Manila Standard - 2017 March 23 - Thursday

RADIATING CONFIDENCE.

Binibining Pilipinas 2017 candidates Nelda Ibe (no. 18) and Rachel Peters (no. 19), among 40 gorgeous ladies vying for the title, flash their smiles Wednesday before the cameras during the press presentation at the Novotel in Quezon City. The titlists will shine bright during the Grand Coronation at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on April 30. Sonny Espiritu

VOL. XXXI • NO. 41 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

P9.5-b tax case vs Mighty

By Rey E. Requejo and Julito G. Rada THE government on Wednesday filed a P9.564billion tax evasion case against the owner of the cigarette company Mighty Corp. and its officials for allegedly using counterfeit tax stamps to avoid paying excise taxes.

In a complaint filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, owner Alexander Wong Chu King, company president Edilberto Adan, executive vice president Oscar Barrientos, and treasurer Ernesto Victa of violating sections of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Susan Dacanay, chairperson of the Justice Department’s Run After Tax Evaders Task Force, received the complaint against Mighty Corp. officials.

Dacanay said the complaints will undergo pre-

liminary investigation to determine if there is probable cause to warrant the filing of charges in court.

The BIR said the cigarette firm was the subject of on-the-spot surveillance operations and that when investigating officers entered four warehouses leased by the corporation and conducted random tests, they found that the stamps used were fake.

A check by the Excise Large Taxpayers Service also showed the stamps used were fake.

“The inventory showed that Mighty Corp. stored 66, 281 master cases containing 33,140,500 packs of cigarettes. The investigation further showed that 87.5 percent of [these] bore fake revenue stamps,” the BIR said.

The BIR also said the stamps were not affixed at the production plant as required by law.

The bureau said the company’s failure to present

official delivery receipts showed that the cigarette packs in the warehouses did not come from the manufacturing plant in Barangay Tikay, where the stamps should have been affixed.

Last week, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Mighty Corp. gave in to President Rodrigo Duterte’s offer to pay P3 billion to settle its excise tax liabilities.

But Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III found the amount too small, saying the Bulacanbased cigarette manufacturer must pay 10 times over its assessed liability to the government.

Aguirre did not say though if the corporation would still be amenable to paying the higher amount.

Duterte previously said he would use the amount to upgrade the Mary Johnston Hospital in Tondo, Manila and to build additional hospitals in Basilan and Jolo, Sulu.

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Solons: Abaya liable for plunder

DFA urges Robredo to check facts

By Sarah Susanne D. Fabunan

“How can they have proper maintenance of the MRT 3 system if they do not even have a wheel lathe machine? We will pay them P3.81 billion with their spit as their only capital?”

Nograles said.

Abaya should have disqualified BURI outright as it did not even have spare parts to show it can maintain the MRT 3 system, he said.

Questioned by Nograles, BURI officials admitted that they did not have the right equipment and the spare parts needed to conduct critical maintenance work to ensure the safety and the efficiency of the MRT 3.

They also admitted that much of its primary commitments under the P3.81-billion service contract had not been delivered.

Nograles said BURI initially denied that it had subcontracted work to a machine

THE Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday reminded Vice President Leni Robredo that freedom of expression is a right that comes with the responsibility to ensure that facts are verified, and unfounded allegations from questionable sources are avoided.

This was DFA’s reaction to Robredo’s recorded remarks to a side event of the 60th Session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, Austria, that criticized the rising death toll due to summary executions in the government’s war on drugs.

“This side event was not part of the official proceedings of the 60th Session of the UN-CND and did not reflect the stand of participating governments,” the DFA said.

“In the UN context, side events, or activities organized outside the formal program of official UN meetings, provide an

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Ex-DoTC chief faces raps over ‘onerous’ deal with MRT supplier

By Christine F. Herrera

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JOSEPH EMILIO ABAYA

AWMAKERS on Wednesday vowed to hold former Transportation secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and others liable for plunder for awarding a P3.81-billion Metro Rail Transit 3 contract to a service provider with no capacity for keeping 43 aging coaches running safely, and whose only capital was “empty promises.”

China told to explain Scarborough radar plan

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan plans on Scarborough Shoal...

FOREIGN Affairs on Wednesday confirmed it has filed another note verbale against China asking it to explain its plan to install a radar station in the resource-rich Panatag or Scarborough Shoal.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said they handed over the diplomatic protest to the Chinese Embassy and that they were still waiting for the response of its Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua.

“We have sought clarification from China on the reported

We handed the note to Chinese Embassy yesterday [Tuesday],” Jose said.

He made his statement even as Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying on Wednesday denied the reports that China will begin installing a radar station in Scarborough Shoal.

“According to the relevant bodies in China, the reports you mention that touch upon...

Scarborough Shoal are not true,” Hua said.

She said China was for “the Next page

3 reasons for Senate to kill death penalty bill—CBCP

By Vito Barcelo THE Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has sent a letter to the Senate citing three reasons why the death penalty bill should be rejected.

The letter, signed by CBCP president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, says the death penalty is “not necessary,” it will “not be helpful,” and

it “will not be a move towards greater justice.”

The letter says the revival of capital punishment is not a move toward justice because “the trend in dealing with crimes now should be towards restorative and not vindictive justice.”

The CBCP says Supreme Court records show that the judicial errors committed with regard to the death penalty is more than 70 percent. Next page

Abaya and his men could also be indicted for buying 48 China-made coaches that were incompatible with the MRT 3 system, said Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta or PBA Rep. Jericho Nograles.

“Former and incumbent MRT 3 and DOTr officials could be charged for plunder and grave abuse of authority for their role in this onerous service contract with Busan Rail Inc. [BURI],” Nograles told a hearing conducted by the House committee on transportation, chaired by Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento.

During the hearing, Sarmiento said the panel would dig deeper.

Nograles expressed shock after he learned that Abaya awarded the service contract to BURI, which outsourced the job to a “smalltime” machine shop in Bulacan that can only do grinding and truing of rail wheels manually.

Metro cops cite proof of Maute terror plot

By Joel Zurbano PRECAUTIONARY measures are now in place to ensure the security of the public after the arrest of a suspected supporter of the Maute terror group, an official said Wednesday.

Nasip Ibrahim was arrested Monday night and presented to reporters on Tuesday together with the firearms, ammunition and illegal substance found in his possession at the Salam Compound in Culiat village in Quezon City. ”After the arrest of Ibrahim, we will take the necessary precautionary measures to ensure the security of the public not just in Metro Manila but in other areas,” PNP spokesman Dionardo Carlos told reporters in Camp Crame.

Carlos made his statement even as Metro Manila Police Office Chief Oscar Albayalde confirmed the existence of members of the Islamic State-inspired Maute group in Metro Manila.

Albayalde made the confirmation after Col. Edgardo Arevalo, Next page

FAKE STAMPS. Two Internal Revenue officials file a criminal case against officials of the Mighty Corp. for

using fake BIR stamps in their cigarette packs amounting to P9.5 billion before State Prosecutor Susan Dacanay at the Department of Justice Wednesday. (Story above) Norman Cruz

Leni’s EJK yarn puts PH on a spot—DoT

By Sandy Araneta TOURISM Secretary Wanda Teo said Wednesday that Vice President Leni Robredo’s statements and media reports about extrajudicial killings have made it difficult to

promote the Philippines as a tourist destination.

In a press briefing in Bangkok, Teo asked the media to tone down reports on the killings.

“Help us sell the Philippines.

Help us because…it’s very difficult for me to sell the Philip-

pines, especially if extrajudicial killings are being discussed,” Teo said.

Teo said tour operators abroad were “always” asking her about the issue, citing Asia and Europe as regions where people were parNext page ticularly concerned.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Impeachment bids hamper House work’

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AWMAKERS warned Wednesday that the impeachment complaints filed against President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo were adversely affecting Congress’ legislative functions.

“Resorting to impeachment and counter-impeachment would result in legislative paralysis,” Rep. Harry Roque said.

He made his statement even as former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said having two separate impeachment complaints against the country’s top leaders would not

bring any good to the country.

He said he hoped both impeachment bids would not prosper.

“This is the first time that it is simultaneous. I hope it will not happen. Let’s pray it will not prosper,” Estrada said.

Roque, a lawyer, said the impeachment complaint against Duterte would fail.

“I believe more case-building is needed for it to prosper, particularly on the extra-legal killings,” Roque said on the case filed against Duterte by Rep. Gary Alejano.

He said the supermajority bloc of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez may have the numbers to unseat Robredo.

“But for the impeachment complaint against her to succeed in the Senate, the complainants must have other evidence to show that she intends to remove the President from office in order to succeed him.”

Rep. Alfred Vargas appealed to Congress not to devote much of its time to the impeachment cases even as Rep. Rodito Albano said those cases would not solve the country’s pressing problems.

“This is the last thing we need.

Duterte completes final leg of Asean tour

By Sandy Araneta

We have more important things to do,” Vargas said.

Rep. Ruffy Biazon shared Roque’s view even as he said a healing process in this season of Lent would be timely for the House of Representatives, in particular, to strengthen its ranks.

“The healing process is the most advisable thing to do because this will consolidate our forces,” Biazon said.

Rep. Salvador Belaro Jr. said he viewed that the impeachment complaint against Duterte was due to the “tyranny of the majority” in Congress.

“Since it is the majority that rules and we support the President, I think it is a foregone conclusion that it [impeachment complaint] will not prosper,” Belaro said. Maricel V. Cruz and Sandy Araneta

ACTING Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo has praised the recently completed Asean visits of President Rodrigo Duterte, emphasizing the importance of bilateral agreements, including a framework on a Code of Conduct, to promote cooperation, stability, and sustainability.

“The purpose of the Code is to see how we can manage disputes carefully, not to raise tensions, not to escalate tensions,” Manalo told a news briefing Wednesday at the Mandarin Oriental.

The details of the framework will be under continuing negotiations and discussions, to be based on the “key principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit.”

Manalo summarized the results of President Duterte’s official visits to Myanmar and Thailand, which capped the Aseanwide introductory visits he has made since assuming office in July 2016.

Joining Manalo in the panel were Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Tourism Secretary Wan-

da Teo, Executive Director Arnel del Barrio of the Philippine Carabao Center of the Department of Agriculture, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.

Manalo said the meetings in Myanmar with President U Htin Kyaw and other officials like State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi “reaffirmed the friendship and excellent relations” between the two countries, spanning six decades.

In Bangkok, Duterte issued a joint statement with Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, recognizing “the synergy to further deepen and expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest and to work together to strengthen the Asean Community.”

Common areas of cooperation identified with the two countries are on trade, tourism, agriculture, defense and security, intelligence, science and technology, cultural exchange, education, energy, and humanitarian assistance and development cooperation programs.

Solons:...

From A1

shop in Bulacan to do the truing work for 16 pieces of rail wheels, instead of using the prescribed wheel lathe machine, until the lawmaker confronted them with a copy of the shop’s delivery receipt.

“They lied when I confronted them about this outsourcing.... At first they claimed that they are the ones manually grinding and truing the rail wheels but they suddenly remembered outsourcing this to a Bulacan machine shop when I showed them the delivery receipt. It was obvious that they were trying to fool us,” Nograles told the panel.

“BURI should have been disqualified outright by...

Abaya because it did not have the right tools to conduct maintenance work for a major rail system like the MRT3,” Nograles said.

Apart from being ill-equipped, Nograles said BURI has not complied with its commitment to overhaul the 43 MRT 3 coaches, which were currently inoperable and completely replace its signaling system within 24 months since securing the contract in January 2015.

“It’s been more than 24 months but BURI has not overhauled a single coach and the MRT 3 signaling system remains problematic,” Nograles said.

Metro...

From A1

head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Public Affairs Office, brushed aside reports that the Maute group had a presence in Metro Manila.

He said their intelligence reports showed that the group had yet to spread outside its stronghold in Lanao del Sur. But Albayalde believed otherwise.

“The successive arrest we made, the recovery of improvised explosive devices and firearms for the past months are substantial proof on the existence of threat groups here in Metro Manila,” Albayalde said in a statement.

Ibrahim was the alleged driver of the Toyota Revo that was used to transport the improvised explosive device from the Rizal Park to the area near the United States Embassy on Roxas Boulevard.

The IED was recovered near the United States Embassy in Manila in November last year. It was supposed to be used in a bombing attempt at the Luneta. With PNA

P9.5-b...

From A1

The company denies that it used fake tax stamps on its cigarettes.

Mighty Corp. manufactures the following brands of cigarettes: Mighty Menthol 100’s (Hard Pack); Mighty Menthol 100’s; Mighty Full Flavor King Size (Red); Marvel’s Menthol 100’s; Marvel’s Menthol (Hard Pack); and Marvel’s Menthol 100’s (Green). Its only BIR-registered production plant is located at 55 McArthur Highway, Barangay Tikay, Malolos, Bulacan.

The company’s legal counsel, Sigrid Fortun, said the company welcomed the filing of a complaint as it provided them the opportunity to clear their names and show that they violated no tax laws.

“We will continue to cooperate with government in its continuing effort at tax collection,” Fortun said.

3 reasons...

From A1

“No study has shown that the imposition of the death penalty is an effective deterrent to the commission of crimes,” the letter says.

“It may also weaken any appeal for clemency we make for our countrymen and women who have been sentenced to death in other countries.

“For all these reasons among others, we ask you, dear senators, to reject the re-imposition of the death penalty.”

The CBCP has issued several pastoral letters stating its strong opposition to the bill seeking the revival of the death penalty and one expressing disappointment at Congress’ approval of it on March 7.

In one pastoral letter, Villegas expressed the bishops’ admiration for the members of the House who accepted to be ousted from their positions because they voted against the Duterte administration’s pet bill.

On several occasions, the lay community has also voiced out its resistance to the bill by joining candle-lighting ceremonies, “Walk for Life” events and noise barrages.

WHITE ELEPHANT.

People walk past row of houses originally built by the government for uniformed personnel. The houses have remained idle for years in Pandi, Bulacan.

Thousands of urban poor families from Manila and Bulacan took over the unoccupied homes in a campaign they called ‘Occupy Bulacan’ two weeks ago to assert what they said was the Filipino poor’s right to free housing from the government.

Nearly a quarter of Manila’s 13 million residents live in slums due to poverty and a shortage of low-cost housing, studies have found. AFP

China...

From A1

preservation of the South China Sea’s ocean ecology.”

The Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc sits within the 200 nautical miles of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone where China is firmly claiming ownership of it despite Manila’s victorious case in the Arbitral Tribunal.

Last week, the state-owned Hainan Daily newspaper, reported that China plans to build the first environmental monitoring station in the

DFA...

From A1

opportunity for member states, UN entities and NGOs to discuss themes in parallel to the official UN meetings or conferences where the NGOs are not involved,” it added.

The event led by high-level government officials from the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency, the Dangerous Drugs Board, and the Philippine Permanent Mission to the UN in Vienna said the Philippine government remains committed to fight criminality and illegal drugs in the country.

They explained that the Philippine government is investigating the veracity of allegations of drug-related extra-

Leni’s...

From A1

Teo was reacting to Robredo’s video message sent to a side event of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs annual meeting, in which she denounced police abuses in the government’s war on drugs.

The video was criticized by Malacañang as well as Duterte’s allies, with House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez threatening to file an impeachment complaint against Robredo.

Teo, along with other Cabinet officials, accompanied President Rodrigo Duterte for a two-day official visit in Thailand.

Teo said that while she had great respect for Robredo, her accusations would hurt tourist arrivals in the Philippines.

Duterte was elected last year after promising during the campaign

Panatag Shoal off the coast of Zambales province in the Philippines.

Sansha Communist Party Secretary Xiao Jie said in a report that the preparatory work on the stations and others on five other islands in the strategically vital waterway was among China’s top priorities for 2017.

Supreme Court Senior Justice Antonio Carpio, one of the members of the Philippine legal team during the arbitration proceedings against China, has previously expressed alarm over the Chinese plan.

He fears that allowing China to install radar in the Scarborough Shoal

would give Beijing total control of the South China Sea. The former permanent representative to the United Nations for the Philippines Lauro Baja Jr. seconded Carpio and urged President Rodrigo Duterte to object “most vigorously” against China’s plan.

Baja said this might be another of China’s “mischief” moves in which Beijing made Manila believe it was only “building fishermen’s shelters” but eventually occupied and built structures on Mischief Reef.

“We must object most vigorously against such plan,” Baja said.

“This may be another mischief

from China. Remember that they said that they are only building “fishermen’s shelter when they occupied and built structures in Mischief Reef and now fortified it.”

Baja reminded China of the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that Panatag Shoal is a traditional fishing area.

Prior to the latest note verbale, the Philippines filed a diplomatic protest against China for deploying survey ships in Benham Rise that lies in the eastern part of the Philippines on the Pacific Ocean, where there is no island or country nearby.

judicial killings, which are being undertaken precisely in strict adherence to due process and the rule of law.

On March 13, in the controversial video first posted on Youtube by the NGO DRCNet, Robredo claimed that indigents rounded up in antidrug operations were “beaten and physically abused” for asking for a search warrant, a right that authorities said they did not have because they were squatters.

She also cited a “palit-ulo scheme” where the wife, husband, or relative of a person on a drug list “will be taken if the person himself could not be found.’’

The government has denied this scheme.

Also on Wednesday, lawyer Oliver Lozano, who had earlier asked

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to endorse his impeachment complaint against Robredo, said the House should immediately tackle the impeachment case filed against the vice president.

During a media forum on Wednesday in Quezon City, Lozano said Alvarez should already initiate the impeachment process against the Vice President through a special session at the House of Representatives.

“I sent a request to Speaker not to wait until May… This impeachment can be done in April if there is a special session,” Lozano said.

Lozano expressed confidence that the Robredo ouster move will prosper in the House, noting that there are at least 100 congressmen who will support the impeachment try against

her.

A vote of at least one-third of all the members of the House is necessary before it can be transmitted to the Senate for trial.

“There is a sufficient number of representatives that will favor the impeachment… There are 100 representatives already,” Lozano said.

“There’s no such thing as a weak or strong impeachment complaint.

Impeachment is a numbers game,” he added.

Lozano described Robredo as a “thorn” that hampers the Duterte administration’s pursuit of radical change.

“These dishonest and disloyal misrepresentations of the Vice President have shamed our country,” Lozano said. With PNA

to eradicate drugs in society by killing tens of thousands of people.

Since he took office nearly nine months ago, police have reported killing 2,594 people in the drug war while rights groups say thousands more have been killed in a state-sanctioned campaign of mass murder.

While most of those killed have been poor people living in slums, some foreigners have also died.

Duterte briefly suspended all police from the crackdown in January after it was revealed anti-drugs officers used the drug war as cover for kidnapping and murdering a South Korean businessman.

But, after describing the police force as “corrupt to the core,’’ Duterte brought it back a month later and vowed to continue the crackdown until all drug traffickers were off the streets or killed.

Duterte has over the past year

become a well-known figure internationally because of the drug war and his caustic rhetoric against critics.

Duterte this week boasted that calling then-US President Barack Obama a “son of a whore” had made him famous.

He then used more foul language to respond to criticism from European lawmakers of the drug war, and called them “crazies.”

On Wednesday, Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno warned barangay officials that if they failed to reduce drug-related incidents in their respective jurisdictions, they would be charged with negligence of duty.

The President’s spokesman, Ernesto Abella, criticized an article in The New York Times for “cynically and unfairly” linking Duterte’s rise to power with violence.

“One would expect more from

The New York Times. Their article, ‘Becoming Duterte : The Making of a Philippine Strongman,’ sounds like a well-paid hack job for wellheeled clients with shady motives,” Abella said.

He said Duterte “does not engage in western liberal niceties to promote his agenda, to rebuild a nation with compromised internal structures.”

The Philippines, despite picturesque tropical islands and spectacular mountains, has long lagged behind its neighbors as a tourist destination.

This is partly due to decadeslong Muslim and communist insurgencies, as well as frequent kidnappings of foreigners by Islamic militants.

About 5.9 million tourists visited the Philippines last year, compared with 32.6 million for Thailand.

With PNA, AFP

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THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF PH, Thailand revive tourism cooperation THE Philippines and Thailand have resolved to revive the 23-year-old tourism cooperation agreement during this week’s official visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to Bangkok.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Chan stood witnesses as Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo and her counterpart, Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul signed the Implementing Program of Tourism Cooperation 2017 to 2022 at the Santi Maitri Building of the Government House of Thailand.

The implementing program is rooted in a Memorandum of Agreement on tourism cooperation signed in Manila between the Philippines and Thailand on March 24, 1993.

Thailand joins China, Cambodia and Turkey as Philippines’ partners with whom DoT under Teo forged a tourism cooperation agreement within just nine months of the Duterte administration.

“Philippines’ tourism program may yet gain an added boost with this concrete commitment for tourism cooperation with Thailand as a result of President Duterte’s fruitful official visit in Bangkok this week,” Teo said.

The agreement stipulates, among others, that the two countries shall actively encourage their respective local travel agents to develop a joint promotional program that would market both the Philippines and Thailand destinations in one tour package.

“There is so much we can learn from Thailand in terms of tourism development strategies, [since] it tops south East Asian countries in terms of visitor arrivals,” Teo said. Sandy Araneta and Othel Campos

Du30 appoints military adviser new PSG chief PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte recently appointed his senior military adviser, Col. Lope “Louie” Dagoy, as the new commander of the Presidential Security Group, who would secure the President and his family during the remaining years of his term.

Dagoy will replace Brig.

Gen. Rolando Bautista.

A formal change of command ceremony will be held Thursday afternoon at the PSG Grandstand.

According to the Office of the Executive Secretary, Dagoy assumed his post effective March 21, Tuesday.

Dagoy is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Hinirang Class of 1987, and also served as chief of staff of the Davao City-based Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom).

Dagoy was also part of the team of Duterte who accompanied him in his official visit to Myanmar and Thailand.

Sandy Araneta

JOINT FORCES.

Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev arrives at the Department of Justice Wednesday to meet with Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II for possibilities of joining forces through the justice system in battling the illegal drugs problem.

Norman Cruz

SOLUTION TO POVERTY. Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez stresses Wednesday her participation in the Regional Development Council and partnership with all regional government agencies, hoping they will all work to solve lingering poverty in the region. With her are (from left) Catbalogan City Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan, Presidential Management Staff Undersecretary Ferdinand Cui Jr., Neda Regional Director Bonifacio Uy, and Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez.

10 measures, including one on traffic, seen as priority

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

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PACKAGE of 10 proposed bills— including reforms in the country’s taxation system, and the bill addressing the country’s traffic crisis— will be part of the priority legislation the legislative and executive branches have agreed to work on in the next months.

This was confirmed during the four-hour consultative meeting and dialogue between officials from the Senate and the Presidential Legislative Liaison

Office last Tuesday at the Midas Hotel in Pasay City.

Senate officials led by Senate Secretary Lutgardo Barbo, chiefs-of-staff from the offices of

the senators, and Senate Secretariat officers represented the Upper Chamber during the event.

The PLLO contingent was led

by Secretary Adelino Sitoy and Undersecretary Antonio Gallardo.

According to Gallardo, both panels agreed to “work closer and enhance cooperation” to secure the more efficient passage of pending legislation, given Congress’ hectic and limited schedule.

He said both Houses of Congress would only have around 14 calendar days to meet their legislative targets before they go on sine die adjournment in June.

“I would say the task ahead of us is quite challenging. But as long as we work together, the challenge

can be answered adequately,” Sitoy said.

Gallardo said the 10 bills considered as “common priorities” by Congress and Malacañang were: Occupational Safety and Health Hazards Compliance Act; Committee Report No. 30, National Mental Health Act, Utilization of the Coconut Levy Fund, National Transport Act (to address transport traffic crisis), Unified National Identification System Act; Condonation of Land Amortization and Arrears on Interest Payment, Concurrent Joint Congress Resolution on the Revised Base Pay Schedule of Military and Uniform Personnel, Pension Reform for Uniformed

28 counts of graft vs top cops affirmed

By Maricel V. Cruz THE Sandiganbayan has affirmed 28 counts of graft charges filed by the Office of the Ombudsman against former PNP-Firearms and Explosives Office chief Raul Petrasanta, Supt.

Nelson Bautista, and Chief Insp. Ricardo Zapata Jr. In a five-page resolution dated March 15, 2017, the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division denied the defendants’ joint Omnibus Motion and Supplemental Omnibus Motion seeking dismissal of all charges.

The defendants claimed they did not commit a criminal offense under Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The Sandiganbayan found the defendants’ motion “devoid of merit.”

“While the movants make a sweeping assertion that the facts charged do not constitute

an offense, they did not specify any particular insufficiency in the allegations contained in the Information. The contentions and claims cited by movants are actually defenses being invoked by them which are evidentiary in character,” the court said.

The cases, filed in 2015, alleged a conspiracy among Petrasanta, 11 other PNP officers, and private individuals in the issuance of firearms licenses.

The Ombudsman declared as anomalous the said government transaction.

Of the 28 charges, 14 constituted violation of Section 3 (e) of RA 3019 on undue injury caused to the government or giving unwarranted benefits or preference to a party.

The other 14 cases were violations of Section 3 (j) of RA 3019 which defines the unlawful act of knowingly approving or granting any license, permit, privilege or benefit in favor of

any person not qualified for or not legally entitled to such license or permit.

Prosecutors accused Petrasanta and his co-defendants of having unduly favored Caraga Isla Security Agency, Claver Mineral Development Corp., and JTC Mineral Mining Corp. for approving their applications for firearms licenses despite incomplete or falsified documents and supporting papers.

Also included were Civil Security Group Director Gil Meneses, Firearms and Explosives Office Director Napoleon Estilles, Chief Supt. Tomas Rentoy III, Chief Supt. Regino Catiis, Senior Supt. Eduardo Acierto, Sr. Supt.

Allan Parreño Jr., Chief Insp. Ricky Sumalde, SPO1 Eric Tan, SPO1 Randy De Sesto, nonuniformed PNP personnel Nora Pirote and Sol Barga, and private defendant Isidro Lozada of Caraga Security.

Solon wants federalism understood by public

By Maricel V. Cruz A HOUSE leader on Wednesday called on the Congress to include the Department of the Interior and Local Government and civil society groups in Congress’ information dissemination drive to deepen the public’s understanding on federalism.

Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte suggested bringing the discussions to the grassroots, and that the DILG must include federalism in the topics to be tackled during the upcoming Barangay Assembly Day on March 25.

The holding of the barangay assembly day is mandatory under Section 397 of the Local Government Code, Villafurte said, citing a memorandum issued by DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno to barangay officials which states the barangay assembly day should be held every

last Saturday of March and every second Sunday of October.

“Now that both the Executive and Legislative Departments are deadset on accelerating this year the federal switch via Cha-Cha [Charter Change], the Congress should link up with the NGOs and the DILG task force formed to educate the public about federalism and pull all the stops in informing people down to the remotest barangays about the costeffectiveness and merits of Con-Ass...” Villafuerte, vice chairperson of the House local government committee, said.

Villafuerte said the DILG information drive must run parallel to the moves in both chambers of the Congress as announced

by Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, both strong supporters of Mr. Duterte’s push for the shift to a federal system.

Personnel; Comprehensive Tax Reform Program and Security of Tenure Bill.

Out of the 10 priority legislation, Gallardo said four were already in advanced legislation either at the House of Representatives or at the Senate.

These are the proposed National Transport Act, the Utilization of the Coconut Levy Fund, the Occupational Safety and Health Hazards Compliance Act, and the National Mental Health Act. Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte identified 55 priority bills as part of his legislative agenda while Congress listed 39 “common legislative priorities.”

Appeals court nixes VACC petition THE Court of Appeals dismissed the petition filed by Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption seeking to stop the conversion of the Army and Navy Club in Manila into a boutique hotel and a casino gaming facility.

In a six-page resolution dated Feb. 28 but released to media only on Wednesday, penned by Associate Justice Ramon Garcia and was concurred in by Associate Justices Leoncia Dimagiba and Jhosep Lopez, the CA’s Fifteenth Division dismissed VACC’s petition for certiorari and prohibition for violating the principle on hierarchy of courts.

This means the Oceanville Hotel and Spa Corp. will continue the conversion of the facility.

The CA explained the petitioner’s violation of the principle on hierarchy of courts that while it has concurrent jurisdiction with the Regional Trial Court in issuing the writ of certiorari, direct resort is allowed only when there are special extraordinary or compelling reasons that justify the same.

“Unfortunately, the present petition for certiorari is bereft of any compelling reason or circumstance to warrant an exception to the rule,” the CA explained.

The appellate court also noted the decision of the Manila City government to enter into an agreement with private entities for the development of the Army Navy Club and the approval of the development by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines could not be considered a judicial, quasi-judicial or ministerial action that could be a subject of a petition for certiorari. PNA

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Opinion

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

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EDITORIAL

Vices

T

HE vice president is the second highest official of the land. Ideally, he or she also holds a Cabinet position. As member of the Executive family, the vice president is the alter-ego of the President and is expected to be the face and voice of the chief executive— who cannot simultaneously attend to all concerns of all departments—in the field to which he or she is assigned.

This was how it was for Vice President Leni Robredo until December 2016, when she stepped down as chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordi-

Adelle Chua, Editor

nating Council. The vice president’s resignation was prompted by President Rodrigo Duterte’s order that she desist from attending Cabinet meetings—this, after

their rather promising start middle of last year.

Since then, Robredo’s main task has just been to wait until the presidency is vacated for one reason or another. She serves no other purpose than to be a spare official in the event of the President’s incapacitation—death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation.

Much goodwill and public resources besides are squandered here.

During elections, the vice presidential campaign is distinct from

that for president. This is exactly why the winners do not often come from the same ticket, and partnerships are determined not by oneness of purpose or similarity of vision, but on how one can boost the winning prospects of the other.

The result is an often-icy relationship between the two highest officials of the land that fails to maximize the potential of their working together for a common cause.

There is nothing that can be done about this,

of course, outside of changing the provisions of the Constitution. In the meantime, we must live with the consequences of our choices —and what choices they are, now that talk about their possible removal from office dominate the headlines instead of the more pressing issues of hunger, joblessness, inequitable wealth distribution and poor infrastructure.

It is galling that resources, time and energy are wasted on adjusting the decisions we already

made in May 2016. All this is getting in the way of real progress and legitimate change.

“She cannot wait to be President,” Mr. Duterte said, derisively, of his Vice President who recently spoke against alleged extrajudicial killings in a recorded message to the international community. Ms. Robredo, for her part, has denied her impatience.

We will not deny ours for these top officials to get their act together and get some actual work done.

DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA

Impeachment

directly to Malacañang. At the same time, any other president would immediately slap down an action like that of Taguiwalo’s, which can be interpreted as putting the president in the spot or even attempting to steal his thunder.

The people in Manila can continue to make political noise about the various impeachment proceedings that are underway.

But I think Duterte’s eventual decision on the Pandi situation will be more important and will have consequences that are farther-reaching than all of the current static from the usual politician-suspects. *** Speaking of instigators, a leftist congressman with supposed Cabinet aspirations is reportedly hijacking a Congress investigation to further his personal ambition. Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos

IMPEACHMENT season started early in this administration.

It is surprising that only eight months into his presidency, an impeachment complaint has been filed against President Rodrigo Duterte despite his huge margin of victory and his almost-martial law style of governance.

Still, with the number of House members in the socalled supermajority, it is doubtful if the impeachment complaint will go anywhere.

It does tell us, however, that all is not quiet in the western front. Also, even with the near-absolute control that President Duterte exercises over the entire government machinery, someone had the temerity to file an impeachment complaint.

The filing of the impeachment case by Rep. Gary Alejano of the Magdalo Party-List clearly caught the administration and the public by surprise. It took President Duterte and his political allies a couple of days to swing into action. Led by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and other senior government officials allied with the President, they went into the attack. The usual suspects consisting of the Yellow Army were targeted.

Because Alejano is a known ally of Senator Trillanes, who is the most vociferous critic of the President in the Senate after the now-detained Senator De Lima, the impeachment complaint has been characterized by Malacañang as nothing but a power grab by the political opposition to install VP Leni Robredo as President.

That reasoning is plausible but there could be other reasons like disgruntlement among members of the House. As one House member said, they are now experiencing a new brand of leadership, something that they are not used to. The complaint itself was not crafted well, according to some legal experts.

They say it could not even reach first base.

But the complaint certainly got the attention of the Palace and judging from the actions of the administration, it has been rattled. The ongoing reorganization in the House for instance is now dead on its tracks for fear of driving members of the House who are hedging and harboring resentment against the administration to bolt the

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The Pandi crisis LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES THE law must be enforced by the State. But, in its enforcement, the government must not lose sight of its goal to help the poor, even when they have violated the law.

In Pandi, Bulacan, thousands of homeless people, upon the instigation of the leftist group Kadamay, descended on a government housing project intended for low-income state workers and occupied what they said were “abandoned” homes. There is simply no excusing the action, which seems to highlight the failure of government through the years to solve the lack of housing for the poorest of the poor and which, at the same time, has also embarrassed the

Duterte administration.

The National Housing Authority, which developed the project, has come out with public announcements denouncing the takeover. But, in a marked change from the usual policy of letting policemen and other enforcers bust up a few heads and throw the rabble-rousers out of property that they have no legal right to, the NHA has only been giving eviction notices and setting deadlines for the homeless folk to vacate the premises.

In yet another departure from the usual, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has arrived at the scene to distribute food packs to the “occupiers.” Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, who took responsibility for the order to give food, explained that her job is to come to the aid of Filipinos in crisis situations, adding that she cannot

discriminate between people in places hit by natural calamities and the poor people in Pandi who have taken the extreme measure of grabbing houses that they do not own.

Duterte is probably torn between his populist leanings and his adherence to what the statute books say.

President Rodrigo Duterte, before he left this week for a two-nation tour, took the perfectly legal position that the

Pandi squatters will be evicted, using force, if necessary. But a closer reading of his statements on the matter last Monday revealed that he was probably torn between his own wellknown populist leanings and his lawyerly adherence to what the statute books say.

“I will give some but not all,” Duterte said. “Let’s resolve this through a dialog. Don’t do this because there will be anarchy.”

There has so far been no forced eviction, another giveaway that despite Duterte’s tough stance, his people are deferring to him before they act. And after his initial pronouncements on the matter, Duterte has not made any further comment from Myanmar and Thailand.

A more calculating politician would clandestinely order subordinates to do the job of evicting the Pandi squatters, making sure that the trail does not lead

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Opinion TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Walking with heroes FOURTEEN Filipinos made it to Forbes’ 2017 World Billionaires List. Henry Sy Sr. is still the richest Filipino with $12.7 billion.

Santa Banana, I personally know all but two of them! This is because of my 66 years as a journalist. I have gone full circle in print and in broadcast (radio and television).

They are nation-builders and heroes. A hero need not be shot at the Luneta. Their achievements in business and industry have made the national economy what it is today.

I cannot forget the time I first met Henry Sy Sr. My elder brother, Willie, took me to Carriedo St. in Quiapo to meet somebody. That somebody was Henry, who was peddling imported signature shoes on a sidewalk. The shoes were selling like hot cakes.

When I asked where those shoes came from, he said that he had bought them from Boston, USA, as export surplus.

People were just too eager to buy the shoes despite their being slightly defective. This was after a long drought of imported shoes during the four-year Japanese occupation. That was in 1949 when I was a junior student taking Bachelor of Arts at the Ateneo Padre Faura ruins.

I was told that Henry Sy Sr. made two to three other trips to the USA to bring in those signature shoes. Next time, I heard of Henry Sy was when he opened a shop at the corner of Avenida Rizal and Plaza Goiti with the brand “Shoemart.”

Since at that time there was the Retail Nationalization Law which prohibited foreigners from going into the retail business, the Henry Sy brand was called “SM” for Senen Mendiola, his partner and very good friend.

We all know what happened to the SM brand. It became big.

I met Sy again when he first built the SM shopping mall in Makati. I used to have coffee with him at the Elysee Coffee Shop. He told me about his plans. I thought to myself, now here is a man of vision!

He is fortunate that his children, Hans Sy, Henry “Big Boy” Sy Sr. and Tessie Sy-Coson, share his vision for a better Philippines. *** Another of the 14 billionaires in the country is Ramon Ang, who with the encouragement of San My legacy is Miguel chairman and chief executive officer, Eduardo having known “Danding” Cojuangco, these hardworking made San Miguel the biggest conglomerate people who know in the country. It has diversified from its core how to share their business of food and blessings. beverage.

I consider Cojuangco and Ang my true friends.

I have always admired Danding as a businessman and a politician. He founded the NPC or Nationalist People’s Coalition. Unfortunately, he did not win when he ran for president in 1992. He could have been a good President.

Mon, for his part, simply cannot stop getting SMC into ventures not thought of by others. *** Another billionaire in the Forbes List is Enrique Razon, who was once my publisher at The Standard. His late father, Enrique “Pocholo” Razon, was my good friend. He made International Container Terminal Services Inc. a respected name in ports services.

After Ricky Razon sold the Manila Standard to the Romualdezes, he went on to bring Bloomberry to the Philippines.

Bloomberry is an Australian gaming and entertainment giant.

There is also Solaire—one of the gaming and entertainment giants and Entertainment City in Parañaque, Metro Manila.

My good friend, Philippine Airlines Chairman and CEO Lucio Tan, with his rags-to-riches story, is no. 3 in the billionaires list.

Another friend is Metrobank chairman emeritus George Ty, no. 4 on the list.

Andrew Tan, a newcomer in the world of business, is something else. I was fortunate enough to have made his acquaintance. Tan has gone a long way into property development nationwide, and in gaming and entertainment. He is also a man of vision and entrepreneurship with his Global Alliance conglomerate.

And of course, there’s my former student Roberto “Bobby” Ongpin, a self-made man. He is now into high-end property development as chairman and CEO of Alphaland. Bobby made his name when he converted that island off the coast of Quezon province, Balesin, into a high-end Balesin Island Club. He also put up the City Club, the most luxurious leisure and sports club in Metro Manila.

At 80 years, Bobby cannot seem to stop. He has other exciting projects in the pipeline. *** If there’s one common denominator among all the Filipino billionaires listed by Forbes Magazine, it’s that they share their blessings to the people. They pay back.

They all know that their blessings come from God. As such, they have obligations to pay back not only to people who work for them, but to others who have less in life through acts of charity.

Perhaps, that is the reason why they remain billionaires.

I cannot end this column without saying that the most important aspect of my life as a journalist for more than six decades is knowing most in the list of Filipino billionaires.

They are all my heroes as nation-builders.

They have patience. They work hard. They share their blessings.

Walking with heroes is my legacy!

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

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Call of duty OVERSIGHT DANILO SUAREZ ARTICLE VI of the 1987 Constitution imposes the duties and confers the rights of the legislative branch of the government—the Philippine Congress. The Congress is comprised of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives, which are vested with the power to make and pass laws through proposals and deliberations of bills.

The Senate President and the Speaker head the two houses, respectively. Our current leader, Hon. Pantaleon Alvarez, is the 24th Speaker of the House.

Among the responsibilities of the Speaker are to preside over the sessions; decide on all questions of order; sign all acts, resolutions, writs, subpoenas, memorials, and warrants upon order of the House; exercise administrative functions; and

appoint, suspend, dismiss, or discipline House personnel.

After 83 session days, the 17th Congress under Alvarez’s leadership has 186 approved bills and adopted resolutions.

Among them are the house inquiry on the proliferation of drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison, the 2017 General Appropriations Act, dubbed as the “National Budget for Change”, the postponement of the barangay elections, and the most significant and controversial of them—the death penalty bill.

As lawmakers, we are mandated to uphold and prioritize the interest of the State and its people. In the previous years, the Congress had a public impression of being a “stamp pad”, a mere submissive legislature to the administration.

However, with the leadership of Speaker Alvarez, we have a firmer and more independent Congress.

Known to be an iron fist, Speaker Alvarez has earned both recognition and criticism

from his fellow House Members and the public. Despite these views, he continues to perform his duties to the best of his abilities and remains steadfast with his decisions.

We have seen how the Speaker scrutinized projects that do not uphold public interest during congressional hearings. In the deliberations on the LRTMRT Common Station, he has reprimanded the Department of Transportation for prioritizing business interest over public welfare, while he remained stern towards the dissatisfactory services of the telco companies during the franchise renewal.

With this, government agencies should expect that for the 2018 national budget, the Congress will be stricter and more meticulous. We will not tolerate poor absorptive capacity.

Savings which were deemed from unused funds means unimplemented projects. Delayed projects by these agencies only equate to projects being denied from the people.

We cannot permit this inefficiency in this administration.

Given the poor performance and spending by agencies, it will be harder for them to get approval from us.

I commend the Speaker’s sincerity and determination in carrying out his duties as a lawmaker. He may be a tough House Speaker but I believe that what he has been doing is just right to maintain the integrity of the House of Representatives. If Members will not support the Speaker, we cannot find harmony towards the passage of laws, most especially when the welfare of the Filipino people is on the line.

As the Minority Leader, I serve as the spokesperson of the House Minority members.

However, being in the Minority does not always mean being the opposing party. In our case, we oppose what we believe is wrong and we support what we believe is right. After all, we are elected by our constituents to uphold their interest.

Ready or not, here come Trump and North Korea

By Albert R. Hunt PRESIDENT Donald Trump is a reckless bully with authoritarian leanings and a craving for attention. Kim Jong-un is a reckless bully with dictatorial powers and a craving for attention. Oh yes, and both have fingers on nuclear triggers. That’s why so many national security experts of both political parties struggle to think of a scarier pair.

It’s not just that Kim’s outlaw North Korean regime has accelerated its nuclear weapons capacity and delivery capability, or that Kim sees nuclear weapons as his insurance policy against adversaries.

It’s also that Trump has displayed little appreciation of history or knowledge and a compulsion to show that he’s tough.

Trump has called Kim a “madman,” one of the few things he has gotten right about North Korea. Dealing with him, though, requires measured patience and smart diplomacy —not Trump’s forte—and a reliance on alliances and relationships that he has dismissed.

On his current Asia trip, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that diplomacy with North Korea hasn’t

Impeachment From A4 supermajority and vote for impeachment. Knowledgeable sources are discounting this possibility but at this stage of the ball game, anything could still happen.

If there is anything that previous impeachment attempts teach us, it is again fiesta time for the members of the House.

There will again be a lot of haggling for additional congressional allocations. This is after all the reason why every time there is a new administration, there is hardly any block that one can call the opposition. Almost all are with the administration. The reason?

Fund allocations.

VP Robredo who may or may not have anything to do with the filing of the complaint is now herself under siege because an impeachment complaint is now

The Pandi...

From A4 Zarate has decided to jump into the House investigation into alleged corruption in the Energy Regulatory Commission that led to the purported suicide of a top agency official by filing a resolution to include “midnight deals” made with distribution utilities.

The ongoing House probe into the death of ERC Director Francisco “Jun” Villa Jr. is already covered by three resolutions

worked and that there’d be a “new approach.” That sounds like just talk. More important, Defense Secretary James Mattis impressed Asia experts during his visit last month to Japan and South Korea, in essence assuring the allies that US commitments were unchanged despite Trump’s “America First” oratory.

There are few Asia specialists in this slow-to-form administration. But if Trump listens to Mattis and H.R. McMaster, his national security adviser, there will be a sense of relief in Tokyo, Seoul and Washington about the approach to North Korea. Let’s hope the president doesn’t revert instead to his penchant for relying on gut instincts or his nationalist Svengali, Steve Bannon.

Trump did advocate a greater nuclear presence in Asia during the 2016 presidential campaign.

He declared that China has “total control” over North Korea and has hinted that he’s going to tell China’s President Xi Jinping to bring the North Korean dictator to his knees or else.

But China doesn’t have anything close to total control over Kim Jung-un. It has contempt for his recklessness and alarm at his nuclear development. Above

all, Beijing fears collapse of the regime, which would bring millions of refugees pouring across the border and possibly created a unified Korea that isn’t a strategic buffer for China. The Chinese want to tamp down Kim, but their interests aren’t the same as America’s.

“China’s influence is limited, but it has practical leverage if it chooses to use it,” said Tony Blinken, deputy secretary of state in the administration of President Barack Obama.

For example, the Chinese did suspend coal imports from North Korea—that accounts for about a third of its exports— in line with a United Nations resolution. But the “or else” — Trump has suggested he could punish China on trade—won’t scare Beijing.

The dilemma on what to do is compounded by political instability in South Korea, whose hard-line President Park Geunhye was just thrown out of office in a corruption inquiry. A new leader will be elected in May, possibly someone more inclined to compromise over relations with the North.

A fear expressed by some experts is that Trump, who fancies himself a masterful negotiator, would agree to offer less resist-

being readied against her. And because impeachment is more of a numbers game than a legal one, she is perhaps more threatened than the President.

But this remains to be seen.

What this threat against VP Robredo is going to do is that it will be another political upheaval that will somehow affect our political institutions negatively. The chances of her being impeached by the House and tried by the Senate is real.

If this happens, though, it will be a big distraction. Instead of focusing on the many problems facing the country both in the home front and overseas, the country’s attention will be focused on an impeachment trial that could last for months.

What the country needs at this time is to cool down. These threats and counter threats are not doing the country any good. It seems that our senior elective officials, instead of

leading the effort to fortify and strengthen our fragile political institutions, are the ones trying their best to weaken our democratic foundations instead.

Beginning with the ouster of President Marcos, there have been several political upheavals that contributed to the weakening of our political institutions. The ouster of President Estrada, the impeachment of Justice Corona on trumpedup charges, the numerous impeachment and coup attempts have all contributed to the weakening of our democratic processes. *** Of all the democratic countries in the region, we have the oldest democratic tradition. We have been having elections since 1907. That is 110 years. It stands to reason that we should be the model or at least an example of political maturity and stability. Yet compared to our neigh-

bors, we seem to have never matured politically. The specter of martial law or the threat of it is always hanging above everybody’s head. Democracy as a system is frustrating, cumbersome and oftentimes infuriating to a leader. The temptation to lead without dissent is natural.

But democracy is the kind of system that the Filipino people have grown accustomed to and comfortable with. Those who are thinking of tinkering with it to make it easy to govern should think again.

We have gone along this path during martial law and it has brought us nothing but hardship. We are in fact just beginning to recover and start getting our act together. It would be a pity if we will backslide and retrogress instead of moving forward. We should always be mindful of the lessons of martial law.

filed separately by Congressmen Bernadette Herrera-Dy, Christopher Belmonte and Wes Gatchalian. Villa reportedly committed suicide because he could not stomach the corruption in the procurement of services from ERC suppliers on the behest of Chairman Jose Vicente Salazar.

Villa was chairman of the bids and awards committee of ERC at the time of his death and was in charge of internal supply contracts for the agency’s various administrative requirements.

But Zarate has decided, willynilly, to convert the House investigation into a probe of alleged midnight deals involving power supply procurement deals.

Villa was never involved in power-supply negotiations. In fact, in his purported suicide note, he pointed out that he was being forced to agree to pay for the services of a supplier of audio-visual presentations for ERC. Sources at the House and the ERC say Zarate seems hell-bent on repurposing the Villa probe in order to get the attention of

President Rodrigo Duterte and to snag the post of environment and natural resources secretary currently held by the controversial, beleaguered and bypassed Gina Lopez.

How that will work out for Zarate is unclear, these same sources say, because Zarate has opposed Duterte on practically all policy matters, such as the death penalty draft law, the burial of the late President Ferdinand Marcos and the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines.

ance to China’s ambitions in the South China Sea in exchange for a promise by Xi to bring more pressure on North Korea.

The other fear is that the megalomaniac North Korean dictator could goad Trump into a mano-a-mano exchange that starts on Twitter and ends whoknows-where.

Economic sanctions are hurting North Korea. Cyber attacks may temporarily impede its nuclear-weapons program.

And to China’s consternation, the US is deploying an antimissile system in South Korea.

But over a quarter century, with Republican and Democratic administrations alike, neither carrots nor sticks have effectively constrained the outlaw regime.

With no good solution, the least bad approach would be to try to negotiate some interim agreement in cooperation with China, Japan and South Korea that freezes North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs, with guaranteed verification, in return for lifting some economic sanctions while seeking a longerterm deal.

There is a parallel: The nuclear treaty Obama negotiated with Iran, which Trump called the “worst deal” in history.

Bloomberg

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THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

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News

DoLE to strictly enforce ban on ‘labor-only contracting’ Transport groups told to stop planned strike

By Joel E. Zurbano ACTING chairman Thomas Orbos of the Metro Manila Development Authority on Wednesday urged jeepney drivers and operators not to push through with their planned three-day nationwide strike in protest against the proposed phaseout of old jeepneys.

“We can talk and discuss this.

There is no sense in prolonging, adding the agony to the people.

Let’s sit down and discuss what the problem is,” said Orbos in a forum in Makati City.

The MMDA chief made the appeal after Stop and Go Coalition president Jun Magno announced they are planning to hold a three-day nationwide protest against the government’s proposal to phase out old diesel-engine jeepneys and replace them with modern and environmentfriendly public utility vehicles.

“There will be a three-day transport holiday. This is again to protest the government’s plan to modernize and phase out [old] jeepneys,” said Magno over GMA News.

Magno, however, refused to say when the strikes will take place.

Orbos, on the other hand, assured the public that the government is prepared for any eventuality if the jeepney drivers and operators pushes through with the transport holiday.

“We had the two strikes already.

The government is always prepared and we already know what to do,” he said.

Late last month, thousands of commuters were affected by the nationwide transport strike staged by various jeepney drivers and operators organizations, not only in Metro Manila, but also in various provinces.

Among the affected areas were the southern part of Metro Manila, the cities of Marikina and Pasig in the eastern metro; Commonwealth Avenue, Tandang Sora, Mindanao Avenue, and the district of Fairview, all in Quezon City; Taft Avenue, España, Quezon Boulevard, Quiapo, Recto and Sta. Cruz, all in Manila, and Monumento and Grace Park in Caloocan City.

Ambulance airlifts two patients

By Macon R. Araneta SEVEN days after its formal launching in Puerto Princesa City, the Department of Health-Mimaropa (Oriental/Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) air ambulance airlifted two emergency patients from the island municipalities of Cuyo and Balabac in Palawan on March 19 and 20, respectively.

Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo said one of the patients was a 41-year-old female suffering from G6PD preeclampsia and already in labor from Manamoc Island, one of the farthest islands of the Cuyo Archipelago.

She was flown at 5 p.m to the Cuyo District Hospital, arriving there at 6 p.m. and was immediately treated and stabilized. The patient delivered by normal birth her baby at 12 midnight.

The next day, the air ambulance proceeded to Balabac Island to retrieve a 69-year-old male patient suffering from peptic ulcer and was already bleeding when brought to the MMG-PPC Cooperative Hospital in Puerto Princesa City.

“We will be expecting more patients to be airlifted in the coming days because we have provided a way for our indigent and indigenous communities to avail of their right to primary health,” Janairo said.

Janairo stressed that no patient should die just because he/she doesn’t have access to a health facility.

“With this air ambulance program, we are hoping to save more lives,” he said.

By Vito Barcelo

T

HE Department of Labor and Employment will strictly enforce the new Department Order No. 174 that bans labor-only contracting and other form of illegal contractual arrangements, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Wednesday said.

Bello said he will deputize labor group leaders to inspect establishments which would violate the new DO, saying the participation of labor groups would achieve the goal of ending illegal contractual arrangements.

“The DO will not succeed if the labor groups will not participate in implementing the or-

der. That’s why I am deputizing labor groups to inspect various establishments for their compliance with the new department order,” Bello said.

He said he has authorized Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod to supervise a team composed of labor compliance officers and representatives from labor and employers that will conduct in-

spections of more than 90,000 establishments to assure their compliance with labor standards and existing labor laws.

“The inspection team will directly report to me and kapag napatunayang hindi sumusunod, tayo [DoLE] mismo ang pupunta at sasabihin natin na i-regular mo sila,” Bello said.

The Labor secretary also addressed criticisms from some labor groups, following his issuance last week of DO No. 174 stressing that only Congress, not the DoLE, can completely ban contractualization.

“We have come up with this DO to address your [labor groups] immediate concerns but the complete prohibition of all forms of contractualization is beyond our authority. That mat-

ter is a function of the legislation, the Congress,” Bello explained.

The order reaffirms the Constitutional and statutory right to security of tenure for workers; applies to all parties in an arrangement where employer-employee relationship exists; and absolutely prohibits labor-only contracting, and specifies other illicit forms of contractual employment arrangements.

It also allows only permissible contracting and subcontracting as defined; reenforces the rights of workers to labor standards, self-organization, collective bargaining and security of tenure; and requires mandatory registration of contractors and subcontractors and provides clear procedures for cancellation of registration.

IN BRIEF BoC warns vs impostor THE Bureau of Customs warned the public against an impostor who has been representing himself as the new commissioner in place of Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon.

In a statement, the BoC said a certain Ariel Roselle Victorino, also known as Ariel Roa Victorino, was reported to have produced an appointment letter allegedly signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

Victorino, who claims to be a relative of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, said he would take over Faeldon’s post.

The BoC said it has received complaints that Victorino was extorting money from Customs employees, brokers, and even smugglers in exchange for protection and immunity from the law.

Victorino has several pending criminal cases in the courts for estafa and fraud, the bureau said.

Records from the National Bureau of Investigation showed that Ariel and one Hershey Victorino were earlier arrested for reportedly duping five applicants for a US visa.

In June 2013, Victorino was also accused of extorting money from garbage contractors after claiming to be the chief of Manila’s Department of Public Service.

Faeldon urged the public to disclose the names of other individuals who were extorting money in exchange for protection.

Vito Barcelo

‘Edsa traffic getting better’

FREE CONDOMS. Officials and personnel of the Quezon City Health Department and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology display the condoms that will be distributed to inmates of the Quezon City Jail in their bid to prevent the spread of the HIV among the 2,000 inmates.

Officials said that three inmates have so far tested positive of the deadly virus. Lino Santos

Solon backs Du30 on same-sex union stand

By Maricel V. Cruz A PRO-LIFE lawmaker on Tuesday welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement that he is against same-sex marriages.

“President Duterte is correct in saying that same-sex marriages are not for us because we are a Catholic nation, aside from the legal aspect where the Civil Code provides for marriage between a man and a woman. Marriage should be for founding a family,” Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza said.

Atienza was reacting to the President’s statement during his

meeting with the Filipino community in Myanmar over the weekend.

“I respect the rights of two people sharing affection and material things, but to allow them to get married by law is not okay.

Same-sex couples can share affection even without marriage,” Atienza added.

At a congressional hearing conducted earlier by the House committee on women and gender equality, Atienza had moved for the removal of the phrase “of any other kind of license” from section 4E of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) bill.

Atienza said this would have allowed the granting of a marriage license for same-sex couples. The said amendment was accepted by the bill’s proponents.

“The rights of every person are already guaranteed and protected by the Constitution and is something that we recognize and respect,” Atienza said.

“But the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman must be upheld and protected as an institution as it is the most basic foundation of the family. I have always considered people belonging to the LGBT community as some of my best friends.

In fact, I grew up with them belonging to one dance troupe. I know that many of them don’t approve of same-sex marriage.

And I have always looked at the LGBT community with respect,” Atienza added.

Nevertheless, he insisted that same-sex marriage is against the Constitution, existing laws and especially the natural law.

“We Filipinos should not really be copying Western culture.

Even if they approve of it, majority of Filipinos don’t. It’s time Western countries look at us and start copying our culture,” Atienza said.

TRAFFIC along Edsa has improved following the implementation of a ban on light trucks that resulted in the absence of close to 3,000 vehicles, mostly delivery vans, along the 23.8-kilometer highway and the entire stretch of Shaw Boulevard which traverses the cities of Mandaluyong and Pasig.

“We’re still reviewing it but generally we observed and I would say based on the initial findings, not less than five minutes increase in the travel speed,” acting Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Thomas Orbos said.

The ban is being enforced in the following areas: • Southbound lane Edsa (from North Avenue in Quezon City to Magallanes in Makati City) and whole stretch of Shaw Boulevard (cities of Mandaluyong and Pasig) from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.; and • Northbound lane of Edsa (from Magallanes to North Avenue) and whole stretch of Shaw Boulevard (Mandaluyong and Pasig) from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Orbos said members of the Metro Manila Council, the governing board and the policymaking body of the MMDA, initially suggested that the ban should be enforced on both lanes at the same time.

Under the policy, trucks which have a gross capacity weight of 4,500 kgs. and below will not be allowed to pass Edsa and Shaw Boulevard from Monday to Saturday except Sundays and holidays.

It also stated that light trucks carrying perishable goods are not covered by the ban but they still need to apply for exemption. Also exempted are government and emergency vehicles such as firetrucks and ambulances.

Violators will be slapped with a P2,000 fine. Joel E. Zurbano

Angara wants education bill for 4Ps beneficiaries

SUMMER JOYS. A group of young boys wade into the murky waters of the Manila Bay near the Baseco Compound in Manila yesterday. State weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration is set to declare the start of the summer season before the end of March. Norman Cruz

FOLLOWING the recent passage of the bill in the Senate mandating free tuition in all state universities and colleges, Senator Sonny Angara said the next education reform in line should be the One Family, One Graduate Act. Angara’s Senate Bill 133 gives poor but deserving students free college education until they graduate. Beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) will be prioritized under such program.

“The One Family, One Graduate bill aims to ensure that every Filipino family, especially those living in poverty, has at least one college graduate,” said Angara.

“This is a good companion measure to the free college tuition bill as it would target the poorest of the poor,” he added.

The Foundation for Economic Freedom, a group of economists and education experts, has opposed the tuition subsidy for SUCs, calling it “anti-poor” as higher-income students would al-

legedly benefit more from such scheme.

Studies show that out of 100 students who start elementary education, approximately less than 20 are able to graduate from college, and one of the primary reasons for not being able to finish their education were poverty and lack of opportunities.

The FEF pointed out that tuition covers only one-third of the cost of attending college while the balance consists of cost of living allowances.

“Education authorities are concerned that free tuition in SUCs will result in free riding for higher-income students, who have the ability to pay for living allowances and who might end up using the free tuition subsidy.

The FEF also argued that free tuition in SUCs will provide unfair competition to private institutions which, according to the group, are more efficient in providing higher education.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

Sports

A7

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Velez, 3 others to train at Australian academy

CHESS CELEBRATION. Kasparov Chess Foundation’s 15th anniversary will be celebrated in the Philippines by KCF Asia Pacific, in cooperation with the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, Department of Education and Alphaland Corp. with the March 26 KCFAP Young Talents Rapid Chess Championships and March 27 Chess in Education Training for Teachers, both at Alphaland Makati Place. Photo shows Garry Kasparov, acclaimed as world’s greatest chess player, with Ignatius Leong, KCFAP Director, and Red Dumuk, KCFAP Director for Philippines having light moments.

NICKAN’S Tapsi Hauz came through with a blazing start to dominate Breezy Brothers, 98-85, at the resumption of the elimination round of Brotherhood Basketball League “WCA Travel Cup” Expert Division at the Trinity University of Asia gym in Quezon City over the weekend.

Budoy Ignacio ignited Nickan’s first-quarter breakaway with 18 points of his 38-point total in the first half to crush the Breezy Brothers.

Nickan notched its first victory in three outings and stayed in contention in the tournament organized by BBL Chairman Erick Kirong of Macway Travel and presented by World Cruisers Adventures Travel and Tours, headed

by Chief Executive Officer Engr.

Joven Diaz.

“Big win for us. We bounced back and set aside our couple of close game losses to stay on track,” playing team owner Jose ‘Ajie’ Ramilo said as he praised the solid performance of his starters Ignacio, Jun Dayandante, Richard Patawaran, Marc Corteza, Ernest Lopez, Jun Quitay and the rest of the team.

In the other expert class match, LTO-NCR of Raul Dolatre nipped Invictus Farm, 80-75, while the Bearcats waylaid EARIST Red Fox in the Passion Division.

L

OS ANGELES —Stephen Curry scored 17 points to win his latest on-court duel with elder brother Seth on Tuesday as the Golden State Warriors notched a fifth straight victory with a rout of the Dallas Mavericks.

The Western Conference leaders were rarely in trouble as they romped to a 112-87 win at the American Airlines Center in Texas to improve to 57-14 in a game dubbed the “Curry Bowl.”

The game marked the sixth time the Curry siblings have faced each other on an NBA court -- and it was Warriors star Steph who came out on top.

“Just knowing that we were going to be out there for extended minutes playing against each

other is a surreal kind of feeling; seeing your brother, who you’ve been battling with since you can remember, out on the NBA floor,” Steph Curry said afterwards.

“It’s amazing to see what he has done here in Dallas, taking his game to the next level and showing them what he is really about.”

Klay Thompson led a balanced offense with 23 points, while Curry added nine assists to his points haul.

But it was the Warriors’ defensive display that left coach Steve

Kerr beaming with pride.

“When you’re out on the road you have to defend, you have to maintain a really good defense to win road games, and I think we’ve done that,” Kerr said.

“In the past several seasons our team has been in the top five in the NBA defensively, and obviously we’ve got plenty of shooters and scorers.”

The Dubs’ win keeps them firmly in control of their destiny at the top of the conference.

Nearest rivals San Antonio improved to 54-16 with a come-frombehind win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 26 points as the Spurs fought back from a nine-point halftime deficit to claim a 100-93 win.

LONG-TIME Philippine Azkals’ goalkeeper Ronald Muller is retiring.

Muller is leaving the national squad after playing 22 international games, mostly as an alternate to Neil Etheridge.

The Germany-born Muller made his debut with the country’s Under-23 side in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games five years ago.

After that, he moved over to the men’s squad in the same year.

“A new experience gave me a chance to see a part of my roots, teammates became like brothers!

We lost, fought and won together.

I had a great time, I was and will be forever proud to played for this beautiful country,” Muller said in an Instagram post.

The 29-year-old Muller was originally in the 23 man line-up for their friendly with Malaysia.

But, he did not play when the Azkals clashed with Malaysia last night. Peter Atencio

Kawhi Leonard contributed 22 points to back up Aldridge while Spanish veteran Pau Gasol scored 11 points off the bench as the Spurs claimed a second straight win.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points and 14 rebounds for Minnesota to complete his 53rd doubledouble of the season.

Stormy clash In the Eastern Conference, DeMar DeRozan’s 42 points stole the show as Toronto sealed a 122-120 overtime win over the Chicago Bulls.

A stormy clash saw Chicago’s Robin Lopez and Toronto’s Serge Ibaka both be ejected during the third quarter after a brawl erupted.

Lopez finished the game with 12 points while Ibaka had 16 points before the dismissals.

“It felt great, in the fact that win,

lose or draw, I felt we were scrapping, competing and that’s all you can ask for from your team at this time of year,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said.

Lopez and Ibaka later played down the exchange of blows that led to their ejections.

“I think it was just a really physical game for everybody, it just kind of hit a flashpoint,” Lopez said.

“He was playing physical basketball and he got frustrated,” Ibaka said. “We started to push each other like always happens when there’s contact and then he threw the punch. Like man, I’m just going to defend myself.”

The Bulls had appeared poised to grab an important win after going 15 points clear in the third quarter. AFP

Magnaye, Pomar win mixed doubles’ title in Prima meet

Muller retiring from PH Azkals

Gregg Paz during mixed doubles open finals action at the 10th Prima Pasta Badminton Championship

PETER Gabriel Magnaye and Thea Marie Pomar trounced fellow national players Alyssa Ysabel Leonardo and Alvin Morado, 21-19, 21-13, to bag the mixed doubles’ open trophy of 10th Prima Pasta Badminton Championship recently at the Powersmash badminton courts in Makati City.

Magnaye and Pomar engaged a tough first-set battle against the pair of Leonardo and Morado before taking control of the second set on the way to winning the title of the annual tournament supported by Smart Communications and Babolat.

Aires Amor Montilla and John Gregg Paz, meanwhile, secured the mixed doubles’ level A title by rallying past John Paul Pantig and Franceska Bermejo, 12-21, 21-13, 21-17, during the finals of the competition organized by Alexander Lim. In other mixed doubles’ finals

results, Jennifer Cayetano and Dodie Sertan outlasted Aires Montilla and Michael Saragena, 21-12, 24-26, 21-18, for the mixed doubles’ level B trophy, while Grezel Alfoneth Alquitas and Edwin John Viloria bashed Arman Manlangit and Gielyn Ochoa, 21-18, 21-14, for the mixed doubles’ level C title.

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

The event was also backed by Amstar, Gardenia, Greenshades Garden resorts, Herbalife, Jose Siao Ling & Associates, Mega Subic Terminal Services Inc., Ric Airtech, Sincere Construction, U2 Electrical, United Colourtech,

Wl-An Aluminium, Window One, Waterlite Engineering and Unitech Industrial Sales.

Joy Abad and Nephtali Pineda outplayed Angelica Bermejo and Joel Estrada, 21-18, 21-13, to get the mixed doubles’ level D crown, while Lester Gromet and Jennifer Marquez blasted Sarah Maligalig and Julius Pimentel, 21-10, 21-19, to win the mixed doubles’ level E crown.

Lester Gromet and Miraflor Paclibare defeated Jennifer Marquez and Aljhar Salangani, 21-19, 21-19, to take home the mixed doubles’ level F diadem, while Maido Asim and Adelfa Ohana blanked RJ Lazareto and Sarah Mae Maligalig, 21-14, 13-21, 21-11, to win the mixed doubles’ level G title.

In the combined age 100 event, Ronald Alibango and Francis Uy beat Mike Alayon and Shih Fang Chen, 21-19, 7-21, 21-14, to clinch the crown.

Visitors dominate Valenzuela leg of Cebuana net tourney VISITING players from the National Capital Region and nearby provinces beat the local challenge and dominated the ninth leg of the Cebuana Lhuillier Age-Group Tennis Championship Series in Valenzuela.

Nueva Ecija’s Jhastine Red Ballado led the charge by taking both the girls’ 16-under and 18-under titles, with straight-set victories against different opponents, while Arlo Quines was the sole local bet to win, ruling the

8-under unisex group.

Ballado swept aside Quezon City bet Jhastine Maneja, 7-5, 6-3, in the finals of the 16-under, then beat Blanche Lagrisola from Sta. Rosa, Laguna, 6-3, 6-3, in the 18-under.

Quines came up with a 4-1, 4-1 win over another local bet Jeo Tampoco in the 8-under championship match of the tournament supported

by Dunlop as the official ball.

Manila’s Aljon Talatayod also went home with two titles tucked under his belt as he duplicated Bal-

lado’s feat in the boys’ side, beating Misamis Occidental native Christian Balazo, 6-2, 6-2, for the 18-under crown and Laurenz Quitara from Bacoor, Cavite, 6-1, 6-1, in the 16-under.

Samuel Nuguit from las Pinas also went home with two titles, edging out Rainier Angelo Selmar, 6-4, 6-3, for the boys’ 14-under crown while earlier, he thwarted Alejandro Barrientos’ title bid with a 6-1, 6-2 victory in the 12-under championship.

Monaco hosts confab on injury, illess in sports MONACO—With much support from Monaco’s Royal Highness, Prince Albert II, Monaco again played host to the International Olympic Committee on Prevention of Injury & Illness in Sport recently.

Monaco also hosted this event twice—in 2011

“We thank the MCTA for supporting our circuit by way of offering slots for the Filipino players in its training camp. This should further motivate our youngsters to strive for excellence,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

All eligible players also need to play in the Masters leg of the PPS-PEPP Sultan Kudarat leg on June 15-19, according to PPS-PEPP sports program development director Bobby Mangunay. For details, call 0915-4046464.

Others vying for slots in the MCTA training camp are Minette Bentillo, Danna Abad, Sidney Enriquez and Klyde Lagarde.

This came on the heels of the MTCA’s successful staging of the Tennis Teachers/Coaches Conference in Cagayan de Oro City recently held in cooperation with National Tennis Coaches Association of the Philippines (NTCAP) where MCTA coach Patricia “Matet” ConconPuzon also conducted free tennis clinic for grassroots and advanced players.

The groups will again hold a Community Coaching Conference and conduct free tennis clinics on April 20, 21 and 22 at the Gen. Santos City courts.

Warriors crush Mavericks

Nickan notches 1st win in BBL

By Graham C. Lim

JOHN David Velez took the first of four slots offered to top campaigners in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age-group tennis tournament after an impressive campaign in the early going of the 54leg circuit.

A total of four players – one boy and one girl each from the 14- and 16-andunder categories – will be given threemonth scholarship grants at the Macs Crankit Tennis Academy in Australia.

The player must be a three-time champion in his/her category of any grouping in the PPS-PEPP tilt in Visayas and Mindanao legs.

Meanwhile, action resumes in Kidapawan City today (Thursday, March 23) with close to 200 players vying for top honors in various divisions of the 10th leg of the circuit sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger.

Velez, one of the rising stars from Davao, has won in the Butuan and CdO stops of the nationwide circuit put up by the country’s leading pawnshop and remittance center then dominated the recent Davao leg to clinch the first MCTA grant.

and 2014.

Prince Albert II was in attendance during the conference held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

Injury and illness to athletes often prevent them from reaching the pinnacle of success. At times, these also result in their decline in performance.

How to find solutions to these problems and avoid-

ing them if possible were among the priorities of the Olympic Movement and all the National Olympic Committees.

And it is this purpose that events such as the IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sports are being held regularly.

The World Conference is taking a pro-active role

in defining new clinical protocols and providing an invaluable platform of information dedicated to the athlete’s wellness.

The program is very beneficial to the international sports world what with the active participation of many prominent professionals dealing in sports medicine as guest speakers.

“I can only see a brighter future for tennis after seeing all these young players from all over the country emerging and developing themselves year after year playing in our tennis series,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, President /CEO of the Cebuana Lhuillier Age-Group Championship Series, currently the country’s longest-running grassroots’ tennis developmental program now on its 11th year already.

The other winners in the Valen-

Prince Albert II takes a look at the UTC Imaging booth presentation led by Dr. Hans T.M. van Schie during the IOC World Conference held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

zuela leg, played at the TLH Sports and Wellness Center over two weekends, were Samuel Salazar from Alabang as he prevailed over local bet JR Salangsang in a three-setter finals, 0-4 , 4-1, 10-5; Jenaila Pruna from Bulacan, who beat another local player Edreah de la Torre, 6-2, 6-0, for the girls’ 12-under crown, and Justine Maneja from Quezon City, a 6-4, 6-2 winner over yet another player from Valenzuela, Ruth Demafelis in the finals of the girls’ 14-under.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M+ 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

Foton, Generika gun for last slot in semis

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

A8

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

Games Today

5 p.m. – Generika-Ayala vs Petron 7 p.m. – Foton vs Sta. Lucia

Sports Alaska import Cory Jefferson tries to maneuver his way around Blackwater’s Kyle Pascual in a PBA Commissioner’s Cup game won by the Aces, 109-95.

Aces rout Elite, 109 to 95, seize share of early lead

By Jeric Lopez

T

HE rampage continued for Alaska as it cruised its way to its second straight win, routing Blackwater, 109-95, to gain a share of the early lead in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Once again strutting his wares, Cory Jefferson paced the Aces with another solid double-double production of 28 points and 15 rebounds, totally outplaying his counterpart Greg Smith.

He got assistance from

rookie Carl Cruz and Ping Exciminiano as the two came off the bench to provide a lot of spark for Alaska, scoring 15 and 13 points, respectively.

Alaska is now in a three-way tie for first place with Rain or

Shine and Meralco on similar 2-0 cards.

On the other hand, Blackwater is likewise in a three-way logjam on the other side at the bottom, with fellow winless teams Mahindra and NLEX as they are all at 0-2.

Just like in its opening game, Alaska came out of the gates blazing again, zooming to a 12-3 start to give itself an early leverage.

While Blackwater inched closer towards the end of the opening period, the Aces kept coming and eventually took control in the second quarter, methodically working their

way to a 52-43 advantage at the half.

The Aces maintained their momentum and extended their lead to double-digits, 80-68, heading into the final 12 minutes of action.

The Elite tried its best to rally several times in the fourth, but the experienced Aces shut down every one of its attempt to sail to victory.

Alaska never trailed from start to finish.

Smith led Blackwater with 14 points and 16 rebounds but his efforts weren’t enough for his squad.

Phoenix is currently attempt-

ing to make it a four-way logjam up top as it also goes for a second win against debuting Star as of press time.

The scores: ALASKA 109—Jefferson 28, Cruz 15, Exciminiano 13, Racal 12, Thoss 10, Abueva 9, Galliguez 7, Pascual 5, Banchero 4, Mendoza 4, Enciso 2.

BLACKWATER 95—Cervantes 21, Smith 14, Sumang 13, Buenafe 11, Belo 9, Digregorio 8, Ababou 4, Sena 4, Pascual 4, Aguilar 3, Gamalinda 2, Miranda 2, Pinto 0.

Quarterscores: 27-23, 5243, 80-68, 109-95

Lavandia reclaims gold in world meet

By Peter Atencio ERLINDA Lavandia hurled the spear at a longer distance this time, earning her the gold medal on Tuesday in the 60-years-and-above category of women’s javelin throw in the 2017 World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships.

On her third attempt, the 65-year-old Lavandia threw the spear to a distance of 30.58 meters inside the Blue Arc stadium in Daegu, South Korea.

Kyouko Mukai of Japan settled for the silver with a 27.04-meter feat, while Ayush Altantsetseg of Mongolia claimed the bronze (17.69 meters).

Lavandia’s effort bettered

her heave of 30.28 meters last year for a silver medal in the 22nd World Masters Athletics Championships in Perth, Australia.

In 2013, Lavandia took her sixth WMA gold medal with her best-ever record of 39.83 meters when the tournament was held in Brazil.

So far, she now has seven golds and two silver medals.

Lavandia also claimed a silver-medal finish after recording 28.23 meters in the final round way back in 2015.

In other competitions, Julio Bayaban was seventh in the men’s 55-above 200-meter run semifinals, while Salve Bayaban was 12th in the heats of the women’s 50-above 60-meter run.

GENERIKA-AYALA and Foton gun for the last remaining final-round slot when they battle separate foes in the last day of preliminaries of the Belo Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference today at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan.

The Lifesavers face heavyweight Petron at 5 p.m., while the Tornadoes will have a lighter assignment in winless Sta. Lucia in the 7 p.m. main game of this prestigious women’s club tourney bankrolled

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

With Petron and idle Cignal safely in the final round, pressure is now on Generika-Ayala and Foton as they are desperate for a victory that would send them to the next round of this tourney that also has UCPB Gen as official insurance provider and Gold’s Gym as official fitness partner.

The winner will make it to the final round, but if ever both the Lifesavers and the Tornadoes emerge with similar fates, their ranking will be determined based on their accumulated points and won sets.

The top three teams will join a guest team from Japan in a single-round format and whoever will be the last squad standing will be declared as champion. On the other hand, the bottom three will vie in the classification phase to determine their final rankings.

Final round starts next week.

The Lifesavers expect to have a more difficult time making it to the next round as they are stacked against the Blaze Spikers, who remain unbeaten in four outings.

In fact, in their previous match against the Tornadoes, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Mika Reyes, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and the rest of the rampaging Blaze Spikers displayed their deadly form to complete an easy 25-12, 25-10, 25-23 victory.

Petron coach Shaq Delos Santos, however, downplayed their impressive performance, saying they remain a work in progress as Reyes, Carmela Tunay and Rhea Dimaculangan are still trying their best to fit into their system.

“Like other teams, we’re also still adjusting,” said Delos Santos, adding that it’s quite too early to discuss the possibility of duplicating their sweet sweep of the All-Filipino Conference two years ago.

UE bags net crown NAVY SWEEPS SEASPORTS. The Philippine Navy captured the Open Standard, Mixed Standard, and

Women’s Small Boat championships during last weekend’s dragon boat races of the 2017 Manila Bay Seasports Festival. Among the motorized bancas, Mark Kim Bantilan, piloting “Patricia” sped to first place in the formula race, while Ruben Quero, on board “Angilyn” emerged champion on the stock race. The Manila Bay Seasports Festival was presented by Manila Broadcasting Company and the City of Manila, in cooperation with Eye Berry, Executive Optical, and MyJuiz.

UNTV champ Responders to donate P4M for chosen beneficiary

PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa (center) receives from public service advocate Kuya Daniel Razon the P4,000,000 tax-free prize donation for their chosen beneficiary after the PNP Responders defeated the Malacanang Kamao in the best-of-three finals of the UNTV Cup Season 5 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

THE Philippine National Philippine Responders defeated the Malacañang Kamao, 68-55, to win the UNTV Cup Season 5 at the SmartAraneta Coliseum, Quezon City.

With the victory, the policemen, led by PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who personally watched the game, ended the team’s fouryear title drought and received the P4-million, tax-free prize for their chosen beneficiary, the Samahang Masang Pilipino International Foundation Incorporated.

Second placer Malacañang Kamao still got a P2-million tax-free prize for the cancer patients of the Philippine Children Medical Center and the Millennium Sports Support System Association Incorporated.

The top two prizes are beside the total amount of donation prizes (P2,700,000) already given to the rest of the UNTV Cup participating

teams for their chosen beneficiaries.

UNTV Cup, the league of public servants, as conceptualized by public service advocate Kuya Daniel Razon, aims to promote camaraderie, brotherhood and sportsmanship among the participating government agencies with an aspect of public service through basketball.

Over the years, it has evolved into a more dynamic and exciting tournament giving participants the chance to play basketball alongside their idolized professional players.

The amount of money given for their chosen charities has tremendously increased with the augmentation from Bro. Eli Soriano from Members Church of God International.

This season, another P1.1 million was added to the prize for the Final 4 teams’ discretion: P500,000 (champion) P300,000 (2nd placer) P200,000 (3rd placer),

P100,000 (4th placer).

“From the bottom of my heart, nagpapasalamat ako, in behalf of the PNP sa pagkakataon na ito na ibinigay sa amin para maipakita ng ating mga kapulisan ang kanilang abilidad sa larangan ng basketball,” Dela Rosa said. “Kay Kuya Daniel, sagad-sagad na ang pasasalamat natin, madami na siyang naibigay na tulong sa amin. Sobra-sobra na po, kaya sana tuloy-tuloy and inyong suwerte at blessings ni Lord sa kaniya, sa UNTV.” Games and Amusement Board Chairman and Malacañang Kamao player Abraham Mitra, on the other hand, said: “We want to take this opportunity to thank you and for bringing us together with our co-workers in the government. Thank you for a very organized league. We hope and pray for the success of the league and for the success to serve our people.”

UNIVERSITY of the East drew the best from its doubles’ pair of Paulo Baran and Jeric delos Santos to beat University of Santo Tomas and capture its first-ever men’s title in the UAAP Season 79 lawn tennis championship tie yesterday.

The Red Warriors completed a date with destiny with a seriesclinching 3-1 conquest of the Growling Tigers at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Baran and Delos Santos rallied from a 0-5 hole in the deciding set of the second doubles’ match to outlast Bernlou Baring and En-En Lopez, 6-7, 6-2, 7-5.

Tournament MVP AJ Lim put up a clinic, taking down Jose Francis Suazo in an emphatic 6-0, 6-0 first singles’ win to put the Warriors ahead.

RJ Saga and Rogelio Estaño then survived the two-and-ahalf hour first doubles’ match against Clarence Cabahug and Joel Cabusas 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 to give UE a 2-0 lead.

UST extended the tie after Dave Mosqueda carved out a 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 win over Dolfo Barquin to cut the deficit to 1-2.

The Rookie of the Year award went to Ateneo’s Jose Julian Dayrit.

26 companies eyeing Batangas LNG plant B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

B1

IN BRIEF

BSP’s auction undersubscribed

STORIES FROM THE HEART.

THE P180 billion worth of term deposits offered by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas was slightly undersubscribed Wednesday, amid weak demand for the month-long deposits.

Data from Bangko Sentral showed that total tenders reached P179.94 billion, slightly lower than the P180-billion volume.

The seven-day P30-billion deposits lured total bids of P39.186 billion, with a weighted average accepted yield of 2.98 percent. The month-long deposits, however, attracted total tenders of just P140.76 billion, or P10 billion short of the P150 billion offered to banks and trust entities.

“There is more preference for the seven-day instrument because the market is positioning for any opportunistic short-term propositions. This is the reason why despite the increase in bid to coverage ratio for the 7-day TDF, weighted interest rate stood at a higher level of 2.52 percent,” Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said in a text message.

“On the other hand, despite the lower bid to cover ratio, 28-day TDF weighted interest rate actually declined to a lower level of 3.30 percent. Should there be actual liquidity tightening, all that the banks have to do is to withdraw from the liquidity facilities of the BSP to fund loans, investments, FX purchases and even public spending on power and infra,” Guinigundo said. Julito G. Rada

A coffee-table book on ordinary employees doing ordinary jobs – with a heart – highlights Philippine Airlines’ 76th anniversary celebration at PAL’s headquarters in Pasay City. The book is a compilation of over 50 heartwarming tales of employees who displayed five service attributes that are expected of PAL staff when engaging the customers.

PAL president Jaime Bautista (third from left) presents a copy of the book to PAL chairman Dr. Lucio Tan (second from left).

STI raises P3b from bond sale

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing March 22, 2017

8000 7600 7200 6800 6400 6000

7,254.93 68.38

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

Closing MARCH 22, 2017 45.00 46.50 48.00 49.50

P50.320 CLOSE

51.00

HIGH P50.250 LOW P50.330 AVERAGE P50.301 VOLUME 381.000M

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

OPRICES IL TODAY

P32.85-P41.15 Kerosene P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG

SEC suspends licenses of 84 lending companies

By Jenniffer B. Austria

T

he Securities and Exchange Commission suspended the registration certificates of 84 lending companies as a part of a crackdown against the so-called ‘5-6’ money lenders that charge exorbitant interest rates on loans.

An advisory posted on its website showed the corporate regulator suspended the certificates of registration of 66 lending corporations and 18 lending partnerships.

The SEC also advised the public to inform the agency about persons and entities that were still engaged in illegal lending activities.

Among the suspended lending corporations were All State Loans Corp., Cambridge Credit Corp., First Binondo Credit Corp., Fortunate Star Lending Corp., Monarch Loans and Credit Corp., Le Maison Lending Inc., Planters Lending Corp., Sinag Araw Credit Corp., RSB Lending Invsetors Inc., Hedwig Lending Corp., Harrods Credit Corp. Uni -Loans Lending Co. and Goodway Lending Corp.

The SEC said in October it would go after money lenders that were not registered and had no license to operate from the corporate regulator.

It said it would penalize money lenders who were violating the law by failing or refusing to incorporate and obtain a license from the SEC to engage in lending activities.

The SEC said Republic Act No. 9474 or the Lending Company Regulation Act required lending companies with certificate of registration to also secure certificate of authorit.

It said while 900 lending companies had complied with the requirement, it issued show cause letters to about 3,000 lending firms with a warning that their primary registration would be cancelled if they failed to obtain CA. The SEC also relaxed the documentary requirements for applications for CA to encourage lending companies to comply.

The regulator said going after informal lending companies was in line with the current administration’s tough stance against the proliferation of ‘5-6’ lending firms that were charging exorbitant interest rates on loans extended to borrowers.

The practice of ‘5-6’ simply means that the amount a person borrowed should be returned with 20-percent interest added.

Meanwhile, the SEC said it was also studying ways to help ‘5-6’ borrowers who were mostly Filipinos victimized by informal lenders.

Economists see Q1 growth surpassing 6.5%

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Wednesday, March 22, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.1640

Japan

Yen

0.008952

0.4491

UK

Pound

1.248100

62.6097

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128776

6.4599

Switzerland

Franc

1.006441

50.4871

Canada

Dollar

0.749064

37.5760

Singapore

Dollar

0.714592

35.8468

Australia

Dollar

0.768800

38.5661

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652590

133.0645 13.3771

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

Brunei

Dollar

0.712048

35.7192

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.028844

1.4469

UAE

Dirham

0.272309

13.6601

Euro

Euro

1.081400

54.2473

Korea

Won

0.000891

0.0447

China

Yuan

0.145079

7.2777

India

Rupee

0.015312

0.7681

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.226091

11.3416

New Zealand

Dollar

0.704000

35.3155

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032792

1.6450 Source: PDS Bridge

By Julito G. Rada A GROUP of economists from First Metro Investment Corp. and University of Asia & the Pacific said the gross domestic product will likely expand more than 6.5 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, on higher government expenditures.

“Despite a high base in the first quarter of 2016, we think GDP growth in the first quarter of 2017 will exceed 6.5 percent as all indicators, except faster inflation, signal sturdy output expansion in the current quarters,” the economist said in the March issue of their Market Call capital

markets research.

“As major PPP [public-private partnership] projects have commenced work and governmentfunded infrastructure spending rides high, the boost in construction activity should show consolidation of economic strength,” the private economists said.

The report said that with particularly robust manufacturing output gains in the last two months of 2016, capital goods imports should continue to post above-20 percent gain in the first quarter. “We have obtained empirical evidence that manufacturing volume leads investment spending,” they said.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed the manufacturing sector sustained growth in January 2017 as the volume of production index expanded 9.3 percent, although this was slower than the 35.8-percent increase a year ago.

The National Economic and Development Authority said the increased production of basic metals, transport equipment, petroleum products and food manufactures continued to drive manufacturing output in January.

Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said the outlook of industry firms in the first quarter of 2017 remained optimistic as

business expansion, higher energy sales and implementation of construction projects were anticipated.

The private economists said that with bloated domestic demand and exports gaining lost ground, the first-quarter performance should again signal much vigor in the economy.

FMIC and UA&P economists also expressed optimism that while inflation breached the 3-percent level in February, consumer prices would stabilize in the coming months, as crude oil prices showed limited upside and food price inflation could slow down with the inflow of more rice imports.

Six groups interested in Sucat thermal plant

By Alena Mae S. Flores

PAKISTANI MEDICINES. Philippine Food and Drug Administration director-general Nela Charade Puno (third from left) welcomes Pakistan Ambassador Safdar Hayat (center) and the deputy head of mission Altaf Qazi (right) in a courtesy call to FDA. Among the issues discussed are the registration of Pakistani pharmaceutical products and the inspection of manufacturing units in Pakistan. With them are (from left) Francisco Teodoro of the Office of the Director General, Melody Zamudio of FDA’ s Center for Drug Regulation and Research, director Pilar Marlyn Pagayunan of the Center for Food Regulation and Research and lawyer Katrina Borra.

THE privatization of the decommissioned 850-megawatt Sucat Thermal Power Plant in Muntinlupa City drew the interest of six bidders, Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. said Wednesday.

“The successful sale of this asset advances the interest of the government as the proceeds will be part of the additional funding source for the liquidation of the National Power Corp’’s debts assumed

by PSALM,” officer-in-charge Lourdes Alzona said Wednesday.

PSALM completed the prebid conference for the Sucat privatization on Monday which sought to clarify provisions on

the sale of facility and help the bidders arrive at an optimal business decision.

PSALM will proceed to the bid opening at 12 noon on May 31. “Since the submission of the letter of interest has been lengthened to attract more participants and generate a more competitive privatization process for STPP, PSALM will still accept LOIs, including other documentary deliverables, from prospective bidders even after the pre-bid, until 12 p.m. of 24 April 2017,” the agency said.

PSALM was supposed to rebid the Sucat facility last year but it had to wait for clearance from the Environment Department.

STI Education Services Group Inc., the operator of one of the country’s biggest chains of private schools, successfully raised P3 billion from the issuance of fixed rate bonds.

The P3-billion, seven and 10-year bonds, which will be listed with Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. today, is the company’s maiden peso bond offering.

It was part of the P5-billion shelf bond offering earlier approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Proceeds from the bond offering will be used to partially finance the construction of new schools across the country.

STI ESG said it planned to spend P6.13 billion over the next 18 months to finance construction of new schools and acquire properties for future expansion.

The company is currently building a new school in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. It also plans to construct new campuses for existing schools in Davao, Cagayan de Oro, San Pablo, Iloilo and Baguio.

ChinaBank Capital and First Metro Investments Corp. are the joint issue managers and underwriters for the offering. Jenniffer B. Austria

DoF wants LandBank subsidiary in Bahrain THE Finance Department wants Land Bank of the Philippines to establish a subsidiary in Bahrain to assist Filipinos working there and facilitate trade with the island-kingdom.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said in a statement the government was exploring the possibility of opening a subsidiary of the state-run bank in Bahrain to cater to the banking needs of Filipino workers living there and facilitate trade and investments between Manila and Manama.

Dominguez said in a recent meeting with members of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry he would advise President Rodrigo Duterte to look into this possibility and schedule a presidential visit to Bahrain, where up to 100,000 Filipinos were residing and working.

AMA International University-Bahrain, founded by Ambassador Amable Aguiluz V, established a branch in Salmabad, Bahrain’s industrial center.

“We are at the moment converting and acquiring a bank to be a subsidiary [of LandBank] to provide for the needs of our overseas workers. I will certainly advise the President to make sure he visits Bahrain and look into the possibility of establishing a bank there for ease of doing business between us,” said Dominguez, who chairs the LandBank board.

Dominguez was referring to a government plan to acquire and convert the Philippine Postal Bank into a LandBank subsidiary, which would be partly owned by OFWs. A bank dedicated to the needs of OFWs was among the promises of President Duterte to Filipino migrant workers. Julito G. Rada

B2

Business

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

DMCI secures P9b worth of new deals

By Jenniffer B. Austria DM Consunji Inc., the construction arm of conglomerate DMCI Holdings Inc., bagged new contracts worth P9 billion to boost its order book to P30 billion as of end-February 2017.

DMCI president Jorge Consunji said the major construction contracts awarded to the company included tollways, power and water projects.

Among the projects awarded to DMCI were the P7.2-billion portion of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway project of MPCala Holdings Inc. and the P1.3-billion Bued Viaduct project of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway of San Miguel-led Private Infra Development Corp.

“We stared the year strong with these newly awarded contracts.

Hopefully, this will be a start of the aggressive rollout of mega-infra-

structure projects across the country. We really need the additional roads and facilities,” Consunji said.

DMCI was also awarded three projects by National Power Corp. including the remedial work of San Roque MPP Spillway in Pangasinan; supply, construction/ installation, testing and commissioning of Mansalay Switching Station and expansion of Bansud and San Jose substation projects in Oriental Mindoro; and the rehabilitation of the Calapan Bansud 69KV transmission line project also in Occidental Mindoro.

DMCI also won the bid to construct three projects of Maynilad Water Services Inc., namely the pipe replacement project in Paranaque City, the constriction of 30 MLD reservoir and pump station in Cavie and the construction of 20 MLD reservoir osmosis facility in Muntinlupa City.

Market tumbles; SBC up

S

tocks tumbled Wednesday, after US equities dropped the most since November’s presidential election amid concern that President Donald Trump’s growth policies won’t pass Congress.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, fell 68 points, or 0.9 percent, to close at 7,254.93, as all six sectors ended in the red.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also dropped 36 points, or 0.8 percent, to settle at 4,369.03, on a value turnover of P7.7 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 127 to 57, while 52 issues were unchanged.

Three of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Security Bank Corp. which rose 1 percent to P203. Food manu-

facturer Universal Robina Corp. gained 0.7 percent to P164, while conglomerate Ayala Corp. went up 0.5 percent to P832.

Meanwhile, most Asian markets also fell Wednesday, tracking a US and European sell-off as the Trump-fuelled surge in equities went into reverse on fears about the prospects for his plans to fire up the world’s top economy.

The dollar also struggled to recover against its major rivals and suffered fresh losses against high-yielding units as the euphoria of the post-election pe-

riod faded.

After hitting multiple records this month, Wall Street’s main indexes suffered their worst losses since Donald Trump’s win, dragging Europe down with them, as dealers fret about his agenda.

The key cause for concern is Thursday’s vote in Congress on the replacement for Obamacare, with many Republicans opposed to it in its current form.

Analysts say the inexperienced Trump is spending too much political capital on the issue, and if he cannot push it through a Republican-controlled Capitol Hill, then his other plans—particularly infrastructure spending, tax cuts and deregulation—could be in trouble. Such promises were a key factor in the global markets rally.

The president travelled up Pennsylvania Avenue Tuesday to warn the party it could lose its majority if it fails to push through his bill.

“There is an ugly sea of red across

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.23 9,000 47.5 23,800 100 409,420 3.96 34,000 122.5 2,510,280 1.2 9,000 40.45 93,600 16 1,000 19.88 522,300 7.72 1,800 1.61 39,000 819 50 0.69 1,418,000 78.05 4,372,390 0.73 103,000 14.7 29,900 25.1 6,800 56.35 282,940 243 920 111 1,600 87.2 590 39.4 111,800 203 646,800 1,730 155 79.65 66,880 1.21 22,000

28,330 1,144,260 40,867,189 134,860 307,800,239 10,820 3,781,365 16,030 10,418,219 13,896 62,860 40,950 959,820 341,074,115.50 75,330 439,530 171,440 15,957,439.50 223,704 181,470 51,484 4,378,530 128,738,668 265,250 5,326,996 26,620

1,120,330 18,339,610.50 -36,340,051 2,420 2,379,795 -1,351,192 64,600 -108,380,902 157,166.50 121,500 101,200 487,015.00 -39,259,592 153,700 95,580 -

INDUSTRIAL 42.7 1,762,500 5.21 1,134,800 0.82 802,000 1.36 162,000 19.7 31,900 0.25 7,790,000 7.38 20,983,700 16.9 2,864,100 182 120 23.5 156,500 14.52 2,600 60.5 1,080 92 700 2 1,670,000 5.89 1,017,300 12.2 11,900 12.8 4,710,900 7.72 179,100 6.24 2,997,300 5.95 6,157,400 22.9 3,108,200 72.9 26,860 12.1 76,700 15.7 3,700 6.8 1,836,300 1.51 268,000 191 472,170 4.74 1,293,000 3.81 57,000 28.5 9,200 30.3 1,219,700 26.95 761,200 15.64 1,417,300 282.8 296,080 0.305 177,570,000 6.99 84,400 3.77 3,032,000 8.9 3,403,000 11.48 2,600 2.23 3,349,000 7.45 1,797,100 1.95 1,220,000 73.95 156,580 4.8 279,000 281 48,210 4.95 1,028,000 2.78 79,000 13.3 5,092,100 0.143 4,240,000 1.42 213,000 164 1,389,210 1.5 2,165,000 31.4 100

74,843,865 6,019,836 650,210 220,470 617,838 1,955,120 155,177,127 48,379,890 22,140 3,654,800 37,724 65,273 63,235 3,347,620 5,799,015 144,850 60,266,856 1,387,087 18,772,349 36,644,813 71,082,620 1,953,913 929,098 58,112 12,498,411 406,610 90,403,532 6,179,210 212,450 256,090 36,964,040 20,309,350 22,440,514 83,410,454 53,971,000 589,271 11,409,700 30,485,190 29,848 7,519,200 13,443,053 2,384,760 11,558,138.50 1,341,490 13,490,026 5,078,530 221,280 68,403,204 609,770 308,250 227,190,309 3,243,490 3,140

-23,277,485 203,241 81,000 -6,000 -3,180,608 19,304,394 -11,750 53,792 -34,000 -3,637,596 -234,276 -7,440,739 7,064,629 44,256,345 276,763.50 -48,678 5,670,870 13,840 -31,478,527 188,210 250,400 34,318,035 -5,564,365 -941,234 -9,984,646 -3,592,050 700,880 -7,907,054 7,005,160 -132,279 6,958,241.50 -1,562,640 0 8,769,028 5,880 68,463,593 -

298,950 102,387,537.50 52,296,920 2,200 647,405 572,500 753,750 294,901,105 1,567,582 178,156,618 17,595 1,810 214,231,490 168,098,425.50 5,020 12,169,780 10,337,346 39,821,724 575,908,354 4,898,210 1,265,210 23,720,731 885,400 249,587,250 860 705,980 20,000 1,673,412 84,000 43,680 80,600

20,784,917.50 33,929,498 3,400 54,566,055 1,127,928 -51,839,996 -48,245,730 -44,231,400 -896,000 -2,797,185 1,969,628 -379,149,904 13,400 -5,505,700 -148,377,820 130,788 3,800 2,600

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

3.14 48 100 4.02 124.5 1.21 40.4 16.3 20.35 7.72 1.63 819 0.67 79.35 0.73 14.7 25.3 56.4 243.6 115 87.6 38.9 201 1,710 79.5 1.21

3.23 48.65 100.5 4.02 124.5 1.21 40.45 16.3 20.35 7.72 1.63 819 0.69 79.35 0.74 14.7 25.3 56.5 243.6 116 87.6 39.5 203 1,730 79.9 1.21

3.13 47.5 98.65 3.96 122 1.2 40.3 16 19.88 7.72 1.61 819 0.67 77.3 0.73 14.7 25.1 56.1 243 111 87.2 38.75 197 1,705 79.5 1.21

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

42.3 5.35 0.82 1.36 20 0.255 7.68 17.04 185 23.4 14.5 60 90.05 2.07 5.7 12.44 12.88 7.75 6.36 5.93 22.8 73 12.16 15.84 6.98 1.56 193.9 4.9 3.75 28 30.6 27 16.04 282 0.265 6.96 3.78 9.1 11.48 2.25 7.46 2.01 74.95 4.85 278 4.96 2.81 13.7 0.145 1.47 162.8 1.53 31.4

43 5.36 0.82 1.39 20.35 0.26 7.68 17.04 185 23.5 14.52 60.5 93 2.07 5.89 12.6 12.9 7.77 6.36 6 23.05 73 12.6 15.84 6.98 1.56 193.9 4.95 3.85 28.5 30.6 27 16.06 283 0.34 6.99 3.8 9.1 11.48 2.25 7.56 2.01 74.95 4.9 282 4.96 2.93 13.9 0.147 1.5 164.8 1.56 31.4

42.05 5.21 0.81 1.36 19.18 0.24 7.3 16.82 182 23.3 14.5 60 90 1.99 5.7 12.1 12.7 7.72 6.23 5.9 22.5 72 12.1 15.68 6.7 1.5 191 4.72 3.7 27.6 30.15 25.8 15.64 280 0.265 6.94 3.74 8.87 11.48 2.23 7.45 1.94 73.5 4.8 275.4 4.93 2.76 13.2 0.143 1.42 162.4 1.48 31.4

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

0.38 74.5 12.8 1.1 6.03 0.335 0.33 826.5 8.83 11.74 8 0.181 1,158 81.5 5.02 1.12 7.9 14.9 6.2 0.055 1.97 104 2.91 654 0.86 1.46 200 273 0.28 0.19 0.26

0.385 75.85 12.98 1.1 6.29 0.335 0.34 832 8.83 11.74 8 0.181 1,179 81.5 5.02 1.15 7.96 15.1 6.2 0.056 1.97 104.5 3.04 654 0.86 1.47 200 274 0.28 0.196 0.26

0.37 74.25 12.72 1.1 6.02 0.32 0.315 815 8.77 11.44 7.95 0.181 1,152 78.05 5.02 1.11 7.83 14.86 6 0.054 1.96 102.8 2.9 645 0.86 1.45 200 272.6 0.28 0.186 0.26

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP KEPPEL PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES

6.71 0.92 6.1 2.38 1.4 35.85 3.7 0.5 1.03 1.27 0.159 0.55 56 0.179 1.71 0.97 1.18 4.05 3.58 0.22 0.305

6.96 0.92 6.1 2.44 1.41 35.95 3.7 0.53 1.03 1.32 0.159 0.56 56 0.193 1.71 0.98 1.26 4.05 3.59 0.229 0.32

6.71 0.91 6.1 2.36 1.31 34.65 3.66 0.495 1.03 1.27 0.157 0.55 54.5 0.164 1.65 0.97 1.18 4.05 3.5 0.208 0.305

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

0.68 4.36 23.95 1.7 3.4 28.45 1.01 0.9 4.7

0.7 4.41 24.2 1.72 3.4 28.5 1.02 0.9 4.88

0.64 4.3 23.35 1.69 3.33 28.25 0.99 0.85 4.7

0.64 4.39 23.7 1.7 3.33 28.5 1 0.89 4.88

59,252,000 1,173,000 2,820,500 72,000 14,000 13,159,200 3,907,000 702,000 14,236,000

39,610,730 5,104,120 67,038,145 123,160 46,750 373,226,685 3,909,280 602,330 67,162,110

4,839,040.00 5,772,295 -54,310,775 -600,540 -2,957,500

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

8.38 46.5 1.46 0.54 0.05 5.3 7.58 0.076 2.37 94.3 8.7 2.45 5.5 1,908 6.08 15.68 15 3.53 3.65 86 0.0092 9.01 0.187 1.32 3.43 14 3.77 0.95 3.73 2.39 5.94 3.79 3.04 11.26 5.35 3.28 165 8.68 1,535 1.53 0.445 45 78.2 6.14 2.24 1.12 3.07 0.385

8.62 46.5 1.46 0.54 0.051 5.3 7.58 0.076 2.47 94.3 8.78 2.5 5.5 1,929 6.12 16 15 3.53 3.7 88.1 0.0093 9.01 0.188 1.35 3.57 14 3.77 0.95 3.73 2.42 5.98 3.79 3.15 11.3 5.35 3.29 166 8.68 1,535 1.53 0.445 45.05 78.2 6.14 2.24 1.12 3.14 0.385

8.35 46.3 1.46 0.54 0.049 5.3 7.4 0.073 2.27 90.25 8.5 2.45 4.5 1,894 6.08 15.68 15 3.33 3.59 84.65 0.0092 9.01 0.185 1.32 3.43 14 3.59 0.95 3.69 2.27 5.83 3.71 3.02 11.26 5.35 3.1 164.9 8.11 1,516 1.51 0.425 43.9 76.45 6.05 2.2 1.11 3.07 0.385

SERVICES 8.4 46.3 1.46 0.54 0.05 5.3 7.43 0.073 2.3 90.7 8.74 2.45 5.18 1,929 6.08 16 15 3.46 3.69 85.5 0.0092 9.01 0.187 1.33 3.47 14 3.66 0.95 3.7 2.39 5.98 3.75 3.05 11.3 5.35 3.1 165 8.5 1,518 1.53 0.425 44 76.5 6.05 2.2 1.11 3.08 0.385

298,300 12,900 64,000 109,000 47,300,000 12,700 4,160,700 23,180,000 9,174,000 867,080 468,000 35,000 219,400 29,920 68,300 8,500 500 1,261,000 166,000 2,309,080 12,000,000 250,000 5,130,000 119,000 214,000 2,000 1,364,000 20,000 982,000 452,000 10,038,900 293,000 12,602,000 9,300 400 103,000 56,250 662,400 83,205 5,387,000 1,320,000 6,118,900 2,446,650 185,100 1,248,000 3,053,000 596,000 150,000

2,531,267 598,570 93,440 58,860 2,361,100 67,310 30,918,302 1,707,010 21,505,970 79,538,139 3,994,707 86,650 1,082,852 57,429,655 417,259 134,800 7,500 4,353,640 603,380 198,743,381 110,700 2,252,500 957,550 158,990 749,410 28,000 4,976,240 19,000 3,636,530 1,035,900 59,815,526 1,096,510 38,629,690 104,918 2,140 321,970 9,286,212 5,575,349 126,359,005 8,216,670 570,600 271,167,095 187,687,254.50 1,129,092 2,758,490 3,400,720 1,844,530 57,750

-238,892 5,000 -2,723,096 2,280 -244,080 2,953,650 520 -14,646,505 7,270 41,346,469 9,200 61,380 -2,238,450 147,950 -198,715 -606,600 30,550 34,100 130,350 26,172 -32,978,010 -10,570 28,804,165 -107,970,621 -385,720 -649,810 -105,720 57,750

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

0.0032 1.65 5.4 1.84 0.51 0.405 9.4 2.36 0.255 0.176 0.195 0.012 1.75 6.38 2.15 0.87 0.011 4.06 0.013 8.77 3.01 145.2 2.63 0.0087

0.0033 1.76 5.4 1.84 0.51 0.405 9.4 2.39 0.26 0.18 0.195 0.012 1.8 6.38 2.19 0.89 0.011 4.06 0.014 8.77 3.01 150.8 2.7 0.0087

0.0032 1.63 5.35 1.84 0.47 0.4 9.01 2.32 0.25 0.176 0.195 0.011 1.67 6.2 2.11 0.87 0.011 4.05 0.013 8.55 2.88 144.6 2.63 0.0087

MINING & OIL 0.0033 49,000,000 1.63 3,119,000 5.35 240,100 1.84 1,000 0.5 1,635,000 0.4 1,090,000 9.09 13,600 2.38 2,204,000 0.255 150,000 0.18 3,330,000 0.195 310,000 0.012 75,400,000 1.78 338,000 6.28 1,556,700 2.19 40,000 0.88 59,000 0.011 1,000,000 4.05 25,000 0.014 1,200,000 8.61 1,687,600 2.91 2,146,000 145 1,831,630 2.7 4,000 0.0087 1,000,000

159,300 5,206,460 1,291,181 1,840 820,045 436,900 124,550 5,190,870 37,800 591,560 60,450 834,800 592,110 9,774,258 86,270 51,920 11,000 101,310 15,800 14,561,060 6,294,990 266,688,129 10,590 8,700

3,300 -1,562,120 -13,428 -869,750.00 2,600 186,620 -3,926,345 -2,463,827 66,780 70,719,756.00 -

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

46 528 107 106 118 527 5.85 1,035 1,019 106 112 81 77 78.35 79.65 79 78.1 78.05

46.6 531 107 106 118 527 5.87 1,035 1,020 106 112 81 77 78.35 79.65 79 78.1 79.55

46 528 107 105.8 118 525 5.85 1,031 1,019 106 112 80.5 77 78.35 79.65 79 78.1 78

PREFERRED 46.6 1,880,700 531 200 107 1,900 106 2,050 118 121,500 525 10,000 5.85 3,674,000 1,031 20 1,019 2,150 106 5,500 112 160 80.5 22,120 77 25,000 78.35 2,000 79.65 13,400 79 6,900 78.1 1,000 79.55 38,250

86,513,820 105,900 203,300 217,100 14,337,000 5,261,200 21,495,780 20,640 2,192,850 583,000 17,920 1,780,715 1,925,000 156,700 1,067,310 545,100 78,100 3,039,240.50

-52,102,580 -3,945,195 -

LR WARRANT

2.08

2.09

2.01

WARRANTS 2.07 298,000

606,430

45,540

1,430,530 14,650 281,130 38,922,100

-690 -816,574

289,720

-

MS

HOLDING FIRMS 0.37 800,000 75 1,365,700 12.88 4,063,800 1.1 2,000 6.1 107,100 0.33 1,770,000 0.34 2,330,000 832 356,700 8.79 178,300 11.56 15,441,400 8 2,200 0.181 10,000 1,157 185,255 79 2,119,650 5.02 1,000 1.13 10,870,000 7.96 1,302,200 14.98 2,655,400 6 95,383,700 0.054 89,460,000 1.97 643,000 104.5 228,150 2.9 300,000 647 385,950 0.86 1,000 1.45 486,000 200 100 274 6,120 0.28 300,000 0.196 230,000 0.26 310,000 PROPERTY 6.78 0.92 6.1 2.36 1.33 35.55 3.7 0.5 1.03 1.32 0.157 0.55 55 0.169 1.67 0.98 1.24 4.05 3.5 0.214 0.315

108,800 216,000 24,000 79,000 14,965,000 16,857,500 6,265,000 14,193,000 1,000 166,000 5,060,000 986,000 1,706,630 31,050,000 16,435,000 1,049,000 316,000 2,000 28,089,000 215,650,000 2,590,000

737,448 197,950 146,400 187,740 20,388,040 594,134,200 23,143,030 7,202,110 1,030 215,170 798,150 542,610 94,528,743 5,470,800 27,430,710 1,026,620 392,430 8,100 99,128,180 46,718,780 796,900

-491,638 40,190 -55,209,805 3,771,200 2,813,690 15,900 -3,812,660 -56,400 -20,491,500 -490,000 10,999,350 -1,291,960 3,050

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

3.84 2.93 6.9 10.26

4.1 2.93 7 10.26

3.68 2.93 6.8 9.68

FIRST METRO ETF

121.1

121.1

119.6

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

11,090,712

INDUSTRIAL

268,740,884

HOLDING FIRMS

231,847,017

PROPERTY

453,674,013

SERVICES

163,057,627

MINING & OIL

147,563,451

GRAND TOTAL

1,280,312,153

3.85 2.93 6.82 9.74

SME

373,000 5,000 41,200 3,916,700

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 119.7 2,420

VALUE 1,832.64 (down) 16.01 919,461,892.473 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,972.52 (down) 43.41 1,261,270,015.244 HOLDING FIRMS 7,269.26 (down) 78.54 2,229,711,312.746 PROPERTY 3,227.44 (down) 24.33 SERVICES 1,475.41 (down) 23.00 1,552,259,005.525 MINING & OIL 11,872.01 (down) 61.73 1,389,148,915.494 PSEI 7,254.93 (down) 68.38 337,285,989.15 All Shares Index 4,369.03 (down) 36.34 7,730,076,251.487 Gainers:57; Losers:127; Unchanged: 52; Total: 236

global markets this morning as traders finally succumb to their fears that the positive benefits of Trumponomics are going to be delayed,” Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader, said in a note.

“The impact of this is that the tax and infrastructure policy and implementation the market has been aching for looks set to be delayed. This is a sign that investors are losing faith in Trumponomics.”

Tokyo ended more than two percent lower as the dollar sank to its lowest level against the yen since November, while Hong Kong shed 1.4 percent in the afternoon and Shanghai closed down 0.5 percent.

Sydney was 1.6 percent lower, Singapore shed 1.2 percent and Seoul slipped 0.5 percent. Wellington, Taipei, Manila and Jakarta also suffered hefty losses.

With expectations of economy-friendly measures petering out, the dollar has taken a severe hit. It extended Tuesday’s losses against the yen but held its ground against the pound and euro.

However, the South Korean won jumped 0.3 percent, Australia’s dollar rallied 0.9 percent and the Indonesian rupiah was 0.2 percent higher. The Mexican peso, which after Trump’s win hit regular record lows, was more than one percent up.

“The dollar positions accumulated in the buildup and immediate aftermath of the US election look to have been fully unwound,” Bank of America strategists led by Myria Kyriacou wrote in a research note, according to Bloomberg News. With Bloomberg, AFP

BDO opens 1,000th branch

By Julito G. Rada BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest lender controlled by tycoon Henry Sy, opened its 1,000th branch in the country in Davao City.

BDO opened to clients its branch in Buhangin, one of the most populated areas in Davao City, on March 20.

BDO senior executive vice president and head of branch banking Jaime Yu said in a statement Wednesday that reaching the 1,000-branch milestone was a testament to the bank’s commitment to make banking reachable to Filipinos whether they are located in the metropolitan area or far flung provinces.

“We fully recognize that there are still about 70 percent of the population with no bank accounts or has yet to enter the formal banking sector. The continued growth of our branches is our way of creating opportunities for more people to experience the rewards of having a bank that takes care of their financial needs,” said Yu. BDO ended 2016 with a branch network of 982 (including one in Hong Kong). Of the total, 492 branches were in Metro Manila, 305 in Luzon, 108 in Visayas and 76 in Mindanao. This year, the bank plans to add 60 more branches, further increasing its network to 1,042 by the end of 2017.

BDO’s domestic distribution network remains one of the strongest in the banking industry. It is known for its longer banking hours and weekend banking. This wide market reach is complemented by over 3,600 ATMs and electronic channels.

BDO’s net profit last year jumped 4.4 percent to a record P26.1 billion from P25 billion a year ago on robust growth across all business segments.

The full-year performance also matched its earnings guidance for the year.

Business

B3

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Manila Water says it has enough supply

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

CHINA BUYS PH PRODUCTS. Philippine and Chinese business communities meet in Makati City to sign purchase orders worth $1.7 billion and convene the business matching between the two countries. As both sides continue to solidify active exchanges between agencies and businesses, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (left) expressed the initiative of the Philippine government to lead the signing of new cooperation agreements and as he looks forward to building on the progress of PH-China relations.

26 companies eyeing Batangas LNG plant

By Alena Mae S. Flores

S

panish company Gas Natural Fenosa has joined the list of foreign and local companies that are interested in teaming up with state-owned Philippine National Oil Co. for the liquefied natural gas integrated facility in Batangas.

Executives of Gas Natural Fenosa visited PNOC president Reuben Lista recently “to discuss matters of mutual interest in the field of natural gas.”

Gas Natural Fenosa is a major Spanish natural gas utilities company.

PNOC has so far received interest from 26 companies for a possible partnership in the LNG project.

Other foreign companies that expressed interest in the project were Osaka Gas, Samsung and China Petroleum Corp. or Sinopec.

Lista said these companies were interested in the project “because they know that LNG is the fuel of the future and their best bet is to partner with PNOC like is practiced in other countries.”

Osaka Gas is a leading energy supplier in Japan while Sinopec is a state-owned major petroleum and petrochemical enterprise.

PNOC will shortlist the proposals of the interested parties by May. Lista said PNOC gave interested parties until end of April to submit their final unsolicited proposals to develop an LNG project in Batangas which should be operational by 2019 or 2020. “[It should be] operational by 2019, that is our optimistic dream. Our pessimistic dream is by 2020,” Lista said.

Lista said PNOC would study the proposals thoroughly, especially the financial aspect because the government wanted a “free carry” in the LNG project, which would include a floating and storage facility, liquefaction, regassification and a 200-megawatt power plant.

He said PNOC would choose “what will

give the best benefit to the country and to our people.”

“Of course, the investors should be able to recover their cost,” Lista said.

The interested parties also include investors from Singapore, Korea, Japan, China,Turkey, UAE, Spain, Australia and local companies.

Lista said PNOC would look at the best proposal in terms of its overall benefit and the continuity of the project, which could be scaled up to 800 MW. “We will come out with a short list, may be four to six or seven [investors]. We assume they will form consortiums,” Lista said.

Lista said the Energy Department was presently moving forward with an LNG policy―a crucial component that investors were keenly waiting for.

He said PNOC was also studying if an inter-agency group could endorse the winning unsolicited proposal, instead of the National Economic Development Authority.

The government wants to develop an LNG facility in preparation for the eventual depletion of the Malampaya gas facility by 2024.

PH anti-piracy group intensifies campaign THE Pilipinas Anti-Piracy Team continues to track down more companies allegedly using unlicensed computer software in their operations.

According to agents of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, a lot of companies still do not use licensed software in their business premises.

A series of recent inspections discovered that many businesses were still not able to provide any proof that the software used on their operations were legitimate.

“We highly encourage companies to use licensed software.

As the Philippines is turning into an international hub of IT services, it is important that companies increase the level of compliance, and respect for intellectual property rights,” IPOPhl deputy director-general Allan Gepty said.

Companies violating the provisions of the IP Code of the Philippines (RA 8293) and Optical Media Act (RA 9239) run the risk of business closure, revocation of travel visas, and other criminal charges. Those found guilty of software piracy can

face up to nine years of imprisonment as well as a fine of up to P1.5 million.

Computer experts from the PAPT said the use of unlicensed software put any business at risk. Illegal software exposes the company to cybercrime and security issues that could lead to millions of pesos in losses and more millions for technical help to recover from a major breach, the says.

The lack of technical supporti was a typical problem associated with unlicensed software. If the software crashes or becomes problematic, an unlicensed user

may not be able to contact the software’s help desk for assistance, experts said.

Cybersecurity is also an issue.

Some unlicensed software cracks may carry trojans or malware, making systems vulnerable to cybercrime. Illegal software also do not receive updates, which are important, especially for operating systems, for continuous protection from viruses, malware, and the like.

The PAPT regularly conducts information campaign and inspections to ensure compliance of the intellectual property and optical media laws.

The key issue against Gina’s confirmation

BEFORE deciding to bypass the nomination of Regina (Gina) Lopez as Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources after two days of hearings, the members of the Commission on Appointments hears numerous reasons why President Duterte’s choice as DENR chief should not be approved just yet.

One of the reasons was that, technically speaking, Ms. Lopez did not make the grade.

Upon intense grilling from the CA members, the would-be DENR chief could not define ‘watershed’ accurately. And yet her entire case against most of the mining companies that she closed down or suspended was founded on the charge that they were operating in watershed areas (as was an un-suspended company controlled by her family’s corporate group).

When leveled against a Cabinet nominee, a charge of incompetence is horrible. One would think that Gina Lopez would have taken the trouble to read up on ‘watersheds’ considering that all of these years she has been very preachy about the social crime committed by mining companies that operate in watershed areas.

That Gina Lopez was shown in public to be incompetent is extremely troubling, but that is not what exercises me about Mr. Duterte’s appointment of her as, and her aspiring to be, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources. Nor am I going apoplectic about her arrogance, insufferable though that is at the best of times.

In all of my born years I have not seen and heard a Cabinet nominee who appears to truly believe that she is The Chosen One, that the position was reserved in Heaven for her and, worst of all, that the rest of her countrymen care little or nothing about the domain of her would-be Cabinet department – in her case, the environment. Like her boss the President, Ms. Lopez qualifies virtually all the norms that she uses with the pronoun ‘my’, e.g. “my country,” “my department” and “my people.”

I’m likewise prepared to pass on the charges of graft, favoritism and so forth that have been hurled at her. Those are really nasty things, and I’d rather not go there.

But what I’m prepared to just let go – and the issue against Gina Lopez’s nomination that I think is the key to the CA’s decision on her – is her total and absolute misconception about the job of a Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources. I, and, I dare say, countless other Filipinos, were horrified when she told the CA members, without

batting an eyelash, “I don’t see myself as a regulator. I am a social advocate.” Horror of horrors.

That is a total misconception of the legislature’s intent in passing a law creating the department called DENR and the position known as Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources. Congress wanted a department that would draft rules and regulations intended to put the nation’s natural resources – land, waters, air and below-ground resources – to uses that would benefit Philippine society and promote the development of the Philippine economy. If you don’t believe me, Ms. Lopez, check out the records of the pertinent Congressional discussions.

Lest anyone get me wrong, I commend and applaud Regina Lopez’s concern and love for this country’s environment. God bless you for that, Gina. But the DENR is not the place for your book-no-opposition view of your would-be position. You belong in civil society. There are numerous worthy non-governmental organizations where you can put your social advocacy skills to excellent use.

Gina Lopez’s gross misconception of the job of a DENR chief is the most damning of the issues against her. On that score alone the CA can justifiably reject her nomination.

E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

MANILA Water Company Inc. on Wednesday assured costumers in the east zone there will be enough supply for the dry months.

Manila Water spokesman and corporate communications head Jeric Sevilla Jr. said the Angat Dam’s water level was at 204 meters, higher by 6 meters than its level a year ago. Angat Dam in Bulacan is the main water source for Metro Manila and surrounding provinces.

“If we are going to use that as an indication, our outlook for the summer will be better,” Sevilla said at the sidelines of Water Philippines Conference at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

“We don’t see a tightness in supply or a shortage unless, we don’t actually know if the sum-

mer will be hotter or if the rains will come later. But if we go by the level of Angat compared to last year, this year is much better,” said Sevilla.

Sevilla said the current allocation for Manila Water was 46 cubic meters per second.

“As of now, we’re okay. We are getting what is needed in the allotment for Manila Water,” Sevilla said.

Manila Water is the private concessionaire of Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System that provides water and used water services to the cities of Pasig, Marikina, Taguig, Makati, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Pateros, portions of Quezon City and Manila and Rizal province.

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

Housing backlog still a big challenge THE housing backlog in the Philippines cannot be addressed overnight, but serious efforts to address the problem over the long-term period must start sooner than later to make the country’s economic growth inclusive.

The country’s housing backlog is currently estimated at 5.7 million. The figure clearly indicates that over 20 million Filipinos, at an average of five members per family, have no decent homes of their own. The number could rise if disasters like earthquakes and typhoons strike.

It is, thus, no surprise that shanties proliferate in the capital region and other key cities in the country against the backdrop of towering structures and ultra modern shopping malls—an urban blight that reflects the income disparity in the Philippines.

State-run housing institutions must double or even triple their efforts if the government wants to make a dent on the housing backlog problem. Home Development Mutual Fund, more popularly known as the Pag-IBIG Fund, is one lead housing agency that could provide the difference to millions of homeless Filipinos.

As a national savings program that can provide affordable shelter financing for the Filipino worker, Pag-IBIG Fund must exert its role in the economy. 2016 was a good start for the fund when it delivered a record P57.3 billion in housing loan takeouts in 2016—by far the highest in the history of Pag-IBIG Fund and surpassing its target last year by P6.8 billion or 13 percent.

The amount assisted almost 77,000 Pag-IBIG members in the acquisition or construction of their new homes.

Pag-IBIG deputy chief executive officer for home lending operations cluster Acmad Rizaldy Moti, who was appointed by Malacañang as officer-in-charge of the fund effective March 1, 2017, credited the accomplishment to Pag-IBIG branches nationwide “Pag-IBIG’s home lending operations doubled its efforts last year making the quarterly loan disbursements in 2016 the highest ever for each quarter, resulting in this historic accomplishment of the Fund. As early as November, the Fund already breached for the first time the P50-billion mark in loan takeouts,” he said.

Moti stressed that the number of Pag-IBIG members who received assistance in acquiring homes was more critical to the agency.

“You should see the reaction of Pag-IBIG members whose housing loans were approved. The joy in their faces and their indescribable happiness, these continue to inspire us to do our best and work even harder,” Moti said.

More opportunities Cabinet Secretary and Pag-IBIG chairman Leoncio Evasco Jr. has prodded Pag-IBIG to innovate and offer housing programs that will give access to decent and affordable housing to every Filipino family.

“We fully support the commitment of Secretary Evasco to provide more housing opportunities to Filipino families, particularly those belonging to the low-income segment,” Moti said.

Pag-IBIG has a yearly average housing unit delivery of 50,000 in the last five years (2011 to 2015). In terms of loan value, the Fund’s annual average during the same period is P36 billion, reinforcing the Fund’s standing as the biggest source of home financing in the country.

Pag-IBIG Fund in 2016 also helped 24,983 low-income workers in realizing their dream of home ownership through Pag-IBIG housing loans, with a combined loan value of P8.5 billion.

Moti said the number of units was 33percent of the Fund’s 76,247 total housing loan portfolio last year, and higher by 25 percent, or about 5,000 units, 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, adding the Pag-IBIG member-borrowers under socialized housing were 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 also had become an effective strategy in providing socialized housing to the employees.

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

Moti cited the housing project of Dole Philippines and the local governments of Malabon City and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental, where the beneficiaries were able to purchase housing units for just P450,000 against the appraised values of over P650,000.

The Dole Philippines project has 144 duplex housing units, each having a 35 sq.m. unit in a 70 sq.m. lot area complete with partition for two bedrooms.

“This is made possible because our partners usually own the land like in the case of Dole, which also adopted the “sweat equity” concept in house building. In the same manner, LGU-owned properties are utilized for their housing projects and they waive development related fees,” Moti said.

Qualified borrowers, under Pag-IBIG’s Affordable Housing Program for minimum-wage earners, may avail of the subsidized interest rate for housing loans not exceeding P450,000 at a yearly rate of 4.5 percent for the first 10 years of a 30-year loan, with a monthly amortization of around P2,280 only.

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or business@thestandard.com.ph or extrastory2000@gmail.com

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

B4

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

Business

US, Britain ban laptops on flights

By Dave Clark

W

ASHINGTON―The United States and Britain on Tuesday banned larger electronic devices from the passenger cabin on flights from some airports in Turkey, the Middle East and North Africa.

American officials warned that extremists are seeking “innovative” ways to attack airliners with smaller explosive devices hidden in consumer electronics bigger than smartphones.

The US has given nine airlines from eight countries until the weekend to tell travelers to America to pack laptops, tablets and portable game consoles in their hold luggage.

No US carriers are affected, but the ban hits passengers on approximately 50 flights per day from the busiest hubs in the Arab world and the three Gulf carriers that recently emerged as giants: Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways.

Britain issued a similar order, applied to direct flights from a shorter list of countries. Other countries are expected to follow suit.

Canadian and French officials are considering imposing the same sort of measures, but Germany, Australia and New Zealand said they were not currently mulling a ban.

“The restrictions are in place due to evaluated intelligence and we think it’s the right thing to do and the right places to do it to secure the safety of the traveling public,” a senior US official said.

US officials would not say how long the ban would last, but the Dubai-based Emirates airline told AFP that it had been instructed to enforce it until at least October 14.

The US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, refused to discuss the “intelligence information” that led the Transportation Security Administra-

tion (TSA) to issue the order.

But one said concerns had been “heightened by several successful events and attacks on passenger lanes and airports over the last years.”

Reaction from the affected airports’ host governments was generally low-key, and Emirates turned the situation into a lighthearted ad extolling the strengths of its in-flight entertainment, entitled: “Who needs a laptop?”

But one government, Turkey, denounced the order and demanded that it be rescinded or scaled back.

“We particularly emphasize how this will not benefit the passenger and that reverse steps or a softening should be adopted,” Transport Minister Ahmet

Arslan told reporters.

“We already take all kinds of security measures,” he said.

The US official would not go into detail about which attacks had raised fears, but one cited an incident from February of last year in which suspected Somali Islamists blew a hole in the side of a Daallo Airlines passenger jet with a small device.

Only the bomber was killed and the plane landed safely.

“Evaluated intelligence indicates that terrorist groups continue to target commercial aviation and are aggressively pursuing innovative methods to undertake their attacks, to include smuggling explosive devices in various consumer items,” an official said. AFP

Global tobacco use down by 2.5% PARIS―Tobacco use fell by 2.5 percent worldwide a decade after the first global health treaty went into effect, World Health Organization researchers said Wednesday.

Smoking rates declined most sharply when countries implemented several of the measures called for in the 2005 pact, and rose in some nations that failed to do so, suggesting anti-tobacco policies make a real difference, they reported in The Lancet, a medical journal.

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control’s 180 signatories agreed to introduce or boost tobacco taxes, smoke-free zones, warning labels, advertising bans, and programs to help people kick the nicotine habit.

The study, based on data from 126 nations, showed that the treaty “has been a success in reducing tobacco use in countries that engaged in strong implementation,” said co-author Geoffrey Fong, a professor at the University of Waterloo.

Tobacco consumption is the single greatest preventable cause of death in the world, claiming nearly six million lives annually.

Smoking also racks up more than a trillion dollars annually in health care and lost productivity costs.

On average, smoking rates across the 126 nations dropped from 24.7 to 22.2 percent over the decade examined.

But trends varied widely across regions: smoking decreased in 90 countries, stayed the same in 12, and increased in 24.

In northern Europe and South America―where governments put in place many of the anti-tobacco measures― smoking rates fell by 7.1 and 6.8 percent, respectively, between 2005 to 2015.

Africa, meanwhile, saw increases over the same period: 3.4 percent in western Africa, 12.6 percent in central Africa, and 4.6 percent in the northern part of the continent.

Application of the treaty measures was lax to non-existent in most of these regions.

The findings “give tobacco activists an empirical argument with which to prod their governments into living up to their treaty obligations,” said Kenneth Warner, a professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health.

Early research leaves little doubt that higher taxation is most effective in discouraging smokers, especially in low- and middle-income countries. AFP

A passenger buys a ticket at a Emirates Airline counter beside a dangerous goods warning sign in Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California on March 21, 2017. From toothpaste to pocket knives, ink cartridges and scissors, the US cabin ban on electronic devices on flights from the Middle East and North Africa adds to a long list of products already blacklisted on international flights. AFP

Japan’s exports surged in February TOKYO―Japan’s trade surplus hit a multi-year high in February, government data showed Wednesday, as exports to China rebounded after a Lunar New Year lull.

The value of Japan’s total shipments abroad rose 11.3 percent, the most in two years, on strong demand for vehicle components and electronic parts, while imports grew 1.2 percent.

That resulted in a trade surplus of 813.4 billion yen ($7.3 billion), reversing a January deficit and more than tripling the 235.5 billion yen surplus a year ago.

The latest figures marked Japan’s highest monthly trade surplus in nearly seven years.

The export surge was largely due to the Chinese New Year falling earlier than usual this year, resulting in a February rebound. Japan’s exports to China tend to fall during the holiday as many businesses close.

Exports to China soared 28.2 percent from the same month a year ago, creating Japan’s first trade surplus with China in five years.

Japan also posted its first trade surplus with the US in three months in February.

The figures come at a sensitive time for Japan-US trade relations.

US President Donald Trump has accused Japan of devaluing the yen to boost exports, grouping it with other countries he says are taking “advantage” of the United States.

But Takuji Okubo, chief economist and principal at Japan Macro Advisors, said Trump’s talk was unlikely to translate into measures that would seriously hurt Japan-US trade.

“I think this talk about the rise of protectionism, I think there’s a lot of hot air,” he told Bloomberg News before the trade data was released.

“For now there’s no obvious threat to the global economy, so I think it’s reasonable to expect moderate growth in global trade.”

Japan has been struggling to reverse a years-long deflationary spiral of falling prices and lackluster growth. AFP

Wastewater key to solving global water crisis, says UN report

By Marlowe Hood PARIS―Recycling the world’s wastewater, almost all of which goes untreated, would ease global water shortages while protecting the environment, the United Nations said in a major report Wednesday.

“Neglecting the opportunities arising from improved wastewater management is nothing less than unthinkable,” said Irina Bokova, directorgeneral of Unesco, one of several UN bodies behind the report issued on World Water Day. For decades, people have been using fresh water faster than Nature can replace it, contributing in some regions to hunger, disease, conflict and migration.

Two-thirds of humanity currently live in zones that experience water scarcity at least one month a year.

Half of those people are in China and India.

Last year, the World Economic Forum’s annual survey of opinion leaders identified water crises as the top global risk over the next decade.

On current trends, the UN Environment Program forecasts that water demand―for industry, energy and an extra billion people―will increase 50 percent by 2030.

Global warming has already deepened droughts in many areas, and the planet will continue to heat up over the course of the century, even under optimistic scenarios.

“There is an absolute necessity to increase water security in order to overcome the challenges brought on by climate change and human influence,” said Benedito Braga, head of

An Indian resident carries a plastic container full of purified drinking water after collection from a government distribution centre in Chennai on March 22, 2017, on World Water Day. World Water Day is marked annually on March 22, and aims to promote the conservation of water resources. AFP

the World Water Council, an umbrella grouping of governments, associations and research bodies.

Wastewater―runoff from agriculture, industry and expanding cities, especially in developing nations―is a major part of the problem.

Problem to solution That is especially true in poor countries where very little, if any, wastewater is treated or recycled.

High-income nations treat about 70 percent of the wastewater they generate, a figure that drops to 38 percent for upper middle-income countries.

In low-income nations, only eight percent of industrial and municipal wastewater undergoes treatment of any kind.

More than 800,000 people

die every year because of contaminated drinking water, and not being able to properly wash their hands.

Water-related diseases claim nearly 3.5 million lives annually in Africa, Asia and Latin America―more than the global death toll from AIDS and car crashes combined.

Chemicals and nutrients from factories and farms create dead zones in rivers, lakes and coastal waters, and seep into aquifers.

The 200-page World Water Development Report details a four-pronged strategy for transforming wastewater from a problem to a solution, said lead author Richard Connor of Unesco’s World Water Assessment Program.

Besides reducing pollution

at the source, policy initiatives must shift focus to removing contaminants from wastewater flows, reusing water, and recovering useful by-products, the report concludes.

“Up to now, decision makers have mainly focused on supplying clean water rather than managing it after it has been used,” Connor told journalists.

“The two aspects are inextricably linked.”

Water can be used over and over, he added, pointing to the fact that water from several major rivers in the United States is recycled up to 20 times before reaching the ocean.

Generating energy The potential for reusing liquid waste is perhaps best illustrated by astronauts on the International Space Station who

drink recycled urine and use it to wash up.

On a larger scale, there are many nations where necessity has spawned innovative technologies.

In Singapore and the southern California coastal city of San Diego, residents already drink recycled water.

In Jordan and Israel, 90 percent and 50 percent of agricultural water, respectively, has been recovered for reuse, according to the report.

Besides being recycled, wastewater “can also be a rich source of nutrients, minerals and energy―all of which can be cost-effectively extracted,” said Guy Ryder, chair of UN-Water, and head of the International Labour Organization.

These are the same elements, he added, that cause terrible damage when untreated wastewater is released into the environment.

Harvesting phosphorus, for example, from urine―supplied by urine-diverting toilets –reduces wastewater’s nutrient load.

Already in use in Australia, China and Japan, these systems can be easily scaled up.

More than a fifth of global phosphorus demand worldwide could be met by recycled human urine and feces, according to a recent study.

Waste can also be converted into fuel.

A 2015 law in Japan requires sewage operators to use biosolids as a carbonneutral form of energy.

The city of Osaka produces 6,500 tons of fuel per year from 43,000 tons of wet sewage sludge for electricity generation. AFP

Update tax schedule, Baguio told

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

C1

By Dexter A. See

B

AGUIO CITY—Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez has ordered the city government to update its schedule of market values for its real property taxes.

The update follows the provisions of the Local Government Code to generate sufficient resources “that could be plowed back to the people, through the implementation of development projects and enhanced delivery of basic services,” Dominguez said.

The secretary noted that Baguio’s last general revision of property assessments was in 1996, hence the current property tax base of the city “is already outdated by 21 years now.”

By fiscal year 2015, the finance official said the local government collected P179.88 million on real property taxes using the current schedule of market values as the basis of property assessments.

However, Dominguez pointed out Baguio could generate additional revenue of at least P48.57 million if the schedule of market values was updated, “bringing collections up to P78.96 million if collection efficiency is optimized using an updated schedule of market values.”

Under the Local Government Code of 1991, provinces, cities, and the lone municipality in Metro Manila (Pateros) are required to undertake the revision of their respective schedules of market values once every three years.

Dominguez stressed that in line with the mandate of the Department of Finance to supervise the revenue operations of all local government units, Baguio was directed “to regularly update its schedule of market values, and to conduct the required general revision of property assessments and classifications.”

Following the established procedures under the Local Government Code and the standards, rules and regulations prescribed by the DoF for classification, appraisal and assessment of real property, the Baguio City Assessor should prepare the schedule of market values for compliance review by the DoF’s Bureau of Local Government Finance in accordance to Local Assessment Regulation No. 1-2002, and after that submit the same to the City Council for approval and enactment.

“If fully enforced and properly administered, real property tax offers a progressive and stable source of revenues that can be shared by the city with the barangays and the city’s Local School Board, to finance the provision of basic service and education needs to your constituency, thereby improving the city government’s service delivery to the public,” Dominguez stressed in his letter to Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan through City Treasurer Alex B. Cabarrubias and City Assessor Maria Almaya C. Addawe.

Domogan had reminded the City Council to pass the proposed revisions to the existing schedule of market values for property assessments and classifications “so that the BLGF will not be constantly accusing the city officials of being remiss in their duties and responsibilities to update its revenue sources, pursuant to the existing provisions of the Local Government Code,” he said.

TRIBAL PARADE. Young tribal folk join the Grand Parade of Nueva Vizcaya’s yearly celebration of the Ammungan (Gathering) Festival in Bayombong last year. The event is celebrated every year from April 19 to 24. (See related story on C2). Ben Moses Ebreo

Kalibo smoking, vaping ban starts today KALIBO, Aklan—The local government here has announced that the smoking ban in public places will take effect today (March 23).

Councilor Cynthia Dela Cruz, chairman of the municipal council’s Committee on Health, said the implementation would start soon after the required local publication of the ordinance.

The “no smoking and no vaping” in public places is embodied in Municipal Ordinance

2016-008. Violators may be fined with as much as P2,500.

“The anti-smoking ordinance includes 18 provisions, including no smoking and no vaping in public places and conveyances, and no selling to minors,” Dela Cruz said Wednesday.

The violators would be apprehended not only by Kalibo’s auxiliary policemen, but also by several volunteers who were previously trained by resource

persons from Manila and the Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force or ICAST. “Tourists coming to Kalibo will be informed of the new comprehensive ordinance on ‘no smoking, no vaping’ in public places,” she added.

Kalibo is a gateway to Boracay Island in Malay, which is expected to teem with local and foreign tourists as the summer hits its peak in April and May. PNA

Davao comes to aid of woman, daughter

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—The City Social Services and Development Office here is coming to the aid of an 88-year-old woman, Candida Ramas, and her 49-year-old daughter Rodora, who is suffering from polio and cerebral palsy.

The two were living alone in their shanty beside the house of Candida’s grandson, Benjamine Montallana.

Candida supports their daily necessities through her monthly pension worth P2,200 coming from the Social Security System. Oftentimes, they lack food for themselves, CSSDO officials said.

Candida and Rodora’s situation was discovered after a netizen posted a video of them on Facebook after the burial of Candida’s son in law. The two were seen having a conversation, with Rodora cheerfully singing to her mother.

A day after the video was posted online, the CSSDO located the women to assist them.

Social Worker Maria Josephine

Torres said they need to check the condition of the women “to provide them with what they really need.” Candida and Rodora are scheduled to have their checkup on Friday.

“They were supposed to have their checkup immediately; however, the mother requested that we just schedule it on Friday, since she was still overwhelmed with the sudden help they are receiving,” Torres said.

She said social workers need to check if Rodora’s condition can be improved through therapy sessions to help her mobility.

“As what we can see, there is no need for us to put them in a center, since it will separate them. The grandson, Benjamine, promised to look after them,” Torres said.

Montallana said he is willing to look after his grandmother and aunt. However, he worries about their condition when he isn’t around, since he and his wife leave their house early in the morning to work.

The CSSDO, though, committed to look after Candida and Rodora to provide their needs regularly.

BIKES FOR SECURITY. Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi inspects 20 motorcycles to be deployed for the city government’s security personnel during the flag raising ceremony at city hall last Monday. The mayor said the new vehicles will help improve peace and order in Muntinlupa. The motorcycles will be given to the Muntinlupa Public Order and Safety Office and Muntinlupa Traffic Management Bureau.

Manila to deploy ‘mommy enforcers’ at high schools FOLLOWING the success of the Motherly Traffic Attendants program in elementary schools across the city, Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada is planning to recruit and train more “mommy traffic enforcers” who will be deployed in the city’s public high schools.

Estrada said he wants to continue expanding the program to cover both grade schoolers and high school students, who are constantly exposed to traffic accidents in the road.

“That is our target, train more mommy enforcers to assist students, both elementary

and high school, in the road and help prevent accidents,” he said.

Estrada came up with the plan after the recent graduation from training of 260 women traffic enforcers, the first batch of auxiliary traffic personnel trained under the city government’s traffic program.

Members of this women’s corps of traffic enforcers are deployed outside the elementary school campuses with one primary mission: To help schoolchildren cross the street and get to school or their homes safely.

Apart from being force multipliers in traffic management and road security, Estrada said this program also provides Manileño mothers a steady source of income while doing civic duties.

“So far, we’ve been getting positive feedback concerning our mommy traffic enforcers.

They’ve proven themselves to be dependable and hardworking, and we can trust them with the safety of our children, being mothers themselves,” Estrada said.

Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau chief Dennis Alcoreza

welcomed Estrada’s plan. He said mommy traffic enforcers have been proven to be of big help.

“That’s why now we are pursuing the same program for high schools in Manila,” Alcoreza said.

With the supervision of an MTPB sector commander, the women enforcers work in shifts of their own choosing— from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., or from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.—from Monday to Friday.

Each receives a monthly salary of P6,000.

According to the global ad-

vocacy group Safe Kids Worldwide, road accidents are the top cause of unintentional deaths among children ages one to 19.

Alcoreza also cited a report from the World Health Organization that said 186,000 children below 18 years old die each year due to road crashes, 38 percent of whom were pedestrians.

In the Philippines, 96 children die every day due to road accidents, making it the second most common type of killing accident in the country for children aged five to 12, according to WHO. Sandy Araneta

P1.3-m aid for Vizcaya typhoon victims BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The provincial government here has approved more than P1.3 million for housing assistance to victims of typhoons “Lawin” and “Karen” in the province.

Gov. Carlos Padilla said the amount will be given to 357 typhoon victims whose houses were partially or totally damaged.

Typhoon victims whose houses were partially damaged will be given P3,000 each. Those with totally damaged houses will receive P5,000, he said.

“Distribution of typhoon assistance checks to typhoon victims has been started through visits to various municipalities, which were hardest hit by the recent typhoons,” Padilla said.

Report from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office revealed the town of Alfonso Castañeda, particularly barangays Abuyo, Lublub, Galintuja and Lipuga, has 164 residents whose houses were partially damaged.

Kasibu town had 34, Dupax del Sur town had 14, Aritao town had nine, Dupax del Norte saw eight and Sta. Fe town had four such cases.

Totally-damaged houses were recorded at 76 in Sta. Fe town, 37 in Aritao, 17 in Bayombong, 10 in Dupax del Norte, and one in Kasibu.

Lita Tabudlo, provincial social welfare and development officer, said P699,000 will be released to residents with partially damaged houses, while P620,000 will be given to 124 beneficiaries whose houses were totally wrecked.

“We have already distributed more than P1.2 million worth of checks for victims with partially and totallydamaged houses and we only have P41,000 worth of checks unclaimed,” Tabudlo said. Ben Moses Ebreo

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

Manila Manila

Standard THURSDAY, TODAY MARCH 23, 2017 C2

Army: NPA’s influence waning in Central Luzon

By Romeo Dizon

C

LARK FREEPORT, Pampanga—The influence of the New People’s Army in Central Luzon, its birthplace, is now waning as the region becomes “insurgency-free, peaceful, and ready for further economic development.”

Maj. Gen. Angelito de Leon, commanding general of the 7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, stressed this during the regular meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council or RPOC here.

De Leon, whose division is based at Fort Ramon Magsaysay in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, said the region’s leaders “must now work together to maintain such condition and prevent insurgency from infiltrating the area.”

The council is chaired by Bataan Gov. Al-

Office Office Address: Address: Telephone Telephone Nos.: Nos.: Email Email Address: Address:

bert Raymond S. Garcia, who is also working “not only for an insurgency-free region, but also one free from graft and corruption and illegal drugs,” he said.

De Leon said Pampanga and Bataan led the provinces who have been “liberated” from insurgency, and the general hopes the other Central Luzon provinces follow suit.

Only the remnants of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its military arm, the NPA, are operating in the region, involved in extortion activities “to survive,” the general said.

The CPP-NPA are engaging in on-and-off peace talks with the government.

The NPA was organized on March 29, 1969 inside the Hacienda Luisita in Concepcion, Tarlac by Bernabe Buscayno, alias Commander Dante, and Jose Maria Sison, the CCP’s founder.

However, Buscayno was captured in 1977 in Mexico, Pampanga by two young constabulary officers—who are now Rep. Amado Espino of Pangasinan and former Philippine National Police Director General Arturo Lumibao.

Buscayno was released by President Corazon Aquino in 1987, and now lives peace-

fully in Tarlac.

Sison is now based in the Netherlands, and is engaging the present administration in peace talks.

Meanwhile, Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, director of the Police Regional Office III here, said the PNP’s Operation Double Barrel has been effective in the campaign against illegal drugs and other forms of criminality in the region.

Aquino said under Operation Double Barrel, about 1,876 households were visited, resulting in the arrest of 49 suspected drug personalities now undergoing treatment in the different rehabilitation centers in the region.

Renewed police operations against illegal drugs in the first quarter of 2017 led to the arrest of 161 suspected drug personalities, with 16 killed during the encounters with the raiding police teams out of 114 total operations.

To speed up the rehabilitation of drug victims in their respective areas, Garcia said the region’s governors also asked for more rehabilitation programs and subsidy from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., especially in the municipal level to assist local governments in their fight against illegal drugs.

Republic of the Philippines NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION (Pambansang Pangasiwaan ng Patubig)

Republic of the Philippines NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION (Pambansang Pangasiwaan ng Patubig)

Region Region 33 Bulacan-Aurora-Nueve Bulacan-Aurora-Nueve Ecija-Irrigation Ecija-Irrigation Management Management Office Office

Region Region 33 Bulacan-Aurora-Nueve Bulacan-Aurora-Nueve Ecija-Irrigation Ecija-Irrigation Management Management Office Office

Tambubong, Tambubong, San San Rafael, Rafael, Bulacan Bulacan (044) (044) 766-3888 766-3888 niabaneimoes@gmail.com niabaneimoes@gmail.com

Telefax Telefax No. No. (044) (044) 766-3888 766-3888 TIN TIN No. No. 000-578-009-000 000-578-009-000

Office Office Address: Address: Telephone Telephone Nos.: Nos.: Email Email Address: Address:

Tambubong, Tambubong, San San Rafael, Rafael, Bulacan Bulacan (044) (044) 766-3888 766-3888 niabaneimoes@gmail.com niabaneimoes@gmail.com

INVITATION TO BID

Telefax Telefax No. No. (044) (044) 766-3888 766-3888 TIN TIN No. No. 000-578-009-000 000-578-009-000

INVITATION TO BID March 13, 2017 March 13, 2017

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office (BANE IMO) Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, through its Bids and Award Committee (BAC), invites Contractors to bid for: ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS-2017-BU-45- ANGAT RIS (AMRIS) Concrete Lining – Dam 6A/Lateral D-2-A/3D MC located in San Luis, Pampanga. The Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P16,957,452.30 with contract duration of 240 calendar days. Bid Documents cost P17,000.00 Interested bidders must have experience in undertaking similar project within the last three (3) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding.

Any bid above the ABC as stated above each ITB shall be rejected outright.

Issuance of Bid Documents; (upon March 15, 2017 @ 10:00 AM payment of non-refundable amount as stated aboveNIA BANE, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan each ITB) Submission and Opening of Bids:

Schedule of Activities; NIA, BANE IMO

Pre-Bidding: March 23, 2017 at 9:00 AM

Closing Time: April 10, 2017 @ 9:30 AM

Site Inspection : March 21, 2017 9:00 AM Opening of Bids: April 10, 2017 @ 10:00 AM The NIA-BANE assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of bids. Also, NIA reserves the right to reject any or all bids at any time prior to award, waive any defects therein and to declare the bidding a failure for whatever reasons it may deem appropriate.

ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS-2017-BU-43 - ANGAT RIS (AMRIS) Improvement of Lateral D-1/D-1-A/D-1-D located in Apalit, Pampanga. The Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P18,403,466.70 with contract duration of 240 calendar days. Bid Documents cost P18,000.00 Interested bidders must have experience in undertaking similar project within the last three (3) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding.

Any bid above the ABC as stated above each ITB shall be rejected outright.

Issuance of Bid Documents; (upon payment of non-refundable amount as stated above each ITB)

March 15, 2017 @ 10:00 AM NIA BANE, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan

Schedule of Activities; NIA, BANE IMO

Submission and Opening of Bids:

Pre-Bidding: March 22, 2017 at 3:00 PM

Closing Time: April 7, 2017 @ 2:00 PM

Site Inspection : March 21, 2017 9:00 AM

Opening of Bids: April 7, 2017 @ 3:00 PM

The NIA-BANE assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of bids. Also, NIA reserves the right to reject any or all bids at any time prior to award, waive any defects therein and to declare the bidding a failure for whatever reasons it may deem appropriate.

Republic Republic of of the the Philippines Philippines Roxas Roxas Boulevard Boulevard Corner Corner Pablo Pablo Ocampo, Ocampo, Sr. Sr. Street Street Manila Manila 1004 1004 IInvItatIon nvItatIon to to B BId Id for for the the ProvISIon ProvISIon of of JanItorIaL JanItorIaL ServICeS ServICeS In In the the dePartMent dePartMent of of fInanCe fInanCe for for CY CY 2017 2017 1.

1.

The The DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT OF OF FINANCE FINANCE (DOF), (DOF), through through the the Government Government of of the the Philippines Philippines under under the the General General Appropriations Appropriations Act Act for for CY CY 2017, 2017, intends intends to to apply apply the the sum sum of of TEN TEN MILLION MILLION THREE THREE HUNDRED HUNDRED TWELVE TWELVE THOUSAND THOUSAND EIGHT EIGHT HUNDRED HUNDRED THIRTY THIRTY TWO TWO PESOS PESOS AND AND 40/100 40/100 (PhP (PhP 10,312,832.40) 10,312,832.40) being being the the Approved Approved Budget Budget for for the the Contract Contract (ABC) (ABC) to to payments payments under under the the contract contract for for the the Provision Provision of of Janitorial Janitorial Services Services in in the the Department Department of of Finance Finance for for CY CY 2017 2017 (the (the “Project”).

“Project”).

Bids Bids received received in in excess excess of of the the ABC ABC shall shall be be automatically automatically rejected rejected at at bid bid opening. opening.

2.

2.

The The DOF, DOF, through through its its Bids Bids and and Awards Awards Committee Committee (BAC), (BAC), now now invites invites bids bids for for Manpower Manpower Services.

Services.

Bidders Bidders should should have have completed, completed, within within five five (5) (5) years years from from the the date date of of submission submission and and receipt receipt of of bids, bids, aa contract contract similar similar to to the the Project Project which which is is equivalent equivalent to to fifty fifty percent percent (50%) (50%) of of the the ABC ABC for for the the Project.

Project. The The description description of of an an eligible eligible bidder bidder is is contained contained in in the the Bidding Bidding Documents, Documents, particularly, particularly, in in Section Section II. II. Instructions Instructions to to Bidders.

Bidders.

3.

3.

Bidding Bidding will will be be conducted conducted through through open open competitive competitive bidding bidding procedures procedures using using aa non-discretionary non-discretionary “pass/fail” “pass/fail” criterion criterion as as specified specified in in the the 2016 2016 Revised Revised Implementing Implementing Rules Rules and and Regulations Regulations (IRR) (IRR) of of Republic Republic Act Act (RA) (RA) No. No. 9184, 9184, otherwise otherwise known known as as the the “Government “Government Procurement Procurement Reform Reform Act”.

Act”.

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

5183.

4.

4.

Interested Interested bidders bidders may may obtain obtain further further information information from from the the BAC BAC Secretariat Secretariat and and inspect inspect the the Bidding Bidding Documents Documents at at the the address address given given below below during during office office hours. hours.

5.

5.

AA complete complete set set of of Bidding Bidding Documents Documents may may be be acquired acquired by by interested interested Bidders Bidders starting starting on on March March 23, 23, 2017 2017 up up to to April April 11, 11, 2017 2017 at at the the General General Services Services Division, Division, 88thth Floor, Floor, EDPC EDPC Building, Building, BSP BSP Complex, Complex, Pablo Pablo Ocampo Ocampo Sr. Sr. St., St., Roxas Roxas Blvd., Blvd., Manila Manila and and upon upon payment payment of of aa nonrefundable nonrefundable fee fee for for the the Bidding Bidding Documents, Documents, pursuant pursuant to to the the latest latest Guidelines Guidelines issued issued by by the the GPPB, GPPB, in in the the amount amount of of Twenty Twenty Five Five Thousand Thousand Pesos Pesos (PhP25,000.00).

(PhP25,000.00).

ItIt may may also also be be downloaded downloaded free free of of charge charge from from the the website website of of the the Philippine Philippine Government Government Electronic Electronic Procurement Procurement System System (PhilGEPS) (PhilGEPS) and and the the website website of of the the DOF, DOF, provided provided that that the the Bidders Bidders shall shall pay pay the the non-refundable non-refundable fee fee for for the the Bidding Bidding Documents Documents not not later later than than the the submission submission of of their their bids. bids.

6.

6.

The The schedule schedule of of bidding bidding activities activities is is as as follows: follows:

ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES Advertisement/Posting Advertisement/Posting of of Invitation Invitation to to Bid Bid Issuance Issuance and and Availability Availability of of Bid Bid Documents Documents Pre-Bid Pre-Bid Conference Conference Request Request for for Clarification Clarification Issuance Issuance of of Supplemental Supplemental Bid Bid Bulletin Bulletin Deadline Deadline for for Submission Submission of of Bids Bids Opening Opening of of Bids Bids

SCHEDULE SCHEDULE March March 23, 23, 2017 2017 starting starting March March 23, 23, 2017 2017 March March 30, 30, 2017, 2017, 10:00 10:00 am am April April 1, 1, 2017 2017 (by (by email) email) April April 4, 4, 2017 2017 April April 11, 11, 2017, 2017, 9:45 9:45 am am April April 11, 11, 2017, 2017, 10:00 10:00 am am

7.

7.

Bids Bids must must be be delivered delivered to to the the BAC BAC Secretariat, Secretariat, General General Services Services Division Division 88ththFloor Floor EDPC EDPC Building, Building, BSP BSP Complex, Complex, P. P. Ocampo Ocampo Sr., Sr., Street Street corner corner Roxas Roxas Boulevard, Boulevard, Manila Manila on on or or before beforeApril April 11, 11, 2017, 2017, 9:45 9:45 am. am. The The bidders bidders shall shall drop drop their their duly duly accomplished accomplished eligibility eligibility requirements, requirements, technical technical and and financial financial proposals proposals in in two two (2) (2) separate separate envelopes envelopes in in the the bid bid box box located located at at the the abovementioned abovementioned address. address. All All the the bids bids must must be be accompanied accompanied by by aa bid bid security security in in any any of of the the acceptable acceptable forms forms and and in in the the amount amount stated stated in in the the Instructions Instructions to to Bidders Bidders (ITB) (ITB) Clause Clause 18.

18.

8.

8.

Floor DOF DOF Bid Bid opening opening shall shall be be on on the the date date indicated indicated above above at at the the DFG DFG Conference Conference Room, Room, 44thth Floor Building.

Building. Bids Bids will will be be opened opened in in the the presence presence of of the the Bidders’ Bidders’ representatives representatives who who choose choose to to attend. attend.

LATE LATE BIDS BIDS SHALL SHALL NOT NOT BE BE ACCEPTED. ACCEPTED.

9.

9.

The The DOF DOF reserves reserves the the right right to to accept accept or or reject reject any any and and all all bids, bids, to to annul annul the the bidding bidding process, process, and and to to reject reject all all bids bids at at any any time time prior prior to to contract contract award, award, without without thereby thereby incurring incurring any any liability liability to to the the affected affected bidder bidder or or bidders. bidders. In In instances, instances, that that may may arise arise and and not not specifically specifically mentioned mentioned herein, herein, the the DOF DOF shall shall resolve resolve bidding bidding issues issues by by resorting resorting to to and and applying applying the the pertinent pertinent provisions provisions of of RA RA 9184 9184 and and its its Revised Revised Implementing Implementing Rules Rules and and Regulations.

Regulations.

QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya— The rains poured hard in this town last week, but it did not dampen the excitement and joy of the tribal folk of Barangay Runruno as they witnessed the launching of a cultural preservation program for its villagers at the multi-purpose hall here.

Young and old folk from the Bugkalot, Kankanaey, Ifugao, Kalanguya, and Ibaloi tribes rubbed elbows as they gazed on their traditional garments, working tools, and kitchen utensils, among others, in a mini-exhibit that marked the launching of the program dubbed “Lahi Ko, Yaman Ko” (My Race, My Wealth).

Initiated by the Community and Social Development Department of FCF Minerals Corp. and the barangay council of Runruno, the program kicked off with the mini-exhibit and cultural competition of native songs and dances of the indigenous people.

FCF Minerals operates the gold and molybdenum mine project in Runruno.

The mini-exhibit alone showcased 60 pieces of artifacts and handicrafts gathered from the community by FCF employees—food pots, plates, antique mats, baskets, bags, male and female garments, head dresses, and hunting tools such as axes and butcher’s knives. About

one-third of the items were considered family heirlooms.

These will be placed inside the proposed Runruno Cultural Heritage Museum managed by the FCF’s CSDD-Alternative Learning System coordinators.

The “Lahi Lo, Yaman Ko” program advocates the protection, promotion, and preservation of the migrant tribal folk’s diverse cultural and traditional heritage.

“It aims to educate the future generation and to actively involve the whole community in strengthening their cultural ties and identities and forge peace and harmony toward the development of their respective barangays,” said Agnes Rosales, CSDD manager.

She said the program is also anchored on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order 2010-21, which “promotes the protection and respect of sociocultural values” as one of the six areas of creditable expenses for the development of host and neighboring communities covered by mining projects.

FCF also assists Runruno’s villagers with other programs, projects and activities through their corporate social responsibility program. These are rolled out through scholarships, free medical services, livelihood ventures, alternative learning systems, and infrastructure projects, among others.

IN BRIEF Delayed payouts for SSS pensioners CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga—The Social Security System said about 240,000 pensioners nationwide are not included in the additional benefit of P1,000 as scheduled, the last installment of which should have been given last March 17.

Instead, these pensioners will receive their additional benefit on May 12 as approved by President Rodrigo Duterte in a memo last Feb. 22, SSS vice president Ma. Luisa “Louie” Sebastian said here.

Sebastian said that’s because the 240,000 pensioners just received their advance retirement pension of 18 months, a payout that started last August 2015.

Those who will receive the additional P1,000 benefit on March 31 are those under the Special Pension System, which includes death claim with more than one payee and one of them is overpaid; SSS payees with withheld shares; and those covered by a Bilateral Social Security Agreement between the Philippines and other country, and the Portability Law. Romeo Dizon

‘Intensified’ peace program for P’sinan LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—An “intensified and systematic” peace and order program for Pangasinan is under way with the approval of the province’s Peace and Order Public Safety Plan.

The plan was presented during the recent joint first quarter meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council.

Upon approval of the safety plan, Gov. Amado I. Espino III will suggest that various committees be created to specifically handle different problem areas to systematize it. It highlights different areas of concerns like illegal drugs, high incidence of vehicular accidents, traffic woes, and cybercrimes, among others.

The governor said the need to devise a detailed plan for each committee “is of utmost importance, to fully focus on the strategic direction for each problem area.” Dexter A. See Republic of the Philippines NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION (Pambansang Pangasiwaan ng Patubig) Region Region 33 Bulacan-Aurora-Nueve Bulacan-Aurora-Nueve Ecija-Irrigation Ecija-Irrigation Management Management Office Office Office Office Address: Address: Telephone Telephone Nos.: Nos.: Email Email Address: Address:

Tambubong, Tambubong, San San Rafael, Rafael, Bulacan Bulacan (044) (044) 766-3888 766-3888 niabaneimoes@gmail.com niabaneimoes@gmail.com

Telefax Telefax No. No. (044) (044) 766-3888 766-3888 TIN TIN No. No. 000-578-009-000 000-578-009-000

INVITATION TO BID March 8, 2017 The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office (BANE IMO) Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, through its Bids and Award Committee (BAC), invites Contractors to bid for: ITB No. R3-BANE-RRENIS -2017-BU-31 - ANGAT RIS (AMRIS) Improvement of Lateral D and Rehab of Canallocated in Bocaue, Bulacan. The Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is 17,772,981.72 with contract duration of 240 calendar days. Bid Documents cost P18,000.00 Interested bidders must have experience in undertaking similar project within the last three (3) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding.

Any bid above the ABC as stated above each ITB shall be rejected outright.

Issuance of Bid Documents; (upon payment of non-refundable Rafael, amount as stated above each ITB)

March 10, 2017 @ 10:00 AM NIA BANE, Tambubong, San Bulacan

Schedule of Activities; NIA, BANE IMO

Submission and Opening of Bids:

Pre-Bidding: March 20, 2017 at 3:00 PM

Closing Time:April 3, 2017 @ 2:30 PM

Site Inspection: March 17, 2017 @ 8:30 AM Opening of Bids: April 3, 2017 @ 3:00 PM The NIA-BANE assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of bids. Also, NIA reserves the right to reject any or all bids at any time prior to award, waive any defects therein and to declare the bidding a failure for whatever reasons it may deem appropriate.

10.

10. For For further further information, information, please please refer refer to: to: Ms. Ms. Lilia Lilia R. R. Tan, Tan, HeadHead- BAC BAC Secretariat Secretariat Department Department of of Finance Finance BAC BAC Secretariat, Secretariat, General General Services Services Division Division 88thth Floor Floor EDPC EDPC Building, Building, BSP BSP Complex Complex P. P. Ocampo Ocampo Sr., Sr., Street Street corner corner Roxas Roxas Boulevard, Boulevard, Manila Manila Telephone Telephone N.: N.: 526-8475 526-8475 Telefax Telefax No.: No.: 525-4227 525-4227 Email Email Address: Address: ltan@dof.gov.ph ltan@dof.gov.ph // mepajuelas@gmail.com mepajuelas@gmail.com

(MS-MAR. (MS-MAR. 23, 23, 2017) 2017)

(SGD.) ROBERTO J. DELA CRUZ Chairperson – BAC (MS-MAR. (MS-MAR. 23, 23, 2017) 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

By Ben Moses Ebreo

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office (BANE IMO) Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, through its Bids and Award Committee (BAC), invites Contractors to bid for:

(SGD.) ROBERTO J. DELA CRUZ Chairperson – BAC (MS-MAR. (MS-MAR. 23, 23, 2017) 2017)

Mining firm backs IP culture program

(SGD.) ROBERTO J. DELA CRUZ Chairperson – BAC (SGD) (SGD) GIL GIL S. S. BELTRAN BELTRAN Undersecretary Undersecretary and and DOF-BAC DOF-BAC Chairman Chairman

(MS-MAR. (MS-MAR. 23, 23, 2017) 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

Manila

Standard

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

TODAY

N. Korean missile test fails S EOUL-A new North Korean missile test failed on Wednesday, South Korea and the US said, two weeks after Pyongyang launched four rockets in what it called a drill for an attack on American bases in Japan.

The nuclear-armed North is under several sets of United Nations sanctions over its atomic and ballistic missile programs.

It is on a quest to develop a long-range missile capable of hitting the US mainland with an atomic warhead, and staged two nuclear tests and multiple missile launches last year.

The North fired one missile from an air base in the eastern port of Wonsan Wednesday morning, but the launch “is believed to have failed”, Seoul’s defense ministry said in a statement, adding it was analyzing what type of missile was involved.

The US military said the missile exploded shortly after launch.

“US Pacific Command detected what we assess was a failed North Korean missile launch attempt... in the vicinity of Kalma. A missile appears to have exploded within seconds of launch,” said spokesman David Benham.

Earlier this month Pyongyang launched a flight of four ballistic missiles, with three landing provocatively close to Japan in what the North described as practice for attacks on US military bases in Japan.

On Sunday, its leader Kim Jong-Un personally oversaw and hailed a “successful” test of what Pyongyang said was a new rocket engine -- which can be easily repurposed for use in missiles.

Seoul said that experiment showed “meaningful progress” in the North’s missile capabilities.

The developments come as Seoul and Washington hold large-scale annual joint military exercises that always infuriate Pyongyang, which sees them as a rehearsal for invasion.

Analysts’ opinions are varied on how advanced the North’s missile technologies are but many agree that Pyongyang has made significant progress in recent years.

Sunday’s engine test was apparently timed to coincide with a recent Asia trip by new US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who warned that regional tensions had reached a “dangerous level”. AFP

TOKYO FASHION WEEK. Models present creations from the Bateeq brand by Indonesian designer Michelle Tjokrosaputro at her Autumn/Winter 2017 collection during Tokyo Fashion Week in Tokyo. AFP

Firms warned against building Trump wall LOS ANGELES―Three California lawmakers have introduced legislation that would penalize firms keen to take part in President Donald Trump’s plan to build a wall along the US-Mexico border.

The legislation announced on Monday calls for California’s two public pension funds -- the largest in the nation -- to divest from companies involved in the construction of the controversial barrier.

“Californians build bridges not walls,” Phil Ting, one of the three Democratic lawmakers, said in a statement.

“This is a wall of shame and we don’t want any part of it. Immigrant stories are the history of America, and this is a nightmare.”

Assembly Bill 946 was submitted after the US Customs and Border Protection last week requested design proposals for the wall set to

be about 2,000 miles long.

If approved, it would require the California Public Employee Retirement System and the California State Teachers Retirement System -- with investments of $312 billion and $202 billion, respectively -- to liquidate within a year any investments in companies involved in building the wall.

“The state’s contracting and investment practices should reflect the values of our state,” state representative Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, who co-authored the bill, said. “It’s clear the people of California don’t want to invest in the hateful values that the Trump wall represents.”

The bill follows similar proposals across the country and beyond.

A lawmaker in New York, Nily Rozic, earlier this year introduced a bill calling for the state to boycott firms that work on the wall.

Local officials in San Francisco on Tuesday submitted a similar proposal.

Mexican construction firms have also been warned against taking part in the project.

On Tuesday, the French construction group Vinci said it was not interested in helping build the wall.

“I have to take into account the reality of my company, our culture, our way of doing things and our sensitivities, not only those of my American colleagues, but around the world,” the company CEO Xavier Huillard told French television.

“For these reasons, and this is not at all a value judgment on the United States, we prefer not to touch this wall.”

The barrier that Trump has vowed to erect along the US-Mexico border to stem illegal immigration is expected to cost at least $15 billion dollars. AFP

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Unicef indignant over sale of breast milk PHNOM PENH―Unicef on Wednesday condemned a company selling breast milk from “vulnerable and poor” Cambodian mothers to Americans, hitting out at the commercialization of nutrients needed by babies inside the kingdom.

The issue emerged this week after Cambodia said it had halted exports from Utah-based company Ambrosia Labs, which claims to be the first of its kind to bank human breast milk sourced overseas and export it to the United States.

The firm’s customers are American mothers who want to supplement their babies’ diets or cannot supply enough of their own milk.

The milk is pumped in Cambodia, frozen and shipped to the US where it is pasteurized and sold by the company for $20 each 5 oz (147 ml) pack -- roughly the volume of half a can of Coke.

Those donating their breast milk hailed from poor communities in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh, where the scheme helped families top up meager incomes.

On Monday Cambodia’s customs department said it had stopped exports temporarily “because the product comes from a human organ” adding the government planned to hold talks on whether to let the trade continue.

UNICEF -- the arm of the UN protecting children -- said excess breast milk should remain in Cambodia, one of Southeast Asia’s poorest countries, where many babies lack good nutrients.

“Breast milk banks should never be operated by exploiting vulnerable and poor women for profit and commercial purposes,” Iman Morooka, the agency spokeswoman in Cambodia, told AFP “Breast milk could be considered as human tissue, the same as blood, and as such its commercialization should be banned,” she said. AFP

Republic of the Philippines Province of Misamis Oriental MUNICIPALITY OF OPOL INVITATION TO BID FOR ONE (1) LOT BRAND NEW HEAVY EQUIPMENT The Municipality of Opol, through the Loan Facility extended by the Land Bank of the Philippinesintends to apply the sum of Seventy Five Million Pesos (Php75,000,000.00), being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payment under the contract for Procurement of one (1) Lot Heavy Equipment composed of the following, to wit; 2 Units

3 Units

1 Unit

1 Unit

1 Unit

1 Unit

Brand New 6-Wheelers (4x4) Dump Truck (High Side) Power (max): 266 HP (196 KW) @ 22000 rpm Dimension: 6980mm x 2496mm x 3150mm (unloaded) Fuel tanker capacity: 350L Brand New Mini-Dump Truck Power: 130 HP Loading Capacity: 5,190 kg Gross Vehicle Weight: 10,690 kg Brand New Wheel Loader Rated Power: 87 KW Rated Speed: 2200rpm Operating Weight: 10,200 kg Bucket Capacity: 1.7m³ Brand New Motor Grader Rated Power: 132 KW @ 2200 rpm Operating Weight: 14,500kg Moldboard Dimension: 3660mm x 645mm x18mm Brand New Vibratory Compactor Rated Power: 110kw@2200rpm Operating Weight: 12,300kg Min. Ground Clearance: 360mm Brand New Excavator (Crawler) Rated Power: 112kw@2200rpm Weight: 22,360kg Standard Bucket Capacity: 1.05m³

Bids received in excess of the ABC for each lot shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Delivery of the Goods is required within 120 days upon Opening of Letter of Credit. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

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

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulation of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 518. And subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

Prospective bidders should have experience in undertaking a similar project within the last two (2) years, with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding.

We also require that the prospective supplier/bidder must be: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9)

MORE THAN EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN SELLING BRAND NEW HEAVY EQUIPMENTS AND DUMP TRUCKS as certified by the company where the firm started from the SEC registration date with track records: must have an ACCREDITED SERVICE CENTER based in the island of Mindanao (sub-contracting not allowed): must have a CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION from the BUREAU OF CUSTOMS and a CERTIFICATE as IMPORTER from the BUREAU OF CUSTOMS INTELLIGENCE GROUP ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT OFFICE; must be a PLATINUM MEMBER of PHILGEPS: an IMPORTER CERTIFICATE from the LAND TRANSPORATION OFFICE: AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENT for the year 2013 to 2015 with Income and Business Tax Returns filed thru EFPS: BIR IMPORTER CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE and EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTORSHIP CERTIFICATE from the manufacturer.

Interested bidder may obtain further information from BAC SECRETARIAT Mr. Jose F. Escuzar, Jr. and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during Mondays to Fridays, at 8 AM to 5PM. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on March 24, 2017 to April 10, 2017 from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php. 50,000.00).

It may also be downloaded free of charges from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the Non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than submission of their bids.

The MUNICIPALITY OF OPOL, MISAMIS ORIENTAL will hold a Pre-Bid conference on March 28, 2017 at 2:00 PM at the Municipal Administrator’s Office, which shall be open to all interested parties.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before April 11, 2017@ 12:00 NN. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on April 11, 2017 @ 2:00 PM at the Municipal Administrator’s Office. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below.

Late bids shall not be accepted.

The MUNICIPALITY OF OPOL, MISAMIS ORIENTAL reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the bidder or bidders.

For further information. Please refer to:

SALVAGE ATTEMPT. Relatives of the victims of the Sewol ferry disaster observe the salvage effort of the sunken vessel (C) from the southern

island of Donggeochado. South Korea said it will attempt to raise the sunken Sewol ferry if weather permits as the family members of the victims pleaded to the public to pray for a successful salvage operation. The vessel was carrying 476 people when it went down off the southwestern island of Jindo in April 2014, leaving 304 people dead—mostly schoolchildren—in one of the country’s worst maritime disasters. AFP

(Sgd.) MR. JOSE F. ESCUZAR, JR. BAC Secretariat LGU-Opol, Misamis Oriental (Sgd.) MR. EDGAR C. OLACO, MPA, REA BAC Chairman LGU-Opol, Misamis Oriental (MS-MAR. 23, 2017)

Street art revives divided Spanish village

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

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THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

World FIRST ANNIVERSARY. A woman pays her respects in front of a wall and a wreath laid out for the victims at Brussels’ international airport in Zaventem during a memorial ceremony to mark the first anniversary of the twin Brussels attacks by Islamic extremists.

Children boosting Myanmar economy HNAWBI, Myanmar―Fourteen-year-old San Min Hteik had worked at the steel factory for less than a week when his hand got caught in a machine, a casualty of the economic boom driving more children into Myanmar’s factories.

Two of his fingers were lost after the rod-cutter sliced them down to the bone and weeks later doctors are still unsure whether they will be able to save the others.

He is one of thousands of young factory workers fueling Myanmar’s rapid growth as foreign investors pile into the country after the end of half a century of military-governed isolation.

With one in five kids aged 1017 in work, impoverished Myanmar is one of the worst countries in the world for child labour.

Many support their families sweeping shop floors, serving in tea shops or working as domestic helpers.

Others labor in the increasing number of foreign-owned factories that has made Myanmar one of the fastest-expanding economies in the region, with growth expected to average about seven percent in the coming years.

“I cannot do what I want to do, so I feel depressed,” San Min Hteik told AFP, staring at his bandaged hand inside his home in Hmawbi township outside the commercial capital Yangon.

“I want my family to have a decent standard of living. I want my family to be able to eat enough... to be able to wear the same clothes as other people.”

He was paid 2.5 million kyat ($1,800) by the Chinese-owned 999 Iron processing plant in the Myaung Dagar industrial zone as a settlement for his injury.

His mother Tin Tin Htay said they took the money to pay for his medical bills and to make sure his two siblings could stay in school.

“When we were given the cash I felt sad, as if we were buying my son’s hand with this money,” she said.

AFP journalists were unable to enter the 999 Iron processing plant when they visited. An employee reached by phone they said no one was available to comment.

San Win, a local union leader who helped negotiate San Min Hteik’s settlement, said many parents push their children into work to help support the family. AFP

FANZARA, Spain―Fanzara is a small Spanish country village whose handful of mostly elderly residents were once so bitterly divided that their allegiance to one camp or the other determined which bar they frequented.

So heated became the local tussle over plans to build a toxic waste dump that it aroused old Civil War-era rivalry and prompted neighbors to cross the street to avoid one another.

But, today in Fanzara, the bad blood is almost forgotten and the village has been revived -- thanks to street artists from around the world.

Tourists now flock to admire giant murals created by invited urban artists on the sides of buildings in the village, which has become an open-air art gallery.

To the chimes of the village bell and dogs barking in the distance, Fanzara, some 80 kilometers north of the eastern port city of Valencia, has become a living canvas for colorful artwork.

A three-wall picture depicts a robot with long, thin arms chasing cats, while another nearby mural features a creature with large white eyes holding a tiny planet in its hand.

“We looked for an arts and culture project that everyone could take part in and that would reestablish good relations among villagers,” said former municipal councillor Javier Lopez, one of the project’s architects.

For years, residents of Fanzara -- 70 percent of them pensioners -- had been at loggerheads over the waste incinerator proposal.

It was defeated in the end and the right-wing municipal council promoting the project was swept from power in 2011 elections.

But locals say tensions remained long after the plan was dropped, with supporters drinking in the village’s “upper bar”, while opponents, who were concerned about the incinerator’s environmental impact, preferred the “lower bar”.

“We would know what side you were on depending on which bar you went to,” said Marc Zapata, a 22-year-old firefighter seated at a table in the “upper bar”.

The feud even stoked old divisions between left- and right-wing families dating back to Spain’s bloody 1936-39 Civil War. AFP

Belgium observes silence a year after Brussels attacks B RUSSELS―Belgium observed a moment of silence on Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of the Islamic State bombings in Brussels, beginning a day of emotional ceremonies designed to show that the heart of Europe stands defiant.

A sombre King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, along with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel and other ministers, lined up quietly at 7:58 am (0658 GMT) outside the renovated Zaventem Airport to mark the exact time when two suicide bombers killed 16 people and wounded many more at the site.

During the airport ceremony, a woman clutched white roses as Eddy Van Calster, the brother of airport check-in agent Fabienne Van Steenkiste, who was killed in the attack, played a rock ballad in tribute.

As hundreds of people including victims’ family members and rescue workers looked on, an airport official read out all of the names of all of the victims. “March 22 2016, will forever be in our hearts...we stand here united,” the official said.

The royals will lead a second moment of silence at 9:11 am at Maalbeek subway station to mark the moment a third suicide bomber killed another 16 people on a crowded train.

More than 320 people were wounded in both attacks.

In act of defiance and solidarity, the event at Maalbeek is due to be followed by applause and a “minute of noise” as trains, trams and buses come to a halt in memory of the victims of the country’s worst ever terror attacks.

The king and queen will inaugurate a new steel memorial at the heart of the European Union institutions based in Brussels.

A year on, Belgium remains on high alert with troops patrolling the streets and warnings of fresh risks from Islamic State jihadists returning home from Iraq and Syria.

Investigators say the blasts were carried out by a network that was also behind the November 2015 Paris attacks, in which 130 people were killed, and acted on orders from the IS high command.

Ibrahim El Bakraoui and Najim Laachraoui struck at the airport while Bakraoui’s brother exploded his bomb at the metro station.

While tightly guarded, Wednesday’s ceremonies focus on bringing Belgian society together, from royalty to schoolchildren, and from people of all faiths.

“Today we remember the victims of the attacks. We all remain united,” Michel tweeted.

During the “minute of noise”, commuters will be invited to take part “to show that they do not forget but they will stay standing against hate and terror”, said the Brussels public transport company Stib.

Later, children from schools in Molenbeek, the largely Muslim area where many of the attackers hailed from, will meet victims of the attacks in a show of solidarity.

Three marches by Brussels residents will then meet at the Place de La Bourse which was transformed into an impromptu, flower-strewn memorial after the attacks last year. AFP

LAUNCHING. Model Kara Del Toro attends the Guess 1981 fragrance launch at Chateau Marmont on March 21, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Estimate of cruise ship’s damage increased JAKARTA―Indonesia said Wednesday a cruise ship on a voyage organized by a British company had damaged about 18,900 square meters of coral reef, increasing the estimate of the devastation caused when the vessel ran aground.

The accident happened this month in Raja Ampat, eastern Indonesia, one of the most biodiverse marine habitats on Earth and a favorite with intrepid travelers and divers due to its palm-fringed islands,

coral and fish.

The 4,200-ton Caledonian Sky smashed into the reefs at low tide around Kri, one of hundreds of small islands in Raja Ampat, after taking tourists on a bird-watching expedition.

The boat, which was carrying 102 passengers and 79 crew, was grounded on the reefs and only refloated later on a high tide. Numerous attempts to free it using a tug boat failed, causing further damage

to the corals.

An assessment led by a local university had estimated the damage from the March 4 accident at 13,500 square meters. But after a survey involving marine researchers, government and the insurers, authorities announced that 18,882 square meters of corals had been affected.

Maritime affairs ministry spokesman Djoko Hartoyo told AFP that the government was still calculating the financial

impact of the accident, and it would be announced early April.

“The company and the insurers are committed to paying compensation,” Hartoyo added.

The incident in West Papua province infuriated the government, who last week summoned the British ambassador to protest, while local residents believe it will impact the tourism industry and the livelihoods of fishermen. AFP

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

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Mobile app Top left: Parents are able to log in their baby’s sleep schedules for close monitoring of the latter’s sleeping patterns

W

for working parents

HEN it comes to raising a baby, a mother’s priority has always been about ensuring their health and development. For working moms especially, the ultimate challenge is getting the right amount of sleep for both her and her baby.

What with busy schedules and always being on-the-go, pioneer in the science of baby development, Johnson’s, has developed a new mobile application perfect for all working parents. Featuring a set of proprietary and customized tools, the app is designed to be the ultimate sleep expert-partner for parents.

Tonight We Sleep™ App. Key Features

Sleep Log: Parents are able to log-in a baby’s sleep schedules–- this includes the times and number of hours that baby sleeps and wakes—for close monitoring of a baby’s sleep patterns. This feature even produces a sleep analysis score that comes with recommendations from Johnson’s® sleep experts!

Sleep Analysis: This feature provides parents with an analysis on a baby’s sleeping habits and provides answers to some of the most pressing questions parents may have. The results will come in according to the following sub-categories: General, Falling Asleep, Sleep Routine, Sleep Duration, Night Wakings, and Family and will likewise generate customized recommendations.

Ambient Sounds: Research has shown that ambient sounds can help

induce sleep (for adults, just as well, as babies). With this feature, parents can play DJ and mix up to four ambient sounds at one time; just the way your baby likes for bedtime.

Lullaby Playlist: Johnson’s® Bedtime™ also boasts of a wide variety of lullabies that parents can pick from!

You can even set a playlist of up to four songs with no interruptions or advertisements. And the best part? The new lullabies have “all the science of sound embedded” so there will be no more second-guessing.

Ask an Expert: Parents also have direct access to Johnson’s® sleep experts who can answer all other sleep-related questions (not already addressed by the Sleep Analysis feature).

“Sleep is very critical to a baby’s growth and development. That is why we created the first clinically proven routine together with an app backed by science, to lead to better nights for both moms and their babies,” shares Bessie Campillo, Johnson’s® Franchise Marketing manager.

Sleep Medicine and Surgery Specialist Dr. Agnes Tirona-Remulla also shares, “One of the best ways you can get your baby to sleep is through a bedtime rou-

SOUND SLEEP. Johnson’s mobile app Tonight We Sleep helps working parents ensure that their baby gets enough sleep everyday. tine. When you commit to a bedtime routine, like the three simple steps of a bath, massage, and quiet time, you will see progress in your baby’s sleeping patterns and overall demeanor.”

She also emphasized that with better

sleep, babies can enjoy a stronger immune system, improved social skills, and increased abilities in learning and memory.

Alongside the release of the Baby Sleep App, Johnson’s® also launched

the first scientifically-proven bedtime routine, guaranteed to help you and your baby to sleep for an additional one hour in just seven days. More details about the routine can be found in the new app’s features.

Ion supply drink for foundation’s medical mission

(From left) GMA Kapuso Foundation Executive Vice President and COO Rikki EscuderoCatibog with Otsuka-Solar Philippines, Inc. President and Managing Director Shinichi Suzuki and Marketing Manager Razhel Inoue.

GMA Network’s socio-civic arm GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Otsuka-Solar Philippines Inc., the manufacturer of ion supply drink, Pocari Sweat.

The signing onvFeb. 21 at the GMAKF headquarters in Quezon City, was led by GMAKF Executive Vice President and COO Rikki Escudero-Catibog with Otsuka-Solar Philippines Inc. President and Managing Director Shinichi Suzuki and Marketing Manager Razhel Inoue.

Under the agreement, OtsukaSolar Philippines, Inc. will provide beverages for GMAKF’s medical missions, particularly the Sagip Dugtong Buhay blood drive, wherein they will also educate blood donors about the importance of rehydration.

“Whenever we donate blood, we normally lose around 200ml of fluids and Pocari Sweat can replace what we lost,” said Suzuki.

“For us, this is a perfect opportunity to support blood donors and to also make them understand the im-

portance of proper hydration,” Suzuki added.

Escudero-Catibog, on the other hand, expressed her gratitude to Otsuka-Solar for their support to GMAKF. “We thank Otsuka-Solar Philippines for looking after the welfare of our blood donors,” said Escudero-Catibog.

At the Sagip Dugtong Buhay event held at the Ever Gotesco Mall in Caloocan on Feb. 18, a total of 2,350 Pocari Sweat bottles were provided to blood donors.

MakatiMed shares tips to remember to fight memory loss PROGRESSIVE memory impairment is heartbreaking to experience, and equally heartbreaking to witness. We’ve heard stories of a husband forgetting the name of his wife, of a mother not recognizing her own children, of a grandparent roaming the street where he had lived all his life, not knowing how to get back home.

Forgetfulness is a common complaint among the elderly. Makati Medical Center, the Philippines’ premier healthcare institution, shares what you need to know about memory loss from aging, and how to improve your memory.

“People sometimes worry that the memory lapses they experience may be a sign of a serious brain disorder, such as dementia,” shares Paulino S. Tenchavez, MD, head of the MakatiMed Memory Plus Center. The Memory Plus Center provides services for the diagnosis of conditions that affect an individual’s cognitive functions. This is managed through a holistic multidisciplinary approach based on international standards of medical care, ethical perspectives, cultural sensitivity, and respect for the dignity of the patient.

“Normal age-related memory loss is not disabling,” Dr. Tenchavez continues. “You can still continue with your daily life. Dementia, on the other hand, is more serious. It is a set of symptoms that result when the brain is damaged by diseases or strokes, and may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language, and disrupts a person’s social and occupational activities.”

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. But there are many other causes, which makes early diagnosis extremely important.

Timely diagnosis of memory loss can help doc-

tors manage its effects, or even reverse it, in cases where memory loss is caused by medical problems such as a minor head injury or certain medications.

He continues, “The brain is like a muscle that you have to exercise in order to keep it strong.”

Brain workout. When looking for a “brain workout,” go with something that will teach you something new, he says. “It shouldn’t be something you’re used to doing because the challenge to your brain is what will really help your memory. Look for a skill that you can keep on improving, as well. It may be learning a new language or playing an instrument. These skills that keep your brain working will be great help to your memory retention.”

Exercise. Physical exercise is known to help with memory as well. Dr. Tenchavez says, “It can increase the supply of blood to the brain, which spurs the development of new neurons, and forges more connections between them.”

Just 45 minutes of aerobic workout thrice a week is enough to benefit your memory. For the elderly, something as easy as walking can count as aerobic exercise.

Sleep. A good night’s sleep brings a world of benefits to the body, including aiding memory.

Anyone can attest that being well rested helps us think clearer. During sleep is also when we solidify memories and strengthen connections between brain cells.

Healthy Diet. Another all-around beneficial lifestyle change you can enact is sticking to a healthy diet. According to Dr. Tenchavez, “Omega-3, which is found in fish, is found to be good for brain health. Limit your intake of saturated fat, which increase your risk of dementia and impair concentration and memory.”

Timely diagnosis of memory loss can help doctors manage or reverse its effects

Alleviate Stress. Stress destroys brain cells and damages the hippocampus, the region of the brain involved in the formation of new memories and the retrieval of old ones. Practice relaxation techniques and talk to trusted friends, family, or a health professional to help you manage stressful situations.

It’s never too early to start taking care of your brain. Follow these tips and you may enjoy looking back on your life in your older years.

For more information, please contact MakatiMed On-Call at +632.8888 999, email mmc@makatimed.net.ph, or visit www.makatimed.net.ph.

Life

D2

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

First outpatient clinic

in the Philippines awarded ISO 9001:2015

A

STER CLINIC marks a milestone as the first outpatient clinic in the country to receive an ISO 9001:2015 certification from the reputable German company TUV Rheinland.

Coincidentally awarded at the turn of 30th global anniversary of its parent company, Aster DM Healthcare LLC based in UAE, Joyce Alumno, country manager of Aster DM Healthcare Philippines, identified the company’s unwavering core values, world-class standards, excellent patient experience, and technological advances in patient care as the advantages that awarded them the newest quality management system certification.

The ISO 9001:2015 is the most difficult certification process so far and TUV Rheinland is one of the most reputable certification firms that awards such.

The newest certification requires a holistic, rigid procedure as it looks into how a company manages potential risks, aside from conforming to international standards and other crucial criteria for assessment.

“It was not easy to pass the 9001:2015 commendations. We had to go through a tough process, which required us to document everything. However, with our existing international standards, we were given the TUV Rheinland approval after six months. Usually, assessments can go up to two years,” Alumno said.

Alumno said that Aster Clinic is guided by standards that have been around for 30 years. “Aster DM Healthcare established a certain level of quality as benchmarks for about 300 Aster units located around the

German company TUV Rheinland awards outpatient clinic Aster Clinic an ISO 9001:2015 certification for its core values, world claaa standards, and excellent patient experience among others.

globe. We are guided by six core values, including integrity, passion, respect, compassion, excellence and unity that we have ingrained in our system and culture since we started operating.”

Although Aster Clinic is just one year old in the country, its foundation is based on the standards set by their international counterparts in different

parts in the world.

Among Aster Clinic’s core values, excellence is given emphasis as it highlights the quality and superiority of the company in patient care.

“Excellence is our most important norm. As we aim to give the best service to our customers, we continue to improve our standards. We set the

benchmarks and we further raise it.

Our goal is to continuously develop as a global company and that Quality is a culture in Aster and the company puts a premium on service, as this is what Aster DM Healthcare is known for.

“We’ll treat you well.” This is the proposition of Aster Clinic in the Philippines. But, more than just a marketing

tagline, Aster Clinic has added more value to its goal of treating its patients well by introducing best practices that uses technology.

The Clinic Information System (CIS) and Electronic Medical Records (EMR) are technological breakthroughs in the company that have been recognized for its efficiency to patient care.

Non-invasive test to assess liver disease pines. The FibroScan probe is a noninvasive, painless, and speedy alternative to biopsies used for assessing fibrosis, or the formation of scar tissue due to injury or long-term inflammation. The early detection of fibrosis is the key to preventing chronic liver disease, which is associated with conditions such as Hepatitis B, alcoholic liver disease, and fatty liver disease.

Pressed gently against the upper right side of the patient’s abdomen, the probe makes use of transient elastography, creating a special pulse whose velocity is measured via ultrasound. The velocity determines how stiff the patient’s liver is—the stiffer the liver, the greater the degree of fibrosis. Based on the test’s results, the patient may then be recommended to CLDMT specialists for further analysis and treatment.

The CLDMT recently acquired an enhanced FibroScan 502 Touch, which offers a more improved patient data management system with more complete and personalized exam reports. It is compatible with the complete range of FibroScan probes and offers simultaneous connection of two probes giving flexibility for the patient assessment. An indicator recommends the probe best suited to the patient’s morphology.

The FibroScan examination is painless, quick, and easy. You will only feel a slight vibration on the skin where the tip of the probe is applied.

The examination usually takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes to complete. The patient can go back to his usual activities immediately after the procedure.

If you suffer from a liver disease, ask your doctor about the FibroScan at The Medical City.

The CLDMT is a world-class facility managed by a team of internationally trained and renowned liver surgeons, transplant surgeons, hepatologists, radiologists, oncologists, pediatricians, and intensivists. The Liver Center offers diagnostic, therapeutic, medical, FibroScan Probe at surgical, and radiologic services for acute and chronic liver conditions.

The Medical City In 2010, CLDMT introduced the For inquiries, call the CLDMT at first FibroScan probe in the Philip- 9881000 local 6506.

THE liver is one of the largest and most vital organs and it performs many important jobs, including protein production, changing food into energy and removing toxic or poisonous substances from the blood.

One cannot live without a functioning liver.

There are a number of diseases that can injure the liver and stop it from working correctly. One of these is hepatitis or the inflammation of the liver. With hepatitis, the liver stops working well. It can lead to scarring (cirrhosis) or cancer. Viruses cause most cases of hepatitis. Viral hepatitis is the most common cause of liver disease in the world.

A person with a liver problem may not be symptomatic in the early stages of the disease. Sometimes the disease may be identified during routine tests for other reasons. However, once liver problems reach a certain point, symptoms will start showing up. The most common symptoms of liver disease include weakness and fatigue, weight loss, nausea, vomiting and yellow discoloration of the skin or jaundice.

According to the doctors at The Medical City (TMC) Center for Liver Disease Management and Transplantation (CLDMT), if you wait for these warning signs or symptoms before caring for your liver, it might be too late.

An effective way of keeping track of your health is through regular health screening.

There are also liver function tests, which are blood tests that help determine the health of your liver by measuring the levels of proteins, liver enzymes, or bilirubin in your blood.

Your doctor may order a liver function test if you’re more likely to have liver damage or disease, like if you are a heavy drinker, or if you come from a family with a history of liver disease, if you are overweight and have diabetes or high blood pressure or if you are taking medicine that can harm your liver.

Jodi Sta Maria feels fulfilled that she’s able to do what she needs and want to do for son, Thirdy, with the help of Anlene.

Helping us care for loved ones

THE daily grind of work and errands become more physically challenging as we age. If you are not feeling it yet, you know you will, sooner or later. As an adult, we have more duties that can take toll on our bodies. We are also racing against time to accomplish more in life, like, completing an education degree, trying a new recreation, pursuing more of our passions, or initiating a goodwill project. So we know we cannot slow down and stop. Not when our family or loved ones depend on us. Not when there’s so much that we need and want to do every day.

Just like actress Jodi Sta Maria who needs to be constantly on the move because of the rigorous demands of her work, she, above all, is a mother to young son, Thirdy.

“It is vital that we are physically prepared and able to do what we need to do. Reality is, most of the things we have to do requires mobility. Being physically healthy and able is something we do for ourselves. No one can do it for us. We take care of ourselves because we want to be able to take care of the ones we love,” Jodi shared.

Often we are told that the best way to preserve our ability to move comfortably is through regular exercise and proper nutrition. But for most of us, we need help in nutrition that will aid us in our physical movements, in our mobility. We need to take in the right dose of nutrients that will enable our body to engage in physical exercise or in simply performing everyday tasks.

Milk that is high in protein and calcium, like Anlene, gives us exactly this. It gives the superior dose of nutrients for us

to have the freedom of mobility. Anlene points out its Bone Activ formula intended to help build strong bones that support the whole body. A well-supported body enables healthy mobility making it possible for us to accomplish all the work and play we need and want to do.

The BoneActiv formula is a combination of essential bone strengthening nutrients: Calcium helps support the development of strong bones; Vitamin D and Magnesium helps support calcium absorption and retention, and improves bone strength; and Zinc contributes to maintenance of normal bones. Its high Protein is essential for growth and development.

Anlene prides itself for having twice the Calcium, five times the Vitamin D, and six times lower in fat than regular milk.

We can build and maintain our mobility with the help of hi-protein, hi-calcium milk, like Anlene, to do the things we need and want to do in life. Let the people who matter to us be our motivation. For people we love and care for, every move is worth it.

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

On location with ‘Ika-6 na Utos’ stars

By Rogelio Constantino Medina

I

RECEIVED a text message one early Saturday morning from a female neighbor (who is a relative of Malou Choa-Fagar, executive producer of Eat Bulaga!) that there was a shooting with Gabby Concepcion and Sunshine Dizon just in front of my house (used as a location for ABS-CBN’s Wansapanataym and All of Me).

Being a community leader on the street where actress Alma Moreno used to live and actress Rita Avila used to visit her aunt), I hurriedly went out to find out.

I saw to it that all vehicles are parked on one side to avoid traffic congestion. I also made sure cleanliness was maintained. The shooting of Ika-6 na Utos lasted till late at night. As I went inside Juanito’s Bistro Fairview, owned by Edmon Bautista of Thai in the Box restaurant, I saw Gabby Concepion, Sunshine Dizon,

Sunshine Dizon, Mike Tan and Allona Amor while on the set of “Ika-6 na Utos”

Jacob Briz (who plays Austin, son of Gabby and Sunshine), Ryza Cenon, Mike Tan, Rich Asuncion and Arianne Bautista having lunch that later led to an argument between Cenon and Dizon.

I saw several teenage “extras” (GMA’7’s prefers to call them “talents”) patiently waiting for their turn to be called in. Few of them played cards to while away their time. I was happy to witness that the food for the “talents”, the crew and production staff were the same. They were all well fed and attended to.

In the corner, I saw former sexy actress Allona Amor, who plays Pam as the manager of Man Catering Service. After some years of being away from show business, she is now back.

Later in the night, I saw Marco Alcaraz, who plays pilot Capt.

Chandler Vasquez (friend of Capt. Jerome Fuentabella, played

by Gabby). He was very kind to us and granted our request for picture taking.

I took note how director Laurice Guillen, a senior actress, handled the taping with passion, discipline and admiration for her chosen craft, plus her motherly care for the cast, the crew and production, and the extras.

But what caught my attention that night was before the camera rolled, a bubuyog (bee) came from nowhere, and Sunshine Dizon yelled out to our astonishment. She has phobia on flying insects.

When the shoot ended at midnight every one looked satisfied though tired.

Asia’s top crime series back on AXN ‘Pinas Sarap’ shows NO PERPETRATOR can escape Matthew Simmons (Daniel the combined brilliance of this Henney), a former military hero elite force. Unit Chief Jack Garrett with split-second profiling skills and his international response he honed on the battlefield, Russ team have returned for a brand “Monty” Montgomery (Tyler James new season of Criminal Minds: Williams), the unit’s compassionate, Beyond Borders on AXN. brilliant tech analyst who additionally The top rated drama series liaises stateside with the families follows the global investigative of those in trouble while his group adventures of the specialized is far from home, and Mae Jarvis International Division of the FBI (Annie Funke), the team’s fearless tasked with solving crimes and and fun medical examiner. These coming to the rescue of Americans exceptional agents are dedicated to who find themselves in danger safely returning U.S. residents home while abroad. by profiling and identifying criminals Heading the International who are beyond the U.S. border.

Response Unit is Unit Chief Jack Garrett (Gary Sinise), a seasoned AXN is available on Sky Cable Channel 49, Destiny Cable 20-year veteran of the Bureau.

Channel 61, Cignal Channel 121, Dream Satellite TV Channel 20, G The team he trusts with his life includes Clara Seger (Alana De La Sat Channel 51, and Cablelink Channel 38. AXN HD is available on Garza), a smart, well-traveled and multi-lingual cultural anthropologist, Sky Cable Channel 247.

Pepe Diokno, Jessica Zafra in new travel show AWARD-WINNING filmmaker Pepe Diokno and acclaimed writer Jessica Zafra take audiences with a view of the world through a cultural lens in Trippies. The show explores destinations beyond the surface of scenic Instagram posts and digs deeper into the roots of foreign terrain.

Also setting apart itself from other travel shows, Trippies features only international destinations.

It aims to expand the audience’s worldview even more, ignite yearning to travel, and widen knowledge through travel in finding out something new on familiar places and exploring uncharted territories.

It also keeps an eye on how locals move and go about their day, which adds a layer of appreciation, especially for cultural travelers. With Diokno’s adept directing, the audience is treated to a very cinematic feel of each destination.

A frequent traveler, Diokno reveals that he travels for inspiration.

He believes that traveling is about more than seeing the sights. It is about meeting people and living like the locals do. “In the process of discovering more about the world, we actually discover more about ourselves,” he remarked.

As the show’s director, with his small, indie team, he had gone through a lot of challenges. These included having barebones gear, a whirlwind schedule and working with embassies to make the shows happen.

“They help us so much in terms of logistics, but on the other hand, it’s a challenge to go beyond their government-approved guidebooks. So, we’re constantly searching for balance. The best part of the show though is the company — our small crew has become friends.”

For award-winning writer Jessica Zafra, traveling triggers her ideas to create fiction. Zafra says she likes going to museums to understand the country’s history and culture. In fact in Trippies, she often gets up close and personal with the locals in a bid to know the culture of a country.

“What I like about Trippies is that it’s a travel show that delves under

TRIPPIES. Filmmaker Pepe Diokno and acclaimed writer Jessica Zafra host CNN Philippines’ new travel show called “Trippies”

the surface. It is spontaneous and entirely unscripted. What viewers can expect from this show is that there is serious conversation. I wish travelers would notice how much time they spend taking selfies and feeding their social media that they forget to experience the place,” says Jessica.

Produced by PhilStarTV, Trippies is its first travel show and airs every Sunday at 7:30 p.m. on CNN Philippines with replays on Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m., Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 11:00 a.m., on CNN Philippines.

Past episodes will also be uploaded on philstartv.com. For more updates and information, like its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ PhilStarTrippies.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, March 23, 2017

ACROSS 1 Tall peak 6 Be in harmony 10 L.A. gridders 14 Sheet of plywood 15 Sharif of the movies 16 On a rampage 17 Want badly 18 Castaway’s refuge 19 Clothier — Strauss 20 Tempe sch.

21 Snake toxin 23 Doctrine 24 Machine parts 26 Damsels 27 Utters impulsively 29 Tine 31 Hulking 32 Storage units 36 Fish roe 37 Jack up 38 Zero 39 Jail 42 Ballroom number 44 Nonchalant 45 Deer’s refuge 46 Pungent 48 Soldering tools 49 TV deletion 50 Divvy up

52 55 56 57

Cool Costa — Jai — Caribbean nation 59 Kyoto sashes 60 Huge, in combos 61 Osprey relatives 62 Become limp 63 Deeply impressed 64 Greek letter DOWN 1 Pet lovers’ gp.

2 Scores to shoot for 3 Installation 4 Step on the gas 5 Hoist 6 Signs up 7 — — sorry!

8 Soothing ointment 9 Before, to bards 10 Sir Walter — 11 Change a bill 12 Changes address 13 Mini-play 22 RN stations 23 Neutral colors 25 Work unit 26 Burrowing animal 27 Political alliance

28 Volcanic rock 29 Self-confidence 30 Thorny shrub 32 New Mexico town 33 Catching in a snare 34 Claims 35 Narrow board 37 Kind of rage 40 Even with 41 Brief upturn 42 Calms 43 Son of Prince Valiant

45 TGIF part 46 Perpetrator’s need 47 DeMille of epics 48 Homer’s tale 49 Sweatband site 50 Great number 51 Summon electronically 53 Big-ticket — 54 Leaning tower town 56 Physician’s org.

58 Onassis nickname

a different taste of Philippine cuisine

PREPARE for a gastronomic journey featuring Filipino food as GMA News TV launches Pinas Sarap, the newest travel documentary and cooking program to hit television premiering today.

This is the latest addition to GMA News TV’s buffet of topnotch public affairs programs and hosting it is Kara David.

Every week, Kara takes viewers on an adventure for them to have a deeper understanding and appreciation of Filipino food. Each trip will present the history behind the featured local dish as well as the latest unique Filipino cuisine.

Discover the story behind each dish that has become part of the Pinoy life and find out how these dishes have evolved over the years to answer Filipinos’ ever-evolving palate.

Known for her adventurous nature, Kara further rolls up her sleeves as she immerses herself in each featured dish—from gathering ingredients to actual cooking. “You will continue to see my adventurous side because I will be joining fishermen, farmers, and ordinary people in getting the ingredients for each recipe,” she shares.

Viewers will see Kara milking a carabao, hunting for octopus, fishing in the ocean, among others.

For its pilot episode, Kara travels to the Bicol region to learn the origin of the popular dish “Bicol

Express.” And to make it more exciting, Kara joins a group of fishermen as they catch balaw or shrimp directly from the sea.

The balaw gives this spicy food an extra flavor. Bicolanos are known to be “uragon” or brave, thus the spicy characteristic of most of their dishes. But not everyone knows that the name Bicol Express came from the train that used to travel from Manila to Bicol.

Savor our history and discover new flavors of Filipino food as Kara David invites you to Pinas Sarap, 10:15 p.m. tonight and every Thursday on GMA News TV.

Broadcast journalist Kara David

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

50 golden years of LA AUNOR

Up-and-coming actor David Licauco

Superstar Nora Aunor

By Eton Concepcion

Kapuso’s

CHINITO

heartthrob

S

OCIAL media influencer, model and now aspiring actor David Licauco has been tagged as Kapuso Network’s “Chinito Heartthrob.”

It’s a fitting moniker for the Mr. Chinatown 2014 first runner-up, who recently signed with GMA-7 and Regal Films.

The showbiz newbie gets his baptism of fire as he joins the stellar cast of GMA’s upcoming fantaserye, Mulawin vs. Ravena, the much-awaited sequel of the 2004 TV epic, Mulawin.

He reveals, “I’ll be playing Malik. It’s a new character.”

“I’ll be the best friend of Bea Binene, whose character was played by Angel Locsin before.”

“I’ll be doing a lot of action stuff, ‘coz I heard there will be a lot of fight scenes.

Because of his action-intensive role, David has been getting physical lately— hitting the gym to pack more muscle, and getting back into his martial arts regimen, which includes Muay Thai, boxing and even arnis.

“It’s a great honor to have been included in this epicserye!” David exclaims.

“Not many newbies get the chance to act alongside such established artists, and I’m still amazed by the sheer immensity of the entire production! Mounting a fantasy series with all the props and costumes is no joke! It’s almost like a Hollywood feel!”

“This early, I’d like to thank the management and of course, the production staff for trusting me with this role. I’m still a work in progress, but I promise to give it my best shot!”

Despite being the showbiz greenhorn among the cast members, David finds himself blending in well with the group.

“I’ve been bonding more with Kiko [Estrada], but I’m slowly getting to know more of them.”

“I must admit that even now, I still feel kinda starstruck being amongst such luminaries, like Carla Abellana and Dennis Trillo,” he confesses.

Aside from immersing himself in acting workshops, David has improved immensely with his conversational Tagalog.

“I’ve been reading a lot of Tagalog books lately, and watching a lot of local

flicks. I actually checked out the original Mulawin series, just to cop the right feel,” he says.

David is also currently working on a movie project for Regal Films, Flames of Summer, where he stars alongside Isabelle de Leon and Martin del Rosario.

He will also be appearing in GMA-7’s newly-launched teleserye, Pinulot Ka Lang Sa Lupa.

David is currently managed by ALV Talent Circuit and GMA Artist Center. *** Award-winning comedian and TV host Michael V. continues his journey as a Kapuso after renewing his contract with GMA Network, Inc. on March 15.

Present in the contract signing were GMA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Felipe Gozon.

He was very happy to renew his ties with the network, his home network for more than two decades, He said, “Dito na ko ng 21 bilang Kapuso. Ito talaga yung bahay ko.

Sinubukan kong gumawa ng project sa ibang network pero dito talaga yung puso ko, hindi ko maaalis. Isa pa, masaya ako sa ganda ng relasyon ko with everyone here to the point na parang hindi na boss yung turing ko sa kanila, kung hindi parang kamag-anak na.”

At present, Bitoy headlines two of the network’s programs – the longest-running gag show Bubble Gang and the family sitcom Pepito Manaloto.

He shared that he is very happy and thankful with the viewers’ incessant support to his shows all these years, “Actually, kaya kami running pa rin ngayon ay dahil sa viewers. Kaya naman makakaasa sila na may iba pang mga dadagdag at bibisita.

Para yun sa kanila e. Sabi ko nga, they inspire us. Sa kanila kami humuhugot ng inspirasyon o idea so masaya ako sa suporta nila sa amin since then.”

During the contract signing, GMA Chairman and CEO Atty.

Felipe L. Gozon said he is delighted that Bitoy continues to affirm his

ISAH V. RED

loyalty to the Kapuso Network, “Well, si Bitoy naman idol ng marami e. Para sa akin, siya ang pinakasikat na comedian sa ngayon. At proud ako diyan kasi wala akong naririnig na negative about him.”

He also added, “And the fact that we are still together for 20 years and more, siguro naman we don’t have to say anything about loyalty.”

Meanwhile, GMA President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr. described Bitoy as a unique individual with tremendous talent, “Isa ako sa taga-hanga ni Bitoy because he is just so unique, so great and admirable as a co-worker that aside from making us all very proud, we are extremely happy na nariyan siya at patuloy ang kanyang tiwala. At tayo naman ay patuloy na naghahanap ng paraan para ipakita sa kanya yung appreciation namin.”

TV host and comedian Michael V renews his ties with GMA Network

CELEBRATING her 50th anniversary in show business, superstar Nora Aunor, with her astonishing record number of winning performances and nominations, is one of the greatest actresses in the world.

From her famous real rags-toriches life story, selling water at the railroad station to the time when she was unrightfully stripped of her place in the hall of National Artists, Aunor has won more than a hundred awards, local and international, the most of any actor in history.

Born Nora Cabaltera Villamayor in San Francisco, Iriga City in the province of Camarines Sur in May 1953 to Antonia Cabaltera and Eustacio Villamayor, the diminutive Bicolana has nine siblings, including the late former actor Eddie Villamayor. Aunor’s early performing dreams leaned toward music. The future singing sensation had her grandma Theresa as her first teacher in singing learning her first song, American pop singer Teddy Randazzo’s 1958 hit “The Way of a Clown.”

Aunor, who spent Grade I at Mabini Memorial College (‘59-’60) and transferred to Nichols Air Base Elementary School (‘60-’62) where she reached Grade 2, joined her first singing contest, Darigold Jamboree in Naga City and won with the song “You and the Night and the Music,’ a 1930’s standard popularized by Frank Sinatra. Her prize money was spent to pay for the school fee of Aunor’s older sister.

Buoyed by another win at a rival radio program, The Liberty Big Show, Aunor moved to Manila to try her luck using her mentor-Aunt Belen’s surname, Aunor, who accompanied her to the auditions.

Aunor was 14-week-undefeated champion in Darigold Jamboree’s Bulilit contest on Channel 11 before her career-defining feat in Tawag ng Tanghalan with the Bing Crosby song ‘Moonlight Becomes You” as grand champion in 1967 and the rest was history.

Aunor began her movie career in Sampaguita Pictures in 1967 with a singing part in Conrado Conde’s All Over the World, a musical-romance starring Eddie Gutierrez, Loretta Marquez and Rosemarie Sonora, followed up with a co-starring role in Mar S. Torres’ Way Out in the Country, with Vilma Valera, Bert LeRoy, Jr. and Blanca Gomez.

In 1969, Aunor appeared with Tirso Cruz III in Mitos Villareal’s Young Girl with Ricky Belmonte and Jeanne Young. The Guy-Pip pairing made German Moreno’s Guy and Pip movie in 1971 a boxoffice monster, remaining in theaters for six months and broke box office records with P8 million gross equivalent to P560 million in present average ticket prices (surpassing Vice Ganda’s SPG gross).

Aunor also became one of the highest-paid recording artists with her singles and albums selling in large numbers in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Dubbed the ‘Girl with the Golden Voice,’ Aunor was a multi-awarded singer.

She recorded the most singles in Philippine recording history (with more than 260 singles), and more than 500 songs with more than 30 gold singles, a record in the local music industry. Her “Pearly

Shells” (1971), with estimated sales of one million units, is one of the biggest-selling singles in the local recording industry.

Aunor’s transformation from teen idol star to a highly-esteemed actor started when she won her first best actress award in 1972 at the 3rd Quezon City Film Festival in Danny Holmsen/Mar Torres’ And God Smiled at Me with Tirso Cruz III. She made Banaue and Fe, Esperanza, Caridad with great national artists-directors Gerardo de Leon and Lamberto Avellana Aunor also conquered the prestigious Cannes Festival in 1981 with the screening of Lino Brocka’s Bona at the Director’s Fortnight. She was featured in the French daily Le Monde and was compared to Italian actress Giulietta Masina of Federicco Fellini’s La Strada. Aunor could have won best actress had Bona finished its sub-titles for an entry in the Main Competition. Aunor would wait for 14 years to become the first local actress to win an international acting award for Joel Lamangan’s opus The Flor Contemplacion Story at the 1995 Cairo International Film Festival.

Aunor also walked the red carpet at the 1983 Berlin Film Festival with the screening of Ishmael Bernal’s Himala, which was nominated for the Golden Bear Award (Best Film). Himala competed and won the Bronze Hugo Award at the 1983 Chicago International Film Festival and was also awarded Best Asia-Pacific Film of All Time at the 2008 Asia Pacific Screen Awards.

Aunor made her Cannes’ return in 2015 with Brilliante Mendoza’s Taklub, which was screened at the Un Certain Regard section and won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury Special Mention.

The Hollywood magazine called Aunor “The Grand Dame of Philippine Cinema” for her brilliant performance in the film.

Aunor was also honored in 2015 with the Lifetime Achievement award at the 2nd ASEAN International Film Festival in Sarawak, Malaysia for her contribution in the film industry, not only in the Philippines but also in other countries belonging to the ASEAN. The Lifetime Achievement Award is given by the AIFFA to personalities who have broken international barriers in the course of their career.

A consummate and perfectionist artist, Aunor constantly turned out a string of highly acclaimed and stirring performances over the course of her illustrious career like in George Rowe’s Paru-Parung Itim (1973), Mario O’Hara’s Tatlong Taong Walang Dios (1976), Bakit Bughaw ang Langit (1981) and Bulaklak sa City Jail (1984), Lupita Aquino-Kashiwahara’s Minsa’y Isang Gamu-Gamo, Eddie Garcia’s Atsay (1978), Bernal’s Ikaw ay Akin (1978) and Bakit May Pag-ibig Pa? (1978), Brocka’s Ina Ka ng Anak Mo (1979) and Nakaw na Pag-ibig (1980), Danny Zialcita’s T-Bird at Ako (1982), Elwood Perez’ Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit (1989), Gil Portes’ Merika (1984) and Andrea, Paano ba ang Maging Isang Ina? (1990), Joel Lamangan’s Bakit May Kahapon Pa? (1996), Maryo J. De los Reyes’ Naglalayag (2004) and Brilliante Mendoza’s Thy Womb (2012), and others.