Manila Standard - 2017 October 7 - Saturday

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VOL. XXXI • NO. 235 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

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Reds deny alliance with ‘yellow army’

By John Paolo Bencito

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Narco-pol evades raid, surrenders to Pacquiao

By Francisco Tuyay NARCOTICS agents, police and soldiers raided the house of Maasim Mayor Aniceto Lopez in Sarangani province and found P5 million in illegal drugs and high-powered firearms, after authorities tagged him as a protector of Islamic State-inspired terrorists.

The Philippine Drug En-

Maasim Mayor Aniceto Lopez Jr.

forcement Agency said about a kilo of shabu was found inside Lopez’s house when PDEA agents, police and military, armed with a search warrant, raided the premises.

The raiders also found a list of Lopez’s associates, as well as explosive devices and ammunition.

Lopez was not in his house when narcotics agents swooped down on it, but later turned himself in to Senator Manny Pacquao, who used to be the congressional representative of Sarangani province.

Pacquiao then turned Lopez over to the PDEA. Reports said Lopez was an alleged protector of the Ansar Al-Khaifa Philippines, a terrorist group under the command of Moham- WELCOME SALUTE. Philippine Army artillery men fire 105 howitzer cannons during the turnover ceremony of the mad Jaafar Maguid, also Army commanding general at Fort Bonifacio Thursday. Newly installed Army chief Maj. Gen. Rolando Bautista has said in known as Tokboy. Next page his speech the Army hopes to end the war in Marawi City at the end of October. AFP

Morales: I PNP spokesman recants claim on EJK, says ‘no case’ after all can stand my ground

By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos -Araneta SAYING she has nothing to hide, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on Friday remained unfazed by the threat of President Rodrigo Duterte to file an impeachment complaint against her.

“Yeah, it’s welcome. It has been booted about since last year so never mind,” Morales told a television interview over GMA-7.

“I can stand my ground. I have nothing to hide, therefore I’m not fearing anything.”

After the Office of the Ombudsman said it would investigate allegations that the President had billions in ill-gotten wealth, Duterte said he wanted Morales impeached.

Morales, however, said she does not mind Duterte’s Next page threat.

Bato axed from PDP’s 2019 slate

By Macon RamosAraneta POLICE Chief Ronald dela Rosa was not included in the initial list of senatorial candidates of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan in the 2019 elections.

This was based on the list of Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, the party’s national president Next page

THE Philippine National Police said on Friday there was “officially no case” of extrajudicial killing under the 15-month-old administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos issued the statement to correct an announcement he had made hours

earlier—that there had been only one case of extrajudicial killing since Duterte took his oath of office on June 30, 2016.

“The PNP protects every individual’s right to life. To allay or remove their fear of becoming victims of EJK, let it be known that under the present administration, there is only one case of extraju-

dicial killing or EJK for the period July 1, 2016, to Sept. 30, 2017,” Carlos said in his text message to reporters past 10 am on Friday.

In a related development: • Malacañang warned the Church against giving sanctuary to rogue cops, saying this might affect the government’s efforts in fighting the illegal drug trade.

While the government welcomed the efforts of the Church to help these rogue cops to mend their ways, Malacanang said the Church should “exercise due diligence as there were drug protectors, kidnappers, kotong and ninja cops who want to destroy the ongoing campaign against illegal drugs.”

Next page

HE military on Friday said that they are monitoring any possible actions by communist rebels and the opposition “yellow forces” who might be planning to overthrow President Rodrigo Duterte, and said attempts to destabilize the administration would not come from its ranks.

The Communist Party of the Philippines, meanwhile, denied conspiring with the political opposition to oust the President, but praised any initiatives against “Duterte’s tyranny.”

In a Palace briefing, Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said they were monitoring armed groups that might move against the government.

“If the President is saying that there are people planning against him — we’re seeing other forces involved, not just the opposition,” Padilla said in Filipino.

Padilla said those plotting against the President were “the Reds and armed elements in Mindanao.”

“The objective of the NPA [New People’s Army] is actually to take hold of the whole Philippines,” he said.

As for the political opposition, Padilla said there may be “one or two of them” helping anti-government groups.

“So, this kind of a connection may be part of those [plots] that are being reported,” he added.

The military will not join any groups that want to destabilize the government, Padilla said.

“The Armed Forces, as you have seen in these past few years and recent months, has exhibited its very constitutionally based activities or actions,” he said.

Next page

Ombudsman probe of Du30, kin ‘illegal’ MALACAÑANG on Friday branded as unconstitutional the ongoing probe by the Office of the Ombudsman into allegations that President Rodrigo Duterte had billions in ill-gotten wealth and questioned the legality of the provision under the Omdudsman Act allowing the Chief Ex-

ecutive to be investigated for purposes of filing an impeachment complaint.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said they are set to review provisions under the Ombudsman Act, since these are hampering Duterte’s efforts to run the government efficiently.

“My theory now is that the Ombudsman investigation currently of the President is unconstitutional even if there is a provision in the Ombudusman law that it has investigatory power because to my mind, it will circumvent the doctrine of immunity of Next page

Complaints vs Sereno out of whack NOBEL WINNER. A rebuke to armed nations, the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded Friday to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, a global group working to promote adherence to, and full implementation of, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the first legally binding international agreement to comprehensively prohibit nuclear weapons.AFP

Nobel Peace Prize for no-nuke advocates NUCLEAR disarmament group ICAN won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for its decade-long campaign to rid the world of the atomic bomb as nuclear-fueled crises swirl over North Korea and Iran.

“The organization is receiving the award for its

work to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons and for its groundbreaking efforts to achieve a treatybased prohibition of such weapons,” said Norway’s Nobel committee president Berit Reiss-Andersen.

THE camp of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Friday whacked the admission by the complainant in the impeachment rap that some allegations therein were not impeachable offenses.

“At ang masama pa niyan

ay may pag-amin mismo ‘yung complainant sa kanyang reply na ‘yung ilan sa kanyang mga alegasyon ay hindi naman impeachable offenses,” Sereno’s spokesperson Josa Deinla said in an interview, conducted in Fili-

pino, on Unang Balita.

Some other allegations, she added, were covered by an internal administrative memo. “[Some of the allegations were] leaked violation of confidentiality rules,” she Next page said.

More than 70 years since atomic bombs were used on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and as tensions flare over the North Korean crisis, the Nobel committee sought to highlight ICAN’s tireless efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

Next page

Rody: Villar helped bankroll my 2016 campaign PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has admitted that Senator Cynthia Villar, the richest member of the Senate, supported him financially during the May 2016 presidential campaign, even if she was not twitter.com/ MlaStandard

declared in his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures submitted before the Commission on Elections.

Villar, with an estimated net worth of P3.606 billion by the end of 2016, helped him fund his television facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

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advertisements during the highly divisive electoral campaign, Duterte claimed.

“During the presidential debates, in between far and wide the debates, there was this intermission. You saw I Next page

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JOY TO THE WORLD. A store helper in Manila’s heavily populated Sampaloc district ar-

ranges different nutcracker decorations in a stall Friday in anticipation of early Christmas shoppers who sometimes continue their purchasing up to January. Norman Cruz

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Rody fires two Palace employees

By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has disclosed firing two rank and file employees of Malacañang for boasting about their supposed “influence” on the government.

“I promised you [I will stop] corruption. I will stop it. I will stop it. I just fired two… two employees from Malacañan for making a tool and suggesting that, you know, they were suggesting,” he said in an agriculture expo in Pasay City Thursday night, shortly before leaving for Brunei.

In an interview posted over the Facebook page of Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson, Duterte said, short of giving details, he had fired the two unidentified employees.

“I even fired [people] today. I signed [a document] firing two people from Malacañang for using their influence,” Duterte said.

“They are Malacañang employees and yet they are boasting they have connections. I hate that,” he added.

The Palace, however, said it could not reveal the names of the employees just yet.

“As per [the Office of the Executive Secretary], it is premature to release any names until concerned parties are properly informed,” Duterte said.

Bato...

From A1 who said he limited the names to those who were already members of PDP-Laban as of Friday.

Pimentel said President Rodrigo Duterte, the party’s chairman, will not allow the members of his Cabinet to run for senator in the 2019 midterm elections.

He said there were five other initial candidates on his list aside from him: Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, Reps.

Alfredo Benitez (Negros Occidental), Geraldine Roman (Bataan), Karlo Nograles (Davao City) and former Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino.

Pimentel slammed Dela Rosa for calling the critics of the government’s war against illegal drugs as “ingrates” following the controversies hounding it.

He stressed that his list of candidates was a “developing/ evolving” matter and therefore was not final.

So far, Pimentel is the only original member of PDP-Laban, the political party founded by his father, former Senate president Aquilino Pimentel II, in the Senate.

He will lead party’s senatorial slate in the coming midterm elections.

“We will try our best to come up with a complete 12-person slate. If we cannot come up with 12, then we are open to entering into coalition agreements with other parties,” he said.

Nobel...

From A1 A coalition of more than 300 NGOs founded in Vienna in 2007 on the fringes of an international conference on the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, ICAN has tirelessly mobilized campaigners and celebrities alike in its cause.

It was a key player in the adoption of a historic nuclear weapons ban treaty, signed by 122 countries in July.

However, the accord was largely symbolic as none of the nine known world nuclear powers signed up to it.

The organization will receive its prize, consisting of a gold medal, a diploma, and a cheque for nine million Swedish kronor ($1.1 million, 945,000 euros), at a ceremony in Oslo on Dec. 10, the anniversary of the death in 1896 of the prize’s creator, Swedish philanthropist and dynamite inventor Alfred Nobel. AFP

Govt drops P38-b case vs Mighty

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Justice department on Friday dropped the tax- evasion complaints worth P37.9 billion against Mighty Corp. after the cigarette maker was sold to Japan Tobacco for a P30-billion-peso ($586-million) settlement.

The government had accused Mighty Corp, the country’s number-two cigarette manufacturer, of using counterfeit tax stamps

to avoid paying P37.88 billionin taxes and threatened it with criminal charges.

However, in July President Rodrigo Duterte or-

dered the Finance department to accept a settlement under which Mighty, which has 23 percent of the local cigarette market, would drop out of the tobacco business.

“We could consider this case as closed. [The] government of the Philippines is 40 billion pesos richer,” Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre told reporters.

Mighty Corp. settled the

case with a 30-billion-peso payment and paid another 10 billion peso in taxes and penalties, he said.

Mighty had originally offered a 25-billion-peso settlement, Aguirre added.

The company sold off its assets to Japan Tobacco International in order to meet its tax deficiencies, the Finance department said earlier.

The Japanese firm, one

of the world’s biggest tobacco companies, whose global brands include Winston and Camel, announced on Aug. 22 that it was purchasing Mighty for P46.8 billion.

Asked to comment on the Justice Department decision, a Japan Tobacco spokesman in Japan said “the tax liability is an issue that should be solved appropriately between

Mighty Corp. and the Philippine government”.

In a joint resolution released on Friday, the Justice Department granted the Sept. 26, 2017 motion of the Bureau of Internal Revenue seeking the withdrawal of its complaints against Mighty Corp., which entered into a compromise settlement with the government. With AFP

Reds...

From A1

Raiding team. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Aaron Aquino (center) presents the one kilo of ‘shabu’ worth P5 million and several firearms and explosives found by the raiding team in the Sarangani residence of Mayor Amiceto Lopez Jr. , alleged leader of El Patron drug group and an ISIS protector in Mindanao. Raiders composed of PDEA operatives, soldiers and PNP-Special Action Force led by PDEA regional director Cesario Gil Castro (left) swooped down on Lopez house. Senator Manny Pacquiao, a political patron of Lopez, facilitated the mayor's surrender to the PDEA to face the charges leveled against him. Mark Navales

Narco-pol...

From A1 The military earlier claimed that Maguid was responsible for a series of bomb attacks in several areas of Mindanao.

The military on Friday said areas held by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Maguindanao and Cotabato could see a spillover from the fighting in Marawi City, where a soldier was shot dead Friday by a terrorist sniper.

“The most threatened areas are in Maguindanao and Cotabato. Because there remains in those areas sizable numbers of armed men who have pledged allegiance to this—the group who are in Marawi,” military spokesperson Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla told reporters in

Morales:...

From A1 “I’m being scared? No, never, I have nothing to hide,” she said.

She said she is ready to die anytime.

“I’m a fatalist, if it comes, it comes. The only reason all these threats or security concerns were raised is because when I was new, a hand grenade was placed along the fence of my house,” she said.

On May 30, 2012, a hand grenade was recovered near the house of Morales at the Carpio compound, Soldiers’ Hills Village, Putatan, Muntinlupa City.

The live M-26 hand grenade was found inside a small canister left at the back perimeter fence near the gate of Morales’ house.

Hundreds of Morales supporters flocked to the Office of the Ombudsman to dramatize their support for her amid Duterte’s impeachment threats.

Opposition groups, includ-

PNP...

From A1 “Furthermore, we urge a certain objectivity to avoid being used by said aberrations,” he added.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said earlier this week some law enforcers had approached the Church and expressed willingness to “expose all” that they know about “extrajudicial killings” in the country.

“They have expressed their desire to come out in the open about their participation in ex-

a Palace news briefing.

Padilla said that they continue to watch closely the developments in the areas of the 6th Infantry Division under the Western Mindanao Command to control the movements of armed elements.

Resistance from terrorist groups continue in the remaining seven to eight hectare battle zone in Marawi, with another soldier killed due to sniper fire Friday morning.

“Early this morning, we had an incident when we were operating in an area and incurred another casualty through a sniper fire,” Padilla said.

“And it’s a sad development because we were expecting that as we engage more in these remaining areas and have better control of the peripheral areas in and out of this area, we’d

be able to minimize that,” he added.

“But unfortunately, we still face a very tenacious enemy who is determined to defend their area.”

Newly appointed Philippine Army commanding general Maj. Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista said Thursday that certain groups are planning to infiltrate other municipalities in Mindanao in a bid to “replicate” the siege Marawi City to other municipalities as part of diversionary tactics.

He said it would be necessary to implement military rule in Mindanao as the rehabilitation efforts continue.

Padilla said that they are also dealing with the Abu Sayyaf group in the Basilan, Jolo, and Tawi-Tawi as incidents of attempted abductions were re-

ported.

While President Rodrigo Duterte predicted the end for IS-inspired groups, the military said they need to ensure the safety of about 40 hostages still being held by some 40 to 50 Maute group terrorists.

He agreed with Bautista, however, that the Marawi crisis would end before the Philippines hosts the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in November.

In the same news briefing, Padilla said the Armed Forces is studying the possibility of taking legal action against groups that may be found to be accessories to the rebellion in Marawi after some groups threatened to file charges against the AFP’s offensive operations in Marawi.

ing former Department of Social Welfare and Development secretary Corazon Soliman, belonging to Tindig Pilipinas, The Silent No More Organization, Magdalo group and Prayer Battalion for Truth and Justice, attended the Mass cocelebrated by running priest Robert Reyes and three other priests.

Apart from Soliman, the other Aquino-appointed Cabinet members present in the affair were ex-Education secretary Bro. Armin Luistro and ex-Commission on Human Rights chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales.

Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, an opposition lawmaker who had filed a failed impeachment complaint against Duterte, was also present.

Soliman hit Duterte for the creation of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission that will look into alleged irregularities at the Ombudsman.

Morales must not be intimidated by Duterte’s threats, Luistro said.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Friday warned Executive Order No. 43 creating the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission will violate the core principles of independence and checks and balances enshrined in the Constitution if it will be extended outside the executive branch.

“By virtue of constitutional independence, the EO cannot be used to discipline or recommend actions against any member, official and employee of other branches of government, including Congress, the Judiciary, Civil Service Commission, Commission on Audit, Commission on Elections, Commission on Human Rights, and the Office of the Ombudsman,” Drilon said.

Drilon said that the Supreme Court, in many cases, upheld the constitutional independence of offices such as the Ombudsman and disallowed the President to remove or discipline officials belonging to the constitutional bodies.

Hence, Drilon said that a provision in the EO “may be legally challenged” as an infringment on the independence of other branches of government and constitutional bodies.

But Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Duterte’s move was “a good development in the fight against corruption at all fronts.”

“No agency can claim that corruption is totally nonexistent. Corruption is happening at every level, from lowest level to the highest echelons. I welcome this additional mechanism to combat the culture of corruption in our government system,” he said.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III declined to comment, saying he had not yet read the EO. Under the order, the commission may also conduct lifestyle checks and factfinding inquiries on acts or omissions of all presidential appointees, including those outside the executive branch of government.

trajudicial killings and summary executions. Their consciences are troubling them,” Villegas said in a statement published in the CBCP website.

Villegas said the whistleblowers, whom he did not name, recently met with him and other officials of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan to ask for “succor and protection.”

“Their consciences are troubling them,” he said in a statement.

He said the Church would look into the “sincerity of their motives and the veracity of their stories,” and would be willing to grant them and their families accommodation, shelter, and protection.

He also gave assurances they would not turn over the cops to the State.

“If their preference is to stay with us in the Church, they will not be turned over to the State under its own witness protection program,” Villegas said.

Following criticisms by the church on the government’s anti-drug campaign, Duterte sought help from the Church on how to reform alleged drug suspects, after sharing “state secrets” on the government’s anti-criminality drive.

Last Sept. 18, Duterte met with Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, who got recently elected as President of CBCP, the episcopal confer-

ence of the Roman Catholic Church in the country.

It was not clear if Duterte gave Church officials his “narco list,” his supposed list of officials from the judiciary, police, and local governments allegedly involved in the drug trade.

The PNP spokesperson made the statement in response to the results of the Social Weather Stations survey which showed that 7 in 10 Filipinos feared they might become victims of extrajudicial killings.

Carlos initially said the only extrajudicial killing the PNP recognized was the case of slain journalist Larry Que in Catanduanes. John Paolo Bencito

Top administration officials earlier accused the “yellow” opposition, referring to the Liberal Party; the communists; and some members of the clergy of launching “black operations” against the President. They also cited the involvement of some businessmen, members of the media and bloggers.

Communist rebels denied forming an alliance with the Liberal Party to topple the Duterte administration.

“The CPP and other Left political forces may have no formal alliance with the Liberal Party and its affiliates but can recognize their initiatives and action as serving the same purpose of resisting Duterte’s tyranny,” the CPP said.

The communist rebels said that the President’s pronouncements may only inspire further attacks on the political opposition.

“It appears that such claims aim to set the stage to clampdown on the political opposition and all other forces standing up against moves to establishing Duterte’s authoritarian rule,” the CPP said.

They also scored Duterte for being intolerant of all opposition and dissent, saying he was intent on monopolizing political power.

“Duterte wants to clamp down and silence all who disagree with his policies and methods. He has threatened to impose martial law. His officials and loyalists have openly declared plans to use all means to have all those who dissent to be imprisoned,” the leftists said.

Earlier, the Liberal Party branded accusations of an ouster plot as another “diversionary tactic” to divert public attention from the President’s real problems.

LP President Senator Francis Pangilinan said it was a “fake ouster plot,” because even Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had said he had not monitored it.

Ombudsman...

From A1 a sitting president from suit,” Panelo told reporters.

The President will decide on whether to question the provision before the Supreme Court, Panelo said but reiterated that Duterte cannot be investigated for acts when he was still a mayor and cannot be the subject of an investigation for purposes of filing an impeachment complaint.

Under Section 22 of Republic Act No. 6770 or the Ombudsman Act of 1989, the Office of the Ombudsman shall have the power “to investigate any serious misconduct in office allegedly committed by officials removable by impeachment,

Rody:...

From A1 had no advertisement. I had no money,” Duterte said Thursday of the lady solon, who was also present during an agriculture expo in Pasay.

“Buti na lang tumulong si Ma’am Cynthia. Tinulungan niya ako. I have to admit it, na tinulungan ako,” he added in his usual mix of Tagalog and English.

In his Soce filed before the Comelec last June 8, Duterte spent a total of P371.46 million for his highly suc-

Complaints...

From A1 On Thursday, the House Committee on Justice found sufficiency of grounds in the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon against Sereno.

In his complaint, Gadon accused Sereno of culpable violation of the Constitution, corruption, other high crimes, and betrayal of public trust.

Gadon on Thursday welcomed the House decision, saying it showed that his case was strong.

Deinla said their camp was dismayed by the House decision because the allegations in question “weren’t discussed.”

Deinla also clarified that Sereno’s lawyers, not her, would cross-examine witnesses presented during her impeachment proceedings.

for the purpose of filing a verified complaint for impeachment, if warranted.

Overall Deputy Ombudsman Arthur Carandang confirmed the Office of the Ombudsman is looking into the bank transactions of President Rodrigo Duterte and his family, which allegedly amount to billions of pesos.

Duterte insisted that he is not hiding his wealth from the public, adding he can be shot if his wealth turns out to be more than P40 million.

He himself will also file impeachment charges against Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, blaming the two for allowing themselves to be used as pawns to oust him as President. John Paolo Bencito cessful election bid, despite his first time running for a national post.

Villar was not among those whom Duterte declared to have contributed in his campaign, along with Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, whom he credited for being one of the few who supported his presidential bid.

Villar’s son, Mark, was tapped as Duterte’s Public Works and Highways secretary a week after the longtime Davao City mayor won the presidency. John Paolo Bencito In late September, on the same day Sereno’s lawyers filed a reply to the impeachment complaint asserting the Chief Justice’s right to allow her lawyers to cross-examine witnesses, House Committee on Justice Chairman Reynaldo Umali said only Sereno, with respect to her constitutional right, was allowed to do that.

Meanwhile, Deinla declined to comment on President Rodrigo Duterte’s announcement of the creation of the AntiCorruption Commission on Thursday. “[As a] spokesperson, I decline to comment on something that was passed by a co-equal branch of the government because the Chief Justice respects the authority of the executive...”

Deinla said.

Deinla added the Chief Justice was not allowing herself to be the puppet of any individual or party.

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Cases vs Kerwin’s ‘cohorts’ readied

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Department of Justice has submitted for resolution the criminal charges filed by the Philippine National Police against individuals linked by self-confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa.

This came after the investigating fiscals— Assistant State Prosecutors Aristotle Reyes and Michael John Humarang— received the memorandum summarizing the allegations of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

Cebuano businessman Peter Lim, a respondent in the complaint for conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading, also submitted his memorandum detailing his defense last Sept. 25.

In his memo, Lim asked the DOJ to dismiss the criminal complaint against him, insisting that he was not involved in the illegal drug trade.

“There is no credible proof of my involvement in any transaction involving illegal drugs. There is, more importantly, no evidence of the corpus delicti [body of the crime such as money or illegal drugs] in this case,” Lim said.

Other respondents such as Lovely Impal, an alleged

drug supplier of Espinosa, detained Chinese drug lord Peter Co, and Espinosa himself earlier filed their respective counter affidavits.

In its complaint, the PNP-CIDG accused Lim and company of involvement in illegal drug trade, citing drug transactions from February 2013 to August 2015 involving at least 90 kilos of shabu allegedly sourced from them, delivered at a grocery store in Makati City, and distributed by Espinosa’s men in Bohol, Samar, Northern and Southern Leyte, Biliran, and some parts of Cebu.

In particular, the complaint alleged that 20 kilos of shabu were sourced from Co on Feb. 5, 2013; 20 kilos from Lim on Feb. 16, 2013; and 50 kilos from Lim on June 7, 2015.

Four similar transactions and deliveries with Lim as supplier allegedly took place in 2014.

Palace appoints QC RTC judge as CA justice MALACAÑANG has appointed a new associate justice of the Court of Appeals to take over the post vacated by CA Justice Francisco P. Acosta who reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 last April 2.

In a transmittal letter to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea informed her that President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Quezon City RTC Judge Tita Marilyn B. Payoyo-Villordon as magistrate of the appellate court, replacing Acosta.

“I am pleased to transmit herewith the appointment letter of Tita Marilyn B. PayoyoVillordon, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals (vice Francisco Acosta), signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte,” the Oct. 4 letter stated.

Villordon’s appointment came after the Judicial and Bar Council, which is concurrently chaired by the Chief Justice, submitted to the President a shortlist of nominees aspiring to the vacant CA seat.

The seven-man council, which is constitutionally mandated to screen and vet nominees to vacancies in the judiciary and the Offices of the Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman, is concurrently chaired

by Sereno, with Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, along with Senator Richard Gordon and Mindoro Oriental Rep. Reynaldo Umali, who shall have a term sharing seat in the JBC as exofficio members.

The regular JBC members are lawyer Jose Mejia representing the academe, Milagros Fernan-Cayosa representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and the newest member Ret. Judge Toribio Ilao, representing the private sector. Rey E. Requejo

TANK TRAGEDY. Onlookers survey the damage caused by a water tank of the San Jose del Monte Bulacan Water District after it exploded and collapsed in

Barangay Muzon, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan on Friday. Three people were killed and 24 were injured in the incident and caused major damaged to at least 10 houses. Investigators are still looking on the cause of the explosion and collapse of the seven-year-old water tank. Manny Palmero

Napoles, four others plead not guilty ALLEGED pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles and four other co-respondents on Friday pleaded not guilty for their involvement in the alleged misuse of Davao del Sur’s Gov. Douglas Cagas’ Priority Development Assistance Fund during his term as congressman.

Napoles entered her plea before the Sandiganbayan Second Division for two counts each of violation of Section 3(e) of the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act and malversation of public funds as defined under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code.

Her co-respondents—for-

mer Department of Budget and Management undersecretary Mario Relampagos and current DBM officials Rosario Nuñez, Marilou Bare and Lalaine Paule, also pleaded not guilty.

The Ombudsman said that in 2007, Cagas reportedly allocated P16 million of his PDAF or pork barrel to two foundations—Countrywide Agri and Rural Economic and Development Foundation Inc. and Philippine Social Development Foundation, Inc.— supposedly owned by Napoles.

Cagas allegedly personally wrote to the DBM for the release of the funds which were coursed

through the Technology Resource Center for livelihood and technical assistance of his constituents in the First District.

But the Ombudsman said the projects turned out to be non-existent, and Napoles and her cohorts participated in the preparation and signing of acceptance of delivery reports, disbursement reports, project proposals and other documents “to conceal the fictitious nature of the transactions.”

Cagas allegedly received kickbacks worth P9.3 million from Napoles for his participation in the scheme.

The Sandiganbayan,

however, deferred the arraignment of Cagas due to a pending motion from his lawyers.

Cagas’ son, Marc Douglas Cagas IV, also faces a separate graft and malversation charges before the anti-graft court.

The younger Cagas is accused of allocating P7.550 million of his PDAF during his term as representative of Davao del Sur in 2008 to the Napoles-linked foundations in exchange for alleged kickbacks.

Napoles, on the other hand, is facing numerous graft charges and five plunder charges for her involvement in the multi-billionpeso scheme.

DoJ prosecutors condemn killing of fiscals THE series of killings and attacks on fiscals over the past few years drew condemnation from no less than the prosecutors and employees of the Department of Justice on Friday.

To dramatize their protest, the DoJ employees and prosecutors wore black, including those who are conducting preliminary investigations and hearings, while hearing a mass inside the DOJ main building.

Earlier, the Prosecutors League of the Philippines, a nationwide organization of government prosecutors, urged President Rodrigo Duterte and Justice Secretary Vitaliano Agu-

irre II to bring the perpetrators of attacks on fiscals to justice.

In a statement, the PLP condemned the series of ambushes, some of them deadly, on prosecutors from May 2013 to September 2017.

The PLP cited, among others, the death of Quezon Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Reymund Luna who was killed on Sept. 29 while on his way home from court hearings.

Luna was the sixth prosecutor killed in the last 11 months.

Mati City Prosecutor Rolando Acido, on the other hand, was gunned down by two unidentified men on

board a motorcycle while on his way to the Mati Hall of Justice on Oct. 26 last year.

On Jan. 11, Quezon City prosecutor Johanne Noel Mingoa, who used to work for Aguirre when he was still in private practice, was killed in front of a restaurant in Barangay Old Balara, Quezon City.

Four months later, Caloocan Assistant City Prosecutor Diosdado Azarcon was killed by masked gunmen on May 22 outside his residence in Barangay 63, Caloocan.

Rizal Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Maria Ronatay was also gunned down

during heavy traffic along Ortigas Avenue Extension in Taytay town on July 18 while former Mandaluyong City prosecutor Pablito Gahol was killed outside of a school in Mandaluyong on Sept. 3.

“We are outraged by these unfortunate and untoward events exposing government prosecutors to risks and perils of being ambushed and killed as we share the grief and sorrow of the families of these senseless incidents,” the PLP said.

Such brutality, the PLP said, “will not weaken our resolve as prosecutors for the people of the Philippines.”

Malls adjust opening, closing schedules

By Joel E. Zurbano SHOPPING malls and other commercial centers in Metro Manila will be opened from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. beginning Oct. 15 (Sunday) until Jan. 15, 2018, according to the Metro Manila Development Authority.

MMDA assistant general manager for planning Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. said the agency will also start enforcing the ban on daytime delivery of goods to shopping malls in line with the program to ease traffic in the metropolis as the Christmas season draws near.

“The mall owners will comply with the agreement adjusting the mall operating hours from the usual 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. to 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and the delivery of goods at nighttime from 11 p.m. up to 5 a.m. the next day,” said Garcia.

He added that the nighttime delivery policy will be implemented until Jan. 15 next year.

Delivery trucks and container vans loaded with goods, imported items and other salable merchandise, piled up the streets of Metro Manila, which the government claimed, add to the worsening traffic during the peak buying “ber months” —reference to the months of September, October, November and December.

Debates on medical marijuana bill up

By Maricel V. Cruz

PROUD MOMENT. Members of the Philippine Team (left of podium)—Jeufro Emil ‘Jag’ Lejano, Wilfredo Martin Jr., Bernardo Mari V. Alejandro and William Magalong—proudly display the Philippine flag after winning silver medals in the Team Classic category (overall) during the 2017 IPSC Handgun World Shoot XVIII held in Châteauroux, France, last Aug. 28 to Sept. 3. Lejano, together with other Filipino World Shoot winners, will celebrate their victory with thousands of gun enthusiasts at the 25th Defense & Sporting Arms Show slated on Nov. 1620 at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

THE House of Representatives is poised to begin next week its plenary deliberations on the bill legalizing the use of marijuana for medical use.

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, author of the measure, expressed hope that his proposed Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act will hurdle the vote on third and final reading approval anytime soon.

House Bill 6517 was earlier approved overwhelmingly by the House committee on health headed by Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan. In his sponsorship last Wednesday, Albano urged his colleagues to support his measure that aims to benefit patients suffering from debilitating diseases.

He said the bill was based on numerous clinical trials around the world that have shown the safety and efficacy of cannabis and its therapeu-

tic and palliative effects.

Neither does the bill allow smoking, he added.

“It is time for us to decide based on evidence. Around the world, clinical trials have shown the safety and efficacy of cannabis and its naturally occurring compounds as well as their therapeutic and palliative effects of cannabis. Twenty-seven countries have legalized medical cannabis and 29 states plus Washington, DC have passed laws legalizing medical cannabis,” Albano said in his speech.

He said the recreational use of cannabis continues to be prohibited by law. “What this proposed measure does is to create a limited and narrow exception to the country’s criminal and civil laws to allow a physician to recommend medical cannabis to patients with serious and debilitating medical conditions,” Albano said.

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Opinion

SATURDAY, OCTOBER7, 2017

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EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

Working to death

W

ORKING is also called “making a living,” but why do some workers have to pay a dear price for hanging on to their jobs?

In 2013, a 31-year-old journalist was found dead in Japan, collapsed on her bed, holding her mobile phone. She had been covering elections for her broadcast network, NHK. Just this week the real cause of her death, as found by labor standards investigators, was revealed. Yes she had a congestive heart

failure, but the underlying cause was “karoshi”— death by overwork.

Miwa Sado, it turns out, clocked in 159 hours of overtime in one month— an average of 5.9 hours a day in excess of her regular working hours, including weekends.

One month before she died she sent an email to

her father: “I am too busy and stressed out and think about quitting my job at least once a day, but I guess I have to hang on.”

In 2015, a 24-year-old worker at advertising company Dentsu committed suicide, exasperated with impossible job demands.

The suicide was again traced to karoshi. The company faces litigation for its labor practices.

By all means, these two cases in Japan are not the only ones that point to the problem. Our overseas Fil-

ipino workers scattered in numerous countries face risks and hardships they likely do not even tell their families. Here at home, many live with whatever working conditions they have because they believe it is still better than not having a job at all.

Only the most heartless of employers will see their workers as faceless, cheap labor who will endure oppressive practices because they need their job more than it needs them. A more ignominious case is when

they proclaim compassion when there is only apathy.

Sure, some protection is offered by the government, but bureaucratic process discourages even the most diligent of complainants, and it would appear easier to get used to the injustice than assert rights.

One works so that one can earn money for sustenance and find a measure of self-worth and a sense of accomplishment. If these conditions are not present —in what else can we find sense?

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

The most dangerous road in Metro Manila

Faking news POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO I ATTENTIVELY followed the Senate hearing on “fake news” chaired

by Senator Grace Poe although I missed the last part when Senator Antonio Trillanes arrived. I caught myself shaking my head many times during the hearing.

I thought that Poe, as chair, could have handled the hearing better. She did a much better job in previous ones, which made people appreciate her better.

In this particular hearing though, she seemed to lack focus. There were many times when other senators, particularly Sotto and Pacquiao, appeared to be running the hearing. Even

some resource persons were just bantering with other senators without addressing the chair.

Senator Poe could have controlled the proceedings better, including her own comments about her guests and the suddenly controversial Cocoy Dayao. At one point she praised RJ Nieto without knowing that the guy at best, gave them incomplete information about his engagements with government, and other issues he talked about.

In contrast, I thought she was already judging Dayao without the benefit of hearing his side.

The dominance of Sotto and Pacquiao together with the resource persons who were obviously “friendly” with them made it appear that the hearing was lopsidedly favoring the administration side. While all the

resource persons were given the chance to speak, it was plain to see who were dominating the discussion.

These happened because

We already have more than enough laws to ensure that no abuse will go without being punished.

the chair lacked control of the hearing.

It is no secret that I went for Poe during the last elections and I do not regret it.

However, it will be better to see her in control of the next hearing.

Journalist Ellen Tordesillas was correct in saying that the term “fake news” is an oxymoron. News cannot be fake because if it is untrue, it is not news.

News is factual, it does not invent, it does not twist information. Thus, there should be a better term to use than “fake news.”

“Disinformation” was suggested, another journalist friend, Barnaby Lo said on Twitter that it should instead be called “propaganda.” I like the latter better because it implies an agenda, political agenda to be precise. Political observers know that propaganda has existed since the inception of politics. There is always a need to make politicians popular, look and sound better.

People (voters), must see them in a good light.

Thus, people are hired to achieve this. They highlight their politicians’ strengths, and hide their weaknesses. On the other hand, opponents are hit, criticized, and yes, at times, issues against them are invented to destroy their credibility. This is called black propaganda.

Thus, what we now call “fake news” is not new.

These have been here for a long time, employed by politicians and/or their handlers. What is new is the fact that social media is now used for this. Faking news is made easier by social media and other technology like photoshop and other editing applications.

The last Senate hearing happened because seven senators were severely

criticized on social media for not signing a resolution calling for an end to killings associated with the administration’s “war on drugs.”

They want to find out who are behind the wave of criticisms. This actually proves that people’s pressure and demands for accountability can rattle and make the powerful senators defensive. This is another instance when social media was used by people to make those in position notice people’s displeasure. Sure, they want to punish those who instigated the backlash but it also showed them public disapproval of their inaction. Nothing would have come out of criticisms by a few. It caught fire because people felt similarly against them.

THE road user’s tax collected by the government from every motorist who registers his vehicle is a racket. Back in 2015, the Road Board, which spends the tax to identify major roadways which need to be improved for the benefit of motorists and commuters alike, was questioned by the Commission on Audit for discrepancies in the Board’s projects to the tune of P1.2 billion. Moreover, while the taxes are continuously collected, most of the roadways in Metropolitan Manila remain decrepit and dangerous to motorists and pedestrians.

Actually, the most dangerous road in the metropolis today is Elliptical Road around the Quezon Monument across Quezon City Hall.

After the war, the original Elliptical Road was a one-way, counter-clockwise road that went around the Quezon Monument grounds.

An inner roadway was carved from the monument grounds sometime in the early 1960s after motorists who preferred to travel clockwise complained, A wide island separated both lanes. Drainage outlets were built along the gutters of this island to prevent flooding on either side.

The inner lane became the clockwise lane, and it was accessible to motorists at its five key intersections—East Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue, Visayas Avenue, North Avenue, and Quezon Avenue. Traffic lights were installed at these intersections. A police

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car was always visible in at least two strategic areas around the circle.

In the 1960s, the rotunda at the base of the Quezon Monument was rather dark, and it became known as the city’s “lovers’ lane.”

By the 1980s, both lanes of Elliptical Road were further expanded to accommodate the increasing volume of traffic in the area. Lamp posts were installed at regular intervals on both sides of the road to make it safe to navigate at night. The lamps also discouraged robbers from roaming around there.

Sometime before the end of the twentieth century, the island separating both lanes of Elliptical Road was demolished and the entire road was converted into a one-way, counter-clockwise, freefor-all, 10-lane, dangerous thoroughfare.

The change was apparently triggered by a suggestion from a newspaper columnist sometime in late 1990s. That columnist urged that Elliptical Road should be redesigned like the one-way, wide lane circumferential road around the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. in the United States, so as to eliminate vehicular accumulation at the five key intersections of Elliptical Road. He also said that the measure will dispense with the need for traffic lights along the circular roadway.

While the suggestion may have been well-intended, it was a stupid idea plain and simple.

First, the circumference of the road around the Washington Monument is far larger than that of Elliptical Road. A larger circumference means far more road space for motorists to safely maneuver within the road itself.

Second, unlike its American counterpart, Elliptical Road in Quezon City has too many tributary streets that end at the circle itself—East Avenue, the exit road from the Quezon City Hall, Kalayaan Avenue, Maharlika Road beside the National Housing Authority head office, Commonwealth Avenue, Visayas Avenue, North Avenue, and Quezon Avenue—all of which become traffic choke points.

Since Elliptical Road has seven traffic choke points spread over a short circumference, this important roadway leaves very little room for vehicles to safely maneuver within the road itself.

That is a recipe for vehicular accidents.

Third, Elliptical Road, unlike the road around the Washington Monument, is cluttered with inconsiderate jeepney drivers, mindless tricycle and pedicab drivers, reckless taxi drivers, and careless pedestrians who refuse to cross at pedestrian lanes, and who

Faking...

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It is kind of funny that administration senators would call for such hearing to vindicate themselves, and invite “bloggers” who are known to be themselves purveyors of what they call “fake news” as their resource persons. It is doubly funny and irritating at the same time when these

do not look where they are going because they are busy using their mobile phones.

As a consequence of the knee-jerk alteration of its traffic orientation, Elliptical Road has become the most dangerous road in the metropolis today. Vehicles entering Elliptical Road rush as fast as they can to the leftmost side or the center of the avenue, unmindful of the vehicles which are already inside the roadway, and which may collide with them.

Jeepneys, tricycles and pedicabs randomly and heedlessly cross the paths of the vehicles already inside Elliptical Road and are headed towards exit points, particularly the exits at Commonwealth Avenue and at Quezon Avenue. Buses and taxicabs weave from one lane to another at their pleasure without signaling to other motorists. The buses push their weight around, and blow their horns to intimidate smaller vehicles.

Adding to the traffic nightmare are the many pedestrians who convert the outermost lane of Elliptical Road into an extension of the sidewalk, thus reducing the already limited available road space. The more reckless pedestrians cross the street at nighttime, wherever they please.

Elliptical Road is likewise an amalgam of concrete and asphalt distributed unevenly on its surface. Asphalted sections become large potholes when the asphalt melts during the rainy season, and during the yuletide season when traffic is heavy throughout the day.

Because the drainage system of Elliptical Road is at its center lane, a depression is inevitable in the middle of this road.

This depression needlessly jolts the steering mechanism of vehicles driven by those who are unaccustomed to the uneven surface of the road. The jolts can trigger collisions with other vehicles.

After dark, there is hardly any illumination on either side of Elliptical Road. The darkest part of the circular avenue is its center. This segment is pitch-black at nighttime.

Adding to the danger to public safety are the plastic road cones left by Danny Lim’s incompetent Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in the middle of Elliptical Road, particularly at the segment between Quezon Avenue and East Avenue.

Because these cones have no reflectors on them, they are invisible at nights to motorists, especially on rainy nights.

Like the useless Road Board and Danny Lim’s inutile MMDA, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista isn’t helping at all.

Instead of brightening up Elliptical Road, Bautista wastes public money on useless decorative tiles that bear his initials and which are installed in numerous streets in the city. resource persons position themselves as victims.

Another thing that was shown by the hearing is how “bloggers” are paid by government. They are put in positions with unclear qualifications and credentials except for the fact that they have big social media following. They are considered “influentials” and this influence is what the administration needs. Thus, although ar-

SATURDAY, OCTOBER7, 2017

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Sereno’s affirmative defenses THE Committee on Justice of the House of Representatives, ignoring all rules of fair play and its own precedents, voted, 25-2 to proceed with the impeachment of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and ruled that all the charges against her were sufficient. Only Representatives Kaka Bag-ao and Kit Belmonte dissented.

Procedurally, the Committee did not comply with its own rules and practice.

It should have tackled each charge and voted on each of them. This tells us that the process in the House could be a farce, with the proceedings railroaded against the Chief Justice.

If the Committee wanted to do this right, they would have considered the arguments contained in the answer submitted to the House Committee on Justice by Sereno’s counsel.

The answer lays down the Chief Justice’s affirmative allegations and defenses, answering in a more detailed manner the charges for culpable violation of the Constitution, corruption, high crimes and betrayal of public trust. I summarize her arguments below.

On the charge that she committed culpable violation of the Constitution, she interposes the follow-

ing defenses: According to Sereno, she could have not falsified any resolution, temporary restraining order or issuance of the Supreme Court for the reason that the Internal Rules of the Supreme Court provides that resolutions of the SC en banc are drafted based solely on the notes of the CJ as such she cannot possibly falsify her own notes. Even assuming that she may have taken notes poorly, this cannot be considered culpable violation of the Constitution.

She insists that she did not intentionally delay actions on the petitions for retirement and/or survivorship benefits. Decisions on these matters are arrived at by the SC as a collegial body. The CJ cannot act unilaterally on those petitions which pass through a technical working group and/or a special committee before the SC. On the charge that she failed to disclose her assets and liabilities and net worth in her SALN, she states that this is not so to the contrary.

She states that she earned 30 million from the Piatco case which she declared in her income tax returns for 2004 to 2009 and paid the corresponding taxes thereon. Part of these fees were spent over the period of five years and the remainder was declared in her SALN. Assuming that this charge is true, it does not amount to an impeachable offense as it pertains to supposed acts

by the CJ prior to joining the Judiciary in 2010. The thesis by complainant that there should be an entry in her 2010 SALN corresponding to her entire fees. This would be correct only if the entire amount remained intact until 2010 which is not the case. Through the years, around P14.7 million of the PHP21.6 was spent.

Her fee was not exorbitant.

Her hourly rate was merely a fraction of that of her foreign counterparts.

In the matter of the nomination and subsequent appointment of then Solicitor Francis Jardeleza, she simply points out that the CJ is not the JBC which acts as a collegial body. She, as ex officio, Chairperson of the JBC, acted in accordance with the rules of the JBC when she voted to exclude Jardeleza from the shortlist of appointees to the SC. She is entitled to her own opinion on the qualification of an applicant to the SC. Further, she did not lie with respect to the recommendation of several associate justices who had come to her in confidence expressing their desire to do away with the practice of naming “recommendees” to the Supreme Court. Neither can she as CJ manipulate the JBC contrary to complainant’s allegation that she instigated horse trading within the body. Further, she points out that complainant does not even mention any part of the Constitution which she

purportedly violated. The supposed violations attributer to her in fact largely pertain to differences in opinion with respect to the internal processes of collegial bodies.

Answering further the allegations, the CJ denies that she falsified any TRO in G.R. Nos. 206844-45 for the reason that she cannot possibly falsify a TRO under her own authority. This is in reaction to the allegation that she “deliberately tampered with and altered of the draft TRO sent by Justice de Castro by issuing a blanket TRO stopping the Comelec from making further proclamations, thus benefiting other groups that were not party to the case.” Neither did she falsify the SC’s resolution in A.M. No. 16-0804-SC because a draft was duly circulated and adopted by the Court en banc and its final version did not contain a directive to the Executive Secretary to submit complaint-affidavits against the four judges within seven (7) days.” According to the Chief Justice, this allegation has a wrong premise because the Resolution did not “direct” but only “invited” the law enforcement authorities to submit complaints or other information against the four judges.

On the charge that Sereno did not want to take the Maute and similar cases out of Mindanao, despite the request by the Secretary of Justice that they be

transferred to Taguig, she explains that it only took the SC 8 days to act on the initial request by the Justice Secretary. With respect to the Secretary’s letter of reconsideration, the same was discussed by the SC en banc barely 14 days which reconsideration was granted by the SC another 14 days later.

Moreover, she, according to the CJ, did not manipulate the shortlist of the JBC for the six (6) vacancies in the Sandiganbayan. The practice of clustering nominees is not expressly prohibited under the Constitution. Neither did she and the JBC cluster the nominees for the two vacancies as a result of the retirement of Associate Justices Reyes and Mendoza. Each vacancy had a separate and distinct set of applicants. In any case, these were judicial decisions.

Impeachment is an accountability mechanism for high level officials. The bodies assigned to exercise it on behalf of the people – the House for impeachment, the Senate for the trial – must also act in an accountable manner. The House Committee on Justice unfortunately has failed us.

My hope is that the plenary of the House of Representatives will see the light and the Sereno impeachment will not have to go to the Senate where it will surely be dismissed.

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Violating Church and State separation WHEN PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa warned Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop and outgoing Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines president, Socrates Villegas, not to go on “fishing expedition” for rogue policemen to serve as witnesses to the alleged extrajudicial killings of drug suspects, it was a word of caution against those bigoted clergy. The PNP chief warned they might be offering rogue policemen to testify but in truth have their own personal motivation.

He was more civil because the inducement by Church and its confederates in the opposition is not really about the alleged EJK but the danger of being used as unwitting tool to discredit and eventually destabilize the government.

Whether or not these alleged witnesses have something to testify on is secondary. Rather, the Church should re-examine its antagonism to President Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte. It seems that archbishop Socrates Villegas has muddled his understanding of Section 6 of Article II of the Constitution which states that “The separation of the Church and State shall be inviolable.”

Maybe this archbishop has in mind that physical separation does not include policy pronouncements that by his exhortation already constitutes a violation of that separation.

Even college students know that this was incor-

porated not only to safeguard the Church against the State from violating religious freedom but equally for the Church not to interfere in the affairs of the State. Most important, defending the right of the Church refers to freedom of worship. While the Church can voice out its concern over human rights abuses, it should not go beyond by actively encouraging witnesses to testify against it for that would amount to usurping its power by acting as prosecutors to an institution that extended to it protection and assures its existence as religious organization.

Dela Rosa is right in calling them ingrates because the relations of the Church and the State go beyond the principle of separation. The Bill of Rights provides that “No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.”

In layman’s term, it assures the Church that the State will not sponsor the establishment of any religious organization or give preference thereof, and that members of the clergy shall be guaranteed the free exercise of their profession without imposing any test pursuant to the free exercise thereof. Most gratuitous, the Church, not given by most countries, enjoys the privilege of tax exemption. That includes

exemption in the payment of duties, tax on real estate, grants, endowments, donations and contributions.

This is why many are wondering why the Catholic Church is actively shaming and humiliating the government that guarantees its existence as an institution. Whether the campaign against drugs would result in human rights violation, the Church should be more circumspect because not all followers will support it.

There will always be opposition that in the end will

rogantly said, Nieto might be correct in saying that this government needs him more than he needs government. Both Mocha Uson and Nieto were quick to defend their social media posts as their personal opinions in the exercise of their freedom of expression. There is a clear conflict of interest here and this must be settled. After all, the money used to pay them is people’s money.

Several people in the hearing wanted to define fake news. According to them, it will be good to put a handle on what was being discussed. People from the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) said that they are developing “standards” for use of social media.

At least one Senator, Joel Villanueva wants a law against “fake news.” Taking all these together, one

BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

be detrimental to it. It is self-defeating because the Church is no longer considered infallible.

The killing of man is immoral, and there is no room for any mitigating or exculpatory circumstance. In our case, people have their doubts whether the issue is meant to protect lives or merely to secure their interest. This explains why in most underdeveloped countries, where the understanding and interpretation of the dogma has yet to reach maturity, the Church is prone to be exploited by foreign intelligence servic-

es like the CIA. Ignorant clerics take it to themselves to interpret certain state policies to make them confrontational instead of supplanting its shortcomings to enlighten the soul of the faithful.

This is why the Church ends up supporting antipeople elements. Such is the natural inclination because some clerics cannot redefine its position to allow them to distinguish what is essentially mundane and what is essentially spiritual.

Our consciousness is open to foreign manipulation. As a result these clerics tend to prejudge the policy of the state, and not in teaching its followers to obey the law to lay down the foundation of an orderly society and to allow the proliferation of their congregation.

Cultism is rampant and is often exploited to commit savagery, yet nobody from among them says that brutality constitutes human rights violation. The elite, the oligarchy, the landlords, the corrupt politicians, the smugglers, the tax evaders, the radical Left and all sorts of ideological fringe exploit them because they distorted and tampered state policies to suit the interest of the leaders. Those that oppose are called traitors and there is much room for liquidation.

Even the radical Left has lost track of their ideology that they have become more political than ideological. For instance, their unrelenting attacks on Ferdinand Marcos are telling that their approach has become less ideological, but to make it palatable they equate the past to their present enemies. They re-

fuse to examine whether his policies were more in line to their ideology for fear that it could expose them as mindless stooge of foreign interest groups. They continue their virulent attacks on the former President because many of their leaders were incarcerated during martial law without them asking why their group made that foolish decision to challenge the authority of the state.

The same can be said of the mainstream media. The mainstream media practitioners have failed to examine that behind their new identity, it is still big business, the oligarchy and the foreign interest groups that controls and manipulates them. They have succeeded in presenting their reactionary ideas as progressives such that many of our ignorant masses think of them as progressives and not trolls mouthing the position of the neoliberals and even the fascist ideology.

It is for this why ordinary Filipinos think of the clerics like Socrates Villegas, Roberto Reyes, Broderick Pabillo, Sister Mary John Mananzan, and many others as progressives and enlightened. They do not know that these modernday impresarios of reaction are disguised spokesman of the moneyed class. This happens because people do not know that their ideology has been reformatted to make it appear progressive, democratic, freedom loving and is championing the cause of human right but in truths the same cold blooded puppets propped up by the US.

cannot help but think that those in positions of power could very well be talking about censorship. And this kind of censorship is against their critics, not their allies, who, with the backing of the administration, would still be free to peddle half-truths, even outright lies favoring those in power.

This is a slippery slope because this is actually about our constitutionally-

guaranteed freedom of expression. This is what the public must defend. Lawmakers cannot and should not play with this. While I agree that rights are not absolute and freedoms cannot be without responsibility, we already have more than enough laws to ensure that no abuse will go without being punished.

We just need to properly implement these laws.

Social media is just a

platform. How it is used should follow existing laws. Faking news is something that been done before. It is nothing new.

What is more important is for people to know how to deal with it. Curtailing rights is not the way to deal with it.

These modern-day impresarios of reaction are disguised spokesman of the moneyed class.

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‘Bistek’ returns to NPC fold

By Rio N. Araja AFTER joining the Liberal Party in 2001, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista is back to the Nationalist People’s Coalition in preparation for his congressional bid in District 3 in 2019.

Bautista recently took his oath of office before NPC Chairman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco held at the San Miguel Corp. head office in Pasig City.

According to Cojuangco, the Quezon City mayor is the newest member-returnee.

Bautista will run for Congress against three-term District 3 Councilor Allan Benedict Reyes.

Bautista was an NPC member from 1995 when he was then a city councilor up to 1998 when he lost in the mayoralty race.

In 2001, he joined the Liberal Party and won in the vice mayoralty race, along with then District 3 representative Feliciano Belmonte Jr. as mayor.

Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte of LP and majority of the 36-member council have jumped ship to the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan.

Davao landslide affects 48 families

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera

D

AVAO CITY—A total of 48 families were forced to leave their homes following a landslide on Thursday night along Diversion Road in this city.

The landslide area was located at the exact place of an excavation project of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

City Social Services and Development Office head Maria Luisa Bermu-

do said that they immediately prepared the Los Amigos, Tugbok relocation area for the transfer of the affected families for their safety.

“This is a matter of safety, so we immedi-

ately assisted the affected families for their transfer to our relocation area in Los Amigos. We will be monitoring them ever y now and then to ensure their safety,” Bermudo said.

Bermudo added that the only request of the evacuees was to ensure that their children can still continue with their studies even if they are transferred to a relocation site.

“We also coordinated

with the Department of Education so that we can temporarily transfer the kids to the nearby school. We have to understand that the relocation area is far from their current school so we have to accommodate their temporary transfer,” Bermudo said.

The landslide on Thursday night was the second incident in the past week, prompting the CSSDO to immediately enforce the evacu-

TWO mega road projects of the Department of Works and Highways set to be completed this year will provide safe and convenient road travel in Cotabato and Masbate provinces.

DPWH Region 12 Director Basir Ibrahim said two road widening projects along an eight-kilometer portion of P239-million Marbel-Makar

By Bill Casas

DEATH BECOMES THEM. Anakbayan members stage a protest in front of the Caloocan City Police Headquarters to condemn the worsening attacks against activists across the country. Andrew Rabulan

Road in Polomok, South Cotabato are now 76 percent completed.

“We are six percent ahead of schedule and we hope that before the end of 2017, our aim to widen the road from two lanes to four lanes will be fully-accomplished,” he said.

The widening of MarbelMakar Road will benefit travelers going to the Port of General Santos City

where traffic is expected to increase during the Christmas holidays.

The multi-million projects are part of the road widening program being implemented all over Soccsksargen Region.

Meanwhile, the upgrading of 10-km Masbate-CatainganPlacer Road in the province of Masbate is expected to be completed by end of 2017, Public Works chief

Mark Villar said.

He said the P178.2-million road improvement is one of the priority projects of the department that is seen to enhance Masbate’s socio-economic status.

“The Masbate-Cataingan-Placer Road improvement project would strengthen road connectivity within the towns of Uson, Dimasalang, Palanas, Cataingan, and

Placer in Masbate and other neighboring areas,” DPWH Region 5 Director Danilo Versola said.

Versola said the smoother road network would provide convenience to the traveling public and allow faster and efficient movement of agricultural and marine products and other basic services from Masbate to other towns and vice versa.

MANILA Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada has completed an astounding P1.8 billion worth of infrastructure projects in the last two years alone in his continuing effort to revive the “Old Manila” and resuscitate the capital city’s economy.

From 2015 to 2017, the Estrada Administration has built, rehabilitated, renovated, improved or painted 150 various infrastructure projects—all with a total project costs of P1,808,441,917.74, according to the Office of the City Engineer.

These projects included hospitals, health centers, public libraries, markets, courts, sports complex, multi-purpose halls, and city-hall based structures, 88.39 percent of which have already been “100 percent” completed, engineer Bamba Dino of the Designing Division reported.

Estrada said the infrastructure projects are part of his administration’s overall efforts in working towards the revival of the Old Manila, once known as Asia’s “Pearl of the Orient.”

When he assumed office in 2013, he said the City of Manila was mired in debt, peace and order was at its worst, the city hall has a bloated bureaucracy, and its hospital and medical services programs in shambles.

“Our goal for 2019: Improved local government performance, better service/ governance structure,” Es-

Higher pay, allowances await teachers next year

By Macon R. Araneta SENATE President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto says teachers will have higher allowances and take-home pay next year.

“We can double the chalk allowance, increase the uniform allowance, implement so-called step increments so that teachers will move up the pay scale, and increase the operating fund of schools,” Recto said.

“On top of these, there will also be new tax exemption rates so that teachers will either pay zero tax or a smaller tax on their income. All of the above are doable, and are in the pipeline.

They can take effect in 12 weeks, or by January 1,” he added.

Recto made the statement as the House of Representatives threatened to slash the 2018 budget of the Department of Education by nearly P30 billion, citing the agency’s slow use of funds.

But Recto said the funds can instead be used to support “low hanging fruits”

Felizarta said.

He said that the CEO will assist the residents near the landslide area in transferring them to the relocation site.

Felizarta said that the entire stretch of C.P Gracia, Diversion Road will undergo a widening project by the DPWH. Bermudo said that they will coordinate with CEO and other offices to assess if the 48 families have to be permanently transferred to the relocation site.

‘Manila completed P1.8-b infra works’

DPWH rolls out 2 mega road projects in Cotabato, Masbate

By Vito Barcelo

ation of the affected families.

Engineer Joseph Dominic Felizarta, head of the City Engineers Office said that they are in close coordination with the DPWH to give assistance and to ensure that the same thing will not happen again.

“Since it is a project of the DPWH, all we can do is to give assistance. For now, our engineers are at the area to help the DPWH in assessing the situation,”

such as increasing the allowance of teachers.

“My proposal is that instead of transferring this money to other agencies, why not retain it there but change the intended use, toward the easy to implement, like teacher’s allowances,” Recto said.

Recto is proposing that teachers’ annual uniform allowance be raised to P8,000 from the current P5,000.

“That P8,000 is still half of what jail guards, firemen, policemen and soldiers get,” he explained.

Recto’s proposal is P2,000 higher than the P6,000 recommended by the Duterte administration for all civilian government workers.

Another item that can hiked is the so-called “chalk allowance” which is pegged at P2,500 per teacher annually.

“Let’s make it P5,000.

Doubling it will cost less than P2 billion. That is only a fraction of the proposed P30 billion cut,” Recto said. “Chalk allowance is to teachers are what bullets are to soldiers.”

trada said, citing his 20162019 Erap-Governance (Erap-G) Plan.

ERAP-G Plan, which serves as the Medium-Term Manila Comprehensive Development Plan 2016 to 2019, is the blueprint of the Estrada Administration’s focused and increased determination in working towards the “Rebirth of Manila.”

In her report, Dino said that in 2015, the city government has built or rehabilitated 33 hospitals and health centers, seven public libraries and markets, 23 basketball courts and sports complexes, multi-purpose halls, and 32 city-hall based and other infra projects, for a grand total of 95.

In 2016, there were 37 projects: four hospitals and health centers, seven public libraries and markets, six courts, sports complex, and multi-purpose, and 20 cityhall based and other infrastructure projects.

And in 2017, completed infrastructure projects include two hospitals and health centers, five courts, sports complexes, multi-purpose halls, and 11 city-hall based and other projects, for a grand total of 18.

For hospitals and health centers, the city government has spent a total of P495,394,010.75; public libraries and market, P138,228,980.61; courts, sports complex, and multi-purpose centers, P519,650,351.95; and city-hall based and other infrastructure projects, P655,168,574.43.

UNCC turns 27

ANTI-BACKLOG MEASURE. The Land Transportation Office implements the five-year validity of driver`s license card starting this month. The agency signs a memorandum of agreement with SM Mall Marikina, led by SM Shopping Center and Management Corp. president Annie S. Garcia, LTO chief Asec.

Edgar Galvante and LTO NCR director Clarence V. Guinto. Norman Araga

THE United Nations Chiropractic Center will observe its 27th year of operations in the Philippines proud of providing health care services to Filipinos.

UNCC was organized on Oct. 10, 1990 by Dr. Ronald Mitchell and Willie Britt with main clinic at Physicians’ Tower on United Nations Avenue (5214962). Soon after it put up four branches in Makati, Quezon City, Pasig and Angeles City in Pampanga.

It also has a clinic in California called Manila Chiropractic Center.

UNCC, according to Willy Britt, chief operating officer, the firm goes about its operations guided by two concerns: The patients well being and the firm’s reputation.

SM Prime expands movies with closed captioning for deaf, blind customers THE pioneering program Movies for the Blind and Deaf of SM Prime Inc. continues to break new ground in the inclusivity of people with disabilities with the project expansion to other SM malls nationwide and the implementation of closed captioning.

During the relaunch of the project at SM City North Edsa over the weekend, Bien Mateo, project director of the SM Cares’ Program on PWDs, said they have expanded the special movie screenings to

include more malls.

SM Malls offer free movies for the deaf and blind every first Tuesday of the month.

“We offer these movies for free once every month and schedule it in a different participating mall every month to enable our visually impaired and hard of hearing in other areas to enjoy the movies,” Mateo said.

“We started out the special movie screenings for the Deaf and Blind way back in 2014. Many people thought it was impossible.

But it has been our mantra to make the impossible, possible. We make sure that in SM, no one gets left behind. We have opened a window of opportunity to all PWDs and we will continue to make their lives happier and more meaningful,” he added.

During the program re-launch, hundreds of elementary and high school visually-impaired and hard of hearing students from the Philippine School for the Deaf, Philippine School for the Blind, and Dagat-

dagatan Elementary School in Navotas City enjoyed the retrofitted Beauty and the Beast movie. The movie had closed caption and audio descriptive features.

MTRCB Chairman Rachel Arenas, who was present during the event, said the project has inspired the enactment into law of RA 10905 or the Closed Caption Law. Arenas said the law requires all television station owners to provide closed captioning in all their shows.

However, due to budget-

ary requirements, Arenas said television station owners asked for a period of five years or until 2021 to fully comply with the law.

“Personally I’d like to implement the law the soonest possible time which is the reason why I would exert all efforts so the public would not wait for five years before our PWDs and senior citizens are able to enjoy their favorite television shows through the closed captioning feature,” Arenas said.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

Sports St. Clare, De Ocampo fight for Naascu title IT WILL be defending champion St. Clare College-Caloocan against De Ocampo Memorial College in the finals of the NAASCU Season 17 men’s basketball tournament.

St. Clare subdued Colegio de San Lorenzo, 78-70, while De Ocampo crushed St. Francis of Assisi College, 81-65, to arrange a best-of-three title series at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.

Game 1 is scheduled on Monday.

Mohamed Pare, the 6’6” exchange student from the Republic of Mali, saved his best for last as the Saints outscored the Griffins, 11-3, in the final 2:41 of the tensely-fought encounter to complete a two-game sweep of the semis.

Pare scored six of his 16 points, while being guarded by CdSL import Soulemane Chabi Yo and Jon Gabriel during the game-changing run that enabled the Caloocan Citybased Saints to break a deadlock at 67 and move ahead for good, 75-68.

Pare’s heroics came after reigning NAASCU MVP Aris Dionisio fouled out while trying to stop a fastbreak layup

by Jan Formento that tied the score for the last time at 67-all.

Formento missed his bonus free throw for the Grififns and watched the Saints rattle off six straight points for 73-67 lead with 1:38 left.

Dionisio finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds before fouling out, while Pare added 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.

Junjie Hallare added 14 points, Irven Palencia contributed 13 and Paeng Rebugio had 11 for the Saints, who defeated the Griffins, 77-74, in the opener of their best-of-three semis last Wednesday.

PVL on Tour goes to Cagayan NATIONAL University and Adamson University will look to finish their respective Best-of-Three series this Saturday after edging out Arellano University and Far Eastern University last Wednesday at the Premier Volleyball League semifinals.

Catch the second game between AdU Lady Falcons and the FEU Lady Tamaraws this Saturday live from the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan via livestreaming at 4 p.m., with primetime telecast HD at 8 p.m. on ABS-CBN S+A and S+A, followed by the showdown between the NU Lady Bulldogs and the AU Lady Chiefs, which will air LIVE on S+A and S+A HD at 6:30 p.m. with livestreaming.

The Lady Falcons, still playing minus star Jema Galanza, shocked the Lady Tams in their series opener via five grueling sets 2125, 25-22, 20-25, 25-14, 15-8 to remain undefeated and get within one win of the Finals to face the winner between the Lady Bulldogs and the Lady Chiefs.

In the other pairing, NU made quick work of AU, 25-17, 25-16, 25-23, which had no answer to the towering Jaja Santiago, who delivered a complete display of dominance above the net.

A decider match, if necessary, will be played on Monday (October 9) with LIVE airings on S+A, S+A HD, and via livestream starting at 4 pm.

A7

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Kobe: I will kneel for anthem

L

OS ANGELES (AFP)--Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant said he would kneel during the pre-game national anthem if he was still playing in the NBA. Bryant, appearing on The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast released on Wednesday, responded during a series of rapid-fire questions “kneel” when asked what he would do.

NBA commissioner

Adam Silver has said he expects the players in the league to stand during the anthem, and the league issued a memo to teams offering suggestions on how they might address the current political climate when the season opens

this month.

Demonstrations during the anthem have become a hot topic across sports after US President Donald Trump bitterly criticized NFL players who declined to stand for “The Star-Spangled Banner” to draw attention to racial injustice.

Bryant himself weighed in on Trump’s remarks last week via Twitter.

“A #POTUS whose

name alone creates division and anger. Whose words inspire dissension and hatred can’t possibly “Make America Great Again”,” Bryant tweeted.

Bryant retired in 2016 after two decades with Los Angeles where he won five NBA championships.

In their pre-season games so far, the Lakers have stood with locked arms during the anthem.

Meanwhile, Charlotte

Hornets shooting guard Nicolas Batum will miss at least six to eight weeks after tearing a ligament in his right elbow, the NBA club said Thursday.

The French guard could miss even more playing time with the injury that occurred 34 seconds after the start of Wednesday’s preseason game against the Detroit Pistons.

Batum was clearly in pain as he left the court.

“He just got tangled up,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. “It was one of those kind of contact/collision plays where his arm got stuck between two guys. He was in a lot of pain.”

Batum averaged 15.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists last season in his second campaign with Charlotte.

He is entering the second season of a five-year, $120 million contract.

Lin all good with Kenyon after ‘hair’ spat

BFP Firefighters’ reinforcement player Rob Wainwright, a Filipino-American ex-professional player, seen in action during their game against PNP Responders at the opening ceremony of UNTV Cup Season 6.

Firefighters take on Defenders on Sunday

AFTER bowing to the PNP Responders in this season’s opening game, the BFP Firefighters are ready to prove they are a team to beat in the UNTV Cup league of public servants.

“Kailangan naming ipakita na we are really a strong team.

Dadagdagan pa namin ang mga effort namin. At siyempre, medyo kaunting conditioning pa kami para maka-cope up kami

Games Sunday

(Pasig City Sports Center) 2 p.m. — Malacañang vs. DOJ 3:30 p.m. — NHA vs. Judiciary 5 p.m. — BFP vs. Senate

sa mga kalaban namin. Unang target namin is makapasok kami sa Final 4,” said playing coach Gilbert Malabanan.

Fil-Am ex-pro Robert Wainwright makes his debut this season for the Firefighters and will

get support from seasoned big man, fire trainee Kurt Amores and point guard Fire Officer 1 Julius Jayona.

The Firefighters take on the Senate Defenders, led by Senators Sonny Angara, Joel Villanueva, Bam Aquino and Manny Pacquiao.

The Defenders’ shooters also include Deputy Secretary for Administration Commission on Appointments in Joey

Flaminiano and Director General Ronald Golding.

The Senate team, managed

by Senator Ralph Recto, now has on its side Jeffry Sanders, who is expected to pump up the team together with power player Marlon Legaspi.

Watch the Firefighters-Defenders UNTV Cup battle live on Sunday at 5 p.m. from Pasig City Sports Center, with live streaming via untvweb.com.

NEW YORK—Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin said Thursday he was grateful to former Nets star Kenyon Martin for a stinging racially overtoned rebuke about his new dreadlocks hairstyle.

Lin, who outlined the reasons for wearing dreadlocks in a Players Tribune website essay on Tuesday, was called out for his choice in an Instagram posting by Martin, the top pick of the 2000 NBA Draft who helped the Nets twice reach the NBA Finals.

“Do I need to remind this damn boy that his last name Lin?” Martin said. “Come on man, let’s stop this man, these people. There’s no way possible that he would have made it on one of our teams with that bullshit going on on his head.

“You want to be black. We get it. But the last name is Lin.” After receiving negative feedback and comments, Martin took to Instagram again to explain his comments.

“That man grown. That man can rock whatever hairstyle he want to rock. That don’t mean I have to like it or agree with it,” Martin said.

“Ain’t about race. Ain’t about none of that.

Grow up people. It was a joke. But I don’t like it. I don’t agree with it.”

Lin, who admitted he was sensitive to issues of cultural appropriation in explaining his reasons for wearing dreads, replied on Instagram with praise for Martin, who in 2011 played for China’s Xinjiang Flying Tigers while the NBA was shut down in an owners-players money dispute.

‘Had your poster on my wall’ “Hey man. Its all good,” Lin wrote. “You don’t have to like my hair and definitely entitled to your opinion. Actually i legit grateful you sharin it tbh (to be honest).

“At the end of the day i appreciate that i have dreads and you have Chinese tattoos bc i think its a sign of respect. And i think as minorities, the more we appreciate each others cultures, the more we influence mainstream society.”

Lin, 29, even confessed that Martin, 39, was one of his heroes in his youth.

“Thanks for everything you did for the nets and hoops...had your poster up on my wall growin up,” Lin said. AFP

Foreign, local aces all set for Powerman Asia

Japanese Airi Sawada seeks Powerman Phl Asian crown.

THE foreign bets look to dominate but the local aces are ready for the challenge, guaranteeing a fierce duel for top honors in the centerpiece Elite category of the 2017 Powerman Philippines Asian Championship Presented by Summit Natural Drinking Water, which unwraps tomorrow (Sunday, Oct. 8) at Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.

Thomas Bruins of the Netherlands sets out for the crown that eluded him the last time out as he banners the men’s field that includes Matt Smith of Australia, and Malaysians Ziq Junaidy and

Jason Loh with John Chicano, Joey delos Reyes and Cipriane Topia tipped to carry the cudgels for the Filipinos in the premier run-bike-run event organized by F&F International Events Group.

Japanese Airi Sawada and Alexandra McDougall, also from Australia, lead the chase in the women’s Elite side.

The event also serves as a qualifying event for the next Powerman World Championships.

“It’s all about investing in the Filipino duathlete’s potential, pushing their boundaries, and expanding their competitive

horizons with the ultimate goal of sending our top Filipino duathlete to the Powerman World Championships,” said Powerman Philippines’ general manager, coach Kaye Lopez.

Events on tap are the premier Powerman Classic (10km run, 60km bike and 10km run), the Powerman Short (5km run, 30km bike and 5km run) and the Powerteens set on smooth, wide roads of Clark with the course offering scenic views of NLEX-SCTEx. Filipina Monica Torres, who ruled the ITU Asian Middledistance division in the recent

Powerman Asian Duathlon in Malaysia, has begged off at the last minute due to health reasons.

Smith, meanwhile, joins Bruins, the current No. 2 in Powerman world ranking, in the centerpiece division with the world No. 9 also fancied to vie for the crown in the event which drew 1,127 participants in the individual and relay competitions.

For his part, Delos Reyes, who finished fourth overall in Powerman Thailand early in the season, has also vowed to go all out to improve on his previous Powerman finish in Indonesia.

Halep zeroes in on WTA no. 1 ranking

CAGE CHAMPS. Members of the Cocolife Hobe Macway Basketball Team are shown after winning the UV Invitational League held recently in Macrohon, Leyte, hosted by Mayor Alan Jose Aroy. The champion team from the big city is headed by Cocolife team manager VP Joseph ‘Otep’ Ronquillo ,playing coach Rey Alao, assistants PJ Arjela and Alex Canlas, players Bon Bon Custodio, Sunday Salvacion, Nino Marquez, Popoy Banzali, Sandy Cenal, Mark Lagrimas, Joewel Soriano, Alvin Vitug, Adrin Guiyab and Seraj Ejlmerab. The team is fully supported by Cocolife President Elmo Nobleza and SVP Ferdinand Santos. DS

BEIJING—Simona Halep took a step nearer overhauling Garbine Muguruza as world number one when the Romanian raced into the semi-finals of the China Open on Friday.

The second-ranked Halep eased past Russia’s unseeded Daria Kasatkina 6-2, 6-1 in Beijing and will face compatriot Sorana Cirstea or Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko in the last four.

The Spaniard Muguruza’s short stay at the top is under severe threat after she bowed out in the first round in the Chinese capital with a virus.

Halep is in red-hot form and claimed the scalp of former number one Maria Sharapova in the previous round -- beating the Russian at the eighth attempt.

Meanwhile, in Tokyo, Japan, Belgium’s David Goffin battled back from a seemingly impossible first-set position against Frenchman Richard Gasquet on Friday to reach the Japan Open semi-finals.

In a Franco-Belgian clash that served as a foretaste of next month’s Davis Cup final, Goffin found himself 5-3 down and facing three set points against the former world num-

ber seven before coming through 7-5, 6-2 in Tokyo.

Goffin now faces eighth seed Diego Schwartzman from Argentina, who put an end to the impressive run of world number 46 Steve Johnson.

The American had caused the biggest surprise of the tournament so far by beating Austrian star Dominic Thiem in the first round but he struggled on service against Schwartzman, facing 17 break points. AFP

LOTTO RESULTS 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

Sports

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

A8

Meralco Bolts want redemption

SATURDAY,OCTOBER 7, 2017

Meralco Bolts import Allen Durham posts up against a double-team put up by Star Hotshots defenders Jio Jalalon (left) and Marc Pingris. After letting last year’s PBA Governors’ Cup title slip through their fingers Durham and the Bolts are eager for redemption.

JRU gains playoff to Final 4

By Peter Atencio

T

HE Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers turned to the free throw line to survive the gritty challenge of the San Sebastian College Stags, 60-58, yesterday to inch closer to a seat in the Final Four of the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

The Heavy Bombers hiked their record to 10-6 record and are assured of at least a playoff for a spot in the semifinals.

The Kalentong-based dribblers could clinch a Final Four seat outright with

a win either against Mapua on Tuesday or Lyceum of the Philippines University on Friday.

Abdel Potouochi knocked in a pair of freebies with 29.5 seconds left to put JRU up, 59-58.

Ryan Costelo could have won it for the Heavy Bombers but his basket rimmed out, and in the return play, Jed Mendoza sent in a charity shot to push JRU up by two points.

The Stags could have sent the game to overtime, but Michael Calisaan bungled his attempt in the next play.

The loss put the Stags to 7-8 in fifth, and they are a game behind the fourth running Letran Knights at 8-7.

Meanwhile, Robert Bolick Jr. made his teammates look good.

Bolick scored only six points, but he had 12 as-

Games Tuesday

(at the Arena in San Juan) 12nn Malayan vs JRU (jrs) 2 p.m. Mapua vs JRU (srs) 4 p.m. San Sebastian vs Arellano (srs) 6 p.m. San Sebastian vs Arellano (jrs)

sists, and his passes to AC Soberano and Javee Mocon helped carry the defending champion San Beda Red Lions to an 88-51 demolition of the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals.

Soberano, who subbed for an injured Davon Potts, and Mocon were in the zone all throughout the game to lead the Red Lions to their 15th triumph in 16 games in sec-

ond spot.

The outside sniping of Soberano and Mocon allowed the Red Lions take charge early, 26-11 in the first canto. The pair made17 and 15 points respectively.

The Red Lions held the Generals to 11 points in the first period. Triples from Mocon and Franz Abuda in the last 5:42 gave the Mendiola dribblers a comfortable lead.

The two struck with another pair of treys in the last 2:56, and San Beda gained an 11-point spread, 19-8.

The Red Lions were held to 14 points in the second period, but two triples from So-

berano in the remaining 5:36 pushed them further ahead, 36-20.

“I hope that the way we play today, we’ll be consistent until the playoffs,” said Red Lions coach Boyet Fernandez.

In the junior action, Evan Nelle drilled in 21 points while Sam Abu Hijle hit 10 points and 12 rebounds to lift the San Beda Red Cubs to a 91-56 crushing of the EAC Brigadiers.

The Red Cubs, who took control, 26-4, in the first period, picked up their 11th win in 16 matches, and joined La Salle Greenhills in the second.

Wong and Saso cruise to separate Cangolf Amateur triumphs SOUTHWOODS’ Paolo Wong recalled his fierce form and fired a four-under 68, beating Jolo Magcalayo by three for the men’s crown while Yuka Saso completed her domination of the ladies field with a 69 in the Championship division of the 17th Canlubang Amateur Open at Cangolf’s South and North courses in Laguna yesterday.

Wong struck with late birdies on

PH beats HK, 10-0 in Asian baseball THE Philippines is now in the semifinals of the XXVIII BFA Asian Baseball Championship at Tien Mou Stadium in New Taipei City.

They advanced after hurdling Hong Kong, 10-0, in the playoff last Thursday.

The Filipinos were led

by Adriane Bernardo who booked three runs. He took charge early tallying three runs right in the first inning.

Japan and Korea also advanced to the semifinals.

With Carlos Alberto Munoz scoring on four RBIs, the Filipinos moved further ahead in the fourth after scoring two runs.

Host Chinese Taipei also reached the semifinals after turning back Sri Lanka, 13-0.

During the preliminaries, the Filipinos pulled off a close 8-5 thriller over Sri Lanka.

The Filipino batters needed to break free from a 5-5 standoff with a three-run spree at the bottom of the eighth.

They improved their winloss record in Group A after a 2-12 shellacking at the hands of host Chinese Taipei in their previous outing.

On the other hand South Korea followed up their 18-3 victory over the Philippines in the prelims. Peter Atencio

both nines to card a pair of 34s and pool a 54-hole total of 208, three shots clear of club bet Magcalayo, who turned in a 69 for a 211 while Gido Mandanas, also of Cangolf, placed a far third at 217 after a 74 in the annual event put up annually by the host club and the Yulo family as part of their effort to help develop the sport.

Paolo Barro of Villamor skied to a 78 and wound up fourth at 224

followed by Jonas Magcalayo (76225), Carlo Villaroman (75-226), Rolando Balasabas (74-229), Edsel Opulencia (76-231), Seung Hyeon Back (84) and Kim Tae Soo (80), who finished tied at 234.

Saso, on the other hand, added the Cangolf Am title to her list of victories this year, including the Phl Amateur and the Phl Matchplay, as she closed out with a 69 for

a 36-hole aggregate of 134, including a solid 65 in the first round.

That was a whopping 13-stroke victory over Nicole Abelar, who groped for a 74 and a 147 while Annyka Cayabyab placed third at 150 after a 73 followed by Sophia Blanco (78-153), Mafy Singson (82-153), Laia Barro (91153) and Kang Da Yeon (81-157).

Wong, who padded his lead to two despite a second round 73,

moved 3-up with a birdie on No. 1, dropped a stroke on the next but birdied Nos. 7 and 9 to regain a three-stroke lead as Magcalayo settled for an opening 35.

Magcalayo tried to press his bid with a birdie on No. 12 but Wong countered with his own birdie feat on the next before the latter birdied Nos. 16 and 18 to secure the victory despite a bogey finish.

AFTER letting last year’s Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup title slip through their fingers the Meralco Bolts are eager for redemption.

The Bolts lost the crown to Barangay Ginebra on a buzzer-beating three-pointer by import Justin Brownlee over the blocking hand of Meralco counterpart Allen Durham.

The Bolts get their chance at redemption after sweeping their semifinal playoff over the Star Hotshots.

Meralco watched the Hotshots throw bricks in the dying seconds to escape with a 91-88 overtime victory and grab the first slot in the 2017 PBA Governors Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Durham was a horse at both ends of the floor all game long but the locals carried the scoring load in overtime.

Jared Dillinger, Ranidel de Ocampo and Cliff Hodge delivered the lethal baskets for the Bolts who gain another crack at the Governors’ Cup crown.

After playing a backbreaking schedule of eight games in 16 days, the Bolts get some well-deserved rest before playing for the title against either Barangay Ginebra or the TNT KaTropa Texters.

Barangay Ginebra and TNT KaTropa, who are playing Game 3 of their own semifinals as we went to press, are deadlocked at one win apiece.

The championship could be a repeat of the GinebraMeralco title duel last year or an MVP group of companies finale between the Bolts and the Texters.

After winning the first two games easily the Bolts walked the tightrope before eventually putting the Hotshots in the third match.

Meralco Bolts coach Norman Black said the game went exactly as he expected. The Hotshots never gave up but the Bolts were willing to gut out the victory and pull out all the stops.

“We had a hard time executing against their pressing defense. We needed to work hard. My hats off to my players, they’re the reason why we’re back in the finals,” said Black.

Chris Newsome drained a field goal to force an 83all tie to go to overtime.

The Bolts then seized control in the extension period, 88-83, after a three-pointer

by Dillinger and an outside shot by De Ocampo.

Nguyen challenges Folayang for ONE title MARTIN Nguyen is determined to make history at ONE: Legends of the World.

The ONE Championship World Featherweight champion moves up in weight to challenge Filipino World Lightweight champion Eduard Folayang.

Nguyen shocked the MMA world when he knocked out previously un-

beaten Marat Gafurov and laid claim to the featherweight crown in the main event of ONE: Quest for Greatness this past August.

Not satisfied with his electrifying upset victory Nguyen is now moving up a weight class and looking to acquire a second world title.

The newly-minted featherweight kingpin is set to challenge

Filipino martial arts superstar Eduard “Landslide” Folayang for the ONE Lightweight World Championship in the main event of ONE: Legends of the World, which takes place at the 20,000-seater SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

Nguyen savors the opportunity to become the first twodivision world champion in

ONE Championship history.

“I like Eduard [Folayang].

I said to myself I did not want to compete against someone I like and take away their glory, but opportunities like this do not come around too often. And, if I refused to do this, someone else was going to compete against him and take his glory. So it is strictly business,” he said.

Tigresses, FEU Lady Tamaraws post back-to-back wins WOMEN’S titleholder University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University won back-to-back games to open their campaigns late Thursday in the UAAP Season 80 beach volleyball tournament at Sands SM By The Bay.

Cherry Rondina and Caitlyn Viray of the Tigresses rolled to a 21-9, 21-8 win over National University’s Roma Doromal and Audrey Paran, right after surviving De La Salle’s Tin Tiamzon and May Luna, 23-21, 19-21, 15-11, in

the afternoon session.

The Tamaraws’ Bernadeth Pons and Kyla Atienza, second placers last year, scored a 21-8, 21-6 win over University of the Philippines’ Diana Carlos and Ayel Estrañero and a 21-8, 21-14

victory over Ateneo’s Bea de Leon and Jules Samonte.

The Lady Eagles later bounced back with a 17-21, 22-20, 15-10 victory over University of the East’s Judith Abil and Angelica Dacaymat to enter the win column.

Martin Nguyen falls on his knees in gratitude after upsetting Marat Gafurov to win the ONE Championship World Featherweight crown in the main event of ONE: Quest or Greatness last August. ONE Championship

University of the East Warriors take on University of Santo Tomas Tigers THE University of the East Warriors are still celebrating Alvin Pasaol’s good showing last Wednesday.

And coach Derrick Pumaren hopes that the positive things they gained when they played against the La Salle Green Archers will still be around when the Warriors confront the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers at 2 p.m. today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“We need something coming into the game on Saturday. They’re stronger, and we can use this positive against UST. There are only a few players who can score more than 40 points in a game.

And when the Warriors back to the Green Archers.

Games Today lost to the defending chamIn the second game, Far (at the Mall of Asia Arena) pion La Salle Green Archers, Eastern University hopes to 2 p.m. UST vs UE 100-106, last Wednesday at extend its winning streak to 4 p.m. FEU vs Adamson the Big Dome, one of their three in their 4 p.m. match shooters Alvin Pasaol caught with the Adamson Falcons. fire with a 20-year high of 49 points.

The Tams are upbeat after they hurdled Pasaol overshadowed the monster the University of the Philippines Fighting showing Green Archer Ben Mbala, who Maroons, 78-59. had 39 points.

Pasaol’s 49-point explosion is the first time The Warriors have never won a single game in 15 years that a player scored 40 or more in six outings, and they have the same record points in the league. National University’s Jeff with the Growling Tigers.

Napa unloaded 43 points against the Adamson The Tigers are coming off an 86-115 set- Falcons in Season 65.

Pasaol’s 49 points is the most points scored by a Red Warrior since James Yap’s 36 in UAAP Season 65 in 2002. It also surpassed Paolo Mendoza’s 48-point performance for UP in 1999.

Pasaol also surpassed UE’s Allan Caidic and UST’s Pido Jarencio output during their legendary duel. Caidic had 46 and Jarencio answered with 48 in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 47 Finals in 1984.

Pasaol’s 49 came six points short of the record held by former Glowing Goldies forward and now Mapua Assistant Coach Ed Cordero who fired 54 points in 1979. Peter Atencio

Shell, QEV OK charging station

B2

Business

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

B1

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2017

PAL pays P6-b navigation fee

By Darwin G. Amojelar

P

HILIPPINE Airlines said the Department of Transportation accepted its offer to pay in full P6 billion in unpaid navigation fees to the government.

“After several months of validation and reconciliation of accounts, the DOTr and PAL are pleased to announce that they have reached a resolution on the CAAP [Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines] and MIAA [Manila International Airport Authority] fees issue,” the airline said.

“One of the overriding reasons why PAL agreed to settle is to manifest its trust and confidence in President Duterte’s administration,” PAL, owned by tycoon Lucio Tan, said.

PAL also assured the government and the traveling public that it would always provide vital airline operations in the service of the Filipino people.

President Durterte earlier threatened to close the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 if PAL would not settle its unpaid navigational fees to the government.

PAL operates domestic and international flights at NAIA Terminal 2.

PAL earlier said it submitted an unsolic-

ited proposal to the government to build a P20-billon passenger terminal beside its current hub at the NAIA Centennial Terminal 2 to expand capacity.

The proposed terminal would be designed to handle 12 to 15 million passenger per year and would have aerobridges capable of serving 12 to 17 wide-bodied and single aisle jets.

PAL expects to start construction of the new terminal by December 2020 and operate it by July 2021.

NAIA’s four terminals are currently serving hosting 42 million passengers a year, 12 million or 40 percent more than their design capacity of 30 million.

Constructing a new, 89,000 square-

meter air terminal north of NAIA 2 would help decongest the airport and provide PAL passengers much-deserved space, amenities and modern conveniences.

The proposed annex building will rise on a 16-hectare area adjacent to NAIA 2, comprising of the now-defunct Philippine Village Hotel, the former Nayong Pilipino complex and a property owned by Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Aside from the passenger terminal, the complex will include multi-level parking for 1,000 vehicles, a new cargo terminal and ground service facilities.

PAL, meanwhile, plans more interna-

tional flights next year in time for the delivery of new aircraft.

PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said the flag carrier would be flying the Airbus A321 NEO, including a special longer-range version, to enable the airline to launch nonstop services to Brisbane, Delhi, Perth, Mumbai and Sapporo, as well as increase flights to Melbourne and other Asia/Pacific destinations.

“Also in 2018, we are excited to introduce the Airbus A350 as our new ultralong-range flagship, a 295-seater widebody airplane that will help us link the Philippines nonstop to New York, Chicago, Seattle and far-flung points in Europe and North America,” he added.

Vires Energy keen on $750-m LNG job

By Alena Mae S. Flores

NEW SSS BINONDO BRANCH. The Social Security System recently opens its newest branch (inset) at the third floor of Lucky Chinatown Mall Annex B, along Reina Regente corner dela Reina Streets in Binondo, Manila to better serve its 2,000 active employers and 13,530 covered employees, self-employed and voluntary members from 15 barangays. Leading the ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 15 are (from right) SSS vice president for National Capital Region East Division Nelson Ibarra, Megaworld Corp. senior vice president and concurrent head of commercial division Kevin Andrew Tan, SSS president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Dooc and SSS SVP for legal enforcement group Voltaire Agas.

Dominguez: World Bank ‘made a wrong estimate’ on infra pace FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III took exception to the claim of the World Bank that the pace of infrastructure projects in the Philippines was slow that compelled the multilateral lender to reduce the growth forecast for the Philippines this year to 6.6 percent from the previous estimate of 6.8 percent.

Dominguez said in a briefing the World Bank made a “wrong estimate,” stressing infrastructure projects currently funded through overseas development assistance

were quicker to implement than through the publicprivate partnership scheme practiced during the previous administration.

“All I can say is they made a wrong estimate... You know I had a long discussion recently with people who are saying why we are doing this, the BBB [“Build, Build, Build”], the ODA instead of PPP. I told them our studies showed that the average PPP took 29 months to implement,” Dominguez said.

He cited that one PPP proj-

ect—the CALAX (CaviteLaguna Expressway)—took 50 months to implement. And while people in the government were arguing on why the project took too long to implement, Dominguez said, the people “were suffering.”

“And we have proven that we can do an ODA project in 18 months. We started our administration in July [2016],

by December of this year we are going to break ground on the Clark project. And that is shorter than you guys can do it,” Dominguez said.

“So we are doing it fast...

So we have been trying to do our projects as quickly as we can. Now I don’t know what the assumptions of the World Bank are... they did not disclose to us how they assumed how fast it will be. But I am saying we are already faster than before in implementing our projects because precisely we are willing to take the construction risk... ,” Dominguez said.

In a report early this week, the World Bank said it downgraded its growth

forecast for the Philippines this year to 6.6 percent from the previous estimate of 6.8 percent made last July, citing the sluggish pace of the government’s infrastructure program weighing on economic expansion.

In its East Asia and Pacific Economic Update report for the month of October, the bank, however, said the 6.6-percent growth for this year would be strong enough to continue outperforming most of its peers in the region. Julito G Rada

IN BRIEF International reserves drop

THE country’s gross international reserves decreased $0.38 billion to $81.35 billion at the end of September this year from $81.73 billion a month ago, pulled down mainly by the government’s settlement of maturing foreign exchange obligations, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Friday.

Other reasons for the decline were the outflows due to the revaluation adjustments on Bangko Sentral’s gold holdings resulting from the decrease in the price of the precious metal in the world market and foreign exchange operations.

They were partially offset by net foreign currency deposits by the national government and income from Bangko Sentral’s investments abroad.

“The end-September GIR level can adequately cover 8.5 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income. It is also equivalent to 5.5 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 3.6 times based on residual maturity,” it said. Julito G. Rada

Banknote mutilation warning

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas warned the public on Friday that anybody found guilty of mutilating or defacing its issued banknotes and coins will be fined and put behind bars.

The warning came in the wake of a reported video showing the burning of what appeared to be Philippine banknotes that caught the attention of Bangko Sentral officials.

In a statement, the regulator said it was investigating the incident for appropriate action.

“The BSP reminds the public that it is unlawful to willfully deface, mutilate, tear, burn or destroy, in any manner whatsoever, currency notes and coins issued by the BSP, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 247,” it said.

“Any person who shall violate this decree shall be fined in the amount of not more than P20,000 and/or imprisoned for a period of not more than five years,” it said. Julito G. Rada

Globe to meet internet target

GLOBE Telecom Inc. said it is on track to meet its target of connecting two million homes with high-speed internet by 2020 as it launched prepaid home broadband WiFi service.

Globe At Home senior vice president Martha Sazon told reporters the company expects to connect 400,000 households by the end of 2017 and one million households by next year.

“The commitment is to connect two million homes by 2020, we will be on track,” Sazon said.

“The time is ripe to disrupt the market and break the barriers of getting a broadband plan through accessibility and ease of application. We are committed to provide fast and reliable home connectivity to more Filipinos, nationwide,” she added. Darwin G. Amojelar

INDEX FUNDS. First Metro Asset Management Inc. president Augusto Cosio Jr., speaking at the 6th Financial Advisors Congress, advises investors to take advantage of the growing Philippine economy by investing in index funds, which are mutual funds that mirror the movement of a specific stock index. Index investing lets investors ride on the upward swing of a particular market or sector that it tracks. One such index fund is the First Metro Philippine Equity Exchange-Traded Fund, which reflects the performance of the Philippine Stock Exchange Index.

VIRES Energy Corp. is interested in developing a liquefied natural gas project costing $750 million in Batangas City, its top executive said Friday.

Vires president Eduardo Mañalac said the company was waiting for the completion of the LNG framework from the government before pushing the proposed project. The Department of Energy is set to conduct public consultations on the long-awaited draft of LNG framework next week.

Mañalac said the company was in talks with possible partners but declined to disclose details.

“There are many possible partners but I will announce later on,” he said.

Vires has engaged state-owned Philippine National Oil Co. in talks for its planned LNG facility. PNOC has been tasked by the Energy Department to develop an integrated LNG facility in preparation for the eventual depletion of the Malampaya gas field within the next few years.

Vires plans to put up a 500 megawatt capacity LNG power plant and LNG receiving terminal in Barangay Simlong, Batangas City.

It has received approval to conduct a grid impact study for the proposed LNG power project.

Vires signed a technology license agreement with Sevan Marine’s subsidiary HiLoad LNG AS for an LNG receiving and re-gasification terminal in the Philippines.

It also signed a separate engineering service contract with HiLoad LNG providing design and engineering work. Payment under the license agreement is subject to Vires constructing and operating the re-gasification terminal.

Sevan Marine acquired the rights to the proprietary HiLoad technology for gas and LNG applications and has developed solutions for offshore loading of LNG and LNG receiving and regasification terminals based on the HiLoad Technology.

DOTr says long haul rail track to Bicol ready in ‘22 THE Department of Transportation expects to complete the construction of the P151-billion PNR South Long Haul Project by the second quarter of 2022.

“The PNR South Long Haul Project (Manila-Matnog, Sorsogon) is on track to being operational by second quarter of 2022, pursuant to the Neda board’s recent approval of the project’s revised funding structure” on Sept. 12, 2017, the agency said in a statement.

The project is a 581-kilometer, standard-gauge railway from Manila to Legazpi, Matnog, and Batangas City.

The railway will connect cities, international seaports and economic zones, allowing faster transportation of passengers and freight.

Even prior to the recent Neda board action, the DOTr said the funding and implementation activities for the project had already been in place and were ongoing.

The DOTr said P800 mil-

BoI approves Century’s coco milk processing plant

By Othel V. Campos THE Board of Investments approved the application of Century Pacific Agricultural Ventures Inc. to establish a P245.7-million coconut milk processing plant under the export activities category of the 2017 Investment Priorities Plan.

The coco milk export project will involve the construction of a separate production line in the company’s existing facility in Barangay Tam-

bler, Calumpang, Purok Lansong in General Santos City.

The plant will have the capacity to process 15.3 million kilograms of coconut milk annually when commercial operation starts on January 2018.

Semi-processed coconut milk will be exported to Malaysia through Linaco Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd., a supplier/producer of coconut related products.

The project will hire 536 personnel to run the process-

ing plant.

Century Pacific is a wholly-owned affiliate of the Po family that owns Century Pacific Food Inc., one of the country’s largest food conglomerates and known for its popular products such as Century Tuna, 555 Sardines, Argentina Corned Beef, Swift Hotdogs, among other products.

It is a BoI-registered enterprise engaged in the production of several coconut products, such as coconut

beverage and coconut shell, virgin coconut oil and coconut flour.

The US and Europe are two of the biggest export markets for the company’s products.

Century Pacific diversified into coconut processing in 2013 initially as an original equipment manufacturer for retail packaged coconut water and supply of white copra to industrial users. It eventually decided to produce its own line of coconut products.

lion and P7 billion had been appropriated for the project under the agency’s 2016 and 2017 budgets, and requested a further P3 billion for next year.

“The project is also included in the first basket of projects that will be financed and built with the assistance of China. A memorandum of understanding setting out the scope of China’s assistance for the project is intended to be signed during the Asean Summit in November 2017,” the DOTr said.

“After the loan agreement for the project is signed in 2018, the loan proceeds will become available under GAA 2018’s unprogrammed appropriations, in addition to the P3 billion that DOTr has already requested for fiscal year 2018,” the agency added.

The DOTr added the implementation works for the project were ongoing, especially on right-of-way acquisitions.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, October 6, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

51.0180

Japan

Yen

0.008864

0.4522

UK

Pound

1.312100

66.9407

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128049

6.5328

Switzerland

Franc

1.022390

52.1603

Canada

Dollar

0.795988

40.6097

Singapore

Dollar

0.733138

37.4032

Australia

Dollar

0.779400

39.7634

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653294

135.3658

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

13.6048

Brunei

Dollar

0.730460

37.2666

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000074

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.030003

1.5307

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.8915

Euro

Euro

1.171200

59.7523

Korea

Won

0.000876

0.0447

China

Yuan

0.150218

7.6638

India

Rupee

0.015352

0.7832

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.236574

12.0695

New Zealand

Dollar

0.711300

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032955

36.2891 1.6813 Source: PDS Bridge

B2

Business

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market gains; Shell, Ayala up T

HE stock market climbed Friday, tracking another record close on Wall Street following more buoyant US data and hopes for tax reform, which has also boosted the dollar and fueled expectations of further gains.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 16.87 points, or 0.2 percent, to 8,310.88 on a value turnover of P7.4 billion. Gainers edged losers, 99 to 96, with 49 issues unchanged.

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., the smaller of the country’s two refineries, advanced 2.3 percent to P68, while Megawide Construction Corp. gained 2.2 percent to P17.76.

Conglomerate Ayala Corp. increased 1.8 percent to P1,015, while SM Investments Corp. of retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr. added 1.3 percent to P911.

The rest of Asian stocks gained, boosted by favorable US economic figures. As the US Labor Department prepares to unveil job creation figures for September, traders were given a positive bump Thursday with figures showing improving factory orders, jobless claims and exports.

The news came as US lawmakers passed an outline budget plan, providing some optimism that Donald Trump’s key economic pledge to cut taxes could come to fruition.

Analysts said the figures could indicate strong growth for the US economy in the third quarter.

All three main indexes in New York closed at all-time highs, with the S&P 500 notching a sixth-straight record―the longest streak since 1997.

And the rally extended into Asia, where Tokyo’s Nikkei ended 0.3 percent up at a more than two-year high, while Hong Kong added 0.2 percent in the afternoon―

putting it on course for its best finish in 10 years.

Sydney put on one percent and Singapore climbed 0.5 percent.

The move into riskier assets has also hit safe-haven gold, which has fallen more than six percent from the one-year high hit a month ago.

Comments from International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde that “the long-awaited global recovery is taking root” provided for further optimism.

In early European trade London rose 0.2 percent and Frankfurt gained 0.1 percent but Paris slipped 0.1 percent.

The dollar extended Thursday’s gains as dealers contemplated Trump’s tax cuts passing through Congress and remarks from top Federal Reserve officials indicating another interest rate hike before the end of the year, with the possibility of more in 2018.

“Inter-party (Republican) squabbling has subsided as the US House has taken essential steps setting the stage to roll out a determined tax-overhaul bill which should pass without Democratic backing,” said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trading at OANDA. The greenback was also given some help against the euro by Spain’s ongoing crisis with Catalonia threatening to break away, which has seen the single currency sink to around $1.17―having topped $1.20 just two weeks ago.

The pound came back under pressure as the future of Prime Minister Theresa May, whose much-anticipated Conservative Party conference speech this week ended in disaster, is called into question.

There are worries that her removal could spark fresh uncertainty in Britain as it negotiates with the EU over leaving the bloc. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 4.55 105,000 59.75 26,560 101.6 1,031,900 133.3 1,880,700 2.77 6,491,000 36 488,000 15.98 42,500 32.2 603,100 9 1,700 0.68 1,000 1.71 7,000 945 30 0.7 965,000 89 1,619,750 0.86 57,000 13 1,400 25 800 57.4 63,270 240 4,180 115 270 88 80 48 63,500 248.2 188,010 86.6 284,280 1.34 109,000

478,100 1,582,949.50 104,959,706 251,956,563 18,729,730 17,569,070 680,430 19,480,310 14,617 680 11,970 28,350 668,980 144,367,962 48,790 18,298 20,000 3,650,526.50 1,002,940 31,001 7,040 3,064,970 46,591,150 24,602,912 141,880

1,539,573.50 -27,855,266 20,667,615 -64,380 -3,169,955 -6,638,170 41,890,421 -2,377,157.50 1,011,870 1,875,478 15,496,265.50 -

41.3 10.3 0.78 1.38 19.5 0.227 5.36 15.9 41.05 19.04 65 73 1.92 6.75 11.4 10.02 15 13.6 7.24 5.63 1.6 19 66.9 14.3 12.4 18.7 1.86 241.8 57.05 5.24 3.1 21.25 31 19.86 17.52 284 0.222 11.3 2.92 6.63 10.14 5.99 9.87 1.76 11.86 65.9 6.52 307 4.53 4.4 2.65 13.34 4.68 0.142 1.21 150.3 3.41 2.09 0.97

INDUSTRIAL 41.5 2,145,000 10.32 1,805,600 0.78 333,000 1.39 761,000 19.82 2,500 0.23 200,000 5.45 8,050,500 16 6,091,800 42 526,000 20.2 1,200 68 500,110 74 520 1.92 73,000 7 1,587,300 11.5 200,200 10.04 13,235,500 15.02 1,572,500 13.8 71,400 7.26 455,900 5.67 23,610,200 1.6 510,000 19.02 3,423,700 66.95 1,075,130 14.3 44,900 12.4 57,700 18.88 1,402,300 1.89 490,000 242.2 751,550 57.05 90 6 11,004,000 3.1 123,000 21.25 100 31.65 3,053,400 19.92 115,400 17.76 7,432,800 285.2 808,130 0.222 870,000 11.5 68,300 3 197,000 6.8 65,500 10.24 1,369,100 6.05 6,200 9.88 8,800 1.78 4,135,000 12.04 434,300 68 1,894,800 6.56 354,900 308 20,120 4.62 581,000 4.4 10,000 2.66 386,000 13.5 2,241,600 4.68 7,000 0.143 130,000 1.27 459,000 150.9 683,120 3.5 21,000 2.09 1,312,000 0.97 117,000

89,681,610 18,743,394 262,030 1,061,730 49,250 45,700 43,763,659 98,396,046 22,088,300 23,602 32,507,480 38,400 140,660 11,213,024 2,299,040 133,420,944 23,651,730 985,436 3,307,067 134,494,849 820,050 65,604,926 72,446,296.50 642,070 715,610 26,550,414 922,420 182,051,948 5,134.50 62,616,043 383,870 2,125 96,059,035 2,296,464 132,417,170 231,399,900 193,460 793,778 578,960 443,133 14,027,168 37,450 86,920 7,361,070 5,210,496 126,204,983.50 2,323,795 6,192,110 2,666,170 44,000 1,035,420 30,415,742 32,810 18,470 583,310 103,650,189 72,170 2,744,890 113,490

-9,692,955 124,800 14,000 -5,911,408 -22,621,292 614,185 32,500,000 35,000 -14,806,784 4,061,344 -14,990 -76,990 -31,186,438 -9,313,266 -1,786,477 -143,000 -439,070 -1,398,282 28,150 -105,181,378 -308,950 48,956,135 976,740.00 14,216,454 -9,274,010 -12,130 -3,149,550 1,795,920 -477,608 12,715,067 609,215 -2,903,120 363,200 10,000,490 -16,746,571 -

0.355 75.3 17.16 1.11 7 0.35 0.355 1,020 8.47 15.98 7.8 0.201 1,250 7.8 77.9 5.69 5.06 0.87 5.93 17.98 0.405 7.04 0.059 1.33 2.11 100 2.62 925 1.44 295.8 0.275 0.191 0.227

0.345 73.4 16.88 1.07 6.99 0.345 0.355 998 8.4 15.7 7.7 0.201 1,218 7.64 75.85 4.7 5.06 0.86 5.72 17.84 0.405 6.88 0.054 1.22 2.1 98 2.58 899.5 1.41 280 0.27 0.191 0.227

HOLDING FIRMS 0.345 670,000 73.5 1,194,340 16.9 3,176,200 1.11 6,000 6.99 32,900 0.35 1,750,000 0.355 320,000 1,015 450,530 8.45 9,312,700 15.8 4,122,500 7.8 9,800 0.201 20,000 1,218 159,015 7.64 900 76.7 1,394,350 5.69 7,000 5.06 1,100 0.87 199,000 5.73 1,050,400 17.94 2,240,700 0.405 10,000 6.88 27,604,900 0.056 311,290,000 1.33 185,000 2.1 83,000 100 571,080 2.59 16,000 911 436,040 1.43 480,000 295.4 11,060 0.27 140,000 0.191 10,000 0.227 10,000

232,800 88,171,220 53,861,222 6,620 230,071 604,200 113,600 456,350,880 78,660,459 65,500,198 75,530 4,020 195,506,545 7,004 107,086,254.50 35,870 5,566 171,620 6,062,662 40,168,106 4,050 192,095,854 17,623,780 241,500 174,500 56,648,685.50 41,590 399,363,085 683,300 3,240,316 37,850 1,910 2,270

2,049,502 9,562,718 290,524,620 -18,172,547.00 9,407,118 -41,968,930 -254,520.50 -985,971 6,917,456 61,917,294 407,500 15,296,640.50 89,946,875 14,100 -603,830 -

4.97 1.13 9 2.39 1.17 43.55 3.86 5.13 5.4 0.53 1.31 1.33 0.226 0.48 44 0.71 0.145

4.95 1.07 8.5 2.36 1.11 42.9 3.79 5.03 5.31 0.51 1.31 1.3 0.223 0.47 43.2 0.69 0.144

2,116,510 16,335,600 164,300 211,390 9,360,860 802,914,210 4,437,700 11,611,147 373,754 7,732,560 137,550 565,240 5,559,590 137,500 6,751,245 538,100 20,270

-1,878,710 11,000 48,400 8,130.00 -357,613,165 1,211,130 -1,384,990 40,610 -7,010 4,750 1,896,780 -6,300 -

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

4.53 58.2 102 135 2.88 35.8 15.9 32.6 8.23 0.68 1.71 945 0.69 89 0.84 13.14 25 58 240 114.8 88 48.8 250 86.5 1.32

4.6 59.75 102 135.5 3.03 36.2 16.1 32.7 9 0.68 1.71 945 0.7 89.7 0.87 13.14 25 58.9 240 115 88 48.8 250 86.75 1.34

4.5 58.2 101.6 133.3 2.77 35.5 15.9 32.2 8.22 0.68 1.71 945 0.69 88.6 0.84 13 25 57.4 239 114.8 88 48 244 86.5 1.3

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY 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 VULCAN INDL

42.7 10.4 0.78 1.4 19.84 0.227 5.36 16.98 41.05 19.92 65 73 1.92 7.01 11.4 10.22 15.1 13.6 7.25 5.8 1.65 19.48 67.3 14.3 12.44 18.98 1.9 241.8 57.05 5.4 3.16 21.25 31 19.96 17.52 285 0.222 11.7 2.93 6.84 10.14 5.99 9.9 1.78 11.88 66.45 6.56 308 4.54 4.4 2.69 13.4 4.69 0.142 1.21 153.2 3.43 2.1 0.97

42.9 10.46 0.79 1.4 19.9 0.23 5.46 17 42.25 20.2 68 75 1.95 7.31 11.5 10.24 15.1 13.94 7.29 5.83 1.65 19.54 68 14.3 12.44 19.24 1.9 243.6 57.05 6 3.16 21.25 31.8 19.96 17.96 288.2 0.23 12 3 6.84 10.38 6.05 9.9 1.8 12.04 69 6.6 308 4.7 4.4 2.71 13.64 4.69 0.143 1.3 154.2 3.5 2.12 0.97

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG KEPPEL HLDG A 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 73.8 17.12 1.07 7 0.345 0.355 998 8.44 15.92 7.72 0.201 1,237 7.8 75.9 4.7 5.06 0.86 5.85 17.84 0.405 6.91 0.054 1.22 2.1 98 2.58 904 1.42 294 0.27 0.191 0.227

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

4.97 1.12 8.5 2.39 1.17 43.55 3.86 5.1 5.34 0.53 1.31 1.3 0.225 0.475 44 0.71 0.145

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP KEPPEL PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

2.06 1.59 0.9 4.16 5.34 0.36 0.47 0.495 6.79 26.5 1.81 3.17 34.95 1.07 7.45 0.89 6.29

2.08 1.6 0.9 4.16 5.34 0.36 0.49 0.495 6.79 26.6 1.82 3.19 35.4 1.07 7.45 0.89 6.32

2.01 1.55 0.9 4.16 5.26 0.35 0.47 0.485 6.61 25.7 1.81 3.15 34.65 1.03 7.45 0.87 6.22

2.01 1.56 0.9 4.16 5.28 0.35 0.48 0.49 6.61 26.1 1.81 3.19 34.65 1.06 7.45 0.88 6.32

12,378,000 5,588,000 123,000 2,000 22,985,900 28,860,000 3,320,000 1,140,000 1,117,700 1,000,900 248,000 437,000 8,906,100 1,157,000 800 9,000 1,296,800

25,209,620 8,807,320 110,700 8,320 121,570,629 10,220,450 1,591,750 557,650 7,439,014 26,159,750 449,050 1,382,800 311,042,040 1,212,240 5,960 7,860 8,150,652

1,039,980 48,400 -41,191,276 71,000 -28,800 2,035,260 8,297,545 372,860 47,350 -99,577,415 -5,350 -3,436,242

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN HAVEN HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA JOCKEY MELCO RESORTS METRO RETAIL 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 TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

19.94 40.55 1.7 0.55 0.051 5.09 10.92 0.072 107.9 8.8 9.95 7.98 2.14 2,084 6.05 17.9 2.52 3.03 105.6 11.88 8.39 0.16 1.37 3.14 15.98 4.3 1.33 15 2.96 7.7 4.27 2.38 11.02 5.1 2.88 170 9.45 1,705 1.52 0.395 54.9 105 6.3 4.21 1.55 2.09 4.2 1.2 8.53

19.96 40.7 1.75 0.56 0.054 5.09 10.92 0.073 109 9 9.98 8 2.2 2,084 6.05 18.9 2.52 3.05 106.1 11.88 8.4 0.166 1.38 3.23 15.98 4.3 1.33 15.42 3.15 7.8 4.27 2.45 11.02 5.13 2.88 170 9.52 1,732 1.54 0.395 54.9 108.1 6.32 4.26 1.55 2.2 4.28 1.23 8.7

19.92 40.5 1.7 0.55 0.051 5.09 10.46 0.071 106.1 8.8 9.92 7.75 2.14 2,060 6.03 17.9 2.42 2.98 104.9 11.84 8.25 0.159 1.37 3.12 15.98 4.27 1.28 15 2.96 7.47 4.23 2.38 11.02 5.05 2.88 170 9.41 1,700 1.49 0.395 54.3 104.9 6.11 4.18 1.53 2.09 4.1 1.18 8.53

SERVICES 19.92 40.6 1.71 0.55 0.051 5.09 10.5 0.072 107 9 9.94 8 2.2 2,070 6.05 18.9 2.52 2.98 105.8 11.84 8.36 0.162 1.37 3.22 15.98 4.3 1.28 15.28 3.1 7.5 4.25 2.45 11.02 5.1 2.88 170 9.5 1,705 1.5 0.395 54.55 106 6.3 4.18 1.55 2.2 4.1 1.22 8.6

37,300 12,600 67,000 4,568,000 150,300,000 3,000 10,518,700 20,600,000 146,320 7,300 915,700 62,300 15,000 56,815 416,500 208,300 1,223,000 34,000 1,510,180 20,000 518,700 9,090,000 195,000 82,000 300 49,000 365,000 5,080,900 1,042,000 16,595,600 810,000 566,000 1,200 11,500 10,000 3,130 401,100 108,905 12,504,000 210,000 1,543,040 1,023,030 766,900 1,723,000 2,225,000 39,000 2,666,000 7,463,000 1,526,300

743,592 511,330 114,750 2,514,380 7,874,900 15,270 111,210,790 1,481,050 15,862,799 65,043 9,101,699 488,220 32,400 117,880,630 2,517,706 3,891,632 3,058,070 102,570 159,638,880 237,200 4,336,213 1,479,170 267,820 259,000 4,794 210,400 471,130 77,669,482 3,188,970 126,640,070 3,442,750 1,376,250 13,224 58,228 28,800 532,100 3,792,753 186,713,820 18,818,210 82,950 84,203,752.50 108,399,891 4,809,093 7,248,390 3,444,220 82,270 11,082,260 9,038,350 13,130,874

-9,950 173,330 -56,176,330 -3,322,681 203,669 -4,795 67,416,160 -283,500 47,325,135 97,600 7,720,542 62,197,591 -25,470 -11,020 5,100.00 -1,004,788 -9,021,545 1,436,350 39,500 43,476,213.50 46,694,206 2,727,885 1,634,680 787,330 363,130 -219,970 3,169,045

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

0.0025 1.87 5 16 1.9 1.87 1.54 0.38 8.58 2.8 0.26 0.198 0.205 0.01 1.96 6.99 1.73 0.52 1.02 0.013 0.012 2.63 8.07 8.05 45.5 0.0075

0.0026 1.89 5.02 16.5 1.95 2.02 1.6 0.38 8.58 2.85 0.265 0.199 0.205 0.011 2 7.06 1.74 0.52 1.04 0.013 0.012 2.63 8.15 8.33 46.15 0.0075

0.0025 1.83 4.93 15 1.85 1.8 1.52 0.375 8.46 2.77 0.255 0.19 0.202 0.01 1.94 6.95 1.68 0.52 1.01 0.013 0.012 2.6 8.02 8.01 45.1 0.0075

MINING & OIL 0.0025 50,000,000 1.85 8,870,000 4.94 473,000 15.98 16,500 1.95 49,000 1.99 529,000 1.6 4,491,000 0.38 1,580,000 8.57 600 2.8 7,942,000 0.255 1,240,000 0.192 28,510,000 0.202 3,500,000 0.011 5,900,000 1.94 339,000 7 864,200 1.72 74,000 0.52 49,000 1.04 710,000 0.013 62,800,000 0.012 76,000,000 2.6 81,000 8.05 988,600 8.08 7,097,400 46 2,035,100 0.0075 3,000,000

125,700 16,497,520 2,364,010 256,990 91,210 979,290 7,098,350 598,650 5,115 22,260,460 319,450 5,570,440 712,230 62,200 666,910 6,061,453 127,860 25,480 725,640 816,400 912,000 210,920 7,981,810 58,127,659 93,355,410 22,500

1,032,670 -89,870 -79,000 -2,915,030 78,000 61,100 2,498,421 20,400 -1,335,703 7,336,106 7,677,705 -

ABS HLDG PDR DD PREF FGEN PREF F GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A LR PREF PNX PREF 3A SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2H

40.45 106 108.5 540.5 5.76 1,040 1.06 105 75.5 80.5 76 78.1 78.5

40.45 106 108.5 540.5 5.76 1,040 1.06 105 75.5 80.5 76 78.1 78.5

40.4 105 108 540.5 5.75 1,040 1.06 105 75 80.5 76 78.1 78.5

PREFERRED 40.45 117,700 106 16,450 108 8,260 540.5 720 5.75 97,700 1,040 1,155 1.06 40,000 105 380 75.5 108,930 80.5 6,880 76 24,000 78.1 3,880 78.5 49,410

4,760,935 1,735,189 893,230 389,160 562,504 1,201,200 42,400 39,900 8,172,565 553,840 1,824,000 303,028 3,878,685

-8,085 -419,904 -1,894,865 -449,190 -

LR WARRANT

2.55

2.57

2.5

WARRANTS 2.55 119,000

303,620

-

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

5.09 4.71 5.75

5.09 4.8 5.78

4.8 4.7 5.64

4.98 4.7 5.66

6,897,505 203,510 2,986,440

-2,126,220 -157,563

FIRST METRO ETF

126

127

126

1,847,533

-

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 4.95 1.1 9 2.39 1.12 42.9 3.79 5.03 5.4 0.51 1.31 1.3 0.223 0.48 43.65 0.7 0.144

427,000 14,841,000 18,800 89,000 8,259,000 18,604,900 1,164,000 2,290,500 70,300 14,936,000 105,000 433,000 24,870,000 290,000 154,500 763,000 140,000

T RADING S UMMARY FINANCIAL

SME

1,402,500 43,000 525,800

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 126.3 14,590

SHARES

VALUE

14,523,853

690,097,740.79

INDUSTRIAL

120,803,110

1,873,357,173.29

HOLDING FIRMS

367,398,703

2,001,519,767.11

PROPERTY

176,064,198

1,394,676,510.42

SERVICES

258,074,629

1,169,879,824.432

MINING & OIL

267,171,959

226,003,754.521

GRAND TOTAL

1,206,022,810

7,367,472,814.26

FINANCIAL 1,998.18 (down) 4.73 INDUSTRIAL 11,113.18 (down) 56.46 HOLDING FIRMS 8,455.45 (up) 82.63 PROPERTY 3,856.39 (down) 27.92 SERVICES 1,748.91 (down) 2.74 MINING & OIL 13,982.53 (up) 356.96 PSEI 8,310.88 (up) 16.87 All Shares Index 4,889.44 (up) 4.79 Gainers: 99; Losers: 96; Unchanged: 49; Total: 244

Shell, QEV OK charging station

By Alena Mae S. Flores QEV Philippines signed an agreement with Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., the country’s second largest oil company, to put up the first electric vehicle fast charging infrastructure network in the country.

QEV, a partnership between businessmen Endika Aboitiz and Enrique Banuelos, signed the agreement with Pilipinas Shell chief executive officer and president Cesar Romero.

“The agreement calls for an initial 100 pilot sites for the EV charging posts,” QEV said in a statement on Friday.

The first installations of the charging stations will be put up in December.

ABB, the Swiss multinational company specializing in robotics power and automation technology areas, will supply the charging posts.

ABB has installed EV charging posts across Europe and in many parts of the world.

Electric vehicles have been around in the country since 2008. The country started with electric jeepneys that plied the Makati Green Route.

QEV said one of the main reasons for the slow uptake of electric vehicles was the lack of supporting charging infrastructure.

To address this, QEV set its sights to establish the first EV charging infrastructure network in the Philippines.

Pilipinas Shell, through parent firm Royal Dutch/ Shell Group, has put up electric vehicle charging stations, mainly in the Netherlands and Great Britain.

“With electric cars increasing in popularity and the fast transition of car fleets from combustion engines to electric, Shell is making the bold move to quickly adapt in an ever changing automobile market,” QEV said.

FWD Life launches new dollar product FWD Life Philippines, one of the country’s fastest-growing life insurance companies, launched “US Dollar All Set Higher,” a dollar-denominated single-payment insurance protection and investment plan which gives customers the opportunity to take advantage of the long-term growth potential of international economies while giving them lifetime insurance protection.

“The US Dollar All Set Higher plan is the newest addition to FWD’s growing range of customer-focused product innovations,” said FWD Life Philippines president and chief executive officer Peter Grimes.

“With a minimum investment of US$20,000, US Dollar All Set Higher offers access to a global portfolio of equity shares of top listed corporations across the world.

The plan brings the power of global investing closer to the Filipino and offers long-term growth potential with high potential returns at well-diversified risks,” he said.

Premiums paid for US Dollar All Set Higher plan will be invested in FWD’s new Global US Dollar Equity Index Fund. The fund provides access to a wellbalanced portfolio of worldwide investments, investing in top corporations all over the world (such as Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Amazon, Samsung, Alibaba, and Toyota), providing an optimal diversification of the policy owner’s investment.

World Guard sets 6 children alight in nursery RIO DE JANEIRO―A Brazilian nursery school guard burned six small children and a teacher to death after spraying them with alcohol and setting them alight Thursday in an attack that has horrified the nation.

Dozens of people were also hurt in the blaze while the guard, who was reported to be mentally ill, died after succumbing to his own burn injuries.

The tragedy occurred in a modest quarter of Janauba, a city of 70,000 about 600 kilometers north of Belo Horizonte city.

The nursery school was called “Innocent People.”

The initial death toll of four rose to six when two badly burned kids died, according to news reports which quoted fire officials.

Janauba’s mayor decreed seven days of mourning.

About 50 people were hospitalized with injuries, said Bruno Ataide Santos, director of the local hospital.

Hours later, 10 people remained hospitalized in serious condition.

The guard, who was aged about 50 and identified as Damiao Soares, died in hospital several hours after the incident, which left him with burns all over his body, Santos told AFP. About 80 children were in the nursery school when the attack occurred, prompting terrified parents to rush to the school, where they found one classroom reduced to ashes.

Niue creates huge marine sanctuary W E L L I N G TO N ― T h e tiny Pacific island nation of Niue on Friday announced the creation of a huge marine sanctuary, saying it wanted to stop overfishing and preserve the environment for future generations.

While Niue’s landmass is only 260 square kilometers, its remote location about 2,400 kilometers northeast of New Zealand means it lays claim to vast tracts of ocean.

The government said that 40 percent of its exclusive economic zone, about 127,000 square kilometers representing an area roughly the size of Greece, would be set aside for the marine sanctuary.

Premier Toke Talagi said his government wanted to stop the depletion of fish stocks and give the ocean space to heal to protect the environment for the next generation.

“This commitment is not a sacrifice, it is an investment in the certainty and stability of our children’s future,” he said.

“We simply cannot be the generation of leaders who have taken more than they have given to this planet and left behind a debt that our children cannot pay.”

Known locally as “The Rock”, Niue was settled by Polynesian seafarers more than 1,000 years ago and the palm-dotted island’s name in the local language means “behold, the coconut”.

The British explorer captain James Cook tried to land there three times in 1774 but was deterred by fearsome warriors, eventually giving up to set sail for more welcoming shores and naming Niue “Savage Island”. AFP

B3

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2017 Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

Reporter dies of heart failure after 159 hours of overtime TOKYO―Japan’s public broadcaster apologized Friday to the parents of a young reporter who died of heart failure after logging 159 hours of overtime in a month.

NHK reporter Miwa Sado, 31, who had been covering political news in Tokyo, was found dead in her bed in July 2013, reportedly clutching her mobile phone.

“The president met the parents at their home in the morning and

apologized,” an NHK spokesman told AFP. A government inquest a year after her death ruled that it was linked to excessive overtime.

She had taken two days off in the month before she died.

NHK eventually made the case public four years later, bowing to pressure from Sado’s parents to take action to prevent a recurrence.

The case has again highlighted the Japanese problem of “karoshi”―meaning death from overwork―and is an embarrassing revelation for NHK, which has campaigned against the nation’s long-hours culture.

Sato covered Tokyo assembly elections for the broadcaster in June 2013 and an upper-house vote for the national parliament the following month.

She died three days after the upper-house election.

“My heart breaks at the thought that she may have wanted to call me” in her last moments, her mother told the Asahi daily.

“With Miwa gone, I feel like half of my body has been torn off.

I won’t be able to laugh for real for the rest of my life.”

The revelation shocked the nation as NHK has actively reported

tragic deaths at other companies, including the 2015 suicide of a young woman at major advertising agency Dentsu who logged more than 100 hours of overtime in one month.

A Tokyo court on Friday ordered Dentsu to pay 500,000 yen ($4,430) as a penalty for allowing its employees, including the young woman, to illegally work excessive overtime hours. AFP

MPs flee Cambodia crackdown B ANGKOK―Two late-night text messages in an hour, one from sources in the military, the other from the cops, warned Cambodian opposition politician Mu Sochua her arrest was at hand.

LONG TREK. Rohingya refugees cross a canal by a settlement close to the no-man’s-land area between the borders of Myanmar and Bangladesh in Tombru Bandarban district. AFP

Catalan police chief in court accused of sedition MADRID―Catalonia’s police chief appeared in court in Madrid on Friday to answer accusations of sedition over his handling of the unrest last month sparked by the region’s contested independence drive.

An investigating judge summoned Josep Lluis Trapero along with three other suspects, a move that escalated the tensions between the regional and national

governments.

Catalan leaders have threatened to declare independence in defiance of the national government and courts, after pushing ahead with a banned referendum on the issue last Sunday.

The independence dispute has laid bare a rift between Catalonia’s regional police and national security forces deployed to the region.

Trapero’s force was accused of failing to rein in pro-independence protesters during the recent unrest in the northeastern region.

The accusations refer to unrest in Barcelona on September 20 and 21 after national security forces raided regional government offices in a crackdown against the independence drive.

Trapero arrived at Ma-

drid’s National Court on Friday flanked by two fellow officers and made no comment to waiting reporters, an AFP reporter saw.

Two other defendants also arrived to answer the same charge: the leaders of Catalonia’s two most prominent pro-independence civil groups, Jordi Cuixart of Omnium Cultural and Jordi Sanchez of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC). AFP

The next day she bolted from the country, joining half of the kingdom’s opposition lawmakers in self-exile.

They have fled since September 3 when their party chief was arrested in the middle of the night by hundreds of officers, a dramatic escalation of a purge of rivals to Cambodia’s strongman premier Hun Sen, one of the world’s longest serving leaders.

“I don’t intend to be captured,” Mu Sochua told AFP from Bangkok, where she arrived on Tuesday and will stay before heading to Europe.

“I don’t intend to sit and wait for a kangaroo court to give us a trial that is a total joke.”

Her anxiety is well founded.

Through a mix of threats, harassment and legal entanglements, Hun Sen’s government has been clearing out critics ahead of key elections that will test the premier’s 32-year run.

And the odds are looking good for the 65-year-old, a master of manipulating the country’s malleable democratic institutions in his favor.

The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP)is in tatters, with more than 20 MPs skipping abroad in the past month after their stand-in leader

Train-bus collision kills six

Trump again blasts Iran over nuclear agreement WA S H I N G T O N ― U S President Donald Trump on Thursday insisted Iran has not acted in keeping with a deal to curb its nuclear program, days before he must decide on the future of the accord.

“They have not lived up to the spirit of the agreement,” said Trump, as he huddled with military leaders ahead of perhaps the most consequential foreign policy decision of his young presidency.

“The Iranian regime supports terrorism and exports violence and chaos across the Middle East,” Trump said in the Cabinet Room.

“That is why we must put an end to Iran’s continued aggression and nuclear ambitions” he said. “You will be hearing about Iran very shortly.”

Gathered with military leaders and their spouses for a function after the meeting, Trump, stone-faced, said “this may be the calm before the storm,” while refusing to go into detail.

Trump must tell Congress

by October 15 whether he believes Iran is in compliance with the agreement.

He may well fly in the face of advice from some of his closest advisors, declaring Iran is not in compliance and leaving the pact’s fate in the hands of the Republican-controlled Congress.

Ahead of that deadline, several officials familiar with White House deliberations told AFP Trump has made it clear he does not want to certify Iran’s compliance. But a formal decision has yet to be made. AFP

ATMOSPHERE. A view of the atmosphere at the Farfetch and William Vintage Celebrate Gianni Versace Archive hosted by Elizabeth Stewart and William Banks-Blaney on October 5, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Puerto Rico’s hurricane-wracked environment faces long recovery SAN JUAN―Bees fly around, disoriented, searching for flowers to pollinate. The trees have no leaves and once-lush mountains are a mass of dry branches.

Hurricane Maria not only destroyed Puerto Rico’s infrastructure, it also wreaked havoc on the environment, disrupting the island’s entire ecosystem.

And experts say the road to recovery could be long.

“There is a lot of death, but eventually the order will be restored,”

Kem Sokha was locked up in a remote prison on dubious treason charges.

His arrest comes months after a series of legal convictions and new laws forced the party’s longtime fron-tman Sam Rainsy to step down.

Many civil society groups railing against corruption and repression have also been shut down or sidelined by court cases.

Outspoken media―including the respected and recently shuttered Cambodia Daily―have found the cost of criticism is a crippling tax bill.

Deputy party leader Mu Sochua is no stranger to intimidation.

The 63-year-old is a veteran of an opposition movement that has spent most of its time dodging Hun Sen’s machinations.

But the latest crackdown, she says, feels different.

“For the first time I felt unsafe. And politically speaking, this is the first time I felt we no longer have the possibility of a dialogue,” Mu Sochua told AFP, adding that police have been following the movements of her party’s members around the country.

“I didn’t want another leader caught, another voice being silenced. That left me with one choice only, which is to leave.” AFP

said Ariel Lugo, an ecologist and director of the International Institute of Tropical Forestry, part of the US Forest Service in Puerto Rico.

“It will take ten years for everything to look good,” he told AFP. “It does not mean that everything will be fine, but everything will look good.”

Two weeks after the hurricane, some trees are already beginning to sprout new leaves, a sign of the natural world’s resilience.

But life has been thrown into tur-

moil for birds, insects and other organisms that depend on leaves and flowers for food and shelter. They struggle to find food and places to hide.

For predators, Puerto Rico is one big party these days.

The balance should start to be restored soon, according to Lugo.

“In the coming months there will be a rapid increase in plant growth and production of new leaves, which will revive many insects and thus begin to reorganize the forest

little by little,” he said.

According to Jeff Schlegelmilch, deputy director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness in New York, the timing of recovery will vary by species.

“Some of the larger trees can take decades to come back while the smaller foliage cover might be back within a year or two,” he told AFP. “It could take decades or more before the forests are fully restored.” AFP

MOSCOW―At least 16 people were killed on Friday when a train slammed into a passenger bus that had broken down on a level crossing east of Moscow, authorities said Friday.

The head of the regional health service earlier said 19 people had been killed but Russia’s Investigative Committee reported a lower number in a later statement.

The accident occurred during the night near the town of Pokrov, some 110 kilometers east of the Russian capital.

“According to preliminary information, 16 people, including a child, have been killed,” the Investigative Committee said.

“Other passengers, including minors, have been taken to hospital with various injuries. The number of dead and injured is being ascertained.”

The committee said it had opened an inquiry.

The regional interior ministry said the bus broke down on the level crossing.

The train, traveling from the second city of Saint Petersburg to Nizhny Novgorod, east of Moscow, slammed into the bus at 3:29am (0029 GMT) on Friday.

All of the dead were on board the bus. AFP

Trucks &Buses

Dino Ray Directo III, Editor

B4

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2017

Isuzu innovates the local truck industry with their clean and green engine technology

Isuzu unveils ‘Blue Power’ Technology Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III

Isuzu and Ayala officials were in full force for the 20th year celebration

T

HE country’s diesel authority recently celebrated its 20th year in the domestic market with a bang.

Isuzu Philippines Corporation President Hajime Koso led the festivities and welcomed esteemed guests from Isuzu Motors Limited Japan headed by its President and CEO Masanori Katayama and Mitsibishi Corporation Japan EVP and Group CEO for Machinery Kazushi Okawa.

“This country has become our second home and gave us the wings to soar higher than what we were 20 years back.

We are looking forward to 20 years and more. To our loyal partners, may you continue to put your trust on us and we promise that we will be finding more ways to meet your expectations,” Koso said.

Fernando Zobel de Ayala led the local contigent with Deputy CEO of Ayala Automotive Holdings Manny Aligada and government officials Thomas Orbos, the MMDA GM and concurrent Undersecretary of the DOTC as Isuzu unveiled its latest innovation dubbed as the Blue Power Technology. Blue Power is an eco-friendly diesel engine designed and engineered to promote green technology.

Koso also revealed that the Blue Technology will be present on all vehicles in the Isuzu lineup sold in the domestic market. Their benefits include maximum engine output, cleaner emissions, superb fuel economy, as well as engine durability.The 4JJ1-TCX engine found on the D-MAX and mu-X is said to provide 177 PS and a maximum torque of 380 Nm. The engine is also designed to comply with EURO 4 standards.

Dealer principals and the motoring media also witnessed the presentation of the facelifted MU-X model which is now equipped with a six-speed transmission, for both manual and automatic variants. Other features of the MU-X includes Auto-Headlight

Metal

Leveling, Hill Descent Control and 8-inch screen entertainment system with USB link and tex-to-speech navigation. The latest DMAX offering now comes with Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control. It is also fitted with multiple USB ports to suffice the passengers’ need on the continuous use of their mobile gadgets.

As an added surprise to the night’s festivities, Isuzu also presented 20 vehicles to celebrate 20 years of local operations. Taking center stage of the night’s festivities were the N-Series light-duty trucks which not only received a fresh face but the also Blue Power EURO 4 engines, namely: the 4JH1-TC (NLR77 model), 4JJ1-TC (NLR85, NMR85 & NPR85 models) and 4HK1-TCN (NQR75 model). Further, their medium-duty truck lineup, F-Series, also sports the new Blue Power Technology. The 4HK1-TC (FRR); 6HK1-TCN (FSR and FVR) and the 6HK1-TCS (FVM) engines give these trucks more power and efficiencywhile complying with stringent EURO IV standards making these trucks more effective workhorses.

FRESH

Small truck logistics is the way to go DAF delivers 500th truck to Jordan

DAF has delivered its 500th truck to Jordan. This is much more than just a milestone as the Eindhoven-based truck manufacturer, considering its very recent entry into the Jordanian market in 2014. The delivery of a DAF CF85 4x2 Euro3 tractor is indicative of the strong position of DAF Trucks in Jordan, where the Dutch manufacturer now leads the market with a market share of over 25%.

The 500th truck delivered is part of an order of 50 trucks for Euro Shipping Services (ESS) in Amman. ESS is a large intermodal haulier that specialises in shipping, freight forwarding, container cargo, general cargo, air freight and warehousing.

With the 50 new DAF vehicles, ESS aims to capitalise on the growing demand for transport in Jordan. And the decision to opt for the CF85 is no coincidence, according to ESS-owners Issam Sacca and Mahmoud Omran: “The DAFs are extremely efficient as regards fuel consumption, which is one of the reasons why they have an incredibly favourable Total Cost of Ownership. But also in terms of safe-

ty, reliability and robustness, the DAF CF is without doubt the truck that we want to add to our fleet of 90 vehicles.

And we have great faith too in both the after sales support and in the extra services provided by the local DAF dealer, Manaseer.”

For ‘rough terrain’ regions like the Middle East, DAF equips its trucks with – among other components – a heavy duty driveline, a reinforced wheel housing, an oversized cooling system and a specially adapted air intake.

“The driving conditions in countries like Jordan can often be very demanding - and so we adjust our trucks accordingly”, says Michiel Kuijs, Managing Director Sales Operations. “We offer the same DAF experience to every operator no matter where he is in the world: maximum uptime and low maintenance costs at the lowest possible total cost of ownership. It’s not without reason that we have become the market leader in Jordan within four years. The 16-tonne and heavier truck market is around 600 vehicles and DAF already has gained a market share of more than 25%.”

WITH the Philippines’ rapid economic growth, logistics has become the name of the game. This is seen in the growth of third party logistics (3PL) companies which cater to the outsourced logistics needs of various industries. Also evident is the growth of online retail sales through the e-Commerce platform where orders have to be delivered immediately.

But owing to the narrow, traffic-choked streets in the metropolis coupled with a truck ban during certain hours of the day, the increasing trend right now is small truck logistics. The large trucks, most of them wing vans, continue to transport the

goods from the ports to the warehouses.

The small trucks take it from there.

Centro Manufacturing Corporation sales manager Vic Belisario explains that there is a steady increase in small truck logistics in recent years. “We have noticed an increase in demand for these small trucks, in particular the Tata Ace and Super Ace. We know this because we produce the closed van aluminum bodies for Tata and the demand has been steadily increasing.

We also observe an increasing demand for small trucks used as food carts to cater to the needs of the food parks and tiangges that are getting popular”.

Their C & E Series line-up has made the monumental leap towards cleaner emissions: the 6WG1-TGR is now EURO compliant, meaning the engine has higher torque at low speed area due to the modified turbocharger and increasing engine displacement.

Koso said that they are confident that the new modifications to their full lineup will further affect sales positively across the board.

“We are hoping yet we are confident that the Philippines will continue to patronize the brand with these substantial changes that we have introduced,” Koso noted.“We believe that these game changers are surely to hit it big in the local automotive industry,” he added.

The past 20 years have seen the company grow phenomonally with more than 30 thousand units sales, three times the company’s volume five years ago.” Our mu-X model sold the highest number of units here in the Philippines compared to any other country in the world. ‘‘Our trucks hold the No. 1 position in total truck sales for 17 consecutive years; and in 2016, our total truck sales reached more than 6,000 units, more than triple our sales in the past years,” adds Koso.

Since Tata was introduced in the Philippines in 2014, the response of the Philippine market has been very positive, says Art Balmadrid, Vice President and General Manager of Pilipinas Taj Autogroup, the local distributor of Tata vehicles in the Philippines.

He explains that Tata Motors’ vehicles have been in great demand in the Philippines since 2014. “The low cost of ownership and availability of diesel vehicles are what make our cars, utility vehicles and cargo vehicles an integral part of the country’s transport sector. The Philippines has become home to a wide range of our cars, pick-ups, and trucks, and is now an important market for Tata in the Asia Pacific region”.

“Tata’s affordability coupled with its durability has won over many new customers”, he adds. “Small truck logistics has increased mainly because of the rise of single-item deliveries which are now becoming more prevalent with the rise of online commerce. This new form of merchandising by companies such as Lazada and OLx uses small truck logistics which is more efficient for their needs”.

Centro COO Jerryme Garcia reveals that in congested cities such as in Metro Manila, it makes more sense to use smaller vehicles to ferry goods around.

“You are not really that mobile if you use big trucks especially in Metro Manila’s traffic. Small truck logistics is seen a lot in developed countries like Japan and Korea and even in our neighboring countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia”.

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2017

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OPTIMAL HEALTH.

BioBalance offers the option to know and understand your body, from its cells to all the elements that drive its cycles, with the help of advanced tests.

OPTIMIZING HEALTH key to longevity I

NCREASED energy, resistance to disease, and overall vitality are but a few of the benefits of being in optimal health

Advancements in science and medicine have been allowing more people to optimize their health, making it possible for them to not just live longer but look younger; extending the look and feel of being at their prime.

Each individual has a unique nutrient profile and gut health, two major factors that affect longevity and overall health, which emphasizes the importance of personalized treatments for the skin and body, supplements and diet recommendations.

This is what BioBalance has been addressing for its discerning clientele.

BioBalance’s Health Optimization Medicine (HOMe) specialists help in managing nutrients and gut health, making disease prevention and health optimization a top priority. All of BioBalance’s health solutions are anchored on nutritional science, since it is proven that many chronic symp-

toms and serious diseases are caused by nutrient deficiencies.

What BioBalance offers is the option to know and understand your body, from its cells to all the elements that drive its cycles, and from there determines and gives you what you need to prevent illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, psoriasis, gout, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, impotency, allergies, hypertension, and other illnesses.

“Just as how illness medicine doctors run diagnostic tests before giving any drugs, BioBalance HOMe doctors recommend advanced tests like nutrient and metabolic profiles, gut health tests, and toxic metals profiles, before giving any supplements and lifestyle prescriptions. This practice is called Measured Wellness,” explains Dr. Ted Achacoso, co-founder and chief science officer of BioBalance Institute. This approach allows personalized recommen-

dations for each client.

Among BioBalance’s signature programs is Nutrient Optimization, which measures nutritional deficiencies in your body and provides personalized nutritional prescription including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and toxic elements. After measuring over 50 unique nutrients and metabolic markers, the program recommends supplements that would help restore nutritional balance in your body, resulting in improved performance, immunity, and optimal health.

Its Gut C.A.R.E program, on the other hand, uses advanced diagnostics to treat gastrointestinal imbalance and bring back a good amount of healthy gut bacteria into what is now considered one of the most important organs of the body.

And finally, its newest program Weight Loss & Longevity, anchors on one of the oldest but most effective human habits— periodic fasting. With its breakthrough program, your body goes through regenerating and rejuvenating mode, resulting in sustainable weight and fat loss, and

BioBalance’s Health Optimization Medicine specialists help in managing nutrients and gut health

improvement of body’s health markers including blood sugar, lipid profile, and inflammation markers.

From its first location, BioBalance finds its new home on the lower ground level of Shangri-La East Wing Mall in Mandaluyong, which houses it’s health and wellness facilities, doctor’s clinics and client consultation rooms, as well as guest lounge for walk-in customers. Clients can also pur-

chase BioBalance’s signature supplements.

Medical professionals always available to help clients’ needs man the concierge.

With the new accessible location, more clients can conveniently visit the institute and easily incorporate healthy habits into their daily life.

For more information, call +63917 521 4860 or visit www..biobalanceinstitute.com.

FirePRO for added level of fire protection

Healthway Medical and Philab executives pose with the Memorandum of Agreement that signifies their joint efforts to create a healthier community and make the entire nation dengue-free.

Partnership for dengue infection HEALTHWAY Medical, a network of mallbased medical clinics in Metro Manila, has partnered with Philab Industries Inc. to give full attention to one of the potentially deadly diseases such as dengue. This agreement was officially launched at Healthway Medical Clinic at Shangri-La Plaza.

The partnership is a testament of Philab Industries Inc. and Healthway’s mission to provide excellent healthcare to the public, bringing innovative products and services to those who need medical attention. This service also extends to corporate clinics, which will offer a one-stop-shop for company employees who are always on the go.

“Healthway has been in the business for 20 years and we are happy that this partnership is sealed and finalized. We join hands with Philab in providing the public access to fast and superior quality of service,” says Healthway Medical VP for marketing and sales Carmie De Leon.

Philab Industries Inc., through LABit Dx will supply the Dengue NS1 Ag self-test kit to the clinics. This partnership enables Healthway to expand its businesses to early screening of dengue infection and advocate

for a better understanding of the disease towards a proactive health and lifestyle.

The specialty clinic will also offer firstrate services such as dental implantology, spine sports and rehabilitation, ECU, and integrative medicine aside from the wide range of medical offerings the health clinic is providing.

“Proactive health management is what we advocate in Philab. This health management strategy will complement the medical attention our doctors will provide,” said Philab Holdings Corporation President and CEO Darlene Berberabe.

“Achieving holistic wellness is a teamwork between individuals and the doctors who take care of us. We hope that through our early screening tools, all individuals become empowered towards wellness,” continued Berberabe.

Philab recently launched its Dengue Awareness Campaign to amplify efforts towards a proactive mind set in responding to diseases through the use of the screening tool. The company launched the self-test kits in March of this year and is currently available online.

ACCORDING to statistics, about 10,000 fire incidents happen yearly, destroying properties and rendering families homeless. Because fires can claim lives and wreak havoc on survivors’ security and welfare, homeowners must acknowledge that fire prevention is one of their foremost responsibilities.

The good news is apart from the normal precautions people can take to prevent fires, Jardine Distribution, Inc. (JDI) now offers FirePro by Solignum, a product that prevents the spread of fire on wood. A non-toxic and water-based fire retardant that can be applied to wood and other surfaces, FirePro by Solignum protects the home by preventing the spread of f lames and minimizing harmful fumes.

How does Solignum FirePro work? FirePro works by breaking the triangle of components required for a wood fire to begin and spread: heat, fuel and oxygen.

First, it releases gas that cools the heat and reduces the availability of oxygen that comes in contact with wood. Next, it produces a solid layer—a barrier between oxygen and wood. Lastly, it increases the amount of charring in the wood, insulating the core wood from the heat.

In fact, a solid panel door with tanguile veneer was tested to prove FirePro’s ability to withstand fire. Treated with FirePro, the door lasted 80 minutes. Untreated, the door lasted for only 23 minutes.

Using FirePro fire retardant in recommended areas (doors, wooden floors, ceilings, and all other wood material), while following safety guidelines of the building code and ensuring fire safety equipment is installed in the home, can help prevent the spread of fire and minimize adverse effect of toxic fumes.

Solignum FirePro is a readyto-use product and must not be diluted. It is applied to timber by closed immersion, spraying or by brushing. For safety, the use of gloves and/or goggles (when spraying) is strongly advised.

A solid panel door with tanguile veneer was tested to prove FirePro’s ability to withstand fire— treated with FirePro, the door lasted 80 minutes; untreated, the door lasted for only 23 minutes.

Jardine Distribution, Inc., represents a number of local and global companies that provide world-class crop protection and construction chemical products. They are focused on providing technical support and the safe use of these products, with due consideration of environmental protection.

For more information, visit www.jardinedistribution.com.

JDI’s water-based and nontoxic fire retardant prevents the spread of fire on wood and minimizes harmful fumes

The triangle of components required for a wood fire to begin and spread

Life

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

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ITY of Dreams Manila marks its third year in helping build better lives for local communities and its human resources through longterm and sustainable corporate social responsibility programs and volunteerism.

The integrated resort’s executives and employees have been engaging in about three volunteer activities per month for the benefit of disadvantaged local communities, orphans and children and the elderly and in the preservation and development of the environment, public health and safety, among others.

In addition, City of Dreams employee volunteers also conduct free internal courses in their respective areas of expertise for interested colleagues, providing additional skills training to enable them to have an alternative source of income or a productive hobby during their free time. Among the workshops that have been held are, namely: meat processing for pork tocino and beef tapa; chocolate-making; creating floral and balloon arrangements; and basic photography.

Property President Geoff Andres spearheads the resort’s regular CSR activities with employee volunteers to date, such as: renovating a children’s orphanage, educating orphans; visiting the elderly; tree planting; house painting and building, and regularly holding blood donation drives with the Philippine Red Cross.

The community engagements have exemplified the Christian virtue of helping those in need, feeding the homeless along the nearby highways of Pasay and Paranaque, as initiated by City of Dreams Manila’s security team who brought bags containing rice, canned goods, noodles, bread, and coffee to homeless families and other impoverished areas along Roxas Boulevard, Quirino Avenue, and Coastal Road (CAVITEX).

Volunteers from the engineering team also renovated My Father’s House, an orphanage in Las Piñas. They replaced the tiles of the kitchen area, fixed and installed doorknobs and repaired swimming pool pipes. They also fixed and installed new electrical outlets and lighting fixtures. The renovation provided the orphans with a cleaner, safer, and brighter place to live in.

3 years of volunteerism, HR and community projects

COD Manila employee-volunteers playing with Bahay Aruga orphans

Volunteers help kids during a T-shirt painting activity

COD Manila employee volunteers plant along a mangrove in Cavite

Bahay Aruga orphans are given educational tour and guided lesson

Bancassurance company promotes total wellness

The 15-story The Flats Amorsolo is designed for young professionals and will have a total of 196 rooms that can accommodate four occupants

By Bernadette Lunas

Co-living concept

for young professionals in Makati LIVING in the heart of this country’s bustling business district certainly has its advantages—accessibility to work, being a stone’s throw away from commercial, recreation and leisure destinations, and the opportunity to check out diverse shopping and dining options when the mood calls for it.

These perks of city living, which ultimately draws young professionals to call the city home, are also the main reasons why it’s hard for them to do so. All this convenience and practicality, fused with bustling activity and diversity comes at a price.

“There’s something very aspirational about living in the middle of a thriving city like Makati. And our latest project hopes to make this ideal accessible to everyone.

Makati is home to a very diverse set of professionals—including young ones who are just starting out, typically from the fast growing BPO industry, as well as other corporate and institutional locators,” explains.

Shiella Aguilar, project development manager of Ayala Land’s Strategic Land Bank Management Group.

While certainly not limited to these fields, it’s undeniable that the demands of today’s workplace require more time from employees. The competition is tougher, and the challenges are more stressful. And one aspect that can help them manage their work-life balance better is being able to call the city home—a place where they can easily retreat to after a hard day’s work, without having to trudge through hours of traffic.

This is where Ayala Land Inc.’s pioneering vision behind The Flats comes in. The Flats offers innovative and affordable co-living spaces that cater to young urban professionals.

“To serve the new breed of office workers, we created the concept which breaks out of the model of a typical Ayala Land product. It is the company’s first ‘residential for lease only’ development and is expected to raise the bar on co-living given the combined best practices from the residential, retail, office and hotel businesses,” adds Aguilar.

The Flats allow young professionals to live right at the heart of the city. Designed to pro-

City of Dreams Manila team’s visit to St. Anthony Village in Baranggay Talon, Las Pinas has helped liven up the small community. Volunteers from various departments successfully painted the exterior walls of some 20 homes, as the children warmly thanked their benefactors with a song and dance presentation.

Volunteer employees also participated in CSR activities that addressed the emotional and educational needs of orphans and less fortunate children in the community. For the Bahay Aruga orphanage, the kids have been treated to educational and fun-filled trips to Museong Pambata; were taught proper grooming and hygiene practices, and encouraged to live a healthier and more active lifestyle with a Zumba class. At My Father’s House, the children were taught to express themselves through artistic t-shirt painting. Most recently, a tie-up with the Department of Tourism’s Brigada Eskwela campaign resulted in the cleaning and refurbishment of 12 classrooms in San Dionisio Elementary School, Paranaque.

Volunteers likewise reached out to the Anawim home for the elderly and spent a day with the senior members of society, sharing stories and singing heartwarming songs together.

In caring for the environment, two tree planting programs in Noveleta and Ternate, Cavite, were also done during the first half of the year, with over 3,000 mangrove seeds planted during both activities. Mangroves protect the soil from erosion and shield against cyclones and other ecological disasters. They are also ideal breeding grounds for a variety of marine animals, playing a vital role in the ecological balance of coastal communities.

The regular blood donation drives in support of the Philippine Red Cross, draw an average of 100 employees, to help provide a healthy and sufficient blood supply for the organization.

For more information about City of Dreams Manila, visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.com.

vide co-living accommodations, employees now have the option to enjoy living near work, avoiding lengthy daily commutes and enjoying all the benefits of urban living.

Designing the product with the millennial market in mind, Ayala Land takes a pioneering approach to project development. This meant exploring beyond the company’s common practices and methodologies on design, procurement, construction and operations.

The first building is on Amorsolo corner De la Rosa streets. in Makati. When completed, it will have 15 floors with 22 square-meter residential units that can accommodate a maximum of four occupants.

There will be a total of 196 rooms and 728 beds. Each room is thoughtfully designed to offer built-in beds, workstations and ample storage, as well as a kitchen and toilet/bathroom. The building is Internet and cable ready and will also provide ample security, key card access for residents, basic retail amenities such as laundry shops, a water refilling station, and a convenience store at the ground floor.

The Flats delivers an affordable product that is benchmarked on the Ayala Land brand, allowing young professionals to enjoy comforts such as having a safe and secure environment and convenient access to the city and its amenities.

The Flats Amorsolo is located a few steps away from the Dela Rosa Walkway, making it conducive for residents to walk to their place of work. It will also be near Ayala Land’s upcoming two-tower mixed-use development that will house multinational and BPO offices, a 10,000 square meter retail podium devoted to dining and shopping destinations, as well as the 312-room Seda Hotel.

Makati has always been at the top of its game in providing service to individuals from all walks of life. With The FLATS Amorsolo, people can have the opportunity to live with ease, and feel the dynamism of the city that makes it happen-- truly an exciting and pioneering concept that will entice more of today’s young professionals to call Makati City their home. The Flats will also be offered in other estates of Ayala Land.

FEAR has proven itself a compelling reason for people to prepare and act. The fear of getting sick, the fear of sudden death, and the fear of leaving one’s family with a huge amount of debt have sold several insurance policies ever since.

BPI-Philam decides to shift the conversation of insurance—veering away from topics such as morbidity and mortality and towards the age-old adage that “prevention is better than cure.”

“Insurance is mitigating the effects when something goes wrong. But what we want is prevention to this situation. If we can prevent them to be in the hospital and we can help them live longer, it will be so much more meaningful for them,” BPI-Philam CEO Surendra Menon told Manila Standard.

Menon said BPI-Philam aims to encourage Filipinos to live a healthy life instead of waiting to be hospitalized and claim their insurance.

In 2016, the company launched BPIPhilam Vitality App, a mobile app that rewards users when they hit their fitness goals, such as number of steps (7,500 steps a day is equivalent to 50 points), heart rate, and calories burned. A maximum of 250 points a week can be earned by simply exercising or walking around. The app, which can be downloaded on Android and iOS devices for free, should be linked to a fitnesstracking device for it to work.

App users can earn rewards when they meet their weekly target for two consecutive weeks. Rewards include prepaid and post-

BPI-Philam marketing head Melanie Gaite-Lopez

BPI-Philam chief executive Surendra Menon

paid load, cinema passes, Grab voucher, discount coupons, and more.

“This campaign helps Filipino get active by giving them rewards for being active.

We’re not asking you to pay anything, we’re just asking you to be healthy, then get your reward,” explained Menon.

The chief executive, himself, shared he lost 3.5 kilos in six months by using the app.

“I take 7,500 steps a day.”

Menon however clarified that the app, which can be used by both members and nonmembers, is not meant to get new policyholders but instead help everyone to live better.

At the end of the day, he said, “We hope it does attract more members. We hope when they use the app, they’ll understand better that when you live longer, you’ll earn more and you’ll have more liabilities.

We hope they look at us to help them on

the financial side as well.”

To further drive their point to home, BPIPhilam recently staged its first Win the Moment Festival at Trinoma Activity Center.

The event aims to encourage attendees to jumpstart a path to total wellness which includes physical, social, emotional, mental, and financial.

The first staging of the Win the Moment Festival had interactive booths from partner merchants, a life-size board game with different challenges, free dance lessons by G-Force, Mixxedfit class and talk

by Gold’s Gym, and talks by Dr. Didoy Lubaton and Sha Nacino on having a winning mindset and basics on financial planning, respectively.

KZ Tandingan and Quest punctuated the event with a live performance of the festival’s theme song “Win the Moment.”

Children are all smiles while playing on the life-size board game at BPI-Philam’s Win the Moment Festival

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2017

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Isah V. Red, Editor • Nickie Wang, Writer

XIAN directs

MUSICALLY INCLINED. Apart

from being an actor and a former athlete, Xian Lim showcases his musical flair in his third album, which singles are already topping local charts

music video of

‘GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER’ K

APAMILYA heartthrob Xian Lim is on a roll after his successful concert at The Theatre at Solaire. Also, his latest album for Star Music, Key of X, has had sold out album tours a month after its release.

The singer-actor’s third album came three years after his sophomore album, and for the first time, he ventures into production work as he conceptualized and directed the music video for the promotional single “Getting To Know Each Other Too Well.” Miss Universe Philippines 2016 Maxine Medina joined him in the video as his leading lady.

The popular Gerard Kenny revival is currently invading local hit lists, already the no.1 MOR chart topper and also soaring in various MYX charts.

Xian’s new album includes the OPM classic, “Wala Na Bang Pagibig,” by Vehnee Saturno and originally popularized by Jaya. He also covered another OPM favorite, “Honey My Love So Sweet,”

by Vingo Regino.

The chinito singer also included two original songs in this latest compilation: a Kiko Salazar love ballad, “Manhid;” and the light melodic track “Download” d by fellow singer Dingdong Avanzado.

Since its August launch, Xian has had sold out album tours in several areas: Las Pinas, Malolos, Lipa, and Sta. Rosa, Laguna and in Vista Mall - Bataan on Sept. 29.

The album is now available at all music stores nationwide and all digital stores worldwide.

For more information, visit Starmusic.ph or follow Star Music’s official social media accounts at Facebook.com/starrecordsphil, Twitter.com/starrecordsph and Instagram.com/ Starmusicph.

‘It’s a Girl Thing’ - An event to inspire and unite young women BROUGHT to you by Branded, the co-producers of YouTube FanFest along with partners and co-producers Globe Live, It’s a Girl Thing is a worldclass festival designed to inspire, educate and empower teenage girls whilst celebrating the privilege of being a young woman.

Launched in Singapore to huge critical and fan acclaim (92 percent rated IAGT “Totally Awesome” ), It’s A Girl Thing’s next stop on the global #itsagirlthing tour is Manila, Philippines.

The format is part live show and part experiential festival including fan meet and greets, workshops and brand experiences aligned to the spirit and themes of the event. Fans will be invited to join international social stars and celebrities Bethany Mota, Remi Cruz and Niomi Smart along with locals Janina Vela, Kiana Valenciano, Pamela Swing, Abby Asistio, Renee Dominique and Riva Quenery (plus more to be announced) for the launch of an inspirational platform of self-discovery that explores what it is to be a girl, a share experience of ideas on how to turn dreams into a reality. The multicultural and inclusive event empowers women as a united community; promotes positive personal development and explores key social issues such as anti-bullying, positive body image, racism, cultural challenges and opportunities, self-worth and the expectations of the future.

Bringing teen passions such as music, arts, media, fashion, health, beauty and wellbeing to life, It’s a Girl Thing ignites the flame with the opportunity to meet and listen to stories of inspiration told by people who have made a career and life journey out of inspiring others.

The sensational line up of the live show includes international and local artists taking to the stage and delivering insightful performances with their distinctive personalities. Through self-curated content, social stars will be sharing personal stories, knowledge, and experiences to empower and educate their fans on what it takes to be successful in today’s socially connected world.

Here’s what Branded CEO Jasper Donat says, “It’s a Girl Thing empowers teenage girls and addresses key social issues that affect them. Being a teenager in today’s society is tough so after a successful pilot event in Singapore, we are thrilled to be bringing It’s a Girl Thing to Manila.” He emphasizes, “It is all about the experience. Embarking

on a journey of self-discovery in search of their dreams and to truly understand themselves with their favorite social stars will definitely be fun and educational at the same time.”

He adds, “We are thrilled to be working with Globe Live, who are our co-producer for the events in Manila. The festival will be held at the Globe Iconic Store, an open-space venue in Bonifacio Global City with the press launch taking place at Ibiza Beach Club, BGC. The press launch is intended to introduce the It’s a Girl Thing brand and concept to the teenage girls of Manila, providing a teaser of what to expect at the live festival in November and encouraging them to join the IAGT community.”

“The rise of original content creators has given the youth of

today more individuals to look up to and gain inspiration from.

Together with platforms like YouTube, creators now have a venue to reach a global audience. Having them all come together in an event like It’s a Girl Thing allows us to bring some of the best vloggers closer to their fans so they can spark positivity to more girls here in Manila. Not only will the girls meet their favorite creators, but we are proud to also shed light on significant topics particularly cyber wellness,” shares Joe Caliro, Globe senior advisor for Creative Marketing and Multimedia Business.

Caliro adds that, “this is definitely a start of our strong collaboration with Branded as we bring young girls more encouraging and inspirational activities”.

Local celebrities and personalities joining this year’s “It’s a Girl Thing,” a world-class festival designed to inspire, educate, and empower teenage girls

Student filmmaker Carlo Fajarda, director of “Suerte,” a short film that will compete at the forthcoming Busan International Film Festival

Filipino studentfilmmaker in Busan A FILIPINO student-filmmaker will compete at the forthcoming Busan International Film Festival on Oct. 12 to 21.

Carlo Fajarda, a digital filmmaking student at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), will premiere his 16-minute short film, Suerte, for the Wide Angle Category of the festival.

In a previous interview, Fajarda said it is an honor to represent the Philippines in the event.

“It is the dream of starting filmmakers like me to be able to join in something like this,” he said. “It’s an absolute privilege to represent Benilde Film and our country.”

Suerte follows two student filmmakers who are shooting a documentary on the drug trade and the dangers involved in it, as they get obsessed with their project. With the assistance of their contacts in the underworld, they themselves become characters in their own film, crossing the line between observer and creator.

In describing the story, Fajarda explained, “It’s very

close to me. The characters in the film are based on real life, and the story is based on what’s happening everyday here in our country right now.”

The movie, among the 74 in its division, stars Karl Medina, Dan Medrana, Philippe Quintos, and Fajarda himself.

Fajarda’s movie was his thesis project for his undergraduate course at Benilde.

His producers, Bianca Balbuena and Bradley Liew, submitted it to various film festivals abroad. Suerte was likewise accepted for exhibition at the 2017 Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland.

Among awards up for grabs in Busan are the Sonje Prize, which gives $10,000 to the director for his next project; BIFF Mecenat Award of $10,000 each for the best documentary feature among Korean and Asian entries; and Busan Cinephile Award of $5,000 for the best world documentary as chosen by a jury of 60 students from the cinema-related departments of six universities in Busan.

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

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SATURDAY,OCTOBER 7, 2017

Grand Hyatt Manila approaches completion

LIGHTING THE WAY, MY WAY. Illuminating styles that fuse outdoor and indoor designs

THE Grand Hyatt Manila recently had its ceremonial blessing, and unveiled its marker with President Rodrigo Duterte gracing the event.

The development, which bring together Federal Land, Inc., ORIX Corp. of Japan, and Hyatt Hotels, is a 66-storey tower that sits on top of the Metrobank Center, currently the tallest building in the country.

Rising beside the hotel will be the 45-storey Grand Hyatt Residences. Grand Hyatt Manila, including Grand Hyatt Residences and Metrobank Center are all within Federal Land’s flagship project—Grand Central Park at North BGC, Taguig.

This 10-hectare mixed-use development is a master planned township where lifestyle and business centers converge.

At the unveiling were (from left) Taguig Congresswoman Pia Cayetano; ORIX Corp. senior chairman Yoshihiko Miyauchi; GT Capital Group chairman George S.K. Ty; His Excellency President Rodrigo Roa Duterte; executive secretary Salvador Medialdea; Federal Land Inc. chairman and CEO Alfred V. Ty; and Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano.

A brighter outlook for every home, office from Steltz L IGHTING solutions provider Steltz The Gallery recently unveiled its new collection featuring the collaboration between Flos and Ares.

Flos is known worldwide as one of the the best in designing, producing and manufacturing innovative lighting designs. Ares is recognized as one of the world’s leading maker of exterior lighting products using materials such as aluminium, stainless steel, and glass.

“We are excited over Flos’ synergy with Ares which strengthened our portfolio of functional lighting systems for exterior spaces such as resorts, gardens, restaurants and

buildings, able to withstand the changing weather and salt water,” said Jennifer Stelton- Jose, president of Steltz International.

Forming part of the Flos-Ares collection are ‘camouflage’ wall fixtures that blend in with the background; ‘real matter’ step and pathway lights made of modern materials; ‘my way’ walkway luminaire that comes in different sizes; ‘climber’ stylish wall fixtures, all designed by Piero Lissoni and the Casting family by Vincent van Duysen, a

SLEEK LOOK. Flos and Ares’ new collections include ‘real matter’, lighting materials that use cutting edge materials.

series of lighting makers that fuse landscape and outdoor design.

Not just illuminating “Whether you’re lighting up a patio, doorway,

pathway or garden, the new collection that we offer is not limited in its function to illuminate.

They can also transform your outdoor spaces,

DMCI Homes Pasig projects ready for turnover Healthcare facility to rise in Davao township PROPERTY developer Lanang Realty Development Corp, an affiliate of Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation (TLDC), recently sold a one-hectare portion of their township, Ciudades in Mandug, Davao, to the Davao Doctors Hospital (DDH).

The lot is within a 200-hectare masterplanned community composed of residential and commercial areas, as well as leisure and educational institutions. It is also home to the 20-hectare agro-industrial Ciudades Business Park.

“Our purchase of this property within the Ciudades township is an important development for DDH,” said Raymund del Val, DDS CEO, at the signing of the memorandum of agreement held at the Dusit Thani Hotel (shown in photo).

“We couldn’t be happier to have the best medical facility in Southern Philippines to make healthcare available to those who reside and work in the Mandug communities,” added Tomas Lorenzo, TLDC CEO.

DMCI Homes recently developments in Pasig City (RFO), a year ahead of schedules. announced that two of its are ready for occupancy their respective turnover The

two-tower

add drama and make them more beautiful,” Stelton-Jose explained.

“We offer assistance to our customers on their decorative/general/architectural lighting needs including proper placemen of lights, wattage and deciding on the right fixtures. We can also recommend architects, designers and consultants with whom we have previously worked or collaborated with to customers looking for experts in lighting design.”

Established in 1990, Steltz also distributes stylish and elegant lighting systems by Brand van Egmond, Leds-C4, Iris Cristal, Eichholtz, Santa & Cole.

development in Sheridan Street in Pasig City is said to be 100 percent sold out as of September 2017, reportedly earning over P7 billion from its 2,204 total unit inventory.

Lumiere Residence claimed that 97 percent of its 2,412 total unit inventory is history as of September this year.

The three-tower development at the corner of Pasig Boulevard and Shaw Boulevard reportedly posted a sales take-up amounting to P8.1 billion since it was launched in 2013. Sheridan Towers’ South Tower is originally set for turnover in November 2018 while Lumiere Residences’ East Tower is initially targeted for RFO in October next year.

Innovative cooling CONCEPCION Building and Industrial Solutions (BIS) recently introduced the Carrier XPower Silver II, a full DC (direct current) hi-wall system using a non-ozone depleting refrigerant.

“This product packs three impressive features in one model: energy efficiency, environment responsibility, and the innovation of remotely controlling the unit in real time, said Rajan Komarasu, group director of Concepcion Industrial Inc.’s (CIC) commercial arm.

“It has a full DC system that uses the R-410A, a nonflammable refrigerant, and can be controlled over the internet using an app. With its full DC inverter system, the Carrier XPower Silver II uses less energy, and delivers faster cooling with up to 15% more air flow.

Weather-proof your home ‘Move-in at 5’ ROBINSONS Land Corporation (RLC) recently introduced “Move-in at 5” program for homebuyers.

Under this scheme, homebuyers pay five percent down payment of the total contract price of the property, and move-in to their new home 30 days after.

The early-move in promo also features extended payment terms, interest-free. Buyers can select from a pool of units with a ready-for-occupancy status at RLC properties located in Bonifacio Global City, Makati City, Pioneer Mandaluyong, Ortigas Center Pasig, Quezon City, and Cebu City.

“Instead of paying for the monthly amortization of their pre-selling condo while continuously paying for rent until their purchased condo unit is turned over to them, endbuyers now have to pay for only one investment,” said Henry Yap, general manager of Robinsons Luxuria, Residences and Communities.

“And if you are buying for investment purposes, you get your unit rented out sooner, and cash in on your investment right away.” Shown here is one of RLC’s projects under the program, the Amisa.

FASCIA—known in the vernacular as ‘senepa’—is very practical. It serves as an attachment point for rain gutters to help the roof weather-proof our homes, and it prevents moisture from entering the house through any gap between the roof and the eaves.

HardieFlex® Senepa, designed for tropical weather, offers just the right mix of durable performance and versatility.

It is made of cellulose fiber, Portland cement, ground sand, water, and proprietary additives. Available in different thicknesses, lengths and widths, HardieFlex® Senepa is pre-cut to fit different types of structures.

They also come with a high-quality smooth finish that’s easy to paint on. With the perfect color choice, the homeowners can customize the look of their dwelling to fit their taste.