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VOL. XXXI • NO. 80 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

TOP THREAT. Against the backdrop of resumed peace talks between government negotiators and communist rebels in Noordwijk aan Zee in

The Netherlands, the New People’s Army North Central Mindanao Command Guerrilla Front 6 display their ﬁrepower in a show of force, prompting yet again National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon (right) to declare the local communists remain the number one threat to the country’s democratic way of life. Bobby Lagsa

Reds still No. 1 threat—Esperon ‘Filipinos wouldn’t want their way of life’ Digong’s drug war up for UN review By Sandy Araneta A HUMAN rights group on Thursday urged the United Nations to denounce the Philippines’ brutal war on drugs that has killed more than 7,000 people when the country comes up for review on May 8 in Geneva. “The UN review of the Philippines is critical because of the sheer magnitude of the human rights calamity since President Duterte took ofﬁce last year,” said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Duterte’s ‘war on drugs’ has been nothing less than a murderous war on the poor,” Kine said. The Philippines will appear for the third cycle of the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review on May 8 in GeNext page neva.

By John Paolo Bencito

ESPITE ongoing peace talks, the communists remain the number one internal threat to national security, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said Thursday. Esperon said that while communism isn’t an outright threat, the ideology espoused by members of the Communist Party of the Philippines, National Democratic Front, and their armed wing the New People’s Army is “something that would not really be the way of life… that the Filipinos would want.” “So if the basis is [our] way of life, then I would say the Communist Party, the NPA, and the NDF would be the number one threat,” he added. In a statement Wednesday, Presidential Adviser on the Next page

Congress’ OK needed for PH-China war games By John Paolo Bencito A VISITING forces agreement would have to be ratiﬁed by Congress to allow Chinese forces to visit the country for joint war exercises, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said Thursday. “In joint exercises, you must have a visiting forces agreement and probably, a treaty,” Esperon said in a Palace press brieﬁng,

after President Rodrigo Duterte said he was open to holding joint exercises with the Chinese Navy, possibly in the Sulu Sea. Defense Secretary Delﬁn Lorenzana earlier said if the government decides to conduct war games with China, a framework must ﬁrst be developed. “If troops will go into our territory, either territorial waters or land, we might need a Visiting Forces Agreement,” he added.

He said naval exercises have two purposes: Training the troops and patrolling the South China Sea. Esperon said that the proposed war games between Filipino and Chinese troops will be beneﬁcial for the country, despite the country’s overlapping claims in the other parts of the sea. He added that the Sulu Sea was where pirates have staged kidnappings. “If we have a military presence there, it will be good,” he said.

Rody: Gina’s ouster part of process Gambling By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday expressed disappointment over the Commission on Appointments removal of Regina Lopez as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Duterte said that there are things that he cannot control but conceded that is how democracy works. “It’s a pity about Gina,” he said in Filipino in a speech before ortho-

pedic surgeons in Davao City. “I really like her passion. But you know how it is. This is democracy.’’ He also inferred heavy lobbying. “I can’t control everything. I want to but I share powers. And that is the process of checks and balances,” he added. “The President appoints, but the appointee undergoes the scrutiny of the Commission on Appointments.” Lopez was rejected by a vote of 16-8 by secret voting. Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella, meanwhile, said that

the stay order issued by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Lopez’s orders for affected mining companies to pay more than P2 million per hectare of land, will continue until Duterte appoints a new environment chief. Lopez became the second Cabinet secretary under the Duterte administration to be rejected by the commission. The ﬁrst was Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr., who was turned down over questions about his Next page citizenship.

ERC chief has to go —Duterte

lord puts NBI in spot By Rey E. Requejo JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Thursday ordered an investigation on five NBI agents who are the alleged protectors of gambling lord Charlie “Atong” Ang, who is being probed by Bureau of Internal Revenue for possible tax evasion. He said his office had received information that the five agents had long been Ang’s moles in the National Bureau of Investigation. “He has NBI agents protecting him, and I already know those agents,” Aguirre said. Next page

By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday he will eventually sack suspended Energy Regulatory Commission chairman Jose Vicente Salazar. Duterte had suspended Salazar for 90 days even as Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi promised an impartial investigation of the corruption allegations against the ERC chief. “I have ﬁred 96 to date. Mostly guys in regulatory bodies,” Duterte said in a speech before orthopedic surgeons in Davao City. “I have suspended Salazar because of corruption, and I will eventually remove him.” Duterte made his statement even as the left-leaning group

“For now, we don’t have joint patrols with any nation. What we simply have is a trilateral agreement with Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines to cover the Sulu Sea, primarily Tawi-Tawi.” On Thursday, Malacañang said that President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping made a call for peace and stability in the region amid nuclear threats by North Korea which may disrupt Next page peace in the region.

Mighty tax case pretrial under way By Rey E. Requejo

SCORCHING SUMMER. Foreign and local tourists enjoy surfing at the Sabang beach in Baler, Aurora—fronting the vast Pacific Ocean—to parry off the rays of the blazing sun in what tourism officials say is the birthplace of surfing in the Philippine archipelago. Manny Palmero

THE Justice Department on Thursday started its preliminary investigation into the P9.56-billion tax evasion case against the owners and ofﬁcials of Mighty Corp. for allegedly using counterfeit tax stamps on their cigarettes to evade paying taxes. Mighty Corp. owner Alexander Wongchuking submitted his counter-afﬁdavit to the government prosecutors and denied the Next page

News

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

3 airmen die in chopper crash By Francisco Tuyay

HREE air force soldiers, including a pilot, were killed while another was injured after a military helicopter they were using in rescue operations crashed a few meters in a military camp in Tanay, Rizal Thursday.

Military reports said the trag- encountered engine trouble while edy occurred at 3 p.m. when the on a landing approach inside the UH-Id helicopter carrying them headquarters of the Army’s 2nd

Reds... From A1

Peace Process Jesus Dureza said while the fifth round of talks with the communists would push through in The Netherlands from May 27 to June 1, he was dismayed by the NPA’s attacks that led him to question their sincerity in pursuing peace negotiations with the government. The communists signed a joint interim ceasefire with the government during the last round of talks in The Netherlands, but incessant attacks by the NPA were recorded in Davao and other parts of Quirino province -- leading calls for the government to drop the negotiations and pursue an all-out war. While government and communist negotiators continue to engage with each other, the Communist Party of the Philippines had earlier branded Esperon, along with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Gen. Eduardo Año as “peace-spoiling stooges of US imperialism in the military establishment” after security officials tagged the group as “terrorists” for their revolutionary tax collection and territorial claims. Aside from the communists, local terror groups who have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State also constitute a major threat to national security, Esperon said. “If you look at other dimensions like freedom of movement and fear, unwarranted fear, mass destruction, extremism, then we would be looking at terrorists,” Esperon said. “Therefore, I would rank the terrorist as very high, especially now [with] reports that ISIS members are here already and they have a ready force that would be willing to join them,” he said. Esperon said that threats by extremist groups almost disrupted the Asean meetings in the Central Visayas, only averted because of “good intelligence and immediate action” by security forces. “We would not want people to be believing that the Philippines is the center for kidnappings and beheadings. That’s bad for our image,” he said. But Esperon played down an ISIS declaration that they were behind a bomb attack in Quiapo that police have attributed to local gangs. In his statement, Dureza said he was dismayed by the NPA attacks that victimize civilians. “Although a bilateral ceasefire is not yet in place, the public’s common reaction to these incidents questions the sincerity of those whom we talk and deal with across the table. The public also questions their capacity to manage and control their forces on the ground. There are even calls now to stop the talks altogether and pursue an all-out military offensive against their armed groups,” he said.

Gambling...

Digong's... From A1

Kine said UN member countries should urge the Philippines to support an international investigation into the killings, given the Philippine government’s own failure to impartially investigate or prosecute those responsible. Various UN bodies, the media, Human Rights Watch and other nongovernmental organizations have reported on the extrajudicial killings. Through the UPR, the human rights progress of each UN member country is reviewed every four years. Members and observers of the UN Human Rights Council will raise the Philippines’ past human rights pledges and new concerns. The previous reviews of the Philippines were in 2008 and 2012. This year’s review covers the last four years of the administration of President Benigno Aquino III and the period since Duterte took office. Immediately after the UN review of the Philippines on May 8, Human Rights Watch will moderate a side event in Geneva, cohosted with other NGOs, to assess the review and the Philippine delegation’s responses. Human Rights Watch, in its UPR submission in September 2016, highlighted some of the human rights problems the Philippines faces. These include the extrajudicial killing of activists, peasant and indigenous peoples’ leaders, environmentalists, journalists,

Rody:... From A1

Lopez’s rejection came despite strong support for her from Duterte, who had threatened to shut down the mining industry completely if the CA turned down her appointment. Lawmakers appealed to Lopez’s supporters to respect the CA decision. A Teacher party-list Rep. Julieta Cortuna, a member of the CA, cried foul over criticisms that business interests swayed the commission members to vote against Lopez. Cortuna said it was never enough that Lopez had “passion” for the job. “Leadership, for me, is a comprehensive job [that needs] both technical expertise, and above all, there [are] existing laws that no one should be above of,” Cortuna said. “It just cannot be anyone’s prerogative to set aside money based on what you believe [in]. It cannot be arbitrary,” Cortuna added, referring to a memorandum Lopez issued in January imposing a P2million fee per hectare of land that was “disturbed” by mining companies.

From A1 “I’m having them investigated and we will make the proper moves.” Aguirre also said Ang would stage an “ambush me” stunt over the weekend to justify Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s call for a Senate inquiry on the alleged plot to kill Ang. He said Ang would set up a fake ambush on himself and then blame him and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon. “I received reliable information that this weekend someone will stage an ‘ambush me’ and pin the blame on me and Secretary Esperon,” Aguirre said. “This staged ambush will be used by a senator [Trillanes] to justify his call for a Senate inquiry.” Ang earlier accused Aguirre and Esperon of plotting to kill him to eliminate his Meridien Vista Gaming Corp. and expand the government’s small-town lottery. Ang has also accused Aguirre’s brother Ogie of involvement in the small-town lottery and of pressuring officials in Bicol to drop their contracts with Meridien and forge new deals with him.

Infantry Divisiion in Sitio Hilltop, Barangay Sampaloc, Camp Capinpin in Tanay. The identities of the three fatalities and the injured airman were not disclosed pending notification of the victims’ next of kin. The helicopter was reported to have gone on a practical exercise involving disaster response and was at about 200 meters towards Camp Capinpin when the freak accident occurred. Military authorities are looking

into what might have caused the crash. The three were part of an air-toground and disaster rescue operation training involving 60 soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Division and 12 policemen from Calabarzon in Region-4 with Camp Capinpin as venue. The training, according to the reports, was in preparation for the 2nd ID and PNP response in times of emergencies. Air Force authorities were ex-

pected to ground the entire fleet of UH-1D pending the results of the investigation. The government has acquired seven UH-1D refurbished Vietnam vintage helicopters from the United States in July 2015. Barely four months in operations, one of the newly-acquired UH-1D, while on a rescue mission, crash-landed in Malapatan in Sarangani province, injuring nine personnel, including its pilots, crew and soldiers.

and—especially under the Duterte administration—suspected criminals. Human Rights Watch has also documented the existence of police-linked death squads in several cities, including Davao City, where Duterte served as mayor for 22 years. A 2014 Human Rights report examined the death squad in Tagum City in Mindanao. The group also said the military and police have continued to commit torture. The passage in 2009 of the Anti-Torture Act was met with enthusiasm but has resulted in only one torture conviction to date. There is evidence that the military engages in torture of civil society activists and alleged insurgents in its custody, the group said. In October 2013, Human Rights Watch documented the mistreatment of detainees, including children, by security forces in Zamboanga City. The National Commission on Human Rights has received numerous torture allegations that mainly implicate the Philippine National Police. In the 2012 UPR review, the Philippines accepted recommendations to carry out impartial investigations into all allegations of enforced disappearances. Two bellwether tests of military impunity for enforced disappearances were the abduction and alleged torture of activists Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan in 2006. Although police eventually arrested retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan for his alleged role in that crime,

his trial is ongoing. The case of Jonas Burgos, a peasant leader who was abducted by military personnel from inside a mall in Quezon City in April 2007, and has not been seen since is also emblematic of impunity for enforced disappearances, the group said. Tribal and environmental groups have also accused the military of using local paramilitaries to help clear ancestral areas to pave the way for mining companies and other business interests. Human Rights Watch has also documented policies designed to derail the full enforcement of the country’s Reproductive Health Law. A temporary restraining order issued in 2015 by the Supreme Court, which was responding to conservative opposition to contraceptives, threatens to render obsolete a considerable number of contraceptives already procured by the government because these would expire in 2018. The court has since expanded the ruling, instructing the Food and Drug Administration to not approve any new applications for contraceptives. At least two cities—Sorsogon City and Balanga City—have issued ordinances that effectively banned the sale and distribution of contraceptives, among them pills, implants, and condoms. Human Rights Watch has also documented how thousands of children—some as young as nine—risk their lives in smallscale gold mines, mostly financed by local businessmen. Children work in unstable 25-meter-deep

pits and dive underwater to mine along shores or in rivers. Children also work with mercury, a toxic metal that is commonly used to process gold. Attacks on schools by the military and its paramilitary group continue to be a concern, the group said. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who along with Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra, leads the government’s delegation to the UPR, said that the review would be the perfect opportunity to correct the misconceptions of the international community regarding the alleged human rights violations of the present administration. “There are a lot of facts that need to be clarified and put in proper context so our friends in the United Nations and the international community would understand the extent of problems of corruption, illegal drugs, and criminality in the Philippines,” Cayetano said. “We want to share the overall picture of our human rights-based development programs, especially our gains, priorities in the coming years, as well as the major challenges at hand.” The senator, meanwhile, pointed out that the period under review covers five years of the Aquino administration and 10 months of the Duterte administration. “Human rights issues were raised by various sectors not just in this administration,” Cayetano said. With John Paolo Bencito, Macon Ramos-Araneta, PNA

Lopez was grilled by some CA members on the same issue when she faced the body Tuesday. Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Thursday welcomed the decision of CA to reject Lopez’s appointment. “Her advisers did her in. The policies she implemented seemed not well thought out,” Barbers, a staunch critic of Lopez, said. Earlier, he denounced Lopez’s decision to shut down or suspend mining companies which operate in his district. On Wednesday, the CA rejected Lopez’s appointment, ending a bitter tug-of-war over Duterte’s controversial choice for the position.

Further, she has authoritarian tendencies,” Lacson said. “On a personal note, I hate being intimidated and pressured in the performance of my duties as a legislator and member of the CA,” he added. The senator said Lopez’s supporters can speculate all they want why he voted to reject her confirmation but “these are my reasons and nothing more.” Lacson said the confirmation of a presidential appointee always follows two basic criteria: fitness and qualification. Passion and enthusiasm do not automatically translate to these, he said. Senator Leila de Lima, a critic of the President, expressed dismay at Lopez’s rejection. “I cannot say that I am surprised. These days, it isn’t anymore surprising to see men and women of the strongest conviction—who have the moral courage to stand up for what is right—be rejected, undermined and even be subjected to ad hominem attacks by a system run by vested interests,” De Lima said. She further maintained, “Let it not be said that I never gave Duterte credit for anything. He chose the right woman for the job.” But De Lima noted that it was

too bad that Duterte was unable to keep Lopez as DENR secretary. Also on Thursday, Finance Undersecretary Bayani Agabin said the Mineral Industry Coordinating Council is ready to review the mining industry’s performance in three weeks. “We want to start soon but we want also to follow the correct processes… Maybe we can start in three weeks’ time, but we will try to start as soon as possible,” he said. He said a committee was in the process of finalizing the list of who will compose the different teams of independent experts that will conduct the review. He said after the list was finalized, it would be submitted to the MICC for approval. Agabin said the mining review could be completed within three months. He said the review would cover not just the 28 mines shuttered or suspended earlier by the Environment Department but all 311 mining contracts in the country—in keeping with the directive of President Duterte for a comprehensive review during a Cabinet meeting in February. With Maricel V. Cruz, Julito G. Rada and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting said Lopez’s rejection by the CA “affirms that mining is a crucial issue that needs a closer look by government and the people.” Senator Panfilo Lacson, a CA member, said the commission rejected Lopez because she was not qualified for the job. Worse, Lacson said, Lopez admittedly arrogated unto herself the authority that is not prescribed under the existing laws of the land. “That makes her potentially dangerous as a department head.

Aguirre again denied the allegations and vowed to press charges against Ang. “His only evidence was a phone call while he was cockfighting in Cagayan De Oro who told him that he should leave because someone is out to kill him. How can that be evidence? That’s hearsay, Aguirre said. He denied Ang’s insinuation the his brother Ogie was involved in the smalltown lottery and had been threatening local officials to drop their deals with Meridien. “That’s not true. He [Ogie] is not applying for [an] STL [franchise]. Atong Ang should present evidence if he has any,” Aguirre said. For now, he said, Ang should face the BIR investigation. “All his gambling operations are illegal,” Aguirre said. “He should prove if he’s paying the right taxes. His invincibility is gone.” Aguirre believes Ang is retaliating after he led a raid on Fontana Leisure Park that busted the billion-peso online illegal gambling operation that was being run by Ang’s business partner and best friend Jack Lam. “The motive is very clear,” Aguirre said.

Mighty... From A1

allegations made by the Bureau of Internal Revenue against him and Mighty Corp. in its complaint in March. Three other respondents― former Armed Forces deputy chief-of-staff and retired Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan, Mighty Corp.’s president; retired Judge Oscar Barrientos, company executive vice president; and company treasurer Ernesto Victa—also appeared and submitted their counter-affidavits. The respondents submitted boxes of documents to the prosecutors, and BIR lawyers were also present during the hearing. The hearing started around 2:30 p.m. and lasted for less than an hour, but it came as a surprise as the reporters were kept in the dark about the scheduled proceedings. It was held simultaneously with a press conference of Justice

Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. Aguirre’s office and the department’s prosecutors had repeatedly told reporters that no subpoena had yet been issued on Mighty Corp. and no hearing had been set. The department conducted the hearing even as the BIR readied more complaints against Mighty Corp., accusing it of trying to evade paying P27 billion to P30 billion in taxes following several raids on its warehouses. The BIR filed its charges after confiscating master cases of cigarettes worth P2.3 billion bearing fake tax stamps from Mighty Corp.’s warehouse at the San Simon Industrial Park in Pampanga earlier this month. The bureau said the mere possession of the cigarette packs with fake tax stamps was in itself a violation of the law. The bureau said it found that 87.5 percent of the 66,281

master cases containing 33,140,500 cigarette packs in the warehouse had fake stamps that did not contain multi-layer security features. The bureau pegged the aggregate excise tax liability of the tobacco firm at P9.564 billion. The agency is also preparing to file at least three more tax evasion cases against Mighty Corp. Internal Revenue Commissioner Caesar Dulay earlier said the BIR would give priority to filing charges against Mighty Corp. It said separate cases would be filed before the Justice department for each of the series of raids that yielded Mighty cigarette packs with fake tax stamps. The Bureau of Customs says it had also discovered counterfeit stamps affixed on Mighty Corp.’s products seized in Zamboanga, General Santos City, Cebu, Tacloban City and Bulacan in the past two months.

Congress'...

From A1 “First of all, the President affirmed the friendship between Philippines and China as they exchanged views on regional and international developments,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said. “Secondly, and this is very important, the President expressed concerns on the Korean Peninsula. This is a shared concern among Asean leaders and since the Philippines is this year’s chairman, the President also took the initiative to voice the concerns of Asean as well,” Abella said. He added that Duterte’s aim is to ensure peace in the region given the consequence of a Korean war to Southeast Asia. “The President really emphasized on the need for restraint in dealing with the Korean Peninsula. Players in the region should push for peace, not war,” he said. “In a sense, the call was basically for peace and stability in the region,” Abella said. Duterte and Xi’s phone call came four days after the President’s call with United States President Donald Trump, which focused on North Korea. Before the Trump call, Duterte said he would ask the US president to consider a more peaceful option. On Saturday, Duterte said the leaders of Asean are “extremely worried” over the evolving crisis brought about by the latest launch of a ballistic missile by North Korea and asked for prudence on the part of the United States and other stakeholders to spare Asean of the consequences of a possible showdown in the Korean Peninsula. Despite talk of joint exercises with the Chinese, Esperon said Chinese coast guard vessels harassed and drove away Filipino fishermen in the Union Bank in the Spratly group of islands in the South China Sea, despite Beijing’s denials. “We got a report that the [Chinese] coast guard fired at our fishermen,” Esperon told reporters in a news briefing. “That’s our position now.” Esperon added that Manila continues to take note of Chinese incursions within the high seas, including the sending of another note verbale to let Beijing explain the recent harassment of Filipino fishermen. In a statement Wednesday, Foreign Affairs spokesman Robespierre Bolivar said the Philippine government continues “to urge the Chinese side to refrain from the threat or use of force.” “We have raised the matter with the Chinese side several times and they informed us that their investigations did not reveal any such incidents,” Bolivar said. “We have asked them to continue the investigations and to share the results with Philippine authorities,” he added. Union Bank is within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone as mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Filipino fishermen have complained that Chinese Coast Guard fired warning shots to drive them away from the area last March. Esperon called on claimant countries to respect the fishermen’s “traditional fishing grounds” amid overlapping claims in the disputed waters. “Let’s treat it as traditional fishing grounds, and do not disallow fishermen to fish because what is the South China Sea for? Mankind should benefit from that,” he said. With Vito Barcelo

ERC...

From A1 Bayan said in a statement that Salazar’s suspension was not enough. Group Secretary-General Renato Reyes Jr. questioned Salazar’s actions at the ERC and said he might have approved anomalous deals disadvantageous to consumers. “Chairman Salazar swiftly and secretly approved seven powersupply contract extensions last January, robbing the ERC of the opportunity to evaluate whether those deals were disadvantageous to consumers,” Reyes said. “He has been suspended from office. That may not be enough. It is time for him to step down.” In a memorandum issued on Thursday, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea appointed Commissioner Alfredo Non as the ERC’s officer-in-charge in view of Salazar’s suspension, which took effect on May 2. “Commissioner Non is directed to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of services to the public and the efficient operations of the ERC,” Medialdea said. Cusi said Salazar’s suspension proved that there were no sacred cows in the Duterte administration. “Corruption adds to the cost of everything. That being said, it is but proper that all allegations of wrongdoings are properly investigated,” Cusi said.

News

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Driver’s license validity for 5 years? By Maricel V. Cruz

PANEL in the House of Representatives has approved a measure seeking to extend the validity of driver’s licenses to five years from the current three years.

The House committee on transportation chaired by Samar Rep. Cesar Sarmiento created two technical working groups which will consolidate bills to finetune the bills extending the validity of the driver’s licenses to unburden the motoring public and ease congestion in the Land Trans-

portation Office. Sarmiento said the bill extending the driver’s license validity was approved by Sarmiento’s comiittee along with other bills that seek to “promote sustainable transport systems.” The proposal is contained in House Bill 2542 authored

BuCor-Tadeco deal illegal—DoJ chief By Rey E. Requejo JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Thursday said he had approved the findings of the Department of Justice’s committee that the 25-year joint venture agreement between the Bureau of Corrections and Tagum Agricultural Development Co. for the lease of 5,000 hectares of the Davao prison and Penal Farm was illegal. Aguirre stressed he agreed with the findings of the review committee that the JVA between BuCor and Tadeco failed to comply with legal requirements. “I approved the findings of the committee that the deal is null and void and on the ground they cited,” Aguirre told a press conference. In the fact-finding report signed by Justice Undersecretary Raymund Mercate, the DoJ committee led by Chief State Counsel Ricardo Paras III held that the JVA was illegal as it exceeded the 1,000-hectare limit under the Constitution. The committee also concluded that the JVA violated the Constitution, which only allows private corporations to hold lands of the public domain through lease for a period not exceeding 50 years. The deal was originally forged in 1969, extended 10 years after for 25 years and again extended for another 25 years in 2003. The existing contract ends in 2029—in violation of the 50year limit, the DoJ stressed.

The BuCor-Tadeco deal also violates Commonwealth Act No. 141 or the Public Land Act as the present and earlier agreements since 1969 were never subjected to any public auction or bidding. “Under the BuCor-Tadeco JVA, the production and profit share of the BuCor in 2016 amounted to only P44,854,726, or a rate of P8,449.83 per hectare per year. Compared to the prevailing lease rates of P10,000 to P18,000 per hectare per year of Tanglaw and Cooperative leaseback rates located in the general area where the DPFF lands are located, the BuCor-Tadeco JVA appears to be disadvantageous in terms of per hectare rate,” the fact-finding report stressed. The Office of the Solicitor General came up earlier with a similar legal opinion on the issue. However, while Aguirre agreed with the findings of the committee, he said he disagreed with its recommendation the JVA could still be adjusted and fixed. “There is a recommendation to adjust the contract to make it acceptable. I don’t agree with that because you cannot fix anymore a contract that is null and void,” he said. Aguirre added he would also study which proper agency should move for the invalidation of the contract. He explained that while the BuCor was under the DoJ, it was only the bureau that had legal personality in the JVA.

Erap rewards ex-janitor P100K cash incentive By Sandy Araneta AS A reward for his hard work and sacrifices, the former janitor who made headlines for passing the 2016 bar examinations was honored by no less than Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada. Ramil Comendador, who completed his law in the cityrun Universidad de Manila, received P100,000 cash incentive and plaque of recognition from Estrada in simple ceremonies at the Office of the Mayor on Thursday. “Success is no accident,” Estrada said of Comendador’s feat. “Mr. Comendador truly proved that hard work, perseverance, and sacrifice are all you need to achieve your dream,” Estrada said. Estrada said he was personally awed by Comendador’s success story and hoped every Filipino would be inspired by him. “It’s not every day you’ll meet someone like Mr. Comendador—rather Atty. Comendador now—who juggled work, family, and study to become what he is now.” “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work,” Estrada said, quoting American statesman and retired US Army Gen. Colin Powell. Comendador’s success, Estra-

da added, motivated him to further improve the city’s educational system, especially at the city-run public schools and universities, “so that more young ‘Comendadors’ will be inspired to study hard and become successful and responsible citizens in the future.” Estrada said he was so proud of the university’s achievement. “It shows we are succeeding in raising the standards of the UDM, and making it at par with private universities.” UDM, formerly known as the City College of Manila, is one of the universities and colleges in Manila funded by the city government. It currently has 12,000 students, all considered scholars because their tuition fees are subsidized by the city government. Comendador is the latest successful product of UDM after Arianne Joyce Gimenez, who placed 10th in the November nurse licensure examinations. She, too, was gifted with P100,000 cash by Estrada last February. The former janitor-turned-researcher of the Commission on Elections is one of the 13 UDM law graduates who passed the bar exams. He enrolled at UDM-College of Law in 2011 and belatedly finished it only last year due to his erratic work schedule.

by Reps. Johnny Ty Pimentel of Surigao del Sur, HB 2294 by Romeo Acop of Antipolo City, HB 1952 by Vilma Santos-Recto of Batangas, HB1996 by Angelina Tan of Quezon, HB 2152 by Enrico Pineda of 1-PACMAN partylist, HB 2817 by Estrellita Suansing of Nueva Ecija, and

HB 4627 by deputy speaker and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. Pimentel and Acop explained their proposals were in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to expedite the processes to address long queues, support the government’s anti-red tape campaign, and lessen irregularities still persisting during application or renewal of licenses at the LTO. “This will remove inefficiencies brought about by more frequent application for renewals due to the shorter validity of

licenses. It will also allow LTO to focus on processing the requests of first time applicants,” Pimentel said. Pending enactment of the proposal into law, Sarmiento reminded the LTO to make its licensing processes more stringent and to seriously test the quality of the drivers so that only those who have road safety knowledge get to ply the roads. LTO chief Assistant Secretar y Edgar Galvante said their agency fully supported the initiative and had in fact acted to support the Presi-

dent’s pronouncement by issuing licenses valid for f ive years, starting last October 2016. Galvante also assured the committee the examination and licensing procedures were at present under review to make them more accurate and appropriate for the different types of applicants and uses (i.e., for tricycles, jeepneys, buses, trucks, among others). While there is still a backlog in the issuance of plastic cards, he assured the agency expected to totally address the backlog by August.

Opinion

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

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Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Alternative transport systems

HE traffic congestion in Metro Manila’s major roads will not be solved in the near-term period, but the government and the private sector must immediately start building new roads and transportation systems to avoid a paralysis in the capital region.

Relevant government agencies on their part should not waste time deliberating on and reviewing infrastructure plans proposed by the private sector.

One conglomerate has proposed to develop a bus rapid transit system along Metro Manila Skyway, which will run from Susana Heights in Muntinlupa

City to Balintawak in Quezon City. It’s a novel project that deserves a quick response from the government. San Miguel Corp. offered to deploy electric buses for the proposed BRT system and invite bus operators to join the project. The BRT system is actually in sync with what the government earlier planned. The Duterte administration early in its term announced it was looking at build-

ing BRT systems in Metro Manila, Davao and Cebu to resolve traffic congestion in these areas. The BRT system features dedicated bus lanes that aim to combine the capacity and speed of a rail train. It was first launched in 1974 in Curitiba, Brazil and gained popularity in the rest of Latin America. Over 34-million passengers worldwide now use BRT everyday.

Indonesia’s TransJakarta operates the longest BRT route in the world, with the transportation system stretching 210 kilometers and connecting Jakarta. New elevated and other toll roads and rail transit, meanwhile, must be pursued and be given priority by the government. They will not only decongest the capital region and significantly reduce travel time―they

will also contribute to the development of the countryside. The construction of more toll roads speeds up the flow of goods from the rural areas. A faster travel time encourages increased production and eventually creates more jobs. Such projects also give the government a shot at improving the income of farmers and fishermen in the countryside, and make economic growth more inclusive. PENSEES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO

The Gina Lopez debacle

Remembering Corona LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES A YEAR ago last week, Chief Justice Renato Corona died of cardiac arrest. One year later, there is still no real effort to correct the injustice of Corona’s removal by a vindictive, monomaniacal president in 2012, aided by a larded, servile Congress and a deluded, unbelievably partisan media—an injustice which led to the chief justice’s untimely death at the age of 67. I wrote the following column shortly after Corona’s death. The article still rings true now, a year later: These days, when politicians routinely accuse each other of amassing huge sums of money while professing a monopoly on decency, I remember Corona. He was a truly decent man falsely charged with enriching himself by thieving hypocrites,

and yet he still fought a war that he must have known he simply could not win. Corona always believed in the majesty and inherent fairness of the law. He was also convinced that he headed a branch of government co-equal with the presidency and Congress. How wrong he was. And how wrong many of us, who allowed Corona’s thoroughly unjust public humiliation and eventual removal, were. Corona, in his political naivete, committed several fatal mistakes. And foremost of these was trusting that his innocence and the law were enough to make him beat back his powerful accusers. He believed that his appointment late in the Arroyo administration was lawful because the Supreme Court said so, in a 14-0 vote. And then he thought he could get away with winning the case to return the land of Hacienda Luisita to the farmers who tilled it.

Corona never expected how vindictive his main adversary was and how willing he would be to use the limitless resources at his command to get back at the chief justice who dared to engage him in a stare-down. And Corona probably never imagined

Corona is dead and Aquino is still alive. Where, pray tell, is the justice in that?

how easy Congress, both of its craven Houses, would acquiesce to Malacañang’s demands, especially if it was sufficiently larded with Disbursement Acceleration Program funds.

Corona was convicted and removed from office because that was what President Noynoy Aquino, still enjoying stratospheric popularity and an unlimited supply of taxpayers’ money, wanted. To believe otherwise, this late in the day, is to be pigheaded like Noynoy himself—as if refusing to accept blame and responsibility for errors committed in the past absolves the one who committed the error in the first place. But how can anyone bewail the injustices that Aquino committed as president, a fashionable pastime in these times, and not recall what he did to Corona four years ago? How can anyone mourn the victims of the treasonous crimes of this administration, from Abaya to Zamboanga, and forget how Aquino plotted and suborned, schemed and stole just to exact revenge on the chief justice whom he hated with such a monomaniacal passion? I must insist that Aquino killed Corona, a man whose

intellectual and career accomplishments he could never dream of approaching, just as surely as if he took a gun to Corona’s head and pulled the trigger. And those of us who stood idly by—and those who even cheered—were accomplices to the murder of a truly great man. Now Corona is dead and Aquino is still alive. Where, pray tell, is the justice in that? *** Like that memorable character in Jose Rizal’s novel, Corona died without seeing the dawn. But I hope that someday, when we are all finally cured of the Yellow plague, that we will understand Corona’s sacrifice— and Aquino’s culpability. By dying just months before Aquino leaves the presidential palace, Corona was deprived of the satisfaction of seeing his vengeful tormentor return to being a full-time self-pleasuring layabout, his real profession before he inflicted himself on an

THE Commission on Appointments has rejected the nomination of Ms. Gina Lopez as Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. While the Constitution textually sets no limits on the President’s power to nominate, Congress has construed the Constitution to exclude from further nomination one who has been rejected by the Commission on Appointments, in contrast to to one whose nomination has merely been bypassed. In the latter’s favor, the President may issue a fresh appointment indefinitely. Many are outraged, and for good reason. Lopez was fearless and she bared her fangs at mighty enterprises and powerful ventures. I do not think she had anything personal to gain by her staunch advocacy. She was—and remains— firmly convinced that much of the mining that is going on in the Philippines is not good for the country’s health. She found support in many who have taken up the cudgels for the right of future generations of a “healthful environment” and to a “balanced ecology.” But she made many enemies who are powerful, because they are monied—although Lopez is herself no pauper by any means! The members of the communities that have suffered from despoliation of the environment have taken up the refrain of indignation. And it is very difficult to shrug off the suspicion that big money has had big effects. If Gina Lopez was so passionately committed to saving the countryside from being stripped to the bone by the ruthlessness of open mining —and other forms of mining as well—why did she lose the vote? It becomes tempting to suspect that Legislators received fat checks, or at least look forward to future largesse. But that might not exactly be it, or at least, not that completely. For one thing, Lopez is on record as having pooh-poohed the Constitution as a “scrap of paper”. And the questions asked at the confirmation hearing were not vacuous either: By what law did she act as she did—cancelling Turn to A5

Turn to A5 Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher

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Opinion FORMATION GARY OLIVAR

Gina and Judy THEY’RE both ladies of a certain age, fetching in their different ways, of Ilonggo background, and highly visible members of the Duterte Cabinet who’ve had to undergo fairly bruising confirmation hearings at Congress. But the big similarities stop there. For starters, one has already been turned down twice by the congressmen and senators sitting on the appointments commission. And since this isn’t baseball with its three-strikesout rule, she’s expected to finally head back to the bench, though probably not for good. The other, after being turned down the first time, seems headed for confirmation now, despite some fairly pointed questions leveled at her. And this, despite the baggage of being a water-carrier for an openly insurrectionist group. The one, Gina Lopez, I’ve met only casually, during my years with senior management in the Lopez group. The other, Judy Taguiwalo, I’ve known since college, in and out of jail, which is where friendships are truly tested. How these two ladies ended up in different places offers up a lot of lessons, the most important of which is probably this: If you’re in the Cabinet, you have no other agenda except the President’s. It’s a simple rule of decency and loyalty that’s almost always observed—the backstabbing Hyatt 10, of course, excepted. *** In Gina’s case, it was never an issue of decency with this extremely wellbred lady, or of loyalty, c on side r i ng how she always seemed to collapse into girlish giggles whenever she was around the President. One can only imagine the brickbats she had to endure from her family whenever Duterte would publicly tear into them. However, the passion for the environment that endeared her to the President and to so many others—and in fact still does—got in the way of what should have been her better judgment, once too often. The list of Gina’s infractions just kept getting longer: Cancelling all those mining service agreements on the basis of an absurdly expansive definition of “protected watershed.” Conducting an overly broad and punitive environmental audit whose technical integrity was questioned by some of the auditors themselves. Levying additional fines on mining ore stockpiles with no legal basis for doing so. Sweeping rejection of ALL open-pit mining for gold, silver and nickel, precious metals which are often found only a couple of meters underground. Gina’s critics were getting really nasty towards the end, when she was being charged with favoritism not only for her family’s natural gas and coal mining interests, but even for the charcoal business of one of her undersecretaries. I’m glad that her departure at least averted a longer ordeal for the Lopezes, an old landed family whose mountainous dignity is a storied part of both our commercial and political history as a nation. Perhaps all that historicity— coupled with her greenness of passion and experience—distracted Gina from some of what should have been her rules of right conduct in the Cabinet: Politically, your job is to make things happen for the President, not the other way around. The number of times you’re allowed to invoke his name is very small. Organizationally, you should be leading towards consensus, not agitating towards division. The former produces results, the latter great press releases.

Practically, you should avoid picking fights you cannot win by yourself. The mining industry is a very large and well-connected industry with a legitimate role to play in the economy. You want them by your side at least half of the time. *** In Judy’s case, she was part of a Faustian bargain the President had to make in order to bring the truculent armed Left to the negotiating table. Thus it’s been easy to caricature her in black and white terms, as a Trojan horse allowed inside in order to placate the crafty armies of Greece on the other side of the walls. Her revolutionary bona fides are undisputed. Students (if not participants) of recent history may remember an iconic photo from the demo in front of the old Congress building on Jan. 26, 1970 that sparked the socalled First Quarter Storm of that year. The photo shows a bunch of students crowding into a jeepney to escape the police truncheons, and prominently features the shapely legs and backside of a miniskirted lady in the middle. That backside belonged to Judy. From those early years as a founding member of SDK mass, Judy has ceaselessly marched the streets and picket lines for the radical Left. But this activism did not prevent her from pursuing a notable academic career in social work at the UP, as well as starting a family on her own— a fact that was crudely noted at her conf ir mation hearings by Senator Sotto, who really should wash his mouth with soap and water more often. Since heading up the DSWD, Judy has turned back every attempt to depict her as less than totally honest and caring for the millions of poor who comprise her agency’s charges. When some congressmen tried to put her on the spot about the prepositioning of certain relief goods, she called them out and stared them down with facts and numbers. Unfortunately, the NDF connections that put Judy in the Cabinet also often give her a hard time. She went out of her way to feed the Kadamay housing activists when they were illegally occupying vacant housing in Bulacan. And when Senator Lacson pointedly asked her if she renounced violence, she hemmed and hawed for quite a while. In the end, though, Judy came up with all the right answers. Yes, she renounced violence “as it is.” Yes, she sees herself as the President’s man first, and an NDF activist only second, while she’s in the Cabinet. And yes, she would be happy to help him with his peacemaking. *** Perhaps it would really be too much, after all, to expect an heiress to conduct herself with the discipline of a battle-hardened activist. Just as it would also be too much to expect that activist to give up the beliefs and values of a lifetime that she knows she’ll be going back to, once the all-too-fleeting privileges of Cabinethood are surrendered. This is the diversity of points of view that can be so valuable to a president, provided he or she is willing to listen to them. And if one of the ingredients in the mix turns out to be too hot to handle—well, we can only suggest, if Gina is better on the outside looking in, that she be given a seat right by the window, where she can continue to be heard.

The similarities stop here.

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

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No walk in the park BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO AFTER only a little over 100 days, US President Donald John Trump finally realized that his job is not a walk in the park. But who told him it was? Living in the Trump Towers which is just three blocks from New York’s Central Park, he should have known there is no such thing as a walk in the park. Even Central Park is a dangerous place for early-morning joggers or cyclists out for a little exercise. Horrific stories of mugging and rapes are reported to the police by unsuspecting New Yorkers who find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. The park’s north entrance is also near to Harlem, the black community. No, don’t think I’m a racist but most of the crimes committed in the park are done by blacks, according to the NYPD. Donald J. Trump is such an unpredictable president. He now says he would be “honored to meet” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un whom he consid-

ers “a smart cookie.” This, even as he dispatched the USS aircraft carrier Carl Vinson to intercept any long-range ballistic cruise missile heading for South Korea, Japan and the US West Coast. Former Secretary of State and defeated presidential candidate Hillary Clinton expressed the view that Trump meeting with Jong Un is ill-conceived and goes against sending the right signal to the berserk North Korean leader. Behind the scene, it was reported that the US is asking China to control its wayward ward. Let us not be surprised if China, working with the military clique in Pyongyang, unseats Jong Un and breaks the three lines of the Kim dynasty rule in North Korea. Who would then replace the North Korean leader? The possibility of a military junta rule is not remote, considering it’s really the generals who call the shots. Gina gets the boot The bicameral Commission on Appointments finally gave the book to Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Regina Lopez. Voting 16 to 8 in a closed-door executive session, the CA rejected Gina Lopez’s nomination as DENR secretary.

It found her unfit to hold the position. There is a lesson to be learned from Gina’s rejection by the CA. It does not work to be arrogant in defending your fitness for the job. Belonging to a rich family that owns the ABS-CBN television network is no guarantee that you are untouchable. The second is to learn how to balance a passion and advocacy for the protection of the environment and consider the revenues and livelihood the mining companies provide millions of Filipino. She is President Rodrigo Duterte’s second Cabinet appointee to be rejected by the CA. The first was Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay whom I first exposed in this column as a foreigner secretary. After lying for several months after he was appointed, Yasay finally admitted to being an American citizen after pointed and sharp questioning by CA member Rep. Josephine Sato. Gina Lopez’s woes are not yet over. Citinickel Mines Development Corp. has filed graft charges against Lopez for using her position to impose additional requirements for the mining firms she unilaterally suspended for alleged violation of environmental rules. The case is filed with

the Office of the Ombudsman. Now, what’s this we hear Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales is willing to step down and accept an ambassadorship to The Hague or a judgeship to the International Criminal Court? The appointment as one of the ICC justices was turned down for reasons of health by the late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. who finally succumbed to cancer. The word, although unverified, is that Carpio-Morales could face impeachment if she does not resign and accept the position being offered by the President. She could go the way of the late former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Renato Corona who was removed by a Senate Tribunal. Recall that former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, an Arroyo appointee, was forced to resign in the face of an impeachment case being prepared by the Aquino administration. The Office of the Ombudsman is a constitutional post whose term of office is longer than the president’s six-year tenure. Will Ombudsman Carpio-Morales take the easy way out and accept the ambassadorial appointment or the ICC nomination?

Mining, after Gina Lopez VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ IN THE end, Gina Lopez was ousted by a Commission on Appointments, many of whose 24 members represent vast mining interests if they are not mining owners themselves. By being removed as secretary of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources, Gina was not the loser. The nation is. For the first time in our history, we had a DENR chief who was clearly committed to sustaining our environment even as the position also allows for the exploitation of natural resources. Whether Gina was genuinely passionate in her pro-environment advocacy or hers was merely a rebranding or repositioning of what many saw as a clearly crazy personality, it is not easy to determine. If her act was purely theatrics, it was certainly a virtuoso performance. I congratulate Gina for the raw courage and unbending integrity she displayed as DENR chief amid the most spirited and best organized wrecking campaign ever launched against a member of the cabinet, past or present. If Gina’s 10-month stint at the DENR did any good, it was to stir up substantial public consciousness about mining, its deleterious and and nefarious effects on the environment, on the economy, and on future generations of Filipinos—thanks to her incredible showmanship and flair for drama.

The Gina... From A4 licenses, assessing fines, withholding permits? I remember distinctly her answers to most of the questions: “I used my discretion”. True, plenty of administrative action is discretionary —but precisely because of the dangers attendant to the exercise of discretion, the law confines, limits and provides checks for the exercise of discretion. It then seems that Lopez’s undoing was her enthusiasm that would now allow itself to be confined by the law. One can of course insist that she was as impetuous as she was

Remembering... From A4 entire nation of clueless, gullible Filipinos. But this doesn’t mean that Aquino will forever escape blame. The blood will never be washed away from Aquino’s hands—from Tacloban to Ki-

Until President Duterte spoke about or against mining in March this year, I didn’t realize how small the contribution of mining to tax revenues and to the economy was. On March 17, 2017, Duterte said this about mining: “The problem is, I saw the denuded mountains and there are still large holes because of open pit mining. If that is the case, I cannot help you. All you can contribute to society is P70 billion in taxes. We can live without it… Let’s just look for the P70 billion from somewhere else and preserve our environment.. .How many years have you been there. Up to now, I cannot seen any greenery. What I want is that you put wood there and not just leave it like this. You just cannot say, let’s go to court, that’s legal. No, we are here. We, I, begin and end my term at the altar of public interest.” P70 billion in taxes just to destroy the environment? It was clearly a bad deal. Mining is supposed to be one of our most strategic economic activities. The Philippines, according to the DENR, is the fifth most mineralized country in the world, is third largest in the world in size of gold reserves, fourth largest in copper reserves, and fifth biggest in nickel reserves. By 2013, the Philippines was the world’s No. 1 nickel producer. Mining contributed just 6.3 percent of total exports by 2013. In all other parameters, mining’s contributions to our economy seem minuscule—less than one percent—0.7 percent of Gross Domestic Product or GDP or just P77.8 billion gross

valued added at current pesos; 0.6 percent of total employment, and 0.004 percent of government revenues. Compare that to the contribution of overseas Filipino workers—$27 billion in annual 100-percent value added dollar revenues, 12 million employed overseas, and 12 percent of the total national population. And yet, it seems to me, in the 25-member CA, there are more pro-mining members than there are pro-OFW advocates. And there is no Department of OFWs. We have a full-time Cabinet department in charge of mining, but none for OFWs. In our Constitution’s Declaration of Principles and State Policies, there is a mention of ecology but none on exploitation natural resources. Article II Section 16 declares: “The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.” Clearly, under the basic law of the law, ecology or the environment takes precedence over exploitation of natural resources. In Article XII (National Economy and Patrimony), Section 2, the Constitution says: “The exploration, development, and utilization of natural resources shall be under the full control and supervision of the State.” Also, the same section says “The President may enter into agreements with foreignowned corporations involving either technical or financial assistance for large-scale exploration, development, and utilization of minerals, petroleum, and other mineral oils according to

the general terms and conditions provided by law, The President may enter into agreements with foreign-owned corporations involving either technical or financial assistance for largescale exploration, development, and utilization of minerals, petroleum, and other mineral oils according to the general terms and conditions provided by law, based on real contributions to the economic growth and general welfare of the country. Note the phrase “real contributions to the economic growth and general welfare of the country.” I liken mining’s effects to prostitution and tourism boom. We have millions of tourists because of our tourism boom. We love tourists because of the dollars they bring. Invariably, many of these tourists gravitate towards our women and children. Filipinos, after all, are among the most beautiful people on earth. Many of these tourists despoil our women, converting them into sex slaves and prostitutes. A delicate woman once despoiled cannot be restored. Isn’t the environment the same? Hopefully, after the saga of Gina Lopez, responsible mining will acquire true meaning and not just a mere slogan it has been for years. In the meantime, without Gina at DENR, the ball is now in President Duterte’s court. Under the Constitution, he is the only person allowed to cut deals with miners, local and foreign, “based on real contributions to the economic growth and general welfare of the country.”

“for the common good”—but that is always a dangerous pretext for setting the law aside. I am not saying that she violated the law. I am, however, saying that many feared, I included, that she was quite prepared to shove the law aside in the earnest exercise of discretion for the sake of what, to her, was “the common good”. Already so much is entrusted to the discretion of administrative officials—and that is why it becomes all the more threatening when the zeal of one convinces her that she has the license to shoo all entrepreneurs and venturers from protected precincts, even when they are

licensed to be where they are! I most certainly wish someone at the DENR with the drive and the courage of Gina Lopez, and I regret it tremendously that she was not allowed to arrest the unconscionable rapaciousness that has virtually stripped our country of its resources and left a gaping ecological wound in several parts of the country. But I would like to have enthusiasm in the name of the law, and resoluteness empowered by the law—not one that makes of the law a marginal concern, or that cites the law vaguely because action has veered from its course! But President Digong can

still raise a valid constitutional question: Since the Constitution does not limit his power to nominate, can Congress, by enacting the rules for the Commission on Appointments, curtail his privilege to nominate by passing a vote rejecting a candidate? True, the Commission may reject a nomination, but can it prevent a repeat of the nomination? Of course, there is always the prospect of a persistent rejection—but would not be a matter of law but of politics!

dapawan, from al-Barka to Mamasapano. If there really is justice in this world, Aquino will have to pay. Never again, they say, hypocritically, apropos of something else entirely. Never again, I say, should goodness and truth be co-opted and prostituted in the name of a thoroughly discredited

movement of self-serving, selfrighteous slaves of the oligarchs and the oligarchs themselves. Of course, it’s perfectly possible that history and future generations will absolve Aquino and look kindly on him for what he did while in office. But I was there and I saw what Aquino did to Renato Corona, a man

Noynoy broke and, for all intents and purposes, killed. I can only hope that Aquino suffers for his crimes, just like he made the people he decided were his enemies—for reasons only his twisted mind can come up with—suffer. Rest now, CJ. The fight continues.

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News

Firm says govt can’t end MRT pact By Darwin G. Amojelar

USAN Universal Rail Inc. said on Thursday the government cannot

unilaterally terminate its maintenance contract for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 because of temporary stoppages to the train system that serves the heart of Metro Manila. In response to a letter from the Transportation Department, BURI rejected the agency’s claims it failed to “satisfactorily perform work obligations” for the MRT 3 line that traverses Edsa. BURI said its contract with the government “implicitly recognizes that temporary stoppages of Light Rail Vehicles due to either system error/malfunction, deterioration of track and LRV equipment, etc., are unavoidable, and hence, the contract provided for procedures that BURI is required to undertake to address such matters.” Moreover, BURI said it has already brought to the Department of Transportation’s attention as early as January last year “the current deteriorated track con-

dition of the MRT 3 system and its consequences, among which include service interruptions and stoppages,” but its recommended measures to address these problem “are still to be acted upon” by the government. “The MRT 3 record of train removals without unloading numbered to 1,492 even during the first year of the system’s operation. Also, notably, in year 2007 under the first maintenance provider, the MRT 3 record of 532 train removals with passenger unloading is close to last year’s [the 2016 total of] 544 train removals, although the trains have aged an additional 10 years,” the company added. An independent assessment report on the tracks made on April

2011 showed they were in bad condition, BURI noted, “as the previous maintenance provider did not perform any rail grinding of the whole stretch of the mainline during its 12 years as MRT 3 maintenance provider.” The company said it restored two to three train cars every month since its contract started in January 2016, to meet the requirements set by DOTr. Since November 2016, BURI “has essentially satisfied its contractual obligations, and in a number of areas exceeded the minimum level required in its contract. These include providing 66 operational cars, or an average of 20 trains on revenue runs with two extra trains in.” The firm belied allegations of poor maintenance under its watch, as it performed more maintenance activities than what is required in its maintenance contract “if only to ensure safe train operations.” Accounting for some issues

on the design flaws of the MRT trains, BURI said it introduced works “way above contractual requirements” to keep the trains more reliable than what they were more than a decade ago. BURI said the design issue on the trains and the current status of the MRT 3 track system “are conditions that cannot be improved overnight by simply following the listed required activities in the contract.” From the standpoint of contract compliance, BURI said confidently that it achieved more than what its predecessors had performed. It reminded the government that the trains, “with its questioned performance capability, are being made to run along a track system that needs to be rehabilitated.” “But with the additional works done by us on the rails, we can fully assure all stakeholders of the MRT of safe train operations,” BURI added.

FOR MAMA. Workers from Barangay Sikatuna Village in Quezon City clean the monument of the Shrine of the Unborn Child in preparation for Mother's Day on May 14. Manny Palmero

Non is ERC OIC while Salazar is suspended By Alena Mae S. Flores THE remaining four commissioners of the Energy Regulatory Commission have nominated commissioner Alfredo Non as officer-in-charge in the wake of the preventive suspension of the government agency’s chairman, Jose Vicente Salazar. “We confirm receipt of the preventive suspension order early this morning. The commission held a special commission meeting today [Thursday] and they agreed to nominate Commissioner Non as OIC,”

ERC spokesman Rexie Digal said. “The nomination will be forwarded to the Office of the Executive Secretary for consideration and appropriate action,” she said. Non confirmed the nomination, but is still waiting for Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea’s response. Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi yesterday said the preventive suspension of Salazar will pave the way for a fair investigation into the issues in the ERC. “I expect fair treatment of all officers and workers in government.

The suspension is a means to give way to a fair investigation of the issues being thrown at Chairman Salazar, “ Cusi said. He said the 90-day suspension of Salazar ordered by Malacañang is another example that there are no “sacred cows” in the Duterte administration. Salazar, meanwhile, said while he viewed Malacañang’s order with concern, he is grateful for the opportunity to take a breather from work. “I shall use the time to be with my family and to attend to my per-

sonal concerns,” Salazar said. He was among the officials earlier asked to resign by President Rodrigo Duterte, and will be investigated amid allegations of graft and price fixing following the death of ERC Bids and Awards Committee chairman Francisco Villa on Nov. 9. Villa’s sister, broadcaster Rosario Sofia “Charie” Villa, said her brother was allegedly pressured by Salazar to approve procurement contracts and hiring consultants and other bidding procedures. Francisco Villa later killed himself.

Helicopters, drones for DA patrols? By Anna Leah E. Gonzales THE Department of Agriculture is planning to purchase patrol helicopters and drones that will be used to combat illegal fishing in the country, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said yesterday. In a Facebook post, Piñol said the department has proposed to buy at least two patrol helicopters with night flying capability and about 20 long distance flying drones to intensify the government’s campaign against illegal fishing and poaching by foreign fishing boats. Piñol said the Management Committee of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources made the recommendation after reports of continued poaching by foreign fishing vessels were received and verified. “The BFAR reported that the country loses at least $30 billion every year to foreign poachers who could not be checked and stopped because the Philippine Government lacks the capability of patrolling the vast fishing grounds of the country,” said Pinol. The agriculture chief said that currently, the BFAR only relies on reports by local fishermen, and its ability to respond is impeded by its lack of sea and air assets. He said the proposal to acquire helicopters and drones, including fast boats, has been included in the DA’s budget for 2018 and was already presented to Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno.

Sports Global Cebu rips Cambodia to clinch semis seat By Peter Atencio GLOBAL Cebu, led by Paul Mulders and Hikaru Minegishi, struck down Boeung Ket Angkor, 2-1, on Wednesday evening at the Rizal Memorial football field. This allowed the Cebuanos to reach the ASEAN Zone semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation Cup at the close of their Group F campaign. They finished their Group F stint on top of the standings with five wins and a loss, reaching the semis with Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’Zim. Ceres-Negros also made it to the ASEAN semis following a 4-2 win over Hanoi on Wednesday in a Group G encounter over at the Panaad Park in Bacolod. Mulders booted in the match’s first goal 12 minutes into the game, converting on Paolo Salenga’s cross. His right-footed effort into the bottom right corner put the Filipino squad ahead at 1-0. They sank their second goal in the 27th minute when Minegishi curled a left footed shot after Shu Sasaki and Darryl Roberts gave him support support at the penalty box. After that, the Cambodians gave the Filipinos a scare when Sath Rosib pulled one back from four minutes after the second half. With the result, Global Cebu will take on S-League’s Home United of Singapore in the two-leg ASEAN semifinal in two week’s time. Ceres-Negros, which finished with a same 3-2-1 windraw-loss card with Hanoi, will have Johor Darul Ta’Zim as their semis foe. They took the early lead on two goals from Bienvenido Maranon in the 6th and 22nd minutes.

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Shin seizes lead with a 67 T ARLAC—Micah Shin stormed ahead of a crowded leaderboard with a solid ﬁve-under 67, wresting a one-stroke lead over four others, including an equally charging Tony Lascuña, in a sweltering day of torrid scoring halfway through the ICTSI Luisita Championship here yesterday.

Redisplaying the form that netted him a breakthrough win on the Philippine Golf Tour here last September, the 20-year-old Shin bucked a late tee-off at the backside of the Luisita Golf and Country Club, rattled off three birdies inside 10 feet then closed out with two more at the front to cap a 3433 round that shoved him past Americans Brett Munson and John Michael O’Toole, South African Mathiam Keyser and Lascuña, with a 136 aggregate. “I played terribly good. It was an amazing round,” said Shin, the Davao-based Korean-American who spiked his maiden win by

beating Lascuña by two for the 2016 CAT (Central Azucarera de Tarlac) Open. O’Toole earlier put on a blistering windup up at the front and shot a two-under 70 to force three-way tie at 137 with Munson, who also carded a 70 after a 67, and Keyser, who slowed down with a 71 after a 66 with two three-putts, until Shin birdied No. 8 and moved from solo fifth to the top of the heap at eight-under overall. Not to be outdone, Lascuña, 47, put up a vintage performance, coming through with a pair of three-birdie string on both nines to likewise jump from joint sixth to

Micah Shin hacks out anapproach shot on No. 15

a share of second, just one behind Shin heading to the last 36 holes of the $60,000 championship sponsored by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. He, however, rued his flubbed birdie try from five feet on No. 9. “I could’ve tied him (Shin). But I rushed things up and didn’t study

the line of my putt well,” said Lascuña, the defending champion who actually reeled back with a doublebogey on No. 11 but bounced back with three straight birdies from No. 12 then strung up three straight from No. 3 before capping his superb fightback with another birdie on No. 7 for a closing 32. Keyser poised to duplicate his 66 Wednesday with another strong start at the back as he birdied Nos. 10 and 12. But he lost his touch and rhythm the rest of the way, stumbling with three bogeys against two birdies as he settled for a 71. “There’s nothing wrong with my game today (yesterday) except the two holes which I three-putted,” said Keyser. Rufino Bayron went five-under after 13 holes but bogeyed the next to settle for a 68 but the former PGT leg winner stayed in the hunt at 139, just three behind Shin and in a tie with erstwhile co-leader John Catlin, also of the US, who fumbled with a 73 after a 66.

Jhonnel Ababa also churned out a 68 to move to joint eighth with Finland’s Teemu Putkonen, who rallied with a 67, at 140 while Solaire Philippine Open champion Steve Lewton of England also bounced back into contention with a 68 after a 73, putting him at joint 10th at 141 with Albin Engino and Japanese Toru Nakajima, who fired identical 70s, American Nicolas Paez, who carded a 71 and Japanese Kei Takahashi, who came up with a 69. Miguel Tabuena rebounded from a so-so 73 with a three-under 69 but the former Philippine Open champion stood five shots behind at joint 15th with Michael Bibat, who rebounded with a 69, Elmer Salvador and Gerald Rosales, who carded second straight 71s, Jobim Carlos, Lexus Keoninh of the US and Aussies Nathan Park and David Gleeson, who matched par 72s, Briton Jake Shepherd and Paul Harris of the US, who both shot 70s.

Cocolife books scary triumph

CEREMONIAL MOVES. PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez and Cebu’s pride Jerish Velarde shake hands after doing the

ceremonial moves of the ongoing National Age Group Chess Championships, co-presented by Province of Cebu and Marty Pimentel at the Robinsons Galleria, Cebu City. With them are Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr., NCFP chairman and president, event organizer John Velarde, Cebu Province Sports Commission executive director Ramil Abing, NCFP deputy secretary general and executive director Red Dumuk and chief arbiters IA Wilfredo Neri and IA James Inﬁesto.

COCOLIFE survived a sluggish opening set to book a scary 15-21, 21-18, 17-15 victory over powerhouse F2 Logistics A on opening day of the 2017 Belo Philippine Superliga Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup yesterday at the SM By the Bay in Mall of Asia. Wensh Tiu was impressive down the stretch, delivering a beautiful drop shot before watching Fritz Gallenero succumb to pressure to complete the come-from-behind conquest in this prestigious tourney bankrolled by Stoked, Mikasa, Mizuno, Senoh, Rebisco and SM By the Bay with TV5 as official broadcast partner. A mainstay in various beach volleyball tourneys, Tiu said her familiarity with her foe—former La Salle teammate Cyd Demecillo—helped them bounce back from a disastrous first set. In fact, they played together for De La Salle University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and campaigned as teammates in the beach volley tourney. Demecillo, however, went on to win the UAAP crown two years ago with Kim Fajardo as teammate, handing the Lady Spikers their first ever beach volley title. “I’m quite familiar with her so it really helped,” said Tiu, who also leaned on the steady game of her partner, Aby Nuval, to escape with the win. “We only trained thrice before this tourney and during those trainings, we had tune-up matches with F2 Logistics.”

Ladon, Maamo last 2 boxers standing for PH Team TASHKENT, Uzbekistan—At the end of the quarterfinal round of the ASBC Asian Elite Championships here Wednesday, two of the smallest members of the ABAP national boxing squad emerged victorious and continued the grind for gold. Olympian light flyweight (49 kg) Rogen Ladon made short work of his Syrian opponent Hussein Al Masri, who bored in head first and ran into the waiting punches of the Bago City native. The referee gave a warning (one point deduction) on the Syrian for ducking in the first round and another in the second round, stopping the fight via disqualification and catapulting the 23-year-old Filipino to the semifinals on Friday. Flyweight Dannel Maamo of Cagayan de Oro City has, for several years, been fighting in

the fringes under the shadow of such achievers as Rey Saludar and Ian Clark Bautista. But here, he determinedly sought to break out of his cocoon and mix it up with the big boys. Only 20 years old, Maamo displayed veteran moves with his flashy footwork and boundless energy which he used to subdue his Sri Lankan opponent via a 5-0 decision (all judges called it 3026 for the Filipino). Ladon and Maamo are now also qualified for the World Championships in Hamburg in August. The top 6 in each weight class are picked for the said championships. A disappointment was middleweight Eumir Felix Marcial, who lost his quarterfinal round bout to hometown boy Israil Madriimov. The fight was lustily cheered by the

ever-animated Uzbek crowd,as the two fighters slugged it out the entire 3 rounds. The judges gave the unanimous decision to Madrimov. Still, the 21-year-old sensation from Zamboanga City has a chance at qualification. Per the rules, the last two slots will be contested by the four losing quarterfinalists. Should he win his box-off against Abdul Mouen Aziz of Syria on Saturday, he too books a ticket to the World Championships. ABAP secretary-general Ed Picson, evaluated the performance of the national boxers here thus far: “We can’t really ask for more from the boys. All our losses here were against top seeds: Mario Bautista vs. the #3 bantamweight, Joel Bacho against the #5 welter-

weight, James Palicte versus the #2 lightweight and Marcial to the #2 rated Uzbek middleweight.” “Actually, it’s almost creepy how we ran into the top rated boxers so early. But, we really need to learn how to beat these guys. We have some time before the SEA Games and The World Championships; we’ll work on it, “ he added. The semifinal round on Friday will see Ladon (#2) vs. Mongolian Gan-Erdene Gankhuyag (#3)and Maamo going up against Inkyu Kim (#2 seed) of Korea. Thursday is a rest day. Finals are on Saturday. In the team are coaches Nolito Velasco, Elias Recaido Jr. And Reynaldo Galido and the Philippine Sports Commission’s massage therapist Benjie Hizon.

Phoenix National Slalom returns to Cabanatuan City AFTER almost a decade of absence in Cabanatuan City, RACE Motorsports Club brings the 2017 Phoenix National Slalom back in the city at the NFA Compound on Sunday. Backed by Mayor Jay Vergara, Michael Mendoza and Joey Vergara, the third leg of the series is powered by Phoenix Premium 98 and Phoenix Accelerate fully synthetic oil. Cabanatuan City also hosts a leg of the 12-round series on Sept. 10. Registration is set from 7 a.m. onwards. There will be no practice runs for the races to finish early as the venue is not equipped with lights. Official runs will start as early as 9 a.m.

Each participating driver will receive four liters (1 gallon) of Phoenix Accelerate fully synthetic oil and a Phoenix t-shirt. The awarding of trophies to all winners will be held at the Pig Stop Bar & Grill, Melencio St., Cabanatuan City, owned by Daryl Flores and Mikko Briones. Overall and class champions are allowed to accumulate points if they use the specified Federal Tyres for at least nine legs of the series and must possess the Automobile Association of the Philippines Clubman license. All drivers will be charged an additional one-time P300 per leg for the AAP Clubman License. The National Slalom events are affiliated with the AAP and FIA

and is the longest-running motorsport discipline in the country. Expected to participate are the Club Slalom series champions, headed by Milo, Noel and Estefano Rivera of Tough Gear, the 2016 National Slalom Champions; Dr. Peewee Mendiola of Team Big Chill; Speedjav Racing Team; AF Racing Team; Team Comet Tarlac; and drivers from Baguio and Pangasinan. The 2017 RACE Motorsports Club National Slalom Series is presented by Phoenix Premium 98 and Phoenix Accelerate Fully Synthetic Oil, and backed by major sponsors Federal Tyres and Outlast Battery. It is also supported by Starbright Body Kits, Auto Transporter, media partners Stoplight TV, C!

this month, struggled with a two-over card after 13 holes when play was stopped due to heavy rain and lightning at the soggy Glenmarie Golf and Club’s Valley course. But she hit a superb approach from 100 yards then finished it off with a 10foot birdie on No. 14 then parred the rest to stay within striking distance of Oon, 15 who won the Selangor Am Open last March, who bucked tough condition to shoot a 69 and open a two-stroke lead

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region Branch 209 Mandaluyong City

IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR CORRECTION OR CANCELLATION OF ENTRIES IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF JAELLE CLAIRE ACANTILADO BRADLEY NIKKI JOY H. ACANTILADO, Petitioner -versus - SP. PROC. NO. R-MND-17-00792-SP LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF MANDALUYONG CITY and JOEL CLIFFORD BRADLEY, Respondents x---------------------------------------x

Dr. Peewee Mendiola of Big Chill Racing

Magazine, Auto Car Magazine, Power Wheels Magazine, Ride and Drive Philippines and Driven2ride.ph. There will be a free slalom clinic from 9 to 10 a.m.

Fortuna 4 adrift in Malaysian Am Open MIKHA Fortuna came out of the two-hour weather delay with a birdie on No. 14 as she scrambled for a oneover 73 and fell four strokes behind local ace Natasha Oon at the start of the Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open Golf Championship in Kuala Lumpur late Wednesday. Fortuna, who with The Country Club teammate Sofia Chabon are gearing up for a return stint in the US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball later

Wensh Tiu of Cocolife (left) scores against F2’s Cyd Demicilio in the he 2017 Belo Philippine Superliga Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup today at the SM By the Bay in Mall of Asia. Roman Prospero

over Thailand’s Kan Bunnabodee, who turned in a gutsy one-under 71. Another TCC mainstay, Bernice Olivarez-Ilas, shot a 74 to tie Vanessa Bouvet of France and Malaysians Warda Amira Abdul Rawof, Liyana Azizan Durisic and Allycia Gan Phiek When while Chabon hobbled with a 79. “It was a great effort by Mikha as she kept her poise down the stretch, keeping her within sight of the leader,” said TCC coach Bong Lopez.

For details, contact Bing Bang Dulce at tel. nos. 928-6951, 0917-8119337; email racemotorsportsclub@yahoo.com or RACE Motorsports Facebook page.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6 DIGITS 00-00-00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

ORDER On 28 February 2017, Petitioner Nikki Joy H. Acantilado (“Petitioner”), filed the instant Petition for Correction or Cancellation of Entries in the Certificate of Live Birth of Jaelle Claire Acantilado Bradley (“Petition”). Petitioner alleges that she is the biological mother of minor Jaelle Claire Acantilado Bradley (“Jaelle”) born on 28 January 2015 in Mandaluyong City. Respondent Joel Clifford Bradley (“Joel”) is the father of Jaelle and fiancé of Petitioner. The subject matter of the instant Petition are the entries in the Certificate of Live Birth of Jaelle pertaining to her last name and all of the entries pertaining to the father, which are all sought to be corrected or cancelled. Petitioner and Joel met in March 2014 and dated, during which sexual relations happened between the two. In July 2014, Petitioner learned that she was pregnant and told Joel that he is the father. Joel, who was then in the United States, provided financial support to defray expenses for the pregnancy. On 28 January 2015, Petitioner gave birth to Jaelle, but the Certificate of Live Birth was not immediately registered due to Joel’s absence in the Philippines at the time. On 17 March 2015, Petitioner and Joel applied with the Civil Registry of Mandaluyong City for the delayed registration of Jaelle’s birth. Joel acknowledged Jaelle as his daughter and affixed in the Certificate of Live Birth his name as the father. As a consequence, Jaelle used the last name of Joel. In

April 2015, Petitioner and Joel got engaged, and later, in October 2016 Joel manifested his intentions for Petitioner and Jaelle to join him in the United States. Thereafter, Petitioner and Joel applied for Consular Report of Birth Abroad and U.S. Passport for Petitioner and Jaelle. As part of the application, a consented DNA testing was conducted. However, the results of the DNA test show that Jaelle is excluded as a biological child of Joel, thus Jaelle does not have a valid claim to derivative U.S. Citizenship. Hence, the instant Petition is filed to establish that Jaelle is not the biological child of Joel and to correct or cancel the entries in the Certificate of Live Birth to reflect Jaelle’s true and correct civil status. Finding the Petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the same is hereby given due course. Let this Petition be set for hearing on 6 June 2017 at 8:30 o’ clock in the morning before this Court located at 2nd Floor, New Hall of Justice Bldg., Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City. Notice is hereby given that anyone who has any objection to the Petition should file on or the date of hearing his opposition thereto with a statement of the grounds therefor. Let this Order be posted on the Bulletin Board of the Court and published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines, both at Petitioner’s expense. Finally, furnish the Office of the Solicitor General and the respondent with a copy of this Order and the Petition at Petitioner’s expense. SO ORDERED. 7 March 2017, Mandaluyong City, Philippines (Sgd.) MONIQUE A. QUISUMBINGIGNACIO Presiding Judge Copy furnished: OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL 134 Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village Makati City OFFICE OF THE CITY PROSECUTOR Hall of Justice, Mandaluyong City THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR Mandaluyong City OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-RTC Mandaluyong City NIKKI JOY H. ACANTILADO 209 Blk. 37, Marinella Street Welfareville Compound Mandaluyong City ATTY. JEFFREY P. OMADTO Counsel for Petitioner 162 General Kalentong Street Mandaluyong City 1550 JOEL CLIFFORD BRADLEY 2609 S 304 Street Federal Way, WA 98003 United States of America

(MS-Apr. 27, May 5 & 11, 2017)

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

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

Sports

San Antonio Spurs player Kawhi Leonard (2) grabs the rebound against the Houston Rockets during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semiﬁnals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on MAY 3 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. AFP

Zubiri talks to PSC, POC By Peter Atencio SENATOR Juan Miguel Zubiri will meet with officials of the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee on Monday to discuss the country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. Zubiri has called for the meeting after he was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to be the chairman of the Philippine SEA Games hosting committee for 2019. Staff members of Mr. Zubiri said the meeting will formalize the country’s efforts to prepare early for the biennial meet. PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez said he was informed of Zubiri’s appointment, along with POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco through POC vice president Joey Romasanta. Ramirez said the POC will operate the newly-formed committee with the assistance of the government. “The role of Mr. Zubiri is to represent the government, and the government will help run the organizing committee,” said Ramirez. Details on the hosting and the financial assistance coming from the government will be discussed during the meeting. Ramirez said the organizing committee will be run by the POC and it will be a collaboration with the government. He added that the technical aspect of the Games will be left to the POC. “Malalaman natin ang setup kapag nagcall na ng meeting,” said Ramirez. So far, the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan and the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City are being considered as possible venues for the Games.

Leonard powers Spurs past Rockets L

OS ANGELES—Kawhi Leonard scored a gamehigh 34 points as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Houston Rockets 121-96 on Wednesday to level their NBA playoff series at one game each.

Leonard also delivered eight assists and seven rebounds for the Spurs, who now travel to Houston for games three and four of the best-of-seven second round Western Conference series. “We were focused,” Leonard said. “We lost by 30 points last game so we didn’t want to disappoint the fans.” San Antonio’s win could prove to be costly because of an injury to guard Tony Parker. The Frenchman had to be carried off the floor by teammates with 8:43 remaining after suffering a left leg injury. Meanwhile, LeBron James reached another milestone and the Cleveland Cavaliers nailed 18 shots from beyond the arc en route to a 125-103 rout of the Toronto Raptors in their East playoff series. San Antonio led 97-83 at the time of Parker’s injury. The incident took place when Parker missed a short layup and landed underneath the Rockets’ basket. He had scored 18 points before leaving the game. Parker clutched his left knee as he lay on the floor. He was carted off by teammates Dewayne Dedmon and Dejounte Murray and did not look up as the crowd chanted his name. “I just hope he is OK because we need him the next game,” Leonard said. Parker is expected to undergo an MRI scan on Thursday. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of Parker, “It is not good.” LaMarcus Aldridge scored 15 points for the Spurs while Jonathon Simmons added 14 points and Danny Green scored his 12 points all in the first half. AFP

Beermen face dangerous TNT By Jeric Lopez LEAGUE leader San Miguel Beer aims on holding on to the top spot as it faces a tough test in the continuing 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. The still unbeaten Beermen (5-0) are looking to inch a step closer to securing a berth in the quarterfinals but they are bound to face a stiff challenge from TNT KaTropa (5-2) in a much anticipated showdown at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight. Preceding that is an intriguing match-up between inconsistent squads Phoenix (3-5) and GlobalPort (25) at 4:15 p.m. to open the show. Still flashing its aura of invincibility, the Philippine Cup champion continues to show the league who is boss. The Beermen have not yet lost. The Beermen’s fine form was in full display when they rolled over Rain or Shine, 111-98, in their last assignment. Now, a sixth straight win is on the minds of coach Leo Austria’s wards. They should move closer to securing a spot in the top eight if they continue their winning ways against the Tropang Texters. For TNT KaTropa, this game against San Miguel is about redemption as it suffered a notable setback the last time out. The Tropang Texters saw their five-game winning streak snapped by Barangay Ginebra as they bowed to the Gin Kings, 89-107, the last time out. What’s interesting is that both teams will be missing key players that are loaned to the National team for its SEABA preparations.

Unilever set to start exports to Indonesia B2 Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Thursday, May 4, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States Dollar

1.000000

49.9330

Japan

Yen

0.008871

0.4430

Pound

1.287100

64.2688

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128505

6.4166

Switzerland

Franc

1.005530

50.2091

Canada

Dollar

0.728491

36.3757

Singapore

Dollar

0.715717

35.7379

Australia

Dollar

0.742100

37.0553

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655196

132.5819

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266681

13.3162

Brunei

Dollar

0.713165

35.6105

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.029011

1.4486

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.5961

Euro

1.088800

54.3671

Korea

Won

0.000883

0.0441

China

Yuan

0.144959

7.2382

India

Rupee

0.015588

0.7784

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.231642

11.5666

New Zealand

Dollar

0.687600

34.3339

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033291

1.6623 Source: PDS Bridge

IN BRIEF

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

Uy bags $300-m Cebu casino By Jenniffer B. Austria

DENNA Corp. of businessman Dennis Uy is building a $300-million integrated resort and casino on Punto Engaño peninsula in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. Udenna and state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. said in a statement the two parties signed on May 3 a provisional license agreement for the establishment of what could become the country’s ﬁrst integrated resort and casino outside Metro Manila. The development called Lapu-Lapu Leisure Mactan will

rise within a 12-hectare prime beachfront, six kilometers, or a 20-minute drive, from the airport. Udenna is looking to break ground for the integrated resort and casino in three months. It targets to complete the development in 2022, with the casino, retail complex and hotels scheduled to open as early as 2019.

“Lapu-Lapu Leisure Mactan only marks the beginning of our vision of a world-class leisure, residential and commercial destination in Central Visayas,” Udenna president and chief executive Dennis Uy said. “We see this integrated development taking a major role in bringing the Philippines on a par with the region’s premier destinations for leisure, gaming and meetings as well as for commercial and residential investments,” he said. Listed ﬁrm Calata Corp. and its joint venture partners SinoAmerica Gaming Investments Group Llc and Macau Resources Group Limited also reported plans to build a P65-billion gam-

ing and leisure complex in Cebu in August last year. Calata’s project to be called Mactan Leisure City is situated on a 14-hectare property located on Mactan Island, Cebu, will have three hotels, casino and entertainment complex, commercial, retail, conference facilities and yacht club. The project is slated for commercial operations by 2020. The group, however, has yet to secure a gaming license from Pagcor. Meanwhile, LapuLapu Leisure Mactan will feature iconic modern buildings surrounded by lush greens and inﬁnity

pools. It will have a skydiving center on a pier; a retail complex; a convention center; luxury hotels and villas; specialty dining options; private residences; and condominium-hotels. The development will give residents and guests access to the longest stretch of beachfront in Mactan as well as views of the Hilutungan Channel and the Magellan Bay, making it a premier business and holiday destination year round.

TransCo threatens to end NGCP deal

THE government may “rescind” National Grid Corp. of the Philippines’ concession contract after the latter set up its own communication facilities, state-run National Transmission Corp. said Thursday. TransCo president Melvin Matibag said NGCP engaged in the act of “concealment” when the company did not inform the government of the communication facilities it set up. “As far as I am concerned, there is enough to rescind [the concession agreement]. Right now we are preparing complaints,” Matibag said. NGCP said in response it was allowed to engage in related businesses such as the ﬁber optic business which maximizes the use of its existing assets as ﬁber optic assets are used by the grid primarily for its grid operations, substation to plant communication and substation to distribution center communications. NGCP said based on its franchise, it was authorized in ancillary business and any related business which maximizes utilization of its assets such as, but not limited to, telecommunications system, pursuant to Section 20 of Republic Act No. 9136. Alena Mae S. Flores

Govt eyes Davao airport expansion

THE Transportation Department said it plans to remove Davao International Airport from the list of provincial airports the government is bidding out under the public-private-partnership program. Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade told reporters the agency was studying the possibility to remove the P40.57-billion Davao International Airport from the list of the unbundled provincial airports under PPP. Tugade said the government might pursue the expansion of the Davao airport and bid out the operation and maintenance to private sector. The DOTr earlier moved the submission of qualiﬁcation documents for unbundled provincial airports to June 15 from May 1. The government is bidding out the ﬁve regional airports separately after the National Economic and Development Authority board approved on Nov. 14, 2016 the unbundling of the airport public-private partnership deals. Darwin G. Amojelar

US Fed’s decision bodes well for PH

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said Thursday the latest decision by the US Federal Reserve to keep interest rates unchanged will benefit other economies, including the Philippines. “The Fed downplayed as transitory and qualified the weakness in economic data. Medium term, this bodes well for trading partners of the US,” Tetangco said in a statement Thursday. Tetangco said the Fed in the near term was seen to remain on track for gradual tightening, adding this should be generally good for financial market volatility as markets have already priced-in the two rate hikes. “This may, however, lead to some small depreciation pressure on EME [emerging economies] currencies as the dollar strengthens. Nevertheless we will continue to be watchful of shifts in market sentiment, changes in global growth prospects [should the US weakness turn out to be non-transitory],” he said. The Fed, after a meeting from May 2 to 3, announced that interest rates were left unchanged and hinted that it was not alarmed by recent US economic weakness. Julito G. Rada

BoI approves eel farm, 2 new hotels

THE Board of Investments approved two new hotel projects under the tourism and export activity components of the Investments Priorities Plan. Approved were the P62.4-million Casa Coco Hotel project of Altipeak Land Development Inc. and the P29.1-million Eco Container Hotel of Ecohotels Inc. The Tourism Department endorsed the accommodation projects for approval after they met the minimum requirements of a three-star hotel. The 30-room Casa Coco Hotel is located in San Juan, Siquijor while the 33-room Eco Container Hotel is in Tagaytay City. The BoI also approved an P18-million eel farming project of Oceans Ace Philippines Export Import Corp. The farm in Hindang, Leyte will have a capacity to culture up to 2,187,911 pieces annually and export them to Japan and Korea. Commercial operation is expected to start in May 2017 with 25 workers manning the facility. Othel V. Campos

Light Rail Transit Line 1 operator Light Rail Manila Corp. breaks ground for the pre-construction work on the LRT-1 Cavite Extension to connect the existing line with 20 passenger stations to an 11.7-kilometer alignment with eight passenger stations to be located in Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Cavite. Shown during the groundbreaking ceremony are (from left) Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez, Cavite 2nd District Rep. Strike Revilla, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, LRMC vice chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Metro Paciﬁc Investments Corp. president Joey Lim, Cavite Governor Boying Remulla, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Bacoor City Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla and LRMC president and chief executive Rogelio Singson.

LRT Cavite starts construction By Darwin G. Amojelar LIGHT Rail Manila Corp., a consortium led by Ayala Corp. and Metro Paciﬁc Investments Corp., on Thursday broke ground on the P35-billion Light Rail Transit Line 1 Cavite extension project, six years after the project was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority. LRMC president and chief executive Rogelio Singson said the company expected to complete the project by the middle of 2020, ahead of the 2021 target completion date. The construction of the LRT Cavite extension project was delayed because of the right-ofway issues.

LRMC won the bidding for the 11.7-kilometer project and took over the operation of LRT Line 1 on Sept. 12, 2015. “We hope to be able to have revenue line operations by ﬁrst quarter of 2021,” Singson said. Singson said the Cavite Extension would serve an additional 300,000 commuters and would signiﬁcantly reduce travel time from Bacoor, Cavite to Manila from about two hours to 40 minutes. The 11.7-kilometer Cavite extension will connect into the existing system immediately south of the Baclaran station and run in a generally southerly direction to Niyog, Cavite. It will consist of elevated guideways throughout most of the alignment, except for the

guideway section at Zapote which will be located at grade. It will consist of the satellite depot and new station. The new stations will be named Aseana, MIA, Asia World, Ninoy Aquino and Dr. Santos Stations in Paranque City, Las Pinas and Zapote Stations in Las Pinas City and Niog Station in Bacoor, Cavite. LRMC is also undergoing a rail replacement project for the train line’s 33-year-old tracks. The company’s most recent undertaking is the launch of the new LRT-1 Doroteo Jose station, which is the pilot station under LRMC’s station improvement project. The project involves structural upgrades and few facilities for the 20 existing LRT-1 stations.

NCR posted 7.5% growth in 2016 By Julito G. Rada THE economy of the National Capital Region, or Metro Manila, grew 7.5 percent year-onyear in 2016, faster than the 6.7-percent expansion recorded in 2015, driven by the services sector, the Philippine Statistics Authority said in a news brieﬁng Thursday. PSA NCR regional director Rosalinda Bautista said Metro Manila’s growth was the seventh fastest in 2016, behind the 12.4-percent growth of Eastern Visayas and 9.5-percent expansion of Central Luzon. NCR’s gross regional domestic product was valued at P3 trillion in 2016, up from P2.8 trillion in 2015. Bautista said the services sector in NCR expanded 8 percent last year, up from the previous year’s 6.6 percent. She said this made the services sector the

biggest contributor to the NCR economy at 81.4 percent. NCR’s contribution to the national GDP reached 36.6 percent in 2016, slightly higher than 36.5 percent in 2015. The country’s GDP last year grew 6.9 percent, higher than 5.9 percent a year ago. Bautista said the expansion in the services sector was brought about by the growth in real estate, renting and business activities; public administration and defense; compulsory social security; trade and repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles; personal and household goods and financial intermediation. Real estate, renting and business activities grew 11.2 percent while trade and ﬁnancial intermediation accelerated 7.8 percent and 7.6 percent, respectively. Transportation, storage and communication went up 5.9

percent. The industry sector grew 5.5 percent in 2016, slower than 6.9 percent in 2015. “The deceleration was attributed to the slowdown in construction and manufacturing. Manufacturing posted a 6.5-percent growth, lower than the previous year’s 7 percent,” Bautista said. Construction suffered a contraction of 2-percent, compared to 7.2-percent growth in 2015. Meanwhile, the agriculture and ﬁshery sector posted a 1.4-percent decline in 2016, a turnaround from the 4.1 percent a year ago. “This was brought about by the further decline of ﬁshing from negative 2 percent in 2015 to negative 3.8 percent in 2016. Agriculture and forestry also declined with negative 1.3 percent in 2016, lower than the reported growth of 4.1 percent in 2015,” Bautista said.

Manila

Standard Form 2B (Revised June 2014)

TODAY 16th to 19th Floors, Fort Legend Towers 31st Street corner 3rd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City 1634 Statement of Condition (Head Office and Branches) As of March 31, 2017 AMOUNTS

ASSETS

CURRENT QUARTER

Cash and Cash Items PhP Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Due from Other Banks Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Available-for-Sale Financial Assets-Net Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets-Net Unquoted Debt Securities Classified as Loans-Net Investments in Non-Marketable Equity Security-Net Loans and Receivables - Net Interbank Loans Receivable Loans and Receivables - Others Loans and Receivables Arising from RA/CA/PR/SLB General Loan Loss Provision Other Financial Assets Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixture and Equipment-Net Real and Other Properties Acquired-Net Other Assets-Net

353,951,486.91 5,071,753,345.02 577,773,875.12 897,977,051.26 1,150,673,845.01 834,590,617.11 25,345,228.75 12,440,816.63 25,515,488,585.09 767,643,924.96 24,157,621,536.58 900,000,000.00 309,776,876.45 104,758,648.98 215,953,039.25 93,192,492.61 940,874,549.44

PREVIOUS QUARTER 428,066,148.87 6,078,965,188.87 2,129,327,639.14 567,093,084.55 950,519,886.54 530,419,396.35 42,139,297.74 12,440,816.63 23,987,528,653.94 480,828,198.40 22,117,638,119.07 1,676,463,551.00 287,401,214.53 118,381,243.19 210,321,395.63 93,728,682.94 734,202,318.85

TOTAL ASSETS

PhP

35,794,773,581.18

35,883,133,753.24

Financial Liabilities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Deposit Liabilities Bills Payable a) Interbank Loans Payable Due to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Other Financial Liabilities Other Liabilities

PhP

32,405,594.63 25,655,729,958.83 852,720,000.00 852,720,000.00 2,456,318.29 113,639,659.60 2,194,212,699.51

32,592,766.64 26,967,086,351.18 0.00 0.00 0.00 126,941,148.61 1,851,724,847.14

TOTAL LIABILITIES

PhP

28,851,164,230.86

28,978,345,113.57

PhP

2,533,200,985.17 43,344,134.13 4,367,064,231.02

2,533,200,985.17 79,175,327.83 4,292,412,326.67

LIABILITIES

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY Capital Stock Other Capital Accounts Retained Earnings TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

PhP

6,943,609,350.32

6,904,788,639.67

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

PhP

35,794,773,581.18

35,883,133,753.24

Financial Standby Letters of Credit Performance Standby Letters of Credit Commercial Letters of Credit Trade Related Guarantees Commitments Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts Trust Department Accounts a) Trust and Other Fiduciary Accounts b) Agency Accounts b) Advisory/Consultancy Derivatives Others

PhP

1,491,499,230.48 799,842,419.21 442,864,899.47 43,647,044.02 1,461,805,714.14 308,281,863.83 1,611,285,790.61 734,546,808.96 876,738,981.65 0.00 14,848,693,861.17 1,188,895,536.84

2,099,944,412.67 780,604,971.79 656,635,886.74 174,701,976.92 1,448,982,857.00 575,705,483.70 1,617,017,370.37 750,350,234.07 866,667,136.30 0.00 9,405,442,446.00 1,513,179,350.42

TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

PhP

22,196,816,359.77

18,272,214,755.61

PhP PhP

26,184,578,428.10 359,312,966.56

24,733,046,555.45 458,116,686.98

PhP

357,499,065.12 1.37% -1,813,901.44 -0.01%

460,786,467.63 1.86% 2,669,780.65 0.01%

PhP

534,693,605.84

604,025,971.98

PhP

36,793,351.41

44,089,900.10

PhP

0.14% 0.00

0.18% 354,832.98

0.00%

3.47% 3.56% 3.85%

2.98% 4.60% 1.17%

21.65% 20.78% 20.78%

22.55% 21.68% 21.68%

CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Gross Total Loan Portfolio (TLP) Specific Allowance for credit losses on the TLP Non-performing Loans (NPLs) a. Gross NPLs b. Ratio of gross NPLs to gross TLP (%) c. Net NPLs d. Ratio of Net NPLs to gross TLP (%) Classified Loans & Other Risk Assets, gross of allowance for credit losses DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses Ratio of DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses, to TLP (%) Gross Non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables Ratio of gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivable to TLP (%) Percent Compliance with Magna Carta (%) a. 8% for Micro and Small Enterprises b. 2% for Medium Enterprises Return on Equity (ROE) (%) Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Solo Basis a. Total CAR (%) b. TIER 1 Ratio (%) c. CET 1 (%)

PhP

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) TAGUIG CITY ) S.S. I/We, ANDRE P. PAYAWAL and ISMAEL R. SANDIG of the abovementioned Bank, do solemnly swear that all matters set forth in the above statement of condition are true and correct to the best of my/our knowledge and belief. (Sgd.) ANDRE P. PAYAWAL (Sgd.) ISMAEL R. SANDIG, SEVP Chief Finance Officer, SVP Officer-In-Charge (Signature Over Printed Name) (Signature Over Printed Name) SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this April 26, 2017 affiants exhibiting to me his/their TIN 150-031-779-000 and 102-213-187-000. Doc. No. 512; (Sgd.) ATTY. MARY ANGELINE S. TOL Book No. VI; NOTARY PUBLIC FOR TAGUIG CITY Page No. 104; UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2017 Series of 2017 APPT NO.5 (2016 - 2017) / ROLL NO 51630 PTR NO. A-3253382 /01-03-17 / TAGUIG CITY IBP NO. 1019561 / 01-15-16 / CAVITE MCLE COMPLIANCE NO. V-0007014 / 03-23-15 16/F, Fort Legend Tower, 31st St. corner 3rd Avenue Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

Business

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market rebounds; URC rises

TOCKS rebounded Thursday, after the US Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged but opened the door for another hike next month.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, rose 73 points, or 1 percent, to close at 7,755.75, as ﬁve of the six major sectors advanced. Only mining and oil declined, a day after the sub-sector surged on news that Congress rejected the designation of antimining Environment Secretary Regina Lopez. The heavier index, representing all shares, also went up 32 points, or 0.7 percent, to settle at 4,636.10, on a value turnover of P7.5 billion. Gainers outnumbered losers, 116 to 80, while 47 issues were unchanged.

Eighteen of the 20 most active issues ended in the green, led by Apex Mining Company Inc. which climbed 6.4 percent to P2 and casino operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp. which rose 3.7 percent to P9.65. Food manufacturer Universal Robina Corp. gained 2.4 percent to P178.30. Meanwhile, Asia markets closed mixed Thursday, with Australian and Chinese stocks declining on lower metal prices and Korean shares posted record high, building on gains as foreign investors snapped up shares. After a closely watched meet-

ing, the US central bank gave a broadly positive view of the world’s top economy and said a recent spout of soft data, including below-par first-quarter growth, were “likely to be transitory” and that activity would pick-up over the year. The Fed’s statement fanned expectations it will announce another rate lift next month—the second since December—as long as data points in the right direction. Focus now turns to the release Friday of the government’s jobs creation data for April and statements from Fed boss Janet Yellen as well as other top bank officials, which could provide some forward guidance to markets. “The Fed has doubled down on its confidence that the US economy is still on track for more rate rises and growth will bounce

back from the ﬁrst quarter’s moribund pace,” Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader, said in a note. The dollar headed towards the 113 yen mark Thursday, building on a recent rally, while it held up against the euro and pound. It also advanced against most highyielding currencies including the Australian dollar, Indonesia’s rupiah and the Thai baht. The pound saw a brief dip in Asian trade as rumors circulated-but have since been reported as untrue—that Queen Elizabeth II’s husband Prince Philip had died, which fueled worries of fresh political instability in Britain. “The Federal Reserve remains on track to deliver two more interest rate hikes this year as it focuses on the steady decline in the unemployment rate, rather

than ﬂuctuations in [economic] growth,” said Richard Jerram, chief economist at Bank of Singapore. Despite the positive spin from the Fed, Asian equities mostly struggled Thursday in a week that has seen several markets closed for various public holidays. Hong Kong slipped 0.3 percent in the afternoon, Shanghai ended down 0.3 percent and Singapore shed 0.4 percent. Wellington and Taipei were down 0.4 percent each. Sydney sank 0.3 percent on a drop in iron and copper prices. BHP Billiton ended ﬂat, reversing early losses that came after Australia blocked a plan by one of the mining giant’s top shareholders to move its primary listing to London. With AFP, Bloomberg

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, MAY 4, 2017

NAME

OPEN

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.12 72,000 49.15 29,000 104.8 1,703,010 4.03 14,000 121.1 2,761,320 1.37 267,000 35.4 917,200 16.04 40,100 22.55 1,263,100 7.73 600 0.7 112,000 1.7 8,000 0.69 29,642,000 86.5 904,770 0.71 76,000 16 106,700 63.9 272,610 243.4 2,600 110 1,720 87.5 110 58.7 826,630 215 204,450 1,720 95 81.5 95,590

222,480 1,418,095 178,488,442 56,450 334,558,248 357,650 32,416,975 645,788 28,552,460 4,638 78,030 13,600 20,776,780 77,619,990.50 53,960 1,707,294 17,218,545 631,148 189,450 9,625 48,480,793 43,969,766 163,550 7,783,985.50

1,213,605 -47,978,981 64,019,098 -2,800 1,034,015 -488,066 -14,805,710 126,500 21,436,327 9,174,997.50 325,454 -2,653,170 -9,461,148 86,000 1,624,250.50

41.8 6.05 0.8 1.37 18.72 0.275 107.5 7 16.7 166 23.2 14.06 71 84.35 1.89 5.7 11.84 12.78 10 6.36 5.89 21.15 72.2 12.4 15.3 7.9 1.56 212.6 71 4.81 3.8 28 31.6 23.2 18.96 276 0.242 6.3 3.69 9.09 11.38 2.16 9.2 2.01 71.8 5.4 295.2 4.84 2 2.86 13.64 4.5 0.152 1.37 174.2 1.53 34 1

INDUSTRIAL 41.95 1,113,800 6.07 1,636,900 0.81 261,000 1.4 3,610,000 18.72 9,800 0.275 19,030,000 107.5 50 7 9,537,800 16.94 842,000 166 10 23.3 208,600 14.2 1,700 75.5 5,600 85 780 1.9 771,000 5.7 257,300 11.84 18,400 12.84 2,170,100 10 1,353,600 6.4 2,013,600 5.9 12,154,900 21.25 1,499,100 72.25 197,520 12.4 4,800 15.8 13,600 8.1 8,286,500 1.6 448,000 213.4 1,062,110 72 290 4.84 606,000 3.8 33,000 28 500 32.05 255,700 23.25 76,200 19.26 1,998,600 276 421,040 0.243 6,200,000 6.3 129,900 3.7 617,000 9.19 4,171,200 11.4 60,400 2.16 2,135,000 9.78 3,274,200 2.1 2,188,000 72.1 1,582,220 5.68 133,700 300 4,600 4.85 58,000 2 29,000 2.97 228,000 13.76 173,000 4.5 103,000 0.155 5,920,000 1.38 92,000 178.3 2,318,990 1.57 6,331,000 39.4 16,000 1.02 101,000

46,723,650 9,961,158 212,100 5,041,650 195,574 5,377,450 5,395 67,680,315 14,105,424 1,660 4,852,185 24,100 418,158.50 65,890 1,464,790 1,466,930 218,218 27,798,516 13,645,546 12,879,551 71,989,639(25 31,877,225 14,273,059.50 59,548 209,500 66,470,355 713,980 226,567,612 21,162 2,936,480 125,970 14,000 8,198,165 1,788,575 38,339,404 117,055,472 1,512,460 824,824 2,281,220 38,146,831 688,412 4,614,730 31,008,608 4,541,210 113,996,797 757,035 1,379,552 281,160 58,000 665,660 2,378,252 463,500 912,120 126,740 409,697,626 9,878,370 599,850 101,020

-2,246,050 51,188 -1,346,190 14,250.00 -56,023,542 830,590 2,999,235 338,871.50 23,700 7,463,460 20,160 4,513,375 ,649,772.9997) -1,962,125 6,007,486 -1,248 -49,360 -6,786,857 0 92,593,400 15,480 4,322,210 -1,155,745 19,603,590 -34,910,448 1,541,560 -3,456,072 -258,780 688,900 1,748,519 601,340.00 1,827,802.50 439,305 -39,000 203,670 -56,000 2,970 1,434,494 -72,380 124,949,117 -71,250 118,860 -

0.375 77 14.4 1.15 6.13 0.435 0.43 885.5 8.34 13.34 8 0.214 1,235 6.45 85.5 5.1 1.09 7.44 16.36 6.65 0.057 1.02 1.9 108.7 2.79 759.5 1.38 300 0.285 0.214 0.26

0.365 75.85 14.04 1.15 6.12 0.42 0.42 866 8.23 12.96 7.86 0.209 1,215 6.45 83.3 5.1 1.03 7.3 16.04 6.59 0.055 1.01 1.89 105 2.7 744.5 1.38 298 0.285 0.204 0.25

HOLDING FIRMS 0.365 1,210,000 76.75 1,504,540 14.26 9,511,500 1.15 150,000 6.12 7,300 0.425 4,060,000 0.425 240,000 881 204,080 8.3 779,600 13.1 13,012,800 7.9 29,300 0.211 1,500,000 1,225 149,075 6.45 77,500 85 4,157,910 5.1 1,000 1.08 6,263,000 7.35 1,959,000 16.3 1,307,000 6.6 24,088,100 0.056 42,580,000 1.01 80,000 1.9 94,000 105 384,980 2.79 20,000 755 404,490 1.38 266,000 300 4,780 0.285 200,000 0.204 1,600,000 0.26 560,000

442,750 115,217,833.50 135,517,326 172,500 44,706 1,732,350 101,950 179,742,785 6,475,952 171,045,998 231,466 317,920 182,646,200 499,875 351,915,916.50 5,100 6,696,110 14,445,485 21,311,642 11 159,243,667 2,385,180 81,100 178,220 41,052,521 55,380 305,735,240 367,080 1,431,778 57,000 335,600 143,400

-1,607,304.50 -87,955,326 48,008,580 1,429,350 110,709,504 32,060 -110,080,300 -73,889,007 16,700 -4,449,602 ,790,105.9996 -46,380,901 1,120 20,200 -13,989,588 117,303,920 144,438 -26,000

6.84 1.17 2.31 1.36 36.1 4.27 5.31 0.51 1.03 1.4 0.164 0.56 51.9 0.7 0.182 1.78 0.98 1.05 4.19 0.44 0.37 0.65

6.8 1.08 2.25 1.31 35.5 4.18 5.29 0.495 1.02 1.36 0.156 0.53 51.1 0.69 0.175 1.75 0.96 1.02 4.1 0.4 0.345 0.59

1,524,117 14,082,860 395,700 20,725,980 662,507,845 20,973,220 1,007,302 2,913,820 20,500 327,260 3,394,810 4,920,440 12,152,285 338,200 234,590 30,940,310 5,246,590 1,053,820 139,898,480 168,448,350 1,075,450 63,843,670

-745,990 -81,940 548,360 -211,320,335 1,653,910 -643,262 -333,670 -10,200 1,135,000 6,195,335.50 -10,412,310 29,400 103,000 14,411,040 -1,993,000 134,410

HIGH

LOW

AG FINANCE 3.2 ASIA UNITED 48.5 BANK PH ISLANDS 104 BDO LEASING 4.03 BDO UNIBANK 121 BRIGHT KINDLE 1.41 CHINABANK 35.3 COL FINANCIAL 16.46 EAST WEST BANK 22.9 FILIPINO FUND 7.73 FIRST ABACUS 0.69 IREMIT 1.7 MEDCO HLDG 0.67 METROBANK 85 NTL REINSURANCE 0.71 PB BANK 16 PHIL NATL BANK 63.5 PHIL STOCK EXCH 240 PHILTRUST 110 PSBANK 87.5 RCBC 55.9 SECURITY BANK 216.4 SUN LIFE 1,720 UNION BANK 80.5

3.2 49.15 105.2 4.04 121.8 1.41 35.4 16.5 22.9 7.73 0.7 1.7 0.73 86.5 0.71 16.18 63.9 243.6 113 87.5 59.9 216.4 1,750 81.95

3.02 48.05 104 4.03 120.8 1.29 35.2 16.04 22.4 7.73 0.69 1.7 0.66 84.25 0.71 16 62.5 240 110 87.5 55.9 214.4 1,720 80.5

ABOITIZ POWER 42 AGRINURTURE 6.08 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.83 ALSONS CONS 1.39 ASIABEST GROUP 19 BASIC ENERGY 0.29 BOGO MEDELLIN 108 CEMEX HLDG 7.16 CENTURY FOOD 16.86 CHEMPHIL 166 CIRTEK HLDG 23.25 CNTRL AZUCARERA14.06 CONCEPCION 71 CONCRETE A 84.35 CROWN ASIA 1.93 DAVINCI CAPITAL 5.8 DEL MONTE 11.9 DNL INDUS 12.82 EEI CORP 10.1 EMPERADOR 6.4 ENERGY DEVT 6.06 FIRST GEN 21.2 FIRST PHIL HLDG 72.25 GINEBRA 12.5 HOLCIM 15.4 INTEGRATED MICR 7.96 IONICS 1.58 JOLLIBEE 213.8 LIBERTY FLOUR 76.95 LMG CHEMICALS 4.85 MABUHAY VINYL 3.82 MACAY HLDG 28 MANILA WATER 32.05 MAXS GROUP 23.45 MEGAWIDE 19.04 MERALCO 279.2 MG HLDG 0.245 PANASONIC 6.36 PEPSI COLA 3.7 PETRON 9.14 PHINMA 11.38 PHINMA ENERGY 2.16 PHX PETROLEUM 9.28 PHX SEMICNDCTR 2.06 PILIPINAS SHELL 71.85 PRYCE CORP 5.72 PUREFOODS 295.2 RFM CORP 4.84 ROXAS AND CO 2 ROXAS HLDG 2.88 SHAKEYS PIZZA 13.78 SPC POWER 4.5 SWIFT FOODS 0.154 TKC METALS 1.4 UNIV ROBINA 174.2 VITARICH 1.6 VIVANT 41 VULCAN INDL 1

42.3 6.12 0.83 1.43 20 0.29 108 7.24 16.94 166 23.3 14.2 75.5 85 1.93 5.8 11.9 12.84 10.14 6.43 6.06 21.4 72.35 12.5 15.8 8.1 1.6 213.8 76.95 4.96 3.87 28 32.1 23.8 19.4 280 0.248 6.4 3.7 9.2 11.4 2.18 9.84 2.11 72.2 5.72 300 4.85 2 2.97 13.9 4.5 0.156 1.4 179 1.6 41 1.02

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT KEPPEL HLDG A LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP 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 76.6 14.12 1.15 6.13 0.43 0.43 869 8.28 12.96 8 0.209 1,215 6.45 83.4 5.1 1.03 7.43 16.34 6.6 0.056 1.02 1.89 108 2.7 745.5 1.38 298.8 0.285 0.207 0.255

8990 HLDG A BROWN 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

6.8 1.11 2.25 1.35 36 4.22 5.29 0.51 1.03 1.38 0.159 0.53 51.5 0.7 0.175 1.78 0.97 1.05 4.14 0.435 0.35 0.61

VOLUME

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

4.37 26 1.75 3.34 30.65 0.98 0.88 5.27

4.42 26.35 1.78 3.34 31.4 1 0.89 5.27

4.37 25.85 1.75 3.3 30.6 0.97 0.88 5.2

4.39 25.95 1.77 3.3 31.2 0.99 0.89 5.25

190,000 1,279,600 438,000 4,000 10,275,900 4,842,000 102,000 2,101,500

832,920 33,252,800 775,830 13,240 320,290,315 4,754,920 89,910 10,995,139

-2,374,245 43,102,780 -2,466,011

2GO GROUP 15 ABS CBN 44.5 ACESITE HOTEL 1.53 APC GROUP 0.52 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.049 BERJAYA 5.3 BLOOMBERRY 9.35 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.091 CALATA CORP 1.94 CEBU AIR 107.4 CENTRO ESCOLAR 10.3 DFNN INC 8.54 EASYCALL 3.53 GLOBE TELECOM 2,000 GMA NETWORK 6.2 GOLDEN HAVEN 16.02 HARBOR STAR 3.23 IMPERIAL 3.8 INTL CONTAINER 88 IPEOPLE 12.48 IPM HLDG 9 ISLAND INFO 0.182 ISM COMM 1.42 JACKSTONES 3.79 LBC EXPRESS 15.2 LEISURE AND RES 4.21 LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.98 MACROASIA 4.5 MANILA JOCKEY 2.47 MELCO CROWN 7.44 METRO RETAIL 3.6 NOW CORP 2.71 PACIFIC ONLINE 11.8 PAL HLDG 5.36 PHIL SEVEN CORP 168 PHILWEB 7.75 PLDT 1,735 PREMIUM LEISURE 1.5 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.415 PUREGOLD 43 ROBINSONS RTL 79 SBS PHIL CORP 6 SSI GROUP 2.27 STI HLDG 1.03 TRAVELLERS 3.26 WATERFRONT 0.54 WILCON DEPOT 5.29

16.48 44.8 1.65 0.54 0.049 5.35 9.65 0.093 1.94 107.4 10.5 8.8 3.53 2,082 6.22 16.5 3.23 3.87 89.5 12.7 9.01 0.189 1.52 3.8 15.82 4.35 0.98 4.65 2.6 8 3.64 2.77 11.86 5.48 168 7.85 1,746 1.56 0.415 43.4 79.8 6 2.27 1.06 3.3 0.62 5.38

14.86 44.5 1.48 0.52 0.046 5.3 9.31 0.088 1.9 106 10.3 8.54 3.53 1,998 6.2 16.02 3.15 3.64 87.9 12 8.99 0.181 1.42 3.5 15.2 4.21 0.98 4.45 2.45 7.44 3.59 2.7 11.8 5.36 168 7.69 1,728 1.5 0.41 42.7 79 5.9 2.23 1.03 3.25 0.53 5.27

SERVICES 16.46 1,859,200 44.5 20,800 1.62 211,000 0.54 1,177,000 0.047 117,100,000 5.35 8,400 9.65 14,988,600 0.092 153,270,000 1.93 2,376,000 106.5 147,840 10.5 16,100 8.8 111,700 3.53 6,000 2,076 54,545 6.22 832,400 16.5 41,300 3.16 4,176,000 3.65 98,000 88.95 3,431,840 12.7 118,600 9 316,000 0.189 17,800,000 1.51 2,545,000 3.73 610,000 15.6 34,000 4.34 1,318,000 0.98 8,000 4.53 792,000 2.5 774,000 8 13,683,700 3.64 963,000 2.72 2,671,000 11.84 11,900 5.48 5,700 168 380 7.75 184,400 1,739 75,950 1.55 7,706,000 0.41 1,690,000 43.4 1,394,700 79.5 469,080 5.92 28,100 2.25 881,000 1.05 1,531,000 3.3 1,438,000 0.57 27,046,000 5.36 14,266,600

29,516,062 926,580 337,260 623,690 5,563,700 44,535 142,854,063 13,839,100 4,566,720 15,764,000 167,304 977,702 21,180 111,884,100 5,161,767 680,936 13,229,950 362,850 305,121,514 1,457,660 2,841,510 3,291,190 3,793,280 2,206,130 533,624 5,683,120 7,840 3,583,640 1,950,900 107,991,491 3,478,250 7,258,640 140,940 30,807 63,840 1,424,774 132,002,840 11,847,420 693,300 60,175,865 37,184,750 166,553 1,977,060 1,601,870 4,725,390 15,573,470 76,182,415

2,816,574 -44,240 -265,000 77,616,276 983,840 119,470 -1,504,861 166,274 6,044,985 15,800 -827,516 799,400 -94,500 -1,510 -494,170 9,200 25,055,649 -1,281,870 -256,870 -62,160 -165,408 2,686,850 33,870 168,200 5,608,005 -1,943,748.50 -456,670 639,230 1,390,230 -401,000 12,948,051

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

0.0034 1.96 5.53 2.14 2 0.92 0.45 9.07 2.83 0.255 0.209 0.213 0.012 0.012 2.1 6.73 2.31 0.485 1.05 0.012 0.012 4.04 0.013 9.26 3.14 155 2.7 0.009

0.0036 2.26 5.53 2.61 2.61 0.93 0.455 9.2 2.87 0.275 0.216 0.22 0.012 0.013 2.16 6.88 2.49 0.5 1.07 0.012 0.012 4.04 0.013 9.38 3.28 157.5 2.73 0.009

0.0033 1.93 5.31 2.14 2 0.87 0.435 8.75 2.63 0.255 0.196 0.201 0.011 0.012 2 6.55 2.3 0.485 0.94 0.011 0.012 4.01 0.012 9.26 3.12 154.9 2.66 0.0089

MINING & OIL 0.0034 3,097,000,000 2 110,885,000 5.31 381,300 2.48 1,064,000 2.31 712,000 0.91 5,264,000 0.435 2,130,000 9 65,200 2.66 17,943,000 0.27 3,730,000 0.199 31,030,000 0.201 9,260,000 0.012 6,100,000 0.012 20,900,000 2.01 2,396,000 6.66 8,353,600 2.35 838,000 0.485 210,000 0.95 2,659,000 0.012 10,600,000 0.012 1,000,000 4.03 41,000 0.013 75,200,000 9.3 1,997,400 3.23 1,755,000 155 1,457,670 2.73 33,000 0.0089 7,000,000

10,721,700 230,717,720 2,077,416 2,558,750 1,718,790 4,706,330 940,400 592,527 48,738,570 984,050 6,349,550 1,921,930 71,100 251,000 4,946,790 55,895,050 1,962,810 103,900 2,698,210 126,700 12,000 165,500 906,600 18,589,406 5,619,030 227,161,672 89,160 62,900

73,400 -12,410,080 -15,735 335,870.00 -908,990 -30,450 -29,128 -13,858,540 -3,100 8,160.00 -85,200 -900,630.00 -23,648,504 -71,130 -247,700 -898,119 -557,320 48,859,410 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 DD PREF GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B PCOR PREF 2A PCOR PREF 2B PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A SFI PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

44.5 520 105.4 525 5.9 1,024 1,022 1,065 1,115 1,019 105.5 2.34 76.1 80.6 76.15 79.05 79.45 78.75 78.3

46.2 520 105.5 525 5.9 1,024 1,034 1,065 1,115 1,019 105.5 2.34 76.1 80.6 76.15 80.4 79.5 78.75 78.3

44.3 520 105.4 525 5.8 1,022 1,022 1,065 1,115 1,018 105 2.11 76.1 80.6 76.1 79.05 79.45 78.4 78.3

PREFERRED 45.8 16,900 520 510 105.5 45,200 525 530 5.89 55,300 1,022 1,630 1,025 2,110 1,065 275 1,115 900 1,019 1,795 105 3,500 2.12 12,000 76.1 150 80.6 12,600 76.1 2,700 80.4 11,510 79.5 12,500 78.75 95,620 78.3 19,000

759,665 265,200 4,768,300 278,250 321,361 1,665,960 2,158,520 292,875 1,003,500 1,827,675 368,000 26,760 11,415 1,015,560 205,510 915,754 993,700 7,506,255 1,487,700

-241,395 -437,740 -

LR WARRANT

2.3

2.32

2.24

WARRANTS 2.32 188,000

430,590

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

4.32 2.93 6.51 8.62

4.32 2.93 6.7 8.8

4.01 2.93 6.39 8.4

SME 4.16 2.93 6.5 8.5

2,974,710 26,370 2,410,653 36,389,722

-535,250 711,996 -5,780,012

128.5

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 126.9 128.5 11,870

1,513,871

-29,486

NAME

OPEN

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

PROPERTY 6.83 223,900 1.17 12,296,000 2.29 175,000 1.32 15,640,000 35.9 18,460,300 4.27 4,931,000 5.29 190,000 0.51 5,820,000 1.02 20,000 1.37 239,000 0.163 21,140,000 0.54 9,134,000 51.75 235,600 0.69 487,000 0.177 1,330,000 1.75 17,627,000 0.98 5,375,000 1.04 1,026,000 4.15 33,648,000 0.43 400,450,000 0.365 2,980,000 0.64 105,651,000

FIRST METRO ETF 127

TRADING SUMMARY

FINANCIAL

39,321,136

INDUSTRIAL

105,796,446

HOLDING FIRMS

116,668,476

PROPERTY

678,812,914

SERVICES

404,705,793

MINING & OIL

3,421,289,902

GRAND TOTAL

4,771,982,717

718,000 9,000 370,900 4,277,100

VALUE 1,907.16 (up) 14.10 795,443,790.39 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,421.36 (up) 48.04 1,421,255,457.841 HOLDING FIRMS 7,892.87 (up) 75.52 1,781,097,925.07 PROPERTY 3,414.21 (up) 41.06 1,620.04 (up) 23.30 1,611,378,827.65 SERVICES MINING & OIL 12,739.38 (down) 33.44 1,239,751,967.59 PSEI 7,755.75 (up) 73.49 630,759,223.438 All Shares Index 4,636.10 (up) 32.98 7,523,007,196.58 Gainers: 116; Losers: 80; Unchanged: 47; Total: 243

Weaker peso cut AEV’s Q1 income

By Alena Mae S. Flores CONGLOMERATE Aboitiz Equity Ventures said it posted a net income of P4.7 billion in the first quarter, down by 7 percent from the same period last year because of foreign exchange losses. AEV said in a disclosure to the stock exchange higher contributions from associates brought core net income to P5.1 billion in the quarter, up from P4.9 billion a year ago. AEV said it recognized non-recurring losses of P442 million, compared to last year’s gain of P186 million from forex movement, upon the revaluation of dollardenominated liabilities and mark-to-market losses on derivatives. Consolidated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization climbed 14 percent to P12.7 billion in January to March. Aboitiz Power Corp., the conglomerate’s power unit, saw its net income fall 13 percent in the first quarter to P4.4 billion. Core income, however, rose 4 percent to P5 billion. AboitizPower’s attributable net energy sales were flat in the first quarter at 3,448 gigawatt-hours as the contribution of GNPower Mariveles Coal Plant Ltd. Co. and the increase in hydro plants’ output were offset by the outages of Therma South, the lower dispatch of oil units and lower steam supply affecting the Tiwi plant output.

Unilever set to start exports to Indonesia By Othel V. Campos UNILEVER Philippines will start exporting Halal-certified products to Indonesia from its Cavite facility, as the British consumer conglomerate expands its regional footprint to serve the growing demand from Muslim communities. Benjie Yap, the newlyappointed chairman of Unilever Philippines, said Unilever Cavite Foods Factory was certified a Halal processing facility. “We make sure we cater to different consumer choices. There’s a big market for Halal products globally. We want to start in Indonesia which is a basically a Muslim country and expand to Southeast Asia,” he said in news a briefing at the company’s new headquarters in Bonifacio Global City. The Halal plant is a part of the P1.7-billion food processing facility in General Trias, Cavite where Knorr products and dressings are manufactured. The plant is being viewed as the new Halal hub for Southeast Asia and Australia. Yap said the Philippines had yet to realize the potential of the Halal market, which could be a driver for sustained socio-economic growth. The facility uses renewable energy resources for its power requirement. Unilever also announced several initiatives such as the sourcing of coco sugar bloc from small stakeholders, piloting the project from General Santos City this year with expansion plan to cover sourcing from Quezon and Zamboanga provinces. The project, in cooperation with Grow Asia, an NGO linking businesses to small farmers, has the potential to benefit 2,000 farmers, at the onset.

Motoring

US auto makers in losing streak C

ar sales in the US slowed signiﬁcantly in April, compounding several months of declines and suggesting the industry’s record sales streak may be behind it The big three American automakers on Tuesday all reported that sales fell in April compared to the same period last year. Industry wide, automakers sold 8.3 percent fewer cars last month compared to March, and 4.7 percent fewer than in April 2016, according to Autodata. Many analysts had expected the retreat, forecasting an industry-wide decline, but the drop was steeper than forecast. It was the fourth straight month of falling sales for the industry, which Automotive News characterized as “the longest losing streak since the market bottomed out in 2009.” The seasonally-adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of sales fell to 16.88 million units, from 17.4 million

last April when car sales were headed for another record year, according to Autodata. ‘Starting to see the slowdown’ GM, the biggest US automaker, saw its sales drop 5.8 percent from April 2016, while Ford sales fell 7.2 percent, and FCA US, the North American arm of Fiat Chrysler, dropped seven percent. Toyota, one of the world’s biggest car makers, saw a decline of 4.4 percent in the US market yearover-year, while Nissan was down 1.5 percent. Together these automakers accounted for about two-thirds of all cars sold in the United States, according to Barclays Research. Sales to consumers at car lots -rather than corporate, government

and rental fleet sales -- accounted for a big part of the downward slide at most companies. Even Americans’ love affair with sport utility vehicles and light trucks could not compensate for the decline. In the first three months of the year, SUV sales accounted for 40 percent of all vehicles sold in the US for the first time ever, said industry analyst Jessica Caldwell of Edmunds. But slowing demand for all vehicles still pushed the industry downward. “The industry has been holding its breath to see if the days of peak sales are over,” Caldwell said. “We’re starting to see the slowdown in 2017 we’ve been anticipating.” Bigger incentives Car makers have relied on incentives and discounting to lure customers into dealership lots. Total incentive spending was up 13 percent so far this year to $3,814 per new vehicle, according to a joint analysis by JD Power

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

and LMC Automotive. As consumers gobbled up pricier SUVs, that may have accounted for average transaction prices remaining flat in April. For the industry overall, it stood at $34,814, according to Caldwell. While likely off their peak, car makers are selling a lot of vehicles in the US market, and Barclays analyst Rob Martin maintained his expectation of a rebound in the current quarter. “April sales are in line with our longer-term view on motor vehicle sales,” Martin said. Much of the enthusiasm remained in the light truck and SUV market. GM touted doubledigit spikes in sales of crossover vehicles, with Chevrolet and GMC models up 20 percent or more, and Buick and GMC models seeing increases in the 40 percent range. “Just five years ago, about one in four GM sales were crossovers. Today, they account for almost one-third of our deliveries and we see more growth ahead,” Kurt McNeil, vice president of GM’s US sales, said in a statement. Ford’s bright spot was SUVs, with a 1.2 percent gain, while the company’s total car sales plunged 21.2 percent. FCA US was down across all of its brands, except Ram trucks which saw sales rise five percent. Toyota SUV sales rose 12.9 percent, while Nissan’s light truck and SUV sales were up 11.2 percent. Honda was down seven percent overall, with the CR-V sport utility one of a handful of models showing growth. Volkswagen saw sales increases overall, as it continued its recovery from the emissions cheating scandal. In April, it was fined $2.8 billion after earlier pleading guilty to three felony charges of defrauding the United States and conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act. The German global auto behemoth increased US sales by 1.6 percent in April. But the total, a mere 27,557 units, was less than the number of Honda CR-Vs alone sold in the same month.

Kia Kamp: Special place for special kids EVERY summer, children from all over the country hit the roads in droves for another memorable vacation. With family, or with friends, the memories formed here will be cherished for years to come. Unfortunately, not all children are able to enjoy the simple pleasures of the summer vacation. Thousands of special children in the country are afflicted with conditions and illnesses that make it difficult for them to facilitate even basic social interactions. These include those that are diagnosed with; Autism, Downs Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, ADHD, or even those who have been abandoned. This summer, the President of Kamp Pagkakaisa Volunteers, Inc. (KPVI), Chito San Agustin, who is also the President of Kia Owners United Philippines (KOUPh) banded together: Club Rio Philippines, Picanto Club PH, Kia Soul Club Philippines, Kia Carens Club of the Philippines, Kia Forte Club Philippines, Kia Sportage Owners Club Philippines and the Kia Auto Club Pilipinas and Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC), the exclusive distributor of Kia vehicles in the Philippines to treat these special children to the experience of a lifetime. A Kamp for a cause Earlier this year, CAC was approached by San Agustin with a proposal to help send more than 400 participants to a special Summer Kamp for Orphaned Special Children. San Agustin, who won CAC’s Kia Advocate contest in 2016, is the President KPVI, a non-profit, non-stock organization that is committed to the welfare and development of these special young people. For the past 38 years, KPVI has held Summer Kamp for Orphaned Special Children where children

engage in classes and activities that teach them self-help and also showcase their innate talents and skills through therapeutic activities. CAC responded by providing transportation for the participantsand financial assistance for the 10day Kamp. CAC president Ginia R. Domingo expressed how proud and excited the company is to contribute to the Kamp. “When Chito came to us with his proposal, we were excited to get on board, particularly for such a worthy cause. Even if we already have our annual CSR activities, we won’t let opportunities like this pass us by, especially when it’s initiated by our customers and biggest supporters as well. It serves as a reminder that Kia’s Family-Like care extends beyond the confines of your cars and our dealerships.” According to San Agustin, “I’ve met many of these Kia car club members on the road and at events. I know personally how kind-hearted and warm these people are. Many of them did not hesitate to donate to KPVI’s cause. According to San Agustin, “CAC really stepped up above and beyond what we asked of them. It would have been difficult to make this event successful without their support. They really showed us the meaning of Kia’s Power to Surprise.” Kamping trip of a lifetime This year’s KPVI Kamp was held from April 21 to April 30 in Cuenca, Batangas. At least 400 children with special needs, afflicted with illnesses and orphans from different parts of the country all came together for a one of a kind vacation experience. After the success of this year’s event, the leaders of KPVI visited CAC’s offices in Makati to present Domingo with a plaque of appreciation.

Road safety park for kids MARKING the month of road safety in the Philippiners, Petron Corporation has partnered with the Philippine National Police in establishing one of the nation’s first interactive road safety parks to provide children and their parents with an interesting venue to learn about road safety. Situated inside Camp Crame in Quezon City, the PNP-Petron Children’s Road Safety Park is an open space featuring a driving lane that winds across multiple traffic markers and other instructional signages. Here, children can have hands-on experience and learn various rules on how to be safe on the road and extend courtesy to motorists and pedestrians. As an added feature, it will have its own Petron station to give the park a ‘real-world’ feel. Also seen through-

out the park are bigger-than-life sculptures of popular action figures such as Iron Man and Spider Man to create a ‘theme park’ vibe. “Petron has always been a strong advocate of road safety. We have been sustaining programs that ensure safer journeys for all for over 30 years. Through this park, we can start them young and share safety awareness while teaching the values of responsibility, respect, and regard for rules,” Petron Foundation General Manager Charmaine V. Canillas said. The PNP-Petron Children’s Road Safety Park builds on the strategic partnership between Petron and the PNP under the Lakbay Ligtas program which utilizes Petron service stations to increase police visibility nationwide. There are now 300 Petron

stations under the project and is expected to expand to 1,000 by year-end. Petron also runs the Lakbay Alalay program which is the longest running motorist assistance project in the country. The company is also looking to engage the Department of Education in promoting road safety among the millions of primary school children in the country, with the PNP-Petron Children’s Road Safety Park as a principal learning venue. Admission to the park is free of charge but is subject to the existing regulations at Camp Crame. Before entering the park, visitors will be briefed by the PNP-Police Community Relations Group (PCRG) on road safety rules and practices. A PNP Museum Tour can also be included in the

itinerary for those who are on tour in the camp, or are merely there to visit. The opening of the PNP-Petron Children’s Road Safety Park supports the Decade of Action (2011-2020) for Road Safety by the United Nations which calls on member nations to craft and implement their own road safety action plans to reduce fatalities by 2020. It is also in time for the U.N.’s Global Road Safety Week which begins on May 10. May as the month of road safety in the Philippines is mandated by Presidential Proclamation. According to recent studies, 100 Filipino children become victims of road accidents daily, which is why road traffic injuries now rank as the second most common type of accidents for children aged 5-12.

Motoring

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

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

ISUZU’S show of force

Joseph Bautista, Product Development Head of IPC, presents Isuzu’s take on the modern jeepney.

Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III

S A SHOW of force and dominance in the highly coveted truck market, executives of Isuzu Philippines Corporation, the country’s diesel authority, rolled up their sleeves and buckled down to work this time presenting their aces in the deck of cards.

Isuzu occupied two massive halls of the SMX Convention Center of the SM Mall of Asia for the annual staging of its truck show. With the motoring media, dealers, clients and prospective buyers in attendance, IPC bared all its core values of dependability, durability and reliability.

“The key to our success is not on the sale of our trucks, it’s on the full service that comes with every purchase. With every truck purchase, we provide product orientations, driver’s training and even a professional analysis on fuel consumption and actual vehicle operation” said IPC President Hajime Koso. “A

The heavy duty FVM truck with massive crane.

truck is probably one of the most valued investments for a company, which is why aside from providing quality products, Isuzu guarantees availability of parts and reliable service” he added. Leading the 12-truck display line-up were the two (2) units each Isuzu NHR with flexi truck 10 x 10 body and FVM with Fruehaf wing van, which are specially built by IPC’s trusted body builders Kyoei Kogyo Philippines Corp. (KPC) and Centro Manufacturing Corporation respectively. Completing the light-duty truck line-up were the Isuzu NHR with iVAN body option, NHR jeepney prototype which aims to modernize our mass transport system, the NPR dropside, an NPR aluminum van and the NQR Garbage Compactor. For the medium to heavyduty segment, IPC displayed the FVM with crane,CYZ51 dump truck and EXZ51 tractor head. Adding more diversity to the show, IPC displayed its leading

Only Motul for Super GT cars SINCE its launch as the All-Japan GT Championship in 1994 ( which became Super GT in 2005), the popular series has gone from strength to strength. Motul has been a long and loyal partner in this highly competitive arena through its successful technical partnerships with different teams, beginning with NISMO in 2003 and expanding to others in the years since. In 2017 up to 45 cars will compete at each of the eight rounds, with the entries being split between two classes: the 600 bhp+ GT500 category and the huge, multi-marque GT300 class. Top two-driver line ups feature up and down the grid, and the races attract over 400,000 spectators per year – it’s loud, impressive, and the drivers are absolute heroes to their adoring fans! Super GT opens its door for the season on 8/9th April in Okayama. Motul’s involvement has been successful and beneficial both on and off track, notching up no fewer than seven championship titles in the last 13 years, including four in the last four years with NISMO and Lexus. By working closely with all the Japanese manufacturers, Motul

constantly upgrades and improves the lubricant technology available to its teams and ultimately to its consumers worldwide. Once again, Motul is working closely with all the teams and manufacturers supported in order to develop special experimental engine oils, in whichcan be found a similar technology to the one in the company’s respected 300V Motorsport

Line, that has been developed specifically for competition use. Cars are the Stars Among the 2017 entries will be GT500 factory teams from Japanese manufacturers Nissan, Toyota and Honda, all partnered by Motul. Mugen (Honda), one of motor racing’s best known names, is making a spectacular return to Super GT

alongside Nissan NISMO and Toyota with some of Japan’s best known racing names behind the wheel. Defending GT500 champions, Lexus Team SARD, will be on the grid again representing Toyota, together with Lexus Team TOM’S, Lexus TeamKeePer TOM’S and Lexus TeamZentCerumo – all challenging with the LC500 which dominated the recent pre-season test session. Multiple champions MotulAutech head the NISMO GT-R charge, supported by KONDO Racing and MOLA, while Team MUGEN will field the MotulMugen NSX GT. In the GT300 class six cars will receive technical support from Motul, including the Subaru BRZ of the R&D SPORT team, three Nissan GT-Rs, and two Toyota RC F GT3. Few of the championships in which Motul is involved have been as fruitful on such a regular basis as the highly competitive Super GT series. With such teams sporting the company’s famous red and white logo this year, there is little doubt that 2017 will yield further successes.

Stars of the show: IPC President Hajime Koso takes pride in two Isuzu NHR with ﬂexi trucks 10 x 10 body and FVM with Fruehaf wing van, which are specially built by IPC’s trusted body builders Kyoei Kogyo Philippines Corp. and Centro Manufacturing Corporation respectively.

light-commercial vehicles, two (2) units each of the Isuzu mu-X Black Series and Isuzu D-MAX XSeries. “Every year we try to make the show even more exciting and worthwhile for truck buyers to visit. The introduction of the Isuzu NHR with flexi truck 10 x 10 body and FVM with Fruehaf wing van are our latest addition to the wide array of body applications which can be done on our trucks. Hopefully,

it will attract more customers to buy these models thru this display” Koso added. Recognized as one of the most trusted truck brand in the global arena, IPC has been a consistent segment leader in the domestic market especially for its light-duty N-Series trucks which holds the number one position for 17 consecutive years. In the past two years, however, the trucks and buses seg-

ment also saw a significant increase in demand which is parallel to the growth of the economy, which is why IPC’s medium and heavy-duty trucks sales increased by around 13% in 2016. “For Isuzu, there is nothing more valuable that the trust that we get from our customers, it is for this reason, that we continue to provide excellent products and service that best suits the demands of the market” Koso said.

Blade to stage car show and music extravaganza By Dino Ray V. Directo III BLADE Autocenter, the country’s premier automotive accessories retail and lifestyle store is bringing something back to the people by way of staging a two-day music festival on May 19-20 at the Metrowalk grounds in Pasig City. Dubbed as “Bandang Blade” the music extravaganza also aims to bring together car and music enthusiasts. “This event is a first of its kind motoring music festival. It is a car show, concert, DJ party, tattoo, sneaker fest and much more,” says Robertson Tan, President of Blade. Bands expected to perform during the concert are Gloc9, Rocksteddy, Color it Red, Mobbstarr, Robin Nievera and Paulo Santos. It will also coincide with an album launch, the Bandang Blade CD which will be available in music stores nationwide. “It’s a celebration of summer, good music and fantastic looking cars all in one venue. This will be an annual music festival,” adds Tan. Established in 2004, Blade Auto Center is the largest chain of car accessories shops in the country with over 50 stores nationwide. They have carved a niche in the aftermarket industry with its extensive line of affordable automotive accessories and car care products that ranges from car audio-video down to air fresheners. Blade offers globally recognized brands in its retail chain such as Sparco, OMP, Goodyear, Polaroid and Chupa Chups. “The brands we carry are all licensed and Blade is an official distributor of the aforementioned brands. All branded merchandise that we carry

are original and licensed,” explains Tan. For brands such as Sparco, OMP and Goodyear, Blade caters to the consumer line of automotive products such as air compressors, seat belt pads, and car floor mats. The Bandang Blade music festival is organized by Blade in partnership with Fubu and Ladder Entertainment. General admission is P100.00 and P500.00 will include access to the car show, music fest on the first night and DJ party on the second night.

LGUs

Bamboo project to save NV rivers

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—A bamboo propagation project by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the International River Foundation, and OceanaGold Philippines Inc. is expected to rejuvenate the province’s rivers and tributaries. The Bamboo Propagation Project, which is initially focused in Barangay Didipio in Kasibu town, is expected to improve the quality of rivers and creeks from erosion and siltation brought about by human activities, said Abdula Bansuan, IRFPhilippines senior advisor. He said the project has been piloted in Didipio, being the coverage area of OceanaGold, which will provide the needed bamboo seedlings. Bansuan said the partnership agreement between the groups is being implemented from 2016 to 2017. Under the agreement, OGPI supplies the planting materials, IRF markets the produce, and the DENR provides technical assistance and supervises the project implementation. “We will be involved in identifying areas to be planted with ‘Bayug’ bamboo species, so there will be a series of consultations with the affected villagers,” said Constante Espiritu, acting provincial environment and natural resources officer. He said villagers near rivers and creeks in Didipio will be encouraged to plant bamboos along the riverbanks in a bid to protect their waterways. Espiritu said the local government unit of Kasibu has been tapped as one of their partners to strengthen the villagers’ support of the project. The project is envisioned to help the villagers’ livelihood, since they will be tapped to produce more bamboo for national and international markets. The demand for quality bamboo products is strong in the United States, Japan, and China, among others. Bamboo is used as floor tiles and other decorative household items. “We lack factories and plantations in our country. If this project becomes successful in its first stage, we will be expanding the project to other areas,” Espiritu said.

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

SEALED DEAL. Initiators of the ‘Seal of Good Education Governance’ awards, which aim to recognize local government units that deliver outstanding efforts to ensure basic education to their constituents, join hands to launch the program on Wednesday in Makati City. Pictured from left are Ramon Isberto, head of the Public Affairs Group of Smart Communications; Jovy I. Hernandez, first vice president and head of PLDT ALPHA Enterprise; Dr. Milwida M. Guevarra, president and CEO of Synergeia Foundation; Fr. Jose Ramon T. Villarin SJ, board chairman of Synergia; former Sarangani governor Miguel Rene A. Dominguez; and former Negros Occidental governor Rafael L. Coscolluela. Sonny Espiritu

Homes for 5,000 ISFs eyed By Joel E. Zurbano

HE city government of Makati on Thursday signed an agreement with a Shanghai-based private firm for a major mass housing project that would benefit more than 5,000 informal settler families in the city.

Mayor Abigail Binay and the Shanghai Nanjiang (Group) Co., Ltd., represented by Savio K. Chu, signed the agreement for a feasibility study, at no cost to the city, on land development and construction of low-cost mass housing units. The project, according to Binay, is intended to address the

situation of the city’s ISFs under the Public-Private Partnership program of the city government. “This agreement is the initial step toward a public-private partnership venture that can provide a viable and sustainable solution to our housing issues, primarily the shelter needs of informal settlers in the city,” she said.

Binay said the city welcomes the opportunity to undertake a PPP or any of its variants, including a joint venture or build-operate-transfer contract, in line with the PPP Code of Makati enacted in 2014 through City Ordinance No. 2014-051. “The City of Makati is a strong advocate of the PPP approach towards development. With our country’s renewed ties with China under the administration of President Duterte, we can look forward to more fruitful collaboration with reputable private companies based in China,” she said. The mayor noted the city’s partner-corporation has exten-

sive experience in real estate and township development, construction, urban planning and settlement. Under the agreement, the city grants Shanghai Nanjiang exclusive access to relevant documents while it conducts its commercial, financial, legal and technical evaluation of Makati’s existing land inventory and operations. The city also agrees not to allow any other entity to conduct a similar or related study, and shall not utilize the study if it chooses to pursue the project with another party. In the event Makati decides to implement the approach and recommendations stated in the

DAVAO CITY—The fish vendor who was hit by an improvised explosive device planted by New People’s Army rebels as they escaped a recent attack here has died, five days after he fell into a coma. Larry Timal Buenafe, 34, a resident of Agdao in this city, was declared dead at 4 a.m. Thursday due to a severe brain injury following the explosion. Mayor Sara Duterte expressed her grief on behalf of the Buenafe family, who she said lost a father and husband “because of the punitive actions” of the NPA rebels against the Lapanday Food Corp. owned by the influential Lorenzo family. “Larry was murdered by people who think that it will make a difference if they punish the Loren-

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City Mayor Herbert Bautista vowed on Thursday to intensify the delivery of basic health-care programs and services to residents by building more health infrastructure. As of March 31, the engineering department reported that Quezon City has already completed the construction and rehabilitation of six health facilities, while four other projects are now being built. Completed were the three-story Kalayaan Health Center in Barangay Dona Imelda; improvement of the Batasan Hills Super Health Center; rehabilitation of the Sta. Catalina Health Center and renovation of the Betty Go-Belmonte lying-in

BBK, PAPI forum on current issues set

zos by burning their factories,” Duterte said. “The attacks, that socalled punitive action to dispense social justice did make a blowing, heartbreaking difference—to a widow, to a daughter, to a son.” The mayor said the true victims of the NPA attacks were not the Lorenzos but the Buenafe family and the families of the workers of the box and plastic plant of Lapanday Food that the rebels torched in a raid earlier last Saturday. Owing to the attacks, 130 employees of Lapanday are now left jobless, she said. Duterte said the death of Buenafe and the NPA attack must be a reminder to the masses “of the twistedness of an ideology and the monsters behind it” and the fear and terror that it employs and the obsolescence of the rebel’s political belief.

QC vows more health facilities for barangays

clinic, both in Barangay Hoy Spirit; the new service entrance for the San Vicente Sentrong Sigla Health Center; and land development at Balonbato Health Center. The city government spent P9.4 million for the Kalayaan health center and P4.9 million for the Sta. Catalina facility. Also underway are the Payatas Super Health Center, which will cost the city government P12.6 million; the improvement of the Bagong Silangan Super Health Center; and construction of diagnostic laboratory clinics at Apolonio Samson and Kamuning Health Centers. Quezon City also maintains seven super health centers and lying-in clinics and three social hygiene clinics.

feasibility study, and the firm, by itself or in a joint venture or consortium with others, meets the qualification requirements pursuant to relevant laws, rules and regulations, Shanghai Nanjiang has the option to submit an unsolicited proposal to the city. The city government would then evaluate the proposal to the procedure outlined in the PPP Ordinance, relevant law or regulation. Should Makati decide to implement the study and its recommendations under a competitive selection or open bidding mode, the winning proponent shall shoulder the cost of the feasibility study and related activities.

IN BRIEF

Fish vendor hit by NPA bomb dies; Sara furious By F. Pearl A. Gajunera

RED FOR BLOOD. Members of the Cabinet Spouses Association gather for another launching of their ‘Type ng Bayan’ blood typing program in Quezon City. Seated from left are Emmeline Villar, wife of Public Works Secretary Mark Villar; Marissa Aguirre, wife of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre; Henry Ubial, husband of Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial; and Editha Lorenzana, wife of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. Standing from left are Bai Norhata Alonto; Marisol Tugade, wife of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade; Cabinet Spouses Association Executive Director Ricky Reyes; and Flor Santos, the group’s secretary. Manny Palmero

P28-m Vizcaya livelihood center opens BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya— A P28-million Livelihood and Pasalubong Center has been built by the provincial government in Barangay Magsaysay here to cater to local and foreign tourists, and to boost the potential and capabilities of Vizcayano entrepreneurs. The center is near the so-called “Citrus Alley” along the national highway, another attraction and favorite stop-over of commuters coming in and out of the Cagayan Valley region. The LPC is the first and only

livelihood and souvenir center in Cagayan Valley, the provincial government said. It houses a coffee shop and the souvenir and gift center on its ground floor, while the second floor offers three training rooms, a food processing area, and the investment and promotions center managed by the Provincial Cooperative Affairs Office. Judith Asuncion, NVPLC coordinator for cooperative affairs, said the center was established to address the need of the Nueva Vizcaya En-

trepreneurs Association for government infrastructure support. “This center will assist them and prepare them for the Asean regional integration, an anticipated quality product competition among micro, small, and medium enterprises in our neighboring countries,” she said. A provincial product accreditation body will ensure the quality of goods to be sold inside the NVLPC, which will promote local products carrying the branding “Proudly Novo Vizcayano.” Ben Moses Ebreo

TARLAC CITY—The Army’s watchdog Bantay Bayanihan para sa Kapayapaan and the Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc. have slated a three-day forum on issues currently besetting the country on May 5 to 7 at the Ramon Magsaysay Technological Institute in Iba, Zambales. “We have to be aware of issues and matters that occurs around us,” BBK-Tarlac Convenor Jerry Hernandez said. “There is a necessity to grasp the issues toward sound decision-making in order to contribute to nation-building, especially in our quest for peace and development.” PAPI executive vice president Abel Pablo added: “We are continuously searching for means to get the attention of the people and let them join the wagon discussion.” Jessica M. Bacud

2nd ID sows 2,000 trees at Capinpin TANAY, Rizal—The Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Division planted more than 2,000 fruit-bearing and nonfruitbearing trees inside Camp Capinpin here on Thursday in aid of the government’s National Greening Program. Various civic groups like the Rotary Clubs in the area were also tapped by the division to increase awareness on the need to protect and rehabilitate the environment through massive tree planting. Roy Tomandao

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Republic of the Philippines Standard ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION TODAY

San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE FEEDIN-TARIFF ALLOWANCE FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2017 PURSUANT TO THE GUIDELINES FOR THE COLLECTION OF THE FEED-IN TARIFF ALLOWANCE AND DISBURSEMENT OF THE FEED-IN TARIFF ALLOWANCE FUND, WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY,

FEED-IN TARIFF ALLOWANCE FOR 2017 17. TransCo has computed a FIT-All Rate of PhP/kWh 0.2481 for 2017, determined using the formula provided in Section 1.3 of the Guidelines, as follows: FIT-All=

FIT-All

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 1 December 2016, National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) filed an application dated 28 November 2016 seeking the Commission’s approval of the Feed-In Tariff Allowance for Calendar Year 2017 pursuant to the Guidelines for the Collection of the Feed-In Tariff Allowance and Disbursement of the Feed-In Tariff Allowance Fund, with prayer for provisional authority. TRANSCO alleged the following in its Application: THE APPLICANT TransCo is a government ins trumentality created pursuant to Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), with principal office address at TransCo Main Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road , Diliman, Quezon City, where it may be served with summons and other processes of this Honorable Commission. NATURE OF THE APPLICATION 2.

This Application is being filed by Applicant TransCo in its capacity as FIT-All Fund Administrator tasked with the establishment, management/administration and disbursement/ settlement (thru the Trustee Bank) of the FIT-All Fund pursuant to ERC Resolution No. 15, Series of 2012 issued on 19 November 2012 and on the bases of relevant laws, rules and regulations as will be discussed hereafter. On 16 December 2008, R.A. No. 9513 entitled “An Act Promoting the Development, Utilization and Commercialization of Renewable Energy Resources and for other purposes” (RE Law) was enacted to ( 1) accelerate the exploration and development of renewable energy resources to achieve energy self-reliance by reducing the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and thereby minimize the country’s exposure to price fluctuations in the international markets; (2) increase the utilization of renewable energy by providing fiscal and non-fiscal incentives; (3) encourage the development and ut iliza tion of renewable energy resources as tools to effectively prevent or reduce harmful emissions and thereby balance the goals of economic growth and development with the protection of health and the environment; and (4) establish the necessary infrastructure and mechanism to carry out the mandates specified in the Act and other existing laws. To achieve these state policies, Section 7 of the RE Law mandates the establishment of a Feed-in Tariff System (FIT System) for electricity produced from wind, solar, ocean, run-ofriver hydropower and biomass. The FIT System is an incentive scheme that, among others, grants priority connections to the grid, priority purchase and transmission of, and payment for, electricity generated, and fixed tariff for a period not less than twelve (12) years to be determined by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC)1 for eligible RE generation . On 12 July 2 010, the ERC, in consultation with the National Renewable Energy Board (NREB) and other stakeholders, issued Resolution No. 16, Series of 2010 entitled Resolution Adopting the Feed-in Tariff Rules (FIT Rules) where it established, among others, the FIT System, the method of establishing and approving the FIT and the Feed-in Tariff Allowance (FlT-AIl ).

Under the FIT Rules, the FIT System guarantees all eligible renewable energy plants an entitlement to the applicable FITs for a period of twenty (20) years.2

Further, Section 2.2 of the FIT Rules provides that the ERC shall approve technology-specific FITs based on such FITs to be recommended by the NREB. Accordingly, on 27 July 2012, the ERC issued its “Decision” in ERC Case No. 2011-006 and “Resolution No. 10, Series of 2012” entitled “Resolution Approving the Feed-in Tariff Rates” where it approved the following initial FIT Rates:

TECHNOLOGY

ERC-APPROVED FIT RATES (PhP/kWh)

ERC-APPROVED DEGRESSION RATES

WIND

8.53

0.5% after year 2 from effectivity of FIT

BIOMASS

6.63

0.5% after year 2 from effectivity of FIT

SOLAR

9.68

6% after year 1 from effectivity of FIT

HYDRO

5.90

0.5% after year 2 from effectivity of FIT

On 27 March 2015, the ERC issued Resolution No. 06, series of 2015 entitled “Resolution Adopting the New Solar Feed-In Tariff Rate” setting a new Solar FIT Rate of PhP8.69/ kWh (herein referred to as “Solar FIT 2”). The Solar FIT 2 was issued as a result of the revised installation target for solar energy generation from 50 MW to 500 MW and shall be applied to new Solar Plants that have been commissioned after th e effectivity of said Resolution and until 15 March 2016. On 06 October 2015, the ERC likewise issued Resolution No. 14, series of 2015 also known as “Resolution Adopting the Wind Feed-in Tariff (Wind-FIT2) Rate” setting a new Wind FIT Rate of P7.40/ kWh (herein referred to as “Wind FIT 2”). The Wind FIT 2 shall only be applied to three (3) wind power projects namely: San Lorenzo, Nabas and Pililia Power Projects which have already commenced commercial operations as certified by the DOE.

10. The FIT-All, on the other hand, is a uniform charge (in PhP/ kWh) billed to all on-grid electricity consumers who are supplied with electricity through the distribution or transmission network. The FIT-All shall be established and set by the ERC on an annual basis and taking into account the following: the forecasted annual required revenue of the Eligible RE Plants; previous yea r’s over or under recoveries; administration costs; forecasted annual electricity sales and such other relevant factors to ensure that no stakeholder is allocated with additional risks in the implementation of the FITs.3 11. On 19 November 2012, the ERC issued “Resolution No. 15, Series of 2012” designating TransCo as the FIT-All Fund Administrator tasked with the establishment, management/ administration and disbursement/settlement (thru the Trustee Bank) of the FIT-All Fund. 12. The imposition, collection and disbursement of the FIT-All is further covered by the “Guidelines on the Collection of the Feed-in Tal”iff Allowance (FIT-All) and the Disbursement of the FIT-All Fund” (Guidelines) issued and approved by the ERC in its Resolution No. 24 dated 16 December 2013. 13. Under the FIT-All Guidelines, TransCo has to make an annual determination of the FIT-All rate and file its application with the ERC not later than end of July of each year for the FIT-All rate that will be implemented for the following year. 14. On 18 December 2015, TransCo filed the application for the 2016 FIT-All Rate4. Correspondingly, on 16 February 2016, the ERC granted TransCo’s application for Provisional Authority to implement a 2016 FIT-All rate of PhP/kWh 0.1240 which was implemented starting the Apri l 2016 billing period. 15. For the 2017 FIT-All Rate, TransCo was supposed to file its application by the end of July 2016. However, due to change in the national administration by virtue of the national election and in order to give the new members of the TransCo Board ample time to study the present application, TransCo requested the ERC for an extension of time within which to file the 20 17 FITAll Rate Application which the latter favorably granted. 16. Therefore, by and pursuant to the RE Law, Resolution No. 16 Series of 2010 (FIT Rules), as amended by Resolution No. 15 Series of 2 0J2, in connection with the Guidelines and other pertinent laws, rules and regul ations, the instant Application is submitted to the Honorable Commission for its due consideration of the herein applied for FIT-All Rate for the year 2017.

is the Feed-in Tariff Allowance to be implemented in Year t+1 in PhP/ kWh, as provided for in the FIT Rules and the Guidelines.

is the estimated Total FIT Differential required for Yeart+1 in PhP, and as further described in Section 1.4.1 of the Guidelines.

WCA

is the estimated Working Capital Allowance required for Yeart+1 in PhP, and as further described in Section 1.4.2 of the Guidelines.

is the Administration Allowance to be implemented in Yeart+1 in PhP, and as further described in Section 1.4.3 of the Guidelines.

is the Disbursement Allowance to be implemented in Yeart+1 in PhP, and as further described in Section 1.4.3 of the Guidelines.

FNS

is the Forecast National Sales, in kWh, to be applied for Yeart+1 and as further described in Section 1.4 -4.2 of the Guidelines.

is the year the application for setting the FIT-AlI is filedwith the ERC.

t+1

is the year following t

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

18. Whenever Yeart+1 (implementation year) is used in any formula in the present Application, the same shall refer to the year 2017. Correlatively, the Yeart+1 whenever used in any formula in this Application shall refer to the year 2018. COMPONENTS OF THE FIT-ALL I.

Forecast National Sales

19. The Forecast National Sales (FNS) is the denominator in the FIT-All formula. The estimated level for 2017 is presented first since it is best to present the determined value of the other FITAll components in terms of PhP/kWh, where this FNS is the kilowatt-hours (kWh) denominator. 20. The FNS refers to an estimated total kilowatt-hours of electricity billed to consumers who are supplied with electricity in all OnGrid areas in the Philippines for a given year. 21. The FNS, in kWh, shall be equal to the latest available Electricity Sales as stated in the Philippine Power Statistics, excluding Utilities Own Use and Power Losses, or as otherwise certified by the DOE, and as adjusted by the historical growth rate published for the immediately preceding three (3) years. 22. From the historical data sourced from the Philippine Power Statistics until 2015 5, TransCo computed for the compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of Electricity Sales for a 3-year period using the formula:

2012-2015

2016

2017

2018

280,005

589,077

954,272

968,110

93,271

118,029

244,438

520,223

Solar

155,694

657,899

778,824

775,546

Wind

776,988

993,882

1,082,943

Total

1,305,957

2,353,887

3,060,478

3,346,823

II.2. Forecast Applicable FIT Rate and Forecas FIT Revenue 35. Forecast Applicable FIT Rate refers to the prevailing ERCapproved and published schedule of rates in PhP/ kWh for each emerging renewable energy technology, as degressed by the relevant degression rates, if applicable, and adjusted for Consumer Price Index (CPl) and Foreign Exchange (FOREX). in accordance with Section 2.10 of the FIT Rules.11 36. Currently, the prevailing FIT Rates are based on the ERC Decision dated 27 July 2012 in ERC Case No. 2011-006 RM, ERC Resolution No.6 series of 2016 for Solar FIT 2 and ERC Resolution No. 14 series of 2015 for Wind FIT 2. 37. TransCo has made its interpretation of Section 2.10 of the FIT Rules rega rding adjustment of the FIT rates in the absence of precedent approach from the ERC. At the same time, degression as provided in the decision under ERC Case No. 2011-006RM was applied. 38. Basically, TransCo’s approach considered that on the year the eligible RE Plants enters the FIT system, its entitlement is to the original FIT rate, unless already degressed. Adjustment for inflation and foreign exchange movements is then applied on its second year in the FIT system and beyond 12 . Table 3. 2017 Adjusted FIT Rates, Php/kWh Technology

2014-2015

2016

Year 1 Entrant

2017

Year 2 Entrant

Year 3 Entrant

Biomass Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

6.6300 7.0508 7.2574

6.6300 7.0508

6.5969

Hydropower Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

5.9000 6.4601 6.6217

5.9000 6.4601

5.9000

9.6800 9.9067 10.2550

8.6900 8.8935

8.6900

8.5300 8.9006 9.1869

7.4000 7.7215

7.4000

Solar Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Wind Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 For Bangui 1 & 2 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

5.7600 6.0102 6.2036

39. The Total FIT Revenue appearing in the formula in Paragraph 25 was obtained by multiplying the Eligible RE generation per technology summarized in Table 2 by the corresponding appropriate FIT rates in Table 3. This was done on a per plant basis. ror 2018, which is required only for the computation of the Working Capital Allowance that will later be discussed, the same Adjusted FIT-rates as for 2017 were used for simplicity of assumption. The resulting levels are given as:

Biomass

V (to)

= finish value

tn-to

= number of years

Hydropower Solar

Table 1. Forecast National Electricity Sales, kWh 2016

2017

70,942,401,477 74,375,251,500 Total FIT Differential

24. The Total FIT Differential represents the difference between: (1) the forecast applicable FIT Rate for Yeart+1 that each Eligible RE Plant is forecasted to receive for each kWh delivered, and (2) the forecast applicable cost recovery rate as determined under th e Guidelines, multiplied by the projected annual energy generation from Eligible R.E Plant for yeart+1. In setting the FITAll for Year t+1, the FIT Differential is represented by the following formula:

Where: DESCRIPTION

Forecast RE Gen x,t+1

is the Forecast RE Generation of Eligible RE Plantx (in kWh).

Forecast FIT Rate x,t+1

is FIT Rate, as degressed (if applicable) and adjusted for local inflation and foreign exchange (FOREX) as forecasted for yeart+1 , in PhP/kWh, that Eligible RE Plantx forecasted to receive for each kWh delivered.

Forecast Cost Recovery

is the applicable Forecast Cost Recovery Rate to be implemented in Yeart+1 for Eligible RE Plantx, in PhP kWh.

FD t-1 (over)/under

is the variance between the actual FIT Differential for yeart-1 (Actual FDt-1) and the FIT Differential collected for yeart-1 (Collected FDt-1). There is over recovery if Collected FDt-1> Actual FDt-1 and under recovery if Collected FDt-1, is < Actual FDt-1.

25. Alternatively, the formula in Paragraph 24 can be viewed or rewritten as: FD = TotalFITRevenue - TotalForecastCostRecoveryRevenue + FD t-1, (over)/under II.1

Hydropower

Technology

= start value

23. TransCo computed the projected 2016 level by increasing the historical 2015 level by the computed CAG R (2012-2015). Then, TransCo again computed for the rolling 3-year CAGR and so on.6 TransCo came up with the following Forecast National Electricity Sales for 2016-2017:

II.

Technology Biomass

Table 4. Total FIT Revenue by Technology, in Pesos

Where: V (to)

34. Based on the foregoing the applicable Forecast An nual Renewable Energy Generation of Eligible RE Plants (kWh) for the years 2012-2015 (lumped) 10, 2016, 2017 and 2018 are as follows: Table 2, Forecast Annual Renewable Energy Generation, MWh

DESCRIPTION

ERC CASE NO. 2016-192 RC

NATIONAL TRANSMISSION CORPORATION (TRANSCO), Applicant. x---------------- --- --- --------x

FD + WCA + AA + DA FNS

case of Solar.

Forecast Annual Renewable Energy Generation

2012-2015

2016

2017

2018

1,856,432

3,952,394

6,694,332

550,889

713,274

1,520,361

6,794,063 3,147,497

1,496,775

5,875,465

7,031,112

7,001,381

Wind

6,319,167

7,999,989

9,197,749

Total

10,223,263

18,541,122

24,443,555

26,140,690

40. It is worthy to note that the implementa tion of the FIT system for th e current year 2016, no adjustment of FIT rates has been applied for eligible RE Plants so far in the absence of any ERC issuance on the matter. Computation of actual payment for actual generation in 2016 has been based on unadjusted FIT rates. II.3 Forecast Cost Recovery Rate 41. Simply put, the Forecast Cost Recovery Rate (FCRR) is the projected generation ra te that the Eligible RE Plant would likely receive had it not been under the FIT System. 42. Under Section 1A.1.2 of the Guidelines, the manner by which the FCRR is fo recasted and applied to a particular Eligible RE Plant shall be based on whether or not the Eligible RE Plant operates in a Grid where the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) is operational or not. 43. Where WESM is operational, the FCRR for the Eligible RE Plant shall be equivalent to the average of the monthly system Ex-Ante Load Weigh ted Average Price (LWAP) of the WESM for the Luzon and the Visayas Grids for the thirty-six (36) months immedi ately preced ing the filing of the application for the setting of the FIT-All. 44. The FCRR to be applied for Eligible RE Plants where WESM is non-operational (Mindanao) shall be the weighted average of the generation cost of the Host Distribution Utility (Host DU) from all its other generation sources, excluding generation from any Eligible RE Plant-Non-WESM with a Renewable Energy Supply Agreement (RESA) with the Host DU, for the nearest twelve (12) months preced ing the filing of the application for the setting of the FIT-All. 45. TransCo reques ted the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC) for an u pdate on the Load Weighted Average Price (LWAP) for the period May 2013 to May 201613 which the latter provided on 04 July 4 2016. 46. On October 4, 2016 PEMC provided an updated LWAP covering the months from June 2016 to August 2016 upon the request of TransCo.14 47. Consequently, TransCo came up with the fo llowi ng 36 months (until August 2016) averages for Lllzon and Visayas: Table 5. Average LWAP, PhP/kWh Luzon

Visayas

4.9331

3.5409

48. For Mindanao, Host DUs were identified from the lineup of projects and as listed by the DOE (Annex D -10): Host DU

Plant Name Tudaya Project

26. TransCo primarily used the most updated list of RE Projects that are projected to be eligible/already eligible under the FIT System in 2014-2018 and forecast data as provided by the DOE 7 . TransCo likewise tapped its own database containing his torical information and the available submissions of RE Developers on actual/ forecast generation.8

COTABATO LIGHT

15 MW BIomass Power Plant Project

Lamsan Power Corporation

COTABATO LIGHT

3 MW BIomass Power Plant Project

Philippine Trade Center, Inc.

BUSECO

Manolo Fortich 1 HEP

Hedcor Bukidnon, Inc.

BUSECO

Manolo Fortich 2 HEP

Hedcor Bukidnon, Inc.

FIBECO

Kibawe Solar Power Project

Asian Green Energy Corporation

SOCOTECO I

Kibawe Solar Power Project

NV Vogt Philippines Solar Energy One, Inc.

27. With the list from DOE providing the best estimate of the timing of entry of Eligible RE Plants, TransCo aims to be able to adequately provide for the corresponding payout requirements. However, the list does not in any way give preemptive right to the identified projects to be counted under the final FIT-eligible projects. Neither does it limit the payment of FITs to these projects.

SUKELCO

3.5 GEEC MW Cogeneration System

28. For those Eligible RE Developers already billing the FIT-All Fund, TransCo generally adopted their 2016 to 2018 energy generation forecast submiss ions. (See Annexes “F” to “F-32 “.) 29. For some Biomass projects. TransCo adopted the monthly energy generation forecast provided by DOE (See Annexes “E3” to “E-10”.) 30. For Solar and Hydro plants without forecast submission. TransCo generally followed the annual projection from DOE. The same seasonality indices used as in the 2014-2015 Application were applied9. 31. The 2018 projects were also considered but only in the computation of the WCA. which requires the estimated payout for year t+2. which in this case is 2018. 32. TransCo limited the determination of the FIT-All rate to include only Eligible/ projected Eligible RE capacities up to the installation targets sel by the DOE as follows: 500 MW for Solar up to March 15, 2016. 400 MW for Wind. 250 MW for Hydropower and 250 MW for Biomass. 33. At the same time, the principle of commercial and technical indivisibility of projects was observed. Hence. the installation target could be exceeded if the last plant to complete the same renders the total to go beyond the target. This happened in the

Hydroelectric

RE Developer

DASURECO

Power

Hedcor Tudaya, Inc.

Biomass

Green Earth Enersource Corporation

49. TransCo used the 12 months average of the Actual Weighted Ave rage Generation Cost of DASURECO, calculated at PhP 4.2638/kWh, covering the period October 2015 to September 2016. Data were lifted from the monthly submission to TransCo of DASURECO as Host DU for Tudaya 2. 50. For the other Host DUs, TransCo reques ted the ERC for the weighted average generation cost data through a letter dated October 20, 2015. In the meantime that said information has not been received, TransCo used figures from www.kuryente. org (save for DASURECO) as follows15: Table 6. FCRR for Host DUs, PhP/kWh Host DU

Weighted Average Generation Cost

Data Source

DASURECO

4.2638

FIT-All Fund ACRR Payment of DASURECO

COTABATO LIGHT

2.8784

kuryente.org

BUSECO

3. 7339

kuryente.org

FIBECO

4.1955

kuryente.org

SOCOTECO I

4.2586

kuryente.org

SUKELCO

3.7456

kuryente.org

51. Multiplying the Forecast Annual Eligible RE Generation summarized in Table 2 by the appropriate Forecast Cost Recovery Rates (done on a per plant basis) gives the following total FCRR in pesos: Table 7, Total Forecast Cost Revenue by TechnoIogy, in Pesos Technology Biomass

2012-2015 932,054

2016 2,089,694

2017 4,191,602

2018 4,252,327

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Hydropower

310,756

466,026

1,015,839

2,064,748 3,335,885

Solar

675,299

2,625,451

3,349,654

Wind

2,400,497

3,261,646

5,025,909

Total

4,318,606

8,442,818

13,583,004

14,678,870

Similarly as for the FIT rates, the 2017 Forecast Cost Recovery Rates were adopted for 2018 since the same are merely intended fo r the determinat ion of the Working Capital Allowance, a buffer fu nd, as discussed below. 52. 2016 Under-recoveries. The last term in the formula for FIT Differential is the amount of under-recovery or over-recovery of the FIT Differential. For this Application, TransCo has determined that there will be an under-recovered FIT Differential by the end of 2016. 53. The under-recovery will arise due to the estimated collection for 2016 being less than the estimated amount of payables that will be billed to TransCo by Eligible RE Developers until the las t billing month of 2016. TransCo prepared the estimates under the assumption that the provisionally approved FIT-All rate of PO.1240/kWh will prevail until the last billing mon th of 2016. 54. By the end of the billing and payment cycle for 2016, it is estimated that the FIT-All Fund will have a deficit in terms of collection vis-a-vis payables of Php 3,576 ,811,119.08,16. 55. FIT Differential for 2015-2016 generalion charged to 2017 FIT-All Rate17. This pertains to energy generation for years 2015-2016 that are expected to be billed to TransCo for 2017. Section 4.5 of the RE Payment Agreement (REPA) provides Ihat the Eligible RE Developer shall only start billingTransCo for FIT Differential upon the REP A’s effectivity. Where months had lapsed from the Commercial Operation Date (COD) until the Effective Date of REPA, the Actual FIT Differential shall be billed to TransCo over the number of months lapsed from COD to REPA Effective Date. 56. It is estimated that total FIT Differentials for 2015 and 2016 generation, amounting to Php 551,704,914,27 and Php 1,499,355,236.46, respectively, will be due in 2017.

Biomass

2016

924,378

2017

1,862,700

67. Combining the res ults and assumptions given in Paragraphs 64 to 66, the Forecast Annual Payout for 2018 is as follows:

2,541,736

Hydropower

240,133

247,247

504,522

1,082,748

Solar

821,476

3,250,013

3,681,458

3,665,496

Wind

3,918,670

4,738,343

4,171,840

Total

5,904,657

10,098,304

10,860,551

11,461,820

Technology

2017 FIT Differential

0.1460

551,704,914.27

0.0074

2017 FIT Differential 2016 Gen

1,499,355,236.46

0.0202

3,576,811,119.08

0.0481

16,488,421,820.26

0.2217

2016 Under Recovery Total

59. It is worthy to note that for the 12-month period October 2015 to September 2016, the average effective Actual Cost Recovery Rate as deri ved from the FIT-All Fund database is much lower than the Forecast Cost Recovery Rate used in the2016 FIT-All Applica tion following the formula in the FIT-All Guidelines. This, thus, contributed to the projected under-recovery shown earlier. Table 10. Effective ACRR Rate vs FCRR Rate Used in the 2016 FIT Application Effective ACRR, Php/ kWh

FCCR as Applied* Php/kWh

Luzon

2.5372

5.5028

Visayas

2.8704

4.5278

Luzon

3.1311

5.5028

Visayas

3.2244

Technology Wind

Solar

Biomass Luzon

2.8446

5.5028

Visayas

1.7898

4.5278

Luzon

2.6433

5.5028

Mindanao

4.2638

4.7592

Hydro

* based on 2016 FIT-All Application III.

60. The WCA is part of the FIT-All and serves as buffer to address any default or delay in the coll ection and/or remittance of the FIT-All and/ or Actual Cost Recovery Revenue (ACRR) including, but not limi ted to, the following: i. Variations between the actual and fo recasted (a) RE Generation from Eligible RE Plants resulting from overand unde r- gene ration, (b) Annual National Sales and (c) a pplicable Forecast Cost Recovery Rates and Actual Cost Recovery Revenues; ii.

The timing diffe rence of the collection and billing cycle for the FIT-All and Actual Cost Recovery Revenue; and,

8,656,332 1,095,368

85. On this bas is, TransCo most respectfully moves for the immediate issuance of a “Provisional Authority” pursuant to Rule 14, Section 3 23 of th e ERC Rules of Practice and Procedures to allow applicant TransCo to timely implement the FIT-All Rate of PhP/kWh 0.2291 effective January 201 7 without prejudice to the final and actual rate pending the final disposition of its present Application.

26,150,441,295

69. Pursuant to the Guidelines, the NREB recommended a formula for the Factor Rate in the 201 4-20 15 FIT-All Application. Using the same formula for this Application but with updated inputs, a factor rate of 7.4309%19 was derived. 70. Further, the Guidelines define the WCA Ending Balance to be the balance of the WCA component account for the immediately preceding month prior to the month of filing. However, TransCo deemed it best to project the level up to year end 2016 for a more realistic determination. Given the deficiency in the fund balance to address even the FD to date, the WCA in fact has no balance. Truth to tell, the amounts TransCo uses to augment the ACRR remittance of PEMC and the Interest Expense bill ed by Eligible RE Developers, co nstitute negative fund balance. TransCo has estimated a WCA Ending Balance of -PhP 14,170,578.64, which represents the projected deficiency for ACRR by the end of 2016. Table 13. Determination of the WCAEnding Balance, in Pesos Actual ACRR Balance, Beg

12,205,450.11

2016 Forecast CRR Pavable

8,442,818,044.00

2016 Total Estimated CRR Payable

8,455,023,494.11

Less: Estimated CRR Payment for 2016 @ 99.01% Collection Efficiency

8,440,852.915.47

86. The grant of a Provisional Authority will allow TransCo to perform its duties to make a timely payment of the FIT Rate to RE Developers to which they are ent itled thereby allowing their continued operations. 87. In support of the foregoing allegations in this Application, including those for the issuance of the provisional authority, TransCo hereby submits the Judicial Affidavit of Ms. Dinna O. Dizon, Manager of Compliance Monitoring Department (CMD).24 PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commiss ion that: a. Pending hea ring on the merits of the present Application, provisional authority to collect the FlT-ALL of PhP/kWh 0.2291 effective January 2017 billing period be issued; b. TheCollection Agents - DUs, RES and NGCP be directed to bill, collect and remit the FIT-All to the FIT-All Fund as provided in the FIT-All Guidel ines; c. PEMC and the Host DUs be directed to remit the ACRR to the FITAll Fund as provided in the FIT-All Guidelines;

14,170,578.64

2016 CRR Deficiency

71. From th e given information, the combined buffer required for 2017, which is equivalent to the 2018 requirement multiplied by the Factor Rate less the WCA ending balance, is PhP 1,957,38 7,200.46, derived as:

d. The Factor Rate resulting from an updating of inputs in the recommended formula by the NREB under the 2014- 2015 FlT-AlI Application (ERC Case No. 2014-109RC) be approved and applied in the computation of the WCA and the FIT-All Rate for 2017;

Table 14. Determination of the WCA, in Pesos Technology

2017

Forecast Annual Payout

7.4309%

Equals: Portion of Annual Payout Less: WCA Ending Balance (Year n) Working Capi tal All owance

1,943,216,622 (1 4,170,579) 1,957,387,200

WCA, Php/kWh

0.0263

72. The table above provides the corresponding PhP/ kWh level of the WCA for 2017, which is PhP/kWh 0.0263. IV.

e. After due notice and hearing, a permanent approval for Applicant TransCo be granted to implement the FIT-All Rate for 2017 of PhP/kWh 0.2291, computed for RE Projects with at least nomination from DOE for eligibility under the FIT system, OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE, such other amount as may be found by the Commission to be consistent with the FIT-All Guidelines and on the basis of new and updated information not heretofore available to the Applicant at the time of the filing of the present application ;

2018 26, 150,441,295

x Factor Rate

Administration and Disbursement Allowance

73. As provided for in Section 2.5 of the FIT Rules, the FIT- All shall also take into account the Applicant’s administration costs to defray expenses of the Admini strator in connection with the performance of its functions as FIT-All Fund Administrator (Administration Allowance).

f. TransCo be exempt from payment of permit/ supervision fees, if any. Other reliefs as lllay be just and equitable under the premises are likewise most respectfully prayed for. The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on the following dates and venues:

74. For the year 2017, TransCo proposes an Administration Allowance of Php 5,060,572.35. (Please see Annex T.) 75. A similar fee may be imposed by the designated Trustee of the FIT All Fund in accordance with the Trust Agreement approved by the ERC, to defray standard adm ini strative costs in es tablis hing and managing the actual collection and disbursements of the rIT-AlI Fund and all oth er monetary collections authori zed by the FIT Rules (Disbursement Allowance). 76. From the Trust Agreement ente red into by Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP)-Trust and TransCo on 03 March 201520 and subsequently approved by the ERC, TransCo shall pay a fixed fee of P720,000 per annum plus some variable components. 77. Based on TransCo’s estimates of fund balances which will be the major basis of the variable component th at is the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Supervision Fee, the Disbursement Allowance or the service fee of LBP for 2017 is PhP1,095,368.36.21 V.

Working Capital Allowance

84. It is respectfully submitted that the computation of, as well as the data used by, TransCo are all in accordance with the FIT Rules and the Guidelines issued by the ERC.

68. The Guidelines furth er provide the use of a Factor Rate that will be multiplied to the Forecast Annual Payout for 201 8.

P/kWh

10,860,550,550.44

11,461,820,092

Forecast Annual Payout

Table 9,Total FIT Differential, in Pesos

2017 FIT Differential 2015 Gen

14,678,869,504

FIT Differential Disbursement Allowance

58. The final FIT Differential for 2017 in P/kWh, inclusive of the under-recovery for 2016 and the accrued FIT-Differential for 2015-2016 generation charged to 2017, is as follows: Amount

83. TransCo repleads the foregoing allegations insofar as they may be applicable.

2018

Foreca st Cost Recovery Revenue Administration Allowance

The 2018 levels are shown only for the purpose of computing the WCA which is discussed below.

Particulars

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORTOF THE PRAYER FOR PROVTSIONAL AUTHORITY

Table 12.2017 Forecast Annual Payout, in Pesos

2018

2,502,730

82. The computed 2017 FIT-All rate covering RE Projects TODAY with at least nomination from the DOE as of November 15, 2016 for the FIT system is PhP / kWh 0.2291. These projects, have ongoing construction and have reached at least 80% electromechanical completion, thus, are almost sure to operate within the period under consideration, if not already operating to date.

66. For simplicity, the estimated trus tee fee/ Disbursement Allowance for 2018 is set at the 2017 level of Php1,095,368.36 as stated in Paragraph 77.

Table 8 , FIT Differential (without under-recovery and accrued 2015-2016 FIT Differential), in Pesos 2012-2015

Standard

11,461,820

65. The projected AA for 2018 IS estimated to be Php 8 ,656,332 .001518.

57. FIT Differential. Following the formula for FD in Paragraph 25 (first two terms), the total FCRR in Table 7 is subtracted from the correspondin g FIT Revenue in Table 4, on a per plant basis, and yields the following summary for 2014-2018:

Technology

14,678,870

Total

FIT-ALL RATE FOR 2017

78. Applying th e above components to the formula for FIT-All, we have the following, in PhP/kWh: FIT-All = FD + WCA + AA + DA FNS = 0.22 17 + 0.0263 + .0001 + 0.00001 = 0.2481 79. In more detail, the components and result of the FIT-All calculation may be summarized in the following table:

Is the Working Capital Allowance to be funded during Yeart+1

WCA Balance t

Factor Rate

Ending

64. Summarizing Table7 and Table 8, we have the following inputs in computing the Forecast Annu al Payou t for 2018: Table 11. 2018 Forecast Cost Recovery Revenue and FIT Differential, in Pesos. Technology

FORECAST COST RECOVERY REVENUE

FIT DIFFERENTIAL

Biomass

4,252,327

2.541,736

Hydropower

2,064,748

1,082,748

Solar

3,335,885

3,665,496

Wind

5,025,909

4,171,840

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

ERC Hearing Room 15th Floor, Pacific Center Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

Jurisdictional Hearing and Expository Presentation

19 May 2017 (Friday)

9:00 A.M.

ERC Visayas Field Office St. Mary’s Drive, Banilad, Cebu City

Expository Presentation

2 June 2017 (Friday)

9:00 A.M.

ERC Mindanao Field Office, Mintrade Bldg., Monteverde Ave. cor. Sales St., 8000 Davao City

Expository Presentation

9 June 2017 (Friday)

9:00 A.M.

ERC Hearing Room 15th Floor, Pacific Center Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

Pre-trial Conference and Evidentiary Hearing

1) The name and address of such person;

80. However, TransCo would like to present some additional computations that show the 2017 FIT-All al different categories of FIT-eligible/-candidate RE Projects: Table16. Incremental Movement of the 2017 FIT-All for Different RE Plant/Project Categories (as of November 15 , 2016)

2) A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and 3) The grounds relied upon. All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicant that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicant is hereby di rected to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records fil ed with the Commission during th e sta ndard office hours. WITNESS, the Honorable Chairman JOSE VICENTE B. SALAZAR, and the Honorable Commissioners ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALEASIRIT, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 26th day of April 2017 in Pasig City.

Is the facto r rate approved by the ERC, upon recommendation of the NREB, reflective of funding requirements of the FITAll Fund, adjusted by (i) a period factor based on the billing and collection cycle of the Collection Agents as described in the Guidelines; and (ii) the collection efficiencies of Collection Agents. Data for the ini tial yea r shall be sourced from PSALM for its collection of the Universal Charge. Data for succeed ing years shall be based on FIT-All historical collection efficiency rate.

63. For the purpose of computing the WCA, the Forecast Cost Recovery Rates used by TransCo for 2018 were set at the same level as the 2017. The same holds for th e FIT Rates.

9:00 A.M.

All oth er persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicant rests its case, subject to the requi rements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following:

Is the ending balance of the Working Capital Allowance account in Yeart, including any interest income earned in the WCA account and all other component accounts of the FITAll Fund; if this is not available at the time of fi ling, the ending balance for the month immediately preceding the month of filing, subject to updating by the ERC of the actual ending balance of the WCA account in Yeart, if it shall become available prior to the issuance of its Decision on the FIT-All application.

62. From the foregoing, it may be gleaned that an initial Forecast Annual Payout for the year 2018 needs to be determined since it is envis ioned th at buffer requirements for the following year should be collected and built up during the current year. Hence, aside from the 2017 levels for Forecast Cost Recovery Revenue, FD, AA and DA, the 2018 projected levels were also established.

15 May 2017 (Monday)

3) A statement of the reli ef des ired.

Where:

Is the projected amount of payables out of the FIT-All Fund for yeart+2, consisting of forecasted Total FIT Revenues, forecasted Ad ministration Allowance and forecasted Disbursement Allowance for Yeart+2. The forecasted Total FIT Revenues for Yeart+2 , is the sum of the product of the Forecast RE Generation of Eligible RE Plantx for Yeart+2 multiplied by the appropriate FIT Ratex for Yeart+2. The forecasted Administration Allowance for Yeart+2,is the Administration Allowance for Yeart+1 less any nonrecurnng expenditures such as those relating to the initial filing of the FIT-All, adjusted for forecast CPI for Year t+2 The forecasted Disbursement Allowance for Yeart+2 is the projected level of payment to the Trustee Bank in Yeart+2.

PARTICULARS

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

= (ForecastAnnualPayoutt+2xFactorRate) - WCAEndingBalancet

Forecast Annual Payout t+2

VENUE

1) The petitioner’s name and address;

Table 15. Summary of 2016 FIT-All Rate Computation

61. The WCA amount for collection is expressed as:

WCAt+1

TIME

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

iii. Any other collection or payment shortfall.

WCAt+1

DATE

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

COE: Certificate of Endorsement issued by the DOE Nomination-Issued by the DOE when it has validated that the RE Plant has reached 80% electro-mechanlcal completion A more detailed tabl e of the FIT-All calculation above and a listing of RE Plants/Projects per category are provided in Annexes “W’ and “X”, respectively, and made integral part of this application.

1 2 3 4 5

6 7

81. TransCo has deemed it reasonable to give more weight to plants that have already been inspected by the DOE to have achieved at least 80% electromechani cal completion. Further, under the Honorable Commission‘s Decision in ERC Case No. 2014109 RC 22 limiting the forecast RE generation included in the computation of the FIT-All to those RE plants with Certificate of Endorsement (COE) for FIT eligibility from DOE, TransCo has opted to recommend and seek the Honorable Commission’s approval of a FIT-All rate lower than the total computed level of Ph P / kWh 0.2481, considering project status. Inasmuch as there is only one additional plant (8MW) that has been issued a nomi nation for FIT eligibility by the DOE but has not ye t been issued a FIT-eligible Certificate of Compliance (COC) by the ERC, TransCo has considered at least the nomination by DOE for FIT eligibility as th e cri lerion for its recommendation.

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

See Sect ion 5. RE Law IRR. Section 4. FIT Rules. Section 2.5, FIT Rules. Docketed as ERC Case No. 2015-216 RC The DOE Memorandum dated 21 July 2015 providing for the Electricity and Sales Consumption, in MWh for years 2003 to 2014 is a ttached hereto as Annex “ A “ to “A-l “ and the DOE Memorandum dated 15 ,June 20 ,6 for the Electricity & Sales Consumption for year 2015 as “Annex B to B-1”to form an integral part hereof. The FNS computation for 2015 -2016 is attached hereto as Annex “C” to form an integral part hereof. The DOE letter dated 20 June 2016 and 16 August 2016 providing “Information/Data for filing of the 2017 FIT-All Rate Pel it ion”, including attachments, are attached hereto as Annexes “D” to “ D-8” and Annex E to E-13, respectively, to form integral parts hereof. The 2016 to 2018 energy forecast genera tion per eligi ble RE Plant are summarized in the “List of FIT Eligible Renewable Energy Developer Generation “ and its attachments marked hereto as Annexes “F” to”F-32” to form an integral part hereof. The Monthly Seasonality table used for the 2014-20 15 Application is hereto attached as Annex “G” and forms an integral part hereof. The 2012 to 2016 levels are a mix of actual and forecast values . Section 1.4.1.1 . Guidelines. Details of computation of the assumed adjusted FIT rates are hereto attached as Annex “H” to “ H-2” and form integral parts hereof. The PEMC letter dated 04 July 2016 on the “’ Data on Ioad Weighted Average Price (I.WAP) for Luzon and Visayas”, including a computer pri ntout of the data in the CD submitted is attached hereto as Annexes “I” to “I-1” to form an integra] pa rt hereof. The PEMC letter dated 04 October 2016 on the “Data on Load Weighted Average Price (LWAP) for Luzon and Visayas”, is attached hereto as Annex “J” to fo rm an integral part hereof. Printouts of DASURECO’s actual Monthly CRR Rate from Oct 2015 to Sept 2016, CLPC Effective Rate for Residential Cus tomer for the period December 2013 to November 2014, SUKELCO Effective Rate for Residential Customer for the period December 2013 to November 2014, FIBECO Effective Rate for Residential Customer for the period September 2014 to August 2015, SOCOTECO I Effecti ve Rate for Res id ential Cus tomer for the period December 2013 to November 2014, nUSECO Effecti ve Rate for Residenlial Customer for the period March 2014 to February 2015 from the website www.kuryente.org. are attached hereto as Annexes “K”, “L”, to “L-11”, “M” to “M-l1 “, “N” to “N-11”, “O” to “O-11 “, and “ P” to “ P-11”,respectively, to form integral parts hereof. Table showing the details of computation of the 2016 FIT Differential deticiency is hereto attached as Annex “Q” and made an integral part hereof. Summary of 2015- 2016 FIT Differentia l charged 1020 17 FIT-All Rate Computation is shown as “Annex R” to form an integral part hereof. Projected Administration Allowance for years 2017 and 2018 is hereto attached as Annex T to form integral pa rt hereof. Factor Rate computation using Ihe form ula recommended by NREB in its Resolution No. 3 Series of 20J4 is attached hereto as Annex “S” to form an integral part hereof. Copy of the Trust Agreement dated 03 March 2015 is hereto attached as Annex “U” to “U-23” and made an integral part hereof. Details of computation of the proposed DA is hereto attached as Annex “V” and made all integrat part hereof. In the Matter of the Application for Approval of the Feed-In Tariff Allowance for Calendar Years 2014 and 2015 Pursua nt to the Guid eli nes for the Collection of the Feed-In Tariff Allowance and Disbursement of the Feed-In Tariff Allowance Fund, with Prayer for Provisional Authority. Section 3. Action on the Motion. - Motions for provisional authority or interim relief may be acted upon with or withollt hearing. The Commission shall act on the motion on the bas is of the allegations of the application or petition ~n d supporti ng docllments and other evidences (sic) that applicant or pel’ilioner has submitted and the comments or opposition filed by any interested person, if there be any.” A copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Ms. Dinna O. Dizon is attached hereto as Annex “Y” to form an in tegral part hereof. (MS-APR 28/MAY5, 2017)

World

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

Death toll reaches 32 in restive Venezuela CARACAS―University students in Venezuela will lead a fresh round of marches against President Nicolas Maduro Thursday, a day after police fired tear gas and protesters hurled Molotov cocktails in rallies against his plan to rewrite the constitution. Violence erupted in the latest of more than a month of clashes that prosecutors say have now killed 32 people in the oil-rich nation stricken by shortages of food, medicine and other basics. Government forces used tear gas and water cannons against the demonstrators marching along a highway in east Caracas, the prosecutor’s office said. Protesters fought back with rocks and Molotov cocktails. More than 300 people were injured in Wednesday’s unrest, officials said. The latest fatality was that of an 18-year-old male struck by a projectile. Looting broke out for a second straight night in the northern city of Valencia. In Caracas, at least one protester caught fire when other demonstrators set ablaze a military motorcycle. Another was struck by an armored car. The clashes broke out after riot police blocked demonstrators from advancing towards government buildings in central Caracas, where Maduro addressed a rally of thousands of his supporters. The opposition accuses the elected leftist president of maneuvering to strengthen his grip on power. He has for months been resisting calls for a vote on removing him from office as the country staggers under food shortages, a nearcrippled state-run economy and one of the world’s highest inflation rates. Daniel Ascanio, a student leader from Simon Bolivar University, told reporters that students will march from campuses on Thursday around the country to demand “democracy and freedom.” “We will be joined by unions, homemakers, and lawmakers. All sectors of society will mobilize to send a message to Maduro,” said Ascanio. Clouds of gray smoke from tear gas canisters filled the air Wednesday as police with riot shields and trucks advanced along the highway in eastern Caracas. AFP

AWARD. This ﬁle photo taken on May 23, 1989, during the closing ceremony of the 42th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes shows US director Steven Soderbergh posing next to US actress Jane Fonda with his prize after he was awarded with the Palme d’Or for his ﬁlm ‘Sex, Lies and Videotape’. Steveen Soderbergh is one of the Cannes Festival ‘revelations’. AFP

HK recalls bloodiest violence 50 years on H ONG KONG―Hong Kong is unrecognizable now from the city that 50 years ago was the scene of bloody riots, fueled by resentment of colonial rule and inspired by the Cultural Revolution unfolding in China.

But although the memories of the bomb-strewn chaos of 1967 have faded, the city is facing a new era of turbulence as democracy activists take on Beijing and many ordinary residents still struggle to make ends meet. What started as a labor dispute in an era of poverty and corruption, when many lived and worked in poor conditions, became large-scale street battles fomented by the Chinese Communist Party. The clashes between leftists and police lasted from May to December and left 51 dead, including ﬁve police ofﬁcers.

Images from the time show bloodied residents, including women and children, and large groups of protesters facing off against police. Luk Tak-shing, now 70, was jailed during the riots and remembers police swooping on the union building where he worked. He says he was beaten, arrested and imprisoned for unlawful assembly as 40 union workers were rounded up. Luk had been helping workers organize a strike and he says he saw himself as part of a patriotic movement against a colonial power.

“These ethnic hostilities had taken root in my heart from a young age,” said Luk, who attended a communist-run leftist school where he learned about historic injustices and racial inequality. “The scenes of police beatings infuriated me, even now when I recount them I’m very agitated,” Luk told AFP. The riots followed the start of the “Cultural Revolution” in China, which saw mass purges of government opponents, and followed similar unrest in Macau, then under Portuguese rule. They began on May 6 when sacked workers attempted to prevent goods leaving an artiﬁcial ﬂower factory and were arrested. Clashes, strikes and more arrests were followed by bomb attacks across the city by protesters, including on tram stops and residential streets. Calm was only restored in December, when Chinese Premier Zhou

Enlai ordered the rioting to stop. Documentary maker Connie Lo, whose ﬁlm about the riots “Vanished Archives” is now showing in Hong Kong, described the scale of the violence as a watershed. “After experiencing terrorism in the city, people saw the signiﬁcance of having stability in life,” Lo said. The violence was never repeated, and the city was eventually handed back to China by Britain in 1997, becoming semi-autonomous. However, as fears grow that Beijing is squeezing its freedoms, issues around sovereignty and identity are again at the fore, with tensions exacerbated by sky-high housing prices and cost of living. In 2016, frustrations boiled over. Young activists calling for more autonomy or even independence from China were among protesters who fought running battles with police in the commercial district of Mong Kok. AFP

Myanmar’s coal plants could kill up to 80,000

GALA. Laura Dern, left, attends the ‘Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between’ Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2017, in New York City. AFP

YANGON―Myanmar’s plans to grow the country’s desperately needed but polluting coal-fired power plants could kill more than a quarter of a million people in the coming decades, environmentalists said Thursday. The country’s air is among the dirtiest in the world and pollution is only expected to worsen as the economy opens up after decades of isolation under the former junta. A new study by Harvard University and Greenpeace warned that the government’s plans to expand its current network of two coal-fired plants to 10 could have a major human toll. Six of its cities already have higher counts of dangerous microscopic particles known as PM10 than China’s famously smog-filled capital Beijing, according to 2016 data from the World Health Organization. “These plans do not take into account the human health costs when making choices about the country’s energy future,” Lauri Millyvirta, from Greenpeace, said. The extra pollution would likely cause more than 7,000 premature deaths a year, totaling 280,000 over the 40-year operating life of the eight new planned

plants and the two operating ones, it predicted. Half would be in Myanmar and the rest in neighboring countries, mainly Thailand and China but also other parts of Southeast Asia, the study found. The pollution would likely increase the risk of heart attacks, breathing problems and lung infections. Myanmar has made coal-ﬁred plants a cornerstone of a government plan to provide electricity to its entire population of more than 50 million people by 2030. Less than a third of its people have regular access to electricity through the country’s dilapidated power grid, which frequently breaks down, and a lack of power is a major issue for attracting foreign investors. While the country has abundant reserves of gas off its shores in the Andaman Sea, the vast majority is exported, mainly to Thailand and China. Plans to build the $3.6 billion Myitsone hydroelectric dam on the mouth of Myanmar’s Irrawaddy river, which would sell some 90 percent of its power to China, have also faced strong public opposition. AFP

N. Korea and China media in word war SEOUL―North Korean and Chinese media were at loggerheads Thursday after Pyongyang’s official news agency issued a rare and stinging denunciation of its chief ally and diplomatic backer. Beijing should be grateful to Pyongyang for its protection, said a bylined commentary carried by the Korean Central News Agency, warning of “grave consequences” if China tests its patience further. China’s Global Times newspaper retorted that the nucleararmed North was in the grip of “some form of irrational logic” over its weapons programs. Beijing and Pyongyang have a relationship forged in the blood of the Korean War, and the Asian giant remains its wayward neighbor’s main provider of aid and trade. But ties have begun to fray in recent years, with China increasingly exasperated by the North’s nuclear antics and fearful of a regional crisis. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has yet to visit Beijing, more than five years after taking power. The rival texts are a sign of the level to which the ties between the two have deteriorated. KCNA regularly carries vivid denunciations of the US, Japan, and the South Korean authorities, but it is rare for it to turn its ire on China. Beijing regularly calls for parties to avoid raising tensions―remarks that can apply to both Washington and Pyongyang―and in February it announced the suspension of coal imports from the North for the rest of the year, a crucial foreign currency earner for the authorities. Chinese state-run media have called for harsher sanctions against the North in the event of a fresh atomic test, urged Pyongyang to “avoid making mistakes”, and spoken of the need for it to abandon its nuclear programs. The KCNA commentary denounced the People’s Daily, the official mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist party, and the Global Times, which sometimes reflects the thinking of the leadership, as having “raised lame excuses for the base acts of dancing to the tune of the US”. AFP

Life

By Bernadette Lunas

N PHYSICAL retail, having an eye-catching store design is half the battle won. It attracts passersby into peeking into the window display and eventually into entering the shop.

Upscale natural cosmetics brand Kiehl’s is no stranger to this. “It’s common to see new customers pass by our store, make a double-take at the eclectic design before entering the NYC quirky world of Kiehl’s,” said Kiehl’s Philippines product manager Joan Hwang. And eclectic it is, what with exposed brick walls, neon lights, graffiti, a vintage Harley Davidson, and a skeleton figure named Mr. Bones welcoming customers into the shop filled with bottles and jars and tubes of all-natural skin care products. But in a bid to elevate customer shopping experience, the brand decided to revamp its stores. From a quirky apothecary shop, it is now called the Store of the Future as it combines traditional elements and modern twists. In Kiehl’s Philippines’s flagship store at Greenbelt 5, the beloved elements reminiscent of New York, where the brand was born, were kept, emphasized even, but the whole area is more well lit and modern. Vintage brass meets glass and stainless steel fixtures, and marble accents meet oak wood planks. “Previously, the feedback [we get] is that our store is too dark and dated, [much like how it is] when you think about apothecary shops. The concept of the Store of the Future is to make it brighter, younger, and perkier, so that even the younger customers [will be enticed to enter],” L’Oreal Luxe Philippines senior visual marketing manager Noelle Tiongson told Manila Standard. Aside from updating the décor, a few additions were injected in the product display, such as putting a plant, which is the natural ingredient of the product beside it—for instance Kiehl’s no. 1 product the Midnight Recovery Concentrate has a lavender plant beside it. “It tells a sort of story [about the products and the formulas] and makes [the display] look more attractive,” explained Tiongson. She added, “We have to display the natural derivatives across

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

SHOPPING

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

A MODERN TAKE

on old-world apothecary shop the store to make people know that this is a brand that sells products made of all-natural ingredients.” Kiehl’s “Customer Favorites” or the top 10 products of the brand are now displayed in a highlighted area, on a separate shelf, for emphasis and easy access, according to Tiongson. Each range is now arranged in separate segment for quick browsing and easy access as well. “Each skin concern has a targeted section. If your concern is hydration, anti-aging, or essential regimen, then you can proceed to the shelf,” said Tiongson. The purpose of which, she explained, is that customers no longer have to be dependent to Kiehl’s customer service representatives. Understanding the Filipino market, which prefers to know the price of the products right on the spot, price communications are put in place, along with a brief description of each product. The flagship store at Greenbelt 5 in Makati is the second renovated branch after the Alabang Town Center branch. According to Tiongson, they will renovate the Megamall branch next. Four of the 11 Kiehl’s stores will be renovated this year with the remaining branches slated for next year. Visit Kiehl’s at Greenbelt 5, SM Mall of Asia, SM City North Edsa, SM Megamall, SM Makati, Alabang Town Center, TriNoma, Powerplant Mall, Edsa Shangri-La, SM Aura, and Ayala Center Cebu. Check out Kiehl’s Philippines on Facebook and @KiehlsPhilippines on Instagram for more information.

TOP 10.

Kiehl's 10 mostpurchased products are now displayed in a separate, highlighted area called 'Customer Favorites' for easy access.

Old meets new in Kiehl's Store of the Future, which now features brighter interior, more segmented store layout, and modern decor while keeping the eclectic New York elements for which the brand is known.

Year-long discounted online shopping NO MATTER how many times fashion trends change this year, Citi cardholders can easily shop the latest apparel, footwear, or accessory at online fashion destination Zalora at 12 percent discount. Purchases should be at least P500 and paid using Citi Credit Card to avail the discount until Dec. 31. Cardholders simply register at www.zalora.com. ph or download the Zalora app on their smartphone to create an account. Mem-

bers need to simply log on to their account to proceed. Click or tap either “Shop Women” or “Shop Men,” take a pick from the featured favorites or mix and match from Zalora’s extensive selection of apparel, footwear, and accessories. Click “Add To Bag” once preferred items have been chosen, and click “Check Out Now” once finished. Input personal information including phone number and delivery address

TechnoMarine Cruise Dream and Reef Titanium are the ideal timepiece to wear as you go on many adventures this summer

before selecting the “Credit Card” payment method. To get the 12 percent discount, click the call-to-action button “Have a Promo Code? Enter it here” and enter the voucher code CITIZ12. Discount will be automatically deducted from the total amount paid. Finalize the order by clicking “Order Now.” Call the 24-hour CitiPhone at 9959999 or visit www.citibank.com.ph/ lovetockick to learn more.

Summertime is

Citi Credit Card cardholders can avail of 12 percent discount when they shop for apparel, footwear, and accessories at Zalora until Dec. 31

TechnoMarine time SUMMER means sun, sea, sand, and more. It’s that great escape—to hit the beach, go on a hike, or simply get away from it all. And no other timepiece perfectly speaks of summer fun, frolic, and adventure than TechnoMarine. Possessing an edgy yet elegant style with precision Swiss movement, a TechnoMarine watch is your perfect partner this sizzling sensational season, an invitation to imbibe the brand’s promise to live deeper with its Cruise and Reef collections. The TechnoMarine Cruise Collection includes the Cruise Dream Lady which comes in stainless steel rose gold strap and 30mm white dial with 585 quartz movement and 200m water resistance, and the Jellyfish Cruise Lady which comes in white silicone strap and 40mm stainless steel white dial with OS60 quartz movement and

200m water resistance. For the Reef collection, there is Reef Titanium for men, which comes in white silicone strap and 48mm titanium charcoal dial with Z60 quartz movement and 100m water resistance. Be it in stainless steel, with gold tone or with a silicone strap, each distinctive and charismatic design, without a doubt, possesses a personality all its own—just like you. Founded in 1997, TechnoMarine successfully merges the art of horological innovation with spirited design. For more info, visit TechnoMarine boutiques at SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, SM City Cebu, SM Lanang Premier, TriNoma, Greenbelt 3, Robinson’s Galleria, Robinson’s Magnolia, Shangri-La Plaza, My Tempo Resorts World, and all MyDiamond concept stores nationwide.

Life

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

PAYLESS springs

into style

UST in time for summer, Payless has launched a great lineup of casual sneakers, sport casuals, trendright heels, and lace-up flats. Whether it’s fashion or function you seek this season, Payless is the go-to store for all your fashion footwear needs.

Payless is right on trend with new styles in the “casletics” line. Meshing fashion details with the comfort of an athletic shoe is a huge trend in the footwear industry. Payless is ahead of the curve with casletic styles that feature metallic colorways, cutouts, and a retro feel to keep casually looking great this spring season. They also have an elegant lineup of

lace-ups in a number of women’s styles to complete her ensemble. She also has more heel height options to elevate her footwear game. From flats to wedges to chop-out ghillies, she’ll be able to find the shoe to fit her lifestyle and match any outfit—all with great details that are right on trend. Mommies will find cute, affordable

This summer, Payless introduces its 'casletics' line which combines fashion details and comfort of athletic shoes

styles that are sure to have her children looking and feeling their best. From girls’ flats to heels, she’ll look just as great as mom. For boys, they can choose from a variety of classic and comfortable styles to complete his look. Men will also see great styles at Payless stores this season. With leatherlike uppers, oxfords fit the bill for an

on-trend yet classic style. A number of Payless’ men’s dress shoes also offer a cushiony memory foam insole, a stacked heel, and a sturdy outsole. There’s also a new lineup of sport casuals for men featuring burnished uppers with canvas inserts, mesh lining, padded insole and a built-up soft outsole for all day wear.

This season Payless will be your one-stop shop for all your family’s footwear needs. With the excellent blend of style, affordability, comfort, and quality, Payless will make every shopping experience complete and fun-filled. For the ultimate fashion experience, visit a Payless store in one of more than 75 stores located at premium shopping destinations nationwide.

Asia Pacific’s first SME cloud marketplace

Globe customers may now get their hands on the all-new Samsung Galaxy S8 through the latest postpaid offer ThePLAN

GADGETS

Ground-breaking Samsung Galaxy S8 available for pre-order GLOBE customers will enjoy Samsung’s muchawaited device, the all-new Samsung Galaxy S8. With all its innovative features, here are four reasons why you should get the all new #GlobeGalaxyS8 right in time for the summer.

Feel endless with its innovative design The Samsung Galaxy S8 has infinity display for immersive viewing. It has an onscreen home button key with pressure sensor. This allows for a wider view of chosen movies, TV series, or for a comfortable searching experience. Whether it’s the 5.8-inch or 6.2-inch model, users are definitely in for a treat as this new device has a comfortable grip with its smooth rounded edges and sleek design.

Camera - on point...and shoot!

Its dual pixel 12 MP OIS rear camera, 8

MP AF front camera, and enhanced image an iris scanner for security purposes. processing, can take beautiful photos. This It is also water-resistant and dust-proof, makway, whatever the destination, from sunrise ing it easier to take new adventures, worry-free. to sunset, you will always have wonderfully taken photos with the Samsung Galaxy S8. Enjoy it best with ThePLAN What better way to do more with the SamThe S8 at its best sung Galaxy S8 than with ThePLAN. When you listen to your favorite tunes on Globe Postpaid’s latest offer, ThePLAN, Spotify, Samsung Galaxy S8 has got you cov- gives you more data for an upgraded mobile ered. This new device comes with two-way experience. Enjoy your chosen apps such as dynamic speakers that provide an enhanced Netflix, Spotify, Pokemon Go, Viber, and audio experience. It also supports UHQ Au- many more with larger than life data. Cusdio 32-bit and DSD (Direct Stream Digital) tomers also get one free app of their choice that enhances the sound experience that is not along with unlimited calls and texts. available in other Samsung models. Get to know more about ThePLAN With its powerful 10mm processor, it’s at globe.com.ph/postpaid/theplan easier to multitask work through your e-mail The all-new #GlobeGalaxyS8 is now app, while checking your social media ac- available via globe.com.ph/S8 or call 730counts. This much-awaited device also has 1300 to recontract now.

New shirt line

FILIPINOS are an emotional people. However, there are limited means to express their feelings, especially when it comes to shirts. With Linya-Linya’s #WearYourFeelings campaign, Pinoys are encouraged to “wear their hearts on their sleeve.” May they be “feels” of happiness or frustration, passion or heartache— the goal is to create an avenue for people to express their feelings in a fun, fashionable, and creative manner, and through it, build stronger connections among people. Why Saab? As a blogger, musician, and actress, she has a lot of stories and feels. She also embodies some of the best qualities and values of today’s youth— she’s fun and genuine; she’s passionate with everything she does; she’s vocal about her views and she’s socially aware. Hundreds of thousands of people follow her on social media because she wears her feelings confidently, and people connect positively with her. Linya-Linya literally started from scratch. Ali Sangalang would come up with witty one-liners then Panch Saab Magalona embodies the Alvarez would doodle them on a many qualities of today's youth blank notebook. This was their way to vent out their frustrations with their day jobs and express their feelings with everyday Filipino experiences. The group then added Jim Bacarro, who helped build the company and the brand. From a small online project with 7,000 Facebook followers, within a year, Linya-Linya has rapidly grown into a full-fledged brand with 10 retail stores and a loyal Facebook following of 247,000.

RECOGNIZING the integral role small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play in developing Asia Pacific’s economies, Mastercard together with Maestrano announced a strategic partnership to encourage SME development by enabling issuing banks across the region to leverage cloud-based technologies. The partnership aims to help SMEs reduce operational inefficiencies and encourage greater visibility and control of finances. As part of the agreement, Mastercard will be able to refer Maestrano as a complementary platform to its business card proposition to banks across Asia Pacific. This makes it the first SME cloud marketplace partnership for Mastercard in Asia Pacific and a big step forward in further driving its digital offering for SMEs. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), SMEs make up 98 percent of all enterprises in the region, and they employ up to 66 percent of the respective national workforces collectively. In certain markets, SMEs drive up to 38 percent of GDP. Yet, SMEs do not enjoy the same economies of scale as multi-national companies, and many are hesitant to invest in their technological capabilities. For example, findings from research conducted by the Asia Cloud Computing Association (ACCA) showed that the average SME spends only 2.5 percent of its overall budget on IT. As a result, Mastercard and Maestrano’s collaboration is focused on helping provide much needed insights and infrastructure that enables SMEs to boost their growth capabilities.

Real-time tracking and visibility for SMEs

By leveraging Maestrano’s unique patented technologies Connec!™ and Impac!™, issuing banks will be able to provide SMEs with an integrated solution that enables businesses to track expenditure and finances in real-time via cloud technology. Aggregating different applications, the Maestrano solution allows for sharing of data across multiple software, as well as provide reporting capability via a customized dashboard, which allows SMEs to view critical financial data in real-time. SMEs will be able to use the dashboard to derive insights on their financial position, cash flow management and debt reconciliation as well as other functions up to four months in advance. Compatible with most cloud business applications and software available in the marketplace today, the Maestrano solution allows SMEs to save significantly on time and resources required to manage operational administration, with automatic updates across applications.

An end-to-end, digital solution for businesses

Linya-Linya t-shirts let people wear their hearts on their sleeves

The solution provided by Mastercard and Maestrano will assist banks to more clearly differentiate their products and solutions for the SME sector, aiming to achieve greater satisfaction and improve customer loyalty. When integrated with an existing product or solution provided by a bank, the Maestrano platform can also provide insights into the financial needs and health of an SME, such that banks are able to better anticipate and meet customer needs. This will deliver improved cash flow management and reduce the amount of time required in processes such as loan applications. Stephane Ibos, CEO of Maestrano said, “We are delighted to be working with Mastercard, to deliver an innovative opportunity for banks in the Asia Pacific region. “ Philip Glickman, Regional Head, Commercial Payment Solutions, Asia Pacific, Mastercard, said, “Financing for business growth and capability development is a key priority in ensuring sustainable growth for SMEs, and it is critical that SMEs are empowered with products and solutions that enable them to thrive in highly competitive, global marketplaces. Our partnership with Maestrano is part of our commitment to supporting Asia Pacific’s SMEs by providing digital, end-to-end solutions that gives them greater insight and control of their business and financial health.” The Maestrano platform solution is currently available in several Southeast Asia markets with plans to expand into the wider Asia Pacific region by the end of the year.

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

John Cena is a friendly bull in ‘Ferdinand’

HO wouldn’t swoon over the Flash? He has the makings of a great boyfriend, he’s unbelievably gorgeous, has a toned physique, plus he can run faster than anyone on earth. That’s why more and more girls stay glued to Warner TV’s The Flash, because nothing is more captivating than someone with superhero qualities.

5 reasons

BARRY ALLEN

But what makes the fastest man alive, the man of your dreams? Here are a few reasons why Barry Allen is the girls’ ultimate crush. Cuteness overload The Flash’s Barry Allen is played by Grant Gustin, who is boyishly charming and quite honestly one of the dreamiest guys on TV. The 27-year-old actor perfectly portrays one of DC’s most beloved heroes. He is tall and handsome, with a kind smile that will surely light up any room. It’s why we can’t blame Picture News reporter, Iris West from falling madly in love with Barry. How can you not fall for a family guy? Everyone loves a man who cares Grant Gustin (left) playing the fictional superhero The Flash (Barry Allen) for his family. This makes Barry Allen especially attractive to women. Though fights for the helpless. His compassion and Barry Allen completed a degree in his story is a bit tragic, with him losing empathy might just be the sexiest thing Organic Chemistry with a minor in his mom at such a young age and his about him. Criminology in only three years at Sun dad jailed because of a crime he didn’t He’s just super! City University. Talk about a smart guy. commit, Barry still shows that he’ll do Why stick with ordinary, when you can He’s definitely not just all looks, he’s anything in his power to do right by his have something super? Superpowered that loaded with knowledge too, a lot of it. loved ones. is. Barry’s remarkable speed allows him There’s just so much to love when it He has the biggest heart to perceive even the minutest of details comes to our favorite dashing debonair We all know that Barry or ‘The Flash’ happening at a fraction of a second and he Barry Allen or more known as The Flash. helps people to the point of sacrificing can even alter time with his powers. Now If you can’t get enough of him, watch The his life even for strangers. He believes who wouldn’t fall in love with a guy like that? Flash on Warner TV at 9:50 p.m. every that everyone deserves to live so he Smart guys are sexy Monday.

(aka The Flash)

IS THE PERFECT GUY

PEOPLE

…are not talking about

…are talking about Ikaw Lang Ang Iibigin It seems that people don’t mind even if the drama was relegated from a primetime series to a late morning program. The reunion TV project of Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson made Kapuso Network’s Trops eat dusts. According to the latest ratings data from TNS Kantar and AGB Nielsen Survey, Ikaw Lang Ang Iibigin is enjoying supremacy in its timeslot, which of course doesn’t make the rival station really happy. Barbie Forteza For an actress like her, it would take a serious amount of guts to admit that she’s not as popular or as versatile as her contemporaries in the business. In a recent interview, Barbie admitted that her career headed to a different, which she somehow doesn’t regret. She acknowledged her weaknesses as a celebrity but declined to be compared with anyone. What’s even more admirable about Barbie is that she doesn’t pretend to be someone else, which makes her ﬁt in the direction she chose to take.

Charice Pempengco She hasn’t even reached the age of 30 and yet people don’t care about her anymore. After making a series of terrible career decision, from being an international singing sensation, Charice is nothing but a washed up celebrity now. Not even her mother’s rather lengthy Facebook post made a point since her detractors are only interested to see her falter even more. Tim Yap The social media savvy TV host and “eventologist” recently had a dose of his own [bitter] medicine. Yap joined thousands of netizens who were talking about the Binibining Pilipinas and commented that “some of the girls don’t look like they come from the provinces they represent. He deleted the tweet after receiving numerous notifications regarding his post. You don’t post anything tasteless online then delete after drawing some flaks. It is similar to admitting that you are careless and don’t have the balls to affirm what you stand for. ToMiho Many are wondering why Tommy Esguerra and Miho Nishida’s called it quits when in fact nothing major happened between that could lead to a breakup. One thing is for sure though, manufactured parings don’t last long especially if there’s no genuine intention between two parties to stay together and if they both felt that their love team doesn’t even contribute anything to their showbiz career.

Katarina Rodriguez A few days after the grand coronation of the Binibining Pilipinas pageant, the former Asia’s Next Top Model ﬁnalist started making buzz online. She’s making headlines more than the top winner of the annual beauty contest when rumors circulated that she was giving up her crown. Katarina has since denied the rumors but it deﬁnitely shocked pageant fanatics who were actually rooting for her to win Miss Universe Philippines title.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Friday, May 5, 2017

ACROSS 1 Joan Baez’s genre 5 Raj title 10 Physics prefix 14 Tel — 15 Harebrained 16 Scrooge’s nephew 17 Approached 18 Knight’s weapon 19 Discovery 20 Make glad 22 Is enough 24 Asphalt jungle 27 No-hitter king 28 Fairy ring component 32 Me, too! 36 Cuttlefish defense 37 One-time Denver QB 39 Scatter about 40 Icebreaker 42 Ms. Burstyn 44 Sherpa’s sighting 45 Stadium levels 47 Graf rival 49 Baron — Richthofen 50 Shopping frenzy 51 Hissing 53 Puts into words 56 Burger side

57 Talking big 61 Give lessons 65 Karachi language 66 Analyze in detail 69 Montreal athlete 70 Backpacker’s load 71 Clean the slate 72 Fanatic’s feeling 73 A few 74 Sneakier 75 Ultimatum word DOWN 1 Turn toward 2 Racetrack shape 3 Callao is its port 4 Whine expert? 5 RSVP word 6 Collection suffix 7 Inventor — Geiger 8 Bring upon oneself 9 Stout 10 Rapport 11 Clapton of “Layla” 12 — Russo, of “Tin Cup” 13 Bookie’s figures 21 Colleen’s home 23 Novelties 25 Enameled metal 26 Caterwauls

28 Sprays lightly 29 Nerdy 30 Hot-dogger 31 About half of us 33 Famed fountain 34 Rocky Mountain range 35 Unpaid 38 Pound sounds 41 Stress 43 Mr. Diamond 46 Musical chairs goal 48 RBI or ERA 52 Pluck

54 “Egad!” 55 Show teeth 57 Annoys 58 Hydrox rival 59 Not know from — 60 Like slate 62 Eddie Murphy’s — Foley 63 IRS form pros 64 Cavity 67 Flight dir. 68 Constantly, to Byron

WWE superstar John Cena takes on the form of a friendly bull in Blue Sky Studios’ Ferdinand. From blockbuster toonmaker Carlos Saldanha, who also helmed global hits Ice Age and Rio comes the story of a beast with a big heart in Ferdinand, based on the story of a classic Ferdinand (Cena) tells the inspiring and joyful story of a giant gentle bull forced into the dangerous arena of bullfighting. After being mistaken for a dangerous beast, he is captured and torn from his home. Determined to return to his family, he rallies a misfit team on the ultimate adventure. Set in Spain, Ferdinand proves you can’t judge a bull by its cover. Cena, in recent interviews clearly relates to his character – big but hesitant to fight. “He’s a peaceful bull, people think he’s a fighter because he’s a big bull,” said Cena. Ferdinand voice cast includes (Jane the Virgin’s) Gina Rodriguez as hedgehog Una, Kate McKinnon as goat Lupe, David Tennant as Angus, Anthony Anderson as Bones, Gabriel Iglesias as Cuatro, Daveed Diggs as Dos, Miguel Ángel Silvestre as El Primero, Sally Phillips as Greta, Flula Borg as Hans, Karla Martinez as Isabella, Boris Kodjoe as Klaus, Raul Esparza as Moreno, Jerrod Carmichael as Paco and Bobby Cannavale as Valiente. A Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox presentation distributed by Warner Bros., Ferdinand opens in cinemas (Phils.) on Jan. 8, 2018 and will also be available in 3D screens. Ferdinand trailer here - https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=nMs7qDNB03k

Animated character Ferdinand, voiced by wrestler and actor John Cena

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017

Philippine superstar Nora Aunor with Hollywood action star Jackie Chan during the 2015 Asean International Film Festival and Awards in Malaysia

KZ Tandingan headlines the grand showcase of music and style called “Manila X”

NORA AUNOR and JACLYN JOSE

at AIFFA 2017 in Malaysia

UPERSTAR and multiawarded actress Nora Aunor is in Kuching, Malaysia as the special presenter to this year’s recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of AIFFA 2017 (ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards.

The Gala Night (awards ceremonies) will be held tomorrow. Aunor left on Thursday with the other Philippine delegates and accompanied by John Rendez. They are staying at Pullman Hotel in Malaysia. Aunor was the recipient of AIFFA Lifetime

Achievement Award in 2015, while Jackie Chan was given the Asian Inspiration Award that year. According to sources, Aunor can’t miss this opportunity and honored for the same recognition given to her two years ago for her achievements and iconic status in Philippine entertainment. The actress is celebrating her 50th anniversary in the movie industry, too. This year’s recipient is not known yet. Before she left, the Superstar was deciding between two designer gowns to wear. Likewise, Cannes 2016 Best Actress Jaclyn Jose is attending the said Malaysian ﬁlm event as one of the special speakers today. Jose is looking forward to this speaking engagement to give inspiration to her fellow ASEAN actors. Last year, Jose made history by becoming the ﬁrst Southeast Asian actress to bag the coveted

Best Actress award at the Cannes International Film Festival for her performance in Brillante Mendoza’s Ma’Rosa. Meanwhile, nine Filipino independent films are representing the country at this third edition of AIFFA. The grand film event of Malaysia, with Livan Tajang as Festival Director, is being held every other year since 2013. Previous to this one, the festival was held in 20115. AIFFA is a film competition among ASEAN countries –Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, etc. Ang Babaeng Humayo (The Woman Who Left) by Lav Diaz was this year’s opening film. Filipino celebrities Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez will host the awards night. Cherie Gil, who won Best Actress in AIFFA 2015 (for Sonata), and Marlo Mortel are award presentors, while Jason Dy will perform.

10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

before you watch Globe Live’s ‘Newsies’ GET ready to seize the day. After the spectacular success of American Idiot and A Christmas Carol, Carol Globe Live is again partnering with 9 Works Theatrical to bring the Disney turned Broadway classic Newsies to the Philippines, becoming the country’s first dance musical. “We’re excited because Globe Live is the first production house outside Disney to be granted rights to stage Newsies,” reveals Executive Producer and Globe Retail Transformation and Stores Management Advisor Joe Caliro. “This is a reflection of how we are committed to bringing world-class productions to Filipino audiences. The way our previous productions were received shows how there is a strong clamor for good theater.” Before you catch the boys of Newsies when they hit the stage at the Globe ICONIC Store in July, here are 10 things you need to know about this dance musical extravaganza: 1. Newsies is loosely based on the real-life 1899 newsboy strike in New York City, where a group of boys initiated a strike hoping to improve how child laborers were compensated.

2. Disney adapted the story into a film in 1992, with first-time director Kenny Ortega, who achieved fame for choreographing the concerts of Cher, Gloria Estefan, and Michael Jackson, and films like Xanadu, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Dirty Dancing. He would later direct films like Hocus Pocus and the High School Musical trilogy. 3. The lead character, Jack “Cowboy” Kelly, who initiated the strike, was played by Christian Bale, who was 17 years old at the time. He didn’t know it would be a musical, and when he was told, he tried to arrange a deal where he wouldn’t sing and dance. 4. The 12 songs featured in the film were written by noted composers J.A.C. Redford and Alan Menken. Menken is the decorated composer responsible for the scores of The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Tangled, and Sausage Party. He also composed the score for A Christmas Carol, which Globe Live staged in December last year. 5. The film didn’t do so well in the box office, but it gained cult status when it was released on home video. Fans of the film (and later, the Broadway musical) are called Fansies. Bale once said, “You say something

bad about Newsies and you have an awful lot of people to answer to.” 6. Newsies was adapted to the stage in 2011, and premiered on Broadway in 2012. It was so well loved that it became Disney’s fastest Broadway musical to make proﬁt. 7. Jeremy Jordan, who portrayed lead roles in shows like Smash and Supergirl, played Jack “Cowboy” Kelly. When it premiered on Broadway, Bale revealed that he had no plans of seeing the show. He said, “I’m not really into musicals. But I wish them the best. And I’m sure the person playing the character I played exceeded whatever I did, and congratulations to them.” 8. Menken returned to arrange the score for the musical, along with original lyricist Jack Feldman. They added six new songs, including “The Bottom Line,” “That’s Rich” and “Something to Believe In.” 9. Newsies the musical was nominated for eight Tony Awards in 2012, winning Best Choreography and Best Original Score. 10. The musical had a two-year run on Broadway, closing on August 24, 2014 after 1,005 performances. Disney’s Newsies will be staged starting in July at the Globe Iconic Store in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

Ultimate style and music experience STYLE and music are two creative outlets that are popular among millennials always on the look out for the hottest style trends and the freshest musical acts. For and by the youth, Manila X celebrates these passions in a one-of-a-kind event that brings together this country’s young, hip, and innovative talents in a grand showcase of style and music. As the ﬁrst event of its kind in the country, Manila X aims to celebrate the youth and their passions, and to provide an avenue to promote the talent, creativity, and innovation that this generation has to offer. This year, prepare for the ultimate millennial experience as Manila X brings you a bigger and better festival that embraces today’s digital age. Manila X gathers together today’s most sought-after stylists, celebs, and models as they showcase their versions of the most stylish trends. Scoring these fashion shows will be this year’s line-up of talented artists including international YouTube sensation William Singe, along with some of the country’s brightest performers, namely: Bamboo, KZ Tandingan, Kiana Valenciano, Sam Concepcion, Curtismith, Jess Connelly, Franco, Saydie, The Juans, Tukar Sinati, and A-Team. Also included in the lineup are the metro’s hottest DJs: Tom Taus, Ron Poe, Patty Tiu, and Carlo Atendido. Witness the revolutionary experience at this year’s Manila X on May 27, 7 p.m. at the Globe Circuit Event Grounds, Makati City. Gates open at 4 p.m. so grab your tickets now at ticketworld.com.ph so you won’t miss out on the ultimate style and music festival. To learn more about Manila X, visit the ofﬁcial website, www.manilax.net, or check out Facebook (www.facebook. com/manilaxfestival) and Instagram (@wearemanilax) pages.

Australian singer and songwriter William Singe