Manila Standard - 2017 September 8 - Friday

NBI told to look into De Guzman’s killing

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon R. Araneta

THE Justice Department has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the killing of 14-year-old Reynaldo de Guzman, who was found floating in a creek in Gapan City in Nueva Ecija, Tuesday, after he went missing on Aug. 18.

De Guzman was the companion of Carl Angelo Arnaiz, 19, who was killed in a supposed shootout with police in Caloocan City,

but whose body showed signs of torture.

Aguirre said an autopsy by the NBI forensic team showed 26 stab wounds in De Guzman’s body; a police autopsy showed 31 stab wounds.

The victim, whose face was wrapped in packaging tape, was stabbed in the lungs and heart, and his killers continued stabbing him even when he was already dead, the NBI report said.

Aguirre said the boy’s parents, who have received Next page

Key witness? Taxi driver in Arnaiz’s case missing

By Francisco Tuyay THE taxi driver who was allegedly robbed by 19-yearold Carl Angelo Arnaiz has gone missing.

Reports said Tomas Bagcal, 54, the taxi driver whom Caloocan policemen claimed had been held up Arnaiz on Aug. 18, has stopped reporting for work.

Police had said they killed Arnaiz in a shootout after the robbery, but an autopsy on the teenager showed signs of torture and indicated that he was handcuffed and shot from above.

The Justice Department

has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to locate Bagcal, who could shed light on Arnaiz’s death.

Arnaiz, with 14-year-old Reynaldo de Guzman, had left their homes in Cainta, Rizal, for a late night snack on Aug. 17. Arnaiz was found in a morgue 10 days after he was killed by Caloocan police in the early hours of Aug. 18.

De Guzman’s body was found floating in a creek in Gapan, Nueva Ecija, Tuesday, with 30 stab wounds and his head wrapped in packaging tape.

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EJK CONDEMNED. At the gate of Camp Crame, headquarters of the Philippine National Police, in Quezon City Thursday, some groups light up candles marking the helpless silhouette of a fallen person in their condemned extrajudicial killings in the country. There have been more than 7,000 deaths, both from legitimate police operations and vigilante-style or unexplained killings. Manny Palmero

Duterte’s threat: Shoot killer-cops

By John Paolo Bencito

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte threatened Wednesday night to shoot policemen involved in extrajudicial killings after three teenagers caught up in his anti-drug war were killed in what looked like summary executions.

VOL. XXXI • NO. 206 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Paolo hits Trillanes’ yarn on triad ties Red tag did

By Macon RamosAraneta SENATOR Antonio Trillanes IV failed to substantiate his claim Thursday that Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte was a member of a drug triad after President Rodrigo Duterte’s oldest son refused to show the senators a tattoo on the back of his body.

While admitting having a tattoo, the vice mayor invoked his right to privacy when Trillanes asked him RIGHT TO PRIVACY. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV fails to if he is willing to show his substantiate his claim on the links of Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo tattoo to validate an intelDuterte (left) to a (drug) triad after the eldest son of President Rodrigo Duterte refused to show his tattoo at the back of his body at ligence report given to the resumption of a Senate inquiry into the smuggled P6.4 billion him by a foreign source.

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worth of shabu at the Bureau of Customs. Ey Acasio

Mariano in

FORMER Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano on Thursday said allegations linking him to the attacks by communist rebels on the facilities of Lapanday Foods Corp. early this year might have convinced the powerful Commission on Appointments to reject his appointment.

In an interview on ANC, Mariano insisted he had no hand in the planning of the attacks as alleged in the resolution forwarded by the Regional Development Council and Regional Peace and Order Council in Davao Region to the CA Next page

In a speech at the 60th anniversary of the Social Security System, the President said his bloody war on drugs would continue, minus the extrajudicial killings.

“And if you are into it, I’ll see to it you go to jail. Maybe I’ll even be the one to shoot you,” he said in Filipino.

“But if I do not control drugs, I will put the next generation in jeopardy,” he added.

Duterte said he never ordered police-

By Macon RamosAraneta FORMER Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon was cited in contempt by the Senate blue ribbon committee for failing to respond to the panel’s subpoena Thursday, and would be arrested if he does not show up to the hearing set next week.

“The chair orders Capt. Faeldon [cited] in contempt and must report here at the next hearing on Monday,” Senator Richard Gordon, chairman

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SYMBOLIC GESTURE. President Rodrigo Duterte joins in the raising and waving of symbols

Wednesday during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Business Awards at the Solaire Resort and Casino Grand Ballroom in Parañaque City. The gesture and the singing of the song ‘Hand in Hand’ signified unity, reinforcing the slogan of the Asean Business Advisory Council ‘Prosperity for All.’ Malacañang Photo

Council bars Sereno test release

Faeldon cited in contempt of the committee, said before suspending the probe on the smuggling of the P6.4-billion shabu shipment.

“The sergeant-at-arms is ordered to make sure that he gets the information and that he is brought here on Monday,” Gordon said.

The motion was approved with no objections.

Gordon warned Faeldon would be arrested if he failed to appear before the committee.

“If he does not appear on

men to kill children and that he would not protect scalawag cops.

“You do not kill defenseless persons,” he said.

The latest victim to surface was 14-yearold Reynaldo de Guzman, the companion of 19-year-old Carl Angelo Arnaiz, who was shot dead by policemen in Caloocan City on Aug. 18. De Guzman, who was found floating in a creek in Gapan City,

THE Judicial and Bar Council has rejected the request of the lawyer seeking the impeachment of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to release the psychological and psychiatric evaluation results of the top magistrate.

In junking the request of lawyer Larry Gadon, the JBC cited Section 3, Rule 6 of the Revised JBC Rules, which provides that the “results of the examination [psychological and psychiatric Next page

Mocha rebuked over casino ban LUMAD COMMUNITIES. Save Our Schools Network, with hundreds from Lakbayan 2017,

stage a protest action Thursday at the gate of Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense, in condemnation of the killings brought by what the protesters say are the military operations in the Lumad communities and the imposition of martial law in Mindanao. Manny Palmero

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FORMER sexy starlet and now Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson should comply with the government rule banning government officials from casinos, Presidential

Spokesman Ernesto Abella said Thursday.

Uson, who was spotted performing at a casino hotel in Pasay City, is under fire for her possible violation Next page

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DFA to aid DACA-hit Pinoys

By John Paolo Bencito

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HE government on Thursday vowed to help the Filipinos who will be affected by the possible revocation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which allows undocumented immigrant children to stay legally in the United States.

An estimated 10,000 Filipi- sult of Washington’s decision, nos could be deported as a re- the Foreign Affairs Depart-

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threats, can be covered by the witness protection program.

De Guzman and Arnaiz were last seen together on the night of Aug. 17 while buying snacks in a convenience store near their residences in Cainta, Rizal.

Arnaiz was found dead with five gunshot wounds and bruises in Caloocan 10 days after they went missing, while De Guzman’s body was found in Nueva Ecija with 30 stab wounds and his head wrapped in packaging tape on Tuesday.

Earlier this week, Aguirre ordered the NBI to conduct a parallel probe on Carl Angelo’s killing on Aug.18.

An autopsy on Arnaiz showed signs of torture, and indicated he was kneeling when he was shot several times in the chest, the Public Attorney’s Office said.

PAO chief Persida Acosta said the Arnaiz family is planning to file murder charges against the policemen.

She said they were still gathering more evidence before filing the complaint before the Justice Department.

The two policemen involved in the incident—Police Officer 1 Ricky Arquilita and Jeffrey Perez—have been relieved from their posts pending the investigation into the incident.

More senators yesterday bewailed the brutal killing of De Guzman.

Senator Risa Hontiveros described the killing as “a vile,

gruesome and barbaric act.”

“Reynaldo, at the tender age of 14, did nothing to deserve such a fate. To be stabbed 31 times is no accident. It is pure and simple murder of a child,” Hontiveros said.

Senator Nancy Binay said “30 stabs is savagery.”

She added that the deaths of teenagers De Guzman, Arnaiz and Delos Santos cannot be dismissed as isolated cases.

Senators Francis Pangilinan and Paolo Benigno Aquino IV called on the government to stop the bloody war on drugs.

“We must put an end to all these killings,” Aquino said.

Senator JV Ejercito said there would be no sacred cows in the investigation of these killings.

“We will not allow the war against illegal drugs be exploited by butchers and monsters.

We will not allow these culprits to be left unpunished,” he said.

Senator Joel Villanueva said the authorities should rethink their approach in addressing the country’s drug menace, claiming other criminal groups might have taken advantage of the campaign against narcotics.

“Recent vigilante killings show that our police force has no complete control of criminality. It is important to reevaluate our strategy and consider stopping this aggressive campaign as this has become out of control,” he said.

Senator Leila de Lima, detained on drug charges, said the President must give a direct, categorical and public order to the entire police force to stop the killings immediately.

Red...

Paolo...

committee on agrarian reform.

The resolution was signed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año, AFP Eastern Mindanao Command commander Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, and Davao Occidental Governor Claude Bautista, among others.

In Malacañang, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella told a news briefing President Rodrigo Duterte continued to be open in his relationship with the left, but admitted the relationship had been “complicated.”

“If we are going to work together, then there must be some form of agreement. And, apparently, at this stage, it’s a little bit complicated,” he added.

Despite this, however, Abella claimed the Palace was quite saddened with Mariano’s rejection as Agrarian Reform secretary.

“It’s quite regrettable that, you know, that people of opposing beliefs are not there... because it would really add to the...richness of the dialogue,” he said.

At least 13 members of the appointments body voted against Mariano’s confirmation.

Mariano, nominated by the left-leaning National Democratic Front, is the fourth Cabinet appointee of Duterte to be rejected. The three earlier rejected were Perfecto Yasay, Regina Lopez, and Judy Taguiwalo.

The RDC and RPOC said despite the ongoing peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People’s Army still attacked three business establishments and Task Force Davao in April.

John Paolo Bencito

Trillanes had told the Senate hearing that the vice mayor was a member of a triad and that the proof of this was a color tattoo of a dragon on his back.

Appearing for the first time in the Senate hearing on the shipment of shabu worth P6.4 billion that slipped past Customs in May, Paolo was asked if he had a tattoo.

“Yes, sir,” Paolo answered, then invoked his right to privacy when asked to show his tattoo to the panel.

“I am very sorry, but I cannot answer allegations based on hearsay,” he also said.

Trillanes said the tattoo was physical evidence of membership in the triad which operates

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Faeldon...

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Monday, he will be arrested and brought here to the blue ribbon committee. We will not entertain any defiance of the government here in this chamber,” he said.

Faeldon’s absence on Thursday’s hearing was the second time since he was issued a subpoena by the committee on Aug. 29.

Faeldon for his part said he no longer had faith in the impar-

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evaluation] are strictly confidential and are to be used solely by the Council for evaluation purposes only.”

But Gadon said the screening body, now chaired by Sereno, was not bound by this rule since the office of chief justice is imbued with public interest.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives’ committee on justice will begin its marathon hearings Wednesday next week on the impeachment complaints

ment said.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs is closely coordinating with the Filipino community in the United States following President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would revoke the DACA program allowing undocumented immigrant children to stay legally in the US,” Presidential Spokes-

man Ernesto Abella said.

“We will provide assistance to the Filipinos who may end up getting deported as a result of Washington’s decision,” he said.

The DACA program was covered by an executive order issued by President Barack Obama in 2012. It was envisioned to protect undocument-

ed immigrant children from deportation.

Chargé d’Affaires Patrick Chuasoto of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC, said that while the program does not lead to US citizenship, it is renewable every two years.

About 310,000 of the 3.4-million Filipinos in the US are undocumented.

Duterte’s...

Malacañang acknowledged that the spate of killings involving children allegedly perpetrated by rogue cops were not isolated events and needed to be addressed.

Restructuring the process of maintaining peace and order in the country falls within the ambit of the President’s campaign against crime, corruption, and illegal drugs, Abella said.

“A major rethinking going on,” he said.

Abella offered none of the usual defense of policemen conducting anti-drug operations.

“Let’s put it this way. The whole matter is under investigation,” Duterte’s spokesman told reporters.

He again assured the public there would be no whitewash.

The police last year suspended the drug war for an “internal cleansing” after crooked cops, on the pretext of carrying out the war on drugs, kidnapped then killed Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo inside the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.

When the anti-drug campaign was revived, more than 80 drug

suspects were killed in a span of four days—including teenagers Delos Santos, Arnaiz and De Guzman.

Malacañang expressed the Palace’s “profound dismay” over Delos Santos’ death, and described it as “disturbing.”

Abella said the administration has already ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a thorough investigation and case build-up over the killing of De Guzman.

Malacañang “is open to all significant and actually workable solutions” to resolve the issue of alleged extrajudicial killings, he said.

Police said they killed Arnaiz in a shootout, after he robbed a taxi driver, but his body showed signs of torture, and the trajectory of his gunshot wounds indicated he was lying on the ground when he was shot, the Public Attorney’s Office said.

Amnesty International said the deaths of teenagers in separate incidents called for an international level investigation of the President’s anti-drug war.

With Macon Ramos-Araneta

Police investigators in Caloocan City failed to specify the address of Bagcal.

The chief of the Public Attorney’s Office, Persida Acosta, said residents in the area in which he was supposed to live in Baesa said he did not live there.

In his affidavit, Bagcal did not list down the license plate of his taxi.

In Nueva Ecija, Gapan City Mayor Emerson Pascual has offered P200,000 bounty to anyone who could provide vital information leading to the arrest of De Guzman’s killers.

“To anyone who could pinpoint the license plate or the type of vehicle, or who could recognize to the person that dumped Kulot, I will give P200.000,” Pascual said in radio interview.

The mayor has provided financial assistance to the par-

ents of the boy, including expenses for the burial, wake and for bringing the teen’s body to Cainta, Rizal.

Eduardo Gabriel, the boy’s father, said that only demons could have killed his son, who bore dozens of stab wounds over his body and whose face was wrapped in packaging tape.

Eduardo said his son’s killer would eventually meet “karma” and get his due. With Rey E. Requejo

in China, Hong Kong, and Macau, and is engaged in various illegal activities, including the smuggling of illegal drugs.

Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the committee, spoke several times in aid of Paolo.

“The chair would like to counsel everyone here to be very careful because everybody has rights here and the chair intends to ensure that we respect those rights,” Gordon said.

Paolo’s lawyer Rainier Madrid said he advised the vice mayor to reject the challenge to show his tattoo, and mocked Trillanes for his interest in the vice mayor’s body.

“Is he gay?” he asked.

Asked if he had seen the vice mayor’s tattoo, Madrid said: “I have not seen it because I’m not gay.”

Paolo and presidential son-inlaw Manases Carpio denied alle-

gations that they were accepting payments to smooth shipments through Customs.

In their respective opening statements, Paolo and Carpio said they attended the investigation out of respect for the Senate as an institution. They said the allegations against them are baseless and purely based on rumors.

Facing the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing into the smuggling of 605 kilos of shabu facilitated through the BOC, Paolo, reading a prepared statement said he is appearing to set the record straight, as his children had been affected by the allegations against him.

“Once and for all I now have the time to deny any and all baseless allegations thrown against me. I complied with the invitation of the committee as a

gesture of respect for the Senate.

“My presence here is for the Filipino people and to my fellow Davaoeños to whom I serve. I am very sorry but I cannot answer allegations based on hearsay.

“In closing, a senator once said that we are a family of murderers and I am untouchable,” he said.

He then quoted a member of the city council of Davao, saying: “Every dog has his day. The law of karma will operate especially on those with evil intent.”

Carpio also read a prepared speech, in which he denied knowing or meeting self-confessed Customs fixer Mark Ruben Taguba.

Taguba had earlier named Paolo and Carpio as head of the socalled “Davao Group,” which facilitated shipments at the Customs in exchange for huge bribes.

tiality of some Senate members who have maligned him, the reason he did not attend Thursday’s hearing.

Instead, Faeldon called on senators and congressmen to immediately file their cases against him and the rest of his team so that justice would be served.

“I will no longer attend inquiries of both Houses of Congress until a competent court has defined clearly the limitations of the privilege of legislative immunity vis-bis the constitution-

ally guaranteed rights of citizens of this country. All rights guaranteed under the Constitution and all other laws must be respected,” said Faeldon.

In a letter sent to the committee, Faeldon stressed his absence was “not to defy the Senate as an institution but rather “a way of protesting.”

“I continue to have the highest respect for the Senate as an institution but I no longer have faith in the impartiality in (sic) some of its members who have lied to

malign me and other innocent resource persons,” Faeldon said.

“This is not to defy [the Senate] as an institution. This is a way of protesting. I want my team and I to be the last victims of baseless accusations, persecution, and condemnation,” said Faeldon.

Faeldon added he would welcome any case to be filed against him in connection with the drug shipment that slipped past Customs last May, as well as the alleged corruption inside the BoC. With Vito Barcelo

filed against Sereno and Commission on Elections chairman Andres Bautista.

The panel chairman, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, made the disclosure Thursday after the House committee on rules referred the two complaints to his panel to have them scheduled for full-blown hearings.

“Two impeachment cases against Bautista and Sereno were both read today [Thursday] in the plenary, we will schedule it simultaneously but one at a time,” Umali told reporters Thursday.

“We will probably begin the hearings on Wednesday,” he added.

During the initial hearing, the House justice panel is expected to lay down the ground rules for impeachment; and later on determine the sufficiency in form and substance of the two complaints filed.

Gadon wanted Sereno removed from her post for betrayal of public trust for what he alleged as “whimsical” and “excessive” purchase of the latest model of the Toyota Land Cruiser amounting to P5.1 million, as well as her alleged failure to declare “exorbitant lawyer’s fees” allegedly amounting to P37 million.

The complaint was endorsed by at least 25 lawmakers.

The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption and Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution Inc. also wanted Sereno impeached on the same grounds cited by Gadon. The VACC and VPCI complaint was endorsed by 16 lawmakers.

Umali said the House justice panel will consolidate the two complaints.

Former Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras filed an impeachment complaint against Bautista for betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution over allegations of illgotten wealth. Maricel V. Cruz

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bore more than 30 stab wounds and his entire face was wrapped in masking tape. Arnaiz, who was shot dead by policemen, was found in a Caloocan City morgue on Aug. 28, his body showing signs of torture.

On Aug. 16, 17-year-old Grade 11 student Kian Loyd delos Santos was beaten and shot dead by policemen who claimed he fired on them first.

Their account was contradicted by CCTV footage, eyewitnesses and autopsy findings that showed the boy had not discharged a weapon before he died.

Amid the simmering public outrage over the child killings, the Palace said it is rethinking the conduct of the war on drugs.

“The fact that the PNP is being investigated, that there are Senate hearings, this indicates that actually the whole nation is in the process of rethinking the way we do things,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a Palace news briefing.

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Sept. 11 holiday in Ilocos Norte MALACAÑANG on Thursday declared a special non-working day in Ilocos Norte on Sept. 11 for the 100th birth anniversary of the late former president Ferdinand Marcos.

The Palace made the statement even as former senator Aquilino Pimentel said Marcos’ kin’s decision to return the ill-gotten wealth that they allegedly stole from government coffers was an admission of “regret” for stealing public funds during Marcos’ 20-year rule.

“The return of the loot of the Marcoses must be done in order to assuage the people that there’s a certain degree of regret—even if it is not verbally expressed,” Pimentel told reporters.

He said he agreed with Duterte’s move to ask Congress for a law to facilitate the recovery of the Marcoses’ wealth, since it was “necessary” to define the policy that would guide how the wealth would be returned to the government.

Proclamation 310, signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Sept. 6, ordered a public holiday in Marcos’ hometown to celebrate his 100th birthday.

“The Ilocano community has been annually celebrating the birthdate of the late Ferdinand E. Marcos, and commemorating his life and contributions to national development as a World War II veteran, distinguished legislator, and former president,” the proclamation says.

“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the Province of Ilocos Norte be given the full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.”

Marcos was born on Sept. 11, 1917, in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, but grew up in nearby Batac town, which is acknowledged as the Marcoses’ hometown.

He died on Sept. 28, 1989, in Honolulu, Hawaii.

President Rodrigo Duterte had earlier floated the idea of giving the Marcoses immunity from law suits by Congress should his kin return the money that they allegedly looted from government coffers during his rule from 1965 to 1986. John Paolo Bencito

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of a circular signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea prohibiting government officials from entering, staying in or playing in casinos.

Abella said all government officials must comply with the prohibition including Uson.

“That matter has to be settled.

First, there has to be a proper investigation in order to be able to settle this issue,” Abella said.

Uson’s boss, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, however, appeared to brush off her supposed violation of Malacañang’s order.

“Mocha asked permission to honor her entertainment contracts when she joined the government,” Andanar told reporters in a text message.

“Anyhow, we are still looking into the matter of Mocha performing inside [Resorts World].

Mocha can still perform if she wishes, [but] I would discourage her from performing in places like casinos.”

Despite repeated efforts to get her side, Uson has yet to issue a pronouncement on the matter, even on her Facebook page.

Several posts in social media showed Uson performing along with her all-girl group, The Mocha Girls, at Resorts World Manila, a popular entertainment complex in Pasay City.

Uson, who started out as a solo singer-dancer performing in bars around Metro Manila, became popular for her sexy image and on-stage antics, including lap dances. John Paolo Bencito

News IN BRIEF ERC’s Salazar asked to resign AN ADMINISTRATION law-

maker on Thursday appealed to Jose Vicente Salazar to make the ultimate sacrifice by stepping down as chairman of the Energy Regulatory Commission and save the agency from getting a P1,000 budget for 2018.

Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Partylist Rep. Jericho Nograles said corruption allegations made by the late ERC director Jose Francisco Villa Jr. against Salazar before committing suicide has befouled the image of the entire ERC and has lost its credibility as a regulatory body.

“True or not, the allegations made against Chairman Salazar have completely demolished the credibility of the ERC. My friendly advice to him is that he should make the ultimate sacrifice and step down. The entire institution must not suffer just because of him,” Nograles, a deputy majority leader, said.

Nograles said the decision of the House leadership led

by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to give the ERC a P1,000 budget was obviously prompted by Salazar’s refusal to resign. Even President Rodrigo Duterte has already demanded for his resignation, he added. Maricel V. Cruz

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House postpones SK, brgy polls

By Maricel V. Cruz

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HE House of Representatives on Wednesday night approved on second reading a consolidated bill seeking to reset the scheduled Oct. 23, 2017 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to May 14, 2018.

Voting 19-2, the Lower House approved House Bill 6308 with a holdover provision among incumbent officials.

Citizens Battle Against Corruption Party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna, House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms, expressed optimism the Senate will act on the measure at the soonest possible time as soon as the House-approved version of the bill is elevated to the Upper House.

He said the measure was approved to help the antiillegal drugs campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“The approval will help the campaign of the President against illegal drugs,” Tugna said.

“We have heard the positions of barangay captains and officials of the Philippine National Police and the Comelec [Commission on Elections] who support the suspension of barangay and SK elections, this is

the basis of our decision,” Tugna said.

The approval of the measure came as lawyer Czarena Aquino of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said the anti-drug agency arrested at least 87 barangay chairmen and 256 village councilors in the intensified anti-drug war campaign of President Duterte.

One of the bill’s authors, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chair man of the House committee on dangerous drugs, welcomed the measure’s approval on third and final reading.

“This measure is crucial to the anti-illegal drugs drive of the government,” Barbers said.

Earlier in the day, the Commission on Elections

announced that the filing of Certificate of Candidacy for the Oct. 23, 2017 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will start on Sept. 23, 2017.

The Comelec released the guidelines on the filing of COCs for the local elections hours before the House of Representatives passed on second reading postponing the village and SK elections.

The poll body said the barangay and SK elections will elect one punong barangay and seven members of the Sangguniang barangay, while for the youth council, one Chairperson and seven members of the SK will be elected.

The qualifications for punong barangay and Members of the Sangguniang

By Rey E. Requejo

THE government is set to earn P3.6 million in additional revenue from the first month of implementation of a policy against colorum and out-of-line vehicles operating at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Based on the report released by the Manila International Airport Authority-Media Affairs Division, a total of 30 colorum vehicles, mostly regular white taxicabs, were apprehended from Aug. 9 to Sept. 5.

“There will be a process. After investigation, and if found guilty, owners and operators of these vehicles will be slapped with a minimum of P120,000 fine. The proceeds will go to the LTFRB (Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board),” said MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal.

Fourteen of the apprehended vehicles were taxicabs, 13 private vehicles and two GRAB cars. The vehicles were towed to the Nayong Pilipino area used by the MIAA as impounding site.

Joel E. Zurbano

FIGHTING FIRE. Firefighters train their hoses into residential buildings being gutted by a fire in Binondo, Manila Thursday. No one was reported hurt in the fire that reached the 5th alarm. Norman Cruz

Fund housing sector—solon

THE Department of Justice has exonerated the executives of remittance firm Philrem Service Corp. of culpability in the money laundering case involving $81 million in stolen funds by hackers from the Bangladesh Bank.

In a six-page resolution, the DOJ Anti-Money Laundering Task Force granted the motion for reconsideration filed by Philrem executives Salud Bautista, Michael Bautista and Anthony Pelejo last May and dismissed the charges filed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council against them.

This means that former Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. branch manager Maia Santos-Deguito would be the only remaining principal accused in the money laundering case that the DoJ filed before the Makati City Regional Trial Court.

The DoJ investigating fiscals cleared the three Philrem executives after finding out that they reported the suspicious transfer of funds

Filipinos in Florida and Carribean told to be ready for ‘Irma’

By Sara D. Fabunan THE Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday advised Filipinos in Florida and the Caribbean to start bracing themselves for Hu r r ica ne Irma—a potentially catastrophic storm that is making its way across the southern Atlantic Ocean.

In a statement, the DFA said advisories are being issued to the more than 152,000 Filipinos who are in the path of Irma, which weather experts described as one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean.

“We have seen how Hurri-

cane Irma has been gathering strength in the past few days,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said. “Our kababayans in Florida and other parts of the East Coast and the Caribbean must heed the warnings of weather experts and take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety.”

Cayetano said the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. and the Philippine Embassy in Mexico as well as the Philippine Honorary Consulates in Haiti and the Dominican Republic are on standby and are monitoring the storm.

According to the United States National Hurricane

Center, Irma is now a Category 5 hurricane that can inflict potentially catastrophic damage in areas along its path.

Chargé d'Affaires Patrick Chuasoto of the Philippine Embassy in Washington said that aside from Florida, with its Filipino population of 150,115, Irma will cross the following Caribbean islands with a combined Filipino population of 3,607; Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts, and Nevis, Saba, St. Eustatius, and Saint Maarten; Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy,British Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra and Haiti.

“We advise all our “kababayans” along the path of Hurricane Irma to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel until the storm has passed,” Chuasoto said.

He said the Embassy is in touch with Honorary Consul Henry Howard in Florida and Honorary Consul Fitzgerald Brandt in Port-ay-Prince.

Ambassador to Mexico Eduardo De Vega said Irma will also hit Cuba, with a Filipino population of more than 500, and the Dominican Republic with around 100.

De Vega said the Embassy in Mexico remains in touch with leaders of the Filipino Commu-

nity in Havana and with Honorary Consul Limuel Dudalo in Sto. Domingo.

Both Philippine diplomatic posts advised the members of the Filipino communities in the areas to be affected to stock up on food and other emergency provisions, monitor developments, and heed the guidance and warnings of local authorities.

Filipino nationals in areas to be impacted by Irma who may need assistance can call the emergency hotlines of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC at +1-202-368-2767 and the Philippine Embassy in Mexico at +52-155-2771-3776.

P56b needed to rehabilitate damaged Marawi—Lorenzana

PDP-L ‘Minda’ sets assembly A COALITION of six regional councils in Mindanao under the Partido Demokratiko PilipinoLakas ng Bayan is set to hold a general assembly in Davao City on Sept. 15 to push the party leadership to revisit and implement the party’s constitution and by-laws.

Cesar Ledesma, one of the party founders and party secretariat of the Mindanao Area Council, said the coalition comprising the five regions in Mindanao and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will present their six-point agenda and manifesto for the consideration of Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, the party’s national president.

Under the present set-up, the MAC region presidents included Cesar Cuntapay, Region XI; Rogelio Garcia, Region XII; Emmanuel Lumanao, Region XIII; Franklin Quijano, Region X; Noli Garcia, Region XI, and Datu Apan Piang, ARMM secretary-general. Rio N. Araja

not more than twenty four years of age on the day of the elections; able to read and write Filipino, English of the local dialect; and must not be related within the 2nd civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent elected national official or to any incumbent elected regional, provincial, city, municipal or barangay official in the locality where aspirant seeks to be elected; and must not have been convicted by final judgment of any crime involving moral turpitude.

The COCs shall be filed at the Office of the election officer of the City, Municipality or District where the aspirant seeks to be elected.

Vito Barcelo

Philrem execs cleared in laundering case

MIAA goes after ‘colorum’ cabs

A PARTY-LIST lawmaker has pushed for more government support and funding for the housing sector amid proposals for the creation of a Department of Housing.

“While we commend the good intentions of the authors of the proposed creation of a Department of Housing, we believe that this will only slow down instead of spurring the development of the housing sector,” Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza said.

Atienza pointed out that what the housing sector needs to address the housing problem of the country is for government to give it the funding and support it sorely needs.

“The problem now is lack of real, genuine support and appropriations for the housing sector. All bureaus have been set up. Production of housing units for the poor is taken care of by the National Housing Authority. The National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board are set up to handle monitoring and supervision,” Atienza said.

Maricel V. Cruz

barangay are as follows: must be citizen of the Philippines; a registered voter in the Barangay where he intends to be elected; resident therein for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the day of the election; able to read and write Filipino or any other local language or dialect; and at least 18 years of age on Election Day. For the Sangguniang Kabataan council, hereunder are the qualifications must be a citizen of the Philippines; a qualified voter of the Katipunan ng Kabataan (KK); a resident of the Barangay for not less than one year immediately preceding the day of the elections; at least eighteen years but

PERSONS OF INTEREST. Police Senior Supt. Orlando Yebra Jr. of Pasig City present to the members of the media the four males caught on CCTV whom he tagged as ‘persons of interest’ in the rape-slay of 16-year-old Grace Omadlao. Citing medical reports, Gubita Omadlao, the victim's mother, said her daughter was raped and tortured before she was killed. Manny Palmero

REBUILDING The besieged Philippine city of Marawi could cost about P56 billion ($1.1 billion), Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said recently.

Months of fighting between Philippine troops and Islamic State-inspired militants have left the once vibrant city on the southern island of Mindanao a virtual ghost town, displacing more than 230,000 people.

“There’s a need to rebuild the infrastructure, provide social assistance to those traumatized by the war, restock armed forces ammunition and replenish its funding,” Lorenzana said in an interview, adding that he expects the conflict to be over within three weeks.

At least 770 people have been killed since fighting began on May 23 when hundreds of militants laid siege to the city, prompting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law. As the conflict dragged

on, the cost has mounted and the most recent estimate is equal to more than a third of the budget for defense this year.

Lorenzana said current estimates indicated that P50 billion would be needed for the rehabilitation of Marawi City. Up to P3 billion had already been spent by the military since fighting began, and another P3 billion for social welfare and other services, he said.

The government may need to ask lawmakers for an additional P10 billion-budget this year to start reconstruction. On top of that, an estimated P7.5 billion is needed to hire 20,000 soldiers and 10,000 police, he added.

He said that for every 10,000 soldiers, the government would need at least P2.5 billion a year to train and equip, compared with the P4 billion projection of military chief Eduardo Ano. Bloomberg

through the bank.

“The Anti-Money Laundering Task Force took cognizance of the respondents' averment that contrary to the charge filed against them, they have properly submitted a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) on 17 February 2016. The respondents presented the subject STR and since the resolution centered on said document, the charge against them for money laundering is herein dismissed,” the resolution signed by Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Emilie Fe Delos Santos ruled.

However, the DoJ has yet to resolve the separate money laundering charges filed by AMLC against six RCBC officials—former retail banking group head Raul Victor Tan, Ismael Reyes, Brigitte Capiña, Nestor Pineda, Romualdo Agarrado and Angela Ruth Torres.

If the investigating prosecutors eventually find probable cause against the other RCBC officials, they will join Deguito as co-accused in the money laundering case.

QC court penalizes ex-UP dean

By Rio N. Araja THE Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court has ordered a former dean of the University of the Philippines' College of Human Kinetics to pay a P5,000 fine for approving a payment to a catering firm owned by him and his wife.

Branch 36 convicted exdean Hercules Callanta for violation of Section 7(a) of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, or Republic Act 6713.

The case started when Callanta engaged the services of the family-owned The Lord's Inheritance Catering to provide meals during the College of Human Kinetics' summer recreation program.

The Office of the Ombudsman's prosecutors testified before the court to prove the culpability of Callanta and presented the disbursement voucher worth P6,300 bearing his signature as evidence.

"The accused, as dean and approving authority for payment, knowingly signed the disbursement voucher for the catering services of The Lord’s Inheritance Catering Service during the May 26, 2007 summer recreation program in the amount of P6,300 organized and sponsored by the CHK," the decision read.

“Without such signature, the disbursement voucher could not be processed for payment by the UP Diliman accounting office, and the May 26, 2007 transaction would not have been paid.”

A4

Opinion

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Metro subway

T

HE Philippines finally will have a subway of its own to join other mega cities in Asia that have long built their underground electric railroad as a way to decongest traffic.

The Cabinet the other day approved the first phase of the Metro Manila Subway Project that will cost P355.6 billion to build. It is an ambitious project, initially stretching over 30 kilometers from Mindanao Ave. in Quezon

Adelle Chua, Editor

City to Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Parañaque City.

It may take a while to finish the subway project (set for construction from 2018 to mid-2025), which is to be funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency

at an interest of 0.10 percent a year, payable in 40 years with a grace period of 12 years. But the benefits from the modern mode of transportation will certainly outweigh the inconveniences of constructing the mammoth project.

Travel time from Mindanao Ave. to the FTI Complex in Taguig City, for one, is expected to take just 31 minutes onboard

the subway rail project from the current dreadful three-hour trip. For Quezon Citybased residents working on the southern edge of Metro Manila, the subway mode will be a welcome respite from their daily commuting struggle.

The second phase of the metro subway, meanwhile, will extend to Caloocan City or Meycauayan, Bulacan in the north to Dasmariñas, Cav-

ite in the south. The length of the entire subway project and the shorter travel time will give workers increased quality time with their families. Labor productivity is also expected to increase with less weary workers able to perform better on their jobs.

The Transportation Department must see to it that construction of the subway project will proceed like

clockwork and without much delay. The government owes it to the commuting public, who have agonized and long contended with a poor mass transportation service.

The subway project, like in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore, can finally make Metro Manila a modern metropolis. The government, thus, must use all its powers to get this job done.

How to close the gender gap in tech Bloomberg editorial

Reynaldo FORMATION GARY OLIVAR THE kid was 14 years old, barely out of his childhood—small, scrawny, perhaps runny-nosed, still unsure how to handle the oncoming energy and hormones of adolescence.

He would still have been a habitué of playgrounds, although his toys would no longer be those of childhood, but the pastimes of very poor city kids entering adulthood in this country: cellphones, knives and other makeshift implements of teen gang violence, and, perhaps, the occasional, or regular, sniffing of glue, smoking of grass, snorting of crudely-made meth.

It’s not clear how this

kid, Reynaldo, ended up that night in the company of the much older nineteenyear-old Carl, who would later be found dead from five bullet wounds, allegedly inflicted after trying to rob a taxi driver and then resisting arrest. Nor what happened to him afterward: one story has Reynaldo going off on his own that night to pull off a robbery somewhere in Cainta.

What’s indisputable is that the 14-year-old went missing for a good three weeks before his swollen corpse was found floating face down in a creek in faraway Gapan, Nueva Ecija.

His head was wrapped with packing tape, and the boy bore 34 stab wounds all over his scrawny little body. *** Until the various official inquiries are completed,

we can only speculate on the possibilities.

Did Reynaldo have the bad luck of trying to rob a property owner who fan-

Until the various official inquiries are completed, we can only speculate on the possibilities. cied himself to be a Dirty Harry? Did he run into a gang confrontation, or could he have been set upon by drug users on a

meth-fed violent streak?

All those stab wounds are certainly consistent with violent druggie behavior.

But, no, the boy was brought all the way from Caloocan to Gapan to be dumped in that creek like an over-full garbage bag.

And very few people would have taken the trouble to wrap his head with packing tape, unless their specific intent was torture—not to extract any kind of usable information from a 14-year-old, nor set some kind of cautionary example to other drug users (if indeed he was one), but simply for the pleasure of torturing this boy.

If it turns out that Reynaldo’s killers were cops—perhaps colleagues of those who set upon Carlo—then these people would not even be classifiable simply

as rogue cops. Torture and murder for sadistic purposes goes beyond the pale for roguishness and scalawaggery.

Such people would be a blot—not just on the good name of the PNP, or the decent intentions of the President, or our ethnicity—but a blot on the face of humanity. *** One’s mind understandably shies away from such thoughts as this. But worse things have happened before, in other police organizations as well as our own.

It would not be the first time, nor will it be the last, while the human heart is still darkened by the consequences of fallenness.

Nonetheless, we do not have any other choice but to rely on our police force to protect us from evil that can often turn incompre-

hensible. And when, from time to time, we are faced with the kind of betrayal of duty that took the lives of Kian and Carlo, and perhaps Reynaldo too, there are no other people we can turn to for succor but the very few men (and women) who lead that police force and bear the ultimate responsibility of command.

This is why this is no time for the man at the very top of the PNP, General “Bato” dela Rosa, to continue to convey to us with his increasingly frequent public outbursts of tears that he really isn’t a stone and can be just as emotional as the next guy. That’s been made clear enough.

But at the end of the day, he can’t be just a regular guy.

He’s the one the rest of us have to depend on to properly run the PNP.

Turn to A5

IN THE weeks since the now-infamous Google memo first stirred global controversy, too little light has been shed on the underlying issue—the large and undeniable gender gap in computer science, engineering and the technology business in general.

Let’s begin with the proposition that this gap is a bad thing. At least three times as many men as women work as computer scientists in the US. That suggests an enormous supply of ideas, ingenuity and creativity is going to waste. And the US is already short more than half a million computer-science graduates—a deficit that will only worsen as the industry expands.

Why do so few women work in tech? It isn’t that they can’t do math or are biologically unsuited to the tasks. It’s that women—including those who excel at math—haven’t been shown in a consistent and forthright way why they should want the jobs. This can change.

In the 1980s, women made up a little under 40 percent of computerscience graduates. Since then, the gender gap has grown: Currently, less than 20 percent of computer-science graduates are women. In the earliest days of programming, during World War II, building computers was deemed a macho thing, and programming was thought to be for typists. Later, when personal computers began to appear in homes and offices, they were promoted as a pastime—for boys. (“WarGames” or “Tron,” anyone?) Contemporary bro culture has done nothing to attack this bias.

Here’s the good news.

When bias is seen for what it is, it can start to be dispelled.

Consider, for example, the experience of Harvey Mudd College, an elite science and engineering school in Southern California, which

Turn to A5

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Opinion Trump’s DACA failure is Congress’ opportunity

By Michael Bloomberg Valley entrepreneur who AN EXECUTIVE’S job is to make tough decisions and convince people to follow you. That’s what CEOs are hired to do—and it’s what we elect presidents to do. By punting the legal status of young immigrants to Congress without offering his own proposal, President Trump has failed an important test of executive leadership. But his failure is Congress’ opportunity.

The administration’s threat to rescind the legal status of 800,000 individuals brought to the US illegally by their parents would be a monumentally bad economic decision that —in its cruelty toward innocent people—would also be patently un-American.

Business leaders I speak with from around the country, and from every major industry, understand that deporting these young people would adversely affect the labor supply as well as consumer demand. Growth would suffer, innovation would move overseas, and the future of our country would be dimmer.

There is no sound economic case to be made for deporting a young, productive workforce and surrendering the real benefits they provide our country. According to a new analysis by New American Economy, a coalition of business leaders I co-chair, the young people who qualify for the Obama-era program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, earn almost $20 billion in income annually. They pay more than $3 billion in local, state and federal taxes, and they contribute almost $2 billion to Social Security and $470 million to Medicare.

Another study found that passing a DREAM Act to keep young immigrants here instead of sending them abroad would pump over $300 billion into the US economy over the next two decades.

Immigrants and their children have founded more than 40 percent of our Fortune 500 companies.

Think of the next Main Street entrepreneur who grows his or her company to employ many local residents. Or the next Silicon

builds a company that benefits millions of Americans —and keeps America at the forefront of the global economy. Think too of the next award-winning teacher, or life-saving doctor.

They are called Dreamers because they are pursuing the great American dream: the chance to work hard, play by the rules, and build a better life for yourself and your children.

Deporting them would deprive local communities of talented, hard-working and law-abiding young people, and deprive the country of the brains and brawn it needs to continue leading the world economy.

Our coalition of business leaders has a deep regard for the rule of law, and we understand the desire to see all immigrants held to the same standard.

But children brought here illegally by their parents did nothing wrong—and in order to stay, they must pass background checks and prove they are going to school, have graduated, or have honorably served in the military.

Doing so demonstrates that they are law-abiding and productive members of their communities, and it gives them the opportunity to qualify for DACA, which grants them two things: temporary protection from deportation to a country many do not remember and whose language they may not speak, and a renewable, two-year work permit.

In the past, members of the House and Senate have introduced a variety of bipartisan bills to give these young people a more permanent place in American society. Until Tuesday, those in Congress who oppose deportation—and I believe it’s a strong majority, as it is among Americans—had the luxury of sitting back and allowing Obama’s temporary fix to remain in place. That is no longer a viable option.

The future of the American dream—for all Americans—depends on our willingness to keep it open to all young people who pursue it. And that now depends on Congress having the courage to lead where the president will not.

Bloomberg

IF YOU see a space scientist looking forlorn this month, it’s probably because Nasa’s Cassini mission to Saturn is about to end. There’s nothing anyone can do about it; the spacecraft has already been kept operational for nine years past its planned expiry date. And now it’s out of fuel.

But Cassini will be missed. Since 2004, it’s been scrutinizing the most recognizable planet in our solar system—and many of Saturn’s rings and moons.

Now the space scientists operating the craft have found a way to make its Grand Finale especially memorable and important, by shifting its orbit to collect extra data, even as it prepares for a fatal dive into Saturn itself.

If space scientists were collectively asked to name the highlights of what Cassini has taught us about Saturn, they might shout in unison, “Titan!” That’s Saturn’s largest moon and the only body in the solar system outside of Earth that has a thick, nitrogen-dominated atmosphere and liquids that

persist on the surface. Titan’s liquids are not water, but rather methane, ethane and other hydrocarbons.

Nevertheless, this moon might have the right stuff to provide the complex chemistry that’s needed to create a suitable environment for life. Titan is so special to space scientists that the Cassini mission included the Huygens Probe, which in 2005 descended through the moon’s atmosphere, landed, and sent us the first images of its surface. This is how we learned that Titan also shares with Earth many geologic features, including river drainage systems, lakes and dunes.

After giving Titan its due, scientists would point to Enceladus, another of Saturn’s moons, but much smaller—just 500 kilometers in diameter, with a surface that’s mostly solid ice. In 2005, Cassini flew through plumes of vapor emanating from a saltwater ocean beneath the ice near Enceladus’s south pole. This liquid ocean is probably in contact with rock below and may receive energy from tides

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Is justice a legal concept?

PENSEES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO ALMOST all of the time, when a court resolves a dispute—a claim to what the Constitution awkwardly characterizes as a “legally demandable right” —its reference will be the law, and that is expected to be the case. Similarly, when the constitutionality of a statute is in issue, or the validity of an executive act, the inflexible reference point will be the Constitution, and once more that is as it should be so.

Now, to say that a decision is legally correct, is that the same thing as saying that it is just? Many will feel uncomfortable with that equation, but then the question immediately follows: If one is not willing to concede to the law’s

dictates the title of justice, what then is the latter’s measure?

This is not only a philosophical conundrum. It is a difficulty that makes itself felt also in the realm of law, especially in the application of the law. So it is that under the traditional precepts of hermeneutics, when a “literal interpretation” (itself a troublesome concept) leads to “absurd” results—and unjust, unfair, unreasonable will count as “absurd”, then since it should be presumed that the Legislature intended what is just, then recourse must be to a nonliteral construal.

So too, it is accepted that principles of equity play a role in judicial decisions, although always with the caveat that they may not substitute for positive law —the positivism of modern, bourgeois law! Justice Isagani Cruz put it well in one of his decisions:

The law is interpreted to achieve just results. And Justice Justo Torres put it with almost mystical lyricism when he wrote: “The

There is also something constant and invariable about social realities that makes, say, torture or the abuse of children universally repugnant.

measure of a law is the measure of its justice.”

But that does not yet answer the question: Whence, the principles of justice? A

natural law theorist will insist that reason yields the principles of justice. Rawls advances an interesting theory: If people were hypothetically ignorant of their own inclinations, biases, prejudices, preferences and on the assumption that they are reasonable, they would choose to have as wide a range of liberties as is possibly compatible with a similar range for others. Ricoeur, with typical acuteness, traces the issue of justice takes up the problem of justice from the juridical where one asks “Who is the subject of rights?” Through the moral: “Who is the subject worthy of esteem and regard or respect?” To the anthropological: “What is the basic characteristic of the self that makes it capable of esteem and respect?”

The itinerary is difficult, and the answer is hardly straightforward, but we

cannot withdraw from reflecting on justice, especially when we are worried that the spate of unabated EJKs is making our society an unjust society, and when the deliberate culture of fake news and “alternative truth” is wreaking havoc on our sense of what is right— and shaking to the core our concept of justice!

True, social realities that form the contexts of discourses on justice are “constructs” but there is also something constant and invariable about them that makes, say, torture or the abuse of children universally repugnant, and that allows for universal condemnation of its perpetrators. r a n n i e_ a q u i n o @ c s u . edu.ph rannie_ aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook. com

QC to Naia in 30 minutes VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ FOR the first time, the Philippines, one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies, will have a mostly underground and earthquake-proof subway system, in the national capital and nearby provinces.

Part of the subway will be operational before President Duterte leaves office on June 30, 2022.

Completion is another three years, in 2025.

Total cost is P355.6 billion, making it the Duterte administration’s single largest project ever. As originally planned, the subway will run for 25 kms, from Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City to Taguig. Today, on a good day, that will take you at least two hours in Metro Manila’s horrendous traffic, one way. With a subway, 30 minutes from Quezon City, and you are at your destination, assuming train speed of 80 kph, double the speed of MRT3.

The cabinet, meeting as the economic planning body National Economic and Development Authority, approved the project last week.

The underground railway will be built by the Duterte government, with

financing from the Japanese government at very concessional, almost interest-free, loan. The loan agreement is expected to be signed this November in Manila at the summit of Asean leaders and their dialogue partners, which include the United States and Japan, by Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Japan is also financing another railway, this time above ground, from Manila’s Tutuban station of the old PNR to Malolos, Bulacan.

The so-called Green City Rail will cost P211.46 billion.

The concentration of mass railways from north Manila to areas further north reflects a policy shift—away from the rich provinces of the Calabarzon—Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon, to Central Luzon which the government thinks is a better bet for growth, long term.

Central Luzon, or Region III, after all, is mostly flat lands, near major water sources (like Angat and Pantabangan), and has two assets Calabarzon does not have—the Clark airport (whose passenger capacity is being doubled from the present 4.2 million) and the Subic seaport, 110 kms north of Manila, and which has a cargo capacity of 600,000 of 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

Cassini’s last photos will be spectacular

By Sabine Stanley

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

and radioactive elements, which could provide important catalysts for the development of life. Future missions to Enceladus can be designed to look for evidence of life without landing on the surface, by sampling the plumes expelled into space.

These are just two of Cassini’s many significant discoveries. The Grand Finale is guaranteed to add more.

For years, Cassini had been orbiting close to Saturn’s equatorial plane, in order to efficiently investigate the moons. But beginning in late April of this year, the spacecraft shifted course and has been flying on a path more perpendicular to the equator, a north-to-south elliptical route that reaches a point closest to Saturn about once a week. These orbits include dramatic passes between Saturn and its rings that allow Cassini to observe the planet in unprecedented detail. With the completion of each one, the scientific community exhales deeply, relieved that the spacecraft has survived for another round. Twenty of the planned 22 orbits

have been completed. The last one, in which the spacecraft is to descend into Saturn’s atmosphere and burn up from exposure to the high pressures and temperatures, is set to take place on Friday, Sept. 15.

The Cassini mission has been a constant presence in the careers of many space scientists working today, whether it was under development, traveling to Saturn, or carrying out its extended missions. Sept. 15 will mark the end of an era, and this comes with an immense sense of loss. Yes, there are other fantastic missions under way in our solar system.

But Cassini is special. The data it has provided have advanced our understanding of the solar system, and informed our search for life elsewhere in the universe.

On Sept. 15, I will raise a glass to this wonderful mission and all the scientists and engineers who made it possible. I will say goodbye and thank you to Cassini for inspiring my work and demonstrating what remarkable things humans can accomplish when they work together. Bloomberg

Currently, Southern Luzon or Region IV-A, contributes 17 percent (almost P3 trillion) of the national economic output or GDP; Central Luzon shares a paltry 9 percent (P1.575 trillion).

However, Region IV-A has five things Central Luzon does not have— proximity to NAIA which handles 35 million passengers a year, the Batangas international seaport (110 kms south of Manila and with a capacity of 400,000 TUEs), scenic Taal Lake (which is triggering an unprecedented building and tourism boom along both sides of the Aguinaldo Highway from Silang, Cavite to Nasugu, Batangas), sprawling Laguna Lake (a major water source and a circumferential road in the future), and a vibrant entrepreneurial class—Cavite, Batangas and Cavite have proud SME entrepreneurs and gentlemen farmers.

Finally, with climate change in 100 years when sea levels rise one meter, Central Luzon has a greater possibility of sinking (as it did in 1972 when Manila Bay had a date with Lingayen Gulf in Central Luzon), than Southern Luzon a huge chunk of whose area are mountains.

This may explain why even before the Mega Manila subway project could

break ground, it is already being expanded, to cross under the South Expressway onto the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Mega Manila means Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna, plus Metro Manila (which has 16 cities and one town). Mega Manila has 15,059 sq kms and a population that will hit 19.5 million in 2030 (from 15.3 million in 2010).

Eventually, the subway will extend in the south, from Naia to Dasmariñas City, Cavite, a distance of 20.7 kms, and north, from Mindanao Avenue, to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, another, 15.4 kms., extending the line to 61 kms, and increasing capacity from 370,000 passengers daily in its first year, to 1.7 million.

How firm is the subway project? Says Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, who sometimes speaks as if he is selling you Manila’s Jones Bridge in Chinatown: “I don’t want bola-bola. I want this project finished.” Apart from fast-tracking the project, he also asked that the subway extend to Naia.

Just so he wouldn’t be ribbed for the colossal failure of his Land Transportation Office to issue plastic driver’s licenses, Tugade last week announced the availability plastic driver’s licenses—on a selective basis. You apply at LTO

today for a license, you won’t get your plastic card.

A friend of mine applied the other day. She did not get the plastic.

A subway for Metro Manila is actually an old idea. It was first broached during the presidency of BS Aquino III, by the Japanese. A study was finished for the Japan International Cooperation Agency in March 2014.

With Aquino’s Daang Matuwid, the subway never took off and remained underground in the mind of BS III. Duterte has dusted off the study and adopted the subway as his centerpiece Build, Build, Build infra project.

Golf tournament On a personal note, may I endorse the golf tournament of alumnae of the College of the Holy Spirit for the CHSAF Scholarship Program, this Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, at scenic Sta. Elena Golf Club (take Cabuyao Exit of the South Expressway in Laguna). Please contact Tellie Francisco 893-002; 0917-825-7378; or CHS Secretariat, c/o Cora Parco 735-5986, 0917-271-9325.

CHS alumae need to raise money from tuition for scholarships. Holy Spirit tuition is P70,000 a year; so you know how much to contribute to the fund.

Reynaldo

problem of extra-judicial killings, whether the reality or the perception of it.

If he really wants to preserve the honor of the organization that he clearly loves so much, he should stop crying about it and start doing something about it. That can’t be stated any more simply. *** Should the general decide to take our advice, we’d add a final recommendation: Start by looking for slimy

things under the rocks in Caloocan. Even after a change in leadership of the PNP in that city following the death of Kian, we were still presented with the killings of Carlo and Reynaldo.

Something may truly not be right with the Caloocan PNP. But General Bato, for now, is the only man we can depend on to find out for us.

Policies like these won’t make everything right— but, widely adopted, especially starting in middle school (when girls tend to be most enthusiastic about computer science), they can help to close the gap.

Technology companies can follow suit—by recognizing, measuring and counteracting implicit and explicit bias, by genuinely welcoming female interviewees, and by closing the pay gap.

The technology-consulting company Accenture, aiming to achieve a 50-50 male-female workforce by 2025, has, in India, created a women-only career track for technical architects and, in the US, established a rule that new parents—fa-

thers and mothers alike— not travel for work for the first year, to get rid of the “mommy track.” Salesforce monitors its payroll and adjusts salaries to close the gender gap. (Bloomberg LP has adopted similar approaches, increasing the number of women in engineering by 60 percent over the past three years, albeit from a low base.)

The Google memo perpetuated several misconceptions. Perhaps most damaging was the suggestion that efforts to attract women to jobs in computing are bound to fail and have already gone too far—that the gender gap is intractable and should even be allowed to widen. In this, it couldn’t have been more wrong.

From A4

Neither will all those tears convince us about the passion of the general, let alone his competence, to lead in the reform of his organization. I was, frankly, floored by his admission, during Senator Poe’s hearings, that there was still no command plan or strategy in place to address the

How...

From A4

has managed to boost the female share of computerscience majors to 50 percent in the past 15 years.

How? The school expanded the female faculty and made the curriculum more inviting to talented students with limited exposure to computer science. It assigned classes according to students’ past programming experience—to prevent long-time enthusiasts from intimidating novices.

And it told students that STEM careers pay well.

(The average starting salary for software engineers from Harvey Mudd is more than $100,000.)

biznewsasia@g mail. com

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

A6

World

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017 Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

States sue Trump over DACA N

EW YORK―A coalition of US states sued the Trump administration Wednesday over its decision to end an amnesty program for 800,000 people brought illegally to the United States as minors.

The lawsuit was filed in New York federal court by Democratic attorneys general of 15 states including New York, Illinois and Hawaii, as well as the District of Columbia.

It alleges the White House discriminated against immigrants of Mexican origin, who are the vast majority of the amnesty program’s recipients, and violated Constitutional due-process

rights that protect against arbitrary punishment.

The Donald Trump administration said Tuesday it was ending the Deferred Acton for Childhood Arrivals or DACA program instituted by Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama. The Republican president said Congress should instead enact immigration reform.

In announcing the lawsuit, New York Attorney

General Eric Schneiderman accused Trump of “antiMexican bias.”

“The Trump administration’s decision to end DACA is cruel, inhumane and devastating,” Schneiderman said in a statement.

“These DREAMers play by the rules. They work hard and pay taxes. America is the only home they have ever known―and they deserve to stay here and

keep contributing to our state and our nation.”

The lawsuit comes after Texas, leading a different coalition of 10 conservative states, on Tuesday dropped a legal challenge to DACA first filed in 2015.

Mexico on Tuesday condemned Trump’s decision to end the amnesty program, expressing “deep worry” for the uncertainty they now face.

“Mexico deeply regrets

the cancellation” of the program,” President Enrique Pena said in a tweet.

“The Mexican government will urge US authorities to find a swift, permanent solution that gives legal certainty to the young people of DACA,” he wrote.

Trump announced that the permits issued under the program would be gradually phased out as they expire over the next six to 24 months. AFP

US slaps sanctions on three Sudanese WA SH I NGTON―T h e United States slapped sanctions Wednesday on three senior South Sudan officials accused of fomenting and profiting from the fouryear civil war in Africa’s youngest countray.

Washington was South Sudan’s key foreign sponsor as it won its independence from Sudan in 2011, but US officials have become frustrated by its descent into chaos and infighting.

The latest measures target information minister Michael Makuei, who is in particular accused of having “engaged in or been complicit in” attacks on the UN mission in South Sudan.

The feared former head of the army, Paul Malong, is also placed on the sanctions list, updated periodically by the US Treasury.

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir sacked Malong in May, but before that he was accused of being behind the deadly clashes that erupted in the capital Juba in July last year.

Finally, senior military figure, Malek Reuben, the former head of logistics for the Sudanese Peoples’ Liberation Army, is placed on the list, along with three private firms he controls.

US citizens are barred from doing business with individuals on the sanctions list, and any assets they might hold under in areas under US jurisdiction can be frozen.

Treasury also warned US banks “that certain South Sudanese senior political figures may try to use the US financial system to move or hide proceeds of public corruption.” AFP

FIVE-DAY TOUR. In this handout photograph released by The Osservatore Romano on September 7, 2017, Pope Francis greets the Archbishop of Bogota, Cardinal Ruben Salazar Gomez, as Maria Clemencia Rodriguez, the wife of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, looks on in Bogota on September 6, 2017.

Pope Francis has arrived in Colombia for a five-day tour to plead for a “stable and lasting” peace in a divided country just emerging from a 50-year war. AFP

Trump wins support for Afghan strategy in Helmand CAMP SHORAB, Afghanistan―Marines in Afghanistan’s Helmand say Donald Trump’s decision to keep boots on the ground indefinitely gives them “all the time in the world” to retake the province, once the symbol of US intervention but now a Taliban stronghold.

They may need it. At the hot, dusty Camp Shorab, where many of the recently deployed Marines train their Afghan counterparts in flat, desert terrain, the Afghans

admit their army still cannot fight alone.

The Taliban control or contest 12 out of Helmand’s 14 districts and continue to inflict stinging blows on Afghan forces, who have been struggling to beat back the insurgents across the country since taking the lead on security from NATO forces at the end of 2014.

Sixteen years since the American-led invasion, and after decades of nearconstant war in the coun-

try, the Islamist extremists show few signs of flagging, despite being heavily outgunned by the might of the US military.

With no need to pay attention to four-year election cycles, the Taliban’s fight against their technologically-superior foes is often summed up in the proverb: “You may have the watches, but we have the time”.

But Trump’s announcement that the US commitment to Afghanistan is

open-ended might just be enough to reverse the tide.

“We have all the time in the world... to accomplish the mission the right way,” said Staff Sergeant George Caldwell, one of the Marines based at Camp Shorab.

Around 300 Marines returned to Helmand in April, a fraction of the more than 20,000 stationed in the poppy-growing province when it was the centerpiece of the US invasion.

Previously, they were on

the front line against the Taliban. Now they are part of NATO’s “train, advise and assist” mission, focused on making Afghan security forces strong enough to beat back the insurgents on their own.

Afghan troops are drilled in clearing insurgents from mud-brick compounds, evacuating wounded soldiers by helicopter and locating improvised explosive devices hidden in the ground.

AFP

AI says Bahrain retreating from its promised reforms DUBAI―Bahrain has retreated from promised reforms and “dramatically” escalated a clampdown on political dissent over the past year, rights watchdog Amnesty International said Thursday.

“Despite repeated claims... to the contrary, Bahrain has been steadily backtracking on the promises of reform it made following its heavy-handed response to the uprising in 2011,” Amnesty said.

“Since June 2016, the Bahraini authorities have dramatically stepped up their crackdown on dissent.”

The rights group called on Manama to “immediately and unconditionally” release prisoners of conscience and halt reprisals against “peaceful critics and their relatives”.

It also urged the government to reverse decisions to dissolve Bahrain’s two main opposition movements, Waad and Al-Wefaq―the

largest bloc in parliament before 2011.

Authorities in the tiny Sunni-ruled Gulf kingdom launched a crackdown after an Arab Spring-inspired movement of largely Shiite protesters hit the streets in 2011 to demand an elected government.

Hundreds of demonstrators have since been jailed and a number of highprofile activists and clerics stripped of their citizenship.

The king this year approved a constitutional amendment allowing military courts to try citizens on charges linked to terrorism.

Manama has accused Tehran of provoking unrest in Bahrain, which lies between Shiite Iran and regional Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia.

Iran has denied involvement.

Bahrain, an ally of the United States and home to its Fifth Fleet, has faced frequent criticism over its rights record. AFP

LAUNCHING. This file photo from North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency taken on August 29, 2017, and released on August 30, 2017, shows North Korea’s intermediate-range strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12 lifting off from the launching pad at an undisclosed location near Pyongyang. Nuclear-armed North Korea’s testing of long-range missiles that could possibly reach US soil has kindled debate in Japan and South Korea about developing their own nuclear deterrent. AFP

Rape victims struggling in S. Africa VOSLOORUS, South Africa―South African chef Nthabiseng Mabuza, 35, was on her way to work and the only passenger in a public mini-bus taxi when she was raped by the driver.

Her alleged attacker was arrested at the scene after she shouted for help to a passerby who flagged down a police patrol car.

Although the suspect was held in custody for several months, he was later freed on bail.

Two years on, the case has not yet come to court and the accused has vanished.

Mabuza, a pseudonym as she did not want to be identified by her real name, is dumbfounded and angry at the police for releasing the alleged rapist and says she lives in fear that he is roaming the streets.

Her case is one example of the struggles that rape victims face and how they are treated by the police in South Africa, where tens of thousands of people are sexually assaulted each year.

“The day when I was supposed to testify, he [the alleged rapist] was nowhere to be found,” Mabuza told AFP, recounting the day last year when she went to court hoping the trial would finally start after being repeatedly postponed.

“Since then, nothing has happened,” she said, flanked by her husband, 45, at their home in Vosloorus, a middle-class township east of Johannesburg. AFP

Explosives found in suburb of Paris PARIS-Homemade explosives ready for use were found Wednesday in an unoccupied flat near Paris, judicial sources said.

Gas canisters and electric wiring were also found in the flat in Villejuif, a suburb south of the French capital, and two men were arrested nearby, the sources said.

The explosive, known by the initials of TATP, is notoriously used by the so-called Islamic State group, which has repeatedly targeted France in recent years.

Police also found ingredients that can be used to produce TATP as well as papers written in Arabic.

Anti-terror prosecutors have opened an investigation, sources close to the probe said.

One of the two arrested men, aged 36 and 47, is the owner of the flat, they said.

Paris police said a man who works at the apartment block had alerted police to “suspect items” in the apartment.

Interior Minister Gerard Collomb praised the individual for his “citizen’s reflex”.

A jihadist cell behind twin attacks that claimed 16 lives in Barcelona and Cambrils, Spain, last month had been preparing TATP. AFP

Hurricane ‘Irma’ destroys 95 percent of French part of Saint Martin POI NTE-A-PITR E, France―The French part of the Caribbean island St. Martin is “95 percent destroyed” after Hurricane ‘Irma’ tore through the region, top local official Daniel Gibbs said late Wednesday.

“It’s an enormous catas-

trophe. Ninety-five percent of the island is destroyed.

I’m in shock. It’s frightening,” said Gibbs, a former French lawmaker, speaking on Radio Caribbean International.

The island is in need of emergency assistance, he said. “I have sick people to

evacuate, I have a population to evacuate because I don’t know where I can shelter them,” he said.

At least six people have been killed in the French part of St. Martin, Guadeloupe prefect Eric Maire said.

Hurricane Irma, one of

the most powerful Atlantic storms on record, cut a deadly swath through a string of small Caribbean islands on Wednesday.

The French minister for overseas affairs, Annick Girardin, was to fly to Guadeloupe late Wednesday with emergency teams and sup-

plies to assess the situation, the ministry said.

“It’s too soon for casualty figures [but] I can already tell you the toll will be harsh and cruel,” French President Macron said, adding that he expected damage on St Barts and St Martin to be “considerable”. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

Manila

Standard

TODAY

El Debarge tops 2YO race C ARMONA, Cavite—John Alvin Guce prodded the youthful El Debarge to move in front right away.

And his encouragements paid off as El Debarge went on to dominate the first leg of the 2017 Philracom Juvenile and Fillies 2YO Stakes Race, one of the highlights of the Mayor Ramon D. Bagatsing Racing Festival recently at the Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Leisure Park.

“Maganda kasi na ipa-unahan na siya (El Debarge) at ilaban na sa harapan,” said Guce, who last July distinguished himself when he rode Septourteen to a sweep of the Philracom Triple Crown Stakes race.

Pursued by Barrister and Probinsiyano, El Debarge reached the finish line in one minute and 22.6 seconds (7-2324-28’).

A guaranteed prize of P1 million went to El Debarge and its owner SC Stockfarm, while Barrister and Probinsiyano went home with P600,000 and P225,000, respectively. Hot to Trot, which was one of the leaders at the start, eventually faded away to fourth spot.

Guce, who had four races that day, also rode Messi to a second-place finish behind

Malaya in the Philracom Cup Division 1 race of the Bagatsing Racing Festival, which earned staggering sales of P40,008,998 for the 13-race day, the highest this year. This, together with the P28.7 million earned on Saturday also made the racefest the highest-grossing weekend of 2017.

Sunday’s Bagatsing Racing Festival, which had Indian Ambassador Jaideep Mazumdar as guest of honor, still owns the record sales of P43,281,228.00 garnered from the 2014 edition of the memorial racing event.

Messi, a 2-year old bay colt, earned the P480,000 secondplace prize behind Malaya’s winnings of P800,000. Malaya

took the Philracom Cup in a photo finish against Messi, third placer Blue Berry and fourthrunning Manalig Ka in the distance of 1,750 meters.

In other results Sunday, More or Less won the Solaire Resort and Casino Cup (Div. II), while Bite My Dust ruled the Resorts World Manila Challenge of Champions Cup, which pitted the cast of 2016 against those of 2017. Underwood placed second while Adios Reality finished third, also in the distance of 1,750 meters.

On Saturday, Diamond’s Best won the 1,500-meter Fundador Cup (Division I), with Niccole Girl, Guatemala and Nicole Angel placing second to fourth, respectively.

Garma stuns Antonio

VETERAN IM Chito Garma dealt defending champion GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. a second straight setback to assume the solo lead in the 2017 Battle of GMs-National Chess Championships at Alphaland Makati Place Mall in Ayala Ave. Garma, one of the country’s strongest players never to have earned a GM title, outwitted Antonio in 53 moves of the Caro Kann for his second straight win in the 12-player tournament being organized by the Natiobal Chess Federation of the Philippines and sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission.

The 53-year-old Garma won over fellow IM Ronald Bancod in the first round late Wednesday to jumpstart his bid in this round-robin tournament being held to determine the members of the Philippine team to the 2018 Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia.

It is one of the worst starts in a tournament for Antonio, who just arrived from the Malaysian Seniors’ event where he was tied for third.

Chess journalist Ignacio Dee said Antonio was obviously tired and exhausted.

“He (Antonio) was said to be exhausted but still the defending champ showed up. He was a piece up against Garma in the endgame of their CaroKann battle. it’s true Garma had a passed a-pawn but a rested Antonio would have found the solution,” said Dee in his analysis for Chess Philippines.

“After Antonio was forced to return the piece to stop the pawn at a7, Garma ended up with a rook ending two pawns up (3 vs 1, same side).

This is the worst start of Antonio’s career and it puts his title retention in danger.”

BONIFACIO DRIVE, SOUTH HARBOR, PORT AREA, MANILA 1018, PHILIPPINES, P.O. BOX 436, MANILA, PHILIPPINES TEL. NO. (0632) 527-8356, FAX NO. (0632) 527-4855 HTTP://WWW.PPA.COM.PH

INVITATION TO BID

FOR THE MANSALAY PORT EXPANSION PROJECT, PORT OF MANSALAY, ORIENTAL MINDORO

The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2017, intends to apply the sum of P 137,909,533.55 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Mansalay Port Expansion Project, Port of Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro, (LFP MDO No. 024-2017). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Construction of Backup Area B. Construction of R.C. Platform and Widening of R.C. Pier C. Construction of New R.C. Pier D. Port Lighting System. Completion of the Works is required in 480 calendar days. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Ports Authority Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for Engineering Projects and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 08 September 2017 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P 50,000.00).

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

The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 19 September 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the PPA Function Room, 7th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open to all prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 9:00 a.m. of 04 October 2017. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the bidding documents.

Bid opening shall be on 04 October 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the 7th Floor, PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

•

Philracom officials are shown with SC Stockfarm trainer Chito Santos and Jockey John Alvin Guce, who steered El Debarge to victory in the 2017 Philracom Juvenile and Fillies 2YO Stakes Race, one of the highlights of the Mayor Ramon D. Bagatsing Racing Festival at the San Lazaro Leisure Park. In photo are (from left) Philracom Commissioner Jose Santillan, Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez, Santos, Guce, Commissioners Bienvenido Niles, Jr. and Victor Tantoco and Executive Director Andrew Rovie Buencamino.

Lascuña shoots 7-under to lead by 3 TAGAYTAY—Tony Lascuña recalled his fierce form and bucked the heat and the late afternoon wind as he fired a seven-under 65 to wrest a three-stroke lead over fancied Clyde Mondilla and obscure Rene Menor at the start of the rich ICTSI Splendido Classic at Taal Splendido Golf Club here yesterday.

Lascuña actually looked headed to shattering the course record 64 posted by amateur Rupert Zaragosa in 2015 with eight birdies after 13 holes. But the dusky Davaoeño shotmaker fumbled with back-to-back bogeys from No. 14 but birdied the par-3 17th to stay three shots clear of Mondilla and Menor with a 32-33 card.

“I was actually trying to put it all together at the front, parang may kulang sa swing ko. So I didn’t expect to shoot this low,” said Las-

cuña, raring to atone for his ninth place finish in the inaugural PGA Asia Tour at Manila Southwoods last month.

“But if my putting click, I think I could shoot another 6-under tomorrow (today),” added Lascuña, who seemed to have lost steam towards the end only to come up with a birdie on No. 17 to cushion the impact of his late bogeys.

Mondilla, seeking to rebound from a missed cut stint in the region’s newest circuit’s kickoff leg, put in a bogey-free 68 to tie Menor, who lorded it over the crack international field with a 3335 card in morning play before Lascuña surged ahead with his birdie-binge despite a late start highlighted by four straight from No. 10.

Mondilla also bucked a late tee time by gunning down three birdies in the last five holes at the back-

Lascuña

side of the up-and-down layout where he started. But after birdying the par-5 second hole, the Del Monte ace settled for a slew of pars, ruing a couple of missed birdie opportunities that could’ve moved him closer with the leader in the $100,000 event

sponsored by ICTSI. A slew of players from the starting field of 99 stood just a stroke or two behind, guaranteeing three more days of fierce action among the country’s leading players and a number of foreign aces in the 72-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. You Joon, also hoping to strike back after missing the cut at Southwoods, toted a four-under card on his homeward trip at the front.

But the Korean ace stumbled with a bogey on the par-3 eighth and carded a 69, dropping to joint fourth with Rufino Bayron and Jobim Carlos in the early going of the second leg of the eight-stage circuit held to help develop the games of the local pros and at the same time promote the country as a top golf tourist destination.

PH jins bag gold, silver in world tilt

Mary Angeline Alcantara (right) and Arianne Espida proudly show their medals after the awarding ceremony.

TWO 13-year-old girls boosted the Philippines’ international sports image anew by winning two medals—a gold and a silver—in the recent World Cadet Taekwondo Championships in Sharme El Sheikh, Egypt.

Mary Angeline Alcantara demolished five opponents in the -44-kilogram category to capture a gold medal and bag the MVP (Most Valuable Player) Award in the tournament which featured 424 other

athletes from 46 countries.

Arianne Espida shared the honors with Alcantara by bringing home a silver medal in the -33-kilogram competition.

Alcantara crushed her finals rival from Russia, 18-4, after beating her foes from India (26-5), Italy (18-9), Ukraine (24-3) and Tunisia (7-5).

After winning her first match by disqualification over Spain’s entry, Espida beat her Italian and Egyptian rivals, 7-5 and 20-20

(golden point/first to connect in sudden death), respectively, before bowing to Turkey’s bet, 2-2 (also by golden point) in the finals.

Alcantara, Espida and six other Filipino athletes carried the colors of Meralco/MVP Sports Foundation in the world Cadet event. The national team was also supported

by Smart Communications Inc., PLDT, Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee.

Fil-Chinese 60s advance to ASEAN cage finals patented moves to lead the 60s to their ninth finals appearance in 10 years.

For their win, FCVBA now has two teams in the finals with the 65-years-and-above team—also being handled by Edster Sy—cruising first after completing a two-game sweep of their group elims.

Backed by Ironcon Builders’ Jimi Lim, Freego’s Eduard Tio, Johnny Chua and Rain or Shine’s Terry Que, the 65s will be going

for a title repeat against Hatyai of Thailand—the same team they beat in the elims.

FCVBA can make it 3-of-3 if the 50s of coach Mac Tan hurdle Hatyai of Thailand. They were still playing at presstime.

Bannered by Allan Caidic, Benet Palad, Gerry Tee, Bong Tan, Joey Sta. Maria, Rodolfor Noel, Jr. Aristeo Guevarra and Stephen dela Cruz, the 50s swept the five-team Group 1 elims Thursday.

LOTTO RESULTS

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

Required PCAB Registration: Medium B – Port, Harbor and Offshore Engineering

The Philippine Ports Authority reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: BAC Secretariat, Philippine Ports Authority 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila Telephone/Fax No. 527-47-35 527-83-56 to 83 loc. 539 PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph ADRIAN FERDINAND S. SUGAY Chairperson, PPA Head Office Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects (HO-BAC-EP) Standard – Sept. 8, 2017

BONIFACIO DRIVE, SOUTH HARBOR, PORT AREA, MANILA 1018, PHILIPPINES, P.O. BOX 436, MANILA, PHILIPPINES TEL. NO. (0632) 527-8356, FAX NO. (0632) 527-4855 HTTP://WWW.PPA.COM.PH

INVITATION TO BID

FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF GATE COMPLEX, PORT OF CAGAYAN DE ORO, MISAMIS ORIENTAL

The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2017, intends to apply the sum of P 33,506,366.39 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Construction of Gate Complex, Port of Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental, (LFP MOC No. 025-2017). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Demolition and Removal Works B. Construction of Gate Complex. Completion of the Works is required in 270 calendar days. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Ports Authority Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for Engineering Projects and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 08 September 2017 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P 25,000.00).

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

The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 19 September 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the PPA Function Room, 7th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open to all prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 1:00 p.m. of 04 October 2017. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the bidding documents.

Bid opening shall be on 04 October 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the 7th Floor, PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted.

•

KUALA LUMPUR—Elmer Reyes fired 16 points, while Kenneth Yap added 13 as the 60s of the Filipino-Chinese Basketball Veterans Association advanced to the finals with a 58-37 drubbing of host Club 51 in the 26th Asean Veterans Basketball Tournament yesterday at the MABA gym here.

Though slowed down by numerous injuries in the past, the 58-year-old Reyes still managed to flash some of his

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Required PCAB Registration: Medium A – Port, Harbor and Offshore Engineering

The Philippine Ports Authority reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: BAC Secretariat, Philippine Ports Authority 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila Telephone/Fax No. 527-47-35 527-83-56 to 83 loc. 539 PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph ADRIAN FERDINAND S. SUGAY Chairperson, PPA Head Office Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects (HO-BAC-EP) Standard – Sept. 8, 2017

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

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

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

Barangay Ginebra battles Elite

By Jeric Lopez LEAGUE-leader Barangay Ginebra has nothing in mind but to solidify its lead and move closer to securing a top four finish as it shoots for a seventh straight victory even as three other teams are in dire need of a win at the resumption of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. On a rampage, the Gin Kings (6-1) shoot for yet another win but dangerous Blackwater (4-4) stands across as they meet at 7 p.m. tonight at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City in an interesting duel.

In the curtain-raiser, teams in the lower half are desperate to salvage their campaigns as GlobalPort (3-4) and Alaska (1-6) collide at 4:15 p.m. with both teams facing a must-win situation.

After dropping its opening assignment, Ginebra has been on a tear and is showing everyone why it is the defending champion and why it is considered as one of the teams to beat in the tournament.

Since then, the Gin Kings have racked up six straight wins as they immediately got their groove.

The last time out, they survived a tough scare as they squeaked past Star, 105-101, in overtime in a thrilling classic last Sunday.

“Our guys are veteran guys. They have strength, character and discipline minds,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone of his wards. “Our guys help each other out in all areas so I can’t complain that much and we’re 6-1 too.”

Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina celebrates after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland in their Men’s Singles Quarterfinal match on Day Ten of the 2017 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 6, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. AFP

Del Porto shatters Federer-Nadal clash N

EW YORK—Juan Martin del Potro sensationally gatecrashed the US Open again on Wednesday, stunning fivechampion Roger Federer and shattering hopes of a first New York showdown between the Swiss legend and Rafael Nadal.

The Argentine giant, who won his only Grand Slam title in the city in 2009 by beating Federer in the final after seeing off Nadal in the semis, triumphed 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-4 in front of a spellbound Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd.

The 28-year-old will once again face world number one Nadal in the semi-finals on Friday, a stunning achievement for a man who had saved two match points to beat sixth seed Dominic Thiem in the last 16.

Nadal, who will keep his world number one status following third seed Federer’s exit, had earlier defeated Russian teenager Andrey Rublev 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 in just 97 minutes.

It will be a sixth US Open semifinal for Nadal and 26th at the majors while Del Potro, the 24th seed, will be playing in just his fourth last-four match at the Slams.

For 36-year-old Federer, it was a first Slam loss of 2017 after he had captured the Australian Open and Wim-

bledon titles to take his career tally to 19.

“I served really good. I hit my forehand as hard as I could and I played a great match. I deserved to win,” said Del Potro who will be in his first Slam semi-final since Wimbledon in 2013.

“This feels like my home court. I played Rafa here in 2009 too. Hopefully I can get the same result on Friday.”

Del Potro, whose career was almost ended last year after undergoing four wrist surgeries, wrapped up the first set thanks to a break in the 11th game secured with a blistering crosscourt pass.

Rublev, bidding to be the youngest man in 17 years to reach the semi-finals, had

ruza taking over.

Vandeweghe’s victory means that the US Open will have an all-American semi-final line-up for the first time since 1981 after Keys defeated Estonian qualifier Kaia Kanepi 6-3, 6-3.

“I won the juniors here when I was 16 and dreamed of playing on the real stage,” said 25-year-old Vandeweghe, who also made the semi-finals at the Australian Open, beating then-world number one Angelique Kerber in the process.

The last time four US women were in the semis was 36 years ago when eventual champion Tracy Austin, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and Barbara Potter all made it. AFP

Former ONE world champion headlines Jakarta card

Perpetual subdues Letran PERPETUAL Help went to the troika of Prince Eze, Gab Dagangon and Jeff Coronel in overtime as it turned back Letran, 88-82, in overtime yesterday to fan its Final Four hopes in the 93rd NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Arena in San Juan City.

Eze, Dagangon and Coronel made the biggest plays in OT by combining for 12 of their team’s 13 points there to power the Altas to their fourth win against six defeats while keeping their Final Four hopes alive.

More importantly, the Las Pinas-based school moves just one game behind Letran, which fell to (5 wins, 5 losses).

Eze, the leading MVP candidate after the first round, had 21 points and 19 rebounds, while Dagangon and Coronel had 21 and 10 points, respectively.

“We knew we still have a chance of making the Final Four and I’m glad the players are determined to get this win,” said Jimwell Gican, who has officially assumed the head coaching job after Nosa Omorogbe went on an indefinite leave.

The Altas had a chance to put the game away in regulation but Coronel split his charities and Letran’s Bong Quinto drained a booming triple with 4.4 seconds to go to force extra time.

no complaints over his loss to Nadal.

“He gave me a lesson: 1, 2, and 2,” said the Russian, who lost 16 of the last 19 points of the opening set and finished with 43 unforced errors.

The women’s semifinals will be an all-American affair after CoCo Vandeweghe and Madison Keys setup a last-four duel.

Thursday’s other tie will see seven-time major champion Venus Williams face Sloane Stephens.

American 20th seed Vandeweghe claimed a 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 win over the Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova, whose brief eightweek stay as world number one ended with Wimbledon champion Garbine Mugu-

Former ONE Flyweight World Champion Kairat Akhmetov of Kazakhstan acknowledges the cheers of fans as he is introduced in the cage before a bout. ONE Championship

JAKARTA, Indonesia—Former ONE Flyweight World Champion Kairat Akhmetov of Kazakhstan takes on Filipino Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio in the main event of ONE: Total Victory at the Jakarta Convention Center on Sept. 16.

Akhmetov is a veteran martial artist from Almaty, Kazakhstan.

In his most recent appearance inside the ONE Championship cage, Akhmetov faced divisional rival Adriano Moraes for the right to be crowned the undisputed ONE Flyweight World Champion. Akhmetov fell just short of victory, losing by unanimous decision in a close bout.

Eustaquio defeated fellow striker Anatpong Bunrad via split decision in a rematch in his last bout.

Another bout in the card will be between top Indonesian prospect Stefer Rahardian and Sim Bunsrun, a 24-year-old KWC 3 Flyweight Tournament Champion currently competing in ONE Championship’s stacked flyweight division.

Cameroonian Alain “The Panther” Ngalani, who trains out of Impakt MMA in Hong Kong faces

Japanese heavyweight Hideki “Shrek” Sekine who holds a professional record of seven wins and one loss.

Twenty five-year-old Yago Bryan of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a former Shooto South American Strawweight Champion, battles Roy Doliguez of the Philippines.

Indonesian martial artist “The Terminator” Sunoto, a WKF Indonesia Champion with a 6-3 professional record sees action against 19-year-old Thai Rithy of Cambodia. Rithy is a KWC Featherweight Champion who will make his ONE Championship debut as part of the promotion’s stacked featherweight division.

Jeremy “The Predator” Meciaz, a 25-year-old Indonesian National Grappling Champion who made the transition to professional martial arts competition in 2017, faces Hisyam “Zephyrus” Samsudin of Malaysia. Samsudin is a former WBF Asia-Pacific Light Heavyweight Boxing Champion who trains at the highly-regarded Borneo Tribal Squad with Ann “Athena” Osman and AJ “Pyro” Lias Mansor.

PSC, PSI teach training methods

By Peter Atencio TABUK Cit—There is a need to push for the scientific method of training for student athletes in track and field.

Lecturer and national coach Roselyn Hamero emphasized to teachers who are coaching athletes for upcoming regional and national meets.

“The teachers have low knowledge on this. They first need to improve sports science-based training,” said Hamero, International Association of Athletics Federations-certified instructor.

Hamero is among the coaches and sports science specialists experts whom the PSC dispatched to the Province of Kalinga through the Philippines Sports Institute.

The coaches and sports science specialists shared their knowledge during a series of lectures at the Provincial Capitol gymnasium.

Their presence there is helping the province improve on its grassroots sports program.

The province is currently preparing its athletes to join a provincial meet this October, and a regional meet this February.

The coming 2018 Palarong Pambansa is among the national meets that they are preparing for.

Sports officials from the Department of Education are seeking the expertise of certified coaches attached to national sports associations.

Hamero said there is a need to help teachers properly teach kids running, jumping and sprints.

From Sept. 5 to 10, the PSC is bringing PSI personnel on road trips that will take them to Abra, Kalinga, Ifugao and Isabel for a coaches education program.

Over 200 teachers and physical education instructors attended the lectures at the Kalinga Provincial Capitol.

Mayweather-McGregor fall short of record LOS ANGELES—Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor’s money-spinning superfight failed to break the record for gate receipts at a Las Vegas boxing bout, figures released by the Nevada State Athletic Commission revealed Wednesday.

The controversial August 26 fight raked in $55,414,865.79, well short of the $72,198,500 generated by Mayweather’s 2015 “Fight of the Century” against Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand.

The Mayweather-McGregor bout, staged at the T-Mobile Arena, sold 13,094 tickets, well short

of the venue’s 20,500 capacity.

The Mayweather-Pacquiao fight sold 16,219 tickets.

A total of 137 complimentary tickets were given away for Mayweather-McGregor, won

by Mayweather in a 10th-round technical knockout.

Face-value ticket prices for Mayweather-McGregor were among the most expensive in history, with cheapest seats going for $500 and the most expensive for as much as $10,000.

Although the fight failed to challenge the Mayweather-Pacquiao gate total, it becomes the second highest-grossing gate

in Las Vegas history, surpassing the $20 million generated

by Mayweather’s 2013 defeat of Canelo Alvarez.

The bout is also set to be one of the richest fights in history if the most bullish predictions of payper-view television sales are met.

Some predictions have suggested the fight could threaten the 4.6 million buys generated

by Pacquiao-Mayweather.

Official numbers have not been released although executives from cable network Showtime Sports said they expected the bout would at least be second. AFP

Floyd Mayweather Jr. (left) keeps Conor McGregor at bay in this file photo during their money-spinning superfight which failed to break the record for gate receipts at a Las Vegas boxing bout. AFP

Business

Ayala’sdollar notes raise $400m on strong demand B3

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

B1

PAL: Pagcor lease is valid

By Darwin G. Amojelar

P

HILIPPINE Airlines said Thursday it has a valid lease contract signed and mutually executed with state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to use a 10-hectare portion of the old Nayong Pilipino complex.

IN BRIEF

Peso climbs to 50.93 a dollar THE peso hit a one-month high against the US dollar Thursday and returned to the 50-a-dollar level for the first time since Aug. 10, 2017.

The peso gained seven centavos to close at 50.93 against the greenback Thursday from 51.095 on Wednesday.

Jonathan Ravelas, first vice president and chief market strategist of BDO Unibank Inc., said the greenback was generally weaker on Thursday. “It helped push the peso below the 51 levels today. Expect the currency to try the 50.70/50.80 levels in the near term,” he said.

Security Bank Corp., in its daily market report, said the dollar’s weakness could also be traced to the “less North Korea headlines.”

Foreign exchange executives in the Philippines, however, view any further US rate hikes as the biggest macro issue affecting the peso and its economic growth in 2017, according to the results of a Bloomberg survey. Other challenges raised are global political uncertainty, export growth and US economic and trade policy.

Meanwhile, the gross international reserves, the country’s main buffer against currency fluctuation, climbed to a threemonth high of $81.51 billion in Augst, from the July level of $81.07 billion on the revaluation adjustments in gold holdings and income from investments abroad of Bangko Sentral.

“The build-up in reserves was due mainly to inflows arising from the revaluation adjustments on the BSP’s gold holdings resulting from the increase in the price of gold in the international market,” Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said in a statement. Julito G. Rada

Auditor clears ERC AVP project THE Commission on Audit, after completing a thorough investigation, affirmed an earlier recommendation of an audit team detailed at Energy Regulatory Commission that the conduct of a fraud audit on a planned audiovisual presentation is not necessary because no contract was ever consummated nor any government funds disbursed for the project.

Noroden Mira-Ato, audit team leader at ERC’s office of the auditor, informed ERC officer-incharge and commissioner Alfredo Non of this determination in a letter dated Aug. 24.

“The Commission Proper, Commission on Audit, has approved the recommendation of the Fraud Audit Office that the conduct of fraud audit is not necessary at this time,” Mira-Ato said in the letter.

The letter revealed that CoA director Bresilo Sabaldan, who is in charge of FAO’s special services sector, and director Nilda Plaras, COA commission secretary, transmitted the recommendation to the Commission Proper in a memo dated June 28.

“It is stated in the Fraud Case Evaluation Report dated March 21, 2017, as approved by director Sabaldan, that ‘the contract was not consummated, no disbursement of public funds was made in this particular case and will not cause detriment to the government,’ hence, they believe that the fraud audit is not necessary for the time being,” Mira-Ato said in the letter.

ERC chairman and chief executive Jose Vicente Salazar requested the CoA to conduct an investigation on claims made by the late Francisco Jose Villa Jr., former ERC director and chairman of the agency’s bids and awards committee of bid rigging.

The suicide of Villa prompted a congressional inquiry.

ASEAN TRADE OFFICIALS. Top trade officials of 10 Asean member states call on President Rodrigo Duterte (center) in Pasay City in line with the Philippine hosting of the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Economic Ministers’ meeting and related meetings that will run until Sept. 11, 2017. President Duterte underscored continued cooperation among AMS in strengthening micro, small and medium enterprises and ensuring an inclusive and innovation-led growth in the region. The president likewise urged trade officials to remain committed in delivering substantial conclusion to the ongoing negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

September power rates surge 10% after refund

By Alena Mae S. Flores POWER rates surged by more than 10 percent in September, on higher generation cost and following the completion of the P6.9-billion refund, retailer Manila Electric Co. said Thursday.

Meralco said power rates for residential households increased P0.8642 per kilowatt-hour to P9.2491 per kWh in September from P8.3849 per kWh in August. This translates into an additional P173 in the monthly bill of a household consuming 200 kWh. “Rates this September returned to pre-refund levels after completion of the refund of over-recovery on pass-through charges from

January 2014 to December 2016, totaling around P6.9 billion,” the utility company said.

Meralco’s petition for refund with prayer for provisional authority was granted by the Energy Regulatory Commission on May 11, 2017 and was implemented in June to August.

Meralco said the refund was not shown as a separate line item in the bill but was reflected as reductions in the different pass-through charges of the bill, which include generation, transmission and system loss charges and lifeline and senior citizen subsidies in the past three months.

The refund translated into a monthly reduction of P0.88 per kWh, including

taxes for residential customers. Residential households consuming 200 kWh enjoyed a total bill reduction of almost P530 over the three-month period.

Meralco said overall generation charge also increased 0.5615 per kWh in September to P4.5378 per kWh from P3.9763 per kWh in August.

The August generation charge incorporated a reduction of P0.5355 per kWh, representing the refund approved by the ERC. Meralco said power purchased from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, the country’s trading floor of electricity, increased P1.7263 per kWh, on higher power demand in the Luzon grid.

Cost of power from Meralco’s power supply agreements or PSAs also registered a slight increase of P0.0263 per kWh because of the peso depreciation and lower plant dispatch.

Meralco sourced 12 percent of its power requirements from WESM and 42 percent from PSAs during the August supply period.

Power sourced from Meralco’s independent power producers declined P0.1117 per kWh on improved dispatch of First Gas-Sta. Rita natural gas plants, after undergoing scheduled maintenance in the preceding month.

Meralco sourced 46 percent of its requirements from the IPPs.

“The existing contract between PAL and Pagcor is legal, valid and binding based on the terms negotiated and finalized by both parties three years ago,” PAL said.

The flag carrier made the statement after Pagcor stated that it was “not yet the absolute and registered owner of the property.” PAL said this claim

by Pagcor was inconsistent with covenants under the contract signed in 2014.

PAL president Jaime Bautista said last week the company submitted an unsolicited proposal to build a P20-billion passenger terminal at Nayong Pilipino complex.

PAL said that on July 30, 2014, it entered into a contract of lease in good faith with Pagcor covering the said property at P40 per square meter, effective until July 11, 2033.

PAL said it paid one month advance rental and security deposit equivalent to five months rental or P24 million.

Article 12.8 of the contract states: “Pagcor covenants and warrants it is the lawful owner of the leased premises; that is free from all encumbrances; that it has a right and has been duly authorized to lease the same as aforesaid and that it will warrant and defend the same against the lawful claims and demands of all persons.”

Pagcor then carried out

Expert warns PH to avoid Indonesia mining mistakes

SMC eyes industrial estate in Mandaue

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales A MINING expert on Thursday asked the Philippines to carefully study the Indonesian experience with downstream processing and learn from its mistakes before it imposes a ban on the export of unprocessed minerals.

“Despite some success, Indonesia’s experience with compulsory downstream processing and refinery is not hugely encouraging for the Philippines,” said Bill Sullivan, senior foreign counsel of Christian Teo & Partners.

Sullivan said during the Mining Philippines Conference that while the Philippines should aim to maximize the benefits from the mining industry, downstream processing would not necessarily be more beneficial for the country.

“Moving down value chain and requiring full downstream processing and refinery of all minerals does not necessarily mean Philippines will derive increased benefit from local mining industry. It all depends on economics of DP&R [downstream processing and refining] in the case of individual minerals,” said Sullivan.

The government earlier said it was looking at imposing a ban on the export of raw ore in a bid to compel mining companies to put up more processing plants in the country. Sullivan said in the case of Indonesia, only nickel had shown any real progress in the downstream processing.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Thursday, September 7, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

51.1360

Japan

Yen

0.009156

0.4682

UK

Pound

1.304500

66.7069

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127789

6.5346

Switzerland

Franc

1.045806

53.4783

Canada

Dollar

0.818130

41.8359

Singapore

Dollar

0.740741

37.8785

Australia

Dollar

0.799900

40.9037

Bahrain

Dinar

2.654914

135.7617

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

13.6363

Brunei

Dollar

0.738007

37.7387

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.030175

1.5430

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

13.9225

Euro

Euro

1.191900

60.9490

Korea

Won

0.000884

0.0452

China

Yuan

0.153210

7.8345

India

Rupee

0.015612

0.7983

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.236016

12.0689

New Zealand

Dollar

0.719800

36.8077

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033244

1.7000 Source: PDS Bridge

succeeding actions in line with its authority as owner of the leased premises such as acceptance of PAL’s initial payments, permission to conduct tests and issuance of statement of account.

The agency also asserted that PAL was allowed to use the rented property as aircraft parking, ramp, apron facility and thus any other use would need “prior written consent from Pagcor.”

PAL said the latest statement by current Pagcor management was immaterial and irrelevant. “Assuming for the sake of argument Pagcor is not the absolute and registered owner of the property, it can still enter into a valid contract owing to the fact that it has control and/or possession over the area and has the legal personality to do so,” PAL said.

PAL said it was expecting Pagcor to respect the terms of the contract.

The airline said the authority of Pagcor to lease the 10-hectare property at the old Nayong Pilipino premises to PAL “is very clear in the contract itself.”

PAL said it recognizes the role of Pagcor and was willing to engage with Pagcor and other stakeholders in pursuit of its goal to work with the government in building, developing, enhancing and upgrading airport infrastructure.

By Jenniffer B. Austria

US ENVOY IN CLARK. Clark Development Corp. president and chief executive Noel Manankil (left) exchanges pleasantries with US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim (right) during his visit at the American Chamber of Commerce at the Royce Convention Center inside Clark Freeport.

Busan says MRT-3 design flaws caused glitches BUSAN Universal Rail Inc., the maintenance provider of Metro Rail Transit Line 3, asked the Transportation Department to conduct its own audit to verify the primary causes of glitches and stoppages at the system.

Busan spokesperson Charles Mercado said the primary reasons for glitches and stoppages at MRT 3 were the system and design flaws, and not poor maintenance.

Mercado said apart from system and design flaws, there was a need for rail replacement, which should be prioritized by Undersecretary for rail Cesar Chavez.

Mercado said even Transportation Secretary Arturo Tugade instructed MRT to review loading protocols.

“These concerns become more relevant considering the DOTr’s

recent imposition of penalties in the amount of around P27 million, which Buri has questioned, considering that, under the contract and its negotiation bulletins, penalties cannot be imposed on Buri for system interruptions caused by rail defects,” he said.

“We strongly recommend for DOTr and MRT-3 to immediately conduct a system audit in order for the government to once and for all verify our claim that the causes of glitches and stoppages are the system and design flaws and that of the aging state of the train system, among others,” Mercado said.

He said records showed that as of Aug. 15, 2017, Buri’s operational fleet availability for MRT3 was 91.67 percent or 66 out of 72 cars,

higher than Light Rail Transit Line 1’s 74.82 percent (102 of 139 cars) and LRT 2’s 66.67 percent (48 of 72 cars).

Mercado said the 91.67-percent figure represented a dramatic rise from the fleet availability of 55 percent when Busan took over the maintenance of MRT-3 in January 2016, despite the significant increase in ridership of about 30 percent from 2000 when maintenance was still undertaken by Sumitomo.

“Despite the fact that our company has performed its contracted obligations, met its key performance indicators, and delivered more than the required train availability to the system, Usec Chavez appears to be blind to these real and true facts,” Mercado said. Darwin G. Amojelar

DIVERSIFIED conglomerate San Miguel Corp. said Thursday it plans to build an industrial estate in Mandaue City, Cebu, as a part of its commitment to boost manufacturing in the country and generate employment outside the capital.

San Miguel said in a statement the project, which would be jointly undertaken with the city council of Mandaue, would house a processed foods plant, feed mill and other manufacturing facilities. It will also have its own port terminal.

“We look forward to growing our presence in Mandaue City. This major development is an important part of San Miguel’s current expansion in key regions nationwide,” said SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang. “Our aim is to support and accelerate our country’s economic development by investing in strategic and emerging growth areas. With this investment, we hope to help accelerate the city’s and the region’s overall growth and bring more jobs to our countrymen here,” Ang said.

Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing and the city council said they welcomed the interest from SMC to invest in the city.

B2

Business

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks gain; Puregold, Melco up

T

HE stock market rose Thursday on select buying, ignoring the tensions over North Korea and the increasingly cloudy Fed outlook that outweighed positive sentiment from the US.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 39.01 points, or 0.5 percent, to 8,022.98 on a value turnover of P7.6 billion.

Gainers beat losers, 114 to 77, with 55 issues unchanged.

Puregold Price Club Inc. of tycoon Lucio Co advanced 3.3 percent to P50.50, while Melco Resorts and Entertainment (Philippines) Corp., which runs a casino on a reclaimed part of Manila Bay, climbed 2.6 percent to P9.37.

Megaworld Corp., the biggest lessor of office spaces, rose 2.3 percent to P5.30, while Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., the ninth biggest lender in terms

of assets, added 2.2 percent to P52.45.

The US dollar, meanwhile, weakened against most G-10 peers, while stocks in Europe struggled for traction and most bonds fell as the European Central Bank pondered options to reduce monetary stimulus.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index was flat, with miners declining as a rally in industrial metals stalled. S&P 500 Index futures dropped after the resignation of Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer and a Canadian interest-rate increase surprised US markets late Wednesday.

Traders are also watching Hurricane Irma, which is headed for Florida. West Texas Intermediate crude extended gains.

While President Donald Trump’s surprise debt-ceiling deal with Democrats temporarily bolstered the greenback and Treasuries, traders remain watchful for an escalation of North Korea risks amid concerns Pyongyang may fire a ballistic missile. Trump said that military action against the country wasn’t his first choice as South Korea moved to bolster its missile shield. Meanwhile, Fischer’s early departure, effective next month, adds to uncertainty about Fed leadership, given that Janet Yellen’s term as chair expires early next year.

Attention now turns to the ECB meeting on Thursday, with investors looking for clarity from Pres-

ident Mario Draghi on the outlook for the bank’s bond-buying program. The Governing Council has been presented with documents outlining multiple scenarios for adjusting quantitative easing, according to euro-area officials familiar with the matter.

The Topix index rose 0.4 percent at the close in Tokyo, while the Kospi index in South Korea was up 1.1 percent and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index was flat. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.3 percent as Chinese indexes fluctuated. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbed 0.2 percent.

The Japanese yen rose 0.2 percent to 109.01 per dollar.

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index dipped 0.2 percent, hitting the lowest in more than two years with its sixth straight decline.

With Bloomberg

Ayala’s dollar notes raise $400m on strong demand

By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATE Ayala Corp. has raised $400 million from the issuance US-denominated perpetual notes aimed at refinancing the group’s maturing US-dollar obligations and funding investments of international subsidiaries.

Ayala said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the US dollardenominated fixed-for-life (nondeferrable) senior perpetual issue, which drew strong demand from local and foreign investors, was priced at an annual coupon of 5.125

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 4.7 482,000 59.5 39,620 102.7 2,412,760 127.9 2,328,430 1.43 1,223,000 36 62,100 15.9 21,100 30.4 1,139,400 8.46 265,300 0.68 3,000 1.64 11,000 895 50 0.7 3,204,000 87 2,766,410 0.96 1,603,000 13.08 37,600 60.2 29,250 238 60,400 115 10 88 590 52.45 6,796,350 243 734,240 1,810 50 86.85 25,680 1.35 184,000

2,254,110 2,356,304.50 247,822,336 297,848,974 1,710,940 2,234,115 337,470 34,714,395 2,285,324 2,040 18,200 44,750 2,262,860 240,527,953.50 1,546,420 493,774 1,761,294 14,345,098 1,150 51,941 348,429,638 178,080,560 90,500 2,230,037 254,990

2,090,555 -198,964,506 -66,847,938 395,760 -1,590 -7,031,975 -44,750 -20,485,635 163,900 -301,005 7,146,980 29,040 296,266 -95,079,442 -18,983 1,450

39.8 8.62 0.8 1.43 20.2 0.238 139.8 6.01 17.4 35.7 22.55 65 79.05 1.92 5.37 11.3 10.36 14.94 14.12 6.98 6.86 1.68 17.06 67.05 14.1 12.08 15.1 1.76 240.8 59.4 3.95 3.31 22.5 30.7 19.1 16.3 269 0.23 11.26 3 6.68 10.4 7 10 1.81 11.74 66.7 6.92 310 4.35 4.38 2.39 12.68 4.5 0.143 1.18 152.1 3.75 2.14 28.05 1

INDUSTRIAL 40 676,600 8.62 1,207,900 0.81 1,125,000 1.43 290,000 20.2 84,100 0.242 630,000 139.8 190 6.02 3,448,700 17.5 2,641,300 36.15 571,500 23.3 15,900 65 40 79.25 950 1.94 87,000 5.47 229,300 11.32 28,900 10.4 1,627,400 15.06 983,800 14.88 4,545,900 7 5,933,900 6.9 12,170,200 1.74 67,000 17.56 3,558,900 67.9 121,720 14.32 2,800 12.1 159,200 15.44 3,203,900 1.81 330,000 245.6 721,550 59.4 180 4.04 103,000 3.31 276,000 22.5 200 30.8 1,089,000 19.16 105,000 16.5 5,415,000 269.6 436,280 0.237 22,610,000 11.4 38,100 3 83,000 6.9 41,100 10.54 7,700,700 7.05 10,700 10.02 2,201,500 1.83 844,000 11.88 230,100 66.95 60,550 7 36,800 310 32,110 4.35 106,000 4.38 20,000 2.5 594,000 12.7 3,333,000 4.5 27,000 0.147 170,000 1.19 134,000 153 1,304,180 3.75 18,000 2.25 15,779,000 28.05 800 1 65,000

27,151,505 10,665,194 910,060 415,980 1,735,265 151,400 26,562 20,785,664 46,314,710 20,623,800 364,665 2,600 75,698 167,860 1,248,607 326,702 16,961,538 14,764,032 66,688,004 41,539,088 83,711,063 119,260 62,252,352 8,239,887 39,700 1,926,274 49,416,228 592,690 176,459,082 10,692 421,670 926,960 4,500 33,541,060 2,017,906 90,103,826 117,583,772 5,241,980 434,370 250,530 278,527 80,872,538 75,536 22,015,030 1,535,830 2,729,580 4,052,230 256,890 9,954,100 461,190 87,600 1,447,860 42,371,894 121,500 24,500 160,750 199,505,105 67,500 35,118,710 22,470 65,000

537,330 916,240 -5,041,355 41,666,638.00 690,250 -176,280 -193,290 3,405,850 4,400,062 -30,367,812 -3,412,798 2,696,588 1,200,842.50 -791,310 -20,284,976 -171,050 62,098,482 56,350 -19,083,915 737,894 -20,260,894 -357,222 232,500 673 6,267,310 334,580 -394,552 1,436,668.50 63,693 -815,300 448,050.00 87,600 19,490 3,689,692 8,670.00 24,200 -6,041,999 -410,460 -

0.36 74.1 14.28 7 0.32 916 8.3 15.6 7.6 0.197 1,119 8.08 73.95 5.1 0.93 6.85 18 0.465 6.69 0.055 0.97 2.06 98.1 2.76 827 1.5 300 0.28 0.2 0.225

0.35 73.5 14.1 6.99 0.31 911 7.99 15.36 7.52 0.197 1,106 8.03 72.5 5 0.9 6.8 17.66 0.43 6.56 0.051 0.95 2.05 96.6 2.66 812 1.42 299.2 0.28 0.196 0.22

HOLDING FIRMS 0.36 2,100,000 73.55 906,890 14.22 5,070,100 6.99 4,500 0.315 1,890,000 915 215,220 8.26 6,647,400 15.6 6,778,800 7.52 50,200 0.197 160,000 1,110 158,950 8.08 60,000 73 691,010 5.1 1,100 0.93 3,459,000 6.81 1,192,300 17.8 5,024,500 0.435 18,530,000 6.67 23,051,500 0.051 53,390,000 0.97 30,000 2.05 670,000 96.6 207,370 2.76 2,000 818 560,270 1.47 1,295,000 300 180 0.28 30,000 0.196 1,130,000 0.225 7,550,000

736,250 66,840,393 72,102,918 31,497 591,250 196,815,900 54,058,431 105,348,062 377,519 31,520 176,486,050 483,097 50,421,818 5,560 3,134,860 8,145,159 89,352,998 7,984,000 153,400,804 2,780,810 28,950 1,373,560 20,176,782 5,420 458,171,920 1,884,460 53,864 8,400 221,720 1,675,180

7,757,474 2,146,016 -25,563,250 11,541,642.00 -57,793,538 -160,184 -59,890,535 1,431,568.50 -45,000 -420,063.00 -68,277,692 -907,646 -19,400 -5,966,914 -112,156,195 -125,890 -45,080 -

5.4 1.29 2.42 1.04 42.9 3.84 4.93 5.34 0.53 1.34 1.54 0.236 0.5 45 0.7 0.154 1.88 1.56 1.04 5.33 0.29

5.24 1.2 2.33 1.01 42.5 3.75 4.84 5.34 0.51 1.29 1.51 0.227 0.495 43.8 0.69 0.153 1.85 1.51 0.96 5.15 0.285

17,074,668 32,507,920 638,270 3,117,690 305,420,730 7,207,930 4,283,180 3,738 13,232,160 485,730 152,240 8,296,680 1,045,095 10,808,570 715,220 69,050 32,208,460 18,156,240 18,663,660 278,356,589 5,544,600

-16,613,712 -2,142,920 -378,210 -78,129,930 1,117,410 618,360 -1,565,820 27,220 11,500 -736,560 721,780 -1,380 38,250 7,493,330 3,260,310 111,400,525 432,100

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

4.5 59.4 104.8 128 1.33 36 16.1 30.4 8.26 0.68 1.66 895 0.71 86.65 0.98 13.18 60.3 238.8 115 88.15 51.45 245.4 1,810 86.7 1.32

4.95 59.55 104.8 128.1 1.44 36 16.1 30.6 10.3 0.68 1.7 895 0.72 87.1 1 13.18 60.5 239 115 88.15 54 245.4 1,810 86.85 1.4

4.45 59.25 102 127.5 1.33 35.8 15.88 30.4 8 0.68 1.64 895 0.7 86.55 0.96 13.08 60.15 236 115 88 51.25 241.4 1,810 86.7 1.32

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

40.1 8.85 0.81 1.43 20.5 0.24 139.8 6.01 17.56 36.5 23 65 83.5 1.92 5.42 11.3 10.38 15 14.3 7 6.86 1.79 17.06 67.05 14.44 12.08 15.16 1.76 243 59.4 4.02 3.54 22.5 30.75 19.1 16.36 269.6 0.23 11.96 3 6.81 10.44 7.2 10 1.82 11.74 66.95 7 310 4.38 4.38 2.48 12.7 4.5 0.144 1.2 152.1 3.75 2.16 28.1 1

40.4 8.99 0.82 1.44 21.5 0.242 139.8 6.06 17.56 36.5 23.3 65 83.5 1.95 5.47 11.4 10.5 15.06 14.88 7.1 6.9 1.8 17.62 68 14.44 12.1 15.64 1.81 245.6 59.4 4.24 3.54 22.5 30.9 19.4 16.9 270 0.238 11.96 3.03 6.97 10.6 7.2 10.02 1.83 11.92 67 7 310 4.38 4.38 2.5 12.9 4.5 0.147 1.22 153.2 3.75 2.26 28.1 1

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

0.355 74 14.1 6.99 0.31 915 8.04 15.6 7.6 0.197 1,106 8.05 73 5 0.92 6.84 18 0.43 6.65 0.054 0.95 2.05 98 2.66 812 1.5 299.2 0.28 0.196 0.222

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

5.4 1.2 2.33 1.02 42.7 3.75 4.86 5.34 0.52 1.34 1.52 0.23 0.495 45 0.7 0.153 1.87 1.51 0.96 5.15 0.29

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

0.53 0.5 5.9 23.3 1.8 3.24 33.5 1.02 6.65 0.88 5.96

0.55 0.52 6.05 23.6 1.8 3.27 33.65 1.03 7.49 0.88 5.99

0.53 0.5 5.6 23 1.78 3.24 33.2 1.01 6.65 0.87 5.93

0.55 0.51 5.97 23.25 1.78 3.27 33.6 1.03 7.49 0.87 5.95

6,876,000 2,472,000 5,144,700 5,206,500 133,000 519,000 6,281,300 1,119,000 1,900 297,000 5,735,400

3,712,870 1,259,780 30,340,033 121,178,100 237,590 1,686,580 210,566,410 1,142,770 12,747 258,490 34,133,421

1,227,670 -1,942,893 2,488,230 -105,698,060.00 -50,500 -48,720 -24,687,244

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

19.32 40.75 1.6 0.56 0.041 11.2 5.02 11.58 0.072 107.2 9.31 10.46 7.55 970 2,014 6.06 17.72 3.03 3.1 104 8.46 0.17 1.35 3.03 15.9 4.53 1.45 11.54 0.57 2.35 9.13 4.23 19 2.41 11.02 5.18 2.99 170 10.5 1,723 1.66 0.395 48.95 94.2 5.75 4.54 1.5 3.45 1.23 9.42

19.7 40.9 1.65 0.56 0.041 11.2 5.02 11.9 0.074 108.2 9.31 10.6 7.74 970 2,036 6.09 18.7 3.12 3.1 105.9 8.47 0.17 1.35 3.03 15.9 4.57 1.51 12.66 0.57 2.45 9.45 4.23 19.9 2.55 11.02 5.19 2.99 170 10.92 1,750 1.69 0.405 51.2 96.3 5.92 4.58 1.54 3.49 1.25 9.7

19.2 40.3 1.58 0.54 0.04 11.2 5.01 11.56 0.072 106.8 9.29 10.46 7.55 970 2,010 6.06 17.72 2.96 3.04 104 8.45 0.167 1.35 2.93 15.08 4.5 1.42 11.54 0.55 2.35 9.13 4.15 18.1 2.4 11.02 5.1 2.99 169.5 10.38 1,721 1.66 0.395 48.95 93.5 5.7 4.46 1.47 3.45 1.21 9.28

SERVICES 19.6 40.6 1.58 0.55 0.04 11.2 5.01 11.72 0.073 107.9 9.29 10.5 7.74 970 2,036 6.09 18.5 2.96 3.09 105.6 8.47 0.17 1.35 2.93 15.9 4.53 1.5 12.44 0.55 2.38 9.37 4.22 19.48 2.46 11.02 5.1 2.99 170 10.38 1,724 1.69 0.405 50.5 95 5.91 4.58 1.52 3.49 1.23 9.3

77,100 33,500 507,000 3,593,000 28,100,000 900 2,000 10,557,800 10,190,000 152,630 17,900 2,262,600 28,100 210 65,225 75,300 919,200 6,330,000 4,000 1,587,410 268,500 6,440,000 193,000 133,000 2,000 737,000 2,063,000 9,886,200 113,000 530,000 20,684,000 1,580,000 14,800 14,897,000 10,100 21,700 1,000 640 1,959,900 70,730 13,686,000 1,540,000 6,448,100 1,530,190 101,900 2,293,000 12,499,000 1,768,000 8,681,000 6,411,500

1,499,320 1,356,400 807,700 1,970,730 1,131,300 10,080 10,028 124,399,632 743,960 16,461,495 166,353 23,788,304 214,175 203,700 131,381,520 458,071 16,779,272 19,173,380 12,270 167,700,752 2,271,625 1,084,810 260,550 396,810 31,636 3,328,560 3,008,440 121,854,526 63,210 1,262,020 193,225,527 6,621,130 277,558 36,461,890 111,302 112,365 2,990 108,795 20,908,140 122,193,505 23,033,220 618,050 324,089,215 145,179,687.50 587,666 10,398,250 18,746,830 6,103,850 10,606,790 60,616,208

29,550 197,160 -437,000 -8,000 28,842,128 3,531,237 -101,944.00 -7,740 -79,657,900 152,000 -27,660 -3,611,678 33,840 84,500 208,800 -122,330 71,540 -15,811,374 -127,959,319 -661,770 -50,260 -20,405 -5,291,568 -24,978,965 1,245,380 97,406,660 -30,186,638 -92,670 4,825,700 104,390 -102,540 1,166,190

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

0.0027 1.7 5.26 1.85 1.26 0.385 8.38 2.59 0.28 0.182 0.194 0.01 2.01 7.59 1.93 0.53 1.13 0.012 0.013 0.013 2.45 8.8 4.98 174.4 0.008

0.0028 1.72 5.34 1.85 1.3 0.385 8.8 2.65 0.28 0.183 0.194 0.011 2.03 7.97 1.93 0.53 1.17 0.013 0.013 0.013 2.56 8.81 5.17 180.2 0.008

0.0026 1.67 5.2 1.85 1.24 0.385 8.38 2.59 0.26 0.181 0.194 0.01 1.98 7.56 1.88 0.52 1.11 0.012 0.013 0.013 2.42 8.66 4.81 174.1 0.008

MINING & OIL 0.0028 834,000,000 1.71 3,296,000 5.34 1,301,300 1.85 15,000 1.26 10,905,000 0.385 160,000 8.71 9,200 2.62 13,504,000 0.27 46,070,000 0.183 20,450,000 0.194 21,050,000 0.011 10,000,000 1.98 476,000 7.95 8,569,800 1.9 33,000 0.52 233,000 1.16 4,722,000 0.013 3,900,000 0.013 33,800,000 0.013 100,000 2.47 409,000 8.8 543,800 4.86 13,020,000 177 538,630 0.008 1,000,000

2,250,100 5,571,220 6,829,628 27,750 13,950,490 61,600 80,190 35,225,910 12,367,300 3,712,250 4,083,700 103,800 948,880 67,464,770 62,630 122,340 5,432,730 49,100 439,400 1,300 994,210 4,765,142 65,797,210 95,395,071 8,000

67,500 28,530 -84,440 151,100 -4,250,600 -38,800 20,105,798 150,330 239,681 9,180 5,075,916 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 DD PREF FGEN PREF F FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR LR PREF PCOR PREF 2A PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SFI PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

40.45 515 105.1 111.9 114.9 516 5.8 1.05 1,049 105 110 2.29 76.5 80.7 78.5 81.75 78.65 80.2

40.55 515 106.4 111.9 115 516 5.8 1.05 1,049 105 110 2.29 76.5 80.85 78.5 81.75 78.65 80.2

40.45 515 105.1 111.9 114.9 516 5.79 1.05 1,049 105 110 2.29 76.5 80.2 78.5 81.5 78.65 80.2

PREFERRED 40.55 777,200 515 19,820 106.4 5,570 111.9 60 115 26,000 516 100 5.79 156,500 1.05 2,000 1,049 2,000 105 5,010 110 5,000 2.29 5,000 76.5 1,120 80.85 80,200 78.5 27,700 81.5 143,000 78.65 100 80.2 5,330

31,452,305 10,207,300 585,498 6,714 2,989,901 51,600 907,690 2,100 2,098,000 526,050 550,000 11,450 85,680 6,455,435 2,174,450 11,656,066 7,865 427,466

6,653,960 -327,690 -85,680 -6,455,435 57,225 170,826

LR WARRANT

2.55

2.6

2.55

WARRANTS 2.6 131,000

339,270

-44,130

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

4.49 5 6.26

4.49 5 6.42

4.35 4.91 6.2

4.4 4.99 6.2

1,568,740 389,562 30,132,701

8,800 443,491

FIRST METRO ETF

120.7

121.4

120.7

1,589,035

4,856

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 5.25 1.29 2.42 1.02 42.9 3.83 4.89 5.34 0.52 1.32 1.52 0.234 0.495 44.1 0.7 0.154 1.87 1.56 1.03 5.3 0.285

3,240,100 25,741,000 265,000 3,052,000 7,140,200 1,908,000 878,000 700 25,458,000 371,000 100,000 36,030,000 2,109,000 243,800 1,025,000 450,000 17,219,000 11,834,000 19,339,000 52,872,400 19,230,000

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

23,881,914

INDUSTRIAL

107,737,676

HOLDING FIRMS

141,139,979

PROPERTY SERVICES

263,522,546 180,251,710

MINING & OIL

1,028,402,263

GRAND TOTAL

1,750,159,765

SME

356,000 79,000 4,774,700

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 121.4 13,090

VALUE 1,968.76 (up) 5.25 1,456,090,447.11 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,243.31 (up) 92.36 1,377,190,741.83 HOLDING FIRMS 7,881.31 (up) 10.44 1,503,786,222.74 PROPERTY 3,781.45 (up) 20.68 1,746.40 (up) 19.66 1,215,004,066.88 SERVICES MINING & OIL 13,654.71 (up) 222.89 1,654,628,922.07 PSEI 8,022.98 (up) 39.01 325,825,683.63 All Shares Index 4,762.84 (up) 23.63 7,566,209,649.46 Gainers: 114; Losers: 77; Unchanged: 55; Total: 246

percent for life with no stepup.

The pricing of the notes reflected a 50-basis point compression from the initial price guidance of 5.125 percent to 5.25 percent.

The notes will be issued

by AYC Finance Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ayala Corp. The notes will be guaranteed by the conglomerate.

The offering was more than five times oversubscribed, with investors’ confidence reflecting the high quality of the Ayala signature.

“This successful launch of fixed for life notes provides us with the financial flexibility to manage our balance sheet and diversify our sources of capital. We are grateful for the continued support we have received from our investors that is clearly reflected in this issuance,” said Ayala chairman and chief executive Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala.

“Finding favorable conditions in a volatile credit market allows Ayala to optimize its average cost of funding while extending its debt maturity profile,” said Ayala chief finance officer Jose Teodoro Limcaoco.

At least 19 percent of the order book for the notes was allocated to investors from the Philippines, 10 percent from Europe and the balance from the rest of Asia.

Del Monte registers net profit of $0.7m FRUIT grower and canner Del Monte Pacific Ltd. posted a net income of $0.7 million in the first quarter of fiscal year ending July 2017, a turnaround from a loss of $7 million year-on-year, after the robust performance of the Asian business.

Del Monte said in a disclosure to the stock exchange first-quarter sales inched up one percent to $473.8 million, as the strong performance of the S&W brand in Asia and the Middle East helped offset lower sales in the United States.

The group’s US subsidiary, Del Monte Foods Inc., registered sales of $336.5 million, down four percent from a year ago, mainly due to reduced sales in private label and regional brands in foodservice as a result of competitive pricing.

Del Monte said the first quarter was seasonally the company’s weakest quarter, accounting for only 19 percent to 21 percent of full year sales. It is also generally the least profitable quarter for the company.

The decline in sales, however, was offset by higher revenues from the group’s second largest subsidiary, Del Monte Philippines Inc. (DMPI), with sales of $131.4 million, up 14 percent on year.

The strong growth in the Philippine sales was driven by expanded penetration and increased consumption of packaged pineapple fruit following the improvement in supply, coupled with higher sales of culinary products.

Foodservice sales in the Philippines continued to expand, riding on the rapid expansion of quick service restaurants and convenience stores with partnerships and menu creation with major accounts.

Jenniffer B. Austria

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

Manila

Standard

TODAY

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

HIV infections rising in Ormoc, E. Visayas O

RMOC CITY—The City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit here has recorded an increase in the number of human immunodeficiency virus cases in the city—with half of the 14 new HIV reactive cases in Eastern Visayas coming Ormoc—prompting the local government to intensify the monitoring of infected persons.

Elsie Jaca, disease surveillance officer, noted the region’s trend follows that of the national average of 30 cases per day in 2017, compared to the average of 26 HIV cases per day last year.

HIV is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS, which has become a global epidemic. About 36.7 million people worldwide had the

disease as of 2016, including 2.1 million children, the United Nations AIDS Programme figures show.

Jaca said that from January to July this year, 7,000 persons underwent voluntary HIV testing in Eastern Visayas, with more than 2,500 coming from Ormoc.

These cases are still not ref lected on the national HIV/ AIDS registry, the surveil-

lance officer added.

Statistics show that in Region 8, 335 HIV cases and 48 cases of AIDS have been recorded from 1984 to the present. To date, Ormoc has one AIDS case.

Jaca emphasized there could be more with the disease, as the numbers do not include overseas Filipino workers from the city.

Monitoring the disease remains “a tough challenge” because of the social stigma that causes fear and depression among people, which hinders them from undergoing HIV tests.

Those identified to be “positive” cannot be forced to undergo treatment, as forcing them is a violation of their rights and is punishable by law, Jaca said.

CESU reported that modes of transmission include un-

protected male-to-male and male-to-female sex, sharing of infected needles in intravenous drug injections, and mother-to-child transmission.

“There is always hope for HIV [patients]. . . you can still live longer as long as you cooperate in the treatment,” emphasized Ma. Lourdes Lampong of the city health office. She said this is what they always reiterate during counseling sessions to avoid depression of the subject.

Lampong added that in their campaign to combat HIV/AIDS, they are tapping the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community to become peer counselors to educate their fellows.

The city health office has free HIV test kits and is encouraging individuals to seek early testing and counselling in their office. PNA

Republic of the Philippies Department of Environment and Natural Resources

URGENT HIRING : (VALENZUELA CITY / PAPER INDUSTRY) MALE MAINTENANCE SPVR. KNOWLEDGEABLE IN ELECTRICAL /MECHANICAL MACHINE & VEHICLE MAINTENANCE MALE : INDUSTRIAL ELECTRICIAN FEMALE Q.A. ANALYST W/ EXPERIENCE IN PAPER INDUSTRY DRIVER: RESTRICTION 123 FAMILIAR IN MLA / NORTH & SOUTH CONTACT# 4323466-9849069 LOOK FOR TINA PASCUAL EMAIL:hr@coreasiapaper.com (SEPT. 8 & 10, 2017) PUBLIC INFORMATION SHEET FOR DIRECT USE AS FOOD AND FEED, OR FOR PROCESSING PROPOSAL FOR DIRECT USE AS FOOD AND FEED, OR FOR PROCESSING Bt11 x MIR162 x MIR604 x MON 89034 x 5307 x GA21 Corn 1. Applicant’s Name Syngenta Philippines, Inc. 2. Applicant’s Address 12th Floor, Two World Square, # 22 Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, 1630 Philippines 3. Telephone Number/ Facsimile Number, E-Mail Address of the Applicant Tel. +63 2 370 2100; Fax: +63 2 856 9260; E-mail: c/o ba_cau.duong@syngenta.com 4. Name of Responsible Officer/Authorized Representative Duong Ba Cau, President and Commercial Unit Head, Philippines Felipe S. dela Cruz, Jr., Regulatory Affairs Territory Lead, ASEAN 5. Description of the Regulated Article for Direct Use Bt11 x MIR162 x MIR604 x MON 89034 x 5307 x GA21 is a corn stack hybrid developed by conventionally crossing Bt11, MIR162, MIR604, MON 89034, 5307 and GA21 corn. Bt11, MIR162, MIR604, MON 89034, 5307 and GA21 are transgenic corn events developed through modern biotechnology.

Bt11 contains cry1Ab gene which encodes the Cry1Ab protein that provides protection against Asiatic corn borer. It also contains pat gene which codes for the production of the enzyme phosphinothricin-N-acetyltransferase (pat) that confers tolerance to glufosinate.

MIR162 contains the vip3Aa20 gene which provides protection against other Lepidopteran insects and pmi gene which encodes the phosphomannose isomerase protein that enables plant cells to convert mannose to a readily metabolized compound, fructose-6-phosphate, thereby improving the energy status of the cells and avoiding the accumulation of derivatized mannose. pmi also allows the positive selection for the recovery of the transformed plants.

MIR604 contains the mCry3A gene which encodes the mCry3A protein that provides protection against rootworm and the pmi gene which allows the positive selection for the recovery of the transformed plants.

MON 89034 contains cry1A.105 and cry2Ab2 genes that provide protection against feeding damage caused by the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubialis) and other lepidopteran insect pests.

5307 contains eCry3.1Ab gene which provides protection against rootworm and the pmi gene as a selectable marker.

GA21 contains the mepsps (modified 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase) gene which confers tolerance to glyphosate.

6. If to be imported, Country (ies) of Origin of the Regulated Article United States, Canada or from other countries which will have cultivation approvals in the future 7. Brief Summary of Potential Effects on Human and Animal Health and the Environment Bt11 x MIR162 x MIR604 x MON 89034 x 5307 x GA21 corn has been adequately assessed to demonstrate its safety as food, feed, and its safety to the environment. Studies conducted show that the proteins produced in the Bt11 x MIR162 x MIR604 x MON 89034 x 5307 x GA21 corn hybrids (Cry1Ab, PAT, Vip3Aa20, PMI, mCry3A, Cry1A.105, Cry2Ab2, eCry3.1Ab and mEPSPS) do not have homology to any known or putative mammalian toxin and allergen. There is no evidence that these proteins will interact to form new toxin or allergen. In addition, the modes of action of these proteins are distinct and no interaction has been detected. Moreover, the overall concentrations and patterns of expression of the Cry1Ab, PAT, Vip3Aa20, PMI, mCry3A, Cry1A.105, Cry2Ab2, eCry3.1Ab and mEPSPS proteins are generally similar between Bt11 x MIR162 x MIR604 x MON 89034 x 5307 x GA21 and single events Bt11, MIR162, MIR604, MON 89034, 5307, and GA21 corn. Furthermore, Southern analyses demonstrated that the corn stack hybrid has stably inherited the introduced genes from the parental Bt11, MIR162, MIR604, MON 89034, 5307, and GA21 corn in a predictable manner.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT BUREAU

Bt11 x MIR162 x MIR604 x MON 89034 x 5307 x GA21 corn will only be imported for direct use as food, feed, and for processing and will not be propagated in the Philippines. In the event that there is an accidental release of grains in the environment during the importation of the Third Party Importer, chances of survival of Bt11 x MIR162 x MIR604 x MON 89034 x 5307 x GA21 corn is unlikely since it will generally occur in industrial areas which are highly disturbed habitats unsuitable for significant plant establishment. The spilled grains have to reach the soil and need to be exposed to specific favorable conditions, such as light, moisture and temperature so that germination and plant establishment will occur.

DENR Compound, Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City 1116 Telephone Nos.: 925-47-93 to 97 Email:emb@emb.gov.ph Visit us at http://www.emb.gov.ph

8. Brief Summary of Potential Benefits (Describe how the new trait will benefit farming, the farmer, the environment, and society as a whole)

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given to all parties who wish to participate in the Public Hearing for the proposed PANAY RIVER BASIN INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT PROJECT on the following dates, onsite registration is at 8:00am and the Public Hearing proper will promptly start at 9:00am.

Date

Venue

September 16, 2017

Covered Gym, Barangay San Jose, Tapaz, Capiz

September 18, 2017

San Antonio Resort, Roxas City, Capiz

The public hearing aims to achieve efficient exchange of information and views between and among the project proponent, the EMB-DENR, relevant agencies, LGUs and other stakeholders on the environmental impacts of the proposed project currently applying for an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

GAWAD KALASAG. The Pagsanjan, Laguna Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council recently won third place in the first- to third-class municipalities category of the Gawad Kalasag awards.

Receiving the award were Pagsanjan Mayor Girlie ‘Maita’ Ejercito (third from right), her husband and former Laguna governor Jeorge ER Ejercito (second from right) Pagsanjan Administrator Seng Salvador (second from left) MDRRM officer Engineer Keens Asebuche (left), Pagsanjan DILG officer Paolo Brosas (right) and Office of Civil Defense Region IV-A Director Olivia Luces (third from left). Roy Tomandao

NCTAC to be formed for ‘drug-free Pangasinan’

By Dexter A. See LINGAYEN, Pangasinan–Various agencies and offices in the province have assured their support to the National Tokhang Advocacy Coalition, a sub-component of the National Coalition of Sectoral Force Multipliers and Advocacy Support Groups, at the forefront of sustaining peace and order efforts, particularly on the war against drugs, leading to a drugfree Pangasinan.

Police Chief Inspector Norman Florentino, provincial police community relations chief, said during a coordinating conference at the Capitol Resort Hotel here that the support from various agencies and offices is a “booster shot” to the Philippine National Police’s law enforcement and community relations programs in localities, particularly the “Double Barrel” program or the anti-

illegal drugs campaign.

NCTAC, led by local government executives, “is envisioned to take the lead in the formulation and implementation of programs that will further strengthen and sustain the gains and successes of PNP’s anti-criminality programs and community empowerment activities,” Florentino said.

The Pangasinan PPO sought help to rev up the NCTAC, which shall also ensure transparency and efficiency of law enforcement agencies in the conduct of interdictions against suspected drug pushers and drug dens.

Enjoining for the NCTAC are governors, mayors and barangay captains; barangay-based anticrime advisory councils and nongovernment organizations; PNP regional directors, provincial directors and chief of police; and anti-illegal drugs convenors.

Vizcaya traders earn P5m from Alabang market stint

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya —Local entrepreneurs brought in close to P5 million in sales during their recent participation in the annual marketing event dubbed “NV Goes to Alabang.”

Judith Asuncion, marketing event coordinator, said event from Aug. 25 to Sept. 3 at the Festival Mall in Alabang saw brisk sales for the 34 product exhibitors from across Nueva Vizcaya.

“The exhibited and sold products ranged from furniture, food products, handicraft items and other souvenir products, among others, made by our local producers,” Asuncion said.

The “NV Goes to Alabang” event, now on its 14th year,

serves as one of the marketing and promotional activities of the provincial government in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry to bring Nueva Vizcaya products to the local and international markets.

“Aside from the spot sales, there were also orders made by customers, and this will bring in additional income for our local entrepreneurs,” Asuncion said.

Rentals of the exhibitors at the mall during the event were shouldered jointly by the provincial government and DTI. Senator Cynthia Villar, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, was the guest speaker during the opening program of the 10-day marketing event.

The project aims to increase agricultural production, create employment opportunities and improve living environment through addressing the need for irrigation water, domestic water supply, flood control measures and other related activities for the development of areas in the Province of Capiz. The following briefly describes the Project Brief Description

Proposed Location

Proponent

For more details, please contact the EIA and Management Division of EMB through Engr. Regina Paula Eugenio or Engr. Joel Polintan at telephone numbers (02) 9202240 to 41.

(MS-SEPT. 8, 2017)

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street Manila 1004

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Invitation to Bid for the Renovation of the Department of Finance Building Offices – Package 2 The Department of Finance (DOF), through the Government of the Philippines under the General Appropriations Act for CY 2017, intends to apply the sum of ONE HUNDRED SIXTEEN MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED TWENTY THOUSAND PESOS (P116,820,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Renovation of the Department of Finance Building Offices – Package 2 includes Architectural Works, Sanitary/Plumbing Works, Fire Protection Works, Mechanical Works and Electrical Works as maybe applicable, for the following areas/floors : a. Podium Level b. Third Floor; c. Fourth Floor; d. Fifth Floor; Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The DOF now invites bids for the Renovation of the Department of Finance Building Offices – Package 2. Completion of the Works is required in 150 calendar days. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. Prospective bidders must have been at least 10 years in the Construction Industry with a PCAB Size Range of Medium B and License Category A. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat at the address given below during office hours.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested bidders starting on September 8, 2017 up to October 2, 2017 at the BAC Secretariat, 8th Floor, EDPC Building BSP Complex, Pablo Ocampo Sr. Street corner Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila upon payment of a non-refundable fee in the amount of FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00).

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

However, due to volume and size of files, detailed plans may only be secured by interested bidders from the BAC Secretariat, 8th Floor, EDPC Building, Roxas Boulevard corner Pablo Ocampo St., Roxas Boulevard Manila.

The DOF will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 10:00 a.m., September 18, 2017 at the DFG Conference Room, 4th DOF Building, Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 9:30 a.m. on October 2, 2017. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause a.18.

Bid opening shall be on 10:00 a.m. October 2, 2017 at the DFG Conference Room, 4th Floor DOF Building, Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids shall use the non- discretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Failure to submit the required document under the bidding documents or the submission of a document which does not comply with the legal formalities shall be rated “failed”.

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

The schedules of activities are as follows: ACTIVITIES Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid Issuance and Availability of Bid Documents Pre-Bid Conference Request for Clarification Issuance of Supplemental Bid Bulletin Deadline for Submission of Bids Opening of Bids

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SCHEDULE September 8, 2017 starting September 8, 2017 September 18, 2017, 10:00 am September 22, 2017 (by email) September 25, 2017 October 2, 2017, 9:30 am October 2, 2017, 10:00 am

The DOF reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: BAC Secretariat 8th Floor EDPC Buidling, BSP Complex, Pablo Ocampo Sr. Street corner Roxas Boulevard Malate , Manila Telephone No. 526-8475 Fax No. 525-4227 Email address: lte@dof.gov.ph (SGD) GIL S. BELTRAN Undersecretary and BAC Chairman

(MS-SEPT. 8, 2017)

9. Countries Where Approvals Have Been Granted (for FFP; for Commercial Propagation) Bt11 x MIR162 x MIR604 x MON 89034 x 5307 x GA21 corn has already been approved in Canada and Japan for cultivation.

The USA does not require submission of regulatory dossiers or additional data on combined trait products developed by conventional breeding if the single trait products have completed the regulatory process and/or the traits are unrelated.

The public is hereby invited to submit their comments to the BPI Director (within 60 days from date of publication) on the Proposal for the Importation of Bt11 x MIR162 x MIR604 x MON 89034 x 5307 x GA21 corn for direct use as food and feed, or for processing Director Bureau of Plant Industry San Andres, Malate, Manila E-Mail bpibiotechsecretariat@yahoo.com

Approved for Publication: ___________________________ GEORGE Y. CULASTE OIC-Director Bureau of Plant Industry Date:

• Construction of High Dam and appurtenant structures; • Construction of Afterbay Dam • Construction of irrigation and drainage facilities that will serve 26,800 h of riceland; • Construction of road networks that shall provide easy access for delivery of agricultural products. : Municipalities of Tapaz, Jamindan, Mambusao, Sapian, Sigma, Roxas City, Panay, Panitan, Pontevedra, Ma-ayon, Dao, Cuartero, Dumarao, Dumalag, all in the Province of Capiz and Municipality of Bingawan in the Province of Iloilo : National Irrigation Administration VI

Full copies of the EIS can be accessed at the EMB website and EMB VI Office, while copies of the EIS Summary for the Public are available at Municipalities of Tapaz, Jamindan, Mambusao, Sapian, Sigma, Roxas City, Panay, Panitan, Pontevedra, Maayon, Dao, Cuartero, Dumarao, Dumalag, all in the Province of Capiz, and Municipality of Bingawan in the Province of Iloilo and in the EMB Website.

Since Bt11 x MIR162 x MIR604 x MON 89034 x 5307 x GA21 corn will be a traded commodity, the society will be the main beneficiary in case importation will be required to supply the industry with grains of corn and corn products to feed millers, for use in poultry, livestock, aquaculture, and other industries.

: The development project will include the following:

All interested parties who wish to participate and be prioritized in the open forum during the Public Hearing may pre-register in person with the EMB at EMB Bldg., DENR Compound, Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City and submit a position paper to the EMB Central Office with address at DENR Compound, Visayas Avenue, Diliman Quezon City or EMB VI on or before September 13, 2017.

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(MS-SEPT. 8, 2017)

INVITATION TO BID FOR THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF TWENTY ONE (21) UNITS BRAND NEW TRANSPORTATION/MOTOR VEHICLES PB170823-RM56/GSD-17-000095337 1. The National Transmission Corporation, through the 2017 Corporate Budget approved by the TransCo Board intends to apply the sum of PHP 27,150,000.00, being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract FOR THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF TWENTY ONE (21) UNITS BRAND NEW TRANSPORTATION/MOTOR VEHICLES PB170823-RM56/ GSD-17-000095337. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2. The National Transmission Corporation, now invites bids FOR THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF TWENTY ONE (21) UNITS BRAND NEW TRANSPORTATION/MOTOR VEHICLES. Delivery of the Goods is required to be delivered within thirty (30) calendar days. Bidders should have completed, within the last five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

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

4. Interested bidders may obtain further information from National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during working days from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

5. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on September 8 up to September 28, 2017 from the address below upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by GPPB. Note: For lot procurement, the maximum fee for the Bidding Documents for each lot shall be based on its ABC, in accordance with the Guidelines issued by the GPPB; provided that the total fees for the Bidding Documents of all lots shall not exceed the maximum fee prescribed in the Guidelines for the sum of the ABC of all lots.

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

6. The National Transmission Corporation will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on September 15, 2017 10:00 AM at TransCo Boardroom 2nd floor TransCo Main Building, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

7. Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before September 29, 2017 10:00 AM. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on September 29, 2017 10:00 AM at TransCo Boardroom 2nd floor TransCo Main Building. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8. The National Transmission Corporation reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

9. For further information, please refer to: Ms. Rossana F. Paguio BAC Secretariat Manager, General Services Division National Transmission Corporation (Transco) Power Center Complex BIR Road corner Quezon Avenue Diliman, Quezon City Telephone 902-1520 and Fax No. 921-3306 rfpaguio@transco.ph (SGD) ATTY. ZITA MARIE ATIENZA-FAJARDO BAC Chairperson (MS-SEPT. 8, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

Girl dies from JEV disease in P’sinan

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

INTEGRITY CIRCLE. Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi signs an Integrity Pledge as part of the city government’s Project I4J and Muntinlupa Integrity Circle (MIC) initiatives, launched Monday

at Muntinlupa City Hall, in partnership with Integrity Initiative. Representatives from the city government, Civil Society Organizations, and the private sector take the lead in the Project I4J to develop integrity mechanisms and transparent business registration procedures.

Market rental fees stand

By Bill Casas

T

HE city government of Manila led by Mayor Joseph Estrada stands by its decision to impose a new rate of rental fees at the modernized Quinta Market in Quiapo, saying it is a “win-win” solution for both the private developer and the stallholders.

In a report to Estrada, City Administrator Ericson Alcovendaz stressed that the new schedule of fees was duly voted upon by members of the Quinta

Market governing committee during a meeting last Monday.

“There were suggestions by the vendors association and the private developer as

to how much the daily rental fee would be. And the developers’ suggested rate ultimately won in the voting, 4-1,” Alcovendaz said.

“I think, this is a win-win solution,” he pointed out, explaining it will be both beneficial to the vendors, stallholders and the market developer, Marketlife Management and Leasing Corp., and even to the city government.

Headed by Alcovendaz, the governing committee is composed of two representatives from Marketlife, Quinta Market supervisor

Marjorie Yebra, and Arnold Chicco, president of the 289-member Quinta Market Vendors Association Cooperative Development.

The new daily rental fees the vendors must pay start from P30, P50, and P80 per square meter, depending on the classification and location of the market space or stalls, Alcovendaz said.

The stallholders proposed the old rate of P15 per square meter.

Marketlife even suggested a higher rate of P40, P60, and P100 but later agreed to lower it, Alcovendaz said.

Admittedly, Alcovendaz said, the rental fees at Quinta Market are higher compared to those being collected at four other newly renovated public markets in the city.

“But unlike the other newly renovated markets, such as San Andres and Sta. Ana markets, this [Quinta Market] is completely new.

It’s a new construction,” he explained.

Several individuals identifying themselves as vendors and stallholders at Quinta are up in arms over the new fees, complaining

Army-PNP Iloilo farm resort reaps the fruits of the soil conference on Kasibu crisis held

By Abe Almirol

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—High-ranking officers of the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police met at Camp Saturnino Dumlao here on Thursday to discuss recent attacks by the communist New People’s Army in the area.

The officers “met to discuss the situation after the September 1st Army and NPA clash that killed four soldiers in Barangay Paquet, Kasibu town,” PNP Nueva Vizcaya announced.

Present during the conference were Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Robert G. Quenery, Col. Abrahan Claro C. Casis, Commander of the Army’s 703rd Brigade based in Bungabong, Nueva Ecija, and Senior Supt Leumar U. Abugan, Nueva Vizcaya Police provincial director.

Close to a thousand residents of Barangays Pao, Pacquet and Kakidugen have left their homes to avoid being caught in crossfires, as the Army pursued the communist rebels. These residents “momentarily left their homes to seek shelter in Poblacion, Kasibu and other areas,” local news reports noted.

Kasibu Mayor Chito Bumolo directed the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council to look after the evacuees.

EPHRATHAH Farms, a brainchild of Eddie Canuto, is a thriving resort in Sariri, Badiangan, Iloilo.

But it has become a venue for small vegetable farmers whose produce now occupy the vegetable section of SM Supermarket and Hypermarket in Iloilo.

The farm is on a piece of land Canuto acquired that once belonged to his grandfather. A successful civil engineer, Canuto ventured into farming to help fund a camp for the Sariri Baptist Church Youth. The venture was not as successful as he had hoped.

Opting for an early retirement, Canuto decided to concentrate on farming that brought into fruition Ephrathah Farms, the first farm resort in Iloilo where guests can tour around the property and buy chemicalfree vegetables, farm products, seeds, and other agricultural goods.

That the farm produces quality chemical-free vegetables is not surprising.

Having been the site of SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers’ Training in the summer of 2015, the participants were taught how to grow high-value vegetables without using pesticides and proper seed and soil preparation. Participants came from the towns

The Flowers and Vegetables Exhibit at Ephrathah Farms is one of the attractions of the resort in Sariri, Badiangan, Iloilo, which SM Foundation has used as a training center for its Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan program.

of Badiangan, Januiay, Mina, Pototan, Lambunao, Barotac Nuevo and Sta. Barbara, all in Iloilo province.

Incidentally, the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers’ Training Program was launched in 2007 in Negros Occidental, just across the sea from Iloilo.

Unlike other training programs, the KSK also teaches the participants how to sell their produce to a bigger market.

Farmers are not limited to town markets nor to neighbors wanting to purchase their crops. SM Foundation encourages the farmers to look for other buyers to make the program sustainable.

Canuto has enjoined the farmers to sell to buyers who can give them reasonable prices for their harvests, thereby helping the farmers lift their lives.

From the 2015 Badiangan KSK graduates, 17 farm-

ers are now regular suppliers of SM Supermarket and Hypermart through Ephrathah Farms. As SM Foundation continues to conduct more farmers’ training programs, their number is growing.

For Canuto, what he learned from SM Foundation’s KSK has reinforced his faith in the Lord, citing a verse from Deuteronomy: “God will bless the fruit of this land, the grain, the increase.”

they are too high. Besides, “illegal vendors” outside the market affect their sales, they averred.

To address this concern, Alcovendaz said Estrada has given strict instructions to remove those illegal vendors outside the Quinta Market.

“This is difficult. The mayor will have to strike a balance here. Why? Because we cannot offer the illegal vendors livelihood,” Alcovendaz said. “We made the market beautiful, then you compete unfairly with the legitimate vendors who pay taxes.”

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan —The Provincial Health Office is investigating the death of an eight-year-old girl from Sison town, who appeared to be the first death reported in Pangasinan because of Japanese encephalitis.

The victim died while being treated at the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in San Fernando City, La Union, where she was diagnosed as having Stage 4 Japanese encephalitis, her mother said.

The disease is an infection of the brain caused by the mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis virus or JEV, and is most prevalent in Southeast Asia, South Asia and East Asia. Domestic pigs and wild birds, especially herons, are reservoirs of the virus, and transmission to humans may cause severe symptoms.

The mother said the girl, named Lyra Mae, was first brought to the emergency room of a hospital in Rosario, La Union Saturday morning, and when doctors could not diagnose her ailment, they recommended that she be brought to the ITRCM. She said they were not able to leave the hospital immediately, as they had yet to settle their bill of P3,500, and were only released when the husband of her sister arrived and provided the guarantee.

The woman related that inside the vehicle, Lyra Mae’s pulse had stopped, and so they had to bring her to the La Union Provincial Hospital in Agoo where doctors revived her. They recommended Lyra Mae be brought immediately to the ITRMC, where the girl eventually died. PNA

IN BRIEF QC gets first batch of 160 ambulances THE Quezon City government will boost its capability for public safety and emergency services once it gets the full delivery of 160 ambulances it just procured.

Mayor Herbert Bautista inspected the initial batch of the ambulances delivered recently at City Hall.

The custom-built Toyota Hi-Ace Grandia ambulances are equipped with an automated external defibrillator, oxygen tanks, spinal board, stretcher and a medical kit.

Bautista said each of the city’s 142 barangays will be assigned an ambulance, while the rest will be distributed to the health department, disaster risk reduction and management office, QC General Hospital, QC Police District, and Bureau of Fire Protection.

The city’s DRRMO will train ambulance crew or emergency medical technicians under the barangay emergency response team or BERT. The BERT concept, which calls for the organization of community-based first responders, was pioneered

by Bautista when he was still vice mayor in 1995. The concept was later adopted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and Philippine Red Cross. Rio N. Araja

Navotas school kids learn good values GRADE 3 pupils of public elementary schools in Navotas learned how to love God, fellow beings, nature and the country during the Values Formation Seminar held by the Navotas Youth and Kids Ministry.

In a separate seminar, parents were taught about the challenges of raising children, positive discipline, and effective communication between parents and children.

“We want young Navoteños to learn and develop good values and morals. We hope that through values formation, they will grow as responsible citizens and become agents of positive change in our society,” Mayor John Rey Tiangco said.

YKM has conducted seminars in three schools and is set to visit all 21 public schools in Navotas by December. Jun David

QC businesses told to enforce free parking for seniors, slots for bicycle users

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City’s District 3 Councilor Allan Benedict Reyes urged on Wednesday hospitals, hotels and other business establishments to strictly enforce two measures to benefit senior citizens and bikers.

In an interview, Reyes said business operators must exempt elders from paying the initial rate of parking fees for the first three hours of parking and a flat rate of parking fee, regardless of the number of hours they parked, as mandated under Ordinance No. SP 2472 of 2015.

“The measure is a very helpful ordinance, but I have been receiving mounting complaints of noncompliance,” the councilor told the Manila Standard, lamenting that many elders have been deprived of the free parking privilege.

Also, three years after the pas-

sage of Ordinance No. SP 2369 of 2014, Reyes said most major business establishments—such as malls, banks, restaurants and supermarkets—are bicyclefriendly, and have not fully complied with the measure to provide bikers with a parking space.

“We also received complaints about the scarcity of bike parking slots and worst, the unavailability of a parking area for bicycle riders,” he said.

Reyes said it is important to support cycling as an environmentfriendly mode of transportation.

Life

CIE British School founder and professor Nelia Cruz Sarcol

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

CULTURE AND MEDIA

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

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Ex-airline cabin crew

now owner of international school

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ELIA Cruz Sarcol was a flight attendant before returning to school and graduating magna cum laude. She also received awards from two prestigious international honor societies in the USA. She eventually founded the CIE British School, which is recognized by the University of Cambridge International Examinations, UK. Nelia calls this, “The School for Leaders.”

Established in 1207, the University of Cambridge is one of the oldest and most distinguished universities in the world. Its International Examinations is the world’s largest provider of high-quality, leading edge qualifications that meet the ongoing demands of employers and educators across the world.

Briefly, the CIE British School awards British IGCSE and GCE A Level qualifications to its high school and pre-university students.

To date, there are now three campuses:

Makati, Cebu, and Tacloban. College bachelor degrees have been added as well as a Master’s degree in Management. The current CIE Non-Academic Programmes that complement the rigors of academics are impressive as well: Art, Violin, Swimming, Aikido, Fencing, Golf and Travel.

A handsome structure that houses the CIE British School main campus on President Magsaysay Avenue in Cebu symbolizes the vision and dedication built into this school

by Teacher Nelia.

It would be difficult to put in a nutshell all of Nelia’s continuing roster of accomplishments and achievements but a review of a simple and unpretentious but very patriotic book provides an insight of what drives this gem of a woman.

The Pearl Principle, by Teacher Nelia and published in 2008 by the CIE Global Colleges, Inc., tells the cycle of life of the oyster giving birth to the pearl. It recounts how the teredo microorganisms invade the oyster and make it secrete nacre to protect itself. Out of this unique natural event, the beautiful, precious pearl emerges as well as its story of inspiration.

Nelia likens this to adversities that constantly challenge Filipinos and which they can transform into opportunities to improve themselves as a people and a nation.

Nelia to this day espouses the Pearl Principle as a guiding post for herself, her school, and the people around her. She looks at it as a movement any one can join in or dedicate one’s self to, and harness in the continuing effort to

The Center for International Education (CIE) British School is recognized by the University of Cambridge International Examinations create a progressive nation and its citizenry.

Her international and local academic titles and recognition are like the pearl’s nacre, continuing to build up and endow her with a rare and unique luster and, which, she in turn, shares with her school, the CIE British School.

To quote the proud description of Teacher Nelia’s CIE British School, The School of

Leaders: “It is a center of excellence that develops creative people who are imbued and equipped with outstanding academic skills, innovative thinking, pioneering spirit, entrepreneurial mindset and strength of character to make a lasting contribution to improve the quality of life as enlightened generative leaders and channels in social transformation.”

CIE awards British IGCSE and GCE A Level qualifications to its high school and pre-university students

The international school espouses the Pearl Principle as its guiding post

Lasallian excellence in Vermosa AYALA Land, Inc.’s (ALI) Vermosa—a first of its kind in mixed-use destination and the fourth largest estate of ALI—recently added Lasallian excellence in its community with the opening of the De La Salle Santiago Zobel (DLSZ) Vermosa Campus.

On June 21, the DLSZ-Vermosa Campus in Imus, Cavite started its Senior High School (SHS) classes.

The 700-hectare estate brings together residential, retail, and business spots in one destination bolstered by sports and fitness amenities. The DLSZVermosa Campus is located within the Vermosa Midtown, a pedestrian-focused, bike-friendly area, home to a campus-type commercial district with a lifestyle mall from Ayala Malls as well as the Vermosa Sports and Lifestyle Complex.

DLSZ-Vermosa houses three primary school zones—Academic, Sports, and Cultural. Within the zones, there are different modern facilities such as classrooms, laboratories, and faculty centers. Inside the Academic Zone are the administration building, middle (junior) and senior high school halls, and the Spark Building. There is also a premium sports complex—with a Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)-certified track oval and football field—together with a performing arts theatre, among others.

A unique feature of the estate is the Vermosa Sports & Lifestyle Complex that will have the Philippines’ first Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA)-certifiable Olympic-sized swimming pool, the country’s first International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)-certified oval track, motocross track, bike trail, and the Philippines’ first Sports Science Laboratory that can serve as a training facility for DLSZ’s athletes.

These facilities and features position DLSZ-Vermosa as a top-notch educational institution in the south within an estate that bolsters an active lifestyle and well-balanced family life.

DLSZ-Vermosa houses three primary school zones and a premium sports complex

The Virlanie Voices serenaded the audience during Virlanie's 25th anniversary celebration

Virlanie celebrates 25 years

DLSZ-Vermosa in Imus, Cavite has already started its Senior High School classes

The De La Salle Santiago Zobel Vermosa is a premier campus located within the mixed-use destination Vermosa Midtown

SINCE 1992, Virlanie Foundation, Inc. has been reaching out to street children in the Philippines, rescuing them from difficult situations, and helping them build better future as strong and independent adults.

Virlanie’s success, of course, would not have been possible without the passion and hard work of its founder and President Dominique Lemay and his staff and partners.

“I had come to the Philippines some 30 years ago to help establish this foundation. Then until now—even if the journey has been difficult—I have never regretted or felt tired fighting for the rights of these children. They are all wonderful, talented individuals who have been dealt unique challenges, but each and everyone of them has been able to bravely rise up from their circumstances,” says Lemay.

While they had kept their 5th, 10th and even 20th anniversaries low-key, Virlanie has decided to celebrate their 25th with a bang. “We are proud and grateful to have been given such support these past 25 years,” he says. “And so we wanted to give back and show our gratitude to our sponsors, volunteers and corporate partners who have supported us throughout the decades.”

In a fitting tribute event held at Novotel Manila, its exclusive hotel partner, Virlanie treated its partners to a night of revelry. The event brought on the stage former beneficiaries who shared their touching testimonies, partners who told their own stories of charity, as well as the foundation’s own talented youth groups. The guests also feasted on 25 Smiles photo exhibit showcasing the faces of the 25 years of Virlanie, and the

Virlanie Foundation founder and President Dominique Lemay milestone video displaying the history of Virlanie.

The Rising Youth, Virlanie’s youth organization, performed their original speech choir piece, “Kamalayan.” And later that evening, in a special set, The Virlanie Voices—comprised of children from different Virlanie homes and outreach communities—serenaded the audiences with wonderful renditions of OPM favorites. The Virlanie Voices have been recognized in the Philippines and even in Europe. In the past years, they have travelled to France, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland to perform and advocate for children.

Laurent Goirand, vice president, ended the program with a challenge—encouraging everyone to take a more active role in empowering and protecting children for a brighter future.

C2

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

Stars clash in

‘CELEBRITY CAR WARS’ season 2

OUTLANDISH. Model and TV anchor Phoemela Barranda joins the newest season of History’s “Celebrity Car Wars.” (Inset) Host Bobby Tonelli with the cast of the hit series.

A

+E Networks® Asia’s leading factual entertainment brand, History, premiered the return of the star-studded, rollicking automotive reality entertainment series, Celebrity Car Wars, sponsored by Caltex, last Monday.

The show returns with six new popular, socially connected, outspoken, pampered and coiffured celebrities on an eight-week journey of automotive discovery. Viewers will find out if their favorite personalities, now without their drivers and minders, could actually drive – and drive competitively.

Newly introduced to Celebrity Car Wars is a quiz segment that tests the celebrities on the knowledge they pick up during the series and general automotive history.

Incorrect answers will crush their egos and more.

Star of the History hit series Storage Wars (currently airing on Tuesdays 9 p.m.), Jarrod Schulz, becomes the first star from the U.S. to be featuref in Celebrity Car Wars. While he wastes no time getting along with his fellow celebrities, this is the first time Jarrod is in production in Asia and his second ever visit to the region, and could take time to adapt. He is also without Brandi Passante, his long-time girlfriend, business partner and co-star of Storage Wars – his usual voice of reason.

Enjoying home ground advantage is the glamorous and sophisticated Filipino model, actress and TV an-

chor Phoemela Baranda. Having raced many times previously, she looks to tap on her competitive experience and skill sets for an advantage over the rest. Her determination to win could make all the difference.

A force to be reckoned with, petite Thai actress Aerin Yuktadatta’s belies the firecracker that she becomes in the heat of the competition. She is a go-getter and not one to shy away from any challenge. Aerin is not afraid to bring the fight and can be hard on herself, if she feels she could have done better.

In comparison, fellow Thai actor,

PEOPLE …are talking about Laura Lehmann On Sunday, Miss World Philippines 2017 beauty contest seemed to have been staged only to crown her as the next queen to represent the country on the international pageant stage.

Beauty pageant fanatics have been rooting for her since day one of the competition. And the multi-hyphenate young lady didn’t disappoint her supporters as she even exceeded their expectations and showed everyone why she deserved the crown more than anyone else.

...are not talking about Kim Chiu The so-called Chinita Princess started promoting her latest single “Okay Na Ako,” on Tuesday. The song is part of her third album, which aims to replicate the success of her previous record that turned Gold and Platinum. It’s interesting to note that Kim, by any standard, won’t pass as a singer much more a recording star. And it’s the fault of record labels that give this singer wannabe a record deal only to terrorize our auditory nerves.

Hayden Kho and Vicki Belo

Daniel Padilla

Some people say their wedding was extravagant. Some say it’s a fairy tale wedding, but for us, it was all about branding. One glaring fact about their wedding that cannot be refuted – it’s the most star-studded celebrity nuptial we’ve seen in years. And more than just tying the knot and sealing their relationship in a legal way, their wedding speaks volume of how the Belo, as a company, wanted to position itself as the leading brand when talking about beauty enhancement products and services.

Yes, folks, he won an acting award amid seasoned actors who deserved the recognition more than him. But people can’t blame Daniel. The award giving body that honored him was just after the publicity.

Apparently, they still believe in the archaic concept of “even a bad publicity is still publicity.” So, they don’t care even if their credibility as an institution was at stake.

model and singer Guy Ratchanont Suprakob is mellower, brings calm, as well as works fast with his quick hands and feet. However, Celebrity Car Wars could bring back some sad memories for Guy who lost his mother in a car accident seven years ago, which he claims to have had a premonition of.

Harith Iskander, comedian, actor and host, known as Malaysia’s “Godfather of Stand-up Comedy” and U.S. comedy chain Laugh Factory’s “Funniest Person in the World”, is certain to bring the laughs. However, it remains to be seen if he can compete on the race-

track. Viewers could be in for some surprises from the 50 year old who is the most senior member of the cast.

With Hong Kong-based model and TV personality Dominic Lau being a licensed pilot, driving will surely be simple for the hunk. Fans can be sure his competitive streak will push his driving to the limit.

In the heat of the contest, Dominic still manages to hit it off with Jarrod and Guy to hilarity.

Professional racing experts, Malaysia’s Alex Yoong, as well as Gaby de la Merced and Michele Bumgarner from the Philippines return as mentors to impart tricks of their trade to the new stars.

Last season, the mentors focused only on preparing the celebrities, but a simmering rivalry between the professionals is set to be settled on the track too.

Singapore-based host, actor and DJ, Bobby Tonelli is back as host of Celebrity Car Wars to preside over the competition with his great energy and enthusiasm. The celebrities compete for points towards the ultimate prize of joining inaugural champion, KC Montero, in the Hall of Fame. The Filipino host and actor won the first season, which premiered in August 2016.

A motor racing designer is also giving the rides a sensational new look to rival the spectacle of the star-studded cast. Nissan GT-R, Nissan Silvia, 4 wheel drives, all terrain vehicles and dune buggies are among the array of cars offering the celebrities rides to remember. Expect even more thrilling challenges and sharper twists, demonstrating what the improved Caltex with Techron fuels can do on any journey.

Celebrity Car Wars Season 2 features more unexpected locations in the Philippines, such as the active volcano Mount Pinatubo; the decommissioned U.S. naval base at Subic Bay; and the abandoned nuclear power plant in Bataan. The production is a major undertaking involving 48 cameras including two drones.

Beyond the fun and competition, this season is also made extra meaningful as the celebrities will find the opportunity to interact with the indigenous Aeta people living in the mountainous regions of Luzon, and contribute supplies to their village.

Produced by Emmy-winning activeTV, Celebrity Car Wars won the Gold award for “Best Idea – Content Marketing” at the MARKies Awards earlier this year.

History® is available on SKYCable Ch 67; Cable Link Ch. 43; Dream Satellite Ch 30; Destiny Cable Ch 57; and CignalTV Ch 125.

Mario Hernando writes 30 MARIO A. Hernando, former entertainment editor of Malaya, instructor of journalism at Universtity of Sto Tomas, and board member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), died on Tuesday morning of cardiac arrest.

Hernando before his death was diagnosed with bone and prostate cancer. He was 68.

In a message sent to Manila Standard by Kathy Solis, former PR executive at ABS-CBN and a close friend of the deceased, Hernando’s brother found him at home “unresponsive” so, they rushed him to Capitol Medical Center. Doctors at the hospital’s emergency room were unable to revive him and declared him dead.

According to Solis, his remains were cremated on Tuesday night after a funeral mass at Funeraria Paz on Araneta Avenue in Quezon City. His ashes were then transferred to Mount Carmel Church in New Manila for friends and other relatives to pay their final respect.

Interment will be on Saturday.

Considered as one of the pillars in movie journalism, Hernando was aslo an educator, a film critic, and a co-founder of Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino that recognizes achievement in film via the annual Gawad Urian.

Hernando joins the founders of the Manunuri who had gone before him – Pio de Castro III, Behn Cervantes, Petronilo Daroy,., Manuel Pichel, and Justino Dormiendo.

Bienvenido Lumbera, Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr Nicanor Tiongson, and Nestor Torre are the surviving founders of the critics group established in 1976.

Hernando had a lengthy stint as the Weekend Editor of Malaya and contributed column articles for Philippines Daily Inquirer and The Philippines Star.

Jake Zyrus welcome addition and a big threat JoshLia to the more popular screen partners The love team’s latest movie Love ruling showbiz right now.

You to the Stars and Back is getting positive feedback. In fact, as of this writing, the movie has already earned more than P60 million. A conservative estimate says that the romantic film might breach the P100-million mark before it ends its second week at the box office. It’s actually good that we have the Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto tandem in the love team arena. JoshLia is definitely a

During the promo for his upcoming concert, the trans man admitted that he’s trying to reconcile with his mother. Jake has severed his relationship with his mother Raquel after the first described the latter as an abusive parent on national TV. Observers believe that it shouldn’t be the case. Since he washed dirty linens in public, it would be logical and humbling if he apologized in public as well. Whether a mother was at fault or not, no one has the right to humiliate her in front of many.

Renowned film critic Mario A. Hernando passed away after his short bout with bone and prostate cancer. He was 68.

Motoring

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

C3

Built for tough: Ranger Raptor

F

ORD Motor Company has given the hugely popular Ford Ranger pickup truck a new tweak with an off-road performance variant for the first time. Arriving in Asia Pacific in 2018, the purpose-built, desert-racing inspired pickup truck joins the Ford Performance family, carrying the name ‘Ford Ranger Raptor’.

Designed and engineered to deliver an adrenaline pumping experience, Ford Ranger Raptor sports a head-turning exterior look that exudes toughness as well as a level of capability and off-road performance never before seen in the mid-size pickup truck segment.

Sharing the same nomenclature as the F-150 Raptor, the world’s most extreme production truck, Ford Ranger Raptor will create a class of its own among off-road performance vehicles.

“We are very excited to bring Asia Pacific’s toughest and smartest pickup truck to a

whole new level,” said Trevor Worthington, vice president, product development, Ford Asia Pacific. “Ford Ranger Raptor will offer Ranger fans a fantastic opportunity to own an authentic off-road performance version of their favorite truck for the first time.”

Building on the success of the class-leading Ford Ranger, the best-selling pickup truck in a number of markets across Asia Pacific, Ford Ranger Raptor brings the thrilling offroad performance capabilities of the ‘Raptor’ to the Ranger for the first time ever. With its bold appearance and extreme, off-road performance features, Ford Ranger Raptor represents a new and distinctive breed of truck.

“Combining the Raptor’s

advanced off-road capabilities with the versatility of the Ranger is a significant accomplishment for Ford’s worldclass engineering and design teams,” said Jamal Hameedi, chief engineer, Ford Performance.

Ford Ranger Raptor joins F-150 Raptor to advance the globally renowned Ford Performance DNA, complementing the on-road high performance lineup of Ford GT, Ford Mustang Shelby, Focus RS and Focus ST. Click here for a sneak peek of a prototype Ford Ranger Raptor in high-speed off-road testing. You can also signup for exclusive Ford Ranger Raptor updates at https:// w w w.ford.com.ph /t r uck s/ ranger/raptor/.

Done in 30 minutes: Hyundai unveils new offer THOUSANDS of satisfied Hyundai car owners can’t be wrong. This monsoon season is the perfect time for you to make that appointment for preventive maintenance service (PMS) to keep your car in tip-top condition. Your friendly Hyundai service center will make sure it won’t rain on your parade by wasting your precious time waiting while your car undergoes PMS. Not with Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) recently earning bragging rights for service excellence with citations from Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) for exemplary customer service in the passenger car (PC) and commercial vehicle (CV) categories, and notching second place in the 2017 JD Power Philippines Customer Service Index (CSI) StudySM. Because Hyundai values your time, PMS has never been as hassle-free. Hyundai’s pioneering 1 hour- Jet Service program has transitioned to 30-minute Fast Track Service – that is bolder, faster, and better in meeting the demands of today’s fast-paced lifestyles. Once your vehicle enters the Fast Track Service Bay, you get a complete PMS done in 30 minutes, or it’s free! Count on the fourman team of service experts and state-of-the-art equipment to do the job. Fast Track covers all Hyundai vehicles including those with lapsed warranty but with complete PMS history.

Says HARI President and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo, “We are committed to go the extra mile to deliver service with

heart, keeping to our ‘Gusto’ promise: kung ano ang Gusto mo, Kaya naming ibigay.

Kasama ninyo ang Hyundai sa biyahe ng buhay. Trust that the culture of service excellence at Hyundai will continue to grow and live on.”

Hyundai Philippines’ current campaign, “Gusto Ko, Kaya Ko, Sama Tayo,” transcends the standard definition of mobility. Beyond cutting edge design and technology

offerings, Hyundai’s “Gusto” is driven by the Filipino customer’s dreams, needs, and values.

Fast Track is offered in select dealers nationwide . For the complete list of participating dealers and Fast Track online booking, please visit http://bit.ly/2wzGzUv. AboutH ARI Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the official distributor of Hyundai vehicles

in the Philippines, is the third top-ranking automotive firm in the country. Hailed four times as Hyundai’s Asia-Pacific Distributor of the Year (2005, 2006, 2008, and 2013), and Hyundai Global Distributor of the Year in 2010 and 2016, HARI boasts of a 42-strong dealer network, superior after-sales, dealer and customer relations support, and an enviable roster of bestselling vehicles.

FASTLANE Quad parking technology PROTECT your vehicles from theft and maximize your real estate with the latest innovation in space saving and parking technologies from EMICOR. Regarded as the pioneer in car lifts and smart parking technology in the country, EMICOR’s Double Stackers offer protection and more space for your house or building.

Aside from doubling your parking capacity, the Double Stackers smart parking can accommodate any combination of sedans, midsize to full size SUV’s. Each Smart Parking has a lifting capacity of

2.3 tons to 3.6 tons and wach has a manual lock release; hydraulic overload protection, automatic shut off once operator release key switch; a photocell sensor to detect cars under vehicle platform to automatically stop the equipment from operating and can be used for both outdoor and indoor purposes. “This

parking technology is perfect for single houses, buildings, commercial areas, hotels, car dealerships and downtime offices which have no parking space,” says Micca De Joya of EMICOR. Double Stackers were the choice of building operators and hospitals such as Makati Medical Center, and car dealers such as Honda Cars Makati and some private car collectors who require parking spaces for their prized collections.

Smart Parking will only require a minimal space equivalent to two parking slots or 32 square meters.

Ingress and egress is not a problem due to an optional electric turntable that can be installed in five days, which includes machine calibration, testing and personnel operation training. Smart Paking is a technology in use in countries like Japan, Singapore, the United States, Korea and Europe for years now. The smallest unit can hold six sedans with a maximum of 16 sedans.

Other advantages of Smart Parking include maximizing your limited space; security against theft; safety because the structure can withstand an M8 earthquake and 250kph winds; quick installation in a matter of days and environment friendly.

Bundles of Joy from CTEK NOW that the “Ber” months are upon us, give your car enthusiast Dad or hubby the perfect gift with CTEK’s affordable bundles. Designed and engineered for charging accuracy and compact usage, this 12V charger comes equipped with an intelligent micro processing unit that utilizes four different modes for charging, automated, and an 8-stage recharging sequence.

Now available in Blade Autocenter stores located in SM, Robinsons and Ayala Malls nationwide, every car owner can now extend the life cycles of the car, SUV, motorcycles batteries with CTEK’s amazing bundles. Get savings of up to 28 percent with Bundles that contain a CTEK MXS 3.8 charger; one Bumper 60; one Comfort Indicator outlet and a limited edition CTEK Cooler Bag for just P5,310.

The other two bundles have similar contents but has either the CTEK MCS 5.0 or the CTEK Time-ToGo smart charger that comes with a complimentary bag at priced at P5,990 from P7,645 and P7,260 from P9,600 respectively.

The CTEK’s line of car chargers include all the safety features such as insulated, spark-resistant clamp and an automated charging feature that is programmed to prevent overloading your batteries,

and the charger will automatically sense when the maximum charge has been delivered, then stop supplying power. The CTEK charger also features a reverse polarity warning light that turns on if you have placed the clamps on the incorrect battery post. One of the best features of the CTEK car battery charger is its ability to charge nearly every battery type available.

This includes the common acidlead batteries found in most automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, golf carts, lawn mower and boats, and can also charge deep-cycle, gel-cell

and automated glass mat, or AGM batteries.

This battery booster automatically analyzes the charge and type of battery you connect it to, you can charge the batteries of your vehicle without worrying about using an incorrect setting or overcharging your battery.

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

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

Motoring The RF has one of the sexiest rear end in town.

Open top fun with Mazda Mazda’s RF redefines sports car excitement.

Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III

W

hen the MX 5 Miata was introduced in 1989, Mazda brought back the 60’s style retro European drop top motoring to the modern age. The 2017 version is the second member of the current generation Miata roadster and it embodies the brand’s driver focused technologies. Dubbed as the RF or Retractable Fastback, this current generation Miata is the only convertible in the Mazda lineup. Designed originally as a soft top convertible, the Miata RF now offer a power folding hardtop which can be retracted at a push of a button in 13 seconds. It takes up no more room when stowed than the base Miata’s soft top does, so trunk space is not affected. With its electric motors, linkages and panels, the Miata RF weighs a bit more than the base Miata. Instead of the having the entire roof disappearing into the bodywork, only the overhead roof panel and rear window disappears and you’re good to go.

From hard top to open top in 13 seconds.

PAMPER YOUR CAR Get more out of life on the road with a well-maintained car YOUR car is your ever-reliable workhorse. Without it, staying on the go and accomplishing tasks is definitely a challenge. Your life also greatly depends on it the moment you take the wheel. It is, therefore, imperative to give your car the TLC it truly deserves.

Here are three easy steps to pamper your car and keep it in tip-top condition: Trust the experts. “Health is wealth” should not be exclusive to humans. It can also be an important philosophy on how your car should be treated. Bringing it regularly to authorized Hyun-

dai service centers is like getting a checkup from a licensed doctor. It is akin to putting your life in the hands of trained experts with the right equipment.

Relying on unqualified mechanics and run-of-the-mill car shops will not justify the hardearned money you saved to purchase your car.

Keep it real. Fake alternatives are cheaper. Why? No warranty, no quality check, low quality components, and poor workmanship. Masked as savings, these can be more costly in the long run, as they do not last and may

cause further damage to the vehicle. Word from the wise: Always go for genuine parts for optimum performance. They are guaranteed to work best with your car.

Be consistent. Preventive maintenance service (PMS) is designed to keep your car in perfect shape. Regular checkups aid early detection of problems and can spare you expensive repairs.

The good news is Hyundai’s RAINDROPS (Discounts & Rewards on Parts & Service) gives your car the special treatment it deserves minus the high cost! It comes in two special packages.

This writer sampled the open top driving mode up in the hills of Tanay, Rizal going to Quezon for a day trip visit at a friend’s farm. Once I got into the town proper of Infanta, a push of a button protected me from the pollutants emanating from the exhausts of overloaded jeepneys and unruly tricycles.

Aside from the retractable hardtop, the Miata brings to the fight a 155-horsepower, 2.0-liter inline-four producing 148 lb-ft of torque driving the rear wheels and is matted to a six-speed automatic transmission. Although a bit less powerful than the previous generation, the current Miata RF compensates for a decrease in horsepower by dumping 150 pounds of body weight which drastically improves its power

to weight ratio. It accelerates and takes fast corners with relative ease. The MX-5 RF also serves up plenty of grip, so you don’t feel afraid to use all its performance on the road.

Compared with most similarly priced front-wheel drive hot hatches, the MX-5 RF is a much more involving, playfulfeeling car.

It also sips gas like a camel which is a major plus for people who curse the high heavens every time fuel prices go up. Another plus factor for this pocket rocket is the soft ride, which is a contrast to its rivals such as the Toyota 86 and the Lotus Exige.

It’ll soak up speed bumps and stays pretty settled even over awkward cambers in the road.

In fact, the Miata pretty much absorbs whatever the road can throw at it, from potholes, un-

even cracks and the rippled sections along Marcos Highway here in Antipolo, the RF generally manages to deal with it quite comfortably. The ride is commendable despite the large size wheel combo that comes with the stock roadster.

The Miata’s cabin is well equipped, with the infotainment system easily controlled by a rotary switch and shortcut buttons in front of the gear shifter. The MX-5 RF’s lowset seat has a standard tiltadjustable base that is a really welcome addition, but it has no height adjustment, so don’t invite Le Bron James out for an evening run at McDonald’s.

The steering wheel only adjusts up and down – there’s no reach adjustment – and the pedals are slightly offset to the right. Having said all that, I still felt comfortable in the snug seat.

The Mazda RF is a small car, so if you’re tall enough to join a basketball team, better try getting into one first. Leg room is a tight also and even average Joe’s like me is brushing my head at the roof already.

Also forget about storage space because the rear cubby space between the seats is not even big enough to fit an iPAD. The trunk can’t even fit an extra large 22-inch pizza! Well, it’s a two-seater, what do you expect right?

My test unit was the top spec version which had a Nappa Leather interior, drabbed in an exclusive Machine Gray exterior color and priced at P2,250,000. A standard version can be snapped up at P2.1M, making this roadster a bit pricier than the Toyota 86 at P1.8M which offers rear seating for kids. Would I buy one? Yes because it is an everyday twoseater which is comfortable to drive, with a fuel economy rating that most Ilocanos like me would appreciate. Also, It’s a Miata for Pete’s sake!

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