Manila Standard - 2017 April 26 - Wednesday

TORRE DE MANILA AT LUNETA GETS HIGH COURT’S OK

By Joel E. Zurbano

CONTROVERSIAL NO MORE.

The Supreme Court has voted 9-6, allowing the construction of the erstwhile controversial Torre de Manila condominium (file photo) near the monument of national hero Jose Rizal at the sprawling bayside Luneta Park. It rejected the argument by the petitioner Knights of Rizal and lifted the temporary restraining order it issued in June 2015 that stopped the construction of the condominium being built by DMCI Project Developer Inc. Ey Acasio

THE Supreme Court voted 9-6 allowing the construction of the controversial Torre de Manila condominium appearing behind the monument of national hero Jose Rizal at the Rizal Park in Manila.

The high court rejected the argument by the petitioner Knights of Rizal and lifted the temporary restraining order it issued in June 2015 that stopped the construction of the condominium being built by DMCI Project Developer Inc. DMCI Homes welcomed the decision.

“Moving on, we will immediately resume construction to finally end the undue suffering of our stakeholders, most especially our workers and future residents who depended on our commitment to complete the project,” the company said in a statement.

“DMCI Homes will immediately advise its customers and future residents on the updated construction time line since the initial target completion date has been critically affected by the longstanding temporary restraining order.”

The Knights of Rizal had sought the project’s demolition saying the structure was ruining the sight line of the Rizal monument.

But the Court ruled that there was no law prohibiting the construction of the building. It said DMCI did not violate several laws mandating the protection and preservation of the Rizal Monument by defacing the visual corridors of Next page the monument.

It’s not enough to wish for a greener, better world. Join us and be a part of the green revolution! On April 27, 2017, the Manila Standard Champions will be holding the seventh sowing in its Adopt-a-Tree program.

The Manila Standard Champions will be planting 800 mangrove trees in Calatagan, Batangas. The activity is open to volunteers willing to donate their time and efforts to such a worthy cause. Also, watch for our special CSR Issue on Saturday, April 29, 2017 to find out how you can join the project.

adopt atree

VOL. XXXI • NO. 71 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

4 foreign jihadists fall JI terrorists sought refuge in Maute camp—military

By Francisco Tuyay

ASEAN SECURITY. Philippine Coast Guard commandos board their seacraft Tuesday to boost patrols along the Manila Bay coastline in preparation for the Asean 2017 summit this week. Officials say while the South China Sea issue is in the Asean agenda, they add the Philippines will not discuss The Hague ruling on the South China Sea. Norman Cruz

FOUR members of the Jemaah Islamiya terrorist group―three Indonesians and a Malaysian― were among the 36 bandits killed in four days of fighting between government troops and the Maute Group in Piagapo town in Lanao del Sur. Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Año said the slain terrorists were in the company of the Maute bandits when government troops blasted and overran their fortified lairs on the edges of Piagapo town on April 21.

Año said the identities of the four slain jihadists remained un-

known as they had changed their names.

“The Indonesians and Malaysian were part of the JI before, but when their existence diminished, they made other affiliations, particularly with the Maute Group, which took over the remnants of Next page

ASG-linked cop’s house yields guns, bomb timer A RAID on the home of the female police officer who was romantically linked to an Abu Sayyaf terrorist yielded an M16 rifle, a caliber 45 pistol, ammunition and bomb components.

Chief Supt. Agripino Javier, police director for Region 10, said the raid on the house of Supt. Maria Cristina Nobleza at the Pine Hills Executive Homes in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon Monday morning yielded 218 cartridges for M16 rifles, a bandolier for the armalite, a timer,

‘ICC lacks jurisdiction over EJKs’

By John Paolo Bencito THE International Criminal Court has no jurisdiction to try President Rodrigo Duterte over the allegations of summary killings of thousands of people as a result of his administration’s war on drugs, a Palace official said Tuesday.

Following the communication filed by lawyer Jude Josue Sabio, who represents self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato, Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said the government had already conducted a probe that absolved Duterte of allegations of summary killings.

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bomb components, a soldering iron, 66 blasting caps and electronic tester.

Also found at Nobleza’s house were assorted documents about the terrorist activities of a certain Al Mohammar Bayani, 22, a resident of San Juan Baroy, Lanao del Norte.

Javier said the raid was carried out on the strength of a search warrant issued by Judge Ma. Theresa Aban-Camannong of RTC Branch 99 of the 10th Judicial Region in Malaybalay City.

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HOUSING CRISIS.

Senator JV Ejercito inspects Tuesday the government housing project for PNP and Armed Forces personnel occupied by confessed homeless Kadamay members in Pandi, Bulacan. Ejercito said the crisis sparked by the takeover of housing sites by the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap can lead to the collapse of the socialized housing sector. Ey Acasio

Guangdong upbeat on Silk initiative

By Rey E. Requejo GUANGDONG, China―The territorial dispute between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea won’t affect Beijing’s desire to strengthen the newly reinvigorated ties between the two countries under President Xi Jinping’s “Silk

Road Economic Belt” initiative.

Lou Jun, the deputy director general of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Guangdong, expressed optimism that the relations between Beijing and Manila will be enhanced by Philippines’ participation in the Belt and Road initiative, which aims to promote

economic prosperity and regional cooperation among countries along the path of the Silk Road Economic Belt.

“The dispute [in the South China Sea] won’t affect our desire for the Philippines to become part of the Road and Belt initiative. I am confident that Next page

‘4K Luisita farmers got conned’

By Rio N. Araja AT LEAST 4,000 farmers from Hacienda Luisita Inc. in Tarlac were “duped” by local politicians and other influential personalities within the past three years since the distribution of the certificates of land ownership award by the Department of Agrarian Reform, the agency said Tuesday.

The department said the lots awarded to 4,000 farmerbeneficiaries at the Hacienda Luisita had been leased or bought by local politicians or the aryendadors within the past three years since its distribution of Certificates of Next page

Leni gets ultimatum on protest

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, has ordered Vice President Leni Robredo to pay the cash deposit required by the counter protest she filed against her rival, former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Court also dismissed the petition filed by Robredo’s lawyers asking the justices to reconsider their March 21 resolution regarding Marcos’ election protest.

Robredo was given five days from the notice of the resolution to pay the cash deposit, said Court spokesman Theodore Te after Tuesday’s en banc session.

The Court deferred action on Marcos’ petition to dismiss the counter protest filed by Robredo until the vice president complies with the order to pay the deposit.

In the March 21 resolution, Robredo was ordered to pay P8 million for the first installment and P7.43 million for the second, for a total of P15.44 million to continue with her counter protest. Marcos, on the other hand, was ordered to pay P66.02 million.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

Experts take on the ‘Big One’ T HE Carlos P. Romulo Foundation has organized a two-day conference aimed at preparing the people, the government and private organizations for a big disaster.

Dubbed as Building a Disaster-Resilient Philippines, the forum at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City from April 25-26, discussed how various national agencies with the help and close coordination with the private sector and local government units would respond in case of a big quake.

The event presented a number of local and international climate and disaster experts, including Dr. Satoru Nishikawa of Japan who shared the lessons learned from the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

One of the topics highlighted on Tuesday was the contingency plan prepared by the government in the National Capital Region, which was presented by Ramon Santiago, head of the Metro Manila Development AuthorityCrisis Monitoring and Management Center.

The Metro Manila Earthquake Contingency Plan or Oplan Metro Yakal Plus, Santiago said, is the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council’s response to the possibility of a 7.2 magnitued movement of the West Valley Fault with intensity eight ground shaking.

Another forum speaker, Philippine Institute of Volcanology

and Seismology director Renato Solidum, said the intensity of the ground shaking from the WVF with a 7.2 Magnitude earthquake will not only affect Metro Manila, but will also be felt in the nearby provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna.

“We must have disaster imagination to prepare for it [disaster],” said Solidum.

He said with an Intensity 8 earthquake, the scenarios of fire, collapsed structures and hazardous traffic incidents would occur.

Solidum advised people to learn the “duck, cover and hold” action, which would result in a decrease in the risk of injuries during the quake.

He cautioned against entering buildings where an earthquake has just struck, warning that these structures may eventually collapse during the tremors’ aftershocks.

“Our safety is really dependent on our awareness and preparedness during the earthquake,” said Solidum.

Based on the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS) conducted by the Japan International Cooperating Agency in 2004, the city of Manila has the highest estimated number of death and injured in

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Guangdong...

the JI and aligned with the Abu Sayyaf Group under Isnilon Hapilon hoping they will be recognized by ISIS,” Año said.

Attack helicopters backed by an Army artillery contingent blasted Maute’s main camp consisting of hundreds of bunkers and trenches in the forested ridges of Piagapo, forcing bandits to flee. Pursuing Army Scout Rangers engaged the bandits in a running gunbattle.

Of the 36 killed bandits, 14 have already been identified, including a certain Bantayao or Bayabao, a former leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front under Abdullah Goldiano Makapaar alias Commander Bravo.

The latest military strike at the Maute Group was intended to cripple its capability to sow violence and terrorism in Lanao province and adjacent municipalities and prevent them from spreading their attacks to civilians who do not support them.

Ground forces have been conducting clearing operations, locating the remnants of Maute bandits, and trying to determine the whereabouts of Hapilon who was critically wounded in a previous encounter with troops somewhere in Lanao del Sur. “So far, we are conducting mopping up operations and we are trying to locate Hapilon because right now we have no proof of life,” Año said, noting that there was talk that the Abu Sayyaf leader was ready to surrender because of his ill health.

Año said the military had also spotted “Arab-looking nationals” in Lanao del Sur, but could not confirm if they were affiliated with the Islamic State.

Año said they estimated the number of Maute members at 120 to 130 fighters, but added that this number had been dramatically reduced.

“With the developments unfolding, they [Maute] would eventually realize that what they have been fighting for is useless,” Año said. With John Paolo Bencito

China-Philippine relations will be further improve,” Lou told a group of Filipino journalists who were invited by the Chinese Embassy in Manila for a six-day trip here and Hainan provinces.

“The Belt initiative is not exclusive. The Belt initiative is inclusion of people along the Silk Road to develop common understanding, and not confrontation,” he added.

The Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road―known as the Belt and Road Initiative―was initiated in 2013, and aimed at joint development of economies along the

‘ICC...

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“The ICC will have to determine to whether or not they have jurisdiction. Number two, whether or not the state is unwilling to investigate,” Panelo told CNN Philippines.

But as a result of the filing of the case, opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said there would now be an independent body to determine the killings of thousands of Filipinos and hold

MITIGATING DISASTER. Ambassador Roberto Romulo delivers a speech during a forum on ‘Building a

Disaster-Resilient Philippines hosted by the Carlos Romulo Foundation, Zuellig Family Foundation,The Manila Observatory, Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation and Arise. Inset shows Dr. Renato Solidum Jr. (left) Undersecretary of the Department of Science and Technology and Officer-in-Charge of Phivolcs, and Ramon Santiago, DRRM Adviser and Head of Metro Manila Crisis Monitoring and Management, taking turns fielding questions during the forum held at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City. Lino Santos

the event a powerful earthquake hits the metropolis.

The study showed that the casualty estimates in Manila in case a nighttime 7.2 magnitude quake strikes is 6,200.

The data also showed that Quezon City has the biggest estimate of damaged residential buildings with 26,900 damaged houses followed by Manila with 26,200,

Pasig (23,000), Muntinlupa (13,500) and Taguig (11,600).

Based on the Oplan Yakal contingency plan, Metro Manila will be divided into four quadrants.

At present, the East Quadrant command center is located at Light Railway Transit - 2 train depot in Santolan, Pasig City; North Quadrant at the Veterans’ Memorial Medical Center in

Quezon City; South Quadrant at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City; and West Quadrant at the Intramuros Golf Course in Manila.

The golf courses will also be used as relief distribution hub, trauma centers, mobile hospitals, training and command post based on the agreement made by the agency and the management of the golf courses. Joel E. Zurbano

ancient trade route linking Asia to Africa and Europe.

The Chinese government intends to pour in multi-trillion dollar investments through the Asian Infrastructures Investment Bank to spur economic development in the area.

President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to attend the “Belt and Road” Summit in China next month.

Lou made the statement following the controversial visit of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to several islands in the West Philippine Sea, including the Pag-Asa Island, that sparked a protest from China.

The Guangdong foreign affairs official appealed to the Philippine government to exercise restraint in

dealing with the territorial dispute to diffuse the tension between the two countries.

“It’s common for countries to have different opinion on specific issues. But sometimes, the media makes small things big.

Sometimes they ignore the common interest behind that. If we could work together, the media can help the general public understand what the real problem is.

So that the parties’ concerned can sit down and talk to find a way to control the conflict and to minimize the damage that might come out of this dispute,” Lou said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippines will not discuss the 2016 Hague ruling on the South China Sea during the Asean summit, but

said the issue is on the agenda of the Asean.

In a statement, the DFA said it was optimistic that this week’s Asean Summit will be a success, noting the good ties between President Rodrigo Duterte and his fellow Asean leaders.

“The Hague ruling will not be on the agenda in the sense that it’s already part of international law. So we really can’t discuss the ruling, it’s there,” said acting Foreign Affairs secretary Enrique Manalo.

But former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosarios said the Asean summit is the opportunity to discuss SCS ruling with Asean members. With Vito Barcelo, John Paolo Bencito, and Sandy Araneta

among the group responsible for the bombing of Maxandrea Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City in October 2012 that killed two people and wounded two police officers.

Javier said Dongon was reportedly involved in the bombing of Kyla’s Bistro in the same city on July 26, 2013 that killed six persons and injured 48 others.

Javier said Dongon has a standing warrant of arrest for murder and attempted murder at the Regional Trial Court Branch 23, Cagayan de Oro City.

Javier said two minors―Abdullah Sulayman Dongon Sabdani, 13 and Abdurrahman Abdilla, 14, both residents of Tinago Brgy San Juan Baroy, Lanao del Norte―were present during the raid at Nobleza’s house.

Nobleza was the deputy chief of the Philippine National Police

Crime Laboratory in the Davao region before her arrest in Bohol.

Chief Supt. Aurelio Trampe, PNPCrime Laboratory director, said Nobleza is now assigned to the unit’s national headquarters in Camp Crame pending investigation of her case.

The relief order became effective April 24.

Nobleza was arrested Saturday with her alleged boyfriend, Dongon, his mother Judith Dungon and a teenager.

Police had said Nobleza and Dongon could have been in Bohol to rescue the remaining Abu Sayyaf members who slipped into the province and clashed with government forces..

Charges of illegal possession of firearms and harboring criminals have been filed against Nobleza. Francisco Tuyay and Lance Baconguis

But Robredo’s camp said Marcos should be made to pay P185 million and not P66 million since in his pleading he asked the PET to secure the protection of election results in the 92,509 clustered precincts out of the 369,138 established precincts used in last year’s national and local elections.

Marcos filed his poll protest in June 2016, contesting 39,221 clustered precincts which are composed of 132,446 established precincts. Robredo, meanwhile, filed a counter-protest, questioning 8,042 clustered precincts which are composed of 31,278 established precincts.

Marcos asked the PET to dismiss her counter-protest since she failed to settle the first installment as directed by the Supreme Court.

Marcos filed his protest a month after the National Board of Canvassers proclaimed Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and then Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo as the duly elected President and Vice President, respectively.

Robredo, who ran under the ruling Liberal Party, the political party of then President Benigno Aquino III, won the vice presidential race with 14,418,817 votes, up by only 263,473 against the votes received by Marcos.

liable those behind it.

“We will now have a truly independent body that could find out the whole truth behind the slaughter of thousands of Filipinos and prosecute those behind it,” Trillanes said.

Parañaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting said the filing of the complaint against Duterte and several other key officials of the government should not be taken lightly.

Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano said “this is an opportunity for Congress to show to the world that it is independent from the influ-

ence of the President and prove that it is able and willing to make him accountable for crimes he has committed to the Filipino people.”

But Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III doubted the case against Duterte would prosper.

Kabayan party-list Rep. Harry Roque said the case was only meant to embarrass the President during the Asean summit.

Panelo claimed that the communication filed by Sabio simply had no basis.

“There are only four grounds:

one, genocide; number two, crime against humanity; number three; war crimes; and number four, war of aggression,” Panelo said.

“Now, this extrajudicial killing is not state-sponsored and this is the finding of the Senate. Moreover, I think this is the result of the killings within the drug industry group because the surrenderees have pointed their fingers at their accomplices and necessarily the accomplices would not want themselves to be open to prosecution.” With Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

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ASG-linked...

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Nobleza was being questioned in Camp Crame shortly after she arrived from Tagbilaran City where she was initially detained following arrest.

Nobleza along with her ASG lover, Reneer Lou Dongon, were arrested after disregarding a police and military checkpoint in Brgy.

Bacani, Clarin town Saturday night, shortly after a firefight in which eight ASG bandits, including the sub-leader Muamar Askali alias Abu Rami, were killed.

Dongon was said to be among the group responsible for the bombing of the Mazandria Hotal In a background check of Nobleza’s lover―Dongon’s activities, showed that the ASG operative was

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‘4K...

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Land Ownership Awards to the farmworker-beneficiaries.

Close to 4,000 or 83 percent of the agrarian reform beneficiaries were found to be not in possession of their awarded lands.

Undersecretary for Field Operations Marcos Risonar Jr., Hacienda Luisita task force chairman, spearheaded the three-week validation at the controversial Tarlac estate’s 10 barangays “to have a concrete and conclusive picture of the actual state of agrarian reform beneficiaries in the hacienda.”

Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs Elmer Distor joined the team on the extended period of validation to speed up its completion.

“DAR recognizes the sacrifices and efforts of the farmers who remained in possession of their awarded lands. This is also to honor and give justice to the families of the victims of the Hacienda Luisita massacre as the Cojuangco-Aquinos contin-

Torre...

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The Court also dumped the petition on technical grounds, citing its lack of jurisdiction on the issues raised in the petition as well as the lack of legal standing of the Knights of Rizal to question the construction of Torre de Manila before it.

The Knights of Rizal filed its petition in September 2014 and the high court held oral arguments on the case in August 2015.

DMCI had persistently asked the high court to resolve the case and lift the temporary restraining order it issued on

Estrada pork raps upheld

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Supreme Court denied the appeal of former senator Jinggoy Estrada to dismiss the graft charges against him in connection with his alleged involvement in the pork-barrel scam. ”The Court denied with finality petitioner Estrada’s motion for reconsideration of its January 24, 2017 Resolution for not having raised any new and substantive arguments to merit a reconsideration,” said high court spokesman Theodore Te. In its Jan. 24 resolution, the high court denied Estrada’s petition, ruling the Sandiganbayan committed no grave abuse of discretion in not suppressing the questioned disbursement reports and the testimony of principal witness Benhur Luy. Estrada had asked the high court to order the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division to dismiss the charges against him for lack of merit. He said the anti-graft court must dump the graft charges against him in view of his indictment for plunder that is anchored on the same allegations.

He claimed that the Sandiganbayan had committed grave abuse of discretion in denying his plea to dismiss those charges after the anti-graft court issued a resolution dated July 14, 2016 and Oct. 4, 2016.

Recently, the high court dumped Estrada’s appeal after he questioned the preliminary investigation conducted by the Ombudsman that eventually indicted him before the Sandiganbayan.

The high court has also dumped Estrada’s petition questioning the arrest warrant earlier issued against him.

Estrada argued that there was no proof that he received and amassed even a single centavo out of his Priority Development Assistance Fund allocation. He maintained that the evidence on record failed to establish probable cause to indict him for plunder and for violation of the Anti-Graft Law. ued to maneuver to circumvent the Supreme Court decision,” Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano said.

“We enjoin those who were forced to rent out or sell their lots to hold ground in their awarded farms because the exacerbation of the aryendo system in Luisita is a deliberate obstruction of the delivery of agrarian reform.”

Based on the results of the field interviews and verifications, about 2,800 farmers had leased, mortgaged or rented out their lands, while 600 had sold their lots to third-party buyers.

Moreover, almost 200 had been engaged in joint venture agreements.

DAR officials and employees conducted the investigation on the 6,212 farmer-beneficiaries of the sugar plantation from March 6 to 24 on the directives of Mariano.

“We wanted to assess the condition of the awarded lands in Hacienda Luisita, the whereabouts of their awarded lands in order to determine potential areas for acquisition and distribution by the department,” the agrarian reform chief said. the completion of the 49-story building in June 2015, citing business losses and damages to third parties, especially the buyers of units in the condominium.

The developer asked the hight court to dismiss the petition that it said could cost about P4.27 billion in capital investments and unrealized profits, including the P1.28 billion it had already spent to build the condominium as of May 2015.

DMCI also warned that granting the petition would create a dangerous precedent and result in “economic havoc.” It said high-rise buildings were surrounding most of the monuments in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

News Chinese grant to help build drug rehab facilities

By Julito Rada THE Finance and Health departments have signed a memorandum of agreement on the construction of drug rehabilitation facilities to be funded by a 50-million yuan grant from the People’s Republic of China.

In a statement Tuesday, the DoF said the Chinese aid, equivalent to $7.5 million, was half of the 100-million yuan grant that China pledged to the Philippines during President Rodrigo Duterte’s state visit to Beijing in October 2016, through an agreement on economic and technical cooperation signed by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and China Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng.

Dominguez said the other half of the grant would be used to procure law-enforcement-related equipment to be divided among the Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Presidential Security Group.

Meanwhile, Undersecretary Catalino S. Cuy, officer-in-charge of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, on Monday ordered an investigation of the alleged software project for the MASA MASID (Mamamayang Ayaw sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Iligal na Droga), the Deparment’s flagship project on anti-illegal drugs.

Cuy’s directive followed reports one of its partners in the anti-illegal drugs drive, the Drug Abuse Warning Inc. (DAWN), allegedly collected significant amount of money from different barangays as payment for the MASA MASID Database and Reporting System software and hardware.

IN BRIEF Labor group to seek P157 wage increase THE labor group Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) will ask for a P157 across-the-board wage increase when they meet with President Rodrigo Duterte on Labor Day, because of the falling value of daily wage and rising cost of basic goods and services in recent months.

“We have already relayed our call for a monthly P500 cash subsidy to the President due to widening poverty and hoping that this would be granted,” ALU-TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said.

Tanjusay said: “For the first time in the history of the labor that we are asking in one time a cash subsidy from government and a wage increase from employers and capitalists to help workers cope with worsening poverty and rising cost of living.

“Living conditions of workers who have been helping our economy grow is growing worse. Something is terribly wrong in this equation.”

He said the Office of the President had received for Duterte the proposed ALU-TUCP subsidy through its Emergency Labor Empowerment and Assistance Program targeting minimum wage earners by having government issuing cash vouchers to qualified minimum wage earners disbursed by the Social Security System, accredited trade unions and regional offices of the Department of Labor and Employment.

Vito Barcelo

4th cyclone to bring in thunderstorms A TROPICAL cyclone is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (late Tuesday night), the fourth cyclone in 2017, weathermen said.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, the cyclone will be named “Dante.”

It is forecast to strengthen into a tropical storm.

Despite such, the weather bureau said the cyclone will not directly affect the country.

Occasional rainshowers and thunderstorms will be expected over the week.

As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, the cyclone was last seen 1,285 kilometers east of Southern Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kms per hour near the center and gusts of up to 65 kph. Rio Araja

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Solon warns scrapping 4Ps detrimental to poor Filipinos

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

T

HE anti-poverty strategy Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program may be discontinued should the next administration decide to scrap it, a move that would be detrimental to poverty-stricken Filipino families, Senator Sonny Angara warned.

Because of this, Angara urged his Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Decolleagues to make the 4Ps program a velopment committee. law by enacting his proposed Senate SB 310 is titled “InstitutionalizBill 310, now pending with the Senate ing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pili-

pino Program (4Ps) to Reduce Poverty and Promote Human Capital Development.”

Angara’s proposal, if passed into law, will institutionalize the program and mandate its continued implementation unlike now where it is just a mere policy program that can easily be stopped by any future administration.

The Senate ways and means committee chairman backed up his bill, which he filed in 2016, with studies showing the 4Ps, an intervention which gives conditional cash transfer to the poorest of the poor, reduced

the total poverty and food poverty among CCT beneficiaries by up to 6.7 percentage points.

At the national level, estimates had shown the program reduced both total poverty and food poverty by up to 1.4 percentage points in 2013.

As of August 2015, there were about 4.4-million active household-beneficiaries, which included some 10.2-million schoolchildren aged zero to 18.

“The program may be subject to discontinuance by future administrations, despite its promising results in reducing poverty and promoting human capital development,” Angara said.

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

W

Adelle Chua, Editor

Was the President wrong?

HO is correct?

President Rodrigo Duterte, who insisted that there was something rotten with the P2.8-billion contract to buy 76 fire trucks from Rosenbauer of Austria? Or his subordinates who say the deal was “a perfected contract” that will be carried out?

The second possibility is problematic because this was the same argument put forward by Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno, just before the President fired him on April 3 for allowing the fire truck deal to push through.

At the time, the President fumed

against Sueno, accusing him of “lying through his teeth” when he denied there was anything onerous about paying for Rosenbauer fire trucks under a contract signed by the previous administration.

“He was not following the legal opinion of his own office. That’s why... I lost my [temper]. If you answer me with that kind of statement, but you’ve never read legal opinions of the legal officer of your own office, it’s either you’re taking me for a stupid idiot, or you are lying through your teeth,” the President said.

Mr. Duterte said he began to investigate the implementation of the contract for Rosenbauer fire trucks for P20 million each, after receiving a letter from Sueno’s undersecretaries,

and noted that similar trucks could be bought for half the price.

Sueno also supposedly traveled to Austria with his family to personally ensure the delivery of 76 fire trucks, even though the government contract is the subject of a case pending before the Supreme Court.

“The summary dismissal [of Sueno] served as a warning that Mr. Duterte would not countenance any questionable or legally untenable decisions by any member of the Cabinet,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella warned at the time.

How odd, then, to hear the same official say three weeks later that the “perfected contract” would push through after all—and to hear Sueno’s temporary replacement,

officer-in-charge Catalino Cuy, say that the entire deal had “gone through the process, apparently.”

“The documents show that everything seems to be regular in the Rosenbauer fire trucks contract,” Cuy continued. “This is a government-togovernment contract, with multiple agencies involved. With Malacañang’s nod to proceed, I hope we can lay the controversies to rest and give our people what they need: a muchimproved fire service with increased capability and higher efficiency.”

So, was President Duterte wrong or misinformed when he fired Sueno for saying exactly what Abella and Cuy are saying now? Logically, both sides cannot be right. The administration owes us an explanation.

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

Erap unites at 80

*** Of course, my own long-held theory is that Robredo is simply too ambitious to see the potentially career-ending political train wreck that she is hurtling towards. And that she is also too dense to realize that all of the damage that is happening to her is self-inflicted.

Take, for instance, another of Robredo’s recent statements, when she declared in an interview that the real reason she ran for vice president was because she wanted to derail a victory by the younger Marcos.

Now, I don’t know if Robredo understands that this is just the sort of declaration that makes people suspect that she is merely a stooge of Noynoy Aquino and the Liberal Party who can’t even pretend that she is seeking public office for a higher reason than partisan politics.

Robredo’s stop-Marcos goal

IN THE week of his 80th birthday, Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada did things he does best and loves to do.

In the morning of April 19, a Wednesday, he inaugurated the Quinta public market in Hidalgo, Manila. The now upscale Quinta cost P150 million to redevelop, complete with airconditioned toilets, an elevated parking, a ferry terminal and a fish port by the river.

In the evening, the mayorpresident hosted a glittering four-course dinner of sea bass and steak for family, friends, and followers at the Manila Hotel that lasted until 4 in the morning the next day.

On Friday, April 21, he cut the ribbon to open the elegant Winford hotel-casino on what used to be Manila’s San Lazaro race track, together with tycoon Alfonso “Boy” Reyno, Pagcor chairman Andrea Domingo, and anti-graft prosecutor Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales.

Erap shunned a sumptuous Friday lunch at Winford catered by expensive Choi Garden at Winford in favor of a handsonly lunch with the barangay officials and the poor of fifth district Manila in an alley on Pedro Gil street. There, the mayor was in his elements partaking of freshly cooked rice, fish, laing, and crispy lechon. Some of the residents took turns stealing selfie shots and airing their problems.

One barangay official wanted her son promoted on the spot. To which Erap snapped, “approved without thinking!”

At Wednesday’s birthday dinner bash, the 1,000 guests were led by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and members of his Cabinet led by Executive Secretary Medialdea.

Estrada managed to bring together to share a meal on a single table three presidents of the Philippines—Duterte, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and himself.

Among the by-invitation only dinner guests were Estrada’s former political enemies—and former political allies.

Also present were former vice president Jejomar Binay (2010-2016), former first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, former speaker Jose de Venecia and his wife Gina, former Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile, former senator Ferdinand

Turn to A5

Turn to A5

The idiotess LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES FOR A while there, I thought Vice President Leni Robredo had learned her lesson. I guess I was wrong.

The precipitous 11-percent drop of Robredo’s ratings in the last nationwide survey should have rung alarm bells in the vice presidential office in New Manila, Quezon City, I said.

Indeed, after her spokesman announced that Robredo would pose no objection to giving her rival, former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a position in the Cabinet, I went so far as to say that maybe the vice president was finally getting the message.

The message is simple, really: Robredo’s usual strategy

of opposing anything and everything that President Rodrigo Duterte said or did was only hurting her, while failing to do any damage to the very popular president. After the near-disastrous showing of Robredo’s videotaped speech at the sidelines of a United Nations conference in Austria, where she kept smiling while recounting the supposed horrors of Duterte’s war against illegal drugs, there was obviously a need to recalibrate her messaging.

But last week, Robredo reverted to her usual self. At an open forum with students of the University of the Philippines in Los Banos, Laguna, the vice president urged the government to study the so-called “Portugal model” of decriminalizing drug use.

Robredo must have been surprised by the backlash, which came quick and fast on social media and on almost

every other platform. And some of it, to be sure, was not even a fair reaction to her original declaration.

The truth is, Robredo only called for the Duterte administration to consider other means

But she was immediately accused of being on the side of drug pushers and even of being on their payroll.

Yes, it is unfair to say that the vice president is a beneficiary of the illegal drug trade and the syndicates that produce and distribute narcotics. But it is a testament to Robredo’s newfound—and definitely unenviable—status as a do-nothing, knee-jerk critic that people are willing to believe the worst about her.

The flak that Robredo got for the remarks she made in Los Baños should force her to consider that perhaps even the slightest opposition she may make to Duterte is not going to be received well by the majority who support the President.

And to realize that things have gotten so bad for her that perof solving the illegal drug men- haps she should just shut up alace, including the decriminali- ready, if she has nothing good zation of certain substances. to say about the administration.

Robredo has decided to destroy herself, with no help at all from Duterte, Marcos or her Yellow puppetmasters.

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A legacy of infra

The...

From A4 also gives a lie to her campaign promise to save poor Filipinos whom she said were living on the hemlines of society, or the “laylayan ng lipunan.” There was no real plan to continue on Aquino’s imaginary straight path, either.

Robredo virtually admitted that the only reason she ran was because the LP would do anything to prevent Marcos’ victory. (That was something that Aquino himself promised during the last campaign, by the way.)

There was no higher purpose to Robredo’s campaign then.

Just like there is probably no higher purpose for her opposing Duterte now, except to replace him, if the various plots to oust the president somehow succeed.

Is it any wonder that many Filipinos fervently believe that Marcos had been cheated out of his victory by the LP, which had vowed to stop him at all costs? The people don’t have to wait for the notoriously slow Presidential Electoral Tribunal to act on Marcos’ election pro-

test—because Leni has sunk so low, they are already convinced that she was the beneficiary of a huge election scam.

And yet, Robredo keeps returning to the strategy of taking a position of unreasonable opposition and making unthinking, off-the-cuff statements that have—we now know—always gotten her in trouble. And in the foreseeable future, there seems no reason to believe that she will ever get a clue.

It’s gotten so bad that the acerbic pundit Teddy Boy Locsin, whom everyone thought had gone into hibernation since his appointment by Duterte as permanent representative of the Philippines to the UN, tweeted that Robredo is an “idiotess.” As someone who has often given well-meaning, unsolicited advice to the vice president that she somehow can’t seem to get from her LP mates, I find no reason to disagree with Locsin.

The woman has decided to destroy herself, with no help at all from Duterte, Marcos or even her own Yellow puppetmasters. It’s painful to watch, but it’s really her choice.

A5

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That ICC case against Duterte

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

SANTA Banana, it appears lion for 2020. that whenever President RodThese would cover infrarigo Duterte says something structure for transportation, outlandish bordering on illegal, water, sewerage and sanitation, we the people are accused of flood management, solid waste taking things too literally. management, maritime, social The President, talking about infrastructure, energy, inforthe Abu Sayyaf Group that mation and communication landed in Bohol, said civil- technology and many others. ians can shoot these bandits on Notable among these are the sight. Moreover, they would be NLEX Harbor Link project rewarded for their kill. But ci- and the Mega Manila subway, vilians are not trained for that a 25-kilometer public transport purpose! system connecting business As expected, now comes districts and government spokesman Ernesto Abella centers. interpreting the President’s If all these proceed as words. He said it was a mere planned, then this could well expression of the need to stamp be the change that everyone is out terrorism. waiting for. This could be the When President Duterte legacy of Rodrigo Duterte. threatened to break his alli*** ance with the US, again the The proposal of former people around him said he did Manila Mayor and now partynot mean it. It was only to em- list Rep. Lito Atienza that phasize that he wanted an inde- the chairman of the Metro pendent foreign policy.

Manila Development Authority When he said he would should be elected makes a slaughter millions of drug ad- lot of sense. If a council that dicts, he was just expressing determines and adopts policy his frustration with the illegal for Metro Manila is headed by drug problem. a non-elected official, how can When Mr. Duterte visited the mayors submit themselves to a Middle East, he told his Arab mere appointee? friends that he would deploy The problem for instance Philippine soldiers to help fight in managing the nightmarish terrorists. He must have been traffic in Metro Manila is that overwhelmed there are conby the courflicting orditesies.

But nances among this is not the 14 cities something and municiThis may be that can be palities in it. done. We can the change we There are difonly send obferent rules have all been servers! regarding F o r m e r waiting for. cargo trucks, Communicastreet ventions secredors, vehicle tary Martin coding.

Andanar told All these media they can be solved should use creative imagina- by having a duly-elected tion in reporting what the Pres- MMDA chairman similar to ident means. Andanar, how- time when former first lady ever, should have known that Imelda Marcos was elected media are not in the business governor of Metro Manila. of imagination. We report the It’s common sense. facts, period. *** I am tempted to suggest Tourism officials are trying the creation of the Bureau of to mollify their counterparts Creative Imagination! in other countries, especially *** Japan, South Korea, the UnitPresident Duterte’s econom- ed States, Canada, the United ic managers unveiled last week Kingdom and China, telling a P3.6-trillion plan, the ambi- them that it is still safe to travel tious Build! Build! Build! In- to the Philippines. frastructure program between This tack is being taken by 2016 and 2020. The Duterte Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo years will be known as the in the wake of reports from “Golden Age of Infrastruc- travel agencies that there have ture,” they said. bee many cancellations in the In a presentation of what wake of reports that the Abu they called Dutertenom- Sayyaf may strike in numerous ics, these managers said they resorts in the Visayas. would enumerate these proThe DoT cannot blame jects during the next meeting media for the bad news about of the National Economic and the Philippines. Journalists are Development Authority. For messengers who simply report 2018, P1.13 trillion is allocated what is happening. to what is called TRIP; P1.18 The fact is that for travelers, trillion for 2019 and P1.29 tril- safety and comfort rule.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017

ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO ADMINISTRATION spokesmen and supporters are quick to dismiss the crimes against humanity case filed before the International Criminal Court against President Rodrigo Duterte.

Presidential Legal Counsel Sal Panelo said the case will not proper because the ICC has no jurisdiction. Filed by lawyer Jude Sabio, the landmark case is the first to be filed against an incumbent head of state. But as everyone knows, it would be difficult to arrest and take custody of a sitting president with his awesome powers.

Cases of crimes against humanity were filed in The Hague against past leaders of Serbia, the remaining state of the former Yugoslavia. Former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic died in prison while undergoing trial. Others are still being tried, caught while on the run.

Sabio’s case against Duterte is related to the alleged extrajudicial killings in the President’s brutal war on drugs. The documentary evidence accounts of victims’ relatives, a Reuters re-

port on the EJK and Duterte’s own public statements telling the police to take no prisoners practically giving them a license to kill. These public utterances by the mercurial Philippine president would make extrajudicial killings a state policy. Mr. Duterte may not realize it but what ever he says in public, except when he’s cursing, assumes the aura of state policy.

In short, Duterte’s helter-skelter statements had provided the cornerstone for Sabio’s case in the ICC. Panelo and company may take a dismissive attitude about it but in truth, I think they know the President is in trouble.

Panelo’s dismissive statement that ICC has no jurisdiction shows Sal is clueless about the ICC. The Philippines is a signatory state on the ICC conceptualized in Rome which specified its scope and jurisdiction.

The President of the Republic of the Philippines is immune from suit during his incumbency. A case or an impeachment against Duterte will not prosper given his grip on Congress after winning the presidency in 2010.

But the ICC case is international in nature; given Digong’s diatribes against international institutions like the United Nations, the European Union and human rights groups, the ICC might just give due course to the Sabio

complaint.

As usual, the Palace and its supporters claim the case was instigated and funded by the opposition Liberal Party. While that claim may have a shade of credence because of the Philippine political milieu, the fact is, according to objective legal observers, the charges have strong legal basis.

Another claim by Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella is that the timing of the case filing is meant to smear the President who’s hosting the Asean Summit in Manila to be attended by US President Donald Trump.

Aside from President Duterte, other administration official included in the ICC case are Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa who are at the forefront of the bloody war on drugs.

Gina and the NPA Meanwhile, what’s this we hear that Environment and Natural Resources Secretarydesignate Regina Lopez wants to work with the communist New People’s Army for better implementation of mining rules?

Gina’s statement must have sent shivers to mining companies. The outrageous proposal borders on treason since the

NPA is an enemy of the state.

Aside from arson, kidnapping and ambuscades of government troops, the NPA is known for extortion as it exacts revolutionary taxes on mining companies operating in far-flung places.

Miss Lopez should focus on getting herself confirmed by the bicameral Commission on Appointments. Bypassed by the CA but reappointed by the President, Gina still faces rough sailing in the CA especially after her recent run-in with a BusinessWorld reporter. For being persistent in interviewing Lopez, Gina called the reporter a “mere employee” while lacing her abrasive language with the “f” word.

For sure the CA members will take note of this incident in determining Gina’s fitness for the position of DENR secretary.

As Environment secretary, Miss Lopez has just polluted the air with her foul and toxic language. It’s rather odd that her demeanor with the BusinessWorld reporter runs against the grain of the Hare Krishna group which she joined in India when she was a young rebellious daughter of the rich Lopez family.

The big question is why Digong still supports Gina even as he attacks the Lopez-owned ABS-CBN television network for being biased in its coverage of him.

Avril au Portugal?

SO I SEE LITO BANAYO AS THE month of April closes, it is rather reassuring to note that Frexit may not happen after all. Frexit stands of course for France exiting the European Union, similar to what Great Britain did after a close call in a referendum last year.

French voters trooped to the polls a few days back and the tally shows Emmanuel Macron, the 39-year-old founder of a movement called (En Marche, translated as Moving Forward), an investment banker whose first try at electoral politics is the presidency no less, led the multi-candidate elections with 24 percent of the vote.

Following him is Marine Le Pen, the 48-year-old leader of the right-wing National Front, with 21.4 percent of the vote. Closely following is Francois Fillon, the candidate of the Republicans, with almost 20 percent.

Under France’s presidential cum parliamentary system, the two front-runners, Macron and Le Pen, will face each other in a run-off battle come May 7, during which period the other candidates who did not fare as well would throw their support to one of the two front-runners.

Le Pen wants an insular France, and running on populist promises in a country wracked by increasing terrorist affronts and high unemployment rates, she would eventually disengage France from the EU. Frexit,

Erap...

From A4

“Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his wife, Liza Araneta Marcos, and Senators Richard Gordon, Loren Legarda, and Manny Pacquiao.

In the first senatorial elections in 1987 after the 1986 People Power, only two opposition candidates, Erap and Enrile, survived the Cory Aquino juggernaut.

Long-time Makati Mayor Binay was Estrada’s running mate when the former president sought reelection in 2010. Binay won as VP but Estrada lost, to Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III. Binay was later defeated by Duterte in the May 2016 presidential elections. Bongbong Marcos ran in 2016 for president but lost by a hairline margin to Leni Robredo. De Venecia was trounced by Estrada for the presidency in the 1998 presidential elections.

Absent was former President Fidel V. Ramos (1992-1998), who called Estrada to say he had a previous commitment.

Former President Aquino III (2010-2016) was not invited.

As president, Aquino had maneuvered to charge Estrada’s popular actor-senator son, Jinggoy

after Brexit.

Macron, who would be the youngest French president ever elected, is more of a centrist. An investment banker who resigned from the cabinet of Francois Hollande before plunging into an independent run which many pooh-poohed for a while, he wants France to remain a strong member of the EU. Will France swing to the far right, and elect a female Trump with more rabid political instincts? Or having seen how the Donald acts and reacts on the world stage, go for the more moderate Macron who promises more stability in marching forward?

The betting is on Macron, even if Le Pen’s electoral showing has been quite remarkable, considering previous electoral defeats of her father. As of this writing, indications from Francois Fillon’s statements asking France to reject extremism indicate that Emmanuel Macron would likely be the run-off winner. Even the incumbent and lame duck Hollande publicly said he would vote for Macron.

Europe and the rest of the world should breathe more easily then. *** But why Portugal?

Because our comely vice-president, who celebrated her 52nd birthday recently, spoke before a student forum at the UP Los Baños and cited Portugal as a “triumphant” example of “best practices” in the war against drugs.

Decrying as she always does the iron-fisted approach of the President against drug pushers, dealers and the entire evil riffraff of the nefarious trade,

our vice president offered the example of Portugal as a good alternative.

Her staff should have done beyond basic research, and our vice president should have gone into deeper analysis.

On July 1, 2001, the government of Portugal decriminalized drug-use provided the same is done for “recreational use.”

Only administrative penalties are now imposed, and rehabilitation efforts strengthened.

Portugal, an old country on the west and southwest of the Iberian Peninsula with an area about one-third of the Philippines, has a population of only 10.4 million people.

The Philippines, as well we know, has 104 million people, or ten times more numerous.

Moreover, the per capita income of the Portuguese is $18,700 per annum (as of 2015), while ours is less than a sixth of this, at $ 2,861 in 2015.

It is not the chemical metampethamine or “shabu” that kills the brain which the few Portuguese drug addicts or users enjoy for “recreational use.”

Well-off addicts go for cocaine, and this is what Colombia and their Mexican cohorts “export” clandestinely to Europe. Even heroin from the poppy fields of Asia.

Vice President Leni touts again the recurring drug cartel occurrence in Mexico and Colombia as “failures” because violence does not solve the menace.

That is precisely what President Digong wants the Philippines not to degenerate into: a narco-state where the drug lords and their syndicates are

almost as powerful than the national government itself, and in some cases, already rule certain provinces and cities with greater power than the State itself.

Our vice president should look at closer examples, like Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan, where strong-arm tactics and determined government action and enforcement nipped the drug trade in the bud, instead of looking at the Atlantic seaboard.

Previous governments, and her political allies more so, slept during the long night when drugs proliferated to the point of near-saturation in these benighted islands, or co-habited even with the drug menace.

Duterte inherited a mess, and no less than draconian measures are needed to stem the tide.

Would that we can invest in enough jails and rehabilitation centers with which to house the few millions who use illegal and dangerous substances, or the pushers who supply them. We do not have the kind of money countries like Portugal or the Netherlands have. And in this country, the victims of the drug menace are people who would rob, rape and kill in their druginduced madness just to satisfy their cravings for the poison.

Oh well, after visiting South Africa together with her Liberal companions in early April for some kind of an ideological conference of sorts, would the vice president want to sashay into the balmy shores of the Algarve, and hum the lovely tune of Avril au Portugal, comme Yvette Giraud or Eartha Kitt? But that was in the fifties, and our vice president wasn’t even born then.

Estrada, to be arrested and jailed (until now) on charges of plunder, a nonbailable crime.

Former senator Jinggoy was given a four-hour furlough by the anti-graft court to be present at his father’s party. He sang two emotional songs for dad and joined his 10 other siblings (by different mothers) for a chorus to greet their father.

Estrada said Jinggoy’s presence at his party is one of the best gifts he received on his 80th birthday.

He expressed hope truth would prevail in Jinggoy’s case.

Now on his second term as Manila mayor, Estrada served briefly as chief executive, 30 months (June 30, 1998 to January 20, 2001), despite being elected with the most number of votes then (10.7-million votes) cast for a winning presidential candidate, and the biggest electoral margin (6.46 million) over his nearest opponent, then speaker De Venecia.

In 2001, then vice president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo led a church-backed US-inspired military coup to oust the popular but anti-American Estada amid allegations of corruption. Then Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson made allegations that then President Estrada received illegal payoffs from (jueteng)

gambling lords, prompting what became known as Edsa Dos, an orchestrated People Power.

In April 2001, Estrada was accused of plunder and arrested.

Plunder being nonbailable, he was jailed while on trial, from 2001 to September 2007 when he was convicted by the anti-graft court Sandigan which Estrada described as kangaroo court and which Harvard-educated lawyer Rene Saguisag, one of Estrada’s defense lawyers, sneered at as being “programmed to convict. We never had a chance.”

On Oct. 25, 2007, President Arroyo granted Estrada full and unconditional pardon and restoring his civil and political rights. He was free after six years and eight months of incarceration.

In May 2010, Estrada ran for president, placing second to Noynoy Aquino whose victory was boosted by his mother dying in August 2009 triggering an emotional backlash in his favor, and the change in leadership and shift in loyalty of the powerful Iglesia ni Cristo which had always supported Erap’s electoral battles.

Aquino got 15.28-million votes; Estrada 9.487 million. Erap notes that the INC had three-million votes, plus the bandwagon effect.

If 3.0 million were deducted from Aquino’s 15.28 million and added to Erap’s 9.487, the former would end up with just 12.2-million votes and Estrada would win with 12.487-million votes.

In the May 2013 local elections, Estrada ran for mayor and won handily in Manila. He sought reelection in May 2016 and won by a slim margin after four former Manila mayors ganged up on him —Alfredo Lim, Lito Atienza, Mel Lopez, and the family of Ramon Bagatsing.

“Being Manila mayor is my last hurrah and my last great performance,” says the former actor who initially became rich by appearing in 200 movies and becoming a Hall of Famer, both as five-time Best Actor and five-time Best Producer, mostly by playing the role of the underrated and the downtrodden.

Erap then bankrolled his movie popularity into one of the most amazing careers in Philippine politics.

These days, the mayor and former president is guided, he says, by a passage in the Lord’s Prayer, which he recites daily—“forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” biznewsasia@gmail.com

A6

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

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Give up guns if you wish to help DENR, NPA told

By John Paolo Bencito THE New People’s Army should surrender first their firearms as a precondition before Environment Secretary Regina Lopez could hire them to help her pursue her crackdown on mining, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Monday.

At the sidelines of a news briefing in Malacañang, AFP spokesperson Restituto Padilla said that while the move “may give way to localized peace talks,” the NPA should first dispose their highpowered firearms before striking a deal with Lopez.

“If they wanted to help, they should lay down their arms,” Padilla said.

On Thursday last week, Lopez signified her willingness to work with the NPAs in Agusan province “to establish an Ecological, Economic and Educational (E3) zone in communities” around mining sites in the province—a move welcomed by Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison.

Lopez’s decision, however, met initial opposition from security

IN BRIEF Rep. Jimenez, 70 MANILA’S 6th District Representative Mark Jimenez passed away last April 25 at 6 a.m.

He was 70 years old.

Jimenez left his 13 children.

His body will lie in state at Funeraria Rey in Pandacan on 27 and 28 of April with Masses to be held at 7 p.m. He will be interred at the Heritage Park in Taguig. Another Mass will be held on Saturday, April 29, 7 p.m., and a final Mass at 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 30.

SC asked to define ‘inordinate delay’ OMBUDSMAN Conchita Carpio Morales on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to review the doctrine of “inordinate delay” over the dismissal of cases filed before the Sandiganbayan for the current year.

At a news conference, Morales called on Supreme Court Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno to set standards or guidelines in the determination of what an ordinate delay was.

This after she expressed alarm over the anti-graft court’s dismissal of more than 25 cases for supposed delays in the prosecution.

“We have requested or moved the Supreme Court to revisit the inordinate delay doctrine,” she said.

On March 23, the Ombudsman filed a motion with the Sandiganbayan seeking the suspension of inordinate delay rule in acquitting defendants in graft and corruption cases.

Morales said the Supreme Court must issue standardized guidelines to “enlighten once and for all trial judges, to know when we start counting and what is it all about.”

The Ombudsman challenged the dismissal of graft raps against ex-Government Security Insurance System president Winston Garcia, Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. and Nova Princess Parojinog, Anda, Pangasinan Mayor Aldrin Cerdan, Masbate Gov. Antonio Kho, Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Aurora Cerilles, and 12 officials from the Philippine National Construction Corp., among others. Rio N. Araja and Herand Kezia Pandaan

Aguirre welcomes Jurado to OGCC DEPARTMENT of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Tuesday welcomed the appointment of Rudolf Philip Jurado, one of the lawyers of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, as the new head of Office of the Government Corporate Counsel.

The OGCC, a line agency under the supervision of the DoJ, serves as the legal counsel of all government-owned and -controlled corporations, their subsidiaries, other corporate offsprings. ”We welcome to the DoJ Family the newly appointed head of the OGCC, Atty. Rodulf Philip B. Jurado. We hope that he will lead the OGCC towards attaining our reform-oriented targets as one Department under the Duterte Administration. We are looking forward to working with him,” Aguirre said in a statement.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the appointment papers of Jurado last April 18 and the DoJ released Jurado’s appointment letter to the media on Monday.

Joel E. Zurbano

forces, who asked the Environment chief to instead partner with “legitimate organizations and reliable partners” such as the military.

Padilla said that partnering with the NPA would only “pose danger to other citizens” if they will be left roaming around with firearms.

“Yes of course, because anyone who possess firearms pose danger to other citizens. There’s only a number of legitimate organizations who can bring firearms, and that is the military and the police. All else, it must be registered,” AFP spokesperson Restituto Padilla said.

“Do you think the NPA has registered firearms? I don’t think so,” he added.

The military spokesman said that they have already sent liaisons to work with the DENR on how to pursue operations in the heavily-mined provinces.

In the ongoing peace negotiations between the government and the reds, among the contentious issues left to be discussed are the issues on the cessation of hostilities and disposition of firearms.

TENSE SITUATION. Police and military troops secure the Parang Police station after 50 Moro Islamic Liberation Front members harassed a

police station by firing their guns into the air. The police station was manned by Police Chief Insp. Erwin Tabora as the rest of his men were attending the burial of a fellow policeman. Tabora’s team from the Regional Public Safety Company on Sunday arrested MILF Kumander Dimauntay and confiscated his firearm. The police later released the rebel leader, but kept his firearm. Dimauntay’s group has demanded the return of the firearm, sparking tension in the town of Parang in Maguindanao. Mark Navales

Collapse of housing program seen

By Maricel V. Cruz

T

HE chairman of the House committee on housing and urban development on Tuesday warned of a possible collapse of the government’s housing program following the forceful takeover of Kadamay members of several housing units in Bulacan.

Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez, the panel chairman, said the urban poor group’s arbitrary takeover of some 5,000 government-built housing units in Pandi and San Jose del Monte Bulacan last month suffered “a further 50 percent reduction” in collection rate of the National

Housing Authority.

“The then only 30 percent collection of the NHA now becomes 15 percent because of the Kadamay incident,” said Benitez, who led other congressmen who conducted an ocular inspection of the housing units.

Because of the weak collection

rate of the NHA, the housing program of the government might collapse,” Benitez said.

Benitez said that the only way to prevent the collapse of the government housing program would be through a “forceful eviction program.”

Benitez added that the illegal takeover of the Kadamay members in the housing units in Bulacan would not be permanent.

Benitez has filed House Resolution 11 that seeks to authorize the NHA to award unoccupied and unawarded housing units of uniformed police and military personnel to other qualified beneficiaries.

Benitez said Republic Act 10352 and RA 10633 or the

2013 and the 2014 General Appropriations Act appropriated P5.6 billion and P5.45 billion, respectively for the Armed Forces, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Corrections housing program.

“Years after the implementation, several housing units constructed under the AFP/ PNP Housing Project are still unoccupied as verified by the Commission on Audit Report, which reported that the occupancy rate of the completed housing units for said program is at mere 8.09 percent,” Benitez said.

He said the same CoA report also stated that the non-use by the intended beneficiaries of

the housing units under the said housing project resulted to loss of revenues on the part of the government, unnecessary exposure of the units to unfavorable weather condition and non-attainment of the objective of the program.

“The NHA may instead identiy alternative beneficiaries and beneficiary-specific sites such as in the case of public school teachers living within the area, employees in the local government concerned where the housing units are constructed.

Barangay employees and functionaries and informal settlers who could all benefit from the unoccupied housing units,” Benitez said in his resolution.

Department of Education REGION IV-A CALABARZON Gate 2 Karangalan Drive Cainta, Rizal lnvitation to Bid RE-BID TRAINING ON DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE PRACTICES IN EARLY LANGUAGE, LITERACY AND NUMERACY (Batch 2)

MOA ON HEALTH AND FITNESS. Rep. Linabelle Ruth R. Villarica (seated, left), president of the

Association of Women Legislators Foundation Inc., signs a Memorandum of Agreement with Department of Health Assistant Secretary Leonita Gorgolon, M.D (seated, 2nd from left) for the turnover of fitness and sports equipment as requested by the DOH to aid in the rehabilitation of residents of the Mega Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Nueva Ecija. AWLFI members who witnessed the MOA signing and the turnover of equipment such as treadmills, stationary bikes, complete gears for table tennis, volleyball and basketball, among others, were Rep. Rose Marie Arenas, AWLFI senior vice president; Rep. Ma. Lourdes Aggabao; Rep. Emerenciana de Jesus, AWLFI vice president for Party List; Rep. Micaela Violago; Rep. Cecilia Leonila Chavez; and Rep. Rosanna Vergara, AWLFI assistant auditor.

Customs exceeds collection in 1st quarter

By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Customs exceeded its revenue collection target for the first quarter of 2017 by 0.6 percent as the agency continues to implement reforms to improve collection and stop all forms of illegal activities.

The agency collected P104.9 billion in revenues for the first quarter of the year, up 0.6 percent from the P104.28 billion collection target set for the period.

The BoC’s Financial Service said the figure was 15.6 percent higher than the P90.752 billion reported during the same period last year.

Ten of 17 collection districts exceeded their target revenues from January to March, thereby improving the bureau’s col-

lection performance.

The ports of Limay, Subic, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro were among the district ports that exceeded their collection targets.

The Port of Limay’s actual take amounted to P6.859 billion, up 4 percent from P6.828-billion target.

The Port of Cagayan de Oro collected P3.047 billion, 16 percent higher against the P2.624billion target.

The Port of Davao’s collection was placed at P3.648 billion, exceeding by 15.8 percent its target of P3.151 billion.

On the other hand, the 16.2 percent increase in the collection of the Port of Subic contributed dramatically to the spike in collection performance. Subic’s total collection amounted to P4.271 billion as against its P3.677-billion target.

Other ports that hit the target

collections include the Port of Clark, P349.1 million, or 14.6 percent higher than the P304.7 million target; Port of Zamboanga, P124.4 million, or 132.6 percent higher than the P53.5 million target; Port of Tacloban, P61.7 million, or 20.4 percent higher than the P51.3 million target; Port of Iloilo, P677.3 million, or 16.8 percent higher than the P579.8 million target; Port of Legaspi, P151.6 million, or 157.3 percent higher than the P58.9 million target and Port of San Fernando, P749.4 million, or 39 percent higher than the P539.2 million target.

Meanwhile, the Port of Manila and the Manila International Container Port posted P16.088 billion and P31.947 billion, respectively. Both ports are also within their collection targets.

The Department of Education, Region lV-4, through the 2017 General Appropriation Act intends to apply the sum of Seven Million Eight Hundred Twenty Thousand Pesos Only Php7,820,400.00) only being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to eligible payments under the contract for the provision of venue for the Board & Lodging of the participants to the Regional Enhancement Training on Developmentally Appropriate Practices in Early Language, Literacy and Numeracy (Batch 2).. Bids received in excess of the ABC per Cluster shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Cluster I -------------------------------ABC------Php1, 873, 200.00 Cavite-----------------223 pax Cluster ll-------------------------------ABC------Php2, 007, 600.00 Laguna---------------239 Pax Cluster lll -----------------------------ABC------Php1, 402, 800.00 Batangas -----------167 pax Cluster IV-------------------------------ABC-----Php2, 536, 800.00 Quezon -------------302 pax The Department of Education Region lV-A, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), now invites bids for the herein-mentioned Goods. Bidders must have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project with an amount of at least 50% of the ABC to be bid.

The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, i.e., in Section ll, lnstructions to Bidders. Bids received that exceed the ABC shall be rejected at bid opening.

Contract duration----------seven (7) days (date to be announced) Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the implementing Rules and Regulations (lRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be inspected or purchased at DepED lV-A BAC Secretariat, located at Supply Office, Gate 2 Karangalan Drive, Cainta, Rizal upon accomplishing a bidder’s information sheet and payment in cash of a non-refundable fee by interested bidders in the amount of One Thousand Pesos (PhP 1,000.00) to the DepED IV-4 Cashier Only bidders who purchased the Bidding Documents will be allowed to submit bids.

It may be viewed or downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS), www.philgeps.net, and the website of the Procuring Entity, www.depedcalabarzon.gov provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. The schedule and venue of the procuring activities are as follows: Activity Issuance of Bidding Documents Pre-Bid Conference Submission and Opening of Bids

Date and Time Venue From April 21, 2017 - May 9, 2017 Supply Office-DepED lV-A , Gate 2 Karangalan Village, Cainta, Rizal 8:00am to 5:00pm (Mon. - Fri.) April 26, 2017, 2017 - 10:00 a.m.

RDs Conference Room May 9, 2017 - 10:00 a.m.

-same-

Prospective bidders are strongly encouraged to order or download the electronic copy of the Bidding Documents from the PhiIGEPS website: www.philgeps.net, for them to be included in the Document Request List of the project. The pre-bid conference is open-to-all interested parties who may have or have not bought the bidding documents” Bids must be delivered to the address and on the date and time stated herein. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the ITB Clause 18. A valid Bid Securing Declaration must accompany the bid(s) in lieu of a bid security.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend the opening of bids at the address, date and time stated herein. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The DepED Region lV-A reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, not award the contract(s), or annul the bidding process without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: Ann Geralyn T. Pelias BAC Chairman Virginia O. Bagacay BAC Secretariat DepED lV-A Gate 2 Karangalan Drive, Cainta, Rizal 6458406 (SGD) ANN GERALYN T. PELIAS BAC Chairman (MS-APR. 26, 2017)

Sports

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

UP aces boost Perlas’ bid T

HE Perlas Lady Spikers have tapped former UP standouts Kat Bersola and Nicole Tiamzon to reinforce their campaign in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference firing off Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan City.

Bersola and Tiamzon, who have completed their tour of duty with the Lady Maroons, will be reunited with their college coach Jerry Yee, the man at the helm of the squad bannered by the founders of Beach Volleyball Republic.

They include Charo Soriano and fellow Ateneo alumna Karla Bello.

Tiamzon and Bersola are ex-

Nicole Tiamzon (center) in action

pected to provide firepower to the Perlas team backstopped

by Brazilian spiker Rupia Inck and Japanese setter Naoko Hashimoto.

The pair will also join former Ateneo stalwarts Amy Ahomiro, Mae Tajima, Dzi Gervacio, Ella de Jesus and Jem Ferrer, Adamson’s Amanda Villanueva and the seasoned Sue Roces and Sasa Devanadera, making Per-

las one of the teams to watch in the upcoming league, the former Shakey’s V-League, organized

by Sports Vision.

“They are a big addition to our team and their youth and energy should really help us,” said Soriano.

Perlas debuts against Alyssa Valdez and the Creamline Cool Smashers in the main game of the three-match bill at 6 p.m.

The Bali Pure Water Defenders, now coached by Roger Gorayeb, and the Air Force Lady Jet Spikers, last year’s Reinforced Conference runners up, collide at 2 p.m. while the Nes Pamilarmentored Power Smashers and the Pocari Lady Warriors, the defending champions, will tangle at 4 p.m.

Zaragosa grabs top seeding in amateur golf meet RUPERT Zaragosa primed up for the knockout phase as he closed out the 36-hole stroke play elims with a solid threeunder 69 yesterday, grabbing the top seeding from erstwhile leader Jolo Magcalayo in the Philippine Amateur Open Match Play Golf Championship at the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmariñas, Cavite yesterday.

Zaragosa, who dropped a 3$2 decision to Noel Langamin in last year’s finals, hit three birdies in another scorching but windy day to string a 35-34 card and top the elims with a 142 aggregate, one ahead of Magcalayo, who slowed down with a 72 after a 71 for a 143.

Luis Castro placed third at 145 after a 72 while Langamin rebounded from a 78 with a 70 to snare fourth place at 148 with Jonas Magcalayo and Carlo Villaroman taking the next two spots with 152s after a 76 and 77, respectively, and Aniceto Mandanas and Kristoffer Arevalo winding up with 153s after identical 80s.

Yuka Saso, on the other hand, took the top seeding in women’s play with a second straight 74 for a 148 while erstwhile co-leader Harmie Constantino settled for No. 2 at 149 after a 75. Sophia Blanco gained No. 3 with a 158 after an 80 while Kayla Nocum and Korean Kim Hui Won finished with 159s after identical 79s.

Zaragosa steps up his title drive beginning at 6:30 a.m. today (Wednesday) as he takes on No. 32 Alexi Garzon at the start of the knockout phase of the event sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation and held as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Golf Tour.

Magcalayo drew Korean Won Yong Hwi while Castro squares off with Peter Asinas and Langamin battles Tommy Jeong in the other featured pairings in the tournament organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines and backed by Cignal and Metro Pacific Investment.

Saso, gunning for a second crown in as many weeks after a record 13-stroke romp in the Phl Junior Amateur at Sherwood, Constantino, Blanco and Nocum drew opening round byes in their side of the match play tipped to produce surprises and reversals.

Cagayan de Oro City mayor Oscar Moreno (center) welcomes the PBA All-Star delegation headed by commissioner Chito Narvasa upon their arrival on Tuesday.

La Salle starts title-retention bid vs JRU LA Salle sets in motion its defense of the Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup title as it sees action right away during the tournament opener on May 1 at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Archers face-off with the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers in the kick-off game of a Monday tripleheader set at 1:30 p.m.

Ateneo later takes on Lyceum in the 3:15 p.m. second game, before Adamson clashes with Arellano at 5 p.m. to cap the opening day of the league’s

11th season.

Tournament director Joey Guillermo expects a tough competition this year as all eight teams from both the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association are competing in the meet that runs until June 25.

“We see a very competitive season. All the teams are really prepared and nobody wants to be in the cellar,” said Guillermo Tuesday in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Golden Phoenix

Hotel in Pasay City.

The 18 teams had been divided into two groups.

Rivals La Salle and Ateneo are both bracketed in Group A along with Jose Rizal, Letran, Lyceum, defending NCAA champion San Beda, Perpetual Help, University of the East, and University of Santo Tomas.

Far Eastern University and National University banner Group B together with Adamson, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Mapua, San Sebastian, and University of the Philippines.

Each team is allowed to list

a total of 20 players in its roster, which is subject to change at least until the school’s third game in the tournament, said Guillermo in the session presented by San Miguel Corp., Golden Phoenix Hotel, Accel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

As an added attraction, the Filoil Flying V-Thunder, the newest commercial team to join the PBA D-League, are also seeing action in the meet and will play eight of the participating schools as part of its tune-up games.

Nickans edge Bearcats in WCA Travel Cup tilt NICKAN’S Tapsi Hauz gave its biggest surprise to frontrunner Bearcats Caloocan by scoring an upset win, 81-79, in the elimination round of the Brotherhood Basketball League “WCA Travel Cup” recently at Trinity University of Asia Gym in Quezon City.

The Tropang Caloocan led in all three quarters in double digits until the Food Specialists made an uprising, ignited by Best Player of the Game Duduy Ignacio, along with Jomari Lacastesantos, Andrei Mendoza, Chris Cayabyab and playing coach Joseph Abaya in the final quarter to catch the Bearcats with under two minutes of the game .

A booming three-pointer in

the last 28 seconds by Cayabyab sealed the win for Nickan’s 3-2 record that assured its slot in the next round, while dealing the Bearcats their first defeat in five outings in the passion division of the league organized by BBL president Erick Kirong of Macway Travel and presented

by World Cruisers Adventures Travel and Tours, headed by CEO Atty. Joven Diaz.

In the other passion match, Cocolife breezed past Breezy Brothers, 91-84.

In expert division, LTONCR flagged down K-Jeds, 108-98, while R’ Lapids, led by key player Joshua Alcober, demolished National Housing Authority, 88-76.

SECURITY PREPARATIONS. SBP Executive Director Renauld N. Barrios and SBP Legal Consultant Edgar Francisco paid a courtesy call to PDG Ronald Dela Rosa to discuss security preparations for the oncoming 12th SEABA Championship for Men and 4th SEABA U16 Championship for Men in Manila to be held from May 12 to 18 and May 14 to 18, 2017 respectively at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. In photo are SBP Legal Consultant Edgar Francisco, PDG Ronald Dela Rosa and SBP Execuitve Director Renauld N. Barrios.

Wilder wants Joshua-Klitschko winner, calls out Parker WASHINGTON—Unbeaten heavyweight Deontay Wilder will have a ringside view of rival champions Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko in their Wembley Stadium unification showdown on Saturday with hopes to fight the winner by December.

The 31-year-old American, who owns the World Boxing Council crown, will serve as a television analyst when Britain’s unbeaten Joshua defends his International Boxing Federation crown and vies for the vacant World Boxing Association title against Klitschko before a sellout crowd of more than 90,000.

“I’m excited to be going to England,”

Wilder said. “I’m looking forward to getting my own bird’s eye view of both fighters for a future fight. I’m definitely going over there to scout. I’m looking for a fighting partner.”

When it comes to picking a winner, Wilder is torn, saying, “My heart goes to Joshua but my mind says Klitschko.”

Wilder, 38-0 with 37 knockouts, has owned the WBC crown for two years and wants a July fight with New Zealand’s unbeaten Joseph Parker, the World Boxing Organization champion, with that winner to meet the JoshuaKlitschko victor.

“Whoever unifies is going to bring

another era to the heavyweight division —one name, one champion, once and for all. Undisputed. It’s going to be better for boxing. You’ll see a different atmosphere,” Wilder said.

“I’m confident I’m the best in the division. I will unify the division. I’m just being patient and waiting for my time to come.”

Parker, 22-0 with 18 knockouts, had a planned May fight against Britain’s Hughie Fury called off on Saturday.

“I want Parker in July,” Wilder said.

“Why not? He don’t have any opponent now. Let’s unify. Let’s make it happen. It makes so much sense.

“What would be better than me fighting Parker and then at the end of the year fighting for one undisputed title? I’m looking forward to unifying this division and bringing it back to America.”

‘Joshua has flaws’ Wilder took some verbal swipes at Joshua and Klitschko, citing the Englishman’s past foes as lackluster and the ex-champion as possibly too far past his prime.

“There’s a lot of flaws Joshua has,” Wilder said. “He’s still young in the game.

He’s going off the physique and the height.

If you deep down soul search and look at his resume, you’ll get your answer. AFP

Cloudfone presents pro loop’s Obstacle Challenge CLOUDFONE is presenting the 2017 PBA All-Stars Obstacle Challenge competition at the Quezon Convention Center on Friday where Rain or Shine guard Ahanmisi seeks a titlerepeat versus a slew of tough challengers.

Ahanmisi looks to become the fourth player to defend the Obstacle Challenge crown after Rob Johnson, Willie Miller and Jonas Villanueva.

Challenging Ahanmisi are Alaska’s Simon Enciso, Blackwater’s Roi Sumang, GInebra’s Sol Mercado, GlobalPort’s Stanley Pringle, Mahindra’s LA Revilla, NLEX’s Eman Monfort, Meralco’s Ed Daquiaog, Phoenix’s RJ Jazul, Star’s Justin Melton and San Miguel’s Alex Cabagnot.

PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa said they’re happy to partner with Cloudfone in staging the event, one of the three regular skills contests in the PBA All-Star Spectacle.

Cloudfone is a mobile phone brand introduced in 2010 and has grown tremendously in volume and in value under the leadership of Cellprime chief executive officer Eric Yu. “We offer premium, quality phones at affordable prices. Affordable is not equal to cheap. We want to correct the thinking that if you pay cheap, you get a cheap product. With every device, we give the best,” said Yu. “It is with the same heart that we support the PBA as it also has a vision to taking basketball to greater heights for the Filipino people,” he added.

Far Eastern U, NU in volley game of death FAR Eastern Game today: University Flying V Centre) hopes to com- 2 p.m.(Filoil – FEU vs NU (Men Semis) plete a reversal against twiceto-beat National University in the semifinal decider of the UAAP Season 79 men’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre today.

After failing in their first two tries, the Tamaraws finally figured out how to beat the Bulldogs this season, hacking out a 2225, 26-24, 28-26, 25-17 victory to stave off elimination last Sunday.

The winner of the FEU-NU tussle will take on undefeated Ateneo in the best-ofthree championship series. (Official schedule will be announced later.)

“Ibibigay namin ang best namin,” said coach Rey Diaz, who is on his second season handling the Tamaraws.

Greg Dolor and Ronchette Villegas, who are on their final season with FEU, try to extend their collegiate careers as the duo will try to bring the Morayta-based spikers in the title round for the first time since the 2012-13 season.

The Tamaraws, who have won two straight do-or-die matches, hope that they will learn the lessons in Game 1, where they committed a lot of errors in the opening set.

“Kailangang sa umpisa muna, maging relaxed para makuha ang rhythm namin,” said Diaz, who also credited the efforts of his predecessors George Pascua, Joseph Santos and Kid Santos and even women’s volleyball coach Shaq delos Santos for helping FEU get back on track this season.

Bryan Bagunas, James Natividad and Madz Gampong will be the vital cogs for the Bulldogs if they want to meet the Blue Eagles for the third straight Finals.

NU has been in the title round in the last four seasons.

LOTTO RESULTS

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

P0.0 M+ P0.0 M+

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

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017

Sports

Ilustre sets new mark

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) glides to the basket against the Portland Trail Blazers during Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 24 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. AFP

Curry explosion powers Warriors past Portland L

OS ANGELES —The Golden State Warriors swept into the second round of the NBA playoffs on Monday with a crushing 128-103 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Stephen Curry scored 37 points with eight assists and seven rebounds as the Warriors completed a four-game sweep of the best-ofseven Western Conference firstround series against the Blazers.

Curry sat out the entire fourth quarter of a game the Warriors dominated from opening tip.

Their 45 first-quarter points matched an NBA playoff record for points in an opening quarter, and they were up by 24 at halftime.

“We came out on a mission,” Curry said. “It was a great way to put our foot on the gas pedal and get a win.”

PBA stars battle Gilas Pilipinas

By Jeric Lopez FOR the first time in league history, the Philippine Basketball Association showcases its unique week-long all-star festivities.

The Mindanao leg, the first of three legs, will showcase the PBA’s top players from Mindanao going up against the Smart Gilas Pilipinas National team.

The two protagonists will take on each other in the exhibition match at 7 p.m. at the Xavier University in Cagayan De Oro City tonight.

Star Hotshots coach Chito Victolero will be making his first All-Star appearance after being selected to call the shots for the Mindanao selection.

The Mindanao All-Stars will battle the Smart Gilas Pilipinas National team as part of the buildup for tournaments ahead, particulary the SEABA next month.

Victolero will have his players Mark Barroca, Peter June Simon and Rafi Reavis from the Hotshots, Barangay Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson and Phoenix Petroleum’s Cyrus Baguio.

Other members of the team are Troy Rosario, Sonny Thoss, Baser Amer, RR Garcia, Carlo Lastimosa and Glenn Khobuntin.

The Luzon and Visayas leg of the All-Star week will follow on Friday and Sunday, respectively.

The Warriors now await either the Los Angeles Clippers or Utah Jazz, whose series was tied at two games apiece.

In Eastern Conference action, the Raptors forged a 3-2 series lead with a 118-93 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in Toronto.

Norman Powell, making his second start of the series, produced 25 points to help the Raptors move within one win of reaching the second round, with game six in Milwaukee on Thursday. “(Powell) is a sparkplug,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said.

“He’s the X-factor.”

Kyle Lowry added 16 points and 10 assists for the Raptors while Serge Ibaka contributed 19 points, DeMar DeRozan had 18, DeMarre Carroll added 12 and Cory Joseph scored 10 off the bench.

But Bucks coach Jason Kidd said Powell’s energy had added another dimension for the Raptors.

“He’s playing extremely hard and he’s knocking down shots, but he’s in there to play defense and he’s playing at a very high level for those guys right now. ... He’s picked them up here in the last couple of games just with his energy and spirit.”

The winners of the series will face the reigning NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers, who swept the Indiana Pacers in four games. The Cavs beat the Raptors in the Eastern Conference finals last season.

The Atlanta Hawks defeated

the Washington Wizards 111-101 to knot their Eastern Conference series at two games each.

Dennis Schroder shook off early foul trouble and a scoreless first half to finish with 18 points for the Hawks.

Paul Millsap led the Hawks with 19 points and Dwight Howard delivered his best performance of the series with 16 points and 15 rebounds.

Atlanta out-scored Washington 31-15 in the second quarter and led 59-50 at halftime.

The Wizards responded with a 10-2 scoring run to open the third quarter and they were tied 77-77 going into the fourth.

The Hawks gained control with a 14-5 scoring run in the final period. Schroder made two threepointers, a jump shot and a driving layup in the final four minutes.

Bradley Beal scored 32 points to

lead the Wizards, who host game five on Wednesday.

Draymond Green added 21 points for the Warriors. Kevin Durant, who missed the last two games with a left calf injury, scored 10 points in just 20 minutes on the floor.

Six Warriors players scored in double figures as Golden state connected on 53.5 percent of their shots from the field, including 17 of 29 from three-point range.

Damian Lillard scored 34 points and Al-Farouq Aminu chipped in 25 for Portland, but the Trail Blazers never really threatened.

The Warriors scored the first six points of the third quarter to stretch their lead to 30 points.

Curry’s three-pointer with seven minutes to play in the third made it 91-58, and Portland wouldn’t get closer than 23 points the rest of the way. AFP

SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique—Defending champion Maurice Sacho Ilustre lowered a meet record he set two years ago by more than three minutes, and moved closer to a Philippine junior mark.

The 17-year-old Ilustre drew raves after he finished the secondary boys 200-meter backstroke event in two minutes, 44.88 seconds yesterday in the start of the 2017 Palarong Pambansa swimming competitions.

His clocking was better than the meet mark of 2:07.28 which Ilustre set back in 2015, and it was close to Jessie Khing Lacuna’s national 16-18 year old record time of 2:03.01 set in the 2010 Asian Games.

He even surpassed the time of James Walsh (2:06.76), in the 2004 Olympiad.

“This is my favorite. I made a big splash in the second 100-meter mark of my race,” said Ilustre, who earned two medals that afternoon after he earlier took the 400-meter freestyle honors.

A total of four swim records fell. The next two came after newcomer Jerald Jacinto earned also two golds after he reset the meet mark in the secondary boys 100-meter backstroke mark twice, and anchored NCR to a record finish in the 4x50meter medley relays.

Then, there’s La Salle Zobel standout Nicole Meah Pamintuan, who reset the four-year-old mark in the 100-meter backstroke in the preliminaries, 1:07.12, before winning the gold in the finals on a slower time.

Region 11’s Mathieu Tao shared the limelight with two golds in the elementary boys 200 meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke.

Sylvann Faith Abunda had to wait four years to get another shot at a podium finish but her patience was rewarded with her first ever Palaro gold medal.

The 17-year-old Abunda heaved a 42.85 meters on her fourth attempt in secondary girls javelin throw, shattering a record that belonged to her teammate.

This handed Northern Mindanao(Region 10) its second gold medal on Day 4, and in the athletics meet yesterday in the 2017 Palarong Pambansa at the Binirayan Sports Complex oval here.

Sharapova returns from suspension STUTTGART, Germany—From the shadow of Chernobyl’s nuclear wasteland to international superstardom and from penniless arrival in the United States, without a word of English, to a fortune of $200 million.

It may sound like the stuff of Hollywood dreams, but the story of Maria Sharapova is a testament to the power of one individual to make it, whatever the odds, whatever the controversy, whatever people think.

On Wednesday in Stuttgart, the 30-year-old will return from a 15-month doping suspension to open the next chapter.

When she takes to the court to face Roberta Vinci, it will be to the consternation of many opponents and the relief, albeit privately, of a women’s tour left flagging by the absence of Serena Williams, probably Sharapova’s only serious rival in the arena-filling business.

Sharapova shot to international fame as a giggly 17-year-old Wimbledon winner in 2004—the third youngest player to conquer the All England Club’s famous grass courts.

She would go on to win the Australian and US Opens while claiming two titles at the French Open, despite famously likening her movement on Roland Garros’s crushed red brick to a “cow on ice”.

Siberia-born Sharapova first picked up a racquet at the age of four in Sochi, where her Belarusborn parents had settled after escaping the deadly clutches of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

Spotted by Martina Navratilova, she was encouraged to move to Nick Bollettieri’s Florida academy, the proving ground of Andre Agassi and Monica Seles.

Father Yuri and the sevenyear-old Maria left for the US in 1994 with just $700 (644 euros)

to their names.

Yuri took odd jobs like dishwashing to finance his daughter’s dreams although visa restrictions meant mother Yelena was back in Russia, separated from her daughter for two years.

When Sharapova was nine, the mighty IMG group spotted her talent and funded the $35,000 fees required for the Bollettieri school.

She made her professional debut at 14 in 2001 and by 2003 reached the world top 50. She won her first tour titles in Japan and Quebec.

Then in 2004, her Wimbledon final triumph over Williams made her an overnight international celebrity.

One year later, she became the first Russian woman to be ranked number one in the world while, in 2006, she won her second major at the US Open.

But in 2007 and 2008, she began her long, on-off battle with shoulder trouble. AFP

Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova, banned for doping, goes to the back entrance of a tennis hall in Stuttgart, southern Germany, on April 24. Sharapova’s 15-month doping ban—imposed for testing positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open—comes to an end, and she prepares for her fist match during the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix tournament running until April 30. AFP

Tenorio earns Player of the Week award

Barangay Ginebra point guard LA Tenorio (5) tries to dribble past TNT KaTropa defender Kris Rosales. Tenorio led Ginebra to back-to-back victories to earn Player of the Week award.

BARANGAY Ginebra point guard led his team to back-to-back victories the past week to capture his second Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of Week citation.

The Ginebra court general played a significant role as the Kings beat winless NLEX Road Warriors, 101-92 last Wednesday and then humbled powerhouse TNT KaTropa, 101-82 in a battle of streaking squads on Sunday.

Tenorio averaged 17 points, 5.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals in Ginebra’s last two games to best San Miguel Beer’s Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter, Ginebra teammate Japeth

Aguilar, Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters veteran guards Cyrus Baguio and RJ Jazul, Star Hotshots combo guard Paul Lee, TNT’s Jayson Castro and GlobalPort Batang Pier’s FilAmerican guard Stanley Pringle.

The 32-year-old Tenorio teamed up beautifully with import Justin Brownlee in a vicious 42-point, third-quarter scoring rampage which helped Ginebra turn a tight contest into a one-sided affair against NLEX last Wednesday.

He finished with 13 points, five assists, 3 steals and two rebounds for the league’s most popular ball club.

Four days later, Tenorio took advantage of TNT’s porous perimeter defense to fire four of his five three-pointers in the final period to help Ginebra snare its fourth straight win after losing its conference debut against Phoenix.

Tenoro finished the game with 21 points, six assists, three rebounds and a steal in 33 minutes of action.

The Gin Kings, along with the other teams in the PBA, will take a long break to make way for the PBA All-Star Week. They return to action on May 7 against the Alaska Aces.

China firm eyes BNPP operation B3

Business

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

SM Prime spending P100b in two years

Closing April 25, 2017

8500 8000 7500 7000 6500 6000

SM PRIME Holdings Inc., the country’s largest integrated property developer, is spending at least P100 billion in 2017 and 2018 to support the company’s five-year development program.

SM Prime president Jeffrey Lim said in an interview following the annual stockholders’ meeting the company would invest at least P50 billion a year over the next two years to fund the construction of shopping malls and residential projects and land banking activities.

“SM Prime will continue to expand its mall and residential businesses which are the major revenue drivers. We will further reach out to provincial cities as an integrated property developer and as a strategic SM Prime Holdings Inc. chairman Henry Sy (left) presides over the annual stockholders’ meeting at the SMX Convention Center Mall of Asia Compartner, given the tremendous plex, Pasay City. With him are SM Prime president Jeffrey Lim (center) and director and executive committee chairman Hans Sy. Bobby Cabrera opportunities in light of higher government spending on infrastructure development across the country,” Lim said.

Under a five-year roadmap covering 2014-2018, SM Prime plans to double its net income and revenues by building more malls, hotels, office towers and residential projects.

SM Prime this year is scheduled to open five new malls in the Philippines outside Metro The discussions are with poten- Reyes said, adding the sale Manila. These are SM CDO

By Alena Mae S. Flores tial investors that are not group would not have an impact on the Downtown Premier in Cagayan related,” Pangilinan said. company’s plans. de Oro, SM Cherry Antipolo in WO foreign companies have expressed He said the PLDT Group “It will not be sold within the Rizal, SM Center Tuguegarao “serious” interest to acquire part of the planned to use proceeds of the group,” the Meralco official said.

Downtown in Cagayan, SM “essentially to reduce debt at Meralco shares are owned by City Puerto Princesa in Palaholdings of PLDT Inc. in Manila Electric sale the PLDT level” and a portion to Beacon, JG Summit Holdings wan and SM Center Lemery in Co., which are held by Beacon Electric Assets pay the balance installment due Inc. and Metro Pacific, while Batangas. to San Miguel Corp. some stocks are held by the pubSM Prime by the end of Holdings Inc. “Because we want to bring lic.

2017 will have 65 malls in the Pangilinan said in August last Philippines and seven in China “The sale of Meralco shares terest in Meralco through Bea- back net debt ratio to around two with an estimated combined is really being undertaken by con, which was valued last year times by year end 2017,” Pang- year the group was in discussions with a number of interested ingross floor area of 9.2 million PLDT. Selling its 25 percent at around “north of P26.2 bil- ilinan said.

PLDT and rival Globe Telecom vestors on the sale of Beacon’s square meters. stake in Beacon. Beacon in turn lion.” Beacon is a special purowns 35 percent, so we are talk- pose company owned jointly by Inc. last year jointly acquired 100 shares in PLDT. Meralco is the country’s biging about a little over 8 percent Metro Pacific Investments Corp. percent of San Miguel’s Vega attributable interest in Meralco,” and PLDT Communications and Telecom Inc. for P52.08 billion gest power distributor with over and assumed P17.02 billion of li- six million customers in its franMeralco chairman Manuel Pan- Energy Ventures Inc. chise area. gilinan told reporters.

“At the moment I think PLDT abilities.

PH, UAE schedule Meralco president Oscar Reyes The company reported MonPangilinan, who is also chair- is in the process of talking to air talks in Cebu man of PLDT, said the sale of some of the investors in the sale confirmed the sale involved a day that net income increased the shares to the investors might of their stake at the Beacon lev- portion of Beacon’s stake in 6 percent in the first quarter to THE Philippines and United Arab P4.8 billion from P4.5 billion a be concluded in the first half of el. That’ where it is today, and if Meralco.

Emirates are set to hold air talks “Definitely it will be sold to year ago, on higher electricity this week in a bid to increase the year. there is an agreement reached, flight frequencies between the two PLDT has an 8.7 percent in- we will make an announcement. an outsider but I’m not to privy,” sales.

2 foreign firms eye 8% PLDT stake in Meralco T

IN BRIEF

ERC will remain independent—Cusi ENERGY Secretary Alfonso Cusi assured the public the Energy Regulatory Commission will remain independent even if it will be placed under the Energy Department’s supervision.

Cusi has asked President Rodrigo Duterte to put ERC under the “administrative supervision” of the department to protect the interest of the consumers and industry stakeholders in the midst of the ongoing internal squabble within the regulator.

“It (ERC) will remain independent with their functions. Like PNOC (Philippine National Oil Co.), they’re independent with they functions... I don’t meddle in their day to day... they just give me a report,” Cusi said.

The energy chief confirmed that the four commissioners met him last week and submitted their report. Alena Mae S. Flores

B1

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX

By Jenniffer B. Austria

countries.

The air talks are scheduled on April 26 to 27 in Cebu, following previous aviation negotiations with the UAE in 2012 and 2015 that have expanded air rights entitlements to 70 flights per week between Manila and Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The UAE-Philippine aviation market is currently served by Emirates, Etihad Airways, Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.

Air Arabiya, RAK Airlines, Air Philippines, Philippines Air Asia and other airlines may also avail of the negotiated entitlements.

An industry source said UAE carriers would be asking for more flight entitlement rights to Manila for both Emirates and Etihad to use.

“The Philippine government should not grant the request of the UAE airlines for more flights to Manila,” the source said.

Darwin G Amojelar

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017

7,700.46 111.56

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

Closing APRIL 25, 2017 45.00 46.50 48.00 49.50

P49.675 CLOSE

51.00

HIGH P49.640 LOW P49.800 AVERAGE P49.713 VOLUME 674.800M

P480.00-P700.00 LPG/11-kg tank P39.75-P49.56 Unleaded Gasoline P29.23-P33.96 Diesel

OPRICES IL TODAY

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

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, April 25, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States Dollar

1.000000

49.8040

Japan

Yen

0.009112

0.4538

UK

Pound

1.279500

63.7242

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128556

6.4026

Switzerland

Franc

1.004520

50.0291

Canada

Dollar

0.740796

36.8946

Singapore

Dollar

0.718184

35.7684

Australia

Dollar

0.756600

37.6817

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655267

132.2429

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266681

13.2818

Brunei

Dollar

0.715615

35.6405

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.029112

1.4499

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.5610

Euro

Euro

1.086800

54.1270

Korea

Won

0.000882

0.0439

China

Yuan

0.145252

7.2341

India

Rupee

0.015507

0.7723

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.227376

11.3242

New Zealand

Dollar

0.701500

34.9375

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033056

1.6463 Source: PDS Bridge

Investment pledges in 4 months up 37% to P160.5b—BoI

By Othel V. Campos INVESTMENT pledges in the first four months of 2017 rose 37 percent to P160.5 billion from P117.26 billion year-on-year, with the number of projects approved during the year nearly double from a year ago, the Board of Investments said Tuesday.

“There are more projects this period compared to last year— 196 projects from January to April, about 94 percent higher

compared to the previous year.

Of the total projects, the Cavite Laguna Expressway drove investments upward. It was the single biggest investment for the period,” he said.

April saw investments reaching P92.5 billion from 74 projects.

Employment is also expected to increase 181 percent to 46,018 workers from 15,366 in January to April 2016.

The board identified infrastructure, power, manufacturing

and real estate as growth drivers during the period.

Real estate projects increased 231 percent to P65 billion from P19.6 billion a year ago. Projected employment by the sector jumped 202 percent to 33,458 workers from 11,048 on year.

The construction sector had the second highest value of investments worth P48.5 billion, up 52 percent from P31.9 billion.

Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply followed

with P20.8 billion; manufacturing with P20.8 billion; transportation and storage, P2.2 billion; water supply, sewerage, waste management, P870 million; and agriculture, forestry and fishing, P458 million.

The arts, entertainment and recreation pledged P267 million worth of investments; human health and social work activities, P210 million; accommodation and food service activities, P91.5 million; and compulsory social

security, P56.41 million.

Chemicals and chemical products topped the investment pledges in the manufacturing sector with P13.57 billion, followed by processed food, basic metals and rubber and plastic products at P1.44 billion, P323.3 million and P81.46 million, respectively.

Foreign investment commitments totaled P18.72 billion, compared with P22.5 billion for local investments.

SMC sues Indonesian road partner for theft

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE infrastructure unit of San Miguel Corp. wants the Marikina Regional Trial Court to issue a non-bailable arrest warrant against Indonesian businessman Shadik Wahono and company for qualified theft.

San Miguel Holdings Corp. earlier filed a criminal complaint for qualified theft against Shadik for unauthorized disbursement of Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp. funds. SMHC and Shadik at that time were major shareholders.

The funds, amounting to P50 million, were allegedly used by Shadik to incorporate another company called Citra Central Expressway Corp.

SMHC’s complaint alleged

the transfer of money was listed as a “loan” from CMMTC to Shadik’s PT Citra Lamtoro Gung Persad (CLGP) for the incorporation of CCEC. Shadik subsequently entered into a separate partnership with SMHC for CCEC to undertake the Skyway Stage 3 project.

However, SMHC said it did not know that Shadik got the money from CMMTC to fund the establishment of CCEC. SMHC added Shadik and his co-accused did not notify the CMMTC board and shareholders about the alleged loan, neither did they seek board approval.

SMHC claimed that CMMTC was expressly barred by its contractual obligations from extending any form of loan.

TRANSCO’S ISO CERTIFICATE. National Transmission Corp. is awarded the ISO 9001:2008

Certification (Quality Management System) following an audit conducted by TUV Rheinland. TransCo president Melvin Matibag (center), along with the TransCo’s ISO GQMSS ISO Certification Team, receive the ertification from TUV managing director Tristan Arwen Loveres.

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market rallies to year’s high PNB expects robust T 2017 income growth HE stock market rallied Tuesday on stronger economic growth prospects in the first quarter of 2017, with investors now looking forward to Donald Trump’s promised tax reforms.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index jumped 111.58 points, or 1.5 percent, to a yearhigh of 7,700.46 on a value turnover of P8.31 billion. Gainers beat losers, 113 to 73, with 57 issues unchanged.

Local economists have become bullish on the country’s first-quarter growth. Economists from First Metro Investment Corp. and University of Asia and the Pacific said in a joint report Tuesday the economy likely expanded to as high as 7 percent in the first quarter from 6.8 per-

cent a year ago driven mainly by the sustained domestic demand and improving global and US economy “With the global economy, led by the US, showing signs of greater vitality, this should spill over into the Philippine economy... ,” the April issue of the Market Call capital markets research said. “... And given solid domestic demand, we expect GDP growth in the first quarter should range between 6.5 percent and 7 percent, with a possible upside sur-

prise,” the economists said.

DMCI Holdings Inc. of the Consunji Group advanced 3.2 percent to P13, while GT Capital Holdings Inc. of tycoon George Ty climbed 2.7 percent to P1,262.

PLDT Inc., the biggest telecommunications company, gained 2.6 percent to P1,765, while SM Investments Corp. of retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr. rose 2.5 percent to P727.

The rest of Asian markets extended gains Tuesday while the euro held up following Emmanuel Macron’s first-round presidential election victory in France.

Global markets soared Monday after Macron topped the initial polls and looked well on course to beat far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in a run-off next month.

There had been fears a win for the anti-European, anti-immigrant

Le Pen could see France pull out of the euro and even the EU and precipitate its possible collapse.

US and European markets tracked an Asian advance Monday. On Tuesday the gains continued, with Tokyo and Seoul each jumping more than one percent and Hong Kong up 1.3 percent.

Shanghai, which has suffered a series of losses in the past two weeks on concerns about a government crackdown in leveraged investing, ended up 0.2 percent.

Taipei and Mumbai also posted strong gains.

In early European trade Paris rose 0.2 percent a day after surging more than four percent, while London was flat and Frankfurt put on 0.2 percent.

Sydney and Wellington were closed for a public holiday. With AFP

By Julito G. Rada THE Philippine National Bank, the sixth-largest lender in terms of assets and controlled by tycoon Lucio Tan, plans to sustain a double-digit growth in net profit this year on the back of the country’s robust domestic economy and the government’s implementation of big-ticket infrastructure projects.

“We see a mid-teen growth in net income this year as there are a lot of opportunities in trading activities.

We also want to take advantage of the government’s plan to imple-

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.01 46,000 48.8 81,900 104.9 1,149,380 3.96 48,000 120.3 3,798,630 1.27 10,000 35.5 1,326,400 16.1 194,800 21.65 1,926,100 0.67 9,000 800 180 0.67 5,385,000 86 4,267,550 0.72 88,000 16 107,600 25 25,700 63.65 2,619,470 239.4 7,130 110 350 53.7 1,345,170 215.2 698,710 1,695 60 79.7 97,590

138,280 3,980,670 120,850,876 190,890 455,885,138 12,520 46,840,850 3,142,958 41,731,650 6,010 143,840 3,563,570 366,092,150 63,450 1,710,220 644,340 165,707,797.50 1,707,290 39,240 72,391,479 150,644,152 101,700 7,776,871.50

54,000 2,722,640 11,423,178 -25,499,484 7,500 6,341,090 1,894,220 -10,848,535 -81,720 116,140,568 3,160 -7,590 -32,517,635 2,420 -30,635,717 -649,922 -51,769.50

41.55 5.67 0.8 1.51 18.7 0.243 7.72 16.62 165.2 23.3 14.2 74 84 1.9 5.7 11.9 12.74 9.1 6.38 6.07 21.7 72.8 15.64 7.8 1.59 210.6 4.86 3.72 28.9 31.5 24.7 18.38 280.6 0.24 6.2 3.62 8.79 2.15 8.19 1.96 71.1 5.18 295 4.8 2.73 13.62 4.45 0.144 1.36 171.2 4.2 1.66 1

INDUSTRIAL 43 4,122,000 5.79 1,933,400 0.82 123,000 1.54 740,000 19.1 400 0.247 6,160,000 7.8 7,301,600 16.8 4,796,800 165.2 260 23.5 140,400 14.2 5,900 74 4,230 84 1,450 1.91 1,287,000 5.7 84,200 12.12 18,600 12.94 4,258,900 9.21 785,900 6.4 1,918,000 6.11 10,032,300 21.7 3,067,500 73.8 110,700 15.7 11,600 7.8 840,300 1.6 475,000 214 764,260 4.89 644,000 3.72 34,000 28.9 400 32.5 2,718,700 24.7 62,200 18.38 1,942,400 282 126,830 0.241 3,930,000 6.2 19,900 3.75 137,000 8.8 6,669,600 2.17 3,221,000 8.45 1,355,600 2 2,140,000 72.1 167,300 5.4 417,000 300 3,650 4.83 41,000 2.75 36,000 13.74 2,176,600 4.45 125,000 0.147 3,610,000 1.36 244,000 173.5 1,077,610 4.33 10,000 1.7 6,993,000 1.02 309,000

176,593,820 11,228,774 98,900 1,133,790 7,560 1,532,130 56,999,076 80,082,330 43,105 3,281,505 83,780 316,290 122,415 2,459,370 480,510 223,264 54,946,108 7,244,607 12,275,094 61,279,854 67,004,065 8,121,887.50 181,484 6,590,179 760,550 163,196,138 3,158,900 128,350 11,560 88,326,225 1,539,740 36,213,788 35,846,858 9 949,920 123,615 503,100 58,793,456 6,991,180 11,457,633(2, 4,273,490 ( 12,066,180 2,245,967 1,095,190 197,560 99,000 29,908,084 560,560 524,900 338,650 187,033,672 42,450 11,842,840 312,070

67,090,325 359,660 249,120 -14,395,040 5,252,840 -23,500 82,360 125,154 12,120 17,505,884 -1,715,613 998,396 20,041,114 1,158,715 4,697,760.50 -109,480 1,803,161 92,914,672 -34,130 -11,560 20,686,845 549,575 -14,295,340 ,864,920.0003 2,430 -70,780 -9,544,458 -1,898,540 324,376.9997) 480,820.0002) 3,750,150.50 537,558 798,850 163,770 -22,000 23,842,068 58,390 5,820 58,070,564 100 -1,000

0.36 75.95 14.5 1.1 6.2 0.435 0.43 869.5 8.28 12.72 7.8 5.8 0.198 1,231 6.2 82.7 5.02 0.97 7.46 15.88 0.415 6.54 0.055 1.03 1.85 108.5 2.7 709.5 1.4 289.8 0.29 0.188 0.25

HOLDING FIRMS 0.365 3,790,000 77.65 1,780,410 14.6 6,247,800 1.1 12,000 6.2 2,300 0.44 20,520,000 0.445 3,860,000 877 487,260 8.48 2,468,000 13 31,019,200 7.84 40,600 5.8 13,000 0.204 60,000 1,262 204,305 6.2 66,500 84.55 3,342,690 5.02 8,000 1.01 2,452,000 7.76 795,500 16 3,514,300 0.415 80,000 6.57 32,629,300 0.057 83,950,000 1.03 11,000 1.9 134,000 109.5 104,910 2.7 32,000 727 555,470 1.41 268,000 293 9,200 0.29 120,000 0.188 430,000 0.26 1,550,000

1,382,800 137,927,524.50 91,234,838 13,470 14,298 9,058,400 1,699,450 426,868,715 20,817,558(1, 401,712,772 317,540 75,400 12,020 257,493,295 412,300 282,078,813 40,400 2,458,550 6,046,124 56,408,786 33,200 216,550,360 4,746,040 11,330 252,960 11,471,306 86,640 403,938,055 375,280 2,669,922 34,800 85,530 393,350

100,400,282.50 8,564,994 -3,330 34,289,795 067,737.0003) 210,039,494 2,040.00 124,450,720 128,199,775.50 -20,000 4,543,378 18,976,850 21,208,653 11,690 742,940 203,562,595 8,460 -24,480 5,780 -19,650

1,596,907 9,150,780 216,220 644,650 77,597,550 465,132,865 48,941,600 856,532 2,402,750 46,000 380,940 391,520 1,462,790 42,069,781 88,900 534,490 35,489,800 4,764,700 688,740 128,630,800 504,314,000 349,950 5,475,930 974,950 2,750

-93,177 -92,030 -216,220 -37,710 -114,736,940 -682,710 -39,077 -269,600 10,000 -53,600 6,200 139,390 29,307,799.50 1,680 16,425,240 27,799,180 -4,257,250 19,800 -11,800 -

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 MANULIFE MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK

3 48.7 104.7 4 118.9 1.24 35.55 15.9 21.6 0.65 798 0.68 85 0.72 15.6 25.3 62.25 242 117.4 53.5 214 1,690 79.45

3.1 48.9 105.9 4 120.7 1.28 35.55 16.3 21.9 0.67 800 0.68 86.45 0.74 16 25.3 63.8 242 117.4 54.45 216.6 1,700 79.8

3 48.45 104.7 3.96 118.6 1.24 35.2 15.9 21.5 0.65 798 0.65 85 0.72 15.6 25 62.25 239.4 110 52.7 212.2 1,690 78.5

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

41.7 5.81 0.8 1.55 19.1 0.245 7.72 16.98 166 23.35 14.2 75 84 1.92 5.71 11.9 12.74 9.15 6.45 6.07 22 72.85 15.64 7.81 1.61 210.6 4.93 3.75 28.9 31.65 24.75 18.96 281.4 0.241 6.2 3.64 8.8 2.19 8.2 2 72.3 5.18 301 4.82 2.73 13.8 4.49 0.147 1.37 172 4.39 1.68 1.02

43.7 5.89 0.82 1.56 19.1 0.255 7.9 16.98 166 23.5 14.2 75 86 1.95 5.72 12.12 12.94 9.35 6.45 6.15 22.1 73.8 15.7 7.9 1.64 215 5 3.85 28.9 32.95 24.95 18.96 284 0.245 6.25 3.75 8.87 2.19 8.62 2.04 72.3 5.45 301 4.84 2.76 13.8 4.5 0.147 1.43 175 4.39 1.72 1.03

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 KEPPEL HLDG A LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA PRIME ORION SAN MIGUEL CORP SEAFRONT RES SM INVESTMENTS SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER UNIOIL HLDG WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.37 75.95 14.54 1.1 6.3 0.44 0.455 869.5 8.28 12.72 7.9 5.8 0.198 1,231 6.2 82.7 5.07 0.99 7.6 15.9 0.415 6.56 0.055 1.03 1.85 110 2.71 710 1.42 289.8 0.29 0.203 0.25

0.37 77.95 14.7 1.13 6.3 0.455 0.46 882 8.49 13.12 7.9 5.8 0.204 1,264 6.2 84.9 5.07 1.02 7.76 16.2 0.415 6.73 0.058 1.03 1.9 110 2.75 735 1.42 293 0.29 0.204 0.26

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

6.82 1.06 6.01 2.33 1.55 35.2 3.9 5.21 0.49 1 1.32 0.155 0.53 51 0.7 0.173 1.67 0.99 1.07 4.19 0.445 0.325 0.59 4.34 27.5

6.82 1.09 6.01 2.48 1.62 35.65 4.14 5.27 0.495 1 1.36 0.157 0.54 53.35 0.7 0.179 1.75 0.99 1.07 4.22 0.48 0.335 0.6 4.54 27.5

6.79 1.05 6 2.33 1.4 35.2 3.89 5.21 0.485 1 1.31 0.154 0.52 51 0.7 0.168 1.67 0.97 1.05 4.16 0.36 0.325 0.59 4.34 27.5

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

26.5 1.79 3.34 29.7 0.99 0.9 5.3

26.5 1.79 3.34 30.2 1.01 0.9 5.3

26 1.76 3.29 29.7 0.99 0.89 5.27

26.35 1.76 3.34 29.9 1 0.9 5.3

3,572,400 266,000 63,000 7,994,400 2,088,000 105,000 3,349,200

94,050,460 471,280 209,840 239,939,545 2,085,020 94,290 17,712,283

40,730,170 -29,640 131,648,025 4,639,747

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CALATA CORP CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD 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 MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG 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

11.8 46 1.46 0.53 0.044 11.04 8.85 0.091 1.92 106.1 10.32 8.83 2.41 2,030 6.18 16.16 3.23 3.54 88.7 0.0092 12.7 9 0.185 1.38 3.65 15.5 4.32 0.94 4.83 2.48 6.72 3.65 15.7 2.86 11.66 5.31 170 7.87 1,720 1.47 0.415 42 79.45 6 2.3 1.03 1.92 3.23 0.53 5.22

12.04 46 1.46 0.53 0.047 11.04 9.02 0.094 1.98 109.6 10.32 8.83 2.63 2,090 6.2 16.5 3.25 3.55 89.7 0.0092 12.7 9.01 0.186 1.4 3.74 15.68 4.32 0.94 4.99 2.55 7.2 3.73 17 2.94 11.9 5.5 172.2 8 1,765 1.56 0.42 42.25 80.9 6.1 2.31 1.08 1.92 3.23 0.53 5.25

11.68 45.95 1.44 0.51 0.043 11 8.85 0.083 1.9 105.9 10.32 8.5 2.4 2,024 6.14 16.12 3.16 3.52 88.7 0.0092 12.7 9 0.181 1.35 3.6 15.5 4.15 0.93 4.8 2.48 6.72 3.65 15.7 2.85 11.66 5.31 170 7.76 1,710 1.47 0.415 41.7 79.45 5.97 2.26 1.02 1.86 3.2 0.46 5.22

SERVICES 12.02 46 1.44 0.52 0.044 11 8.99 0.085 1.94 109.4 10.32 8.8 2.63 2,080 6.16 16.5 3.18 3.55 89 0.0092 12.7 9.01 0.181 1.4 3.74 15.62 4.2 0.93 4.8 2.53 7.1 3.7 16.98 2.88 11.76 5.33 172 7.8 1,765 1.53 0.415 41.7 79.7 5.97 2.3 1.08 1.86 3.22 0.465 5.25

482,100 31,600 150,000 4,406,000 270,300,000 11,800 15,630,300 401,290,000 4,316,000 1,398,580 500 1,805,700 18,000 44,175 377,800 90,400 2,332,000 130,000 2,869,940 3,000,000 500 302,000 7,820,000 548,000 133,000 18,400 2,302,000 5,000 1,445,000 34,000 14,163,400 795,000 2,200 3,290,000 90,700 6,200 12,430 573,600 89,945 21,940,000 1,670,000 1,959,700 398,500 134,000 3,506,000 5,476,000 40,000 413,000 13,109,000 11,569,700

5,744,542 1,452,940 216,070 2,265,220 12,243,400 129,954 140,435,370 34,986,740 8,375,830 152,075,732 5,160 15,709,127 46,030 91,093,460 2,328,411 1,487,588 7,434,310 458,400 255,743,089.5 ( 27,600 6,350 2,718,100 1,425,690 749,320 486,910 286,330 9,738,150 4,690 6,992,570 86,030 99,529,051 2,941,390 36,746 9,496,110 1,069,028 33,185 2,113,272 4,497,601 157,152,520 33,386,420 695,700 82,443,185 31,985,247.50 802,437 8,061,100(3, 5,769,210 74,460 1,329,880 6,255,935 60,631,318

1,134,492 14,400 -666,000 -10,800 -129,954 54,039,529 -27,170.00 97,800 64,371,367 880 64,778,060 9,530 53,253,993.5) 18,400 -45,250 -1,177,870 -4,690 32,145,075 8,900 -109,280 -44,108 -100,632 72,898,820 -7,368,520 -29,235,915 -3,370,881.50 930,029.9999) -655,580 -673,510 80,600 4,909,762

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 ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B PETROENERGY PHILODRILL PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING UNITED PARAGON

0.0034 1.45 5.4 16.8 1.74 1.71 0.9 0.425 9.08 2.61 0.25 0.182 0.192 0.011 0.011 1.66 6.1 2.12 0.88 0.011 0.011 4.09 0.013 8.52 3.07 148.4 0.0088

0.0034 1.54 5.52 16.8 1.74 1.95 0.95 0.44 9.08 2.61 0.25 0.185 0.192 0.012 0.011 1.73 6.24 2.16 0.89 0.011 0.011 4.09 0.013 8.53 3.21 150.8 0.0088

0.0033 1.45 5.38 11 1.71 1.68 0.83 0.415 8.3 2.5 0.247 0.181 0.192 0.011 0.011 1.65 6.1 2.12 0.87 0.011 0.011 4.05 0.012 8.46 3.06 148.4 0.0088

MINING & OIL 0.0034 8,000,000 1.52 6,706,000 5.52 140,500 15 4,300 1.71 117,000 1.68 100,000 0.92 15,104,000 0.42 3,970,000 8.85 44,800 2.6 2,231,000 0.25 870,000 0.181 8,370,000 0.192 130,000 0.012 79,600,000 0.011 5,300,000 1.67 817,000 6.2 2,660,800 2.15 10,000 0.87 140,000 0.011 5,900,000 0.011 1,000,000 4.05 68,000 0.013 13,200,000 8.53 249,400 3.1 1,104,000 149.6 710,690 0.0088 5,000,000

26,600 10,080,760 767,313 52,530 203,250 173,190 13,622,380 1,680,450 389,408 5,672,890 215,300 1,530,530 24,960 875,700 58,300 1,362,720 16,416,643 21,370 122,870 64,900 11,000 276,580 170,100 2,120,292 3,460,140 106,579,205 44,000

6,800 -7,589 -173,190 35,290 1,792,040 7,500 231,000 -3,604,538 6,500 309,658.00 323,750 -47,008,594 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FPH PREF C GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR LR PREF PCOR PREF 2A PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

46 535 526 107.8 104.5 508.5 518.5 5.75 1.06 1,035 1,019 106 77.5 80.25 81.6 80.1 78.5 79

46.2 535 526 108 105.3 508.5 525 5.77 1.08 1,035 1,020 107 77.5 81 81.6 80.1 78.5 79

46 520 526 107.8 104.5 506 518.5 5.71 1.06 1,025 1,019 106 77.5 80.25 77.15 80.1 78.35 79

PREFERRED 46.2 88,300 520 10,990 526 410 108 31,200 104.5 34,400 506 33,000 520 11,220 5.75 50,700 1.08 2,000,000 1,025 1,000 1,020 2,720 107 10,000 77.5 50 81 30,380 81.2 4,700 80.1 100 78.35 13,500 79 63,300

4,078,730 5,720,990 215,660 3,369,480 3,600,482 16,704,250 5,834,200 292,012 2,150,600 1,029,800 2,773,400 1,067,750 3,875 2,446,280 370,480.50 8,010 1,058,550 5,000,700

655,315 265,024 51,500 -

LR WARRANT

2.34

2.38

2.27

WARRANTS 2.3 339,000

776,720

-

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

3.8 2.94 6.72 9.41

3.88 2.94 6.9 9.6

3.65 2.93 6.7 9.2

3.87 2.93 6.75 9.4

2,088,120 17,610 1,383,086 31,110,828

-4,662,133

FIRST METRO ETF

124.5

128.5

124.5

9,436,593

2,347,068

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 6.8 1.07 6 2.45 1.45 35.55 4.1 5.21 0.495 1 1.31 0.155 0.53 53 0.7 0.177 1.75 0.99 1.06 4.17 0.395 0.33 0.59 4.49 27.5

234,900 8,577,000 36,000 265,000 50,544,000 13,094,700 12,037,000 164,400 4,900,000 46,000 284,000 2,520,000 2,767,000 804,490 127,000 3,150,000 20,668,000 4,872,000 650,000 30,710,000 1,199,590,000 1,060,000 9,274,000 218,000 100

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS

SHARES

23,434,271 88,394,661 200,702,683

PROPERTY

1,384,209,863

SERVICES

803,436,566

MINING & OIL

161,991,318

GRAND TOTAL

2,666,350,900

SME

565,000 6,000 204,900 3,330,900

EXCHANGE TRADED FUND 128.5 74,330

VALUE 1,896.49 (UP) 17.70 1,467,155,554.29 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,418.83 (UP) 124.79 1,284,724,386.92 HOLDING FIRMS 7,844.17 (UP) 154.12 2,351,611,546.505 PROPERTY 3,352.18 (UP) 39.16 SERVICES 1,612.51 (UP) 24.68 1,693,848,787.255 MINING & OIL 12,052.07 (UP) 96.94 1,301,473,247.336 PSEI 7,700.46 (UP) 111.58 166,053,308.967 All Shares Index 4,596.88 (UP) 54.07 8,308,905,860.67 Gainers: 113; Losers: 73; Unchanged: 57; Total: 243

ment infrastructure projects under its ‘golden age’ infrastructure plan,” PNB executive vice president for the treasury group Horacio Cebrero III said in a briefing Tuesday.

Cebrero said the bank was aiming to expand total loan portfolio this year by 14 percent to 15 percent. He said PNB’s lending growth would be in line with the industry’s loan expansion.

Cebrero said corporate loans comprised the bulk or around 55 percent of the bank’s total loan portfolio, with 35 percent accounted by consumer lending and the balance by loans to local government units, especially in the countryside.

Cebrero said lending to the small and medium enterprises would be expanded, taking advantage of around 5,000 workforce in its branches nationwide.

However, he said the bank would be facing an array of challenges that might impact on its growth trajectory, such as the impending two more rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve this year, and geopolitical concerns within and outside the region.

Cebrero said the bank would continue to issue longterm negotiable certificates of time deposits amid the sufficient supply of liquidity in the domestic market.

The bank in December 2016 issued P5.5 billion worth of LTNCDs. Cebrero said the issuance of LTNCDs would be for the liquidity management purposes of the bank and to fund future growth.

Shipping unit of Uy to conduct P8-b IPO

By Jenniffer B. Austria CHELSEA Logistics Corp., the shipping unit of Davaobased businessman Dennis Uy, is raising as much as P8 billion through an initial public offering to expand its logistics business.

Chelsea said in a statement it filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement for the planned sale of 546.593 million new common shares at a maximum price of P14.63 each.

The company plans to use proceeds from the maiden share offering to finance the expansion of the company’s cargo and passenger shipping businesses organically and through acquisitions.

“We are accelerating the expansion of Chelsea Logistics, with a view to making it the prime mover of goods and passengers in the Philippines,” founder and chairman of the company. Uy also owns Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. The company said its expansion was aligned with initiatives to strengthen cooperation and promote trade within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

“As it expands further, Chelsea Logistics aims to support and facilitate more efficient trading within and outside the archipelago in light of ongoing efforts to strengthen the ASEAN Economic Community,” Uy said.

This will be the second company of the Udenna Group to go public after Phoenix Petroleum.

The offer shares, which account for 30 percent of the company’s outstanding authorized capital stock, will be listed under the main board of the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Business

B3

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Cirtek sees revenues rising 35% to $100m CIRTEK Holdings Philippines Corp., a Laguna-based technology company, said it expects revenues to reach over $100 million this year, or 35 percent higher than the $74.3-million revenues registered in 2016.

Cirtek said in a statement it lined up strategies to boost revenues this year, including acquisition opportunities, strengthening manufacturing operations and beefing up international presence.

Cirtek reported a 25-percent increase in revenues in 2016 from $59.5 million in 2015 “due to the growth of the company’s semiconductor and antenna business.”

The company reported a net income after tax of $7.6 million in 2016, up 49 percent from $5.1 million in 2015, as Cirtek captured three major contracts from global semiconductor firms.

Cirtek also began commercial production of spectrum and

AFFORDABLE WATER. Manila Water Total Solutions Corp., a unit of concessionaire Manila Water Co. Inc., launches 500-milliliter mini

bottles under the Healthy Family Purified Water brand, which delivers premium quality at a tenth of the average price of other brands. Shown during the launching at Eton Centris in Quezon City are (from left) Manila Water deputy chief finance officer Marivic Sugapong, Manila Water east zone business operations director Linda Quines, Healthy Family Purified Water general manager Sharon Marcial, Manila Water Total Solutions president Ding Carpio, Manila Water Total Solutions product innovation and development head Boogz Baffrey and Manila Water corporate human resources director Janine Carreon. Manny Palmero

Regulator probing aviation insurance THE Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom is conducting an investigation into the alleged prohibited conduct of four global reinsurance brokers including Aon, the Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group, Willis Towers Watson, UIB and Marsh.

The regulator is specifically looking into allegations that these firms have been sharing competitively sensitive information regarding their aviation insurance accounts.

This development came a few weeks after one of the top non-life insurance companies in the Philippines filed a related complaint against Marsh in the UK High Court in London.

Lawyer Jose Bernas, who represented the non-life insurer, claimed that Marsh allegedly disclosed highly confidential and proprietary aviation insurance information to the chief executive of a local airline, which indicated a malicious breach of trust.

“What they did was to share competitive cost information in order to besmirch the reputation of my client and to steal business away from them,” Bernas said.

“I hope that this kind of behavior does not taint the entire industry, because this lack of ethics sets a negative precedent for insurance companies that play by the proper rules.

It’s a good thing that the FCA is cracking down on this conduct,” he said.

Bernas also urged the Philippine Insurance Commission to take a closer look at the way foreign reinsurance brokers operated within the country.

“By divulging restricted information and poaching insurance clients through this practice, brokers will effectively be underwriting risk and doing insurance business without a license,” he said.

“Even more worrisome is the fact that they will not be responsible for the risks insured,” Bernas said.

space efficient base station antennas last year.

“The company is evaluating the feasibility of CM [contract manufacturing] operation in China to take advantage of lower manufacturing and freight costs,” the company said.

Cirtek, through subsidiary Cirtek Business Technologies and Solutions, began to provide wireless infrastructure solution to large enterprises such as highcapacity broadband wireless access technologies.

Among its current and potential clients are malls, condominiums, residential developments, educational institutions, telecommunications and cables firms.

“The company intends to expand its semiconductor business with both current and new customers. Commercial production for several tier 1 customers will commence by the third quarter of 2017,” it said.

Alena Mae S. Flores

China firm eyes BNPP operation

By Alena Mae S. Flores

T

HE government sought China’s help to assess the potential of reviving Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said Tuesday.

Cusi told reporters that after talking to China’s ambassador to the Philippines, a Chinese company expressed interest to study the mothballed 620-megawatt BNPP in Morong, Bataan.

“In fact, they are interested even to operate it,” Cusi said.

Cusi said that aside from China, other countries were also interested in the Bataan nuclear facility which had not operated over the past 30 years.

BNPP was built by American company Westinghouse Electric between 1976 and 1984 at a cost

of $2.3 billion.

The administration of former President Corazon Aquino mothballed BNPP in the late 1980s on concerns it was built near a fault line. The facility’s nuclear reactor remains intact.

Cusi said putting up a new nuclear facility would likely need an incentive scheme.

“If nuclear, it cannot be merchant so we might have to put something for a new project just like we did with the renewables such as priority dispatch,” he said.

The Philippines expressed openness over the use of nuclear energy in power generation, but the government has yet to issue a national policy on the technology.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier gave Cusi the go signal to study nuclear as an option for the country’s long-term power requirements.

Cusi issued Department Order 2016-10-0013 forming the Nuclear Energy Program Implementing Organization.

The NEPIO will produce a comprehensive study and prepare a national infrastructure for the first nuclear power plant.

Cusi earlier said once repowering BNPP proved to be not feasible, the Philippines could look into using modular or smaller sized nuclear facilities.

Oceanagold spends P5m for community projects OCEANAGOLD (Philippines) Inc., recognizing the role of cooperatives in propelling economic development in the countryside, spent more than P5 million last year from its social development management funds to support enterprise development and agricultural projects.

Oceanagold senior vice president for communications and external affairs Chito Gozar stressed the mining company’s commitment to empowering countryside communities.

Thirteen cooperatives were established after the success of Didipio Community Development Corp. in Didipio, Kasibu Nueva Vizcaya, host to OceanaGold’s Didipio Mine to help ensure the sustainability of the livelihood programs implemented even after the life of mine.

DiCorp was also established through the assistance of OceanaGold to train its communities to become self-sufficient.

Owned by long-term residents of Didipio, the corporation now employs over 300 employees, generated P932-million gross revenue from long-term Didipio

mine contracts (from 2011-2016) and was awarded as one of the top tax payers in Nueva Vizcaya.

“Without reinventing the wheel, OceanaGold in collaboration with the local barangay councils uses the cooperative business model to distribute the annual SDMP funds allocated for enterprise development to its host and ten neighboring communities. Funds were either use as seed capital or additional investment to their existing businesses,” Gozar said.

“Livelihood budget allocations from our SDMP funds is coursed through these newly established cooperatives to help us create more jobs, support business expansion and expand economic opportunities for our communities,” Gozar said.

The host community has three established cooperatives in Didipio, two of which are already registered.

These are the Didipio Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Didipio Producers Cooperative which operate hog and integrated vegetable production, hardware store, agricultural farm input supply and embroidery center.

“We can be cautious. We can move with caution so we can start with modular. We have to listen to the experts,” he said.

Energy Undersecretary Jesus Posadas said the government would apply international laws in looking at possible sites for nuclear facilities such the proposed modular nuclear energy plant in Sulu province.

The Philippines, together with other Asean member states, tackled the security of nuclear sources during the 7th Nuclear Energy Cooperation and Sub-Sector Network three-day meeting last week.

“The Philippines being a latecomer to the nuclear, in a sense that we did not operate our nuclear, we can implement all of the safeguards, all improvements that has happened in the

years passed. Also in terms of technology, which has undergone such huge steps, we can leapfrog to the latest version,” Posadas said.

“The Philippine government has imposed, self imposed compliance to the International Atomic Energy Agency. We have to have a national position first but we are still moving towards that,” Posadas said.

The local government of Sulu expressed willingness to host a modular nuclear energy facility of less than 100 MW in capacity.

“Discussions on nuclear energy as well as radioactive sources tend to attract issues on security. We are cognizant of this and must admit that this issue cannot be discounted as people and the environment must always be protected,” Posadas said earlier.

Manila

Standard

Regional Bids and Awards Committee (RBAC) VIII Ground Floor, Esperas Building, Real Street, Tacloban City Telephone Nos. (053) 321-2221; 325-6133 Fax No. (053) 321-5836

TODAY

INVITATION TO BID The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK), through its Regional Bids and Awards Committee (RBAC) VIII, invites Rural Banks, Cooperatives, and other Financial Institutions/Entity to bid for the hereunder projects: ITB No. 8-2017-001 Services of Conduits in the Distribution of DSWD’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Program Cash Grants to NonCash Card/Prepaid Card Beneficiaries for Payroll Period April 2017 to January 2018 (July, September and November 2017, January and March 2018) for five (5) payouts: Lot No.

No. of HHs

CCT Type

Province

BILIRAN MCCT IP - Offsite BILIRAN Regular CCT - Offsite BILIRAN Regular CCT - Onsite BILIRAN TOTAL EASTERN SAMAR MCCT Non IP - Offsite EASTERN SAMAR Regular CCT - Offsite EASTERN SAMAR MCCT Non IP - Onsite EASTERN SAMAR Regular CCT - Onsite EASTERN SAMAR TOTAL LEYTE MCCT IP - Offsite LEYTE MCCT Non IP - Offsite LEYTE Regular CCT - Offsite LEYTE MCCT Non IP - Onsite LEYTE Regular CCT - Onsite LEYTE TOTAL NORTHERN SAMAR MCCT IP - Offsite NORTHERN SAMAR Regular CCT - Offsite NORTHERN SAMAR Regular CCT - Onsite NORTHERN SAMAR TOTAL SAMAR (WESTERN SAMAR) MCCT IP - Offsite SAMAR (WESTERN SAMAR) MCCT Non IP - Offsite SAMAR (WESTERN SAMAR) Regular CCT - Offsite SAMAR (WESTERN SAMAR) MCCT Non IP - Onsite SAMAR (WESTERN SAMAR) Regular CCT - Onsite SAMAR (WESTERN SAMAR) TOTAL SOUTHERN LEYTE MCCT IP - Offsite SOUTHERN LEYTE Regular CCT - Offsite SOUTHERN LEYTE Regular CCT - Onsite SOUTHERN LEYTE TOTAL GRAND TOTAL

1

2

3

4

5

6

10 3,073 1,793 4,876 445 21,717 184 4,301 26,647 54 8,691 40,325 9,206 9,422 67,698 7 33,463 1,834 35,304 13 211 36,599 1 425 37,249 15 11,000 806 11,821

Service Fee PhP 50.00 38.00 24.00 PhP 38.00 38.00 24.00 24.00 PhP 50.00 38.00 38.00 24.00 24.00 PhP 50.00 38.00 24.00 PhP 50.00 38.00 38.00 24.00 24.00 PhP 50.00 38.00 24.00

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) Php

2,500.00 583,870.00 215,160.00 Php 801,530.00 Php 84,550.00 4,126,230.00 22,080.00 516,120.00 Php 4,748,980.00 Php 13,500.00 1,651,290.00 7,661,750.00 1,104,720.00 1,130,640.00 Php 11,561,900.00 Php 1,750.00 6,357,970.00 220,080.00 Php 6,579,800.00 Php 3,250.00 40,090.00 6,953,810.00 120.00 51,000.00 Php 7,048,270.00 Php 3,750.00 2,090,000.00 96,720.00 Php 2,190,470.00 Php 32,930,950.00

Bidders shall have the option of submitting bid on any or all lots and evaluation and contract award will be based on the aggregate amount per province, provided corresponding service fee per beneficiary per barangay does not exceed ABC. Lots shall not be divided further into sub-lots for the purpose of bidding, evaluation, and contract award.

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

A description of an eligible bidder is contained in the bidding documents particularly in Section II Instruction to Bidders. The Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids shall use the non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Post-qualification of the lowest calculated bid shall be conducted.

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

The complete schedule of activities is listed, as follows:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

ACTIVITIES

SCHEDULE

Issuance or Sale of Bid Documents Pre-Bid Conference Submission of Bids Opening of Bids Bid Evaluation Post Qualification Issuance of Notice of Award

April 26 to May 15, 2017, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Monday to Friday) May 3, 2017, 3:00 PM May 15, 2017, 1:00 PM May 15, 2017, 3:00 PM May 15, 2017 May 17 to 31, 2017 June 14 to 19, 2017

Bid Documents will be available only to prospective bidders upon payment of the applicable non-refundable amount to the LANDBANK Cashier.

HASSLE-FREE PAYMENT. Security Bank Corp. and Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company Inc. sign an agreement allowing Cepalco customers to conduct hassle-free payments through any of the former’s channels that suit their preference. Shown during the signing of the agreement are (seated from left) Cepalco senior vice president, finance and administrative services division head Cesar Cabualan, Cepalco president and chief operating Officer Chiquita Capili, Security Bank senior vice president and transaction group head Daniel Yu, Security Bank first vice president and relationship manager Louie Maloles and Security Bank first vice president and cash management division head Dennis Joy Ejercito.

LANDBANK reserves the right to (1) reject any and all bids at any time prior to the award of the contract; (2) waive any minor formal requirements in the bid documents; (3) accept such bids, it may consider advantageous and beneficial to the Bank, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

REGIONAL BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE Region VIII

Ray S. Eñano, Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

B4

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017

Business

US retailers filing for bankruptcy R etailers are filing for bankruptcy at a record rate as they try to cope with the rapid acceleration of online shopping.

In a little over three months, 14 chains have announced they will seek court protection, according to an analysis by S&P Global Market Intelligence, almost surpassing all of 2016. Few retail segments have proven immune as discount shoe-sellers, outdoor goods shops, and consumer electronics retailers have all found themselves headed for

reorganization.

Meanwhile, America’s retailers are closing stores faster than ever as they try to eliminate a glut of space and shift more business to the web.

S&P blamed retailer financial struggles on their inability to adapt to rising pressure from e-commerce.

Urban Outfitters chief

executive Richard Hayne said as much on a conference call with analysts last month.

There are just too many stores, especially those that sell clothing, he said.

“This created a bubble, and like housing, that bubble has now burst,” said Hayne. “We are seeing the results: Doors shuttering and rents retreating.

This trend will continue for the foreseeable future and may even accelerate.”

Jim Elder, S&P Global Market Intelligence’s director of risk

services, wrote that first quarter results suggest there’s no quick recovery in sight. Sears Holdings Corp., Bon-Ton Stores Inc., and Perfumania Holdings Inc. are among the most vulnerable in the coming year, according to an S&P analysis of public retail companies. Sears acknowledged in a March filing that there is “substantial doubt” about its future.

Fitch named retail chains including Nine West Holdings, Claire’s Stores, and children’s clothing outlet Gymboree

Corp. in a study late last year. A spokesman for Nine West declined to comment.

(Representatives from Bon-Ton, Perfumania, and Claire’s didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.)

Department stores, electronics retail, and apparel shops are at highest risk, according to S&P. The food and home improvement segments are safest.

Apparel retail has been particularly hard hit, with The Limited, Wet Seal, BCBG Max Azria, and Vanity Shop

of Grand Forks each seeking court protection in 2017. The latest victim was Payless Inc., which filed for bankruptcy April 4 and said it would shutter 400 stores.

Rue21 may be next. The embattled teen apparel chain is said to be filing for bankruptcy as soon as this month, according to people familiar with the matter.

Or perhaps it will be Gymboree, which Bloomberg News reported is preparing to file for bankruptcy as a June 1 debt payment looms.

Bloomberg

Bernard Arnault to buy Dior for $13b Billionaire Bernard Arnault and his family offered to buy the 26 percent of Christian Dior SE it doesn’t already own for about 12.1 billion euros ($13.2 billion), and to fold Christian Dior’s couture operation into their LVMH luxury goods empire in a 6.5-billioneuro deal.

The family will offer a mix of cash and Hermes International stock that value Paris-based Dior at 260 euros a share, according to a statement Tuesday. The bid is 15 percent above where the stock closed Monday.

Adding Christian Dior Couture will strengthen LVMH’s fashion and leather goods division, while the deals also will simplify a complicated ownership structure as requested by investors, Arnault said in a statement. His family owns about 47 percent of LVMH, whose full name is LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE. The deals “illustrate the commitment of my family group and emphasize its confidence in the long-term perspectives of LVMH and its brands,” Arnault said in the statement.

Dior investors also can choose all cash or all Hermes stock in the deal, according to the statement. The Arnaults received shares in Paris-based luxury rival Hermes in 2014 after a controversial effort

by LVMH to build a stake in the company.

China skyscrapers. A woman walks down a corridor as skyscrapers of the Pudong area stand in Shanghai, China. After defying skeptics with solid growth last year, China aims to do the same again in 2017. Bloomberg

Dad’s lost recipe makes Japanese a millionaire

Google’s self-driving car starts in Phoenix AFTER almost a decade of research, Google’s autonomous car project is close to becoming a real service.

Now known as Waymo, the Alphabet Inc. self-driving car unit is letting residents of Phoenix sign up to use its vehicles, a major step toward commercializing a technology that could one day upend transportation.

For the service, Waymo is adding 500 customized Chrysler Pacifica minivans to its fleet.

Waymo has already tested these vehicles, plus other makes and models, on public roads, but only with its employees and contractors as testers. By opening the doors to the general public with a larger fleet, the company will get data on how people experience and use selfdriving cars—and clues on ways to generate revenue from the technology.

“We’re at the point when it’s really important to find how real people, outside the Google environment, will use this technology,” said John Krafcik, Waymo’s chief executive officer.

“Our goal is that they will use this for all their transportation needs.”

Waymo is letting people across parts of the Phoenix metropolitan area apply for the service as part of an “early rider program.” Initial users will be able to book Waymo’s minivans using an app, but won’t have to pay. Dollars will flow eventually, Krafcik said, yet he declined to share details. The company is

signing up hundreds of people with diverse backgrounds and transportation needs.

Google is a pioneer in autonomous cars, launching its research program in 2009. After mostly ignoring the project for several years, the auto industry has recently rushed to catch up, pumping billions of dollars into similar technology and engineering talent. A bevy of newcomers have joined too, including some founded by former Waymo engineers, making the field incredibly competitive before anyone has made money.

Uber Technologies Inc. has emerged as a particularly bitter rival. Last year, autonomous vehicles run by the ride-hailing giant began picking up paying customers in Pittsburgh. Earlier this year, it started doing the same in Tempe, a town in the eastern part of the Phoenix metro area. (Waymo is currently suing Uber over the technology.) Yet Waymo insists its business model will be broader than Uber’s.

“Yes, self-driving technology makes sense for ride-sharing,” said Krafcik, a former executive at Hyundai Motor Co.’s U.S. operations and Ford Motor Co. “It also makes sense for personal car ownership.” Transportation to and from transit hubs and logistics also made his list.

In Phoenix, Krafcik said participants will use the autonomous minivan fleet every day, at any time, to go anywhere within an area twice the size of San Francisco. Bloomberg

WHEN Hiroe Tanaka’s father died, he left behind something that would change her life: a recipe for fried meat on a stick. It was an act of love. His daughter adored the Japanese street food known as kushikatsu, and he’d spent endless hours working out how to make it just right.

The handwritten memo, which detailed how to cook the seemingly simple dish, helped save a restaurant business from bankruptcy in 2008, elevated Tanaka from part-time employee to vice president of a company named after her, and made her a multimillionaire.

The university dropout who once worked as an office lady now sets strategy for the $82-million Kushikatsu Tanaka Co. “I pay tribute to my father every day,” Tanaka, 46, says in an interview. “It all happened because of the recipe.”

Kushikatsu Tanaka started trading in September after a popular initial public offering priced at the top of its indicative range.

The shares, which are listed in Japan’s Mothers market for smaller firms, gained more than 50 percent through the end of last week. They rose 0.3 percent on Monday.

The chain has come a long way since it opened its first restaurant in Tokyo in December 2008, where Tanaka and Keiji Nuki, the company president, used secondhand kitchen equipment to keep costs down. Kushikatsu Tanaka now has 146 branches across Japan and one in Hawaii. It plans to open 40 more this year.

The pace of expansion is one of the fastest in Japan’s cut-throat restaurant world. And while that’s partly due to the company’s strategy of bringing the business model employed by 100 yen discount stores to the food industry, offering dishes at their cheapest possible prices, it’s also, Tanaka says, very much down to her dad.

Kushikatsu, a dish made by battering skewered meat and vegetables, deep-frying them and then dipping them in sauce, is

common on the streets of Osaka, in the west of Japan’s main island, where Tanaka grew up. It’s less known in other parts of the country. The food originated as a quick, filling meal for laborers.

On special occasions when Tanaka was a child, whenever someone asked her what food she wanted to eat, she’d always say kushikatsu. Her father, she says, realized what others didn’t: that cooking it is an art. The oil, batter and sauce all have to be just right. For years he used his downtime from working as a real estate agent to perfect kushikatsu for her, she says.

Then, when Tanaka was 21, her dad passed away.

As Tanaka went on with her life, doing administrative work at an advertising agency after deciding not to finish a university degree in literature, she tried without success to replicate her father’s kushikatsu. In the late 1990s, she took a job with Nuki, who was running a bar in Osaka at the time, because she wanted to focus on cooking. One of the dishes she constantly tried to

make was kushikatsu.

When Nuki, also 46, expanded into Tokyo a couple of years later, Tanaka moved to the capital to work at a high-end restaurant he opened. Again, Nuki let her try to cook kushikatsu, although he didn’t share her passion for the food.

But she couldn’t get it right, even with the help of professionals. After several years, she started to think her father’s kushikatsu would die with him.

“It wasn’t as simple as I thought,” she says. “I began to think, maybe I can’t do it after all.”

At that point, things got worse.

When the global financial crisis hit in 2008, it decimated the customers willing to splash out at Nuki’s restaurants. He told Tanaka the game was up: he was closing down and it was time to go home.

Tanaka wasn’t willing to quit.

She even offered to borrow money for the business under her own name. But she accepted it was time to take a step back, and started to pack.

That’s when she found it. It

Inside a store of fast-growing Izakaya chain Kushikatsu-Tanaka

was in a box of memos and mementos from her dad. He’d left her the secret of his kushikatsu after all.

Neither Tanaka nor Nuki had any expectations for the scrawled instructions, which had been corrected over and over. “The discovery wasn’t dramatic at all,” Nuki recalls. “It’s not like the memo had ‘success guaranteed’ written on it.”

But they tried it and it worked.

“It was, indeed, the taste of the kushikatsu my father used to cook,” Tanaka says.

Nuki, a newfound kushikatsu fan, decided to make one last attempt to conquer the Tokyo restaurant scene.

He found a small property in a quiet residential area outside central Tokyo, where rent was cheaper. He filled the kitchen with instruments from his old places, and whatever was missing he bought using an auction website. “A lot of people told me not to do it, that the place wouldn’t attract people because there weren’t any other shops nearby,” he says. Bloomberg

LGUs

P7.5m for Davao bombing victims

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—The city government has earmarked P7.5 million for the victims of the Roxas Night Market bombing last Sept. 2 here for their livelihood and continuing medical assistance.

The funds will come from donations from various people intended for the needs of the blast victims.

Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang said P4.5 million will be allocated for the livelihood assistance to the 73 victims of the bloody incident, while P3 million is for the continuing medical assistance for those who still needs therapy and surgery.

Among the 73 victims, 47 were residents of the city, while the 26 others came from outside Davao.

“The money is from the trust fund created for them. It is a donation coming from individuals who refused to reveal their names publicly,” Dayanghirang said of the trust fund, which is at P8.9 million.

The city will give assistance to all the victims regardless of their residency, the councilor said.

Each survivor will receive P20,000 to P50,000 depending on the business they will pursue, Meanwhile, Mayor Sara Duterte has issued an executive order to boost efforts to combat blindness among residents of the city.

Executive Order No. 17 also created the Davao City Eye Health Care Team, whose main task is to conduct a campaign against preventable or curable eye diseases that can result in blindness.

Duterte named Davao City Health officer Dr. Josephine Villafuerte to chair the team, which will conduct blindness prevention and awareness campaign in the barangays. It was also tasked to propose programs that will help preserve, and or restore the eyesight of blindness-affected residents.

City Social Services and Development Officer Ma. Luisa Bermudo said 11 survivors of the bombing still need medical assistance.

“As of now, we still have survivors who are still in the hospital due to their therapy, [and] we also have those who still need another operation,” she said.

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

C1

DoH to Mimaropa’s rescue T

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

HE Department of Health has started nutritional interventions in the Mimaropa region after a national survey in 2015 revealed three out of 10 children there are underweight—the highest rate in the country.

Mimaropa, made up of the provinces of Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan, ranked first among all the regions with the highest prevalence of underweight children in the country at 31.8 percent, based on the results of the 2015 National Nutrition Survey

Updating of Nutritional Status of Filipino Children and Other Population Groups.

The Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology conducted the survey two years ago.

DOH Regional Director Eduardo Janairo said they will continue to implement feeding

programs in Mimaropa “and improve the interventions and mechanisms aimed in addressing the specific nutritional concerns of each province.”

One of those interventions is the DoH-Mimaropa Vegan Caravan Workshop held at the Tree of Life Business Center in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro from April 20 to 22.

He said the introduction and adoption of the so-called raw vegan program “will ensure the improvement of the nutrition status in the region.”

A raw vegan food diet excludes not only meat and fish, but also dairy products like eggs and often honey, as well as other animal-de-

rived substances. It includes raw vegetables and fruits, nuts and nut pastes, grains and legume sprouts, seeds, plant oils, sea vegetables, herbs, and fresh juices.

Janairo said underweight prevalence in Mimaropa increased from 27.6 percent in 2013 to 31.8 percent in 2015, while stunting prevalence rose from 35.8 percent in 2013 to 40.9 percent in 2015. On the other hand, wasting prevalence stayed consistent at 9.7 percent in both survey years.

Occidental Mindoro will be included in the 37 priority provinces for nutrition programs, having the highest underweight and stunting prevalence among

the provinces in the region, Janairo added.

DoH-Mimaropa, in partnership with OLOF Raw Vegan and Plant Based Home Dining, has started its initial tour in the province of Oriental Mindoro.

It successfully trained 36 Barangay Nutrition Scholars in a three-day culinary workshop on the technology of raw vegan and preparation of cooked plantbased food.

Janairo said inputs from the workshop will be included in the nutrition and feeding program that will be implemented regionwide this year. The caravan will visit all provinces and train all BNS of all towns in Mimaropa.

STREET ART. A street artist sketches the portrait of a Muslim client at Manila’s Rizal Park for a fee of P300. Ey Acasio

Septuagenarians among Makati school graduates Pusher

By Joel E. Zurbano TWO septuagenarians in Makati City were among the latest batch of graduates produced by the University of Makati and Fort Bonifacio High School, the city government announced on Tuesday.

Armando Buhay Albes, Sr., 78, graduated on April 17 with a degree in AB Political Science major in Local Government Administration from the city-run

university, while 79-year-old Salvacion Flores Nacario graduated from junior high school last April 4.

Mayor Abigail Binay expressed her admiration and respect for “Tatay Albes” and “Nanay Sally,” both residents of Barangay West Rembo.

“I salute ‘Tatay Albes’ and ‘Nanay Sally’ for having defied all odds to achieve their dreams through sheer willpower and single-minded perseverance.

Your struggles and subsequent success exemplify the priceless value of education. You have given people, particularly the youth, great motivation to be conscientious in their studies,” said Binay.

She added: “I am sure you have also made many young people realize the wisdom of making the most out of their youth to achieve their dreams.”

Albes finished his course under the Executive Program of

UMak’s College of Governance and Public Policy, while Nacario finished junior high school under the Open High School Program of Fort Bonifacio High Albes said his pursuit of education was driven by his personal ambition to finish school, as well as his love for the country.

He also advised the youth to remain enthusiastic and persistent in their studies.

A native of Naga City, Camarines Sur, Albes was born on

February 6, 1939. He is married to Violeta Albes, 71, a native of Legaspi, Albay. They are blessed with five children.

Albes was an employee of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for 25 years.

His family have been residents of Makati for 14 years now.

On the other hand, Nanay Sally spent three years under the Alternative Learning System before she was endorsed to open high school.

DAR-7 brass told to return P14.18m

By Rio N. Araja THE Commission on Audit has ordered the Department of Agrarian Reform in Region 7 in Cebu City to return P14.18 million taken out of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program to pay themselves unauthorized allowances and bonuses in 2007.

In an April 7 decision, CoA Chairman Michael Aguinaldo, and Commissioners Jose Fabia and Isabel Agito affirmed the validity of 14 notices of disallowance issued against DAR-Region 7.

CoA’s Commission Proper ordered the prosecution and litigation office to forward records of the audit to the Office of the Ombudsman for investigation and possible criminal indictment against those who approved the transaction.

Those held culpable were DAR-Region 7 assistant regional director Nevino Ardente,

finance officer Araceli Adolfo, budget officer Cirila Bandico, bookkeeper Fe Lambujon, accountant Evelio Ouano, cashier Detta Tibay, and officials and employees who received the extra compensation.

Covered by the CoA order for reimbursement to CARP were P13.84 million paid out as collective negotiation agreement or CNA incentives and performance bonuses, and another P200,000 released as medical allowances.

“The grant of CNA incentives and performance Bonus incentive was illegally charged against the agrarian reform fund or Fund 158, which is a trust fund. With regard to the grant of medical allowance using Fund 101, the said grant violates laws, issuances and directives (including) the General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007, and Department of Budget and Management Circular 2001-03,” the CoA’s report read.

STOPPING FAKE NEWS. Close to 200 participants from various schools in the province of Batangas attended the second round of the scholastic press outreach program of the Philippine Press Institute with support from Nickel Asia Corp., called ‘Let’s Get Real on Fake News’ at the Batangas State University in Batangas City. The covenant signing highlighted the one-day activity that aims to help students and educators spot fake news and find ways to stop it. The next legs of the outreach will be conducted in the National Capital Region and Bulacan.

dies in Manila buy-bust

MANILA Police District operatives killed a drug suspect and arrested four of his relatives during a buy-bust operation in the Sampaloc district on Monday night.

The MPD identified the slain drug suspect as Ricardo Garcia. Police said Garcia had earlier surrendered to them under Oplan Tokhang.

Senior Insp. Ariel Ilagan, team leader of the MPD Station 4 Drug Enforcement Unit, said Garcia was killed by their team members during the shootout.

Garcia was included in their drugs watchlist, Ilagan said, and was considered a notorious drug pusher in the Sampaloc area.

Last Saturday, police also received a report that Garcia indiscriminately fired his gun.

Ilagan identified the relatives who were arrested as the suspect’s son, Jomar Garcia; Ronnie Garcia, his brother; Myla Cruz, live-in partner; and Gregorio Asi. The MPD conducted the buy-bust at the corner of Florentino corner Miguelin Streets in Sampaloc. Police seized six sachets of suspected shabu and two firearms, including a .38cal. revolver and a .45-cal. pistol from the suspects.

Ilagan said that after their poseur-buyer gave his payment, Garcia sensed he was being entrapped by policemen. Sandy Araneta

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

Standard WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 C2 TODAY Manila

DA sets Project Basil T

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

HE Agriculture department said Monday major river basins and lakes will be seeded with fingerlings of indigenous and noninvasive fish species over the next five years in a program called Project Basil, which stands for “Balik Sigla sa Ilog at Lawa.”

The National Inland Fisher- Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic ies Enhancement Program of the Resources, an agency under the PASEGURUHAN NG MGA NAGLILINGKOD SA PAMAHALAAN (GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM) Financial Center, Pasay City, Metro Manila 1308

1.

InvItatIon to BId REINSURANCE OF THE BANKERS BLANKET BOND INSURANCE OF THE LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), through the GSIS Corporate Budget for CY 2017 wishes to receive bids for the Reinsurance of the Bankers Blanket Bond Insurance of the Land Bank of the Philippines for the period 01 June 2017 to 01 June 2018, with a Total Sum Insured of Two Billion Five Hundred Million Pesos (PHP2,500,000,000.00) with an Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) of Fourteen Million Seven Hundred Ninety Nine Thousand and Three Hundred Three Pesos (PHP14,799,303.00) with a premium rate of 0.59197%, with the following particulars: Coverage

ABC (inclusive of 20% GSIS Commission)

Retention (%)

Bankers’ Blanket Bond

PHP14,799,303.00

10%

Facultative Reinsurance (%) 90%

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3. Bidding willbeconducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the IRR of RA 9184.

4. Interested bidders may obtain further information and inspect the Bidding Documents at the GSIS Bids and Awards Committee (GBAC) Secretariat Project Coordinators, Level 3 Core C, GSIS Building, Financial Center, Macapagal Ave., Pasay City, during office hours.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the date of publication of this ITB at the above address and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Php25,000.00.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity. However, the UnderwritingInformation shall only be available to Bidders who have paid the non-refundable fee of Php25,000.00 not later than the submission of their bids.

5. The GSIS will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 03May 2017 (10:30 am) at the GIBAC Conference Room, Core C, Level 3, GSIS Building, Financial Center, Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City which shall be open to all interested parties.

6. Bids must be delivered on or before 15May 2017(8:30 am) at the GBAC Secretariat (for GIBAC), Level 3, Core C, GSIS Building, Financial Center, Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

7. Bid opening shall be on 15 May 2017(9:00 am) at the GIBAC Conference Room, Core C, Level 3, GSIS Building, Financial Center, Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders representatives who chose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted.After the Bid Opening, a detailed evaluation of the financial component of the eligible bid/s shall be conducted to determine the Single or Lowest Calculated Bid (SCB or LCB). Only the bidder with the SCB or LCB shall be notified within seven (7) calendar days to submit post-qualification documents.

8. A sixty (60) day cover note effecting the insurance coverage on its inception date, 01June 2017, will be required by the GSIS from the bidder with the LCB to be submitted within five (5) calendar days from receipt of the notice to submit the postqualification documents.

9. The GSISencourages that the eligibility requirements be submitted before the deadline of submission of bids.

10. The GSIS reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability tothe affected bidder or bidders.

11. For further information, please refer to: GBAC Secretariat Project Coordinators GSIS Insurance Bids and Awards Committee (GIBAC) Level 3 Core C, GSIS Building,Financial Center, Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City Contact no. 479-3600 loc. 3306 / 976-4655 Email: gbac_secretariat@gsis.gov.ph (Sgd.) Valerie K. Marquez Chairperson GSIS Insurance Bids and Awards Committee (MS-APR. 26, 2017)

PASEGURUHAN NG MGA NAGLILINGKOD SA PAMAHALAAN (GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM) Financial Center, Pasay City, Metro Manila 1308 InvItatIon to BId

1.

six major river basins all over the country as the initial areas targeted for the fingerlings seeding.

The biggest of the first group of major lakes is Laguna de Bay with 90,000 hectares, followed by Lake Lanao (34,700 hectares), Taal Lake (23,400 hectares), Lake Mainit in Surigao del Norte (17,300 hectares), Naujan Lake in Oriental Mindoro (11,000 hectares), Buluan Lake in Maguindanao (6,500 hectares) and Lake Sebu in South Cotabato (354 hectares).

The major rivers are in the Cagayan River Basin (2.5 million hectares), Mindanao River Basin (2.3 million hectares), Agusan River Basin (one million hectares), Pampanga River Basin (974,000 hectares) Abra River Basin (512,500 hectares) and Bicol River Basin (377,100 hectares).

BAUKO, Mountain Province— Five major rebel factions and groups in Cordillera converged here on Monday to unify their ranks towards healing and reconciliation, as they strongly pushed for Cordillera autonomy as a step towards federalism.

Leaders and representatives of various Cordillera rebel factions and other groups, namely the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army and Cordillera Bodong Association, Cordillera Peoples Alliance, Cordillera Broad Coalition, Cordillera Regional Consultative Commission, and North Luzon Coalition for Good Governance, have jointly called on all Cordillerans to unite and rally behind efforts to establish the constitutionally mandated Autonomous

Region of the Cordillera.

These groups, together with the civil society, local government units, and national government agencies gathered together for the first time at the Forum on CAR Regional Autonomy dubbed as “Pioneer Cordillera Champions Coming Together” held at Mount Data Hotel here.

The forum was organized by the Cordillera Regional Development Council and the National Economic and Development Authority in CAR, in partnership with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, as a venue for continuing dialogue with the Cordillera groups and converge their interests and efforts to attain the region’s autonomy. Dexter A. See

Manila

Republic of the Philippines Standard GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM

TODAY

GSIS Building, Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City 1308 GSIS ACQUIRED ASSETS FOR DISPOSITION

PROVINCE

District/Subdivision

City/Municipality

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Metro Manila Metro Manila Metro Manila Metro Manila Metro Manila Metro Manila Metro Manila Cavite Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan Bulacan

EP HOUSING PROJECT, Western Bicutan EP HOUSING PROJECT, Western Bicutan EP HOUSING PROJECT, Western Bicutan EP HOUSING PROJECT, Western Bicutan EP HOUSING PROJECT, Western Bicutan EP HOUSING PROJECT, Western Bicutan EP HOUSING PROJECT, Western Bicutan SOLDIERS HILLS IV, Molino ROCKA VILLAGE II, Tabang ROCKA VILLAGE II, Tabang LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Perez STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Guijo STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Yakal FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Narra FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Narra FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Yakal FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Yakal FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Narra FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Narra FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Narra FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Narra FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Yakal FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Yakal FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Yakal FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Yakal FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Yakal FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Yakal

Taguig City Taguig City Taguig City Taguig City Taguig City Taguig City Taguig City Bacoor Plaridel Plaridel Meycauayan San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City San Jose Del Monte City

B002 L071 Ph 2 Road Lot 23 B002 L080 Ph 2 Rd Lot 23 B002 L096 Ph 2 B003 L021 Ph 2 Road Lot 23 B007 L013 Ph 1 B013 L017 Ph 1 B022 L006 Ph 2 Road Lot 9 B012 L020 Ph 4 Almond Drive B015 L012 Ph 7 St Francis St. B016 L020 Ph 7 St. Paul St. B004A L015 Ph 3A (1) St. Anthony/St. Vincent St. B002 L014 Ph A2 B002 L002 Ph B B004 L001 Ph O B001 L011 Ph E2 B001 L014 Ph E2 B001 L021 Ph C1 B001 L031 Ph C1 B002 L012 Ph E2 B002 L018 Ph E2 B002 L024 Ph E2 B003 L012 Ph E2 B003 L032 Ph C1 B004 L001 Ph E2 B004 L010 Ph E2 B005 L009&L010 Ph E2 B005 L011 Ph E2 B005 L014 Ph F1 B005 L016 Ph F1 B004 L011 Ph O2 B005 L011 Ph O2 B001 L003 Ph C1 B001 L017 Ph E2 B001 L019 Ph C1 B001 L020 Ph C1 B001 L022 Ph E2 B001 L025 Ph E1 B001 L030 Ph C1 B002 L002 Ph D B002 L005 Ph D B002 L008A Ph D B002 L010 Ph E2 B002 L011 Ph D B002 L011 Ph E2 B002 L021 Ph E2 B002 L022 Ph E2 B002 L035 Ph B B003 L009&L010 Ph E2 B003 L014&L015 Ph E2 B003 L019 Ph C1 B003 L030 Ph C1 B005 L005 Ph E2 B005 L006 Ph E2 B005 L008 Ph E2 B005 L015 Ph E1 B005 L017 Ph E1 B005 L018 Ph E1 B006 L001 Ph E2 B006 L007 Ph E2 B006B L003 Ph D B007A L004 Ph D B007B L004 Ph D B007B L005 Ph D B007B L007 Ph D B001 L019 Ph F1 B003 L009 Ph F1 B005 L017 Ph F1 B006 L020 Ph F1 B004 L002 Ph O2 B004 L012 Ph O2 B004 L015 Ph O2 B004 L016 Ph O2 B005 L013 Ph O2 B006 L002 Ph O2

6681 6688 7052 7062 23255 23306 6783 T-361969 T-129954 T-124073 T-59.892 (M) T-347440 (M) T-343113 (M) T-77.819 (M) T-187669 (M) T-191474 (M) T-156434 (M) T-156877 (M) T-191485 (M) T-187681 (M) T-187683 (M) T-203848 (M) T-148781 (M) T-203877 (M) T-203886 (M) T-203840 (M) & T-203841 (M) T-281829 (M) T-15383-P (M) T-15111-P (M) T-17421-P (M) T-17435-P (M) T-153803 (M) T-191477 (M) T-167837 (M) T-161730 (M) T-191481 (M) T-281796 (M) T-183592 (M) T-185291 (M) T-185294 (M) T-191463 (M) T-191483 (M) T-186012 (M) T-191484 (M) T-191488 (M) T-187684 (M) T-281799 (M) T-203838 (M) & T-203839 (M) T-203863 (M) & T-203864 (M) T-153824 (M) T-148779 (M) T-203850 (M) T-203844 (M) T-203842 (M) T-281841 (M) T-281824 (M) T-281827 (M) T-191489 (M) T-191495 (M) T-175967 (M) T-183619 (M) T-169850 (M) T-167854 (M) T-167855 (M) T-15693-P (M) T-15397-P (M) T-15612-P (M) T-15386-P (M) T-17425-P (M) T-17411-P (M) T-17406-P (M) T-17427-P (M) T-17408-P (M) T-17433-P (M)

100.00 100.00 129.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 122.00 104.00 106.00 248.00 150.00 121.00 166.00 90.00 100.00 126.00 113.00 90.00 90.00 100.00 96.00 128.00 85.00 90.00 203.00 100.00 120.00 120.00 146.00 155.00 133.00 90.00 131.00 258.00 114.00 93.00 187.00 130.00 136.00 214.00 90.00 120.00 90.00 90.00 90.00 180.00 199.00 204.00 137.00 110.00 90.00 90.00 90.00 150.00 150.00 150.00 127.00 114.00 147.00 214.00 148.00 120.00 116.00 221.00 120.00 120.00 120.00 81.00 141.00 126.00 181.00 121.00 81.00

Minimum Acceptable

Property Classification

Occupancy Status

Bidding Date

2,640,000.00 2,713,333.33 3,528,600.00 2,633,333.33 3,066,000.00 3,048,000.00 2,620,000.00 950,000.00 683,733.33 898,266.67 2,198,400.00 783,600.00 660,000.00 1,157,666.67 632,000.00 892,000.00 638,466.67 605,900.00 492,000.00 562,000.00 618,000.00 628,400.00 1,105,200.00 454,500.00 627,000.00 944,900.00 546,000.00 622,666.67 624,000.00 685,800.00 1,191,500.00 1,449,700.00 520,333.33 1,788,300.00 1,174,466.67 1,073,000.00 534,500.00 863,366.67 853,000.00 677,600.00 974,066.67 540,333.33 667,200.00 488,500.00 445,000.00 723,000.00 1,264,000.00 977,500.00 1,098,000.00 845,766.67 579,666.67 765,000.00 765,000.00 828,000.00 732,000.00 1,149,000.00 761,000.00 642,766.67 656,866.67 752,100.00 993,400.00 684,133.33 593,333.33 595,466.67 1,051,800.00 726,000.00 702,666.67 859,000.00 537,300.00 702,966.67 638,466.67 928,300.00 616,966.67 464,966.67

House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot House & Lot

Unoccupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Unoccupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Unoccupied Unoccupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Unoccupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied Occupied

13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 13-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17 20-Jun-17

Place of Bidding

Level 8, Narra Room, GSIS Building, Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City

Level 8, Narra Room, GSIS Building, Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City

Level 8, Narra Room, GSIS Building, Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City

Level 8, Narra Room, GSIS Building, Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City

GENERAL GUIDELINES:

REINSURANCE OF THE INDUSTRIAL ALL RISK INSURANCE OF THE BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS (QC) The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), through the GSIS Corporate Budget for CY 2017 wishes to receive bids for the Reinsurance of the Industrial All Risk Insurance of the BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS (QC) for the period 01 June 2017 to 01 June 2018, with a Total Sum Insured ofFive Billion One Hundred Ninety Two Million Six Hundred Sixteen Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty Five Pesos and 48/100(PHP5,192,616,755.48)with an Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) of Seven Million Two Hundred Seventeen Thousand Seven Hundred Thirty Seven Pesos and 3/100(PHP 7,217,737.03) with a premium rate of0.13900%, with the following particulars: Coverage

ABC (inclusive of 20% GSIS Commission)

Retention (%)

Industrial All Risk

PHP7,217,737.03

10%

Facultative Reinsurance (%) 90%

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3. Bidding willbeconducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the IRR of RA 9184.

4. Interested bidders may obtain further information and inspect the Bidding Documents at the GSIS Bids and Awards Committee (GBAC) Secretariat Project Coordinators, Level 3 Core C, GSIS Building, Financial Center, Macapagal Ave., Pasay City, during office hours.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the date of publication of this ITB at the above address and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount ofPhp10,000.00.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity.

However, the UnderwritingInformation shall only be available to Bidders who have paid the non-refundable fee of Php10,000.00 not later than the submission of their bids.

5. The GSIS will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 03May 2017 (09:30 am) at the GIBAC Conference Room, Core C, Level 3, GSIS Building, Financial Center, Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City which shall be open to all interested parties.

6. Bids must be delivered on or before 15May 2017(8:30 am) at the GBAC Secretariat (for GIBAC), Level 3, Core C, GSIS Building, Financial Center, Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

7. Bid opening shall be on 15May 2017(9:00 am) at the GIBAC Conference Room, Core C, Level 3, GSIS Building, Financial Center, Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders representatives who chose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted.After the Bid Opening, a detailed evaluation of the financial component of the eligible bid/s shall be conducted to determine the Single or Lowest Calculated Bid (SCB or LCB). Only the bidder with the SCB or LCB shall be notified within seven (7) calendar days to submit post-qualification documents.

8. A sixty (60) day cover note effecting the insurance coverage on its inception date, 01 June 2017, will be required by the GSIS from the bidder with the LCB to be submitted within five (5) calendar days from receipt of the notice to submit the post-qualification documents.

9. The GSIS encourages that the eligibility requirements be submitted before the deadline of submission of bids.

10. The GSIS reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability tothe affected bidder or bidders.

11. For further information, please refer to: GBAC Secretariat Project Coordinators GSIS Insurance Bids and Awards Committee (GIBAC) Level 3Core C, GSIS Building,Financial Center, Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City Contact no. 479-3600 loc. 3306 / 976-4655 Email: gbac_secretariat@gsis.gov.ph (Sgd.) Valerie K. Marquez Chairperson GSIS Insurance Bids and Awards Committee (MS-APR. 26, 2017)

DA, was designed to provide Filipinos greater access to available food and address poverty and hunger in the countryside.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said he has ordered the BFAR to design this program “because of my realization that rivers and lakes in the country no longer have the same amount of fish population as they had many years ago, when the use of chemicals in agriculture and illegal fishing methods like ‘electric fishing’ and cyanide was not widespread.”

“Overfishing and the use of illegal and destructive fishing methods have virtually decimated the indigenous fish species in the major lakes and rivers of the country,” Piñol said.

Piñol said Project Basil has identified seven major lakes and

Cordillera rebels in historic forum

1.

Disposal of GSIS Investment Properties – Retail Units (IP-RUs) is through a competitive public bidding process. Acceptance of Purchase Offer shall start on the scheduled bidding date and time.

2.

Dropping of bid envelopes inside the designated bid box will be on the date of auction from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Opening of Bids will immediately follow.

3.

Disposal of GSIS IP-RUs is on “As-Is Where-Is” basis. Interested bidders are enjoined to personally inspect the GSIS IP-RUs for sale. “As-Is Where-Is” is defined as the present physical condition of the retail unit that GSIS is selling and the buyer is buying, “with all attendant faults, if any,” whether or not immediately apparent and without any express or implied warranty.

The buyer takes this condition at his or her own risk, without recourse against the GSIS as to their condition. This includes knowledge by the buyer of the presence of occupants in the retail-unit being purchased.

4.

Strictly, “One bidder, One specific property” only, which means that a bidder cannot submit two (2) or more bids for one property. A bidder may submit one bid each to as many properties as he wants to buy, as long as, he posts a bidder’s deposit for each property in an amount provided below. The bidder must present valid government IDs upon registration on the date of public bidding.

5.

Purchase offer may either be in Cash or through External Financing Institution.

6.

A downloadable bid form shall be properly accomplished with the following data: a. Name and complete address of the bidder b. Exact address of property you are interested to bid c. Transfer Certificate of Title No. d. Amount of bid (in numbers and in words) e. 10 % Bidder’s Deposit equivalent to 10% of the total amount of Bid Offer f. Signature of the bidder/representative

7.

Bid proposal shall be written in words and in figures and shall not be lower than the Minimum Bid Price of the property published in the newspaper or posted in the GSIS website. Should there be a difference in the amount in words and in figures, the amount in words shall prevail.

8.

Bidders’ deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer shall be in the form of MANAGER’S CHECK payable to the Government Service Insurance System

9.

The following shall be inserted in the sealed bid envelope: a. properly accomplished Bid Form (form can be downloaded from www.gsis.gov.ph) b. Manager’s Check payable to Government Service Insurance System representing deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer c. duly notarized Special Power of Attorney (SPA), if the bidder is an authorized representative d. pre-conditional approval from PBCOM, if applicable

10.

The following information shall be clearly written outside the sealed bid envelope (mailing envelope) (Address of Property you want to bid) Block No. ______ Lot. No. ______ Phase No.____ Name of Subdivision Address of Subdivision TCT NO. _______ Mode: __________ Cash __________ thru External Financing Institution Name of Bidder: Mailing Address:

11.

Interested bidders planning to purchase the GSIS property through External Financing Institution (EFI) shall first secure certification from accredited banks stating that he/she is qualified to avail of a loan from External Financing Institution and insert inside the bid envelope.

12.

The existing tenant or occupant or his duly authorized representative through a valid Special Power of Attorney (SPA) has the right to match the offer of the declared highest bidder, provided: a. he/she is present during the bidding b. participated in actual bidding c. presently occupying the property subject of bidding supported by the following proofs of occupancy: c.1 Barangay certificate that he/she is occupying or residing in the subject property c.2. Any valid government identification document with his/her address similar to the address of the property he/.she is bidding.

13. If the occupant will exercise his/her right to match the offer of the declared highest bidder, he/she need not secure another bank pre-qualification corresponding to the matched offer.

Instead, he/she shall pay the equity in cash as stated in Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS). The equity shall be computed as the difference between the Letter of Guarantee from the bank and the offered bid amount.

14.

The declared highest/winning bidder shall submit within the day of the actual bidding, the following documents: a. duly accomplished Personal Profile/Company Profile/Corporate Profile, whichever is applicable (form can be downloaded from www.gsis.gov.ph); b. photocopies of two valid IDs (one should be a government-issued ID); c. Articles of Incorporation/Partnership, By-Laws and current General Information Sheet, for corporation/partnership, if applicable; d. Registration Certificate from SEC for corporation/partnership, DTI for sole proprietorship and CDA for cooperatives, or any proof of such registration, if applicable; e. current Mayor’s permit issued by the city or municipality where the principal place of business of the winning bidder is located, if applicable.

15.

A Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS) shall be issued to the highest/winning bidder on the day of bidding. In case the bid is thru EFI, the equity shall be paid in cash within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of Letter of Guarantee (LOG) by the GSIS. The equity is the amount corresponding to the difference between the LOG and the Offered Bid Amount.

16.

Upon issuance of the NOAS to the highest/winning bidder, the Bidder’s Deposit of the other non-winning bidder/s shall be returned immediately.

17.

Non-compliance with the terms and conditions stated in the NOAS shall result in the forfeiture of the bidder’s deposit.

18. In case the highest/winning bidder fails to comply with the requirements within the specified time, the GSIS shall write the second highest bidder to confirm if he/she is still interested to acquire the property. If still interested, GSIS will require him/her to pay the non-refundable deposit equivalent to ten percent (10%) of his/her previously submitted bid amount and will be issued NOAS. 19.

GSIS reserves the right to waive any formality or to reject any or all bids received. The list of properties available for sale may be updated without prior notice.

20.

For inquiries, you may call Real Property Accounts Management Department at telephone nos. 479-3536 or 976-4619.

(MS-APR. 26/27/28, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

Manila

Standard

TODAY

Trump struggles in first 100 days WASHINGTON―From the resounding setbacks in Congress to the stunning policy flip-flops, Donald Trump has certainly been confronted with a steep learning curve in his opening months at the White House.

While the new US president has shown a capacity to change both his tone and his positions, Trump has struggled to convey a clearly articulated world view.

As the symbolic milestone of his 100th day in power, which falls on Saturday, draws near, a cold, hard reality is setting in for the billionaire businessman who promised Americans he would “win, win, win” for them.

At this stage of his presidency Donald Trump is the least popular US leader in modern history (even if his core supporters still fully support him).

The 70-year-old Trump, whose election victory unleashed a political shock wave around the world, is still clinging to the take-no-prisoners, unpredictable,

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

impulsive style that made him a property mogul and reality TV star.

But the onetime anti-establishment candidate who promised to “drain the swamp” in Washington appears to have recognized -- with a mix of naivete and craftiness -- that he has one of the most difficult jobs in the world.

In just his first few weeks in office Trump suffered some crippling blows -- the federal courts halted his proposed travel ban, and Congress failed to move ahead on health care reform.

“Nobody knew that health care could be so complicated,” Trump said during his efforts to see Obamacare -- his Democratic predecessor’s signature domestic policy achievement -- repealed and replaced.

“After listening for 10 minutes, I realized it’s not so easy,” Trump said after talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping about North Korea.

The demands and constraints of the

First double execution in Arkansas WASHINGTON―The southern state of Arkansas, rushing to execute several inmates before a lethal drug expires next week, put to death two inmates late Monday, the first double execution in the United States in 17 years.

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said that Jack Jones and Marcel Williams, both sentenced to death in the 1990s, were executed by lethal injection after higher courts rejected their final legal appeals.

Arkansas had planned to put eight convicted murderers to death in 11 days -- a record, had it been carried out -- but four have won reprieves.

Jones, 52, was executed after the US Supreme Court rejected an 11th-hour request from his attorneys asking justices to reconsider a procedural issue from his trial.

Williams, 46, died hours later after his appeals were exhausted. His lawyers had filed a flurry of last-minute challenges, including accusations that the state had improperly carried out Jones’ execution just minutes earlier.

“Mr. Jones was moving his lips and gulping for air” after the midazolam was administered, evidence that the drug did not properly sedate him, the lawyers said in a legal filing.

But attorneys for Arkansas said the accusation was not supported by media or witness accounts, and charges that the execution “appeared to be tortuous and inhumane are utterly baseless.”

Williams’ legal team had earlier argued that his extreme obesity -- Williams weighed 400 pounds (180 kilograms) -- would make it difficult to find a proper vein for the lethal injection.

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson has said the accelerated execution timetable was necessary as the state’s stock of a sedative used in lethal injections will expire at the end of the month.

Rutledge said in separate statements that the family and friends of the victims had “seen justice carried out.” In each case, Rutledge described the crimes they committed in gruesome detail. AFP

INVITATION TO BID The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) through its Regional Bids and Awards Committee - Caraga Region (RBAC-Caraga), invites Rural Banks and Cooperatives to bid for the hereunder project:

Oval Office -- where every word uttered counts -- are quite different from the daily stump speeches Trump made on the campaign trail.

Who to turn to for advice? Whose advice to heed? What kind of relationship to build with Congress, even when it’s nominally controlled by one’s own party? How much latitude to afford the usually powerful State and Defense Departments?

All of his predecessors have said it: moving into the mansion at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is a shock to the system.

“There’s just something about this job as president every president faces -- you know, that you think one thing going in and then the pressures of the job or the realities of the world, you know, are different than you thought,” George W. Bush said recently.

Aside from his unwavering penchant for morning tweetstorms, often influenced by the ebb and flow of headlines on Fox News, Trump has changed. AFP

BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE 3 2nd Floor, Joaquin Gonzales Hall, Interactive Learning Center (ILC) Room University of the Philippines Manila P. Faura St. corner Ma. Orosa St., Manila Telefax # 525-43-22 / 526-22-75 INVITATION TO BID The University of the Philippines Manila through its Bids and Awards Committee 3, invites suppliers/manufacturer/distributors/contractors to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder projects:

Name of Project: Requesting Unit/Location: Approved Budget for the Contract: Bid Documents Contract Duration: PR No.: Source of Fund:

2.

Supply of 1st and 2nd Tranches of Rice Subsidy for FY 2017 UPM & PGH Php 14,904,000.00 Php 25,000.00 120 days BAC3-UPM1667-PGH-17-04-03 CAO-IOB FY 2017, 136A-184, 184-142

Prospective bidders should have experience in undertaking a similar project within the last two (2) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding. The Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of bids shall use non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Post-qualification of the lowest calculated responsive bid shall be conducted.

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

The complete schedule of activities is listed, as follows:

3.

4.

1 2 3 4 5 6

Activities Issuance of Bid Documents Pre-bid Conference Dropping of Bids Opening of Bids Bid Evaluation Post-qualification Issuance of Notice of Award

Schedule Starting April 26, 2017 May 8, 2017 – 1:30 p.m.

May 22, 2017 – 11:30 a.m.

May 22, 2017 – 1:30 p.m.

Within two (2) weeks after the opening Within one (1) week after the bid evaluation Seven (7) days after Post-qualification

5.

Bid Documents will be made available only to eligible bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount stated above for each project to the U.P. Manila Cashier’s Office.

6. UP Manila assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid.

7. The University of the Philippines Manila reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any formality or defects therein, or to accept such as may be considered most advantageous to UP Manila.

8. All inquiries shall be directed to the BAC 3 Secretariat at tel. no. 525-4322 / 5262275. This is also posted at the UP Manila Official Web http://www.upm.edu.ph/ procurement.

(SGD) DR. TRISTAN NATHANIEL C. RAMOS Chairperson (SGD) ARLENE A. SAMANIEGO, M.D. Vice-Chancellor For Administration MS-APR. 26, 2017)

PASEGURUHAN NG MGA NAGLILINGKOD SA PAMAHALAAN (GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM) Financial Center, Pasay City, Metro Manila 1308

1.

InvItatIon to BId REINSURANCE OF THE FIRE AND ALLIED PERILS INSURANCE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), through the GSIS Corporate Budget for CY 2017 wishes to receive bids for the Reinsurance of the Fire and Allied Perils Insurance of the UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES for the period 18 May 2017 to 18 May 2018, with a Total Sum Insured of Eight Billion Ninety Six Million Seventeen Thousand Nine Hundred Eighteen Pesos and 20/100(PHP8,096,017,918.20) with an Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) of Eight Million Ninety Six Thousand Seventeen Pesos and 92/100(PHP8,096,017.92) with a premium rate of 0.10%, with the following particulars: Coverage

ABC (inclusive of 20% GSIS Commission)

Retention (%)

Fire and Allied Perils

PHP8,096,017.92

10%

Facultative Reinsurance (%) 90%

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Bidders should have completed, within two (2) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3. Bidding willbeconducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the IRR of RA 9184.

4. Interested bidders may obtain further information and inspect the Bidding Documents at the GSIS Bids and Awards Committee (GBAC) Secretariat Project Coordinators, Level 3 Core C, GSIS Building, Financial Center, Macapagal Ave., Pasay City, during office hours.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the date of publication of this ITB at the above address and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount ofPhp10,000.00.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity. However, the UnderwritingInformation shall only be available to Bidders who have paid the non-refundable fee of Php10,000.00 not later than the submission of their bids.

5. The GSIS will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 03May 2017 (10:00 am) at the GIBAC Conference Room, Core C, Level 3, GSIS Building, Financial Center, Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City which shall be open to all interested parties.

6. Bids must be delivered on or before 15May 2017(8:30 am) at the GBAC Secretariat (for GIBAC), Level 3, Core C, GSIS Building, Financial Center, Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

7. Bid opening shall be on 15 May 2017(9:00 am) at the GIBAC Conference Room, Core C, Level 3, GSIS Building, Financial Center, Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders representatives who chose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted.After the Bid Opening, a detailed evaluation of the financial component of the eligible bid/s shall be conducted to determine the Single or Lowest Calculated Bid (SCB or LCB). Only the bidder with the SCB or LCB shall be notified within seven (7) calendar days to submit post-qualification documents.

8. A sixty (60) day cover note effecting the insurance coverage on its inception date, 18 May 2017, will be required by the GSIS from the bidder with the LCB to be submitted within five (5) calendar days from receipt of the notice to submit the postqualification documents.

9. The GSIS encourages that the eligibility requirements be submitted before the deadline of submission of bids.

10. The GSIS reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability tothe affected bidder or bidders.

11. For further information, please refer to: GBAC Secretariat Project Coordinators GSIS Insurance Bids and Awards Committee (GIBAC) Level 3Core C, GSIS Building,Financial Center, Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City Contact no. 479-3600 loc. 3306 / 976-4655 Email: gbac_secretariat@gsis.gov.ph 2.

VP says no intolerance JAKARTA―Indonesia’s vice president Tuesday dismissed concerns a reputation for moderate Islam had been damaged in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country after Jakarta’s Christian governor was defeated in a religiously charged election.

In an interview with AFP, Jusuf Kalla insisted religion was only one factor in last week’s run-off between governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama and a Muslim former government minister.

Purnama, Jakarta’s first non-Muslim governor for half a century, was favourite to win until claims he insulted Islam sparked mass protests and led to him being put on trial for blasphemy in a case viewed as politically motivated.

The vote was seen as a test of whether the moderate Islam traditionally practiced in Indonesia was under threat from hardliners, who led the protests against Purnama, also Jakarta’s first ethnic Chinese leader.

But Kalla dismissed fears Indonesia’s pluralistic traditions were being eroded, and that radical groups were set to become increasingly influential.

“Indonesia will stay moderate,” he told AFP. “Religion is influential, yes -- but that it is not the only thing (in this election).”

Kalla, 74, conceded the vote was polarizing, saying even his own house was divided over who should win. But he said Purnama, known for his often abrasive style, had lost more because of his “attitude”. AFP

(MS-APR. 26, 2017)

C3

Regional Bids and Awards Committee - Caraga Region San Francisco Public Market Mall Center Island Street, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur Telephone No. (085) 839-0333 Email: rbaccaraga@gmail.com

University of the Philippines Manila The Health Sciences Center

1.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017

(Sgd.)Valerie K. Marquez Chairperson GSIS Insurance Bids and Awards Committee

Approved Budget for the Contract Non-Refundable Fee (ABC)

Items

Delivery Period

ITB No. RBAC Caraga - CCT 2017 (B) Service fees for the distribution of DSWD Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Program cash grants to Non-Cash Card beneficiaries in various Municipalities for May 2017 to March 2018 payouts (Regional Coverage B): Note: Bid shall be on a per Province basis.

AGUSAN DEL NORTE 4,427 Beneficiaries/Payout • Buenavista, Carmen, Jabonga, Kitcharao, Las Nieves AGUSAN DEL SUR 14,635 Beneficiaries/Payout • Bunawan, Esperanza, Loreto, San Luis, Prosperidad (Capital), Santa Josefa, Sibagat, Talacogon, Trento, Veruela DINAGAT ISLANDS 689 Beneficiaries/Payout • San Jose (Capital) SURIGAO DEL NORTE 5,472 Beneficiaries/Payout • Alegria, Bacuag, Burgos, Claver, Dapa, Del Carmen, General Luna, Gigaquit, Mainit, Pilar, San Benito, San Isidro, Santa Monica (Sapao), Socorro, Tubod SURIGAO DEL SUR 7,870 Beneficiaries/Payout • Barobo, Bayabas, Cagwait, Cantilan, Carmen, Carrascal, Cortes, Hinatuan, Lanuza, Lianga, Lingig, Madrid, Marihatag, San Agustin, San Miguel, Tagbina

P

557,028.00

P

500.00

P

2,796,504.00

P

1,400.00

P

109,104.00

P

500.00

P

886,680.00

P

500.00

P

5,689,218.00

P

2,845.00

Six (6) payouts (May, July, September & November 2017 and January & March 2018)

Prospective bidders should have experience in undertaking a similar project within the last five (5) years from the date of submission and receipts of bids, with an amount of at least 50% of the ABC. The Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids shall use non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Post-qualification of the lowest calculated bid shall be conducted.

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

The complete schedule of activities is listed, as follows: ACTIVITIES

SCHEDULE

1. Issuance of Bid Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference 3. Submission of plan on securing the money before, during and after the payout against theft or robbery, loss and other fortuitous events and opening of deposit accounts with LANDBANK for crediting and debiting of cash grants 4. Submission and Opening of Bids 5. Post Qualification 5. Awarding by RBAC 6. Head of Procuring Entitiy (HOPE)’s approval 7. Notice of Award 8. Performance Bond 9. Notice to Proceed

April 26 to May 17, 2017 May 4, 2017 (10:00 A.M.) May 11 to 18, 2017 May 18, 2017 May 19 to 23, 2017 May 24 to 26, 2017 May 29 to 30, 2017 May 31 to June 1, 2017 June 2 to 6, 2017 June 7, 2017

Bid Documents will be available at LANDBANK San Francisco Branch only to prospective bidders upon payment of the applicable non-refundable amount to the LANDBANK San Francisco Branch Cashier.

The Bank reserves the right to (1) reject any and all bids at any time prior to the award of the contract; (2) waive any minor formal requirements in the bid documents; (3) accept such bids it may consider advantageous and beneficial to the Bank, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

REGIONAL BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE CARAGA REGION

Regional Bids and Awards Committee - Caraga Region San Francisco Public Market Mall Center Island Street, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur Telephone No. (085) 839-0333 Email: rbaccaraga@gmail.com

INVITATION TO BID The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) through its Regional Bids and Awards Committee - Caraga Region (RBAC-Caraga), invites Rural Banks and Cooperatives to bid for the hereunder project: Approved Budget for the Contract Non-Refundable Fee (ABC)

Items

Delivery Period

IITB No. RBAC Caraga - CCT 2017 (A) Service fees for the distribution of DSWD Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Program cash grants to Non-Cash Card/ Prepaid Card beneficiaries in various Municipalities for May 2017 to March 2018 payouts (Regional Coverage A -- Very Difficult, Difficult and Easy Areas): Note: Bid shall be on a per Province basis.

AGUSAN DEL NORTE 5,951 Beneficiaries/Payout • Buenavista, Carmen, Jabonga, Kitcharao, Las Nieves AGUSAN DEL SUR 2,719 Beneficiaries/Payout • Bunawan, Esperanza, Loreto, San Luis, Prosperidad (Capital), Santa Josefa, Sibagat, Talacogon, Trento, Veruela DINAGAT ISLANDS 1,133 Beneficiaries/Payout • San Jose (Capital) SURIGAO DEL NORTE 2,670 Beneficiaries/Payout • Alegria, Bacuag, Burgos, Claver, Dapa, Del Carmen, General Luna, Gigaquit, Mainit, Pilar, San Benito, San Isidro, Santa Monica (Sapao), Socorro, Tubod SURIGAO DEL SUR 3,501 Beneficiaries/Payout • Barobo, Bayabas, Cagwait, Cantilan, Carmen, Carrascal, Cortes, Hinatuan, Lanuza, Lianga, Lingig, Madrid, Marihatag, San Agustin, San Miguel, Tagbina

P

1,313,688.00

P

660.00

P

589,752.00

P

500.00

P

243,876.00

P

500.00

P

612,576.00

P

500.00

P

781,524.00

P

500.00

Six (6) payouts (May, July, September & November 2017 and January & March 2018)

Prospective bidders should have experience in undertaking a similar project within the last five (5) years from the date of submission and receipts of bids, with an amount of at least 50% of the ABC. The Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids shall use non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Post-qualification of the lowest calculated bid shall be conducted.

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

The complete schedule of activities is listed, as follows: ACTIVITIES

SCHEDULE

1. Issuance of Bid Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference 3. Submission of plan on securing the money before, during and after the payout against theft or robbery, loss and other fortuitous events and opening of deposit accounts with LANDBANK for crediting and debiting of cash grants 4. Submission and Opening of Bids 5. Post Qualification 6. Awarding by RBAC 6. Head of Procuring Entitiy (HOPE)’s approval 7. Notice of Award 8. Performance Bond 9. Notice to Proceed

April 26, 2017 May 4, 2017 (10:00 A.M.) May 11 to 18, 2017 May 18, 2017 May 19 to 23, 2017 May 24 to 26, 2017 May 29 to 30, 2017 May 31 to June 1, 2017 June 2 to 6, 2017 June 7, 2017

Bid Documents will be available at LANDBANK San Francisco Branch only to prospective bidders upon payment of the applicable non-refundable amount to the LANDBANK San Francisco Branch Cashier.

The Bank reserves the right to (1) reject any and all bids at any time prior to the award of the contract; (2) waive any minor formal requirements in the bid documents; (3) accept such bids it may consider advantageous and beneficial to the Bank, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

REGIONAL BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE CARAGA REGION

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

C4

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017

World

World urged to do more to protect the Antarctic SYDNEY―The world needs to do more to protect the Antarctic wilderness and its wildlife, scientists warned Tuesday, as they marked World Penguin Day. The flightless seabirds -- a favorite with children for their clumsy, waddling gait -- offer a useful yardstick for researchers to judge the health of their habitat.

“Penguins are great ambassadors for understanding the need to conserve Southern Ocean resources,” Christian Reiss, an Antarctic fisheries biologist at the US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told AFP. “They are the iconic species of this ecosystem and the fate of their populations will depend on effective ecosystembased management, including understanding the role of climate change and human impacts.”

A Pew study in 2015 showed two thirds of the world’s 18 penguin species, which range from the volcanic Galapagos Islands on the equator to the frozen sea ice of Antarctica, were in decline.

Antarctic penguins in particular are vulnerable to climate change, with shifting ice reducing habitat while warming seas affect their prey.

Scientists blame intense fishing pressure on forage species such as krill, as well as pollution, degradation of breeding grounds, and climate change.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, only two types of penguin -- Adelie and King -- are increasing in numbers.

Penguins live most of their lives at sea but return to land to breed and molt, making them important gauges of marine health that are easily accessible to researchers, who can then develop realistic and effective conservation ocean strategies.

Stanford University marine scientist Cassandra Brooks, who specializes in the Antarctic, said penguin populations on the frozen continent were both increasing (Adelies in the Ross Sea) and decreasing (Chinstraps in the Antarctic Peninsula area).

“In short, we know climate change is dramatically changing the Antarctic environment and that the animals that comprise the Southern Ocean ecosystem are struggling to adapt,” she told AFP. “Scientists need to continue working to untangle the complex interactions between climate change and penguin populations.” AFP

Anniversay marked by firing drill SEOUL―Nuclear-armed North Korea on Tuesday marked a military anniversary with a massive conventional firing drill, Seoul said, as a US guided-missile submarine docked in South Korea amid tensions over Pyongyang’s weapons ambitions.

Speculation had mounted that the North could carry out a sixth nuclear test or another missile launch to mark 85 years since the founding of its army.

But no such event—which usually happens in the morning—had taken place by midafternoon, and instead Seoul’s defense ministry said Pyongyang was conducting a “massive fire drill” in the eastern port city of Wonsan.

The South’s Yonhap news agency cited a government source as saying the exercise was the North’s “largest ever” and presumed to have been overseen by leader Kim Jong-Un. Washington has sent the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson to the Korean peninsula, where it is expected to arrive -- after a derision-provoking delay -- later this week.

Confusion had clouded the carrier’s whereabouts earlier this month after US officials indicated it was sailing towards North Korea when in fact it was heading south.

The vessel will take part in joint naval drills with the South’s forces to “demonstrate Seoul and Washington’s strong determination to punish North Korean provocations”, the South Korean Navy said in a statement.

They will take place in the East Sea, the South’s name for the Sea of Japan, it said, and the two allies will also begin joint naval exercises in the West Sea— what it calls the Yellow Sea—on Tuesday “in relation to the current security situation”.

The nuclear-powered US submarine USS Michigan also made a port call at Busan in the South on Tuesday in another show of force.

President Donald Trump has said the US was sending an “armada” to the Korean peninsula, including submarines.

According to the US Navy’s Submarine Force Pacific website, the USS Michigan carries more than 150 Tomahawk cruise missiles.

They are capable of precision strikes against the North’s nuclear facilities, but the South Korean Navy called the visit “routine” and said the submarine would not take part in any joint exercises.AFP

Iran, powers set to review nuclear deal

PREMIERE. Actress Emily Tyra attends the Los Angeles Premiere Screening of National Geographics’ film ‘Genius’ at the Fox Theater in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Tourist numbers plummet in S. Korea SEOUL―South Korea’s tourist industry has been hammered by China’s boycott over the deployment of a US missile defense system, with visitor numbers from the Asian giant plummeting 40 percent in March, statistics showed.

Beijing banned Chinese tour groups from visiting the South from March 15 in a spat over the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.

Washington and Seoul say it is for purely defensive purposes, but Beijing fears it could undermine its own nuclear deterrent and has reacted with fury, imposing a series of measures seen as economic retaliation.

Normally, more than half of the tourists to the South are from China,

but little more than 360,000 visited last month compared to just over 600,000 a year earlier.

The total visitor numbers fell 11.2 percent year-on-year to 1.23 million, the state Korea Tourism Organization said.

The falls in tourism from China have also dealt a blow to duty-free shops in South Korea, with Chinese customers accounting for 70 percent of their total sales, a Lotte spokeswoman said.

Lotte Duty Free has seen sales to Chinese customers fall 40 percent on-year since the group tour ban in mid-March.

The South Korean retail giant has had to shut down 85 of its 99 stores in China due to boycott calls after the

group agreed to provide a golf course in South Korea as a site for THAAD. Its accumulated losses as a result are reportedly expected to hit $1 billion in the first half of this year alone.

South Korea has been struggling to fill the gap with promotion campaigns to attract more visitors from other countries, mainly from Japan and those in Southeast Asia.

But rising regional tensions over the nuclear-armed North have nipped in the bud an increase in the number of Japanese travelers.

Yonhap news agency said a tourism ministry tally showed Japanese visitors rising some 20 percent year-onyear up to early April, but the growth rate fell to between two and three percent after tensions spiked. AFP

VIENNA―Iran and the major powers were set to review adherence to their 2015 nuclear agreement on Tuesday, as uncertainty grows about the landmark accord’s future under US President Donald Trump.

The regular quarterly meeting was expected to hear, as Washington confirmed last week, that Iran is sticking to its deal with the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany.

The accord saw Tehran drastically curb its nuclear activities in return for the lifting of Western and UN sanctions.

However, Trump has ordered a 90-day review, saying last Thursday that Iran was “not living up to the spirit” of the “terrible” deal because of its actions in other areas.

This refers to Iran’s support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, rebels in Yemen and militias in Iraq and in Lebanon as well as Tehran’s ballistic missile program.

US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Monday the review would examine the nuclear accord “in the larger context of Iran’s role in the region and in the world, and then adjust accordingly.”

Trump’s Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last Wednesday expressed misgivings about the nuclear deal itself, in particular time limits in key areas.

Iran cut the number of centrifuges that “enrich” uranium -- making it suitable for power generation and at high purities for a bomb -from about 19,000 to 5,000.

Together with other restrictions and ultra-tight UN inspections, Iran pledged to stay at this level for 10 years and not to enrich uranium above low purities for 15 years.

Its uranium stockpile will also stay below 300 kilograms—well short of what would be needed for an atomic bomb—for 15 years. AFP

China rights lawyer’s trial delayed CHANGSA, China―A Chinese court indefinitely postponed the trial of a prominent human rights lawyer on Tuesday, his supporters said, in a case that has sparked international concern after allegations he was tortured.

Xie Yang, who had worked on numerous cases considered politically sensitive by the ruling Communist Party, was among hundreds of legal staff and activists detained in a crackdown in the summer of 2015.

Dozens of supporters and several diplomats gathered at the court in the central city of Changsha for the start of Xie’s trial -- believed to be on charges of “inciting subversion of state power” -- were told the case would not be heard on Tuesday.

Last-minute delays in sensitive trials are not uncommon even though Chinese law requires courts to give a defendant’s family and lawyers three days notice of any changes, said Amnesty International China researcher Patrick Poon.

A new date was not provided.

Xie, who was arrested in the so-called “709 crackdown”, claims police have used “sleep deprivation, long interrogations, beatings, death threats, humiliations” on him, and the EU has voiced concern over his case.

Eleven countries, including Canada, Australia and Switzerland, also cited his case in a letter to Beijing criticizing China’s detention practices.

“We are following this case

very closely and our human rights counselor is in Changsha today,”a Beijing-based EU spokesman told AFP. Xie is being represented by a court-designated advocate after he was denied the right to pick his own defense, his former attorney Chen Jiangang said.

The new lawyer, He Xiaodian, could not be reached for comment.

Chen said He had contacted Xie’s family on Monday night to advise them not to go to the courtroom. “But they did not get any clear information saying the trial date was different,” he said.

Court officials had confirmed to Xie’s wife, Chen Guiqiu, that the trial would start Tuesday, she said in a statement last week. AFP

CEREMONY. French President Francois Hollande walks past French police officers as he arrives to attend a

ceremony honoring the policeman killed by a jihadist in an attack on the Champs Elysees on April 25, 2017, at the Paris prefecture building. AFP

Life Masculine DRESSING

Contrasts and contradictions, such as sportswear combined with street wear, take centerstage in Salvatore Ferragamo’s latest collection for men

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017

FASHION & BEAUTY

T

HIS season, Salvatore Ferragamo reconfigures the finest codes and traditions of masculine dressing to bring luxury and style to the multi-faceted realities of modern life. Playfully embracing contrasts and contradictions, the spirit and attitude of the artist merges with that of the restless adventurer, for both of whom utility, formality and decoration are of equal sartorial importance.

The exuberance of early 20th century primitive artists signaled the starting point for the collection, evoking an inherent sense of freedom to travel, both literally and metaphorically, through the endless possibilities of their kaleidoscopic work. Across the collection, travel is epitomized by the backpack, that symbol of escapism and adventure, whose rugged structure and utilitarian details are channeled through outerwear, suits, and accessories.

Juxtapositions abound, as tailoring and military codes are interwoven with sportswear and street wear. The Ferragamo suit is presented in relaxed new proportions, echoing the casual, oversized work wear of the artist, and

expressing freshness in attitude and meaning. The rigidity of dark indigo mohair is softened with opened silk shirts and double-looped studded belts; striped and sleeveless jumpsuits—reworked in light technical cotton—exude airiness and modern chic.

Paradoxically, Ferragamo’s master craftsmanship is applied to sporty outerwear, bringing structure and gravitas to papery leather pieces defined by their lightness and agility. A two-piece, citrus yellow coat is elevated through exquisite tailored detailing, injecting a sense of founder Salvatore Ferragamo’s lifelong obsession with comfort through construction.

Formality merges with futurism as

the iconic Ferragamo Tramezza men’s shoe is wrapped with an ultra-modern leather and elastic shielding—creating the attitude of the sneaker—whose protective layering also forms the basis of double-construction sandals. The central collection trope of the backpack is presented in khaki canvas with neoblue suede strapping, while weaving its way across the collection, whimsical primitive artistry adds decorative bursts of color to khaki silk shirts, foulards, ties and buckles.

There’s more to life than first meets the eye, and this collection reflects the nuances of the modern man: as complex as he is light-hearted, frivolous and functional, with creative zeal and sporting prowess; attracted to the comfort of both a relaxed silhouette and formal tailoring. Linked by the constant need for quality, his is a wardrobe that matches the caliber of his lifestyle.

Operating as a validation of his activities, his passions, and his personal quest in life.

In the Philippines, Salvatore Ferragamo is at Alabang Town Center, Greenbelt 4, Newport Mall, Rustan’s Makati and Rustan’s Shangri-La.

The collection reflects the nuances of the modern man, who is attracted to relaxed silhouette and formal tailoring

Homage to France THE Parisian house of the pink bow tie is 30 years old this year and, for the occasion, it is offering a 2017 Spring-Summer collection that celebrates its country of birth — France.

Simple, pure, and distinct, Eden Park’s collection offers an invitation to discover this beautiful country: from Paris to the beach; it is aimed at men and women who like to look good at all times, whether in town or at the seaside.

Classic and modern, it will appeal to men and women in all four corners of the world — it is the definition of French Flair: ingenuity, inspiration, know-how and good taste à la Française.

The 2017 Spring-Summer collection offers straightforward simplicity and impeccable cuts; a collection that speaks to the elegant man and woman in traditional terms about the quality of fabrics and at-

tention to detail.

It is this abiding love of detail, one of the label’s core characteristics, along with a blend of audacity and unconventional style in the smallest feature, which has made the brand a leader in the premium quality market for the last 30 years.

Beautiful fabrics, destructured cuts, simple lines on jackets, over-jackets, padded waistcoats and shirts over fluid trousers for a relaxed-chic allure are among the features of the collection.

Linen, nylon, and cotton are this season’s favorites, lending modernity to impeccable parkas and waterproofs, with ultra-contemporary, pure lines. Colors are natural like muted tones of beige, brown, grey, khaki and blue.

The collection brings together prestige, charm and creativity, delivering a fluid, pure silhouette; the new definition of

male and female elegance according to Eden Park.

Denim becomes a strong theme in town as well as on the beach — creating distinctive style with new shapes and textures. The shirt and jeans classic for town is printed for beachwear.

For the seaside, prints come in a range of floral, jacquard and military themes on all products: shirts, polos, T-shirts, windjammers and trunks.

A range of piqué knit polos has been added to the male wardrobe.

A timeless look, just a little quirky and a very particular attention to detail is the reason for Eden Park’s success as the Parisian rugby-inspired label.

In the Philippines, Eden Park is located at Central Square in Bonifacio High Street Central, Estancia in Capitol Commons, and Kiss and Fly in NAIA Terminal 3.

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Eden Park’s S/S 2017 collection offers simplicity and impeccable cuts preferred by elegant men and women

Classic and modern apparel items made of linen, nylon, and cotton in muted tones of beige, brown, gray, khaki and blue are the highlight of this season’s collection of French label Eden Park

Life

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

By Bernadette Lunas

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HERE is a certain premium in genuine leather goods; they are in fact a statement in their own right. Leather is classic, dependable, and durable, and when taken cared of can be passed down to another generation.

Affordable premium

LEATHER BAGS

But an authentic and good quality leather item—say, a bag or a pair of shoes—is a covetable luxury that doesn’t come cheap.

Enter Rabeanco: a fashion accessories brand that takes pride in its leather expertise.

Since its inception in 2004, Rabeanco has aimed to provide high quality leather goods at a much more reasonable price range.

“Most [of our bags] are within the range of 8 to 20 (thousand pesos). We have some in 20 to 25. Very affordable for a real leather bag,” Joanna Co, marketing director of Tykes Trading, Inc. (local distributor of Rabeanco, Paez, and Melissa, among others) told Manila Standard.

AFFORDABLE LUXURY. Rabeanco enables women to own reasonably priced authentic leather bags, as it offers a variety of Italian leather bags

that come in (from left) backpacks (Waterfall X Backpack), satchels (Mara Satchel), and totes (Blithe) in a wide range of colors.

According to Co, each Rabeanco bag is made of Italian leather and is manufactured in Hong Kong—linking the leather goods business of the two countries.

Celebrating its five years in the Philippines, the brand remains popular among career women, with its bestseller being a versatile tote bag—dubbed Blithe—that transforms from satchel to shoulder bag.

Apart from premium materials and “easyto-wear” designs, Rabeanco takes pride in the wide variety of colors they offer for each style. In addition to neutral blacks and grays, there are also blue, green, lilac, red, yellow,

and pink, among other shades.

“So when you go to our stores, you are sure to find something that fits your style,” enthused Co. Early this month, Rabeanco introduced its new releases available at its branches in Shangri-La Plaza, SM Mall of Asia, and SM Aura.

The new collection is composed of Elsa Crossbody (ultra-functional shoulder strap bag), Lara Mini Crossbody (roomy yet minimalist strap bag), Lovett Shoulder Bag (bucket bag), Mara Satchel (features architectural shape), Sole Satchel (features classic tote shape), Amme Shoulder Bag (canvas bag

within a leather bucket bag), and Ellen Satchel (roomy structured satchel).

Also included are Henri Knotted Shoulder Bag (sleek bag with dual main compartments), Cube Small Backpack (backpack that doubles as a handbag), Waterfall X Backpack (patent backpack), and Kanga X Backpack (slim and roomy backpack equivalent of a sexy minaudière).

From today until May 15, Rabeanco is offering complimentary monogram services for every purchase of its Blithe or Casual Tote.

Visit www.rabeanco.com for more information about the brand.

Leather accessories evoke a formal and confident image

Look formal and ready IT’S that time of the year again . . . graduates are set to march from the four corners of the classroom to the real world, aspiring to snag their dream jobs.

After celebrating graduation day and exiting the walls of school, it is time to look formal and classy.

Because, in a professional world rocked by intense competition, and with thousands of graduates also on the lookout for good employment opportunities, you cannot be simply good at what you do—you must look the part. Dressing for success gives you a powerful confidence boost, making you seem like the best candidate for getting the job done.

But, in a world filled with well-dressed competitors equipped with good skills ready to take on any job, what will make a fresh graduate stand out?

The secret: real leather. Leather accessories effectively communicate a formal image that is of utmost importance in making a good and lasting impression in the real world.

Therefore, it is only wise to invest in practical leather accessories that last long in terms of looks, quality, and durability; and will make people perceive you as a sensible person who makes excellent decisions.

When it comes to accessories that complement the formal wear, McJim Classic Leather, a brand responsible for creating high-quality leather goods, has always been reliable. Their stylish and functional accessories complete the corporate look and make you look professional, classy, and prestigious, even in budget-friendly and affordable clothes.

An essential item on any day, a leather wallet lends a professional vibe to men, and is perfect for making a lasting impression.

McJim Classic Leather offers various wallet styles for different functions.

Also considered a good investment, these wallets are built to last for years.

Another important accessory is the belt. The belt completes one’s professional look. McJim Classic Leather offers belts in different designs and colors—basic modernist black, basic dark brown, and reversible minimalist. All come with distinctive looking metal buckles.

Lastly, another basic need that offers both function and style is the leather bag.

Whether on your graduation day or when applying for your dream job, McJim Classic Leather has you covered with its tried-and-true classic leather bags.

Looking professional after your graduation day is more than just wearing corporate attire. Add class and style to your look, not just for graduation, job search and work, also for weddings and other social gatherings, by choosing the appropriate high-quality leather accessories from McJim Classic Leather.

Equality is achieved in fashion through stylish clothes that are adaptable to all genders and sexual orientations

Designer’s quest for equality MARCH celebrated the woman; her achievements, her independence, and her total empowerment. The world these days is not perfect; inequality continues to cast its shadow across the darkest corners of every day lives. Being a woman is not just a personal experience, but a political one as well.

Today’s women are motivated to defy convention with every step they take, such as fashion designer Kaye Morales.

“With all the emerging talents in the fashion industry, being a woman in 2017 means pushing myself harder,” says Morales.

Progressive and fashion-forward, Morales has grown to become one of Manila’s youngest and hottest streetwear designers. Her latest collection, Identity, broke through the gender-binary with pieces that were adaptable to people of all genders and body types. Since its launch in December 2016, Identity has become a critical and commercial success.

“This is my revolution of self, my freedom,” Morales shares, as she looks at Identity’s success. “It is a spectrum of emotions and experiences that I want to express.”

Morales came out about her sexuality in 2015 and expressed a desire in making the fashion industry a welcoming place for people of all genders and sexual orientations. As a part owner of LGBT nightclub, Nectar, Morales launched Girl Nation – an event she hosts every Tuesday night for lesbian and queer women alike. Her efforts have cemented her place as an icon in the local LGBT community.

“Ngayon lang nagkaron ng ganito sa Manila and my main goal is to build relationships within the community para maging closer yung members ng LGBT,” says Morales.

“That’s my main goal.”

Morales is currently hard at work, working on her next collection, Vomit. Away from the design studio, Morales is a dedicated triathlete and is training for her next triathlon.

“I believe that to be able to cope up with the physical and mental requirements that my job requires, I need to stay fit and healthy,” she shares. “Being a woman in 2017 is being a woman who takes control of her life and future.”

If there’s anything that truly sets Kaye Morales apart from her peers, is her ability to embrace the experiences of all women and to channel that into all of the work she does. Whether, it’s in the design studio, on the track, on in a club, her work inspires people to be themselves in the face of a world on the cusp of acceptance.

Fashion designer Kaye Morales breaks barriers by uniting people of all genders and body types through her gender-binary pieces

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017

‘PRESIDENT VICE’ tops bestsellers’ list

T

HE blockbuster comedian is now a certified bestselling author. Vice Ganda’s first book, President Vice: Ang Bagong Panggulo ng Pilipinas, has sold over 100,000 copies since its launch in July.

Vice Ganda was surprised when ABS-CBN Publishing Inc. President Ernie Lopez and Managing Director Mark Yambot presented him plaques of recognition in It’s Showtime. Lopez congratulated him not just for hitting the 100K mark but also for

consistently topping National Book Store’s bestsellers list for five straight months.

“For everyone who bought the book and became entertained, thank you so much. This is a new achievement in my life, my first time to write a book, and I’m happy that it has become a success,” Vice Ganda said.

The highly entertaining book is a wacky look into a world where Vice Ganda becomes the next president of the country. Readers can expect to find his fictional cabinet members, his new national bird, and his punishment for cheaters inside this chart-topping book. It is jam-packed with his straightforward solutions that may sound stupid but make absolute sense.

The book is exclusively available at all National Book Store branches nationwide for only P175.

“President Vice,” a wacky look into a world where Vice Ganda (center) becomes the next president of the country, has now sold over 100,000 copies since its launch last July

Binge watch like never before with Smart, Fox +

Smart subscribers can access a range of Hollywood releases through Fox+ app

MAKE the most out of your summer downtime by catching up on the latest Hollywood releases right on your smartphone via Smart’s high-speed LTE network and Fox + app. Smart Communications, along with its parent company PLDT and Cignal, recently partnered with Fox Networks Group Asia to enable its subscribers to stream movies and TV programs from the catalogue of global entertainment leader Fox. Smart subscribers can download the Fox + app from the App Store and Google Play and enjoy a 30day Free trial. They will have access to the earliest non-cinematic release of Hollywood blockbusters like Deadpool and The Revenant—in high definition from any device, at any time.

They can also binge-watch their favorite TV series like The Walking Dead The Young Pope, Empire, 24 and Homeland. They will be able to see the latest episodes same day as US airing and back catalogues.

Moreover, they can watch live sports events like the NBA on the Fox + app.

“As we improve our network, we also continue to grow the library of popular video content that

our subscribers can access. We are also cooking up special packages that will make video streaming more enjoyable for them. All these efforts – network improvement, content partnerships, and the provision of value-packed service offers – have the goal of giving our customers a superior digital experience,” said PLDT and Smart Chief Revenue Officer Eric R. Alberto.

OpenSignal, a UK-based wireless coverage mapping company, declared that Smart provided the fastest LTE speed in the Philippines, paving way for a better consumer experience when it comes to streaming apps such as Fox +.

Smart has been expanding its content portfolio via partnerships with the likes of iflix, Cignal, and ABSCBN’s iWantTV. “Filipinos now have a growing appetite for relevant content that they can access anytime, anywhere. As they increase their consumption of digital content, we are making sure that our network is strong enough to support not just their current requirements, but their future needs as well,” Alberto said.

Entertainment on board TRAVELLING on a luxury cruise can be boring if you would only stay inside your cabin. The idea of such vacation is for you to explore not just the destinations but also the cruise ship itself.

Apart from shore side and city tours, enjoying onboard amenities including the activities prepared for the trip are a part of the whole cruise experience. This likely answers the question: What do you do when the cruise ship is not docked at ports of call listed in your itinerary?

From the time the sun rises up to the moment everyone retires to call it a night, your whole day on a cruise ship is packed with recreational activities and entertainment options.

It all begins at the reception area. In the case of SuperStar Virgo, the luxury ship that cruises from Manila to Taiwan and then to Hong Kong, it is the glamorous Grand Piazza. During the ship’s maiden voyage (in Manila as its homeport), beauty queens Kylie Versoza and Maxine Medina sashayed down its grand staircase to model the creations of Rhett Eala.

Then you have the Lido Theater, the main stage that features groundbreaking productions that blend dance, comedy, musical theater, circus acts, and concert-style performances designed for numerous types of audience. Movies are shown in between live performances.

When the Parthenon Pool is not packed, it also serves as a venue for live performances. During our cruise, a Korean TV crew filmed there on our first day, another sidelight some people don’t expect while on board.

On our third day, it was the venue for the BBQ night and a live band continuously played to entertain the guests.

Beyond the theater are pop up performances in restaurants and bars inside the ship. And it’s good to note that all musicians and singers are from the Philippines, something event hosts proudly say whenever they introduce performers during shows.

For six nights, we were entertained by Music Heart Trio, Sound Clipper, Pianist Tony, and Major Impact.

Music Heart Trio brings back the classics as well as the mainstream hits with their interesting acoustic melodies. They have an extensive collection of songs such as “Anak,” which tops their list as most

requested Filipino song, along with the Chinese pop songs “Xiao Wei” and “Wa Meng Ti,” Japanese song “Hello Subaru” classic standards “Tenessee Waltz,” “The Great Pretender,” “Besame Mcucho,” and The Beatles’ classic song “Yesterday,” to name a few.

This dynamic group Sound Clippers Band showcases Mandarin, Cantonese and English songs from their wide collection of chart topper hits from the 70’s, 80’s up to the present.

Meanwhile, for guests who prefer, a little less noise but equally entertaining nonetheless, they can be serenaded by the resident pianist, Tony whose repertoire ranges from all-time favorite romantic hits from the previous decades to the present.

Probably, the busiest if not the more requested act during our six-day cruise was Major Impact. The trio, backed by superb band, brilliantly mixes sophisticated music with their funny and playful antics that brings delight to anyone who watches. Major Impact showcases a wide array of repertoire ranging from the 60’s to today’s hits with power and jazz ballads performed during their sets depending on the theme of the day.

Music Heart Trio, SuperStar Virgo's resident string band, plays mainstream and acoustic melodies for cruisers

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, April 26, 2017

ACROSS 1 Ocean fish 5 Cookbook qty.

9 Pass off as valuable 14 Hurricane centers 15 Rick’s old flame 16 Rummage through 17 A Baldwin 18 Phoenician deity 19 Trademark cow 20 Wool fat 22 Team symbols 24 Show surprise 26 Genetic sequence 27 Rock tumbler stones 30 Get ready to strike, maybe 35 Almost chilly 36 Coat rack 37 Ancient colonnade 38 Came down with 39 “Sleepless in —” 42 MIT grad 43 Receptive 45 Wire thicknesses 46 Caravan member 48 Favor 50 Hair foam 51 — Dawn Chong

52 Spinnakers and jibs 54 Furnish 58 Novel activity?

62 Kept the title 63 “The Bridge on the River —” 65 Abba not in the music biz 66 Declare invalid 67 Pull down 68 Beatles’ meter maid 69 Like a damp rock 70 Small amount of residue 71 Kassel’s river DOWN 1 Pull through 2 Jean Auel heroine 3 Quick-witted 4 Dates 5 Shinbones 6 Bugs Bunny’s voice 7 FICA funds it 8 Coconut bearer 9 San Joaquin Valley city 10 Gas station discards (2 wds.)

11 In that case (2 wds.)

12 Paper cut 13 Kickoff stands 21 Mild onions

23 A moon of Uranus 25 Slowpoke 27 Loathe 28 Jelly flavor 29 Staff members 31 Hockey goals 32 Objects 33 Gaea has five 34 Torturer of Prometheus 36 Kite stabilizer 40 Fix firmly 41 Common bacterium (2

wds.)

44 Edgy 47 Spartan 49 By and large 50 Bogging down 53 Plugged in 54 Baby buggy 55 Vegas rival 56 Purchases 57 Just scraped by 59 Term paper abbr.

60 Statistician — Silver 61 Pitbull sound 64 Kind of dance or

Smart has committed to the National Telecommunications Commission to make LTE progressively available to 95 percent of the country’s cities and municipalities by the end of 2018.

For 2017, Smart targets to roll out 2,165 sites with LTE in low spectrum bands and 3,568 sites in high spectrum bands. Low frequency bands provide better indoor coverage, while high-frequency bands increase the capacity of cell sites to handle heavier call, SMS, and mobile data traffic.

Alberto encouraged Filipinos to use an LTE device to better enjoy their upgraded digital experience with Smart. “If you want to watch high-definition movies on the Fox + app and experience seamless streaming, LTE is the way to go,” he said.

To speed up the adoption of LTE handsets, Smart has struck exclusive bundling deals with popular device makers including Vivo, Oppo, O+ USA, MyPhone, and Starmobile. Smart offers LTE devices across different price points

Acclaimed director Brillante Mendoza (left) and TV5 President Chot Reyes pictured during a media launch for the first's made-forTV movies airing on the network

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017

Filipino culture, stories in

‘BRILLANTE MENDOZA PRESENTS’ T V5 brings another first to Philippine free television with the brilliance of world-class filmmaker Brillante Mendoza and his made-for-TV movies.

Brillante Mendoza Presents is a collection of films made for television that merge together Filipino culture and Filipino stories. It airs once a month on a Saturday at 9:30 p.m. on TV5. Movies are themed according to the month of its airing – earlier episodes included Tsinoy for Chinese New Year and Everlasting for Baguio’s Panagbenga Festival.

Each episode is presented in Mendoza’s trademark cinematic storytelling style that has garnered prestigious international awards.

Brillante Mendoza Presents explores the complexities of human relationships set against the backdrop of culturally rich Filipino traditions.

TV5 considers director Brillante Mendoza as a content partner. TV5 President Chot Reyes shares his excitement for this exciting milestone for Philippine television, “We’re very excited about our partnership with award-winning director Brillante Mendoza. His works are synonymous with creative storytelling and worldclass excellence - qualities that are consistent with TV5’s positioning as the channel that provides quality, alternative content.”

He adds, “Our collaboration with Direk Brillante Mendoza is a fullfledged content partnership that spans culturally significant made for TV films

and a 13- episode miniseries. With this partnership, TV5 continues to uplift and improve the quality of entertainment in Philippine FREE TV.” Mendoza says he agreed to do this project as his advocacy for indie films, a vision that TV 5 – that has given the winning filmmaker full support for this creative inputs and brand of storytelling – also shares.

“With TV 5’s new thrust, it’s going to be a home for independent artists and independent cinema, and I am happy to be part of it. Our goal here is to tell the Filipino story, and for this, I will – like in my films –show reality and capture life the way it is on television,” Mendoza says.

During the Press conference at Director’s Club in Mega Fashion Hall of SM Megamall, Mendoza showcased his latest episode for Brillante Mendoza Presents – “Ang Pagtatapos” telecast on April 22.

Just in time for graduation, “Ang Pagtatapos” is the story of Shaira Torres, who is on her final year in Philippine High School for the Arts -Makiling. She directs her thesis, Maria Makiling legend told through a Pangalay dance routine, as she simultaneously deals with her family problems back in Manila. Shaira’s disconnection with her father, caused by her mother’s leaving, leads her to the

dark side of her psyche and eventually, to resonate with Maria Makiling who according to the legends is also bitter because of a lost love.

Future episodes include “Panata” (May 27), which follows the story of Mario, a Marinduque mask maker who became a student activist and later on questioned his faith in God when he joined one of the rebel’s clandestine gatherings up in the mountains.

“Anak” (June 24) will showcase Obando fertility rites in Bulacan, showing how an old barren couple – against all odds - will miraculously have a child.

In “Kadaguan” (July 29), brings us to the Kadaugan sa Mactan Festival in Cebu where Tere and former boyfriend reunite. Johann is surprised that Tere is already a mother and troubled as he gets to know her son, and contemplate the future of their relationship.

“Habilin” (August 26) is about the inheritance issued of two sisters— Susan and Rosa involving their ancestral house and farmland in court.

Later on, Rosa dies while recovering a terminal illness along with her issues with her family and husband, Fidel Luna. Fidel shows his undying love by weaving an Abel cloth, a burial shroud for Rosa Luna.

Kim, Gerald, Ellen sizzle in Metro Magazine’s 2017 Body Issue

‘The Greatest Love’ reflects experiences of ordinary Filipino families

THE story of Gloria in The Greatest Love proved that a mother’s love is more than enough to keep her family intact, just like in any ordinary Filipino families, where mothers serve as guiding light for their children.

However, life is not always easy for most families, just like the Allegres. Their family was put to the test as secrets from the past haunted their present lives. But Gloria’s love and sacrifices helped her children Amanda (Dimples Romana), Paeng (Aaron Villaflor), Andrei (Matt Evans), at Lizelle (Andi Eigenmann) come together and mend their hearts, despite their differences.

She also showed bravery as she fought for her one true love Peter (Nonie Buencamino) and proved that nothing can go between people who were destined for each other.

After all the struggles she faced,

Gloria symbolized the courage and strength that mothers have for their families. She did not give up until she was able to give the life her family deserves.

Now that the family she struggled to keep intact is finally complete, her children give her the love and care that she needs as she faces her own battle with Alzheimer’s disease. They fill her with joy and remind her of all the wonderful memories they had.

However, fate continued to play against them as Peter died unexpectedly, bringing sorrow to their family.

How will the Allegres ease the pain with Peter’s death? What will happen to Gloria now that his beloved husband passed away?

Don’t miss the final week of the extraordinary story of a woman’s unconditional, uncompromising, all-encompassing love for her children.

iPhoto

Billy Crawford revs up Jeepney SINGER, host and actor Billy Crawford makes his mark on Jeepney TV as the cable channel’s “Icon of the Month” this April.

Catch him in Sunday Hi-Way and follow him throughout his long and colorful showbiz career in BTS: Billy Crawford, a behind-the-scene documentary special on the newly engaged Kapamilya airing 9 p.m. on April 30.

Jeepney TV is on SkyCable channel 9, Destiny Cable Analog 41 and Digital 9. For updates, like the Jeepney TV page on Facebook (www. facebook.com/JeepneyTV).

Gerald Anderson and Kim Chiu headline Metro Magazine's special double issue

THE epic combination of Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson, and Ellen Adarna’s intimate side is unearthed on the double cover of Metro Magazine’s 2017 Body Issue.

Kim and Gerald talk about their newfound passion for fitness and their reunion for a new teleserye.

Both have been training relentlessly for their new series—whether running, cycling, or swimming—and Metro helps the two showcase their best bodies ever as they recreate their 2010 Metro Body cover.

Vixen, goddess, temptress, muse— Ellen also electrifies in this issue, baring it all like we’ve never seen her before. This stunner channels the iconic Marilyn Monroe in her private moments, revealing her intimate side in a shoot to remember. Ellen is one woman who’s not afraid to flaunt her body, and she also works really hard to make sure it’s in tip-top shape.

In Metro’s pages this month, readers will find ways not just to shape the body, but also nourish the soul through meditation, healing, and even travel. The magazine tackles a different proposition by steering the conversation towards holistic fitness and overall wellbeing in a world obsessed with appearances.

The Body Issue also features real-life wonder woman Patty Ang plus international travel bloggers and a roster of beautiful bodies: Pietro Boselli, Lauren Reid, Cora Waddell, Alice Dixson, Tanner

Mata, and more.

This marks Geolette Esguerra as Metro’s new editor-in-chief. She has been part of the magazine in the last seven years. Her first stint for the magazine was the cover story for Gretchen Barretto in April 2010. She officially started as Features Editor three months later. She took over as Executive Editor in November 2014, and also edited several titles under ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc.—as editor-in-chief of Star Magic Catalogue in 2015 and Features Editor of Maven Magazine.

Former Metro editor-in-chief Sarah Meier now acts as editor-at-Large and international correspondent for Metro Magazine.

Ellen Adarna on the cover of Metro Magazine