Manila Standard - 2017 March 31 - Friday

VOL. XXXI • NO. 49 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

DUTERTE CUPCAKES. Caricatures of President Rodrigo Duterte

are displayed on the patty cakes served during the People’s Day Celebration in Socorro town in Oriental Mindoro where the 72-year-old chief executive was guest of honor. Malacañang Photo

Duterte fires back, tags EU hypocrites

By John Paolo Bencito CONTINUING with his profanity-laced attacks against the European Union, President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday tagged the 28-member regional bloc as “f----- s---” hypocrites for interfering with his bloody war on drugs.

“If they would ask you how I would describe them? Just tell them that the mayor has said you’re a f**** s***,” the President, who used to be mayor of Davao City, said.

“Do not impose your, whatever it is, your values and everything

because we hate you for being a hypocrite. You are the incongruity of the times,” he added.

Duterte also attacked what he said was an EU suggestion—denied by the regional bloc—that it wanted him to put up “shabu clinics” similar to “supervised injection sites” in Europe where addicts could get their fix.

Duterte’s spokesman, Ernesto Abella had earlier dialed back on the President’s claim, saying only that an unnamed European country had made the suggestion.

The President on Thursday Next page

Rody’s pardon offer to backfire—ex-dean Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE former dean of the San Beda College of Law on Thursday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to stop offering to pardon any police officer convicted of killing drug suspects, saying this erodes the criminal justice system.

Ranhilio Aquino, who is now vice president for administrative services at Cagayan State University, warned that Duterte’s

statement may even embolden unscrupulous law enforcers to kill indiscriminately in the belief that they will be pardoned.

“I think it erodes the criminal justice system in the country. I don’t think it serves the purposes of law enforcement,” Aquino said in a radio interview.

He also said an executive clemency may be granted only after the accused is convicted with finality by the Supreme Court, and Next page

Alvarez faces twin charges Solons mull over ethics, disbarment cases

By Christine F. Herrera and Maricel V. Cruz

S

OME administration lawmakers are considering filing an ethics complaint and a disbarment case against Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez after he admitted that he has a mistress, in what could be the opening salvo in a campaign to remove him as the leader of the House of Representatives.

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera and Maricel V. Cruz DAVAO CITY—The live-in partner of Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. said Thursday that the row between Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and the congressman representing the 2nd District of Davao del

Norte boils down to “greed for wealth, power and influence.”

“Personally I know it’s deeper than what is being printed in the papers,” Cathy Binag said. “It all boils down to greed. Greed for wealth, power and influence.”

Although she confirmed that her spat with Alvarez’s girlfriend,

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Jennifer Maliwanag Vicencio, had put a strain on the relationship between the two lawmakers, she said it was “petty” for two mature men “to be burning bridges of friendship over a girls’ spat.”

Binag said she had an altercation with Alvarez’s girlfriend, Vicencio, during last year’s Maskara

festival in Bacolod that soured the relationship between the two allies of President Rodrigo Duterte.

She then said that her dispute with Vicencio “spiraled out of control and one thing led to another.”

After the altercation, Alvarez suddenly sought to investigate the Next page

Magdalo cites Benham to bolster impeach bid

By Maricel V. Cruz and John Paolo Bencito

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

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Alvarez was defiant and unapologetic.

“Bring it on,” he said of the impending cases. “I did not seek this position.”

“If someone wants to disbar me for having a girlfriend, go ahead and file a complaint. Maybe there will be no lawyers left,” Alvarez, a lawyer, said.

“My God, you people. Who doesn’t have a girlfriend,” Alvarez

Alvarez-Floirendo feud drags women into the fray

Mining ban seen leading to fuel crisis BANNING open-pit mining may lead to an energy crisis, an engineering professor told a media forum on Wednesday.

“Open-pit mining is done in most countries around the world.

It could be done safely and is one of the most economical methods in mining,” said University of the Philippines professor Gabriel Pamintuan Jr. He made his statement even as Environment Secretary Regina Lopez recently issued an order transforming her agency’s

“We cannot allow a double standard here,” one of the congressmen who requested anonymity said. “The House itself filed an ethics complaint and disbarment case against Senator [Leila] de Lima due to immorality.

Having a mistress that seems to get protection from the Speaker is no different than the accusation that De Lima also tried to protect her alleged lover Ronnie Dayan by advising him not to show up in the House hearing or he will be in trouble.”

THE Magdalo party-list group on Thursday filed a supplemental impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte for his alleged failure to assert the country’s exclusive sovereign rights to Benham Rise.

The group’s representative in Congress, Gary Alejano, said Duterte, through his actions and pronouncements, had continued to ignore the country’s national interests and refused to act on urgent security matters brought on

by China’s activities in the West Philippine Sea and Benham Rise.

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PH rejects China’s request

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan CULTURAL HERITAGE. Visitors are lifted up Thursday by the tableau of a Fire Dance by the K’Mindanawan which showcases the wealth and diversity of the different cultures and colorful heritage of the different tribes of Mindanao. Lino Santos

fusal to allow a Filipino scientist to observe such research, Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique CHINA’S request to conduct Manalo said. marine research in Benham Rise He said China still had two has been rejected due to its reNext page

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FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Home at last after being given up for dead at sea A

YOUNG fisherman flew home to the Philippines on Wednesday after being given up for dead at sea, battling hunger, thirst and despair for nearly two months on a tiny boat that drifted all the way to Papua New Guinea.

Rolando Omongos, 21, recounted an astonishing tale of survival as he arrived from his first-ever plane ride at the Manila airport, three weeks after his rescue by a Japanese fishing vessel.

“I cried non-stop when I was finally rescued. I was too weak to stand up and they had to carry me,” the diminutive fisherman

told reporters.

He said he survived on rainwater and moss growing at the hull of his 8-foot long boat, finding respite from the heat of the tropical sun by diving into the water frequently.

His 31-year-old uncle Reniel Omongos, who was on a second small boat, died after a month.

The nephew believes hunger and

exposure killed the older man.

The nephew lashed the body onto his boat for a few days but later let it sink into the water when it began to smell.

“God, please take care of my uncle. I have to stay alive so somebody would bring the news [to our kin],” he said he prayed.

The men had set off on Dec. 21 with other fishermen aboard a purse seiner from General Santos, a southern Philippine port facing the Celebes Sea. The port lies more than 3,200 kilometers northwest of the PNG island of New Britain, where the rescuers later dropped the survivor off.

Alvarez-Floreindo...

Finance Assistant Secretary Paola Alvarez, the speaker’s daughter, denounced Binag’s remarks in a statement.

“My family and I are shocked that the spin on the issues has become so crass and juvenile,” she said. “It is incredible how personal relationships are exploited by Rep. Tonyboy Floirendo’s live-in partner, Ms. Cathy Binag, to twist an otherwise simple question of facts. It’s completely appalling!”

“We prefer to keep our personal lives private despite my father, Speaker Bebot Alvarez, and I being in public service and we intend to leave it that way.

“We hope Ms. Binag will respect that and stop dragging us into her personal issues.

“At the same time, it deeply hurts my family that the longstanding and cherished friendship with Rep. Floirendo is heading this way.

“But adults that they are, we expect the parties concerned to address the factual issues head-on. After all, in public service, public interest is paramount and goes beyond the deepest bonds of friendship.

Alvarez was unapologetic for

having an affair outside of his marriage and said he was ready to face any disbarment case that might be filed against him as a result of it.

“Diyos ko naman. Kayo naman, sino bang walang girlfriend? [My God, you people, who doesn’t have a girlfiend?]” Alvarez, a lawyer, told reporters after admitting his relationship with Vicencio.

Alvarez said he is no longer talking to his wife Emelita, who is president of the Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc. But he said his marriage with the wife has yet to be annulled.

Alvarez said his romantic relationship with Vicencio has been going on for some time, but refused to say how long.

He also shrugged off suggestions that he was flaunting his affair.

“Being Speaker, I’m enjoying the ride,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez maintained that he filed the graft complaint and sought a probe against Floirendo due to the damage caused by Floirendo’s banana company.

He denied the filing of the complaint was an offshoot of the spat between their girlfriends.

a spat with Alvarez’s girlfriend, Vicencio that “spiraled out of control and one thing led to another.”

The lawmakers were smarting from his order to have the Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc., an organization of the spouses of legislators headed by the Speaker’s wife, Emelita, removed from the House premises, purportedly upon Vicencio’s instigation.

Mrs. Alvarez and the spouses tried to reason with the Speaker but to no avail.

Alvarez said he had been estranged from his wife, Emelita for a long time, and said his children knew about Vicencio.

Alvarez also denied Floirendo’s claim that he had backed Alvarez’s bid

to become Speaker.

Alvarez has filed graft charges against Floirendo before the Office of the Ombudsman, accusing him of unduly benefiting from an anomalous contract between his banana company and the Bureau of Corrections.

Alvarez also sought a congressional investigation into Floirendo’s alleged anomalous banana plantation inside the Davao Penal Colony, where the prisoners were tapped as farm workers.

Alvarez said Floirendo should not use his money and wealth to divert public attention from the real issue―his anomalous deal with BuCor. “Let us look at the contract. What I am after here is to give justice to the

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Floirendo family for alleged graft in its contract with the Bureau of Corrections.

Binag, however, said she could not say if the two events were related.

“Let me just make it clear that as to whether the incident with Miss Vicencio is correlated with Speaker’s filing of case against my partner is beyond me,” Binag said.

In a statement, Floirendo’s Tagum Agriculture Development Co., Inc. (Tadeco) said what it had with BuCor was not a lease agreement but a joint venture aimed at rehabilitating the inmates at the Davao Penal Colony.

The company also denied any wrongdoing.

In an earlier statement, Floirendo said he and Alvarez started taking separate paths when a rumor said he was behind the move to oust Alvarez as speaker, to be replaced by former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Floirendo denied the allegations that he was involved in a move to oust Alvarez.

Alvarez...

From A1 told House reporters when asked to confirm that he was having an affair with Jennifer Maliwanag Vicencio.

The Supreme Court disbars lawyers who have extra-marital affairs, particularly those who are in government service.

Talk of an ouster plot gained traction after Alvarez unleashed his powers against his erstwhile friend and fellow Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr., whose girlfriend Cathy Biñag admitted that the relationship between the two lawmakers soured after she had

Duterte...

From A1 lambasted the EU and how its member-countries ran an imperialist campaign to conquer lands in other parts of the world.

“For after all, you are ahead of the industrialization age. Why? Because you conquered lands. You got the oil of the Arabs to build your industries way ahead than ours. Here in the Far East, you conquered Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines. Got the best of our lands, lived off with the fat of the lands, and you think now that you are the educated one and you should be listened to. And you come up with this morality.”

On Monday, the EU summoned the Philippines’ envoy to Brussels to explain the “unacceptable” comments of Duterte that he would be happy to hang European officials who were criticizing his anti-drug campaign.

Duterte had earlier blamed the mounting pressure against him coming from the European Union on arrested Senator Leila de Lima, whom European parliamentarians

PH...

From A1 pending requests to survey the oilresource-rich Benham Rise and that could be granted if Beijing complies with the Philippine government’s requirement.

“There have been many [requests], but certainly I know a number have been denied and in fact two are still under consideration, two or three requests [to visit Benham Rise],” Manalo told ANC’s Headstart on Thursday morning.

“They’ve had some requests from before and I think they’re waiting for a reply.”

Manalo said China had been asking permission to conduct marine research in Benham Rise for

claimed was unjustly incarcerated as a “political prisoner.”

In a separate event, Duterte threatened to shame media men by revealing details of their personal lives, as he called out two media organizations, ABS-CBN and the Philippine Daily Inquirer for what he said was unfair coverage.

“Sumusobra kasi ang media, e.

Binababoy na nila. So kung ganoon, I have a government station here, PTV 4. Puputakin ko kayo araw-araw, at istoryahin ko ang buhay ng anak ninyo,” the President said in a speech before Filipina entrepreneurs in Malacañang “Eh di ako kuha ako ng programa araw-araw dito sa PTV 4 bastusin ko rin kayo, ganoon nalang. Kapag sinabi mong editoryal mo p****** i** sabihin ko p****** i** mo rin para tablatabla tayo. Titingnan natin.” [“The media are going too far.

They have made it ugly. If that’s the case, I have a government station here, PTV 4. I can attack them every day, and make a story about the lives of their children. I can get a probram here every day on PTV 4 and do the

same to you. If you say p-------- in your editorial, I’ll say the same to you, so we’re even.”]

Duterte accused the Philippine Daily Inquirer of misreporting his remarks that only the poor were killed in his drug war.

“It is an apparatus which I have to destroy both because look at the Inquirer. They’re saying that I am only killing the poor. You know, the Inquirer is b*** s***, they’re already rubbish even during the elections. The poor will be killed.

Look at their slant.”

“Someday they will get their karma,” he warned.

He also lambasted TV giant ABS-CBN for allegedly maligning him during the elections.

Also on Thursday, former Social Welfare secretary Corazon Soliman filed a complaint against Assistant Secretary Lorraine Badoy over the latter’s “child porn” remark about the European Union.

She accused Badoy of violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. With Rio N. Araja and Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

“a number of years” now and some had been denied.

Manalo said, citing the Unclos, that any country planning to study Benham Rise must secure permission from the Philippines.

He said the reason China’s request had been rejected several times because it failed to comply with the condition that a Filipino scientist should be on board to observe the supposed study.

“That’s one [requirement] where perhaps China didn’t want it, so the permission was denied,” he said.

Asked if the government would be inclined to grant the pending requests, Manalo said if China agreed to have Filipino scientist on board, yes.

“If they fulfill our requirements,” Manalo said.

A storm separated Omongos and his uncle from their mother boat on Jan. 10, and they ran out of fuel five days later.

They later tossed their small boat engines overboard so they would float higher and avoid being swamped by the huge waves.

“No fewer than four vessels would pass us by each day. I would wave at them but they would not stop for us,” the nephew said.

He said the ships and fishing boats apparently failed to see their tiny vessels bobbing about 3-5 kilometers away.

“I never lost hope. I was always praying,” he added.

“I told myself, at least one of

SURVIVOR. Filipino fisherman Rolando Omongos, 21, arrives at the Manila International Airport on March 29, 2017. A Filipino fisherman cast adrift in the high seas by a storm survived for nearly two months by drinking rainwater as he helplessly watched his uncle die beside him, the survivor’s mother said March 25. The PNG Post Courier newspaper, quoting local police, said a fishing vessel found Omongos, 21, adrift and without food on a boat on March 9. AFP people who got shortchanged because of the sweetheart deal,” Alvarez said.

Floirendo’s girlfriend confirmed that there was indeed a falling out between the two former close buddies and that it started with her and Alvarez’s girlfriend.

Alvarez on Thursday said the House would give priority to the congressional probe of Floirendo’s land deal with the government.

Alvarez said he directed the House committee on good government, chaired by Surigao del Norte Rep. Johnny Pimentel, to look into the alleged questionable joint venture agreement between Bureau of Corrections and Floirendo’s Tagum Agricultural Development Corp.

Magdalo...

From A1 He said that could be grounds for impeachment.

“Apparently it is because he is afraid to offend his Chinese friends,” Alejano said.

But Malacañang dismissed Alejano’s supplemental impeachment complaint as “nonsense.”

“It’s nonsense geared for propaganda and publicity for himself,” Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

“It may even be deemed to be a second impeachment complaint, which is a prohibited complaint under the one-year prohibition limiting the filing to only one complaint in a year.”

Alejano said Duterte’s defense of China continued despite the categorical ruling of the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in 2012 that the Philippines had exclusive sovereign rights over Benham Rise, and the favorable ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 on the contentious West Philippine Sea. In his complaint, Alejano cited what he described as “disturbing” reports that China was preparing to build either an environmental monitoring station or a radar station at a number of islands including Scarborough Shoal, and Duterte’s pronouncement that he could

Benham Rise lies in the eastern part of the Philippines on the Pacific Ocean, where there is no island or country nearby.

The 13-million-hectare Benham Rise, about 250 kilometers east of Dinapigue, Isabela, has untapped resources and is said to be wider than Luzon, Samar and Leyte combined.

In 2012, the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf approved the country’s undisputed territorial claim over Benham Rise.

In the past week, reports came out over China’s continuous action in the Panatag Shoal and in Benham Rise.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said a Chinese survey ship was seen in Benham Rise.

us had to get back home.”

When the Japanese fishing vessel Wakaba Maru found him, Omongos said he was very weak and emaciated, having been reduced to eating moss once every few days.

He was down to just over 20 kilograms (more than 44 pounds) from his original weight of 61 kilograms.

The fisherman, who quit school after the sixth grade, said he planned to rest after flying home to General Santos on Thursday, but vowed never to set foot on a boat again.

“Maybe I will go back to school instead,” he added. AFP

Mining...

From A1 programs into “green economy models” or GEMS. Lopez said GEMS will enable community members to create sustainable goods and services for the rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems.

“It is in taking care of the environment that all the Filipino people will truly benefit,” Lopez said.

Pamintuan showed an image of Semirara Mining and Power Corp. to cite an example of the benefits that open-pit mines provide the country.

“Shutting down Semirara would mean a power crisis given that coal contributes an estimated 47 percent of Luzon’s power requirements,” Pamintuan said.

“Calaca, which feeds on 100-percent

Kabayan Rep. Harry Roque, member of the minorty bloc, appealed to Alvarez and Floirendo “to set aside their differences and support the President at a time when latter’s enemies want to destabilize him.”

Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, for his part, lamented that the rift between Alvarez and Floirendo supposedly stemmed from an altercation between the two lawmakers’ girlfriends.

“Fights like that could lead to [the PDP-Laban] breakup,” Alejano said, adding that the Magdalo party-list group would take advantage of the breakup to get the support from their colleagues for the impeachment complaint he filed against the President.

not and would not stop China from building structures because it was too powerful.

Alejano also included in his complaint Duterte’s alleged permission to China’s sending of survey ships to Benham Rise without the knowledge of the Defense and Foreign Affairs departments.

“While no one is expecting Duterte to declare war with China over these territorial disputes, as President and Commander-In-Chief and Chief Diplomat of the country he should condemn China’s aggressive actions and expansionism,” Alejano, a former Marine captain, said.

He earlier filed his first impeachment complaint against Duterte for betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery and other high crimes, denouncing the administration’s war on drugs and the Davao Death Squad which had allegedly been tolerated by Duterte during his stint as the city’s mayor.

“From local to international affairs, the President has betrayed the public’s trust, culpably violated the Constitution and committed other high crimes when he masterminded the killing of political opponents and alleged criminals when he was still a mayor,” Alejano said.

“It just shows that he is not fit to lead this country, and through the impeachment process, we hope that we could make him accountable for his acts.”

Semirara open-pit coal, even if it only contributes 7 percent to the peak power demand, is a base load plant. Any outage by base load power plants can trigger cascading brownouts that could extent to a Luzon-wide outage.”

Pamintuan said the incident could be similar to the Sual power plant outage when its cooling system was clogged by jellyfish resulting in blackouts in Luzon.

In the same forum, Caloy Arcilla of the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Geological Sciences slammed Lopez’s order exempting quarries from the order against open-pit mining.

Arcilla said Lopez was protecting their family’s business, First Balfour, which is allegedly conducting open-pit mining operations in a watershed in Batangas.

He said Lopez’s category of social justice was “unacceptable since it has no metrics.”

Ramos, 60 others leave for Taiwan FORMER President Fidel V. Ramos has left for Taiwan with a delegation of some 60 sportspeople, businessmen and professionals from different parts of the Philippines along with members of the Taiwanese Chamber of the South Philippines led by its Founding President Chen Wen-Ju (“Tiger” Wood Chen) to engage with their Taiwanese counterparts.

The members of the two delegations will also participate in the 9th Taiwan-Philippines Friendship Golf Tournament (FVR Cup), an annual event that continues to provide a venue for business networking, new products search, as well as for sports competition and people-to-people bonding.

Per records from Du30 administration sources, Taiwan has remained a major investor throughout Southeast Asia with a particularly strong presence in the Philippines in the electronics, telecommunications, information technology, construction, textiles, mining, banking, electric power, food processing, pharmaceuticals and tourism industries. Taiwan, which is ranked as the world’s 24th largest economy is RP’s 7th largest source of foreign direct investments and 6th largest trading partner. Taiwan currently hosts some 90,000 Filipino workers and has consistently been a source of sizable development cooperation assistance, particularly in industrial design, agriculture, acquaculture, weather forecasting and technical skills training.

FVR is expected to call on/meet with high ranking government officials including President Tsai Ingwen and Foreign Minister Dr. David Lee, former President Ma Ying-jeou and former President Vincent Siew, the Taiwan External Trade Council as well as members of the business community in line with the RPDEV thrust of socieconomic-environmental-security diplomacy as globalization moves the 21st century forward to a one world community of nations as envisioned in the 2030 UN 17 sustainable goals.

Rody’s...

From A1 there must be an overriding reason for the pardon.

He said this was not a matter to be decided on a President’s whim.

“You usually do that with plenty of care, circumspection and you must present overriding value on why you are doing this because you are actually entering the threshold of the powers of another branch of government,” Aquino said.

Aquino urged Duterte, who is an alumnus of San Beda, to be circumspect in his pronouncements.

Duterte has said he will pursue his war on illegal drugs despite criticism from human rights groups, the United Nations and the European Union.

On Wednesday, Duterte reiterated his promise of legal protection, including the grant of pardon, to law enforcers at the frontline on the war against illegal drugs just days after several policemen led by Supt. Marvin Marcos were arrested for the killing last year of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa and another inmate inside their detention cell in Leyte.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, however, said he doubts Duterte will be able to grant an absolute pardon to Marcos and the other policemen accused of killing Espinosa.

“With the kind of justice system that we have, the prosecution of cases takes several years,” he said, noting that the trial might still be going on when Duterte’s term ends.

Senator Grace Poe said while the presidential power to pardon convicted criminals is beyond question, but described Duterte’s statement as unfortunate.

“The President’s pronouncement counters all our efforts to strengthen our legal institutions to ensure that only the guilty are prosecuted and convicted after a judicial process,” Poe said.

“It could send a wrong signal to law enforcers that while they may be enforcing legal orders from their superiors, they could altogether ignore the rule of law in properly carrying out such orders knowing that pardon awaits them,” she said.

“Corollary to this, it could dampen the enthusiasm and zeal of those in the other pillars of the judicial system to pursue the cases against the police criminals knowing that all their efforts would be in vain,” she added.

Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said the President’s remarks were alarming. With Vito Barcelo, PNA

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FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Civilian hurt, 1 dies in Sulu crossfire A CIVILIAN was hurt in a crossfire Wednesday between government troops and armed men that also resulted in the death of one, arrest of the lawless group’s leader and confiscation of their arms cache in Omar, Sulu, the military reported Thursday.

Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, did not identify the wounded civilian who was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

“A civilian was caught in the crossfire and was immediately rushed by the troops to Luuk District Hospital for medical treatment. No casualty was reported on the government side,” Petinglay said.

She said the lone casualty from the lawless group had yet to be identified.

The arrested leader of the group was identified as Saudi K. Hamja who has standing warrants for arson and attempted arson.

Operatives from the military’s Task Group Panther and personnel of the Omar Municipal Police Station were out to serve the warrants against Hamja at around 5 a.m. last Wednesday when fired upon by the armed men in Barangay Capual.

Petinglay said 20 fully-armed followers including Hamja engaged the government troops for several minutes of gunbattle.

Hamja was cornered and surrendered while his men escaped to different directions.

Florante Solmerin

PCSO expands health lanes to 86 hospitals PHILIPPINE Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Alexander Balutan revealed Thursday the expansion of more health lanes, bringing these to 86 partner-hospitals nationwide as the agency continues to enhance and innovate its medical assistance programs and projects for easy access for Filipinos.

“This is consistent with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to bring PCSO’s charity services to the people. PCSO walks the extra mile to reach you, it’s charity for all,” Balutan said in a press release.

PCSO’s sources of funds for charitable programs and projects are the expanded Small Town Lottery, Lotto, Keno, among others.

Duterte wants PCSO to fund the government’s “free-medicine-for-all” program.

In 2016, 319,091 Filipinos nationwide became IMAP beneficiaries, an increase of 27.7 percent from 2015, which came up to 249,751.

These health lanes are called “At-Source-Ang-Processing” help desks where anyone applying for financial assistance through the PCSO’s Individual Medical Assistance Program can file a request, making the process easier because they no longer have to go to the main office of PCSO.

CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES.

Philippine Constitution president Martin Romualdez (right) and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (left) exchange notes, ideas, perceptions as well as insights into constitutional issues affecting the Filipino people during the Philconsa monthly meeting Thursday at the Manila Golf and Country Club in Makati City.

Ver Noveno

GRP-rebels peace talks resume Sunday despite ongoing clashes

By Rio N. Araja

A

GRARIAN Secretary Rafael Mariano welcomed the resumption of peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front on Sunday against the backdrop of continuing battle between troops and the rebels in the countryside.

The five-day talks, which Mariano said ensured genuine land reform, would be held in Noordwijk in The Netherlands.

“Peace talks would ensure the implementation of genuine land reform as both panels have agreed

on the significance of furthering the discussion on agrarian reform and rural development in crafting the draft of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms,” he said.

The farmers’ struggle was

at the forefront of the first three rounds of negotiations after both panels recognized free land distribution as the key to address the roots of armed conflict in the countryside.

“Landlessness remains the main cause of farmers’ suffering and only pro-people policies on genuine agrarian reform would help us achieve national and agricultural industrialization,” he said.

The Department of Agrarian Reform has received 11 reports documenting 16 cases of murder of peasant activists and leaders for the first three months of 2017.

Most victims were indigenous peoples from Mindanao, and had been involved in land disputes

with big landlord-oligarchs and mining firms.

In Calapan City, military troops exchanged fire with NPA guerrillas of the Lucio de Guzman Command in Barangay Binli, in Bulalacao town, 250 kms southeast of the capital city.

The NPAs were reported to have suffered four casualties, either killed or wounded during the firefight while two enlisted Army men were wounded in action, Col. Antonio Parlade, commanding officer of the 203rd Infantry Brigade, of the PA’s 2nd Infantry Division, told Manila Standard.

The government casualties were evacuated by an Army ambulance to the nearby Bulalacao

hospital. “The operating troops are sustaining pressure on them [NPA], under the group of Virginia Torobias Magadia,” Parlade said.

In Cagayan de Oro City, a school official said the fire that gutted a high school building in a village in Valencia City recently might not be the handiwork of the NPA contrary to the allegation of the military.

According to Mary Jean Subayco, 29, academic head and school secretary of Concepcion National High School in Barangay Concepcion, the cause of the fire was due to “electrical short circuit,” quoting a Bureau of Fire Protection report.

With Robert Evaroa, Lance Baconguis and Jessica Bacud

18 ‘rent-tangay’ victims file complaints MMDA to

By Rey E. Requejo MORE “rent-tangay” scam victims on Thursday sought the prosecution of the brains and other personalities involved in the fraudulent scheme.

In a supplemental complaint filed by the Highway Patrol Group, 18 more victims submitted their complaint-affidavits against Rafaela Montes Anunciacion, Eleanor “Leah” Constantino Rosales, Tychichus Historillo Nambio, Jhennelyn Berroya, Anastacia Montes Cauyan, Eliseo Cortez, Marilou V. Cruz and Sabina Torrea.

They accused the respondents of violating Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code for Swindling or Estafa in relation to PD 1689, which increases the penalty for certain forms of swindling or estafa.

The National Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday also filed before the Department of Justice similar complaints against Anunciacion, Cauyan, Cortez, Torrea and Marilou V. Cruz.

The DoJ is currently conducting a preliminary investigation. The panel is headed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rosanne Balauag.

Besides Balauag, the other members of the panel include SASP Rex Gingoyon; Assistant State Prosecutors Aristotle Reyes, Rodan Parrocha, Bryan Jacinto Cacha Jr., Anna Noreen Devanadera, Jovyanne Escaño-Santamaria and Assistant Prosecution Attorneys Wendell Bendoval, Joan Garcia and Marc Eico Tariga.

Last March 27, Anunciacion submitted her counter affidavit and sought the dismissal

of the complaints against her.

Anunciacion alleged the complainants were only forced to file criminal charges against her by the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group through a threat they would no longer recover their vehicles.

During the hearing some of the complainants withdrew their complaints after recovering their vehicles from Anunciacion.

Aside from Anunciacion, Cauyan also submitted her counter-affidavit and raised the same issue.

The DoJ will resume the preliminary investigation today at 10 a.m. for filing of counter-affidavit of the other respondents namely Tychicus Nambia, Sabina Torrea, Eliseo Cortez, Eleanor Constatino, Marilou Cruz, Jhennelyn Berroya, Ana Borlon and Lea Rosales.

5 people, including girl, killed in freak accident

By Francisco Tuyay

ENDING ENDO. Port workers led by the Samahan ng Manggagawa sa Harbor Center gather in front of the Department of Labor and Employment-NCR in Leon Guinto Thursday to demand the end of endo, a Filipino slang which means end of contract after five months employment. Norman Cruz

FIVE people, including a 10-year-old girl were killed while nine others were injured when the driver of a truck they were riding lost control of the steering wheel, causing it to crash into an electric post along the highway in Zamboanga peninsula Wednesday.

Police officer Rogelio Alabata, Police Regional Office-9 spokesman, said the incident took place at the national highway in Katipunan, RT Lim, Zamboanga Sibugay at about 3:30 p.m.

Alabata said two of the victims, including the truck driver, died on the spot while the three others who were rushed to a nearby hospital were declared dead by attending physicians.

The dead victims were identified as Cardo Cortez, 50, driver; Paterno Endrina, 70, Wengilyn Casipong, 47, Reynan Beniares, 30, and Romelyn Cortez, 10.

The wounded passengers were Enriqueta Cortez, 49, Roger Cortez 32, Anthony Cortez 12, all residents of Bucoy Drive, Brgy Divisoria; Jason Suringa 16, Jomaril Anduha, 17, Jordan Banga, 18, Jaime Montecalbo, 19, all of Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay; Laurence Casipong, 51, Fiona Casipong, 7, and Paterno Enrina, 70, all residents of Barangay New Sagay.

The passengers were occupants of a white and green Isuzu six-wheeler drop side truck bound for Malubal RT Lim, Zamboanga Sibugay.

clear roads of parked wheels

By Vito Barcelo THE Metro Manila Development Authority said it would continue to clear national and main roads of illegally parked vehicles and other obstructions to ease traffic before and during the Holy Week.

The MMDA said it would deploy more than 2,300 for Holy Week to man traffic flow on busy roads in Metro Manila first week of April this year.

MMDA general manager Tim Orbos said most of the traffic enforcers would be assigned near bus terminals, churches, ports and airport terminals.

“We expected traffic to be less heavy in Metro Manila next week since a lot of residents were expected to leave for the provinces,” he said.

Expected to be affected as well were roads leading to SLEx such as Magallanes, Quirino Avenue and Osmeña Avenue; and Balintawak, A. Bonifacio, Mindanao Avenue and Visayas Avenue headed for NLEx. In a statement, Orbos said the MMDA had towed more than 3,000 since January this year.

Based on the report of the agency’s Traffic Discipline Office, the MMDA towed a total of 3,128 illegally parked vehicles in the roads of Metro Manila from January to February, or an average of 53 vehicles daily.

Some 1,770 vehicles were apprehended and towed in January while in February 1,358 were towed by MMDA.

A4

Opinion

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Benham Rise

L

IKE The frontier northwest Palawan area that produced the country’s first commercial oil and natural gas fields, Benham Rise must be mapped, explored and developed sooner than later by the Philippines for the benefit of the population. Exploiting the energy potential of the undersea region, along with its rich marine resources, will bolster the country’s exclusive right to over 200 nautical miles off the Luzon coast.

Benham Rise falls under the country’s exclusive economic zone, as affirmed in 2012 by the UN Com-

Adelle Chua, Editor

mission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. It is, thus, natural for the Philippines to exploit the resourc-

es of the area, which is approximately about 250 kilometers in diameter.

The Senate, which is conducting a hearing on the proposed law creating the Benham Rise Development Authority, should act swiftly on its passage to formalize the exploitation of the region. The Philippines’ exclusive right over the undersea plateau is an opportunity to explore the natural re-

sources of the area.

The Philippines in the 1970s started scouring the waters of northwest Palawan for a potential oil field, long before China laid a claim on virtually the whole of the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines first struck oil in the Nido field in the late 70s.

Soon after, a string of small oil fields were discovered in the general area before the Shell Group found

the rich Malampaya natural gas reserve in the 90s.

Oil and gas exploration in northwest Palawan was unhampered until China drew up the controversial Nine-Dash-Line that demarcated its claims in what it calls the South China Sea. The China map covered a portion of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, including the Recto Bank where an oil exploration

work was suspended.

Benham Rise, meanwhile, is a natural breeding ground and habitat for marine species―making it a prime fishing spot. Filipino fishermen should have the first crack at the marine resources of the area. The government should perhaps draw up an interim Benham Rise economic development plan to give poor Filipino fishermen a bigger catch.

PENSEES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO

The awesome power to pardon

Good news FORMATION GARY OLIVAR THE other day, the Londonbased credit rating agency Fitch announced it would maintain its investment-grade rating for the Philippines, with positive outlook.

With all the recent political noise about the Philippines, especially from countries located across the English Channel from London, one might have expected, if not the rating itself, at least the outlook to drop, from positive to stable— no change expected—or maybe all the way down to negative— things could get worse, let’s watch these guys closely.

But no. Fitch is telling investors that the odds are better than even that the rating on the Philippines might even im-

prove by another notch, regardless of the noise.

Fitch again noted with approval the country’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals, including low debt and ample reserves. But on the debit side, what was worrisome to the agency? *** First, a narrow revenue base.

Fitch wants to see the tax effort spread across a wider range of taxpayers and taxable transactions, in order to support the country’s growth and especially its ambitious infrastructure plans.

This should be noted by our honorable legislators, who ought to spend more time thinking about the comprehensive tax reform bills pending before them than about what their girlfriends might be screaming at each other.

Second, low levels of per capita income compared to our peers. Since it’s no secret

that our country has always been poor, my guess is that this was highlighted by the agency at this time because they’re concerned that low consumer purchasing power may start to constrain our consumption-led

The answer to the Duterte haters is right there staring them in the face. growth.

And third, “weak governance standards.” This of course is their polite code phrase for the kind of political noise coming out of Europe about us, e.g. EJKs, the

death penalty bill, lowering of the threshold for criminal liability to nine years of age.

Luckily for Fitch, what investors will probably notice instead is the strong law-and-order thinking that animates much of the domestic support for the President. Why should the wellintentioned foreigner get all riled up about these incidents when most of the natives are enthusiastically applauding?

In the end, what matters more to investors isn’t what a policy may be all about, but whether or not it’s supported by the majority, or at least not being actively criticized. Unpredictability, especially from generalized disorder, is what they hate most, and evidently it’s not what they’re seeing in our country right now. *** For its part, the Makati Business Club also feels “highly optimistic” that our

economy in 2017 will grow at least as fast as last year’s 6.8 percent, staying ahead of inflation or interest rate issues.

Among the 20 percent of members who responded (it ought to have been a bigger number, of course), 83 percent expected higher growth this year, 85 percent higher inflation, 80 percent a weaker peso, but only 57 percent expected higher interest rates. The much more bullish outlook on interest rates is the businessmen’s way of echoing what Fitch said about low debt and large fiscal space.

Interestingly, a significant number of them expected both exports and imports to fall.

This expectation of lower trade volumes recognizes the relatively low commodity trade dependence of our economy. But at this time, it probably also incorporates rising worries about the implications of a proTurn to A5

I WAS disappointed then when I heard it reported that the President had encouraged the police officers accused in the murder of a detained town mayor suspected of drugpeddling to plead guilty— promising them that he would extend to them the clemency that it is within his power to grant.

Really, it is in all of us to pardon, and on the day that pardon shall become scarce in this world, on that day shall our humanity also be on the decline, and the world, a truly miserable place to be in.

The pardon of which I write better referred to as the “remission” of criminal penalty.

The Constitution grants the President the power to pardon, commute sentences and grant reprieves. And the only limitation to this power is that it cannot be used to negate impeachment proceedings and the conviction that follows. It is awesome because it constitutes in effect a reversal of a judicial act— the act of sentencing and of commanding the execution of sentence. It does not cancel guilt. In fact, in the Philippines, it presupposes guilt, only because, unlike under the US Constitution, the Philippine President can only exercise his powers of clemency following conviction.

In several places in the Constitution, there is a grant of power to one branch that allows it to check—transgress would be a more candid characterization—the powers of another. The Supreme Court can declare statutes unconstitutional. The President can veto a bill passed by both Houses. The Legislature may rescind a declaration of martial law by the President, as it may abolish lower courts except the Supreme Court and, perhaps, also the Sandiganbayan. This interloping of powers is frequently referred to as checks and balances.

When the judiciary is called upon to pronounce the nullity of a law, several stringent requirements must be met, chief among this being that the declaration of nullity is indispensable to the resolution Turn to A5

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Opinion North Korea may be key to Trump’s coal ambitions

By Shelley Goldberg BOTH cheap and abundant, coal is perhaps the least sexy of commodities—unless you live in a coal-producing state like Wyoming or West Virginia, where the industry is a big employer. From a global perspective, it would be practically impossible to live without coal, which generates about 40 percent of the world’s heat and power.

By now, the drawbacks to coal are well-known. Burning the fuel emits about twice the amount of carbon dioxide as natural gas and 28 percent more pollutants than heating oil.

As the world’s biggest source of carbon emissions and a major contributor to global warming, many nations are reducing coal consumption. Growth in global consumption stalled in 2014 for the first time since the 1990s before falling 15 percent in 2015. Last year, US production fell 18 percent from 2015 to the lowest level since 1978, according to the US Energy Information Agency.

The Stream Protection Rule designed during the Obama administration would phase out coal. The US is in a better position than practically any nation to do so due to its vast reserves of crude oil and natural gas, and its increasingly more efficient renewable energy. In this transition, the government could provide funding for career training and jobs in alternative energy industries and their ancillary services, including a growing clean tech industry, for out-of-work coal miners seeking employment.

But now all of this has changed. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday reversing the Obama administration’s efforts to cut emissions as well as reversing a rule that the nation’s national security had to account for climate change. In February, the Senate followed the House in voting for a measure to reverse Obama’s regulatory legacy aimed at protecting streams from the effects of coal mining.

Trump has vowed to withdraw from the Paris climate pact reached last year by almost 200 countries. If successful, US coal-fired electricity use would increase by an estimated 61 percent, according to the EIA. Trump attempts to legitimize the regulatory rollback by promoting “clean coal” innovations of which the industry claims could remove as much as 90 percent of the carbon associated with burning coal. But clean coal is not yet proven effective, and the process is expensive.

If Trump really wants to revise coal production in the US, maybe he should look to North Korea. As tensions between that country and the world over its nuclear arsenal—strong enough to threaten not only to its neighbors but the US—the time may be right for the US to persuade other countries to stop buying coal from the so-called Hermit Kingdom.

North Korea borders China, South Korea and Russia by land and Japan by sea. North Korea’s exports increased at an annualized rate of 8.6 percent between 2010 and 2015, from $1.83 billion to $2.83 billion. Coal briquettes are by far North Korea’s top export, accounting for 34 percent to 40 percent in recent years, with almost all of it shipped to China. North Korea’s top import origins are China, India and Russia. Sanctions on North Korean coal exports and on its top import, refined petroleum, would wreak havoc on the nation’s economy.

What all this means for global coal prices is that they should drop as US production rises and global demand weakens. In the US coal competes with cheap and bountiful shale gas. And even if China aggressively enforces sanctions, less North Korean coal is unlikely to generate a global shortage.

China has clamped down on new coal projects and now has the world’s greatest installed wind and solar PV capacity.

Furthermore, Pakistan could become the next big producer to replace North Korea, as it has begun to dig up one of the world’s largest deposits of low-grade coal.

Surely, some US coal companies will see an initial boost to their balance sheets, but lower prices will eventually diminish enthusiasm on the equity side as well. There’s also the fact that almost all coal produced in the US is used to generate electricity, but US annual retail sales of electricity have remained stagnant for the last five years while the number of coal fired plants halved. It was not the Obama administration that eliminated coal mining jobs but rather market forces, which Trump cannot change by producing more of an undesired product. Bloomberg

Good...

From A4 tectionist Trump presidency, notwithstanding China’s eagerness to fill in any voids in trading partnerships that may be created. *** The last bit of positive news this week placed the President at the lead of the pack among the notables being considered

by Time magazine for its annual list of 100 most influential people in the world.

With 5 percent, Duterte is a good two points ahead of the second-placers, which include big names like Pope Francis and Bill Gates.

Some critics have been sniping that the results are influenced by an army of Duterte supporters flooding the online poll with their votes. But this begs the question: Why are these supporters doing that in the first place?

The quick and lazy answer is that they’re all paid trolls. This is the default response of his critics, who simply can’t bring themselves to believe that most of the rest of the country disagrees with them about the man.

To their thinking: If Duterte persists in being so popular no matter what they think, then obviously the rest of the country can only be wrong, because

they are so obviously right.

Which then leads the critics to pull their hair and wail: How can an entire country be led astray?

If these people bothered to talk to our OFWs in particular, they would get an earful about why Duterte is so popular in our overseas communities. These are the Filipinos who have to deal with the snide remarks and belittling attitudes in their host countries. These are the Filipinos who, after hearing one president after another promise to bring them back home, finally believe that this one, this president, truly means what he tells them.

These are the Filipinos— with not much to do in their spare time, a lot of computer access, and their loved ones back home always in their minds—who’ve been storming the digital gates on behalf of their newly adopted father figure, certainly the most influential figure for them if not the rest of the world.

The answer to the Duterte haters is right there staring them in the face: You’re outvoted just because you’re wrong about who should be leading the country. But the critics are going to have to be the ones to figure that out for themselves. *** Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Complacency BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO REPORTS of China’s military build-up on islands in the South China Sea partly claimed by the Philippines do not seem to worry the country’s top officials.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. when asked at the sidelines of the Senate committee hearing on Chinese presence on waters in Benham Rise, shot back at an interviewer: “ So what do you want us to do, attack them?”

When pressed whether China could be deploying missiles and warplanes on the islands facing the West Philippine Sea, Esperon said there’s no cause for concern yet and we will have to wait and see what happens next.

This is our National Security Adviser talking. Esperon should have uttered his complacent remarks during the Senate hearing so he could have been put in place by the senators for his clueless comments.

Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of National Defense officials disclaimed any knowledge of any authority given to Chinese vessels to ply Philippine waters on Benham Rise, an underwater landmass

potentially rich in minerals and natural gas.

Esperon echoed the Chinese version of its presence on Benham Rise that it was just innocent passage in international waters. Satellite images provided by allies to the Philippines showed the Chinese ships presence in Benham Rise where they were seen to stay for a month apparently surveying the seabed.

This is far from “innocent passage.” Esperon had unwittingly implicated Duterte when he said the President might have given the Chinese permission to survey Benham Rise.

This is akin to abetting the country’s annexation in installment by China. First Scarborough Shoal, then Benham Rise?

This is more than flirtation; this is already going to bed with the enemy!

President Rodrigo Duterte, on the other hand, confronted American Ambassador Sung Kim why the US naval forces didn’t stop the Chinese military build-up when it was still going on. Kim met Duterte when the American ambassador came to greet the President on the occasion of the latter’s 72nd birthday.

“Why didn’t the naval armada of the US Seventh Fleet in the Pacific turn around and bomb the military installations?” Duterte asked.

Considering the US interest

and concern for the freedom of navigation in the vital South China Sea lanes, it was actually a good question put to the US ambassador.

“It was not my concern then as I was assigned to deal with North Korea’s global threat because of its nuclear development program,” replied Kim. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during a three-nation Asian swing, said “military options are on the table” when asked how the US would deal with North Korea’s long-range missile threat against the US, Japan and South Korea.

Are the same options on the table with regard to China’s militarization of the South China Sea? Or will America be as complacent as the Philippines and wait when it’s too late to do anything to stop the Yellow Peril from overrunning the whole of Southeast Asia?

Military options on the table could mean a preemptive strike at North Korean military installations. The same cannot be ruled out against China’s military bases built on man-made islands in the South China Sea. Maybe not now but for sure the US defense bosses in the Pentagon and State Department are studying such an option. The only consideration probably being studied is world opinion and the repercussion on Russia. Will

Moscow stand idly by and allow Washington to unleash its full military force?

No one in his right mind wants a third world war to break out.

But most wars start without anybody wanting it. Mostly it’s miscalculation on the part of one party who had gone too far in advancing its interest.

US satellite images have shown that China’s military installations on made-made islands in the South China have been completed with an airstrip for war planes and ready for deployment of long-range missiles.

This poses imminent threat to the security of the Southeast Asian region and US treaty allies Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. The US-PHL Mutual Defense Treaty of 1956 would be put to a test if the Philippines is attacked.. All those reaffirmation of US President Barack Obama’s “iron-clad” defense of the Philippines would also be on the line. But there is a new US government under President Donald Trump.

He may not be as gung-ho to follow Obama’s lead.

The US-PHL MDT of 1956 plus the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) signed in April 2014 during Obama’s visit to Manila would also test America’s resolve to defend allies if they are attacked.

Filipino billionaires VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ FORBES Magazine has listed the world’s billionaires for 2017.

Included are 14 Filipino billionaires, ranked, worldwide, from 94th (Henry Sy with $12.7 billion estimated wealth) to 1795th (Roberto V. Ongpin with an estimated $1.1 billion wealth).

The 14 richest Filipinos, per Forbes 2017 rankings, are: 1) Henry Sy Sr., $12.7 billion; 2) John Gokongwei Jr., 5.8 billion; 3) Lucio Tan, 3.7 billion; 4) George SK Ty, 3.5 billion; 5) Enrique Razon Jr., 3.4 billion; 6) Tony Tan Caktiong, 3.4 billion; 7) David Consunji, 3.1 billion; 8) Andrew Tan, 2.5 billion; 9) Robert Coyiuto, Jr., 1.5 billion; 10) Manuel Villar, 1.5 billion; 11) Ramon S. Ang, 1.4 billion; 12) Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., 1.2 billion; 13) Roberto V. Ongpin, 1.1 billion; 14) Edgar Sia, 1.0 billion.

The weekly business magazine BizNewsAsia has updated its own rankings of the richest Filipinos or billionaires.

The richest Filipinos, per BizNewsAsia, are: 1. Henry Sy, $10.6 billion; 2.

John Gokongwe Jr., 6.3 billion; 3. Jon Ramon Aboitiz, 5.0 billion; 4. Lucio Tan, 4.4 billion; 5.

Iñigo Zobel and sister, 4.0 billion; 6. Tony Tan Caktiong, 3.1 billion; 7. Enrique Razon Jr., 3.1 billion; 8. Ramon S. Ang, 2.6 billion; 9. George SK Ty, 2.4 billion; 10. David Consunji, 2.0 billion; 11. Lucio Co, 1.7 billion; 12. Andrew Tan, 1.6 billion; 13.

Manny Villar, 1.0 billion; 14.

Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., 1.0 billion; 15. Edgar Sia, 902 million; 16. Zobel de Ayala siblings, 756 million.

Henry Sy Sr., 92, owns 60 percent of SM Investments Corp., which owns the largest

The awesome...

From A4 of the dispute. The point is clear: If another way is open that allows for the adjudication of a demandable right without having the courts set aside an act of the Legislature, it will not take the latter, intrusive step.

The point therefore is that when one branch “intrudes” upon the powers of another, there must be circumspection, a thoughtful weighing of equities and an avoidance of any rashness or semblance of it.

I was disappointed then when I heard it reported that

retailing chain, (SM, 60 malls in Philippines which are visited by 3.5-million people daily; seven malls in China); the largest property company, SM Prime Holdings; and the largest bank (BDO with P2 trillion assets).

Though cash-rich, Henry is raising capital. SM recently issued P20 billion (out of a planned P50 billion) in retail bonds at 5.1590 percent due 2023. BDO had a P60 billion rights offering at P83.75 per share at one share for every P5.095 shares owned. BDO has lately focused on micro lending.

It has financed most of the casinos.

John Gokongwei Jr., 90, owns 52 percent of JG Summit Holdings Inc., the conglomerate which owns the largest branded consumer foods business in the Philippines (URC), the largest domestic airline (Cebu Pacific which last year more than doubled its profits to P9.8 billion and flew 19 million passengers); the second largest retail chain (44 Robinsons malls by October 2016), the second largest hotel chain (15 hotels with 2,357 rooms), and one of the biggest real estate companies in revenues, projects and amounts invested in projects (Robinsons Land). JG has also stakes in PLDT (4.73 percent), petrochemicals, and banking.

Third richest, the family of Jon Ramon Aboitiz, 68, owns 60 percent of Aboitiz Equity Ventures which is into six main businesses: Power distribution, generation, and retail electricity supply; financial services (its Union Bank is strong on tech); food manufacturing; real estate; infrastructure; and portfolio investments.

AEV owns 55 percent of VECO which is the second largest privately-owned distribution utility in the Philippines in terms of customers and annual GWh sales and is the largest distribution utility in the Visayas. It owns 100 percent of

Davao Light and Cotabato Light which the is the third largest privately owned distribution utility. AEV owns the power plant in Subic and a 44 percent equity in Pampanga’s san Fernando Electric.

Fourth richest Lucio Tan, 83, has two major assets in the Philippines—LT Group and Philippine Airlines. His LT Group holdings are valued at $2.42 billion while those in PAL are valued at $1.97 billion. The LT Group has the following businesses: Distilled Spirits (Tanduay Distillers, Inc.), the third largest distilled spirits producer in the Philippines; Beverages (Asia Brewery, Inc.), one of the Philippines’ leading producers of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages; Tobacco (Fortune Tobacco Corp.), the leading tobacco manufacturer and distributor in the Philippines; Banking (Philippine National Bank), the fourth largest private commercial bank in terms of total assets in 2015; and Property Development (Eton Properties Philippines, Inc.), which has a diverse portfolio of property development projects throughout the Philippines.

Of late to prepare for the future, Kapitan entered into joint ventures—with Philip Morris for tobacco: Heineken for beer, Ayala for real estate, and a prospective foreign investor for PAL. Iñigo Zobel, 59, and his sister Mercedes own 26 percent of Ayala Corp. valued at $2.65 billion. He himself owns 27 percent of San Miguel Corp. valued at $1.32 billion.

Ayala Corp. has the following businesses: Real estate (Ayala Land); water (Manila Water); industrial technologies (IMI); power generation (AC Energy); banking (Bank of the Philippine Islands); Telecom (Globe Telecom).

When one talks about the rich Ayala it should be Iñigo and not his cousins Jaime Augusto

Zobel de Ayala and Fernando Zobel de Ayala who jointly own less than 7.5 percent of Ayala valued at $765 million.

Phenomenal has been the rise to power and wealth of Ramon S. Ang, the vice chairman, president and chief operating officer of San Miguel Corp. RSA owns 22.48 percent of SMC valued at $1.1 billion. This month, his IPO of 100 percent-owned Eagle Cement values the company at P75 billion or $1.495 billion, which together with his SMC holdings, put his wealth at $2.59 billion.

Under Ang, SMC diversified into fuel (Petron), power generation, and infrastructure.

Its $5 billion diversification is now beginning to pay off even while SMC’s traditional core businesses continue to rake in revenues and profits—beer, food, and packaging. In 2016, the biggest SMC companies in profits were: San Miguel Brewery P17.65 billion, Petron P23.79 billion, P10.82 billion, and Purefoods P5.976 billion.

In operating income, the rankings are: SMB P27.18 billion, SMC Global Power P26.7 billion, Petron P23.79 billion, San Miguel Holdings (infra), P9.84 billion; Purefoods P8.93 billion; Packaging P2.58 billion, and Ginebra P978 million.

Sixth richest Filipino, Tony Tan Caktiong, 64, owns 57 percent of Jollibee Foods Corp. (largest fast food retailer) which is valued at $2.23 billion. He also owns 37 percent of DoubleDragon Properties worth $902 million.

Jollibee Foods Corp. is the largest Asian restaurant company. In 2016, the Jollibee Group opened 340 stores, the biggest store openings in a single year in JFC’s history; 243 in the Philippines, 97 abroad—60 in China, 30 in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and 7 in the US.

the President had encouraged the police officers accused in the murder of a detained town mayor suspected of drug-peddling to plead guilty—promising them that he would extend to them the clemency that it is within his power to grant. Not that I begrudge the President his exercise of his powers. But that makes of the whole judicial process an empty spectacle, does it not, for whether guilty or innocent, the accused shall walk free. More perniciously, to my mind, it sends the very bad message that guilt or innocence do not matter—and that cannot be helpful at all to the rule of law. Finally, it cannot

be helpful to the President himself who has already received flak for apparently transgressing the precepts of law with impunity and with arrogance.

And if he does choose to pardon the accused the very second they are convicted— should conviction follow— there is no way, I submit, that judicial review can lie to check the President’s exercise of this power. For judicial review is possible only when there are judicial standards to go by, but the brevity and succinctness of the constitutional grant of the power of clemency to the President provide no standards, set no parameters by which a court

can say whether or not discretion has been abused. All the more reason to be thoughtful, careful, and circumspect!

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LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES Mr. Robles’ column will resume soon.

News

A6

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Poe files bill to benefit ‘returning’ scientists

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Grace Poe has filed a bill that seeks to institutionalize a “brain gain” program for science and technology workers and encourage them to return to the Philippines and contribute their knowledge for the betterment of the country.

Poe said Senate Bill No. 1324 or the proposed Balik Scientist Act is aimed at offering benefits, incentives and privileges to returning Filipino experts and professionals who share their technical and technological know-how to spur scientific and technological advancements and strengthen the country’s potential for growth.

“This bill envisions a future in which Filipino scientists contribute to nation-building and inclusive growth through the acceleration of research and development in the country,” said Poe. Meanwhile, Senator Bam Aquino, chairman of the Senate committee on SicTech, has been pushing for the proper utilization of SciTech which will be crucial in this aspiration.

“We also want the Balik Scientist Program to involve our schools and the private sector. Let’s exhaust all efforts to repatriate our talented Filipino scientists,” said Aquino.

IN BRIEF Makabayan bloc solon bats for free housing A MEMBER of the left-leaning Makabayan Bloc on Thursday batted for free housing units for the urban poor sector like the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap.

Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao said that while he agreed that the occupants of the vacant and deteriorating housing units in six relocation sites in Pandi town, Bulacan should pay amortization fees, the government must also provide them a free housing program.

“Kadamay members are willing to comply with the requirements needed in the process of the profiling and validation. Bu the government should review, revisit and reorient the housing laws,” Casilao said.

Casilao said that he and the rest of the Makabayan Bloc support the free awarding of government housing program to poor and homeless Filipino families.

Casilao said the National Housing Authority’s charging of amortization is an ingenious way of evicting the Kadamay occupants, as it is obvious they have no capacity to pay as most of them are unemployed, contractual workers and semi-workers with no regular sources of income and livelihood.

“They don’t even have enough budget for basic needs such as food, health and other basic services, when they occupied the housing units. They merely wanted shelter although, there is no utilities such as electricity and water, hence, charging them with amortization is a way to evict them, especially upon their binding with the onerous contract drafted by the NHA,” Casilao said. Maricel V. Cruz

Aquino earlier met with scientists and other stakeholders to iron out the priority measures of the Committee on Science and Technology, which he chairs.

“Now that the committee had passed the free internet in public places, we will focus next on Balik Scientist Bill and Innovative Startup Act to help our people in the field of Science and Technology, said Aquino.

During the round-table discussion, Aquino presented Senate Bill 1183 or the Balik Scientist Bill, Senate Bill No. 175 or the Innovative Startup Act and Senate Bill No. 679 or the Magna Carta for Scientists to help address the issue as priority measures of his committee.

Under Poe’s bill, Balik Scientists shall be engaged for shortterm, medium-term or long-term programs to be administered by the Department of Science and Technology.

For the short-term program with a duration of at least 30 days, benefits include round-trip airfare, reimbursement of excess baggage costs, relocation and tax-exempt daily allowance, participation in grantsin-aid research and development projects, and donation of instruments and materials related to the scientific activities.

AN EYE FOR CHARITY. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Alexander F. Balutan (center) is accompanied by Carolina Aves De

Jesus (left), founder and chairman of the Carol Foundation Eye Center in Barangay Santo Cristo, Gapan, Nueva Ecija during its 20th Anniversary on March 21. The foundation partnered with PCSO and has been in operation for the past 20 years, giving free eye disease treatments to indigents and less fortunate Filipinos. The charity agency donated medical equipment amounting to P11.8 million. At right is Barry De Jesus, foundation president and general manager. Joseph Muego

CA urged to act on Kang's plea to stop BI deport order

By Vito Barcelo

T

HE Korean Embassy on Thursday urged the Court of Appeals to immediately resolve the petition filed by Kang Tae Sik’s counsel to stop the Bureau of Immigration from deporting the Korean businessman who was arrested on orders of the Department of Justice.

Atty. Reden Viaje said the Korean consulate has appealed to the Appellate Court after they were informed that a deportation order was already prepared prior to the arrest of Kang last 23 March.

He said the immigration is only awaiting for the final or-

der from Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. Viaje said the request was made by the embassy after he submitted a motion to temporarily suspend the deportation order of Kang pending the decision of the Court of Appeals.

“Under Sec. 9 and 10, of the 1999 Internal Rules of Court of Appeals, the petition, having a prayer for issuance of TRO should be immediately transmitted to the Justice where it was raffled for immediate resolution. However, when verified, the records has not been transmitted despite that the same was filed and raffled last Monday,” Viaje said.

In his petition, Kang moves for the issuance of TRO against the DoJ and BI from implementing the deportation order and dissolution of Warrant of Deportation considering that both emanated from a

migration agents in his Makati office,” Viaje said.

Kang is president of K&L Jinro Phils that has been operating in the country for more than 40 years now.

“Kang faced the same fate when he refused to relinquish his import business or pay P50-million peace offering to the notorious Korean-Filipino group. Because of his refusal, the group initiated a hoax deportation case against him which was filed by his former counsel Atty. Alex Tan,” Viaje said.

He said Tan now operates a similar business competing with Kang’s line of importing Korean wine.

Consumer group slams ERC, PSALM

By Sandy Araneta

Showbiz columnist faces libel case SHOWBIZ columnist and radio anchor Jobert Sucaldito is facing 84 counts of libel and other criminal charges before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.

Erickson Raymundo, Cornerstone Entertainment president, filed 43 counts of cyber libel, and 12 counts of grave threats, slander and libel raps.

The charges stemmed after Sucaldito posted on social media that Raymundo was involved in doubtful schemes to rob other artists of gigs and projects.

Singer Eric Santos, through Joji Alonso, also filed 22 counts of cyber libel, one count of slander and six counts of grave threats against Sucaldito.

He wanted Sucaldito to indemnify him P2 million in exemplary damages.

Singers Jaya, Yeng Constantino,Sam Milby, K Brosas, Thor, Benj Manalo and Nicco Manalo—all Cornerstone artists —and film director Joyce Bernal were there to extend their full support to Raymundo and Santos.

“It is not right to say something about someone. It is not right to besmirch one’s reputation of those who, in fact, have done you good,” singer-composer Yeng Constantino said. Rio N. Araja

void resolution.

Last March 7, 2017, the Justice Secretary issued a resolution which reversed the final and executory decision by then DoJ secretary, now SC Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, dismissing the deportation complaint filed by Kang’s former lawyer Alex Tan. Viaje also denounced the manner by which the Korean businessman, who is 73 years old, was arrested. He said the Korean national was manhandled like a hardened criminal.

“He was arrested in a ‘Gestapo raid’ fashion conducted by the Bureau of Im-

SHABU-SNIFFING COP. Lito Cabamongan y Dumandan, a 50-year-old commissioned officer of the PNP and presently assigned at General Service Section, ARMD, NHQCL, is shown here being processed at a Las Piñas police station following his arrest and that of his live-in partner, Nedy Sabdao y Acompanado, 44. Police said the couple were caught in the act while sniffing shabu inside a shanty at Block 16 Lot 14 Everlasting Homes, Talon 4, Las Piñas City on March 30. Norman Cruz

THE consumer group People Opposed to unWarranted Electricity Rates on Thursday slammed the Energy Regulatory Commission for allowing the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. to continue charging electricity from consumers with a 19 centavo/ kWh universal charge to pay for its stranded contract costs.

In an order dated March 6 but released only on March 27, the ERC indefinitely extended PSALM’s P0.1938/kWh universal charge which was originally allowed from April 2013 to February 2017.

The charge was supposed to cover PSALM’s stranded contract costs of P53.851 billion incurred from 2007-2010. But the ERC said PSALM was only able to collect P48 billion by February 2017, thus it should be allowed to charge consumers P5.5 billion more in the coming months.

“The amount might seem small, but they have been charg-

ing this to millions of consumers for the last four years, translating to billions already. With ERC’s action, consumers will most likely be paying even more for the next nine years. They’re killing us softly,” said POWER Convenor and former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño.

PSALM’s stranded costs are due to the onerous “take or pay” provisions in Napocor’s contracts with Independent Power Producers which allowed IPPs to charge Napocor even for unused power.

It is similar to the much-hated “power purchase adjustment (PPA)” that was abolished under the Arroyo administration. Most of the contracts were signed during the Ramos administration but was continued by succeeding governments, resulting in huge stranded contract costs.

Due to strong opposition to the passing on of such costs to consumers, it was only in 2013 that PSALM was able to get ERC approval. But said charge was supposed to have ended last February.

NBI summons NPO exec, employees to shed light on printing deal THE National Bureau of Investigation has summoned several personalities to shed light on the alleged anomalous deals that the National Printing Office had entered with three private companies.

The NBI said the probe is set on April 3 at the NBI’s AntiFraud Division.

NBI Deputy Director for Investigation Services Vicente De

Guzman said the NBI has subpoenaed NPO officer-in-charge Rolando Calauag, as well as former members of the NPO Bids and Awards Committee.

The former BAC members are former BAC chairperson Sherwin Prose Castañeda, Ma. Cristina Morales, Michelle Japson, Benedict Sagun, Amado Valsorable and BAC Secretariat members Teres Tobias, Dina

Badua, Winon Balmores, Wilma Delansig, Federico Israel Ramos III and Jennifer Tomas.

The NBI conducted an investigation after a request from the Presidential Communications Operations Office was sent to look into the deals which involved printing jobs for the Social Security System.

The NBI said the NPO already has a P74-million contract with

Western Visayas Printing Corp. but it still granted work orders to three other firms—Best Forms Security Printer for P34 million, Tri-Print Work for P27 million, and Metro Color Co. for P15 million.

The PCOO, through Communications Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Enrique Tandan, conducted an investigation which found “sufficient

basis” to refer the matter to the NBI for further investigation and possible filing of criminal charges before the Department of Justice.

Tandan said their investigation uncovered several irregularities and violations of the Government Procurement Reform Act (Republic Act 9184) and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019). Sandy Araneta

Sports

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FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Vintage PH Open show from Martes

I

LAGAN CITY—Track legend Christabel Martes of Team Baguio turned back the hands of time as she delivered a vintage performance in the opening blast of the 2017 Ayala Philippine National Open Invitational Athletics Championships Thursday at the Ilagan City Sports Complex here.

A two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, the 37-year-old Martes copped the gold medal in the women’s 10,000-meter run, putting her in a perfect position to revive her glorious national team career that was dotted with a handful of golden finishes and unforgettable performances in the international arena.

She registered 38 minutes and 40.52 seconds, while Jho-An Villarma of Philippine Army and Miscell Gilbuena of Philippine Air Force settled for the silver and bronze medals with 40:20.58 and 42:43.75, respectively.

Also making a strong performance in the first day of this prestigious tourney that is presented by the City of Ilagan and

sponsored by Ayala Corporation with Milo, Philippine Sports Commission and International Amateur Athletics Federation as co-presentors were Albert Mantua of RP Team-City of Ilagan, Immuel Camino of Philippine Air Force and Christian Dave Geraldino of Mapua.

Mantua, who is being handled by noted thrower Arniel Ferrera, tallied 14.90 meters to win the gold in the men’s shot put event while Ronmols Andawa of Jose Rizal University claimed the silver with a distance of 14.14 meters and Cris Paulo Haluber of Mapua punched the bronze with a mark of 12.13 meters.

On the same note, Camino, a product of Arellano University, edged SEA Games’ two-time gold

medalist Christopher Ulboc as he clocked 9:33.65 to win the gold in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase while Jomar Angus of RP Team-City of Ilagan (9:50.17) and Ike Jumao-as of Mapua (9:54.22) settled for the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

Ulboc, who ruled the event in the 2013 and 2015 biennial meet, was forced to withdraw from the race after aggravating his right thigh strain.

Geraldino was also impressive as he registered 1.89 meters to snatch the gold in the boys’ high jump event, while Ryan Teo of Singapore (1.86) and Gilbert Codera of San Beda (1.80) claimed the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

Felisberto de Jesus of Timor

Leste was the lone foreign bet, who made took home a gold medal in the morning action of Day 1 of this four-day battle as he registered 9:45.83 to rule the boys’ 3,000-meter steeplechase.

But still, the day belonged to Martes.

After going into semi-retirement to run her baking business and take care of her 10-year-old daughter, Martes stormed out of her abode in the City of Pines to chase a slot in the national team that will see action in the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur this August.

Her performance, in fact, was so impressive that she was able to overlap at least one competitor while an elite runner in former marathon queen Villarma was left

struggling to keep pace.

“I was leading right from the start so I just maintained my pace,” said Martes, who still holds the national record of 34:40.3 in the women’s 10,000-meter run that she tallied also in this event in 2001.

Martes, who won the gold in the 2001 and 2005 SEA Games before going into hiatus in 2009, said she can still compete at a higher level and maybe give reigning marathon queen Mary Joy Tabal a serious run for her money in a 42-kilometer race.

Tabal competed in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics last year, but opted to relinquish her spot in the national squad to concentrate on competing in commercial races in Cebu.

Palaro to fete legends

By Peter Atencio

Immuel Camino (right), a product of Arellano University, edged SEA Games’ two-time gold medalist Christopher Ulboc as he clocked 9:33.65 to win the gold in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase.

THE 60th edition of the Palarong Pambansa promises to be bigger and special this time around.

Four more sports disciplines have been added and athletes who became champions in the past and then later excelled at the national and international scene will be feted.

This will make the staging of the annual scholastics’ sports meet more exciting when action gets going on April 23 in San Jose, Buenavista, Antique.

Department of Education assistant secretary Tonisito Umali said Palaro athletes who later became “legends” will be recognized during the opening ceremonies.

Umali was at the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday with deputy secretary general Cesar Abalon.

Sprint queen Lydia de Vega and Elma Muros will lead the honorees, along with Marestela Torres in athletics.

Then, there’s Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco, of Bago City and Atlanta Olympic

Dalisay, Asilo pull off Brookside Open shockers WILD card Diego Dalisay and unranked Jet Justin Asilo came away with a pair of straight-set victories over their respective seeded rivals to barge into the quarterfinal round of the PPSPEPP Brookside Open at the Brookside Hills Tennis Club in Cainta yesterday.

The 17-year-old Dalisay from Spain hung tough in the first set then dominated the seventhranked Rolando Ruel Jr. in the next to fashion out a 6-4, 6-2 win while Asilo bundled out

sixth seed John Altiche, 7-5, 6-0, in the lower half of the draw of the P300,000 event sponsored

by Palawan Pawnsho-Palawan Express Pera Padala and hosted

by BHTC president Allan del Castillo.

But the duo will face tougher rivals in the next round with Dalisay tangling with third seed Leander Lazaro, who eased out Kyle Parpan, 6-2, 6-0, and Asilo clashing the No. 2 Patrick John Tierro, who clobbered Deo Talatayod, 6-2, 6-1.

Top seed Johnny Arcilla also rolled into the Last 8 stage with a 6-2, 6-2 romp over Jimmy Tangalin to seal an interesting showdown with No. 8 Marc Reyes, who held off Noel Damian Jr., 6-4, 6-2.

Fifth seed Ronard Joven dominated Mark Alcoseba in the decider, 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 10-0, to advance against No. 4 Fritz Verdad, who turned back Marcen Gonzales, 6-3, 6-4, in the event backed

by PPS-PEPP, Slazenger, Rep. Jack Duavit, Mayor Johnielle

Nieto, Victoria Construction, Mitsubishi Mirage, Rublou Mall, 9 One 9 Security Agency, chairman Buboy Sauro, BHTC president Allan del Castillo, Phoenix 5R Solid Waste Enterprises and Sebastian Rice Mill.

Second seed Christine Patrimonio, meanwhile, overpowered qualifier Grace Melchor, 6-1, 6-0, to move into the women’s quarters against the winner in the Melanie Dizon-Jennylyn Magpayo match being played at presstime.

No. 4 Rachelle de Guzman scored a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Moira Velicaria to arrange a duel with Nicole Eugenio, who repulsed Charito Capadocia, 6-1, 6-7(1), 10-3, while Miles Vitaliano gained a spot in the Last 8 with a 6-1, 6-0 romp over qualifier Reisha Nillasca.

Others vying for quarters berths at presstime are top seed Clarice Patrimonio, Danielle Carranza, Khrizelle Sampaton, Nicole Paez, Chloe Saraza and Mikaela Vicencio.

Phoenix slalom goes to Pampanga THE first out-of-town leg of the 2017 Phoenix National Slalom Series happens on Sunday at Robinsons Starmills in Pampanga.

Powered by Phoenix Premium 98 and Phoenix Accelerate fully synthetic oil, the slalom event begins with the 8 a.m. registration. A free slalom clinic is scheduled from 9 to 10 a.m.

Open practice runs are set from 8 to 10 a.m., while official practice sessions begin at 11 a.m. with each participant given only one official practice run regardless of how many cars the driver is entered.

Each participant will receive 4 liters (1 gallon) of Phoenix Accelerate fully synthetic oil.

Also slated is the Slalom Too class, wherein Clubman and experienced drivers can join. This class will not have a 360-degree turn and professional drivers are not allowed.

Overall and class champions must use the specified

Former Balita sports editor Terrenal dies FORMER Balita and Kabayan sports editor Celeste ‘Letlet’ Viana TerrenalMaring passed away last March 28 due to hyperthyroidism at the St. Dominic Hospital in Bacoor, Cavite.

She was 47.

She is survived by husband Ruverindo and children Caillie and Raevenne, parents, brothers and sisters.

Letlet, who graduated from the University of Sto. Tomas with the course of AB Journalism, started her sportswriting career in 1989 and covered the Southeast Asian Games as well as the PBA, UAAP, NCAA, PSC and POC. She also worked at the Department of Labor and Employment and PUPSta. Mesa.

Her remains lie in state at La Bien Memorial Chapel in Bacoor, Cavite. Interment will be at the Holy Trinity Cemetery on Sunday.

Federal Tyres for at least nine or 75% of the series and must possess the Automobile Association of the Philippines Clubman license. All drivers will be charged an additional fee of P300 per leg for the AAP Clubman License.

The national slalom events are affiliated with the AAP and FIA and is the longest-running motorsport discipline in the country.

The 2017 RACE National Slalom Series is presented by Phoenix Premium 98 and Phoenix Accelerate fully synthetic oil, with major sponsors Federal Tyres, Outlast Battery, Robinsons Starmills, and supported by Starbright Body Kits, Auto Transporter, Aeromed, Cars Unlimited Fairview and Mark Young Racing, media partners Stoplight TV, C! Magazine, Auto Car Magazine, Power Wheels Magazine and Ride and Drive Philippines.

The third leg will be on May 7 at the NFA Compound Cabanatuan City.

Twelve-year-old Inigo Anton, the novice best time of the day holder during the first leg

For details, contact Bing Bang O. Dulce at tel. nos 928-6951, 0922-8165344 or 0917-8119337 and e-mail racemotorsportsclub@yahoo.com or like the event’s Facebook page.

Mondilla seeks ICTSI Manila Masters repeat CLYDE Mondilla hopes to shrug off a slow start in the season as he goes for back-toback win in the ICTSI Manila Masters, which gets going April 5 at the Eastridge Golf Club in Binangonan, Rizal.

The 23-year-old Del Monte star nipped Jobim Carlos in a playoff to spark a three-leg romp in last year’s Philippine Golf Tour and went on to finish second to Tony Lascuña in the Order of Merit ranking.

But poor finishes marked his first three tournaments in the season, including a missed cut stint in the Solaire Philippine Open and a 21st-place effort in The Country Club Invitational.

He also struggled at 38th in the Anvaya Cove Invitational won by Angelo Que in runaway fashion last February.

But he toughened up back

Mondilla

home at Del Monte during the month-long break after the Phl Open, hopeful of putting it all together for another title crack in the P3 million event sponsored by ICTSI and backed by BDO, KZG, Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Sharp, Champion, Summit Mineral

Water and PLDT. Mondilla, who also won at Calatagan and at Mt. Malarayat last year, pooled a fiveunder 283 then nipped Carlos with a tap-in birdie on the closing par-5 hole of the upand-down layout in the playoff to snare last year’s crown.

But the rest of the 100-player field also firmed up their respective games during the break, including a crack international field, guaranteeing a shootout for the top P550,000 purse in the 72-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. The upcoming event also serves as the second leg of this year’s PGT and a tune-up for a three-leg Asian Development Tour swing at Luisita on May 3-6, Orchard on May 1013 and Manila Southwoods

on May 17-20.

Meanwhile, the PGTI will revive the Philippine Masters, one of the country’s four majors in the 90s, on May 24-27 at its home at Villamor Golf Club with Calatagan staging the seventh leg on June 7-10 and Forest Hills hosting the next stop on June 21-24.

The Duel, held in alternate year’s like the Ryder Cup, will be held July 5-6 at John Hay in Baguio with the best of the South (Visayas and Mindanao) slugging it out again with the Luzon aces.

Royal Northwoods will also be back as host of the circuit on July 12-15 followed by the Sherwood Hills Classic on Aug. 2-5, the Aboitiz Invitational, another ADT co-sanctioned event, on Aug. 9-12 at The Country Club.

silver medallist in boxing.

Others are Dyan Castillejo for tennis also Joper Escueta and Gabriel Magnaye for badminton; Violito Payla for boxing; Enchong Dee and Eric Buhain for swimming; Joan Chan for archery; and Mark Paragua for chess.

They also have in their list Philippine Basketball Association players Danny Ildefonso, Marlou Aquino, Willie Miller, Samboy Lim, and Kirby Raymundo; and Azkals’ Chieffy Caligdong.

Umali said they are among the outstanding talents that the Games have produced.

Organizers have also added wushu, wrestling, billiards and futsal to their list of regular events.

This means that instead of 21 sports disciplines, there will be a total of 25 that will be played during the weeklong meet.

“Ang dating demo sports na wushu, wrestling, billiards at futsal ay magiging bahagi na ng medal tally,” said Umali, who is also the Palarong Pambansa secretary general.

Ramirez: Local govts must play active role

By Randy Caluag PHILIPPINE Sports Commission Chairman Butch Ramirez yesterday exhorted politicians, especially heads of the Local Government Units to play an active role in sports development.

“The strength of sports development program is anchored on LGU’s active participation. This is the real goldmine,” said Ramirez, who spoke before LGU representatives from Metro Manila at the last leg of the multi-city sports caravan at the Shangrila in Makati.

Ramirez recognized the power and financial capabilities of the LGUs to gather their constituents in joining a unified sports program crafted by the national government.

“May mga cities na diyan na may sports programs and they just have to be aligned with the program of the PSC and there are still local governments which do not have programs yet, this is where we come in,” Ramirez added, who was joined by commissioners Arnold Agustin, Mon Fernandez and Charles Maxey.

Ramirez and his commissioners have gone to Cebu, Bacolod, Naga, Batangas and Baguio to strengthen their ties with LGU representatives for their major programs like the Batang Pinoy, National Games and Philippine Sports Institute, headed

by Mark Velasco.

“Sa aming pag-ikot, we just realized how important it is to really involve the LGUs in grassroots development and most of them are very enthusiastic. Some of them do not how to do it and we will be providing all their needs,” added Ramirez.

One of the priorities of the program is the revival of the Sports For All Program that was created by EO 63 of former President Fidel Ramos.

LOTTO RESULTS

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

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FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017

RMSC structures to remain intact THE present group that is seeking to purchase the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex from the City of Manila has no plans of tearing down all structures within the property.

Congressman Monsour del Rosario (first district of Makati) said this following a meeting with a group of developers interested in acquiring the historic place.

“Antayin natin ang presentation ng grupo na gustong bumili sa Rizal Memorial,” said del Rosario.

The city government of Manila plans to convert the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex into a sports, recreational and business center with the sale.

Earlier, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada made this clear Monday, adding the he wants it developed into a sports, recreational and business center under a joint venture agreement.”

Del Rosario revealed that the developers have plans of preserving the baseball field, the football field, the martial arts clubs and the basketball courts.

On the other hand, the places which the developers will not preserve, will be developed into a high rise residential area.

And they will have access to the remaining sports facilities around the area.

It was revealed to del Rosario that the developers also have plans to put up a sports museum for athletes who have brought honor to the country.

The developers are also thinking of setting aside a building for offices of national sports associations.

And if plans do push through, they want to make the place “more beautiful than the Ayala Museum.”

The city government is said to be negotiating with the Razon Group.

The complex was built in 1934.

Since then the Rizal Memorial Coliseum has been host to several international sports events such as the Far Eastern Games, 1954 Asian Games and the Southeast Asian Games (SEA) in 1981, 1991 and 2005.

Talks on the sale of the property will resume September. Peter Atencio

Sports Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry (30) dribbles past San Antonio Spurs defender LaMarcus Aldridge. Curry scored 29 points to lift the Warriors over their Western Conference rivals. AFP

Warriors erase 22-point deficit to defeat Spurs L

OS ANGELES—Stephen Curry scored 29 points as the Golden State Warriors fought back from a 22-point deficit to land a psychological blow against the San Antonio Spurs with a 110-98 road victory on Wednesday.

The Warriors who could ultimately end up facing San Antonio for a place in the NBA finals when the playoffs get under way ñ looked to be in deep trouble as the Spurs raced into a 29-7 first quarter lead.

But Curry and Klay Thomp-

son led a magnificent team effort to haul the Warriors back into contention in the second quarter, gradually chipping away at San Antonio’s lead to close within three points at halftime.

The Warriors then turned on the heat in the third quarter,

piling on the pressure to open up an 84-77 lead heading into the final period.

From there the Warriors were always able to keep San Antonio at arm’s length, and picked off the Spurs to claim an ultimately convincing win.

Curry’s points haul included four three-pointers, a tally matched by teammate Klay Thompson who had 23 points.

Andre Iguodala (14) and David West (15) also posted double figure tallies for the Dubs, who improved to 61-14 to lead

the Western Conference comfortably over San Antonio, who are 57-17.

San Antonio’s scoring was led by Kawhi Leonard with 19 points while Spanish star Pau Gasol had 18 points. LaMarcus Aldridge and Danny Green also made double figures.

Reigning NBA MVP Cur r y was satisfied with a victory that gives the Warriors a huge boost as the playoffs loom, with injured star Kevin Durant still to return to their ranks.

“We’re on the right track,” Curry said. “We don’t win a

COA rules hamper athletes

By Peter Atencio TALENTED athletes from cities and municipalities within Metro Manila are struggling in their effort to get rubber shoes and other athletic gear from local government units.

The problem is being felt

by LGUs in Metro Manila, now that the 2017 Palarong Pambansa is just around the corner.

Strict auditing rules from the Commission on Audit are contributing to the red tape that gets in the way of procuring quality sports equipment for athletes.

Former varsity player Bing Victoria, who now handles the sports development program of the city of Taguig, voiced this concern to the Philippine Sports Commission during yesterday’s Metro

Manila Sports Caravan.

“Bawal ang sapatos sa mga purchases under COA rules. Baka puedeng pakiusapan ang COA. Kasi, maraming batang magagaling.

Karamihan, out of school youth,” said Victoria during the talks held at the Shangrila Makati.

Victoria, who played for the University of the Philippines Maroons in college, said the city had plans to support track and field athletes with spiked shoes in the coming Palarong Pambansa.

But they had difficulty with this since there are not many sponsors they can approach. Stringent rules implemented by the COA has become a hindrance.

For now, Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano is helping resolve such issues by helping athletes buy their shoes using

her own personal funds, according to Victoria.

PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez said the government sports agency will seek an audience with officials of the COA regarding this concern.

It was revealed during the discussion with sports development heads of different LGUs within Metro Manila that getting quality athletic equipment becomes a problem once a bidding process takes place.

The athletes can only get low quality equipment according to other LGU respresentatives present. This is what happens when the lowest bid is accepted.

The quality of athletic gear is not even considered.

Ramirez took note of this and said that “the COA can be held liable” for every child who gets into trouble for using poor quality shoes.

Under Armour launches 3x3 tilt

ON THE BUTTON. ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang (right) hits durable Adrian Pang on the head. Folayang makes his first title defense on April 21 in Manila against Ev Ting. ONE Championship

Hotshots face hapless NLEX

By Jeric Lopez

TNT KaTropa point guard Jayson Castro sets up the TNT Ka Tropa offense while being hounded by Phoenix Petroleum defender RJ Jazul. TNT battles Blackwater at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

championship in this game but we understand we’re getting better as we get to the playoffs and that’s really the only focus right now. We want to keep it up.”

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich didn’t mince his words about the quality of his team’s opponents, describing the Warriors as the best team in the NBA. “They played great, they all played great,” Popovich said.

“They just played better. Curry, Thompson ñ they all made shots. That’s why they’re the best team in the league.” AFP

STAR Hotshots want to keep in-step with the other unbeaten teams as they shoot for a third straight victory in the resumption of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. The sizzling Hotshots (2 wins, 0 loss) eye a share of second place when they try to extend their winning run against hapless NLEX (0-3) at 7 p.m. tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Preceding that will be a tiff

between TNT KaTropa (1-1) and another winless team in Blackwater Elite (0-3) at 4:15 p.m.

After its resurgence during the past Philippine Cup, the Hotshots carried their momentum over and are currently showing everyone that they’ve recovered their formidable form again.

With import Tony Mitchell fitting in well with his teammates, the Hotshots raced to a strong start, winning their first two games in dominant fashion.

Star dismantled GlobalPort, 103-77, last Saturday with

everyone contributing for the Hotshots.

Another win for the Hotshots will allow them to keep up with the other teams at the top. A victory puts them in a tie with Alaska (3-0) for second place behind league-leader Meralco (4-0).

Over at the other end, the Road Warriors just can’t seem to get things right as their woes continue to pile up.

They endured their third straight defeat after being clobbered by Mahindra, 89-81, last Friday.

REGISTRATION is now in full swing for the Under Armour 3x3 Basketball tournament which is slated in two major Philippine cities to determine the country’s representative to the FIBA U18 Asia Cup slated in Malaysia in May. Organized by Under Armour Southeast Asia and sanctioned by the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP), the tournament is open to all Under-18 Filipino male and female basketballers.

Registration locations are available online at www.ua3x3. com and can be made at all Under Armour Brand Houses and selected Olympic Village branches until April 9.

“Our advocacy is to give everybody the chance to shine, whether you play on the street or in the big league, join us here and achieve your dream,” said Adrian Chai, executive director and co-founder of Triple Private Limited, exclusive distributor of Under Armour in Southeast Asia.

Each player who signed up will receive a set of Under Armour team wear that consists of UA Tech Tank Top and UA Baseline Basketball Shorts with a combined worth of P5,000 per player or P20,000 per team of four sets.

Participants will also receive 25% discount voucher on Under Armour basketball footwear, including the latest signature Curry 3 Basketball Shoes that deliver infinite support and total control on the court.

Alsons posted higher ’16 operating income B2

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017

B1

PH millers dumping excess sugar

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

C

OCA COLA Femsa Philippines Inc. and Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. agreed to buy in advance their sugar requirements for 2018 to lessen the pressure on prices of sugar as some millers resorted to dumping the commodity outside their warehouses because of the glut amid the entry of imported sweeteners.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said Thursday the two beverage companies made the commitment during a meeting with officials of the Sugar

Regulatory Administration, industry stakeholders, sugar millers and planters and representatives from the Trade and Agriculture Departments who

were trying to resolve the current crisis.

“We all started with the premise that there is no crisis which cannot be solved. The sugar industry is complaining that they have oversupply of sugar right now,” Piñol said.

“One miller showed us sugar being dumped outside of their warehouse, because it [warehouse] is already full and because of that they tried to discover what were the contributory factors dragging down the price of sugar,” he said.

Piñol said the use of high fructose corn syrup could be a possible cause behind current

low sugar prices as beverage companies were using HFCS in place of sugar to produce softdrinks.

“Coca Cola now is using 90-percent HFCS and just 10 percent sugar. So I found valid grounds on the complaints of sugar farmers but my point is, the use of HFCS was prompted by the lower cost of the HFCS over sugar,” he said.

“We asked Coca Cola to increase their consumption of local sugar from 90-10 [90 percent HFCS and 10 percent sugar] to 80-20. They also agreed that to diffuse the pressure, they promised to make advance purchase of

sugar requirement for 2018 this time,” said Piñol.

The agriculture chief said the two companies agreed to increase utilization of local sugar provided that they were given access to “D” sugar, referring to local sugar output for exports.

“They said that if we can assure them they will have access to ‘D’ sugar, they will increase their consumption provided we give them enough time to adjust their processing,” said Piñol.

The SRA issued Sugar Order No. 3 on March 10 to regulate the entry of imported HFCS. “All stakeholders agreed that Sugar Order no. 3 is valid and le-

IN BRIEF

PCC backs proposed national broadband

ABS-CBN allocates P8b for 2017 capex

ABS-CBN Corp. is spending P8 billion this year to expand its cable, broadband and digital infrastructure, a top executive said Thursday.

“We’re still looking at the vicinity of about P8 billion in terms of capex [capital expenditures],” ABS-CBN chief financial officer Aldrin Cerrado said.

“Very much the same allocation as last year, we’re still improving on our infrastructure for broadband which is the biggest grower in terms of revenue and subscribers for the cable, satellite and broadband business,” Cerrado said.

ABS-CBN spent P7.7 billion last year, including P4.11 billon for the company’s digital initiatives, P2.16 billon for cable, satellite and broadband and P1.45 billion for program rights.

The company’s cable, satellite and broadband business posted a 9.1-percent increase in revenues to P8.8 billion in 2016 from P8.1 billion in 2015.

SkyCable saw an 8-percent growth in revenues, driven by the introduction of SkyDirect, its newly launched direct-to-home pay TV offering and the continued sharp increase in broadband subscriber base. Darwin G. Amojelar

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Philippine Competition Commission is recommending measures to make the proposed National Broadband Plan more beneficial to consumers.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology is spearheading the formulation and implementation of NBP to upgrade the quality of broadband services in the country, widen its reach, and link all government agencies, public institutions and local government units through the internet.

The DICT is looking at about P78 billion to build NBN. “The objective of the NBP is to ensure that all Filipinos will reap the benefits of broadband, address challenges in the sector, and accelerate broadband deployment,” PCC said in a position paper. “The PCC supports the DICT in its efforts to improve broadband services in the country.”

PCC said to ensure that the NBP would be effective in attaining its goals, several measures were needed, including giving regulators such as the National Telecommunications Commission more teeth to enforce its mandate, reviewing the competition landscape in the telco sector and resolving interconnection issues in the broadband market.

The NTC should be given sufficient tools to overcome several challenges that hamper its ability to effectively regulate the industry, it said.

Recommendations also include amending Republic Act 7925 that would allow NTC to impose higher penalties on telco players that are violating the country’s laws and regulations.

PH, Japan sign P340-m Mindanao energy grant

PLDT-CISCO PARTNERSHIP. PLDT Inc. and global IT company Cisco strengthen their partnership to offer next-generation

business solutions for big companies and small and medium enterprises. Shown during a news conference at Ascott Hotel in Fort Bonifacio are PLDT chief revenue officer and ePLDT president and chief executive Eric Alberto and Cisco president of enterprise and commercial for Asia Pacific Irving Tan. Sonny Espiritu.

Fitch keeps PH investment-grade rating

By Julito G. Rada CREDIT watchdog Fitch Ratings affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign credit rating at investment-grade ‘BBB-’ with a positive outlook, an indication of a possible upgrade over next year or two.

The London-based rating agency said in a report the Philippines’ strong growth momentum, robust net external creditor position and low and manageable debt levels supported the Philippines’ rating.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the latest positive outlook of Fitch Ratings on the Philippines was a proof the political noise has “failed to dent” the country’s growth story resulting from its strong macroeconomic performance and continued political stability amid the Duterte administration’s reform agenda and tough war on illicit drugs and other crimes.

‘Fitch Rating’s latest affirmation of its positive outlook on the Philippines only

Malampaya’s proceeds totaled P990b since ’01 PROCEEDS from the Malampaya gas-to-power project in northwest Palawan hit P990 billion since 2001, including P416.768 billion that went to the government.

Data from the Energy Department and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed of the amount, P295.587 billion was spent for cost-recovery or the amount aligned to recoup capital investments in the project, while P298.1 billion went to the Malampaya consortium as contractor’s revenue.

The Malampaya consortium is composed of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. and Chevron Malampaya Llc with 45-percent stake each and PNOC Exploration Corp. with 10 percent.

Government revenues reached P416.768 billion from the Malampaya project, data showed. Of the government revenues, P127.661 billion represented corporate income tax payment; P37.567 billion, branch profit remittance tax; P100.6 billion, assistance to local

gal but that does not preclude the opportunity and the possibility of amending it to respond to the concerns of the sectors [beverage]. We were able to determine that the HFCS of Coke and Pepsi before March 10 are not covered

by SO 3 and therefore should be released from customs pending the necessary documents,” Piñol said.

Pinol said Coca Cola will write officially to SRA asking for a clarification on the coverage effectivity of the SO 3 which is March 10, and seeking clarification that shipments which came before the issuance of the order should not be covered by SO 3.

government units; and P150.919 billion, Malampaya fund.

The Malampaya gas project generated gross proceeds of P50.34 billion in 2016 alone, slightly lower than P55.148 billion in 2015, because of lower oil prices in the world market.

Around P16 billion was spent for cost recovery last year, while contractor revenues amounted to P13.7 billion.

Government revenues from Malampaya reached P20.55 billion in 2016, including P5.87 billion in corporate income tax, P1.774 billion in branch profit remittance tax, P5.162 billion in LGU assistance and P7.743 billion in Malampaya fund.

The gas-to-power project, which started operations in 2001, supplies power to natural gas plants in Batangas province, with a combined capacity of more than 3,000 megawatts.

The Duterte administration wants to tap the Malampaya fund to reduce electricity cost.

Alena Mae S. Flores

means that the political chatter emanating from certain quarters has failed to dent the country’s sustained-growth narrative resulting from its strong economic performance, continued political stability and aggressive infrastructure and human capital investments under the Duterte presidency,” Dominguez said in a statement.

The Philippines grew by an average of 6.6 percent over the past five years, becoming one of the world’s fastest growing economies, it said.

Fitch said the sustained rapid growth happened alongside declining debt ratios and the implementation of a range of structural reforms, led by vital pieces of economic legislation, which helped keep the Philippines on a strong growth trajectory.

Fitch said it was expecting the Philippine economy to sustain its strong growth performance and its gross domestic product likely to increase by 6.8

percent in 2017 and 6.7 percent in 2018.

Domestic demand supported by private consumption and investment spending continued to fuel economic growth, it said. The sustained strong performance of the business process outsourcing sector also remained supportive of domestic demand, according to Fitch.

Capital formation grew a hefty 20.8 percent in 2016. Meanwhile, BPO revenues are projected to reach $24.5 billion this year from the estimated $22.9 billion in revenues in 2016.

Fitch highlighted the country’s strong external position with sustained current account surpluses, high levels of international reserves and low and declining external debt. “The Philippines’ current account has been in surplus since 2003 which has led to a steady increase in its foreign exchange reserves and supports its net external creditor position,” Fitch said.

Duterte appoints new Napocor head

By Alena Mae S. Flores MALACAÑANG appointed Pio Benavidez as new president of state-run National Power Corp. in place of Gladys Sta. Rita.

Benavidez was appointed to the board only this month prior to his appointment as new president.

Benavidez served as a former vice president of Napocor a few years ago and was later hired by Marubeni Philippines.

“Yes, it is my oath-taking,” Benavidez said, said when pressed for comment on Thursday.

Sta. Rita, meanwhile, was appointed by former president Benigno Aquino III in 2013.

Napocor disclosed a net income of P1.6 billion in 2016, lower than P4.9 billion in 2015.

Napocor said in a statement it sustained a positive income since 2012.

“The good financial position of the corporation for 2016 is attributed to the corporation’s fiscal prudence and good governance practices. The restructured tariff recovery approach, more proactive recovery of the Universal Charge for Missionary Electrification and sustained high collection efficiency also helped in maintaining our good financial standing,” Napocor said.

Napocor in 2014 filed before the Energy

Regulatory Commission a petition for a restructured tariff recovery approach to bring the gap between cost and revenue closer.

ERC provisionally approved a P0.1163 per kilowatt-hour basic universal charge for missionary electrification, up from P0.0454 per kWh previously.

ERC said the provisionally approved tariff gave the corporation a greater fiscal muscle. It allowed them to fund most of the expenses using current revenues.

Napocor said the sustained collection efficiency also contributed to the corporation’s finances. Its collection efficiency for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao excluding Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi rose to 98.38 percent in 2016 from 85 percent in 2012.

“We owe our sound collection efficiency to the dialogs we have been organizing with our customers since the past three years. These dialogues paved the way for a better and faster communication line and better services we give to our customers,” Sta. Rita said.

Napocor procured 56 new generating sets with an aggregate capacity of 13.55 megawatts. These gen sets were distributed to 47 Small Power Utilities Group power plants which allowed an enhanced power supply in the islands.

THE Philippines and Japan on Thursday signed a P340-million grant agreement for the improvement of electric cooperatives’ equipment in Mindanao’s conflict-affected areas.

National Economic and Development Authority director-general Ernesto Pernia said the project was expected to contribute to the long-term goal of reducing system loss by 13 percent, increasing line capacity by 130 percent and improving electric cooperatives’ power distribution equipment installation and maintenance work in Bangsamoro Area.

The project involves the provision of power distribution equipment such as transformers, poles, conductors and boom trucks to electric cooperatives.

It will be implemented by the National Electrification Administration and is a part of Japan International Cooperation Agency’s continuing support to peace and development in Mindanao.

The project will upgrade the power distribution equipment of six electric cooperatives operating in the area. Julito G. Rada

Ford remains bullish despite higher taxes

FORD Philippines said it will bring the best vehicles to the Philippine market despite the threat of higher taxes the government intends to impose on the automotive industry.

“We’re very much aware of it and we are very supportive of the government’s plan to invest in a brighter future for the Philippines. We’re waiting for the government to release the final version before we can comment on it,” Ford Philippines managing director Lance Mosley said in an interview Thursday in Pasay City, referring to the proposed excise taxes on vehicles.

“At this point we’re working closely with the government to provide some of our feedback, some of our points of discussions. We understand that there’s gonna be some impact to business,” Mosley said.

He said whatever decision the Philippine government came up with should be able “to address and work out a level playing field” for all automotive players.

Othel V. Campos

B2

Business

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market rises; Jollibee, Megawide top gainers S TOCKS rose Thursday, on window dressing near the end of the first quarter and after Fitch Ratings retained the country’s investment-grade credit score with a positive outlook.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, rose 8 points, or 0.1 percent, to close at 7,332.59, as four of the six major sectors—industrial, mining and oil, services and holding firms—advanced.

The heavier index, representing all shares, gained 7 points, or 0.2 percent, to settle at 4,411.65, on a value turnover of P7.6 billion.

Losers edged gainers, 92 to 91, while 49 issues were unchanged.

Twelve of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Megawide Construction Corp. which climbed 4.6 percent to P17.78 and Jollibee Foods Corp. which rose 3.5 percent to P194.50. Port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. went up 2.4 percent to P88.

Meanwhile, Asian stocks fell as investors approached the end of the best quarter for global equities since 2013. The yen weakened and crude extended Wednesday’s surge.

Asian markets turned negative following two days of gains, but energy firms were lifted by an oil rally while the pound held up after Britain formally triggered talks to leave the European Union.

Trading floors turned red at the start of the week as Donald Trump’s failure to push through his healthcare reform fuelled worries about the prospects for his economy-

boosting agenda.

But regional traders have regained some confidence since Monday, fuelled by optimism about the US economy—as data points to a healthy outlook—and the hopes the new president will eventually be able to deliver promised tax-cut and spending measures.

Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader, said: “It looks like the Trumponomics rally is as much about the actual improvement in the data as it is about expectations of the future in a Trumponomics world.”

Asia was unable to press on with the recent gains and by the break Tokyo ended 0.8 percent down, while Hong Kong slipped 0.4 percent and Shanghai lost one percent. Seoul dipped 0.1 percent while Singapore, Jakarta and Taipei also retreated.

With Bloomberg, AFP

Alsons posted higher ’16 operating income

By Alena Mae S. Flores ALSONS Consolidated Resources Corp. said Thursday revenues jumped 42 percent in 2016 from a year ago, but net income declined 8 percent mainly because of finance charges on a project loan for the Sarangani coal plant.

Alsons said in a disclosure to the stock exchange net income fell 8 percent in 2016 to P636 million from P691 million in 2015 while net income attributable to the parent company increased 69 percent to P317 million from P188 million. Earnings per share rose 72 percent to P0.05 in 2016 from P0.028 in 2015.

Alsons operating profit increased 25 percent to P1.89 billion in 2016 from the previous year’s operating profit of P1.51 billion. Earnings be-

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.36 1,000 48.95 9,400 101 1,146,220 3.96 13,000 118.5 2,257,930 1.16 53,000 41 94,400 16.5 1,600 20.5 144,900 1.61 50,000 780 350 0.66 1,170,000 79.8 2,968,430 0.72 142,000 14.7 20,700 25.2 1,600 55.5 121,720 239.8 9,880 118 10 88.9 10 38 1,088,100 201.8 540,480 1,740 110 79.65 38,480 1.21 7,000

3,360 459,815 115,784,746 51,480 268,017,504 60,980 3,888,795 26,400 2,981,240 80,500 277,250 772,500 235,636,900.50 102,590 304,290 40,320 6,742,745 2,369,450 1,180 889 41,683,335 109,052,086 190,750 3,061,105.50 8,470

415,775 46,472,402 -58,532,446 -779,080 79,750 324,720 19,592,212.50 -962,745.50 2,318,866 6,971,330 403,842 -2,001,015 -

41.75 5.28 0.8 1.36 18.5 0.243 105.8 7.4 16.92 193 23.3 14.5 62.5 88.1 1.93 5.91 12.1 12.64 7.77 5.95 6.01 21.85 71.25 12.5 15 7.2 1.49 189 73.1 5.2 3.75 30.9 25.9 17.1 271.8 0.243 6.4 3.7 8.75 11.54 2.19 8 1.86 73.9 4.89 281 4.76 2.76 13.58 4.45 0.142 1.37 161.8 4.28 1.5 1.08

INDUSTRIAL 41.85 1,053,800 5.39 1,135,900 0.8 190,000 1.4 1,384,000 19.52 300 0.249 4,490,000 105.8 10 7.42 5,926,200 16.94 3,800,900 193 10 23.65 287,400 15.2 5,200 62.5 80 88.1 220 1.97 548,000 5.92 24,200 12.2 4,400 12.9 2,281,200 7.85 842,900 5.99 15,823,000 6.12 18,588,000 22 2,957,900 71.3 65,650 12.9 28,600 15.48 10,000 7.27 1,331,600 1.5 243,000 194.5 1,043,500 73.1 100 5.2 4,579,600 3.89 18,000 31 670,600 26 413,400 17.78 12,664,200 274.8 211,650 0.246 7,300,000 6.4 47,800 3.72 6,460,000 8.78 2,187,300 11.54 18,600 2.22 1,249,000 8.3 12,707,900 1.9 332,000 74 423,150 4.9 50,000 286.2 97,670 4.76 53,000 2.76 47,000 13.66 688,600 4.5 181,000 0.144 630,000 1.37 67,000 163 1,226,990 4.49 13,000 1.52 552,000 1.08 157,000

44,107,240 6,081,806 152,000 1,960,580 5,756 1,129,150 1,058 44,195,870 64,618,394 1,930 6,734,780 76,004 5,000 19,586 1,074,000 143,194 53,758 29,259,170 6,616,196 94,803,699 113,546,474 65,383,435 4,681,478 359,668 152,174 9,659,417 363,720 202,516,890 7,310 24,744,780 67,830 20,785,060 10,758,990 223,652,208 58,268,806 1,794,000 306,524 24,030,200 19,209,496 214,826 2,752,540 104,275,971 621,490 31,335,286 244,970 27,850,432 252,880 129,720 9,411,816 807,830 90,310 92,060 199,341,822 56,270 840,290 169,660

3,146,600 130,674.00 140,000 -14,399,613 6,664,210 -2,128,750 -5,027,146 -5,732,553 -85,066,658 61,998,300 -21,824,735 77,398 -4,650 2,904,744 37,500 83,035,656 2,867,313 17,439,015 -4,471,420 -14,493,424.00 28,752,204 -1,405,530 -5,890,274 1,003,300 6,048,311.00 -10,256,647 5,110,448 -3,744,926 13,267,733 -88,200 -

0.375 75.95 12.7 1.1 6.19 0.32 845 8.78 11.86 7.98 1,210 6.2 82.9 1.03 7.98 16.3 6.15 0.056 1.1 103.7 2.61 697 1.47 273.6 0.3 0.186

0.365 75.1 12.46 1.1 6.02 0.31 841.5 8.6 11.6 7.9 1,160 6.2 82.4 1 7.85 16 6.06 0.053 1.01 101.8 2.53 693 1.4 273 0.295 0.185

HOLDING FIRMS 0.375 760,000 75.3 924,940 12.46 4,069,100 1.1 44,000 6.18 9,900 0.315 1,970,000 842 913,980 8.6 777,500 11.6 14,349,600 7.98 27,900 1,177 113,330 6.2 4,100 82.7 1,556,570 1 4,494,000 7.92 399,700 16.08 6,682,900 6.07 46,641,200 0.054 41,220,000 1.1 26,000 102.8 145,060 2.53 160,000 696 749,370 1.4 39,000 273.6 16,840 0.295 340,000 0.185 510,000

281,000 69,755,484 50,814,618 48,400 59,839 620,200 770,307,025 6,733,989 167,860,150 221,674 133,400,460 25,420 128,617,592 4,509,270 3,164,000 107,598,286 283,813,150 2,242,100 27,970 14,862,661 410,550 520,825,970 55,600 4,606,114 101,250 94,740

103,750 19,090,231.50 18,697,598 24,898,035 -560,792 -118,380,242 -63,887,550 26,533,316 -319,641 -1,043,012.00 -74,666,903 8,180 -917,317 295,485,325 -28,160 -46,612 -

6.82 0.96 2.3 1.35 34.2 4.05 5.14 0.495 1.25 0.16 0.53 54.5 0.7 0.173 1.67 0.96 1.18 4.05 3.55 0.223 0.31 0.61

6.78 0.93 2.26 1.27 33.4 3.96 5.01 0.49 1.2 0.158 0.52 53.55 0.69 0.17 1.65 0.96 1.18 4.05 3.39 0.215 0.3 0.58

PROPERTY 6.8 480,200 0.94 259,000 2.29 1,052,000 1.27 7,630,000 33.85 11,427,400 3.99 5,282,000 5.14 2,600 0.495 3,060,000 1.21 105,000 0.158 6,780,000 0.52 844,000 54.1 162,160 0.7 6,000 0.172 250,000 1.65 4,443,000 0.96 2,219,000 1.18 55,000 4.05 5,000 3.39 32,107,000 0.216 33,880,000 0.31 550,000 0.59 35,234,000

3,264,791 244,790 2,396,370 9,953,380 385,876,710 21,147,220 13,299 1,509,350 126,610 1,074,240 444,500 8,743,543 4,180 42,750 7,365,850 2,130,240 64,900 20,250 109,938,660 7,414,120 166,750 20,860,960

-2,768,142 -33,780,750 144,650 455,300 -72,080 899,022.50 -5,670,320 19,200 -58,551,580 -89,410 -532,300

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

3.36 48.95 100 3.96 119.7 1.15 41.4 16.5 20.75 1.61 800 0.66 78.1 0.72 14.7 25.2 55.3 239.8 118 88.9 38.5 202 1,730 79.5 1.21

3.36 48.95 101.4 3.96 119.7 1.16 41.45 16.5 20.75 1.61 800 0.67 79.8 0.73 14.7 25.2 55.5 242.4 118 88.9 38.5 202.8 1,740 79.7 1.21

3.36 48.9 100 3.96 118.3 1.15 41 16.5 20.2 1.61 780 0.66 78.1 0.72 14.7 25.2 55.15 239.8 118 88.9 37.85 201.2 1,730 79.5 1.21

ABOITIZ POWER 41.9 AGRINURTURE 5.39 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.8 ALSONS CONS 1.37 ASIABEST GROUP 19.54 BASIC ENERGY 0.249 BOGO MEDELLIN 105.8 CEMEX HLDG 7.55 CENTURY FOOD 16.92 CHEMPHIL 193 CIRTEK HLDG 23.35 CNTRL AZUCARERA 14.5 CONCEPCION 62.5 CONCRETE A 92 CROWN ASIA 1.96 DAVINCI CAPITAL 5.91 DEL MONTE 12.4 DNL INDUS 12.68 EEI CORP 7.77 EMPERADOR 6 ENERGY DEVT 6.01 FIRST GEN 22 FIRST PHIL HLDG 71.35 GINEBRA 12.5 HOLCIM 15 INTEGRATED MICR 7.37 IONICS 1.51 JOLLIBEE 189 LIBERTY FLOUR 73.1 LMG CHEMICALS 5.59 MABUHAY VINYL 3.8 MANILA WATER 30.9 MAXS GROUP 26.4 MEGAWIDE 17.1 MERALCO 272 MG HLDG 0.248 PANASONIC 6.4 PEPSI COLA 3.73 PETRON 8.8 PHINMA 11.56 PHINMA ENERGY 2.23 PHX PETROLEUM 8.02 PHX SEMICNDCTR 1.86 PILIPINAS SHELL 74.2 PRYCE CORP 4.89 PUREFOODS 281 RFM CORP 4.8 ROXAS HLDG 2.76 SHAKEYS PIZZA 13.66 SPC POWER 4.45 SWIFT FOODS 0.142 TKC METALS 1.4 UNIV ROBINA 161.8 VICTORIAS 4.28 VITARICH 1.54 VULCAN INDL 1.09

42.1 5.39 0.8 1.45 19.54 0.255 105.8 7.58 17.14 193 23.65 15.2 62.5 92 1.99 5.92 12.4 12.9 7.9 6.01 6.12 22.5 71.4 12.9 15.5 7.39 1.52 194.7 73.1 5.68 3.89 31 26.4 17.92 277 0.249 6.54 3.74 8.91 11.56 2.23 8.34 1.9 74.2 4.9 288 4.8 2.76 13.76 4.5 0.144 1.4 163.9 4.49 1.55 1.09

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

0.37 75.1 12.58 1.1 6.02 0.31 842 8.78 11.84 7.98 1,194 6.2 82.7 1.03 7.98 16 6.1 0.056 1.01 103 2.61 693 1.46 273.6 0.3 0.186

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

6.79 0.96 2.3 1.3 33.9 3.97 5.14 0.495 1.21 0.16 0.53 54.5 0.69 0.172 1.66 0.96 1.18 4.05 3.52 0.22 0.305 0.6

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VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

734,000 2,520,000 77,000 115,000 7,901,100 9,944,000 26,000 4,893,000

3,349,490 58,959,180 134,100 388,670 224,516,260 9,898,370 23,140 24,228,060

13,380 18,901,800 -51,217,350 -54,540 2,799,080

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

4.44 23.65 1.71 3.35 28.65 0.97 0.89 4.92

4.7 23.95 1.75 3.4 28.85 1.01 0.89 5

4.43 23.05 1.71 3.35 28.25 0.97 0.89 4.88

4.7 23.2 1.75 3.4 28.4 0.99 0.89 5

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

9.5 46.5 0.048 12 5.44 7.73 0.079 2.08 93.9 8.45 5.7 2,020 6.53 16.14 3.24 3.65 86.2 12.38 9 0.178 1.29 3.67 15 4.23 3.76 2.69 6.73 3.69 16.5 2.92 11.4 5.3 3.09 177 7.78 1,620 1.59 0.445 43.7 77.2 5.89 2.08 1.11 1.67 3.2 0.38

9.65 46.55 0.049 12 5.44 7.88 0.079 2.1 96.8 8.45 5.75 2,030 6.58 16.4 3.24 3.72 89.2 12.4 9.04 0.18 1.29 3.68 15 4.25 3.8 2.69 6.85 3.69 16.5 3 11.4 5.49 3.16 177 7.9 1,620 1.6 0.455 44.15 77.2 5.93 2.16 1.12 1.75 3.24 0.39

9.2 46 0.047 11.9 5.44 7.65 0.076 2.05 93.9 8.45 5.01 2,010 6.5 16.06 3.14 3.61 86.05 12.2 9 0.178 1.29 3.58 15 4.17 3.75 2.53 6.62 3.6 16.5 2.89 11.4 5.2 3.07 170 7.6 1,599 1.57 0.445 43.35 77 5.89 2.07 1.09 1.67 3.2 0.38

SERVICES 9.58 491,400 46.5 5,500 0.047 73,800,000 11.9 1,100 5.44 1,300 7.74 13,555,800 0.078 58,850,000 2.1 1,514,000 95.15 835,890 8.45 2,500 5.18 59,700 2,030 46,410 6.5 1,871,700 16.4 94,200 3.15 1,178,000 3.72 25,000 88 5,509,810 12.3 18,000 9.03 350,000 0.178 4,760,000 1.29 150,000 3.58 178,000 15 300 4.25 892,000 3.8 305,000 2.55 219,000 6.76 11,907,500 3.6 722,000 16.5 200 2.98 1,021,000 11.4 2,000 5.3 69,300 3.16 113,000 177 2,120 7.77 149,500 1,606 76,585 1.58 12,430,000 0.445 8,140,000 43.35 1,411,300 77.1 631,370 5.93 123,900 2.14 1,221,000 1.09 2,648,000 1.75 18,000 3.2 227,000 0.39 180,000

4,652,470 255,520 3,517,600 13,100 7,072 105,590,349 4,565,710 3,142,600 79,573,918 21,125 328,489 93,983,160 12,183,253 1,537,488 3,731,210 90,870 483,939,508 221,860 3,158,170 850,750 193,500 641,600 4,500 3,754,530 1,148,740 564,530 80,440,258 2,612,120 3,300 3,014,520 22,800 366,309 348,660 375,170 1,162,771 122,764,330 19,682,960 3,643,000 61,606,305 48,675,197.50 730,457 2,592,210 2,924,390 30,140 728,770 68,950

14,730 37,000 -13,954,837 2,310 -69,040 -8,014,699 -560 36,298,060 -278,056,477 123,960 -103,200 923,550 -4,004,322 -140,990 -439,500 -23,920 -311,520 -8,555 3,277,480 -502,270 251,000 -4,213,895 -42,030,955 -926,510 -152,590 236,950 15,500

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

0.0032 1.48 5.31 1.8 1.79 0.58 0.41 9.31 2.72 0.25 0.182 0.201 0.011 1.72 6.19 2.2 0.455 0.86 0.011 0.012 4 0.014 8.5 3.3 147.1 2.66 0.0086

0.0033 1.55 5.32 1.8 1.79 0.59 0.41 9.32 2.85 0.25 0.182 0.201 0.012 1.72 6.35 2.21 0.455 0.9 0.012 0.012 4.15 0.014 8.52 3.53 149 2.66 0.0086

0.0032 1.46 5.28 1.8 1.79 0.56 0.4 8.7 2.72 0.249 0.181 0.191 0.011 1.72 6.19 2.12 0.455 0.86 0.011 0.012 4 0.013 8.42 3.3 147 2.66 0.0086

MINING & OIL 0.0032 15,000,000 1.5 5,708,000 5.28 34,400 1.8 31,000 1.79 10,000 0.58 4,513,000 0.4 90,000 9.32 400 2.84 8,242,000 0.25 50,000 0.182 1,800,000 0.191 30,000 0.012 3,200,000 1.72 122,000 6.29 3,319,400 2.21 13,000 0.455 10,000 0.9 30,000 0.011 45,100,000 0.012 10,000,000 4.01 28,000 0.014 48,700,000 8.44 1,271,100 3.42 3,918,000 147.4 1,509,560 2.66 8,000 0.0086 1,000,000

48,100 8,658,150 182,370 55,800 17,900 2,569,710 36,100 3,664 23,165,020 12,480 326,500 5,830 35,400 209,840 20,856,746 28,540 4,550 26,630 508,800 120,000 112,410 653,300 10,741,744 13,495,060 222,172,752 21,280 8,600

-563,970 -1,570 -17,900 -1,561,860 2,010 209,840 -13,231,372 -11,200 1,763,439 -23,980 13,473,498 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 DD PREF GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR MWIDE PREF PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A SFI PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

46 540 105.8 525 6.03 107.8 1,020 106 2.36 77.85 80 76.7 77.7 78 78.5 79.45

47.2 540 105.8 525 6.08 107.8 1,020 106 2.36 77.85 81 76.7 78.5 78 78.5 79.45

46 528 105.1 525 6.02 107.8 1,019 106 2.11 77.85 80 76.5 77.7 78 78 79

PREFERRED 47.2 31,100 528 2,010 105.8 34,810 525 100 6.04 1,406,800 107.8 500 1,019 4,445 106 6,000 2.35 5,000 77.85 100 81 28,600 76.7 49,540 78.5 2,000 78 18,400 78 128,600 79 30,020

1,452,105 1,061,400 3,680,515 52,500 8,503,645 53,900 4,529,485 636,000 11,280 7,785 2,290,000 3,797,952 156,600 1,435,200 10,030,900 2,373,836

1,447,505 -4,913,489 -

LR WARRANT

2.28

2.28

2.19

WARRANTS 2.2 54,000

118,910

-92,390

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

3.71 2.93 6.61 9.93

3.71 2.93 6.85 10.2

3.6 2.93 6.61 9.93

SME 3.6 2.93 6.8 10.04

2,205,940 73,250 575,295 20,267,290

508,590 291,140

121.5

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 121.4 121.4 2,360

FIRST METRO ETF 121.5

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

SHARES

VALUE

10,082,662 116,090,279 165,978,654

832,053,300.59 1,583,278,414.269 2,621,748,046.508

192,855,085 221,954,259 155,031,774 864,734,453

1,010,844,509.46 1,262,345,732.184 304,100,809.904 7,637,779,938.919

605,000 25,000 84,700 2,024,500

286,514

-151,750

FINANCIAL 1,824.29 (DOWN) 0.15 INDUSTRIAL 10,961.63 (UP) 118.07 HOLDING FIRMS 7,494.02 (UP) 0.26 PROPERTY 3,159.60 (DOWN) 10.69 SERVICES 1,531.95 (UP) 1.77 MINING & OIL 12,028.29 (UP) 65.44 PSEI 7,332.59 (UP) 8.59 All Shares Index 4,411.65 (UP) 7.35 Gainers:91; Losers:92; Unchanged:49; Total: 232

fore interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization jumped 52 percent to P2.69 billion from P1.78 billion in 2015.

Consolidated revenues surged 42 percent to P7.07 billion last year from P4.97 billion in 2015 after the first 105-megawatt unit of the Sarangani Energy Plant in Sarangani province started operating in April 2016.

The Sarangani plant provides baseload power to over three million people residing in the provinces of Sarangani, Compostela Valley, Agusan del Norte and Agusan de l Sur; the cities of General Santos, Iligan, Butuan, and other major population centers in Mindanao.

The company began construction of SEC’s second 105-MW section in January and targets to complete it in the first half of 2019.

The second unit will benefit an additional three million residents of South Cotabato, Davao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Cagayan de Oro City and other areas in Mindanao.

The Sarangani power facility was built at a cost of nearly $600 million and is the single largest investment in Sarangani province and the entire Region 12.

Alsons also operates three diesel power facilities in Mindanao.

PLDT bullish on enterprise solutions

By Darwin G. Amojelar PLDT Inc. said Thursday it expects a 15-percent growth in revenues from its home and enterprise businesses this year.

“Hopefully, we can hit P70 billion, but our target is P68 billon combined this year, which is a double-digit growth,” PLDT chief revenue officer and ePLDT president and chief executive Eric Alberto told reports at the sidelines of the PLDT and Cisco partnership launching.

PLDT’s home and enterprise businesses booked a revenue of P29.3 billion and P30.6 billon, respectively last year.

PLDT and global IT company Cisco strengthened their partnership to offer next-generation business solutions for small and medium enterprises and big companies.

PLDT Enterprise and ePLDT teamed up with leading IT innovators to offer the most secure, visible and empowering business solutions to large businesses and small and medium enterprises.

“Our collaboration with Cisco is just the first of many synergies we’re building to redefine the enterprise experience. PLDT is not just about giving fiber-fast connectivity, we aim to empower our enterprise customers with relevant, cutting-edge solutions that address today’s ever-changing and volatile business environment,” PLDT senior vice president and Smart enterprise group head Jovy Hernandez said.

“PLDT has heavily invested in expanding coverage of its fixed and wireless network which now spans 150,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables running throughout the entire archipelago, addressing the communications needs of millions of Filipinos and empowering businesses nationwide with innovative solutions,” Alberto said.

Motoring

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017

B3

Petron launches most advanced fuel M

By Alena Flores

ARKET leader Petron Corporation now has the cleanest and most advanced gasoline in the Philippine market that even surpasses Euro 6 standards, the most stringent fuel technology and emission benchmark in the world today.

4

s

Petron President & CEO Ramon S. Ang

Petron says its product Blaze 100 Euro 6 was rigorously tested and certified by leading global laboratories and engine rating experts namely SGS, Millbrook Proving Ground in the United Kingdom, and ISP The Testing Institute in Germany.

Due to its pure formulation and very high octane, Blaze 100 Euro 6 gives motorists’ six advantages and benefits: Improved fuel efficiency; Powerful engine performance and acceleration; Guaranteed cleaner engines on just one full tank; Improved combustion with its unique fuel and additive formulation; Significantly reduced harmful emissions; and

Reduced maintenance costs (e.g. Longer catalyst life for emission system) Tests showed Blaze 100 Euro 6 contains less than 3 ppm (parts per million) sulfur, compared to the Euro 6 standard of 10 ppm maximum. Euro 4 fuels, which is the mandated standard in the country, contains up to 50 ppm.

Blaze 100 Euro 6 is available in nearly 300 Petron service stations nationwide.

The Euro 6 standard is the most stringent global emission standard. To qualify, fuel should have significantly reduced particle numbers, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons in vehicle emissions. Particle number (PN) is the additional criterion that separates

Euro 5 and Euro 6 fuel standards.

Blaze 100 Euro 6 passed the PN tests with flying colors as it was three times cleaner than the limit.

“We are proud that Blaze 100 Euro 6 meets the world’s best environmental and fuel technology standards. With the highest octane rating but the lowest sulfur content, it is the best gasoline in the market by far in terms of power, efficiency, engine protection, and reduced emissions,” Petron President & CEO Ramon S. Ang said.

Samples of Blaze 100 Euro 6 were taken from Petron’s Bataan refinery and randomly from its stations by SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing, and certification company.

The samples were then sent to SGS laboratories in the United Kingdom, Singapore and the Philippines. All samples tested met specifications (EN 228:2012) for Euro 6-technology vehicles.

Petron also sent samples of this innovative product to ISP The Testing Institute – a leading engine and vehicle testing laboratory for fuels and lubricants development. ISP conducted a Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) test with Blaze 100 Euro 6 and

found it did not cause carbon deposits in GDI engines. GDI is a more advanced engine technology that addresses fuel economy and emissions. It is being used in newer European, American, and Asian car models.

Millbrook Proving Ground, which provides validation and engineering services in the automotive, transport, and defense industries, also tested Blaze 100 Euro 6. It conducted an Intake Valve Deposit (IVD) test and found Blaze 100 Euro 6 cleaned over 70% of engine deposits in 60 hours. Millbrook UK said Blaze 100 Euro 6 passed the “Euro 6b” emission standard – the strictest emission standard in the world.

IVD tests apply to Port Fuel Injection engines which are widely used the Philippines.

“Since our fuels are locallyproduced and formulated in our refinery, we can guarantee the quality and consistency of Petron fuels,” Mr. Ang added.

“We will continue to innovate and lead in fuels technology so we can put more savings in our customers’ pockets while improving air quality across the nation,” he concluded.

MIAS 2017: Ride beyond performance FASTLANE NOTHING racks up much excitement and exhilarating energy quite like the annual Manila International Auto Show (MIAS).

Hands down the biggest and most anticipated auto event of the year, MIAS 2017 caused quite a stir in the automotive community as it launched yesterday.

The 13th MIAS will run until April 2, 2017, from 10am to 10pm at the combined venues of World Trade Center Metro Manila and the Philippine Trade Training Center, with an unbelievable display of the season’s hottest automotive innovations and a profusion of exciting event highlights.

To open its doors, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the venue lobby of World Trade Center. In attendance during the launching event were MMDA Chairman Thomas Orbos and AAP President Gus Lagman along with key officers of event organizer, Worldbex Services International, including Joseph L. Ang, Levi S. Ang, Archt. Francisco Flameño, Jr., Jill Aithnie Ang, Rene Ramos, Tessie Roque, and MIAS co-organizers Alvin Uy and Jason Ang. Last year’s widely successful MIAS has set the bar high with over the top presentations – amassing over 110,000 visitors. But attendees of this year’s show are in for a far more ambitious and unforgettable experience as MIAS 2017 occupies a five-indoor structure event hall – ultimately covering over 34,000 sqm of exhibition space.

Envisioning to drive the automotive scene “Beyond Performance”, MIAS 2017 turns the spotlight on automotive brands, companies, and products that showcase innovations that not only bear high-performance capabilities but also, qualities of safety, efficiency, reliability,

and practicality.

In line with this year’s theme, MIAS 2017 boasts of state-of-the-art car brands that all take pride in features and key characteristics that truly go “Beyond Performance” Among the new models to be launched at this year’s show are the Challenger SRT Hellcat by Dodge, Gratour Midi Truck by Foton, Civic Type R by Honda, Genesis G90 and Creta by Hyundai, Moparized Wrangler (80th anniversary MOPAR) by Jeep, MX-5 RF, CX-5, and CX-9 by Mazda, Impreza by Subaru, Tiguan by VW, and Spark by Chevrolet.

Apart from captivating car launches, MIAS 2017 hosts a heady line-up of pocket activities and event highlights.

From heart-stopping stunt performances by the world’s best precision driver, Russ Swift and off-road test drives with simulated 4x4 obstacle courses to world-class customized tuner cars and remarkable collectible vintage and classic cars, OEM and performance parts suppliers will also showcase their latest offerings in the aftermarket area located at the East Wing Annex building of the World Trade Center.

Other must see events at MIAS 2017 include the MIAS Petron Custom Classic Car Competition which honors the country’s finest car restoration and custom car shops, the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP) annual Driver of the Year gala awards night which honors the country’s top drivers in various motorsport disciplines, the Car of the Year (Honda Civic RS Turbo) and Truck of the Year (Isuzu D-Max 3.0L 4x2 LS AT) display at the entrance area of the venue, and the first-ever Motorcycle of the Year, which aims to recognize the thriving motorcycle segment in the country.

Moreover, another first at MIAS 2017 is the 3,000 sqm Truck Pavilion which will house the latest models of commercial vehicles and top truck brands.

Visitors can also look forward to some bargain hunting at the Die Cast Collectors Philippines (DCPH) swap meet or enjoy viewing the DCPH special miniature die cast car exhibit. Attendees may also opt to join the RC (remote control) drift race event, Tamiya 4WD race event or even do some Drift box go-karting with friends and family.

The main hall of the World Trade Center houses the main car brands while its lobby showcases the major sponsors and partners of MIAS 2017. Meanwhile, extending towards World Trade Center’s east wing annex tent building is another purpose-built air-conditioned tent that stretches to a seamless link way that allows for easier access of the Philippine Trade Training Center.

In today’s fast-paced world, performance has been a strong selling point for the automotive brands, but beyond performance, automotive brands and companies must all strive to deliver all-inclusive automotive innovations. As the largest premiere, annual motoring event in the country, this year’s MIAS inspires the automotive scene to drive “Beyond Performance” as it curates the best of the best in automotive technology and aftermarket products & services all under one massive venue!

Organized by Worldbex Services International, MIAS 2017 is bound to break records with its biggest installment yet. The event is co-presented by BPI Family Auto Loans which will once again offer quick and easy loan processing throughout the four-day expo.

Spray-on protection FOILACAR Industries, the company which innovated car paint protection and preservation is set to carve inroads into the local market with its latest automotive protection system. Dubbed as FoilaDip, this latest technology is sprayed on the car like paint, and does not require any scuffing, sanding or any another normal paint-prep procedure. “This is the latest alternative that offers fast and reliable exterior protection. Unlike vinyl wrap, Autodip is sprayed on easily like paint and requires less drying time. A car or an SUV can be transformed visually in a day,” explains Jan Vincent Mercado, CFO of Foilacar Industries.

FoilaDip is a vinyl-based, automotive specific spray paint. It is available in a variety of finishes and color hues.

A commercial success in the United States and Canada, FoilaDip’s propriety formula contains UV protection

additives that help maintain its finish for up to two years. FoilaDip was borne out of the idea as an easy to use alternative to the popular vinyl wrapping and other rubber based spray-on coatings already being used in the automotive industry. An innovative feature of FoilaDip is its ability to “self-heal”, and stay malleable from the day it was sprayed on the car and up to the time you decide to peel it off. Instead of getting hard and brittle like auto clear, the topcoats stay flexible even over long periods of time and outdoor exposure. This ability to remain flexible allows the topcoats to move and stretch with the rubber base coats when it’s time for removal.

“FoilaDip is sprayed on to the car using a professional air-powered spray gun. Although for DIY projects, FoilaDip will be also be offered in the retail market by way of easy to use spray cans,” says Mercado.

Once you go Black, you never go back

MIAS 2017, the country’s biggest automotive event of the year opened yesterday until April 2 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila adjoining the Philippine Trade Training Center from 10AM to 10PM, organized by the country’s biggest trade show organizer, Worldbex Services International. From left: Jason Ang (Co-Organizer, MIAS); Eugene Yap (Chairman and President, HRAP); Ronald Delos Reyes (President, CAGI); Lance Mosley (President, Ford Philippines); Felix Ang (President, Auto Nation Group and CATS Motor Inc. Chairman); Tomohiro Ando (Executive Director, JETRO); Steven Tan (CEO, Mazda Philippines); Alvin Uy (Co-Organizer, MIAS); Bottom (L): Rene Ramos (Director, Worldbex Services International); Francisco Flameno Jr. (Executive Director, Worldbex Services International) Tessie Roque (Director, Worldbex Services International); Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo (President and CEO, Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc.); Chairman Thomas Orbosof MMDA; Josephe Ang (Founding Chairman, Worldbes Services International); Augusto Lagman, (President, AAP); Jill Ang (Managing Director, Worldbex Services International)

STAND out and be recognized with Wheel Gallery’s latest line of Black Rhino wheels. Designed with the off road truck and SUV enthusiast in mind, the first thing that hits you is the fresh concave design that shows a tough style with its mechanically chiseled lips combined with high end precision machined style. Ten angled spokes are deeply recessed in these custom off road wheels, with a chainsaw like barrel which gives the Razorback a high energy presence. are the brawny spokes, and the thick, detailed lip. It’s beefy, take-noprisoners design, has always been a trademark of Black Rhino wheels.

Razorback wheels are aggressively sized, with fitments for 17x9, 18x9, 20x9 and up to 22x12, all with oversized lips to provide a sturdy bead seat for the big fat tires and to haul heavy loads and overcome the rugged terrain with the lease amount of

effort. All wheels are either hub centric or supplied with centering rings to ensure a smooth vibration free ride. The wheels come in a variety of finishes - Matte Black, with a dark tint machined face. Shown in photo is the Razorback, one of the hottest selling wheels of Black Rhino.

So when it comes to choosing well built, tough looking wheels for your off road truck, lifted truck or sport utility vehicle, go on and give it horns with Black Rhino Wheels.

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

B4

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017

Motoring

Rare Tamiya RC kits on display at the lobby of the factory

TAMIYA:

A company borne out of passion

biggest facility outside of Japan.

“This Cebu plant currently produces 90 percent of Tamiya’s model line by volume, ten percent of which is produced from Japan,” he explains.

Together with another Tamiya sub-dealer Robertson Sy Tan and Albert Go of Blade Autocenter, the 30-man strong Manila contingent composed of motoring media and hobbyists lost their composure upon seeing the Tamiya display of assembled kits at the lobby entrance. Like kids in a toy store, everybody jostled for position for that perfect camera shot, as we all gasped in awe at the sight of beautifully crafted and rare model kits. From cars, planes, ships and tanks, every desirable plastic kit was there encased in a glass cabinet. I was perspiring from sheer excitement as the adrenaline

kicked in. The funny thing was, we were yet to start the tour and all of us were literally shaking in our boots already.

The tour begins Go Tsuboi, SVP for Tamiya Ph reveals that from conceptualization, production to packaging, everything is done in-house.

“This would enable us to maintain the product quality, accuracy and detailing of our product line. We have a team of designers that go through countless photographs and we also travel all over the World to see the project vehicle up close. If the need arises, the company buys the actual vehicle to be replicated in scale for better accuracy and detail,” he says.

Tamiya has been making their own molds since the sixties, enabling them to reproduce detailed scale models, from the engine,

Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III

W

hen Yoshio Tamiya, an owner of a sawmill and lumber business based in Shizuoka City in Japan decided to use his surplus wood and carve out model ships, nobody predicted that it would someday evolve into a globally recognized brand. Every bloke from my generation would know what the blue and red twin stars of Tamiya stands for, which for me represented my youth and that burning passion for cars.

One can just imagine my surprise when Justin Uy, one of the biggest Tamiya sub-dealers in the country, invited this writer for a media tour of their facility

in Cebu City. To our amazement, Tamiya has been operating a manufacturing facility in the Queen City of the South for the past 24 years. According to Shakespeare

Chan, owner of Li’l’s Hobby Shop and the acknowledged “Ground Zero” of plastic kit enthusiasts, the Tamiya factory in Lapu-Lapu, Cebu is the second and only

The Tamiyas being sold globally are proudly Philippine made.

under chassis and interiors of the cars, planes and tanks. All model and RC kits have the seal of approval of car, ships and plane manufacturers.

After going through the first floor which was casting and mold making, we were ushered into the “Master Works” department, where a room was filled to the rafters with model kits for display purposes inside artistically finished packaging. Here, Filipino artisans work and comprehensively test finished RC model kits prior to packaging. The room also has the scaled down version of the Honda RA272 Formula One Car, which according to Tsuboi, was the plastic kit which put Tamiya on the World map of scale modeling. This specific kit was hand crafted by Cebuano artisans.

Once they are sealed and packaged in Tamiya’s signature boxes, they are shipped to Japan and Europe for distribution. We all felt proud that Filipino hands are contributory to the success of this Japanese icon.

This year marks Tamiya’s 50th anniversary of continuous participation in the Nuremberg Toy Fair. Judging from the jaw dropping expressions of my 40-year old colleagues, the excitement, joy and passion of seeing how a Tamiya model is made is more than enough to keep the fires of Tamiya burning for future generations. Given the enthusiasm of its dealers like Uy of Hobbes and Landes and Tan of Blade which has 30 outlets nationwide, they will continue to inspire the next batch of enthusiasts in the same manner Li’l’s Hobby Shop was to my generation.

LGUs

Manila is clearing streets of vagrants

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017

C1

By Sandy Araneta MANILA Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada has directed the city government’s social welfare unit to double its efforts in removing vagrants and homeless children from the streets where they are susceptible to road accidents and crimes.

Estrada said the city government is not about to relax its anti-street dwelling policies, not because he considers those street people eyesores but because he wants to give them a better chance in life.

“Instead of seeking alms and getting involved in crimes, those homeless people, especially the streetchildren, need care and guidance. We’re taking them out of the streets to protect them,” the mayor said, citing several instances where streetchildren were either hurt or killed while loitering in the streets.

Last month, Estrada issued Executive Order No. 10, directing all concerned city departments to conduct operations to achieve the city government’s goal of “zero street dwellers in the City of Manila.”

The Manila Department of Social Welfare has formed Task Force Reach-Out to carry out these sustained rescue operations, the latest of which was conducted last week in Binondo where 121 street people were taken into custody.

Of these individuals, 86 were adults, 26 were minors, and eight were elderly. An infant was also among those that were taken care of, per task force chief Laure Clemente, head of the Reception and Action Center of the MDSW. Clemente said some of them have been released to their families after an extensive verification process.

“Many of the minors we rescued were ‘solvent’ users while others, especially the adults, were those so-called vagrants, with no houses. We have to take them out of the streets because it’s dangerous for them,” the MDSW official pointed out.

The street people have been turned over to the city-run Manila Boys Town Complex in Marikina City for temporary safekeeping, where the children will be enrolled in the Fugoso Integrated School that offers Alternative Learning System for free, according to Clemente.

At the facility, Clemente said the street children will have decent shelters, clothes, foods, medicines, and proper healthcare; as for the adults, they will undergo development activities such as skills and livelihood trainings and basic business management courses.

Upon their release, the adults may also be referred to the Public Employment Service Office for job referrals, she added.

SUMMER HARVEST. The start of summer is also a time for harvesting rice, as these farmers do in a rice field in Barangay Bayate, Calamba, Laguna. The field is owned by the Pamatmat family of Barangay Bayate in Liliw, Laguna. Roy Tomandao

‘SCAA’ to guard Davao

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera

D

AVAO CITY— The City Government will establish a Specialized Cafgu Active Auxiliary that will secure the outskirts of the city to answer the call of President Rodrigo Duterte to put a stop to the insurgency in the Davao region.

Public Safety and Security Command Center chief Benito de Leon said three companies or 360 SCAA units will be deployed for additional security of the entire city.

“This is to answer the call of President Duterte to give priority to the

insurgency here in the region, he required us to put a stop on it,” De Leon said.

He said even big establishments such as banana plantations can even hire SCAA units in lieu of their security guards to stop extortions and other threats to their companies.

De Leon, though, clarified that only those companies in the outskirts of Davao are encouraged to form their own SCAA, and not companies located in the downtown area.

He said that while the city will hire SCAA forces, the budget for their salary will be coming from the National Government. He said an Executive Order will be crafted for the creation of the auxiliary force derived from the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units or Cafgu.

Davao already has an SCAA under

Task Force Davao. However, De Leon said they saw the need for additional armed units to enhance the city’s security and to ensure the city center is safe from any insurgent attacks.

“The military has requested that three companies be formed to help them protect the community in the remote areas of Davao City,” he said.

The SCAA will help the military and police in securing those areas already cleared by government security forces, to ensure that the rebels will not go back to them, De Leon said.

They will not let their guards down despite the low level of threats recorded by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, he added.

“Our security elements have maintained a high threat level of security to maintain good posture in the City,” De Leon said.

Piñol hails P’sinan agriculture efforts

By Dexter A. See STA. BARBARA, Pangasinan —Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel I. Piñol has lauded the province’s gains in agriculture, which he described as “incontrovertible proofs of the will of local leaders to boost the agricultural assets of the province.”

Represented by Technical Director Nestor Burgos of the Department of Agriculture in Region 1, the secretary’s message was delivered to over 5,000 guests and participants of the 1st Pangasinan Umaani Expo at the Provincial Agriculture Center in Tebag, Sta. Barbara.

The holding of the Umaani is a “solid testament to a united Pangasinan in boosting its agriculture and related industries.”

“The people of Pangasinan must be thankful for having a dynamic set of leaders who have opened the province new doors of opportunities and progress,”

said Burgos.

With the gains made and through the Umaani expo, Burgos said Pangasinan is making a great leap from sustenance agriculture to market-oriented entrepreneurial agriculture.

The DA official stressed the strengthened partnership between the provincial government and the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte needs to be maintained to propel Pangasinan to a greater agro-industrial growth.

The partnership bolters innovative farm systems and services of the provincial government that had led Pangasinan to become one of the country’s five rice and corn producing province.

“The Umaani Expo has become a solid and fitting symbol of the synergy and collective will of the people of Pangasinan to contribute to the building of a strong agriculture sector and a prosperous Philippines,” Burgos said.

OUTSTANDING MAYOR. Bacoor City Mayor Lani Mercado Revilla (center) holds her plaque for winning the Most Outstanding Mayor Award 2017 handed out by SuperBrand Marketing International Inc. on Thursday at The City Club in Makati City. The award recognizes Bacoor with a Seal of Good Governance for goodwill, transparency, accountability, social responsibility, environment and national competitiveness.

Norman Cruz

Hermosa eyes new industrial ecozone

By Butch Gunio HERMOSA, Bataan—Mayor Jopet Inton is eyeing some 300 hectares of the upland villages of Mabuco and Tipo to be converted into another industrial zone.

The proposed new Hermosa Economic Zone, located near the huge complex of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, is still under negotiation with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

“We are still in the process of completing numerous feasible business requirements, like the site development scheme for infrastructure, power and water supply, communication, buildings and other necessary structures in facilitating transport of raw materials and finished products to intended markets,” Inton said.

Hermosa has an existing economic zone located in Barangay Palihan, with two Japanese and Taiwanese manufacturing firms producing car parts for exports and employing more than 10,000 factory workers.

The mayor said other locators from Middle East countries are projected to invest greatly in this fast-emerging zone in Hermosa to take advantage of the improving economy of Asean markets, with the Philippines as the regional agricultural and industrial hub.

The Middle Eastern investors are reportedly inclined to build a facility for processing and export of halal poultry products and agriculturallyproduced organic vegetable and fruit crops for export to Arabian countries.

QC to study village sticker fees; readies earthquake drill today

By Rio N. Araja THE Quezon City Council, through a resolution, will study the necessity of imposing sticker fees to owners of public utility tricycles and private vehicles who use roads passing through private subdivisions.

Resolution 6998 called on the City Planning and Development Office and Tricycle Franchising Board to conduct a study on the fees collected if these are indeed income-generating in nature.

The measure was principally introduced by District 6 Councilor Eric Medina “These fees are not [supposed to be] income-generating but merely for identification purposes only,” Medina said.

The councilor said he received reports of certain subdivisions charging as much as P500 for a sticker fee.

“The amount being collected is indeed a burden to motorists, especially to tricycle drivers who are merely dependent on their measly income,” he noted.

Medina also cited the need for subdivision owners to come up with corresponding board resolutions on the right amount of sticker fees that should be collected.

Meanwhile, a rumbling sound followed by shattering glass will signal the start of the nationwide earthquake drill at Quezon City Hall on Friday.

Sirens will be sounded off at 2 p.m. before employees are evacuated from the buildings and headed into various assembly points within the city hall

compound.

Emergency response personnel from the QC Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, the Department of Public Order and Safety, and the Bureau of Fire Protection as well as the disaster action teams organized in each department will then simulate various crisis scenarios that are expected to happen in case a powerful earthquake gets triggered by the movement of the West Valley Fault.

The West Valley Fault traverses nine

barangays in Quezon City—Ugong Norte, White Plains, St. Ignatius, Blue Ridge B, Old Balara, Pansol, Bagumbayan, Batasan Hills, and Bagong Silangan.

“We want to make the situation as real as possible so we’ll be able to make an honest assessment of our state of preparedness,” Karl Michael Marasigan, chief of the Quezon City DRRMO, said.

City hall’s normal business operations will resume after the hour-long drill.

LGUs

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017 C2 Standard TODAY Manila

2 Isabela towns bag CBMS titles

By Jessica M. Bacud ILAGAN, Isabela—The Province of Isabela reigned supreme during the recent 13th CommunityBased Monitoring System Philippines National Conference at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, Quezon City.

The forum, with the theme “Enhancing Resilience of Communities Amidst Emerging Development Challenges,” recognizes best practices of local government units in the implementation of CBMS. The municipality of Angadanan bagged first place in the search for Best in CBMS Advocacy Video Category. Meanwhile, the municipality of San Mariano placed second in the search for Best in CBMS Photo and Best in CBMS Advocacy Video Categories.

San Mariano Vice Mayor Dean Anthony said the forum aimed to showcase the benefits brought using CBMS in all facets of communities, through different sessions and testimonies of representatives of national government agencies and local government officials and functionaries.

The winners were selected based on online voting (weighted at 50 percent) and on-site votes of

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the delegates of the conference (50 percent).

Meanwhile, Cauayan City Planning and Development Coordinator Oliver B. Francisco presented in one of the sessions during the conference the experience of Cauayan City in using CBMS in a talk entitled “Addressing Challenges on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Shelter Security through the CBMS Data.”

The CBMS Special Awards was launched in 2012 in the Philippines by the CBMS Network Team of the De La Salle University-Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies.

CBMS is an organized process of data collection, processing, validation and integration of data in the local development processes.

It aims to improve local governance, foster transparency and accountability in resource allocation, and empower communities to proactively participate in the development process by providing policy makers and program implementers with a regular source of information that can be used to track micro impacts of macroeconomic shocks on the vulnerable groups in the society.

CdO ready to close dumpsite by April 15

By Lance Baconguis

C

AGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The city government will finally close its 17-hectare landfill on April 15 as part of its plea bargain and compliance with the Solid Waste Management Act.

City Local Environment Resources Office Chief Edwin Dael said Thursday the current dumpsite will be closed permanently, as it is a violation of the Republic Act 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act of 2003.

A new engineered sanitary landfill will be opened on the same day, in Barangay Pagalungan, 16 kilometers away from the city center.

The new landfill stands on 45 hectares of land already cleared by the environment management bureau and mines and geosciences bureau.

The old dumpsite is now undergoing rehabilitation, with nine hectares now covered

with soil and planted with trees.

The rehab will be completed this year, and the old dumpsite will be converted into a tree park.

The city government has spent P100 million for the opening of the new landfill, which would comply with RA 9003.

CdO has been making headway in information and education among the residents on the proper disposal of garbage and segregation at the source.

City information officer Maricel CasinoRivera said the capability building of barangays in garbage collection has been going on since 2015.

“The barangays are tasked to collect garbage as mandated by RA 9003, so we need to empower the barangays in their capacity and capability to collect garbage,” CasinoRivera said.

This city of almost 1 million residents is producing 560 tons of garbage daily, with a current disposal rate of 360 tons.

Elsa Mabelin of the Solid Waste Management Task Force said the city is targeting 23 percent or 128.8 tons of residual waste to be collected and dumped at the new landfill.

“In 2014, the city government targeted 27

percent diversion rate of garbage. Meaning, 27 percent should be collected by recycling,” Mabelin said.

This year, the diversion rate is still 29 percent instead of its target 50 percent, Mabelin added.

With the enforcement of the RA 9003, it is expected that only 23 percent of residual waste will be dumped at the landfill.

“We must enforce segregation at the source, so that only residual waste will be reached and dumped at the landfill,” Mabelin said.

“We request our communities to help out with the garbage disposal as it is the role of everyone to properly dispose our garbage,” Casino-Rivera said.

Engineer Ed Bartolome of IPM Construction and Development Corp., the company collecting the city’s garbage and the one that designed the engineered landfill, said what they are doing is following RA 9003 to the letter.

Bartolome said they have 45 compactor garbage trucks roaming around the city, and they will add more dump trucks to transport the residual garbage from a transition point at the current dumpsite.

N. Vizcaya mulls summit to address women’s issues, concerns

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya —The provincial government will be conducting a Women’s Summit by midyear to address various issues and concerns confronting women in the province.

“We will conduct a Women’s Summit in a few months from now to generate problems of the women sector and come up with solutions on how to positively confront them,” said Gov. Carlos Padilla during the recent celebration of Women’s Month at the municipal auditorium in

Bambang town.

During the activity, more than 5,000 members of various women’s organizations were given orientation and lectures on women’s rights, Gender and Development Program and the law on Violence Against Women and Children.

Members of the Order of the Amaranth, Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina, Rural Improvement Club, and Abot Palad Foundation Inc., headed

by former governor Ruth Padilla, participated in the program, among others.

Padilla also vowed full support for the proposed Women’s Summit, which will be participated by national government as well as local government agencies.

“This will further empower our women sector as active partners of our government for progress and development by solidifying their families,” he

said.

The 15 local government units of Nueva Vizcaya supported the celebration through the conduct of their separate programs, projects and activities.

Police Chief Inspector Myla Paguyo, Police Provincial Police Office focal person on VAWC and public information officer, said they also conducted a women’s forum for policewomen, fundraising activity through a fun ride, and gift giving and

spiritual enhancement among women inmates at the provincial jail in Bayombong town.

A bloodletting activity is also set this week at the Veterans Regional Hospital in support of the Blood Program of the Philippine Red Cross.

“I am happy to say that our women sector in the province is now empowered due to an increased level of awareness on their rights and concerns under VAWC,” she said.

Invitation to Bid The Philippine Ports Authority, Port Management Office of Agusan, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for Engineering Projects, invites contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to bid for the hereunder contract: A. Contract ID : NRP-AGN-01-17 B. Contract Name : Concrete Re-blocking of Back-up Area and Repair of Wharf Underdeck at TMO-Butuan C. Approved Budget for the Contract : P 27,178,047.00 D. Location : Butuan City, Agusan del Norte E.Scope of Work : 1. Mobilization/Demobilization 2. Demolition Works – 1,586.00 sq.m.

3. Gravel Basecourse – 450.00 cu. m.

4. Portland Cement Concrete Pavement, 3500psi 1586.00 sq.m.

5. Construction/Expansion Joints – 135.00 l.m.

6. Construction of Drainage Canal 7. Construction of Catch Basin 8. Chipping of concrete on affected areas (concrete slabs, curbs, columns and beams) and disposal of demolished materials. – 1,314.80 sq.m.

9. Fabrication and installation of forms and scaffholdings for Pilecaps, beams, wingwalls, curbs & slab. – 1,639.80 sq.m.

10. Supply and install of reinforcement of pilecaps, beams, wingwalls and slab. – 45,399.00 kgs.

11.Supply of concrete for pilecaps, beams, wingwalls, slab and curb. 284.00 cu.m.

12.Removal and re-installation of mooring and accessories. 6.00 units F. Contract Duration : 270 Calendar Days G. Required PCAB Classification/Registration : Port, Harbor and Offshore Engineering: Medium A

WANTED Dealers for Best Herbal Oil Nationwide Call: 0998-3528878 Look for Baldo

Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a single largest completed contract similar to the Project to be bid and having a value of at least 50% of the approved budget for the contract to be bid, updated to current prices using the NSO price indices and supported with corresponding certificate of completion/acceptance from project owner/agency.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criteria as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

THE LONG WAIT. These boys carry live lizards for sale alongside

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships or organizations with at least 75% interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Interested bidders are required to submit to the BAC Secretariat of PPA, PMO Agusan a set of machine and original copies of the following documents for authentication before the issuance of Bid Documents: a) Valid PCAB License; b) Certificate of Completion/Acceptance of owner of the single largest completed project within the last three (3) years; c) CY 2015 CPES Rating; and d) Certification of non-inclusion in the Consolidated Blacklisting Report issued by the GPPB. A complete set of Bidding Documents will be available to interested Bidders from the address below upon payment of a non-refundable fee of Twenty Five Thousand Pesos (P25,000.00), exclusive of 12% VAT. This Office is not electronically-ready to handle documents, thus submission of bids / proposals electronically is not allowed.

The schedule of procurement activities is as follows: Procurement Activities Period of Availability/ Issuance of Bidding Documents Pre-Bid Conference Deadline of Submission and Receipt of Bids Opening & Examination of Bids

Time 9:00 AM -5:00 PM 9:00 AM 8:30 AM 9:00 AM

Schedule Date Venue March 29, 2017 PPA, PMO Agusan Admin – Apri 5, 2017 Building, Port Area, Butuan City PMO Agusan Admin Apri 6, 2017 PPA, Building, Port Area, Butuan City PPA, PMO Agusan Admin Apri 18, 2017 Building, Port Area, Butuan City PMO Agusan Admin Apri 18, 2017 PPA, Building, Port Area, Butuan City

The Philippine Ports Authority, Port Management Office of Agusan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on April 6, 2017 (Thursday) @ 9:00 o’clock in the morning at the PPA, PMO Agusan Administration Bldg., Port Area, San Francisco Street, Butuan City, which shall be open only to all interested bidders who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bidders must submit their bids on the date, time and place specified in the above schedule. Late bid/s will not be accepted. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the forms and corresponding amount stated in the Bidding Documents.

Bids higher than the ABC shall automatically be disqualified at the bid opening. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below.

The Philippine Ports Authority, Port Management Office of Agusan reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. Similarly, the PPA Port Management Office of Agusan assumes no obligation, whatsoever, to compensate or indemnify any bidder of any expenses or loss that said bidder(s) may incur in its participation in the pre-bidding and bidding process nor does it guarantee that an award will be made.

For further information, please refer to: MS. SARAH JANE T. LUCERO Sr. Project Planning & Development Officer Head, BAC Secretariat-Engineering Projects PPA, PMO-Agusan Port Area, San Francisco Street, Butuan City 8600 Tel. Nos. (085) 342-6451/342-5352 Fax No. (085) 815-4434 Email Address: pmo_nasipit@yahoo.com

(MS-MAR. 31, 2017)

(Sgd.) JUANCHO I. TALILI Division Manager A, Port Services Division BAC Chairperson, Engineering Project

the national highway in Alcala, Cagayan, waiting for commuters to stop and buy them. Ben Moses Ebreo

InvItatIon to BId no. 11-2017 The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Biliran-Leyte del NorteLeyte del Sur Irrigation Management Office, Marasbaras, Tacloban City through the General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2017, intends to apply the sum corresponding to the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC), to payment for the contract presented hereunder.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) now invites bids for: Item/Description 1. BNLSL-LCB-37-2017 – Repair of Diversion Works and Construction of CanalLining of Tagbawto CIS, Hilongos, Leyte.

Approved Budget

Duration

18,710,405.53

270 cd

Bidding will be conducted in accordance with relevant procedures for open competitive bidding as specified in the IRR of RA 9184.Bids received in excess of ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.The contract shall be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bidder (LCRB) who was determined as such during post-qualification.

Interested bidders may submit a Letter of Intent together with the Class “A” documents addressed to the Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee, NIA, Biliran-Leyte del Norte-Leyte del Sur Irrigation Management Office, Marasbaras, Tacloban City.

The schedules of BAC activities are as follows: BAC Activities 1. Issuance of Bid Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference 3. Receipt and Opening of Bids

Schedule Starting March 31, 2017 April 7, 2017 April 20, 2017

Time 8:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m 10:00 a.m 1:30 p.m

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by the interested bidders from the address above and upon payment of a non-refundable fee of P25,000.00 the Cashier.

The NIA reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: CATHERINE G. MACANIP National Irrigation Administration Marasbaras, Tacloban City (053) 323-6210

Noted:

(SGD.) CATHERINE G. MACANIP BAC Chairman

(SGD.) FERMINA B. ALING Division Manager A, IMO

IN BRIEF Tuba denies permit to e-games business

TUBA, Benguet—Mayor Ignacio Rivera has denied the request of the operator of a controversial electronic games establishment along Marcos Highway to be issued a business permit for 2017 because its area is not within the jurisdiction of the municipality.

The mayor admitted that based on available documents and research, the area where the “Secret Place” is located and falls within the jurisdiction of Baguio City, which is why Rivera’s office is not inclined to issue the operator the required business permit, noting it will be “unfair to the city government.”

“We have to remember that the swapping of the properties of the municipality to those of the properties of the city government has not yet become final because of the failure of Congress to enact the revised century-old Charter of Baguio City.

It remains that more than three-fourths of the Tuba municipal building still is within the jurisdiction of Baguio City,” Rivera stressed. Dexter A. See

‘Pampanga could be drug-free role model’

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—This province can be a role model for the country if it can see its 505 communities become drugfree, Julie Daquiaog, the regional director of Department of the Interior and Local Government in Central Luzon, said Thursday.

“If we can rid the 505 barangays of the province of illegal drugs, continue our campaign against graft and corruption, and improve peace and order, the province has the potential to be a role model that promotes a peaceful and progressive community,” Daquiaog said.

She said the province’s asset is being the center of business activities in the region, plus its committed 721 volunteer groups that support the provincial government with its programs and goals. The director spoke during the launching of the Mamamayan Ayaw sa Anomalya, Mamamayan Ayaw sa Illegal Drug orientation held at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center here. Romeo Dizon

(MS-MAR. 31, 2017)

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World

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017

Red Bull heir snubs hearing on case again

IN BRIEF Prosecutor arrested over illegal drugs LOS ANGELES―FBI agents have arrested a Mexican prosecutor suspected of involvement in the production and trafficking of illegal drugs including heroin and cocaine into the United States, authorities said Wednesday.

Edgar Veytia, the attorney general in Mexico’s western state of Nayarit, was arrested Monday at the US border in San Diego. He was detained on a warrant from a New York state court.

Veytia was believed to have been detained on the bridge between San Diego and the Tijuana airport, local media reported.

“This is a development that we were not expecting,” Nayarit Governor Roberto Sandoval said without addressing the alleged high-level crime.

In the US indictment seen by AFP, prosecutors said Veytia is facing three counts: conspiracy to produce and distribute heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana, conspiracy to import those substances into the US, and conspiracy to distribute them.

The indictment said he engaged in drug activity from January 2013 until last month.

One of his aliases was Diablo, or devil, according to the indictment. AFP

China’s Xi to meet Trump in Florida BEIJING―China’s President Xi Jinping will travel to Florida to meet US President Donald Trump April 6 to 7, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Thursday.

The meeting will take place at Trump’s resort, Mar-a-Lago, Lu told reporters at a regular press briefing.

The visit will take place after a rocky start to the US-China relationship under Trump, who has repeatedly blasted Beijing for its trade policies and reluctance to bring pressure on North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs.

A successful meeting could be crucial in setting the tone for the relationship between the world’s two largest economies in coming years.

Just weeks ago the summit seemed a distant possibility after Trump infuriated Beijing with suggestions he might break from the US’s long-standing One China Policy.

But in a conciliatory phone call in mid-February, Trump walked back controversial comments on Taiwan, creating an opening for Washington and Beijing to discuss a meeting.

The call was quickly followed by successive visits by China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi to Washington and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to Beijing, where the details of the meetings were reportedly hammered out.

AFP

Greece close to signing deal with creditors ATHENS―Greece is close to a long-delayed deal with its creditors after months of tough talks, a senior official has said.

“We are close to an agreement in coming days,” Greek parliament chief Nikos Voutsis told a European Left meeting late on Wednesday.

“All indications show that a deal is imminent,” he added, according to the state Athens News Agency.

Negotiations between Athens and its eurozone and International Monetary Fund creditors have dragged for months owing to disagreements over debt relief and budget targets for the austerity-hit country.

Among the measures reportedly demanded by the creditors are new pension cuts and more restrictive rules to limit union strikes.

They are also pushing for the breakup of the state Public Power Corporation, Greece’s largest electricity provider.

The impasse has held up the latest installment of Greece’s 86-billion-euro ($91 billion) bailout, agreed in 2015, which it needs for debt repayments in July.

The last such deadlock over Greece, which followed the election of leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in early 2015, nearly saw Athens expelled from the euro. AFP

C3

SKATING. Russia’s Natalia Zabiiako and Alexander Enbert compete at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Helsinki on March 29. AFP

Park appears in court over corruption case S EOUL―South Korea’s ousted president Park Geun-Hye appeared in court Thursday at a hearing to decide whether she should be arrested over the corruption and abuse of power scandal that brought her down.

Looking grim-faced and pale, Park ignored a barrage of press flashbulbs and did not speak when she arrived at the Seoul Central District Court.

Her formal detention and transfer to custody would be a dramatic step in the disgrace of South Korea’s first woman president, and is a key demand of the millions of people who took to the streets to protest against her as the scandal engulfed her leadership last year.

The former president, who was stripped of her immunity when she was dismissed from office by the country’s top court earlier this month, is accused of multiple offenses including bribery, leaking government information, and abuse of power. Park has denied

all charges.

Choi Soon-Sil, Park’s secret confidante at the heart of the scandal, is already on trial for forcing top local firms including tech giant Samsung to “donate” nearly $70 million to non-profit foundations which she allegedly used for personal gain.

Prosecutors have submitted around 120,000 pages of documents to the Seoul Central District Court in relation to the charges against Park, and said it would be “counter to the principle of fairness” if she was not arrested.

The 65-year-old was driven away from her home in southern Seoul past hundreds of flag-waving, screaming supporters lining the narrow street.

Some tried to break through

police barricades in an effort to stop the passage of her four-car convoy, which was broadcast live on television.

Thursday’s hearing was expected to last for several hours, with Park sitting in the centre facing judge Kang Bu-young, 43, with lawyers and prosecutors to either side.

“We are not even halfway through,” Yonhap news agency cited Park’s attorney as saying when the hearing resumed after lunch.

Afterwards the ex-president was to be removed to a detention center to await Kang’s decision, which was not expected until late into the night -- although he has to make it within 24 hours.

If the warrant is granted, she will be formally taken into custody becoming the third former leader to be arrested over corruption in Asia’s fourth-largest economy, where politics and big business have long been closely tied.

Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jae-Yong, who was arrested last month in connection

to the scandal, was in court for over seven hours for his hearing, and his detention was approved early the following day.

Opposition lawmakers called for Park’s arrest.

“The least she can do as the expresident who damaged national dignity is to admit her criminal acts, bow her head and seek forgiveness,” said a spokesman for the main opposition Democratic Party.

An election to choose her successor will be held on May 9.

Moon Jae-In, her rival in 2012 and a former Democratic Party leader leads opinion polls by large margins.

Park, daughter of late dictator Park Chung-Hee, secured the largest vote share of any candidate in the democratic era when she was elected in 2012.

But she was impeached by parliament in December, as the scandal combined with mounting economic and social frustrations to trigger huge candlelit demonstrations. The Constitutional Court later upheld the decision. AFP

BANGKOK―The heir to the Red Bull billions on Thursday again snubbed Thai prosecutors over a five-year-old hit-and-run incident that killed a policeman, the latest delay to a case that has become a byword for impunity enjoyed by the country’s rich.

Worayuth Yoovidhya, whose nickname is “Boss”, was 27 when he allegedly smashed his Ferrari into a police officer in 2012 and sped away, dragging the body along a downtown Bangkok road for about 100 meters.

A trail of debris from the accident led officers to the mansion of his super-rich clan, who own half of the Red Bull energy drink empire.

The local police station, which covers Bangkok’s most exclusive district, initially accepted the family’s claim that the housekeeper was driving the car.

But the story fell apart and Worayuth was eventually hit with a string of charges.

He has repeatedly failed to show up for formal indictment and has never been re-arrested, allowing some of the charges to expire and delaying legal action.

The allegations have not deterred him from appearing on Bangkok’s high society party circuit and he continues to freely dip in and out of the country.

On Thursday a spokesman for Thailand’s attorney-general said Worayuth’s lawyer had requested to postpone the latest summons, claiming his client was on a business trip in Britain.

“We cannot indict him because the suspect is not present,” said spokesman Prayut Bejiraguna, adding that the appointment was rescheduled for April 27.

As with many high-profile criminal cases involving Bangkok’s elite, public anger over the lack of progress tends to bubble up periodically, putting brief pressure on police before slipping back off the radar.

This week the Thai media was awash with photos of the Red Bull princeling, including shots of a black Porsche with the license plate “B055 RBR” (Red Bull Racing).

Interest in Worayuth’s case was revived last year after the son of another wealthy businessman killed two students when he allegedly slammed his Mercedes Benz into their car.

The Mercedes driver was hospitalized after the accident and later charged. AFP

Torrential rain hampers Australia cyclone relief AYR, Australia―Torrential rain hampered relief efforts Thursday after a powerful cyclone wreaked havoc in northeast Australia, with floods sparking emergency rescues as fed-up tourists began evacuating from resort islands.

Cyclone Debbie has pummeled Queensland state since crashing ashore as a category four storm on Tuesday between Bowen and Airlie Beach, ripping up trees, washing boats onto land and causing widespread damage.

It has been downgraded to a tropical low as it tracks southeast, but continues to pack damaging gusts and dump huge amounts of rain, with Brisbane now in the firing line.

Meteorologists said the city was soaked by a month’s worth of rain in a single day, with the popular Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast areas also drenched ahead of the system moving offshore, expected Friday.

Theme parks and beaches in the area were closed.

“We have a very, very large state here and this is a very, very big weather system that’s going to wreak havoc all the way down the coast,” Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

Emergency service crews, who took more than 3,000 calls for help, rescued dozens of people from floodwaters, with some plucked from roofs and tops of cars.

To reinforce the message that people should steer clear of floods, Queensland Fire and Emergency

tweeted a picture of a shark washed up on a road near the town of Ayr. “Think it’s safe to go back in the water? Think again! A bull shark washed up in Ayr. Stay out of floodwater,” they said.

Despite the ferocity of the storm, no deaths have been reported with only one significant injury -- a man crushed by a collapsing wall. Before the cyclone hit, thousands of people moved to higher ground, out of the area or to safe refuges.

The wild weather has made the clean-up difficult as crews battle horrendous conditions to reach isolated communities and restore power.

Many roads remain flooded and towns cut off with hundreds of schools closed and authorities keeping a close eye on dams as water levels rise.

Flood evacuation orders were also put in place for parts of northern New South Wales, which neighbours Queensland.

Great Barrier Reef islands were among the worst hit.

Tourists and residents had been stranded for days on devastated Hamilton and Daydream islands, battered by terrifying winds of more than 260 kph (160 mph) at the height of the tempest.

Hundreds were evacuated Thursday after struggling with no power and toilets not flushing as water ran low.

Jacqui McCullagh, who was staying on Hamilton Island, said the once-lush area was in a bad way. AFP

NOT IN ITS ELEMENT. This handout photo from the Queensland Police Service taken on March 30, 2017, shows a bull shark washed up on a road near the town of Ayr. Torrential rain hampered relief efforts on March 30, 2017, after a powerful cyclone wreaked havoc in northeast Australia, with floods sparking emergency rescues as fed-up tourists began evacuating from resort islands. AFP

World

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

C4

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017

US judge extends order on travel ban LOS ANGELES―The judge who halted President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban on refugees and arrivals from six mainly Muslim countries has extended his order, dealing another blow to the White House.

After a hearing lasting several hours, US District Judge Derrick Watson in Hawaii said Wednesday he had turned his original temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction.

Such an injunction generally has no set expiration date, said Hawaii state Attorney General Doug Chin, meaning Trump will be barred from enforcing the ban while it is contested in court.

The US Justice Department is expected to appeal to the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Hawaii was the first of several US states to sue over the amended ban.

Trump has said his proposed travel ban is needed to preserve US national security and keep out terrorists intent on doing harm to Americans.

The government had asked Watson to limit his first ruling to just the part of the order involving the six Muslim countries -- Somalia, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Libya and Yemen, the New York Times reported.

Justice Department attorney Chad Readler argued before the judge that the refugee resettlement restriction had no effect on far-flung Hawaii, the paper said.

But Watson rejected the argument. He said 20 refugees had been accepted in Hawaii since 2010, the Times said.

Watson’s first order suspending enforcement of Trump’s amended ban was issued March 15 -- a day before it was to go into effect.

Trump’s first ban and the revised one have both been criticized as amounting to a ban on entry of Muslims into the US. Hawaii’s attorney general Chin praised the new court ruling.

“With a preliminary injunction in place, people in Hawaii with family in the six affected Muslim-majority countries – as well as Hawaii students, travelers, and refugees across the world – face less uncertainty,” he said.

“While we understand that the president may appeal, we believe the court’s well reasoned decision will be affirmed,” he added in a statement. AFP

FALLAS FESTIVAL. A ninot representing US President Donald Trump burns on the last night of the Fallas Festival in Valencia, Spain, on March 19, 2017. Fallas are gigantic structures made of cardboard portraying current events and personalities in which individual figures or ninots are placed. The Fallas are burned in the streets of Valencia as a tribute to St Joseph. AFP

Trump’s crackdown leaves Asians rattled L OS ANGELES-The debate surrounding US President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown has focused almost entirely on the Latino community, leaving other groups affected—notably Asians—largely out of the discourse, experts say.

Of the estimated 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States, some 80 percent are from Mexico or elsewhere in Latin America. But the second largest group—.5 million—are from Asia, according to government figures and researchers.

The majority hail from China, India, the Philippines and South Korea, representing the fastestgrowing segments of unauthorized immigrants in the United States since 2000, according to the Pew Research Center and the Migration Policy Institute.

The number of unauthorized immigrants from India, for exam-

ple, grew by about 130,000 from 2009 to 2014, to an estimated half a million, according to Pew. And yet Asians have often been overlooked in the current debate over illegal immigration, which has mainly been cast by the Trump administration as a Mexican issue that can be tackled by building a wall along the USMexico border.

“Asians in the United States have not received the same sort of focus as people from Mexico and Latin America,” said Stephen YaleLoehr, an immigration lawyer and professor at Cornell Law School.

“It may be more sociological

than anything else but they are certainly concerned, as everyone else, about the new enforcement policies.”

Joon Bang, executive director of the Korean American Coalition in Los Angeles, said that since Trump’s election in November he has witnessed mounting fear within the Korean community over the president’s immigration policies.

“To give you an idea... we normally get about 60 calls a month regarding immigration issues and since Trump was elected we’ve had an average of about 150 calls per month,” Bang said.

“It’s all fear-related, from people with or without status, to those with a visa or in the process of applying for citizenship.”

He said the anxiety is such that in one instance a Korean woman in Los Angeles who was domestically abused refused to go to the police for fear she and her family would be deported.

While most of the Latino undocumented immigrants cross into the

United States by slipping through the US-Mexico border, those from Asian countries typically arrive on tourist or student visas and then overstay their allotted time.

And unlike immigrants from Mexico or Central America, they usually don’t come from a poor background and have immigration petitions in the pipeline.

Bang said that many undocumented Asians, especially Koreans, have taken advantage of Obama-era executive policies on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents.

These defer deportation for unauthorized immigrants who grew up in the United States and for parents of American citizens or legal residents.

“There is a demographic among the Asian community that wants to take advantage of this, so that they can be seen... and come out of the shadow,” Bang said. AFP

US state reaches deal over ‘bathroom law’

PRESENTATION. Actress Maria Menounos attends CinemaCon 2017’s Warner Bros. Pictures Invites You to The Big Picture, an Exclusive Presentation of our Upcoming Slate at Caesars’ Palace during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theaters Owners, on March 29, 2017, in Las Vegas. AFP

WASHINGTON―Lawmakers in the US state of North Carolina have reached an agreement to repeal a controversial law setting rules on which bathrooms transgender people can use in public buildings.

But the deal reported by US media still has to pass a series of hurdles in the state legislature on Thursday.

And gay and lesbian groups complained that even the new arrangement is unfair to them.

The initial legislation in the generally conservative southern state was a highlight of the broader cultural war between conservatives and liberals in contemporary America.

As passed in March 2016, the law, often referred to as HB2, stated that in schools and government buildings transgender people had to use restrooms corresponding with the gender on their birth certificate.

That rule was widely condemned as discriminatory, and resulted in North Carolina suffering a string of business boycotts.

Performers such as Bruce Springsteen and major sports groups canceled events, and there

was blowback from corporate titans such as Apple and Starbucks.

The new deal to repeal the law was struck late Wednesday by Republican lawmakers and the state’s Democratic governor.

It strikes the rule on transgender people having to use restrooms that correspond to the gender on their birth certificate.

But there is also a concession to conservatives: regulation of public bathrooms is now in sole control of the state.

That means cities and local governments are barred from approving their own anti-discrimination laws until 2020.

“I support the House Bill 2 repeal compromise that will be introduced tomorrow,” Governor Roy Cooper said. “It’s not a perfect deal, but it repeals House Bill 2 and begins to repair our reputation.”

It was an anti-discrimination ordinance in the city of Charlotte that touched off the whole spat in February 2016. That rule allowed transgender people to use the restroom of their choice.

The angry backlash against it led to the passage of the original HB2 law. AFP

Britain begins exit from EU laws LONDON―Britain will Thursday begin the messy task of disentangling itself from EU laws, as the first signs of rancor between London and Brussels emerged at the start of their twoyear divorce proceedings.

As some of the EU’s top leaders gathered to flesh out their strategy for the hard talks ahead, Britain was to publish its plan to extricate itself from four decades of European regulation.

European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker urged the remaining 27 EU nations to pull together as the bloc reels from the blow of one of its biggest members becoming the first ever state to announce its withdrawal from the 60-year-old union.

The first signs of discord were already emerging as a row developed over what was perceived as a veiled threat by London that cooperation over EU security would be endangered if there was no deal.

The European Parliament’s chief negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt hit back immediately saying that “citizens’ security was far too serious a subject” to be held hostage to the negotiations.

And the path ahead is strewn with obstacles, with the matter of three million EU citizens living in Britain and one million British people within the bloc’s nations top of leaders’ agenda.

Also looming large over negotiations is the so-called “exit bill” Britain will have to pay, estimated to be as much as 60 billion euros ($64 billion, ￡52 billion).

But before these talks can even get under way, MPs will begin the task of amending or scrapping EU regulation as it is brought into British law.

Prime Minister Theresa May told parliament on Wednesday that this was important “so that on the day we leave everybody knows those rules still apply and everybody knows where they stand”.

Meanwhile Juncker will meet in Malta with EU President Donald Tusk, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

Analysts said the tone of Wednesday’s historic announcement and the EU’s initial reaction was largely conciliatory.

In a letter setting out Britain’s position, May stressed she wanted to “remain committed partners and allies to our friends across the continent” and to forge a “deep and special relationship” with the rest of the bloc. AFP

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017

SHOPPING

D1

Summer adventures are best enjoyed with stylish casual summer wear and swimwear

Summer sizzles,

Robinsons Department Store's Chasing the Sun promo lets shoppers win Go Pro Hero 5 Black 4K Ultra HD Cameras which they can use to capture their summer escapades

sun chase the

T

Robinsons Department Store offers a wide range of summer outfits

ticipating Beach Hut, Body Music, Conquest, Island Haze, Nike SNS, Sun Kissed, Vans, or Vaseline products is equivalent to one raffle coupon while every P500 single receipt purchase of any participating Angelfish, Hawaiian Sun, Nivea, or Sassa products is equivalent to two raffle entries. Deadline for submission of entries is on April 30. Raffle will be on May 12.

Whether it’s basking in the waters of Boracay, driving to Tagaytay for the weekend, skydiving in Bantayan Island, snorkeling in Tablas, or just lounging in the city – Robinsons Department Store has the best summer outfits for you. Shop and get a chance to win one of 10 Go Pro Hero 5 Black 4K Ultra HD Cameras that will capture every exciting second of your adventure.

For more updates on the hottest summer trends, visit www.

RobinsonsDepartmentStore.com.ph or like and follow @ RobinsonsDepartmentStore on Facebook and Instagram.

HE rising temperatures experienced throughout the country can only mean one thing – summer is here. And, just as the season changes, the wardrobe needs an upgrade as well.

It’s a good thing that Robinsons Department Store is here to help every Filipino enjoy the best adventures that summer has to offer by bringing the best brands together under one roof – whether it’s a new swimsuit, casual summer wear, or skin care essentials.

To bring never ending fun under the sun, Robinsons Department Store has partnered with top fashion and skin care brands for Chasing the Sun, its latest campaign and promo which will raffle off 10 Go Pro Hero 5 Black 4K Ultra HD Cameras.

Until April 30, every P500 single receipt purchase of any par-

rally; and arch supports that cradle and hug our feet as though they are gently pressing on soil or sand with each step.

Because of this innovation and science-backed features, many of Vionic’s styles have been accepted by the American Podiatric Association, which certifies products that are beneficial for foot health.

Furthermore, one of Vionic’s sandals is clinically proven to alleviate heal pain. In the Philippines, Vionic is also growing in popularity among foot healthcare professionals.

“Vionic is the only product I’ve seen in the market that has built in orthotics that help my patients.

I used to recommend orthotics to my patients who have plantar fasciitis. But now I can recommend Vionic to those who have this problem,” said Dr. Roberto Lopez, of the Philippine Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society.

Karina Tortoise sandals are perfect when paired with casual outfits

Women would love the comfort and style Laurie sandals offer

Roth brogues can take you from the office to the mall

Science behind

Vionic Footwear

WHEN it comes to putting together a polished outfit, there’s no denying that most women are willing to sacrifice comfort for style. Unfortunately, most women are unaware of the potential damage that poorly designed shoes can have on their feet. Understanding this risk, Vionic, a fashion-forward footwear brand, aspires to change this by infusing science and style in each of its footwear.

Our feet were naturally designed to walk on the soft and natural surfaces of the earth—the soil, grass, and sand. But because most of our modern world is now covered in pavements and streets, we tread on these flat, hard, and unnatural surfaces almost daily. The weight that we bear against these surfaces may cause our feet to lose their natural alignment, which causes other problems in our bodies such as heel, knee

and back pains. This is especially true for people who have excess weight, such as women who are pregnant or overweight individuals.

Vionic aims to reduce the damage to our feet caused by this misalignment. With the help of Dr. Phillip Vasyli, who had more than 30 years of podiatric practice, Vionic developed built-in orthotics in its footwear that help maintain the natural alignment of our feet while standing and walking. By achieving this natural alignment, Vionic helps our feet move more naturally against flat, hard surfaces, which in turn help alleviate heel discomfort.

The science in each Vionic footwear consists of various features that include deep heel cups that enhance stability; firm yet flexible midsoles that help the feet bend more natu-

Gilson Chu, Managing Director of Easy Street Footwear Corp and (inset) Gifford Chu, Vice President

“I have seen how Vionic helps improve the body’s alignment by merely aligning the feet in the correct position. If we achieve good alignment, we can eliminate most aches and pains in our feet and back, especially for those who stand or walk for a long time everyday.” explains Dwight Guieb, registered physical therapist. “I have in fact recommended Vionic to some of my patients.”

Vionic recently opened retail stores at Uptown Bonifacio and Ayala Malls The 30th. Women don’t have to choose between comfort and style when it comes to footwear. With Vionic, they are now able to walk, move, and live free from heel pain.

For more information on Vionic, visit www.vionicshoes.com.ph, like them on Facebook at Vionic Philippines, and follow them on Instagram @vionicshoesph.

Life

D2

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

White and wood

Crate & Barrel’s combo of the season

Achieve that calming and timeless appeal with white and wood furniture and fixtures

G

LOBAL brand Crate & Barrel gives the modern classic its moment with White & Wood from its recent collection as the combo of the season. Here, everything is pure, white, warm, simple, clean.

Pairing white with wood has been a signature Crate & Barrel look from the beginning. Today, it can be pure white or warm white. Oak, pine, maple, walnut, acacia or sheesham: combinations that are beautiful, calming and timeless.

Key pieces like the Dakota Dining Collection, as well as white accent chairs like the Slip White Slip covered Dining Chair help create the White and Wood combo story. There’s also the Alpine Accent Table, Apex Sideboard and Elevate Walnut Bookcase that’s classic, elegant and functional.

Combining their natural beauty, the Wood Marble Serveware, Beck Flatware Caddy and Napkin holder and Fiber leaf placemat, on the other hand, are few of the great home kitchen accents that highlight Crate & Barrel’s story of the season.

Each store features an incredible inventory of pieces selected to appeal to any taste, so whether you prefer modern furniture or a more classic look, you’ll always find “that” piece you’ve been dreaming of. For more information, visit www.crateandbarrel.com .

Crate and Barrel Philippines are located at SM Mega Fashion Hall, SM Aura Premier and SM Makati.

Beck Caddy and Napkin Holder

Dakota Dining Collection

Alpine Accent Table

Fiber Leaf Placemat

Grab and kiss life Summer is time for Shoppers Bazaar Life is richer for those willing to grab hold of its challenges and surprises. That is why Amway Philippines dares Filipinos to banish their fears, take chances, and kiss life.

Debuting a song entitled “Kiss Me” during its Music and Arts Festivals tour in Davao, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, and Manila, the global beauty and wellness company tries to get Filipinos hooked on the electric rhythms of life.

It only takes a positive attitude, a healthy bod, and the confidence to fully enjoy the ride. And all these can be achieved with a little help from Amway’s products—Glister Mint Refresher Spray, Nutrilite Acerola C, and Nutrilite Double X. Conversation starter Glister will freshen one up for some friendly action and a night of lively exchanges. The easy-to-pocket bottle packs in the experience, with guaranteed dose of boldness to last for hours.

Amway’s experts have also formulated supplements that best fit the active and adventure-driven lifestyles of Filipinos. They can take their pick between Nutrilite Acerola C and Nutrilite Double X to build up their energy and reach for that next summit.

Cherry-flavored Nutrilite Acerola contains all the Vitamin C requirements grown-ups need daily. Made from Acerola cherries, one of the most concentrated sources of this youth-promoting vitamin, this supplement is guaranteed to bring out the radiance from your skin to your moves.

Another great option is Nutrilite Double X, with its mix of 12 essential vitamins, nine essential minerals, and 19 phytonutrient-rich plant concentrates. Double X gives thrill-seekers the all-natural boost that can only come from Amway’s organic farms in Brazil. All supplements are prepared by Amway in this way, from seed to supplement.

Start invigorating your body today. Imbibe what’s good and natural, muster your courage, and enjoy the full ride of life. With Amway’s 20 years of delivering wellness to the Philippines, the leading direct-selling company from the United States invites Filipinos to have a blast and kiss life, with all its highlights and misadventures.

With a quick peck on Amway’s lifestyle options, everyone can get as close to anyone as they want, lead the life they want, and beat all their anxieties. Whether, they are yogis, athletes, foodies, or simply interested in all things new, they can be sure to get kiss-ready and life-ready with Amway.

“Kiss Me” is the first taste to the breathtaking experience from Amway. Tune in to this catchy tune and keep updated on the most exciting “Kiss Me” events from Amway Philippines by visiting www.amway.com. ph/ and following it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OfficialAmwayPH/ and on Instagram at @AMWAYPH_OFFICIAL.

Amway invites everyone to invigorate their body to fully enjoy life with the help of Nutrilite Double X and Nutrilite Acerola C

SUMMER is not only the best time to escape the heat of the city and explore the islands’ more rustic charms. This is also the season when local and foreign tourists savor local delicacies and shop around for specialty products that would cost only a fraction of normal retail prices in the city.

Aliwan Fiesta, the grand cultural extravaganza produced by Manila Broadcasting Company in tandem with the Cultural Center of the Philippines to bring together the country’s major festivals in just a single venue, once again presents the perfect opportunity to showcase regional trade in its three-day Shoppers Bazaar at the CCP Complex.

Those who have outstanding products to sell from the different areas of the country are encouraged to display their wares at the booths available during the event, which takes place on April 2022, along Sotto Street in front of Aliw Theatre.

Elevating shopping to an art form and cultural phenomenon, Aliwan Fiesta hopes to guarantee the buying public with quality pasalubong.

Now on its 14th staging, Aliwan Fiesta’s Shoppers Bazaar has shown that the best finds are not always at the malls, but at the traditional tiangge or flea market. Shopaholics who would normally plan an extensive shopping spree

throughout the islands have had to exercise pers Bazaar, please call Teray Rivas at 0917even more restraint in this one-stop-shop.

8663973 or 0917-8658699 or 832-3249 For inquiries on the Aliwan Fiesta Shop-

The best products from different areas in the country will be available at the three-day Aliwan Fiesta's Shoppers Bazaar

New FSP premium program and mobile app IN 1995, Rustan’s Department Store introduced its Frequent Shoppers Program (FSP), the first retail loyalty card program in the Philippines.

Since then the FSP has become the gold standard in loyalty programs in the country. Today, Rustan’s is set to raise the bar higher as it launches its refreshed FSP Premium program for its best customers. With new and exciting benefits and perks, the Rustan’s FSP Premium program opens up a world of possibilities as it features wider acceptance across the Rustan Group of Companies, more chances to earn points and rewards in partner establishments, and even offers borderless rewards through its international retail partners.

Together with the launch of its new premium program, Rustan’s is also set to launch its groundbreak-

ing mobile app, which enables a Tours (operator of Crystal Cruises). more seamless shopping experience, Not content with offering its cusconvenience, and value-added perks tomers wider acceptance locally, and services.

Rustan’s sets the bar higher by offering its customers special discounts Loyalty at its finest even when they shop abroad. InThe refreshed FSP Premium cluded in the roster of prestigious program allows customers to earn partners are Tang’s in Singapore points not only in Rustan’s Depart- and the Central Retail Group in ment Store, but in Rustan’s Super- Thailand. According to sources market and Marketplace, Adora, in Rustan’s, customers can expect Debenhams, and SSI brands inside more shopping privileges abroad in the department store. Members are the near future. also entitled to perks and privileges in TWG, Salad Stop, and Sta. Elena The FSP mobile app Golf and Country Estate. Joining In conjunction with the launch of this prestigious line-up of companies its FSP Premium program, Rustan’s are Smarty Infinity, CATS Motors will also debut its groundbreaking Philippines (the exclusive dealer of FSP mobile app. The FSP mobile Mercedes Benz in the country), the app can be downloaded for free by Discovery Leisure Company, Tx- all FSP members and Rustan’s cusanton, and Adventure International tomers on the Apple Store and Play

Store. The mobile app features innovative features, such as scan and earn in which customers earn points simply by scanning featured merchandise in-store; a check-in feature which gives customers points simply by checking into their favorites Rustan’s store; wishlists which allow customers to organize their shopping lists simply by scanning items in-store and sharing these through email or social media; and integration with social media which allows customers to earn points for simply sharing merchandise picks and other posts that relate to Rustan’s department store.

With the new FSP Premium Card and mobile app, Rustan’s launches its finest pair that responds and rewards the unique lifestyle needs of its sophisticated clientele.

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017

PEOPLE

...are talking about Janella Salvador The young singer-actress couldn’t contain her happiness as evidenced by her recent Instagram post. Janella thanked the people who supported her self-titled debut album that sold over 15,000 units.

She knows that sales of physical album these days is really bad, so for a record to be certified, not mention be awarded with Platinum recognition, is already a feat in itself.

By Bernadette Lunas

Alden Richards Television’s golden boy, who also happens to be last year’s most successful recording artist in terms of the number of records sold, once again has proven his clout. Three days after the tickets to his Upsurge concert at the Kia Theater went on sale, fans started complaining they could no longer buy any ticket. As a response, GMA Records announced that the show has been sold out. Iba ka Alden!

Darna Since ABS-CBN, Star Cinema, and Angel Locsin mutually arrived at a decision that she would no longer pursue the much anticipated movie, fans have been active online visiting and commenting on different blogsites and forums defending why their idols deserve to play the iconic role. But that’s nothing to what Angel’s supporters are planning to do; they wanted to stage a walk to protest ABS-CBN for not fulfilling its promise to revive Darna with Angel playing the coveted role. By the looks of it, the Darna fever is far from over.

...are not talking about Meg Imperial After being with ABS-CBN for a year, she returned to TV5 via a series no one has even heard of, and then she went back to ABS-CBN again to be part of FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano cast. Now, the sexy star is starring in GMA News and Public Affairs production entitled D’ Originals. We wonder what she’d do next or which network she’d be working for. One thing is sure though, she was given big breaks but no follow ups ever happened.

Aljur Abrenica The soon-to-be father is under a lot of stress of late. First, GMA Network did not renew his talent management contract, which expired just last week. Then, a radio announcer called out his attention for his outstanding debt worth P1.3 million, the remaining balance for the house he bought for P19 million. As far as we are aware, his mother network tried its best to fulfill the contract by giving him assignments and projects. We guess the problem was the actor who could not deliver the goods.

Case Solved After six episodes, the crime documentary is now a closed case. The Dingdong Dantes hosted docudrama is being replaced by Ika-6 na Utos for a reason we can only assume. Could it be that the show has been given the axe because of its underwhelming performance? Was the March 25 episode really meant to be its season ender? Well, your guess is just as good as ours.

Ewan Mcgregor’s directorial debut exclusive at Ayala Malls Cinemas TWO-TIME Golden Globe® nominee Ewan McGregor stars and debuts as a director in the deeply affecting father-daughter story American Pastoral based on the Pulitzer Prizewinning novel by Philip Roth that chronicles the profound changes in the last half-century of American life. The adaptation focuses in on the Swede’s search for his daughter and the resonant themes of uncertainty, shifting fates, family and loss, that took the filmmakers nearly thirteen years to bring to the screen.

American Pastoral follows a family’s idyllic existence that was shattered by social and political turmoil that will change the fabric of American culture forever. McGregor makes his directorial debut and stars as Seymour “Swede” Levov, a once legendary high school athlete who is now a successful businessman married to Dawn (Jennifer Connelly), a former beauty queen. But turmoil brews beneath the polished veneer of Swede’s life. When his beloved daughter, Merry (Dakota Fanning), disappears after being accused of committing a violent act, Swede dedicates himself to finding her and reuniting his family. What he discovers shakes him to the core, forcing him to look beneath the surface and confront the chaos that is shaping the modern world around him.

Lakeshore Entertainment producer Gary Lucchesi reflects on what drove him to stay on course throughout the long but steadfast creative process: “I have always wanted to make a father daughter story. I read the script, I cried, and I knew I had to make the movie one way or another,” he recalls. “I saw in it the story of a man who has an uncompromising love for his daughter through thick and thin. I love dramas about human beings that you can relate to and experiences that you

Actor Ewan McGregor in "American Pastoral," a film he directs and stars in

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Friday, March 31, 2017

ACROSS 1 Window part 5 Apron strings 9 Veal source 13 Mumble 14 Godzilla foe 15 Ersatz butter 16 Follow the recipe 17 January, in Jalisco 18 Natural fabric 19 Sums up 21 Cousteau’s domain 22 Greasy dirt 23 London art gallery 25 Ricky Ricardo 27 Orchard pest (2 wds.)

31 Gushed 35 Campus org.

36 Mongolia’s — Bator 38 Dwarf planet 39 Check fig.

40 Margarita ingredients 42 T’ai — ch’uan 43 Binchy of best-sellers 46 Quick drive 47 Read a bar code 48 Bring to a boil?

50 Finding excuses

52 Urge on 54 Clan man 55 Island near Kauai 58 Opposite of haw 60 Inelegant solution 64 Loafer, maybe 65 Mammoth 67 Mighty steed 68 Holbrook and Linden 69 Bugs’ enemy 70 Salad choice 71 Help a hoodlum 72 Ollie’s partner 73 Like custard DOWN 1 Hey there!

2 Low voice 3 Soir follower 4 Unpredictable 5 2,000 pounds 6 Footnote word 7 Like a teacup 8 Saws logs 9 Rodeo rider 10 Felipe or Moises 11 Novelist — Uris 12 Pete Seeger’s music 14 Quiet 20 Dist. from the equator 24 Mystery writer

— Peters 26 Dine 27 Body build 28 Nero or Cato 29 Say aloud 30 Colorado river 32 Handbag logo 33 Hawke of “Alive” 34 “Nothing —!”

37 Armstrong and Simon 41 Disrespectful laugh 44 Sketchiest

45 Kind of trip 47 Place 49 Cliffside dwellers 51 Arg. neighbor 53 Gave a hand 55 Job-safety org.

56 Obsessed whaler 57 You can dig it 59 Funny Bombeck 61 Pharmacy buy 62 Crew 63 Online auction 66 DDE, for one

can imagine. That’s what really turns me on as a filmmaker. Every now and then, you get a chance to do something like this that you covet—so you give it everything you have.”

McGregor, known for his wide-ranging roles in films spanning from the innovative and edgy Trainspotting 1 & 2, Velvet Goldmine, and Moulin Rouge to the acclaimed dramas Ghost Writer and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen -- was attached to play the central character of the Swede in American Pastoral long before signing on to direct the film.

McGregor knew this was a rare opportunity.

Ultimately, it was his love of the material that led to his decision to take a leap into his feature film directorial debut. “I was very moved by the script and I was completely taken by the Swede and the study of father daughter relationships,” he says.

“I’ve always wanted to direct, but I didn’t want to just direct for the sake of it. I wanted to have a story that I was compelled to tell,” McGregor explains.

An Ayala Malls Cinemas’ exclusive presentation, American Pastoral opens on April 5 at Glorietta 4 and Trinoma cinemas.

Trailerlink: https://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=079zFCh81L4&index=1&list=PLJ7A97yl9 oXrDVG8xuBZnkakEg71WnB86

BEING a public commodity, many, if not all. TV personalities spend great efforts to achieve and maintain the youthful, glowing look requisite for their job. Some apply multiple face creams and serums day and night, while others opt to go under the knife.

Kris Aquino reveals that she uses 10 different kinds of creams on her face throughout the day: three in the morning, seven at night. And she applies them “no matter how early I wake up or how late I sleep.” She complements her regimen with Vitamin C, collagen supplements, cold pressed juices and eight hours of sleep daily.

While her lifestyle changes, prescribed by the doctors she went to in the US, have helped improve her looks, she admits that she needed another intervention, especially that she will be back on television for a “one-shot” deal, two-hour special Trip Ni Kris airing on April 9 on GMA 7.

However, she felt that “surgery would cause more problems than what it would be worth.”

“I didn’t want anything drastic and high maintenance. I just thought that I’d be happier without a few lines here and there,” she discloses.

“So when I was told (by a good friend) about this nonsurgical lifting procedure that would just take over an hour and needed no downtime, I had to try it,” shares the 46-year-old TV personality.

Kris is talking about Ultherapy, a non-invasive treatment which is currently sweeping the Hollywood by storm.

Ultherapy lifts the skin using ultrasound technology, Ulthera, to stimulate the body’s own healing process, treating the deeper layers of the skin without disrupting or cutting the surface.

In 2009, Ultherapy received its US FDA clearance as the only non-invasive procedure to lift skin on the brow, neck, and under the chin, as well as to improve lines and wrinkles on the décolleté. In 2014, German pharmaceutical company Merz acquired the Ulthera technology system.

“This technology is the first of its kind in that it is able to get to deeper skin layers and treat them without any damage to the outer layers. Lasers, radiofrequency and other devices on the other hand treat from the outside going in,” explains Merz Asia Pacific Senior Regional Medical Director Dr. Owen Sunga.

The ultrasound technology

prompts new collagen and elastin formation thus the body is able to treat itself, according to Dr. Sunga.

The procedure normally takes around 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the treatment area, and has no downtime according to Dr. Sunga and Taipei-based dermatologist Dr. Fang-Wen Tseng. Although Kris reveals that it took her three days to recover as she has overly sensitive skin.

After one session of Ultherapy treatment, the lifting process is initiated, but the effects are gradual as new, stronger collagen and elastin are created.

A session costs from P100,000 to P120,000 depending on the clinic that will perform the treatment.

Dr. Tseng says results will be visible in three months, and further improvements can appear up to six months to one year after a procedure, as the collagenbuilding process continues. The effects are permanent, but since we age, a follow-up is needed after one to two years.

“After I started seeing the effects, I became a believer.

Because my body causes the lifting and firming from the collagen production, the results looked so natural. I got so many compliments but no one could tell I had anything done,” enthuses Kris.

Ultherapy is now being offered at a number of treatment clinics in Metro Manila. Visit www.ultherapy.com for more information.

OPM pillars Eva Eugenio, Marco Sison, Imelda Papin, Rico J. Puno, Claire dela Fuente, and Hajji Alejandro

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017

F

OR the first time, OPM icons of the ’70s are coming together to relive the days when original Pilipino music ruled the airwaves and concert venues.

On April 29 at Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila, Rico J. Puno, Hajji Alejandro, Marco Sison, Claire Dela Fuente, Eva Eugenio, and Imelda Papin will show the audience why they are called the Kings and Queens of OPM. The ’70s, to pop music observers, is the Golden age Up-and-coming recording star LA Santos joins senior OPM artists in a night full of classic OPM hits

of Original Pinoy Music (OPM). It was at this time when the musical genre was born, the Manila Sound. It was also when artists like Rico, Hajji, Marco, Claire, Eva, and Imelda became the most popular singing artists all with their own brand of music, particularly singing heartfelt soulful ballads, that became big hits among Filipinos.

If asked how popular and impactful their songs were, it would be safe to say that each of those hit tunes had been, at some point, a theme song of the listener’s life.

If one were feeling hopeless, Rico J. Puno had the answer to lift them up.

“May Bukas Pa”, he would sing. And if one felt the confidence exuded by the Total Entertainer, “Macho Gwapito” was their anthem.

To the teenage girls looking to have a little kilig in their lives, they need only to see and hear the “Kilabot ng mga Kolehiyala” Hajji Alejandro singing his hits like “Nakapagtataka” and “Panakip Butas”.

Meanwhile, Marco Sison’s songs like “My Love Will See You Through” and “Always” touched the hearts of those hopeful in love.

And in this day and age where “#hugot” songs are widely embraced to express what we feel, let’s not forget the ladies whose songs of love and heartbreak were and still are the favorite ones to play in our beloved Jukebox players.

Claire Dela Fuente, dubbed as the “Karen Carpenter of the Philippines” and “Asia’s Sweetest Voice” gave us “Sayang,” for those who have found love at the wrong time.

Eva Eugenio, one of the original Jukebox Queens, however, perfectly expressed the fears of a vulnerable heart with her hit, “Tukso.”

And for those experiencing the pains of the realities of love, “Asia’s Sentimental Songstress” Imelda Papin has popularized many “hugot” hits including “Bakit” and “Isang Linggong Pag-ibig.”

Now, imagine a wonderful Saturday night with all these songs (and more!) sung live by the legends themselves.

Expect a spectacular offering from Rico, Hajji, Marco, Claire, Eva and Imelda as they headline a show together for the very first time.

Ease on down memory lane as they sing the songs that’ll take you back to the good ol’ days - songs that have touched the hearts of many and indeed are truly deemed timeless!

The Kings and Queens of OPM has Gerry Matias as musical director and Freddie Santos as stage director. The show also features rising star L.A Santos as a guest performer.

Tickets are now available at all Ticketworld Outlets (www.ticketworld.com.ph | 8919999), SM Tickets (www.SMtickets.com | 470-2222), Resorts World Manila Box Office and Starmedia 854-3300 or log on to www. starmediaentertainment.com.

Kings and Queens of OPM is for the benefit of Rotary Club of Makati East, Rotary Internationa,l and Association of Chiefs of Police of the Philippines Inc. Affiliated NonGovernment Organizations (ACPPIAN) It is a production of Starmedia Entertainment.

From calendar girl to concert star SHOWBIZ’S newest calendar girl is ready to take on the concert stage.

Viva Artists Agency star Kara Mitzi, this year’s calendar girl of a top liquor brand, is mounting her first co-headlining concert featuring a very special participation of no less than the unkabogable Vice Ganda.

Entitled 56K with Kara and Khel, the show co-stars pop heartthrob and certified hitmaker Micheal Pangilinan. It will be held on April 8 at the Music Museum.

Kara is a multi-talented star who can sing, dance, and act. She was born in the Philippines but raised in Sydney, Australia. Her mom is Filipino-Japanese, while her dad is part Filipino, Spanish, and Greek, hence her very foreign-sounding last name.

She got more than her family name from her dad. “I was born into a family of musicians on my dad’s side,” she notes.

“And I started singing and dancing very early, when I was around three -years old.”

Kara had her first taste of showbiz in 2010 when she did some TV commercials, print ads, and TV guest apearnces. But she had to discontinue after one year to finish her studies and take a role in her family business.

She couldn’t stay away for long.

The self-described “born to be in showbiz” star returned to being a performer full-time in 2015, concentrating on her singing career.

“I love live performances talaga in front of the crowd,” she says. “Super saya ako pag nasa stage performing, sharing, and inspiring people.”

The Music Museum show is Kara’s biggest gig so far. “It’s a dream come true for me to have a concert at the Music Museum where many big name artists have performed in at the start of their careers. And to have one of the biggest stars we have today guesting in the show is just mindblowing.”

Now, Kara is ready for bigger things.

Among her dreams for her showbiz

career is a debut album with original songs, a major concert, a launching movie, regular TV shows, and awards. She would also love to work her local idols like Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, and Nadine Lustre, and actorsinger Sam Milby.

And, she vows to keep working hard, perhaps harder than ever, now that more doors are starting to open up for her. “I’m the type of person who doesn’t back down from challenges. I actually challenge myself and I’m always on the lookout for ways to make my life interesting. I would say that I’m very unpredictable in a good way.”

Viva artist Kara Mitzi to conquer concert stage this April

Rising TV and movie tandem Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto are the new faces of a fastfood giant's new campaign

Food chain adds hot teen stars as endorsers JULIA BARRETTO and Joshua Garcia, stars of a recent blockbuster teen romance film, are featured in Jollibee Yum Burger’s latest TV commercial that aired on March 5.

The new TVC alludes to a classic 1980’s ad produced by the fastfood chain, which showed just how irresistible Jollibee’s langhap-sarap appeal is, even to foreigners. For decades, Jollibee stayed true to its langhap-sarap claim and ensured that the Yum Burger maintains its 100 percent beefy, langhap-sarap goodness.

“We see incredible potential in Julia and Joshua, young millennials who believe in always seeking out the best in everything: in their respective careers, their daily decisions, and of course, their burgers,” said Jollibee AVP for Marketing Kent Mariano.

“They embody a generation that won’t settle for anything less than the best and knows that for 100 percent beefy, langhap-sarap, there’s always the Yum Burger.”

Coming home “I was just so happy,” the young

actress shared. “Jollibee was a big part of my career when I was starting out, so this endorsement is like coming home.”

Julia first endorsed the Yum Burger in 2014, which she said was “one of the best choices I’ve made so far.”

Despite being part of a renowned showbiz clan, Julia shares many things in common with other young Filipinos her age growing up. She admits to being a batang-Jollibee, with the brand being around constantly for the most important moments of her life.

“I have so many memories with Jollibee and we always went there as a family,” she shared.

When asked why she loves the Yum Burger (her favorite is the Yum Cheeseburger), the young actress answered, “It’s uniquely delicious and Pinoy. Isang langhap mo pa lang, alam mong sarap agad ang matitikman mo.”

A project worth waiting for Joshua Garcia, on the other hand, is relatively a newcomer to Philippine showbiz.

He was first seen on a long-running TV reality show, where his candid

personality and relatable life story resonated among millions of viewers.

Like Julia, the 19-year-old actor was emotional when he found out the was chosen as an endorser for one of the country’s biggest, most-loved homegrown brands.

“I really prayed and waited for a project like this,” Joshua shared. “I cried when my handler confirmed that my Yum Burger endorsement is a go.”

The Batangas-born actor shared that he missed out on a Jollibee childhood. “I only experienced Jollibee when I started out in showbiz.

It was a very memorable experience when I finally walked into a Jollibee store and bought myself a meal that I paid for with my own money.”

“I love the Yum Cheeseburger, too, because it has this kumpletong sarap,” he said. “And I love that it’s made with 100 percent beef. You can easily smell why it’s the best. Amoy pa lang, ang sarap na.”

“We hope that Julia and Joshua will inspire Filipino millennials to continue their pursuit for the best,” concluded Mariano.