Manila Standard - 2017 March 17 - Friday

GINA DAMAGING PH REPUTATION, SAYS US FIRM

By David Stringer

VOL. XXXI • NO. 35 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

OCEANAGOLD Corp. is targeting an expansion of its new gold operation in the US amid a dispute between mining companies and President Rodrigo Duterte’s government in the Philippines.

“There has been significant damage done to the reputation of the Philippines as a place to invest, and as a place for foreign investment, and I would put us in that category,” Chief Executive Officer Mick Wilkes said in an interview. “My

investors would now prefer that they had less exposure to the Philippines than more exposure.”

In contrast, the company’s operation in South Carolina already fits in with President Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ ambitions, Wilkes said.

“It’s part of our formula--local hiring, use local businesses, maximize the benefits to the local economy,” he said. About 84 percent of the site’s 314 employees are from the local community, according to a Next page filing this month.

Alvarez sticks to guns on revamp

EU solons press for De Lima’s release

By Maricel V. Cruz

By John Paolo Bencito

SPEAKER Pantaleon Alvarez on Thursday said replacements for ousted deputy speakers and committee chairmen will be based on the nominations of their own respective parties.

Alvarez also said he was not burning his bridges with former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo, who was removed as deputy speaker after she voted against the death penalty bill.

“We are not forcing them. We respect their position to vote against the death penalty in the same manner they should respect our policy,” said Alvarez, who served as Arroyo’s Transportation secretary.

Alvarez said the revamp of key positions in the House of Representatives, directed against those who voted against the

EUROPEAN lawmakers on Thursday called for the “immediate release” of Senator Leila de Lima, who was detained for her alleged involvement in the proliferation of illegal drugs in the New Bilibid Prison when she was Justice Secretary.

But Malacañang told the parliamentarians to respect the circumstances that led to De Lima’s arrest.

In a joint resolution posted on the European Parliament website, the parliamentarians raised a number of issues, including the call for “the immediate release of Senator Leila M. de Lima of the Philippines and to provide her with adequate security whilst in detention.”

The motion also “urges the Filipino authorities to drop all politically-motivated charges against her.”

Next page

MAGNIFICENT ARTISTRY. President

Rodrigo Duterte (left) is assisted by Toyota Matina president Jose Lim III as he leads in unveiling a traditional Japanese helmet, kabuto, which expresses high artistry, during the inauguration Wednesday of TMA in Davao City. At right is Alfred Ty, vice chairman of Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. and chairman of Lexus Manila. Malacañang Photo

Next page

Impeachment bid filed Magdalo accuses Du30 of graft and corruption

Palace men: Destab plan now in play

By Maricel V. Cruz

T

HE Magdalo party-list group on Thursday filed an impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte, accusing him of violation of the Constitution, bribery, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

By John Paolo Bencito, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta MALACAÑANG on Thursday belittled the impeachment case filed against President Rodrigo Duterte, but linked it to Vice President Leni Robredo’s statements before the UN as “part of a bigger scheme” to destabilize the government.

“They’re trying to discredit the administration and trying to throw it in doubt,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella told Palace reporters.

Asked for the possible connection of the impeachment raps with Robredo’s statements before a UN narcotics body, Abella said these might all be part of attempts to destabilize the administration.

“Let’s put it this way. It just seems too well coordinated-events like these seem to be too well coordinated as to just be coincidental,” he added.

Minutes before Abella’s statement, Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano filed an impeachment complaint against Duterte at the House of Representatives Next page

MOTION FOR IMPEACHMENT. Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano holds high for media a copy of the Motion

for Impeachment filed against President Rodrigo Duterte before the House Office of the Secretary General on Thursday. Solicitor Jose Calida says the impeachment motion has no basis. Manny Palmero

Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, an opposition lawmaker, filed the complaint at the Secretary General’s Office at the House of Representatives, saying it could serve as a vehicle for the Filipino people to voice out their disgust over the Duterte administration’s alleged crimes and abuses.

“We believe he should answer for his crimes. We don’t want the people to accept that it is legal to kill in this country,” Alejano said in Filipino.

He added that the filing of the complaint would prove there is no destabilization plot, because Next page

Aussie urges Asean, China to firm up code of conduct

By Othel V. Campos AUSTRALIAN Foreign Minister Julie Bishop urged Southeast Asian nations and China to hasten talks on a legally-binding code of conduct in the South China Sea where China has made sweeping territorial claims that have come under international criticism.

At the start of a two-day visit, Bishop spoke at a forum orga-

nized by the Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute for Strategic and International Studies in Makati City and urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China to soon conclude the code of conduct.

Bishop said the July 2016 ruling of the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration on the case filed by the Philippines

Next page

DFA: Sinos not staking claim on Benham CHINA fully recognized Philippine sovereignty over Benham Rise, according to acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.

It was the first time the acting foreign minister spoke on the issue and reiterated that Beijing notified Manila that they are not claiming ownership of Benham

Rise although they are stressing the right of innocent passage.

The United Nations Commission on the Limits of Continental Shelf recognized Benham Rise in 2012 as an extension of Philippine continental shelf, where Filipinos have exclusive rights to fish and exploit potential resources like

undersea gas and oil.

Benham Rise is a sprawling and potentially resource-rich undersea landmass which no other country is claiming.

He said while DFA is still waiting for an official response from Beijing regarding sightings of Next page

AUSTRALIAN CAMPAIGN. Acting Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo (right) walks with visiting Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on their way to a bilateral meeting at the Department of Foreign Affairs office in Manila Thursday, ahead of a scheduled courtesy call on President Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City before the weekend, seen as part of Australia’s campaign for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. AFP

A2

News

FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Du30 sets visit to Myanmar, Thailand PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled for official visits to Myanmar on March 19 and 20, and then to the Kingdom of Thailand on March 20 to 22 as part of his introductory visits to neighboring Asian countries, the Foreign Affairs Department said Thursday.

“Myanmar and Thailand are the only two remaining countries in the region that the President has not yet visited,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose announced in a pre-departure briefing in Malacañang.

According to Jose, the President of Myanmar himself, U Htin Kyaw, had invited President Duterte to visit the country.

President Duterte is set to hold bilateral talks with President U Htin Kyaw, who will also host an official dinner in honor of the Philippine president.

While in Myanmar, President Duterte will meet other high-level government officials, including State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and Commander-inChief of Defense Services, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

The President will also touch base with the Filipino community in Nay Pyi Taw, the capital of Myanmar, which is home to approximately 1,800 Filipinos.

“During these occasions, the President makes it a point to apprise our countrymen about his administration’s priority programs and developments in the Philippines,” the DFA spokesman said.

Data from the Embassy show that many Filipinos are employed in foreign firms and international organizations.

Palace...

From A1

and accused the President of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, bribery and other high crimes in relation to the government’s war on drugs.

Vice President Leni Robredo, meanwhile, raised before a UN gathering in Austria that the Philippine National Police was detaining innocent people in a “palitulo” [exchange heads] scheme, which substituted a missing drug suspect with a relative.

Abella denied that Duterte committed any impeachable offense, as his critics claim.

“First and foremost, no treason, betrayal of trust, bribery, graft and corruption, high crime and culpable violation of the Constitution have been committed,” he said.

“We reiterated that extra—the so-called extrajudicial [killings] are not state-sponsored and the President has made sure that he will not turn a blind eye to all uniformed personnel who violate and abuse their power.”

“No one is truly above the law not even the President but the administration upholds due process and is ready for the consequences of its actions that takes consideration above all the interests of the

Alvarez...

From A1

death penalty bill, will continue when Congress resumes session in May. Congress adjourns March 17 for a Lenten break. It will resume session in May. On Wednesday night, the House leadership declared vacant

EU...

From A1

The lawmakers urged a close monitoring of Senator De Lima’s case and the efforts to help the government in “upholding its international human rights obligations, notably through the Framework Agreement.”

The European Parliament is the legislative body of the European Union.

Parliamentarians Barbara Lochbihler, Maria Heubuch, Heidi Hautala, Ernest Urtasun, Igor Soltes, Davor Skrlec Bronis Rope, and Bodil Valero filed a motion calling for a resolution from the European Parliament

Air strikes, troopers attack foreign terrorist-led group

By Francisco Tuyay

A two-hour air strike by rocket-firing attack planes hit a terrorist stronghold, followed by intense clashes between army troopers and the terrorists in Barangay Tee, which reportedly resulted in a still undetermined number of casualties.

Captain Arvin Encinas, Chief Public Affairs Office of the Ar-

my’s 6th Infantry Division based in Camp Siongco, Maguindanao, said the assault was launched after reports indicated the presence of two terrorists—Salahudin Hassan, alias “Bungos,” a local bomber and Abu Toraype, alias Muawiya, a foreign terrorist leader linked to the Jemaah Islamiya.

Encinas said that Bungos, a known Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter leader, was responsible for several Improvised Explosive Device bombings in Central Mindanao that inflicted casualties on both civilians and government troops while damaging private properties.

Muawiya, on the other hand, was previously allied with the group of the late Abdul Basit Usman, a top bomber and head of the Special Operations Group of the BIFF and the now deceased Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan.

Marwan was killed on Jan. 15, 2015 after the police’s Special Action Force assaulted his safehouse under Oplan “Exodus” in

Impeachment... impeachment is a constitutional process for ousting a sitting president.

“It is time for President Duterte to answer for his crimes against the country,” he added.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez laughed off the impeachment complaint.

“We are all entitled to our own stupidity,” Alvarez told a television interview.

Alvarez doubted that the complaint would prosper not only because of the composition of the supermajority coalition in the House, but because he believed the complaint was insufficient in substance.

“Let’s not talk about the num-

bers anymore. Let’s just talk about the substance. I don’t think this would pass in terms of substance,” Alvarez said.

In the 16-page impeachment complaint, Alejano said Duterte committed high crimes of bribery, multiple murder and crimes against humanity when he adopted a state policy of inducing policemen, other law enforcemet authorities, and vigilante groups into the extrajudicial killings of more than 8,000 persons who were merely suspected of being drug offenders.

Alejano said in his impeachment complaint that Duterte is not fit for the presidency for his alleged involvement in multiple murder as the alleged mastermind of the Davao Death Squad.

He also said that Duterte committed graft and corruption with

the hiring of 11,000 ghost employees when he was still a mayor of Davao City.

Alejano said Duterte must be held answerable for his unexplained wealth and for allegedly having numerous secret bank accounts worth P2.207 billion and properties that he failed to declare in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth.

Alejano said the impeachment complaint did not yet include the issue on Benham Rise.

Alejano, a a former navy officer, earlier said President Duterte could have committed an impeachable offense for allowing Chinese presence last year in Benham Rise, which is part of the Philippines.

“Having committed all these acts, respondent Rodrigo Roa Duterte has not only committed

Filipino people.”

Abella said the President “is ready for the consequences of his actions” and will “uphold due process.”

“Let them talk and pursue what they want to happen,” he said in Filipino.

Abella added that Duterte will not intervene in the affairs of the House of Representatives, when pressed further if the Chief Executive will influence the lawmakers regarding their position on the complaint.

“The President always allows his allies to act independently. He has never manipulated [them] in that sense,” he said.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Thursday said the complaint had no factual and legal basis and said he was confident it would not prosper.

“The allegations in the complaint are not anchored on concrete solid evidence that would support findings of any of the enumerated grounds for impeachment,” Aguirre said.

Like Abella, he said impeachment complaint could be part of a wider plot to destabilize the administration.

“This impeachment complaint was nothing but filed in aid of destabilization,” he said.

Aguirre said President Duterte is not at all alarmed by the filing

of the impeachment complaint, and would continue doing what is good for the country and the Filipino people.

Solicitor General Jose Calida echoed Aguirre’s position, even as he accused Alejano of acting like a puppet for Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a known critic of the President.

“Representative Alejano is a toady of his braggart patron, Senator Trillanes. They are not even in the league of Don Quixote so this impeachment won’t fly. It will crash like a rudderless plane flown by witless pilots,” Calida said.

Duterte holds majority support in the House, where a vote of onethird of all members is needed to transmit the complaint to the Senate for trial.

The impeachment complaint drew mixed reactions in the Senate.

In a text message to reporters, Senator Panfilo Lacson said the Magdalo party-list group “should not be criticized much less mocked” for filing a complaint against the President as they are only abiding by the constitutional process of unseating a chief executive.

“At least this time they are not engaging in another Oakwood type of adventure,” Lacson said, referring to the mutiny of 2003, when Trillanes, Alejano and more than 300 soldiers took over the

Oakwood serviced apartment tower in Makati to topple the Arroyo administration.

“Now, whether or not the move will get the one-third votes of congressmen required to impeach the president is another matter,” Lacson said.

He added that another hurdle would be the Senate where at least 16 of 24 sitting senators must vote to convict.

“All I can say is, without necessarily associating myself with them in the matter of impeaching [President Duterte], my simple message is, good luck to them,” he added.

Lacson had earlier accused Trillanes of being part of destabilization efforts to oust Duterte.

He said Trillanes was the handler of Edgar Matobato and retired SPO3 Arthr Lascañas who said Duterte formed the Davao Death Squad, which he used to execute suspected criminals, personal enemies and political opponents when he was still mayor of Davao City.

Senator JV Ejercito said there was no compelling reason to file an impeachment complaint against the President at this time.

“This is not the right time for this impeachment complaint.

When will we ever move forward if we have ouster moves like these?” the senator said.

the position of deputy speaker for Central Luzon, the post held by Arroyo, and 11 other committee chairpersons.

Alvarez said that so far only Sorsogon Rep. Evelina Escudero, who sat as chairman of the House committee on basic education and culture, has been replaced.

Her position will be taken over by Cebu Rep. Ramon Durano.

Alvarez said other parties have

submitted several names as possible replacements to those who would be affected by the revamp so the House leadership is still in the process of evaluating the list to determine the most suitable candidates.

In a statement, Arroyo expressed thanks for the opportunity to serve as House deputy speaker and vowed to continue her support for Duterte and Alvarez.

Alvarez also allayed concerns

the policy he laid down in connection with the death penalty bill has eroded the independence of the House from Malacañang.

“That is a leadership-sponsored bill, and if you are part of the leadership, I think they must support the leadership. If they refuse to support the leadership, then we will find somebody who will support us,” Alvarez said.

With John Paolo Bencito

A

GROUP of terrorists led by a Malaysian jihadist reportedly suffered several casualties after military fighter planes pounded their position at the hinterlands of Datu Salibo town in Maguindanao on Monday.

From A1

decrying De Lima’s detention.

De Lima’s case will be included in the agenda of the European Parliament, which will also zero in on the breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

The parliamentarians noted that the Philippines and the European Union have longstanding diplomatic, economic, cultural and political relations.

But the parliamentarians resolved to call on the European Union to “support the establishment at the UN Human Rights Council of an independent international investigation into the unlawful killings and other violations by the Philippines in the context of President Duterte’s ‘war on drugs.’”

DFA:...

From A1

research ships in Benham Rise, China sent a word recognizing Philippine sovereign rights over the area.

“That is what we need to clarify with Beijing but China has already informed us that they do recognize our sovereignty rights and they are not disputing Benham Rise,” Manalo pointed out.

“The Benham Rise is within our extended continental shelf, which means we do have the sovereign rights to exploit its resources.”

The chief envoy stressed that China “never sought permission” for Chinese research vessels to stay in Philippine waters.

Manalo said that the Philippines has already sought clarification on why Chinese vessels were spotted slowly maneuvering within the Exclusive Economic Zone, east part of Luzon.

“For us, as long as we are recognized, we have a sovereign right, that’s already a very important admission,” he noted.

According to Manalo, if China’s purpose is to make a research on Benham Rise, the first thing to do is to seek permission to the host country.

He added that it only becomes suspicious when their research vessel accompanied by their coast guard and navy ships were spotted in a distance moving in a slow pace. PNA

the marshland of Guindalungan, Maguindanao which resulted in a bloody clash that killed 44 SAF members.

Encinas, however, said the two terrorist leaders were able to escape at the height of the air strikes and artillery shelling, but added that army troops are now in hot pursuit of the terrorist group.

Encinas said the terrorist group suffered an undetermined number of casualties based on civilian accounts.

“The civilians saw some of the casualties being carried away by the fleeing terrorists,” Encinas said, but added that they have yet to validate the exact number of casualties on the terrorists’ side. He said the government

side did not suffer any casualty or injury during the fighting.

The troopers later recovered four IEDs and three pressuretype bombs which were detonated by the military’s Explosive Ordnance team.

The air strikes, Encinas said, was made to deter and weaken the capabilities of the enemies fighting government troops.

“The focus of the military ooperations has to do with the mandate of the 6th ID to protect the people and secure the community the best way they can against the local and foreign terror groups that would hanper peace and order situation in Central Mindanao,” he said.

graft and corruption and other high crimes, which constitute specific grounds for his impeachment from office, he has also brought disrepute on the Presidency, and has acted in a manner subversive of the rule of law and justice, to manifest injury of the people of the Republic of the Philippines,” Alejano said in his complaint.

House Majority Floor Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said “it has turned out that the Senate hearing on the alleged DDS was a preview or dry run of the impeachment complaint.”

“I cannot imagine how Representative Alejano can state under oath in paragraph 3 of the Verification of his complaint that ‘I/ We hereby confirm and affirm that the material allegations made therein are true of my/our own

knowledge and as culled from authentic records’,” Fariñas said.

“The allegations made in the complaint are obviously not of his own knowledge since most of them are palpably hearsay either from what he read or saw on the news or from tales of Senator [Antonio] Trillanes [IV].

“Finally, most of the allegations were allegedly committed when President Duterte was mayor or vice mayor. An official is impeached for acts committed in his present office. Since the allegations made while he was mayor were widely publicized and known by the voters when they elected him as President, the clear mandate given to him by the people has to be respected. This is the jurisprudence even with respect to elected or reelected local officials,” Fariñas said.

Gina...

From A1

Duterte’s Environment Secretary Regina Lopez wants to close 23 of the 41 metal mines in the Philippines, and suspend a further five, including Melbourne-based OceanaGold’s Didipio gold and copper operation. The government’s actions will likely be a deterrent to additional project spending

by OceanaGold as well as other foreign miners and businesses, Wilkes said.

OceanaGold, the fourth-largest Australian gold producer by market value, last month filed an appeal against the suspension order and is continuing production as normal from Didipio, among the world’s lowest cost gold mines.

It’s committed to retaining the asset and supports the nation’s efforts to improve the mining sector, Wilkes said. Lopez argues the industry damages the environment and typically fails to do enough to alleviate poverty in local communities.

Lawmakers ended a confirmation hearing Tuesday on Lopez without reaching a decision, prolonging uncertainty over her plans to close mines with a next hearing likely in May. A separate government review of mines threatened with closure or suspension could take as long as

Aussie...

From A1

against China can form the basis of that code of conduct.

At the same time, Bishop pushes for financial reforms in the Philippines to support fair competition among local and foreign industries.

“We are working with the Philippines with the development of a competition policy to ensure efficient and fair market competition for businesses engaged in trade and industries,” she said.

As such, the Australian official reaffirmed its commitment to support the initiatives of the Philippine Competition Commission to implement public financial reforms.

A key element of AustraliaPhilippine economic partnership is focused on “working together to develop Mindanao as a major economic center.”

In addition, Australia is also batting for equal opportunities for 280 Australian companies operating in the Philippines.

Bishop is optimistic that more

three months, Wilkes said in the interview Wednesday.

First gold was poured at OceanaGold’s Haile operation in South Carolina, where the company has the backing of key local officials, including Nikki Haley, now US Ambassador to the United Nations and previously the state’s governor, according to Wilkes.

“It’s certainly an easier place to operate and we have got a strong relationship with the government and the community there, that bodes well for the future,” Wilkes said. OceanaGold expects Haile to produce about 150,000 to 170,000 ounces of gold in 2017 and is targeting an expansion to lift annual output to as much as 250,000 ounces after 2020.

Wilkes also expects to maintain production levels in New Zealand, where the company has two operations, supporting total annual output for the producer of 500,000 ounces to 600,000 ounces through 2030, he said.

OceanaGold advanced 4.8 percent to A$3.97 in Sydney trading Thursday after the US Fed raised its benchmark rate as inflation approaches a 2 percent target.

The producer has fallen 9 percent since the Philippines first announced plans to suspend some mines last September.

With John Paolo Bencito, Rey E. Requejo, Bloomberg Australian companies will consider the Philippines a stable site for their investments in the future.

“Australia and the Philippines are experiencing exciting and interesting times. When we enter into a fiveyear action plan we agreed to work together on strategic matters,” she said.

Two-way trade figures between the Philippines and Australia doubled since 2010 to A$3.9 billion in 2016 from A$1.5 billion seven years ago.

As of 2016, investments by Australian companies amounted A$10 billion.

Employment by Australian firms operating from and in the Philippines have reached more than 30,000 Filipinos.

Australia have previously voiced out concerns on mining policies that has negatively impacted Australian miners and affected the entire industry also.

A request is still pending with the Environment Department to allow Australia to showcase sustainable mining models used by the Australian mining industry to Philippine government officials and to willing Philippine miners.

News

A3

FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Senators laud scrapping of OFWs airport terminal fees

Duterte to reappoint 4 bypassed appointees

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

By John Paolo Bencito

SENATORS Cynthia Villar and Nancy Binay welcomed the signing of the memorandum of agreement scrapping the payment of airport terminal fees by overseas Filipino workers and other persons exempted by the law.

The Manila International Airport Authority and representatives from 40 air carriers signed the agreement at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

Under the agreement, OFWs and other exempted persons will not have to pay the P550 International Passenger Service Charge (IPSC), or the P200 Domestic Passenger Service Charge (DPSC) upon faceto-face purchase of tickets here or abroad starting April 30, 2017.

Exemption for online ticket purchase will start on July 31, 2017.

“This is a welcome development, a step in the direction of streamlining the processes our OFWs have to go through at our airports. It has always been my position that the integration of terminal fees in plane tickets doesn’t have to be done in a way that will inconvenience and violate the rights of our OFWs,” Villar said.

Binay, on the other hand, considered it a “welcome relief” to OFWs who have had to trade time which could have been spent with their loved ones to earn a living in other countries.

“This is no joke—the P550 terminal fee ehich is an added burden to our OFWs...This fee should never have been shouldered by them in the first place,” Binay said.

In 2015, Binay said the integration of the IPSC in airline tickets was a disservice to OFWs, prompting her to file in 2015 a Senate resolution which called for an investigation on the issue.

The IPSC integration was moved to Nov. 1, 2014 from Oct. 1, 2014 after the Pasay Regional Trial Court temporarily stopped its collection from OFWs. The fee was included in airline tickets of the Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific on Feb. 1, 2015.

CBCP, others in efforts to stop death reimposition

By Vito Barcelo THE Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and anti-death advocates vowed to exert efforts to stop the reimposition of the capital punishment, by courting senators to oppose the bill which hurdled the Lower House in an overwhelming 216-24 vote.

CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care executive secretary Rodolfo Diamante said there was no room for complacency after Congress passed the measure.

The CBCP and the coalition of various groups are working against the reimposition of the death penalty to win the battle at the Senate.

The strategies include talking to senators individually to lobby against the passage of the measure, especially to the 16 senators identified as either in favor or still undecided.

“We might be able to get some of them…

We just need to talk and appeal to them,” Diamante said.

The Anti-Death Penalty Task Force of the Free Legal Assistance Group of the Philippines (FLAG) already listed at least eight senators who openly signified they would oppose the bill.

The list includes Senators Bam Aquino, Leila de Lima, Franklin Drilon, Francis Escudero, Riza Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan, Ralph Recto, and Antonio Trillanes.

On the other hand, the legislators in favor of the death penalty are Alan Peter Cayetano, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Manny Pacquiao, Tito Sotto, and Joel Villanueva.

Based on the list, there are 10 lawmakers whose positions are still unknown.

They are Senators Juan Edgardo Angara, Nancy Binay, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Richard Gordon, Loren Legarda, Aquilino Pimentel, Grace Poe-Llamanzares, Cynthia Villar and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Diamante said the list was based only on their previous positions, votes on abolition of capital punishment, recent public pronouncements, and on the assessment of the Task Force last June 2016.

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will be giving another ad-interim appointment to the four remaining Cabinet secretaries who were once more bypassed by the powerful Commission on Appointments despite strong opposition to their confirmation, the Palace said Thursday.

Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael tary Regina Lopez and Health SecreMariano, Social Welfare Secretary tary Paulyn Ubial once again failed Judy Taguiwalo, Environment Secre- to secure a confirmation from the CA

with Congress taking a break starting March 17.

With the CA’s three-strike rule, this will be the last time that Duterte can give an ad-interim appointment to the four officials, as the CA needs to render final verdict before the President’s next State of the Nation Address.

“The President’s trust and confidence in the Cabinet secretaries bypassed remain undiminished,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.

“We expect that they will be reappointed to continue serving their

posts,” he added.

Of the four officials, Lopez faces the fiercest opposition after her closure orders against 23 mining companies and abrogation of 75 mineral production sharing agreements.

The decision to bypass Lopez was made during an executive caucus of the CA committee on environment and natural resources chaired by Senator Manny Pacquiao, after a briefing given

by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, who co-chairs the Mining Industry Coordinating Council with Lopez.

A4

Opinion

FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

The China card

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s pivotal shift to China is reaping dividends in the economic front.

Chinese businessmen on Wednesday signed an agreement to purchase $1.7 billion worth of Philippine goods such as fruits, fisheries, chemicals and mineral products, as a follow-up to Duterte’s landmark visit to China in October.

The pledge to buy more Philippine products on top of current shipments to China is long overdue on the part of the world’s second-biggest econ-

Adelle Chua, Editor

omy. The trade between the countries is lopsided in favor of China. The Philippines exported $6.175 billion worth of goods to China while im-

porting $11.47 billion worth in 2015.

China Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua acknowledged the trade imbalance, noting that it was the first time China asked its businessmen to directly purchase goods from another country.

The arrangement is the first-of-its-kind in Southeast Asia.

Having China as a major trading partner is obviously a big advantage to the Philip-

pines. China’s huge population is an attractive market, especially for Filipino farmers. China this early has expressed interest to buy durian, avocado, banana, pineapple, coconut, mango, dragon fruit, mangosteen, marang, cacao, rice and coffee from the Philippines.

Meeting the market demand of China, however, will not be easy given the weak state of Philippine agri-

culture and poor infrastructure in the rural areas. The Philippines has not built a modern agriculture sector that can match the efficiency and production levels of Thailand.

Fishermen in the countryside, for instance, are forced to sell their produce to the middlemen due to the lack of storage facilities, hampering their productivity. The lack of practical credit facilities

to fund agricultural operations has remained a problem, while farm-to-market roads are not that developed to encourage increased production.

President Duterte should revisit the agriculture sector and make it a priority to modernize the country’s farming methods.

The Philippines could waste the trade opportunity if it fails to deliver the goods that China has ordered.

PENSEES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO

Ric Saludo and the death penalty

the legal predicate for filing charges against the President in venues outside the country, like the International Criminal Court. Because Duterte cannot be legally removed except by impeachment, Alejano, his puppet-master Trillanes and the rest know that they do not even have to win in a House vote to impeach the President.

Duterte’s opponents only need to prove that they exhausted the legal processes to remove him.

The international busybodies, their agencies and tribunals, they hope, will take it from there and do what they cannot. *** Of course, the people who want Duterte removed have long understood that their usual methods of pressure politics will not work with this President.

This was the lesson they learned when they opposed the burial of the late President Ferdinand Marcos and during the recent anniversary of their “people

RIC Saludo is one writer I have long respected—and frequently read. And he has just written on a topic that seems to be as lethal in the debate it has engendered as in its implementation: the death penalty. Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was terribly vilified, most of the time, precipitously and unjustly to my mind. But how many so far have applauded the courage of her convictions—giving up the deputy speakership of the Chamber to be able to vote a resounding “no” to the death penalty measure? The same tribute is due to those who were made aware of the political costs of voting against the bill—and still chose to do so!

Ric starts his column rather provocatively: citing a catena of ecclesiastical authority that does teach the moral permissibility of the death penalty.

Then he raises the crucial questions and urges us—the legislators particularly—to be more studious, assiduous and sincere about asking the questions that must be raised and finding convincing answers to them before oiling the death machine once more!

Indeed, traditional Church catechism taught about “just wars” and society’s “defense of itself” in inflicting the death penalty against unrepentant and virulent offenders.

Sometimes, the argument toed the “whole—part” line: “cortar por lo sano”: severing the diseased part in order to save the whole. Fortunately though, the Church matures—goaded by the Spirit—and is able to rethink its position on different moral issues: the death penalty among them.

When one argues that the death penalty is the only satisfactory “expiation” for grievous crimes—those that Philippine penal law classifies as “heinous”—how does one distinguish that from revenge that an evolved moral sense prescribes? In fact, there is every reason to argue that the system of law and the institution of courts in the context of crime and punishment have, as a distinct end, the emplacement of a “rational distance” between offense and penalty so that the

Turn to A5

Turn to A5

Leni crosses the line LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES SH—T just got real, as they say.

And soon there will be hell to pay.

You could say that the political opposition to the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is not acting in concert and according to a more or less well-thought-out game plan and a predetermined schedule. But you could be wrong.

Yesterday, Vice President Leni Robredo gave a pre-recorded videotaped speech before the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, Austria. Robredo attacked Duterte’s tough anti-drug campaign in a foreign forum, thus opening herself up to criticism that she was “taking the fight against the President” to the UN. Back in Manila, a party-list

congressman identified closely with high-profile Duterte critic Senator Antonio Trillanes, Magdalo’s Gary Alejano, filed the very first impeachment complaint against the President.

Among other alleged crimes, Alejano accused Duterte of killing drug suspects wholesale as president since the middle of last year and also as mayor of Davao City for more than two decades earlier, as the prime mover of the so-called Davao Death Squad.

As Robredo was making statements before a UN body that could be made a basis for her impeachment on the grounds of betrayal of public trust and even economic sabotage, Trillanes’ Congress stooge started the process of removing Duterte by impeaching him. It could be coincidental – but you’d have to be really naive not to see the two separate actions by Duterte’s critics as part of the ongoing and long-running campaign to remove the President.

Robredo, Trillanes, Senator

Leila de Lima (before she was thrown into detention) and their confreres, of course, have been attacking Duterte from Day One of his presidency, with little success. But yesterday’s escalation

Robredo had better be prepared to face the consequences of escalating her fight with Duterte.

of the oust-Duterte campaign shows just how desperate the opposition has become because of how little traction their previous

efforts have been getting.

First of all, I don’t think Robredo can be accused of not knowing what she was doing when she agreed to blast Duterte before a UN conference.

She must have understood that by taking her political battle to an international forum, she could have betrayed the trust placed in her that she will uphold the Constitution and submit to duly constituted authority as the second-highest official in the land.

And she must have realized that her speech, based on unverified rumor and innuendo and not on official documents or statistics, could have endangered the Philippines’ prospects for aid and investments, thus making it an economic crime, as well. Even Robredo, who is no genius, must have known that.

Second, as far as Alejano’s impeachment complaint is concerned, Duterte’s opponents seem hell-bent on laying

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

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

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

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

ManilaStandard

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

ONLINE MEMBER

PPI

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

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

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor City Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Adelle Chua Honor Blanco Cabie Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion Editor Night Editor Art Director Chief Photographer

Opinion BACK CHANNEL

Conscience vote They might wish to hearken back to a certain itinerant Jewish preacher from two thousand years ago: Stick your neck out for the poor and powerless.

Walk your talk. *** Here’s the second part of Mrs Arroyo’s statement: “I thank the President for his expression of understanding late last year regarding my position on the issue. I also thank the Speaker for the honor of having served as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. It meant much to me. As a plain Congresswoman I will continue to do all I can to support both President Duterte and Speaker Alvarez.”

If the first part may be called principle, this second part is simple statesmanship. Hopefully the substantial minority of congressmen whose loyalty she enjoys will heed her example and continue to hold the line against bigger battles ahead.

The next battle coming up is about comprehensive tax reform (HB 4774 and HB 4888).

This was no less than item 2 on the President’s original 10-point economic agenda.

People may recall that the EVAT reforms under former President Arroyo in 2005 reversed the decline in our fiscal health and credit ratings and set the stage for practically irreversible macroeconomic stability. The current tax reform bills, with their focus on financing infrastructure and human capital investment as well as transferring wealth from rich to poor, may have even fartherreaching impact.

And yet, even now, resistance to reform is already building up.

In the House, the ways and means committee, although chaired by the bill’s sponsor Congressman Dax Cua, has punted the bill over to a technical working group.

This may or may not be a dilatory move; let us see.

Within the President’s own official family, the DSWD has publicly complained that its conditional cash transfers program will no longer be enough to offset the higher prices of goods expected due to the excise taxes provided by the bill.

This is simply an incomplete complaint based on what is only a partial reading of the bill. It is clearly not worth violating protocol and publicly breaking ranks with the President, whose alter ego the heads of DSWD and every other Cabinet agency are nothing but. *** Today it’s tax reform. Tomorrow it will be charter change, with federalism and economic liberalization at the top of the agenda. If anything, that will be an even bigger battle.

We don’t envy the Speaker the challenges facing him. With or without what must have been the able deputy-ship of Mrs. Arroyo, we must wish him well. There is a lot more at stake here than the fortunes—or consciences—of individual politicians, no matter how senior they might be.

There is a lot more at stake here than the fortunes—or consciences— of individual politicians, no matter how senior they might be.

Leni...

From A4 power” revolution.

The people will not stand for the remove-Duterte nonsense constantly emanating from Robredo, Trillanes and their gang.

And they can see that this shift in strategy—from inciting them

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

to inciting gullible foreign agencies and tribunals— is a desperate attempt to leave them out of the political equation.

The people have learned not to allow the elites to rob their chosen leaders of the mandate to rule that they have been given. Their response to the incessant attacks on the President they have made

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Weakening Mighty

FORMATION GARY OLIVAR

HERE’S the first part of Rep. Gloria Arroyo’s brief statement after being ousted the other day from the deputy speakership of the House for voting against the President’s death penalty bill: “The issue of the death penalty is unlike any other, in that it touches the core of each person’s fundamental view of human life. I believe that the issue required a vote based solely on conscience and the deepest of personal convictions. Thus, despite my support for President Duterte and Speaker Alvarez, I voted against House Bill No. 4727.”

It was a conscience vote, and she willingly paid the political price for it. This is just another rule of the game for veteran politicians like Mrs. Arroyo—or the President or the Speaker for that matter—although the degree of conviction she brought to this issue remains admirable. *** Me, as I’ve written here before, I’m much more sanguine than she is about the death penalty. Before the God of mercy so beloved by Pope Francis, there was first, and still is, the God of justice who stands for a simple proposition: Do good, punish the evil.

As recently as under Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, that earlier Holy Father declared that while Church opposition to abortion and euthanasia is nonnegotiable, there is still room for the faithful to disagree about the death penalty.

As we all know by now, the Philippine Church has aggressively declared itself against that penalty.

So aggressively, in fact, that a prayer against the death penalty has temporarily supplanted the “prayers of the faithful” at Mass; Catholic schools routinely display streamers against it; and the most outspoken bishops all but mention the President’s name when inveighing against it.

Which brings me to my question: Having entered so obtrusively into the public commons, how far are the bishops willing to go with what they started?

With Mrs. Arroyo now publicly taking their side, will the CBCP president, Archbishop Soc Villegas—who’s never bothered to hide his sympathies for the Yellow crowd—come out to praise her for this? If His Grace doesn’t, should we begin to wonder about the purity of his intentions whenever we hear his anti-administration statements being read from the pulpit at Mass?

The same question is raised on a different but related issue: The refusal of the Church to accept the PNP’s invitation to join them on their house-tohouse visits under the renewed and improved Oplan Tokhang Part 2.

General Bato has repeated his invitation, imploring the Church to send, if not priests, then any other representatives they wish. Instead, the bishops have decided to join the Yellowled Commission on Human Rights in sniping at the administration from the sidelines.

FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017

ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO THE full force of the law will bear down on Mighty Cigarette Corp.

This was made clear by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III who said the bigselling cigarette company must pay no less than P12 billion for allegedly using fake tax stamps on its products. The Bureau of Internal Revenue and Customs discovered the spurious stamps during lightning raids on Mighty’s two warehouses in San Simon, Pampanga and General Santos in Mindanao.

The raiding BIR teams were able to secure documents that the two warehouses were leased by the Mighty Corp. owners.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said he wanted Mighty to pay P30 billion to settle its tax evasion case. But Secretary Dominguez said the cigarette firm must first pay the penalty of P12 billion to avoid pros-

ecution. In other words, pay the penalty first, then talk settlement later. The settlement for the confiscated goods and the use of fake tax stamps, however, does not expunge Mighty owners of criminal liability, according to Dominguez. The guilty parties may still end up in jail if found guilty by the proper court. Mighty is represented by high-profile lawyer Sigfrid Fortun.

The 10 times rule of tax liability is provided for under the tax code or the National Internal Revenue Code of the Philippines.

The tax evasion case is a reversal of fortune for the Wong Chuking family owners of Mighty which had gained a sizable share of the domestic market.

The BIR raid in Pampanga and Mindanao yielded 36.2 million packs of Mighty and Marvel cigarettes with fake tax stamps with an estimated value of nearly P2 billion. At an excise tax of P30 per pack, this will translate to P1.2 billion in potential taxes lost to the government.

Section 263 of the Internal Revenue Code is clear on the unlawful possession or removal of articles subject to excise tax without payment of the corresponding tax: “Any person who is found in possession of locally manufactured articles subject to excise tax, the tax on which have not been paid in accordance with law, or any person who is found in possession of such articles which are exempt from excise tax other than those to whom the same is lawfully issued shall be punished with a fine of not less than 10 times the amount of excise tax due on the articles found but not less than P500 and suffer imprisonment of not less than two years but not more than four years.”

Ouch, that hurts.

It’s now up to Mighty to settle the excise tax that should have been paid to government. Or for Mighty lawyer Fortun to fight the case in court. The Wong Chuking family will have to weigh the cost of paying a fortune to Fortun in a long-drawn hearing or settle now. If they do, perhaps they can recover

the huge tax liability they have to pay and then just recoup their losses by continuing business as usual. But by paying and using the right genuine excise tax stamps, of course.

Trillanes is the next target Going by the words of presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo, administration critic Senator Antonio Trillanes IV could be the next target of Malacañang.

“Constantly criticizing and attacking the President without presenting evidence will make the people hate Duterte. This is tantamount to sedition and is punishable by imprisonment,” said Presidential Legal Counsel Salavador Panelo.

Trillanes, however, is unfazed by the threat of Panelo as he dares him to just do it and bring it on.

Panelo is also studying filing a case against Trillanes for harboring a criminal like Arturo Lascañas who testified at a Senate hearing that Duterte is involved in the extrajudicial killings of hundred of suspects in Davao when he was the city mayor.

The battle among San Miguel, SM and Ayala and expanded production of the old core businesses.

The result: A dramatic rise in profits (P52 billion in 2016) and unheard of revenues (P685 billion). In 2016, SMC’s fuel subsidiary alone, Petron Corp. grew profits by 73 percent to P10.8 billion despite revenues dipping 5 percent to P343.8 billion, thanks to a three-year $2-billion refinery upgrade completed just last year.

Beer profits, meanwhile, bubbled 31 percent to P17.7 billion on the back of 18 percent revenue growth to P97.2 billion. Had SMC not expanded exponentially, its revenues would have been at the level of its beer sales – P100 billion a year. SMC would be only 32nd largest in sales (the Puregold sales in 2015), and not No. 1 as it is today.

“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,” gushed Petron president and CEO Ramon S. Ang. Ayala and SMIC have been relegated to playing catch-up.

Ayala’s P26-billion profits are only half of San Miguel’s P52 billion; SMIC’s P31.2-billion profits are only 60 percent of SMC’s.

Ayala‘s P237 billion revenues are 34.5 percent of SMC’s P685 billion; SMIC’s P332.8 billion sales are 48.5 percent of SMC’s.

Ayala is now changing gears. It wants to grow big, really big. It is entering new businesses—power, health care, education, industrial technologies, and the internet of things, like online commerce, ala Amazon.com. In the 1980s, Ayala tried internet commerce.

The business fizzled out.

The Ayala group is increasing its capital expenditures this 2017 by 13 percent to a record P185

billion, to support growth strategies for its real estate, telecommunications, and water units and ramp up its emerging businesses in power, industrial technologies, healthcare, and education.

Ayala Land gets P88-billion capex mainly to bankroll the completion of its residential, office for sale and leasing projects.

Globe Telecom is allocated P37.5 billion data network infrastructure upgrades, including for deployment of LTE mobile and home broadband, expansion of network capacities and coverage, and enhancement of corporate data services.

Ayala will also deploy P21 billion for expansion plans of its power unit, AC Energy. Manila Water gets P20 billion to support Manila operation and expand outside Metro Manila.

The rest of the capex will be deployed across AC Industrials, Bank of the Philippine Islands, AC Health, and AC Education.

“The aggressive capital spending we have programmed this year reflects the Ayala group’s continued optimism in the domestic environment,” says Ayala chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala. “While we remain mindful of macroeconomic indicators that may affect the overall business landscape, our business units continue to perform well and carry out their strategic direction for 2020,” Zobel notes.

Ayala hopes to double its net income by 2020 to P50 billion (San Miguel’s level now), on strong growth projections in its core businesses in real estate, banking, telecommunications, and water as well as emerging businesses in power and industrial technologies.

For its part, SMIC has allocated P73-billion capex for 2017 to finance the expansion of its property, retail and banking businesses.

Of the P73 billion, P62.7 billion is for property unit SM Prime Holdings Inc. to build new malls, office, hotels and residential units; P5.2 billion is for its retail business to open new stores and renovate existing one and P5 billion for BDO and China Bank, for brand expansion and IT enhancement projects.

“Our core businesses performed well and continue to grow in line with the country’s strong economic development. We are optimistic about continued development and that government plans for infrastructure, agriculture and tourism in particular will enable broader regional growth. SM continues to prioritize regional investment and our nationwide expansion plans are focused on effective execution,” says SMIC president Harley T. Sy. SMC, meanwhile, is content with capex of P70 billion to P80 billion a year. In the last seven years, it invested $5 billion in various businesses, making it the country’s largest investor for a number of years.

By 2050, Ayala projects a population of 155 million of whom 63 million will be in the age bracket of 25-54 years. Today, half of Filipinos are below 23 years of age.

The Philippines is actually a rich country in terms of annual dollar income—$27 billion in OFW remittances, $25 billion in BPO and call center earnings.

That’s already $52 billion. Add $28 billion earnings from other dollar sources and you have what Rep. Joey Salceda estimates to be $80 billion in dollar income annually—more dollars than what any other country in Asia makes from foreign direct investments.

Now, with so much dollars, why does the peso keep sinking against the US dollar? Ask the central bank.

latter may not be revenge. And what is wrong with revenge is that it is viciously circular, and destructively so.

“Cortar por lo sano” fares no better. The analogy between part and whole when applied to the individual and to society limps very badly that one wonders whether it is a proper analogy at all. There is hardly any sense in comparing the individual’s relation to the society to

the relation between the human body and its appendages. The difference is summed up in the challenging but necessary philosophical and legal concept of “person.”

I agree with Ric. The deterrence argument is really no argument at all. Because even if the death penalty did deter —which it really does not (as there is no effective deterrent to criminal inclination)—it begs the question to maintain that the death penalty is moral because it deters. The question is pre-

cisely whether or not the chosen deterrent is right, worthy of our humanity, moral!

It is interesting that in the recent teaching of the Church, there is no repudiation of former church teaching. There is, however, the clear position that present-day circumstances give no more reason for the imposition of the death penalty.

That is to say of course that society has sufficient means to protect its values—and its members— so as to render unjustified depriving any offend-

er of his life. It is really saying: Of course we can be more creative about the way we deal with transgression, more humane in our dealings with each other that no war really is just today, except when one fends off an aggressor, no matter the supposedly noble and holy ends of the war, and no crime ever warrants death!

their own will be swift and the damage they will wreak could be politically fatal.

In particular, Robredo, who is apparently driven by fears of her own removal in an impending recount of the votes cast in last year’s election, has—in her own words—crossed the line.

She had better be prepared to

face the consequences of escalating her fight with Duterte before the UN. Trillanes, Alejano and their group of hired guns of the Yellows, must also get ready for the backlash against them. While we should perhaps be glad, as Senator Panfilo Lacson has wryly noted, that the Magdalo

are no longer taking up guns to seize power these days, they will still be made to account for their previous crimes against the country and the people in the proper legal forum.

Most Filipinos are getting really tired of the antics of the politicians who cannot seem to understand that they want

Duterte to fulfill his promises to them and get the country back on track after six years of incompetence and uncaring by the political masters of Robredo and Trillanes. The donothing critics will be made to pay for disrespecting the people and the choices they made when they picked Duterte.

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ THOSE who still doubt that the Philippines is a growth story should look at the performance of three of the country’s largest corporations in 2016.

Taipan Henry Sy Sr.’s holding company, SM Investments Corp.’s profits grew 8 percent to P31.2 billion in 2016 on revenues of P332.8 billion which were up 9 percent. That’s a return on sales of 9.37 percent.

Property accounted for 39 percent of total SMIC earnings, with banks contributing 37 percent and retail 24 percent. SM makes more money from real estate and banking than from retailing at its malls now numbering 60 and growing at five malls per year.

Profits of the Philippines’ oldest company, Ayala Corp. rose 17 percent in 2016 to P26 billion on revenues of P237.28 billion, up 14.3 percent. That’s a return on sales of 10.95 percent.

Despite the seemingly spectacular performances of these two gilt-edged conglomerates, they still paled in comparison to that of San Miguel Corp.

SMC chalked up profits of over P52 billion on revenues of nearly P685 billion. That’s a return on sales of 7.6 percent.

In both profits and sales, SMC clearly outperformed both SMIC and Ayala during 2016.

The reason: San Miguel was the first among the largest companies to pursue an aggressive growth and diversification strategy. From three major businesses in 2008—beverage, food, and packaging, SMC went into nearly everything—power generation, fuel and energy, and infrastructure (tollways and airports), even as it improved the efficiencies

Ric...

From A4

biznewsasia@gmail.com

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

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

A6

FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017

News

Mayors’ permit woes eased P

HILIPPINE Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Alexander Balutan assured local government units of higher shares from the expanded Small Town Lottery although they can no longer issue permits or licenses.

He said Authorized Agent Corporations need not secure any business permit from local chief executives to play STL. Balutan made the remark after mayors proposed during the recent convention of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines that an AAC who wants to play STL in their place should first secure a business permit from the municipal government.

“In as much as the PCSO wants to generate revenue through the STL, we mayors also want to generate revenue that would be derived from STL operation since this is being operated by a private business entity. Therefore, this business entity should secure first a business permit from the municipal government,” Mayor Roberto Madla of Boac, Marinduque ex-

plained during the forum.

But PCSO Chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz insisted that the authorization PCSO gave to STL agents is enough.

“There is no need for AACs to secure business permit from the mayors. All permits issued by local officials for numbers game operators are illegal because the only legal numbers game in the country is STL,” Corpuz emphasized.

Balutan also explained the long-term benefits that the LGUs can derived from STL. “The PCSO will help them, the STL offers substantially more benefits that they are getting now and it is legal, too,” Balutan said, adding the PCSO

and LGUs can come up with more projects that will be more beneficial to the community.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte ordered the PCSO to increase its revenue to buy free medicines for the people.

“We can cooperate on so many projects. The President is particularly interested in health services. LGUs can use the PCSO for that purpose,” Balutan said.

“But the PCSO also needs to increase the collection of revenues to cater the health needs of the majority of Filipinos,” he added.

Balutan stressed that under the law the PCSO lottery ticket sellers are not required to secure business permits or licenses from LGUs

but assured local executives that the PCSO will not dictate on them because they need their support in expanding the operation of STL in their jurisdictions.

“PCSO will not dictate on LGUs. We need them as much as they need us,” he said.

On Wednesday, also during a forum hosted by the League of Governors, Balutan and Corpuz also assured the governors that the agency will work to increase the shares of provinces in STL operations.

Corpuz made the remarks in response to the complaints of governors that with the new Implementing Rules and Regulation of STL, their shares decreased to 0.75 percent.

ANTI-ENDO RULES. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III show the new department order that repeals old rules that allow various contractual employment schemes that have been criticized by workers groups. Norman Cruz

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

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF QUEZON CITY STERLING BANK OF ASIA, INC. (A SAVINGS BANK).

Mortgagee, -versus-

FRE NO. 11576

SPS. ORVILLE M. ROQUE AND VICTORINA JUDY E. ROQUE. Mortgagors. x-----------------------------------------x

All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned at the aforesaid office

NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE on the above stated date and time.

OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER Interested parties are hereby ACT 3135 (AS AMENDED) enjoined to investigate for themselves UPON extra-judicial petition under ACT 3135, as amended by ACT 4118 and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Deed of Real Estate Mortgage executed on DECEMBER 21, 2015 by SPS. ORVILLE M. ROQUE AND VICTORINA JUDY E. ROQUE -#60 Queensville St., corner Whitefield Ave., White Plains, Quezon City/Lot 17 Blk. 8A Nervi cor. Norris, Filinvest 2, Bagong Silang Capitol, Quezon City, Mortgagors in favor of STERLING BANK OF ASIA, INC. (A SAVINGS BANK), Mortgagee, to satisfy the mortgage debt in the amount of Php 2,800,970.98 as of January 31, 2017 including of interest, and penalties, together with all the lawful fees and expenses of foreclosure sale, the Ex-Officio Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City and/or his duly authorized Deputy Sheriff, hereby announces that on APRIL 5, 2017 between the hours of 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the Ex-Officio of the Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Sheriff, Regional Trial Court, Hall of Justice Bldg., Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, will sell thru public auction to the highest bidder for cash, in Philippine Currency, the following described real property/ies with all the improvements existing thereon, to wit:

the title to the said property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

In the event that public auction should not take place on said date due to fortuitous event of if the same be declared a non-working holiday, it shall be held on APRIL 12, 2017 at the same time and place without further notice.

By Vito Barcelo LABOR groups rejected anew the Department of Labor and Employment’s new rules against contractual employment schemes and said the new department order will only perpetuate the epidemic of contractualization.

The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines rejected the rules which Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III hoped would end labor contractualization, locally called “endo,” where employment contracts are deliberately terminated before the sixth month to avoid required benefits.

But the ALU-TUCP said that while the new order speaks about prohibiting contractualization but ends up allowing agency hiring in many forms.

ALU-TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said the order prohibits labor-only contracting and the so-called cabo system but those are already prohibited by law anyway.

“While it prohibits the contractualization of jobs directly related to main business and subject to control of principal, interpretation disputes shall mean expensive and wearisome litigation in the DoLE, NLRC and the courts,” he said.

“Only in-house agencies and labor cooperatives are not allowed to operate. Independent contractors are permitted, the DO opens floodgates to agencies to set up shops. This will enhance cutthroat competition among contractors bidding down salaries and benefits of their employees,” Tanjusay said.

“The more contractuals the country will have, the harder it will be to monitor and regulate.

DoLE’s inspection capacity is a chronic problem that also has to be addressed,” he added.

Medical airlifts take off in Mimaropa

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

CRITICAL patients and emergency cases can now be transported by air to the nearest health facility through the air ambulance program which was formally launched Thursday by the Department of Health headquarters in the Mimaropa region.

Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo said two aircraft—a Cessna 206 airplane and a Robinson R44 Helicopter—will be provided

by the Philippine Adventist Medical Aviation Services Inc. to serve as air ambulances.

PAMAS is a faith-based, volunteer-driven organization that spreads the Gospel to the Philippines through the use of an aviation and medical ministry. PAMAS is a non-stock, non-profit corporation registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The aircraft will be equipped with first aid medical equipment

and manned by a paramedic to provide immediate care.

“It can accommodate nonambulatory and ambulatory patients. Transport of patients from Mimaropa provinces will be transported to DOH tertiary hospitals in Metro Manila which will take approximately 1 ½ hour or less. The air ambulance service will cater to indigent patients and indigenous communities,” Janairo said.

There will be landing zones in

every province designated for emergency medical evacuation for identified hospitals. Ground ambulance transfer to and from the LZ from the originating hospital to the destination tertiary hospitals will be duly coordinated as well.

Janairo also said a 24/7 emergency unit will be established in every DOH provincial office.

For Palawan, emergency numbers that can be contacted are (0998) 5492585 for Smart and (0917) 533-1651 for Globe.

Quezon City, Metro Manila, March 1, 2017.

(Sgd.) EDGAR R. LUCAS Sheriff IV (Sgd.) GREGORIO C. TALLUD Clerk of Court VI and Acting Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Sheriff

WARNING: It is absolutely prohibited to remove, deface or destroy this Notice of Sheriff’s Sale on or before the date of Auction Sale under penalty of the law.

Copy Furnished: ATTY. JERIC ALVIN F. CRUZ Third Floor, Sterling Bank of Asia Corporate Center 8004 Ortigas Avenue, Greenhills San Juan City 1500

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF SPS. ORVILLE M. ROQUE AND TITLE NO. 004-2015015263 VICTORINA JUDY E. ROQUE Registry of Deeds of Quezon City #60 Queensville St., corner, Whitefield Ave., White Plains, Quezon City A PARCEL OF LAND (LOT 17, BLK. 8A OF THE CONS.-SUBD. PLAN Lot 17 Blk. 8A Nervi cor. Norris, PCS-13-000132, BEING A PORTION Filinvest 2, Bagong Silang, Capitol, OF THE CONS. OF LOT 59-C-2-D-2 Quezon City (LRC) PSD-78381 & LOT 59-C-1-A,

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

PSD-13-00034, LRC REC. NO. 1037), SITUATED IN CAPITOL DIST. Q.CITY M. MLA. BOUNDED ON THE SW, ALONG LINE 1-2 BY LOT 16, BLK. 84 OF THE CONS-SUBD. PLAN ALONG LINE 2-3 BY LOT 59-C-1-B, PSD-13000034; ON THE NW., ALONG LINE 3-4 BY LOT 18, BLK. 8A; ON THE NE., ALONG LINES 4 TO 8 BY ROAD LOT 10A; AND ON THE SE., ALONG LINES 8-9-1 BY ROAD LOT 9A, ALL OF THE CONS.-SUBD. PLAN XXX CONTAINING AN AREA OF FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY NINE (559) SQ. METERS.

Unions reject ‘endo’ rules

(MS-March 10, 17 & 24, 2017)

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

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

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

Further Serve copies of this order together with the copy of the petition and its annexes upon the office of the Solicitation General.

The Local Civil Registrar of Marikina City, The Office of the City Prosecutor’s of Marikina City, The National Statistics Office at the expenses of the petitioner with five(5) days upon receipt of the order. Failure to do so will be a Ground for dismissal of petition.

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

Furnish the petitioner and her counsel and the respondent copies of this order.

SO ORDERED. Marikina City, This 6th day February 2017 Acerey C. Pacheco Judge (MS-MAR. 3,10 & 17, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

ALL TOGETHER NOW. Workers work in unison to avoid a potentially fatal accident as they clean glass panels at a luxury hotel in Pasay City. Ey Acasio

Clinics seek relief after DoH closure

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Court of Appeals has been asked to stop the Department of Health from implementing its order suspending medical clinics for alleged monopoly of services for overseas Filipino workers bound for Kuwait.

In a 30-page petition, the clinics accredited both by the DoH and the Kuwaiti government sought for issuance of a temporary restraining order on

the preventive suspension order issued against them by Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial last March 9.

Petitioners Ruben Bartolome MD Clinic Inc., Abakkus Medical Diagnostic Services, Orion Medical & Diagnostic Center and San Marcelino Medical Clinic Co. stressed that the DoH order was illegal and arbitrary as it was issued in the absence of formal complaints against them.

Through lawyer Edward

Martinez, the petitioners said the suspension was issued “in blatant and deliberate disregard of existing laws, rules and regulations, and even the DOH own rules of procedure, and in violation of petitioners’ right to due process.”

They said that a formal complaint or charge filed before the Bureau of Health and Facilities Services or the DoH is necessary before preventive suspension could be imposed as provided

under Administrative Order No. 2013-0006.

Petitioners noted that the same law requires that only the BHFS director may investigate and conduct hearings in relation to the charge or complaint against a medical clinic and is the one vested with the authority to impose the corresponding sanction/s. The suspension, he added, should not go beyond 60 days as provided by the same AO.

Sports

A7

FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Korean pulls away by 8 LIPA City, Batangas—Hwang Ye-nah sustained her relentless assault on Mt. Malarayat’s course, firing a three-under 69 to all but wrap up another championship in the ICTSI Champion Tour with a whopping eight-shot lead over Thai Chatprapa Siriprakob in the second round of the $75,000 event here yesterday.

Unlike in her eagle-spiked 66 Wednesday that netted her an early five-stroke lead over Princess Superal, Hwang headed for an up-and-down finish of three birdies against two bogeys until she closed out with birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 for a 35-34 card and a 36-hole aggregate of nine-under 135.

That put her eight clear of Siriprakob, who turned in a best four-under 68 and assumed the challenger’s role at 143 as Superal floundered with a 73 and dropped to joint third at 144 with Korean amateur Hwang Min-jeong, who matched par 72 for the second straight day.

“My putting wasn’t good today (yesterday) as well as my short game,” said Hwang, who moved 18 holes away from duplicating her wire-to-wire triumph at ICTSI Ladies Open at Southlinks in 2015, also over Superal, worth another $15,000.

Petron makes semis Games Tomorrow (Mandaluyong Sports Complex) 5 p.m. – Sta. Lucia vs Generika-Ayala 7 p.m. – Cocolife vs Cignal

Athletics’ president Philip Ella Juico (center) briefs sportswriters about the coming Ayala Philippine National Open Invitational Athletics Championship, to be staged at Ilagan, Isabela from March 30 to April 2. He is flanked by Organizing Committee Head Ricky Laggui (left) and former Ilagan City Mayor Jay Diaz. Ey Acasio

Expect dogfight in PH Open I T’S going to be a dogfight as Olympian Eric Cray and other Filipino-American and homegrown stars shoot for their slots in the national team when they compete in the 2017 Ayala Philippine National Open Invitational Athletics Championships.

Cray, the Texas native who represented the country in the London and Rio Olympics, will be back in action as he leads close to 1,000 from around the world in this ultimate battle that is set from March 30 to April 2 at the Ilagan Sports Complex in Ilagan City in the province of Isabela.

In the press launch yesterday, Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico declared that

the tournament would serve as the final selection stage for the national team that would compete in the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur this August.

Juico said topnotch athletes from Sri Lanka, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Guam and Brunei are all tipped to come up with a serious fight, making this tournament one of the toughest and

most competitive in recent years.

In fact, rising star Savinder Kaur Singh of Malaysia confirmed her attendance as well as Raja Azhar, who is expected to dominate the women’s 100-meter hurdles.

Also expected to steal the show is Nimali Liyanarachchi of Sri Lanka, the reigning champion in the women’s 800-meter of the South Asian Games last year.

She would be competing in the 400-meter run, where she has a personal best of 53.9 seconds.

“This is going to be a serious test for our athletes,” said Juico, who is also a former chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission.

“Technically speaking, nobody has yet to qualify (in the national team) among our ath-

letes. This tournament will serve as the gauge. They have to overcome some of the best athletes before we can give them a slot in the team.”

Former Ilagan City Mayor Jay Diaz said they are making sure that no stone will be left unturned in their hosting of this prestigious tournament, which is co-presented by Milo, PSC and the International Amateur Athletic Federation and backed by Foton Philippines, UCPB Gen and Run Rio. He said the all the hotels, venues, security, transportation and even the tourist attractions are already ready and their constituents are looking forward to witness topnotch track and field action.

“Everything is almost ready.

I think we’re about 95 percent ready for the hosting of this prestigious tournament,” said Diaz, speaking on behalf of his wife, Ilagan City Mayor Evelyn Diaz.

“We acceded to the preparation and everything is almost done. We’re making sure that all the athletes will have a comfortable stay so they can give out their best performance.”

Aside from Cray, who will vie in the men’s 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles, also seeing action for the host country are SEA Games hammer throw record-holder Caleb Stuart, Donovant Arriola, Jessica Barnard, Tyler Ruiz, Kyla and Kayla Richardson as well as a score from the national pool and collegiate leagues.

LGUs want changes in conduct of Palaro

By Peter Atencio DAVAO CITY—The Philippine Sports Commission must provide ample funding for a countryside national grassroots program to succeed and future stagings of the Palarong Pambansa must undergo an overhaul.

This is the clamor of heads of local government units who attended a meeting with officials of the PSC and the Philippine Sports Institute at the Crystal Ballroom of the Pinnacle Hotel here.

The LGU officials, led by Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellon and Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista, called for the restoration of the full five percent remittance of the Philippine Gaming Corporation to the PSC. They sought the PSC’s help in reaching out to the Department of Education in a bid to harmonize the conduct of the staging of the three multievent competitions, which are the Philippine National Games, the Batang Pinoy and the Palarong Pambansa.

“The resolutions proposed by the mayors of Mindanao was an indication of their demands for a genuine grass-

roots sports program,” said Ramirez after the five-hour meeting.

Rellon, who is the vice president of the League of Cities of the Philippines, spearheaded LGUs in signing a manifesto that asks the PSC to intercede on their behalf over funds that the PAGCOR is supposed to remit to the agency.

The manifesto seeks to the compel the PSC to request to the Office of the President that PAGCOR release in full the agency’s five percent share of its gross income, which is in accordance to Republic Act no. 6847.

“If this is the kind of programs we have, and the budget is not enough, it will never happen,” said Rellon, who was present along with representatives of more than a hundred LGUs from the Mindanao region that also listened to commissioners Charles Maxey and Ramon Fernandez talk alongside Philippine Sports Institute heads Marc Velasco and Henry Daut.

On the other hand, Ramirez tasked commissioner Charles Maxey to discuss with officials of the Deped on how it will conduct the Palarong Pambansa in its future stagings.

PETRON waged a sizzling rally down the stretch to complete a straight-set conquest of bitter rival Foton, 25-12, 25-10, 25-23, and formally advance into the semifinals of the Belo-Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference yesterday at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan.

Veteran Aiza Maizo-Pontillas finally stepped up, while Mina Aganon delivered at crunch time as the Blaze Spikers coasted to their fourth straight victory in this prestigious women’s club tourney bankrolled

by Senoh, Mikasa, Asics and Mueller with TV5 as official broadcast partner.

One of the 25 players chosen to be part of the national pool, Maizo-Pontillas finished with 10 attacks for a game-high 11 points, while Aganon finished with eight markers, including a booming kill in the crucial stretch of the third set that bailed Petron out of trouble.

Petron is now safely in the next round, where it would be joined by two other teams together with a guest team from Japan.

Semifinal action unwraps on March 30.

“We were expecting that the game will be close,” said Shaq Delos Santos, who called the shots for the Blaze Spikers when they suffered a heart-breaking setback to Foton in the finals of the PSL Grand Prix last year.

“Good thing the girls followed the game plan and we made it to the semifinals. We’re preparing for it. I hope everybody will step up.”

Delos Santos, however, said the next round would be an entirely different story.

“We still have to adjust. Almost all of our players are new. We have to work hard because all teams are still adjusting and preparing.”

Celtics beat Timberwolves

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives strong to the hoop against Boston Celtics defenders Marcus Smart (right) and Amir Johnson during the game won by the Celtics. AFP

PBA Commissioner’s Cup unreels today

By Jeric Lopez THE 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup is set to roll with two intriguing match-ups right away in its opening day.

Defending champion Rain or Shine Elasto Painters are set to take on former mentor Yeng Guiao and his NLEX Road Warriors side at 7 p.m. in the main event at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Three hours prior, the initial

game of the tournament will pit the Meralco Bolts and the Mahindra Floodbusters, two teams who missed the playoffs of the Philippine Cup, at 4:15 p.m.

It will be a weird situation for the Elasto Painters as they are not only set to battle Guiao but they will also face their former resident import Wayne Chism, who was tapped by Guiao to reinforce the Road Warriors.

Chism had three previous stints with Rain or Shine and even led the team to the finals of the Com-

missioner’s Cup two years back.

Rain or Shine is also set to parade a returning import in Shawn Taggart.

Taggart played for GlobalPort last season and now, he is set to take his act and help the Elasto Painters.

In their first meeting with Guiao and the Road Warriors, after the veteran coach transferred sides in the off-season, the Elasto Painters emerged victorious with a 107-97 decision last December in the Philippine Cup.

LOS ANGELES—Al Horford delivered 20 points and nine rebounds as the Boston Celtics continued their domination over the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 117-104 win on Wednesday.

Boston won its 10th game in the last 11 thanks to a 21-6 run bridging the halves, a complete game by Horford and a stellar Isaiah Thomas performance.

Horford just missed his second career triple double as he also had eight assists.

“We needed (Horford) to be locked in tonight because (KarlAnthony) Towns is a real talented guy. So Al had that assignment on the other end for a lot of the game,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said.

Elsewhere, Damian Lillard scored 36 points, including four free throws in the final five seconds, as the Portland Trail Blazers stunned the San Antonio Spurs 110-106.

CJ McCollum added 26 points for the Trail Blazers. Nurkic had 16 points and nine rebounds, Noah Vonieh scored 12 points and Allen Crabbe scored 10.

Portland was able to bounce back from a one-sided 100-77 loss to New Orleans on Tuesday.

“Look, we laid an egg (in New Orleans) – it was our worst loss of the year. And then, tonight, we have our best win of the year,” Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts said.

Inspired Folayang defends ONE Championship crown

Eduard Folayang raises his hands in victory after winning the ONE Lightweight World Championship over MMA legend Shinya Aoki. ONE Championship

FILIPINO fighter Eduard “Landslide” Folayang feels extra motivated in his first defense of his ONE Lightweight World Championship title next month as he and his wife welcomed a bouncing baby girl to their family.

His spouse Genevieve gave birth to their first child early Monday morning, March 13 at the Pines City Doctor’s Hospital in Baguio City. The couple tied the knot in April 2015, with Folayang describing his wife as his lifetime coach.

Folayang named his daughter Yeshuareigns, which means “Jesus

reigns.” The 33-year-old mixed martial artist is a devoted born-again Christian and is also known for the public expression of his faith.

As a first-time father, Folayang was at a loss for words when he first saw and held his newborn child.

Quite similar to his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) career, Folayang admitted that raising his daughter properly will pose a challenge.

“This is a huge blessing for our family. It felt like I won another world title in mixed martial arts.

I am so happy. This is one of the

most momentous moments in my life. I hope and pray that I can be a good role model to my daughter.

I will be the best father that I can be,” he said.

With over a month to go before he steps inside the ONE Championship again, Folayang stressed that his daughter will be his driving force to win.

“I can truly say that I am super motivated for my upcoming fight in April. My newborn daughter gives me the much-needed inspiration with the challenge that is ahead of me,” he said.

LOTTO RESULTS 6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0 M+ P0 M

First Gen’s income rises 19% to $200m B2

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017

B1

BSP to keep interest rates steady

By Julito G. Rada

B

ANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said Thursday the current policy settings will likely remain unchanged, despite the latest move by the Federal Reserve to increase interest rates in the US.

Tetangco, however, said the Fed action would benefit US trading partners, including the Philippines.

“The Fed’s move, though widely expected, still contained valuable market information, particu-

larly the indication of continued gradual pace of next steps and the consequent market interpretation that the Fed is willing to let inflation overshoot,” Tetangco said in a statement.

“In a way, that can be seen

as positive for risk sentiment in the near term, but on the whole the Fed’s balanced view could be good for global growth and trade particularly for trading partners of the US like the Philippines,” he said.

Tetangco said local monetary authorities would continue to be on their toes and watch out for further developments on the trade side to see the impact on bank and corporate credit activities of the Fed’s move.

“At the moment, however, given the Fed action was as expected and inflation for now is seen to be well-behaved, there appears to be

no need to tweak policy settings,” he said.

The Fed raised interest rates by another 25 basis points in its third upward move since the financial crisis in 2008. Fed chair Janet Yellen said the economy remained healthy footing as unemployment rate has been declining and rates must be increased to limit rising inflation.

“Waiting too long to scale back some accommodation could potentially require us to raise rates rapidly some time down the road which in turn could risk disrupting financial markets and pushing the economy into recession,” Yel-

len said in a statement.

Tetangco said earlier a move by the US Federal Reserve to increase interest rates would remove one source of uncertainty in financial markets.

He said that 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.

Bangko Sentral in its last meeting on Feb. 9 kept the benchmark interest rates steady at 3.5 percent for overnight lending rates, 3 percent for borrowing and 2.5 percent for special deposit account.

IN BRIEF

SMC’s net profit jumps 80% to P52b

BSP’s posted P17-b net income in 2016

By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. said net income surged 80 percent in 2016 to P52 billion from P28.9 billion in 2016, as most of its units delivered strong growth.

San Miguel said in a disclosure to the stock exchange net sales in 2016 went up 2 percent to P685.3 billion from P672.2 billion a year ago, while income from operations rose 24 percent to P99.6 billion.

San Miguel chief finance officer Francisco Constantino earlier said 2016 was a good year for the company, led by various factors including election-related spending, good weather condition, stable interest rate and low inflation rate.

The conglomerate also booked a one-time gain in 2016 from the sale of its telecommunication business to PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom.

Constantino said he expected 2017 to be another good year for San Miguel.

The conglomerate’s beer unit, San Miguel Brewery Inc., posted a 31-percent hike in 2016 net income to P17.6 billion, as sales increased 18 percent to P97.1 billion.

Ginebra San Miguel Inc. also posted a P361-million net income, a sharp reversal from the P386-million net loss in 2016.

Sales grew 12 percent in 2016 to P18.5 billion.

San Miguel Purefoods Co. Inc., the conglomerate’s food manufacturing unit, booked net income of P5.97 billion, up 26 percent from a year ago as sales went up 4 percent to P111.5 billion.

Tetangco said the Philippines’ macroeconomic fundamentals, remained solid and intact. He said the Philippine economy continued its growth story in 2016 with a full-year GDP growth of 6.8 percent, higher than the 5.8-percent growth achieved in 2015.

He said strong domestic demand was underpinned by low inflation, stable interest rate environment, and improving labor market conditions. He said over the policy horizon, inflation was seen settling within the government’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent.

ICTSI’S GRAND AWARD. International Container Terminal Services Inc.’s implementation and multi-stakeholder engagement of the 1-Stop Terminal Appointment Booking System at the Manila International Container Terminal is awarded the best public relations program by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines. Shown receiving the 2016 Grand Anvil, the highest honor given by the country’s largest organization for PR professionals, is ICTSI senior vice president for finance Jose Joel Sebastian (seventh from left), together with officers and staff of the ICTSI public relations office, ICTSI Foundation and PRSP.

Megawide contests JG’s bid for Clark

By Darwin G. Amojelar MEGAWIDE Construction Corp. and partner GMR Infrastructure Ltd. of India said Thursday they are awaiting the government’s decision on the group’s unsolicited proposal to develop the Clark International Airport.

GMR Megawide, the developer of Mactan-Cebu International Airport, earlier expressed concern over the Transportation Department’s plan to endorse a different proposal for Clark.

Another group, the consortium of JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Filinvest Development Corp., submitted an unsolicited proposal to build a P187-billion world-class airport in Clark Freeport Zone by 2020.

Louie Ferrer, GMR Megawide president, said his group submitted a separate unsolicited proposal “because we both believe Clark has a strategic role to play in the Luzon Airports System.”

The Transportation Department said it would review all unsolicited proposals.

“We understand that the DOTr has a lot of responsibility to evaluate and deliver projects. We are now in communication with them and would like to wait for the results of the review,” Ferrer said.

Ferrer said that depending on the government’s plans, Clark could become either the gateway to Central and Northern Luzon or a premier international gateway for the Philippines.

“There was one missing element in previous studies for Clark, however. And that is a comprehensive development framework,” he said.

The consortium proposes a framework that combines government oversight with private sector capability in service delivery, infrastructure upgrades and airport marketing.

The consortium came up with a 50year master plan based on independent studies of Clark and its potential as a

Phoenix unveils P10-b expansion

By Alena Mae S. Flores DAVAO-BASED Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. plans to spend P10 billion over the next three years for expansion, including possible acquisitions of other companies, a top executive said.

Phoenix Petroleum allocated a P2-billion budget for capital expenditures this year as it continues to increase its retail network, storage and logistic capacities.

“We plan to spend P6 [billion] to P8 billion more over the next three years as we look to expand through acquisitions,” Phoenix Petroleum president Dennis Uy said in a statement.

The company earlier announced plans to open new depots in Tayud (Cebu) and General Santos in the first and fourth quarters, respectively.

An expansion is also plans for the Calaca (Batangas) terminal in the third quarter.

The company reported earnings of P1.09 billion in 2016, or 21 percent higher than P905-million net income generated in 2015.

Core earnings from the fuel business more than doubled to P937 million from P416 million in 2015, due to better margins and sales mix.

Phoenix Petroleum said sales volume reached 1.5 billion last year, up 25 percent

from 2015, driven by solid growth in retail and commercial volume.

Lubricant sales volume saw an 18-percent growth year-on-year on increased market share.

Retail sales volume increased 12 percent year-on-year, with the completion of 51 new retail stations in 2016, bringing the total number of outlets to 505 as of end-December 2016.

Same-store sales growth remained strong at 18 percent on higher consumption, supported by brand-enhancing investments in marketing and advertising.

Commercial sales volume grew 33 percent, from higher market share and increased consumption by distributors and corporate direct accounts, which included the power, transport, construction and aviation sectors.

Revenues rose 2 percent on higher sales volume, trimmed by lower oil prices.

The company last year concluded its sale of its non-core businesses in shipping and industrial park operations to the Udenna Group, the effective parent and majority stockholder of the company, for total net proceeds of P3 billion.

“Proceeds of the sale were used to pay down debt, which improved the company’s leverage, allowing room for further investments in its core business, including potential acquisitions,” it said.

gateway and proposed six phases of development that would provide a saturation phase of 100 million passengers per annum.

The proposal does not require any kind of government subsidy, guarantee or mandatory movement of airlines from Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Parañaque City to Clark.

Ferrer said the consortium would also commit to an annual share of airport revenues to the government.

“It shifts the responsibility of capital expenditure from the government to us over the entire concession period,” Ferrer said.

He said his group had already proven its marketing expertise similar to what was accomplished at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

Ferrer said from just seven international destinations in 2014, MCIA now has a total of 16 with the opening of new destinations currently in the works.

Royal Caribbean eyes homeport in Boracay

By Othel V. Campos ROYAL Caribbean Cruise Ltd., the world’s second-largest cruise line operator, plans to build a homeport in the Philippines through a purpose-built terminal either in Caticlan or Boracay, the Tourism Department said Thursday.

Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. said in a statement an agreement was signed Tuesday among the Trade Department, the province of Aklan and Royal Carribean Cruise represented by vice president for new commercial development John Tercek.

“We are excited over the prospects of the Royal Carribean Lines getting more involved in the development and promotion of Caticlan/ Boracay for cruise tourism. We are confident that the strategic partnership will result in more ships calling on Boracay, and pave the way for eventual home port operations,” said Bengzon.

The agreement is seen to further open the Western Visayas region to the global cruising market.

Miami-based Royal Carribean will provide the necessary technical and financial support needed to building the terminal.

The parties are also discussing if the proposed homeport would be open to other commercial vessels.

Tercek said the Philippines had a great potential to become a cruise hub in the region. “The Philippines is the future Caribbean of Asia,” he said.

The provincial government of Aklan said residents approved the plan because they would benefit from the new economic opportunities it would generate such as employment and business ventures.

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas registered a record net income after tax of P17.02 billion in 2016, a sharp reversal of the P4.45-billion net loss it booked in 2015.

Data showed the record profit was achieved through higher revenues, interest income and lower expenses.

Revenues jumped 22 percent last year to P69.21 billion from P56.67 billion in 2015. Interest income also rose to P45.98 billion from P39.19 billion a year ago. Expenses, on the other hand, declined 2.5 percent to P71.19 billion from P73 billion in 2015.

Meanwhile, gains on foreign exchange rate fluctuations grew 65 percent to P19.11 billion from P11.55 billion.

Bangko Sentral had incurred losses since 2010.

The biggest net loss was recorded in 2012 at P95.38 billion. However, the regulator’s prudent management trimmed that loss to P17.51 billion in 2013, P9.86 billion in 2014 and P4.45 billion last year.

Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo earlier said that “if exchange rate improves and strengthens, which means the economy is improving, BSP incurs losses. But if the peso depreciates, BSP profits.”

The peso depreciated 5.7 percent in 2016 to close at 49.72 per dollar on Dec. 29. Julito G. Rada

Pag-IBIG shelters 25,000 poor workers

PAG-IBIG Fund assisted 24,983 low-income workers last year in realizing their dream of home ownership through Pag-IBIG housing loans, with a combined loan value of P8.5 billion.

Pag-IBIG Fund officer-in-charge Acmad RizaldyMoti said the number of units represented 33 percent of the Fund’s 76,247 total housing loan portfolio last year and was 25 percent or about 5,000 units more than the total socialized housing units delivered in 2015.

“Pag-IBIG Fund actively contributes to the efforts of the national government and the housing industry to offer decent and affordable housing to the underserved sector,” Moti said.

Pag-IBIG member-borrowers under socialized housing are mostly minimum-wage earners and individuals from low-income groups that include household helpers and public utility vehicle drivers who do not have access to the housing loan facilities of private financing institutions.

The Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council set the socialized housing price ceiling at P450,000.

Moti said Pag-IBIG partnership with employers has become an effective strategy in providing socialized housing to the employees.

The partnership, according to Moti, allows employers to offer the housing units at a price lower than the appraised value.

B2

Business

FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks, peso rise after Fed rate hike

By Julito G. Rada

B

oth the Philippine peso and the local stocks rose Thursday, after the Federal Reserve lifted US interest rates and suggested another two hikes this year.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, gained 24 points, or 0.3 percent, to close at 7,278.60, as five of the six sectoral indices advanced. Only mining and oil ended in the red.

The heavier index, representing all shares, went up 12 points, or 0.3 percent, to settle at 4,386.08, on a value turnover of P6.1 billion. Advancers outnumbered losers, 102 to 76, while 47 issues were unchanged.

Nine of the 20 most active

stocks ended in the green, led by port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. which climbed 3.9 percent to P84.65 and food manufacturer Universal Robina Corp. which rose 1.2 percent to P167.

Meanwhile, the peso strengthened to a month-high against the greenback Thursday in the aftermath of the Federal Reserve’s rate hike, the third time since the global financial crisis in 2008.

The peso gained P0.22 to close at 50.12 against the dollar

Thursday, its strongest level in almost a month since it settled at 50 a dollar on Feb. 17.

“PHP strengthening today is in line with other Asian currencies. The market sold USD on news of the US Fed retaining its three rate hike view for 2017 and 2018 [including yesterday’s Fed Funds rate hike]. With a less than expected hawkish tightening cycle, USD weakened,” ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng said in a statement.

“In addition, investors also were relieved with the Dutch election outcome that setback the wave of populism and antiEU sentiment that was feared to march across Europe,” he said.

The peso and the local equities declined in recent weeks, amid the uncertainty over the timing of the Fed rate hike. Foreign portfolio investments or ‘hot money’

yielded a net outflow of $409 million in February, a reversal from the $58-million net inflow a year ago.

Data showed the February net outflow was also a turnaround from the $301-million net inflow recorded in January.

Bangko Sentral said other factors that caused foreign funds to flee from domestic financial markets were the “concerns on trade and immigration policies under the Trump administration, and the closure order for several mining companies all over the country.”

“Outflows for the month rose by 64.4 percent from $846 million in January due to profit taking and withdrawals from investments in peso government securities. Yearon-year, outflows rose by 37.5 percent from the $1 billion level in 2016,” Bangko Sentral said.

With Bloomberg, AFP

First Gen’s income rises 19% to $200m

By Alena Mae S. Flores FIRST Gen Corp. said Thursday net income attributable to equity holders of the parent climbed 19 percent to a record $200 million in 2016 from $167 million in 2015, despite the lower consolidated revenues.

First Gen said on a recurring basis, attributable net income was flat at $162 million last year, as its power plants benefited from higher dispatch, but this was offset by lower spot market prices.

“Though 2016 was a year not without its challenges, it was also

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 48.9 9,100 98.95 345,140 122.8 4,420,950 1.23 99,000 40.1 152,700 16 47,200 20.45 125,400 1.67 21,000 0.68 1,016,000 78.65 1,228,970 0.73 33,000 14.6 73,900 25.3 11,000 56.55 100 240 1,040 87.1 4,150 39 64,300 200 683,710 1,750 125 79.65 9,350 1.22 30,000

443,275 34,095,594.50 542,665,331 121,770 6,120,640 754,542 2,572,705 35,430 682,560 96,644,996.50 24,090 1,074,246 278,300 5,659.50 249,600 361,083.50 2,527,815 137,195,992 219,750 744,687.50 36,600

438,400 9,865,110.00 204,566,834 -289,600 -359,485 134,000 -37,290,474.50 -1,130 225,600 156,745 -78,255,308 176,000 101,200 -

41.9 5.28 0.81 1.38 19.8 0.265 7.73 17.18 23 14.52 60 91.7 2.12 6.04 12 12.6 7.9 6.38 5.9 22 71.7 12.5 15.68 6.61 1.58 195 66.5 4.55 3.76 28.5 29.85 26.6 15.18 289.8 0.255 6.81 3.73 8.87 3.75 2.27 7.05 1.92 72.2 4.8 267 4.95 2.72 13.9 4.45 0.144 1.4 165 4.53 1.54 1.02

INDUSTRIAL 43 1,200,200 5.33 2,717,700 0.82 80,000 1.4 156,000 20.8 37,200 0.265 6,940,000 7.75 27,867,500 17.22 1,489,400 23.45 243,200 14.52 4,100 60 41,000 94 380 2.13 308,000 6.2 300 12 12,800 12.78 3,061,500 7.9 781,700 6.38 2,410,500 5.9 10,483,500 22.3 469,900 72.8 71,140 12.5 100 15.7 106,000 6.7 271,400 1.62 125,000 196 389,080 71 6,450 4.89 10,109,000 3.9 86,000 28.5 200 30 657,300 27 274,700 15.8 4,122,500 290.6 133,610 0.255 3,330,000 6.9 109,500 3.74 2,412,000 8.96 5,343,600 3.75 1,000 2.28 289,000 7.24 4,367,200 1.96 1,049,000 73 401,950 5 985,000 270 42,280 4.98 100,000 2.75 165,000 13.9 3,805,700 4.5 53,000 0.147 1,660,000 1.48 529,000 167 1,152,950 4.53 1,000 1.59 2,519,000 1.02 102,000

51,620,845 14,407,141 65,280 216,720 749,555 1,851,250 217,696,413 25,805,594 5,650,630 59,570 2,460,000 35,168 654,740 1,844 154,986 38,977,492 6,225,683 15,384,439 62,079,507 10,516,305 5,142,663.50 1,250 1,671,112 1,799,840 199,790 76,417,969 448,086 49,940,780 331,530 5,700 19,737,810 7,412,265 64,550,638 38,833,666 849,400 754,689 9,024,710 48,051,624 3,750 660,570 31,527,350 2,079,580 29,335,551 4,838,780 11,415,390 497,420 460,140 53,380,502 236,350 241,850 771,480 191,591,877 4,530 3,944,240 104,040

-25,117,825 -379,635 -19,864 18,006,833 1,952,352 1,380,000 2,130 2,560,764 -1,787,496 -92,278 7,831,344 3,116,365 2,152,827 -1,554,826 -714,590 -71,970 42,289,563 1,024,600 11,310 -4,106,420 -717,740 16,066,712 -32,126,690 -123,750 -423,517.00 519,010 -72,000 2,724,725.50 4,535,190 -129,200 22,000 16,049,750 15,763,349 784,440 -

0.375 73.15 12.34 1.1 6.3 821 8.8 12 7.9 0.18 1,165 6.2 75.65 5.26 1.13 7.85 14.76 6.63 3.4 0.057 1.09 1.97 102.5 2.87 645 1.48 270 0.29 0.185 0.245

HOLDING FIRMS 0.385 5,470,000 74.45 1,018,720 12.5 1,300,200 1.11 144,000 6.3 9,000 827 347,610 8.83 4,698,800 12.04 13,285,000 8.08 25,500 0.18 380,000 1,169 218,835 6.48 11,000 77.8 767,640 5.34 1,400 1.15 7,610,000 8 1,986,800 14.88 2,426,100 6.64 31,668,300 3.6 2,000 0.058 63,240,000 1.09 68,000 1.97 243,000 103.2 102,850 2.99 361,000 649.5 404,400 1.48 301,000 272 1,250 0.295 520,000 0.185 90,000 0.245 40,000

2,121,200 75,517,001.50 16,228,502 158,650 56,700 287,300,985 41,492,238 160,129,134 201,930 68,630 256,597,885 68,701 59,330,339 7,460 8,734,190 15,841,760 36,423,062 211,098,744 7,000 3,675,800 74,200 478,710 10,598,545 1,063,760 262,702,645 459,200 339,568 150,850 16,650 9,800

33,527,040.50 653,016 5,435,065 1,966,681 -67,651,452 32,580 -64,119,530 46,500 18,788,398 5,700.00 2,187,800 -15,759,466 -93,592,363 -23,600 -2,509,142 -35,125,725 -271,920 -

6,700,616 906,960 51,370 26,478,750 129,481,560 15,577,860 2,209,530 11,520 3,089,350 513,160 18,452,410.50 690 129,090 5,302,330 3,001,970 41,178,930 59,114,830 35,600 3,255,440

-2,890,829 -267,080 34,066,530 -2,338,980 -450,000 -774,122.50 4,645,940 -980,000 -596,410 -991,280 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

48.8 97.85 122.2 1.23 40 16 20.35 1.69 0.68 78 0.73 14.52 25.3 56.8 240 87 39.5 200 1,760 79.15 1.22

48.9 99.25 123.4 1.23 40.2 16 20.7 1.69 0.68 78.95 0.73 14.6 25.3 56.8 240 87.25 39.9 204 1,760 79.7 1.22

48.3 97.85 122.2 1.23 40 15.92 20.25 1.67 0.66 78 0.73 14.52 25.3 56.5 240 87 39 200 1,750 79.15 1.22

ABOITIZ POWER 43 AGRINURTURE 5.38 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.81 ALSONS CONS 1.38 ASIABEST GROUP 21.45 BASIC ENERGY 0.275 CEMEX HLDG 7.9 CENTURY FOOD 17.26 CIRTEK HLDG 23.2 CNTRL AZUCARERA 14.54 CONCEPCION 60 CONCRETE A 91.75 CROWN ASIA 2.12 DAVINCI CAPITAL 6.04 DEL MONTE 12.28 DNL INDUS 12.7 EEI CORP 7.9 EMPERADOR 6.4 ENERGY DEVT 5.92 FIRST GEN 22.1 FIRST PHIL HLDG 71.85 GINEBRA 12.5 HOLCIM 15.78 INTEGRATED MICR 6.75 IONICS 1.65 JOLLIBEE 196.3 LIBERTY FLOUR 67.35 LMG CHEMICALS 4.7 MABUHAY VINYL 3.76 MACAY HLDG 28.5 MANILA WATER 29.85 MAXS GROUP 27 MEGAWIDE 15.18 MERALCO 292 MG HLDG 0.255 PANASONIC 6.92 PEPSI COLA 3.73 PETRON 8.87 PHIL H2O 3.75 PHINMA ENERGY 2.28 PHX PETROLEUM 7.15 PHX SEMICNDCTR 1.96 PILIPINAS SHELL 72.7 PRYCE CORP 4.8 PUREFOODS 267 RFM CORP 4.99 ROXAS HLDG 2.85 SHAKEYS PIZZA 14.4 SPC POWER 4.45 SWIFT FOODS 0.144 TKC METALS 1.42 UNIV ROBINA 165 VICTORIAS 4.53 VITARICH 1.55 VULCAN INDL 1.02

43.1 5.45 0.82 1.4 21.45 0.275 8.01 17.58 23.45 14.54 60 94 2.13 6.2 12.28 12.78 8.05 6.4 5.99 22.6 72.8 12.5 15.78 6.75 1.65 199 71.05 5.2 3.95 28.5 30.65 27 15.92 293.6 0.26 6.98 3.78 9.06 3.75 2.3 7.24 2.03 73.9 5 271 4.99 2.86 14.4 4.5 0.147 1.51 167.3 4.53 1.6 1.02

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

0.395 74.45 12.54 1.11 6.3 832 8.86 12.28 8.08 0.181 1,195 6.51 77.85 5.34 1.19 8 15.34 6.71 3.6 0.059 1.1 1.97 103.5 3.04 655 1.55 272 0.295 0.185 0.245

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

0.38 74 12.34 1.1 6.3 821 8.86 12.28 7.93 0.181 1,195 6.35 76 5.26 1.17 7.9 14.76 6.7 3.4 0.057 1.1 1.97 103 2.87 655 1.51 271 0.29 0.185 0.245 6.81 0.95 2.37 1.38 36 3.55 0.51 1.28 0.157 0.55 53.4 0.69 0.162 1.67 0.97 3.64 0.18 0.305 0.57

6.93 0.95 2.46 1.48 36.45 3.7 0.51 1.28 0.165 0.55 53.4 0.69 0.162 1.7 0.98 3.72 0.194 0.31 0.59

6.81 0.91 2.37 1.38 35.85 3.55 0.5 1.28 0.157 0.54 53 0.69 0.151 1.66 0.97 3.6 0.177 0.29 0.57

VOLUME

PROPERTY 6.9 975,100 0.93 982,000 2.46 21,000 1.43 18,518,000 35.9 3,589,500 3.69 4,233,000 0.51 4,414,000 1.28 9,000 0.165 19,100,000 0.55 948,000 53.3 345,750 0.69 1,000 0.162 850,000 1.7 3,145,000 0.98 3,070,000 3.61 11,218,000 0.192 315,170,000 0.29 120,000 0.59 5,625,000

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

4.6 23.55 1.71 3.34 29.2 1.03 0.91 4.8

4.48 22.8 1.68 3.26 28.5 0.99 0.87 4.75

4.5 23 1.71 3.34 28.7 1 0.91 4.78

2,222,000 2,700,700 42,000 15,000 10,280,500 4,550,000 2,000 3,785,000

10,013,190 62,379,005 71,610 49,660 295,195,425 4,566,700 1,780 18,045,120

189,000 -1,874,290 23,080 -105,660,085 1,000 -5,737,070

2GO GROUP 7.95 ABS CBN 46.2 ACESITE HOTEL 1.57 APC GROUP 0.52 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.05 ASIAN TERMINALS 11.48 BERJAYA 5.37 BLOOMBERRY 7.35 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.063 CALATA CORP 2.2 CEBU AIR 91 DFNN INC 8.56 DISCOVERY WORLD 2.38 GLOBE TELECOM 1,956 GMA NETWORK 6.15 GOLDEN HAVEN 15.98 HARBOR STAR 3.44 IMPERIAL 3.89 INTL CONTAINER 82.4 IP EGAME 0.0092 IPM HLDG 9.06 ISLAND INFO 0.188 ISM COMM 1.35 JACKSTONES 3.55 LBC EXPRESS 14 LEISURE AND RES 3.6 MACROASIA 3.7 MANILA JOCKEY 2.18 MELCO CROWN 5.65 METRO RETAIL 3.69 NOW CORP 3.04 PACIFIC ONLINE 11.02 PAL HLDG 5.34 PAXYS 3.12 PHIL SEVEN CORP 159.1 PHILWEB 8.7 PLDT 1,543 PREMIUM LEISURE 1.5 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.425 PUREGOLD 45.75 ROBINSONS RTL 82.4 SBS PHIL CORP 6.25 SSI GROUP 2.26 STI HLDG 1.12 TRAVELLERS 3.15 WATERFRONT 0.375

8 46.6 1.58 0.52 0.054 12.5 5.69 7.6 0.076 2.23 91.6 8.56 2.38 1,974 6.16 16.2 3.55 3.89 85.5 0.0092 9.06 0.192 1.36 3.55 14 3.65 3.86 2.34 5.76 3.8 3.09 11.3 5.35 3.12 160 8.73 1,545 1.51 0.435 45.8 83 6.33 2.31 1.14 3.17 0.385

7.86 46.2 1.47 0.52 0.047 11.48 5.32 7.31 0.063 2.14 90.5 8.55 2.38 1,943 6.13 15.98 3.44 3.72 82 0.0092 9.01 0.186 1.35 3.45 14 3.55 3.7 2.18 5.6 3.69 2.98 11 5.34 3.12 159.1 8.6 1,500 1.48 0.42 44.95 81.6 6.25 2.25 1.11 3.15 0.375

SERVICES 8 189,400 46.5 3,300 1.47 8,000 0.52 688,000 0.054 512,130,000 12.4 10,800 5.32 22,600 7.5 5,328,700 0.072 248,530,000 2.19 4,525,000 91.3 1,008,990 8.56 33,200 2.38 1,000 1,950 77,105 6.13 72,400 16.2 3,700 3.51 598,000 3.79 137,000 84.65 5,444,030 0.0092 2,000,000 9.04 281,000 0.189 9,590,000 1.35 44,000 3.49 193,000 14 1,500 3.58 341,000 3.81 2,353,000 2.22 453,000 5.75 2,368,900 3.76 459,000 2.98 5,825,000 11.28 16,900 5.35 6,100 3.12 55,000 160 25,530 8.68 189,000 1,500 141,810 1.51 6,849,000 0.43 2,900,000 45 5,721,700 81.6 721,550 6.3 32,800 2.29 1,046,000 1.13 4,009,000 3.16 148,000 0.385 230,000

1,510,446 153,600 12,470 357,760 25,701,940 128,184 120,812 39,954,153 17,594,920 9,876,040 92,081,694 284,072 2,380 150,374,505 444,920 59,346 2,103,650 514,750 461,157,638 18,400 2,539,500 1,804,210 59,610 670,030 21,000 1,225,970 8,944,250 1,015,250 13,552,800 1,715,110 17,556,980 189,742 32,634 171,600 4,084,710 1,635,381 214,837,640 10,298,800 1,241,350 257,566,955 59,469,686.50 205,973 2,386,000 4,500,200 467,260 86,450

70,740 52,000 335,900 2,917,451 65,000 218,300 -12,864,545.50 3,875,120 -70,000 107,617,554 -4,180 4,200 -737,760 -739,690 44,000 -3,837,718 -397,210 9,140 12,480 -33,600 11,260 27,918,250 4,530 -4,224,240 -17,393,789.50 -843,470 -33,080 -

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

0.0033 1.69 5.36 1.78 0.45 0.41 9.09 2.4 0.25 0.183 0.2 0.012 1.8 6.25 2.18 0.87 0.011 4.06 0.013 8.86 3.15 146.4 2.8

0.0034 1.85 5.41 1.84 0.475 0.41 9.15 2.45 0.255 0.184 0.2 0.012 1.8 6.39 2.18 0.88 0.012 4.06 0.014 8.92 3.21 146.9 2.8

0.0033 1.69 5.36 1.78 0.45 0.4 8.81 2.38 0.248 0.182 0.191 0.012 1.8 6.2 2.06 0.87 0.011 4.05 0.013 8.8 3.15 142.9 2.76

MINING & OIL 0.0033 259,000,000 1.71 2,802,000 5.37 73,300 1.84 9,000 0.45 780,000 0.405 1,370,000 9.14 18,700 2.38 1,693,000 0.25 1,560,000 0.182 2,040,000 0.191 950,000 0.012 900,000 1.8 1,000 6.37 2,451,800 2.12 282,000 0.88 145,000 0.011 132,800,000 4.05 50,000 0.014 103,500,000 8.92 1,841,000 3.2 522,000 143.2 868,520 2.76 84,000

855,100 4,876,120 394,349 16,130 351,750 553,300 168,919 4,052,070 387,060 372,820 181,790 10,800 1,800 15,553,330 593,010 126,300 1,476,900 202,800 1,345,600 16,369,084 1,656,650 124,653,934 235,030

-1,447,880 -2,146 -1,351,300 -8,682,893 6,565,493.00 -51,609,651 -

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

45.95 529 539 106 108 115 5.86 1,021 1,045 1,072 104.4 2.2 80 76.5 77.95 79.8 78.75 77.9

45.95 529 539 106 108 118 5.89 1,022 1,045 1,072 105 2.2 81 76.5 78.5 79.8 78.75 78

45.95 529 539 105.1 107.1 115 5.86 1,021 1,045 1,072 104.4 2.2 79.7 76.5 77.95 79.8 78.75 77.9

PREFERRED 45.95 3,600 529 1,500 539 10 105.1 710 107.1 10,000 118 2,300 5.86 1,517,000 1,021 570 1,045 5,000 1,072 5 105 5,700 2.2 10,000 80 19,000 76.5 2,000 78.5 4,930 79.8 200 78.75 3,580 78 17,750

165,420 793,500 5,390 74,632 1,072,845 269,900 8,900,520 581,975 5,225,000 5,360 596,280 22,000 1,521,700 153,000 384,944.50 15,960 281,925 1,383,900

165,420 -6,379,820 22,000 145,350 -

LR WARRANT

2.07

2.09

2.05

WARRANTS 2.05 143,000

294,120

-

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

3.92 6.9 9.08

4.07 6.95 9.25

3.9 6.6 9.06

SME 4.05 6.9 9.13

797,070 494,984 34,018,774

-26,346,824

121.2

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 119.6 121.1 7,160

865,772

-

NAME

OPEN

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

4.59 23.5 1.68 3.26 29.05 1.01 0.87 4.8

FIRST METRO ETF 119.6

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS PROPERTY SERVICES MINING & OIL GRAND TOTAL

SHARES

202,000 73,800 3,727,500

VALUE

8,376,809 826,886,353.95 103,295,740 1,134,726,495.188 139,317,458 1,730,234,504.8135 415,939,674 705,918,030.359 826,561,068 1,534,928,131.015 514,686,248 174,467,158.618 2,012,187,457 6,143,337,273.9405

FINANCIAL 1,827.99 (UP) 7.01 INDUSTRIAL 11,086.63 (UP) 50.44 HOLDING FIRMS 7,291.15 (UP) 32.58 PROPERTY 3,244.68 (UP) 14.36 SERVICES 1,479.96 (UP) 3.29 MINING & OIL 11,928.69 (DOWN) 68.23 PSEI 7,278.60 (UP) 24.81 All Shares Index 4,386.08 (UP) 12.26 Gainers:102; Losers:76; Unchanged: 47; Total: 225

the year First Gen achieved its highest net income. We are optimistic that this trend will continue with the addition of our two newest natural gas–fired plants – the 414-MW [megawatt] San Gabriel Flex Plant and the 97-MW Avion Peaking Plant – that will deliver full year operations this year, alongside marked improvements in the operations of EDC’s 100-percent renewable portfolio,” First Gen president and chief operating officer Francis Giles Puno said.

First Gen’s 414-MW San Gabriel natural gas plant in Batangas and Energy Development Corp.’s 140-MW BacMan geothermal plant, booked non-recurring income in 2016.

EDC and First Gen Hydro Power Corp. also delivered higher earnings that were supplemented by cost-saving initiatives throughout the company.

First Gen’s consolidated revenues from the sale of electricity decreased to $1.56 billion in 2016 from $1.84 billion in the previous year.

The 1,000-MW Santa Rita and the 500-MW San Lorenzo natural gas-fired power plants in Batangas accounted for $827 million, or 53 percent of First Gen’s total consolidated revenues.

First Gen said Sta. Rita and San Lorenzo’s revenues were 23 percent lower than their contribution of $1.08 billion in 2015 because of lower fuel pass-through prices, worsened by the lower combined dispatch of the gas plants at 75 percent in 2016 versus 81 percent in 2015.

Travellers registered lower profit last year TRAVELLERS International Hotel Group Inc., the owner and operator of resort and gaming complex Resorts World Manila, said net income in 2016 declined 15 percent to P3.46 billion from P4.06 billion in 2015, on higher finance cost brought about by the depreciation of the peso against the US dollar.

TIHGI said in a regulatory filing with the stock exchange net revenues climbed 2 percent to P25.09 billion from P24.6 billion in 2015.

Gaming revenues, which accounted for the bulk of sales, declined 2.3 percent to P23.6 billion, on a 10.4-percent volume drop.

Revenues from hotel and food and beverage businesses increased 6.4 percent to P2.62 billion in 2016, as all hotels within Resorts World Manila registered occupancy rates of more than 80 percent.

TIHGI’s finance cost more than doubled to P1.45 billion because of unrealized foreign exchange losses on the outstanding $300-million bond given the depreciation of the peso.

“We are confident that the diversity of our non-gaming businesses and attractive entertainment offerings set us apart as a tourism destination,” TIHGI president and chief executive Kingson Sian said.

“This will enable us to deliver continued growth and stable financial performance in the years to come,” he said.

Total room count of the three hotels (Maxims Hotel, Remington Hotel and Marriott Hotel Manila) increased to 1,454, with the addition of 228 premier rooms and suites from the Marriott West Wing which formally opened in November 2016.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Standard

TODAY

IN BRIEF ‘New approach to North Korea required’ TOKYO―US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Thursday that two decades of efforts to stop North Korea’s nuclear ambitions have not worked and that a new approach is needed.

“I think it’s important to recognise that the political and diplomatic efforts of the past 20 years to bring North Korea to the point of denuclearization have failed,” he told a press conference with Japan’s foreign minister.

“In the face of the ever escalating threat it is clear that a new approach is required.”

He also said that the US will continue to work closely with Japan and South Korea in countering the North Korean threat, but also extended an olive branch to the country’s people.

“North Korea and its people need not fear the United States or its neighbors,” he said, suggesting that criticism was aimed at the regime in Pyongyang.

He also called on China, where he will visit on Saturday, to do more to pressure its ally North Korea.

“We do believe they have a very important role to play,” Tillerson said.

“We will be having discussions with China as to the other actions that they should be undertaking.” AFP

Study: Barrier Reef may never recover PARIS―Australia’s Great Barrier Reef may never recover from last year’s warming-driven coral bleaching, says a study that called for urgent action in the face of ineffective conservation efforts.

Record-high temperatures in 2015 and 2016 drove an unprecedented bleaching episode, which occurs when stressed corals expel the algae that live in their tissue and provide them with food.

Bleached coral is more susceptible to disease, and without sufficient time to recover -- which can take one decade or several depending on the species -- it can die.

For the new study released late Wednesday, an Australian-led team examined the impact of three major bleaching events -- in 1998, 2002 and 2016 -- over the reef’s entire 2,300-kilometer length.

In 2016, they found, the proportion of constituent reefs experiencing extreme bleaching was over four times higher than in the two previous episodes.

Only nine percent escaped bleaching altogether, compared with more than 40 percent in 2002 and 1998.

“The chances of the northern Great Barrier Reef returning to its pre-bleaching assemblage structure are slim given the scale of damage that occurred in 2016 and the likelihood of a fourth bleaching event occurring within the next decade or two as global temperatures continue to rise,” the team wrote. AFP

Trump eyes cuts to US foreign aid WASHINGTON―President Donald Trump will propose drastic cuts to America’s foreign aid and environmental programs in a security-heavy first budget blueprint to be released later Thursday.

In a plan designed to translate bold campaign promises into dollar and cent commitments, the Republican leader will propose a 28 percent cut in State Department funding.

That could be a harbinger of steep reductions in foreign aid and funding to UN agencies, with knock-on effects around the world.

The Pentagon will be the major winner with a nearly 10 percent boost -- shoveling more cash toward a defense budget already greater than that of the next seven nations combined.

Separately, around $4 billion will be earmarked this year and next to start building a wall on America’s southern border.

Trump has repeatedly claimed that Mexico will pay for that wall -- which will cost at least $15 billion, according to estimates by the Bernstein Research group, a consultancy firm.

Trump’s broad-brush proposal covers only a fraction of the $3.8 trillion federal budget -- which is dominated by health care, pension and other baked-in costs.

The text will be heavily revised and fleshed out by Congress, before a full budget is released around May. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

Manila

FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017

B3

Judge blocks new travel ban H ONOLULU―A federal court in Hawaii on Wednesday halted Donald Trump’s revised executive order temporarily closing US borders to refugees and nationals from six Muslim-majority countries, dealing the president a humiliating defeat.

The ruling means a nationwide freeze on enforcement of a ban on entry by the nationals of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. It also halts a 120-day suspension of the US refugee admissions program.

US District Judge Derrick Watson ruled that the state of Hawaii, in its legal challenge, had established a strong likelihood that the ban would cause “irreparable injury” were it to go ahead.

Trump quickly vowed to fight the “flawed” ruling all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary, describing it as “unprecedented judicial overreach.”

Warrant issued for four N. Koreans KUALA LUMPUR―Interpol has issued an international arrest warrant for four North Koreans wanted by Malaysian investigators in connection with the assassination of Kim Jong-Nam, the country’s police chief said Thursday.

The estranged half-brother of North Korea’s leader Kim JongUn was poisoned with the lethal nerve agent VX in a brazen Cold War-style killing on February 13 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Two women -- one Vietnamese and one Indonesian -- have been arrested and charged with the murder. Airport CCTV footage shows them approaching the victim and apparently smearing his face with a piece of cloth.

Investigators are also seeking seven North Korean suspects, four of whom left Malaysia on the day of the murder. The police chief has said he believes they fled to Pyongyang while the other three are hiding in North Korea’s embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

“We have... obtained a red notice for the four North Korean nationals who were at the airport on the day of the incident and who have since left,” police chief Khalid Abu Bakar told reporters.

“We... are hoping to get them through Interpol.”

The red notice alerts police in Interpol member countries to share any information on the suspects with a view to potentially arresting and extraditing them to face justice. North Korea is not part of that network.

The Interpol notice posted online shows four North Korean men aged between 32 and 56 years old. They are named as Hong Song Hak, Ri Ji Hyon, O Jong Gil and Ri Jae Nam. Pyongyang has denounced the Malaysian investigation as an attempt to smear the secretive regime, insisting that the 45-year-old most likely died of a heart attack.

Seoul has blamed Pyongyang for his death, but the North has rejected those claims and has never confirmed the identity of the victim, who was carrying a passport bearing the name of Kim Chol when he was attacked.

Malaysia officially confirmed his identity on Friday, later revealing that authorities used his fingerprints and a DNA sample from one of his children to do so.

The killing has triggered a bitter row between Malaysia and North Korea, which have expelled each other’s ambassadors.

Three Malaysian embassy staff and six family members are stranded in Pyongyang after North Korea barred Malaysians from leaving the country last week, prompting a tit-for-tat move by Kuala Lumpur.

Kim’s wife and children, who were living in exile in the Chinese territory of Macau, went into hiding after the murder.

There are fears his 21-year-old son, Kim Han-Sol, could be targeted next. AFP

“The law in the constitution gave the president the power to suspend immigration when he deems it to be in the national interest of our country,” he said at a speech in Nashville, Tennessee, adding: “We are going to win.”

The Hawaii court said, however, it would not stay its decision in the event of an appeal, meaning the ban cannot go ahead as planned on Thursday regardless of any action the White House takes.

The court in Honolulu was the first to rule in a trio of legal challenges against the ban, which had been set to go into effect at midnight.

A federal court in Seattle later

granted a separate emergency motion from Washington and Oregon states for a “14-day temporary restraining order,” also citing “irreparable harm.”

The arguments advanced against the ban by the two northwestern states are “likely to succeed,” court documents read.

The Seattle restraining order has no practical effect beyond what had already been set in motion in Hawaii.

The Trump administration’s wide-ranging initial travel restrictions imposed on January 27 were slapped down by the federal courts, after sparking a legal, political and logistical furor.

Trump signed a revised ban behind closed doors on March 6 with a reduced scope, exempting Iraqis and permanent US residents but maintaining the temporary ban on the other six countries and refugees.

The White House said those six

INVITATION TO BID FOR THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF ONE (1) UNIT MERCURY ANALYZER The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB R-XIII), through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites suppliers/manufacturers/distributors/contractors to apply for eligibility and if found eligible, to bid for the hereunder contract: Name of Contract Location Brief Description Approved Budget for the Contract Source of Funds Delivery Schedule

: : :

SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF ONE (1) UNIT MERCURY ANALYZER Purok 5, Barangay Ambago, Butuan City Technical and Scientific Equipment

: Php 3,000,000.00( inclusive of 12% VAT) : Fund 101 : 30 days

countries were targeted because their screening and information capabilities could not meet US security requirements.

Judge Watson however rejected the White House claim that the order wasn’t a Muslim ban, ruling that it would not be a leap “to conclude that targeting these countries likewise targets Islam” given their Muslim populations ranging from 90.7 percent to 99.8 percent.

The judge made reference to several examples of Trump explicitly framing proposed action on immigration in religious language, including a March 2016 interview during which the then presidentelect said: “I think Islam hates us.”

“Mr. Trump was asked, ‘Is there a war between the West and radical Islam, or between the West

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE SALE OF THE MACTAN LOAD-END SUBSTATION OF THE NATIONAL TRANSMISSION CORPORATION (TransCo) TO MACTAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC. (MECO), AS COVERED BY A CONTRACT TO SELL DATED 23 DECEMBER 2015, ERC CASE NO. 2016-206 RC NATIONAL TRANSMISSION CORPORATION (TransCo) AND MACTAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC. (MECO), Applicants.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

With the following specifications: 1. has a stand alone unit only for Mercury Analysis- Cold Vappor Technique 2. has a sample treatment section with at most 80 samples 3. has Turntable Drive System 4. has Infra-red radiation heater as heating method 5. has Acid-resistant Aluminum Sample Tray 6. has heating temperature of 95±5°C (within 90min) 7. has a Cooling fan (Room temperature-10°C) for Cooling Method 8. has Magnetic stirrer on its stirring method 9. has a Photo Sensor for “with/without sample and KmnO4 color” (one hour after light source turned ON) 10. has Glass (50pcs) *Disposable tube is also available as sample containers (190 to 1100nm,one hour after light source turned ON) 11. has Reagent-resistance resin bubbler 12. has a Reagent dispenser section Delivered with a tube pump 13. has the capacity to dispense Sulfuric acid, Nitric acid, Potassium permanganate solution, Peroxide potassium disulfate solution, Hydroxylamine hydrochloride solution, Tin (II) chloride solution, Distilled water 14. has an Adjustible Dispensing volume System 15. Mercury detecting section whose Measurement principle is Non-dispersive double-beam cold vapor atomic absorption 16. with measurement method of Reducing vaporization with open air-supply (Peak height measuring and integration measuring selectable) 17. has a Low pressure mercury discharge lamp as light source with a wavelenght of 253.7nm and Phototube Detector 18. with detection limit of 0.0025ng/5mL (0.5ppt) and maximum range of 500ng/5mL (100 ppb) *5ppt in case of including chemical treatment 19. with measuring time of 120sec~300sec 20. with Absorption by activated carbon for mercury removal 21. with Lock system (Running) Safety System 22. with exhaust capacity of 1.6~1.8m3/min (Sirocco fan) 23. with Data processing system 24. with display of Peak wave shape, Calibration curve, Measuring time and Measuring result 25. with Start/stop measuring: Controllable Pretreatment conditions: Heating conditions setup (Heating temperature, heating time), Reagent dispensing volume setup 26. with data processing system of Selectable from 6 formulas (3 linear and 3 3rd Order fits), Correlation Coefficient is automatically calculated. Statistic calculation: Mean value, Standard deviation, Coefficient of variation (All values are automatically calculated.)

27. with the ability to print Measuring conditions, Calibration curve, Measured values, Statistical calculations, Peak wave shape and Measuring time 28. has Quality Check System that Check standard and Avoid abnormally high mercury etc.

29. with Full onsite warranty which also covers the supply of spare parts and option of further warranty, from the date of installation.

30. with complete site preparation, mounting and installation of the Mercury analyzer and complete and appropriate exhaust system suitable for the Mercury Analyzer carried out by supplier.

31. with instrument training for two (2) laboratory personnel at manufacturers site and installation site in the instrument operation, maintenance and basic troubleshooting 32. with Instrument qualification services (IQ/OQ) providing initial and ongoing verification that meets regulatory requirement and with provided necessary certificates with this regard 33. with Supplier’s commitment to meet the supply of spare parts for at least seven to ten years of satisfactory operation, Service technician should be available at all times when instrument problem arises and necessary declaration in this regard should be provided.

34. with instrument training for two (2) laboratory personnel at installation site in the instrument operation, maintenance and basic troubleshooting Prospective bidders should have completed, within One to Two years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, at least one (1) single contract of similar nature.

The bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures and shall use a non-discretionary “Pass/Fail” criteria as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of RA 9184.

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 28 December 2016, National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) and Mactan Electric Company, Inc. (MECO) filed a Joint Application dated 13 December 2016 (Joint Application) seeking the Commission’s approval of the sale of the Mactan Load-End Substation.

TransCo and MECO alleged the following in their Joint Application: 1.

TransCo is a government-owned-and-controlled corporation created and existing by virtue of R.A No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), with principal office address at the TransCo Main Building, Quezon Avenue cor. BIR Rd., Diliman, Quezon City. It may be served with pleadings, notices, orders and other documents through its undersigned counsel.

2.

MECO is a private distribution utility (DU), organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines with principal office address in Sangi Rd., Pajo, Lapu-lapu, Cebu City, Philippines. It may be served with pleadings, notices, orders and other documents through its undersigned counsel.

3.

By virtue of Section 8 of the EPlRA, TransCo assumed the electrical transmission functions of the National Power Corporation (NPC) and it was authorized and made to assume the responsibility of NPC for the planning, construction and centralized operation and maintenance of high voltage transmission facilities, including grid interconnections and ancillary services.

4.

Section 8 of the EPIRA and Rule 6, Section 8 (e) of the EPIRA Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) also mandate the segregation of the transmission and sub-transmission functions and assets for transparency and disposal, and authorize Transco to negotiate for, and to transfer such sub-transmission assets and facilities to qualified distribution utility/ies (DUs) and Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)-authorized entities.

5.

Pursuant thereto, this Honorable Commission promulgated the “Guidelines to the Sale and Transfer of the TransCo’s Sub-transmission Assets and the Franchising of Qualified Consortiums” (ERC Guidelines) dated 17 October 2003.

6.

Consistent with the ERC Guidelines, TransCo has adopted its own Guidelines on the Sale of Sub-transmission Assets (TransCo Guidelines) [Annex “A”], as approved via TransCo Board Resolution No. TC-2003-067 dated 28 November 2003 [Annex “A-1”], as further amended by TransCo Board Resolution No.TC-2004-009 dated 16 March 2004 [Annex “A-2”]

7.

On 06 July 2011, this Honorable Commission issued Resolution No. 15, Series of 2011 entitled “A Resolution Adopting TransCo’s Sub-transmission Assets and the Acquisition by Qualified Consortiums.”

8.

In accordance with the ERC Guidelines, and based on its thorough evaluation, TransCo has determined that the Mactan Load-end Substation is a subtransmission asset. Copies of the Report on the nature of the asset, List of asset/s for sale to MECO and the Electrical diagram are attached as Annexes “B”, “C” and “D,” respectively.

9.

MECO possesses the technical and financial qualifications to acquire, operate, maintain, expand and upgrade the subject asset, as evidenced by its Audited Income Statement as of 31 December 2013 [Annex “E”], as well as the Technical [Annex “F”] and Financial Qualification Evaluations [Annex “G”] conducted by TransCo.

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference(s), Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR).

The complete schedule of activities is listed as follows: Activities 1. Advertisements 2. Pre-Bid Conference 3. Receipts of Bids Deadline 4. Opening of Bids 4. Bid Evaluation 5. Post-Qualification 6. Notice of Award 7. Contract Signing 8. Notice to Proceed

Date March 17, 2017 March 24, 2017 March 31, 2017 March 31, 2017 April 7, 2017 April 14, 2017 April 21 2017 April 28, 2017 May 5, 2017

Schedule

Time 10:00AM (PST) 1:00PM (PST) 1:30PM (PST

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Office at EMB Regional Office located at Purok 5, Barangay Ambago, Butuan City.

Prospective bidders shall submit the Eligibility Requirements to the BAC at the said address. They may also obtain the results of the Eligibility Check by the BAC at the same address.

The BAC will issue Bidding Documents on to bidders declared by the BAC to be eligible for the bidding upon payment of non-refundable amount of Five Thousand Pesos Only ( P 5,000.00) to EMB Cashier. Bid documents may also be downloaded free of charge from the PhilGEPs and Procuring Entity website provided that the Bidder shall pay the above mentioned fee not later that the submission of its bids.

The EMB R-XIII shall assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids and reserve the right to accept or reject any Bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all Bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected Bidder or Bidders.

Approved by: (SGD) ALBERT G. ARCAMO Chief, EME Division BAC Chairman (MS-MAR. 17, 2017)

PUBLIC INFORMATION SHEET FOR DIRECT USE AS FOOD AND FEED, OR FOR PROCESSING PROPOSAL FOR DIRECT SE AS FOOD AND FEED, OR FOR PROCESSING SYHT0H2 Soybean 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Applicant’s Name Syngenta Philippines, Inc. Bayer CropScience, Inc. Applicant’s Address Syngenta Philippines, Inc.* 12th Floor, Two World Square, # 22 Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, 1630 Philippines Bayer CropScience, Inc. 3/F Bayer House, Canlubang Industrial Estate, Calamba, Laguna 4028 Philippines *Syngenta is the primary contact for all correspondences concerning SYHT0H2 soybean.

Telephone Number/ Facsimile Number, E-Mail Address of the Applicant Tel. +63 2 370 2100; Fax: +63 2 856 9260; E-mail: c/o ba_cau.duong@syngenta.com Name of Responsible Officer/Authorized Representative Duong Ba Cau, President and Commercial Unit Head, Philippines Felipe S. dela Cruz, Jr., Country Manager, Regulatory Affairs, Seeds, Philippines Celsa Quimio, Registration Manager SEA, Bayer CropScience, Inc., Seeds Description of the Regulated Article for Direct Use Soybean with Event SYHT0H2 was genetically modified using Agrobacterium tumefaciensmediated transformation. It contains two novel genes. The first, the pat gene, encodes the phosphinothricin (PAT) enzyme which when expressed in plants, acetylates L-phosphinothricin, the active form of the glufosinate-ammonium herbicide, resulting in post-emergence tolerance.

The second gene, the avhppd-03 gene, encodes the p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase enzyme (AvHPPD-03). AvHPPD-03 has reduced binding affinity to certain HPPD-inhibiting herbicides compared to native soybean HPPD. When expressed in soybean, AvHPPD-03 results in pre- and post-emergence tolerance to HPPD-inhibiting herbicides, such as mesotrione.

Soybean Event SYHT0H2 is a viable option for weed management in soybean production areas as pre- and post-emergence herbicide tolerant plant.

If to be imported, Country (ies) of Origin of the Regulated Article United States and/or Canada or from other countries which will have cultivation approvals in the future Brief Summary of Potential Effects on Human and Animal Health and the Environment SYHT0H2 soybean has been adequately assessed to demonstrate its safety as food and feed, and its safety to the environment. Analysis of nutritional components and composition profile of forage and seeds from SYHT0H2 soybean showed no differences from conventional soybean that would affect human or animal health. Feeding studies showed no adverse effect on broiler chicken fed with SYHT0H2 soybean meal. Based on allergenicity and toxicity studies specifically conducted to assess its safety and from data currently available from the scientific literatures, SYHT0H2 soybean is substantially equivalent to and is as safe as conventional soybean. It is essentially the same as its conventional counterpart, except for its built-in tolerance to glufosinate herbicide and to HPPD-inhibiting herbicides, such as mesotrione.

Brief Summary of Potential Benefits Since SYHT0H2 will be a traded commodity, the society will be the main beneficiary in case importation will be required to supply the industry with soybean and soybean products for food, feed, and processing. Soybean oil is used in a wide variety of food and is the predominant soybean-based product consumed by humans while soybean meal is widely used as a protein source in animal feed.

SYHT0H2 soybean will only be imported and will not be propagated in the Philippines. Use of imported soybean for food, feed and processing in the Philippines will not be affected by importation of this event.

Countries Where Approvals Have Been Granted (for FFP; for Commercial Propagation) Event SYHT0H2 was approved in United States (cultivation, food, feed, processing), Canada (cultivation, food, feed), Colombia (feed), Russia (food and feed), Belarus (food), Kazakhstan (food), South Africa (food, feed, processing), Mexico (food and feed), Australia/New Zealand (food), Korea (food, feed, environment), Japan (food), and Taiwan (food).

The public is hereby invited to submit their comments to the BPI Director (within 60 days from date of publication) on the Proposal for the Importation of SYHT0H2 Soybean for direct use as food and feed, or for processing Director Bureau of Plant Industry San Andres, Malate, Manila E-Mail bpibiotechsecretariat@yahoo.com Approved for Publication: ___________________________ VIVENCIO R. MAMARIL, PhD OIC-Director Bureau of Plant Industry Department of Agriculture San Andres, Manila Date:

(MS-MAR. 17, 2017)

and Islam itself?’ He replied: ‘It’s very hard to separate. Because you don’t know who’s who,’” the judge added.

In Greenbelt, Maryland, Judge Theodore Chuang was expected to rule on a separate complaint filed by advocacy groups claiming that the amended order discriminates against Muslims.

“In his mind, the danger of Muslims and the danger of refugees is all combined danger,” Omar Jadwat, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, said of the president.

The group said it was “pleased but not surprised” by the Hawaii ruling, while New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman hailed the decision as “yet another victory for the Constitution and the rule of law.” AFP

10. On 05 November 2015, the MECO Board of Directors passed a Board Resolution approving the proposed acquisition by MECO of TransCo’s Mactan load-end Substation, as well as the designation of the MECO Board Chairperson (Eusebio Tanco), MECO President (Dennis Villareal) and MECO Treasurer (Douglas Lu Ym) as authorized representative/s of MECO in the execution of the Contract to Sell. The same is evidenced by the Secretary’s Certificate dated 16 February 2016 [Annex “H “], duly signed by M. Alfredo Alex S. Cruz (Secretary) and Ms. Ma. Luz L. Caminero (Assistant Secretary).

11. On 23 December 2015, TransCo and MECO concluded a Contract to Sell [Annex “I”] covering the Mactan Load-end Sub-station amounting to EIGHT MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED TWENTY ONE AND 86/100, Philippine currency (PhP8,530,721.86), inclusive of the 12% value-added tax, net of adjustments and deductions, subject to further adjustments for any major capital improvements.

12. Said amount is based on the Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) 2008 rolled forward valuation [Annex “J”] pursuant to ERC Resolution No. 01, Series of 2009, as amended.

13. MECO is the only distribution utility connected to, and utilizing the Mactan Load-end Substation and there are no existing directly connected customers thereto, as shown in the attached Annex “K”.

14. TransCo and MECO also respectfully submit the Description of the Franchise Area Being Served [Annex “L”] and Draft Deed of Absolute Sale [Annex “M”] as part of the requirements provided in the ERC Guidelines.

15. The proposed sale has satisfied all of the requirements and criteria set by the EPIRA and its IRR, as well as the ERC and TrnsCo Guidelines on the Sale of Sub-transmission Assets.

16. The approval by this Honorable Commission of the instant Joint Application shall pave the way for the attainment of a reformed electricity industry under the EPlRA, which would ultimately best serve the interest of the consuming public.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission that, after due notice and hearing, a DECISION be rendered APPROVING the instant Joint Application pertaining to the sale of TransCo’s Mactan Load-end Substation in favor of Mactan Electric Company, Inc. under the terms provided in the Contract to Sell dated 23 December 2015.

Applicants also pray for other just and equitable reliefs.

The Commission has set the Joint Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 30 March 2017 (Thursday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.), at MECO’s principal office at Sangi Road, Pajo, Lapu-Iapu, Cebu City.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1)

The petitioner’s name and address;

2)

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

3)

A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicants rest their case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1)

The name and address of such person;

2)

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

3)

The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Joint Application may request from Applicants that they be furnished with the same prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicants are hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Joint Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Joint Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairman JOSE VICENTE B. SALAZAR, and the Honorable Commissioners ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 17th day of February 2017 in Pasig City.

(MS-MAR. 10 & 17, 2017)

ATTY. NATHAN J. MARASIGAN Chief of Staff Office of the Chairman and CEO

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

B4

FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Erap: Death for drug raps ‘is no issue’

By Sandy Araneta

M

ANILA Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada is supporting the bill in Congress imposing the death penalty on drugrelated offenses, saying he has no issue on it.

On Thursday, Estrada said the reimposition of capital punishment would serve as an antidote to the rising number of heinous crimes, particularly those committed by offenders who are under the influence of drugs.

“Well, drug-related crimes are more important,” Estrada said regarding his personal views about the passage of House Bill 4727 by Congress last March 7.

House Bill 4727 limits the imposition of the death sentence to drug-related crimes only.

“Fathers raping their own daughters, a mother strangling all her babies to death, it’s sad.

It’s all because of drugs,” the mayor said in expressing his support to the death penalty bill.

In Metro Manila alone, he stressed that 92 percent of crimes committed are related to drugs, based on the report of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Illegal drugs proliferated “because of the involvement of corrupt politicians who use drug money for their political interests,” Estrada said.

“Why are big drug labs in the

provinces are all spreading? Because during election time, governors, congressmen, mayors, councilors, and even barangay chairmen get their campaign funds from drug lords,” he pointed out.

Illegal drugs remain a big threat to the country’s peace and order and security, Estrada said. He has long supported calls to impose the death penalty against drug lords and drug traffickers, saying drugs “corrupt the minds of the youth and destroy their future.”

It was during his presidency when Leo Echegaray, a house painter, was executed via lethal injection on Feb. 5, 1999 for repeatedly raping his stepdaughter, becoming the first convict to be executed since the reimposition of death penalty in 1993 under the Ramos administration. Six more convicts were later put to death.

The death penalty was subsequently abolished in June 2006 during the term of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who now represents the second district of Pampanga in Congress.

Valenzuela reboots drug drive with VAD THE local government of Valenzuela and the Valenzuela City Police Station boosted its anti-drug campaign and beefed up the training of its police force for strong implementation of the laws.

Mayor Rex Gatchalian introduced a “more aggressive, less bloody” approach in implementing the Valenzuelano Ayaw sa Droga Reloaded, in preparation for the relaunch of “Oplan Double Barrel, Reloaded” of the Philippine National Police.

Members of the Northern Police District underwent a drug police operation training at the Valenzuela City External Services Office. The training was implemented by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, which highlighted the Basic Operations and Investigation on Drugs Basic Intelligence Gathering.

The authorities were also

briefed about Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and rules of evidence.

In August 2016, the local government and the VCPS launched VAD as a counterpart to the Oplan Double Barrel.

In conjunction of Valenzuela City’s own Valenzuela City Cares Plus or simply VC Cares Plus, the city sent 141 drug dependents to the Central Luzon Rehabilitation Center in Magalang, Pampanga, with 1,669 undergoing a community wellness program in every barangay.

The resumption of the nationwide anti-drug campaign prompted the Valenzuela PNP to intensify the VAD Reloaded, starting with the basic training of the local police force. Next in line target of the program is the clearing of 33 barangays in the city. Jun David

Quarry road to take load off Pampanga highways

By Romeo Dizon SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga— The Regional Development Council in Central Luzon will construct a quarry road along the Mega Dike in Pampanga exclusively for trucks carrying gravel and sand going to Metro Manila.

This would save millions of pesos for maintenance funds that can be utilized for the province’s development projects, the council said.

Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, chairman of RDC III, said the quarry road was agreed upon during a meeting of the council here with Severino Santos, regional director of National Economic and Development Authority as vice chairman of RDC, Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda, and second district Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Construction will start in 2018 upon approval of the RDC and Congress, Pamintuan said.

The megadike was constructed in 1996 after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991, to protect residents from lahar and debris coming from the mouth of the volcano, especially during the rainy season.

With a total length of 56 kilometers, the P1.5-billion megadike was constructed in 1996. With two access road, the dike starts

from Porac up to Minalin, with five exists in Angeles, Mabalacat, and San Fernando, Mexico and Sto. Domingo.

About 7,000 heavy dump trucks, mostly 12 to 18-wheelers, pass the various provincial roads 24/7 with their overweight loads that damage the pavement, especially the south lane going to Metro Manila that entails huge amounts for maintenance.

Pamintuan said in order to start the project immediately, the RDC will recommend a P20-million annual budget from the national government for the maintenance of the Sta. CruzManibaug-Porac-Angeles City road as seed fund.

If the government lacks money, the mayor said they will invite Ramon Ang of San Miguel Corp. to invest in the project through Private Public Partnership.

Gov. Pineda said the provincial government spends P100 million to maintain the provincial and municipal roads annually.

The construction of an alternate road “is the only way to save huge amounts of money for the annual maintenance of the provincial road, money that can be used for development projects of the province,” the governor said.

“These trucks can also cause accidents, traffic and noise pollution,” she added.

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor DINO DIRECTO III Asst. Editor

A MOTORING SUPPLEMENT FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017

C1

CHOOSING A GAS MISER

Fuel Economy Run 2016

By Alena Mae S. Flores

W

hich car runs the farthest on the least amount of fuel? Or to put it bluntly, which cars are gas guzzlers and which are not?

That P64-million question, time and again, has been asked by many including the Department of Energy which has been conducting fuel runs in an effort to find an answer.

Fuel efficiency has long been a policy of the Energy Department in a determined bid to achieve its two-pronged objective of giving consumers and automakers adequate information on the most fuel-efficient vehicles that fit their needs and budget.

Patrick Aquino, director of the Energy Utilization and Management Bureau, said the department jumpstarted the fuel economy run from 2002 to 2009 but relaunched it last year to promote Euro 4 fuels and support the Philippine Energy Standards and Labeling Program.

This year’s fuel economy run will be held in Mindanao and schedule permitting, the department hopes to have one or two more for Visayas and Luzon before the end of the year.

Aquino said the the government’s fuel efficiency program “strives to promote energy efficiency through empowering consumers with better information on vehicle fuel efficiency and encouraging car manufacturers to innovate and introduce more fuel-efficient cars.”

The energy official said that a big number of car companies took part in the fuel economy run last year, with 21 car companies fielding 70 vehicles.

Aquino said that through the program, the public is made aware of the fuel efficiency of vehicles available in the market.

“Apart from the fuel economy run, we promote vehicle maintenance and driving proficiency to improve consumption efficiency,” he said.

Aquino said the department will continuously work on improving fuel standards through the PNS similar to what was done in the Euro 4 compliance issuance.

The Philippines started making available Euro 4 compliant fuels in January 2016. Euro 4 fuels are more environmentfriendly as they contain significantly lesser amount of sulfur and benzene.

Aquino added that the government is also looking at expand-

ing the fuel efficiency programs to include electric vehicles.

“We are open to having e-vehicles to join the fuel economy run,” Aquino said.

The department has partnered with oil refiner Petron Corp. to hold a fuel-economy run last year.

Fuel Economy Rating certificates were issued to 22 car brands, which participated in the Euro 4 Fuel Economy Run, a pioneering event that promoted the fuel economy performance of vehicles and raise public awareness on the use of cleaner and more efficient Euro 4 fuels.

The 21 car companies deployed 70 models of various body types and engine displacements last May 27, 2016 to mark the 12th Fuel Economy Run. The participants traversed a preset route of 280-kilometers starting from Petron Clark station in Angeles City, Pampanga, through SCTEX (Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway), TPLEX (Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway), and back, in a controlled run to approximate standard driving conditions.

Fueled by Petron XCS (95RON), 27 out of 38 gasoline vehicles, or a significant 71 percent of the entries, produced fuel economy ratings exceeding 20 kilometers for every liter.

Of the vehicles powered by Petron Turbo Diesel, 21 out of 32 participants (66 percent) achieved over a mileage of 20 km/l.

The best performances were posted by Suzuki Celerio with 29.14 km/L using Petron XCS, and an Isuzu D-Max getting 38.46 km/L on Petron Turbo Diesel.

Car companies that received Fuel Economy Ratings include: Asianbrands Motors Corporation (Mahindra), Automobile Central Enterprise Inc. (Volkswagen), Bayan Automotive Industries Corporation (BAIC), Berjaya Auto Philippines (Mazda), British United Automobiles Inc., Columbian Autocar Corporation (Kia), Eurobrands Distributor Inc. (Peugeot), Ford Group Philippines, Foton Motor Philippines Inc., Honda Cars Philippines Inc., Hyundai Asia Resources Inc., Isuzu Philippines Corporation, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation, Motor Image Pilipinas Inc. (Subaru), TurnNissan to C2

C2

FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017

From C1 Energy officials and Petron crew set up equipment prior to the staging of the 2016 Fuel Economy Run. Courtesy of DOE

Tuned: Toyota 860 TOYOTA is launching a new special edition of its affordable sports car complete with a unique paint finish and some transmission tweaks.

The standard Toyota 86 (or GT86 depending where in the world you live) is a huge favorite with the Japanese tuner community thanks to its sprightly boxer engine, rear-wheel drive, classical wedge-shaped styling and the huge choice of aftermarket parts and accessories available for it.

However, with the new 860 Special Edition, Toyota is offering the car “tuned” as standard. It will come in either supernova Orange or Halo White (just 860 examples in each color) and with a host of external aerodynamic adjustments including a special rear spoiler, underbody aerodynamics, 17-inch alloy wheels and contrasting black racing stripes.

Inside there’s a leather interior, the infotainment system has been uprated to measure track performance including g-force in corners and torque curves and if you plump for the paddle-shift gearbox it comes with automatic rev matching to replicate heel-toeing the throttle and brake while downshifting.

“The 86 is recognized by enthusiasts for its impressive driving performance and its value-oriented price tag,” said John Myers, Toyota national manager vehicle marketing and communications. “The 860 Special Edition will amplify these core elements with an added dose of premium styling mixed with performance technology.” AFP

Philippines Inc., PGA Cars Inc. (Audi / Porsche), Pilipinas Taj Autogroup Inc. (Tata Motors), Suzuki Philippines Inc., The Covenant Car Company Inc. (Chevrolet), Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation, and Volvo Philippines.

Last year’s Euro 4 Fuel Economy Run was the first in the country and formed part of the department’s efforts to promote judicious utilization of energy.

Results of the run were intended to guide vehicle buyers by highlighting the importance of fuel economy rating apart from the vehicles’ performance, quality, and safety.

Euro 4 rated fuels are considered more environment friendly as they contain significantly lesser amount of pollutants such as sulfur and benzene, the Energy department said.

Results of the fuel also confirmed the TriActiv performance advantages of Petron’s specially-formulated Euro 4 fuels, including: (1) better engine protection for longer engine life; (2) better mileage for longer drives; and (3) improved power.

The fuel economy ratings achieved by a majority of the participating vehicles also validated Petron’s massive US $2-billion investment to upgrade its Bataan Refinery, according to the Energy department.

Crash-test dummy: Making cars safer CLAD in a blue t-shirt and shorts, the averagesize “man” is belted into a luxury Tesla Model S for a very short ride with a very abrupt end.

The collision sounded like an explosion and left the pristine electric car destroyed, glass and debris scattered around the sad remains.

The “man”—a technology-packed,

But testing those new technologies is “really going to be a challenge for us,” he said.

Of the new technology features, IIHS so far only tests the automatic emergency braking.

IIHS, which is funded by the insurance industry, and NHTSA, a federal agency, are the only organizations in the United States that

changes to the design for vehicles built after October in an effort to address the problems.

For the tests, IIHS technicians send the car down a 1,400-foot (430-meter) tunnel pulled by a cable, a system similar to a ski lift, and just before impact, it is released from its tether.

To the casual observer, the Tesla crash

Male and female crash-test dummy couple in a 2017 Toyota Corolla at the Transportation Research Center.

Promos galore A marketing war of sorts is raging in the auto industry. This time, Honda and Hyundai are pitting sales pitches after sales pitches in vigorous attempts to win over buyers before a tax hike could dampen sales.

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. bvrecently extended the final edition of its “Everybody Wins” campaign. Under the promo, all customers who inquire, test drive, reserve, or purchase a brand-new Honda vehicle (except for the all-new 1.5-liter Honda BR-V Navi CVT variant) until March 31 are entitled to a discount voucher of up to P100,000.

Customers can get their discount vouchers at the “Everybody Wins” jar at the reception area of any Honda dealership, with each voucher having a corresponding discount worth up to P100,000 which they can then use when they buy a Honda vehicle. While customers are only entitled to one coupon, it is transferable to another customer although the voucher is only valid until the end of the month.

An extra come-on allows existing Honda ownersto get entitled to other ongoing promotions

by visiting any Honda dealership nationwide.

For a closer look at HCPI’s lineup of vehicles, HCPI is also inviting everyone to visit the SM Mall of Asia Atrium from March 16 to 22 where its vehicles will be on display.

For its part, Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the authorized distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the country, wants its customers to go “CaRAZY for Hyundai” promo and save as much as P100,000 which they can then use as cash discount, down payment, or low monthly subsidies.

For a P27,ooo down payment, a customer can get the tiny yet agile Hyundai Eon while a down payment of P120,000 is good for a Hyundai Tucson. The Hyundai Grand Starex, meanwhile, can be had for a low down payment of P167,000.

Other financing deals, which include 0-percent interest payment terms, are also available for other Hyundai models through partnerships with BPI, Chinabank Savings, Eastwest Bank, May Bank, PNB, RCBC, Security Bank and BDO (Metro Manila only).

180-pound (80 kg) crash test dummy—was the victim of a single-car crash at 40 miles per hour (65 kilometers per hour) into a solid wall.

But the destruction is for the greater good.

The dummy’s sensors send a vast array of data to show how he fared.

They tell how hard and how fast his head and body hit the steering wheel; the extent to which airbags cushioned the blow; how well the seatbelt worked; and whether any other body parts suffered injuries.

The results are used by automakers to make safer vehicles, and the process has dramatically reduced the number of deaths in traffic accidents.

conduct crash tests.

With a budget of just over $5 million for the 80 high-speed crashes it conducts each year, IIHS estimates its test programs have contributed to a dramatic decline in death rates: fatalities were cut by more than half between 1990 and 2012, to just 65 for every one million vehicles from 143.

Real-world crashes “We look at the types of crashes that are injuring and killing real people right now on the

Car graveyard

Traffic deaths rising But contemporary driving habits are challenging traditional efforts to keep the death rate on a downward trajectory.

In 2015, traffic deaths showed the biggest increase since 1966, and were up even more in the first half of 2016, climbing by over 10 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Distracted driving, including texting or talking on a cell phone while driving, accounted for over 3,000 deaths in 2014, with over 400,000 injured, NHTSA said.

Automakers need to figure out how to avoid accidents resulting from things like driver inattention, said Joseph Noland, senior vice president of vehicle research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Carmakers are adding features like electronic stability control, forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking.

“These technologies are coming very, very quickly, and our studies show that many of them are very effective,” Noland told AFP.

looked terrifying, but the IIHS analysis will not be available for a week or two, at which point it will be clear whether Tesla was able to address the flaw and get a coveted top rating.

Jack R. Nerad, vice president at car reviewer Kelley Blue Book, told AFP the safety ratings are key for automakers because consumers gravitate towards the safer vehicles.

“They have changed car design very, very significantly. From the second they first hit the computer screen, the ratings are very important.”

roads, and then we develop tests to replicate that.”

The test that was used for the Tesla Model S, was a “small overlap” crash test first introduced in 2012 to simulate a crash into a pole or a tree. IIHS says many automakers have struggled with it.

The Tesla Model S did not receive the top rating of “good” in the initial test late last year, so the company requested a retest.

Manufacturers have to earn good ratings in all five crash tests to be considered an IIHS Top Safety Pick.

In last year’s test, the driver crashed into the steering wheel hard, because the seatbelt spooled out too far, IIHS said. Tesla made

Car enthusiasts would be driven to tears by the carnage on display at the IIHS testing center in rural central Virginia, two hours south of Washington, in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

There are smashed cars, trucks and SUVs lined up throughout the building, including a classic 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air, which was smashed into a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. Suffice to say the Bel Air is nice to look at but not safe to drive.

The institute works with other national testing organizations through the Global New Car Assessment Program to try to drive design changes worldwide.

The need for safety improvements in other countries was dramatically demonstrated when IIHS in October crashed a Mexicanmade Nissan Tsuru -- essentially the same as the 1992 US-made Nissan Sentra -- into a 2016 Nissan Versa, a top safety pick.

The result for the Tsuru driver, with no airbags or modern structural improvements, was devastating. Days before the test was to take place, Nissan announced it was suspending production of that model, one frequently used by Mexican taxi drivers.

FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017

Wind tunnel

What makes a

car fuel-efficient?

Text and photo by Dino Ray V. Directo III

FASTLANE W

ith the volatility of the global oil market, the consumers are at the mercy of oil manufacturers. It is as if oil companies are playing jokes on us because after a series of oil price roll backs of less than 90 centavos, they will increase pump prices by a peso. Well, this writer is no rocket scientist, but this is a perspective shared by most consumers.

In this regard, consumers take into account this development and choosing the most fuel efficient automobile out there is a close second to a car’s aesthetics. With the numerous variants being sold in the market, a consumer once asked me, what makes a car fuel efficient?

There are many factors, and the foremost fea-

PIAA is a cut above the rest With research and development gained from motorsports campaigns such as being the official lighting system of Team Mitsubishi Ralliart; Team ADVAN-Tein Subaru, NakajimaEpson Racing and a domineering presence in the Paris-Dakar and Japan Super GT, PIAA upholds the knowledge gained by combining market driven concepts with the latest technology to make night, inclement weather, and off-road driving as safe as possible. PIAA technicians continually raise the bar on visibility products, which is evident in their latest line of LED lighting systems.

PIAA has always been committed to providing quality products that drive customer satisfaction with their line of LED headlights and fog lamps. A special beam “cutline” is what differentiates PIAA technology from the competition.

The beam of light is clear; and a directional frontal burst is engineered to not inconvenience oncoming motorists.

Illuminate your driving lifestyle with PIAA at these dealers: Autoplus EDSA, Atoy Bodykits in West Avenue Q.C., BLADE, CKT Autoshop in San Juan, Roadstar BGC and at 199 Offroad House.

Subaru drive and save Motor Image Pilipinas, Inc., the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in the Philippines, is sweetening the deal of the “Drive and Save” promo that allows buyers to save as much as P200,000 when they purchase a Subaru XV. To pump it up further, they’re even throwing in a FREE CROSSTREK AERO KIT for every XV purchase made from March 10-26, 2017.

Customers will enjoy offerings such as Down Payment for as low as P98,000, Free Chattel Mortgage Fee, Free Insurance and Free LTO Registration when they purchase the 2.0iS or the 2.0i Subaru XV, with both variants equipped with the popular Subaru Boxer Engine, CVT and Symmetrical AllWheel Drive System (SAWD). The CrossTrek Aero kit that comes free consists of a Front Underlip Spoiler, Rear Underlip Spoiler, Side Skirts and Rear Roof Spoiler.

C3

ture of what makes a car fuel efficient is its aerodynamics. “Aerodynamics play a crucial role in how a car becomes fuel efficient. By having an aerodynamic design, an automobile actually has to push the air out of its way because of the sheer thickness of the air. By allowing air to be pushed out at optimal levels, the car flows through easily with the least amount of air and less amount of fuel,” says Joseph Bautista, product development head of Isuzu Philippines Corporaton (IPC).

Your car’s speed and your driving method are also important factors in how to make your ride fuel efficient. In my personal experience as a winner of numerous fuel efficiency contests, the magic number is to keep the speed below 90kph during highway driving.

On urban duties, 40 kph will clinch it and always anticipate traffic flow and gradually ease into the next traffic stop. Avoid jack rabbit starts because this will cause your car to sip more fuel. One must also learn to relax and depress the accelerator as if there is an egg behind it.

Choosing the engine type is also a crucial element on how to be fuel efficient. Diesel is more efficient than gasoline engines. Coupled with that, the amount of power that the engine

creates also determines the fuel economy. A four cylinder engine will be more efficient than a V6 or V8 engine.

Another determining factor for fuel efficiency is the car’s size and weight. This explains why sub compact cars are selling like hotcakes because aside from being affordable, they also consume fuel like a camel. The bigger and heavier the car, the more energy and power it needs to run. The ability of the car to achieve speeds and carry the mass of the vehicle as well as that of passengers and cargo is dependent on the power it can generate. As a result, bulky vehicles tend to be less fuel efficient.

An axle ratio also has a heavy impact on the amount of fuel efficiency that can be derived from a car. Many vehicles do not come with the option of getting to pick from a variety of axle ratios, but for those that do, it is advisable to pick the combination with the smallest numbers, as this means there will be greater fuel economy. A smaller degree of axle ratio means the vehicle will be able to run smoothly at a distance, and the engine will function at a lower intensity for a prolonged standard speed. One should look for an axle ratio of around 3:1 or lower.

The station wagon returns IN recent years we have been witnessing the inexorable rise and rise of the SUV. These big beasts are now ubiquitous on our roads. But here and there, displayed on stands mostly recently at the Geneva motor show a rarity appeared: the humble station wagon.

Volvo rolled out its sleek and low V90. Mercedes showed off its AMG E63 S wagon, a family-sized car with a 603hp performance attitude and a price likely to top £80,000 ($100,000).

The estate car or station wagon was once the only alternative to sedans and thus sought after.

Since the inexorable rise of the mighty SUV though the wagon has become an increasingly rare sight. As seen at the shows, this alternative load-carrier is poised for a remarkable renaissance.

Unlike sports cars or hot hatchbacks, these machines were not very sexy to begin with.

When the SUV came along with the same cargo space in a tougher, taller package, buyers flocked to them.

So why the sudden appearance of new sedans with extra room on the back? In fact, there has always been consistent, if niche, demand. So although some brands have dropped the wagon others have seen it as an opportunity.

“There’s a fundamental demand level that doesn’t fluctuate much,” said IHS Market Senior Analyst Stephanie Brinley. “It’s enough for the players who are left to see some healthy take.”

The small section of drivers who are still keen for a wagon are seen as the best customers in the car business. They are more educated, it is believed, more affluent, and more loyal than other buyers, dispelling the station wagon cli-

ché of a few decades back.

A station wagon is a marvel of financial engineering, as much as mechanical. With higher prices and virtually zero added cost, its unit economics are usually better than those of conventional cars. The Volvo V90 in full dress trim costs the thick end of £54,000 ($66,000), for example, and is a hushed, quick cruiser.

It helps that today’s station wagons are incredible. Long gone are the days when these machines where equated with dullness. The latest cars have impressive driving dynamics

and this is where wagons still beat their taller siblings. The segment is getting sportier. Take Audi’s RS6 Avant, costing around the same as the AMG E63. Not only does it carry the family and their luggage, it is also one of the fastest cars of any type on the road.

New station wagons are even coming from prestigious brands like Porsche. No longer the drudges of old, these cars now come with powerful engines, vast trunks and even allwheel drive and offer a real alternative to the high and mighty SUV.

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor DINO DIRECTO III Asst. Editor

A MOTORING SUPPLEMENT

C4

FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017

four cylinder engine.

Bentley EXP 12 Speed 6e

Bentley says this plug-in electric convertible is simply a way of testing customers’ appetite for an electrified car. But it is also the strongest sign yet that the company is going to introduce another new model line that will be marketed as a more compact, sporty two-seat alternative to the larger, four-seat Continental GT.

Hyundai FE Fuel Cell Concept

The fuel cell car is only just rolling out to consumers beyond California’s borders but Hyundai is already thinking about the next generation of hydrogen powered cars. “Our FE Fuel Cell Concept is an important evolution of our pioneering hydrogen leadership, and moves us closer to our vision for a ‘Hydrogen Society’, where transportation is clean, efficient and enhances the lives of our customers,” said Hyundai Vice Chairman, Woong Chul Yang.

Infiniti Q60 Black S Concept

Of all the concepts on show this year, this one’s simply a couple of signatures away from being a reality. Based on the Q60, this Infiniti has been endowed with the hybrid system developed for F1 plus some serious external aerodynamic improvements giving the car’s V6 engine as much as 25% more power.

Concept cars inat focus Geneva

Peugeot

Mercedes-AMG GT Concept

Aston Martin Rapide AMR

Renault

Aston plans to launch a new subbrand that takes technology developed on the track and brings it to the tarmac.

To show what it has in mind it unveiled the Rapide AMR, a four-door fastback with enhanced track credentials and a 600PS V12 under the vented hood that gives the car a 210mph top speed, making it potentially the fastest four-door road car in the world.

Audi Q8 Sport Concept

Dendrobium

Aston Martin

F

rom tracktuned executive sedans and SUVs with a V8 grunt yet four-pot thirst, through to electrichot hatchbacks and a Singaporean supercar, this year’s Geneva motor show offered a

The exterior is the clearest indication yet of what the company’s future flagship SUV will look like, but it’s the under-the-hood innovation that really impresses. Audi has mated a third electronically controlled turbine to the

The company is calling this elongated supercar -- a four-door fastback with a monstrous AMG engine propelling it forward -- a concept, but something very much like the Mercedes-AMG GT Concept is almost certain to become a production reality within the next 12-24 months -- especially considering how popular cars like the Porsche Panamera are proving with customers.

Peugeot Instinct

A futuristic shooting break, Peugeot’s show car is an attempt to reassure drivers that even when autonomous cars become the norm, in the case of the company’s cars at least there will be a setting that makes them drive in a “sharper,” more human way. Level 5 autonomous driving is more than a decade from being a real-world reality but the car’s stance, design cues, cabin and hybrid engine could all be on the average production Peugeot before 2020.

Renault Zoe e-Sport Concept

Proving that it can be fun to be responsible, this is a plug-in electric Zoe in extreme hothatch form. Stripped back to two seats and with a carbon fiber and Kevlar construction to up rigidity and cut weight, the car has 460hp and a 0-100km/h tim of just 3.2 seconds.

Toyota i-TRIL

This is the latest in a growing number of Toyota studies into what will replace the carsized car in the clean, green, congested city of the future. This one has scissor doors and a 1+2 seating formation, is not much bigger than a motorcycle, and can actively lean from side to side in the bends so that it can corner at greater speeds with a lower center of gravity.

Bentley

Vanda Electrics Dendrobium

Audi

Mercedes Benz

two standard turbos on its 3-liter V6 and then mated the whole lot with a mild hybrid system. That gives the car the same performance levels as a naturally aspirated V8. Yet it uses the same amount of fuel as, say, an average 2-liter

This is Singapore’s first supercar, or at least will be when it moves from this year’s concept stage and into production in 2020. But even in this state, thanks to developmental assistance from Williams, the Formula 1 team, this allelectric car is capable of incredible acceleration and a top speed in excess of 200mph. And it is the first car in the world to feature a roof that opens backwards simultaneously with both doors to ensure that it’s easy to enter and exit.

Life SHOPPING

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017

D1

JOSEPH

AND THE COLORS

White Chintz Poplin Cedar Shirt, Fatigue Washed Cotton Kansas Jumpsuit, and Elah Leather Double Strap Sandals

OF PRE-SPRING/SUMMER 2017

U

Ochre Technical Whipcord Mag Coat, Wedgewood Chintz Poplin Cedar Shirt, Ochre Utility Cotton Adams Trouser, and Vintage Stripes Cuban Heel Shoes

Crimson Habotai Marly Dress and Corallio Leather Cuban Heel Shoes

K brand Joseph’s Pre-SS17 Collection takes a utilitarian approach, drawing influence from traditional workwear through detailing and fabrication. The apron—a protective, layering essential and a functioning part of many traditional uniforms—in particular is reworked to become a decorative part of the modern wardrobe.

With that, Joseph has created a uniform for women. The pursuit for that uniform continues; it is continually evolving and transitioning into an equation relevant for today.

A play between masculine and feminine silhouettes and the study of functional pieces is elevated with new proportions and fabrics. Classic durable textiles are formulated with a luxury hand. Proportions are reworked to bring a sense of ease. Elongated silhouettes are layered to transition from Autumn into Spring.

The collection is focused on serviceable neutrals, with a range of colors that accentuate the look of Joseph this season.

Off white, black, khaki, stone, marine and mustard yellow are augmented with rich tones of cardinal red, cranberry and guava. Stripes are added for a visuallyappealing break.

View the Joseph Pre-SS17 Collection at Joseph located at L1 of SM Aura Premier, and L1, S Maison at the Conrad Hotel.

White Chintz Poplin Andy Blouse, Black Linen Stripe Ombria Trouser, and Borgogna leather Double Strap Sandals

Life

D2

FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

Irresistible flavors

Be adventurous and try Cajun Java

at FamilyMart C

HECK out what’s happening at the popular Japanese convenience store. FamilyMart serves up a flavor revolution that you won’t get enough of.

Dig into the newest Rice in a Box en bits and diced vegetables for P69? fried rice assortment, quick and easy Don’t forget to get dessert as Famimeals that will amp up your day. lyMart brings you new and delicious Choose from the classic favorite Yang Twirl-All-You-Can flavors for only P25.

Chow Fried Rice for only P59, or the Bagoong Tinapa Rice flavored with salted egg for P59. Why can’t you be more adventurous by trying out the Stir-Fried Cajun Rice w i t h chick-

Treat yourself to the newest soft serve ice cream flavors, Crème Brulee, Chocolate Mousse or go all the way for a mix of both.

Snap cardholders will be able to get something extra from FamilyMart every time they purchase using their Snap card. Earning points means getting access to more rewards and discounts.

Head on over to FamilyMart now and make it a part of your daily routine, because you wouldn’t

Indulge in the burst of flavors from Bagoong Tinapa

want to miss out on these cool new flavors, and the fun, family experience you won’t find anywhere else.

Find out what’s happening #TodayAtFamilyMartPH. For updates, exciting products, and awesome deals, like and

Yang Chow Fried Rice is a filling meal for only P59

follow FamilyMart Philippines on Facebook, @familymartph on Instagram, and @FamilyMartPH on Twitter.

For store locations or more information on FamilyMart Philippines, log on to www.familymart.com.ph.

New kids collection of colors

WITH four new eye-catching colors, Banana Peel flip flops, the local flip flop concept store in the Philippines, introduces its next new attraction—the Hopscotch Collection for kids.

The Hopscotch collection is all about fun as kids get to choose from a variety of bright colors (Knucklebones/Mustard Yellow, Spud/Black, Simon Says/Bezique Green and Cariboo/Pink) to match their personalities and energy. Kids are always up for excitement and adventure and Hopscotch flip flops are designed to go along with them, wherever they go.

And colors are not just for fun, they also play a big role in a child’s development. Specific colors can affect a child’s mood, behavior, body movement and speech. The development of character and intelligence of children can be attributed partly to how colors are used in their environment while they are growing up.

The colors blue, pink, yellow and green especially affect a child’s cognitive skills and inspire happiness

in them because the colors align with their energy and desire for a playful interaction. Each color have different reactions to children: Blue, the color of the sky, stimulates a cool and relaxing environment. Yellow reminds them of sunshine—the color of happiness. Green is for summer and nature— a color that invigorates and recharges them. Lastly, pink is said to attribute calmness and kindness, to ease agitated kids. Knowing how colors affect them can go a long way in raising positive, loving children, especially when shown alongside love and kindness from the people around them.

Banana Peel’s flip flops are not only colorful, but they are also lightweight and safe for people of all ages. These flip flops are perfect to wear indoors and outdoors — be it for a day at the beach, or just out on the sidewalk for an everyday stroll.

To know more about Banana Peel, go to www.

The Hopscotch Collection of flip flops from Banana Peel is all about fun and comfort for kids facebook.com/bananapeelflipflops.

Covetable Collection IN CELEBRATION of its 75th anniversary and the festive season, Coach introduces the covetable Rexy Capsule Collection.

Rexy The Coach Dino has added a cheeky irreverence to Coach 1941 collections since her introduction in Women’s Fall 2015. An immediate favorite among customers, celebrities, and retailers, Rexy has since been deemed a beloved brand mascot.

Rexy counts as fans Chloe Grace Moretz, Diane Kruger, James Franco, Jared Leto, Julia Roberts, Kate Moss, Millie Bobby Brown, Zoe Kravitz, and

Coach's latest collection pays homage to the brand's beloved mascot, Rexy the Coach Dino

Winona Ryder. Rexy has made special appearances in Men’s and Women’s collections, a kids collection in partnership with colette, and even scored the lead role in Coach’s 2016 holiday film.

The collection celebrates the heritage of the brand with classic Coach silhouettes and materials, such as shearling, glovetanned leather, and the kisslock frame, interpreted for a new generation of Coach cool. Each item of the Rexy Capsule Collection is a new and limited edition colorway.

In the Philippines, COACH is located at Rustan’s Shangri-La.

The Rexy Capsule Collection features contemporary items in limited edition colorway

FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017

PEOPLE …are talking about Nadine Lustre Her childhood dream has come true after she’s been named Nickelodeon’s Favorite Pinoy Star beating out fellow Kapamilya stars Janella Salvador, Liza Soberano and Kapuso talent Janine Gutierrez. And this just made everything clear, Nadine has more fans who are willing to stay online for hours to put their idol’s name in the top stop. Talk about loyal fandoms.

NEW DAY. The new set of hosts to anchor CNN Philippines' morning show "New Day," (from left) Claire Celdran, James Deakin, Christine Jacob, Andrei Felix, and Angel Jacob

A

CNN Philippines’ news programs

NEW lineup of news programs is on CNN Philippines. President Armie Jarin-Bennett of CNN Philippines and Nine Media Corporation said the news programs demonstrate the network’s commitment to providing news the audience can use and trust.

“Trust is earned, it is not given. Our goal is to continue to earn the trust of more viewers in this country and beyond,” says JarinBennett.

Kicking off the year, the network launched its second newscast in Tagalog on Feb. 6.

Anchored by senior correspondent Ruth Cabal, Newsroom Ngayon airs weekdays at 10:00 a.m. The program is also the first CNN Philippines show that airs live on Facebook

given the network’s increasing footprint on digital platforms.

Newsroom Weekend, anchored by Mai Rodriguez, airs 12 p.m. every Saturday to complement the 6 p.m. weekend newscast.

On March 27, News Night at 6 p.m. replaces Network News. The flagship news program of CNN Philippines promises to go “above and beyond the headlines.” Anchored by Chief Correspondent Pia Hontiveros, it will dig deeper into any news story, offering in-depth analysis, discussions and perspective on current issues and events.

In addition, Hontiveros also anchors Global Newsroom at 3 p.m. as Claire Celdran returns to New Day replacing Amelyn Veloso who is on medical leave.

Joining Celdran on New Day are original anchors Claudine Trillo and Andrei Felix.

Host of The Service Road James Deakin joins them very Friday while Real Talk host Christine Jacob and Leading Women host Angel Jacob, fills-in for Trillo when she goes on maternity leave.

Political Insider is the latest CNN Philippines

Canadian singer and songwriter Shawn Mendes returns to Manila for a solo concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on March 18

SHAWN MENDES’

‘Illuminate World Tour’ in Manila

Current Affairs program. Journalist-turnedlegislator and now businessman Gilbert Remulla anchors the show every week as he talks to government leaders, lawmakers, and other insiders on the latest political and socioeconomic issues facing the country today and why they matter to Filipinos. The program keeps up with the realities of the busy commute in Manila, will waste no time and will catch newsmakers on-the-go in a car, on their way to work, or on their way back home.

CNN Philippines is seen on free TV Manila RPN – TV9, Cebu RPN – TV9, Davao RPN – TV 9, Zamboanga RPN – TV5, Baguio RPN – TV12, Bacolod RPN – TV8; Cable TV thru Sky Cable - Channel 14 (Metro Manila), Sky Cable – Channel 6 (Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo and Baguio), Destiny Cable – Channel 14, Cablelink Channel 14, Cignal – Channel 10, Dream Cable- Channel 13.

Connect and engage with CNN Philippines through web (cnnphilippines.com), Twitter (@cnnphilippines), Facebook (facebook. com/cnnphilippines) and Instagram (@ cnnphilippines).

THE long wait is over for Shawn Mendes fans as Smart Music Live brings the hitmaker’s Illuminate World Tour to Manila at the Mall of Asia Arena tomorrow. This event is made possible via MCA Music and Music Management International (MMI) Live.

The concert is made more meaningful for Smart subscribers as meet and greet, pre-events and VIP tickets are up for grabs exclusively for Smart Music Live aficionados.

The “Stitches” singer has Manila for his first leg this year before taking his tour to Japan late this month and starting his UK, Germany, US and other Western stops for the rest of 2017.

Citing Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, and John Meyer as his musical influences, the 18-year-old’s sophomore album Illuminate debuted at no.1 on the US Billboard 200 with 145,000 equivalents album units sold.

Banking on soft, classic rock genre, Mendes has definitely gone far from the self-taught, guitar-playing start he got from YouTube when he was 12-years old.

To win meet and greet passes, pre-event exclusives and VIP tickets to Illuminate world tour, just log on to smart.com.ph and follow Smart’s social media accounts: Facebook, @livesmart on Instagram and Twitter. Keep tracking down #SmartMusicLive and #SmartShawnMendes for more to meet Mendes and experience his music.

After Shawn Mendes, Smart Music Live continues with Fifth Harmony’s Manila concert also at the MOA Arena on April 5.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Friday, March 17, 2017

ACROSS 1 Endangered trees 5 Vice — 10 Elec. units 14 Hang around 15 Leaves out 16 In — of 17 At all times 18 Sugar lumps 19 In a while 20 Mexicali matrons 22 Paying rent 24 Started a fire 25 Well-bred chap 26 Basic constituent of marble 29 Pestered in fun 34 Put the kibosh on 35 Save up for later 37 Friendlier 38 Cleveland’s lake 40 Bedouin 42 Very serious 43 Potential oak 45 Overfeeds 47 Not care a — 48 Force through 50 Suit accessory 52 Theater companies, briefly 54 52, to Livy 55 Quiver

59 Bram Stoker’s count 63 European capital 64 Deep devotion 66 Talk up 67 Praise 68 Dilapidated car 69 Send packing 70 Barely makes ends meet 71 Keyed up 72 This senora DOWN 1 Lambs’ parents 2 Rinse off 3 Outward appearance 4 Saunter 5 Trade 6 Grounded birds 7 — -eye steak 8 Archaeology find 9 Agree 10 Sorrowful cry 11 Short skirt 12 Lowly laborer 13 Carried a tune 21 Fertile, as soil 23 Pharaoh’s god 25 Dresden residents 26 About that time 27 Math proposition 28 New Mexico

town 30 Assistance 31 Movies about UFOs (hyph.)

32 Spooky 33 Remnant 34 Close by 36 Type of palm tree 39 Be off base 41 Dummy’s partner in bridge 44 Ibsen woman 46 Read quickly

49 51 53 55 56

Uncouple Go softly Erle’s lawyer Meadow rodent Meryl, in “Out of Africa” 57 Between green and indigo 58 Wands 59 Cast a ballot 60 Debt memos 61 Orange coating 62 Wonder Woman’s friend 65 Skip stones

Tawag ng Tanghalan Is it really worth it that Showtime had put too much effort on its episode dedicated to amateur singers? We believe so. Based on the latest viewership data from Kantar TNS, the noontime show scored 33.6 percent ratings on Saturday during the TNT finale.

Meanwhile, Based on NUTAM (Nationwide Urban Television Audience Measurement) data of AGB Nielsen, its number was 7.4 points higher compared to its Kapuso counterpart. Well, bilog kasi ang bola.

Iza Calzado After Brillante Mendoza’s historic win last week in a filmfest in Malaysia, it’s now her turn to step into the spotlight. In this year’s Osaka Asian Film Festival, where 16 films were in competition, Iza was given the Yakushi Pearl Award, the highest honor given to an actor in the film event. The actress was recognized for her role in the psychological thriller helmed by seasoned director Jerrold Tarog.

...are not talking about Impostora After Encantadia, Mulawin will be next, and there’s another one in the pipeline, a remake of the 2007 drama series that starred Sunshine Cruz and Iza Calzado. You see, it seems that feeding viewers with recycled drama series is now the name of the game at the Kapuso lot. Don’t they have a creative pool of brilliant minds that can come up with original and fresh concepts for their drama lineup?

That’s quite ironic for a network that claims to be the best in this field.

Cesar Montano Three months as a government functionary andnow the former action star is now facing some serious allegations from the same people who work in his office. Firm and defiant, he said the allegations thrown at him are baseless.

This means Tourism Promotions Board employees, who pointed out numerous irregularities committed in the exercise of his duties, just created these accusations out of nothing. Oh yeah, it’s an evil plot to manage him out of the post that he’s not even qualified to hold to begin with.

Mika dela Cruz The teen star affirmed that her decision to cut her ties with her former network was a wise one. She even listed down the good things that happened including being surrounded by a bunch of professional staff, helpful colleagues, and a new set of fans. What she didn’t mention though was her career going down the drain since moving to the other side.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017

ISAH V. RED

D

ABAWENYOS are cheering as the stars of GMA Network’s top-rating telefantasya – Encantadia – and the upcoming Mulawin vs. Ravena join in the celebration of the 80th Araw ng Dabaw.

Dennis Trillo, who will star in the Mulawin vs. Ravena series, was in Gaisano Mall Toril yesterday to promote the show. He was with co-stars Dion Ignacio and Kiko Estrada in a Kapuso Mall Show in the afternoon.

Also making Araw ng Dabaw special for Kapuso fans were Miguel Tanfelix and Bianca Umali and Derrick Monasterio and Bea Binene. They are known among their fans as BiGuel and DerBea. Two of the hottest love teams today are also in Mulawin vs. Ravena and they attracted a throng at Abreeza Mall for a Kapuso Mall Show.

Today, Encantadia will bring magic to the vibrant Araw ng Dabaw festivities as lead stars Ruru Madrid, Sanya Lopez, and Glaiza de Castro are featured in the Kapuso Mall Show, 4 p.m. at SM City Davao.

GMA, through its regional arm—GMA Regional TV— remains one of the constant partners of Davao City’s annual event commemorating the founding of the place as a city.

“Over the years, we have brought GMA’s biggest shows and brightest stars to Davao City to celebrate with our Kapusong Dabawenyos,” says GMA Regional TV Head, Oli Amoroso.

Up North and down South, thousands of fans showed their support to their favorite Kapuso stars when GMA Network brought the cast of its biggest shows – Destined To Be Yours ,Meant To Be , My Love From The Star, and Impostora – to this year’s Panagbenga, Kalilangan, and Tagum City Musikahan festivals.

Baguio City’s cold weather was no match to the warmth that locals and tourists alike gave he stars of the hit romantic comedy series Meant To Be during their Kapuso Fans Day on Feb. 25.

Amid the bustle of the city as it celebrated the colorful flower festival, Sunshine Park was packed with thousands of eager fans who waited for Barbie Forteza and her four leading men – Jak Roberto, Ivan Dorschner, Addy Raj, and Ken Chan.

T h e stars were elated with the continued success of their primetime show.

Meanwhile, the phenomenal love team of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, stars of the primetime series Destined To Be Yours, joined this year’s colorful

The Gawad Plaridel is the sole award in the University of the Philippines System given to outstanding media practitioners

KAPUSO telefantasya stars

in Araw ng Dabaw

HOOQ, Asia’s largest video-ondemand service today announced that Warner Bros. Television’s latest DC series Powerless is now be available.

DC fans can now enjoy a supercharged collection of TV series from the DC Universe, including Supergirl, The Flash, Lucifer and Powerless – all available same day as US broadcast.

“It has been an exciting start of the year for us here at HOOQ with some of the best DC TV series all available on our platform, many of them exclusively. With the addition of Powerless, which is a delightful tongue-in-cheeck comedy set in the DC Universe, our fans can now look forward to same day as US telecast of yet another DC series right here on HOOQ. It has always been our goal to provide the best entertainment for

Kapuso stars add zest to this year’s Davao fest. From top: “Destined To Be Yours” cast lead by Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza; “Meant To Be” with Barbie Forteza, Jak Roberto, Ivan Dorschner, Addy Raj, and Ken Chan; Dennis Trillo; “Impostora” lead actors Kris Bernal and Rafael Rosell; and love team Bea Binene and Derrick Monasterio.

Panagbenga Grand Float Parade, a day before the show’s worldwide premier.

The crowd expressed their love for AlDub with screams when the Kapuso float passed Upper Session Road up to the Melvin Jones football field on Feb. 26. Alden and Maine with co-stars Koreen Medina and Juancho Trivino were later featured in a Kapuso Fiesta at Sunshine Park.

Jennylyn Mercado flew to General Santos City to join the city’s Kalilangan Festival,

our customers and we will be adding much more amazing content this year!” Said Chief Content Officer of HOOQ, Krishnan Rajagopalan.

Powerless is the first comedy series set within the world of the DC Universe and follows the adventures of Emily Locke (Vanessa Hudgens) as Director of Research & Development at Wayne Security, a subsidiary of Wayne Enterprises based in Charm City that specializes in products for ordinary humans who are poised to be victims of the battles between superheroes and super villains.

The series from Warner Bros.

Television, which airs on NBC in the U.S., is based on the characters from DC and distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. International Television Distribution.

a celebration of its founding anniversary. The leading man in the local adaptation of My Love From The Star, new Kapuso actor Gil Cuerva, joined the Ultimate Star. The Pinoy Steffi Cheon and Matteo Do thrilled their fans in KCC Mall that afternoon.

From Baguio, the cast of Meant To Be flew to Davao del Norte on Feb. 28 to meet their fans during the Tagum City Musikahan Festival.

The New City Hall Grounds in Tagum City overflowed with 20,000 people patiently waiting for Barbie, Jak, Ivan, Addy, and of their favorite

MTB characters Billie, Andoy, Ethan, Jai, and Yuan.

Earlier that day in NCCC Mall Tagum, fans were also treated to an afternoon of delight with stars of upcoming teleserye Impostora, Kris Bernal and Rafael Rosell, in a Kapuso Mall Show.

To know more about the Network’s regional events, follow GMA on Facebook at www. facebook.com/gmanetwork and GMA Regional TV at www. facebook.com/GMARegionalTV and on Twitter and Instagram via @ GMARegionalTV.

Nominees to UP Gawad Plaridel 2017 accepted THE University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UP CMC) is still accepting nominations for the annual UP Gawad Plaridel, which recognizes Filipino media practitioners that excelled in any of the media (print, radio, film, television and new media) and have performed with the highest level of professional integrity in the interest of public service.

For 2017, the 12th UP Gawad Plaridel will be given to an outstanding television practitioner.

The award is named after Marcelo H. del Pilar (nom de plume, Plaridel Eligible for the awards area living Filipinos in the field of television as producer, director, scriptwriter, announcer, actor, sound designer, sound technician, reporter, news anchor, etc. Aside from their probity and integrity, these media practitioners must have produced a body of work that is marked by excellence and social relevance and must have The deadline for submission of nominations is at 5 p.m. March 22. The recipient of the UP Gawad Plaridel 2017 will be announced next month.

The UP Gawad Plaridel will be given in August in commemoration of Del Pilar’s birth anniversary.

The awardee will receive the UP Gawad Plaridel trophy (designed by National Artist Napoleon Abueva) and will deliver the Plaridel Lecture addressing issues relevant to the state and practice of Philippine media. The recipient will have a place of honor at all ceremonies and functions of the College. The recipient’s portrait will be hung at the UP Gawad Plaridel Gallery in the lobby (Plaridel Hall, UP Diliman).

The Award Guidelines and Nomination Form are available at the UP CMC Website (http:// masscomm.upd.edu.ph/ upgawadplaridel2017) and at the UP CMC Office of Extension and External Relations (UP CMCOEER), Room M-204 Plaridel Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City.

Interested parties may call (02) 981-8500 loc. 2668 or email upgawadplaridel@ gmail.com for further inquiries.

WBTV’s

latest DC series

'Powerless' now on HOOQ

“Powerless” is the first comedy series set in the DC Universe