added.

“Let’s all continue to stand up together for what is right.” AFP

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

FOOD

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2017

D1

Feeding a Republic T THE JOYCE OF EATING JOYCE BABE PAÑARES

The luncheon menu of the 1898 Malolos Convention, as interpreted

by Malacañang.

HERE’S a sense of history – more than 200 years of it, in fact – that fills you once you enter the Tansojoy house, one of the few remaining stone houses in Malolos City. Built in 1812 for Doña Rufina Tanjosoy, it was eventually inherited by Don Antonio Bautista, aide-de-camp of the late President Emilio Aguinaldo.

The open windows from the second floor of the Tansojoy house provide VIP viewing access to the colorful street celebrations marking Fiesta Republica, an annual event commemorating the Malolos Republic that culminates on Jan. 23. Outside, there’s a parade of brass bands not just from Malolos but from neighboring cities and provinces, too.

It was raining every so often, it was humid, and the kids have been perspiring in their costumes for several hours now, but the show went on, and it was a beautiful show.

Here, they celebrate the country’s “other” independence day when the Philippines made its debut in the international community as a free nation more than a century ago.

“We just want to give justice to the declaration of the first Philippine republic. We were the first ones to establish a Constitution in Asia –the Malolos Constitution. The declaration of independence on June 12, 1898 was the start of our journey toward becoming an independent nation recognized by the international community, but the declaration of the first republic on January 23, 1899 was the culmination of this process,” says Malolos City Mayor Christian Natividad.

“There’s a bill now pending before the House of Representative to declare January 23 a national holiday as Republic Day. We are hoping that our lawmakers will be nationalistic enough to recognize this legacy that completes our sense of being Filipino,” he adds.

Part of that rich history leading to Republic Day was the ratification of the Independence Proclamation on Sept. 29, 1898. A “high-style” luncheon for 200 select diners, including the assemblymen in Malolos, was prepared. The sole surviving copy of the printed menu – which bore the words Libertad, Fraternidad y Igualidad (Liberty, Fraternity and Equality, the rallying cry of the 1789 French Revolution) – has been preserved in the museum of Xavier Uni-

versity in Cagayan de Oro. It was written in French, then the language of diplomacy and haute cuisine, and it has been re-enacted several times and several ways by some of the country’s renowned chefs. But this year, a local restaurant – Bistro Maloleño – was tapped to bring to life the dishes that fed the people who paved the way for the declaration of the first republic.

Based on the original menu, members of the Malolos convention were served seven kinds of appetizers, followed by seven main courses and five choices of cheese and desserts, and capped by a progression of red wine, champagne, sherry, and cognac, and to end all meals, a choice between coffee or tea.

Bistro Maloleño recreated for this year’s festivity the following dishes: nilasing na hipon on top of crab roe sauce (Crevettes roses), sardines in tomato sauce (Sardines aux tomates), lengua estofado set in pastry (Vola-auvent a la financiere), Malolos longganisang hamonado topped with olives (Saucission de Lyon), adobong balun-balunan (Abatis de poulet a la Tagalo), hamon Bulakenya served with asparagus (jambon froid-asperges en branche), tortang alimasag (Coquilles de crabes), and roasted turkey (Dinde truffee a la Manilloise). For dessert, there was strawberry gelatin (gelee de Fraises) and mantecado sorbetes (Glaces) mixed with Bulacan’s famous pastillas de leche.

Nick Joaquin once described the menu as a “culmination, like Malolos itself, and should stand side by side with the Malolos Constitution.” Indeed, knowledge of these events leading to our nation’s birth – including the dishes served to our republic’s Founding Fathers – reinforce our sense of identity and help us find our place in history.

For feedback, send comments to joyce.panares@gmail.com

Malolos longganisang hamonado topped with olives

Home away from home THE daily bump-and-grind has ways of wearing anyone down to the bone.

It would be nice to hunker down in the security of your home and have a sip of your lola’s sinigang. Sangkap Filipino Restaurant offers just that experience.

Chef Raymar Reyes’ unique twists to the Philippines’ best cuisine allows one to have a taste of home with every juicy bite. The restaurant offers your favorite local dishes like karekare, kilawin and kaldereta, but Chef Raymar ups the ante by placing the spotlight on the tastes of the different regions in the country.

Imagine sinking your teeth into the flavors of Batanes, Pampanga, Zamboanga—or maybe having a sip of Cebu, Ilocos or Iloilo. Whether or not you’re familiar with these places, Sangkap makes sure to marry comfort and adventure when they land on your taste buds. “People who like the classic and experimental, I believe both of them will enjoy [these],” remarks the chef.

Customers are served comfort food, reminiscent of home but at the same time mixed with the subtle thrill of trying something new.

One of their specialties is the Cebu Lechon Sinigang—the perfect combination of two all-time Filipino favorites. With just the right tang of tamarind and the hearty savor of lechon, it’s enough to wash away fatigue from your weary bones.

Sangkap Filipino Restaurant’s Sangkap Rice is both tasty and filling

So when you’re in the mood to travel, but the familiarity of home is too soothing to resist, bring home your taste buds to Sangkap and taste adventure on a plate.

The Menu Group (TMG), established in 2015, is the brains and brawn behind Sangkap and three other restaurants, Sasa, Splice and Sobremesa, all featuring exciting cuisines catering to a variety of markets. This group of passionate, young restaurateurs has successfully opened their ventures in popular up-and-coming spots in Ortigas and Mandaluyong.

Sangkap Filipino Restaurant is located in Portico, Captain Javier Street, Oranbo, Pasig City. Follow SangkapPH on Facebook and Instagram to get a better taste of what they’re serving.

Spring rolls with vanilla ice cream offers a surprising twist

Pancit

Humba

Life

D2

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

The Health Benefits

of Drinking Beer

T

HERE’S nothing quite like a cold beer on a hot day—that hoppy, rich and refreshing taste just goes down a treat. It’s the most popular alcoholic beverage in the world, and it’s the third most popular beverage overall, after water and tea.

It has received somewhat of a bad reputation in recent years for being fattening and high in calories, which is unfortunate because there are actually various health benefits to be gained when drinking beer in moderation. So put your feet up, pour yourself a pint and read about beer’s awesome health benefits!

again. Drinking too much is harmful for your kidneys, however, moderate consumption of beer has been shown to reduce the likelihood of developing kidney stones - they develop when there’s too much calcium in your body. Hops, which are used to make beer, have been shown to assist with releasing calcium from the bones.

It reduces the risk of heart disease Whatever kind of alcohol you like to drink, studies have indicated that when consumed in moderation, beer thins the blood, making it less likely to clot.

Furthermore, it helps reduce the risk of heart disease and increases the amount of good cholesterol in the blood.

It’s genuinely nutritious Although it may seem far-fetched, a 12 oz. beer has up to a gram of fiber in it, as well as plenty of B vitamins such as B6, B12, niacin and riboflavin. Beer is also rich in silicon, which is a nutrient that helps with strengthening bones.

It reduces the risk of diabetes It’s good for kidney health In 2011, Harvard University concludBefore you think this benefit is free li- ed a study involving 38,000 middlecense to drink as much as you want, think aged men. Participants who drank two

beers a day were shown to have a 25 percent lower risk of contracting Type II diabetes than those who did not. This statistic does not apply in the context of excessive drinking.

It may reduce the risk of cancer There’s reason to believe this after a Portuguese study found that marinating meat in beer eliminated almost 70 percent of all of its carcinogens. What’s for certain is that beer contains plenty of antioxidants, which help your body cleanse itself of toxins.

It improves brain health The latest research in this area, conducted at China’s Langzhou University in 2015, has indicated that having a couple of beers each day contributes toward staving off Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia, as well as lowering the risk of having a stroke. In addition, a study carried out on 11,000 women in 2005 found that those who drank one beer a day exhibited better mental function than those that didn’t. Their risk of mental decline was also found reduced by 20 percent.

It keeps muscles strong into old age A 2012 study conducted at Tokushima University in Japan found that the prenylated flavonoid contained in hops (a flower primarily used as a flavoring and stabilizing agent in beer), called 8-prenylnarigenin, inhibited muscle atrophy in laboratory mice. When they were given feed containing the flavonoid, they were found to retain more muscle mass than those that were fed a normal diet.

Did you know that beer can help get rid of dandruff? Yes, just pour a bottle over your head twice or thrice a week

It can help get rid of pesky dandruff The high yeast and vitamin B levels found in beer make it one of the best natural treatments for dandruff. If you

Despite the bad reputation beer has been getting, this beverage actually provides health benefits when consumed in moderation

have dandruff that just won’t go away, try pouring a bottle of beer over your head two to three times a week and watch it disappear. Doing so will also make your hair extra soft and shiny.

It can help keep stress at bay Again, this one isn’t an excuse to get completely intoxicated! Stick within the 12 oz. daily recommended limit if you’re a woman, or the 24-oz. daily rec-

ommended limit if you’re a man – it’ll help keep stress levels down and reduce any anxiety you might be feeling. Enjoy responsibly.

It has antimicrobial properties The hops used to make beer are known to be antimicrobial, meaning that it can kill micro-organisms that could cause you harm, such as when you get a bacterial infection of some kind.

B ITES

End the day with the new McShare Box TO MAKE dining moments with families and loved ones more special, McDonald’s offers the new McShare Box that contains the best-tasting Chicken McDo. Each piece is sure to satisfy everyone’s chicken craving because the new and improved Chicken McDo is marinated, breaded, and fried to a golden perfection. It’s definitely juicier and tastier with just the right crunch!

Choose between the McShare Box with 6-pc and 8-pc Chicken McDo to complement your tasty meals whether at the dining table or in your favorite

McDonald’s restaurant. Ideal for groups of three or four persons, the McShare Box is also available in McShare Bundles wherein you can try Chicken McDo with rice, drinks, and the BFF Fries.

You can also cap off each meal time with the new Banana Pie, McDonald’s treat that is made with a scrumptious mix of golden, flaky crust over sweet, creamy banana filling—truly a pie to make your day.

As you celebrate the season of love, have a McShare Box with the besttasting Chicken McDo,

and the new Banana Pie anytime, especially during dinner, at McDonald’s stores nationwide. You can also grab them via Drive-Thru or McDelivery (86-2-36, www.mcdelivery. com.ph, or the McDo PH app).

Share your families’ favorite groufie enjoying the new McShare Box and and trying the new Banana Pie on Facebook, facebook.com/McDo. ph or tag @McDo_PH on Twitter or Instagram.

Share McDonald’s Chicken with your loved ones and end the meal on a sweet note with McShare Box’s Banana Pie

Jollibee’s sundae gets a new and delicious twist--now with an indulgent mix of chocolate fudge, marshmallows and peanuts

Rocky Road Overload Sundae at Jollibee NEW Rocky Road Overload Sundae is topped with an indulgent mix of chocolate, marshmallows and peanuts for only P35.

Jollibee is giving its classic Jollibee Sundae a new twist—topped with a generous drizzle of chocolate fudge, sweet mini marshmallows, and crushed peanuts for an indulgent, flavor-packed treat!

The Rocky Road Overload Sundae is the latest in Jollibee’s line of desserts, which includes this year’s unique modern Pinoy treats, the Banana Langka Sundae and Halo-Halo Sundae.

Perfect for sweet-toothed adventurers on the look for something new yet familiar, the Rocky Road Overload Sundae delivers all the right textures that complement the creamy vanilla

soft-serve—it’s the perfect base for the indulgent chocolate fudge, the fluffy and soft marshmallows and the crunchy of the peanuts.

“The Rocky Road Overload Sundae is just among the numerous flavor and product innovations that Jollibee introduced this year,” said Kay Segismundo, Jollibee Marketing manager for Complementary Products. “This specialty dessert is definitely the perfect, most indulgent way to end a Jollibee meal, or to enjoy a morning, afternoon, or evening break. Overload with sarap and saya with this premium sweet treat at an affordable price!”

The new Rocky Road Overload Sundae is available in all Jollibee stores nationwide for dine-in, take-out, delivery, and drive-thru transactions, for only P35.00.

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2017

Singapore

welcomes 2017 WITH WORLD-CLASS CONCERTS, SHOPPING, DINING EVENTS

A

N EXCITING line-up of rock concerts, dining and shopping events to satisfy different passions await visitors to Singapore this 2017.

The legendary Guns N’ Roses will play in Singapore for the first time at the Changi Exhibition Centre on Feb. 25 in Not in This Lifetime Tour.

British rock band Coldplay will also return to the Singapore Sports Hub on March 31 and April 1 for their A Head Full of Dreams Tour, which has already played to 2.5 million people across Latin America, the United States and Europe.

Grammy® Award winning English singer and songwriter Sting rounds out the concerts for the year with his 57th and 9th Tour at the Singapore Sports Hub on May 28.

Other artists to watch out for in Singapore are British rock band Bring Me the Horizon (Feb. 2, D’Marquee), American rock bands Journey (Feb. 10, The Star Theatre) and Yellowcard (Feb.12, The Coliseum).

Dining and shopping pleasures Aside from a vibrant concert scene, Singapore hosts an array of lifestyle events that allow visitors to indulge in their passions.

From March 16 to 21, the Singapore Cocktail Festival, Asia’s largest celebration of cocktails, will feature pop-up bars in a 5,000 sqm cocktail village for mixology workshops, trade events, tours, and a showcase of bestin-class cocktails from some of the best bartenders from around the world, climaxing with the awards ceremony

The city-state also hosts a unique festival that features unique food and finest ingredients

Apart from its vibrant shopping scene, Singapore is home to numerous lifestyle events

Legendary rock band Guns ‘N Roses leads the lineup of big and international acts that will enliven Singapore’s concert circuit

for Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2017.

From March 23 to 26, international flavor meets local taste as street food traders from all over the region merge with Singapore’s very own in Eat the World Singapore, a unique festival that celebrates exotic food from the finest ingredients around Singapore and Southeast Asia, with influence from ethnic cuisine.

Food lovers can have a gastronomic experience in Singapore with a feast of global and local dishes, from exquisite fine dining to delightful hawker fare. At the World Gourmet Summit from March 20 to April 16, diners can indulge in fine cuisine, great wines and unique dining experiences from all over the globe, while the Michelin Guide Street Food Event, which rolls out on April 14 and 15, will bring together the best street food and hawker establishments listed in the Michelin Guide Singapore.

Get ready to take shopping to a whole new fun and exciting level with the inaugural Orchard Road Style Festival, happening from March 10 to April 8. The month-long festival will see fabulous fashion alongside thought-provoking art and design, great music and delicious foods, presenting unique experiences to visitors along Singapore’s most well-

known shopping belt.

Go on a 10-week shopping spree with the Great Singapore Sale 2017. The island-wide sale event of the year offers great deals on shopping, dining and entertainment, starting on the last week of May until the first week of August.

Marvel at Asia’s only curated exhibition of the finest jewelry from around the world, at the Singapore JewelFest 2017 in Ngee Ann City, or witness the bold creations of international and local fashion designers at the Singapore Fashion Week 2017, Singapore’s premier fashion event which will be held at the National Gallery Singapore. Both events are slated to begin in October.

Whether you and your loved ones are planning to rock with Metallica or Guns ‘N Roses, satisfy your senses with world-class cuisine, amazing cocktails and gastronomic treats, or seek out unique shopping and fashion experiences, Singapore is the place to go this 2017.

So mark your calendars and plan ahead for your trips to fully appreciate the experiences that Singapore can offer. For more details on upcoming events and activities, please visit www. yoursingapore.com.

Bela affirms break up with Neil BELA Padilla recently revealed that she and longtime beau Neil Arce have already parted ways, saying, “Although I don’t want to go into details anymore as to the exact date and the reasons why we arrived at such decision as a way of showing respect to him.

What matters is we broke up as friends.”

Despite this development, it’s good that the pretty lass still exudes a happy aura and can still afford to smile.

“Well, as the cliché goes, life has to go on. There’s no use crying over spilled milk, right? It helped that Neil and I maintained our friendship. We weren’t bitter towards each other because of the split. In fact, I’m

currently doing a project with him as producer. This is Dan Villegas’ Love at First Sight where I share the frame with Jericho Rosales. We’re okay during the shooting. What’s good with us is that we are able to separate the professional from the personal side. When it comes to the artistic or creative aspect, I still value his opinion than anybody else’s because our minds jive perfectly.”

Doesn’t she feel awkward seeing him on the set?

“Nope, there’s nothing like that because I’ve known him for four years,” explains Bela.

“As I’ve mentioned earlier, when it comes to work, we’re perfect partners.”

Many are curious how she

handles her emotional state as of now.

“To be honest, things haven’t sunk in yet. For one, I’m busy with work. I tape for my new soap My Dear Heart thrice a week and the remaining days, I allot for shootings. On Sundays, I attend this script-writing course under Mr. Ricky Lee. So, I really don’t have the time to think things over. Perhaps, not right now.”

Is reconciliation possible, if ever?

She explains, “Well, as of now, I’d rather not talk about it.

As I’ve said, despite our break-

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Monday, January 30, 2017

ACROSS 1 Muscle complaint 5 Fracas 10 Was very thrifty 14 Plant in a swamp 15 Storrs coll.

16 Prefix for dynamic 17 Heavy-rain phenom (2 wds.)

19 LP speeds 20 Part of CST 21 — — woodchuck would ...

22 Athens rival 24 U.K. native 25 Kimono accessory 26 Ill humor 29 Good buddies 33 Lobster orders 34 Destroy 35 People, informally 37 — Arbor, Mich.

38 22-card deck 39 Coach Parseghian 40 Film with 9 Oscars 42 Kilt wearer 43 River of Pakistan 45 Vanquish 47 Jewelry

fasteners 48 Wernher— Braun 49 Goatee site 50 Alligator cousin 53 Piniella of the diamond 54 Mortar trough 57 Round tent 58 Nonstop talker (hyph.)

61 Ration out 62 Taken (2 wds.)

63 Deep-voiced lady 64 Citrus coolers 65 Gray-green shrubs 66 Go with the — DOWN 1 Yips 2 Early Briton 3 First in line 4 Newspaper execs 5 Healthy coffee go-with 6 Brilliance 7 London lav 8 Hazzard County deputy 9 Period?

10 Loop for a lobe 11 Retained 12 Columnist — Bombeck 13 Salon styles 18 Adds to staff

23 24 26 27

Mr. Vigoda Eur. country Antler bearer Financial calamity 28 Argot 29 Commotion 30 Warden’s fear 31 Couples 32 Waffle topping 34 Rev the engine 36 Lip, slangily 38 Tidal waves 41 Asks along 43 Hip bone 44 A Bobbsey twin

46 City near Tehran 47 Tasks 49 Intimate 50 Prompted 51 “Laugh-In” name 52 Pop singer — Hendryx 54 Shuck peas 55 Director — Preminger 56 Red Sea vessel 57 Vocalist — Sumac 59 Barge pusher 60 Bumbler

up, there’s no bad blood between us.

P e r s o n a l l y, I want to keep our friendship no matter what. I will let the future decide on that.

“I’m more focusing on our professional relationship. We still have a lot of concepts to develop. For sure, I’ll be working with him in various projects in the coming days. As in I’ll be working with him the whole year.” ******** Sheena Halili just renewed her contract with GMA-7 and is happy about it.

“You can say that again,”

she says. “Over the years, every time I ink a renewal contract as Kapuso, I really feel that this is where I belong---that I am meant for and to be with the network which has been so good to me. Imagine, I started as a ‘StarStruck Avenger’ in its maiden season and until now, I’m still here.”

What made her decide to stay at this time when networkswapping is rampant among talents?

“Let’s just say that I’m very comfortable in here. I consider GMA as a second family. This is where I grew up and honed my artistic skills. I’m certain that I’ll be with them for a long period of time.”

For her first project after her

contract signing, she is part of the much-anticipated drama series Destined To Be Yours, which top bills the phenomenal love team of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza.

“I’m simply thrilled because I have a positive start this 2017.

Imagine, this is a very huge soap and stars one of today’s hottest screen tandems! I’m grateful to the management for casting me in this project.”

What can she say about the two leads?

“They’re so professional! In fact, on our first taping day, it was raining and all of us were soaked in mud but no complain was heard from them. I’m sure I’ll be having a wonderful time with this show,” Sheena states.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2017

‘Pinulot Ka Lang Sa Lupa’ premieres

TODAY G

MA Network brings ISAH V. RED to life the 1987 classic movie, Pinulot Ka Lang Sa Lupa, in an updated TV series premiering today on Afternoon Prime.

Are Julie Anne San Jose and Benjamin Alves the next big TV love team? The rumored couple top bills GMA 7 newest afternoon drama.

Vivo V5 launch draws celebrities to MOA THUMBS UP.

Vivo launches its flagship smart phone which specifically designed for the millennials

TOP five global premium brand Vivo officially launched Vivo V5 Plus perfect selfie phone in a star-studded event on Jan. 21, at the SM Mall of Asia Atrium, drawing local stars and top lifestyle, fashion, and technology bloggers, all excited to try out the much-awaited Vivo flagship phone.

Largely anticipated because of reported stunning selfie features, the Vivo V5 Plus is equipped with the world’s first dual front camera—a combination of a 20-megapixel primary camera and an 8-megapixel secondary camera, designed to collect depthof-field information.

With its dual front camera, the Vivo V5 Plus can create a true ‘bokeh’ effect on the spot, producing photos with sharp face details, but beautifully blurred backgrounds.

According to Vivo Philippines, the V5 Plus has the most advanced selfie technology to date, with features like the beauty mode 6.0—a built-in, easy-to-use camera option for enhancing skin tone and removing blemishes—and the selfie soft light, which enables users to take high-definition selfies even in poor lighting conditions.

Hosted by magic 89.9 DJ Nikko Ramos, the Vivo V5 Plus big reveal was kicked off by Pinoy Boyband Superstar’s Tony Labrusca and James Ryan Cesena, who each entertained the guests with lively music, and then amped up their performance with an energetic song-and-dance number.

Meanwhile, the talented KZ Tandingan wowed the guests with her soulful performances and even gamely tried out the Vivo V5 Plus by taking a selfie with the Vivo executives onstage.

Hazel Bascon, Vivo Philippines vice president, expressed her exhilaration in upgrading the selfie experience. “We are excited to bring the ‘selfie’ to the next level.

Our latest innovation not only provides highquality audio, but also as everyone loves— the perfect selfie,” she stated.

Bascon likewise disclosed that in their desire to improve the quality of their smartphones, Vivo has once more increased the number of its research centers. “In our pursuit of innovation and perfection, we have expanded our research centers to seven.

This move is geared towards our objective

of giving the best and most unique experience to our consumers.”

Aside from Bascon, Vivo Philippines executives like trade marketing director Lindsay Guan, CEO Ted Xiong, national sales manager Robert John Decillo, brand director Annie Lim, and Vivo partners graced the affair with their presence.

The big reveal also reintroduced NBA superstar Stephen Curry as the official endorser and brand ambassador of all Vivo phones, including the Vivo V5 Plus perfect selfie phone.

Aside from its remarkable dual front camera, also highlighted during the event were the phone’s impressive specifications.

For inquiries about Vivo V5 Plus, visit the Vivo website at vivoglobal.ph, or check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ VivoPhil), Instagram (https://www.instagram. com/vivophil/) and Twitter (https://twitter. com/vivophil) accounts.

The Ishmael Bernal masterpiece is now a modern version tackling the life struggles of two women intertwined by lost love.

The series features Julie Anne San Jose as Santina, Benjamin Alves as Ephraim, Martin del Rosario as Kiko and LJ Reyes as Angeli.

Playing equally important roles are Ara Mina as Mariz and Jean Garcia as Diony.

Joining them are Victor Neri as Cesar, Allan Paule as Hector, Geleen Eugenio as Yoleng, Janna Dominguez as Chona, Lharby Policarpio as Boggs.

Santina, an orphaned girl forced to work hard after her aunt’s death, finds herself working in one of Diony’s restaurants. Diony, a kind woman sends her to school and treats her as her own daughter.

Angeli is homeless child longing for a mother’s love.

Diony adopts her and eventually helps her in running her bbusiness.

As Santina and Angeli’s worlds collide, they also competes for the love of Diony’s Ephraim, blamed for the death of his sister. Initially. Angeli sees Ephraim as a competition. but after an incident, she falls secretly and obsessively in love with him.

Mariz is Angeli’s neglectful mother who hates Angeli, a baby she carried after she was raped and when she was growing up left her with Diony.

Meanwhile, Santina and Ephraim are childhood best friends. Their friendship will eventually blossom into a romantic relationship. Known for getting everything she wants, Angeli will stop at nothing from getting not only Diony’s attention but also Ephraim’s love. But Santina is also willing to fight for herself and for the people she loves.

Reyes and Martin del Rosario add zest into the classic movie originally helmed by Ishmael Bernal