Manila Standard - 2017 April 12 - Wednesday

There won’t be issues of the Manila Standard from Apr. 13 to Apr. 16.

VOL. XXXI • NO. 61 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

ASG’s Bohol raid foiled 5 Abu raiders killed in clash with lawmen

By Florante S. Solmerin

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INE people, including three soldiers and a policeman, were killed Tuesday in clashes with 10 suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf kidnap group on the resort island of Bohol, authorities said.

The incursion would be the first on a key tourist destination in recent years by the group, which pledges allegiance to the Islamic State and often targets foreigners in Mindanao.

Five gunmen were killed, and four assault rifles and an improvised explosive device were recovered in the fighting on Bohol island, officials said.

The incident took place in

WAFID SAEID. Visiting President Rodrigo Duterte, in a light conversation with Prince Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud, the governor of Riyadh, on his arrival Monday at the Royal Terminal of the King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia, where economic troubles have forced the repatriation of thousands of Filipino nationals still waiting for their salaries to be paid. Malacañang Photo

Du30 visit: PH-Saudi labor deals on agenda

By John Paolo Bencito TWO agreements will be signed between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia as President Rodrigo Duterte embarks on the first leg of his three-country swing to Middle East countries this week.

Duterte met with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and other high-ranking Saudi offi-

cials Tuesday to discuss the plight of Filipino workers there and to strengthen the cooperation between Manila and Riyadh to combat the drug scourge.

Among the agreements signed are a memorandum of agreement on labor cooperation on general workers and employment between Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Labor and Social Development and the

Philippines’ Department of Labor and Employment; and a memorandum of understanding regarding political consultations between Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.

Saudi Arabia is the first leg of President Duterte’s first foreign trip to the Middle East and is the home and destination of work of

the largest number of overseas Filipinos in the region.

In an interview at Riyadh, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella clarified that Duterte cannot bring home Filipinos on the death row, but he can bring those who sought amnesty before the Saudi government.

“He was asked about the death row matter. We need to clarify Next page

a remote area, with local officials saying the militants had used fast boats to reach a village where they squared off against security forces who went to investigate.

An initial report by the Army’s 47th Infantry Battalion said the encounter broke out at around 7 a.m. when police and the military encountered at least 10 heavily Next page armed terrorists.

Camiguin tourists defy terror: Business as usual

By Lance Baconguis CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The firefight between a group of heavily armed Abu Sayyaf bandits and security forces in Bohol will have no effect on its neighboring province of Camiguin as an expected 40,000 tourists flock to this island-province in time for Holy Week.

At least nine persons were killed as the clash between 10 suspected armed members of the Abu Sayyaf Group continued in the town of Inabanga on Tuesday, reports said.

One of the casualties was a policeman, the report added.

Supt. Reggie Oñate, Camiguin police’s deputy provincial director for operations, said they have been on full alert following an order from the regional police command even before the Lenten season.

Mambajao Mayor Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, in a text message Tuesday afternoon, said the local government was monitoring the situation in Bohol as tourists visiting the White Island and Mantigue Island, two of the tourist spots Next page

Leni’s rating dives amid ‘black prop’ The survey, conducted from March 25 to 28 at the height of the criticisms against her speaking against President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs before a United Nations body, showed more than half of those surveyed, or 53 percent, said they were satisfied with Robredo’s performance with 27 percent dissatisfied. Those undecided stood at 19 percent.

By John Paolo Bencito, Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta VICE President Leni Robredo’s net satisfaction rating dipped by 11 points in the first quarter of the year, even as the ratings of other top government officials also declined except for House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, the latest Social Weather Stations survey revealed.

IS couple deported this week

By Vito Barcelo THE foreign couple suspected of being members of the Islamic State who were arrested in Bonifacio Global City in March will be deported anytime this week, the Bureau of Immigration said Tuesday.

Kuwaiti national Hussein AlDhafiri and his wife, Rahaf Zina, Next page

Vice President Leni Robredo

Next page

Treason or joke? Experts differ on offer to China

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan STRATBASE ADR Institute Inc. trustee and program convener Renato de Castro said Tuesday it would be an act of treason and a ground for impeachment if President Rodrigo Duterte made true his plan to sell to Beijing the islands controlled by the Philippines in the South China Sea. But other analysts and a former ambassador to the United Na-

tions downplayed the President’s pronouncement, saying Duterte might have just been joking.

“That is treason! He should be impeached! You don’t sell your country’s territory! You are giving away your territorial integrity and your strategic advantage,” De Castro, who is also a professor of De La Salle University, said in a text message.

Malacañang on Tuesday said Duterte’s offer to sell the islands Next page

REENACTMENT. Groups in urban centers, including Metro Manila, dramatize the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, portrayed by a poor man, as he was sentenced to death by pro-death penalty members of the House of Representatives and the Senate—emphasizing the poor are unjustly killed in the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs. Norman Cruz

War on drugs wins Pulitzer for NYT fotog

By John Paolo Bencito AUSTRALIAN freelance photographer Daniel Berehulak has won the Pulitzer Prize, the most prestigious award in US journalism, for the images pub-

lished in The New York Times showing the spate of killings under President Rodrigo Duterte’s intensified campaign against narcotics.

Berehulak’s photo essay “They are Slaughtering Us Like Ani-

mals: Inside President Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal anti-drug campaign in the Philippines,” documented more than 57 homicide victims over 35 days―and at the height of the killings as a result of Next page

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News

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Camiguin...

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in Camiguin, were not evacuated.

The White and Mantigue islands both face the southern part of Bohol while Mambajao town which is facing Bohol is just 50 kilometers way from Jagna town.

Camiguin is four hours away from the southern town of Jagna, Bohol by boat. Jagna is about two hours’ drive from Inabanga, the site of the confrontation.

“It is business as usual,” Romualdo said referring to the situation in Camiguin, but advised residents and visitors to be on alert and to report to law enforcers of any suspicious-looking persons in their vicinity.

Oñate said the eruption of violence in Bohol will have no effect on the religious activities in Camiguin, particularly the yearly “Panaad,” in time for the observance of the Holy Week.

Oñate said the island is generally peaceful.

In a previous interview on April 3, Supt. Wilbur Salaguste, the former Camiguin provincial deputy director for administration, said the 200 police officers in the island are on full alert and those who are on leave were recalled, to secure the island not just on Holy Week but for the summer months.

“Aside from Panaad, we also have a security plan for the entire summer,” Salaguste said, prior to his reassignment.

“Panaad” is a yearly act of penitence for devotees who walk the island’s 70-kilometer circumferential road during the Holy Week.

He said the province’s police force was divided into groups and were assigned to keep watch on the various parts of the island, especially infrastructures, establishments and tourist spots.

The Australian Embassy in Manila on Tuesday advised its citizens not to go to Central and Western Mindanao, including the Zamboanga Peninsula, the Sulu Archipelago and Southern Sulu Sea, describing the area as “very high risk.”

In the advisory posted on their website, the departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Australians who travel to the area “should typically seek professional security advice.”

The advisory emphasized that regular travel insurance policies will be void in areas of concern and the government will “unlikely be able to provide consular assistance.”

On Monday, the Australian government also warned its citizens to be extra cautious in traveling to Central Visayas, specifically the provinces of Cebu and Bohol.

The United Kingdom on Tuesday urged its citizens in the Philippines to be extra vigilant because of a “high threat” of terrorism in Mindanao and parts of the Visayas.

The travel advisory urged travelers to avoid “all travel to western Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago because of terrorist activity and clashes between the military and insurgent groups.”

The British government also reminded its citizens of possible terror attacks in areas frequently visited by foreigners such as airports, malls, public transport hubs, and places of worship.

“Terrorist groups continue to plan attacks and have the capacity and the intent to carry out attacks at any time and anywhere in the country,” the advisory said. “You should remain vigilant at all times and report anything suspicious to the local authorities.” With PNA

Du30...

From A1 that first the process has not yet reached the level of the king, in which case there is no place for us asking for clemency at this stage so let us wait for the process regarding the death row issues,” Abella said.

He said the President could bring with him those who had taken advantage of an immigration amnesty

by Saudi Arabia.

Philippine Consul-General to Saudi Arabia Iric C. Arribas urged Filipinos to avail of the amnesty for undocumented foreign workers declared by the Saudi government

NBI probes DDS leader's crimes

By Rey E. Requejo

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USTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Tuesday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the crimes confessed by retired Senior Police Officer 3 Arthur Lascañas when he was a leader of the Davao Death Squad.

He said he ordered the bureau to investigate Lascañas’s confessions to determine their veracity and his criminal liabilities.

“These [alleged crimes confessed by Lascañas] are being investigated and this is what most probably he is afraid of,” Aguirre

said when sought to comment on Lascañas’ recent flight.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said he understood Lascañas predicament.

“I am not blaming or criticizing his decision to leave the country,” Lacson said.

ASG’s...

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Second Lt. Estelito Saldua had led the troops to verify information about the presence of armed men aboard three pump boats in Sitio Ilaya, Barangay Napo.

Military officials said the armed men were led by ASG sub-leader Muammar Askali, alias Abu Rami.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año said that the same group was spotted in Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte, earlier.

Año said he ordered the deployment of more troops including naval and air assets to seal off all exit points.

US and Australian embassies had warned their citizens this week about possible kidnappings by “terrorist groups” specifically on Bohol and Cebu islands.

“The US Embassy has received unsub-

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He said anybody who felt persecuted and physically threatened was entitled to make a personal decision on self-preservation.

But Senator Antonio Trillanes IV was dismayed when Lacson questioned who spent for the Singapore trip and accommodation of Lascañas and his family.

“Of all the people, it should be Senator Lacson who should understand my situation,” Trillanes said in a text message.

During the Senate inquiry last year on extrajudicial killings, Lascañas denied the claim of self-confessed DDS member

stantiated yet credible information that terrorist groups may attempt to conduct kidnappings in Central Visayas, which includes both Cebu and Bohol provinces,” the US advisory said.

Security forces have been on alert for “potential activity on the part of some lawless elements” during the peak Easter tourist season, military spokesman Brig.

Gen. Restituto Padilla said.

“Our forces who were acting on this information were able to engage these lawless armed groups that are believed to be part of the Abu Sayyaf group from Mindanao,” he said on ABS-CBN television.

Ano said security forces had reported a group armed with heavy-caliber weapons that has been cornered in an isolated section of Bohol.

“The clearing operations are ongoing and we are pouring in more forces to help and assist. We hope to finish this by the end of the day,” Padilla, the military spokesman, added.

Edgar Matobato about the existence of a death squad and the killings the group allegedly carried out on the orders of Rodrigo Duterte when he was mayor of Davao City.

But in his latest testimony he retracted and claimed that the death squad indeed existed.

He confessed being part of the group and claimed that Duterte paid them as much as P100,000 for each drug suspect liquidated.

Lascañas also implicated Duterte’s son Paolo―now vice mayor of Davao City―in the killings.

Aguirre had said earlier that

The gunmen sailed into the Bohol town of Inabanga on Monday, going upriver toward a remote section of the island aboard three fast boats, Inabanga police officer Edwin Melicor said.

Residents told police the type of boats were used only in Mindanao -- where the Abu Sayyaf is based.

A clash broke out as police went to investigate early Tuesday, Melicor added.

The military later poured in reinforcements.

Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto said the fighting was isolated in one village outside Inabanga, which he described as a farming and fishing community.

An unspecified number of residents had already fled to safety in nearby areas, he added.

“I am very disappointed that these elements coming out of nowhere are trying to destroy the lives of people living in peace,” Chatto said.

The Abu Sayyaf, also blamed for

deadly bombings, has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State movement that holds large swathes of Iraq and Syria.

Bohol is a mere 30 minutes’ boat ride away from the major port of Cebu on Cebu island, which is also among the country’s top tourist draws. The attack came as millions of Filipinos head to resort locations for the holidays.

Bohol is famous among foreign tourists who swim with docile whale sharks and marvel at tiny primates called tarsiers, go on cruises aboard boats on crystal-clear rivers and lounge on its beaches.

Over the past year, the Abu Sayyaf has been expanding its activities, boarding commercial and fishing vessels off their southern island stronghold of Jolo, near Malaysia, and abducting dozens of foreign crew members.

They beheaded a German tourist earlier this year and two Canadian tourists last year, all three of them having been seized at sea. With AFP

which specializes in sending overseas Filipino workers to Kuwait.

BI associate commissioner and BI-fugitive search unit chief Jose Carlitos Licas said Hussein AlDhafiri was able to enter the country using his real name because he is known as Abu Muslim Al-Kuwaiti, an ISIS commander in Syria.

Al-Dhafiri will be deported to Kuwait, while Zina would be sent back to Qatar, her last known location before she arrived in the Philippines.

“The two will be deported anytime this week as soon as the BI receives from the Kuwaiti government the notice on the cancellation of their passports,” he said.

Al-Dhafiri is also facing trial for the crime against the state security in Kuwait.

In a separate development, the Court of Appeals upheld the decision of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court convicting two Indonesian

terrorists for the crime of murder with double attempted murder, in connection with their involvement in the bombing of the Awang Airport in Barangay Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao in 2003 that killed one person and injured several others.

The CA’s Former Special Sixteenth Division through Associate Justice Marie Christine AzcarragaJacob ruled that there was no grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Pasig City RTC in sentencing accused-appellants Zulkifli/Julkifli alias Donis/Doni, Ofracio/Ahmad Faisal and Taufiq Rifqi, members of the notorious Rajah Solaiman Movement, to reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment.

“The court finds no compelling ground to disturb the factual findings of the RTC. As hereinbefore pronounced, the rule is well-settled that factual findings of the trial court regarding the credibility of

witnesses are accorded great weight and utmost respect given that trial courts have first hand observation of the witnesses’ demeanor while testifying in court,” the CA ruling said.

The appellate court upheld their decision on April 28, 2016, which affirmed the conviction by the trial court of Zulkifli Rifqui and their two other accused identified as Feliciano de los Reyes alias Box, and Dinno Amor Pareja alias Khaleel.

The case stemmed from the bombing of the Awang Airport on Feb. 20, 2003 where Sgt. Nelson Corpuz was killed while several others were injured.

Based on the investigation conducted by authorities, the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device that was placed in a white Suzuki multicab, which was parked in a restaurant that was placed across the entrance gate of the airport. With Rey E. Requejo

week, said the trip was called off due to a low-pressure area in Benham Rise area.

On Monday, Duterte said that he would offer to sell the islands controlled by Manila to ease the tensions in the South China Sea. He also assured Beijing that he would not be placing any offensive weapons in the Spratly island chain to maintain the friendship he had established with Beijing.

“We do not [mean harm] to China. We are friends, as a matter of fact. And maybe when we get rich,

very rich, I can sell the land to you for --- it’s yours,” he said.

“When the spectacle of war is gone, nothing is dangerous to the Philippines.”

But De Castro advised not to “take Duterte’s statement seriously.”

Maritime expert and University of the Philippines professor Jay Batongbacal agreed with De Castro and said he “can’t take his statement seriously at this point”.

Batongbacal said the Philippines “technically can cede its claim” for

monetary or other consideration through a treaty negotiated by the Executive and ratified by the Senate.

“If it does so, it will cede control of the entire WPS, leaving the PH with no independent access to fishing grounds or petroleum resources along its western seaboard,” he said.

Aside from that, Batongbacal said, the maritime rights that the won through its arbitration case would “practically be surrendered” and even half of the country’s maritime offshore marine resources base given up. With John Paolo Bencito

the police’s intensified crackdown against illegal drugs.

“What I experienced in the Philippines felt like a new level of ruthlessness: Police officers summarily shooting anyone suspected of dealing or even using drugs, vigilantes’ taking seriously Mr. Duterte’s call to “slaughter them all,” Berehulak said.

“You can expect 20,000 or 30,000 more.”

Some 47 cases of alleged summary killings in the Philippines under the Duterte administration were submitted for review by a human

rights group to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial/Summary or Arbitrary Executions, Agnes Callamard.

The cases were submitted a month before May 8, 2017, the 3rd cycle of the Universal Periodic Review on the Philippines at the UN Human Rights Council, a process whereby the human rights record of a country will be examined.

“The victims of killings are peasants, indigenous peoples and workers; many faced harassment and vilification by the military because of their advocacy and actions to defend people’s rights and are thus considered human rights defenders,” said Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary-general, in her letter

to Callamard.

International coverage has put a spotlight on Duterte’s brutal antidrug campaign, prompting global expressions of concern and calls for the Philippine government to respect human rights and due process.

In February, Berehulak’s coverage of the Philippines’ drug war also won First Prize for General News Stories at the World Press Photo Awards 2017.

Despite its consistent objection to international criticism of President Duterte’s bloody war on drugs, Malacañang has not protested the decision of the Pulitzer Prize board to recognize Berehulak’s work.

“The Pulitzer Prize Board has its own criteria and selection process

and we respect their decision on this matter,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

“The Western press has been highly critical of the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drug traffickers and violators.”

The Palace earlier accused The New York Times of taking part in a “well-funded campaign” and purported demolition job against Duterte, a claim denied by the USbased newspaper.

The 165-year-old publication has already denied the allegation and said there was no ulterior motive in the production of another documentary, “When a President says ‘I’ll kill you,’” which came out in March. With AFP

last March 29 to resolve problems in their papers to come clean with their government work permits.

Philippine Embassy officials said they were expecting around 5,000 undocumented Filipinos here to avail of the amnesty the Saudi government announced for illegal migrants.

“For this amnesty 2017 we are hoping that all of them will avail but we expect around 5,000 to avail, more or less. We are urging undocumented Filipinos here to avail of the amnesty,” Abella said.

The President is also expected to meet members of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry where Filipino business leaders would meet their Arab counterparts

to explore trade and investment opportunities.

Duterte supporter and starlet Margaux “Mocha” Uson is part of Duterte’s entourage as a “morale booster” for Filipinos abroad, the Palace said Tuesday.

Also joining Duterte’s trip abroad is Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and former Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino, two of Duterte’s closest allies despite having no connection at all to the President’s trips.

Defending Uson’s inclusion in the official delegation abroad, Abella said that Uson will serve as the Philippine delegation’s “moralebooster.”

“The appointed official of The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board is part of the Philippine delegation. She has a large following among the overseas Filipino communities, especially in the Middle East, and it is in their interest that she has come to help boost morale and well-being,” Abella said.

In an interview at Davao City before leaving for Middle East, the Ilocos Norte governor said she asked the Palace to join Duterte’s trips to check on the condition of Filipino workers in the Middle East.

“I really requested to join because among the overseas migrant laborers in the Middle East, many are Ilocanos and women, so it’s important

for me to know if their situation is improving because as far as I know, many of them were left behind, so we have to work on it,” Marcos said.

Marcos joined the President’s trips to China and Singapore last year.

Another official spotted joining the President’s trip was Tolentino, whose sister Analyn is currently the President’s Social Secretary.

In a press briefing at Riyadh, Abella admitted that the government is paying for the accommodation of all officials included in the President’s trip to the Middle East.

He said he could not explain how Tolentino was able to join the official delegation, even though he holds no government position.

a Syrian national who were allegedly planning to sow terror in the country, will be included in the bureau’s blacklist order as soon as the two are deported back to their port of origins.

Rahaf is said to be the widow of Abu Jandal Al-Kuwaiti, the second highest commander of ISIS who was killed in the Middle East, while her husband, Al-Dhafiri, is allegedly an ISIS bomb maker who had planned a terror attack in Kuwait.

The couple were arrested by immigration intelligence agent March 25 in Global Bonifacio City, in Taguig.

The BI report said Al-Dhafiri first entered the Philippines on a tourist visa but was able to secure a working visa from a company known as Q8, a recruitment firm

Treason...

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And a Cabinet official said an expedition to Benham Rise to explore its potentials for the country’s food requirements will be rescheduled to the second week of May. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, who will lead the expedition supposedly scheduled this

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Lascañas could be held liable for perjury over his recantation.

He also said NBI probers should also look into on who was funding Lascañas, who left with his family for Singapore on April 8, and reportedly for “fear of lawsuits.”

“We could investigate [who’s behind him], but we should get help from others, especially Senator Lacson who’s an expert in gathering information like that,” Aguirre said.

“The handlers of Lascañas are just scared because they could lose their remaining witness who has no credibility at all.” With Macon Ramos-Araneta

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Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV on Tuesday said the satisfaction rating of Robredo went down due to black propaganda.

“This was expected with all the black propaganda against her, but it only affected a small percentage of the respondents as the majority are still supportive of the vice president,” Aquino said in a text message.

Robredo gained a “moderate” +26 net satisfaction rating, some 11 points down from her +37 in the previous quarter.

Her numbers have steadily declined since September 2016 after she saw another five-percent dip between December 2016 and March this year.

Meanwhile, the number of dissatisfied respondents went up to 27 percent from 21 percent in December 2016 and 16 percent in September 2016.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who criticized Robredo and threatened impeachment against her, stayed “moderate” at +12, two points higher than last December’s also “moderate” +10.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III’s ratings slightly dropped in the first quarter by one grade to “moderate” from last December’s “good.”

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s satisfaction rating also dipped by 2 points in the first quarter, staying “moderate” at +14 from +16 last December.

The camp of Robredo on Tuesday said the decline in her satisfaction rating was a reminder to reach out to more Filipinos.

“These results are a steady reminder that there are more families and communities to reach out to,” Georgina Hernandez, Robredo’s spokeswoman, said in a statement.

“We take every survey as a continuing challenge to do better and make a bigger difference in the lives of the marginalized.”

Still, Robredo’s camp extended their thanks for the Filipinos’ support for her.

“We are grateful for the continued trust of our fellow Filipinos in the recent SWS Satisfaction ratings. The support of the majority is an encouragement to Vice President Leni Robredo, who is working with communities and partners to address poverty around the country,” Hernandez said.

News IN BRIEF World Health Day focuses on depression WORLD Health Day celebration in the Philippines has focused on the threat of depression which could possibly lead to suicide, now the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year-old people.

The Department of Health led the observance of World Health Day with its local theme “It’s OK not to be OK. Express Yourself. Let’s Talk,” through a joint press conference with the World Health Organization.

Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial noted that everybody had a role to play in addressing mental health challenges in the country today.

“I therefore, encourage everyone to do his or her part to arrest this problem by showing compassion (to) and understanding (of) the vulnerable members of our society,” she said.

WHO said depression was the world’s leading contributor to ill health affecting people of all ages, from all walks of life across the globe.

It causes extreme grief and anxiety resulting in a great impact on the individual to carry out the simplest of everyday tasks with sometimes destructive outcomes in relationships with family and friends.

It also renders a person incapacitated due to the loss of selfmotivation.

All people undergo depression at some point in their lives. If not properly addressed, it may lead to suicide that may eventually end to death, health experts said.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

RP, US boost fight vs child trafficking in new agreement

By Rey E. Requejo

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ANILA and Washington signed an agreement Tuesday to enhance the fight against child trafficking and abuse in the Philippines.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, chairman of the InterAgency Council Against Trafficking, and Chargé d’Affaires Michael Klecheski of the US Embassy in Manila, signed the Child Protection Compact, which aims to suppress online sexual exploitation of children and child labor trafficking.

Under the deal, the US Department of State’s Office to

Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons will provide up to $3.5 million or about P175 million in funding to non-governmental or international organizations that would combat OSEC and CLT. The IACAT, on the other hand, will provide P40 million to fund its projects related to the program.

Under the CPC, the Philip-

pine and US governments committed to increase the number of victims-centered investigations, prosecutions, and convictions of OSEC and CLT cases, strengthen government’s and civil society’s capacities to identify and provide comprehensive services for victims, and also strengthen existing community-based mechanisms for identifying and protecting child victims of OSEC and CLT. Aguirre said at the signing: “The evil of human trafficking should be fought on all fronts. We should channel our collective efforts towards eradicating it.

“Anything that debases or dehumanizes the dignity of a person is an abomination that must end.

Slavery and exploitation has no

place in any society.

“Any act that enslaves or exploits our children magnifies the evil a hundredfold.”

“Let us not leave no stone unturned in our avowed purpose to protect our children. Let us send a message, a strong one at that.

Hurt our children, and we will come after you. And you will not like it,” he vowed.

According to Aguirre, the CPC strategies against OSEC and CLT would be piloted in the National Capital Region and Central Visayas through other implementing agencies like the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Nation-

al Police and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Klecheski, for his part, lauded the Philippine officials for their commitment to the fight against human trafficking.

The CPC was forged following increasing reports of Filipino children being victims of online sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, and other forms of child labor trafficking.

The four-year program aims “to protect the future generation of Filipinos from exploitation by organized criminal groups, the Philippines and the United States took it as a responsibility to device a concerted and well-coordinated response against child labor trafficking.”

Dineros’ resignation confirmed THE Department of Health has confirmed the resignation of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. interim president and CEO Hildegardes C. Dineros from his post.

“He resigned,” Health Secretary Dr. Paulyn Ubial said in a text message.

As a replacement to his post, Ubial said members of the PhilHealth Board then voted for Dr. Celestina dela Serna as Interim PCEO during the board meeting.

Dela Serna is one of the Board Members from the Overseas Filipino Workers sector.

The resignation of Dineros was also confirmed by Dr. Israel Francis Pargas, senior manager at PhilHealth’s Corporate Communication Department.

Meanwhile, insiders from PhilHealth who refused to reveal their names said the resignation apparently surfaced due to power struggle between Dineros and Ubial for some aspects of PhilHealth operations.

However, the ‘feud’ was earlier denied by the Health Secretary, citing that such was just a matter of misunderstanding.

PNA

Half-day work in courts COURTS nationwide will be closed at noon today after the Supreme Court ordered a halfday work in the judiciary, allowing court personnel to have more time for observance of the Holy Week.

“In order to allow court personnel to more fully observe the Holy Week, the Chief Justice has authorized a half-day work schedule (8 a.m.-12 noon, unless other internal schedules apply) for all courts nationwide for April 12, 2017,” the SC said in an advisory issued on Tuesday.

Courts will also be closed tomorrow (Maundy Thursday) and on Good Friday, which are both regular holidays.

The SC will resume their summer session in Baguio City next week.

CBCP to faithful: No picture taking AN OFFICIAL of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-Public Affairs Committee (CBCP-PAC) reminded the faithful who would be visiting churches on Maundy Thursday for the Visita Iglesia to refrain from taking pictures while praying to preserve the solemnity of the religious activity.

Fr. Jerome Secillano, CBCPPAC executive secretary, noted the public should pray first; after that they can take all the pictures, selfies or groupies they want.

The priest of the Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro Parish in Sampaloc, Manila admitted that many people now want the world or the people close to them to know what they are doing at work or during leisure time by posting them on social media.

The Manila priest added that Visita Iglesia or going to different churches was not an obligation.

In related developments: • The Interior Department on Tuesday urged all local chief executives to ensure the safety of their constituents and guests visiting their areas as Filipinos start their exodus to the provinces to spend there the Holy Week break.

“People usually flock to churches and other religious destinations during the Holy Week but there are also those who would like to relax and enjoy the long weekend,” DILG officer-in-charge Catalino Cuy said. “Whatever their choice

may be, let us ensure that crowded places and other places of interests remain crimefree, safe, and clean.”

• The Bureau of Immigration deployed 341 immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport this Holy Week to act as standby reserve and ready to process travelers should the need arise.

The 341 employees comprised the “reserve” employees currently detailed at the NAIA as part of the bureau’s contingency measures to be implemented in the event of a huge increase in passenger volume at the premiere port during the four-day Lenten break, according to immigration commissioner Jaime Morente.

“I have directed them to be ready to report to the Naia, when called, starting on Holy Wednesday until Easter Sunday. I asked them to forego their vacation and instead make this sacrifice for the benefit of the traveling public,” Morente added.

The BI chief, however, expressed his satisfaction over the noticeable reduction of passenger queues at the aiports’ immigration areas in the past few days.

He observed that lesser immigration officers were reportedly absent, adding many of the immigration officers he earlier reassigned to augment the BI’s manpower at the Naia have complied with his directive.

PNA, John Paolo Bencito, and Vito Barcelo

PASSENGER SAFETY. A police officer and a K-9 dog check Tuesday luggages of passengers sailing out to the provinces, particularly at the Zaragoza gate at the North Harbor Port Terminal for the Holy Week break, while PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa and NCRPO chief Oscar Albayalde (below photo) lead members of the QCPD Bomb Disposal Unit in conducting an anti-terror simulation exercise for the safety of passengers at the Araneta Bus Terninal in Quezon City. Lino Santos/Manny Palmero

Aguirre wants Immigration Act amended JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Tuesday revealed he would ask President Rodrigo Duterte to certify as urgent the enactment of the legislation amending the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 to address the problem of the low salaries of immigration employees.

Aguirre said amending the current immigration law would help address the problem of immigration employees in the country and Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno had agreed to work for the speedy passage of such measure.

“I will ask the President to

certify that bill as urgent since this is only a money appropriation. Under the law, it must originate from the House of Representatives before the Senate can take action,” Aguirre said in a interview.

He said Senator Loren Legarda had expressed support for the immediate passage of the new Immigration Act. “She is very much involved and she assured us that the Senate will pass it in time for the July State of the Nation Address of the President,” Aguirre said.

Aguirre admitted resolving the impasse on the overtime of

immigration employees would need some time to be addressed because Diokno insisted on his formula of offering new plantilla positions and to allow employees to avail themselves of the overtime being offered.

Aguirre has met with Diokno and Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente to discuss ways on how to resolve the problem that led to some immigration personnel at the country’s main international airport—Ninoy Aquino International Airport —to file leaves of absence or, worse, look for new jobs.

Rey E. Requejo

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

Rubber band diplomacy

W

E HAVE learned to take what President Duterte says in stride.

In his nine months in office, he has often made dramatic declarations, only to turn around and tell us he was joking. On other occasions, it is his Cabinet officials who must massage or soft-pedal the message, saying, “What the President really meant was this.”

“We do not [mean harm] to China.

We are friends, as a matter of fact. And maybe when we get rich, very rich, I can sell the land to you for—it’s yours,” he said.

Duterte apparently made the remark to allay China’s concerns over his recent order to the Armed Forces to occupy the nine Philippine isles in the Spratly Islands.

At the same time, the President assured China that he would not put weapons—“not even one gun”—in the Philippine-controlled isles, which he had ordered the military to fortify.

So, what did the President really That the President did not provide any mean when he said he is willing to sell details about the offer to sell land to off islands in the South China Sea that China suggests that he was not serious, after all, and that we should all move on. the Philippines claims as its own?

As a lawyer, Mr. Duterte would know that such a land sale would run smack into the explicit constitutional provisions that restrict land ownership to Filipino citizens or corporations that are at least 60-percent owned by Filipinos. It would also go against the stated goal of the Armed Forces in the Constitution to secure the sovereignty of the state and the integrity of the national territory.

Assuming the President had taken all this into account before he opened his mouth, we can conclude that he was making the offer in jest, to mollify Beijing, which had expressed concern about his earlier order to the Armed Forces to occupy and fortify all the islands claimed and already controlled by the Philippines.

Those orders had won the President some support among Filipinos— including leftist groups—who felt he was conceding too much to China, particularly after he played down a UN tribunal’s decision in favor of the Philippines with regard to Beijing’s excessive territorial claims in the South China Sea. But now the President is offering to sell land to China—not seriously, we know, but clearly bending backwards again to smooth any ruffled Chinese feathers.

The administration likes to describe this as an independent foreign policy.

From where we sit, it is starting to look a whole lot more like rubber band diplomacy, where we pull in one direction, then get yanked in the opposite direction almost immediately.

Keynesian economics is hot again

By Noah Smith

The return of Bobby Ongpin VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ THIS summer, it is timely to talk about resorts and tourist destinations. In the business of developing resorts, few can perhaps hold a candle to Roberto “Bobby” Ongpin (RVO), the former trade and industry minister (19791986) of President Marcos.

After People Power of 1986, Bobby went on his own, first in Hong Kong and later, here in Manila where he readily put up or acquired control of five major companies—PhilWeb, ISM Communications Corp., Atok Big Wedge, Alphaland Corp., and PBCOM. Ongpin is the original developer of Tagaytay Highlands, the members-only resort and golf course. Highlands is his enduring monument as a developer.

But he had bigger things in mind.

With his holding company Alphaland Corp., Bobby went on to develop the 500-hectare Balesin Island, 29 nautical miles off the eastern coast of Luzon in the Pacific Ocean and 20 minutes by jet from Manila, into an exclusive members-only resort.

At Balesin, he built seven themed villages on 40 hectares in the property leaving the 92 percent as virgin forest, including 40,000 coconut trees. The villages are patterned after famous world resorts – Bali, Costa del Sol, Mykonos, Phuket, St Tropez, and Toscana plus the native Balesin Village, which has the best portion of a 7-km beach, double the length of Boracay beach. RVO built 300 villas in the villages plus 14 suites in the Balesin Royal Villa which is designed like a Thai palace.

RVO spent P7 billion to develop Balesin. It is now one of the most sought-after private members-only resorts in the region.

Memberships sell for P2.2 million for seven nights free a year

(Gold), P4 million for 14 nights (Diamond), and P6 million for 28 nights (Corporate). The price doubled in three years.

A companion project to Balesin Island is another resort but on another island, Patnanungan, 23 nautical miles from Balesin.

The Harvardeducated businessman is back with a vengeance.

Both islands are part of Quezon province. In Patnanungan, Ongpin will spend P5 billion to build an 18-hole golf course, 500 beachfront and golf course homes, and a 400-room hotel for local and foreign tourists, plus a

2-km runway to take in jets the size of a Boeing 777 or Airbus 320 so that tourists from every world capital can fly in. Called Balesin Gateway, the project will also serve as an international airport for Balesin Island, which has a shorter runway of 1.5 kms.

Another large project (P5 billion) is the Alphaland Baguio Mountain Lodges on a 78-ha chunk of mountain in Benguet, ten minutes from Baguio city center. Here, 300 log cabin houses will be built ranging in size from 3-1/2 to 5-1/2 bedrooms and rimmed by lush pine forest.

In the first year of development, which is this year, 50 mountain lodges will available, but 96 have already made reservation to buy, stunning, considering that the homes go for as high as P50 million each.

At this writing, Bobby is in Europe to procure logs for his Baguio log cabins or lodges.

Harvard-educated Ongpin is back with a vengeance after two recent developments that

resulted in a strategic shift in his business vision and model.

His Alphaland “divorced” from Ashmore of London three years ago. Last year, he was unfairly singled out by President Duterte as a gambling oligarch whose money flows in as fast as that of a taxi meter, while ensconced in private jets and mansions, and thus was one he wanted to destroy.

This 2017, Forbes ranked Ongpin as the 13th richest Filipino and among the world’s 2,000 richest dollar billionaires, with wealth of $1.1 billion. My BizNewsAsia estimates his wealth at $1.4 billion.

Ongpin, who is actually related to Duterte, got the President’s goat thinking he was into the gambling business.

Actually, the biggest gambling company, Pagcor, is owned by the government. As it turns out Ongpin’s PhilWeb was merely a software provider for e-Gaming outlets licensed by the stateTurn to A5

TO THE growing list of famous mainstream macroeconomists who have publicly criticized their discipline, add another: In a recent essay, Lawrence Christiano of Northwestern University argues that the Great Recession was an “earthquake” that dramatically changed how researchers think about the US economy.

Christiano is known as a scholar who straddles macroeconomics’ great divide. His models adopt the basic form and some of the bedrock assumptions of the New Classicals, the economists who insisted in the 1980s that monetary and fiscal policy can’t fight recessions. But he also incorporates some elements of Keynesianism, the idea that aggregate demand shortages exist and can be corrected by the government stimulus. Perhaps as a result of their centrist take on that long-running debate, theories inspired by Christiano’s have won pride of place in central banks around the world.

But after the Great Recession, Christiano says, the pendulum should swing decisively in the Keynesian direction: “The Great Recession was the response of the economy to a negative shock to the demand for goods all across the board.

This is very much in the spirit of the traditional macroeconomic paradigm captured by the [simple Keynesian] model… The Great Recession seems impossible to understand without invoking…shocks in aggregate demand. As a consequence, the modern equivalent of the ISLM model—the New Keynesian model—has returned to center stage.”

Another way of putting this is that Paul Krugman was right.

Krugman has long advocated that macroeconomists learn to once again think in terms of simple simple Keynesian theory.

And when more fully developed, complex models are needed, Krugman uses the kind of models that Christiano endorses.

As Christiano mentioned, the New Keynesian revolution isn’t so new. Even in the 1990s, economists like Greg Mankiw and Olivier Blanchard were arguing that monetary policy had real effects on demand. And at the same time, international macroeconomists were realizing that Japan’s post-bubble experience of slow growth, low interest rates and low inflation implied that demand shortages could last for a very long time unless the government rode to the rescue.

Krugman, Adam Posen, Lars Svensson, and others were already referring to a Japan-type stagnation as a liquidity trap in the late 1990s, and warning that standard monetary policy of cutting interest rates wouldn’t work in that sort of situation.

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By Hal Brands AS A result of the US airstrikes against the Syrian military last week, we are all about to learn a great deal. It is, surely, too soon to know precisely what impact the strikes ordered by President Donald Trump will have on the regime and where the Syrian civil war is heading. This is largely because key players including Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Russia, Iran and the Syrian opposition—not to mention the US—are still plotting their next moves.

But it seems certain that the events of the coming weeks will help answer five crucial questions about the civil war and the various actors that are now struggling to shape the outcome of that conflict.

First, how much of a gambler is Vladimir Putin? The Russian president has gained a reputation over the past three years as a shrewd risk-taker, able to outmaneuver his opponents with the well-timed coup de main. Yet in both Ukraine and Syria since 2015, Putin has been able to operate in environments in which the US seemed highly averse to military confrontation.

Now, however, the Trump administration has demonstrated that it is willing to use force against Putin’s ally in Damascus, and that it is prepared to risk significantly higher tensions with Moscow. During the Barack Obama presidency, in other words, Putin confronted a US that was predictably—if perhaps understandably—prudent. Now he faces a president whose risk calculus is far harder to discern.

So how will Putin respond?

Will he double down on support for Assad—perhaps by helping the Syrian regime harass or target US aircraft —in hopes that he can still out-escalate the Americans? Or will he seek to reduce tensions— perhaps by shoving Assad toward renewed negotiations with the opposition —in hopes of avoiding a sharper showdown with Washington? The path Putin chooses will reveal how much he cares about Syria in the first place, and how much of a geopolitical gambler he really is.

Second, how crafty is Assad?

The Syrian leader was once seen as the mild-mannered ophthalmologist and a would-be reformer; now he is perhaps the greatest butcher of the young 21st century. Yet brutality aside, Assad’s strategic acumen has so far remained difficult to discern. He has proven a far more skillful survivor than nearly anyone would have predicted in 2011, but his heavy-handedness also helped turn what were at first peaceful protests into a zero-sum civil war; and he has now managed, through ghastly chemical attacks, to turn the initially friendly Trump administration against his remaining in power. So is Assad a shrewd if morally abhorrent statesman, or simply another dictator who substitutes savagery for strategy?

What he does next will tell us a great deal. If Assad confines himself to a symbolic and non-escalatory response, if he desists from using chemical weapons, if he at least feigns a willingness to negotiate with the opposition, he may be able to escape the noose once again —and perhaps even return to the less spectacular forms of murder that the international community has proven willing to tolerate for more than six years. If, however, he lashes out, whether by continuing to use chemical weapons or by seeking to extract revenge on the US, he may succeed in eliciting the decisive international intervention has so far managed to avoid.

The answers to these first two questions will also bear heavily on the answer to a third: How slippery is the slope? The Obama administration’s go-to argument against military intervention was always that the options that could be executed at a tolerable cost were unlikely to alter the trajectory of the civil war in any meaningful way— and that a first step was thus likely to lead inexorably to pressures to take a second step and then a third.

Proponents of military intervention, in contrast, argued that a bold but limited American stroke could dramatically shift the psychology of the conflict and put Assad and his patrons on the defensive.

The return...

From A4

owned Pagcor. Ongpin, who is distantly related to Duterte, sold his majority control in PhilWeb at a loss of a whopping P18 billion (then equivalent to $379 million) and simply moved on.

In 2016, Ongpin’s Alphaland

posted record profits, P7.7 billion, up seven percent from P7.2 billion in 2015. Alphaland’s equity P52 billion is nearly 10 times its debts, a reverse of the norm for companies of its size. This year, he secured a landmark P5.5-billion loan to help finance two major projects—the Alphaland Baguio Lodges, and the new Balesin Gateway on Patnanungan Island.

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Juvenile justice

Five things we are about to learn about Syria, Putin and Trump No second or third step would be necessary, this argument went, because the first step—if executed with sufficient skill and resolve— would be sufficient.

We are about to find out which thesis is correct. Perhaps even the very limited American intervention undertaken to date will force Russia to rethink its support for Assad, or force Assad to accept that he cannot use the only weapons—his chemical arsenal—that might allow him to reconquer remaining rebel-held territories. Perhaps Trump’s limited engagement will thereby create a new strategic equilibrium more favorable to an acceptable political settlement or some other tolerable outcome.

Alternatively, perhaps the psychological impact of the strikes will be equivalent to their military impact—which is to say, not much.

Perhaps the strikes will even cause Russia and Iran to redouble their own efforts to checkmate US intervention. In that case, Trump would soon be confronted with the question of whether to double down or risk looking the paper tiger, and the slope may come to seem slippery indeed. The first scenario would make Obama’s caution from 2011 through 2016 look excessive in retrospect; the latter would make it seem fairly wise after all.

These questions, in turn, relate to a fourth key issue: Is a negotiated settlement even possible? Over the past six years, myriad diplomatic and political processes have been launched in hopes of bringing about an end to the civil war. Every single one has failed. In the weeks preceding Assad’s latest chemical weapons attack, it did seem that the conflict was perhaps reaching a new equilibrium, with the regime largely having consolidated control over the western spine of the country, and various opposition forces controlling their own chunks of territory in other areas.

But with Assad still determined— at least rhetorically—to retake the entire country, and with many opposition groups still vehemently opposed to his remaining in power, the prospects for turning that equilibrium into a sustainable settlement remain uncertain at best.

The question now is whether the strategic shock of US strike can create a new diplomatic context in which the parties—particularly the regime—are more amenable to compromise. Or, alternatively, will the aims of Assad and the opposition—not to mention the outside parties supporting them—remain so divergent and intractable that no negotiated settlement is possible?

Finally, as these issues come into sharper focus, we will also learn more about a fifth crucial question: Is the Trump administration capable of effective strategy?

Neither effectiveness nor even basic competence has been a hallmark of Trump’s administration so far. But the president and his aides have now entered a crisis in which they must either rise to the occasion or suffer their worst—and most costly —setback yet.

In short order, Trump’s team will have to address a host of tricky questions about US aims and strategy in Syria. Must Assad go after all? Will there be followon strikes if the regime does not de-escalate? What type of diplomatic endgame is envisioned for Syria? No less important, the administration will have to devise—on the fly—an effective strategy of coercive diplomacy vis-à-vis not just Assad but his powerful patrons in Moscow and Tehran in order to achieve whatever goal is ultimately sought. It will have to do all this, moreover, under intense public scrutiny, amid rising tensions with Russia and Iran, and as plenty of other geopolitical issues compete for attention.

Crises can be clarifying moments. They can cast new light on the contours of an ongoing conflict; they can lay bare the characteristics—and competence —of the parties involved. The Syria crisis is the acid test of the Trump administration: We are about to find out whether the president and his advisers can make the grade. Given the outsized role that the US plays not just in Syria but around the world, this may well be the most important question that the Syria crisis will help us answer. Bloomberg

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO A PROPOSAL in the House of Representatives to lower the age of young offenders facing criminal liability is drawing negative reactions from various sectors.

Rep. Fredenil Castro wants to lower the age of minors who commit a crime to nine years old exempting them from prosecution.

At present, young offenders below the age of 15 are turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development when arrested. The hardcore criminals who are the handlers of these juvenile offenders use these kids because they are not prosecuted when caught. The result is that these minors over time develop into career criminals.

Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza opposes Castro’s proposal. This, according to Atienza, is an admission that the criminal justice system is not working, He also laments that the liability of parents of these errant minors is overlooked when it’s their responsibility to guide their children to grow up as lawabiding citizens.

Atienza also pointed out that young offenders, when detained with hardened criminals become

recidivists and ultimately become members of criminal syndicates. He urged the government to strengthen the juvenile reform system and the DSWD to improve its rehabilitation of young offenders turned over to them by the police.

Atienza also suggested that local government units like the neighborhood barangays be given a bigger role since they know members of their community more than the police. Toward this end, Atienza advocates that local governments be given a bigger share of the revenues they generate to build drug rehabilitation centers and sport facilities.

He cited that crime thrives in poor areas specially among the homeless. Desperate families like the informal settlers Kadamay that took over a housing project in Pandi, Bulacan is an example of mob rule allowed to prevail, said Atienza. While it’s a stroke of public relations genius, Atienza said that when President Duterte let the Kadamay home invaders keep the houses meant for military and police personnel, he unwittingly abetted anarchy. This was the same sentiment of Senators Dick Gordon and Ping Lacson who said not enforcing the law could lead to anarchy.

Atienza said the situation brought about by Kadamay should have been handled by

the government agency concern instead of letting it reached the level of the President. He recalled that he was faced with the same situation when he was with the National Housing Authority under then President Cory Aquino in 1986. A group of informal settlers tried to take over the Karangalan housing project in Pasig, Atienza handled the problem at his level without burdening Cory Aquino with it. The houses were meant for the police and another site was for public school teachers. With police enforcing the law against mob rule, Atienza was able to stabilize the situation and restore the housing project to the rightful beneficiaries. I suppose it’s about the management style of public officials—those who can do and those who can’t.

It was this grit and savvy that made Atienza effective as assemblyman, three-term Manila mayor, DENR secretary and currently congressman.

Come to think of it, we never heard from the NHA nor the DILG at the height of the tension in the Pandi housing project.

President Duterte had to deal with the problem himself. The result was that the President had to take draconian measures that was against the basic law of ownership. If the President did not, there would have been bloodshed between the desperate homeless

people and the police who were ready to disperse and dislodge them.

But if I remember right the sensitive Cabinet post of Secretary of Housing and Urban Development was left vacant when Vice President Leni Robredo was relieved of the position. A Malacañang functionary, we were told, is handling the job.

Perhaps the President, over the dinner he had invited the VP to, could reappoint her. There’s so much to be done for the country the deep political division rending it can be set aside. If Robredo can’t deliver, then fire her. But first he must give her a chance to prove herself. ‘ The sensitive DILG post should also be filled with a full-time secretary. The Department of the Interior and Local Government is facing many challenges. The arrest of a Kuwaiti and his Syrian wife has given the country warning of the ISIS presence and threat here. Encounters with the communist New People’s Army are ongoing even as the National Democratic Front and the government panel are talking peace in Norway. The Abu Sayyaf continues its nefarious trade of kidnap for ransom in Mindanao. There is no let-up in the government’s antidrug war. These are all challenges needing the DILG’s attention in the area of law enforcement.

June 30, 2017 trolled growth of our population.

We consume, by the way, an average of 135 kilos of rice per person per year. In comparison, the Japanese consumer eats only 68 kilos of rice per year. “Unli” rice because viands are too expensive.

And second, we did not produce enough at economically competitive cost as against our Asian neighbors. Thus, it is easier to import from Vietnam, which produces three crops per year, as against our two crops on irrigated fields, and once a year in rain-fed land. Or Thailand, or Myanmar, Cambodia, India and Pakistan.

Ten years passed, and we were not ready for our commitment to free trade. So our government asked Geneva where the World Trade Organization is headquartered, and we got seven more years. In return, we had to allow other countries to export meat and poultry, on top of a minimum access volume of 375,000 metric tons per year. One half of that volume we could import only from the US, Thailand, China, Vietnam, India, Pakistan and Australia at varying quantities each year.

The other half we could import from any other country we could source from. Country-specific versus omnibus origin.

By 2011, despite a much-trumpeted self-sufficiency goal come 2013, our rice yield was 3.85 tons per hectare. Lower than Thailand, much lower than Vietnamese farmers yield per hectare. Again, why so?

Because out of four million hectares of land dedicated to rice, only 1.43 million was irrigated. Palay, from which our rice is milled, requires 5,000 liters of water to nurture one single kilogram. One shocking discovery was that when Ferdinand Marcos left the country, 1.35 million hectares of palay fields were irrigated through efforts of President Elpidio Quirino down to Marcos. All those years after Marcos, or from Cory Aqui-

no to when Benigno S. Aquino III became president, the number of irrigated ricelands increased by a scant 80,000 hectares. More than 2.5 million hectares were still rain-fed. So when a severe El Niño strikes, as in 1997, we have to import so much.

Truth is, but for a few years in the late sixties and early seventies, we have always been importing rice as far back as 1897.

So in December 2011, we went back to the WTO and filed a waiver so as to ask for an extension of the QR. Nine countries asked to negotiate for trade concessions in exchange for approving the extended period of five years.

As head of the negotiating team, I found China the easiest country to deal with even if at the precise period I went to Beijing, we were eyeball-to-eyeball on Scarborough Shoal. The Thais and the Americans were the toughest to negotiate with. The net result was that we have had to increase the minimum access volume of rice imports from 375,000 to 825,000 tons each year until June 30, 2017.

That meant private importers duly accredited by the National Food Authority could import that much from specific countries who agreed to the waiver, on top of allowing MAV for pork and poultry, and other food items as well. Nothing comes without a quid-pro-quo in the WTO. They then pay the Bureau of Customs a tariff equivalent to 40 percent of the cost of their imports once they show an import permit from the NFA. But come 30 June this year, QRs will have to be lifted. Anybody can import without going to the NFA, except for phyto-sanitary inspection on the edibility or food safety quality of their rice imports. All they have to do is open their lettersof-credit with their banks, and pay customs duties, which is reducible 5 percent each year if imported from an Asean member-country. At what

tariff rate, our government has yet to define, but no more quantitative restrictions. Protection can be done only through tariff imposition.

The upside of this free trade agreement is that consumers ought to be able to buy their rice at lower prices, except when there is a world-wide shortage of the staple. As has been established earlier, Indo-Chinese rice is much cheaper than local produce, freight and handling costs included.

The downside is the plight of our rice farmers. NFA cannot buy enough from them because it is saddled with debt, and neither Congress nor the economic managers can give them enough. The 4 billion annual subsidy allocated to NFA can buy only 235,000 metric tons of palay at 17 pesos per kilo. And our rice farmers produce a total of 18 million tons of palay each year.

Also, the private traders buy palay at P18 to P20, depending on quality. If NFA were to match this, then it needs more money, and it simply does not have.

If we want to lower the cost of production so that the local rice farmers can compete with their Vietnamese counterparts, government will have to subsidize irrigation (President Duterte wants NIA to stop collecting irrigation service fees), hybrid and/or quality seeds, and fertilizers. As well as crop insurance to shield farmers from typhoons and other calamities. All these require taxpayer money.

So should we be afraid of June 30, 2017? Yes and no.

It may be a catalyst for agricultural modernization and generating economies of scale in our agrarian reform minimalized land system. And it should mean lower, or at least stable rice prices for the consumer.

But government must prepare.

And time is no longer its friend.

Especially with all the ruckus we are seeing in the relevant agencies.

But the profession didn’t listen, and only the smallest deviations from the New Classical orthodoxy were accepted into the mainstream.

The idea of fiscal stimulus was still largely taboo. Nobel prizes were awarded to the economists who made theories in which demand shortages can’t exist, while no Nobels were given to New Keynesians for suggesting otherwise. When the Great Recession hit, some prominent macroeconomists pooh-poohed the idea that stimulus could help.

Christiano’s essay should serve as a needed rebuke to the profession for resisting Keynesian ideas just when they were needed most. But it also raises an uncomfortable question: Why didn’t macroeconomists catch on until years after disaster struck?

One explanation is sociological.

Perhaps the influence of legendary figures like Robert Lucas, Thomas Sargent and Edward Prescott—all anti-Keynesians who now have big gold medals from Sweden—was enough to scare younger economists away Keynesian ideas. Some of macroeconomics’ internal critics, such as World Bank chief economist Paul Romer, have suggested as much. Political considerations might have played a role as well—to many economists on the free-market end of the ideological spectrum, Keynesianism represents unacceptable government meddling.

But these explanations, by themselves, are unsatisfying. In most scientific fields—biology or astronomy, for example—the weight of evidence is enough to overcome social fads and political bias. Even in most areas of economics, empirical results gradually push the profession in one direction or another. For

example, relatively few economists now believe a $15 minimum wage is likely to reduce employment very much; a plurality is uncertain. The steady drumbeat of papers showing small or zero job losses from minimum-wage hikes probably played a role in altering the expert consensus.

If economists gravitated toward anti-Keynesian theories, it was at least in part because evidence wasn’t strong enough to push them in the right direction. It’s just very hard to assess the impacts of fiscal stimulus.

For example, Japan’s tremendous government spending binge in the 1990s looks to a casual observer like it had no effect, since the economy didn’t recover until years later—but government spending might have been the only thing saving the country from a deeper recession.

For a great explanation of why macroeconomic evidence is so weak and subject to multiple interpreta-

tions, read this excellent post by the University of Oregon’s Mark Thoma.

When evidence is sparse or inconclusive, things like sociology and politics often fill the gap. That just means macroeconomists should be a lot more careful, cautious and humble than researchers in other areas. Instead, perhaps intoxicated by the importance of their subject, they are often given to making grand, overconfident pronouncements.

The right way forward for macro isn’t to go all-in on a hot new theory, or to passionately embrace old paradigms either. The best approach is to adopt more public humility and caution about their theories, while working to understand microeconomics better. Someday, when economists have a better handle on the basics of why people consume and businesses invest, macroeconomic models won’t have to be rethought every time a big recession happens. Bloomberg

Alphaland Corp. is on a roll. It is undertaking even larger and more ambitious projects with Ongpin, 80, providing the vision and management execution. It has just secured a P5.5-billion loan from BDO Unibank.

“This [loan] is the most significant development for Alphaland,” gushed Ongpin. “Aside from the obvious improvement in the finan-

cial position of Alphaland, this is a significant vote of confidence from the country’s largest bank. It tells an important story.”

The loan is for seven years with a one-year grace and has lower than average interest. Alphaland will repay existing bank debts of P4 billion. The balance of P1.5 billion will help fund new major projects such as the Balesin Gateway (Patnanun-

gan Island) and the Alphaland Baguio Mountain Lodges.

Alphaland has also completed two other crown jewels—the Makati Place and the Aegle Wellness Center of which there are two—a compact one at City Club Alphaland Makati and a much bigger one at Balesin.

Makati Place is home to another members-only enterprise the City

Club, which is an exclusive urban sport and leisure membership club.

It has seven restaurants and houses the Aegle Wellness Center which is open to walk-in customers. The building also houses 494 units of the Alphaland Residences. The building is unique in Makati for having parking good for 1,000 cars.

SO I SEE LITO BANAYO I CHECKED in at 1:25 p.m. for a flight that was to leave at 4:45 in the afternoon last Monday because I was afraid of the long lines in the immigration counters.

My travel companion was not a senior citizen, which meant he had to line up with OFW’s, millennials and all other Philippine passport holders who do not qualify as senior citizens.

But what a pleasant surprise!

There were no long lines at the BID checkpoints. Thinking it was just happenstance, I asked the female security guard, and she said with a smile that it was like that even in the morning. The Immigration counters were properly manned.

Quick action, and hopefully a permanent solution is in sight. *** June 30, 2017 is the cut-off date for the country to lift quantitative restrictions on the importation of rice. To explain: Since 1995 when we acceded to the GATTWTO treaty on free trade, we were given 10 years within which to make our rice production more freely competitive in the world market. Within such time, government could impose restrictions on the quantity of imports of the staple cereal. Within the same period, we were supposed to make our rice farmers produce more yield per hectare, thus increasing national production, enough to feed our people.

In 2004, despite modest increases in per-hectare yield, from 3.2 tons or roughly 65 sacks to 70 sacks each containing 50 kilos, we were neither self-sufficient nor price-competitive. Why so?

Because demand for food increased along with the uncon-

Keynesian...

From A4

biznewsasia@gmail.com

News

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF MRT-7 work to worsen traffic in northern QC THE Metro Manila Development Authority said commuters and motorists should expect heavy traffic along Commonwealth Avenue and other areas in Novaliches, Quezon City once the Metro Railway Transit–Line 7 Phase 1 project construction starts within this month.

Beginning Monday (April 17), a traffic rerouting scheme will be enforced by the MMDA following the closure of one lane along Regalado Avenue. The closure of Regalado will be implemented for two months.

Under the traffic management plan, motorists coming from San Jose del Monte to Quezon Memorial Circle are advised to take Quirino Highway and Commonwealth Avenue, or Belfast Street and Mindanao Avenue to their destination.

On the other hand, those coming from Quezon Memorial Circle to San Jose del Monte may use Quirino Highway and Commonwealth Avenue, or Bristol Street and Ascension Street to their destination.

The government created an inter-agency task force to supervise the project. Aside from the MMDA, the team will also include the Department of Transportation, Department of Public Works and Highways, and the city government of Quezon City through its Public Order and Safety Office. Joel E. Zurbano

House to pass bill postponing village polls in June—Alvarez

By Maricel V. Cruz

T

HE House of Representatives is expected to pass in June a bill postponing the barangay (village) elections, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said on Tuesday.

He said he is confident the Alvarez said the House will work double time to pass the President will certify the bill legislation amending the Lo- as urgent to ensure its quick cal Government Code to ef- passage in Congress.

“Congress has enough fect the postponement.

time to pass it; the bill’s passage would even be faster if it is certified urgent by our President,” he said.

Alvarez is also confident the House supermajority would rally behind Duterte’s proposal to reset the conduct of the village polls.

He added that not a single member from the coalition has voiced his or her opposition against the desire of

the President to postpone the barangay elections set in October.

President Rodrigo Duterte had admitted that his plan to appoint barangay officials to fill the vacant posts would be “quite messy” because incumbent barangay officials would likely oppose the move.

The President said the first requirement for a barangay officer-in-charge nominee is

2 erring barangay chairs charged

By Joel Zurbano

QC govt backs mandatory SIM registration TO COMBAT unscrupulous texters, the Quezon City government said it backs the mandatory registration of prepaid subscriber identity module cards.

The 36-member city council passed a resolution pushing for the immediate passage of a measure in Congress requiring the mandatory registration of prepaid SIM cards.

The proposal is contained in Senate Bill 105 authored by Senator Richard Gordon and House Bill 2809 penned by Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo.

City Council Resolution 70172017, authored by Councilor Anthony Peter Crisologo, said the proposed congressional measure would help law enforcement authorities to identify perpetrators of crimes, such as abduction, estafa and other unlawful activities.

A copy of the resolution has been forwarded to the National Telecommunications Commission, Office of Senator Richard Gordon, office of Castelo and other government agencies concerned.

In 2009, a similar move with the same objectives in addressing criminal activities has been introduced in Mexico, South Africa Ecuador, Bangladesh, United Kingdom, and Pakistan.

Indonesia, on the other hand, has developed an online system of registration of all retail outlets in 2012. Rio N. Araja

that they should not have any connections at all with rebels, the second is that they are not into drugs, and lastly, they are not really leaders of politicians.

He added that he would accept nominations for barangay leaders from the Catholic Church, from Islamic leaders, religious denominations and other organizations.

‘PABASA’ WITH A TWIST. Members of the Freedom from Debt Coalition holds a protest action dubbed as ‘Pasyon ng Masa’ in Mendiola Street in Manila with their own version of the ‘Pabasa’ or the traditional ritual of chanting verses on the life and passion of Jesus Christ. The group’s version of ‘pabasa’ decried the continuing violence and unresolved poverty of millions of Filipinos. Ey Acasio

Customs seize 4 ships used for smuggling

By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Customs has seized four ships worth P200 million which illegally entered the country in Cagayan province and were being used to smuggle magnetic black sands in Appari.

In a statement, Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon said the operator of the ships failed to present docu-

ments to show that duties and taxes had been paid by its owners.

The seized foreign vessels were allegedly smuggled into the country and are operating in Aparri, a riverside municipality in Cagayan.

The bureau’s Special Studies and Project Development Committee, with the help of barangay officials, first discovered the m/v Nova 1 at the

Parradun Sur Quarry Site in Aparri.

The vessel was reportedly involved in the illegal quarrying of magnetic black sand along the Cagayan River.

The three other vessels—m/v Vela 1, m/v Vela 3 and Monte Cristo II—which were apparently used for the same purposes were found at the Hua Xia/Pine Sand compound in Barangay Tallungan, also in Aparri.

“This latest seizure only points to the unyielding efforts of the BoC to put a stop to smuggling and other illicit trade activities, whether by land or sea,” Faeldon said.

He said the seizure will serve as a strong warning to those in the business of importing vessels illegally, adding the BoC will remain even more vigorous in its mission to run after violators.

RUSHING HOME. Hundreds of passengers going to their respective provinces for the Lenten season line up in front of Cebu Pacific counters at the Naia Terminal 3 early Tuesday. Revoli Cortez

TWO more barangay officials were charged at the Office of the Ombudsman for not cooperating with the Metro Manila Development Authority in connection with the government’s campaign against illegally parked vehicles and other road obstructions.

Charged with gross neglect of duty were Michael Philip Factor, barangay chairman of Dongalo, Parañaque City, and Elmer Maturan of Barangay Bagumbayan, Quezon City.

The filing of administrative case last Monday brings to four the total of barangay chairmen who were charged by the agency, days after President Rodrigo Duterte directed MMDA general manager and acting chairman Thomas Orbos to start filing charges against village officials who would be remiss in their duty.

Last Friday, two barangay officials were also charged at the Ombudsman for allowing illegal parking in the roads of their villages.

The officials were identified as Antonio Benito Calma Jr. of Barangay Don Manuel and Clarito de Jesus of Barangay Veterans Village.

During his visit to the MMDA Tuesday last week, President Duterte directed Orbos to immediately enforce traffic measures to address the worsening traffic situation in the metropolis.

Orbos said Mr. Duterte also ordered him to start the clearing operation along the service road of Roxas Boulevard, where illegally-parked private vehicles was a common sight.

He added he was also instructed by the president to create guidelines for the implementation of a flexible time schedule for government employees, as well as on the use of trucks at major thoroughfares.

MMDA officials earlier complained that the lack of cooperation from barangay officials hampers the government’s campaign against illegally-parked vehicles and other obstructions on secondary roads and other alternate routes for private vehicles avoiding the congested Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.

The clearing operation is also being done in close coordination with Philippine National Police—Highway Patrol Group and the Department of Transportation.

Ombudsman dismisses hospital execs for ‘grave misconduct’

By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman ordered on Tuesday the dismissal from the service of three officials of the East Avenue Medical Center for grave misconduct.

Ordered dismissed from the service by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales were hospital director Rolando Cortez, finance management officer Marietta Cruz and chief administrative officer Jose Calixtro for their alleged involve-

ment in the anomalous procurement of medical supplies and equipment in 2006.

The EAMC reportedly procured medical supplies worth P10,353,276.75 without a public bidding.

The procurement was broken down and split into 47 small purchases with an amount not exceeding P250,000 each and awarded only to two suppliers.

In addition, the EAMC procured 20 air-conditioners, 13 exhaust fans worth P450,950 in January 2006.

This time, the procurement was split

into two small purchases in an amount not exceeding P250,000 each and awarded to only one supplier.

“Respondents Cortez, Calixtro and Cruz’s actions reflect grave misconduct.

Their acts were blatantly irregular and outside the bounds of established rules and principles as they opted to split the contracts even though the same should have been subject of a single transaction; there was lack of compelling or justifiable reason for them to split the contract; and that respondents failed to show that

they obtained three price quotations from bona fide suppliers,” the Ombudsman’s decision read.

Morales said the transactions would not have been consummated had it not been for the concerted action of the respondents since Cortez approved all the purchase requests, purchase orders, disbursement vouchers and checks; Cruz certified the availability of funds and completeness of supporting documents while Calixtro signed the purchase requests and counter-signed the checks.

Sports

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Heat, Jazz chase berths in playoffs

M

IAMI—The Miami Heat kept their NBA playoff hopes alive Monday with a 124-121 overtime victory over Cleveland that dropped the reigning NBA champion Cavaliers to second in the Eastern Conference.

The Cavs, locked in a duel with the Boston Celtics for the top seed in the East, nevertheless rested stars LeBron James and Kyrie Irving in Miami.

They suffered their second overtime defeat in as many days, having squandered a 26-point fourth-quarter lead in a stunning loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.

Against the Heat they took a 91-80 lead into the fourth, but Miami stormed back to force overtime and claim the win.

In Oakland the Utah Jazz, fighting for a playoff position in the Western Conference, up-ended league-leading Golden State

105-99, snapping the Warriors’ 14-game NBA winning streak.

With 20 points from George Hill and 17 points and 18 rebounds from French big man Rudy Gobert, the Jazz kept pace with the Los Angeles Clippers in the battle for the fourth seed in the Western Conference, despite the injury absences of top-scorer Gordon Hayward, forward Derrick Favors, guard Rodney Hood and guard Raul Neto.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr, his team already assured of home court advantage throughout the playoffs, was careful with the playing time of his stars.

Klay Thompson had the night

off and Stephen Curry’s strong night ended after three quarters during which he scored 28 points.

“Steph, I just wanted to give him his usual run, but I didn’t want him to finish the game,” Kerr said. “He played the whole third quarter, had a great run, shot the ball well... you know with the playoffs starting Saturday or Sunday, no point in bringing him back in this game.”

Meanwhile, Bradley Beal and Markieff Morris made sure the Detroit Pistons’ Palace at Auburn Hills era wouldn’t end with a victory for the home team.

Beal and Morris scored the Wizards’ last 15 points in a 105101 victory in the Pistons’ final game at the Palace, their home in the Detroit suburbs since 1988.

Washington coach Scott Brooks put the pair in the game with less than five minutes remaining, when the visitors were leading by two.

“Coach wanted to ruin their going-away party, so he threw me back out there and I just closed it

out,” said Beal, who poured in 33 points. “Credit to my teammates.

We all did a terrific job throughout the game. We had some letups in the third and fourth quarter, but we did a good job of executing down the stretch.”

The Pistons will be moving to the new downtown Little Caesars Arena next season, where the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings will also play.

Champions from all three NBA title teams that the Palace produced were on hand on Monday to say goodbye, receiving standing ovations from the crowd during a halftime ceremony.

The 29 years of the Palace saw the Pistons “Bad Boys” of Isiah Thomas crowned champions in 1989 and 1990, with Detroit also capturing the title in 2004.

Tyler Johnson had 24 points and Hassan Whiteside added 23 and 18 rebounds as the Heat snapped a three-game home losing streak.

Deron Williams, starting at point guard in place of Irving, led

Cleveland with 35 points. Kevin Love added 25 with 10 rebounds before he fouled out with 34 seconds left in overtime.

With the Celtics beating the Brooklyn Nets 114-105, the defeat dropped the Cavs one game behind Boston for first place in the conference.

For the Heat, the victory means they will be fighting with the Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls for the last two playoff spots in the East when the regular season concludes on Wednesday.

The Pacers, with 27 points from Paul George, defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 120-111 on Monday and lie second in the Eastern Conference.

The Bulls crushed the Orlando Magic 122-75 and at 40-41 have the same record as Miami with one game remaining for each.

But Chicago own the tiebreaker, so if they finish with the same record as the Heat the Bulls will claim the eighth and final playoff spot. AFP

FEU prevails in MBL action DEFENDING champion FEUNRMF-Gerry’s Grill paraded another solid, all-around player in Fil-German Glenn Gravengard to turn back Victoria Sports-MLQU, 89-57, at the start of the 2017 MBL Open basketball championship at the EAC Sports Center in Ermita, Manila.

Gravengard, the 6-1 guard who played for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in 2011-12, scattered 18 points while quarterbacking for FEU-NRMF of coach Pido Jarencio and manager Nino Reyes.

The 27-year-old Kinesiology graduate, who once worked at the Steve Nash Fitness Clubs, had his finest moment in the second quarter when he scored 11 points on drives and mid-range jumpers.

Wang’s Ballclub-AsiaTech also debuted in style, beating last year’s runner-up Emilio Aguinaldo College, 82-81, in the tournament supported

by Smart Sports, Dickies Underwear, Star Bread and Gerry’s Grill.

Gravengard’s smashing debut in the league mirrored the eyepopping start of his half-brother Clay Crellin for the same Fairview, Quezon City based team in the MBL eight months ago.

Gravengard and Crellin have the same Filipina mother now based in Canada.

Crellin, who earned MVP honor while leading FEU-NRMF to the MBL title last December, finished with 12 points despite battling foul trouble.

Veteran Erwin Sta. Maria also scored 14 points, including three triples, while ex-PBA star Jerwin Gaco added 10 points to lead the Tamaraws’ charge.

PBA D-League veteran Jason Grimaldo carried the fight for the Stallions of manager Jomar Acuzar and coach Rainier Carpio with 11 markers.

Wang’s-Asia Tech rode on two pressure-packed free throws by former Arellano University mainstay Ralph Salcedo with 11 seconds left to salvage the win over EAC.

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) glides to the hoop past two Golden State Warriors defenders Javale McGee (left) and Kevin Durant (right).

The Jazz beat Golden State 105-99 on Monday to snap the Warriors’ 14-game NBA winning streak. AFP

JENNY ORTUOSTE IT’S all over the racing news that Dortmund has retired to stud, but it is still unknown what breeding farm will receive the famed winner of the 2015 Santa Anita Derby.

According to trainer Art Sherman, they are “still in negotiations” as to the next stage of Dortmund’s career.

Bred in Kentucky by Emilie Gerlinde Fojan, Dortmund (Big Brown x Our Josephina) was foaled two days before Valentine’s Day in 2012. The oversized colt won his debut race in November 14 at Santa

LOS ANGELES—Experience trumped youth Monday as 39-year-old Tommy Haas defeated 19-year-old Reilly Opelka 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-3 in the first round of the ATP clay court tournament in Houston, Texas.

“It’s nice to win these matches, especially against the young guys who are going to be around for a long time,” said Germany’s Haas, a former world number two who is now semi-retired from the tour.

“The nerves when you’re trying to win a match are something you can’t practice. You can run all day on the treadmill, be in the gym a lot, but you can’t substitute that for match play,” he added..

“Hopefully I can recover well and be ready for Wednesday.”

The ATP said the age disparity between Haas and Opelka was one of the biggest in a tour match in recent years.

In 2011, an 18-year-old Dominic Thiem beat 44-year-old Thomas Muster in Vienna.

Although he’s competing in his final season on the ATP tour, and has already turned his attention to pursuits such as serving as tournament director at Indian Wells, Haas said he’s not on a nostalgia tour.

He’ll be aiming to upset topseeded American Jack Sock in the second round.

“I don’t know any other way, to be honest,” Haas said.

“If I’m not trying to win the match and play to the best of my ability, then I don’t see the point.” AFP

PH joins 2017 Singapore SEA 7s tournament NBA launches

By Peter Atencio hoop schools AS part of their preparation for the coming Southeast Asian Games, the Philippines is sending a national squad to the 2017 Singapore SEA 7s tournament that will go on this Wednesday and Thursday.

National head coach Jake Letts said the Philippine Residents 7s team’s chances are good, considering that they have done well in many international meets.

“Our chances in Southeast Asia is always strong,” said Letts.

Letts talked about the national team’s coming campaign after officials of the Philippine Rugby Football Union inked a partnership agreement with the country’s leading fast food chain Jollibee Foods Corporation last Monday.

The agreement was signed by PRFU treasurer William Bailey and Jollibee Global Brand Chief Marketing Officer Francis Flores at the Ortigas Center in Pasig City.

Last week, the Philippine Resident 7s outplayed a strong contingent of New Zealand Navy team in a two-game international friendly held at the International School Manila.

This the same Philippine team that will

PRFU treasurer William Bailey (2nd from left) and Jollibee Global Brand Chief Marketing Officer Francis Flores shake hands after signing the partnership between the Rugby Union and Jollibee at the Ortigas Center in Pasig City. Lino Santos

be in Singapore for the Holy Week tournament.

They are led by experienced members Gareth Dela Rosa Holgate and Justin Villazor Coveney.

The nationals also got their inspiration when they bested 10 other countries

to win the top prize in the Asian Rugby Sevens Trophy competition in Doha, Qatar recently.

Letts said competition from Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Laos is expected to keep the nationals in good shape.

Dortmund retired to stud THE HOARSE WHISPERER

Veteran Haas beats teenager

Anita Park as well as the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1).

At three, he won the Santa Anita Derby (G1), San Felipe Stakes (G2), Robert B. Lewis S. (G3), Native Diver S. (G3), and Big Bear S. He also placed third to American Pharoah in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Preakness Stakes.

Dortmund’s 4YO year was less than stellar because of foot problems. He placed a close second in the San Diego Handicap (G2), losing to California Chrome by only half a length after a grueling stretch duel. He was third in the Pacific Classic S. (G1) to California Chrome and champion racemare Beholder.

Dortmund met California Chrome again in the Awesome Again S. (G1), but was beaten

by 2-1/4 lengths to settle for second. In November, he ranin the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile but only made fourth place.

This year, at five, he was sixth in the Kilroe Mile (G1, turf) and fourth in the Santana Mile last April 1.

Sherman said of the decision to retire Dortmund: “It seemed like the right time now that he’s getting older. He’s just not the Dortmund he used to be.”

Owner Kaleem Shah made the choice to spare Dortmund any further stress. “When I saw him get beat last time, I thought that was enough…

He’s been so good to us. It’s time to take care of him.”

Shah comes from a racing family in India. His father, Majeed Shah, was one of the top trainers. He forbade his son from entering racing and

instead encouraged him to get an education.

“Just like in the US,” Shah explained, “the top trainers, like my father, have it made, while the rest of them have a tough time, going month to month. So for us it was not even an option. He said should you be blessed with good fortune, if you want to own horses down the road, so be it.”

Shah has a degree in electrical engineering from Bangalore University, a masters in computer engineering from Clemson University, and an MBA from George Washington University. He migrated to the US where he founded CalNet, a company that provides intelligence analysis and other services to the US government.

When he later established

his racing operations, it was out of a love of horses: “Winning is not my game. It’s horseracing I look forward to, and if the winning comes as a result of racing, all the better.

What I truly enjoy is my red, white, and blue silks out there running.”

Shah can be proud of Dortmund, who leaves a solid legacy, with eight wins, two seconds, and two thirds out of 16 starts, for total career earnings of $1.98 million. We look forward to Dortmund’s future progeny with much interest. *** Dr. Ortuoste is a Californiabased writer. Facebook: Gogirl Racing and Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @gogirlracing and @jennyortuoste, and Instagram: @jensdecember and @artuoste

THE National Basketball Association (NBA) announced the launch of NBA Basketball School, a network of tuition-based basketball development programs around the world open to international male and female players ages 6-18.

The first NBA Basketball School launched today in Mumbai, India as part of a multiyear agreement announced today with India On Track (IOT), one of India’s leading sports management, marketing and development companies. Additional NBA Basketball Schools will be launched in India and around the world in the coming months.

The new initiative adds an additional layer to the NBA’s existing basketball development efforts, including the Jr. NBA, Basketball without Borders (BWB) and NBA Academies.

The Jr. NBA, the league’s global youth basketball participation program for boys and girls, will help identify young players who have the talent to attend NBA Basketball Schools. From there, the top players at each NBA Basketball School will have the opportunity to be selected to attend NBA Academies, the league’s network of elite basketball training centers around the world to develop top international male and female prospects. Registration to attend the NBA Basketball School in Mumbai is now open at indiaontrack.nba.com.

“Our goal is to inspire more young male and female players to learn the game under the guidance of established coaches with proven training techniques,” said NBA Vice President, International Basketball Operations & Head of Elite Basketball, Brooks Meek. “The NBA Basketball School builds an additional track between the Jr. NBA and NBA Academies with the goal of increasing the pool of players who have the talent to attend our academies around the world.”

LOTTO RESULTS

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

P0.0 M+ P0.0 M+

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

A8

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017

Sports

Elasto Painters battle Phoenix

By Jeric Lopez

Rain or Shine Elasto Painters guard Jeff Chan (center) drives past a pair of Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters in Matthew Wright (35) and Cyrus Baguio (3).

So beats Onischuk; wins US Open Chess Championship

By Peter Atencio

W

ESLEY So, prayed after his match and then proudly wore a barong with red, white and blue decorations during the awarding ceremony.

That’s how he celebrated his first ever conquest of the United States Chess Championship men’s division at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis in St. Louis, Missouri.

The 23-year-old So then thanked his supporters from the Philippines, a few hours after he

beat fellow grandmaster Alexander Onischuk in their playoff for the crown.

“To all my friends and kababayan who lifted me up in prayer and encouraged me through the difficult moments, thank you from the bottom of my heart,” said So in a Face-

book message.

So forced Onischuk, the 2006 US champion, to quit in 31 moves of a King’s Indian Attack.

Onischuk was under time pressure when the white-playing So threatened to promote a passed pawn in the back rank with the support of two bishops.

The game was a little slow after the arbiters gave the playoff a base time of 25 minutes, instead of 15, according to the online analysis

by GM Elshan Moradiabadi on chess.com.

“Thank you dear Lord Jesus, I am humbled and amazed at this valuable gift. It is a great treasure

to me and there is no way to give you the gratitude you deserve. My own mouth can hardly say, US Chess Champion. The words are so big,” said So in a statement released online.

With plenty of time left, So surprised analysts with a good bishop g4 move on the 20th.

As So developed two well-supported passed pawns in the middle file, Onischuk committed a pair of mistakes.

Two dubious rook and knight moves allowed So to continue his attack of the middle with his major pieces protecting his passed pawns.

Zoleta, Lagarde bag PPS Pinamalayan MVP crowns

Uichico wants Gilas at full strength THE Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team must be well-balanced and at full strength when it plunges into action in the 12th Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) tournament next month.

Assistant coach Jong Uichico said this after visiting many tournaments around the region and scouted many participating squads.

The presence of naturalized players playing for Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia is something to consider.

“We must send a full-strength squad. If not, it means, we take the other teams for granted. They say its an overkill. But, we’re there to win,” said Uichico.

Uichico spoke his mind during the contract signing between Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas officials with executive of Holiday Inn Manila, which will be the official partner hotel of SEABA meet.

The SEABA meet is set to be held from May 12 to 18 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Uichico has seen many of the teams during their games in the ASEAN Basketball League, and has discussed his findings with head coach Chot Reyes.

“Either its overkill for us, or delikado tayo,” said Reyes after the signing ceremonies between SBP president Al Panlilio and Holiday Inn execs led by Janice Tiambeng and Gaurav Rai. Peter Atencio

“Today wasn’t easy. Alex Onischuk will not go down without a fight and he didn’t the second game,” said So. He also expressed his gratitude to his new coach, GM Vladimir Tukmakov “for your incredible patience with my weird ways,” along with his manager and surrogate mom Lotis Key Kabigting.

Meanwhile, GM Sabrina Francesca Foisor won over Apurva Virkud in 31 moves of a Nimzo Indian Defense for the women’s crown.

She finished with eight points after 11 rounds.

FOUR ailing teams hit the hardwood before the Holy Week as they are all in need of a victory in the continuing 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. Middle-tier squads Rain or Shine (3-2) and Phoenix (2-3) face each other at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in hopes of keeping in step with the teams in the upper bracket.

In the appetizer, the league’s two winless teams cross paths at 4:15 p.m. with one of them finally bound to list a victory.

After a sizzling 3-0 start to the tournament, the Elasto Painters have noticeably cooled down, losing three in a row to drop all the way to the middle of the pack.

Their last assignment didn’t turn out well as they had several chances to win but eventually faltered in the last minute, losing to Alaska, 105-102, last week.

The good thing for Rain or Shine is that it is still in the thick of things thanks to the three wins it was able to rack up early.

As for the Fuel Masters, it has been a rollercoaster campaign thus far as they have alternated wins and losses in their five games.

They got easily pummeled

by Philippine Cup champion San Miguel, 110-88, last Friday.

It hasn’t been a friendly conference for both the Road Warriors and the Batang Pier.

They are the only two teams who have yet to list a win.

With the homestretch of the eliminations fast approaching, both teams need to gather wins fast to salvage what’s left of their runs.

Fortunately for one of them, the drought will be over while on the other hand, the loser will remain at the bottom with its chances of making the top eight becoming even more bleak.

OLE! Spanish matador Gomez del Pilar performs a pass on a bull during the Domingo de Ramos bullfight at Las Ventas bullring, in Madrid. AFP

GABRIELLE Zoleta racked up four titles, including two in doubles, while Klyde Lagarde notched three victories as they dominated the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Pinamalayan leg regional age-group tournament at the Bahaghari Tennis Club in Mindoro yesterday.

Zoleta scored a 4-1(ret.) win over top seed Tracy Llamas to add the girls’ 18-and-under crown to the 14-U plum she earlier notched via a 6-1, 6-0 romp over Julia Ignacio. The Lucena City star also teamed up with Ignacio to crush the Dana Jalbay-Minette Huerra tandem, 8-0, for the 14-U doubles plum then partnered with Lila Salvacio to upend the top-seeded pair of Llamas

and Kiana de Asis, 8-5, for the 18-U diadem.

But she fell short in the 16-U singles, bowing to de Asis 6-3, 6-2, in the semis with the latter repulsing her fellow La Carlota bet Llamas, 4-6, 7-6(2), 10-6, in a thrilling finale in the Group 2 tournament hosted by Pinamalayan, Mindoro Gov. Alfonso Umali Jr. and held in cooperation with Butch Buenaventura.

Lagarde, meanwhile, dished out top form to overpower Angelo Mates, 6-0, 6-1, and clinch the boys’ 18-U crown, which came after he outclassed Jose Buenaventura, 6-1, 6-3, to pocket the 16-U plum in the tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented

by Slazenger and which drew over 250 entries.

“From among the big field emerged two players – Zoleta and Lagarde, who should inspire the other youngsters for their determination and work ethic, which they can develop through participation in our year-long circuit,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Other winners were third seed Keisha Lopez, who stopped Marilag Hintay, 6-1, 6-1, for the girls’ 12-U title; unranked Jose Marie de Leon, who stunned No. 3 Nedrick Luarca, 4-2, 4-0, for the 10-unisex crown; third ranked Anya Uy, who clobbered Nicos Ison, 6-2, 6-0, for the boys’ 14-U title; and No. 2 Patrick Salvacion, who nipped top seed sibling Luis Salvacion, 1-6, 7-6(6), 10-8, for the boys’ 12-U plum.

Belingon targets Fernandes rematch KEVIN Belingon may be battling Finland’s Toni “Dynamite” Tauru at ONE: Kings of Destiny at the Mall of Asia Arena on April 21 but ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano Fernandes will not be far from his mind.

Fernandes crushed Belingon’s dream of becoming a world champion. Belingon’s biggest moment as an MMA fighter came January 2016 when he challenged Fernandes for the coveted title at ONE: Dynasty of Champions. The fight didn’t go the way Belingon wanted after he was submitted by Fernandes with a kimura right in the first round.

Belingon, one of the leading lights of Team Lakay, wants an impressive vic-

tory over Tauru that will catapult him back to relevance in the bantamweight division and a rematch with Fernandes.

While the Filipino prefers to display his striking finesse and get the knockout, he is prepared for every situation against Tauru.

“I will try to keep the fight standing up. But if we go to the ground, I will not hesitate to grapple with him and submit him,” said Belingon.

Belingon’s desire to keep the fight standing is not the least bit surprising.

After all, the former Filipino MMA flyweight champion is a wushu-based fighter, who has been working with Mark Sangiao ever since he attended the University of the Cordilleras more

than a decade ago.

The two developed a close bond, and ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang further cultivated Belingon’s talent during those formative years.

Upon receiving his Bachelor Of Science in Criminology, “The Silencer” gravitated more towards the martial arts than law enforcement. That led him to Team Lakay MMA, where he has maintained a steady presence ever since the gym opened its doors in 2006.

“Before Team Lakay was formally introduced, I was already a member of the team. I was one of the first fighters at Team Lakay,” said Belingon with visible pride.

Filipino MMA fighter Kevin Belingon (foreground) connects with a roundhouse kick to the head of Muin Gaforov. ONE Championship

Business

SEC rejects LBC Express share sale B3

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

Factory output expands 10.7% THE manufacturing sector posted growth for the second straight month this year, on higher production of petroleum products, food, basic metals and transport equipment, the National Economic and Development Authority said Tuesday.

Results of the Philippine Statistics Authority’s monthly integrated survey of selected industries showed the volume of production index grew 10.7 percent in February.

This growth was faster than the 7.1-percent gain in January, but slower than the 11.6-percent expansion recorded in February 2016.

“We must double our efforts to strengthen the manufacturing sector and help it realize its full potential,” Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a statement.

“The sector is expected to benefit from an investment-led growth supported by stable inflation, increased spending on infrastructure and rural development, strong private consumption, and continued gains in overseas remittances,” he said.

“We must encourage firms to utilize science, technology and innovation to help them keep up with the increasing domestic and regional demands,” Pernia said.

Data also showed that the value of production jumped 13.6 percent in February, stronger than the 5.4-percent increase in January.

Furniture and fixtures posted a double-digit growth of 21.9 percent in volume and 16.6 percent in value of production, while food manufactures went up 20.6 percent in volume and 19.3 percent in value in February. Julito G. Rada

IN BRIEF Nickel firm begins shipment to China GLOBAL Ferronickel Holdings Inc. said Tuesday subsidiary Platinum Group Metals Corp. started the delivery of nickel ore to China.

FNI said the first shipment left the PGMC anchorage area in Surigao del Norte on April 9. The loading of nine more vessels is expected to be completed between April and May. “We’ve had an early start to mining operations this year due to favorable weather conditions. We look forward to continued good weather in the weeks and months to come to meet our 2017 shipment target of 6 million WMT,” said FNI president Dante Bravo.

PGMC signed supply agreements for the delivery of up to 4 million WMT at prevailing market price to several long-standing customers and said it was expecting to secure more supply contracts to match target production for the year.

“We would like to take advantage of the rebound in nickel prices. For April, almost two-thirds of our shipment will be medium-grade nickel ore and the remainder will be low-grade nickel ore,” Bravo said.

Anna Leah E. Gonzales

D&L appoints new independent directors D&L Industries Inc., a leading producer of customized specialty products, announced the election of Corazon de la Paz-Bernardo and Lydia BalatbatEchauz as independent directors.

They replaced Leon and Alex Lao, who retired as directors of D&L. Leon and Alex will still attend board meetings as part of the newly created advisory board, along with co-founder and chairman Emeritus Dean Lao. Yin Yong Lao and John Lao were appointed chair and vice-chair of the board of directors, respectively.

With the two women on the board, four of the seven seats are now held by independent directors. The two other independent directors are Filemon Berba Jr. and Mercedita Nolledo.

De la Paz-Bernardo headed the Social Security System from 2001 to 2008 as president and CEO. Prior to this, she built a successful career as a certified public accountant at Joaquin Cunanan & Co (Price Waterhouse Coopers Philippines) from 1967 to 2001.

Balatbat-Echauz has more than three decades of leading the country’s top schools. She served as president of publicly listed Far Eastern University from 2002 to 2012.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017

B1

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing April 11, 2017

8000 7600 7200 6800 6400 6000

7,601.40 16.51

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

Closing APRIL 11, 2017 45.00 46.50 48.00 49.50

P49.635 CLOSE

51.00

HIGH P49.605 LOW P49.750 AVERAGE P49.670 VOLUME 577.000M

P465.00-P685.00 LPG/11-kg tank

OUTSTANDING EMPLOYER. Teleperformance Philippines managing director Travis Coates (center) receives from Philippine Economic Zone

P38.20-P47.75 Unleaded Gasoline

World Bank sees PH growing 6.9% in 2017

P27.68-P38.84 Diesel

Authority director-general Charito Plaza (right) and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez the Outstanding Employer of the Year Award and Outstanding Community Project of the Year Award during Peza’s Investors’ Recognition Night at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE World Bank said Tuesday the Philippine economy is expected to expand by nearly 7 percent in the next three years, making it one of the top performers in the region.

World Bank lead economist Birgit Hansl said in a news briefing in Taguig City the country’s gross domestic product growth would likely reach 6.9 percent in 2017 and 2018 and 6.8 percent in 2019.

“The government’s commitment to further increasing public infrastructure investment is expected to sustain the country’s growth momentum through 2018 and reinforce busi-

ness and consumer confidence,” she said.

“We project the Philippines to be one of the top growth performers in the Asian region. But the growth prospects are subject to downside risks,” Hansl said.

Hansl said exports would continue to be a drag for economic expansion. She also said the developments in the world’s advanced economies, particularly the path of monetary policy in the US, would cause uncertainties in the financial markets and affect the peso.

She said in the domestic front, the expansionary fiscal policy of the government could be at risk because it was “not matched with the amount of revenues” for the purpose.

“The outlook remains positive.... We see the government’s intent to increase investments in public infrastructure. The implementation of these will result in job creation and higher domestic consumption,” she said.

Hansl said she was not seeing any impact

on growth of the proposed comprehensive tax reform program of the government, which aims to lower personal income tax and raise excise taxes.

“It is still early April, and we see no impact yet from the tax reform plan. But in July, we will consider this if there is any policy change... We see no reason at the moment to doubt the plan,” Hansl said.

Hansl said the very young population of the Philippines provided the promise of a demographic dividend period, if structural reforms allowed for conditions that would encourage savings and investments and skills developments for young workers.

The Philippine economy remained resilient to global headwinds in 2016. While a lower-than-expected global recovery weakened net exports, surging domestic demand pushed the annual GDP growth to 6.9 percent in 2016.

OPRICES IL TODAY

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

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, April 11, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States Dollar

1.000000

49.7790

Japan

Yen

0.009015

0.4488

UK

Pound

1.241900

61.8205

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128697

6.4064

Switzerland

Franc

0.991670

49.3643

Canada

Dollar

0.750469

37.3576

Singapore

Dollar

0.711794

35.4324

Australia

Dollar

0.750000

37.3343

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655478

132.1870

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266681

13.2751

Brunei

Dollar

0.709270

35.3068

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.028890

1.4381

UAE

Dirham

0.272309

13.5553

Euro

Euro

1.059900

52.7608

Korea

Won

0.000875

0.0436

China

Yuan

0.144823

7.2091

India

Rupee

0.015485

0.7708

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.225581

11.2292

New Zealand

Dollar

0.696000

34.6462

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032649

1.6252 Source: PDS Bridge

February exports climbed 11% to $4.8b as imports surged 20% EXPORTS grew 11 percent in February to $4.78 billion from a year ago, while imports surged 20.3 percent to $6.5 billion, amid strong domestic production and demand.

The National Economic and Development Authority said the double-digit growth in exports and imports pushed up the total merchandise trade by 16.1 percent in February.

Data from the Philippines Statistics Authority showed total trade rose to $11.3 billion, representing the second consecutive double-digit growth this year.

“We see this as a strong fol-

low-through to the 14.2-percent growth of total Philippine trade recorded in January, keeping our country’s economy on-track in sustaining its momentum of growth,” Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a statement.

Exports in February climbed from $4.31 billion a year ago, driven by growth in sales of manufactured goods (up 6.2 percent), minerals (up 99.5 percent) and petroleum products (up 224.6 percent).

“The healthy growth in Philippine exports was mainly driven by higher exports to East Asian

countries, comprising 48.3 percent share in total exports. Receipts from Hong Kong and China surged by 66 percent and 24.7 percent growth, respectively,” Pernia said.

He said Philippine exports to Asean countries grew 18.8 percent in the same period, a good sign that the country was forging stronger connections with Asean neighbors.

Meanwhile, import payments jumped from $5.414 billion in February 2015, led by increased demand for mineral fuels and lubricants (up 97.3 percent), raw materials and intermediate goods

(up 7.9 percent), capital goods (up 18 percent) and consumer goods (up 21.5 percent).

“The performance of trade in the first two months of the year is a good indication that we are on an upward trajectory. With Asean chairmanship and China’s rebalancing to a more consumeroriented growth, the Philippines is expected to have expansions in terms of products and markets,” Pernia said.

He said to ensure the sustainability of this growth, it should be balanced with efforts to improve the competitiveness of exports.

DBS Bank of Singapore said

Tuesday the 20.3-percent growth in imports in February was encouraging and at the current pace, full-year import growth was on track to top 10 percent.

“We continue to see upside risks to our current GDP growth forecasts of 6.4 percent and 6.7 percent in 2017 and 2018, respectively,” DBS said.

“Compared to the 12-percent rise in imports of intermediate goods during the same period, it is clear that the strong showing in import growth has been driven mainly by the robust domestic demand,” DBS said.

Julito G. Rada

Taiwan shipping firm set to serve Subic port

By Darwin G. Amojelar INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc. said Tuesday Taiwan’s largest shipping company will launch a new direct service at key ports of Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines.

Evergreen Marine Corp. will launch its Korea-Taiwan-Philippines or KTP service in Subic port, adding the ICTSI-operated New Container Terminals 1 and 2 to its port rotation.

ICTSI said the inclusion of Subic in the rotation was expected to boost the growing markets in Northern and Central Luzon which stand to benefit from the direct trade link to Korea and Taiwan. Aside from exports and imports, the service also offers transshipment for overseas cargo.

“We congratulate Evergreen for the launch of the new service. We also thank Evergreen for recognizing Subic as a key gateway in the Philippines,” said Roberto Locsin, general manager of ICTSI subsidiary Subic Bay International Terminal Corp.

“Our inclusion in the KTP service is a clear indication that the markets of central and northern Luzon are growing, and will benefit from another large global carrier participating in this growth,” he said.

The KTP weekly service follows the following port rotation: Incheon and Kwangyang, South Korea; Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Batangas, Manila, and Subic, Philippines; and back to Kaohsiung.

TOP SMARTPHONE BRAND. Vivo Mobile Communications Co. Ltd. retains its spot as the top five premium global smartphone brand in the world, a title it has held for five consecutive quarters. Employees conduct extensive research to come up with innovative ideas for advanced smartphone technology at the Vivo headquarters. With the brand’s global ambassador, National Basketball Association superstar Stephen Curry, Vivo expects to dominate the Philippine selfie-centric market.

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market retreats; Bloomberry climbs

S

tocks retreated Tuesday, as investors took profit ahead of the long holiday and following losses in regional markets amid increasing caution about geopolitical risks and the path of US interest rates.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, shed 16 points, or 0.2 percent, to close at 7,601.40, as three of the six major sectors registered losses. Despite Tuesday’s drop, the bellwether was still up 11.1 percent this year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also dropped 8 points, or 0.2 percent, to settle at 4,532.92, on a value turnover of P7.1 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 118 to 87, while 47 issues were unchanged.

Ten of the 20 most active

stocks ended in the green, led by casino operator Bloomberry Resorts corp. which climbed 4 percent to P8.69 and GT Capital Holdings Inc., the holding company of tycoon George Ty, which rose 3.6 percent to P1,269. Developer Robinsons Land Corp. advanced 2.6 percent to P25.85.

Meanwhile, Chinese equities traded in Hong Kong fell to a one-month low while Japan’s Topix slipped as the yen gained.

Shares in Seoul extended the longest losing streak since June

as tensions over both Syria and North Korea remain in focus. US bond yields added to declines after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen confirmed that the central bank has shifted its focus to sustaining economic gains from post-crisis healing. Oil retreated after a five-day rally, its longest stretch this year.

Investors in Tokyo were nervous about rising geopolitical tensions, while Toshiba ended lower as it faced a looming deadline to publish its overdue earnings report.

North Korea on Tuesday denounced Washington’s deployment of a naval strike group to the Korean peninsula, warning it was ready for “war”.

The deployment came days after an American cruise missile strike on Syria that was widely interpreted as putting Pyongyang on warn-

ing over its refusal to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

“Given its location, many in Japan pay close attention to the North Korean situation,” said Toshihiko Matsuno, chief strategist at SMBC Friend Securities.

While stocks pared the initial plunge that met news of the US missile attack on a Syrian airbase, the brewing crisis is keeping dealers on edge heading into the company earnings season.

President Donald Trump’s administration has rankled Moscow by saying it sees no peace in civil war-hit Syria while Bashar alAssad remains president, while Russia has described the strikes as inflicting “considerable damage” to already “lamentable” bilateral ties.

With Bloomberg, AFP

Net income of PAL falls 39% to P3.59b

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE parent company of Philippine Airlines said Tuesday net income fell 38.8 percent in 2016 from a year ago on higher expenses.

PAL Holdings Inc. said net income last year amounted to P3.59 billion, down from P5.87 billion in 2015.

The company said revenues climbed 7.2 percent to P116.63 billion last year from P108.80 billion in 2015, on the back of a 7.1-percent increase in passenger

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.23 82,000 48.85 11,800 104.8 674,720 3.92 104,000 120.5 1,468,540 1.2 3,000 41 1,520,600 16.2 1,300 20.8 550,800 0.66 20,000 1.61 45,000 0.68 2,057,000 86.5 4,645,350 0.72 85,000 14.7 105,500 25.5 2,000 57.2 4,130 242 25,410 111 1,520 86 1,200 39.3 15,700 213 834,620 1,715 320 79.7 73,310 1.2 20,000

257,850 576,010 70,685,890 407,850 177,337,336 3,600 62,261,805 20,960 11,448,800 13,200 72,610 1,381,580 403,226,524.50 59,600 1,550,854 51,000 236,257 6,139,632 171,920 103,732 616,910 178,237,804 549,850 5,848,948 24,000

492,985 -37,714,564 19,600 -36,981,317 19,340,750 -8,100 -3,584,120 47,600 13,187,565 170,396 6,041,360 -11,100 196,425 -5,179,016 -103,200 -407,118 -

41.5 5.27 0.81 1.41 18.92 0.25 7.63 16.84 170.1 23.2 14.5 66.7 88 1.95 5.8 11.8 12.66 9.28 6.41 6 1.69 21.15 71.35 12.22 15.8 7.74 1.6 206 4.9 3.72 28 30.95 23.95 17.84 279 0.24 6.46 3.61 9 3.54 11.42 2.15 8.35 1.86 72 4.9 300 4.7 2.01 2.75 13.22 4.6 0.143 1.38 168.3 4.13 1.64 1.01

INDUSTRIAL 41.5 1,257,400 5.28 1,058,400 0.83 701,000 1.44 226,000 19 3,300 0.25 8,090,000 7.63 12,404,600 17.04 382,700 170.1 10 23.5 144,900 15 14,700 70 333,920 88 1,320 1.99 238,000 5.8 15,400 11.8 109,900 12.82 4,062,700 9.48 1,844,600 6.52 4,160,800 6.06 6,158,400 1.69 5,000 21.45 2,221,900 72 1,546,230 12.22 76,100 16.18 945,500 7.81 1,484,000 1.61 478,000 207.6 601,790 4.95 313,000 3.72 46,000 28.9 9,100 31.05 1,048,700 24.8 767,500 18.08 1,761,700 282.8 247,470 0.242 18,290,000 6.6 315,000 3.79 3,416,000 9.05 2,891,600 3.54 38,000 11.42 11,000 2.17 2,336,000 8.39 2,086,600 1.88 364,000 72 2,329,280 4.92 52,000 300 12,720 4.71 92,000 2.01 408,000 2.75 77,000 13.54 1,071,800 4.6 24,000 0.144 1,890,000 1.42 64,000 172 1,464,660 4.13 6,000 1.74 8,108,000 1.01 147,000

52,533,235 5,601,026 570,500 319,570 63,322 2,067,900 94,860,772 6,488,786 1,701 3,390,280 220,142 23,278,121.50 116,160.50 467,690 89,670 1,311,964 51,921,072 17,239,915 27,209,438 37,276,800 8,450 47,851,970 111,310,611 929,942 15,287,824 11,612,338 771,020 125,120,676 1,551,590 173,110 269,525 32,547,630 18,789,105 32,353,654 69,766,234 4,415,940 2,069,835 12,888,890 26,241,625(5, 136,220 125,620 5,067,000 17,491,165 678,000 167,885,355.50 255,500 3,816,452 442,030 820,080 211,960 14,384,870 110,400 272,110 89,100 251,680,137 24,790 13,776,320 148,470

-14,148,825 516,168.00 -15,664,523 2,360,108 -25,850 193,212 23,900 -2,587,996 -3,735,604 -3,489,340 2,095,831 -6,367,780 -2,578,070 754,004 -1,016,345 0 -5,694,626 128,640 -15,290 3,905,130 -6,199,755 -4,556,880 993,982 192,280 9,017,480 884,464.0003) 257,040 3,327,840 -7,427,655.50 58,900 1,443,422 -144,480 13,503,582 -82,800 -33,778,302 -404,730 101,000

0.38 75.35 14.12 1.13 6.33 0.425 0.46 863 8.62 12.34 7.8 5.43 0.188 1,283 6.43 80.7 4.27 1.05 7.85 15.7 0.41 6.51 0.063 1.09 1.89 2.54 108.7 2.66 738 0.86 1.45 285 0.29 0.185 0.247

0.37 74.5 13.6 1.1 6.32 0.395 0.41 855 8.4 11.98 7.62 5.43 0.179 1,228 6.2 80 4.27 1.02 7.81 15.48 0.405 6.43 0.059 1.08 1.87 2.54 105.5 2.57 705 0.85 1.41 278 0.29 0.184 0.24

HOLDING FIRMS 0.375 440,000 75.3 1,107,760 13.86 13,934,800 1.13 68,000 6.32 27,500 0.405 20,590,000 0.44 7,740,000 858.5 192,620 8.4 6,721,700 12.02 16,771,000 7.8 49,400 5.43 10,200 0.179 490,000 1,269 358,635 6.22 20,600 80 1,274,970 4.27 15,000 1.03 1,515,000 7.81 236,500 15.6 3,298,900 0.405 380,000 6.46 20,407,000 0.06 409,160,000 1.08 55,000 1.87 976,000 2.54 4,000 108 807,060 2.57 42,000 723 317,780 0.85 10,000 1.41 13,000 285 17,270 0.29 300,000 0.184 600,000 0.24 1,770,000

164,050 83,250,801 193,885,800 75,540 173,824 8,414,500 3,433,700 165,458,905 57,236,347 203,432,836 376,944 55,386 89,610 454,937,060 127,793 102,217,551.50 64,050 1,559,070 1,851,096 51,449,698 155,100 132,286,463 24,919,260 59,860 1,834,240 10,160 86,871,553 108,950 230,944,825 8,510 18,450 4,827,572 87,000 110,970 427,970

20,835,517.50 33,674,050 150 -25,138,320 8,320,800 -89,689,568 194,570,785 -26,398,956 -773,061 -47,485,858 -41,942,642 76,390 29,360,922 -22,417,415 -605,860 14,780

6.81 0.97 2.35 1.44 35.6 3.98 0.51 1.01 1.29 0.158 0.54 54.6 0.7 0.185 1.66 1.02 1.19 4.03 4.1 0.3 0.315

6.8 0.96 2.3 1.33 35.25 3.89 0.5 1 1.24 0.156 0.52 53.4 0.7 0.177 1.63 0.99 1.08 4.02 3.92 0.275 0.29

171,390 794,560 143,850 31,989,000 224,545,100 9,490,660 2,144,740 96,060 182,790 509,930 491,920 23,574,894 63,000 485,480 5,815,650(5, 5,735,410 6,268,020 20,110 217,042,130 28,903,050 306,200

-37,414 53,300 -27,677,755 3,164,060 -800,000 60,000 -430,686.50 1,820 203,950.0001) -28,710 88,000 -13,003,720 -183,150 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

3.24 48.85 105 3.95 121 1.2 41.2 16.2 20.6 0.66 1.64 0.67 86.9 0.7 14.7 25.5 57.3 239 119 86.8 39.3 215 1,720 79.95 1.2

3.27 48.85 105.1 3.95 121.8 1.2 41.4 16.2 20.9 0.66 1.64 0.69 87.2 0.72 14.74 25.5 57.3 242 119.5 86.8 39.3 215 1,720 79.95 1.2

3.11 48.8 104.6 3.92 120.2 1.2 40.5 16 20.5 0.66 1.61 0.66 85.8 0.7 14.7 25.5 57 239 110.1 86 39.05 213 1,715 79.65 1.2

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT EUROMED FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETRON PHIL H2O PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PHX SEMICNDCTR PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP PUREFOODS RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO ROXAS HLDG SHAKEYS PIZZA SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

42 5.31 0.81 1.41 19.34 0.265 7.65 16.9 170.1 23.4 15 67 88.05 1.96 5.85 12.02 12.7 9.35 6.44 6.08 1.69 21.5 72 12.22 16.5 8 1.64 208.6 4.9 3.75 28.5 31.2 24.8 18.52 279.8 0.247 6.75 3.63 9 3.6 11.42 2.15 8.42 1.87 72.95 4.91 300 4.85 2.01 2.75 13.42 4.6 0.146 1.41 168.5 4.14 1.64 1.01

42.1 5.32 0.83 1.44 19.58 0.265 7.74 17.08 170.1 23.5 15.14 80 88.05 1.99 5.85 12.2 12.86 9.5 6.61 6.11 1.69 21.8 72.2 12.22 16.56 8 1.64 209 5.06 3.82 38 31.2 25.05 18.72 284.6 0.255 6.76 3.95 9.14 3.6 11.42 2.17 8.42 1.88 72.95 4.92 300.4 4.9 2.01 2.82 13.54 4.6 0.146 1.42 172.7 4.14 1.74 1.01

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

0.38 75.35 13.68 1.1 6.32 0.41 0.455 861.5 8.57 12.1 7.62 5.43 0.187 1,228 6.43 80 4.27 1.05 7.85 15.7 0.41 6.43 0.06 1.09 1.88 2.54 106.2 2.66 730.5 0.86 1.45 279.8 0.29 0.185 0.247

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

6.8 0.96 2.34 1.42 35.5 3.9 0.5 1.01 1.29 0.156 0.52 54.5 0.7 0.185 1.65 1.02 1.18 4.03 4.04 0.29 0.305

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

0.64 4.43 27.55 25.2 1.79 3.33 30.2 1.01 0.88 5.23

0.66 4.73 27.55 26.2 1.79 3.37 30.2 1.02 0.9 5.23

0.63 4.43 27.5 25.2 1.76 3.25 29.5 1 0.88 5.15

0.65 4.64 27.5 25.85 1.78 3.35 29.5 1 0.9 5.2

11,234,000 351,000 1,200 5,235,400 346,000 1,517,000 3,344,600 1,416,000 67,000 1,264,800

7,232,010 1,617,890 33,040 135,154,470 614,050 5,078,900 99,250,000 1,428,180 59,050 6,559,423

-109,850 87,106,880 -24,631,955 -548,589

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

11.76 46 1.43 0.51 0.045 10.3 5.3 8.35 0.071 2.09 101.9 9.76 8.5 2.6 4 970 2,080 7.06 16.3 3.25 3.49 90 0.0091 12.5 8.95 0.185 1.31 3.51 15.68 4.47 0.98 4.5 2.33 6.7 3.78 3.02 11.5 5.31 3.06 160 7.85 1,761 1.62 0.435 43.45 79 5.98 2.22 1.08 1.95 3.2 0.39 5.24

12.3 46.3 1.43 0.52 0.047 11.1 5.32 8.75 0.073 2.11 105.5 9.76 8.5 2.6 4 970 2,100 7.07 16.5 3.3 3.73 91 0.0091 12.8 9.03 0.186 1.35 3.92 15.68 4.55 1.01 4.61 2.41 6.73 3.84 3.04 11.5 5.34 3.15 160 8 1,790 1.62 0.44 43.65 79 5.98 2.37 1.09 1.95 3.21 0.39 5.24

11.76 46 1.43 0.51 0.044 10.28 5.3 8.3 0.07 2.09 101 9.76 8.36 2.6 4 970 2,070 6.97 15.84 3.22 3.49 89.8 0.0091 12.22 8.95 0.178 1.31 3.51 15.1 4.42 0.97 4.5 2.33 6.62 3.71 2.96 11.48 5.31 3.06 160 7.78 1,761 1.6 0.43 42.05 78.7 5.91 2.21 1.08 1.95 3.19 0.39 5.2

SERVICES 12.08 46.3 1.43 0.52 0.047 11.02 5.32 8.69 0.07 2.11 105 9.76 8.36 2.6 4 970 2,078 7 16.5 3.29 3.6 90.25 0.0091 12.8 9.03 0.183 1.33 3.72 15.1 4.5 0.97 4.6 2.4 6.7 3.81 2.98 11.5 5.34 3.15 160 7.79 1,770 1.62 0.43 42.05 78.75 5.97 2.3 1.08 1.95 3.2 0.39 5.23

681,000 26,700 179,000 2,816,000 120,700,000 8,900 26,000 22,765,400 42,630,000 508,000 1,142,520 3,500 90,400 21,000 3,000 1,020 74,910 2,088,100 58,200 1,278,000 101,000 1,775,520 12,000,000 100,500 327,500 12,310,000 826,000 575,000 12,300 4,097,000 27,000 483,000 110,000 3,996,000 2,804,000 790,000 14,000 842,400 11,000 95,200 746,700 227,270 8,118,000 4,380,000 2,864,600 781,420 34,100 2,100,000 1,045,000 1,000 521,000 260,000 8,758,200

8,252,348 1,232,635 255,970 1,461,910 5,523,700 93,884 137,872 196,262,571 2,998,160 1,068,280 119,381,960 34,160 760,932 54,600 12,000 989,400 156,113,700 14,648,006 950,564 4,168,100 359,060 160,060,404.50 109,200 1,257,158 2,953,395 2,227,280 1,104,600 2,185,980 185,956 18,431,780 26,630 2,202,820 261,420 26,727,981 10,658,080 2,362,740 160,920 4,473,455 33,750 15,232,000 5,852,052 404,158,225 13,112,990 1,908,350 123,082,855 61,538,428.50 203,537 4,797,210 1,131,620 1,950 1,667,800 101,400 45,715,951

-109,960 -260,000 1,615,861 -71,730.00 15,891,248 -1,700 6,299,270 171,680 5,027,656.50 585,278 547,430 -75,500 518,430 9,310,299 -8,376,870 374,950 -100 0 -299,329 -49,061,640 288,310 -34,335,905 58,939,866 -1,090,490 434,700 -554,010 78,000 9,499,974

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

0.0033 1.54 5.35 9.71 1.75 1.76 0.62 0.4 8.89 2.66 0.25 0.183 0.199 0.012 0.011 1.79 6.15 2.15 0.45 0.9 0.011 0.011 4.17 0.014 8.5 3.27 151 2.94 0.0084

0.0033 1.65 5.35 10.98 1.81 1.85 0.66 0.415 9.06 2.78 0.255 0.185 0.199 0.012 0.011 1.8 6.28 2.15 0.45 0.9 0.012 0.011 4.17 0.014 8.6 3.42 154.6 2.94 0.009

0.0032 1.48 5.2 9.5 1.74 1.73 0.62 0.4 8.66 2.66 0.246 0.182 0.194 0.011 0.011 1.79 6.12 2.06 0.44 0.88 0.011 0.011 4.14 0.013 8.45 3.26 151 2.76 0.0083

MINING & OIL 0.0033 121,000,000 1.52 17,228,000 5.2 140,600 10.98 3,500 1.8 198,000 1.73 109,000 0.65 2,099,000 0.4 1,080,000 9.05 5,400 2.71 1,156,000 0.25 210,000 0.182 12,320,000 0.195 1,780,000 0.012 62,800,000 0.011 4,000,000 1.8 52,000 6.14 4,465,400 2.13 114,000 0.44 200,000 0.88 85,000 0.011 5,100,000 0.011 7,000,000 4.14 22,000 0.013 43,000,000 8.6 591,700 3.36 975,000 153 1,049,360 2.9 121,000 0.009 10,000,000

396,300 26,721,670 735,349 35,200 351,590 190,650 1,354,540 432,150 47,828 3,150,280 52,100 2,264,400 347,040 741,100 44,000 93,400 27,655,892 237,040 88,500 75,110 56,200 77,000 91,320 570,000 5,049,228 3,272,270 160,351,269 348,110 85,400

-5,033,980 -17,373 -14,200 183,620 226,080 -17,351,361 -33,000 -79,800 -790,032 164,990 25,100,673 42,000

ABS HLDG PDR ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF F GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B LR PREF SFI PREF SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

46.3 107.1 103 112 530 6.3 1,029 1,035 1.05 2.13 80.6 76.7 80 78.5 78.1

46.3 107.1 104.5 112 530 6.36 1,030 1,035 1.05 2.13 80.6 76.7 80 78.5 78.25

46.3 107.1 103 112 530 6.3 1,029 1,030 1.05 2.1 80 76.7 80 78.5 78

PREFERRED 46.3 20,000 107.1 3,500 104.5 86,810 112 180 530 10 6.3 2,373,800 1,030 105 1,030 425 1.05 1,000 2.1 75,000 80 62,000 76.7 670 80 10,000 78.5 10 78 146,300

926,000 374,850 8,941,674 20,160 5,300 14,991,366 108,135 437,900 1,050 159,720 4,964,938 51,389 800,000 785 11,415,450

926,000 374,850 7,642,600 -12,196,783 -

LR WARRANT

2.34

2.4

2.34

WARRANTS 2.4 267,000

636,500

-

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

3.71 2.93 6.59 10.4

4 2.93 6.59 10.4

3.71 2.93 6.5 10.22

SME 3.93 2.93 6.53 10.28

674,000 1,000 38,500 583,900

2,638,180 2,930 250,762 6,016,054

156,000

FIRST METRO ETF

126.1

126.3

125.9

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 126 13,280

1,673,104

-

MS

PROPERTY 6.81 0.97 2.35 1.34 35.4 3.91 0.5 1 1.27 0.156 0.53 53.8 0.7 0.177 1.63 1 1.1 4.02 3.96 0.29 0.3

25,200 827,000 62,000 23,308,000 6,340,100 2,407,000 4,283,000 96,000 146,000 3,260,000 927,000 437,270 90,000 2,680,000 3,554,000 5,726,000 5,657,000 5,000 54,188,000 100,250,000 1,020,000

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

SHARES

14,016,188

INDUSTRIAL

115,177,461

HOLDING FIRMS

513,877,308

PROPERTY

255,458,210

SERVICES

271,576,159

MINING & OIL

297,440,549

GRAND TOTAL

1,468,856,819

VALUE 1,891.63 (DOWN) 7.59 1,066,086,646.82 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,271.11 (UP) 51.45 1,550,773,910.56 HOLDING FIRMS 7,655.65 (DOWN) 1.84 1,896,155,251.859 PROPERTY 3,307.79 (DOWN) 39.85 SERVICES 1,614.28 (UP) 5.87 926,580,579.531 MINING & OIL 12,214.36 (UP) 74.77 1,445,327,149.20 PSEI 7,601.40 (DOWN) 16.51 234,943,665.424 All Shares Index 4,532.92 (DOWN) 8.69 7,130,449,231.39 Gainers:87; Losers:118; Unchanged: 47; Total: 252

revenues.

PAL said it flew 12 percent more passengers last year, as the number of flights also increased 8.5 percent.

PAL introduced new destinations last year, including Kuwait, Jeddah, Doha and Saipan and new services between Cebu and Los Angeles, Cebu and Singapore, Osaka via Taipei, Cebu and Caticlan, and Clark and Caticlan.

PAL carried 13.4 million passengers in 2016, up from 11.9 million in 2015.

Total expenses rose 7.8 percent to P110.87 billion last year from P102.88 billion in 2015. “The increase in expenses was attributable to higher maintenance, aircraft and traffic servicing, passenger service and reservation and sales, offset in part by the decrease in flying operations expenses,” PAL said.

Maintenance expenses rose to P15.03 billion from P10.99 billion because of an increase in the number of engine overhauls and C checks last year .

PAL said the increase in number of flights operated in 2016 resulted in higher aircraft and traffic servicing expenses, particularly ground handling charges and landing and take-off fees by 22.9 percent to P13.46 billion from P11.78 billion.

PAL said the decrease in flying operations expenses to P59.24 billion from P60.87 billion was mainly due to lower fuel expenses.

Apex’s profit rises to P440m

By Jenniffer B. Austria APEX Mining Co. said Tuesday consolidated net income surged 351 percent in 2016 to P440.5 million from P169.3 million, on increased production and higher metal prices.

Apex said in a disclosure to the stock exchange revenue hit a record P3.5 billion last year, up by 45 percent from P2.4 billion in 2015.

Apex said the higher revenue was achieved from the new record output of the company’s Maco mine in Compostela Valley which reached 54,681 ounces of gold and 309,623 ounces of silver in 2016, surpassing the previous record production of 43,048 ounces of gold and 224,479 ounces of silver in 2015.

The company said that on top of higher production output, the record annual revenue was led by the higher metal prices which averaged $1,255 per ounce gold and $17 per ounce silver for the Maco mine’s shipments.

The gold price averaged $1,158 per ounce, while silver price averaged $16 per ounce in 2015.

“We are pleased at the company’s performance to date, generating its second year of continued positive results after the current management team’s taking over the helm in October 2013.

We give credit to all the men and women making up the workforce of the Company in achieving this accomplishment,” Apex president and chief executive Walter Brown said.

Capital expenditures amounted to P1.4 billion in 2016, down from P2.5 billion in 2015.

Business

B3

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

NFA not buying rice buffer from farmers

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales by the NFA field offices, as of

METRODENTAL PARTNER. MetroDental, the country’s largest chain of dental clinics, and Equicom Savings bank, both of the Equicom Group of Companies, through the Group’s Equitable Foundation Inc., sign an agreement with Centro Escolar University and its School of Dentistry to identify and support deserving recipients of the Go Kim Pah scholarship program from the School of Dentistry in CEU Manila. At the signing ceremony are (seated from left) Roberto Ang, EFI executive director; Alan David Matulina, president, Equicom Savings; Rene Buenaventura, Equicom Group vice chairman and EFI trustee, Ma. Cristina Padolina, president and chief academic officer of Centro Escolar; Cesar Tan, treasurer, assistant corporate secretary and assistant compliance officer, CEU; Pearly Lim, Dean of the School of Dentistry, CEU; and Rhoda Aguilar, CEU registrar.

THE National Food Authority said Tuesday it cannot buy buffer stocks from local producers because farm gate prices of palay have steadily increased as the dry harvest season peaks.

“This is good for the farmers who are enjoying higher income,” NFA said.

“But the National Food Authority cannot buy its target volume for buffer stocking because its P17.00/kg buying price is much lower than those offered by private traders,” the NFA said in a statement.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the average farm-gate price of palay in the first week of February stood at P18.15 per kilogram and and rose to P18.60/kg in the last week of March.

Based on the prices monitored

March 31, 2017, the ex-farm price of palay (clean and dry) was highest at P22.60/kg and P22.50/kg in Tagum, Davao del Norte and Misamis Oriental, respectively.

NFA administrator Jason Laureano Aquino said the food agency was intensifying its palay buying activities, especially in rice producing areas, to beef up the food security stocks during the lean months.

“We have 413 buying stations strategically positioned nationwide and mobile procurement teams deployed regularly especially in far flung areas to accommodate farmers produce. Our cereal procurement fund and other logistical requirements were already in place. However, the higher prices offered by private traders to farmers make it difficult for us to buy more and hit our target,” Aquino said.

SEC rejects LBC Express share sale

By Jenniffer B. Austria

T

HE Securities and Exchange Commission will reject the P1.2-billion planned followon offering of courier operator LBC Express Holdings Inc. of the Araneta Group.

Informed sources said the corporate regulator was drafting a letter informing the company about the non-approval of the planned share sale.

SEC commissioner Ephyro Luis Amatong in a text message confirmed the SEC’s forthcoming decision to reject

LBC’sshare sale, “LBC failed to make required disclosures regarding legal proceedings against its controlling shareholders,” Amatong said.

“At the same time, the 180day effectivity of its financial statements ran out,” he added.

LBC in October filed with the

SEC an application to sell 69.1 million shares with a proposed maximum offering price of P17 apiece.

The shares consist of 59.1 million in secondary shares and 10 million in primary shares.

Philippine Commercial Capital Inc. was the proposed sole underwriter for the offering.

LBC had planned to use the net proceeds from the offering to fund general corporate activities and working capital, including the expansion of the retail and corporate businesses and information technology development.

The company earlier scheduled

to conduct the follow on-offering in February. LBC in 2014 filed a application to raise as much as P7 billon through an initial public offering.

However the LBC’s IPO application faced stiff scrutiny from the SEC because of its connection with shuttered bank LBC Development Bank, a thrift bank also owned by the Araneta group This prompted LBC to withdraw the IPO application, after saying that other fund raising opportunities presented themselves.

But after a year, the LBC group conducted a backdoor listing

through then dormant listed Federal Resources Investment Group Inc. The move paved the way for the company to have its shares listed with the Philippine Stock Exchange.

LBC plans to rollout 70 to 100 outlets this year in a bid to strengthen its position as the leading courier and money transfer company in the Philippines.

At least 60 percent of new branches are expected to be in Luzon, mostly in the National Capital Region, Southern and Northern Luzon. The remaining 40 percent will be located in Vi-

sayas and Mindanao.

The company has a network of over 1,000 branches nationwide.

Aside from investing in organic growth of the company, LBC Express said it also planned product offerings by selectively and strategically pursuing acquisition opportunities.

LBC Express said it would target potential companies for acquisition if they had synergies with the existing operational platform, the potential to expand its customer base and market share and could provide a platform to expand into new businesses.

Quake disrupts Shell, power plants

By Alena Mae S. Flores BATANGAS power plants that sustained damage during the series of earthquakes that struck the province on Saturday are still being repaired, compounding the thin reserves in the Luzon grid.

The repairs have prompted the Energy Department to hold talks with the Energy Regulatory Commission, Philippine Electricity Market Corp. and other industry players to mitigate price spikes due to the loss of generating capacity amid higher demand.

The department said in statement PEMC, operator of the country’s electricity spot market, reported that the current condition of the power market was still normal despite the

loss of supply since Saturday.

It said PEMC also reported that prices in WESM were within normal level due to lower demand during the Holy Week and despite reduced power generation.

Officials said WESM prices, however, spiked to P10 per kilowatt-hour on Saturday from an average of P2 to P3 per kWh shortly after the earthquake struck and supply went down.

The department, meanwhile, is pushing for the speedy repairs of the major power plants that sustained damage following a swarm of earthquakes that hit Batangas.

“We are continuously and closely coordinating with power industry players, especially those on the side of the generation industry for the safe

QUESTIONS IT IS mid-April. For those of us in finance, it is the week of tax filing.

Over the last three weeks, those in finance have essentially worked around one of two questions: When are we filing, or Can we file on time? Every tax payer can generally be categorized into two depending on which question they asked: those who are prepared and those who are not.

For the general population, it is Easter weekend. In the workplace over the last two weeks, the one question most asked concerning Easter weekend was this: Where are you going? It is a question the pious bemoan because underneath the question is a basic assumption: Easter weekend, rather than being about religious obligation, is about enjoying a vacation.

The questions that we ask often expose our underlying sentiments and assumptions. That is certainly true. However, the other truth is that

and immediate rehabilitation of the power plants affected by the earthquake last Saturday,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., the country’s second biggest oil refiner, meanwhile, is starting up operations of the Tabangao refinery in Batangas after implementing a controlled shutdown.

“A controlled shutdown was instituted in line with operating protocols in order to ensure the safety of personnel and assess any damage potentially caused by the earthquakes,” Pilipinas Shell disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Batangas was hit by four strong earthquakes that caused a power outage at Pilipinas Shell’s 110,000 barrel-per-day Tabangao refinery.

questions can be a very powerful tool.

Difficult Situations As I was cleaning out my books, I happened on a book I hadn’t opened in a long while. It is a book by Sam Deep and Lyle Sussman called “What to ask when you don’t know what to say.”

It is one of those books that I think everyone should read at least once. It is essentially a book that outlines an approach to handling difficult situations through the use of questions.

In the book’s introduction, the authors say that questions can help “turn confusion into clarity, desperation into decisiveness, and trial into triumph.” This is, essentially, a book on effective communication. In order to understand how to use questions, it is important to remember what effective communication is about. The authors explain this. “Effective communicators are never at a loss for words.” “They know what to say to get what they want, and the people they leave feel listened to and valued.”

The authors go on to identify what questions can be used for: focusing thought; bridging conflicting views; building rapport and strengthening relationships; deflecting anger and hostility; showing commitment and

RICE HYBRIDS. President Duterte (center) assures farmers and other agricultural stakeholders that the government will provide full support to uplift the rural sector and improve income and productivity of rice farmers during the Grand Harvest Festival organized by the SL Agritech in Talavera, Nueva Ecija on April 5, 2017. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol explains to Duterte the significance of rice hybridization toward the rice sufficiency target. The Department of Agriculture is set to expand hybrid rice areas to one million hectares in 2018.

interest; turning “discomforting silence into clarifying discourse”; implying rather than asserting; eliciting “reflection contemplation, and introspection.”

Essentially, questions can be used to change the mood by either buying time or changing the trajectory of a discussion. Question can focus thought.

Questions can force people to confront their assumptions and biases. Questions can provide a mechanism to build shared understanding. However, used skillfully, also allow the surfacing of undesirable behavior in a socially acceptable manner. One of my favorite questions in the book goes something like this: “Are you trying to be funny or vicious?” Similar questions would include: “Did you think about the effect of your actions on …?”

In fact, questions can be used to avoid many of the common mistakes Carmichael (see Integrations 05 April 2017) outlines in her 2010 article on difficult conversations: falling into a combat mentality; not bringing enough respect to the conversation; lashing out; shutting down; allowing the other person to hit our red buttons; and falling into old patterns and scripts and hence not providing room for

real conversation. Deliberately using questions instead of sentences allow us both to seek clarity as well as soften observations.

Learning In education, the approach of eliciting understanding, and drawing out ideas and underlying presumptions through asking and answering questions is often referred to as the Socratic method.

A quick google search turned up the term maieutics which has roots in the Greek maieutikos, from the word maia meaning midwife. Being in the field of adult education, I loved this particular etymology because it captures why questions are powerful. I teach in a case method school and a seminal reading in the case method of teaching is a 1951 article entitled “Because wisdom can’t be told.”

One of the things we know about teaching methods is that lectures are the most efficient method of delivering large volumes of knowledge.

Unfortunately, delivery of material does not guarantee learning. In fact, one of the other things that we know about adult education is that adults learn best when they are actively participating in their learning, especially when they are

experiencing or applying what they are meant to learn.

Questions, especially the right kind of questions, the ones meant to probe for ideas, tease out presumptions, and provoke critical and analytic thinking, are one of the simplest most powerful means of engaging the adult learner.

The use of a deliberately planned set of questions (often with alternative trajectories) is typically at the heart of every well-planned class.

Questions, however, go well beyond being a mechanism for teaching. Every group discussion meant to surface concerns, elicit ideas and achieve consensus is typically built on a series of questions. The reality is that questions are how we find our way.

One last important thing, as Deep and Sussman point out in the introduction to their book, is this. Questions are only one part of the story. In order to fully realize the magic of questions, we need to listen to the answers.

Readers can email Maya at integrations_manila@yahoo.com. Or visit her site at http://integrations. tumblr.com.

For academic publications, Maya uses her full name, Maria Elena Baltazar Herrera.

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

B4

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017

Business

Oil marches toward $53 a barrel O IL traded near $53 a barrel after the longest winning streak since December before US government data forecast to show record crude stockpiles declined.

Futures slid 0.4 percent in New York after rising 5.7 percent in the previous five sessions.

Inventories probably dropped by 1.5 million barrels last week, according to a Bloomberg survey before an Energy Information Administration report on Wednesday. Libya

declared force majeure at a key export terminal as its biggest field stopped producing just a week after it reopened.

Oil has rallied above $50 a barrel after some members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries voiced support for an extension of

production cuts past June, offsetting rising US output.

The curbs have stabilized the market, according to Russia, which is among 11 other nations outside the group that have joined in the pact aimed at easing a global glut.

“There is potential for some good upside to the oil price provided that Opec maintains compliance with cuts,” said David Lennox, a resource analyst at Fat Prophets in Sydney. “Investors will continue to watch what happens with US production,

which has been trending higher. The market has become accustomed to fluctuating Libyan supply.”

West Texas Intermediate for May delivery was at $52.98 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, down 10 cents, at 8:07 a.m. in London.

Total volume traded was about 14 percent below the 100-day average. The contract gained 84 cents to $53.08 on Monday, the highest close since March 7.

Brent for June settlement was 9 cents lower at $55.89 a

barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The contract rose 74 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $55.98 on Monday.

The global benchmark crude was at a premium of $2.53 to June WTI. US crude inventories have climbed to 535.5 million barrels, the highest in weekly data compiled by the EIA since 1982.

Stockpiles at Cushing, Oklahoma, the delivery point for WTI and the biggest US oil-storage hub, probably rose by 800,000 barrels last week, according to a forecast

compiled by Bloomberg.

Libya’s National Oil Corp. declared force majeure on loadings of crude from the Zawiya oil terminal, citing a halt in production at the Sharara field, according to a copy of the NOC’s decree obtained by Bloomberg.

Global stockpiles will continue to decline over the coming months as refiners process more crude after returning from maintenance, Kuwait’s Oil Minister Issam Almarzooq said, according to a report from the Kuwait News Agency. Bloomberg

Fed’s independence under threat—Yellen WASHINGTON―The US central bank’s shield from political interference is “under some threat” from Congress, a prospect that could erode progress in the economy, Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen warned Monday.

Research shows that countries that allow the central bank independence in setting monetary policy “tend to enjoy stronger macroeconomic performance,” Yellen said in a discussion at the University of Michigan.

The US Congress “very wisely” passed a law that afforded that independence to the Fed in the 1970s, but it is threatened by proposed legislation that would either audit the Fed’s decisions or require it to follow a strict mathematical formula to set interest rates.

“I always worry about threats to our independence,” Yellen said.

While she did not mention US President Donald Trump, he was highly critical of the Fed during the election campaign last year.

“I do think independence of a central bank to make decisions about monetary policy, free of short-term political pressures, is very important and results in better decision making, focused on the long-term needs and health of the economy,” Yellen said.

This does not mean the Fed lacks accountability or transparency, she said, noting that she is required to testify before Congress twice a year, and holds regular news conferences in addition to publishing the minutes of the policy meetings.

Yellen said the economy currently is “pretty healthy,” as it continues to gradually improve in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis. But it will be key for the central bank to not allow inflation to accelerate too quickly.

She repeated the central bank’s expectation that it will need to raise interest rates only gradually to keep inflation hovering around the two-percent target.

“But we don’t want to wait too long” to get to a neutral point where the interest rate is no longer stimulating the economy.

She cautioned that “if the economy ends up overheating and inflation were to rise well above target, we don’t want to be in position to have to raise rates rapidly which could conceivably cause a recession.”

“We want to be ahead of the curve not behind the curve,” she said.

The Fed has raised interest rates twice in recent months, after the initial hike in December 2015 moved the key lending rate off zero for the first time since December 2008.

Not only is inflation near the Fed’s two percent target, the unemployment rate has fallen to 4.5 percent, which she said is lower than what central bankers generally consider to be “full employment.” AFP

S. Arabia to seek bid for wind, solar plants SAUDI Arabia will begin seeking bids next week from renewable-energy companies to build wind and solar plants with a combined capacity of 700 megawatts as part of the kingdom’s $50-billion program to boost power generation and cut its oil consumption.

Energy Minister Khalid Al Falih will announce a request for proposals for the projects, the next phase in the country’s bidding process, at a conference next week in Riyadh, the ministry said Monday in an emailed statement. The ministry qualified 27 companies to bid for a 300-megawatt solar plant and 24 firms for a 400-megawatt wind farm.

The project is part of a plan to transform the Saudi economy by weaning it off oil and creating new industries. Other Middle Eastern countries including the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Morocco are also developing renewable energy to curb fuel imports or conserve crude oil for export. Saudi Arabia plans to develop almost 10 gigawatts of renewables by 2023, requiring investment of $30 billion to $50 billion, Al-

Falih said in January.

First Solar Inc. of the US and the renewable energy units of Italy’s Enel SpA, France’s Total SA and Electricite de France SA, and Spain’s Acciona SA and Iberdrola SA are among the qualified companies, according to the statement.

Potential bidders from the Middle East include Abu Dhabi’s Masdar, Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power International and Fotowatio Renewable Ventures BV, a Spanish unit of the Abdul Lateef Jameel Group, a Saudi conglomerate.

Asian companies that qualified include JinkoSolar Holding Co. of China, Korea Electric Power Corp. and Japan’s JGC Corp. and Marubeni Corp.

The ministry’s renewableenergy team selected from among 128 applications.

Qualified companies can act as managing or technical members of a group bidding for work, the ministry said. Companies that didn’t qualify can team up with others that did to make a joint bid. Offers will be accepted from April 17 through July, the ministry said in February.

Bloomberg

ECONOMIC LEADERS. German Chancellor Angela Merkel (third from right) arrives with Christine Lagarde, Director of the International Monetary Fund, for a press conference following their meeting in the chancellery in Berlin on April 10, 2017. Merkel is meeting with global economic leaders, including heads of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and the World Trade Organization. AFP

UK grocers secretly squeeze shoppers as Brexit bites

By Sam Chambers UK GROCERS are finding creative ways of passing on Brexit-induced cost increases to consumers. If you’re shopping for candles or light bulbs, buyer beware.

Unable to raise prices of staple goods from milk to Marmite because of tough competition from discounters and watchful tabloid newspapers, supermarket operators like Tesco Plc and Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s Asda are ratcheting them up on less frequently purchased goods such as dental floss, whose costs might not register as readily with shoppers.

“Milk is the sort of item that shoppers use to build their price image of a retailer,” said Cheryl Sullivan, chief marketing and strategy officer at Revionics, a software provider that helps stores formulate pricing strategies. “But shoppers are only price-sensitive on a fraction of a retailer’s range.”

The UK imports almost half the food it eats and despite grocers holding firm on key lines, the effects of sterling’s Brexit-driven slide are filtering through to shopping bills. After more than two years of decline, food prices rose 2.3 percent in the country’s supermarkets during the first 12 weeks of 2017, according to researcher Kantar Worldpanel. Figures due Tuesday are expected to show that wage growth isn’t keeping pace with higher prices.

Targeted increases have joined “shrinkflation”―decreasing product sizes while holding prices steady―as a way for retailers to disguise inflation after the pound’s fall put upward pressure on costs and led to the Marmitegate row between Tesco and Unilever. Grocers like Wm Morri-

son Supermarkets Plc have said they’re unable to pass along the full effect, but retailers are trying to protect profit margins by eking out increases where they can without sending shoppers packing.

Picking Battles Retailers haven’t dared to tinker with the cost of milk, which costs 1 pound ($1.25) for a 2.3-liter carton at all of the UK’s major supermarkets. Yet the price of decorative candles rose 29 percent from October through March while light bulbs were up 19 percent and dental floss increased by 17 percent, according to independent price checker MySupermarket.com.

“If a retailer raises the price of milk, they won’t just lose that sale, they’ll lose the whole basket,” said Steve Dresser, director of consultancy Grocery Insight.

“Retailers have to pick their battles on price.”

Research suggests grocers are right to be careful: 52 percent of Brits are more worried about the cost of day-to-day items than

they were a year ago, according to a Barclaycard survey. Nearly three-quarters cited a more expensive weekly shop as the reason.

Grocers run sales and loyaltycard data through price-optimization software to help them figure out which prices they can increase without alienating shoppers. Revionics said it has seen an increase in demand from UK retailers since the vote to leave the EU. Retailers typically order their ranges into products that drive sales and those that contribute to profitability, Sullivan said.

Shoppers pay careful attention to the cost of frequent purchases, but are less vigilant about occasional splurges, making it easier to increase prices on those goods, she said.

Value Perceptions Morrison announced temporary price cuts on staples such as potatoes and fish sticks in January. But the company recently increased the price of ground pepper by more than 10 percent,

according to MySupermarket. com.

Varying prices in this way taps into consumers’ imperfect perceptions of value, said Ivo Vlaev, professor of behavioral science at Warwick University.

Shoppers are concerned with the number of products on which they think they’re getting a good deal, not the total amount they spend, said Vlaev, who conducted research for Tesco.

The low prices of Aldi and Lidl, which account for about 12 percent of the UK’s grocery spend, exert a gravitational pull.

When global food prices soared in 2010, Tesco and other supermarkets increased prices and opened the door for the discounters’ rapid expansion.

Painful memories of the retail crisis that followed are restraining grocers this time around, according to TCC Global analyst Bryan Roberts.

“The big chains are extremely mindful of not making the same mistake twice,” Roberts said.

Bloomberg

Spotlight on local oranges in Kasibu

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—This province is not only known for years as the gateway to the Cagayan Valley region , it is also famous for its orange varities grown in upland villages of Kasibu town.

These citrus varieties are sold along stalls of the highway in barangay Busilac in this town where local and foreign tourists take a pick for their quenching taste or simply buy them as ‘Pasalubong’ or a token for relatives.

The oranges’ famous appeal can never be forgotten among commuters that Joel Palay, 48, a businessman from Alicia, Isabela usually buys several kilos of the product on his way back home.

“It awakens our tired bodies when we drive at night from Bulacan aside from being a good source of Vitamin C,” he said.

The province’s popularity is also attributed to the oranges which catapulted Nueva Vizcaya’s fame in the country’s tourism map.

But both fames can only be traced to Alfonso Namujhe, known as the pioneer of the citrus and orange industry in Malabing Valley in Kasibu town who introduced their propagation that turned into a profitable venture.

Sold along the stalls of barangay Busilac’s roadside, called as citrus alley are Vizcaya orange varieties such as Red Chandler and the pink Amoy Chinese of the pomelo(Citrus Gigantis) family; Valencia; seedless Hamlin orange also known as the Perante Orange, the Washington navel and Gillette Nave variety(Citrus Cinensis) which are ideal for fresh orange juice; the seedless Satsuma(Japanese orange); Poncan(Chinese mandarin) and the Clementine type of the Mandarin(Citrus reticulata) family.

Like an offering to the Gods, citrus and orange varieties are arranged in pyramid form that invites government dignitaries, tourists and commuters who ply the national highway.

Namuhje, a former worker of Monterey Farms in Laguna who shared his knowledge to his fellow Ifugao farmers can now be proud that at present, more than 300 farmers in Kasibu town have ventured into citrus and orange production as a source of livelihood.

“The orange highway is one of the outlets of our products and a venue to promote them,” said Fernando Sison former manager of the Malabing Valley Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Inc. From July to January each year, orange and citrus varieties are harvested and brought to different outlets in the province. This season is considered the peak season of orange and citrus products where tons of them are loaded in wooden crates for distribution to other outlets outside the province.

MVFMPCI which was formed in 1990 serves as a drop point for citrus and orange products coming from the 300-hectare plantation in Malabing Valley in Kasibu town which covers barangays Malabing, Tadjie, Wangal, Binugawan, Papaya and Capissaan.

Agriculture experts said the temperature in the valley-hot during the day and cold during the night—makes the land fertile and ideal for citrus production.

Each year, farmers in Kasibu town celebrate the Citrus Festival as thanksgiving offering for the bountiful blessings of the town that benefited migrant Ifugaos.

During the festivity, the Ifugaos perform the ‘Culpi’, a way of thanksgiving to Kabunian or Supreme Being where a number of pigs and chickens are offered.

Ifugaos, garbed in their native g-strings banged their gongs as they paraded around the village. Thousands of oranges are also displayed in booths while some were given for free to visitors.

Alex Pumihic, former chairman of the publicity and promotions committee of the first Citrus Festival in 2008 said the celebration is intended to thank the Gods because of their improved economic status in Kasibu.

“In fact, our old tradition has been revived because of the agricultural potentials of this town,” he said.

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017

C1

Lopez sacks 6 CL executives C

By Ferdie G. Domingo

ABANATUAN CITY—Six more top-level officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Luzon have been replaced and given new assignments, including one who was given a province-wide position in the latest reshuffle ordered by Secretary Gina Lopez.

The six were community environment and natural resources officers Alfredo Collado, Jimmy Aberin, Ricardo Lazaro, Gerundio Fernandez and Florencio Lalo and Mariano Miguel.

Collado, Cenro of Camiling, Tarlac was designated as the new provincial environment and natural resources officer, replacing the caretaker Cherry Claudio who temporarily took over following the retirement late last month of Leovino Ignacio.

Collado, previously assigned in Casiguran, Aurora was replaced by Miguel.

Aberin and Lazaro, Cenros of Baler and Cabanatuan, respectively, swapped posts while Lalo, Cenro in Dinalupihan, Bataan took the post of Fernandez, Cenro of the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija.

Collado was the second Cenro to be promoted to Penro following the designation of Nicomedes Claudio as chief of the provincial DENR in Aurora.

The latest revamp brought to 10 the number of DENR officials replaced since last month.

Earlier, Lopez replaced Joselito Blanco and Raul Mamac, DENR provincial environment and natural resources officers of Aurora and Bataan, respectively.

Blanco was replaced by Claudio and Mamac by Raymond Rivera, Cenro based in Masinloc, Zambales.

Retained as Penros were Celia Esteban of Bulacan, Rafael Otic of Pampanga, Emelita Lingat of Tarlac and Laudemir Salac of Zambales.

Among the Cenros, retained were Ariel Mendoza of Bagac and Florencio Jalu of Dinalupihan, both in Bataan; Roger Encarnacion of Guiguinto, Bulacan; Romel Santiago of Bacolor, Pampanga and Marife Castillo of Olongapo City.

A DENR official who sought anonymity, however, said the revamp was caused by feng shui, known locally as “punsoy,”

a Chinese philosophical system of harmonizing everyone with the environment.

Lopez, reportedly a devout believer in geomancy, was a yoga missionary at a young age.

Feng shui was widely used to orient buildings—often spiritually significant structures such as tombs, but also dwellings and other structures which are determined for being an auspicious site by reference to local features such as bodies of water, stars, or a compass.

The practice was suppressed in mainland China during the state-imposed Cultural Revolution of the 1960s but since then regained popularity.

The Skeptic Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience states the principles of Feng shui related to living harmoniously with nature are “quite rational,” but does not otherwise lend credibility to the nonscientific claims.

TURNOVER CEREMONY: The Metro Manila Mayors’ Spouses Foundation Inc. led by its president Janet Olivarez (third from left), wife of Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez, donated a unit of Ostrea Vent, a locally made medical ventilator for premature infants with respiratory conditions to the Philippine General Hospital recently.

Filipino neonatologists Dr. Enrique Ostrea Jr. (second from left), headed the team of University of the Philippines engineers and the Department of Science and Technology have corroborated to formulate the equipment. Shown in photo (L to R) former Pasig Mayor Maribel Eusebio, MMMSFI PRO; Ms. Edna Calixto, MMMSFI treasurer; Dr. Joyce Medina, MMMSFI’s past president; Dr. Juliet Sio-Aguilar, chairman of Department Pediatrics; Dr. Gerardo Legaspi; PGH director Dr. Resti Ma. Baustista, section head-newborn medicine of the Department of Pediatrics.

BGC makes dreams come true for children of military heroes BGC’s way of giving back.

FBDFI and BGCEA officials share a photo with the HERO scholars after the turnover ceremony at BGC Arts Center.

Lance was only four years old when his father, Army Sgt. Narciso Lawrence Layug died.

He remembers how his mom broke the news to him, “Anak, si dad nandun na sa heaven.”

(Son, daddy’s in heaven.) To which he gave an innocent answer, “Sundan natin, bisitahin natin siya. Malapit lang naman yun, at may pamasahe tayo.”

(Let’s visit him. It’s not that far a place, and we have money for the commute.)

Years later, the family left the province for Manila. As they rebuild their lives in the city, mother-and-son became best of friends, and helped each other in running their household.

Lance is only one of the many children supported by HERO (Help Educate and Rear Orphans) Foundation—a nonprofit organization that provides educational assistance in the form of stipends to children of fallen soldiers.

To help support military families, Fort Bonifacio Development Foundation Inc. (FBDFI), BGC’s social responsibility arm, and the Bonifacio Global City Estate Association recently turned over P1 million and P200,000.00 worth of cash donations, respectively to HERO Foundation.

“Wars, insurgencies and natural disasters keep military families apart. When an unfortunate incident leaves servicemen killed or incapacitated in

the line of duty, their families are equally left impaired. The surviving parent and children are left to deal with bouts of emotional and financial stress and their future suddenly becomes unstable. This is why we have partnered with HERO Foundation to help some of the children have a more secure tomorrow through education,” says Aileen Zosa, EVP of Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and vice chairman of FBDFI. Zosa explains that HERO Foundation’s cause is so close to home because BGC, now a vibrant business and lifestyle district, was once a military base. “While BGC has evolved by leaps and bounds through the years, we acknowledge that what once stood here is an integral part of the city’s history.

When asked what he wants We feel that by assisting HERO to take up for college, he says, Foundation, we are honoring “I want to enter law school. But this side of our past.” sometimes, I kid my mom, ‘Ma, pwede ba akong mag-sundalo?’”

Helping kids fulfill (Can I enter the military?) their dreams His surprised mom would Two of the teens who will reply, “’Nak, tama na yung kay benefit from BGC’s donation dad lang!” (Son, it’s enough are Lance Kelly Layug and that your dad did it!)

Danica Joy Talania, residents Tenth grade student Danica, of Taguig who manage to ace on the other hand, is a bubbly, their studies while enjoying music-lover who is part of her every bit of their student life. school’s Glee Club. She also Lance, an outspoken Ninth plays the guitar for a band and grade student, makes sure that is into sports. The energetic all his grades are above the 85- youngster is a track and field mark. In a recent inter-school player who bested other runcompetition, he emerged as a ners in a 50-meter-dash during champion for Biglaang Talum- her school’s intramurals. pati, an impromptu speech conDanica was only a year old test in Tagalog. He even writes when her father, Army Sgt. stories in his spare time, or James Fabellan passed on in when he’s inspired, and hopes battle. While she longed to to get published someday. know her father, it seemed that

she’s able to connect with him through music.

“Kwento ni mama, nasa combo daw po si papa. Kaya pinagsikapan ko rin pong magplay ng instrument.” (Mama says, papa played in a combo.

That’s why I tried hard to play an instrument.)

Giving back

It’s been 28 years since HERO Foundation was formed to support the education of military orphans. The stipend that the organization provides complements the scholarship offered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Educational Benefit System Office.

Engineer Leomhar Padaoan was one of the AFP EBSO’s scholars who received a regular allowance from HERO Foundation in college. He was bare-

ly a year old when his father died in combat. Since then, he —an only son—and her mother faced life’s struggles together in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte.

“My mother was a housewife. We managed to get by through my father’s pension and my HERO stipend,” Leo shares.

“Naranasan kong pumasok ng eskwelahan noon nang walang pera, pang-kain lang,” he recalled. (I experienced how it’s like to go to school with no money to spend, except for food.) When he was much older, he sometimes worked as a helper for a construction site to make ends meet.

Leo described himself as an average student. And he took pride in his diligence and efforts to pass subjects for his Mechanical Engineering course.

LGUs

Manila

Standard WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017 TODAY C2

Comelec ‘buries’ 179 dead voters in Aurora

By Ferdie G. Domingo BALER, Aurora—The Commission on Elections provincial office here has removed from the voters’ list 179 dead voters to prevent them from “casting” their vote in the 2019 elections.

Ivy Queen Calugtong, election assistant, said the 179 deceased voters were among the 452 voters who were purged from the list of voters in the system of continuing registration being implemented by the poll body’s local office under provincial election supervisor Rommel Rama.

Rama assumed office from acting Pes Panfilo Doctor.

Calugtong said of the 452, 162 registered twice while 80 were found to have transferred to other places. She said their latest records showed a total 129,971 have so far registered as voters.

Calugtong said while they have removed and deactivated from the list 452 voters, they are also adding 848 new voters, including 175 who changed their names and corrected entries, 118 who transferred within the same district, city or town; 172 who came from other places and 253 who are newly registered voters.

A total 126,525 registered for last year’s national and local elections of whom 103,069 actually voted for a voter turnout of 81.46 percent.

Voter turnout was highest in this capital town with 83.82 percent followed by San Luis with 82.96 percent.

Others with voter turnouts were Maria Aurora (82.23 percent), Dingalan (82.62 percent), Dilasag (80.82 percent), Dinalungan (80.61 percent), Casiguran (78.54 percent) and Dipaculao (78.35 percent).

The Comelec earlier said those whose registration was deactivated might apply to reactivate the same until April 29 so they could participate in the coming elections.

Nationwide, around two million voters have their records deactivated.

Under Republic Act 8189, also known as the Voters Registration Act of 1996, failure to vote in two consecutive national elections will result in the deactivation of a voters’ registration.

Solon: Check oil, gas facilities

F

OLLOWING the April 8 tremors in Batangas, House deputy minority leader and Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr. has urged the Department of Energy to immediately check the safety of all oil and gas installations in the southern Luzon province.

“From a strictly public safety perspective, our oil and gas installations in Batangas may be more sensitive to tremors compared to the power plants in the province,” Campos said.

The lawmaker urged the DoE

that these installations remain absolutely safe and sound, despite the seismic activity,” Campos said.

Campos is author of a bill that seeks to empower all of the nation’s fire officers as “fully trained and certified first responders” to all kinds of disasters, including earthquakes, just like in highly developed countries.

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. operates a newly upgraded 110,000 barrel per day oil refinery in Batangas City.

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. also runs a terminal in

to require oil and gas installations in Batangas to promptly submit status reports on the integrity of their facilities, and on the post-quake safety checks that they have performed.

“We simply want the DoE to categorically assure the public

PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications set up LibrengTawag and Charging stations, and provided Smart Padala services free of charge in several locations in Batangas, following the series of earthquakes that struck the province over

the weekend.

Smart’s LibrengTawag, Charging and Smart Padala services are set up in front of Mabini municipal hall following the series of earthquakes that hit Batangas.

Immediately after the magnitude-6 tremor, Smart deployed its free calling, charging and money transfer assistance in front of the Mabini Municipal Hall to serve affected residents in the area.

While the services of PLDT,

Smart and Sun remained fully operational in the province, electricity was intermittent, and in some areas, cut off completely as several structures were damaged by the quake.

Engineers from Smart work to provide communications support for emergency operations in Mabini, Batangas.

LibrengTawag, Charging and Smart Padala services were also deployed in Tingloy Island, Batangas.

In coordination with the

Section I. Request for Expression of Interest Republic of the Philippines Office of the President

Consultancy Services for Retrofitting of Branch Office Buildings (Design Services)

2.

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) through the GSIS Corporate Operating Budget for CY 2017 intends to apply the sum of Six Million Pesos (Php6,000,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Consultancy Services for Retrofitting of Branch Office Buildings (Design Services). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of the financial proposals.

The GSIS now calls for the submission of eligibility documents for the structural retrofitting design of eight (8) GSIS Branch Office Buildings located at Dagupan, Laoag, Tacloban, Cebu, Bacolod, Roxas City, Cagayan de Oro and Davao. Bidders should have completed within the past fifteen (15) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, five (5) contracts similar to the Project. Eligibility documents of interested consultants must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat on or before 25 April 2017, 3:30PM at the GBAC Secretariat Office, Level 2 Core G, GSIS Building, Financial Center Pasay City. Applications for eligibility will be evaluated based on a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion.

The BAC shall draw up the short list of consultants from those who have submitted eligibility documents, and have been determined as eligible in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The short list shall consist of five (5) prospective bidders who will be entitled to submit bids. A consultant must get a total score of at least seventy percent (70%) to be included in the short list.

PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

PDEA Bldg., NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Barangay Pinyahan Quezon City 1100, Philippines www.pdea.gov.ph

Invitation to Bid forSupply of Labor and Materials for the Construction of PDEA Regional Office 8 Building 1.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), through the General Appropriations Act (GAA) Capital Outlay 2017intends to apply the sum of EIGHTEEN MILLION PESOS (Php18,000,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) for the Supply of Labor and Materials for the Construction of PDEA Regional Office 8. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) now invites bids for Supply of Labor and Materials for the Construction of PDEA Regional Office 8. Completion of the Works is required 240 working days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed.

Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in SECTION II Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least seventy-five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

The criteria and rating system for short listing are: Criteria Technical Capability 1.Qualifications of Technical Personnel 2.Completed Similar Projects 3.Consultancy Business (Experience) B. Financial Capability 1.Net Worth 2.Working Capital TOTAL

Breakdown of Weights

A.

Weight

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 AM to 4:00PM only.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested bidders on March 23, 2017 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Twenty-five Thousand pesos only (Php25,000.00).

80% 25% 20% 35% 20% 10% 10%

It may also be downloadedfree of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

100%

The Detailed Criteria for Short Listing Prospective Consultants is available as part of the Eligibility Data in the bidding documents.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the IRR of RA 9184.

4.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

5.

The GSIS shall evaluate bids using the Quality-Cost Based Evaluation/Selection (QCBE/QCBS) procedure. The Procuring Entity shall indicate the weights to be allocated for the Technical and Financial Proposals. The criteria and rating system for the evaluation of bids shall be provided in the Instructions to Bidders.

6.

The contract shall be completed within seventy five (75) calendar days for Phase 1 and seventy five (75) calendar days for Phase 2.

7.

The GSIS reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

8.

6.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on March 29, 2017 at 2:00PM at PDEA Main Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City 1100, which shall beopen to prospective bidders.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before April 11, 2017 at 2:00PM. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause Error!

Reference source not found..

Bid opening shall be on April 11, 2017 at 2:00PM at PDEA Main Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City 1100.Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat c/o Mr. Arvin E Sadullo or Ms. Jella P. Palacios at the PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon Cityfrom 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM only, Mondays to Fridays starting March 20, 2017at Tel No. (632)920-8082.

However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids.

For further information, please refer to:

9.

GBAC Secretariat GSIS Bids and Awards Committee GSIS Building Level 2 Core G, Financial Center, Pasay City Tel No.: (02) 976-4961 / 976-4945 / Fax No.: (02) 859-0373 Email Address: GBAC_Secretariat@gsis.gov.ph Website: http://www.gsis.gov.ph

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

10. For further information, please refer to:

(Sgd.) VP JONATHAN C. PINEDA Chairperson GBAC for Goods, Services and Consultancy–Cluster 2 (MS-APR. 12, 2017)

the Municipality of Calaca.

Both Shell and Phoenix are publicly listed entities whose shares are freely traded on the Philippine Stock Exchange.

The marine-fed liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) depot of South Pacific Inc., an independent locator at the Phoenix Petroterminals and Industrial Park in Calaca, was hit by a massive fire in February 2016 that forced the evacuation of nearby residents.

Two earthquakes measuring 6.0 and 5.6 occurred near the Municipality of Mabini in Batangas on April 8, according to the

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

The multiple tremors in Batangas and nearby parts of Luzon form part of a “swarm” that could last for days or even weeks, Science Undersecretary and Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said on ANC’s Dateline Philippines.

“The series of quakes in Batangas are all related as one fault system or one fault moving incrementally to generate succeeding or successive small seismic events,” Solidum said, adding that there may be more tremors in the days ahead.

Smart provides free services following Batangas quake

PASEGURUHAN NG MGA NAGLILINGKOD SA PAMAHALAAN (GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM) Financial Center, Pasay City, Metro Manila 1308

1.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Ms. Jella P. Palacios or Mr. Arvin E Sadullo PDEA-Logistics Management Service PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City Tel No. (632)920-8082 (Sgd.) JESUS A FAJARDO, MMOAS Deputy Director General for Administration Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee

Batangas Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and local government units, Smart also provided communication support and generator sets to aid response teams in their operations. The company also gave Wi-Fi access to the Office of Civil Defense’s Emergency Operations Center in Mabini.

Smart has also provided tents as temporary shelters for affected residents at the Batangas City community park.

In addition, Smart set up tents at the Batangas City community park to serve as temporary shelters for residents who needed to evacuate their homes in the aftermath of the earthquake.

“Smart recognizes the importance of communications as relief in times of calamities,” said Ramon R. Isberto, Smart public affairs head.

“Our LibrengTawag and Charging and Smart Padala services are ready for deployment to affected areas whenever the need arises.”

A resident of Mabini town in Batangas uses the services of Smart’s LibrengTawag station at the municipal hall.

Batangas Gov. Hermiland Mandanas, meanwhile, thanked Smart for the services rendered to the province.

“The Mabini and Batangas City LGUs extend their appreciation to all those who have made this possible.

Maraming salamat po.”

As part of its #SafePH advocacy, Smart promotes resiliency and timely response in times of calamities. The company has been on the forefront of disaster preparedness by striving to deliver immediate assistance through communications and technology, as well as relief aid.

Villar: PCC a model for farm tourism SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija—The Philippine Carabao Center in this city is the perfect template for showcasing farm tourism in the country, Senator Cynthia Villar said.

Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on agriculture who has worked for the passage of vital legislation and amendments to existing laws to complement farm tourism as a subsector of the tourism industry, said the PCC has its own carabao milk processing plant as well as an outlet where processed products are sold.

There are around 100 or more accredited and non-accredited farm-tourism sites in the country, ranging from micro, small, medium and large sizes.

Farm-tourism sites or farm camps help promote tourism and products of the area, especially those produced and manufactured by the rural industries, Villar said.

She also cited a report of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization which showed that 50 percent of the food supply globally is provided by smallholder-farmers and family farms.

“By 2050, when the population shall have reached nine billion, the smallholder-farmers will feed them,” she said.

Villar also noted that PCC could solve the problem of bulk importation of milk to meet local demand.

She urged PCC to partner with the Department of Social Welfare and Development to replicate its milk supplementation program in more provinces across the country.

Under the program, carabao’s milk from PCC-assisted dairy farmers are provided to day care children for 120 days.

“This program solves two of our country’s major problems— poverty [among dairy farmers] and malnutrition (among children),” Villar said. Ferdie G. Domingo

(MS-APR.12, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017

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Syria set to dominate G7 meeting L UCCA, Italy―Syria is set to dominate Tuesday’s meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Italy, with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson under the spotlight before he heads to Moscow, the key ally of President Bashar alAssad.

LAST RESPECTS. A woman pays her last tribute to poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko during a farewell ceremony at the Central House of Writers in

Moscow on April 11, 2017. Soviet Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko, who died on March 31, 2017, at the age of 84, was feted at home and abroad for non-conformism during the post-Stalinist thaw, but dismayed many by later becoming a pillar of the Soviet regime. AFP

IN BRIEF

Official demoted for not smoking BEIJING―A Chinese official who allegedly declined to smoke in front of Muslims in Xinjiang has been demoted for taking an “unstable political stance,” a staterun newspaper reported Tuesday.

Xinjiang, home to China’s Muslim Uighur ethnic minority, restricts religious practices―such as growing beards, wearing head scarves, and fasting during Ramadan―that are seen as symbols of “Islamic extremism”.

A notice from the Hotan district government over the weekend accused Jelil Matniyaz, a villagelevel secretary for the ruling Communist party in the far-western region, of being afraid to smoke before religious figures.

“His behavior of ‘not daring’ to smoke conforms with extreme religious thought in Xinjiang,” a local official told the Global Times newspaper.

He added that a dutiful party member would choose to smoke in front of religious believers in order to demonstrate his or her commitment to secularism. AFP

7 killed in construction site collapse MEXICO CITY―At least seven people died and 10 were injured in Mexico City after a collapse at a construction site for a multi-story parking garage, officials from the mayor’s office said.

The accident took place Monday afternoon when many workers were in the area, which forms part of a building site for a shopping center.

“There was a flaw in the construction process,” the director of the capital’s civil protection service, Fausto Lugo, told Televisa television, also confirming the death toll.

The accident took place after a heavy load was placed incorrectly, he said, adding that the local prosecutor’s office had opened an investigation.

It caused a collapse from the third-floor level to the basement, according to reports. AFP

Washington has warned Damascus that further use of chemical weapons could bring fresh US military retaliation, following missile strikes against a Syrian air field.

The United States on Friday fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at the Shayrat air base near Homs, which the Pentagon said Assad’s jets had used to launch a deadly chemical attack on rebel-held Idlib province that killed at least 87 civilians.

Washington’s missile strike was the first time it had intervened directly against the regime of Assad, who is fighting a civil war with the backing of Russia and Iran.

Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, who is hosting the Group of Seven talks in Lucca, will convene a special meeting on Syria early Tuesday, which will also include Turkey, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Qatar.

Italian media said the aim was “to avert a dangerous military escalation”.

Alfano has already spoken by telephone with his Iranian counterpart, asking him to use his influence on the Syrian regime to avoid further attacks on civilians.

The G7 ministers said Monday they aimed to send a “clear and coordinated message” to Moscow, where Tillerson is due to hold talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

At the outset of the gathering, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson described Assad as “toxic” and said it was “time for (Russian President) Vladimir Putin to face the truth about the tyrant he is propping up”.

Washington Monday again warned Assad’s regime not to carry out any more chemical attacks as it said the missile strike had

destroyed a fifth of the Damascus regime’s remaining warplanes.

“The United States will not passively stand by while Assad murders innocent people with chemical weapons, which are prohibited by international law and which were declared destroyed,” Pentagon chief James Mattis said in a statement.

“The Syrian government would be ill-advised ever again to use chemical weapons,” he added.

Mattis’s warning came as White House spokesman Sean Spicer appeared to lower the threshold for new US action against Assad to include barrel bombs, a crude yet hugely destructive weapon of choice for the Syrian leader.

“If you gas a baby or drop a barrel bomb onto innocent people, you will see a response from” President Donald Trump, Spicer said.

But US officials later walked back Spicer’s remarks. “Nothing has changed in our posture,” a senior administration official said.

“As the president has repeatedly made clear, he will not be telegraphing his military responses,” the official said.

Trump discussed Syria during separate telephone calls Monday with British Prime Minister Theresa May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

May and Merkel “expressed support for the action of the United States and agreed with President Trump on the importance of holding Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accountable,” the White House said in a statement.

Downing Street said Trump and May had “agreed that a window of opportunity now exists in which to persuade Russia that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest.” AFP

Pyongyang vows response to US Navy move SEOUL―North Korea denounced the US deployment of a naval strike group to the region Tuesday, warning it is ready for “war” as Washington tightens the screws on the nuclear-armed state.

The strike group―which includes the Nimitz-class aircraft super carrier USS Carl Vinson―canceled a planned trip to Australia this weekend to head to the Korean peninsula in a show of force.

“This goes to prove that the US reckless moves for invading the DPRK have reached a serious phase,” a spokesman for the North’s foreign ministry said

according to state news agency KCNA. “The DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US,” he said, using the country’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

President Donald Trump, fresh from ordering a missile strike on Syria that was widely interpreted as a warning to North Korea, has asked his advisers for a range of options to rein in Pyongyang, a top US official said Sunday.

Trump has previously threatened unilateral action against Pyongyang if China―the North’s sole major ally―fails to help curb

its neighbor’s nuclear weapons ambitions.

But Pyongyang’s response suggested the reclusive state is determined to continue on its current path, despite repeated rounds of United Nations sanctions.

“We will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs in order to defend ourselves by powerful force of arms,” the foreign ministry spokesman said.

“We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions.”

Speculation over an imminent nuclear test is brewing as the North

marks anniversaries including the 105th birthday of its late founding leader on Saturday―sometimes celebrated with a demonstration of military might.

The South’s prime minister and acting president warned Tuesday of a “grave provocation” by the North to coincide with other anniversaries, including the April 25 foundation day for its army.

“There is a possibility that the North launches more grave provocations such as another nuclear test to mark a number of anniversaries,” Hwang Kyo-Ahn said in a cabinet meeting.

The current surge in tensions

also coincided with the scheduled gathering Tuesday of the North’s parliament, which meets once or twice a year to rubber-stamp budgets or overhaul state organs and personnel.

The last meeting was held in June 2016 when the leader Kim Jong-Un was elected chairman of a new, supreme governing commission-underlining his absolute control over state policy.

Pyongyang is on a quest to develop a long-range missile capable of hitting the US mainland with a nuclear warhead, and has so far staged five nuclear tests, two of them last year. AFP

Indonesian graft prober injured in acid attack JAKARTA―A prominent Indonesian corruption investigator had acid thrown in his face by motorbike-riding assailants Tuesday in an attack activists believe is linked to a graft case that has implicated senior politicians.

Novel Baswedan, a member of the official Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), was being treated in hospital after the attack which happened in Jakarta as he walked home from a mosque in the early hours following morning prayers in the Muslim nation.

“It is a brutal act, I strongly condemn it,” said President Joko Widodo, urging the police to track down the assailants.

Presidential spokesman Johan Budi, who visited Baswedan in hospital, gave details of the attack, telling AFP the investigator had injuries on his forehead and blurred vision in his left eye.

Anti-graft investigators in Indonesia, one of the world’s most corrupt countries, have been targeted in the past and have reported having cars driven at them and receiving threats.

It was not immediately clear

who was behind the latest assault but anti-graft NGO Indonesian Corruption Watch said they suspected it was linked to Baswedan’s role in probing a corruption scandal that allegedly saw about $170 million pilfered from government coffers.

The investigation is being led by the KPK. Senior politicians, including the justice minister and ex-interior minister, have been implicated in the scandal, with investigators alleging they were among many who received kickbacks from funds earmarked for a government project to issue new ID cards.

Parliament speaker Setya Novanto, who has been implicated in the case, was late Monday hit with a six-month ban on traveling outside Indonesia, said immigration authorities. Such a step is usually taken in Indonesia when people are under investigation.

Indonesia was ranked 90th out of 176 countries and territories in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index last year. A number one ranking represents the least corrupt. AFP

APPEAL. This file photo taken on July 21, 2007, in Paris shows a man riding a ‘Velib’ bicycle.

JCDecaux/SNCF/RATP group lodged an appeal against Paris’ decision to contract the French startup Smoovengo to retake the “Velib” bike-sharing system in Paris, AFP reported on April 11, 2017. AFP

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017

World

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. An Iranian man holds his country’s national flag at the interior ministry’s election headquarters as candidates begin to sign up for the coming presidential elections in Tehran on April 11, 2017. AFP

Whales’ feeding habits revealed SYDNEY―Whale cams have revealed the secret feeding habits of the giant mammals in frozen Antarctica, details on their social lives, and even how they must blow hard to clear sea ice to breathe.

Scientists attached tiny cameras and electronic tags to humpbacks to better understand what they do underwater as they study how shrinking sea ice caused by warming sea temperatures linked to climate change may impact them.

“Once we have an idea about where the whales feed, how often, where they go and rest, we can use this to inform policy and management to protect these whales and their ecosystem,” leading whale scientist Ari Friedlaender said Tuesday.

The Australian Antarctic Division-led team said the information helped determine how the abundance of their main food, krill, affected the feeding success of whales.

It also added to their understanding of how any change in krill population due to climate change, commercial fishing, or ocean acidification, may impact whales in the future.

“We have some wonderful data on different feeding strategies from rolling lunges near the surface, to bubble net feeding, to deep foraging dives lunging through dense patches of krill,” said Friedlaender.

“We have been able to show that whales spend a great deal of time during the days socializing and resting and then feeding largely throughout the evening and night time.”

The cameras were attached by suction cups to each whale for between 24 and 48 hours before they fell off and were retrieved and reused.

WWF-Australia, which help fund the cameras, said the work was about enabling habitats to become more resilient and thrive in the future.

“Growing human impacts such as climate change and increasing krill fishing overlapping in their critical feeding areas need to be managed carefully,” said Chris Johnson, WWF-Australia ocean science manager.

The Antarctic remains one of the world’s last wild frontiers, containing some of the most pristine marine ecosystems left on the planet. AFP

US official quits over sex scandal WASHINGTON―The governor of the conservative southern US state of Alabama resigned Monday, shortly after lawmakers began impeachment proceedings linked to his affair with a senior aide that was made public in humiliating detail.

Robert Bentley, 74, pleaded guilty in an agreement with prosecutors on Monday to two misdemeanor campaign violations and is barred from seeking public office again.

“I have spent the last year in deep and earnest prayer over our state and our people. I pray every morning for wisdom and guidance and forgiveness for the sins I have committed,” the former dermatologist and church deacon told a news conference announcing his resignation, never directly acknowledging his romantic relationship with 45-year-old political adviser Rebekah Caldwell Mason.

The relationship between Bentley and his married aide became a topic of speculation in 2015, when his wife of 50 years, Dianne, abruptly filed for divorce.

The scandal broke last spring when the state’s top police officer―fired by Bentley―provided the news organization AL.com with salacious details of the secret romance.

The media outlet reported on a 2014 phone conversation between Bentley and a woman he called Rebekah that was secretly captured by Dianne Bentley.

“When I stand behind you, and I put my arms around you, and I put my hands on your breasts, and I put my hands (unintelligible) and just pull you real close. I love that, too,” the governor is heard

saying.

“Baby, let me know what I am going to do when I start locking the door,” he said during another part of the tape.

“If we are going to do what we did the other day, we are going to have to start locking the door.”

Last week, an impeachment investigation report prepared for the Alabama House Judiciary Committee said Bentley tried to cover up the affair “in a process characterized by increasing obsession and paranoia.”

“To ensure the silence of his staff, Governor Bentley encouraged an atmosphere of intimidation,” it added. “Concern over the recordings appears to have become an obsession.”

The report revealed that Bentley once opened the door of his hotel room in Washington clad in boxer shorts, thinking Mason was the other side when it was actually hotel staff.

On the same trip in 2014, Dianne Bentley attended a group dinner with her husband and Mason, and saw the text messages he was sending his mistress while seated next to his wife, including “I can’t take my eyes off of you.”

Bentley once mistakenly sent his wife a text message that said, “I love you Rebekah,” accompanied by a red-rose emoji.

Dianne Bentley was able to access other text messages sent by her husband because he had given her his state-issued iPad, not realizing texts from his iPhone would show up on her tablet because the devices were linked.

As part of his plea deal, Bentley must surrender $37,000 in campaign funds and perform 100 hours of community service. AFP

Amnesty: China remains world’s top executioner B

EIJING―China executed more people last year than the rest of the world combined, Amnesty said Tuesday, defying a global decline with thousands of killings that have disproportionately targeted poor citizens.

WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY. Italian President Sergio Mattarella, right, attends a wreath-laying ceremony to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow on April 11, 2017, during an official visit to Russia. AFP

Internet outcry over United passenger fiasco BEIJING-China social media users were in an uproar Tuesday over viral footage of a Chinese-American man dragged off an overbooked United Airlines flight, decrying perceived racism and calling for a boycott.

The videos taken by fellow passengers and posted to Twitter showed the man being forcibly pulled screaming from his seat by three security personnel.

Twitter―along with other Western websites such as Facebook and Googleis blocked on the mainland by the country’s ruling Communist Party, which fears the unregulated spread of information it deems politically sensitive.

But footage of the Sunday showdown on the flight from Chicago to Louis-

ville, Kentucky, was reposted to China’s Twitter-like Sina Weibo, where the subject quickly became the top trending topic, garnering over 120 million views and 80,000 comments―many of them highly nationalistic in tone.

“Shameless! We won’t forgive them.

Ethnic Chinese around the world please boycott United Airlines!” wrote one commentator.

“There is a long history of discrimination against Asians. I hope Chinese people realize this reality and support domestic products,” another user opined.

“Don’t feed those who look down on us!”

It is a common sentiment among many mainlanders to view ethnic Chinese living abroad-even those with no

ties to China―as compatriots.

United Airlines claims itself to be the biggest carrier to China, with more nonstop US-China flights and to more Chinese cities than any other airline, according to their website.

The company did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment, but its CEO Oscar Munoz apologized for “having to re-accomodate” customers such as the Chinese-American man, who was being contacted directly to resolve the situation.

“Asian American or not, as a consumer who paid for his ticket, he was treated like a prisoner,” one Weibo commenter said. “Things are better here at home.” AFP

Even as executions have dropped by more than a third globally, China’s death penalty rate is “shockingly high” although the full extent of the secretive practice is unknown, Amnesty International said.

While President Xi Jinping’s much-hyped corruption crackdown has seen many high-ranking figures sent to jail, their death sentences have often been commuted.

Meanwhile, ordinary people caught in the cross-hairs of the law have not been so lucky, it said.

Farmers were more frequently sentenced to death than any other group in China, Amnesty said in a report that sought to lift the veil on the workings of the system.

China’s ruling Communist Party regards execution figures as a state secret, meaning that hundreds of death sentences are omitted from the public database of court verdicts.

“China is really the only country that has such a complete regime of secrecy over executions,” Amnesty’s East Asia director Nicholas Bequelin said at a press conference in Hong Kong.

“Probably the reason is the numbers are shockingly high”, he added.

Although local media reports estimated that at least 931 individuals were executed between 2014 and 2016, only 85 of them were found in the online database, Amnesty said.

Estimates from other rights groups also puts the number of annual executions in China in the thousands.

From arrest to execution, the process is characterized by secrecy and speed: a 2016 report from US-based Dui Hua Foundation said China’s average death row prisoner waits only two months before being executed.

Dui Hua estimates that there were approximately 2,000 executions in China in 2016, down from 2,400 in 2013 and some 4,000 in 2010―following legal reforms that improved oversight.

Concerns over wrongful convictions have grown in recent years, fueled by police reliance on forced confessions and the lack of effective defense in criminal trials.

Chinese courts have a conviction rate of 99.92 percent.

The nation’s top judge, Zhou Qiang, apologized in 2015 for past miscarriages of justice, saying: “We feel deep remorse for wrongful convictions”.

Public anger has mounted over miscarriages of justice, including a high-profile case that saw a teenager in Inner Mongolia wrongfully convicted and executed for rape and murder in 1996. AFP

Life

China CojuangcoGonzales

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

FASHION & BEAUTY

Lou Munoz

Ladies in

Levi’s share empowering stories

Levi’s Jeans tapped five women who are successful in their respective field to share stories about their favorite Levi’s jeans, how they are able to assert themselves, and their secret to achieving success in their life.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017

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N celebrating Women’s Month this year, Levi’s presents successful women to share stories, life hacks, their very own Levi’s experiences, and how the brand empowers them to perform their daily tasks and fulfill their long-term goals.

These outstanding female achievers from different industries—host and chef China Cojuangco-Gonzales, model Lou Muñoz, celebrity chef and restaurateur Jackie Laudico, actress and humanitarian Antonette Taus, and sought-after makeup artist and breast cancer awareness advocate Pong Niu—relate how important fashion is to their lifestyles.

For instance, Cojuangco-Gonzales, who admits that her life changed when she embraced motherhood, says she values comfort and flexibility when it comes to clothing.

She says, “To be honest, I’ve gained a lot of weight since I became a mother and worked as a chef—which doesn’t help at all. I like to wear something that keeps me comfortable and helps me move freely, without being too conscious about my size at the moment.”

Laudico, who spends most of her time in the kitchen, explains that the times have made fashion more relevant for people in her industry.

“At present, there’s what you call celebrity chefs, so people want to meet the personalities behind the food. This makes us more aware of the need to be well-dressed and well-presented all the time,” she adds.

Taus, who runs humanitarian projects and organizations like Hashtag Lunchbox PH and CORA (Communities Organized for Resource Allocation) Cares, affirms that when it comes to fashion, comfort is the most important factor. “I do not want to be in pain for fashion, but I also believe in looking good, being presentable, and dressing appropriately.”

Taus discloses jeans have played a huge role in her aim at looking and feeling good. “Since I straddle the entertainment and humanitarian fields, I literally run from one event to another. My life lately has been me living in jeans. But then, even when I was younger, I was always a jeans girl.”

Ladies living in Levi’s

Antonette Taus

On jeans, these ladies agree that Levi’s has always been their most trusted brand.

“Levi’s gets me through my day, both in style and in comfort, which goes hand in hand for me,” Muñoz happily reveals.

Niu, meanwhile, asserts that (a pair of) Levi’s jeans greatly help her perform all her daily tasks. “‘Yung work ko kasi, kailangan on-the-go ka. I have to run here and there while being comfortable. Being in Levi’s jeans, with its high-quality material, talagang pasok na pasok siya sa activities ko and sa lifestyle ko.”

Laudico appreciates how Levi’s has always been an expert, “not just in fit but also in technological innovations, fabrics and finishes, and in making women feel good.”

The celebrity chef even shares her very own “live in Levi’s” story, recalling that her first pair of Levi’s belonged to chef Lau—it was his high school jeans. “Of course, because it was a Levi’s 501, he had kept it all those years. One day, he gave it to me. I loved it so much. It was basically my boyfriend jeans way before there were actually boyfriend jeans. That was my favorite pair of jeans. It was so sturdy—it lasted for 15 years.”

Go-to Levi’s pair

Antonette Taus Jackie Laudico

Eggs-traordinary Easter toys and treats MANY cherished Easter traditions highlight the Christian celebration of Christ’s resurrection, as well as the coming of spring.

Easter eggs and chicks symbolize new life. Eggs have been a symbol of spring since ancient times, and are also symbols of the rock tomb out of which Christ emerged when he rose again.

The chick hatching out of the egg symbolizes new life or rebirth.

In ancient times, the rabbit was a symbol of abundant new life. It is said that the Easter bunny first arrived in America in the 1700s with European settlers in Pennsylvania who brought with them their tradition of an egg laying hare called “Osterhase.”

Toy Kingdom offers a variety of cute and colorful toys, treats, and gifts for kids this Easter, such as this bunny with eggs in a pail

Later on, the tradition spread across America and started to include chocolates, candies, gifts and decorated baskets in egg, chick, and bunny shapes.

Today, many families around the world celebrate Easter with Sunday Mass and lots of sweet treats for kids, including fun egg hunts.

At SM, Toy Kingdom and Snack Exchange has eggs-traordinary and amazing toys, treats, gifts, and surprises for kids of all ages.

Hop on to Snack Exchange for delightful Kinder Joy and Zaini milk chocolate eggs that come with a sweet surprise toy inside, Dutche Easter baskets filled with chocolates and pastel colored eggs, as well as scroll lollipops, hard egg candies and candy fruit surprise eggs.

There’s also so much more fun and egg-citement at Toy Kingdom where girls can play the part with pretty pastel-colored bunny ears headbands, or find a new friend with the store’s collection of cute plush bunnies. It’s the best place to collect colorful eggs during your Easter egg hunting and make sure to have your delightful pails overflowing with eggs and surprises.

Make your Easter eggs-traordinary and egg-citing this year with these toys and treats at SM Snack Exchange and Toy Kingdom Express outlets at The SM Store. These are also available at Toy Kingdom stores in most SM Supermalls. For more updates, check out www.thesmtore.com and Snack Exchange Facebook account: i crave: snack exchange. Also visit and follow ToyKingdomPH and toykingdom.ph for more treats and surprises.

The lovely ladies also have their favorite Levi’s jeans.

For Cojuangco-Gonzales, it is the 311 Skinny of the shaping collection. “This pair makes me look thin, lengthens my legs, hides my tummy, and lifts my butt. I can cook with it, and I can kneel, sit, and basically do any movement that I want still feeling comfortable and beautiful.”

Muñoz pitches for the Levi’s 711 Skinny. “It lies just above your hips,” she tells ladies. “Your muffin tops won’t show.”

For Taus, the journey of finding the right pair of jeans has been difficult, Pong Niu but Levi’s led her to “the one.”

“Everybody is born with a set of unique gifts and traits. If you combine your life experiences with those gifts, you basically find the recipe for your own destiny. It’s unique for every individual. Finding the best jeans for you is exactly like that. With me, it’s definitely the 710 Skinny, because it just fits in all the right places,” she says.

On why Levi’s is her favorite brand, Niu said, “Because of Levi’s soft fabric, I can easily move. It elongates my short legs, accentuates my hips, and gives shape to my behind. It gives me so much comfort when I take care of my kids and do my work.”

On empowering women

When asked by Levi’s to share advice on how to succeed in life, these remarkable women are generous with

their tips.

Cojuangco-Gonzales claims that the secret is to do what you love while thinking of your future. “There are some people you will encounter in your life na sasabihin na you don’t have to be happy with what you do as long as you have money. This is something I fiercely oppose from the very beginning, kasi syempre, your passion has to be your number one, and then comes your income.”

She adds, “You can follow your dreams and also think of your future. You have to make sure that you will be able to sustain your lifestyle.”

Muñoz, meanwhile, reminds ladies to be contented and be responsible. “For me, success is contentment. You have to be fine with what you have. To be confident in your own skin and be socially responsible—that’s very important.”

Taus stresses on the importance of believing in yourself, and fighting for what you believe in. “I insist that nobody should have a reason to think that they’re not strong enough or not man enough.

If you believe in what you think is good and true in your heart, and you believe that you have a special set of gifts to fight for what you stand for, then that’s your path.”

Finally, Niu, who is also a breast cancer awareness advocate, advises women to trust in the Lord.

“Pray and have a deep connection with the Lord.

Remember Psalm 119:50: “My comfort in my suffering is this. Your promise preserves my life.”

“It sounds like a cliché, but it’s really the Lord we hang on to. We get our strength from the Lord.”

Life

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

Flavors

of Summer Aquazzura Monaco Sandal in peony pink

Bugatti Zebra Flatware Collection

Neck and Neck Green Dress

R

USTAN’S welcomes the dry season (or what is commonly referred to by Filipinos as summer) packed with exciting activities and promos for everyone looking for the hottest offerings. Get a taste of the latest and freshest picks of the season with Rustan’s cool summer collection.

OHW Blaze Stone

For the ladies

Delight in the sweet prints and patterns of quality and comfortable swimwear from Maaji, Onia, and Seafolly. Dress to impress with the elegant beach kaftans and dresses from Lily Pulitzer and Natori. Add a touch of sparkle and shine to make a statement this season with magnificent pieces from Damiani and Tiffany & Co. Nights always need stylish staples, just like the exquisite handbags of Fendi, Loewe ,and Longchamp. Pair these up with, sky-high heels or colorful shoes from Christian Louboutin, Aquazurra, Sergio Rossi, and Kurt Geiger.

For men

Comfort is key when it comes to surviving the hot days of the season. Embrace bright shades of blue, red, and yellow polos and pique shirts from KCA, Hackett, Faconnable, and Pedro Del Hierro. These brands also offer a wonderful selection of light jackets, longsleeves and easy, tailored pants perfect for summer evening parties. OHW, OLI13, and Allen Edmonds will perfectly complement any summer outfit with their stylish and comfortable footwear selections.

For kids

No one probably has more fun than the kids during this time of year. Savor the sun in fun colorful outfits by Neck and Neck, Kiddos, Rustan Jr. and Rustanette. Let the children enjoy their time playing and learning either indoors or outdoors with awesome toys from Crayola, Shopkins, and Sunny Patch by Melissa & Doug.

For the home

Spruce up the home with beautiful unique decor pieces from Goebel and Lalique.

Add a touch of color to the dining table with emerald hued Andre House glasses; stunning dinnerware from Bernardaud, Kahla and Kate Spade New York. Bring elegance of the warm summer nights to the dinner table with the beautiful Mood by Christofle, now available in rose gold.

Hottest buzz

Get more fashion inspirations this season.

An afternoon of play and discovery will sure to delight the kids on April 16 as Rustan’s celebrates its Easter Island Party at Rustan’s Makati and Rustan’s Alabang.

Get up close and personal with designer Criselda Lontok, as she discusses new fashion trends and dishes out timeless style tips 4-6 p.m. on April 19. Lady Rustan and Luna designer Pia Hebron and Jill’s designer Jojie Lloren will also host private consultations in Rustan’s Makati, Alabang, Shangri-La, Gateway, Cebu.

This season, Rustan’s lets you celebrate the bright summer days in the most exciting ways. With Rustan’s Summer Flavors, There is definitely something that will fit your taste.

For more information, visit www.rustans.com.ph or Rustan’s Makati, Shangri-la, Gateway, Alabang, and Cebu.

Celebrate 20 years of Living Deeper TECHNOMARINE is celebrating 20 years of merging the art of horological innovation with spirited design, and remains the favorite of celebrities and fashionistas around the world. Launched in 1997, TechnoMarine revolutionized the watch industry with introduction of oversized chronograph for women, as well as a collection with interchangeable, transparent strap and cases in fashion colors with diamonds of impressive carat weights.

To celebrate its 20 sparkling years, TechnoMarine gives you a chance to live deeper and be one with nature this summer by offering 30 percent discount on selected watch collections until April 16.

What better way to spend summer than enjoying the sun, sand and sea with TechnoMarine’s Cruise and Reef Collections featuring fashionable yet tough timepieces that perfectly matches the season’s fun and active lifestyle.

The Cruise Collection is designed for adventure on land or by the sea. Each timepiece in the collection exhibits a personality all its own. Dream Cruise features a bold and fun design which is directly inspired by the ocean’s marine life, while the Cruise Jellyfish sports one of the brand’s classic styles and is one of TechnoMarine’s best-selling designs.

On the other hand, TechnoMarine’s Reef Collection is distinct for its fearless components in design that reflect the optimum inner workings of each model. Rugged but stylish, the Reef collection is made from lightweight yet durable titanium and is a versatile companion for rough play or a romantic dinner-by-the-beach.

There is no better time to embrace what the season has to offer than by celebrating with the cool sophistication of TechnoMarine watches this summer.

TechnoMarine celebrates its 20th anniversary with 30 percent discount on selected timepiece collections

Avail of the special TechnoMarine anniversary discount at TechnoMarine boutiques at SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, SM City Cebu, SM Lanang Premier, Trinoma, Greenbelt 3, Robinson’s Galleria, Robinson’s Magnolia, and all MyDiamond boutiques nationwide.

New youth T-shirt collection worldwide

Uniqlo and Discovery Consumer Products team up to offer a line of Discovery Channel-branded unisex T-shirts featuring animals, space, and dinosaurs designs

DISCOVERY Consumer Products, the licensing arm of Discovery Communications (DCI), and Uniqlo, a brand of Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., collaborated on a brand new collection of unisex youth T-shirts embodying Discovery Channel’s spirit of curiosity.

This marks the first global partnership between Uniqlo and Discovery Consumer Products and is supported with a comprehensive, worldwide digital marketing campaign, in-store promotion, and cross promotion between the two brands.

The T-shirts are available online at Uniqlo.com and at Uniqlo retail locations in Australia, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Canada, the US, Europe and Russia, beginning this month.

“Uniqlo is recognized for their out-of-the-box approach to fashion and their highly creative and innovative designs make them a perfect fit for the adventurous nature of the Discovery Channel brand,” said Leigh Anne Brodsky, executive vice president, Discovery Global Enterprises, DCI. “Its unique UT approach brings Discovery’s mission of inspiring curiosity that will appeal to girls and boys as well as their parents.”

The new collection introduces a line of Discovery Channel-branded unisex youth shirts spanning the

genres that spur curiosity like animals, space, and dinosaurs.

The marketing campaign supporting the new Discovery Channel collection is tailored specifically to reach a global, family-focused audience.

Stop motion videos and animated GIFs also featuring a dance music soundtrack will be distributed on popular social media platforms reaching parents across the world including Facebook, Line in Japan, and WeChat in China.

In Malaysia, Children and adults will be transported and immersed in time, space and story with the latest experiences from Discovery Virtual Reality (VR). DCI will also drive awareness around the line on their platforms and there will be in-store support and promotion on Uniqlo.com.

The Uniqlo Discovery Channel UT is available from P390.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017

J

UST as easily as they party, Filipinos find an excuse to dance – for leisure or entertainment – as a manifestation of worship or as a social valve for relationships.

For this year’s Aliwan Fiesta – the annual cultural extravaganza organized by Manila Broadcasting Company and the Cultural Center of the Philippines in cooperation with the cities of Manila and Pasay – dance in its myriad forms once more takes center stage, as interpreted in the festival context by contingents from various regions all over the country Banhayan of Muntinlupa, an annual thanksgiving festival held on the feast of St. Nicholas of Tolentine will represent Metro Manila.

Antipolo, home to the provincial capitol of Rizal, will present Tayo na sa Antipolo Maytime festival, promoting its products and honoring its patroness – Our lady of Peace and Good Voyage.

From the Cordillera Administrative Region, Baguio City showcases its myriad blooms for which Panagbenga has become immensely popular.

Alicia, Isabela, which used to be known as the town of Angadanan, will feature its Balitok ti Alicia, highlighting the town’s role as premier producer of the golden palay.

The town of Dolores, Quezon, which lies at the foot of mystic Mt. Banahaw, will send their Hambujan dancers to depict the Niyogyugan festival, celebrating the coconut industry, which has sustained the province through generations.

Iloilo, in turn, fields the highly acclaimed Dinagyang Festival,

More MindBlowing Illusions

Tribu Katbalaugan of Samar joins in the weeklong festivity at Aliwan Fiesta

Top regional entries in 2017

ALIWAN FIESTA

Streetdance Competition which features the aboriginal tribes’ offering to the Infant Jesus.

Debuting this year are the Manggahan festival of Guimaras and the Cinco de Noviembre of Bago City, Negros Occidental.

Defending champion Manaragat festival of Catbalogan City goes for a three-peat with its stylized merging of cultural nuances and ecological preservation.

The Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao fields three entries – Parang’s Padang Padang harvest festival, Datu Piang’s Inaul festival, and Upi’s Meguyaya.

Rounding up this year’s festival dance competition is the contingent from Sarangani, which will present the Timpuyog festival, where Lumads, Muslims, and Christians alike gather to preserve and propagate

their cultural heritage.

Now on its 15th year, Aliwan Fiesta will be held from April 20 to 22, opening with a three-day Shoppers Bazaar along Sotto Street, where provincial goods will be sold at bargain prices, Tugtog ng Aliwan, featuring a rhythm competition among the music ensembles of the different contingents, the Reyna ng Aliwan pageant night, and the grand culminating parade

Dream big, DANCE Young ballerinas can hone their skills this summer through Halili-Cruz School of Dance ballet programs

SCHOOL is out, but that doesn’t mean kids have to stop learning or being creative.

Summer vacation is fast approaching.

It’s that time of the year when we want our kids to enhance their skills and talents, to learn something new and continue to grow by enrolling them in summer classes.

It will not only keep them busy, but also foster new friendships and continuously develop their talents as well.

Imagine a total of 1600 sqm of studio space, well-established ballet syllabus, highly experienced and award winning teachers, and an atmosphere that is filled with love and passion for dance.

The Halili-Cruz School of Dance (HCSD), with Artistic Director Shirley Halili Cruz

and Associate Directors Grace Perez and Anna Halili Cruz Bueno, has lined up different dance courses for the kids and the kids at heart which they can take up this summer – Halili-Cruz School of Ballet for classical ballet and the Halili-Cruz Conservatory for jazz, hip hop, tap, lyrical and contemporary.

All the dance courses offered are syllabus based. To enhance the students’ capabilities, HCSD invited guest teachers from Russia and England to conduct master classes during this intensive summer dance program.

The courses offered in this summer intensive will surely open doors to remarkable new possibilities for learning. It

would definitely help the students to dance, move, act, imagine and realize.

The summer dance workshop will run until May 20 and will culminate with a concert entitled Summer Dance Divertissement 2017 at Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila on May 27.

For inquiries, you may contact 09178880102 and 09199970970 or send email to halilicruzballet@gmail.com or visit www.halilicruzballet.com or its Main Studio at 1227 Quezon Avenue, Quezon City.

The Halili-Cruz School of Dance also offers summer ballet classes at St. Pedro Poveda College until May 18; Miriam College (April 18 – May 18); The School Room, Ortigas (until May 18).

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, April 12, 2017

ACROSS 1 Opposite of barked 7 TDs are worth 6 10 Stooped down 14 Claim 15 Dinny’s rider 16 Field of study 17 Slings mud at 18 Jazz trombonist — Winding 19 Comes apart 20 Subtle menace (2 wds.)

23 Portfolio item 26 Uh cousins 27 Grocery section 28 Alexander’s phenomenon 29 Holds 30 Take the title 31 Bikini half 32 U.K. fliers 33 Big rodeo town 37 Lout 38 Hail, to Caesar 39 Lime cooler 40 Estuary 41 Made a dull noise 43 Composer — Rorem 44 Tavern 45 Drei less zwei 46 Opposite of norte 47 Catch some rays

48 Defendants’ answers 51 “Arabian Nights” bird 52 Ozone and radon 53 Momentous 56 Viking letter 57 Keystone — 58 Keep your place (hyph.)

62 Lyric poems 63 Helmsman’s dir.

64 Surface 65 Tree house?

66 Single no more 67 Entered traffic DOWN 1 More, to Pedro 2 “Nightmare” street 3 Pamplona yell 4 Zigzagged 5 White heron 6 Mr. Arnaz 7 Hearth tools 8 Warty jumpers 9 Hiss 10 Except 11 Iroquois speakers 12 View from Everest 13 Preference 21 Riffled through 22 Rained hard?

23 Prior’s superior 24 Vaughan or Miles 25 Foul-up 29 Refuge 30 Fisherman’s boot 32 Dashing 33 Vancouver puckster 34 Diva’s tunes 35 Hair tint 36 Reb’s foes 42 Least sloppy 46 Lathered

47 Supermarket employee 48 Evita or Juan 49 Summa cum — 50 Ocean fliers 51 Geneva’s river 52 Elf cousin 54 Misrepresent 55 Footnote word 59 Joule fraction 60 Time period 61 Blushing

traversing Roxas Boulevard from Quirino Grandstand to the Aliw Theater at the CCP Complex.

For inquiries, call 832-6125 or email siouxstar@gmail.com; for updates, log onto www. aliwanfiesta.org.ph or like the official Facebook page.

STREET magician and illusionist David Blaine brings back his unique brand of magic in his latest TV show David Blaine: Beyond Magic.

Three years after his last television event, Real or Magic, Blaine embarks on another of his escapades as he performs a new set of unbelievable tricks for many of his favorite entertainers.

This time, Blaine gets the worldwide attention he deserves as he once again baffles his audience through some of the most mindboggling and even deathdefying stunts he has never done before, eliciting all kinds of reactions – from amazing to hysterical – from A-list celebrities, including Margot Robbie, Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone, David Beckham, Johnny Depp, John Travolta, Patrick Stewart, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, among others.

This latest performance has pushed Blaine’s limits further beyond human comprehension that defy explanation as he expertly shows how magic can be raised to a whole new level of disbelief and amazement.

David Blaine: Beyond Magic premieres 9 p.m. on April 16 on AXN.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com

Ayala Malls and Globe executives

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017

M

OVIE dates are better as Ayala Malls Cinemas and Globe Telecom jointly made SureSeats.com, Ayala Malls Cinemas’ online movie information, ticket reservation, and purchase website, more accessible, thanks to Globe’s Gmovies. With the new SureSeats-optimized for mobile, tablet, or desktop view-the booking process is streamlined through lesser clicks, faster steps, and easier access to movie schedules. It gives its moviegoers a quicker and better way of getting seats and tickets whenever and wherever.

Ayala Malls Cinemas and Globe’s partnership were celebrated with friends from the movie and media industry— including soughtafter stars, personalities, a n d influencers— on March 16 in the exclusive Prohibition Lounge at Greenbelt.

Ayala and Globe – Bobby O. Dy, CEO of Ayala Land;

Watching a movie?

Try SureSeats.com From left: Rolly Duenas, Dion Asencio, and Francis Soliven

Enchong Dee

Luis Alandy, Edgar Allan Guzman, and Joross Gamboa with friends

Junie H. Jalandoni, SVP of Ayala Land and head of Commercial Business Group; Rowena M. Tomeldan, head of Ayala Malls; Ruby P. Chiong, CFO of Ayala Malls; Dion Asencio, vice president for Enterprise and IT-Enabled Services Group of Globe Telecom; and Glenn Estrella, vice president for Digital Ventures of Globe Telecom – offered a toast in the unveiling of the enhanced website.

“A trailblazer, GMovies

Watch and help THE Rotary Club of Sta. Mesa holds a special screening of Fast and the Furious 8, on April 18, 7:30 p.m. at the 273-seater Uptown Mall Cinema 3 in Fort Bonifacio.

Cocktails will be served at 6:30 p.m. before the 7:30 p.m. screening .

The special screening is for the benefit of the National Children’s Hospital, a PhilHealth Center of Excellence and accredited Level III training program of the Philippine Pediatric Society. Through the years, the NCH has been and will always be a testament of loving care and concern for all Filipino children. “The mission of the Rotary Club of Sta. Mesa, Q.C. is to be in service above self.

“To fulfill this mission, we provide services to the community through fundraising events such as this,” says incoming RCSM President, Jose Paulo Legaspi.

The movie ticket is inclusive of raffle, movie snacks and drinks, and gift set from the event sponsors GlutaMAX, Nice Day Coffee, Meister, and YSA Skin and Body Experts, Tatang’s Lechon, Kajuayan coco water, Learning Center Affiliates, Lighthouse Marina Resort, Subic Sailing, Pumpedupkicks and Empire tattoos.

Mother Lily Monteverde (fourth from left) with some celebrities that graced the event

takes pride in its core digital movie ticketing technology.

We’re excited to share this to SureSeats patrons and bring them a whole new digital experience in convenience and entertainment,” says Estrella.

“We are very excited to reveal the new SureSeats. com now powered by GMovies. We look forward to offering our patrons a complete end-to-end digital experience,” says Amir Precilla, Ayala Malls Cinemas general manager.

Celebrities and friends

from the entertainment industry who graced the re-launch included Arci Muñoz, Lauren Reid, Jack Reid, Luis Alandy, Marco Alcaraz, Joross Gamboa, Denise Laurel, Meg Imperial, Edgar Allan Guzman, Loren Burgos, Riva Quenery, Sarah Carlos, Mark Neumann, Rein Salamante, Donnalyn Bartolome, Josh Padilla, Cindy Miranda, Shy Carlos, Debbie Garcia, Phoebe Walker, Devon Seron, Miho Nashida, Mikee

PBB alumnae Miho Nashida and Mikee Agustin

Agustin, Yexel Sebastian, Fourth Solomon, Fifth Solomon, Enchong Dee, LA Aguinaldo, Jodillyn Pendre, Alaiza Malinao, Miko Raval, Raphael Robes, Jane Oineza, Janeena Chan, Sonja Cali-Kakilala, power mom-daughter tandem Lily and Roselle Monteverde, and Warner Bros. Philippines General Manager Francis Soliven.

All were in great spirits as guests were treated to the best cocktails and music. The evening continued with an

exclusive movie screening of Beauty and the Beast at Greenbelt 3’s 4DX and allrecliner seats cinemas.

Ayala Malls Cinemas’ Sureseats.com was first launched in 2001 and pioneered online ticket reservation and purchase for movies.

Gmovies’ technologies will help create a wonderful experience as more exciting features will be added to Ayala Malls Cinemas’S ureSeats.com.

Experience it best at Ayala Malls Cinemas!

TV audiences shifting to digital ABS-CBN is on track in its commitment to help accelerate the Philippines’ transition to digital TV as the country’s first digital terrestrial television service has already sold 2.6 million ABS-CBN TVplus units as of March 2017.

The rise in TVplus boxes sold has also contributed to the increase in ABS-CBN’s audience share rise to 36 percent in Mega Manila this year from 30 percent in 2015, according to data from Kantar Media.

ABS-CBN’s ratings in Mega Manila also rose to 14 percent from 11 percent in 2015.

Chinky Alcedo, head of ABS-CBN Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), said that ABS-CBN is dedicated to help the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) fast track ABSCBN TVplus penetration so more Filipino families can experience the life-changing benefits of ABS-CBN TVplus.

“We are in full support of the DICT in accelerating the shift from analog to digital because we believe there is a massive need for Filipinos to experience digital TV,” she said.

ABS-CBN TVplus’ promise of clear picture and as well as additional premium channels with no monthly fees also enticed consumers, having penetrated up to 26% of the C2D homes in 2017.

The news was shared with advertisers in the ABSCBN trade event on March 30, which showed the rising demand of viewers for TVplus boxes because of its promise of crystal clear viewing, free exclusive channels, and no monthly fees.

During the first quarter of 2016, DICT initiated the call for all broadcast networks to shift to digital TV. Expansion of ABS-CBN TVplus’ signal coverage in Davao last March also echoes and strengthens ABS-CBN’s commitment as areas including Davao City, Island Garden of Samal, Asuncion, Carmen, City of Tagum, Digos, Hagonoy, Kapalong, Laak, Mabini, Maco, Malalag, New Corella, Padada, Panabo, Pantukan, Santa Cruz, Santa Maria, and Sulop can now enjoy the many benefits of DTT. Among the benefits that ABS-CBN’S DTT service offers are access to entertainment, information, and

educational TV content broadcast in clear picture and sound at an affordable cost.

Alcedo explained that as of today, 80 percent of TV households in the Philippines that cannot afford cable TV have no choice but to endure poor quality viewing of limited free-to-air channels with the prevailing analog TV system.

But with ABS-CBN TVplus, dramatically clear TV viewing of free-to-air digital channels can be experienced, which is currently being delivered by ABSCBN TVplus, the country’s first digital TV service that was rolled out in 2015.

“ABS-CBN has the conviction that digital TV has a transformational role in nation building because it empowers our citizens by giving them more choices,” she added.

On top of airing free-to-air channels ABS-CBN and all-day sports channel S+A, ABS-CBN TVplus also airs

free exclusive channels. These are CineMo, an all-day movie channel; YeY!, an all-day children’s entertainment channel, Knowledge Channel, an educational channel that airs curriculum-based programs and content for primary and secondary students, and DZMM TeleRadyo, which offers the live TV broadcast of programs from DZMM radio.

“ABS-CBN TVplus also has a built-in emergency warning broadcast system (EWBS) that alerts TVplus users on natural calamities and gives them safety precautions. The emergency warning can be triggered by the designated government agency in times of calamity.

Last year, ABS-CBN TVplus tapped partner schools of Knowledge Channel for the simulation during the Metro Manila-wide earth drill. At exactly 9 a.m,, the warning message flashed on the TV screen, while students watched Knowledge Channel via ABS-CBN TVplus. The students then quickly performed ‘duck, cover, and hold,’ which was the safety instruction from the EWBS message.

The EWBS is a technology available through the ISDBT, which is the standard chosen by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

Last year, ABS-CBN TVplus also started introducing the Kapamilya Box Office (KBO) feature in its effort to democratize movie content and help Filipino families build stronger relationships at home.

Although a full transition to digital TV would require from networks a lot of investment, Alcedo said the ultimate winner would be the Filipino family.

“The migration will ultimately serve the Filipino family as they become more informed, entertained, educated, and empowered. As we say in ABS-CBN, we support this migration in the service of the Filipino people.”

Apart from Davao, ABS-CBN TVplus signal coverage is also available in Metro Cebu, Cagayan De Oro, Iloilo, Bacolod, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Rizal, Laguna, Pampanga, Tarlac, Benguet, and Cavite with over two million users. The ABS-CBN TVplus box is offered at a very affordable one-time payment fee of P1,499.