Manila Standard - 2017 March 15 - Wednesday

VOL. XXXI • NO. 33 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

‘Five years to recover mines tax shortfall’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez warned Tuesday that it would take five years to cover the government’s revenue shortfall from Environment Secretary Regina Lopez’s decision to close 23 mining companies and cancel 75 mineral production sharing agreements without due process.

At a caucus of the Commission on Appointments committee on environment and natural resources, Dominguez told lawmakers they would have to look for more FLAGRANT FAILURE. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez (right), speaking at a caucus of the Commission on Appointments Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, along revenue sources to cover the short- with Finance Undersecretary Bayani Agabin, says Tuesday DENR Secretary-designate Gina Lopez failed to consult critical sectors and failed to comply with due process in ordering the closure of 23 mines and the suspension of five others. Ey Acasio fall.

“I’m saying in the immediate future, because for all you know, this could be covered by revenues from tourism [or] revenues from agriculture, but believe me, it will take more than five years to cover that [revenue loss] from another source,” Dominguez said.

He said the government collected P20.6 billion in taxes from mining in 2012, P24.4 billion in 2013; P32.7 billion in 2014; and P29.57 billion in 2015.

“It will be very difficult for us to immediately cover this shortfall,” said Dominguez, who cochairs the Mining Industry Coordinating Council with Lopez.

CA bypasses Gina, sets verdict May 3

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Carpio: Benham not PH territory

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta A SENIOR magistrate of the Supreme Court said Tuesday the Philippines had some rights over Benham Rise as confirmed by the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf as part of the country’s “Extended Continental Shelf” or ECS. But Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said Benham Rise, a seismically active under-

sea region and extinct volcanic ridge located in the Philippine Sea approximately 250 kilometers east of the northern coastline of Dinapigue, Isabela, “is not part of the Philippine national territory.”

Nonetheless, Carpio stressed that since Benham Rise is part of the country’s ECS, the Philippines has sovereign rights over the continental shelf. ‘‘However, we have sovereign rights [less than sovereignty]over Benham Rise because we have

exclusive right to explore and exploit the oil, gas and other mineral resources in Benham Rise which has been confirmed by the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf as part of the Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) of the Philippines,” he said in a statement. ‘‘Other states, like China, have the right to conduct in Benham Rise (1) fishery research because the fish in the ECS belongs to Next page

By Christine F. Herrera, Anna Leah E. Gonzales and John Paolo Bencito

the Mining Industry Coordinating Council with Lopez.

“The voting is set on May 3,” said the chairman of the House HE Commission on Appointments on contingent of the CA, Rep. RonTuesday failed to make a decision to aldo Zamora.

The Chamber of Mines of the confirm or reject Environment Secretary Philippines, which was most voRegina Lopez, with some members saying she cal in its opposition to Lopez’s should be given the opportunity to respond to the staying on as Department of Environment and Natural Resources various objections raised against her when she secretary after 23 mining compareturns from her vacation in the United States. nies were ordered closed and 75 mineral production sharing agreements had been canceled, welThe decision to bypass Lo- resources chaired by Senator comed the non-confirmation of pez was made during an execu- Manny Pacquiao, after a briefing Lopez but maintained its call for tive caucus of the CA commit- given by Finance Secretary Car- the CA to reject her confirmation. tee on environment and natural los Dominguez, who co-chairs Next page

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Lawmaker evades theft raps, tagged as fugitive

Sayyaf sub-head shot dead AN ABU Sayyaf sub-leader involved in kidnapping and selling illegal drugs in Tawi-Tawi was shot and killed after he resisted arrest on Tuesday, an official said.

Buchoy Hassan, 48, alias Black or Bocoi, violently resisted while being accosted by members of the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi at his residence in Panglima Alari village in Sintangkai town around 8:30 a.m., said Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command.

He said the arresting officers found an M16 rifle, five speedboats and several outboard motors at his residence.

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By Rey E. Requejo PARTY-LIST Rep. Michael Romero of 1-Pacman is now a fugitive from justice after he failed to appear before a Manila Regional Trial Court on Feb. 6 on charges of qualified theft, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

Romero cannot be located and has not been attending sessions at the House of Representatives since early this year, the source said.

Branch Clerk of Court Julie Aylene D. Mendoza has endorsed

PLUM PEARL. The National Bureau of Investigation presents Tuesday four giant pearls and 10 persons arrested

for illegal possession, transporting and selling the sea’s treasure trove during a news briefing at the NBI headquarters. The enormous pearls are undergoing confirmatory tests to determine their purity in breed. Norman Cruz

ERC-Meralco ‘sweetheart deal’ comes under fire

By Maricel V. Cruz

the Energy Regulatory Commission to favor power distributor LAWMAKERS on Tuesday Manila Electric Co. to lock down slammed the alleged sweetheart consumers in its franchise areas deals entered into by officials of to disadvantageous and predatory

power rates for up to 25 years.

Bagong Henerasyon Party-List Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy said the power supply agreements entered into by Meralco with its

sister generation companies and affiliates were made possible by ERC’s effort to hold off the competitive selection process under Next page

the warrant of arrest to the Philippine National Police and its district offices, and to the National Bureau of Investigation for enforcement.

The arrest order stemmed from the case of qualified theft involving some P3.4 million that Romero and two others had been accused of stealing from the Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc. There is no bail allowed for qualified theft if the stolen amount is P222,000 or more.

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De Lima bid vs drug case premature—SC justices

By Rey E. Requejo TWO associate justices of the Supreme Court on Tuesday found the petition of detained Senator Leila de Lima assailing the validity of the warrant of arrest and the proceedings before the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court.

De Lima had petitioned that

the drug trafficking charges filed against her by the Department of Justice was premature if not violative of the principle of the hierarchy of courts.

Presbitero Velasco Jr. and Diosdado Peralta questioned the move of De Lima’s camp to seek relief directly from the high court despite the pending unresolved Next page

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

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News

Aquino also liable for graft on DAP —lawyers

Duterte dismisses rumors he’ll name GMA as BSP chief

By Rio N. Araja

By John Paolo Bencito

A GROUP of lawyers on Tuesday challenged the Office of the Ombudsman for clearing former President Benigno Aquino III from graft and technical malversation raps in connection with the implementation of the P72billion Disbursement Acceleration Program.

The National Union of Peoples' Lawyers, represented by its secretary-general Ephraim Cortez. said Aquino must be held accountable not only for graft and malversation, but also for the crime of usurpation of legislative powers.

"Hopefully, the Ombudsman will see the wisdom in complainants' arguments. It cannot be the case that the Supreme Court declares something as unlawful and yet no one will be punished as a necessary consequence. Definitely, the main creators or authors of the DAP should be held to account.

The balance of public accountability and good governance should be corrected by a grant of Complainants' motion for reconsideration," Cortez said.

In its motion, the group said the Ombudsman erred for failing to find probable cause in its March 3 decision after it absolved Aquino, former Budget secretary Florencio Abad and former Budget secretary Mario Relampagos for graft and technical malversation since they did not “apply” public funds to other public purposes.

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte dismissed as pure speculation reports that he would appoint former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the next governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

ERC-Meralco...

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which power supply contracts should have gone through competitive biddings. ‘’The CSP requirement was designed to lower power rates by subjecting power supply contracting to competitive bidding,” Herrera-Dy said in a statement. “But when the ERC postponed the competitive selection process for power supplies in December 2015, it effectively allowed Meralco to lock consumers into selfdealing contracts with its sister companies for up to 25 years,” she added.

Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia, a deputy speaker, shared Herrera-Dy’s view.

At a joint congressional hearing conducted by the House committees on good government, public accountability, and energy, it was revealed that on Nov. 6, 2015, the Energy Department and the ERC ordered distribution utilities to conduct competitive biddings to prevent the charging of self-negotiated generation rates and thus lower power costs to benefit consumers.

However, the ERC delayed by five months the implementation of the DoE circular, during which Meralco was able to corner the lion’s share or 3,551MW out of the 4,500MW in aggregate supply covered by all the 93 PSA applications filed with the ERC during the extension period.

Meralco was able to secure the 3,551MW supply through just seven agreements it negotiated with its own power generation companies and affiliates. The remaining 86 PSAs covered less than 1,000MW, triggering suspicions that the Meralco contracts were sweetheart deals.

For his part, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said the ERC move to extend the implementation of the competitive bidding circular denied consumers the benefit of competition even as it exposed them to potentially overpriced contracts between Meralco and its own generation companies.

Zarate said the seven contracts entered into by Meralco and its affiliated generation companies are clearly “midnight contracts” since they were signed only four days before the new deadline set by the ERC on April 30, 2016 to conduct competitive supply biddings.

Speaking to reporters at Malacañang, Duterte said that Arroyo wouldn't have wanted to have the BSP post anyway.

"No, I don’t think she would agree. Hindi ’yan tatanggapin ni Ma’am," the President said.

"Ma'am won't take that job.

You would make her sit again in the office," he added.

Rumors within financial circles said that Arroyo, now Deputy Speaker of the lower House, is reportedly among the strongest

contenders to be governor of the country's central bank.

BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. who assumed the post in July 2005 will end his term in July. He previously said he hoped Duterte would consider two insiders: Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo and Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla.

Duterte’s party, PDP-Laban, has also endorsed EastWest Bank President Antonio Moncupa to the post.

Duterte said that whoever he would pick as the next BSP chief would have to get the nod of the Congress leaders and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez first.

CA...

“It is just illegal to comprise the mining audit team with members of a non-government organization that is formed to do nothing but oppose mining from the start, some priests, who have no technical expertise to know what is mineral or not because as we all know, the priests are all anti-mining advocates,” Pimentel pointed out.

“Now we know that Secretary Lopez did not even honor the recommendation of MGB, whose report neither recommended suspension nor closure. That’s arbitrarily closing down the mines. There was no due process observed here. We will lose a lot of income and thousands of jobs. In my district, there is no other industry that could absorb the workforce that will be displaced,” Barbers said.

“The Committee decided to hear Secretary Lopez and give her a chance to respond to the various objections to her confirmation on May 2, when Congress resumes; and to vote and announce the results on May 3,” Zamora said.

Uykieng said the most stringent recommendation the MGB did was for the DENR to declare a status quo until the violations were rectified.

He said the violations ranged from non-compliance with the highest standard ISO 14001 and the recommendation was to suspend the erring mining firms’ Environmental Compliance Certificate and transport permit.

The mining firms were meted fines until corrective measure were instituted.

“Your group did not recommend closure?” asked Occidental Mindoro Rep. Henry Oaminal, to which, Uykieng responded, “No closure.”

Jasareno, who headed the team that conducted the audit, said insofar as his list was concerned, there were 22 companies recommended for closure, four for suspension, one for deferred action and 12 for show cause

order or a total of 41.

“In the audit, most of the 41 passed.

But in the review of the secretary, she found violations so 23 were ordered closed,” Jasareno said.

“I commiserate with our resource persons. We know that deep in their hearts, they do not agree with the standard imposed by the secretary,” said Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe.

“Not just deep in their hearts.

They admitted it openly in this hearing that they did not agree with Secretary Lopez,” Pimentel butted in.

During the MICC presentation, Dominguez stressed that as cochairman of the MICC, it was his job to make sure the “deficiencies of others are covered.”

“I want to make sure that once you close the mines, it stays closed. If due process is not followed, the mines may open again,” Dominguez said.

Dominguez said he was protecting the government from possible lawsuits and potential damage claims that would be more expensive than the P50 million allocated for the review of the DENR closure orders.

The MICC co-chief said he has received complaints that due process was not observed, and that other mining stakeholders such as the local government units were not consulted.

“The MICC is trying hard to ensure coordination with all mining stakeholders. It is not a policy question. It is more of risk management.

If due process is not followed, we will face lawsuits or legal challenge that we will lose. They might sue the government for damages and I will not allow the government from paying for other’s mistake,” Dominguez said.

The Labor Department and the Social Welfare Department were also not consulted, he said.

Dominguez said he also sent a memo to the President, in reply to the memo sent by Lopez opposing the MICC review of her closure de-

cisions.

Dominguez said he was surprised that Lopez opposed the MICC review after she had agreed to it by signing the order earlier.

He said Lopez’s lawyer, Christian Monsod, was among those who drafted the joint resolution.

The Chamber of Mines said Tuesday the government may spend an estimated $16 billion if arbitration cases are filed by mining firms whose mineral production sharing agreements (MPSAs) are canceled.

“Arbitration cases may be filed by the mining companies as a result of the MPSA cancellations announced

by Department of Environment and Natural Resources secretary-designate Regina Paz L. Lopez. The government is a party to the agreement contracts in the development of the country’s mineral resources as provided in the Philippine Mining Act,” said the chamber’s executive vice president, Nelia Halcon.

A good number of the mines ordered for closure or suspension have bilateral investment treaties that ask host countries to provide certain protections for foreign investments, such as limiting expropriation of investments without due regard for international law standards.

Halcon said affected foreign investors, under the BIT, could claim for prompt, adequate and effective compensation for their capital investments, liabilities, other investments and advances stemming from the arbitrary cancellation of the MPSAs. At the same time, the chamber denied any involvement in any destabilization efforts against the administration, an accusation made by President Duterte earlier this week.

“The Chamber of Mines fully supports the administration of President Duterte and are unaware of any mining company that is supportive of any destabilization efforts against the administration. We condemn such efforts and reaffirm our com-

mitment to work with this administration, and to follow the law and the Constitution,” chamber said.

It also said they share the concern of the President for the environment and the communities that will be affected by large-scale mining.

The chamber condemned all illegal and irresponsible mining being undertaken by unscrupulous individuals and companies that have managed to secure permits from either the national or local governments.

“Illegal mining is a scourge that must be eliminated, and we are committed to help government achieve this objective in any way we can.

Unfortunately, so much misinformation has been spread by anti-mining advocates,” the group said.

It also clarified that the pictures given to the President show active mining areas and do not present a complete picture of responsible mining.

“Like any project still under construction, an active mine does not look green or pleasing to the eye.

However, mining areas, once completed, are rehabilitated, planted with local species, and made useable for agriculture or forestry, or preserved as an eco-tourism site. We will be glad to clarify these matter with the President, if given the opportunity,” the group said.

On Monday night, Duterte said he would let Lopez proceed with her plan to suspend the MICC review.

“She has the authority to do what she thinks she likes. She knows her oath of office. I do not bother,” the President told reporters.

The President said over the weekend that while the government does not intend to close the mining industry, he criticized the mining companies for their failure to care for the environment.

Duterte added that he is willing to let go of the P70-billion government earnings from mining operations just to keep Lopez as his environment czar.

said—would be unemployed if the mines were shut down. This didn’t add all the people and industries that rely on mining, he added.

Responding to a question about weighing the lost jobs against the destruction of the environment, Dominguez said people need to realize that they need mining products in their daily lives.

“You want a cellphone, you need a mine; you want a car, you need a

mine; you want gasoline, you need mining activity; you need cement, you need mining activity. So, it’s not a question of one or the other,” said Dominguez.

“I think you need some form of mining or else we might as well go back to the Stone Age,” he said.

“As former [DENR] secretary... you have to have a balanced view of your job. You have to balance one group’s interest with another group’s inter-

est,” he said. He said this is what makes being [DENR] secretary difficult.

“It is very easy to be a crusader. But being a secretary requires a little more than [being] a crusader,” he said.

Asked about what international standards the Philippines might adopt to keep mining responsible, Dominguez cited the examples of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

“Their standards are very

high. So I think those countries will be very good examples of good mining,” he said.

Lopez, who was again bypassed by the panel chaired by Senator Manny Pacquiao, has drawn flak for imposing her own standards--such as “social justice”--in ordering the closure of mining operations.

Dominguez told the panel Lopez failed to consult critical stakeholders when she unilaterally decided to stop mining.

and Jeremillo conspired in 2007 to issue 18 checks in one day, with each bearing the amount of P200,000 supposedly for “marketing expenses” and payable to National Food Authority or Felicia Aquino.

“This cannot be done. Doing so indicates badges of felony. No document whatsoever was submitted by the respondents showing transaction between HCPTI (Harbour Centre Port Terminal, Inc.) and the NFA [National Food Authority],” the resolution stated.

The cases were first raffled to the sala of Judge Jean Marie A. Bacorro-Villena who inhibited herself on a motion filed by complainant lawyer Jerome Canlas of HCPTI. Before the inhibition, Judge Bacorro-Villena granted the motion of the accused to suspend proceedings. The accused also pleaded for a redetermination of probable cause, withholding of the issuance of arrest order, and outright dismissal of the charges.

On Sept. 5, 2016, the DoJ filed

a motion to withdraw the information (criminal charge sheet) against the three accused.

With Judge Bacorro-Villena’s inhibition, the cases were assigned to Judge Cicero Jurado Jr. through a raffle.

In issuing the arrest order, Jurado cited a Supreme Court ruling that “once the court acquires jurisdiction, any other proceeding in another agency will have no bearing on the court’s actions on the case, strictly stated, the court has already acquired jurisdiction.”

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Senator Panfilo Lacson was quick to clarify that the non-confirmation had nothing to do with the pronouncements made by President Rodrigo Duterte, who gave his full backing to Lopez, in a joint press conference in Malacañang with Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on the eve of the CA executive caucus.

“Whatever the pronouncements made by President Duterte would not render our decision here academic.

We are independent no matter what the President says,” said Lacson, during the briefing given by Dominguez to the CA members.

But in the House, lawmakers slammed Lopez and found it “unacceptable and arbitrary” that Lopez kept the mining audit report “secret.”

At the hearing of the House committee on good government and public accountability, chaired by Agusan del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, DENR consultant Leo Jasareno and Mines and Geosciences Bureau assistant director Danilo Uykieng admitted the MGB was not furnished a copy of the audit report.

“We have been asking Secretary Lopez to provide us copies of the audit report and up to now, she has not complied. Keeping the audit report secret from us, the public, the mining companies is just unacceptable,” Pimentel said.

The House probe, which was an offshoot of the privilege speech delivered by Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, wanted to find out the manner by which Lopez allegedly violated laws by arbitrarily closing down mine sites and cancelling MPSAs. Barbers and Pimentel also lambasted Lopez for constituting an audit team made up of rabid antimining advocates.

'Five...

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Dominguez, who also served as Minister of Natural Resources under the late President Cory Aquino, also pointed out that some local governments rely on mining for 90 percent of their revenues.

He also expressed concern for the thousands of workers—as many as 200,000, he

Lawmaker...

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Also accused of the same offense is former HCPTI cashier Felicia T. Aquino, who has petitioned the Court of Appeals for certiorari and prohibition.Edwin Jeremillo is a former chief operating officer of HCPTI. In a resolution that led to the filing of the criminal cases before the court, the Manila Prosecutors’ Office said Romero, Aquino,

Carpio:...

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mankind; (2) surveys on water salinity and water currents because the water column in the ECS belongs to mankind; and (3) depth soundings for navigational purposes because there is freedom of navigation in the ECS,” he said. ‘‘If the Chinese vessels were looking for submarine passages and parking spaces, that would be part of freedom of navigation and the Philippines has no reason to complain. If

the Chinese vessels were conducting seismic surveys to look for oil, gas and minerals, then they could not do that because UNCLOS [UN Convention on the Law of the Sea] has reserved the oil, gas and minerals in the ECS to the Philippines,” he added.

Carpio, whom President Duterte tapped as a legal consultant in territorial disputes with China, authored the SC decision that unanimously affirmed the constitutionality of the Philippine Archipelagic Baselines Law of 2009 which determine the Philippines 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.

De Lima...

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motions before Judge Juanita Guerrero of the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 204 who ordered the senator’s arrest for drug trafficking.

The magistrates raised the issue after De Lima’s lawyers, led by former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, appealed to the high court to order her immediate release from detention citing

Duterte said he would have to "listen to everybody including the Senate and the political leaders of the country [when choosing the next BSP chief]."

"And the appointee, whoever he is, must have an acceptance to all... Part of the call would be Dominguez’s,” Duterte added when asked if he is going to choose an insider.

Meanwhile, Duterte said that his running mate, losing vice presidential candidate and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, would be better off staying in the Senate than have a Cabinet post.

Duterte earlier promised Cayetano that he would be named as

the country’s next secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs after the one-year appointment ban on defeated candidates lapses.

“We haven't talked about it.

But you know, Senator Cayetano is a very brilliant man. He would be needed by the Senate. Don't belittle that. In the DFA, we can do with acting secretaries," Duterte said of Cayetano, whose Senate term will end 2019.

Duterte's Foreign Affairs secretary, Perfecto Yasay Jr., had to leave his post after his ad-interim appointment was rejected by the powerful Commission on Appointments due to questions about his citizenship.

the disagreement in the understanding of the DoJ and Office of the Solicitor General on the nature of the criminal charges filed against her in connection with her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison.

Velasco, who is in charge of the case, questioned the move of De Lima’s camp to seek relief directly from the high court despite the pending unresolved motions before the RTC and for ignoring the principle on hierarchy of courts.

Sayyaf...

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Petinglay made his statement even as another official said Tuesday the Abu Sayyaf bandits had released the public school teacher they seized a few days ago in Sulu.

Col. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu, said the teacher, Ibrahim Potong, was freed Monday in an undisclosed place in Sulu.

He said Potong was reunited with his family in Latih village in Patikul after his release.

Potong, a teacher of Jolo National High School, was driving his motorcycle in Maimbung town when the Abu Sayyaf seized him on March 10.

The Abu Sayyaf are holding 31 more hostages of whom 26 are foreigners.

Hassan brings to 24 the number of Abu Sayyaf bandits killed in the military campaign to neutralize the group.

Hassan was involved in the abduction of Taiwanese national Chang An Wei or Evelyn Chan at the Pom Pom Island Resort in Sabah in November 2013.

Francisco Tuyay, with PNA

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

House panel postpones approval of Tax Package

By Maricel V. Cruz

CAUSE FOR COMMENT. Marcventures Mining and Development Corp. says it welcomes President Rodrigo Duterte’s invitation to mining firms, particularly Marcventures, to present to him the facts that would belie and debunk allegations contained in reports allegedly submitted by Secretary-designate Gina Lopez. In a statement, Marcventurses, which offers mining, smelting, and extracting of mineral ores which include nickel, chromites, copper, gold, and manganese, says ‘we are extremely confident that [our] mining operations are performed in a clean and responsible manner [and] has uplifted the quality of life of host communities in its Surigao del Sur operations. It can submit evidence through pictures and videos of its operations showing no siltation and that its mined-out areas are progressively being rehabilitated...we invite and challenge Ms. Lopez to visit and observe on the ground—rather than just [make] a helicopter flyover—in the Marcventures MPSA area to see for herself the clean rivers and silt-free farms which prove our responsible mining practices.’

IN BRIEF SC urged: Lift TRO on condom use THE Supreme Court has been urged to make more meaningful the celebration of the National Women’s Month this March by lifting its temporary restraining order on the use of contraceptive drugs and devices.

“Last March 8, we celebrated the International Women’s Day while the whole month itself is celebrated to honor women. It would have been a most opportune time for the SC to lift that revulsive TRO that, in this day and age, makes a mockery of our democratic ideals,” said Louis Biraogo, the lead convener of the group Tayo.

He lamented the TRO had deprived Filipino women of their freedom to decide when to have children and what contraceptive methods to use.

“The few nameless and faceless people behind the petition in whose behalf the SC issued the TRO have appropriated to themselves the power to choose for the 28 million Filipino women who are of reproductive age,” said Biraogo.

Tayo has been urging the SC to lift the TRO on the grounds that “pro-birth groups have miserably failed to prove why these contraceptives should not be used by the public.”

Drug-related sickness not covered by ECC WORKERS who got ill or injured due to the use of illegal drugs are not eligible for compensation benefits, the Department of Labor and Employment said.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the prohibition is under the RA 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations and DoLE Department Order No. 53-03, series of 2003.

The Labor chief also said this unwavering policy of the labor department and the Employees’ Compensation Commission, together with its Regional Extension Units, is in accord with the campaign of President Duterte against illegal drugs.

“Under the existing rules and regulations of DoLE— ECC, only work related injuries, disabilities, and sickness can be provided with employee’s compensation benefits. If these were caused by alcohol, liquor or by illegal drugs, they can never be compensated,” Bello said. Vito Barcelo

Senate approves Paris pact to limit global temperature

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Sara Susanne Fabunan

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HE Senate has adopted a resolution concurring in the Accession to the Paris Agreement that seeks to limit the average global temperature to “well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.”

Senator Loren Legarda, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on the Paris Agreement under the Committee on Foreign Relations, said the Philippines’ ratification of the agreement would send a strong signal of the country’s continuing commitment to work with the rest of the world in ensuring the survival of mankind.

“Our nation bears the brunt of climate change even if we are among those who contributed the

least to the crisis,” Legarda said.

The Embassy of France in the Philippines, meanwhile, lauded the senators for the ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, joining 133 other countries to double renewable energy and reduce energy intensity by 45 percent over the next two decades.

The Statement was made after the lawmakers approved on third reading its concurrence to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change,

voting unanimously 22-0 in adopting Senate Resolution 320.

“We congratulates the Philippine government and the Philippine Senate for the ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change,” the French embassy said in a statement.

Since France is a major contributor to the Green Climate Fund, the embassy said the ratification of the Climate Change pact would open new perspectives for both Paris and Manila to develop and implement sustainable solutions towards a greener, more sustainable future for the planet.

The embassy said this development coincided with the 70th year anniversary of French-Philippine diplomatic relations.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said he voted yes to the ratification of the treaty which he considers the earth’s survival manual.

It is a declaration that the species that live together in this fragile planet shall not perish, he said.

“I am voting yes because a hun-

dred years from now, when the vibrant voices in this chamber have become faint echoes of the past, I do not want this place to be remembered with a buoy which states that here lies in 30 feet of water the remains of the building that once housed the Senate of the Philippines,” said Recto.

Senator Cynthia A. Villar said the Senate ratification of the Paris Agreement was a victory for the agriculture, the sector most affected by climate change.

She said the Philippines, as an agricultural country, loses billions worth of crops and farming facilities from the onslaught of typhoons, “which have become stronger and more frequent in our time.” She added: “Prolonged dry spells have also wreak havoc to the livelihood of farmers and fisherfolks, further worsening the condition of our country’s poorest.

“By joining the global action to cut carbon emissions, we will be able to address agricultural woes which continue to hurt our farmers’ productivity and our food security goals.”

THE House committee on ways and means on Tuesday postponed the approval of the bill on the proposed Comprehensive Tax Reform Package of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Instead of passing House Bill 4774, the committee, chaired by Quirino Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua, formed a technical working group to harmonize provisions of the bill.

House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez filed the motion to call off the approval of the bill for further study.

Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Rep. Gloria MacapagalArroyo seconded the motion.

Suarez’s motion came after House Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu inquired on how the the proposed tax reform package shall be voted on.

The Finance department would want lawmakers to vote on several proposals under the tax reform package as one, Cua said.

The committee then agreed to approve the proposal in package, but this would have to go through a TWG study first.

It voted to form a TWG through 15 lawmakers in favor while Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio voted to scrap the proposal DoF proposal.

The tax package proposes to exempt individuals earning P250,000 from the payment of income tax.

Nevertheless, the proposal includes the imposition of excise tax on fuel as compensatory measure for the foregone revenues due to the lowering of income tax.

The DoF proposes a staggered increase of P6 per liter of diesel, kerosene, and LPG to be imposed within a three-year period.

The bill also includes the relaxation of the Bank Secrecy Act, imposition of excise taxes on automobiles and taxing Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office numbers’ game and lotto winnings.

HB 4774 involves foregone revenue of around P200 billion; but at the same time will generate around P206.8 billion for the government in the first full year of its implementation.

Senate bill hikes govt employees’ PERA Duterte to rebels: Sign

By Macon Ramos-Araneta truce before peace talks GOVERNMENT employees, whether regular or casual, may soon find a raise in their monthly pay slip if the Senate adopts the recommendation of its committee increasing the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance from P2,000 to P3,000, said Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto.

Recto has sponsored for floor debate Committee Report No. 39, which adopted the senator’s Senate Bill 807 mandating an increase in PERA for government employees.

In his sponsorship speech, Recto noted the current PERA has been pegged at P2,000 for almost eight years since Congress approved Joint Resolu-

tion No. 4 merging the P1,500-Additional Compensation with the P500-PERA. “In the eight years that PERA has been nailed at P2,000, rice prices have soared by 21.8 percent, and the peso had lost 26.7 percent of its value to inflation,” Recto pointed out.

“Admittedly, the P1,000 increase will not allow government workers to get rich, not even to fully get by. But if reckoned annually, the P12,000 increase will help pay certain bills, like a semester’s tuition in an SUC, or six sacks of rice, or for a small family, probably a year’s water bills plus cable TV subscription,” he added.

Although a P1,000 increase may not be enough for government employees, Recto said, the financing it requires is enormous.

CATARACT OPERATION. Ophthalmic surgeons, headed by Dr. Lee Verzosa, perform cataract surgery in

this Lions Club project ‘Vision’ in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao using the latest technology through ‘phacoemulsification’—a modern cataract surgery in which the eye’s internal lens is emulsified with an ultrasonic handpiece and aspirated from the eye. Mark Navales

By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday told communist rebels seeking peace negotiations with the government to sign a bilateral ceasefire—“reduced in writing”—and come up with “clear parameters” before any restoration of peace talks.

“I want a ceasefire reduced in writing, and the parameters clearly shown, where are we going, and what shall we do if we fail,” Duterte said in a speech before municipal mayors at the Manila Hotel.

“We have to pray for everything. But everything’s still vague until now,” he added.

Four police officers died in an ambush by suspected members of NPA in Bansalan, Davao del Sur last Wednesday, prompting President Duterte to urge the military and the police to use all their assets in the war against communist rebels.

Attacks, however, continued after the New People’s Army guerrillas burned a bus in Makilala, North Cotabato, and wounded five policemen in an ambush in Abra.

Duterte earlier opened up the possibility of reviving the stalled peace talks, but laid down three “requests” before any negotiation could proceed: A genuine ceasefire done in sincerity, the release of all soldiers and civilians being held captive by the NPA, and a stop to NPA extortion activities.

On Sunday, the government’s

peace panel and negotiators from the National Democratic Front agreed to return to the negotiating table, pending a unilateral ceasefire that has yet to take effect.

“I cannot expound anything further,” Duterte said, referring to the backchannel talks between the government and communists.

Continuation of the drafting of three substantial agenda—social and economic reforms, constitutional and political reforms and end of hostilities—has been hanging after Duterte decided to terminate the peace talks amid the breakdown of their respective unilateral ceasefires early February.

During the meeting of the National Security Council last Monday, the President stressed the need for “clear parameters” between the two groups.

“On the peace process, the President acknowledged the joint statement of the [government] and NDF [National Democratic Front] peace panels on the intent to resume formal peace talks,” Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a press briefing.

“To ensure that genuine peace talks are realized, the President asked both panels to agree on clear parameters for ceasefire and the talks,” he added.

Duterte, in a press briefing Monday, said the resumption of peace negotiations between the government peace panel and the NDF consultants would give way to end the armed conflict in the country.

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

A plotter in every corner

I

T SEEMS to be the fashion these days for public officials to ascribe sinister intentions to honest criticism.

Sometimes, the attempt to deflect blame is so nonsensical that it enters the realm of the absurd. Thus we could only shake our heads in disbelief when the disgraced Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr.—whose nomination was rejected by the Commission on Appointments for lying about his American citizenship—blamed his woes on “destabilization” attempts that were aimed at “the appointing power,” a none-too-subtle reference to President Rodrigo Duterte.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, before he was gagged in favor of Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella,

famously claimed that Senate reporters were offered $1,000 each to attend a press conference that was embarrassing to Duterte as part of a plot to destabilize his government. To back up his accusation, Andanar cited vague “intelligence reports” and never explained why bribes might be denominated in US greenbacks.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, too, sees “a pattern of destabilization” against the administration, beginning with the accusations of a former police officer who said Duterte was the brains behind the Davao Death Squad when he was still mayor of Davao City.

Alvarez blamed supporters of the previous administration, saying they were using “big money” to destabilize the government.

Ironically, the administration’s own defense officials have consistently said that they have seen no sign of a destabilization

plot against the government. This suggests three possibilities: 1) the intelligence capabilities of the defense establishment are extremely poor; 2) the plotters are much too clever to be detected; or 3) Mr. Duterte’s people are paranoid—or are using destabilization as a way to deflect valid criticism about themselves.

In the absence of solid proof of any destabilization plot, we must lean toward the third explanation.

But this makes the latest example of this paranoia all the more worrisome, since the words come straight from the President’s mouth.

In a last-ditch effort to save his Environment Secretary, Regina Lopez, from being rejected by the Commission on Appointments, Duterte accused mining companies who opposed her confirmation of trying to destabilize his government.

Several of them, he said, were funding the opposition against him to undermine his leadership.

He then threatened to impose a total nationwide ban on mining and use the military to enforce it, saying: “If they won’t arrest them, I’ll make them enter those pits and close them.”

In taking this path, the President has taken very specific—and valid—criticism of one of his appointees and turned it into an even bigger issue than it is. The opposition to Lopez’s appointment has nothing to do with Mr. Duterte’s leadership and everything to do with his secretary’s biases, lack of knowledge and competence, and imperial style.

The sooner the President accepts this, the sooner we can stop seeing plotters in every corner and move on to more substantive concerns.

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

Is Ombudsman Carpio-Morales a misfit?

a ruling of the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.

The UN ruled that the Philippines’ claim that Benham Rise is part of its extended continental shelf in 2012, as defined in the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea. The Philippines petitioned the UN to declare the underwater landmass ours in 2008.

Carpio, who is an adviser of President Rodrigo Duterte on the country’s territorial claims, was part of the delegation that argued in favor of the official declaration of Benham Rise as part of Philippine territory before the UN. He explained that the UN ruling made economic exploitation of the area, which is wider than the islands of Luzon, Samar and Leyte combined, the exclusive right of the Philippines—but that this did not prevent other countries from enjoying freedom of navigation or conducting scientific

ANY day now, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption will initiate an impeachment complaint against the anti-graft prosecutor, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales before the House of Representatives.

She was named Ombudsman

by President BS Aquino III in July 2011.

The main complaint against Carpio-Morales is betrayal of the public trust, on the following grounds: 1. Inordinate delay in disposition of cases 2. Bias in favor of former President BS Aquino III 3. Bias against high-ranking public officials identified with the political opposition to President Aquino. She went after former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, former vice president Jejomar Binay, former Makati mayor Junjun Binay, former mayor Elenita Binay, Senators Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr., Juan Ponce Enrile, and JV Ejercito, and Congressman Prospero Pichay.

“The Ombudsman is a misfit who does not deserve to stay a minute longer in her exalted position,” says the VACC. She is supposed to retire in July but I guess the VACC wants to give Carpio-Morales her day in court.

In No. 1, VACC says 6,254 cases are pending before the Ombudsman. The disposition rate is only 50 percent, below par.

Speedy disposition of cases is a constitutional right of an accused. In a court case, a delay of three years is already inordinate. There is Supreme Court ruling that says a delay of one year before the Ombudsman is already a violation of the Constitution. A delay means any of several things— inefficiency, incompetence, ignorance, sheer laziness, or plain refusal to act.

Said then Justice Puno in People vs. Lacson, “Accusation casts a doubt on the person’s reputation that is not easily erased. Frequently, the public remembers the accusation and still suspects guilt even after an acquittal. Moreover, even where an acquittal is accepted as fully vindication of the accused, it hardly remedies other costs suffered in the course of gaining that verdict. The period spent by the accused awaiting trial commonly is filled with a

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Turn to A5

Benham on the rise LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES WHEN I hear those incredibly biased (I’m being kind) reports these days about how President Rodrigo Duterte is supposedly giving away our territory to the Chinese, I remember how his predecessor lost Scarborough Shoal in 2012. Yes, it was Noynoy Aquino, the supposed ally of the Americans, who nearly went to war over Scarborough, by sending a lone Philippine Navy vessel without US backup against several wellarmed Chinese warships—only to chicken out by returning it to Manila for a permanent “refueling” stop.

And I recall an early State of the Nation Address by Aquino, as well, during which he promised to defend Recto (or Reed) Bank “like it was Recto Ave-

nue.” But Aquino presided over the lowest point of our relations with Beijing, during which the Chinese seized, occupied and repurposed nearly all of the western parts of our claimed territory off Palawan with nary a peep from his American patrons, who considered the $5 trillion worth of cargo transported annually over the disputed sea to be always of greater importance.

(Special mention, of course, must be made here of the role played by that national nuisance and Aquino BFF, Senator Antonio Trillanes, who made more than a dozen clandestine trips to Beijing as the president’s “back channel negotiator,” but who only succeeded in ruining our relations with the Chinese some more. Whatever happened to the investigations of Trillanes’ alleged treasonous role as illegitimate envoy to China?)

These days, it’s important

to remember who gave away our territory to the Chinese by empty war-like posturing. And who “liberated” Scarborough for Filipino fishermen by convincing Beijing to lift its de

Never forget who really gave away our territory to China, with the ‘help’ of Trillanes, no less.

facto blockade at the reef after a state visit to China, during which he convinced our giant neighbor that we were now going it alone geopolitically—that would be Duterte, not Aquino.

Now, Duterte is being snidely

accused of supposedly giving away Benham Rise on the Philippines’ eastern seaboard to Beijing, after reports that Chinese ships were seen in the area. But what’s really going on? *** First of all, do we own the Benham Rise (a.k.a. Benham Plateau), a massive underwater landform in the Pacific Ocean to the east of Luzon? Yes and no, according to one of the foremost authorities on the country’s legal territorial claims.

Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio explained that the Philippines enjoys sovereign rights but does not have sovereignty over the plateau, which is believed to hold huge amounts of minerals and oil, apart from being home to diverse marine life regularly gathered by Filipino fishermen for generations. According to Carpio, our sovereign rights are “less than sovereignty,” or outright ownership, based on

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Opinion LITO BANAYO

HOPEFULLY, with the provisions.

Please note that there will be President’s push, the process to rewrite the flawed 1987 similarities in population and Constitution will now begin. resources of such a division.

In a speech before the PDP- Roughly 15 to 20 million people Laban anniversary the other day, reside in these separated federal the call for a shift to a federal states (North and Central Luzon, system upon which Mayor Southern Luzon, Metro Manila, Duterte anchored his bid for the Visayas and Mindanao, with some 10 million or less for the presidency will gain impetus.

Overshadowed by the war on Muslim population plus the peodrugs in the last eight months ple of the Montanosa).

While the Visayas may be a simply because this is a clear and present danger, the call to sprinkling of island groups, linkdismantle a highly centralized ing the current three main regions unitary system, which is pro- by a bridge would make adminspective in nature, had to take istration more cohesive. The Regional Development Council the back seat.

But with the pronouncement for Region 7 for instance (by the that a preparatory commission way, congratulations are in orthat would draft and vet the pro- der for the recent appointment of posed constitutional changes is world-class industrial artist cum forthcoming, the process of real entrepreneur Kenneth Cobonpue as co-chair of the RDC) proposchange begins.

Let the public debate the mer- es ambitious but doable bridges its of a federal system to replace linking Cebu to Negros and Bowhat colonial Spain and Ameri- hol. Eventually, another to link ca imposed upon us, and the suc- Danao to Camotes and thence ceeding “independent” republics Leyte could also be undertaken.

A new federal government could continued to this day.

A caveat though: Let us tread arrange easily for a Bacolod to Ilwith caution. Uprooting a sys- oilo link.

Those who would dismiss tem that has been with us for 400 years is not that easy. As always, these as pies-in-the-sky should there must be a gradual timeline go visit Hong Kong Island, which is by now inter-connected to implement systemic change.

Probably the most contentious to Kowloon, Lantau, thence Mawould be how to divide the uni- cau through the longest 57-kilotary into federal parts. If we go meter bridge cum underwater by the present administrative re- tunnel. There are other examgional division which Ferdinand ples of such engineering marvels Marcos first imposed and was in the Florida Keys, in Louisiexpanded by succeeding gov- ana, and China.

Yes Visayas, it can be done. ernments, we will be promoting Federalism properly and eqtribalism rather than national uitably imunity.

Furplemented ther, many of will unleash the 16 or so natural comadministrapetitive forces tive regions A caveat that would turned federal though: Let propel us states simply economically, do not have us tread while at the the wheresame time withal, now or with caution. add ressing in the foreseeUprooting a the historic able future, to grievances of govern themsystem that has our Muslim selves effecand Montatively. been with us for nosa brothers And to im400 years is not which is what pose upon President the currently that easy.

Duterte sees “rich” states as a lasting subsidies for solution to the “poorer” our separatist states may conflicts. be easier said Thenceforth, management than done.

My proposal, earlier written in will be by chunks rather than a this space, stands: One federal difficult whole, given the physistate to cover all the provinces cal lay of the archipelago and the north of Metro Manila, that is, wealth disparities therein.

Should we go parliamentary Regions 1, 2 and 3 combined, with a special autonomous re- or retain the present presidential system? gion for the Cordillera.

While this is again a rather Another federal state to cover Regions 4, 4-A and 5, perhaps contentious matter which ought with the exception of Palawan, be the subject of more articles, which may be more proximate to again a personal stand: let us either the Visayas or Mindanao. adopt the French model of havOne federal state to encom- ing an elected president who pass all three Visayan regions. shall be head of state and govOr rather four, if we separate ernment, in charge of foreign what the past government creat- affairs, national defense, intered in the Negros Island Region, nal security, central banking a political gimmick intended to and the single monetary system, fortify the Liberal presidential national communications. Let a parliament elect a prime mincandidate’s home base.

One other federal state for ister in charge of the economy Mindanao, minus the Muslim- and day-to-day administrative dominated provinces, which affairs. During the transition could be either another federal period defined under the transtate with two special adminis- sitory provisions, the elected trative regions, one for the main- president shall choose the prime land, and another for the islands. minister from among the electMindanaoans know that until ed members of parliament, his they finally unite, there is yet choice being duly ratified by a great divide between the Ma- the legislative body.

Let us not be afraid of real ranaws, Maguindanaos and Iranons of the mainland on the one change.

Otherwise, after Duterte’s sixhand, and the Tausugs, Yakans, year term is over, we would regret Samas, Badjaos of the islands.

Then, Metro Manila can be missing the opportunity. Then considered one federal state as we shall rue the day, and say, as well, or a special administrative the French always say: Plus ca region under the direct control change, plus ca reste la meme of the national government for a chose. (The more we change, the certain period of time defined in more we remain the same.)

It’s the system, stupid. the new Constitution’s transitory

Benham...

From A4 surveys or studies in it.

Carpio said yesterday: “[W]e have sovereign rights over Benham Rise because we have exclusive right to explore and exploit the oil, gas and other

mineral resources [there], which has been confirmed by the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf as part of the Extended Continental Shelf of the Philippines. [However] other states, like China, have the right to conduct in Benham Rise (1) fishery research because the fish

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A war on several fronts

SO I SEE

It’s the system, stupid

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO THE Philippines is fighting a war on several fronts. Aside from the war on drugs, the Armed Forces is stretched on military operations against the terrorist kidnap for ransom Abu Sayyaf group and the communist New People’s Army.

All this is going on even as a tenuous peace agreement is still hanging fire with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. With the aborted Bangsamoro Basic Law, a modified framework accord is yet be worked out by legislators. Then there is the external threat posed by China’s aggressive moves in the West Philippine Sea. It does not take a rocket scientist nor a former defense secretary to tell the government that economic community development should also be implemented to pacify the restive elements of society. A military solution alone won’t solve the problem of insurgency from the communists nor the Muslim secessionists. But where will the government source the funds for a complementary social melioration program if it plans a total ban on mining which generates

an estimated P73 billion in revenues?

The civil war in Syria is still raging without a peace settlement in sight because of the hard -line stance of the Bashir al-Assad regime and the rebels. Multilateral involvement of Russia, the United States and the United Nations so far have failed. Because of Vladimir Putin’s vested interest that Syria does not fall into the US-backed rebels, the carnage in rebel stronghold Aleppo continues with women and children as collateral victims. This was what drove a flood of refugees and migrants into Europe. They fled the daily bombing, drone attacks and the savage treatment when captured

by Assad’s loyalist troops. As hard as it is to believe, the man has a following. Who knows the fate that awaits them if the revolutionaries win?

There is, however, a ray of hope that even the longest and most bitter civil strife in a divided nation can be achieved through patience, perseverance and compromise. This was the case in the bloody civil war between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland.

The decades-long struggle between government forces and the communist New People’s Army continue to this day even as the two sides across the negotiation table huddle and haggle. The

government accuses the NPA of violating the truce by attacking soldiers on patrol while the rebs claim government troops entered rebel-held territory.

From Oslo, Norway, the peace talks between the GRP and the National Democratic FrontCommunist Party of the Philippines shifted to Rome where it was suspended because of disagreements on demands by the NDF-CPP. Now it’s on again— but for how long will these talks last before a final and enduring peace accord is reached.?

We have a competent government panel headed by Chief Negotiator Jess Dureza, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello.

But the NDF-CPP side is still composed of an aging group of Jose Ma. Sison and Luis Jalandoni. Their intransigence and hard-line positions are as old as they are. Flexibility and compromise are the two key elements needed in reaching a settlement.

The stumbling blocks to a peace settlement remained elusive, but then it’s better for both sides to be talking than shooting.

Amid this backdrop of conflicts that confront the country, Deputy Speaker Romeo Acop is proposing the revival of the Reserved Officers Training Corps, the military training program that used to be a component of college education. Our young

men these days cannot even handle a rifle. The nearest they get hold of a weapon is a loose firearm used in barkada brawls.

Back in the day, ROTC officers taught us how to disassemble and reassemble rifles. Firing a rifle at a shooting range a requisite. Preparing our men in the event of war is necessary. Although a conventional ground war has become obsolete with the advent of missiles and nuclear arsenal, military training is still a must so if conquered by the enemy, a guerrilla war can still be waged. This, the Viet Cong proved when they defeated French forces and then American troops in the Vietnam war. North and South Vietnam laid the foundation for a strong unified nation. The Philippines, occupied by Spain, the US and Japan still has to emerge united . Internecine politics and cursed with corrupt leadership, the Philippines remains behind the rest of stable countries in the region.

While the economy has shown signs of robust growth, political stability still has to be achieved.

The underlying reason for this malady, according to political observers, is that the Filipino electorate still keep voting for the wrong leaders and basing their choices on the candidates’ popularity instead of their competence and vision to lead the nation.

Trump is already looking to China taxes might leave companies with more money to spend on research and development, that’s not enough. The US needs to do much more to help businesses achieve bigger and better breakthroughs.

Trump is doing the opposite.

One reason US companies are so innovative is that they attract talented workers from everywhere else. But Trump’s recent suspension of fast-track H-1B visas could curtail this infusion of scientists and researchers. If his intention is to ensure jobs go to Americans first, he need not bother. The unemployment rate for Americans with a bachelor’s degree or higher—the skilled workers that H-1B holders would compete with—is a mere 2.5 percent.

This policy isn’t just a threat to Silicon Valley, but across industries. Michael McGarry, the chief executive officer of PPG Industries Inc., worries about the effect visa restrictions would have on his paint-making business. “We create a lot of innovation because of the diversity that we have,” he recently told CNBC. “We think people with PhDs that are educated here should stay here and work for us and not work for the competition.”

China will likely try to capitalize on this mistake. Robin Li, CEO of the internet giant Baidu

Inc., recently advocated that China ease its visa requirements to attract talented workers to help develop new technologies for Chinese industry, just the opposite of Trump’s approach.

Trump’s budget proposals are similarly a setback. He wants to boost defense spending by slashing funding for just about everything else, notably education. By one estimate, some $20 billion would have to get cut from the departments of education, labor, and health and human services to accommodate his plan.

If Trump wants to contend with Chinese power, he’d be better off reversing those priorities—to create more graduates and fewer guns. He could offer proposals to make higher education more affordable for the poor, for instance, or to bolster vocational training. So far, there’s little evidence he’s making such spending a priority.

China, by contrast, is expanding access to education on a huge scale. Premier Li Keqiang, in his annual report at this month’s National People’s Congress, boasted that the number of youngsters from poor rural areas enrolled in major universities rose by 21 percent in 2016, while almost 8 million students will graduate from college this year, an all-time high.

And while China is focused on building new industries, Trump

insecurity that disrupts the daily flow of his life. That disruption is, of course, even greater if he is incarcerated pending trial.”

In No. 2, VACC recalls that in the Supreme Court case Araullo vs. Aquino III, the high court in 2014 declared P149-billion of DAP (Disbursement Acceleration Program) or pork barrel funds unconstitutional and ordered the prosecution of the guilty.

Carpio-Morales turned a blind eye on the liabilities of Aquino III in the P149 billion DAP, the VACC contends.

Araullo vs. Aquino III clearly established that BS Aquino III and Florencio Abad used the unconstitutional DAP to impeach and convict the late Chief Justice Renato Corona. In response to the revelation of Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, former Budget secretary Abad admitted that the funds released to the senators had been part of the DAP. Each of the senators who voted to impeach Corona was given P50 million of DAP or

pork barrel money in 2012.

In No. 3, according to the VACC, Ombudsman Carpio-Morales betrayed the public trust for being bias in favor of President BS Aquino III and for unduly shielding him from prosecution.

In the DAP-related and Mamasapano-related cases, for example, Morales absolved Aquino III despite the latter’s clear involvement in the pork barrel and Mamasapano crimes.

On March 7, 2017, the Ombudsman cleared former President BS Aquino over a P72billion DAP or pork barrel case but found his Budget secretary, Florencio Abad liable only for usurpation of legislative powers.

Filed by Bayan Muna and the VACC, the case was deemed merely administrative in nature involving the National Budget Circular No. 541 which the Ombudsman herself said unlawfully encroached on the powers of Congress by effectively redefining what constitutes savings in the 2012 national budget.

Since BS Aquino is no longer president, the case was dismissed by the Ombudsman for lack of jurisdiction.

For violating the law, Abad was suspended by Morales for three months. Since the budget secretary was no longer in office, the suspension was convertible into a fine equivalent to three months salary. In effect, Abad doesn’t to spend a single day in jail.

How much is the salary of a budget secretary, at salary grade 31? Not more than P90,000 a month, perhaps, or P270,000 in three months. For a job that manages and dispenses P3 trillion in annual expenses of which easily 30 percent or P1 trillion is stolen.

Imagine that. During the unlamented BS Aquino III administration, hundreds of billions of taxpayers’ money were being stolen with regularity and impunity every year by among the highest officials of the land, elected and unelected, and yet the guilty gets nothing more than a fine! A fine!

Yet today, a poor man with P200 worth of planted shabu gets immediately executed without due process, not even a Miranda reading.

“The biggest travesty is Morales’ letting Aquino off the hook.

How is Abad the only government official liable, when his of-

ficial actions were authorized by Aquino?” asks the VACC, echoing a Manila Times editorial.

The anti-graft group wonders: “If Morales found grounds to indict and jail Arroyo for scribbling marginal notes on requests for the release of sweepstakes intelligence funds in 2012, why not Aquino who signed and approved the release of billions in DAP money?” “This is a scandal!”, the group cries.

According to the VACC, Ombudsman Carpio-Morales’s manifest partiality towards Aquino III also redounded to the benefit of his allies, who are stalwarts of the Liberal Party such as former DoTC secretary Joseph Abaya and Senator Franklin Drilon, who were unduly absolved in the MRT Maintenance Contract and Iloilo Convention Center cases.

In the case of former Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Representative Jocelyn Limkaichong, for instance, the plunder cases against them have not moved at all and are gathering dust in the Ombudsman Central Office and Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas, respectively.

in the ECS belongs to mankind; (2) surveys on water salinity and water currents because the water column in the ECS belongs to mankind; and (3) depth soundings for navigational purposes because there is freedom of navigation in the ECS.” So the Chinese are correct

when they said that the reported presence of their ships in Benham Rise is not illegal, as long as they are not conducting commercial fishing or—heaven forbid—once again creating new “islands” to turn into military installations, like they did in the West Philippine Sea. But we

have dibs on the exploitation of resources there, including marine life, oil and gas.

So calm down, everyone.

As long as the Chinese are just passing through and conducting research, they can go in and out of Benham Rise, like everyone else; if they start trying to at-

tempt the funny stuff they did on our western seaboard, then we can begin making noise—a whole lot of it, since that’s about all we can do.

And never forget who really gave away our territory to China. With the “help” of Trillanes, no less.

By Michael Schuman IN THE waning days of Barack Obama’s administration, one of the president’s advisory councils issued a report warning of China’s plans to snatch control of the critical semiconductor industry.

Its recommendation: “Win the race by running faster.”

It is sound advice, but the new administration isn’t listening.

Donald Trump’s policies, in fact, offer a roadmap for how not to compete with China.

That’s because team Trump doesn’t fully grasp the threat China now poses to the US economy. China is marshaling massive resources to march into high-tech industries, from robotics to medical devices. In the case of semiconductors alone, the state has amassed $150 billion to build a homegrown industry. In a report in March, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China pressed the point that the Chinese government is employing a wide range of tools to pursue these ambitions, from lavishing subsidies on favored sectors to squeezing technology out of foreign firms.

The only way for the US to compete with those efforts is to “run faster.” Yet Trump’s ideas to boost competitiveness mainly amount to cutting taxes and regulation. Although reduced

Is Ombudsman...

From A4

substantial degree of anxiety and

and his advisers remain fixated on old ones. In a recent essay, Peter Navarro, the director of the White House National Trade Council, lamented the decline of the American steel, aluminum and shipbuilding industries. Yet he had almost nothing to say about developing the industries of tomorrow—whether robotics, biotech or something we haven’t even thought of yet. The protectionist measures he and his boss seem to favor would actually stifle innovation by curtailing competition. If leadership in cuttingedge industries is ceded to China, America stands to lose the foundation of its global power, too.

Of course, China’s industrial policies may not succeed. History tells us that bureaucrats don’t do a particularly good job of driving innovation, as Japan has demonstrated. And China’s own record suggests that the state is often better at subsidizing wasteful projects than creating vibrant new industries.

Betting on China to fail, though, isn’t a sound strategy.

The US would be better served if Trump focused more on sustaining what already makes America great—its uncanny ability to invent the Next Big Thing. If not, American CEOs will have to run a lot faster and harder to win this race.

Bloomberg

biznewsasia@gmail.com

News

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Bonifacio’ off to marine expo

OFF TO PATROL. The crew of the BRP ‘Andres Bonifacio’ line the rail of the ‘Gregorio del Pilar’-class cutter as they are sent off to the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition in Malaysia. Norman Cruz

THE BRP Andres Bonifacio, the country’s third Hamiltonclass or Gregorio del Pilarclass cutter, was dispatched to Malaysia on Tuesday to participate in the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition.

The Andres Bonifacio and its 206-man crew was sent off by Navy Vice Commander Rear Adm. Rafael Mariano in a ceremony at Pier 13 of the Manila South Harbor.

Aside from the maritime exhibition, the Andres Bonifacio will also make port calls at Lumut and Port Klang, Malaysia as part of a new partnership with Malaysia and Indonesia to conduct joint patrols of waters between the three nations.

The Andres Bonifacio was the originally known as the United States Coast Guard Cutter “Boutwell” which was already 49 years old when it was decommissioned in 2016. It was built and launched in 1967.

The Boutwell was one of

Help stop illegal number games, local govts urged P

HILIPPINE Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Alexander Balutan urged the country’s mayors on Tuesday to promote the expanded Small Town Lottery and told them coddlers of illegal numbers games face prosecution and disqualification from public office if they fail to stop them.

“PCSO’s partnership with local government units is very crucial in the fight against the operation of jueteng, masiao, last-two, swertres, among others. I’m urging you to help the Duterte administration eradicate these corrupt-laden gambling

activities and let’s just work together to promote and protect our expanded STL operation,” Balutan said.

He said President Rodrigo Duterte recently issued Executive Order No. 13 to battle all forms of illegal numbers games

by creating Task Force STL that includes PCSO as member to enforce the 2016 STL Implementing Rules and Regulations.

Balutan said EO 13 gives more muscle to Republic Act 9287, or the illegal gambling law, that was enacted in 2004.

“This law, RA 9287, reminds public officials that they may face more stringent penalties than operators and financiers if they fail to eradicate illegal numbers games,” he said.

“It can mean the end of the road for any career in public office,” Balutan said.

Months before the launching of the expanded STL last Feb. 1,

Balutan and PCSO chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz have been coordinating with Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa to “prepare the ground” for STL operation.

Balutan said RA 9287 also mandates an accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from public office, if found guilty.

“The PCSO will also prosecute police officials who ignore Executive Order 13,”Balutan said. “Law enforcers are not exempted as well. Failure to apprehend perpetrators can lead to an administrative penalty of suspension or dismissal.”

Balutan aired the warning in a move to stop jueteng which continues in some areas.

Balutan said each day jueteng is allowed to operate means a loss of millions in government revenue that could fund the administration’s charity services and health programs for all, through STL. At present, the expanded STL has 56 Authorized Agent Corporations in active operation that could generate up to P27 billion worth of revenue.

He said the nationwide STL operation could also produce less than one million jobs for poor people.

Julie Bishop set to call on Rody

By Sara D. Fabunan AUSTRALIAN Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is set to meet President Rodrigo Duterte in Davao this week before he visits Malaysia.

Bishop will be speaking about strategic challenges and opportunities for Australia and the Philippines in Manila on Thursday before she flies to Davao for a courtesy call on the President.

Bishop’s visit to Davao comes as Australia campaigns for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The Foreign Minister said she will discuss issues including counter-terrorism, maritime and regional security and deliver a speech on opportunities for Australia and the Philippines.

“Australia is currently campaigning for a seat on the

United Nations Human Rights Council and continues to be a strong advocate for human rights and the rule of law,” she said, adding that she may take up some human rights issues with Duterte.

The council’s chief, Zeid bin Raad al-Hussein, last December described Mr Duterte’s drugs campaign as an “appalling epidemic of extrajudicial killings” that violates international law.

Bishop said in a report that the practice of extrajudicial killings to combat the drug trade is of “deep concern” to Australia and a range of issues would be raised in her meetings with Philippine government representatives and NGOs. “I will emphasize the importance of upholding human rights and the rule of law in democratic societies,” she said.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will not tolerate settlers who forcefully occupied government housing projects in Pandi, Bulacan.

Duterte said the illegal settlers will be evicted with force to settle the ongoing deadlock between the occupying families and the National Housing Authority.

“If you want to ignore the law, you cannot do that. I will force the issue with eviction,” Duterte said, scolding the illegal settlers of placing the government in an embarrassing position.

“Let’s have a dialogue. Don’t do that because that’s anarchy. You just give me an excuse. Do not do that because the government appears

to be inutile. Don’t do that to me. I know what I have to do. I will do what I have to do even if it pulls me down,” he said.

Meanwhile, a congressman sought a congressional probe into the illegal seizure of 5,208 idle housing units in five separate sites in different barangays in Pandi, Bulacan to members of the urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damaging Mahihirap.

In filing House Resolution 875, Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez asked appropriate committees in the House of Representatives members to look into the takeover of the housing units in different areas namely, the San Jose Heights, Villa Elise, Pandi Residences 3, Pandi Village 2, and Padre Pio. “The said takeover of the housing

IN BRIEF OFWs spared airport fees THE Manila International Airport Authority will no longer collect the P550 terminal fee from departing overseas Filipino workers.

This morning, airport officials led by MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal will formally sign an agreement that will exempt OFWs from paying the airport fee, known as International Passenger Service Charge, imposed during the previous administration.

Department of Transportation Secretary Arturo Tugade was invited to be the guest of honor during the signing ceremony, which will be held at 11 a.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport-Terminal 3.

Representatives from different airlines and officials of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and Susan Ople Foundation, and other OFW advocates will also attend the event.

Monreal said he made the decision to sign the MoA after working on the technical details in coordination with the international airlines to eliminate the obnoxious fee opposed by millions of OFWs all over the world.

Joel E. Zurbano

DPWH warns vs deal fixers

SANITATION FACILITIES. Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food and the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources chairperson Senator Cynthia Villar (right) is joined by representatives from Departments of Health, Social Welfare and Environment during the launching of sanitation facilities at the Baseco Compound in Tondo, Manila. Ey Acasio

Duterte scores Pandi squatters

By John Paolo Bencito and Maricel V. Cruz

12 Hamilton-class cutters that served in the US Coast Guard, which still has three vessels in service. The Philippines acquired three of these cutters as Excess Defense Articles.

The first to be delivered was the first of its class—the USCGC “Hamilton”—which was rechristened the BRP “Gregorio del Pilar” in March 2011. The second was the USCGC Dallas which was renamed BRP “Ramon Alcaraz” in May 2012. The third was the Andres Bonifacio was transferred in July 2016.

The Navy has since renamed the entire class of vessels as the Gregorio del Pilar-class after the first of its kind in the Philippines.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had earlier said the Andres Bonifacio would be deployed in waters around Sulu to help the BRP Tarlac, an amphibious transport dock, which is involved in anti-terrorism and anti-piracy operations in Sulu province.

units should be an opportunity for Congress to look into the current resettlement programs of the government it is incumbent upon the Philippine Congress to oversee the implementation of laws in order to identify possible necessary program and policy interventions that will lead towards the realization of the original objectives of the enacted policies,” Benitez, chairman of the House committee on housing and urban development, said.

Benitez noted in his resolution that Kadamay justified their action so as “to highlight the urban poor’s clamor to address the right of the indigents to free and mass housing and also to protest the continuous neglect of the poor for mass housing in pursuit of a profit-oriented roadmap that favors the business sector.”

KL sends new peace monitors MALAYSIA deployed on Tuesday a new team of peace keepers to Mindanao as part of its continuing commitment to achieve peace in the island.

Malaysian Army Gen. Wira Zamrose relinquished his post to Gen. Paiman Masrani, who is also from the Malaysian Army.

Malaysia leads the International Monitoring Team, the third party monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Speaking during the turnover ceremonies at the IMT office here, Zamrose said that local clan wars, popularly known as “rido,” and the spread of jihadists could destroy

the relative peace that Mindanao enjoyed in the last few years.

As he bade farewell, Zamrose urged stakeholders to prevent the spread of extremism in Mindanao, referring to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

The IMT, composed of military and police personnel from Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia, and nonuniformed conflict resolution experts from Japan, Norway and the European Union, has been instrumental in the compliance of both sides with the ceasefire accord.

Zamrose and his team completed today their 12-month tour of duty in Mindanao.

Zamrose urged the leaders of the MILF not to allow the extremists to influence young Moro people. PNA

THE Department of Public Works and Highways has issued public warnings against unscrupulous individuals using the name of top public works officials for personal or financial interests.

Public works Secretary Mark Villar issued the warning after a failed attempt by some persons to solicit financial assistance in exchange for the awarding of multi-million government infrastructure projects.

The Department of Public Works and Highways reiterates its public warning against unscrupulous individuals pretending to be or dropping the name of the top officials of the department for personal or financial interests.

Villar said there are reports that unidentified individuals are claiming to be DPWH Senior Undersecretary Rafael C. Yabut and looking for contractors for imminent projects of the agency while some pretend to be staff of DPWH Undersecretary Karen Olivia V. Jimeno.

DPWH is reminding its internal and external stakeholders that a streamlined procurement process is strictly being followed by the department to ensure competitive and transparent bidding. Vito Barcelo

Sports Pro league mulling games in Malaysia

By Jeric Lopez FOLLOWING several games held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates the past several seasons, the Philippine Basketball Association is now looking at another possible destination for out of country games.

The PBA is thoroughly studying the possibility of holding games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in the near future.

Reports indicate that Blackwater team owner Dioceldo Sy, who is also an adviser for the Malaysian Men’s National Basketball Team, is in discussions with Malaysian basketball executives for the possible holding of PBA games in the country.

Should this materialize, the league is looking at either the season-ending Governors’ Cup in the middle of the year or the next Philippine Cup late this year for possible games there.

Basketball has grown drastically in the country as the Malaysians are aiming to elevate their passion for the sport even higher.

The popularity of basketball in Malaysia continues to rise even as the Westports Malaysia Dragons are continuing to make their presence felt in the Asean Basketball League.

It was actually Phoenix coach Ariel Vanguardia who led the Dragons to their first PBA title last year and that eventually paved the way for his opportunity to transfer to the PBA and handle the Phoenix Fuel Masters.

The league held its last out-ofcountry games in 2015 in Dubai.

Meanwhile, continuing its build-up, NLEX tapped the services of point guard Juami Tiongson to shore up its roster two days prior to the opening of the Commissioner’s Cup. The Road Warriors, who will be backstopped by Wayne Chism, took Tiongson, who stabilized AMA in the D-League.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Thai-PH duel looms in golf L

ruled the Royal Northwoods leg and Langkulgasettrin reigned in Alabang for the LPGT’s last two legs last year.

But the locals have vowed to stop their regional rivals’ run in the 54-hole championship presented by Champion and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., including the Symetra Tour-bound campaigners out to atone for their so-so finishes last week.

Dottie Ardina, who wound up joint 33rd at Splendido, hopes to play to her true potential this week along with Cyna Rodriguez, Mia Piccio and Princess Superal, who are all using the TLPGA events as part of their buildup for their US campaign later this month.

Rodriguez and Piccio actually

IPA City, Batangas —The ICTSI Champion Tour at Malarayat reels off today (Wednesday, March 15) with the Thai and local aces bracing for another spirited battle for top honors in the $75,000 event at Mt. Lobo and Mt. Malipunyo nines of the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club here.

Saranporn Langkulgasettrin, who bested a tough international field to win the inaugural Philippine Ladies Masters at Alabang Country Club last December, and former ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour leg winner Wannasiri Sirisampant banner the crack Thailand side out to complete a sweep of the

first two Taiwan LPGA events here.

Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul held off Pauline del Rosario and compatriot Titiya Plucksataporn in last week’s Champion Tour at Splendido in a victory that actually extended the Thais’ domination of the local circuit after Saruttaya Ngam-usawan

vied for crown at Splendido but faded in the final round while Ardina and Superal, last year’s Philippine Ladies Open champion, never got into the groove with poor starts and mediocre finishes.

But that could change this week with the Filipina bets ready to get going for strong starts against an equally talented set of rivals, including those from South Korea, Japan and the big contingent from Taiwan.

In fact, Ye-nah, who topped the TLPGA and LPGT leg at Southlinks in 2015, is in the fold, upbeat of her chances for the top $15,000 purse like the rest of the field that also includes Korean amateur Hwang Min-jeong, who upended Rodriguez and Superal to win here

at Mt. Malarayat, also in 2015.

Ardina is paired with Singaporean Koh Sock-Hwee and Thai Nemittra Juntanaket at 8:40 a.m. on No. 1; Rodriguez drew Hwang Ye-nah of Korea and Thai Nattagate Nimitpongkul at 8:35 a.m. on No. 10; Piccio will play alongside Taiwan’s Hsin Lee and Narisara Kerdrit of Thailand; and Superal clashes with Thai Pattaraporn Mounchoo and Japanese Mika Nagaishi at 7:50 a.m. on No. 1.

Langkulgasettrin launches her bid at 7:25 a.m. on No. 10 in the company of amateur and former LPGT leg champion Yuka Saso and Ai Asano of Japan, while Sirisampant drew Taiwanese Chang Ya-chi and Apple Fudolin at 8:30 a.m. on No. 1.

Members of the CSA-Makati team display their medals and championship banner as titlists of the BEST Center Women’s Volleyball League.

Colegio San Agustin leads roster of volley champs COLEGIO San Agustin led the roster of champions in the recent 21st season of the country’s biggest and longest-running volleyball tournament for girls, the BEST Center’s Women’s Volleyball League.

Besting more than 60 top-ranked teams from 36 renowned schools across the metro, CSA along with St. Paul College Makati, King’s Montessori School and School of Saint Anthony were declared cham-

pions in each of their respective divisions in best of three games.

In the 13-Under Competitive Division, Colegio San Agustin won in a tight match against King’s Montessori School, 15-12.

Escuela de Sophia Caloocan clinched third place, while Jubilee Christian Academy placed fouth.

On the other hand, School of Saint Anthony dominated the court in a battle against Colegio San Agustin Team A in the 13-Un-

der Developmental Division with a final score of 25-21.

School of the Holy Spirit and St. Paul’s College Makati got third and fourth place, respectively.

In the 17-Under Competitive Division, King’s Montessori School Team A was able to oust San Pedro Relocation Center National High School in the third game, 15-12.

Third place went to La Salle College Antipolo after winning against

Hope Christian High School.

Meanwhile, in the 17-Under Developmental Division, St. Paul College Makati easily defeated Saint Pedro Poveda College with a final score of 25-22.

School of Saint Anthony came in third while Colegio San Agustin Team A placed fourth.

The highly coveted Sportsmanship award was also given for each division. Winners of which are Paref Rosehill School Inc. for 13-Under

Developmental Division, Colegio San Agustin for the 13-Under Competitive Division, St. Scholastica’s College for the 17-Under Developmental Division and King’s Montessori School Team A for 17-Under Competitive Division.

WVL also recognized outstanding talents and awarded individual trophies for Best Libero, Best Setter, Best Spiker and Best Server as well as the Most Valuable Player for each division.

Dumaguete hosts Little League Baseball for 1st time Ateneo, UST DESPITE one division less, this year’s Little League Baseball Philippine Series edition remains bigger and better.

Around 60 teams in four divisions are estimated to participate in the April 4 to 12 meet to be held in Dumaguete City for the first time, according to LLBP District Administrator Jolly Gomez.

To be disputed in the tournament

are the 12-and-under, 13-and-under, 14-and-under, and 16-and-under divisions. Left out this year is the 17-andabove class, where the country previously won in the World Series.

“Although doon tayo malakas (17-and-above), the thrust of the Little League now is the 16-andunder,” said Gomez in the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday at the

Golden Phoenix Hotel. “We’ve really grown through the years and one of the targets is the youth program of the league.”

Atty. Christine Cuisia-Remollo, representing husband, Dumaguete City Mayor Ping Remollo, and assistant country director Chito Gonzales joined Gomez in the public sports program presented by San Miguel Corp., Golden Phoenix

Hotel, Accel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Only three divisions will be played in Dumaguete as the 13-and-under division is going to be disputed in the Palarong Pambansa set in Antique.

Winner of the 12-13-under division will be competing in the AsiaPacific meet set in Korea, the 14-15 under division champion earns

berth in the regional meet in Saipan, while the 15-and-under will be going to Singapore.

Champions in the Asia-Pacific regions are bound to play in the World Series in the U.S. Remollo, meanwhile, said a budget of P5 million has been allotted by the city of Dumaguete in conjunction with the private sector for the hosting of the week-long meet.

Magnaye, Morada keep title

Peter Gabriel Magnaye and Alvin Morada (left) prepare for a serve during the 10th Prima Pasta Badminton Championship recently at the Powersmash in Makati City.

DEFENDING champions Peter Gabriel Magnaye and Alvin Morada and Alyssa Ysabel Leonardo and Thea Marie Pomar retained their respective titles in the doubles’ open classes of 10th Prima Pasta Badminton Championship recently at the Powersmash Courts in Makati City.

Magnaye and Morada scored their second straight men’s open doubles’ title by outplaying fellow national team players Anton Cayanan and Joper Philip Escueta, 2118, 20-22, 21-17, in the finals of the annual competition organized by Prima Pasta Chairman Alex Lim. Leonardo and Pomar, also both members of the Philippine

team, nipped Joella Geva Ramos Devera and Aires Amor Montilla, 21-19, 21-19, to keep the women’s doubles’ open crown during the competition sponsored by Smart Communications and Babolat.

The event was supported by Boysen Paints, Morning Star Milling Corp., Mabz Builders, ILO Construction, Monolith Construction, Monocrete Construction, Pioneer Insurance, Promax International, Regent Foods Corp., Sunkist drinks and Del Monte Phils.

The tournament was also backed by Amstar, Gardenia, Greenshades Garden resorts,

Herbalife, Jose Siao Ling & Associates, Mega Subic Terminal Services Inc., Ric Airtech, Sincere Construction, U2 Electrical, United Colourtech, Wl-An Aluminium, Window One, Waterlite Engineering and Unitech Industrial Sales.

In other doubles’ finals results, Kevin Llanes and Nestorjan Tapales bashed Munir Bartolome and Rey Angelo Pedron, 21-9, 18-21, 21-15, to secure the boys’ doubles 15-under title, while Anthea Marie Gonzales and Angel Valle beat Clara Sofia Ignacio and Nina Pantig, 21-4, 21-4, to capture the girls’ 15-under title.

Walking as sport: Will it ever be as popular as running?

THE HOARSE WHISPERER JENNY ORTUOSTE Over the past five or so years, running has overtaken the previous fad sport—badminton—in popularity, and it seems like its star is yet to wane.

Statistics for the sport are sparse, yet as of 2011, over 373,000 Filipinos—children and adults—have participated in running events, according to MoveForMOve.org, as cited in a The Guidon article from 2012.

It stands to reason that by now, six years later, with bigger, more significant events being held,

running is the sport du jour, and will continue to be so for quite some time. It has a lot of advantages going for it—it’s easy, all you have to do is put one foot in front of the other. It’s accessible, and can be practiced almost anywhere. It can be done with buddies, so it is more likely to be sustained than solo pursuits.

With all the attractions of running, I wonder why walking has not caught on as well. I’d imagine it would be even easier to take up.

Walking creates less impact on the body than running; it is suitable for people of all ages, especially seniors, who can take it up as their exercise activity; it can be done anywhere, even in places such as malls, whereas one cannot run inside a mall.

Yet there are fewer sport walk-

ing than running events on the calendar. Walkathons are still being held, though; in fact, the Philippines holds the world record for largest walkathon, the Iglesia ni Cristo World Wide Walk for the benefit of Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan victims held Feb. 15, 2015. But walkathons, by definition, are fundraising or charity events. I’m curious about the status of walking as a sport in the Philippines.

What we usually refer to as ‘walking for exercise’ is active walking. This is done at a brisk pace, for exercise, weight loss, and for fun. Walking at the upper speeds is called power walking or fitwalking, practiced for a training effect.

The competitive version is race walking. The only local guru I’ve

come across so far for this sport is Coach Edsel Vengco, who teaches a method called Race-Run-Walk.

In his blog, he says that this is a technique he developed “to help runners and walkers improve their performance by integrating race walking and alternating it with running.”

Race walking, an Olympic sport, is more “technical” than running, with certain rules to follow as to stance and form, but the main thing to remember that one foot must appear to be in contact with the ground at all times. The sport’s judges are responsible for evaluating a race walker’s performance and determining whether these and other rules of the sport have been violated or not.

Another challenging version of

walking is Nordic walking, a totalbody exercise where poles similar to those used in skiing are used to help balance and propel the body.

It would be great to see race walking and other types of sport walking gain popularity. Perhaps then those who can’t or won’t take up running for whatever reason will engage in this sport that is just as beneficial for wellness and health as running. And maybe we’ll see Filipino race walkers in future Olympic and other international games. *** Dr. Ortuoste is a Californiabased writer. Facebook: Gogirl Racing and Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @gogirlracing and @jennyortuoste, and Instagram: @jensdecember

tossers clash Games today

(Filoil Flying V Centre) 8 a.m. – UE vs UST (Men) 10 a.m. – AdU vs NU (Men) 2 p.m. – UP vs UE (Women) 4 p.m. – ADMU vs UST (Women)

ATENEO and University of Santo Tomas clash in a duel of fancied teams today in the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

The Lady Eagles have won six straight games, while the Tigresses are on a fourgame winning run - the longest under coach Kungfu Reyes.

In a match-up of the league’s hottest teams, Ateneo is going all-out to stay on top in their 4 p.m. duel with UST. University of the Philippines, which after a promising 4-0 start has suddenly dropped to sixth place, plays University of the East at 2 p.m.

With Jia Morado leading the charge, the Lady Eagles are on track for an eighth straight Final Four berth with a league-best 7-1 record, while the Tigresses are doing fine after a slow start with their deep unit to move up to solo third with a 5-3 card.

Ateneo is focusing on enjoying the game and the victories will follow as long as the Lady Eagles will follow coach Tai Bundit’s instructions to the dot.

“Team effort ang nangyayari,” said Ateneo assistant coach Sherwin Meneses.

“Mataas ang confidence ngayon ng mga bata. Kapag naglalaro, parang walang standing ang iniisip ng mga bata.”

Reyes is simply looking forward to their match-up with the Lady Eagles.

UST hopes to learn the lessons of its 2025, 21-25, 22-25 season-opening defeat to Ateneo, where the España-based spikers, during that time, looked at lost.

Since then, the Tigresses have been so cohesive as everyone is doing their share.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 6 DIGITS 0-0-0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0.0 M+ P0.0 M+

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

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Sports

Valdez leads volley hopefuls

By Peter Atencio

San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) glides to the hoop against a pair of Atlanta Hawks Dwight Howard (left) and Paul Milsap at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. AFP

Spurs level with Warriors L

OS ANGELES—Kawhi Leonard shrugged off the after-effects of a recent concussion to score 31 points as the San Antonio Spurs downed Atlanta to go level with Golden State at the top of the Western Conference on Monday.

Leonard, who had been concussed after a clash with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Victor Oladipo last Thursday, showed no sign of the knock as he led the Spurs to a 107-99 victory over the Hawks.

The win gave San Antonio an identical 52-14 record to Western Conference pace-setters Golden State, who host Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Leonard was backed by an allround scoring display from his

Spurs team-mates with David Lee, Danny Green, Patty Mills and Pau Gasol all posting double figure points tallies.

Leonard also chipped in with five rebounds and four assists as the Spurs claimed back-to-back wins following their victory over an under-strength Golden State on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Karl-Anthony Towns poured on 39 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away for

a surprisingly comfortable 119-104 win over the Washington Wizards.

Ricky Rubio scored 22 points and added 19 assists for Minnesota as Washington slipped to 41-25 for the season. The Timberwolves have now won eight of their past 12 games.

Washington’s scoring was led

by John Wall with 27 points while Bradley Beal contributed 20 points despite a wayward shooting performance that saw him make just seven of 21 attempts.

In Toronto, DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points with six rebounds and two assists to guide the Raptors past the Dallas Mavericks 100-78.

The Raptors improved to 39-28 after losing their two previous games.

Toronto effectively settled the contest in the third quarter, build-

ing a 13-point lead which was soon stretched to 22 points in the fourth quarter after Fred VanVleet’s three pointer.

Norman Powell scored 19 points while Jonas Valanciunas weighed in with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Harrison Barnes with 18 points and Dirk Nowitzki with 17 points were top scorers for Dallas.

In Charlotte, the Chicago Bulls ended a five-game losing streak with a 115-109 win over the Hornets after Rajon Rondo’s 20-point haul.

The veteran added seven points and six assists and was the key figure in helping Chicago’s sputtering offense find its rhythm again.

Rondo was brought back into the starting line-up by coach Fred Hoiberg after the Bulls’ limp 100-80

surrender against Boston on Sunday. It was Rondo’s first start since late December.

“We had to make a change,” Hoiberg said. “We had five straight losses and we had to shake things up, and that’s what we decided to do to try to inject some pace into our team,” Hoiberg added, singling out Rondo for praise.

“Hopefully he’ll play well the rest of the year and hopefully he’ll continue to inject life into our team.”

Dwyane Wade, who scored 23 points, said Rondo’s speed had been the key to a rejuvenated performance.

“What Rondo brings to the game is his pace, which allows us to get the ball up the court and we’re moving the ball and our bodies are moving as well,” Wade said. AFP

IT will be a difficult selection process for the members of the national women’s volleyball team.

A team composed mostly of superstars and spikers who have won recognition and accolades will soon make up the squad that will see action in the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.

National women’s coach Francis Vicente said this yesterday at the Philippine Sportswriters Forum at the Golden Phoenix Hotel in Pasay City Tuesday, March 14 after he and national men’s coach Sammy Acaylar revealed their choices for the respective 24-member pools.

Vicente said great care will now be taken when coaching staff finally selects the Final 12.

“They’re superstars. They’re decorated players. We have to be strict in implementing the selection process. This is about developing the character and the values of the women’s team. Ito ang tututukan namin kasi magtatagisan sila ng talino sa court,” said Vicente.

Former Ateneo standout Alyssa Valdez leads the women’s pool. She is joined by twotime NCAA MVP Grethcel Soltones of San Sebastian College. Also with her are Ateneo’s Maddie Madayag and Kat Tolentino, La Salle’s Kim Dy, Kim Fajardo and Dawn Macandili.

Also in the roster are Jaja Santiago, Lourdes Clemente, Denden Lazaro, Genevieve Casugod, Rachel Anne Daquis, Maika Ortiz, Dindin Manabat, Bia General, Rhea Dimaculangan, and Aiza Maizo Pontillas.

Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas president Joey Romasanta and vice president Peter Cayco, who was tasked to lead the formation of the national squad, were at hand to hear out the national coaches.

Also included are University of the East’s Roselle Baliton and Kathleen Arado, Ria Meneses, Myla Pablo, Elaine Kasilag, Jovelyn Gonzaga and Abigail Marano.

On the other hand, Acaylar said the choice of the national men’s team will be more straightforward, since they will just have to test the physical, mental and biometric conditioning of the players.

Folayang hopes to retain ONE Lightweight title ONE Championship lightweight world champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang has a lot of things in common with Team Lakay comrade Honorio “The Rock” Banario, but one thing in particular has both of their names etched into the pages of history. They are the only two Filipino fighters to win MMA world titles under the ONE Championship banner.

Banario’s reign as ONE Championship’s featherweight kingpin did not last long as he yielded to Japanese veteran Koji Oishi via second-round knockout three months after winning the belt.

On April 21, Folayang will make the first defense of his title against Malaysian-Kiwi sensation Ev “E.T.” Ting in the main event of ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY, which takes place at the 20,000-capacity SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

Folayang reveals that he plans to beat Ting and keep the

belt, becoming the first member of Team Lakay to do so in ONE Championship.

“My goal is to retain my lightweight title. Continuing to be the champion is a very tough task, but I accept the challenge.

The champions that came before me—recognized as greats and legends of the sport—every single one of them faced contenders that challenged their prowess as champions. In April, I will have the opportunity to show the world why I hold my coveted title,” he said.

Although Banario wasn’t successful in keeping his belt, Folayang vows to do everything in his power to make sure that history will not repeat itself.

“Everything happens for a reason. My career is a true testament to that. In tough situations, you need to have faith, hard work and dedication. I am not being complacent because I don’t want to let my countrymen down. I will make sure that the belt

stays in the Philippines,” he said.

Both Folayang and Banario overcame seemingly insurmountable odds against highcaliber opponents to become MMA world champions.

Banario scored a fourthround technical knockout victory over compatriot Eric “The Natural” Kelly to claim the ONE Featherweight World Championship belt in February 2013 while Folayang shocked the world by capturing the ONE Lightweight World Championship strap with a sensational stoppage win over Japanese MMA legend Shinya Aoki last November.

Folayang conveyed his excitement with regards to his upcoming bout. He could hardly contain himself. The bout signifies the first time that Folayang will be fighting in the Philippines since December 2014.

Although he is absolutely looking forward to performing in front of his fans, Folayang admitted that he has certainly felt the pressure.

Fernandez to sue Cojuangco FOR calling him a game fixer, Philippine Sports Commission board member Ramon Fernandez is preparing to sue Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. for libel.

Fernandez said he will not sue if Cojuangco retracts his statement, issues a public apology and resigns his post as POC president.

Fernandez was offended by Cojuangco’s accusations that he allegedly threw away games during his 20-year career in the Philippine Basketball Association while playing for teams like Toyota and San Miguel.

“Retract, public apology, resign as POC president to give chance to a young leadership,” said Fernandez in a Facebook statement and message to the Manila Standard.

Fernandez said Cojuangco is already 82 and has clearly overstayed his wel-

come in sports.

Cojuangco’s allegation about Fernandez sparked an angry exchange of words between the two that has been going on since last week.

This after Fernandez brought up issues against Cojuangco on the alleged misuse of funds he received from the previous administration of the PSC. Cojuangco said he is not bothered by Fernandez’s rants in public.

PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, on the other hand, advised Fernandez to stay calm and reconcile his issues with Cojuangco.

“I advised Mon to cool down. I cannot speak about Peping. You cannot teach people to behave as adults. He should think otherwise. So many things have to be considered in matters of management of athletes and coaches,” said Ramirez. Peter Atencio

SRA orders advance sugar swap B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

Tetangco wants BSP insider as successor

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said Tuesday he prefers a person with significant central banking experience as his successor.

Tetangco, speaking during the Chamber of Thrift Banks annual convention in Makati City, cited a number of major requirements that the next central bank governor should possess.

“If you want a seamless transition in the BSP, the next governor should be the one with central banking experience, an insider,” Tetangco said.

“For all of the things I mentioned... If you look at those competencies, an underlying factor there would be familiarity with the mandate and how to deliver on it, as well as the culture of the organization,” he said.

He said it was imperative for the next Bangko Sentral governor to be familiar with its primary objectives, which would be maintenance of price and financial stability conducive to a balanced and sustainable growth of the economy.

“One should also know how to try and achieve that given the challenges in the operating environment.

This would require experience. Being knowledgeable in economics, monetary theory, as well as banking regulations…

That’s one major requirement: a clear appreciation of the mandate and how to deliver on the mandate,” Tetangco said.

Julito G. Rada

IN BRIEF

PNB’s net profit rises 14% to P7.2b

PHILIPPINE National Bank, the country’s sixth-largest lender, said net income in 2016 grew 14 percent to P7.2 billion from P6.3 billion in 2015, driven by a steady improvement in core businesses.

“PNB’s healthy financials is the result of our continuing efforts to enhance our core business. A robust loans business and strong trading gains contributed to the bank’s sustained growth,” PNB president Reynaldo Maclang said in a statement Tuesday.

“The bank’s various business sectors played key roles in helping PNB keep its position as one of the country’s top private universal banks. We owe our success to the continued trust and support of our clients and business partners,” Maclang said.

Bank’s net interest income grew 11 percent to P19.6 billion, accounting for nearly two-thirds of total operating income. Net interest margin was maintained at 3.2 percent, despite the decline in asset yields, as this was compensated by the 12-percent growth in low-cost deposits combined with the redemption of its P6.5-billion lower Tier 2 unsecured subordinated notes in June 2016.

PNB’s loans-to-deposits ratio stood at 73 percent, reflecting the bank’s continued focus on the efficient deployment of funds. The strong performance during the year was also attributed to the double-digit growth in its noninterest income. Trading and foreign exchange gains registered a 61-percent increase year-on-year, as the bank benefited from growth in transaction volumes and favorable market conditions.

Julito G. Rada

Unilab investing in seventh facility

UNITED Laboratories Inc., the largest pharmaceutical company in Southeast Asia, is establishing another plant north of Manila for the production of oral medicines.

Unilab senior vice president for business development Jose Maria Ochave said an ongoing feasibility study would determine the needed capital for the expansion plan.

“This will be our seventh plant in the Philippines. We will be producing oral medicines from this plant, most likely in capsule preparation,” he said Tuesday at the sidelines of the Philippines-India Investment Forum in Makati City.

Ochave said investments in the seventh facility, which would serve the local market, were not likely to reach P1 billion.

Unilab generated sales of P43.7 billion in 2016, up 6 percent from 2015 sales. Ochave said the Philippine pharmaceutical industry “can grow more.”

“The prospects are good and it will address the problem of access to cheaper yet quality medicines by the poorest of the poor, which is what the government is doing now,” he said.

Othel V. Campos

B1

THRIFT BANKS CONVENTION. Bangko

Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. (second from left) and Chamber of Thrift Banks convention chairman Cecilio San Pedro (third from right) lead the ribbon cutting ceremony during the annual convention at Dusit Hotel Ballroom in Makati City. With them are (from left) CTB past president Rommel Latinazo, executive director Suzanne Felix and incumbent CTB president Gregorio Anonas III from Wealth Bank.

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing March 14, 2017

8000 7600 7200 6800 6400 6000

PH unemployment rate rose to 6.6% in January

By Julito G. Rada

U

nemployment rate climbed to 6.6 percent in January from 5.7 percent a year ago, as more than 1.3 million jobs were lost mainly because of natural calamities, the government said Tuesday.

Results of the January 2017 Labor Force Survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority showed the country’s employment rate declined to 93.4 percent in January from 94.3 percent a year ago. This translated into 39.3 million employed Filipinos, which was 1.34 million or 3.3 percent lower than in January 2016.

“We mainly observe the em-

ployment losses in the agriculture sector, which has been greatly affected by typhoons Nina and Auring that hit our country last December and January,” National Economic and Development Authority director-general Ernesto Pernia said in a statement.

Pernia said the agriculture sector shed 882,000 workers or twothirds of the employment losses.

“The government must focus interventions to diversify the sources of income of our workers in the agriculture sector, increase labor participation of women, and address youth unemployment and underutilization,” Pernia said.

Underemployment, which refers to those who are working but wanted more work, improved to 16.3 percent from last year’s 19.7 percent. This was the lowest underemployment rate recorded since 2006.

Neda said the increase in unemployment rate was also partly due to the temporary electionrelated jobs. This was also observed in January 2011, a year that followed the 2010 elections.

“The prospects for job genera-

tion may be enhanced with the long pipeline of infrastructure projects for implementation on a 24/7 work mode basis under the current administration,” Pernia said.

Pernia said as several of these projects were going to be foreign-funded, the government should see to it that foreign contractors were made to agree to recruit technical and blue-color workers in the domestic labor market.

“Critical interventions to address youth unemployment are enumerated in the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022, particularly to reduce the number of the youth who are neither studying nor employed nor in training,” Pernia said.

Petron’s 2016 net income jumped 75% to P10.8b

By Alena Mae S. Flores PETRON Corp. said Tuesday consolidated net income jumped 73 percent in 2016 to P10.8 billion from P6.3 billion in 2015, on the back of record-high sales volume.

“We exceeded expectations in 2016 and are well-poised to sustain our growth momentum this year with our continued focus on profitable market leadership, optimal product yields from our refinery, and further synergies internally and with other San

Miguel companies,” Petron president and chief executive officer Ramon Ang said.

Petron said in a statement the 2016 robust performance was driven by record sales volume, operational efficiency with increased crude run at higher product yields and effective risk management.

Combined sales from Petron’s Philippine and Malaysian operations hit a record 104.3 million barrels in 2016, up by 6 percent from 98 million barrels sold in 2015.

Petron said both markets saw solid growth across key segments including reseller, industrial, LPG and lubricants, with nearly all sectors experiencing double-digit growth.

Petron’s domestic sales volume grew 10 percent to a record 48.2 million barrels in 2016, better than the Philippine demand growth of 8.8 percent, based on latest data from the Energy Department.

Petron is also pursuing a retail network expansion program that enables the company to channel

increased production from its refinery to its service stations.

There are nearly 2,300 Petron stations nationwide. There is a similar program in Malaysia targeting underserved markets.

“With the expected rise in vehicle sales, the influx of tourists, and more manufacturers setting up shop in the country, we are confident that we will be able to capture this growth since we are backed by the most extensive distribution and retail value chain in the country,” Ang said.

7,261.75 28.66

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

Closing MARCH 7, 2017 45.00 46.50 48.00 49.50

P50.360 CLOSE

51.00

HIGH P50.330 LOW P50.370 AVERAGE P50.357 VOLUME 314.200M

P496.00-P756.00 LPG/11-kg tank P39.40-P48.09 Unleaded Gasoline P28.05-P33.95 Diesel

OPRICES IL TODAY

P28.50-P36.85 Kerosene P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, March 14, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.2970

Japan

Yen

0.008705

0.4378

UK

Pound

1.222000

61.4629

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128793

6.4779

Switzerland

Franc

0.992950

49.9424

Canada

Dollar

0.743826

37.4122

Singapore

Dollar

0.707264

35.5733

Australia

Dollar

0.756700

38.0597

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655267

133.5520

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266738

13.4161

Brunei

Dollar

0.704771

35.4479

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.028316

1.4242

UAE

Dirham

0.272294

13.6956

Euro

Euro

1.065400

53.5864

Korea

Won

0.000872

0.0439

China

Yuan

0.144582

7.2720

India

Rupee

0.015115

0.7602

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.224972

11.3154

New Zealand

Dollar

0.691700

34.7904

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032345

1.6269 Source: PDS Bridge

Solons call for termination of congressional probe on ERC SEVERAL congressmen called for the termination of an ongoing congressional investigation involving the Energy Regulatory Commission, following the alleged suicide of ERC director Jose Francisco Villa Jr. House minority leader and Quezon province Rep. Danilo Suarez made the motion for the conclusion of the hearings Monday, noting the two committees might have already exhausted questions pertaining to the said suicide.

Suarez’ motion was backed by several other congressmen, including Deputy Speakers Gwendolyn Garcia and Sharon Garin, and party-list representatives Harry Roque and Rodel Batocabe.

Suarez, in calling for an end to the probe, noted that the amounts involved in the projects in question “are too small” and that Congress should instead focus on “the sensitivity of ERC

as an institution.”

The hearings, being conducted jointly by the House committees on energy, and good government and public accountability, centered on the possible role of ERC chairman Jose Vicente Salazar regarding alleged pressure on Villa in connection with the procurement process for a P300,000 audio-visual project.

Salazar denied exerting pressure on Villa, adding that he had personally handpicked the late ERC official to head the agency’s bids and awards committee.

The Commission on Audit earlier cleared Salazar in connection with the said project.

According to the CoA report, no contract was signed and no government funds were released for the AVP. In the latest hearing, solons also centered on allegations concerning the renovation of the ERC boardroom and an office pest control project.

WORLD-CLASS TERMINAL.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos (left) and Puerto Aguadulce chief executive Miguel Abisambra lead the inauguration of Puerto Aguadulce, a joint venture terminal of Filipino company International Container Terminal Services Inc. and PSA International in the Port of Buenaventura, Colombia. The first phase of the $550-million world class multi-user container and bulk handling facility can handle mega container vessels with capacity of up to 18,000 twenty-foot equivalent units and is seen to further spur the Colombian economy.

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market advances; ICTSI climbs Jollibee raising stake S in Smashburger chain TOCKS rose for a second day, ahead of a muchanticipated Federal Reserve policy meeting which investors hope will provide clarity on the US central bank’s interest rate plans for the rest the year.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, went up 28 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 7,261.75 Tuesday.

Four of the six sectoral indices posted gains, with only mining and oil and property ending in the red.

The heavier index, representing all shares, picked up 4 points, or 0.1 percent, to settle at 4,383.33, on a value turnover of P7.1 billion.

Losers outnumbered gainers, 105 to 86, while 48 issues were unchanged.

Eleven of the 20 most active stocks

ended in the green, led by port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. which climbed 5 percent to P79.20, after announcing the opening of a new terminal in Colombia.

Food manufacturer Universal Robina Corp. rose 2.8 percent to P164.60, while chemical producer D&L Industries Inc. added 1.8 percent to close at P12.72.

Meanwhile, Asian stocks were mixed as shares in India jumped to a record on election results while Japanese stocks slipped. The dollar strengthened before central bank meetings this week, and oil held declines after a six-day losing streak.

While a string of upbeat economic readings in recent months have made a hike at Wednesday’s gathering an odds-on bet, there is uncertainty about its outlook, dampening buying sentiment of late.

“Markets fully expect a rate rise, so market reaction is likely to be muted unless the Fed disappoints, which would lead to lower bond

yields and a lower dollar, although that is not our expectation,” Mike Bell, global market strategist at JP Morgan Asset Management, wrote in a note.

“All attention is likely to be focused on the press conference to see whether a more hawkish tone is struck, if so yields and the dollar could move higher still.”

In afternoon Asian trade, the dollar edged up slightly against the yen, euro and pound.

Tokyo ended 0.1 percent lower but struggling industrial giant Toshiba reversed an earlier near nine percent slide to end slightly higher after it was given approval to delay the release of its earnings results.

The firm had been hammered as news it would not release its numbers Tuesday raised fears it could be yanked from Japan’s premier stock exchange. The delay stems from an investigation into the US subsidiary, Westinghouse Electric, the Nikkei business daily said. With AFP, Bloomberg

By Jenniffer B. Austria FASTFOOD chain operator Jollibee Foods Corp. said it may acquire an additional 45-percent stake in US-based burger chain Smashburger starting 2018.

Jollibee and Smashburger Master agreed to amend the original deal they signed in 2015.

Jollibee said in a disclosure to the stock exchange whollyowned unit Bee Good! Inc. and Smashburger Master amended the agreement to allow the former to purchase from Smashburger

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.25 91,000 48.9 21,300 97.6 596,240 4 27,000 122.3 1,772,410 1.25 168,000 39.9 246,900 16 200 20.7 116,500 1.69 1,000 830 30 0.67 2,237,000 79.1 2,586,320 0.74 197,000 14.5 69,100 55.8 130,040 240.2 5,740 89 8,920 39 168,100 200 885,130 1,760 585 79.7 156,810

294,240 1,039,190 58,182,108.50 106,610 217,453,401 209,980 9,878,290 3,200 2,410,235 1,690 24,900 1,514,760 204,702,813 145,580 1,001,950 7,275,998 1,386,014 793,880 6,554,580 177,426,452 1,038,250 12,498,452.50

985,760 13,698,218 16,684,955 2,606,705 -469,890 8,964,321 91,020 -4,477,480.50 266,440 4,196,410.00 -105,012,816 8,710,298.50

43 5.37 0.8 1.37 18 0.265 97.1 8.3 17.4 22.85 14.64 60 91.65 2.1 6.08 12.32 12.4 7.85 6.46 5.99 22.25 71.8 12.12 15.8 6.61 1.6 196.4 71.05 7.75 3.86 26 29.8 26.85 14.92 289.8 0.255 6.65 3.73 8.64 11.56 2.27 7.01 1.96 73.2 4.86 264.6 4.9 2.92 14.12 0.143 1.42 160.5 1.61 31.5 1.01

INDUSTRIAL 43.1 767,900 5.49 758,000 0.81 531,000 1.41 13,136,000 19.3 67,600 0.27 1,310,000 98 550 8.39 14,137,100 17.48 5,584,300 23 259,000 14.64 4,100 60 10 91.65 270 2.15 238,000 6.1 58,800 12.36 205,600 12.72 10,552,600 7.9 200,000 6.5 3,519,000 5.99 6,496,300 22.5 571,800 72 46,570 12.12 40,500 15.82 81,300 6.66 406,600 1.61 880,000 197 325,820 77 730 7.75 7,677,800 3.86 82,000 28.45 6,500 30.1 266,500 27 235,300 15 1,017,200 290 235,810 0.26 4,600,000 6.89 275,100 3.74 2,230,000 8.7 9,865,900 11.56 7,700 2.3 1,051,000 7.08 894,100 2 2,678,000 73.55 470,460 4.89 239,000 264.6 115,990 4.99 1,573,000 2.95 69,000 14.56 3,199,400 0.145 8,450,000 1.42 442,000 164.6 1,480,610 1.62 6,270,000 31.5 600 1.03 166,000

33,279,105 4,145,213 427,730 18,499,090 1,243,678 352,250 53,643.50 118,741,080 98,149,196 5,962,525 60,108 600 24,773.50 507,130 358,602 2,537,566 132,015,960 1,586,591 22,882,833 39,023,819 12,846,675 3,357,948 491,806 1,285,824 2,717,171 1,411,290 64,227,028 55,085.50 63,203,652 318,420 181,635 8,009,600 6,351,510 15,311,230 68,496,614 1,190,200 1,873,510 8,360,530 85,898,913 89,012 2,404,360 6,342,211 5,470,610 34,593,106 1,168,670 30,713,656 7,711,830 204,050 46,347,540 1,214,060 630,760 243,498,023 10,217,490 18,915 168,480

7,488,815 597,816 -28,000 10,600 14,604,032 12,763,254.00 45,900 4,410 -89,040 2,318,678 -45,742,810 -3,581,362 18,640,117 9,582,905 -546,117 -728,380 -299,700 3,141,027 999,230.00 38,650 141,000 3,307,455 -228,525 -9,236,138 -24,646,748 580,970 -20,429,164 1,021,810 -2,665,717 10,600 12,848,374.50 977,940 -2,721,770 -282,950 7,178,834 135,630,953 5,509,740 3,150 -

0.385 74 12.7 1.12 6.3 0.365 0.375 822 1,002 8.85 12.52 8.07 0.185 1,195 6.55 76 5.56 1.19 7.9 14.44 6.75 3.4 0.06 1.97 105.7 3.17 661.5 1.53 274.8 0.29 0.194 0.245

0.365 73.25 12.52 1.1 6.3 0.345 0.35 815 1,002 8.65 12.28 8.05 0.184 1,189 6.2 74.9 5.56 1.11 7.77 14.3 6.66 3.4 0.057 1.97 104.9 3.08 648.5 1.46 272 0.29 0.186 0.245

HOLDING FIRMS 0.37 2,970,000 73.9 2,940,220 12.56 4,962,800 1.11 176,000 6.3 20,300 0.35 4,660,000 0.365 2,650,000 820 418,120 1,002 10 8.84 1,081,000 12.36 9,919,300 8.07 95,800 0.184 70,000 1,190 184,700 6.53 10,800 75.7 1,237,710 5.56 200 1.19 29,065,000 7.9 349,800 14.38 845,400 6.71 44,910,700 3.4 10,000 0.06 111,170,000 1.97 912,000 105.4 108,440 3.13 646,000 652.5 318,490 1.51 959,000 272 2,710 0.29 850,000 0.186 640,000 0.245 650,000

1,116,700 215,809,498.50 62,679,586 193,910 127,890 1,644,150 951,750 343,117,455 10,020 9,488,411 123,004,964 771,687 12,920 219,877,380 67,081 93,655,788.50 1,112 33,846,690 2,751,354 12,147,308 301,102,061 34,000 6,528,140 1,796,640 11,420,515 2,021,320 208,157,110 1,420,230 738,310 246,500 121,610 159,250

-152,204,450.50 14,060,858 -88,750 12,317,555 2,903,452 -4,835,694 764,428 -83,071,185 40,300 -4,427,064 -108,260.00 482,236 5,087,342 -166,881,275 11,970 -197,000 4,201,118 -33,894,150 -136,500 -

6.67 0.96 2.53 1.48 36.35 3.8 5.01 0.52 1.33 0.16 0.56 53.4 0.7 0.158 1.68 0.99 1.25 3.69 0.175 0.315 0.6 4.76 23.75

6.61 0.94 2.46 1.39 35.8 3.64 5.01 0.5 1.27 0.157 0.54 52 0.7 0.152 1.64 0.98 1.23 3.62 0.167 0.3 0.58 4.73 22.8

50,715,460 1,592,400 314,930 38,170,950 163,561,510 14,970,290 423,846 1,420,790 503,810 434,600 1,921,720 16,476,035.50 14,700 42,960 5,476,720 1,071,840 9,900 109,346,730 6,968,070 52,050 8,772,310 380,380 66,667,355

86,188 -19,000 469,290 58,534,915 -3,086,850 -104,600 -25,320 559,566 -3,922,360 55,199,830 -321,440.00 -580 -39,330,560

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

3.15 48.75 97.85 3.87 121 1.25 39.9 16 20.7 1.69 830 0.68 78.4 0.74 14.5 57.05 240 89 38.8 201 1,790 79.7

3.5 48.9 98 4 123.1 1.25 40.25 16 21 1.69 830 0.68 79.45 0.74 14.5 57.05 242 89 39.05 202.6 1,790 79.75

3.15 48.3 97.3 3.86 121 1.24 39.9 16 20.6 1.69 830 0.67 78.2 0.73 14.5 55.65 240 89 38.8 200 1,760 79.3

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETRON PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PHX SEMICNDCTR PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP PUREFOODS RFM CORP ROXAS HLDG SHAKEYS PIZZA SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VITARICH VIVANT VULCAN INDL

43.6 5.52 0.81 1.4 19 0.27 97.15 8.57 17.4 23.1 14.7 60 91.65 2.12 6.1 12.32 12.5 7.86 6.53 6.01 22.55 72.35 12.2 15.9 6.84 1.61 197.6 71.05 8.48 4 28 30 26.9 15.14 290 0.255 6.69 3.75 8.65 11.56 2.33 7.11 2 73.5 4.89 264.8 4.95 3 14.4 0.145 1.44 162.1 1.65 31.55 1.02

43.6 5.52 0.81 1.41 19.98 0.27 98 8.57 17.72 23.2 14.7 60 94.45 2.17 6.1 12.4 12.72 8 6.53 6.03 22.55 72.35 12.4 15.9 6.84 1.61 198 80 8.77 4 28.45 30.2 27 15.14 293.2 0.265 6.93 3.79 8.83 11.56 2.33 7.14 2.12 73.8 4.9 264.8 4.99 3 14.6 0.147 1.44 165.6 1.68 31.55 1.03

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

0.375 73.3 12.62 1.1 6.3 0.36 0.36 820 1,002 8.65 12.5 8.05 0.185 1,190 6.2 74.9 5.56 1.12 7.77 14.3 6.66 3.4 0.058 1.97 105.1 3.1 650 1.48 274.8 0.29 0.194 0.245

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEBU HLDG 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

6.65 0.96 2.53 1.47 36.2 3.75 5.01 0.51 1.28 0.159 0.54 53.4 0.7 0.158 1.68 0.98 1.23 3.65 0.168 0.3 0.6 4.75 23.75

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

1.73 3.25 29.4 1.03 0.9 4.78

1.73 3.25 29.4 1.04 0.93 4.81

1.7 3.25 28.85 1.01 0.9 4.78

1.7 3.25 28.85 1.01 0.9 4.81

167,000 116,000 6,384,300 3,697,000 137,000 1,041,000

284,750 377,000 185,058,210 3,754,850 123,530 5,001,410

-37,519,230 -2,540,970

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

8 46.6 1.46 0.53 0.055 5.34 7.95 0.065 2.34 91 9.8 8.64 970 1,945 6.16 16.2 3.51 3.85 76.95 0.0092 9.06 0.191 1.35 3.55 14.48 3.72 3.89 2.29 5.7 3.71 16 3.2 11.4 5.36 3.4 156.1 8.86 1,525 1.54 0.405 45.3 82.35 6.26 2.34 1.15 3.18 0.385

8 46.6 1.59 0.53 0.056 5.84 7.98 0.066 2.34 91.75 9.99 8.65 970 1,975 6.2 16.2 3.57 3.98 79.5 0.0092 9.06 0.192 1.36 3.75 14.48 3.74 3.91 2.36 5.75 3.71 16 3.34 11.42 5.36 3.4 159 8.86 1,528 1.54 0.42 45.5 82.9 6.35 2.37 1.16 3.18 0.39

7.87 45.8 1.46 0.52 0.054 5.34 7.56 0.064 2.3 90.75 9.8 8.6 970 1,920 6.1 15.92 3.49 3.85 75.4 0.0092 9.06 0.19 1.35 3.38 14.48 3.71 3.76 2.24 5.55 3.67 16 3.18 11.3 5.3 3.4 155 8.7 1,519 1.5 0.405 44.6 82.05 6.2 2.32 1.14 3.15 0.385

SERVICES 8 46.3 1.46 0.53 0.054 5.35 7.65 0.064 2.31 91 9.99 8.6 970 1,949 6.18 16.18 3.56 3.97 79.2 0.0092 9.06 0.19 1.36 3.6 14.48 3.74 3.85 2.29 5.7 3.71 16 3.2 11.34 5.36 3.4 159 8.72 1,521 1.52 0.41 45.5 82.35 6.26 2.34 1.14 3.16 0.39

269,300 8,200 218,000 567,000 143,220,000 4,200 19,297,900 8,060,000 6,668,000 933,420 600 251,000 50 55,240 118,500 44,200 1,391,000 62,000 5,230,440 14,000,000 2,000 4,280,000 573,000 1,169,000 100 119,000 1,661,000 67,000 3,022,100 1,614,000 2,000 29,311,000 1,006,600 5,200 5,000 174,900 444,400 157,550 19,285,000 1,640,000 6,687,400 1,825,150 278,800 1,205,000 4,540,000 1,144,000 20,000

2,154,009 378,700 322,120 299,100 7,797,160 22,625 148,521,623 518,970 15,426,840 84,943,429.50 5,975 2,162,280 48,500 107,396,990 732,253 713,432 4,898,880 242,500 406,513,303.50 128,800 18,120 813,920 775,260 4,231,540 1,448 442,800 6,387,710 154,590 17,088,942 5,950,120 32,000 95,519,480 11,494,760 27,860 17,000 27,796,289 3,885,703 239,884,295 29,337,030 677,850 302,390,995 150,341,982.50 1,747,804 2,822,550 5,186,580 3,616,390 7,750

-6,360 107,670 578 10,115,865 9,000 -47,677,676 432,500 2,695,670 161,716,305.50 143,100 -63,240 392,780 -6,304,427 -4,298,420 -389,730 580,900 -46,500,065 -22,736,840 12,296,455.50 -1,043,260 772,070 -2,279,770 -

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

0.0034 1.86 5.4 9.63 1.76 1.86 0.455 0.415 9.2 2.45 0.248 0.188 0.2 0.012 0.011 1.87 6.34 2.2 0.46 0.86 0.011 0.011 4.09 0.014 9.18 3.19 151 2.85 0.0088

0.0035 1.87 5.41 11.4 1.85 1.86 0.455 0.42 9.21 2.54 0.255 0.188 0.2 0.012 0.011 1.87 6.34 2.2 0.46 0.89 0.011 0.011 4.09 0.014 9.18 3.27 151 2.85 0.0091

0.0033 1.79 5.39 9.63 1.76 1.86 0.45 0.415 8.82 2.36 0.248 0.185 0.196 0.011 0.011 1.7 6.19 2.1 0.46 0.86 0.011 0.011 4.08 0.014 8.77 3.17 147.2 2.83 0.0088

MINING & OIL 0.0035 777,000,000 1.79 3,143,000 5.41 279,300 11.4 3,100 1.84 106,000 1.86 6,000 0.45 140,000 0.42 370,000 9.14 68,800 2.48 4,804,000 0.255 2,030,000 0.187 17,700,000 0.198 3,430,000 0.012 1,200,000 0.011 8,800,000 1.74 1,830,000 6.19 8,525,300 2.17 345,000 0.46 180,000 0.89 94,000 0.011 10,200,000 0.011 100,000 4.08 21,000 0.014 2,800,000 8.95 1,450,500 3.22 1,056,000 147.5 699,790 2.83 64,000 0.0091 5,000,000

2,649,800 5,704,370 1,506,608 31,801 189,990 11,160 63,200 153,650 615,477 11,781,180 503,600 3,293,870 678,560 13,400 96,800 3,304,690 53,220,847 729,280 82,800 81,440 112,200 1,100 85,780 39,200 12,880,100 3,406,170 103,807,998 181,170 44,300

14,280 -48,068 -1,926 -1,860 131,550 414,160 318,670 1,750 -6,317,020 646,497 -60,800 16,399,008 -5,700 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF F FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR PCOR PREF 2A PCOR PREF 2B PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A SFI PREF SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2I

45.2 534 539 107.5 105 108 114 530 5.86 1,070 1,120 1,019 104.1 2.1 82.2 76.75 78.5 81.05 79 79.9

46 534 539 107.5 105 108 114 530 5.9 1,070 1,125 1,020 104.1 2.1 82.5 76.75 78.5 81.05 79 79.95

45.2 528 528 107.5 105 108 114 525 5.86 1,070 1,120 1,019 104.1 2.1 82.2 76.75 78.5 81 79 79.9

PREFERRED 46 21,300 528.5 17,720 528 7,710 107.5 2,400 105 25,310 108 30 114 1,450 530 2,010 5.86 2,867,600 1,070 5,000 1,125 6,250 1,019 3,090 104.1 53,800 2.1 1,000 82.5 11,440 76.75 1,300 78.5 750 81 17,900 79 1,000 79.95 3,500

976,200 9,361,470 4,070,990 258,000 2,657,550 3,240 165,300 1,058,800 16,819,634 5,350,000 7,016,900 3,150,110 5,600,580 2,100 940,383 99,775 58,875 1,450,650 79,000 279,776.50

-445,400 -10,053,031 -

LR WARRANT

2.15

2.15

2.11

WARRANTS 2.14 116,000

246,370

-

3,825,440 178,200 26,324,337

-104,700 -8,068,971

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 6.62 0.94 2.46 1.41 36 3.72 5.01 0.51 1.32 0.157 0.55 53.3 0.7 0.152 1.66 0.98 1.25 3.64 0.174 0.315 0.6 4.74 22.8

7,638,000 1,683,000 127,000 26,615,000 4,527,900 4,015,000 84,600 2,809,000 385,000 2,760,000 3,521,000 312,580 21,000 280,000 3,318,000 1,093,000 8,000 30,019,000 40,420,000 170,000 14,912,000 80,000 2,911,600

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

3.99 6.97 9.37

4.2 7.08 9.5

3.99 6.85 9.15

FIRST METRO ETF

119.2

119.8

119.2

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

SHARES

10,943,039

INDUSTRIAL

113,851,948

HOLDING FIRMS

248,242,608

PROPERTY

164,294,912

SERVICES

316,952,519

MINING & OIL

852,309,926

GRAND TOTAL

1,710,345,885

4.16 7 9.35

SME

926,000 25,600 2,798,100

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 119.8 960

114,634

-

VALUE 1,820.18 (up) 3.92 817,658,202.276 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,055.49 (up) 81.92 1,237,563,902.735 HOLDING FIRMS 7,268.01 (up) 44.90 1,929,872,952.646 PROPERTY 3,252.66 (down) 23.16 1,474.08 (up) 8.40 867,095,583.657 SERVICES MINING & OIL 12,129.99 (down) 346.04 1,962,776,133.08 PSEI 7,261.75 (up) 28.66 205,311,836.9382 All Shares Index 4,383.33 (up) 4.32 7,050,722,256.922 Gainers:86; Losers:105; Unchanged: 48; Total: 239

Master more shares in SJBG LLC, the parent company of Smashburger business, from 2018 to 2021.

Under the original agreement, BGI was entitled to purchase from Smashburger Master an additional 35 percent of SJBF LLC between 2018 and 2021 and to acquire the balance of 35 percent between 2019 at the earliest and 2026 at the latest.

“With the amendment, BGI shall be entitled to purchase an additional 45 percent of SJBF LLC between the years 2018 and 2021 and acquire the balance of 15 percent between the years 2019 at the earliest and 2026 at the latest,” Jollibee said.

Jollibee completed the acquisition of 40 percent stake in Smashburger in October 2015 for $99 million. The acquisition enabled the fastfood chain to make its presence in the United States more more significant.

Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Smashburger is a leading fast casual burger chain. It currently has 374 restaurants mostly in the United States.

Jollibee operates the largest food service network in the Philippines with 2,643 stores as of end-January 2017.

Overseas, it also operates 616 stores including in China, Middle East, Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam.

Jollibee booked a net income of P6.14 billion in 2016, an increase of 24.6 percent from P4.93 billion in 2015 after it opened a record number of stores last year.

ICTSI opens new Colombia terminal

By Darwin G. Amojelar PORT operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. and PSA International inaugurated the first phase of a $550-million terminal in the Port of Buenaventura, Colombia.

The first phase of the world class multi-user container and bulk handling facility can handle mega container vessels with a capacity of up to 18,000 twenty equivalent units and is seen to further spur the Colombian economy.

Puerto Aguadulce is operated by Sociedad Puerto Industrial de Aguadulce, the joint venture company of ICTSI and PSA. “We have always been bullish on Colombia and believe that its economy is a key driver in pushing the Latin American market into the future. Exports from Colombia such as coffee and sugar remain in high demand. We at ICTSI want to be a partner in the country’s economic journey by offering top-notch port equipment, facilities and technology to facilitate this growing economy,” said ICTSI executive vice president Martin O’Neil.

“This new terminal is also a positive proof of the successful collaboration between foreign port partners and local stakeholders. For that we would like to thank the government for entrusting us with the privilege to build a vital facility,” O’Neil said.

Miguel Abisambra, Puerto Aguadulce chief executive, said the opening of Puerto Aguadulce marked an important milestone not only in Buenaventura but in the entire Colombia.

Business

B3

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Megaworld pegs rate for P12-b bond offer

By Jenniffer B. Austria

18 PLDT AWARDS. Leading telecoms and digital services provider PLDT Inc. marks another milestone this year with 18 Anvil awards for its excellent communications programs from its Home, Enterprise and Public Affairs units during the recently-concluded 52nd Anvil Awards presented by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines. PLDT chairman and CEO Manuel Pangilinan (center) leads the PLDT Group in celebrating the achievement, along with top executives of the company, including PLDT first vice president Mitch Locsin, PLDT public affairs head and senior VP Mon Isberto, and PLDT VP and head of HOME Marketing Gary Dujali.

OFFICE and condominium builder Megaworld Corp. has set the interest rate for the planned P12-billion seven-year bond offering at 5.3535 per annum.

Documents filed by Megaworld with the Securities and Exchange Commission showed that the offering period for the company’s maiden fixed rate bond is set March 15 to March 21.

The bonds will be listed with the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp on March 28.

BDO Capital and Investments Corp is the issue manager and lead underwriter of the offering, with China Bank Capital as participating underwriter.

Megaworld’s P12-billion bond offering forms part of the company’s P30-billion bond shelf registration approved by the SEC last week.

The property company owned by tycoon Andrew Tan said it would use the proceeds to finance projects within the Iloilo Business Park, McKinley Hill, McKinley West and Uptown Bonifacio.

Megaworld said it would spend P1.16 billion over the next three years in Iloilo Business Park, P2.14 billion in McKinley Hill, P2.4 billion in McKinley West and P7.2 billion in Uptown Bonifacio.

The Megaworld group will spend P60 billion in capital expenditures this year, higher than P55 billion spent in 2016.

The company plans to spend as much a 80 percent of the programmed spending to bankroll the construction of new residential condominiums, office towers, commercial centers and hotels within its townships. The balance will be used for land acquisition and investment properties.

SRA orders advance sugar swap T

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

HE Sugar Regulatory Administration on Tuesday ordered the advance swapping of sugar quedans to allow the early shipment of the commodity to the US to ease the pressure of high inventory in the Philippines.

SRA administrator Anna Rosario Paner allowed all “B,” or domestic sugar quedan holders, to advance the swap for “A” or US quedan to maintain a balance between production and demand.

The SRA classifies sugar into “A” for sugar export to the US,

“B” for domestic consumption, “C” for reserves, “D” for world market and “E” for food local processors.

“An early shipment of US quota sugar will help ease the pressure of high sugar stock inventory in the country, and help stabilize the sugar situation,”

Paner said.

SRA earlier allocated 92 percent of the projected sugar production for crop year 2016 to 2017 for domestic use, and the balance to fulfill the US sugar quota.

Sugar production for the current crop year is expected to reach 2.25 million metric tons, slightly higher than 2.236 million MT in the previous crop year.

The volume is also enough to cover 2.15 million metric tons of domestic requirement during the current crop year.

Paner said the advance swapping was open to all sugar producers, millers, traders and holders of out-

standing quedan-permits.

“All outstanding “B” sugar quedan-permits issued in crop year 2016-2017 are hereby allowed (eligible), on a voluntary basis, for advance swapping into “A” or US Quota Sugar for Quota Years 2016-2017. Applications for advance swapping shall be accepted starting from the issuance of this order until April 30, 2017,” Paner said.

The “B” quedan-permits subject of advance swapping will be charged with an advance swapping fee of P5.00/kg per bag.

Paner said the “B” quedanpermits advance-swapped to “A” would be allowed to replenish

starting September 1, 2017 until August 31, 2018.

She added those who exported to the United States using advance swapped sugar would be allowed to replenish their stocks for domestic use.

“The “B” quedan-permits which were advance-swapped to “A” quedans shall be replenished at a ratio of 1.1 Lkg-bag of “A” quedans for every 1.0 Lkg-bag of “B” quedans,” Paner said.

She said a bond of P 100 per 50(L) kilogram-bag either in cash or company’s check would be paid to or issued in the name of the SRA, upon submission of the “B” quedan-

permits for processing.

However, upon replenishment of the total volume of “B” sugar with the corresponding “A” sugar, the SRA will return the bond to the applicant.

Paner earlier attributed the high-volume of sugar stocks and low mill site prices to the the entry of imported High-fructose corn syrup from China.

“Last year is the highest importation which is equivalent to 5.7 million bags. Then our production of refined sugar is around 20 million bags so they got 13 something percent of our refined market. That’s a very big chunk,” Paner said.

PNOC, Tetangco: Fed rate hike removes market uncertainties Shell eye By Julito G. Rada possible gas tie-up

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Shell Group of Companies in the Philippines has initiated talks with stateowned Philippine National Oil Co. for a possible partnership in the government’s planned liquefied natural gas project in Batangas.

“Shell expressed interest in (our) LNG project but no formal offer. They could be a good partner because they are already our partner in Malampaya,” said PNOC president Ruben Lista.

Shell Philippines Exploration B.V operates the Malampaya gas project in northwest Palawan with a 45 percent while PNOC unit PNOC Exploration Corp. holds a 10 percent interest.

Chevron Malampaya owns the balance of 45 percent in service contract 38 consortium.

PNOC, meanwhile, is putting up an LNG integrated facility and a 200-megawatt power plant in Batangas.

Shell earlier announced that it also planned to establish a floating re-gasification facility in Batangas.

Shell officials want the government to come out with an LNG policy to guide them in their final investment decision, adding the group was looking for possible partners.

“We don’t want to compete with anybody just initiating the project. We don’t even have to be majority. Somebody has to have the storage facility for LNG. And we are putting up the plant for (economic zones) and for the poorest of the poor,” Lista said.

Lista said that if PNOC could use the banked gas from Malampaya or secure the fuel from other sources, it would bring down the cost of electricity.

Lista earlier said PNOC was keen on developing its 19.4-hectare Energy Supply Base property in Mabini, Batangas and transform it into an integrated LNG facility.

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said a move by the US Federal Reserve to increase interest rates this week will remove one source of uncertainty in financial markets.

The Fed is scheduled to meet Wednesday and Thursday (Manila time) and a decision whether or not to increase interest rates would be known Thursday. “... The expectation is that the Fed is most likely hiking

interest rates by 25 basis points.

The probability is close to a 100 percent. So I think the markets have started to slowly priced this in since this has been expected for some time already, given the pronouncements of different Fed governors as well as the chairperson herself [Janet Yellen],” Tetangco said at the sidelines of the Chamber of Thrift Banks annual convention held in Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City on Tuesday.

“So, when this happens, it is going to remove at least one

source of uncertainty in the market. But the next question would be when is the next move and by how much?” Tetangco asked Tetangco said during the process of normalization in Fed policy, some volatilities would continue to be seen in financial markets, particularly the foreign exchange and the stock market. “... You know, we get reports about economic data not only in the US but also in Europe and other advanced countries.

We just have to manage our

own markets here in such a way that we don’t experience a destabilizing moves or sharp fluctuations in market prices. We also monitor market conducts to ensure that we continue to have an orderly market conditions,” Tetangco said.

Earlier, Tetangco said the Philippines should not move in sync with the Fed if it decided to increase interest rates in its meeting this month. The last time the Fed raised rates was in December 2016.

He said the Philippine setting

was different from what was happening in the world’s largest economy. He said local monetary authorities were currently closely monitoring what could be the impact to growth and inflation of the highly-anticipated passage into law of the government’s proposed tax reform program.

The policy-setting Monetary Board of Bangko Sentral in its last meeting on Feb. 9 kept the benchmark interest rates steady, mainly on the back of strong domestic economic growth and manageable inflation rate.

‘Japan desks’ in PH lure Japanese SMEs

SM PARTNER. Retail giant SM and DHL Express Philippines sign a contract on March 1, 2017 to formally welcome the global logistics leader to “Follow the Yellow Dot,” a show card privilege program of SM Supermalls. The partnership entitles all SM Advantage, SM Prestige, BDO Rewards, ePlus, and Global Pinoy cardholders to 10 percent off on DHL’s published rates until November 30, 2017. Shown (from left) are Alejandro Cruz, vice president for loyalty marketing and e-Commerce, SM Advantage; Nurhayati Abdullah, country manager, DHL Express Philippines; Joaquin San Agustin senior VP for Mmrketing, SM Supermalls.

SMALL and medium enterprises in Japan often include the Philippines as a business expansion site with the growing presence of Japanese-speaking staff in some Philippine banks.

BDO Unibank, the country’s biggest bank to date, is one of the local banks that has a dedicated Japan Desk to serve its Japanese clientele.

Commonly referred to as “Japan Desk,” the unit is composed of personnel fluent in the Japanese language and also well-attuned with the Japanese culture.

“Japanese investors become more comfortable when they talk with someone who are fluent in Japanese and also familiar with the Japanese culture. This is a big attraction for Japanese SMEs to come here in the Philippines to invest,” said Shinji Ayuha, advisor, Finance Office for SMEs, Industry Finance Group of Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

“That’s why a lot of Japanese

SMEs want to transact with BDO, because they have a Japan Desk.

Aside from opening an account, they are also interested in availing of other products and services of BDO,” he said.

A survey conducted by JBIC in 2016 showed that the Philippines remained among the top investment destinations by Japanese firms, naming the country as the eighth most promising country/region for overseas operations over the medium term.

In 2013, BDO and JBIC signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a framework that would potentially support the banking needs of Japanese enterprises eyeing the Philippines as a business destination. The MOU forms part of JBIC’s agenda, through the Japanese regional financial institutions, to back Japanese mid-tier companies and SMEs hoping to expand in the region.

Commission backs lifting of foreign equity cap in industries

By Othel V. Campos THE Philippine Competition Commission is supporting initiatives to amend certain provisions in the 80-year-old Public Service Act, such as the lifting of the foreign equity cap on certain industries including telecommunications and transportation.

The Philippine constitution limits foreign ownership in the operation of public utilities such as telco and transport to only 40 percent, and reserves the other

60 percent to Filipino citizens or corporations.

“To begin with, the Public Service Act is antiquated. It still refers to certain business activities such as ice plants and canals as public services or public utilities. With the current economic and business landscape, it is time to update the list of business activities considered as public utilities,” said PCC commissioner Johannes Benjamin Bernabe.

The limitation restricted for-

eign direct investments in the country and competition in the market, said Bernabe.

He noted that in certain sectors like telecommunications, one way of promoting a competitive environment was to open fully the market to foreign players.

“The foreign equity cap unfortunately discourages entry of new foreign players in the sector that provide services to the public,” said Bernabe.

Enhancing competition will help improve the quality of

goods and services in the market, give consumers more choices and keep prices generally affordable, the PCC said.

Several bills have been filed in both houses of Congress that seek to amend the PSA to remove certain industries considered as public services and lift the ownership restrictions imposed on foreign investors.

The PCC is proposing “to define public utility as a person who operates, manages, and controls for public use the following:

electricity transmission; electricity distribution; water pipeline distribution systems; gas or petroleum pipeline distribution systems; and sewerage systems,” said Bernabe.

“So there will be only five public utilities whose foreign ownership will be restricted to 40 percent,” said Bernabe.

The industries to be removed from the list such as telco and transport would still be regulated by an agency to protect the welfare of consumers.

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

B4

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

Business

Intel set to acquire Mobileye for $15b JERUSALEM―Intel will buy Israeli car tech firm Mobileye for more than $15 billion (14 billion euros), the companies said Monday, in a deal signaling the US computer chip giant’s commitment to technology for self-driving vehicles.

Israeli media reported that the deal worth approximately $15.3 billion was the largest ever cross-border acquisition for an Israeli tech firm.

It comes with Intel and Mobileye previously collaborating with German automaker BMW to develop self-driving cars.

Intel and Mobileye said they expected to combine to become a global leader in “autonomous driving” that could provide the technology at a lower cost.

“The combination is expected to accelerate innovation for the automotive industry and position Intel as a leading technology provider in the fast-growing market for highly and fully autonomous vehicles,” it said.

“Intel estimates the vehicle systems, data and services market opportunity to be up to $70 billion by 2030.”

Last year, BMW announced that it was joining forces with Mobileye and Intel on a selfdrive project for “highly and fully automated driving” to be commercially available by 2021, called the BMW iNext.

BMW announced in January it would deploy 40 self-driving vehicles for tests in the United States and Europe this year.

In August, Mobileye and UK-based auto-equipment maker Delphi said they were teaming up to develop an autonomous driving system which would be ready for vehicle-makers in 2019.

Nearly all the major global automakers are involved in testing autonomous or semiautonomous vehicles, with some expecting full autonomy within a few years.

Mobileye, whose speciality includes systems for accident avoidance, has concluded an agreement with Volkswagen on road data technology as well. AFP

CRAFTS FAIR. German Chancellor Angela Merkel (right) and Hans Peter Wollseifer (left), president of the German Confederation of Skilled

Crafts, watch leather gloves during their visit at a booth of the international trade crafts fair in Munich, southern Germany, on March 13, 2017.

AFP

US Fed starts two-day meeting on higher rate

By Douglas Gillison

W

ASHINGTON--The US Federal Reserve was due to begin a two-day meeting Tuesday, having signaled it is likely to raise the benchmark interest rate as the world’s largest economy gains steam.

Any increase in the key federal funds rate would come a bit earlier than had been expected at the start of the year, with central bankers prodded to move by continued strong job creation and accelerating inflation.

The Fed move would come just as President Donald Trump lays the groundwork for expansionary economic policies, having pledged to return the United States to four percent annual growth by cutting taxes and regulation and boosting spending on infrastructure. The policy details, however, have been scarce.

The Federal Open Market Committee, which sets the federal funds rate, last moved in

December but stood pat last month, adopting a wait-and-see approach as the new administration entered office.

The FOMC is due to announce its next decision on Wednesday afternoon. The target interest rate now stands at a range of 0.5 to 0.75 percent.

Even after a quarter-point increase, it would still be low by historical standards.

“I think the Fed will say it was entirely prudent to take one more step right now,” Jon Faust, a former advisor to the Federal Reserve Board, told AFP recently.

“If things clearly continue in the same direction, we’ll take more. But that will depend on us

seeing what happens in the data.”

The unemployment rate fell below five percent in May and the US economy has been adding jobs at an average of more than 200,000 net new positions over the last three months.

January also saw the Fed’s favored inflation measure hit its fastest 12-month pace in four years. The Fed will get one more piece of inflation data Wednesday, with the release of the latest consumer price index for February.

The question for Fed watchers now will be how many times the Fed may act during the rest of 2017, with the next meeting set to occur in June and a total of three rate increases expected this year.

Randall Kroszner, a former Federal Reserve Board governor, told AFP that with the economy beginning to hum, Fed Chair Janet Yellen was “certainly open” to the possibility of raising rates more quickly.

“They do want things to be gradual but they may need to

move at a slightly faster pace,” Kroszner said.

Fed Chair Janet Yellen may offer additional clues during a press conference in Washington 30 minutes after the 2 p.m. release of a post-meeting statement and new projections.

The so-called “ dot plot,” which displays individual rate forecasts of officials on the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee, will probably continue to show three hikes this year as appropriate, according to the median estimate. It was last updated in December and will cover projections out to 2019, plus an estimate for the longer run.

That would imply that a flurry of signals from policy makers in recent weeks about the likelihood of tightening in March was more about a shift in the timing than in the number of increases the FOMC is likely to approve this year, according to Jonathan Wright, an economics professor at Johns Hopkins University.

AFP, Bloomberg

Oil prices continue fall, stay below $49 OIL held losses below $49 a barrel before US government data forecast to show record crude inventories expanded further.

Futures were little changed in New York after losing 9.2 percent the previous six sessions. US stockpiles probably increased by 3 million barrels for a 10th week of gains, according to a Bloomberg survey before data from the Energy Information Administration on Wednesday.

Opec is due to release its monthly report Tuesday that will show production figures for February, while Kuwait wants to extend the six-month Opec-led deal to cut output beyond June.

Oil last week broke below $50 a barrel for the first time since December as rising US supply has swamped the impact of supply reductions from members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and 11 other nations that started Jan. 1. While Opec Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo said that February compliance to the deal will be higher than January, Russia’s Rosneft PJSC said higher US output is the “ main threat” to the agreement.

“The market will continue to watch for Opec compliance as US production surges,” said David Lennox, a resources analyst at Fat Prophets in Sydney. “The price is unlikely to collapse below $40. If US output continues to climb, there is no way Opec will extend the cuts into the second half to increase the price for American companies to get the advantage.”

West Texas Intermediate for April delivery was at $48.34 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, down 6 cents, at 7:55 a.m. in London.

Total volume traded was about 48 percent below the 100-day average. The contract fell 9 cents to $48.40 on Monday, the lowest close since Nov. 29.

Brent for May settlement was 2 cents higher at $51.37 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange.

The global benchmark traded at a premium of $2.43 to May WTI. US crude inventories have climbed to 528.4 million barrels, the highest level in weekly EIA data compiled since 1982. The nation is pumping 9.09 million barrels a day, the most in more than a year. The industry-funded American Petroleum Institute is scheduled to release its own weekly figures on Tuesday.

Bloomberg

Military-grade tech to monitor eggplants rather than explosives

By Gwen Ackerman ON A rooftop in the JewishArab Tel Aviv neighborhood of Jaffa, a former military technologist and an ex-journalist sit in a transparent bio-dome where their robot is busy learning how to grow food.

Flux IoT’s Eddy, a robot measuring less than a foot tall and resembling a life buoy, is built with military-grade sensors and armed with image-processing technology.

Its inventors intend it to become the industry standard for commercial and amateur indoor farmers who want to grow pesticide-free, water-efficient crops via hydroponics―a method of growing plants without soil.

Eddy sits in the growing reservoir, and users can stay updated on their crops’ progress via a mobile app, where information gleaned from fellow farmers can help them know when to change the lighting or add nutrients.

Currently closing a $2-million seed funding to start manufacturing, Flux is planning another financing round of as much as $8 million later this year, its size dependent on how many robots sell on crowdfunding platform Indiegogo Inc., said chief executive officer Blake Burris.

It’s also growing its US team, primarily based in Colorado,

while research and development will remain in Israel. The Israeli team is led by co-founder and chief technology officer Amichai Yifrach, who previously built nano sniffers to detect explosives and image processing tools to protect US troops at checkpoints in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“In the army you build perimeter security using imaging processes and webcams that can see things the human eye can’t,” said Flux VP of marketing and co-founder Karin Kloosterman, a former journalist. “With that technology Eddy can look at a plant and detect nutrient deficiency and tell you what it is. Right now you have to be a trained agronomist to know.”

Zirra.com Ltd., an Israeli startup that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze the private tech market, says Flux’s offering “poses significant disruption in their relevant space,” but that the price of the robot could be a “showstopper.”

Burris says they plan to sell Eddy for $179, and expect to sell anywhere between 10,000 to 25,000 robots this year. Rival SmartBee Controllers, which provides water content sensors, sells starter systems starting at $2,500. A water content sensor alone costs between $350 and

Karin Kloosterman, a former journalist, sits in a pop up plastic greenhouse where tiny robot ‘Eddy,’ coded with a sixth sense for plants, is being developed to help produce food from water in the Jaffa district of Tel Aviv, Israel, on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017. Bloomberg

$400.

Green shoots Hydroponic farming is growing in importance as government agencies such as the US Department of Agriculture reflect on the potential impact of industrial or conventional farming, including soil productivity decline, pollution and depletion of natu-

ral resources such as water.

According to global market research firm IBISWorld, the US hydroponic industry alone will reach $856.8 million by 2021, from $821 million in 2016 and the number of businesses will jump from 2,347 to more than 3,000. Flux sees home gardeners as a target market, and in the

US 42 million households grow food at home, according to The National Gardening Association.

Scotts Miracle-Grow Co., the world’s largest seller of lawn and garden products, bought an Arizona-based company in October to boost its hydroponics offering.

New Zealand-based Bluelab, a global supplier of testing and

control equipment for hydroponics, gives basic readings that are linked to a computer and is also working on a mobile app. One of the big markets for hydroponic equipment are cannabis growers.

Flux will assemble the first few thousand robots in Israel, and if demand expands as expected, manufacturing will move to China shortly thereafter.

The intersect in hydroponics is also spreading between worlds. Elon Musk has plans for a Martian colony, NASA is trying hydroponics out in space, and the European Space Agency is cooperating with the Space Farm Collective led by a Netherlands Border Labs team on ways to grow food on planets other than Earth. Thieme Hennis, head of the Space Farm Collective, is testing out Eddy to see how it might help a citizen science project called Watch Me Grow, aimed at finding plants that will grow best in space, and improve ways even the public can grow their own food on Earth.

“Eddy has to prove itself on a larger scale, but something like this is necessary and offers an interface for non-professional and professional growers alike to understand and ‘talk’ with plants,” said Hennis. Bloomberg

Erap to mayors: Support drug war

LGUs

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

By Sandy Araneta FORMER President and current Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada on Tuesday called on his fellow mayors to continue supporting President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, to put an end to what he described as “a billionpeso criminal industry.”

Estrada believes local chief executives have a big role to play in fighting the drug crisis, especially in keeping the youth away from its influence.

“It is vital that we extend our utmost support to the Duterte administration’s sustained efforts to put an end to this crisis, once and for all,” Estrada told the 1,400 members of the League of the Municipalities of the Philippines during the opening of the group’s 2017 General Assembly, which the city is hosting, at the Manila Hotel.

“As mayors, we have a big role to play in eliminating this crisis. We should give our all to save the youth, our children, from its influence, and at the same time putting to jail all drug traffickers and drug lords and destroying their capability to manufacture and sell drugs,” he added.

A former mayor of San Juan, now a city, for 17 years, Estrada said local government officials should stand behind Duterte, whom he said has made it his foremost mission “to rid our nation of the scourge of drugs, and those who have made it a billionpeso criminal industry.”

“This is a war we must all fight to win,” Estrada emphasized.

In the capital city, Estrada told the LMP members the city government is redoubling its efforts to rid Manila of the menace of illegal drugs.

These include the reactivation of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education or DARE, a school-based program where police officers visit public elementary schools to teach students how to avoid drugs and other vices, he added.

DARE was Estrada’s personal advocacy when he was Vice President from 1992 to 1998.

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

C1

Makati hits P7.5b in revenue M

By Joel E. Zurbano

AKATI City has achieved 52 percent of its full-year revenue goal of P14.5 billion, with its total revenue collection as of January reaching P7.5 billion, Mayor Abigail Binay announced Tuesday.

MAJESTIC. ‘Fighter’ the Philippine eagle spreads its wings for its trainer, animal keeper Mario ‘Puroy’ Entrilizo, at the protective forest of the Philippine Eagle Foundation in Malagos, Davao City. The eagle was nursed back to health after surviving gunshot wounds from hunters in Davao Oriental in April 2013. Roland Jumawan

Binay thanked the city’s taxpayers and expressed optimism Makati “will fully attain, if not surpass, its revenue targets for the year.”

“We are very thankful to our taxpayers, which include the Makati business community, residents, and everyone who contributes to the city’s revenues. Rest assured that your city government will continue to sustain and enhance the reforms and innovations we have put in place to render more efficient and compassionate public service,” she said.

City Treasurer Jesusa Cuneta said collection from real property taxes in January reached 87 percent of the target, or P3.2 billion out of P4.1 billion. It was also 12 percent higher than the previous year’s realty tax revenue.

For the same period, the city reached 45 percent of its target for business taxes, or P3.8 billion out of P8.4 billion. Compared with January 2016, business tax collection increased by four percent.

Records of the Business Permits and Licensing Office also showed there were 29,225 renewals and 125 new applications approved in January.

As of March 8, the number of new businesses has reached 669, with total paid-up capital computed at about P3.5 billion.

Reports from the City Treasurer’s Office also cited the attainment rate of revenue targets for other local sources. It includes fees and charges, P286.5 million of P602.9 million (48 percent); economic enterprise,

P11.8 million of P236.1 million (five percent); and Interest Income, P23.1 million of P100 million (23 percent).

From the national government, the city has received P88.6 million in Internal Revenue Allotment, or eight percent of its estimated share for the year. Makati is among a few local governments in the country that are not dependent on the IRA. During her first six months in office, Binay undertook measures to make the city’s frontline services more efficient, which have earned positive feedback from taxpayers.

Clients expressed their satisfaction with the more systematic and faster processing of applications for permits and tax payments, particularly during the renewal period last January.

Clients also noted the absence of “fixers” seen roaming freely inside City Hall and offering their illegal services during the administration of acting mayor Romulo Peña Jr., according to Binay.

Binay promised to use technology to promote transparency in the city government, and expressed her desire to eventually implement a “no physical contact” policy in its transactions with the public.

To restore discipline and order, the mayor has taken a tough stance against businesses violating local and national laws. BPLO records show that from June to December last year, the BPLO had closed a total of 149 establishments found operating without a valid and proper business permit.

‘Army Navy Club restoration should push through’ Subic top THE restoration of the old Army Navy Club in Manila should push through amid criticisms and allegations of irregularities, a retired American pilot and Philippine history enthusiast said, saying criticism against the project was “unjustified.”

John Tewell, who moved to the country with his wife in 2007, said he is “fascinated” the historic Army Navy Club is being restored again, this time as a boutique hotel.

“I am totally fascinated. It is remarkable that it’s going back so beautifully. At the start, I was afraid it wasn’t going to, that it’s going to be something different, not really history oriented, but it is,” Tewell said while visiting the ruins of the iconic building at the Museo Pambata Complex in Roxas Boulevard.

Tewell considers himself a fan of Philippine history. He found an old album of 1930s antique Philippine portraits in Ermita when he visited the country, and owns some of the original photographs that were displayed at the Army Navy Club.

Completed in April 17, 1911,

Army Navy was the first American social club to be established in the Philippines, and is presently being restored as a boutique hotel by Oceanville Hotel and Spa Corp.

Tewell said he heard about the criticisms against the restoration project, mostly from politicians, but paid no attention to it.

“They’re unjustified. The criticisms are based on rumors,” he said, stressing the Army Navy Club restoration “is an important undertaking, being part of the Filipino history and heritage.”

“Even though this is American-oriented it is important to know its history. In fact, originally Army Navy Club was not designed for Filipinos, but even then, this is a part of Filipino history. It’s important to know, but you also got to think what a world at war was like then,” Tewell said.

“It is so important for people to know and understand their heritage, and have pride, and mostly it’s a lot of pride.

It does make for a better country,” he added.

Oceanville Hotel and Spa

Corp. has enlisted the services would preserve the building’s of renowned architect and urban historical integrity. planner Felino “Jun” Palafox to Palafox said the design will design the boutique hotel, which give respect to the building’s

historical significance, revitalize the surrounding area, and add value to the decades-long neglected area.

By Butch Gunio

This picture shows the trademark arches in the Manila Army Navy Club as designed by William Parsons. The club along Roxas Boulevard was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers and completed in April 17, 1911, and is now being restored and converted into a boutique hotel by Oceanville Hotel and Spa Corp.

Mindanao power coops nix WESM, offer alternatives

By Lance Baconguis CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY— The Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives or Amreco is pushing for an alternative mechanism to the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, which is set to operate in the Mindanao electricity market by June this year.

Amreco is a consortium of 33 member electric cooperatives, and accounts for 1.94-million residential consumers in Mindanao. Twenty-seven of the

member coops are connected to the island’s transmission grid, while six operate in the off-grid islands surrounding the main Mindanao island.

WESM establishes the basic rules, requirements and procedures that govern the operation of the Philippine electricity market.

In a workshop here, Amreco and power generators in Mindanao are coming up with mechanisms and protocols that would act like WESM. However, Amreco president Sergio Dagooc said WESM is

brass told to practice ‘malasakit’

detrimental to Mindanao power consumers, as it established a power ceiling cap of 32 pesos per kilowatt hour.

In 2013, WESM introduced the Interim Mindanao Electricity Market, but consumers protested as it caused a massive spike in their electricity bill.

Dagooc said what Amreco and the Mindanao power generators are trying to achieve is what the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. is trying to achieve “but at a lesser cost for the consumers.”

“A Technical Working Group will be established composed of individuals who are technically well-versed in generation, transmission, distribution, systems operations [dynamics], metering and settlement,” Dagooc said.

Dave Tauli, president of the Mindanao Coalition of Power Consumers and a veteran of the power industry, said what PEMC proposing is illegal. “This is a market, people should be consulted with.

What the Department of Energy and PEMC did, they took the rules in Luzon and brought it to Mind-

anao,” he said. “We in Mindanao will not allow that those would be the rules.”

The TWG should analyze the pros and cons of the options and present them to Amreco. The output of the TWG will be useful in reviewing the proposed WESM in Mindanao.

Dagooc said they will be submitting the mechanism and protocols for the electricity market in Mindanao to the Energy Regulation Commission next week so the agency can incorporate it to the WESM provisions.

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT— Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority administrator and chief executive officer Atty. Wilma Eisma had called on employees and officials in the Freeport to practice the virtue of “malasakit” (care or concern).

“Keeping our surroundings clean by being responsible for our trash and keeping it where it should be is one way to show malasakit,” Eisma said, noting it was one of the virtues the agency wanted to instill in its employees.

“Let us give our Subic Bay Freeport the malasakit it deserves. And I also hope that wherever we go, let us show other people that employees of the SBMA are instilled with malasakit, excellence and passion,” she added.

Late last month, SBMA officials and employees from the departments of Land Asset Management, Ecology, Law Enforcement, Office Services, General Business and Investment, and Maintenance and Transportation cleaned the surroundings of the Golden Dragon Terminal that has become an eyesore.

The team trimmed the trees, cleaned an abandoned guard house filled with waste materials, and cleared scattered filth like used plastic bottles, soiled plastic bags, old tires, concrete pipes, and debris. The team then placed signs informing everybody to keep the area clean.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017 Standard C2 TODAY Manila

MinDA’s Alonto bats for federalism T HE chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority or MinDA recently called on local government officials to support “the eventual systemic shift of Mindanao to federalism. which will lead to a federal form of government in the Philippines.”

MinDA Secretary Datu HJ. Abul Khayr Alonto made the call at the recent 10th Philippine Councilors League National Congress here. He said Mindanao’s shift to federalism will enable the island-region to help in nation building.

“As the centerpiece of President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign, federalism becomes the soul of his administration and

Duterte presidency.

“This is the most opportune time and we intend to bolster the push for federalism by laying the foundations of a self-reliant, self-sufficient and progressive Mindanao, so that our experience could cascade to the rest of the country,” he said.

In January, Japan’s Prime the backbone of his vision for a truly united, progressive, and Minister Shinzō Abe pledged economically developed Philip- $8.7 billion worth of business opportunities and private inpines,” he said.

Alonto, as the event’s guest vestments in the Philippines speaker, added that Mindanao is during his state visit in Davao currently experiencing “an un- City. Abe brought with him precedented economic improve- more than 20 key Japanese govment,” coupled with significant ernment officials and private investment interests from both sector representatives at a folocal and international business- rum aimed to showcase Mindes that heightened during the anao as the next investment

destination in the Philippines.

Several interests in the implementation of Mindanao power and energy projects were also secured during a forum organized by the Japanese Government and MinDA in February this year, Alonto noted.

In February, a delegation from Mindanao joined the Philippine three-country mission to the United Arab Emirates to present business incentives and explore investment prospects to key business organizations in the Middle East. About 70 Emirati businessmen met with the mission and expressed interest in investing in the Philippines and Mindanao.

The trade mission also gath-

ered more than 15 “serious” business inquiries ranging from specifics of putting up businesses to conducting trading with Philippine counterparts. A Dubai-based company expressed interest in establishing a processing plant to produce coco peat in Mindanao.

Alonto explained that beyond the concept of decentralization, federalism entails the strengthening of local government units by providing substantial political power to the locality.

“Federalism is about bringing the government down to the people where they can call it their own,” he said. “With federalism in place, the participation of the local government in the deci-

sion-making process is ensured.”

He said local government units may craft programs “that are more responsive to their needs” as they assume larger roles in shaping the direction of the federal government.

“Through federalism, Mindanao’s vision as the gateway to our Asean neighbors and the rest of the world will soon become a reality as we work on strengthening the connectivity in this part of the country.”

Initiatives to strengthen connectivity within Mindanao will be complemented with concrete socioeconomic development programs that are attuned to the needs of the local communities, he added.

Kalinga Heritage Museum bill filed

By Dexter A. See

TABUK CITY, Kalinga—Rep. Allen Jesse C. Mangaoang has filed House Bill No. 1291, which seeks to establish the Kalinga Heritage Museum and Cultural Center.

Mangaoang said the museum will be based in Tabuk and will serve “as the institutional medium for the collection, preservation, and enhancement of the cultural, artistic, archeological, social, religious and philosophical heritage of the Kalinga land and the people, in view of the richness of their legacies and of their relevance to their contemporary and future aspirations.”

The lawmaker said the museum would be authorized to compile the musical notes and lyrics of Kalinga traditional songs, ballads, and contemporary music compositions; to collect samples of musical instruments of Kalinga origin, design and manufacture; and to acquire and display a varied range of Kalinga arts and artefacts.

It would also publish and disseminate Kalinga literary works, epics, stories and historical accounts; compile Kalinga literature, film, or audio-visual recordings of cultural performances and music, dances, oral literature, and festival celebrations; compile epigrams, proverbs, legends and the origin and etymology of Kalinga words, names of barangays, towns and other places of interests in their respective history.

The museum would also gather and document Kalinga religious practices and traditions; the background and origin of Kalinga fiestas and festivals; compile photographs of and showcase in appropriate exhibits Kalinga landmarks, historical sites and scenic views; and gather specimens of archaeological findings, collect stones, rocks and other geological materials and to preserve by appropriate methods, samples of flora and fauna indigenous to the Kalinga province.

The bill proposes the Kalinga provincial government to provide the land necessary for the construction of the museum, and provide the annual expenses needed to carry out its operation and activities.

Mangaoang proposed the Department of Budget to earmark P10 million, by way of national government start-up assistance, for the provincial government to build the museum’s main building.

With the assistance of the National Commission on Culture and Arts, the province should also provide a supplementary budget for capital outlays and other financial and technical support to the museum, the bill adds.

Kalinga has already been declared a tourism development area through Republic Act 10561, and it has a very rich cultural heritage handed down from generations, Mangaoang noted.

TONDO MEDICAL CENTER Balut, Tondo Manila Tel. no. 865-90-00 Invitation to Bid for the Procurement of HFEP 2016 Infrastructure Projects: Renovation of Various Clinical and Office Areas of Building A and D at Tondo Medical Center (Re-Bid) IB No. 2017-031 1.

The Tondo Medical Center (TMC) , through the HFEP 2016 Fund and Hospital Income intends to apply the sum of Sixty Two Million Three Hundred Thirty Eight Thousand One Hundred Seventy Seven and 33/100 Pesos ( Php 62,338,177.33) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Procurement of HFEP 2016 Infrastructure Projects: Renovation of Various Clinical and Office Areas of Building A and D at Tondo Medical Center, IB No. 2017-031. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The Tondo Medical Center (TMC) now invites bids for the procurement of Clinical Areas: Medical, ICU, Surgery, Pedia Ward and Emergency Complex and Office Areas: All Administrative Offices of Building A and D. Completion of Works is required for Four Hundred (400 cd) Calendar days. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.”

NABBED. Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan (seated, second from left) and Caloocan police chief Sr. Supt. Chito Bersaluna present 34 suspects facing various criminal charges during a recent operation in areas north and south of the city. Andrew Rabulan

Help each other, Villar urges NV cooperatives

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAMBANG, Nueva Vizcaya— Senator Cynthia Villar recently urged villagers here to help each other in improving their cooperative.

“Give what is due for your cooperative so that everyone can benefit.

In this way, we can improve our lives for the better,” Villar told members of the St. Catherine’s Parish MultiPurpose Cooperative at the municipal auditorium.

Villar was the guest of honor and speaker for the 49th General Assembly of the SCPMC. The senator was accompanied by Gov. Carlos Padilla, Vice Gov. Lambert Galima Jr. and former governor Ruth Padilla.

She also praised the SCPMC for having been chosen by the Villar Foundation as one of the winners of its SIPAG Award, an honor given for successful cooperatives in the country.

Villar said their foundation has al-

ready recognized 80 cooperatives in the country in four years’ time.

“There are 20 cooperatives awarded each year because of their excellent track record and services that have an impact on poverty alleviation,” she said.

The senator said they publish the awarded cooperatives in a magazine and refer them to financial institutions and the Department of Agriculture to promote their good practices and possibly attract public and private assistance.

She also encouraged cooperatives to avail of the research and development services of state colleges and universities, where P2 billion has been allotted for cooperatives research, and take out loans from the Land Bank of the Philippines amounting to P1 million, among others.

Villar also pledged recycled plastic chairs for the local government to give to various public schools here.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from BAC Secretariat and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested bidders on March 15, 2017 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Fifty Thousand Philippine Pesos ( Php 50,000.00).

It may also be downloadedfree of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

6.

The Tondo Medical Center (TMC)will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 22, 2017, 9:00am to 10:30am at Tondo Medical Center Conference Room 1, Honorio Lopez Blvd, Balut, Tondo, Manila, which shall beopen to prospective bidders. Only two (2) authorized representatives per company shall be allowed to attend the Prebid Conference and must present an authorization letter approved by the duly authorized office of the company being represented.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before April 6, 2017. 9:00 am to 10:00 am. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Eligible Bidders shall submit a Certified True Copy of Valid PCAB license for Size Range Medium A, License Category B. And should have completed a contract of a 200bed capacity tertiary level hospital with complex clinical areas.

9.

The Tondo Medical Center (TMC) reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

10. For further information, please refer to: Dr. Aileen M. Palomaria, DMD BAC Secretariat Tondo Medical Center Honorio Lopez Blvd., Balut, Tondo, Manila Tel. No. 865-90-00 local 1046, Zip Code No. 1013 Email address: aileenpalomaria@yahoo.com

SOLONS AT FISHPORT. Cavite Sixth District Rep. Luis ‘Jon Jon’ Ferrer IV (right), (SGD) Dr. Jovel A. Aguilar BAC-InfraChairperson

(MS-MAR. 15, 2017)

Tabuk anti-poverty program launched TABUK CITY, Kalinga—The city government recently launched a poverty alleviation program to answer the priority needs of its top 10 identified poorest barangays, namely Guilayon, Magnao, Nambucayan, Gobgob, Cudal, San Juan, San Julian, BadAo Dangwa, Bantay and Laya West.

City Planning and Development Officer Maricel Kiley said the barangays were picked based on the 2015 Community Based Monitoring System result, which revealed that 37.3 percent of the city’s total household were below the poverty threshold.

Last October, members of the City Development Council adopted “Oplan Matagoan: Culasa, Babago Sa Guinamma” plan, derived from the names of the barangays, as an intervention to introduce the needed development and uplift their current economic status.

Aimed at improving the quality of life of communities in the 10 barangays, Oplan Matagoan specifically targets reducing the city’s poverty incidence by 3 percent annually during the program period. Dexter A. See

Pay irrigation debts, NIA 2 asks farmers TUGUEGARAO CITY—The National Irrigation Administration in Region 2 has urged farmers to pay their irrigation service fee arrears.

Engineer Antonio Lara, NIA regional director, said while the Duterte administration has already issued an order to provide free irrigation services for farmers starting this year’s cropping season through a P2-billion subsidy in the 2017 national budget, but reminded the farmers to settle their unpaid fees.

“Although the irrigation fee is now free, our farmers must settle their debts. We will still collect from those who have not yet paid their arrears,” Lara said.

Earlier, farmers’ organizations regionwide lobbied for the abolition of irrigation service fees and the condonation of unpaid back accounts of farmers and irrigators associations that have incurred millions in debt to NIA. Jessica Bacud

Orani Water lauds model employees

Bid opening shall be on April 6, 2017, 10:30 amatTondo Medical Center (TMC), Auditorium, Honorio Lopez Blvd., Balut, Tondo, Manila.Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below.

Late bids shall not be accepted.Only two (2) authorized representative per company shall be allowed to attend the Opening of Bids and must present an authorization letter approved by the duly authorized office of the company being represented 8.

IN BRIEF

chairman of the House Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources, stands with committee members Imus City Rep. Alex ‘AA’ Advincula, Bacoor City Rep. Edwin ‘Strike’ Revilla and Sultan Kudarat First District Rep. Datu Pax Mangudadatu as they visited the General Santos City fish port as part of their legislative program.

ORANI, Bataan—To boost the morale of its employees, the Orani Water District held its Employees Grand Recognition and Awards Ceremony.

Engineering and Construction Division manager Herminigildo S. Canlas Sr. received the Model Employee of the Year. Anna Karizza O. Sazon was recipient of Pagmamahal sa Watawat Award. On the other hand, Career and Self Development Award was given to Sheila Milante.

Aside from the three Orani Water District Employee Achievement Awards, employees of the water district for 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, 25 years, 30 years, and 35 years, respectively, were recognized during the ceremony held recently at Peninsula De Bataan, this town. Butch Gunio

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World IN BRIEF US envoy, Netanyahu discuss peace JERUSALEM―US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Jason Greenblatt and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed ways to reach peace with the Palestinians as well as settlement construction, a statement said Tuesday.

The meeting, held in Netanyahu’s Jerusalem office late Monday, lasted five hours, according to the premier’s office.

The two “reaffirmed the joint commitment of both Israel and the United States to advance a genuine and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians that strengthens the security of Israel and enhances stability in the region,” the statement read.

They also “continued discussions relating to settlement construction in the hope of working out an approach that is consistent with the goal of advancing peace and security.”

The international community considers continuing settlement growth in the West Bank a major obstacle to peace. AFP

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

Prosecutors to summon Park S EOUL―South Korean prosecutors will summon former president Park Geun-Hye, whose impeachment was confirmed by the country’s highest court last week, for questioning as a criminal suspect, a spokesman said Tuesday.

Ex-president slapped with new charges TAIPEI―Taiwan’s former president Ma Ying-jeou was slapped with new charges on Tuesday in a political leaks controversy, just weeks before he faces possible conviction in another related case.

While still in office Ma was protected by political immunity.

But since he stepped down as leader in May last year he has been hit with a range of corruption and other allegations.

Ma’s Beijing-friendly Kuomintang held power from 2008 to 2016, before they were trounced by Tsai Ing-wen and her opposition Democratic Progressive Party.

Taipei prosecutors acting on behalf of the government charged Ma Tuesday with leaking secrets about a confidential judicial probe into the island’s then premier Jiang Yi-huah and an aide in 2013.

They also accused him of instructing a top prosecutor to disclose confidential information to Jiang.

The 2013 investigation at the heart of the controversy was looking into whether the parliamentary speaker at the time -- a political rival of Ma -- had influenced a case against an opposition lawmaker.

“Even though Ma has declared he was unaware of and would not interfere with (an ongoing probe), he leaked information that should have been kept confidential,” said Chang Chieh-chin, a spokesman for the prosecutor’s office.

Ma was indicted for violating the communication security and surveillance act, which carries a maximum three-year jail term. AFP

Falling elevator kills 17 workers in China BEIJING―Seventeen Chinese coal miners were killed when a lift used to move workers fell down a shaft, state media reported, the latest deadly mishap in the country’s accident-prone coalmining industry.

The accident occurred Thursday when a cable supporting a mining cage caught fire, causing the rig to tumble down into a state-operated coal mine in northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, Xinhua news agency said.

An operation to extract the trapped miners from the wreckage was launched at the time but rescue workers could not reach them until Monday, finding them all dead, Xinhua said.

The mine, the Dongrong Second Mine under the Longmay Mining Holding Group, is located near the city of Shuangyashan.

Two welders have been detained by police over “allegedly serious violations” of safety regulations, Xinhua said.

The mine’s manager also has been suspended from his post, it quoted the local government as saying.

China is the world’s largest coal producer, and deadly accidents in mines are common.

In December, explosions in two separate coal mines in the Inner Mongolia region and in Heilongjiang killed at least 59 people, according to state media reports. AFP

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TOAST TO INNOVATORS. Actress Christina Hendricks attends UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability celebrates Innovators For A Healthy Planet at a private residence on March 13, 2017 in Beverly Hills,California. AFP

Park has been named as an accomplice to the secret confidante at the heart of a corruption and influencepeddling scandal that triggered her dramatic downfall.

Confirmation of her impeachment by the nation’s top court stripped her of immunity from criminal prosecution.

“We will decide Wednesday when to summon former president Park and inform her,” the spokesman of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office told AFP. It has not yet been decided whether Park will be called in to the prosecutors’ office in private, or publicly before TV cameras and photographers, he added.

The country’s top court last week fired Park over a corruption scandal.

Her friend and secret confidante, Choi Soon-Sil, is standing trial for using her ties to Park to force local firms to “donate” nearly $70 million to non-profit foundations Choi allegedly used for personal gain.

Park is accused of offering policy favors to businessmen who paid Choi, including the heir to the smartphone giant Samsung, Lee Jae-Yong, who has been indicted for bribery and other offences.

As president, Park refused to make herself available for questioning to special prosecutors investigating the scandal, despite multiple requests.

Similarly the Constitutional Court asked her to appear before it as it held a series of hearings while considering whether to confirm or overturn her impeachment by parliament, but she did not do so.

South Korean media and politicians have accused Park of defiance after told supporters on her return to her private residence -- following staying on in the presidential Blue House complex for several days -- that “the truth will eventually be revealed”.

She has been holed up in her high-walled house in southern Seoul, with hundreds of her die-hard supporters staging sit-ins and vowing to “protect our president” from any harm.

Clashes are expected if prosecution authorities try to force their way through the crowd surrounding the building to deliver the summons.

Park’s supporters have earned a poor reputation with scuffles breaking out at some of their protests. Following Friday’s court ruling, a demonstration by thousands of pro-Park supporters was marred by violence, with some attacking riot police and assaulting journalists.

Three of the protesters, men in their 60s and 70s, died and dozens of people were wounded, including police and journalists, prompting police to vow to track down and punish those responsible. AFP

Watson Belle of the ball in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ LOS ANGELES―It is a tale as old as time (or one dating back to the 1990s, at least): Disney dusts off an animated classic, adds bells, whistles and real people, and everyone makes a fortune.

Since Jason Scott Lee annoyed purists as a grown-up Mowgli in “Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book” (1994), the company has churned out numerous big-screen live-action remakes of its handdrawn favorites, recouping $4 billion worldwide.

The latest to get the Mouse House makeover is “Beauty and the Beast,” set for release on Friday with an all-star cast led by

Emma Watson, 26, who grew up playing Hermione Granger in the “Harry Potter” films.

No movie will arrive in theaters this year weighed down by as much expectation, in the wake of a 90-second trailer that generated a record 92 million views in its first day online.

“Beauty and the Beast” -- which revisits the smash hit 1991 cartoon starring the voice of Paige O’Hara as Belle -- had a whopping $300 million production and marketing budget but shouldn’t struggle to turn a profit.

It is already the fastest selling family film in history, outpacing

previous record-holder “Finding Dory,” according to online ticket seller Fandango, with analysts projecting a $150 million opening weekend.

It could also be the most controversial Disney remake in history -- and the bar is higher than you might think -- having weathered all manner of social media storms over its production and stars.

Among the more trivial controversies was an angry fan reaction to the design of teapot character Mrs Potts, who doesn’t have a spout for a nose in the new version as she did in the animated classic.

More recently, critics made snarky remarks about a revealing Vanity Fair photo shoot by Watson, claiming that exposing flesh wasn’t in keeping with the United Nations Women Goodwill Ambassador’s feminist image.

And then all hell broke loose when it emerged that Le Fou, the sycophantic sidekick to antagonist Gaston, was being portrayed by comedian and actor Josh Gad as a gay man, making him Disney’s first ever out LGBT character.

The move sparked an international controversy, with at least one theater in Alabama refusing

to show the film and the Russian government considering a ban before settling on an adults-only rating.

“What has this story always been about for 300 years? It’s about looking closer, going deeper, accepting people for who they really are,” director Bill Condon (“Gods and Monsters,” “Twilight: Breaking Dawn”) told journalists in Beverly Hills last week.

“In a very Disney way, we are including everybody. I think this movie is for everybody and I think on the screen you’ll see everybody, and that was important to me.” AFP

Mexican drug lord’s health deteriorating NEW YORK―The health of Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, one of the world’s most notorious criminals, is deteriorating in US custody, his lawyers complained Monday, challenging the conditions of his detention.

The 59-year-old, accused of running one of the world’s biggest drug empires and who escaped twice from prison in Mexico, has been held in solitary confinement in New York since being extradited on January 19.

His isolation at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan has seen his “physical and mental health” deteriorate, wrote his American public defenders in a 24page letter to the judge overseeing his case.

“He has difficulty breathing and suffers from a sore throat and headaches,” they said.

“He has recently been experiencing auditory hallucinations, complaining of hearing music in his cell even when his radio is turned off.”

His lawyers asked Judge Brian Cogan that Guzman be allowed to speak to his wife, either by person or by telephone, and be released from solitary confinement and placed in the general prison population.

Amnesty International has previously condemned conditions at the unit where he is being housed as “cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and incompatible with the presumption of innocence,” the letter said.

It is not the first time his legal team has complained about the draconian conditions of his incarceration.

They did so at a court hearing in Brooklyn on February 3, when Cogan declined to intervene at the time, saying it was up to the jail.

US authorities are adamant that Guzman will have no chance of freedom.

The letter said Guzman was confined to “a small windowless cell” where he remains alone, except for an hour of solitary exercise in another cell with a treadmill and stationary bicycle Monday to Friday.

His meals are passed through a slot in the door and the light is always on, it said.

Guzman shivers from a lack of warm clothing and never goes outside, the lawyers added.

On January 20 Guzman pleaded not guilty to a raft of firearms, drug trafficking and conspiracy charges at an initial hearing in New York. AFP

DAMAGE. This handout from the Indonesia Marine Security Agency taken on March 13, 2017 and released

on March 14 shows corals damaged by a cruise ship in Raja Ampat in eastern Indonesia. The British-owned cruise ship smashed into and damaged pristine coral reefs in Raja Ampat, a remote corner of Indonesia known as one of the world’s most biodiverse marine habitats, researchers and officials said on March 14. AFP

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

World

AFTER THE LANDSLIDE. People look at the damage done to the dwellings built near the main landfill of Addis Ababa on the outskirts of the city on March 12, 2017, after a landslide left at least 30 people dead. Dozens more were hurt in Ethiopia’s largest rubbish dump, a tragedy thqt the squatters living there blamed on a biogas plant being built nearby. The landslide late on March 11 saw dozens of homes of people living in the dump leveled after a part of the largest pile of rubbish at the Koshe landfill collapsed, an AFP journalist said. AFP

Winter storm Stella slams US NEW YORK―Winter Storm Stella unleashed its fury on much of the northeastern United States Tuesday, dropping snow and sleet across the region and forcing school closures and thousands of flight cancellations.

Stella -- the most powerful winter storm of the season -- was forecast to dump up to two feet (61 centimeters) of snow in New York and whip the area with combined with winds of up to 60 miles per hour (96 kilometers per hour), causing treacherous whiteout conditions.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a 24-hour blizzard warning from midnight Monday (0400 GMT Tuesday) for a region stretching north into Connecticut and south into New Jersey that includes New York City.

The storm however affects a densely populated area from Maine to Virginia, and as far west as Ohio.

More than 6,800 US flights were canceled for Monday and Tuesday, with airports in New York, Boston, Baltimore, Washington and Philadelphia hardest hit, according to the tracking service FlightAware.

In Connecticut, the governor announced a statewide travel ban, as residents across the affected region were urged to stay off the roads.

The forecast postponed the first meeting between President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Washington until Friday.

In New York, UN headquarters announced it would close, a disruption for the thousands of delegates expected to attend a women’s conference.

In the financial markets, much of Wall Street was expected to work from home with low trade volume anticipated, due partly to Wednesday’s decision from the Federal Reserve on whether to raise interest rates.

In Washington, the National Park Service warned that the cold could wipe out up to 90 percent of the capital’s beloved cherry blossoms.

One popular meme on social media was a clip of actor Marlon Brando in his famous cry of “Stella!” from the steamy 1951 film “A Streetcar Named Desire.” AFP

Colombia to set up war crimes courts BOGOTA―Colombia’s senate late Monday approved a constitutional reform to set up special war crimes courts, a key component of the historic peace agreement with FARC guerrillas that ended five decades of war.

The court system will be made up of three sections: a truth commission, a unit to search for missing people, and a temporary, autonomous body to try crimes committed during the armed conflict before December 1, 2016.

Establishing the courts was the backbone of the peace deal Bogota reached in November with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia rebels.

President Juan Manuel Santos won the Nobel Peace Prize in October for his efforts to end his country’s 53-year conflict, which has drawn in numerous leftist rebel groups, right-wing paramilitary units, drug cartels and the army.

The FARC launched its guerrilla war against the Colombian government in 1964, after a peasant uprising that was crushed by the army.

Under the peace deal negotiated by the Santos administration, the FARC will transform into a political party and its 5,700 fighters will demobilize over a period of six months.

The group began disarming in early March, a process overseen

by United Nations monitors.

According to the peace agreement, clinched after four years of talks in Cuba, fighters who confess their involvement in atrocities can avoid prison and receive an alternative punishment.

If they don’t confess and are found guilty, they face prison terms of eight to 20 years.

The conflict has killed some

260,000 people while 60,000 have vanished, and 6.9 million have been displaced within Colombia.

Colombia’s senate has 102 members. Of those present late Monday, 60 voted for the measure and two voted against it.

Noticeably absent were the members of the Democratic Center, a right-wing party led by former president -- and current senator -- Alvaro Uribe, a fierce opponent of the peace plan.

Senator Ivan Duque, speaking on the party’s behalf, said during the debate that “in the name of peace ... an irreparable blow is being delivered to constitutional order” and to the judicial branch.

Uribe and his supporters argued that the peace deal grants impunity to rebels guilty of war crimes, giving them seats in Congress rather than sending them to prison.

Santos was Uribe’s defense minister and a key player in several military operations under the former president that shattered the FARC’s strength.

But since Santos followed the still-popular Uribe as president in 2010, the two have clashed on issues ranging from the peace deal to relations with the leftist regime in Venezuela.

Pope Francis, scheduled to visit Colombia in September as “a messenger of peace and reconciliation,” brought Santos and Uribe together at the Vatican in December in an unsuccessful bid to persuade them to overcome their differences.

The constitutional reform, which has already been approved by the lower chamber, still must survive a review by the constitutional court before Santos signs it into law. AFP

N. Koreans to be deported despite ban on departures K UALA LUMPUR―Malaysia will deport 50 North Koreans for overstaying their visas, the deputy prime minister said Tuesday, in an apparent exception to a departure ban imposed after the assassination of Kim Jong-Nam.

The killing of the half-brother of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un with VX nerve agent in Malaysia last month triggered an angry standoff between Kuala Lumpur and Pyongyang that has seen them expel each other’s ambassadors and refuse to let their citizens leave.

But Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told reporters that 50 North Koreans working in Sarawak state on Borneo island -- home to coal mines which often employ foreign workers -- would be deported from Malaysia despite the ban.

“We will send the North Korean workers in Sarawak who have exceeded their visa back to Pyongyang for overstaying,” he said. “They will be deported soon.”

He did not say why the government had decided on the expulsion despite Kuala Lumpur’s bar on North Korean nationals leaving the country -- a tit-for-tat measure put in place after Pyongyang prohibited Malaysians from leaving its borders last week.

The diplomatic crisis erupted last month after North Korea attacked the Malaysian investigation into Kim’s killing as an attempt to smear the secretive regime.

Three Malaysian embassy staff and six family members

are stranded in North Korea as a result.

Pyongyang, which has never confirmed Kim’s identity, has repeatedly demanded the return of his body but Malaysian authorities have refused to release it without a DNA sample from next-of-kin.

The body, which is currently being kept in a morgue in the capital, has been embalmed to prevent it from decomposing more than a month after the assassination, the deputy prime minister said.

“It’s an effort to preserve the body, because if it is kept in the mortuary it might decompose,” he said.

Two women -- one Vietnamese and one Indonesian -have been arrested and charged with the murder. CCTV footage shows them smearing the 45-year-old’s face with a piece of cloth. Pyongyang has insisted that he most likely died of a heart attack.

Relations between North Korea and Malaysia had been particularly warm, with a reciprocal visa-free travel deal for visitors, prior to the highprofile killing.

Up to 100,000 North Koreans are believed to be working abroad and their remittances are a valuable source of foreign currency for the isolated regime. AFP

CELEBRATION. Guests attend the NYLON And The Hulu Original The Handmaid’s Tale Celebrate SXSTYLE At #TwitterHouse at Bar 96 on March 14, 2017 in Austin, Texas. AFP

Africa’s ‘chicken-feather’ painter brushes off fame MABHOKO, South Africa―Esther Mahlangu’s colorful geometric artwork is exhibited in galleries around the world, but she remains in her South African village unfazed by fame and determined to preserve her ethnic Ndebele culture.

The 81-year-old painter and mural artist earned an international reputation with her Ndebele motifs at a time when the art scene

in her home country was focused on contemporary styles.

Now Johannesburg is hosting a major exhibition for Mahlangu, an elderly black woman with no art training who rose to global acclaim using a skill passed down for generations.

With just a chicken feather, Mahlangu first painted mud huts and chipboards before moving

on to luxury cars, vodka bottles, skateboards and footwear as her intricate patterns became huge commercial hits.

At home in a dusty village in South Africa’s eastern province of Mpumalanga, the sprightly great-grandmother looks nothing like an artist who has exhibited at the Center Georges Pompidou in Paris, the 5th Biennale in Lyon,

France, and London’s British Museum.

She goes about her daily chores, sweeping the courtyard in front of her hut and worrying about crying babies.

Unlike many locals, she still dresses in the distinctive Ndebele traditional attire, with heavy beaded necklaces and dozens of copper rings around her neck and legs.

“Working with famous people has not changed me,” she told AFP. “I am not intimidated by anything and not even once have I changed who I am to fit in with their culture.”

The only change she has incorporated into her work is replacing natural pigments of cow dung and soil with acrylic paint. AFP

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

FASHION & BEAUTY

SCENT

SMELLS LIKE PARIS.

Enchanteur Paris fragrances, which are inspired by the City of Lights and the stylish French women, are now available here in the Philippines through Watsons.

of a (young) woman I

N 1992, Al Pacino won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance Scent of a Woman as retired Army Ranger Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade, a blind man who uses his nose to spot beautiful women based on the fragrances they use.

Now, you may think your scent won’t matter unless you are dating a blind guy, but according to a recent study, wearing a nice perfume can actually make you appear even more facially beautiful and get more attention.

The study done by the Monell Chemical Senses Center showed that the exact same woman was rated higher and more physically attractive when there is a pleasant smell present, which means physical facial beauty are emotionally driven rather than rational. The research suggests that perfumes and scented products may, to some extent, alter how people perceive one another physically.

The eyes may look at the face and body initially, but it’s that lingering scent that sustains attention, and makes you memorable. Especially for Filipinos who consider smell as an indication of cleanliness – the better you smell denotes proper hygiene and grooming.

For centuries, women (and also men) have used perfumes and scented products as a way to enhance overall personal appearance, and those ever expanding aisles at the beauty section is a certain indication of the market demand.

And when it comes to fragrances, trust the French to lead the way, after all, most big perfume brands originate from France and the Parisian women have a reputation for their exquisite tastes in fashion and scent.

Bringing a whiff of that coveted Parisian scent to the Philippines is Enchanteur, a brand who’s been in the market for years and is one of the top fragrance brands in the Middle East and Asia. So, if you have a relative working or living in Dubai or Saudi Arabia, chances are, one of their balikbayan boxes probably includes Enchanteur lotions or perfumes.

Enchanteur Paris, meanwhile, is their latest line of high quality and timeless French-inspired fine Eau de Toilettes (EDT) and fragrance-infused body care products designed for young women.

“There are four Enchanteur Paris fragrances to suit different personalities each inspired by the romance of Paris, the City of Lights, and the chic aesthetic of French women, namely Magique, Belle Amour, Mon Amie, and Adore explained Mishen Hernan-

Watsons Philippines Group Category manager Mishen Hernandez

Joana Marie Atienza, Sichel & Sichel Channel Manager

dez, Group Category manager of Watsons Philippines at the media launch.

Exclusively available at Watsons, Enchanteur Paris now makes it easier for Filipinas who love to smell good to choose her signature scent from this line of quality but affordable EDT. Present at the media launch were Joana Marie Atienza, Channel Manager of Sichel & Sichel, Krishna Kulkani, general manager Wipro Unza, manufactuer of Enchanteur Fragrances, Sharon Presbitero-Decapia, Watsons Group Marketing

manager for Beauty, and Viki Encarnacion, Watsons Marketing Director.

According to Kulkani, although they knew how popular the Enchanteur brand was among Filipinos living in the Middle East, they had to look for the right partner to bring their products to the Philippines.

Enchanteur Paris, Kulkani says, is suited for the younger market—specifically for women from age 15 who want to smell and look good without having to borrow their mothers or older sisters perfumes.

There are four Enchanteur fragrances for different personalities. These lovely and enchanting scents were inspired by the romance of Paris, the City of Lights, and the chic aesthetic of French women.

Magique is for the carefree, confident and adventurous girl. This magical mix of apple, magnolia and praline is perfect for a day out with her sweetheart as you try fun and new things together.

Belle Amour is for the romantic sweet girl on her first date with a special person.

This is a captivating blend of apple, melon, blackcurrant and pink rose scents that would make her date’s heart beat faster.

Mon Amie is for the fun, cheerful and charming girl. She can wear this breezy scent of fresh citrus, red apple and pink peonies on an exciting adventure with friends.

Adore is for the elegant, graceful and adorable girl. She likes the sensual scent of wild jasmine, pink mimosa and golden pear. This alluring fragrance evokes glamor and sophistication.

All four Enchanteur Paris fragrances strike the perfect balance whether you want something light, fresh, sparkling, elegant or sensual.

Enchanteur Paris also shares a French woman’s secret to making her fragrance last longer and that is through complementing the Eau de Toilette with the Parfum Lotion, Parfum Serum, Deospray and Hand Cream. With these products, your chosen Enchanteur Paris scent will linger and enchant the whole day.

Enchanteur Paris is exclusively available at all Watsons stores nationwide and The SM Store-Beauty Section. The Eau de Toilette retails at P400, P100 for the Hand Creams, P129 for the Deosprays, P210-P275 for the Parfum Serum and Parfum Lotions.

Each Enchanteur Paris fragrance suits different personalities of young women, (from left) Magique is for the carefree and confident girl, Belle Amour is for the romantic sweet girl, Mon Amie is for the cheerful and charming girl, and Adore is for the elegant and graceful girl.

Live on the bright side COUNTRIES in the Western Hemismphere cal shirting paves the way for a new form of welcomes Spring, time to shed those layers. dress-up. We’re on cloud nine!

At Old Navy, everything’s fresh again. Put Playful personality on some shades, the future is bright.

Let your clothes do the talking! Keep Fresh fleece spring optimistic in our colorful prints and Why settle for glum, when you can go for off-the-shoulder dresses. The classics we love the bright? The classic fleece is reimagined are updated with a brighter color palette that with the season’s brightest colors combined will make you forget about those cold winter with a fresh take on graphics. Bold mes- months. Nods to nautical in the form of upsages like “Bon Voyage” will help you say dated mariner stripes and rope detailing will goodbye to those winter blues. have you ready to set sail into spring.

In the Philippines, Old Navy is located Greenhouse charm at Central Square in Bonifacio High Street Romance isn’t dead—we checked! Hand- Central, Estancia at Capitol Commons, Glopainted florals, ruffles, and embroidery create rietta 3, Shangri-La Plaza, Robinsons Gala tone of playfulness and charm throughout leria, and SM Megamall. the collection. For women, classic silhouettes Visit facebook.com/oldnavyPH, or follow are updated with feminine ruffles, laser cut @oldnavyph and @ssilifeph on Instagram detailing and softer fabrics. For men, botani- for more information.

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Old Navy welcomes Spring with bold prints, bright colors, softer fabrics and nautical details

Life

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

I

N ADDITION to a burgeoning loomweaving industry based on the colorful Abel Abra whose shawls are now favored by celebrities including Senator Loren Legarda, Abra has a wellestablished bamboocentered industry that should soon reach world markets.

Located in a fertile valley in the north, Abra is rich in forests and plantations. The bamboo industry in particular has more than doubled the number of people it employs from 1,041 in 2013 to close to 2,500 in 2015 – and the employment figures keep on increasing.

The industry has given Abra’s indigenous tribes plenty of work opportunities, too. Abra’s indefatigable Governor, Joy Bernos, is making sure that Abra is competitive enough to face the challenges it faces regionally or nationally and all the support has been handed down to ensure its sustainability.

It is not just in the traditional sector of arts and handicrafts that Abra’s entrepreneurs are actively involved – they also manufacture strong, f lattened and engineered bamboos that are now used in many buildings in the region and as far as Cebu. Bamboo is the 21st century’s architectural material of choice, and Abra shows the way forward.

Abel and bamboo are Abra’s pride Abra has a burgeoning loom-weaving industry which creates colorful shawls that are favored by several clients

The province boasts numerous ma- are undergoing to make the travel to jestic waterfalls that numerous tour- these falls comfortable and easier. ists trek their way through enjoying Abra offers adventurers, nature lovers its sight and serenity. Developments and culture aficionados a wealth of memo-

rable tourist destinations. There are seven As for the loom-weaving industry, caves, seven cold and hot spring resorts, it has also become an employment encenturies-old earthquake baroque Spanish gine, with sales and investments on churches and five spectacular waterfalls. the up and up.

VA N I T Y C O R N ER

THE ANSWER TO THICKER AND DENSER HAIR THIS year, give your crowning glory a boost in volume and density with the L’Oreal Professionnel Serioxyl range. With thicker and denser hair, you can definitely flaunt your hair to give your total look an upgrade. Serioxyl addresses one of the most serious hair concerns, hair thinning. Around 65 percent of the global population experiences hair thinning. To prevent it, L’Oreal Professionnel presents you the best solution with Serioxyl.

“Here at L’Oréal Professionnel, we believe that one’s thinning hair can have a new life. The treatment starts in the salon, and continues at home for maximum results. If incorporated in one’s daily routine, hair can look visibly thicker and denser,” shared Elise Veloso, Group Product manager of L’Oréal Professionnel. “Many factors contribute to hair thinning.

Once the hair starts to feel a little thinner, we want Filipinos to have the solution readily available where they usually go – their salons.”

The Serioxyl treatment starts by visiting the salon for an individual consultation in order for the stylist to design the perfect hair program. The simple program features a standard four-step Scalp Deep Cleansing Treatment, which includes a thorough scalp cleanse, shampoo, conditioner, mousse and serum application to make one’s hair look instantly thicker and denser. “After this in-salon treatment, a Fuller Hair Kit which is a daily home hair care range for each hair concern completes the journey of our clients,” added Veloso.

“Your stylists will be able to recommend one of the four daily home followup kits along with a recommendation on the best kit targeting hair thinning categorized to achieve either denser hair, thicker hair, or both denser and thicker hair.”

Beating hair thinning is possible because Serioxyl is infused with Glucoboost, Incell, Intra-Cylane, Pro-Keratin, Stemoxydine, and Neohesperidin – ingredients known to nourish, thicken, strengthen, and protect the scalp and hair.

Now, it’s possible to have and maintain thicker and denser hair because of Serioxyl.

Celebrating all types of beauty FOR the past 60 years, Dove has been working to broaden the acceptance of beauty. Its philosophy of “Real Beauty” inspires people to view beauty in a way that includes instead of excludes, and unites instead of divides.

This 2017, Dove Philippines is bringing this philosophy closer to home through an extensive campaign that celebrates the ever-changing face of beauty. With the “Real Beauty is Universal” campaign, Dove celebrates each woman’s potential for beauty, and the result is beautiful in its diversity.

From the young daydreamer to the devoted educator; the radiant, multitasking mother-of-two; to the renowned designer who’s learning to love her gray locks – every woman has a story to tell.

And this campaign provides a platform to bring these stories to life. While each tale is different, they highlight each woman’s confidence in her unique qualities – be it her wild curls, or first tattoo, the curves on her body or the wrinkles on her face. These women will tell you that it is impossible to answer the question of what makes a woman beautiful. At the end of the day, beauty has many different faces.

Dove Philippines hopes to inspire all women to celebrate their unique beauty; and to let them know, without a doubt, that they all have the potential for beauty.

After all, Real Beauty is not just one type. It is universal.

Celebrate all types of beauty at Dove.ph

Dove’s ‘Real Beauty is Universal’ campaign celebrates the dynamic face of beauty and each woman’s potential for beauty

Tory Burch debuts fashion film

Stars of Tory Burch’s fashion film ‘Gangs of Paris’ that is about a preppy set and a bohemian group of ladies

TORY BURCH, LLC has partnered with Paris-based creative agency Pictoresq on a short film celebrating the brand’s new T Satchel, a versatile handbag with clean lines and a structured silhouette. Featuring a group of intriguing beauties named les Enfants Terribles, the film, entitled Gangs of Paris, was launched on digital and social channels last month.

It opens with a radio announcement about two gangs clashing in Paris: one, a preppy set hailing from Saint Germain des Prés on the Rive Gauche, and the other, more bohemian, from Montmartre on the Rive Droite.

“Two different worlds, two different neighborhoods, two different styles,” the radio anchor says.

With tongue-in-cheek intensity, the film follows the gangs—identified by the way silk scarves are knotted on their T Satchels—through the streets of Paris until they meet face to face on the Pont Neuf over the Seine.

The T Satchel is the star of the film. Pol-

ished and versatile, the handbag is an exquisite addition to the Block-T family, defined by an elegant, clean construction and an understated appeal. A study in luxurious minimalism, the classic, functional shape is crafted in smooth leather with tonal details. Finished with a secure flap closure and an optional, adjustable cross-body strap, it can be carried hands-free or by the top handle. As illustrated in the film, a colorful scarf is a chic way to add a personal, playful accent.

The T Satchel will be available in black, royal navy, aged vacchetta, court green, new ivory and samba red at Tory Burch boutiques and digital commerce channels worldwide as well as select department stores and specialty stores starting February.

In the Philippines, Tory Burch is located at Greenbelt 5, Rustan’s Makati and Rustan’s Shangri-La. Follow @ssilifeph on Instagram for more information.

The newest addition to Block-T family, T Satchel features clean lines and a structured silhouette

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

A

CADEMY Award winner Shirley MacLaine and Amanda Seyfried team up in the critically acclaimed The Last Word.

Directed by Mark Pellington, whose most notable credits include Arlington Road (1999), The Mothman Prophecies (2002), and Henry Poole (2008), from a screenplay by Stuart Ross Fink, The Last Word was screened at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival in January and it marks the very first collaboration between MacLaine and Seyfried.

The movie is centered on Harriet Lauler (MacLaine) – a retired and very controlling businesswoman who hires young writer Anne Sherman (Seyfried), in her desire to write her own obituary to ensure that her life story is told her way. As the two women start collaborating on Lauler’s “life”, the old woman starts to mentor a nine-year-old girl named Brenda (Annjewel Lee Dixon) who ends up accompanying her in pursuing a career as a disc jockey. As Lauler’s project takes place, the

Senior actress Shirley MacLaine (left) and Amanda Seyfried (right) in a movie that centers on hope and empowerment

TV host and celebrity product endorser Luis Manzano

Luis Manzano an ineffective actor

Shirley MacLaine and Amanda Seyfried in

‘THE LAST WORD’ film comes to a heartwarming conclusion, with the characters discovering more about Lauler and themselves on a deeper level than what they originally anticipated.

The Last Word is MacLaine’s first full-length feature film this year. An iconic and legendary Hollywood actress, she is a six-time Academy Award nominee whose aweinspiring career spans almost seven decades. Seyfried, on the other hand, is one of the most accomplished young actresses in Hollywood today whose most memorable works include Mean Girls (2004), Mamma Mia! (2008), and Les Miserables (2012).

A scene from the critically acclaimed drama, "The Last Word"

As a Hollywood newbie, Dixon’s role as the “tough intern” of Lauler is undoubtedly her most challenging role to date.

Pellington seamlessly weaves the individual stories of three generations of women into a cohesive plot centered on hope and empowerment.

Celebrate the miracle of life and be part of the beautiful journey of Harriet, Anne, and Brenda, and be enlightened with the fact that it is never too late to make things right in living a life that no one will ever forget.

The Last Word is showing in cinemas nationwide on March 22.

Man Of The World pageant launched PRIME Event Productions Philippines (PEPPS) promises a great show in the inaugural Man of the World Pageant on July 29 with more than 40 candidates from all over the world competing for the title.

The Manila-based Man of the World Pageant is expected to rival major male pageants including Manhunt International, Mr. International and Mr. World in terms of presentation, objective and advocacy. PEPPS, the owner of Misters of Filipinas, headed by its president Carlo Morris Galang, plans to tie up with the tourism and educational sectors in line with the pageants theme giving importance on the value of education and promoting tourism, and to further uplift the image of male pageantry.

The Man of the World Pageant, as the newest international male pageant, will change the way people look at male pageantry.

The contestants will experience great adventure filled with prestige, glamor and fun, which will take place in the top tourist spots around the Philippines from

July 19-30. The initial Man of the World pageant, in line with its theme “Celebrating Masculinity with Responsibility,” will bring forth a new advocacy, which will emphasize the importance of education and career development.

Man of the World promises a unique experience not only for the candidates but also for the people who will come to watch the pageant.

Like the recent Miss Universe pageant in Manila, Man of the World will leave no stone unturned to promote the best of the Philippines. The Beach Wear Competition photo and video shoots will have the finest beaches in the country to serve as backdrop. All the candidates will visit the country’s finest schools to promote the pageant’s cause.

The opening ceremonies will feature the National Costume Parade and Competition, Press Presentation, Official Sashing Ceremony and Advocacy Ceremony. A series of Fashion Show will highlight the pageants Charity Events and Auction. Two fast-track events, Talent of the

Philippine Man of the World representative Chris Dulagan (second from left)

World and World’s Choice, will also be highly anticipated during the preliminaries.

Misters of Filipinas-Man of the World 2016 Christopher Comicho Dulagan, a 23-year-old, police inspector, is currently in deep preparation as the Philippine representative. Some of the confirmed delegates are Algeria’s Fahd Mike, Brazil’s Anderson

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, March 15, 2017

ACROSS 1 Aberdeen kids 5 Fool 9 Revved the engine 14 Latin 101 word 15 Robust 16 Marry in haste 17 Roman’s IX 18 Whiskey grains 19 Darth of “Star Wars” 20 Hires (2 wds.)

22 Evening gala 24 Slander’s kin 26 Not masc.

27 Harsh-voiced birds 30 Lasts longer 35 Blazing 36 Gentle slope 37 Small drink 38 Vikings org.

39 Bleaches 42 Sugarloaf locale 43 Large lizard 45 Some tennis points 46 Dull sound 48 San Francisco newspaper 50 Graze 51 Trendy 52 Search thoroughly

54 Be half-asleep 57 Most tomatoes 61 Hunt goddess 62 Oahu neighbor 64 Sudden thought 65 Hoops great — Baylor 66 Dogmas 67 Dash 68 Tiny jumpers 69 Big hurry 70 Cellphone button DOWN 1 Fasting period 2 Diva’s melody 3 Wet and chilly 4 Pittsburgh gridder 5 More than aches 6 “War Wagon” star 7 Notre Dame sight 8 Thomas Hardy heroine 9 Go over again 10 Frightened 11 Morse invention 12 Fencing sword 13 “The,” to Wolfgang 21 Tendon

23 Over and over again 25 Hangs around 27 Cooking stove 28 Glue on 29 Lavish country home 31 Makes the most of 32 Item in a quiver 33 Downpours 34 Fire result 36 Saki grain 40 Ranch workers 41 Clean vigorously

44 Smelling salts 47 London trucks 49 Dubuque denizens 50 Youthful 53 Buddies 54 Sour pickle 55 Storm 56 Sheik colleague 58 Out of work 59 Faculty head 60 Hourglass filler 61 Telephone trio 63 Tempe sch.

Tomazini, Canada’s Boo Punzalan, Colombia’s Christian Hernandez, Ghana’s Abdul Nasir Tofik, Iran’s Koushan Zalehizadeh, Malta’s Iven Mercieca, Moldova’s Victor Suiu, Nepal’s Sandeep Pokhrel, Puerto Rico’s Troy Santana, Slovakia’s Marian Babinsky, Spain’s Mark Tarres and Thailand’s Phiratthapong Mooltributis. Eton B. Concepcion

THERE’S one thing that people should consider when reading Luis Manzano’s posts on social media —taking him seriously will not get you anywhere. And that may also be true in real life.

At the recent media launch of the TV host and actor as the new celebrity ambassador for Century Tuna Chilli Corned Tuna, he told everyone that he’s going to do the Avengers Infinity War because the producers were not happy about Robert Downey Jr.’s performance. When he talked about his fitness routine, he boasted that he runs from Manila to Pagudpod just to warm up. And for his next TV project, he said it’s not clear yet because his co-star Piolo Pascual is having difficulty keeping up.

But all these were meant to be a joke, including when he blurted out that it’s perfectly fine if the owners of the brand he’s endorsing wouldn’t pay him for his service.

“You see, people always misinterpret me. But that’s who I am. I joke around. I can’t be too serious. Even when I’m on TV, some viewers think na gwapong gwapo ako sa sarili ko.

I think, there are so many people out there who don’t know the difference between a serious statement and a joke,” Luis told Manila Standard.

The 37-year-old TV host furthered that it’s the same reason why he’s very active on social media giving some online bashers a dose of their own medicine.

“Some people tell me not to waste my time on these netizens, but we have to stop living in a society of victims.

These people will not stop trolling you on social media.

Pag dating sa ganyan patola talaga ako, masama ang ugali ko sa kanila because I wanted to teach them a lesson,” he explained.

When asked about his being one of the busiest television hosts in town, Luis still used his wits in answering the question.

“I’m very thankful that our show is number one show in the Philippines. And The Voice Teens, which I’m going to be hosting is coming up really soon. I am not exactly most effective actor. That’s why ABSCBN is giving me shows that, you know, where I can show my strength which is hosting,” he said.

“I am very fortunate to win a best supporting actor award before. I still wanted to win a best actor award but I know that’s not going to happen. It’s hard to win a best actor award in romcom because Filipinos are used to intense scenes and heavy drama, which I don’t do. Hosting is something very personal. I like talking to my guests. That’s the aspect of hosting that I fell in love with.”

On a serious note, apart from being a sought-after product endorser and television personality, Luis still finds time to pursue his passion. For more than a decade now, he’s been into diving and underwater photography.

“My next goal is to be an instructor because I am already a dive master, from open water and then to advanced. Anilao (Batangas) is one of best in the world. For the next challenge, there’s something about the ocean that I want to share with everyone. What you see from a boat is so limited, there’s so much to see underwater,” he related.

And Luis is glad that Jessy Mendiola, his current inspiration, is also into water sport.

“Jessy is always a water baby. Nagkataon na parehas kame. We both appreciate what’s on the surface and what’s below the ocean,” he said adding that he got close to the former Maria Mercedes star because they’ve been together in so many water activities before.

Since he’s not getting any younger, we asked if he’s planning to settle down anytime soon. He just explained that Jessy also has her own time table and at 24, he knows that she still wants to do a lot of things.

“I wouldn’t mind settling down already. I am not getting any younger. I want to spend time with my soon to be children.

I still wanted to achieve so much more in this industry. I will forever be a student of the game,” he concluded.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017

ISAH V. RED

“I

REALLY wanted to be a professional basketball player,” Derrick Monasterio candidly shares in an interview during the shoot for Blackwater the product he is endorsing.

It’s easy to see why —standing six feet tall with a build that can rival that of professional athletes, he has the traits of one playing for the big leagues, like the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

But fate had directed him somewhere: in 2010, Derrick found himself portraying Rick Montano in the now defunct GMA youthoriented series, Tween Hearts.

He recalls, “I tagged along while my mom (actress Tina Monasterio) who was appearing in a show, when my manager (now) saw me and asked me to do a photo shoot so he could submit the photos to GMA. At that time, they were looking to cast one more guy for a show they were about to launch.” Proving that he inherited his mother’s talent, charisma and persistence in working hard, he clinched the role.

Taking a leap into showbiz was something to be grateful for – Tween Hearts catapulted him to fame. It led him to win Best Male New TV Personality at the 25th Philippine Movie Press Club Awards for TV and be nominated as New Male Recording Artist of the Year at the 60th Filipino Academy o f Movie, Arts, and Sciences (FAMAS). He also earned nominations at the

KAPUSO'S OTHER LEADING MAN. Actor Derrick Monasterio looks back on his humble beginnings

DERRICK MONASTERIO

leaps from athletics to acting Entertainment Press Society (ENPRESS) Golden Awards in the Best Breakthrough Performance by an Actor category. After playing mostly supporting roles, 2016 saw him play the lead in Tsuperhero.

While he enjoys the challenge of acting, he maintains his natural athleticism and love for basketball. A selfconfessed “super human,” he admits that he doesn’t tire easily: “Even at 1 a.m. after taping, or during my rest days, I play

basketball.”

The dedicated fitness buff adds, “I go to the gym every other

day, and I spend about one and a half hours doing workouts that vary from weightlifting to cross fit. But my personal favorites are cardio like burpees and jumping jacks or body weight training. ” Of course, both sports and showbiz demand that he be physically fit, well-groomed, and polished. And being the new face of Blackwater, a brand that caters to men’s personal grooming needs, he stresses the importance of maintaining good personal hygiene: “My daily routine is composed of a shower in the morning and another at night, and putting an ice cube on my face to close my pores.”

Like his dual personality as an actor and athlete, Blackwater also offers fragrances that target his different lifestyles. To keep him smelling good, he says, “While playing or working out, I prefer Blackwater Sports, but when I’m at tapings or attending events I always go for Blackwater Classic.”

Whether he’s portraying a role or playing basketball, Derrick is always grateful for the support he gets, especially from Blackwater.

“This is such a milestone for me because Blackwater’s campaign is to really build up their endorsers,” he says. “I know I am in good hands with them.” *** Multi-talented actress Kris Bernal remains a loyal Kapuso.

for Filipinos to share their stories about being abroad and help fellow Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) cope with their struggles.

Willie got the chance to talk to Lina Villalon, a widower and a “master cutter” in Abu Dhabi, about having no choice but to go overseas to send her four children to school. She proudly shared that all her children are now professionals. A video message of her daughter was flashed onscreen affirming how good Nanay Lina is as a mother.

One of the contestants, Simonette Prendol, used to be a hospital receptionist before she was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer in December. In an interview with Willie, she said that she’d rather go home to her kids but could not do so because she spends most of her savings to her chemotherapy sessions. Willie gave him the signature Wowowin jacket along with a plane ticket and $500 so she can reunite with her family in the Philippines. A member of the audience also went onstage to give her financial help.

As the show concluded, Revillame expressed his gratitude to all GMA Pinoy TV supporters and OSN subscribers in the Middle East who attended their first worldwide tour. “Maraming salamat po sa GMA Pinoy TV, sa tiwala po nila na kami ay nakapagshow para sa inyo… Nandito kami para pasayahin kayo. It’s a reunion ng ating mga Kapuso’t kababayang katulad niyo. It’s a party place, it’s a party day para po sa inyong lahat,” he reiterated. *** GMA Network’s programs and personalities remain the choice of students and educators, taking home once again numerous recognitions from the Holy Angel University (HAU) and the Communicators’ League and the Guild of Educators, Mentors, and Students (GEMS).

At the 4th Paragala Central Luzon Media Awards organized by the HAU and the Communicators’ League, the Kapuso Network earned 10 awards in a ceremony held on Feb. 18 at the Holy Angel University Theater in Pampanga.

On top of winning the ratings game, GMA Flagship newscast 24 Oras once again took home the Best News Program award.

The Best Public Affairs Program award went to I-Witness while the Best Magazine Show went to Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.

Wildlife documentary show Born to be Wild, meanwhile, was named Best Educational Program.

Longest-running investigative program Imbestigador was named Best Investigative Program.

She renewed her ties with GMA Network, Inc. She feels grateful for her strong relationship with GMA through the years, “Eto yung gusto ng puso ko, kung saan ako kumportable, where I feel complete, where I’m satisfied and contented. I’m very thankful na nandito pa rin ako at binigyan ulit ako ng chance.”

After her commendable portrayal of a woman with learning disability in Little Nanay, GMA once again entrusted Kris with another challenging project as she topbills the remake of the successful TV series Impostora where she will play a dual character.

"Wowowin" host Willie Revillame with an Overseas Filipino during “Masaya ako dahil ang ganda- the variety show's world tour in Abu Dhabi ganda ng project na binigay nila sa akin, yung Impostora. Dito The afternoon and evening Arnold Clavio was honored talaga ako mahahasa, at mag-go- shows featured Willie Revillame as this year’s Best Male News grow. Ito na siguro yung pinaka- with co-hosts Donita Nose, Super Anchor for the late-night newscast challenging character para sa akin. Tekla, Kimchi, Ariella Arida, Saksi and morning TV show Sobrang hirap din nung sa Little and Randy Santiago.

Unang Hirit.

Nanay pero at least dun, isa lang The worldwide tour stop in Abu Meanwhile, Dingdong Dantes ang role ko. Eto kasi sa Impostora, Dhabi was a dream come true for was honored as Male Personality pabago-bago ako, hindi lang sa many GMA Pinoy TV subscribers of the Year. acting, sa pananamit din, may in the Middle East who have been Pepito Manaloto won Best prosthetics pa ako and iba’t-ibang clamoring to see their beloved Sitcom while Eat Bulaga took home makeup at look.”

“Kuya Wil” in the flesh. For them, the Best Noontime Show award. *** Willie, through Wowowin, helps Various Kapuso programs and An overwhelming number of cure their homesickness as they personalities were also honored Kapuso fans were at Abu Dhabi are always reminded of home at the 1st GEMS Hiyas ng Sining National Theater to personally whenever they watch the daily Awards on March 1 in Laguna Bel experience Wowowin’s brand of Kapuso show.

Air Science School in Santa Rosa, fun and entertainment on Feb. 17.

The show served as a venue Laguna.

All about exploring in FYI’s March line-up FYI takes you from the home to all over the world with an exciting line-up of home renovation and food and travel shows this March.

Get inspired with awe-inspiring solutions in tiny living - Tiny House Nation at 9 p.m. Thursdays.

From eco-friendly studios to refurbished spaces, Tiny House Nation proves that size doesn’t matter.

Catch hosts John Weisbarth and renovation expert Zack Giffin as the two travel across America to showcase how innovative people live in ingenious homes that make the most out of a limited space. The two also help homeowners to create their own tiny dream homes that has all they need in less than 500 square feet.

Thursdays on FYI give you a taste of new places.

Starting tomorrow, 8 to 11 p.m., it’s Globetrotters and Foodies night. Stay close to home and get a look at our neighboring Asian country with new episodes of Taste of Vietnam season 2. Host Robert Danhi takes us around the country not just to eat but to get

FYI's "Tiny House Nation" proves that size doesn't matter as it provides solutions in tiny living

a deeper understanding of Vietnam’s food and culture as he spends time with locals and goes to unlikely destinations.

Feast your inspiration with us on a culinary journey with a twist - Broke Bites: What The Fung?! and follow the rapping comedian Fung brothers, Andrew and David, as they navigate the United States finding the best meals that will fit in their $50-a-week budget.

Have a sweet ending to cap your Thursdays with The Great Australian Bakeoff. Make sure to grab a snack as you watch 12 amateur bakers compete by producing mouthwatering pastries every week. Everything from the classic baked goods that everyone loves to innovative new recipes that are equally as delicious is sure to get you craving for a sweet treat.

Whether it’s the beauty of a home or the wonder of the world you want to see, FYI has it for you this March.

FYI™ is available on SKYCable Ch 79; Cable Link Ch. 44; Dream Satellite Ch 21.