Manila Standard - 2017 February 24 - Friday

De Lima dodges arrest

By Rey E. Requejo, Macon Ramos-Araneta and John Paolo Bencito

S

ENATOR Leila de Lima dodged arrest late Thursday and fled to the Senate even after the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court issued a warrant in connection with the drug trafficking charges filed against her.

VOL. XXXI • NO. 14 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

NON-BAILABLE, INEVITABLE. Senator Leila de Lima, surrounded by security in civilian clothes, walks to her news conference Thursday after the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court orders her arrest for her alleged involvement in the non-bailable New Bilibid Prison illegal drug trade. The 57-year-old human rights activist (inset) chokes and pauses during her news conference at the Senate. Lino Santos

Police said they tried to serve the warrant on De Lima at the Senate but the lawmen spoke with Senate sergeant-at-arms Jose Balajadia Jr. and they agreed to defer the arrest until morning.

De Lima was earlier allowed to go home and prepare for arrest Friday morning but rushed back to the Senate after lawmen were ordered to effect the arrest Thursday night.

“I feel less safe if they insist on arresting me tonight… I don’t want my family to see me being arrested,” said the 57-yearold senator whose boyfriend Ronnie Dayan was arrested in Pangasinan.

Aside from De Lima and Dayan, also included in the arrest warrant was former Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Rafael Marcos Z. Ragos.

Next page

Gina retracts bribery ‘Inmates offered P100m to drop testimony E. Requejo claim, says no proof ByandReyMacon R. Araneta

By Rio N. Araja and Christine F. Herrera ENVIRONMENT Secretary Regina Lopez retracted on Thursday her accusation that members of the Commission on Appointments each received a P50-million bribe to block her confirmation.

At a news conference, Lopez said she was not accusing the CA members and said she did not have any proof of the bribes.

“I am not accusing anyone. I don’t have the evidence. I was just telling [about the supposed bribe] casually. I don’t have any idea. This is my first time in politics,” she told reporters.

She said she called a press briefing to immediately clarify

her statement.

“You can quote me on this. Politics is really messy. All I want to do is just to save water,” she said, referring to her plan to close 75 mining companies operating in watershed areas.

After giving a talk about environmental protection before the Makati Business Club Tuesday, Lopez said she was “worried about the CA.” “I just answered casually.

[But] There was no press [in that event]. [I said] I heard there was P50 million,” she said.

“I don’t know [all] those congressmen in the CA. Some people [there] I know because I like them, like [Manila Rep. Rosenda Ann] Sandy Ocampo.”

Next page

JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Thursday said highprofile inmates who implicated Senator Leila de Lima in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison have been offered P100 million in exchange for recanting their testimony against her.Aguirre said the offer was made by

a former senator and an incumbent congressman of the Liberal Party in Laguna, purportedly to convince the eight inmates currently being detained at the Armed Forces of the Philippines custodial center in Camp Aguinaldo.

“The inmates were told that they have to recant before February 25, 2017,” Aguirre said.

However, the Justice secretary did not name the LP politicians, but

vowed to investigate the bribe that he said the inmates rejected.

“This is tampering of the highest level. We are taking the matter very seriously and we will go after those who are responsible,” Aguirre said, calling the two politicians “well-funded and evidently without scruples.”

Based on information received by his office, Aguirre said the offer first was made to the inmates

Palace blasts Duterte tag as ‘new Macoy’

By John Paolo Bencito, Sandy Araneta and Rey E. Requejo A LAW professor of Rodrigo Duterte when he was studying at the San Beda College on Thursday called the President the “New Macoy,” referring to former dicta-

tor Ferdinand Marcos after he decided to tone down the celebration of the 31st anniversary of the People Power Revolution this week.

“To me, as one who played a role... nakalulungkot dahil that was one bright shining moment na we shocked and awed the whole world,” former senator Rene Sa-

guisag told GMA News.

“Bakit ganun, babalewalain?

Pero karapatan nila ‘yon dahil itong si Digong [Duterte], bagong Macoy ito eh.”

Malacañang said Saguisag’s comments were uncalled for.

“I think the comparison is too broad and uncalled for,” Presiden-

THE resumption on Thursday of the Senate hearing on the kidnapping and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo created more confusion as a result of the contradictory statements of the authorities on the suspects.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the suspects in the case could include some people from the South Korean Embassy.

He told the Senate public order committee led by Senator Panfilo Lacson that Jee’s abduction from his Angeles City residence on Oct. 18 last year and his killing inside Camp Crame could be the handiwork of some people from the South Korean Embassy.

Citing a former NBI official he did not identify, Aguirre said

CRITICAL SITUATION.

A security crisis is brewing inside the erstwhile drydock facility of the US Seventh Fleet in Subic after at least 70 armed men forcibly entered and took over the operations of the Ocean Adventure Theme Park, leading SBMA chairman Martin Diño to castigate administrator Wilma Eisma.

several people from the South Korean Embassy had been “compromised” by the Korean mafia.

But the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group on Thursday said no Korean mafia was involved in the case.

NBI Assistant Director Medardo De Lemos said although there were some Korean organized groups in the country, “at the moment we cannot categorically state a positive or negative answer. We cannot say that a Korean mafia had a hand in the Jee Ick Joo case.”

PNP-AKG director Glenn Dumlao said he shared the De Lemos’ views.

“There are some Koreans who are engaged in illegal activities, but it’s not a Korean mafia that is actually involved,” Dumlao said.

Next page

tial Spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

He made his statement even as Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada ordered the Manila Police District to field enough policemen to the Rizal Park, where 200,000 proDuterte supporters are expected to rally on Feb. 25.

Next page

Sino trade chief scraps visit, DFA puzzled

Aguirre links embassy people to Jee slay case

By Macon R. Araneta and Sandy Araneta

through a phone call Wednesday afternoon.

“The second offer was made through [former Police Inspector Clarence] Dongail, another inmate incarcerated at the AFP Custodial Center this [Thursday] morning. In both instances, the inmates said no,” he said.

Aguirre said the bribe was made in a mobile phone conversation on Next page loud speaker.

LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS. A Catholic faithful and her grandchild light a candle Wednesday night round a mock chalk figure representing an extrajudicial victim during a prayer rally condemning the government’s war on drugs launched on July 1, 2016. More than 6,000 people have since died following the unprecedented campaign that has drawn worldwide concern. AFP

CHINA abruptly canceled the scheduled official visit of Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng to finalize about 40 joint projects worth billions of dollars that were agreed during President Rodrigo Duterte’s state visit to China last October.

Both the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Trade and Industry could not explain why the visit was canceled but they dismissed speculations that it was connected with Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay’s remarks during the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Next page

Armed men occupy Subic theme park

By Christine F. Herrera SUBIC Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman Martin Diño on Thursday said a security crisis is now brewing inside Subic after some 70 armed men forcibly entered and illegally occupied the Ocean Adventure theme park in Subic for 10 days now.

Diño castigated SBMA Administrator Wilma Eisma for granting entry to the armed men without the required court order, and has

asked her to explain.

He said the incident occurred while he was abroad on official business.

“Administrator Eisma is a lawyer. She was in charge while I was away for official business abroad.

She should know better than just allow anyone to barge in and seize the operations of a business inside a supposed well-guarded and secure SBMA facility,” Diño said.

“I am making her explain. I asked her to explain why she al-

lowed the forcible entry of armed men in an establishment, a theme park at that, inside SBMA without a proper court order,” he added.

Eisma, he said, has yet to submit an official explanation.

Diño said a standoff between the 70 armed men and the 800 SBMA security forces ensued since 7 p.m. of Feb. 13 while he was in Kobe, Japan for an international ports conference.

“While abroad, I immediately Next page

A2

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

PH, EU launch program vs impunity

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Philippine government and the European Union have launched “Governance in Justice (GoJust),” a three-year program intended to reform the justice system, which also includes promotion of accountability and steps against impunity for major human rights violations.

The government’s new reform program in the criminal justice system, which is funded by a grant from the European Union and the government of Spain worth about P1 billion, includes a component involving

strengthening of human rights institutions in the country.

GoJust, launched at the Manila Hotel on Thursday, aims to strengthen capacity of institutions “to promote accountability and fight impunity for major human

rights violations.”

EU Ambassador Franz Jessen explained that GoJust intended to strengthen the rule of law in the Philippines through interventions for legislative, regulatory and procedural reforms in the criminal justice system to be spearheaded by the Supreme Court, Department of Justice and Department of the Interior and Local Government.

“As the Philippines moves towards middle income status, a properly functioning justice system will be essential for the business climate and to ensure the continuity of economic growth,” Jessen said during the program launch.

The program has three other major components, including the strengthening and institutionalization of the justice sector coordinating council composed of agencies under the five pillars of justice.

The other objectives are development of a long-term reform strategy and sector-wide coordination and streamlining of case management system and decongestion of courts and prosecution offices, improvement of administrative and financial management system and promotion of accountability and combating impunity in human rights violations.

De Lima...

From A1

“I have no plan to escape my case.

I have no plan to hide because I will face all my cases,” De Lima said in a dramatic press conference she called early Thursday evening.

“Since at this very moment, 7:20 pm, there is no warrant of arrest yet, I want to go home to spend time with my family. I will get my things to be brought to jail. I will go home tonight and return tomorrow morning here in the Senate and wait for the arresting team,” she said.

She said she was well aware that the charges against her are non-bailable but her lawyers will question the warrant of arrest in court.

De Lima is accused of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, in line with allegations that she allowed the illegal drug trade to flourish in the New Bilibid Prison when she was still Justice secretary.

Dayan allegedly acted as her bagman in the NBP while Ragos confessed that he delivered millions of pesos in drug payoffs to De Lima’s house.

The cases against De Lima stemmed from the complaints filed by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption; the NBI; former NBI deputy directors Reynaldo Esmeralda and Rule Lasala; and highprofile Bilibid inmate and self-confessed drug trader Jaybee Sebastian.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Thursday said the pressure on De Lima was making her crazy.

“It is for her best interest that she engages the services of a competent medical professional to assist her in these trying times,” Panelo said.

Panelo also echoed Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, who warned De Lima against inciting the people to rebel against the President, whom she branded as a “sociopathic murderer” and a dictator.

“Her continued and relentless tirades against President Duterte could lead to criminal liability for the commission of the crime of inciting to sedition,” Panelo said.

Panelo said that under the law, “inciting to sedition refers to a crime committed by someone who, without taking any direct part in sedition, incites others to inflict any act of hate or revenge against the person of the President by means of speech, among others.”

He also said karma had finally caught up with the senator, who now faces arrest and detention, much in the same way that former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo did when De Lima was Justice secretary.

“Unlike when she effected the arrest of former President [Arroyo] despite the absence of a criminal charge and a warrant of arrest, she will now be arrested and detained pursuant to a warrant of arrest issued by a competent court. She is being given due process which she shamelessly denied [President Arroyo] when she was secretary of Justice,” Panelo said.

De Lima earlier urged the public to speak out against crimes being committed by the President.

“Now is the time to make a stand and rise up in the face of a criminal dictator and a repressive regime,” the senator said.

“Lend your voice. Lend your voice of outrage [for] what’s happening in the country,” she said.

De Lima said the President, whom she accused of being liable for the killings of the Davao Death Squad, is “the number one criminal in the Philippines, if not the world.”

“Senator Leila de Lima may be off her rockers when she described President Duterte as a sociopathic serial killer and dictator,” Panelo said.

De Lima has denied all the charges against her, saying the accusations were payback for her crusade against Duterte’s bloody war on drugs.

In a statement, De Lima said the President and Aguirre should be arrested for committing the most seditious and murderous act of inciting people to violence against mere suspected pushers and users in the last seven months.

“This administration has been committing acts of sedition since the beginning for pitting the population against each other in a drug war that calls for the elimination of an entire class of the population which, according to the President, consists of 3 million pushers and users,” De Lima said.

In response, Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, DoJ Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno all vowed to support the implementation of the program, which would address perennial issues in judicial, prosecutorial and police agencies like corruption, clogged dockets and delayed resolution.

“I commit that cases in the DoJ will be disposed of devoid of material and political influences,” Aguirre said in his speech.

However, while the GoJust highlights the issue on human rights violations, Sueno slammed Amnesty International and other human rights groups for their

Gina...

From A1

RUNWAY MANILA. Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar and Transportation Secretary Arthur

Tugade inspect the construction of a pedestrian bridge, named Runway Manila, that runs from Newport City to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. Ey Acasio

Military receives 2 leased JP planes

By Francisco Tuyay TWO Japanese reconnaisance aircraft transferred to the Philippine government are expected to upgrade the Southeast Asian country’s surveillance capability over its long coastline, particularly in the hotly-contested reefs and shoal in the West Philippine Sea. Navy Flag-Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Ronaldo Joseph Mercado revealed the impending arrival of two TC-90 reconnaissance aerial aircraft during fellowship night with the Defense Press Corps aboard BRP Andres Bonifacio birthed at Pier 13 South Harbor Wednesday.

Mercado said the 2 TC-90 aircraft from the Japan Maritime Defense Force were scheduled to arrive on March 27 this year, the first batch of the five to be delivered to the Philippine government as part of the countries’ bilateral

'Inmates...

From A1

Asked for the significance of the Feb. 25 deadline in the offer, Aguirre reiterated the information they received about a concerted effort to gather mass support for the gathering of critics of the Duterte administration in 31st anniversary of the 1986 Edsa People Power revolution.

Among the inmates who testified against De Lima are Herbert Colanggo, Engelberto Aceñas Dureno, Vicenty Sy, Jojo Baligad and Wu Tuan Yuan or Peter Co. They have been excluded in the drug charges filed by the DoJ against De Lima and several others before the Muntinlupa regional trial courts.

Meanwhile, prosecutors of the Department of Justice asked the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court to defer the hearing today on the motion of De Lima seeking dismissal of the drug trafficking charges and suspen-

Armed...

From A1

ordered the SBMA security to stand down. It’s a good thing there was no gun battle. What I don’t understand is how the 70 armed men managed to enter the facility with 800 security men guarding [it]. Eisma has a lot of explaining to do,” he said.

The forcible entry stemmed from an ownership dispute over the theme park operations.

A group of former investors led

by Scott Niel Sharpe, a foreign national, was behind the attack,

defense cooperation.

“Yes, it will boost our capability on aerial reconnaissance, particularly on maritime surveillance,” Mercado said.

Mercado said the 2 TC-90 in the Air Force inventory would eventually be utilized not only for surveillance purposes, but would also hasten humanitarian assistance and could ferry limited cargoes and personnel for maritime use as well.

The Philippines has 36,289 kms coastline, longer than Australia’s 25,760 kms and Japan’s 29,751 kms but shorter than Russia’s 37,653 kms.

Navy spokesman Capt. Lued Lincuna also said the three TC90s would be transferred to the Philippine Navy hopefully at the end of the year.

Lincuna said the Japanese surveillance plane would supplement the existing Norman-Britten BN-2 Islander fleet in its maritime missions. sion of proceedings pending judicial determination of probable cause.

The DoJ team asked the RTC branches 204, 205 and 206 to instead reset the hearing to next Friday, March 3, because they have to attend Mandatory Continuing Legal Education classes today.

De Lima on Thursday challenged Aguirre to prove his claim or shut up if he had no proof.

In a statement, De Lima told Aguirre to show proof of the attempted bribery.

“I dare Aguirre to name names and show proof, otherwise he too should shut up,” De Lima said.

She described Aguirre’s claim as “another outlandish and hysterical story being fed to the media.”

“I could not help but laugh at this... Obviously, it should not warrant any air time or editorial space unless Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre can provide verifiable proof, and not just mere hearsay,” De Lima said. said Aletha Candaliza, spokesperson of the theme park workers.

Diño said at least 10 people were injured after the Sharpe’s armed men forcefully evicted women from the staff dormitory, knocked down several doors, opened vaults and demanded food and drinks.

He said Sharpe’s group failed to present any court order and was not accompanied by a sheriff to undertake the takeover.

“We will not intervene in their business dispute but without a court order, without a sheriff assisting them, [that] makes their action illegal and unacceptable,” Diño said.

Aguirre...

From A1

He made his statement even as the NBI recommended the prosecution of several policemen and civilians after the bureau came out with its findings on Jee’s abduction and killing― and despite an appeal from Jee’s wife that the NBI keep its hands off the case.

Aguirre said he had earlier met a former NBI official who told him the scope of the Korean mafia was wide, and that even some people in the Korean Embassy had already been compromised by the mafia.

“And then we heard from Colonel [Rafael] Dumlao when being investigated that the people, the Korean mafia, are so big that we will have difficulty,” Aguirre said.

He said that during a meeting with Jee’s wife Choi Kyung Jin, the South Korean consulate and its political attaché, the Korean officials told him to “stop any further investigation” in connection with the “mafia.”

“We’re not yet done with it.

I’m just wondering why they want to stop it [the investigation] that could lead to a possible theory that he was really ordered killed.

As a result, Aguirre said, he asked the authorities to dig deeper into the alleged involvement of a Korean mafia in the death of Jee. But Senator Bam Aquino IV cautioned Aguirre about his allegations on the South Korean Embassy people. He said the South Korean ambassador to the Philippines should be allowed to give a “proper response.”

Aguirre said Jee was kidnapped twice by the “Korean mafia” or “Korean Yakuza” in the country.

“I don’t know what name they call it. I would like to ask, although I’m not an investigator, we need to pursue every theory of the case,” he said.

Sino...

From A1

Yasay said Asean foreign ministers were unsettled and had grave concerns about China’s move to militarize manmade islands, including installation of weapons systems, in the South China Sea. Gao was scheduled to arrive in Manila on Thursday with a large delegation but China informed the Philippines on Wednesday afternoon they would not be coming due to “urgent domestic concerns.”

“It was a last-minute decision,” said a source at the DTI. “We were only informed about it and we’re not privy to any information about the cancellation.”

But Bloomberg, citing a Wall Street Journal report, confirmed

Lopez said Ocampo had helped her once in one of her river system projects in Manila.

She also expressed her approval of A-Teacher Rep. Julieta Cortuna and Davao Oriental Rep. Joel Almario, as well as Valenzuela City Rep. Wes Gatchalian.

She blamed the Philippine Daily Inquirer for coming out with an article based on her “casual” remarks before the Makati Business Club.

“I really heard there’s a big kitty [out] there to make sure I don’t get confirmed. That’s what I heard but I don’t have the evidence,” she said.

She appealed to the CA to give her the chance to “clean the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. That is my promise to the President.”

She said someone was just “rocking the boat to cause trouble.”

“I am not hitting anyone.”

She admitted there are corrupt agency officials.

“I know there is corruption at the DENR. Any regulatory body is a seabed of corruption,” she said.

Lopez met with about 50 MBC members on Tuesday, during which she said that she was told that every congressmen was offered P50 million if they voted against her confirmation.

She said she had met briefly with President Rodrigo Duterte about the mining closures.

“The President backs my decision,” she said.

Lopez, however, lost the support of Almario, who chided her for making “irresponsible accusations” against the members of the CA. He said he now agrees with Lopez’s detractors that she is “unfit for the position.”

“I have manifested in our CA meetings of the House contingent that I may perhaps vote to confirm her as I see her [as] incorruptible,” Almario said.

As a matter of fact, Almario said, he even issued a press release supporting Lopez’s closure orders

criticisms on the war on drugs.

In front of the EU delegation, he branded AI and other groups as “human wrong groups” as he vowed to pursue the proposed project to put stickers on drugfree houses.

For her part, Sereno highlighted the need for sectoral responsibility as it takes collective efforts of all agencies involved to deliver justice.

“If we are really going to succeed in supporting the reforms of the justice sector, we must be willing to say that we are jointly accountable to our people. The judiciary will not fail our people in this regard,” she vowed. of mining operations and urged her to terminate or suspend DENR employees and officials who issued permits to these operations during the past administration.

“But her irresponsible and sweeping accusation shows there is some truth to what her detractors have been saying all along against her as unfit for the position,” Almario said.

“And now as one of the 12 congressman-members of the Commission on Appointments, I am included as a suspect to her sweeping accusations,” he said.

In another news conference in Quezon City, various non-government agencies came forward to support the confirmation of Lopez on March 1.

In an eight-minute video posted on her Facebook page, Lopez turned emotional and addressed her detractors, particularly a few of the mine owners, and called them “very greedy.”

Before the business group, Lopez had said: “My confirmation is on March 1. Let the dice fall where it may. I don’t care. I was told that every congressman was offered P50 million if they voted against me. I don’t know. I heard there’s a kitty out there, I don’t know, that’s people talking.”

CA member Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Rodito Albano III chided Lopez and advised her to “stop acting like a prima donna.”

“She heard? She just heard and she took it already as gospel truth?

What’s her motive for making it public? [So] that when the congressmen voted against her, people would think the CA members got bribed?” Albano said.

Following Lopez’s statement against the lawmakers, the 12-member House contingent, led by its chairman San Juan City Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, canceled the “courtesy call” sought by Lopez with the House contingent.

Zamora said the contingent would just see Lopez on Wednesday during her confirmation hearing.

Estrada said he saw no reason not to allow the gathering.

“I have ordered the Manila Police District to maintain peace and order during the gathering and make sure the motorists, pedestrians and commuters will not be inconvenienced,” Estrada said.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said the judiciary will remain loyal to the Constitution and faithful to its duties.

“The judiciary is here to serve justice in the role it has been given by this Constitution, which is to convict only on the basis of the evidence, to rule according to law, to give no man favor and to harbor no malice towards any,” Sereno said in an interview after the launching of the Governance in Justice program at the Manila Hotel.

Abella insisted that toning down the People Power celebration was the administration’s way of commemorating its 31st anniversary. “[It’s] a matter of different

strokes for different folks. I don’t know if you call it downgrading. It simply is a different style,” Abella said.

“Senator Saguisag has emotional ties to these things. We are not downgrading that. I am just saying that he also feels strongly and perhaps he wants it to be some more grandiose way.”

On Tuesday, Saguisag said he regretted the decision of the San Beda Law School not to expel then law student Rodrigo Duterte following a shooting incident with a classmate.

He said he voted to have Duterte ousted but was outvoted by the dean and the priest of the law school.

“They felt sorry for him since he was already a senior. It was decided to just let him graduate but not to allow him to march at the rites,” Saguisag said.

Duterte shot Octavio Goco, a law school classmate, after Goco teased him incessantly for being a “probinsyano,” Saguisag said.

He said that incident showed early the “trigger- happy” attitude of the President.

that Beijing is planning to appoint new heads to some key economic and financial regulatory bodies.

The report said Gao will step down as commerce minister to be replaced by his deputy Zhong Shan as part of revamp meant to address risks of a trade clash with the US. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the two sides had yet to set a new date for the meeting on the pending projects but were looking at early March.

The Philippines has submitted to Beijing a list of 40 small- and large-scale infrastructure projects for possible loans and grants. Chinese firms are also keen to invest in the agriculture, fisheries and energy sectors in the Philippines.

Finance Secretary Carlos

Dominguez earlier said a six-year development program for ChinaPhilippines cooperation was due to be signed during Gao’s visit.

Dominguez said 15 of the infrastructure projects submitted to China were loan financing, while 25 other projects were for feasibility study support. Three of the largescale projects are worth $3.4 billion combined.

Meanwhile, Yasay said that China has given the Philippines an assurance that it will not build structures on Manila-owned Scarborough Shoal.

In a luncheon that he graced for the media, Yasay said that the promise was made during President Rodrigo Duterte’s official meeting with China President Xi Jinping in October.

Palace...

From A1

A4

Opinion

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Wary investors

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s constant but thoughtless diatribes against notable foreign institutions are producing undesirable results. The chief executive is now reaping what he has sowed.

Two European companies have just canceled their separate plans to invest and expand operations in the Philippines amid the policy uncertainty caused by President Duterte’s tirades against the European Union. The two foreign

Adelle Chua, Editor

investors, according to European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines executive director Florian Gottein, were among the European companies now looking elsewhere to build their projects.

One is looking at Vietnam as its new site for

expansion, after scuttling a plan to double its current investments here. The second has put its planned investment on hold.

It would not be a surprise if more potential foreign investors follow the decision of the two European companies.

Gottein noted that the series of statements of President Duterte directed against the EU had affected the business plans of European companies.

Duterte earlier cursed at the EU,

along with the US and the United Nations, for criticizing his bloody campaign against illegal drugs.

The Philippines again missed another opportunity to create more job opportunities after the pullout of the two undisclosed companies. The two would have generated 4,000 to 5,000 new jobs in the information technology and manufacturing sectors.

Developing countries like the Philippines need every foreign

capital and technology they can attract because local capital resources are not enough.

Foreign businessmen or investors should be wooed and welcomed, instead of being pilloried. The European Union, comprising of 28 member-states, account for 22 percent of the global nominal gross domestic product in 2016. It is an economic powerhouse that should not be sneered at. The economic bloc was the largest source

of foreign direct investment in Southeast Asia with 23.3 billion euros in 2015, or more than double from the level in 2014.

The Philippine economic team should get its act together if it wants to attract foreign investments and reduce the country’s unemployment rate. For starters, it should warn President Duterte about the implications of his incessant outbursts. He is the country’s worst salesman.

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

Infra woes

Irony and karma LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES THERE is only one really significant question regarding the issuance of arrest warrants against Senator Leila late yesterday: What took them so long?

As far back as last October, after high-profile convict Jaybee Sebastian testified before the Senate about De Lima’s involvement in the proliferation of illegal drugs right inside the New Bilibid Prison, the senator’s arrest already appeared inevitable. But it took Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre and his five-man panel investigating the charges leveled against De Lima this long to file formal charges and secure warrants, much to the exasperation of many Filipinos who wanted her to get what, in their estimation, she so justly deserved.

Even De Lima herself has long been declaring that she would

soon be arrested, saying that she was going to become the “first political prisoner” of the Duterte administration. Never mind if, to many people, the drawn-out drama was her own creation, in order to frame her impending arrest as a political vendetta instead of the simple operation of the justice system.

But it would be wrong to ignore the irony of the seeing De Lima, who portrayed herself as the avenging angel of partisan justice of the previous administration, thrown in jail for serious crimes. Or the karmic satisfaction that the many who have come to despise her derived from yesterday’s events.

De Lima has never been someone who elicits easy sympathy, even among the remnants of the once-formidable Yellow faction of Philippine politics. And her checkered past as the haughty and disdainful chief implementor of the policy of political retribution of the previous administration has not yet been forgotten, regardless of her election to the Senate last year.

Because De Lima has been instrumental in the prosecution (or persecution, depending on your political leanings) of the perceived political enemies of her former boss, ex-President Noynoy Aquino, most Filipinos want to know if she can take

De Lima will be detained for a long time, perhaps even longer than Arroyo herself. as good as she used to give.

The justice secretary who once defied the Supreme Court in order to jail Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on orders from Aquino shouldn’t be such a crybaby, after all—especially when she’s been

linked to very serious crimes such as bribery and aiding and abetting drug syndicates.

I think De Lima’s inexperience as a politician also made her believe that she could simply continue being one of the most vocal critics of the Duterte administration, even if she herself was vulnerable because of her supposed links to the drug syndicates in the penitentiary who also allegedly funded her campaign. As the experience of three senators that she also helped to put in jail should have taught her, being a member of the Senate does not make her immune from suit or detention.

There are, after all, senators who are even more identified with the previous administration’s failed policies than De Lima herself but who have wisely chosen to keep a much lower profile for their own political survival. Senator Franklin Drilon, for example, ranked even higher than De Lima as Senate president and enforcer during the Aquino years—but the wily Drilon has only intermittently

criticized President Rodrigo Duterte while pulling off the political acrobatic feat of remaining in the Liberal Party while being a part of the majority as the chamber’s second-highest official.

Of course, there is also Senator Antonio Trillanes, who is apparently engaged in a private contest with De Lima as to who can make more outrageously accusatory statements against Duterte.

But Trillanes seems to have covered his tracks a lot better than De Lima; after Aquino released Trillanes from jail for staging coup attempts at various hotels, there seems little more that can be used to bring him back into detention, unless his real role in as the mysterious “back-channel negotiator” with Beijing is conclusively proven.

De Lima really should have learned from her own pursuit of Arroyo, the late Chief Justice Renato Corona, and Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada that her high office does not make her immune from Turn to A5

ON FEB. 20, President Duterte and his Cabinet, acting as the board of the National Economic and Development Authority, approved the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022.

The PDP targets growth of 7 percent to 8 percent per year during the six years of his presidency. It seeks to reduce poverty to 14 percent by 2022 from 21.6 percent at present, and rural poverty to 20 percent from 30 percent. Unemployment will be brought down to 3 percent from 5 percent.

Those are ambitious numbers, numbers not validated by previous performance or experience. But then Duterte is a different president and change has come. Imagine unemployment at three percent?

It seems like we will have full employment by 2022. That is like saying the Duterte regime will create 12 million jobs in six years—something no president before has done.

The PDP singles out infrastructure as a key enabler of inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development.

The plan envisions government infra spending equivalent to 5.4 percent of economic output or GDP or P860 billion beginning 2017, and rising to 7 percent of GDP by 2022.

Budget Secretary Ben Diokno estimates total infra spending to be P8.2 trillion in six years, something no president has spent before.

Government and the private sector must indeed pour huge amounts on infra.

Our infra statistics are outrageous. According to Neda data, among the five original Asean countries—Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, we have the poorest quality of infrastructure.

We have the most expensive electricity.

Our electricity price is twice that of Singapore and three times that of Malaysia.

We have the slowest and most expensive internet service. The Philippines’ slow download speed (less than 3 mbps) is more than twice the average of the Asean Five (7 mbps) and three times the average of the entire Asia Pacific region (9 mbps).

Our broadband cost is twice that of Thailand, seven times that of Malaysia, and 12 times Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher can be accessed at: thestandard.com.ph

Benjamin Philip G. Romualdez Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

ManilaStandard

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.thestandard. com.ph; e-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

ONLINE MEMBER

PPI

Chairman Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager OIC-Ad Solutions Circulation Manager

Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor City Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Adelle Chua Honor Blanco Cabie Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion Editor Night Editor Art Director Chief Photographer

Opinion

BY CURRENT count (and still counting?), there were at least four different Edsa anniversary celebrations scheduled this weekend: The usual gathering of the Yellow crowd, set for today at the Edsa shrine. Expect them to be joined by Duterte critics of every color and stripe, as they try to amass the numbers they didn’t have when they were roundly trounced in last year’s May elections. Truly, losers never learn.

The official one tomorrow in Camp Aguinaldo, so lowkey that it’s practically invisible. The President won’t even show up, sending the Executive Secretary instead.

It’s a safe guess that he doesn’t think too highly of this annual spectacle.

An assembly of the President’s supporters at a prayer vigil that starts tomorrow evening in Rizal Park. Similar gatherings are also scheduled elsewhere in the country. Will they behave again as well as they did during the campaign when they cleaned up after themselves at every rally?

Maybe someone should do a “trash-o-meter” comparison between them and the Yellows.

The fourth one actually may or may not happen, depending on what the Left decides to do this year. They’re doing quite well with both their legs firmly planted on different bancas, thank you: On one hand, they’re trying their best to kill the President’s troops; on the other, they’re hobnobbing with his official family. Talk about having your cake and eating it, too! *** E v e r y year’s Edsa celebration stretches the limits of what’s absurd and irrelevant. With maybe four different events this weekend, is it unity or cacophony that we’re celebrating? With the country being overtaken in the intervening three decades, first by Thailand, then by Vietnam, next maybe even Myanmar or Bangladesh, is there a development record of sorts that we’re proudly holding up before the world?

And at the heart of Edsa— the simple crime of murder that took away Ninoy’s life three years earlier, in 1983— have we come any closer to identifying, let alone punishing, the mastermind responsible--first under his widow’s rule, then under his son’s?

On whatever scale you use, whether cosmic or commonplace, we shouldn’t wonder then why a lot of today’s kids might dismissively reply, if asked about Edsa—“whatevah!” They do not see any lines that can credibly be drawn from that long-ago event to any possibilities of improvement in their future, or in the country’s.

Those lines can only start from what’s happening today, with what needs fixing and what we’re doing to fix it.

And those self-congratulatory memories of Edsa simply distract us from dealing with today’s mistakes. *** An important clue to what’s wrong comes from a mundane inside-page news item the other day: “DBM might scrap 200,000 vacant gov’t posi-

tions.”

Apparently, those many positions have gone unfilled literally for years, worth almost P20 billion of annual budget funds. And yet the agencies involved have not fallen apart or gone crashing down.

In the usual measured tones of former Senate President Frank Drilon, “What does that tell you? The positions are not needed!”

Neither I nor, I wager, the reader can imagine something like that happening in the private sector, no matter how large the company. Creating so many unnecessary positions is inefficiency of the grossest kind that would be punished with immediate termination.

And yet this has gone on unheeded for years, inside the country’s largest employer, paid for by our taxes that we have no choice but to pay, on pain otherwise of imprisonment.

Too much government inexorably becomes a burden. And this is likelier to happen, the farther government is from the people who should be keeping watch on their political leaders and public servants. And that distance, in turn, is exacerbated for our populous and far-flung islands when there is only one geographical center of power— Manila—and only one locus of power—the presidency. *** Imagine if the civilian agency with the biggest budget, DepEd, were farmed out to, say, half a dozen different federal states.

The federal government in Manila might retain a small budget for a small office to create and monitor policy.

But the actual teaching, the building of classrooms, the buying of textbooks and computers, the administration of loans and scholarships—these would be the responsibility of each state government.

Because employers, especially foreigners, look for quality of workforce as a major investment criterion, each state would have to show it had the best workforce compared to others, if it wanted to bag investments. And producing the best workforce would require the most motivated and qualified teachers, the most classrooms, the latest computers, the most generous financial assistance.

Financial shenanigans, say, in textbook purchases for Visayan schools would be more easily monitored by ordinary citizens out of a state capital like Cebu rather than far-away Manila. And would there be room in this set-up for any of the 200,000 unnecessary positions discovered by DBM? Not likely.

I think the failure of our national government to bring simple justice to Ninoy—let alone unity and progress after Edsa— tells us there’s a limit to what government can do even in the most auspicious circumstances, even with an extra 200,000 positions to fill up.

When that happens, it’s time to chop up government into more manageable pieces and relocate those pieces much closer to the sovereign people.

Too much government inexorably becomes a burden.

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘A bunch of rocks’

FORMATION GARY OLIVAR

Edsa what-evah

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO RICHARD Nixon, despite his forced resignation over the Watergate break-in, is the American president who will be remembered in history for having helped thaw the Cold War between the United States and arch foes China and Russia. But the former president, unfortunately, is best remembered for his remark during a debate with John F. Kennedy that “Taiwan is just a bunch of rocks” the US need not waste its time on. The remark was in response to JFK’s view Taiwan must be supported to the hilt as a strategic buffer against China.

Taiwan, now known as the Republic of China, despite protests from the People’s Republic of China, is a thriving, progressive nation of 23-million people. It has become a model for emerging nations in Southeast Asia. Of course, Taiwan won’t be where it is without the profuse military funding support of the US. There is a lesson to be drawn from Taiwan’s long-standing alliance with America. China may rant and rave and talk about retaking Taiwan but Beijing knows it will never happen. The US won’t allow Taiwan to fall to China aside from the fact Taiwan has one of the most modern fleet of fighter jets supplied by the US. I cannot and will not pretend

to be an expert on Taiwan. But having spent three nights and four days in Taipei, I can see why this island, or “bunch of rocks” as Nixon then called it, has developed itself into a powerhouse economy, the 15th most competitive according to global rankings. Taiwan in fact, is one of the biggest foreign investors across the Taiwan Straits, infusing some $150 billion US dollars into China’s economy, according to Wikipedia. The exact amount is a closely guarded secret by Mainland China and Taiwan. It would be embarrassing for Beijing to disclose the huge direct foreign investment from its “renegade province.”

I think it’s safe to say that Taiwan’s progress can be attributed to its people and the brand of leadership that has steered Taiwan into what it is now.

The Taiwanese people, like their cousins in the mainland, are hard-working people. They are a disciplined lot who know the value of hard work and entrepreneurship the Chinese are known for.

Taipei is the very picture of a modern metropolis. Its transports system of efficient public railways, clean buses and thousands of yellow cabs ease commuter pains. Pedestrians do not cross the street even if there are no vehicles in sight. They wait for the traffic light signaling they can already cross the street. The four-lane avenues are wide and the streets are clean with trees planted in the middle island and on both sides

giving the city nearly the same environmental green look as Singapore.

But while traffic and public transport in Taiwan are manageable, motorcyclists and scooters run at breakneck speed. Like in Manila, there are daily incidences of motorcycle accidents.

Aside from the daily casualties due to motorcycle accidents, Taipei’s sidewalks are dangerous.

Although bike lanes have been designated, bikers use the sidewalk and if you are not familiar with this practice , a pedestrian could become a statistic of the city’s daily casualties.

I was last in Taiwan 18 years ago years ago in 1998 together with former Malaya columnist Lito Banayo on a trip for a first hand look at Taiwan’s then stilldeveloping economy. Taiwan today is an island nation with humming factories and foreign reserves currency coming out of its ears. Banayo is the new head of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei. He has settled into the job and will surely be generating jobs and investments together with Deputy Antonio Basilio.

There are some 100,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan, mostly in factories and the health and service sector as caregivers to both the elderly and young children whose parents work to fuel Taiwan’s economic engine.

I met some of our “kababayans” at Saint Christopher Church, their gathering place on their day-off on Sundays. St Christopher’s diocese is all-Fil-

ipino. Its priest, choir and flock are all Filipinos although there was one Taiwanese Catholic priest who celebrated mass after the Filipino priest. *** There is something to be said of Taiwanese officials. The minister of tourism and the director of public transportation offered to resign in the aftermath of a bus accident wherein 31 students on a field trip were killed because of the bus driver’s negligence.

Compare this to the local bus incident in Tanay, Rizal where 15 students died after the bus lost its brakes and smashed into an electric post. No one is resigning here and the operator of the Panda tour bus company merely accepted all expenses related to the victims’ hospitalization and funeral services.

Further investigation showed the Panda bus that figured in the tragic accident was not accredited by the Department of Tourism.

The Commission on Higher Education has suspended all student field trips. These field trips are questionable. At the Greenbelt shopping mall, chartered and point-to-point buses are seen parked daily in front of the mall entrance. What in heaven’s name can young students learn from a trip to a shopping mall? These kind of field trips can only inculcate consumer spending among young people. Do teachers accompanying these students get a commission from the various shops in the mall?

Depressed by politics? Stop staring at your phone

By Stephen L. Carter MY WIFE and I decided to take advantage of the spring-like weather this week and head for the beach. We were not surprised to find that others had the same idea. Foot traffic was so thick on the boardwalk that we could move only at a sluggish pace.

We didn’t care. We were there to look at the dark, beautiful winter water, gently lapping up close, frothy further out. Visually, we drank our fill.

But what struck us as remarkable was how many of our fellow promenaders had no interest in the view. These were the cellphone zombies. There they were, on a crowded beach on the warmest day of the year, faces buried in their phones. Had the Long Island Sound vanished in a silent puff of mystical energy, I doubt that they would have noticed. How the cellphone zombies avoided colliding with each other is a question best left to Stephen King.

Whatever works on the boardwalk, it fails on the roads. Lately we read that drivers using their phones are causing so many collisions that insurance premiums can’t keep up. Half of teenaged drivers surveyed admit to texting

Infra...

From A4 that of Singapore. Broadband cost as a percentage of income per capita is very high—7.53 percent, compared with .63 percent of Singapore, 1.11 percent of Malaysia, and 3.89 percent of Thailand.

We have the worst airports.

The only thing that beats congestion at Naia airport is traffic at Edsa.

We have the most inadequate railway system.

In addition, 3.3 million families have no access to safe drinking water. Six million Filipinos have no toilets.

Irony...

From A4 prosecution. Unfortunately for her, it’s now too late for her to learn that lesson. *** It is really up to the courts that will hear De Lima’s cases, of course, to determine her guilt or innocence. It may take years

while behind the wheel, and a two-second glance at the screen exponentially increases the likelihood of an accident. Holding a phone in the hand makes things worse, but, as Tom Vanderbilt notes in his 2009 book Traffic, statistics for hands-free phones are not much better.

Okay, all of this is reasonably well known. (Maybe not the hands-free phone bit, which was news to me, but the rest.) Cellphones can be dangerous but the zombies at the beach weren’t behind the wheel. True, even distracted pedestrians seem to be having more accidents. And there is growing evidence that young smartphone users exhibit the same behavior as addicts.

But my libertarian conscience does not want to tell anybody else how to live. If people want to come to the beach on a warm winter day and ignore the view, they should have the same freedom as anybody else to enjoy themselves in their own way.

True, the zombies turned out to be the ones slowing foot traffic, and in that sense were uncivil.

Given, however, that the zombies constituted a large majority of those strolling along the boardwalk, perhaps our norms of civility need rewriting.

Color me old: I can remember when strangers greeted each other on the street. There is a warmth in such behavior, a welcoming, a mutual assurance that each of us belongs. In the days of Jim Crow, many of the norms that supported the segregationist state were informal. Among them was the notion that white men would greet other white men whom they happened to encounter on the sidewalk but would ignore black men, who would be expected to stand aside. (The norms for women were more complex.) Nowadays on campus, students literally bump into their professors, and, noses buried in their cell phones, bounce off and keep moving without a word.

Of course nobody has an obligation to greet anyone else on the street. But social psychologists who study the effects of technology warn us that the lack of acknowledgment creates an “absent presence.” When we are ignored by those around us, stress levels rise. The fightor-flight reflex might even kick in. Presumably these effects are minimal or absent in the zombies themselves: they do not notice those around them, and therefore could hardly respond to be-

ing ignored. But for those whose faces happen not to be buried in their phones, the stress effects of being surrounded by zombies are in the long run probably deleterious to health.

The obvious response is that we no longer live in a civil era.

Almost two decades ago I published a book called “Civility: Manners, Morals, and the Etiquette of Democracy.” There I defined civility not principally as good manners (although I do believe that manners matter) but as the sum of the sacrifices we make for the sake of living together. Fans of the volume (thank you, by the way) have been asking lately whether I might perhaps bring out a revised edition, to take account of our depressing national politics.

Perhaps at some point I will.

But I do not see our politics as the cause of our growing incivility. Our politics is the fruit of our growing incivility. If we expect better from officeholders and candidates and activists, we have to demand better from ourselves. A good place to start might be saying hello on the street. If that’s too big a change, how about if we all look up from our screens a bit more often and enjoy the view. Bloomberg

Why? Neda cites three reasons— “corruption, insufficient competition, low credibility of institutions.” Neda is being polite. What it means is that government men allow themselves to be corrupted by utilities monopolies. And regulators are captive to these monopolies (“low credibility of institutions”).

In Metro Manila and nearby areas, there are only two major water retailers—Manila Water and Maynilad.

Nationwide, there are only two telephone companies—PLDT and Globe.

PLDT and Maynilad have the same owners, as do Globe and

Manila Water. So two families or two oligarchies own our telephones and our water. The owner of PLDT and Maynilad also owns Meralco, the electricity distribution monopoly.

Have you ever checked your electricity and water bills? They amount to easily 25 percent of your monthly income—a ratio that is much higher than the taxes you pay government and what you pay for your children’s tuition. Now, government and education are about your future and only two families (we have 22.7 million families, by the way) hold them hostage.

Neda laments that “although infrastructure development has

remained a priority of government, the overall quality of infrastructure in the country still lags behind other members of the Asean. The actual government spending fell short of the targets for 2012 and 2014 despite the increased budgetary allocation for infrastructure provision.”

Moreover, the inadequacy in the provision of infrastructure has been evident in the country’s global performance and ranking in terms of overall infrastructure quality, which is the worst among Asean-5 counterparts, winces Neda.

to resolve these serious charges, which may still be wending their way through the justice system by the end of Duterte’s term in 2022.

What’s certain is that because of the gravity of the alleged offenses, De Lima will surely be detained for a long time. Perhaps even longer than Arroyo herself, who was jailed for five years without the cases filed against

her even going beyond the petition to grant her bail.

De Lima will have a lot of time to ponder her fate and to prepare her defense while she stays at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, a compound that she will share with Estrada and Revilla, whom she helped throw in jail as justice secretary. Perhaps, like Estrada and Revilla themselves, De Lima will soon become just

another politician who thought he was above the law and who could repel any attempt to have him account for past criminal actions.

In the coming days and weeks, De Lima will hog the headlines, just like the people she helped throw in jail before did. Then, like them, she will soon be forgotten, as well.

And deservedly so.

biznewsasia@gmail.com

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

News

A6

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

TODAY

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 NELSON S. PASIA MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

Traffic night shift junked

By Joel E. Zurbano

ABSENT: Councilor ROMEO C. MEDINA-Sick Leave “ MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA “ ENRICO J. PUNO “ MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT-Vacation Leave ===================================================================== On motion presented by Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Resolution No. 2017016 on second and final reading.

CITY RESOLUTION 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 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. N.S. Pasia, Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino, Hon. E.D.E. Villamor and Hon. A.P. Padilla A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE HONORABLE MAYOR MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY TO NEGOTIATE, ENTER INTO AND SIGN A COMPROMISE AGREEMENT, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF MAKATI, WITH THE BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE (BIR) REGARDING THE EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE CITY’S TAX ASSESSMENTS FOR THE YEARS 1999 TO 2004 FOR THE PURPOSE OF CAUSING THE DISMISSAL OF THE CASE ENTITLED AS “CITY OF MAKATI vs COMMISSIONER OF BIR”, DOCKETED AS G.R. NO. 200395, WHICH PERTAINS TO THE AFORE-MENTIONED TAX ASSESSMENTS, SUBJECT TO ALL LAWS AND AUDITING RULES AND PROCEDURES. WHEREAS, on 15 October 2002, the BIR Revenue Region 8 issued assessment notices in the amount of One Billion Three Hundred Thirty-One Million Six Hundred Fifteen Thousand One Hundred Twenty-Five Pesos and 30/100 (Php 1,331,615,125.30) for the years 1999 to 2002 against the City of Makati; WHEREAS, on 29 October 2002, the City of Makati requested for reinvestigation; WHEREAS, on 29 January 2003, the City of Makati filed its protest; WHEREAS, on 30 April 2003, the BIR Revenue Region No. 8 denied City of Makati’s protest and stated that the amount due is One Billion Three Hundred Sixteen Million Four Hundred Twenty-Four Thousand Four Hundred Two Pesos and 15/100 (Php 1,316,424,402.15); WHEREAS, on 20 June 2003, the City of Makati reiterated its protest; WHEREAS, on 16 October 2003, the BIR Revenue Region No. 8 issued Amended Assessment Notices in the amount of One Billion One Hundred Forty Six Million Eight Hundred Eighty-Three Thousand Eight Hundred Forty-Three Pesos and 8/100 (Php 1,146,883,843.08) for the years 1999 to 2001;

T

HE Metro Manila Development Authority shelved the graveyard shift of traffic following increased complaints of illegal activities against his men during nighttime.

“At night, they [enforcers] will just stay inside the barracks, and we will be forming a group, a roving team. The reason why we are doing this we are receiving complaints about corruption involving traffic enforcers,” MMDA acting chairman Thomas Orbos said.

The new group will be composed of 350 personnel tasked to go around Metro Manila to monitor traff ic situations.

“There will be no more enforcers staying in one place to avoid any illegal activity.

Just like in Radial Road 10, C-5 Road and Mindanao Ave-

RESERVE YOURADemailSPACE NOW! us at advertise@ thestandard.com.ph or call us at 832-5547

WHEREAS, on 24 October 2003, the City of Makati requested for the recomputation of the deficiency tax assessments; WHEREAS, on 18 August 2004, the BIR informed the City of Makati that the assessments are final and executory;

Notice of Publication Notice is hereby given that an “Affidavit of Self-Adjudication” has been executed by Sheila Marie P. Suarez as sole heir of the late Rogelio A. Suarez and Teresita P. Suarez under Doc No. 340; Page No. L8; Book No. 3; Series of 2017 executed before Atty. Agustin B. Cabredo, Notary Public for Manila.

(MS-FEB. 24/MAR 3 & 10, 2017)

WHEREAS, on 2 September 2005, the City of Makati offered to pay One Hundred Million Pesos (Php 100,000,000.00) in full settlement of the tax deficiency for the years 1999 to 2001 and tendered the amount of Twenty Million Pesos (Php 20,000,000.00);

nue, most of the victims there were truck [drivers],” Orbos said.

“Another reason is we want to augment the daytime,” he added.

Last Wednesday, the MMDA chief reminded his men that he will strictly implement the one strike policy on any and all employees guilty of any illegal activity.

Orbos said employees accused of illegal activity will be put on preventive suspension at once, whether permanent, casual, or on job order status, subject to applicable rules and regulations.

“Even a simple insinuation or word that our employees are engaged in any corrupt practices shall be investigated immediately. And if proven guilty, then we will file the necessary administrative charges and apply the appropriate sanction after due process,” he said.

In a memorandum, Orbos said all departments involved in the investigation of illegal activities or complaints are in-

structed to swiftly investigate and resolve such cases.

He added if there is a need to replace all existing traffic enforcers with new ones to ensure that the agency’s fight against corruption will be won over, then he shall have no recourse but to do it. “We are not afraid to replace everybody if and when necessary.”

All agency field personnel, particularly those belonging to the enforcement units, are also directed to wear visibly their identification cards at all times.

It was also agreed that all accredited tow truck personnel shall follow the same standards observed by MMDA employees.

“They also represent MMDA in the public. As such, we will never tolerate any acts of abuse from all the accredited tow truck companies and their personnel. Any accusation of wrongdoing shall be dealt with in accordance to the rules and regulations of MMDA, as if they are also our employee,” Orbos said.

WHEREAS, on 21 October 2005, the City of Makati made another offer of compromise in the amount of One Hundred Million Pesos (Php 100,000,000.00) for deficiency taxes in 2002-2004; WHEREAS, on 28 October 2005, the City of Makati paid Thirty Million Pesos (Php 30,000,000.00) to BIR; WHEREAS, on 22 February 2006, the City of Makati made two more payments: (1) Eighty Million Pesos (Php 80,000,000.00) for the balance of the compromise for the years 1999 to 2001, and (2) Seventy Million Pesos (Php 70,000,000.00) for the balance of the compromise for the years 2002 to 2004. As of even date, the total payments of Makati to BIR amount to Two Hundred Million Pesos (Php 200,000,000.00); WHEREAS, on 22 November 2006, despite the Two Hundred Million Pesos (Php 200,000,000.00) payment, BIR informed the City of Makati that the compromise agreement was not accepted; WHEREAS, on 2 May 2007, a Warrant of Garnishment was issued by the Revenue District Officer of RDO 49 for the collection of One Billion One Hundred Fifty Million Three Hundred Thirty-One Thousand Three Hundred Twenty-One Pesos and 81/100 (Php 1,150,331,321.81) for taxable years 1999 to 2004; WHEREAS, on 4 May 2007, the City of Makati filed a Protest Letter impugning the Warrant of Garnishment and the assessments; WHEREAS, on 7 May 2007, the City of Makati received a letter from RDO 49 lifting and withdrawing the Warrant of Garnishment; WHEREAS, on 9 October 2007, BIR Regional Director issued a ruling stating that the liability of the City of Makati in the amounts of One Billion One Hundred Forty-Six Million Eight Hundred Eighty-Three Thousand Eight Hundred Forty-Six Pesos and 3/100 (Php 1,146,883,846.03) for the years 1999 to 2001 and Three Hundred Seventeen Million EightySeven Thousand Three Hundred Thirty-Nine Pesos and 66/100 (Php 317,087,339.66) for the years 2002 to 2004, in the total amount of One Billion Four Hundred Sixty-Three Million Nine Hundred Seventy-One Thousand One Hundred Eighty-Five Pesos and 63/100 (Php 1,463,971,185.63), have become final and executory pursuant to the assessments dated 16 October 2003 and 11 April 2007; WHEREAS, on 19 November 2007, the City of Makati filed a Protest Letter; WHEREAS, on 20 June 2008, the BIR Commissioner affirmed the 9 October 2007 ruling of the Regional Director; WHEREAS, on 15 July 2008, the City of Makati filed a Petition for Review before the Court of Tax Appeal (CTA), 2nd Division; WHEREAS, on 16 December 2009, CTA 2nd Division dismissed the City of Makati’s Petition; WHEREAS, on 22 January 2010, the City of Makati filed a motion for Reconsideration; WHEREAS, on 27 August 2010, the case was elevated to the CTA En Banc;

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. JA JAVIER JR. LEONARDO M. MAGP MAGPANTAY NELSON S. P PASIA MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO MAR EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR EVEL 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 NELSON S. PASIA MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

ABSENT: Councilor “ “ “

ROMEO C. MEDINA-Sick Leave MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA ENRICO J. PUNO MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT-Vacation Leave

====================================================================== == On motion presented by Hon. E.D.E. Villamor, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Resolution No. 2017014 on second and final reading.

CITY RESOLUTION 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. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. V.V. Hilario Jr., Hon. R.C. Medina, Hon. N.S. Pasia, Hon. M.A.M. Ortega and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor Co-Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. F.T. Eusebio, Hon. L.M. Magpantay, Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino and Hon. A.P. Padilla A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE HONORABLE MAYOR MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY TO NEGOTIATE, ENTER INTO AND SIGN A TRIPARTITE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (TMOA), ON BEHALF OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF MAKATI, WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS (DPWH) AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DEPED) REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF A FOUR (4) STOREY, TWELVE (12) CLASSROOM EDIFICE AT NEMESIO YABUT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, BARANGAY GUADALUPE NUEVO, DISTRICT II, MAKATI CITY, SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.

WHEREAS, on 16 September 2010, the CTA En Banc affirmed in toto the decision of CTA 2nd Division;

WHEREAS, the City Government of Makati takes cognizance of the city’s need for additional school building intended for senior high school students;

WHEREAS, on 17 January 2011, the City of Makati, in an attempt to settle the case, paid Four Hundred Million Pesos (Php 400,000,000.00) to the BIR. Thus, the total amount paid to BIR for the settlement of the case is Six Hundred Million Pesos (Php 600,000,000.00). However, BIR refused to accept the offer for settlement;

WHEREAS, a parcel of land owned by the City Government located at Barangay Guadalupe Nuevo, District II, Makati City has been identified as a feasible site to be used for the construction of additional school building;

WHEREAS, the case was subsequently elevated to the Supreme Court and remains pending up to this date. In the meantime, the decision of the Court of Tax Appeal that the City of Makati is liable of the tax liabilities in the amount of One Billion Two Hundred Sixty-Four Million Six Hundred Ninety-One Thousand Two Hundred Three Pesos and 74/100 (Php 1,264,691,203.74), remains valid. Furthermore, the aforesaid tax liabilities continuously incur penalties and interests until fully paid;

WHEREAS, the Department of Public Works and Highways- National Capital Region (DPWH-NCR), through the Metro Manila II District Engineering Office, expressed its desire to construct a four (4) storey, twelve (12) classroom edifice in the said location for the aforecited purpose; WHEREAS, the City Government has expressed its willingness to allow the construction of the said edifice in the said location;

WHEREAS, considering that it is for the best interests of the City of Makati to settle the above-mentioned case and avoid a final decision of the Supreme Court in order to mitigate the liabilities of the City of Makati and save monies that can be used for the benefit of Makati residents, the Sangguniang Panlungsod hereby authorizes the Honorable Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay to negotiate, enter into and sign a compromise agreement, on behalf of the City Government of Makati, with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) regarding the extrajudicial settlement of the city’s tax assessments for the years 1999 to 2004 for the purpose of causing the dismissal of the case entitled as “City of Makati vs Commissioner of BIR”, docketed as G.R. No. 200395, which pertains to the afore-mentioned tax assessments.

WHEREAS, a Tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the City Government of Makati with DPWH-NCR and Department of Education (DepEd) is required to be executed in order to effectuate the abovestated purpose;

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 compromise agreement, on behalf of the City Government of Makati, with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) regarding the extrajudicial settlement of the City’s tax assessments for the years 1999 to 2004 for the purpose of causing the dismissal of the case entitled as “City of Makati vs Commissioner of BIR”, docketed as G.R. No. 200395, which pertains to the afore-mentioned tax assessments, subject to all laws and auditing rules and procedures.

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 Tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (TMOA), on behalf of the City Government of Makati, with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Education (DepEd) regarding the implementation of the proposed construction of a four (4) storey, twelve (12) classroom edifice at Nemesio Yabut Senior High School, Barangay Guadalupe Nuevo, District II, Makati City, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.

Let copy of this Resolution be furnished the City Treasurer’s Office, City Budget Office, Accounting Department, Assessment Department and other concerned offices for their information and guidance.

WHEREAS, 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, and upon consideration of the benefits of the construction of the edifice subject of this Resolution to the students, not only from Barangay Guadalupe Nuevo, but as well as from other barangays of the City of Makati, hereby authorizes the Honorable Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay to sign such Tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with DPWH-NCR and DepEd.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that copy of this Resolution be furnished to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Education (DepEd) and other concerned offices for their information, guidance and reference.

This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon approval.

This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

APPROVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its Regular Session held on 22 February 2017.

APPROVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its Regular Session held on 22 February 2017.

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. 2017-015 on second and final reading.

CITY RESOLUTION 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 and Hon. N.S. Yabut Jr. 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. Pasia, Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino, Hon. E.D.E. Villamor and Hon. A.P. Padilla A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING HON. LUIS S. JAVIER, JR. AND HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT, JR. AS THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD’S REPRESENTATIVES TO THE MAKATI CITY PEOPLE’S LAW ENFORCEMENT BOARD (PLEB) FOR DISTRICTS 1 & 2, RESPECTIVELY, SUBJECT TO ALL LAWS AND EXISTING LEGAL RULES AND REGULATIONS. WHEREAS, Section 43 of Republic Act 6975, otherwise known as “Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990.”, as amended by R.A. 8551, otherwise known as the “Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998’ provides that “(T) he sangguniang panlungsod/bayan in every city and municipality shall create such number of People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) as may be necessary. Provided, that there shall be at least one (1) PLEB for every five hundred (500) city or municipal police personnel and for each of the legislative districts in the city“; WHEREAS, the same law provides that: “(A)ny member of the sangguniang panlungsod/ bayan chosen by his respective Sanggunian shall be a member of PLEB for a period of three (3) years from assumption of office; WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Panlungsod finds the Committee on Public Order and Safety and Committee of Justice, Human Rights and People’s Participations as the committees that are directly related to the aims of PLEB and may contribute further to its purpose; WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Panlungsod hereby nominates Honorable Luis S. Javier, Jr. of District 1 and Vice- Chairperson of Committee of Public Order and Safety, and Honorable Nemesio S. Yabut, Jr., of District II and Chairperson of Committee of Justice, Human Rights and People’s Participations to be the representatives of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) for a period of three (3) years; WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Panlungsod hereby affirms the designation of the two (2) Sangguniang Panlungsod Members to the PLEB Boards as its bonafide representatives and they shall hold office for three (3) years or until they are replaced or new representatives shall be designated by the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

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 designate Hon. Luis S. Javier, Jr. and Hon. Nemesio S. Yabut Jr., as the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s representatives to the Makati City People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) for Districts 1 & 2, respectively, subject to all laws and existing legal rules and regulations.

Let a copy of this Resolution be furnished to Makati PLEB and DILG and other concerned offices 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 22 February 2017.

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

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.

VACATION LEAVE HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

ABSENT: Councilor ROMEO C. MEDINA-Sick Leave “ MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA “ ENRICO J. PUNO “ MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT-Vacation Leave =====================================================================

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

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. ROMEO C. MEDINA

VACATION LEAVE

VACATION LEAVE

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President Certified true and correct by:

Attested by:

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

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 (MS-FEB. 24, 2017)

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

(MS-FEB. 24, 2017)

Attested by:

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

(MS-FEB. 24, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Sports

Manila

Standard

TODAY

A7

Pacman in negotiations to fight Khan

P

HILIPPINE boxing hero Manny Pacquiao on Thursday said he was “in negotiations” to face British fighter Amir Khan, after weeks of conflicting reports over his next bout.

“My team and I are in negotiaPacquiao’s post follows various tions with Amir Khan for our next accounts from different sources fight. Further announcements over who he will be facing next coming soon,” Pacquiao, 38, said and where the fight will be held. on his official Twitter feed.

Last month, Pacquiao’s Ameri-

ANTI-DOPING WORKSHOP. Philippine Center for Sports Medicine

chief Dr. Alejandro Pineda (second from left) and apprentice Justine Dela Cruz (third from left) are shown with fellow participants of the South East Asia Regional Anti-Doping Organization Board meeting and workshop on Anti-Doping Administration and Management System recently at the Sunway Hotel Resort and Spa in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Dr. Pineda, also the Chairman of the UST Department of Family Medicine, is the only Filipino doctor duly-recognized by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency).

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 NELSON S. PASIA MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

ABSENT: Councilor ROMEO C. MEDINA-Sick Leave “ MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA “ ENRICO J. PUNO “ MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT-Vacation Leave ========================================================================= On motion presented by Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Ordinance No. 2017031 on final reading.

CITY ORDINANCE NO. 2017-031 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes and Hon. N.S. Yabut, Jr.

AN ORDINANCE CREATING TWO (2) PEOPLE’S LAW ENFORCEMENT BOARDS (PLEBs) IN THE CITY OF MAKATI, ONE FOR EACH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, PURSUANT TO SECTION 43 (A) OF R.A. 6975, AS AMENDED, SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS. WHEREAS, Section 43 (a) of R.A. 6975, otherwise known as Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990.”, provides that “(W)ithin thirty (30) days from the issuance of the implementing rules and regulations by the Commission, there shall be created by the sangguniang panlungsod/bayan in every city and municipality such number of People’s Law Enforcement Boards (PLEBs) as may be necessary: Provided, That there shall be at least one (1) PLEB for every municipality and for each of the legislative districts in a city. The PLEB shall have jurisdiction to hear and decide citizen’s complaints or cases filed before it against erring officers and members of the PNP. There shall be at least one (1) PLEB for every five hundred (500) city or municipal police personnel.”;

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 NELSON S. PASIA MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR 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 NELSON S. PASIA MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

ABSENT: Councilor ROMEO C. MEDINA-Sick Leave “ MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA “ ENRICO J. PUNO “ MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT-Vacation Leave ========================================================================= On motion presented by Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Ordinance No. 2017030 on third and final reading.

ABSENT: Councilor ROMEO C. MEDINA-Sick Leave “ MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA “ ENRICO J. PUNO “ MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT-Vacation Leave ========================================================================= On motion presented by Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Ordinance No. 2017029 on third and final reading..

CITY ORDINANCE NO. 2017-030 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. N.S. Pasia, Hon. A.P. Padilla, Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr. and Hon. R.C. Medina

CITY ORDINANCE NO. 2017-029 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. N.S. Pasia, Hon. A.P. Padilla, Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr. and Hon. R.C. Medina

Co-Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. M.A.M. Ortega, Hon. E.J. Puno, Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor

Co-Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. M.A.M. Ortega, Hon. E.J. Puno, Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE HONORABLE MAYOR MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY TO PROVIDE A VALID AND DEFINITE OFFER AS PURCHASE PRICE TO THE REGISTERED OWNER/S, SUCCESSOR/S-IN-INTEREST, HEIR/S OR ASSIGNEE/S OF A FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO SQUARE METER (432 SQ. M.) PARCEL OF LAND COVERED BY CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 006-2013000290 AND LOCATED AT BLOCK 29, LOT 10 METROPOLITAN AVENUE, CORNER ZAPOTE ST., BARANGAY SAN ANTONIO, MAKATI CITY AND AUTHORIZING FURTHER THE HONORABLE MAYOR TO INITIATE EXPROPRIATION PROCEEDINGS IN THE EVENT THAT VOLUNTARY SALE OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY WILL BE DEEMED IMPOSSIBLE, SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS. WHEREAS, based on the traffic study conducted by Makati Public Safety Department (MAPSA), a copy of which is hereto attached as Annex “A”, it was found out that the northern part of the City of Makati will experience significantly worse traffic problems due to the continuous development of Circuit City, impending construction of the Circumferential Road 3, among others;

WHEREAS, included in the new traffic scheme is the implementation of South Ave. – Zapote St. One-Way Loop; WHEREAS, however, in order to realize the one-way loop previously mentioned, the City Government of Makati is constrained to acquire, through voluntary sale or expropriation proceedings, two (2) private properties, one of which is a four hundred thirty-two square meter (432 sq. m.) parcel of land located at Block 29, Lot 10 Metropolitan Avenue, corner Zapote St., Barangay San Antonio, Makati City and covered by Certificate of Title No. 006-2013000290; WHEREAS, as abovementioned, the subject real property is privately owned and has been identified as appropriate site for proposed local government project, specifically a public road, to promote the common good or public purpose; WHEREAS, through the exercise power of eminent domain, the affected private properties may be acquired by the local government unit of the City of Makati through expropriation proceedings as provided by Section 19 of R.A. 7190, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, to wit:

WHEREAS, Section 66 of the same law also provides that “(T)he PLEB shall be the central receiving entity for any citizen’s complaint against the officers and members of the PNP.”

“ a local government unit may, through its chief executive and acting pursuant to an ordinance, exercise power of eminent domain for public use, or purpose, or welfare for the benefit of the poor and the landless, upon payment of just compensation, pursuant to the provisions of the constitution and pertinent laws; Provided, however, that the power of eminent domain may not be exercised unless a valid and definite offer has been previously made to owner, and such offer was not accepted; Provided, further, that the local government may immediately take possession of the property upon filing of the expropriation proceedings and upon making a deposit with the proper court at least fifteen percent (15%) of the fair market value of the property based on the current tax declaration of the property to be expropriated; Provided, finally, That, the amount to be paid for the expropriated property shall be determined by the proper court, based on the fair market value at the time of taking of the property xxxx.”

WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, considering that creating a body such as PLEB should be through an Ordinance since it possesses a general and permanent character, finds it wise and proper to enact this Ordinance.

WHEREAS, however, the law requires that before expropriation proceedings may ensue, there must first be a negotiation, valid and definite offer to the registered owner/s, successor/s-ininterest, heir/s or assignee/s of the subject property, and exhaustion of all legal means;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE 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:

WHEREAS, as such, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati hereby authorizes the Honorable Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay to provide a valid and definite offer as purchase price to the registered owner/s, successor/s-in-interest, heir/s or assignee/s of a four hundred thirty-two square meter (432 sq. m.) parcel of land located at Block 29, Lot 10 Metropolitan Avenue, corner Zapote St., Barangay San Antonio, Makati City and covered by Certificate of Title No. 006-2013000290;

WHEREAS, the then Sangguniang Bayan of the Municipality of Makati, Metro Manila approved on 9 July 1991 Resolution No. 421 which creates the People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) in compliance with the provisions of R.A. 6975; WHEREAS, Sections 66 to 69 of RA 8551, otherwise known as Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998, amended R.A. 6975 but retained the requirement that there must be at least one (1) PLEB for each of the legislative districts in a city;

Section 1. PEOPLES LAW ENFORCEMENT BOARD - Peoples Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) is hereby created in each legislative district in the City of Makati having all the powers expressly provided for by law.

Section 2. COMPOSITION AND TERM OF OFFICE- Each legislative district shall have five (5) members including a Chairperson. Its composition is as follows: 1) Any member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod chosen by the Sanggunian, provided that, he/she must be from the same legislative district as the PLEB he/she will become a Member of; 2) Any barangay captain of the city chosen by the Liga ng mga Barangay, provided that, he/she must be from the same legislative district as the PLEB he/she will become a Member of; 3) Three (3) other members who are removable only for cause to be chosen by the Makati City Peace and Order Council (POC) from among the respected members of the community known for their probity and integrity, one (1) of whom must be a woman and another a member of the Bar, or, in the absence thereof, a college graduate, or the principal of the central elementary school in the locality.”

The Chairman of the PLEB shall be elected from among its Members. The term of office of the members of the PLEB shall be for a period of three (3) years from assumption of office. Such member shall hold office until his/her successor shall have been chosen and qualified.

Section 3. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS – The PLEB Members are entitled to receive honorarium in accordance with the existing laws, rules and regulations.

Section 4. REPEALING CLAUSE. All ordinances, resolutions and executive orders which are in consistent with any of the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 5. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. 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.

Section 6. Let copy of this Ordinance be furnished the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Peoples Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) and other concerned offices for their information and guidance.

Section 7. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon approval.

ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its Regular Session held on 22 February 2017.

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

WHEREAS, in the event that voluntary sale of the subject property and exhaustion of all legal means would be deemed impossible due to the refusal of the registered owner/s, successor/sin-interest, heir/s or assignee/s to sell, among others, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati hereby further authorizes the Honorable Mayor to initiate expropriation proceedings of the subject property.

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 City Government of Makati shall provide a valid and definite offer as purchase price to the registered owner/s, successor/s-in-interest, heir/s or assignee/s of a four hundred thirty-two square meter (432 sq. m.) parcel of land covered by Certificate of Title No. 0062013000290 and located at Block 29, Lot 10 Metropolitan Avenue, corner Zapote St., Barangay San Antonio, Makati City and to execute the necessary deed in order to carry out the intent of this Ordinance. The purchase price to be offered shall be in accordance with the recommendation of the City Appraisal Committee.

Section 2. That in the event the registered owner refused to accept the aforementioned offer, to further authorize the Honorable Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay to (i) initiate expropriation proceedings; (ii) sign, execute and deliver any and all documents; and (iii) undertake any and all actions necessary to give effect to the authority to expropriate the subject property. In this case, the just compensation shall be the ruling of the appropriate court.

Section 3. The funds for carrying out this Ordinance shall be chargeable to the Executive Budget CY 2017 of the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW).

Section 4. The taking of the abovementioned private property is for public purpose, specifically road widening purposes, an allowable ground in expropriation proceedings, that is necessary to ease the traffic flow in the City pursuant to the study conducted by the Makati Public Safety Department (MAPSA).

Section 5. Let copy of this Ordinance be furnished to all offices concerned for their information, guidance and reference.

Section 6. Pursuant to Section 19 of R.A. 7854, otherwise known as the Charter of the City of Makati, this Ordinance shall take effect after ten (10) days from the date a copy thereof is posted in a bulletin board at the entrance of the City Hall of Makati, and in at least two (2) other conspicuous places in the City of Makati and upon publication of the main features of this Ordinance once in a local newspaper of general circulation within the City.

ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its Regular Session held on 22 February 2017.

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

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

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.

WHEREAS, based on the traffic study conducted by Makati Public Safety Department (MAPSA), a copy of which is hereto attached as Annex “A”, it was found out that the northern part of the City of Makati will experience significantly worse traffic problems due to the continuous development of Circuit City, impending construction of the Circumferential Road 3, among others; WHEREAS, in order to address the abovementioned issue, the City Government of Makati will be adopting a new traffic scheme; WHEREAS, included in the new traffic scheme is the implementation of South Ave. – Zapote St. One-Way Loop; WHEREAS, however, in order to realize the one-way loop previously mentioned, the City Government of Makati is constrained to acquire, through voluntary sale or expropriation proceedings, two (2) private properties, one of which is a four hundred fifty-four square meter (454 sq. m.) parcel of land located at Lot 13, Block 29, Kamagong St. Barangay San Antonio, Makati City and covered by Certificate of Title No. 226596; WHEREAS, as abovementioned, the subject real property is privately owned and has been identified as appropriate site for proposed local government project, specifically a public road, to promote the common good or public purpose; WHEREAS, through the exercise power of eminent domain, the affected private properties may be acquired by the local government unit of the City of Makati through expropriation proceedings as provided by Section 19 of R.A. 7190, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, to wit: “a local government unit may, through its chief executive and acting pursuant to an ordinance, exercise power of eminent domain for public use, or purpose, or welfare for the benefit of the poor and the landless, upon payment of just compensation, pursuant to the provisions of the constitution and pertinent laws; Provided, however, that the power of eminent domain may not be exercised unless a valid and definite offer has been previously made to owner, and such offer was not accepted; Provided, further, that the local government may immediately take possession of the property upon filing of the expropriation proceedings and upon making a deposit with the proper court at least fifteen percent (15%) of the fair market value of the property based on the current tax declaration of the property to be expropriated; Provided, finally, That, the amount to be paid for the expropriated property shall be determined by the proper court, based on the fair market value at the time of taking of the property xxxx.”

WHEREAS, however, the law requires that before expropriation proceedings may ensue, there must first be a negotiation, valid and definite offer to the registered owner/s, successor/s-ininterest, heir/s or assignee/s of the subject property, and exhaustion of all legal means; WHEREAS, as such, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati hereby authorizes the Honorable Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay to provide a valid and definite offer as purchase price to the registered owner/s, successor/s-in-interest, heir/s or assignee/s of a four hundred fifty-four square meter (454 sq. m.) parcel of land located at Lot 13, Block 29, Kamagong St. Barangay San Antonio, Makati City and covered by Certificate of Title No. 226596; WHEREAS, in the event that voluntary sale of the subject property and exhaustion of all legal means would be deemed impossible due to the refusal of the registered owner/s, successor/sin-interest, heir/s or assignee/s to sell, among others, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati hereby further authorizes the Honorable Mayor to initiate expropriation proceedings of the subject property.

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 City Government of Makati shall provide a valid and definite offer as purchase price to the registered owner/s, successor/s-in-interest, heir/s or assignee/s of a four hundred fifty-four square meter (454 sq. m.) parcel of land covered by Certificate of Title No. 226596 and located at Lot 13, Block 29, Kamagong St. Barangay San Antonio, Makati City and to execute the necessary deed in order to carry out the intent of this Ordinance. The purchase price to be offered shall be in accordance with the recommendation of the City Appraisal Committee.

Section 2. That in the event the registered owner refuses to accept the aforementioned offer, to further authorize the Honorable Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay to (i) initiate expropriation proceedings; (ii) sign, execute and deliver any and all documents; and (iii) undertake any and all actions necessary to give effect to the authority to expropriate the subject property. In this case, the just compensation shall be the ruling of the appropriate court.

Section 3. The funds for carrying out this Ordinance shall be chargeable to the Executive Budget C.Y. 2017 of the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW).

Section 4. The taking of the abovementioned private property is for public purpose, specifically road widening purposes, an allowable ground in expropriation proceedings, that is necessary to ease the traffic flow in the City pursuant to the study conducted by the Makati Public Safety Department (MAPSA).

Section 5. Let copy of this Ordinance be furnished to all offices concerned for their information, guidance and reference.

Section 6. Pursuant to Section 19 of R.A. 7854, otherwise known as the Charter of the City of Makati, this Ordinance shall take effect after ten (10) days from the date a copy thereof is posted in a bulletin board at the entrance of the City Hall of Makati, and in at least two (2) other conspicuous places in the City of Makati and upon publication of the main features of this Ordinance once in a local newspaper of general circulation within the City.

ENACTED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its Regular Session held on 22 February 2017.

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

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

HON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

HON. ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

HON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

VACATION LEAVE HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

VACATION LEAVE HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

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.

VACATION LEAVE

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

Attested by:

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE HONORABLE MAYOR MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY TO PROVIDE A VALID AND DEFINITE OFFER AS PURCHASE PRICE TO THE REGISTERED OWNER/S, SUCCESSOR/S-IN-INTEREST, HEIR/S OR ASSIGNEE/S OF A FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY- FOUR SQUARE METER (454 S.Q. M.) PARCEL OF LAND COVERED BY CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 226596 AND LOCATED AT LOT 13, BLOCK 29, KAMAGONG ST., BARANGAY SAN ANTONIO, MAKATI CITY AND AUTHORIZING FURTHER THE HONORABLE MAYOR TO INITIATE EXPROPRIATION PROCEEDINGS IN THE EVENT THAT VOLUNTARY SALE OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY WILL BE DEEMED IMPOSSIBLE, SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

declined to comment.

Pacquiao, the WBO welterweight champion, tweeted on February 11: “See you in UAE for my next fight. #TeamPacquiao”.

He also posted a poll on his Twitter feed asking his 108,000 followers to choose either Horn, Khan, American Terence Crawford or Briton Kell Brook as his next opponent. AFP

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

WHEREAS, in order to address the abovementioned issue, the City Government of Makati will be adopting a new traffic scheme;

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. Pasia, Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino, Hon. E.D.E. Villamor and Hon. A.P. Padilla

can promoter Bob Arum was widely quoted as saying the Filipino would next face Australia’s Jeff Horn in April, although Pacquiao’s aides insisted nothing had been confirmed.

A business adviser of the fighter nicknamed “Pac-man” said this week that his next opponent would “most likely” be Khan in Dubai, but other aides

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

Certified true and correct by:

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

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

MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY City Mayor

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

Approved by:

MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY City Mayor (MS-FEB. 24, 2017)

Attested by:

Approved by:

(MS-FEB. 24, 2017)

MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY City Mayor

(MS-FEB. 24, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

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

A8

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

Luisita pads lead to 15 points DAVAO CITY—On a day of hot scoring, Luisita Golf Club built a 15-point lead over Del Monte, but kept a close watch on rival Canlubang which played its best round in recent memory in the 31st Philippine Airlines Senior Interclub golf team championships Thursday.

Eddie Bagtas led Luisita with 56 points, scattering five birdies against three birdies at the Rancho Palos Verdes.

But the day’s best score belonged to veteran Rolly Viray who produced a career-high 58 points that lifted defending champion Canlubang to third spot, 18 points off Luisita.

“Nakuha sa kanin at hotdog,” said the 67-year-old Viray in jest.

Viray, showing his skills around the greens, made only 24 putts in a bogey-free round marked by four birdies.

Together with Abe Rosal’s 53 and Abe Avena’s 51, the Sugar Barons returned with a staggering 162 points, 38 points better than their output at Apo Golf Wednesday.

Luisita, however, was up to the challenge, scoring 159 points behind Bagtas, Raffy Garcia (54) and Edmund Yee (49).

Two rounds into the four-day event, Luisita was on top with 304, followed

by Del Monte 289, Canlubang 286 and Eagle Ridge 268.

“We’re happy with what we have achieved so far,” said Luisita nonplaying captain Jeric Hechanova.

“We’re not taking team any team for granted, but if we go into the final day with a 12-point lead, it would be very hard to overcome.”

Hechanova said he expects Canlubang to field a strong team Friday in the hope of cutting the deficit to manageable level.

Raul Minoza (left) and Eddie Bagtas react after their hole no. 7 showing during the 31st Philippine Airlines Senior Interclub golf team championships.

Beermen, Gin Kings start best-of-7 duel for crown

By Jeric Lopez

anything but a walk in the park for either protagonists.

“It’s going to be tough T is on. against San Miguel. That’s Longtime rivals and sister teams for sure. They have weapons Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer all over,” described Ginebra coach Tim Cone of his team’s begin their best-of-seven championship opponent. “The only good showdown in the 2017 Philippine thing was that TNT took them to seven games as well, Basketball Association Philippine Cup. so at least they won’t have Game 1 of the tournament’s ists looking to gain an early ad- that advantage in terms of freshness.” finale is scheduled today at 7 vantage in the series.

“We have to play at our p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena Coaches of both teams in Pasay City, with both final- agreed that this finale ahead is best against Ginebra. We’re

I

expecting a good series with two talented teams,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.

Both teams took similar hard paths to reach the finals as they were both taken to the limit by their respective foes in the semifinals and needed to win their series’ last two games and earn victories in Game 7s to get to this stage.

The Gin Kings outlasted Star, while the Beermen used their veteran savvy to outduel TNT KaTropa.

A question that is on everyone’s mind is—will it be a repeat or a revenge?

Just last conference in the Governors’ Cup, these two teams squared off in a fivegame semis series wherein the Gin Kings came out on top to reach the finals and eventually ended their eight-year titledrought.

Now, there will be no imports to reinforce both squads as they would all have to rely on their All-FIlipino crew.

Baby Tams shoot for 1st title in 4 years FAR Eastern University-Diliman guns for its first title in four years against National University in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 79 juniors’ basketball championship today at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

Tipoff is at 2 p.m.

The Baby Tamaraws pulled off a stunning 66-65 victory over the Bullpups last Tuesday, and for coach Allan Albano, closing out is the hardest thing to do.

“Nawalan kami ng killer in-

REGATTA CUP. Steve Manning and Anthony Root’s Black Baza topped the second race of the inshore 8th Standard Insurance Boracay Regatta Cup, the only internationally acclaimed series of racing events in the country. Placing second was Martin Tanco and Ronald Tanco’s Centennial II. Jun Avecilla and Marcus Avecilla’s Selma Star grabbed the third spot, despite racing without the spinnaker pole. For Race 3, Black Baza remained at the top spot, followed by Centennial II at second and Bobby Benares’ Sabad at third. The four-day regatta is a combination of point-to-point and windward-leeward courses, which is part of the Asian Yachting Grand Prix season.

Mighty Sports drops 5th straight game in Dubai DUBAI—Al Ryadi, one of Lebanon’s premier clubs, took Mighty SportsPhilippines lightly and nearly paid for it as it needed extra five minutes to score a 100-95 win and complete a six-game sweep of the elims in the 28th Dubai International Basketball Championship late Wednesday at the Al Ahli Indoor Stadium here.

Without Kiefer Ravena who fractured his hand in the team’s 100-93 loss to Homennetmen last Tuesday, Chris Tiu stepped up offensively and Mighty Sports managed to give Al Riyadi a hell of a game

before absorbing its fifth straight loss.

“We know it’s hard for them (Filipino fans in Dubai) to see us losing games so we will do everything we can to make them happy tomorrow,” said Tiu, who finished with 11 points, including three pressure-packed charities with no time left to force the overtime.

Lebanese stars Amir Saoud and Wael Arakji failed to shine this time, but Serbian import Branco Cvetkovic almost single-handedly carried the team to victory by scoring 13 of his team-high 23 points in the overtime.

stinct kaya ang baba ng score namin, nine points lang sa fourth quarter. ‘Yung fluidity ng offense, nawala,” said Albano.

After trailing early in the game, FEU-Diliman took the upperhand and was in control until in the final five minutes, where it suffered a scoring drought that allowed NU to storm back before falling short.

The Baby Tamaraws are very much aware that limiting Bullpups’ ace John Lloyd Clemente, who

came through with 25 points in Game 1, need a lot of effort.

Also, FEU-Diliman is also working out on how to lessen the touches of NU frontliners Rhayyan Amsali and Karl Peñano in the shaded lane.

For the Baby Tamaraws, LJ Gonzales, Kenji Roman, Xyrus Torres and Jack Gloria will play vital roles in their bid to repeat over the Bullpups.

Gonzales was solid with his double-double effort of 10 rebounds and 10 assists in Game 1.

Wizards grab Nets’ forward

Perpetual Help tossers snatch come-from-behind win SUBIC BAY—Perpetual Help’s Relan and Rey Taneo Jr. showed grit and determination to snatch a come-from-behind 18-21, 21-15, 17-15 win over Emilio Aguinaldo’s Joshua Mina and Paolo Cezar Lim yesterday and seize a share of the lead with Lyceum of the Philippines University in the men’s division of the 92nd NCAA beach volley tournament at beach sands fronting Subic Park Hotel here.

After fighting back from a set down by taking the second set, the Taneo brothers erased a 10-14 deficit in the third and

deciding frame by seizing seven of the last eight points, the match and their fourth straight victory for joint first in Day 2 of this held stage here annually.

“We’re just determined to win here,” said Relan, who was part of the team that lost the indoor volley crown to eventual champion Mapua and last year’s beach volley finale to a Johnvic de Guzman-led St. Benilde team The Taneos had already exacted revenge right on the opening day when they pulled the rug from under De Guzman and partner Owen Bacani in a 21-17, 21-18 win the day before.

2 p.m. – FEU vs NU (Jrs Finals)

NU mentor Jeff Napa remains upbeat of turning this short series around and force a deciding Game 3 on Monday.

“Kahit na ang sama ng game namin, we lost by (only) one point. Nandoon pa rin ‘yung fire at hunger ng team to bounce back,” said Napa.

PSA AWARDEE FOR MOTOCROSS. Kenneth San Andres ce-

WASHINGTON—The Washington Wizards added Croatian forward Bojan Bogdanovic from the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday in a four-player deal on the eve of the NBA trade deadline.

The Wizards, 34-21, rank third in the Eastern Conference, five games behind the pace-setting defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers. They have won four games in a row and nine of their past 10.

Washington also landed forward Chris McCullough from the league-worst Nets in exchange for forward Andrew Nicholson, swingman Marcus Thornton and a first-round pick in June’s NBA Draft.

The Wizards add bench depth and some scoring punch in Bogdanovic, who is averaging career-highs of 14.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists for Brooklyn.

“Bojan is a very good shooter and a talented overall scorer whose versatility gives us an added dimension as we gear up for the stretch run,” Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld said.

“He’s a proven starter that will provide us an added boost off the bench and allow us to be creative with our lineups.” AFP

LPU’s Jhonel Badua and Meko Franz Binas smashed Emilio Aguinaldo’s Joshua Mina and Paolo Cezar Lim, 21-14, 21-14, to likewise stay unscathed in four outings and at joint first with the Las Pinas-based school.

Perpetual Help is seeking its second men’s crown while LPU is eyeing its first ever championship in the sport.

In women’s action, Perpetual Help’s Marjito Medalla and Maria Aurora Tripoli downed Letran’s Kathleen Barrinuevo and Honey Kris Laserna, 21-14, 21-10 and Arellano U’s Regine Anne Arocha and Jovielyn Grace Prado, 21-14,

Game today (Filoil Flying V Centre)

21-16, to also remain undefeated.

San Beda twins Maria Jeziela and Maria Nieza Viray bested St. Benilde’s Ma. Angela Enginco at Ma. Kaila Selena Mendoza, 21-11, 25-23 and Mapua’s Shaira Mahe Hermano and Kimberly Joy Luzon ng Mapua, 21-6, 21-15, to share the top with their Las Pinas-based rivals.

Also unbeaten with three wins were three-peat champions Grethcel Soltones and Alyssa Eroa, following a 21-13, 21-15 victory over Letran’s Kathleen Barrinuevo and Honey Kris Laserna.

mented his status as the Philippines’ no. 1 rider after being cited by the Philippine Sportswriters Association for his motocross achievements in 2016. San Andres, who is backed by Kawasaki Philippines, Motorad WRD Racing, Pirelli Tires, Motul PH, Bell Helmet, Troylee Design, Protaper, GoPro, Leatt, GAME OVER, Foilacar Industries, R33 Car Exchange, Kia Global, Halrey, R&E, JM Stickers, ProPipe, JBS Motorcycle Parts & Accessories, earned an unprecedented 9th Rider of the Year title from the National Motorcycle Sports and Safety Association after dominating both the Pro Open and Pro 125 classes of the 2016 National Motocross Development Program. The multi-titled Valenzuela native also extended his dominance all the way to the Asian scene as he ruled the Production Class of the Asian Supermoto Championship Round 3 at the Bayanihan Park in Clark, Angeles City, Pampanga in December. San Andres (right) is shown here receiving his PSA award from philstar.com’s Denison Dalupang. Ramon Boado

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6 DIGITS 00-00-00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

Business

Manila Water posts 2% income growth B2

BSP to consider Fed hike in decision

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said Thursday local monetary authorities would not necessarily move “in sync” with the US Federal Reserve if it raises interest rates next month.

“The Fed’s judgement on the timing of its next move, as mentioned in the statement, will be based on forthcoming data on jobs and inflation. As is our practice, we include new information from Fed signals in our scenario building,” Tetangco said in a statement Thursday.

He said local monetary authorities would look at the potential impact on financial markets―the segment most reactive to the Fed― in the near term, and the impact on bank portfolios, especially the interest rate sensitive bank balance sheet accounts as well as banks’ capacity to lend to productive sectors of the economy, in the medium term.

“In other words, it’s not a linear analysis, not a one to one correspondence. This is why we have always said that, while we are mindful of the Fed, we do not necessarily have to move in sync with it,” he said.

Minutes released by the Fed officials Wednesday showed that the next interest rate increase could be closer than it appeared.

Tetangco earlier said that local monetary authorities were closely watching the developments in the world’s largest economy but reiterated the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals remained strong and sound. Julito G. Rada

By Jenniffer B. Austria

A

YALA Corp., one of the country’s largest conglomerates, ventured into e-commerce business with the acquisition of a 43.3-percent interest in BF Jade E-Service Philippines Inc., the owner and operator of the online fashion platform Zalora Philippines.

Zalora is currently the Philippines’ largest online fashion destination offering over 120,000 products across more than 1,000 brands in accessories, beauty, clothing, shoes and sports. Ayala Corp. did not dis-

close the cost of the transaction.

The conglomerate said the acquisition was a part of a strategy to invest in new businesses that provide innovative solutions to evolving markets. It said ecommerce was a unique growth channel that complemented existing businesses, drawing on synergies with the rest of the Ayala group.

“This investment demonstrates how we, at Ayala, look at innovation and growth opportunities. We see the potential of ecommerce in the country, and believe that the Ayala group can benefit and add tremendous value to Zalora. With resources in banking, real estate and telecommunications, the investment presents new opportunities for Ayala to generate synergies throughout the e-commerce value chain,” Ayala Corp. chairman and chief executive Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said.

“With the rising demands of the communities that we serve, we believe new

CLARK Development Corp. said it signed 71 lease agreements with companies that committed about $1.02 billion worth of investments over the next 10 years.

CDC said in a statement the number of locators in Clark Freeport Zone increased 6 percent to 895 as of end-December 2016.

CDC president and chief executive Noel Manankil noted the uptrend in investments, citing the confidence of foreign and local investors in the country and in Clark Freeport Zone.

He said more firms engaged in commercial businesses entered Clark and now represented 32 percent of the total number of Clark enterprises.

Information and communication technology companies represented 24 percent of the locators while 23 percent were in the services sector.

New investors with direct lease agreements with the CDC committed $923 million while subleases and those with memorandum of agreement committed $97 million.

CDC said in 2015, it signed direct leases with investors who committed investments of $303 million and subleases and MOA with investors with commitments of $50 million.

Othel V. Campos

B1

approval of the Philippine Competition Commission.

Zalora Philippines was co-founded in 2012 as part of the global network of the Zalora Group, which is 100-percent owned by the Global Fashion Group, the world’s largest online fashion platform for emerging markets.

“Through the partnership with Ayala Corp.― one of the country’s longest standing and well diversified business corporations―Zalora Philippines will now not only be able to benefit from the support and expertise of GFG and Zalora but also from the synergies and support of the Ayala companies. We are confident that together, we are in a unique position strengthen the leadership of Zalora Philippines, as we deliver the best online fashion shopping experience to Filipino consumers across the archipelago,” Global Fashion Group chief executive Romain Voog said.

Wilcon gets nod for P7.9-b offering

ALPHALAND RAISES P5.5 BILLION. Property developer Alphaland Corp. secures a P5.5-billion loan from BDO Unibank Inc. Shown during the contract signing for the seven-year loan facility are (from left) BDO senior executive vice president Walter Wassmer, Alphaland chairman Roberto Ongpin, BDO president and chief executive Nestor Tan and Alphaland chief operating officer Michael Asperin.

PCC wants to open construction sector

By Othel V. Campos

MANILA Electric Co. and solar developer PowerSource First Bulacan Solar Inc. filed a joint application with the Energy Regulatory Commission seeking approval of their power supply agreement.

Meralco signed a power supply agreement with PowerSource for 50 megawatts from its proposed solar plant in San Miguel, Bulacan or an alternative site embedded with the power distributor’s franchise area.

Meralco said it projected a peaking capacity deficit for 2017 onwards and conducted a competitive selection process to purchase up to 50 MW from PowerSource.

“It bears emphasis that, as previously mentioned, based on Meralco’s foreseen high demand during summer months of 2017 and succeeding years, there is an urgent need for the final approval of the PSA considering a significant peaking capacity deficit, as well as possible occurrences of scheduled maintenance shutdowns and forced outage of power plants,” the parties said in their application.

Meralco said the approval of the supply contract “will send a strong signal to renewable or solar energy generation projects in the Philippines, and thus, set the pace for infusion of similar investments by the private sector.”

Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Philippine Competition Commission wants to open the construction sector to foreign players.

A policy brief released Thursday by the anti-monopoly body highlighted nationality distinction as an anti-competitive practice embedded in the licensing rules implemented by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board.

The policy brief submitted by the commission to the Supreme Court stated that “nationality-based distinction hinders competition in the construction industry, creating an uneven playing field between local and foreign contractors.”

Foreign firms possess capacity to construct vital projects and share technical expertise with local firms,” it said.

PCC said one issue was the amount of application fee the PCAB imposed on foreign participants. A simulation showed that that foreign firms were paying as much as 12 times more in application fees com-

pared to local firms.

It said while a regular license might be issued to partnerships and corporate entities with up to 40 percent foreign equity, foreign firms were likely to be discouraged to enter the market through such option, as it was exposed to the risk of not having full control and management over their investments.

Data showed that from 2013 to 2015, foreign participation in the industry remained limited, with new special licenses accounting for just 10 percent to 15 percent of total licenses issued during the period.

Actual foreign participation might be significantly lower, as special licenses were also being issued to local firms in consortium or joint venture arrangements. It said that in 2015, out of 1,600 special licenses issued, only 20 were issued to foreign firms and four were issued to joint venture or consortiums with foreign participation.

The commission said despite the decent performance of the construction sector, vital infrastructure con-

cerns still needed to be addressed including, the increase in energy demand; insufficient transport facilities; escalating traffic congestion; and increasing housing needs for low- and middle income families.

“It is clearly apparent that more investments and greater productivity are still required,” it said.

PCC cited the need to review and revise restrictive policies that hindered growth to take advantage of opportunities with a stronger economy.

“Claims of protecting the interest of the public through regulatory action should be evaluated in terms of the resulting incentive distortions that reduce competition and the countervailing efficiencies arising from the regulation,” it said.

“The government must ensure a level playing field where no market participant, whether from the public or private sector, is given undue advantage that would allow it to gain market share over otherwise more effective and efficient competitor.”

Energy agencies to issue new order after SC froze open access THE Energy Department, the Energy Regulatory Commission and Philippine Electricity Market Corp. will come out with a unified policy to guide power players after the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order against open access and retail competition.

Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella told reporters the agencies would come out with a “unified advisory” Friday to allay concerns of the retail electricity suppliers and the contestable customers, or those with an average monthly demand of one megawatt and above.

“We will comply with the Supreme Court mandate…We will talk with ERC and PEMC for a unified policy for players to be guided,” he said.

The Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order against the

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

business models such as Zalora’s can provide alternative solutions and services that are complementary to our traditional brick and mortar operations. As a group, we have always strived to stay relevant and dynamic, continuously seeking new ways to evolve in line with reaching consumers, and delivering products and services according to their needs,” Zobel de Ayala said.

Ayala Land Inc., BPI Capital Corp, and Kickstart Ventures Inc. also acquired minority ownership stakes in BF-Jade.

BPI Capital Corp. and Kickstart are wholly owned subsidiaries of BPI and Globe Telecom Inc. respectively.

Ayala Land, the property arm of Ayala Corp., said in a separate disclosure to the stock exchange it would own a 1.91-percent interest in Zalora Philippines. The acquisition is subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions precedent, including obtaining the approval or deemed

Clark signs 71 lease agreements

By Alena Mae S. Flores

business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

Ayala buys stake in Zalora

IN BRIEF

Bulacan solar plant seeks Meralco deal

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor

implementation of the retail competition and open access―a key provision of Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 on Feb. 21.

The case stemmed from the petition of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, San Beda College Alabang Inc., Ateneo de Manila University and Riverbank Development Corp. who claimed that they would suffer grave and irreparable injury once they were disconnected from the distribution utility or made to pay a supplier of last resort a 10 percent premium between the higher contract cost and the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market.

Fuentebella said 20 percent or 221 constable customers had not yet chosen their own suppliers prior to the Feb. 26 deadline set by ERC and the department.

“Status quo. Everything is on freeze for now because of the TRO,” he said.

Fuentebella said the unified advisory would address the concerns over the impact of the TRO on existing contracts and provide a “balanced playing field” to those who had signed and had not signed up.

Fuentebella said the department would also look at “all legal remedies” regarding the case.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the agency’s mandate was to implement the law and consumers should have the freedom of choice on their preferred power provider.

“The provisions in the Epira mandates the DOE to ensure the security, reliability and availability of transparent and reasonably-priced electricity in the country,” Cusi said He said the Epira called for the implementation of open access, which allows consumers to directly contract power supply from licensed retail electricity suppliers.

“The spirit of the RCOA is giving the consumers the freedom of choice which would result in higher productivity for them. And the power of choice can only be maximized when there is a level playing field for all suppliers,” Cusi said.

“It is hoped that whatever the decision by the Supreme Court, it will redound to the ultimate benefit of the consumers which is really the intent and the spirit of RCOA,” Cusi said.

The ERC and the Energy Department agreed late last year to implement the mandatory retail competition and open access to power users with a demand of one megawatt monthly by Feb. 26.

Retail competition and open access, as envisioned by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, is seen to bring down power costs as it will give customers the power to choose their suppliers.

THE Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday approved the P7.9-billion initial public offering of Wilcon Depot Inc., one of the country’s leading home improvement and construction supplies retailers.

This is the first initial public offering approved by the corporate regulator this year, according to SEC secretary Armando Pan Jr. Latest documents filed with the SEC showed Wilcon planned to sell up to 1.393 billion common shares at an offer price of up to P5.68 per share.

Net proceeds from the fund raising activity will be used to finance store expansion, debt repayment and other general corporate purposes.

Wilcon said of the expected proceeds, it would set aside P6.08 billion for store network expansion.

The company intends to add 29 new stores over the next five years and expand its presence in fast growing areas across the country including Cavite, Zamboanga, Iloilo, Tacloban, Cabanatuan, Bicol, General Santos, Davao, Lucena, Isabela, Tagum, Tuguegarao, Surigao and Cabanatuan.

The company also intends to use P1 billion from the expected IPO proceeds to finance outstanding obligations with several banks including Allied Banking Corp., BDO Unibank, Bank of the Philippine Islands and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.

At least 70 percent of the offer shares will be sold to qualified institutional buyers and the general public, 20 percent to trading participants in the Philippine Stock Exchange and the remaining 10 percent to small local investors.

Wilcon operates the home improvement and retail construction business of the Belo family, led by chairman William Belo.

Jenniffer B. Austria

B2

Business

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market rises; Semirara, BDO up Manila Water posts S 2% income growth tocks rose for a fourth day, following the gains of New York’s Dow index which racked up a ninth successive all-time high, its longest record streak in 30 years.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, rose 31 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 7,335.56 Thursday. Four of the six sectoral indices advanced, led by the financial sector.

The heavier index, representing all shares, increased 15 points, or 0.4 percent, to settle at 4,427.27, on a value turnover of P7.3 billion. Advancers outnumbered losers, 92 to 82, while 51 issues were unchanged.

Fourteen of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led

by Semirara Mining and Power Corp. which climbed 2.8 percent to P149 and BDO Unibank Inc. which advanced 2.7 percent to P118.90. Globe Telecom Inc. added 2.2 percent to P1,840.

Meanwhile, Most Asian equities fell, after minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting showed officials confident they can raise rates gradually. Oil rallied.

Stocks in Hong Kong led declines in Asia and Japan’s Topix pared earlier losses, while the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index

strengthened to recover some of Wednesday’s retreat.

Treasuries maintained the previous session’s advance. Crude rebounded ahead of government data on stockpiles, while metals declined for a third day.

Fed policy makers expressed confidence they can take their time raising rates as there’s little threat inflation will suddenly accelerate, according to the minutes. Officials wrestled with uncertainty on issues ranging from the Trump administration’s fiscal stimulus plans to the headwinds a rising dollar may pose. The odds for an increase in March retreated to 36 percent. Allianz SE chief economic adviser Mohamed ElErian said that seems “too low.”

Japanese car giant Nissan fell after Carlos Ghosn, the man con-

sidered its savior, stepped down as chief executive.

While New York’s Dow index racked up a ninth successive all-time high, its longest record streak in 30 years, analysts said there was a sense that the advance may have gone too far.

The dollar picked up slightly but was unable to fully bounce back from Wednesday’s sell-off after minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest board meeting showed policymakers expect a rate hike “fairly soon” but also see increases being gradual.

While they cited “heightened uncertainty” about possible US policies that could lift inflation, hastening the need for rate hikes, that was not enough for dealers who had hoped for a firmer guidance. With AFP, Bloomberg

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales MANILA Water Company Inc. said Thursday net income grew 2 percent in 2016 from a year ago, on higher water sales.

Manila Water said in a disclosure to the stock exchange net income hit P6.06 billion last year, up from P5.95 billion in 2015, as revenues rose 5 percent to P17.7 billion from P16.9 billion.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization grew 3 percent to P11.9

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017

NAME

OPEN

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.42 8,000 48.35 27,200 96 1,625,030 4.45 160,000 119.1 4,282,770 1.3 16,000 39.9 181,000 16.1 31,500 20 115,300 1.61 34,000 0.7 4,197,000 81.3 2,023,870 0.76 479,000 14.46 115,300 25.5 21,100 59.35 40,230 242 350 120 10,430 89 2,720 39 599,400 205 1,453,260 1,750 135 79 138,560 1.24 5,000

25,740 1,315,065 155,906,763.50 690,460 506,174,908 21,400 7,297,965 506,946 2,303,974 54,830 2,922,460 163,707,975 356,830 1,662,154 532,550 2,387,555 85,028 1,261,083 244,070 23,369,785 299,942,174 236,750 10,945,482.50 6,200

1,271,605 117,576,280 273,787,785 160,800.00 901,352 22,440,840.50 216,820 -1,858,804 -13,463,735 -103,961,258 175,000 10,240,061.50 -

43.8 5.15 0.86 1.4 18.8 0.27 9.7 16.18 23.4 14.52 58.5 91.3 2.14 6.27 12 12.84 7.9 6.75 5.9 1.68 21.2 73.15 17 6.59 1.7 202 73 6.9 3.62 28 30.2 27 15.7 290 0.25 6.2 3.42 8.87 11.46 2.34 7.06 1.92 78.5 4.9 269 4.95 2.8 12 4.21 0.147 1.49 164.9 4.43 1.65 1.08

INDUSTRIAL 44.25 1,244,000 5.21 661,500 0.86 312,000 1.4 383,000 19.38 500 0.27 7,500,000 9.76 4,411,600 16.22 5,701,700 23.6 120,300 15.08 33,300 58.5 327,060 95 690 2.18 875,000 6.28 354,500 12 900 12.88 5,484,100 8.04 189,400 6.85 9,783,800 6.05 27,749,000 1.68 4,000 21.2 2,810,800 73.7 216,370 17.1 142,600 6.6 1,178,900 1.72 181,000 203 550,210 73 60 7.27 1,158,100 3.7 2,000 28 1,000 30.25 1,033,600 27 538,300 16.08 1,342,500 293 242,870 0.26 58,540,000 6.49 61,600 3.45 22,000 8.87 4,746,500 11.5 4,300 2.34 2,966,000 7.2 727,400 1.93 1,716,000 78.65 320,390 4.9 44,200 269 4,080 4.97 1,997,000 2.83 219,000 12.2 3,796,500 4.25 9,000 0.147 520,000 1.49 35,000 166.4 2,198,880 4.43 5,000 1.66 1,682,000 1.08 165,000

54,906,730 3,442,036 268,330 536,800 9,626 2,060,200 43,110,052 92,489,392 2,816,835 500,782 19,553,240 64,138 1,897,050 2,225,585 10,800 70,752,518 1,516,353 66,837,541 166,401,879 6,720 60,139,035 15,928,403.50 2,425,366 7,788,704 311,210 111,666,436 4,380 8,291,247 7,320 28,000 31,269,635 14,709,550 21,655,576 71,001,302 15,110,050 391,430 75,670 42,307,183 49,430 6,994,390 5,220,668 3,367,040 25,270,981 217,389 1,100,458 9,925,070 626,050 45,857,500 38,090 76,440 52,150 365,387,759 22,150 2,797,920 178,200

37,438,780 383,920 140,000 14,170,540 3,905,348 407,574 -297,150 -292,980 -16,086,014 66,636 -21,273,486 111,623,549 7,746,660 -2,392,780 295,284 3,889,381 -11,533,956 590,314 28,000 3,076,820 2,700 -909,904 11,769,704 -3,923,250 6,770 -4,856,694 6,417,770 717 -100 -2,339,688 -49,044 430,878 -4,950 72,600 19,725,580.00 -2,940 20,463,244 -149,520 -

0.39 74 13.02 6.36 0.395 0.39 818 9.19 13.32 8.09 0.19 1,244 6 78 1.02 7.85 14.7 0.435 6.89 0.062 2.02 107 2.34 684.5 0.88 1.53 269.4 0.295 0.19 0.255

0.375 72.3 12.82 6.3 0.37 0.38 800 9.1 13.12 8.02 0.19 1,212 6 76.05 0.96 7.75 14.38 0.435 6.8 0.059 2 103.1 2.34 676.5 0.88 1.46 267 0.295 0.19 0.255

HOLDING FIRMS 0.385 1,050,000 73.5 1,722,740 12.82 5,821,400 6.34 36,900 0.38 27,070,000 0.39 1,500,000 817 217,120 9.13 2,334,900 13.18 13,830,800 8.09 6,100 0.19 130,000 1,240 149,695 6 3,000 78 1,814,910 1.01 5,831,000 7.85 976,800 14.5 913,400 0.435 230,000 6.85 36,531,300 0.06 119,080,000 2 150,000 106.8 290,160 2.34 2,000 680 186,100 0.88 52,000 1.51 894,000 267 2,840 0.295 100,000 0.19 320,000 0.255 60,000

399,050 126,629,618 75,032,656 232,480 10,449,900 577,150 176,390,430 21,307,324 182,451,840 49,306 24,700 184,355,795 18,000 140,931,270.50 5,812,750 7,660,541 13,215,730 100,050 250,313,101 7,189,740 301,370 30,797,871 4,680 126,502,910 45,760 1,336,390 758,800 29,500 60,800 15,300

35,674,872.50 -1,682,998 117,800 80,227,550 12,850,717 35,684,198 11,636,475 62,855,966.50 497,260 2,271,821 5,460,008 -25,257,921 -153,500 13,598,113 72,755,210 373,916 5,100

6.68 1.05 6.1 2.62 1.2 37.95 3.57 0.53 1.03 1.37 0.17 0.57 54.8 0.71 0.184 1.74

6.49 1.03 6.1 2.56 1.14 36.85 3.48 0.52 1.03 1.28 0.167 0.56 53.6 0.71 0.171 1.68

PROPERTY 6.5 1,597,900 1.03 660,000 6.1 8,100 2.6 238,000 1.17 21,912,000 36.95 16,121,300 3.55 8,150,000 0.52 6,362,000 1.03 5,000 1.35 180,000 0.167 6,600,000 0.57 4,021,000 54.7 302,980 0.71 3,000 0.171 2,550,000 1.7 14,993,000

10,450,379 683,330 49,410 614,780 25,519,370 597,513,315 28,601,920 3,310,230 5,150 236,590 1,108,300 2,253,480 16,413,507.50 2,130 444,610 25,459,670

-9,530,326 -54,150 -130,576,935 -2,854,700 -496,080 1,047,760 -6,086,614.50 -2,130 -14,468,400

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE 3.2 ASIA UNITED 48 BANK PH ISLANDS 94.2 BDO LEASING 4.3 BDO UNIBANK 116 BRIGHT KINDLE 1.36 CHINABANK 40.95 COL FINANCIAL 16.04 EAST WEST BANK 19.98 IREMIT 1.61 MEDCO HLDG 0.69 METROBANK 79.85 NTL REINSURANCE 0.75 PB BANK 14.46 PBCOM 25 PHIL NATL BANK 59.35 PHIL STOCK EXCH 243.4 PHILTRUST 115 PSBANK 90 RCBC 39.6 SECURITY BANK 209 SUN LIFE 1,800 UNION BANK 78.95 VANTAGE 1.24

3.42 48.35 96.2 4.46 119.1 1.36 40.95 16.2 20 1.63 0.71 81.3 0.76 14.46 25.5 59.4 244 129 90 39.6 209 1,800 79.2 1.24

3.18 48 94.2 4.22 114.8 1.3 39.85 16.04 19.96 1.61 0.69 79.85 0.74 14.4 25 59.25 242 115 89 38.5 202 1,750 78.8 1.24

ABOITIZ POWER 43.8 AGRINURTURE 5.2 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.86 ALSONS CONS 1.41 ASIABEST GROUP 19.58 BASIC ENERGY 0.285 CEMEX HLDG 9.84 CENTURY FOOD 16.18 CIRTEK HLDG 23.4 CNTRL AZUCARERA14.8 CONCEPCION 61 CONCRETE A 91.5 CROWN ASIA 2.18 DAVINCI CAPITAL 6.27 DEL MONTE 12 DNL INDUS 12.96 EEI CORP 8.1 EMPERADOR 6.88 ENERGY DEVT 5.9 EUROMED 1.68 FIRST GEN 21.75 FIRST PHIL HLDG 73.4 HOLCIM 17.1 INTEGRATED MICR 6.63 IONICS 1.73 JOLLIBEE 202.2 LIBERTY FLOUR 73 LMG CHEMICALS 6.91 MABUHAY VINYL 3.62 MACAY HLDG 28 MANILA WATER 30.4 MAXS GROUP 27 MEGAWIDE 16.46 MERALCO 290 MG HLDG 0.275 PANASONIC 6.4 PEPSI COLA 3.42 PETRON 9.1 PHINMA 11.46 PHINMA ENERGY 2.34 PHX PETROLEUM 7.16 PHX SEMICNDCTR 1.96 PILIPINAS SHELL 78.5 PRYCE CORP 4.95 PUREFOODS 269.8 RFM CORP 4.97 ROXAS HLDG 2.9 SHAKEYS PIZZA 12.08 SPC POWER 4.21 SWIFT FOODS 0.147 TKC METALS 1.49 UNIV ROBINA 164.9 VICTORIAS 4.43 VITARICH 1.69 VULCAN INDL 1.08

44.25 5.25 0.87 1.42 19.58 0.285 9.89 16.3 23.6 15.12 61 95 2.19 6.3 12 12.98 8.14 6.9 6.05 1.68 22 74 17.18 6.69 1.73 204.4 73 7.34 3.7 28 30.4 27.45 16.46 293.8 0.275 6.5 3.45 9.15 11.5 2.37 7.25 2.06 79 4.95 270 4.97 2.92 12.3 4.25 0.147 1.49 167.5 4.43 1.69 1.08

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

0.375 74 13 6.3 0.37 0.38 805 9.19 13.16 8.02 0.19 1,237 6 77 0.99 7.8 14.7 0.435 6.86 0.06 2.01 104.2 2.34 680.5 0.88 1.47 268 0.295 0.19 0.255

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND

6.67 1.05 6.1 2.6 1.18 37.45 3.55 0.52 1.03 1.3 0.168 0.56 54 0.71 0.184 1.72

VOLUME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

GLOBAL ESTATE 1 IRC PROP 1.32 MEGAWORLD 3.67 MRC ALLIED 0.167 PHIL ESTATES 0.32 PHIL REALTY 0.61 PRIMEX CORP 4.81 PTFC REDEV CORP 29.05 ROBINSONS LAND 25.05 ROCKWELL 1.7 SM PRIME HLDG 29.9 STA LUCIA LAND 1.03 SUNTRUST HOME 0.95 VISTA LAND 4.85

1 1.35 3.71 0.172 0.325 0.62 4.81 29.05 25.05 1.7 29.95 1.04 0.95 4.9

0.99 1.32 3.66 0.165 0.315 0.6 4.73 29.05 24.9 1.68 29.2 1 0.92 4.82

0.99 1.32 3.68 0.165 0.32 0.61 4.77 29.05 24.95 1.69 29.35 1.02 0.92 4.85

1,676,000 392,000 20,347,000 10,830,000 770,000 18,483,000 230,000 400 1,805,200 292,000 10,397,900 11,406,000 69,000 2,712,000

1,662,410 519,500 75,041,260 1,804,740 243,100 11,295,460 1,095,100 11,620 45,043,150 494,760 306,500,235 11,573,480 63,600 13,220,230

-23,040 19,397,080 1,662,080 -20,400 -6,167,435 1,950,630

2GO GROUP 8 ABS CBN 47.7 ACESITE HOTEL 1.44 APC GROUP 0.53 BERJAYA 5.16 BLOOMBERRY 7.63 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.065 CALATA CORP 2.37 CEBU AIR 93.45 CENTRO ESCOLAR 9.7 DFNN INC 9 FAR EASTERN U 1,000 GLOBE TELECOM 1,800 GMA NETWORK 6.15 GOLDEN HAVEN 16.7 HARBOR STAR 3.84 IMPERIAL 5.17 INTL CONTAINER 75.75 IP EGAME 0.01 IPM HLDG 9.05 ISLAND INFO 0.192 ISM COMM 1.39 JACKSTONES 3.16 LEISURE AND RES 4 LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.94 MACROASIA 3.03 MELCO CROWN 5.05 METRO RETAIL 3.79 NOW CORP 2.87 PACIFIC ONLINE 11.18 PAL HLDG 5.6 PAXYS 3.34 PHILWEB 9 PLDT 1,418 PREMIUM LEISURE 1.33 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.425 PUREGOLD 46.2 ROBINSONS RTL 79.6 SBS PHIL CORP 6.13 SSI GROUP 2.47 STI HLDG 1.15 TRAVELLERS 3.4 WATERFRONT 0.42

8 48.1 1.5 0.55 5.16 7.8 0.067 2.48 94 9.8 9 1,000 1,855 6.18 16.72 3.84 5.28 76 0.01 9.05 0.201 1.39 3.39 4.06 0.97 3.24 5.2 3.81 2.93 11.18 5.7 3.34 9.09 1,443 1.37 0.425 46.9 80.35 6.17 2.47 1.15 3.49 0.42

7.92 47.7 1.44 0.53 5.16 7.53 0.065 2.35 93.4 9.7 8.55 1,000 1,780 6.13 16.54 3.71 4.65 75.3 0.009 9.05 0.19 1.38 3.15 3.97 0.94 3 5 3.78 2.84 11.18 5.58 3.19 8.9 1,415 1.31 0.415 46.2 78 6.13 2.45 1.12 3.34 0.415

SERVICES 8 67,200 47.8 32,300 1.5 86,000 0.54 266,000 5.16 2,700 7.7 17,792,900 0.066 3,520,000 2.47 2,498,000 93.5 270,130 9.8 13,500 8.85 394,400 1,000 10 1,848 146,005 6.15 135,700 16.7 49,200 3.76 1,831,000 4.67 2,428,400 75.8 2,325,800 0.0097 323,000,000 9.05 450,000 0.193 14,290,000 1.38 11,000 3.32 134,000 3.98 1,304,000 0.95 21,000 3.24 3,886,000 5 3,023,100 3.78 405,000 2.88 1,352,000 11.18 1,883,100 5.65 114,400 3.34 50,000 9 383,800 1,418 58,135 1.37 10,316,000 0.415 1,150,000 46.2 6,118,600 80.35 519,620 6.17 55,800 2.46 329,000 1.14 9,788,000 3.36 1,119,000 0.42 390,000

537,316 1,548,440 128,940 142,000 13,932 136,943,579 231,480 6,095,310 25,259,651 131,550 3,464,145 10,000 267,114,035 834,057 820,740 6,913,300 11,907,008 175,943,913 3,042,560 4,072,500 2,805,190 15,190 440,720 5,197,100 20,190 12,114,580 15,387,512 1,533,440 3,890,370 21,053,058 643,790 166,160 3,454,113 82,827,505 13,929,930 480,550 284,066,455 41,471,617 342,730 809,650 11,108,670 3,826,340 163,150

24,819,198 -85,450 11,720,042.50 -17,960 87,303,200 14,960 156,680 9,478,780 93,900.00 -2,787,080 -6,404,490.00 -7,050,942 -37,900 -11,480 193,945 -16,692,300 427,860 -42,272,300 -26,311,884 -30,650 -298,200 -1,770,630.00 -393,800 -

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

0.0032 1.77 5.97 1.93 2.2 0.46 0.44 11.2 2.42 0.255 0.188 0.192 0.011 0.011 1.81 6.8 2.39 0.465 0.94 0.011 0.015 9.38 3.26 144.8 3 0.009

0.0033 2.03 6 1.93 2.2 0.47 0.445 11.2 2.43 0.255 0.188 0.212 0.011 0.011 1.81 6.8 2.39 0.51 0.98 0.011 0.015 9.38 3.28 150 3 0.009

0.0032 1.77 5.9 1.85 2.2 0.46 0.44 10.54 2.36 0.249 0.183 0.192 0.011 0.011 1.78 6.56 2.3 0.465 0.94 0.011 0.014 9.2 3.15 143.1 2.86 0.009

MINING & OIL 0.0032 237,000,000 1.99 18,656,000 5.9 264,000 1.85 301,000 2.2 1,000 0.47 150,000 0.445 40,000 11.1 43,700 2.42 2,028,000 0.25 350,000 0.184 6,060,000 0.195 140,000 0.011 600,000 0.011 300,000 1.78 90,000 6.56 4,406,700 2.39 85,000 0.51 420,000 0.96 52,000 0.011 300,000 0.014 114,200,000 9.38 522,600 3.15 1,876,000 149 2,439,580 2.86 52,000 0.009 1,000,000

759,700 36,331,590 1,578,162 556,930 2,200 70,100 17,650 460,778 4,892,330 87,580 1,115,610 28,060 6,600 3,300 161,580 29,304,456 196,270 196,200 49,920 3,300 1,600,900 4,883,178 5,938,330 362,664,535 152,170 9,000

-1,243,460 11,970 -24,300 -10,870,395 697,200 -6,397 3,090 127,044,700 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B MWIDE PREF PF PREF 2 SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

47 535 106 104.5 530 5.85 1,030 106.8 1,013 78 79.5 78.5

47.95 540 106 105 530 5.85 1,030 106.8 1,013 78 79.5 79.2

46.8 535 106 104 530 5.84 1,030 106.8 1,013 78 79.5 78

PREFERRED 47.3 95,300 540 30 106 29,030 104 229,140 530 100 5.84 643,100 1,030 90 106.8 1,500 1,013 3,000 78 130 79.5 40 79.2 293,260

4,486,995 16,100 3,077,180 23,863,615 53,000 3,759,115 92,700 160,200 3,039,000 10,140 3,180 22,980,038

-4,050,650 9,999,600 -3,513,435 7,846,860

LR WARRANT

2.13

2.19

2.13

WARRANTS 2.18 137,000

293,740

-

PHILAB HLDG ITALPINAS XURPAS

7.26 3.61 7.91

7.49 3.75 8.04

7.2 3.58 7.76

SME 7.4 3.61 8.04

414,581 1,564,490 16,157,705

-36,100 2,520,313

120.8

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 120.1 120.1 10,100

1,216,268

-

NAME

OPEN

FIRST METRO ETF 120.4

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

VALUE

18,989,512 154,661,662 221,911,243

1,456,488,242.91 1,465,237,420.29 1,410,028,648.41

PROPERTY 164,816,964 SERVICES 414,247,130 MINING & OIL 391,688,073 GRAND TOTAL 1,368,864,001

1,250,786,613.772 1,222,126,539.83 451,089,688.031 7,275,112,507.242

FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS

57,000 433,000 2,048,800

FINANCIAL 1,812.83 (UP) 23.39 INDUSTRIAL 11,188.87 (UP) 48.04 HOLDING FIRMS 7,439.68 (UP) 32.94 PROPERTY 3,327.29 (DOWN) 40.24 SERVICES 1,420.81 (UP) 6.61 MINING & OIL 12,379.33 (DOWN) 9.39 PSEI 7,335.56 (UP) 31.11 All Shares Index 4,427.27 (UP) 15.56 Gainers: 92; Losers: 82;Unchanged: 51; Total: 225

billion in 2016 from P11.7 billion in 2015.

Manila Water said total billed volume increased 5 percent to 719.3 million cubic meters from 687.8 mcm a year ago. Billed volume in its Manila concession area increased 4 percent to 478.9 mcm from 346.1 mcm.

The company said Boracay Water’s billed volume increased 14 percent to 4.9 mcm from 4.3 mcm in the same period last year.

Cebu Water’s billed volume rose 43 percent to 11.6 mcm from 8.1 mcm in 2015, while Clark Water’s billed volume also went up 5 percent to 13.4 mcm from 12.8 mcm.

Laguna Water’s billed volume grew 18 percent from 36.2mcm in 2015 to 42.6 mcm last year.

Manila Water said unit Kenh Dong Water in Vietnam reported a total billed volume of 57.6 mcm, or 5 percent higher than 55.1 mcm in 2015.

The company said its other unit in Vietnam, Thu Duc Water’s water billed volume was unchanged at 110 mcm.

Manila Water currently provides water and wastewater services to over 6.2 million residents of eastern Metro Manila and Rizal province.

The company earlier said it planned to provide water services to industrial parks in Southeast Asian countries.

Manila Water said this would enable the company double its earnings by 2020.

ChinaBank plans P15-b rights issue

By Julito G. Rada CHINA Banking Corp., the eighth-largest lender in terms of assets, said Thursday it will raise up to P15 billion through rights issuance to fund growth strategies.

China Bank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the planned issuance was already approved by board of directors in a special meeting.

“The bank expects to raise proceeds of up to P15 billion for the rights issue. The additional capital will enable the bank to pursue growth strategies,” China Bank said.

It said the issuance would be conducted “by way of offering common shares from the unissued portion of the authorized capital stock of the bank to eligible shareholders, subject to approval of the regulatory agencies.”

The board appointed China Bank Capital Corp. as issue manager, joint bookrunner and domestic underwriter.

However, the terms and conditions of the rights issuance were not yet determined.

China Bank posted a 31-percent increase in consolidated net income to P4.84 billion in the first nine months of 2016 from a year ago, on strong lending and fee-based businesses.

The nine-month profit translated into a return on equity of 10.47 percent and a return on assets of 1.19 percent.

Total operating income grew 16 percent to P16.46 billion, with net interest income up 9 percent year-onyear to P12.26 billion, driven by the 19-percent growth in loan portfolio.

Fee-based revenues climbed 42 percent to P4.21 billion from P2.96 billion, bolstered by trading and securities gains which surged 226 percent to P1.19 billion.

Motoring

Motul 300V powers Le Mans’ Swiss team M otul is going to significantly extend its presence on the international endurance scene by becoming the official lubricant partner of Swiss team Rebellion for the 2017 season

The latter will indeed not just content itself with entering its two Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 prototypes at the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the eight other rounds of the World Endurance Championship. It will also be entering a car in the North American Endurance Cup, which groups the most pres-

tigious American long haul events, including the Daytona 24 Hours and the Sebring 12 Hours. For 2016, the red and white colors of the Swiss flag already mirrored those of Motul’s logo in 2010, is back in the game. That led to a third place finish at the Le Mans Series Championship in LMP1.

Rebellion Racing always grants great importance to the choice of its drivers but the recruiters were particularly well talented this year.

At the wheel of the Oreca #31, patrons of the sport will see David Heinemeier-Hansson accompanied by the faithful Nicolas Prost and Mathias Beche. The team of #13 will see Julien Canal rub shoulders with former F1 drivers Bruno Senna and Nelson Piquet Jr. Last, World Endurance champions, Sébastien Buemi and Neel Jani, will be taking care of the North American program with another ex-F1, Nick

Heidfeld. They’ll be aiming for the absolute win because, in IMSA, LMP2 cars are part of the top category. The Gibson GK 428 engine (4.2 liters and 8 cylinders) of the Oreca 07s was developed with Motul 300V Power Racing 5W30 lubricant, which is part of the Motorsport Line. That oil will be flowing in its entrails throughout the season!

In the Philippines, Motul has also been at the frontline of motorsports such as the Toyota Vios Cup and has sponsored race teams in various disciplines. Dino Ray V. Directo III

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

B3

FASTLANE

Off-road fun with Overland WITH summer just around the corner, its time to gear up and explore the roads less travelled with Thailand’s biggest off-road equipment, Overland.

Overland designs are engineered by people who are active 4-wheelers who know firsthand the requirements on how to protect your off-road rig.

With its vast experience and knowledge of taking on the rugged terrain, Overland makes it their business to protect your SUV from the harsh elements of Mother Nature. Overland 4x4 bumpers are designed to minimize vehicle damage and keep you moving. The standard Bull Bar replaces the front bumper completely with a robust steel bumper designed

specifically for each application. You won’t find a more thoroughly designed and manufactured vehicle protection system than Overland’s line of front, rear and side bumper protection. Engineering a bull bar requires careful consideration of a number of factors to ensure it properly serves its purpose. Factors such as vehicle design, crush rate, air bag deployment, approach angles, accessory fitment, strength, weight and aesthetics are taken into consideration.

Protect and enhance the capacity of your SUV with Overland. It is available at Autobuff, Banawe Q.C.; WERNZ Offroad Shop; Goldcars Banawe and in dealers nationwide.

Meet the fastest production Ferrari

HARI breaks ground for comm’l vehicle dealership in Laguna CALAMBA, Laguna— Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (HARI), the Philippines’ official distributor of Hyundai vehicles, in partnership with the Areza Group, recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Hyundai Trucks & Buses dealership. Hyundai Trucks & Buses Calamba is expected to be open for business

by June 2017.

The addition of commercial vehicles to HARI’s product line-up completes HARI’s offering to the market, as well as making them the leading pro-

vider of world-class and costeffective customer mobility and payload solutions.

HARI’s partnership with the Areza Group continues to stand the test of time. In 2001, HARI was appointed as the official distributor of passenger cars in the Philippines by Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) of South Korea. Just a year after, the Areza Group became their first Hyundai dealership in South Luzon. Now, the Areza Group has become the pioneer dealers of Hyundai commercial vehicles in the country.

The groundbreaking ceremony of the Hyundai Trucks & Buses dealership soon to rise in Calamba Laguna. From left: Florencio Morales Jr., Barangay Captain of Bo. Real, Calamba Laguna; Ladislao Avila Jr., EVP & CFO, Finance & Trade Support Services Cluster, HARI; Numeriano Cortez Jr., SVP, Trade Operations & Development Cluster, HARI; Richard Lee, Chairman Emeritus, HARI; Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo, President and

Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo, HARI President and CEO said, “Ang Areza Group ang aming napiling katuwang sa pagpapaunlad sa kalakal ng Hyundai Trucks & Buses dito sa Laguna. And with the Areza Group’s vast network of businesses deeply rooted here, I know that Hyundai is in very good hands.”

Besides serving as the hearth of the Areza Group’s businesses, Calamba is known as the richest city in the CALABARZON region. The city has successfully become the stomping ground of large logistic com-

panies, agri-based industries, electronic companies, BPO firms, food processing plants, and major real estate. Laguna being the home of of the Hyundai Logistic Center and the Hyundai Assembly Center adds icing on the cake.

“Together, we are stepping up to be the lifetime partner of Filipino businessmen as we open new venues for driving the ascent of the Philippine economy. “Gusto ko, kaya ko, sama-sama tayo sa pag-asenso,” Perez-Agudo said in closing.

CEO, HARI; Cesar Areza, Chairman and President, Hyundai Trucks and Buses Calamba; Lolita Areza, Vice President, Hyundai Trucks and Buses Calamba; Junho HA, Manager, CV Asia & Pacific Regional Headquarters, Hyundai Motor Company; Jimmy Fernando Trazo, VP, Commercial Trade Division, HARI; and Carlos Soriano, General Manager, Hyundai Trucks and Buses Calamba.

THE Ferrari 812 Superfast is the first ever car from the Prancing Horse to offer 789hp and a top speed in excess of 211mph, and it will be making its first ever appearance at the Geneva Motor Show on March 9.

The days of the naturally aspirated engine are numbered and soon turbocharging will be the only option open to car makers that want to continue offering keen drivers a keen serving of horsepower, but without falling foul of tightening fuel economy and emissions regulations.

And with that in mind, the block that powers the latest fullsize supercar from Ferrari is in effect, the perfect way to celebrate the non-turbo V12’s achievements over the past 80 years and to give it one hell of a send-off.

The latest iteration of Ferrari’s flagship powertrain has been expanded to 6.5 liters and for the first time ever, a 350-bar direct injection system has been added -- something never before done on a high performance rather than a high efficiency engine. If Ferrari had stopped innovating there, it would have already done enough to seal the deal for most prospective supercar owners. After all, 789hp, a 0-100km/h time of 2.9 seconds and 718Nm of torque make this

officially the world’s fastest, most powerful front-engined production car.

But this is just the beginning.

The 812 Superfast gets electronic power steering for even greater turning precision whatever the speed. What’s more, because it’s a digital rather than analog system, the steering communicates and works in concert with the car’s other cutting edge stability systems.

Ferrari wants owners to drive this car, rather than put it into storage with the hopes of making a return on their investment. So it’s given it something called the Virtual Short Wheelbase system. It debuted on the F12 tdf limited edition in 2015 and will make the car feel and respond like a vehicle half its size at lower speeds -- think inner-city traffic and narrow side streets with tight turn-in angles. Ferraris with longitudinally mounted V12s tend to be both very long and rather wide.

Ferrari is also going even further into the realm of active aerodynamic technology for its latest model with flaps located in the nose that open and channel air under the car’s body and out through rear channels to constantly optimize downforce and therefore its ability to stay glued to the road.

French see red even when light is green FRENCH pedestrians have the reputation of being a law unto themselves -- but an unusual study has provided some scientific backing for the stereotype.

Four times out of 10, French pedestrians cross the road when the lights are against them, according to a paper published on Wednesday.

In disciplined Japan, though, the rate is 20 times lower.

Cedric Sueur of Strasbourg University in eastern France led a team that analysed behaviour at three pedestrian crossings in Strasbourg and four in the Japanese city of Nagoya.

The researchers recorded 3,814 crossings in Strasbourg and 1,631 in Nagoya.

The rulebreaking was vastly different between the two countries -- in France, 41.9 percent of crossings took place against a red light, but this was just 2.1 percent in Japan.

Men and young people aged 20-30 were more inclined than

women and older people to cross illegally.

Different degrees of social conformity explain the gap in behaviour between the two countries, researchers reported in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

“The French have less respect for the rules... We are less concerned with social approval,” Sueur told AFP. “It’s not that the fear of a ticket is bigger in Japan than in France. It’s that people (in Japan) are more concerned about the opinion of others.”

The role of group behaviour on pedestrian traffic is a major factor in safety, the study found.

Such research “could help target specific preventive, culture-specific solutions for pedestrian safety,” it said.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 300,000 pedestrians lose their lives on the road every year. AFP

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Edi tor DIN O DIREC TO III A ss t . Edi tor

B4

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

Motoring P2.6b Nlex expansion in the offing

The 2017 Volkswage Beetle is flanked by (left) newly minted President and CEO of Volkswagen PH Arthur R. Tan and Klaus Schadewald, COA of Volkswagen PH.

I.T. veteran named as Volkswagen CEO Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III

F

ollowing a successful year in the domestic market for the world’s largest automotive manufacturer, Volkswagen recently held a changing-of-the-guard ceremony at the Atrium of the Enderun Colleges in Taguig. The event coincided with the media appreciation night and the launch of the 2017 Beetle.

At the helm of Volkswagen Ph operations starting this month is Ayala corporation veteran Arthur R. Tan. He is concurrently CEO of Integrated Micro-Electronics, a global IT firm who is into micro chip manufacturing and automotive electronics, Tan can be considered as an old hand in the industry. “This gathering is significant for me, as this is my first time to meet and address you in my role as the new President and CEO of AC Industrials, to which Volkswagen Philippines belongs,” says Tan, who also loves to ride

his KTM motorcycle as much as he can.

The newly minted VW President and CEO also disclosed his plans for the brand this year.

“Ayala Corporation’s strong interest and investments in mobility, as represented by AC Industrials, virtually assures us that Volkswagen Philippines will remain very competitive in a local automotive industry and an economy, in general, in the middle of unprecedented growth, with a record-breaking 400,000 vehicles sold in 2016 and a 6.8-percent GDP rate, re-

spectively,” he adds.

The company has stated that it would expand further its corporate fleet accounts. It has also revealed plans to add new vehicles in the premium commercial segment such as the Caddy, the Crafter, and the T6 Kombi. In the pipeline also are new versions of the Jetta, the Golf, the Tiguan as well as the iconic Beetle- most of

which are equipped with TDI engines and DSG transmissions. Also, they will bring in new cars in the entry-level segment that still retain the world-class German engineering, heritage, and automotive craftsmanship Volkswagen is renowned for.

Tan also took the opportunity to express his gratitude to former Volkswagen Ph presi-

dent JP Orbeta for his stewardship of the German automaker during the first three years of operations. “JP’s tenure here at VW saw the company reaching new heights from dealer network expansion and to steering the company to becoming a major player in the domestic market,” says Tan. Volkswagen Ph currently has eight dealers nationwide.

The Beetle is touted as leader of the sales race for the German marquee.

MOTORISTS, businessmen, local government units and transporters are eager to see the opening of new expressway lanes at the North Luzon Expressway.

The Manila North Tollways Corporation, concessionaire of NLEX, has poured approximately P2.6-billion in new investments to build 64 new lanekilometers in order to ease traffic congestion in the section between Sta. Rita, Guiguinto, Bulacan and San Fernando City. When finished, expressway road capacity will be expanded from the existing 2x2 lanes to 3x3 lanes in each direction.

The new projects also include the construction of new expressway lanes on both sides of the 5-km long Candaba Viaduct. When completed, the road capacity of the Candaba Viaduct will be expanded for the first time since it was constructed in the 70’s.

MNTC also built a new 2x2, 4-kilometer expressway in the Mabalacat City portion of the NLEX including two new bridges. This new project, which was completed in October last year, will henceforth segregate northbound and southbound motorists along separate carriageways and promote road safety.

With these new projects, MNTC hopes to encourage more travel convenience and improve public services along this key NLEX section that connects Metro Manila to the provinces in Central and Northern Luzon.

The tollways firm is waiting for the government approvals, through the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), before the new projects are opened to the motoring public.

MNTC President and CEO Rodrigo Franco said there is an air of excitement among the motorists who stand to benefit from these new NLEX projects as they perceive positive developments upon completion, highlighting the hassle-free travel experience when portions of the new projects were temporarily opened last December for holiday travelers.

“As an advocate for countryside development and a main endorser of the new projects at the NLEX, the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (PamCham) expects the new expressway lanes to enhance travel convenience and promote growth of local businesses,” PamCham President Jess Nicdao noted.

The new NLEX projects were also seen to spur further rapid growth in the region according to Central Luzon Regional Development Council Chairman and Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan. “This new infrastructure will facilitate more efficient transport of goods and services within the region thus help bring in more investments and boost tourism development,” he said.

Pamintuan believes that the immediate opening of the new expressway lanes between Bulacan and Pampanga will be a big boost to the Central Luzon’s economy, adding that the completion of the new infrastructure is parallel to the goal of the council to accelerate regional socio-economic development.

SAILING AWAY. Para-gliding

and other water sports are now available in Ilocos Sur as Air Sports Adventure Philippines opens new avenues for these pursuits in cooperation with Narvacan Outdoor Adventures Hub or NOAH and the Department of Tourism in Region 1. Dave Leprozo Jr.

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

C1

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Treks halted over NPA threat B Mt. Anacuo traversing the Sierra Madre mountain ranges on April 9 to 13.

AYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya— The schedules were immediMountaineers and bikers have suspended ately called off after reports of armed encounters in Asipulo, their activities in the province owing to Ifugao; in Kayapa, Nueva Vizthe reported presence of New People’s Army caya; in Maddela, Quirino; and in forces in remote upland areas. some other parts of Northern and Southern Luzon as government Raymund Zamora, event organ- caught in a crossfire,” he said. forces stepped up their offensives izer of Lagalag Nueva Vizcaya-IfZamora said they had scheduled against the communist rebels. ugao, said mountain climbing or- the following mountain climbing Zamora said the Ambaguganizers in Luzon have canceled activities: at Mt. Ugu in Kayapa io Warrior Run scheduled on their scheduled treks from Feb. to town in Nueva Vizcaya last Feb. March 25 was also canceled.

April this year owing to the esca- 18 to 19; at Mt. Manalmon-Gola Mountain bike enthusiasts lating encounters between gov- in San Miguel, Bulacan on March here also expressed condemnaernment forces and the NPA. 4; the Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya tion over the alleged killing of a “We had to cancel these climbs trail to Mt. Pulag in Benguet on lone biker last Feb. 14. considering the risk and safety of March 5; at Mt. Amuyao in IfuPolice report said the victim, our clients, because they might be gao province on April 1 to 2; and Oscar Ibarra, in his early 40s,

By Ben Moses Ebreo

was biking along the road in a remote barangay of Antipolo in Asipulo, Ifugao, a day after an encounter between Army soldiers and NPA forces when he was shot.

It was unclear if the motive of the shooting was robbery or insurgency-related, as Ibarra was a retired colonel of the Philippine Air Force, it was learned.

Genaro Basilio Jr., chief of the public affairs and information assistance division of the provincial government and a mountaineer, said mountain biking competition in unsafe areas will be skipped during the celebration of Nueva Vizcaya’s 2017 Ammungan Festival.

Scheduled from May 19 to 24, the

MORE BENEFITS.

Kalinga tribal clashes nixed TABUK CITY, Kalinga—A veteran tribal conflict mediator dispelled fears of an impending tribal war among several tribes in the province after a police operation in Lubuagan town here.

Four policemen were killed and three law enforcers were injured in the operation that saw a notorious criminal slain as authorities attempted to serve a warrant for his arrest on Tuesday morning.

The slain policemen come from the sub-tribes of Sumadel, Tanglad, Nnaneng and Dao-angan, while the suspect, Willy Sagasag, belongs to the Lubuagan tribe.

Engineer Andres Ngao-I, chairman of the Council of Elders of the Regional Committee on Indigenous Peoples Education, said there will be no tribal war even if the slain policemen came from various tribes in the province.

The killing of the suspect was “a result of a lawful and legitimate police operation,” Ngao-I added, thus, the “bodong” [peace pact] of the tribes where the authorities and the suspect came from was not actually severed.

“We also have to emphasize there were no other armed civilians involved in the encounter, that is why there is no possibility of the eruption of a tribal war among the tribes involved,” he stressed. Dexter A. See

festival was to feature a biking competition, among other events.

“These skirmishes between the NPA and government forces serve as a big blow to the adventure tourism in Nueva Vizcaya and other provinces. I, for one, consider mountain climbing as a pilgrimage to nature,” Basilio said.

Tourism within the local government units, he added, will also suffer from a decrease in local and international adventure tourist arrivals.

Previous reports of Provincial Peace and Order Council members showed that a small band of NPA fighters are traversing Nueva Vizcaya’s boundaries with Ifugao, Quirino, Nueva Ecija, and Aurora provinces.

The Makati city government recently increased the yearly allowance of resident senior citizens by P1,000, P500 of which is currently being distributed in all its barangays to complete the allowances due on December 2016, as in this picture taken Tuesday. Seniors in Makati aged 60 to 69 years old will now receive P3,000, while those 70 and older will receive P4,000 starting this year.

Diana B. Noche

QC hosts Euro urban planning students THE Quezon City government hosted on Wednesday 17 senior architecture and urban planning students from various universities in Europe and Asia visiting the country as part of their “urban shelter course” conducted by

Lund University in Sweden.

The students took part in a field study tour on housing development and management in Quezon City, as Mayor Herbert Bautista personally welcomed the students at city hall.

According to TAO-Pilipinas,

which organized their visit, “Quezon City under the Bautista administration has been a model of good governance and innovative housing initiatives in the country, one where foreign students have earned a lot to learn from.”

Bautista briefed the students on his administration’s commitment to address the city’s housing needs, including the relocation of informal settler families occupying danger zones and constructing low-cost housing projects for the poor. Rio N. Araja

Makati Caracol fest set Sunday THE city government of Makati, through its Museum and Cultural Affairs Office, will stage the 31st Caracol Festival on Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Globe Circuit Events Grounds in Barangay Olympia, Makati City.

Makati Mayor Abby Binay said everyone is invited to join the Caracol Festival, Makati’s version of Mardi Gras, which showcases the city’s advocacy for environmental protection and preservation.

“We are inviting residents, tourists and the general public to come and join us in one of the most colorful and exciting events in the city, dedicated to promoting a deeper sense of appreciation and caring for the gifts of Mother Nature, especially among the youth,” Binay said.

“The festival name, Caracol, was derived from the Spanish word for snail, with its shell regarded as a symbol of protection from the harshness of life,” the mayor said.

“To us in Makati, Caracol alludes not only to the city’s firm commitment to a healthy and sustainable environment, but also to its resiliency against disasters arising from climate change,” Binay said.

The mayor also thanked the sponsors of this year’s Caracol— Circuit Makati; Ayala Land; Make it Happen, Make it Makati Initiative; and Manila Bulletin.

MCAO officer in charge May Santillan said the festival will start at 4 p.m. with a parade of around 5,000 performers along A.P. Reyes Avenue going to the Globe Circuit Grounds. The assembly area will be at Hippodromo Street in Barangay Olympia.

Santillan also said the highlight of the festivity is a dance competition where participants are dressed up in colorful, nature-inspired costumes like flowers, insects, and rare animals.

Quezon City backs bill penalizing greedy hospitals

By Rio N. Araja THE Quezon City council is supporting additional penalties for hospitals demanding deposits from patients before treatment.

The 36-member council passed a reso-

lution calling for the immediate passage of a Senate bill giving stiffer penalties to hospitals and medical clinics that require deposits for medical treatment.

Quezon City Council Resolution 69552016, authored by Councilor Roger Juan, reiterated the need to increase the penal-

ties for hospitals and medical clinics engaged in such practices in violation of the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law. The measure also supports providing incentives to hospitals and clinics willing to provide emergency medical services to indigent city residents, as provided for

by the Senate bill.

Senator Riza Hontiveros authored Senate Bill 216, which aims to increase the penalties for the refusal of hospitals and clinics to administer appropriate initial medical treatment and support in emergency or serious cases.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

Standard FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 C2 TODAY Manila

Vizcaya plan identifies agri issues B

By Brenda Jocson

AYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—Agricultural land degradation and unstable agricultural production are the two main threats to maintaining the increase of per capita income of the province, the provincial development plan revealed.

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that ASEAGAS CORPORATION is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as Renewable Energy Developer of Biomass Energy Resources (8.8MW Biomass Power Plant; Breakdown: 6.1 MW - Grid and 2.7 MW - Houseload) in Brgy.

Malaruhatan, Lian, Batangas to avail of the incentives under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (RA 9513).

Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(SGD.) NESTOR P. ARCANSALIN Director Resource-based Industries Service

The Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan also said the unregulated use of prohibited chemicals as farm inputs is contributing to the degrading of agricultural land, leading to poor farm production.

“The continuous application of prohibited chemicals increases the toxicity level of the soil that will ultimately deplete its productivity,” the plan, a study commissioned by the provincial government, said.

The excessive use of chemicals (inorganic fertilizers or pesticides) resulted in the low soil fertility (depleting soil nutrients). “This is one of the major causes of inability of maintaining the increase in per capita income in the province,” it added.

Agriculture is the main industry of Nueva Vizcaya, with rice, corn, fruits and vegetables as major crops. The province is a major producer of citrus fruits in the country, such as pomelo, ponkan

(Chinese honey orange) and oranges.

Prior to the operations of large-scale mining firms in 2013, the decline in agricultural production was already an existing issue, the plan confirmed.

It also recognized the growing mining industry through two foreign-owned mining firms, which has added to the provincial income.

According to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, deposits of metallic minerals in the province are copper, gold, molybdenum and pyrite, particularly in the towns of Kasibu with the Didipio Copper and Gold Project and Quezon with the Runruno Gold-Molybdenum project.

The provincial development plan said the low and unstable agricultural production is influenced by several factors. One is the conversion of land from agricultural to nonagricultural uses such as housing, sparked by a growing population that increases demand for housing.

Large under-utilized agricultural land, under-optimized production, the prevalence of pests and diseases, limited local source of quality breeders or planting materials, the lack of farmer access to reliable market information system, and low soil fertility or depleting soil nutrients are other factors.

The large under-utilized agricultural land and under-optimized production are both affected by limited infrastructure, the plan said.

Both under-optimized production and the prevalence of pests and diseases are caused by the slow adoption or transfer of technology to farmers due to surging cost of inputs, non-marketdriven research and development, and non-utilization of indigenous resources.

“This is aggravated by the limited dissemination of research and development outputs and inadequate number and capability of implementers which are both affected by ambivalent policies on use of chemicals,” the plan added.

Quirino seeks best homes, villages

By Ben Moses Ebreo CABARROGUIS, Quirino—The Quirino Tourism Council will be conducting a provincewide search for best homes and barangays in a bid to instill positive Filipino family values and qualities.

Thelma Bicarme, Philippine Information Agency information officer, said the Search for Model Homes and Barangays in Quirino will be conducted annually starting this year.

“This program aims to inculcate in the minds of the residents the values of self-discipline, self-reliance, resourcefulness, cooperation, cleanliness and environmental awareness,” she said.

Bicarme said the search is open for all house owners with houses worth less than P1 million each and all barangays of the six towns of Quirino, such as Saguday, Cabarroguis, Maddela, Nagtipunan, Diffun and Aglipay.

Entries for both searches will be given awards in the municipal and provincial levels.

“Entry homes and barangays will be visited by the Municipal Monitoring and Evaluation Committee, which will carry out three validation procedures from February to November,” Bicarme said.

She said the entries for the model families will be chosen based on the following criteria: cleanliness and

sanitation, 40 percent, and landscape and beautification, 60 percent.

Model barangays will also be ranked with the following criteria: cleanliness and sanitation, 40 percent; landscape and beautification, 40 percent; and community support system and sustainability, 20 percent.

Bicarme said model home winners will be given P50,000 for the first prize, P30,000 for second; P20,000 for third, and three consolation prizes of P10,000 each.

The model barangay winners will bring home P150,000 for first prize; P100,000 for second; P75,000 for third and three consolation prizes worth P50,000 each.

(MS-FEB. 24, 2017)

Republic of the Philippines CITY OF SAN PEDRO Province of Laguna BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

Republic of the Philippines CITY OF SAN PEDRO Province of Laguna BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

Republic of the Philippines CITY OF SAN PEDRO Province of Laguna BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID PR NO. 2017-0256

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID PR NO. 2017-0376

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID PR NO. 2017-0166

1.

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna through the 2017 Budget Approved by the Sangguniang Panglungsodintends to apply the sum of Php 1,998,000.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Repair and Maintenance of Wireless CCTV System. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna now invites bids forthe following: QTY UNIT 12 months

DESCRIPTION Repair and maintenance of wireless CCTV system Locations: Brgy. San Vicente (Total Gas Station) – PTZ Mabini & Garcia St. (Maciang) – Fish Eye Camera Plaza, Mabini – PTZ Infront of Pacita Business Center & Shopwise – Fish Eye Camera Landayan, National Highway – PTZ Elvinda, National Highway (Mc Donalds) – PTZ Nueva, National Highway – PTZ San Pedro & Muntinlupa Boundary, National Highway –PTZ Brgy. Cuyab – Fish Eye Camera Hall of Justice – Fixed Pacita Elementary – Fixed LRCS, Brgy. United Bayanihan – Fixed Pacita Astrodome Entrance – Fixed USPS Entrance – Fixed City Hall Entrance – Fixed Rear City Hall – Fixed Main Rd, Rosario Complex GALIC Hospital – Fixed Infront of Cataquiz 5 Subd., Mabini Street – Fixed Along Mabini St. infront of Sto. Nino St. – Fixed Corner Nueva H-way, Garcia Extension – Fixed Nat’l H-way (infront of Pacita Business Center Shopwise – Fixed Facing Mabini St., along Nat’l H-way, Brgy. San Antonio – Fixed San Pedro & Muntinlupa Boundary, National Highway – Fixed 2 Magsaysay Rd., cor San Pedro Exit Acess Rd. - Fixed

Delivery of the Goods is required within twelve (12) months upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

4.

1. The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna through the 2017 Budget Approved by the Sangguniang Panglungsodintends to apply the sum of Php 60,000,000.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Supply and Delivery of Service – Collecting, Hauling & Disposal of Solid Wastes for City of San Pedro Laguna. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

QTY UNIT 12 months

In addition,bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

4. nterested bidders may obtain further information from City Government of San Pedro, Laguna and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during 8:30AM to 9:30 AM only.

Office of the BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna

Interested bidders may obtain further information from City Government of San Pedro, Laguna and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during 8:30AM to 9:30 AM only.

ISSUANCE OF ELIGIBILITY AND February 24 to March 15,2017 BIDDING DOCUMENTS: 8:30AM – 9:30AM BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna 5.

February 24 to March 15, 2017 8:30AM – 9:30AM BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna

PRE-BID CONFERENCE:

March 3, 2017 BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna

Bid opening shall be on the same date and time for deadline of submission of eligibility requirements and submission of bids and shall be conducted at the Office of the BAC Secretariat. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address given above. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bid.

Further, City Government of San Pedro, Laguna, reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: Mr. Merlin B. Paala Office of the BAC Secretariat San Pedro City Hall San Pedro, Laguna Telefax No. 847.1722 (signed) ENGR. FILEMON I. SIBULO Chairman Bids and Awards Committee

March 3, 2017 BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna

In addition,bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

4.

6.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on thedate, time and address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Php 5,000.00.

ISSUANCE OF ELIGIBILITY AND BIDDING DOCUMENTS:

5.

TheCity Government of San Pedro, Lagunaassumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bid.

Further, City Government of San Pedro, Laguna, reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

February 24, 2017 to March 15, 2017 8:30AM – 9:30AM BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before the specified date and time. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION OF ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND OPENING OF BIDS:

March 15, 2017 10:00 AM BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna

PRE-BID CONFERENCE:

March 3, 2017 BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna

Bid opening shall be on the same date and time for deadline of submission of eligibility requirements and submission of bids and shall be conducted at the Office of the BAC Secretariat. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address given above. Late bids shall not be accepted.

6.

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bid.

Further, City Government of San Pedro, Laguna, reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: 7

Mr. Merlin B. Paala Office of the BAC Secretariat San Pedro City Hall San Pedro, Laguna Telefax No. 847.1722

Interested bidders may obtain further information from City Government of San Pedro, Laguna and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during 8:30AM to 9:30 AM only.

Office of the BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna

Bid opening shall be on the same date and time for deadline of submission of eligibility requirements and submission of bids and shall be conducted at the Office of the BAC Secretariat. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address given above. Late bids shall not be accepted.

For further information, please refer to: Mr. Merlin B. Paala Office of the BAC Secretariat San Pedro City Hall San Pedro, Laguna Telefax No. 847.1722

(signed) ENGR. FILEMON I. SIBULO Chairman Bids and Awards Committee (MS-FEB. 24, 2017)

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/ fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before the specified date and time. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

PRE-BID CONFERENCE:

DESCRIPTION Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) Engine: In-line 4-cylinder, common rail direct injection diesel engine Displacement: 2,499cc, 5-speed transmission Power kW (PS)/rpm: 163 Ps (120Kw) at 3,400 rpm Torque Nm (Kg-m)/rpm: 320 Nm / 1800-2800rpm Fuel Tank: 65 liters capacity Weight: Gross vehicle weight: 2,650kls Dimension: L=4825mmxW=1860mmxH-1840mm; Wheelbase: 2845mm Suspension: Front: independent double wishbone with coil springs & stabilizer Rear: five-link coil spring & stabilizer bar Brakes: Front: ventilated discs Rear: solid discs Tires & Wheels: 255/65 R17 aluminum alloy; spare wheel 255/65 R17, aluminum alloy Headlamps: projector type w/ multi-reflector Exterior: Projector type w/ multi-reflector headlamps Front foglamps, chrome radiator grille, chrome engine hood garnish, chrome with turn signal powered w/ folding function, chrome door handle& tail gate garnish equipped roof rail w/ 60kgs load capacity Interior: Instrument meters & colored multi-information display (MID); Equipped with navigation system and steering wheel audio controls. Power windows w/ driver auto Up/Down Jam projection, and Timer function; power steering side view mirrors & power door locks with passive entry and start/stop system, equipped w/ 6-way powered driver seat adjustment w/ 12-volt accessory socket, 19 storage compartments/12 cup holders, equipped w/side step board, 2 hooks, key lock & illumination.

Airconditioning system: dial automatic climate control w/ rear cooler controls.

Audio: entertainment system; equipped w/ tire pressire monitoring syste, (TPMS); 7” touché screen display, CD/VCD/DVD/Tuner/Aux-in/USB/MP3 compatible, Bluetooth and i-pod connectivity, 10” roof-mounted DVD monitor w/remote Security & Safety: dual SRS airbags, side door impact beams, electronic stability control traction control system, steel under-front skid pkate, engine immobilizer, seatbelts (first, second & third row), anti-theft alarm system, child-proof rear door locks, high mount stop lamp, reverse camera (LED type), rear view mirror, rear defogger and reverse sensing system.

Delivery of the Goods is required within thirty (30) days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION OF March 15, 2017 ELIGIBILITYREQUIREMENTS 10:00 AM AND OPENING OF BIDS: BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before the specified date and time. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

March 15, 2017 10:00 AM BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna

QTY UNIT 3 units

3. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on thedate, time and address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Php 50,000.00.

DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION OF ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND OPENING OF BIDS:

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna now invites bids forthe following:

Delivery of the Goods is required within twelve (12) months upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Office of the BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna

5.

2.

DESCRIPTION Collecting, Hauling & Disposal of Solid Wastes

In addition,bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

ISSUANCE OF ELIGIBILITY AND BIDDING DOCUMENTS:

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna through the 2017 Budget Approved by the Sangguniang Panglungsodintends to apply the sum of Php 4,395,000.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Supply and Delivery of Three (3) Units of Sports Utility Vehicle for Official Use. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2. The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna now invites bids forthe following:

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on thedate, time and address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Php 5,000.00.

1.

(signed) ENGR. FILEMON I. SIBULO Chairman Bids and Awards Committee (MS-FEB. 24, 2017)

(MS-FEB. 24, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

Manila

Standard

TODAY

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

C3

5 years jail for Thailand reporting B ANGKOK―A British journalist with the BBC faces up to five years in a Thai jail after a lawyer brought a criminal defamation case against him over an investigation into fraud on a popular tourist island.

Rights groups say the case exposes how Thailand’s broad defamation and computer crime laws scupper investigative journalism and make it difficult to expose wrongdoing in a country where corruption is endemic.

The prosecution was sparked by a September 2015 report

by Jonathan Head, the BBC’s Southeast Asia correspondent, looking at how two foreign retirees were scammed out of their properties in Phuket.

Head appeared in a Phuket court on Thursday alongside one of the retirees, British national Ian Rance who is a joint defendant in the prosecution.

Both pleaded not guilty.

The man bringing the prosecution is Pratuan Thanarak, a Phuket lawyer who featured in the BBC’s report looking at how Rance lost lucrative properties.

Rance retired to Phuket in 2001, married a local woman with whom he had three children and bought what he said were some $1.2 million worth of properties.

Under Thai law foreigners cannot own land. But many

get around that provision by placing properties in the name of a company they own or with locals they trust.

In 2010 Rance discovered his wife had forged his signature to remove him as director and sell the properties with the help of a network of money lenders and property agents on the island.

She was jailed for four years over the scam.

The BBC’s Head reported that Pratuan, the lawyer, admitted to notarizing Rance’s signature without him being present.

Pratuan filed a defamation case alleging the reports caused him to be “defamed, insulted or hated”, according to a copy of the complaint seen

by AFP. Rance and Head face one charge of criminal defamation, which carries up to two years in jail. Head faces an additional charge under Thailand’s Computer Crimes Act, which has a five year maximum jail penalty.

Head has had to surrender his passport to the court leaving him unable to work across

Asia as he fights what could be a two year court battle.

In a statement the BBC said it “stands by its journalism” and that they “intend to clear the name of our correspondent”.

Unlike most countries where defamation is a civil crime, in Thailand it is a criminal offense.

Private citizens can launch their own cases and they are not forced to pay costs if they lose.

Brad Adams, Human Rights Watch’s Asia director, said the case against Head and Rance showed “exactly why having

Republic of the Philippines TODAY REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF BULACAN THIRD JUDICIAL REGION Malolos City Branch 7

IN RE: Petition for Rehabilitation Or Liquidation or Distressed Enterprises or Individual

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TARIFF COMMISSION INVITATION TO BID DESIGN, INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION AND FIT-OUT OF OFFICE SPACE OF THE TARIFF COMMISSION AT THE 4TH FLOOR OF WEST INSULA CONDOMINIUM, WEST AVENUE, QUEZON CITY 1.

The Tariff Commission, through Republic Act 10924 FY 2017 (General Appropriations Act) intends to apply the sum of Nine Million Ten Thousand Pesos (P9,010,000.00) inclusive of all applicable taxes, being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the “Design, Interior Construction and Fit-out of Office Space of the Tariff Commission at the 4th Floor of West Insula Condominium, West Avenue, Quezon City”. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/ sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy-five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Tariff Commission and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM starting on February 22, 2017.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00). It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Tariff Commission, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

6.

The Tariff Commission will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on February 27, 2017, 10:00 am at the Tariff Commission Conference Room which shall beopen to all interested parties.

7.

8.

The Tariff Commission reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

9.

For further information, please refer to: Bids and Awards Committee Tariff Commission 5/F Medical Arts Bldg., Philippine Heart Center East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Tel Nos. (02) 929-1964, 926-7283 info@tariffcommission.gov.ph Facsimile No. (02) 921-7960

SECOND AMENDED LIQUIDATION ORDER Pursuant to this Order dated September 20, 2016, converting the rehabilitation proceedings into a liquidation proceeding due to breach of the approved Rehabilitation Plan, this court hereby declares the petitioners as INSOLVENT and ORDERS the liquidation of the petitioners.

SP PROC. CASE NO. 127-M-2011 OLIVARES PIGGERY FARMS, Its owners the SPOUSES FERNANDO T. OLIVARES and JOSEPHINE S. OLIVARES X------------------------------------------------------X MOTION TO TERMINATE REHABILITATION PROCEEDINGS COMES NOW, Creditor Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) , through the undersigned counsel, hereby alleges that: 1.

In the Decision of the Honorable Court dated June 30, 2015 in the instant proceedings, the dispositive portion specifically provides that:

“Accordingly, petitioner is hereby directed to implement the same strictly in accordance with the terms thereof and likewise, to submit monthly reports on the implementation/execution of the Plan to both the court and to the Rehabilitation Receiver, failing which the court may, either upon motion of any of the creditors, motu propio, or upon recommendation of the Rehabilitation Receiver, terminate the proceedings.”

2.

Pursuant to said Decision, petitioners are specifically ordered to do the following: (I) Implement strictly the semestral payments to creditors, LBP, BOC and PDIC; and (II) Submit monthly reports on the implementation/execution of the Rehabilitation Plan to the Court and to the Rehabilitation Receiver.

Further, said Decision provides that if the petitioner fail to abide by the orders, The Honorable Court may either upon motion of any of the creditors or upon recommendation of the Rehabilitation Receiver, terminate the proceedings.

PETITIONERS FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE SEMESTRAL PAYMENTS 3.

6. Authorizes payment of administrative expenses as they become due; 7. States that the creditors may submit names of other nominees to the position of liquidator; and

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

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Sps. Fernando T. Olivares and Josephine S. Olivares – Both of 113 Brgy. Sta. Catalina Matanda, San Ildefonso, Bulacan 3010 and/or J.P. Rizal St., Brgy. San Gabriel, Sta. Maria, Bulacan

•

Atty. Jeronimo B. Cumigad – Counsel for Petitioners 12th Floor, De leon Center Bldg. 1151 M.H. del Pilar cor Nuestra Señora de Guia Sts., Ermita, Manila

•

Atty. Hamlin Talapian - Counsel for Creditor Land Bank Land Bank of the Philippines, Area Legal Unit II (ALU II) 2nd Floor Land Bank Bldg., Malolos Highway Branch, Old Sumape, McArthur Highway, Malolos City, Bulacan

•

Atty. Jorge B.D. Gonzales - Counsel for Creditor Bank of Commerce Suite 1402 14th Floor, One Magnificent Mile Citra Bldg., San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas Center, Makati City

•

Atty. Antonette Brillantes Bolivar Atty. Arlene P. Rosero Hernando - Counsel for Creditor CRBBI, represented by PDIC, SSS Bldg., 6782 Ayala Avenue cor V.A. Rufino St., Makati City (MS-FEB. 17 & 24, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Hence, it is clear from the foregoing provision that the failure of the petitioners to comply with the required payments and submission of monthly reports are grounds for termination of the instant proceeding.

WHEREOF, it is respectfully prayed that the instant proceedings be terminated for failure of the petitioners to comply with the Rehabilitation Plan and the same be converted into a liquidation proceedings.

Likewise, LBP prays that the LBP be reimbursed for the advances it made on taxes and insurance premiums due on the properties of the petitioners.

Other relief and remedies, just and equitable under the premises are likewise prayed for.

City of Malolos, Bulacan, this 23rd day of June 2016.

Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street Manila 1004

Malolos City, Bulacan, January 6, 2017

Copy furnished

Likewise, pursuant to the Decision dated June 30, 2015, the second semestral payment (principal plus interest) was supposed to be due on December 30, 2015. Again, petitioners failed to comply with the required payment on the due date. They belatedly deposited checks to the court by filing a Manifestation and Urgent Motion to Admit Check Payments dated January 21, 2016. While said check was released to LBP dated December 30, 2015 for P1,887,394.07 the same was returned to LBP when deposited “SPODAIF”. Obviously the account where the check was drawn has an insufficient fund within which to service petitioners’ obligations contrary to what was stated in the rehabilitation plan.

3.2.1 In petitioners’ Manifestation dated May 5, 2016, they manifested in Court that they have decided to stop payment the Check as it is their view that the release are pre-mature until the cased filed by both LBP and BOC are finally resolved by the Court of Appeals and /or negations for dacion en pago are finalized.

3.2.2 With due respect. LBP disagrees with the petitioners’ manifestation. In the absence of a temporary restraining order or injunction, the Decision of the Honorable Court has to be implemented. This is clear pursuant to the provision of Sec. 7, Rule 65 of the Rules of Court which provides that:

(d) The Rehabilitation Plan or its amendment is approved by the court but in the implementation thereof, the debtor fails to perform its obligations thereunder or there is a failure to realize the objectives, targets or goals set forth therein, including the timelines and conditions for the settlement of the obligations due to the creditors and other claimants;

Republic of the Philippines

SO ORDERED.

ISIDRA A. ARGAÑOSA-MANIEGO Presiding Judge

3.2

“Section 74. Termination of Proceedings. – The rehabilitation proceedings under Chapter II, shall, upon motion by any stakeholder or the rehabilitation receiver be terminated by order of the court either declaring a successful implementation of the Rehabilitation Plan or a failure of rehabilitation.

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

8. Sets the hearing for the election and appointment of the liquidator on April 20, 2017 at 8:30 in the morning.

The petitioners are further required, within ten (10) days from receipt of this Order, to inform the Honorable Court of Appeals in the two (2) pending certiorari cases pending thereat, of the issuance by this court of its Order dated September 20, 2016, converting the rehabilitation proceedings into a liquidation proceeding due to breach of the approved Rehabilitation Plan; and this Second Amended Liquidation Order.

In the Order dated September 18, 2015, the Honorable Court granted petitioners’ motion to extend up to October 15,2015 within which to pay the principal portion for the first semester of the year 2015. Likewise in said order, the Court specifically ordered the petitioners to “comply religiously with all the required payments up to the eight year 2021.” However, petitioners never complied with their obligations and/or the Order of the Honorable Court. It should be recalled that instead of complying with their promise to pay the principal portion within the extended period granted by the Honorable Court, petitioners filed a “Manifestation with Motion” dated October 10, 2015 praying for the deferment of payment for the first semester until such time that the proceedings before the Court of Appeals are terminated and resolved. It is only upon Order of the Honorable Court that petitioners filed a “Manifestation/Compliance” submitting to the Honorable Court UnionBank checks (payable to creditors LBP, BOC & PDIC) all dated October 15, 2015 to the Court. Said checks became stale and petitioners counsel and daughter requested and was granted a period of up to April 25, 2016 within which to replace the stale checks pursuant to the Order of the Honorable Court dated April 21, 2016. Again, petitioners failed to comply with their promise.

NO MONTHLY REPORTS WAS SUBMITTED

BY THE PETITIONERS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION AND EXECUTION OF THE REHABILITATION PLAN 4.

It is a matter of record that no monthly report was submitted by the petitioners to the Honorable Court on the implementation and execution of the rehabilitation Plan which is a clear violation of the Decision dated June 30, 2015 which required the submission of the monthly report.

5.

Likewise, LBP’s claim for reimbursement for realty taxes and insurance premiums advanced by LBP (P824,521.80 less P139,881.67 partial remittance made by Sps. Olivares/Receiver) inclusive of interest and other charges as of 15 March 2016. These advances are legitimate administrative expenses which should be immediately paid. As such, LBP is reiterating the immediate reimbursement of its advances/ legitimate administrative expenses in the total amount of P684,640.13 (inclusive of interests and other charges) as of 15 March 2016. Pursuant to Rule 2. Sec. 26(T) of the Financial Rehabilitation Rules of Procedure, it is the duty of the Rehabilitation Receiver to take possession, custody, control and preservation of the value of all the properties of the petitioners. Hence, the petitioner is expected to cause the renewal of the insurance of the insurable properties, securing of updated realty taxes, among other as part of his mandated duty as officer of the Court.

6.

In Pursuant to Section 74 of R.A. 101’42 (Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act (FRIA) of 2010) : viz,

(MS FEB. 24, 2017)

4. Prohibits payments and transfer of any property by the petitioners; 5. Directs all creditors to file their claims with the liquidator not later than five (5) days from the time the liquidator takes his oath of office, furnishing copy thereof to the court;

3.1

There is a failure of rehabilitation in the following cases;

1. Directs this court`s Branch Sheriff to take possession and control of all the properties of the petitioners, except those exempt from execution;

3. Directs the payments of any claims and conveyance of any property to the Liquidator;

Petitioners first semestral payment pursuant to the Decision should have been due within ten (10) days from receipt of the Decision dated June 30, 2016. Based on the Registry Return Receipt, the same was received by Sps. Olivares on July 28, 2015. Hence, petitioners first semestral payment should have been due on August 7, 2015 and every semester thereafter. However, instead of complying with their obligation on due date stated in the Decision, Petitioner’s, thru the Rehabilitation Receiver filed a “Motion to Adjust Initial Servicing but only as to Principal” dated August 11, 2015. While the first semestral payment for interest in the amount of P412,867.45 was later paid to LBP, no succeeding payments were made for the principal portion of the first semester and the principal plus interest payments for the second semester.

“Sec. 7. Expediting proceedings; injunctive relief:- the court in which the petition is filed may issue orders expediting the proceedings, and it may also grant a temporary restraining order or a writ of preliminary injunction for the preservation of the rights of the parties pending such proceedings. The petition shall not interrupt the course of the principal case, unless a temporary restraining order or a writ of preliminary injunction has been issued, enjoining the public respondent from further proceeding with the case.

The public respondent shall proceed with the principal case within ten (10) days from the filing of a petition for certiorari with a higher court or tribunal, absent a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction, or upon its expiration. Failure of the public respondent to proceed with the principal case may be a ground for an administrative charge.”

ANGELITA R. FERNANDO BAC – Chairperson

Accordingly, this court hereby:

•

In re: PETITION FOR REHABILITATION OR LIQUIDATION OF FINANCIALLY DISTRESSED ENTERPRISES OR INDIVIDUALS

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 10:00 AM of March 13, 2017at 5/F Medical Arts Bldg., Philippine Heart Center, East Avenue, Quezon City. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

2. Orders, within fifteen (15) days from receipt of this Order, the publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks of a copy of this Liquidation Order, together with the Motion to Terminate Rehabilitation Proceedings dated June 2, 2016 filed by creditor Bank of Commerce (BOC); and Motion to Terminate Rehabilitation Proceedings dated June 23, 2016 filed by creditor Land Bank of Philippines (LBP), at the expense of these creditors – movants in equal sharing;

Hall also left Thailand in 2016 after multiple defamation cases were filed against him -- both by prosecutors and private citizens -- over a report he helped research highlighting abuses in the country’s lucrative fruit export sector. AFP

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT THIRD JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 7 MALOLOS CITY, BULACAN

The Tariff Commission now invites bids for the Design, Interior Construction and Fit-out of Office Space of the Tariff Commission at the 4th Floor of West Insula Condominium, West Avenue, Quezon City. Completion of the Works is required within 60 calendar days. Prospective bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instruction to Bidders.

SP. PROC. NO. 127-M-2011

OLIVARES PIGGERY FARMS, Its owner, the SPOUSES FERNANDO T. OLIVARES AND JOSEPHINE S. OLIVARES, Petitioners. x------------------------------------x

ish journalist who spent years writing about Thailand’s criminal underworld, left the country the same year after a slew of defamation cases and threats were made against him by people he exposed.

British rights activist Andy

“Wherefore, the Rehabilitation Plan submitted by the Rehabilitation receiver is hereby ordered approved, with the directive to the petitioner, within ten (10) days from receipt hereof, to make the first semestral payment for the year 2015 of half of the principal loan and half of the interests payment for each of the three (3) creditors, namely, the Land Bank of the Philippines, the Bank of Commerce, the Cooperative Rural Bank of Bulacan (CRBB), which is now under receivership of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC), pursuant to the Payment Schedule per Creditor in said Rehabilitation Plan; the second semestral payment of another half of the principal loan and half of the interests payment for each of the three (3) said creditors on December 30, 2015; and continuously every 30th of the months of June and December of the succeeding years up to the eight year on 2021.”

Manila

Standard

criminal defamation laws is such a bad idea”, adding the powerful can “engage in game of legal blood sport by dragging people through the Thai court system”.

Writers often find themselves on the receiving end of costly suits.

Local news site Phuketwan spent years defending itself from a suit filed by Thailand’s navy after it alleged official complicity in human trafficking.

The site eventually won in 2015 but had to close down because funds were exhausted.

Andrew Drummond, a Brit-

The DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE (DOF), through the Government of the Philippines under the General Appropriations Act for FY 2017, intends to apply the sum of TEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY TWO THOUSAND SEVENTY TWO AND 50/100 PESOS (PhP 10,552,072.50) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments for the Provision of Security Services in the Department of Finance Covering the Period April 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017 (the “Project”) for a total of forty-five (45) security personnel/guards. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

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

The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

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

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

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders starting on February 24, 2017 up to March 15, 2017 at the General Services Division, 7th Floor, EDPC Building, BSP Complex, Pablo Ocampo Sr. St., Roxas Blvd., Manila and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Twenty Five Thousand Pesos (PhP25,000.00).

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the PhilGEPS and the website of the DOF, provided that the Bidders shall pay the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The Department of Finance will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 3, 2017, 9:00 AM at DFG Conference Room, 4th Floor DOF Building, BSP Complex, P. Ocampo Sr., Street corner Roxas Boulevard, Manila which shall be open to prospective bidders.

Bids must be delivered to the BAC Secretariat, General Services Division 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex, P. Ocampo Sr., Street corner Roxas Boulevard, Manila on or before March 15, 2017, 8:45 am. The bidders shall drop their duly accomplished eligibility requirements, technical and financial proposals in two (2) separate envelopes in the bid box located at the abovementioned address. All the bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the Instructions to Bidders (ITB) Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on the date indicated above at the DFG Conference Room, 4th Floor DOF Building.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend. “LATE BIDS SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED”.

The schedule of bidding activities is as follows:

ACTIVITIES Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid Issuance and Availability of Bid Documents Pre-Bid Conference Request for Clarification Issuance of Supplemental Bid Bulletin Deadline for Submission of Bids Opening of Bids

SCHEDULE February 24, 2017 starting February 24, 2017 March 3, 2017, 9:00 am March 5, 2017 by email March 8, 2017 March 15, 2017, 8:45 am March 15, 2017, 10:00 am

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

11.

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

(MS-FEB. 24, 2017)

(SGD) GIL S. BELTRAN Undersecretary and DOF-BAC Chairman

Copy Furnish: ATTY. JERONIMO B. CUMICAD Counsel for Petitioner 12th Floor, De Leon Center Bldg.

1151 M.H. del Pilar Cor. Nuestra señ De Guia Streets, Ermita Manila ATTY. RAFAEL CHRIS F. TESTON Court appointed Rehabilitation Receiver No. 10 Amber Street, Phase I, Pilar Village Las Piñas, Metro Manila ATTY. JORGE B.D. GONZALES, JR. Ledesma Gonzales Law Office Counsel for Bank of Commerce Suite 1402, 14th Flr. One Magnificent Mile Citra Building San Miguel Ave., Ortigas Centre, Makati City ATTY. MA. ANTONETTE BRILLANTES-BOLIVAR ATTY. EVANGELINE QUEVEDO DE LEON Office of the General Counsel Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation SSS Building, 6782 Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino St., Makati City

VERIFICATION AND SWORN STATEMENT I, ELEANOR D. QUICOY of legal age, with office address at Land Bank of the Philippines, LBP Plaza, 1598 M.H. Del Pilar corner Dr. Quintos Streets, Malate, Manila, after having been duly sworn, hereby depose and state: 1. I am the Officer-in-Charge of Loan Recovery Department of the creditor, Land Bank fo the Philippines; 2. That I have caused the preparation and filing of this pleadings.

3. I have read the contents and the factual allegations of the Motion to Terminate Rehabilitation Proceedings and I attest that the same are true and correct based on my personal knowledge and belief and on official and authentic record.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I Have hereunto affixed my signature this day of JUN 28, 2016_here at CITY OF MANILA. ELEANOR D. QUICOY Affiant Notary Public Subscribe and Sworn to before me, this_____date of June 28, 2016 in City of Manila. Affiant exhibiting to me her LBP ID No. A795

(MS-FEB. 17 & 24, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

C4

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

KCNA breaks silence on killing SEOUL-North Korea’s state media broke a 10-day silence Thursday on the murder of Kim Jong-Un’s half brother, launching a ferocious assault on Malaysia for “immoral” handling of the case and for playing politics with the corpse.

In its first comments on the airport assassination of Kim Jong-Nam, KCNA said Malaysia bore responsibility for the death, and accused it of conspiring with South Korea.

“Malaysia is obliged to hand his body to the DPRK [North Korea] side as it made an autopsy and forensic examination of it in an illegal and immoral manner”, the North’s Korean Jurists Committee said, in comments carried by the state-run news agency.

Malaysia has not released the corpse “under the absurd pretext” that it needs a DNA sample from the dead man’s family, it said in a lengthy statement that never identified the victim.

“This proves that the Malaysian side is going to politicize the transfer of the body in utter disregard of international law and morality and thus attain a sinister purpose,” it said.

Malaysia is holding four people -- a North Korean man, a Malaysian, and women from Indonesia and Vietnam -- over the February 13 attack on Kim Jong-Nam at Kuala Lumpur International Airport as he waited for a flight to Macau.

Leaked CCTV footage shows the portly Kim being approached by two women who appear to put something in his face.

Moments later he is seen asking for help from airport staff, who direct him to a clinic.

Malaysian police said he suffered a seizure and died before he reached hospital.

An autopsy has ruled out heart failure, with investigators focusing on the theory that a toxin was applied to his face, in what South Korea has insisted was a targeted assassination.

Seoul’s Foreign Minister Yun Byung-Se said Wednesday in London that the killing was a chance for the international community “to take a series of steps” against the North.

Yun said the assassination by the North, if confirmed, would constitute a “serious breach” of international order. AFP

ONSTAGE. Actors Orlando Bloom and Jane Fonda speak onstage during the 14th Annual Global Green Pre-Oscars Party at TAO Hollywood on February 22, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. AFP

S. Korea blasts news of killing to N. Korea S EOUL―South Korea is using giant loudspeakers to blast news of the dramatic assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s half-brother across the border with its reclusive northern neighbor, it was reported Thursday.

Kim Jong-Nam―the eldest son of the North’s late leader Kim Jong-Il―died on February 13 after being attacked by two women at a Kuala Lumpur airport in what is suspected to be a murder planned by Pyongyang.

The North’s state media remained quiet on the killing until it released a scathing denouncement of the Malaysian investigation Thursday, without identifying Jong-Nam as the victim.

But the South this week

employed its banks of highdecibel loudspeakers to ensure details of the death of Jong-Nam, once believed to be the likely heir, reverberated through wide swathes of the border area, Seoul’s MBC TV station said.

“Kim Jong-Nam... died after being attacked by two unidentified women at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia,” blared the message from the speakers and replayed by the TV station.

“Malaysian authorities said

four suspects are North Korean nationals including one who has been arrested,” it said.

News of the outside world is heavily restricted and censored in the North under the Kim family, which has ruled for decades with an iron fist and a pervasive personality cult.

The South Korean military has for years blasted a mix of world news, propaganda messages and K-pop songs across the border using dozens of loudspeakers, which targets soldiers in the isolated state.

They have a range of around 10 kilometers.

Seoul’s defense ministry refused to confirm the reports over the latest broadcast, citing national security concerns.

North Korean state media Thursday broke its 10-day silence on the murder, launching

a ferocious assault on Malaysia for its “immoral” handling of the case and for playing politics with the corpse.

The propaganda broadcasts are intensely hated by Pyongyang, which at one point threatened to shell the loudspeakers.

The North is also known to have installed a number of loudspeakers near the border to carry out its own propaganda broadcasting in a bid to drown out the sound from the South.

Jong-Nam was at one time set to take the reins of power in the isolated North, groomed by his father for a third-generation succession.

But he fell out of favor and lived in exile in China as his younger brother was groomed to take power following the death of their father in 2011.

AFP

‘4 Indonesians richer than poorest 100m’

OSCARS GREENROOM. This is the Oscars Greenroom designed By Rolex at The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 22, 2017, in Hollywood, California. AFP

JAKARTA―The four richest Indonesians are wealthier than the poorest 100 million people in the country, a study has found, highlighting how huge numbers have been left behind as the economy booms.

Oxfam said that President Joko Widodo had failed to fulfill pledges to fight inequality and called on the government to urgently increase spending on public services and make corporations and the wealthy pay more tax.

Indonesia has enjoyed an economic boom that has reduced the number of people living in extreme poverty but the gap between rich and poor has risen faster than in any other Southeast Asian country in the past 20 years, the Oxfam study said.

“The benefits of growth have not been shared equally, and millions have been left behind,” said the research, which was released earlier this week.

“The widening of the gap between the rich and the rest is a serious threat to Indonesia’s future prosperity. If inequality is not tackled, then reducing poverty will be much more difficult, and social instability could increase.”

In 2016, the collective wealth of the four richest Indonesians, all

men, was $25 billion, Oxfam said.

This was more than the total wealth of the 100 million poorest, out of a population of 255 million, it said.

According to Forbes rich list, the wealthiest included three tobacco tycoons -- brothers Michael and Budi Hartono, and Susilo Wonowidjojo.

The study said inequality has been rising since the 1997 Asian financial crisis, which led to the introduction of more free market policies.

This shift allowed those at the top to capture the greatest share of the benefits of years of strong growth, it said. The study pointed to rising inequality within cities, and between urban and rural areas.

Oxfam said Indonesia’s taxation system had failed to play a role in redistributing wealth as it was not collecting nearly as much revenue as it should, while an underfunded education system was stopping many from getting better jobs.

In January the government launched a major program to tackle inequality that included measures aimed at helping poor farmers and fishermen, improving the tax system and providing more opportunities for vocational training. AFP

IN BRIEF Can’t force diplomat to talk on Kim KUALA LUMPUR―Malaysian detectives probing the assassination of Kim Jong-Nam admitted Thursday that they cannot force a wanted North Korean diplomat to answer their questions.

The investigation into the airport killing of the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim JongUn has narrowed in on eight of his countrymen, who police suspect were involved in the plot to poison him.

But Malaysia’s top policeman acknowledged Thursday that unless Hyon Kwang Song, second secretary at the North Korean mission, volunteers himself, they will be unable to speak to him.

“We will adhere to the rules of immunity,” Khalid Abu Bakar said. “We cannot go inside the embassy.”

But he added: “If you have nothing to hide, you should not be afraid to cooperate, you should cooperate.”

The exiled Jong-Nam was attacked on February 13 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport as he readied to board a plane to Macau.

Leaked CCTV footage showed two women approaching the heavyset 45-year old and appearing to push something in his face. AFP

Officials rescue pet orangutan in Indonesia KENDAWANGAN, Indonesia― Baby primate Vena shyly turned her head away from a bottle as two vets tried to feed her, the latest Bornean orangutan rescued in Indonesia after being kept as a pet.

Villagers on the Indonesian part of jungle-clad Borneo island often keep the critically endangered apes as pets even though the practice is illegal.

Wildlife officials and environmentalists rescued seven-monthold Vena earlier in February from someone in Kendawangan district who had been looking after her.

Vena is now being cared for at a center run by NGO International Animal Rescue, whose staff ensure she stays clean by regularly changing her diapers and feed her bottles of milk mixed with vitamin supplements.

Last year IAR saved 22 orangutans that were either kept as pets or whose natural jungle habitat had been destroyed by huge forest fires started to clear land for plantations.

Even when they are well looked after, such as in Vena’s case, environmentalists stress keeping orangutans as pets is bad because it means they will later struggle to survive in the wild. AFP

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

D1

SHOPPING

LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER. Ethnic style and classic prints come together in this fashion collaboration for moms and kids.

INSPIRATION SEEKERS

at L’Indochine A

FTER the successful launch of the My Little Globetrotters collection in May 2016, inspiration seekers C&L thought of collaborating again with Little Luli founder Lucien Lao Villaluz this time for a stylish collection for moms and kids at L’Indochine.

Audrey cropped pants for kids

“With all the wonderful raw materials we see during our trips, we thought it would be fun to tie up with Little Luli on a special collection that not only caters to children but adults as well,” say C&L. “This special collaboration was born out of my admiration to Char and Leona and their amazing brand,” says Lucien, whose visits to the store brought back memories of her travels to the places where they found these one-of-a-kind pieces. They later met in one of their workshops, and began their inspired collaboration.

Their fashion partnership brings together L’Indochine’s ethnic/boho style and Little Luli’s subdued clas-

sic cuts and prints set in neutral tones.

“We thought of different ways on how to marry those two looks by using gorgeous ethnic trimmings and details,” recalls Lucien, “and later designing a mommy and kid pair.”

For the collection, “we wanted to create chic easy pieces that have a fun boho spin. Clothes that can be dressed up or down, that are polished but playful as well. We love our trims and embellishments! All the ribbons used are embroidered and our tassels are handmade!” say C&L. Incorporating Little Luli’s philosophy, “we created these pieces with comfort and versatility in mind. We wanted to make clothes that can be easily worn

Inspiration seekers Lucien of Little Luli and L'Indochine's Leona and Charlene

and be paired with L’Indochine’s existing pieces,” says Lucien.

The look is relaxed, but still chic and fresh, with the L’Indochine touch bringing fun in each piece of colorful trims and tassels from Thailand to add to that ethnic feel.

Each of them has their own favorite pieces from the collection.

While Lucien says everything in the collection is her favorite, she particularly loves “the wrap around skirt. I love everything about it from the fabric, to the tassel trims, and the cut. It is so versatile that I can wear it with any top, any shoes, any time of the day. It can also be worn by any body type.”

“I personally love the Emma wrap skirt and tank dress. I like how versatile the piece is. Wear it with brogues for a cute tomboy spin or pair then with sandals for a look that’s easy.”

And for Leona, “I really like the sabine pleated shorts. The high waist and tailored cut makes it look polished, but the embroidered trim adds a nice twist. I like wearing it with crisp button down or slouchy sweaters.”

The Little Luli X The Inspiration Seekers collection, is available at L’Indochine at SM Aura Premier.

Photography: Sheila Catilo

Germany’s No. 1 Langnese Honey A FAMILY-owned brand distributed in over 45 countries, Langnese Honey is primarily known for its purest and most versatile flavors.

Honey is considered one of nature’s sweetest gifts from nectar that’s collected by bees and naturally broken into simple sugar. With the constant fanning of the bees’ wings, evaporation takes place in the unique design of the honeycomb that produces the thick, syrupy liquid we now know as honey. Interestingly, the color and flavor of honey is an indicator of its type of flower nectar collected by bees, thus leaves consumers with more flavor options.

Here are five facts that make Langnese Honey a game changer that will reboot your appreciation for highquality honey:

ble market leader with a seal of approval from Germany’s Honey Ordinance and European Standard Basic Principles that strictly requires the safest and unadulterated quality. Meaning, it should be raw, unfiltered, and residue-free, with a limit of between 16 to 21 percent water content only. With Langnese Honey, it doesn’t only surpass these requirements, its name is a seal of guarantee that nothing is added nor removed from it.

Pollen-packed and certified safe

Did you know that when a honey comes back negative for pollen test, it’s a sure sign of ultra-processing? That shouldn’t be the case, according to the makers of Langnese Honey Fürsten - Reform’s Export Manager Mark Baumgärtner, “Absence of pollens in the honey means there’s no way to determine whether the honey came from legitimate and safe sources, as verified as well by the German Honey DirecNo short cuts tive and World Health Organization. and no compromise Langnese Honey mindfully takes into Ever wondered what makes Langnese account the latest scientific findings Honey truly satisfying? Its serious using modern technology and unfilcommitment to quality and purity tered process that effectively deterputs a premium importance on selec- mines the origin and type of honey.” tion and processing, market analysis, coupled with direct and long-standing Chic and convenient relationship with the beekeepers in the Featuring a honey dispenser technolcountries of origin. Much more, it also ogy famously known as “Bee Easy,” Highest quality and purity boasts a plethora of certifications from this chic and convenient packaging is International Featured Standards (IFS) also guaranteed no drip and no stickisince 1927 Langnese Honey is a family-owned Kosher, and Halal that are true marks ness in every serving. Available in 250 brand for nine decades; it’s also a reputa- of its reliable source.

Langnese pure honey bee makes every meal more sumptuous and special

g and 500 g PET dispensers, it’s also well loved by kids who find fun and enjoyment with their food. What’s more, you can take delight as you please, as its five yummy flavors might be the best you’ve ever tasted.

Five decadent flavors for all types of fete and feasts

Langnese Acacia Honey is perfect for breakfast

Langnese Black Forest Honey for flashy recipes

Aside from Langnese Honey’s credible process and source, there’s none quite like its well-balanced, rich and golden flavors that’s arguably highly nutritious. Considered a staple for its subtle and mildly sweet taste, Acacia is the ultimate breakfast companion that lends character to teas, cereals and desserts. Golden Clear on the other hand, offers a sweet antidote to dips, salads, cocktails and hot drinks, or to just about anything. Meanwhile, cooks and foodies can never go wrong with Black Forest that’s surely a luscious

ingredient from the straightforward to the flashy recipes. While Wild Flower is pretty much suited for sweetening all types of food and beverage, it makes breads and pastries tastier and way healthier instead of refined sugar.

Last but not the least, Lavender is also lovely for sweetening all types of beverages like tea and is a luscious spread on breads.

“Fly Ace Corporation is proud to welcome Langnese Honey in the Philippines, as we reinforce our commitment to bring the best of the world’s food and beverages to the Filipinos.” concludes Fly Ace Corporation President Jun Cochanco. “When it comes to honey, there’s a reason why Langnese has been around for decades and a consistent market leader all these years—its name is the ultimate representation of what a real and reliable honey should be.”

Life

D2

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

6 new awe-inspiring

MIRRORLESS CAMERAS I

T’S an exciting time to celebrate camera love as Fujifilm Corporation introduces six new mirrorless cameras including the promising Medium Format FUJIFILM GFX 50S. The FUJIFILM X-A10

Don’t be fooled by its size because even if it’s compact and lightweight, this model promises to deliver the same outstanding picture quality as with its predecessors. With FUJIFILM’s 80year experience in refining its color-reproduction technology, you’ll easily get that premium image quality that the X Series cameras always deliver.

The FUJIFILM X-A10 has got a 16.3 megapixel APS-C sensor and a proprietary processing engine that makes sure every shot is of topnotch quality. The 180 degree slide and tilt LCD also makes it possible to take really great self-portraits, you’ll love taking more selfies.

This model also has inherited the X-A2’s energy efficient design which means you can take more photos in a single battery charge. It also has a dedicated Video Recording button on the back that gets you Full HD quality perfect for video blogs and your family’s firsts if you’re recording memories. You can also transfer photos and videos with ease because the wireless communication functionality takes your shots from camera to Android or iOS devices as quick as a whisk.

X-T2 comes in silver model

The FUJIFILM X-T20

The handy and powerful X-T20 takes pride having a 24.3 MP X-Trans CMOS III sensor and X-Processor Pro image processing engine. It’s faster, able to track moving objects with ease because of updated sensors, processors and redone AF algorithm. Its touchscreen LCD monitor can be used to see before you shoot photos and videos, even at 4K quality to make those professional looking movies together with Fujifilm’s proprietary Film Simulation modes.

This model is available in Silver and Black.

PORTABLE AND POWERFUL. Fujifilm's X-T20 is a handy camera that can track moving subjects with ease, thanks to its X-Trans CMOS III sensor, and X-Processor Pro. jifilm Corporation sees the need to have a prime lens that can take portraiture to another level. It features nine elements in seven groups including one aspherical ED lens plus an inner focusing system.

The FUJIFILM X100F

The FUJINON XF50mmF2 R WR Lens

Powerful cameras need lenses that would maximize its potential, and Fujifilm delivers. With the remarkable success of the compact and stylish FUJINON XF35mmF2 R WR and the XF23mmF2 R WR lenses, FuFujifilm X100F Wide Conversion Black

All the motivation you need to make your photo and video better is here. This is the FUJIFILM X100F. With a 24.3 megapixel sensor and processor, this is the best Premium Compact Digital camera in FUJIFILM’s line. Take glorious shots of the bottom of the creek or top of the hill, you’ll get that high quality image via the camera’s hard working high speed image processing engine. It’s got the specialized hybrid viewfinder which can switch between optical and electronic viewfinders.

The FUJIFILM X100F can produce low-noise images even at ultra-high ISO settings resulting in shots with needed deep blacks—and smooth gradation of tones. It’s remarkable even in low light conditions. Expect feature advancements from other camera models to be seen in this compact camera and more.

It’s got a built-in neutral density filter for those extremely bright light shots, useful in landscapes and outdoors. There’s not a lot of noise in this either because of the silent electronic shutter. Don’t expect to disturb wildlife or sleeping babies with this on your hand. It also supports multiple exposure so you can have fun and take two shorts in single frame. Plus an interval timer shooting mode for those who fancy time-lapse photography. Imagine the possibilities.

The FUJIFILM GFX 50S

A dream is only a dream when you don’t act on it. For the pièce de résistance, FUJIFILM Corporation introduces you to the FUJIFILM GFX 50S. The GFX 50S has the highest ever

image quality from the company and is categorized as a medium format mirrorless camera. It adopts the FUJIFILM G Format (43.8 x 32.9mm medium format) sensor and utilizes a whopping 51.4 MP. This is industrial and chic, perfect for those who are looking for cameras equipped with a large sized sensor with an even higher number of effective pixels. If you want something commercial grade, this is the perfect gear for any genre of photography.

Fujifilm will also be releasing the FUJINON GF63mmF2.8 R WR, FUJINON GF32-64mmF4 R LM WR and FUJINON GF120mmF4 R LM OIS WR Macro interchangeable lenses.

Driving on image design technology for over 80 years, they’ve built an unbelievable camera that’s got 1.7x the area of full frame sensors. It hastens excellent light reception because of the large area of each pixel and it produces high quality images that could exceed and beat cameras equipped with full size sensors.

The Movie function on the GFX 50S also supports Full HD recording and people can enjoy high quality shots even with no post-processing done on it. This is the ultimate high-end mirrorless camera made with Magnesium alloy making it one of the most compact and lightweight devices in this class.

It only weighs 1.23 kilograms together with the standard lens (GF63mm F2.8 R WR). If you think about it, that’s about 60 percent the weight of a medium format DSLR camera that’s equipped with a sensor of the same size. This is also special as it’s got a detachable structure, adopted for user convenience. The EVF-TL1 EVF tilt adapter is also sold separately and you can conveniently use the LCD to focus on subjects. They will also be churning out ultra-high resolution FUJINON GF Lenses aside from the ones done for the GFX 50S. Hopefully to become future ready for those who are in the plans to upgrade gears?

If you plan to have higher quality images, perhaps it’s time you get the GFX 50S, the GF Lens line too. This would be a really great investment for those who are keen to have the best photos, videos and the most advanced camera technologies in the world today.

More fab and fun with Crocs

CROCS has gone a long way from its signature clog with new and innovative styles for men, women and kids.

There are flats, wedges and sandals for women in feminine colors and floral prints; vintage sneaker inspired styles and camo patterns for men; and Disney character designs for kids.

Crocs also has designs which are water-friendly for those adventurous types.

A world leader in innovative casual footwear, Crocs continues to offer comfortable footwear with its Croslite material, a proprietary, revolutionary technology which gives soft, comfortable, lightweight, non-marking and odor-resistant qualities on each pair of shoes. Its iconic Classic Clog has proven its comfort and durability throughout time.

In the Philippines, Crocs now operates under

its new distributor, Walk EZ Retail Corporation, in partnership with SM Retail Corporation.

Now is the best time to “Find Your Fun”, with Crocs with its new designs and vibrant colors that bring together great style and great comfort.

Get connected with Crocs through @CrocsPH on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Crocs offers a wide range of durable footwear—from wedges to sandals to slip-ons—for men, women and kids.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

A

SIA’S Best Female Chef of 2016 Margarita Forés has a new culinary travel show on CNN Philippines. Entitled Harvest with Margarita Forés, the 30-minute program follows her visits of key destinations in the Philippines and the unique ingredients in cooking they are known for. As she uncovers the history, people and culture in which these ingredients thrive, she creates sumptuous dishes that bring forth its true flavors.

Culinary travel show with chef Margarita Forés IN ACTION. "Harvest with Margarita Forés" is a 30-minute show that tells the unique stories behind Filipinos' most loved ingredients This four-part series reveals the unique stories behind the most-loved ingredients that can be found in the Philippines. From here, gastronomic discoveries unfold, with Margarita’s special hand in preparing a special dish.

In a span of 30 minutes, Harvest will leave viewers with a new appreciation for Filipino flavors and an intensified desire for food and culture. The decorated chef is equally excited about the launch of her new program: “I love the whole concept of Harvest—it allows me to travel the

Kitchen master and celebrity chef Margarita Forés

Philippines and discover many more dishes, ingredients and concepts that have to do with food that will enrich my work. At the same time I look forward to meet all the people who grow and create wonderful things.

I think that the show has been a priceless opportunity for me. I love the fact that I’m no longer a tourist in my own country.”

Armie Jarin-Bennett, CNN Philippines’ President returns the same enthusiasm for Margarita’s entry into the CNN Philippines family. “We are delighted to welcome

PEOPLE I’m Drunk, I love You A film that’s doing well at the tills is not always a good film.

But, we can’t say I’m Drunk, I love You is not a good film, because unlike My Ex and Whys box-office takes, it pales in comparison. Sometimes, it’s better to watch this kind of film that tells real stories, plausible ones, instead of forcing yourself to like a movie because your idols are in it.

Rhian Ramos A drunk man in a party she once attended harassed her. We all heard her statement on TV and read it in the papers. This incident didn’t end there, though.

Instead of whining for sympathy, she rises from that experience and now uses her voice to create awareness. Last week, the Kapuso star went to the busy MRT station on Ayala Avenue to distribute pepper spray to female commuters. She also plans to do a similar activity on a bigger scale. Talk about empowerment.

Barbie Forteza Celebrities are admired for their excellence in acting, but when they show up in a tight and sexy bikini, that is a whole new story. Barbie set primetime TV and the entire Twitter ablaze during an episode of Meant To Be on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old Kapuso appeared on the screen, for the first time, wearing a two-piece bikini. The sweet looking actress astounded everyone and it’s not that hard to explain.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Friday, February 24, 2017

(hyph.)

57 Aussie jumper 61 It makes scents 65 Sheltered 66 Web surfer’s need 69 “Cope Book” aunt 70 Romanov title 71 Broke off 72 Shoal 73 Uh-oh!

74 Work stations 75 Thrilled DOWN 1 Chase flies 2 Turkish coin 3 Norse Zeus 4 Darwin’s ship 5 XXI times C 6 Teacup handle 7 Trickle down 8 Flawless 9 Kid who rode Diablo 10 Trade 11 Block 12 Frosty coating 13 Gliders do it 21 “— Smile” (Hall & Oates tune) 23 Northern Iraqi 25 Battery word 26 Jazzman — Blake 28 Forest clearing

so with everything else about life and art—things that have not been known to many people. It is great to be a part of CNN Philippines as it allows all people to know about how wonderful our farmers are, more about our local cuisine and more about how beautiful our country is.”

Harvest with Margarita Forés airs Saturdays, 7 p.m.. only on CNN Philippines Free TV Channel 9 or via livestreaming on cnnphilippines. com/video. Catch the lauded chef as she roams the country in the name of food.

...are not talking about

...are talking about

ACROSS 1 Litterbug 5 Army doc 10 TV hookups 14 Go to earth 15 Tuesday, in Tours 16 Melange 17 Diva’s rendition 18 Utters loudly 19 Comet’s head 20 Work crews 22 Grapefruit crater 24 Rinse off 27 Lummox 28 Lavish 32 Bobby who lost to Billie Jean 36 — -tzu of the “Tao” 37 Noted absurdist 39 Column order 40 Off-road getabouts 42 Sparkling adornment 44 Jules Verne captain 45 Some are big 47 Mournful poem 49 Trendy meat 50 Come next 51 Tall beer glass 53 Clutch 56 Mock fanfare

Margarita Forés to the network.

Harvest with Margarita Forés is part of our strategy to provide a wide variety of programs with our viewers in mind. Margarita represents ‘the story of the Filipino,’ and that’s what CNN Philippines is all about.”

Margarita herself looks forward to a new career milestone as a part of CNN Philippines: “I love the CNN brand—they are an institution that has always ensured truth in reporting, both locally and all over the world. This is seen not just with news and current events but more

29 Wolfed down 30 Exploding stars 31 Ice floe dwellers 33 In leaf 34 — a break!

35 Look high and low 38 Upright 41 Good hitters 43 Ottoman title 46 Vaccines 48 Skywalker’s mentor 52 Wayne genre 54 — to the teeth

55 Folk hero from Kentucky 57 Clouseau’s valet 58 To boot 59 Lowest high tide 60 Chances 62 Park feature 63 Revival shout 64 White-water transport 67 Cartoon mice — and Meek 68 Rx writers

DanRich The love story of Daniel Matsunaga and Erich Gonzales is like an open book. After the former lovers took to social media to confirm their breakup and after one of the parties’ family tried to meddle, the two are now together as if nothing happened. Well, that’s good news. What isn’t though is that we heard their mother studio was just doing some damage control. The two still have a lot of projects together and the network can’t afford to lose them as a love team only because they could no longer stand each other.

Jessy Mendiola First, she posted an old photo as a way of saying “no to body shaming.” The photo sees her in pixie cut, which she sported in 2015. A few days later, she posted another photo doing a breaststroke in a swimming pool. Didn’t Angel Locsin do those things just a few weeks ago? Was it just a coincidence that Jessy’s Instagram posts resemble that of Angel’s? Or is she doing it on purpose to irk Luis Manzano’s ex? Either way, people are not dumb not to realize that she’s just trying hard to get their attention.

Tito Sotto The TV host-turned-Senator definitely got a dose of his own medicine. On the cross-dressing subject, which some politicians have been spending some considerable amount of time on, Sotto sided with Manny Pacquiao saying that cross-dressing should be banned. In a short amount of time after he made a rather dullwitted stand, netizens pointed out how Eat Bulaga, where he’s a part of apparently, has segments with cross dressing people las either contestants or performers, like “Super Sireyna,” and “Bebot.” And oh, let’s not forget “Kalyeserye,” too.

Almost two years since their accidental pairing, Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza of the famed AlDud love team finally star in a TV series they can call their own.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

Juancho Trivino

Dominic Roco

L

ONG overdue. This is the sentiment of many TV observers on the upcoming soap opera featuring Alden ISAH V. RED Richards and the one-time dubsmash queen Maine Mendoza, otherwise known as AlDub, Destined To Be Yours, on GMA 7.

The series is premiering on Monday, replacing the meandering Alyas Robin Hood, on the network’s primetime block.

Now, many are asking if the tandem is still as hot after their accidental pairing on daytime television on July 16, 2015.

The answer is a mix of “yes” and “no” that we can only confirm when the series hits the screen.

There’s no doubt Aldub Nation is still as strong as ever, but most of them are fans of the pair in Eat Bulaga. Will Destined To Be Yours change their viewing habits, support the soap and just like what they had done in the third quarter of 2015 propelled the tandem to stratospheric popularity thus earning the moniker “phenomenal love team”?

Destined to Be Yours focuses on the characters played by Richards (Benjie Rosales) and Mendoza and (Sinag Obispo).

The Kapuso gang of show pitchers chirps “it is set in a charming and picturesque town where anything, especially destiny, is a possibility. It is a beautiful tale that encapsulates the value of standing by what you believe in, the joy of belonging in a family, and the splendor of finding someone who loves you for you.”

Well, if you’re a fan of the tandem that short piece of romantic waxed to push the show to the press covering television should be reason enough to lift your spirits and start counting the time until the premiere of the show on Monday night.

In the series, Benjie,a talented but happygo-lucky architecture graduate is determined to make a name for himself by heading a big construction project in the mountains of Pelangi. There, he crosses paths and eventually falls in love with the provincial radio disc jockey, Sinag, a sensible woman who cares for her family, the environment and the community she belongs to.

But what happens when their

contradicting values and duties to their families get in their way?

Also in the cast of the series are Boots Anson Roa as Helen Rosales, Vicente’s understanding wife and Benjie’s adoring grandmother. Lotlot De Leon plays Amanda Rosales, the loving and affectionate mother of Benjie. Gardo Versoza is Teddy Obispo, husband of Sally and a devoted father to Sinag.

Tommy Abuel appears as Vicente Rosales, Benjie’s grandfather who owns one of the biggest real estate companies in the country. Ronnie Henares plays the corrupt Dante Escobar, mayor of Pelangi and father of Marjorie. Ina Feleo is Catalina Rosales, daughter of Vicente and Helen who be Benjie’s antagonist. Sheena Halili is Ninay, a gossip but Sinag’s closest childhood friend. Dominic Roco is Benjie’s college best friend, Jason, who volunteers to go with him to the province.

Juancho Trivino is Sinag’s childhood best friend, Badong, who is also secretly in love with her. RJ Padilla is Arman, Badong’s outgoing friend who secretly has feelings for Ninay. Koreen Medina is Marjorie Escobar, daughter of the richest family in Pelangi who later on falls for Benjie.

This romantic series also features the return of Janice de Belen to GMA. She breathes life to the character of Sally Obispo, the cheerful, modern, and quirky mother of Sinag who loves painting and psychic reading.

The success of this soap opera depends greatly on the fans of the two lead stars.

Apart from AlDub Nation, Richards and Mendoza have each their own army of followers that should guarantee the show a high pilot ratings and even thereafter.

If the figures on the pilot week could affirm the tandem’s popularity, Eat Bulaga can benefit strongly from the series.

At long last, a soap featuring last year’s sensational

ALDUB

‘Disney Princess: I Dare to Dream’ web series launched GLOBE Telecom, in partnership with The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia, is redefining the landscape of local entertainment by launching the Disney Princess: I Dare To Dream, a first-ofits-kind digital reality-series produced

by Globe Studios in collaboration with Disney and Maker Studios.

Inspired by Disney’s iconic princesses and their incredible stories and qualities, the 12-episodic web series will bring viewers on a magical journey of six young Filipino girls as they pursue their dreams with the help of various mentors headed

by Disney legend Lea Salonga with theater actress Menchu LauchengcoYulo, social educator Efren Peñaflorida, veterinarian Dr. Nielsen Donato, animator Tito Romero, chef Jessie Sincioco and YouTuber and host Charisma Star.

Globe Telecom’s Chief Commercial Officer Albert de Larrazabal said, “Globe, with focus on enriching the Filipino digital lifestyle is now changing the way Filipinos consume entertainment.

Through Globe Studios, we produce local original digital content for our customers that may be shared even with our global partners. This allows the local ecosystem of actors and producers to be part of the rich content offerings of global media creators like Disney.”

Part of a wider global Disney Princess initiative, Disney I Dare to Dream, which will start tomorrow puts emphasis on the stories of these six young girls in parallel

Princesses in their own right. "Disney princess: I Dare To Dream" participants who will be mentored by industry experts like Lea Salonga and Menchu LauchencoYulo

with the stories of the different Disney Princesses. Selected from a series of auditions last year, the six young Filipino girls aged nine to 16 with diverse interests, will show their journey of discovery and self-confidence, alongside the expert mentors, popular blogger and host Janina Vela and Lea Salonga in this first-of-itskind digital reality-series.

“Every Disney Princess is the heroine of a unique adventure story inspiring kids with messages of hope and optimism.

What people love about the Disney Princesses are their incredible stories and the qualities that help them achieve their dreams,” says Amit Malhotra, general manager, Disney Media Networks, The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia.

“We hope this initiative with Globe, will inspire and empower a new generation of girls in the Philippines to pursue their dreams and aspirations,” he adds.

“Inspiration comes from within. These kids have big aspirations in life and we

want to support them all the way. We want to be there to see their dreams turn into reality and that’s what will make it a magical experience, and we want to share it with the public,” shares Quark Henares, head of Globe Studios.

In the web series, the girls will be staying in a house where they will be mentored to reach their dreams. Only one girl will be chosen for a special trip of a lifetime - to walk down the red carpet at the Tokyo premiere of the upcoming live-

action adaptation of Disney’s animated classic, Beauty and the Beast.

The six girls are Hya Leonardo, Sirach Catipay, Liana San Diego, Jaden Narvios, Stephanie Jordan, and Alexi Tan. Hya Leonardo wants to be a show actress and a singer. She has always been passionate about performing before a large audience. Sirach Catipay is an aspiring chef. The moment she started cooking with her mom, she realized that she wanted to be a chef someday and share her dishes to other people. Liana San Diego wants to be a veterinarian, saying she likes to try and learn more about her passions. Jaden Narvios wants to be the next president of the Philippines. Stephanie Jordan is an aspiring Newscaster/TV Host, while Alexi Tan is an aspiring animator.

Watch these girls as they go through the last stretch of their Disney Princess: I Dare To Dream journey through an upcoming live concert extravaganza with their coach Lea Salonga and a star studded lineup of other Filipino music talent and featuring songs from Disney Princess movies on March 22 at the SM MOA Arena.

The Disney Princess: I Dare To Dream web series will be aired on Globe Telecom’s YouTube channel and on www. idaretodream.ph. This will also be aired on Disney Channel and on the Disney Channel mobile app in May.