Manila Standard - 2017 March 03 - Friday by Manila Standard

VOL. XXXI • NO. 21 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

IN THE BUFF. A photo of Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center inmates stripped naked, sitting at dawn on the ﬂoor of the facility’s open court, taken on Feb. 28 and released March 2, has gone viral with netizens saying it was inhumane for PDEA to leave the inmates in the scud. (Story on A2) AFP

Troops assault ASG lair, kill 5 All-out attack follows beheading of a German By Florante S. Solmerin and Francisco Tuyay

IVE Abu Sayyaf Group terrorists were killed while dozen others—including 11 soldiers—were wounded as the military pressed its assault Wednesday on enemy positions in Indanan, Sulu, a military spokesman said Thursday.

The latest encounter occurred at 5:15 p.m. in Barangay Bud Taran when members of the 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion attacked terrorists believed to be holding hostages, said Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command. “Heavy skirmishes ensued resulting in the wounding of a soldier, while 10 other personnel Next page

Du30 blasts ‘human rights calamity’ tag Watch saying the ﬁrst six months of President Rodrigo Duterte in ofﬁce had been a “human rights calamity” MALACAÑANG on Thursday for the Philippines. slammed a “thoughtless and irre“The observation that the Philsponsible” report by Human Rights ippines is in the midst of a ‘human

By John Paolo Bencito and Sandy Araneta

rights calamity’ is thoughtless and irresponsible,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement. In its 117-page report License to Kill, Human Rights Watch said

Duterte could be held liable in an international court for his role in extrajudicial killings in the Philippines. “Duterte and his chief subordinates could be held criminally Next page

Alvarez hits out at ‘tyranny of minority’ By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon R. Araneta HOUSE leaders on Thursday defended moves to pass the death penalty bill and denied that the legislation was being railroaded. “The House journal will speak for itself,” Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said Thursday, as he shrugged off the minority bloc’s plan to protest the passage of the bill on third

ONLY Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella will speak for the Palace, after Communications Secretary Martin Andanar was told to steer clear of the media

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon RAraneta OPPOSITION lawmakers on Thursday warned Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez that he was bringing the House down with his policy to punish allies who vote against the death penalty bill. Earlier this week, a congressional source said Alvarez’s policy to sanction House leaders who vote

against the bill was aimed at neutralizing former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who abolished the death penalty when she was president. The source said Alvarez did not aim to sideline Liberal Party congressmen, but to neutralize the group of Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. who was pushing to install Arroyo as Next page speaker.

Tesda exec stews over ‘sex item’

as a result of an internal reorganization within President Rodrigo Duterte’s communications group. In a department order issued Feb. 27, Andanar said he would focus on overseeing the running

By John Paolo Bencito

Former INC member, 32 others rounded up By Rio N. Araja

pound in Quezon City for illegal possession of ﬁrearms on ThursPOLICE arrested expelled Iglesia day noon, an ofﬁcial said. ni Cristo member Felix NathanQuezon City Police Chief iel Manalo inside a church comNext page

House policy on death penalty sparks outrage

Andanar clams up, lets Abella do the talking By John Paolo Bencito

and ﬁnal reading next week. “We cannot allow the tyranny of the minority to prevail over the majority. We are a democratic country,” Alvarez, secretary general of President Rodrigo Duterte’s PDP-Laban, said. Reps. Gary Alejano of Magdalo party-list and Tom Villarin said the opposition would insist on having the bill voted through

TALES OF TRIBULATION. Relatives of victims of extrajudicial killings since last July 1—some 7,000 by

unofﬁcial count—attend the Holy Eucharist Mass Action against EJKs in Metro Manila’s Baclaran Church Thursday, a day after the House of Representatives approved by voice vote the reimposition of death penalty in predominantly Christian Philippines. Manny Palmero

TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority Director-General Secretary Guiling Mamondiong will be ﬁling a case before a Quezon City court against two radio commentators over a “blind item” allegedly linking him to an alleged sex try. He said he will be ﬁling a case today against radio dzBB commentators Arnold Clavio and Ali Sotto, hosts of the radio program Jengjeng, over a blind item that a Duterte appointee was allegedly Next page

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Mining council convenes to review project closures By Julito Rada and Anna Leah E. Gonzales

HE Mining Industry Coordinating Council will meet for a second time to discuss the details of the review of the 28 mining operations earlier ordered closed or suspended by the Environment department. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, who co-chairs the MICC with Environment Secretary Regina Lopez, said the council will also discuss the organization and funding requirements of the five technical review teams and the technical working group that will oversee their actions. “We’re going to start the work to make sure that all the issuances regarding mining were done through due process,” Dominguez said in a

Troops... From A1

incurred minor splinter injuries,” Petinglay said. Casualties were heavier on the enemy side, she added, noting that at least five terrorists were killed and many more were wounded. Wounded soldiers were airlifted to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Hospital. Wesmincom commander Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. ordered more troops sent to the area to pursue the fleeing terrorists. Galvez said the local government units, the Moro National Liberation Front, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the traditional leaders are helping the government troops in fighting the ASG by providing information. “Terrorism is a sickening problem that needs all sectors of society’s cooperation for it to be defeated. With the renewed vigor of those who are against it, we are optimistic that we will be able to crush the bandits within six months,” he said. Last week, the ASG beheaded German captive Jurgen Kantner, 70, after his family failed to deliver ransom for his safe release. The terrorist group posted video footage of Kantner’s beheading on its website. This infuriated the public and

Andanar... From A1

of the Presidential Communications Operations Office while only Abella would speak on behalf of the Palace. “PCOO had an internal reorganization, and content and messaging have been assigned to me. Secretary Martin [Andanar] takes care of departmental affairs,” Abella told reporters. The reorganization comes after a series of gaffes by Andanar, the latest of which he said reporters were offered $1,000 to attend a press conference in which President Duterte was accused of leading the Davao Death Squad when he was mayor. Andanar said he would still “speak from time to time” if Abella is not around. Andanar said his group would soon be replaced by the Office of the Press Secretary. “On the desk of the President right now is the executive order reverting back to the Office of the Press Secretary. Let’s wait for that to be signed then we can officially release that,” he said. At a dinner hosted by Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, Senate reporters gave Andanar the cold shoulder amid Pimentel’s efforts to

House... From A1 Signs of a falling out between Alvarez and Arroyo first appeared last December, when the former president denied rumors that she was being groomed to replace Alvarez. Akbayan party-list Rep. Tom Villarin said whether the sanctions are directed at Arroyo or other House leaders, the threats against legislators would boomerang on Alvarez eventually. “It was [Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo]’s legacy and her shining moment in an otherwise highly unpopular rule. He [Alvarez] just wanted to show who’s the boss in a very mafia-like way,” Villarin said. Buhay party-list Lito Atienza also raised concern over the report that Alvarez would want to get rid of Arroyo and so he has imposed a policy against administration allies who will not toe the line. “I hope not. The former president is the most effective deputy speaker

press briefing in Malacañang this week. “They [TWG members] will present the plan on what they will do and also the budget because they will have to get professors from state colleges and universities and private universities and experts from different fields.” As agreed in its organizational meeting on Feb. 20, the technical working group is creating five technical review teams to conduct President Rodrigo Duterte, who ordered the military to intensify operations against the terrorist group. Military officials say more than a dozen local and foreign captives are still in the hands of the ASG. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana described the Abu Sayyaf as “animals.” “This will feel the wrath of the entire Filipino nation through the might of its armed forces,” Lorenzana said. Col. Cirilito Sobejana said the Abu Sayyaf fighters who figured in the latest clash were those responsible for the beheading of Kantner. “Yes, this are the group, comprising more or less 70 members,” Sobejana said. During the clash, Sobejana said the troops spotted ASG Commander Muamar Askali, also known as Abu Rahmi, a sub-leader of ASG leader Radulan Sahiron, who was behind the beheading of Kantner. The site of fighting was estimated seven miles away from the outskirts of Buanza town in Sulu where the killing of Kantner took place. The all-out offensive is being supported by the deployment for the first time of naval gunboats armed with surface-to-surface missiles, Lorenzana said. The deployment of the gunboats shows the determination of President Duterte to crush the Abu Sayyaf once and for all, he said. With PNA patch things up between both sides. “This is my effort of establishing good relations between the secretary and the Senate media,” Pimentel added. While some tried to be cordial and civil to him, others just stayed for an interview with Pimentel and immediately left after it was done. Andanar, who earlier said that “people read only the headlines and not stories itself,” found himself in the middle of one communications gaffe after another. The Communications secretary earlier accused the media of misreporting Duterte’s remarks on when he would declare martial law, calling it “the height of journalistic irresponsibility.” The Malacañang Press Corps fired back at Andanar, telling him to read the entire news story and understand its context. Andanar then contradicted President Duterte, who vowed to help survivors of the Surigao earthquake with P2 billion in financial assistance. No such fund existed, Andanar said the next day, only to be corrected the following day. Andanar offered no apology for his allegations of bribery, saying he did not claim that they took the money. He said he got his information from an intelligence report. we have and her removal… for following her conscience on the issue of the death penalty bill is unthinkable,” Atienza said. He said Arroyo’s removal from her post would be a loss for the 17th Congress. Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, for his part, doubted that Alvarez is after Arroyo. “I don’t think the Speaker will do that,” Suarez said. Suarez said he was able to talk to Alvarez about his reasons for imposing the party policy against anti-death penalty lawmaker. “The Speaker said it was a priority legislation of the President,” he said. The House will vote on the death penalty bill on third and final reading either on Tuesday or Wednesday next week. Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III on Thursday urged his colleagues to keep politics to a minimum after this week’s shakeup in which Liberal Party senators lost their key posts. Pimentel said the reorganization

an “objective, fact-finding, sciencebased” review of the Environment department’s closure and suspension orders. When asked during the Palace briefing on the possibility of the MICC and its TWG reversing the DENR closure and suspension orders, Dominguez said: “I’m sure Secretary Lopez welcomes the opportunity for the MICC, which she co-chairs, to review the actions that were recommended by her staff. “We just want to make sure that they have followed due process. And of course, if there are some lapses in the due process, they can always correct it. They can always correct the lapses in due process and proceed with what they want as long as the due process, as specified by law, has been followed.” Asked to comment on the po-

sition of the mining industry, Dominguez told reporters that “the position I support is the position of President [Rodrigo] Duterte, which is we must follow due process when we are dealing with all kinds of activities. “We must honor our contracts and we must behave as a government that is responsible. That is the only position I support.” Dominguez said many of the municipalities hosting the mine sites ordered shut or suspended by the DENR relied heavily on the taxes and other fees paid by mining firms. The technical working group was created based on MICC Resolution 6 issued on Feb. 9, when the council first met to discuss the closure of 25 mines and the suspension of operations of three others across the country.

The review will be based on “the guidelines and parameters set forth in the specific mining contract and in other pertinent laws, taking into account the valid exercise of the State’s police power to serve the common good of the poor,” the MICC resolution read. The TWG, in turn, met on Feb. 20 and decided to form the technical review teams consisting of “technical review experts” who, for the sake of objectivity, “shall be independent and [have] no known conflict of interest” with the mining sector or any anti-mining nongovernment organization. The review will be conducted over a three-month period because the teams will pore over each of the mining contracts involved in the closure and suspension orders, Dominguez said.

Half-naked inmates spark more criticisms PHOTOS showing hundreds of prisoners in a Philippine jail sitting naked while being searched for contraband have triggered accusations of further rights abuses in President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly war on drugs. The inmates of the Cebu provincial jail were woken before dawn on Tuesday, herded into the jail’s quadrangle and forced to strip while antidrug agents, police and military searched their cells, prison officer Rafael Espina told AFP. Photos released by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and provincial police showed the inmates sitting naked and cross legged in neat rows on the concrete quadrangle, illuminated by spotlights, as armed police guarded them. A statement released by the drug enforcement agency said the raid had netted “several packets” of methamphetamines and marijuana leaves, as well as knives and mobile phones. With the photos gaining traction on social media, human rights groups voiced concern. “This incident clearly amounts to cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment of prisoners,” Amnesty International said in a statement. Amnesty cited United Nations’ standards and Philippine laws in highlighting the obligation of authorities to ensure prisoners were not subjected to torture or ill-treatment. Human Rights Watch also said international standards prohibited searches that intimidated or unnecessarily intruded upon a prisoner’s privacy. “The conduct of these searches —out in the open and permitting photographs to be taken—was inhuman and degrading and violated the prisoners’ rights to privacy,” Human Rights Watch said in a statement. AFP

MEETING OF FRIENDS. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte greets former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile during their meeting in Malacañan Palace on March 1. Malacañang Photo

Tesda...

Alvarez... From A1

nominal voting where each lawmaker would be allowed to explain his vote. “We still have nominal voting next week. I think there is nothing we can do about the process except to vote. What they did was obviously a railroading,” Alejano said. On Wednesday, the House passed the bill that seeks to reimpose capital punishment on second reading by voice vote. The opposition led by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman moved for a nominal voting but its motion was rejected. Villarin said House leaders led by Alvarez must be answerable to the Filipino people if they insist on railroading the measure. “If they still will railroad the proceedings and have it pass on third reading, we will ask for nominal voting on so people will know who voted yes or no. It is part of the rules and by tradition of the House. If the majority denies that, it will show that they are not transparent and accountable,” Villarin said. Villarin also said the bill should be recommitted to the House committee on dangerous drugs since it was watered down to include only drugrelated crimes. Villarin cited Section 28 (k) of the Rules of the House, which states that the committee on dangerous drugs has authority over all “matters directly and principally relating to illegal and prohibited drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals, the production, manufacture, use and trafficking thereof, as well as the rehabilitation and treatment of drug dependents.” “How can we properly discuss the would make for a more efficient Senate, where the line between the majority and the minority is clearly drawn. Despite the shakeup, Pimentel said, LP senators were left with one committee chairmanship each. Senator Franklin Drilon, who was ousted as Senate President Pro Tempore, remains chairman of the committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes. He said the LP senators and the other members of the minority—Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and detained Senator Leila de Lima have not been deprived of committee chairmanships. Pimentel said some senators, even without proof, have been relentless in criticizing President Rodrigo Duterte during plenary sessions. He reminded the senators that the session should be used to debate on priority legislation like free tuition for students, free irrigation, and income tax reform. “Let’s stop the reckless criticism made without proof, calling [the President] a psychopathic serial killer,” he said.

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penalty if we won’t tackle the nature of the crimes?” Villarin said. But like Alvarez, House majority floor leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas denied any railroading of the proceedings. “The House of Representatives exists to represent our people. The people want the death penalty reimposed as expressed by their representatives in our caucuses and shown by them in our sessions, but a minority group against it has been bullying the majority,” Fariñas said. “We all saw how those against [the bill] bullied the majority by introducing amendments that were outright unacceptable since they were irreconcilable with the death penalty,” Fariñas added. In the Senate, a counterpart bill is unlikely to be passed before the 17th Congress adjourns its first regular session in June, said Senator Vicente Sotto III, who noted the measure is not a priority. “In the House, death penalty is a priority. In the Senate, there is no assurance, it’s not our priority. It’s also a priority of the executive, but this is democracy,” Sotto said. “We will take it up here in the Senate,” he added. “We promised to take it up but we can’t promise that it’s a priority so I’m not sure if we can pass it by June... It might be difficult because there’s going to be a lengthy debate.” Sotto, one of the authors of the bill, said they will still try to have the bill approved in the Senate before June. Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, who leads the fight against the death penalty, vowed there will be no railroading of the process and no secret votes in the Senate. “We will not allow it to be rushed. We must ensure that proper debate

on the matter be conducted,” said Aquino,the newly designated deputy minority leader. Furthermore, Aquino said senators must reveal their respective votes on the proposal to ensure accountability and transparency. “We will not allow votes to be anonymous or hidden and we will ensure accountability among our colleagues,” he said. The other members of the Senate minority bloc opposed to the bill are Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senators Francis Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros, Antonio Trillanes IV, and detained Senator Leila de Lima. As representatives of the people, Aquino said every senator should stand for his vote and explain it to the public if needed. Through this, he said the Senate will show that it can still be an independent institution even with the heightened political strife in the country. The House drew flak after it approved the death penalty bill on second reading on a voice vote. Sotto, one of the authors of the Senate version of the bill, reiterated that he favors the reimposition of the death penalty but only for “high-level” drug trafficking. “I have said from the start that I am only in favor of the death penalty for high-level drug trafficking because that is where the major problem lies, not on the street level. The main reason Southeast Asian and Asian nationals manufacture drugs here is because we don’t have the death penalty, “he said. He pointed out that limiting the death penalty to drug bigwigs also nullifies arguments that the measure is against the poor, who cannot afford lawyers and case appeals.

caught in a CCTV footage trying to have sex with a staff. While there are no direct references linking Mamondiong to the blind item, a Willie Revillame song, Giling-Giling, was dropped as a clue to listeners. Mamondiong, a staunch ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, earlier claimed that 90 percent of the 106-million Filipinos supported Duterte. Meanwhile, Duterte on Thursday admitted asking his former campaign spokesman, Peter Tiu Laviña, to “quietly resign” as administrator of the National Irrigation Administration over the alleged extortion raps hounding him. “I just fired one last week. Unless they would, in these cases, Pare, we’re one in government but you should be clean and this one is for profit, do not embarrass me. ‘Pag hiniya niyo ako, hiwa-hiwalay tayo,” Duterte said of Laviña in a chance interview in Cordova, Cebu, on Thursday. Asked if it hurt him to remove Laviña, the President replied “Yes, of course.” In a speech during the launching of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission in his hometown last Friday, Duterte said he fired somebody from the government but did not mention any name. The allegations of corruption against Laviña, a former Davao City councilor and personal aide of Duterte, came after he allegedly asked 40 percent in kickbacks for NIA projects.

Du30... From A1

But Abella denied the allegations against the policemen, saying those must be substantiated by solid evidence, eyewitness accounts and sworn statements.” “Recovered firearms from drug suspects are kept in custody and subsequently presented before legal proceedings. Authorities have noted that there are cases when recovered firearms were traced to have been used in other crimes, [and] most of these are loose and/or unregistered,” Abella said. “In short, all these accusations of circumventing police procedures should be proven in a competent court and if found meritorious should result in appropriate sanctions against the perpetrators. Failing these, such claims are mere hearsay.” Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo described the reports as “baseless” for saying Duterte was liable in an international court for the extrajudicial killings linked to his administration’s war on illegal drugs.

Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar said a judge on Thursday issued a search warrant to authorize policemen to enter Manalo’s house on Tandang Sora Avenue around 8 a.m. but Felix, a brother of INC Executive Minister Eduard Manalo, refused the policemen entry. Eleazar said Felix’s men fired shots at the police officers, injuring two members of the Special Weapons and Tactics team who forced their way in. The policemen rounded up at least 32 other occupants of the house and took them to the QCPD headquarters in Camp Karingal for questioning. On Feb. 27, an incident of indiscriminate firing was reported to the QCPD-Station, which prompted the authorities to apply for a search warrant before the Quezon City court. “Two compound security guards were then injured,” Eleazar said, adding the shots came from inside the Manalo residence.

liable in the Philippines or by a court abroad for their role in these killings,” the group said. “No evidence thus far shows that Duterte planned or ordered specific extrajudicial killings, but his repeated calls for killings as part of his anti-drug campaign could constitute acts instigating law enforcement to commit murder. “His statements encouraging the general population to commit vigilante violence against suspected drug users could be criminal incitement. “Duterte, senior officials and others implicated in unlawful killings could also be held liable for crimes against humanity, which are serious offenses committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack on a civilian population.” HRW details how Duterte incited and instigated the police forces to commit extrajudicial killings.

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CA denies plea for lifting of injunction vs buyout deal By Rey E. Requejo

HE Court of Appeals has denied the appeal of the Philippine Competition Commission to lift the writ of preliminary injunction it earlier issued preventing the PCC from reviewing the P70-billion buyout deal of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and Globe Telecommunications of the telco assets of San Miguel Corp. In a resolution penned by Associate Justice Ramon M. Bato Jr., the CA’s Special Twelfth Division instead issued a gag order directing it to remove immediately from its website its Preliminary Statement of Concern which contained an initial ﬁnding that the deal “is likely to substantially prevent,

restrict and lessen competition” within the telco industry. The appellate court also ordered the PCC, PLDT and Globe to cease and desist from issuing public comments and statements that would violate the sub judice rule and subject them to indirect contempt of the court.

“Applying the sub judice rule, PCC should immediately remove its PSOC posted in its website and refrain from making comments on the subject acquisition while the case is pending in court,” the CA stressed. “Likewise, to be fair, PLDT should also refrain from making comments on the subject acquisition and desist from communicating their opinion to the public during the pendency of this case,” the appellate court said. The gag order was issued upon the motion ﬁled by PLDT where it claimed the publication of the PSOC violated Republic Act No. 10667 which considers conﬁdential the deliberations and investigation conducted by PCC. The PLDT also alleged that PCC’s continuing communication with the media to drum up public sympathy violated the sub judice rule. Last Aug. 26, 2016, the CA issued a writ of preliminary injunction against PCC and its

agents from conducting any investigation, which would impair the rights of PLDT, Globe and SMC. The injunction was issued in order not to affect the rights of the consumers and to protect the move to improve the interned speed and connection nationwide. In ruling against PCC’s motion for reconsideration of its Aug. 26 resolution, the CA stood by its ﬁndings the existence of all the requisites for the issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction has been established by PLDT and Globe. According to the appellate court, the petitioners were able to establish the existence of a clear positive right that needs judicial protection during the pendency of the main case. They argued the deal had been deemed approved by operation of law since they have fully complied with the terms of the transitory circulars issued by the PCC. PLDT said its wireless

subsidiary Smart has been implementing the transaction and using the frequencies as part of its nationwide rollout. They warned that a reversal of the transaction would result in “irreparable and incalculable injury to the public service.” “We agree with PLDT that there is an urgent and paramount necessity to enjoin PCC from proceeding with the pre-acquisition review and/or investigation to prevent serious and irreparable damage to PLDT whose credit standing is at risk and its ability to borrow funds to fully roll out the previously unused/idle 700MHz spectrum may be jeopardized and unduly exposed it to violate the conditions imposed by NTC thereby impeding the threeyear program of providing faster/reliable/affordable mobile data/internet to the consuming public all over the country,” the CA said.

IN BRIEF Sara gives birth to 3rd child named Stonefish DAVAO CITY—Mayor Sara Duterte gave birth to a bouncing baby boy on Thursday at 12:56 p.m. through a Cesarean section. The couple named their new born Stonefish, who weighs 2.42 kilos or 5.3 pounds; Stonefish is the third child of the Mayor and her husband lawyer Manases Carpio. The mayor, according to the husband, is stable and generally fine after she gave birth to their child. “Thank you, Lord, for the gift of life,” Carpio said, after the mayor gave birth. Sara has two older children: Mikhaila Maria “Sharky”, 8, and Matteo Lucas “Stingray”, 4. Carpio’s father is lawyer Lucas Jr., son of judge Lucas Sr. of Paoay, Ilocos Norte. In her previous interview at Una Ka Bai, a local morning show program of GMA 7, Sara said she named her eldest Sharky from the first movie she watched with her then boyfriend Manases. Sara is also a fan of the beaches. Stonefish is the youngest among the 10 grandchildren of President Rodrigo Duterte. Pearl A. Gajunera

45 families displaced get houses

AT EASE. Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (center) stands relaxed in the House of Representatives as Congress prepares Wednesday to vote on the proposed Death Penalty Law, approved on second reading in a ‘viva voce’ vote, the approval coinciding with Ash Wednesday which kicked off Lent in the Roman Catholic Church calendar. AFP

Madrigal not involved, DoJ starts probe on raps vs Unilever informant now claims By Rey Requejo By Sandy Araneta JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II’s informant in the P100-million bribe try has withdrawn her claim that former Senator Jamby Madrigal is involved in such attempt for high-proﬁle inmates to retract their testimonies against Senator Leila de Lima. According to Lalaine Martinez, the wife of drug convict Noel Martinez, she was not exactly sure of what she told Aguirre. Aguirre, citing Martinez, last week tagged Laguna Rep. Len Alonte-Naguiat and former Senator Jamby Madrigal in the

supposed bribery attempt. He said the two offered P100 million to high-proﬁle inmates to retract their testimonies against De Lima. Aguirre said Martinez was related to Madrigal who, like Naguiat, belonged to the Liberal Party. Both Madrigal and Alonte have denied Aguirre’s claims. They also denied they know Martinez personally. Martinez already apologized to Madrigal. “I was the only one who told the Secretary before that she might have known about this,” Martinez said referring to Madrigal.

THE Department of Justice on Thursday started its preliminary investigation on criminal charges against several executives of Unilever Philippines, in connection with the death of ﬁve people during the Closeup Forever Summer concert in Pasay City last year. However, the respondents failed to show up during the hearing on charges of criminal negligence and violation of the Corporation Code ﬁled by the National Bureau of Investigation last month. Associate Prosecution Attorney Anna Noreen Devanadera, who is handling the

case, then gave them more time to ﬁle their answers in the next hearing set on March 17. The respondents—Rohit Jawa, former Unilever Phils. chairman and now the regional executive vice president for operations in South East Asia; Jesus Canlapan, manager for workplace services and facility security; Alberto Curnelius Trinidad, marketing director for Closeup product; Joy Dalanon-Ocampo, manager for safety, health and environment; procurement manager Melissa Alcayaga; and Closeup assistant brand manager Bea Lagdameo— only sent their corporate lawyers to receive the documents from the DoJ. The other respondents are

organizers of the event: Michelle Suzanne Claire Quintana, Anna Kristina Doctolero and Baby Majalia Ahamadul of Activation Advertising Inc.; Reginald Soriano, Eduardo Muego and John Paul Demontano of HypeHouse Production Corporation; and Alexis Engelberto Aragon of Delirium Manpower Services. The complainant, the NBI, presented its witnesses, who subscribed to their respective affidavits. On the other hand, the victims are considering filing an amended complaint to include other executives of Unilever and the advertising firm that organized the event.

Labor group asks Bello: Stop contractualization By Vito Barcelo

LOOSENED LOCK. A container van blocks the road Thursday in Bicutan, Taguig City, causing measureless trafﬁc after the van’s lock loosened its connection from a trailer truck while cruising along the road. Norman Cruz

THE labor group Nagkaisa on Thursday urged Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to comply with President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to stop contractualization soonest. Various labor leaders held a three-hour long dialogue with President Duterte last Feb. 27 in Malacañang, where the President demonstrated understanding for the plight of Filipino workers and vowed to end contractualization both in the private and public sector. “As the alter ego of the President, Secretary Bello is hard pressed to comply with the order and to abide with the demand of workers without further delay,” Nagkaisa spokesman Rene Magtubo said. Through a symbolic pressing of time button, the group declared a 30-day countdown for DoLE to come up with new rules prohibiting contractualization. The labor group rejected the Department Order 168 which reﬂects the DTI and employers formula of legitimizing manpower agencies and regulating their practices.

THE Australian Embassy on Thursday turned over permanent houses to 45 families displaced in Zamboanga due to siege in 2013. Leading the ceremony, Australian embassy deputy head of Mission Mat Kimberley expressed his country’s commitment to continue to support the displaced families in Zamboanga by its recovery project and other assistance. “Australia is committed to support the continuing recovery of this city under the Zamboanga Recovery Project,” said Kimberley, in Zamboanga to grace the turnover ceremony. “I am honored to meet some of the families supported by the project and to be among the first to visit their new permanent homes,” he added. The Australian Government provided A$3million (P102 million) for the implementation of the Zamboanga Recovery Project, which aims to support families who have been internally displaced when the rebels attack the province on Sept. 9, 2013. The turnover of 45 homes in Barangay Tulungatung follows the turnover on Feb. 13, 2016 of 35 homes to families in Barangay San Roque under the ZRP, where another 15 families received support from Australia to build permanent houses on their own land. Australia’s assistance will provide beneﬁciaries with permanent shelter; psychosocial and protection services; support to host communities; and health and disease surveillance. The project will also provide 1000 family-beneﬁciaries with livelihood funding and skills training support. Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCEMENT President Ro dr igo Roa D uter te has submit ted to the C ommis sion on A ppointment s (C. A .) for c onf ir mation the nomination and ad inter im appointment s of the following of f ic ials: D e p a r t m ent of Fo r e i gn Af f a i r s (nomination) M r. W il f r e d o Cuna na n Sa nto s – C hief of M iss ion, C lass I I , as A mbassador E x tr aor dinar y and Plenipotentiar y to the Is lamic Republic of I r an wi th c oncur r ent jur is dic tion over the Republic of Tur kmenis tan and the Republic of Uzbek is tan A r m e d Fo rc e s of t h e Philip p in e s (ad inter im appointment s) E r w in A . D e A si s, N a t ha ni e l Y. Ca se m , Hil a r i o B. Fr i gill a na , Jr. (Re se r vi st) a nd M ac a i ro g S. A l b e r to - B r igadier G ener al; A m a d o V. D e l a Pa z , A r vin R . L ag a m on , Ed mund o G . Pe r a l t a , A r i e l M . Reye s, Jo se p h P. A rc ho g , H e r b e r t M . Bau t i st a (Re se r vi st), Enr i q u eto R . D e o c a d e z , Jr., Fe d e r i c o B. Enr i q u e z , Te o d o ro C. E p r e s (Re se r ve), Ed m on B. G up i t , Ul yse s S. M a rq u e z , A l exe i C. M u sngi , V i c ent e A . N a l d oz a , Jr., Li z a nd e r G . O li ve ro s (Re se r ve) a nd Rey B. A l e m a ni a , PA – C olonel; a nd R i c ha rd M . Davi d C aptain The public may submit any infor mation, w r it ten repor t, or swor n /not ar ized c omplaint s or oppositions in for t y (4 0) c opies on the above nomination and appointment s to the CA Sec ret ar iat, 6 th Flo or, PN B Financ ial C enter, D. M ac apagal B oulevard, Pasay Cit y, M et ro M anila. For the sc hedule of the public hear ings and any other inquir y, c ont ac t the CA Sec ret ar iat through telephone number s 5 51-75 32, 8 31- 0 8 93, 8 31-1824, 8 3 4 -270 6, 8 31-15 6 6 and 8 3 4 2713. 02 M arc h 2017. H ECTO R A . V I LL ACO RTA Sec ret ar y (MS-MAR. 3, 2017)

Opinion

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017

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Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Infrastructure race

UILDING infrastructure is certainly the key to economic growth, the creation of jobs and eradicating poverty. The Asian Development Bank in a report Tuesday stressed that emerging economies across Asia should invest as much as $26 trillion on building everything from transport networks to clean water through 2030. US President Donald Trump chimed in, pledging to bring one trillion dollars in public and private investment to rebuild what he called

America’s crumbling infrastructure in a speech to a joint session of Congress this week. Trump’s commitment was one of his main campaign

pledges—rebuild America’s roads, bridges, airports and other public structures. China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, meanwhile, has also begun funding projects as an alternative ﬁnancing institution to the World Bank and ADB. Here in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte has embarked on an ambitious $160-billion infrastructure plan as he seeks to sustain growth of about 7 per-

cent, among the fastest in the world. The Duterte administration early on allocated P8.2 trillion to ﬁnance the “golden age of infrastructure” during his term. The massive infrastructure program of the Philippines requires huge funding from multilateral institutions, the government budget and the private sector. Investments from private companies will be critical to achieve the goal and President Duterte will need all his charm

to woo foreign ﬁrms and institutions to support the gargantuan effort. The Philippines, like the rest of emerging economies in Asia, has little choice but to build more roads, airports, bridges and other public structures to meet the demands of an increasing population. Additional roads and bridges will link the rural areas and their produce to the market, usually situated in the urban centers. An established market, in turn, will serve

as an incentive to farmers and ﬁshermen to increase their output. Similarly, bigger and modern airports and seaports will speed up the ﬂow of goods and attract local and foreign tourists, who directly contribute to job generation in the host communities. Infrastructure projects produce a virtuous cycle that sustains economic growth. The Philippines should not waste time nor dilly-dally on projects that should have been built decades ago. VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

Government grabs Imelda jewelry

Thank you, Darlene LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES IN MORE than three decades of observing government and business, I’ve met quite a number of accomplished women who have broken through the so-called glass ceiling that prevents them from being true equals with men. Sadly, not a lot of them are really as good as advertised after you scratch the surface—just like the menfolk that they have had to compete with in order to reach the lofty status of great power and leadership in both the public and private sectors. In a political scene littered with women who claim to be smart, strong and possessed with great integrity, for instance, I’ve know only a few who really have those qualities. One of them is the late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, whom I have had the unmitigated pleasure of observing, from afar and up close, ever since she

was a trial court judge in Quezon City in 1986. In recent times, women have had varying success at scoring real breakthrough victories as far as gaining parity with men at the highest levels of government. In business, only the so-called COOs (Children of Owners) who happen to be women have gained any headway as far as securing positions of leadership is concerned. And again, like the men, the women put in charge can only often turn in report cards of mediocre accomplishment. Often, but not all the time. For instance, the end of February marked the end of the term of one of the top bureaucrats whom I truly admire. Darlene Marie Berberabe retired to great acclaim as head of the Home Development Mutual Fund, also known as the Pag-IBIG Fund, for the past six years. In a farewell Facebook post last Tuesday, Berberabe wrote: “Today, 28 February 2017, is my last day as the Pag-IBIG Fund

President and CEO. I am privileged to have served our country and the Pag-IBIG members in the past six years and three months. “Together with all the officers and employees of the Fund, I am proud to turnover to the next CEO

bers, all without increasing its monthly mandatory membership savings of P100. The maximum amount for housing loans was doubled from P3 Million to P6 Million, the housing loan interest rate was reduced from 11.5 percent to as low as 4.5 percent for affordable housing for minimumwage earners and 5.5 percent for regular end-user financing, and calamity loan interest rate was reduced by almost half from 10.75 percent to 5.95 percent. The Fund outsourced collection, our call center, billing statements, and doubled our service levels. “We offered better insurance terms to our housing loan borrowers while reducing by almost half the premium rates, and increased performing loans ratio from 75 percent in 2012 to 93 percent in 2016 (net of impairment loss). PagIBIG membership doubled from 8 million in 2010 to 17 million in 2016. all our accomplishments in the “We also tripled our branches past six years: Pag-IBIG Fund has from 38 in 2010 to 119 by end of doubled its benefits to its mem- 2016 within the country, reach-

Berberabe retires to great acclaim as head of the Home Development Mutual Fund, also known as PagIBIG.

ing out to more members nationwide. Foreign service posts also increased to 23 worldwide to better serve our OFW members. In recent years, we have also introduced the One Office Look in newer branches, providing a better experience for our members when visiting our offices. We added value to their membership with the innovative Loyalty Card. “All these have been done with good governance: we are ISO certified, attained an unprecedented 4-peat Unqualified Opinion from COA and back to back Most Outstanding Accounting Office, signed the Integrity Pledge and earned many recognition that validate our work. It is so good to be a part of all this! “Babaunin ko araw-araw ang karangalang ito. Maraming salamat sa pagkakataong makapaglingkod sa inyo.” Political observers will remember Berberabe as the soft-spoken but firm defender of the PagIBIG Fund when Senator Antonio

THE Supreme Court on Jan. 18, 2017 upheld the forfeiture by the state of the three fabulous Imelda Marcos jewelry collections valued at $23 million. Penned by SC Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, the decision details just how rich the Marcoses were/are. The Civil Case No. 0141 is entitled “Republic of the Philippines v. Ferdinand E. Marcos, (represented by his Estate/Heirs) and Imelda R. Marcos.” A major setback for the Marcos family, Sereno’s decision estimated that the “known lawful income” of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos from 1965 to 1986 had been unanimously fixed at $304,372.43 in Republic vs Sandiganbayan (July 15, 2003). The chief justice reiterated that “any cash, property or assets of the Marcoses in excess of the said sum would be deemed ‘ill-gotten and forfeited in favor of the State.’” The decision affirmed a unanimous Sandiganbayan decision (Jan. 13, 2014, penned by Justice Efren N. de la Cruz and concurred in by Justices Teresita V. DiazBaldos and Alex L. Quiroz) in which “the pieces of jewelry, known as the Malacañang Collection, were labeled as ill-gotten and were consequently forfeited in favor of the Republic.” The Civil Case No. 0141 excludes the assets, monies and all the other properties involved in the said civil cases (Nos. 0002-0035, the cronies’ ill-gotten wealth cases) now pending before the Sandiganbayan. The crony cases—Civil Cases No. 2 to 35—were estimated by PCGG at one time to be worth $10 billion in 1986, making the Marcoses one of the wealthiest, if not the wealthiest family in the Philippines. The other properties which had been identified so far by both the PCGG and the Solicitor General (excluding

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Cleaning up think higher—or is it lower?—of themselves. When Senator Trillanes accused Duterte of having billions of pesos in his account, the President immediately asked the AMLC to look into his bank accounts, and promised to resign if they found anything over half a billion pesos in them. Of course Trillanes wanted to get into the act too, but I guess the AMLC slapped him down like they would a bratty child. By comparison, towards the end of the Corona impeachment trial, I remember Aquino being challenged to open his own accounts for scrutiny, to which he testily said no. He must have been scared off by the Ombudsman, whose idea of estimating someone’s bank account balance is to total all the transactions entered through the account. In the wake of the egregious kidnap-slaying of that Korean businessman inside Camp Crame, all the high-ranking police suspects were immediately relieved of command. A while later, a couple of hundred uniformed scalawags were summarily reassigned to Basilan— obviously nobody’s idea of a perfect assignment, and I believe the largest such mass punishment in the ranks (but if I’m wrong on that second point, I hope the reader will refresh my ageing memory). Duterte’s former spokesman and personal aide Peter Laviña was forced out of his position at NIA because of corruption rumors. He’s not likely to be the last official this happens to, under a President who’s quickly becoming known as one to crack down even harder on subordinates who’re his friends than those who’re not. With this guy, “KKK” means the bad-ass insurrectos in those cool rayadillo blue-striped uniforms, led by bemoustached generals who like to curse “Punyeta!”-and not something else.

It hasn’t helped that we still have to listen to the same clowns in the Senate.

*** When Duterte said he would extend his scorched-earth tactics beyond the anti-drug campaign to include corrupt officials, the public cheering got even louder. Apparently, if there’s anyone the public loves to hate even more than drug pushers, it’s people who abuse their official position for personal gain—a scourge that’s been around a lot longer than shabu. But it will take more time than he’s had so far, though hopefully not more time than he has left in the Palace. So far, the President’s personal lifestyle, and now, increasingly, the way he runs his official family, are bearing out the remarkable level of trust that people are reposing in him to do the job right.

*** After only eight months in office, the evidence seems pretty strong that Duterte is the standup guy that millions of voters believed him to be last May: Of his own free will, Duterte put the Executive branch under the strictures of a simulacrum of a Freedom of Information Act. By doing this, he sent a clear signal that he expected himself and his administration not to engage in activities that would have to be covered up. At the time, hopes were high that Congress would put themselves under a similar restraint. But with nothing like that hapReaders can write me at gbolipening till now, it would seem that our honorable legislators var1952@yahoo.com.

Thank... From A4 Trillanes attempted to drag it to the gutter in his effort to destroy Vice President Jejomar Binay in the Senate. Others know that Berberabe as the wife of Philippine basketball great Avelino “Samboy” Lim. But what Berberabe accomplished at Pag-IBIG has established a new benchmark for heads of government agencies – of any gender. And she did so without fanfare and with a great respect for the members who contribute their earnings to the fund. I wish Attorney Darlene Berberabe luck in all her future endeavors. And I hope this is not the last we hear from her, because she

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Walls

FORMATION GARY OLIVAR

WHERE is the notion coming from that President Duterte is tolerating—and, according to some, even fostering—corruption in government? To be sure, there hasn’t been an overnight drop to zero corruption as soon as the mantle changed hands in Malacañang. That was promised, not by Duterte in 2016, but by his predecessor in 2010, who had us believe that he of the yellow-ribboned tribe would deliver us into daylight after a lost decade of benightedness. Well, we all know where that promise went. A rise in smuggling from $3 billion to nearly $20 billion a year—including the outright loss of 2,000 containers from the Manila Port, unheard of before. More than double the number of drug users after six years of decline, with the associated tidal wave of drug money. And of course the major scams of DAP and PDAF, unanimously ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, as well as less-major scams at agencies like MRT-3, LTO, you name it. Is it possible that our judgment has gone so bad that we’ve adopted a failed promise from 2010 as our new standard of good governance in 2017? It hasn’t helped that we still have to listen to the same clowns in the Senate grandstanding on unsubstantiated accusations against Duterte, with no regard at all for rationality, legality, or civility. If you create a hell of a lot of smoke, some people can actually be persuaded that indeed there’s a fire. Nor has it helped that tens of thousands of government positions are still filled by Aquinoera holdovers who haven’t yet been vetted or replaced. How many of them are willingly cooperating with the leaders of the yellow-ribboned tribe to try and bring down this President? Why these people haven’t been eased out yet is something that I’ll have to lay at Duterte’s door, or at least on those in his official family who should be expediting the turnover from top to bottom. Believe me, there’s no magic to it. But at least they’re not (yet) running out of time to do it.

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017

still has so much to contribute. Thank you for your excellent service to the nation. *** At 3 p.m. today, an online group calling itself We Are Collective will publish its muchawaited expose on Vice President Leni Robredo. If you’re online at around that time, please follow the links to their web site after searching for the group’s name in social media platforms. I have no idea what the expose is all about, but people in the know have been raving about it after being given exclusive previews. I intend to find out what the fuss is all about, as well.

ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO THE Chinese started it all, building the ancient Great Wall of China to keep out its enemies. US President Donald Trump borrowed the idea and is bent on building a wall along the US-Mexican border to keep out illegal aliens. Instead of building bridges to connect culture and promote trade with other countries, building a wall to insulate itself from perceived perils seem to have become the norm The destruction of the iconic Twin Towers of the World Trade Center by Al Qaeda, the Taliban threat and more recently the scourge of ISIS have fanned the flame of xenophobia. Comes now the report from Budapest that Hungary will build a second border fence to ward off migrants and refugees from civil war-stricken Syria who used Serbia and Hungary as a transit point to settle in Western Europe. Recall that hundreds of thousands of refugees trekked across Eastern Europe. Hungary had to round them up in camps and the Budapest railroad stations before allowing them to leave by train or go on foot to cross the border to Vienna, Austria. The preferred destinations for these migrants are Germany and France, two countries willing to accept refugees.

Good fences make good neighbors, so goes the old saying. The fear of terrorists who embedded themselves with migrants is feeding the fear of foreign newcomers. Building walls along a country’s delineated territory. it can be said, is bordering on paranoia. Or delusion in the case of Trump, who reiterated his plan to build a wall along its southern border. Mexico has made known that if Trump pushes through with his wall, the Mexican government would slap a higher tariff on US products worth billions of dollars.. It may not be an armed confrontation but it would be a trade war between two close countries who used to be close. Mexico still believes a sizable portion of its territory was seized by the Americans. This was highlighted by the Battle of the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. While other countries are protective of their borders, not so the Philippines. Our government wants to host everything from the Miss Universe beauty pageant to an invasion from neighboring China. To wit: The Philippine Coast Guard will hold a joint naval exercise with its Chinese counterparts. Isn’t that giving away to the Chinese the capability of our coast guard, which is supposed to protect our territorial waters from Chinese incursion in the West Philippine Sea? But then, there’s really nothing to give away. The whole world knows we don’t

have a navy to speak of aside from a few hand-me-down vessels from the US. We might as well be the one to learn about the Chinese coast guard capability. Political fences In the House of Representatives and the Senate, political fences are up. The supermajority in the House through Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez made known it will not allow fence sitters. Under threat of losing their plum positions in committee chairmanships, the political turncoats voted to railroad the restoration of the death penalty certified by President Duterte as a priority measure. But of course, the pro-death penalty legislators protected their rear ends by excluding plunder in the list of capital crimes. In the Senate, Duterte’s henchmen initiated a revamp of the key committee chairmanships. Senator Franklin Drilon was deposed as Senate Pro Tempore leader, The Senate shakeup, if at all, only made Liberal Party president Senator Francis Pangilinan, LP Senators Paulo Bam Aquino, Riza Hontiveros, and Antonio Trillanes IV to close ranks. Senator Leila de Lima, under detention for alleged graft in connection with drug money from narco traffickers in the New Bilibid Prison, had no recourse but to stick with her LP colleagues. While the House was able to ram the restoration of the death penalty, it may not be that easy

to pass in the Senate. A nose count of the senators indicate a close 12-12 vote but the Palace with its awesome power of the purse could swing the outcome to Digong’s way . Forget about conscience vote. That did not happen in the House. It’s all about money and power which politicians need to get reelected and perpetuate themselves and their dynasty in power. Climate change accord President Duterte to his credit signed the Paris Agreement to deal with global climate change. He sent to the Senate for ratification the accord which details the country’s commitment for accession and action of compliance. Climate change has been a telling force in the recent spate of typhoons like Yolanda which triggered landslides and flooding due to carbon emission and the denudation of forests. The Philippines pledged in Paris to cut emissions by 70 percent. This is a tall order but necessary to keep casualties down in a country visited by typhoons almost the whole year round. Typhoon Yolanda was the strongest cyclone ever recorded in history. Its devastation of Leyte and other parts of Eastern Visayas took more than 6,000 lives and survivors are still suffering from destroyed homes and agricultural crops laid to waste. After three years, government efforts to rebuild houses and schools are still on -going with some survivors still living in tents and make-shift shelters.

Scapegoater in chief Bloomberg editorial “I HAVE ordered the Department of Homeland Security to create an ofﬁce to serve American victims,” President Donald Trump said in his address to Congress Tuesday night. He was referring to a very speciﬁc kind of victim—those harmed by undocumented immigrants. And his comments show that, current conventional wisdom notwithstanding, President Trump is not so different from candidate Trump. Trump argued that Amer-

ican deaths at the hands of undocumented immigrants— who commit violent crime at a lower rate than US-born citizens— have been ignored by the news media and “silenced by special interests.” Yet the murder of Kathryn Steinle by an immigrant in San Francisco in 2015, which Trump cited repeatedly in his campaign, generated national news coverage. Other deaths receive the regional news coverage that murders generally produce.

What’s unusual is not the news media’s level of interest in violent death, which is typically high. What’s unusual is the president of the United States using a nationally televised speech to engage in stereotyping in order to advance a divisive political agenda. There were more than 15,000 murders in 2015—a steep drop from the early 1990s, but still plenty. The purpose of establishing a special ofﬁce within the Department of Homeland Security

to highlight a tiny percentage of those crimes has nothing to do with concern for the victims. What about the vast majority of victims killed by non-immigrants? The only conceivable purpose for the new ofﬁce is to generate propaganda and channel hate against immigrants. Scapegoating is hardly unknown in the history of the US. But presidents, especially in recent history, have generally refrained from stooping so low. Trump has proved incapable of resisting.

Government... From A4 those involved in the No. 2 to 35 civil cases) are approximated at $5 billion. They include: (1) Holding companies, agro-industrial ventures and other investments identified by Rolando Gapud in his affidavit dated Aug. 1, 1987. (2) Landholdings, buildings, condo—minium units, mansions and other houses which the Marcos spouses built, improved or acquired during their 20-year rule as listed and described by Bonifacio Gillego’s Sworn Statement dated June 30, 1986) and the list of landholdings, buildings and mansions of the arrival of the Marcoses discovered by the PCGG in 1986; (3) Properties held for the Marcoses and surrendered to the government (through PCGG) as part of the Marcos ill-gotten wealth by his known crony, Mr. Jose Y. Campos, estimated to be about P2.5-B as of April 8, 1986 aside from the P250 million cash; (4) Properties held for the Marcoses and surrendered to the government by another Marcos crony, Mr. Antonio Floirendo estimated to be about $30 million, aside from the P70 million cash and the $653,856.40 paid as taxes in the United States as stated in his affidavit, Compromise Agreement and Agreement;

(5) The so-called New York properties valued at $250 million, of another affidavit of Rolando Gapud dated Jan.14, 1987, as well as in Annex “A” of Civil Case No. 0001; (6) Painting and silverwares, already sold at public auction in the United States worth $17 million, aside from the jewelries, paintings and other valuable decorative arts found in Malacañang and in the United States estimated to be about $23.9 million; (7) Philippine peso bills amounting to P27,744,535.00, foreign currencies and jewelries amounting to $4 million and Certificates of Time Deposits worth P46.4 million seized by the US customs authorities upon arrival of the Marcoses in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA (now subject of a separate charge before the Ombudsman) when they f led hastily at the height of the Feb. 22-25, 1986 EDSA Revolt; (8) The $30 million in the custody of the Central Bank (as part of the dollar denominated treasury bills purchased by the Marcoses from the Central Bank through their dummies using their dollar deposits in Switzerland; (9) Shares of stocks in Piedras Petroleum Co. Inc. (PIEDRAS) and in Oriental Petroleum & Minerals

Corp. (OCPM) worth P500 million; (10) Shares of stock in Balabac Oil Co. worth about P42 million as described in the affidavit of Mr. Raymundo S. Feliciano, plus the 60% of the sequestered assets of CDCP in the amount of P172,378,030; (11) The amount of P10 million as described by Jesus Tanchangco in his affidavit and the 45 percent beneficial ownership of FM in Landoil as stated by Jose de Venecia, Jr. in his affidavit dated March 7, 1987; (12) Philippine peso and US dollars deposited in the Security Bank & Trust Co. (SBTC) totaling P974,885,480.46 and $6,522,361.29; (13) The shareholding of the Marcoses in SBTC which were sold by the PCGG at P161.2 million, and which has increased to P238.7 million including interests, but excluding P15 million already received by PCGG; (14) The other properties already recovered such as the 21 vehicles registered in the names of Fernando and Susan Timbol estimated to be worth about P5.1 million; (15) Philippine pesos deposits in Traders Royal Bank totalling over P1 billion which had been invested by Mr. Marcos from 1978 to May 9, 1983 as shown by an analysis of

Trust Account No. 76/128 and 76/128A of Mr. Marcos; (16) The other properties in the United States already recovered in the total amount of $25.7 million as shown by the hereto attached report on recovered and sold assets abroad, 1986-1991; (17) The bank deposits in Luxembourg, Hong Kong, the Cayman Islands, United States and other countries which have not yet been fully documented and the approximate amounts therein cannot yet be determined; (18) The secret deposits in Swiss banks, being the primary and principal object of this petition for forfeiture pursuant to judgments of the Swiss Federal Tribunal in “Heirs of Ferdinand Marcos, Imelda Marcos, Avertina Foundation Vaduz, Imelda Marcos, Vibur Foundation, Heirs of Ferdinand Marcos, Palmy Foundation Vaduz versus Attorney General of District of Zurich, Attorney General of Canton of Zurich, and Republic of the Philippines x x x (Zurich Decision), and “Heirs of Ferdinand Marcos, Imelda Marcos, and Aguamina Corp. versus Chambre d’ accusation of the Fribourg Cantonal Court and the Republic of the Philippines x x x (Fribourg Decision).

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

News

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017 A6 Standard TODAY Manila

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Expats hit Jee probe tack

HE Korean community criticized the tack police investigators have taken in pointing at Korean expatriates in the abduction and killing of South Korean executive Jee Ick Joo even without evidence. Korean expatriate Lee Jinwoo, one of Jee’s neighbors in Angeles City, the Korean community in the Pampanga city were actually the ones who told investigators that the vehicle used in the abduction of Jee was registered under the name Jinky Santos Sta. Isabel, wife of one of the suspects. “Hoon Yoo, In Sangmin and I regularly accompanied [Jee’s wife Choi Kyun Jin] as part of the Korean community and Methodist Church support group to help locate her husband at that time,” said Lee in an affidavit. Lee said he found out about Jee’s kidnapping Oct. 18 when he was instructed by his mother to accompany Jee’s family while he was missing. “The family was scared to sleep by themselves after Mr. Jee Ick Joo got kidnapped. Starting Oct. 20, I began staying at the house of the Jee family,” Lee said, adding that he also helped translate for Mrs. Jee when they went to the Angeles City police.

According to Lee, Mrs. Jee and the group decided to engage the services of private security experts to help find and locate Mr. Jee and their two vehicles. “Since Mrs. Choi is a Korean national who is not fluent with either Filipino or English, and taking into account the fear and uncertainty, it was decided that she seek additional outside help aside from the assistance of the police,” he added. On Oct. 21, Lee said he learned that the Jee family housekeeper was in a radio station in Manila and went on air. “I was accompanied by Mr. In Sangmin [and] one of the policeman drove my car to Manila with four other policemen just to bring the housekeeper back to Angeles City,” said Lee. He said they met Arturo Sta. Cruz, director for Administration of Motorcycle of the Philippines Federation, on Oct. 24 in Camp Crame and

he agreed to help Mrs. Jee. “Through him [Sta. Cruz] we found out that the vehicle used to abduct Mr. Jee was registered in the name of Jinky Santos Sta. Isabel, the spouse of one of the police investigators,” he said. Sta. Cruz also confirmed that the Korean community and the Methodist Church have been helping Mrs. Jee. “Mrs. Jee, accompanied by several members of the Korean Methodist Church, decided to engage my services as private security consultant in searching for her missing husband,” said Sta. Cruz in his affidavit. Sta. Cruz said Oct. 20, Mrs. Jee sought his assistance to locate the two missing vehicles Toyota Innova (TXS 763) and Ford Explorer (ABT 1915). “With my extensive network she readily agreed to engage my services, including operational expenses, to expedite the search efforts after their maid was released by the kidnappers somewhere in UP-Cubao area,” said Sta. Cruz in his affidavit. Sta. Cruz said Mrs. Jee was “frantically trying to locate her husband, hoping to find him while still alive” and requested him to help in the investigation being conducted by the police.

They then proceeded to the Land Transportation Office and also met with motorcycle personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to sound an alarm and report any information on the two vehicles that may lead to the whereabouts of Jee. Sta. Cruz said Mrs. Jee also promised to give a reward to anyone who can provide any lead or information to locate the vehicles and Jee, who was still missing then. On Oct. 21, Sta. Cruz joined Mrs. Jee, Yoo Hoon, Lee Jinwoo, Pastor Kim and other members of her support group and gave them the vital informal he received regarding the Toyota Innova and Hi-Lux that the kidnappers used to abduct Jee. Sta. Cruz said that on Oct. 26, he met again with Mrs. Jee and her support group where the latter was “distraught and very angry” that despite the information given no actions were taken by the PNP. “That is my last meeting with Mrs. Jee. Suddenly, I found out that sometime in January 2017, Mr. Jee was killed,” Sta. Cruz said in his affidavit. These sworn statement were already submitted to the Korean Embassy last Feb. 28, 2017.

Give teachers allowances, DepEd urged By Maricel V. Cruz A LAWMAKER on Thursday slammed Education Secretary Leonor Briones for defending the removal of allowances granted by local governments to DepEd-hired teachers from the Special Education Fund and for saying that public school teachers are not underpaid. ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro was referring to the statement of Briones that “public school teachers are well-compensated which is far from the old notion that teachers are underpaid.” Any additional compensation should thus come only from “legitimate sources” such as the General Fund and not the SEF, the lady lawmaker said, quoting Briones. The General Fund is the local government unit’s annual budget from the national government while the SEF is the additional one percent levy on real properties within the LGU, Castro explained. Briones cited Joint Circular 1, series of 2017 which the DepEd and the Departments of Budget and Management and Interior and Local Government issued on Jan. 17. It no longer lists local allowances for DepEdhired teachers among the expenses chargeable to the SEF. They may, however, be granted out of the General Fund (GF), Castro noted, quoting Briones. But Castro said that the new circular reversed the rules which LGUs have been following for nearly 20 years, enabling them to grant allowances from the SEF to DepEd-hired teachers. Castro maintained that these rules rightly classified local allowances as teachers’ expenses for “operation and maintenance of public schools” under Section 272 of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code, which lists the allowable expenses chargeable to the SEF.

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

MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO - Presiding Officer SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR. DIVINA A. JACOME LUIS S. JAVIER JR. ROMEO C. MEDINA NELSON S. PASIA ENRICO J. PUNO EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

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

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

On motion presented by Hon. N.S. Pasia, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Resolution No. 2017-017 on second and final reading.

On motion presented by Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr., which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Resolution No. 2017-018 on second and final reading.

CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2017-017 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 and Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr.

CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2017-018 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N.S. Yabut, Jr., Hon. M.A.M. Ortega, Hon. N.S. Pasia, Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr. and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor

Co-Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr., Hon. R.C. Medina, Hon. E.J. Puno and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor

Co-Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. R.C. Medina, Hon. E.J. Puno and Hon. A.P. Padilla

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE HONORABLE MAYOR MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY AND/OR CITY ADMINISTRATOR ATTY. CLARO F. CERTEZA, TO NEGOTIATE, ENTER INTO AND SIGN THE AGREEMENT FOR EXTENSION OF LINES AND/OR ADDITIONAL FACILITIES AND ALL PERTINENT DOCUMENTS RELATIVE THERETO, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF MAKATI, WITH THE MANILA ELECTRIC COMPANY (MERALCO) REGARDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF LINE EXTENSION AND/ OR INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL FACILITIES AT KAYPIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN BRGY. KAYPIAN, SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, BULACAN, SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE HONORABLE MAYOR MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY, TO NEGOTIATE, ENTER INTO AND SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (MOA), ON BEHALF OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF MAKATI, WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) – ASEAN SUMMIT, REPRESENTED BY ITS UNDERSECRETARY, DR. GERARDO V. BAYUGO, REGARDING THE REFERRAL TO OSMAK OF ASEAN DELEGATES/PARTICIPANTS SEEKING MEDICAL CARE, SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.

ABSENT: Councilor MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY “ GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES-Vacation Leave “ FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO “ LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY “ MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA-Sick Leave “ MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO ====================================================================== On motion presented by Hon. N.S. Yabut, Jr., which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Resolution No. 2017-019 on second and final reading. CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2017-019 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N.S. Yabut, Jr., Hon. M.A.M. Ortega, Hon. N.S. Pasia, Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr. and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor Co-Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. R.C. Medina, Hon. E.J. Puno and Hon. A.P. Padilla A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE HONORABLE MAYOR MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY, TO NEGOTIATE, ENTER INTO AND SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (MOA), ON BEHALF OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF MAKATI, WITH CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY (CEU) REGARDING THE AFFILIATION AND TRAINING OF ITS NURSING STUDENTS IN OSMAK, SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.

WHEREAS, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is committed to intensify community building through enhanced regional cooperation and integration, in particular by establishing an ASEAN Community comprising the ASEAN Security Community, the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community;

WHEREAS, it is of common knowledge that in addition to classroom work, there is a required number of hours that nursing students must spend in a medical facility to enable them to practice the theories they have learned in school;

WHEREAS, former President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III issued Administrative Order No. 48 Series of 2016 creating the National Organizing Council for the Philippines’ Hosting of the ASEAN in 2017, and prescribing its authority and functions;

WHEREAS, the ultimate goal of Nursing, as a field of study, is to administer the best care possible to patients and such goal can be attained only when nursing students have undergone actual training wherein they can learn the basics of quality care and allow them to experience what takes place in different areas of the hospital;

WHEREAS; the new lines and/or additional facilities are located beyond the standard servicing distance of Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) thereby requiring new or additional facilities;

WHEREAS, the same administrative order likewise provides that the Department of Health (DOH) would be a member of the Committee on Security, Peace and Order, and Emergency Preparedness and Response and is directed to extend its emergency medical assistance and full support to the ASEAN Meetings;

WHEREAS, significant part of the medical training of nursing students prepares them to enter the field armed with the knowledge they need in order to excel in their chosen field;

WHEREAS, an Agreement for Extension of Lines and/or Additional Facilities between the City Government of Makati and Meralco is necessary in order to achieve and guide the parties in carrying out the abovementioned purpose.

WHEREAS, the DOH recognizes the role of both private and public hospitals to serve as referral hospitals in providing medical assistance to all delegates for activities in the National Capital Region (NCR) and also from other regions for the duration of the event;

WHEREAS, in the abovementioned Agreement which is hereto attached as Annex “A” and made an integral part of this Resolution, Meralco binds itself to provide/install extension of facilities, other than the Standard Connection Facilities, in Kaypian Elementary School Building subject to the payment by the City Government of Makati of the cost of such facilities.

WHEREAS, Ospital ng Makati (OSMAK) was identified and chosen by DOH as one of the hospitals for referral of delegates/participants seeking medical care;

WHEREAS, Kaypian Elementary School Building, which is located at Brgy. Kaypian, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, is a project of the City Government of Makati that was donated to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan for the benefit of the five hundred (500) families from different barangays of Makati City who were relocated thereto; WHEREAS, the City Government has a pending application for electric service connection at Kaypian Elementary School Building;

WHEREAS, however, such payment is subject to refund annually at the rate of seventy-five percent (75%) of the Gross Distribution Revenue (GDR) realized from all customers directly connected to the line extension for the calendar year until such amount is fully refunded; WHEREAS, pursuant to Sec. 8 (a) (6) of R.A. 7854, otherwise known as the Charter of the City of Makati, the Sangguniang Panlungsod hereby authorizes the Honorable Mayor MarLen Abigail S. Binay and/or City Administrator Atty. Claro F. Certeza, to negotiate, enter into and sign the Agreement for Extension of Lines and/or Additional Facilities and all pertinent documents relative thereto, on behalf of the City Government of Makati, with the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) regarding the construction of line extension and/or installation of additional facilities at Kaypian Elementary School in Brgy. Kaypian, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. 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 and/or City Administrator Atty. Claro F. Certeza, to negotiate, enter into and sign the Agreement for Extension of Lines and/or Additional Facilities and all pertinent documents relative thereto, on behalf of the City Government of Makati, with the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) regarding the construction of line extension and/or installation of additional facilities at Kaypian Elementary School in Brgy. Kaypian, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations. Let a copy of this Resolution be furnished Meralco, Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW), City Law Department and other offices concerned for their information, guidance and reference. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its approval. APPROVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its Regular Session held on 1 March 2017.

WHEREAS, OSMAK, in return, expressed its intent to accommodate such ASEAN delegates/ participants; WHEREAS, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the City Government of Makati and Department of Health (DOH)-ASEAN Summit is necessary in order to implement and guide further the parties in achieving the abovementioned purpose; WHEREAS, Art. III, Sec. 8 (a) (6), of RA 7854, otherwise known as the Charter of the City of Makati, states that the city mayor, as the chief executive of the city government, shall represent the City in all its business transactions and signs on its behalf all bonds, contracts, and obligations, and such other documents upon authority of the sanggunian panlungsod; WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, in consideration of the necessity of allowing the delegates/participants of Department of Health (DOH)-ASEAN Summit to use the facilities of OSMAK when seeking medical care, hereby authorizes the Honorable Mayor Mar‐Len Abigail S. Binay, to negotiate, enter into and sign such Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), on behalf of the City Government of Makati, with the Department of Health (DOH)-ASEAN Summit for the abovementioned 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 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), on behalf of the City Government of Makati, with the Department of Health (DOH)-ASEAN Summit, represented by its Undersecretary, Dr. Gerardo V. Bayugo, regarding the referral to OSMAK of ASEAN delegates/participants seeking medical care, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.

WHEREAS, Centro Escolar University – Nursing Department desires its students to undergo the required training in Ospital ng Makati (OSMAK); WHEREAS, OSMAK, in return, expressed its intent to accommodate the nursing students of CEU in its facilities for their training; WHEREAS, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the City Government of Makati and CEU – Nursing Department is required to be executed in order to effectuate the abovementioned purpose; WHEREAS, Art. III, Sec. 8 (a) (6), of RA 7854, otherwise known as the Charter of the City of Makati states that the city mayor, as the chief executive of the city government shall represent the City in all its business transactions and signs on its behalf all bonds, contracts, and obligations, and such other documents upon authority of the sanggunian panlungsod; WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, in consideration of the necessity of allowing the students of CEU – Nursing Department to use the facilities of OSMAK in their training, hereby authorizes the Honorable Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay, pursuant to the abovementioned provision of R.A. 7854, to negotiate, enter into and sign such Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), on behalf of the City Government of Makati, with Centro Escolar University for the abovementioned 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 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA),on behalf of the City Government of Makati, with Centro Escolar University (CEU) regarding the affiliation and training of its nursing students in OSMAK, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations. Let copy of this Resolution be furnished the Centro Escolar University (CEU) – Nursing Department, Ospital ng Makati (OSMAK), City Law Department and other concerned offices for their information, guidance and reference.

Let copy of this Resolution be furnished the Department of Health – ASEAN Summit, Ospital ng Makati, City Law Department and other concerned offices for their information, guidance and reference.

This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

MANILA, APPROVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA in its Regular Session held on 1 March 2017.

MANILA, in APPROVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA its Regular Session held on 1 March 2017. HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

SICK LEAVE HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

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. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

VACATION LEAVE

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. NELSON S. P PASIA

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

HON. ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

HON. ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. NELSON S. P PASIA

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

HON. ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

HON. ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. ON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

SICK LEAVE

ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR HON.

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

VACATION LEAVE

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

SICK LEAVE

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

VACATION LEAVE HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

Certified true and correct by:

Certified true and correct by: ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

Attested by:

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

Attested by: HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer (MS-MAR. 3, 2017)

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer (MS-MAR. 3, 2017)

(MS-MAR. 3, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Thomas lifts Celtics over Cavaliers B OSTON—Isaiah Thomas took charge in the fourth quarter to power the Boston Celtics to a 103-99 victory over the defending NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers despite a tripledouble from LeBron James.

James posted the 49th tripledouble of his career but Thomas did him one better down the stretch in a battle between the Eastern Conference’s top two seeds. Thomas, who finished with 31 points, scored five points in the final

49 seconds as the Celtics beat the Cavaliers for the first time this season after dropping the first two games. Thomas set up three-pointers by Jae Crowder and Avery Bradley before nailing a three pointer of his own with 49 seconds left

to tie the game at 99-99. He was fouled on a drive with 28 seconds left and made the free throws. Kyrie Irving missed a jumper, Tristan Thompson got the rebound and got the ball back to a covered James who fed a wide open Deron Williams in the corner. Williams, in his second game with Cleveland, missed the long shot. Crowder rebounded and hit two free throws with four seconds remaining. Thomas came into the contest on a four-game shooting slump. He also

had five assists, while Crowder had 17 points and 10 rebounds. Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard nailed a clutch jump shot with two seconds remaining to lift the San Antonio Spurs to a 100-99 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Leonard’s game winning shot capped a 31-point performance for the American in front of a crowd of 18,400 at the AT&T Center arena. Leonard drained the shot despite being guarded by Pacers star Paul George. It was then George’s turn at glory but his shot from be-

yond the arc bounced harmlessly off the rim, ending the contest. “Coach drew up a good play and LaMarcus (Aldridge) set a good screen for me,” Leonard said about his final shot. “We had about nine seconds. I wanted to take my time and try to get off a good shot and it ended up going in for me.” The Spurs led 98-97 before Danny Green missed a layup with 1:46 to play. Myles Turner took advantage on the other end with a jumper 11 seconds later to give Indiana a 99-98 lead.

After a pair of empty possessions by both teams, Monta Ellis missed two free throws for the Pacers with nine seconds to play, giving San Antonio a final shot at the victory. Elsewhere, Anthony Davis reached the 7,000 point milestone and Jrue Holiday snapped his scoring slump as the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Detroit Pistons 109-86. Davis scored 24 of his game high 33 points in the opening half to become the seventh-youngest player in league history to score 7,000 points. AFP

Petron eyes stint in PSL finals By Peter Atencio MAKING it back to the final round is the main goal of the Petron Blaze Spikers in the 2017 Belo-Philippine Super Liga Invitational Voleyball Tournament when it starts this Saturday at the Arena in San Juan. Last year, the Blaze Spikers made it to the finals after placing second in the classification round. They eventually placed third when RC Cola Army Troopers swept their three-game assignment and won the title. With the Army Troopers on leave, coach Cesael de los Santos believes the team can overachieve their goals this time. “Every team wants to make it to the top four. We have the same goal. But after that’s we’ll try to overachieve this if we make it to the final round,” said de los Santos. Eight veterans are coming back from last season, including former La Salle ace Mika Reyes, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Arellano bet CJ Rosario. Then, there’s Carmina Aganon, Mayette Zapanta, Shiela Marie Pineda and Frances Molina.

They took in April Ross Hingpit, Rhea Dimaculangan, Dancel Dusaran, Gianes Dolar and Carmela Tunay. The Blaze Spikers start the competition a 7 p.m. match against the Coco Life Asset Managers, one of the two new teams along with the Sta. Lucia Realty Lady Realtors. In earlier games, the Foton Tornadoes will meet the Cignal HD Spikers at 5 p.m. and the Asset Managers take on the GenerikaAyala Lifesavers at 3 p.m. The top three teams that get past the preliminaries and the classification round will advance to the finals, and will battle it out for the crown with a visiting Japanese team, from Shinwa University in Kobe. The Lady Realtors is a squad made up mostly of players coming from the College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers, who finished as runners-up in the recent 92nd season of the NCAA. On the other hand, the presence of talented players like former Ateneo star libero Denise “Denden” Lazaro, and ex-La Salle hitter Michelle Gumabao will give the Asset Managers a fighting chance.

Boston C eltics point guard Isaiah Thomas (4) glides to the hoop against a pair of Cleveland Cavaliers defenders LeBron James (23) and Kyle Korver on March 1 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. AFP

Navy’s Morales nears 2017 LBC Ronda crown GUIMARAS—Jan Paul Morales of Navy-Standard Insurance ruled the 40-km Individual Time Trial Stage 12 to virtually clinch the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2017 title at the Provinicial Capitol here yesterday. Morales, 31, was just a class above the rest as he ruled the ITT with plenty to spare with a clocking of an hour, five minutes and 42 seconds that further solidified his grip of the overall individual lead. So dominating was the Calumpang, Marikina City

native that he overlapped his closest pursuers Rudy Roque of Navy, Cris Joven of Kinetix Lab-Army and Go for Gold’s Bryant Sepnio and nearly caught up with erstwhile No. 5 Leonel Dimaano of RC ColaNCR at the finish. Another Navyman Jay Lampawog wound up second in the stage in 1:09:13 while Kinetix Lab-Army’s Marvin Tapic checked in at third in 1:09:19. It was Morales’ fifth lap victory after he topped the Stage Two criterium in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, the Angeles-Subic Stage

Three, the Pili-Daet Stage Seven and the Stage Nine criterium in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. The impressive performance reduced the final two stages in Iloilo City as Morales’ victory ride he turned his two-minute lead over the 25-year-old Roque to a little more than nine minutes as the latter has a total clocking of 38:40:55. “Yes, I’m slowly starting to feel it,” said Morales. Morales, however, said he will be a little cautious in today’s 209-km Iloilo-AntiqueIloilo Stage 13.

The 14th and final stage—a 50km critierium that starts and ends in Iloilo City—is on Saturday. “I need to ride intelligently and avoid potential problems and I think I can do that,” said Morales. Joven checked in seventh in the stage in 1:10:54 to eat some minutes from Roque’s nineminute edge. The proud son of Iriga, Camarines Sur has an overall clocking of 38:47:57, or now just seven minutes off Roque. Rounding up the top 10 were Sepnio (38:55:05), Navy’s

Daniel Ven Carino (38:59:07), Dimaano (38:59:24), Navy’s Lloyd Lucien Reynante (38:59:54), Navy’s Ronald Lomotos (39:00:20, Ilocos Sur’s Ryan Serapio (39:01:27) and Kinetix Lab-Army’s Reynaldo Navarro (39:02:44). Ronda is staking P1 million to the champion courtesy of presentor LBC and in partnership with MVP Sports Foundation, Petron, Mitsubishi, Versa. ph, Partas, Maynilad, Standard Insurance, CCN, Bike Xtreme, NLEX, PhilCycling and 3Q Sports Event Management.

Donskoy shocks Federer in Dubai DUBAI, United Arab Emirtes —Sluggish Roger Federer rued a “crazy” failure to bury three match points in falling to a shock three-set defeat to Russian qualifier Evgeny Donskoy in Dubai on Wednesday. Former world number one Federer, 35, who lifted his 18th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January, had match points in the second-set tiebreak and also led 5-1 in the third-set breaker. But world-ranked 116 Donskoy battled back to stun the third seed and set up a quarter-final clash against Lucas Pouille of France with a thrilling 3-6, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/5) victory. “I surprised everyone today. I think whoever wins against Roger surprises himself,” said Donskoy 26. “I can say it’s a dream come true, but I don’t like this because you always want to win, even if it’s Roger.”

It was just the third time since 2007 that Federer has been beaten by a qualifier. “I just never really got going tonight and sort of felt heavy. But look, those matches happen frequently, where you just got to somehow find a way to come through,” said the Swiss legend, who was chasing a record eighth title at the Dubai Championships. “Tonight I was convinced that if I came through I was going to feel better tomorrow. I came (to Dubai) early. I was perfectly prepared, it’s just a tough loss tonight. So many chances... It was crazy.” Federer, who saw his eight-match win streak in 2017 ended by Donskoy, did not want to make excuses and said it had nothing to do with a leg injury picked up at the Australian Open, where he beat old foe Rafael Nadal in the final in his last appearance before Dubai. AFP

MEDIA CATEGORY WINNERS. Roland Jumawan of Manila Standard (center) holds his trophy after winning the PAL Interclub Media Category in Davao. Others with him are, from left: General Siegfred Mison PAL Senior Vice President General Counsel, Rey Bancod representing 3rd placer Ding Marcelo of Manila Bulletin, 2nd placer Musong Castillo of Philippine Daily Inquirer and Victor Suarez AVP Mindanao Sales. Lino Santos

Colina powers National University past De La Salle NATIONAL University leaned on Lawrence Colina’s hat-trick to beat De La Salle, 3-1, for its second consecutive win in the UAAP Season 79 men’s football tournament yesterday at the Moro Lorenzo Field. The Bulldogs rallied from a goal down behind Colina, who nailed with the equalizer in the 76th minute and put his side ahead with an 84th minute strike from just inside the box. Colina then scored in stoppage time with a spot kick, banking in

from the left side of the post before going in. Colina’s hat-trick is the first this season. Now with seven points, NU is level with idle University of Santo Tomas, but the Growling Tigers are still in fourth spot by virtue of better goal difference. Coach Mari Aberasturi, who took over the Bulldogs this season, wants his troops to keep on improving. “Basta yung aim lang namin ay maipanalo lang kung ano ang next

game na nandiyan. Ngayon, ang mga bata, ayaw nang magpatalo. Alam nila, nothing to lose,” said Aberasturi. After a scoreless first half, Rigo Joseph opened the scoring for the Green Archers in the 53rd minute. Earlier, a 10-man University of the East earned its first full points with a 2-1 win over Adamson University. Substitute Alberto Echin delivered the header in the 89th minute to help the Red Warriors move up to four points.

UE won despite losing Stephane Dagaraga in the 64th minute for his involvement in a scuffle with Blessed Brian Jumo I. The Falcons equalized after Ejike Ugwoke scored his second goal of the season in the 41st. Mark Lerion opened the scoring for the Warriors with a 7th minute free kick. De La Salle slipped to sixth place with five points, while Adamson University is now at the bottom of the table with three points.

Players dread Apo Golf By Randy Caluag DAVAO CITY—Of the two playing venues for the 70th Philippine Arlines (PAL) Interclub golf championship here, participants dread the tree-lined Apo Golf and Country Club compared with the well-manicured Rancho Palos Verdes courses. Weekend players as well as the top guns of this annual tournament found the dogleg layouts of the Apo Golf so challenging that even non-playing captain Thirdy Escano of the front-running Manila Southwoods admitted that the “real battle could take place here.” “Unless we come up with enough leads going into the fourth rounds, it should be a close battle. In case of a close fight after three rounds, this (Apo golf) is where the real battle should take place,” said Escano, who was part of the many championship wins of Southwoods in the past. The Southwoods parbusters again dominated the second day of action on Thursday at the Palos Verdes with a total of 136 anchored by the young Yuto Katusrugawa, who came up with 36 points after playing an even-par 72. He was ably aided by Iya Alido Ian Patrick Culll, who logged similar 34 points and Jama Reyes’ 32. The Carmona-based club’s first four of Kristoffer Arevalo, Carl Corpuz, Jets Sajulga and Jun-Jun Plana came up with the same 136 aggregate points in the first round on Wednesday at the tough Apo Golf. The defending Southwoods now leads top rival Canlubang in the elite Championship Division by 14 points after the Sugar Barons compiled 133 from the efforts of Gido Mandanas (36), Carlo Villaroman (34), Rupert Saragoza (33) and Marco Olives (30). It should be another breeze for the topcaliber parbusters in the third round today (Friday) which will also be held at the Palos Verdes that offers long and wide courses. Then action shifts back to the difficult Apo Golf in the fourth and final day of this tournament that serves as the unofficial team golf championships.

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

Sports

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

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017

PKA Tour concludes season in Quezon THE ICTSI Philippine Kitaboarding Tour Season 4 winds up its four-leg circuit in Quezon Province starting today (Friday, March 3) with topnotch action from some of the world’s top riders clashing for top honors in various divisions. International pro rider Jaka Komocav of Slovenia, Swede ace Atte Kappel, Hang Time world champion Bibiana Magaji, also of Slovakia, and North Kiteboarding team rider Julia Castor banner the 60 competitors raring to flaunt their tricks and stunning routines in the three-day championship organized by the Philippine Kiteboarding Association and sponsored by ICTSI. Heading the local challenge are ace riders Christian Tio of Red Bull and Doque delos Santos, both winners of the first three legs, Remel Rentillo, Jacob Manuel and Lynley Teng, who shared the spotlight in the penultimate leg in Boracay last month. Titles to be disputed in the event, held at the country’s new kiteboarding destination in Cagbalete, are the Novice, Men’s, Women’s, Masters and Juniors. Meanwhile, the final leg, sponsored by Cabrinha, Greenyard, Air Juan, Aboitiz Foundation, Hiyas Press Inc., Kitecenter at Cagbalete Island, Villa Cleofas, Caliraya Kiteboarding Club, Jovens Blue Sea Beach Resort, Sun Zapper, SUP Tours Philippines, Double Dragon Apparel, Solar Sports, My Life On Board and Strong Media Advertising Solutions, will be telecast on Solar Sports via www.mylifeonboard. net for the highlights. It can also be viewed live on Facebook live streaming (www.facebook.com/pkatours/). Other backers of the event are Rep. Danilo Suarez (Third District Quezon Province), Bayan ng Mauban Mayor Fernando Llamas, Administrators Office Anaconda Sunga, Tourism Office’s Anabelle Calleja, DOT Region IVA Dir Rebecca Labit, Coast Guard PO3 Carlos Salcedo, PNP PSI Marian Rose Costas OIC, Municipal Health Centre Dr. Ronald Mararac.

Jay Matthew Reyes of Manila Southwoods chips from the fairway into the green at hole no. 5 during the second day of the 70th PAL Interclub Golf Tournament at Rancho Palos Verdes Golf & Country Club in Davao City. Lino Santos

Southwoods extends lead at PAL Interclub in Davao D AVAO— Manila Southwoods again came out with all guns ﬁring yesterday, pooling a second straight 136 points to now be 14 ahead of Canlubang halfway through the 70th Philippine Airlines Interclub Men’s Championship.

With Japanese teenager Yuto Katsiragawa matching par 72 worth 36 points and Ira Alido and Liam Cully shooting 34s, the Carmona-based squad again got solid numbers from everyone for a 36-hole 272 total as the team’s chances for a first-ever “three-peat” keeps getting better by the day. But non-playing skipper Thir-

dy Escano refuses to fall into a false sense of security, considering the caliber of the team that’s giving them chase. “They will never be a pushover,” Escano said, referring to the Sugar Barons, who drew 36 points from Gido Mandanas and 34 from Carlo Villaroman but got just 33 from Rupert Zaragosa at Rancho Palos Verdes here but

still managed to stay close. “Fourteen (points) is not a comfortable lead, especially against that team,” Escano went on as he bared that he will be “tweaking” his lineup for the third round today to prepare for Saturday’s last 18 holes at Apo Golf. Either of Jama Reyes and Aidric Chan’s 32 counted as the fourth score for Southwoods, downplaying the balance in Escano’s lineup, while Cangolf threw away the 24 of Bambam Santos after Marco Olives’ 30 counted as the fourth card. Zaragosa, the pint-sized multiple national champion, had two of his bogeys in the back nine and picked up on the par-5 12th hole, while Olives was working

on a three-over card heading into his final three holes only to drop shots in each of them. “That’s why you cannot get over confident against a team like Canlubang, because, clearly, we just had the better breaks today out there,” Escano said. Del Monte wrested third place from Luisita at 238 after getting 38 points from Jelbert Gamolo – the lowest score thus far – and 32 from Julius Bautista for the chunk of its second round 127. The Luisitans, whose Senior team triumphed last Saturday, had just 117 to be six points behind the Bukidnon-based team. Senior standout Jingy Tuason scored 32 and was the high scorer for Luisita.

Pacio faces tough Thai at ONE: Warrior Kingdom THAI MMA fighter Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke is fully aware of Joshua Pacio’s outstanding reputation inside the ONE Championship cage as both men are scheduled to face each other on the undercard of ONE: Warrior Kingdom in Bangkok, Thailand on March 11. Pacio holds an impressive 8-1 professional mixed martial arts (MMA) record and is one of the most highly-regarded strawweight prospects in the Asian region today. A member and a proud product of the legendary Team Lakay in La Trinidad, Benguet, Pacio is a Wushu specialist with a solid wellrounded skillset. All eight of his career victories have come by finish, including five wins by impressive submission and three triumphs by spectacular knockout. “Pacio is a well-rounded fighter, and I have a lot of respect for him. He has good striking. He is good on the ground as well. Joshua Pacio is such a talented fighter,” Dejdamrong said of his opponent. Despite the worthy praise that he has given to Pacio, Dejdamrong is confident that he can handle the versatility of his Filipino foe inside the cage.

“For this fight, I’ve trained as hard as ever. I have continued to improve my overall MMA game. I’ve also worked on my ground skills, both offensively and defensively. I’m very excited to test these out in the cage in March,” he said. Although Pacio has a knack of finishing his cage counterparts on the canvas, Dejdamrong has no qualms if he will deal with the Filipino standout on the ground. With the aim to be a more versatile competitor than Pacio, the 38-year-old Thai stalwart revealed that he worked extensively on his ground game in training camp. “If the fight goes to the ground, I’m comfortable and confident in my grappling skills to get the submission,” said Dejdamrong, who trains with elite grappling specialists such as Shinya Aoki, Alex Silva and Bruno Pucci at Evolve MMA. Pacio and Dejdamrong possess superb striking pedigrees, but the latter believes that he has the upper hand in the stand-up department. “I believe I’ll have the edge in striking because of my Muay Thai experience. I know he Thai MMA ﬁghter Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke (right) throws an overhand has a background in Wushu, but striking is so right against Yoshitaka Naito. The Thai provides a tough challenge against natural to me,” he said. Filipino Joshua Pacio at ONE: Warrior Kingdom. ONE Championship

San Miguel Beermen eye 3-1 lead over Barangay Ginebra By Jeric Lopez

Barangay Ginebra guard Scottie Thompson protects the basketball against San Miguel Beer counterpart Chris Ross. SMB and Ginebra continue their best-of-seven championship series today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

DEFENDING champion San Miguel Beer aims on inching closer to retaining its crown as it looks to grab a 3-1 lead over Barangay Ginebra in their bestof-seven championship series in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. Game 4 of the finals is scheduled tonight at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with the Beermen looking to repeat over the Gin Kings to move closer to winning their third straight All-Filipino jewel. San Miguel took the piv-

otal Game 3 last Wednesday night, 99-88, with a strong finish down the stretch after trailing by 12 points early in the second period. Beermen coach Leo Austria cited the dominance of reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) June Mar Fajardo, who wasn’t a factor in Game 2, in Game 3 that pushed them to victory and gave the team a much needed upper hand in the series. “June Mar’s presence helped us. I’m happy to see him have more touches because it makes our team better and everything starts with him,” said Austria. Chris Ross, Alex Cabag-

not and Marcio Lassiter went with Fajardo as they all lifted San Miguel in Game 3. Facing a familiar situation, Barangay Ginebra must now win to keep it a competitive series and avoid a huge hole. The Best Player of the Conference (BPC) award will be awarded prior to tip-off of Game 4. Fajardo is expected to receive the award, his fifth BPC plum in his career. His impending win is bound to tie him with mentor and former teammate Danny Ildefonso with the most number of BPC awards in league history.

The 70th PAL Interclub Platinum sponsors are Mareco Broadcasting Network, A&E Networks Asia, RMN Networks, The Manila Standard, Fox Networks Group, Rolls-Royce, TV5, MasterCard, TFC and Business Mirror. Major sponsors include Asian Air Safari, Airbus, Primax Broadcasting Network and Sabre Airline Solutions while Corporate sponsors are Baron Travel Corporation, Boeing, MX3, GE Aviation, Bombo Radyo Philippines, Asia Brewery, Tanduay Distillers, Sabre Airline Solutions and Tourism Promotions Board. The donors are Shangri-La at The Fort, Trinity Insurance and Eton Properties.

Jovelo rules 800m dash

JOE Marie Jovelo topped the 800m dash yesterday to help boost Arellano U’s back-to-back title bid in the seniors division of the 92nd NCAA track and field competition at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City. Jovelo clocked a minute and 55.10 seconds to rule his event and give Arellano U, which pulled the rug from the tournament’s big guns to snatch the title a year back, its first gold medal in the three-day meet. After two days, the Chiefs have amassed a total of 413 points, or 68 points ahead of secondrunning Mapua with 345. St. Benilde was at No. 3 with 268.5 points while Jose Rizal, the reigning four-peat champion before it was unseated by Arellano U last year, and Perpetual Help were at Nos. 4 and 5 with 191.5 and 159 points, respectively. In juniors’ action, Emilio Aguinaldo is likewise on course in securing its second straight crown after it accumulated 376 points on the strength of three golds—one each in discus throw, 400m and 800m—and a silver in 400m. Veruel Verdadero clocked 50.30 to snare the 400m gold while Edwin Giron, Jr. timed in 1:56.83 to take the 800m mint. Joviener Espillo finished second in the 400m behind Verdadero in 50.92. San Beda was at No. 2 with 271 while San Sebastian and Lyceum of the Phl U were at Nos. 2 and 3 with 269.5 and 126.5. Other gold medal winners in Day Two were Perpetual Help’s Francis Medina in the 400m, Jose Rizal’s Dave Albarico in javelin and LPU’s Ronnie Manlipay in triple jump.

Market ends slump; Ayala rises B2

IN BRIEF Tsuneishi investing P5b and hiring 6,000

TSUNEISHI Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. of Japan is investing an additional P5 billion in a ship recycling facility in the Visayas that will generate 6,000 jobs, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Thursday. Lopez said Tsuneishi was among the Japanese companies the committed to invest a total of P14.5 billion to expand their projects in the country. “We met Tsuneishi president Kenji Kawano to discuss the expansion plans of Tsuneishi shipbuilding in the Philippines. Our discussions now also covered a prospective third project on ship recycling, using the latest internationally accredited green technologies,” he said. A project brief showed that high-quality steel even from recycled vessels were highly recommended for re-use. Lopez said the steel-recycling project would not only meet the country’s requirements for inter-island vessels for transport and logistics, but would also cover the steel requirements of major infrastructure work. “We shall continue to cooperate with Tsuneishi in the setting-up and operations of the project,” Lopez said. Othel V. Campos

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017

Filinvest, JG Summit eye Clark By Darwin G. Amojelar

ONGLOMERATE Filinvest Development Corp. and JG Summit Holdings Inc. jointly submitted an unsolicited proposal to develop Clark International Airport, an ofﬁcial of the Transportation Department said Thursday. “It’s a submission by Filinvest and JG Summit,” Transportation Undersecretary for aviation Roberto Lim said. Lim said the agency was currently evaluating the P187-billion Clark airport development project submitted by JG-Filinvest Group. “We hope to complete the assessment also this year. There’s a process. We also have to send it to Neda [National Economic and Develop-

ment Authority] because Neda is the one that looks at detail and macro,” Lim said. He said the proposed Clark airport development project would have five phases. “Initial phase is build new terminal for six million capacity. But it’s early stages,” he said. Clark hosts airlines such as Emirates Airlines via Dubai, Qatar Airways via Doha, Asiana Airlines via

Incheon, Jin Air via Incheon and Busan, Cebu Pacific Air via Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and domestic flights to Cebu, along with Cathay Dragon via Hong Kong and Tiger Air via Singapore. Clark International Airport Corp. president and chief executive Alexander Cauguiran earlier said he was in talks with airline carriers to connect Clark to North America. He said Clark had a huge market potential, with travelers coming from Regions 1 to 3 and the Camanava area (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela). These areas have a combined population of around 24.2 million. “Clark ought to be the most logical and practical airport of choice of the people from the northern and

central parts of Luzon,” Cauguiran said. Cauguiran said at least 12 million out of the 36 million passengers using the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were coming from the Northern and Central Luzon regions. “Ten to twelve million passengers are recorded to be coming from the northern part of the country. Assuming that fifty percent of the figure plies Edsa en route to Naia, you have at least six million vehicles clogging Edsa,” Cauguiran said. The CIAC chief said the volume of vehicles in Metro Manila would be drastically reduced if travelers from those areas would use Clark airport instead of the over-crowded Naia.

Sangley gateway to unclog Manila

ALL-ASIA Resources and Reclamation Corp., a consortium led by tycoon Henry Sy and the Tieng family, said Thursday the proposed P1.3-trillion Sangley gateway project will help resolve airport, seaport and traffic congestion in Metro Manila. “Our proposed project will make Metro Manila and its surrounding environs a better place to live, work and travel in. You will see almost no container trucks on the road and going to the airport will be easier because Sangley is the best location there is,” said ARRC vice chairman Wilson Tieng. Under the proposed Philippine Global Gateway project, ARRC plans to build an international airport, seaport, economic zone and real estate components in Sangely Point. Tieng said the proposed international airport would take only a few minutes from Roxas Boulevard. “Roxas Boulevard is also accessible via the Skyway from Muntinglupa and with the soonto-be completed connector road, even from NLEx [North Luzon Expressway] and Port Area,” Tieng said. All-Asia expects to finish. without using a single government centavo. the airport component of the gateway project within five years from getting the notice to proceed. This includes the reclamation portion which a huge Chinese company will undertake on a turnkey basis, Tieng said. Darwin G. Amojelar

Peso sinks to 50.31 against the US dollar

THE peso resumed its decline Thursday to a new 10-year low of 50.31 against the US dollar, as financial markets await the next move of the US Federal Reserve in its meeting this month. The peso lost three centavos to close at 50.31 a dollar, from 50.28 a greenback Wednesday. It was the local currency’s weakest level in more than 10 years, or since it settled at 50.32 a dollar on Sept. 26, 2006. Total trade volume reached $409 million Thursday. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said in a statement that currencies in the emerging market economies, including the peso, were seen to trade sideways as financial markets wait for clarity on the next moves of the US Fed. Tetangco issued the statement after US President Donald Trump’s speech before the US Congress, where he said he was open to immigration reforms, shifting from his harsh statements on illegal immigration. But Trump did not provide specifics and did not comment on the proposed border adjustment tax to boost exports over imports. “The Trump speech as I understand didn’t provide much in terms of details. The market will therefore still try to get a feel of how the stimulus will be funded and whether such moves will raise the US inflation path appreciably,” Tetangco said. “The market may turn its focus again on the Fed and expectations of its next moves. The peso and other EME currencies would likely trade in a relatively narrow band until more clarity comes from US policy makers,” Tetangco said. Julito G. Rada

SHIPBUILDERS’ VISIT.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (center) and Tsuneshi Shipbuilding Corp. president Kenji Kawano (second from left) discuss the expansion plan of the shipbuilding industry in the country. Lopez assured the Japanese executives of the Trade Department’s support and cooperation in setting-up and operations of investment projects. Also shown are (from left) Tsuneshi deputy president Yasunori Kohatake, executive ofﬁcer Takatoshi Ikenishi and special trade representative Dita Angara-Mathay.

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing March 2, 2017

Budget deficit jumps 190% to P353b By Julito G. Rada THE government’s budget deficit jumped 190 percent last year to a five-year high of P353.4 billion from P121.7 billion in 2015, as the Duterte administration increased spending in the second half. Data from the Bureau of Treasury showed the 2016 deficit was 9 percent lower than the revised program of P388.9-billion shortfall for the year. “The outturns reflect strong expenditure growth of 14 percent resulting from the initiatives of the new administration to ramp up public spending for the second semester, outpacing the 4-percent increase in revenue collections,” the Treasury said. The Treasury said relative to the economy, the deficit was still within the 2.7-percent revised target, coming in at 2.4 percent of the GDP. This was significantly higher than the 0.9 percent deficit-to-GDP ratio recorded in 2015, and the highest level posted in the last five years. Revenue collections rose 4 percent in 2016 to P2.195 trillion from P2.109 tril-

lion in 2015, but fell short of the revised target of P2.256 trillion. Government expenditures jumped 14 percent to P2.549 trillion in 2016 from P2.230 trillion in 2015. “Tax collections grew by 9.1 percent, faster than the GDP in 2016, reﬂecting improved efﬁciency. Tax effort inched up to 13.7 percent from 13.6 percent in 2015. Total revenue collections amounted to 15.2 percent of GDP, just 0.3 percent short of the 15.5 percent revised target and 0.5 percent below the 15.8 percent revenue effort last year,” the Treasury said. Full-year collections of the Bureau of Internal Revenue rose 9 percent to P1.567 trillion from a year ago, but missed the revised program of P1.62 trillion. Customs posted an 8-percent growth in collections last year to P396.4 billion, but also missed the target of P409 billion. The Bureau of Treasury’s income declined 8 percent last year to P101.7 billion from P110 billion a year ago. “The decline was due mainly to the lower income from investments and national government deposits. Lower guarantee

Mighty vows to open warehouses LOCAL cigarette manufacturer Mighty Corp. said Thursday it will open its warehouses to cooperate with the Bureau of Customs. “Mighty Corp. is willing to open all its warehouses to cooperate with the Bureau of Customs for seizure of fake cigarette products should any be found within its premises. It reiterates its long-standing position that it is not in the business of producing fake cigarette products as its own local brands are well-accepted by its customers,” Mighty Corp. executive vice president and spokesperson Oscar Barrientos said. “The company, however, bewails the use by other government agencies of mission orders of BOC to pursue schemes of its competitors

to seize its products using a false pretext that fake cigarettes are stored in its warehouses because of its being in the forefront of effort to alleviate the plight of local tobacco farmers through amendatory legislation,” Barrientos said. He said the result of raids conducted Wednesday by BOC in warehouses of Mighty in Pampanga and General Santos found no fake products. Barrientos said that should have aborted the activity, but other government regulators without appropriate mission orders or directives from its head ofﬁces had used the raid to assert offenses by Mighty not covered by the BOC mission orders. Mighty asked BOC to

keep vigilant to avert smuggling and ensure collection of duties and taxes, and insisted it was not producing fake products and had done nothing to violate any of regulation or the Tariff and Customs Code. Mighty said these raids which had not resulted in the conﬁscation of fake products of its competitors should not be misused by its competitors who were only seeking the destruction of a 70-year-old local cigarette manufacturing company. Barrientos said the company would take steps to ask for the immediate re-opening of its warehouses, and pursue punitive action against those who had misused the BOC mission orders for insidious purposes.

fee collection and dividend remittance also weighed on the year-on-year performance,” it said. Government disbursements reached P283.6 billion in December bringing the full-year total to P2.54 trillion. Compared to 2015, total expenditures grew 4 percent or P318.7 billion from the 2015 level, but missed the revised target of P2.64 trillion by 4 percent. Interest payments for December amounted to P19.1 billion, or 11 percent lower than the December 2015 level and 24-percent behind the P25.1-billion program for the month. “This was mainly due to base effects from the timing of payment for domestic interest payments in 2015. Total IP for 2016 amounted to P304.5 billion generating savings of P23.3 billion against the P327.7 billion program for the year,” the Treasury said. Net of interest payments, the national government achieved a P49-billion primary deﬁcit for 2016, a reversal of the P187.7-billion primary surplus recorded a year ago. This is still behind the program by 20 percent or P12.2 billion.

CLIMATE TREATY.

Senator Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on climate change, receives the Instrument of Ratiﬁcation for the Paris Agreement from senior deputy executive secretary Meynard Guevarra, after President Rodrigo Duterte signed the treaty. Legarda said the ratiﬁcation would allow the Philippines to access the Green Climate Fund.

8000 7600 7200 6800 6400 6000

7,234.94 64.24

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

Closing MARCH 2, 2017 45.00 46.50 48.00 49.50

P50.310 CLOSE

51.00

HIGH P50.270 LOW P50.345 AVERAGE P50.307 VOLUME 409.000M

P471.00-P690.00 LPG/11-kg tank P39.80-P48.90 Unleaded Gasoline P27.90-P33.80 Diesel

OPRICES IL TODAY

P28.50-P36.85 Kerosene P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Thursday, March 2, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.2910

Japan

Yen

0.008801

0.4426

Pound

1.228700

61.7926

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128816

6.4783

Switzerland

Franc

0.991277

49.8523

Canada

Dollar

0.749963

37.7164

Singapore

Dollar

0.709874

35.7003

Australia

Dollar

0.767500

38.5983

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652942

133.4191

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266752

13.4152

Brunei

Dollar

0.707364

35.5740

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.028595

1.4381

UAE

Dirham

0.272324

13.6954

Euro

1.054800

53.0469

Korea

Won

0.000878

0.0442

China

Yuan

0.145298

7.3072

India

Rupee

0.014961

0.7524

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.224947

11.3128

New Zealand

Dollar

0.714500

35.9329

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032500

1.6345 Source: PDS Bridge

Business

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market ends slump; Ayala rises Eagle Cement eyes S P9.2-b IPO in May TOCKS advanced Thursday to end a four-day slump, following overnight gains on Wall Street as traders cheered upbeat US economic data and Donald Trump’s conciliatory speech to Congress. The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, rose 64 points, or 0.9 percent, to close at 7,234.94. Five of the six sectoral indices advanced, with only mining and oil ending in the red. The heavier index, representing all shares, gained 31 points, or 0.7 percent, to settle at 4,378.87, on a value turnover of P5.6 billion. Gainers outnumbered losers, 111 to 74, while 53 issues were unchanged. Thirteen of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green,

led by Apollo Global Capital Inc. which surged 17 percent to P0.069 and conglomerate Ayala Corp. climbed 2.4 percent to P803. Century Paciﬁc Food Inc. rose 2.3 percent to P16.68. Meanwhile, the US president’s much-anticipated address on Tuesday, while lacking details, was broadly welcomed as he promised a trillion-dollar infrastructure splurge and tax cuts—music to bullish investors’ ears. Global equity markets have thundered along since Trump’s

November election win as dealers bet his policies would light a ﬁre under the US economy. The fact that he did away with the bellicose rhetoric of the past made him appear more presidential, according to some observers. “Markets have voted again and it’s clear they liked the version of Donald Trump that they saw yesterday,” Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at CFD and FX provider AxiTrader, said in a note. “While there was little additional speciﬁcity—the so-called meat on the bone—the president’s tone echoed the one that ignited the initial Trumponomics rally during his acceptance speech on election night back in November.” On Wall Street, the Dow—

which until Tuesday had racked up 12 successive record closes— powered past 21,000 points for the first time, while London and Frankfurt also clocked up alltime high finishes. A strong reading on US factory activity and price rises as well as German inflation also provided support. The optimism continued into Asia, with Tokyo rallying 0.9 percent thanks to a drop in the yen, while Hong Kong pared early gains but was still up 0.4 percent in the afternoon. Sydney added more than one percent. Seoul put on 0.5 percent and Singapore jumped 0.4 percent, while Wellington, Taipei, Manila and Jakarta all posted healthy gains. However, Shanghai eased 0.5 percent. With AFP, Bloomberg

By Jenniffer B. Austria EAGLE Cement Corp., the country’s fourth largest cement company owned by businessman Ramon Ang, plans to raise up to P9.2 billion from an initial public offering in May. Documents ﬁled with the Securities and Exchange Commission showed that Eagle Cement would sell up to 575 million common shares, at an offer price of up to P16 apiece. Existing shareholders will sell 500 million shares, with an option to dispose of another 75 million

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

3.26 48.4 94.55 4.35 116.2 1.26 39.9 16.04 19.6 1.69 840 0.67 80.95 0.74 14.5 25.8 57 241 111 90.3 39.1 200 1,800 79

3.4 48.4 96.2 4.43 118.4 1.26 40 16.04 19.9 1.69 840 0.67 81.7 0.74 14.58 26 57.1 242 111 90.3 40.5 201.4 1,820 79.05

3.26 48.35 94.55 4.35 116.2 1.26 39.9 16 19.6 1.69 840 0.66 80.55 0.73 14.5 25.8 56.9 239 111 89 38.95 197.1 1,800 79

3.4 48.35 96.2 4.43 117.5 1.26 40 16 19.88 1.69 840 0.66 81.1 0.74 14.5 26 57.05 240 111 89 40.5 200.2 1,800 79.05

ABOITIZ POWER 42.75 AGRINURTURE 5.45 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.85 ALSONS CONS 1.49 ASIABEST GROUP 20.8 BASIC ENERGY 0.285 BOGO MEDELLIN 109 CEMEX HLDG 8.96 CENTURY FOOD 16.34 CHEMPHIL 195 CIRTEK HLDG 23.3 CNTRL AZUCARERA 15.28 CONCEPCION 61.5 CONCRETE A 92.4 CROWN ASIA 2.12 DAVINCI CAPITAL 6.1 DEL MONTE 12 DNL INDUS 13 EEI CORP 7.88 EMPERADOR 6.82 ENERGY DEVT 5.8 FIRST GEN 21.2 FIRST PHIL HLDG 73 GINEBRA 12.44 HOLCIM 17 INTEGRATED MICR 6.6 IONICS 1.7 JOLLIBEE 203.2 LIBERTY FLOUR 72 LMG CHEMICALS 7.48 MABUHAY VINYL 3.7 MANILA WATER 30.95 MAXS GROUP 27 MEGAWIDE 16.02 MERALCO 293 MG HLDG 0.255 PANASONIC 6.65 PEPSI COLA 3.47 PETRON 8.8 PHINMA 11.56 PHINMA ENERGY 2.35 PHX PETROLEUM 7 PHX SEMICNDCTR 1.88 PILIPINAS SHELL 78.5 PRYCE CORP 5.04 PUREFOODS 266.8 RFM CORP 4.93 ROXAS HLDG 2.77 SHAKEYS PIZZA 12.38 SPC POWER 4.25 SWIFT FOODS 0.147 TKC METALS 1.47 UNIV ROBINA 161.1 VITARICH 1.66 VULCAN INDL 1.07

43.75 5.46 0.86 1.49 20.85 0.295 109 9.03 16.8 199.7 23.5 15.28 61.5 95 2.19 6.15 12.02 13.08 7.9 6.9 5.83 21.5 73.8 12.44 17 6.6 1.75 204.2 77 7.58 3.7 31.6 27.4 16.38 293 0.28 6.85 3.49 8.8 11.56 2.35 7.13 1.88 78.5 5.04 266.8 5 2.77 12.42 4.25 0.147 1.48 163.9 1.74 1.07

42.75 5.3 0.84 1.45 19 0.285 109 8.47 16.34 165.1 23.3 14.72 61.5 91.4 2.11 6.1 11.8 12.86 7.86 6.82 5.76 21.2 72.9 12.44 17 6.5 1.7 203 72 7.14 3.7 30.6 26.95 15.84 291.2 0.25 6.63 3.47 8.73 11.5 2.3 7 1.81 77.45 5.04 266 4.92 2.75 12.26 4.25 0.147 1.47 161.1 1.65 1.06

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

0.39 72.4 12.68 1.14 6.26 0.395 0.39 788 8.8 12.84 7.96 0.185 1,208 75.5 4.13 1.13 7.89 14.88 6.9 0.057 1.11 2 107 659 1.58 269 0.3 0.188 0.26

0.4 73 12.72 1.19 6.3 0.395 0.4 808 8.9 13.12 8.05 0.198 1,241 76.95 4.48 1.17 7.89 15 7.02 0.059 1.13 2 107.4 669.5 1.58 269 0.305 0.189 0.26

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

6.64 1.01 2.51 1.49 35.6 3.54 5.1 5.92 0.52 1.3 0.16 0.55 52.95 0.7 0.157 1.66 0.98 1.25 3.75 0.164 0.315 0.56 4.83 24

6.65 1.02 2.57 1.56 36.15 3.65 5.1 5.92 0.52 1.33 0.164 0.56 53.25 0.72 0.159 1.66 0.99 1.29 3.75 0.164 0.32 0.58 4.83 24

4,000 1,800 641,500 22,000 3,088,190 87,000 46,300 91,100 630,200 1,000 1,720 3,347,000 2,856,280 636,000 21,900 24,400 93,670 1,200 410 50 141,400 839,260 905 32,730

13,460 87,070 61,635,894.50 95,780 362,798,750 109,620 1,851,135 1,459,284 12,477,548 1,690 1,444,800 2,211,800 231,712,293.50 468,940 317,566 633,440 5,339,493.50 288,580 45,510 4,463 5,532,230 167,570,143 1,629,100 2,586,810

87,070 305,014 -41,682,908 78,596 237,452 714,000 101,097,463 1,458 2,985,932.50 -1,213,575 -91,998,382 2,272,192

INDUSTRIAL 43.1 1,149,100 5.45 553,600 0.86 699,000 1.47 735,000 19.56 26,000 0.29 10,260,000 109 30 8.62 18,740,600 16.68 5,846,000 165.1 200 23.5 213,400 14.72 9,500 61.5 20 95 650 2.17 137,000 6.1 54,400 12.02 12,400 13.06 1,389,000 7.88 83,900 6.9 247,500 5.79 13,948,400 21.35 276,300 73.8 53,060 12.44 100 17 1,300 6.5 246,300 1.74 608,000 203.4 550,330 77 1,510 7.5 1,644,400 3.7 12,000 31.6 1,288,200 26.95 92,100 15.9 2,818,000 292 30,540 0.28 27,850,000 6.81 19,600 3.49 465,000 8.78 1,801,700 11.56 4,200 2.3 548,000 7.13 250,100 1.87 1,214,000 77.95 155,860 5.04 1,000 266 1,100 5 95,000 2.75 20,000 12.34 979,300 4.25 2,000 0.147 30,000 1.48 89,000 163 1,930,720 1.72 2,702,000 1.06 165,000

49,522,660 2,979,560 591,640 1,078,820 508,866 2,944,750 3,270 162,722,518 97,536,572 35,457 4,991,730 141,004 1,230 61,114 295,700 331,984 146,988 18,055,196 660,793 1,700,800 80,822,577 5,897,655 3,882,941 1,244 22,100 1,605,093 1,037,980 111,899,792 114,850 12,130,934 44,400 40,079,720 2,482,845 45,132,612 8,933,282 7,461,000 131,381 1,618,830 15,816,695 48,492 1,266,030 1,770,472 2,242,830 12,140,603 5,040 292,638 469,760 55,050 12,068,550 8,500 4,410 130,930 314,671,427 4,612,450 175,950

-8,356,845 409,333 -57,000.00 -65,425,066.00 23,249,864 -150,180 47,788 1,521,702 17,414 -1,074,446 -3,136,561 1,341,275 2,968,115.50 993,750 -595,000 -12,402,760 -184,250 -785,710 -25 -581,368 1,928,618 -208,750 539,700 -5,925,335 933,200 -9,250 703,812 -79,120 -3,758,206 -14,800 -25,337,930 -413,390 -

0.385 72 12.5 1.14 6.26 0.38 0.39 788 8.8 12.72 7.96 0.184 1,205 75.1 4.13 1.07 7.76 14.82 6.86 0.055 1.09 2 105.6 659 1.52 268 0.29 0.188 0.26

HOLDING FIRMS 0.385 1,680,000 72.25 1,198,000 12.66 5,538,000 1.19 21,000 6.3 7,600 0.385 2,510,000 0.4 1,030,000 803 276,830 8.9 3,006,200 13.06 3,271,100 8.05 700 0.184 1,100,000 1,221 132,205 76.95 971,700 4.47 22,000 1.15 32,512,000 7.88 646,600 14.96 4,007,800 6.98 43,202,500 0.057 214,340,000 1.13 61,000 2 50,000 107 214,050 663.5 282,840 1.55 410,000 268 10,540 0.295 2,840,000 0.188 720,000 0.26 160,000

651,650 86,567,377 69,995,826 24,030 47,696 960,850 408,300 221,848,715 26,671,984 42,655,894 5,617 207,450 161,694,280 73,819,995 95,020 36,225,380 5,079,656 59,853,880 300,452,335 12,261,270 67,250 100,000 22,862,415 187,682,525 634,800 2,825,546 846,800 135,610 41,600

-52,014,886 -21,616,354 369,300 86,163,915 -10,299,346 -5,419,592 -11,378,220 -17,224,719.50 381,141 -15,255,188 -36,521,136 228,640 2,744,557 -69,260,205 4,680 -1,479,760 -

6.63 1.01 2.5 1.45 35.5 3.51 5.1 5.92 0.51 1.28 0.16 0.55 52.2 0.7 0.156 1.63 0.98 1.22 3.65 0.161 0.31 0.56 4.7 23.1

PROPERTY 6.63 394,700 1.02 657,000 2.5 196,000 1.47 77,139,000 36.15 11,473,200 3.56 3,083,000 5.1 200 5.92 1,800 0.52 3,231,000 1.33 99,000 0.16 13,890,000 0.55 7,531,000 53.2 379,190 0.72 2,289,000 0.157 250,000 1.64 6,003,000 0.99 1,962,000 1.29 575,000 3.74 12,696,000 0.161 8,280,000 0.32 410,000 0.57 15,098,000 4.78 90,000 23.1 1,697,600

2,618,905 664,290 490,590 116,748,830 413,254,580 11,019,740 1,020 10,656 1,660,700 127,810 2,234,010 4,142,410 20,026,964 1,641,260 39,200 9,833,590 1,938,370 721,360 46,935,060 1,338,840 128,300 8,578,150 430,680 39,381,025

-2,276,077 -200,000 -321,770 -6,605,230 -1,560,460 -34,000 587,400 -1,349,530.50 -1,433,960 -2,211,430 -14,589,120 -3,240 8,400 -17,932,100

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

1.7 3.3 28.7 1.03 0.92 4.8

1.72 3.35 29 1.04 0.92 4.87

1.69 3.27 28.6 1.01 0.89 4.76

1.7 3.3 28.6 1.02 0.92 4.87

852,000 52,000 7,202,900 4,575,000 311,000 897,000

1,449,570 170,800 206,641,510 4,688,890 278,840 4,326,060

-74,008,600 -204,000 1,184,900

2GO GROUP 7.84 ABS CBN 47.5 ACESITE HOTEL 1.47 APC GROUP 0.53 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.079 ASIAN TERMINALS 10.84 BLOOMBERRY 7.44 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.065 CALATA CORP 2.51 CEBU AIR 92 CENTRO ESCOLAR 9.84 DFNN INC 8.55 DISCOVERY WORLD 2.38 GLOBE TELECOM 1,797 GMA NETWORK 6.08 GOLDEN HAVEN 16.34 GRAND PLAZA 15.44 HARBOR STAR 3.34 IMPERIAL 3.87 INTL CONTAINER 75.9 IP EGAME 0.0093 IPM HLDG 9.06 ISLAND INFO 0.197 ISM COMM 1.36 JACKSTONES 3.06 LBC EXPRESS 13.02 LEISURE AND RES 3.9 LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.98 MACROASIA 3.02 MANILA JOCKEY 2.34 MELCO CROWN 5 METRO RETAIL 3.82 MLA BRDCASTING 17.02 NOW CORP 2.76 PACIFIC ONLINE 11.18 PAL HLDG 5.32 PAXYS 3.29 PHIL RACING 8.56 PHILWEB 9 PLDT 1,420 PREMIUM LEISURE 1.42 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.425 PUREGOLD 46.1 ROBINSONS RTL 80 SBS PHIL CORP 6.25 SSI GROUP 2.46 STI HLDG 1.09 TRAVELLERS 3.24 WATERFRONT 0.395

7.99 47.95 1.47 0.58 0.079 10.84 7.6 0.066 2.52 93 9.89 8.78 2.38 1,835 6.13 16.48 15.44 3.5 3.87 76.3 0.0093 9.06 0.198 1.36 3.1 14.16 4.04 1.05 3.12 2.34 5.2 3.82 17.02 2.8 11.2 5.55 3.36 8.56 9.47 1,449 1.42 0.425 46.3 80.6 6.25 2.46 1.12 3.25 0.395

7.84 46.95 1.45 0.53 0.061 10.84 7.38 0.065 2.48 91.5 9.83 8.5 2.38 1,796 6.08 16.34 15.22 3.3 3.75 75.4 0.0092 9.06 0.192 1.35 3.04 13.02 3.87 0.98 3.02 2.15 5 3.74 17 2.7 11.18 5.32 3.2 8.56 8.9 1,404 1.4 0.415 45.8 79.8 6.17 2.43 1.09 3.2 0.385

SERVICES 7.84 60,500 47 30,800 1.45 21,000 0.55 3,364,000 0.069 3,544,810,000 10.84 1,800 7.51 4,655,000 0.066 2,540,000 2.49 1,560,000 92.9 186,030 9.84 6,400 8.78 300,100 2.38 17,000 1,800 49,070 6.12 25,600 16.48 58,000 15.22 400 3.48 5,006,000 3.75 766,000 76 1,861,590 0.0093 25,000,000 9.06 352,000 0.192 7,890,000 1.36 173,000 3.1 65,000 14.16 1,400 3.9 1,520,000 1 57,000 3.1 351,000 2.24 75,000 5.15 1,899,600 3.8 575,000 17.02 1,600 2.78 956,000 11.2 8,600 5.5 29,200 3.36 54,000 8.56 300 9.02 951,200 1,425 88,925 1.41 2,264,000 0.42 280,000 46 1,564,700 80 589,850 6.17 121,300 2.44 324,000 1.12 15,091,000 3.22 366,000 0.385 950,000

480,111 1,448,645 30,850 1,893,830 249,372,680 19,512 34,860,841 166,020 3,899,250 17,277,109 62,984 2,552,389 40,460 88,946,910 156,540 954,738 6,132 17,179,140 2,906,230 141,459,685 231,200 3,189,120 1,530,270 234,870 199,320 19,706 5,930,450 57,080 1,085,020 167,980 9,766,389 2,177,600 27,210 2,624,540 96,220 160,087 178,370 2,568 8,704,341 126,260,495 3,190,150 118,200 71,995,770 47,185,710.50 751,392 791,340 16,691,080 1,182,950 368,950

-411,180 6,884,944 3,727,366.50 4,363,270 41,570 18,543,208.50 77,400 -4,285,020 -62,000 659,855 -588,100 -5,480 101,900 203,001 7,884,625 -586,400 -33,346,845 11,211,836.50 -180,810 12,231,580 -412,960 -

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 MARCVENTURES NICKEL ASIA NIHAO OMICO CORP ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A PETROENERGY PHILODRILL PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING TA PETROLEUM UNITED PARAGON

0.0033 1.93 5.75 1.84 2 0.49 0.45 11 2.5 0.25 0.187 0.195 0.011 1.9 6.79 2.5 0.46 0.91 0.011 4.22 0.015 9.49 3.56 146.8 2.84 0.009

0.0033 1.93 5.75 1.84 2 0.49 0.45 11 2.57 0.255 0.19 0.195 0.011 1.92 6.87 2.56 0.46 0.93 0.011 4.22 0.015 9.49 3.56 147.2 2.85 0.009

0.0032 1.85 5.68 1.84 1.9 0.49 0.45 10.28 2.5 0.247 0.187 0.195 0.011 1.89 6.67 2.39 0.44 0.9 0.011 4.22 0.014 9.33 3.36 144.9 2.83 0.009

MINING & OIL 0.0032 80,000,000 1.86 3,401,000 5.69 118,500 1.84 30,000 1.9 51,000 0.49 10,000 0.45 160,000 10.28 69,700 2.55 2,188,000 0.248 110,000 0.189 740,000 0.195 90,000 0.011 2,000,000 1.91 1,806,000 6.81 829,400 2.45 134,000 0.44 60,000 0.9 1,037,000 0.011 3,700,000 4.22 24,000 0.015 17,000,000 9.49 515,200 3.43 1,792,000 146 816,940 2.84 24,000 0.009 1,000,000

256,800 6,357,230 675,790 55,200 97,340 4,900 72,000 720,862 5,543,920 27,400 139,380 17,550 22,000 3,442,540 5,625,875 324,730 26,700 935,900 40,700 101,280 246,200 4,879,751 6,173,790 119,163,848 68,160 9,000

-34,141 2,000 822,930.00 1,672,030 -2,667,421 208,933 -175,800 -38,871,624 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

46.5 530 529 104.9 5.85 1,021 1,031 1.03 106.5 1,050 1,020 107 77.3 82 76.8 77.5 79.3 78.1 79.3

47.8 530 529 105.5 5.85 1,021 1,031 1.03 106.5 1,050 1,021 107 77.9 82.45 76.8 77.5 79.45 78.1 79.5

46.5 528 529 104 5.85 1,021 1,031 1.03 106.5 1,050 1,020 107 77.3 82 76.55 76.55 79.3 78.1 79.3

PREFERRED 47.8 124,700 528 1,000 529 260 105.5 36,390 5.85 1,050,000 1,021 5 1,031 200 1.03 1,000 106.5 400 1,050 1,775 1,020 1,600 107 1,700 77.9 30,040 82.45 21,700 76.55 1,100 76.6 58,180 79.45 19,990 78.1 6,700 79.5 284,280

5,803,960 528,820 137,540 3,832,735 6,142,500 5,105 206,200 1,030 42,600 1,863,750 1,632,010 181,900 2,324,576 1,783,220.50 84,355 4,473,818 1,586,267 523,270 22,593,752

-1,501,560 -292,500 2,321,460 15,900,000

LR WARRANT

2.09

2.12

2.05

WARRANTS 2.1 271,000

562,720

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

3.69 2.95 6.93 8.29

3.69 2.95 7 8.5

3.48 2.95 6.88 8.21

SME 3.5 2.95 6.92 8.35

971,440 11,800 520,122 9,210,492

45,600 -1,128,767

806,420

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

277,000 4,000 75,300 1,096,400

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF 119

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS

119.4

118.9

119.4

VALUE

13,675,298 117,069,499 329,458,265

963,339,150.5 1,134,982,200.492 1,409,825,326.235

PROPERTY 181,365,683 905,416,026.39 SERVICES 3,631,794,042 1,065,787,871.941 MINING & OIL 117,902,413 155,063,665.91 GRAND TOTAL 4,392,724,670 5,645,934,515.471

6,770

FINANCIAL 1,800.08 (up) 21.28 INDUSTRIAL 11,108.39 (up) 61.01 HOLDING FIRMS 7,340.83 (up) 71.1 PROPERTY 3,252.07 (up) 17.36 SERVICES 1,415.68 (up) 13.63 MINING & OIL 12,403.57 (down) -1.35 PSEI 7,234.94 (up) 64.24 All Shares Index 4,378.87 (up) 31.7 Gainers: 111; Losers: 74 Unchanged: 53; Total: 238

shares in case of strong demand. After the IPO, Eagle Cement is expected to have a public ownership of 11.5 percent and a market capitalization of P80 billion. Net proceeds from the maiden share offering will be used to ﬁnance the construction of a P12.5-billion cement plant in Cebu, documents showed. The proposed plant will have a capacity of 2 million metric tons. Construction is scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of 2017, in line with the completion target of 2020. Eagle Cement acquired mineral rights over a 50-hectare property in Cebu from APC Group Inc. in November. It also purchased South Western Cement Corp., a cement manufacturing company with mineral rights over an 810-hectare property in Cebu. Eagle Cement is building a third production line within its facility in Bulacan. The expansion, up for completion by 2018, will increase the company’s cement production capacity by 2 million MT. This will bring the company’s total production capacity to 7.1 million MT, making it one of the leading cement companies in the country. Eagle Cement is set to become the third cement company listed with the Philippine Stock Exchange. The two others are Holcim Philippines Inc. and Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc., which conducted an IPO in 2016.

Maynilad shortlisted for project in Jakarta MAYNILAD Water Services Inc. and its joint venture partner were shortlisted for a big bulk water and distribution project in Indonesia. Maynilad president Ramoncito Fernandez said in an interview the company was one of the four companies that were pre-qualified to bid for a water concession project in Jakarta. The project involves bulk and water distribution to 500,000 households. Fernandez said while bidding was set in the first quarter, there could be some delay in the submission of actual bids. This will be Maynilad’s first venture outside the Philippines. Maynilad signed an agreement with an Indonesian firm in November 2016 to put up a joint venture company that would provide water and wastewater services in Jakarta. Under the plan, Maynilad and joint venture partner PT Moya Indonesia will create a company called PT Water Tecnologia Indonesia. PT Moya Indonesia will own 51 percent of the joint venture, while Maynilad will own 49 percent. The joint venture company will offer various water services including pipe network design and installation, nonrevenue water and wastewater management. Maynilad is a consortium made up of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., DMCI Holdings and Marubeni Corp. of Japan. It operates the water concession in the west zone of Metro Manila. Maynilad reported a 26-percent decline in core net income in 2016 to P7.2 billion from P9.7 billion in 2015, following the expiration of the water utility firm’s income tax holiday. Jenniffer B. Austria

Motoring

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017

Mobile phones on wheels T

he car of the future will let you pay for petrol or parking directly from your vehicle and receive trafﬁc alerts and restaurant recommendations from your onboard digital assistant.

Connected cars—or “mobile phones on wheels” -- will be able to do those things and more, including communicate with each other on the road and with the infrastructure around them through their computer networks. And they will, of course, be able to drive themselves. Prototypes, fitted with the next generation 5G wireless communications network, turned heads at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. But as the excitement and novelty over connected cars grows, vehicle, tech, and telecom firms are struggling with how to handle the inevitable legal and ethical issues. Add to that the risk of cyber attack and reliability issues surrounding a fast and stable internet connection and connected cars face many obstacles before they can ever be set loose. “Connected cars pose a significant risk from a cybersecurity perspective,” said Jeff Massimilla, head of cybersecurity at General Motors, during a discussion at the MWC. This is the industry’s biggest worry: hacking. A hacker could easily take over a car’s network and disable brakes, the transmission, or simply shut the car down. And that worry is hardly unfounded: Connected cars were hacked in 2015 during testing. According to data presented Monday by Masayoshi Son, chief executive of telecoms giant SoftBank, cyber attacks against connected objects -- objects with internet connectivity -- have multiplied by four and five times between 2015 and 2016. To mitigate the risks, telecom and vehicle firms have teamed up to enhance collaboration. “We cannot do it alone,” said tech executive Ogi Redzic, who heads the connected vehicles services at Renault-Nissan. Renault-Nissan partnered with Microsoft last September, and its cars plan to use Microsoft Cortana as a digital assistant. Three years ago, Volkswagen acquired Blackberry’s European research and development centre, a group of 200 engineers, to update its connected software. - ‘Bandwidth issues’ The success of connected vehicles will also hinge on the ability of an internet network to enable lightning-quick downloads or support split-second activi-

BEST COMPACT CAR CHAMPION.

Blue 2000 Toyota Corolla with Toyota Carib facelift owned by Fernando “Boy” Bautista teamed up with Dwin’s Carburetor Specialist and Tune-up Center. This is a marriage of two different Toyota vehicles, Toyota Corolla Lovelife and Toyota Sprinter Carib, which share parts, most of these parts simply will bolt right on. Set up includes: Adjustable coilover, 16” WORK Meister alloy wheels, JBL sound systerm, TRD strut bar, TRD shift knob. The 2nd Valenzuela Auto Show returned for the second time on January 18, 2017 at Valenzuela People’s Park. Presented by JSK Custom Paint and Auto Works and Mario San Andres in collaboration with Rep. Wes Gatchalian.

ties, such as the automatic traffic movement of driverless cars. The current 4G standard enables fast broadband access via mobile smart phones, but government and manufacturers see the next generation enabling connection speeds of up to 1,000 times faster than current ones. “When there will be many (connected) cars on the roads, there will be flow and bandwidth issues to make the system work,” said Guillaume Crunelle, an automotive analyst at Deloitte. The new, fifth generation of mobile networks is expected to enable communications between cars and infrastructure, automated manoeuvres such as overtaking and braking, and emergency warning and call systems, among others. Commercialisation of 5G is not expected to start before 2020, however, as companies and governments negotiate to try to standardise norms between different countries for smooth 5G use worldwide. “The 5G vehicle reacts swiftly in case of accident and transmits the information to neighbouring cars,” said Changsoon Choi, a senior manager at SK Telecom. Driverless cars will require better GPS-tracking systems and the creation of more detailed digital maps in order to avoid possible obstacles. In terms of infrastructure, “there are enormous investments to be made so that a vehicle can communicate with a parking system, traffic lights, road signs” said Mouloud Dey, the director of innovation and business development at analytics firm SAS. “We still have no idea who will finance that type of thing.” Driverless cars also pose moral and legal dilemmas. Will vehicles be designed to protect their passengers at all costs, even if they have to plough through a crowd of pedestrians to do so? Who will bear the responsibility of an accident? The manufacturer, the vehicle owner or the network provider? “We show a certain leniency to human driving errors that we won’t necessarily show for a machine,” Crunelle said. “We will have to make a decision on the life and death of some.” “I don’t know who on the regulatory level will want to take on that responsibility.” AFP

The ‘King’ needs to level up RECENTLY, jeepney operators took to the streets in defiance of the government’s call to modernize the so called “King of the Road”. Apparently, the operators of these derelicts on wheels decided to declare another “holiday” and whoever was leading them did not explain in detail the Department of Transportation and Communication plans to upgrade the public transport system. For decades, the jeepney has reigned supreme as the primary means of mass transportation. While the beloved jeepney symbolizes Filipino culture, it has become inefficient and is a major contributor to the traffic gridlock that we experience everyday. Another issue why jeepneys need to be modernized is their harmful contribution to the environment. All of these jeepneys are equipped with surplus engines from Japan, which are considered as “junk”. Like any enterprising Pinoy, most engines are top overhauled just to make them run, without any thought

or care for the carbon footprint made by thousands of these derelicts roaming the streets of our country. Then there is the issue of safety, jeepneys are the third highest in casualty ratings with 2,161 units involved in accidents says a report from the MMDA last year. Most jeepney related accidents are due to brake failure, and loss of steering control. The MMDA also pointed out the “roadworthiness” of PUJ’s, all of which have parts sourced from surplus parts from different light truck manufacturers. Think of it as a Frankenstein on four wheels. Earlier last month, a group of jeepney operators went on a “holiday” as a protest to the government’s call for modernization of the jeepney. “There should have been a public consultation on this matter,” argued Obet Martin, President of PASANG MASDA (Pangkalahatang Sanggunian Manila and Suburbs Drivers Association). Once implemented, the modernization plan will affect 650,000 drivers. PASANG

MASDA is arguing that the government has no concrete plans about the phase-out, “They have no alternatives for us. What they are offering is expensive,” says the spokesman for PASANG MASDA. From a commuter’s perspective, modernization is for everyone’s benefit. The question now is, is there a concrete or realistic plan for the jeepney modernization program? Why don’t we prioritize the immediate needs of the commuting public, like improving the train and MRT systems, and how to regulate the buses plying EDSA to decongest the flow of traffic. At the moment, our government is offering the e-Jeepney, a hybrid modern jeepney which will cost one million pesos per unit. Add to this the seven million franchise fee, then you have a very expensive jeepney, but very environment friendly. “Our primary goal is to make jeepneys safer and more eco-friendly,” says the DOTC.” It is a small price to pay for our children’s future and

for the preservation of our environment,” says the DOTC. The bright minds of our government must realize that majority of these jeepney operators belong to the marginalized and working class sectors. Is there a realistic financial aid plan in place, in case the Jeepney modernization plan takes effect sometime soon? There are a lot questions than answers. My suggestion is, make the ejeepney more affordable so that the operators can embrace the modernization plan. Those who claim that they cannot afford it, well, better retire or look for another job. There must come a time that everybody must follow the rule of law. The government will not bend backwards for you my dear jeepney operators. For their part, e-Jeepney manufacturers must make their units affordable, reliable and rugged, able to withstand pot-holed streets. For the meantime, this writer remains a fence sitter, looking forward to the next move of both parties concerned. Dino Directo III

Distinctively Filipino touch ‘beautiﬁes’ an electric jeepney.

McLarenHonda unveils new F1 racecar

WOKING, United Kingdom – McLarenHonda unveiled its new machine, the McLaren-Honda MCL32, prior to its winter testing at the Circuit de BarcelonaCatalunya, for the upcoming 2017 FIA* Formula One World Championship. The Honda RA617H, 1.6-litre V6 turbo engine with ERS, has a decreased weight and a lowered centre of gravity to improve the balance of the car, while generating more output out of the ICE [internal combustion engine]. Its power unit will be fitted into the MCL32 for the 2017 season. The MCL32 follows in the evolutionary footsteps of its two immediate predecessors, MP4-30 and MP4-31, but has been overhauled in every area as the design team has looked to capitalise on a series of new aerodynamic regulations introduced for 2017.

Motoring

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

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017

Nissan’s mighty GTR is Japan’s bet in the global supercar market.

GODZILLA is more refined, yet still powerful Text by Dino V. Directo III/ photos by Bea Directo

his writer is one of the lucky individuals to have witnessed the re-launch of the Nissan GTR in 2009. As part of the Nissan media contingent to the Tokyo Motor Show, I remember watching a seven-minute video clip of the GTR as it attacked the Nurburgring on full throttle and smashing the record set by Porsche as the fastest production car to drive the entire length of the “green hell”.

Back then, Nissan held no secrets about the GTR’s rich racing heritage. The car was a boy racer’s dream, there was a throaty noise from the engine, exhaust, transmission, differentials and the

ride was stiffer due to its performance tuned package. Like a boy growing up, the GTR gradually improved through the years and for its latest iteration, Nissan’s performance car has gone soft on

purpose. Make no mistake about it, the GTR still has the grunt, but it is now quieter and comfortable to be driven on a daily basis. This was the immediate feeling I got when I drove away from the Nissan dealership in Quezon City, which is home to local GTR owners. Nissan Quezon Avenue is the accredited GTR facility, which has everything needed for the upkeep of Japan’s supercar. Off the bat, noticeable were the color scheme of the 2017 variant, which Nissan calls as “Blaze Metallic” and splashes on to the interiors of the car. It shines brilliantly under the noonday sun and makes the GTR visible from a mile away. Unlike the previous GTR’s, this latest iteration is more comfortable and behaved due to specially developed springs

and a custom-developed Bilstein DampTronic dampers which balances out the ride on and off the track. During a dinner hosted by Nissan with its Chief Engineer and acknowledged Father, Hiroshi Tamura, he reveals that this 2017 version is the smoothest model yet in terms of handling, ride, steering and interior quality. “This GTR is easier to live with and you can take it for long drives with your wife sleeping comfortable beside you,” he says. The cabin has improved much over the years, although the fundamental layout has carried over. The horizontal layout of the dashboard is new with the instrument panel wrapped in nappa leather. The center screen is larger and a display command panel is added unto the center console. Exterior styling and performance Tamura also says that not much has been done to the exteriors except for the rear wheel well which is now more aerodynamic. “We only made minimal changes which are in tune with the long running and gradual improvements of the car over its lifetime,”

Nissan added 20 more horses to the engine which means 565 bhp of Nippon muscle going your way if you dare challenge this metal beast. ‘We also revised the ignition timing control and increased the turbo boost for more crazy power,” says Tamura with a naughty smile. On a clear straight road up in Antipolo, I tried the launch control on R mode. The feeling was like being shot out of a cannon, with me holding on for dear life at the steering wheel as I let the GTR do its thing. It was orgasmic, just like sex really. The good thing about this car is that it stops on a dime, thanks to the Brembo six-piston front and four piston rear brakes. I had the GTR for Valentine’s Day and the car had its share of people flashing the thumbs-up sign and adoring glances as Nissan’s finest flew by. Another surprise is that this model can actually accommodate two kids and forget about adults hitching a ride at the back because the sloping roof line will not allow it. It’s a small compromise since you really don’t need anybody with you during track days, right?

The interior has also been improved with plush leather seats and high tech gadgets.

Hyundai off to a galloping start

Hyundai Accent has become HARI’s bestselling nameplate.

he adds. The most visible remodeling is visible on the car’s “VMotion” grille which is larger and was engineered to improve cooling efficiency. Nissan also revised the front lip spoiler and bumper design to add more downforce. “The hood has been tweaked also with more pronounced character lines and has greater ability to handle high speeds,” says Tamura. On the sides, the aero blades with the GTR logo improves airflow on the sides as it visually compliments the massive 20inch RAYS Engineering wheels which feature a 15-spoke design. Improvements are also evident on the rear bodywork with functional vents next to the quad exhaust tips, and a noticeable higher beltline makes the car look wider. Tamura also added that the rear bumper is taken from the 2015 NISMO model for better airflow. “These changes make the GTR more stable at high speeds while maintaining the same 0.26 coefficient of drag,” explains Tamura. Priced at P7.2 million, the GTR is a bargain priced performance monster that can kick Italian or German asses. For this model,

THE official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines, Hyundai Auto Resources Inc., is off to the races as it starts January 2017 with an 18% growth, or a total of 2,817 units sold, as compared to the same period of the previous year, according to Ma. Fe Perez Agudo, president and chief executive officer. “Our strong start in 2017 is a testament of the market’s welcome response to our long-standing commitment of providing high-quality, best-in-class, and customer-focused products and services,” Agudo said. HARI’s auspicious performance was mainly attributed to the continuing strong demand for automotive vehicles in the country. The year-on-year segment results show that the PC segment played as the main driver to HARI’s growth with a 29% increase. This is credited to the Accent, the brand’s sub-compact passenger car, as it proved to be HARI’s bestselling nameplate with a 124% in-

crease compared to its January 2016 sales. Sales and Economic Outlook Philippine GDP remained at a healthy and steady pace as it ended 2016 with a Full Year average 6.8%, falling within the upper limit of the government’s 2016 GDP target of 6.0% - 7.0%. GDP for the fourth quarter of 2016 stalled at 6.6% as investors adopted a “wait-and-see” attitude due to the transition of the new government. Nevertheless, the overall strong growth of the economy can be attributed to the rising spending on infrastructure and domestic demand, as well as the buoyant business and consumer sentiment, adequate credit, and domestic liquidity. Hyundai’s strong start to the year reflects an optimistic view in the automotive industry amidst the proposed excise tax on automotive vehicles. This is due to stable macroeconomic fundamentals, increasing household incomes, and upbeat rating in autobuying intentions.

LGUs

Bickering must stop in Makati, says Peña

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

By Joel E. Zurbano FORMER Makati City mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña Jr. on Thursday asked city government officials and community leaders to “stop bickering” and instead “unite for the common good and welfare of city residents.” Peña also urged “unscrupulous groups and individuals” to stop the mudslinging at him in the city’s barangays. He said the people of Makati “know him well, and (are) totally appreciative of the programs and projects they implemented” during the time of “Bagong Makati,” the slogan he used for his tenure before losing in the last May elections to incumbent Abigail Binay. “I feel sorry for some persons who are trying to ride on my popularity to bankroll their ambition in Makati. Sadly, the outpour of support we’re receiving in our weekly ‘Kamustahan, Intindihan at Damayan’ shows otherwise,” Peña said. The former mayor made these statements a day after the city government asked the Commission on Election to file a case against him for allegedly violating the election ban on appointments, promotions and transfers of personnel. Peña served Makati for more than a year as acting mayor after Jejomar Erwin Binay was dismissed as mayor for his involvement in the alleged overpriced City Hall Building III. At that point, he had served as vice mayor for two terms, but admitted he was not a Binay ally. “The people of Makati know who are really posturing, in contrast to a true-blue public servant,” he said. “I humbly call on them to stop political bickering at this point of time. Instead, let us join hands in reaching out to the grassroots to extend help and assistance to the disadvantaged and indigents.” Peña assured his supporters that he won’t get distracted by what he described as “petty issues and rumor mongering.” “I am opening my door and lines of communications to the incumbent if they feel they need my assistance to propel the city,” he said. Peña said he is unfazed by threats and charges against him “to malign his name and vilify the Bagong Makati Governance,” which, he claimed, posted “remarkable performance” during its 11-month tenure.

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

Comelec shuts door on Lim T By Sandy Araneta

HERE is no more questioning the legality of Joseph “Erap” Estrada as the mayor of Manila.

Estrada’s legal team made this assertion Thursday after the Commission on Elections or Comelec dismissed the election protest filed by defeated mayoralty candidate Alfredo Lim. Lawyer George Erwin Garcia said the Comelec decision will finally put to rest “Lim’s baseless allegations of massive fraud” during the May 2016 polls. “We will be able to close a chapter of the problem,” Garcia told Manila Standard. “Be-

cause until this case is resolved, Mr. Lim’s supporters still had hopes they could win.” “But because of this decision, we will be able to finish this, and hopefully [Lim’s camp] will be able to accept this decision of the Comelec,” the counsel added. In a Feb. 23 resolution, Comelec’s First Division held that Lim’s petition seeking to disqualify Estrada from the mayoralty post was filed out of time. It also junked Lim’s claim in

seeking the annulment of Estrada’s proclamation on grounds that the City Board of Canvassers canvassed votes illegally through the manual uploading of results to the Comelec. The resolution was signed by Comelec First Division presiding Commissioner Robert Lim and Commissioners Luie Tito Guia and Ma. Rowena Amelia Guanzon. With total votes of 283,149, Estrada beat Lim for a second term in office. Lim got 280,464 votes, while the third mayoralty candidate, former fifth district Rep. Amado Bagatsing, had 167,829 votes. While Lim may still appeal the ruling, the Estrada camp stressed the Comelec’s decision only affirmed the legality of the former

President’s successful reelection. “There is no more question as to the legality of the proclamation of Mayor Erap as the legitimate mayor of Manila, and there is no more question as to who is really the mayor of the city of Manila,” Garcia said. He also advised Lim to accept his defeat “as a real gentleman would really accept what happens, because this is really what the Comelec as a constitutional body had said.” Lim’s accusations of election cheating, such as the city government’s distribution of tablet computers to Manila public school teachers a month prior to the elections, and the alleged intentional power failure during the canvassing “were all prod-

BALER, Aurora—Tourist arrivals in this province, located in a horseshoe-shaped coastal valley overlooking the Pacific Ocean, are suffering “a massive slowdown,” provincial tourism officer Michael Palispis said. Palispis admitted visitor arrivals slackened in 2016 to 823,468, just 5.7 percent higher than the 778,917 arrivals recorded in 2015. “Yes, we have suffered a slow-

LAYERS OF COLOR. Farmers plant rice against the backdrop of the lush mountains of Nasugbu, Batangas, as this scenic tourist town welcomed March and the first heat waves of

down. There is still slight increase in arrivals but the pace of increase is not much higher,” Palispis said, noting the PTO posted a modest 44,551 increase in visitors in 2016. Based on PTO records from 2005 to 2016, tourist arrivals have fluctuated wildly but have grown on average by 59.75 percent a year. The slowdown started to be felt in 2015, when tourist arrivals reached 778,917, an increase

of only 13.71 percent over the previous year’s 684,977. That’s in contrast to the 151.66-percent rise between 2013 to 2014, when arrivals jumped from 273,187 to 684,977. Palispis blamed the slowdown on the calamities that struck the province last year, including typhoons “Karen” and “Lawin” in October. “We were battered by calamities one by one. After that, we suffered from long stretches

of rain,” he said, noting that in January alone, it rained for three weeks nonstop. Compared to the months in the previous year, tourism in Aurora saw 14,596 less tourists in January 2016, 16,475 in February, 22,871 in April, and 1,128 in November. March 2016 saw 16,005 more tourists than the same month in 2015, followed by 1,118 more in May, 9,499 in June, 15,718 in July, 9,526 in August, 6,943 in

September, 17,139 in October, and 23,673 in December. Board Member Philip Butch Bautista, chairman of the committee on tourism of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, blamed the tourist slowdown on the meager provincial budget for tourism. “It is too small, unlike during the time of ‘BAC’ when our tourism budget was big,” Bautista said, referring to former three-term governor and now Rep. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo.

Vizcaya dads seek better road projects By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—Lawmakers here have asked the Department of Public Works and Highways to exert more effort in ensuring the implementation of quality road projects in the province. In a resolution approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Vice Governor Lambert Galima Jr. requested Public Works Secretary Mark Villar “to implement proper inspection rules and policies of all ongoing infrastructure projects here.” While there are many ongoing road works and infrastructure projects in the province, Galima said there is a need for strict inspection and implemented safety measures. “These are needed to avoid occurrence of accidents, and to ensure quality projects based on standard specifications set by DPWH and (Provincial) Engi-

ucts of the ex-mayor’s imagination,” Garcia pointed out. In his petition, Lim claimed that in April prior to the elections, the city government distributed over 7,000 tablets to public school teachers. These tablets, Lim said, were used by the Board of Election Inspectors to manipulate or alter the dates in the secure digital cards before surrendering them for uploading to the Comelec’s Consolidation and Canvassing System. The Comelec, however, believed otherwise. “Lim failed to substantiate his claim that the BEIs used the tablets to manipulate, alter or modify the data in the SD cards before surrendering them for uploading to the CCS,” the poll body said.

summer. Ed Usapdin

Aurora tourist arrivals seeing ‘massive’ slowdown By Ferdie G. Domingo

neering Offices,” he said. The vice governor also cited a report of the Philippine National Police, where the most number of crimes that occurred here were vehicular accidents caused by poor traffic and road safety management among project contractors. Galima also lamented the deterioration of road quality here, as roads built five years ago were supposed to carry a lifespan of 20 years but most of them are easily damaged after just three to five years. “Despite the adjustments made by DPWH on quality standard and design, early road deterioration is yet obvious and the target lifespan of the roads were not met,” he said. Galima also said strict quality control and work supervision must be done, especially when these road projects are bound by timetable to prevent their short lifespan.

GROUNDBREAKING. Fr. Nestor Servo (left) sprinkles holy water on the surroundings as San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez and other city officials attended a groundbreaking for a Senior High School and Science High School building in Barangay Pinaglabanan. Manny Palmero

Lanao health officer killed By Lance Baconguis CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY— A municipal health officer was shot dead by unknown assailants in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte on Wednesday night. Lanao del Norte Provincial Police Chief Senior Supt. Faro Antonio Olaguerra said they are now investigating the killing of Dr. Dreyfus Perlas, Municipal Health Officer of Sapad, Lanao del Norte. The doctor was driving a motorcycle when “riding in tandem” killers shot him in the back, causing his death, Olaguerra said. “We have gathered evidence, including [Perlas’] phone, which we are submitting to the anti-cybercrime group,” he added. Perlas supposedly had an argument with a patient, or a relative of a patient, at the Bontilao Country Hospital in Maranding, Lala, Lanao del Norte, the police chief noted. Olaguerra added a single .45 caliber cartridge was recovered from the crime scene. “We also did a background check on his family and it is clean, so now we are focusing our investigation with the Bontilao hospital incident,” he said. Lanao del Norte Gov. Imelda Dimaporo also asked him for updates, Olaguerra added.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017 Standard C2 TODAY Manila

CEO sees Amanah Islamic Bank back in the black

HE government-controlled Amanah Islamic Bank is embarking on various expansion plans and will soon introduce new products to boost its client base and make the bank profitable, the bank’s newlyappointed chairman and CEO, Dato’ AlIskandar, said Thursday.

The veteran banker, who took over the reins of the country’s only Islamic bank earlier this year, said Amanah has been awash in red ink for over two decades now. “With very little capital and with only nine branches throughout the country, the bank has had little opportunity to expand or open more branches,” he said. “It came to a point when Amanah, being a government entity, owed over P500 million to the National Treasury. This was in 2007. Thus, the following year the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas initiated a plan that would help the bank service

the debt,” Al-Iskandar said. The bank arranged for the Development Bank of the Philippines to pay the money Amanah owed the National Treasury. “In return, DBP gets to have a roughly 99 percent stake in Amanah,” he said. Closing the bank was not an option for the BSP, since it was the only Islamic bank in the Philippines, Al-Iskandar added. “Politically, it wouldn’t have been feasible to just shut the bank down. It would have meant lost opportunities for the country’s Muslims, who rely on Amanah to finance their businesses or livelihoods,” he explained.

Al-Iskandar

Most of the bank’s operations are based in Zamboanga City. Of its nine branches, only one is in Luzon—at DBP’s Makati headquarters. As the DBP is managing the bank, it was prudent for Amanah to move its only Luzon branch and executive offices to the DBP building, Al-Iskandar said.

Amana was established in 1973 with a P50-million capitalization to cater to the country’s Muslim population. As an Islamic bank, it offers interestfree business loans to Filipino Muslims. “Instead of charging interest to borrowers, Islamic banks take a small percentage of the profits of the business. But this is only when the business is posting a profit. If it isn’t, the bank will not make any charges or demand payment of any sort,” said Al-Iskandar. Likewise, the bank’s savings and checking accounts don’t yield any interest for depositors, but Al-Iskandar is drawing up a profit-sharing scheme that will entitle clients and depositors to a percentage of the bank’s annual earnings. Al-Iskandar acknowledged that Muslim communities have been sprouting all over Metro Manila, and he is determined to tap this rapidly expanding market. Ayunan Gunting-Al Hadj

Solon backs Pagcor in Army Navy deal THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. or Pagcor has found an unlikely ally in Buhay partylist Rep. Lito Atienza, the House Senior Deputy Minority Leader, who backed the deal entered by the government corporation with a private company regarding the Army Navy Club property in Manila. Atienza said while the primary objective of allowing private companies to invest in the property was to help restore and preserve the ageing facility, it would be up to the investors to come up with other forms of business ventures to recoup their investments. Atienza was mayor of Manila when the Army Navy Club property along Roxas Boulevard was opened for private investors. “I don’t see anything wrong with Pagcor entering into a business agreement with a private corporation to put up a casino within the Army Navy Club property,” the lawmaker said. The House of Representatives, through the committee on good government and accountability, is probing the contract entered into by Pagcor with Vanderwood Management Corp.

Pagcor, then chaired by Cristino Naguiat, signed a 15-year lease contract with Vanderwood to put up a P1.5-billion casino and gaming facility at the Museo Pambata Complex on Roxas Boulevard. Naguiat insists the contract with Vanderwood is legal and aboveboard, and will even save the government P187 million a year compared to other gaming facilities it maintains in other hotels. He also said the government is also expected to earn about P59.17 billion in revenues from the Vanderwood casino in the Army Navy Club property. In a position paper submitted to the House committee on good government and accountability, the former Pagcor chief said the 15-year lease the government agency signed with Vanderwood went through the proper and legal processes. The committee, chaired by Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, started an inquiry into the alleged anomalous P13million monthly lease of Pagcor of a portion of the Army Navy Club to Vanderwood.

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

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

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. 2017-020 on second and final reading.

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. 2017021 on second and final reading.

On motion presented by Hon. N.S. Yabut, Jr., which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Resolution No. 2017-022 on second and final reading.

CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2017-020 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N.S. Yabut, Jr., Hon. M.A.M. Ortega, Hon. N.S. Pasia, Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr. and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor

CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2017-021 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, Hon. M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N.S. Yabut, Jr., Hon. M.A.M. Ortega, Hon. N.S. Pasia, Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr. and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor

CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2017-022 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. F.T. Eusebio, Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr. and Hon. R.C. Medina

Co-Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. R.C. Medina, Hon. E.J. Puno and Hon. A.P. Padilla

Co Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. N.S. Pasia, Hon. E.J. Puno, Hon. E.D.E. Villamor, and Hon. A.P. Padilla

Co-Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr., Hon. R.C. Medina, Hon. E.J. Puno and Hon. A.P. Padilla A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE HONORABLE MAYOR MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY, TO NEGOTIATE, ENTER INTO AND SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (MOA), ON BEHALF OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF MAKATI, WITH ADAMSON UNIVERSITY REGARDING THE AFFILIATION AND TRAINING OF ITS PHARMACY STUDENTS IN OSMAK PHARMACY, SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS. WHEREAS, the College of Pharmacy of Adamson University, a duly recognized private institution by the Commission of Higher Education (CHED), gives importance to the learning and career experience that will prepare its student trainees for a career in hospital pharmacy; WHEREAS, the ultimate goal of future pharmacists is to engage in the profession of preparing, preserving, compounding and dispensing medical drugs and such goal can be attained only when pharmacy students have undergone actual training and allow them to experience what takes place in different areas of a hospital pharmacy;

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE HONORABLE MAYOR MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY, TO NEGOTIATE, ENTER INTO AND SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (MOA), ON BEHALF OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF MAKATI, WITH ST. DOMINIC COLLEGE OF ASIA REGARDING THE AFFILIATION AND TRAINING OF ITS NURSING STUDENTS IN OSMAK, SUBJECT TO THE EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE HONORABLE MAYOR MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY TO NEGOTIATE, ENTER INTO AND SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (MOA), ON BEHALF OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF MAKATI, WITH ASIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (AIM) REGARDING THE BRIDGING LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE MAKATI PEACE AND ORDER COUNCIL (POC), SUBJECT TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.

WHEREAS. Executive Order (EO) No. 309 Series of 1988, otherwise known as Reorganizing of the Peace and Order Council”, provides for the creation of Peace and Order Council (POC) in every province, city and municipality in order to effectively prevent and suppress criminality and to maintain public order and safety of the land;

WHEREAS, the ultimate goal of nursing, as a field of study, is to administer the best care possible to patients and such goal can be attained only when nursing students have undergone actual training wherein they can learn the basics of quality care and allow them to experience what takes place in different areas of the hospital;

WHEREAS, significant part of the medical training of pharmacy students prepares them to enter the medical field armed with the knowledge they need in order to excel in their chosen field;

WHEREAS, significant part of the medical training of nursing students prepares them to enter the field armed with the knowledge they need in order to excel in their chosen field;

WHEREAS, OSMAK, in return, expressed its intent to accommodate the pharmacy students of Adamson University in its facilities for their training;

WHEREAS, St. Dominic College of Asia desires its students to undergo the required training in Ospital ng Makati (OSMAK);

WHEREAS, both parties agree on the fact that learning and career experience will prepare student trainee for a career in pharmacy and that the presence of student trainees will improve further the efficient delivery of health services for the patients;

WHEREAS, OSMAK, in return, expressed its intent to accommodate such nursing students of St. Dominic College of Asia in its facilities for their training;

WHEREAS, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the City Government of Makati and Adamson University is necessary in order to implement and guide further the parties in achieving the abovementioned purpose; WHEREAS, Art. III, Sec. 8 (a) (6), of RA 7854, otherwise known as the Charter of the City of Makati states that the city mayor, as the chief executive of the city government shall represent the City in all its business transactions and signs on its behalf all bonds, contracts, and obligations, and such other documents upon authority of the sanggunian panlungsod; WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, in consideration of the necessity of allowing the pharmacy students of Adamson University to use the facilities of OSMAK in their training, hereby authorizes the Honorable Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay, pursuant to the abovementioned provision of R.A. 7854, to negotiate, enter into and sign such Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), on behalf of the City Government of Makati, with Adamson University for the abovementioned 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 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA),on behalf of the City Government of Makati, with Adamson University regarding the affiliation and training of its pharmacy students in OSMAK Pharmacy, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations. Let copy of this Resolution be furnished the Adamson University – College of Pharmacy, Ospital ng Makati (OSMAK), City Law Department and other concerned offices for their information, guidance and reference.

WHEREAS, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the City Government of Makati and St. Dominic College of Asia is necessary in order to implement and guide further the parties in achieving the abovementioned purpose; WHEREAS, Art. III, Sec. 8 (a) (6), of RA 7854, otherwise known as the Charter of the City of Makati states that the city mayor, as the chief executive of the city government shall represent the City in all its business transactions and signs on its behalf all bonds, contracts, and obligations, and such other documents upon authority of the sanggunian panlungsod; WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, in consideration of the necessity of allowing the students of St. Dominic College of Asia to use the facilities of OSMAK in their training, hereby authorizes the Honorable Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay, pursuant to the abovementioned provision of R.A. 7854, to negotiate, enter into and sign such Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), on behalf of the City Government of Makati, with St. Dominic College of Asia for the abovementioned purpose. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI CITY, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, to authorize the Honorable Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay, to negotiate, enter into and sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), on behalf of the City Government of Makati, with St. Dominic College of Asia regarding the affiliation and training of its nursing students in OSMAK, subject to the existing laws, rules and regulations. Let copy of this Resolution be furnished the St. Dominic College of Asia, Ospital ng Makati (OSMAK), City Law Department and other concerned offices for their information, guidance and reference.

WHEREAS, the said leadership program is a good avenue to develop the skills of its members and realize further their respective roles toward maintenance of order and safety in the City; WHEREAS, to achieve further the purpose of the abovementioned aim, the POC decided to have a two-week bridging leadership program in neighboring countries in order to adopt or replicate the best practices of such countries in the aspect of peace and order; WHEREAS, the POC of Makati City decided that such training be implemented by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) considering its sound technical expertise in international management education; WHEREAS, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the City Government of Makati and AIM is required to be executed in order to effectuate the abovementioned purpose; WHEREAS, considering the benefits that the city will obtain in the said endeavor, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, pursuant to Section 8 (a) (6), Article III, of R.A. 7854, otherwise known as the Charter of the City of Makati, hereby authorizes the Honorable Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay to sign such Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with AIM for the abovementioned 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 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), on behalf of the City Government of Makati with Asian Institute of Management (AIM) regarding the Bridging Leadership Program for the Members of the Makati Peace and Order Council (POC), subject to existing laws, rules and regulations. Let copy of this Resolution be furnished to Asian Institute of Management (AIM), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), City Law Department and other offices, departments and agencies concerned for their information, guidance and reference. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its approval. MANILA, in APPROVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA its Regular Session held on 1 March 2017.

APPROVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA MANILA, in its Regular Session held on 1 March 2017.

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

SICK LEAVE HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. NELSON S. P PASIA

VACATION LEAVE HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

PASIA HON. NELSON S. P

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

HON. ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO HON.

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

HON. ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR HON.

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

WHEREAS, the Makati City POC included a leadership training program in the Peace and Order and Public Safety (POPS) Plan to capacitate further the skills of its members and staff;

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

MANILA APPROVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, in its Regular Session held on 1 March 2017.

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

SICK LEAVE SICK LEAVE

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY VACATION LEAVE

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

VACATION LEAVE

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

P HON. NELSON S. PASIA

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO HON.

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR HON.

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

Certified true and correct by:

ATTY. DINDO R. CERVANTES Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

Attested by:

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

(MS-MAR. 3, 2017)

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

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer (MS-MAR. 3, 2017)

(MS-MAR. 3, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

Manila

Standard

TODAY

Under fire over Russian contacts WASHINGTON―US Attorney General Jeff Sessions came under fire late Wednesday after the Washington Post reported he met twice last year with Russia’s ambassador to Washington, seemingly contradicting statements he made in Senate confirmation hearings in January. The revelation cast a fresh cloud over President Donald Trump’s administration—which has repeatedly denied any suspected ties between members of his election team and Russia -- which US intelligence says interfered in the 2016 campaign against Hillary Clinton. The White House quickly labeled the report an attack by partisan Democrats, confirming the meetings but arguing Sessions did nothing wrong. In a statement Sessions said: “I never met with any Russian officials to discuss issues of the campaign. I have no idea what this allegation is about. It is false.” But with US intelligence agencies, the Department of Justice, and four Congressional committees examining the Russia scandal, Democrats demanded that Sessions—the Trump administra-

tion’s top law enforcement official—recuse himself from investigations, and for Congress to name an independent special investigator to oversee a broad probe. “Given AG Sessions’ false statements about contacts with Russian officials, we need a special counsel to investigate Trump associates’ ties to Russia,” said Democrat Senator Ron Wyden, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The Washington Post reported late Wednesday that Sessions— formerly a senator who advised Trump’s campaign on foreign policy and other issues—met Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in July and September, just as accusations of Russian interference in the election were mounting. Sessions, however, told his confirmation hearing at the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 10 that he did not know of contacts between Trump campaign members and Russia. “I did not have communications with the Russians,” he said under oath. Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in the Senate, called for Sessions to step down. AFP

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017

Residents fight to save Bangkok’s green space B ANGKOK―Leaping out from Bangkok’s vast concrete sprawl is a kidney-shaped green space, home to hundreds of plant and bird species, and where cars are outnumbered by bicyles.

But residents and campaigners fear the unique ecosystem and character of the city’s so-called “Green Lung” is under threat as developers lure locals with lucrative land deals. Bang Krachao is an artificial island formed by a canal and a bend in the meandering Chao Praya river. The area stands apart on Google Maps: a swathe of greenery in an otherwise concrete jungle of traffic-choked streets, towering condos and sprawling factories. While the rest of Bangkok has developed at a dizzying pace in the last five decades -- often with little thought put into sustainable long-term planning -- Bang Krachao remains an oasis of calm.

Covering 16 square kilometers, its pathways are popular with weekend cyclists and expat day trippers seeking respite from the helter-skelter of Bangkok’s streets. But the ﬁght is now on to stop the concrete consuming Bangkok’s last tropical sanctuary. Bang Krachao’s abundant space and proximity to the city center have caught the eye of investors. Soaring land prices are teasing residents into selling up. “I feel bad to sell it but my aunt is ill. She needs the money to take care of her health,” Supi Saengta, 62, who has lived in the area her whole life, but is now selling the family’s 6400-square-metre plot of land, which could fetch 24 mil-

Manila

Standard

TODAY

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

LnB President

ARMANDO P. PADILLA

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRPERSON

TO:

ALL CONCERNED CORPORATIONS

SUBJECT:

2017 FILING OF ANNUAL FINANCIAL GENERAL INFORMATION SHEET

All corporations, including branch offices, representative offices, regional headquarters and regional operating headquarters of foreign corporations, shall file their AFS depending on the last numerical digit of their SEC registration or license number in accordance with the following schedule: April 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 May 2, 3, 4, 5 May 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 May 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 May 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

Co Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr., Hon. R.C. Medina, Hon. E.J. Puno and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor

(b)

(c)

WHEREAS, there is a need to strengthen the water distribution in the abovementioned area; WHEREAS, San Jose Water District is the franchise holder for water service for the entire City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan under and by virtue of the Conditional Certificate of Conformance No. 123 dated 22 July 1980, issued by the Local Water Utilities Administration pursuant to the provisions of PD 198, and such water service is capable of providing the necessary service for the abovementioned area;

WHEREAS, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, pursuant to Sec. 8 (a) (6) of R.A. 7854, otherwise known as the Charter of the City of Makati, hereby authorizes the Honorable Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay to negotiate, enter into and sign a MOA with the San Jose del Monte City Water District regarding the transfer of ownership of all the water system facilities within the project of San Jose Water District at the Dreamland Ville, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan for the purpose of San Jose Water District’s undertaking to supply and deliver potable water to Dreamland Ville. II.

HON. MARIE ALETHEA S.J. CASAL-UY

SICK LEAVE HON. MA ARLENE M. ORTEGA

An Affidavit signed by the President and Treasurer (or Chief Finance Officer, where applicable) attesting to the fact that the company timely provided COA with the financial statements and supporting documents and that the audit of COA has just been concluded; and A letter from COA confirming the information provided in the above Affidavit.

All corporations may file their AFS regardless of the last numerical digit of their registration or license number on or before the first day stated in the coding schedule in paragraph 1 pertaining to said digit;

Late filings or filing after respective due dates shall be accepted starting May 29, 2017 and shall be subject to the prescribed penalties which shall be computed from the date of the last day of filing schedule stated in paragraph 1;

The AFS, other than the consolidated financial statements, shall have the stamped “received by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) or its authorized banks, unless the BIR allows an alternative proof of submission for its authorized banks (e.g. bank slips);

The basic components as prescribed under SRC Rule 68, as amended, shall be submitted by filers. Failure to comply with any of the formal requirements under said Rule including the prescribed qualifications for independent auditors and/or any material deficiency or misstatement that may be found upon evaluation of the specific contents thereof, shall be considered a sufficient ground for the imposition of penalties by SEC. The acceptance and receipt by the Commission of the financial statements shall be without prejudice to such penalties. All corporations shall file their GIS within 30 calendar days from: a. Stock Corporations – date of annual stockholders’ meeting per By-Laws. b. Non-Stock Corporations – date of annual members meeting per By-Laws. c. Foreign Corporations – anniversary date of the issuance of the SEC License.

III. ALL REPORTS All corporations may directly file their AFS and GIS in SEC Head Office, PICC Building, all Satellite Offices (Ali Mall-Cubao Quezon City, SM Manila, SM North EDSA, Robinson’s Galleria and Muntinlupa City Hall) and Extension Offices (Cebu, Davao and Iloilo) applying the SEC issued number coding schedule for AFS. All filers of GIS and AFS, regardless of the number of reports to be filed at SEC, complying with the circularized SEC-issued number coding schedule (for AFS only) may choose to avail of any of the following options: a). SEC Express Nationwide Submission (SENS) with the following procedures:  Filer downloads SEC Express Nationwide Submission Checklist and Undertaking Form (SENS Form)  Filer accomplishes and signs SENS Form  Filer attaches checklist with signed undertaking to each report to be submitted  Filer encloses the documents and accomplished checklist with undertaking in an envelope  Filer proceeds to nearest courier designated area for his offsite submission and pay the service fee and courier fee  Courier delivers the receiving copy to filer within the agreed period of time b). Any Courier/Regular Mail with no return copy of reports submitted:

VACATION LEAVE

HON. GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES

HON. NELSON S. PASIA P

HON. FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO

HON. ENRICO J. PUNO

HON. VIRGILIO V. HILARIO JR.

HON. ON. MARY RUTH C. TOLENTINO

HON. DIVINA A. JACOME

HON. ON. EVELYN DELFINA E. VILLAMOR

 Filer downloads SEC Express Nationwide Submission Checklist and Undertaking Form (SENS Form)  Filer accomplishes and signs SENS Form  Filer attaches checklist with signed undertaking to each report to be submitted  Filer encloses the documents and accomplished checklist with undertaking in an envelope  Filer proceeds to courier of his choice or post office The reckoning date of submission of GIS and AFS through courier is the date the courier has actually sent or delivered the filed reports to the SEC.  All Audited Financial Statements (AFS) and General Information Sheet (GIS) provided compliant with Memorandum Circular No. 2 series of 1996 maybe filed in the SEC Express Online Submission.  The following requirements for SEC Express Online Submission shall be made available through SEC Website at www.sec.gov.ph 1. 2. 3.

HON. NEMESIO S. YABUT JR.

Corporate enrollment procedure. User Designation Form Step by step procedures on how to file reports through the SEC Express Online Submission.

This Memorandum Circular supersedes MC No. 1, series 2017.

HON. ARMANDO P. PADILLA LnB President

All other circulars, memoranda and implementing rules and regulations that may be inconsistent with the foregoing provisions shall be deemed modified or amended accordingly.

Certified true and correct by:

This Memorandum Circular shall be published in two newspapers of general circulation.

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

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION JUDICIAL REGION REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH 67 MARIKINA CITY AMALIA NAVARRO,

(MS-MAR. 3, 2017)

Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Manila, Philippines. 24 February 2017.

Let this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a news paper of general circulation, to be determined in a raffle in accordance with the Provision of the Rules of Court.

-VersusCivil Case SP. PROC. 2017-1034-mk for: judidal Recognition and/ or Enforcement of a Foreign Judgement and/ or cancellation of entry in the Civil Registry AMALIA SUMAYAO NAVARRO, and/ or Civil Registrar General and Philippine Statistics Authority and/ or Marikina City Civil Registrar, Respondent/s. x--------------------------------x

Further Serve copies of this order together with the copy of the petition and its annexes upon the office of the Solicitation General. The Local Civil Registrar of Marikina City, The Office of the City Prosecutor’s of Marikina City, The National Statistics Office at the expenses of the petitioner with five(5) days upon receipt of the order. Failure to do so will be a Ground for dismissal of petition.

ORDER This is a “Petition for Judicial Recognition and/ or Enforcement of a foreign Judgment and/ or cancellation of entry in the Civil Registry”, Finding the said petition sufficient in form and substance, Notice is hereby given that the said petition will be heard by this Court sitting at the Third Floor,

Furnish the petitioner and her counsel and the respondent copies of this order. SO ORDERED. Marikina City, This 6th day February 2017 Acerey C. Pacheco Judge (MS-MAR. 3,10 & 17, 2017)

MARKETS AND SECURITIES REGULATION DEPARTMENT IN THE MATTER OF THE CEBU LANDMASTERS, INC. (Registrant) x --------------------------------------- x

: : : :

REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES Initial Public Offering NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that on 20 February 2017, a sworn Registration Statement (“RS”) has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on behalf of CEBU LANDMASTERS, INC. (the “Company”) for the registration of One Billion Seven Hundred Fourteen Million (1,714,000,000) common shares with par value of One Peso (PhP1.00) per share broken down as follows: Primary Offering (To be offered and sold by way of Initial Public Offering , unissued shares)

430,000,000 common shares

At an initial public offering price of up to PhP6.56 per share

Secondary Offering (To be offered and sold by way of Initial Public Offering, issued shares)

75,000,000 common shares

At an initial public offering price of up to PhP6.56 per share

Over-allotment Option (To be offered and sold pursuant to the Over- allot Option, issued shares)

75,000,000 common shares

At an initial public offering price of up to PhP6.56 per share

Issued and Outstanding Shares (Not included in the Offer and the Overallotment Option)

1,134,000,00 common shares

With par value of One Peso (PhP1.00) per share

Total

1,714,000,000

According to the documents presented on 20 February 2017, the following persons are the directors and/or executive officers of the Company: NAME Jose R. Soberano III Ma. Rosario B. Soberano Jose P. Soberano, Jr. Jose Franco B. Soberano Joanna Marie B.Soberano Janella Mae B. Soberano Rufino Luis T. Manotok Ma. Aurora D. Geotina-Garcia Jesus N. Alcordio

Larri-Nil G. Veloso Pedrito A. Capistrano Jr. Connie N. Guieb Marie Rose C. Yulo Macario P. Balali Dennis R.H. Alcarez Sylvan John M. Monzon

Rule 52.1.5.2 of the 2015 SRC IRR

POSITION Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Offer, and President Director, Treasurer and Executive Vice-President Director and Corporate Secretary Director, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President Director, Vice President and Marketing Director Director Independent Director Independent Director Independent Director Chief Finance Officer, Assistant Treasurer and Investor Relations Officer Assistant Vice-President of Legal, Documentation, Permits & Licenses; Assistant Corporate Secretary and Compliance Officer Assistant Vice-President for Engineering Assistant Vice-President for Finance and Accounting, and Financial Comptroller Assistant Vice-President for Sales Assistant Vice-President for Human Resources and Administration Head of Business Development for Horizontal Projects Head of Business Development for Vertical Projects

The Registration Statement, its attachments and any amendments therein (collectively referred to as “RS”) are open for inspection by interested parties during business hours. Copies thereof, photostatic or otherwise, shall be furnished to every party upon request at such reasonable fees as the Commission may prescribe. Said RS and its updated version may be downloaded from the company’s website: https://www.cebulandmasters.com/

For the Commission:

VICENTE GRACIANO P. FELIZMENIO, JR. Director

TERESITA J. HERBOSA Chairperson

HON. MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

New Hall of justice building Marikina City on May 25, 2017 at 8:30 am Morning at which Place and Date and Hour aforesaid, all interested person are hereby cited to appear and show cause, if any they have, why said petition should not be granted.

SUMAYAO

Stephen A. Tan

c). SEC Express Online Submission with or without return copy:

HON. MARIA CONCEPCION M. YABUT

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.

GENERAL INFORMATION SHEET (GIS) 1.

MANILA, in its APPROVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA Regular Session held on 1 March 2017.

HON. ROMEO C. MEDINA

Those whose AFS are being audited by the Commission on Audit (COA) provided that the following documents are attached to their AFS:

(ii)

WHEREAS, Makati City has proposed to transfer the ownership of all the water system facilities within the project to San Jose Water for the latter to undertake the supply and delivery of potable water to the project, which is situated within its service area, and which proposal San Jose Water has accepted and agreed to;

HON. SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA

Those whose securities are listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) and those whose Securities are registered but not listed in PSE and Public Companies. Covered under Sec.17.2 of the Securities Regulation Code (SRC).These entities shall continue to observe the due date of filing of their AFS (within 105 calendar days after the end of fiscal year)as attachment to their Annual Reports (SEC Form 17-A), in accordance with the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Securities Regulation Code.

(i)

WHEREAS, in accordance to the draft Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) which is hereto attached as Annex “A”, and made an integral part of this Resolution, the City Government of Makati, shall within seven (7) days from signing of the MOA, pay San Jose Water District the amount of One Million Five Hundred Sixty Two Thousand, Seven Hundred Forty Six Pesos and 65/100 (Php 1,562,746.65), in payment for the interconnection works, in accordance with the program of work;

This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

Those whose fiscal year ends on a date other than December 31, 2016. These entities shall file their AFS within 120 calendar days from the end of their fiscal year;

Notice of Publication

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

Petitioners/s

However, for Broker Dealer whose fiscal year ends on December 31, SEC Form 52-AR shall be filed with the Commission depending on the last numerical digit of its registration number as prescribed by the Commission. Broker Dealers whose fiscal year ends on date other than December 31 shall file SEC Form 52-AR, 110 calendar days after the close of such fiscal year1.

WHEREAS, Makati City is the owner and developer of the Dreamland Ville, a subdivision project situated in Barangay Kaypian, City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, which contains an aggregate gross area of 32,314 sqm and with a total of 472 lots;

RESOLVED FURTHER, that copy of this Resolution be furnished the Office of the Mayor, San Jose del Monte City Water District, City Administrator’s Office, Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW), City Law Department and other offices, departments and agencies concerned for their information, guidance and reference.

1 and 2 3 and 4 5 and 6 7 and 8 9 and 0

The above filing schedule shall not apply to the following corporations: (a)

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE HONORABLE MAYOR MAR-LEN ABIGAIL S. BINAY TO NEGOTIATE, ENTER INTO AND SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (MOA) AND ALL PERTINENT DOCUMENTS RELATIVE THERETO, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF MAKATI, WITH SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY WATER DISTRICT, REPRESENTED BY ITS GENERAL MANAGER, MR. LORETO G. LIMCOLIOC, REGARDING THE TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF ALL THE WATER SYSTEM FACILITIES WITHIN THE PROJECT OF SAN JOSE WATER DISTRICT AT THE DREAMLAND VILLE, SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, BULACAN FOR THE PURPOSE OF SAN JOSE WATER DISTRICT’S UNDERTAKING TO SUPPLY AND DELIVER POTABLE WATER TO DREAMLAND VILLE, SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF MAKATI, METRO MANILA, BY VIRTUE OF THE POWERS VESTED IN IT BY LAW, IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, to authorize the Honorable Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay to negotiate, enter into and sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and all pertinent documents relative thereto, on behalf of the City Government of Makati, with San Jose Del Monte City Water District, represented by its General Manager, Mr. Loreto G. Limcolioc, regarding the transfer of ownership of all the water system facilities within the project of San Jose Water District at the Dreamland Ville, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan for the purpose of San Jose Water District’s undertaking to supply and deliver potable water to Dreamland Ville, subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations.

: : : : :

All SEC Satellite Offices and Extension Offices in Cebu, Iloilo and Davao shall be governed also by the above coding schedule in 2017. However, any corporations may file on or before its respective filing dates.

CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2017-023 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 and Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr.

HON. LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY

advertise@ thestandard.com.ph or call us at 832-5547

STATEMENTS AND

I. AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF COMPANIES WHOSE FISCAL YEAR ENDS ON DECEMBER 31, 2016:

cess Sirindhorn, has made several visits to the area. In the wake of Bhumibol’s death last October, the current military government announced a plan to safeguard Bang Krachao’s wild character. The three-year scheme, which involves the Royal Forestry Department, Kasetsart University and the Thai oil ﬁrm PTT, aims to renovate public green spaces and ensure that at least 60 percent of the area remains free from development. The difﬁculty in a country like Thailand, where land is in short supply and corruption rampant, is developers and powerful businesses have long found ways to circumvent, or simply ignore, environmental protections. “If we do nothing, the traditional way of life, with houses in farmland, with mangrove forest surrounding Bang Krachao, will disappear,” warns Montathip Sommeechai, a lecturer in Kasetsart University’s forestry faculty. AFP

RESERVE YOURADemailSPACE NOW! us at

To maintain an organized and orderly filing of Audited Financial Statements (AFS) and General Information Sheet (GIS), the Commission, pursuant to its authority under the Corporation Code and Securities Regulation Code, adopt the following measures in the filing of annual reports:

On motion presented by Hon. A.P. Padilla, which was duly seconded by all Members present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Resolution No. 2017-023 on second and final reading.

HON. LUIS S. JAVIER JR.

lion baht ($685,000). More buildings mean more roads -- a major change in an area where many residents still get around on a network of raised concrete footpaths that snake through the tropical foliage. Eventually “these paths will be knocked down and replaced by big roads which block the waterways,” said Jakkaphan Thruadmarakha, an environmental campaigner who was born in the area. “We can already see that some of the canals are becoming stagnant and have problems with water drainage,” he added, urging future development on the wedge of land to be sustainable. Those battling to keep the Green Lung green have some powerful backers in their corner. Thailand’s revered late King Bhumibol Adulyadej is said to have declared his wish for Bang Krachao to be preserved for future generations. His daughter, the popular Prin-

SEC MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2 SERIES OF 2017

(MS-MAR. 3, 2017)

(MS-MAR. 3 & 10, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017

Oscars snafu culprits banned LOS ANGELES―The two accountants involved in the embarrassing mix-up at Sunday’s Oscars will not be invited back to the show, a spokesperson for the Academy told AFP on Wednesday. Brian Cullinan and Martha Ruiz from PricewaterhouseCoopers—the firm responsible for tallying and safeguarding Oscar votes and results—were in charge of handing out the winning envelopes to the presenters at the ceremony. However, a mix-up resulted in Cullinan handing Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway a duplicate of the best actress envelope -- instead of the one that showed “Moonlight” winning best picture. The fiasco marked the most embarrassing mistake in Oscars history, with the musical “La La Land” briefly declared the winner for best picture before organizers realized the error. Cullinan has come under scrutiny for reportedly tweeting during the ceremony, sending out a picture of Emma Stone, who won the best actress award for “La La Land,” minutes before handing Beatty the wrong envelope. PricewaterhouseCoopers took the blame after the gala evening ended in chaos and said Cullinan was mortified by his mistake. “He is very upset about this mistake. And it is also my mistake, our mistake and we all feel very bad,” Tim Ryan, PwC’s US chairman, told trade magazine Variety. The company had no immediate comment on Wednesday on the Academy’s decision to drop Cullinan and Ruiz from future shows. Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the Academy president, told The New Yorker magazine that she was horrified as the disastrous ending to one of the most watched shows on television unfolded. “I just thought, What? What? I looked out and I saw a member of Pricewaterhouse coming on the stage, and I was, like, Oh, no, what―what’s happening? What. What. WHAT? What could possibly...?” she said. “And then I just thought ‘Oh my God, how does this happen? How. Does. This. Happen’.” The Academy also apologized Wednesday to producer Jan Chapman, whose photo was mistakenly flashed in the event’s “In Memoriam” segment honoring film industry figures who died over the past year. AFP

UNDER SIEGE. In this March 1, 2017 photo, Buddhist monks pray inside the Wat Dhammakaya temple grounds just north of Bangkok. The Dhammakaya temple’s compound in northern Bangkok has been under siege for two weeks as thousands of ofﬁcers try to arrest the sect’s 72-year-old spiritual leader. Phra Dhammachayo, who is accused of colluding in a $33-million embezzlement, is believed to be hiding somewhere on the temple’s sprawling 1,000-acre grounds, an area twice the size of Monaco. AFP

Malaysia again under focus after Kim’s death K UALA LUMPUR―Following the Cold War-style assassination of Kim Jong-Nam with a lethal nerve agent, Malaysians have once again found their country the unlikely focus of a dramatic global story, embellished by speculative reports and outlandish theories.

The Southeast Asian nation was used to ﬂying under the international news radar before the disappearance of ﬂight MH370 three years ago triggered what looks set to become one of aviation’s most enduring mysteries. Now Kim’s murder has thrust it back into the spotlight, at the center of an equally sensational drama -- cooked up beyond its borders and featuring a complex plot and cast that has left many Malaysians bewildered and bemoaning their country’s luck. The revelation last Friday that the estranged half-brother

of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un was killed with lethal nerve agent VX -- developed for chemical warfare -- after he was ambushed at Kuala Lumpur international airport on February 13 fueled intense speculation Pyongyang was behind the operation. But with four of the key suspects having ﬂed to North Korea and a ﬁfth enjoying diplomatic immunity, Malaysian police may again struggle to close the case, as they did with MH370. Many Malaysians are now starting to tire of the apparently interminable news focus on their

country and fear Malaysia will again see its reputation tarnished. “There was once a time you would never hear Malaysia in high level foreign or diplomatic news. Now, it’s like there’s no control -we keep on coming up,” said taxi driver S. Jaganathan, 68. “So much major news has happened here that... I wasn’t surprised when I heard the news (of the murder). It’s so often that to me it’s normal now”. Two women have been charged with Kim’s murder but theories about who was really behind the assassination abound. Some have suggested that Kim Jong-Un may not have ordered the killing, which instead could have been organized by other actors in Pyongyang seeking to impress him, as a tribute to coincide with the birthday of the strongman’s father Kim Jong-Il, who died in 2011. There has also been speculation

that Kim, who lived in the Chinese gambling enclave of Macau, may have been targeted because of gaming debts. Self-employed Amir Zaini, 27, said he could not believe Malaysia was again engulfed in such a bizarre tale. “It’s crazy that this is happening in Malaysia again of all places,” he said. Malaysia had already become accustomed to the international spotlight -- and the wilder fringes of people’s imagination -- when ﬂight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing disappeared in 2014. The lack of a ﬁnal resting place of the plane or any clear explanation for its fate spawned a string of conspiracy theories including a Taliban hijacking, a meteor strike and even a diversion by the CIA. Malaysia has undergone rapid development since independence to become Southeast Asia’s thirdlargest economy. AFP

KL cancels visa deal after Kim’s murder

PREMIERE. From left, actors Ann Jewel Lee, Thomas Sadoski, Amanda Seyfried and Shirley MacLaine are shown at the premiere of “The Last Word” at ArcLight Hollywood on March 1, 2017 in Hollywood. AFP

KUALA LUMPUR―Kuala Lumpur has canceled a visa-free travel deal with Pyongyang as a diplomatic spat deepens over the assassination of the half-brother of North Korea’s leader, the national news agency Bernama reported Thursday. The government implemented the change on the grounds of national security, the Malaysian news agency quoted the country’s deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as saying. The cancellation will take effect on March 6, after which North Koreans entering Malaysia will be required to obtain a visa, the report added. Before the murder of Kim Jong-Nam at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on February 13, the two countries enjoyed relatively warm ties, with some bilateral trade and the citizens of both nations entitled to travel to the other under a unique reciprocal visa-free deal. The cancellation comes after members of the powerful ruling party, the United Malays National Organization, held a protest outside the North Ko-

rean embassy last week and demanded Malaysia end the free visa ruling. Two female suspects in the attack, Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, and Doan Thi Huong, 28, from Vietnam, were charged with murder on Wednesday. Malaysia has arrested one North Korean and named several others as suspects. Seoul says the government of North Korean leader Kim JongUn ordered the killing of Kim Jong-Nam, who died after his face was rubbed with a powerful nerve agent, and engaged two outsiders to carry it out. The spectacular killing sparked an international probe and lurid stories of Pyongyang’s Cold War-style tradecraft. North Korea, which has not acknowledged the dead man’s identity, has vehemently protested the investigation, saying Malaysia is in cahoots with its enemies. Malaysia had already recalled its envoy to Pyongyang and also summoned the North Korean ambassador to Kuala Lumpur. AFP

The only N. Korean held will be freed KUALA LUMPUR―The only North Korean arrested over the dramatic airport assassination of Kim Jong-Nam is to be freed, Malaysia said Thursday, as it announced the abrupt cancellation of a visa-waiver program with Pyongyang. The moves came the day after two young women appeared in court charged with murdering the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim JongUn with a banned nerve agent. Attorney general Mohamed Apandi Ali said 47-year-old Ri Jong-Chol would be released on Friday. “He is a free man. His remand expires and there is insufficient evidence to charge him,” Apandi said. “He has no proper [travel] documents so we will deport him.” Seven other North Koreans are wanted in connection with the killing, including a diplomat and an airline employee who are believed to be in Malaysia. Four others are thought to have fled to Pyongyang on the day of the murder. Ri was arrested days after Kim suffered an agonizing death when he was attacked at Kuala Lumpur International Airport as he waited to board a flight to Macau. CCTV footage shows two women approaching the heavyset 45-year-old and appearing to thrust a cloth in his face. Police say he suffered a seizure and died less than 20 minutes later, without reaching hospital. Swabs of the dead man’s face revealed traces of the VX nerve agent, a synthetic chemical so deadly that it is classed as a weapon of mass destruction. Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, and Doan Thi Huong, 28, from Vietnam, were charged with murder on Wednesday. If found guilty, they could be hanged. Both women say they thought they were taking part in a prank video but police have dismissed the claims. South Korea has consistently pointed the finger of blame at North Korea, citing what they say was a standing order from Kim Jong-Un to kill his exiled half-brother. Pyongyang -- which has never acknowledged Kim’s identity -- has denied the charge and disputes the autopsy, claiming Malaysia is in cahoots with its enemies. AFP

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017

SHOPPING

5 ways

to re-master your

Levi’s

JEANS FOR SELF-EXPRESSION. Make your authentic Levi's pieces reflect your personality by re-mastering them through tapering, distressing or adding of patches, among others.

E ALL have at least one old pair of Levi’s jeans that will always be our favorite. For this reason, the timeless brand suggests a clever way to reuse these well-loved pairs and make them even better: re-mastering. This technique inspires us to experiment with Levi’s jeans and personalize these to suit our individual styles. After all, the Levi’s brand has always been about authenticity and originality—and Levi’s pieces are perfect canvasses for self-expression.

Here, Levi’s very own master tailors share tips and tricks on how to make your Levi’s as original as you are, so you can be your own ‘iconic’. • Taper your jeans. If you want a skinnier look for your Levi’s jeans or need to keep your cuffs out for a reason, you can taper its legs. Here’s how to do it: first, pin your leg taper and rip out the ankle hems. Trace a line along your pins, and sew

this line—this will be the new inseam. Rip out the old inseam; iron your new inseam flat; and sew the ankle hems. • Get the destructed look. Distressed jeans are all the rage right now—a trend almost as ageless as the Levi’s brand. If you’re thinking of giving your Levi’s jeans an update, distressing is

one way to go. Try this: With a pen, mark the spot in your jeans where you’d like to distress. Line your denim with a cardboard and cut through the jeans using a dull knife. Do this repeatedly until you achieve the desired effect. Finally, use a razor for a more frayed look. • Make cut-offs. Tired of your old pair of Levi’s but have trouble letting it go? Shorten it! First, choose your desired length. Next, mark this line before making the chop. Then, distress your piece and wash to wrap up the look. Ta-dah, you now have a pair of Levi’s cropped jeans or distressed denim shorts! • Add panels to your Levi’s. Give your old Levi’s a touch of rock-and-roll by adding black leather panels. Levi’s master tailors share how-to’s: First, mark where you want to place your panels, then trace lines on these. Proceed with measuring and marking

your black leather fabric, then cut panels to the right size. Next, rip out the outside seams within the marks you made. Pin and sew the panels in place. Finally, flip your Levi’s jeans inside out and sew the outside seam closed. • Patch it up. Have your favorite Levi’s jeans acquired holes from wear and tear? Patch up holes—and other tears and tatters—with these easy steps: Get your desired fabric for patching up, and cut this to the right size—just slightly larger than the hole. Pin the fabric in place, and hand-stitch around the hole. Again, use a sharp razor for additional fraying. If you’re doubtful about your tailoring skills, Levi’s still got your back. From time to time, Levi’s sets up tailor shops in various Levi’s outlets and stores and brings master tailors who personalize Levi’s pieces for customers and celebrities. Watch for the next Levi’s Tailor Shop and have your Levi’s jeans customized, too.

Find your denim style this 2017

All smiles with rebrand

THE beginning of the year is a perfect time to revisit your style staples and upgrade your wardrobe. Robinsons Department Store is bringing the newest and hottest trends in denim this year—mixing and matching jeans and shirts that will suit each unique wardrobe and style. With the right style combinations, one can never be underdressed or go overboard. The trick is just to add a little flair to your casual get ups. A denim jacket can be a great addition, or you can also try out denim-on-denim. Make sure to mix different shades and textures of denim to make it

THEIR rebrand comes with a smile— in more ways than one. Home Credit Philippines, a company that allows customers to avail of gadgets, appliances and other goods through installment with simple requirements, recently unveiled a new, modern look. It is part of a worldwide rebrand that includes Home Credit’s home country Czech Republic. This comes as Home Credit continues to take on a “customer first” philosophy, and this direction shows in the company’s new logo. The new Home Credit icon? It’s none other than the company’s own version of the classic smiley. This new look is much different from the old logo, which showed the very first-ever item bought via Home Credit: a refrigerator. “While our old logo put more focus on our products, our new symbol puts greater focus on what matters most—people,” remarked Annica Witschard, Home Credit Philippines (HCPH) CEO. “At Home Credit, we like to say ‘HC means Happy Customer’, and we take that commitment very seriously. So beyond simply having a new look in all 2,000 of our partner stores, our new brand is also our way of renewing our commitment to our customers—that we will give them the best quality of service that they deserve,” she added. Witschard explained the company has been implementing new processes in line with their customer-centric approach. This includes implementing new communications channels such as web chat on the HCPH website, which allows customers to get realtime feedback on their inquiries, on top of the HCPH social media channels that are already in place. According to Witschard, the com-

a perfect monochromatic ensemble. Your favorite international and local denim brands such as Lee, Wrangler, Dickies, Fubu, Von Dutch, Jag, Crissa, Ego, Freego, Red Girl, RRJ, Tribal, Bobson and BNY are all available at Robinsons Department Stores. Visit Robinsons Department Store today and rock the perfect denim and tee ensemble for the year. Preview the hottest styles on www.robinsonsdepartmentstore.com.ph or like Robinsons Department Store on Facebook and Instagram and follow @RobinsonsStore on Twitter.

Mix different shades of denim, or pair a bright colored shirt, or put on a dark jacket to upgrade your basic denim and t-shirt style

pany is “taking extra steps in training our customer-facing employees, such as sales associates and credit advisors, to be even better listeners and communicators, to understand where our customers are coming from and what kind of approach is best for them.” Other new innovations include a special unit in the company, which reviews cases of customers experiencing extraordinary financial difficulties, and try to find solutions for loan repayment. These changes are on top of existing “safe lending” features that Home Credit offers to customers, such as the option to avail of insurance along with the loan; a 15 day “cooling-off” period that allows customers to pay back the full loan at no added cost within this time period; and a loan “safety guarantee” that promises full transparency on loan products with no hidden charges. The rebrand also includes a brandnew tagline for the Philippines: “Enjoy your life today.” According to Witschard, the new tagline aims right at the hearts of audiences, while still emphasizing Home Credit’s simple application process and fastest approval time in the market. “We understand that when our customers purchase smartphones and other devices, they use these to enrich their lives, and often with loved ones, whether it’s taking selfies with the latest camera phone or watching TV with the kids,” Witschard said. “And with Home Credit’s fast approval, you can bring home your gadget on the same day you apply, and have quality time with the family as soon as you get home.” For more information on Home Credit’s latest promos, go to www. homecredit.ph.

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

Life

Youth in Jolly University Year 4 W

ITH a goal to build better future opportunities for today’s youth through business leadership and competency training, the country’s highly successful campus-wide culinary search—the Jolly University (JU) Year 4—returns with a full line of fun enriching activities today at the Le Pavillon Tent.

Jolly University Year 4 is happening today, with a lineup of activities that include Jolly Congress and Grand Cook-Off, to ignite the palates and young minds of student participants. The culinary competitions this year will feature four categories: Individual, Team Main Dish, Team Pasta, and Team Mocktail

With the theme, "It’s More Jolly in the Philippines," the fourth edition of JU ignites palates and young minds with Jolly Congress, an interactive learning platform that gathers the country’s top industry practitioners and leaders in various fields who will share inspirational experiences and expertise. This year’s Congress features key speakers, like Leo de Leon of Allegro Beverage, Karla Reyes of La Petite Fromagerie, Liza Morales of CCA Manila, Kian Kazemi of Persian Grill, Marilyn Perion of UCPB, Rebecca Lee of wheninmanila.com, Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Ong, and Bryan Kong of Crazy Katsu. JU Year 4 delivers another fitting finale as the much-awaited Grand Cook-Off is also happening at the congress. Some 31 participating universities will undergo an intensive training from the JU Boot Camp that will determine the best and finest aspiring chefs. For this year, the culinary competitions will feature four categories: Individual Category (featuring Luzon Cuisines Made Easy, healthy and baon-ready); Team Main Dish Category (Visayas Cuisines Made Easy, Healthy and Jolly); Team Pasta Category (Mindanao Cuisines Made Pastariffic) and Team Mocktail Category (Capture the Jolly Vibe of the Philippines in a Sip). Vying for the championship titles are the student representatives from Metro Manila, South and Central Luzon. On top of the prestige and pride of becoming JU student ambassadors, this year’s

batch of grand winners will take home P50,000 worth of cash and prizes, trophies, culinary training workshop under CCA Manila and an internship program under Fly Ace Corporation where they will receive comprehensive, job-ready skills development training from the industry’s best practitioners. Apart from gaining new knowledge from the youth seminars, guests will also be entertained by stage games, booth activities, and food and product samplings. A campaign spearheaded in 2013 by Jolly Food Line, the No. 1 canned vegetable brand in the country, Jolly University is a campus-wide culinary competition that aims to enhance the competency of students in becoming the next generation food industry champions. The program also seeks to harness students' skills and creativity in developing food concepts that will cater to consumers and the food industry. To date, JU has evolved into one of the biggest and successful culinary search events and pivotal learning platform for the Filipino youth. To join the activities of the Jolly University Congress today, simply bring any label from the wide array of Jolly Food Line Products and also get a chance to win exciting raffle prizes. For more updates on Jolly University, visit jolly.com.ph. Like its official Facebook fanpage (Jolly Eats) or follow @jollyeatsph via Twitter and Instagram.

TWG Tea in Conrad Manila’s S Maison

Hapee Baby Infant Toothgel has a baby-friendly formula, ideal for babies as young as four months, and can be used until they turn two

Mommies’ trusted toothgel MOMMIES have the faintest idea when their little angel’s first tooth will pop out. This Instagram-worthy milestone can happen anytime. Some babies start teething at six months or even earlier, while some have been known to start growing teeth after their first birthday. Regardless of when your baby’s first tooth comes out, it is generally advisable that the little one’s mouth be cleaned after every feeding. Wipe gums with a warm washcloth, a dampened piece of cloth, or a finger brush—a thimble-like, soft rubbery device that fits over your index finger—to remove excess food. Once his first teeth start coming in, however, they should be taken cared of right away. Many parents assume that baby teeth are not important, eventually replaced by permanent ones. Contrary to this common perception, however, milk teeth not only assist a baby in chewing food, these ensure the absorption of nutrients from food and aids in the baby’s speech development. Parents must likewise be warned that neglecting the baby’s milk teeth can lead to a gum infection called gingivitis, which, in turn, could cause the uneven growth of permanent teeth. And do you know that babies’ teeth can have cavities, too? The first signs of cavities are minor pitting and discoloration. To help prevent these, avoid putting babies to bed with a bottle of milk or leaving them with their bottle for long periods of time. Since teething in babies could go on for a year or more, or until the age of two-and-a-half years when their milk teeth are expected to be complete, how you take care of his milk teeth will greatly affect his long-term oral health. Some parents may wonder: how can I take care of my baby’s milk teeth if these cannot be brushed with fluoride toothpaste until he turns two? Wise mommies know the answer is as simple as it gets. The best way to prevent cavities, bacterial growth, and gum infection in babies is to use a babyfriendly infant toothgel, such as Hapee Baby Infant Toothgel, for age 4 to 24 months. Hapee Baby has no added Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), the chemical responsible for the foaming action in toothpaste. Furthermore, Hapee Baby has no sugar or artificial colors, which helps in teaching babies that toothgels and toothpastes are not edible. Still, Hapee Baby comes in a Strawberry Milkshake flavor, making brushing a fun and enjoyable experience for your baby.

TWG Tea, the finest luxury tea brand in the world celebrates a new era of tea appreciation in the Philippines with the opening of its sixth Salon & Boutique in Conrad Manila. A marriage of tradition and modern elegance, this expansion marks the tremendous success since its entrance in 2012, while continuing to provide the world’s finest harvests and most exclusive blends. Nestled on the first level of Conrad Manila’s S Maison, the 200-square meter space comfortably seats a maximum of 34. With masterfully designed interiors and a location right in the heart of one of the city’s most opulent retail and dining destinations, TWG Tea’s newest Salon & Boutique continues to drive its luxury brand presence among tea lovers, aficionados and gastronomes alike. The TWG Tea collection includes over 800 fine harvests and exclusive tea blends, sourced from over 200 tea plantations in 46 tea producing regions across the world each year. Beyond its promise of delivering superlative harvests direct from source gardens, the brand has set itself apart as an innovator, creating exclusive tea blends fit for each time of the day. All of the teas may be enjoyed in the Tea Salon as well as purchased by weight from 50 grams in sachets or in one of the brand’s 45 bespoke tea tins. Signature offerings include TWG Tea’s most celebrated Haute Couture Tea Collection, crafted according to the flavors of the season and packaged to reflect the latest catwalk trends. Customer favorites include the signature Silver Moon Tea, a green tea accented with grand berry and vanilla; 1837 White Tea, a floral white tea blend; and Chocolate Earl Grey, world’s first black tea blended with bergamot and dark chocolate, along with other enchanting collection of tea accessories, wide assortment of tea-infused patisseries and Tea Gastronomy offerings. This March, TWG Tea pays a joyous tribute to the season of hope with the introduction of the Spring 2017 Haute Couture Tea Collection featuring Always Sakura Tea. Produced in small quantities, it will be available for a limited time, in celebration of this ephemeral season and will be sold at TWG Tea Salons & Boutiques in the Philippines.

The sixth TWG Tea Salon and Boutique opens in Conrad Manila's S Maison

Choose from the boutique's signature tea offerings and its limited edition Always Sakura Tea—available this March

FlexiDeals Summer Getaway promo THE summer season just got better with great deals from Samsung Digital Appliances. Don’t miss out on this chance to have both innovative products and well-deserved convenience when you purchase a Samsung refrigerator, air conditioner, washing machine and microwave oven. With the FlexiDeals Summer Getaway Promo,

customers may get as much as 20 percent off for straight payments and discounts on installment payment options for as long as 18 months. The surprises don’t stop there. Samsung is giving three customers a chance to win an all expense paid trip for two to South Korea, Singapore, or Boracay when they purchase any

Samsung Digital Appliance until March 31. Customers have an entire month left to grab this exciting opportunity, so head now to the nearest Samsung authorized dealer. For more details, visit the Samsung Facebook page or log on to samsung.com/ph/offer/ flexideals2017.

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017

PEOPLE ...are talking about Destined To Be Yours Did the AlDub series shatter ratings ﬁgures? No, it did not but the light romance, which premiered on Monday, was able to defeat its rival program My Dear Heart, aired on ABSCBN. Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza’s ﬁrst primetime TV series got an AGB TV rating of 22.5 percent or 2.9 points higher than its rival. And as expected, people were still discussing the premiere telecast on social media even after the episode ended. Sure, it got a very warm reception. We just hope that the series will be able to sustain it. Toni Gonzaga Celebrities who go ballistic over an Internet troll’s below-the-belt comment is already commonplace. Hence, when the actress-host responded to one of her followers, we just couldn’t help but admire her gesture. Toni got trolled due to her weight loss, instead of fighting back, the mother-of-one just responded with one liners. Yes, she talked less and didn’t give the troll any hint that she’s affected by her comments. That’s the way to do it, really.

Broadcast journalist Atom Araullo in "Warmer," a documentary that seeks answers to the ever-growing threat of climate change

Kapamilya’s 4 finalists IN NEW YORK FESTIVALS

BS-CBN News, the country’s largest news organization, brings honor to the country once again with four of its entries making it as ﬁnalists in this year’s New York Festival’s World’s Best TV & Films competition, which will be held on April 25 in Las Vegas.

Leading the hopefuls for the festival’s prestigious bronze, silver, and gold medals is Lando’s Wrath by late night newscast Bandila in the Best Coverage of a Continuing News Story category, and Typhoon Lando by top-rating primetime newscast TV Patrol in the Best Newscast category. Meanwhile, ABS-CBN DocuCentral documentary Warmer, which follows broadcast journalist Atom Araullo’s journey from Malabon in the Philippines to the Artic Norway to ﬁnd answers to the ever-growing threat of climate change, also made it to the ﬁnal list in the category Climate Change & Sustainability.

Completing the finalists from ABS-CBN News is Mukha, another award-winning documentary that airs on ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel. Its episode “Serbisyo” is a finalist in the Current Affairs category. Last year, Mukha notched the Philippines’ first trophy from the Cannes Corporate Media and TV awards for its entry “Sisid.” The New York Festival’s World’s Best TV & Films competition honors programming in all lengths and forms from over 50 countries with categories that mirror today’s global trends, and encourage the next generation of storytellers and talent.

Auditions for ‘Newsies’ THIS is your chance to seize the day. After mounting the critically and commercially successful holiday musical A Christmas Carol and American Idiot, Globe Live and 9Works Theatrical are calling for auditions for its next musical offering and Tony Awards winning play, Newsies. “We’re still on a high after closing the year with A Christmas Carol. The highly infectious songs are still playing in our heads but we feel it’s time to start preparing for our next production,” says Executive Producer and Globe Retail Transformation and Stores Management Advisor Joe Caliro. “We want to continue our musical streak with the Disney ﬁlm turned Broadway classic Newsies.”

Newsies is loosely based on the newsboys strike in 1899, where a group of boys initiated a strike hoping to improve how child laborers were compensated. The true story was developed into a ﬁlm by Disney and directed by Kenny Ortega in 1992. It went on to become a cult classic when it was released on home video. In 2011, the ﬁlm was adapted into a Broadway musical, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Jack Feldman, book by Harvey Fierstein and starring Jeremy Jordan, the Hollywood actor playing leading roles in hit TV shows Smash and Supergirl. Originally produced on Broadway by Disney Theatrical Productions, Newsies later won Best Choreography and Best Original

Score. Globe Live and 9Works Theatrical are looking for actors with star quality who can either sing, act, or dance held an online audition on Feb. 15 until the 25th for mostly males aged 15 years old and above. The audition callbacks will be on March 5. Submission of entries is extended until today. “We’ve worked with amazing actors in our runs of American Idiot and A Christmas Carol. We’re looking forward to working with more of them for Newsies,” ends Caliro. Disney’s Newsies will be staged starting in July at the Globe Iconic Store in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Friday, March 3, 2017

ACROSS 1 Bend over backward 5 Glacier breakoffs 10 Forked over 14 Rail rider 15 Market upturn 16 Viking character 17 You said it! 18 Cays 19 Wednesday’s god 20 Jaunty lids 22 Goings-on 24 Julian’s stepmom 26 Garr of “Tootsie” 27 Root vegetable 30 Reduced to pulp 34 Feel grateful 35 Clumsy 38 Bete — 39 Chocolatecolored dog 40 Wave hello 42 Keystone Konstable 43 Polygraph flunkers 46 Video-game pioneer 48 Tokyo, to shoguns 49 Main drag 51 Muezzin’s post

53 Conceited 55 Slumps 56 Grandeur 60 Hummer lure 64 “Fargo” director 65 Deliver 67 Canal of song 68 In a dither 69 Leave no choice 70 Leaf juncture 71 Got up 72 Likes and dislikes 73 Did batik DOWN 1 Moby Dick foe 2 Chariot race locale 3 Driver with a handle 4 Sweetie-pies 5 Performing a pat-down 6 Refrain syllables 7 Earthen pot 8 Pick a party 9 Solar — 10 Stipulation 11 Import vehicle 12 — — for keeps 13 Withhold 21 Singer — Tennille 23 Where Tabriz is 25 Horse — 27 Surveys 28 Look forward to

29 Concrete reinforcer 31 Backpacker 32 Carve a canyon 33 Redcap’s domain 36 Boxer, maybe 37 Dogsled pullers 41 Bermuda — 44 An eye for an eye 45 Connery of 007 fame 47 He wrote “Picnic”

50 Juicy morsel 52 Scale 54 “— Rae” 56 Heal over 57 Comic-strip possum 58 Tolstoy et al. 59 Turbulent currents 61 Besieged city of old 62 Helper 63 Wind instrument 66 Soccer goal

Someone To Watch Over Me Tom Rodriguez and Lovi Poe’s hard work in this advocacy drama seems to be paying off. The Kapuso program is the lone Asian drama nominated in the Telenovela category in the prestigious New York Festivals International Television & Film Awards. The stars couldn’t contain their excitement learning that the TV drama was nominated, for them the show being shortlisted is more than enough reason for them to feel proud. Of course, it’s an international award giving body, and the members of the jury cannot be bought.

…are not talking about Jim Paredes Should he apologize for his behavior during the EDSA rally last week when he tried to manipulate and tell off some members of the Duterte Youth? People say yes but the senior citizen singer already made it clear that he would never do it. Paredes has been very vocal in his opposition to the current admiration and presented himself as someone who knows everything. Apparently, what people saw during the rally was a closed-minded old man who has mastered the art of talking but failed to learn how to listen. FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano Coco Martin, the series’ main star, promises his fans that more guests will join the primetime series in the coming weeks. That means more subplots and more conﬂict will be presented. But we don’t think it’s a good thing. Ang Probinsyano has been running now for more than a year, and it’s obviously reaching its breaking point. The show might have been better off as a six-month series. Even loyal viewers are now getting confused of its already convoluted plot.

Paulo Avelino Those who have seen I’m Drunk, I Love You, the indie film he stars in, agree that it is very promising, well-acted and pleasantly directed. But no movie house is willing to show the romantic indie film anymore. This disappoints Paulo pointing out that it’s unfair. He called out the attention of movie houses that support art films but declined to extend IDILY’s theatrical run and just let Hollywood releases rule the cinemas. We think Paulo doesn’t understand that his project is an indie film and there’s a proper venue for that. If it’s not yet clear to him then someone must immediately tell him now.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2017

Maymay Entrata

Edward Barber

Cora Waddell

Tanner Mata

Lucky 7 housemates advance to ‘Pinoy Big Brother Lucky Season 7’

BIG NIGHT

Two-in-one housemates Nikko Natividad and Mccoy de Leon

HE road to the Big Night finally begins for the Lucky 7 Dream Team housemates. For Elisse Joson, it’s the end of the road in an emotional turn of events in the final week of Pinoy Big Brother Lucky Season 7. Housemates Cora Waddell, Edward Barber, Kisses Delavin, Maymay Entrata, Tanner Mata, Yong Muhajil, and Hashtags Mccoy De Leon and Nikko Natividad made the final cut and still have the chance become the next Pinoy Big Brother Big Winner to be announced this weekend in the muchawaited Big Night at the Alonte Sports Arena. Celebrity housemate Elisse, unfortunately, ended her journey after garnering the lowest number of text votes from the same day nomination and eviction on Sunday. Elisse got 12.73 percent of the total text votes

Kisses Delavin

ISAH V. RED

while Cora got 19.46 percent, Kissess 26.71percent and Yong with the highest percentage of 41.1 percent. For the first time in PBB history, seven housemates will advance to the Big Night after they won three out of five Dream Team challenges that include the first three-day live drama on Philippine television titled “Titig ng Pag-ibig” directed by senior director Rory Quintos. This is also the first time that housemates from different editions will compete for one Big Winner title. Two-in-one-housemates Mccoy and Nikko are the sole representative from

Night this Saturday and Sunday live at the Alonte Sports Arena telecast on ABS-CBN or on ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable Ch 167). *** Last Monday, fans of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza across the globe watched the world premiere of GMA Network’s newest and highly anticipated primetime soap, Destined To Be Yours. According to data from ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, AlDub’s first series primetime out rated ABS-CBN’s My Dear Heart. Based on overnight household ratings data recorded in National Urban Philippines (NUTAM) for Feb. 27, Destined To Be Yours scored a rating of 22.5 percent beating its counterpart which only got 19.6 percent. Aside from its impressive ratings, the pilot episode with the official hashtag #DestinedToBeYoursWorldPremiere made a big impact on Twitter as it garnered more than two million tweets. Fans and viewers who simply want to watch and feel the kilig vibe all over again can watch the pilot episode in www.gmanetwork.com. Destined To Be Yours airs Mondays to Fridays, after Encantadia on GMA Telebabad. *** Meanwhile, the Kapamilya network claims the return of Margaret’s (Coney Reyes) daughter Gia (Ria Atayde) in My Dear Heart gripped more viewers nationwide as the ABS-CBN primetime series won in national TV ratings on the same day. The series starring child star Heart Ramos posted a national TV rating of 29.1 percent, while its new rival program Destined to Be Yours got 20.2 percent. Netizens also posted comments while watching My Dear Heart as the show’s official hashtag #MDHMagkalaban trended on Twitter and received praises online. In its episode last Monday, Gia turned her back on her mother and chose to work for Camillus Hospital, their family’s rival hospital. However, Margaret will make sure that the Camilluses’ plans to bring her down will not happen as she does everything to win her daughter’s heart. Viewers continue to show their love and support for My Dear Heart not only for its thrilling scenes, but also for the lessons it shares on love and family.

Yong Muhajil

the celebrity edition. Both members of the all-male group Hashtags from the noontime show It’s Showtime, they are determined to win the competition for their families. Mccoy has always dreamed of giving his family its dream house, while Nikko ﬁghts and works hard for the future of his son. Teen housemates Edward, Kisses, Maymay and Yong, on the other hand, remain complete ever since they made the cut for the Big Brother’s Dream Team. Edward is from Germany and joined PBB to get in touch with his Filipino roots. Bicolana Kisses, on the other hand, wants to know and improve herself more. Maymay and Yong both joined the show to alleviate the lives of their families. Maymay entered the house after being chosen by the celebrity housemates. Yong, on the other hand, was given a second chance for the win after he beat Christian in various challenges and earned the fourth lucky sunspot.

Lastly, Cora and Tanner are set to represent the adult edition in the Big Night as the last two adult housemates standing in the competition. Both half-Filipino and half-American, Cora and Tanner are currently living in the Philippines and are busy pursuing their respective careers in ramp and commercial modelling. Who will be the named the Big Winner of Pinoy Big Brother Lucky Season 7? In the last 11 years, Pinoy Big Brother has remained to be one of the most watched program in the country, a consistent top trending topic in social media, and the most viewed reality show online via iWant TV. It has mirrored the hopes, plight, and aspirations of Filipinos through its diverse mix of housemates. Big Brother formulates tasks and challenges for the housemates to bring out their best, test their strengths, and foster camaraderie as they undergo a transformative journey inside the house. Don’t miss the highly anticipated Pinoy Big Brother Lucky Season 7 Big

Coney Reyes

Ria Atayde

Nationwide bloodletting to celebrate love month For GMA Network, giving blood is not only an expression of love but also a selﬂess act that could save another person’s life. In celebration of the love month, GMA successfully held its annual Kapuso Bloodletting Day at the Network’s headquarters in Quezon City as well as in the regional stations in Dagupan, Ilocos, Naga, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and General Santos. T h e event,

which concluded on Feb. 10, yielded a total of 1 , 6 3 8 (737,100 Showbiz newbie Migo Adecer attends the blood drive cc) blood bags. to entertainment the donors

GMA’s Corporate Affairs Division organizes the annual Kapuso Bloodletting Day with the help of the Network’s socio-civic arm GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF) and GMA Regional TV Department, in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC). More GMA employees, along with their families and friends, were able to donate this year, surpassing last year’s total turnout of 1,580 (711,000 cc) blood bags. Present during the Kapuso Bloodletting Day in GMA’s Quezon City compound were GMA Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angela Javier Cruz, GMAKF Founder and Ambassador Mel C. Tiangco, GMAKF Executive Vice President and COO Rikki Escudero-Catibog, PRC National Blood Services Director Dr. Christie Monina Nalupta, PRC Quezon City Chapter Vice Chairman Gov. Nesty Isla, and PRC Quezon City Chapter Administrator Amparo Perez. Shirley Escalante with Kapuso artist Bea Binene, who has been actively participating GMAKF’s activities since she was 7 years old, hosted the event. Also spotted in the event were Jay Arcilla and

GMA News’ Raffy Tima who is a regular blood donor. Tiangco expressed her appreciation of fellow Kapuso nationwide for continuously supporting the activity. “You don’t need to be rich to be able to help the poor. This is the best way to help others without even spending anything,” she said in her speech during the turnover ceremony. “At the top of that, you are also giving a part of yourself which is such a noble act. Giving away a part of yourself to those in need will bring us to heaven and blessings will overﬂow. We are thankful for all of you especially now that our donors today are from GMA,” Tiangco added. Dr. Nalupta also articulated how grateful she is about the strong ties they have with GMA. “We are thankful for the love being given to us through projects like Sagip Dugtong Buhay and the Kapuso Bloodletting Day. This also goes to GMA Network employees for expressing their love through donating blood.” To encourage more participants, special awards were given to select employees including the Early Bird Award, First Family Award, and group recognitions such as the Dugo-dugo Gang and the

Bloodiest Group. Meanwhile, another successful bloodletting activity also concluded on Feb. 18 with GMA Kapuso Foundation’s Sagip Dugtong Buhay at Ever Gotesco Mall in Commonwealth, Quezon City. The event, in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross, Ever Gotesco Malls, and Go Tong Foundation Inc., yielded 1,748 blood bags (786,600 cc). In support to GMAKF, Kapuso talents Isabelle De Leon, Koreen Medina, Carl Cervantes, Jhustine

Miguel, Migo Adecer, One Up, Ron Mclean, Maricar Riesgo, Papa Dudut, and Tessbomb attended the blood drive to entertain the donors and to promote volunteerism through blood donation. The Philippine Army Security and Escort Battalion Combo, X3m, Dimension, and Generation 6 Dancers also participated in the program. For the second leg of Sagip Dugtong Buhay, GMA Kapuso Foundation will hold another series of bloodletting events in August.

Broadcast journalist Raffy Tima participates in Kapuso Bloodletting Day