Manila Standard - 2017 May 31 - Wednesday

‘SURRENDER TO SPARE CIVILIANS FROM HARM’ MARAWI—The government on Tuesday urged Maute group terrorists occupying parts of the city to surrender for the sake of trapped civilians, as attack helicopters pounded the gunmen’s strongholds with rockets.

More than 100 people have been confirmed killed in the fighting, which began on Tuesday last week when gunmen waving black flags of the Islamic State group rampaged through the mostly Muslim-populated city of Marawi.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law across the entire island of Mindanao, home to roughly 20 million people, in response to the crisis as he warned that local militant groups were uniting behind IS and becoming a major security threat.

But the militants, initially estimated by the Defense chief to number just 100, have withstood eight days of intense air assaults and street-to-street combat, prompting the government’s surrender calls on Tuesday.

“We are giving those inside an opportunity to surrender. There is still a chance to lay down your arms,” military spokesman Next page Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said on dzBB radio.

SCENE OF CONFLICT. A Philippine Marines armoured personnel carrier speeds away as black smoke billows from burning houses after military helicopters fired rockets at militant positions in Marawi on the southern island of Mindanao yesterday, as fighting rages on the eighth day. AFP

DND: ML not our idea Defense chief admits no need for it to repel Maute

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

VOL. XXXI • NO. 106 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

MILF open to civic aid for trapped civilians

By John Paolo Bencito and Francisco Tuyay MORO Islamic Liberation Front Chairman Alhaj Murad Ebrahim on Monday night welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s suggestion for the MILF to help civilians trapped in areas of Marawi

City where sporadic fighting continues.

After a meeting between Murad and other MILF leaders and Dutere on Thursday, both sides agreed to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Marawi City.

“Modalities of cooperation would be established between

the government of the Philippines and MILF,” the two sides said in a joint statement.

During the meeting, Duterte and Murad agreed to use peace mechanisms such as the Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCHs) “for planning and implementing the

ways on how to immediately and safely extend the humanitarian assistance.”

Duterte also assured the MILF leaders “that the martial law declaration is not against the MILF, MNLF or NPA but to quell the rebellion of the Maute group and other ISISinspired terrorists.” Next page

Displaced people cry for end of brutal war MARAWI—Four hungry chickens clawed at rubbish in a deserted street that smelt of corpses as military helicopters skimmed the rooftops firing rockets while the Philippines’ most beautiful Muslim city burned.

Marawi, a lakeshore city of minarets that is the center of culture for the Muslim minority, is nearly empty after gunmen wielding black flags of the Islamic State group went on a rampage last week.

Despite a relentless military campaign, an unknown number of gunmen remain held up in pockets of the city and holding hostages, while up to 2,000 residents are trapped.

“These guys know how to fight. It looks like they have had Next page

Pets, other animals suffer, too THE ongoing clashes in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, between government forces and members of Maute group have displaced not just thousands of residents but also their pets and other animals that were left behind to fend for themselves.

While some residents were able to flee to Iligan and other Next page

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EFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana admitted that the government could contain the Maute terrorist group in Marawi City even without martial law, and said he did not recommend that President Rodrigo Duterte impose military rule over the entire island of Mindanao, Senator Franklin Drilon said Tuesday.

BRIEFING. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte views the presentation being showed by AFP chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Año related to the current developments on the terror crisis in Marawi City during a meeting in Davao City Monday. With them is Special Assistant to the President, Christopher Lawrence Go. Presidential Photo In a news conference, Drilon said Lorenzana made these admissions on Monday in a closed-door briefing for the senators.

At the briefing, it was Senator Antonio Trillanes IV who asked Lorenzana if government troops could contain the terrorist group even without martial law.

“Yes we can,” was Lorenzana’s reply, Drilon said.

At the same news conference, Trillanes said Lorenzana also told the senators they were not the ones who rec-

ommended to Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao in the wake of heavy fighting in Marawi City.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, on the other hand, said security officials told the senators that they had no choice but to implement martial law because Duterte had already declared it.

Aside from Lorenzana, also present during the security briefing were National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and AFP spokesperson Next page Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr.

End of the road for the ‘dinosaurs’ ‘BAKWIT.’ A family from Marawi rest at an evacuation center in Balo-i on the southern island of Mindanao, part of the thousands displaced by the conflict in Marawi. AFP

15 senators rally behind Duterte

By Macon Ramos-Araneta FIFTEEN out of the 23 members of the Senate on Tuesday filed a resolution supporting President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Min-

danao, saying there was no cause to revoke them.

The 15 senators who filed Senate Resolution No. 388 Monday were Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, Senators Juan Edgardo An-

gara, Nancy Binay, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Richard Gordon, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Manny Pacquiao, Joel Villanueva, Cynthia Villar and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

The signatories are all part Next page

Congress okays tougher AMLA

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz THE Senate and the House of Representatives have approved their respective version of a bill that would expand the coverage of the

Anti-Money Laundering Act to include casinos to improve the Philippines’ legal framework against money laundering and make it more attuned to international standards.

With 21 affirmative votes, no negative votes and no

abstentions, the Senate on Tuesday approved Senate Bill 1468 while the House approved House Bill 5663― which set at P5 million per transaction the amount that can be legally questioned― by 219 votes.

Next page

PHASEOUT. Jeepneys are seen as an enforcer manages traffic at a busy street in Manila.

Once hailed as the ‘King of the Road,’ their days are numbered with the government’s modernization plan for mass transport. AFP

By Ayee Macaraig PETER Dallos shouts above the rumble of his smoke-belching engine urging passengers to clamber quickly on to his dilapidated red jeepney.

Such scenes may soon disappear from Manila’s gridlocked streets as authorities move to phase out the Philippines’ iconic World War II-era minibuses, citing pollu-

tion and safety concerns.

Dubbed “jeepneys” and once hailed as the “King of the Road,” they are a cultural symbol in the Philippines to rival New York’s yellow taxis―and for decades they provided cheap and regular transport for millions.

But under a government modernization program, vehicles of this type that are Next page

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Pernia: Diluted tax reform may stall big infra projects

By John Paolo Bencito

S

OCIOECONOMIC Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia warned Tuesday the government may fail to sustain its planned spending under its ambitious infrastructure program as a result of the lower revenues arising from the removal of the value-added tax exemptions in the first package of its Comprehensive Tax Reform Program.

Following President Rodrigo Duterte’s request to speed up the first package of the CTRP proposed by his administration, Pernia said, the Philippines might resort to a lower-thanplanned infrastructure spending after modifications were made to cut net revenue by as much as P82 billion from the P157.2 billion earlier estimated by the Finance Department.

“That’s a problem. We will not be able to fund the Build, Build, Build [or maybe] small build, small build, small build... or it can be no build, no build, no build,” Pernia said.

“With the modifications introduced by the House, it’s going to go down to P82 billion, so it’s about half. It’s not good.

Congress should have passed it in toto.”

Pernia warned that the low revenues resulting from the modifications in the tax reform program would affect not only hard infrastructure but also the soft infrastructure, development programs, education and health.

Finance Undersecretary Karl Chua earlier last week said that, under a generalized repeal of the special laws on the VAT exemptions that the House members preferred, the revenue gains would be “difficult to ensure.”

Chua said another P10 billion in estimated revenues may be chopped from the automobile levy should the House push for another version that was estimated to yield P14 billion in the first year instead of P24 billion.

Pernia said that while it was not the end of the road should Duterte’s tax reform package fail to pass Congress before it recessed, there was a need to

complement the losses in the first package through the three succeeding legislations.

He criticized the legislators blocking the administration’s original tax package.

“They should realize that we in the economic team, our interest is just the country’s development. The improvement of the society,” Pernia said.

“We do not have a personal agenda at all. We are trained to do economic analysis, tax analysis. We know what is optimal.

“I don’t think the legislators are as well-versed as the economic team. Some maybe experts but not as a whole. The economic team works as a whole, they should have trust in the economic team.”

Pernia said if the tax reform bills were passed, inflation would be around 1.4 percent by 2018 “but this will dissipate, it will not shock.”

MILF...

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The President also discussed the drafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law and urged the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) to speed up its drafting of the law.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año, administrator of martial law, was also present at the meeting, along with peace panel chairwoman Irene Santiago and several military commanders and Cabinet officials.

Ebrahim was accompanied by first vice chairman Ghazali Jaafar, BIAF chief of staff Sammy Al-Mansour, peace implementing panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal, Supreme Shari’ah Court head Ustadz Khalifa Nando and AHJAG chairman Abdul Dataya.

Moro National Liberation Front fighters, meanwhile, were on standby and waiting for word from the government to help neutralize Maute group members, MNLF spokesman Absalom Cerveza said.

On Monday, Duterte accept-

ed the offer of MNLF founding chairman Nur Misuari to help fight the Maute extremists.

Misuari has suggested the formation of about 500 to 700 fighters under the command

of MNLF officers to support government troops waging war against the terrorist group in Marawi.

Cerveza said there must be a protocol first before the MNLF

can fight alongside the Armed Forces of the Philippines. In the absence of such a protocol that would spell out the parameters of the cooperation, the MNLF cannot act unilaterally, he added.

Congress...

‘Surrender...

Senate Bill 1468 was authored

by Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto and sponsored

by Senator Chiz Escudero.

Escudero, chairman of the Senate committee on banks, financial institutions and currencies, said the bill primarily sought to “put more teeth into the existing AMLA by including the casino industry under the coverage of the law.”

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, head of the House committee on banks and financial intermediaries, said the House decided to come up with a tougher AMLA following the $81-million Bangladeshi cyber heist, the biggest hoard of dirty money reported to have entered and left the country last year.

Evardone said the House bill set the amount that could be challenged to P5 million from P500,000 “to protect the industry that provides jobs and livelihood to many Filipinos.”

“This will enhance the country’s competitiveness and the transparency of financial transactions. This will also improve the image of the gaming industry as a haven for investors,” Evardone said.

Reps. Josephine Sato of Mindoro Occidental, Winston Castelo of Quezon City and Henry Oaminal of Misamis Occidental authored the consolidated measure that sought to amend the AMLA.

“If you do that, it will be better so no one else will be dragged into this, no more buildings will be destroyed.”

Asked why the government had issued a surrender call, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said: “To lessen the damage on the ground, definitely so the civilians will be less affected.”

Up to 2,000 residents are trapped in areas held by the militants, according to the local government, and the International Committee of the Red

Cross has voiced alarm that they will be caught in the bombing raids or crossfire.

The militants also took a priest and up to 14 other people hostage at the start of the crisis, and their fate remains unknown.

Helicopters fired rockets on a pocket of the city held by the militants throughout Tuesday morning, and black smoke rose from the buildings that were apparently hit, according to an Agence FrancePresse reporter in Marawi.

The gunmen are being backed by foreign fighters, including Malaysians, Indonesians and Singaporeans, authorities have said.

The violence began when doz-

ens of gunmen went on the rampage in response to an attempt by security forces to arrest Isnilon Hapilon, a senior member of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group and regarded as the local leader of IS. Hapilon is on the US government’s list of most-wanted terrorists.

He was being protected in Marawi by the local Maute group, which has pledged allegiance to IS. More than 100 inmates of two Marawi jails escaped at the start of the conflict. The military said some of the escapees may have joined the fighting. AFP, Rey E. Requejo, John Paolo Bencito

quire Congress or the Senate in particular to issue a resolution to support it.

She also said that it would have been prudent for the Senate to reiterate the safeguards against abuse of martial law in the Constitution.

Escudero said there is no need for the Senate to pass a resolution affirming the proclamation of martial law and the suspen-

sion of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao.

Escudero also said he did not sign the resolution because he didn’t know about the resolution.

“Nobody showed me a copy of the resolution,” he said.

The senator added that even if it were given to him, he would most likely not have signed it.

With Sara Susanne D. Fabunan and John Paolo Bencito

The official death toll is 27 civilians, 17 soldiers, three police and 65 militants.

It is almost certain to rise.

A police commando told reporters in Marawi he suspected the still off-limits public market was full of bodies.

“The area smells bad,” said the commando, Hamid Balimbingan.

“We still can’t penetrate the area and that’s why we’re using helicopter gunships on them [gunmen].”

Those trapped are in danger of being hit by rockets or getting caught in the crossfire of the battles, while a lack of electricity, water, food and medical care could be just as deadly, according to the International Com-

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HELPING HAND. President Duterte talks with Moro Islamic Liberation Front Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim (center) and Implementing Panel Chairman Mohair Iqbal regarding the humanitarian efforts in Marawi City by the rebel group. Presidential Photo

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15...

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of the Senate majority bloc. Only two members from the majority group—Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero—did not sign the resolution.

Poe explained that while she does not object to martial law, the Constitution does not re-

Displaced...

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some training,” Marawi city police chief Parson Asadil said on Monday in grudging acknowledgement as he manned a checkpoint.

At least one of his men had been killed and five are missing, he said.

Pets...

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nearby cities with their pets, others who failed to do so have taken to social media to express their concern.

Maria Ninotchka Herrera, a teacher at the Mindanao State University in Marawi, said a number of friends left

their pets inside the campus with food and water, thinking they could come back for them after just a few days. As the conflict continues, however, they now worry that their pets are starving.

Marines have supposedly secured the campus, but this doesn’t guarantee that the dogs and cats there would be safe and not leave to forage for food.

Herrera traveled for almost nine

hours from Marawi to Iligan with her Japanese Spitz Misao and her Siberian Husky Maya. During her journey, Herrera said she saw other evacuees who took their pets with them.

“There were kids cuddling their cats and older kids holding their dogs. I couldn’t take photos because our phones didn’t have enough battery because there was no electricity since Tuesday night

No more Japan trip for Duterte this June PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has canceled his second trip to Japan in early June to address the unrest in Mindanao, where he declared martial law last week following the attacks by the Islamic State-follower Maute Group in Marawi that has killed more than 100 people.

Nikkei Inc., the organizers of the 23rd International Conference on the Future of Asia on June 5 and 6 in Tokyo, said Tuesday Duterte had already canceled his supposed speaking engagement.

“H.E. Mr. Rodrigo Duterte, President of Republic of the Philippines, has canceled his

appearance at this year’s conference,” Nikkei said in an email to reporters.

Malacañang and Foreign Affairs officials repeatedly declined to confirm the report.

Duterte was invited to be one of the speakers at the Tokyo conference, where he had been scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said Duterte’s presence here was necessary but did not confirm or deny Duterte’s reported cancellation of his Tokyo trip.

“As far as we know he would rather stay here,” Abella said.

John Paolo Bencito

DND...

avoid shortcuts and follow the Constitution by calling a joint session.

He said a joint session would also give security managers a chance to enlighten the public about the situation and address misinformation and fake news circulating online.

“The people are contradicting each other. Agencies are contradicting each other in terms of facts and in terms of what’s really happening. We need to hear it straight from the security managers,” he said.

But Senator Cynthia Villar said there was no need to call a joint session, since a majority of the members of both chambers have no intention of revoking martial law.

The minority bloc, on the other hand, said at least six other senators from the majority bloc—Senators Ralph Recto, Francis Escudero, Sherwin Gatchalian, Joel Villanueva, JV Ejercito and Loren Legarda— support a joint session.

Recto said the Constitution is clear that Congress must convene in joint session to affirm or reject declaration.

“The voices of the people’s representatives must be heard on such an important issue,” Recto said.

Legarda said a decision to revoke or not to revoke could only be arrived through an exercise where every legislator would express his or her affirmation or dissent.

“Our nation has never before been placed under this situation post-Edsa. The constitutional provisions that were meant to ensure checks and balances among the three branches of government would require no less,” she said.

With John Paolo Bencito

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Senator Francis Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party, said the Senate minority bloc was considering questioning Duterte’s declaration of martial law before the Supreme Court, but nothing was final yet.

“We are open to it but let us see first what will be the results of the debates,” said Pangilinan, referring to plenary debates on the resolution they filed calling for a joint session of Congress to deliberate on Duterte’s martial law declaration.

The minority bloc filed its resolution 10 minutes after the Senate majority filed a separate resolution expressing support for Duterte’s proclamation.

Drilon, a former Justice secretary, said the Supreme Court was bound by the Constitution to rule on a petition questioning martial law in 30 days.

If a joint session is not called, Drilon said, they would have a reason to bring the issue to the Supreme Court.

Trillanes, on the other hand, said Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez could be held liable for dereliction of duty before the Office of the Ombudsman. He also said those who openly objected to a joint session can also be slapped with the same offense.

Pimentel and Alvarez have both said there is no need for a joint session of Congress since there is no intention to revoke it.

But Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV urged his colleagues to

aged 15 years or older will be taken off the streets by 2020 and replaced with a more environment-friendly version.

Dallos, 55, slaps the steering wheel as his slipper-clad foot stomps on the gas while he hands over change that is passed down a row of squished passengers fanning themselves in the summer heat.

“This is like my wife. My jeepney and I are together every day. I know what ails it, what I need to do,” Dallos told AFP. “I’m angry because I will lose my job. I will be forced to go home to my province, become a bystander and starve,” he said.

The government admits the plan will be hard to implement, affecting a microindustry of poor drivers and

owners.

Dallos has been working 14 hours a day for 20 years to provide for his jobless wife, seven kids and three grandchildren who live in an upland farming province where he has no land to till.

He earns around P500 or $10 a day.

Taking inspiration from the American jeeps left behind after the war, the jeepney is a Filipino invention, where a roof has been added and inside there are two parallel benches.

They can carry more than 20 people at a time, but run on cheap diesel and are heavy polluters, while the drivers are notorious for violating traffic rules.

“Our inefficient dinosaur [the jeepney] must now be relegated to the museum. It is dirty, inefficient, unhealthy,” said Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez. AFP

mittee of the Red Cross.

“It really is a terrible situation,” ICRC’s deputy head of the Philippine delegation, Martin Thalmann, said in Marawi. His team has been in contact with the trapped people via phone.

“Sick people have already died because they couldn’t get out.

There are elderly in there.”

The military campaign involves dangerous house-to-house combat with the gunmen using sniper fire to deadly effect from key structures and buildings.

Helicopters also fly regularly over the areas being held by the militants and fire rockets, even with civilians known to be in nearby buildings.

AFP with Macon Ramos-Araneta

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[May 23], when we left,” she said.

“But most people I know there just left their pets in their houses, with food good for three days. No one expected that the trouble would stretch for days,” she said.

Herrera said there is no animal welfare group based in Marawi. She said people are fervently praying for the fighting to end soon so they could all return to Marawi and care for the ani-

mals that were left behind.

Riz Sunio, a college professor from RC-Al Khwarizmi International College Foundation Inc. located in downtown Marawi, was forced to leave her two black kittens and their mother in a room inside a private boarding house at MSU. She left them last Tuesday (May 23) with about 400g of cat food and water, which she fears her cats have consumed by now.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Probe set on ‘missing’ Napoles reward

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Araneta

BLOC VOTERS. Members of the Minority bloc (from left), Senators Antonio Trillanes, Francis Pangilinan, Franklin Drilon, Risa Hontiveros and Benigno Bam Aquino, shows their own Senate resolution for the joint session of the House and the Senate on the Declaration of Martial Law of President Rodrigo Duterte during a press conference held at Senate office in Pasay City. Lino Santos

PNA says it regrets ‘fake news’

DoJ submits BIR’s tax case vs Mighty for resolution

By John Paolo Bencito

T

STATE-RUN wire news service Philippine News Agency expressed regret after posting an unverified content twice but clarified that it was not their intention to spread “fake news.”

“While there have been lapses in our judgment, it has never been the policy of PNA to tolerate erroneous report, and it has certainly never been our intention to sow misinformation, much less share what is termed nowadays as ‘fake news,’” the PNA said in a statement issued Tuesday.

“We regret that these mistakes have cast doubt on our integrity as a news agency. Rest assured we have dealt with our erring personnel and that we are reviewing our procedures on reportage as we continue to uphold our commitment to deliver accurate and balanced news reports to the Filipino people and the world,” PNA added.

The state news agency on Saturday ran a report titled, “Urban warfare a challenge for soldiers in Marawi,” with a photo of a soldier on patrol but drew flak from netizens after it was learned that the photo, a scene during the Vietnam War, was sourced from Wikimedia Commons.

“Upon learning of the error, we immediately took the photo down but not before it was shared by our readers and subscribers,” the PNA said.

In another instance, on May 15 [Monday], the PNA published an article titled, “95 states convinced there are no EJKs in PHL” on the country’s recent United Nations Universal Periodic Review, but DILG Assistant Secretary Epimaco Densing, who was quoted in the same report, later denied saying some of the information in the article.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Tuesday evaded queries from the media who waited outside his office, seeking to get explanation from him on the article and photos which had circulated.

“We will not answer questions from the media,” his executive assistant told Palace reporters in a phone call. Prior to this, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella declined to respond on the posting of alleged “fake pictures,” saying that inquiries should be addressed to Andanar, whose office oversees government media outlets.

Reporters were likewise seeking for Andanar’s comment on his new Assistant Secretary, Margaux “Mocha” Uson, who was caught yet again sharing an unverified image.

By Rey E. Requejo

HE Department of Justice is in the process of determining the existence of probable cause for the filing of the first tax evasion case against officials of Mighty Corp. after it concluded Tuesday its preliminary investigation on the P9.56-billion tax complaint filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue against the controversial tobacco company.

However, the legal woes of the officials of Mighty Corp. are not over yet as they still need to again face the DoJ’s panel of prosecutors on June 8 for the start of the preliminary investigation of the BIR’s second tax evasion involving P26.93 billion in unpaid excise taxes.

This came after Mighty Corp. owner and vice president for external affairs Alexander Wongchuking and other respon-

dents again appeared before the investigating DoJ panel chaired

by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Sebastian Caponong in hearing and submitted their rejoinder where they reiterated their denial of the charges.

“So after the submission of the rejoinder affidavit, this case is now submitted for resolution,” Caponong said, in wrapping up the first tax case filed by the BIR against the controver-

sial tobacco firm.

While the panel was not inclined to require the parties to submit their respective memoranda, the lawyer of the BIR moved that it be given 15 days within which to submit their memorandum.

“We are moving to file a memorandum, to be given 15 days to file our memorandum to summarize our position in this case, considering that this case is a separate case from the other cases,” the BIR lawyer said.

Mighty Corp. expressed no objection to the submission of memoranda. “The submission of memorandum is discretionary on our part if we feel there is no need for you to file a memorandum.

We will proceed with resolving the case. As of now, we feel we that we can resolve the case even if you don’t file a memorandum.

So we will just have to let go of your memorandum and we will proceed with the case being sub-

mitted for resolution,” Caponong said.

Wongchuking and the other respondents—former Armed Forces deputy chief-of-staff and retired Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan, company president; retired Judge Oscar Barrientos, company executiveVice President; and company treasurer Ernesto Victa - again claimed that they did not violate the National Internal Revenue Code and had paid correct taxed.

The Mighty Corp. executives also insisted on their plea for dismissal of the BIR complaint for lack of probable cause.

Their camp, however, refused to furnish members of the media copy of their latest pleading. With the conclusion of the PI on the first complaint involving P9.56 billion in alleged unpaid excise taxes, the DoJ submitted the case for resolution and will now proceed with the PI on the two other complaints filed by BIR against the same Mighty Corp. officials.

THE Department of Justice will also investigate the P10million rewards dangled by the Aquino administration for the arrest of suspected pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Napoles during the height of the controversy involving the lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II made the disclosure after he received information that Malacañang under the previous administration had offered the reward for any information that would lead to the arrest of Napoles.

“But it was not known who claimed that reward, if it was even claimed. When Napoles surrendered, they were told that someone claimed the reward,” Aguirre s aid i n a n i nterview.

When asked who claimed the reward, the DoJ chief said his information pointed to a “high official in Malacañang.”

Aguirre did not name the former official, but hinted that the official had a Cabinet rank and was “first among equals.”

According to the Justice secretary, Napoles would discuss this controversy in the affidavit she is set to submit to the DoJ as bared by her lawyer Stephen David during their recent meeting.

Earlier, Aguirre said that the reinvestigation on the PDAF scam would look into several unanswered questions on the controversy. Aguirre was puzzled why Napoles went straight to Malacañang when she surrendered at the peak of the controversy and why was she even accompanied by then President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas to the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crime.

He also asked what happened to the brother of jailed pork barrel queen Janet LimNapoles, Reynald “Jojo” Lim as he ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to look into an information that Napoles was “blackmailed” by a certain group that was holding his brother.

‘Govt benefited a lot from Tadeco’ Panel’s decision to kill

By Maricel V. Cruz THE government earned a total of P142.72 million in 2016, representing a 45 percent share under its joint venture agreement with the Tagum Agricultural Development Co. Inc. without spending a single centavo, Tadeco president and CEO Alex Valoria told lawmakers at a congressional hearing on Tuesday.

At the resumption of congressional hearing on the alleged anomalous BuCor-Tadeco agreement, Valoria told the House committee on good government and public accountability that the Bureau of Corrections was guaranteed a production share, which is a fixed amount under the agreement, as well as a portion of the profits from the bananas exported by the company.

“Both of these guaranteed earnings are reviewed and increased by 10 percent every five years,” Valoria said, noting that several local government units and organizations in Davao del Norte where Tadeco is based have also cited the benefits that the economy and the people of Mindanao receive from the JVA. On top of these benefits, Valoria said Tadeco also provides BuCor for the farm training program and stipend support of the inmates inside the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, as part of the rehabilitation aspect of the JVA. “We have likewise made our position also clear. We are on solid constitutional grounds.

Through the years, the JVA was proven to be undoubtedly advantageous to the government and BuCor,” Valoria said.

Du30 impeach bid OK’d THE House of Representatives on Tuesday affirmed the decision of the House committee on justice to junk the impeachment complaint filed against President Rodrigo Duterte. In plenary session, the House voted 217-4 to junk the impeachment rap filed against the President

by Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, as contained in House justice committee report 1015.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said “the decision was expected.”

The House justice committee, chaired by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, earlier killed the ouster move against Mr. Duterte by dismissing the complaint for lack of substance last May 15. It adopted its de-

cision to junk the complaint last May 22.

The committee voted to strike down the complaint filed

by Alejano after he admitted of having no personal knowledge on the allegations he raised in the complaint.

The impeachment complaint was deemed initiated on May 9, 2017 following the plenary referral to his panel, the date when the one-year bar on filing a similar impeachment complaint against President Duterte took effect.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez earlier said any impeachment move against the President would not prosper.

Maricel V. Cruz

PDEA, QCPD seize 200 kilos of raw shabu in raid

By Rio N. Araja and Vito Barcelo

ANOTHER DRUG RAID. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director Wilkins Villanueva and QCPD

District Director Guillermo Eleazar inspect the drug equipment and chemicals used in the manufacture of illegal drug (shabu) found at an abandoned shabu laboratory in a warehouse located at Baesa, Quezon City during a raid on Tuesday. Manny Palmero

THE Quezon City Police District and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Tuesday raided a shabu laboratory in Barangay Baesa, and confiscated 200 kilos of raw shabu with a street value of P1 billion.

Chief Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar said authorities served the search warrant issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court’s Branch 89 Judge Cecilyn Burgos at a warehouse located on Caroline Street, Quirino Highway in Baesa at around 9:10 a.m.

Eleazar was accompanied

by PDEA’s National Capital Region director Wilkins Villanueva.

The raid was an offshoot of a tip from an informant about one Kwok Kuen Yu, a Hong Kong national confirmed to be one of the members of the drug syndicate putting up shabu laboratories in the Philippines.

PDEA arrested several members and cohorts of the international drug syndicate in Binondo, Manila on Oct. 26, 2016 and confiscated five kilos of shabu, 38 kilos of sodium hydroxide and firearms.

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

The absurd communists

L

IKE actors in an absurdist play, communist leaders are blaming the government for cancelling the fifth round of peace talks in The Netherlands on Sunday, even though they ordered their comrades in the New People’s Army mere days ago to step up their attacks on the military as a way of opposing the declaration of martial law.

President Rodrigo Duterte had declared martial law over the entire island of Mindanao on May 23 in response to a terrorist rampage in Marawi City by the Maute Group.

Two days later, communist leaders called

Adelle Chua, Editor

of rejecting martial law.

“The Party calls on the NPA to plan and carry out more tactical offensives across Mindanao and the entire archipelago,” the CPP said.

“In the face of the Duterte regime’s martial law declaration in Mindanao, the necessity of waging revolutionary armed struggle becomes ever clearer,” it added, as it also urged the NPA to accelerate its recruitment of new fighters.

Remarkably, the communists acted as if their call to arms would have no effect on the coming peace talks just a few days

on their armed wing, the NPA, to intensify attacks on government troops as a way of opposing Duterte’s declaration of martial law.

In a statement at the time, the CPP said armed resistance by the NPA was the “most effective way”

down the road.

Chief rebel negotiator Fidel Agcaoili said the National Democratic Front, a coalition of leftist groups that includes the Communist Party of the Philippines and the NPA, “deeply regretted” the government’s decision to shelve the talks.

“The [government’s] decision not to participate in the fifth round of formal talks threatens to squander the goodwill and the gains that have already been achieved in the peace negotiations in the past nine months, especially in the crafting of a substantive agreement

on social and economic reforms,” Agcaoili said.

The decision to cancel the talks, he added, was the government’s responsibility.

In an even more absurd twist, a senior adviser of the NDF, Luis Jalandoni, said the communist rebels were willing to work with the government against terrorists who attack and kill civilians.

“In that sense, the CPPNPA would be together with the Duterte government in opposing the Maute group and the Abu Sayyaf,” Jalandoni said.

Here then are the various positions the commu-

nists have taken over the last few days.

1) They are for peace, but they have ordered more armed attacks on the government with which they are negotiating.

2) They are willing to work with the government—presumably with the same troops they have vowed to keep attacking.

3) They oppose terrorists, but will attack government troops who are battling them, as a way to show they are unhappy with martial law.

Can anyone but a communist make sense of these absurd and contradictory positions?

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

Eagle Cement soars

Chill, guys LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES SO WHO’S afraid of “Ma’am Janet”? A lot of people who were the cat’s pajamas in the Aquino administration, that’s who.

After all, if Janet Lim Napoles has nothing new to say, then only those whom she has already implicated need fear anything from her. On the other hand, if Napoles has proof that more lawmakers and other government officials apart from those who have already been linked to her in the past benefited from the scam that she ran (as many have long believed), then by all means, let her say her piece.

It’s that simple. Meanwhile, Senators Franklin Drilon, Leila de Lima and Antonio Trillanes —who are all widely believed to have been involved with Napoles but who were never charged

because of their closeness to the previous administration— should really calm down.

All three senators have attacked Napoles and Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre for supposedly staging a black propaganda campaign against them by declaring that new charges will be filed based on evidence that the alleged pork barrel scandal mastermind will still reveal. But as of this moment, Napoles has not even said anything, apart from reportedly telling Aguirre that she will implicate the three, together with former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.

The three senators already protest too much, I think. And that goes for Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales—who has repeatedly declared that Napoles has nothing new to say and that she will be the ultimate judge of what charges will be filed, if any, based on any new information that Napoles may reveal—as well.

The senators should take their cue from Abad, whom Napoles once called her mentor and the official also at the center of the scandal, as the person in charge of releasing billions in purloined

Abad should offer to mentor Drilon, De Lima and Trillanes and perhaps to be their life coach, as well. pork funds. The man Aquino cited for his great, Apolinario Mabini-like mind has not been heard from since Napoles was acquitted on charges of illegal detention, despite the fact that

everyone and his Facebook friend knows that kidnapping was not what made “Ma’am Janet” a household name.

I heard Abad is just chilling in Batanes while his former fellow members in the Yellow politburo are going bananas. I think he should offer to mentor Drilon, De Lima and Trillanes now and perhaps to be their life coach, as well. *** Speaking of going bananas, it seems like Aguirre is under intense pressure to act on House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s demand for his office, which has supervision over the Bureau of Corrections, to rescind the joint venture agreement between the agency and the Tagum Development Corp. During a House hearing on the agreement yesterday, Aguirre declared that he will ask BuCor to look into the agreement, with a view towards invalidating it. This after Aguirre admitted during an earlier hearing that only President Ro-

drigo Duterte has the power to do so.

The pressure on Aguirre comes in the form of a draft resolution authored by Sulu second district Rep. Munir Arbison, who demanded that the Commission on Appointments withdraw its earlier confirmation of the justice secretary. Arbison, a known ally of Alvarez, accused Aguirre of favoring a former client of his, Sulu Vice Gov. Abdusakur Tan, who filed a case against Arbison.

Arbison said Aguirre accepted millions of pesos from Tan, his former client, in order to find probable cause against Arbison, who has a pending case before the DoJ. If the CA will not withdraw Aguirre’s confirmation, Arbison said, the justice secretary must immediately resign.

Alvarez, during the same hearing, was in fine fettle, demanding that Aguirre and BuCor immediately withdraw from the agreement, supposedly to ensure that the government Turn to A5

YESTERDAY, Tuesday, May 30, Ramon S. Ang became P2.6 billion richer. His Eagle Cement Corp. listed its shares for public sale on Monday, May 29.

Eagle’s initial public offering (IPO) price was P15 per share, which was 18 times the company’s expected income for the year. Still, Eagle was 3x oversubscribed, according to stock market analysts. For every one share, there were three buyers.

That pent-up demand can now be satisfied by the stock market, which may explain Eagle’s slow but determined rise in per-share price. Which is why Eagle’s nearly 100 percent owner, Ang, will be piling up wealth in the coming days.

The five-billion Eagle Cement shares listed on Monday were as of yesterday valued at P77.6 billion at the closing price per share of P15.52, up 52 centavos or 3.5 percent from the P15 per share IPO price (which valued Eagle at P75 billion or $1.5 billion), or an increase of P2.6 billion in just one day of trading.

I am writing about Eagle not because I have shares (I never buy IPO shares and shares of companies I write about) but because Eagle offers a template on how to be rich in the Philippines overnight.

Please note though that not everyone who wants to become rich can list shares in the stock exchange and reap a windfall.

Getting rich in this country of 105 million where there are only five thousand (yes, 5,000) Filipinos who make P5 million a year in income requires a great deal of entrepreneurship, hard work, guts, raw courage and luck.

In 2009, Ang didn’t even produce a metric ton of cement.

This year, he is producing five million tons a year, making Eagle the largest single plant cement manufacturer. Next year, output will rise to 7.1 million tons per year. From zero in 2010 to No. 1 in 2017 is one big achievement to sneeze at.

About 20 to 30 years ago, cement was a sunset industry. It was considered overcrowded, with too many players who were losing money.

But then housing boomed.

Some five-million houses were needed yesterday. Only about 249,000 new houses are built Turn to A5

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Opinion SO I SEE

On a roll

LITO BANAYO

ONE of the more interesting phases of my life (pardon me for getting nostalgic again) was after my graduation from Ateneo de Manila. I had a stint as instructor at Ateneo de Manila High School at Loyola Heights.

I taught English and History to high school students. Those boys ran around campus in their short pants. Now when I see how they have become successful businessmen and politicians, I cannot help but feel proud.

They are now nation-builders.

Most notable among my students was Joseph Ejercito, later on known as Erap Estrada. He became a movie star, then mayor of San Juan, then senator, vice president, and eventually president of the republic.

Erap was later on convicted of plunder but was pardoned by his successor, President Gloria Arroyo. He got vindicated many times over with the election of his wife and sons to the Senate, and his own election as mayor of Manila.

I had other famous students like the late Jun Cruz, who became the president of Philippine Airlines and the Government Service Insurance System.

There was Rafael Buenaventura who became governor of the Bangko Sentral, Chuckie Arellano who was administrator of the Social Security System, Jun Siazon as foreign affairs secretary and ambassador, and businessmen Susing Pineda and Tony Lopa.

Roberto “Bobby” Ongpin stands tall above the rest.

As a scholar at the Ateneo, he went on to Harvard and soon became the youngest managing partner and CEO of SGV. He soon became trade and industry minister of the Marcos administration. He actually saved the Philippine economy from collapsing after the Ninoy Aquino assassination in 1983. At that time, the foreign reserves of the central bank dropped to a low; it became nearly impossible to import. Inflation reached new heights.

Ongpin is a descendant of Roman T. Ongpin after whom a street in Binondo was named.

He was a nationalist and a revolutionary and helped finance the Katipunan revolt against Spain.

I said that Ongpin averted an economic collapse when he threatened Binondo foreign exchange traders that they would be put in stockade if they did not form themselves into what is known as Binondo Central Bank and opened themselves to grant foreign exchange to importers.

And it worked!

Soon, after the 1986 People Power Revolution, Ongpin went into self-exile in Hong Kong.

He became vice chairman of the South China Morning Post, and also went in partnership with the Kuok family.

Few people know that Ongpin was largely responsible for the Henry Sy-controlled Tagaytay Highlands, a high-end development.

During the Arroyo administration, Ongpin came back with Ashmore, a London-based fund manager as a partner to develop

high-end property. That started his signature development—the Balesin Island Club off the coast of Quezon province.

But Ongpin was harassed and persecuted during the Aquino administration. He was identified as a friend of former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo. He was accused of obtaining a behest loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines. But that case was dismissed by the Sandiganbayan.

That’s Bobby for you. He considered everything a challenge and then proceeded to build Makati Place, another high-end development at the end of Ayala Avenue.

This is the location of City Club, the most luxurious leisure and sports club in the country.

Ongpin also put up his magnum opus, the Aegle Wellness Center, both in the City Club and at Balesin.

After Ongpin’s “divorce” from Ashmore, he went on to further his interests, ever mindful and confident about the economic future of the Philippines.

And last year, a bolt of lightning hit him when President Duterte singled him out as an “oligarch that must be destroyed.” But this is not true at all, because Ongpin is not an oligarch and he was never embedded in government. Whatever he enjoys now, he earned through hard work and sheer talent.

This bolt of lightning cost Ongpin no less than P18 billion in terms of the stock prices of PhilWeb. He sold his shares at this big loss to Greggy Araneta.

Every difficulty he went through, he saw as a challenge. Now he is 80 years old and is still on a roll, able helped by his daughter, Anna Betina Ongpin.

In February, Alphaland secured a P5.5-billion loan facility from BDO Unibank which he considers the most significant development for Alphaland.

Aside from the improvement in financial position, it’s a vote of confidence from the country’s largest bank.

The loan for seven years will enable Alphaland to repay its debts of P4 billion. The balance will fund Ongpin’s new projects.

Forbes Magazine has listed Ongpin as the 13th richest Filipino. The list is led by SM’s Sy. I have seen firsthand Ongpin’s development in Baguio and near Balesin. For the record, Alphaland achieved record profitability in 2016 despite a challenging environment. From a comprehensive 2015 net income of P7.2 billion, this year’s income increased 7.5 percent. Net worth increased by 17.2 percent from P44.7 billion to P52.4 billion.

Beyond this, Ongpin knows his corporate social responsibility. He knows how important it is to rehabilitate drug users. He will build a rehabilitation facility on a 2.1-hectare property in Atimonan, Quezon. Alphaland also has community development programs, a school and outreach activities. Ongpin does know how to pay forward the blessings he has received.

WHILE the fighting rages on in Marawi and everyone’s attention is focused on how we can, as we should, neutralize the threat of terrorism in our land, one national security issue worries me.

It is food security. Hopefully, my fears are wrong. Hopefully, government officials in charge are right, and though it may violate the freedom of information directive that everything in government should be as transparent and factual as could be, I wish our concerned agencies are not telling media the real truth about our rice stocks.

For our own sake, I hope they have aces up their sleeves.

Worrisome is the admission from the National Food Authority that they only have eight days of rice inventory in their warehouses. I heard that from an NFA source more than a month before they finally admitted it, which means as we write, there may be just about six days of stock.

Now let’s do simple math: The daily average consumption of rice in the country is some 32,000 metric tons. Yes, we consume that much, the equivalent of 640,000 bags of 50-kg sacks of rice each day.

So 32,000 multiplied by eight days is 256,000 tons placed strategically according to geographic givens and historic data on supply and demand all over the country. Islands and highlands which are supply-deficient and logistically difficult often are given priority. Urban centers such as Metro Manila and Metro Cebu need to have ample stocks because these places do not have any palay farms.

The Philippine Statistics Authority, which absorbed the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics formerly under the Department of Agriculture assures us that there are ample commercial and household stocks, while admitting that NFA stock is at a historic low.

Chill,...

From A4

see through Alvarez’s obvious plot to make Floirendo and his family bow to him but who are too scared to stand up to their allpowerful leader.

This is no way to run a House, which is already laboring under the long-held reputation of being the rubber stamp of Malacañang.

Will our congressmen be tools of their speaker, as well, doing his bidding even if they know he is merely engaged in a personal vendetta?

This mockery of a House investigation, which seeks to abrogate a perfect deal that has gotten the seal of approval of all governments for the past five decades, must stop. Alvarez may think he is getting his revenge from Floirendo, but 30,000 workers in the Tadeco plantation don’t think that they should suffer while the speaker exacts his pound of flesh in exchange for a personal slight.

each year, even as demand increases by 400,000 a year, equivalent to the number of new families being formed each year.

The construction sector itself, which belongs to industry, has grown by 11.6 percent per year in the last five years, more than double economic growth rate in the same period. Cement consumption per capita is the lowest in the Asean-5, at 212 kilos per person, less than half the consumption of Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia, and below the global average.

Then business also boomed. The economy has grown by an average of five percent per year for the past 18 years, an unprecedented growth and the longest economic expansion in the country’s history. The boom has been fueled by unbridled consumer spending, which in turn, has been fueled by inflows of overseas money from earnings of some 12-million expat Filipinos.

Today, P72 of every P100 of

doesn’t lose any more money

from it. Alvarez’s action raised not a few eyebrows, because the House investigation into the BuCor-Tadeco deal was still ongoing, and yet the speaker was already calling for its revocation.

Aguirre must not buckle under the pressure exerted on him by Alvarez, who has made the scrapping of the deal leasing government land to the banana plantation his personal crusade. The justice secretary already declared that it is beyond his authority to do Alvarez’s bidding, after all.

As for Congress, it must not allow itself to be used as Alvarez’s tool to get back at the speaker’s former friend and fellow Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo. I’m sure there are enough congressmen who can

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Worrisome

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

My student, Bobby Ongpin, sees every difficulty as a challenge.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017

The Department of Agriculture tells us and assured the President that we had a “bumper” crop of palay this summer.

Relatively good weather may have been a factor, but I do not know that the National Irrigation Administration during the last year of Aquino and the first few months of Duterte had been able to increase irrigated rice fields beyond the incremental.

The summer crop has been good, but whether it is a bumper crop or less is debatable.

After the well-publicized tiff between the new NFA administrator and the National Food Authority Council chaired by the Cabinet secretary came to a head, the NFAC authorized the importation of 250,000 metric tons of rice through a Government-to-Private public bidding, as against what the NFA wanted, a G-to-G purchase.

Now let’s go back to the numbers. 250,000 tons is good for another eight days of consumption. That means that theoretically, we should have anywhere from 14 to 15 days NFA stock by July 1, a month from now, which marks as well the onset of the so-called “lean months” of July, August and September when our locally grown palay are yet to be harvested, and therefore no domestic supply additions to stock are available.

The lean months also coincide with our monsoon/typhoon season. Worse would be if a strong typhoon hits us in mid- to late September, thence October, which is the period when our palay farmers harvest their wetseason crop. Think “Ondoy” in late September 2009, followed by “Pedring” in early October 2009, or “Pepeng” on Sept. 26, 2011, ironically NFA’s foundation day.

On those strong typhoons of recent memory, as much as one million tons (20 million bags) were lost in a single day of wind and water rampage.

Now the rule of thumb is that NFA must have 30 days stock in its bodegas at the start of July.

And these stocks must be strategically positioned in critical areas where local supply is un-

available and logistics is difficult. If a strong calamity should occur, NFA could thus supply DSWD enough stocks for it to rebag and distribute. Or for local governments to procure for instant calamity relief.

Further to this, a 30-day buffer gives some elbow room for the government to “flood” critical areas with rice, so that the commercial sector, from millers to wholesalers to retailers, cannot unreasonably constrict the supply situation to artificially jack up prices. Here in Taiwan, buffer stock is defined as at least 90 days in the hands of government. And yes, they are self-sufficient in rice, and in practically every other farm product.

Now let us go to the question of timing.

The public spat between the NFA administrator and the NFA Council had to do with private rice importation under the Minimum Access Volume. The Council, worried about inflation (rice constitutes nine percent of the consumer price index) wanted to extend the discharge date of imports awarded December 2016 from Feb. 28 to March 31. The NFA administrator, for reasons quite unfathomable, wanted to penalize “late” arrivals, resulting in tremendous demurrage and unseen costs.

Finally, the NFAC had its way, but precious months have passed. Those importers will pass on the huge additional burdens to their price.

Because of the impasse and once more the immutable law of supply and demand, buying prices of palay in the last harvest season went as high as 22-23 pesos per kilo, which translates to roughly P43-P45 in retail prices, higher than current market averages. Already, the Bangko Sentral has publicly admitted that the higher second-quarter price index is on account of higher food costs, principally rice.

Now that the government has decided on a G to P purchase, that means at least a month from mid-May to mid-June (realistically more end-June) of preparatory work before bidding un-

der our procurement laws. The winning private bidders will then import from their foreign sources. Given these timelines, the imported rice should be here in August yet.

That is a long and ripe period for speculators to take advantage of the market situation. Threatening to “raid” warehouses and stockpiles will just fuel more hoarding, not only by the big players, but more difficult to police, the retailers and even middle-class consumers who if they can afford it, buy more rice than the usual and stock these in their houses, hoping to protect themselves from rising prices or worse, possible temporary shortages.

Remember, rice is a fungible commodity. You wouldn’t know the difference between five-percent or 10-percent brokens and 25-percent brokens when mixed in the retail store.

You could pay a premium for what is “bad” rice.

Of course, there is a big difference now, unlike in 20132014 when wrong policies and a delusionary goal of rice self-sufficiency caused prices to jack up to as much as P50 for mediumgrade rice. That caused the NFA, NIA, PCA and even the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority to be removed from the rib-cage of the Department of Agriculture into the plate of Malacañang.

The difference is there is a Rodrigo Duterte who could strike fear into the hearts of wouldbe price gougers and hoarders, who could take advantage and as smart businessmen, create an opportunity out of crisis.

But the numbers, and the timing, do not inspire confidence.

Hopefully, our economic managers can see through the potential problem, and have aces in their sleeve. Act with stealth, and shun publicity.

At the end of the day, rice prices which are central to the price index, can bring down popularity indicia. Rice is both an economic and political commodity. And—food security or the absence thereof, no matter how temporary, is a national security problem.

China’s seniors will reshape the world

By Adam Minter FOR decades, Nestlé SA has tried to get its infant milk powder into the hands of China’s new mothers with promises of brighter, healthier babies. Now it’s trying to do the same for the elderly. Last week, the company launched “Nestlé YIYANG Fuel for brain senior milk powder,” a formula designed to help China’s seniors “refuel their brains and start a new smart life.”

The announcement didn’t get quite the hype that products targeted to China’s millennials do.

But it may yet prove more consequential. With 222 million people over age 60, China is home to the world’s largest population of seniors, and their economic clout is set to surge in the years ahead. By one estimate, the value of products and services geared toward them may reach 33 percent of gross domestic product by 2050.

If that trend holds, caring for seniors will be China’s dominant industry by the middle of the century, and old folks will be its defining demographic. That

Eagle...

From A4

presents plenty of challenges for the government—but also some major opportunities for business.

Seniors are already playing a key role in shifting China’s economy away from exports and toward consumption. Fan Min, president of China’s biggest online travel site, predicts they’ll be the primary drivers of the country’s tourism market within a decade. About 5 million of them are traveling overseas annually, with that number expected to more than double by 2030. As they venture out, the travel industry is adjusting to their demands (by offering more group tours and cheaper accommodations, for example). And it’s not just tourism: In recent years, businesses ranging from car companies to online marketplaces have built features marketed to China’s elderly.

Health care is another industry that may be transformed. Unlike Japan and Western Europe, China is aging before it has grown rich enough to develop the institutions—such as nursing homes —needed to sustain a large senior population. Increasingly, the

private sector is stepping in. For those who can’t afford to travel overseas, private preventative care is becoming much more common. Elsewhere, companies are developing “smart care” products, in which internet-connected devices track the health of customers. Beijing is expanding a program that uses a discount shopping card to monitor seniors while applying data analytics to anticipate their needs.

Nestlé clearly understands these trends. At the launch of its new senior milk powder, a company official told the press: “As an old Chinese saying goes, ‘Diet cures more than the doctors.’” Long-term, that attitude—combined with investments in health-focused artificial intelligence and big data by companies such as Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.and Baidu Inc.—may well reshape the health-care industry, both in China and globally.

But the area where China will have the biggest influence on the market for senior services will likely be housing. As of 2015,

China had an average of only 26 nursing beds for every 1,000 seniors. Over the coming decades, it’s unlikely that the government will be able to build—much less staff—nearly enough facilities to meet the demands of its growing elderly population. As a result, it will need to develop new and more creative models for senior care.

That might mean more automation (there’s at least one robotics pilot program in Hangzhou). It could mean home care that’s supported by a network of internet-dispatched delivery services (especially for food). And it will surely mean an expansion of smart monitors and technology to interpret the data they collect. Given the size of the potential market, there’s reason for optimism that the China’s entrepreneurs can figure out low-cost models that work at home—and quite possibly overseas.

For China’s current generation of seniors, having come of age at a time of global isolation and domestic hardship, that’s a level of influence few could have imagined in their youth. Bloomberg

economic production comes from consumption—spending by consumers —on cellphones, appliances, cars, condos and houses. Every year, the Philippines makes $27 billion or P1.35 trillion from OFW remittances. The government has not been able to harness this huge pile of income. So the money goes into consumption instead.

Don’t believe the BS that Philippine presidents have been great which is why the economy is booming. No. The economy will boom even if the president of the Philippines were a dog—or a rat.

That’s how strong the economy is.

It is like a giant iceberg floating in the middle of the ocean. Thru sheer inertia or the physics of motion, the iceberg moves by itself.

That is the economy. Now, on top of the iceberg is a rat. The rat feels great because he thinks he is the one moving the iceberg. That is the president of the Philippines.

So even if President Duterte declares martial law nationwide and fulfills his critics’ claim that he has killed 9,000 extra-judicially, the economy will just keep growing.

Why? Inertia in motion.

Now, businessman like Ramon Ang has seized on this phenomenon and have thus moved into areas that are the consequences of or the preconditions for further growth—like power, toll roads, construction materials, and consumer products like beer, beverages, packaging, and food and fuel Hence, the rise and dominance of companies that Ang manages—San Miguel, Purefoods, Petron, and his own Eagle.

But growing is not just a matter of taking a stake. It requires good governance, technology (which lowers cost and improves quality), employing the right people, the right timing, and of course, luck and execution brilliance. RSA recalls that the Sy family came ahead of him in diversifying into cement, but didn’t quite make it.

In producing cement, RSA made sure the factory is close to its raw materials, limestone. He did that.

Next, he made sure he is close to his customers, in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, which accounts for 60 percent of the economy and where Eagle has 30 percent of the

cement market. This integration, from raw material to finished product to retail outlets, results in lower cost. Hence, RSA is able to price his Eagle Cement P2 lower per bag than the competition. He is now targeting a higher market share.

Integration and lower cost also means higher profits. According to Chinabank Securities, Eagle’s profit margin—before interest, taxes, and depreciation or EBITDA, is 42.4 percent on average—almost twice Holcim’s 26.2 percent and quadruple Cemex’s 9.6 percent. Chinabank Securities thinks Eagle’s share price could rise to P27 per share, eventually, despite the high starting base price of P15.

Says leading stockbroker Dino Bate: “Eagle has been doing well vs. the industry. They continue to grow their revenues while the others are experiencing declines.

They also have better margins given that they don’t have to pay royalties and their plants are located closer to the market they want to serve.” biznewsasia@gmail.com

News

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Republic of the Philippines Standard

TODAY GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM

A6

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

GSIS Building, Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City 1308 GSIS ACQUIRED ASSETS FOR DISPOSITION

PROVINCE District

/Subdivision

City Property Location /Municipality

TCT/CCT No. Lot Area Minimum Property Occupancy Bidding Date Place of Bidding

(sqm) Acceptable Classification Status

Offer / CMV

( ₱ )

1

Laguna

ADELINA COMPLEX III, Calaboso

Binan

B004 L019 Ph 3 Santan St.

T-306001

88.00

415,200.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

Level 8, Narra Room, GSIS Building,

2

Laguna

ADELINA COMPLEX III, Calaboso

Binan

B005 L012 Ph 3

T-306009

80.00

362,000.00

House & Lot Unoccupied

18-Jul-17

Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City

3

Laguna

ADELINA COMPLEX III, Calaboso

Binan

B013 L020 Ph 3

T-306010

106.00

539,600.00

House & Lot Unoccupied

18-Jul-17

4

Laguna

ADELINA COMPLEX III, Calaboso

Binan

B016 L002 Ph 3

T-306013

98.00

569,800.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

5

Laguna

ADELINA COMPLEX III, Calaboso

Binan

B017 L010 Ph 3

T-306014

80.00

378,666.67

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

6

Laguna

ADELINA COMPLEX III, Calaboso

Binan

B018 L011 Ph 3

T-306006

80.00

378,666.67

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

7

Laguna

ADELINA COMPLEX III, Calaboso

Binan

B019 L008 Ph 3

T-306020

88.00

486,000.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

8

Laguna

ADELINA COMPLEX III, Calaboso

Binan

B019 L014 Ph 3

T-306012

88.00

411,200.00

House & Lot Unoccupied

18-Jul-17

9

Laguna

ADELINA COMPLEX III, Calaboso

Binan

B021 L025 Ph 3

T-306007

75.00

450,000.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

10 Laguna

JUANA COMPLEX, Halang

Binan

B005 L018 Ph 1

T-125857

180.00

1,696,000.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

11 Laguna

JUANA COMPLEX, Halang

Binan

B006 L014 Ph 1 Agate St.

T-126005

294.00

2,254,000.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

12 Laguna

JUANA COMPLEX, Halang

Binan

B010 L026 Ph 1

T-125297

180.00

1,307,500.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

13 Laguna

JUANA COMPLEX, San Francisco

Binan

B003 L010 Ph 6 Samuel St.

T-206384

268.00

1,745,200.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

14 Laguna

JUANA COMPLEX, San Francisco

Binan

B003 L012 Ph 6 Samuel St.

T-206387

302.00

1,939,000.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

By Joel E. Zurbano and Vito Barcelo

15 Laguna

JUANA COMPLEX, San Francisco

Binan

B006 L001 Ph 3A

T-189056

329.00

2,243,266.67

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

16 Laguna

JUANA COMPLEX, San Francisco

Binan

B006 L007 Ph 6

T-192909

306.00

2,080,200.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

17 Laguna

JUANA COMPLEX, San Francisco

Binan

B010 L008 Ph 6 Abraham St.

T-213597

150.00

1,029,080.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

18 Laguna

JUANA COMPLEX, San Francisco

Binan

B010 L009 Ph 6 Abraham St.

T-202104

150.00

1,029,080.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

19 Laguna

JUANA COMPLEX, San Francisco

Binan

B011 L027 Ph 6 Moses St.

T-213619

306.00

1,918,280.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

20 Laguna

JUANA COMPLEX, San Francisco

Binan

B011 L034 Ph 3B

T-202101

160.00

876,000.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

21 Laguna

JUANA COMPLEX, San Francisco

Binan

B011 L036 Ph 3B

T-198040

150.00

825,000.00

House & Lot Unoccupied

18-Jul-17

IRPORT and Aviation authorities on Tuesday ordered the closure of Ninoy Aquino International Airport international runway to give way for the emergency repair work of its damaged portion and ensure the safety of aircraft and passengers.

22 Laguna

JUANA COMPLEX, San Francisco

Binan

B011 L038 Ph 3B

T-198060

150.00

825,000.00

House & Lot Unoccupied

18-Jul-17

23 Laguna

JUANA COMPLEX, San Francisco

Binan

B011 L039 Ph 3B

T-198032

150.00

825,000.00

House & Lot Unoccupied

18-Jul-17

Officials order repair of damaged Naia runway

A

24 Laguna

JUANA COMPLEX, San Francisco

Binan

B013 L019 Ph 3A

T-201490

180.00

1,098,000.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

25 Laguna

JUANA COMPLEX, San Francisco

Binan

B014 L029 Ph 3A

T-195411

180.00

1,098,000.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

26 Laguna

ADELINA COMPLEX II

San Pedro

B003 L009 Ph 2SHT1 Camella St.

T-134065

159.00

1,660,400.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

27 Laguna

ADELINA COMPLEX II

San Pedro

B003 L016 Ph 2SHT2 Carnation St.

T-131509

153.00

1,000,800.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

28 Laguna

ADELINA COMPLEX II

San Pedro

B003 L021 Ph 2SHT1 Goldfield St.

T-134031

150.00

1,428,000.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

29 Laguna

ADELINA COMPLEX II

San Pedro

B004 L002 Ph 2SHT1 Adelina cor. Goldfield St.

T-135550

188.00

1,746,200.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

30 Laguna

ADELINA COMPLEX II

San Pedro

B004 L020 Ph 2SHT1 Goldfield St.

T-135472

150.00

1,587,500.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

31 Laguna

ADELINA COMPLEX II

San Pedro

B005 L010 Ph 2A Jasmine cor. Cattleya St.

T-142625

243.00

1,588,300.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

32 Laguna

ADELINA COMPLEX II

San Pedro

B010 L014 Ph 2SHT1 Dahlia St.

137341

151.00

1,045,600.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

33 Laguna

ROSARIO COMPLEX, San Vicente

San Pedro

B001 L017 Ph 1A Our Lady of Piat St.

T-115153

180.00

1,611,000.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

34 Laguna

ROSARIO COMPLEX, San Vicente

San Pedro

B004 L004 Ph 1 Our Lady of Immaculate Concepcion St. T-105393

240.00

1,938,000.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

Level 8, Narra Room, GSIS Building, Financial

35 Laguna

ROSARIO COMPLEX, San Vicente

San Pedro

B012 L018 Ph 1 Our Lady of Carmel St.

T-107511

230.00

2,155,000.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City

36 Laguna

ROSARIO COMPLEX, San Vicente

San Pedro

B020/4 L004A Ph 1A (48) Our Lady of Candelaria St.

T-115219

224.00

2,174,666.67

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

37 Laguna

ROSARIO COMPLEX, San Vicente

San Pedro

B022 L007 Ph 1 Our Lady of Candelaria St.

T-112069

192.00

1,571,400.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

38 Laguna

ROSARIO COMPLEX, San Vicente

San Pedro

B024 L008 Ph 1 Our Lady of Grace St.

T-115106

192.00

1,864,000.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

39 Laguna

ROSARIO COMPLEX, San Vicente

San Pedro

B026 L048 Ph 1 Our Lady of Marian St.

T-112099

292.00

2,437,000.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

40 Laguna

SAMPAGUITA VILLAGE, Sampaguita

San Pedro

B014 L008 Dahlia St.

T-41122

180.00

1,416,000.00

House & Lot Occupied

18-Jul-17

GENERAL GUIDELINES: 1.

Disposal of GSIS Investment Properties – Retail Units (IP-RUs) is through a competitive public bidding process. Acceptance of Purchase Offer shall start on the scheduled bidding date and time.

2.

Dropping of bid envelopes inside the designated bid box will be on the date of auction from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Opening of Bids will immediately follow.

3.

Disposal of GSIS IP-RUs is on “As-Is Where-Is” basis. Interested bidders are enjoined to personally inspect the GSIS IP-RUs for sale. “As-Is Where-Is” is defined as the present physical condition of the retail unit that GSIS is selling and the buyer is buying, “with all attendant faults, if any,” whether or not immediately apparent and without any express or implied warranty. The buyer takes this condition at his or her own risk, without recourse against the GSIS as to their condition. This includes knowledge by the buyer of the presence of occupants in the retail-unit being purchased.

4.

Strictly, “One bidder, One specific property” only, which means that a bidder cannot submit two (2) or more bids for one property. A bidder may submit one bid each to as many properties as he wants to buy, as long as, he posts a bidder’s deposit for each property in an amount provided below. The bidder must present valid government IDs upon registration on the date of public bidding.

5.

Purchase offer may either be in Cash or through External Financing Institution.

6.

A downloadable bid form shall be properly accomplished with the following data: a. Name and complete address of the bidder b. Exact address of property you are interested to bid c. Transfer Certificate of Title No. d. Amount of bid (in numbers and in words) e. 10 % Bidder’s Deposit equivalent to 10% of the total amount of bid offer f.

Signature of the bidder/representative

The sudden closure resulted in at least three international and one domestic planes to divert flight arrivals to the Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

Those diverted to Clark were Singapore Airlines SQ-910 flight from Singapore, All Nippon Airways NH-869 flight from Tokyo Haneda and Cebu Pacific Air 5J111 flight from Hong Kong, and two other Cebu Pacific 5J-964 and 5J-326 flights from Davao City and Legazpi City.

The closure around 1 p.m. also resulted in the delay of the departure of four domestic flights to Cebu, Caticlan, Kalibo and Puerto Princesa, and an international flight to Macau.

“The Naia international runway was officially closed at 1306H today for emergency pothole repair. The repair is expected to last four hours,” the Manila International Airport-Media Affairs Division said in a statement.

MIAA-MAD officials said almost 100 flights will be affected during the closure.

Airport general manager Eddie Monreal said that despite the closure, international flight operations will continue on a limited scale. This is because the Naia domestic runway, RWY 13/31, can accommodate smaller air-

craft up to the A320 series.

“This pothole happened today in the course of flight operations.

I ordered for an emergency repair disrupting our operations at this time of the day than wait for our daily runway closure after the last flight tonight. I will never compromise safety of flights and passengers,” Monreal said.

He added that repair works started at 1 p.m. and lasted for four hours yesterday (Tuesday).

Normal flight operations returned to normal at 4 p.m., Monreal said.

The airport chief said the recent heavy rains and the tremor that hit Metro Manila last week affected the runway asphalt overlay.

Monreal added that during the curing period of the asphalt overlay and wind direction changes towards Runway 24, landing and takeoff may be considered. The rapid exit taxiways will provide flight access to the Naia terminals in this case.

In July 2016, MIAA and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines officials ordered the closure of Runway 24 following the discovery of a damage measuring four-inch deep pothole. The closure affected 53 departing planes, 76 arrivals, with eight international flights and four domestic flights canceled.

Villar vows to probe ‘resurgence’ of garlic cartel

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

7.

Bid proposal shall be written in words and in figures and shall not be lower than the Minimum Bid Price of the property published in the newspaper or posted in the GSIS website. Should there be a difference in the amount in words and in figures, the amount in words shall prevail.

8.

Bidders’ deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer shall be in the form of MANAGER’S CHECK payable to the Government Service Insurance System

9.

The following shall be inserted on the sealed bid envelope: a. the properly accomplished downloadable bid form b. Manager’s Check payable to Government Service Insurance System representing deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer c. the Special Power of Attorney (SPA), if the bidder is an authorized representative d. pre-conditional approval from PBCOM, if applicable e. proofs of occupancy (see No. 12.c.1 and c.2)

10. The following information shall be clearly written outside the sealed bid envelope (mailing envelope) Address of Property you want to bid) Block No. ______ Lot. No. ______ Phase No.____ Name of Subdivision Address of Subdivision TCT NO. _______ Mode: __________ Cash __________ thru External Financing Institution

(

Name of Bidder: Mailing Address: 11. Interested bidders planning to purchase the GSIS property through External Financing Institution (EFI) shall first secure certification from accredited banks stating that he/she is qualified to avail of a loan from External Financing Institution and insert inside the bid envelope.

12. The existing tenant or occupant or his duly authorized representative through a valid Special Power of Attorney (SPA) has the right to match the offer of the declared highest bidder, provided: a. he/she is present during the bidding b. participated in actual bidding c. presently occupying the property subject of bidding supported by the following proofs of occupancy: c.1 Barangay certificate that he/she is occupying or residing in the subject property c.2. Any valid government identification document with his/her address similar to the address of the property he/.she is bidding.

13. If the occupant will exercise his/her right to match the offer of the declared highest bidder, he/she need not secure another bank pre-qualification corresponding to the matched offer. Instead, he/she shall pay the equity in cash as stated in Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS). The equity shall be computed as the difference between the Letter of Guarantee from the bank and the offered bid amount.

14. The declared highest/winning bidder shall submit within the day of the actual bidding, the following documents: (a) duly accomplished Personal Profile/Company Profile/Corporate Profile, whichever is applicable (downloadable); (b) photocopies of two valid IDs (one should be a government-issued ID); (c) Articles of Incorporation/Partnership, By-Laws and current General Information Sheet, for corporation/partnership, if applicable; (d) Registration Certificate from SEC for corporation/partnership, DTI for sole proprietorship and CDA for cooperatives, or any proof of such registration, if applicable; (e) current Mayor’s permit issued by the city or municipality where the principal place of business of the winning bidder is located, if applicable.

15. A Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS) shall be issued to the highest/winning bidder on the day of bidding.

16. In case the bid is in CASH, the 90% balance of the bid amount shall be paid either in cash or manager’s check within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of NOAS, without privilege of extension.

17. In case the bid is thru EFI, the equity shall be paid in cash within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of Letter of Guarantee (LOG) by the GSIS. The equity is the amount corresponding to the difference between the LOG and the Offered Bid Amount.

18. Upon issuance of the NOAS to the highest/winning bidder, the Bidder’s Deposit of the other non-winning bidder/s shall be returned immediately.

19. Non-compliance with the terms and conditions stated in the NOAS shall result in the forfeiture of the bidder’s deposit.

20. In case the highest/winning bidder fails to comply with the requirements within the specified time, the GSIS shall write the second highest bidder to confirm if he/she is still interested to acquire the property. If still interested, GSIS will require him/her to pay the non-refundable deposit equivalent to ten percent (10%) of his/her previously submitted bid amount and will be issued NOAS. 21. GSIS reserves the right to waive any formality or to reject any or all bids received. The list of properties available for sale may be updated without prior notice.

22. For inquiries, you may call Real Property Accounts Management Department at telephone nos. 479-3536 or 976-4619.

(MS-MAY 30,31 & JUNE 1, 2017)

SENATOR Cynthia Villar, chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Food committee, on Tuesday vowed to investigate the resurgence of a garlic cartel that resulted into a spike in the cost of garlic in the local market, now pegged at P200 per kilo from P140.

She noted that the rising cost of garlic is reminiscent of the 2014 scenario where the price of garlic has risen to more than P300 per kilo and prompted Villar to head a Senate inquiry into the matter.

“Our findings before, the farm gate price of garlic is P40 per kilo in Ilocos Norte. The landed cost of imported garlic is P17 per kilo. If you are to look at it, the price of garlic should not go beyond P100 per kilo. I was able to prove there was cartel," Villar said.

“We thought they have learned their lesson but now, the price increased again. But this is a different administration, the Secretary of Agricuture is different, the director of Bureau of Plant Industry [BPI] is also different. I have to let them know what happened last time so we can stop this cartel,” Villar said.

Villar filed Proposed Senate Resolution No. 389 directing the Senate Committee to conduct an inquiry on the reported garlic importation by the Department of Agriculture and its implication to the sudden rise of prices in the market.

According to the resolution, the price of garlic per kilo increased from P140 to more than P200. It was also noted that there has been a reported decrease in local production, particularly in Ilocos Norte of garlic because of the lack of planting materials.

The DA reported that more than 57,000 metric tons of imported garlic has been given import clearance by the BPI and that as of this month, only 12,000 metric tons arrived.

The combined local production of garlic has only been on an average of 9,000 MT a year, or six percent only of the yearly demand of about 139,777 MT, which is barely a month’s garlic requirement of the country.

State college top exec indicted

By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman has indicted the president of the Davao Oriental State College over bidding anomalies.

Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales found probable cause to pursue charges of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act and non-compliance RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Act in undertaking a project in 2006 against president Jonathan Bayogan, bids and awards committee chairperson; Airma Ladera, chairperson of the bids and awards committee; Vivian Labasano, officer in charge-director for administrative services, and bids and awards committee members.

Based on the OmbudsmanMindanao field investigation unit in March 2006, the school management procured supplies and equipment for its Funda laboratory without a public bidding and any approved budget for the contract.

Procurement documents showed the respondents obtained quotations from three suppliers and immediately opened their bids.

Despite such, after the opening of quotations, the respondents allowed another bidder, Multilab, to submit its offer and eventually awarded the project to the latter through the alternative method of shopping.

The quotations showed the offers ranged from P225,000 to P300,000 —budgets which were beyond the procurement thresholds through shopping prevailing at that time.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

A7

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Olympian Larriba needs blood

By Randy Caluag

T

HE La Sallian community has put up a blood donation and fund-raising drives for table tennis Olympian Ian Lariba after she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a type of blood cancer.

Lariba

The family of Lariba, through her alma mater, announced on its twitter DLSU Sports that the La Salle alumnus was diagnosed with the blood-related illness and will begin treatment at the St. Luke’s Medical Center.

“We request the La

Sallian community to extend assistance and support to Yan Yan during this time,” said the tweet.

Earlier, the same twitter account requested for donations from Type O blood owners.

Lariba, undefeated in his five years of playing

for DLSU in the UAAP table tennis competitions, was the only Filipino table netter ever to qualified in the Olympics.

She saw action in the Rio de Janeiro games, together with silver weightlifting medal winner Hidilyn Diaz.

According to webmd. com, AML is a type of blood cancer that “usually begins in cells that would turn into white blood cells.

Sometimes, though, AML can start in other types of blood-forming cells. Acute myeloid leukemia starts in the bone marrow. This is the soft inner parts of bones.”

The medical website also said “without treatment, AML can quickly be life-threatening. Because it’s acute, this type of leukemia can spread quickly to the blood and to other parts of the body, such as the Lymph nodes, Liver, Spleen, Brain and spinal cord.”

Donations can be sent to Imelda N. Lariba through her BDO bank account no.

870-007-459df and UCPB account no. 104120046272.

For proper documentation, please email transaction slip to melida.capule@ dlsu.edu.ph.

For more details, check

DLSU Sports twitter account.

For blood donors, they may proceed to the blood bank of St. Lukes Medical Center in Quezon City.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission also expressed support to extend help to Lariba.

“We have an order from chairman [Butch] Ramirez to closely monitor her condition and we are ready to give support to our Olympian Ian Lariba,” said Ronnel Abrenica, PSC Chief of Staff and Executive Secretary to the Chairman.

Aurelio, Borlain share beach sports spotlight PUERTO Princesa City— Ivan Kristoffer Aurelio and Samantha Borlain shared the limelight in the swimming competitions in the 2017 Pilipinas International Beach Sports Festival at the Baywalk here.

Aurelio clocked one hour, 10 minutes and 38 seconds to rule the men’s 5k competition presented by the Puerto City government, headed by Mayor Luis Marcaida III. Jose Diego Ogsimer finished second with a time of 1:19.41, while Fredrich Martin Regalo wound up third with a time of 1:19.50.

Borlain, who comes from a family of triathletes, outduelled Loren Dave Echavez and Jan Mari Abad to clinch first place in the women’s category.

Borlain, the 15-year-old daughter of former Mr. Universe Ringo Borlain, timed 1:10.35 to edge Echavez and Abad.

Echavez timed 1:16.58 and Abad clocked 1:20.00.

Sharing the limelight were Kurt Mikael Bucasas and Tara Borlain ( 2.5-km boys/ girls); Rogel Aboratique and Jaye Dignadice ( 500-m boys/girls, 11-13 years old); and Alexander Austria and Francheska Berlain (500-m boys/girls 10 years old and under).

Mayor Marcaid a personally awarded the medals and prizes to the winners in the three-day competition supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, headed by ChairMan Butch Ramirez.

Mayor Marcaida poses with the winners of the swimming competitions at the Baywalk in in Puerto Princesa City.

PSL-Manila bows to Bank of Iran UST-KAMENOGORSK, Kazakhstan—Rebisco PSL Manila rocked the usually composed Sarmayeh Bank of Iran all day long but the breaks did not go its way down the stretch and lost, 25-23, 25-17, 29-27, in the Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championships Tuesday here.

Showing that it has what it takes

to perform well in this level, the Philippine team put Iran on its toes, making a gallant stand for the first and third frames only to fold up and absorb its fifth defeat.

But it’s not yet over for Rebisco PSL Manila which can duplicate the country’s best finish here of seventh place if it wins over either

Vientin Bank of Vietnam or Taiwan Power of Chinese Taipei on Wednesday.

The Philippines, backed here by Asics, Grand Sport and Turkish Airlines, were at set point twice in the third, 24-23 and, 27-26, but each time allowed Iran to get back through errors.

Thais re-join Ladies PH Golf Tour via Orchard tilt THE Ladies Philippine Golf Tour resumes Wednesday with the ICTSI Orchard Ladies Invitational as eight aces from Thailand boosting the compact cast at the Orchard Golf and Country Club’s Player course in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

Nemittra Juntanaket, who placed third in the last LPGT leg at Luisita, and sister Nimmitta are re-joining the title hunt along with Alisara Wedchakama, Jaruporn Palakawongnaayuttawa, Numa Gulyanamitta, Pannapa Polnamin, Pattaraporn Mounchoo and

Suchaya Tangkamolprasert.

All are out to duplicate fellow Thai Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul’s title romp at LPGT Splendido in the kickoff leg of the circuit where some of their compatriots honed their talent and skills and are now campaigning in the Symetra Tour and LPGA Tour.

Also for the first time, the country’s premier ladies tour, sponsored by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., will feature a South African campaigner in Madeleen Grosskopf, who has

played in the Ladies European Tour and in Japan.

But focus will be on Euna Koh, who nipped local rookie pro Pauline del Rosario in the playoff to claim her maiden LPGT crown last April with the 18-year-old Korean hoping to flash top form against Del Rosario and Nemittra Juntanaket in the featured flight at 9:30 a.m.

Del Rosario is also raring to end a string of sorry setbacks, including a joint runner-up finish to Muangkhumsakul, with the former Philippine Ladies Open champion upbeat of

her chances coming off a third place finish in Thailand last week.

Chihiro Ikeda, who ruled this event in wet condition last year, also hopes to churn out a superb game in all three days of the P1 million event serving as the fourth leg of the eightstage circuit backed by backed

by Custom Clubmakers, BDO, Meralco, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and K&G Golf.

Ikeda will start at 10 a.m. in the company of Lucy Landicho and Polnamin.

Others in the fold are Indonesian campaigner Jessica Lydia, Fil-Am and former leg winner Cristina Corpus and local bets Sarah Ababa, Lovelyn Guioguio and Anya Tanpinco.

Eagle Ace Superal, young sister of many-time LPGT winner and Symetra Tour campaigner Princess, is also in the list as spearhead of the seven amateurs seeing action in the 54-hole championship. The others are Alex Etter, Mariel Tee, Rev Alcantara, Sam Bruce, Kayla Nocum, and Japanese Kelly Marutani.

World Slasher Cup 2 champ known today

A win in the World Slasher Cup 2 Invitational 9-Cock Derby grand finals is considered the holy grail to all sabong enthusiasts.

THOUSANDS gather at the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum as the 2017 World Slasher Cup 2 Invitational 9-Cock Derby grand finals unfold today.

“After six days of high-flying action, the champion or champions will finally be known today,” said WSC media partner Manny Berbano of Pitgames Media.

Slighty ahead are five pointers Tonton Lim (Lucban), Rep. Patrick Antonio (Sagupaan T2S 500), Aurelio Yee and John Gutierrez (Casa Juan Resort), Rep. Khulit Alcala (VJA Khulit CC Combine 2), Escolin and Eslabon brothers (Escolin Eslabon) and WSC 1 champ Frank Berin (Mulawin).

The WSC’s main backers are Thunderbird and Petron, as well as Filipino-owned company Excellence Poultry and Livestock Specialists.

Notable four pointers include Doc Ayong Lorenzo (DVH EDL Excellence), Mario Villamor (Phoenix BMJ), Dr. Bel Almojera of Florida (Blue Angels), Carlos Camacho/George Goitia of California

(671 Firebird Uppercut), Pol Estrellado (PE Farms) and Mark Calixto (JMC Fortuna).

Also with four points are Emong/Peter Alsosa/Mang Nick (Balete Eco Farm), Jun Bacolod/Alex Macariola (Roan AVM Diamond), James Uy/Raymund Calderon (Super Great 4352), Vice Gov. Odie Fausto/Cong.

Ramon Nolasco/BM Al Ponce (LNF RCN Power Pack June 17 Cauayan), Arnold Mendoza (Temecula Creek), Frank Berin (Sebastian NEJ); Emil Tiu (Northern Harbor Pier 15 RCA), Rep. Khulit Alcala (VJA Khulit CC Combine 1), Rep. Patrick Antonio (AEJ Gamefarm Sagupaan Superfeeds), Amante Capuchino (ARC Oliver 1), Frank Berin (Sebastian AC) and Ador Pleyto/Allan Villegas/ Manny Gragasin (SAP AV Masigasig).

Hosted by the Pintakasi of Champions, the World Slasher Cup remains as the biggest and most prestigious showdown of local and international cockfighters. Only the best gamefowl breeders participate in this derby, and a win here is considered the holy grail to all sabong enthusiasts.

Stallion Laguna hosts JPV Marikina in PH Football League STALLION Laguna tries to ride the momentum of its impressive performance against Global Cebu when it hosts JPV Marikina on Wednesday in the Philippines Football League at Binan Football Stadium.

Kickoff is at 4 p.m. with Stallion hoping to pick up its first victory of the season, even as JPV tries to close in on leader Meralco Manila.

Matthew Nierras snatched a late equalizer as Stallion picked up its first point of the season with a 1-1 draw against Global last May 21 and teammate Terrence Linatoc believes the battling performance has given the La-

guna side confidence heading into the clash against JPV. “The morale is really high after Matthew’s equalizer gave us a draw against Global,” said Linatoc. “We’re coming in fresh. We know that we can’t allow JPV to play their game.”

JPV has three points from three matches so far with its only win coming against Davao Aguilas, 3-2. JPV opened the season with a 1-2 defeat to Global and also dropped a 0-1 result against Meralco Manila last May 20.

“It’s a very important game for us if we

Matches Today (Binan Football Stadium) 4 p.m. - Stallion Laguna vs JPV Marikina (Quirino Stadium, Vigan) 7 p.m. - Ilocos United vs Kaya FC Makati

want to catch up with the leaders,” said JPV coach Dan Padernal. “We were able to prepare well for this match.”

Over in Vigan, Ilocos United battles Kaya Makati at 7 p.m. in their second home match of the season at Quirino Stadium.

It will be Ilocos’ first match since the 1-2 defeat to Meralco Manila last May 13. Ilo-

cos, which kicked off the season with a 1-1 draw with Davao Aguilas at home, actually took the lead in the match against Meralco through Graham Caygill only to concede twice in each half.

Caygill will miss the match due to an injury, but coach Ian Gillan will still have captain John Kanayama, Dominic Del Rosario and Angelo Marasigan to lead the attack.

Kaya, which had its match against JPV last Saturday postponed due to the unavailability of a venue, travelled close to eight hours from Manila to Vigan for the match.

‘Pacman can sub for Floyd’ IF THE proposed boxing match between MMA superstar Conor McGregor and undefeated boxing champion Floyd Mayweather will not push through, Manny Pacquiao can enter the scene.

Pacquiao’s long-time coach Freddie Roach sees no problem for the Filipino boxing legend taking on the UFC lightweight champion.

“If it’s going to be a boxing match, with boxing gloves and in the boxing ring, I see no problem with that. Manny can beat him,” said Roach on Tuesday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Golden Phoenix Hotel in Manila.

“I haven’t spoken to him about it and even his handlers, but I like it (idea),” Roach added.

The talks for the McgregorMayweather showdown have been dragging on and just like what he did to his negotiations with Pacquiao, Mayweather is playing hard to come to terms.

Thousands of miles away, Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum expressed the same idea and sounded off to UFC’s Dana White that the Filipino boxing senator can fight Mcgregor if Mayweather will not take the deal.

“If McGregor is still looking for an opponent, Manny Pacquiao is there,” Arum was quoted by TMZ Sports as reported by bloodyelbow.com.

Pacquiao is currently in the thick of his training for his fight with Australian rising star Jeremy Horn in defense of his World Boxing Organization welterweight title in Brisbane, Australia.

“It’s our main focus right now and Manny is still 70 percent fit for the fight but we will get there,” said Arum.

Randy Caluag

Tagaytay bets sustain hot WGAP start TAGAYTAY Highlands kept the momentum of its two-division romp at Wack Wack with a victory and a runner-up finish at Valley Golf as it kept the overall lead after two legs of the 2017 WGAP Circuit in Antipolo recently.

Tagaytay ruled Class B and finished second in Class C, sharing second leg honors with Class A winner Villamor and Class C titlist Alabang in the eight-stage circuit organized and conducted by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.

Villamor pooled 144 points under the Stableford scoring system and nipped Valley in the countback in a tight duel for the Class A plum with Alabang falling short by just one point at 143 for third and Forest Hills (139) nipping Camp Aguinaldo (139) in the countback for fourth.

Meanwhile, Eagle Ridge will host the third leg on June 19 after WGAP stages the milestone silver anniversary staging of the Champion Infinity Luzvimin golf tournament on June 8-10 at Mimosa Golf and Country Club in Clark, Pampanga.

Laia Barro scored 41 points, Kristine Torralba had 38 points while Ester Fasol and Melissa Gozum backed them up with 33 and 32 points, respectively, as Villamor edged the host club’s Marielle Tee and Ma. Cecilia Esguerra, who shot identical 38 points, and Menchu Uyenco and Cielo Fregil, who made 35 and 33 points, respectively, for identical 144s.

But the Highlanders bounced back strong in Class B, assembling a 145 for a 12-point victory over Forest Hills, which made a 133, with Orchard finishing third at 131 followed by Villamor (120), which nipped Sta. Elena, which also scored a 120, for fourth with Canlubang winding up sixth at 115 and Wack Wack and Alabang scoring 104 and 100, respectively.

Scorers for Tagaytay “B” were Virginia Bote (39), Emaline Flores (38), Bernadette Wong (35) and Lilibeth de Villa (33) Alabang, which drew 42 points from Shirley Plaza, 38 points from Liberty De Castro and 37 and 36 points from Rachel Shah and Joyce Duque, respectively, came away with 153 points to post a five-point triumph over Tagaytay (148) in Class C with Sta. Elena turning in a 143 for third followed by Camp Aguinaldo (140), Villamor (138), Canlubang (134), Forest Hills (123) and Wack Wack (93).

LOTTO RESULTS 6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0 M+ P0 M

Sports

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

A8

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017

Nadal, Djokovic cruise to win

PARIS, France—Rafael Nadal launched his pursuit of a record 10th French Open title in convincing fashion, while defending champion Novak Djokovic eased to victory under the gaze of new coach Andre Agassi.

Reigning women’s champion Garbine Muguruza began her Roland Garros defense with a straight-sets triumph over 2010 winner Francesca Schiavone.

Nadal, who was forced to withdraw before last year’s third round with a wrist injury, brushed aside 45thranked Benoit Paire 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 inside two hours.

“I’m very happy to be back here after what happened last year. It’s great to feel the support,” said the 14-time major champion.

Nadal broke Frenchman Paire eight times and recovered from a slight second-set wobble when he dropped serve twice in a row to surge into a round two meeting with Dutchman Robin Haase.

“It’s always at the start, happy for the victory. Was not an easy opponent in the first round, obviously. He’s an uncomfortable opponent that already he had some good victories this year,” added Nadal.

Title-holder Djokovic strolled through his opener against Marcel Granollers of Spain, advancing 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.

With 1999 French Open champion Agassi in the players box for the first time after agreeing a short-term coaching role, Djokovic experienced some trouble against the world number 77, being broken four times.

“It’s great to have Andre Agassi as coach and as a mentor. I will try to learn as much as I can from him,” said Djokovic.

The Serb, seeking to become the first man in the Open era to win all four majors on at least two occasions, will take on Portugal’s Joao Sousa next.

“Coming to this tournament for first time as a defending champion gave me, probably more than anything else, relief, because the anticipation and the pressure and expectations that I had also for myself but all the other people around me in the last three, four, five years before 2016 Roland Garros trophy was really big,” added Djokovic. AFP

Spain’s Rafael Nadal reacts to a point during his tennis match against France’s Benoit Paire at the Roland Garros 2017 French Open on May 29, 2017 in Paris. AFP

Roach promises vintage Pacquiao against Horn

By Peter Atencio

E

XPECT Manny Pacquiao to put on a big show.

He will be at his best against welterweight contender Jeff Horn when he fights on home soil in Melbourne.

The expected big crowd, according to his long-time trainer Freddie Roach, will energize the Pacman.

“He loves to perform. He’ll put on the best show that he can,” Roach said.

Since early May, organizers noted that ticket sales for the fight have spiked. Attendance is expected to go

beyond 38,000, which is the number recorded when Azumah Nelson beat Jeff Fenech at Melbourne’s Princes Park back in 1992.

This time, they expect 55,000 people to fill up the the stadium.

The last time a Pacquiao drew in a big attendance was when crowd of 50,994

appeared at the Cowboys Stadium in Texas for his fight against Ghanaian Joshua Clottey in 2010.

“He loves the energy, the support that’s going to happen,” Roach said.

Pacquiao’s long-time trainer talked about the coming fight during the weekly PSA Forum at the Golden Phoenix Hotel in Pasay City.

He has been in the country for the last two weeks to help Pacquiao get ready for his clash with Horn on July 2 at the Suncorp Stadium.

Pacquiao’s camp believes the crowd will be on Pacquiao’s side which is why the Pacman feels energized about

the fight.

Pacquiao is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time. He remains the only eight-division world champion.

He has won eleven major world titles and is the first boxer to win the lineal title in five weight classes.

Pacquiao is only the third boxer in history to win world titles in three of the original eight weight divisions, at f lyweight, featherweight, and welterweight. He was also honored as the “Fighter of the Decade” for the 2000s by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA), WBC, and WBO.

Contrite Tiger sorry for DUI

Bigdash defends ONE crown YANGON, Myanmar—Hometown hero “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang gets another shot at the crown of ONE Championship Middleweight World Champion Vitaly Bigdash during their rematch at ONE: Light of a Nation on June 30, 2017 at the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium.

Ticket information for ONE: LIGHT OF A NATION is available at www.onechampionship.

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship said they arranged the rematch because of the demand of fans after their classic earlier clash.

“The first bout was an absolute showcase of incredible skill and unwavering determination, and the rematch promises nothing short of another classic.

Yangon’s favorite son, Aung La N Sang, will get another crack at the ONE Middleweight World

Championship held by Vitaly Bigdash. This time, it will be on his home turf. Fans will not want to miss all the action that goes down at ONE: LIGHT OF A NATION this June.”

ONE Middleweight World Champion Vitaly Bigdash of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, has proven to be one of the most talented martial artists in the world. Making his ONE Championship debut in 2015, Bigdash captured the middleweight title with a resounding technical knockout victory over Igor Svirid, in one of the most action-packed contests in ONE Championship history.

In his last bout, Bigdash successfully defended his world title against Aung La N Sang, winning by unanimous decision.

Bigdash said he is looking forward to another exciting match with the Myanmar hero.

“Aung La N Sang is one of the toughest fighters I have ever faced, and it will be an honor to come into his hometown to perform. I am not worried about the hometown advantage, because a true champion can fight anywhere and under any circumstance. I am excited to get back inside the cage and expect nothing less than a spectacular showing in Myanmar.

Although I respect Aung La N Sang and what he brings to the table, I am returning home victorious, and with my belt still over my shoulder.”

The 32-year-old top Aung La N Sang is most renowned athlete from Myanmar. His constricting style has earned him the moniker of ”The Burmese Python”. Born in Myitkyina in the mountainous Kachin State, he belongs to an ethnic minority known as the Kachin.

VINTAGE PACMAN. Freddie Roach, Manny Pacquiao’s long-time trainer, says the Filipino boxing icon will be at his best against Jeff Horn during the weekly PSA Forum at the Golden Phoenix Hotel in Pasay City.

League-leading Hotshots battle Alaska

By Jeric Lopez

Alaska Aces forwards Calvin Abueva (8) and Vic Manuel (4) piles on Star Hotshots big man Marc Pingris (15) as they battle for possession during their PBA match.

AS the elimination round reaches its penultimate playdate, a lot will be on the line.

Two of the competing teams for a top two finish face separate opponents and are facing must-win situations in the homestretch of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. Currently tied for first place, Star (8-2) still needs to win its final assignment to remain in the hunt for a top two placing and an ailing but desperate Alaska side (4-6) is set to challenge them in a meeting

of rivals at 7 p.m. at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

San Miguel Beer (7-2) likewise needs a victory when it takes on already ousted Blackwater (2-8) at 4:15 p.m. in the opener.

The Hotshots and the Beermen are two of the four teams still in the chase for a top two finish and the twice-to-beat advantage that goes along. Barangay Ginebra (82) and TNT KaTropa (8-3) are the other top teams in the running.

Ginebra has the inside crack of getting one of those two coveted ranks as it holds any tie-breaker with the other three teams after beating them all.

In case of ties, the winner-overthe-other rule applies first and then the quotient comes into play as well.

That’s why it’s essential for Star and San Miguel to win against their opponents tonight.

The Hotshots, though, will have a bit of a tougher task as they will take on the fading but dangerous Aces, who have lost six in a row after starting 4-0.

Alaska is in desperation mode as it needs to win to book a ticket to the quarterfinals, otherwise, it will be in a dangerous zone and might need a playoff to get through.

MIAMI, United States—Golf superstar Tiger Woods was charged with driving under the influence by police in Florida on Monday, dealing a fresh blow to the former world number one as he struggles to resurrect his career.

The 14-time major champion blamed his arrest on a reaction to a mixture of prescription medication he has been taking, insisting in an apology to fans that alcohol was not involved in the incident.

Woods, 41, was arrested by police near his home in Jupiter, Florida, around 3 a.m. (0700 GMT) before his release later Monday after being charged with driving under the influence.

A police mugshot of Woods looking bleary-eyed and unshaven rapidly went viral, underscoring the protracted fall from grace which has befallen the superstar athlete once renowned as a clean-living, corporate pitchman.

“I understand the severity of what I did and I take full responsibility for my actions,” Woods said in a statement quoted by US media outlets, which stressed that “alcohol was not involved.”

“What happened was an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications. I didn’t realize the mix of medications had affected me so strongly,” Woods said.

“I would like to apologize with all my heart to my family, friends and the fans. I expect more from myself too.” AFP

ODA funding may delay projects B3

Business

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

Closing May 30, 2017

8500 8000 7500 7000 6500 6000

7,860.77 25.26

By Julito G. Rada

PESO-DOLLAR RATE Closing MAY 30, 2017

45.00 46.50 48.00

P49.840 CLOSE

51.00

HIGH P49.830 LOW P49.900 AVERAGE P49.867 VOLUME 409.500M

P435.00-P680.00 LPG/11-kg tank P37.65-P49.80 Unleaded Gasoline P26.70-P31.91 Diesel

OPRICES IL TODAY

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

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, May 30, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.8000

Japan

Yen

0.008990

0.4477

UK

Pound

1.284400

63.9631

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128307

6.3897

Switzerland

Franc

1.023018

50.9463

Canada

Dollar

0.743384

37.0205

Singapore

Dollar

0.721449

35.9282

Australia

Dollar

0.743600

37.0313

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653857

132.1621

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266660

13.2797

Brunei

Dollar

0.718856

35.7990

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.029306

1.4594

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.5599

Euro

Euro

1.116700

55.6117

Korea

Won

0.000892

0.0444

China

Yuan

0.145550

7.2484

India

Rupee

0.015495

0.7717

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.234165

11.6614

New Zealand

Dollar

0.705500

35.1339

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033131

1.6499 Source: PDS Bridge

IN BRIEF LRT 2 Masinag finished by 2018

THE Transportation Department said it expects to complete the construction of the P2.27-billion LRT Line 2 Masinag Extension by August 2018.

“The completion of the LRT Line 2 East Extension Project is part of the fulfillment of the government’s promise to ease traffic congestion by extending the service of the LRT Line 2 System to the eastern part of Metro Manila,” Light Rail Transit Authority administrator Reynaldo Berroya said.

The LRT-2 East Extension Project involves the construction of a four -kilometer extension of the existing LRT2 System from Santolan, Pasig City to Masinag in Antipolo. Rizal.

Two additional stations will be built including the Emerald station in front of Robinsons Metro East and Sta. Lucia in Cainta, Rizal and Masinag station located before the Masinag Junction in Antipolo City.

DM Consunji Inc. bagged the contract for the two stations which are set to start construction works on June 6.

The LRT- 2 East Extension Project is seen to be operational in the first quarter of 2019. Darwin G. Amojelar

Senator proposes online car registration A SENATOR has filed a resolution urging the Transportation Department to implement online motor vehicle registration in a bid to eliminate corruption and speed up the process at the Land Transportation Office.

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, who filed Senate Resolution No. 329 on May 29, said the establishment and implementation of online registration for motor vehicles would promote transparency in LTO. The online car registration will also simplify the procedure, thereby reducing red tape and expedite transactions with the agency, he said.

“There have been allegations that LTO employees receive bribes during the vehicle inspection stage of registration and conduct bogus emission testing and engine number stencils,” he said.

Based on the guidelines in the implementation of revised LTO Citizen’s Charter, the time that should be spent by an applicant for the renewal of motor vehicle is only 60 minutes. However, the public spend an average of two to four days to register a motor vehicle due to inefficiency and inadequacy of LTO employees and facilities. Darwin G. Amojelar

B1

Govt set to fund most infra projects

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX

49.50

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017

URBANIZATION REVIEW. Ayala Corp. chairman and chief executive Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala joins World Bank officials at the launch of the final report of the World Bank’s Philippines Urbanization Review, where he discussed key issues related to the Philippines’ urbanization process. Shown during the launching of the report are (from left) World Bank practice manager for urban and disaster risk management in East Asia and Pacific Abhas Jha, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president George Barcelon, Balanga City Mayor and League of Cities of the Philippines secretary general Francis Garcia, Zobel de Ayala, National Economic and Development Authority Undersecretary Rolando Tungpalan, Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Austere Panadero, Homeless People’s Federation of the Philippines Inc. regional coordinator Ruby Haddad and Ateneo de Manila University Prof. Cieloto Habito.

SMB to build $150-m brewery in California

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

AN MIGUEL Brewery Inc., a joint venture between San Miguel Corp. and Kirin Holdings Company Ltd. of Japan, plans to build a $150-million brewery in Los Angles, California.

SMB chairman Ramon Ang said in an interview at the sidelines of the annual stockholders’ meeting the company was also looking at spending $500 million over the next two and a half years to build two new beer plants and expand the capacity of all existing bottling plants.

Ang said he would leave for the United States in June to finalize the acquisition of a Los Angeles property for the planned

facility.

The US plant, which will be the first SMB facility in the US, will have a capacity to produce 2 million hectoliters (200 million liters) and will be situated in a 10-hectare property.

Ang said the company planned to build the Los Angeles facility to meet rising demand.

“The reason why we are going to build a brewery in the US is because the volume of

exports today in America can now warrant us to put up the brewery to support that volume,” Ang said.

San Miguel Brewery also has plants and facilities in Thailand, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong and Vietnam. The international plants have a combined capacity of 7.81 million hectoliters.

The company, which currently accounts for 9 of 10 beers sold in the Philippines, also plans to build two new breweries in Cagayan de Oro and Iloilo. Each plant will have capacity of 2 million hectoliters.

SMB also has beer facilities in Bacold, Davao, Cebu, Valenzuela and Pampanga. The company is set to expand the capacity of all existing bottling plants in Laguna, Bicol and Isabela.

Ang said the company was expanding the production capacity because all plants were currently operating at 95-percent utilization rate, or near full utilization.

The domestic plants have a total production capacity of more than 16 million hectoliters.

San Miguel also expressed interest in bidding for Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage Corp.

Saigon Beer is Vietnam’s largest brewer with a 40-percent market share.

SMB registered a net income of P4.5 billion in the first quarter, up by 12 percent from a year ago.

Consolidated revenues increased 9 percent to P25.4 billion while operating income rose 10 percent to P6.7 billion. Volumes reached 58.6 million cases, up 2 percent from a year earlier.

THE government will tap its own budget to fund most infrastructure projects under the 2017-2022 Public Investment Program, National Economic and Development Authority Undersecretary Rolando Tungpalan said Tuesday.

“Of the $168 billion [P8.44 trillion] total infrastructure investment requirement under the 2017-2022 Public Investment Program, which translates the Philippine Development Plan into these programs and projects, the bulk of the projects will be implemented through local financing or GAA [General Appropriations Act] at roughly 66 percent,” Tungpalan said during the Management Association of the Philippines’ general membership meeting in Makati City.

“The remaining projects will be carried out through PPP [public-private partnership] at 18 percent and ODA [official development assistance loans] at 15 percent,” Tungpalan said.

Tungpalan said in accelerating infrastructure development, the government would increase spending on public infrastructure from 5.32 percent of gross domestic product in 2017 to around 7.45 percent of GDP by 2022, or an average of 6.8 percent of GDP in the six-year period.

Infrastructure spending averaged only 2.9 percent of GDP from 2010 to 2016.

The projects will include new roads, bridges, railways, airports, seaports and even subway to lessen traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

Neda director-general and Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia earlier said the implementation of these projects would usher in the “golden age of infrastructure” under the Duterte administration “Our economy is projected to grow between 6.5 percent and 7.5 percent in 2017, and between 7 percent to 8 percent from 2018 to 2022. This GDP growth translates to larger economy, expanding from about $290 billion in 2016 to $510 billion by 2022,” Tungpalan said.

Mandaluyong court lifts garnishment order vs ABS-CBN

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Mandaluyong City regional trial court on Monday lifted the attachment and garnishment order on ABS-CBN Corp. and Sky Cable Corp. which the court issued last week in connection with the collection complaint of Solar Entertainment Corp.

The court earlier issued an order to garnish the bank accounts and other assets of ABS-CBN and cable affiliate Sky Cable for allegedly airing the BTV and NBA

Premium TV channels of Solar Entertainment without paying the carriage fees for about three years.

ABS CBN and Sky Cable said they received an ex-parte writ of attachment and notice of garnishment from the court on May 25 but they filed a motion to lift the order in the morning of May 29, which the court granted on the same day.

“Thus, at this time, there is no effective attachment or garnishment over any asset of ABSCBN or Sky Cable,” the two

companies led by the Lopez family said in a statement.

ABS-CBN and Sky Cable said they signed a license agreement with NBA Properties Inc. in 2014.

“Since ABS-CBN was paying 60 percent of the license fees, it considered that the same already covered the carriage fees of Sky Cable. Unfortunately, Solar disagreed. Despite the good faith attempts of ABS-CBN and Sky Cable to resolve the dispute amicably, Solar cut off the NBA feed to Sky Cable and filed this complaint,”

the broadcast network said.

The garnishment order, signed

by Judge Monique QuisumbingIgnacio also required Solar, the local distributor of NBA games and programs over the past 16 years, to post a bond for P659 million, the amount it was trying to collect.

“It needs to be stressed herein that the expiration of the channel carriage agreements and the execution of the television license agreement with NBA did not relieve Sky Cable of its obligation to pay channel car-

riage fees. The basis of the channel carriage fees is Sky Cable’s continuous airing of NBA Premium TV and BTV which was tolerated by Solar,” the court said.

“This created an implied contract between the two. ABS-CBN in collusion with Sky Cable had no intention to pay such channel carriage fees as their objective is to become the exclusive licensee of NBA, thereby gaining full control and exclusive rights to the broadcast of NBA games in the Philippines,”the court said.

Inflation expected to peak in Q3—ING INFLATION rate will likely average 3.4 percent this year, faster than 1.8 percent in 2016, on the back of higher food prices, ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng said in a report Tuesday.

“Food pressures from tight supply conditions are likely to keep food inflation on an uptrend. Energy prices are also expected to exert some upward pressure,” Cuyegkeng said.

“However, outlook is still for a peak of inflation in the third quarter at around 3.7 percent to 3.8 percent to average 3.4 percent in 2017,” he said.

Cuyegkeng said inflation in 2018 could average 3.5 percent.

Inflation rate refers to the average movement of consumer prices and is the biggest factor monitored by

Bangko Sentral in setting its interest rates.

Cuyegkeng said Bangko Sentral’s earlier projection of an average 3 percent in 2018 implied a moderation of consumer prices next year and might signal a steady policy setting going forward.

Cuyegkeng said inflation in May might show modest pressures, averaging between 3.4 and 3.5 percent. He said external pressures related to US Federal Reserve’s tightening might require BSP policy response to steady some price pressures.

The Finance Department said May inflation likely slowed to 3.2 percent from 3.4 percent in April as food costs, particularly of vegetables, eased. Julito G. Rada

CLARK AIRPORT TOUR. Clark International Airport Corp. officials led by president and chief executive Alexander Cauguiran (center) and vice president for business development Darwin Cunanan (left) update members of the House special committee on bases conversion and officials of Clark Development Corp. on the developments at Clark International Airport during a tour of the facility.

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market retreats; Wilcon, Eagle up Meralco plans to invest S in Nigeria and Indonesia TOCKS retreated Tuesday, amid thin trading in Asian markets and as investors assessed the path for higher US borrowing costs.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, fell 25 points, or 0.3 percent, to close at 7,860.77, as five of the six sectoral indices declined, with only services rising slightly.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also dropped 9 points, or 0.2 percent, to settle at 4,690.78, on a value turnover of P7.4 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 105 to 77, while 58 issues were unchanged.

Six of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Wilcon Depot Inc. which climbed 5.4 percent to P5.70 and oil refiner Petron Corp. which went up 2.6 percent to P11.26. Globe Telecom Inc. rose 2 percent to P2,102. Newly-listed Eagle Cement Corp. gained 1.7 percent to P15.56.

Meanwhile, most Asian markets fell in holiday-thinned trade, with dealers keeping tabs on a developing scandal around Donald Trump’s administration.

The Washington Post said Friday that Trump’s son-in-law and close advisor Jared Kushner had met the Russian ambassador prior to the inauguration and proposed a secret communications link to the Kremlin.

The talks, if confirmed, would raise new questions about the White House’s relationship with Moscow, which US intelligence agencies say could have helped the tycoon win November’s election.

There are fears the budding crisis, along with several other scandals enveloping the administration, could prevent Trump from pushing through his market-friendly economic policies.

Okasan Online Securities said in a commentary: “With President Trump returning home from a trip abroad, media reporting on ‘Russiagate’ will also pick up.”

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis chief

James Bullard said Trump would have to start delivering on his promised agenda, which helped fan a surge in global markets in the months after the election.

“Washington does have to deliver at some point,” he told Bloomberg TV. “I think that is a concern going forward, whether the honeymoon period would end at some point and maybe the reality of American politics would settle in.”

There were few catalysts to drive business, with Wall Street and London closed Monday for public holidays, while Hong Kong and Shanghai were closed Tuesday.

Tokyo ended flat, having pared early losses, Singapore shed 0.3 percent and Seoul gave up 0.5 percent, while Wellington was slightly lower. But Sydney closed up 0.3 percent.

The euro came under pressure following comments from the head of the European Central Bank suggesting it will stick to its loose monetary policy for now, disappointing those who had hoped for some form of tightening at its June meeting. With Bloomberg, AFP

By Alena Mae S. Flores POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. is looking at business opportunities in Indonesia and Nigeria as a part of expansion program overseas, an executive said Tuesday.

Meralco president Oscar Reyes told reporters at the sidelines of the annual stockholders’ meeting the investment in Indonesia would be through unit CIS Bayad Center in partnership with Densan System Co. Ltd. of Japan.

“We have a strong partner with

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, MAY 30, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIAL 4.08 95,000 49.95 10,800 105.5 1,412,200 4.14 4,000 122 903,240 1.48 104,000 37.15 242,800 16.14 23,000 25.7 767,600 7.75 100 0.69 18,000 1.63 58,000 0.74 23,096,000 87.9 367,010 0.81 3,181,000 15.6 79,600 25.4 8,600 68 500,140 240 750 113.7 190 63.5 325,270 215.6 484,360 84.5 41,940 1.17 3,000

383,050 539,205 149,032,261 16,560 110,250,596 148,520 8,997,675 372,162 19,692,965 775 12,320 94,690 16,794,600 32,259,600.50 2,470,330 1,226,090 218,400 34,009,055 179,926 21,603 20,687,599 104,417,244 3,543,943.50 3,510

349,525 689,331 12,636,316 2,388,115 -64,800 3,082,010 -207,560 -9,705,498 7,175,686 9,526,569.50 10,594,096 942,926.50 2,340

38.95 7.54 0.82 1.74 26.5 0.265 100 7.33 17.32 22.85 14.4 75.9 82.8 1.97 5.3 11.56 12.4 15.32 9.85 6.78 5.92 18.92 71.2 13.4 14.66 10.06 1.77 201.4 4.36 3.45 25 32.2 18.8 19.1 272.8 0.242 6.36 3.34 10.94 11.5 2.04 9.8 2 65.7 5.92 297 4.58 4.05 12.8 4.49 0.146 1.36 163 2.09 1.07

INDUSTRIAL 39.15 7,998,300 7.68 6,899,400 0.85 1,843,000 1.74 5,433,000 27.1 1,614,800 0.27 10,550,000 112.9 1,050 7.43 3,158,600 17.7 846,100 23.2 660,800 14.4 3,900 75.9 310 82.8 10 1.99 539,000 5.49 1,859,100 11.6 17,100 12.48 14,252,400 15.56 17,042,400 9.88 2,531,800 6.85 1,201,800 5.94 8,714,200 18.98 3,380,800 71.35 263,990 13.4 155,500 14.7 337,500 10.28 2,414,100 1.77 4,117,000 203.8 292,950 4.36 205,000 3.6 5,000 25.5 5,300 32.2 413,600 18.9 2,414,300 19.24 787,500 274.8 108,550 0.242 1,840,000 6.36 300 3.36 1,113,000 11.26 25,838,200 11.54 101,800 2.04 2,455,000 9.9 1,583,100 2.12 2,363,000 65.85 2,606,430 6.06 66,000 299 6,910 4.58 55,000 4.25 954,000 12.96 3,666,000 4.65 532,000 0.15 330,000 1.37 424,000 163.5 1,630,740 2.2 21,956,000 1.11 225,000

313,875,250,189 53,207,342 1,547,920 9,569,000 46,936,910 2,824,650 105,847 23,480,488 14,930,920 15,255,740 56,180 23,556 828 1,068,570 10,157,229 198,048 178,065,750 264,585,766 25,047,659 8,177,158 51,985,615 64,579,078 18,817,281 2,083,996 4,964,860 24,566,376 7,449,660 59,433,930 912,500 17,400 134,000 13,375,705 45,810,546 15,140,944 29,799,434 447,900 1,908 3,739,640 289,222,744 1,174,648 5,031,300 15,764,376 4,876,390 171,546,548.50 395,747 2,065,310 252,060 4,043,250 47,541,754 2,442,330 48,620 580,680 266,556,067 47,874,780 246,690

,572,989.9997 528,023 -4,225,190 -1,048,245 6,853,801 6,188,244 -1,975,415 -70,130 50,020,410 1,662,754 -4,423,569 -20,910 1,855,200 -4,793,844 7,221,357.50 -4,466,598 4,650,926 -15,500 -30,193,222 3,600 3,923,585 -14,490,840 -13,580,682 -13,531,808 -6,720 9,814,390 -543,534 6,150.00 40,740 1,217,160 -4,039,800 255,799 -1,671,410 -106,250 -16,981,262 94,900.00 -34,250 29,224,735 2,951,460 -

0.375 76.3 15.4 1.2 6.1 0.38 0.385 874 8.2 13.46 7.8 5.75 0.212 1,200 8.4 81.5 1.15 7.3 16.1 0.405 6.44 3.24 0.059 0.93 2.07 108.4 2.87 780 1.42 307.8 0.29 0.23 0.25

0.37 75.65 15.14 1.15 6.1 0.355 0.355 865 8.17 13.34 7.64 5.75 0.205 1,188 7.8 79.9 1.08 7.06 15.98 0.405 6.34 3.24 0.057 0.92 2 107.7 2.73 772.5 1.38 307 0.28 0.215 0.244

HOLDING FIRMS 0.37 340,000 76 3,746,230 15.2 5,682,100 1.15 53,000 6.1 1,600 0.355 16,400,000 0.355 1,060,000 869 225,620 8.18 2,286,900 13.36 5,625,600 7.64 4,500 5.75 100 0.208 2,180,000 1,199 197,715 7.8 17,900 79.9 896,170 1.12 25,942,000 7.3 1,309,200 16 2,908,100 0.405 90,000 6.35 21,541,200 3.24 6,000 0.058 73,780,000 0.92 150,000 2.02 76,000 108.4 47,530 2.73 303,000 773.5 275,720 1.42 721,000 307.6 1,900 0.28 1,180,000 0.223 4,540,000 0.244 630,000

125,900 284,951,827,207 86,544,350 61,000 9,760 5,924,250 388,100 196,148,955 18,722,786 75,315,492 34,460 575 456,890 236,903,805 143,010 72,006,596 28,945,370 ( 9,502,898 46,593,064 36,450 137,251,331 19,440 4,292,610 138,400 152,570 5,136,015 846,780 213,384,205 1,001,260 584,160 338,500 1,022,550 154,400

,306,005.9999 19,817,420 36,000 -102,834,075 -5,205,826 37,088,822 -22,970 -74,257,645 -9,916,985 831,899.9999) -4,748,123 1,580,604 4,050 -51,022,942 233,611 5,740 -12,482,225 155,020 -

6.34 1.22 7 2.49 1.32 40.45 4.16 5.3 0.53 1.11 1.49 0.159 0.53 47.3 0.69 0.163 1.69 1.11 1.05 4.72 0.37

6.28 1.16 6.8 2.4 1.29 40.05 4.08 5.27 0.51 1.06 1.44 0.156 0.52 46.5 0.67 0.157 1.66 1.05 1.03 4.61 0.355

2,164,383 5,379,570 48,980 1,239,280 6,997,080 348,287,550 9,262,810 686,648 4,796,290 442,680 1,138,630 184,230 971,050 13,880,400 6,917,740 40,340 3,587,140 45,852,910 813,670 149,259,610 14,625,400

-928,261 6,980 105,000 -64,055,940 292,140 -77,000 -55,000 439,000 72,580 560,325 -6,809,000 3,260 2,179,320 3,504,690 23,826,140 35,500

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

4.08 49.95 105.5 4.14 122 1.41 37.45 16.2 25.7 7.75 0.67 1.65 0.7 89 0.73 15.4 25 68.05 238.8 113.7 64.3 218.8 84.45 1.17

4.1 49.95 106 4.14 122.3 1.48 37.45 16.2 25.8 7.75 0.69 1.71 0.74 89.4 0.81 15.6 25.4 68.1 241 113.7 64.3 218.8 85 1.17

3.9 49.6 105.5 4.14 121.7 1.4 37 16.14 25.4 7.75 0.67 1.62 0.69 87.55 0.73 15.4 25 67.9 238.8 113.7 63.05 215.2 84.2 1.17

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

39.7 7.54 0.83 1.78 26.5 0.275 100.1 7.35 17.72 22.85 14.4 76 82.8 2 5.55 11.56 12.64 15.32 9.92 6.85 5.99 19.46 71.3 13.4 14.7 10.06 1.91 203.6 4.48 3.45 25 32.4 19.2 19.76 275 0.245 6.36 3.34 10.98 11.54 2.08 10.16 2.03 66 5.92 299 4.6 4.2 13.2 4.49 0.15 1.37 164 2.14 1.08

39.7 7.8 0.85 1.79 34.9 0.28 112.9 7.48 17.76 23.2 14.42 76 82.8 2 5.55 11.6 12.64 15.68 9.94 6.85 6 19.48 71.35 13.42 14.74 10.28 1.93 205 4.58 3.6 25.5 32.5 19.2 19.76 275.2 0.245 6.36 3.36 11.32 11.54 2.08 10.16 2.12 66.4 6.1 299 4.6 4.47 13.2 4.65 0.15 1.39 164.2 2.22 1.14

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

0.375 76 15.3 1.2 6.1 0.37 0.385 872 8.18 13.42 7.8 5.75 0.205 1,199 8.05 81 1.11 7.24 16.1 0.405 6.44 3.24 0.058 0.93 2 108.4 2.82 780 1.4 307.8 0.285 0.215 0.245

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

6.3 1.18 6.8 2.49 1.31 40.4 4.16 5.3 0.52 1.1 1.47 0.156 0.52 47.2 0.67 0.163 1.67 1.05 1.04 4.72 0.365

VOLUME

NAME

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LOW

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VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

0.385 0.76 4 25.1 1.72 3.29 33.6 1.01 7.44 0.89 5.5

0.4 0.83 4.01 25.65 1.75 3.29 33.95 1.01 7.44 0.94 5.59

0.375 0.75 3.88 24.9 1.72 3.26 33.35 1 7.44 0.89 5.45

0.39 0.79 3.9 25.65 1.75 3.29 33.5 1.01 7.44 0.9 5.49

9,550,000 83,588,000 1,245,000 1,656,100 167,000 83,000 12,966,400 2,502,000 100 2,709,000 13,512,300

3,710,550 66,177,620 4,921,940 41,682,250 292,050 271,960 434,275,560 2,519,050 744 2,458,740 74,190,909 11

-6,750 -115,880 -23,490,060 15,339,610 ,742,590.9999

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

20.95 43.6 1.75 0.51 0.045 11.4 10 0.088 2.1 100.1 8.5 3.36 970 2,060 6.07 16 3.04 3.61 102 8.94 0.181 1.33 3.67 17 4.07 4.45 2.31 9.6 3.67 16 2.57 11.48 5.35 165 10 1,755 1.6 0.395 43.2 84.65 2.69 1.1 3.46 0.86 5.41

25 43.6 2.37 0.51 0.046 11.4 10 0.089 2.25 100.5 8.78 3.36 970 2,114 6.08 16.2 3.04 3.74 102.6 8.94 0.182 1.33 3.67 17 4.07 4.49 2.31 9.88 3.67 16 2.62 11.56 5.35 171.9 10.3 1,768 1.61 0.4 43.2 85.2 2.7 1.16 3.5 0.94 5.76

20.6 43.4 1.72 0.5 0.044 10.9 9.64 0.085 2.08 99.4 8.5 3.36 970 2,060 6.06 15.98 2.97 3.55 101.8 8.9 0.181 1.31 3.54 16.5 4 4.38 2.29 9.31 3.64 15.6 2.56 11.48 5.31 165 9.83 1,727 1.59 0.395 42.65 84.4 2.62 1.1 3.44 0.82 5.4

SERVICES 23.95 43.6 2 0.5 0.045 10.92 9.7 0.087 2.24 99.5 8.5 3.36 970 2,102 6.07 16.2 2.97 3.55 102 8.94 0.181 1.32 3.6 16.5 4.03 4.46 2.3 9.81 3.65 15.6 2.62 11.56 5.31 171.9 9.95 1,760 1.6 0.395 42.8 84.5 2.67 1.12 3.46 0.94 5.7

3,335,600 7,900 6,424,000 353,000 38,100,000 5,100 17,854,400 63,230,000 11,919,000 101,470 167,400 1,000 500 83,270 218,900 105,200 2,554,000 118,000 2,032,740 320,000 3,180,000 833,000 133,000 13,600 325,000 701,000 114,000 4,692,100 1,612,000 1,100 1,186,000 5,700 9,200 210 1,425,200 110,740 10,988,000 1,900,000 2,870,600 1,106,930 4,136,000 20,858,000 1,241,000 136,821,000 56,407,900

77,738,720 343,990 12,653,800 177,800 1,711,500 57,114 174,763,176 5,481,490 26,217,860 10,134,644 1,441,636 3,360 485,000 175,172,100 1,329,114 1,691,194 7,640,120 427,790 207,497,002 2,857,100 575,990 1,095,460 474,890 225,710 1,313,350 3,114,470 262,250 45,629,823 5,888,120 17,440 3,078,080 65,846 48,892 34,719 14,236,550 194,687,580 17,576,850 750,700 122,749,845 93,780,403.50 11,026,330 23,773,770 4,287,620 121,016,840 315,592,938

-2,933,940 13,200 -100,624,525 -166,140 -216,500 -1,203,940.50 65,392,540 44,650 145,631,554 16,290 13,730 -48,240.00 -558,070 -3,239,609 -1,158,110 -1,719 -86,654 65,525,190 -665,450 54,688,245 69,662,114 667,940 5,739,110 -24,090 -490,850 81,532,293

229,200 31,332,080 63,664 58,240 692,490 722,750 1,604,635 806,850 1,439,500 959,740 53,340 45,000 9,900 1,107,000 9,573,829 1,519,750 99,850 111,090 821,000 33,000 3,812,220 538,600 3,074,640 1 4,267,940 96,075,113 297,610 187,400

83,120 -501 -18,240 -4,900 -12,000 -3,840 1,573,115 80,200.00 -19,800 ,171,155.0001 13,480,029 -

MS

PROPERTY 6.31 1.22 7 2.4 1.29 40.15 4.09 5.3 0.52 1.11 1.45 0.157 0.53 46.5 0.68 0.157 1.67 1.1 1.05 4.63 0.36

343,600 4,479,000 7,000 513,000 5,380,000 8,675,900 2,259,000 130,100 9,200,000 404,000 782,000 1,170,000 1,861,000 297,300 10,162,000 250,000 2,148,000 42,251,000 778,000 32,144,000 40,820,000

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING BENGUET A 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

0.0032 1.86 5 2.1 0.85 0.395 8.87 2.49 0.29 0.191 0.192 0.012 0.011 1.73 6.3 2.25 0.475 0.98 0.011 0.011 6.02 0.012 9.03 3.26 157.8 2.62 0.0086

0.0033 1.88 5.02 2.16 0.86 0.395 9.29 2.49 0.3 0.191 0.198 0.012 0.011 1.74 6.3 2.38 0.485 0.99 0.011 0.011 6.12 0.013 9.14 3.26 158.1 2.62 0.0086

0.0032 1.76 5 2.1 0.84 0.39 8.56 2.43 0.29 0.187 0.192 0.011 0.011 1.65 6.09 2.15 0.475 0.98 0.01 0.011 5.97 0.012 9.03 3.21 157.4 2.6 0.0085

MINING & OIL 0.0032 71,000,000 1.77 17,337,000 5.01 12,700 2.16 27,000 0.84 816,000 0.395 1,830,000 9.15 176,100 2.43 330,000 0.295 4,850,000 0.187 5,090,000 0.198 270,000 0.011 4,000,000 0.011 900,000 1.68 655,000 6.24 1,552,900 2.22 694,000 0.485 210,000 0.98 113,000 0.01 76,900,000 0.011 3,000,000 5.99 635,900 0.012 42,800,000 9.14 338,000 3.24 1,320,000 157.8 609,230 2.6 114,000 0.0085 22,000,000

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A LR PREF PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

42.3 516 514 106 104.5 116.5 5.85 1,008 1.1 1,019 104.5 77.3 81 76.8 78.15 80 77.35 78.5 78.9

43.6 516 514 106 105 116.5 5.86 1,008 1.1 1,019 104.5 77.3 81 76.8 78.15 80 77.35 78.5 78.9

42.2 516 512 106 104 116.5 5.85 1,008 1.1 1,015 104.5 77.2 81 76.8 78.15 79.4 77.35 78.5 78.85

PREFERRED 43.6 33,100 516 2,000 514 2,200 106 19,590 105 25,490 116.5 40 5.85 50,700 1,008 2,795 1.1 32,000 1,015 330 104.5 450 77.3 5,290 81 8,150 76.8 10,000 78.15 26,700 79.4 140,000 77.35 15,000 78.5 450 78.85 22,400

1,425,865 1,032,000 1,130,420 2,076,540 2,673,762 4,660 296,600 2,817,360 35,200 335,070 47,025 408,907 660,150 768,000 2,086,605 11,196,520 1,160,250 35,325 1,766,260

782,385 -47,385 -

LR WARRANT

2.2

2.23

2.18

WARRANTS 2.23 239,000

523,220

-43,800

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

4.17 6.21 8.12

4.17 6.21 8.15

4.05 6.17 7.99

4.1 6.18 8.13

3,221,330 747,971 12,583,273

183,700 2,016,773

FIRST METRO ETF

131

131

130.6

540,316

-

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

SHARES

31,727,257

INDUSTRIAL

175,163,701

HOLDING FIRMS

172,456,572

PROPERTY

292,098,700

SERVICES

401,032,268

MINING & OIL

258,021,188

GRAND TOTAL

1,332,975,516

SME

787,000 120,800 1,563,900

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 130.8 4,130

VALUE 1,937.32 (down) 8.01 505,402,427.37 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,072.30 (down) 37.41 2,281,947,941.605 HOLDING FIRMS 7,839.61 (down) 34.33 1,450,229,350.62 PROPERTY 3,660.15 (down) 19.20 SERVICES 1,686.14 (up) 4.67 1,251,919,753.66 MINING & OIL 12,482.72 (down) 62.05 1,720,869,898.90 PSEI 7,860.77 (down) 25.26 159,565,811.173 All Shares Index 4,690.78 (down) 9.36 7,387,028,073.33 Gainers: 77; Losers: 105; Unchanged: 58; Total: 240

fairly solid links with Japanese convenience stores who are not only present in the Philippines but also in the region. So we are looking forward for the opportunities of this entry into Bayad Center, being a vehicle for us to jointly look at opportunities in Indonesia and other countries in the region,” Reyes said.

Densan took a 5-percent stake in CIS Bayad Center for P230 million, allowing Meralco to benefit from the former’s information technology expertise.

“We have to look at other countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand but Indonesia is a huge market. If we draw the same volume, it will be the same level of income of Bayad Center,” Reyes said.

Reyes said in Nigeria, Meralco was looking at other projects aside from the technical partnership with Nigeria’s Ibadan Electric Distribution Utility.

“Following our performance and the feedback other utilities have gotten, we had been invited

by Port Harcourt Development Distribution Company to provide the same type of technical partnership and service, basically advisory and support services to Port Harcourt,” he said.

Reyes said Port Harcourt wanted more extensive arrangement with Meralco but it needed to go through regulatory approvals.

“Ibadan has been positive

ALI sees P11.3-b sales in Laguna

By Jenniffer B. Austria AYALA Land Premier, the high-end residential brand of property developer Ayala Land Inc., expects to raise P11.3 billion from sales of residential lots at soon-tobe-launched residential development called Cerilo in Laguna province.

ALP managing director Michael Jugo said in a news briefing the 8.5-hectare development would offer 623 residential lots with size ranging from 520 square meters to 1,300 sqm.

Jugo said at an average price of P26,540 per sqm, the lots would cost between P11.5 million and P43.1 million, each.

Jugo said the master planned community would have an average density of only seven lots per hectare, providing a heightened feeling of privacy and exclusivity for future residents.

Turnover of the lots is slated by the third quarter of 2020.

Jugo said the project would offer a two-hectare clubhouse area with a social hall, multi-purpose court, swimming pool and residents lounge. It would also have an adjacent two-hectare retail space envisioned to cater to future residents and the surrounding villages.

Meanwhile, ALP said it posted record revenues of P8.1 billion in the first quarter, a 26 percent increase from a year ago.

Jugo said the strong sales from newly launched Park Central Towers at the corner of Paseo de Roxas and Makati Avenue significantly contributed to ALP’s firstquarter results.

Manila

Standard

Business

B3

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

TODAY

Piñol proposes land lease to private firms

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales AGRICULTURE Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said Tuesday the Department of Agriculture will propose to President Rodrigo Duterte the leasing of government land, including watershed areas, to private companies that will engage in agro-forestry and reforestation projects.

Piñol said he would seek the President’s approval of the Bantay Kagubatan program, a project with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, to promote agro-forestry farming as a means to speed up reforestation and provide livelihood to poor families in rural areas.

He said he wanted the DA and DENR to jointly undertake the agro-forestry program to reforest a million hectares of land within three to five years.

“It is time for us to be ambitious (in reforesting our lands)...

CHEVRON CAMPAIGN. Bicol public high school teachers will soon have multi-media projectors, laptops, microscopes and other quality learning equipment after attending a free project submission training for Caltex Fuel Your School program. Chevron Philippines Inc. has launched a program where Caltex will match every liter of fuel purchase with a P1 donation from Aug. 1 to Sep. 30, 2017 in 22 Caltex stations in the Bicol region. At the teachers’ training are (from left) Daisy Palor, project manager of Amcham Foundation; Ramon Fiel Abcede, regional director of Department of Education Region 5; and Joel Gaviola, assistant manager for policy, government and public affairs of Chevron in Legaspi City, Albay.

Every time I travel and ride a helicopter and see our denuded mountains, I get scared,” Piñol said.

He said the DA proposal included an agro-forestry program to be undertaken by private companies, including foreignowned, if allowed by law, under lease contracts lasting up to 50 years or “even 100 years for sustainability.”

Under the proposal, the government would prioritize watershed areas for the agro-forestry farming program.

These include the Kalayaan watershed area, the Sierra Madre mountain ranges, and the Pampanga River, Panay watershed and the Mindanao River Basin watershed areas.

Piñol said the agro-forestry farming program would focus on tree species that could be harvestable in five to 10 years, as well as tree species for permanent forested areas.

ODA funding may delay projects

By Alena Mae S. Flores

T

HE government may face delays in building crucial infrastructure projects due to a shift in funding to overseas development assistance loans from an earlier policy of public-private-partnership, one of the country’s biggest infrastructure companies warned Tuesday.

“That certainly got to take into account... My own exposure to ODAs before, since it’s government-to-government, they are subject to certain procurement procedures, protocol,” Metro Pacific Investments Corp. chairman Manuel Pangilinan said.

“And since the funding will come mainly from abroad, say Japan or China, then disburse-

ments of the funds are subject to their review of the government.

That may take time,” he said.

He conceded that ODA funds would make the infrastructure projects cheaper to build.

“They’ve taken the view these infra projects which are quite numerous could be better handled if it were done through them using ODA. In a way, gov-

Pangilinan ernment to government financing is cheaper in the longer term than private sector,” he said.

Pangilinan, however, declined to say if ODA-funded projects

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bataan City of Balanga BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE OFFICE

Finnish eyes rubber manufacturing plant

THE Department of Agriculture said a company from Finland expressed interest to conduct a technical and feasibility study on a rubber tire manufacturing plant.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the government’s program to establish the country’s first indigenous rubber tire manufacturing plant was moving closer to realization with the finalization of plans by a Finnish company to do the technical and feasibility study on the project.

Piñol said Black Donuts Engineering Inc. president and chief executive Kai Hauvala informed him his company wanted to immediately conduct the study to determine the technical and financial requirement of the tire manufacturing facility.

“Hopefully, we can have a memorandum of agreement signed by September,” said Piñol, who met with Black Donuts executives in Helsinky, Finland last week.

“The tire facility is expected to provide ready market for the rubber produce of the farmers, who will also be part owner of the corporation, which is proposed to be named Pilipinas Agila Tires,” Piñol said.

Under an agreement with the Philippine Rubber Farmers’ Association, Black Donuts will help in the construction, operations and training of farmers.

Agriculture committed to help the company by consolidating farmers’ groups and coordinating their production so they could supply the rubber requirement of the proposed tire company, which is expected to produce around four to five million tires annually.

“Black Donuts said the (Filipino-made) tire will be made of 50 percent natural rubber and 50 percent synthetic rubber,” Piñol said.

Anna Leah E. Gonzales

Changi, SIA, tourism board renew venture SINGAPORE—Changi Airport Group, Singapore Airlines and the Singapore Tourism Board are taking an ongoing joint partnership, aimed at promoting inbound travel, to new heights.

Under a renewed three-year partnership, the three will jointly invest $33.75 million, the highest-ever amount to promote Singapore as an attractive stopover and twinning destination.

The joint marketing efforts will focus on promoting Singapore as a stopover or twinning destination to travelers globally.

This augments the previous approach of only targeting travelers from specific long-haul markets such as the US and Europe.

Another focus area for the partnership is the broadening

of a marketing program to woo business and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) visitors.

The partnership will also refresh the Free Singapore Tour, which provides transfer passengers with a free taste of Singapore’s offerings. FST will be expanded to include more authentic experiences based on travelers’ interests, such as a foodie tour where participants get to sample a popular local delight.

The Free Singapore Tour has been well-received, pulling in 59,000 passengers last year, up 8 per cent from the previous year.

As of April 2017, it was rated as one of the top 10 tours on popular travel website TripAdvisor’s “Top Tours in Singapore.”

would work better under the current administration.

But infrastructure projects available under the PPP scheme will be reduced with government’s preferred funding.

Pangilinan, meanwhile, expressed support to the plan to put the Kaliwa Dam project under ODA funding.

“It’s an appropriate project to be built under ODA... Does the private sector have that capacity, probably not, it’s only government that has the capacity procuring the financing for the project,” he said, PPP Center deputy executive director Eleazar Ricote earlier said the shift to ODA funding would not be unfavorable to PPPs. “There will always be a keen interest for PPPs as long as the

INVITATION TO BID NO. INFRA -045-2017 The Provincial Government of Bataan, through the Conditional Matching Grant to Provinces (CMGP) 452017 intends to apply the below listed project w/ corresponding Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected a bid opening.

Name of Project 1.

2.

3.

Rehabilitation & Improvement of Tapulao Superhighway, Orani, Bataan

Rehabilitation & Improvement of Talimundoc – Doña Road Talimundoc Orani, Bataan Rehabilitation & Improvement of Hermosa – San Pedro Road San Pedro Hermosa, Bataan

Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC)

projects remain feasible for both the government and the private sector,” Ricote said.

The Transportation Department recently announced that the Regional Airport Projects, airport development, operations and maintenance for the Bacolod-Silay, Davao, Iloilo, Laguindingan and New Bohol (Panglao) ProjLEGAL NOTICE Pursuant to Sec 1, Rule 74 of the new Rules of Court, Notice is hereby given the intestate of the late Juanita Duque who died on April 16 1978 in San Juan City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Left a parcel of land covered

by Transfer Certificate of Title no T1202 situated in the city of Davao, Philippines. Containing an area of Two hundred ninety Square Meter (293) s, more or less. Has been the subject of Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate. Made and executed by the heirs as per Doc no. 450; Page No. 91; Book No. II; Series of 2017. Before Notary Public Atty Sarah Joelle Lintag of Makati City.

(MS-MAY 24,31 & JUN 7, 2017)

NOTICE OF LOSS This is to inform the general public that Valle Verde Country Club, Inc. Ppropriety membership Certificate No. 4689 issued to MS. PADHMINI RAMNANI was lost.

ects] would be pursued through ODA funding instead of PPP. The move, according to the department, will lower the cost of the project, adding it would not necessarily mean delays in the implementation. It cited that the shift would avoid legal issues with concessionaires that could cause delays.

ERRORS & OMISSIONS In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published. We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

( M S - M AY 2 4 , 31, J U N E 7 2 017 )

=P=46,000,000.00

Republika ng Pilipinas

National Irrigation Administration

=P=53,500,000.00

(PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) Regional Office No. III

=P=36,623,000.00

The Provincial Government of Bataannow invites bids for the above listedProjects.

Completion of works is required on or before the maturity date stipulated on contract.

Bidders should have completed, at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Office Address: Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Telephone Nos. : (044) 766-2467 766-4839, 816-6808 Website: www.region3.nia.gov.ph

Email Address:niar03@yahoo.com Telefax No.(044) 766-2467 TIN: 000-979-570-000

Invitation to Bid Rehabilitation of Diversion Works and Canal System of Calaanan CIS, Bongabon, Nueva, Ecija ITB NO. NIAR3-2017-NE-CALAANAN-27

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

1.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3,hereby invites all interested PhilGEPS registered Contractors to bid for the project through the General Appropriations Act of CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of Twenty Two Million Seven Hundred Twenty Nine Thousand Six Hundred Twenty Four and 63/100 Pesos (P 22,729,624.63) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for NIAR3-2017-NE-CALAANAN-27. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

Maximum Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Peso)

Bidders must secure Site Inspection Certificate from IMO Office as a technical requirement for Eligibility and Technical Document (Envelop A). Non compliance will be a ground for disqualification.

3.

Only those Letter of Intent with a company profile, submitted by the owner or its authorized liaison officer, will be accepted to participate in the bidding.

500.00

4.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3, now invites bids for Rehabilitation of Diversion Works and Canal System of Calaanan CIS, Bongabon, Nueva, Ecija. Completion of the Works is required within Two Hundred Forty (240) calendar days. Bidders should have completed within the last three (3) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instruction to Bidders.

5.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

6.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Monday to Friday.

Bids must be delivered on or before June 20, 2017 at 1:30 P.M. at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated on IRR of RA 9184 or Bid Securing Declaration in standard form.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on May 31, 2017 to June 22, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, and June 23, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., except holidays from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Twenty Two Thousand Pesos (P 22,000.00).

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend opening of Bids at Bataan BAC Office. Late bids shall not be accepted.

7.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later that the submission of their bids.

8.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on June 07, 2017, 10:30 a.m. at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

9.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 9:30 a.m. (PST) of June 23, 2017 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on 10:00 a.m. (PST) of June 23, 2017 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Office of Bataan Bids & Awards Committeeand inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the same office.

Approved Budget for the Contract 500,000 and below More than 500,000 up to 1 Million

1,000.00

More than 1 Million up to 5 Million

5,000.00

More than 5 Million up to 10 Million

10,000.00

More than 10 Million up to 50 Million

25,000.00

More than 50 Million up to 500 Million

50,000.00

More than 500 Million

75,000.00

Bid documents will be available only to eligible bidders upon payment of a nonrefundable amount of using standard rates approved by GPPB as stated on their Resolution No. 04-2012 listed below.

The Provincial Government of Bataanwill hold a Pre-Bid Conference on June 7, 2017 at 10:00 A.M at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan.

In case of the above dates is declared a special Non-Working Holidays, it will automatically reset on the next working days.

Other necessary information deemed relevant by the Provincial Government of Bataan Activities Schedule 1. Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid May 31 – June 6, 2017 2. Eligibility Check Refer to date of Opening of Bids 3. Issuance and availability of Bidding Documents May 31 – June 20, 2017 4. Request for Clarification

June 9, 2017 5. Opening of Bids

June 20, 2017 The Provincial Government of Bataan reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: Engr. Josephine R. Valenzuela Provincial BAC / PEO Bataan Provincial BAC / PEO Office, Capitol Compound, BalangaCity, Bataan 047-237-9316 bac@bataan.gov.ph (MS-MAY 31, 2017)

( SGD.) ENRICO T. YUZON BAC Chairman

10. All particulars relative to the eligibility screening, bid security, performance security, pre-bid conference/s, evaluation of bids, post qualification and award of contracts shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its revised IRR. 11. The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

12. For further information, please refer to: BAC Secretariat/s;

NIA – Region 3,Tambubong,

San Rafael, Bulacan Tel No. (044) 766-4839 and 816-8608

(MS-MAY 31, 2017)

(SGD.) VIRGILIO J. ILAO BAC - Chairman

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

B4

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017

Business

Euro central bank rebukes US M ARIO Draghi has become the latest European policy maker to tell the US that it might be heading down the wrong path on trade.

The European Central Bank president used an appearance on Monday to tout the euro area’s four-year recovery and say that the key risks are now from external factors. Then he turned his attention to the rhetoric coming from across the Atlantic.

“The neo-protectionist stances that have been stated in the United States are certainly of concern.”

Draghi was speaking to

the European Parliament in Brussels just a day after German Chancellor Angela Merkel bemoaned that reliable relationships forged since the end of World War II “are to some extent over,” signaling a potentially significant shift in the ties between the US and its trading partners under the administration of President Donald Trump. It also comes

amid a euro-area upturn that is being bolstered by domestic consumption as much as exports.

“The concerns of Mario Draghi are maybe just an echo of the comments made earlier by Merkel after the Group of Seven summit,” said Vincent Juvyns, global market strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management.

“While the global environment is important for Europe, the economic momentum seems to be self-sustaining with local factors driving gross domestic product up at the moment.”

On his nine-day foreign trip, Trump hectored NATO allies for

not spending enough on defense, and brought the US to the brink of exiting the global Paris climate accord. He also called Germany’s trade surplus “very bad.”

Merkel, who is campaigning for a fourth term ahead of September elections, has since said that European leaders are “committed trans-Atlanticists” and consider strong relations with the US “of great importance to all of us.”

Still, the Trump administration’s attitude failed to find favor with another ECB speaker on Monday, Austrian central-bank Governor Ewald Nowotny.

“Perceiving the world economy as an endeavor where the expansion of one country results in a loss for the rest is a misperception that can become outright dangerous if it forms the basis of international policy making.”

Governments have stepped up their warnings against a resurgence of protectionism, arguing that policies supposedly supporting domestic economies often do more harm than good. At the same time, they have acknowledged that globalization―while having extraordinary benefits―also

created losers who must be better taken into account.

In the wake of Trump’s election, the UK’s vote to leave the European Union, and France’s flirtation with electing a euro-skeptic president, Draghi was at pains to make that point as well.

“What’s happened in last 1520 years is that free trade and globalization produced immense benefits but also produced people who didn’t actually share the benefits. We have to do much better in sharing the benefits with everybody who has participated in the process.” Bloomberg

Household spending in Japan drops again TOKYO―Japanese household spending dropped again in April, official figures showed Tuesday, as consumers kept a tight hold on their purse strings despite years of government efforts to boost spending.

The fresh data attests to what analysts believe is a broader picture of the world’s third largest economy―it is picking up steam overall but tepid consumption continues to act as a drag.

Spending by households of two or more people shrank 1.4 percent year-on-year, extending its declining streak of more than a year, according to data from the internal affairs ministry.

Japan’s prospects have been improving on the back of strong exports, with investments linked to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics also giving the economy a shot in the arm.

The labor market is tight as separate data on Tuesday showed the nation’s jobless rate stayed at 2.8 percent in April, the lowest in more than two decades.

The labor ministry separately said on Tuesday that the ratio of job offers to job seekers in April was at a 43-year high of 1.48, meaning there were 148 offers to every 100 job hunters.

Official figures earlier showed Japan’s economy grew 0.5 percent in the first three months of the year―or a 2.2 percent annualized growth rate.

That was its fifth straight quarterly rise and the longest string of gains since 2006.

Still, private consumption, which accounts for more than a half of Japan’s GDP, remains lackluster as cash-rich firms have been stingy with pay hikes.

The Bank of Japan has struggled to lift inflation despite years of aggressive monetary easing.

Inflation data released last week showed consumer prices rose for the fourth straight month in April but it was due largely to higher energy bills.

The rise, which came in at 0.3 percent, was still way off the BoJ’s 2.0 percent inflation target―seen as crucial to conquering years of on-off deflation blamed for holding back the once-booming economy. AFP

Singapore fines local lender, Credit Suisse SINGAPORE―Singapore said Tuesday it had fined Credit Suisse and a local lender for breaches of the city-state’s anti-money laundering laws relating to a corruption scandal at Malaysian state fund 1MDB. The Monetary Authority of Singapore, the country’s central bank, said it also imposed lifetime bans on two bankers and a 15-year prohibition order on a third following a two-year review of lenders involved in 1MDB-related transactions.

The Swiss giant was fined Sg$700,000 ($505,000) and United Overseas Bank was penalized Sg$900,000 for breaching anti-money laundering laws and for control lapses related to fund flows involving 1MDB, the MAS said in a statement.

“These include weaknesses in conducting due diligence on customers and inadequate scrutiny of customers’ transactions and activities,” the statement said, adding however that MAS did not detect “pervasive control weaknesses within” the two banks.

MAS also directed the banks “to appoint independent parties to assess and confirm... that rectification measures have been effectively implemented” and punish errant staff.

Allegations that huge sums were misappropriated from 1MDB triggered a scandal in Malaysia that has embroiled Prime Minister Najib Razak, though he has denied any wrongdoing.

Singapore, a regional financial center known for its tough stance against corruption, launched a probe following allegations that its financial system was used to move illicit funds.

Four private bankers have been jailed so far as Singapore became the first country to hand down criminal convictions related to the 1MDB investigations.

The United States and Switzerland have also launched their own probes.

Two bankers, including Swiss national Jens Fred Sturzenegger, were slapped with lifetime bans from doing business in Singapore’s financial industry and a third was banned for 15 years, the central bank said.

MAS added it intends to issue bans on three other people. Previously, MAS banned a former Goldman Sachs banker from working in the city-state’s financial industry for 10 years.

MAS said its review of financial institutions involved in 1MDBrelated flows “is the most extensive it has ever taken.”

“The review uncovered a complex web of transactions involving numerous shell companies and individuals operating in multiple jurisdictions, including the United States, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Luxembourg and Malaysia,” it added.

Singapore has also closed the local branches of two Swiss private banks--BSI and Falcon Private Bank--used in the transfer of illicit funds. AFP

e-TREE. People try to connect their smart-phones to the first “eTree” provided in Europe by Solar Tree Europ, a French-Israeli start up, on May 29, 2017, during an inauguration ceremony in Nevers, northern France. Inspired by the acacia of the Israeli desert, this futuristic construction, with photovoltaic foliage, allows to recharge cell phones, to surf on Internet, to recharge an electric bike, to distribute fresh water, or to light up at night. AFP

British Airways flights disrupted for 3rd day

By Dario Thuburn LONDON―Passengers faced a third day of disruption at Heathrow on Monday as British Airways cancelled short-haul flights after a global computer crash that unions blamed on the outsourcing of IT services to India.

The embattled airline said it was canceling 17 short-haul flights from Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, but was aiming to operate a full long-haul schedule from the hub. It said it was operating a full service from Gatwick Airport.

Tens of thousands of passengers were left stranded over a busy holiday weekend in Britain after BA scrapped hundreds of flights worldwide.

The knock-on effects could continue for several days, with numerous flights still delayed.

The airline urged passengers on Monday to check their flight status online before traveling to the airport in a bid to avoid scenes seen over the weekend when people camped out at Heathrow overnight.

BA chief executive Alex Cruz told the BBC he would not resign over the disruption and said it had nothing to do with cutting costs.

He said it had been caused by a power surge that had “only lasted a few minutes” but the problem was that the back-up system had then not worked properly.

The GMB union, however, said the disruption “could have all been avoided” if BA had not cut hundreds of IT jobs in Britain and transferred the work to India.

The airline said it was making “good progress” on restoring

normal service.

“As our IT systems move closer to full operational capacity, we will again run a full schedule at Gatwick on Monday and intend to operate a full long-haul schedule and a high proportion of our shorthaul program at Heathrow,” a spokeswoman said.

“We apologize again to customers for the frustration and inconvenience they are experiencing and thank them for their continued patience,” she said.

Cruz said that 75,000 passengers had been affected.

“We know that there have been holidays interrupted and personal events that have been interrupted and people waiting in queues for a really long time,” he told Sky News.

“We absolutely profusely apologize for that and we are

A displays warms passengers to “Expect Disruption” inside Terminal 5 of London’s Heathrow Airport on May 29, 2017. Passengers faced a third day of disruption at Heathrow Monday as British Airways canceled shorthaul flights after a global computer crash that unions blamed on the outsourcing of IT services to India. AFP

absolutely committed to provide and abide by the compensation rules that are currently in place.”

Shares dropping Some British media suggested Monday that BA could be hit with a bill of more than €100 million (115 million euros, $128 million) for compensation costs for stranded passengers’ food and accommodation.

BA cancelled all its flights out of Heathrow and Gatwick on Saturday after the IT failure, which shut down all of the carrier’s check-in and operational systems and affected call centers and its website.

Passengers were asked to contact BA to locate their luggage, after many were forced to leave Heathrow without claiming their bags in chaotic scenes that saw queues snaking out of the airports.

Australian tennis player John Peers tweeted on Monday asking BA about his lost rackets, which he needs for the French Open.

“I’m playing at @ rolandgarros tomorrow. @ British_Airways any chance you can find and send my rackets from London to Paris please....,” he wrote.

BA’s outage came on a busy weekend in Britain, where Monday is a public holiday and many schoolchildren are beginning a week’s holiday.

British Airways has suffered other IT glitches recently, leading to severe delays for passengers in July and September last year.

IAG, the parent group of British Airways and Spanish carrier Iberia, earlier this month reported a 74-percent slump in first-quarter net profit to 27 million euros ($30 million), due in large part to a weak pound.

Shares in IAG on the Madrid stock exchange were down by about 2.5 percent in afternoon trading. AFP

LGUs

Makati launches versatile cash card

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

By Joel E. Zurbano THE city government of Makati on Tuesday launched a multipurpose card that can be used by half a million residents and city hall employees for official, personal and financial transactions.

The “Makatizen Card,” according to Mayor Abigail Binay, will allow the residents to access local services and transact with the city government.

Binay said the residents can receive cash allowances, stipends, and other cash benefits. She added they can also use their cards to pay fees and taxes, as well as for personal remittances and other financial transactions.

City government employees, on the other hand, can use their card to receive salaries and allowances because it also functions as an Automated Teller Machine Card and is a valid government Identification card.

“This takes us a step nearer to achieving our goal of empowering everyone, including those in the marginalized sectors of society, to enjoy a better quality of life,” said Binay during the launching of Makatizen Card at the Session Hall.

She noted the card goes beyond providing Makati citizens with instant access to essential services of the city government, which in itself is a major leap forward for the city.

“The wide range of digital and mobile services offers the people of Makati more convenient and cost-effective ways of meeting their day-to-day needs and obligations,” Binay said.

The project was made in cooperation with Globe Telecom.

Binay said the city government will extend its full support for Globe Telecom’s initiatives “geared towards strengthening its telecommunications network to promote a digitallyconnected Philippines.”

“With confidence and optimism, we view this unsolicited project proposal from Globe and its subsidiaries as the springboard for the rapid transformation of Makati into the country’s first digital city, where citizens and civil servants are able to experience the optimum benefits of the latest innovations in information technology,” she added.

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

32 village heads on drug list S

By Sandy Araneta

OME 32 barangay officials in Manila, from chairmen to councilors or kagawad, are currently in the drug watchlist provided by the local police to Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada, including the Malate barangay chief who was shot and killed last Friday.

This developed as the Manila Police District announced on Tuesday it has established the identity of the gunman who killed Barangay 751, Zone 81

chairman Angelito Sarmiento on May 26.

“We are monitoring 32 [barangay officials], Chairman Sarmiento was one of them,”

Estrada said after being briefed

by MPD director Chief Supt.

Joel Coronel on the city police’s operations against illegal drugs.

“We are monitoring them, so in time we’ll come up with latest reports,” the mayor added.

Last October, Estrada bared he already has his own “narcolist” of city officials who are either drug users or in cahoots with drug traffickers He said “a few” in the barangay level have already been confirmed to be on drugs.

Estrada ordered Coronel to continue investigating the case of Sarm-

iento, who was shot dead by unidentified assailants inside his house at the corner of Leyte and A. Francisco streets in Malate last Friday.

“We have been following up leads and it all point out to illegal drugs. He was involved in drug pushing and it appears the suspect took revenge on him,” Coronel pointed out.

He said they have identified the gunman but refused to divulge his identity to not jeopardize their followup operations.

As to the drug watchlist, Coronel confirmed the slain barangay chief was one of the 32 they

Officials of San Juan City and the Land Bank of the Philippines break ground for the expanded San Juan Medical Center, located at the old San Juan City Hall grounds along N. Domingo Street. In photo are (from left) Land Bank senior vice president Edward John Reyes, Vice Mayor Janela Marie Ejercito, Mayor Guia Gomez, Senator JV Ejercito, and hospital Medical Director Dr. Jun Esquivel.

Manny Palmero

tions between Sta. Rita, Guiguinto, Bulacan and San Fernando City.

The NLEX project also includes the construction of new expressway lanes on both sides of the 5-km long Candaba Viaduct, the first time it was expanded since its construction in the ‘70s.

The tollway firm also built a new two-by-two, 4-kilometer expressway in the Mabalacat City portion of the NLEX, in-

cluding two new bridges.

This new project, which was completed in October last year, segregates northbound and southbound motorists along separate carriageways to further promote road safety.

“As an advocate for countryside development and a main endorser of the new projects at the NLEX, the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. expects the new expressway lanes to enhance travel conveni-

ence and promote growth of local businesses,” PamCham president Jess Nicdao said.

An expanded NLEX is seen to spur the rapid growth in the region, according to Central Luzon Regional Development Council Chairman and Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan.

Pamintuan believes the opening of the new expressway lanes between Bulacan and Pampanga is a big boost to Central Luzon’s economy.

“The new 64 lane kilometers will boost the tourism industry in the North and Central Luzon regions, since these will provide easy and faster access to tourist destinations,” said Tourism Region 3 Director Ronaldo Tiotuico.

“NLEX has already boosted tourism in the region, and the 64 lane kilometers will further transform the regions into favorite tourist destinations,” he said.

‘Bistek’ gains award for IT health system

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista will receive the Gawad Pangulo for Excellence in Public Service Award from the University of the Philippines’ Manila National Telehealth Center for his all-out support to the development and implementation of the real-time community health information tracking system (rCHITS) project.

Bautista recently signed City Ordinance No. 2070-2011, mandating the computerization of all health centers “to serve as an indispensable tool” in providing emergency health-care services to all clients and supported community health information tracking system installations in health centers.

The rCHITS is an electronic medical record system that improves health information systems of health facilities to up-

have been closely watching.

Last November, Estrada ordered Manila’s 896 barangay chairmen to submit to drug testing following the previous month’s police raid at the Islamic Center in Quiapo.

At the district, then-Barangay 648 Chairman Faiz Macabato was killed after fighting with policemen who were about to serve an arrest warrant to his drug suspect-brother.

The results of the drug test will soon be released, according to the Manila Barangay Bureau and Manila Health Department.

GROUNDBREAKING.

NLEX expansion seen boosting growth in CL CENTRAL Luzon’s local government units, business, tourism and transport sectors have lauded the opening of 64 kilometers of new toll highway lanes across the region, which they said will further drive regional development.

The NLEX Corp., formerly the Manila North Tollways Corp., recently opened the new highways after pouring in P2.9 billion in new investments, particularly in roadway sec-

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grade their maternal and child health services.

It is designed with built-in modules for patient consultation, scheduling, maternal and child care services, family planning, morbidity, modifiable diseases and other features for the Department of Health’s field health service information system.

The Quezon City health department is now using the realtime monitoring of vital maternal and child health indicators through the system developed by the UPM-NTHC in partnership with the Unicef joint programme on maternal and neonatal health indicators.

The rCHITS project is among the six recipients of the UP Gawad Pangulo for Excellence in Public Service Awards. It is implemented in 62 health centers, seven lying-in clinics and three social hygiene clinics across Quezon City.

WOMEN’S SEMINAR. Senator Cynthia Villar is interview by local media during a gathering of

women’s groups in the Province of Laguna to give women the knowledge to be able to raise additional income from farming. Roy Tomandao

Navotas kids get business training MORE than 500 youth from Navotas were taught to put up their own business using the internet.

Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco said the seminar aims to give the youth an opportunity to learn to run their own business in the manner they know best, using computers.

In the Youth Online Livelihood Opportunities Summit 2.0 (YOLO) of the local gover nment, topics on e-commerce, online business, and online marketing were tackled.

“The city government wants to give the youth, especially the poor, the chance to learn business and its procedures in order to uplift their standard of living,” he said.

Aside from the online lessons, the 521 participants were also taught how to make items for sale such as chewy moist brownies, thumb print cookies, fashion accessories, and perfume.

T he youth su m m it is an an nual act ivit y of the Navot a As Hanapbu hay Center si nce 2012. Jun David

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LGUs

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017

Free tuition bill almost a law T HE Universal Access to Tertiary Education Act of 2017, approved Monday by a congressional bicameral committee, will be forwarded to Malacañang for the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte, who earlier wrote Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez certifying the urgency of the bill.

Albay Rep. Joey S. Salceda, principal author of House Bill 2771 that served as the working draft of the approved version, said that as early as the second semester of school year

2017-2018, students in all state universities and colleges, local community colleges, and those accredited by the Technical Educational and Skills Development Authority will no

longer have to pay tuition and miscellaneous fees.

The measure also provides subsidies and loans for students in private colleges.

Salceda, who was the driving force behind the measure, cited the Albay model for the measure he pioneered in the province where he was governor for nine years until last year, when he returned to Congress.

Salceda stressed the value of higher education in economic development. Tertiary education, he said, is one of the three principal factors that enabled Albay to reduce its poverty incidence from 41

percent to 15 percent.

His massive college scholarship program benefited some 89,000 graduates of baccalaureate and related degrees. Together with infrastructure and tourism development, it served to distribute economic gains and push development in Albay.

Under the upcoming law, Salceda said if a youth “from a poor family in Rapurapu (an isolated Albay town) is admitted to Management Engineering at the Ateneo de Manila, there should be no economic reason stopping him from attaining his dream for a better life by completing his

course and thus be competitive in the professions and the jobs of the future.”

This, he said, is the gold standard of the new law, which he described as a “landmark for social equality, a milestone in nation building, and a key to youth development.”

Salceda explained that in cities and towns where there are no available SUCs, students who enroll in private colleges and universities will also be subsidized by the government, equivalent to the cost of tuition and miscellaneous fees equal to the nearest SUCs.

Govt, academe, Smart team up for Mindanao THE government, Mindanao education stakeholders, and Smart Communications recently joined forces in a bid to help accelerate socioeconomic development in the island region.

Responding to a call for support issued by government agencies and Smart, 13 colleges and universities from all over the region proposed innovative projects in line with these priority areas identified by the Mindanao Development Authority: investment promotion and facilitation, the Mindanao Development Corridor, and climate change adaptation and the environment.

The faculty and students presented their proposals at the Technovation Forum held recently in Davao City. The suggested projects include an online portal that can be used to promote Mindanao’s tourist spots and products to travelers and investors, an online database of infrastructure projects in the region, and a flood monitoring app.

The participating schools will finalize their proposals by July, after which MinDA would determine which projects they want to partner on. For its part, Smart will give cash grants to jump-start the development of five projects.

The Technovation Forum, which had the theme “Accelerating Development through Innovations and Collaborative

Partnerships,” saw some schools partnering with each other for specific projects.

The participating institutions included Ateneo de Davao University, Cor Jesu College, Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology, Holy Cross of Davao College, Jose Maria College, Notre Dame of Marbel University, Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology, University of Immaculate Conception, University of Mindanao-Main and Digos campuses, University of Southeastern Philippines, University of the Philippines Mindanao, and Xavier University.

The initiative was supported by the Commission on Higher Education, Department of Science and Technology, and the USAID’s STRIDE (Science, Technology, Research, and Innovation for Development) Program.

MinDA Chief of Staff Abul Khayr Amalon Alonto II said it was important to work with the younger generation toward “a progressive, interconnected, and information and communications technologyempowered Mindanao.”

“With the educators and our young students, the internet- and technology-savvy youth, we are confident that we can more efficiently lead the island region

MinDA chief of staff Abul Khayr Amalon Alonto II said at the Technovation Forum that government, the academe, and industry each had a role to play in Mindanao’s progress and transformation, even as representatives of Mindanao schools (inset) at the event in Davao discussed how to help accelerate development in the region.

toward our envisioned socioeconomic development. We must work together in promoting innovation as a cornerstone for Mindanao’s development,” he said.

Smart Community Partnerships head Darwin Flores said the forum “brought together the Mindanao Development Authority’s deep understanding of problems and opportunities in the region, with the technological know-how and resources of the academe and telco industry.”

“We are excited to help, and excited to see how much we could achieve together,” he added.

Eric John Emberda, dean of the information technology education program at the University of Immaculate Conception, said the forum paved the way for a “win-win situation.”

“The organizers have needs that schools can readily provide.

Schools also have needs that government agencies and industries can provide,” he said.

Emberda shared that the academe’s needs included funding, as well as the opportunity to go beyond theory and develop projects that were needed in the real world.

For several years, Smart has encouraged colleges and universities to come up with innovations not just to complete academic requirements, but to help solve actual problems in their community.

NEA boss makes it to Laneco assembly DESPITE the turbulent situation in Mindanao, National Electrification Administration Chief Edgardo R. Masongsong pushed through with his trip to Lanao del Norte on May 27 to be with electric cooperative consumers for 41st Annual General Membership Assembly and 45th founding anniversary of the Lanao del Norte Electric Cooperative Inc. or Laneco.

The twin events drew around 11,000 Laneco member-consumer-owners or MCOs in attendance at the Mindanao Civic Center Gymnasium, as the administrator shared updates on the NEA Rural Electrification Program.

Masongsong informed the Laneco MCOs about the strides it has taken leading up to the recent formation of the National Center of Electric Cooperative Consumers Inc. or NCECCO, with a plan to establish its own bank.

NCECCO is a movement seeking to unite over 11 million power co-op patrons nationwide, lobbying for cheaper electricity rates as endeavored in the five-point electricity program of President Rodrigo R. Duterte and the nine-point energy policy of Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi.

Masongsong also administered the oath of office of three newly-elected members to the Laneco Board of Directors, as well as the membership of those in attendance to the 41st AGMA. Laneco is a Category A electric cooperative and classified as “mega large,” serving 19 municipalities in Lanao del Norte. It is currently led by its BOD president Elmira Olavides and project supervisor/acting general manager Sherwin Mañada.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

IN BRIEF

Manila

Standard

TODAY

NOTICE TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF PHILWEB CORPORATION

Valenzuelan is 4th in LET board exam

To All Retail and/or Non-Strategic Shareholders of PhilWeb Corporation: Please be advised that Gregorio Araneta, Incorporated (the “Bidder”) filed on 25 May 2017 an Amended Tender Offer Report in SEC Form 19-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and the Philippine Stock Exchange (the “PSE”) pursuant to Section 19 of the Securities Regulation Code in connection with its intention to acquire 663,803,284 common shares (the “Shares”) of PhilWeb Corporation (“PhilWeb”).

The offer price for the acquisition of the Shares is Two Pesos Sixty Centavos, Philippine Currency, (P2.60) per share or a total consideration of One Billion Seven Hundred Twenty Five Million Eight Hundred Eighty-Eight Thousand Five Hundred Thirty Eight Pesos and Forty Centavos (P1,725,888,538.40) and will be payable in cash.

The Bidder shall acquire the Shares that may be tendered by any stockholder of PhilWeb in response to the Tender Offer. The Tender Offer shall commence on 19 May 2017 at 9:30 A.M. and shall end on 28 June 2017 at 1:00 P.M. (the “Tender Offer Period”). The Tender Offer Period may be shortened or extended by the Bidder subject to prior approval of the Commission. The Shares to be tendered are intended to be crossed at the PSE on 06 July 2017 (the “Cross Date”).

Settlement Date shall be 12 July 2017.

Stockholders who wish to offer all or a portion of their Shares for sale to the Bidder may do so by securing an Application to Tender Shares form (the “Application Form”) from, and submitting a duly accomplished Application Form together with the documentary requirements to the Transaction Broker, PLATINUM SECURITIES, INC. The Transaction Broker reserves the right to require the tendering stockholder to present additional documents for purposes of determining the validity, eligibility and acceptability of the Shares being tendered by the stockholder pursuant to the Offer.

The Shares being tendered for sale to the Bidder must be received by the Transaction Broker in scripless form not later than 1:00 PM of 28 June 2017. Shares received thereafter or without the required documents shall be rejected by the Bidder.

The Shares tendered may be withdrawn by the stockholder of record at any time during the tender offer period by submitting a written request for the tendered Shares to the Transaction Broker and surrendering the original Securities In-Receipt issued by the Transaction Broker. The last day to withdraw tendered Shares shall be on 28 June 2017 at 1:00 PM. The Shares shall be deemed accepted by the Bidder for payment on 05 June 2017 at 1:00 PM (the “Closing Date”) subject to the condition that the Bidder shall have obtained all corporate, contractual and regulatory approvals, consents and authorizations for the purchase by the Bidder of the Shares.

Stockholders are advised to read the Application Form, the Terms of the Tender Offer, and the SEC Form 19-1 filed by the Bidder with the SEC. For queries, please call the Transaction Broker at contact details set forth below. Copies of the Application Form and the SEC Form 19-1 may be obtained by the stockholders of PhilWeb, free of charge, from: Broker Contact person Address Telephone Email

: PLATINUM SECURITIES, INC. : Mr. William O. Go : Unit 801 Antel 2000 Corporate Center, 121 Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City : (02) 887-1179 / (02) 8866414 : plasec223@yahoo.com (MS-MAY 29,30 & 31, 2017)

A SECONDARY Education graduate of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela landed fourth in the licensure examination for teachers this year.

“Live the moment,” was Nicko Tumala’s mindset. A Mathematics major who graduated from PLV in 2016, he got an impressive rating of 91.6 percent in the LET. Tumala said he chose to be a teacher after he played “student-teacher” during his high school days. “From then on, I enjoyed imparting knowledge to other people and dreamt of seeing myself as a teacher,” he said.

He was raised in the city’s Barangay Gen. T. de Leon by a simple yet supportive family. His father is a construction worker and his mother works at a factory.

Currently, Tumala is teaching Mathematics to senior high school students at PLV. He is planning to take up a masteral degree “to be a more worthy servant of education.”

He said a person should be “very much willing to teach” and to share his skills to become an effective educator. “Being a teacher is a big responsibility. It is not just a profession, but it shall be considered as a vocation,” Tumala added. Jun David

Alaminos, Bugallon & Urbiztondo lead LGU Unity Games LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Teams from Alaminos City, Bugallon and Urbiztondo remained unbeaten in the elimination rounds of the 1st Pangasinan Inter-LGU Unity Games Basketball Tournament, another sports project of Gov. Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III. Alaminos scored its sixth straight win after its opponent, Binmaley, lost by default on May 26 at the Manaog gymnasium. Alaminos now leads Division 1 of the Western Conference ahead of Team Bugallon with a 5-0 (win-loss) standing.

Team Urbiztondo, on the other hand, emerged unbeaten in Division II at 6-0.

For Division 1 of the Eastern Conference, Pozorrubio shared the same 4-1 standing with Bayambang and Urdaneta City. The latter two teams won over San Fabian and Mangaldan, respectively, last May 25.

The basketball tournament between LGUs opened last March 16 by Governor Espino, who expressed optimism the sports event will not only promote a healthy lifestyle among the officials and employees but will also foster camaraderie and warm rapport among them. Dexter A. See

Tuba gets 4 hectares for housing project TUBA, Benguet—The municipal government recently received a land donation of four hectares from the Cordillera and Region I office of the National Housing Authority in one of the barangays along the Baguio-Asin Road for the local government’s socialized housing for homeless residents here.

Mayor Ignacio Rivera said he was surprised to receive the donation from NHA officials because the local government is really in need of land to be developed for socialized housing.

He said homeless government workers and residents of Tuba will be the primary beneficiaries of the housing project. This will only be opened to outside applicants once all the qualified beneficiaries will be provided an area from the project site.

We are elated to be a recipient of the donated property. We assured NHA officials that we will closely work with the agency to make sure that our socialized housing project in the area will be done pursuant to project standards,” Rivera stressed.

The mayor claimed there is a growing need for housing among the rapidly increasing population in the municipality that is why the four-hectare property will be key in rolling out the town’s housing project to provide qualified applicants and homeless residents with decent housing. Dexter A. See

World IN BRIEF Suicide bomber kills 16 in ice cream shop BAGHDAD―A suicide bombing at a popular Baghdad ice cream shop killed at least 16 people, officials said Tuesday, an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.

The overnight bombing in the Karrada district in central Baghdad also wounded 75 people, officials said.

IS issued a statement claiming the attack, identifying the bomber as an Iraqi who detonated an explosives-rigged vehicle targeting Shiite Muslims.

IS considers members of Iraq’s Shiite Muslim majority―including the women and children who were victims of the Karrada blast―to be heretics and frequently carries out attacks against them.

The bomber struck just days after the start of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, during which Iraqis often stay out late shopping or socializing after breaking their daily fast. AFP

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Cyclone slams Bangladesh D

HAKA―Cyclone Mora hit Bangladesh Tuesday, packing winds of up to 135 kilometers per hour and damaging thousands of homes as more than 300,000 people fled coastal villages.

ARRIVAL. French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Galerie des Batailles (Gallery of Battles) as they arrive for a joint press conference following their meeting at the Versailles Palace, near Paris. AFP

The severe storm made landfall on the coast between Cox’s Bazar and the main port city of Chittagong at 6:00 am (0000 GMT), the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said.

No immediate casualties were reported but there was major damage in many towns and villages.

Authorities evacuated more than 300,000 people to cyclone shelters after raising the highest number 10 weather danger alert as the storm approached.

Authorities had planned to make one million people leave their villages.

“They have been evacuated to at least 400 cyclone shelters, schools and government offices in the coastal areas,” said Golam Mostofa, the senior official coordinating the evacuation.

Mostofa said there were no reports of casualties so far.

But there are fears for the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees who are living in flimsy shanty homes after fleeing violence or persecution in neighboring Myanmar.

There are 300,000 Muslim Rohingya living in and around Cox’s Bazar district, where one official said the storm has caused widespread damage.

Community leader Abdus Salam said there had been no attempt to evacuate them to cyclone shelters.

“Around 20,000 houses in the Rohingya refugee camps have been damaged

Floods cripple Sri Lanka’s water supply COLOMBO―Sri Lanka appealed for volunteers Tuesday to help with a massive recovery operation in the wake of devastating flooding that left 183 dead and tens of thousands without clean drinking water.

State television broadcast calls for public assistance to clean drinking wells contaminated by the monsoon floods, the worst in 14 years after record rainfall in the island’s southwest.

The Disaster Management Centre said nearly 600,000 people had been forced from their homes, with thousands suffering structural damage from flood inundation and landslides.

Water supply minister Rauf Hakeem said 40 percent of those affected did not have access to piped drinking water, and there was an urgent need to clean contaminated wells in flood-affected areas.

“Our workers have volunteered to join a major clean up,” the minister told reporters in Colombo, adding water distribution stations had also been flooded, disrupting the piped supply.

The military has deployed more troops to the thousands already involved in distributing food and other essentials to flood victims in the districts of Kalutara, Ratnapura, Galle and Matara. AFP

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017

by the storm,” he told AFP. “In some places, almost every shanty home made of tin, bamboo and plastic has been flattened. Some people were injured, but no one is dead.”

Anwarul Naser, a senior district official, said several thousand houses had been damaged in the area, most of them mud-built structures.

He said efforts to assess the full extent of the damage had been hampered by disruption to telecoms links.

The weather office has said the cyclone could unleash a five-foot high storm surge around Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong and several other coastal districts on the Bay of Bengal which are home to millions of people.

“It hit Saint Martin’s Island with a wind speed of 114 kilometers per hour and Teknaf at 135 kilometers per hour,” BMD director Shamsuddin Ahmed told reporters.

The local administration has called in all fishing vessels and advised them to remain anchored, while the Chittagong port authority has stopped all traffic in and out of the port.

All flights were suspended to and from Chittagong international airport and the Cox’s Bazar airports.

Bangladesh is routinely hit by bad storms between April and December that cause deaths and widespread property damage. AFP

Afghans turn to heroin in Swedish asylum limbo UPPSALA, Sweden―Beer cans, newspapers drenched in vomit and aluminium foil litters the ground inside a parking garage where young Afghan asylum seekers smoke heroin as they shelter from the cold in central Sweden.

“When we smoke... we’re calm and don’t worry about anything,” says Mahdi, a 16-yearold Afghan refugee, who started using heroin after he arrived and quickly got hooked.

Uppsala, a university town an hour’s drive north of Stockholm, has taken in nearly 1,000 unaccompanied asylum seekers under

the age of 18.

Around 100 of them, most of them Afghan, have been caught using heroin as they wait for their applications to be processed, which can take more than a year on average.

Swedish authorities acknowledge that drug abuse is prevalent among young asylum seekers.

In the capital Stockholm, at least 1,000 young asylum seekers received treatment for drug abuse in 2016. Most of them were minors and boys, health authorities said, without specifying their country of origin.

Anders Nilsson is a 38-year-

old anti-narcotics police chief who’s trying to do something about it.

Wearing faded jeans and a baseball cap, Nilsson leads a team of undercover cops scouting for young heroin addicts in the streets of Uppsala.

Strolling on a busy shopping street, he approaches groups of boys to see if anyone could be under the influence of heroin, eying their pupils and checking their pockets.

Authorities want to take action to ensure the young men don’t become a threat to themselves or to society.

“It’s tough to find yourself in an asylum application process and having to wait for a decision,” Hilde Wiberg, head of social services in Uppsala, says, adding many asylum seekers feel mentally unstable because of past traumas.

Mahdi is one of the lucky ones: he overcame his heroin addiction and received permanent residency in Sweden.

Covering his head with a blue hoodie, he said he and his friends smoked the highly-addictive drug, related to opium which Afghanistan produces and distributes around the world, to ease

their fear of being deported. “(If) they don’t have permanent residency... they’re forced to go back to Afghanistan,” Mahdi tells AFP. And going home means they’re at risk of being killed by either the Taliban or the Islamic State group.

Afghans constitute the highest number of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in Sweden.

Nearly 80 percent of them have their applications approved.

Of the 1,321 requests processed so far this year, 200 have been rejected, according to the Swedish Migration Agency. AFP

Indonesian Islamist suspect in porn case JAKARTA―A Indonesian Islamist leader who helped organize mass protests against Jakarta’s Christian governor has been named a suspect in a pornography case, police said Tuesday, as authorities seek to rein in hardliners.

Rizieq Shihab, leader of the notorious radical group the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), was Monday named a suspect for allegedly exchanging pornographic messages with a woman.

Shihab, who is also being investigated by police over a separate defamation case, is currently out of the country after traveling to Saudi Arabia on a pilgrimage and has failed to return despite repeated summons from the police for questioning.

Analysts said it was the latest evidence the government of President Joko Widodo was seeking to clamp down on radicals in the world’s most populous Muslimmajority country as fears mount they are growing increasingly influential.

Shihab was a key figure in organizing a series of mass rallies last year against Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, an ally of Widodo, over allegations he insulted the Koran while campaigning for re-election.

The controversy led to Purnama’s downfall―he lost the election and was jailed for blasphemy for two years this month over the claims―and stoked concerns about rising religious intolerance in a country traditionally regarded as a bastion of tolerant Islam.

The FPI was long viewed as a marginal organization whose extreme views did not reflect those of most Indonesians, and was known for raiding bars during Ramadan, but gained national prominence due to the protests. AFP

CEREMONY. Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili , left, and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda attend a welcoming ceremony in Tbilisi. AFP

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017 advertise@thestandard.com.ph

Getting your child back into the school groove

By JR Padlan

W

HETHER or not your kids had a blast enjoying their summer vacation, it’s now time to gear up for the hustle and bustle of school days. Summertime is over and saying goodbye to that is not likely to be easy, but once your kids get back into the routine of going to school everyday, you’ll have an easier time worrying about what to do with all that idle time on their hands.

Your new travel buddy About BUDPACK: BUDPACK has been established as a bag company in the Philippines last September 2015. Budpack is a spot on brand that marries aesthetics and performance. Good for sports enthusiasts, travelers and style junkies. Budpack bags enables men and women to choose based on color combination, function, uses and style.

If you are very particular about the function of every parts that you want in a bag, Budpack is the right one for you. With its very functional features, you will never be wrong owning this bag.

Budpack stands for by its slogan “Your travel buddy”.

(We are open to all interested wholesaler and distributor.)

DIMENSION: Globetrotter Wave (Large) ( 21”h x 14’w x 8”base) Globetrotter Soft Wave (Medium) 18”h x 12”w x 7”base MATERIAL USED: Imported ballistic, cordura 1000, PVC nylon (Imported material, locally made) FEATURES: 1.

Top hidden zipped pocket Top zipped closure Bottom compartment (for clothes, shoes, sports accessories, etc.,) Waterproof side zipped pocket Rubberized slip pocket Fully interior lining made from nylon oxford.

Gartered wall pocket designed for laptops or documents.

Interior (5) pockets Durable back strap w/ adjuster Full interior foam support.

MARKET: A,B and Upper-C

School is just as fun as summer when you’re #AlwaysInPacks with Bratpack IT’S back-to-school season again. New professors, new friends and a new set of back-to-school stuff are probably what make every student eager to welcome the academic year once more. Some may still have a hangover from their summer escapades and vacation; but the thought of them reconnecting with their friends gives them more reason to go to school.

The high demand of school essentials-premium and trendy bags, footwear, apparel and accessory brands--give Bratpack the chance to market itself as the go-to place for every student’s back-toschool needs. It is accordingly dubbed a purveyor of style and creativity as it continuously empowers the youth.

As part of its Back-to-School campaign, Bratpack is launching #AlwaysInPacks, which aims to translate the camaraderie and collaboration experienced in campus life, where one meets people who share the same interests and ideas.

The campaign also features a variety of its up and coming brands that suit the style of each and everyone in your pack:

Here are few suggestions for when school gets into full swing.

Bedtime battle – Mind this one. Everyone should get enough sleep for to maintain concentration and energy levels during the day. Make sure they are getting enough rest to confidently face the school days – considering that bedtime can be tough to enforce, but keeping a few things consistent can make it easier. After dinner, give them a fresh half-bath to wind down.

Then, reward them with a snack as well as a glass of milk. You may read to them but only for a short while, and engage in some chitchat. When you’re done and you still don’t see them yawning, turn off the lights (no excuses) and give them a good night kiss. The ideal bedtime is between 7 and 8 p.m.

for your adventure-loving, adrenalinejunkie friend or for that over-achiever pal who just can’t seem to balance her love for acads and her love for make-up.

Believe me, you name it – Bratpack’s definitely got you covered. #AlwaysInPacks.

Bratpack is located at Abreeza Mall, Alabang Town Center, Ayala Center Cebu, Ayala Centrio, Ayala North Point Bacolod, Avenue Square, Camp John Hay, Eastwood, Fairview Terraces, Gateway, Greenbelt 5, KCC Mall, MarQuee Mall, One Archers Place, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Place Palawan, Robinsons Place Pangasinan, Robinsons Place Manila, Shangri-La, SM Cagayan De Oro, SM Davao, SM Pampanga, SM North EDSA The Block, Solenad 2 Nuvali, Robinsons Las Piñas, UP Town Center, Greenhills Shopping Center, SM General Santos, Balay Quince, Banilad Town Center Robinsons Cebu, Venice McKinley, Vista Mall and is owned and operated by the Primer Group of Companies – Asia’s next retail giant.

Eating schedule – do not let your child skip dinner time, take the chance to make it a family-bonding experience. Set a certain time and keep it. It’s a wonderful way for the family members to be together and talk about happenings in their everyday and personal lives – establish a strong connection with your children so they can be vocal once they’re getting into troubles in school.

Less playtime – your kids probably spent summer playing under the sun the whole day. If so, set aside the week before school opens to cut back on playing time.

It will help them adjust to the coming days when they need to do homework first before playing.

These are just a few things you need to get your kid (as well as yourself) into “school mode.”

How to deal with sepanx (separation anxiety) when school starts

By JR Padlan ANXIOUS feelings are normal and expected in children returning to school. This transition can be really stressful and disruptive. They might cling, cry, withdraw or become irritable or angry. So, to prevent your kids from having temper tantrums when school starts, here are a few more suggestions to cope with back-to-school anxiety: Go shopping – Buy new school supplies with them.

Let them choose their desired colors and covers of notebooks and bag. Wearing new uniforms and shoes is a good reason to be excited for school.

This might boost their willingness to meet their new teachers and classmates.

New friends – Let your children know who are going to be their classmates. Socialize and establish a circle of friends on the day of enrolment. They are going to be really excited if they have a companion to talk, play and eat with on the first day of school.

Provide empathy – Listen to your children’s concerns.

If you’re not seeing readiness on their faces, ask them to share their fears and talk about what’s on their minds.

Take the opportunities to talk about it when you are in the car, walking, standing in line or even at bath-time or during dinner.

Pay attention to your own behavior – Saying goodbye

cheerfully and kissing them before entering the classroom can ease the tension and perk them up. Be supportive. The more confidence and calm you are, the more your child will believe they can overcome this new hurdle.

Pack a happy lunch – Ask what your children want for lunch or ask them to help you prepare the food. Your children will appreciate the meal you prepared if you will add little touches like notes that say “Eat well sweetheart” or “Be confident”.

Consistency is needed when doing these things. Do them regularly and they surely help your child ease into the new school year.

Want to be

Life

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

FASHION & BEAUTY

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017

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WILD AND MAGICAL? Jewelry piece in Alexander McQueen’s Spring/Summer 2017 collection

The collection was inspired by wild and magical coastal landscape of the Shetland Islands

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HE wild and magical coastal landscape of the Shetland Islands was the origin of Alexander Wang’s Spring/Summer 2017 collection. Their natural beauty has inspired local artisans who have passed their skills down through generations of women for centuries. In particular, gossamer fine Shetland Lace, worn by crofters’ daughters and royalty alike, woven with indigenous flora and fauna—wild heather, clover, poppies and roses; sea birds and underwater creatures both real and mythical—is re-imagined. The colorful interiors of solitary, deserted houses, faded over time and glimpsed through windows, fishing huts, sea walls, shipwrecks, lost treasure, Celtic paisley and the stoles and shawls sported by Scottish nobility are also referenced. Handsewn, patched Taatit rugs, traditionally given as wedding gifts, form the backbone of the story. When families are joined in wedlock, two of these are sewn together to become one precious symbol of unity and love.

Studded patchwork embellished the shoes

The collection

Softly tiered, narrow Shetland-inspired lace dresses with delicately frayed edges are entwined with Tree of Life, ocean waves, spider webs, peerie flowers and cockle shell designs and worn with intricately worked leather harnesses edged with rows of jingling bells. More are paneled, both oversized and worn close to the body, constructed out of patches of richly colored Fairisle knit.

The Fairisle knit is deconstructed further, pieced and patched with hand crochet or enhanced even more with tiny metal rings intertwined within.

Fine leather jackets are pieced and embellished with disheveled shipwreck rose embroidery. Voluminous light dresses in handkerchief weight cotton voile are printed with bright blue thistle buds or delicately trailing florals gathered to the torso with fine leather harnesses. The floral designs behind the embroidered leather, chain-stitched leather, and beaded lace panels are inspired by Sarah’s collection of antique fabrics, pieced together to form cutaway leather frock coats and corsets or jeans. This process is a nod to the island’s spirit of community and kinship. Celtic checks, originally worn by resident clans come in the form of sharp tailoring with wild rose and thistle threadwork and black jet leaf embroidery lending a proud, graphic and masculine edge.

True to the Savile Row tradition that lies at the heart of the house of Alexander McQueen, strong-shouldered jackets, kilts and kickback trousers are slashed and paneled with lace. A series of languid ankle length dresses in skeletal tulle are embroidered with motifs of Scottish wild flowers. They are also engineered in a Celtic paisley and feature a fitted sleeve with puffed shoulders. A tangle of fishnet knits and embroideries constructed from strings of jet are draped into a tunic top and corseted dress with unraveling fringing.

The collection becomes increasingly elaborate, culminating in a sequence of romantic tulle dresses etched with sea creatures in black beaded embroidery. The finale looks are a pair of shredded tulle dresses with cascading strings of jet beading, depicting a shipwreck scene of crashing waves in silver sequins, engulfed by the call of the sea.

Floral designs are highlighted in some of the footwear pieces

High-heeled shoes included in Alexander McQueen S/S ‘17 collection

Fabrics

Shetland-inspired lace, Celtic worsted wool plaids, finely printed cotton voile, silk wool tuxedo, silk velvet jacquard, voile organza, distressed silk tulle, Fairisle inspired knit, silk knits, leather.

Small leather bag

Continued on D2

New AC Milan off-field uniforms FOLLOWING the announcement of the new three-year style partnership between Diesel and AC Milan, the lifestyle brand has revealed the off-field kit for the “Rosso” Neri (red and black) team. Cool, high-performance, and with an irresistible urban touch, the kit embodies a style revolution in the world of global football.

“I am excited about the Diesel and AC Milan partnership,” reveals Andrea Rosso, creative director for Diesel’s licenses, in charge of the creative for this partnership. “My family and I have always supported Milan and this collaboration is a real challenge for us.

We wanted to express our love and passion for fashion and creativity in this Lifestyle brand Diesel partnered with football team AC Milan to create the latter’s formal kit and off-site uniforms

project, while bearing in mind that football fans and fashion fans do not always overlap. During the design phase, my team and I explored how we could unite these two groups and focus on the comfort factor, which is very important in sport. We blended classic tailoring with the world of street wear and added Diesel’s three signature styles: rock, denim, and military. The result?

A ‘young-formal’ look with a touch of dynamic tailoring.”

The Diesel x AC Milan style partnership includes two types of custom-made uniforms, both strictly made in Italy.

They were worn for the first time on the occasion of the Italian Super Cup in Doha on Dec. 23 2016. The first is the

formal kit for players and staff. It consists of a hooded blazer (a real innovation for football uniforms) with stretch fleece sleeves and zips at the wrists to be worn with either a polo shirt or Tshirt (the first uniform without a shirt); a cashmere jumper with zip for very cold temperatures; a pair of iconic Diesel Jogg-Jeans with refined black treatment and a puffy parka with removable lining.

The kit is complete with leather lace-up shoes featuring an all-around metal zip.

The kit reveals great attention to details: from the AC Milan badge, re-produced on the jacket with the same handcrafted technique used for military crests, to the red and black lining of the sleeves and the embroidery patch applied

The reversible bomber jacket is the main piece in the off-site uniform kit

on the blazer’s lining depicting Diesel’s signature Mohican combined with the club’s iconic red and black stripes.

The second kit is the off-site uniform to be worn by players during transfers.

The main piece is the reversible satin bomber jacket: one side celebrates AC Milan with the team colors and badge, the other tells the Diesel and AC Milan story of challenges, victories, commitment and determination through patch-symbols on a black background.

These include the flags of cities where the team has been victorious, the initials of the team’s English founder Herbert Kilpin and his iconic catchphrase “red as fire”. Not to mention a series of important numbers: 7, the number of Champions Leagues won by the team; 78, the year Diesel was born; 18, the

number of championships won and 1889, the year AC Milan was founded.

And finally Renzo Rosso’s signature “enjoy”. The look is completed by a pair of distressed Jogg-Jeans and black leather sneakers with an all-round zip.

This is the first step that shows how Diesel intends to disrupt the world of traditional sport uniforms making them “unformal”. The players are beautiful, they have millions of followers in the social networks’ world: they are real celebrities and that’s also how they need to be dressed. Diesel has always been brave and also this time will innovate with braveness a consolidated category.

In the Philippines, Diesel is located at Bonifacio High Street Central, Greenbelt 3 and Power Plant Mall. Visit www. ssilife.com.ph for more information.

Life

D2

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

Celebrate

LOVE in STYLE

Designer Francis Libiran, in collaboration with J’s Diamond Jewelry, launches his line of wedding and engagement rings

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ELEBRATE your promise of forever with world-renowned designer Francis Libiran’s new wedding and engagement ring collection—Forever Francis Libiran.

The Forever Francis Libiran collection is composed of rings in white, yellow, and rose gold with high quality diamonds

Known worldwide for his stylish, trailblazing designs, Libiran brings a luxurious touch to the most important and intimate events in life. In collaboration with J’s Diamond Jewelry, Forever Francis Libiran boasts of a distinct collection that is precious and unbreakable. Each piece is expertly crafted in timeless, stylish, and classy minimalist design.

“The market for weddings is huge,” says Libiran. “As a fashion designer, I have created various wedding gowns for many clients and oftentimes, they would ask my advice on wedding rings.” He added, “I saw this as a perfect opportunity to immerse into the engagement and wedding rings business and J’s Diamond is the perfect partner as they have the expertise and experience when it comes to fine jewelry.”

More than a fashion statement, more than a gift, and more than art—ring is a ref lection of oneself. It likewise embodies a prom-

ise of forever made between two people and the luxurious Forever Francis Libiran collection not only commemorates these treasured moments of unity, but also mirrors the brilliance of life and the beauty of love.

An exquisite line of timeless jewelry that is well made and affordable, the collection weaves white, yellow, and rose gold with the resplendent allure of high quality diamonds. With a wide variety of designs that blend the glamour of classic with the modern style of minimalist elegance, there is definitely a piece in this collection for every future bride and couple.

The Forever Francis Libiran collection is available at Francis Libiran Bridal in Greenbelt 5, Makati City. Other branches are at Lucky Chinatown, SM Southmall and SM Dasmariñas. For inquiries, call 0915-3939320 or 254-9097. Like J’s Diamond on Facebook and follow @jsdiamondjewellery on Instagram.

SKIN REJUVENATION

Clarence introduces latest in laser

By Robbie Pangilinan

WITH its owner and resident doctor being a key opinion leader for the latest and most advanced skin rejuvenation laser treatment, Clarence Anti-Aging, Slimming and Dermatology Centre is proud to bring to the Philippines the Picoway Laser Skin rejuvenation treatment.

“PicoWay is a three wavelength picosecond laser system with both non-fractional and fractional capabilities that enables removal of multi-colored and recalcitrant tattoos and treatment of skin irregularities and signs of aging for all skin types, as well as benign pigmented lesion removal. It treats skin pigmentation such as melasma, freckles, lentigo, birthmark, nevus otta, and scars. It can also resolve skin problems such as fine lines, wrinkles, large pores, acne scars, stretchmarks, and dull skin,” says Dr. Joan Clarence Morallo, head of Clarence.

HAIR CARE

TRESemme runway ready sale WOMEN who keep up with the latest trends always want to sport hairstyles that go from the runway to anywhere. Whether they are ‘do’s that are wavy, textured, or sleek, getting the hottest hair trends comes right down to having beautiful, healthy hair using our favorite shampoo, conditioner, and styling products.

You can strut in style everyday as TRESemmé, the salon-grade brand used and trusted by professionals, lets you have salon-gorgeous hair with its TRESemmé Runway Ready Sale.

This is TRESemmé’s biggest sale yet, as it includes all variants, all pack sizes, and even their highly coveted styling products for as low as P99.

Spot stickered products in participating supermarkets and department stores nationwide, and take advantage of this limited offer on hair care that allows you to always look runway ready. For those, who do not want to leave the comfort of their own homes, products are also available online at Lazada, Zalora, BeautyMNL and Calyxta.

With TRESemmé products in your arsenal, you can recreate the hottest hair trends straight from the runways of New York Fashion Week Spring/ Summer and Fall/Winter 2017 with that lasting salon effect. Whether it’s the modern and edgy blunt bobs, braids and twists with varying touches and textures, or the coveted sleek straight hair, you can own 2017’s most covetable ‘dos with gorgeous salon-smooth hair.

You can have runway-ready hair daily as you enjoy up to 30 percent discount on your favorite TRESemmé shampoo and conditioner variants in 170mL, 340mL, and 600mL bottle packs. Hoard their best-selling variant, TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner, which gives you smoother, straighter, and more manageable hair that lasts through washes. The TRESemmé Runway Ready Sale also includes other cutting-edge ranges: TRESemmé Smooth and Shine, Split Repair, and Platinum Strength.

Styling favorites like TRESemmé Extra Hold Hairspray and Keratin Smooth Flat Iron Smoothing Sprays are likewise now 30 percent off. For as low as P149, you can nab the 75g travel-size TRESemmé Extra Hold Hairspray, or get the regular-size 360g bottle for only P470. Mean-

Want...

From D1

Colors

Dr. Joan Clarence Morallo

TRESetters Martine Cajucom, Sarah Lahbati, and Joey Mead-King sport the hottest hair trends straight from the runways of New York Fashion Week S/S and F/W 2017

while, the popular TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Flat Iron Smoothing Spray, 236mL, can be yours for just P349.

Visit the TRESemmePH Facebook page for the full list of products.

TRESemmé Runway Ready Sale products are available online and select stores nationwide.

Shoes

Black leather, studded or floral patchwork hobnailed ankle and knee boots with a chunky studded sole and metal toecap come flat or with a high metal heel.

All TRESemme variants are on sale during the TRESemme Runway Ready Sale

crystals and metal ball decorations with folkloric floral engraving. Bell charm necklace featuring an assortment of gold and silver cowbell pendants. A kilt pin fastened with a jewelled charm is paired with a baroque buckle belt. Both are embellished with cut glass stones.

A palette inspired by the colors of wild flow- Jewelry Celtic-inspired precious metal choker, stacked In the Philippines, Alexander McQueen is loers and the Shetland coastline—Clover, Sea Pink, Heather and Lichen, Ivory, Madder Blue, Mariner, jeweled cuff and hand jewelry and a duo of jeweled cated at Shangri-La Plaza East Wing and earrings in antique silver or gold are adorned with Rustan’s Makati.

Peat Black and Shetland Red.

The USA-made PicoWay machine, priced at P15 million, is researched, developed, produced, and assembled solely in the USA, from Syneron Candela, the most trusted name in aesthetic lasers. It uses a picosecond photoacoustic laser that stimulates collagen and elastin production. Collagen and elastin are responsible for the suppleness and overall good condition of the skin, but starting at the age of 20, the production depletes, hence the sign of skin irregularities and aging.

Known Clarence clients who have enjoyed PicoWay are actresses Vivian Velez, Maureen Mauricio, and teen star Kyline Alcantara.

“I first do an initial assessment of the case and sets goals with client, then I clean the area to be treated. A topical anesthesia can be applied, though it is not necessary as the discomfort level is only 3 to 4, on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest. Then I set the parameters to be used and give the shots on the desired areas. Afterwards, a moisturizer and/or sunblock is applied,” says Dr. Morallo, now being recognized as a celebrity doctor and has been guesting in radio and television programs.

The procedure takes less than 10 minutes and results can be easily seen after the first treatment. The only negative effects are the immediate redness which subsides in a few hours; the wheals, a natural detoxification reaction of the skin; and sometimes mild peeling and blisters in cases where higher energy was used, such as in tattoo removal.

Dr. Morallo gives her personal guarantee on the treatment as she has tried it herself. The Clarence owner is a member of the Philippine Medical Association, fellow of the Philippine Association of Primary Skin Health Physicians, Dermatology Diplomate of Philippine Association of Medical Specialist, member of Philippine Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, member of Pan Pacific Aesthetic Institute, member of Dermatologic & Aesthetic Surgery International League, and member of World Society of Anti-Aging Medicine.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017

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DZMM Teleradyo now nationwide

MA Network’s “much anticipated” primetime series, the sequel to the fantasy drama Mulawin, which was televised in 2004, is a sick man that needs immediate medication. Like a flightless bird, Mulawin vs Ravena is just picking up some spillovers.

It’s been a week now since its premiere telecast, yet it’s unable take flight, when we talk about its performance in the numbers game. The Dennis Trillo and Heart Evangelista-starrer TV series debuted with viewership figures almost half of what its rival program registered.

The first episode, which saw the introduction of the story’s main characters, got a miserable 22.5 percent nationwide ratings according to Kantar Media, and 12.2 percent based on the ratings data released by AGB Nielsen. On the other hand, its direct rival FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, recorded national TV ratings of 41.1 percent and 12.7 percent from the same ratings providers.

TV ratings being a major component of the television industry, is very crucial. While it indicates the size of an audience for a specific program, it also serves as a guide for advertising placement, which can ultimately measure the financial success of a TV program.

In audience’s perspective, it’s easy to dispute TV ratings especially if they show completely different trend. However, that’s not the situation for the new primetime fantasy drama. Both AGB Nielsen and Kantar Media agree that Mulawin vs Ravena is not winning the hearts and attention of the viewers.

In fact, its first episode’s ratings performance was already its best.

Nevertheless, the network is still optimistic by keeping its hopes high. It even boasted that the fantasy drama trended on Twitter worldwide and the netizens were raving about it. But no one use social media, particularly Twitter, to measure the success of a daily TV series anymore. Though it’s a good indication that people are talking about the program, it’s not that reliable as compared to the science behind ratings data.

DZMM TeleRadyo continues to widen its reach as it delivers news and public service to more Filipinos nationwide as a free TV channel on ABS-CBN TVplus.

Now, people all over the country are able to watch the programs of DZMM TeleRadyo, which began as ABS-CBN’s flagship AM radio station in Mega Manila almost 31 years ago and started broadcasting on cable TV in 2007.

ABS-CBN TVplus is the digital terrestrial television service of the country’s leading media and entertainment company, and is available in 15 key areas in the country such as Metro Manila, Davao, Metro Cebu, Cagayan De Oro, Iloilo, Bacolod, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Rizal, Laguna, Pampanga, Tarlac, Benguet, and Cavite, with over two million digital boxes sold nationwide.

In a trade event held this month to celebrate DZMM TeleRadyo’s 10th year on air, ABS-CBN News head Ging Reyes said more change and innovation is coming to DZMM as it continues to focus on its very essence – news and public service.

“Change happens and whatever innovation we think of, the essence of DZMM TeleRadyo will remain the same, which is the commitment to public service and news gathering,” she said.

Reyes said TeleRadyo viewers could expect improvements in broadcast design and video quality, and a new studio this year for DZMM. Moreover, in terms of content, they have also strengthened its lineup with a 10 p.m. live telecast of late night newscast Bandila with anchors Karen Davila, Ces Orena-Drilon, and Julius Babao, before the news program’s airing on ABS-CBN after “Tonight With Boy Abunda.” DZMM also has a daily offering of current affairs programs at 2pm such as “Rated K,” “Matanglawin,” “Ipaglaban Mo,” “S.O.C.O,” and “Mukha.”

Amid the innovations, DZMM TeleRadyo’s strength remains to be its team of respected and experienced journalists, who are always ready to deliver news, information, and commentary that matter to Filipinos.

In the trade event, anchors Davila, Drilon, Babao, Ahwel Paz, Niña Corpuz, Doc Luisa Puyat, Tina Marasigan, Tony Velasquez, and Doris Bigornia, and reporters Zhander Cayabyab and Raya Capulong were able to bond with people who have been supporting DZMM for many years.

Meanwhile, DZMM TeleRadyo also continues to bring joy and public service to barangays in Metro and Mega Manila via “DZMM Kapamilya Day,” which will continue until June. The event features a DZMM program live on-site where important national and community based issues are tackled.

Zumba sessions, livelihood seminars and a birthday treat for residents are also staple offerings in every visit. It also recently held this year’s “Buntis Congress,” which has been educating and assisting expectant mothers for 15 years.

For news and public service, stay tuned to DZMM 630 on AM radio or DZMM TeleRadyo on cable TV and ABS-CBN TVplus. For updates, follow @ DZMMTeleRadyo on Twitter and Facebook.

THE House minority members have made a last-minute push for the inclusion of financial incentives for the rapidly declining local movie industry in President Rodrigo Duterte’s proposed Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act. “We are convinced that a breathing spell will help revive the local film industry, which has the potential to contribute appreciably to jobs creation, increased consumption and overall economic expansion,” House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza said.

“The proposed five-year tax holiday for local film producers should be incorporated into the final version of TRAIN. Should the House majority ignore our plea, we are counting on the Senate to be more sympathetic to the plight of our filmmakers once the bill reaches the other chamber,”Atienza said.

TRAIN, or House Bill (HB) 5636, seeks to slash personal income taxes while imposing new excise taxes on oil products, sugary drinks and cars to help fund the administration’s 10-point socioeconomic strategy forall-encompassing growth.

Atienza is author of the proposed Philippine Film Industry Tax Holiday Act, or HB 2624, which seeks to grant new tax privileges to local producers who have been reeling from intense foreign competition.

He said the local movie industry has been “waning fast” due to lack of financial stimulus.

“We used to have a highly vibrant movie industry that employed a lot of people and produced around 300 films every year. Now we are producing less than 50 every year,”

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, May 31, 2017

54 Stalemate 58 Matriculates 62 River rapids 63 Crocodile habitat 65 Cat call 66 Lennox or Oakley 67 “La — Bonita” (Madonna tune) 68 Where Japan is 69 — up (on edge) 70 Rough bed 71 Plover’s dwelling DOWN 1 Hannibal’s route 2 Whistle sound 3 Black-and-white snack 4 Flowering trees 5 “1984” author 6 Annuls 7 Under par 8 Bug repellent 9 Quick look 10 More healthylooking 11 Borodin prince 12 Immunity shots 13 — bien, monsieur!

21 More washedout 23 Seize power 25 Things to consider

‘Mulawin vs Ravena’

IS FLYING LOW So, how do you solve a problem like Mulawin vs Ravena?

By all standards, Mulawin vs Ravena is a pretty decent television series. It’s actually better than some of the existing TV series airing on local channels now.

Its picturesque locations give audience the idea that TV series has a budget. It’s got a stellar cast that people can easily fall for. The cinematography is stunning, the script is well thought out, and the action sequences aren’t that bad at all. However, didn’t they realize that they have just presented Encantadia, a TV series that follows the same realm and story?

The TV series that revolves around the story

Local movie industry perks pushed into Rody’s tax reform bill

TeleRadyo anchors Tony Velasquez and Doris Bigornia

ACROSS 1 Fermi split it 5 Ancient Roman poet 9 Grain for grinding 14 Loughlin or Petty 15 Cameo, maybe 16 German pistol 17 Jingle or haiku 18 — E. Coyote 19 Flip over 20 Bent forward 22 Frozen plains 24 Latin dance music 26 Chem. or geol.

27 Bogart’s love 30 Extracted juice 35 Make laugh 36 Goad a horse 37 Solar plexus 38 San Francisco’s — Hill 39 Proof of purchase 42 Canucks org.

43 San — Capistrano 45 What allies share 46 Matterhorn echo 48 Tree dangler 50 Rite sites 51 Rail securer 52 Kind of tooth

Lead cast members of the fantasy series "Mulawin vs Ravena"

27 28 29 31 32

Ukulele cousin Secret romance Cigar type Go cold turkey “The Prisoner of —” 33 Bygone anesthetic 34 Wooded valleys 36 Read a bar code 40 Touche provokers 41 Mary — Moore 44 Wood in Hollywood 47 Hassock

49 Didn’t quite rain 50 Founder of Rome 53 Water holes 54 Baroness Karen 55 Long hair 56 Stunted 57 Novelist — Bagnold 59 — -majeste 60 Superman’s girl 61 Wallop 64 Equal, in combos

Atienza, former three-term mayor of Manila, said.

“We ought to be producing and exporting high-quality movies by now, just like South Korea and India, but we’re not,” he pointed out.

Local producers desperately need financial encouragement to be able to compete here and abroad against movies made in Hollywood, Bollywood and South Korea, Atienza said.

“We have highly creative producers, directors and screenwriters, but they’ve been discouraged by the rising cost of making movies, which has made it extremely difficult, if not impossible for start-ups to come in,” he said.

Under Atienza’s bill, movies graded “A” by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) shall be entitled to a financial reward equal to 100 percent of the amusement tax collected from exhibitions.

Movies graded “B” shall get a reward equal to 65 percent of amusement tax generated, with the balance of 35 percent accruing to the FDCP. The bill also empowers the FDCP to: •Exempt from taxes and duties all imported machinery and equipment and corresponding spare parts used to produce local movies; • Grant tax credits to domestic manufacturers of machinery and equipment used in producing local movies; •Waive taxes on the rental of machinery and equipment used to produce local movies; and • Free from taxes the editing, promotional and marketing fees paid by local movie producers.

of the Sang‘gres had a remarkable run being a consistent top rater. But after Encantadia, people were expecting something fresh and different.

But, with Mulawin vs Ravena, they expected to be served dessert after the main course only to be given another entré to stuff, by now, their full tummy.

Had the network decided to show Mulawin vs Ravena sometime far from when Encantadio ruled the airwaves, the story of its ratings performance would have been different.

As a takeaway, not all sequels and prequels can have the same fate. One’s formula to success doesn’t always work for the other.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017

SANYA

LOPEZ is just getting started

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UCK may have scored Sanya Lopez the break she had been waiting for after getting discovered by The Master Showman German “Kuya Germs” Moreno, but her hard work brought her to stardom.

She was merely in the audience in one of the GMA Studios watching her brother, now Kapuso heartthrob and one of the leading men in the current primetime series Meant To Be, Jak Roberto, performing in the now defunct Walang Tulugan. That was five years ago.

Fast forward to 2017, Lopez is now a household name after she breathed life to Danaya, one of the Sang’gres in Encantadia.

Lopez was in Vancouver recently for the Kapu-show: Encantahan at Saya sa Canada on-screen partner, Rocco

Nacino. The May 12 show was memorable for Lopez as it was her first trip abroad.

With a growing fan base, she is just getting the hang of being recognized as “Danaya” in public. It surprised her that even in Canada, the Filipinos there refer to her as the character in Encantadia.

A flattered Lopez shared, “One of the memories that I took with me from Canada ay yung pag nasa labas kami, may bumabati sakin ng Danaya, tapos saka nila maaalalang ay Sanya nga pala.”

With the fans’ warm welcome, she became more excited to perform in the show. Lopez got too busy preparing for it and had little time going around Canada. When asked about her travel plans, she smiled and admitted that she failed to see famous tourist spots.

“First time ko talaga out of the country, so I was really looking forward to seeing everything. Nasa plano talaga namin na makapag-Stanley Park, but unfortunately umuulan noong nandoon kami. Pero yung mere fact na naramdaman ko yung

lamig, nakapag lakad-lakad sa daan, and went to different restaurants, na-excite talaga ako!”

However, the reward came in shortly after the Vancouver crowd showed her love and brought in huge banners while screaming out her name. Lopez can’t help but talk about plans of going back to Canada.

“Everything about the trip was an instant favorite kasi eh. Pero gusto ko pa sanang ma-explore ulit ang Vancouver, and mas matagal. Sinabi ko sa sarili ko, babalik-balikan ko ang Canada because I also gained new friends there.”

Now that Encantadia has ended, Lopez wants to express her deep gratitude to everyone in the show, from Director Mark Reyes to fellow actors, as well as the production team. Apart from it opening a lot of new opportunities for her, she was also able to prove her talent in acting and found a new family along the way. She is now preparing for more challenges in her career, and she vows to face them all head on.

Jason Dy’s Malaysian moves BACK in 2015, Jason Dy conquered the local music scene Lumpur, and they spent it talking to the people at Radio Suria when he won The Voice of the Philippines season two. Since FM, as well as select members of the Malaysian entertainment then, his self-titled debut album has spawned several hit singles, press. After a new karaoke version of the “Nothing Like Pagand his concerts have always been sold out. Having had success ibig” music video was launched at RedBox Malaysia, Jason and in his native land, Jason is now setting his sights on the world. Fazura attended a Media Conference.

Dy, dubbed The Philippines’ Voice of R&B, joined forces On May 4, Dy and Fazura flew to Kuching, Malaysia, with Malaysian multi-hyphenate Fazura to record and release where they appeared at the opening night of the ASEAN a single titled “Nothing Like Pag-ibig.” (They also did a International Film Festival & Awards. The next day, they version of that song for the Malaysian market titled “Nothing visited different radio stations, including Cats FM Sarawak Like Cinta Ini.”) It was written for them by Jungee Marcelo, Radio, Era FM Sarawak Radio, and Hitz FM Sarawak Radio and it talks about the universal power of love. to talk about the song.

Because the song is about such a relatable May 6 was Dy’s last day in Malaysia, subject, it became a hit. Not just in the and he definitely ended his promo tour Philippines, where the song was first released, in a big way. He and Fazura sang but also in Fazura’s hometown of Kuala “Nothing Like Pag-ibig” at the gala Lumpur, Malaysia. The song’s success over night of the ASEAN International there was bolstered by the promo tour Jason Film Festival & Awards. Dy was the and Fazura did recently. only Filipino invited to sing in that Dy and Fazura started their Malaysian event. Some Filipino celebrities— promo tour for “Nothing Like Benjamin Alves, Cherie Gil, Cinta Ini” on the first day of May. Jaclyn Jose, Marlo Mortel and Jason—who already had a fan base Nora Aunor—did get to watch in Malaysia because MCA Music with pride as he did his thing. released his single there too— Star Wars actor Donnie Yen was gathered some of his fans at a also in attendance, as were other bowling alley, where they played noted actors and actresses from against Fazura and her fans. all over Southeast Asia.

It was a good thing that Dy and It’s one thing to succeed in Fazura’s Malaysian promo tour one’s home country, as Dy has got off to such a fun start, because done. Since he won The Voice the following day, May 2, was of the Philippines season two, a very busy one for them. They he has established himself as got up early to perform “Nothing a force to be reckoned with in Like Cinta Ini” in Selamat Pagi the OPM scene. But it’s another Malaysia, which is the top morning thing, a big thing, to find success show in Malaysia. (It’s like that beyond our borders. country’s version of ABS-CBN’s Dy is already a star in the Umagang Kay Ganda.) Jason and Philippines, but as the success of Fazura followed that up with another his recent Malaysian promo tour performance in a popular women’s shows, he’s making the right moves show called Wanita Hari Ini. Then, towards global recognition, too. after a radio guesting on “Nothing Like PagiM4U FM—a youthibig” and “Nothing Like skewing radio station Cinta Ini” is out on all in Malaysia—where digital platforms through they talked about what streaming via Spotify, it was like for them to Spinnr, Apple Music collaborate on “Nothing and VEVO and through Like Cinta Ini,” Jason downloads via iTunes and and Fazura performed Spinnr. on H Live, a music show For bookings and produced by Astro, inquiries, please contact Malaysia’s number-one Francis Dayao of MCA cable provider.

Music Artist Management May 3 was Dy at (632) 9162504, R&B sensation Jason Dy with Malaysian star Fazura at the recently and Fazura’s last day +639178935623 or email promoting the song in Kuala concluded AIFFA in Kuala Lumpur mcabooking@umusic.com.

"I Heart Davao" cast led by reel and real life couple Tom Rodriguez (second from left) and Carla Abellana (center)

DAVAO BEAUTY IN

‘I Heart Davao’ GET mesmerized with Davao’s beauty. Watch leading broadcast network GMA unveils its upcoming primetime offering I Heart Davao.

Top-billed by on-and off-screen couple Carla Abellana and Tom Rodriguez, with Benjamin Alves, I Heart Davao is a romantic comedy series about a unique love triangle set in the picturesque city of Davao.

Hot on the heels of renewed interest in Davao City, the latest GMA offering aims to further highlight he beauty of the “Land of promise.

The cast of I Heart Davao flew to Davao to capture its local flavor, including the dialect, and the sights and sounds of the region.

At the helm of this upcoming series is highly acclaimed director Marlon N. Rivera, who is known for GMA Public Affairs’ political rom-com series Naku, Boss Ko and the award-winning film Babae sa Septic Tank.

I Heart Davao sees the return to the small screen of real-life couple Tom and Carla (TomCar) after their successful team up in one of the most talked about local drama series My Husbands Lover.

I Heart Davao will debut this coming June on GMATelebabad.