Manila Standard - 2017 July 04 - Tuesday

Taguig camp braces for ‘Maute jailbreak’

By John Paolo Bencito

VOL. XXXI • NO. 140 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Hapilon hiding in Marawi—DND

THE government has no plans to transfer members of the Maute family from their detention in Taguig City, despite threats from extremist forces to break them out.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lonrenzana said Monday they will instead beef up security in Camp Bagong Diwa to foil any attempted jail break.

“We won’t transfer them as there are no other areas where we can transfer them. All we have to do is reinforced [the police camp] with some of our troops so they won’t be attacked,” Lorenzana said in a briefing.

Lorenzana said an attempt at a jail break was “a big probability,” so he would ask the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology if it needed some help from

the Armed Forces.

Earlier, BJMP Director Serafin Barretto Jr. said that are threats of a “rescue operation” for Cayamora Maute and his first wife Ominta Romato, alias Farhana, who are under BJMP custody in Taguig City.

Barretto said the couple, parents of the bandits who caused massive damage in Marawi, is being treated humanely.

On Sunday, AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Año said the Maute terrorists continued to hold about one to two square kilometers of Marawi City.

Año declined to say when the troops would be able to clear the city of the terrorists, but said the AFP is doing everything it can to neutralize the remaining Maute group remnants with the least Next page

Ex-Sayyaf says siege a test case

By John Paolo Bencito

T

OP Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon remains holed up in Marawi, the Defense Department said Monday, retracting earlier claims by the military that he had already left the wartorn city.

“According to our latest info, he is still inside Marawi.

In fact, there is information that we got this morning that he is hiding inside one of the mosques in Marawi,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a briefing Monday.

Hapilon, who was designated as “emir” of Islamic Stateinspired forces in Southeast Asia, has yet to arrive in Basilan, which is considered the bailiwick of the Abu Sayyaf, Lorenzana said.

“Three fighters arrived in Basilan, but Isnilon was not one of them. We believe he is still in Marawi,” he said.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines had earlier said it was verifying information that Hapilon had abandoned the Maute group in Marawi, as government troops continue to pursue the terrorists.

Hapilon carries a bounty of $5 million from the United States government and P10 million from President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a CNN interview, a former ASG member who hid behind the name of “Abu Jihad,” said that Hapilon’s brutality “will not end only in Marawi.”

“They might succeed [in holding Marawi],” he said.

“But they also know, in case they might not succeed, at least they have been tested. They have tried.”

He added that Hapilon’s ability to bring together disparate militant groups—separated Next page

ON ONE’S TOES. Security authorities in South Cotabato continue to implement the ‘No ID, No Entry Policy’ at checkpoints in Koronadal City (above) with several transactions done at the local government center by civilians every Monday while passengers of public and private vehicles (left below) undergo a tight security check at Barangay Hinaplanon Tambo in Iligan City. Amiel Cagayan/PNA

Defense chief: Martial law justified DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana expressed confidence Monday that the Supreme Court will rule in favor of the government after petitioners questioned the legality of President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

“I for one, am very confident that the Supreme Court will rule on the legality of martial law. I was there, I briefed them, I and General [Eduardo] Año briefed… the Supreme Court en banc,” Lorenzana, who is also martial law administrator, said in a news briefing.

“I believe we have sufficiently

Tinio

Diaz

By John Paolo Bencito

House vows to treat Marcos with respect

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rey E. Requejo LAWMAKERS will treat Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos with respect when she attends the congressional probe on her provincial government’s alleged misuse of P66.45 million in public funds representing Ilocos Norte’s share of excise tax collections, a House official said Monday.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny

Pimentel, chairman of the House committee on good government and public accountability, said Marcos would not be treated like a prisoner as she would be allowed to go around her detention cell at the Batasan Complex, and that she would still be able to perform her duties as a public servant.

He made his statement even as country’s oldest lawyers’ group on Monday warned the House Next page

or competently answered all the questions on the basis for martial law … I look forward to seeing that they will say that it is legal for the President to declare martial law in the first place,” he added.

The Supreme Court is expected to resolve on Tuesday the consolidated petitions seeking to nullify Next page

Pagdilao

PNP seeks ouster of ‘narco-generals’

By Francisco Tuyay THE Philippine National Police has forwarded its recommendation to Malacañang to dismiss three “narco-generals” who were tagged

by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The three ranking police officials were identified as Director

Joel Pagdilao, and Chief Supts.

Bernardo Diaz and Edgardo Tinio.

Pagdilao was the former chief of the National Capital Region Police Office; Diaz is the former Western Visayas regional chief; and Tinio, the former chief of the Quezon City Police District.

“I cannot sign their dismissal

orders since they are third level officers and it is only the President who can sign their dismissal since the President is the appointing authority,” PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa said.

In a speech at the Philippine Air Force last year, Duterte identified Next page

Tribunal unwitting tool ‘Probe NBP in poll fraud—Philconsa drug trade resumption’

By Vito Barcelo

POINTLESS BLOWHARD. Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel (left), chairman of the House good

government and public accountability committee, and House Sgt.-at-Arms retired Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali show to the media Monday the Wi-Fi ready ‘detention chamber’ prepared for those whom the House would cite in contempt for failing to answer questions and testify during congressional inquiries. Lino Santos

THE Philippine Constitution Association on Monday described the Presidential Electoral Tribunal as an unwitting tool in cheating in the elections because it takes a long time to resolve election protests, just like the protest filed by former senator and losing vice presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Philconsa urged the Supreme Court, sitting as the PET, to expedite election-protest cases be-

cause anyone who had not been elected by the people should have no place in the government.

“I hope they [the PET] will act more expeditiously for the simple reason that anyone who is not truly elected by the people to me is a bogus official, just a great pretender who has no right in the government,” Philconsa Chairman Manuel Lazaro said.

Philconsa linked with Tanggulang Demokrasya Inc. to come up with recommendations on how to Next page

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Justice Department will investigate the resurgence of illegal drug activities inside the New Bilibid Prison, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Monday.

Aguirre had said he considered the neutralization of drug syndicates inside the NBP one of his biggest accomplishments during his first year in office, Next page

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TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2017

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Marawi rehab under way

By John Paolo Bencito and Macon Ramos-Araneta

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed an order for the recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation of Marawi City and other affected localities, Malacañang said Monday.

Administrative Order 03, creating “Task Force Bangon Marawi,” was signed by Duterte on June 28 to ensure a “unified and comprehensive effort” for the recovery of the war-torn city following the clashes between government troops and extremist forces.

“Task Force Bangon Marawi shall ensure that these efforts will provide the springboard for a safer and peaceful Marawi and act as catalyst for developments in Mindanao,” Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said.

He made the statement even

as Senator Loren Legarda, head of the Senate’s finance committee, committed her full support for restoring political, social and economic stability in Marawi City through the adequate financing of the government’s rehabilitation plans.

“Any plan to rebuild Marawi and make it prosperous should be anchored on a resilience plan, which should take into consideration the risks from natural hazards, health hazards and security and safety issues,” Legarda said.

She said government agencies led by the National Dis-

Taguig...

said 67 terrorists were also arrested, while 98 surrendered.

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command, said the surrendered terrorists have been helping the military go after their former comrades.

Uy said elite forces captured another ASG member in Barangay Bohe Yawas, Lamitan City, Basilan Sunday.

The bandit was identified as Ismael Gampal.

“An M16 rifle and other war materiel including a battle dress uniform and a military back pack was recovered from him,” Uy said.

With PNA, Florante S. Solmerin

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number of casualties on the military and civilian side.

The AFP chief said 317 terrorists have been killed since fighting broke out in Marawi on May 23.

Military and police losses are placed at 82 and civilian dead are at 44.

At the same time, the military said the Abu Sayyaf Group has dwindled in size after suffering the loss of 97 fighters in various battles with government troops.

Col. Juvymax Uy, commander of Joint Task Force Basilan,

PNP...

Probe...

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Pagdilao, Diaz, Tinio, retired police general Marcelo Garbo and Daanbantayan, Cebu Mayor Vicente Loot, also a retired police general of having links to illegal drugs.

The police officials have all denied the allegations, but Dela Rosa immediately ordered them relieved.

The three active police officials went to Dela Rosa in Camp Crame to give their side, but Garbo and Loot did not join them.

Dela Rosa said the National Police Commission decision to dismiss Pagdilao, Diaz and Tinio was just awaiting the signature of the President.

The dismissal order also includes 84 erring police officers, including Supt. Maria Cristina Nobleza, who was arrested with her Abu Sayyaf bandit lover while trying to rescue wounded comrades in Bohol.

Also included was Supt. Lito Cabamongan, a former crime lab officer caught in a drug session in Las Piñas City.

In the first year as PNP chief, Dela Rosa said he had dismissed 160 policemen involved in illegal drugs and illegal activities.

Dela Rosa said they are winning the campaign against illegal drugs on the basis of popular opinion from people who feel safer on the streets.

“This goes to show that most crimes are due to illegal drugs,” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa said his first year as PNP chief was like an amusement park ride, Anchors Away, with riders reaching a peak before making a sharp fall.

“That’s how I described my first year. It will reach its peack and then you feel that your balls are being sucked out when it goes down, and then it makes you want to pee when it climbs up again,” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa said the peak portion was when the PNP was doing well against illegal drugs which results to a lower crime rate and safer communities.

The lowest, he said when a number of erring cops, including those involved in the kidnap slaying of Korean businessman, Jee Ick Joo, tarnish the police image.

and said any resurgence must be dealt with immediately.

“I have received reports that there were some reactivation. We are doing something about this, we are going to end this resurgence by some inmates. I talked to Director General Benjamin delos Santos last Saturday, and we know what we are going to do,” Aguir re said in an interview.

The Justice secretary noted that 70 percent to 75 percent of illegal drugs were being trafficked from inside the NBP before the Duterte administration.

“We have successfully curbed 75 percent of the illegal drug trade. If ever, the resur-

Tribunal...

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expedite election-protest cases to “weed out interlopers or pseudo-officials elected through the optical mark recognition machines.”

Former Biliran Rep. Glenn Chong said the courts, including the PET, had been unwitting tools in the cheating because it was taking a long time to resolve election-protest cases.

“On the average, election contests covering the presidential elections take about

House...

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of the risks of damaging judicial institutions for its refusal to heed the lawful orders of the Court of Appeals.

The orders are in connection with the habeas corpus case filed by the six officials of the Ilocos Norte provincial government who have been detained for more than a month for alleged contempt.

The Philippine Bar Association backed the appellate court in its clash with the House of Representatives over the case of the so-called “Ilocos Six.” The PBA called on the House leadership and the House committee on good government

Pump prices raised

aster Risk Reduction and Management Council were responding to the immediate needs of the affected population in Marawi.

The inter-agency effort for the recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation of Marawi City and other affected localities will be spearheaded by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who is also martial law administrator, along with 22 other officials including the secretary of Public Works and Highways as vice chairman.

The Armed Forces chief of staff, the Education secretary, the Budget secretary, the Energy secretary and the Health secretary.

The responsibilities of Task Force Bangon Marawi include organizing and deploying a quick response team, conducting a post-conflict needs assessment, facilitating and

overseeing the construction of shelters for displaced people, coordinating the immediate restoration of public utilities, attending to the basic needs of affected residents, providing an environment conducive to business and livelihood activities and ensuring the restoration of peace and order in the city.

Task Force Bangon Marawi will carry out its functions in coordination with the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and may call on the assistance of other government agencies, local government units and the private sector.

The task force’s members have formed themselves into five sub-committees: Reconstruction, Housing, Health and Social Welfare, Business and Livelihood and Peace and Order. The task force may create other sub-committees to im-

plement Duterte’s order.

“Task Force Bangon Marawi shall submit monthly progress reports regarding the implementation of this Order to the President, through the Secretary of National Defense, until such time that the objectives of the Task Force have been achieved,” the order says.

Lorenzana said he hoped to send many evacuees residing in the outskirts of Marawi City back to their homes before Duterte’s second State of the Nation Address, but the area remains besieged by terrorists.

Thirty-nine civilians have been killed by the terrorists while 1,717 were rescued by government troops as of 6 p.m. of July 2, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

Meanwhile, 336 terrorists and 84 soldiers have been killed in the fighting as the crisis dragged on to its sixth week.

Hapilon... along ethnic lines—under the black banner of ISIS, has demonstrated his success as a commander.

“It has never happened before that militant groups in the Philippines have come together,” he said, citing the difficulty of uniting the area’s tribal groups, like the Maranao and the inhabitants of his home island of Basilan.

“I know the culture of the Maranao. And I know the culture of Basilan. And Maranao people do not unite with Basi-

lan,” he said.

While the military has expressed confidence that the crisis will be over soon, security experts worry that the Marawi attack was just part of a bigger plan of the Islamic State in Southeast Asia.

Lorenzana, however, said he is confident that the IS-linked militants won’t be able to launch more attacks.

“What happened in Marawi is that we were able to neutralize a lot of those Abu Sayyaf that came from Jolo and Basilan. So, we have reduced their numbers.

I don’t know how many more are left in Jolo. We are still try-

ing to verify how many are still there in Jolo and Basilan and our troops are still operating there, also,” he said.

The emergence of groups pledging allegiance to the terror group has been considered the biggest security problem to face the year-old Duterte administration.

The rise of pro-ISIS groups in the country has also raised alarm in Washington and the Philippines’ neighbors in the region, which fear that the notorious terror group was seeking to establish a new front in Asia amid its successive losses in Iraq and Syria.

gence is about five to 10 percent only and we are going to clip it again,” Aguirre said.

Last year, the department tapped members of the Special Action Force to replace prison guards in a bid to stop illegal drug transactions inside the NBP. He said the SAF personnel would be moved after three months to avoid familiarity with the inmates.

He added that charges would be filed against any SAF personnel found involved in illegal drug activities.

Also on Monday, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said the restoration of the death penalty would be a strong deterrent against heinous crimes related to the use of illegal drugs.

PDEA Director General Isidro S. Lapeňa said this after

Carmelino Ibañez, a 26-yearold construction worker, killed five family members, including three children, while under the influence of drugs in a house in Bulacan.

“The suspect admitted that he was high on drugs upon commission of the crime. Only drug-crazed persons can savagely stab his victims, including a helpless one-year-old child, multiple times and rape them after,” Lapeña said in a statement.

Lapeña added that the killing spree all started when the suspect, after a night of drinking and shabu use, heard voices telling him to break into the house, an obvious sign of druginduced hallucinations.

“Harsher penalties must be dealt to people like Ibañez, manufacturers, smugglers, pushers and all the more cod-

dlers and protectors of illegal drugs in the country, both foreign and domestic, who were proven guilty in court,” he said.

The Justice Department has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate and build up a case against the perpetrators of the Bulacan massacre.

Aguirre said he ordered the parallel probe to take a second look at the findings of the Philippine National Police.

On June 27, 2017, Estrella Carlos, her daughter Aurora and three children were killed inside their house in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

One suspect has been arrested and admitted to the killing.

Initial reports say that the suspects were high on drugs and alcohol, but a drug test on the first arrested suspect was negative. With PNA

three to four years to get resolved and in all cases, the protest is overtaken by the next elections where the protestant chose to r un for and assume another position whereby rendering the protest moot and academic,” he said.

“For the vice presidency, the case filed by Senator Marcos has not gotten past the preliminary conference stage one year to the day after it was filed. We have not gotten forward yet.”

Chong also noted that since 2010, they had filed several cases against the Comelec and

Smartmatic but almost all had not been acted upon, saying the failure of the concerned government bodies to act on their complaints and petitions had emboldened cheaters in government and the “mafia” to continue with manipulating the elections.

“The maf ia in the Comelec with Smartmatic always got away with their lies because our gover nment agencies like the Off ice of the Ombudsman, the Department of Justice and even the Supreme Court have failed to act with dispatch on our complaints,” Chong said.

Lazaro said Chong’s account bolstered Philconsa’s resolve to push for amendments in the Automated Election System.

He said Philconsa would push for a ‘‘hybrid’’ form of election replacing the current full automation system.

“For one thing, I never believed in automated elections,” Lazaro said.

“I’ve always been for hybrid elections meaning manual voting, manual counting but automated transmission. We are preparing that and will support amending the present automation law.”

the President’s declaration of martial law on the grounds that there is no factual basis for it.

The first of the three petitions was filed June 5 by a group of opposition lawmakers led by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman. Two similar petitions filed by local Mindanao leaders led by lumad leader Eufemia Campos Cullamat and a group of women from Marawi led by Norkaya Mohamad followed shortly afterwards.

During oral arguments from June 13 to 15, the petitioners asked the Court to void the martial law declaration because there was no sufficient factual basis to justify martial law. Information cited in the proclamation, they added, were “false, inaccurate and contrived.”

They also alleged that a key element in act of rebellion— culpable purpose of removing allegiance from the Philippines and preventing the President and legislature from exercising their functions—was not present in the attack of the Maute terrorist group in Marawi City last May 23 that triggered martial law proclamation.

and public accountability to recall the show-cause order against three justices of the CA’s Special Fourth Division that ordered the release of the provincial officials.

“We must defend as sacrosanct the Constitutional principles of separation of powers and judicial independence.

Otherwise, we risk damaging our judicial institutions and substituting tyranny for the rule of law,” says the statement signed by PBA president Fina Bernadette Dela Cuesta-Tantuico.

Meanwhile, retiring Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes on Monday exhorted his colleagues in the Supreme Court to continue the fight for judicial independence.

“Protect the Supreme Court from the unsavory meddling of those who are trying to taint its integrity,” Reyes said in a speech during his last flagraising ceremony in the high court.

Pimentel, together with House Sergeant-at-Arms Ronald Detabali, showed to reporters on Monday the supposed detention room of Marcos on the third floor of the House’s main building.

“This will be fully prepared.

It is a spacious room,” Pimentel said referring to the 80-squaremeter detention room that will be fully air-conditioned and have its own bathroom with a water heater.

While in detention, Pimentel said, Marcos could still do her

work as governor.

“The room will have Wi-Fi, she will have access to the internet. She is also allowed to bring in her cellphone,” Pimentel said.

The House is said to have also prepared a detention room for Court of Appeals Justices Stephen Cruz, Edwin Sorongon and Nina Antonio-Valenzuela, whom Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez wanted to be arrested for granting the writ of habeas corpus for the Ilocos Six. The detention room of the three justices would be the former office of the Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc., which is also located on the third floor of the Batasan Complex’s main building.

Pimentel said the House

would treat the “detainees” with liberality.

“There are no restrictions.

The Ilocos Six officials detained here are allowed to accept visitors as long as it is during office hours, Monday to Friday 8 to 5,” he said.

“I think last week or two weeks ago, General Detabali allowed one of them to hold a birthday party. They also have a doctor visiting them from time to time to take care of their medical condition, but they are also allowed to have themselves checked up by their personal doctors.”

Lawyer Estelito Mendoza, Marcos’ legal counsel, said she will show up during the congressional hearing on July 25.

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By Alena Mae S. Flores FOUR oil companies raised pump prices by as much as P0.70 per liter starting Tuesday to reflect higher prices in the world market.

Eastern Petroleum, PTT Philippines, Pilipinas Shell and Flying V raised prices by P0.70 per liter of diesel, P0.55 per liter of kerosene and P0.30 per liter of gasoline, and the other companies were expected to follow suit.

“Please be advised that Eastern Petroleum will hike the price of diesel by P0.70 per liter and unleaded and premium gasoline by P0.30 per liter at 6 a.m. on Tuesday,” the company said.

World oil prices went up due to reports of a decline in active US oil rig count.

The reports of a drop in US oil production of 100,000 barrels per day last week also pushed up prices.

Meanwhile, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. said Monday it was extending its refinery’s scheduled maintenance shutdown beyond July 2, but that supply would remain adequate.

“Following the inspection and subsequent technical assessment by our highly trained refinery personnel, it was determined that certain equipment required more rigorous repair methods, and therefore more time, to ensure the continuing safety and reliability of the plant,” Shell said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Shell’s 110,000-barrels-perday refinery in Batangas had shut down for preventive maintenance in early May. But Shell officials could not say when the refinery would resume operations.

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TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PPA rejects proposed Customs order

By Vito Barcelo THE Philippine Ports Authority has opposed a proposed Customs administrative order that seeks to establish temporary storages for overstaying and abandoned cargoes at Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port, saying the PPA and not the Customs bureau is responsible for providing warehousing and storage services as well as fees for the same.

PPA assistant general manager Hector Miole said a Customs draft will diminish the jurisdiction of the port authority and will allow the BoC to impose rates for storage services in identified Customs facilities and warehouses.

“Allowing the BoC to issue guidelines on storage and the rates would result in having two guidelines on the same subject matter issued by different government agencies,” he said. “It is PPA’s position that the proposed CAO on CFWs should be limited to the guidelines for establishing, maintaining and operations of CFWs only, without reference as the provision of warehousing or storage services. Providing for this delineation is useful for the efficient and effective operations within the port, as it will create transparency between the different legal regimes operating inside the port premises.

Miole also rejected the BoC’s plan to declare the CFWs as “part of Customs premises” since these facilities are under the PPA. Miole said that section 2.5 of the draft order “may imply that the BoC will issue guidelines for storage rates as well.”

He said that Section 804 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act provides that the BOC may impose an annual supervision fee to operators of CFWs and Customs bonded warehouses but not for warehousing and storage services.

“CMTA has neither repealed nor superseded the jurisdiction of port authorities over port operators, such as those who provide warehousing or storage services. The BoC’s authority over the warehousing or storage service providers is for enforcement of customs and tariff laws.

BoC does not, however, provide for the said services as this is a function of the port authority or the port operator, as the case may be,” Miole said.

PROTESTS-READY. Members of the Manila Police District Civil Disturbance Management Unit practice various formations at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Monday, July 3, in preparation for the expected massive protests from different groups during President Rodrigo Duterte’s second State of the Nation Address on July 24. Lino Santos

Lacson slams Trillanes for ‘wholesale’ tirades

By MaconAraneta and Sandy Araneta

S

ENATOR Panfilo Lacson on Monday lashed back at Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for calling the senators “cowards” or “puppets” wholesale and without qualifying.

“That is the darnest thing he can do,” said Lacson who belongs to the majority bloc in the Senate.

During yesterday’s Samahang Plaridel “Kapihan sa Manila Hotel,” Trillanes said the Senate has been reduced to legislators acting as “puppets” under the administrqtion of President Rodrigo Duterte from its role as the “last bastion of democracy.”

He also took potshots at his colleagues who he said would rather be allies (of the administration) because they would not admit that they’re scared.

“I can see in this Senate senators who are cowards,”

Trillanes said.

“They are allies because they are afraid. Especially those handling committees which should be in the forefront of checking abuses of the administration. Those who should check are the ones who are afraid,” said Trillanes.

But Lacson said he does not know where Trillanes is coming from and he is not even sure if he is still rational in his thinking.

“One thing I’m sure about, he is dead wrong,” said Lacson who accused Trillanes is being so out of touch with reality, if not hallucinating too much.

Senate President Aquilino

“Koko, Pimentel III refused to comment on Trillanes’ remarks, saying he had heard them before a number of times.

“Why revive it just for him to be n the news,” said Pimentel who is a partymate of the President at PDPLaban.

Liberal Party president Senator Kiko Pangilinan simply said that as a third term senator, he has seen greater independence on the part of the Senate as an institution under the previous administration.

Pangilinan, who is also an opposition senator like Trillanes was referring to the administration of former President Noynoy Aquino.

The former president and Pangilinan are both members of the former ruling Liberal Party.

Trillanes, a fierce critic of Duterte, also said the Senate is one of the most damaged institutions since Duterte took office last year.

He added that Duterte is trying to destroy several institutions, such as the Senate, the police, and

the Armed Forces of the Philippines, in order to justify his plan to declare a nationwide martial law and establish a revolutionary government.

“For me he is destroying institutions. The first one is the police. The police is already being professionalized. But since he urged them to kill people, there are now policemen who commit murder. How can you now discipline them?,” Trillanes said same forum.

Trillanes cited as an example Arturo Lascañas, the self-confessed member of the Davao Death Squad who implicated President Duterte in the group’s grisly executions “Lascañas thought this was just a job. Now that there was an offer of money, they became contract killers. Even media people, political enemies and competitors in business are being killed. That’s one institution that was destroyed,” said Trillanes.

Biazon hits Peza’s role on casinos Orbos, Diño react after

By Sandy Araneta MUNTINLUPA City Representative Ruffy Biazon on Monday slammed the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry, for overextending its authority in allowing casinos to operate even without a valid Fire Safety Inspection Certificate from the Bureau of Fire Protection.

Biazon made the statement after Resorts World Manila recently reopened after the tragic deaths of 38 persons during a June 2 attack.

“We believe they [Peza officials] are overextending their authority. They are misreading the law by saying that they have authority to issue a Fire Safety Inspection Certificate,” said Biazon during the Samahang Plaridel, Kapihan sa Manila Hotel.

“But, what we see in the law, [Peza has no authority],” said Biazon, senior vice chairman of the House committee on national defense and security.

“They have no legal basis. They are hanging on a law which has already been repealed by a new law passed by Congress. There is no need for a new law, because there is a law on this, the Fire Code of the Philippines,” Biazon said.

Biazon noted the importance of the FSIC since 37 of the 38 fatalities in the RWM June 2 tragedy died of suffocation as a result of thick smoke from the fire caused by the lone gunman identified as Jessie Carlos.

Biazon pointed out that Peza’s authority to issue such permit was already repealed by the new Fire Code of the Philippines which empowered the BFP to administer the issuance of fire safety permits.

FORUM. PNP-NCRPO Chief General Oscar Albayalde, left, answers a query from newsmen while Rep. Ruffy Biazon listens intently during Monday’s Samahang Plaridel Kapihan news forum at the Manila Hotel. Ey Acasio

MMFF execs resignation

By Joel E. Zurbano THE resignation of three Metro Manila Film Festival’s executive committee members has elicited differing opinions from MMFF 2017 chairman Thomas Orbos and Film Development Council of the Philippines chairperson Mary Liza Diño.

Acclaimed screenwriter Ricky Lee, former dean of the University of the Philippines’ College of Mass Communication Rolando Tolentino, and journalist and documentary producer Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala resigned following the official announcement of the first four entries selected for this year’s festival, and allegedly due to the failure of the committee to implement reforms.

“We respect their decision and I believe we parted amicably.

There are 25 Execom members, only three resigned. Ms. Alikpala, in fact, resigned two months ago and the rest of the members remained,” said Orbos in a text message.

Orbos said the selection process for this year’s MMFF is not yet finished and the committee only selected four out of eight official entries, including the two films featuring comedians Vice Ganda and Vic Sotto, whose previous films were excluded in 2016.

“So, there is still chance for others not selected and therefore there is no reason to say there is no more chance,” said Orbos, who is also a general manager of

the Metro Manila Development Authority, the overall organizer and the supervising body of the annual festival.

Orbos said “the selection committee members were not chosen by me but was evenly recommended and selected by both commercial and indie sectors. No one objected at that time. The two-tier selection process approved by the Execom precisely assures fair play for both commercial and indie groups.” “We all need to remember that MMFF is not an ordinary festival. As an afterthought, last year, when all the eight films selected were “indie” films, the Execom members who were associated with “commercial” did not resign,” he added.

For her part, Diño, also a member of the Execom, said she’s “actually been talking to Sir Ricky, Sir Roland and Miss Kara even before this happened so I am aware of how conflicted they have been feeling about the opposing views among the committee members.”

“As artists, we operate differently especially kung passion at creativity ang tanging puhunan at pinaghuhugutan. But there are things that are beyond our control especially in a committee of 24 members na may kani-kanyang pinanggagalingan. Since Execom is a collegial body, majority wins and that’s what was followed.”

Diño admitted she is not happy with how MMFF is shaping up this year, but she said she understand where each sector is coming from.

IN BRIEF I advised Pacquiao to quit —Ping SENATOR Panfilo Lacson on Monday told Senator Manny Pacquiao to quit boxing and become a fulltime public servant while another senator said the judges in the “Battle of Brisbane” should be fired for robbing their colleague of his victory in last Sunday’s fight with Australian boxer Jeff Horn.

Lacson said he remembered giving Pacquiao the same advice last year before his fight against Jesse Vargas in November 2016.

Although it is Pacquiao’s decision to call it quits or still go on fighting inside the ring, Lacson, however, said that as a friend and colleague ‘who cares for him and his future,’ he advises the lawmaker from Mindanao to quit boxing.

Lacson also said that lesson learned in Pacquiao’s loss is— “It is best to leave the stage while the audience is applauding.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, meanwhile, said the judges in the “Battle of Brisbane” should be fired for robbing the Filipino boxing champion of his victory.

“Clearly, Manny won. All those who watched the fight know Sen. Manny was robbed of victory,” he said.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

KSA extends amnesty to Illegal OFWs THE Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has extended its Amnesty Program to all illegal Filipino workers to July 24, a Foreign Affairs official confirmed on Monday.

In a text message, DFA on Migrant Workers Affairs executive director Raul Dado called on the remaining 6,000 illegally staying Filipinos in the Kingdom to register and take advantage of the extension to avoid arrest.

“Yes it’s extended. As per policy and the standard information campaign , the embassy will register as many as would like to register,” Dado said.

“We expect new registrants with the extension until July 24, 2017,” he added.

There are a total of 12,000 illegal Filipinos who were able to register under the Amnesty Program; but there are still remaining 6,000 who are awaiting to be repatriated.

Dado said, of these 6,000, 1,080 Filipinos are just waiting for tickets in Riyadh; and 1,217 in Jeddah.

The reason why there are remaining 6,000 Filipinos still in KSA is because they have commercial and private debts to settle first before going home.

So far, he said, all host government requirements are complied with, and all private obligations of the OFWs are settled.

Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

A4

Opinion

TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Losers all

M

ANNY Pacquiao fought an Australian opponent Sunday, but unlike during previous bouts, the streets were not as empty, and emotions did not run quite as high even when he suffered defeat.

THE difference was that in earlier years, Pacquiao was a young, determined and talented pugilist who defied all adversity to pursue his dream.

Poverty and opposition from his family did not deter him. After he left his home in General

Adelle Chua, Editor

Santos City many years ago, he did not look back—except, much later, when he became successful and wealthy, to give back.

Filipinos love an against-all-odds story.

It inspires us. It makes us believe in the natural order of things. It

renews our faith that something good always comes out of the bleakest situations if we are humble and persevering. And so Pacquiao became famous, not only because he was himself, but because he could be any one of us.

And then the man ran into some fortune and started believing that fame and wealth were a ticket to public office.

Changing careers is not uncommon. But what is uncommon— and unfair—is hold-

ing on to a previous career and beginning another one without ample preparation and without a commitment to devote time and effort, especially if the new career is in public service.

Because he is famous, and because many Filipinos believed he had a good heart, Pacquiao was elected as lawmaker—first at the House of Representatives on behalf of his district, and now at the Senate with a national constituency.

Should we not now blame ourselves for the disheartening results?

Years ago, Pacquiao said he would give up his boxing career if he got elected to the Senate. We could only surmise the perks were too great to give up, after all.

What stands out is not jubilation at the defeat of one who used to be regarded as the people’s champion. It is sobriety at being reminded that wanting it all often yields only loss and

frustration.

For wanting it all, we have to accept that something’s got to give, eventually. For Pacquiao, it’s the winning streak and the adulation that come with victory. For the voters, who mistakenly believe celebrity translates to an ability to govern, it is the opportunity to be served by a harder working, more committed and less cavalier lawmaker who gives us our money’s worth.

A tough, good year

Pacquiao’s place LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES I DON’T like Manny Pacquiao, his politics or even his religion very much. But I think I understand how he has become, over the years, a unifying symbol of national pride because of what he has achieved in the boxing ring.

But first, a small, unforgettable sporting anecdote: I learned about the “Football War” several years ago, when I was editing a short-lived magazine dedicated to the Azkals, the Philippine national football team.

I’m reminded of that strange 1969 armed conflict, which was sparked by an athletic competition, when I think about how some Filipinos simply fail to realize how most of their countrymen feel about Pacquiao. The 100-hour war between El Salva-

dor and Honduras in 1969, after all, was sparked by a bitterlyfought qualifier match between the two countries for a slot in the 1970 World Cup. There were other reasons why the conflict broke out, including long-simmering immigration and even agricultural tensions between the two neighboring South American nations. But the actual invasion by the Salvadoran military on Honduras was triggered by the bitter loss of the former in the best-of-three series for the honor of joining the international football elite in the battle for sport’s biggest prize.

Now, I’m not advocating that the Philippines should declare war on Australia because local boy Jeff Horn defeated Pacquiao last Sunday in front of a hometown crowd in Brisbane. But I do agree with Charles Engelund, a blogger who posted the following on Facebook yesterday: “I didn’t watch the [PacquiaoHorn] fight. I feel Pacquiao is past his prime and should look

at safeguarding his legacy by choosing retirement.

“But, the man is undoubtedly a national icon. You may disagree with his views, but you don’t disparage a national icon.

“Especially in athletic competition, in a duel with another na-

He is a unifying symbol of national pride because of what he has achieved in the boxing ring. tion’s champion, you don’t cheer for the other side. You don’t jeer your own. To do so is akin to insulting our other national symbols. Why, it’s almost the same as disrespecting the flag.

“And this is something people like Jim Paredes don’t understand. Because people like Jim don’t really know their own country. They are so out of touch, so cocooned, so different that they may as well be foreign.

They don’t recognize national symbols, they don’t see the ties that bind.

“Pacquiao is human, imperfect, with glaring flaws. He is at the same time a champion and a national symbol.”

People like Paredes, who I understand once immigrated to Australia, rejoiced after the defeat of Pacquiao, one of the greatest boxers of all time, because they do not realize what the boxing icon has done by putting the Philippines on the world sporting map. And because of Pacquiao’s association with the poor and with President Rodrigo Duterte, they think that their hatred for the boxer is actually cool.

But then, Pacquiao’s place in his sport—and in his country-

men’s hearts—is already secure even if he never gets in the ring ever again. Paredes is just a legend in his own mind, an Australian trapped in a Filipino’s body and trying desperately to break free. *** The automotive industry should give an award to the Metro Manila Development Authority for doing its best to boost car sales by pushing for a twoday ban on vehicles through its expanded “coding” scheme. Because if the plan pushes through, long-suffering residents of the metropolis will now be dreaming not only of a second car to avoid the current once-a-week prohibition, but of a third or fourth vehicle to get around the proposed ban, as well.

I still don’t understand why the MMDA, under its new chairman Danilo Lim, insists on going back to the same schemes that have tapped out since the time of Cory Aquino.

LET me begin with three disclosures in writing this assessment of Vice President Leni Robredo’s first year in office, which like President Duterte’s is a mixture of success and failure.

First, I did not support Robredo in the 2016 elections. I believed in electing tandems together for President and Vice President. I supported Senator Grace Poe in 2016 and decided to support also Senator Chiz Escudero. It was important for me professionally to be completely loyal to the PoeEscudero tandem and I thought and still think Senator Chiz would make a good vice president and president.

Second, I am not dilawan (which is not a pejorative term for me but is simply a description of a group of political partisans). I have in fact called out the previous ruling party for their violations of the human rights of Chief Justice Renato Corona and President Gloria Arroyo and by the way they unfairly demonized VP Jojo Binay and Senator Poe, while treating Duterte with kid’s gloves, in the obsession to stay in power.

Third, Jesse Robredo was a good friend, a stalwart in the faculty of the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG), and a founding pillar of the Kaya Natin movement which I helped start and grow when I was ASoG Dean. I looked up to Jesse and sincerely care for the family he left behind.

These disclosures do not prevent me from objectively examining how Robredo fared in her first year of office as our country’s vice president. But it is, however, tough to write because of the personal vitriol that has been hurled at Robredo and her family, her late husband included, and her daughters.

In the case of President Duterte, the haters are motivated mainly by policy differences on human rights, Foreign policy, and democratic values, although there are a few who still act condescendingly —at their own peril—toward the President as an old man without manners and for having a parochial mind as a small-time mayor from Mindanao. But in the case of Robredo, without official acts to attack, the criticism are all directed to her person and sadly to her family.

The attacks are baseless, cruel, unkind, nasty, and plain malevolent. It’s tempting to name and engage the attackers, as Ed Lingao Turn to A5

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Opinion TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Duterte’s first year THERE have been many analyses of President Rodrigo Duterte’s first year in office. Often, it depends on the political affiliations of the analyst.

Some say the President failed to deliver on his promise of bringing about change, and ending illegal drugs, criminality and corruption.

Others say he delivered.

ing with the terrorists.

How can we expect the MILF to mediate when the Mautes were once with them? We know that historically, a Moro will always side with another Moro. *** The alleged entry of some 100 jihadists from Indonesia into Mindanao to aid terror groups already there can only mean the liberation of Marawi may yet be far off.

Even now, our military is wondering where the guns and ammunition of terrorists are coming from.

I believe President Duterte’s own assessment of his first year in office is best—turbulent, with plenty of hits and misses.

I think too that one can hardly achieve anything in just one *** year. This is why I am reluctant Another problem I see is the to pass judgment.

Take, for instance, the war communist insurgency. The on illegal drugs. Eliminating New People’s Army is taking the menace altogether cannot advantage of the war in Marabe done in just one year. Going wi where government forces after drug lords, financiers and are concentrated. The compushers cannot be done in so munist insurgents have been short a time. That’s only half the attacking police and military posts and stepping up their exstory, too.

The other part of the problem tortion activities.

The President himself has is the rehabilitation of more than warned them four-million usthat there is an ers. How can ongoing peace they be made negotiation into productive Not much can with a bilateral and responsible ceasefire. The members of so- be done in this leaders of the ciety once again?

Communist The war limited time.

Party, Joma against illegal Sison and Luis drugs has also Jalandoni, canspawned a collateral problem—extrajudicial not seem to control the NPA. As I said, the communists killings that have earned for us notoriety in the eyes of the inter- cannot be trusted. They have blood on their hands. national community.

There is also the issue of con*** gested jails. Inmates exist in sub-human conditions. One canFor the longest time, I have not also solve this in one year.

Criminality and corruption been advocating the privatizacannot be ended, only mini- tion of the casinos of the Philipmized. Both problems are en- pine Amusement and Gaming Corp. There is a clear conflict of demic to a democracy. interest here because Pagcor is also a regulator. *** I am glad that Pagcor chairIf there is one thing that can be Andrea Domingo said of the President, though, it is person his strength of will. He is resolute agrees with the Finance dein doing what he thinks is right for partment in its bid to privatize the country. The people love him all casinos nationwide.

San Miguel president and for that—we now have a strong President we can believe in and COO Ramon Ang has offered trust. This is real change from his P10 billion to buy out all Pagcor’s casinos, but the latter has immediate predecessor.

We look to the economy and rejected it. foreign affairs for change. Mr. *** Duterte has decided to pivot to House Speaker Pantaleon China and Russia. The economy remains stable, and the Build Alvarez has threatened to imBuild Build program is expect- peach Chief Justice Maria ed to bring in the golden age of Lourdes Sereno for siding with infrastructure. The tax reform the Court of Appeals justices in the controversy over the “Ilocos program bears watching.

The second year of President 6.” These provincial officials Duterte opens with the issue of have now been detained for weeks over an alleged anomaly, terrorism.

Marawi City still has not yet to the tune of P66.5 million, been liberated. It was attacked from tobacco excise funds.

Alvarez called the CA justices on May 23 by IS-inspired terrorists—the Maute and Abu Sayyaf idiots.

I don’t know what has gotten Groups. They want to establish a into Alvarez’s head. Impeachcaliphate here.

When President Duterte fi- ing the chief justice for pursunally liberates Marawi, will ing what she thinks is right? It’s that be the end of the terror insane!

As for the future of the Ilocos threat here?

I think it is impossible to ne- 6—we can only speculate.

As I said before, the conflict gotiate with terrorists. It is their nature to create panic and ter- between Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas ror anywhere. This is why I am and Gov. Imee Marcos promises wary about engaging the Moro to be a telenovela.

Abangan!

Islamic Liberation Front in talk-

Pacquiao’s...

From A4

And making a pile of money for those car companies that have always benefited when the government—unintentionally, I’d like to think—increases their sales through such stupid schemes as number-coding.

The best way to ease traffic in the metropolis is still improving the public transportation system, like the Edsa MRT-3 and the two LRT lines. In the longer term, adding more train lines to these three systems, after they have been improved, will go a long way towards easing the gridlock on the streets.

Now, I get that the MMDA cannot really do anything to improve the existing commuter trains lines or even to build new ones, because that is not its job. The MMDA, after all, is an enforcement agency,

not a government entity in charge of public infrastructure.

But if enforcement is the MMDA’s job, then it should first clear the streets of obstructions and deploy more enforcers on the road, which would also help ease traffic. Enough of these crazy prohibitions that only add to the ordinary motorist’s and commuter’s daily portion of grief.

Lim, a former military officer, must understand that he cannot just order Metro Manilans to sacrifice some more when they don’t see the government doing all it can to ease their plight. And expanding the number coding ban to two days is a terrible imposition, one that only a car dealer can really love.

TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2017

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

It took a massacre HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA WHEN Rodrigo Duterte ran for the presidency last year, he focused his campaign on the eradication of the narcotics trade and illegal drug use in the Philippines. After all, he explained, the drug menace is the root cause of crime in the country.

The electorate took Duterte on his word and elected him with an overwhelming mandate.

Duterte kept his promise. Upon assuming the presidency, he embarked on a relentless campaign against drug syndicates, drug pushers, drug users, and coddlers of drug addicts. Soon enough, the number of narcotics-related arrests increased geometrically, so much so that the government had to construct additional detention and rehabilitation centers just to accommodate those caught in the anti-narcotics dragnet. Stubborn drug dealers who refused to surrender to the police authorities were gunned down.

Precisely because the Duterte administration demonstrated that it was very serious in ridding the nation of the drug menace, many drug users all over the country voluntarily turned themselves over to police authorities.

Meanwhile, the arrests continued, and the death toll relating to the anti-drug offensive continued increasing.

As expected, anti-administration politicians quickly denounced the intensity and speed by which Duterte carried out his anti-narcotics campaign. Families of those who

were killed in drug raids and similar police operations joined the bandwagon and score the President, accusing him of violating human rights.

While Duterte’s critics focused on those killed in the anti-drug operations mounted by the police, they were conveniently silent on the number of police officers killed or injured by known or suspected drug lords who preferred to put up a fight instead of surrendering to the authorities.

Seeing through the self-serving concerns of his critics, President Duterte rejected their protestations.

He explained that the war against narcotics had to be continuing and relentless precisely because the drug lords are ruthless and will not hesitate to kill anybody who gets in their way. He also pointed out that the illegal drug trade has destroyed the social fabric of the Filipino family, and mortgaged the future of many bright, young Filipinos.

In addition, Duterte asserted that his anti-drug war is an act of self-defense, to preserve the nation against the worsening drug menace stalking the country. He stressed that it his duty to protect the Filipino people, the youth in particular, who are the future of the nation.

President Duterte was likewise frank enough to announce what many already knew but still refused to accept—that many drug addicts are beyond rehabilitation because the illegal drugs they have been using, shabu for instance, has effectively destroyed their brains and, consequently, their capability for rational thinking and behavior.

Despite the President’s explanation, his critics continued denouncing him.

Soon enough, self-styled human rights “advocates” from both the United Nations and the European Union entered the picture and denounced Duterte as well. For them, the anti-drug war launched by Duterte in the Philippines will not work and will only create needless deaths.

Instead of an all-out war on drugs, the EU suggested that Duterte establish “safe consumption sites,” or clinics where drug addicts can get their fix for free. They said that this was done in Vancouver, Canada, something which they touted earlier as a success story.

President Duterte dismissed the EU suggestion as an idiotic idea, and said the EU was unaware of the realities in the Philippines. Duterte emphasized that it was foolish, even downright ridiculous, to give out narcotics to drug addicts at public expense when many Filipinos are starving and do not have access to sufficient health care.

What the EU conveniently failed to mention was that the Vancouver experiment it cited did not reduce crime in Vancouver, and that observers believe that it contributed to the blight now plaguing the city.

The EU suggestion sounds like a proposal which Leni Robredo, the purported vice president of the nation, made earlier this year. She suggested that the Philippines follow the example of Portugal where narcotics use is no longer a criminal offense. Good heavens!

A few months ago when Duterte vowed to sustain his anti-narcotics campaign, he warned that drug users are inclined to commit other crimes. He also warned that drug addicts have a penchant for forcing their way into private homes and commit rape and murder in the

process.

Sadly, Duterte’s warning proved chillingly prophetic.

The news media recently reported that an entire household in Bulacan was massacred by at least three men who were high on drugs.

The gang killed five family members, including three children aged one, seven and 11. The mother and grandmother were raped and slaughtered with no less than 46 stab wounds.

Interviewed by the news media right after they were arrested by the police, one suspect admitted that the massacre was just a “trip,” owing to their use of prohibited drugs.

Good grief! Hell is too nice a place for these criminals!

Despite the sorrow and pain the Bulacan massacre has caused to the relatives of the victims, it has at least proven true what President Duterte had been warning about all along—that drug addicts are certainly inclined to commit other crimes. Perhaps this stark reality, a massacre of the most beastly kind, will wake up the EU human rights advocates, all of whom have been criticizing Duterte’s war on illegal drugs, to the shocking reality that fighting the drug menace in the Philippines will take more than the kid gloves approach they have been repeatedly suggesting.

Now that the Bulacan massacre is a reality, where are those EU human rights advocates now? What do those politicians from the Liberal Party, Leni Robredo included, who have done nothing but criticize the Duterte administration, have to say about the link between drug use and heinous crimes? It’s a good thing President Duterte paid no attention to them.

Chinese companies can stand sunlight

By Christopher Balding FOR all their national pride and natural boosterism, Chinese officials don’t seem to think much of their own companies. Regulators have sought to limit everything from high-speed trading to short-selling, arguing Chinese firms can’t yet handle the vagaries of modern financial markets. They’re particularly leery of greater transparency, for fear of what might be exposed. Only last week, the China Banking Regulatory Commission was accused of secretly tipping off key banks to dump bonds of companies that were under investigation.

Whether such efforts are meant to protect important companies, stabilize markets or avoid national embarrassment, they're preventing China’s markets from growing up. And it’s increasingly clear that they’re unnecessary.

Anyone who questions whether Chinese companies can deal with pressure to disclose information faster and more accurately should read a new paper from Aaron Yoon, a doctoral student at Harvard Business School.

Yoon looked at how firms in Shanghai responded to demands from sophisticated foreign investors for greater transparency. Many did so quite well

—and they’ve been rewarded for it.

As Yoon notes, the Shanghai Stock Connect, launched in 2014 to allow international investors to trade in mainland stocks, inadvertently created an excellent natural experiment. With 568 stocks available to trade and 382 ineligible firms, the system allowed Yoon to study how companies seeking international investment performed compared to those focused solely on domestic punters.

The divergence was striking. Companies available for trading tripled “the frequency of corporate access events” and almost doubled English-language conference calls for investors. In other words, they actively increased the flow of information in hopes of courting foreign investors and securing a lower cost of capital.

Greater disclosures led to tangible gains. Companies that shared information more openly after the Shanghai trading link opened saw higher levels of foreign ownership (though still small by total stock float). When Chinese stocks peaked in June 2015 and started falling, those firms that actively communicated with investors “exhibit[ed] significantly higher foreign institutional ownership and lower return volatility.” In other words, by attracting more stable in-

stitutional holders rather than fickle Chinese investors, they were able to lower their stock price risk.

By contrast, look at the top 10 listed banks in China: They have a weighted price-to-earnings ratio of 6.8. That’s up from the past year or two, when major banks traded under 5, but it’s still effectively expecting a complete loss of equity. The market is obviously casting doubt upon the reliability of Chinese bank financial statements.

Strenuous efforts by Chinese regulators to ensure market stability are having the opposite effect. Infantilizing Chinese firms—which is effectively what they’re doing—prevents the professionalization of management and improvements in corporate governance.

By limiting information, officials only encourage investors to see red flags everywhere. The CBRC recently ordered a review of loans made to major companies, given the uncertainty around the total amount of outstanding debt owed by several firms. The order sent a range of stocks linked to major conglomerates plunging. Chinese stock regulators have on more than one occasion had to release statements or take other actions to dispel rumors that have significantly moved markets. In-

formation quality should hardly be so poor that markets can be jolted repeatedly by whispers.

What officials seemingly fail to appreciate is that sunlight is the greatest disinfectant. If China truly wants to stabilize its markets, officials need to enforce new regulations to promote the timely, accurate and regular disclosure of information by companies to investors. Major institutions and retail investors will make better decisions, while firms that currently fudge their numbers will be encouraged to improve their corporate behavior.

Conversely, if they want to build a credible global financial market, regulators must also punish unauthorized or illegal information leaks.

There is a small mountain of research suggesting that insider trading is widespread in Chinese markets.

This gives rumors greater credence and makes the job of regulators that much harder.

Information is vital to global capital markets and China is no different. Its regulators should join forces with those markets rather than fighting them, and demand greater responsibility and greater transparency from China’s own companies. The best among them will be able to meet the challenge.

fending her good person and wonderful family with vigor and love (as Jesse’s friend), but also calling out the mistakes in her first year in office and how she has recovered from them.

Vice President Robredo has had a challenging first year in office. This is because she was elected in a close election and with a president that did not know her and with whom she differed fundamentally on human rights and democratic values.

The relationship with Duterte started rocky in that they had separate inaugurations, which was a big disservice to the country. There was a short period of reconciliation but marred by criticism Robredo made of Duterte’s positions on issues that divide them, for example on extrajudicial killings and human rights violations being committed in the war against drugs and on the Marcos burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

This was Robredo’s first mistake.

It was fine and principled for her to raise concerns about human rights and the Marcos burial but once or twice should have been enough. It was not professional to frequently repeat those criticisms while being a member of Duterte’s cabinet. Given this, it was not a surprise that she was disinvited to cabinet meetings.

It was not rocket science for Robredo to have done the early months

right as vice president. Jojo Binay’s classy behavior, even as he was frequently and unfairly treated by colleagues in the Aquino administration, was there for Robredo to emulate.

A second mistake committed was when Robredo allowed herself to be framed as exclusively dilawan, identified solely with the Liberal Party.

Robredo won because she appealed to enough Poe, Binay, and Duterte voters and successfully differentiated herself from Mar Roxas. She should have worked hard to keep that support which, based on the surveys by SWS and Pulse Asia, she seemed to have lost. She must now work to get them back on her side.

Thankfully, Vice President Robredo is now on the right track. Among others, she has moderated her criticism of Duterte and has been mildly supportive of martial law. More positively, her work with the poor has been exceptional.

There is not a lot of fanfare about the work of the Office of the Vice President but its programs are very good. Robredo kept her campaign promise to become the advocate of those on the “laylayan,” the marginalized. Her staff has done excellent work and has not been unduly distracted by the critics. I congratulate and thank them.

The threat of the Marcos election protest of course hovers over Ro-

bredo. But I am confident she will win that case. Vigilance is, however, important as the composition of the Supreme Court changes. Her lawyers and political advisers must be smart and watch every development, especially the hearing on July 11. The Marcos strategy is to exclude, for alleged fraud, the votes of Robredo bailiwicks Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental. That would be horrible disenfranchisement and cannot be allowed.

As for the personal attacks, VP Robredo and her daughters are examples of great decency, steely calmness, and exemplary fortitude— modern wonder women if you ask me. If only all families were like the Robredos, we would be a better country. I do not have daughters but if I had one, I would like them to be Aika, Tricia, or Jillian. They represent the best of their generation.

Before pure hatred and irrational anger, Vice President Robredo responded with solid, exceptional, and resilient leadership. She is a classic case of a leader being tested in the line of fire. She is not only surviving; she is thriving.

Crisis and adversity can destroy leaders. Not Leni Robredo. She is stronger now, wiser, tougher, and more grounded. That’s the gift of a tough but good year.

Facebook: https://web.facebook. com/deantonylavs/ Twitter: tonylavs

Bloomberg

A tough,...

From A4 does so courageously with Erwin Tulfo, and paint the kettle—in this case their hearts—black. As my good friend Gang Badoy Capati (Badoy is a name I will always revere because of Gang and the father, an icon of good governance) commented in one of my posts, sometimes bullies should be bullied because it’s the only language they understand.

But I won’t go there. It’s not my nature, as I always try to look for the good in every person. I am also conscious that some of those who attack Robredo can be allies in some issues now or in the future.

I don’t burn bridges, a lesson from four decades of involvement in politics. And descending to that kind of discourse is bad for the country.

I really believe in dialogue.

Lately, I have been going around the country and the world (before OFW audiences) to present unbiased and objective assessments of the Duterte administration. I have had mixed audiences, and in Mindanao and with OFW audiences, the Duterte supporters are a majority. But everywhere, my views are welcomed with respect, with rare disagreements. More importantly, people of different political perspectives—dilawan or DDS included—can have a conversation.

I will write my Robredo article that way—balanced and fair, de-

News

A6

TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Solon slams plan to scrap scheme for basic needs

By Maricel V. Cruz

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VISAYAN lawmaker on Monday denounced the Department of Trade and Industry’s plan to do away with the suggested retail price scheme for basic necessities, calling it “anti-poor.”

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, House committee on banks and financial intermediaries chairperson, said lifting the SRP would legitimize businessmen to rake in more profits

at the expense of comsumers.

Evardone said the DTI must take a second look at its idea to scrap the mechanism prior to approval before adjusting the SRP of prime commodities.

“The DTI should scrap its plan to remove SRP. Consumers will suffer the most once it gets implemented,” Evardone said, referring to the DTI draft order allowing manufacturers to determine the prices of goods without government having to approve the SRP. This, the DTI said, would encourage competition so that firms are compelled to lower their rates to the advantage of consumers.

“This will enable the manufacturers and traders to reign in

the prices of their products. It is simply anti-poor and antipeople,” he added.

He also warned that the DTI, which is supposed to uphold the rights and welfare of consumers, will face people’s wrath as consumers will look at their plan as an act of favoring the interests of the manufacturing industry instead.

“Instead of promoting competition, the removal of SRP will be used as a tool to increase the prices of basic goods. They should think twice or face people’s wrath,”

Evardone said.

Evardone also expressed serious doubts that the move of DTI will promote competition.

The manufacturing sector has rallied behind the DTI proposal aimed at cutting the red tape in the process of putting the prices of basic goods.

The research group Ibon said scrapping the SRP was a form of deregulation where the government reneges on its responsibility to regulate the price of basic goods and protect consumers.

Ombudsman orders Leyte mayor suspended

By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman ordered on Monday the suspension for one month and one day of Matag-ob Mayor Agustin Pedrano Sr. of Leyte for simple misconduct.

In its decision, the Ombudsman reminded public officials that “the proper procedure for official travel using a government vehicle as provided under the Commission on Audit Circular No. 75-6 is: “the personnel must request the use of the vehicle by accomplishing a trip ticket form in two copies, stating the name of the driver, purpose and destination of the travel.

“The trip ticket must be duly approved by the official authorizing the travel; and one copy of the trip ticket shall be surrendered to the guard on-duty of the motor pool or person-in-charge of the vehicle upon departure; and the other copy to be retained by the driver. “ “Moreover, it is required that the trip ticket authorizing the use of the vehicle should be displayed on the windshield or other conspicuous place on the vehicle.”

In related developments, the Commission on Audit has called the attention of the Senate over an overstock of “obsolete” office supplies, including a toiletry item, worth about P3 million.

In its yearend report, the Commission said the Senate has an oversupply of toilet paper and insecticide spray, CoA said Monday.

In a yearend inventory, CoA said there were still 9,512 rolls of toilet paper in the stockroom, considering average monthly usage was only around 1,040 rolls or 3,120 rolls per quarter.

The Senate had 8,184 rolls of bathroom tissue at the start of calendar year of 2016 and purchased 12,672, bringing to a total to 20,856 rolls.

There were also 564 pressurized canisters of insecticide, 38,365 envelopes, 15,023 markers and 7,606 AA-size batteries.

According to CoA, the Senate had P1.4 million in excess stocks of toner cartridges at P260,749.45, air freshener at P12,808.64, AA batteries at P152,058.17, paper fasteners at P77,008.31 and toilet paper at P37,075.92.

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IN BRIEF Asean to up role vs drug problem MEMBERS of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, including the Philippines, are expected to adopt two resolutions affirming their roles in the campaign against illegal drugs in the region at the 13th Aipa Fact-Finding Committee meeting on Thursday.

Aipa president Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said the first of two resolutions aims to highlight the urgency to forge inclusive partnership towards a drug-free Asean community while the second seeks to transform the Aifocom into an Aipa Advisory Council On Dangerous Drugs to strengthen its role and mandate as a parliamentary tool to combat dangerous drugs.

“The approval of the two resolutions is imperative in the wake of the alarming situation of drug abuse in the region that has also become a transshipment hub for illegal drugs,” Alvarez, expected to deliver the welcome address at the opening session of the Aifocom on Tuesday, said The resolutions will be tackled on July 6 during the Third Session of Aifocom.

The first resolution calls for an inclusive partnership towards a drug-free Asean community that recognizes Aipa partnership’s need to have a more holistic approach to the drug problem, the Speaker said.

The resolution, he said, recognizes the urgency to engage the support and cooperation not only of national governments and their law enforcement agencies, but also of the private sector, the non-government and civil society organizations, and local communities.

“An inclusive partnership in the fight against the drug menace also means bolstering legal assistance among Aipa member-countries and strongly supporting the sharing of intelligence information, investigations and joint operations against illegal drugs,” Alvarez said. Maricel Cruz

MMDA wants road discipline

PCSO CLEANUP. The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, in celebration of the Women's Month, held a simultaneous Coastal Cleanup and Tree Planting Activity at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism area. The activities were led by PCSO general manager Alexander F. Balutan together with the 300 personnel of the Philippine Navy and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

PH, US join hands to check terrorists

By Sara D. Fabunan MANILA and Washington are working together to give flesh to strategies on how to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems, and related materials.

The bilateral discussions are up while Philippine troops are fighting The Maute Group, a self- proclaimed member of Iraq and Syria Islamic State, and continuing missile launches by North Korea.

During the first bilateral Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) engagement, the US Defense Department and the Philippines Anti-Terrorism Council-Program Management Center examined national and

international legal authorities which enable WMD interdictions; exercise whole-of-government decision-making processes; discuss challenges in countering WMD proliferation when only limited or ambiguous information is available; demonstrate the benefits of cooperation; and consider mutual role in implementing relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

“The challenges in preventing WMD proliferation are not getting any easier, with bad actors seeking to acquire dual-use materials to advance their WMD or missile programs, disguising the transactions, and using front companies to hide the end users,” said the US representative Andrea Yaffe, who led the meeting.

“We are pleased that the government of the Philippines partnered with us to explore these issues and to demonstrate their continued commitment to PSI’s Statement of Interdiction Principles,” Yaffe added.

The PSI is an international cooperative effort endorsed by 105 countries to stop trafficking in WMD, their delivery systems, and related materials to and from State and non-state actors of proliferation concern.

“PSI is an area of increased cooperative engagement, not only between the US and Philippine government, but also with other PSI partner countries as we perform our international obligations under the UN Security Council mandates,” Maj. Gen Danilo

M. Servando (Ret), head of the Philippine delegation, said in his opening statement.

PSI is designed to counter the threat posed by WMD proliferation through international cooperation and information sharing and, when necessary, coordinated action.

The PSI is an activity, not an organization, and participation is voluntary: each participating state decides whether and how to engage in PSI activities on a case-by-case basis.

Participating countries demonstrate their commitment to the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles by undertaking actions consistent with their national legal authorities and relevant international law and legal frameworks.

THE Metro Manila Development Authority on Monday urged motorists and pedestrians to observe discipline and courtesy while driving and crossing major thoroughfares to prevent accidents, especially during rainy season when roads are slippery.

On Monday, a man died after he was accidentally hit by a public utility bus while crossing the intersection of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue and Ayala Avenue in Makati City around 4 a.m.

The unidentified victim, whom the police described as in his 40s, wearing stripe polo-shirt, gray jogging pants and pink slippers, died on the spot due to severe head and body injuries.

Both the driver and conductor of Hi-Star Bus, with registration plate ABH-1253 plying BaclaranNovaliches route, escaped after the incident, abandoning their vehicle that also caused more than two-hour heavy traffic along Edsa and areas of McKinley, Pasay Road and Ayala Avenue.

MMDA Traffic Discipline Office chief Roy Taguinod said the number of road accidents during rainy season was increasing because of slippery roads.

He also cited the lack of discipline and disobedience to traffic rules of the drivers and pedestrians as a major factor in road accidents.

“That is why we advise drivers to observe road policies and courtesy for us to have a safe and orderly flow of traffic,” said Taguinod. Joel E. Zurbano

Dizon new OIC of Clark Devt Corp.

BEATING THE HEAT. Quick-willed streetchildren scramble Monday for a splash of water from a volunteer fire truck at the capital’s baywalk shortly before the rains drenched the metropolis yet again. Ey Acasio

BASES Conversion Development Authority president Vivencio Dizon is the new officer-in-charge of the Clark Development Corp., after its president, Noel Manankil, took a leave of absence amid allegations of corruption against him.

CDC vice president for legal affairs and corporate secretary Perlita Sagmit made the announcement during the flagraising ceremonies in front of the corporate offices in Clark north of Manila following Manankil’s leave.

Sagmit said Dizon was named as CDC’s OIC during the CDC board of directors meeting last Friday, June 30, and while the BCDA conducts

an investigation of alleged corruption in Clark.

She also said Manankil had filed a leave of absence to give way to an unimpeded probe on the allegations announced

by President Rodrigo Duterte in his speech during the turnover of a military aid package from China to the Philippines last Wednesday.

Amid some media reports pointing out Manankil as the one collecting huge amounts from locators, Duterte maintained he did not publicly refer to Manankil as the subject of his displeasure and admitted he was not sure if Manankil was guilty of any anomaly.

“I just issued a warning be-

cause of a report. But I have not really named him publicly in the sense that he is the man that is—that he was the target of my announcement,” Duterte said Thursday last week at Camp Quintin Merecido in Catitipan, Davao City.

“I’m not saying that I am sure that he is guilty. What I’m saying is that I’ve been receiving reports of corruption and I said, ‘Please do not do that...But I have always insisted on honesty and integrity in government,” the President said.

Dizon is a member of the CDC board of directors chaired by former Cabinet secretary Jose de Jesus. PNA, with John Paolo Bencito

Sports

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TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Iguodala stays with Warriors N EW YORK—Free agent swingman Andre Iguodala has agreed a three-year deal to remain with the NBA champion Golden State Warriors, with the 33-year-old reserve confirming the move on Twitter.

“Sources close to Andre Iguodala reporting agreed to terms to return to the bay....” Iguodala tweeted, a poke at the uncertainty surrounding all news in the first days of the NBA’s 2017-18 free agency frenzy.

Talks with free agents began Saturday but the league forbids contract signings until Thursday.

That doesn’t prevent dealmaking

but it does keep teams from talking about their moves until they are finalized.

Iguodala’s deal, worth $48 million (42 million euros) according to multiple reports, comes after he met with the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets.

The Warriors are working to retain the core of a club that has won two NBA crowns in three

seasons and came within a game of sweeping all three.

Golden State agreed to terms on the richest contract in NBA history with a five-year “supermax” deal worth $201 million to star guard Stephen Curry, the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player reaping the benefits of a salary cap jump and a willingness to take less than he could make elsewhere to keep the Warriors a title contender and on budget.

That’s much the same decision that appears to have been made by NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant, who left Oklahoma City for Golden State in a free agent deal last July.

Durant opted out of his contract

so the Warriors had more money to pay top reserves Iguodala and Shaun Livingston but is expected to rejoin the club. He would likely command a huge deal next year but his sacrifice this season keeps the nucleus of a championship dynasty together for another campaign.

Iguodala was the 2015 NBA Finals MVP, his insertion into the lineup producing matchup issues Cleveland could not overcome, and he was a finalist for this year’s NBA Sixth Man of the Year award given to the top bench player.

Iguodala averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 assists and 4.0 rebounds in 76 games last season and has averaged 13.0 points, 4.5 assists and 5.3 rebounds

over 13 seasons with Philadelphia, Denver and Golden State.

Rockets get Nene, Tucker His rejection of the Rockets, who landed point guard Chris Paul in a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers to join star shooting guard James Harden, prompted Houston to strike a deal with for ward P.J. Tucker, multiple reports saying it was for four years and $32 million.

Tucker met with the Toronto Raptors, who obtained him last February in a deal with Phoenix, but talks with Houston players, including Harden and Paul according to ESPN, prompted him to join the Rockets. AFP

Global, Kaya FC battle to 2-2 draw Games Tomorrow

(Biñan Football Stadium) 4 p.m. • Stallion Laguna vs Kaya FC Makati (Cebu City Sports Center) 4 p.m. • Global Cebu vs Ceres Negros

GUINEAN striker Sekou Sylla grabbed a late equalizer as Global Cebu FC salvaged a point after battling Kaya FC Makati to a 2-2 thrilling draw last Sunday in the Philippines Football League at University of Makati Stadium.

Japanese midfielder Shu Sasaki opened the scoring for Global in the 25th minute only for Ghanaian striker Jordan Mintah to restore parity with a strike just 30 seconds into the second half.

After a 30-minute stoppage caused by rain and thunderstorm, Kaya returned to the pitch with renewed vigor and coach Noel Marcaida’s men were rewarded with Robert Lopez Mendy’s 89th minute goal off a fine ball from Adam Reed.

But the Kaya celebration proved short-lived as Sylla struck a minute later on the other end, pouncing on a scramble to slot the ball between the legs of Kaya goalkeeper Ref Cuaresma.

With a heavy downpour making pitch conditions far from ideal, both squads struggled to carve out chances until late in the match when the game opened up as they threw more men forward on attack. The rain failed to dampen the excitement which saw both sides threaten late on.

“For majority of the game, our defense played well, but split seconds of switching off can cost you a game,” said Marcaida, whose side ended a two-game losing slide and improved to 11 points for fifth spot.

GOLF QUEEN. Pauline del Rosario (second from left) holds her trophy as she poses with (from left) Piilpinas Golf Tournaments Inc. executive director Narlene Soriano, low amateur Kristine Torralba and Baguio Country Club general manager Anthony de Leon after ruling the ICTSI Baguio Ladies Classic by four over Chihiro Ikeda recently.

ABE Avena and Gerald Katigbak set out as the marked players as they gun for back-to-back in the Philippine Seniors and MidAmateur Open Championships, respectively, which get going Wednesday at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas.

Avena, who ruled the event for players 55-years-old-and-above at Summit Point in emphatic fashion last year, is brimming with confidence as he heads to the 54-hole tournament set at Mt. Malarayat’s composite course which he calls home.

But a host of others are raring to spoil his repeat bid, including Rolly Viray, Rudy Amata, Butch Bacunawa, Mike Besa, Jose Mari Hechanova, Dave Hernandez and Tony Olives.

Also competing in the centerpiece division of the annual event, held as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Golf Tour and backed by the MVP Sports Foundation, Cignal and Metro Pacific Investments, are Antonio Ong, Abe Rosal, Kato Sengyo of Japan and Zaldy Villa.

Keen competition is also seen in the Mid-Amateur (for players 25-years-old as of June 2017) with Katigbak bracing for an uphill battle against the likes of Juan Alba, Chester Calpotura, Carlo Canicosa, Rhonell Cousart, Elmer Jayloni, Jeck Mendoza, Arnel Paras, and Japanese Yuji Tokunaga and Koji Yasuma.

Other titles to be disputed in the event, organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines, are the Seniors Division I (55-59), Division II (6065), and Super Seniors (66-andabove) to be played over 36 holes on Thursday and Friday.

Water Defenders rally past Smashers Froome, Sky BALIPURE battled back from 1-2 set down then poured it all out in the decider to fashion out a 25-15, 22-25, 20-25, 25-19, 15-6 victory over the Power Smashers and gain a share of the lead in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the Filoil Center in San Juan late Sunday.

Many-time NCAA MVP Grethcel Soltones, Risa Sato, Jerrili Malabanan and Aiko Urdas combined for 71 hits as the Purest Water Defenders turned a losing stand into a rousing victory with their big windup that kept them in step with early winners Creamline, Air Force and Pocari Sweat.

BaliPure, seeking to improve on its runner-up finish in the

Games tomorrow

(Wednesday) 10 a.m. – Café Lupe vs Megabuilders 1 p.m. – Sta. Elena vs Air Force 4 p.m. – Pocari Sweat vs Perlas-BanKo 6:30 p.m. – BaliPure vs Creamline

recent Reinforced Conference of the league organized by Sports Vision, actually overpowered the Power Smashers in spikes, 59-45, had more blocks, 10-6, and cashed in on their rivals’ poor service reception and netted 14 aces, twice over than the Power Smashers.

But they struggled after cruising to a 10-point first set win with the Power Smashers translating their miscues and mishits into key points to snatch the next two and wrest a 2-1 lead.

But coach Roger Gorayeb called on his veteran hitters while playmaker Jasmine Nabor produced a remarkable 57 excellent set performance to help anchor the Water Defenders’ come-from-behind victory.

Soltones finished with 22 points, including 20 attack points, Sato continued to dish out superb games and ended up with 18 markers while Malabanan and Urdas wound up with 16 and 15 points, respectively.

Dimdim Pacres topscored for the Power Smashers with 13 hits, Regine Arocha and Alexandra Tan backed him up with 12 and 10 markers, respectively, while Wynneth Eulalio,

Katherine Villegas and Alina Bicar combined for 17 points.

The win thus put BaliPure in step with Creamline, Air Force and Pocari, which downed their respective rivals via similar 3-1 victories to share the early lead in the mid-season conference of the league backed by Mikasa and Asics.

Meanwhile, Reinforced Conference champion Cignal HD blasted Café Lupe, 25-19, 25-18, 25-13, and Sta. Elena crushed Instituto Estetico Manila, 2516, 25-20, 25-21, to join opening day winners newcomer Megabuilders and defending titlist Air Force in the early lead in the men’s side of the league.

Murray, Nadal aim to bury Wimbledon doubts LONDON—Defending champion Andy Murray and fellow two-time winner Rafael Nadal take centre stage on the first day of Wimbledon on Monday, keen to deliver early hammer blows to any doubts over their title aspirations.

Top seed and world number one Murray opens proceedings on Centre Court insisting a hip problem will not prevent him from dispatching Kazakh lucky loser Alexander Bublik.

The weekend news that the 30-year-old Scot is to become a father for the second time will also be an extra incentive to make it a tournament to remember.

Nadal, the champion in 2008 and 2010 and a three-time runnerup, missed last year’s championships because of a wrist injury.

Since making the final in 2011,

Avena, Katigbak seek Srs, Mid-Am repeat

Murray

Nadal

he has lost to opponents outside the top 100 on four occasions.

Australia’s John Millman, his first round rival on Monday, is the current 137.

Elsewhere on the opening day, former world number one Victoria Azarenka plays her first Slam since becoming a

mother while two-time champion Petra Kvitova is sure to receive a warm Centre Court welcome as she steadily rebuilds her career after being attacked by a knifeman in her home last December.

Murray is looking to become the first British player—man or woman—to defend a Grand

Slam title since Fred Perry won Wimbledon from 1934-36.

Meanwhile, Bublik, the world number 134, is making his grass court debut.

Murray, who has a 29-0 record against players outside the top 100, insists his recent hip problems are behind him.

“I’ll be fine to play the event and play seven matches,” he said.

Nadal is bidding to record his 850th tour-level match-win and become just the seventh player in history to reach the landmark.

It’s also his 50th match at Wimbledon.

Millman is playing just his second match of the year after missing five months with a hip injury.

Nadal on high after French Open Nadal, on a high after his record-setting 10th French Open title just three weeks ago, will not

be under-estimating the Australian after his recent experiences at Wimbledon.

The 31-year-old Spaniard lost to world number 100 Lukas Rosol in 2012, number 135 Steve Darcis in 2013, Nick Kyrgios, the 144, in 2014 the 102-ranked Dustin Brown in 2015.

“This is a tournament that you can go out very early. But at the same time, if I am able to go through at the beginning, I think I’m with confidence,” said Nadal.

Venus Williams marks her 20th Wimbledon anniversary with a tie against Belgium’s Elise Mertens who she defeated in the third round of Roland Garros.

However, the 37-year-old fivetime champion arrives in London facing a wrongful death suit after she was involved in a fatal car crash in Florida. AFP

4 teams go all out to shoot for better Superliga rankings IMUS CITY, Cavite—Despite bombing out of title derby, four teams will still go all out to gain better final rankings today in the classification battle for 5th to 8th places of the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference at the Imus City Sports Complex here.

Generika-Ayala tips things off as it clashes with Cocolife at 5 pm while Sta. Lucia Realty tackles Cherrylume in the 7 pm encounter of this prestigious women’s club tourney backed by Belo, Rebisco and Gold’s Gym with TV5 as official broadcast partner.

Handled by national women’s volleyball team mentor Francis Vicente,

Games Today

(Imus Sports Complex) 5 p.m. – Generika-Ayala vs Cocolife 7 p.m. – Sta. Lucia vs Cherrylume

the Lifesavers fell short in their title bid as they fell prey to reigning champion F2 Logistics in the sudden-death quarterfinals of this battle that also has Senoh, Mikasa, Mueller, Senoh and Grand Sport as technical sponsors.

On the same note, Cocolife bowed to Cignal, Sta. Lucia bowed to Petron and Cherrylume was dominated by topseed Foton in other quarterfinal pairings.

The survivors in this pair of encounters

will collide in the classification battle for 5th to 6th places while the losers will be relegated to the battle for 7th to 8th places on Saturday when the league visits the De La Salle Sentrum in Lipa City in Batangas.

F2 Logistics, meanwhile, faces Cignal while Foton books a duel with Petron in the do-or-die semifinals this Thursday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Vicente revealed that their ultimate goal was to make it to the semifinals, but with the Cargo Movers dominating them in three sets in the quarterfinals last week, they have no choice but to settle for the next best thing, which is the 5th place.

“We fell simply fell short,” said Vi-

cente, referring to their sorry 14-25, 1925, 17-25 setback to the Cargo Movers in the Round of 8.

“But it’s okay. I told the team to use it as a motivation to move forward. We may have failed to reach our goal this conference, but I can see the improvement and eagerness in my players.”

Vicente added that they have to reduce their errors if they want to go far. Against the Cargo Movers, in fact, the Lifesavers gave away 32 points off turnovers.

“Cocolife is a very good team,” he said.

“But we have to cut down on our errors.

We won’t win if we will keep on giving points to our opponent.”

team under fire for jersey LIEGE, Belgium—Chris Froome and his Sky team were under attack again on the opening weekend of the Tour de France, but not on the road.

Having previously been accused of doping and using a motorised bicycle by detractors unwilling to believe his dominant performances could have been achieved through fair means, Froome is now under fire for allegedly using banned substances in his jersey.

According to a French professor specializing in sports performance, and working for rival team FDJ, Froome and his Sky colleagues gained 18 to 25 seconds in Saturday’s time-trial through their choice of jersey.

The top in question has little Vortex air pellets woven into the fabric to give an aerodynamic boost to the rider, which Frederic Grappe claims offers a five percent boost in performance but is illegal.

“The rule is very clear. Any aerodynamic addition to the jersey is banned. Sky have clearly infringed,” Grappe told journalists.

However, Sky’s sports director Nicolas Portal insisted his team had done nothing wrong.

“Everything is legal and the equipment was validated by the race commission,” he said.

Forum tackles Asean games THE Asean School Games and the NCAA Season 93 basketball tournament will be the topics to be discussed in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday at the Golden Phoenix Hotel (Sunrise Drive near Macapagal Avenue) in Pasay City.

Attending the public service forum aired live over DZSR Sports Radio 918 AM are DepEd assistant secretary Tonisito Umali and director Rizalino Jose, who will discuss this year’s Asean School Games.

NCAA deputy commissioner Rebo Saguisag and San Beda assistant coach JB Sison will also talk about the coming season of the oldest collegiate basketball league, which is set to open on Saturday at the Mall of Asia in the session also presented by San Miguel Corporation, Golden Phoenix Hotel, Accel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

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

P0 M+ P0 M

Sports

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

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TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2017

GAB urges WBO to review fight

By Randy Caluag THE Games and Amusement Board of the Philippines on Monday wrote the World Boxing Organization, requesting for a thorough review of the recent WBO welterweight championship bout between Filipino Manny Pacquiao and Australian Jeff Horn that resulted in a controversial unanimous decision win for the latter.

Horn, who was credited more for his aggression than his clear, solid punches, won in all the scorecards of the three judges against Pacquiao on Sunday at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.

Punchstats showed that Pacquiao landed more solid blows and had more scoring jabs.

“We would like to echo the stand of many boxing followers on the possible errors of the referee and the judges, who officiated the fight,” said the GAB letter signed by Chairman Abraham Kahlil Mitra and commissioners Eduard Trinidad and Matthew Gaston.

The agency clarified though that the letter was not intended to seek a reversal of the outcome of the bout but merely to identify the possible errors on the part of the referees or judges, who officiated the fight.

“While we respect the decision, we are constrained to request for a thorough review by the WBO to identify possible miscalls of the referee, where some deductions were not made and of the judges in their judging that have caused varying opinions on their objectivity,” the letter said.

At most, the GAB is hoping for possible sanctions on the officials “if warranted, in furtherance of our mutual goal of protecting the integrity of the sport and even more, improving the boxing industry that we all love.”

The result of the bout also didn’t sit well with netizens, including celebrities like former NBA star Kobe Bryant and Holywood actor Samuel Jackson, who posted their reactions on Twitter.

In an interview, Mitra said they are doing the formal complaint to the WBO on its own initiative.

“We feel that somebody should do something about it and not just complain or post on social media. As the government’s professional sports regulatory body, we feel that we should act on this even without the consent of Sen. Manny Pacquiao who is the most affected as we don’t want this to happen again to him or any other Filipino boxer fighting abroad,” Mitra explained.

Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines reacts to the decision declaring his Australian rival Jeff Horn as the winner of their World Boxing Organization welterweight boxing match at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. AFP

Roach: Maybe this is it, I’ll urge Pacman to retire B

RISBANE—Manny Pacquiao’s trainer advised the Filipino legend to quit boxing Monday after his sensational defeat to unheralded Australian Jeff Horn.

While controversy raged over the scoring of Sunday’s World Boxing Organization welterweight title bout in Brisbane, after all three judges awarded it to unbeaten Horn, there were doubts whether 38-year-old Pacquiao would return for a possible rematch.

Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach said he would consider advising Pacquiao to retire after a glittering 22year professional career in which he won world titles at an unprecedented eight weight divisions.

“I’m going to talk to Manny about maybe calling it a day, maybe this is it,” Roach said.

Given no chance by most observers, the 29-year-old Horn’s ultraaggressive style rocked Pacquiao, with the three judges scoring the fight 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113 to

the Australian before 51,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium.

Pacquiao, (59-7-2) who insisted on a Brisbane rematch as a clause in his contract for the fight, declared however that he would “absolutely” return for a rematch.

“We have a clause for a rematch. No problem,” Pacquiao said in the ring after the judges’ decision.

But Australian boxing great and three-time world champion Jeff Fenech also called for Pacquiao, who retired briefly last year, to hang up his gloves for good this time.

“If they let Manny fight again, that’s stupid,” Fenech said.

“He should go relax and enjoy the money he has made. He’s got nothing to prove. Retire.

“Jeff fought the right fight and took

Manny to places he’d not been before ... he made it a bit dirty.”

A sense of Pacquiao’s declining powers is that the Philippines senator hasn’t stopped an opponent in eight years.

Roach however called for an investigation into the scoring of American judge Waleska Roldan.

She had the bout 117-111 to Horn, giving Pacquiao only three of the 12 rounds, despite Horn finishing the fight badly bruised and with a shut right eye.

Horn ‘out on his feet’ According to CompuBox statistics, Pacquiao landed almost twice as many punches as Horn—182 to 92. Judges American Chris Flores and Argentine Ramon Cerdan both thought it was closer, but Horn had edged the fight 115-113.

“I respect the judges’ decision,” Pacquiao said. “He was much tougher than I expected. Much, much tougher.”

Pacquiao told Philippines television: “We thought that we won this fight.”

However, Top Rank veteran supremo Bob Arum, who was ringside, felt the win was fair. “It could have gone either

way,” he said.

“A couple of close rounds, but you can’t argue with the result. I scored a lot of the early rounds for Jeff. Then I had Manny coming back in the middle.

“The 12th round, Jeff really won. If you give Manny the 11th, you have it a draw.

You give Jeff the 11th, it’s 7-5.”

Horn’s father, Jeff Snr, revealed after the fight that he had been ready to throw in the towel after the brutal ninth round.

His son had been battered by Pacquiao and blood was streaming from a nasty cut over Horn’s right eye.

As American referee Mark Nelson made his way to Horn’s corner to ask them whether they wanted to stop the fight, Jeff Snr feared the worst.

“He was dead in the water in round nine, he was gone,” Jeff Snr said.

“I was very worried. If I had a towel I may have thrown it myself in the ninth.

I looked at his eyes and I thought he was out on his feet. I really thought he was in danger of getting hurt in round nine.

“I didn’t expect him to come back like he did in round 10.” AFP

SMBeermen shooting for 2nd PBA grandslam

By Jeric Lopez AFTER winning the season’s first two championships, there’s no question about what San Miguel Beer wants to accomplish next in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Still fresh from its conquest of the Commissioner’s Cup Sunday night, San Miguel Beer is celebrating yet another title but is also looking forward to doing something that has never been done in the league before.

The Beermen are eyeing a second Grandslam in franchise history, now that the golden opportunity has presented itself.

They can put themselves in the history books by being the first team to

do so should they win the season-ending Governors’ Cup and win a possible second Grandslam after achieving it the first time in 1989.

“We’re celebrating and enjoying this victory, but no doubt, now, we are looking at winning the third conference for a Grandslam,” stated San Miguel team governor Robert Non following his team’s demolition of TNT KaTropa to emphatically claim another crown. “We have an opportunity for a Grandslam and we will do our best to win again.”

San Miguel Beer methodically worked its way to win the Commissioner’s Cup finals by finishing off the Tropang Texters, 4-2, in their best-of-seven showdown.

It was yet another textbook

conference for San Miguel Beer, just like its Philippine Cup conquest, as it breezed through and stepped it up in crucial stretches to make sure it comes out on top once again.

The dominant Beermen have won their fifth championship over the last eight conferences and their 24th overall, the most in the league.

Furthermore, they were able to snap their 17-year Commissioner’s Cup drought. They last won this tournament in 2000.

Now, San Miguel Beer has its eyes on a bigger prize that will further establish its dynasty in this era, but its campaign for the Governors’ Cup can wait as the Beermen are first cherishing yet another triumph.

Lions ready for rivals

By Peter Atencio

Players, coaches, management and supporters of the San Miguel Beermen celebrate another title conquest, this time the 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

North, South aces gear up for 5th Duel at Camp John Hay THE men of the tour take another break from their battle for individual honors as they clash in The Duel—North vs South, pitting the aces from Luzon against the top guns from Visayas and Mindanao beginning Wednesday at Camp John Hay Golf Club in Baguio City.

Team South dominated the singles, 9-3, and rallied to foil North, 12 1/2-11 1/2, in the last Duel at Wack Wack in 2015 and retain the crown in the Ryder Cup-style event held to further foster camaraderie among the country’s leading players from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The top 28 players in the ICTSI

Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit rankings will make up the two teams, including two alternates from each side, in the three-day tournament sponsored by ICTSI. Reigning OOM champion and current leader Tony Lascuña and No. 2 Clyde Mondilla banner Team South seeking a third straight championship and fourth overall in the fifth staging of the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments,Inc. Miguel Tabuena, on the other hand, will lead Team North that also includes young guns Jobim Carlos, Justin Quiban, Ira Alido and Keanu Jahns, all hard-pressed

to stop the talent-laden South squad and score a follow-up to their first and only win in 2013.

The Foursomes (alternate shot) matches will kick off The Duel on Wednesday then play shifts to four-ball (best ball) Thursday with the deciding singles (12 matches) set Friday.

“I think our chance to score a three-peat is very strong,” said Lascuña, who has posted two leg victories after 8 legs of the current season. “But John Hay could offer a different kind of challenge, particularly on our short game and putting.”

He added that they have to keep

the tee shots in play and stay patient on the up-and-down tricky layout.

Aside from Lascuña and Mondilla, the two hottest players on the tour today, coach Charles Hong also boasts of Jay Bayron, Elmer Salvador, Zanieboy Gialon, Orlan Sumcad, Jhonnel Ababa, Jessie Balasabas, Cassius Casas, Rufino Bayron, Rene Menor and Mhark Fernando with Marvin Dumandas as assistant coach.

But Team North, under coach Artemio Murakami with Miko Alejandro as assistant, is out to stop its counterpart’s domination although it must draw the best in team play and individual skills

from Benjie Magada, Joenard Rates, Randy Garalde, James Ryan Lam, Mars Pucay, Michael Bibat and Gerald Rosales.

Team South ruled the event’s inaugurals via a 16-12 decision but the North squad fought back with a thrilling 14 1/2-13 1/2 win the following year in a duel marred by South spearhead Juvic Pagunsan’s sudden withdrawal.

The opening Foursomes, featuring six matches, will be played on July 5 with the Fourball, also a six-match event, will be held on July 6. The deciding singles, featuring 12 matches, will be staged on July 7.

ON HIS second season since transferring from La Salle, Robert Bolick Jr. is getting ready to work with his new coach Boyet Fernandez.

His big efforts last year with the San Beda Red Lions, under former mentor Jamike Jarin helped the Red Lions regain the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball crown.

In the 93rd season, adjusting to Fernandez’s system won’t be a problem for the 5’11” Bolick, who is known for his on-court leadership.

“Nalalaro ko na ang laro ko.

Nagta-trabaho ako every day.

Happy ako dahil may outcome na,” said Bolick after the Red Lions showed a lot of improvement with their pre-season campaign.

Bolick, one of the team’s talented guards, expressed his thoughts on the coming season during yesterday’s NCAA press conference at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Fernandez, who is known for his half-court system of play, will be around to coach a squad facing a very competitive field when the season gets going on Saturday at the MOA Arena.

“Mabigat ang mga kalaban namin ngayon. Kasi every team, every school has improved a lot,” said Fernandez, who will have an idea of the strength and weaknesses of the Red Lions when they open their title defense against host San Sebastian College in the 2 p.m. opening game.

Jollibee eyes 8,000 stores in 5 years

B3

Business

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

Closing July 3, 2017

8500 8000 7500 7000 6500 6000

7,866.52 23.36

PESO-DOLLAR RATE Closing July 3, 2017

45.00 46.50 48.00

P50.545 CLOSE

51.00

HIGH P50.450 LOW P50.570 AVERAGE 50.517 VOLUME 395.000M

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

NEW BSP GOVERNOR. Outgoing Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. (left) raises the arm of new Bangko Sentral Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. (center) while Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo applauds during the bank’s 24th anniversary and turnover ceremony. Espenilla becomes the fourth governor of the BSP since it replaced the Central Bank in 1993. Ey Acasio

P20.75-P21.75

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monday, July 3, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States Japan

Dollar

1.000000

50.4490

Yen

0.008922

0.4501

UK

Pound

1.300900

65.6291

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128095

6.4623

Switzerland

Franc

1.043297

52.6333

Canada

Dollar

0.771129

38.9027

Singapore

Dollar

0.726427

36.6475

Australia

Dollar

0.768200

38.7549

Bahrain

Dinar

2.651816

133.7815

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

13.4523

Brunei

Dollar

0.723798

36.5149

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.029446

1.4855

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.7366

Euro

Euro

1.142100

57.6178

Korea

Won

0.000873

0.0440

China

Yuan

0.147458

7.4391

India

Rupee

0.015476

0.7807

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.233046

11.7569

New Zealand

Dollar

0.732700

36.9640

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032891

1.6593 Source: PDS Bridge

IN BRIEF DA unit launches hybrid rice contest THE Department of Agriculture’s regional field office 9 launched a hybrid technology derby in a 10-hectare rice field in Barangay Blancia, Molave town in Zamboanga del Sur province.

The agency invited over 100 rice farmers to witness the launching of the hybrid rice derby. The provincial and municipal agriculturists, agricultural extension workers and seed companies participated in the event at the demonstration farm owned by Dr. Ramon Blancia.

Among those that participated are SeedWorks Philippines Inc. (US 88, TH 82) Dosepco (Mestizo 19, 20, 38), Bayer (Bigante Plus, Arise Bigante, SL – Agri – Tech (SL 18, 12, 8) , Syngenta (5017, 6003), Pioneer (PHB 73, 77, 79) and Avanta (801).

“The purpose of conducting this hybrid rice derby in the region is to attain the rice self-sufficiency of the country through promoting and showcasing the yield potential of these hybrid rice varieties. We are showcasing these hybrid rice varieties to help local government units, farmers and other agriculture stakeholders to demonstrate the preference of suitability for planting in their local areas,” said regional rice commodity program coordinator Evelyn Academia. Anna Leah E. Gonzales

LRMC awarded best transport deal LIGHT RAIL Transit 1 operator Light Rail Manila Corp. took home the ‘Transport Deal of the Year’ in the recent Asset Asian Awards 2017 in Hong Kong for its P24-billion project loan facility.

LRMC’s project deal was recognized in the Triple A Asia Infrastructure Awards, which highlights the importance of investing in infrastructure development to aid in economic growth. The award was given by the Asset Publishing and Research Ltd., a multi-media company serving the elite community of leading corporate and financial decision makers in Asia.

Signed in February 2016 by LRMC together with local banks Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company, Security Bank Corp. and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., the P24-billion loan facility is allotted to finance the construction of the LRT-1 Cavite extension and rehabilitation of the existing LRT-1 system.

The 15-year omnibus loan and security agreement is expected to benefit 300,000 more passengers from the southern cities of Manila.

Majority of the loan or P15.3 billion will be used for the 11.7-kilometer Cavite extension project, which is expected to finish by 2021. The remaining 8.7 billion will be used for the rehabilitation program of the existing line, which runs from Baclaran in Parañaque City to Roosevelt in Quezon City.

B1

Espenilla takes over as new BSP governor

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX

49.50

TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2017

Fitch sees downward pressures against peso

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE peso tumbled to a new 10-year low of 50.545 against the US dollar Monday, as domestic and external developments combined to create downward pressures on the local currency.

Business Monitor International, a unit of Fitch Group, said it was now expecting the peso to close at 50.50 against the greenback at the end of 2017, down from its earlier estimate of 50 a dollar, as it took into account the fragile political outlook in the Philippines and the expected additional rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve.

“We note that risks to our peso view are

weighted to the downside. Firstly, the political outlook in Philippines could deteriorate more rapidly than we expected given the volatile nature of President Duterte and the deep division between the President and Vice President’s camp in both the executive and legislative branches,” BMI said in a report Monday.

“Secondly, should the US Fed hike interest rates faster than we expect, this could see hot money outflows intensify which would be negative for the PHP,” it said.

It said the Trump administration’s more protectionist policies could also negatively affect the Philippine economy and its external position.

BMI considered the Philippine peso as one of the worst-performing currencies in Asia, after it fell below the 50-a-dollar mark in June.

It said while there was scope for further spot weakness over the coming months given rising real rates in developed markets, the

local currency was not expected to weaken excessively.

“Additionally, we expect the Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas to tighten its policy rate by 50bps before end-2017, which should see real interest rate spread move in favor of the PHP. While we are revising our forecast for the peso to reach P50.50/US dollar at end2017, up from P50/USD previously, we remain constructive on the unit in total return terms,” BMI said.

BMI said the peso was expected to remain fairly stable over the coming quarters, averaging around P50.75 a dollar in 2018.

“On the positive side, although we expect structural inflation in the Philippines to average higher than the US due to persistently high loan and money supply growth, inflationary pressures are likely to remain anchored at around 4 percent over the coming quarters due to credible monetary policy in the country,” BMI said.

DEPUTY Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. on Monday took his oath of office as the fourth governor of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, succeeding Amando Tetangco Jr. who ended his second six-year term on July 2.

Tetangco, a multi-awarded central banker, was first appointed in 2005 by former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and reappointed by ex-president Benigno Simeon Aquino III in 2011, making him the longest-serving BSP governor.

Espenilla became the fourth Bangko Sentral governor since it was established in 1993 under the New Central Bank Act, which replaced the old central bank. His predecessors were Gabriel Singson, Rafael Buenaventura and Tetangco.

Espenilla will serve a fixed term of six years and head the policy-making Monetary Board. Espenilla was sworn in by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III at the Department of Finance office in Manila at 8:30 a.m. Monday.

Dominguez also sworn in the three newly-appointed Monetary Board members, including Peter Favila, Antonio Abacan Jr. and Felipe Medalla. Medalla was retained last week by President Rodrigo Duterte at the board while Favila and Abacan replaced Armando Suratos and Alfredo Antonio.

Espenilla said in a speech he would dedicate his sixyear term to building a legacy of excellence to ensure that the economy would remain stable.

“The BSP will continue to fine-tune its monetary policy...

We will continue to push for the amendment of the BSP Charter, the passage of the Islamic Banking Act, and strengthening the Anti-Money Laundering Act to ensure the integrity of the country’s financial system,” Espenilla said.

Espenilla vowed to pursue and advance the financial inclusion efforts of the government to ensure that “no one is left behind.” Julito G. Rada

Meralco’s power sales volume increased 4.2% in June

By Alena Mae S. Flores POWER sales volume of Manila Electric Co., the country’s largest electricity distributor, increased 4.2 percent in June from a year ago on strong demand from the residential sector, its top executive said Monday.

Meralco chairman Manuel Pangilinan said the growth in power sales picked up from 3 percent registered in the first quarter.

“The June numbers of Meralco, in terms of billed volume of power, rose by about 4.2 percent against last year. So the historic rate per month is about 3 percent...That’s June to June volume,” Meralco chairman Manuel Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan said sales volume in June increased from a year earlier, as “all customer classes were up driven by residential [segment],” Meralco senior vice president and head of customer retail services,

corporate marketing and communications Al Panlilio.

“Remember we came from a high base,” Pangilinan said, when asked whether the 4.2-percent sales growth in June was considered low. Meralco recorded higher sales growth of 6 percent in June 2016.

The company has yet to release its six-month financial results. It posted sales volume growth of 3 percent in the first quarter.

Energy sales in January to

March reached 9,317 gigawatthours, up 3 percent from 9,077 gWh sold in the same period in 2016.

Meralco recorded a net income of P4.8 billion in the first quarter, up 6 percent from P4.5 billion a year ago, on higher electricity sales.

Core net income was unchanged at P4 billion in the first quarter from a year earlier, as operating and business conditions proved to be challenging, the company said.

Revenues grew 12 percent in the first quarter to P64.7 billion, while operating expenses stood at P6.2 billion.

Meralco president Oscar Reyes earlier said sales growth was constrained in the first three months because of cooler temperature, the absence of February leap year effect equivalent to 100 gWh in energy sales, higher inflation rate of 3.4 percent, higher interest rates, weaker peso, higher fuel prices and average retail rate.

Peza projects hit P268b under Duterte’s 1st year

By Othel V. Campos THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority said Monday it approved P268.36 billion worth of investments in the first 365 days of the Duterte administration.

Peza director-general Charito Plaza said the amount was equivalent to P735 million in daily approved investments from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017.

The agency also approved a total of 564 projects during the period, translating into a daily approval rate of 1.54 projects, she said.

Plaza said these investment projects generated 73,043 jobs from July 1, 2016 to April 30, 2017, or about 240 jobs daily.

Data from Peza showed that

exports from economic zones and IT enterprises reached $42.103 billion from July 1, 2016 to April 30, 2017. This translated into daily exports of $138 million during the period.

Plaza attributed the strong Peza performance to the confidence of investors in the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

She said she was confident that the growth in Peza’s investments, exports and employment would continue over the next five years of Duterte’s term as more investors were expected to come to the Philippines.

She said new investments outside the traditional investment sources of Peza started to show interest in the country those from the Middle East and China.

MANULIFE EXPANSION. Manulife Philippines expands its local footprint by opening five new

branches in Imus, Cavite; Talisay, Cebu; Greenhills, San Juan; Lemery, Batangas; and Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

This increased Manulife Philippines’ network to 48 branches in the country. Shown during the Imus City branch opening are (from left) Manulife Philippines senior vice president and chief agency officer Stephen Ong, Imus mayor Emmanuel Maliksi, Manulife Philippines president and chief executive Ryan Charland and vice president and territory head Marlon Vicente.

B2

Business

TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market rises; Megaworld advances

S

TOCKS rose Monday, after central banks around the world indicated they are prepared to tighten monetary policy as the global economy gets back on track.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, added 23 points, or 0.3 percent, to close at 7,866.52, as four of the six major sectors advanced.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also gained 12 points, or 0.3 percent, to settle at 4,705.01, on a value turnover of P4.9 billion. Gainers outnumbered losers 118 to 74, while 53 issues were unchanged.

Fifteen of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by miner Nickel Asia Corp. which climbed 5.2 percent to P6.73 and developer Megaworld Corp. which advanced 4.7 percent to P4.50.

Meanwhile, Asian stocks were mixed while

oil extended the longest winning streak of the year. The yen erased an earlier gain sparked by the defeat of Japan’s ruling party in Tokyo elections.

The comments from major central banks such as Bank of England and European Central Bank signaled the end of policy divergence with the Federal Reserve, which has been in a tightening mode for years and supportive of the dollar.

“While we’ve known for some weeks now that policy makers at both the Bank of England and the ECB have become increasingly open to tighter monetary policy, this shift... was a sign that even the more dovish policy makers may be reluctantly accepting the possibility that monetary policy will become less accommodative,” said Oanda senior market analyst Craig Erlam.

Tokyo’s Nikkei ended 0.1 percent higher, boosted by a slightly weaker yen and a pickup in confidence among Japanese businesses.

However, traders were spooked by a huge defeat for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in

Tokyo assembly elections, with his ruling party losing more than half its seats as he is rocked by a series of scandals and falling support.

Hong Kong swung through the day and was up 0.2 percent in the afternoon while Shanghai edged 0.1 percent higher, despite a better-than-expected private survey showing Chinese manufacturing expanded last month.

Sydney fell 0.7 percent and Singapore edged up 0.2 percent while Seoul ended slightly stronger. Taipei and Jakarta rose but Wellington finished down.

In China, a link opening up the country’s $10-trillion bond market to the world began on Monday, with traders able to buy in through the connect programme in Hong Kong.

The new platform mirrors previously established link-ups between the share markets of Hong Kong and mainland China that now allow foreign and Chinese investors to buy shares in the each other’s markets. With AFP, Bloomberg

Filinvest Land begins 34-story Ortigas tower

By Jenniffer B. Austria PROPERTY developer Filinvest Land Inc. said it started the construction of One Filinvest, a 34-story tower that will replace the former Philcomcen building in Ortigas.

Filinvest said in a statement the office project would be the group’s first office development in Ortigas central business district. It is designed as an “intelligent building” equipped with fiber-optic cable and telecommunications backbone for high-speed connectivity.

“We are excited about this proj-

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW MONDAY, JULY 3, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 4 6,000 55.9 42,230 104.5 955,510 4.05 6,000 124 1,039,300 1.29 268,000 36.65 75,500 16.2 22,600 28.15 1,200,900 8.25 2,400 0.69 255,000 1.8 45,000 830 200 0.69 893,000 87.95 2,524,280 0.9 1,461,000 15.48 21,800 26 200 66.75 17,790 244.2 2,880 127 1,240 88.2 20 58.5 131,830 221 439,940 1,620 290 85.15 41,620 1.35 592,000

23,900 2,354,358.50 99,754,344 24,160 128,149,418 336,820 2,760,095 364,570 33,848,455 19,546 172,300 81,480 166,000 619,500 217,883,324.50 1,309,370 337,810 5,200 1,187,482.50 703,658 158,010 1,786 7,660,484.50 97,282,726 468,800 3,543,978 809,300

1,439,635 44,741,072 -19,264,841 2,550 106,105 -2,976,365 -77,000 6,908,279.50 18,000 1,166,122.50 1,929,823 8,024,542 -50,207 -

38.5 8.07 0.82 1.44 29.05 0.255 114.6 7.11 18.1 165.2 26.3 84.9 73 85.05 1.93 5.26 11.92 12.02 15.8 10 7.51 5.99 1.69 18.74 69.95 15 13.2 13.4 1.63 203 60 3.47 3.4 31.25 18.9 18.3 261 0.241 7.24 3.2 9.71 6.2 10.38 1.9 9.6 67.5 7 308.2 4.43 4.99 2.28 13 5.01 0.145 1.35 161.5 2.1 1.01

INDUSTRIAL 39.95 1,356,800 8.69 6,622,900 0.83 1,744,000 1.45 1,696,000 31.35 312,900 0.26 5,270,000 115 3,030 7.15 1,157,300 18.2 214,300 165.2 10 28.4 1,273,100 84.9 11,010 73 5,180 85.05 270 1.96 498,000 5.3 51,600 12 52,300 12.18 559,000 15.8 1,793,200 10.2 1,754,900 7.58 1,120,400 6.02 8,161,300 1.69 15,000 18.76 457,200 70 204,130 15.32 82,600 13.22 112,800 13.7 1,595,700 1.69 355,000 206.2 642,580 60 600 3.47 19,000 3.4 84,000 31.75 1,671,100 19.2 91,300 18.5 2,850,500 263 713,420 0.246 900,000 7.24 47,000 3.2 19,000 9.75 396,200 6.48 285,900 10.4 10,500 1.91 2,474,000 9.98 4,810,200 67.6 95,450 7 95,700 312 21,140 4.43 4,000 4.99 141,200 2.4 3,400,000 13.16 1,783,500 5.01 58,000 0.148 560,000 1.35 654,000 162.9 409,840 2.18 12,817,000 1.02 60,000

53,117,385(23 55,876,260 1,447,070 2,468,590 9,504,925 1,368,550 347,952 8,296,935 3,900,952 1,652 34,608,665 939,090.50 380,836 22,963.50 966,810 273,196 626,854 6,783,496 28,449,514 17,992,976 3 8,481,502 49,051,957 25,360 8,577,294(4, 14,289,659.50 1,257,056 1,492,104 21,756,354 585,420 132,218,194 36,000 66,230 286,780 53,066,730 1,744,492 52,657,930 187,509,946 217,900 340,405 60,940 3,861,101 1,829,593 109,802 4,737,570 47,794,759 6,501,111 2 670,421 6,619,542 17,750 706,620 7,971,060 23,393,824 293,480 81,530 882,930 66,646,290 27,757,670 61,600

,537,010.0003) 798,605 -264,920 -62,700 -1,568,245 1,337,830 -19,630.50 24,196 -87,600 4,426,002 3,846,066 ,893,273.9999 5,942,184 6,391,060 470,806.0004) 531,653.50 -1,276,388 -471,392 15,145,542 170,000 43,614,175 53,562 -40,588,950 95,014,500 32,000 -953,208 -587,130 -12,242 ,788,423.0004 -696,450 -13,320 2,023,730 16,450,006 -22,421,697 -1,542,570 -

0.375 76.15 14.4 1.24 6.58 0.35 0.355 858 7.94 14.4 7.8 0.207 1,213 7.86 81.6 6.02 5.43 6.12 1 7.15 14.9 6.45 0.054 2.23 104 2.7 799 0.89 1.46 304 0.285 0.21 0.243

0.36 75.1 14.28 1.2 6.32 0.34 0.34 841 7.9 14.2 7.65 0.195 1,191 7.8 80.75 5.7 5.43 5.41 0.98 7.03 14.78 6.37 0.053 2.16 102.5 2.69 790.5 0.88 1.42 302.2 0.285 0.205 0.241

0.375 75.9 14.4 1.23 6.33 0.34 0.35 851 7.9 14.3 7.8 0.195 1,202 7.8 81.5 6 5.43 6.12 1 7.03 14.78 6.45 0.053 2.19 104 2.69 795 0.88 1.43 303.6 0.285 0.205 0.241

1,060,000 777,740 1,436,900 112,000 1,700 1,840,000 1,650,000 114,730 592,300 17,171,800 9,800 1,140,000 49,320 6,600 905,220 48,400 100 900 972,000 1,895,000 433,600 10,451,400 11,620,000 1,757,000 50,940 4,000 270,160 117,000 964,000 1,810 480,000 520,000 900,000

391,000 58,997,538.50 20,642,498 136,880 10,773 626,400 565,150 97,519,635 4,679,815 245,150,058 75,044 224,930 59,191,250 51,486 73,555,118 36 286,494 543 4,940 959,390 13,346,816 6,414,532 67,197,815 618,980 3,848,530 5,287,402 10,770 214,731,685 103,820 1,375,730 549,294 136,800 108,100 217,840

39,944,452.50 10,268,850 136,000 31,818,980 394,210 34,121,206 -12,313,215 ,575,884.5001 -6,930 -12,132,240 2,047,188 28,204,002 4,250 1,749,097 5,863,950 22,050 -151,746 50,820

6.6 1.36 6.04 2.54 1.24 40.4 3.9 5.55 5.27 0.56 1.14 1.62 0.19 0.51 48 0.72 0.155 1.7 1.27

6.31 1.31 6.04 2.49 1.18 39.1 3.78 5.32 5.27 0.55 1.1 1.56 0.183 0.5 47.5 0.7 0.155 1.68 1.24

6.32 1.34 6.04 2.54 1.19 40.4 3.88 5.4 5.27 0.55 1.14 1.59 0.189 0.51 48 0.71 0.155 1.69 1.25

326,600 5,381,000 400 106,000 12,481,000 5,476,700 686,000 6,440,200 92,800 32,707,000 222,000 2,707,000 8,160,000 5,834,000 42,200 6,666,000 380,000 114,000 3,933,000

2,095,959 7,204,680 2,416 263,990 15,048,640 218,604,605 2,637,360 34,952,902 489,056 18,102,220 247,600 4,308,820 1,523,000 2,949,740 2,018,735 4,732,860 58,900 193,170 4,919,620

-288,816 -53,300 -261,450 13,310 5,330,460 601,450 -2,161,960 -3,752,250 -10,080 711,000 1,830 -608,860 329,830 -4,400,580 10,080

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

3.95 55.7 104 3.95 123.5 1.29 36.7 16.3 28.1 8.26 0.66 1.8 830 0.7 86.9 0.9 15.5 26 66.75 243.6 135 90.4 58.5 220 1,615 85.2 1.37

4 55.9 104.6 4.05 124 1.29 36.7 16.3 28.35 8.26 0.69 1.84 830 0.7 87.95 0.93 15.5 26 66.75 244.8 135 90.4 58.5 223.8 1,620 85.2 1.42

3.95 55.4 103.6 3.95 122 1.25 36.5 16.02 27.95 7.82 0.65 1.75 830 0.69 84.9 0.86 15.48 26 66.75 243.6 127 88.2 57.6 219.6 1,615 85.15 1.32

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG 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 MABUHAY VINYL 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 VITARICH VULCAN INDL

38.9 8.07 0.85 1.48 29.95 0.26 114.8 7.11 18.2 165.2 26.3 85.4 73.8 85.05 1.98 5.26 12 12.2 15.8 10.2 7.56 6.07 1.7 18.9 70 15.24 13.3 13.4 1.65 204 60 3.47 3.5 31.4 19 18.66 261.8 0.25 7.24 3.26 9.74 6.2 10.38 1.95 9.6 67.6 7.01 310 4.44 5.2 2.34 13.1 5.1 0.146 1.35 162.7 2.1 1.01

39.95 8.69 0.85 1.5 31.35 0.265 115 7.28 18.3 165.2 28.4 85.4 76.5 85.05 1.98 5.4 12.2 12.2 15.94 10.38 7.65 6.07 1.7 18.9 70.5 15.32 13.3 13.8 1.69 207 60 3.63 3.5 32 19.2 18.68 265 0.25 7.29 3.26 9.8 6.49 10.56 1.95 10.1 69 7.02 316 4.44 5.2 2.42 13.24 5.2 0.148 1.36 162.9 2.2 1.05

HOLDING FIRMS 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 METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME ORION SAN MIGUEL CORP SEAFRONT RES SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER UNIOIL HLDG WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.37 76.15 14.3 1.2 6.32 0.35 0.34 858 7.9 14.2 7.65 0.203 1,210 7.8 81 5.7 5.43 5.41 0.99 7.15 14.9 6.41 0.054 2.23 102.5 2.7 799 0.89 1.43 304 0.285 0.21 0.243

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

6.6 1.31 6.04 2.49 1.18 39.6 3.83 5.39 5.27 0.56 1.1 1.58 0.183 0.51 47.7 0.71 0.155 1.7 1.25

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

IRC PROP 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

1.02 4.32 0.405 0.365 0.63 4.05 33 24.25 1.72 3.23 33 1.01 0.9 5.8

1.05 4.5 0.415 0.365 0.63 4.15 33.8 24.6 1.72 3.23 33.45 1.02 0.91 6.03

1 4.32 0.395 0.35 0.62 4.02 33 24.05 1.72 3.2 32.7 1 0.9 5.71

1.04 4.5 0.41 0.35 0.62 4.02 33.8 24.6 1.72 3.2 33.2 1.02 0.9 6.03

1,089,000 31,264,000 124,450,000 940,000 3,101,000 1,307,000 2,300 1,163,600 95,000 221,000 6,606,500 3,899,000 32,000 10,761,800

1,102,690 139,062,910 42 50,438,800 329,850 1,928,770 5,301,570 76,060 28,451,165 163,400 707,830 218,896,845 3,917,870 28,810 63,078,270

,644,029.9996 145,800 3,600 -4,050,000 19,800 -2,304,905 32,000 61,628,685 204,010 -19,722,131

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

23.35 42.3 1.56 0.49 0.043 10.76 5.35 9.26 0.088 98.1 8.6 2.51 2,048 6.15 15.68 2.88 98 8.75 0.187 1.4 3.5 16 4.3 1.77 7.12 0.6 8.74 4.57 15.16 2.63 11.5 5.07 187 10.98 1,796 1.55 44.5 87 6.04 4.08 1.43 3.46 0.82 7.94

24.6 42.3 1.58 0.495 0.046 10.76 5.36 9.3 0.089 98.5 8.69 2.51 2,060 6.2 15.98 2.95 99.15 8.8 0.187 1.45 3.55 16 4.3 1.9 7.45 0.6 9 4.8 15.2 2.63 11.5 5.19 187 11.26 1,796 1.56 45 88.15 6.19 4.16 1.48 3.53 0.83 7.95

22.8 42 1.54 0.49 0.043 10.76 5.35 9.06 0.087 96 8.53 2.51 2,022 6.14 15.68 2.88 97 8.75 0.184 1.4 3.46 15.68 4.22 1.66 7.12 0.59 8.7 4.52 15.16 2.58 11.48 5.07 178.5 10.7 1,754 1.53 44.25 87 6.04 3.98 1.42 3.46 0.81 7.73

SERVICES 23.2 42.3 1.57 0.495 0.045 10.76 5.36 9.25 0.088 96.15 8.55 2.51 2,052 6.2 15.98 2.93 97.5 8.8 0.184 1.41 3.46 15.68 4.26 1.88 7.3 0.59 8.8 4.79 15.2 2.6 11.48 5.19 182 11 1,770 1.56 45 87.9 6.19 4.11 1.46 3.52 0.83 7.73

469,900 53,500 194,000 90,000 35,200,000 100 12,600 6,028,800 23,260,000 189,870 261,000 2,000 35,825 269,500 143,200 520,000 2,167,220 275,000 10,310,000 164,000 95,000 2,400 356,000 2,058,000 4,070,600 259,000 6,315,200 11,021,000 3,200 506,000 1,500 10,500 20,280 2,414,600 97,255 26,724,000 264,200 1,545,940 4,272,900 15,536,000 16,949,000 7,783,000 5,850,000 6,440,100

11,097,920 2,256,310 303,080 44,350 1,572,100 1,076 67,495 55,335,810 2,037,150 18,375,004.50 2,247,000 5,020 73,355,060 1,665,976 2,265,296 1,525,430 211,662,078 2,406,300 1,907,830 231,380 333,080 37,676 1,517,120 3,653,110 29,826,829 154,360 55,577,982 52,067,060 48,592 1,312,930 17,240 53,295 3,691,075 26,801,842 172,061,020 41,661,980 11,804,960 135,946,235 26,184,849 63,664,270 24,757,770 27,269,540 4,796,500 50,142,314

377,500 -4,620 -22,299,490 87,880 -1,730,077 43,250 -46,659,580 -56,040,581 21,300 18,800 822,107 -10,130,145 -160,380 12,515 -6,724,752 3,614,590 -130,900 1,343,365 10,263,225 -12,712,300 -1,818,640 59,940 2,028,140 9,840 24,056,462

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

0.0029 1.72 5.2 14.26 2.08 2.09 0.94 0.39 8.8 2.51 0.285 0.178 0.186 0.01 2 6.4 2.07 0.7 0.95 0.01 0.01 7.22 0.013 2.8 8.89 2.97 160.5 0.0085

0.003 1.75 5.57 14.78 2.08 2.09 0.94 0.39 8.8 2.67 0.295 0.18 0.19 0.01 2.03 6.95 2.07 0.74 1 0.011 0.01 7.36 0.013 2.8 9.1 2.98 161.9 0.0085

0.0029 1.67 5.2 13.34 2.08 2.09 0.9 0.39 8.5 2.49 0.285 0.178 0.186 0.01 1.87 6.4 2 0.64 0.95 0.01 0.01 7.03 0.012 2.55 8.89 2.96 160 0.0085

MINING & OIL 0.003 1,048,000,000 1.75 8,094,000 5.5 589,200 14.78 4,300 2.08 3,000 2.09 3,000 0.94 2,259,000 0.39 430,000 8.5 9,500 2.65 5,170,000 0.29 100,000 0.18 2,570,000 0.189 350,000 0.01 10,200,000 2.01 1,685,000 6.73 17,533,800 2.03 168,000 0.65 9,836,000 1 229,000 0.011 44,900,000 0.01 1,400,000 7.1 322,900 0.013 6,400,000 2.63 264,000 9.01 2,715,700 2.98 326,000 160.5 1,061,440 0.0085 1,000,000

3,040,800 13,876,630 3,196,850 60,680 6,240 6,270 2,095,740 167,700 80,801 13,420,420(2, 29,000 461,300 65,420 102,000 3,336,080 118,117,180 338,000 6,622,230 227,470 466,900 14,000 2,292,574 81,200 704,990 24,583,007 970,020 170,351,933 8,500

229,100.00 337,000 -53,500 -78,000 462,599.9997) 23,150.00 7,560 -555,710 -28,844,951 236,340 14,400 1,300 524,339 74,716,900 -

AC PREF B1 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF F GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A PNX PREF 3A SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2I

515 107.5 105 112 5.95 1,005 108 1,030 106 76.1 81.1 76.2 79.05 80 78.6 78.9

515 107.5 105.8 112 6.05 1,005 108 1,030 106 76.25 81.1 76.2 79.05 80 78.6 79

515 107 104.8 112 5.95 1,000 108 1,030 106 76.1 81 76.2 79.05 80 78.6 78.9

PREFERRED 515 20 107 3,780 105 161,290 112 4,000 6.05 1,407,000 1,002 6,180 108 500 1,030 45 106 20,000 76.25 60 81.1 5,100 76.2 18,260 79.05 500 80 20,300 78.6 8,900 79 15,700

10,300 404,600 16,930,072 448,000 8,505,858 6,210,680 54,000 46,350 2,120,000 4,567.50 413,260 1,391,412 39,525 1,624,000 699,540 1,239,800

53,500 -539,964 20,000 -699,540 -

LR WARRANT

2.3

2.32

2.27

WARRANTS 2.27 55,000

125,810

-

953,330 76,025 19,661,090

-5,323,223

470,118

-

MS ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

3.96 5.94 8.47

3.99 5.96 8.63

3.9 5.9 8.4

FIRST METRO ETF

118.5

118.5

117.7

USD DMPL A1

10.48

TRADING SUMMARY

10.5

SHARES

FINANCIAL

10,048,301

INDUSTRIAL

71,634,539

HOLDING FIRMS

57,464,726

PROPERTY SERVICES MINING & OIL GRAND TOTAL

276,885,507 193,935,461 1,165,924,169 1,778,458,085

10.48

3.96 5.94 8.5

SME

243,000 12,800 2,305,200

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118.2 3,980 10.5

DDS

1,920

20,148.80

-

-

VALUE 1,945.93 (up) 7.99 600,055,017.36 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,038.06 (up) 74.71 964,773,162.396 HOLDING FIRMS 7,877.55 (down) -11.57 912,806,729.33 PROPERTY 3,654.65 (up) 47.86 1,681.51 (down) -6.13 851,243,563.53 SERVICES MINING & OIL 12,706.27 (up) 138.52 1,170,795,237.465 PSEI 7,866.52 (up) 23.36 364,749,929.7605 All Shares Index 4,705.01 (up) 12.98 4,885,585,903.04 Gainers: 118; Losers: 74; Unchanged: 53; Total: 245

ect. This is Filinvest’s response to the ever growing demand for rental office spaces, and we look forward to serving that demand with the completion of One Filinvest,” Filinvest Cyberarks Inc. first vice president for project development Janette Cordero said.

The project was designed by world-renowned architect and interior designer, Handel Architects LLP and internationally acclaimed structural and civil engineering firm, Magnusson Klemencic Associates.

One Filinvest is envisioned to accommodate both traditional and business process outsourcing offices.

It will offer office spaces ranging from 200 square meters to 250 sqm, while companies that require bigger space have the option of utilizing an entire floor with 1,800 sqm allowing for even greater flexibility.

One Filinvest is deemed to be a prominent structure in the heart of Ortigas CBD along ADB and Ortigas Avenue. It is highly accessible through different modes of transportation and is close to various commercial centers, shopping malls and other business and leisure establishments.

Filinvest acquired the property in 2014 in a bidding conducted by Government Service Insurance System.

One Filinvest secured a gold LEED pre-certification, a rating system that aims to accelerate the development and implementation of “green” building practices.

Aboitiz lists P3b worth of bonds

By Alena Mae S. Flores ABOITIZ Power Corp. listed P3 billion worth of Series A fixed-rate bonds due 2027 with Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.

The bonds represent the first tranche of the power company’s P30-billion shelf-registered securities approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Aboitiz Power chief financial officer Liza Luv Montelibano led the bell ringing ceremony at PDEx to herald the listing and the start of trading of the AP Series A bonds.

The company said with the latest listing, the combined level of outstanding securities of Aboitiz Power and parent Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. listed on PDEx reached P45 billion, representing 6 percent of the total corporate fixed-income issues in the registered market.

This 15th listing with PDEx brought total listings this year to P110.38 billion, an increase of 555 percent from the same period last year. The total level of tradable corporate debt instruments also hit P711.09 billion, comprised of 120 securities from 45 companies.

“Aboitiz Power continues to be committed to achieving reliable, cost-effective and sustainable power supply.

We believe that by achieving this right balance, we will be poised to help the country achieve energy security to push its continued development,” Montelibano said.

She said Aboitiz Power was driven to push the company’s growth by taking on projects and seizing opportunities.

Business

B3

TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

WILCON IN TALISAY. Wilcon Depot Inc., the country’s premier home building merchandise store, opens its 38th branch in Bacolod-Talisay at Zone 15, Barangay Matab-ang, Talisay City, Negros Occidental to cater

to the home renovation and designing needs of the Negrenses. Wilcon chairman Emeritus William Belo (sixth from right), senior executive vice president and chief operating officer Rosemarie Bosch Ong (sixth from left) and chief product officer Careen Belo (fifth from left) lead the inaugural rites. With them are guests of honor and local officials Talisay Mayor Nilo Jesus Antonio Lizares III (center) Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson (fifth from right) and Talisay City administrator Ismael Paredes Penado (left).

Jollibee plans 8,000 stores in 5 years

By Jenniffer B. Austria

F

ASTFOOD giant Jollibee Foods Corp. plans to build up its network to 8,000 stores over the next five years after expanding it to 4,000 by the end of 2017.

Jollibee president Ernesto Tanmantiong said in an interview at the sidelines of the recent stockholders’ meeting the group would achieve the target of 8,000 stores mostly through organic growth and acquisitions.

“Our plan is to double in five years.

So we are now 4,000 stores by end 2017.

We are now aiming to have 8,000. While the overall target is 10,000, we believe that over the next five years, we can have

8,000 stores,” Tanmantiong said.

“This will mainly be from organic growth and acquisitions. We continue to be open to acquisitions mainly in the three pillars we have identified, namely Philippines, China and the United States,” Tanmantiong added.

Most of the store openings over the next five years will also be geared overseas as the fastfood giant aims to divide equally the revenue contribution of overseas and domestic outlets.

Only 20 percent of the group’s revenues currently come from overseas stores. The figure excludes joint venture businesses.

Including joint ventures, foreign business would account for 30 percent of group’s global system wide sales.

“We hope to hit 50 percent foreign sales over the next five years,” Tanmantiong said.

Jollibee sees the bulk of expected in-

Back to “An Island in the Pacific” tourism?

THE development of the tourism sector has not been one of the success stories of Philippine economic history, with the tourist-arrivals total growing slowly year after year, reaching a mere six million in 2016. This dismal performance has been widely attributed to the persistent impression abroad about this country’s political stability.

There has been no worse time for the development of the Philippine tourism industry than the period 1972-1986. Those were the years when the Philippines was under martial law and President Ferdinand E. Marcos ruled this country with dictatorial powers.

The international community treated Mr. Marcos like a pariah and foreign tourists regarded the Philippines as a politically unstable state. Fearful of civil unrest and turned off by the reports of governmental abuse of citizens’ rights, foreign tourists avoided the Philippines. The Philippine tourism industry stagnated.

The tourism-industry establishments and their host local governments—provinces, cities and municipalities—were faced with a stark choice: accept the situation or devise creative approaches to the industry’s development. They chose the latter course.

Of the various schemes intended to counter the damaging effects of martial law on the Philippine tourism industry, the most creative was the scheme devised and implemented by the government of Cebu and the Cebu tourism industry. The scheme was tantamount to a secession from the Republic of one of the nation’s most populous and historically significant provinces. Since there was nothing they could do about martial law and policymaking in far-off Manila, the government of Cebu and the province’s tourism industry declared the island of Cebu to be “An Island in the Pacific.” That was the tagline—hashtag it would be called today—that Cebu’s hospitality-industry folk used in establishing their island’s geographic location. The decision to resort to the “Island in the Pacific” marketing of Cebu’s tourism industry was a measure of the toxic effect of national politics on Philippine tourism.

The “Island in the Pacific” marketing campaign, led by the aggressive Cebu governor, Emilio Osmeña, was not only very creative; it was also highly successful. The province’s hospitality industry experienced a “Shhboom,” and once-sleepy municipalities suddenly came to life. Argao, Moalboal, Lapulapu, Oslob—places like these were now seeing once-quiet beaches sprouting beach resorts and water-sport facilities. It was a clear case of “Goodbye, Philippines, hello Island in the Pacific.”

This brings me to the situation and prospects of the Philippine tourism industry at the midpoint of 2017. With the steady outflow of bad political and security news out of this country and an equally steady stream of don’t-go-to-the-Philippines advisories to foreigners from their governments, it has occurred to me that, instead of requesting the news idea to tone down their bad-news reporting, the Secretary of Tourism might consider a reversion to the “An Island in the Pacific” approach to tourism promotion.

Considering that the succession of expensive government overseas marketing campaigns—Wow Philippines, It’s More Fun in the Philippines and the recent aborted McCann-Erickson format—have not succeeded in pushing this country’s tourism industry into a sharply higher trajectory, the “Island in the Pacific” approach might just do the trick, Secretary Teo. “The Philippines: Wonderful Islands in the Pacific.” Sounds good to me.

crease in foreign sales from China, the US and Vietnam.

The group has earmarked a record P14.7 billion in capital expenditures for 2017 to finance rollout of new stores and expansion of its commissary both here and China.

Aside from store expansion, the consolidation of Superfoods Group under Jollibee’s operations starting in May is expected to help the company achieve the 4,000 store network target this year.

Jollibee in May increased its stake in Superfoods Group to 60 percent. Superfoods Group currently operates the brands Highlands Coffee and Pho 24, and is a franchisee of Hard Rock Café.

Superfoods over the next three years plans to open 485 stores by expanding its presence in Indonesia, Cambodia, Korea and Australia.

“We aim to make Highlands Coffee and

Pho 24 to be dominant market leaders and truly national brands of Vietnam,” Jollibee chairman Tony Tan Caktiong said.

He said these plans would help the company achieve its long term vision to become one of the top five quick service restaurants in the world in terms of market capitalization.

Meanwhile,the company on Monday opened Monday the 1,000th store of the flagship brand Jollibee at Bonifacio Global City Triangle Drive in Taguig City.

The store features thelatest modern tropical design concept that will appeal to customers of all ages.

Over 200 Jollibee stores also operate outside the Philippines. The fastfood chain is set to open a Jollibee store in Manhattan, New York City and a second store in Canada before the end of 2017 or early 2018.

Foreign investments rise to $1.56b

By Othel V. Campos AN updated foreign direct investments report showed a 17-percent increase to $1.56 billion in the first three months of 2017, the Trade Department said Monday.

The department also noted that business confidence level in the Philippines rose to 43 percent in the second quarter of 2017 from 39 percent in the first quarter, indicating investments in 2017 may reach record high.

Consumer confidence also improved for the second quarter of 2017, climbing to a double-digit

record high of 13 percent from 8.7 percent in the first quarter.

The increased investor confidence in the Philippines is reflected by the 41 percent rise in the number of companies and organizations from the international community that visited the country from July to December 2016.

Unemployment rate dropped to 5.7 percent in April 2017 from 6.6 percent in January.

Government data showed that net inflow of FDIs in 2016 reached $7.93 billion, up 41 percent from $5.64 billion generated in 2015.

The Trade Department said the foreign investments level in the second semester of 2016 almost doubled compared with the first semester, “a clear indication of the growing foreign investor confidence in the country’s sound economic policies and attractive business environment.”

Moreover, the presidential visits resulted in several investments agreements and letter of intents among businessmen amounting to $37 billion, $18 billion in official development assistance loans and $4.3 billion worth of trade.

GO LOKAL! PARTNER. The Go Lokal! team led by Trade Assistant Secretary Rosvi Gaetos initiates discussions with Philippine Airlines Inc. on a partnership to promote Go Lokal! products, a Filipino concept store which carries quality and innovative products crafted, designed and manufactured by the country’s micro, small and medium enterprise. Shown are (from left)trade assistant secretary coordinating officer Rosario Liwanag, Bureau of Domestic Trade and Promotions director Rhodora Leano, PAL vice president for Marketing Ria Domingo, Trade and Investment Promotions Group Assistant Secretary Rosvi Gaetos, PAL’s Romeo Javier, and Bureau of Domestic Trade assistant director Marievic Bonoan.

New PCA chief eyes industry road map

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales NEWLY-appointed Philippine Coconut Authority Administrator Romulo Dela Rosa on Monday vowed to improve the country’s coconut sector by establishing an industry road map.

Dela Rosa said in a speech during the turnover ceremony the PCA must review the Philippine coconut industry vision to make it holistic and encompassing not only the agricultural sector but also manufacturing, trade and commerce.

The PCA chief said in order to revitalize the coconut industry, the PCA must define the vision and roadmap of the sector, strengthen the structure of the agency to make it responsive to the total needs of the industry, and mobilize the resources necessary to achieve goals.

“The new industry vision should synergize and energize the entire coconut industry to realize its role in nation building. We shall develop the Philippine coconut industry strategy through broad and wide-ranging consultations with all industry stakeholders,” said Dela Rosa.

He said the road map should result in diversification of the industry’s products and markets through vertical and horizontal integration, improved contribution to the national economy by increasing domestic value addition, increased agricultural productivity by modernizing the farming sector and strong integration between the farm and manufacturing sectors.

“We must see to it that the organizational structure of PCA is able to carry out the new industry vision and mission. As the instrumentality of the state in the coconut sector, PCA must bridge the farming, manufacturing and trading sectors. We must study the value chain of the coconut and ensure that all value chain players get an equitable share in the economic benefits of enterprise,” he added.

Cebu Pacific begins Dumaguete night flights

By Darwin G Amojelar CEBU Pacific said it will start evening evening flights to and from the Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport effective July 7.

The Gokongwei-led airline said it would mount three additional roundtrip flights weekly between Manila and Dumaguete with the last flight leaving Manila at 5:20 p.m. and ar-

riving in Dumaguete at 6:50 p.m,. while its return flight will be departing Dumaguete at 8:00 p.m.

All flights will use the 180-seater A320 aircraft, with its lowest year-round fare available at only P1,643.

Cebu Pacific flies 21 times weekly between Manila and Dumaguete; and 14 times a week between Cebu and Dumaguete, through wholly-

owned subsidiary Cebgo.

“We laud the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, the Department of Transportation, and other aviation authorities for their drive to improve the operational efficiency of our airport ecosystem in the country,” Cebu Pacific vice president for corporate affairs JR Mantaring said.

“Moreover, increasing the

number of airports with night operations will allow CEB, along with other carriers, the leeway to spread flight times and will in turn improve aircraft movement and traffic at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport during the peak hours,” he added.

Prior to Dumaguete, Cebu Pacific announced night flights to and from Caticlan, the gateway to Boracay.

Business

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

B4

TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2017

Oil extends longest rally, rises to $46.38 OIL extended the longest run of gains this year as US drilling slowed after a record expansion.

Futures climbed as much as 0.7 percent in New York after rising 8.3 percent the previous seven sessions. US drillers targeting crude reduced the number of active rigs for the first time in 24 weeks, according to Baker Hughes Inc. data on Friday. Hedge fund wagers on lower prices in the week through June 27 increased at a slower pace than the two previous weeks, according to data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

While prices have surged the past week, oil in New York and London still posted a monthly loss in June after tumbling into a bear market on concerns that rising global supply will counter cuts from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners. Libyan production has climbed to more than 1 million barrels a day for the first time in four years.

“Given the recent upward

momentum, it wouldn’t be surprising to see oil fairly close to some sort of downward correction,” said Ric Spooner, a market analyst at CMC Markets in Sydney. “Libya is probably close to its peak production.

Nevertheless, the fact its output reached these levels faster than some had anticipated is a negative for the overall supply situation.”

West Texas Intermediate for August delivery rose as much as 34 cents to $46.38 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, and was at $46.28 at 7:56 a.m. in London. Total volume traded was about 20 percent below the 100-day average. The contract gained $1.11 to $46.04 on Friday to post a 7 percent increase for the week.

Brent for September settlement was 20 cents higher at $48.97 a barrel on the Londonbased ICE Futures Europe exchange. Front-month prices gained 5.2 percent last week.

The global benchmark crude traded at a premium of $2.45 to September WTI. AFP

VIDE-GAME FEST. Video game players compete against each other, at the Palais des Congres in Bordeaux during the eSports World Convention Summer edition, on July 2, 2017. More than 200 professional video-game players from around the world gather during weekend of July 1 and July 2, 2017 to attend the ESWC show in Bordeaux and confirm the growing place of eSports in our leisure society. AFP

China opens up $10-t bond market

By Dan Martin

S

HANGHAI―China on Monday opened up its $10-trillion bond market to foreign investors, in the latest liberalization move

by Beijing as it seeks to draw in more fund flows as it battles slowing economic growth.

The new conduit comes via Hong Kong, where “qualified investors” will be able to buy debt in China―the world’s third-largest bond market after the United States and Japan.

Qualified investors include central banks, sovereign

wealth funds, and other major financial institutions, according to the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, who jointly announced the platform on Sunday.

Their statement said the

“bond connect” arrangement between the Hong Kong and mainland Chinese markets went into “experimental operation” from Monday.

The announcement came on a weekend in which Hong Kong and China marked the 20th anniversary of Britain’s handover of the southern Chinese financial center back to Beijing in 1997.

“The bond connect is an important move for the central government to support Hong Kong’s development and promote cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong,” the PBoC said Monday.

It will “promote Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability and provide a more convenient investment channel for overseas investors. It will also steadily push forward the opening up of China’s financial market.”

The growing Chinese bond market has been virtually out of reach for foreign investors, who currently hold less than 1.5 percent of bonds issued in China, according to estimates by Bloomberg.

The new platform mirrors previously established link-ups between the share markets of Hong Kong and mainland China that

now allow foreign and Chinese investors to buy shares in the each other’s markets.

Those links give foreigners some access to China-listed shares, while also allowing Chinese firms to buy Hong Kongtraded stocks.

The new bond connect scheme, however, currently only allows foreign investors to buy Chinese debt.

HSBC said it completed its first deal under the new arrangement as underwriter for a bond issue by Agricultural Development Bank of China.

“The enhanced ease of

Total to sign Iran gas deal, biggest since sanctions lifted

By Eric Randolph TEHRAN, Iran―French energy giant Total will finally sign its multi-billiondollar agreement to develop an Iranian offshore gas field on Monday, the oil ministry said, in the biggest foreign deal since sanctions were eased last year.

“The international agreement for the development of phase 11 of South Pars will be signed on Monday in the presence of the oil ministry and managers of Total, the Chinese company CNPC and Iranian company Petropars,” a ministry spokesman told AFP. Total signed a preliminary deal with Iran in November, taking a 50.1 percent stake in the $4.8 billion (4.2 billion euro) project.

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) will own 30 percent and Petropars 19.9 percent.

Total will put in an initial $1 billion for the first stage of the 20-year project.

The gas produced will “feed into the domestic Iranian market starting from 2021,” a Total spokesman told AFP in Paris.

He said the company would “implement the project with the strictest respect for national and international law.”

The contract was initially due to be signed in early 2017, but CEO Patrick Pouyanne said in February that Total would wait to see whether the US administration of President Donald Trump reimposed sanctions on Iran.

Trump threatened during his campaign to tear up the landmark accord between Iran and six world powers that came into force in January 2016 and eased sanctions in exchange for curbs to Tehran’s nuclear program.

His administration has taken a tough line on Iran and imposed fresh sanctions related to its ballistic missile program and military activities in the region.

But the White House has kept the nuclear deal alive, continuing to waive the relevant sanctions every few months as required under the agreement.

This file photo taken on March 12, 2017 shows an Iranian laborer walking the platform of the oil facility in the Khark Island, on the shore of the Gulf. French energy giant Total is to sign a $4.8-billion deal to develop an Iranian offshore gas field, the oil ministry said on July 2, 2017, in the biggest foreign deal since sanctions were eased. AFP

It is partway through a 90-day review on whether to uphold the deal, although any move to abandon it would be strongly opposed by the other signatories―Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia.

Return to Iran Monday’s signing will mark Total’s return to Iran, which has the second-largest gas reserves and fourth-largest oil reserves in the world.

The French firm led development of phases two and three of South Pars in the 1990s and had signed up to develop phase 11 back in 2009.

But it was forced to abandon its proj-

ects in Iran in 2012 when France joined European Union partners in imposing sanctions, including an oil embargo, over the country’s nuclear program.

Iran’s oil officials have been keen to attract Western investment and know-how to improve the country’s outdated energy infrastructure.

Iran has also signed preliminary agreements with Shell and Russia’s Gazprom to develop oil and gas projects.

Such deals have not been without controversy in Iran, which has bitter memories of exploitation and interventions driven by foreign oil interests.

Conservatives criticized the move to award tenders to foreign firms last year.

That forced the oil ministry to confirm that domestic conglomerates, including one controlled by the elite Revolutionary Guards, would be allowed to compete.

The first stage of the new 20-year project at South Pars will cost around $2 billion and consist of 30 wells and two well-head platforms connected to existing onshore treatment facilities.

The site will eventually pump 50.9 million cubic meters (1.8 billion cubic feet) of gas per day into Iran’s national grid. AFP

investment under Bond Connect will attract more overseas funds, creating a more diversified investor base and further enhancing the market’s size and depth,” Helen Wong, HSBC Greater China Chief Executive, said in a statement.

“This will help pave the way for China bonds to be included in major global bond indices in the future.”

China has for years faced foreign complaints about restricted access to its markets, but has recently made a series of liberalization pledges partly to expand its global market influence. AFP

Japanese companies upbeat in Q2 survey TOKYO―Confidence among Japan’s biggest manufacturers has risen for the third straight quarter to the best level in more than three years, a key central bank survey showed Monday as exports continue to grow.

The Bank of Japan’s Tankan report―a quarterly survey of more than 10,000 companies – showed a reading of 17 among major manufacturers, the highest since the first quarter of 2014.

The key index, which rose from 12 in the previous survey, also beat market expectations of a result around 15.

The better-than-expected Tankan would normally be good news for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has been trying to revitalize Japan’s economy.

But the results came a day after his Liberal Democratic Party suffered a crushing defeat in elections for the Tokyo municipal assembly.

The vote was seen as a barometer of current public sentiment toward his government which has been beset by a series of scandals that have dented its support.

Abe swept to power in late 2012 on a pledge to cement a lasting recovery in the world’s third-largest economy with a growth plan eponymously dubbed Abenomics.

The scheme―a mix of aggressive monetary easing and huge government spending along with reforms to the economy―stoked a stock market rally as it weakened the yen and fattened corporate profits, but the effect on the wider economy has been less dramatic. AFP

LGUs

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

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2017

C1

LEARNING CENTER. Quezon City i.Learn Center president Ma. Teresa E. Gana (left) delivers an inspirational message before 266 new graduates of the center during its recent commencement exercises at the QC Hall main

lobby. To date, the center, which opened in 2008 to provide training programs in caregiving, massage therapy and Japanese language to underprivileged city residents, has produced about 6,000 graduates. Joining Gana were officers of the Philippine Caregivers Group led by Kunihiro Enomoto. Manny Palmero

Tax payment centers open

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE Makati City government has announced it will open satellite realty tax payment centers in barangay halls beginning Tuesday for the convenience of real property owners with taxes due this third quarter.

Real property owners can pay their taxes from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and only need to present their previous receipt. Each transaction usually takes about five minutes.

On July 4, the payment centers will be opened in Barangays BelAir and Urdaneta, followed by Forbes Park and Dasmariñas on July 5. The schedule for the rest of the week is as follows: July 6,

Brgys. Magallanes and San Lorenzo; and July 7, Brgys. Bangkal, Pio del Pilar, San Isidro, Palanan, and San Antonio.

On July 10, Monday, the payment centers will be opened in Brgys. La Paz, Sta. Cruz, Singkamas, Tejeros, and Kasilawan; July 11, Carmona, Olympia, Valenzuela, Poblacion and Guadalupe Viejo; July 12, Guadalupe

Nuevo, Pinagkaisahan, Pitogo, Cembo and South Cembo.

Scheduled to open on July 13 are West Rembo, East Rembo, Comembo, Pembo and Rizal.

Based on the city’s revenue code, the city government offers a five percent discount for quarterly payments made during the first 20 days of the quarter.

Meanwhile, late quarterly payments will incur a penalty of two percent per month.

To date, the innovative program covers 31 barangays in the city, excluding the two disputed barangays.

As of April, the city government had achieved 95 percent of its full-year target collection from realty taxes, collecting al-

most P3.9 billion which is nine percent higher than the same period last year.

Jesusa Cuneta, officer-incharge of the Office of the City Treasurer, said the city government collected almost P10.2 billion from January to April, nine percent higher than its P800million collection it made on the same period last year, without increasing taxes.

During the period, the city also collected almost P5.3 billion in business tax, which is 62.9 percent of target for the year and seven percent higher than last year.

Mayor Abigail Binay noted the importance of sustaining the city’s strong relationship with

Navotas job fair draws over 1k

E-MOBILITY.

Leaders from local and international automotive industries come together for the First Asean Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Summit held recently at the World Trade Center. During the summit, Cavite Rep. Strike B. Revilla (third from left) received the E-Mobility Award in recognition of the city’s contribution in promoting electric and hybrid vehicles in the city, and adopting green mobility as one of the key strategies towards achieving sustainable development. Rep. Revilla has promoted the clean and green community in Bacoor since he was the city’s mayor for nine years before being elected to Congress.

By Jun David OVER 1,000 Navoteños flocked to the Navotas Sports Complex to apply for local and overseas work or learn how to run a business at the city’s Hanapbuhay Caravan and Mega Job Fair.

The event was conducted in celebration of the 10th cityhood anniversary of Navotas.

Among the 1,267 participants, 52 were hired on the spot, and 1,015 qualified for further interview.

A total of 51 companies joined the event, 44 of which offered jobs within the Philippines and seven offered overseas employment.

The Navotas Hanapbuhay Center, which organized the event, also conducted business seminars to teach participants how to start or grow their own ventures.

Ninety Navoteños learned the fundamentals of starting a business, while 60 received advice on how to avail of the Tulong Puhunan program of the city government.

Furthermore, 50 Navoteños earned free skills trainings on doughnut and maja blanca making.

“We want every Navoteño to have a decent and sustainable source of income. If they have jobs or livelihood, they will have more opportunities to improve their lives,” said Mayor John Rey Tiangco.

the private sector in ensuring its economic stability.

“The robust growth of our revenues will allow the city government to continue investing in public health, education and social services, and further enhancing the business climate,” she said.

Records of the city Business Permits and Licensing Office show a total of 1,704 new businesses registered since January.

Other revenue sources included in the city treasurer’s report are Fees and Charges, P426.9 million; Economic Enterprise, P67.7 million; Interest Income, P66.1 million; Internal Revenue Allotment, P354.7 million; and Share from Economic Zone, P92.2 million.

Davao gains P100k Gawad Kalasag plum

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—City Administrator lawyer Zuleika Lopez on Monday received a P100,000 check for Davao after it won the top prize in the Gawad Kalasag (KAlamidad at sakuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing ang kalig-

tasan) Awards for highly urbanized city category.

Gawad Kalasag is one of the most prestigious government awards given to a city. Davao City had won the award several times in the past, but this is the first time for the city to be at the top, according to Central 911 chief Emmanuel Jaldon.

Gawad Kalasag is a recognition given for outstanding contribution in the fields of disaster risk reduction and management and humanitarian assistance.

It is the principal mechanism by which the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council promotes awareness of the best

practices in DRRM and humanitarian response and action.

Jaldon said the city bagged the most-coveted award because of the combined effort of the Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, as well as other government and private sector agencies.

Antipolo Senate bid faces tall odds

By Reuel Vidal LIKE Manny Pacquiao, Antipolo finds all the odds stacked against it in the city’s bid to have the Senate of the Philippines relocate to the city.

Antipolo Mayor Casimiro “Jun” Ynares made the comparison between Antipolo and Taguig City—which are being considered for the new offices of the Senate—yesterday during the joint flag ceremony of Antipolo City and Rizal Province at the Ynares Center.

“If Pacquiao was fighting in Australia against an Australian, then in our case there are senators from Taguig (who want to move to Taguig), but no senators from Antipolo. Most of the senators also have their homes near Taguig,” said Ynares.

The Senate is considering relocating from its present office location in Pasay City to another site—possibly the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig—because of the hefty P119 million annual rent that must be paid for use of the GSIS Building in Roxas Boulevard, the legislature’s current headquarters.

The mayor said despite the odds, Antipolo is the better choice.

The city is willing to give a 25-hectare lot for free for the Senate to build their new building in a prime location in Antipolo, according to Ynares.

Antipolo certainly has less traffic compared to the proposed location in Taguig, and is closer to the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City making it more accessible to members of the House of Representatives.

Antipolo is also more accessible to the public, especially ordinary commuters who can traverse Ortigas Avenue Extension to Antipolo or Marcos Highway through to the Marikina-Infanta Road, which extends all the way to Quezon Province. The road is already eight lanes wide, and there is room for expansion, Ynares noted.

Manila police to simulate ‘active shooter’ situations

By Sandy Araneta MANILA Mayor Joseph Estrada on Monday tasked the Manila Police District to conduct simulation exercises in commercial establishments such as hotels and casinos in the light of the Resorts World Manila incident that left 36 people dead.

Estrada said these drills will better prepare private security officers, police, and especially the public in the event of armed assaults or “active shooter” scenarios like what has happened at RSW where a lone gunman went on a shooting rampage and set fire on a casino.

“We have learned lessons from the Resorts

World incident,” Estrada said. “We will use those lessons to further train our police and other emergency services and the security units of private business establishments to prevent such incidents in the future.”

As ordered by Estrada, MPD has been meeting with the security managers of major establishments in Manila such as hotels and

casinos to work out a joint operational and security plan concerning armed assaults, bomb threats, and other emergency situations.

MPD director Chief Supt. Joel Coronel said they have completed bomb threat and bomb response exercises last week and will be staging active shooter exercises next week.

LGUs

Standard TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2017 C2 TODAY Manila

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

SBMA earns P615.28m in 4 months S

UBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority continues to generate positive revenue figures this year, reporting P615.28 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) in just the first four months of 2017.

SBMA Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the agency’s various strategic units contributed more than P1 billion in operating revenues in the period for a 9.5-percent increase over the P919.6 million posted over the first trimester last year.

Minus its operating expenses of P313.5 million and bad debts of P78.2 million, Eisma said the SBMA managed a P56.9-million increase over the 2016 Ebitda of P558.3 million for a 10.2 percent increase in earnings.

“We’re very much optimistic that

while 2016 was considered a banner year in SBMA finances, we just might be able to top that at the rate we’re going this year,” Eisma said.

“The SBMA is actually riding an upward trend that began in the past few years, and I believe we can sustain that and that further growth will continue,” she added.

According to a comparative report from the SBMA Finance Group, agency earnings increased further this year compared to 2016 records. The agency’s net income, for example, surged by 148 percent from P18.5 million in the first quarter of 2016 to P46.76 million in the first quarter of 2017.

The biggest revenue contributor among the SBMA business units as of end-April this year was the Port Authority Group, which delivered P476.4 million in the first four months.

The Business and Investment Group followed with total revenue of P426 million; Public Services Group, with P67.5 million; Regulatory Group, with P18.38 million; the Chairman and Administrator’s Group, with P9.25 million; and Support Services Group, with P7.19 million.

The biggest increases as of end-April this year over figures in the same period last year came

from the Business and Investment Group, which posted close to P55 million in variance, and the Port Authority Group, which provided an increase of P17.85 million.

Meanwhile, the SBMA Tourism Department reported a 28 percent increase in revenues from visitor and tourist arrivals, as well as hotel occupancy, from January to April this year.

A report from SBMA Tourism showed a total of 894,603 visitors and 161,046 tourists arriving in Subic in the first four months.

These figures represented respective increases of 70,648 and 30,284 over 2016 arrivals.

NV tops regional payout of 4Ps

BEST DRESSED BOOTH.

The town of Penablanca in Cagayan province, under the leadership of Mayor Washington Taguinod and Vice Mayor Marilyn JuliaTaguinod won as Best Dressed Booth (left picture) during the recent Aggao Nac Cagayan celebration. Its cave-inspired booth showcased its fresh water eel caught by Aetas in the upstream part of the town.

Coming in second was Baggao (right picture) among the 27 municipalities that joined this year’s trade fair by putting up festival booths to promote their local products.

Jessica Bacud

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya —Nueva Vizcaya has been tagged by the Department of Social Welfare and Development as the top performer in terms of the payout scheme for the indigent under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps in the Cagayan Valley region.

John Mark Villon, 4Ps municipal roving bookkeeper in this town, said the province’s 4Ps beneficiaries last year were paid over P287 million out of the total target fund of more than P289 million.

“We were able to achieve 99.353 percent disbursement rate. This is one of the major factors that made us No. 1 on the disbursement and pay out scheme for our 4Ps beneficiaries in Nueva Vizcaya,” he said.

Formerly called Ahon Pamilyang Pilipino, 4Ps is a conditional cash transfer program of the Philippine government under the DSWD. Villon also said from December 2016 to January 2017 alone, the status for payment for the 4Ps beneficiaries from the 15 towns of the province reached 99.38 percent, with all but P200,000 of the P36.7 million allotted for the beneficiaries paid out.

House stops sale of Paskuhan Village

By Romeo Dizon CLARK FREEPORT—The Congressional Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability has stopped the sale of Paskuhan Village, one of the tourism gems of Pampanga, to a leading mall devel-

R epublic of the Philippines

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF ORIENTAL MINDORO C a m i l m i l , Calapan City 5200, Oriental Mindoro

BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID IB NO.CW -2017-66 and IB NO. CW-2017-67 Upgrading of Sampaguita-Sto. Nino-Apitong Road, Naujan, Oriental, Mindoro And Upgrading of Panikihan-Pahilahan Road, Pola, Oriental Mindoro July 04, 2017 1. The Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro (PGOM) through the FY 2017 General Appropriation Act under the Local Government Support Fund-Condition Matching Grant to Provinces intends to apply the sum of amounts being the approved Budget for the Contact (ABC) to payment under the contracts for Upgrading of Sampaguita-Sto. NinoApitong Road, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro and Upgrading of Panikihan-Pahilahan Road, Pola, Oriental Mindoro, indicated in the table below. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2. The PGOM now invites bids for Upgrading of Sampaguita-Sto. Nino-Apitong Road, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro and Upgrading of Panikihan-Pahilahan Road, Pola, Oriental Mindoro. Bidders should have completed within five (5) years before the day of submission and receipts of bids, a single completed contact similar to the Project worth at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Solicitaion No.

Title of Contact

IB No. CW2017-66

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) Php 85,239,923.00

Upgarding of Sampaguita-Sto. Nino-Apitong Road, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro of PanikihanIB NO. CW- Upgrading Pahilahan Road Pola, Oriental Php 131,282,177.00 2017-66 Mindoro

Completion of Works 187 days

249 days

Bid Document Fee Php 50,000.00

oper in the country.

Ronaldo “Ronnie” Tiotuico, regional director of the Department of Tourism in Central Luzon, said he was informed of this Monday by Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Rogelio Gonzales, who filed Resolution No. 654 regarding the committee’s decision to halt the sale of the 9.3-hectare Paskuhan property to a private corporation in the City of San Fernando.

According to Gonzales, the Christmas Village will be returned to Pampanga, Tiotuico said.

The village, which was the site of the international flower festival called Flora Cultura, was sold by former governor Mark Lapid as head of the Tourism Infrastructure Zone Authority (TIeZA) to a firm for P939.6 million last year.

However, the sale is being questioned by the province of Pampanga, City of San Fernando, and non-government organizations, claiming they have the priority in the devel-

opment of the village to boost their tourism programs and generate employment for their constituents.

The complainants said the sale was not in accordance with proper procurement policy of the government, because all five bids for Paskuhan belonged to the winning bidder.

As result, Gonzales filed the resolution last January before the House committee clarifying the status of the sale in aid of legislation.

The Paskuhan Village, which is near the exit of North Luzon Expressway along the Jose Abad Santos Avenue in San Fernando, was owned by the late Jesus Lazatin, who donated it to the government for its development as a theme park and for the holding of the yearly Christmas lantern festival in the area.

The village was constructed during the time of Gov. Bren Guiao and inaugurated by President Corazon Aquino in 1990.

The JASA road, formerly known as the Gapan-Olonga-

po road, is now mushrooming with business establishments, and the cost of land per square foot there is valued at P50,000 and up.

Meanwhile, Tiotuico warned tourists, specially those accepting cruise services in Central Luzon, from paying online transactions, but instead go to the bank or do face-to-face transactions.

Many victims have complaining to Tiotuico about the modus operandi of some travel agencies who “disappear” after prospective tourists make payments online, he said.

Travel agencies, numbering about 150 in Pampanga alone, would usually offer very cheap cruises around Asean countries and Europe. However, when the tourists make their payment, the agencies’ addresses could no longer be traced, Tiotuico said.

“Don’t be lazy and make your payments face to face and get official receipts,” Tiotuico advised frustrated tourists.

Php 50,000.00

3. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Impementing Rules And Regulation (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines 4. Interested Bidders may obtain further information form Bids and Awards Committee of the PGOM and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 9:00 A.M to 4:00 P.M of Mondays to Fridays.

5. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested bidders from July 06, 2017 to September 14, 2017 from the address below upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the bidding documents in the amount indicated in the table above.

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

6. The PGOM will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on August 11, 2017 at 10:00 A.M .at BAC Office, Provincial Capitol Complex, Camilmil, Calapan City, which shall be open to prospective bides and interested parties.

7. Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat, Capitol Complex, Camilmil, Calapan City, Orientation Mindoro on or before September 14, 2017 at 9:30 A.M. All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Claus 18.

Bid opening shall be on September 14,2017 at 10:00 A.M at BAC office, Provincial Capitol Complex, Camilmil, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders representatives who choose to attend at the address stated. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8. The PGOM reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding , or not award the contract at any time prior to the contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

9. For further information, please refer to: ENGR. ELMER V. DILAY BAC Chairperson Provincial Capitol Complex, Camilmil Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro (043) 286-7144

(M S-J U LY 4 , 2017 )

The 2017 arrival figures included some 289,600 visitors who arrived in the Freeport for the Holy Week.

The increase in the number of visitors and tourists this year generated actual revenues amounting to P2.74 million, which is 28 percent higher than the P2.1-million revenue record last year.

Among the events that generated much tourism traffic in the first four months this year was the arrival of the luxury cruise ship MS Bremen, and the threeday Summer Siren beach music festival that was held here in May. Butch Gunio

EVACUATION CENTER. Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Carlos Padilla (left) leads the groundbreaking for the (SGD) ENGR. ELMER V. DILAY Provincial Engineer BAC Chairperson

construction of the P36-million Provincial Evacuation Center within the provincial capitol in Bayombong.

The 3,000-square-meter structure is strategically located and funded by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Council. Ben Moses Ebreo

Philex rebuild reaches P16m

TUBA, Benguet—Philex Mining Corp. has completed during the first half of the year about P15.84 million worth of public infrastructure projects, part of its 2016 social program intended for the host and neighboring communities of Padcal mine, the company’s gold-and-copper operations in this province.

A P3.61-million rehabilitation of a slope protection wall in Itogon’s Sitio Samoyao, Brgy. Ampucao, led the three projects delivered during the second quarter. which amounted to a total of P5.95 million. The two other projects were a slope protection wall constructed in Sitio Upper Camp, also in Brgy.

Ampucao, worth P1.25 million, and a P1.1-million box culvert work in Tuba’s Sitio Alang, Brgy.

Camp 3.

Jamal Agustin, who monitors the infra projects being implemented by Philex Mining through its Community Relations (ComRel) Department, said the slope protection wall in Sitio Samoyao had been destroyed by a typhoon and was rehabilitated by the company, which had also built the original wall.

He added that between January and March, Philex Mining delivered 22 infra projects worth P9.88 million, foremost of which were a 379-meter long farm-to-market road with pavement widening in Camp 3’s Sitio Bastian, that amounted to P1.49 million, and the 44-meter two-bench grouted riprap built at a cost of P1.23 million in Brgy. Ampucao’s Sitio Catcatbal.

“These projects that we have so far delivered this year are part of the company’s commitment to continue helping its outlying communities through the implementation of the needed infrastructure,” Aurora Dolipas, ComRel manager at Padcal mine, said. Dexter A. See

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World IN BRIEF Lee faces parliament over feud SINGAPORE―Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday rejected claims from his siblings that he abused power and engaged in nepotism as he faced parliament over a family feud that has shocked Singapore.

But the leader said he will not sue his brother and sister for their online attacks over the legacy of their father Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s founding leader. The city-state is tightly controlled and has long been used to censorship and libel suits against the critics of the family.

“Their allegations are entirely baseless,” Lee, 65, told a regularly scheduled session of parliament.

His sister Wei Ling, 62, and brother Hsien Yang, 60, had accused the premier of exploiting their father’s legacy for his own political agenda, and seeking to groom his son Li Hongyi, now a senior public servant involved in government data services, to one day become leader of the citystate.

The row―which erupted into the open last month― is an escalation of a dispute over what to do with a family bungalow that has simmered since the 2015 death of the elder Lee, who ruled Singapore with an iron fist but transformed the city-state into one of the world’s wealthiest societies.

The prime minister called for an open debate in parliament after the attacks on Facebook against him and his wife Ho Ching, who is chief executive of state investment fund Temasek Holdings.

He apologized for a second time over the quarrel and rejected the charges of nepotism. He said the head of Temasek is appointed by its board subject to confirmation by the president of Singapore, and that his son has already said he was not interested in politics. AFP

US group visits Pakistan for security talks ISLAMABAD―A high-level US Senate delegation met Pakistan’s top foreign affairs official and powerful military chief in Islamabad to discuss regional security as Washington gears up to send more troops to neighboring Afghanistan.

The Sunday visit by members of the influential Senate Armed Services Committee, including top Republican John McCain, came days after Islamabad slammed Washington’s decision to sanction a Kashmiri militant leader.

The relationship between the US and Pakistan has been strained at times with some in Washington believing Islamabad has not done enough to bring its influence to bear to persuade the Afghan Taliban to renounce violence.

McCain described US engagement with Pakistan in the region as “important” in his meeting with Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz, according to a foreign ministry statement.

Aziz for his part vowed Pakistan remained committed to “constructive engagement” with the US in the efforts to create a “stable and prosperous” Afghanistan.

He said Islamabad was ready to deepen its partnership with Washington in the fight against militancy, including against the expanding footprint of the Islamic State group in the region.

Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa also called US cooperation a “key factor” in security, as McCain agreed on the importance of coordination between Pakistan and Afghanistan, a military statement said. AFP

TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2017

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Drugs threaten ‘sea gypsies’ M

YEIK ARCHIPELAGO― With a swift breath the teenage boy dives into the turquoise waters of southern Myanmar, a spear clutched in his hand, but below him lies nothing but a graveyard of broken, gray coral.

PHOTOCALL.

Model Vanessa Moody poses during a photocall as part of a dinner organized by the foundation for AIDS research amfAR on July 2, 2017 at the Grand Palais in Paris. AFP

He is one of the Moken, a nomadic seafaring tribe who have perfected this free-dive fishing technique over hundreds of years among the 800 islands that dot the Myeik archipelago and neighboring southern Thailand.

Until recently the sea provided them with everything they needed: a base for boats they lived in, fish and seafood to eat and bounty such as pearls to trade with islanders for fuel and rice.

But the waters have been devastated by the commercial fishing industry that has eaten away the area’s once abundant marine life.

The destruction has been wrought by fishing boats, many believed to be from neighboring Thailand, who use dynamite and trawlers to sweep the seabed.

In a cruel chain reaction, some Moken youths have ended up working for the fishing fleets that are destroying the ecosystem that supported them through the generations.

“When we were young, a husband could easily support his family,” Kar Shar, the Moken leader in Makyone Galet village, recalled as he smoked his pipe outside his stilted, corrugated-iron house.

“Now the whole family has to work to survive, and sometimes even that is not enough.”

Many islanders, including local Karen and Burmese as well as the Moken― known as Salon in Myanmar or “Sea Gypsies” in the West―have been caught up

in the trade.

Impoverished, stateless and with restricted working rights, some Moken began diving for fishing crews in the early 90s and continued after the former military government forced many to live on the islands.

“There is a lot of dynamite fishing,” said Jacques Ivanoff, an expert at France’s CNRS and the Musee de l’Homme who has spent decades working with the Moken.

“Left alone... [they] have no other choice to make a living.”

It’s risky, illegal work.

The fishermen travel to the deserted outer islands where they are less likely to be caught.

There the divers search for the best spot, before throwing in the dynamite and quickly reversing away.

Some breathe through thin plastic tubes hooked up to compressors, while others use no equipment. Many suffer decompression sickness, which can leave them crippled and unable to walk.

Others die as they swim up to the surface, or never surface at all -- a terrible price to pay for a business whose profits largely slip overseas.

“People say the boats are from Thailand,” said 54-yearold Moken man Ko Matt.

For many the potential profits make the dangers worth it. Divers can earn more than $100 in a night, compared to an average wage of $3 a day on the islands. AFP

‘US and Japan united in pressing North Korea’ WASHINGTON―The United States and Japan are united in their efforts to clamp down on North Korea’s “growing threat,” as the regime ramps up its nuclear drive and other belligerent efforts, the White House said Sunday.

During a phone call, President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe “reaffirmed that the United StatesJapan Alliance stands ready to defend [against] and respond to any threat or action taken by North Korea”, the White House said in a statement.

It added that the pair expressed “unity with respect to increasing pressure on the regime to change

its dangerous path.”

During a separate phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the White House said it was Trump who “raised the growing threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.”

“Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a denuclearized Korean Peninsula.”

But the White House made no mention of possible discussions between Trump and Xi over the disputed islands in the South China Sea, even though the call took place just hours after a US warship sailed near an island in the waterway.

Beijing called the incident a “serious political and military provocation.”

The destroyer, the USS Stethem, sailed less than 12 nautical miles from tiny Triton Island in the Paracel Islands archipelago, which is claimed by China as well as Taiwan and Vietnam, a US official told AFP. On the call, Trump also “reiterated his determination to seek more balanced trade relations with America’s trading partners,” the White House said, a reference to the US administration’s aggressive stance on trade matters, especially as concerns China.

The Trump administration has

been growing increasingly exasperated with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s regime, which has staged a barrage of missile tests in recent months.

Trump had been pinning his hopes on China―North Korea’s main diplomatic ally―to bring pressure to bear on Pyongyang, but declared last week that their efforts had failed.

He has presented sanctions as the best way to proceed with the hermit state, opting for that approach over dialogue with the regime.

During the talks with South Korean leader Moon Jae-In―who has pushed for a policy of en-

gagement with Pyongyang―on Friday, Trump called for a “determined response” to the North. But the pair failed to map out a joint strategy on how to handle North Korean threats.

“The era of strategic patience with the North Korean regime has failed, many years it has failed.

Frankly, that patience is over,” Trump said.

There was also deep anger in the United States after Otto Warmbier, an American student who was detained in North Korea on a tourist trip around 18 months ago, was returned home in a coma earlier this month. He died several days later. AFP

Saudi Arabia, allies extend deadline to resolve Gulf rift DOHA―Qatar appeared defiant as Saudi Arabia and its allies Monday extended a deadline for Doha to accept a series of demands to lift a de facto blockade.

Their demands include Doha ending support for the Muslim Brotherhood, the closure of Al-Jazeera television, a downgrade of diplomatic ties with Iran and the shutdown of a Turkish military base in the emirate.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt gave Doha 10 days to comply with their 13 demands, with the ultimatum due to expire at the end of Sunday.

The 48-hour extension was in response to a request by the Kuwaiti emir who is acting as mediator in the Gulf crisis.

Qatar said it would give its response to the emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, on Monday.

The letter will be handed over by Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.

“The list of demands is made to be rejected,” Sheikh Mohammed said Saturday.

“Everyone is aware that these demands are meant to infringe the sovereignty of the state of Qatar,” he said at a news conference in Rome.

“The state of Qatar... is rejecting it as a principle,” he said, adding: “We

are willing to engage in providing the proper conditions for further dialogue.”

Saudi Arabia and its allies announced on June 5 they were severing ties with their Gulf neighbor, sparking the worst diplomatic crisis to hit the region in decades.

They accused Doha of supporting extremism and of being too close to regional arch-rival Iran, which Qatar has strongly denied.

The crisis has raised concerns of growing instability in the region, home to some of the world’s largest energy producers and several key Western allies hosting US military facilities.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, who on Monday starts a tour of several Arab states, called for a “serious dialogue” to end the crisis.

“We are worried that the distrust and the disunity could weaken all the parties concerned as well as the entire peninsula,” said Gabriel, who will visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Riyadh and its supporters have already severed air, sea and ground links with Qatar, cutting off vital routes for imports including food.

Qatari citizens were ordered to leave the countries and various steps were taken against Qatari companies and financial institutions. AFP

DISTRIBUTION. Iraqis distribute food and sweets in Baghdad’s Karrada district on July 2, 2017, a day before the anniversary of the explosion that killed nearly 300 people in the district. AFP

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

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TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2017

World

Xi raises ‘negative factors’ B EIJING —Chinese President Xi Jinping told his US counterpart Donald Trump on Monday that Sino-US relations had been hit by “negative factors” in a phone call following days of US actions that have vexed Beijing.

Trump held separate calls with Xi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that focused on tensions on the Korean peninsula, but China’s foreign ministry said Xi also invoked the thorny issue of Taiwan.

Trump infuriated Beijing last week when he approved a $1.3 billion arms sales to Taiwan, a selfgoverned island that Beijing considers a breakaway province awaiting reunification.

The US administration also imposed sanctions on a Chinese bank accused of laundering North Korean cash, voiced concern about freedom in semi-autonomous Hong Kong and placed the country on a list of the world’s worst human trafficking offenders.

The latest irritant came on Sunday when the USS Stethem destroyer sailed less than 12 nautical miles from tiny Triton Island in the Paracel Islands archipelago, which is claimed by China as well as Taiwan and Vietnam, a US official told AFP. The series of moves have marked a sharp reversal from the friendly tone struck by Trump since his meeting with Xi at the US president’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in April.

In their phone call, Xi acknowledged that SinoUS relations “have achieved important results” since that meeting, the foreign ministry said.

But Xi also warned that relations “have been affected by some negative factors”.

Xi said he hoped the US president will “properly handle” Taiwan issues in accordance with the “One China” principle.

The Chinese leader insisted that the two sides should follow the “consensus” reached at Mar-aLago and adhere to the principle of mutual respect.

In its readout of the conversation, the White House said Trump and Xi discussed efforts to denuclearize North Korea and improve US-Chinese trade relations, but the US statement did not mention Taiwan.

“President Trump raised the growing threat posed

by North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs,” the White House said.

“Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a denuclearized Korean Peninsula,” it said.

Trump, who berated Beijing over trade during the US election campaign, also “reiterated his determination to seek more balanced trade relations with America’s trading partners”.

The two leaders discussed “a range of other regional and bilateral issues of mutual interest” and indicated the two would meet at the Group of 20 summit in Germany this week, the White House said.

Trump has pressed Xi to use China’s diplomatic and economic clout over North Korea to pressure the Stalinist state to abandon its nuclear program, but the US leader tweeted last month that Beijing’s efforts had failed.

The phone call came hours after the “freedom of navigation” operation in the South China Sea, an operation meant to assert the right to sail in disputed waters.

The move prompted China to deploy military vessels and fighter jets, foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said in a statement late Sunday, calling the US operation a “serious political and military provocation”.

It was the second operation of its kind carried out by the United States since Trump took office. AFP

CELEBRATION. Participants perform a traditional Aboriginal dance at Sydney’s Hyde Park on July 3, 2017. The week long annual event, with the theme ‘our languages matter’, celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. AFP

Regal setting for Macron’s rare speech PARIS―Emmanuel Macron’s penchant for using regal symbols to give his presidency a touch of majesty will be on display on Monday when France’s new leader addresses both houses of parliament in the splendor of Versailles.

Macron will use the speech, which has been billed as a novel, US-style state of the nation address, to set out his vision for a French “renaissance”.

But the message risks being overshadowed by the unease over the growing concentration of power in the presidency, with his speech to a rare sitting of the National Assembly and Senate seen as proof of his “monarchical” drift.

The address in the former seat of kings by the self-styled revolutionary

comes a day before premier Edouard Philippe delivers the government’s traditional policy statement to the newlyelected 577-seat National Assembly.

The press and opposition have accused 39-year-old Macron of pulling the rug from under his premier’s feet, to assert his dominance, and slammed his refusal to take questions after his remarks.

A media darling during his campaign, Macron has kept the press at arm’s length since his election, keen to avoid the excessive exposure that turned voters off his predecessors Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy at the risk of appearing aloof.

He used the Louvre museum -- a former royal palace -- as the backdrop for his victory party in May and hosted

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin for talks in Versailles.

Jean-Luc Melenchon, the rebellious leader of the leftist France Unbowed, accused “Macron the pharaoh” of crossing a line in his “monarchical” approach to the presidency and declared his party would boycott the speech, as did the Communist Party and two members of the small centrist UDI party.

“The hyper president,” Le Parisien wrote on its front page Sunday, above Macron’s official photograph, showing him standing at his desk.

“He decides everything, monopolizes the stage, controls the communications,” the paper wrote.

Presidential addresses to both houses of parliament are rare events in France, used mainly in times of crises.AFP

Merkel sets her eyes on 4th term

BERLIN―German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday formally launches her campaign to win a fourth term in a September parliamentary election more likely to be decided on personality than policy.

Challenger Martin Schulz of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) is leading his campaign with “more social justice”, promising reforms to tax, unemployment benefits and childcare after having just succeeded with a push to legalize same-sex marriage.

Merkel’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has so far failed to counter its opponents’ focused campaign with a unifying policy theme of its own.

Social media users last week mocked party secretary-general Peter Tauber’s slogan “For a Germany where we live well and gladly”, after he transformed the initial letters of the German phrase into an unpronounceable Twitter hashtag: #fedidwgugl.

Schulz, struggling to catch up with Merkel in the polls, last week shocked observers by accusing the chancellor of systematically refusing to debate him on the future of the country.

But the lackluster CDU campaign does not appear to have hurt the re-election prospects of the veteran leader dubbed “Mutti” (Mummy) by German voters.

After a brief spell between January and March when Schulz, a newcomer on the German political landscape, surged into the lead, the former European Parliament president has fallen far behind Merkel as the preferred candidate in polls by public broadcaster ARD. Rallying around a trusted leader is a long tradition for the CDU, whose simple “No experiments!” campaign posters for Konrad Adenauer’s reelection in 1957 remain a touchstone of German political culture.

Merkel’s mentor, recentlydeceased former chancellor Helmut Kohl, was accused of transforming the CDU into a “chancellor electing society” during his 16-year reign.

And Merkel herself echoed the strong-leader theme in 2013, with gigantic posters featuring her fingers clasped and the slogan “Germany in good hands”.

Merkel’s government faced heavy pressure in 2015 when it opened the nation’s borders to a mass influx of refugees, sparking a xenophobic backlash.

But as the arrivals have slowed sharply, the issue has faded from public debate, as the upstart anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party slipped back into single digits in the polls.

The few concrete policies that have filtered out from the CDU party machinery, and their Bavarian CSU allies, are familiar to conservatives the world over.

AFP

Modie first Indian PM to visit Israel

PERFORMANCE. Rapper Trina performs onstage at the 2017 ESSENCE Festival Presented By Coca Cola at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on July 2, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. AFP

JERUSALEM―Narendra Modi becomes the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel when he arrives on Tuesday, the result of growing ties that have led to billions of dollars in defense deals.

Israel, in constant search for allies to vote in its favor at UN bodies as well as business partners, has been portraying the visit as historic.

Israeli analysts have also noted Modi will apparently not travel to Ramallah to meet with Palestinian leaders during his three-day stay, as is common for many foreign dignitaries.

Modi did however meet Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in New Delhi in May. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the visit, which marks 25 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations, a “further expression of the state of Israel’s military, economic and diplomatic strength.”

“This is a very significant step in strengthening relations between the two countries,” the Israeli leader said.

“India is a huge country with over 1.25 billion people and is one of the

world’s largest, growing economies.

Ties between Israel and India are on a constant upswing.”

But while Israel, with a population of some eight million, has held the visit up as a diplomatic victory, both countries have practical reasons for the trip.

India is the world’s biggest importer of defense equipment, and Israel has become one of its major suppliers.

Israeli media have reported that the two countries see more than $1 billion in defense deals each year.

India has been investing tens of billions in updating its Soviet-era military hardware to counter longstanding tensions with regional rivals China and Pakistan.

It has signed several big-ticket defense deals since Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party stormed to power in 2014.

In April, state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries said India would buy nearly $2 billion worth of weapons technology, making it the military exporting giant’s largest ever defense contract.

The deal will see IAI provide India with an advanced defense system

of medium-range surface-to-air missiles, launchers and communications technology It later announced a deal worth $630 million to provide India’s navy with missile defense systems.

The two countries have also cooperated on issues such as water and agriculture technology.

“I think it’s more than defense contracts,” Efraim Inbar, a former head of Israel’s Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies think-tank, told AFP. “It is a common strategic agenda which includes a fear of Islamic radicalism, fears about Chinese assertiveness and in addition, of course, you cannot ignore the huge economic potential for both countries.”

Inbar added: “But for us it’s a huge market.”

Israel’s 50-year occupation of the West Bank and failure to reach a peace deal with the Palestinians have been major stumbling blocks in its efforts to boost relations with certain foreign countries.

India has traditionally voiced its support for Palestinian statehood, initially shunning diplomatic relations with Israel. AFP

By Pablo A. Tariman

T

HE late Filipino conductor Redentor Romero—whose “Philippine Portraits” was played at the Carnegie Hall last year during PPO’s New York debut—was given a touching tribute

by Romanian violinist Alexandru Tomescu in his latest Manila engagement.

In a well-received concert, Tomescu dedicated his first encore—Romero’s arrangement of Constancio de Guzman’s “Bayan Ko”—to Romero who introduced him to Filipino audiences.

As part of his latest Manila visit, Tomescu—last heard in Manila in 2006—visited the grave of conductorcomposer Redentor Romero before the performance.

The violinist and the conductor were last seen together in Catanduanes in 2000 where Tomescu gave a recital with pianist Mary Anne Espina at the Provincial Capitol Lobby.

Romero died in 2001 while Tomescu was playing Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky concertos at the Meralco Theater.

Meanwhile, it was raining cheers and ecstatic applause at the Cultural Center of the Philippine main theater on the night of June 17 with the return engagement Tomescu who was soloist of the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) in the highly challenging Paganini Violin Concerto No. 2 in B Minor.

Now observing its 20th anniversary, the MPO under its founder and music director Rodel Colmenar made sure it was one concert like no other as it prepared a program rendered by a 95-strong orchestra.

The big ensemble filled the stage as it opened with Shostakovich’s Festive Overture in A Major, Op. 96 and heralded a sound as solid as it was focused.

Colmenar wasn’t a towering figure all right but he asserted his power by mustering a huge sound that signaled the orchestra was all set for a big celebration.

As it turned out, it was a perfect overture before the Paganini Second Concerto to which music lovers came in droves and filled the CCP main theater.

As it were, ominous tremolos greeted the opening of the first movement (allegro maestoso) and surged to reveal an orchestra—long absent from the classical scene—ready for a big revelation.

Sharp and well defined were the striking eight notes of the string section and soon enough, you see the pyrotechnics that made this concerto almost a killer one for the less gifted violinist.

It was also a big test for the orchestra as it figured along with soloist in jaw-dropping glissandos, triplets and what have you, and on to rapid change of time measure which Colmenar hurdled even as the rhythmic thrusts were almost dizzying to contemplate.

There were nervous moments of course as one expected the hunting horn motif which could turn awry with even a slight shortage of breath.

The adagio was a virtual contrast as it brought back the magic of Paganini as the movement essayed piquant grace and intimacy.

Life

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

CULTURE & MEDIA

TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2017

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A touching tribute to

Red Romero

Romanian violinist Alexandru Tomescu gave a touching tribute to late Filipino conductor Redentor Romero during his latest concert at the CCP

Rodel Colmenar (left) with the new CCP president Arsenio ‘Nick’ Lizaso (right) and wife, Belen

Tomescu was at his best in the first two movements and soared even higher in the last movement (Ronde a la clochette or La Campanella).

The sound of La Campanella (the little bell) highlighted the last movement with every repetition of the main theme.

Tomescu revealed his steady and solid pizzicato and some breathtaking, gently

Filipino conductor Red Romero

flowing passages with the orchestra at his beck and call and promptly at that.

It was easy to show off in this movement but the soloist heeded the composer’s intention that the piece was indeed meant to showcase individuality in the melodic style rather than a show of technical virtuosity.

Here we see the soloist in his most

sublime moments and towards the end, the CCP main theater shook with ecstatic applause.

The performance was electrifying and the soloist was probably recharged and humbled by this spontaneous show of affection from Filipino audiences.

Happily, he obliged with three encores one of which was Romero’s ar-

rangement of “Bayan Ko.” The audience’s reaction was sheer pandemonium. One needed a gratifying evening like this to show people Filipino musicians are worth dying for.

In the audience was the new CCP Pesident, Arsenio “Nick” Lizaso who came with wife, Belen.

The conductor and the orchestra had their own glorious moments in Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony, a fitting finale to a glorious night.

From the first to the last movements, Colmenar was in control although one thought he could use some extra sharpness and precision at the end of every movement.

But the passion was there, the fate motif was heroically delineated and, indeed, the movement intoned that not everything in this life was beautiful.

Overall, this concert showed this orchestra is worthy of everyone’s support from its Filipino audiences to the government through its cultural arms—the CCP and NCCA. The concert brought back excitement for the violin as Tomescu showed a level of playing that was by turns mature and distinguished even if the concerto was—any way you look at it—a bravura warhorse with big temptations to show off.

All told, it was a magical Saturday night at the CCP.

Celebrating tradition of grandeur and beauty LAS Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is a heritage community that is dedicated to bring traditions to the consciousness of the modern Filipino.

On May 30, the community had an exhibit of Filipiniana gowns and ternos by designers Francis Libiran, Renee Salud, Cary Santiago, Albert Andrada, Randy Ortiz, Edwin Uy, Dave Ocampo, Mikee Andrei, North Ortiz, Vince Sityar, Francis Calaquian, Maricis de la Pena, Marjorie Lee Gomabay, Dave Aguirre Lee, Jojo Alibio, and Patis Tesoro, representing 31 years of Manila Carnivals and the queens who reigned in that era. The exhibit was inspired by Betty Lalana’s, “The Origin and Evolution of Filipino-Inspired Fashion.”

Thirty-one ternos and gowns graced the lobby of the resort’s Hotel de Oriente.

Alongside this, there was also a photo exhibit that celebrated the glorious days of the Manila Carnival Queens entitled, “The Fairest of the Fair: Manila Carnival Queens from 1908 to 1939.” Alex Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, a heritage community in Bagac, Bataan, held a Grand Santacruzan on May 31

Castro’s extensive collection of this era was the main source of the exhibit. A crown from the 1934 Manila Carnival Queen, Clarita Villarica Tan Kiang, was also on display, a rare find from the Manila Carnival Queen’s era.

The opening of the exhibit was followed by one of the biggest events the resort has hosted: the Lakambini ng Las Casas pageant in the tradition of the Manila Carnival Queens. It had 18 local Bataan lakambinis in the grand ballroom of the resort’s premiere convention center.

“The Lakambini ng Las Casas aims to revive the glory and pride of the Manila Carnival Queens. The chosen queen from the pageant will be the Reyna Elena for the Grand Santacruzan,” Brand Marketing Director, Erwin Dona said.

Former beauty queens: Dang Cecilio (Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1979), Chiqui Brosas (4th runner-up, Ms. Universe 1975), Sharon Bediones (Bb. Pilipinas Young 1982), and Jenette Fernando Dizon (Bb. Pilipinas Tourism 1993) graced the pageant.

Out of the 18 candidates, the firstever Lakambini ng Las Casas crowned that night was Diana Velasco from Balanga. Reina del Oriente (first runnerup) was Dianne April Pangilinan and the winner’s sister, Donna Velasco, was crowned as the Reina del Occidente (second runner-up).

On May 31, the community held a Grand Santacruzan. Before the sagala, the sunduan started with the pagsundo of the reynas (Reyna Elena, Reyna Emperatriz, Reyna de las Flores) with a marching band to boot. They walked to Casa Byzantina where they gave the cross to the Hermana Mayor, Tess Acuzar.

In the morning of that day, a sagala was held to present the Lakambini of Las Casas as Reyna Elena marking the start of her reign.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is located in Bagac, Bataan. It is part of the Conde Nast Johansens Luxury Global Collection and is a project of the New San Jose Builders, Inc. in consultancy with Asian Grand Legacy Hotels.

The winners of The Lakambini ng Las Casas pageant

‘The Glitter Trap’ rerun REP is giving everyone another chance to catch the magical musical masterpiece, The Glitter Trap on Aug. 20 at Circuit Makati.

Starring a young and talented cast, all aged 11 to 17, The Glitter Trap is based on Barbara Brauner and James Iver Mattson’s young adult novel of the same title.

The original musical production tells the story of middle school misfit Lacey Unger-Ware as she takes on the responsibilities of the cranky, glitterloving, fairy godmother Katarina who accidentally gets trapped in Lacey’s hair. As the new fairy godmother of the most popular girl in school, Lacey learns that things aren’t always what they seem from the outside, and gains a better appreciation for what she has.

A total of 22 performers, including

Rayne Cortez as Lacey, Michelle Cornejo as popular girl Paige, Chez Cuenca as fairy godmother Katarina, and Stacy Tsai as Lacey’s best friend Sunny, will be bringing their talents to the stage.

Playful, poignant and entertaining, the show is directed by Joel Trinidad and Nicky Triviño, with book and lyrics by Joel Trinidad, music by Jon Meer Vera-Perez, musical direction

by Adonis Tabanda, and choreography by Deana Aquino.

For tickets for the Aug. 20 prrformance, call REP at 843.3570, and Ticketworld at 891.999 or log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph.

For updates and show schedules, log on to www.repertoryphilippines. ph, like and follow repertoryphilippines on Facebook and Instagram, and @repphils on Twitter.

Life

D2

TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

19th century book on Philippine flora PUBLISHED AGAIN P

HILIPPINE soil has always been rich in flora, playing a significant purpose in society for their medicinal and ornamental value.

In 1837, a Spanish Augustinian friar took on the task of unraveling the beauty and use of these plants through his interactions with Filipinos and their native communities.

Reverend Manuel Blanco selected and compiled roughly 150 Philippine plants and arranged them according to their common names, along with their official scientific and Latin names in a book entitled Flora de Filipinas.

Blanco’s botanical research has been widely read and appreciated for exhibiting the beauty and variety of Philippine flora, through illustrations made by Spanish as well as Filipino artists. Flora de Filipinas was not just simply a reference text, but a valuable landmark of Philippine culture as well.

Inspired by this enduring legacy, Vibal Foundation has republished the

180-year-old Flora de Filipinas in partnership with Instituto Cervantes de Manila.

Dr. Domingo A. Madulid spearheaded the editing and translation into the English language of the book’s fifth edition, whose launch was recently held at Ayala Tower One in Makati City during the celebration of International Book Day. “Although this book has been widely talked about, the vicissitude of time has not been kind in keeping this relevant work continuously in print.

Hence, Vibal Foundation slated this work early on as one of its long-awaited publications under the Filipiniana classical series,” explained Gaspar A. Vibal, executive director of Vibal Foundation during his welcome message at the event.

Flora de Filipinas gives valuable insight as to how plants were commonly used in 19th century Philippines. It also includes folklore and historical notes showing the cultural context of each plant beyond taxonomic and practical interests.

“We fervently hope that with this new edition, Father Manuel Blanco will continue to demonstrate how he valued the welfare of the Filipino people and deeply respected our intimate and age-old relationship with nature and the regenerative power of plants,” added Vibal.

Madulid thanked Vibal Foundation and Instituto Cervantes for their interest and support toward the project.

“They brought me the idea of writing this fifth edition. This new format is an easier read for today’s generation and affordable to the general public.

We hope people will treasure and enjoy reading this book—a magnificent work of art,” he said.

Madulid was a recipient of the National Book Awards and au-

Vibal Foundation executive director Gaspar Vibal and editor and translator Dr. Domingo Madulid

thored several important books on Philippine flora, such as A Pictorial Cyclopedia of Philippine Ornamental Plants, A Dictionary of Philippine Plant Names (Volumes I and II), and A Bibliography on Biodiversity Research in the Philippines.

According to Vibal, Flora de Filipinas

also hopes to revive the rich HispanicFilipino culture and to keep it relevant through the times. The book also contains scans of the original botanical plates and shares the inspirational story of 18th century Spanish botanist Juan de Cuellar, who conceived the first botanical garden in Manila.

Five specialized courses you can study in New Zealand WHEN it comes to education, only a few have the courage to tread their own path. Those who do, discover specialized fields of study that may be less established in many parts of the world but boast rewarding job prospects especially in developed countries.

An increasing number of international students seeking to take up these niche disciplines are going to one of the most unique and exciting places on the planet – New Zealand. Filipino students have gone in droves, as over 3,500 are studying, according to a report in 2016.

New Zealand offers students at all levels quality education in a wide variety of fields – humanities, business, sciences, technology, and hospitality. Some unusual yet professionally promising majors include:

Cyber Security

As more of the world connects in cyber space, cyber security is an industry that must adapt quickly. Cybercrime is a growing issue worldwide, yet demand for cyber security experts is outpacing supply. To meet this demand, New Zealand offers cyber security programs that empower security experts to produce, assess, and advise on security issues and help meet the New Zealand Government’s Cyber Security strategy.

The University of Waikato is home to the Cyber Security Researchers of Waikato (CROW) – New Zealand’s first dedicated university cyber security research lab. Furthermore, students will have the opportunity to work with and learn from award-winning cyber security experts. The university’s academics also have strong international connections with the industry and the government such as the National Cyber Policy Office and INTERPOL. Other main universities in New Zealand, as well as the Unitec Institute of Technology, also offer cybersecurity programs.

New Zealand aims to meet the demands for cybersecurity experts by boosting its cybersecurity courses and programmes

and Veterinary Medicine especially since the Philippines needs support to help these sectors grow. These courses can help Filipinos learn management of resources cultivated and produced back home to put greater value on local products and boost these sectors.

New Zealand universities receive considerable levels of government and industry funding and assistance toward their research and teaching in these fields. They have built up a wealth of knowledge, expertise and research capability in the areas of agriculture, aquaculture, horticulture and viticulture, and deservedly strong reputations in associated industries such as veterinary science.

These programs are offered in several universities, such as Massey Adventure Tourism Agriculture and Veterinary University in Palmerston North. Adand Hospitality ditionally, New Zealand is accredMedicine New Zealand is widely regarded as Filipinos can develop their exper- ited by the American Veterinary the adventure capital of the world, and tise in New Zealand’s Agriculture Medical Association (AVMA) and/ this makes hospitality a big industry.

The retail, accommodation and food services industry is by far the biggest employer in New Zealand.

Queenstown Resort College (QRC) is one of New Zealand’s premier Tourism and Hospitality Management Tertiary Education providers.

Other universities offer programmes that establish comprehensive knowledge, skills and standards of professional practice relevant to hospitality operations that support and enhance customer confidence and service delivery. These programmes also help in developing and expanding students’ communication and customer service skills while building on existing knowledge of sustainable tourism for New Zealand.

Veterinary Medicine is an established programme option in New Zealand for international students

or Canadian Veterinary Medical As- the winner of Project Runway New sociation (CVMA).

York, 2014.

Fashion Design

The education system in New Zealand encourages creativity and innovation, and what better way to express this through fashion design. Institutions in New Zealand offering fashion design provide a creative learning environment which promotes originality and an awareness of both the local and global fashion markets.

In addition to the many fashion institutes, which offer this course, including the Design and Arts College of New Zealand and the NZ Academy of Fashion Design, universities, like Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and Massey University also provide undergraduates with the opportunity to explore their creativity through fashion and design. These universities are known to have produced designers like Sean Kelly,

Food Science and Technology

The food and beverage sector is a key component of New Zealand’s trade with the rest of the world. Major universities in the country are respected globally for their agri-food research.

With its strong focus on dairy and meat products and its specialist unit for postharvest technology, Massey University is known as a world leader in food technology. Its FoodPilot Plant, which hosts the largest collection of pilotscale food processing equipment in the Southern hemisphere, is a member of the NZ Food Innovation Network.

Other key New Zealand universities offering courses in food science and technology include AUT, the University of Otago and the University of Auckland.

For more course offerings, check out https://www.studyinnewzealand.govt.nz.

Muntinlupa high school goes high-tech

Atty. Gay Marie Francisco, Executive Director of MDF; Dr. Mauro De Gulan, Schools Division Superintendent of Muntinlupa; Dr. Antonio Rocha, Principal of Muntinlupa National High School-Tunasan Annex; Dr. Brian Belen, President of BBFI; and Tessie De Galicia-Robles of MDF.

MUNTINLUPA National High SchoolTunasan Annex leveled up their most recent Brigada Eskwela.

Aside from the usual cleaning and painting of classrooms, and repairing fixtures in preparation for the upcoming school opening, they received a donation of an e-learning package that includes a digital cart, Genyo e-Learning (Genyo), and a set of Android tablets called YoPad. The donation was made by the Muntinlupa Development Foundation (MDF) and Bato Balani Foundation Inc. (BBFI) through the Bato Balani e-Learning Systems Training (BBEST) program.

The package is virtually a mobile computer laboratory. Using Genyo

learning management system, teachers can create original lessons or customize existing lesson packages. With just a few clicks, teachers can prepare engaging classroom activities like online quizzes and interactive discussions. It also helps teachers compute grades and record individual class performance.

Best of all, they do not need Internet to do all of these.

Aside from the hardware and software, part of the donation is a training program that will help teachers understand and maximize the use of the system.

Dr. Antonio B. Rocha, school principal, is an advocate of digital learning.

He aims to make e-learning the norm in the school to be able to cater to the 21st

century learners. He said that a total of 700 students from Grades 11 and 12 would benefit from the grant.

“Millennial students nowadays are more on information technology (IT), exploring, and surfing. I don’t think they will have a hard time in exploration because that is their venue, that is their game,” Rocha said.

Genyo e-Learning is the country’s first fully-integrated learning management system. Introduced by Diwa Learning Systems Inc., Genyo is used by both private and public schools from many parts of the Philippines.

Aside from the offline version, Genyo also has an online version that allows students and teachers to access it anytime, anywhere.

TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2017

ENRIQUE defends LIZA from bashers

New inspirations on FYI Jeannie D and Janez Vermeiren chronicle their journey around the world in twenty-six weeks in "Top Travel"

M

ARKING the mid-year, FYI, the leading contemporary lifestyle network continues to fuel passions as it shows new series and brand-new episodes of shows this month.

Starting July 27, watch Feast Your Inspiration with two delicious shows sure to get mouths watering and any foodie’s creative juices flowing. At 9 p.m., don’t miss the second season of Food Porn, as Michael Chernow discovers the most buzzed and inventive dishes, and meets the people responsible for them.

Tune in right after, at 9:30 p.m., Scraps, a new series about Chef Joel Gamoran who takes on the problem of excessive food waste by using it to create sumptuous feasts for huge dinner

parties in gorgeous locations.

Go on an adventure around the world every Thursday.

Starting at 8 p.m., Adam Liaw in Destination Flavour: Singapore traverses the small nation to sample its bold flavors and meet big personalities.

At 8:30 p.m., Top Travel shows where to go in style with globetrotters Jeannie D. and Janez Vermeiren as the explore only the best hotels, restaurants, landmarks, art galleries and more.

“For Your Innovation” explores all the creative ways to live large in a tiny space with brand new episodes of Tiny House Nation season 4 every Monday at 8:55 p.m. starting July 10. Emmy-award winning John Weisbarth and renovation expert Zack Giffin show creativity and innovation—not size—matter, when they visit space-saving homes around America.

FYI™ is available on SKYCable Ch 79; Cable Link Ch. 44; Dream Satellite Ch 21.

Amiah Miller plays pivotal role in ‘WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES’ ONE of the most surprising characters in the highly anticipated War For The Planet of the Apes is not an ape or a man … but a little girl with breathtaking courage. Amiah Miller, in her first major role plays a mute, virus-ravaged human child who comes to be known as Nova – and becomes an essential part of the apes’ journey to their new home.

War For The Planet of the Apes is set 15 years after a scientific experiment had gone wrong that gave rise to intelligent apes and almost wiped out the human race.

The colonists and apes struggled to coexist but their fragile peace was shattered and Caesar (played by Andy Serkis), leader of the apes, attempted to restore order. But there was no turning back from the brutal fighting that has already begun.

At heart, this is the story of both a military and emotional last stand. As peace between species has collapsed -- and a renegade band of human soldiers led by an imperious Colonel (Woody Harrelson) makes a final, all-out attack -- Caesar is hit with an unimaginable personal loss and a dark line inside his psyche is crossed. Now, he is wrestling with merciless impulses and roiling doubts about his own ability to inspire the apes towards freedom. But if the apes are to survive the coming conflict, Caesar must lead. In a time when empathy and compassion have nearly vanished both in the world and his heart, Caesar searches for the grit, sense of fellowship and striving vision to lead the apes towards a future of hope.

The enchanted quality of new character, Nova, did not escape director Matt Reeves and scribe Mark Bomback who says, “Here is a little, seemingly orphaned girl living

with apes – Matt and I immediately thought she seemed like a character out of a fairytale.

From Goldilocks to Little Red Riding Hood, there’s a whole tradition of stories about little girls in the woods with dangerous animals who nevertheless become their protectors.

That’s part of the inspiration for Nova. And the name Nova of course is a bit of an Easter egg from the original film.”

“One of the beautiful things about Nova is that even in this divided world, you see there are apes and humans who are able to

Amiah Miller as Nova and Andy Serkis as Caesar in "War for the Planet of the Apes"

form deep emotional relationships,” says Peter Chernin. “In that moment when Caesar is in the darkest place, when he wants to hate all humans, Nova touches him in a way no one else can. In Nova, we’re also seeing the growth of the Simian Virus and what survival means to humans.”

Taking the part, an especially demanding and complex one for a child actor, is 12 yearold Amiah Miller in her first major feature.

Reeves describes how Miller won the role.

“Amiah is such an intuitive young actor.

When she came in to audition we threw away the script and I just asked her to relate to the apes. It was clear right then that she was special and had a talent way beyond her years. She and the actors became like a family. She has a bright future ahead of her, I can’t wait to see what she does.”

Because Nova develops a strong bond with the orangutan Maurice, who insists on bringing her on the apes’ long journey, Miller spent a month working with Karin Konoval, who plays Maurice. “Amiah and I needed to have a very strong, very real connection,” says Konoval. “So Amiah and I actually got to know each other wordlessly as Maurice and Nova before we even had any conversations.

Luckily, our connection was immediate and organic and it only grew from there. It was absolutely magic that the filmmakers gave us that opportunity to develop this true bond.”

Says producer Dylan Clark: “Matt, our casting director Deb Zane and I were all in agreement that there was only one young actor to bring in for the role of Nova and it was Amiah.”

War For The Planet of the Apes opens July 12 in cinemas nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Tuesday, July 4, 2017

ACROSS 1 Iffy attempts 6 Ruler of Venice 10 Stir-fry pans 14 Pound division 15 Has the stage (2 wds.)

16 Maui dance 17 Computer-chip maker 18 Criticizes severely 20 Pasture 21 Walk on 23 Helena rival 24 Peered at 26 Tibetan ox 27 Pushed 29 Coercion 34 Accept, as a check 35 Sherlock Holmes creator 36 Turn down 37 Decay 38 Thin porridge 39 Cuba, to Castro 40 — Enterprise 41 Baldwin and Guinness 42 E or O 43 Harden one’s heart (2 wds.)

45 Most appealing 46 Raw metal 47 Kind of bear

48 Kindled anew 51 New Orleans pro 53 Neckline type 56 Copying 58 Boat made of skins 60 Gallbladder contents 61 Plod heavily 62 Wash cycle 63 Kind of poker 64 Racehorse, slangily 65 Sharpened DOWN 1 Muddy up 2 Adjust a piano 3 Adversary 4 Prior to yr. 1 5 Effervescent water 6 Chopped fine 7 Workers’ agcy.

8 Urge on 9 Annapolis grad 10 Small brooms 11 Expel 12 MOMA artist 13 Postpaid encl.

19 Fluff, as hair 22 Wine category 25 Stratford’s river 26 Raise one’s voice 27 “I don’t know”

gesture 28 Realty listing 29 Kangaroo feature 30 Bread grains 31 Constant 32 Vexes 33 Glorify 35 Remnant 38 Envelope sealer 39 Kappa preceder 41 Large artery 42 Condor 44 Worked like a dog

45 Chili — carne 47 Kind of bank 48 Bull Run fighters 49 Discharge 50 Corker 51 Farm building 52 Erelong 54 Relieve tension 55 Made do with 57 Recipe amt.

59 Halfway

ENRIQUE Gil defends Liza Soberano from bashers who say she’s not fit to breathe life to the iconic Pinay super heroine Darna because of her mestiza looks and American twang when speaking.

They opine that Darna should possess Filipino features, something that the masses could relate with.

“Honestly, I’m not bothered by such comments,” says Gil. “I’ve accepted the fact that whatever you do, there will be bashers lurking around.

Whether it’s in showbiz or not, people will always have something to say. What’s important is you do what you like that can make you happy.”

The handsome Kapamilya star is proud of his screen partner with this positive development in her career.

“With regards to the ‘Darna’ project, actually, we knew of it for so long already. I’m happy that the project dropped on Liza’s lap. She’s perfect for the part. I support her a hundred per cent. You know, with all the hard work she’s put in all these years, I think Liza deserves all the blessings that are coming her way at this point.”

In one of Soberano’s recent interviews, she revealed that Gil dvised her to be prepared to work with other stars.

“Yes, for her growth as an actress.

I mean, we cannot be a love team forever. Liza’s so used to having me around being her constant screen partner. What will happen to her when the time comes she needs to work with other artists?

“When she did her stint in Maalaala Mo Kaya, she was very nervous. I told her that she needs to work with other actors. I shared with her my experience when I was still a newbie: that I got paired with a lot of stars and it worked to my

advantage. I grew as a thespian. Of course, I visited her on the set to give moral support.”

After Dolce Amore, he didn’t become that visible on the scene.

He surprised many when he recently appeared in ASAP with a much trimmed physique.

“Oh, thank you! I used my break for gym workouts and had a sort of lifestyle change. I go with Liza when she trains. I think the effect is so encouraging!”

Their fans ask what their next soap will be.

“Liza and I will be together in Bagani. It’s slated for 2018. It’s a superhero kind of tele-serye. It’s a good vehicle. The story is great. We really enjoyed our taping in Paoay in Ilocos. This is something that viewers should watch out for,” ends Enrique. ******** Asked if Janine Gutierrez and Rayver Cruz are playing beautiful music together, Rodjun, the brother, says. “I’m not really sure, but what I know is Rayver’s smiles are from ear-to-ear these days. Haha-ha! They really enjoy each other’s company when going out with groups.”

Does he approve of Gutierrez to be his brother’s lady love, if ever?

“Oh, yes! Who wouldn’t like her?

I’ve worked with Janine in Legally Blind and discovered what a beautiful person she is, inside and out.

For one, she’s very kind and doesn’t complain even if our taping reaches the wee hours of the morning. She still has a ready smile for everybody.”

The hunky actor thinks Rayver and Janine complement each other.

“They’re both good-looking and have kind hearts. They will make a gorgeous pair,” avers Rodjun.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2017

ISAH V. RED

I

T HAS been 30 years since Regine Velasquez – Alcasid took her first uncertain steps towards stardom and she is celebrating in a big way.

The Filipino Songbird is coming out with a new album and staging a grand solo concert, both of which are titled R3.0.

R3.0, the concert will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena and will feature a retrospective of her biggest hits, new recordings and popular oldies that are close to her heart. R3.0, the album will do likewise. This is a three-volume set with new versions of her big sellers, versions of her personal favorites; and original compositions by Filipino composers.

R3.0 marks Regine’s return to Viva, which was the site of many of her successes as a singer and actress. It was at Viva where she recorded her first album in 1987, which included her first big hit “Urong Sulong” and her first movie theme song, “Isang Lahi” for Gabi Na Kumander. This was followed by other hits like “On The Wings Of Love,” “Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang,” “Dadalhin Kita,” “Ikaw,” and many more.

She got her big break as an actor in the now classic Viva movie Wanted Perfect Mother opposite Christopher de Leon, which also gave her the big hit “You Are My Song.” This was followed by boxoffice blockbusters like Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw with Robin Padilla, Ikaw Lamang Hanggang Ngayon with Richard Gomez, for which she was named BoxOffice Queen by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Foundation, and opposite Aga Muhlach, for which she was named Best Actress in Comedy at the Enpress Awards.

Aside from all these, Velasquez-Alcasid is also one of the country’s leading concert artists, who has performed all over the world from legendary venues like the Carnegie Hall in New York to the Mall of Asia Arena in the Philippines.

Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, who was born in Malabon began her career by joining amateur singing contests. Trained by her father Gerry Velasquez, she went on to win the Grand Prize in Ang Bagong Kampeon, a talent show on television, when she was 14 years old. Thirty years later, married to singer/composer Ogie Alcasid and mother of one, she has attained success beyond her wildest dreams.

Join Regine in celebrating this 30-year milestone with R3.0 at the Mall of Asia Arena on Oct. 21.

For ticket inquiries call VIVA Live – Concerts at 687-7236: *** Zanjoe Marudo, Joey Marquez and Cesar Montano joined the 10th Mayor Abalos Golf Cup on June 30, at Wack Wack Golf & Country Club.

The Mandaluyong Golf Club, Inc., with the special participation of SM Super Malls, San Miguel Corporation and DDT Konstract, Inc., and in cooperation of Wack Wack Golf & Country Club held the “10th Mayor Abalos Golf Cup” on Friday with a double shotgun tee off at 6:30 a.m. and 12 nn, at the West Course.

Actor and Essilor brand ambassador Tom Rodriguez

TOM

RODRIGUEZ shares vision of perfect eye health

REGINE

VELASQUEZ

marks 30 years with VIVA

Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid cerebrates her 3 decades in the business with a grand concert happening in October and an album launch featuring her greatest hits and fresh recordings

The celebrities, apart from Zanjoe Marudo and Joey Marquez, included Cesar Montano, Vandolf Quizon and Epy Quizon.

This golf tournament was one of the major activities lined up for the birthday celebration of Mandaluyong Mayor Carmelita A. Abalos.

It is an annual event that aims to support the advocacies and programs of Ciara Marie Foundation, Inc., a charitable institution that provides health care services, educational assistance to qualified members the community and further extends various assistance to the displaced families who were victims of fire accident and other natural calamities.

Councilor Charisse Marie AbalosVargas is the chairperson of the foundation.

The event counted AMA Computer College, DMCI Homes, PLDT, Leisure and Resorts World Corporation as Platinum Sponsors, while the Gold

Sponsors were Rockwell Land, The Address @ Wack Wack, St. Francis Square Holdings, Expedition Construction Corporation, United Laboratories, Greenfield Development Corporation, Globe Telecom, Alexa Trading & Construction Corporation, Robinsons Land Corporation, Megawide Builders, Vista Land, Shangri-LA Properties, ChampionPEPMACO; and the Silver sponsors were Manuela Corporation, Guevent Investment Development Corp., Amaia Skies Shaw, Monolith Construction, Bingo Mania, Land Bank of the Philippines, Market Place Shopping Mall, Tracsom Builders, S & R Membership Shopping, Sumometrics Industries, California Chemicals Corporation, Asian International Auctioneers IPM Cosntruction Corporation, Norkis Group of Companies, Hotel Sogo, Davies Paint 121 Cosntruction and Southforbes by Zanjoe Marudo is one of the stars that graced Mayor Abalos Golf Cup 10th edition Cathay Land.

EVERYONE can’t help but fall in love with celebrated actor and certified heartthrob, Tom Rodriguez. Unknown to many, the top actor is also a prolific digital artist. As such, Tom gives due importance to eye protection as he teams up with Essilor, the world leader in corrective ophthalmic lenses to take care of their eyes against harmful blue light with Crizal® Prevencia™.

As the newest brand ambassador for the world’s leading ophthalmic optics company, Rodriguez appears in the A Day in a Life TVC for Essilor’s most technologically advanced protective lenses. Crizal® Prevencia™ is the only clear lens in the market to effectively filter harmful blue light from the sun and digital devices while maximizing essential blue light for healthier vision.

“With Tom as our newest ambassador, we hope to raise more awareness on the harmful effects of over-exposure to blue light, to promote healthy vision, and the need for protective lens usage in the country,” says Essilor general manager Dr. Emelita Roleda.

The TVC shows Tom going through his everyday routine. “Belonging to a technically-savvy generation and with my love of creating digital art, I cannot do without my phone and digital devices.

What’s more, my active lifestyle also keeps me under the sun a lot,” shares the 29-year old actor. “It’s quite alarming to know how being exposed to UV rays and blue light can cause long-term damage.

With Crizal® Prevencia™, I can protect my vision, and also prevent blue light from harming my eyes.”

Crizal® Prevencia™ uses E-SPF® and Lightscan™ Technology which offers complete front and back protection and selective filtering of harmful blue light from devices and the sun that can cause long-term damage, such as cataracts and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). At the same time, it lets in good light that regulates sleep and mood and boosts brain activity. It also provides complete protection from glare, scratches, smudges, dust, water, UV rays and harmful blue light.

“Exposure to harmful blue lights may be inevitable but we can minimize the risk by doing our part,” says Rodriguez.

“By choosing Crizal® Prevencia™, we can protect our eyes on a daily basis and maintain a healthy vision.”

Learn more about Crizal® Prevencia™ by visiting your preferred eye care professional or leading optical shop, or by logging on to www.essilor.com.ph.