Manila Standard - 2017 July 27 - Thursday

VOL. XXXI • NO. 163 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

US planes to spy on ISIS-linked terrorists

By Francisco Tuyay, Sara Fabunan and Macon Araneta

WASHINGTON is donating two turbo prop Cessna Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance aircraft to the Philippines that would hasten the military’s maritime interdiction of suspected terrorists using the country’s porous shoreline as transit points.

News of the donation coincided with a travel advisory issued by London against all travel of its nationals to western and central Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago due to the continuing battle between government troops and ISISinspired Maute terrorists in the country’s far south.

In the Senate, meanwhile, Senator Loren Legarda wants Next page

DISPLACED CHILDREN. A Swiss Foundation for Mine Action volunteer (above right) speaks to displaced children (below) on the dangers of bombs and unexploded ordnance at an evacuation center in Balo-i, Lanao del Norte, as they prepare the children and their families for their eventual return to their abandoned homes. Fighting in Marawi in Lanao del Sur has left 460 militants, 109 soldiers and police and 45 civilians dead, according to latest government figures, while nearly 400,000 Marawi residents and nearby areas have fled their homes. AFP

Rody-Joma feud worsens As ‘word war’ rages, Reds told to resist fascist regime

By John Paolo Bencito SCALE MODEL.

President Rodrigo Duterte receives the scale model of a two-classroom school building from Federation of FilipinoChinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. on Tuesday following the oathtaking ceremony for members of the chambers. Presidential Photo

CHR chief hits back at Du30 over abolition plan COMMISSION on Human Rights chairman Jose Luis Martin Gascon slammed President Rodrigo Duterte for his “utter disregard” of civil liberties, after he called for the abolition of

the state human rights agency, a move backed by two of his senior security officials.

“The President’s statements made both at his second Sona [State of the Nation Address]

and after should remove any doubt regarding the attitude his administration will take towards respecting the human rights guarantees enshrined in the Constitution,” Gascon said in a state-

ment Tuesday.

“The actions during the first year of his presidency coupled with his words said over the same period exhibit an utter disregard Next page

‘Bomb lumad’ wrong signal

By Sandy Araneta and John Paolo Bencito N O N - G O V E R N M E N TA L organization Human Rights Watch urged President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday to retract his statement that he would order the military to bomb lumad

schools in Mindanao .

“Duterte should publicly retract his threat of violence against tribal schools before the military acts on them. And although the Philippines has legislation and Department of Education guidelines prohibiting military use of schools,

Next page

NoKor envoy in town ahead of security gab

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan NORTH Korea on Wednesday sent a senior diplomat to the Philippines to oversee the country’s preparations in line with its foreign minister’s attendance at the upcoming meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Robespierre Bolivar said North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Hui Chol arrived Wednesday

By Sandy Araneta and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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and user.

DDB chairman Dionisio Santiago, director general of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency from 2006 to 2011, was responding

Next page

morning and left for Pyongyang on the same day after meeting with his counterpart, Undersecretary for Policy Enrique Manalo.

Bolivar said the sole purpose of Choe’s visit is to discuss preparations for Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong’s participation at next week’s regional forum.

The Asean Regional Forum, the bloc’s largest security meeting, is attended by Asean foreign ministers and 17 other dialogue partners including the US, Japan, Next page

NBI: Murder vs 19 cops

Governor linked to drugs DANGEROUS Drugs Board officials have accused Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua as being involved in the illegal drug trade, which the Duterte administration is trying to stop to the last pusher

C

OMMUNIST leaders on Wednesday called on their cadres to resist the “anti-people and fascist” rule of President Rodrigo Duterte as the word war between him and Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison escalated.

In a July 26 editorial of its official publication, “Ang Bayan,” the CPP’s Central Committee denounced Duterte’s “strongman ambitions” and accused him of assuming “the role of the neo-colonial client-state of the US imperialists.”

“The US-Duterte regime is bound to face the Filipino and Moro people’s all-out resistance and is risking a fate worse than the detested US-Marcos dictatorship,” the CPP warned.

It also called on its armed wing, the New People’s Army to “carry out extensive and intensive guerrilla

SENATE INQUIRY. PNP Chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa (left) and Justice Undersecretary Reynante Orceo testify during a Senate inquiry Wednesday on the reinstatement of Supt. Marvin Marcos and several policemen accused of killing Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa in his cell at the Leyte provincial jail. Ey Acasio

THE National Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday stood by its recommendation to file murder charges against the 19 policemen accused of killing Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. “We stand by our recommendation for murder [against the accused], NBI Director Dante Gier-

ran told a Senate inquiry.

He made the statement even as Police Chief Ronald Dela Rosa suggested that President Rodrigo Duterte prodded him to reinstate Supt. Marvin Marcos while a Justice Department official said he downgraded the murder case to homicide although he did not know the case’s details.

Marcos, then chief of the PNPNext page

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THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Economy seen steady despite ML The Second Quarter Social Weather Stations survey was conducted among 1,200 respondents, and 24 percent of them believed the economy would get better while 33 percent expected it to get worse.

That resulted in a net -9 national balance of opinion that SWS classified as “Neutral.”

Across geographical regions, double-digit negative

net balance of opinion scores were recorded in Balance Luzon and the Visayas at -14 and -13, respectively, and SWS classified it as “moderately unfavorable.”

In Balance Luzon, 22 percent remained positive about martial law’s effect on the economy while 36 percent thought otherwise. And in the Visayas, 24 percent expected the

economy to get better while 37 percent expected the opposite.

In Mindanao, where the fighting between government forces and Islamic State-inspired extremists were ongoing, the balance of opinion was at zero with 27 percent who expected the economy to get better while 27 percent expected it to get even worse, or “exactly Neutral.”

“In the National Capital Region, meanwhile, the balance of opinion was a net -7, or 23 percent better and 29 percent worse, correctly rounded, which is still in the category of Neutral, SWS said.

The latest survey, conducted from June 23 to 26, had sampling error margins of ±3 percent for the national percentages.

Rody-Joma...

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his mental health and consult a psychiatrist.

“I pity him and I am tempted just to let him go because what he says against me is patently baseless and comes obviously from a sick mind.

But I still have to answer him to prevent him from misleading the public and rousing them the wrong way,” Sison said in a Facebook post.

“At any rate, he has to look after his mental health and consult with a professional psychiatrist. Is Duterte the kind of president and commander in chief the [Philippine government] can rely on for the factual basis of martial law which puts at risk the liberties, lives and limbs of millions of people?” he added.

While he was “amused” by the President’s advice for him to commit suicide, Sison said he would never give Duterte the same advice.

“But what I suggest to him is to consult a professional psychiatrist to take care of his mental health,” he said.

“First, he threatened to kill me.

Now, he tells me to commit suicide.

Is this another symptom of a malady in which the sick person enjoys boasting of having police units and death squads that commit extrajudicial killings with impunity and with monetary rewards per victim?” he added.

Sison denied Duterte’s claims that he spends most of his time in Norway seeking medical treatment. In “a few minor instances,” he said, the Norwegian government extended medical assistance to him.

Responding to the CPP’s threats, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella blamed the communists’ “distorted perception” of Duterte’s actions for the widening rift.

“I think they have it—they have [a] distorted perception of what the President is doing. Basically, the President has been very open. He has actually engaged them,” Abella said.

Abella said Duterte bent over backwards to pursue peace talks with the communists, but decided to drop them when he realized that his goodwill had not been reciprocated by the CPP-NDFP. “Apparently, he [Duterte] doesn’t perceive that there is a commensurate response,” Abella said.

In a chance interview Tuesday night, Labor Secretary and government chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III said the government peace panel is still awaiting for Duterte’s final instruction before they send a letter to formally terminate peace talks with the communist rebels.

“We are still waiting for the final instruction [from Duterte]. To terminate the talks, we have to write them and inform them that we are terminating [the talks],” Bello said.

“It will take effect 30 days after

the receipt of the letter. We will write the letter upon the instruction of the President. If he said we send a formal termination, then we would do that,” he added.

Bello expressed disappointment that the peace talks were being scrapped at a time when negotiations were moving forward, but said he understood why the President canceled backchannel talks.

“The President was right, because while we are talking about peace, the other side should show sincerity, or what we call confidence-building measures,” Bello told a radio interview in Filipino.

“Nobody can gainsay the President when it comes to showing his sincerity and the political will to push the process forward,” he added.

Abella on Wednesday said leftist members of the Cabinet continued to enjoy the President’s trust and confidence.

“The Cabinet members are different from the NPA. They’re responsible—they’re not members of the NPA,” Abella said. “What is important is that they are doing their job in their departments.”

The National Democratic Front had earlier nominated Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary Liza Maza, and Presidential Commission on the Urban Poor chairperson Secretary James Mark Terry Ridon to join Duterte’s Cabinet, as part of his efforts to seek better ties with the left.

However, recent developments led to the scrapping of peace talks, with Duterte branding the Communist Party of the Philippines as “enemies of the state.”

Also on Wednesday, Senator Panfilo Lacson said the government should consider localized peace negotiations with the communist rebels.

Lacson, former chief of the Philippine National Police, cited the need to reassess the government;s peace initiatives through the CPP/NDF and consider letting local government units initiate talks, “under clear and strict guidance and supervision from the national government.”

“I fully support the President on this. It’s a no-brainer decision. For how can the government talk peace when the other party, by their action, is not willing [to do the same] or at least not sincere?” he said.

Senators Gregorio Honasan and Joel Villanueva also supported the cancellation of talks with the NDF. Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza announced the government’s cancellation of backchannel talks after the NPA attacked a Presidential Security Group convoy in Cotabato.

donesia, Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said America is prepared to use force if need be to stop North Korea’s nuclear missile program.

In April, during the Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting, the bloc expressed “grave concern” over North Korea’s nuclear tests, and said

Prongyang’s actions cause instability in the region and beyond.

The bloc also appealed to North Korea and all concerned parties to exercise self-restraint to ease tensions and to refrain from actions that may aggravate the situation.

North Korea asked Philippine officials not to put Pyongyang under pressure in Asean meetings, including the Asean Regional Forum.

monies of several witnesses had disputed the claim of an alleged shootout between the CIDG Operatives and Inmates Mayor Espinosa and Raul Yap but a rubout,” the NBI said.

The Senate on Wednesday opened an inquiry into the reinstatement of Marcos and 18 other policemen linked to Espinosa’s killing in 2016.

Marcos and 18 of his men were reinstated after the Department of Justice downgraded the charges against them to homicide from murder.

Among the resource persons invited to the probe were Dela Rosa, Aguirre and other PNP officials.

Aguirre was invited but failed to attend the hearing due to a previous appointment held out of town.

Aguirre earlier said the charges against Marcos and his men were downgraded to a bailable offense because of the absence of evident premeditation.

Marcos, after serving his suspension and posting bail for his homicide case, was named head of CIDG-12.

Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier expressed disgust over the reinstatement of the cops linked to the slay, saying it disregarded a conspiracy angle that authorities had long been probing.

“This effectively disregarded the conspiracy angle. In sum, there is a

phrase to describe this whole damn thing: Put*ng I*a!” Lacson said.

Dela Rosa earlier said that Marcos and 18 others were under the custody of CIDG-8 in Leyte.

On March 16, Judge Carlos Arguelles of the Regional Trial Court Branch 14 in Baybay City, Leyte, issued arrest warrants against Marcos and the other policemen.

The suspects surrendered to the CIDG-8 office that Marcos formerly headed.

The NBI earlier filed multiple murder charges against the accused in connection with the Nov. 5 police killing of Espinosa.

Senators have described Espinosa’s killing as “premeditated” based on the suspicious manner by which the CIDG team carried out the raid.

Senators who held a congressional investigation on the killing of Espinosa later learned that both Mayor Espinosa and his son Kerwin named Marcos and two of his men as being on his payroll.

Espinosa and Yap were killed in the police operation after police claimed the men fired back at them.

The NBI also recommended perjury charges against the group’s informant, Paul Olendan, whose affidavit was the basis of a search warrant against Espinosa.

By John Paolo Bencito

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ORTY-THREE percent of the Filipinos polled in a recent survey believe the economy will likely remain the same despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s imposition of martial law in Mindanao.

warfare” and step up its recruitment of more fighters to counter state forces.

While the CPP acknowledged that Duterte sought talk peace with the communists, the administration “failed to cause the pacification and capitulation of the party” because of its threats to impose authoritarian rule.

“Duterte has the predilection for employing iron-hand tactics. He has caused widespread death and destruction in the three wars he has launched: the so-called war against drugs, the war against the Moros and the all-out war against the revolutionary forces and the Filipino people. He has extended Mindanao martial law and seeks to expand it,” the communists said.

At a press briefing on Monday night soon after his second State of the Nation Address, Duterte said that his decision to end peace talks with the communist rebels was final, as he ordered the military to be “unforgiving” to the communists following their attacks against government forces.

In his speech on Tuesday night, Duterte said that he would wage war with the CPP, which has been represented in the talks by its political arm, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

“You do not want to talk, you want war. I will give it to you. I will prepare my armed forces,” Duterte said.

The President slammed Sison, his former professor, for allegedly lying about his health and advised him to “kill himself,” saying that it would be a favor to the Norwegian government.

“Sison, you’re growing old there, and you still won’t admit you’re sick,” Duterte said in Filipino, addressing the communist leader who has lived in selfexile in the Netherlands since 1987.

“Have pity on the Norwegian government and kill yourself.”

Duterte said Norway’s sponsorship of the peace talks was growing expensive, and has become a political issue in Norway, which holds parliamentary elections on Sept. 11.

In his State of the Nation Address, Duterte said that Sison had colon cancer, a claim that Sison denied.

Duterte also expressed regret inviting consultants of the National Democratic Front to a dinner in Malacañang, apparently telling his staff in jest that they should have poisoned them.

“Why were they not poisoned?” he jokingly asked, to the laughter of the crowd.

But on Wednesday, Sison shot back, advising Duterte to look after

NoKor...

From A1 China, Russia, South Korea, and North Korea.

The Philippines is the current chairman for the Asean summit.

Asean consists of the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, In-

NBI:...

From A1 Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Region 8, was among the 19 policemen charged for the killing of Espinosa Sr. and Raul Yap, another drug suspect, while inside the Baybay subprovincial jail in Leyte.

Under questioning by Senators Bam Aquino and Grace Poe, Dela Rosa said Duterte had repeatedly told him to bring back Marcos and his men to active service.

“The President always intimated to me that I should let them work because government funds are being wasted,” Dela Rosa told senators during a joint hearing of the Senate committees on public order and dangerous drugs and justice and human rights led by Senators Panfilo Lacson and Richard Gordon, respectively.

The NBI said in an earlier statement that it had submitted its findings to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II deeming the death of Espinosa as a “rubout” and “not a shootout” as claimed by the police raiding team.

“After conducting an exhaustive investigation of the incidents surrounding the killing of Mayor Espinosa and Yap, the NBI concluded that the testi-

Koko echoes bid for return of Balangiga

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SAYING that the “Bells of Balangiga” are a part of Filipino culture, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III yesterday backed up President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for the United States to return the centuries’ old artifacts and other war booties taken by the US soldiers 116 years ago in Samar.

The President called for the return of the Bells of Balangiga during his second State of the Nation Address Monday before a joint session of Congress at the full-house Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

“The Bells of Balangiga are important to us because they are a part of our history,” said Pimentel of the artifacts taken as war booties by American soldiers who were sent to cleanse the town of “rebel troops” fighting against US occupation in 1901.

He said the war trophies from Balangiga included two church bells with the Franciscan Order emblems dated 1863 and 1889, respectively, and an English-made cannon dated 1557, now on display at the Trophy Park of the F. E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne,

CHR...

From A1 for due process, equal protection, and other civil liberties. This has encouraged the deepening of impunity,” he added.

Gascon said that any move to abolish the CHR should be first pushed in Congress, which created the body under the 1987 Constitution.

“Any discussion to abolish CHR or any other institution for that matter can be taken in the proposed constitutional-reform process,” he said. “In other words, we shall cross the bridge when we get there. I remain hopeful human rights would still be affirmed.”

Until then, he said the CHR will

‘Bomb...

From A1 they are often ignored,” said Carlos Conde, researcher of the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch.

The Department of Education has, meanwhile, continued to remain silent on Duterte’s threats, referring inquiring reporters instead to Malacanang’s explanation, expounded by Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella. “[President Duterte] warns them in the strongest terms to discontinue these actions [of teaching sub-

US...

From A1 the Senate to inquire into the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City as another senator sought the creation of an ad hoc committee for this purpose.

Under her proposed Senate Resolution No. 439, Legarda directed the Senate Committee on Finance to look into the recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation plans of Task Force Bangon Marawi for Marawi City and all other areas affected by the armed conflict between government forces and the Maute group.

President Rodrigo Duterte, through Administrative Order No. 3, has established “Task Force Bangon Marawi” to facilitate the recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation ef-

Governor...

From A1 to reporters’ questions during a recent news forum where he said Cua’s alleged links were relayed to him by assets of his agency.

There was no immmediate reaction from Cua, who was accused, along with two others, of the murder at the Department of Justice of community newspaper publisher Larry Que last year.

Que, shot dead last December by a masked assassin in Virac, Catanduanes, barely two weeks after he set

Wyoming.

He said Filipinos are asking for the return of the Bells of Balangiga not for their commercial value, but for their cultural value and their ecclesiastical nature, adding that the artifacts are among those listed exempted from the spoils of war like other cultural objects.

He noted the passage of more than a century after the so-called “Balangiga Massacre” where US soldiers killed hundreds of civilians in a counterattack, should suffice to mute the anguish, ease the anger and dull the pain in the hearts of the heirs of the protagonists on both sides of the war.

“And so we ask for the return of the Bells of Balangiga. For the return of the bells will help restore things to the status quo ante and help ease the hidden tensions that haunt the heirs of the Balangiga rebels and the American soldiers,” said Pimentel.

He said the much-sought American gesture would not only mean a closure of the wounds of FilipinoAmercian War but it would also herald a new era of peace and closer cooperation between the governments of the Philippines and of the

United States.

On Sept. 28, 2011, Pimentel filed Senate Resolution No. 610, reiterating the call for the return by the United States of America of the Bells of Balangiga and other artifacts and war booties. Then Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. authored the first resolution passed by the Senate in 2002.

On the other hand, Senator Risa Hontiveros said if the wants the United States to return to us the Balangiga bells, he should have also demanded from China to give us back the territory stolen from us.

“No Waray, No Filipino will not say that we recover the Balangiga bells. He wants to recover the bells of Balangiga ..... But there should be more reason to demand for that portion of the West Philippine Sea that was slowly stolen from us by China,” stressed Hontiveros.

Continuing his independent foreign policy pivot, Duterte pressed from the US to return the bells seized as “war booty” from a church in Balangiga, Eastern Samar, and chimed when American troops massacred an entire village in the said province in 1901 during the Philippine-American war.

continue performing its mandate of “fact-finding and documenting human rights violations as well as informing the public about the importance of human rights in society, he added.

In a news conference soon after his second Sona, Duterte threatened to abolish the CHR should it continue to investigate his bloody war on drugs.

He also told military and police personnel they should not appear in any investigation without his approval—adding that investigators should course their requests through him first.

The President had the same message for the Office of the Ombudsman, saying that it should refrain from citing anyone in contempt because he had the authority to tell soldiers and

the police whether they should cooperate with an investigation.

The two institutions are constitutional bodies that are independent of the other branches of government.

The CHR is constitutionally tasked to investigate alleged human rights violations perpetrated by state actors or the government, while the Ombudsman represents the interests of the public by investigating and addressing complaints of maladministration or violations of rights.

While there is a need for checkand-balances mechanisms, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a Tuesday briefing said that there should be no need for a human rights commission if everyone will follow the Constitution.

version and communism]; persistence [in this activity] will warrant appropriate government action,” Abella said, adding the bombings will continue.

“President Duterte highlights the need to protect our youth and doing so entails ensuring they get the correct education that reinforces the right values that instill love of country and respect for our laws among others, and not rebellion,” he said.

The last time the DepEd was heard was when Education Secretary Leonor Briones appealed to the military to “spare” schools—along with their teachers, school personnel and stu-

dents from violence, intimidation or threat amid the continuing clashes in Marawi City.

“Worldwide, schools are universally treated as neutral zones despite being in the middle of intense armed conflict and are free from the presence of armed combatants regardless of what side they are from,” Briones said last June.

“It is imperative that this point be stressed, and that our schools be accorded the same respect – that schools are places for learning, caring and nurturing. A true second home for our students,” Briones added.

forts in Marawi City and all other localities affected by the current conflict in the area.

“We must restore hope, dignity and peace in Marawi City and other affected areas. Much more needs to be done to provide basic necessities to families affected by the crisis,” said Legarda.

The two US Cessna planes which arrived in the country last week would be officially transferred by US Ambassador Kim Kay to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in simple turn-over rites at the Philippine Air Force grounds in Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, spokesman of the Armed Forces, said the transfer of two US Cessna 208 was part of the maritime security initiative forged by the two allied countries purposely to enhance Philippine military maritime intelligence

operations.

In an advisory, the British government said its citizens should avoid all but essential travel to the remainder of Mindanao, excluding Camiguin, Dinagat and Siargao Islands; and to the south of Cebu province, including the towns of Dalaguete and Badian, due to the threat of terrorism.

“There’s an ongoing armed conflict between government forces and militants in Marawi City, Mindanao,” the advisory said.

“Martial law is in place across the whole of Mindanao until 31 December 2017. There may be curfews and checkpoints. Monitor media reporting and follow the instructions of local authorities,” it advised.

“You should cooperate with the Philippine authorities and allow extra time to pass through security checks,” the advisory added.

up Catanduanes News Now, was the first journalist killed under the Duterte administration.

Accompanied by members of the National Press Club, Edralyn Pangilinan, Que’s common-law wife, filed the complaint against Cua, Prince Lim Subion and Vincent Masagca Tacorda.

Santiago said Duterte was likely aware of Cua’s involvement in the manufacture and sale of illegal drugs in the Bicol region.

Reports suggested Que had discovered that Cua used his transportation business as a front for transporting the shabu manufactured in

Catanduanes in and out of the island province.

But Que never got to publish his expose since he was gunned down by unknown assailants last December.

A month before Que’s death, the Philippine National Police raided a large-scale shabu laboratory in Barangay Palta Small, in Virac.

Cua denied involvement in the drug trade.

In his July 17 speech, Duterte vowed to keep his eyes on the National Bureau of Investigation’s director for Catanduanes amid the alleged ongoing drug trade in the province.

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THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Witnesses vs De Lima will not recant’

By Rey Requejo THE high-profile inmates in New Bilibid Prison who testified against Senator Leila de Lima will not retract their testimonies despite the order of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II that they return to the maximum-security compound, according to their lawyer.

Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, counsel of most of the witnesses in the drug cases against De Lima, said that he was able to talk to his clients last Tuesday and they vowed to maintain their statements against the detained senator.

Topacio’s clients, including convicted drug lords led

by Herbert Colangco and Noel Martinez, are currently held at the facility controlled by the Intelligence Service of the AFP in Camp Aguinaldo.

“I was in Camp Aguinaldo [Tuesday afternoon] to see some of my clients there. There is no such move to recant and I know for a fact,” the lawyer told reporters.

Aguirre’s transfer order covered inmates earlier transferred to the medium security compound in NBP, including Vicente Sy, Jojo Baligad, and Peter Co. Topacio said he checked with the camp of Co, who assured him that they would also stand firm on their earlier testimonies against De Lima.

“While they do not want to be transferred back to the maximum security compound, there is no such plan to recant on their part and they are saying that someone is feeding the wrong information to Secretary Aguirre to foment division among the witnesses,” he said.

Topacio believes that information about the witnesses planning to recant their statements against De Lima could be part of a plot to weaken the cases against the senator.

“This guy is sowing dissension. I don’t know who’s pulling the strings. But someone is really trying to weaken the case against Sen. De Lima, and I cannot blame them because this involves life imprisonment sentences, and this involves the personal liberty of Senator De Lima,” he said.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE. Emergency responders in Surigao City conduct rescue simulation on typhoon and landslide incidents to beef up their preparedness during disasters and emergency situations. PNA

Answer Ilocos Six’s suit, SC tells House T

By Rey E. Requejo and Rio N. Araja

HE Supreme Court has ordered the House of Representatives to file its comment on the petition filed by Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and the so-called “Ilocos Six” provincial officials seeking to stop its inquiry into the alleged misuse of the province’s tobacco excise funds.

In its en banc session on Tuesday, the SC adopted a resolution giving respondents House committee on good government and public accountability chairman Rep. Johnny Pimentel, Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas and House Sergeant-at-Arms retired Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali 10 days to file their answer to the omnibus petition seeking not only to stop the legislative inquiry, but also to justify the detention of the so-called ‘‘Ilocos Six’’ after they were cited in contempt by the investigating panel last May 23.

“The Court directed respon-

dents to comment on the Omnibus Petition within a non-extendible period of ten (10) days from notice of Resolution,” SC spokesperson Theodore Te said in a media briefing.

The SC issued the resolution after Marcos and the Ilocos Six earlier prodded the high court to grant their plea to stop what they described as “not only unconstitutional but also persecutory” inquiry by the House on the alleged misuse of tobacco excise funds.

On Tuesday, the House investigating panel had ordered the release of the six Ilocos Norte

House approves Rightsizing Law THE House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading House Bill 5707, also known as the “Rightsizing the National Government Act” which seeks to streamline the bureaucracy and improve the quality and efficiency of government service delivery.

The proposed Rightsizing Law was among the priority legislations cited by President Duterte in his 2nd State of the Nation Address.

Also approved on third reading is House Bill 5865 or the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers.

According to the primary author of both bills, House Appropriations Committee Chairman and Davao City Congressman Karlo Alexei Nograles, the proposed Rightsizing Law would reshape the government into a “lean and mean” bureaucracy as it rationalizes the functions and all government offices and their individual staff.

The measure would cover all agencies of the executive branch, including departments, bureaus, offices, commissions, boards, councils, and all other entities attached to or under their administrative supervisions and government-owned or -controlled corporations not covered by Republic Act No.10149 or the GOCC Governance Act of 2011.

The measure provides for the optional adoption of the rightsizing program by the Legislature, the Judiciary, the Constitutional Commissions, the Office of the Ombudsman, and Local Government Units.

“This measure would correct the overlapping and duplication of functions of our government offices and their staff. This will ensure the long term sustainability of our government service through resource mobilization and cost effective public expenditure management,” said Nograles.

TENT CITY. Canvass tents provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development for Marawi City evacuees are seen outside an Islamic school in Pantar town in Lanao del Norte, where thousands of internally-displaced people are seeking refuge following the May 22 siege of the terrorist Maute group. PNA

officials, but were still required to attend the hearing set next month.

In a pleading filed last July 19, Marcos reiterated their urgent appeal for issuance of a temporary restraining order on the investigation of the House committee on the alleged anomaly in the purchase of P66.45 million worth of motor vehicles by the provincial government.

“Respondent committee on good government need not issue an arrest order for it to commit grave abuse of discretion nor to violate petitioners’ right to liberty. This is because the inquiry has already been purged of legitimacy at its inception and through the actuations of the respondents in the subsequent hearings. Consequently, Marcos cannot be forced to attend an unconstitutional inquiry,” the petition said.

“Simply put, forcing Marcos against her will to attend an illegal and unconstitutional inquiry is a violation of her right to liberty,” they added.

Pimentel earlier publicly threatened Marcos of arrest if she fails to attend the hearing, even showing to

the media the detention room prepared for her.

The petitioners made the appeal after Fariñas and Rep. Johnny Pimentel, chairman of the House committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, filed a pleading last July 17 seeking to deny the plea for TRO. They rebutted the claim of respondents that the TRO would violate the principle of separation of powers of the judiciary and the legislature.

But the petitioners cited jurisprudence such as the 1935 landmark case of Angara v. Electoral Commission, which held that “when the judiciary mediates to allocate constitutional boundaries, it does not assert any superiority over the other departments; it does not in reality nullify or invalidate an act of the legislature, but only asserts the solemn and sacred obligation assigned to it by the Constitution to determine conflicting claims of authority under the Constitution and to establish for the parties in an actual controversy the rights which that instrument secures and guarantees to them.”

Judge defies Duterte, issues TRO vs PCSO DESPITE President Rodrigo Duterte’s plea not to impede government projects with restraining orders, Presiding Judge Maximo M. de Leon of Makati City has issued a Temporary Restraining Order right on the day of the President’s State of the Nation Address stopping the P10.9-billion project of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in modifying the equipment for its unified National Online Lottery System with a five-year contract.

De Leon of Regional Trial Court, Branch 143, issued the TRO filed by the Philippine Gaming Amusement Corp. against the PCSO even as Duterte pleaded with Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno to order the courts not to frustrate the priority projects of the government.

PGMC is owned by Berjaya, a foreign company from Malaysia allegedly backed by a former president.

Reports said there is also a possibility that De Leon will order a writ of preliminary injunction which allegedly was the real intention of PGMC. Last Monday, in his Sona, the President denounced the “web of corruption” that continues to cover the judiciary especially in the TRO case against very important government programs that is “above board.”

“If there is a bidding, if it is regular, the court should or somebody else should not delay the process,” Duterte said.

He said that usually, losing bidders are the ones asking for a TRO. He even called on Congress to “find me a law” that can be used by government agencies to counter the TRO issued by the court against it.

The Makati court, which falls under the supervision of Acting Judge Rommel O. Baybay issued the TRO and on July 12, lowered the writ of preliminary injunction against PCSO in relation to the same matter.

The TRO issued by De Leon is now available for 20 days in parallel with the process of PCSO’s bidding process for the modernization of its online lottery system.

De Leon’s TRO postponed the PCSO opening of bids for the project scheduled on July 27, 2017 with 17 local and foreign bidders, wherein PCSO expects more bidders from major gaming companies.

The project’s pre-bid conference was held on June 20, 2017.

Report said this is a huge blow to the PCSO amid its plan to modernize and improve the quality of its facilities to effectively mobilize more funds to support the people’s health from agency’s charity programs especially the poor ones in accordance with Duterte’s law to provide free medicines and patient’s hospitalization.

The PGMC contract with PCSO for Luzon will end on Aug. 21, 2018. The contract for Visayas and Mindanao held by the Pacific Online System Corp. will expire on July 31, 2018.

IN BRIEF LTFRB vows to stand firm vs criticisms THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board vowed not to be swayed by social media over the issue of the deactivation of Grab and Uber units.

At a transport forum organized by lawyer Vigor Mendoza II of the 1-United Transport Koalisyon in Quezon City, LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada said Grab and Uber belonged to the two percent of the 21.5 million passengers a day, and that the LTFRB will not give in to criticisms because of its stance against the colorum operation of transport network vehicle services.

“They [passengers] are creating a lot of noise in the social media. Definitely, the government will not budge. We will not be allowed to be influenced by social media.”

Lizada also expressed her sentiment on the concern of the transport sector that Grab and Uber were allowed to operate without a franchise.

“You have a five-year franchise, but these TNVS have only a year to renew,” she said.

Lizada said Grab and Uber have 150,00 trips a day, or tantamount to 300,000 passengers, or 2 percent of the 21.5 million passengers. Rio N. Araja

Jinggoy’s plea for medical leave okayed THE Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division granted the plea of ex-senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada to temporarily leave Camp Crame in Quezon City to undergo a medical procedure.

The anti-graft court allowed Estrada to go through videocolonoscopy at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City on Thursday from 8 a.m. until July 27 at 8 a.m., and Saturday, July 29.

Earlier, Estrada, son of former President and now Manila City Mayor Joseph Estrada, requested the Sandiganbayan to allow him to leave his detention facility for a medical check-up, saying his previous medical examinations proved he had “elevated levels of carcinogenic antigen, and that he was advised to undergo videocolonoscopy “at the soonest possible time.”

The anti-graft court, meanwhile, banned the younger Estrada from granting any media interview.

In 2014, the former lawmaker was arrested and detained at the Philippine National Police at Camp Crame for plunder over his alleged misuse of his P183.79-million Priority Development Assistance Fund for fake foundations in 2004 to 2012.

Rio N. Araja

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Opinion

THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

Popular support

P

OPULAR opinion is mixed on how martial law in Mindanao will affect the Philippine economy, according to the latest Social Weather Stations survey.

Forty-three percent of the 1,200 respondents nationwide said they believe martial law would have no effect on the economy, while 24 percent say it would be good and 33 percent say it would be bad.

In Mindanao, respondents are evenly split on how martial law would affect the economy (27 percent better; 27 percent worse) even as 46 percent believe it would have no effect.

In Metro Manila, 29 percent believe it would be for the worse and 23 percent say it would be for the better.

Respondents from the balance of Luzon and the Visayas are more widely split, with those saying the economy would be worse off with the imposition of martial law.

It is important to point out that Filipinos are nearly evenly split on whether martial law would affect the economy at all.

It is inconceivable that nearly half of respondents would believe that martial law would have no effect whatsoever on the country’s economic position.

Of course a drastic measure such as martial law would have consequences, favorable or not.

If we are to go by official figures from the Board of Investments, for instance, the first six months of the year saw a significant year-on-year drop of 61 percent in investment pledges—from P17.74 billion to P6.87 billion.

Regions 10, 11 and 12 also registered drops in investment commitment—by 81 percent, 50 percent and 77 percent, respectively—in the first half of the year.

Of course, the reporting period commences way before the May 23 declaration of martial law, but it is not far-fetched to imagine how the terrorists’ attack on Marawi City, the government’s efforts to end the siege, and the displacement of thousands and the disruption of business could dampen the sentiment of the most enthusiastic of investors.

The survey was taken from June 23 to June 26, a month before Congress granted President Duterte’s request to extend martial law in Mindanao until the end of the year. When the respondents were interviewed, they likely believed martial law would only be good until July 22.

Government officials are of course wary to make pronouncements on how

the peace and order situation in Mindanao will affect the economy in the long run. They have to toe the official line that martial law can only be good for Mindanao and for the country as a whole, because terrorists must be contained at all costs.

What would be better for Mindanao and the entire Philippines is business as usual, where there is no threat to the safety of the citizens and the security of businesses.

This is why the extension of martial law should not be seen as a free pass, or a prelude to a more permanent imposition. The sooner it accomplishes its objective and restores some form of normalcy to the South, and in fact push it toward achieving its immense potential, the better it will be for business and for the economy. On this, we don’t believe the opinions would be mixed.

DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA

The Filipino driver

‘Baka ma-Recto’ LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES POOR Senator Sonny Angara.

The chairman of the Senate ways and means committee merited special mention during President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address last Monday, after the Chief Executive pointed out that the senator from Baler did not clap when Duterte asked Congress to pass his comprehensive tax reform package.

“Bantay ka sa eleksyon [Watch yourself in the next elections],” Duterte told Angara.

The remark was obviously a reference to the fact that Angara is up for reelection in the 2019 midterm elections and could pay a heavy price for not supporting Malacañang’s tax proposal.

Senator Panfilo Lacson publicly declared yesterday what most pundits were already speculat-

ing about since Duterte gave his speech. “Baka ma-Recto siya [Angara might suffer the fate of Senator Ralph Recto],” Lacson said.

And Lacson’s barb, in turn, referenced the support of Recto for the expanded value added tax law during the time of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Recto is widely believed to have lost the next election he ran in because of his backing of the EVAT law in the Senate, upon Arroyo’s behest.

Of course, the story didn’t end there. The E-VAT is correctly credited as one of the reasons for the stable, relatively shock-proof economy that Arroyo created and whose benefits are still being felt by the Duterte administration.

And Recto is back in the Senate, apparently none the worse for wear after his political career was declared prematurely dead after the E-VAT kerfuffle.

Strange, right?

But I said “poor” Angara in the beginning because, in the first

place, even if he is the ways and means committee’s chairman, he only gets one vote, just like each of the 24 senators. Besides, Duterte’s warning to Angara seems to be premised on the senator’s

Consider Duterte’s calling out of Angara as a message to all of the Senate.

opposing Malacañang’s tax program, unlike the action of Recto, who was punished at the polls because he backed the Palace on a controversial tax measure.

I interviewed Angara yesterday and he seemed to take Duterte’s warning in stride. He de-

scribed the President as “partly joking, partly serious,” when he made the statement.

All the same, Angara would not yield even if the personal stakes for him are admittedly high. Reminded that Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez had urged Congress to not tinker too much with the tax proposal because the administration’s economic managers had already worked so hard on it, Angara said that doesn’t mean that the Senate, which was elected by the people to protect their interest, had to study it again, because that was its job.

This is a young man who is obviously not easily intimidated, even by the fearsome political clout of Duterte. In his quiet, calm manner, Angara may have shown everyone the proper way to stand up to the powerful and wildly popular president. *** On the other hand, it’s easy to see why Duterte and his economic managers don’t want to

see any more watering down of its tax proposal in the Senate.

After all, the Lower House had already succeeded in trimming some of the expected revenue that the administration needs to pay for its centerpiece P8-trillion “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program.

The House succeeded in keeping some of the exemptions that Dominguez had wanted removed, especially the potentially huge income from taxing cooperatives. The bigger chamber had also forced Dominguez and Co. to scale down the one-time P6 per liter tax on diesel fuel to a staggered, 1-2-3 formula over three years.

And Duterte, to his credit, has not really pushed Congress hard on the tax reform package, which seeks to simultaneously provide tax relief to long-suffering low- and middle-income workers by adjusting 20-year tax income brackets while finding new ways to raise revenue,

THERE is a lot to be said about the Filipino driver but to hear some people brag about the Filipino being the best drivers in the world is way off the mark.

Maybe we are, but not when it comes to driving etiquette and following the rules of driving on the road. On this score, I dare say that almost certainly, we would rank at the bottom of the totem pole.

This, however, has not been always the case. There was a time in the past when most drivers routinely obeyed traffic rules and regulations. Sadly, those days are long gone.

Instead, we now see drivers who drive with complete disregard of traffic rules and regulations and these drivers are not ignorant of traffic rules, mind you.

One good illustration of this was during the presence of United States military bases in the country. When Filipinos drove in Clark and Subic, they were the epitome of disciplined drivers. When they left the bases, however, it was back to the salt mines so to speak.

What caused this deterioration in driving etiquette? There is not one single answer. It is a combination of many factors.

Insufficient laws, poor enforcement, poor driver education, and poor engineering road works are but a few reasons.

Let us explore some glaring facts to illustrate the kind of drivers that we are. Traffic and other road data are hard to come by and those that are available are often times no longer current. According to some government sources, there are roughly about 270,000 kilometers of road in the country with a total of 9.25-million registered vehicles of all classes with motor cycles comprising the majority with over five-million registered. This 9.25-million figure does not include some regions and so there are really more vehicles on the road.

The Department of Public Works and Highways listed 1,913 people dying in 2013 as a result of traffic accidents. The World Health Organization however, has a more believable figure of 10,137 fatalities. Let us assume that the WHO figure is correct. If we compare this to Turn to A5

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Opinion

I HAVE expressed my support for President Duterte on many issues. Examples are his war on illegal drugs, criminality and corruption and his declaration of martial law. I believe this is necessary to prevent the terrorist threat from spreading to the rest of Mindanao and the rest of the country.

I have also said that he was a strong and committed leader.

Rightly or wrongly, this President wants to make our country a safe place to live in.

In the process, however, he creates unintended problems like violation of human rights and extra-judicial killings. He has gotten flak for this, both domestically and internationally.

As President, Mr. Duterte must realize that you can’t have it all. There are always constraints.

Let us take the case of his threat to abolish the Commission on Human Rights. The Constitution mandates the CHR to investigate on its own or on the complaint by any party, all forms of human rights violations involving civil and political rights.

P r e s i dent Duterte wants the abolition of the CHR because, according to him, it only investigates military and police who discharge his orders but ignores the abuses committed by criminals.

President Duterte also warned the CHR that as commander in chief of the Armed Forces and top cop of the Philippine National Police, he will not allow his men to be investigated.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa echoed the President’s threat to the CHR. They know their vows, they say.

The CHR was created more as a protection against state abuses than anything else.

Criminals can easily be brought to justice through courts of law.

In other words, the President cannot abolish the CHR without amending the 1987 Constitution.

Mr. Duterte must be more circumspect in uttering his thoughts. *** Despite all the chest-thumping of Representatives Pantaleon Alvarez, Rodolfo Fariñas and Johnny Pimentel, the Ilocos Six were eventually released.

We should remember this is about Fariñas’ quest for the governorship of Ilocos Norte. This, however, became a national and constitutional issue.

Clearly, incumbent Gov. Imee Marcos won after the provincial capitol employees were released. The controversy simply showed what kind of legis-

lators people elect into office.

They are petty tyrants!

The question now is whether or not Fariñas would stop persecuting Imee. Your guess is as good as mine. *** Another petty politician using his office to further his interest is Speaker Alvarez. His pet bill will allow the dissolution of marriage if both husband and wife agree to do so.

This is a veiled divorce bill.

He claims this is constitutional because the charter protects the sanctity of marriage. More and more, Alvarez is sinking into a hole of his own making. *** Did we read it right that the Communist Party of the Philippines’ founder, Jose Ma. Sison, defended the New People’s Army’s attack on President Duterte’s convoy? There was no ceasefire, he said, no permission for the other side to be on the spot, and no clearance.

My gulay, where did Sison get the idea that the President must have a clearance from the NPA to be at a certain place? Do the insurgents now have their own territory?

Sison’s remarks betray the mentality of the people the government is dealing with. As I have said so many times before, it all boils down to sincerity and trust. President Duterte must now realize the communists cannot be trusted.

It is also clear that while Sison claims he no longer has control over what the NPAs on the ground are doing, he still defends their deeds. *** The government should look into the fact that there is a cockpit arena in every town or city in the country.

The masses look at this as some kind of entertainment. A bet of just a few pesos can bring you a few hundreds in return.

Some aficionados, however, raise the stakes and expect a payout in millions.

Cockpits are ordinarily licensed by local government units. With the advent of the Internet, betting for cockfighting has also gone online. This is why I believe that some national agency, like the Games and Amusements Board, must regulate cockfighting—and bring in some government revenue besides.

Legend tells us that cockfighting started in the Philippines and was soon brought to Mexico and Spain through the galleon trade. I think it’s a cultural sport. Cockfighting is legendary and Filipinos are often seen holding a rooster while smoking a cigar.

As such, the government can step in and regulate it.

‘Baka...

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But if Duterte and his men are able to convince the citizenry that Congress has become the stumbling block to the progress that the Palace seeks, then our lawmakers may not be able to withstand the pressure.

Consider, then, Duterte’s calling out of Angara as a message to all of the Senate, where Duterte also controls the majority. The people, ultimately, will not allow Congress to stand in the way of Duterte’s plans.

And when push comes to shove, I think the people will still back Duterte. The Senate may succeed in chipping away at some of the more controversial features of the tax reform package, but only up to a point.

In the end, Duterte will still get his way because the people support him. Just ask Ralph Recto, who knows a thing or two about the importance of popular support.

OVERSIGHT DANILO SUAREZ LAST Monday, the President delivered his second State of the Nation Address with the theme, “A comfortable life for all.”

Most Filipinos would agree that a comfortable life means living in a progressive, safe, and peaceful country and having adequate access to basic necessities such as food, housing, health, and education.

A comfortable life means living in a drug-free community. The President’s war against illegal drugs during his first term resulted in the arrest of 81,986 drug suspects and more than a million drug users who have surrendered and taken an oath that they would abstain from drug use. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency reported a reduction of 26.45 percent in the total drug market of 4.7 million drug users in the country. However, with an approved budget of only P957 million in 2016, it remains a challenge for PDEA to combat a hundred billion-peso drug industry. Assuming that there are 2 million illegal drug users with an average daily con-

sumption worth P200, the illegal drug industry will earn approximately P144 billion a year. This amount can buy you the protection of the police, prosecutors, judges, all the way to the highest echelons of power in government. Therefore, to suppress this industry and to be more effective in fulfilling its role, the agency needs sufficient funds for intelligence and operations. Together with the Minority, I will ensure that PDEA has the necessary funding it needs to finally eliminate the drug menace.

I believe that an effective drug war should also deal with the social and economic facets that contribute to the proliferation of drug use. For instance, the Philippine National Police reported 1,308,078 drug users who have surrendered. They may not be able to find gainful employment given their police record. Our unemployment rate for 2016 is recorded at 5.7 percent, while the latest poverty rate is recorded at 22.5 percent. Hence, while it is understandable that illegal drug use is an urgent and important problem to address, we must pursue measures that will deal with other issues of national interest such as hunger, poverty, and unemployment.

President Duterte mentioned

that the lowest-bid policy on government projects promotes corruption. This happens when fly-by-night operators propose low bids to blackmail legitimate businesses. I have long been advocating for the amendment of the Procurement Law. While this law has good intentions, the general sentiment on the ground is that it lacks basis on practical experience. Last year, I filed a bill to amend the Government Procurement Reform Act, which is currently pending in the House Committee on Appropriations. I hope that this Congress would prioritize passing this bill to soon address the problems in government procurement.

The President stated that he ordered the Department of Finance and the Bureau of Internal Revenue to accept Mighty Corporation’s offer of tax liability settlement amounting to P25 billion, which he said may be used for the rehabilitation of Ormoc City and Marawi City. Mighty Corporation’s tax evasion coincided with the BIR’s and the BOC’s consistent incompetence in missing their collection targets during the previous administration.

Given this, I see the need to investigate how Mighty Corporation was able to evade taxes

and penalize the government officials involved. I also look forward to DOF Secretary Sonny Dominguez’s fulfillment of his promise to implement the Lateral Attrition Law, a law that rewards and penalizes tax collectors based on their performance.

The President’s 2017 Sona and its vision should be measured and compared by the proposed 2018 National Expenditure Program. Our job now in the Congress is to make sure that the National Policy enunciated by the President can be effectively implemented through the budget, which he proposed.

For the next few months, we will deliberate on the 2018 national budget. Expect that we will scrutinize, interpellate, and object if necessary, should we deem the President’s proposed budget is not aligned with the nation’s best interests.

A comfortable life is a peaceful life. While this Sona had a fighting tone, the fact that the President faced the leftist protesters after his speech is a sign that maybe the peace process with the Left may still have a chance of being rekindled. We encourage all concerned to go back to the negotiating table with sincere hearts so that we will finally achieve lasting peace in our nation.

Recap of Duterte’s second Sona

The President must realize you can’t have it all.

including taxing sugared beverages. But now, Duterte seems to be feeling the pressure of finding funding for his nationwide infrastructure program, which has not really gotten off the ground one year after he has been in office.

My own belief is that Duterte will get support from the public for his tax program, not only because of the power of his personal popularity but also because most people want to see his infrastructure program take off. Unfortunately, it is Congress—specifically the Senate this time—that will decide the tax package’s fate.

The Senate, much like Angara himself, will claim that it is merely doing its job of protecting the people from the taxman.

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A comfortable life for all

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Constitutional mandate

THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017

AS WE have come to expect from President Rodrigo Duterte, the State of the Nation Address he delivered was a long-winded discourse that, nevertheless, touched on many key issues.

In fact, the Presidential Communications Operations Office announced beforehand on their website that “The speech is drafted in English, but the President, like last year, might deliver some off-the-cuff remarks.”

This year’s Sona theme was “A Comfortable Life for All,” believed to “resonate better with more Filipinos” as it was supported by “the administration’s three key agenda—prosperity for all, law and order, and peace.”

The Sona lasted two hours, and during this time the President raised the following key points: • Continuance of the “fight against illegal drugs” because it is “the root cause of so much evil and suffering and it “deters foreign investments from pouring in.”

• Pursuit of peace in the country, derailed by the fighting in Mindanao, with martial law as a tool towards a solution—“I declared martial law in Mindanao because I believed that that was the fastest way to quell the rebellion at the least cost of lives and properties.”

• Boosting the defense capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines “as a [deterrent] against terrorists, lawless elements, and other threats.”

• The “looming problem” of

The Filipino...

From A4 the yearly traffic fatalities in the United States which has remained constant at about 34,000 yearly fatalities with about 269.7-million vehicles, we can see that our fatalities are staggering in real terms.

If for instance we have 50-million registered vehicles, by extrapolating, our traffic fatalities will soar to about 50,000 which should tell us a lot of the kind of drivers we are. For 2015, of all vehicular traffic accidents, 53 percent involved motorcycles and tricycles.

This is of course, hardly surprising considering that motorcycle drivers think that they are exempted from traffic rules. There are five major causes of traffic accidents and the number one cause is the failure of drivers to yield right of way to other vehicles or pedestrians.

Again, this is not surprising

climate change which threatens food security particularly in Mindanao.

• Appeal to legislators to pass the National Land Use Act which shall “ensure the rational and sustainable use of our land and our physical resources.”

• An appeal to mining companies and contractor to manufacture goods here with the resources extracted from Philippine soil, and a warning to them to “refrain from the unbridled and irresponsible destruction of our watersheds, forest, and aquatic resources” or they would be “taxed to death.”

• The proposal to establish a new department or agency of government tasked with ensuring “disaster resiliency and effective response” in Metro Manila, the country’s “seat of governance, center of business, commerce, and the academe,” and surrounding provinces.

• The promotion of inclusiveness in the Bangsamoro Transition Commission by expanding its membership to ensure representation of “indigenous peoples, women, children, sultanates, and key stakeholders” in drafting the Bangsamoro Basic Law. • Pursuing good relations with foreign countries, particularly mentioning China and the “easing of tensions” between our two nations.

• Call to the US for the return of the Balangiga bells.

• Increase of assistance to overseas Filipino workers from P400 million to more than P1 billion.

• The launch of two hotlines to “bring government services closer to the people”—911 for emergencies and 8888 for feedback and complaints on government services.

• Directive to government agencies to streamline their ser-

vices from “womb to tomb.”

• Appeal to Congress to pass “at the soonest” an act to rightsize the national government to “trim excess fat and add more muscle,” adding that he is not inclined to increase salaries and other compensation of employees of government-owned andcontrolled corporations.

• Mention of the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order that “prevents the Department of Health from distributing subdermal implants” which wastes P350 million and impairs “the government’s ability to fully implement responsible family planning and methods and the Reproductive Health law.”

• Commitment to the K to 12 program and the Alternative Learning System.

• Implementation of the policy of No Balance Billing in hospitals and expansion of public health coverage.

• Imposition of a ban on smoking in public places.

• Implementation of Magna Carta of Women to the barangay level; an executive order “will be issued to local government units institutionalizing gender and development programs and services.

• Increase in government spending on infrastructure form 5 percent of GDP in 2017 to 7 percent of GDP in 2022.

• Improvement of sea connectivity with the launch of 15 new roll on-roll off vessels, the opening of an Asean ro-ro shipping route connecting Davao and General Santos City to Bitung, Indonesia, and the modernization of certain sea ports.

• Directive to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and local government units fo Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and regional centers “to ensure the free flow of traffic and immediately clear our roads and

thoroughfares of all unnecessary obstruction.”

• China’s promise to build two bridges spanning the Pasig River to ease traffic congestion on Edsa.

• Tax reforms and settlements including settlement of Mighty Corp.’s tax debt for P25 billion.

• Approval of the National Broadband Plan of 2017 to bring “affordable internet access to every community” and improve “broadband connectivity in the country.”

• Launch of the Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Migration Plan to make the switch from analog to digital transmission not only for a better TV viewing experience but to “provide effective and reliable information to Filipinos in times of calamities.”

• Test-broadcasting of government-owned Salaam Digital TV, the first Muslim TV in the country.

Perhaps it was the lack of time, or he’d forgotten, but the issue of poverty alleviation and reduction was not addressed.

This is a pressing concern, with a quarter of Filipinos living under the poverty line. Nor were other social welfare issues mentioned, save for health care.

Education was also only briefly mentioned He also did not mention public transport in the metro, including the sorry state of the MRT. In any case, though the President rambled and ranted, he did manage to cover a lot of ground.

This recap is a reminder to read the entire transcript before making judgments on what wasn’t discussed.

because we do not have right-ofway rules. In other countries like the United States, the vehicles on your right have the right of way.

Instead, in Metro Manila when drivers meet in intersections they try to stare at each other if possible and decide on who should go first.

The other way to resolve this situation is one driver proceeding to cross and it will then up to the other driver to decide whether to give way or not. What this tells us is that it is time to amend RA 4136 which is now clearly antiquated.

The other causes of vehicular accidents are reckless driving, improper turning, tailgating, and over speeding. This is not to mention the often-quoted true story of drivers simply considering a red light as a suggestion.

But how many drivers have died trying to beat the red light? The answer to this question is unfortunately many.

Metro Manila is the only major

city in the world that I know that is fencing and putting barricades on its roads because of the inability of government to get the drivers to obey simple driving rules.

Government has simply given up on trying to discipline drivers and pedestrians. Traffic enforcement is only supposed to take care of about five percent to 10 percent of the drivers who do not follow traffic rules, not the almost 90 percent of our drivers who routinely disregard traffic rules.

If this is our thinking, there will never be enough traffic enforcers to guard every intersection of Metro Manila’s road system. I know that every car owner leaves the house promising to be a welldisciplined driver until he or she reaches the first intersection when a driver tries to put one over him or her. One aspect that has never been tried in a sustained way is a plan to change the culture of the Filipino driver to someone whose attitude is to follow traffic rules.

This is hard but if done in the long term, it would be a quantum improvement. *** In his second State of the Nation Address, President Duterte for the first time addressed the problem of traffic not only in Metro Manila but in other urban centers as well. He ordered the MMDA and other local government units to clear all roads of traffic hazards and ensure the free flow of traffic. He has never waded into the problem of traffic before because he realized early on the almost impossibility of solving the problem.

It would therefore be interesting to see how our transport and traffic agencies and local government units go about implementing his instructions. Will these government agencies integrate their plans with the local government units for more efficient implementation? We will have to wait and see.

Dr. Ortuoste is a Californiabased writer. FB: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste, IG: @jensdecember, @artuoste

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

News

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TODAY JULY 27, 2017 THURSDAY, mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Govt to settle debt to Maynilad

By John Paolo Bencito

Garin defends vaccine purchase

T

HE government on Wednesday vowed to settle its P3.42-billion payment to West Zone water concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. after a three-man arbitral tribunal unanimously upheld the company’s claim for delayed tariff increases from March 11, 2015 to Aug. 31, 2016.

In a Palace news briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said that the Finance department is finding a way on how to “source the payment” after the government failed to approve its supposed rate hike adjustment from 2013 to 2017.

Abella said that the “Office of the Executive Secretary, together with the Office of the Solicitor-General, is reviewing on how best to proceed with the decision” after it received the copy of the decision of the Singapore-based Arbitral Tribunal.

In a disclosure made before the Philippine Stock Exchange on Tuesday, Maynilad said that the tribunal, in a decision dated July 24, upheld the validity of its claim against the undertaking letter issued by the Finance department to compensate the company for the delayed implementation of tariffs for the rebasing period of 2013 to 2017.

The undertaking letter provides that the government will indemnify Maynilad for any losses due to a delay attributable to the state or any government-owned agency in implementing any increase in standard rates, beyond the date of its implementation in accordance with the concession agreement signed on Feb. 21, 1997.

The tribunal ordered the government to reimburse Maynilad the amount of P3,424,690,000, without prejudice to any rights that Maynilad may have to seek recourse against Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System for losses incurred.

Maynilad president and chief executive Ramoncito Fernandez said the amount would not be passed on to the consumers.

OVERFLOW. Residents board a pedicab to cross the Prinza water dam located along the boundary of Bacoor and Zapote in Cavite which had overflowed due to incessant rains brought about by tropical depression ‘Gorio.’ Norman Cruz

Congress leaders meet to unite agenda

By Rio N. Araja ILOCOS Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said on Wednesday leaders of the Senate and Congress have met to set 35 measures in their legislative agenda.

He said leaders of both chambers have agreed to create a joint technical working group to draft the proposed revisions to the Constitution in the absence of a 25-man constitutional commission to be created by President Rodrigo Duterte.

He said the House of Representatives and the Senate may have six to 12 members each in the joint TWG to form a working draft that would be submitted to Con-

gress to convene itself into a constituent assembly to push for federalism.

“We are going to prioritize the revision of the Constitution. We have discussed that if we cannot wait for the Concom being created by the President, both Houses of Congress will form a technical working group to present proposed amendments or revisions to the Constitution,” he said.

“The TWG will be the one to make inputs for us to have a working draft that we are going to deliberate when Congress convenes into a Con-assembly,” he added.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Fariñas, Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, Senate

President Aquilino Pimentel III, majority leader Vicente Sotto III and Minority Leader Franklin Drilon took part in the meeting.

“We have agreed to pass 35 measures. We have divided the second regular session into four quarters,” Fariñas said.

“There are measures we have already finished [discussing], and that they are now at the Senate.”

Among the priority bills were the passage of the creation of the department of disaster response, and approval of the Free Irrigation Service Act, Agrarian and Agricultural Credit Condonation Act, Enhanced Universal Healthcare Act, Philippine Mental Health

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that UNIVERSAL ROBINA CORPORATION is applying for registration with the Board of Investment (BOI) as Expanding Producer of Raw Sugar and its By-Product (Molasses) on a Non-Pioneer Status with project site located in Brgy.

Caloocan, Balayan, Batangas with the following capacities: Raw Sugar By-Product (Molasses)

1598 M.H. Del Pilar corner Dr. J. Quintos Streets Malate, Manila Tel. Nos. 522-0000, 551-2200 connecting all departments

INVITATION TO BID

318,656 LKG 4,822 MTPY

Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication/posting.

The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK), through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites consultants/ suppliers/manufacturers/distributors/contractors to bid for the hereunder projects: Items

(SGD) NESTOR P. ARCANSALIN Director Resource-Based Industries Service (MS-JULY 27, 2017)

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that REPOWER, ENERGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as Renewable Energy Developer of Hydropower Resources (6.2 MW Katipunan River Hydroelectric Power Project) in Barangay Iba, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon to avail of the incentives under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (RA 9513).

ITB - GS-20170124-01(2) One (1) Lot Supply, Delivery, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Various Airconditioning Units Complete with Standard Accessories per Manufacturer’s Standards at LANDBANK Bacolod Office Building ITB - GS-20170426-01 One (1) Lot Supply, Delivery, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Various Airconditioning Units Complete with Standard Accessories per Manufacturer’s Standards at LANDBANK Dasmariñas Office Building ITB - GS-20170711-02 Human Resources Information System (HRIS) Facility

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)

Bidding Documents Fee

P 12,350,000.00

P

6,200.00

Within seventy five (75) calendar days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed (NTP) or availability of project site whichever is applicable

P 10,591,000.00

P

5,300.00

Within forty five (45) calendar days upon receipt of NTP or availability of project site whichever is applicable

P 19,900,000.00

P

10,000.00

Any person with valid objection/s on the above-mentioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(SGD) NESTOR P. ARCANSALIN Director Resource-Base Industries Service (MS-JULY 27, 2017)

Delivery Period

Delivery Period: Within seven (7) calendar days after receipt of Purchase Order Customization Period: Four hundred forty (440) man days

Prospective bidders should have experience in undertaking a similar project within the last five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, with an amount of not less than 50% of the ABC. The Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids shall use non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Post-qualification of the lowest calculated bid shall be conducted.

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

The schedule of activities are as follows:

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that REPOWER, ENERGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as Renewable Energy Developer of Hydropower Resources (4.4 MW Tibag River Hydroelectric Power Project) in Barangay Pandan, Real, Quezon to avail of the incentives under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (RA 9513).

Any person with valid objection/s on the above-mentioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(SGD) NESTOR P. ARCANSALIN Director Resource-Base Industries Service (MS-JULY 27, 2017)

ACTIVITIES 1. Issuance of Bid Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference

3. Submission / Opening of Bids 4. Post-Qualification 5. Notice of Award

SCHEDULE July 27 to August 17, 2017 August 3, 2017 - 2:00 PM Bidding Room, 25th Floor, LANDBANK Plaza Building 1598 M. H. Del Pilar corner Dr. J. Quintos Streets, Malate, Manila August 17, 2017 - 11:00 A.M. Procurement Department, 25th Floor, LANDBANK Plaza Building 1598 M. H. Del Pilar corner Dr. J. Quintos Streets, Malate, Manila August 18 to 24, 2017 August 29, 2017

Bid documents will be available to prospective bidders upon payment of the applicable Bidding Documents fee to the LANDBANK Cashier.

Act, Prohibit Conversion of Irrigated Lands, National Land Use Act, Occupational Safety and Health Standards Act, Community Service in lieu of Imprisonment for the Penalty of Arresto Menor, Tax Reform Act, Revision of Constitution, Bangsamoro Basic Law, Public Service Act Amendments, Traffic and Congestion Crisis Act, National ID System, Legislative Franchise for Operating Railways, End of Contractualization Act, Free School Feeding/Pagkaing Pinoy para sa Batang Pinoy Act, Estate Tax Reform Act, Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Act, and Ease of Doing Business Act/Fast Business Permit Act.

FORMER Health secretary Janette Garin on Wednesday appeared before Congress to face the probe on the procurement of P3.5 billion worth of dengue vaccines.

Garin explained why the Department of Health sought an exemption from the Formulary Executive Council to buy the dengue vaccine, saying there was a need to do so because of the backlogs in the pending applications with FEC composed of experts in medicine, pharmacology and toxicology that would determine if a drug should be in the list of the Philippine National Drug Formulary.

The probe stemmed from the reduction of the normal processing time for product registration within 254 days to only seven months from May 2015 to December 2015.

Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrellita Suansing and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Paulino Salvador Leachon questioned the supposed hasty approval of the procurement of dengue vaccines.

But Dr. Julius Lecciones, Philippine Children's Medical Center executive director, said the procurement was regular and in order.

Leachon questioned DoH's purchase of vaccines with Sanofi amid allegations of overseas fraud issues.

The Health department said they were not aware of Sanofi's conviction on any lawsuits.

Garin also denied accusations that the procurement was related to the May 2016 elections.

She said 2014 was the original date of the procurement plan to roll out the nationwide dengue vaccination program.

Rio N. Araja

Ex-Biliran mayor convicted of graft THE Office of the Ombudsman announced on Wednesday the conviction of former Caibiran mayor Melchor Maderazo of Biliran for six to eight years of imprisonment for graft.

The Sandiganbayan also ordered that Maderazo perpetually disqualified from holding public office and that he must pay P305,481.06 as civil liability to the government.

The anti-graft court also convicted his co-accused former municipal accountant Orlando Salentes Jr. and municipal budget officer Dionisio Veruen Jr. Prosecutors from the Ombudsman established that Maderazo and company illegally facilitated the release of his salaries and other benefits despite being placed under a series of suspension orders from the Sandiganbayan and by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

After serving his suspension,

Maderazo directed Salentes and Veruen to process the payment of his back salaries from September 2002 to September 2003 totaling P305,481.06.

The Sandiganbayan decision said Maderazo failed to justify the receipt of back wages.

“Under Section 64 of the Local Government Code and Section 13 of Republic Act No. 3019, unequivocally provide that an official under preventive suspension is not entitled to salaries and benefits while under preventive suspension. It is only upon exoneration that the official may be entitled to such back salaries and benefits," it read.

Meanwhile, the Ombudsman reprimanded President Manuel A. Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte town mayor Jan Hendrik Vallecer for his failure to reply to a letter from a former councilor asking about the release of his package of benefits. Rio N. Araja

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES CORPORATION 11-13 Sunrise Drive. Brgy. Bagong Lipunan ng Crame Cubao, Quezon City

Notice of Stockholders` Meeting To All ERC Stockholders: Please be informed that the Annual Stockholders` Meeting of the Educational Resources Corporation shall be held on July 29, 2017 at 12:00 noon at the Barrio Fiesta EDSA, Greenhills, San Juan City to take up the following matters.

1. Election of new directors for the incoming fiscal year; 2. Report of the President; and 3. Other relevant matters Please be guided accordingly

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

(Sgd) Atty. LACANDOLA S. LEAÑO Corporate Secretary

BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE (TS-JULY 25 & 27, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports Fortuna, Go ready for tougher phase of US golfest LOIS Kaye Go and Mikha Fortuna easily hurdled the 36-hole stroke play elims and braced for the tougher match play phase of the US Girls’ Junior Championship at the Boone Valley Golf Club in Augusta, Missouri Tuesday.

Go, who will spearhead the Phl’s campaign in next month’s SEA Games with Harmie Constantino and Junia Gabasa, gunned down two birdies against three bogeys, her oneover 72 and a two-day total of 145 netting her 18th place effort after the elims.

Fortuna, on the other hand, slowed down after an opening 72, finishing with a 74 marred by a triple-bogey seven on No. 7. She pooled a 146 and ended up 22nd.

Lucy Li of the US sizzled with a 66 to clinch the low medal honors at 137, one stroke ahead of Thai Paphangkorn Tavatanakit, who fired a 68 for a 138.

The top 64 advanced to the knockout phase set to start Wednesday with Go squaring off with No. 47 Ellie Szeryk of Canada.

Fortuna, seeking to duplicate former The Country Club teammate Princess Superal’s title conquest in 2014, will clash with No. 43 Stephanie Carras of Michigan in the last pairing.

Li will take on No. 64 Belinda Hu while Tavatanakit will collide with No. 63 Emily Mahar of Australia.

The two other Pinay bets, Annika Cedo and Sam Bruce, failed to make the cut at 152 with the former finishing with a 159 after a 78 and the latter ending up with a 161 after an 80.

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THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Ledecky wins historic 12 gold th

B

UDAPEST—Katie Ledecky made history on Tuesday by becoming the first woman to win 12 world swimming championship gold medals, as world records were sent tumbling four times in the Budapest pool.

Britain’s Adam Peaty twice lowered his own men’s 50m breaststroke record, once in the morning’s heats then again in the evening’s semi-finals.

Canadian Kylie Masse then broke the women’s 100m backstroke record from 2009, when now-banned neoprene suits were used.

To complete the drama, Lilly King of the United States took out the women’s 100m breaststroke world record to take the gold.

“It was not really on my radar to swim below 26 seconds but I felt good tonight,” said Peaty who

swam 26.10 secs in the morning, then 25.95 in the semi-final.

“Let’s see what comes out in tomorrow’s [Wednesday’s] final.”

Ledecky proved she is peerless in the women’s 1500m freestyle as she won the final by a massive 19.07 seconds ahead of her nearest rival, Spain’s Mireia Belmonte.

‘Another planet’ “Katie Ledecky is on another planet, so the goal of the race was to win the silver medal. For me, it is gold,” quipped Belmonte.

Ledecky, 20, is now the most decorated woman in world swimming championships history

as she passed compatriot Missy Franklin, who has 11 world titles.

But despite her achievement, Ledecky said winning is not as easy as she makes it look.

“It’s hard the other 364 days of the year, it’s about putting the work in during practice, so that then I can step up,” she said.

King, also 20, claimed the United States’ second gold of the night with a commanding display in the women’s 100m breaststroke final.

She clocked one minute 04.13 seconds in the final, beating Ruta Meilutyte’s 2013 record, to add world gold to the Olympic title she won last year in Rio de Janeiro.

Masse, 21, then proved the current depth in women’s backstroke with a devastating display.

The 21-year-old clocked 58.10 seconds, breaking Gemma Spofforth’s previous mark

of 58.12sec from the 2009 championships.

“I was making sure I was reading the right name and the right time I was lost for words immediately after, I’m still in shock,” said a stunned Masse.

Kathleen Baker of the United States took silver, at 0.48sec back, while Emily Seebohm of Australia brushed off a cold to claim bronze, just 0.49 behind.

‘Awesome record’ “It’s awesome, I kinda thought she would do it,” said Seebohm, the 2015 world champion, of Masse’s record.

“I didn’t come in saying ‘I’m going to defend my title’, but to rather enjoy racing these girls, they’re fantastic, there’s great depth in the backstroke.”

Earlier, Chinese superstar Sun Yang won the men’s 200m freestyle gold to add to his Olympic title in the same event.

Sun touched the wall first in one minute 44.39 seconds to set a new Asian record.

“It was a great race, especially the last 50 metres were pretty good. It is one of the hardest races for me,” said Sun, who punched the water in triumph after his victory.

It was Sun’s second gold of these championships after his victory in the 400m freestyle final on Sunday.

He will bid for the treble in Wednesday’s 800m free—the event he has dominated for the last three world championships since 2011 in Shanghai.

Xu Jiayu claimed a second gold for the night for China by winning the men’s 100m backstroke final.

The 21-year-old Olympic silver medallist clocked 52.44 seconds with American duo Matt Grevers earning silver, at 0.04sec back, and Olympic champion Ryan Murphy taking bronze at 0.15.

Blu Girls boost bid in US meet

US Katie Ledecky competes in the women’s 1500m freestyle final during the swimming competition at the 2017 FINA World Championships iån Budapest. AFP

Study: Brain damage found in 110 of 111 deceased National Football League players WASHINGTON—As a new American football season is set to begin, researchers examining the brains of deceased NFL players have found that 99 percent of them showed signs of degenerative disease—believed to be caused by repeated blows to the head.

Researchers found striking evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in 110 of the 111 donated brains of players who played in the National Football League, according to the study published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

CTE causes symptoms including memory loss, vertigo, depression and dementia. Problems can crop up years after a player’s career has ended.

The NFL has faced growing scrutiny in recent years linked to the issue of concussions and head trauma, with the league agreeing in 2015 on a $1 billion settlement to resolve thousands of lawsuits by former players suffering from neurological problems.

Along with NFL players, researchers also examined the brains of those who had played in high school, college, semi-professionally and in the Canadian Football League.

Of the total 202 players examined, the authors of the study from Boston University found that 87 percent of the players— whose median age at death was 66 years old—showed signs of CTE. “These findings suggest that CTE may be related to prior participation in football and that a high level of play may be related to substantial disease burden,” the study authors wrote.

The most acute evidence of the degenerative condition, which currently can only be diagnosed post-mortem, was found among those who played at the highest levels, with 86 percent of professional players having severe forms of CTE. Though the research—the largest CTE study published to date—suggests the disease may be related to prior participation in football, researchers

cautioned against extrapolating the results to the general population.

Because the brains studied were for the most part donated by concerned families, they do not necessarily represent all people who have played the rough contact sport.

Traumatic impact Head injury risks in the US sport have become a major concern as former players speak out about long-term health effects, including erratic behavior and mood disorders.

The issue sprang to the fore after Junior Seau—considered one of the greatest linebackers of all time—shot himself in 2012 at the age of 43.

A post-mortem study of his brain showed that he had been suffering from CTE. Another former player, Dave Duerson— who killed himself in 2011—was also found to have the condition, a possible explanation for his mood swings and depression.

Cavaliers finalize deal with former MVP Rose WASHINGTON—The Cleveland Cavaliers confirmed Tuesday that free agent point guard Derrick Rose, the 2011 NBA Most Valuable Player, had signed a one-year contract with the team.

The deal was widely reported on Monday, with multiple media outlets saying Rose had agreed to the veteran minimum salary of $2.1 million.

“We are very excited to be able to add a player of Derrick’s caliber and experience to the team,” newly named general manager Koby Altman said in a statement.

“Derrick could have gone to a number of other teams, but his specific mindset, goals and total focus and commitment to winning are what resulted in him signing with the Cavaliers.”

Rose met with Altman and other Cavs officials on Monday, just three days after meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The oft-injured guard passed medical exams with Cavs doctors,

Cleveland.com reported.

“I have a single focus and purpose of wanting to play to win,” Rose said in a statement. “Being part of a roster and organization that shares that type of commitment and being able to play with the Cavaliers and compete for a championship is the only thing that matters for me.

“I am very happy to be in Cleveland and look forward to getting to work.”

Rose, 28, averaged 18 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists on 47 percent shooting from the field in 64 games for the New York Knicks last season.

He was acquired in a trade with the Chicago Bulls, but the 2016-17 season ended in another seasonending knee injury as Rose hit free agency for the first time.

Rose could be paired with LeBron James as a potential replacement for rising star Kyrie Irving, who asked the Cavaliers to trade him during a recent meeting with team owner Dan Gilbert. AFP

Last year, an NFL official acknowledged for the first time a clear link between football and CTE. In recent years, the league has donated money to concussion research and stepped up regulations in an attempt at minimizing the potentially traumatic physical impact of the game.

In a statement widely published in US media, the league said it appreciated the study “for the value it adds in the ongoing quest for a better understanding of CTE.” “The NFL will continue to work with a wide range of experts to improve the health of current and former NFL athletes,” the statement said, noting that “there are still many unanswered questions relating to the cause, incidence and prevalence of long-term effects of head trauma such as CTE.” “The NFL is committed to supporting scientific research into CTE and advancing progress in the prevention and treatment of head injuries.” AFP

This file photo taken shows Derrick Rose during a press conference during the New York Knicks Media Day in White Plains, New York Rose, the youngest player to win the NBA Most Valuable Player award when he took the trophy in 2011, is talking over a one-year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers. AFP

Curry completes pact with Dubs SAN FRANCISCO—The Golden State Warriors announced on Tuesday they had finalized a raft of free agent deals, including Stephen Curry’s contract reportedly worth a whopping $201 million.

The Warriors did not release terms of their deals with Curry, Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, Zaza Pacuhlia and David West.

But Curry’s agent told ESPN back on

July 1 that the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player had agreed to terms on a five-year deal worth $201 million.

At the time it was the richest contract in NBA history, but the Houston Rockets have since signed James Harden to a $228 million extension.

Durant had already agreed to a twoyear deal worth some $53 million. Iguodala’s contract was worth a reported $48 million over three years. AFP

THE Philippine Blu Girls, banking on hurler Royevel Palma’s superb performance, crushed Guatemala, 5-0, to notch their second win in the XII Junior Women’s Softball World Championships in Clearwater, Florida Tuesday.

Palma gave up only two hits and shut out the Guatemalans as the Pinay softbelles got back on track after their 0-13 defeat to Chinese-Taipei.

The Blu Girls, whose campaign is sanctioned by the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines, headed by president Jean Henri Lhuillier, thus hiked their record to 2-1 in Pool A, including a 10-3 reversal over No. 12 Italy in the opening day.

Reese Gueverra singled in the third to send Mae Langga home to spark the Blu Girls’ charge. Mary Maguad then doubled the lead when she pounced on a catcher’s error to reach the plate a few plays later.

The Pinays then pulled away with a three-run spree in the fifth frame.

Czara Galapon batted in Maguad with a base-hit then Juliet Omul drove in Galapon and Guevarra to make it 5-0 and hand Guatemala its third straight setback.

The Philippines tries to make it 3-1 as it faces Turkey, winless in four matches, next.

Baguio bets finish 1-2-3

By Peter Atencio LAEIA Soria led a 1-2-3 finish of Baguio City bets at the start of the Philippine Sports Commission-organized 4th Women’s Martial Arts Festival at the Harrison Plaza Annex in Malate, Manila.

The 13-year-old Soria bested her teammate Xaphrene Rivera for the gold medal in the individual cadet division of the poomsae events of the taekwondo competitions.

By scoring 8.035 points, she beat Rivera, who had 7.865 points.

“They had the some movements, but it was more on the balance and power of their routines that the judges looked into,” said their coach Arnold Oglayon.

Their teammate, Khia Cortez settled for the bronze medal following a score of 7.785.

A total of 847 female athletes and 55 coaches took part in the two-day meet organized by the PSC, through of the office of Commissioner Celia Kiram.

Medals in 10 sports disciplines were at stake. There are also competitions in arnis, boxing, fencing, judo, karatedo, taekwondo, muay, pencak silat, wrestling and wushu.

“There are still a lot of jins, who wanted to join the meet,” said Kiram.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M+ 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

Sports

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

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THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017

NLEX stays unbeaten

By Jeric Lopez

NLEX’s Aaron Fuller splits the defense of Rain or Shine’s Beu Belga and James Yap as he drives to the basket in a game won by the Road Warriors.

POC wants to push thru with SEA Games hosting

By Peter Atencio

T

HE private sector is welcome to come aboard and support the country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco said this after the POC General Assembly unanimously supported a move to make an appeal to President Duterte to let the Games still be held in the country two years from now.

“We can operate (without government financial assis-

tance),” said Cojuangco at the end of the meeting Wednesday at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong.

Around 21 heads and representatives of national sports associations were present to give their nod to the proposal to make an appeal before President Duterte.

Cojuangco said Mr. Duterte

needs to see the big picture, like when the country last hosted the Games in 2005.

At that time, the government, with Gloria Arroyo still the president, spent around P350 million to run the Games, with First Gentleman Mike Arroyo also pitching in.

He added that with the private sector around, the Games can go on.

And with government financial assistance around, the hosting will be even better.

“It will all depend, if we get everybody to support,” said Cojuangco.

Sports officials believe that they can push through with the hosting if they hold the games in major cities other than Davao City.

The government’s decision not be involved in the hosting in 2019 stems from its plan to re-channel government resources in favor of the rehabilitation efforts for the beleaguered city of Marawi.

In a letter by Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez last Friday to POC president Cojuangco, the government announced that it shall no longer proceed with

their support in the country’s hosting of the SEA Games.

Cojuangco believes that the situation which started with the siege of Marawi City last May may no longer be around two years from now.

“Baka iba na ang situation two years from. Iba na peace and order situation,” said Cojuangco.

And this is the reason why sports officials are still upbeat about the Games being held in the country.

On the other hand, Indonesia and Thailand have already come forward to bid for the hosting of the 2019 Games.

Pauline, Thai locked at the top SILANG, Cavite—Pauline del Rosario fumbled with a doublebogey on the tricky No. 17 and blew a two-shot edge with a 73, dropping to joint lead with Thai Saruttaya Ngam-usawan after two rounds of the ICTSI Riviera Ladies Championship at Riviera’s Langer course here yesterday.

Del Rosario survived the rainy, windy condition and birdied No. 16 to move 2-up over erstwhile leader Ngamusawan only to overshoot the overlooking par-3, 155-yard 17th into the flower bed.

She barely played out and putted through the sloping

surface that rolled outside the green. She made it in four and one-putted for that 5.

That enabled Ngam-usawan to stay on top with the Filipina ace at 143 despite a birdie-less 74, setting the stage for a fierce final round showdown for the coveted crown in the P750,000 event sponsored by ICTSI. But it won’t be a one-on-one duel as amateur Abby Arevalo joined the championship group, just a stroke of the duo at 144 after a gutsy even par 71.

The Country Club bet also missed grabbing the lead with a wind-blown double-bogey on the final hole.

“Despite that double-bogey on 17th, I’m happy to be sharing the lead,” said Del Rosario, who moved 18 holes away from a third straight championship after topping the Orchard and Baguio legs of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. “The rain hardly affected our game but the wind, which made club selection a lot more difficult,” added Del Rosario.

Ngam-usawan, who scored a breakthrough at the Royal Northwoods leg of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour late last year, also came in ruffled by the wind and rued a couple of missed birdie opportunities to

settle for a 36-38 card.

Thai Chatprapa Siriprakob shot the day’s lone subpar round of 70 on a two-birdie, one-bogey feat to move three strokes off the joint leaders at 146 while compatriot Tiranan Yoopan carded a second straight 74 for fifth at 148.

Reigning Philippine Ladies Open champion Bianca Pagdanganan also blew her charge with a shaky finish, dropping four strokes in the last five holes, marred by a doublebogey on No. 14. She wound up with a 76 for joint sixth with Thai Sarinee Thitiratanakorn, who also limped with a 76, at 150, seven shots off the pace.

Bombers-Stags: A game of defense

Pauline del Rosario hits her approach shot on the first hole.

JOSE Rizal University and San Sebastian seek to close in on the top two teams Lyceum of the Philippines University and San Beda as the two collide today at 4 p.m. in the 93rd NCAA basketball tournament, which goes to the San Sebastian Gym in Mendiola, Manila.

The Bombers want to follow up their 65-62 victory over the Letran Knights, 6562, for their second win against two losses, while the Stags hope to bounce back from a 73-78 heartbreaker to the Pirates, sending them to a 1-2 (win-loss) record.

Games today (San Sebastian Gym, Legarda) 2 p.m.- San Sebastian vs Jose Rizal (jrs) 4 p.m.- San Sebastian vs Jose Rizal (srs)

Interestingly, the Jose Rizal-San Sebastian showdown will be a showcase between two of the league’s top three best defending teams.

San Sebastian is currently second in points allowed as it holds down its opponents to an average of 70 points a game, thanks to 25.3 turnovers (second best

in league) it is forcing, while Jose Rizal comes in third at 71.3.

Perpetual Help owns the league’s stingiest of defenses by shackling their foes to a norm of 64.3 points a game.

And both coaches Vergel Meneses of Jose Rizal and Egay Macaraya of San Sebastian know they’re in for a tough ride.

“San Sebastian has shown in the preseason and in its first few games of the NCAA that it is a dangerous team and we have to really play tougher defense to beat them,” said Meneses.

NBA 3X PH lures record cast NBA 3X Philippines 2017 presented by AXA reached an alltime high in popularity this year with increased participation from Metro Manila and provincial teams joining the various age group categories of the seven-year old 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

Fifty-six out of 176 participating teams survived the qualifiers held at Don Bosco Makati on July 15-16. The quarterfinals, semifinals and finals matches of the Boys Under-13, Under-16, and Under-18, Girls Under-18, Men’s Open and Women’s Open were staged at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on July 22-23.

New champions were hailed

in the avidly watched Men’s Open division that was won by Team Rocan from Valenzuela, Bulacan. Christian Chua, Mark Fernandez, Elmer de la Cruz, and Philip Torres outhustled Team 459 Legaspi from Colegio San Juan de Letran in a closely fought game. EGS Elite, fourpeat champions of the NBA 3X Philippines Men’s Open division since 2013, was unable to follow through with their plans for a fifth championship after failing to show up in the quarterfinals.

The Women’s Open Division was won by National University (NU)-A with Trixie Antiquiera, Ria Joy Nabalan, Samantha Harada, and Rhena Itesi, besting

their teammates on the opposing NU-B squad. Both teams play for the NU women’s basketball team that has dominated UAAP women’s basketball for three consecutive seasons. “It was a challenge to have to face our teammates who are familiar with our style of play, but we are proud to earn this victory,” said Antiquiera.

Among the highlights of the afternoon was the hotly contested match between the Boys Under 16 finals between the Berkeley Aquanauts of Berkeley School Baguio and Makati Basketball. Intense play coupled with dazzling, athletic play from two former Jr. NBA National Training Camp finalists, Jazzy De Ayre and Ethan Rodelas,

mesmerized the mall crowd, eliciting cheers and loud crowd reaction. Similarly, the Boys Under-13 finals between Berkely School of Baguio and De La Salle Zobel-2 showcased wire-to-wire action from very young ballers playing like big boys, which the crowd enjoyed immensely.

A special division for AXA also freatured the rich basketball culture within the world’s largest and fastest-growing life insurance company in the country.

Eight teams from the field of AXA teams made it to the quarterfinals. In the end, Team AXA Life-A bested AXA’s Go Elite in a “man’s game”, that gave the Participants of the NBA 3X Philippines in intense crowd a “show of force”. action

NLEX came through in the clutch with the most critical plays to outlast pesky Rain or Shine side, 122-114, in a doubleovertime thriller for its third straight win in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Once again, Aaron Fuller blossomed, dropping gamehighs of 33 points and 19 rebounds to lead the charge, while Kevin Alas continued to be big as well, putting up solid numbers of 24 points, on 50 percent shooting, 10 rebounds and five dimes all for the Road Warriors’ cause.

NLEX finally took control when it mattered most, coming up with a decisive 11-3 surge to close the game out in the waning minutes of the second overtime period.

The Road Warriors now have the solo tournament lead, improving to a clean 3-0 slate as they continued to turn the tide after a dismal showing in the first two conferences.

On the other hand, the Elasto Painters suffered their first defeat after winning their initial assignment.

Maverick Ahamnisi forced the first overtime period at 101-apiece in regulation with a tough shot in traffic in the waning seconds.

In the first extension, Alas hit a game-tying lay-up to make it 110all, making up for a previous error that allowed Rain or Shine to have the upperhand prior to his basket.

Meanwhile, the 12 players who will represent the National Team in the FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon next month were also named yesterday and the cast was led by three-time reigning Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer.

Along with Fajardo, the other members of Gilas Pilipinas for the tournament are usual suspects Japeth Aguilar of Ginebra, Jayson Castro and RR Pogoy of TNT KaTropa, Terrence Romeo of GlobalPort, Calvin Abueva and Calr Bryan Cruz of Alaska, Matthew Wright of Phoenix, Gabe Norwood and Raymund Almazan of Rain or Shine and Jio Jalalon of Star.

Manila battles Hemet in world tilt HEMET, CALIFORNIA—Team Manila–Philippines will clash with one of two host teams, the East Hemet Screaming Eagles, in one of five matches lined up today at 5:45 p.m. (Thursday, 8:45 a.m.

Manila time) in this year’s edition of the PONY International 18-U Girls Softball World Series at the sprawling Diamond Valley Park inside the 36–acre Valley–Wide Recreation here.

The Asia Pacific Region representatives arrived Saturday in this hot but windy City of Hemet in high spirits after a road trip from Cerritos, Los Angeles County, where they have been subjected to a number of grueling training sessions and practice games by the coaching staff, led by multititled UAAP and national team coach Anna Santiago, UAAP ’79 Athlete of the Year Angelie Ursabia and former Blu Girl Sheirylou Valenzuela in preparation for their bid in this prestigious event.

The Big City softbelles, composed of the best 18-under batters picked from the National University, Ateneo de Manila University, Fort Bonifacio High School in Makati, Fortunato Halili National Agricultural School (FHNAS) in Bulacan, St. Pedro Poveda College, Beacon Academy, and UAAP 7-peat champion Adamson University, is backed

by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Three standout pitchers led by Alma Tauli of FHNAS Bulacan, Shirlette Maygay of Adamson and Mery Ann Ramos of National University will power the Manila Batters together with upcoming young stars led by short stops Mary Nichole Padasas of Adamson and Angelu Gabriel of Fort Bonifacio High School, 3rd baseman Madelene Domaug of FHNAS Bulacan, and right fielder Krisha Cantor of Adamson.

“We expect our team to face the Series’ toughest early, such as the two strong teams from host Hemet, one of which is the defending World Series Champion, as well as the current PONY West Zone Champion,” said Manila Softball President Engr.

Rafael “Che” Borromeo.

2 Citicore solar plants cleared B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017

B1

Weaker peso hikes govt debt to P6.42t

By Julito G. Rada

THE national government’s outstanding debt increased 7.9 percent to P6.417 trillion as of endJune from P5.947 trillion a year ago, the Bureau of the Treasury said Wednesday.

The end-June debt figure also widened 1.1 percent from the previous month.

Data showed 35 percent or P2.231 trillion were sourced externally while 65 percent or P4.186 trillion were borrowed domestically.

“NG domestic debt amounted to P4.186 trillion, a P49.06 billion or 1.2 percent increment from the previous month’s level.

The increase in domestic debt was primarily due to the net issuance of government securities amounting to P48.72 billion and peso depreciation that increased the value of onshore dollar bonds

by P0.34 billion,” the Treasury said.

The peso breached the 50 a dollar level on June 20, 2017 at 50.10, triggered by markets’ anticipation of another round of interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve. The peso posted its weakest level in more than 10 years on July 19 at 50.94 a dollar.

Domestic debt increased 9.3 percent to P4.186 trillion from P3.828 trillion a year ago, while foreign debt rose 5.2 percent to P2.231 trillion from P2.12 trillion.

“For the month, the increment was largely due to the impact of peso depreciation against the US dollar amounting to P30.53 billion which more than offset the upward revaluation of third currency-denominated debt amounting to P5.13 billion and net repayments worth P2.49 billion,” the Treasury said.

National government-guaranteed obligations decreased

by P0.45 billion or 0.1 percent month-on-month to P493.18 billion. The reduction was principally due to net repayments on both external and domestic guarantees amounting to P1.05 billion and P1.78 billion, respectively, alongside the P1.58 billion effect of third currency revaluation.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP SEMINAR. The Trade Department and Go Negosyo holds the Free Negosyo Seminar in Las Piñas City where Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said idea-based entrepreneurship and continuous innovation are crucial in growing a sustainable business. Lopez called on entrepreneurs to become smarter by embracing the positive entrepreneurial mindset and by finding ways to develop their offerings in the market. Shown with Lopez (center) during the free seminar are Senator Cynthia Villar, Presidential Assistant for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, other Trade officials, mentors from the private sector and participants.

Tata Motors bares plan to manufacture jeepney

By Othel V. Campos

T

ata Motors Limited of India and local partner Pilipinas Taj Autogroup Inc. plan to establish a vehicle assembly plant in the Philippines within the next three years to become a major player in the jeepney modernization program.

Pilipinas Taj president Jon Fernandez said the two companies were finalizing a plan that would involve bringing cab chassis and engines from India and assembling the body in the Philippines.

“The platform cab and chassis will come from Tata Motors in India, then we as distributor here in the Philippines will co-project this with a body maker. This is where local content will be coming in and for the rest of

the parts,” Fernandez said.

The government’s seven-year jeepney modernization program aims to replace 250,000 aging and diesel-fed jeepneys with electric vehicles.

Tata Motors head of commercial operations Rudrarup Maitra said the Indian automotive company was looking at spending more than the required investment of $8 million for jeepney manufacturing. Fernandez said Pilipinas Taj was already looking for a manufacturing site.

Tata came up with two jeepney prototypes-a smaller model with nine to 22 seats and the bigger model capable of ferrying 22 to 30 passengers.

“Both can be designed using our platform cab and chassis,” said Fernandez.

Tata Motors currently has 11 commercial models and four passenger car models in its Philippine lineup.

“They will all migrate to Euro 4 by 2018.

And there will be other models that will be added over and above the 15 models. Since India is a right-hand drive market, we’re

catching up on the models. We have an edge in passenger cars because they are dieselpowered,” Maiter said.

All Tata vehicles are currently imported as completely built-up units from India. Maitra said despite being slapped duties of 20 percent for commercial vehicles and 30 percent for passengers cars, the brand remained one of the most competitively-priced automotive brands in the Philippines.

“Tata keeps looking at ways to make owning a Tata vehicle more affordable to consumers. We’re hoping that the AseanIndia free trade agreement will help lower the price even more. We’re hoping to reach that 40-percent local content requirement by Asean so we can further reduce our pricing,” he said.

Under the Asean Economic Community, trade among Asean members is duty-free.

Tata sees this as an opportunity to increase sales and reduce prices once its Thailand and Vietnam facilities hit 40-percent in terms of local content for the Tata models they are producing.

Holcim spending $54m to raise cement output

By Jenniffer B. Austria CEMENT manufacturer Holcim Philippines Inc. said Wednesday it will invest $54 million over the next two years to expand production to 12 million metric tons from the current 10 million MT. The company said the investment would support the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program.

“The company will invest $54 million in the next two years to add two million metric tons to its current cement capacity by the first half of 2019, particularly in La Union and Davao,” Holcim Philippines president and chief executive Sapna Sood said.

“This investment continues the company’s successful debottlenecking of all sites in 2016 that already raised cement capacity to 10 million metric tons from 8.5 million,” she said.

The expansion is also expected to strengthen its position as the leading cement company in the Philippines.

Other cement firms such as Eagle Cement Corp. of businessman Ramon Ang and Republic Cement of the Aboitiz Group were also expanding current capacities on expectations that demand would increase over the medium term with the government’s rollout of flagship infrastructure projects.

Holcim Philippines said net income in the second quarter fell 45.4 percent to P1.2 billion from P2.2 billion a year ago, on weak volume and decline in cement prices.

Second-quarter sales slid 20.4 percent to P8.6 billion from P10.8 billion the previous year.

The company’s second-quarter performance brought total income in the first half to P3.7 billion, down 43.2 percent from P2.1 billion reported in the first half of 2016.

First-half sales went down by 17 percent to P17.4 billion from P20.9 billion a year earlier, arising from combined effects of lower sales volumes and price.

THE Department of Transportation said it expects to save P9.3 million a year from the transfer of its headquarters to Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.

The transfer is seen to help decongest traffic in Metro Manila, reduce travel time and improve the travel of motorists and boost the development in the peripheries of NCR, according to the

agency.

Employees of DOTr were also given the option to transfer or be detailed in any DOTr attached agency.

Employees from DOTr attached agencies who wish to be based in Clark were also given the option to transfer or be detailed to the department.

The department said the transfer, beginning July 28 this year, would start in batches to ensure a

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.6980

Japan

Yen

0.008938

0.4531

UK

Pound

1.302800

66.0494

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128064

6.4926

Switzerland

Franc

1.050089

53.2374

Canada

Dollar

0.799552

40.5357

Singapore

Dollar

0.734214

37.2232

Australia

Dollar

0.793600

40.2339

Bahrain

Dinar

2.654421

134.5738

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266688

13.5205

Brunei

Dollar

0.731529

37.0871

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.029895

1.5156

UAE

Dirham

0.272279

13.8040

Euro

Euro

1.165400

59.0834

Korea

Won

0.000894

0.0453

China

Yuan

0.148104

7.5086

India

Rupee

0.015533

0.7875

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.233645

11.8453

New Zealand

Dollar

0.741500

37.5926

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032965

1.6713 Source: PDS Bridge

IN BRIEF Fitch predicts current account deficit in PH

DEBT watcher Fitch Ratings predicted the Philippines’ current account will reverse to a slight deficit in 2017, as imports rise amid strong demand by the expanding economy.

Fitch said in a report Wednesday the country’s current account would likely reach around -0.3 percent of GDP in 2017, from the previous year’s +0.2 percent of GDP in 2016. Fitch said the number would further decline to around -0.7 percent of GDP in 2018.

It said the deficit was “based on rising capital-goods imports due to the authorities’ higher infrastructure spending plans.”

Bangko Sentral also projected that current account, one of the major components of the balance of payments, would reverse to a deficit of $600 million this year from the actual surplus of $600 million last year.

Fitch said the Philippines’ “BBB-” rating and its positive outlook was supported by continued strong macroeconomic performance, a net external creditor position and government debt levels that were below the ‘BBB’ median. Julito G. Rada

Motorcycle sales rose 13% in first semester

MOTORCYCLES sales in the Philippines increased 13 percent in the first half to 613,896 units from 544,788 units in the same period last year, an industry group said Wednesday.

The Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association Inc. said the figure in the first half was in line with full-year growth forecast of 12 percent to 15 percent.

MDPPA president Armando Reyes said the association was confident of maintaining the strong sales momentum throughout the second half to match the growing market demand.

“Besides the good economy and more people having increased purchasing power, the strong market performance for the first six months of 2017 reflects the continued bullish demand for motorcycles. This is because motorcycles provide a practical and effective transportation alternative in the face of the worsening traffic conditions, particularly in Metro Manila. They are also very trendy and cost-efficient,” Reyes said. Othel V. Campos

TELEPERFORMANCE CENTER. Teleperformance, a leader in outsourced omni-channel customer

experience management services, launches its Leadership Development Center at the12th floor of the SM Aura Office Tower along McKinley Parkway, Tagouig City. The LDC will serve as a training center for the professional development of Teleperformance Philippines employees. Shown during the ribbon-cutting ceremony are (from left) Teleperformance Philippines senior vice president Jeffrey Johnson, learning and development director Olive Ybañes and managing director Travis Coates.

DOTr expects to save P9m a year with office transfer to Clark

By Darwin G. Amojelar

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Wednesday, July 26, 2017

systematized and efficient transition. It said the transfer would be completed by the end of 2017.

The department said based on computations, the transfer would increase the savings of the agency, owing to less rental and overhead costs as well as gaining potential income from opening its owned units in Columbia Tower in Ortigas for lease.

The DOTr is estimated to earn an additional P9.3 million per

year from the transfer.

The department said it was also supporting the creation of the National Government Center to be built in Clark to house central offices of government agencies in one location for more convenient transactions.

The National Government Center in Clark shall serve as a common location that will facilitate the smooth-sailing convergence of government agencies in

terms of coordinating and implementing its respective programs and services.

According to a study released by the Japan International Cooperation Agency in September 2014, traffic congestion in Metro Manila was costing the Philippines at least P2.4 billion a day, which, if left without intervention, would likely reach P6 billion a day by 2030.

Multinational firms asked to hike salaries

FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III on Wednesday asked the regional operating headquarters of multinational companies in the Philippines to increase the salaries for managerial positions to cushion the impact of the proposed removal of the 15-percent preferential tax treatment under the comprehensive tax reform program.

“There is a solution to that, you pay more [salary],” Dominguez told a representative of a foreign company who asked a question on the impact of the PTR removal on ROHQs in the country, in a forum organized by Colliers International in Makati City.

Data show there are currently 158 ROHQs in the Philippines with a combined $2 billion in employee wages and benefits and employing more than 50,000 workers. ROHQs were invited to locate in the Philippines through fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, including a preferential 10-percent tax on corporate income, exemptions from customs duties and local taxes, and a 15-percent preferential tax treatment for employees occupying managerial and technical positions who earn a gross annual taxable compensation of at least P975,000. The Finance Department wants to remove the 15-percent PTR under the the first package of tax reforms. Julito G. Rada

B2

Business

THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

8990 starts building Tondo shopping mall

By Jenniffer B. Austria MASS housing development 8990 Holdings Inc. said it started the construction of its first shopping mall in Tondo, Manila worth P452 million.

8990 Holdings president Jesus Januario Atencio said in an interview following the groundbreaking ceremony the twostory Deca Mall would offer 14,000 square meters of gross leasable space to 95 tenants and 130 stores for small and medium enterprises.

Atencio said the mall would also serve as the amenities area of the 13-building Urban Deca Homes Manila, thus keeping association dues of homeowners at affordable levels.

“The costs of maintaining condominium amenities are distributed evenly among every

homeowner whether or not he avails of these. This adds to the cost of his association dues. By having a mall that offers the typical amenities such as a gym or spa, we lower association dues thus maintaining our objective of providing affordable housing for hardworking middle-class Filipinos,” Atencio said.

The mall will also be open to the local community as this will be the first mall within the high-populated Tondo area. The mall is expected to be completed by 2018.

Atencio said the company was now in the process of selecting anchor tenants for the mall’s department store and supermarket.

The company tapped Megawide Construction Corp., the contractor for the Urban Deca Homes Manila, to also build the Deca Mall.

Market nears record level; PXP tops gainers

S

TOCKS surged to an 11-month high Wednesday, following another record close on Wall Street, boosted by rising commodity prices.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, climbed 65 points, or 0.8 percent, to close at 8,037.51, as five of the six major sectors advanced. It was the bellwether’s highest finish since it closed at 8,051.40 on Aug. 10, 2016. The index peaked to 8,127.48 on April 10, 2015.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also gained 26 points, or 0.6 percent, to settle at

4,779.80, on a value turnover of P8.2 billion. Gainers outnumbered losers, 98 to 94, while 60 issues were unchanged.

Sixteen of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by oil exploration firm PXP Energy Corp., formerly Philex Petroleum Corp., which surged 18.5 percent to P3.58, after President Rodrigo Duterte announced a plan to allow joint exploration of West Philippine

Sea by Philippine and Chinese companies.

Megaworld Corp., one of the largest developers, climbed 5.5 percent to P4.98, and conglomerate LT Groups Inc. rise 3.3 percent to P18.28.

Meanwhile, Asian markets mostly rose on Wednesday, led by energy giants on rising commodity prices, while traders were also buoyed by strong earnings and positive economic data that saw Wall Street rack up fresh records.

Improving demand and the weakening dollar helped fuel a jump in copper prices to five-month peaks, while oil has also been boosted by a report pointing to lower US stockpiles.

Both crude contracts jumped 3

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 2017

NAME

OPEN

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.79 13,000 59.8 89,840 106.9 1,402,870 4 260,000 123.3 1,540,640 1.34 34,000 36.55 1,156,500 10 5,100 16.2 400 32.3 610,700 8.3 34,000 0.67 10,000 1.63 250,000 950 380 0.7 694,000 85.6 7,964,350 0.82 525,000 16 16,700 24.95 1,800 67.85 504,320 242 3,050 116.9 240 88.5 760 57.9 58,710 228 383,530 1,700 240 86.3 85,660 1.4 1,494,000

49,190 5,335,583.50 149,995,802 1,040,000 189,726,608 45,560 42,226,690 50,902 6,480 19,588,860 273,152 6,700 414,170 354,000 479,240 684,403,617 430,790 267,164 44,910 34,107,371 733,132 26,398 67,234 3,398,816.50 87,512,118 407,750 7,390,216.50 2,200,220

2,991,572 56,572,146 52,429,716 25,931,985 -3,464,190 -6,720 -83,490.00 -246,246,864 20,750 -81,989 331,200 2,362,951.50 35,345,376 -127,667.50 43,800

39.4 8.83 0.85 1.41 30.05 0.26 180 7.03 18.6 165.2 32.25 14.82 70 76 1.95 5.3 11.5 12.24 15.34 12.9 7.36 5.84 1.68 17.9 66.2 14.58 13.4 13.5 1.82 215 59.05 3.97 3.35 20 32.35 19.96 18.14 281.4 0.241 9.27 3.17 7.68 9.49 6.65 10.2 1.92 11.6 66 6.45 305 4.5 4.4 2.72 13.12 5.05 0.144 1.35 159 2.18 1.03

INDUSTRIAL 39.65 958,600 8.91 698,700 0.85 3,037,000 1.42 380,000 30.5 26,300 0.265 5,360,000 185 1,140 7.04 7,102,600 18.64 1,493,200 165.2 240 32.7 732,500 14.96 26,200 74.2 189,240 76 220 1.96 366,000 5.3 113,200 11.7 3,100 12.3 619,700 15.42 5,761,800 13.06 3,117,300 7.36 2,192,700 5.9 9,969,200 1.68 1,000 17.9 1,772,300 66.2 145,910 14.62 6,400 13.48 291,000 13.8 6,858,900 1.82 3,326,000 216.8 474,360 61.9 1,700 4.02 115,000 3.35 25,000 21.5 18,000 32.45 959,900 19.98 196,700 18.2 3,025,800 283.6 366,620 0.243 360,000 9.36 8,900 3.18 58,000 8.55 4,786,800 9.53 4,383,900 7.19 134,600 10.2 20,700 1.93 472,000 12.5 5,441,100 66.2 1,216,540 6.6 151,900 305 16,430 4.5 27,000 4.4 81,000 2.76 4,207,000 13.12 175,800 5.1 721,500 0.148 2,090,000 1.35 114,000 159 420,530 2.2 19,277,000 1.04 131,000

38,078,985 6,232,864 2,618,480 538,650 798,040 1,410,750 215,440 50,199,867 27,825,572 39,653 23,847,845 390,702 13,249,601 16,720 715,950 599,980 35,880 7,621,056 88,943,208 40,825,134 16,449,327 58,913,304 1,680 31,866,810 9,676,101 93,520 3,923,456 95,055,530 6,206,260 103,161,584 104,459 461,010 83,800 369,175 31,132,195 3,932,048 55,054,340 104,003,964 87,120 83,815 184,930 40,701,788 41,768,014 949,131 211,216 911,310 66,736,552 80,422,928 1,010,230 5,011,150 121,500 365,880 11,912,050 2,325,058 3,772,423 308,480 157,020 67,375,537 42,719,260 135,950

-18,289,840 24,924 26,000 -18,287,546 25,122,082 1,268,930 72,000 3,603,598 7,465,110 -13,753,528 673,122 9,638,203 -14,675,788 -3,356,429.50 2,317,466 4,622,410 13,870 10,504,390 8,075 12,705,415 1,460,502 5,506,814 43,813,160 44,440 -171,000.00 -2,982,197 3,880 -12,109,594 47,615,448.00 247,141 527,650 -9,000 234,800 346,560 -188,586 -1,308 2,800 -4,448,851 46,910 -

0.38 74.9 14.46 1.18 7 0.33 895 7.8 16 7.62 0.295 1,237 8.15 79.25 4.8 5.43 1.02 6.95 18.64 6.92 3.24 0.051 1.1 2.15 2.69 103.2 2.8 795 0.88 1.65 190.1 305 0.295 0.27 0.245

0.37 73.3 14.2 1.12 6.86 0.325 880 7.75 15.7 7.54 0.235 1,215 8 78.45 4.59 5.42 0.99 6.83 17.86 6.88 3.24 0.048 1.1 2.11 2.69 101 2.71 785 0.88 1.57 190 302.8 0.29 0.24 0.245

HOLDING FIRMS 0.375 2,190,000 74.6 835,170 14.2 10,521,700 1.18 101,000 7 24,500 0.325 1,930,000 895 342,760 7.75 1,148,100 15.78 8,430,700 7.62 1,100 0.255 19,110,000 1,230 151,285 8.15 127,000 79 2,320,640 4.61 8,000 5.43 9,100 1 426,000 6.87 688,500 18.28 8,297,800 6.88 40,653,600 3.24 2,000 0.048 90,810,000 1.1 3,000 2.13 523,000 2.69 10,000 101 210,240 2.71 24,000 788 497,030 0.88 15,000 1.57 4,181,000 190 20 305 10,300 0.29 610,000 0.247 18,100,000 0.245 90,000

816,350 62,308,789.50 149,857,298 116,430 169,806 627,800 306,060,495 8,945,426 133,685,494 8,344 5,148,950 186,247,180 1,027,932 183,367,648 38,000 49,412 425,770 4,727,391 152,176,696 280,416,721 6,480 4,414,480 3,300 1,108,800 26,900 21,467,122 65,780 392,247,495 13,200 6,641,850 3,801 3,141,160 179,600 4,691,730 22,050

-145,850 -2,044,063.50 -3,977,946 150,903,705 -1,055,182 60,800,140 -35,260 102,283,980 -55,079,274.50 -3,869,343 -49,060,754 129,498,201 773,556 -183,198,030 229,740 -335,300 -91,000 -

5.91 1.48 2.35 1.07 44 3.71 4.97 5.34 5.99 0.58 1.25 1.54 0.19 0.52 46.7 0.76

5.88 1.43 2.31 1.01 43.4 3.67 4.87 5.3 5.72 0.53 1.2 1.52 0.188 0.51 45.95 0.72

PROPERTY 5.89 264,500 1.44 3,776,000 2.32 62,000 1.03 6,153,000 43.95 9,531,200 3.69 2,101,000 4.89 3,273,000 5.3 1,200 5.99 1,600 0.54 93,459,000 1.24 141,000 1.54 250,000 0.19 14,440,000 0.51 2,389,000 46 345,500 0.74 4,786,000

1,558,022 5,466,940 143,930 6,395,420 417,273,395 7,746,220 16,072,750 6,380 9,179 51,320,730 171,850 380,610 2,729,560 1,219,980 15,935,850 3,527,530

-1,223,600 -78,780 108,250 83,489,080 -527,460 -1,499,930 -6,353,540 1,134,000 2,059,835 -

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE 3.78 ASIA UNITED 59.4 BANK PH ISLANDS 107.2 BDO LEASING 4 BDO UNIBANK 122.2 BRIGHT KINDLE 1.34 CHINABANK 36.55 CITYSTATE BANK 9.02 COL FINANCIAL 16.2 EAST WEST BANK 31.45 FILIPINO FUND 8.03 FIRST ABACUS 0.67 IREMIT 1.68 MANULIFE 910 MEDCO HLDG 0.69 METROBANK 86 NTL REINSURANCE 0.81 PB BANK 15.68 PBCOM 24.95 PHIL NATL BANK 67.5 PHIL STOCK EXCH 240 PHILTRUST 110 PSBANK 88.4 RCBC 58.2 SECURITY BANK 226.4 SUN LIFE 1,700 UNION BANK 86.3 VANTAGE 1.45

3.79 59.8 107.2 4 123.7 1.34 36.6 10 16.2 32.3 8.3 0.67 1.68 950 0.7 86.25 0.83 16.2 24.95 68 242 116.9 88.5 58.2 230 1,700 86.3 1.59

3.78 59 106.6 4 122.1 1.34 36.5 9.02 16.2 31.45 8.03 0.67 1.62 910 0.69 85.6 0.8 15.68 24.95 67.5 240 108 88.4 57.7 225.8 1,695 86.25 1.4

ABOITIZ POWER 39.4 AGRINURTURE 8.94 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.86 ALSONS CONS 1.41 ASIABEST GROUP 30.1 BASIC ENERGY 0.265 BOGO MEDELLIN 190 CEMEX HLDG 7.3 CENTURY FOOD 18.88 CHEMPHIL 165.3 CIRTEK HLDG 32.35 CNTRL AZUCARERA15 CONCEPCION 70 CONCRETE A 76 CROWN ASIA 1.98 DAVINCI CAPITAL 5.31 DEL MONTE 11.5 DNL INDUS 12.3 EAGLE CEMENT 15.4 EEI CORP 13.2 EMPERADOR 7.77 ENERGY DEVT 5.85 EUROMED 1.68 FIRST GEN 17.94 FIRST PHIL HLDG 66.4 GINEBRA 14.58 HOLCIM 13.58 INTEGRATED MICR 14.64 IONICS 1.92 JOLLIBEE 217.8 LIBERTY FLOUR 59.05 LMG CHEMICALS 3.99 MABUHAY VINYL 3.36 MACAY HLDG 20.8 MANILA WATER 32.5 MAXS GROUP 20 MEGAWIDE 18.16 MERALCO 281.8 MG HLDG 0.245 PANASONIC 9.45 PEPSI COLA 3.17 PETROENERGY 7.68 PETRON 9.67 PHIL H2O 6.7 PHINMA 10.22 PHINMA ENERGY 1.93 PHX PETROLEUM 12 PILIPINAS SHELL 66.6 PRYCE CORP 6.45 PUREFOODS 305 RFM CORP 4.5 ROXAS HLDG 4.55 SFA SEMICON 3.03 SHAKEYS PIZZA 13.28 SPC POWER 5.3 SWIFT FOODS 0.144 TKC METALS 1.37 UNIV ROBINA 162.8 VITARICH 2.18 VULCAN INDL 1.03

39.9 8.95 0.88 1.44 30.7 0.27 198 7.31 18.88 165.3 33.5 15 74.7 76 1.98 5.31 11.7 12.42 15.54 13.4 7.78 5.94 1.68 18.3 66.8 14.62 13.58 14.64 1.92 219 61.9 4.08 3.36 21.5 32.5 20 18.24 285 0.245 9.7 3.21 8.76 9.67 7.19 10.36 1.94 12.5 66.6 6.79 305 4.5 4.59 3.03 13.38 5.44 0.148 1.4 163.5 2.26 1.04

ABACORE CAPITAL 0.375 ABOITIZ EQUITY 74 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 14.38 ANGLO PHIL HLDG 1.12 ANSCOR 6.97 ATN HLDG A 0.325 AYALA CORP 880 COSCO CAPITAL 7.8 DMCI HLDG 15.7 FILINVEST DEV 7.54 FORUM PACIFIC 0.235 GT CAPITAL 1,215 HOUSE OF INV 8.05 JG SUMMIT 78.9 JOLLIVILLE HLDG 4.8 KEPPEL HLDG A 5.42 LODESTAR 1.02 LOPEZ HLDG 6.84 LT GROUP 17.86 METRO PAC INV 6.9 MJC INVESTMENTS 3.24 PACIFICA 0.05 PRIME MEDIA 1.1 PRIME ORION 2.13 REPUBLIC GLASS 2.69 SAN MIGUEL CORP 103 SEAFRONT RES 2.72 SM INVESTMENTS 794 SOC RESOURCES 0.88 SOLID GROUP 1.65 SYNERGY GRID 190.1 TOP FRONTIER 304 UNIOIL HLDG 0.29 WELLEX INDUS 0.25 ZEUS HLDG 0.245 8990 HLDG 5.89 A BROWN 1.48 ARANETA PROP 2.31 ARTHALAND CORP 1.03 AYALA LAND 43.5 BELLE CORP 3.68 CEB LANDMASTERS4.87 CEBU HLDG 5.34 CEBU PROP B 5.72 CENTURY PROP 0.57 CITY AND LAND 1.22 CITYLAND DEVT 1.52 CROWN EQUITIES 0.188 CYBER BAY 0.51 DOUBLEDRAGON 46.45 EMPIRE EAST 0.75

VOLUME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

EVER GOTESCO 0.185 FILINVEST LAND 1.83 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.52 IRC PROP 1.03 MEGAWORLD 4.75 MRC ALLIED 0.345 PHIL ESTATES 0.61 PHIL REALTY 0.6 PRIMEX CORP 4.6 PTFC REDEV CORP 30.6 ROBINSONS LAND 24.8 ROCKWELL 1.75 SM PRIME HLDG 34.35 STA LUCIA LAND 1.01 SUNTRUST HOME 0.9 VISTA LAND 5.87

0.185 1.89 1.56 1.03 4.99 0.35 0.62 0.61 4.7 30.6 25.35 1.79 35.1 1.02 0.92 5.89

0.17 1.82 1.45 1.02 4.73 0.335 0.57 0.57 4.52 30.6 24.8 1.75 34.35 1.01 0.89 5.75

0.178 1.82 1.5 1.03 4.98 0.335 0.59 0.57 4.52 30.6 25.15 1.77 34.75 1.01 0.92 5.87

4,580,000 9,443,000 30,187,000 319,000 98,247,000 67,660,000 36,016,000 16,906,000 2,203,000 100 2,169,000 448,000 10,651,700 624,000 768,000 12,224,200

800,470 17,415,880 45,033,710 328,560 483,158,430 23,026,850 21,705,380 9,946,510 10,055,540 3,060 54,563,850 796,160 371,474,955 631,300 684,850 71,661,244

4,338,920 453,700 51,500 47,340,750 660,000 -39,900.00 28,630.00 158,060 17,653,930 -38,976,725 2,546,203

2GO GROUP 23 ABS CBN 43 ACESITE HOTEL 1.74 APC GROUP 0.5 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.043 BLOOMBERRY 9.1 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.08 CEBU AIR 96.5 CENTRO ESCOLAR 9.62 DFNN INC 10.02 DISCOVERY WORLD 2.22 FAR EASTERN U 970 GLOBE TELECOM 2,090 GMA NETWORK 6.26 GOLDEN HAVEN 15.1 HARBOR STAR 2.9 IMPERIAL 3.36 INTL CONTAINER 108.8 IPM HLDG 8.55 ISLAND INFO 0.183 ISM COMM 1.38 JACKSTONES 3.23 LBC EXPRESS 15.96 LEISURE AND RES 4.76 LORENZO SHIPPNG 2.15 MACROASIA 10.7 MANILA BULLETIN 0.59 MANILA JOCKEY 2.25 MELCO RESORTS 8.64 METRO RETAIL 3.94 NOW CORP 2.52 PACIFIC ONLINE 11.46 PAL HLDG 5.14 PAXYS 2.97 PHIL RACING 8.25 PHIL SEVEN CORP 171 PHILWEB 10.1 PLDT 1,700 PREMIUM LEISURE 1.58 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.44 PUREGOLD 46 ROBINSONS RTL 86.9 SBS PHIL CORP 6.07 SSI GROUP 4.15 STI HLDG 1.49 TRAVELLERS 3.46 WATERFRONT 1.19 WILCON DEPOT 8.75

24 43.1 1.79 0.55 0.044 9.3 0.082 98.1 9.62 10.34 2.22 970 2,114 6.27 15.48 2.94 3.45 109 8.55 0.183 1.39 3.3 15.96 4.92 2.2 10.96 0.59 2.38 9 4.07 2.52 11.46 5.25 3.19 8.25 171 10.22 1,729 1.6 0.445 46.65 87 6.07 4.34 1.54 3.6 1.27 9

22.45 42.85 1.71 0.5 0.043 9 0.079 96.5 9.62 10 2.22 970 2,060 6.22 15.1 2.9 3.35 108.8 8.45 0.181 1.35 3.15 15.96 4.7 2 10.6 0.56 2.25 8.64 3.93 2.39 11.46 5.05 2.97 8.25 165 10 1,700 1.57 0.43 45.9 86.9 6.05 4.08 1.49 3.42 1.19 8.7

SERVICES 23.1 236,600 43.1 222,300 1.78 634,000 0.52 7,870,000 0.043 21,800,000 9.11 10,107,200 0.079 37,780,000 96.85 414,400 9.62 1,000 10.34 489,500 2.22 1,000 970 100 2,074 20,325 6.27 253,100 15.48 65,200 2.9 949,000 3.35 30,000 108.9 1,384,890 8.49 400,000 0.181 15,770,000 1.39 885,000 3.3 171,000 15.96 800 4.81 1,498,000 2 8,688,000 10.88 2,909,900 0.56 30,000 2.35 25,000 9 1,670,500 3.99 3,839,000 2.42 4,752,000 11.46 4,000 5.18 63,000 3.19 4,000 8.25 100 171 1,570 10.1 739,800 1,709 198,270 1.6 2,743,000 0.44 12,750,000 46 403,100 86.95 782,110 6.07 340,900 4.27 10,034,000 1.51 26,598,000 3.6 727,000 1.24 28,898,000 8.94 7,572,100

5,461,940 9,559,540 1,116,330 4,239,300 952,500 91,939,405 3,017,960 40,358,311.50 9,620 4,990,652 2,220 97,000 42,255,690 1,583,459 998,026 2,759,610 100,620 150,855,141 3,382,550 2,860,470 1,217,840 545,500 12,768 7,194,640 18,115,250 31,576,494 16,880 57,060 14,895,225 15,306,910 11,536,070 45,840 319,136 12,100 825 264,105 7,480,896 339,827,440 4,368,670 5,608,100 18,606,850 68,042,156.50 2,065,220 42,168,020 40,422,350 2,506,400 35,670,660 67,625,512

46,200 -89,000 -7,283,607 480,000 -4,294,592 -103,740 2,982,080 -87,000 94,847,010 88,220 854,130 4,037,818 47,795 -1,547,480 27,070 3,190 32,330 -2,059,662.00 -92,882,640 3,439,480 -20,439,257.50 1,718,110.00 -177,230 -222,000 -9,647,879.00

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

0.003 1.58 5.07 1.95 1.25 0.38 8.46 2.5 0.31 0.181 0.189 0.011 0.011 1.91 6 1.91 0.63 1.11 0.01 0.012 2.56 8.97 3.21 171.2

0.003 1.64 5.13 1.95 1.25 0.39 8.74 2.6 0.31 0.181 0.189 0.011 0.011 1.93 6.04 1.95 0.64 1.14 0.011 0.013 2.56 9.1 3.58 174.9

0.0029 1.56 5 1.93 1.16 0.38 8.46 2.5 0.295 0.177 0.187 0.01 0.011 1.91 5.94 1.91 0.61 1.1 0.01 0.012 2.56 8.84 3.21 171

MINING & OIL 0.003 453,000,000 1.6 4,656,000 5.05 298,800 1.93 27,000 1.16 9,778,000 0.385 300,000 8.65 7,200 2.57 1,810,000 0.31 11,440,000 0.18 10,040,000 0.187 640,000 0.011 226,600,000 0.011 2,900,000 1.91 669,000 5.98 7,547,800 1.94 222,000 0.62 2,251,000 1.12 487,000 0.01 5,300,000 0.013 22,500,000 2.56 8,000 8.84 1,594,600 3.58 33,245,000 174 763,290

1,315,700 7,453,080 1,504,202 52,250 11,662,650 115,200 62,174 4,609,690 3,458,400 1,793,240 120,000 2,286,600 31,900 1,284,940 45,196,319 430,850 1,395,010 540,360 53,200 282,400 20,480 14,237,096 114,033,330 132,755,819

116,000 -640,340 -15,076 34,650 8,608,939 6,840.00 2,634,075 19,100 63,465,834

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

43 515 520 106 105 112 525 6.01 1,014 1.05 108 1,036 105.4 76.5 80.6 77 80.6 78.3 78.75 79

43.3 515 520 106 105 112 525 6.05 1,024 1.05 108 1,036 105.4 76.5 81.7 77 80.6 78.3 78.75 79.95

43 515 520 106 105 112 517 6.01 1,014 1.03 108 1,036 105.4 76.5 80 77 80.55 78.25 78.75 79

PREFERRED 43.25 95,500 515 40 520 190 106 27,620 105 241,530 112 40 517 3,750 6.05 555,300 1,024 6,130 1.03 1,500,000 108 9,300 1,036 3,355 105.4 1,250 76.5 110 80 47,700 77 110 80.55 8,900 78.25 1,300 78.75 114,800 79.95 32,320

4,119,645 20,600 98,800 2,927,720 25,360,650 4,480 1,945,250 3,358,072 6,276,620 1,547,010 1,004,400 3,475,780 131,750 8,415 3,851,766 8,470 717,045 101,729 9,040,500 2,570,154

1,863,455 -546,571 241,800.00 -

LR WARRANT

2.88

3

2.76

WARRANTS 2.93 1,305,000

3,738,640

-

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

3.86 5.52 7.8

3.92 5.98 7.84

3.85 5.52 7.6

SME 3.9 5.84 7.62

399,510 208,435 23,271,761

-2,970,364

121.6

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 120.6 121.6 24,010

2,910,250

-

NAME

OPEN

MS FIRST METRO ETF 120.6

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

VALUE

FINANCIAL

17,440,512

1,256,245,576.29

INDUSTRIAL

104,049,713

1,196,622,291.722

HOLDING FIRMS

219,836,876

2,202,351,351.64

PROPERTY

433,729,368

1,669,737,807.74

SERVICES

247,899,643

1,476,563,430.088

MINING & OIL

796,311,739

344,751,147.165

GRAND TOTAL

1,822,459,104

8,173,062,662.89

103,000 37,500 3,026,600

FINANCIAL 1,957.51 (up) 8.66 INDUSTRIAL 11,117.90 (down) 35.27 HOLDING FIRMS 7,966.62 (up) 60.49 PROPERTY 3,864.05 (up) 63.94 SERVICES 1,702.75 (up) 8.45 MINING & OIL 12,980.50 (up) 131.41 PSEI 8,037.51 (up) 65.79 All Shares Index 4,779.80 (up) 26.47 Gainers: 98; Losers: 94; Unchanged: 60; Total: 252

percent Tuesday with traders also cheered by news that global crude producers, meeting in Russia Monday, called for stricter adherence to an agreement to cut output.

Big-name energy firms flew on Wednesday, with BHP up more than three percent and Rio Tinto 2.6 percent higher in Sydney, while Hong Kong-listed CNOOC and PetroChina were up around three percent. Tokyo’s Inpex and JXTG Holdings piled on more than one percent.

“Things are looking a little bit better,” Michael Loewen, a strategist at Scotiabank in Toronto, told Bloomberg News. “If we continue to see demand do well and some refined products draws in gasoline and distillates, the market should perform pretty well.”

But the long-term outlook for oil could be weak without deeper output curbs by OPEC, said Richard Gorry, managing director at industry consultant JBC Asia.

Prices are currently supported by the summer driving season which ramps up demand but that trend will reverse from early September as consumption weakens, he added.

On stock markets, Tokyo ended 0.5 percent higher, while Hong Kong added 0.2 percent in the afternoon and Shanghai closed up 0.1 percent. Sydney ended up 0.9 percent and Singapore was 0.3 percent higher. There were losses in Seoul and Taipei. With Bloomberg, AFP

Sun Group allots P9b to expand hotel link

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Sun Group of Companies, the operator of Hotel 99, said it plans to spend up to P9 billion to build more budget hotels nationwide ahead of its planned initial public offering.

SGC president Richard Lim told reporters his company was allocating between P8 billion and P9 billion over the next three to five years to build more budget hotels.

“We are targeting to establish 20 new, fully-functional hotels [with] roughly 3,500 rooms under the Red Hotel and Hotel 99 brands within three to five years,” Lim said.

The company currently has three hotels under the Hotel 99 brand in Caloocan, Quezon City and Pasay City.

“Our target is to build 12 more branches within Metro Manila,” Lim said.

Lim said the company was also building three Red Hotel projects in Coron, Palawan; Quezon City near SM North Edsa; and Pasay City.

The company also plans to build Red Hotel in Malate, Cebu, Marikina, and Alabang.

“We are targeting the low to mid-end market for our Red Hotel,” Lim said.

Lim said the company was planning to undertake an IPO in three or five years.

“We are optimistic about our company because of the strong domestic economy,” he said.

SGC’s other business include leasing of high-rise warehousing facilities and numerous condominium projects around Metro Manila and distribution of Xtreme appliances and highend construction materials.

The company inaugurated bigger headquarters in Manila, which houses its administration, distribution and hotel operations.

Business

B3

THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Trade, Labor OK garments guidelines

By Othel V. Campos

DELIVERY FLIGHT. The world’s first dual-class turboprop aircraft—the next-generation Bombardier Q400 of Philippine Airlines, with registry RP-C5901, makes a refueling stop at Malta

in the Mediterranean, one of nine stopovers (Canada, Iceland, France, Malta, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, India, Thailand) during its 11,398-nautical mile delivery flight from Toronto to Manila. The aircraft—manned by three pilots, three mechanics and one aircraft inspector from PAL Express—is expected to touch down in Manila on July 26, 2017 after a five-day journey.

2 Citicore solar plants cleared Marcos’ infra program caused the 1970-72 economic crisis When it is implemented, the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program will be the third massive infrastructure program in the postwar history of this country.

The first was the Magsaysay administration’s infrastructure program, which was financed by bond issues authorized by Republic Act No. 1000; the program was cut short by the tragic death of President Ramon Magsaysay. The second infrastructure program was the Rice and Roads program implemented during the first term (1966-1969) of President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

My harking back to those two previous massive-infrastructurespending exercises was triggered by the statement made recently by the Secretary of Budget and Management on the issue of the debt-to-GDP ratio, more specifically the impact of sharply increased public spending on the national budget deficit.

This is what Secretary Benjamin Diokno said: “Concerns that the Duterte administration’s fiscal strategy may lead to indebtedness are unsubstantiated, considering the current and expected debt-to-GDP ratio, the hefty gross international reserves and the low interest rate regime…. The government is planning to pursue an expansionary fiscal policy, increasing the budget deficit ceiling from 2 percent of the GDP to 3 percent annually …. Despite the planned increase in the deficit, the DBM (is confident that) the Philippines’ economic expansion will outpace debt …. (The gross international reserves) level remain stable through the rest of the Duterte administration.”

I admire the supreme confidence of Benjamin Diokno, who is a well-trained economist. “Concerns that the Duterte administration’s fiscal strategy may lead to indebtednedd are unsubstantiated,” “Despite the planned increase in the deficit, the Philippines’ economic expansion …. will outpace debt and “(The gross international reserves level) will remain stable during the rest of the Duterte administration” are very heady statements. They should be reassuring to the people of this country as they confront five more years of the administration of which Mr. Diokno is a part.

Unfortunately, the Secretary appears to have forgotten the Philippine economy’s experience with the infrastructure programs of the Magsaysay and Marcos administrations.

The fact is that the RA 1000 spending of the Magsaysay administration had serious impacts on the budget deficit (and hence the public-debt stock) and on price stability. The level of public debt rose sharply – increasing the debt in relation to GDP – and inflation became more pronounced. The Garcia administration that came into office in March 1957found itself having to deal with the destabilizing effects of the RA 1000 infrastructure binge.

Being more recent, the Rice and Roads program of 1966-1969 should have been more familiar to the Secretary of Budget and Management. Obsession with the idea of being the first President to win re-election, Ferdinand Marcos decided at the very start of his first term that the best route to re-election was a program of massive spending on infrastructure, especially rice production and – to provide income opportunities to corrupt local officials – road building. The countryside hummed with increasing activity as the Rice and Roads program proceeded. Unfortunately, the public coffers were at the same time humming with the sound of dwindling balances. Immediately after the 1969 election votes were tallied the fiscal and monetary truths emerged: the government was bankrupt and had negative foreign-exchange balances.

The fact of the matter is that Mr. Marcos’ massive infrastructure program was largely responsible for the collapse of the economy in the last days of 1969, which resulted in the imposition on the Philippine government by the International Monetary Fund of a program with peso-depreciation and other tough provisions.

The Philippine economy was to spend most of the first half of the 1970s recovering from Mr. Marcos’ disastrous spending spree.

I wish I could be as sanguine as Benjamin Diokno about the Philippine economy’s capacity to absorb the infrastructure program that he and his boss are about to embark on. But I cannot be. And I am not.

A final word for Secretary Diokno. Please don’t be a flippant about our country’s international reserves. Those reserves are our country’s nest-egg, intended to keep the Philippines from repeating the bad external-position episodes of the past and to maintain the peso respectability. They have been earned with the toil and pain of our Bagong Bayani; don’t fritter them away on Mr. Duterte’s grandiose ambitions.

E-mail: romero.business.class@gmail.com

By Alena Mae S. Flores

T

HE Energy Regulatory Commission awarded certificates of compliance to First Toledo Solar Energy Corp. and Next Generation Power Technology Corp. after meeting the requirements to operate their respective power generation facilities.

The two companies, whollyowned subsidiaries of renewable energy company Citicore Power Inc., received the COCs, a proof that a power plant complies with all the regulations to make it safe to switch on and operate.

Next Generation Power owns and operates an 18-megawatt solar power plant within the Freeport Area of Bataan in Mariveles, while FTSEC owns and operates a 60-MW solar power plant in Toledo City, Cebu.

“These COCs enable our two solar plants in Bataan and Cebu to generate electricity that will serve the people. This is in line with one of our goals to become a compliant company that cares for the environment,” said

Manolo Candelaria, Citicore Power executive vice president for commercial and development operations in a statement.

No person or entity may be engaged in generation of electricity unless it has secured a COC from the ERC to operate its new power generation facility.

Citicore Power is currently working to secure the COC of its third solar plant in Silay City, Negros Occidental that operates under Silay Solar Power Inc..

“With the clearance of our solar plants, Citicore Power sticks true to its mission to produce the most cost-efficient clean energy, promoting inclusive growth and creating opportunities in the communities where we operate,” Citicore Power energy

regulations manager Rio Balaba said.

The company said it was committed to the development not only of solar power plants, but also power stations that would use other types of renewable energy sources such as wind, biomass and hydro power.

Citicore Power, a unit of Citicore Holdings Investment Inc., is a renewable energy company committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through solar, wind, hydro, and biomass projects across the Philippines and Asia.

The Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan, meanwhile, expressed strong support to the operation of Next Generation Power.

The 37-hectare solar power plant of Next Generation Power in the free port is expected to help power over 22,000 homes in Luzon.

“We welcomed the registration of NGPTC and CPI in 2014, as we know that the solar power project will definitely support FAB’s vision to become the free port of choice by 2020,” AFAB chairman and Administrator Emmanuel Pineda said.

THETradeand LaborDepartments signed Tuesday a joint order providing the guidelines for the issuance, suspension or revocation of certificates of accreditation of garments companies.

The guidelines cover garment manufacturers, exporters and subcontractors who want to avail of preferential tariffs under the Generalized System of Preferences. The order also created a Workers’ Rights Review Committee.

Trade Secretary and Board of Investments chairman Ramon Lopez and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III signed the joint order on July 25, 2017.

The guidelines were drawn from a series of consultative meetings of the two agencies with the Clothing and Textile Industry Tripartite Council and labor and employment sectors since 2010, as part of the country’s commitment to comply with global labor standards for the garments and textile industries.

“Despite the changing landscape of global trends, the production of goods and services must still conform to international labor standards for market access. This order will help promote labor laws compliance and standards in the garment industry via certification and decertification mechanisms for companies who want to avail preferential tariff under the GSP,” Lopez said.

Bello said the signing of the joint guidelines “will ensure that are our workers have decent jobs, and that they enjoy the economic benefits that our participation in the global trade brings.”

“This joint issuance serves as a proof of the Duterte administration’s resolve to ensure that Filipino workers here and abroad can reap the just fruits of their honest labors even as their employers gain a reasonable return of their investments while ensuring business expansion and growth,” he added.

4 ERC execs eye Salazar’s removal

INSULAR LIFE AWARDS. Insular Life bags two major awards from this year’s Insurance Asia Award held in Singapore. The company is named “Domestic Life Insurer of the Year” and recognized for its “Digital Insurance Initiative of the Year” on July 13. Insular Life CEO Nina Aguas (second from left) and president and COO Mona Lisa de la Cruz (third from left) receive the two awards from Asian Banking & Finance Magazine editor-in-chief Tim Charlton. With them is Insular Life senior assistant vice president and public relations head Ana Maria Soriano.

BSP’s P180-b auction undersubscribed

By Julito G. Rada THE P180 billion worth of term deposits offered by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas remained undersubscribed Wednesday due to investors’ sluggish demand for the seven-day and month-long instruments.

Data showed tenders for the seven-day deposits worth P40 billion stood at P35 billion and had a weighted average accepted yield of 3.3 percent. The P140-billion 28-day deposits, meanwhile, lured total bids of P106.19 billion and fetched a weighted average accepted yield of 3.5 percent.

This resulted in total bids of P141 billion for the weekly auction, significantly lower than the volume of P180 billion. Bangko Sentral will keep the weekly volume in its next auction on Aug. 2 despite the latest

undersubscription.

Bangko Sentral officials earlier blamed the successful issuance of retail treasury bonds by the Bureau of the Treasury in April as the main reason for investors’ less appetite for the month-long term deposits.

The Bureau of the Treasury in April raised P175 billion from its three-year retail treasury bonds offering, including those generated from roadshows conducted nationwide. There were also reports that banks were setting aside funds for their reserve requirement compliance.

Previous over-subscriptions in 2016 prompted the regulator to increase the weekly volume from the previous P130 billion to P180 billion starting Dec. 1, 2016 to more effectively siphon off excess liquidity in the financial system.

The amount of week-long

deposits was increased by P20 billion to P30 billion from P10 billion, while the month-long deposits were increased by P30 billion to P150 billion from P120 billion.

The adjustment on Dec. 1 was the sixth time that Bangko Sentral increased the volume.

From the original volume of P30 billion, it was increased to P50 billion, P70 billion, P90 billion, P110 billion, and P130 billion.

Bangko Sentral in May increased the week-long volume to P40 billion from P30 billion, while the month-long volume was reduced to P140 billion from P150 billion.

Bangko Sentral adopted the interest rate corridor system in June last year so that through calibrated auctioning, the transmission of monetary policy would improve.

FOUR commissioners of the Energy Regulatory Commission have asked Malacañang to make the preventive suspension and removal from office of ERC chairman and chief executive officer Jose Vicente Salazar permanent.

ERC commissioners Alfredo Non, Gloria Yap-Taruc, Josefina Patricia Asirit and Geronimo Sta. Ana filed a 42-page reply to the administrative case against Salazar pending before the Office of the President.

“The ERC has submitted the pertinent and relevant documents to the Office of the Executive Secretary. In this regard, the Commissioners defer to the sound discretion of the Office of the President in this exercise of authority over the ERC to address and resolve the issues,” the commissioners said.

The commissioners urged the shelving of the comment filed by Salazar for lack of factual legal basis and that “Salazar’s preventive suspension be made permanent and his removal from office be ordered.”

“His actions and utter disregard of the rule of law placed the ERC in chaos, its operations extremely jeopardized with the problems brought about by the irregular procurements and illegal appointments,” they said.

Salazar received a copy of the order of the Office of the President directing his preventive suspension last May 4 and submitted his comment on May 14.

The commissioners debunked the position of Salazar that the ERC was an independent body and beyond the disciplinary powers of the President.Alena Mae S. Flores

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

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THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017

Business

UK banning fossil-fuel cars by 2040

By Charlotte Ryan and Jessica Shankleman

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HE UK became the latest European country to mark the end of the line for diesel and gasoline fueled cars as automakers such as Volvo race to build electric vehicles or face the consequences of getting left behind.

NEW MOTO PHONE. Journalists gather around a display table after the new Motorola Moto Z2 Force phone is shown during a launch event in New York July 25, 2017. AFP

NY outlines $8.8-b plan to overhaul subway NEW YORK―New York’s beleaguered subway system outlined Tuesday a rescue plan of $800 million with another $8 billion in the long-term to battle chronic delays, breakdowns and overcrowding, promising to haul the system into the 21st century.

Daily indignities suffered by straphangers have left locally elected Democrats at loggerheads and exacerbated a “summer of hell” for commuters instigated by emergency repair work at Penn Station, North America’s busiest rail hub.

Nearly six million people each day ride the subway, which dates back 113 years and suffers outdat-

ed equipment despite being one of the largest public transit systems in the world spanning 665 miles (1,070 kilometers) of track.

The chairman of the state-run Metropolitan Transport Authority admitted that the subway was “in distress” and conceded there was “no doubt the New York City subway is failing its customers.”

“In order to stabilize the system, our current estimate is that we are going to need an immediate investment of $456 million in operating costs and make a $380 million capital investment,” Joseph Lhota told reporters.

State Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York Mayor Bill

US says Nafta talks need quick outcome WASHINGTON―US and Mexican political deadlines are creating pressure to reach a quick outcome to next month’s talks to rework North America’s regional free trade pact, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Tuesday.

The United States, Canada and Mexico are due to begin talks on August 16 to rework the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta), with the US side focused squarely on cutting its $56 billion trade deficit with Mexico.

“It’s probably a big mistake to set a particular date but the political calendars both here and there suggest it should get done pretty quickly,” Ross told the Economic Club of Washington, DC. Ross noted the administration’s fast-track authority to negotiate trade deals―which requires Congress to vote on the finished product without changes―is set to expire in mid-2018 and there is no guarantee lawmakers would extend it.

“Given the way Congress is acting right now, who knows what they will decide to do,” he said.

“And in the summer of next year, Mexico has their presidential elections and one of the leading candidates is a relatively anti-American candidate, I would say,” Ross added, in an apparent reference to populist Mexican politician Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

The administration last week laid out its Nafta bargaining

goals that seek to reduce US bilateral trade deficits while pressing Ottawa and Mexico City for other important concessions.

Observers say it forms workable basis for talks to start but Washington could complicate matters by digging in on the most contentious points.

Ross said key parts of Nafta are out of date.

“Any agreement that was done that many years ago before there was a digital economy... at a minimum needs an update,” he said.

He pointed to current rules of origin, which specify the share of parts within in finished goods which must be produced in North America to enjoy duty free status.

“Whoever drafted it thought he was being very, very clever by specifying the parts to which these percentages applied,” said Ross. “Half of those parts aren’t even used anymore.”

Global trade agreements in fact rely on a complex nomenclature system to identify millions of individual products by codes in the international Harmonized System.

The US bargaining position contains elements that were in the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, which the Trump administration abandoned earlier this year.

“There were some very good features to TPP and some of those we will try to build on in trade negotiations,” Ross said Tuesday. AFP

de Blasio, both Democrats, have struggled to come to terms over the crisis. The MTA is directly answerable to Cuomo but the city has also contributed funds.

On Tuesday, Lhota urged the state and the city to share the cost.

“After the stabilizing plan, a long-term plan will require an additional capital investment of approximately $8 billion,” he said.

The rescue plan includes a pilot program to remove seats on at least two lines to cram more passengers into each car, which has attracted scathing commentary.

It also calls for expedited re-

pairs and an increased police presence to deter sexually inappropriate behavior, loitering, aggressive panhandling and littering, which contributes to 700 fire-related delays a year.

The MTA has also launched an international competition “calling on the greatest minds” to find solutions to modernize and improve the subway.

Derailments in the last two months forced the evacuation Friday of 135 passengers and left 36 people with minor injuries in June when two subway cars careened off the tracks, leaving hundreds of people stuck for more than an hour. AFP

In London, the government said it will ban sales of the vehicles by 2040, two weeks after France announced a similar plan to reduce air pollution and become a carbon-neutral nation. For the auto industry, the end of an era for fossil-fuel powered cars poses a challenge not everyone is welcoming.

“We could undermine the UK’s successful automotive sector if we don’t allow enough time for the industry to adjust,” said Mike Hawes, chief executive officer of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. “Outright bans risk undermining the current market for new cars and our sector, which supports over 800,000 jobs across the UK,” he said. “The industry instead wants a positive approach which gives consumers incentives to purchase these cars.”

Daimler AG, the maker of Mercedes-Benz cars, is keen to shore up diesel, since it powers many of its lucrative sport utility vehicles and big sedans, but others are embracing the new reality. Sweden’s Volvo Car Group said that by 2019 all of its cars will have an electric motor, while BMW AG will build an electric version of its iconic Mini compact car in Britain.

The global shift toward electric vehicles will create upheaval across a number of sectors, from oil majors harmed by reduced gasoline demand to spark plug and fuel injection makers whose products aren’t needed by plugin cars. In the UK, the decision is partly brought on by stringent

European Union emission rules that the country must follow even as it is set to leave the bloc.

“We can’t carry on with diesel and petrol cars,” Environment Secretary Michael Gove said on BBC Radio 4’s “Today” show.

“It’s important we all gear up for a significant change which deals not just with the problems to health caused by emissions but the broader problems caused in terms of accelerating climate change.”

The environmental push comes as the UK plans to invest more than 800 million pounds ($1 billion) in driverless and zero-emission technology and outlined plans to invest 246 million pounds in battery technology research.

For activists, the new targets are not ambitious enough.

“2040 is far too late,” said Areeba Hamid, a clean-air campaigner at Greenpeace UK. “Car manufacturers like Volvo have announced their intention to move away from petrol and diesel by the end of this decade.

Germany, India, the Netherlands and Norway are all considering bans by 2030 or sooner.”

Critics are also concerned that it will be up to local authorities to impose tough levies on the most polluting diesel vehicles as soon as 2020. The plan is to urge local jurisdictions to reduce emissions first, by fitting diesel vehicles with filters, changing road layouts and removing speed humps.

“What we’re saying to local authorities is: Come up with an imaginative solution to these proposals,”’ Gove told the BBC. Bloomberg

Paris tourism alive again after terror doldrums

By Gina Doggett and Paul Gypteau PARIS―High-kicking dancers are enthralling full houses again at the Moulin Rouge and art lovers are swarming the Louvre as Paris enjoys a tourism revival after plummeting numbers brought on by terror attacks.

Tourists are increasingly refusing to give in to fear of being caught up in a jihadist attack such as the November 2015 bloodbath in the French capital and flocking in droves once more.

In a rebound that began at the end of 2016, Paris saw a record 2.6 million foreign arrivals in the first four months of this year―a 19 percent increase over the same period in 2016.

Top Moulin Rouge official Jean-Victor Clerico shakes his head as he looks back at the “black year” of 2016, when the cavernous hall was only threequarters full on an average night.

The world’s most famous cabaret enjoyed a brief uptick but a series of events―street protests against labor reforms, foul weather, and a truck rampage in the southern city of Nice that claimed 86 lives― combined “to completely wipe out the recovery,” said.

Since then terror attacks have become more frequent and widespread, hitting not just France but also Belgium, Britain and Germany sparking “a kind of fatalism,” said Josette Sicsic, head of Touriscopie, a firm that tracks tourist behavior.

As 68-year-old American tourist Rinkie Pollack put it: “If it’s your time, it’s your time.”

Visiting from San Diego, California, the retiree said:

pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing five.

Nicolas Lefebvre, director of the Paris Tourism Office, like Sicsic and Clerico, said he thought people were becoming inured to terrorism.

“The constant repetition of these events―there have been several in a few months, thankfully less deadly―has made them sort of part of the landscape, and it no longer stops people from imagining, thinking about, and organizing a trip to Europe, and to Paris in particular,” he said.

‘Seize the moment’ A police vehicle is seen parked outside the Sacre-Coeur Basilica at La Butte Sicsic said potential tourists Montmartre one of the many touristic sites in Paris where police security have concluded that they “can has been increased for the summer tourist season, on July 21, 2017. AFP be hit by a terrorist act in their Some 14.5 million people country of origin or when “There’s nowhere in the world visited the capital overall in traveling (so) you can’t keep where you’re safe.”

2016, a drop of five percent from boycotting Paris, London and so ‘The world has changed’ Terror attacks “are affecting the previous year. on.”

Last year’s tourist numbers tourism for shorter and shorter Enjoying a salad on the terrace periods”, Sicsic said, adding were also affected by social of a Champs-Elysees restaurant, that people come to Paris unrest as hundreds of thousands 25-year-old Alexa Derby said telling themselves: “You have took to the streets around France she and her family have “felt to be vigilant, because everyone in sometimes violent protests pretty safe the whole time we’ve is aware that the world has against labour reforms. been here.”

In addition, a relentless series changed.”

Derby, who works as a snorkel The tourism ministry expects of robberies targeting Asians, boat deckhand in Hawaii, a five to six percent increase in especially Chinese, since 2013 added: “I mean it (terrorism) overall arrivals to France this have been a deterrent. is definitely on your mind, but But it is Chinese tourists, as what are you going to do? Hide year, for a new record of 89 well as Americans, who are your whole life and not travel?” million visitors in 2017.

The lowest point for Paris expected to set new records this South African housewife came at the end of March 2016― year.

Susan Sobel, 64, visiting Paris Clerico said “the fear dissipated for the second time since 2007, four and a half months after the Paris attacks, when Islamic State a little” as attacks mounted in said: “You have to seize the group jihadists targeted ordinary other European countries. moment and hopefully you’ll be Twin suicide attacks in safe.” people enjoying an evening out at trendy eateries, a concert hall Brussels in March 2016 claimed However, Britons are 32 lives, while December of that contributing less to the recovery and the national stadium.

The shootings and bombings year saw a truck ramming at a because of a factor that has left 130 people dead and Christmas market in Berlin that nothing to do with terrorism: prompted the government to killed 12. their vote to leave the European The latest vehicle incident Union has dragged down the impose a state of emergency― which is still in effect after being was in London in March, when pound, making travel to the a man ploughed his car into Continent more expensive. AFP renewed several times.

LGUs

Makati nabs 77k traffic violators

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

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017

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MORE than 7,700 traffic violations were recorded by the Makati City government during its intensified road clearing and anti-obstruction operations this month, in line with the city’s program to promote road discipline and obedience to traffic rules.

The Makati Public Safety Department (PSD) recorded a total of 7,719 traffic violations during the first two weeks of July, upon the directive of Mayor Abigail Binay to conduct daily operations against all kinds of obstructions, including illegally parked vehicles, illegal public transport terminals and street vendors.

“As the number of motor vehicles using our roads continues to increase, we must ensure that traffic laws are strictly observed by motorists to keep our streets safe and speed up traffic flow as well,” Binay said.

She said the city government has taken a hard stance against disobedient motorists to restore order and discipline on the streets and respect for the law in the city.

“Mobility is a key factor to sustaining progress and development in our city. We are determined to use the full force of the law to effectively address traffic congestion caused by disobedient motorists and illegal vendors blocking roads PUBLIC SERVICE. Makati Mayor Abby Binay distributed school uniforms and school supplies to students of Pio del Pilar Elementary School and Makati High School on Wednesday. The and sidewalks,” said Binay. program is part of Makati City’s Free Relevant and Excellent Education (FREE) campaign.

The mayor also reiterated her call to residents and the riding public to report abusive and reckless drivers through the city’s official social media accounts, and give important details such as the plate number, type of vehicle and location.

Concerned citizens may ed every July of the years to fol- most vibrant economic hubs in the ing of July 23, the city hosted a talsend their complaints through

By Joel E. Zurbano low, concluding in a fluvial parade country, Taguig City has deliber- ent search at St. Anne Patio.

My Makati Facebook page and on the 26th, the feast of the saint. ately kept with the tradition.

Folk dance competitions for Twitter accounts, @MakatiHE city government of Taguig is The fluvial parade, called “Pago“The spirit of the festival from high and elementary schools were Traffic and @Mayora_Abby. celebrating Thanksgiving this week, dahan,” fills the river with around centuries ago must inspire us held at the same venue all-day on Based on the latest report from the Ordinance Violation Receipt beginning with the annual River Festival 200 fishing boats, in a procession now,” said the mayor. “Even as we July 24. July 25 saw the Santa Ana with the image of St. Anne. aim high, we must always go back River filled with spectators even Redemption Management Divion Wednesday.

Giving thanks for the past year’s to that sense of community. With before the sun shines. The city also sion (OVRRMD) of Public Safeharvest, the fishers would throw that interconnectedness in mind, hosted the annual “Regatta,” or ty Department, disobedience to boat race early Tuesday, followed “This is a weeklong thanksAccording to local customs, their harvest—from santol and we would leave no one behind.” traffic control signs and signals The city’s other events want to by the battle of the barangays in giving. We would like people in 1587, Taguig, then known as ponkan fruits to chocolates and topped the list of violations with to see a testament to the spir- “pook mg mga taga-giik” (place more—at the crowds along the celebrate that heritage. This year, the “Pagandahan ng Bangkang 1,325 tickets issued from July 1 ituality in Taguig,” said Mayor for rice threshers), plunged into riverbank. Some spectators would the merrymaking was spread out Lunday,” a beauty pageant for naup to July 14.

Laarni Cayetano. crisis after its farmers lost all bring baseball gloves and umbrellas in two weeks, beginning with a tive boats.

Other top-ranking violations The Pagodahan will be sandThe festivities take off from their harvests. Amid their de- to catch them. Pagodahan also fea- kickoff motorcade on July 15. recorded were disregarding lane On July 22, Taguigenos joined wiched with an extravaganza of the Santa Anang Banak Festival, spair, Saint Anne and the little tures the “pasubo” or the exchange markings with 1,155 tickets iswhich is centered on the Taguig girl Mary appeared, and then led of traditional food and other goodies “Isang Araw, Isang Ilog, Isang talents in Poblacion village with sued; illegal signboards, 949; illeMalasakit sa Kalunsuran” (One the “Pasayo” at 6 a.m. and the River and St. Anne, mother of them to the river suddenly teem- among boat riders and residents. gal parking, 759; and obstructing Even as the fisher-farmer com- Day, One City, One Caring for the concluding fireworks display at the Virgin Mary and patroness ing with “banak” (mullet). roads by motor vehicles or stalled of the city.

The tradition has been celebrat- munity has turned into one of the City), a cleanup drive. In the even- St. Anne Patio by 7 p.m. vehicles, 627. Joel E. Zurbano

Taguig River Festival unfolds

T

Foundation fixes Camp Panacan Station Hospital Manila clears 2 evac centers CAMP PANACAN, Davao City— The Camp Panacan Station Hospital in Naval Station Felix Apolinario, a 38-bed capacity hospital initially assigned to the Philippine Army, has been transferred to the Philippine Navy under the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao after being renovated

by SM Foundation.

The hospital—the 22nd military facility refurbished by the corporate social responsibility arm of the giant mall firm—provides health care for 5,000 military personnel and hosts a health information drive and motherclass lectures for their dependents.

The completed facility was formally turned over by Connie Angeles, SM Foundation Executive Director for Health and Medical Programs, to Vice Admiral Joseph Mercado, Navy Flag Officer in Command in a ceremony held at the Station Hospital.

Its renovation will result in an accreditation as a Department of Health Level 1 Health Care Facility on top of its accreditation as PhilHealth member, hospital officials noted.

It was the third health facility renovated by the Foundation in the Davao region, the others being the Tagum Main Health Center and the Outpatient Department of the Southern Philippines Health Center.

The one-storey facility located on a 1,000-sq m lot has an operating room, emergency room, and seven hospital wards. They include an Officers’ Ward, a Heroes Ward for battle casualties, a physical therapy room, an outpatient department, a pharmacy room, a reception and waiting area, a storage room, an administrative office and the Commanding Officer’s Room.

The facility is now equipped with basic ancillary services such as 12-lead ECG, radiography with complete laboratory, an ECG room, and an x-ray room.

At the turnover, Angeles said the renovation is “a humble gift of (SM founder) Mr. Henry Sy, Sr. and his family to all of you who risk your lives that we may enjoy the power of freedom.”

“The SM Foundation has

By Sandy Araneta

Witnessing the turnover of the Camp Panacan Station Hospital are (from left) Capt. Ramil Roberto Enriquez, Philippine Navy Commander, Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao; Vice Admiral Joseph Mercado, Navy Flag Officerin-Command; SM Foundation’s Connie Angeles; Oliver John Tiu, SM Group VP Operations-Mindanao; and SaveMore president Joseph Tagbo.

been renovating and refurbishing military health facilities.

In fact, this is the 22nd facility (renovated) to make these more

responsive and conducive to the security of our country.” recuperation of the uniformed Mercado paid tribute to the men and women who dedicate Foundation as a “fellow comtheir lives for the defense and rade-in-arms.”

Davao eyes revival of Customs examination area

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—Due to the extension of Martial Law in Mindanao until the end of the year and the threat of terrorism, the city government is eyeing the revival of the operation of the Bureau of Customs’ Designated Examination Area.

The move also aims to stop corruption in the BOC and the entry of illegal drugs in the city.

Davao City Councilor Danilo

Dayanghirang said Wednesday the city hopes the legal battle between Customs and the private DEA operator, Rodolfo Reta, would soon be over so that Reta’s DEA—located just in front of the Sasa wharf and the BOC Port of Davao office—could finally resume operation.

Reta was granted a 25-year contract by the BOC to operate the DEA back in 2009. However, it was unceremoniously stopped

by Customs after Reta reported

misdeclaration of goods in some of the container vans passing thru the multimillion x-ray machine of the DEA. Instead of commending Reta for the discovery, his contract was rescinded by then-BOC Commissioner Napoleon Morales.

Anju Nereo Castigador, the Davao Port District Collector at the time, also padlocked the operation of Reta’s DEA, Acquarius Container Yard.

The incident led to the filing of charges and counter-charges between Reta and the BOC that ultimately led to Castigador’s dismissal from service as ordered by the Ombudsman.

Dayanghirang said the xray machine in the DEA could very well monitor all contraband that pass thru the ports of Davao, thus is essential to the city’s security.

“The contraband may come in and out here in Davao City so we

have to enhance our seaports,” he said. “I hope that the customs can resolve this, and make use with the DEA since it can prevent or identify contrabands that will endangered the residents of the city.”

In November 2010, then-Army 10th Infantry Division head Major General Rey Leonardo Guerrero—now the Eastern Mindanao Command head—likewise reiterated the importance of the DEA to the region’s security.

MANILA Mayor Joseph Estrada on Wednesday ordered the clearing of remaining evacuees at the two evacuation centers in Tondo to give way to the needed repairs and cleanup of the city-owned facilities.

Estrada assured that the 182 “overstaying” families at Delpan Sports Complex and the adjacent evacuation center were given ample support and assistance before they were politely asked to leave.

“We could have let them stay at the evacuation centers indefinitely but those facilities need immediate repairs and cleanup. And besides, we have to ready it for future emergency use,” Estrada said.

Estrada has tasked the Manila Department of Social Welfare led by Nanet Tanyag to oversee the clearing of the facilities and ensure that each relocated family receives adequate assistance.

Tanyag said the 182 families composed of close to 1,000 individuals were among the 2,100 families who lost their homes in a huge fire at Parola Compound on February 7.

“They have no place to return to since the houses they were renting were destroyed,” Tanyag said.

She said their previous landlords probably have opted not to lease out their properties again.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

Manila

Standard THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017 C2 TODAY

Philex: TSF3 will hold up to rains T Tuba and Itogon, pressed Austin and other company officials on the ability and reliability of TSF3 and its accompanying structures to withstand flooding and earthquakes, bearing in mind the 2012 accident following two typhoons.

Manuel Agcaoili, Philex Mining senior vice president and Padcal resident manager, said TSF3’s open spillway, which has replaced its underground drainage system since August 2013, was built with embankmentdesign parameters based on ANCOLD (Australian National Committee on Large Dams) and ICOLD (International Commission on Large Dams) guidelines.

Therefore, TSF3 can handle the amount of rainwater more than

By Dexter A. See

UBA, Benguet—Philex Mining Corp. has assured Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu of the integrity of its Tailings Storage Facility No. 3 at the company’s Padcal mine here.

The firm also guaranteed the continuation of its programs on environmental protection upon the instruction of the Cabinet official, who came over Wednesday afternoon in a surprise visit.

“We can assure you, Mr. Secretary, that our tailings pond can handle the volume of rainwater more than what the worst typhoons had caused,” Eulalio Austin Jr., CEO and president

of Philex Mining, said during a presentation at the Philex Guest House in this town’s Sitio Padcal in Barangay Camp 3.

Austin also said the tailings pond could withstand earthquakes equivalent to the strongest that have hit the country.

Cimatu, who arrived with a 25-man entourage at Padcal, Philex’s gold-and-copper operations hosted by the Benguet towns of

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

2001 PGC ERC CASE NO. 2017-005 RM

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 31 March 2017, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) filed a Petition seeking the Commission’s approval of its proposed amended Ancillary Services Procurement Plan (ASPP).

Primary Reserve Tertiary Reserve

15. Together with the amendment on the types of reserves, the 2016 PGC also provides the respective modes and frequency controls that must be reflected in the ASPP, as follows:

In the said Petition, NGCP alleged the following: The Petitioner 1. NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with principal office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner B.I.R. Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It is the concessionaire which assumed the power transmission functions of the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) pursuant to Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the “Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001,” (EPIRA). It may be served with notices and other processes’ of this Honorable Commission through its counsel at the address indicated below.

2. Pursuant to Republic Act No. 9511,1 NGCP was granted the franchise to operate, manage and maintain, and in connection therewith, to engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through a high-voltage back-bone system of interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities, system operations, and other activities that are necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system2 and is authorized to charge its customers at the rates approved by the Honorable Commission.

3. NGCP as System Operator is responsible for determining, acquiring, and dispatching the capacity needed to provide the Grid with Ancillary Services and for developing and proposing wheeling charges and ancillary service tariffs to the Honorable Commission.

Nature of the Petition 4. This is a petition for the amendment of the 2006 Ancillary Services Procurement Plan (filed under Section 37 of the EPIRA and Rule 21 of the Honorable Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure), in order to reflect therein the new provisions on Ancillary Services under the Philippine Grid Code, 2016 Edition (2016 PGC).

Reserve

Control Mode

Function

Secondary Reserve (Section 6.6.6)

The generating unit providing secondary reserve shall operate in Automatic Generation Control

To restore frequency from quasi-steady state value as established by the Primary Response of Generating Units back to the nominal Frequency of 60Hz

Primary Reserve (Sections 6.6.5)

The primary reserve shall be provided by the generating units operating under Governor Control Mode

To replace the capacity lost during contingent events

Tertiary Reserve (Section 1.7)

The generating unit providing tertiary reserve shall connect manually or automatically.

The Tertiary Reserve shall be used in replenishing the Secondary Reserve and in the events enumerated in Section 6.6.7.1

TURNOVER. FinAsia Land and Realty Corp. turned over its 300-seat facility to Curo Teknika, a subsidiary of ePLDT, at the 2nd Floor Citadines Millennium Ortigas Building in Pasig City. FinAsia is a leader in retail planning and lease marketing, catering to huge clients in the country such as Ayala Land and SM Malls. Recently, the company has expanded its services to facilities leasing. In photo (from left) are: Curo Teknika Group Head for Sales Jett Tinio, ePLDT Group CFO Gil Garcia, Curo Teknika COO Jojo Uligan, FinAsia CEO Manuel Pangilinan, Curo Teknika President Nerissa Ramos, Curo Teknika Group Head for Operations Jon Cervantes, Comfac Corp. COO Oscar Ruvivar, Curo Teknika Group Head for Finance and Admin Clea Amenamen, and Curo Teknika Group Head for IT Jhem Luciano.

16. Further, another new provision found in the 2016 PGC that must be included in the ASPP is the Frequency Response Obligation (Section 6.6.3), which provides for the minimum Frequency Response that shall be maintained by the SO in the Grid, as follows:

Background 5. In December 2001, the Honorable Commission adopted the Philippine Grid Code (2001 PGC) through Resolution No. 115 wherein Section 7.3.1.2 thereof provides that “(t)he System Operator shall be responsible for determining, acquiring, and dispatching the capacity needed to supply the required Grid Ancillary Services and for developing and proposing Wheeling Charges and Ancillary Service tariffs to the ERC”.

6. In compliance with the mandate to develop the rate mechanism for the procurement of ancillary services, National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO), in August 2002 filed an Application entitled: “In the Matter of the Application for the Proposed Rules, Terms and Conditions for Open Access Transmission Service (OATS) and Proposed Terms and Conditions of Ancillary Services,” docketed as ERC Case No. 2002-253.

Luzon

Visayas

Mindanao

Staring Frequency(Hz)

60

60

60

Target Minimum Frequency (Hz)

59.2

59.2

59.2

Contingency Protection Criterion (MW)

600

150

160

Frequency Response Obligation (MW/O.1Hz)

75

20

20

17. Moreover, NGCP moves for the inclusion of the following provisions:

7. In a Decision dated 11 February 2004, the Honorable Commission approved the Open Access Transmission Service (2004 OATS) Rules. Modules D7.3 to D7.5 thereof provides:

a. On Procurement. NGCP will procure the ancillary services as follows: i. Primary Reserve Ancillary Service and Secondary Reserve Ancillary Service - through a long term ASPA which should not be included in the WESM Energy and Reserve co-optimization;

“D7.3 Ancillary Services Procurement Plan. The Ancillary Services Procurement Plan shall, for each Ancillary Service: “a) Describe the Ancillary Service in sufficient detail such that the prospective providers of the service can determine whether they have the capability to provide the service.

ii. Tertiary Reserve Ancillary Service - through ASPA or WESM Reserve Market which could be co-optimized with the energy market provided that there is sufficient mitigating measure to prevent abuse of market power such as but not limited to secondary price cap for reserves approved by the ERC;

“b) Specify the minimum technic.al requirements that plant and equipment providing Ancillary Services shall meet.

iii. Reactive Power Support and Black Start Ancillary Services - through long term ASPA only; and

“c) Describe the tests that the System Operator shall use to verify that the plant and Equipment meet the minimum technical requirements.

b. On Transition Period.

“d) Specify the quantity or level of Ancillary Services required by the System Operator to meet the Power Quality and Reliability performance standards outlined in the Grid Code.

All approved and existing ASPA shall remain in full force and effect until their termination date, unless the accredited power plant of the AS Provider cannot comply with the technical requirements provided in the 2016 PGC. Accordingly, the AS categories of the ASP A will be converted as follows:

“e) Describe the reasoning or principles applied by the System Operator in determining the required quantity or level of Ancillary Services.

i. ii. iii.

“D7.4 Considerations. The Ancillary Services Procurement Plan shall outline the processes that the System Operator shall use to procure each Ancillary Service taking into account the following:

Contingency Reserve - Primary Reserve; Dispatchable Reserve - Tertiary Reserve; and Regulating Reserve - Secondary Reserve.

However, the AS Provider with an existing ASPA may opt to renegotiate its offer in a new ASP A that will be filed to the Honorable Commission for approval.

“a) The System Operator I shall use market mechanisms to procure each Ancillary Service whenever technology and transaction costs make this practical and efficient; and

A copy of the proposed amendments to the ASPP which contains the proposals of NGCP is attached as Annex “A.”

“b) Until such time as ancillary service markets are developed, the System Operator shall use transparent processes which encourage all potential providers to compete to supply Ancillary Services required for the System Operator at the best economic cost; and

to:

PRAYER ACCORDINGLY, NGCP respectfully prays for the Honorable Commission

DA allocates P545m for CV road projects

By Brenda Jocson TUGUEGARAO CITY—The Department of Agriculture in Region 2 said on Wednesday it has allocated P545 million worth of farm-to-market road projects for Cagayan Valley this year.

DA officials said the projects include the rehabilitation of dilapidated and damaged roads in villages and the construction of new road networks in the five provinces in Cagayan Valley.

Engineer Felipe Aguinaldo, DA regional supervising agriculturist, said the province of Isabela got the biggest slice of the allocation with P229 million, followed by Cagayan

province with P142.5 million.

He said the province of Nueva Vizcaya was also earmarked P73.5 million, while Quirino and Batanes got P55 million and P45 million worth of farm-to-market road projects, respectively.

The fund for this year is in addition to the P1.8 billion previously allocated for the construction of 432 farm-to-market roads in the region from 2013 to 2016.

“These farm to market roads do not only improve the mobility of people, goods and services, but also provide access to employment opportunities and basic social services such as schools and health centers,” Aguinaldo said.

1. EXERCISE its rule-making power under Section 37 of the EPlRA, and Rule 21 of its Rules of Practice and Procedure; and

“c) Subsequent to the Spot Market Implementation Date, the processes and mechanisms contained in the WESM Rules.

2. APPROVE the proposed amendments to the ASPP, after notice and public consultation.

“D7.5 ERC Approval. Every Ancillary Services Procurement Plan shall be approved by the ERC following its development by the System Operator in conjunction with the Grid Management Committee.” (Underscoring ours)

NGCP prays for other just and equitable relief under the premises.

8. Thus, TRANSCO developed an ASPP which was subsequently approved by the Honorable Commission through an Order dated 29 March 2006 in ERC Case No. 2002-253RC.

The Commission has set the said Petition for public consultation on the following dates:

9. The ASPP provides for, among others, the Specification of Ancillary Services (Provision 3.1); Technical Requirements (Provision 3.2); and Required Levels of Ancillary Services (Provision 3.3). In the ASPP, the Specification of Ancillary Services are as follows: a. Load Following and Frequency Regulation - Ancillary Services provides generating capacity necessary to adjust total system generation over short periods of time (e.g. minute by minute) to match system load changes that resulted from random fluctuations in t4e total Transmission System Load. This is to address the temporary variations in load and unintended fluctuation in generation. (3.1.1) b. Spinning Reserve Ancillary Service - is the ability of a generating unit, to provide generating capacity necessary to respond immediately to infrequent, but usually large, failures of generating units and/or transmission tie lines. The generating units providing spinning reserve shall be on-line and synchronized to the Grid, operating below its maximum capability, and can automatically respond to change in frequency caused by a loss of large generating unit. (3·1.2.1) c. Back-up Power Supply - is sometimes called Cold Reserve or Supplemental Reserve. These are generating units that have fast start capability. It can synchronize within fifteen minutes upon advice of the Control Center and can provide additional energy to the system rapidly.

Its capacity shall be sustainable for a minimum period of eight (8) hours.

(3.1.2.2) d. Reactive Power Support Ancillary Service - is the capability of the generating unit to supply reactive power to, or absorb reactive power from the Transmission network in order to maintain the bus voltage within five percent (5%) of its nominal voltage. (3.1.3) e. Black Start Service - The need for this Ancillary Service arises when event or significant incident will result in a Partial or Total System Blackout.

This is the ability of the generating unit, without assistance from the Grid or other external power supply, to recover from a shutdown condition to an operating condition in order to energize the Grid and assist other generating units to start.

DATE AND TIME

VENUE

PURPOSE

7 August 2017 (Mon) 9:00 A.M.

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

Determination of compliance with jurisdictional requirements and expository presentation

9 August 2017 (Wed) 9:00 A.M.

Cebu Parklane Hotel Archbishop Reyes Avenue and Escario St., Cebu City

Expository presentation

11 August 2017 (Fri) 9:00 A.M.

Marco Polo Davao Claro M. Recto Street, Davao City

Expository presentation

23 August 2017 (Wed) 9:00 A.M.

Seda Atria Hotel Donato Pison Avenue, Brgy.

San Rafael Mandurriao, Iloilo City

Public consultation for Western Visayas

25 August 2017 (Fri) 9:00 A.M.

Sabin Resort Hotel Bantique, Ormoc, Leyte

Public consultation for Eastern Visayas

30 August 2017 (Wed) 9:00 A.M.

N. Hotel Kauswagan Highway Cagayan de Oro City

Public consultation for Western Mindanao

6 September 2017 (Wed) 9:00 A.M.

Greenleaf Hotel San Miguel Street, General Santos City

Public consultation for Southern Mindanao

13 September 2017 (Wed) 9:00 A.M.

One Tagaytay Place Hotel Suites 445 Tagaytay-Calamba Road, Barrio Sungay West, Tagaytay City

Public consultation for Southern Luzon

15 September 2017 (Fri) 9:00 A.M.

Microtel Baguio 5 Marcoville, Upper Session Road, Baguio City

Public consultation for Northern Luzon

th

All interested parties are required to submit their written comments on the Petition on or before 16 August 2017. Those who have submitted their written comments within the said period shall be given priority during the public consultations.

WITNESS, the Honorable Officer-in-Charge of ERC ALFREDO J. NON, and Commissioners GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 17th day of July 2017 at Pasig City.

FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION:

12. On 5 October 2016, the Honorable Commission promulgated Resolution No. 22, Series of 2016, entitled: “A Resolution Approving the Publication of the Approved Philippine Grid Code, 2016 Edition” (2016 PGC). The 2016 PGC adopted the latest international standards and practices in the operation of ancillary services.

As a consequence, there is now a need to amend the ASPP in order to harmonize it with the 2016 PGC, particularly with Section GO 6.6 of the 2016 PGC.

JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Commissioner

1

13. Thus, NGCP submits its proposed amendments to the ASPP3.

Secondary Reserve

Contingency Reserve • Spinning Reserve • Primary Response • Secondary Response • Back-up Power Supply

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE-MAKING

11. On 10 February 2009, the Honorable Commission issued a notice inviting all interested stakeholders to submit proposals for amendment and/or comments on the proposed amendments to the ASPP in order to reflect the 2006 OATS Rules and PGC Amendment 1 in the ASPP. Expository presentations and public consultations were held on 17 to 20 February 2009. Thereafter, the Honorable Commission again issued several notices inviting interested stakeholders to submit comments and to attend the expository hearings and public consultation on the proposed amendments.

charged from the TSF3 and onto the Balog Creek, following historically unprecedented rains brought about by “Ferdie” and “Gener,” which hit Benguet successively.

It resumed production only starting from March 8, 2013 based on a four-month temporary lifting order issued by government and which was extended indefinitely afterwards. The formal resumption of operations started from Aug. 27, 2013.

The government allowed Philex Mining to resume operations after the company implemented urgent remediation measures, such as providing immediate assistance to the affected residents, cleaning up the Balog Creek, and ensuring the integrity of its TSF3 by building an open spillway.

2016 PGC

Load Following & Frequency Regulation • Primary Response • Secondary Response

NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NGCP), Applicant.

10. On 10 May 2006, TRANS CO filed an Application for the approval of the amendments/revisions of the 2004 OATS Rules docketed as ERC Case No. 2006-015RC. Said application was approved by the Honorable Commission with modifications in its Decision dated 13 December 2006 (now referred to as 2006 OATS Rules). Also, on 2 April 2007, the Honorable Commission approved the amendments to the 2001 PGC (PGC Amendment 1).

pond and onto Balog Creek, a tributary to the Agno River.

“You can continue what you are doing to protect the environment, ensuring no community will be affected in case a disaster strikes again,” he said.

Assuring the secretary of the company’s adherence to its obligations, Austin said Padcal and Philex Mining have been consistently implementing various programs on community development, nation-building, and environmental protection.

He also stressed Philex Mining has been known as the “poster-boy” of responsible mining in the country.

On Aug. 1, 2012, Philex Mining suspended operations voluntarily as nontoxic tailing and water dis-

14. The current types of reserves and their order of priority are found in Section 7.6.1 of the 2001 PGC (adopted in Section 3.1 of the ASPP). However, these provisions were amended in Sections 6.6.5, 6.6.6 and 6.6.7 of the 2016 PGC which developed the new types of reserves and order of priority, as follows:

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR THE APPROVAL OF AMENDED ANCILLARY SERVICES PROCUREMENT PLAN,

Brief Discussion

what Typhoons “Ondoy” in 2009, “Ferdie” and “Gener” in 2012 had caused, Agcaoili added.

ANCOLD and ICOLD provide guidelines in the building of dams that are safe, economical, and environmentally and socially sustainable, he noted. These are vital to achieving excellence for all aspects of dam engineering, management, and related issues, the Philex official added.

While at TSF 3, in Itogon’s Sitio Balog, Barangay Ampucao—an hour’s drive from Padcal—Cimatu acknowledged the efforts that Philex Mining has been exerting to improve its facilities, particularly the ongoing improvement of the open spillway, through which nontoxic water passes from the tailings

2 3

An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines a Franchise to Engage in the Business of Conveying or Transmitting Electricity Through High-Voltage Back-bone System or Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, and For Other Purposes; Id, Section 1; NGCP opted to introduce amendments to the ASPP using the September 2009 draft of ASPP in deference to the previous evaluations made by the Honorable Commission, and duly submitted comments of the industry stakeholders.

(MS-JULY 20/27, 2017)

Navotas, Meralco sign 5-year MoA

By Jun David THE Navotas city government and the Manila Electric Co. have officially sealed their partnership to mutually promote their respective projects and programs for the benefit and greater interest of the city residents, who are likewise customers of the electric company.

The collaboration was sealed with a memorandum of understanding, where Meralco will provide electricity to projects identified by Navotas, establish and implement communication protocols during calamities, promote the use of renewable energy, and assist in the crafting of a five-year development plan for the city.

The electricity provider will also maintain the city’s streetlights; process queries, applications and concerns through a kiosk during the Navotas Foundation Day; and promote the city’s sports and youth advocacy through sports clinics with the Meralco Bolts, Meralco Power Spikers and Loyola Sparks.

On the other hand, Navotas will ensure acceleration of customer service connections, expedite payment or settlement of the city’s unpaid electric bills, and promote public safety and prevention of electric pilferage.

“Navotas is one of the smallest cities in Metro Manila. Despite that, we continue to advance through the help and cooperation of organizations and companies such as Meralco,” Mayor John Rey Tiangco said.

“We hope that through this partnership, we will be able to provide more and better services to our constituents,” he added.

Ferdinand Alejandro, vice president and head of Home and Micro-Business-North Business Area of Meralco, appreciated the city’s Text JRT program, where constituents can reach the city government 24/7 and air their concerns, including those that involve Meralco services.

Alejandro said they can pinpoint at once the area of concern through the TextJRT.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World EU mulls sanctions against Poland BRUSSELS―The EU holds high-level talks on Wednesday on whether to act on its threat to sanction the Polish government over its bid to exert control over national courts.

The European Union last week warned the right-wing government in Warsaw against enacting new bills that would further undermine the judiciary’s independence, which EU treaties guarantee.

Polish President Andrzej Duda surprised many Monday when he vetoed two of the controversial reforms but later signed into law a third bill despite opposition from Polish demonstrators.

With only one of the reforms adopted, it was not clear what steps, if any, EU First Vice President Frans Timmermans will announce on Wednesday.

The commission, the 28-nation EU executive, last week urged Poland to put the reforms on hold and warned it would “swiftly prepare infringement procedures for breach of EU law” against Warsaw.

Under these procedures to be debated on Wednesday, EU states can be hauled before the bloc’s highest court and eventually given stiff fines for the breaches.

Duda on Tuesday signed into law one of the reforms while Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo insisted that her Law and Justice (PiS) party would press ahead with the others.

“These laws considerably increase the systemic threat to the rule of law in Poland,” Timmermans warned last week, adding that together they would put the judiciary under full government control.

On top of possible infringement proceedings, Timmermans said the EU is also “very close to triggering Article 7,” the bloc’s never-before used “nuclear option” that can halt a country’s right to vote in EU decision-making. AFP

THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017

‘Maids lured by IS recruiters’ H

ONG KONG― Indonesian maids working in Hong Kong are being radicalized by extremists from the Islamic State group, a security think-tank said in a report Wednesday.

AT THE PANEL. Actress Natalie Sharp is shown at the panel of ‘Hit the Road”’during the AT&T AUDIENCE Network Summer TCA Panels at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. AFP

Subway a dog’s world, but lost pups find a home MEXICO CITY―They found Jamai wandering on the tracks of the Mexico City subway, his ear nearly torn off and a terrified look in his eyes.

The shaggy brown mutt could have been run over or electrocuted. Instead, he was rescued and taken to a new shelter for lucky dogs like him saved from the bowels of one of the world’s largest subway systems.

The Mexican capital is a dog’s paradise, with sprawling dog parks, hordes of dog walkers, doggie gyms and restaurants that keep food and water

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bowls outside for dogs.

But for unlucky pooches who get lost in the underground labyrinth of the metro, this mega-city of more than 20 million people is a perilous place.

Jamai was found on the city’s east side, near Jamaica station―hence his name.

Now, tail wagging furiously, he jumps, runs and plays with other dogs at the subway’s Canine Transfer Center, a shelter launched six months ago and officially inaugurated last week at a spaciou grassy complex in the

middle of the city.

His new friends include Panty, rescued at Pantitlan station, and Torny, saved from the revolving inferno of a subway turnstile (or “torniquete”), who is the proud new mom of eight puppies.

Staffed by a veterinarian and other specialists and funded mainly by private donations, the Canine Transfer Center has rescued some 20 dogs so far.

“It’s not the perfect solution, it’s not a panacea,” said the head of the subway’s Civil Protection unit, Edgar Alfredo Abarca, who has also rescued

snakes, iguanas and even a family of seven possums from the subway.

But “it’s better than seeing them run over or electrocuted,” he told AFP. The Mexico City subway is one of the biggest in the world, with 12 lines, 195 stations and more than 1.6 billion passengers a year.

It is known for jam-packed cars, abundant shoving and an ample dose of chaos.

Since 2013, more than 250 lost dogs have been found inside.

Before the center opened,

the transit authority would send them to animal shelters.

Now, they have a place all their own, with spacious cages, a large play area and specialist care.

“Jamai was badly injured when he arrived, but in a matter of weeks he started to play and little by little began to trust humans again,” said Katia Hernandez, 33, head of training and care at the center.

“Seeing that process is the most beautiful part of this job,” she said, holding a contentedlooking Jamai in her arms. AFP

Around 150,000 of the city’s army of domestic helpers are from Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country.

Against a backdrop of growing religious conservatism at home, a small number of militant maids has emerged, according to a report from the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict or IPAC. But rights activists and the Indonesian Muslim community in Hong Kong said they were unaware of radicals and fear that the reported links with IS would breed unfair suspicion.

The IPAC investigation described a “radical fringe” of around 45 Indonesian domestic helpers, who may have been attracted to militant circles by “the search for a sense of community in an unfamiliar environment.”

“Some of these women were drawn by jihadi boyfriends they met online,” says IPAC analyst Nava Nuraniyah. “But some joined ISIS as a path to empowerment.”

A string of abuse cases has highlighted the exploitation of maids in Hong Kong by unscrupulous employment agencies, which confiscate their passports, claim their wages and keep them in the dark about their rights.

But the IPAC report said ill-treatment did not seem to have played a direct role in radicalization, although it had led to the establishment of an Islamic advocacy group to act as a kind of union.

The war in Syria has fueled interest in militant groups as jihadi social media stoked sympathy for Sunni victims, the report said.

It told the story of one woman who turned to radicalism after years of turmoil in her personal life and became a key player in helping Indonesian jihadis get to Syria, sometimes via Hong Kong.

A handful of maids ended up going to Syria themselves, said IPAC, a leading think-tank which has published numerous reports on conflicts in Southeast Asia.

Hong Kong media has previously reported about IS supporters leafleting Indonesian domestic helpers as they gathered in public spaces across the city on Sundays, their day off.

One heavily pregnant maid who went missing in 2015 was said to have told friends she was planning to link up with Islamic State militants in Syria alongside her husband, according to the South China Morning Post.

The Indonesian community in Hong Kong has tripled in the past 17 years due to the demand for domestic helpers, and religious teaching and prayer groups have grown alongside it.

But Indonesian migrant rights activist and former domestic helper Eni Lestari said while the threat of extremism was always a possibility, she was unaware of IS supporters among them.

“We are Muslim by religion and we organize a lot of Muslim activities... we don’t do radicalization,” Lestari told AFP. “I think it’s really unfair for the Indonesian domestic worker community to be labeled.”

Prayer groups and visits from clerics have become more common in Hong Kong due to rising “Islamization” in Indonesia, which has also seen more women wearing veils, Lestari said. AFP

First to be executed in three years

BIKING IN THE CAPITAL. A girl rides a bike near the Eiffel Tower at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris. AFP

CHICAGO―The US state of Ohio planned to execute its first prisoner in more than three years Wednesday, putting to death a man convicted of raping and murdering a child.

Ronald Phillips, 43, faces execution by lethal injection at 10 am local time (1400 GMT), ending Ohio’s moratorium on the death penalty, as officials searched for a new combination of drugs to put inmates to death.

States have struggled to find adequate supplies of drugs, as pharmaceutical companies have restricted the use of their products amid waning support among the American public for the death penalty.

Court challenges have ensued as states have tried new drug cocktails.

A federal appeals court ruling last month endorsed a new drug combination to be used in Ohio, reinstating executions in the Midwestern state and paving the way for Phillips’s death sentence to be carried out.

Phillips was 19 years old in 1993 when he was convicted of raping and killing three-yearold Sheila Marie Evans, his then-girlfriend’s daughter. He admitted to his crimes, but said his own sexual and physical abuse at the hands of his father were mitigating circumstances not considered at the trial.

The state twice denied his clemency petitions.

In the second denial in December 2016, the Ohio state parole board wrote, “Phillips’s crime involved the killing of a vulnerable three-year-old victim, an abuse of trust, and extensive victimization, therefore making it among the worst of the worst capital crimes.”

The three-drug combination that Phillips will be administered includes the controversial sedative midazolam, the focus of a federal lawsuit brought on behalf of Phillips and two other Ohio inmates.

The suit alleged the drug did not adequately anesthetize to avoid suffering during

an execution.

A federal judge and a threejudge panel of the 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the inmates, ruling that the drug combination posed too great a risk of unconstitutional “cruel and unusual” punishment.

Federal Magistrate Judge Michael Merz of Ohio pointed to multiple other state executions in which the drug insufficiently sedated inmates, likely leading to suffering.

Ohio halted executions after the 2014 lethal injection of Dennis McGuire using midazolam, during which the inmate appeared to snort and gasp.

But the state argued that its new drug protocol calls for a 50-times greater dose of midazolam, which makes it more effective, and asked the full panel of the 6th Circuit court to reconsider the three-judge panel’s decision.

In an 8-6 vote last month, the full appeals court panel sided with the state.

World

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

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Birds get new wings at Brazil rehab center

THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017

Tourism in Paris alive and well after attacks P ARIS―High-kicking dancers are enthralling full houses again at the Moulin Rouge and art lovers are swarming the Louvre as Paris enjoys a tourism revival after plummeting numbers brought on by terror attacks.

Tourists are increasingly refusing to give in to fear of being caught up in a jihadist attack such as the November 2015 bloodbath in the French capital and flocking in droves once more.

In a rebound that began at the end of 2016, Paris saw a record 2.6 million foreign arrivals in the first four months of this year― a 19 percent increase over the same period in 2016.

Top Moulin Rouge official Jean-Victor Clerico shakes his head as he looks back at the “black year” of 2016, when the cavernous hall was only threequarters full on an average night.

The world’s most famous caba-

ret enjoyed a brief uptick but a series of events-street protests against labor reforms, foul weather, and a truck rampage in the southern city of Nice that claimed 86 lives― combined “to completely wipe out the recovery,” said.

Since then terror attacks have become more frequent and widespread, hitting not just France but also Belgium, Britain and Germany and sparking “a kind of fatalism”, said Josette Sicsic, head of Touriscopie, a firm that tracks tourist behavior.

As 68-year-old American tourist Rinkie Pollack put it: “If it’s your time, it’s your time.”

Visiting from San Diego, Cali-

fornia, the retiree said: “There’s nowhere in the world where you’re safe.”

Terror attacks “are affecting tourism for shorter and shorter periods”, Sicsic said, adding that people come to Paris telling themselves: “You have to be vigilant, because everyone is aware that the world has changed.”

The tourism ministry expects a five to six percent increase in overall arrivals to France this year, for a new record of 89 million visitors in 2017.

The lowest point for Paris came at the end of March 2016 -four and a half months after the Paris attacks, when Islamic State group jihadists targeted ordinary people enjoying an evening out at trendy eateries, a concert hall and the national stadium.

The shootings and bombings left 130 people dead and prompted the government to impose a state of emergency― which is still in effect after being

renewed several times.

Some 14.5 million people visited the capital overall in 2016, a drop of five percent from the previous year.

Last year’s tourist numbers were also affected by social unrest as hundreds of thousands took to the streets around France in sometimes violent protests against labor reforms.

In addition, a relentless series of robberies targeting Asians, especially Chinese, since 2013 have been a deterrent.

But it is Chinese tourists, as well as Americans, who are expected to set new records this year.

Clerico said “the fear dissipated a little” as attacks mounted in other European countries.

Twin suicide attacks in Brussels in March 2016 claimed 32 lives, while December of that year saw a truck ramming at a Christmas market in Berlin that killed 12. AFP

SEROPEDICA, Brazil―Not a single wing flutters in the Seropedica aviary near Rio de Janeiro, where aras and others parrots are learning how to fly again after they were rescued from traffickers.

Nearby, monkeys, turtles, boas and even alligators are also being nursed back to health at the IBAMA treatment center, just a 90-minute drive from Rio. The state-funded entity takes care of wild animals that were hunted, wounded or domesticated, getting them back in shape so they can return to their natural habitat.

Some parrots bear the marks of maltreatment, while others say “Ola” (hello) repeatedly-a sign they were domesticated.

In order to strengthen bird wings atrophied from years spent in a cage, veterinarian Taciana Sherlock exercises the animals by placing them on her arm and then shaking it up and down.

The majestic blue and yellow ara she is training strains to spread its wings. Some of its feathers were clipped during captivity to limit its mobility, and it doesn’t seem ready to take off on its own just yet.

The birds are also encouraged to take flight using two perches set at a distance from one another, with food on either side.

“This is a flight school! We train them so they can be ready to live in the wild. We also have to train them to identify predators and find food,” the veterinarian explained.

Little by little, the IBAMA team―which hosts some 7,000

animals per year―spaces out contact with the birds until they are no longer used to humans.

They are then freed in their native habitat, often a forest in another state such as Amazonia.

“What they’ve endured is really cruel, and it’s horrible to see them arrive in such a bad state. But the reward is to see them ready to return to the wild. Last week, we freed 20 aras and toucans who could fly in Goias,” a central state, Sherlock exclaimed.

Sales of wild animals are banned, but the practice is widespread in Brazil, especially in Rio, home to the world’s biggest urban forest. Species native to this region still live nearby, and sometimes in the city itself.

Toucans, snakes and monkeys are a common sight at certain markets.

IBAMA estimates that around 38 million animals are caught in the wild each year.

Four million of them are sold, in an industry worth some $2.57 billion.

Small birds generate the most revenue, especially song birds. Having a caged bird is a very common practice in Rio’s working class neighborhoods, and clandestine bird song competitions are routine.

In order to facilitate sales for domestic uses, some traffickers are quick to clip part of the birds’ wings, or break some of their bones. The suffering paralyzes the birds, which makes them seem more domesticated.

Environmental police brought more than 300 small birds to the rehabilitation center in mid-July. AFP

10,000 flee wildfires in south France

MARSEILLE―At least 10,000 people, including thousands of holidaymakers, were evacuated overnight after a new wildfire broke out in southern France, which was already battling massive blazes, authorities said Wednesday.

The new fire broke out a day after France asked for Europe’s help to tackle the flames already raging in several spots on the tinder-dry south, including near the popular resort of Saint-Tropez.

Firefighters are also battling fires on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica and in Portugal.

About 3,000 of the evacuees in southeast France were holidaymakers staying in campgrounds, some of whom ended up spending the night in sleeping bags on the beach.

“The evacuations, at least 10,000, followed the progression of the fire. It’s an area that doubles or triples its population in summer,” said a fire service official of the blaze near Bormes-les-Mimosas on the Mediterranean coast.

The number of people on France’s Cote d’Azur bulges in July and August as holidaymakers head to the beach, although the area is experiencing an exceptionally hot and dry summer that has made it especially vulnerable to fires.

On Tuesday over 4,000 firefighters and troops backed by 19 water bombers had already been mobilized to extinguish the flames, which have left swathes of charred earth in their wake.

At least 12 firefighters have been injured and 15 police officers affected by smoke inhalation since the fires broke out on Monday, according to the authorities.

The blazes on Tuesday had devoured around 4,000 hectares (15 square miles) of land along the Mediterranean coast, in the mountainous interior and on Corsica.

With strong winds and dry brush creating a dangerous mix, the government asked its European Union partners to send two extra fire-fighting planes―a request immediately fulfilled by Italy, according to the EU. But one union official denounced what he said was a lack of spare parts preventing all the aircraft required from being put into action.

Interior Minister Gerard Collomb announced on Tuesday that France would be adding six more firefighting planes to its fleet.

A fire in La Croix-Valmer near SaintTropez, a resort frequented by the rich and famous, had been contained, local fire chief Philippe Gambe de Vergnes said Tuesday.

But the blaze had already consumed 400 hectares of coastal forest in an area dotted with homes, he said. More than 200 people had to be moved from the area.

La Croix-Valmer’s deputy mayor Rene Carandante described a desolate landscape of blackened headlands fringed by charred umbrella pines, where green forest had once framed the azure waters of the Mediterranean.

“It’s a disaster area. There’s nothing left,” he said.

HAZY IN INDONESIA. Acehnese schoolchildren wearing masks wait for their bus to school while shrouded in thick smoke due to peat forest fires in Meulaboh, Aceh province. Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency has warned of an escalating threat of forest fires with the dry season expected to peak in the coming months, while hot spots detected in the province of Aceh have already been causing choking smoke. AFP

Basquiat a darling of pop culture but not museums NEW YORK―Jean-Michel Basquiat enjoys a stratospheric following -- earlier this year, a 1982 oil painting by the late 20th century great became the most expensive work by a US artist ever sold at auction.

But 29 years after his death, his legacy is largely a triumph of popular culture over museums, which have been accused of downplaying his stature.

New York is where the black artist―son of a Haitian father and Puerto Rican mother―was born and raised, spent most of his life and drew most of his inspiration.

On May 18, it was in the Big Apple that one of his paintings fetched $110.5 million at Sotheby’s, jettisoning him into a pantheon of high-selling greats like Picasso.

Yet America’s cultural capital has no

public monument to him, no institution named after him and has preserved none of his famous graffiti -- signed “SAMO”.

Other than a plaque nailed to his former atelier in a NoHo back street, his simple gravestone in Green-Wood cemetery is perhaps the only place that tourists, admirers and budding artists can visit in tribute.

“There’s a lot of interest,” says Lisa Alpert, vice president of development and programming at Green-Wood.

“They leave things on his grave.”

Out of the more than 2,000 works of art that Basquiat produced, New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has just 10 drawings and silkscreens, the Whitney has six, the Metropolitan two, the Brooklyn Museum another two and the Guggenheim one.

Much of his work fused drawing

with painting―it was abstract and figurative, offering biting political commentary on social problems such as poverty, segregation, racism and class divides.

Commercially successful in his short life, before his death from an overdose at 27, museums were nonetheless unconvinced that his work had weighty artistic merit.

Friend and artist Michael Holman remembers, for example, an offer by collectors Lenore and Herbert Schorr to donate Basquiats to MoMA and the Whitney in the 1980s, but says the museums declined, not even wanting them for storage.

“There’s a lot of racism and a lot of white privilege in the idea that only white people are important artists,” says Holman.

Unlike his contemporaries, Basquiat

never received a large solo exhibition at a New York museum during his lifetime, says Jordana Moore Saggese, an associate professor at the California College of the Arts, and the author of the only art history monograph of Basquiat.

“Historically there has also been a lack of representations for non-white artists in mainstream institutions,” says Saggese, who notes that few undergraduates are even taught much about him.

But many critics in the late 1970s and 1980s also championed minimalism and fretted that art in the 80s was too closely aligned to capitalism, she says.

They were “deeply divided over the question of whether an artist could be both commercially successful and critically significant,” she told AFP. AFP

Life

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

HEALTH & WELLNESS

THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017

D1

FINDING THE ANSWER WITHIN YOU. Two meditation groups encourage everyone to practice the Subtraction Meditation, which is about throwing away the false mind or pictures in the human mind, that helps practitioners enlighten themselves and focus on the most important things in their life.

T

HINK of the human mind as a hard drive where all your life experiences are stored like pictures. We’re all familiar with the phrase, “I just can’t shake that picture out of my mind,” and this is also true in the metaphorical sense. We just can’t let go of certain experiences, and this affects how we go about the world. Often, this holds us back from achieving our true potential because we are bogged down by the emotions and memories that our minds have held on to for so long.

MEDITATE

towards lasting

HAPPINESS

We tend to look outside ourselves for the answers to life’s pressing problems, but to practitioners of meditation the answer always lies within ourselves. Makati Meditation and Ortigas Meditation are two groups in the

Public school pupils are all smiles after receiving Licealiz shampoo and Hapee toothpaste

Students beat back to school blues

RE-ESTABLISHING routines and adapting to school hours are a few things that make going back to school a difficult transition for children. But for many kids, this is just a fraction of what they have to deal with when school season starts.

A medical check-up by the Department of Education Health and Nutrition of over three million public school students showed that 436,325 of them had pediculosis (head lice infestation), making it one of the leading health problems of public school students in the country.

Children are teased and bullied for having head lice, which is also a common cause for them to miss school.

The stigma associated with having pediculosis can leave lasting damage to children’s psychological wellbeing and leave them isolated from their peers.

To raise awareness about head lice infestation issues, and to help combat health problems commonly faced by students, Lamoiyan Corporation partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd) and donated over 5,000 hygiene product packs to schools in Cebu City.

Kids celebrate being kuto-free

Marketing Director Bing Cavestany, Senior Marketing Associate Jacquiline Pe, and other Lamoiyan representatives were present during the

Brigada Eskwela National Kick-off to help distribute packs of Licealiz Head Lice Treatment Shampoo, Hapee and Hapee Kiddie Toothpaste.

“This is an amazing opportunity for us to give back to schools and communities,” said Cavestany. “We believe in taking an active role in promoting health and education, so joining efforts like Brigada Eskwela is an important priority for Lamoiyan and our advocacy.”

As a part of its partnership with DepEd, Lamoiyan will also donate Licealiz and Hapee products to public schools in other regions across the country. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with DepEd and in working hand in hand with them in addressing health problems of school children in the country,” said Cavestany.

Pediculosis is a leading health problem in the country, but it is preventable with the right treatment. Avoid sharing combs, hats, pillows and other head ornaments and pieces of clothing that may lead to lice infestation. Keep your surroundings clean; head lice can live up to three days off the scalp and may attach themselves on upholstery, mattresses, and other pieces of furniture. And regularly check your children and family members for head lice with a suyod.

For more information on head lice prevention and treatment, visit www. facebook.com/licealiz.

Philippines that encourage the practice of subtraction meditation as a method towards lasting happiness.

Humans take pictures of all experiences through the five senses—eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and body—and store those pictures in the mind. Pictures of our family, our childhood, fighting with friends, even memories of our first love, we have taken pictures of them and stored them in our mind. Stress, worries and all the moments of hardships are pictures in our mind. These pictures trouble us and we cannot escape from this for the rest of our lives. Throwing away these pictures in the mind is the Subtraction Meditation method.

The Subtraction Meditation is a meditation method that is composed of seven levels which is about throwing away the false mind or pictures in the human mind. The meditation helper guides students in each level. As one goes through the levels, practitioners eventually enlighten by themselves.

The first step is letting go. For standup comedian Tim Tayag, this has been key, “Now I can let go of my past, my mistakes, my false minds, and even meditation itself. As a result, I have a better disposition, and I am much hap-

pier.”

The change towards lasting happiness starts with self-reflection. Through the practice of meditation, the time and energy spent on useless thoughts are lessened, allowing one’s self to focus on the most important things in life.

Before we start new things we should take time to look back to the past and assess ourselves. This also applies to our workplace, school and community.

We examine our success and failures; we learn from our past mistakes and prepare to do better in the future.

For Emil Capino, a chief technology officer, this came in the form of a more efficient work performance that has also spread to other areas in his life.

“I can break-free from all the stress, worries and anxieties coming from my job,” says Capino. “Now I can do and accomplish more with a peace of mind and real happiness that no amount of money can provide.”

Meditation is the process of reflecting on one’s inner self to deeply understand ourselves. When we know ourselves completely, we can live the life that we want. Through meditation, we can find wise and practical solutions to all the root cause of our problems

and complex situations that we face in our daily lives. “I have realized many benefits including mental clarity and greater patience,” says Reggie Ofrin, a mechanical engineer by profession.

“Now I can smile even on the road during blood-curdling traffic jams.”

As much as we empty our mind, the more our inner strength takes root.

When we empty our minds, the human mind transforms. Through meditation, one can have a broad and caring mind, being considerate of others, smiling more often, being calm and becoming more focused coming from inner peace. Having a clear mind, one can make wiser decisions in every moment.

“I can find my inner peace without selfdefeating talk or having to worry about judgment or criticism from other people,” says practitioner Gerilyn Baltan, a marketing manager by profession. The benefits of meditation bleed onto every aspect of your life. The normal tendency is to fix problems at hand which may not necessarily address to root cause of those problems, meditation is a holistic approach that everyone can do if they just take the time.

At Makati Meditation, practitioners Turn to D2

Fiber Up to Beat Hypertension WORLD Hypertension Day was celebrated in May and besides commemorating Losartan, Lipitor, and Atenolol, there’s a natural and better way to combat hypertension. It is the Big F. The “Big F” is FIBER. It is derived from plants and scores huge in keeping the heart and colon healthy, for better blood circulation and detoxification.

Good blood circulation prevents hypertension.

Sapping bad cholesterol and toxins out of the body by consuming fibrous food, such as oatmeal, also promotes digestive health and prevents colon cancer… aside from boosting good blood circulation.

The connection continues: did you know that hypertension helps bring about constipation? So fiber up, and you prevent both hypertension and colon problems.

WebMD.com, an esteemed medical online publication revealed “adding fiber to the diet was associated with a significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in people with high blood pressure.”

WebMD.com also pointed out other lifestyle and dietary improvements,

which help keep blood pressure levels under control. These include “weight loss, reduced sodium intake, moderation in alcohol use, increased potassium intake, increased physical activity, and following the DASH

Australia Harvest Oatmeal boasts of high quality fiber which is good in keeping the heart and colon healthy

(dietary approaches to stop hypertension) diet.”

Fiber-packed food

Basically, anyone who wishes to gain the benefits of fiber simply has to eat more fruits and vegetables.

Fiber may also be sourced from cereals and carbo-loaded food such as oatmeal. There are many variants of oatmeal – instant, quick-cooking, whole-grain rolled oats, and oat bran.

Just find the kind that suits your taste and lifestyle most.

One brand, Australia Harvest Oatmeal, boasts of best quality as it prides itself in coming from the world’s best oats-growing region, West Australia.

Perhaps it is this bestsource and superior-quality assurance that made the Philippine Volcanoes — the country’s official rugby team sent to battle in international rugby competitions-- choose Australia Harvest Oatmeal as their Official Fiber Partner.

And for good reasons.

The Philippine Volcanoes recently won Gold in the Asian Rugby Sevens Trophy Series competition in Doha, Qatar.

Life

D2

THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

T

HE recent news of film/TV/theater director/ actor Soxy Topacio’s demise due to lung cancer makes this piece of news very important.

The landscape of cancer therapy in the country undergoes a dramatic change.

The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finally approved a new non-chemotherapy drug considered as new treatment option in many countries around the world.

Pembrolizumab is a targeted immunotherapy medication that is now indicated in the Philippines for first-line treatment of deadly lung malignancy, specifically non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Close to a hundred Filipino oncologists, pulmonologists and pathologists learned more about this new treatment option in a medical symposium recently organized by MSD in the Philippines.

Oncology expert and key opinion leader Prof. Byoung-Chul Cho, M.D. from Yonsei University’s College of Medicine, Korea delivered a talk describing the results of more than 20 clinical trials or human participant studies that assessed the safety and efficacy of pembrolizumab in treating cancer patients of various ethnicities.

A novel treatment option

According to the results of clinical trials, including MSD’s landmark Keynote-024 study, pembrolizumab has been found to be better than chemotherapy as treatment for stage 4 NSCLC in patients that pass certain laboratory test criteria. First, these patients’ cells exhibit a high level of protein called PD-L1 (programmed death ligand).

Second, they do not have mutations in EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) or ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) genes.

“If EGFR mutation is present, EGFR targeted therapy should definitely be your first line of treatment.

However, if first-line treatment fails in these patients with EGFR or ALK, then they become good candidates for pembrolizumab treatment as well,” explained Dr. Cho. For NSCLC patients with high PD-L1 expression, the clinical trials show that they have a significantly better chance for progression-free survival and overall survival if their first treatment utilizes pembrolizumab rather than chemotherapy.

They also experience fewer treatmentrelated adverse events.

For these reasons, Dr. Cho emphasized the advantage of taking pembroli-

zumab as new option for first-line treatment of NSCLC, and this requires that PD-L1 testing should be one of the very first steps performed at the time of patient diagnosis.

The importance of testing

A panel of local medical experts discussed the practical use of pembrolizumab in the Philippine setting during the medical symposium. The panelists included some of the most highly esteemed doctors in their respective fields—Dr. Antonio Villalon, past president of the Philippine College of Physicians and the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology ; Dr. Camilo Roa, past president of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians; and Dr. Nelia TanLiu, chairman of Cardinal Santos Medical Center’s Department of Pathology.

Dr. Villalon opened the panel discussion highlighting the challenges of PD-L1 testing in the Philippine setting. Outlining the usual battery of tests checking histopathology, EGFR and many others, PDL1 is usually last on the list and more often than not, pathologists are left with scarce tissue specimen.

“It usually takes a month before the patient completes tests and can receive first treatment,” bared Dr. Villalon.

In response, Dr. Tan-Liu, who is widely considered as the pathologist with the most extensive experience in PD-L1 testing, expressed commitment toward continued reliability and efficiency of PD-L1 testing.

Testing protocols can also be changed to prioritize PD-L1 testing in patients suspected of having NSCLC. However, moving forward, all experts agree on the need for improvements in procedures and overall accessibility of PD-L1 testing.

High hopes

Pulmonologist Dr. Roa noted that while clinical trials of chemotherapy often ended with zero surviving patients, the same results have not been seen in the trials of targeted immunotherapy such as pembrolizumab. Because of this, he expressed optimism that more patients may feel encouraged to seek treatment.

“With chemotherapy, lung cancer treatment often ends at the point of diagnosis. Patients don’t want to spend

Immunotherapy

as novel treatment option

for LUNG CANCER

Prof. Byoung-Chul Cho, M.D., an oncology expert from Yonsei University’s College of Medicine, talks about pembrolizumab in treating cancer patients of various ethnicities

so much, become miserable and even lose their hair for a benefit of extending life for four months on average,” he explained. “What we are seeing may be a potential cure.”

MSD’s country manager for the Philippines Beaver Tamesis affirmed that “maybe our grandchildren will think very differently about cancer compared to how we think about it today,” optimistic that in the future, a cure will finally be found.

At present, pembrolizumab is already being used to treat both melanoma and NSCLC in the following Asia Pacific countries: Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and now also the Philippines.

In the United States, it was first approved in 2014 for treatment of stage 4 melanoma. Just recently as well, its indication has been extended to NSCLC, among others.

MSD currently has the largest immuno-oncology clinical development program across the industry. As the clinical trials continue, new indications for pembrolizumab are being found and are being submitted for regulatory approval.

In the near future, the hope for a cure for cancers of all kinds may indeed become a reality.

Most common signs of dehydration WITH temperatures soaring during these sweltering months, we all need to be aware when our bodies are trying to tell us we need a good dose of rehydration. Water comprises 70 percent of our bodies, and once this level decreases by even a small percentage, we become dehydrated. Here are some of the most common symptoms of dehydration to watch out for:

2. Headaches and dizziness When we are dehydrated, the water content in our body drops and results in a decreased flow of oxygen to the brain. Gerolsteiner Sparkling Mineral Water is a This triggers the pain receptors sur- delightful rehydrating drink rounding our brains, inducing nagging migraines and feelings of dizziness. other major organs in the body to preserve proper biological functions.

3. Decreased urination Maintaining a healthy fluid balance 5. Sluggishness and fatigue is imperative in keeping our biological Dehydration can definitely affect functions running smoothly. When we your body’s endurance levels throughare dehydrated, the kidneys try to con- out the day, causing feelings of tiredserve water by concentrating urine, so ness and decreased alertness. This can when urine is appears in a darker yel- impair concentration and cause a dislow shade, it means that the body’s fluid ruption with daily and work activities. balance has been compromised.

The most effective way to revert the effects of dehydration and heat exhaus4. Dry skin tion is by increasing fluid intake, and Our skin’s appearance and elasticity water is definitely the most effective is very much affected by our fluid bal- key to restoring our body’s all-imporance. When we are dehydrated, fluids tant fluid balance. Our bodies also lose pull away from our skin and redirect to important nutrients when we are dehy-

drated, so drinking water high in natural minerals and nutrients is also important in keeping our biological functions running in tiptop condition.

Gerolsteiner Sparkling Mineral Water is complete with a high mineral profile to slake your thirst and provide your body with the nutrients it needs while giving you a deep sense of well-being apparent from your first sip. Whether at work, after sport or simply in between – Gerolsteiner Sparkling Mineral Water is the perfect companion to survive the scorching heat.

Originating from the depths of Germany’s Volcanic Eifel region, Gerolsteiner Sparkling Mineral Water has a unique nutritional balance of calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate, which cannot be found in regular drinking water. It provides the body with valuable minerals and trace elements that the body cannot generate on its own.

One liter of Gerolsteiner Sparkling Mineral Water satisfies 1/3 of the daily calcium requirement and more than a quarter of the magnesium requirement that supports your energy metabolism and can help to reduce tiredness and fatigue.

Its refreshing taste profile is amped up by its delightful fizzy mouthfeel, quenching your thirst deeply from the first sip to the last. Gerolsteiner’s natural sparkling fizz comes from its concentration of bicarbonates and is not artificially carbonated like soda. This aids the body’s digestive functions without the added calories, sugar and chemicals.

This summer, have a fizzy pick-me-up thirst quencher. Keep yourself safe from dehydration and maintain your body’s vitality—refresh and rejuvenate with Gerolsteiner Sparkling Mineral Water.

are very grounded. Increasing self-confidence, overcoming traumatic experiences, eliminating stress are just some of the main ones. So for people who hesitate with the jargon and find that inner peace is a little too abstract, there’s still a takeaway for them here.

At Makati Meditation and Ortigas Meditation, they often start with a lecture before meditation, which includes achieving the proper posture and participants are guided through the session accordingly. For beginners, this is a helpful process to orient oneself to the practice. Even longtime practitioners find guided meditations helpful when they’re finding it particularly difficult

to quiet the mind.

At Makati Meditation they encourage participants to meditate twice a week.

At first, a one on one session with an instructor is advised, but after two weeks, practitioners can choose to join the group class. Studies show that group meditations are an even more powerful force for peace.

Entrepreneur Catherine Dy credits meditation as a practice that helped her live a happier life, “I am free from stress, fear and anxiety. I am living a life full of joy, peace and gratitude.”

Book your free introductory seminar at Makati Meditation Center or at Ortigas Meditation center now.

1. Increased thirst Thirst is the body’s most automatic indicator of dehydration. It is the first reminder that we need to restore fluid balance for our bodies to function properly

Meditate...

From D1

come to the center usually after work.

Some of them come around lunchtime or before work so they can make use of their time meditating in the center instead of being stuck in traffic.

They cannot emphasize enough that anyone can do meditation. Practitioners range from businessmen, employees, students, housewives etc. People from all walks of life with diverse religious beliefs and nationalities come to meditate. While the language that surrounds meditation can be a heady concept, the objectives

Mega Fiber effectively treats constipation and diarrhea— common woes that spoil the fun for travelers

Don’t let constipation or diarrhea ruin your day

BAGS packed and ready to go on vacation? Make sure you’ve got everything you need from travel documents, cash and credit cards, appropriate clothing, toiletry bag basics, to vitamins and medicines. You will also need Megafiber to counter constipation or diarrhea attack that can potentially ruin your travel plans.

Constipation and diarrhea are two common woes that spoil the fun for travellers.

Travel constipation can be due to a sudden change in your usual diet. It may also be caused by a disruption in your daily routine or bathroom habit.

If you’re on the road at the time when you ordinarily relieve yourself, the tendency is to suppress the urge to move.

Not going when you needed to results to hardened stools. The unease of using other bathroom facilities can also prevent you from doing your thing.

As for diarrhea, most people point to contaminated food or water as the culprit. Eating at the wrong time and trying various delicacies or local dishes for the first time can also lead to diarrhea while on vacation.

Megafiber effectively treats both constipation and diarrhea. It is available at Mercury Drug outlets nationwide in bigger 7.5g travel sachets, available per piece (P11) and boxes of 30 sachets (P325), and in bigger 300g jars (P430).

It is also offered in half-kilo family size packs (P705) for even greater savings.

Each Megafiber sachet and jar packs more fiber goodness to give more value for your money.

If constipated, take one tablespoon of Megafiber mixed with your favourite drink ideally during breakfast, and drink lots of fluids all day. When Megafiber ab-

sorbs liquids, it forms a slippery film and swells by 8 to 14 times its normal weight and forms a soft, bulky mass that passes quickly and easily through the colon and acts like a sponge in the intestinal tract.

It also helps stimulate the reflex needed for the bowels to empty. Since Megafiber is a non-irritant bulking laxative, it does not result in an immediate need to find a toilet which can be embarrassing.

If suffering from diarrhea, you will also benefit from Megafiber since it not only absorbs water from watery stools, its bulking effect slows down the bowel and reduces bowel movement, reducing the number of times that you must go to the bathroom. Increased intake of fiber absorbs excess water in stools and consequently allows the intestinal muscles something to hold on to. Unlike other medication, taking new Megafiber to stop diarrhea does not result in constipation. When treating diarrhea, take the same dose of Megafiber and lessen your fluid intake.

Aside from promoting digestive health, Megafiber also helps regulate blood sugar and uric acid, reduces cholesterol, and assists in weight management. It is FDA-approved and is allnatural. It does not contain additives, sweeteners, preservatives, artificial colors or flavoring. It is also cholesterol-free, yeast-free and gluten-free.

It is nothing but 100% psyllium fiber, nature’s best and most efficient source of natural dietary fiber.

For more information, visit Megafiber in facebook or go to www.megafiber.com.ph. For inquiries, you may email info@megafiber.com.ph or call the MEGAFIBER Customer Service Hotlines 524-6549, 354-2208 to 09 and 09474890262, 0928-3224217.

THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017

Awra fights for love as pure-hearted All OPM for Kaye Cal’s superhero first major concert A

OUT NOW. Proud LGBT member and acoustic singer Kaye Cal

ACOUSTIC soul artist Kaye Cal takes the Music Museum stage with an all OPM lineup for her very first solo major concert entitled Kaye Pop happening 8 p.m. on Aug. 18.

Thirty minutes after releasing concert tickets, the VVIP seats were already sold out for the Kapamilya singer’s latest career milestone.

Star Events produces the show which will include Kaye’s successful cover hits “Ikaw Lang” and “Kung Ako Na Lang Sana,” and her latest compositions “Rosas” and “Mahal Ba Ako ng Mahal Ko” in the songs to watch out for. These tracks are part of her first solo album under Star Music launched in March.

Her cover of “Why Can’t It Be?,” the song that made its way to BillboardPH Top 20, rank 11 for the week of July 17, will also be part of the concert lineup.

Aside from her upcoming show, the former lead vocalist of Ezra Band is also looking forward to another huge project. In a recent interview aired on TV Patrol, she revealed that she was able to ink an international recording deal which she will begin recording this month.

“This multi-record deal is now being written and produced

by Grammy Award winning songwriter and producer Brody Brown who have also worked with Cee Lo Green, Adele, and Bruno Mars.”

Kaye, who is from Davao del Sur, is a member of the LGBT community. She has been making waves in the music industry with her soulful singing voice.

Tickets to Kaye Pop are priced at P1,800.00 for VIP, P1,500.00 for patron, and P1,000.00 for balcony seats. Interested parties may call Ticketworld at 891-9999 and Music Museum at 721-6726.

Chynna Ortaleza is ready to learn cooking OVER the years, GMA Artist Center’s Chynna Ortaleza has made her mark in acting and hosting. As a new wife and mother, the Kapuso actress is ready to explore more of her skills and this time, she wants to try her hands at cooking.

Last Sunday, Chynna began her lessons in the kitchen as Chef Boy Logro’s new co-host of in GMA News TV’s Idol sa Kusina.

As Chef Boy’s new student, Chynna will attempt to pick up her teacher’s culinary expertise, one dish at a time.

“I am very excited to be learning from the best!” Chynna said of her new adventure. “Chef Boy and the whole Idol Sa Kusina family has been very supportive! I am a new mom who has never found her way to the kitchen. Wala

akong masyadong experience sa kusina pero with their help alam ko makakaluto na rin ako ng masasarap na pagkain na pwede kong i-share sa loved ones ko at sa lahat ng nanunuod sa amin,” she added.

Chef Boy is also looking forward to take Chynna under his wing and teach her skills in the kitchen. “She’s like my sous chef. Of course, I have my school, it’s about time na turuan ko siyang maging chef na slowly. I know Chynna can do it, kayang-kaya niya ‘yan. I know rin na madali syang matuto dahil siya ay fast learner,” he said.

Join Chynna in her adventures as the new co-host of Chef Boy in Idol sa Kusina, every Sunday, after Ang Pinaka on GMA News TV.

Chef Boy Logro and his new celebrity co-host Chynna Ortaleza

NEW superhero met viewers’ TV last Sunday as breakout child star Awra transformed into the powerful and pure-hearted Super Ving who uses kindness as weapon against the forces of evil in Wansapanataym Presents: Amazing Ving.

Ving (Awra) is a loving and obedient son raised by his doting parents Cris and Soffy, played by the dance duo of yesteryears, Roderick Paulate and Carmi Martin.

He lives a happy life with his parents, who taught him that having compassion is enough to make a person a superhero.

Although he has a noble heart, Ving always gets picked on and is not well accepted by his classmates Chelsea and Warren (Kisses Delavin and Marco Gallo).

Despite this, Ving continues to spread kindness to other people and remains determined to chase his dreams.

The ordinary teenager’s life changes when he meets Super Bing (Ellen Adarna), a superhero who saves his life from danger.

Because of his inherent kindness, Super Bing chooses him as her successor and transforms him into Super Ving after giving him a magical stone that gives anyone superpowers to save innocent people’s lives. But aside from keeping peace and harmony, he has a bigger mission to fulfill—finishing Reptilya (Bianca Manalo) and her evil plans.

Though equipped with the magical stone, it

Gabbi Garcia continues to conquer the world GMA Artist for an avantCenter’s Gabbi garde photo shoot Garcia is and will star slowly making in a 45-minute a mark in show documentary and business. After a three-minute landing the fashion film to be iconic role of shot by EmmySang’gre Alena award-winning in GMA’s highly director and successful producer Mike telefantasya Carandang Encantadia, “This is going Gabbi has Kapuso star Gabbi Garcia to be my first become more time in France, in-demand for magazine covers, so I’m very excited. Being features and product endorsements. handpicked by Mega is such At the young age of 18, with a an honor, and I can’t wait to try successful teleserye in her portfolio, different looks for the magazine being an ambassador for an cover and enjoy this European international hair product and the experience,” she reveals. cover of sold out magazines, where What is her secret to becoming is Gabbi Garcia headed to now? one of today’s in-demand cover As if living out every young girls, Gabbi shares “Doing my girl’s dream, Gabbi is set to fly to homework as an artist, keeping fit, Europe as part of her commitment to staying true to myself and taking #MakingMega as Mega Magazine’s care if my looks by sticking to the first ever Mega Style cover. beauty products that I trust like Originally a digital publication, Gluta C and Pantene.”

Mega Style carefully handpicked her Meanwhile, Gabbi is in GMA to grace the first-ever print edition. Network’s Sunday noontime variety She will be going to Nice, France program Sunday PinaSaya.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, July 27, 2017

ACROSS 1 Bothersome 6 Coal scuttles 10 Dart about 14 “Aloha!”

15 Got off the plane 16 Ill-mannered ones 17 Metric measure 18 Find out 19 Teeming 20 Daring feat 21 Remote 23 Mind-reader’s letters 25 Ecol. police 26 Grill steaks 29 Made top honors 32 Splotches 37 Scale notes 38 — head to foot 39 Dough 40 In an informal manner 43 Did dinner 44 Frees of 45 Sushi morsel 46 Paper toys 47 Jean Auel heroine 48 Garcia or Griffith 49 Cribbage card 51 Mr. Peckinpah 53 Asset

58 Glittering 62 Prefix for “trillion” 63 Shovel or rake 64 Michael Caine role 65 Indigo plant 66 Staircase part 67 Diadem 68 Fake 69 — St. Vincent Millay 70 Third planet out DOWN 1 Comrades 2 Do magazine work 3 In — (as found) 4 Sharper 5 Mongol tents 6 Scornful snorts 7 Margarine 8 Rang up 9 Piece of tape 10 Town meetings 11 Place to hibernate 12 Not certain 13 Mao — -tung 22 Forbidden things 24 Cut back 26 Hen comment 27 Asian capital 28 Wide tie 30 End of some

will not be easy for Super Ving because aside from Reptilya, her minions will also bring chaos and wreak havoc in people’s lives. But with his pure heart and superpowers, he will make sure that goodness will prevail in the end.

What dangers will Super Ving face?

Will Reptilya succeed in her evil plans?

Does having a pure heart enough to defeat the forces of evil?

The series is an addition to the growing list of values-laden stories of Wansapanataym. For almost two decades, the program has inspired different generations of viewers and shared lessons that resonated with Filipinos. A hit among audiences, the program has left a mark on viewers’ hearts and stood the test of time.

Don’t miss the story about love and courage in Wansapanataym Presents: Amazing Ving, every Sunday on ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167).

URLs 31 Georgia university 33 Rawls or Gehrig 34 Jimmy —, Daily Planet reporter 35 Made bundles 36 Timidly 38 San Joaquin Valley city 39 Greedy king of myth 41 Scratch out a living 42 None 47 On the loose

48 Ms. Earhart 50 Outlandish 52 Lessen 53 Nevada town 54 Speed-skater — Heiden 55 Polio vaccine inventor 56 Nickel or dime 57 Jazzy Fitzgerald 59 Way, way off 60 Grime 61 You bet!

62 Beret cousin

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017

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ONGEST running noontime variety program Eat, Bulaga! marks another milestone in July as it celebrates its 38th year in the entertainment business.

Since the program started almost four decades ago, it has lived up to its promise of providing “isang libo’t isang tuwa” to millions of Filipinos through its fun games, jokes and song and dance numbers.

The show has also become a staple at home and a habit hard to kick at lunchtime.

“Eat, Bulaga! is simply the extension of our homes,” said Joey de Leon, one of the hosts of the program alongside Tito and Vic Sotto.

The formidable trio was initially tapped by Television and Production Exponents Incorporated (TAPE) boss Antonio Tuviera in 1979 to headline a new program aimed to rival Student Canteen, then the no. 1 noontime show that time.

With their knack in comedy and strong audience appeal, the three were able to turn the tide. Eat, Bulaga! eventually dominated the noontime slot.

“Credit goes to the think tanks of the show, the writers, the staff, and of course our producer, Mr. Tuviera. When we were starting, (I thought) it’s just a new show.

I never thought we would reach this far,” said Vic. Over the years, Eat, Bulaga! introduced over 300 segments that reached out to people of all ages. Among the most popular ones are “Little Miss Philippines,” “That’s My Boy,” “Super Sireyna,” “Laban O Bawi,” “Taktak Mo o Takbo,” “Pinoy Henyo,” “Juan for All, All for Juan,” and “Kalyeserye.”

“It was nice to see the segments grow from their humble beginnings to where it is now. It’s such an experience being a part of that helping hand, that is Eat

Bulaga, but without losing the fun,” said Ryan Agoncillo, one of the hosts of the program.

Agoncillo, who was born in the same year when the show premiered, said the program helped artists like him connect to a broader audience through limitless fun and entertainment.

“You feel like you are in their kitchen, in their living rooms everyday and you feel a connection to them. I feel that’s a very special connection with a program like Eat Bulaga. It’s a fun that is not exclusive, it’s a fun that does not choose, it is a kind of fun that does not discriminate.”

Vic said they try to make everyone feel like they belong.

“We make sure that they feel comfortable, we make them feel that this is a family and this is not just work. I think that’s one recipe on the success of the show.”

For Ruby Rodriguez, who has been with Eat, Bulaga! for 26 years, working with the younger generation brings new flavor to the program.

She said having Ryzza Mae Dizon, Baeby Baste, Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza in their pool of talents somehow assures the continuity of what Tito, Vic, and Joey started.

“We are evolving. Even our seniors, we keep up with the times. We learn the millennial language that is so different from what we are used to. It updates you and it keeps you young.

That’s the reason we have the younger ones who are being trained to get the hang of things. We try to pass it to them.”

Alden and M a i n e , dubbed

"Kalyeserye" stars Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards

‘EAT, BULAGA!’ celebrates 38 years of fun and laughter

TVJ. "Eat Bulaga!" pillars Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon

together as AlDub, said they owe much of their success to the program. The latter said the support and love they received from the production team and their co-hosts have been tremendous.

Hindi lang katrabaho yung turing nila sa iyo kundi parang pamilya talaga. It’s not like working because you are having fun and you are with the people you’re comfortable with,” she said. “Once you’ve been part of this, parang family talaga.”

Alden is also hopeful that he and Maine will still be part of the show for years to come.

“To be part of the longest running noontime program in the Philippines is such a big blessing,

Hindi kasi lahat nabibigyan ng pagkakataon makatrabaho sila at maswerte ako dahil I also consider them as my family,” he said. “I hope and pray na mas lalong pang tumagal ang programa at mas marami pang mapasayang tao saan mang sulok ng mundo.”

Asked on what’s the secret of the program, Joey attributes it not only to luck, but also to their constant effort to reinvent and be closer to their audience.

He said that at the end of the day, “Eat, Bulaga!” still exists due to the continuous and overwhelming support of their loyal Dabarkads.

“We’ve been through seven presidents and counting. We’ve

been to three different networks (RPN 9, ABS-CBN and GMA-7), dapat kasali lagi ang audience.

Hindi naming ilalayo ang sarili namin. Dapat connected kami sa masses… sa viewers. Kailangan one of them ka, kailangan maabot ka,” he said.

Vic said that somehow, it doesn’t feel like they’ve been on air for 38 years. He said it’s not like work when you are having fun.

But all the laughter aside, the seasoned host said that they cannot rest on their laurels and there is still a lot of work to be done. “(The show) makes people happy. It entertains them. There’s always room for improvement.

It’s also very satisfying to

see people na natulungan at matutulungan ng Eat, Bulaga!

Sabi nga ni Tito Sen, ‘It’s a public service show in the guise of entertainment”.

This month, expect a funfilled anniversary month as Eat, Bulaga! introduces new and exciting segment featuring beautiful Filipinas and the mustsee travel destinations in the country.

Viewers will also be treated to a special second anniversary celebration of AlDub and the much-anticipated reunion of “Kalyeserye”.

Don’t miss the month-long celebration of “Eat, Bulaga!” at noon from Mondays to Saturdays only on GMA-7.

‘Brillante Mendoza Presents’

‘KADAUGAN’ ON TV5

TV5 and director Brillante Mendoza recently unveiled “Kadaugan,” his latest masterpiece in the Brillante Mendoza Presents series at Director’s Club in Mega Fashion Hall of SM Megamall.

The episode will air on Sunday at 10:30 p.m. on TV5.

Starring Dionne Monsanto, Daniel Marsh, Matt Daclan, Albert Chan Paran, Gloria Sevilla, Keanna Reeves, and Suzette Ranillo, “Kadaugan” tells the story of Tere (Dionne Monsanto), a good-looking Cebuana working as a waitress.

When Tere arranges her boyfriend Johann (Daniel Marsh) to finally meet her parents before his scheduled flight to the Netherlands, Johann was surprised that her extended family prepared a large feast to welcome him.

Everything about the night turns out fine until conversations seem to suggest for Johann to marry Tere. Surprised and unprepared Johann, admits that he is not yet ready to get married and leaves for his scheduled flight without closure in his relationship with Tere.

Three years later, Tere is now pregnant with her new American boyfriend, Frank (Matt Daclan).

He initially agrees to meet Tere’s parents, but postpones it because of work. Unable to contact Frank a few days later, she discovers that

Frank has already left for America.

Alone again and hopeless, Tere decides to raise her son by herself.

Five years later, Johann comes back during the Kadaugan sa Mactan Festival to surprise Tere.

Johann is also surprised by the fact that Tere is already a mother, troubling him as he bonds with them in the festival. A few days later, to Tere’s surprise, Johann visits her and proposes to marry her.

Directed by Director Brillante Mendoza and written by Eero Francisco, this heartwarming story of Family, Faith and Love also captures the beauty of Mactan and the pageantry of the Kadaugan sa Mactan festival, which re-enacts the defeat of Magellan by Lapu-

Lapu at the beach of Barangay Mactan.

Brillante Mendoza Presents is a collection of films made for television that merge together Filipino culture and Filipino stories. It airs once a month at 10:30 p.m. on TV5. Movies are themed according to the month of its airing – earlier episodes included “Tsinoy” for Chinese New Year, “Everlasting” for Baguio’s Panagbenga Festival, “Ang Pagtatapos” for Graduation, “Panata” for Holy Week, and “Anak” for Bulacan’s Obando Festival.

Each episode is presented Mendoza’s trademark cinematic storytelling style that has garnered prestigious international awards.

Brillante Mendoza Presents explores the complexities of human relationships set against the backdrop of culturally rich Filipino traditions.

With this partnership, TV5 considers Mendoza as a content partner. TV5 President Chot Reyes says that, “Our collaboration with Direk Brillante Mendoza is a full-fledged content partnership that spans culturally significant made for TV films and a 13- episode miniseries. With this partnership with Direk Brillante Mendoza, TV5 continues to uplift and improve the quality of entertainment in Philippine FREE TV.” Mendoza says that he agreed to do this project as his advocacy for indie films, a vision that TV 5 –who has given the winning filmmaker full support for this creative inputs and brand of storytelling – also shares.

“With TV 5’s new thrust, it’s going to be a home for independent artists and independent cinema, and I am happy to be part of it.

Our goal here is to tell the Filipino story, and for this, I will – like in my films –show reality and capture life the way it is on television,” shared by Director Mendoza.

The Brillante Mendoza Presents press conference is one of the many exciting events at Director’s Club, SM Mega Fashion Hall.

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte

CNN Philippines’ in-depth coverage of

SONA 2017 MARKING his second year in office, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivered his second State of the Nation Address last Monday, July 24. CNN Philippines had an extended, live and in-depth coverage starting at 5 a.m.

In addition to news programs, CNN Philippines aired two special programs on the same day: CNN Philippines Presents Pescador: Buhay Sa Laot, about the high-stakes dispute between the Philippines and China over the West Philippine Sea, while CNN Philippines Presents Inside Marawi: Hamon ng Pagbangon, recounted the various stories of struggle and strife in the Marawi armed conflict. These two tales were significant touch points in the Duterte presidency and highlighted in this year’s SONA.