Manila Standard - 2017 June 28 - Wednesday

DUTERTE APPEARS IN PUBLIC ‘ALIVE AND WELL’

By John Paolo Bencito

VOL. XXXI • NO. 134 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

President Duterte presides over the National Economic and Development Authority Board Meeting in Malacañang yesterday to quash speculations for his absence from the public eye. Also in the photo are Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr., Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. Rolando Mailo

‘Leave mosques, fight in the open’ SC urged to dismiss plea on ML issue

By Rey E. Requejo THE Office of the Solicitor General on Tuesday urged the Supreme Court to dismiss consolidated petitions seeking to compel the Senate and the House of Representatives to hold a joint session to review President Rodrigo Duterte’s Proclamation No. 216 placing Mindanao under martial law.

In a comment, Solicitor General Jose Calida said the petitions filed by separate groups led by former senators Rene Saguisag and Wigberto Tañada should be dismissed for lack of merit.

Calida said Congress is not required to convene in joint session to support a martial law declaration under Article VII, Section 18 of the 1987 Constitution.

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ALABANG, Lanao del Sur—The governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on Tuesday challenged the Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Marawi City to stop hiding in mosques and face government troops squarely in the battlefield.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hata- into calling an airstrike on the man said the terrorists probably mosques and use this to gain wanted to provoke the military sympathy from Muslims.

Hataman’s challenge came as the military announced the arrest of a Maute brother who they said provided the terrorist group with logistics, transporting ammunition by boat from the southern lakeshore of Lanao Lake, and transporting wounded militants from the main battle area to south of Lake Lanao.

Col. Jo-Ar Herrera, spokesman of Task Force Lanao, said the government had strengthened patrols of Lake Lanao, which was being used to transport supplies to the

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Du30 okays P738-b infra projects; foreign grants bulk of funds

By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday approved nine flagship infrastructure projects that will cost more than P738.08 billion as part of his administration’s infrastructure program.

Seven of the projects will cost more than P687.47 billion and

will be funded by official development assistance, while the two others will cost about P50.61 billion and will be financed by government funds.

Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry is aiming to make the Philippines’ ranking in ease of doing business leapfrog to 20th place by 2022, Trade Secre-

tary Ramon Lopez said Tuesday.

“You know, we are really aiming for the top 20 by 2020. Something like that. Because right now, we’re at 99th,” Lopez told reporters in a chance interview in Malacañang.

“There is an improvement, but we will see first where will we land.”

While the Philippines climbed

by four notches to 99 in the World Bank-International Finance Corporation Doing Business 2017 report, reflecting a better standing from 103 in the 2016 rankings, Lopez said they were doing everything to increase the country’s competitiveness.

Those include automating business registration through mobile

phones and making it more accessible to possible business investors.

“We’re in discussion right now which we will launch soon that will really try to automate everything,” Lopez said.

“After streamlining the procedure, [we’re] making registration very easy even from mobile Next page

Solons out to postpone barangay, youth polls

By Maricel V. Cruz

By Rey E. Requejo

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By John Paolo Bencito

terrorists in the war zone.

As the clashes entered their 35th day, officials said the resources allocated for humanitarian assistance could become exhausted.

Hataman said the regional government allocated P77 million on June 15 for a continuing two-week humanitarian operation for 51,650 families or about 252,000 individual evacuees.

“We have reserved P77 million, since we do have the fund still allotted, but that is supposed to be

JBC sets vetting of bets for high court THE Judicial and Bar Council will vet the 13 aspirants to another seat in the Supreme Court that will be vacated by Associate Justice Jose Mendoza on Aug. 13 when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70.

The seven-member council set the public interviews of the nominees on July 4.

But only three of the 13 candidates will face the JBC because the 10 others have been interviewed for the previous vacancies.

The three are Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Gerard

Palace: No deal with terrorists as policy THE government on Tuesday ruled out negotiations with the Maute group terrorists holed up in Marawi City.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the government policy not to negotiate with terrorists remains in place and that a meeting between local religious leaders and the terrorists on Sunday was not sanctioned.

“Let us continue to remind the public that the gravity of their offense is immense. They must all be held accountable for all their actions,” Abella said.

Abella said they were still verifying reports that Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon had fled Marawi City.

“Granting that this is true, it would be a clear sign of cowardice because he abandoned his

Place of worship not for hiding, Maute told

By Nash B. Maulana

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte remains “alive and well” amid speculation triggered by his lengthy absence from the public eye, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Following his renewed six-day absence from the public from June 21 to 26, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said that the President remains in the pink of health but needs more time to work on documents that need to be studied.

“First and foremost, he is alive and well,” Abella told reporters in a Palace news briefing.

“He is very well. He is just busy doing what he really needs to do.”

The lack of official events recently marks Duterte’s new working style, his spokesperson said.

“Being out of the public eye is really when he gets to work…The thing important to know is he is on top of every situation,” Abella said.

Abella added that Duterte can better accomplish office work in private.

“He signs papers, he reads, he consults, he is actually very busy.

But the thing that is very important to note is that he is on top of every situation. He is aware of what’s happening. He’s updated regularly.

He reads, he views, he listens to these. And he is quite aware.

Questions about Duterte’s health were first raised when he missed out on Independence Day rites on June 12 and stayed out of sight until June 16.

MEMORIAL. Admiral Scott Swift, commander of US Pacific Fleet, yesterday delivers his speech during a memorial ceremony at Fleet Activities Yokosuka for seven sailors, including Fil-Am Fire Controlman 2nd Class Carlos Victor Sibayan, who were killed onboard USS Fitzgerald in a collision with a cargo ship off the coast of Japan on June 17. AFP

LAWMAKERS on Tuesday said Congress had ample time to pass a bill postponing the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on Oct. 23 this year.

“We still have enough time to postpone the barangay and SK polls. We hope Malacañang will certify the bill as urgent to make this possible,” said Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers.

Barbers is chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs and author of House Bill 5359 that seeks to postpone the elections.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez earlier said the House will give priority to the passage of several proposed measures calling for the postponement of the barangay Next page

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News

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘House ready to detain Imee’

By Maricel V. Cruz

I

LOCOS Norte Gov. Imee Marcos will be detained should she refuse to attend the congressional hearing on the provincial government’s alleged misappropriation of P66.45 million in public funds, an official said Tuesday.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, chairman of the House committee on good government and public accountability, said Marcos’ detention space at the

Batasan Complex was now being readied.

“We had the chamber prepared right after Governor Marcos publicly declared that she

will dodge our July 25 hearing despite our subpoena and showcause order,” Pimentel said.

“She will be okay in detention, though she might miss certain luxuries considering the high life she’s accustomed to.”

Pimentel’s committee has been probing the alleged irregular purchase of motor vehicles worth P66.45 million without public bidding. The money represents Ilocos Norte’s share of the excise tax collections from locally manufactured Virginiatype cigarettes.

Six provincial executives have been detained at the House since May 29 for allegedly giving evasive answers on the money that was for the benefit of tobacco farmers.

Pimentel said his committee conducted another hearing on June 20 to give the “Ilocos Six” a final chance to explain their side, but to no avail.

And after repeatedly snubbing the panel’s invitations for her to testify on the matter, Marcos was finally subpoenaed to the fourth hearing on July 25.

However, Marcos, in a press

briefing on June 23, said she would stay away from the July 25 hearing at the recommendation of her younger brother and former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Pimentel said.

“I want to explain myself in Congress but others said I should not. Bongbong [Marcos Jr.] told me I could also be detained,” Imee said.

Piment el said his panel might issue the warrant for the governor’s arrest “the day of the hearing as soon as we’ve ascertained she’s not around to bear witness.”

China gives P15m for rehab, relief of Marawi

By John Paolo Bencito CHINA has donated P15 million for relief operations and the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jinhua presented the check for the donation to President Rodrigo Duterte.

The money is expected to augment the resources of the Health and Social Welfare departments, the agencies spearheading various health and welfare operations in Marawi.

“The donation from China to the Philippines is an example of the flourishing partnership between the two countries and their shared commitment towards sustainable peace in the region,” the Palace said in a statement.

The P15-million aide, Beijing will also be extending military assistance to aid the troops in their pursuit of the Islamic Stateinspired terrorist groups.

As of June 26, Social Welfare had already spent P85.53 million for provisions like food packs, hygiene and dignity kits, kitchen utensils and tents for the affected families.

The Health department has spent P52.03 million for health services including medical check-ups, immunizations, medicines, mental and psychosocial services as well as food and water.

Some 82,767 families or 403,052 people from Marawi have been displaced by the crisis, including residents from 20 Lanao del Sur municipalities and two Lanao del Norte municipalities.

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and SK elections when the second regular session of the 17th Congress opens in July.

The Comelec is set to start printing the official ballots on July 20.

Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte said the elections’ deferment would be beneficial to Comelec officials and employees, teachers and all others who were involved in the May 9, 2016 elections as well as to all the voters. ‘‘It would also give the Comelec more time to address several issues raised by stakeholders about the system used in last summer’s national and local elections,’’ said Villafuerte, author of a law that postponed the barangay elections last year.

Deputy speaker and Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu said the postponement of the barangay elections would be in support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs.

“President Duterte only wants to resolve the drug menace and appointing officers-incharge to the barangay posts is worth considering following the involvement of some of them in illegal drugs,” Abu said.

“Remember: Our barangay officials are the people’s first line of defense in the grassroots level and they should protect society from the drug menace.” AFP

DONATION. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte poses for a photo with (from left) Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua, Social

Welfare Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo and Health Undersecretary Herminigildo Valle during a simple turnover of the P15-million check donated by the Chinese government at the Music Room in Malacañan Palace yesterday. The check is intended for the rehabilitation of Marawi City. Presidential Photo

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companions and ran away from the battle,” Abella said.

“It may also be indicative of the infighting that may now be going within the group,” he added.

During the talks with religious leaders, terrorist boss Abdullah Maute reportedly offered to release his group’s hostage, Fr. Chito Suganob, in exchange for the release of his parents Farhana and Cayamora Maute, who were arrested this month.

On Monday, Lt. Col. Joar Herrera, spokesperson of the Joint Task Force Marawi spokesperson, said that Suganob was seen alive by a civilian who was since been rescued from the war zone.

The Justice department on Tuesday rejected a reported of-

fer from the Maute terrorists to exchange their hostage, the priest, for the Maute parents.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the proposal made by Abdullah Maute should be rejected outright because it is not the policy of the government to negotiate with terrorists.

“The government never negotiates with terrorists,” Aguirre said, in a text message when sought for a comment on the reported offer to swap abducted Marawi priest Suganob for Cayamora and Ominta Maute.

Reports indicated that Abdullah made his offer to Muslim religious leaders who visited the conflict zone during the eight-hour ceasefire implemented by the military on Sunday.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said Tuesday it was the govern-

ment’s duty to negotiate for Suganob’s release.

On Tuesday, the department indicted the two arrested Abu Sayyaf members believed to have provided medical treatment to wounded terrorists fighting government troops in Marawi City.

After inquest proceedings last Saturday, the special panel of prosecutors filed the case for rebellion against Jadzrie Harad Saabdula and Jamal Kalib Jamil before the Cagayan De Oro City regional trial court yesterday afternoon.

Saabdula, 50, and Jamil, 18, were arrested on Thursday while they were purchasing in bulk assorted medicine at a pharmacy in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur. Saabdula, a nurse at the Banguingui (former Tongkil town) municipal hospital who went on absence without leave, is

the brother of slain Abu Sayyaf leader Nadzmi Saabdula alias Commander Global.

The two suspects-- both from Sulu--were reportedly buying antibiotics, antibacterial, pain relievers and other types of post-traumatic medicines.

The DoJ has already indicted several arrested members and supporters of Maute--including Cayamora Maute and Ominta Romato Maute, alias Farhana, parents of the Maute brothers who led the group behind the attack in Marawi City last May 23.

Also charged with rebellion before the Cagayan De Oro RTC were former Marawi City mayor Fajad Salic; Mohaamad Maute, alias Abu Jadid, alleged bomb maker of Maute group; and Faridah Pangompig Romato, Aljadid Pangompig Romato and Abdulralman Dimakuta Sevad.

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for the whole region. That can still run two weeks more, and my office also has the Special Purpose Fund of about P30 million to P40 million. I think we are half way through,” Hataman said.

The conflict has already displaced about 380,000 individuals, said ARMM Vice Gov. Haroun Al-Rashid Alonto Lucman, quoting fresh reports from the National Emergency Operation Center (Neoc).

“By any standard, this is a logistical nightmare for the government. The number is simply staggering,” said Lucman, who is concurrent ARMM secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Lucman said all supply packs of food to evacuees have come from the DSWD Central Office, the bulk of which has been distributed in the Iligan evacuation center.

With martial law declared over Mindanao, the national government has virtually taken back the regional powers it had devolved to the ARMM. But Hataman said he would rather the national government take over in a situation such as the Marawi City siege.

Also on Tuesday, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front said it was willing to join peace initiatives in Marawi City if President Rodrigo Duterte agrees to negotiations with the Maute terrorists.

Following reports that the Maute group was willing to withdraw from Marawi if the MILF intervened to help end the crisis, MILF Vice Chairman Ghadzali Jaafar said they would have to confirm the reports and clear any peace overtures with President Duterte.

“We want very much to help ease the tension in Marawi City.

Of course, who does not want to be involved in returning peace to Marawi City so that our people there--our Maranao brothers and sisters can once again live in peace together again for their families,” Jaafar said in a CNN Philippines interview.

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said “all possibilities are... being considered” even though the official policy is not to negotiate with terrorists.

The MILF, which started as a splinter group of the Moro National Liberation Front, has been engaged in peace talks with the government for the creation of a new autonomous region to replace the ARMM. The Moro group was also in charge of peace corridors, which aim to hasten rescue and humanitarian operations for civilians still trapped in the Marawi conflict zone.

In the same interview, Jaafar called for the release of Maute hostage Fr. Chito Suganob, who was supposedly offered in exchange for Maute parents Cayamora and Ominta, currently detained at Taguig. With John Paolo Bencito and PNA

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“A plain reading of the Constitution will readily illustrate that it does not impose a duty upon Congress to convene in joint session to determine the validity of the declaration of martial law and suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus. It is only in cases of revocation or extension of the proclamation or suspension that Congress is required to vote jointly,” the chief state lawyer added.

“Verily, there is no need to vote jointly to approve or affirm something which is already in full force or effect. Joint voting is only mandatory when the action is revocation or extension,” Calida said.

Calida also explained that the Constitution does not require any action from Con-

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Mosquera, Court of Appeals Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan and Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Alexander Gesmundo.

The 10 other nominees are Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr., Associate Justices Ramon Bato Jr., Apolinario Bruselas Jr., Rosmari Carandang, Stephen Cruz, Japar Dimaampao, Ramon Paul Hernando, Amy Lazaro-Javier and Jose Reyes Jr., and Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez.

gress upon the proclamation of martial law or suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.

According to the Solicitor General, the move of the House of Representatives and Senate to issue Resolutions 1050 and Resolution 388, respectively, to express support to the declaration of martial law in response to the report submitted by the President would suffice.

“While not mandatory, Congress neither procrastinated nor reneged on its sworn duties when it heard the basis of Proclamation No. 216 through a closed-door meeting with the country’s top military officials, and thereafter collectively voiced its support through the issuances of their respective resolutions. Indeed, the Congress even went beyond its constitutional duty respecting the proclamation or suspension,” he said.

“Thus the act of Congress to vote jointly

Most of the aspirants were also nominated for the vacancy in the high court that arose when Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes retired on July 6.

Mendoza’s retirement will result in the fourth vacancy in the Supreme Court under the administration of President Duterte, who gets to appoint up to 12 justices in the high court during his term.

After the interviews for the vacancy, the JBC will also hold more public interviews next week for the aspirants in the vacancies in the Court of Appeals and in the Sandiganbayan that

is not mandatory when the action taken is to affirm or express support to the proclamation or suspension,” the chief state lawyer said.

He also argued that the Supreme Court has no power to issue the mandamus sought by petitioners, citing the separation of powers of the judiciary and the legislature as coequal branches.

Earlier, the Court heard in oral arguments in three other consolidated petitions filed by opposition lawmakers led by Lagman, local Mindanao leaders led by lumad leader Eufemia Campos Cullamat and a group of women from Marawi led by Norkaya Mohamad seeking to strike down Proclamation No. 216.

The tribunal, which is required by the Constitution to resolve petitioners against martial law within 30 days from filing, is set to rule on these petitions on July 4.

resulted when Associate Justices Noel Tijam and Samuel Martires were promoted to the high court earlier this year.

A total of 18 of 57 applicants will face the council on July 5 and 6.

The JBC also opened up another vacancy in the Sandiganbayan for the position to be vacated by Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Rodolfo Ponferrada this September.

The council has set the deadline for the submission of nominations and applications on or before July 17.

Ponferrada, chairman of the

Sandiganbayan’s Sixth Division, was appointed to the anti-graft court in August 2004. He retires on Sept. 13.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno heads the JBC, the seven-man council constitutionally tasked to screen the nominees for vacant posts in the judiciary and in the Office of the Ombudsman.

The two ex-officio members are Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II for the executive branch and Senator Richard Gordon and Mindoro Oriental Rep. Reynaldo Umali on a term-sharing seat for the legislative branch.

phones, especially for the millennials who are getting into business. They could simply use mobile phones to register.

“That’s what we’re trying to work out. If this works, then in less than one day [you can open a business], and I think we can be in the top 20.”

Lopez earlier said their current efforts were now focused on reducing the number of days in renewing or getting a business permit to one from two to three.

Among the nine projects approved were the Mega Manila Subway Project-Phase One (P230 billion), Philippine National Railways’ Long-haul from Calamba to Bicol (P151 billion) and the Malolos-Clark Airport-Clark Green City Rail (P150 billion).

Also approved were the PNR South Commuter Line from Tutuban to Los Baños (P134 billion, which will be financed by ODA along with the New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam project (P10.86 billion), the Cavite Industrial Area Flood Management project (P8.92 billion) and the Chico River Pump Irrigation project (P2.69 billion).

The Mindanao Railway project Tagum-Davao-Digos segment (P35.26 billion) and the Clark International Airport New Terminal Building project (P15.35 billion) will be funded by public funds.

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

The utility of targets

T

HE new chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority, Danilo Lim, has his work cut out for him.

The traffic problem in Metro Manila, he says, has been building up over the last 20 years, yet the public seems to expect overnight solutions.

Such expectations are unreasonable, of course, and we would be the first to assure the MMDA chairman that we entertain no thoughts of immediate results.

On the other hand, Lim should not fault the public for wanting to know how he plans to tackle the traffic problem and when he expects to show results.

But last week, Lim appeared irked when reporters asked him if he had a timeline for when the MMDA would

solve the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila.

The former army general said he should not be pressured by the public.

“Don’t ask me about timeline because you cannot tie me into that.

We’re not time-bound here,” he said in Filipino. “That’s an unfair question. How old is this traffic situation, 20 years. And then you want us to come up with a solution overnight?”

With all due respect to the new

MMDA chairman, nobody said anything about an overnight solution. A detailed plan with a series of timebound targets is not an immediate solution. It’s simply a plan by which everyone—the MMDA, the transport service providers, commuters and motorists—can move forward and measure our collective progress toward an ultimate goal.

Without such a detailed, timebound plan, we would be back to trying ad hoc solutions that may or may not work, carried out by government workers who go about their jobs with no sense of urgency because there are no time-bound targets. We would also have no way to measure our progress against specific targets.

Mr. Lim is wrong when he says he

will not be pressured by the public.

The public, especially taxpayers who pay his salary, have all the right in the world to expect results, not overnight, but certainly within a reasonable time.

Commuters, motorists and Metro Manila residents who have suffered for years at the hands of a long line of inefficient, inept or corrupt government officials, absolutely have the right to demand a timeline from their public servants.

Public servants, on the other hand, should not be so arrogant as to say they will not be bound by deadlines or targets. In a democracy where elected officials are answerable to the public, the bureaucrats they appoint to office are just as answerable.

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

For a better BSP

*** If you want fake news, perhaps you should ask the propagandasavvy left-wing groups to give you some. If they can come up with specific cases of crimes committed by the military in Marawi City, all the better.

There is no question that the continuing war in Marawi has made heroes of soldiers in the eyes of the Filipino people. And that is something that the Philippine Left, which has denounced the military for committing all manner of abuses and “crimes against the people” for so many decades, will certainly never allow.

It’s saddening that the leftists, who are fighting to stay relevant at a time when they are no longer even in the national conversation, should be making unfounded (because there

BY THE end of his 12-year term on July 2 this year, Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. would have been enshrined as one of the greatest central bank chiefs of the Philippines. Or probably the greatest. Tetangco is recipient of no less than eight Best Governor (of the world) awards.

It is not difficult to see why. A man of incredible integrity and awesome talent, Say Tetangco controlled inflation. By controlling inflation, he brought down interest rates. By lowering interest rates, there was cheap capital for business.

The economy grew at an unprecedented pace over an unprecedentedly long period—73 quarters or 18 years and three months.

The economy also managed to overcome two of the most severe recessions the world has known.

With inflation and interest rates stable and the economy strong, the Philippines got a total of 24 credit rating upgrades since 2010 leading to investment grade by 2013. Philippine debts or IOUs are no longer junk. They are investment grade, meaning you can bet you won’t lose shirt if you buy them or trade in them.

“We changed the status quo!” said Governor Tetangco in his valedictory speech before the country’s leading business groups—Financial Executives of the Philippines, the Management Association of the Philippines, the Makati Business Club, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and CIBI Foundation—at the New World Hotel, Makati on May 24, 2017.

There is something I am not comfortable about in this narrative, however.

First, you cannot attribute solely to the BSP the robust growth of the economy since 1998. If it were so, 20 years ago, we should have abolished the cabinet and even Congress and kept instead the BSP’s policy-making body, the Monetary Board, and let it manage the economy.

Second, the Philippines has never been short of capital. The economy has plenty of capital or money.

Proof: The savings rate in the last ten years has hovered at 30 to 34 percent of the value of the national economic output or GDP (Gross Domestic Product). GDP is about P15 trillion (15,000 billion pesos). Get 30 percent of that, you have P4.5 trillion (4,500 billion pesos).

With that kind of money and

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Trillanes loses it LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES BANGING your head against a brick wall while smoking marijuana, which is most certainly not the most popular narcotic in the land, will never amount to anything good. I’m not saying that Senator Antonio Trillanes is guilty of doing both, but judging from his responses to the flak he received after he was interviewed on BBC last week, you could be forgiven if you believed he did just that.

Because this week, Trillanes declared in a statement that his grilling by Stephen Sackur, the BBC HARDtalk presenter, was “one of the proudest moments of my public life.” (Suddenly, I hate to ask the senator what the proudest moments of his private life are.)

Of course, I am familiar with

the damage-control strategy that Trillanes seems hell-bent on employing here, after he was adjudged as having exposed himself as a nincompoop before an international TV audience. It is the same one employed by his former boss, Noynoy Aquino, when the latter announced that the non-moving traffic jams on Edsa were actually a good thing, because they were a sign of a surging economy.

The playbook, such as it is, calls for denying any mistake or crime and turning garbage into gold, despite all evidence and universal agreement to the contrary. That’s how Aquino, whose only real infrastructure achievement was to build a fearsome, well-funded, three-secretary propaganda juggernaut, was able to get away with all the crazy stuff he did over six years: He never admitted any wrongdoing and he claimed victory even in abject defeat.

The 2012 standoff at Scarbor-

ough Shoal between a lone Philippine Navy warship and a part of the Chinese fleet is one of the most embarrassing of examples, internationally, of the operation of this Yellow strategy. When Aquino realized that the US Seventh Fleet would not back up his ship in its foolhardy mission, he

I must conclude that, from being merely out of tune, Trillanes is now out of his mind. declared that it had to turn back “for refueling”; no harm, no foul.

If we assume that Trillanes is merely engaged in some following some belated, consuelo de

bobo rearguard PR action, then I have a good idea of what the other proud moments of his public life are. They must be named Oakwood and Manila Peninsula, hotels where he led military uprisings that ended in crushing defeat within a day, as Sackur pointedly told the senator.

Unfortunately, only someone who has really jarred his brain by using it as a battering ram against bricks in his jail cell will believe that. Or, as the BBC presenter said politely, someone totally “out of tune” with reality.

But I have to assume that Trillanes has not completely gone batty during his long incarceration as a twice-failed putschist. Otherwise, I must conclude that, from being out of tune, he is now out of his mind.

My only consolation is that in a couple of years, Trillanes will also be out of a job as a senator.

Then, he will be able to trade stories of epic stonewalling with the man who, among his many

other sins to the nation, allowed Trillanes to leave jail and inflict his strange brand of craziness on an entire country.

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Opinion

IT HAS been a year since Davao has caused many from the interCity Mayor Rodrigo Duterte be- national community to condemn came President. He won the race the administration’s policy.

There, too, is the problem of on the promise of change. He vowed to restore peace and or- rehabilitation of the drug users. der by eliminating illegal drugs There are just not enough rehab and criminality. He also said he centers to help make them prowould rid the country of corrup- ductive members of society again.

Yet another problem is contion.

Now, the question foremost in gestion in jails. Prisoners live in our minds is this: Has there been sub-human conditions.

Now comes the problem of change at all?

I think the answer is both yes criminality. When I watch the news, I note that criminality is and no.

Sure, there have been chang- on the rise despite claims to the es. We have a President who contrary by the Philippine Nadoes not hesitate to use exple- tional Police.

And corruption? Sure, Presitives to emphasize a point. He say what is exactly on his mind. dent Duterte has fired some of This makes him popular among his fraternity brothers at the Bureau of Immigration, but corthe masses.

This is a President who breaks ruption everywhere continues. protocol. Even during state vis- Some members—no, leaders its, he rolls up the sleeves of his —of Congress take along their mistresses in official trips. barong. He chews gum.

Traffic continues to defy soHe cursed the Pope, a former US president, even the secre- lution, and the delivery of basic services tary-general of for motorists the United Natakes forever. tions and leadIt is in the ers of the EuroTerrorists economy pean Union. where there is There is no have reportedly hope for real question that change with the the masses started enactment of love him—his recruiting a law on taxahigh trust and tion reform. It popularity rat- young, poor is aimed at the ings support Muslims in rich and good this. He is for the rest of perceived as a Mindanao. the population. strong leader, The Build! in contrast to Build! Build! his immediate predecessor, Benigno Aquino Program sounds promising.

III. In fact I think Duterte’s win *** last year was a vote of no-confiTerrorism has now become dence to the Aquino administraPresident Duterte’s biggest tion perceived as incompetent, challenge. laid-back, vindictive and selecIt has been five weeks since tive.

Another change under Duterte the Maute and Abu Sayyaf was the appointment of three groups launched an attack in known communists, Judy Tagui- Marawi City. In response, the walo as social welfare secretary, President placed the entire MinRafael Mariano as agrarian re- danao under martial law. The form secretary, and Liza Maza battle continues to date, more as anti-poverty commission than a month hence.

Now there are claims that terhead.

The President’s move to ne- rorists are able to recruit young gotiate peace with both the com- Moros by giving them firearms munists and the Muslim sepa- and money. This is alarming.

People from Mindanao are ratists is also a step in the right largely in favor of martial law direction.

But now we have to ask: Af- because the terrorists, inspired ter one full year, has President by ISIS, want to put up a caliphDuterte achieved his objective ate in Mindanao.

There have been raids in other of ending illegal drugs, crimiparts of Mindanao and reports nality and corruption?

I believe that the menace of that there are terror cells in other illegal drugs will continue to cities like Iligan, Cagayan de haunt him until the end of his Oro, Cotabato, Zamboanga and term. As long as there is demand, even Davao. This means things can only get worse. the supply will find a way.

The President himself said *** there are more than four million Another possibility is the users of illegal drugs nationwide. With that high number, emergence of fighting between how can anybody end the prob- Christians and Muslims. The President himself has raised this. lem so soon?

This would be reminiscent of The war on illegal drugs has spawned many other problems, the war between the Ilagas and like extrajudicial killings and the Muslim rebels in the 1970s violation of human rights. This and 1980s.

Trillanes...

From A4 have been no specific incident reports) of rape, looting and other crimes committed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police in Marawi. I can only conclude, because of the lack of a single recorded incident, that the leftists are up to their old propaganda tricks.

It’s safe to say that while the war against the IS-inspired Maute terrorist group in Marawi has not yet ended more than a month after it began last May 23, the AFP and PNP units involved in the fighting have already won over the hearts of their countrymen. The outpouring of support for our troops from all over the country, including the Muslims and even the displaced Maranaos of Marawi itself, who despise the terrorists with a passion, must have made the leftists extremely jealous.

After all, the goodwill enjoyed by the troops goes against the old leftist narrative that security forces since the Marcos years have preyed on the citizenry in the guise of putting down various rebellions. This probably prompted the militant women’s group Gabriela to make the claim that Muslim women from Marawi fled to evacuation centers in nearby Iligan City and elsewhere to escape the “threat” of rape from the soldiers fighting the Maute.

This is an unsubstantiated claim that must be exposed for what it is: A brazen attempt by the Left to discredit the military, which finds itself in the new and unfamiliar role of being true defenders of the people.

But the Left, as a result of its own depredations on the population, its bloody and divisive internal power struggles and its insistence on espousing a discredited ideology, has already become irrelevant. It will not profit in any way from its efforts to accuse our soldiers of crimes they did not commit.

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Marawi is burning

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Duterte’s biggest challenge

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO “MAUTE losing ground.” “Terrorist leadership in Marawi crumbling.”

These are just two of yesterday’s banner headlines in two Manila dailies. Yet after nearly a month of relentless military operations, the ISIS-backed Maute terrorists are still entrenched in Marawi.

Why is this happening when the Armed Forces of the Philippines has thrown all its resources in manpower, including aerial bombing strikes of known Maute strongholds in the beleaguered city?

Government military officials provided the answers to their own problems of not being able to dislodge the Maute raiders. First, AFP officials said, the Maute attackers are using hostages as human shields and snipers are picking off advancing troops with deadly accuracy.

And even as the Mautes are desecrating Catholic churches, they are using Marawi’s mosques as sanctuary from air strikes unleashed by government planes.

It is in this surreal setting that the Mautes have added another dimension to the battle of Marawi. Call it the ISIS scorched-earth policy of burn-

ing and destroying every place it attacks. Marawi, once a center of cultural and economic life in Mindanao, has been turned into a burning city after four weeks of heavy fighting. The Maute marauders are now also setting fire to homes and government buildings.

The humanitarian crisis spawned by the siege of Marawi has seen some 300,000 refugees fleeing to neighboring Iligan, Cagayan de Oro and Davao.

To divert attention from them, Maute allies Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters opened a new front in Pigkawayan, North Cotabato. Government troops swiftly drove away the BIFF. Are government troops playing right into the Mautes’ end game?

Launching a full-force attack on the Mautes and killing every one of them can only turn them into legendary heroes. This is what the Maute/ISIS groups want—to be killed in battle against superior odds. It would make for great propaganda and convincing tool for new and young recruits.

The military could have used the one-day humanitarian pause in the fighting to allow the Maute raiders to escape. What, allow them to escape? An incredulous regular at the 365 Club in Holiday Inn Makati asked this. The soldiers who had their comrades killed in battle against the Mautes

would never allow it, he said.

Let them escape now to free Marawi and save the hostages, I said, adding that the military can always pursue the terrorists while on the run and they don’t have any house or building to use as cover.

This way, it will be easier to fight them without worrying that civilians would be caught in the crossfire. With US drones pinpointing their escape route, the Mautes will then be nothing but a bad memory for the people of Marawi.

Monday having been Eid’l Fitr or the end of the holy month, Muslims throughout Mindanao are resentful of the Mautes and their ISIS allies for robbing them of the solemn observance of Ramadan.

For the dastardly deed committed against Islam, it is doubtful whether ISIS can gain new recruits in the Southern Philippines. But then the lure of money might be too hard too resist for our poor Muslim brothers in Mindanao.

Trump wins SC round in travel ban US President Donald Trump won a round in the Supreme Court which upheld his travel ban against six Islamic countries. The six are Iran, Syria, Somalia, Libya, Sudan and Yemen.

Trump hailed the high court ruling—a triumph for homeland security and the US fight against global terrorism which has seen an escalation of attacks in France,

Germany, United Kingdom and Belgium.

The UK, though, might soon have to drop the word “united” from its name. “Brexit,” the word used for the exit of Britain from the European Union is proving to be divisive between the EU and the UK. Brexit has become an even more divisive issue among the Brits. The fallout from Brexit? Scotland might call a vote to declare its independence as a separate state from Britain.

Prime Minister Theresa May who was being considered the new, young Margaret Thatcher might have committed a political blunder by calling for elections.

Her Conservative Party majority lost votes to Labor whose last hold on government was that of Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Margaret Thatcher came to power with that creative and effective slogan “Labor isn’t working.”

This was crafted by Saatchi and Saatchi.

There was a four-minute glitch during a BBC telecast that went viral. The news anchor, a certain Howard, kept his cool and merely kept silent pretending to be scribbling notes while waiting for audio to come back on even as the “Breaking News” light kept flashing.

We can imagine how a Donald Trump or a Rodrigo Duterte would have coped in such a situ-

Food SO I SEE LITO BANAYO FROM the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, our premier agricultural school, comes the good news about its summa cum laude graduate emphasizing the role that agriculturists play in our economy.

Arnel Villancio Jr. who graduated with a weighted average of 1.1762 (Wow!) said in his valedictory that (while) “I do not believe that agriculturists are the ones who feed the world because that noble responsibility rests on the farmers…(we have) to continuously find ways for the world to feed itself.”

“In the midst of challenges that could weaken agriculture, the agriculturists are one with farmers to ensure that the world will not go hungry,” said Villancio.

How very true.

In a world whose climate has been victimized by neglect and abuse, and whose changing patterns now affect food production all over the globe, only better knowledge and modern technology coming from scientists and agriculturists can yet stave off mass hunger, especially among poor nations which cannot afford to keep importing its food requirements.

UP Los Baños has helped train agriculturists and agronomists here and around Asia, particularly those in the so-called VCLMT region. VCMLT stands for Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, once called the Indo-Chinese peninsula in history. Many of their students once enrolled at UPLB. But nowadays, young Filipinos studying agriculture have been dwindling, just as young men and women tilling our fields have likewise dwindled, enticed instead to work abroad while their ag-

ing parents eke out subsistence in the homeland.

The pattern of disinterest in farming endangers our food security, precarious as it already is.

One unintended consequence of the Local Governments Code, which provided greater autonomy in governance and wherewithal to local government units, is the devolution of agricultural extension workers to the municipalities and cities. The Department of Agriculture thus has no direct supervision in the transfer of technology to our farmers.

Where these LGUs are governed by development-oriented officials who get bright young graduates from our agriculture schools to assist their farmers to produce better and more profitably, then well and good. But where, as in many cases, provincial, city and municipal agriculturists are mere political leaders or followers with no real knowledge of farming or modern technology, then woe unto our poor farmers.

And woe unto our food production.

we still see so much undeveloped and underdeveloped land. In a country where so many are jobless, and many are malnourished, this is unthinkable.

In Taiwan, cheek and jowl beside modern factories producing bicycles (they are the world’s biggest producer), or sports shoes and equipment (also the world’s biggest), you see patches of what could be idle land planted instead to vegetables, even palay. As a result, food here is cheap and affordable.

Taiwanese drool at the sight of our underdeveloped fields and know how they could make these more productive with their agriculturists and farm technologies. But of course, our Constitution forbids foreign ownership of land.

*** Our biggest agricultural exports, no longer coconut and sugar products, are bananas and pineapples. In the case of China, for instance, virtually all our agricultural exports to it consist of those two fruit products.

Because of our President’s deliberate goodwill to the giant economy so near to us, it promised to buy at least a billion dollars worth of bananas and pineapples from us this year. That is good news, for now we export only 620 million dollars worth of these to them.

But truth to tell, we are finding it difficult to produce the incremental 380 million dollars worth of agricultural exports to China.

We have to be serious, deadly serious, about agricultural growth.

And yet, traveling across the land,

*** Speaking of food security, recent numbers from the Philippine Statistics Authority about NFA’s dwindling rice inventory are quite alarming.

Their very able agricultural statistician, Dr. Romeo Recide, must himself be extremely bothered that by end-May, all the NFA holds is less than 200,000 metric tons, equivalent to some six days’ worth of rice inventory.

That is the lowest in the last 3 years, PSA avers. I would calculate that by the end of this week, we would have just three to four days of inventory, because NFA cannot stop selling to its retailers, lest it trigger panic in the market. That stock position should be the lowest since 1995, when a major food crisis hit the Ramos administration. It could even be similar to what happened in 1972, when Marcos ordered Filipinos to eat rice and corn mix, because a great flood destroyed our Central Luzon palay fields.

NFA assures us that it is rushing the importation of the staple. That’s cold comfort, considering that one cannot fly in rice, nor can an agency

tive purposes like food (our agriculture is the worst performing in Asean; we are short of rice by two million tons a year), factories (our manufacturing is one of the most uncompetitive in Asean), infrastructure (our infra is the most primitive in Asean), or even financial inclusion (we have the highest poverty incidence in Asean and the most number of poor people, 25 million). We have also one of the worst income inequality ratios in the world.

No wonder, we have the world’s longest-running communist insurgency, the world’s longest-running Muslim separatist movement, and now, we have been chosen as the Asean base of an extremist Islamic caliphate, the ISIS. For all his expertise in banking, my good friend Governor Tetangco and his Bangko Sentral have not been of much help with these gnawing problems.

Until now, 60 million Filipinos do not have a bank account and 500 towns do not have a single bank. People who have bank accounts are given miserly interest earnings (0.2 percent per year) and 60 percent of the time their depos-

its earn zero. And despite nearly a 20-year regime of low interest rates (the going rate is 5 percent per year), banks charge borrowers as high as 18 percent interest per annum. Congress abolished the Usury Law (which pegged interest rate at 12 percent). So everybody now operates like the Indians.

Credit cards of banks are singularly rapacious. They charge you a minimum of 8.5 percent per month or 102 percent per year. You miss paying your card bill by one day, you are charged 5 percent, not only for the amount that was due but also for the amount of goods you just bought today. They call the system average daily balance.

Now, 5 percent per day, that’s an interest of 1,825 percent per year.

What has the BSP done about these credit cards—issued by among the largest banks in the country?

No wonder, eight of the country’s ten richest billionaires own a bank. The top six banks regularly earn P1 billion a month in profits.

You know how much our banks have parked in the central bank in deposits that they refuse to lend as loans to our small and struggling businessmen? P3 trillion—money

of government bid purchases overnight.

And here we are insisting on “unli” rice, while our agriculture statisticians are so worried, hoping that their own estimates of household and commercial stocks are accurate enough to stave off the extremely precarious government inventory position.

By law and by practice, NFA should be holding 30 days inventory as of this week, and at east 15 days consumable rice stock at any time of the year. Four days is what they likely have as we write this. OMG! *** In a conference in Taipei two weeks ago where our own kababayan, former DTI secretary Greg Domingo was a resource speaker, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, former Asean secretary-general, spoke of the prospects of Asean being Taiwan’s partner in its New Southbound Policy.

The eloquent Dr. Surin touted the advantages of our Asean economies playing host to Taiwanese investments. I smiled when I recalled that we used to talk of the VMLC economies as the region’s least developed, referring to the then-underperforming Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.

Dr. Romy Recide (then head of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics), DA Undersecretary for Policy Dr. Fred Serrano and this writer, who would always be together in regional and international food conferences during the first three years of the previous administration, would nervously joke among each other about the extant possibility of the V in VMLC becoming P as in PMLC. Vietnam is no longer underperforming. It has in fact become a fast-developing economy, host to seven times more foreign direct investments than we got in the last six years.

You know what P stands for.

OMG, huwag naman sana!

For...

From A4

assuming every P2 million could create one job, we could solve the country’s unemployment problem overnight.

So why do we have the highest unemployment rate in the Asean Five? We have easily 2.4 million unemployed and another 12 million underemployed. Reason: Our P4.5 trillion savings are not being invested.

Another huge money not being invested properly are the remittances of our 12 million Filipino expats or overseas workers. The money is at least $26 billion or another P1.3 trillion every year. The huge chunk of capital is simply funneled into unbridled consumption of consumer goods like cellphones, appliances, cars, furniture and houses. SM used to build only one mall a year. Now, SM builds five malls a year. Manny Villar is going into malls. Injap Sia is going into malls. SM, Robinsons, the Ayalas, the Gaisanos keep expanding their mall business. Why? There is so much excess money in the system. Money that should have been shepherded by the Bangko Sentral for produc-

that could solve unemployment almost overnight and modernize the country with modern infra, in just 18 months. The central bank tolerates the parking of such idle deposits because it fears runaway inflation. And you know, BSP’s main job now is controlling inflation. It is called price and monetary stability.

When the original central bank was chartered in 1948, its main job was “to promote a rising level of production, employment and real income.”

Thanks to our Congress, that basic function of central banking has now been abandoned, since 1993.

As I asked in a previous article: What has been the effect of BSP’s conservatism? The economy grew but it made the rich richer and the poor poorer.

Growth did not trickle down to the poor. That is probably why in the last 30 years, poverty, instead of being reduced, has remained stagnant at 25 percent of the population.

To the incoming BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla, the greatest threat to banking and central banking is not cybersecurity. It is poverty. biznewsasia@gmail.com

News

A6

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Cayetano visits Beijing to bolster ‘mutual trust’ W

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

HILE the Department of Foreign Affairs kept mum on the details of the visit, DFA Secretary Alan Cayetano is set to arrive in China today (Wednesday) to bolster mutual trusts between Manila and Beijing, according to Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang.

In a press briefing on Tuesday which was posted in its official Foreign Ministry website, Geng said Cayetano's visit is through the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to exchange idea on relations between the two countries, the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, as well as international and regional issues.

“It is believed that the visit

by Foreign Secretary Cayetano will bolster political mutual trust between the two countries, deepen bilateral cooperation in different fields, promote communication and coordination in regional cooperation and advance the strategic cooperative relationship for peace and development,” Geng said.

The DFA for Office of Public Diplomacy executive director

Charmaine Aviquivil, however, would not confirm the said visit adding that her office has no details yet.

“No details yet with us, as soon as details are obtained from the concerned office, we will share this with media,” Aviquivil said.

Geng noted that since the “turnaround in the bilateral relationship” in 2016, both the Philippines and China have further deepened political mutual trust and was able to mend other political issues.

“China and the Philippines are neighbors enjoying traditional friendship,” he said.

“Since the turnaround in the bilateral relationship last year, we have further deepened political mutual trust, carried out practical cooperation in various aspects, restarted maritime dialogue and cooperation, and moved forward the bilateral relationship, which have

created tangible benefits to people from the two sides and promoted regional peace and stability,” Geng said.

The renewed relationship, he said, was followed through when President Rodrigo Duterte attended China’s Belt and Road Forum in May. Both Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping had a meeting “reaching important consensus” on diplomatic relationship.

“President Xi Jinping met again with President Duterte who came to China for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in May, reaching important consensus in developing the bilateral relations,” Geng said.

Geng added that on the upcoming Asean summit in November, China is ready to work with the Philippines to push forward China-Asean relations and East Asia

cooperation.

“The Philippines holds the rotating presidency of Asean this year. The Chinese side is ready to work with the Philippines to push forward China-Asean relations and East Asia cooperation,” he said.

China claims most of the oilresource-rich South China Sea where a total of $5-trillion worth of trade passes through the disputed waters every year, citing its excessive nine-dash line from its so-called ancient Chinese map.

But the Arbitral Tribunal has ruled in favor of the Philippines and declared China’s claim as excessive and violative of the United Nation Convention on the law of the sea.

Aside from the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam also have overlapping claims in the South China Sea.

Ex-solon faces graft charges

BIR asked to return tax refund to S’pore THE Court of Tax Appeals has directed the Bureau of Internal Revenue to return P127.67 million in tax refund to the government of Singapore.

Under Section 32(B)(7)(a) of the National Internal Revenue Code, the tax court invoked GIC Private Ltd., a wholly owned by the Singaporean government, was tax-exempt.

Associate Justice Ma. Belen Ringpis-Liban of the Third Division issued the decision, which was concurred by Associate Justices Lovell Bautista and Esperanza Fabon-Victorino.

The P127.67-million tax refund represented the interest income earned from the treasury bond investments of the wealth fund of the Singaporean government.

A 20-percent final withholding tax from the interest income on treasury bonds must be collected and remitted by the Bureau of Treasury to the BIR. The BIR collected taxes from the GIC Private Ltd. in January 2013 to July 2014 The law exempts foreign governments and their financing institutions from such taxes.

The Court of Tax Appeals gave credence to the certificate issued by the Singaporean Ministry of Finance as authenticated by Philippine Consul in Singapore J. Anthony Reyes affirming the company was owned by the government. Rio N. Araja

STL earns P5b plus for PCSO—Balutan

By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman ordered on Tuesday that formercongressman Monico Puentevella of Bacolod City be tried for malversation of public funds and graft raps before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the Southeast Asian Games fund mess.

According to the Ombudsman investigators, Puentevella failed to account for the multimillion peso fund spent for the 2005 SEA Games hosted by Bacolod City.

In August 2005, the Department of Budget and Management issued a special allotment release order of P50 million for the Philippine Sports Commission for hosting the 23rd SEA Games.

PSC then transferred the fund to the Bacolod SEA Games organizing committee through checks payable to the committee and/or Puentevella.

After liquidation of the funds and upon audit by the Commission on Audit, the liquidation documents of organizing committee were returned

by CoA without action.

Several letters from 2008 to 2009 were sent to Basoc and/or Puentevella requiring the settlement of the fund.

As of 2011, P21,565,832.50 remained unsettled.

Ombudsman investigators also discovered that the SEA Games fund was deposited to the personal account of the congressman.

“By depositing the funds in [Puentevella’s] personal account, he had absolute custody and control of and responsibility for the funds,” the resolution read.

“The documents for the unliquidated amount were not approved

by CoA-PSC since these consisted of personal vouchers of respondent Puentevella and mere photocopies of invoices or contracts. The CoAPSC had already made demands on respondent to settle or liquidate the financial assistance through two letters dated 16 January 2009 and 24 March 2009. However, respondent failed to comply.”

IN BRIEF

WATER EVERYWHERE. Hectares of ricefields in Brgy. Biwang, Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat are still flooded after a portion of a dike safeguarding the area from the raging waters of Allah River collapsed last week. Amiel Cagayan

Lim proposes 2-day coding scheme

By Maricel V. Cruz METRO Manila Development Authority chairman Danilo Lim told a congressional hearing Tuesday that a two-day coding scheme would help address the heavy traffic in Metro Manila.

At a hearing conducted by the House on transportation, chaired by Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento, Lim said he will formalize his proposal for possible changes in the traffic reduction scheme formally

known as the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program, whose concept was introduced in the late 1990s, and hopefully get the support of Metro Manila mayors.

Lim said the volume of vehicles plying the roads of Metro Manila “is really problematic.”

“We have more than 30 percent of the country’s vehicles all using the less than five percent of the national road network,” Lim said, noting that a total of 2.5 million to 2.6 million are registered

vehicles in Metro Manila.

He said every Filipino must do their share by complying with a two-day coding to minimize the volume of cars in the metropolis.

Lim also stressed the need for the government to invest a lot in infrastructure programs to address the huge traffic problem in the country.

Lim acknowledged that the problem on lack of infrastructure projects such as better roads and highways has been aggravated by the increasing volume of vehicles,

especially in Metro Manila.

Sarmiento echoed Lim’s assessment on the huge traffic problem in Metro Manila and megacities in the country.

Sarmiento also noted that while the huge traffic is plaguing the riding public, there seems to be very few traffic enforcers who have been manning the busy streets of Edsa and similar spots where they should have been detailed.

He also noted the return of colorum buses.

PHILIPPINE Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Alexander Balutan on Tuesday said the expanded Small Town Lottery has earned a whopping more than P5 billion in just a span of five months this year.

“We’ve already earned P5,018,967,224.14 which was 173.38 percent higher compared to the revenue generated in the same period last year,” Balutan said.

From January to May 2016, the PCSO recorded a total of P2,066,178,884.00 revenue from STL and a total of only P6.4 billion for the whole year.

“The increased STL sales in just five months simply shows that the PCSO is already gaining ground in our efforts to increase the government’s revenue in order to help more Filipinos in need of medical assistance,” Balutan said.

Balutan explained that 30 percent of the sales from STL goes to charity fund of PCSO which shall be used for the various health and charitable programs of the agency, including the Individual Medical Assistance Program wherein more than 300,000 Filipinos benefited in 2016.

At present, more than 50 of the 56 Authorized Agent Corporations approved by the board are now operating while another 36 are set to be declared as aut hor i zed next mont h to operate STL. “In January, 56 AACs were launched and the board recently approved the authorization of 36 additional agent corporations to help us increase our revenues even more,” he said.

Balutan said the PCSO will continue the STL expansion as it envisioned to have STL operations in the 81 provinces and more than 100 chartered cities all over the country.

According to Balutan, PCSO only authorizes one AAC to operate in every province and chartered city across the country.

Meralco’s deals with suppliers hit VARIOUS progressive and civil society groups said on Tuesday it will file a petition for intervention with the Energy Regulatory Commission to question the 2015 postponement of a competitive selection process for power supplies and the application of the Manila Electric Co. to partner with seven power suppliers.

At a news conference in Quezon City, Butch Junia of the Power for People (P4P) said they will ask the ERC to allow them to “be a party” and step into the matter in an effort to block the giant power company from allowing 3,551 megawatts of negotiated power supply agreements with a period of 20 years without a bidding.

“We will file today a petition to intervene,” he told reporters.

Aaron Pedrosa, Sanlakas lawyer-secretary general, and Ian Rivera, Philippine Movement for

Climate Justice national coordinator, will join P4P in today's filing with the ERC. “Next is the filing of graft raps against energy officials tomorrow to hold them accountable for misuse of funds,” Pedrosa told the Manila Standard.

He, however, declined to elaborate, saying “we do not want to preempt the move.”

On June 30, the PMCJ will also file with the Supreme Court against environment officials, Rivera said.

On April 29, 2016, Meralco filed applications for approval of power supply agreements with seven coalfiled power plants to supply 3,551 megawats or 31 billion kilowatt per hour at full capacity.

The contracts would run for a minimum term of 20 years from the time of commissioning.

“The process by which Meralco has filed its applications is tainted

with many irregularities,” Junia said.

He said the contracts’ approval could pose health hazards to the people and environmental risks, and trigger the cost of power to go up.

According to the ERC, effective Nov. 7, 2015, all power requirements of all distribution utilities must be procured through competitive bidding, and that only two failed bids could be allowed.

But on March 15, 2016, the ERC issued Resolution No. 1 of 2016 that Meralco contracts need not go through the competitive selection process.

Junia said Meralco would lock in consumers to rely on coal-powered plants.

“The agreements, if approved, would set to harm the environment toward coal reliance for the next 20 to 40 year” Rivera said.

Rio N. Araja

PAINT JOB. The 125 meters wall along Kalayaan Avenue is painted with an ocean-themed mural by students of Fort Bonifacio High School and MMDA personnel during a street improvement campaign headed by MMDA AGM for Operations Julia Nebrija to make the streets safer and pedestrian friendly. Norman Cruz

Sports

A7

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Pauline eyes 2 straight tiara nd

B

AGUIO—Pauline del Rosario is brimming with confidence as she shoots for a second straight LPGT crown in the ICTSI Baguio Ladies Classic, which unfolds Wednesday at the Baguio Country Club here.

A breakthrough five-stroke romp at Orchard early in the month and a joint sixth place finish in Thailand LPGA last week make Del Rosario the marked player in the P1 million event serving as the fifth leg of the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.

“I’m confident of my chances in Baguio, especially with the

way I’m playing now,” said Del Rosario before motoring up north to headline the compact field in the 54-hole championship put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Though she’s wary of the Thai presence in the event, the former Philippine Ladies Open cham-

pion said the par-61 layout also poses as a big challenge not only to her but also to the rest of the field.

“It’s short but it’s a tough course.

I haven’t played BCC for quite some time but I still believe I can contend Del Rosario there and a back-to-back win is a big possibility,” said the 19-year-old shotmaker, who beat amateur Eagle Ace Superal by five at Orchard to end a couple of heartbreak runner-up finishes

in her rookie season in the country’s premier circuit backed by Custom Clubmakers, BDO, Meralco, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and K&G Golf.

The event also serves as a tuneup for Del Rosario, who is set to compete in the European Thai Ladies Professional event on July 5-9 as among the top 5 in the current Thailand LPGA Tour Order of Merit ranking.

But out to foil Del Rosario’s back-to-back title bid are six Thais, headed by Tiranan Yoopan, Chatprapa Siriprakob, Ananya Vitayakonkomol, Supakchaya Pattaranakrueang, Chayuda Singhsuwan and Numa Gulyanamitta, along with former leg winners Chihiro Ikeda, Sarah Ababa and Fil-Am Cristina Corpus.

Others vying for the top P250,000 purse are Korean Choi Soo, Apple Fudolin, Eva Miñoza, Lucy Landicho, Sheryl Villasencio, Sylvia Torres and Jan Punzalan along with amateurs Grechen Villacencio and Rev Alcantara.

Pacman-Horn on Sky Sports Pay-Per-View FILIPINO boxing fans can now rejoice because SKY is going to bring the fight between the People’s Champion, Manny Pacquiao and Australian boxing sensation Jeff Horn on July 2, 9 a.m. via SKY Sports Pay-Per-View (PPV).

Sen. Manny Pacquiao (59-6-2, 38 KOs) is all set to return to the boxing ring after a triumphant comeback fight last November 2016 against American Jessie Vargas. The reigning World Boxing Organization Welterweight champion will face Horn (16-0-1, 11 KOs), a former school teacher, who has faced-off and won against top-caliber opponents in his young career.

Horn, whose professional boxing career started just five years ago after an appearance at the 2012 Olympics, defeated two former world champions in one year in 2016, finishing Randall Bailey via technical knockout and Ali Funeka via knockout in the sixth round.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, will be entering his 68th fight in 16 years as a professional boxer.

Watch Pacquiao fight for the Filipino people and defend his WBO Welterweight title against Horn live from Brisbane, Australia for only P949. This is available to all ONE SKY, SKYcable, SKYdirect, Destiny, and SKYbroadband subscribers nationwide.

Call 418 0000 or your local office, text PacquiaoPPV to 23662 or visit www.mysky.com/pacquiaoppv to subscribe.

Best Center cage, volley classes set THE award-winning Best Center (Basketball Efficiency and Scientific Training Center will begin its basketball and volleyball clinics in three venues in Metro Manila on July 1.

The Ateneo College Covered Courts will host the basketball clinics cited by both the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sportswriters Association every Saturday from July 1 to Aug. 19. The sessions for students in Preparatory Level and Levels 1 to 4 will be from 8 to 11:30 a.m.

Volleyball clinics will be for Levels 1 to 3.

Xavier School will also have Saturday classes for students in Preparatory Level and Levels 1 to 3 from 1 to 4:30 p.m.

Sunday classes are offered at the Starmall-Alabang from June 2 to August 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. for students in Levels 1 to 4.

Volleyball player Myla Pablo (left) answers questions from sportswriters while Team Manager Eric Tylooks on during their appearance at the PSA Forum at the Golden Phoenix Hotel in Pasay City. Manny Palmero

KLYDE Lagarde survived Ramon Bentillo in the boys’ 16-and-under finals to complete a two-title romp in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Digos regional age group tennis tournament in Davao del Sur last Monday.

Tennielle Madis dominated the girls’ side and came away with her own version of a twinkill as they grabbed the MVP crowns in their respective sides in the Group 2 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop headed by president/CEO Bobby Castro and presented by Slazenger.

Lagarde, one of the 10 recipients of a three-month scholarship program at the Macs Crankit Tennis Academy in Australia, fought back from a shutout loss in the opening set and foiled Bentillo in a grueling three-setter, 0-6, 6-4,

PSupt Dexter Vitug SAF (#03) elevates in trying to block the shot of OIC City Prosecutor Nonilon Tagalicud (#17) during the game between the PNP Responders and DOJ Justice Boosters at the Pasig City Sports Center for the UNTV Cup Off Season: Executive Face-Off Semifinals.

12-10, although the Gen. Santos City ace cruised to a 6-3, 6-3 win over the same rival to pocket the 18-U crown.

Madis swept Prince Caorte, 4-0, 4-0, to run away with the 10-unisex plum then the Mlang find crushed Juliana Carvajal, 6-2, 6-1, to nail the girls’ 12-U diadem in the five-day event backed by Asiatraders Corp. and the new Unified tennis group, led by PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s and B-Meg. Local rising star Andrei Padao turned back Andre Sing, 6-4, 6-4, to bag the boys’ 12-U crown; Koronadal’s Angil Balaoing also posted a 6-4, 6-4 win over Sing in the 14-U finals; Sultan Kudarat’s and Aussiebound Minette Bentillo repulsed Angelica Novis, 6-4, 6-4, for the girls’ 14-U title; Mlang’s Jazzelle

Madis thwarted Novis, 6-4, 7-5, for the 16-U diadem; and Danna Abad from Davao turned back Madis, 6-4, 6-4, for the 18-U trophy.

Minette Bentillo and Madis later teamed up to bag the 18-U doubles plum with an 8-6 decision over Nicole Bautista and Caorte, while Ramon Bentillo and Jyle Martinez held off Bruce Hurtado and Lagarde via the same scoreline in the boys’ finals.

Danniella Dandalanin and Jilian Manangking took the girls’ 14-U title with an 8-5 victory over Elaica Calle and Novis, while Roddick Litang and Padao routed Balaoing and Sing to capture the boys’ diadem.

Joji Taketomi and Charles Jumawan took the 10-U doubles title with an 8-5 victory over Raicy Bentillo and Tennielle Madis.

TWICE-TO-BEAT holders lead the Judiciary, 70-45, at Games July 10 AFP and PNP don’t have to the end of the third quarter (Araneta Coliseum) go back on the hard court for 6:30 p.m. Former professional players thanks to Col. Oliver Veslirubber matches next week as ño, Col. Kiram Grajo, and vs UNTV Cup selection they’re headed to the UNTV 8 p.m. AFP Cavaliers vs PNP Responders BGen. Gener Del Rosario’s Cup Executive Faceoff Finals. combined six 3-pointers.

The AFP Cavaliers and the PNP Responders AFP limited the Magis to just five field goals forged a winner-take-all finals’ matchup after made after 20 minutes and forced them to 11 dominating their respective foes in the double- turnovers as the Cavaliers led, 36-21, at the header semifinals of the UNTV Cup Executive break and never looked back.

Faceoff at the Pasig City Sports Center on Sunday.

BGen. Del Rosario and Col. Vesliño led Clamping down on defense for almost the entire AFP’s balanced outing as they tallied 17 and game, the AFP Cavaliers needed just 20 minutes to 16 points, respectively, while Col. Grajo drilled take the game away from the Judiciary Magis as four 3-pointers to finish with 14 points as the they went coast-to-coast to a breezy 86-70 victory to Cavaliers spoiled Wendell Ramiterre’s conset their highly anticipated finale against PNP. ference-high 23 points for Judiciary.

The Cavaliers, who had the best defense durAFP meets PNP on July 10 for the one-game ing the elimination round, haunted Judiciary finals of the tournament at the Smart Araneta with their suffocating full-court press for the Coliseum. entire 40 minutes, forcing steals and several illEarlier, the Responders rode on PSSupt advised shots en route to the 16-point rout.

Anthony Padua’s huge first half performance AFP’s defense was so tight that they could and pulled away in the second quarter to beat afford to shoot just 36 percent from the field to the DOJ Justice Boosters, 89-77.

Philracom launches IFHA-style handicapping JENNY ORTUOSTE IN line with the country’s membership in the Inter national Federation of Horseracing Authorities, the Philippine Racing Commission has launched the rating-based handicapping system modeled after that of IFHA. Philracom Executive Director Andrew Rovie Buencamino said that last June 20, the Commission held a meeting with horse owners and trainers to introduce the new system.

“Rating-based handicapping,” said Buencamino, “is the system used in almost all progressive racing authorities and is adopted by IFHA for handicapping horses in

By Peter Atencio THE San Beda Red Lions won’t be the same team as returning coach Boyet Fernandez is giving them a different personality.

It will be a more defensiveminded squad when the Red Lions seek another championship stint in the coming 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.

“There are differing coaching philosophies between (former coach) Jamike Jarin and Boyet Fernandez. We’re not too much on running and into the full-court press not like before. This time, the emphasis is on the half-court game,” said team manager Jude Roque.

The Red Lions’ new playing style will be seen when the season starts on July 8 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City as San Beda opens its campaign against the San Sebastian College Stags.

The Red Lions will be missing only one player in Dan Sara. who has graduated.

They have a deep roster to consider and former La Salle cager Robert Bolick playing for his second and probably last season, giving San Beda a measure of confidence when they eye another championship.

Bolick’s presence has helped San Beda move to greater heights during their pre-season preparations.

“Our goal is to keep that NCAA trophy at San Beda and we expect it to be tougher after our recent victory,” said Fernandez, back after steering the Lions to a back-toback crown in 2013 and 2014.

The core of the San Beda roster is still around with Jayvee Mocon, Davon Potts, Jose Presbitero, Ben Adamos and Radge Tongco among the the holdovers from last year.

Lagarde, Madis are tennis MVPs Woods faces

It’s Cavs vs Responders for title

THE HOARSE WHISPERER

Red Lions not the same team

international invitational races.

“The Philracom will conduct rating-based handicapping races five weekends per racing club and will add to the prizes a total of P1 million per weekend, depending on how the club will formulate its race lineup.

“Philracom is strongly pushing and campaigning for our local industry to adopt this [system] so we can begin to synch with programs abroad.”

Buencamino, a veterinarian, also emphasized that the alignment of local standards with that of IFHA is ongoing in other aspects as well, including drug testing for horses, training programs for trainers and jockeys, and standards for race track infrastructure and maintenance, among others.

“These are some of the matters that we want to spearhead for our industry,” said Buencamino, “and all our efforts in this regard will be synchronized and updated with IFHA.”

Founded in 1993, among IFHA’s main objectives are “to coordinate and harmonize the rules of the member-countries regarding breeding, racing, and wagering” and “to ensure the quality and fairness of racing in the interest of both the breeding [sic] and the public.”

IFHA is also concerned with policies and actions related to the protection and welfare of “horses, jockeys, and the people attending” the races.

Moreover, in line with its mission to “promote good regulation and best practices on international matters” related to racing and breeding, the organization informs its members about the latest statistics and trends in global markets.

Kudos to the present Commission under Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez, ably supported by Executive Director Buencamino, who are all working proactively and innovatively to promote and uplift the

industry to international standards. *** Here’s the list of upcoming Philracom and other-sponsored stakes races and racefests. Kareristas, mark your calendars!

July 16: Metro Manila Turf Club, Inc. (MMTCI), Philracom 6th leg Imported/Local; July 30: Philippine Racing Club, Inc. (PRCI), 3rd leg Triple Crown, Hopeful S., 3YO Local-bred S. Aug. 6: MMTCI, 4th leg Local 4YO and Older; Aug. 13: Manila Jockey Club, Inc. (MJCI), Philracom stakes races; Aug. 27: MMTCI, 7th leg Imported/Local.

Sept. 3: MJCI, Mayor Bagatsing Memorial Racing Festival, Philracom 1st leg Juvenile Fillies, 1st leg Juvenile Colts; Sept. 10: PRCI, Japan Racing Association Racing Festival; Sept. 17: MMTCI, Lakambini S.; Sept. 24: MJCI, 5th leg Local 4YO and Older.

Oct 8: MMTCI, Klub Don Juan de Manila, 2nd leg Juvenile Fillies, 2nd leg Juvenile Colts; Oct 15: MJCI, Philracom stakes race; Oct 22: PRCI, Sampaguita S., 1st leg 3YO Imported Fillies. Nov. 12: PRCI, MARHO Cup Championships, Philracom Amb. Eduardo M. Cojuangco Jr. Cup, 2nd leg Imported Fillies; Nov 19: MMTCI, Sprint tuneup; Nov 26: MJCI, 3rd leg Juvenile Fillies, 3rd leg Juvenile Colts.

Dec. 3: PRCI, Philtobo Championships, Philracom Chairman’s Cup, 3YO Imported Fillies Championship; Dec 17: PCSO Presidential Gold Cup (venue TBA); Dec 24: PRCI, Juvenile Championship, Philracom stakes races; Dec 31: MMTCI, Philracom Grand Sprint. *** Facebook: Gogirl Racing and Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @gogirlracing and @jennyortuoste, and Instagram: @jensdecember and @artuoste

tough road back, says Jack WASHINGTON—Jack Nicklaus says Tiger Woods will have a very difficult time making a comeback to competitive golf as he deals with physical injury issues and undergoes treatment for managing medications.

Speaking Monday to USA Today at a charity tournament in Virginia, the winner of a record 18 major titles was not optimistic in the wake of Woods’s arrest last month for driving while impaired and back surgery Woods revealed in April he has undergone.

“He’ll have a very hard time. I don’t know whether Tiger will play much golf anymore,” Nicklaus said.

“He might come back and play—I think it would be pretty tough for him, after getting (his spine) fused and as many problems as he has had recently.

“His are more life problems than they are golf problems right now.”

Woods will not appear at this week’s PGA National tournament in suburban Washington because he continues to undergo treatment for managing medications for back pain and a sleeping disorder, issues Woods revealed last week in a Twitter posting.

Last month, Woods was arrested and charged with impaired driving near his Florida home.

A breathalyzer showed no alcohol in his system and he later said he was unaware he would have such a strong reaction to several prescription medications he was taking simultaneously.

Woods ranks second in major titles with 14 and in PGA career titles with 79, three shy of Sam Snead’s record total. But Nicklaus said Woods will not have his legacy defined merely by golf titles.

“Whether he plays golf or not, I think he has got an awful lot to offer the youth of the country and the game itself,” Nicklaus said.

Woods began his most recent comeback attempt in December in the Bahamas, but missed the cut at Torrey Pines in January and withdrew from an event in Dubai in February.

In April, he announced his fourth back surgery and said he would not play again this season.

Woods sends at-risk youth to college with money raised through his charity foundation.

“Tiger is a good kid. He cares about people.

And we’ll just see what happens,” Nicklaus told the newspaper.

“I hope he gets his life straightened out with the problems he has had and be able to lead a normal life, but also use what he has done and his legacy to help a lot of kids and a lot of other people.” AFP

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

Texters, Beermen resume playoff

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

A8

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017

By Jeric Lopez

Sports San Miguel Beermen guard Alex Cabagnot (5) slips past four TNT KaTropa defenders, from right: Troy Rosario, Jayson Castro, Kelly Williams and Anthony Semerad, to score on a layup.

San Miguel Beer and TNT KaTropa resume their best-of-seven finals in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Pacquiao wants big win to earn crack at Floyd

S

YDNEY, Australia—A rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao could be on the cards if the legendary Filipino boxer wins his bout against Australian challenger Jeff Horn this weekend, his trainer said Tuesday.

Pacquiao, who was outpointed by Mayweather in the “Fight of the Century” two years ago, will be the strong favorite when he defends his world title against the unbeaten Horn in Brisbane.

But the Horn fight could be critical to whether the “PacMan” secures another superfight with his American rival, Freddie Roach told reporters in Brisbane.

Unso takes gold in HK

By Peter Atencio PATRICK Unso added another gold while Edgardo Alejan and Clinton Bautista contributed a silver and bronze medal for the Philippines in the 2017 Hong Kong Intercity Athletics Championships.

Unso finished ahead of Chan Chun Wung to earn the gold in 14.02 seconds in the men’s 110-meter hurdles.

Bautista settled for the bronze in 14.2 seconds.

On the other hand, the 31-year-old Alejan first clocked a season’s best of 47.96 seconds in the men’s 400-meter run of this trackfest, which is also known as the Hong Kong Invitationals.

He registered this time in the heats.

Then he went on to snare the silver in the finals with a time of 47.72 seconds.

Kawamitsu Kenta of Japan claimed the gold in 47.31 seconds.

Meanwhile, Michael del Prado came up with a 48-second performance in the second heat of the 400-meter run.

Then he bagged the bronze at 48.22 seconds in the finals.

Fil-American Trenten Berram had a faster time of 46.99 seconds in the heats.

But he withdrew from the finals to be able to join the national squad in the 4x100 meter relays.

“He (Horn) can derail us really badly. Manny is, I think, in a must-win situation. He wants a rematch with Mayweather,” Roach said.

“And I mean to get Mayweather you have to look good against Jeff Horn, he has to look good, he has to be impressive.

“I think there is a lot riding on this fight and I feel Manny has to look really good in this fight and

the way the training camp went, I think he will.”

Pacquiao was coy about a possible rematch, stressing that his focus was on the World Boxing Organization welterweight title fight against 29-year-old former schoolteacher Horn at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

“If there’s a chance, why not.

I’m willing, but let’s focus first for this fight,” the 38-year-old eightweight world champion told reporters when asked about fighting Mayweather again.

“We don’t want to underestimate Horn thinking about another fight, this fight is not done yet.”

Pacquiao, 38, briefly retired last year before making a successful

comeback against Vargas in November, and is juggling boxing with his duties as a senator in the Philippines.

Boxing legend Mayweather, 40, is coming out of retirement to fight mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor in August.

Pacquiao faces the dangerous Holm who has a 10-point plan to upset the legendary Filipino.

Pacquiao (59-6-2, 38 knockouts) is one of the greats of his generation and a strong favorite to overcome the unbeaten Horn at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.

Trainer Glenn Rushton said he has watched hours of the “Pac Man’s” previous fights and is confident of having the blueprint to

cause a major upset.

“I have no doubt this is going to be a much better fight than we’ve seen against (Floyd) Mayweather, even (Jessie) Vargas and (Timothy) Bradley,” Rushton told reporters.

“I think we’ve eliminated all of the problems that a lot of these fighters have had.

“I’ve got a 10-point plan and Jeff is the only person who has that 10-point plan. I said to him, follow the plan and we win the fight, simple as that.”

Former schoolteacher Horn, 29, who has won 16 of his 17 bouts with one draw, said he has been going over Rushton’s plans and knew them almost off by heart. AFP

EXPECT hostilities to reach a whole new level as protagonists San Miguel Beer and TNT KaTropa resume their best-of-seven finals in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. The Beermen have a golden opportunity to close in on yet another title as they shoot for a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Tropang Texters in Game 4 at 7 p.m. tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Tropang Texters want to equalize the count at 2-all to avoid falling into a hole against San Miguel Beer.

Prior to tip-off, the Best Player and the Best Import of the Conference will both be awarded.

For the Best Player of the Conference, it is a close battle between San Miguel teammates Chris Ross and Alex Cabagnot and the same goes for the Best Import award with Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee, Star’s Ricardo Ratcliffe and San Miguel’s Charles Rhodes all gunning for it.

More importantly, the direction of the finals will now depend on what happens in Game 4.

Will San Miguel have total control or will TNT KaTropa even things up?

Beermen coach Leo Austria certainly hopes San Miguel can win its third straight in the series to move within a game of capturing a second straight championship.

“We were able to stay focused in the last two games and that resulted to victories.

Not much adjustments. We just have to keep our composure to win another one and move closer to our goal,” said Austria.

Just like Game 2, San Miguel methodically worked broke down TNT KaTropa to list a crucial 109-97 rout in Game 3 Sunday night to seize the series lead.

Cabagnot had his best outing of the series thus far, pouring in 28 points to lead the Beermen’s charge.

The Tropang Texters now face a must-win situation to avoid a deep 1-3 deficit.

After committing 10 costly turnovers in Game 3, the Tropang Texters are hoping that star Jayson Castro can regain his form to boost their chances.

Westbrook crowned NBA MVP NEW YORK—Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, who became only the second player in NBA history to average a triple double for an entire season, was named the NBA Most Valuable Player on Monday at the inaugural NBA Awards show.

Westbrook defeated fellow finalists James Harden of Houston and Kawhi Leonard of San Antonio to claim the season MVP award for the first time in ceremonies at New York.

The 28-year-old guard who helped the Americans win 2012 London Olympic gold averaged a league-high 31.6 points plus 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists a game, matching Oscar Robertson from 1962 with double digits in three statistical categories for a full season.

“To everybody in Oklahoma City who helped me go out every

night and compete at a high level, I thank you for that,” said Westbrook, who invited teammates on stage with him.

“It was an amazing season for me but without these guys none of it would have been possible. This award is not for me. It’s for all of us.”

Westbrook thanked “all my fans all across the world who appreciate me” and cried as he thanked his wife and parents.

“I couldn’t do none of this without you guys,” he said. “I can’t say thank you enough.”

Westbrook also won awards for best style and from fans for the game winner of the year.

Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks won the Most Improved Player award, beating out Rudy Gobert and Serbian forward Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets.

Another Bucks standout, Milwaukee guard Malcolm Brogdon, won Rookie of the Year honors and thanked his teammates.

“They believe in me,” he said.

“They have given me tremendous opportunity... This is a testament to guys who get overlooked. You can always achieve your dreams if you have faith and you sacrifice.”

Cameroon center Joel Embiid and Croatia’s Dario Saric, both with Philadelphia, were losing finalists for the top newcomer award.

Golden State forward Draymond Green was voted the Defensive Player of the Year, defeating co-finalists Leonard and French center Gobert of the Utah Jazz.

“This isn’t an individual award,” Green said. “There are five guys on the floor every time.

I can’t do this all by myself so I appreciate them.” AFP

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook speaks after winning the Most Valuable Player of the Year award during the 2017 NBA Awards Show on June 26 at Basketball City in New York City. AFP

Fernandes defends title against Leone

ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano Fernandes (left) ignores a broken nose as he battles challenger Reese McLaren. Fernandes defends his title against Andrew Leone at the Cotai Arena. ONE Championship

ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano Fernandes of Brazil will headline another blockbuster ONE Championship card when he takes on top contender Andrew Leone of the United States at ONE: Kings & Conquerors at the Cotai Arena of the Venetian Macao.

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship said the promotion returns to Macao after their last show did well.

“We are excited to do it all over again this August. We have an amazing card planned for fans all across the world, including a blockbuster championship showdown between tremendous competitors in Bibiano Fernandes and Andrew Leone. The interesting clash of styles should provide fans a solid

matchup,” said Sityodtong.

Fernandes of Brazil is the reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion, and widely considered one of the best bantamweights in the world.

He made his promotional debut back in 2012 and captured the title in 2013, and has since then remained unbeaten inside the ONE Championship cage.

Leone of Cortland, New York, is a 27-year-old martial artist who trains alongside some of the most talented combat sports athletes in Asia at the renowned Bali MMA gym in Bali, Indonesia. With a standout record of eight wins and only two losses, Leone is coming off three solid victories over top caliber opponents, earning him a shot at the ONE Bantamweight World Championship. In his next

bout, Leone will challenge Bibiano Fernandes for the world title.

In the supporting bout 27-year-old Timofey Nastyukhin faces Koji Ando who is one of Japan’s fiercest competitors, having been a professional martial artist since 2008. The Japanese combatant is never in a boring bout, and always remains a threat no matter the opponent.

With an array of diverse striking skills coupled with solid submission grappling credentials, Ando is ready to claim victory once again inside the ONE Championship cage.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow on Twitter and Instagram @ ONEChampionship, and like on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ ONEChampionship.

Tax package gets more support

B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017

Cimatu readies mining report

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing June 27, 2017

8500 8000 7500 7000 6500 6000

7,867.37 62.2

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

PESO-DOLLAR RATE Closing June 27, 2017

45.00 46.50 48.00 49.50

P50.290 CLOSE

51.00

HIGH P50.190 LOW P50.300 AVERAGE P50.262 VOLUME 452.650M

P435.00-P680.00 LPG/11-kg tank P38.95-P51.01 Unleaded Gasoline P27.35-P31.46 Diesel

OPRICES IL TODAY

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

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, June 27, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.3140

Japan

Yen

0.008942

0.4499

UK

Pound

1.272200

64.0095

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128233

6.4519

Switzerland

Franc

1.028489

51.7474

Canada

Dollar

0.755230

37.9986

Singapore

Dollar

0.720565

36.2545

Australia

Dollar

0.758200

38.1481

Bahrain

Dinar

2.654491

133.5581

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266546

13.4110

Brunei

Dollar

0.717978

36.1243

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.029446

1.4815

UAE

Dirham

0.272301

13.7006

Euro

Euro

1.118500

56.2762

Korea

Won

0.000883

0.0444

China

Yuan

0.146167

7.3542

India

Rupee

0.015521

0.7809

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.233291

11.7378

New Zealand

Dollar

0.728700

36.6638

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032989

1.6598

WELLNESS FESTIVAL. Robinsons Supermarket celebrates the month-long Wellness Festival. Shown during the festival kick-off at Eastwood Central Plaza in Quezon City are (from left) Robinsons Supermarket marketing officer Maan Nitura, assistant marketing manager Charmaine Cano, marketing manager Angela Totanes, general manager Jody Gadia, Premiere Fitness coaches Jim and Toni Saret, Food and Nutrition Research Institute director Mario Capanzana and host Robin Domingo. Manny Palmero

NGCP agrees to use line for national broadband

By Alena Mae S. Flores

N

ATIONAL Grid Corp. of the Philippines said Tuesday it is set to sign an agreement with the Department of Information and Communications Technology on the use of the grid operator’s fiber optic network for the national broadband program.

Source: PDS Bridge

IN BRIEF Globe sues resident of posh Makati village GLOBE Telecom said Tuesday it filed a lawsuit against a resident of Dasmariñas Village in Makati City for preventing the construction of cell sites that was supposed to improve mobile services in the area.

Globe said it filed the case against Betty Aw before the Regional Trial Court of Makati Branch 59 on June 13, 2017, claiming moral damages amounting to P5 million and exemplary damages of P500,000 plus attorneys’ fees.

Globe said that prior to the installation and operation of its outdoor distributed antenna system in Dasmariñas, the company sent a letter to Dasmariñas Village Association Inc. president Bernie Lichaytoo manifesting its intention to install and establish ODAS sites in the village.

The company said that when DVAI scheduled the company’s request for a referendum to obtain the necessary vote approving the construction of ODAS tower, Aw, “with manifest intention to prevent the referendum from taking place, started to spread rumors in the neighborhood, making unsubstantiated statements about the health risk brought about by the radiation emitted by telecommunications antennas.”

According to Globe, Aw also “distributed materials containing false information against the officers of DVAI, Globe and even handed a prepared but unaccomplished undertaking or affidavit with a strong request for homeowners to sign and say they are against the construction and installation of ODAS in the subdivision.” Darwin G. Amojelar

Manulife cleared as a trust company THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas approved the application of Manulife Asset Management and Trust Corp., the global asset management arm of Canada’s Manulife Financial Corp., to operate trust and other fiduciary business in the Philippines.

Manulife Asset became the first trust corporation backed by the resources of a leading multinational financial services group in the country, following the liberalization measures initiated by Bangko Sentral.

Michael Dommermuth, Manulife’s head of wealth and asset management for Asia, said in a statement Tuesday the company’s latest move was a part of Manulife’s strategic plan to strengthen its business offerings in the Philippines and demonstrated the company’s commitment to deepening its relationships in Asia. Julito G. Rada

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National Grid said in a statement the signing of the agreement would help bring the country’s average internet speed close to first-world countries.

“NGCP is pleased to be chosen by the government, through the DICT, to be its partner in the national broadband network [NBN] project. We are fully supporting this program and its expedited implementation,” National Grid president and chief executive Henry Sy Jr said.

National Grid is the operator of the country’s nationwide transmission network through a concession agreement with the government.

The government has been in talks with National Grid to deploy broadband internet through its fiber optic network.

“We are aware that a well-connected nation, such as South Korea and Sweden, enables a fast-paced exchange of knowledge and information needed to further propel our country’s growth,” Sy said.

National Grid’s fiber optic cables covering 6,154 kilometers or 160,779 fiber kilometers will form the primary network of President Rodrigo Duterte’s priority program to bring wi-fi connection to every corner, and virtually to everyone in the country.

The company said that the fiber optic network was primarily used for internal communication but the unused portion of the cables would help ease the infrastructure burden faced by DICT as it can piggyback on National Grid’s existing network.

DICT undersecretary for development and

innovation Denis Villorente said the agency planned to complete the feasibility study for the multibillion-peso national broadband network project by end of the year.

“We want to complete the feasibility study by end of this year. We are talking to other potential sponsors to the feasibility study like with the US government and Japanese government. We’re exploring those options,” Villorente said.

DICT Secretary Rodolfo Salalima earlier said the national broadband network would require an investment of P77 billion and could reach up to P200 billion if the government had no existing infrastructure.

“That was assuming everything new, everything from scratch. We did not take into consideration that for example, we can use existing assets like fiber on NGCP [National Grid Corporation of the Philippines] and so on,” Villorente said.

“Because right now, NGCP has told us that they are right now open to government using that existing fiber, that cost should come down and also the period to implement it should be shorter as well,” he said.

ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu said his department expects to release by the end of July the results of the assessment of the appeal made by mining companies which former secretary Regina Lopez shut down.

Cimatu said the department was doing everything to speed up the mining assessment in an interview during the R&D Congress on Sustainable Urbanization in the Course of Asean Economic Integration at Hotel Sofitel in Manila.

Lopez earlier ordered a review on the operations of all operating metallic mines in the country. Following the audit, Lopez announced that 23 mining operations would be up for closure and five more would be suspended.

Twelve mining companies passed the audit.

Lopez also announced that the government would cancel the mining contracts of 75 mining projects which were found within or near watersheds. She also ordered a ban on prospective open-pit mines.

Mining companies questioned the decision and filed their appeal with the Environment Department. Some companies also opted to file their appeal with the Office of the President.

“We are actually doing everything to fast track all these things but we are not yet prepared to make some announcements. I have already plans of going to some mining companies. We are going there to physically inspect and look for myself the things that made these companies responsible specially in protecting the environment,” Cimatu said.

“I will be going to some mining companies in Palawan, Surigao, Agusan, and hopefully we can complete already all these hopefully by next month. I would like to say that by the end of next month,” he said.

Four foreign companies set to open 1,000 BPO jobs in PH

By Othel V. Campos FOUR foreign companies, including a popular travel brand, are expected to invest in the country and support the growth of the contact center industry in the second semester, an industry executive said Tuesday.

Contact Center Association of the Philippines president Jojo Uligan said three European companies and an American company were expected to deliver new

investments in the Philippines.

“From experience, companies coming here tend to easily adjust projections to a higher limit. By this, we expect, easily, another 1,000 to 1,200 seats,” Uligan said in a pre-event briefing for the Data Privacy Asia 2017 forum that would be held on July 20.

This would mean investments of $5 million, based on the industry rule of thumb of $5,000 per seat.

CCAP said despite the slower

growth in the first half, the industry was expected to grow faster in the second semester.

“This is a historical fact and we do acknowledge that. But we are also bound for faster growth in the third and fourth quarter, again from a historical perspective. The fourth quarter is actually the peak of growth for any given year,” said Uligan.

He said the group would verify the figures during the first industry survey that would come out

by the end of the first semester.

The National Privacy Commission said during the preevent briefing that the efforts of the government and the private sector to safeguard the industry needed to be upgraded.

“We are in the education and compliance phase. It is imperative for the industry to move forward to level up with other countries and determine how we can protect our own in this age of digitalization. Data privacy now

is big and it’s getting bigger,” NPC commissioner Raymund Liboro said.

The commission pushed for the mandatory registry of companies with 250 employees and above by September. Bigger companies have bigger risks on data privacy infringement, according to Liboro.

“We can help in their compliance and assist them in matters that involve data privacy,” he said.

Construction of LRT common hub to start THE Transportation Department said the construction of the longdelayed common station that will link Metro Manila’s overhead train systems will start in September.

“The groundbreaking will be in September,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said, adding that Congress and the private sector already approved the location of the common station.

Tugade signed a memorandum of agreement in January with SM Group’s Henry Sy, Ayala Corp.’s Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, San Miguel Corp.’s Ramon Ang and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.’s Manuel Pangilinan to build the common station for Light Rail Transit Line 1, Met-

ro Rail Transit Line 3 and the planned MRT 7.

The MoA contains the design parameters for the common station, which will be the basis of the detailed designs that will be developed after the signing. The location is agreed to be between the original 2009 location in front of SM Annex and 2014 location near Trinoma mall.

The P2.8-billion common station will be financed and built by the Transportation Department and is expected to be completed

by April 2019.

The MOA would also address the issue of the temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court on the the common station project. Darwin G. Amojelar

TOP TAXPAYER. The city of Manila recognizes listed port operator Asian Terminals Inc. as the Philippine capital’s top real property and sixth highest business taxpayer for fiscal year 2016 during the commemoration of the city’s 446th founding anniversary at Manila Hotel. Shown during the awarding ceremony are (from left) ATI marketing manager Reginald Rivera, assistant vice president Steve Realuyo, mayor Joseph Estrada and customer service manager Jun Balita.

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Business

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market rebounds; SSI, Metro climb

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TOCKS rebounded Tuesday, ahead of US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen’s speech that is expected to provide clues on the outlook for interest rates and the American economy.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, climbed 62 points, or 0.8 percent, to close at 7,876.37, as five of the six major sectors advanced.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also gained 25 points, or 0.5 percent, to settle at 4,704.47, on a value turnover of P9.2 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 103 to 94, while 50 issues were unchanged.

Fifteen of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by retailers SSI Group Inc. which surged 8.1 percent to P3.89 and Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. which climbed 5.9

percent to P4.87. Port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. rose 4.5 percent to P102.70.

Meanwhile, the dollar swung in Asian trade after a top Federal Reserve official indicated it would hike interest rates further this year, while traders await a speech from their boss Janet Yellen.

The greenback surged to a one-month high in the morning, providing buying momentum for Japanese stocks, but gave up the gains as the day wore on.

Business was also subdued by concerns about the future of Donald Trump’s economic agenda as he struggles to push through a controversial health bill.

Expectations for another lift in US borrowing costs were fanned after the head of the New York Fed, Bill Dudley, suggested policymakers could widen their parameters when deciding the course for monetary policy.

And San Francisco Fed president John Wil-

liams warned the world’s top economy could overheat if rates were not lifted at the right time.

They follow Yellen’s increasingly hawkish tone and the bank’s plan to wind down its bond-buying program to suck excess cash out of financial markets.

Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader, said in a note that “Dudley expanded the Fed’s mandate in a way that suggests he sees the Fed with a broader remit than just inflation and unemployment”.

Yellen is due to speak in London later Tuesday before heading to a central bankers conference in Portugal, with her remarks pored over for clues about the Fed’s plans.

The dollar jumped to 112.08 yen at one point Tuesday—its highest level since midMay—but soon retreated below its late New York levels. However it is still above the 111.31 yen in Tokyo earlier Monday.

Japanese equities rose with the Nikkei ending 0.4 percent higher. With AFP, Bloomberg

China Bank gets investment grade

By Julito G. Rada CHINA Banking Corp., the country’s eighth-largest lender in terms of assets, said it received an investment grade rating of ‘Baa2’ from Moody’s Investors Service, one of the world’s major credit rating agencies.

China Bank said in a statement Tuesday the new rating was the same level as the Philippine sovereign rating and at par with the country’s top three biggest banks.

“We are immensely gratified to have earned an investment grade

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 4.04 109,000 54.5 136,030 105 1,475,170 4.05 2,000 122.3 1,382,080 1.3 129,000 36.95 271,300 16.2 20,900 29.7 1,450,600 7.8 107,300 0.67 3,000 1.7 3,000 0.7 5,852,000 87.9 1,400,900 0.96 1,304,000 25 2,700 67.5 57,730 243.4 1,470 113 670 88 3,680 58.85 128,280 222.2 186,500 85.15 10,130 1.28 62,000

441,170 7,265,249 154,800,974 7,950 168,398,391 170,380 10,004,080 338,678 42,970,115 836,950 2,010 5,100 4,069,970 123,025,557 1,241,020 67,360 3,897,924.50 357,946 75,710 323,840 7,547,994 41,306,032 862,579 79,930

-161,670 954,999 -11,551,651 -8,040,740 3,900 5,886,220 27,014,390 330,510 48,593,775.50 924,391.50 3,193,898 37,763,080 -91,962 -

38.6 7.76 0.84 1.48 26.7 0.275 7.2 18 23.75 14.1 83 76 85.1 2 5.32 11.52 12.14 16.08 9.71 7.5 6.08 1.8 18.82 70.3 15.14 13.28 13.02 1.69 209 58.6 3.64 30.7 19.08 18.94 261 0.24 7.22 3.17 9.65 6.26 10.24 1.93 9.36 69.3 6.65 318 4.4 5 2.38 12.86 5.16 0.147 1.39 160.9 4 2.11 32 1.06

INDUSTRIAL 39.2 2,013,700 7.93 1,905,800 0.84 1,052,000 1.53 1,739,000 27.95 76,400 0.275 19,460,000 7.2 3,815,200 18.18 3,543,300 24.3 991,900 14.2 9,900 89 20,110 76 200 85.1 20 2 235,000 5.4 46,900 11.8 10,300 12.3 1,553,800 16.2 2,270,100 9.79 6,182,800 7.7 7,016,400 6.1 3,627,600 1.8 12,000 18.82 628,700 70.4 117,670 15.22 63,800 13.3 240,500 13.24 1,967,100 1.72 1,581,000 210 456,100 60 840 3.7 593,000 31.05 2,048,800 19.1 2,604,700 19 1,598,500 262.8 744,010 0.241 3,950,000 7.4 216,600 3.2 11,028,000 9.78 1,857,600 6.28 334,600 10.24 6,000 1.93 1,484,000 9.53 572,600 69.4 158,220 6.81 59,100 318 17,820 4.45 147,000 5 394,800 2.42 1,245,000 12.9 3,527,300 5.16 19,700 0.147 1,070,000 1.39 45,000 161 4,887,990 4 60,000 2.11 19,185,000 32 100 1.07 55,000

78,934,290 14,997,067 901,740 2,619,680 2,084,185 5,458,650 27,542,781 64,743,826 23,769,145 140,120 1,781,100 15,200 1,702 471,020 249,718 120,798 19,131,704 36,663,912 1 60,519,320 53,474,483 22,124,035 21,690 11,853,342 8,292,236 969,822 3,199,538 26,157,938 2,737,920 95,892,014 50,620 2,216,090 63,253,600 49,852,400 30,382,960 195,802,948 956,500 1,600,445 35,259,680 18,054,395 2,111,341 61,440 2,878,840 5,431,062 10,980,976 400,092 5,700,580 652,620 1,985,461 3,039,260 45,719,974 101,652 157,310 62,690 790,858,644 240,550 41,354,130 3,200 58,540

-35,295,570 1,049,708 -1,667,990 -39,900.00 -12,122,603 18,851,020 14,150 1,140,090 8,102 -3,466,782 ,702,784.0003 963,399 16,182,804 10,873,433 230,652 2,477,883 -2,209,646 -1,250,954 280,900 -36,329,582 -10,522,585 -16,478,142 -12,117,946 -13,349,034 -16,000 6,256,981 -292,744 7,473,408 -66,563 604,044 -332,220 -1,519,016 136,000 -307,614 -8,831,717 48,080 -1,240,340 -

0.375 76 14.66 1.23 6.75 0.375 0.375 854 8 14.76 7.8 0.206 1,209 7.88 80.6 5.6 5.81 5.99 1.02 7.54 14.84 0.455 6.33 3.56 0.055 0.95 2.35 102.8 2.7 798 0.86 1.68 304 0.285 0.215

0.365 75 14.48 1.17 6.5 0.355 0.355 840.5 7.86 14.5 7.75 0.206 1,197 7.6 79 5.5 5.49 5.04 0.99 7.34 14.68 0.44 6.22 3.56 0.053 0.95 2.19 101.5 2.61 783 0.86 1.58 300 0.285 0.215

HOLDING FIRMS 0.365 2,920,000 75.8 594,070 14.66 5,400,100 1.22 254,000 6.59 842,400 0.36 16,650,000 0.365 2,760,000 842.5 208,250 7.9 3,771,000 14.6 10,336,900 7.75 87,000 0.206 20,000 1,203 89,715 7.88 15,900 79 717,570 5.6 8,700 5.79 69,900 5.91 7,300 0.99 2,027,000 7.38 3,041,900 14.74 2,572,100 0.455 500,000 6.31 14,591,100 3.56 1,000 0.054 14,240,000 0.95 2,000 2.32 9,986,000 102.7 259,740 2.61 13,000 789 232,760 0.86 10,000 1.6 4,570,000 304 10,190 0.285 300,000 0.215 50,000

1,066,100 45,004,214.5 ( 78,855,496 300,100 5,490,676 6,085,850 1,011,600 175,617,190 29,793,799 150,840,002 674,501 4,120 107,710,050 121,846 57,337,653.50 48,500 393,511 39,706 2,017,390 22,449,857 37,928,760 225,500 91,908,409 3,560 769,410 1,900 22,909,650 26,452,821 34,220 184,211,670 8,600 7,460,900 3,092,966 85,500 10,750

735,752.4997) 14,163,288 198,230 3,100 9,049,625 455,460 97,536,494 -419,275 4,120 -39,565,115 14,829,278.50 672,124 1,360,528 40,100 38,862,206 -29,140 -13,393,185 114,000,090 -35,580 -510,440 -10,750

6.09 1.57 2.54 1.15 40.15 3.85 5.83 5.32 5.97 5.99 0.59 1.09 1.45 0.196 0.52 48.5 0.73 1.75 1.31 1.14

6.05 1.44 2.5 1.12 39.5 3.71 5.58 5.27 5.66 5.3 0.55 1.04 1.45 0.191 0.51 47 0.7 1.72 1.27 1.03

1,930,917 ( 37,236,570 990,730 3,248,770 406,556,020 11,130,480 40,519,067 401,323 23,914 551,448 129,187,090 60,360 1,001,950 9,643,630 352,080 23,033,920 539,530 9,578,530 12,005,910 10,158,030

318,294.0001) -1,524,350 -40,160.00 -172,060 99,559,185 573,580 -6,914,347 310,433 -58,526,090 826,500 25,720 3,424,535 0 4,647,080 -1,269,220 183,620

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 PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK VANTAGE

4.05 52.15 105 3.9 120.6 1.3 36.85 16.34 29.5 7.8 0.67 1.7 0.7 87.5 0.98 25.05 67.6 243 113 88 58.75 222 85.2 1.29

4.09 54.5 105.1 4.05 122.3 1.33 37 16.34 29.75 7.82 0.67 1.7 0.71 88 1 25.05 67.85 243.6 113 88 59 222.8 85.2 1.3

4.04 52.15 104 3.9 120.6 1.28 36.75 16.2 29.45 7.8 0.67 1.7 0.69 87 0.93 24.2 67.5 243 113 88 58.7 220 85.15 1.28

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

39.35 7.9 0.85 1.57 27.25 0.275 7.28 18.4 23.75 14.1 83 76 85.1 2.03 5.41 11.52 12.34 16.12 9.76 7.5 6.1 1.83 19 70.3 15.2 13.3 13.5 1.77 212 61 3.86 31 19.5 19.08 263 0.242 7.48 3.17 9.65 6.32 10.24 1.96 9.47 69.5 6.67 319.8 4.45 5.05 2.53 12.9 5.16 0.148 1.42 161.5 4.06 2.22 32 1.06

39.6 8 0.87 1.57 28 0.29 7.32 18.5 24.3 14.2 89 76 85.1 2.03 5.41 11.92 12.38 16.2 9.79 7.71 6.12 1.83 19 70.55 15.4 13.34 13.5 1.79 212 61 3.86 31.15 19.5 19.16 265 0.249 7.5 3.24 9.86 6.5 10.24 1.98 9.58 69.5 6.81 321 4.45 5.13 2.53 13.2 5.16 0.148 1.42 165.3 4.06 2.23 32 1.07

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

0.375 75.6 14.6 1.22 6.55 0.36 0.365 840.5 7.89 14.72 7.75 0.206 1,209 7.79 80.05 5.5 5.53 5.61 1.01 7.4 14.7 0.44 6.22 3.56 0.054 0.95 2.2 102.6 2.7 797 0.86 1.65 304 0.285 0.215

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CEBU PROP A CEBU PROP B CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP

6.08 1.57 2.52 1.14 39.5 3.78 5.7 5.27 5.7 5.75 0.55 1.04 1.45 0.194 0.51 47 0.72 1.73 1.27 1.03

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

4.54 0.375 0.36 0.63 4.24 31.85 24.2 1.78 3.2 33.45 1.02 0.91 5.93

4.62 0.375 0.36 0.64 4.35 33.95 24.5 1.78 3.21 33.8 1.03 0.91 6.1

4.53 0.36 0.355 0.62 4.24 31.85 23.9 1.7 3.19 33.3 1.01 0.88 5.86

4.56 0.365 0.355 0.62 4.28 33.95 24.05 1.75 3.21 33.7 1.03 0.91 6.1

11,431,000 75,590,000 1,030,000 11,707,000 752,000 2,200 3,061,300 377,000 486,000 5,819,900 4,659,000 11,000 2,370,900

52,245,320 27,757,600 365,950 7,330,420 3,238,790 70,525 73,777,675 647,210 1,553,540 195,272,635 4,753,930 9,950 14,240,811

-8,581,870 155,000 40,800 133,200 -22,336,120 64,100 58,568,160 2,960,942

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

24.6 42.9 1.66 0.495 0.046 11 5.39 9.72 0.091 2.15 97.9 8.6 2.5 970 2,120 6.13 15.64 3.06 3.39 98.25 12.66 8.89 0.194 1.39 3.5 15.56 4.34 1.73 6.4 0.62 2.32 9.37 4.59 2.63 11.3 5.19 169 11.06 1,827 1.56 0.39 45.2 88 6.56 3.6 1.43 1.97 3.4 0.88 7.9

24.6 43.45 1.69 0.495 0.046 11 5.4 9.72 0.091 2.18 99 8.68 2.5 970 2,136 6.15 16 3.14 3.4 102.9 12.66 8.89 0.195 1.39 3.54 16 4.42 2.35 6.53 0.7 2.37 9.37 4.87 2.72 11.46 5.2 172 11.16 1,878 1.56 0.4 45.25 88.15 6.6 3.9 1.47 1.97 3.45 0.88 8.17

23.15 42.6 1.61 0.495 0.044 10.8 5.39 9.04 0.087 2.03 96.9 8.6 2.5 970 2,112 6.1 15.62 2.91 3.39 98.25 12.66 8.75 0.19 1.37 3.45 15.56 4.31 1.64 6.34 0.62 2.25 8.87 4.48 2.63 11.3 5.18 169 10.9 1,827 1.54 0.39 44.8 87 6.1 3.52 1.41 1.97 3.27 0.82 7.88

SERVICES 23.9 42.9 1.61 0.495 0.044 10.8 5.39 9.08 0.087 2.04 99 8.68 2.5 970 2,118 6.1 16 2.94 3.4 102.7 12.66 8.8 0.191 1.37 3.53 16 4.32 2.11 6.39 0.64 2.25 8.94 4.87 2.68 11.46 5.18 170.5 10.94 1,867 1.56 0.4 45 87.5 6.24 3.89 1.45 1.97 3.27 0.82 8.02

846,100 33,200 463,000 40,000 37,000,000 40,800 7,900 25,243,900 69,060,000 7,673,000 142,670 195,500 2,000 10 48,355 149,700 54,400 2,891,000 88,000 5,271,570 1,000 303,000 14,110,000 197,000 44,000 7,400 997,000 39,174,000 3,101,000 2,345,000 119,000 56,692,700 50,083,000 1,939,000 4,500 12,700 129,170 813,900 73,425 54,804,000 2,060,000 1,724,600 1,530,360 6,212,500 51,563,000 13,555,000 10,000 2,598,000 32,078,000 29,342,000

20,131,745 1,424,660 753,450 19,800 1,647,500 440,800 42,590 234,098,938 6,079,100 15,923,450 13,981,089 1,690,481 5,000 9,700 102,446,410 915,344 864,516 8,684,970 299,150 537,598,204.5 (1 12,660 2,665,920 2,707,810 271,060 153,210 116,468 4,338,520 82,235,820 19,797,673 1,535,550 269,310 508,342,237 241,616,900 5,192,590 51,180 65,933 22,021,640 8,946,752 136,859,035 85,480,390 817,800 77,625,220 134,283,065.50 39,155,565 195,319,380 19,613,030 19,700 8,714,170 26,957,430 235,928,894

-1,279,005 -39,600 403,920 -33,958,033 9,770 181,050.00 -25,904 31,293,520 14,620 09,072,676.5) -25,220 683,080 15,507,231 -8,683,420 -141,100 -97,680 -2,441,096 48,894,065 134,160 163,800 25,773,790 3,125,022.50 153,394 1,600,770 -556,290 19,700 -488,040 58,720 -3,762,919

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

0.003 1.63 5 2.23 0.91 0.4 9.45 2.47 0.295 0.182 0.195 0.011 1.99 6.24 2.05 0.5 0.96 0.01 6.04 0.013 8.86 2.98 163 2.71

0.003 1.64 5.08 2.23 0.91 0.4 9.45 2.53 0.3 0.182 0.195 0.011 2 6.37 2.13 0.59 1.01 0.01 7.69 0.013 8.96 3.03 163 2.74

0.0028 1.62 5 2.06 0.9 0.39 9 2.46 0.29 0.18 0.193 0.011 1.88 6.14 2.05 0.5 0.96 0.01 6 0.012 8.78 2.97 161.8 2.71

MINING & OIL 0.0029 238,000,000 1.63 4,311,000 5.01 339,600 2.17 98,000 0.91 962,000 0.39 350,000 9.05 43,400 2.53 3,220,000 0.295 70,000 0.18 2,510,000 0.195 680,000 0.011 13,300,000 1.88 1,033,000 6.37 8,728,400 2.12 50,000 0.59 3,261,000 1 498,000 0.01 1,100,000 7.4 5,689,000 0.012 3,000,000 8.96 4,998,800 2.97 860,000 162 1,011,080 2.74 12,000

688,500 7,013,290 1,708,281 206,930 870,670 136,800 390,722 8,053,750 20,650 453,550 131,900 146,300 1,980,550 55,351,830 105,610 1,813,640 497,550 11,000 38,987,525 38,000 44,724,420 2,572,070 163,809,119 32,730

11,600 22,820 -125,322 -120,240 131,900 -365,900 -2,026,156 -323,800 -2,532,830 -107,720 100,889,379 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF F GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B PF PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2I

42.2 515 520 105.8 105 105 5.83 1,013 1,021 1.07 108.7 1,130 1,013 77 80.9 80 78.6

42.5 515 523 107 105.8 112.5 5.86 1,013 1,021 1.07 108.7 1,130 1,013 77 80.9 80 78.6

42.2 515 515 105.8 105 105 5.8 1,013 1,021 1.06 108 1,110 1,013 76 80.9 80 78.6

PREFERRED 42.5 9,400 515 200 515 24,910 107 3,390 105 22,210 112.5 270 5.85 495,400 1,013 10 1,021 15 1.06 111,000 108 1,160 1,110 390 1,013 1,570 77 1,200 80.9 306,340 80 5,000 78.6 500

398,030 103,000 12,865,200 361,890 2,332,432 30,075 2,884,056 10,130 15,315 118,650 125,742 434,700 1,590,410 91,900 24,782,906 400,000 39,300

-2,870 691,526.00 -

LR WARRANT

2.33

2.34

2.25

WARRANTS 2.28 246,000

564,230

-

3,915,730 242,362 62,150,354

-11,529,887

1,088,767

45,182

2,100

-

MS

PROPERTY 6.05 1.48 2.54 1.13 40.05 3.78 5.6 5.32 5.97 5.99 0.56 1.08 1.45 0.191 0.52 48.5 0.71 1.74 1.3 1.12

318,200 25,125,000 396,000 2,865,000 10,153,500 2,946,000 7,101,700 75,600 4,200 100,200 227,582,000 57,000 691,000 49,900,000 690,000 476,900 759,000 5,517,000 9,256,000 9,381,000

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

4 5.85 8.12

4.06 5.98 8.38

3.87 5.85 8.1

FIRST METRO ETF

117.9

118.9

117.9

USD DMPL A1

10.5

10.5

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

SHARES

14,100,035

INDUSTRIAL

120,020,931

HOLDING FIRMS

609,980,777

PROPERTY

470,731,203

SERVICES

516,116,212

MINING & OIL

294,266,244

GRAND TOTAL

2,033,763,695

10.5

3.87 5.85 8.29

SME

1,001,000 41,400 7,496,500

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118.9 9,160 10.5

DDS

200

VALUE 1,943.67 (up) 16.63 568,126,911.2 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,019.79 (down) -16.15 1,921,419,275.505 HOLDING FIRMS 7,815.42 (up) 32.3 2,353,887,069.31 PROPERTY 3,665.24 (up) 50.13 1,733.31 (up) 19.06 1,082,181,967.05 SERVICES MINING & OIL 12,586.45 (up) 105.55 2,846,145,725.61 PSEI 7,876.37 (up) 62.2 329,771,431.085 All Shares Index 4,704.47 ( up) 25.18 9,168,931,996.76 Gainers: 94; Losers: 103; Unchanged: 50; Total: 247

credit rating from Moody’s,” China Bank president and chief executive Ricardo Chua said.

“It strongly validates China Bank’s institutional and balance sheet strength across key indicators. Asset quality continues to improve while we keep credit costs at low level. Our capital ratios are among the strongest in the industry following the P15billion stock rights offering last month,” Chua said.

Chua said China Bank Savings, which turned into full profitability last year, was also expected to accelerate its contribution to the group’s bottom line.

China Bank chief operating officer William Whang said the rating action would boost the bank’s ability to do more deals especially those where counter-parties were required to be rated by Moody’s or other credit rating agencies.

Moody’s said China Bank’s investment credit rating was underpinned by strong support from key shareholders and strong capitalization. The bank maintained very close multigenerational relationships with businesses as a corporate financier, building on a continuing story of growth.

Moody’s said it was expecting broad stability in China Bank’s asset quality given the robust operating environment and the relatively low level of leverage in the economy.

Fitch Ratings earlier affirmed the bank’s longterm issuer default rating at “BB+‟ and its viability rating at “bb+‟ with stable outlook, following an upgrade in July 2016.

Calata set to build 10 vegetable greenhouses

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales LISTED agribusiness company Calata Corp. said it will invest P80 million in the next two years to build 10 greenhouses for vegetable farming.

Calata vice president for business development Parker Ong said most of these greenhouses would be built in Mendez, Cavite which was suitable for vegetable farming.

“Majority will be built there because we want a cold weather. We opted to build greenhouses because of the climate change. Vegetables normally grow in a consistent climate. Most of the vegetables do not grow during the rainy season,” said Ong. Calata said it was in talks with Israel’s Netafim Greenhouse in a bid to venture into greenhouse vegetable farming.

The Israeli company is a part of the Netafim Group, a leader in smart irrigation solutions. With 28 subsidiaries, 17 manufacturing plants and 4,300 employees worldwide, Netafim delivers innovative solutions to growers of all sizes, from smallholders to largescale agricultural producers, in over 110 countries.

Calata also teamed up with the Yupangco Group for the greenhouse project.

Calata will provide the funding for the project while the Yupangco group will provide the land.

The company said it proceeded with the construction of the first greenhouse model in Mendez, Cavite at a cost of P8 million.

Business

B3

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Cimatu eyes tree planting in villages

10TH YEAR.

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

Leading professional services firm KPMG R.G. Manabat & Co. celebrates its first decade of growth and excellence.

The firm’s senior leadership team leads the commemorative toast during a grand celebration at the Peninsula Manila.

KPMG RGM&Co. has grown to become one of the strongest and fastest growing member firms of KPMG in the Asia Pacific region. Shown (from left) are KPMG RGM&Co. vice chairman and chief operating officer Emmanuel Bonoan, chairman and CEO Roberto Manabat, chairman and CEOdesignate Sharon Dayoan, and vice chairman and head of advisory Henry Antonio.

Tax package gets more support

By Julito G. Rada

M

ORE government officials have expressed their full support to the proposed Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act now pending in the Senate.

Calling the measure as a win-win proposition, they said TRAIN would reform the country’s “outdated” tax system and at the same time help raise funds for the government’s infrastructure, health and education, and social protection programs.

The government executives include top officials from the Bangko Sentral ng

Pilipinas, Budget Department, Health Department, Transportation Department, Energy Department, National Power Corp., Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and the National Economic and Development Authority.

Director Rolando Toledo, who heads the DBM’s Fiscal Planning and Reforms Bureau, said the TRAIN “is a package that will be instrumental in the raising revenue effort and ultimately funding our development priorities for infrastructure and the social services which include health and education.”

The TRAIN, which is the first package of the Duterte administration’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, will also lead to a “simpler, fairer and more efficient tax regime” that will “invite more investments and put more money in the pockets of 99 percent of the population,” Toledo said at a recent hearing of the

Senate ways and means committee.

Director Reynaldo Cancio of Neda’s National Policy and Planning Staff, said with fiscal sustainability a key element in realizing the Duterte administration’s goal of lifting six million Filipinos out of poverty by 2022, the TRAIN would provide “the necessary resources for financing important investments in infrastructure, human capital and social protection.”

Bangko Sentral, represented by director Zeno Ronald Abenoja of the Department of Economic Research, said it was reiterating its position “in support of the comprehensive implementation of the tax reform program to raise the revenue base of the government and help refocus all the expenditures, including those for infrastructure and socioeconomic programs.”

“We think over the medium to long term, inflation would fall within the tar-

get range set by the national government in the next few years (of not more than 4 percent),” he added.

Kenneth Ronquillo, the director of the DoH Health Policy Development and Planning Bureau, said the department “fully supports the [TRAIN] as this will allow the government to intervene better in the health sector.”

“The Philippines lags behind Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nation) neighbors in terms of per-capita spending for health. We are at 6th in per-capita health expenditure in Asean, trailing behind Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam,” he said.

Transportation Assistant Secretary Mark Richmund de Leon said “the Department of Transportation fully supports this tax reform measure because this will fund the proposed ‘Build, Build, Build’ program of the Duterte government.”

China sends clear message to casinos

By Angus Whitley and Daniela Wei CHINA just sent a clear mes-

sage to casinos sprouting across Asia: don’t peddle your baccarat here.

A Shanghai court on Monday convicted 19 Crown Resorts Ltd. current and former staff of illegally promoting gambling on the mainland, handing out prison sentences of as long as 10 months. While they could have faced a maximum of three years under Chinese law, there was no escaping China’s warning to foreign casino operators that see the country’s richest citizens as their most lucrative target market.

The crackdown on Australia’s largest listed operator was China’s broadest enforcement of a law that bars the promotion of gambling on the mainland as authorities seek to halt hundreds of billions of dollars of currency outflows. The convictions coincide with a planned new wave of Asian casinos, from Japan to Australia, that are poised to make a fresh push to attract business from China.

“That makes it a lot more important that they make it clear what the rules are,” said Colin Hawes, associate professor at the law faculty of the University of Technology Sydney who specializes in Chinese corpo-

rate law. “It’s more like a warning that they can’t be engaging in that kind of activity on the Chinese mainland.”

After a trial that lasted less than three hours, Jason O’Connor, Crown’s head of international high-roller operations, was among those who were jailed for 10 months. Four others received the same term while 11 were sentenced to nine months in prison. The sentencing period starts from October when they were detained.

Crown shares on Tuesday were up 0.1 percent at A$12.80 as of 10:06 a.m. in Sydney trading. The stock has lost 0.6 percent since the detentions.

Asian gaming hubs China banned gambling when the Communist Party took over in 1949 on moral grounds, according to state media. Macau, the world’s largest gaming center, is the only Chinese territory where casinos are allowed to operate. Regulation there is tightening, making it an easier pitch for overseas operators—and the middlemen who lend money—to woo Chinese gamblers to other Asian gaming hubs.

More than one third of the revenue at Crown’s Melbourne and Perth resorts last fiscal year came from international visitors, predominantly from mainland China, according to

Crown’s latest annual report.

In Japan, where lawmakers legalized casinos last December, Las Vegas Sands Corp. and MGM Resorts International are among those vying for a slice of that potential $25-billion market. A hot tourism destination for Chinese, Japan is following the lead of other Asian governments that are endorsing legal gambling in the region that’s embracing games of chance.

Crown, whose largest shareholder is billionaire James Packer, is itself developing a new A$2 billion ($1.5 billion) luxury resort on Sydney’s waterfront that will focus solely on highstakes gamblers.

Hotels and Food Foreign casino operators are

allowed to promote their hotels and restaurants on the Chinese mainland but not their gaming facilities. China’s renewed clampdown on any overseas company that breaks this law makes it harder for gaming companies that have little else to peddle in China but poker or baccarat tables.

“Compared with Macau’s casino resorts, other casino properties in the region have less nongaming elements that they can legally market in China,” said Richard Huang, an analyst at Nomura Holdings Inc. in Hong Kong. “Their marketing campaign in China would be more challenging in both gaining brand reputation and complying with laws.”

Phone betting Other operators are also now expanding gaming to online and phone betting, with an eye to attracting Chinese players. The Philippines and Vietnam now allow phone betting that’s banned in Macau, and provide favorable tax structures and policies for gaming. Philippine casinos reported as much as 110 percent increases in gaming revenue from high-stakes players, the majority of whom are from China—from $27 billion in bets placed last year.

Philippine authorities in late April arrested 55 Chinese nationals wanted in Beijing for alleged involvement in an online gambling syndicate north of Manila. Bloomberg

ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu plans to ask either Congress or President Rodrigo Duterte to require all subdivisions in Metro Manila to allot a certain portion of their property for tree planting.

“I will request the Congress or the President for an EO to plant more trees in subdivision,” Cimatu said.

Cimatu said planting more trees would help reduce the air pollution in Metro Manila, which is a result of urbanization.

“The DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) has a bureau and this is what we call the ecosystem research development bureau. This is a research arm which continuously generates research which concerns the land, water and air. There is a rapid urbanization specially in Manila. My first instruction is to conduct research on how to improve or reduce air pollution in Metro Manila,” said Cimatu.

He cites studies showing urbanization as the major driver of climate change brought about by global warming.

Cimatu called for a collective effort among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to achieve economic and socially equitable growth without further compromising the environment in the face of economic integration and climate change.

Speaking at the gathering of research and development experts from Asean member countries and dialogue partners, Cimatu said the goal of sustainable urbanization in the region could only be achieved if mega cities and other urbanizing areas would get their act together.

Robinsons allots P4b for stores

By Alena Mae S. Flores ROBINSONS Retail Holdings Inc., the retail holding company of the Gokongwei Group, is allocating P4 billion for capital expenditures in 2017, with the bulk to be spent on supermarket expansion.

Robinsons Retail president and chief operating officer Robina Gokongwei-Pe told reporters at the sidelines of the annual stockholders’ meeting the company planned to put up 150 new stores this year.

About 36 percent of the 2017 capex will be spent for supermarkets, 21 percent for department stores, 13 percent for specialty stores, 12 percent for DIY stores, nine percent for convenience stores and nine percent for drug stores.

Gokongwei-Pe said this year’s capex excluded possible merger and acquisitions.

The company spent around P3.3 billion last year, excluding acquisitions of P5.6 billion.

“We’re always on the lookout (for merger and acquisitions,” she said.

The company last year acquired majority shares of The Generics Pharmacy, De Oro Pacific Home Plus and Chic Center Corp.

She said 51 percent of the new stores would be located in Metro Manila, 27 percent in Luzon and the rest in Visayas and Mindanao. Robinsons Retail ended 2016 with 1,578 stores (excluding the 1,912 stores owned by The Generics Pharmacy).

Gokongwei-Pe forecasts same store sales growth of 2 percent to 4 percent in 2017 from a consolidated same store sales performance of 6.7 percent in 2016.

“Last year (same store sales) was exceptionally high because of election spending,” she said.

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

B4

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017

Business

Britain, EU clash over migrant rights

By Alice Ritchie

L

ONDON―London and Brussels clashed Monday over future residency rights for millions of Europeans as Britain outlined post-Brexit proposals that included a special new status for EU immigrants.

Staff members lead a shareholder to the venue of the annual shareholders’ meeting of Japan’s crisis-hit car parts maker Takata in Tokyo on June 27, 2017, a day after the company filed for bankruptcy protection. The company is facing lawsuits and huge costs over a defect blamed for at least 16 deaths and scores of injuries, with the scandal affecting almost every major global automaker. AFP

Bankrupt Takata faces angry shareholders TOKYO―Takata executives faced angry investors Tuesday after the company at the center of the world’s biggest auto safety recall filed for bankruptcy and said it was being bought by a US company.

The filing all but destroys any value left in the shares of the Japanese airbag maker, which will be yanked from the Tokyo stock exchange next month.

Many who attended the shareholders’ meeting Tuesday― Takata’s last as a listed company―expressed outrage at how the auto parts giant handled the crisis over a defect in its airbags which has been blamed for at

least 16 deaths and scores of injuries.

“Why couldn’t they have addressed these issues faster, when the recalls first emerged back in 2008 and 2009?” said one 48-year-old investor outside the meeting, which was closed to media.

On Monday Takata announced it had filed for bankruptcy protection and would be bought by US auto parts maker Key Safety Systems, which is owned by China’s Ningbo Joyson Electronic, for $1.58 billion.

The company’s board and several other executives were reappointed at Tuesday’s meeting

HK small cap stocks forfeit $5.9b in value A STRING of Hong Kong stocks suddenly plunged Tuesday, with traders pointing to links between some of the companies and a brokerage that’s under regulatory investigation.

Fifteen firms tumbled by more than 40 percent as of 3:33 p.m., losing a combined HK$46 billion ($5.9 billion) in market value. China Jicheng Holdings Ltd., an umbrella maker, and GreaterChina Professional Services Ltd. sank more 90 percent.

Lerado Financial Group Co., whose shares were halted by Hong Kong’s securities regulator this month, has previously disclosed an investment in China Jicheng and an underwriter role on a GreaterChina share placement in 2015.

“We’re seeing a domino effect; all the companies in the same network got cut,” said Francis Lun, the Hong Kongbased chief executive officer of Geo Securities Ltd. These shares are “owned by the same group of people so they must be experiencing a liquidity crunch and they don’t have the money to support the share prices,” he said.

The selloff, which sent the city’s Growth Enterprise Market sinking the most since 2015, is reinforcing concerns about risks in the world’s fourth-largest equity market after a series of spectacular plunges. While Hong Kong’s benchmark index is among the best performers this year, declines in companies such as China Huishan Dairy Holdings

Co.―which sank 85 percent in a single day in March―have burnt some investors.

The Securities & Futures Commission suspended trading in Lerado’s shares from June 6, saying a company circular dated Oct. 26, 2015 included “materially false, incomplete or misleading information.”

In that 2015 document, Lerado outlined plans to raise money to expand the margin lending business of unit Black Marble, and said that Black Marble―which was formerly called Yim Cheong Share Broking and Investment Co.― was planning to underwrite a placement for GreaterChina Professional and an open offer for China Investment & Finance Group Ltd. China Investment fell as much as 94 percent Tuesday before paring losses to 53 percent.

Lerado owned almost 1.5 billion shares in China Jicheng as of Dec. 31, according to its annual report.

The SFC didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd. said it wasn’t in a position to explain the share price declines. Calls to Lerado and GreaterChina Professional weren’t answered.

The person who answered the phone at China Jicheng said they weren’t aware of the share price decline and couldn’t comment, while at China Investment & Finance, a separate person said they’ll respond to questions after a staff meeting.

Bloomberg

ahead of the ownership transfer.

Takata’s chief executive Shigehisa Takada, whose grandfather started the company in 1933 as a textile maker, has said he will resign once the transition is completed.

“I want to ask (Takada) how he feels about his responsibility” for the crisis, said 66-year-old investor Minoru Matsuo before going into the meeting.

Millions of airbags produced for some of the world’s biggest automakers, including Toyota and General Motors, are being recalled because of the risk that they could improperly inflate and rupture, potentially firing deadly

shrapnel at the occupants.

Nearly 100 million cars, including about 70 million in the United States, were subject to the recall.

Takata, which is facing lawsuits and huge recall costs, has been accused of hiding the problem with its airbags for years.

“It was my mistake to have invested in this kind of company,” said shareholder Hiroshige Kono.

“I worked for a food company and if a problem hits my firm, we would have immediately apologized, recalled our products and taken necessary measures” to prevent a repeat. AFP

Prime Minister Theresa May fleshed out what she called a “fair and serious” offer to guarantee the rights of EU migrants in Britain once it has left the European Union.

“I want to completely reassure people that under these plans no EU citizen currently in the UK lawfully will be asked to leave at the point the UK leaves the EU,” she told parliament.

“We want you to stay,” May said, promising to end their “anxiety” after last year’s referendum vote to end Britain’s four-decade membership of the bloc put the future of 3.2 million EU citizens in doubt.

The government’s 17-page policy plan would allow Europeans to stay in post-Brexit Britain with broadly the same rights as Britons, with access to healthcare, education, welfare and pensions.

But they would have to apply to join a new register conferring “settled status,” and would be subject to British law without recourse to the European Court of Justice.

Moreover, non-European spouses of EU nationals would not enjoy the same rights after Brexit.

They will have to show a minimum level of income, and remain subject to the byzantine immigration application that non-EU migrants have to complete nowadays.

The application process for the new “settled status” register for EU nationals will not be so complicated, British officials stressed, but the response from Brussels to the policy proposals was cool.

And May was heckled in par-

liament as opposition lawmakers accused her of using Europeans as “bargaining chips” by refusing to guarantee their rights until a reciprocal deal is struck for around one million Britons living elsewhere in the EU. “EU goal on citizens’ rights: same level of protection as in EU law. More ambition, clarity and guarantees needed than in today’s UK position,” EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said in a tweet.

The European Parliament’s Brexit coordinator, Guy Verhofstadt, welcomed May’s proposal to simplify residency application procedures but said there were “a number of limitations” in the proposals.

He warned that “any degradation of the rights linked to freedom of movement” before Britain leaves the EU would violate EU law.

Resolving the issue is an early priority for both sides involved in the Brexit talks that began last week, but also threatens to become one of the biggest flash points, along with the financial bill that London will eventually owe to settle its EU liabilities.

“I believe it’s a generous offer,” May insisted to parliament, putting details on the framework after first outlining the offer at an EU summit last week, adding that it would provide “reassurance and certainty.”

But opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused of her of proposing “too little, too late”, adding: “This is confirmation the government is prepared to use people as bargaining chips.” AFP

Unusual manager defies peers in pension world

By Yuko Takeo and Nao Sano IN the $870-billion world of Japan Inc. employee pension funds, he’s known as the unusual idealist who’s long danced to his own tune.

Hiroichi Yagi filled the Secom Corporate Pension Fund with stocks when his peers hid in bonds, considering it his duty to support Japanese equities. He embraced environmental, social and governance investing as a way to reduce volatility. And he signed Japan’s stewardship code for institutional investors right at the start, making Secom the only corporate pension fund outside of financial firms to accept the voluntary standards.

“It was the natural thing to do,” the mildmannered 65-year-old said in an interview in Tokyo. Soon “others will follow.”

Company pension funds have become the problem children of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s corporate governance overhaul. As other investors vow to press executives to run their businesses better, this group is drawing criticism for refusing to get on board.

Japan has more than 19,000 corporate pension plans, according to the Pension Fund Association. They collectively manage more than $870 billion in assets, a bigger pool than most of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds.

The conservative investors—companies themselves—are reluctant to tell other firms what to do, Yagi said. But if they signed the stewardship code, they’d have little choice. They’d have to disclose everything from how they guide management to how they vote at shareholder meetings.

And that can be awkward. For example, they might have to vote against the reelection of the president of an affiliated company or key business partner.

Two Decades Yagi, who’s worked at the security company’s fund for more than 20 years and led it for half that time, found a way around that conflict. Secom basically doesn’t hold such stocks. But he said other corporate

Hiroichi Yagi

pension heads, who generally stay in the role for three to five years, don’t have time to develop their own styles.

Yagi started breaking from the pack as he sought to protect Secom from recurring financial shocks, from the Asian crisis in 1997 to the global meltdown of 2008. First, he sold equities to avoid losses, but then he decided he wasn’t going to flee to bonds.

“What on earth does it mean if listed companies’ pension funds shun the Japanese stock market?” he said. “It’s a massive contradiction. They’re strangling themselves.”

The hesitation among pension funds to pile into stocks underscores a continuing conservatism that marks much of Japan’s corporate culture. Despite an historically strong stretch of growth in recent quarters, data released Tuesday showed companies boosted their stockpile of cash to a record 255 trillion yen at the end of March.

Close to half Secom’s 90.3 billion yen is in equities, mostly Japanese shares, Yagi said. That’s about twice the level of peers, according to a survey of about 100 public and corporate pension funds by Rating & Investment Information Inc. Virtually all Secom’s domestic stock holdings are ac-

tively managed.

To make it safe to buy more shares, Yagi needed to insulate his fund from crises.

After experimenting with standard investing styles, including growth and value, he turned to ESG investing. Yagi instructed his external money managers to pick well-governed companies, betting they’d bounce back faster from downturns. He said academics are still debating whether ESG investing reduces risk, but Secom’s two main ESG funds outperformed the benchmark stock gauge with lower volatility over the past five years. (It’s difficult to compare Secom’s returns with other corporate pension funds because the funds don’t disclose this information.)

Yagi, who stepped down from the lead role at the fund last September and now has an advisory position, started ESG investing the week after the March 2011 Fukushima earthquake. It now accounts for more than 95 percent of Secom’s Japanese equity holdings. The main ESG funds hold fewer than 30 stocks, which Yagi declined to identify, but he said they prefer firms that pay good dividends.

Some commentators are skeptical.

“Most pension fund directors in Japan think the Secom way is quite unusual,” said Sadayuki Horie, a senior researcher at Nomura Research Institute and former high-ranking official at Japan’s $1.3 trillion Government Pension Investment Fund.

“Yagi-san’s fund is a rarity.”

More than three years since the introduction of the stewardship code, Horie said most corporate pension funds don’t see Yagi as an example to follow. One big fund needs to sign up for others to do the same, he said.

Aeon Co., Japan’s biggest publicly traded employer, is still gathering information on the code, a spokeswoman said. Panasonic Corp., which has more than 250,000 staff, is considering its response, said spokeswoman Kyoko Ishii.

Omron Corp., which has won awards for corporate governance, said it’s considering signing up. Bloomberg

21 QC villages are free of drugs

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

By Rio N. Araja AT LEAST 21 barangays in Quezon City have been declared drug-free, according to Mayor Herbert Bautista.

“Quezon City has been in the anti-drug campaign even before Edsa I. We are doing our utmost best and fully cooperating with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and other stakeholders to ensure our campaign against illegal drugs are successful here in Quezon City,” he said during the recent RehabiNasyon forum.

“So far, we have out of 142 barangays, 21 that are drugfree. However, we have still a long way to go,” the mayor added.

He vowed to intensity the city’s drive for more drug-free communities to support the anti-war campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The city government’s campaign is coordinated by the Quezon City Anti-Drug Abuse Advisory Council, created in the early 1980s and strengthened in the early 2000s when Bautista was still vice mayor.

QCDAAC, chaired by Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, has been conducting anti-drug information campaigns in schools and seminars and lectures to parents and teachers’ associations.

“We will intensify our information dissemination campaign in schools through lectures and seminars at the PTA level. We want the parents [of the students] to be involved,” Bautista said.

“Once we have trained the parents of what to do, they themselves can now monitor their children. They would know if their children are into drugs,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Quezon City Public Employment Services Office recently conducted a livelihood training seminar for 270 Overseas Filipino Workers and their family members.

The training, held to mark the 22nd National Migrant Workers Day, was undertaken in cooperation with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Department of Labor and Employment, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and the Commission of Filipino Overseas.

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017

P100k reward for Manila cops

By Sandy Araneta

F

OR showing great devotion to duty and service to Manileños, 10 members of the Manila Police District were honored by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and gifted with P100,000 cash each.

Estrada also bestowed honors on outstanding judges and prosecutors in recent ceremonies at the Manila Hotel in support of the law enforcement institutions in the city.

“We have with us the best of the best from the cornerstone of our justice system: the judiciary, the prosecution, and law

enforcement. You all deserve the gratitude and appreciation of our people for your exemplary work,” the mayor said as he applauded the awardees from the MPD, Manila Metropolitan and Regional Trial Courts, and Office of the City Prosecutor.

“I count myself fortunate to have you as my partners in main-

taining peace and order in our city, and helping me regain the trust and confidence of investors who are again willing to be part of Manila’s rise as a business and tourism hub,” Estrada added.

The 10 Outstanding Policemen were Senior Supt. Carlito Feliciano, Senior Supt. Amante Daro, Chief Insp. Jay Dimaandal, Senior Insp. Maricel Dalson, SP04 Rezy Bartolome, SPO3s Dennis Insierto and James Poso, SPO1 Marian Esmas, PO3 Ramil Lucero, and PO1 Florence Mary Gumilab.

Each of the awardees received a plaque of recognition and P100,000 cash incentive, the first in the “Manila’s Finest” his-

tory, MPD director Chief Supt.

Joel Coronel said.

“We were surprised. It was a generous amount. This will go a long way, especially for the rank-and-file police personnel,” the MPD chief as he expressed his gratitude to Estrada.

“With this amount, this will contribute a lot to their financial needs,” Coronel added.

The incentive, he pointed out, will likewise inspire all MPD personnel to do better, especially when it comes to protecting the city and the 1.7-million Manileños.

On the other hand, the 15 outstanding judges and prosecutors received P50,000 cash gift each from Estrada, whom he said,

FIVE members of a family were murdered by a still unidentified suspect inside their home in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan on Tuesday morning.

Police identified the victims of the Carlos clan as Auring Dizon, 53; Estrella Dizon Carlos, 35; Donny Carlos, 11; Ella Carlos, 7;

and Dexter Carlos Jr., one year old, all residing at Block 1, Lot 8 of the North Ridge Royal Subdivision in Barangay Sto. Cristo.

The head of the family—Dexter Carlos Jr., a security guard— was not around when his loved ones were killed. The women were also suspected to be raped by the perpetrator sometime Monday night, investigators said.

Supt. Fitz Macariola, Chief of

Police of San Jose del Monte, said Dexter Sr. left their home for duty at a bank’s main office at 5 p.m.

Monday. He only discovered the incident upon arriving home at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday.

Upon alighting at their house’s gate, Dexter Sr. called on his family, but neither his children nor his wife responded. This prompted him to climb their steel gate and, peeping curiously

from a small opening on their window, saw his mother-in-law (Dizon) lying on the floor, lifeless and without her undergarments, the police chief said.

Macariola said when police responded to the crime scene, they discovered that Dizon was fully naked.

He added that after seeing his mother-in-law lifeless, Dexter Sr. went to the back door of their

house and saw the lifeless body of her wife on the floor outside their house, naked and bearing stab wounds.

Dexter Sr. then went inside his house and discovered his three children were locked in the upper room, all lifeless from stab wounds, Macariola said. Scene of the Crime Operatives are still thoroughly investigating the crime scene, he added.

SM adds building to school in P’sinan URDANETA, Pangasinan— The Anonas Elementary School in this city has received a brand new, two-storey four-classroom school building from SM Prime through SM Foundation.

The new school building comes fully furnished with 200 student armchairs including 40 special left-handed armchairs, four teacher’s desks, four wall fans, eight blackboards, four wall clocks and four washrooms.

SM Foundation recognizes the need help close the gap of the quality of education between private and public schools by helping provide the proper environment that is conducive for learning. To date, the Foundation has donated 81 school buildings with 252 classrooms nationwide.

“Education is the greatest equalizer,” said Linda Atayde, SM Foundation Executive Director for Education Programs.

“Having a prepared environment that is conducive for learn-

“dispense justice daily with utmost probity and impartiality.”

Since assuming office in 2013, Estrada has been supportive of the city police force. Just two months ago, he procured P20 million worth of brand new firearms for MPD operatives to further improve their firepower against armed criminals and terrorists.

Only last October, the city government also bought for MPD 400 units of Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistols, 60 M4 carbines—a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 Armalite assault rifle—and eight Sig Sauer sniper rifles, ammunition, and other necessary gear and equipment.

CARE FOR CORN. Farmers rush to beat the sunrise as they finish applying fertilizer on their corn seedlings in Brgy. Talogtog, Laoac, Pangasinan, a fourth-class municipality 40 kilometers or about 90 minutes away east of the provincial capital of Lingayen. Manny Palmero

Security guard’s family slain in San Jose del Monte

By Francisco Tuyay and Florante Solmerin

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ing boosts the child’s creativity, independent thinking and absorptive capacity. Through these fully-furnished, wellventilated classrooms, we hope to aid the child’s learning to be more productive, enjoyable and comfortable.”

“Anonas Elementary School has dedicated 14 teachers in giving endless learning opportunities to the pupils from Barangay Anonas and neighboring places such as Tulong, Yatyat, Cayambanan and Sumabnit in Binalonan,” said Glenda Peralta, school principal.

“Having new classrooms was our dream. Now the dream has become a reality,” added Peralta. “Thank you, SM Foundation, for making our dream come true. Truly it will be a great help in nurturing the young minds but also in catering the needs of our school children for the 21st century learning skills. Furthermore, it will also serve as evacuation center for the folks of Anonas during calamities.”

Students and teachers attend the flag-raising ceremony in front of the new school building of Anonas Elementary School in Urdaneta, Pangasinan.

Taguig offers stray dogs for adoption

By Joel E. Zurbano THE city government of Taguig has launched a new program offering city residents, especially pet lovers, to adopt and bring home rescued stray dogs and those canines abandoned by their previous owners.

The adoption program, according to City Veterinary Office chief Alexis Siblag, aims to ensure the dogs are placed with permanent, responsible and loving families.

Nine of the 45 dogs currently at the Taguig City pound are now up for adoption.

Siblag assured the public the dogs for adoption have already been assessed and found to be free from any contagious disease. He added the dogs are not aggressive, making them ideal even for children.

The dogs have gotten used to the daily interaction with their caretakers, who have been looking after the animals at the pound 24 hours a day, he added.

“These dogs have been spayed and neutered to avoid reproduction, since one of the program’s purposes is to also control the animal population,” added Siblag.

Asked where these dogs came from, Siblag said they were either surrendered by the barangays who caught them as stray dogs, or came from owners who could not take care of them anymore.

features decorated floats bright motorcade on June 9 joined by with LED (light-emitting diodes) the festival sponsors, city govlights and street dancers partying ernment employees and the Manila

P3.2b earmarked LGUs for Benguet works

Standard

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gress. This year’s theme is ‘Uni- Basey Town; the Golf Tourna- held Ci ty for Progress,’” said the mayor. ment and the National Jet Ski The 2017 Sangyaw Festival Competition, as well as the Miss Iren CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

TODAY WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017

By Dexter A. See

Sangyaw Lights Fest set

InvItatIon to BId for Supply of gaSolIne and dIeSel through fleet card technology SyStem for two (2) yearS under ItB no. pB17-039cor-06 The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming public bidding for the Supply of Gasoline and Diesel through Fleet Card Technology System for Two (2) Years under ITB No. PB17-039COR-06.

Supply of Gasoline and Diesel Through Fleet Card Technology System for Two (2) Years The contract duration shall commence upon the complete delivery, receipt and acceptance by PAGCOR of all the ready-to-use fleet cards.

The term of the contract shall be for a period of two (2) years or after the total contract amount has been fully consumed, whichever comes first.

Delivery Schedule Delivery of new cards is within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of receipt by the winning supplier of the Notice to Proceed Approved Budget for the The ABC for the project is in the amount of Fifty-Four Million One Contract (ABC): Hundred Five Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety-Three Pesos and 08/100 (PhP54,105,993.08), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction Note: Payment shall only be made to actual purchase of gasoline and diesel for the duration of the contract but not to exceed the ABC for the project.

Source of Funds: Corporate Budget for CY2017 Brief Description

Contract Duration

Bidders should have completed, within the last five (5) years before the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

million for the improvement of farm to market roads.

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet—Some Another P50 million has been P3.2 billion worth of infrastruc- earmarked for the construction ture projects are currently being of school buildings, while other implemented in the province to funds were sourced from variimprove its links with its neigh- ous government agencies for soft

By Robbie Pangilinan bors and spur socio-economic and hard infrastructure projects growth, Benguet Rep. Ronald M. provincewide.

Cosalan said Monday.

We continue to get more ACLOBAN CITY—It’s all systems go than Some projects are being read- the province’s share of the availfor the month-long Sangyaw Festival ied for implementation this year able resources of the national of Lights that kicked off JuneCosalan 9 here, to help improve inter-municipal, government,” stressed. inter-provincial and inter-re“ We believe almost all of including safety and security procedures, city gional linkages, and spur growth our national roads will be fully officials said Tuesday. in Benguet’s remote villages, paved within the next several Cosalan added. because of thethat substantial Tacloban Mayor Cristina years assured the public security The lawmaker said P2.95 bilfunds being infused by conGonzales-Romualdez, with the measures are in place around the lion have been programmed government agencies priTacloban City Police Office for led cerned city following the declaration of the rehabilitation, upgrading, improve the condition

by City Director Rolando Bade marily martialto law in Mindanao. and of various roads said leading to the countryand development the City Disaster Risk naRe- of Bade police have set up tional roads, and more than P100 side,” he added. duction and Management Office, check points and organized in-

T

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

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

PAGCOR will hold a Pre-Bid Conference, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its IRR. The schedule of bidding activities is listed, as follows: Activities 1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference 3. Deadline for the Submission and Receipt of Bids 4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

Date, Time and Venue June 28, 2017 to July 17, 2017 July 5, 2017; 10:00 a.m., Corporate Lounge, 6th Floor, New World Manila Bay Hotel and Casino, Pedro Gil cor.

MH Del Pilar Streets, Malate, Manila July 17, 2017; 10:00 a.m., Corporate Lounge, 6th Floor, New World Manila Bay Hotel and Casino, Pedro Gil cor.

MH Del Pilar Streets, Malate, Manila July 17, 2017; 10:00 a.m. onwards, Corporate Lounge, 6th Floor, New World Manila Bay Hotel and Casino, Pedro Gil cor. MH Del Pilar Streets, Malate, Manila

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Procurement Department (PD), acting as the BAC Secretariat, of PAGCOR and/or inspect the Bidding Documents at Room 203, Second (2nd) Floor, PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila during office hours of PAGCOR from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Fifty Thousand Pesos (PhP50,000.00).

Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee of the Bidding Documents not later than the deadline for the submission and receipt of bids.

Prospective bidders should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier located at the Sixth (6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, New World Manila Bay Hotel, 1588 M.H. del Pilar Street corner Pedro Gil Street, Malate, Manila either the Payment Slip which may be secured from PD or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents.

Bidders shall bear all costs associated with the preparation and submission of his bid, and PAGCOR will in no case be responsible or liable for those costs, regardless of the conduct or outcome of the bidding process.

All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

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

PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - Tie-Breaking Method, the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) shall use a non-discretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidders have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having the LCRB, based on the following procedures: a) In alphabetical order, the bidders shall pick one rolled paper. b) The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

PAGCOR 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 in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

Please address all communications to the Bids and Awards Committee thru PD, Room 203, Second (2nd) Floor, PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, Tel. No.: 524-3911, 336-6906 and/or 521-1542 local 223 or 671.

(Sgd.) RODERICK R. CONSOLACION Chairperson Bids and awards Committee (BaC) 1

(MS-JUNE 28, 2017)

InvItatIon to BId for the Supply and delIvery of televISIon SetS for dIStrIButIon to puBlIc SchoolS and other agencIeS/InStItutIonSunder ITB No. PB17-041COR-06 The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming public bidding for the Supply and Delivery of Television Sets for Distribution to Public Schools and other Agencies/Institutionsunder ITB No. PB17-041COR-06.

Brief Description

Supply and Delivery of Television Sets for Distribution to Public Schools and other Agencies/Institutions Delivery Schedule Within fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of receipt by the winning supplier/contractor of the Notice to Proceed or upon instruction from the end-user; Partial delivery is allowed in the span of One Hundred and Eighty (180) days.

Approved Budget for Twenty-Four Million Pesos (PhP24,000,000.00), VAT Exclusive, Zerothe Contract (ABC) Rated Transaction.

Source of Funds Corporate Budget for CY 2017 Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) yearsbefore the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

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

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

PAGCORwill hold a Pre-Bid Conference, which shall beopen to prospective bidders.

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR. The schedule of bidding activities is listed, as follows: Activities

Date, Time and Venue

1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents

June 28, 2017 (Wednesday) to July 18, 2017 (Tuesday) July 6, 2017 (Thursday), 10:30 a.m. @ 2. Pre-Bid Conference Corporate Lounge, Sixth (6TH) Floor, New World Manila Bay and Casino, 1588 M.H. Del Pilar Corner Pedro Gil Sts., Malate, Manila July 18, 2017 (Tuesday) at 2:00 p.m. @ Corporate 3. Deadline for the Submission and Lounge, Sixth (6TH) Floor, New World Manila Bay and Receipt of Bids Casino, 1588 M.H. Del Pilar Corner Pedro Gil Sts., Malate, Manila 4. Opening and Preliminary July 18, 2017 (Tuesday) at 2:00 p.m. onwards Examination of Bids Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Procurement Department (PD), acting as the BAC Secretariat, of PAGCOR and/or inspect the Bidding Documents at Room 203, Second (2nd) Floor, PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila during office hours of PAGCOR from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Twenty-Five Thousand Pesos (PhP25,000.00).

Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee of the Bidding Documents not later than the deadline for the submission and receipt of bids.

Prospective bidders should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier located at the Sixth(6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, New World Manila Bay Hotel, 1588 M.H. del PilarStreet corner Pedro Gil Street, Malate, Manila either the Fee Slip which may be secured from PD or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents.

Bidders shall bear all costs associated with the preparation and submission of his bid, and PAGCOR will in no case be responsible or liable for those costs, regardless of the conduct or outcome of the bidding process.

Bidders should note that PAGCOR will accept bids only from those that have paid the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents.

All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

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

PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - Tie-Breaking Method, the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC)shall use a non-discretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidders have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having the LCRB, based on the following procedures: a) b)

In alphabetical order, the bidders shall pick one rolled paper.

The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

PAGCORreserves 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 in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

Please address all communications to the BAC thru PD, Room 203, Second (2nd) Floor, PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, Tel No.: 524-3911, 336-6906 and/or 521-1542 local 223 or 671. (sgd) RODERICK R. CONSOLACION Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 2 (MS-JUNE 28, 2017)

NOTICE OF CLOSURE Notice is hereby given that on 15January 2016, Conergy Asia & ME Pte. Ltd. (the “Corporation”) authorized the closure of its Philippine Representative Office, effective immediately.

All persons having claims against the Corporation are requested to contact its Resident Agent, Mr. Judah Z. Hirsch at Level 12, Robinsons Summit Center, 6783 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, Metro Manila.

This announcement will serve as a notice to all parties concerned regarding the closure of the Philippine Representative Office of the Corporation.

(MS-JUNE 21,28 & JULY 5, 2017

NOTICE OF LOSS ERRORS & IOMISSIONS am Joseph Pagadora

Balbada, Filipino citizen a I nbonafide C l aofs Philippine sified Passport bearing A d s s e c t ihave ono. n EB6477154 must be brought been reported lost to of our5 attention as June 2017.

If persons theanyvery day found the regarding these lost advertisement is passport as of said published.

We will date and thereafter will not responsible be honored not be any by the for transaction any incorrect Department of Foreign ads not reported to Affairs.

us immediately.

(MS-JUNE 21, 2017)

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bataan City of Balanga BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE OFFICE INVITATION TO BID NO.InvItatIon INFRAto-051-2017 BId for 51 City Repair of RoRo Ramp No. 2 Port of San Carlos, San Carlos

The Provincial Government Negros of Bataan, through the General Fund intends to apply the Occidental (NRP-NBB-01-17) below listed project w/ corresponding Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC). Bids The Philippine Ports Authority, Port Management Office - Negros Occidental/ Banago/Bacolod–BREDCO received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected bidofopening. through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2017, intends to apply the asum P1,667,517.57 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Repair of RoRo Ramp No. Project Approved Budget of the 2, PortName of San of Carlos, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental (NRP-NBB-01-17).

BidsContract received in (ABC) excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

1.

Labors & Materials for the Dredging/ The Philippine Ports Authority, Port Management Office - Negros Occidental /Banago/ Bacolod-BREDCO now of of Bataan Rivers invitesImprovement bids for the Repair RoRo Ramp No. 2, Port of San Carlos, San=P=19,999,929.76 Carlos City, Negros Occidental (NRP-NBB-01-17).

Completion of the Works is required for the project is Sixty (60) Calendar Days.

(Morong River) Provincewide 2. Labors & Materials: for the Dredging/ Equipment Requirements Improvement of Bataan Rivers =P=19,999,990.70 1 unit Jack Hammer w/ Compressor Owned (Caulaman River) Provincewide 1 unit Dumptruck Owned 3. 1Labors unit & Materials Backhoefor the Dredging/ Owned of Bataan =P=19,999,995.94 1Improvement unit Chain block Rivers Owned 1(Talisay unit River) Plate compactor Owned Provincewide unit & Materials Bar cutter Owned 4. 1Labors for the Dredging/ 1Improvement unit Welding machine w/ Genset Owned of Bataan Rivers =P=29,999,956.56 1 unit Concrete Mixer (1-bagger) Owned River) Vibrator Provincewide 1(Pangulisanin unit Concrete Owned 1 unit Boom truck Owned The Provincial Government of Bataan now invites bids for the above listed Projects.

Required PCAB Registration B – Ports, Harbor & Offshore Engineering Completion of works is required on or before: the Small maturity date stipulated on contract.

Bidding Documents P 5,600.00that inclusive of VAT to the contract Bidders should have completed, at least one: (1) contract is similar Date and TimeThe of Pre-Bidding Conference : is contained June 30, 2017, to be bid. description of an eligible bidder in10:00am the Bidding Documents, particularly, inDeadline Sectionof II. Instructions Date and Time of Submission of Bidsto Bidders. : July 12, 2017, 10:00am Date and Time of Opening of Bids : July 12, 2017, 10:30am Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nonBidders must have an experience of having completed a Single Largest Completed Contract (SLCC) that is similar discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing and Regulations to the contract to be bid, and whose value, adjusted to current prices using the PSARules consumer price indices must (IRR) Republic be at leastof50% of the ABC.Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specifiedisin open the 2016toRevised Implementing Rules andwhether Regulations (IRR)or of Republic 9184 (RAto9184), Bidding all interested bidders, local foreign,Actsubject the otherwise known the “Government Procurement Act”. conditions foraseligibility provided in the Reform Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform percent Act”. (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Philippine Ports Authority, Port Management Office – Interested bidders may obtain furtherand information from Office of Bataan Bids &given Awards Negros Occidental/Banago/Bacolod-BREDCO inspect the Bidding Documents at the address below Committeeand inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the same from 8:00am – 5:00pm. office.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased starting June 23, 2017 by interested Bidders from the address below and upon of a nonrefundable fee eligible for the Bidding Documents mentioned above each Bid documents willpayment be available only to bidders uponas payment of afornonproject inclusiveamount of 12% VAT must present a valid PCABapproved License together the Letter of Intent. on their refundable ofand using standard rates by with GPPB as stated The Bids and awards Committeelisted (BAC)below. for Engineering Projects, Philippine Ports Authority, Port Management Resolution No. 04-2012 Office – Negros Occidental /Banago /Bacolod-BREDCO will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on the date stipulated Approved Budgetproject for the Contract Maximum Cost of Bidding Documents below the corresponding at Philippine Ports Authority, Port Management Office – Negros Occidental / (inCity, Philippine Banago/Bacolod-BREDCO Conference Room, Port of Banago, Bacolod which shallPeso) be open to all interested bidders.

500,000 and below 500.00 Bids must be delivered to the below on or before the date stipulated1,000.00 on each project at Philippine Ports More than 500,000 up address to 1 Million Authority, Port Management Office – Negros Occidental/Banago/Bacolod-BREDCO, Port of Banago, Bacolod More thanmust 1 Million up to 5 Million City.

All bids be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable5,000.00 forms and in the amount stated in More than 10,000.00 ITB Clause 18.5 Million up to 10 Million More 10 Million up tostipulated 50 Million Bids will than be opened on the date on each project in the presence25,000.00 of the bidders’ representatives who choose attend the address below. bids shall not be accepted.

More tothan 50atMillion up to 500Late Million 50,000.00 More than 500 75,000.00 The Philippine Ports Million Authority, PMO- Negros Occidental/Banago/Bacolod-BREDCO reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annual the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without The Provincial Government of Bataan hold a Pre-Bid Conference on June 27, 2017 thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidderwill or bidders. at 10:00 A.M at Provincial For further information, please referBAC to: Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan.

Maylene G. Arante Bids must be delivered on or before July 10, 2017 at 1:30 P.M. at Provincial BAC Office, Philippine Ports Authority, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid PMO – Neg.inOcc./Banago/Bacolod-BREDCO security any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated on IRR of RA 9184 or Port of Banago, Bacolod City BidNo. Securing Declaration in standard form.

Tel (034) 441-1402 to 03 Fax No.will 034-4411225 Bids be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to (SIGNED) ARLYN A. CARAIG attend opening of Bids at Bataan BAC Office. Late bids shall not be accepted.

Chairperson BAC-Engineering In case of the above dates is declared a special Non-Working Holidays, Projects it will (MS-JUNE 28, 2017)

telligence monitoring and foot to the whole country that we are patrols around the city, and here, strong and proud, and unitwill deploy more than 500 po- ed towards progress. This year’s licemen on June 29 during the theme is ‘Unity for Progress’,” Sangyaw Parade of Lights. said Romualdez.

“We just need to be vigilant, The Waray Talents Concert but the celebrations will not be will be held at the Tacloban City affected,” the mayor said.

Convention Center on June 27 The festival features a mo- and 28, and the Fiesta Trade Fair torcade, the inauguration of the at Plaza Rizal will be on June Sangyawan Park at the Balyuan 28. The traditional Fluvial and Grounds, a Job and Business Land Processions, and PontifiFair, Battle of the Bands, the Ba- cal Mass will be held on Fiesta lyuan Rites, a golf tournament, Day, June 30. a national jet ski competition, City Administrator lawthe Miss Tacloban Coronation yer Irene Chiu said that this Night, Mr. Sangyaw Tacloban, year’s Parade of Lights will Sangyaw Foundation Ball, have an “Open Category” for ‘BASIL’ Senator Cynthiathe Villar, chairman Waray PROGRAM. Talents Concert, Fiesta first time.of the Senate Committee on Piñol and fishermen from across the Calabarzon region who received certificates fo Trade Fair, fluvial and land pro“Because our theme is ‘Unity Sigla sa Ilog at Lawa’ (BASIL) program at Barangay Baybayin, Los Baños, Laguna. Join cessions, and a pontifical mass. for Progress,’ we invited chief Eduardo Gongona, Laguna Lake Development Authority generalother manager Jaim The highlight of the 128th local government units to showTacloban Fiesta is the Sangyaw case their own floats and festiParade of Lights on June 29, vals,” she said. which features decorated floats Former First Lady Imelda bright with LED (light emitting Romualdez-Marcos started the diodes) lights and street dancers Sangyaw Festival in the 1970’s and BFAR national director i nco By Brenda Jocson partying to the upbeat “Sang- every June 29. Imelda’s nephew, Eduardo Gongona led the distri- econ yaw Theme.” former Tacloban Mayor Alfred TUGUEGARAO CITY—To bution of 1,000 fiber reinforced the “In Waray-Waray, Sangyaw S. Romualdez revived the festiboost local fishermen’s income, plastic fishing boats, 3,990 fishing f ish means to announce or herald. This val in 2008 when Tacloban was the Bureau of Fisheries and gear and paraphernalia, 48 chest harv Sangyaw Festival is Tacloban’s converted into a Highly UrbanAquatic Resources has turned freezers, 128 fish stalls, an air suf f way of announcing or heralding ized City. over more than P147 million blast freezer, and 16 community “T worth of fisheries equipment fish landing centers. work and livelihood projects in ClaveM ilagros Morales, BFA R and ria town.

Region 2 di rector, said the of fi Agriculture Undersecretary projects i ntend to generate BFA

Cagayan fishermen ge

Medical City Clark meeting CL’s needs GSIS (GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM) Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City 1308

By Romeo Dizon

During a media forum, Yumul dispelled the belief that the CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga 150-bed hospital located at the 1.

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), through the GSIS Corporate Budget for CY 2017 —Instead of going toReinsurance hospitals Global Gateway Logistic City wishes to receive bids for the of theProtection and Indemnity Insurance of the NATIONAL POWER CORPORATION for the period 31July 2017 to 31July 2018, withaTotal Sum Insured of Two in Metro Manila, patients in in Mabalacat City is only for the Billion One Hundred Fifty Three Million One Hundred Seventy Seven Thousand Fifty Seven Pesos and 31/100(PHP2,153,177,057.31) with an Approved Budget for and the Contract (ABC) of Two Million Five HunCentral Luzon and from this rich famous. dred Ninety Eight Thousand Eight Hundred Eighty Four Pesos and 71/100 (PHP2,598,884.71), with the following province canparticulars: now avail of better “This is a misconception, in ABC Retention Facultative medicalCoverage services (inclusive with ofaffordfact we have established a free 20% GSIS Commission) (%) Reinsurance (%) able price through The Medical Protection and PHP2,598,884.71 shuttle service 10% for patients 90% who Indemnity City Clark, its sales and market- don’t have cars but want to avail Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening ing director said Tuesday. our medical services,” Yumul 2.

Bidders should have completed, within two (2) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a “We have stressed. contract similar complete to the Project. Thefacilities description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, in Section Instructions to Bidders. and particularly equipment toII. deal with any The free shuttle located near 3.

Bidding will beconducted through open competitive biddingflagpole procedures using non-discretionary “pass/ kind of disease, including our the of a SM City Clark fail” criterion as specified in the revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as thehybrid “Government Procurement Reform Act”. state-of-the-art suite cath is available Monday to Saturlab,”Bidding declared dayor foreign, except holidays fromfor 8eligibility a.m. is open to Evelyn all interestedLucianobidders, whether local subject to the conditions provided in the IRR of RA 9184.

Yumul. to 5:30 p.m., she added.

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Interested bidders may obtain further information and inspect the Bidding Documents at the GSIS Bids and The hybrid laboratory, According toC,Yumul, foreignAwards Committee cath (GBAC) Secretariat Project Coordinators, Level 3 Core GSIS Building, Financial Center,in Macapagal Ave., and Pasay City, during office hours. the first Central Northern ers, balikbayans and the public A complete set ofhospital Bidding Documents maythat be purchased from themedical date of publication Luzon, is the suite canby interested avail Bidders of their serof this ITB at the above address and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Php5,000.00 brings together the traditional vices, as they have ties with sevdiagnostic eraltheinsurance companies in the It may alsofunctions be downloadedof freeaof full charge from website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity. However, the catheterization labshall andonlythe sur- to United Union UnderwritingInformation be available Bidders whoStates, have paid European the non-refundable fee of not later than the submission of their bids. gicalPhp5,000.00 functions of an operating and Canada.

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The GSIS will hold it a Pre-Bid on 28June 2017 (09:30 am) at said the GIBAC Conference Room, room, turning intoConference one flexShe also Medical City Core C, Level 3, GSIS Building, Financial Center, Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City which shall be open to prospective bidders. said ible allspace, Yumul Clark is 15 to 20 percent cheaper 6. Other The short list of preferred lead market be delivered by the in potential bidders on specializations andaccordingly ex- ranked thanmust other hospitals Metro Maor before 10 July 2017 (8:30 am) at the GBAC Secretariat (for GIBAC), Level 3, Core C, GSIS Building, pertise offered

by TheAvenue, Medical and itsshall services are patterned Financial Center, Macapagal Pasay City. nila, Late submission not be accepted.

The lead will be allocated on 10 July 2017 (9:30 am) at the GIBAC Conference Room, Core C, Level 3, Citymarkets Hospital, Yumul are after standards.

GSIS Building, Financial Center, said, Macapagal Avenue, PasayAmerican City, in the presence of the Bidders or their representatives who choose to attend. The GSIS shall thereafter issue the corresponding certificates of cardiovascular, burns, stroke, Established three years ago, exclusive Lead Market allocation (Annex A) which shall be posted in the GSIS and Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (Philgeps) websites.

Potential bidders are prohibited from approaching cancer, and other treatments the hospital has been answering retrocessionaires who have been allocated to other potential bidders for the purpose of securing quotations for the submission bids. Previous equipmarket allocations deemed superseded. supported by ofmodern thearemedical needs of the people who did not participate in the marketof allocation activity are not disqualifiedsaid. from submitting mentPotential and bidders technology. the region, Yumul

Activities Schedule 1. Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid June 20 - 26, 2017 2. Eligibility Check Refer to date of Opening of Bids 3. Issuance and availability of Bidding Documents June 20 – July 10, 2017 4. Request for Clarification June 30, 2017 InvItatIon to BId for 5. Opening of Bids July 10, 2017

Repair of Pavement of Back-up Area (Phase 2) Port of San Carlos, San Carlos City Negros Occidental (NRP-NBB-02-17) The Provincial Government of Bataan reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to The Philippine Ports Authority, Portand Management - Negros Occidental/ Banago/Bacolod–BREDCO annul the bidding process, to reject Office all bids at any time prior to contract award, through Corporateincurring Budget of any the Authority intendsbidder to apply or thebidders. sum of P12,176,173.05 being withoutthethereby liabilityfortoCY the2017, affected the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Repair of Pavement of Back-up Area (Phase 2), Port of San Carlos, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental (NRP-NBB-02-17). Bids For further information, please refer to: received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Philippine Authority,R.Port Management Office - Negros Occidental /Banago/ Bacolod-BREDCO now Engr. Ports Josephine Valenzuela invites bids for the Repair of Pavement of Back-up Area (Phase 2), Port of San Carlos, San Carlos City, BAC / PEO Bataan Negros Provincial Occidental (NRP-NBB-02-17).

Completion of the Works is required for the project is One Hundred BAC / PEO Office, Capitol Compound, Twenty Provincial (120) Calendar Days.

BalangaCity, Bataan Equipment Requirements : 047-237-9316 1 unit Backhoe - Owned bac@bataan.gov.ph 1 unit Road Grader - Owned 1 unit Road Roller Compactor - Owned (SGD) ENRICO T. YUZON 1 unit Concrete Mixer (2-Bagger) - Owned 1 unit Water truck with pump - Owned BAC Chairman (MS-JUNE 21, 2017) 1 unit Payloader - Owned 1 unit Dumptruck - Owned 1 unit Concrete Vibrator - Owned Required PCAB Registration : Medium A – Ports, Harbor & Offshore Engineering Bidding Documents : P 28,000.00 inclusive of VAT Date and Time of Pre-Bidding Conference : June 30, 2017, 10:00am Date and Time of Deadline of Submission of Bids : July 12, 2017, 10:00am Date and Time of Opening of Bids : July 12, 2017, 10:30am Bidders must have an experience of having completed a Single Largest Completed Contract (SLCC) that is similar to the contract to be bid, and whose value, adjusted to current prices using the PSA consumer price indices, must be at least 50% of the ABC. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

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

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for Engineering Projects, Philippine Ports Authority, Port Management Office – Negros Occidental/Banago/Bacolod-BREDCO and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00am – 5:00pm.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased starting June 23, 2017 by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents as mentioned above for each project inclusive of 12% VAT and must present a valid PCAB License together with the Letter of Intent.

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for Engineering Projects, Philippine Ports Authority, Port Management Office – Negros Occidental /Banago /Bacolod-BREDCO will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on the date stipulated below the corresponding project at Philippine Ports Authority, Port Management Office – Negros Occidental / Banago/Bacolod-BREDCO Conference Room, Port of Banago, Bacolod City, which shall be open to all interested bidders.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before the date stipulated on each project at Philippine Ports Authority, Port Management Office – Negros Occidental/Banago/Bacolod-BREDCO, Port of Banago, Bacolod City. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bids will be opened on the date stipulated on each project in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The Philippine Ports Authority, PMO- Negros Occidental/Banago/Bacolod-BREDCO reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annual 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: Maylene G. Arante Philippine Ports Authority, PMO – Neg. Occ./Banago/Bacolod-BREDCO Port of Banago, Bacolod City Tel No. (034) 441-1402 to 03 Fax No. (034) 4411225 (SIGNED) ARLYN A. CARAIG Chairperson BAC-Engineering Projects (MS-JUNE 28, 2017)

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their bids. However, they are likewise prohibited from approaching retrocessionaires who have been allocated to other potential bidders for the purpose of securing quotations for the submission of bids.

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Bids must be delivered on or before 24July 2017(8:30 am) at the GBAC Secretariat (for GIBAC), Level 3, Core C, GSIS Building, Financial Center, Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

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Bid opening shall be on 24July 2017(9:00 am) at the GIBAC Conference Room, Core C, Level 3, GSIS Building, Financial Center, Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders representatives who chose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted.After the Bid Opening, a detailed evaluation of the financial component of the eligible bid/s shall be conducted to determine the Single or Lowest Calculated Bid (SCB or LCB). Only the bidder with the SCB or LCB shall be notified within seven (7) calendar days to submit post-qualification documents.

automatically reset on the next working days.

Other necessary information deemed relevant by the Provincial Government of Bataan

InvItatIon to BId

REINSURANCE OF THE PROTECTION AND INDEMNITY INSURANCE OF THE NATIONAL POWER CORPORATION

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IN BRIEF

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Calabarzon cops going to Marawi

A sixty (60) day cover note effecting the insurance coverage on its inception date, 31 July 2017, will be

required by the GSIS from the bidder with the LCB to be submitted within five (5) calendar days from receipt CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna—The Calabarzon Regional of the notice to submit the post-qualification documents.

Police Office is sending 241 policemen from its the various branch10. The GSIS encourages that the eligibility requirements be submitted before deadline of submission of bids. es to Marawi City to augment the government forces there, Re11.

The GSIS reserves the right to accept or reject to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids gional Director Chief Supt.

Ma.anyObid,Ranada Aplasca said. at any time prior to contract awardin accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby liabilityto tothe affected bidder or bidders.of Calabarzon high. We have “Iincurring wantanyyou hold the banner to defend our country, 12.

For further information, please refer we to: have our sworn duty that we took when we joined this noble profession,” Aplasca said during the GBAC Secretariat Project Coordinators GSIS Insurance Bids and Awards Committee (GIBAC) sendoff ceremony for the troops Level 3Core C, GSIS Building,Financial Center, to Marawi on Monday here.

Macapagal Avenue, Pasay Citynot be easy, but it is not impossible. We “The mission will Contact no. 479-3600 loc. 3306 / 976-4655 Email: be gbac_secretariat@gsis.gov.ph should ready anytime our services are needed anywhere in (Sgd.) Valerie K. Marquez the Philippines,” he added.

Chairperson The first batch of 70 policemen from the Regional Police GSIS Insurance Bids and Awards Committee Security Brigade will leave Wednesday, while the others will be deployed to replace the government troops as ordered by their commanding officers in the battle-torn city besieged by the terrorist Maute group since last May 23, Aplasca said.

Roy Tomandao (MS-JUNE 21, 2017)

100 solar lamps, 2 computers for Cawag SUBIC, Zambales—Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. (RP Energy) has donated 100 solar lamps to elementary students, and two computer sets to a school for Barangay Cawag, which does not have electricity and relies on a portable generator.

Employees of RP Energy, led by Corporate Social Responsibility Officer Jason Gavina, distributed on Tuesday the solar lamps to grade 1 and 2 students of Kinabuksan Integrated School.

The two computers were received by the faculty members of Kinabuksan Integrated in a simple ceremony.

RP Energy, which is developing a state-of-the-art coal-fired power plant at Subic’s Redondo Peninsula, will be using environment-friendly technology for its 600-megawatt power plant.

“As an energy company, we hope to light their future,” said Gavina.

“Please take good care of the solar lamps,” he urged the students and their parents.

Zambales Board Member Jonathan Khonghun thanked the energy company for knowing the things the community needs and providing them. Butch Gunio CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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(MS-JU

World IN BRIEF WWII Zero fighter flies over Japan RYUGASAKI, Japan―Salvaged from the Papua New Guinean jungle, a restored World War II Japanese Zero fighter has taken to the skies over the land that gave birth to the once-feared warplane.

The aircraft―emblazoned with tell-tale rising sun symbols―is one of just a few airworthy Zero fighters left in the world, nearly eight decades after they struck fear into the hearts of Allied pilots.

The plane flew near Tokyo this month, watched by businessman and aviation buff Masahide Ishizuka who bought the plane for 350 million yen ($3.1 million) in 2008.

The badly damaged aircraft was originally found in the 1970s in dense jungle where it had crashed decades earlier.

It later ended up in the United States―Japan’s chief World War II adversary.

Developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Zero planes took part in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, while “kamikaze” suicide pilots crashed them into US ships in the later stages of the war.

“Since it was born in Japan 75 years ago, this baby has been traveling around the world,” Ishizuka told AFP after the recent flight.

“I wanted to bring it back to its home country and keep it flying in the sky.”

There are believed to be just four airworthy Zero fighters in the world today-more than 10,000 were made in all.

Kazuaki Yanagida, the first Japanese pilot to fly the plane, got a feeling for the wartime conditions in its cramped cockpit.

“Sitting here, I felt as if the souls of dead pilots are looking over me,” he said.

Despite its fearsome reputation, Yanagida and the plane’s owner said they don’t want the restored fighter to stir controversy.

“The sin doesn’t rest with the Zero―it was the people who fought each other,” Yanagida said. AFP

Memorial for sailors killed in crash TOKYO―Thousands of flagwaving mourners lined the streets of a US naval base in Japan Tuesday where a memorial service was held for the seven sailors killed in a collision with a cargo ship this month.

The facility in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, is the home port of the destroyer USS Fitzgerald, which crashed with a cargo ship in a busy shipping channel off Japan’s coast.

The sailors’ relatives, some 300 shipmates on the guidedmissile destroyer and US military officials attended the service, as a probe into the cause of the deadly accident continues.

The solemn gathering was closed to media. Pictures and video supplied by the navy showed sailors folding US flags with photographs of the seven dead hanging above them. Wreaths with red, white and blue flowers, representing the color of the US flag, lay on a stage below their pictures.

Before the ceremony, more than 2,000 people including members of the US Navy and Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force lined the streets inside the base waving flags and saluting the crew and their relatives, the navy said in a statement.

“It’s stunning, absolutely stunning, while we mourn the loss of the seven sailors, that more were not lost, and it was the heroism of the entire crew that ensured that was the case,” US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Scott Swift said, according to the statement.

“There was no understanding of what had happened at the moment of impact. But there was complete understanding of what needed to be done. AFP

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017

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20 years since the handover H

ONG KONG―When Xi Jinping lands in Hong Kong on Thursday for the first time since becoming China’s president, he will step into a deeply divided city uncertain of its future.

20 YEARS AFTER. This combo shows a file picture (top) taken on June 23,

1997, of the royal yacht Britannia sailing in Hong Kong harbor, which was the floating base for Prince Charles before the territory was to be handed back to China after more than 150 years of British rule, and a picture (bottom) taken on June 12, 2017 showing a boat powering through the waters of Victoria Harbor in front of Hong Kong’s skyline. Hong Kong will mark the 20th anniversary of the handover from British to Chinese rule on July 1, 2017. AFP

‘Assad may be preparing chemical attack’ WASHINGTON―Syrian President Bashar al-Assad may be preparing another chemical weapons attack, one that would result in the “mass murder” of civilians, the White House said Monday, warning the regime would pay a “heavy price” if it went ahead with such an assault.

The White House said the preparations were similar to those undertaken by the Assad regime ahead of an apparent chemical attack on a rebel-held town in April.

Washington launched a retaliatory cruise missile strike days later against a Syrian airbase from where it said the chemical weapons attack was launched.

That assault with 59 Tomahawk mis-

siles marked the first direct US attack on the Syrian regime and Trump’s most dramatic military action since he took power in January.

It also led to a quick downward spiral in ties between Washington and Moscow, which accused the US of breaking international law.

Russia has supported the Syrian regime since 2015 with air strikes against what it says are Islamist extremists.

“The United States has identified potential preparations for another chemical weapons attack by the Assad regime that would likely result in the mass murder of civilians, including innocent children,” spokesman Sean Spicer said in a statement Monday night.

The two-paragraph communique did not offer any evidence justifying the sternly worded warning.

“The activities are similar to preparations the regime made before its April 4, 2017 chemical weapons attack.”

The suspected attack in April in the rebel held town of Khan Sheikhun killed at least 87 people, including many children, and images of the dead and of suffering victims provoked global outrage. The US State Department said it amounted to a war crime.

State Department officials who would normally be involved in a big announcement such as Monday’s warning to Syria said they were caught by surprise, the Los Angeles Times reported. AFP

The visit marks 20 years since Hong Kong was handed back to China by Britain and comes at a time when many fear the semi-autonomous city’s freedoms are being lost to an ever more assertive Beijing.

Protests are expected during Xi’s three-day trip, which will be shielded by huge security and culminate in the inauguration of new city leader, Carrie Lam. Pro-democracy campaigner Joshua Wong, who led mass “Umbrella Movement” rallies in 2014 calling for political reform in an unprecedented challenge to Beijing, says he believes Hong Kong is at a crossroads.

“The uniqueness of Hong Kong and the political status of my city are under threat,” 20-year-old Wong told AFP. He wants a public vote on sovereignty in 2047, when the 50-year handover agreement guaranteeing Hong Kong’s liberties and way of life expires.

Such calls for self-determination or even full independence for Hong Kong grew out of the failure of the 2014 protests to win concessions on democratic reform and have infuriated Beijing.

“What we hope is to let everyone get the right of referendum to decide the future of this city,” Wong said.

Residents were given no say in whether Hong Kong should be returned to China in 1997.

For the past 20 years, Hong Kong has been governed under a “one country, two systems” deal which grants it rights unseen on the mainland, including freedom of speech, an independent judiciary and a partially elected legislature.

Rule of law is seen as key to its role as a gateway between China and the rest of the world.

However, a string of incidents, including the disqualification of two pro-independence lawmakers and alleged abductions by mainland security agents, have sparked concerns the tide is turning.

Beijing and local officials insist Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy is secure.

Pro-establishment lawmaker Regina Ip, leader of the New People’s Party, told AFP she thought the semi-autonomous system was “holding up well”.

Hong Kong’s economic growth was better under China than it would have been under Britain, added legislator Felix Chung, head of the pro-establishment Liberal Party.

“The central government gave us a lot of freedoms -- they didn’t do too much to control Hong Kong,” he said.

Both Chung and Ip agree political divisions need to be addressed, but argue that requires compromise.

“If you want to have democracy in the sense of cutting Beijing out of the picture, that’s a non-starter,” said Ip. Lam has pledged to heal rifts but is already being painted by critics as a China stooge.

She has questioned whether it is the right time to revisit the reform debate that triggered the Umbrella Movement.

The protests kicked off after a Beijing-backed plan for leadership elections―promised in the handover deal―said candidates must be vetted first.

Slammed by activists as “fake universal suffrage” it was voted down in parliament by pro-democracy lawmakers. AFP

North Korea compares Donald Trump to Hitler SEOUL―North Korea compared US President Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler on Tuesday in its latest diatribe, amid the high tensions over Pyongyang’s military ambitions and ahead of a visit to Washington by South Korea’s new leader.

The latest attack came a week after nuclear-armed Pyongyang called Trump a “lunatic” as the tensions rose following the death of US student Otto Warmbier, who was detained for 18 months in the North and then sent home in a coma.

An editorial on the official Korean Central News Agency dialed the hostile rhetoric up higher, slamming Trump’s key policies as being akin to “Nazism in the 21st century”.

Trump declared at his inauguration in January that “From this moment on, it’s going to be America first”.

KCNA said: “The ‘Americanfirst principle’... advocates the world domination by recourse to military means just as was the case with Hitler’s concept of world occupation.”

Trump was “following Hitler’s dictatorial politics” to divide others into two categories, “friends and foes” to justify “suppression”, it added.

The North habitually denounces its enemies in colorful terms in its propaganda, but the compari-

sons to the instigator of World War II and architect of the Holocaust are unusual even by its own standards.

A notable exception was the hawkish former president George W. Bush, who included the North in his “axis of evil” along with Iran and Iraq and called thenleader Kim Jong-Il a “tyrant.”

Pyongyang responded by calling Bush a “tyrant that puts Hitler in the shade” and a “political imbecile bereft of even elementary morality”.

The Trump administration is pushing for stronger sanctions against the North over its nuclear and missile programs.

KCNA accused it of blocking medical supplies in what it said was “an unethical and inhumane act, far exceeding the degree of Hitler’s blockade of Leningrad”.

The nearly 900-day siege of the Russian city during World War II left millions dead.

Tackling threats from the isolated North is expected to be at the top of the agenda during this week’s Washington summit between Trump and newly elected South Korean President Moon Jae-In. A string of atomic and missile tests by Pyongyang―and threats of military action by Washington―have heightened tensions on the peninsula. AFP

BENEFIT CONCERT. Board member Alexandra Patsavas speaks on stage at the 13th Annual MusiCares MAP Fund Benefit Concert at the PlayStation Theater on June 26, 2017, in New York City. The proceeds will benefit the MusiCares MAP Fund, which provides members of the music community access to addiction recovery treatment. For more information, please visit www.musicares.org. AFP

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017

World

Court partially reinstates travel ban on 6 countries W ASHINGTON― The US Supreme Court on Monday partially reinstated Donald Trump’s controversial travel ban targeting citizens from six predominantly Muslim countries, prompting the president to claim a victory for national security.

The nine justices, who will hear arguments in the case in October, said the ban could now be enforced for travelers from the targeted countries “who lack any bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States.”

The court tempered its ruling by saying the ban could not be implemented against people who have personal links to the US, citing the examples of foreign nationals wishing to visit family or students accepted to attend university.

But the decision nonetheless marks a win for the Republican leader, who has insisted the ban is necessary for national security, despite criticism that it singles out Muslims in violation of the US constitution.

The State Department said it would begin enforcing the travel ban “in a professional, organized and timely way” within 72 hours, in line with a memorandum signed by Trump earlier this month.

The US leader has suffered a series of judicial defeats over the ban, with two federal appeals courts maintaining injunctions on it by arguing that his executive order discriminated against travelers based on their nationality.

Reacting to Monday’s ruling, Trump said he felt vindicated by what he called “a clear victory for our national security.”

“As president, I cannot allow people into our country who want to do us harm,” he said.

On Twitter, he later added: “Great day for America’s future Security and Safety, courtesy of the U.S. Supreme Court. I will keep fighting for the American people, & WIN!” Trump’s initial executive order―handed down without warning a week after he took office in January―triggered mayhem at the airports in the United States and abroad until it was blocked by the courts less than a week later.

But rights group said they did not expect chaos this time around.

The State Department vowed to keep travelers and travel industry partners informed as it implements the order, and to keep the US Refugee Admissions Program “apprised of changes as they take effect.”

Trump’s revised measure, announced in March, seeks to bar from US entry travelers from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, as well as suspend the entry of refugees for 120 days.

The original measure also included Iraq and an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees.

Opponents welcomed the fact that the Supreme Court tempered the reach of the ban, as well as the prospect of the case being heard in the fall. AFP

PREMIERE. Actress Ryan Simpkins attends the premiere of ‘The House’ at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood. AFP

President accused of corruption BRASILIA―Brazil’s top prosecutor charged President Michel Temer with bribery on Monday, plunging Latin America’s biggest country into what could be a prolonged new political turmoil.

The bribery charge filed by Prosecutor General Rodrigo Janot swept Temer into the forefront of a giant graft scandal that has engulfed Latin America’s biggest country over the last three years.

Although several past Brazilian presidents and scores of other politicians are currently being investigated for corruption in the “Car Wash” probe, Temer is the first leader in the country’s history to face criminal charges while still in office.

Temer acted “in violation of his duties to the state and to society,” Janot wrote, citing “abundant” proof that the president received bribe money.

For Temer to go on trial, the lower house of Congress must first approve Janot’s charge by a two-thirds majority. Temer would then be suspended for six months for the trial.

Janot is also probing Temer for alleged obstruction of justice and membership of a criminal group. He could file those charges at a later date, guaranteeing a sustained legal assault.

However, Temer’s aides say they are confident he has sufficient support in Congress to get the charges thrown out.

In his first comments since returning from a trip to Russia and Norway, the president was defiant.

“There is no plan B,” he said at a ceremony to sign a new bill in the capital Brasilia.

“Nothing will destroy us―not me and not our ministers.”

The Eurasia Group risk consultancy said there was a 70 percent chance of Temer lasting to the end of his term through 2018.

“Temer still enjoys enough support in congress (at least one-third, or 172 votes) to defend himself against the charges,” Eurasia Group’s analysis said.

“For most lawmakers, while there are now fewer incentives to openly support the Temer government, there are even fewer incentives to remove Temer from his seat.”

Temer’s latest approval ratings are just seven percent, lower than his deeply unpopular leftist predecessor Dilma Rousseff, whom he replaced last year after she was impeached by his center-right congressional allies for breaking budgetary rules.

He took over promising to restore political stability and to steer Brazil out of its deepest recession in history with market reforms.

Yet the political capital he needs for those reforms, including the hugely unpopular proposal to cut back generous pensions and to free up labor laws, is rapidly slipping away.

Currently, the lower house of Congress is lukewarm about bringing him down. There is no clear candidate to take his place on an interim basis before scheduled elections in October 2018, and many of the major figures in Congress are themselves battling corruption allegations.

But Janot’s decision to separate the charges, filing them piecemeal, could drag out the crisis and weaken Temer’s base, making congressional approval for a trial more likely. AFP

Treatment of sick activist raises concern for others BEIJING―China’s treatment of cancer-stricken democracy activist Liu Xiaobo reflects Beijing’s hardening crackdown on political dissent and heightens concern over the lesserknown campaigners still languishing in jail, supporters say.

Liu, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010 while serving an 11year sentence for subversion, has been transferred from prison to a hospital on medical parole for terminal liver cancer treatment, his lawyer said Monday.

The 61-year-old is one of China’s

best-known activists, having spent decades campaigning for greater democracy and human rights in the country, and his jailing in 2009 drew global calls for his release.

Prison authorities said Liu was under the care of “eight renowned Chinese oncologists” at a hospital in Shenyang city, the capital of the northeastern province of Liaoning.

Activists said the move was not a humanitarian gesture but rather a cynical attempt by authorities to avoid a backlash for allowing such a high-profile hu-

man rights defender to die behind bars.

“Presumably they didn’t want him to die in the prison―they want him to die somewhere else,” said Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch, who described Liu’s treatment as a “travesty”.

Blind human rights lawyer Chen Guangcheng, who fled to the United States in 2012, said: “If Liu died in prison this would arouse the anger of the people and accelerate the demise of the CCP [Chinese Communist Part]).”

Liu’s treatment offered little hope to

the ower-profile activists still in detention, supporters said.

“The international community can see that China has no human rights when even Nobel prize winners have been treated like this,” Beijing-based lawyer Yu Wensheng said, adding that when Liu dies it will be “a heavy blow” for China’s human rights movement.

China has long been criticized for its harsh treatment of activists and dissidents but since President Xi Jinping took power in 2012 the controls on civil society have tightened. AFP

EVERYONE wants to ‘Go lokal!’

Life

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

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017

FASHION & BEAUTY

K

ULTURA in partnership with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) launched the first Go Lokal! area at SM Makati.

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez and SM Investments Corporation Vice Chairperson Teresita Sy-Coson with DTI Undersecretary Nora Terrado led the ribbon cutting ceremony during Go Lokal! opening.

The Go Lokal! program showcases quality and innovative Philippine products crafted, designed, and produced by the country’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). It serves as a marketing platform for MSMEs to gain access to the lucrative consumer market, and ultimately, to the global export market.

“Kultura and Go Lokal! are complementary avenues to help our local MSMEs gain retail foothold in the Philippine domestic market,” says Lopez.

“We are pleased to open a Go Lokal! together with Kultura as a testament of our collective thrust of inclusive growth and development of our MSMEs.” Kultura, in the meantime, has become a showcase of local artistry and craftsmanship. By partnering with DTI for the Go Lokal! Project, “it furthers its advocacy by providing a venue for the distribution and promotion of

Fan from Casa Mercedes

products sourced from MSMEs,” says Kultura’s Ivy Yap. Go Lokal!’s products are produced by regional and provincial suppliers nationwide and from the DTI’s One Town One Product (OTOP) Next Generation Program, offering consumers, institutional buyers, and tourists, value for money.

These are products made from indigenous materials but modern in design, world class in packaging, and are priced competitively. These products undergo extensive product development from the Design Center of the Philippines to make them suitable for the retail, export, and souvenir markets.

The Go Lokal! product selection at Kultura features: Living: home décor, table top accessories, dinnerware.

Streetstyle: new generation personal accessories and apparel. Crafts and Eco-Products: regional arts and crafts, woven materials, ethnic and indigenous products, sustainably-made, ecofriendly products Go Lokal pop-up store will run throughout the year on the second level of SM Makati.

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Tableware made of acacia by Wood Classics Enterprises

Kawayan Lifestyle Accessories’s eco-friendly bamboo watches

Yakaninspired dress by Linea Etnika

Tumandok Crafts’s laminated upas wood vases

Color blocked Tausug kambut transformed into a Tin Wrap

Ric Jo International’s buntag bag

From left: DTI undersecretary Nora Terrado, DTI secretary Ramon Lopez, and SM Investments Corporation vice chairperson Teresita Sy-Coson graced the opening of the Go Lokal! store in Kultura, SM Makati

Bagging Disney’s Bambi IN COLLABORATION with Disney Consumer Products, LeSportsac is proud to present a Spring 2017 collection celebrating the 75th anniversary of the beloved animated classic, Bambi.

Directly inspired by the original artwork and the film’s message of friendship, the collection features two vintage prints starring Bambi and his best friends, Thumper and Flower. Strongly focusing on spring in the forest, the prints are inspired by the theme of “pretty flowers”. In Bambi and Friends, the small prince of the forest and his pals, shown in authentic painterly style, frolic in a lush flowerbed uniquely designed by LeSportsac. The second print; Thumpin Around offers a softer neutral ground of periwinkle flowers recreated with original pencilsketched illustrations of Bambi and Thumper.

Iconic scenes are also brought to life in LeSportsac style with four unique placement graphic cosmetics that capture hearts in very much the way the film did 75 years ago.

The collection is available in select LeSportsac Classic styles and features a vintage cameo inspired zipper pull in the image of adorable Bambi.

LeSportsac launches its Spring 2017 collection featuring the beloved animated character, Bambi.

Life

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

K

ENNETH COLE, for the fourth consecutive season, embraces TheCourageous Class – those determined individuals who overcome life’s challenges to become the inspiring role models they were meant to be.

The Courageous Class is an idea borne of Kenneth Cole’s legacy as an aspirational, urban style brand with a fearless voice for social justice that empowers many to “Look Good, For Good.” The Courageous Class looks for inspiration through getting involved. They care about their communities and each other, and don’t let where they have come from, or the adversity they have faced, define their potential. The Courageous Class believes the real models are the role models.

Shot in Brooklyn, New York by Rob Kassabian, it features the work of celebrated stylist Tracey Nicholson, hair

by Tamara McNaughton, and makeup

by Alice Lane.

TK Wonder and Cipriana Quann are more than just identical twins making their mark in the fashion industry.

TK is a singer-songwriter, and Cipriana is editor-in-chief and co-founder of the blog Urban Bush Babes, created to support, encourage, and highlight the multifaceted lives of women of color.

Together they’re proving that beauty can go beyond aesthetics, celebrating differences as the norm, and “imperfections as perfections.” They’re using fashion in a greater purpose, combining style with substance and not being afraid to harness the industry to foster social awareness and female empowerment.

Levi, an artist, activist and storyteller, uses provocative portraiture and imagery to bring attention to (and raise funds for) human rights, environmental and social issues on a global scale.

Levi is particularly passionate about LGBT rights. An ex-Mormon who abandoned the church after feeling the church abandoned him when they forced many of his family to support Prop 8 – the proposition that eliminates the right of same-sex couples to marry.

Through social media, Levi has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for multiple charities, captivated the attention of 5.5M+ viewers with his recent campaign. Outside of social media, he focuses his creativity on expressing themes of vulnerability, sexuality, connection, and “group think.”

Sara Ziff is an American fashion model, filmmaker, and labor activist and an advocate for better working conditions in the modeling industry, which she has described as “an overlooked frontier of women’s rights and workers’ rights.”

Ziff directed Picture Me: A Model’s Diary that chronicled her life as a model.

In 2012, she formed the Model Alli-

KENNETH COLE’S

‘The Courageous Class’

Kenneth Cole launches The Courageous Class campaign, featuring activists/role models such as LGBT rights activist Levi together with (inset from top) Sarah Ziff, Prince Ea, and identical twins TK Wonder and Cipriana Quann

ance, a non-profit organization in New York City that advocates fair labor standards for models working in the American fashion industry. In 2013, under her leadership, the Model Alliance championed the Child Model Act in New York State, which reclassified models under 18 as child performers and extended them basic labor protections, including provisions for educational requirements, maximum working hours, and trust accounts.

In 2012, Sara also became involved with Save The Children, a non-governmental organization thatpromotes children’s rights, provides relief, and helps support children in developing countries. That same year, she also began campaigning for better working conditions for garment workers in Bangladesh.

Richard William, or Prince Ea as he’s known to over half a billion viewers on YouTube and Facebook, is a rapper, spoken word artist, and passionate environmentalist. His videos focus on the power of individual growth and the importance of sustainable lifestyles.

By producing creative, inspirational and thought-provoking content, he has touched the hearts, minds, and souls of millions of people worldwide.

In 2008, he won Vibe Magazine’s Vibe Versus contest. In 2011, he performed with Ludacris, and, earlier this year, was featured in one of Oprah’s “Soulful Sunday” posts.

Derived from Sumerian mythology meaning “The Prince of the Earth” Prince Ea was born and raised in North St. Louis, one of the most dangerous communities in America. Contrasting the Ferguson ra-

ATLANTA BALLET’S JARED TAN

TO PERFORM IN PBT’S ‘LA BAYADERE’ JARED TAN of the Atlanta Ballet Company flew in to the country to perform the lead male role in Philippine Ballet Theater’s latest production La Bayadère.

Tan shares the stage with lead dancers Irene Kim Abrojena and Veronica Atienza. Mathew Davo alternates with Tan and partners with lead dancers Regina Magbitang and Lobreza Pimentel.

Almost 20 (seven males and the rest females) PBT dancers join the re-staging of La Bayadère.

La Bayadère (The Temple Dancer) was originally staged in four acts and seven tableaux by French choreographer Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Minkus. The ballet was staged especially for the benefit performance of Prima

ballerina Ekaterina Vazem, who created the principal role of Nikiya. La Bayadère was first presented by the Imperial Ballet at the Imperial Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Feb. 4, 1877. A scene from the ballet, known as “The Kingdom of the Shades,” is one of the most celebrated excerpts in all of classical ballet.

It is an Indian story of bayadère Nikiya and the warrior Solor in several love triangles that ends up with Nikiya being killed during the betrothal of her love, Solor to the Rajah’s daughter. During the celebrations, Nikiya danced and got bitten by a deadly snake and dies.

La Bayadère shows on July 15 (3 p.m. and 8 p.m.) and July 16 (3 p.m.) at the CCP Main Theater.

Jared Tan of Atlanta Ballet Company is set to play the lead role in Philippine Ballet Theater’s re-staging of ‘La Bayadere’

cial tensions that made international news just a few short miles from his home, this artist continues to make waves with his message of spiritual unity.

Says Prince E,: “I am no stranger to the violence, drugs, and crime that cripple so many youth in this region.

I graduated from University St LouisMissouri with a degree in anthropology and am blessed to have the support of both my parents (who are still together). That made a big difference for me.”

Prince Ea, a full scholar, graduated magna cum laude. Today, when he’s not creating, he speaks at conferences and gives lectures to high school/university students nationwide, on the topics of self development, living passion, and the importance of being motivated and engaged in the classroom.

The Courageous Class launched for Fall 2015 with a diverse cast including Andreja Pejić, Rhymefest, Jon Rose, Topaz Page-Green, and Jamie Clarke continued for Spring 2016 with a cast including Mari Malek, Bryn Mooser, Shaun Ross, Caitlin Crosby, and Nasir Sobhani. Most recently, the Fall 2016 campaign featured Liya Kebede, Lauren Wasser, RJ Mitte, and Kenna.

In the Philippines, Kenneth Cole is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. and is located at C1 Bonifacio High Street Central, Power Plant Mall, Rustan’s Makati, Alabang Town Center, B7 Bonifacio High Street, TriNoma, SM Mall of Asia, and Abreeza Davao.

Visit facebook.com/KennethCole.Philippines or follow @ssilifeph on Instagram for more information.

SKIN CARE

Vitamin E x Eley Kishimoto OVER 20 years since it was first launched, The Body Shop’s Vitamin E Moisture Cream is a product that has always stayed in style. That’s because hydrated skin is always in, and this 48H moisturizing must have for all skin types remains a best seller with one sold every 18 seconds.

That’s because The Body Shop’s iconic Vitamin E Moisture Cream protects and locks in moisture for all-day hydration, to leave skin feeling fresh, silky-soft and more healthy-looking from day. Formulated with vitamin E, with 100 percent natural origin hyaluronic acid and wheat germ oil, the iconic Moisture Cream will help ward off dryness.

But as it is with any icon, a touch of print always keeps it fresh, which is where fashion legends Eley Kishimoto come in.

Eley Kishimoto are a talented wifeand-husband design duo based in Brixton, London with a passion for pairing bold patters with slow fashion and sustainable living – making them the perfect fit with The Body Shop’s ethical philosophy.

Their designs have graced the catwalks of legendary designers like Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, and Alexander McQueen.

Now the “patron saints of print” have restyled one of The Body Shop’s most iconic products, with a modern interpretation of

the iconic cues of the range.

Inspired by the pops of pink and vibrancy springing up across the new season catwalks, the pair has dressed Vitamin E for 2017 in an exclusive new graphic look. The Body Shop’s exclusive clutch bag designed by Eley Kishimoto was crafted from 100 percent organic cotton by the brand’s Community Trade Supplier in Tirumangalam, southern India.

“We admire the company’s ethical approach to their product development and we respect that it’s not just for the hype, they have been doing this for many, many years!” says the designing couple.

Visit any The Body Shop store and trade your old moisturizer to get Vitamin E Moisture Cream half of its original price. Plus, you can get the exclusive clutch bag designed by Eley Kishimoto with a total purchase of P2,500 with at least one Vitamin E Moisture Cream.

The Body Shop accepts SM Advantage Card for points earning and redemption, SM and Sodexo premium pass in all The Body Shop stores nationwide.

Eley Kishimoto designed the 2017 look of The Body Shop’s Vitamin E Moisture Cream

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017

A tribute to OFW

HEROES

A volunteer arranges relief goods packed in Lingkod Kapamilya Operation Sagip Warehouse in West Triangle in Quezon City

ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya reaches out to Marawi evacuees IN TIMES of need and distress, Filipinos can always lean on a “Kapamilya” for help.

ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya – Operation Sagip recently brought relief and comfort to evacuees from Marawi City displaced from their homes due to the ongoing armed conflict.

As of June 10, the group has already distributed food packs containing rice and canned goods to over 10,509 families or 52,545 individuals, who are now staying in Balo-I, Matungao, Pantar, Pantao Ragat in Lanao Del Norte, Iligan City, Cagayan De Oro City, and Misamis Oriental.

The distribution was made possible with the help of the ABSCBN Regional Network Group in Mindanao, ABS-CBN Integrated News and Current Affairs Team, City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) of Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, and Marawi, City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) of Lanao del Sur, Provincial Police Office of Misamis Oriental, Iligan City, and Cagayan de Oro, local Red Cross staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc. North Mindanao staff.

Meanwhile, 1,000 displaced students enrolled in Lanao Del Norte also received new school bags and school supplies from Operation Sagip’s “Gusto Kong

Mag-Aral” campaign.

The project has been going around the Philippines to bring hope and inspiration to young Filipinos in areas suffering from poverty and calamities. So far, “Gusto Kong Mag-Aral” has already distributed 82,292 bags in 33 provinces.

Aside from distribution of relief packs and school bags, ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya is also looking into conducting rehabilitation projects in Marawi once the situation gets better, including the construction of classrooms for the children and youth.

Meanwhile, the group is still accepting assistance from those who would want to help the people in Marawi.

Donations in kind can be brought to the Operation Sagip Warehouse at #13 Examiner St. West Triangle, Quezon City.

Cash donations can be deposited to official ABSCBN Lingkod Kapamilya bank accounts listed on the foundation’s website www.abs-cbnfoundation. com. Details are also on the official Facebook page (@ ABSCBNFoundationKapamilya).

Operation Sagip is the emergency humanitarian assistance program of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc. It provides food and non-food relief to affected communities of disasters, as well as engage in rehabilitation and disaster risk reduction projects.

H

OW does it feel like to work in a foreign land? It’s fun and challenging at the same time.

I was still a teenager when I decided to leave college and work in the United Arab Emirates. For more than three years, I had seen how our “kabayans” constantly confronted by loneliness missing their friends and families back home, language barriers, the difficulty of trying to fit in, and coping with the fact that they will remain foreigners no matter how long they stayed in that country.

While there are some downsides, Filipinos, over time, build up a good network of trustworthy, fun and good people, whom they can cherish and become lasting friends.

This, most of the time, outweighs the challenges.

This is the message of Caredivas: An Original Pinoy Musical, about five transgender Overseas Filipino Workers who take care of their Jewish employers in the morning and who, come nighttime, transform into drag queens hoping to perform in a big bar in Tel Aviv.

The musical features interesting characters: Chelsea, a kind and loving OFW; Shai, the oftensarcastic leader of the group; Thalia, the ditzy member of the quintet; Kayla, the bubbly caregiver who jumps from one employer to another; and Jonee, the ill-tempered member of Caredivas.

The musical is having a special run at the PETA Theater Center and giving life to these major roles are theater actors Melvin Lee (Chelsea), Vince De Jesus and Ron Alfonso (Shai), Dudz Teraña and Jason Barcial (Thalia), Gio Gahol, Jerald Napoles and Ricci Chan (Kayla), and Thou Reyes and Phil Noble (Jonee).

During the musical’s dress rehearsal on Friday, the cast that also includes Myke Salomon,

Paul Holme and Leo Rialp, Joan Bugcat and Gold Villar, Eric Dela Cruz, and Dom MiclatJanssen, Sherry Lara, Eko Baquial, and Joseph Madriaga gave the audience a glimpse of the disarmingly funny and candid drama that revolves around the plight of Filipino workers overseas.

Set in Israel, the story tells how desperate these characters are to make ends meet, while they struggle to search for acceptance in a foreign land. In between, the story tells how Filipinos look at each other’s back, commit a lot of time and effort to getting to know them well, and mold the relationship into a deep and lasting friendship.

“Caredivas is not a story of epic proportions. It is a story that spans roughly a year and focuses on a small seemingly insignificant community of Filipino overseas workers that find a way to survive and thrive through friendships and an opportunity of personal expression through in their creative performances,” says Maribel Legarda, PETA’s Artistic director and the play’s director.

She adds, “This production is more than just a gay play for me. It is a story of migration and how the dark, dirty, and dangerous work that will be encountered by a majority of overseas

Braver, bolder and better ‘The Big, Big Show, Again!’

AFTER the resounding success of The Big Big Show on Dec. 3 at The Theater at Solaire last year, there has been a clamor to stage a repeat.

Reviews of were glowing and music aficionados and concert goers alike were in unison in saying that the show did not only celebrate women of all shapes and sizes, it also served as showcase for the musical gifts and versatility of Frenchie Dy, Radha, and Bituin Escalante. The Big Big Show marked the first time that the three shared one stage together making wonders and magic, easily slipping from one musical genre to another with flair.

It will be a treat for those who missed it and a nostalgic trip to revisit for those who enjoyed the first staging. Like its lovely and hugely talented performers, The Big Big Show: Again is bigger, braver, bolder and better with a few surprises thrown in for good measure.

On July 14 as HM Entertainment brings back Frenchie Dy, Radha, and Bituin Escalante as they recreate the magic in The Big Big Show, Again at The Theater at Solaire.

Tickets are now available at Ticketworld (891 9999).

Big show's big voices: (from left) Radha, Frenchie Dy, and Bituin Escalante

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, June 28, 2017

ACROSS 1 Chagall or Antony 5 Entry permit 9 Ridicules 14 Toast topper 15 Poet’s tributes 16 Oak-to-be 17 Foreshadow 18 Escorted by 19 Half diameters 20 Early astronomer 22 Advance money 24 Motion pictures 26 Mauna — 27 Willow shoots 30 Twirl without purpose 35 Plants of a region 36 Outer garment 37 Space preceder 38 Season-ticket holder 39 Tabloid seller 42 Actor — Danson 43 Fiendish 45 Gigi’s friend 46 Heather plant 48 Available corrective measure 50 Visits frequently 51 Coffee maker

52 Chimney sites 54 Different 58 Homer’s epic 62 Depend on 63 — Khan 65 Name in essays 66 Frequently 67 Felt sorry about 68 Chance to play 69 Actress Dianne — 70 Comes to a halt 71 Strive for DOWN 1 Type of synthesizer 2 — mater 3 Walk unsteadily 4 Pine or cedar 5 U and I 6 Common phrase 7 Adjust a clock 8 Queens stadium 9 Dented 10 Anthem to the north (2 wds.)

11 System of rules 12 — Kristofferson 13 Agitated state 21 Turkish coins 23 Japanese canine 25 Rougher 27 Bid 28 Galley rower

29 Column type 31 Play in the kiddie pool 32 Admitted (2 wds.)

33 Not hunched 34 Malt-shop orders 36 Rotating machine parts 40 Chili con — 41 Springlike 44 Department store amenities 47 Winter apples

49 High-priority 50 Surfers’ slang 53 Exclaimed over 54 Food 55 LP player (hyph.)

56 Part of A.M. 57 Be bold enough 59 Pivot 60 Gael republic 61 Tug sharply 64 Desperado’s piece

The cast of "Caredivas," a funny musical dedicated to every Filipino working overseas

Filipino workers can, in the hands of a resilient and loving people be turned into a life filled with camaraderie, adventure, and passion.”

Written by Liza Magtoto, Caredivas was produced and premiered in 2011. It dominated the 2011 Philstage Gawad Buhay! Awards bagging seven trophies including, Outstanding Musical Direction, Outstanding Musical Production and Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical.

According to Legarda, Magtoto has written a very filmic play as if the scenes dissolve and cut a continuous flow allowing the play to

utilize very minimal sets and props.

“This became a major motif in the direction and design style of the play. The stage is like a neutral canvas. I have also chosen to work with a small cast of ten highly talented actors who fill the canvas with intense, dynamic, and joyful performances. Vincent De Jesus’ original songs weave through the narrative as the other “text” that embodies the romantic and whimsy of this play,” Legarda added.

Subsequently, Caredivas continued to be produced in April 2012 in partnership with Repertory Philippines and most recently in February to open PETA’s 50th anniversary.

The theater association presents Caredivas’ special run in partnership with Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to pay tribute to all overseas Filipino workers as the present-day heroes of our country.

Performances will run until July 30 at The PETA Theater Center.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017

L

AST Monday, GMA Network unveiled the story of three individuals caught in a bittersweet love story in the primetime series, I Heart Davao, replacing the recently concluded Meant To Be.

Set in the picturesque province of Davao, this GMA Public Affairs romantic comedy series is topbilled by Carla Abellana, Tom Rodriguez, and Benjamin Alves.

It features the story of Hope (Carla), a heart transplant recipient whose world will be turned upside-down when she goes to Davao to save her family’s chocolate business. Here, she meets serendipitously and unknowingly Ponce (Tom), the proud, brooding, and mysterious ex-boyfriend of her heart donor.

Ponce also happens to be the son of the chocolate hacendero whom Hope eyes to partner with to save her family’s struggling venture.

Ponce’s “Dabawenyo Dude” pragmatism will constantly offend Hope’s “Manila Girl” sensibilities. Will they continue opposing each other or will their constant bickering eventually lead to something sweeter than the chocolates Ponce’s farm produce?

As Hope’s new life begins in Davao, she feels a tug in her heart and reminds her of her old self through childhood friend Paul (Ben), a brilliant young business executive, wooing her relentlessly.

All his life, Paul has been in love with Hope that he is willing to temporarily leave his life in Manila to join her in Davao.

On top of this kilig love triangle set-up, this romantic comedy series also highlights the beauty of the “land of promise”. The cast of I Heart Davao even flew to Davao to capture the local flavor, including the dialect, and the sights and sounds of the region. Eighty percent of the series was shot in Davao.

With the province receiving renewed interest from the public, Carla says having Davao as the setting of the story is a good opportunity to show what the province still has to offer.

“Napakadaming pwede i-highlight sa Davao and we are grateful that we can feature them in this show,” Carla shares.

One such area is the Malagos Farm, which produces one of the world’s best chocolates. Just recently, the Malagos unsweetened chocolate took home its fifth silver award for the plain hot chocolate category at the coveted Academy of Chocolate Awards 2017.

Tom hopes that the series will further inspire Filipinos to appreciate better the rest of the country. “It will allow not only those from Davao but the whole Visayas and Mindanao to take pride and ownership in this project,” he says.

“We highlight the things that are great in Davao,” adds Ben, who only has good things to say about Dabawenyos. “The people in Davao are very warm,” says the Kapuso actor who has never been to the region before doing the series. “Sobrang bait po nila sa amin sa set.

Natutuwa kami na they accepted us warmly,” he adds.

I Heart Davao also sees the return to the small screen of real-life couple Tom and Carla (TomCar) after their successful team up in My Husband’s Lover.

“This is a reunion project of the TomCar love team after three years and we are very grateful that we are given a chance to work together,” shares Carla, adding that she hope their fans would appreciate their newest offering. “Handog po namin ito sa mga TomCar fans.”

Joining Carla, Tom, and Ben are Betong Sumaya, Maey Bautista, Ricardo Cepeda, Glenda Garcia, Racquel Villavicencio, Joel Saracho, Geraldine Villamil, Natileigh Sitoy, Kevin Sagra, Philip Lazaro, and Catherine Rem as Aileen—Hope’s heart donor.

I Heart Davao also features members of Davao theater group, Cine Madayaw, providing more authenticity to the series’ characters.

Cinema One Originals’ wacky flick

600TH ANNIVERSARY

of Sulu Sultan’s state visit to Beijing noted AMBASSADOR Jose Romero, Jr., younger brother of the late National Artist for Film, Eddie Romero, director of the 1987 Philippine-China co-production film entitled Hari sa Hari, Lahi sa Lahi (King and Emperor) said the film is timely as this year marks the 600th anniversary of state visit of the Sultan of Sulu to Beijing in China.

Romero and GNN network Journeys TV show host Herman Tiu Laurel of Phil-BRICS Institute plan to show the film this year as a commemoration of Sulu Sultan Paduka Pahala’s state visit to Ming Dynasty Emperor Yong Le in China, a proof of the two countries’ ancient frienship.

Eddie Romero’s Chinese co-directors were Hsiao Lang and Chou Lili.

Manolo Abaya, then starting in the industry was the cinematographer while Su Shuyang was the co-writer. The movie was shown in the Hawaii Film Festival.

Also a budding composer and song writer, Ryan Cayabyab wrote and scored the film along with Wang Liping.

The movie featured performances by Vic Vargas as the Sultan of Sulu, Chinese actor Gang Wang (Wang Hsing Gang) as the Emperor of China, and a Rosemarie Sonora as the sultan’s wife.

Laurelco-hosts a new daily radio show, The Unfinished Revolution, from 5 to 7 a.m. on DZRB AM 738. He featured Romero’s film on June 18 on GNN (channel 8 on Destiny Cable and channel 213 on Sky). Laurel was co-scriptwriter with Ricky Lee’s first film script project in 1973 for then actor Joseph Estrada’s 1973 anti-drugs movie entitled Dragnet.

Romero and Laurel are hoping they could exhibit the film widely to enlighten more Filipinos on the centuries-old relationship between China and the Philippines.

The two were guests at Wilson Lee Flores’ “Pandesal Forum” at Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City recently along with Ambassador Alberto Encomienda (former head of Maritime & Ocean Affairs) and IDSI think tank founder George Siy.

From Left, former DFA Maritime and Ocean Affairs Center Head Ambassador Alberto Encomienda, Ambassador Jose Romero,President of Phil. Council for Foreign Relations and IDSI Founder George Siy. Edwin Tuyay

The cast of "Slumber Party" (from left) Archie Alemania, RK Bagatsing, Markki Stroem and Sef Cadayona

RELIVE the misadventures of three gay BFFs on their crazy sleepover fun in the 2012 Cinema One Originals riotous comedy film Slumber Party in Cine Lokal in selected SM Cinemas nationwide.

The humorous flick is among the featured presentation of Cine Lokal in support to the LGBT Pride Month celebration this June. Cine Lokal is a project of the Film Development

‘SLUMBER PARTY’

Council of the Philippines (FDCP) in partnership with SM Cinema aiming to give filmmakers a venue to showcase more entertaining yet relevant titles to the mainstream audience.

Set in 2010, the movie is about longtime friends on a sleepover vigil to watch a much-awaited international beauty pageant, and who are about to be challenged with their greatest adventure yet.

Markki Stroem, RK Bagatsing, Archie Alemania, Sef Cadayona, and Nino Muhlach star in this feel-good film written and directed by Emmanuel de la Cruz.

Slumber Party is still screening until tomorrow at SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, SM Megamall, SM Fairview, SM Southmall, SM Bacoor, SM Iloilo and SM Cebu with the following schedule at 1, 3:30, 6, and 8:30 p.m..

Star-studded Goldilocks Theatre Mall Greenhills opening WELL-LOVED sports and showbiz personalities gathered recently at the opening of Goldilocks Theatre Mall at Greenhills shopping center.

PBA players James Yap, Marc Pingris, Don Allado, and TV newscaster Grace Lee led the ribbon-cutting ceremonies for the latest Goldilocks outlet store owned by former San Juan Vice Mayor Francis Zamora.

Yap, Pingris ,and Zamora are also partners in District 8, a gastropub that fuses innovative dining concepts, upscale cocktail confections and trendy music.

Touted to be the hottest hangout of celebrities, athletes and influential personalities, District 8 is scheduled to open in San Juan in August.

Celebrities grace the opening of Goldilocks' newest outlet in Greenhills