Manila Standard - 2017 December 01 - Friday

Budget cut threatens drug war

By John Paolo Bencito

VOL. XXXI • NO. 287 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

THE Palace on Thursday expressed alarm after the Senate slashed an estimated P1.4-billion funding for the Philippine National Police war on drugs, which has been widely blamed for thousands of alleged extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration.

“Well obviously, the President needs to fund his pet undertakings and the drug war is one of his undertakings,” Palace Spokesman Harry Roque told reporters in a phone-patch interview.

With the President declaring that he would eventually return the control of the anti-drug campaign to the PNP, Roque Next page

Sereno: Fight to the end Belittles colleagues’ testimony at House

By Rey E. Requejo and Rio N. Araja

C

HIEF Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said Thursday she is unfazed that her colleagues in the Supreme Court have testified against her in impeachment proceedings at the House of Representatives and vowed to fight to the end.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno

Speaking before a youth forum in UP Diliman on Thursday, the embattled chief justice again claimed the truth is on her side.

“I’m sure as the sun rises from the east and sets in the west, I’m sure God’s will will prevail,” Sereno said.

“Those who stand for the truth should not be deprived of rights. We should all listen to the truth and not cover it with lies,” Sereno said.

The chief justice believes

her fight is a “fight for the people and the Constitution” as she thanked people who supported her in her ordeal.

“Thank you, my countrymen who told me that my battle is also their battle,” she said.

Sereno also again appealed for support in hurdling the impeachment case against her.

“If you believe in the Next page

Chinese trader in shabu smuggle stopped at Clark

By Vito Barcelo A CHINESE businessman involved in the smuggling of P 6.4-billion worth of shabu through the Bureau of Customs has been stopped from leaving the country through Clark International Airport in Angeles, Pampanga.

Immigration authorities intercepted Richard Tan,

alias “Chen Ju Long,” as he was about to board a China Eastern Airlines flight to Shanghai.

Bureau of Immigration spokesperson Antonette Mangrobang said Tan tried to leave the country despite his inclusion in the bureau’s lookout bulletin order.

Under the bulletin order, Next page

Bicam forms 2 groups to iron out budget kinks

FOR, AGAINST REV GOV. With raised clenched fists, supporters (above) of President Rodrigo Duterte gather at Mendiola (now Chino Roces Bridge), near Malacañang in Manila, ahead of the ‘pro-revolutionary government assembly’ in the afternoon, as an effort to urge Duterte to lead revolutionary government and rid the country of criminality, destabilization and other threats while those opposed (below) to a revolutionary government stage their own protest rally in Morayta, 300 meters away from Mendiola. Ey Acasio, Norman Cruz

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE bicameral conference committee has created two groups to reconcile differences between the Senate and the House of Representatives versions of the proposed national budget for 2018.

The groups were given 24 hours to fine-tune the proposed P3.767trillion general appropriations bill for next year, and settle differences between the two versions, including the removal of the P50.7 billion right-of-way budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways and the realignment of P900 million from the Philippine National Police budget for the war on drugs.

“We assigned the small group bicams to the chairpersons, who Next page

Solon pushes state takeover of MRT 3

By Maricel V. Cruz and Bill Casas A LAWMAKER on Thursday renewed his call to the government to take over the operations of Metro Rail Transit 3 to arrest the dete-

rioration of its facilities and services.

“We urge the Duterte government to take over the transport system and nationalize and establish a local industry for its sustainability,” Rep. Ariel Casilao said.

“The Filipino commuter

has had enough of an import-dependent system.”

Casilao made his statement even as the National Bureau of Investigation failed to find any mechanical or electrical defects in the coupling devices involved in Next page

Palace justifies shoot-kill order on armed Reds

By John Paolo Bencito QUIAPO FIRE. At least six people died when fire hit a residential area in Quiapo, Manila Wednesday night. Asliya Dacu, mother of three children—Jamalia, 9; Jamila, 8; and Jamaica, 2—who remained missing, in the early hours was emotion choked. Hours later, residents try to salvage their belongings from the debris. (Story on B4) Norman Cruz

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

MALACAÑANG on Thursday insisted that President Rodrigo Duterte was justified when he ordered security forces to “shoot” and

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“kill” any member of the communist New People’s Army, saying they deserved to take a bullet for “destroying the country.”

“An arms-bearing rebel is a proper military target,” Presidential Spokes-

manilastandard.net

man Harry Roque said in a phone-patch interview.

“When you are bearing arms against the government you are engaged in crime, you are supposed to implement the law and yes, the Next page

Sayyaf man with bounty on his head falls in Basilan A SUSPECTED Abu Sayyaf member wanted for bombing a public terminal in Kidapawan City in 2007 was arrested in a joint military and police operation in Basilan Tuesday, the military said Thursday.

Rahim Abdul alias Aman Kabalu was nabbed in Kampurnah village in Isabela City around 3:40 p.m. on Nov. 28, and a grenade was seized from him.

Abdul is listed under the Department of National Defense/Department of the Interior and Local Govern-

ment joint order of rewards with a bounty of P1.3 million.

Brigadier General Juvymax Uy, Joint Task Force Basilan commander, said Abdul was identified by a civilian and that led to his arrest.

He was brought to the Basilan Provincial Police Office.

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command, commended Joint Task Force Basilan for Abdul’s arrest.

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Budget...

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said that the move “will have an adverse effect” since the President “cannot fund his war on drugs.”

He hoped that the Congress’ bilateral conference committee will reconsider its decision to give up funding for the drug war—even if the slashed amounts will be realigned to housing programs for the military and police.

“Well that’s not final yet, that is subject of bicameral conference and I’m sure the PNP will be asked for its opinion about this development,” Roque said, adding that he has not gone through the Senate version yet.

On Thursday, the Senate passed on third and final reading the proposed P3.767trillion 2018 national budget, which slashed more than P900 million for the proposed budget of Oplan Double Barrel and the P500-million proposed outlay for the Interior Department’s Masa Masid.

Instead, these have been realigned to the AFP and PNP housing programs and the acquisition of body cameras during police operations.

The PNP altogether was allocated P131.628 billion in the Senate’s version of the budget.

The realignment was made on the presumption that the PNP was no longer the lead agency in President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

The amount, however, remains intact in the House version of the national budget.

The House of Representatives approved the budget measure in September before the transfer of the control over the anti-drug campaign to the PDEA. Duterte on Wednesday said he would not listen to human rights advocates who complain about his war on drugs.

“Forget about it. Your complaints would just fall on deaf ears. I will not listen to you,” Duterte said in a mix of Filipino and English in Sual, Pangasinan.

He also slammed human rights advocates and “their counterparts also off their rockers” for merely looking at the number of deaths, without asking about narco-politics.

Dutere again said shooting a drug suspect who has already surrendered is murder.

“The only way that you can shoot and kill a person, is when your life itself...is in danger. That’s the only justification,” he added.

Solon...

From A1 the decoupling incident at MRT 3 on Nov. 16.

NBI Special Action Unit head Joel Tovera made the assessment Wednesday after his team inspected the coupling devices involved in the incident in which an MRT coach got detached from two front cars.

“We found no defects insofar as the electrical and mechanical aspects of the coupler assembly is concerned,” Tovera said.

Casilao said tapping Sumitomo, the contractor removed by the officials of former President Benigno Aquino III, would not solve the problem.

He said resigned Transport undersecretary for Rail Cesar Chavez had already revealed that even under Sumitomo’s term, the number of passenger unloading incidents had increased from 457 to 539 in 2011, while the incidents under the Busan Universal Rail Inc. peaked at 576 in 2016.

“As Usec Chavez was transparent enough to reveal this, we are starting to understand why he resigned, and after his resignation all this buzz about Sumitomo replacing BURI took over,” Casilao said.

Chavez said the government was paying MRTC P610 million monthly in equity rental payment. The MRT’s total cost was $675.5 million in 2000 or about P30.2 billion, while the investors’ equity was at $190 million in 1996 or about P5 billion.

Sayyaf...

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“Rest assured that our Joint Task Forces will continue to keep guard as they sustain the conduct of combat and intelligence operations in their joint area of operations,” Galvez said.

In February 2013, police intelligence units of Zamboanga arrested one Mujeener Dagam

‘Rev gov’ last resort, Duterte says

By John Paolo Bencito and Bill Casas

H

IS supporters gathered on Thursday to urge him to declare a revolutionary government, but President Rodrigo Duterte insisted he would not be doing so and hoped he would not be compelled to do so.

“I hope there will never come a time that I will be compelled to call for it,” Duterte said in an interview posted at Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson’s blog.

“I am a lawyer and I am following the Constitution. [But] only when the Republic of the Philippines is dying, then maybe.”

Duterte made the state-

ment even as Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday raised the alarm over the participation and support of some government officials to a proposal to place the country under a revolutionary government.

In an interview at the sidelines of the Bonifacio Day celebrations in Caloocan City, Robredo slammed adminis-

tration allies who floated and publicly supported the idea.

“Government officials supporting the proposal for a revolutionary government is alarming because it is like you want to revolt against the government you represent.

It seems very ironic,” said Robredo who was invited to join the annual celebrations along with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

Meanwhile, the Samahang ng Progresibong Kabataan on Thursday slammed the Duterte administration on its plans to establish a revolutionary government.

“This November 30 we celebrate the day of a true

Filipino revolutionary: Andres Bonifacio,” the group said in a statement.

“His dream was for the Filipino people to be free from the exploitation of Spanish colonizers. It succeeded. We are already liberated from their hands.”

Duterte said the calls he would be doing were “just to draw publicity.”

“Some people are not listening,” he said in Filipino.

“I see no reason, really.

But there is always a predicate really to my statement.

So you listen first.”

Pro-revolutionary government rallies were held in Mendiola in Manila, at the Plaza

Independencia in Cebu City, at the Crocodile Park in Davao City and other parts of the country on Bonifacio Day urging Duterte to lead a “revolutionary government” and rid the country of criminality, destabilization and other threats.

But Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque insisted that Duterte does not want to establish a revolutionary government despite the calls from several groups.

He called on those favoring the establishment of a evolutionary government to conduct their rallies peacefully and orderly.

“The President has earlier said he does not want a revo-

lutionary government. This, however, does not mean he would prevent citizens from expressing their support for a revolutionary government,” Roque said.

“The Chief Executive in numerous occasions articulated that he allows protests and other forms of mass action as long as public safety and convenience are not compromised.”

Roque assured the protesters that the police would observe maximum tolerance and exercise the highest restraint during the rallies.

Duterte had earlier said that establishing a revolutionary government at this time was like “looking for a headache.”

‘Bonifacio life story resonates among Pinoys’

By Macon R. Araneta MALACAÑANG said on Thursday that President Rodrigo Duterte was not able to attend the commemoration of the 154th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio in Caloocan City due to a “commitment in Mindanao.”

In a short message sent to reporters, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the President would be visiting an undisclosed conflict-ridden area in the south.

“Commitment in Minda [Mindanao]. Can’t disclose sked [schedule] but he’s going to a conflict-ridden area,” the message read.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana instead led the WORTH EMULATING. Manila City Administrator Ericson Alcobenda and Commodore flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies at the BoniRaymond Narciso Balde of Cavite Naval Base lead the wreath-laying ceremony at the facio National Shrine as DuBonifacio Shrine in celebration of the 154th birth anniversary of ‘The Great Plebeian’ terte’s representative.

Andres Bonifacio. Norman Cruz

Sereno:...

From A1 importance of due process, then let us support judicial reforms,” she pleaded.

“This is an opportunity for us to have a grand vision of our future. Let’s tackle the meaning of accountability, independence of the judiciary and separation of powers,” she said.

Sereno made the statements following the testimony of Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro in the House justice committee that provided the missing element of personal knowledge in the complaint of lawyer Lorenzo Gadon.

Associate Justices Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam and Arturo Brion are also set to testify in the next hearings.

The chief justice also attended a Mass yesterday offered by her supporters— mostly officials from the previous administration.

Sereno has refused to attend the hearings and the House committee on justice has barred her lawyers from cross examining witnesses, saying the chief justice herself should do that.

The lawyers said they would just wait for the case to go to trial in the Senate, where they hope for fairer treatment.

Bicam...

From A1 can take in any members of the bicameral conference committee,” Senator Panfilo Lacson said.

Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, chairman of the House appropriations committee, vowed to work immediately to reconcile the conflicting provisions of the two versions of the spending bill.

“What we will discuss is very crucial… We must study it because it is only now that we’ve seen the amendments made by the Senate,” Nograles said in Filipino.

“We need to see what the changes were in the budgets of the different departments. We hope there were no changes done to ongoing projects, because if those are changed, the government might not be able to comCabalo whom they claimed to be Kabalu.

Cabalo had just been discharged from a private hospital, where he had been confined due to a heart ailment, when he was arrested.

He was detained at the Special Intensive Care Area of Camp Bagong Diwa but was released in December 2013 after a Taguig judge said he was a victim of mistaken identity.

In her speech at UP Diliman, Sereno again said she would not resign because she has done nothing wrong.

She said she has even implemented reforms in the judiciary.

“If there are people who wanted me out because of anger or hatred, what about our youth?

What message would it bring if I resign?” she asked.

She hit out her accusers, saying allegations against her were just lies being hurled by some people who refused to accept the reforms she has instituted at the Supreme Court.

She also said she would not give in to pressures from those who want to tilt the balance of power by weakening the judiciary.

In the House, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, chairman of the committee on justice, said the impeachment proceedings would stop if Sereno resigns.

The impeachment hearings are scheduled to resume Tuesday next week, he said, when De Castro returns to continue her testimony.

Gadon said Thursday De Castro’s testimony spells doom for Sereno, who will inevitably be impeached by the House.

He said De Castro’s statements backed by documentary proof were “incontroplete the projects,” he added.

The House and the Senate are expected to approve and ratify the 2018 national budget before Congress adjourns for a holiday break on Dec. 14 to have it signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte on Dec. 19.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III attended the bicameral conference meeting to appeal for additional P1-billion budget for his department.

Bello, a former congressman, said the P1 billion would be used as standby fund for the immediate repatriation to the country of hundreds of thousands of overseas Filipino workers should the conflict in Qatar, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia escalate.

Bello said P850 million will be used for the repatriation of OFWs while P200 million to P300 million funds will be needed for

Palace...

From A1 President has that power to implement the law.”

But Vice President Leni Robredo warned that the government should observe rules and procedures in penalizing rebels, saying Duterte’s shoot-and-kill order “would undermine the rule of law and democracy.”

“It appears that is not what our

vertible evidence.”

“The testimony of Justice Teresita De Castro is more than enough and sufficient to impeach Sereno. Her testimony, aside from being supported with documentary evidence, is tremendously strong since the issues under question are matters precisely within her knowledge as she herself was a direct participant in those matters of administrative orders and TRO resolutions--a first hand knowledge by direct participation,” he added.

Testifying before the House justice committee, De Castro accused the Chief Justice of misrepresenting the collegial decision of the SC in ordering the creation of the Regional Court Administrative Office (RCAO) in Region 7 in issuing Administrative Order No. 1752012 without the approval of her colleagues as required by their internal rules.

De Castro also testified that the chief justice violated court rules she issued a blanket temporary restraining order on the Commission on Elections’ proclamation of party-lists in 2013.

De Castro said she was the member-in-charge of the case and recommended issuance of TRO on Senior Citizens partylist’s case, but Sereno instead issued a blanket TRO that was

“grossly unprocedural because she included third parties who were not included in the case.”

She also testified on the SC decision she penned that declared unconstitutional the clustering of shortlisted nominees made by the Judicial and Bar Council last year in connection with the vacancies in the Sandiganbayan, which Sereno allegedly manipulated.

Lastly, she discussed the merits of her separate concurring opinion in the August 2014 ruling that voided the JBC’s decision not to include the name of then Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza on the shortlist of nominees for SC justice post after Sereno raised an integrity issue against him.

With the charges against Sereno now based on solid evidence, Gadon again called on Sereno to resign to avoid further humiliation.

“If she does not resign by Monday (Dec.4), I am going to file graft and corruption cases against her and some of her minions in SC over the issue of the hiring of IT consultants, which was found to be illegal,” he stressed.

Gadon said he plans to file the cases next week immediately once Sereno refuses to step down.

He cited a fact-finding report submitted to the SC which

Also present were Vice President Leni Robredo, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, local government leaders led by Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan, and representatives of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, among others.

Meanwhile, Senate President Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III said Bonifacio’s desire to improve the quality of life of Filipinos and his dedication had made him great.

Joining the observance of Bonifacio’s 154th birthday, Pimentel said Bonifacio’s life story resonates among Filipinos—he stopped school at an early age to support his siblings through his labor.

“He wanted a better life for his family. He became great because he went beyond his

family and also worked for an improved quality of life for all Filipinos,” said Pimentel.

Although remembered primarily as a revolutionary, Pimentel noted that Bonifacio aimed to reform the system from within at the beginning, when he joined La Liga Filipina.

Pimentel said, “Bonifacio was a reformist, radicalized by the systemic injustice of the Spanish colonial regime.

But some of the problems Bonfacio faced still exists, even more than a hundred years after the Spanish colonial regime was overthrown.”

For Pimentel, who is also President of the ruling party PDP Laban, whose Chairman is President Rodrigo Duterte, this is the reason why his party advocates a systemic change through the shift to Federalism.

recommended that the contract amounting to about P10 million for the services of IT consultant Helen Perez-Macasaet be voided for “lapses in the procurement process.”

It stated that the contract violated existing laws and Commission on Audit rules because it did not undergo public bidding.

The report was submitted by newly-appointed Assistant Court Administrator Maria Regina Adoracion Filomena Ignacio, acting chief attorney of the Supreme Court who was tasked by the full court to investigate the matter in an earlier administrative order.

The contract, which covered six periods of six months each from Oct. 2013 to June 2016, involved services of Macasaet “to provide technical and policy advice to the Office of the Chief Justice and the Management Information Systems Office of the Supreme Court regarding implementatiom of EISP (Enterprise Information Systems Plan) and related ICT (information communication technology) projects.”

In the first period under the contract, Macasaet was paid P600,000 or P100,000 per month. But in the succeeding periods, the amount was increased to P1.5 million or P250,000 per month.

The report has already been

submitted to the justices but they have yet to review it and decide whether or not to approve the recommendation of Ignacio and strike down the contract, which was already fully paid and has already lapsed.

However, the head of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines was not convinced by the charges against Sereno. Abdeil Dan Elijah Fajardo believes that the case against the chief justice is weak.

Fajardo lamented how the House justice committee is being misled by Gadon, whom he likened to a “summary writer” of newspaper reports and rumors in the SC. “At first, we wanted to give the benefit of the doubt to attorney Gadon because he might really have something there. But as it is turning out now, the complaint appears to be just a summary of what has been publicized either through newspaper reports or through blind items or rumors about the inner workings of the Supreme Court,” Fajardo said in an interview.

He cited Gadon’s claim that he received information against Sereno from Manila Times reporter Jomar Canlas, who supposedly got the same from De Castro.

Both De Castro and Canlas have denied the claim.

their reintegration or extending jobs and livelihood upon their return to the country.

One of the issues the bicameral committee must settle is the Senate’s realignment of the P900 million PNP budget for the drug war, to housing projects for police personnel and soldiers.

Senators realigned the budget after President Duterte took the PNP off the war on drugs and assigned the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to take charge of it. But now Duterte is considering returning the PNP to the war on drugs.

Meanwhile, Lacson said the Senate, through his initiative, cut the P50.7 billion right-of-way funding for the DPWH. Nevertheless, Lacson said funding on the right-of-way “accounts for the huge unused appropriations” in the national

budget because the allocations are unspent until the end of the year due to continued unresolved rows in the construction of roads.

In the spirit of transparency and to ensure a “pork-free” budget, Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon asked the Senate Committee on Finance to justify the substantial additions and reductions that the committee proposed under the P3.767trillion 2018 national budget.

This was after Drilon noticed that the budget of some agencies next year increased substantially in the Senate version, while the others suffered deep budget cuts.

The Senate passed the proposed budget on Wednesday. The bicameral conference committee is set to meet today to discuss the conflicting provisions between the House of Representatives and

Senate versions.

“May I propose that the good sponsor submit in plenary the justifications for the amendments that are over P1 billion?” Drilon asked, to which Senator Loren Legarda, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, agreed.

Drilon also wanted that the proponents of the amendments to be specified and read into the record.

“We would like the committee to submit to each member of the Senate, and for the record, the nature and purpose of these changes in the agencies’ budget, particularly those with over P1 billion in addition,” he said.

“We cannot leave our people in the dark as it would only fuel speculations that pork barrel is still thriving despite the Supreme Court’s decision declaring it unconstitutional,” Drilon said.

Constitution states. The laws say that if one commits a crime, there should be due process to investigate if the allegations are true, and there are corresponding penalties to those crimes committed,” Robredo said in an interview at the sidelines of the Bonifacio Day commemoration in Caloocan City.

“If we would put the law into our hands, it’s like we’re undermining democracy, invalidating the rule of law. It would be the

start of our [disarray].”

Despite Duterte’s pronouncements, the military insisted it had not received any instructions with regard to communist rebels.

“We should just be prudent and decisive in our actions versus the NPA,” AFP Public Affairs Office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said in an ANC television interview.

“Our commanders on the ground are prudent and welltrained. They know the rules

of engagement.”

In a speech in Sual, Pangasinan, on Wednesday, Duterte said government troops should “shoot” and “kill” members of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ armed wing, the New People’s Army, whom he earlier tagged as “terrorists.”

He said he didn’t mind if there would be condemnation from human rights groups, saying he would claim responsibility for their actions.

Chinese...

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a person cannot leave the country without the approval of the secretary of Justice or the bureau’s commissioner.

Tan was the subject of an immigration lookout bulletin order issued by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II for his alleged involvement in the shipping of P6.4 billion worth of shabu to the country.

The LBO also included former Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon and five other customs officials, as well as a customs broker.

BI supervisors Abubakar Rasuman and Cynthia Reodica stopped Tan, who was trying to leave for China.

“His departure was deferred and he was advised to secure an allow departure order from the Department of Justice,” Mangrobang added.

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Solons bat for pay hike for all govt workers

By Maricel V. Cruz TWO party-list lawmakers are pushing for a pay increase for all government employees, not only for uniformed personnel.

ACT Teachers party-list representatives Antonio Tinio and France Castro said the pay hike granted to the police and the military which would be as high as 58 percent would distort the salary scheme of government personnel.

“How about the civilian personnel who also do their job? They are also affected by rising cost of living. If we’re raising salaries of soldiers and cops, let’s do the same for teachers,” Castro said.

“We ask this administration: Why make a distinction between civilian government employees on one hand and the police and military on the other when both are part of nation building? Teachers, nurses, or clerks may not carry arms and literally give their lives in the course of their duties but they work in government with equal dedication to serve the people,” Castro added.

For his part, Tinio said the Duterte administration must address the clamor of civilian government employees for a substantial pay hike.

“Majority of them are clerks, utility workers, public school teachers, nurses, social workers and other rank and file employees who also have the same needs like uniformed personnel,” Tinio said.

“They have the same right to be recognized and rewarded for their hard work as our soldiers and police officers, the same right to a decent life. There should be no special treatment in favor of the police and the military,” he added.

Transport groups warned vs holding strikes

By Joel E. Zurbano AUTHORITIES on Thursday warned members of various transport groups of the consequences of holding another protest rally against the government’s public utility vehicle modernization program.

Thomas Orbos, general manager of the Metro Manila Development Authority, also called on officials of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston) and other militant transport groups to “put the interest of the riding public at front and center.”

“It is high time for them to stop prioritizing their own interests, and start considering the interest of the riding public which, for the longest time, has been clamoring for a safe, convenient and environmentfriendly system of public transport,” he said.

Orbos, who is also the concurrent Transportation undersecretary for Road and Infrastructure, explained that the modernization program is aimed at modernizing the fleet of jeepneys, not phase them out.

“It is all about the commuters. We need to finally give respect to our commuters and provide public transport that dignifies the riding public by giving them safe, convenient and efficient public transport,” he said.

GOING HOME. President Rodrigo Duterte extends his good wishes to one of the Vietnamese fishermen who were sent off during a ceremony at the Sual Wharf and Causeway in Sual,

Pangasinan on Nov. 29, 2017. The five Vietnamese fishermen, who were held under the custody of the Philippine government after they were caught poaching in the waters of Bolinao, Pampanga, were provided with jackets, hygiene kits, and food items. Also in photo are Department of Social Welfare and Development Officer-in-Charge Emmanuel Leyco, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Director Eduardo Gongona and Vietnamese Ambassador to the Philippines Ly Quoc Tuan. Presidential Photo

No policy yet on Nokor ‘attack’

By John Paolo Bencito

T

HE government has yet to craft out a policy in the event of a military attack between North Korea and the United States in the face of heightened tensions between the two countries over Pyongyang’s continuing launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles.

“As of now, we’re not we will be on other than want the (United Nations) prepared to say which side we want the side of, we charter followed, we

want all parties to refrain from the use of force, we want all parties to utilize peaceful means in resolving this dispute,” Palace Spokesman Harry Roque was quoted as saying by Kyodo News report during a forum with foreign correspondents based in Manila.

The Philippines and the United States, under a Mutual Defense Treaty, are duty-bound to defend the other in case of an attack by an external force.

Pyongyang recently tested the Hwasong-15 missile, which it described as its “most powerful” ICBM capable of striking any-

’PH should lead in disaster risk reduction’

By Macon Araneta DUE to its geographical location and efforts to make the Philippines and its people disaster resilient, a United Nations top official said the country is in the best position to be the global leader in disaster risk reduction and management.

Speaking in yesterday’s 2017 Top Leaders’ Forum (TLF)) at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City, Dr. Robert Glass-

er, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction, noted that the Philippines can be the best country to show the best practices in DRRM. The TLF is a private sector conference convened by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and SM Prime Holdings Inc. to find concrete measures that would make businesses more resilient against disasters.

In the 2015 TLF, the group established the Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies with SMPHI as the secretariat for the Philippine Chapter.

Glasser attributed this to the fact that the Philippines is one of the most disasterprone countries in the world coupled with the initiatives it has been making since Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) hit the country.

“The Philippines as we

know is one of the most significantly exposed countries in the world to these hazards —volcanic, seismic, tsunami, extreme weather events.

They are all here in the Philippines and they create huge impacts, loss of lives, the economy. Domthis is really a critical issue for us to discuss and address,” Glasser said.

Hans T. Sy, chairman of the Executive Committee of SMPHI, said he always believe that investing in resil-

ience is a commitment and a business strategy.

“We are honored to be part of the continuing effort to make the Philippines more disaster-resilient because in so doing, we save lives, we save properties, help our economy and build our nation. This group is part of our commitment towards our goal of making DRRM the heart of our operati1ons and developments,” Sy said.

Don’t use former Cabinet officials as scapegoats—Robredo FORMER Aquino cabinet officials should not be used as “scapegoats” to pass on the blame for present woes, Vice President Leni Robredo said Thursday after several charges were filed against top officials of the previous administration.

“Ako, mahirap magparatang, pero sa akin, kapag may nagkasala, tama lamang na sampahan ng kaso. Iyong

atin lang ninanais, sana iyong pagsampa ng kaso ay base sa datos na maayos [It would be hard to accuse someone, but for me, if there were really mistakes that were done in the past, then it would be good to file charges. What we only wanted is that cases would be filed based on strong evidence],” Robredo, who chairs the once-dominant Liberal Party, told reporters in a chance

interview in Caloocan City.

“Hindi siya ginagawang dahilan para lang maghanap ng scapegoat para sa mga bagay na hindi nagagawa.

[But this should not be used as a scapegoat for things that may have been missed],” Robredo added, without clarifying what she meant.

The Vice President was asked on her thoughts following the recent filing of

charges against top LP stalwarts this November amid various alleged irregularities that transpired in the previous administration.

Robredo, a former Camarines Sur solon before winning the vice presidency, said that she will not gloss over important matters that is needed to be called out— despite the administration’s apparent crackdown against

her partymates.

“Ang nakakatakot lang, baka ginagawa ito para magpasa ng blame sa iba. Ito iyong dapat hindi pinapayagan.”

The Ombudsman recently filed charges against former president Benigno Aquino III for the first time at the antigraft court Sandiganbayan over the botched Mamasapano operations.

John Paolo Bencito

Advocacy group rejects TRAIN, calls it a ‘monster’ bill

MONEY IN JUNK. A boy collects used plastic bottles to be sold at a junk shop at Divisoria market in Manila on Nov. 29, 2017. AFP

AS FILIPINOS commemorated on Thursday the 154th birth anniversary of Gat Andres Bonifacio, an advocacy group renewed its call to Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara not to pursue the enactment of the “monster” Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) bill.

At a news conference in Quezon City, Rodolfo “RJ” Javellana Jr., United Filipino Consumers and Commuters president, stood firm on opposing the new tax reform.

He described the package of the comprehensive tax reform (TRAIN) measure as a ‘monster bill.’

The group launched a protest action to dramatize its opposition to the Senate’s approval

of the TRAIN bill on third and final reading last Tuesday.

Senator Risa Hontiveros voted against the bill.

According to Javellana, the new tax measure, if passed, would impose a 12 percent value-added tax on socialized, economic or low-cost housing unit worth P2 million.

Under the existing law, such socialized housing is exempted from the 12 percent VAT. “We have at least 5.7 million families without a decent home. Should Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and the lawmakers insist the monster bill’s passage, the housing backlog for 5.7 million families without a decent home is expected to balloon,” Javellana told reporters.

where in the United States.

It landed in Japanese waters but flew higher than any other missile the North had previously tested.

The test, which defied international sanctions imposed over the North’s weapons program, drew swift international condemnation.

‘GPH-MILF ceasefire mechanism still Intact’

By Bill Casas THE International Monitoring, GPH-MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (GPH-MILF CCCH) and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process has vowed to continue proactive approaches in ensuring that the ceasefire mechanism is still intact despite the existence of peace spoilers.

In a press conference on Nov. 28, 2017 at the International Monitoring Team Headquarters in Cotabato City, Asec. Dickson Hermoso of OPAPP reiterates that the MILF helped the government in rescuing the trapped civilians in Marawi City and helped secure the humanitarian aid entering the Malabang—Marawi road through the peace corridor which was operationalized by the Joint Coordination, Monitoring and Assistance Center.

“The MILF helped us in rescuing the civilians in Marawi City. The peace corridor through the JCMAC were able to recover 55 trapped civilians and we were able to facilitate 167 humanitarian aid passing the corridor of Malabang to Marawi along the communities surrounding the Lake Lanao,” he said.

BGen. Earl Baliao, chairman of the GPH CCCH and the current Assistant Division Commander of the 6th Infantry Division said that the GPH and MILF CCCH are coordinating closely to help the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the MILF in driving away the ISIS-inspired group in Maguindanao.

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Opinion

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Emergency powers

C

OMMUTERS, perhaps, will welcome an iron hand to ease the traffic chaos in Metro Manila and other urban centers in the Philippines. The traffic snarl is partly attributed to undisciplined motorists, especially those driving public vehicles, unruly pedestrians and the uncoordinated activities of local government units.

The traffic mess, of course, cannot be significantly addressed because of fundamental factors.

Metro Manila and other major cities in the Philippines need more al-

Adelle Chua, Editor

ternative roads and an expanded rail network to accommodate the increasing number of vehicles and commuters.

But reviving a bill to grant emergency pow-

ers to President Rodrigo Duterte could alleviate the woes of commuters and hopefully instill discipline on the road. The House of Representatives finally began a plenary discussion on the proposed granting of emergency powers to President Duterte to address the ever worsening traffic condition in the metropolis and other urban areas.

Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento’s House Bill 4334, or the Traffic Crisis Act, proposes the creation of a single authority headed by a traf-

fic czar who will be appointed by Duterte. It has taken the Lower House over a year to have the bill tackled in plenary session since its filing in Congress in 2016.

The bill features certain provisions that could be in conflict with the procurement law and overlap with the powers of local government units. The traffic czar under the bill, for instance, will have the authority to “… approve or disapprove all plans, programs, and projects proposed by local government units, offices

and agencies within the Metropolitan Area, the Department of Public Works and Highways, public corporations, and private persons or enterprises.”

“Such approval by the traffic czar shall take the form of a development permit that shall be issued prior to any land development and shall be in lieu of all other permits such as those issued by the Metro Manila Development Authority and the local government units,” the bill sponsor explains.

The proposed bill

also aims to prohibit any court, except the Supreme Court, from issuing any temporary restraining order against the bidding or procurement of priority projects, including infrastructure projects... and... the acquisition of the goods and consulting services as identified by the traffic czar.

The bill may encounter rough sailing in the Lower House but lawmakers should be reminded that the traffic situation is getting worse everyday. It’s a problem that needs an unconventional solution.

Japan wants immigrants but the feeling isn’t mutual

By Noah Smith

Socrates Buenaventura Villegas PENSEES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO SOC Villegas—the name evokes many images: the young priest assisting his feeble but strong-willed archbishop, Jaime Cardinal Sin, the young bishop who was called to serve the people of Balanga, the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines who did not hesitate to maintain bold positions and to express them with clarity, who was pilloried, maligned and shamed. Today, his term as president of the CBCP comes to an end and he returns to being full-time pastor of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. He always ends all his emails

with an accolade to his priests.

In Pangasinan, he writes: “The priests of Lingayen-Dagupan are the best there are in the world!”. I know many of his priests, and I know that they revere him. But it was what I saw when I stayed in Dagupan for a few days that convinced me that the words of the revered song for bishops indeed apply to him: Ecce sacerdos magnus qui in diebus suis placuit Deo… behold a great priest who in his days was pleasing to God: Every parish we visited, the youth would spontaneously run towards him to greet him and to express, in myriad ways, their fondness for him.

He was close to Cory Aquino, in large measure due to his role in the ministry of the later Cardinal Sin. But why should that

be a sin? In retrospect, with the compassion of a Edsa may have made father. I too did not think Cory larger than life, much of him first, bebut that does not make cause all I knew of him, her evil I knew from and still seeing him less does in the shadit make of ow of Carall who dinal Sin. He knew were fond But when he of her mor- himself, and he gave me the ally bank- knew himself opporturupt. The very well to be nity to help fact is that him wade S o c r a t e s imperfect, even through the Villegas is as he was also legal and one of the aware of the ethical isgentlest sues that, souls one gifts with which as CBCP will ever God endowed President, have the he had to him. good fordeftly but tune of enhonestly countering. confront Troubled and resolve, priests will not be judged. then I knew that this was They will be embraced a rare gem of a man and with the warmth of an el- a priest! der brother and accepted Why then is he so fre-

quently bashed? It can only be largely because he touched raw nerves by speaking out on such issues as extrajudicial killings, human rights, and the moral obligations of government.

Only the jaundiced will find partisanship in those acts. He was beholden to none; but he was not going to be silenced, because his consecration was sacred to him: Unxit me evangelizare…He has anointed me to announce, to preach.

It is a sad day for any nation when its prophets are silenced—and they can be silenced not only by being martyred, but also by being slurred and maligned and so stripped of all credibility and respectability. But the latter, you can never take away from a man who is respected not by reason

of the fear that he instills in others, or by the popular acclaim of millions of votes, but by the integrity of his person and the sincerity of his motives.

Once he was asked if CBCP would mediate talks between the government and the CPP-NPANDF. It was not his call alone to make. He consulted his colleagues in the episcopal conference, and, together with them, he arrived at the decision that there was not enough showing of sincerity that held out the promise of the talks bearing any fruit at all. At the time he made the decision, he was rudely charged by selfproclaimed peace advocates as turning his back on the ways of peace. But events of late have proved him right, and no one is Turn to A5

EVEN as the Donald Trump administration tries to think up ways to keep talented foreigners out of the U.S., Japan is trying to lure them in. But it’s having trouble getting them to come.

A lot of people think of Japan as an insular country, but that isn’t actually true.

The number of foreigners living in Japan has risen a lot in recent years: Most of these foreign folks are temporary residents, such as either guest workers brought in on “technical intern” visas and overseas students working while they complete their degrees. Some will rotate back out to their countries of origin while new temporary workers rotate in. Others will stay, especially those who marry locals and settle down in Japan. But the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe isn’t satisfied with letting in conveniencestore clerks and fry cooks to alleviate the labor shortage created by an aging population. It wants more skilled immigration—engineers, entrepreneurs, researchers, managers and professionals.

In order to attract global talent, Japan’s government has followed the example of countries such as Canada, and introduced a points-based immigration system. Advanced degrees, language skills, work experience and other qualifications are tallied up and a high score can help foreign workers earn permanent residency—the equivalent of a U.S. green card—in as little as one year. The administration has thus taken to boasting that it has the quickest permanent residency system in the world.

After that, it takes five years of residency and another year or so of paperwork to become a citizen of Japan.

So for skilled workers, Japan is now among the easier rich countries to move to.

There’s just one problem— skilled workers aren’t coming. According to the IMD World Competitiveness Center, Japan is the Asian country least appealing for foreign talent: It’s a bit embarrassing to

Turn to A5

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best work alone—need to be strengthened. Beyond that, a corporate culture that values output and results instead of input and visible effort is essential to work-life balance. Some Japanese companies, like snack-maker Calbee, have already shifted to this more effective corporate culture, but such transformations are hard, and many businesses are sticking to the old inefficient ways.

Japanese salaries are also probably unattractive for talented foreign workers. Since many Japanese companies still hire workers right out of college and retain them for the rest of their careers, starting salaries tend to be quite low.

The reason is that workers can expect their pay to rise smoothly over the course of their careers. But skilled foreign workers are probably not that interested in sticking around at one company for three or four decades—they’re used to the international system of career advancement via job-hopping. In Japan, though, midcareer hiring is relatively rare, and seniority-based pay makes it harder to get a big raise by switching companies.

In other words, the real reason Japan is so unappealing to skilled immigrants is just the same thing that’s at the root of so many of its other problems—an inflexible, hidebound corporate system. That culture is changing slowly, and the country should probably do a better job of advertising the companies that use modern management techniques. But until the changes reach a larger percentage of the Japanese system, the country is going to have trouble attracting the best and brightest.

Bloomberg

WHILE there is no law against the use of crass and even downright vile language, we still expect the highest demeanor from our public officials, particularly from the President of the Republic.

When he heard about Pope Francis having given detained Senator Leila de Lima a rosary, President Rodrigo Duterte was quoted as saying “L….g ‘yan.” Obviously, it was a reference to the senator’s dalliance with her driver-bodyguard before she was arrested on alleged drug trafficking at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa.

Even if true, we see no relevance to the reason why Senator De Lima should not

have received a rosary from the Pontiff. Jesus Christ has shown us that even a great sinner like Mary Magdalene deserves kindness and forgiveness. Why not a Leila de Lima even if she’s really guilty of the allegations against her?

What the President said of the detained senator (she is still a senator until proven guilty in a court of law) is actually the unkindest cut of all. Lust and sexual appetite is inherent in all of us whether woman or man which is why some of us remarry or take up with another person after the breakup of the first marriage.

For sure, remarrying is not only for companionship or the altruistic objective of having someone at your side.

No. I’m not talking about President Duterte and his live-in partner who has gained acceptance as de facto First Lady having ac-

companied the President on official state functions and travel abroad. Remarrying after a bad relationship does not make one a recidivist. It is in fact a reaffirmation and testament to one’s faith of finding happiness in another person deserving of one’s love.

What if the rosary given

by Pope Francis to Leila de Lima was for her to pray for the soul of her accuser and those who use gutter language in putting down other people? The dirty word used by the President is not the first time he let loose with language not acceptable in polite society. It will be recalled Digong called former US President Barack Obama “ a son of a bitch” and he also used the PI expletive in denouncing Pope Francis for causing monstrous traffic during the papal visit to Manila.

The President of the country can be forgiven for not observing protocol and sartorial propriety. If he feels comfortable with barong sleeves rolled up near the elbow or his necktie loose when with other heads of state, fine. If he’s not comfortable with his collar buttoned up or his barong sleeves cuff-linked, fine, too.

But he sought the presidency and therefore must be willing to accept some of the inconvenience that comes with the position.

But to be loose with crass language used by the ordinary street level thug is not acceptable anywhere except probably in Davao when as mayor you rule like a despot who can do anything. But sir, you are now the President of this Republic and the people expect the highest and best behavior from you. Not only gravitas but demeanor is expected of you befitting the Office of the President.

From A4

conduct of the investigation of such priests, taking such measures as to prevent priests from absconding who are facing charges, and offering the services of church counselors and hospices to the traumatized victims.

Without much fanfare, he has been the Holy See’s “troubleshooter” in the Philippines: visited ecclesiastical jurisdictions reduced to dysfunctional status by internal strife, gently returning troublesome and trouble priests to the fold but also firmly urging loyalty to the Holy See — and to the unity of the Church.

Socrates — he knew himself, and he knew himself very well to be imperfect, even as he was also aware of the gifts with which God endowed him. He was a wise shepherd, and still is, and although many would have him drink more than just hemlock, his strength has never been in princes and kings, nor in possessions and in wealth, but in the God whom he has endeavored to serve faithfully and always humbly! rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

Some people think President Duterte is a misogynist or woman hater for going against Vice President Leni Robredo, Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales and Senator De Lima.

I don’t think so because Digong has shown public display of affection for daughter Inday Sara, the Davao City mayor, and partner Honeylet Avanceña.

The sycophants around the President turn a blind eye to their boss’ boorish behavior because they dare not incur his ire. They could be fired if they fire him up.

We do not want to see President Duterte ousted but we would like to see a different Duterte who’s more compassionate and careful with his words. Is that too much to ask of the man that millions voted into office?

Cracking down FORMATION GARY OLIVAR AFTER getting off to a somewhat rocky start last week, the impeachment process initiated by my good friend Larry Gadon against Chief Justice Sereno has finally found its bearings.

Larry was initially pilloried by the yellow media for admitting to having “no personal knowledge” of the offenses he alleges on the CJ’s part. But what he does have—which amounts to the same thing— are certified true copies of do cuments obtained from the Supreme Court no less. Expect these documents to start seeing the light, by the reams.

Larry was also taken apart for pointing to an Inquirer reporter as his source for some statements ascribed to Justice Teresita de Castro.

This was promptly denied by the good justice, who obviously isn’t allowed to discuss Court proceedings with outsiders, let alone reporters.

But that little fumble has been buried under the subsequent direct testimony by de Castro herself.

What De Castro has begun to paint is a picture of a young, ill-equipped, and politicallybeholden Chief Justice riding roughshod over her colleagues and flouting basic rules of Court procedure and elementary good behavior. We shall

see if this pattern is confirmed by an impressive list of witnesses waiting in the wings: several active and retired justices, the Court administrator and clerk of court, the Court’s spokesman.

I’m told that it’s unprecedented for sitting justices to publicly testify against their leader. The real issue in this proceedings is thus becoming clear: Whether or not CJ Sereno is qualified to lead the High Court over the next 12 years, through two more administrations, until she retires.

If she cannot do so—regardless of any fault on her part— then the good of the country and the system of laws that alone protects us from each other, demands that she quit. *** I attended a two-day summit against corruption convened at the PICC earlier this week by the estimable Ka Dante Jimenez, founding chairman of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC).

Resource persons included Profs Claire Carlos and Temy Rivera, old friends of ours from UP. But the star of the show turned out to be academic OFW Prof Ed Araral, a UP Los Banos product who now teaches at the highly-regarded Lee Kuan Yew School of the National University of Singapore.

Ed simply described the anti-corruption regimes in three very different neighboring countries: China, Singapore and Indonesia. The com-

mon lesson from all three was straightforward: We should put more bite into the law and make corrupt officials real pain.

In China, many of them end up with a bullet in the head. By comparison, we’d be positively merciful just to punish culprits by, say, summary dismissals or preventive confiscation of their assets—among the ideas he suggested.

President Duterte has already drafted an Executive Order (EO 43) to create a Presidential Anti Corruption Commission. But there’s still room for improvement. For example, if we want to match the per capita ratio of anticorruption investigators in, say, Hongkong, the PACC will need to bring on board at least 15,000 more people.

Since we don’t have the resources to hire so many, they would have to be volunteers. This is where the business community, civil society, academe, and other organizations can make themselves useful. Perhaps Ka Dante and the VACC can take the initiative in assembling this force multiplier for the upcoming new anticorruption commission. *** Another sort of crackdown is portended by the recent spate of gun battles with the NPA that broke out last week in, of all places, the resort town of Nasugbu, Batangas.

The latest encounter there

left 15 rebels dead, including several women. The damage to the NPA was severe enough to provoke CPP leader Jose Maria Sison—from the safety of his Utrecht hideaway—to start squawking about human rights violations.

Unfortunately for him, his complaints are likely to go unheeded. To a general public that’s learned to live with the civilian body count from the war on drugs, the battlefield deaths of armed NPA rebels who’ve repeatedly rejected peace overtures in order to violently overthrow the Philippine state and replace it with a nominally atheistic proletarian dictatorship—that’s likely to be greeted by a yawn, if not comments of “Good for them!”

Now Duterte may go even farther and formally declare the CPP-NPA a terrorist group, following the lead of the US and the EU. This will allow him to run after them under the much harsher provisions of the Human Security Act. The NDF, the legal front of the CPP, will also be in for a rougher time. NDF affiliate PISTON has already been warned that they will lose their jeepney drivers’ and operators’ licenses if they push through with yet another disruptive transport strike next week. We don’t think the strikers will get a lot of sympathy from the riding public.

Next in line may be Karapatan, another NDF affiliate.

When several jeepney-riding

Duterte cites BizNewsAsia

Socrates... admitting that his bashers were wrong!

When super-destructive typhoons Yolanda and Lawin devastated the Visayas and Northern Luzon, he urged bishops and priests to thrown open the doors of churches so that they could become refugee centers — which many indeed became.

With a more aggressive drive against drug-users, he called on Catholic schools and Catholic guidance counselors to make education on substance dependence and counseling services readily available. When one non-Catholic sect was facing the prospect of falling under the weight of in-fighting on the highest levels, he called for prayers for them. Certainly, this is not the monster his detractors have made of him!

He was not one to overlook the sins of the men of the cloth. He initiated the review of the protocols and the rules dealing with priests who were charged with offenses, particularly the abuse of minors. The rules have become more stringent, and bishops are obligated to cooperate with the authorities of state in the

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

On crass language

Japan...

be beaten out as a work destination by countries where millions die from air pollution every year, or where mad leaders carry out thousands of extrajudicial killings. Japan is a wonderful place to live—it’s clean, safe and friendly, it has great infrastructure and excellent food, there are a million fun things to do, and the average home is actually bigger than in Germany or the U.K. Why wouldn’t talented people be looking to move to Japan?

One reason is language.

When I spoke with Tim Eustace, the founder of Next Step, a Tokyo-based recruiting firm, this was the first issue he brought up. Although Japan has plenty of English signs in streets and train stations, business and schooling are both conducted exclusively in Japanese. Eustace believes that many top international workers in fields such as finance and technology expect to be able to send their children to English-language schools, and to speak English in the workplace at least some of the time.

That probably isn’t happening soon—Japan’s English proficiency has never been great, and the country’s leaders are understandably reluctant to see their own language relegated to a secondary role.

But Eustace mentioned a second important factor— work-life balance.

Japanese companies are famous for making employees work long, often unproductive hours.

Things are improving under Abe, but more needs to be done. Systems to let employees take their work home with them—especially important for engineers and professionals who may do some of their

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ SELDOM does President Duterte heap praises on a publication, foreign or local. In the case of weekly business and news magazine BizNewsAsia, the chief executive did. He sent his newly minted presidential spokesman lawyer Harry Roque to represent him at the 16th anniversary party of BizNewsAsia Nov. 24, 2017 at EDSA Shangri-La. I thought previously Harry would be a square peg in a round hole at the presidential palace. It turns out Harry is a brilliant choice. Duterte could not have found a more effective, more articulate, and better qualified alter ego in dealing with the press and the world.

Roque, 51, has a master of laws, with merit, from London School of Economics 1996, law degree from UP 1990, and a degree in political science and economics from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1986.

At BizNewsAsia party attended by leading captains of industry and finance, Harry delivered a speech on behalf of the president. It was a wellcrafted speech produced by Malacañang wordsmiths. “I am constrained by what his speech writers will write,” Harry texted me the day before the event.

And what a speech it was.

Not a single curse word. Nor an attack on any media mogul from ABS CBN or the Inquirer.

Nor a diatribe on any human rights worker, local or foreign.

Entitled “An Economy that Serves Everyone”, here is Duterte’s speech: “Congratulations BizNewsAsia on your 16th anniversary—that’s 16 remarkable years of business publishing excellence and fruitful service to the Filipino nation.

“Your business news magazine, which is the Philippines’ largest weekly business and news magazine, has given us clear insights and new perspectives and helps us understand the current issues prevailing in the economy, industry, and government.

“Allow me also to take this opportunity to congratulate our management excellence awardees led by my fellow Cabinet member Secretary Diokno of Budget; business magnates Ramon Ang of San Miguel Corp.; Teresita Sy of BDO and SM; and a whole lot more. Our awardees are the best in their respective fields who, in one way or another, helped in laying down the foundations of our nation. It is an honor to share center stage with all of you.

“Our economy, as everyone in this ballroom would agree, is on the roll. Notwithstanding the continued political noise, the rebellion in Marawi, and the declaration of martial law in Mindanao, the economy managed to perform well.

“The Philippine economy, under the Duterte administration, remains one of the best performing economies in Asia.

The country’s spectacular 6.9% gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the third quarter of this year further reinforces its premier status in the Asian re-

gion.

“With a year-to-date growth average of 6.7%, we are hopeful and confident that we are on track in attaining the full-year target range of 6.5% to 7.5% economic growth for 2017. We attributed this better-than-expected growth to strong exports and industrial output and improvement in public spending.

“As the administration starting to roll out projects under its Build! Build! Build! Infrastructure Program, we are now seeing a sustained improvement in public spending. The goal of such massive spending is to support growth.

“The government sees infrastructure development as the solution to job generation, transportation and traffic woes, and high prices of goods and services.

“The Duterte administration hopes to attract more investments into the country by building more railways, urban mass transport, airports and seaports, bridges and roads, and new and better cities.

“On the sidelines of the recently concluded 31st ASEAN Summit, President Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe witnessed the exchange of notes between the governments of Japan and the Philippines on the Metro Manila Subway project and four other deals. This means the details of the project and financing arrangements have been ironed out; and thus, we are a step closer to the finalization of loan agreements.“The Japanese government will provide a P46-billion for the construction of the first phase of the

Metro Manila Subway, and another P4-bilion will be given to cover the construction of the Arterial Road Bypass project along the PhilippineJapan Friendship Highway in Plaridel, Bulacan.

“Speaking of the ASEAN Summit, the Philippines successfully hosted the 31st ASEAN Summit and the 50th anniversary celebration of ASEAN. “Aside from the multi-million dollar assistance we garnered, we have entered into important agreements with ASEAN Dialogue Partners and established goodwill and rapport among world leaders, which could lead to better ties for ongoing negotiations and future collaborations.

“From the United States, we obtained $14.3-million for the rehabilitation of wartorn Marawi City and another $2-million to support the country’s ongoing war on illegal drugs.

“We were likewise able to push mutual interests such as Generalized System of Preferences and Free Trade Agreement with the Americans.

“With China, we signed 14 cooperation agreements on areas such as the economy, infrastructure, transportation, environment, intellectual property, national security, and finance.

“With Russia, the Philippine government inked eight bilateral agreements on areas such as criminality, extradition, energy, transport, energy, mass communications, education, intellectual property, and audits and accounts.

“Further, Canada will pro-

men were arrested at a checkpoint near the first Nasugbu encounter last week, Karapatan rushed in to claim that they were not NPA fighters, but “human rights activists”.

We’re disappointed that legitimate human rights organizations aren’t take a harder line with this abuse of their advocacy by a group with its own ideological agenda.

As this crackdown rolls out, what can I say? Joma, you should have taken the peace talks deal. *** From where I’m writing this column along Mendiola, I can see a crowd of red-shirted people overflowing the street and chanting for “revolutionary government”. I’m told that similar demonstrations are going on in other major cities as well as OFW centers abroad.

This is not a crowd that will allow Duterte to leave office after a new constitution is written, as he promised the anti-corruption summit at PICC. Is it even possible for a president to be conscripted into office? Well, he did it before, when he allowed himself last year to be shanghaied into his candidacy, with a little help from current VACC chair Martin Dino.

Strange and promising new things are happening around this president. Let’s all just hold on tight for the rollercoaster ride.

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

vide $17.8-million for the sexual health and empowerment projects for women in the Philippines.

“New Zealand committed three agreements on education, tourism, and geothermal industry, while Australia pushed for cooperation to address the sea piracy threat in Sulu Sea. “As for India, President Duterte expressed his desire to invite Indian pharmaceutical companies to do business in the Philippines, as the President wants to improve access of Filipinos to cheaper medicines.

“In addition, the country was able to improve market access for Philippine bananas in Australia, Japan, and Korea.

“Thus, we may expect a more riveting growth narrative in the fourth quarter and onwards as the Duterte administration accelerates its efforts to create more opportunities for the Filipino people.

“All of these form part of the overarching goal of the President of building an economy that serves everyone and leaves no one behind.

“In this regard, let us put more fuel to our economic growth engine. Let us remain steadfast and committed to persisting to achieve our collective goal of a comfortable and secure life.

“As we work toward economic progress and stability, we are confident that BizNewsAsia will be there to cover this exciting journey.

Again, happy anniversary and congratulations to all our awardees. Mabuhay po tayong lahat! “ biznewsasia@gmail.com

News

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

MMDA nabs 1,835 traffic culprits

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE Metro Manila Development Authority, using its high-definition closed-circuit television cameras, has caught more than 1,800 motorists violating the Anti-Distracted Driving law.

Latest reports released by the agency’s Public Information Office showed 1,835 drivers were caught on major thoroughfares in five months.

The MMDA started implementing the law last July when 493 drivers, most of them motorcycle riders, were apprehended.

The following month, the agency caught 604 and 437 in September, while 199 in October. This month, 102 were apprehended as of Nov. 24.

Most of those caught during the first three months were drivers of motorcycle, Asian Utility Vans, public utility buses, UV Express, pickup trucks, trucks and taxicab.

In apprehending violators, the MMDA utilized the high-tech cameras which can monitor lights from devices inside heavily tinted cars to determine if the drivers are using their mobile phones and other electronic devices while on the road.

At present, there are 250 CCTV cameras installed in strategic areas in Metro Manila and being used by the MMDA in its No Contact Policy in apprehending violators of traffic rules.

The MMDA is sending summons or notice to the vehicle’s owner or operator to identify the driver of the vehicle during the time the traffic violation was cap-

tured by the CCTV camera.

The notice which will be sent to the owner or operator contains the date, time, location and traffic violation.

The drivers will not be able to renew the vehicle registration until the fines are settled.

According to the ADDA Implementing Rules and Regulations, making or receiving calls, writing, sending or reading textbased communications, playing games, watching movies, performing calculations, reading e-books, composing messages, and surfing or browsing the internet are prohibited while driving.

The law also covers wheeled agricultural machineries, construction equipment and other forms of conveyances such as bicycles, pedicabs, trolleys, “habal-habal”, “kuligligs”, wagons, carriages and carts that may either be humanpowered or pulled by an animal―as long as the same are operated or driven in public

thoroughfares, highways or streets.

This law takes exemption when motorists use their mobile phones in making or taking an emergency call from/to: a law enforcement agent/agency to report a crime or prohibited act, accident, natural calamity, bomb threat, terrorist activities and the like; a government or non-government medical or health care provider on emergency and rescue situations; or to a fire department in cases of fire or explosion.

Violators will be fined P5,000 for the first offense, P10,000 for the second offense, and P15,000 for the third offense with a threemonth suspension of their driver’s license.

After the third offense, a driver will be fined P20,000 and his license will be revoked.

Owners and operators of Public Utility Vehicles and commercial vehicles found in violation of the law will

both be held liable.

Authorities reminded motorists that they could be fined several times within the day if they were found to have repeatedly violated the law.

Former President Benigno Aquino III signed in 2016 Republic Act 10913 which prohibits drivers to use mobile communication devices when behind the wheel and even when stationary during traffic or using mobile gadgets while driving.

Using gadgets while driving contributed to the increasing number of road accidents in Metro Manila. It was also among the causes of the slow moving of traffic on major thoroughfares.

MMDA records showed that there was an average of 262 crashes daily or 11 crashes per hour in the metropolis.

Last year, the agency recorded 109,322 road crashes in the metropolis but its database does not include statistics on distracted driving.

Most of these road acci-

dents, however, also involves undisciplined riders of motorcycles.

When ADDA (Republic Act 10913) was first implemented in May, many motorcycle riders were also apprehended.

Based on the 2016 Metro Manila Accident Recording and Analysis System program, reckless motorcycle riding remains the top cause of deaths and injuries on Metro Manila streets.

The MMRAS statistics last year stated that motorcycles had the “highest fatality accident rate” with 218 the total number of deaths, followed by trucks (103) and private cars (98).

The records further stated that 23,105 motorcycles were involved in the road accidents last year.

Motorcycles also topped the list of vehicles with the most number of injuries at 11,456 followed by cars (7,544) and public utility jeepneys (1,922).

‘Suspect’s HIV status, privacy breached’ FOLLOWING the arrest of 11 men in a Manila business district hotel room on Tuesday on suspicion of using illegal drugs, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency officers unlawfully disclosed that one of the suspects was HIV positive, Carlos Conde, researcher, Asia Division of Human Rights Watch, said Thursday.

“That set off a media frenzy, with advocates of gay rights and the rights of people living with HIV lambasting the drug agency for an appalling breach of privacy in violation of the country’s AIDS law,” said Conde.

As World AIDS Day approached today, the incident is a sad reminder of how much more the Philippines needs to do to ensure the rights of people living with HIV are respected and upheld.

HIV rights advocates point out that the HIV disclosure highlights continuing discrimination and stigmatization of people with HIV in the Philippines, Conde said.

Conde said the issue takes on more urgency, given the Philippines has the fastestgrowing HIV epidemic in the Asia-Pacific region, with new HIV cases per year jumping from 4,300 to 10,000 between 2010 and 2016.

Most new infections—up to 83 percent—are among men and transgender women who have sex with men.

In August, the government declared the epidemic a “national emergency.”

“In this context, discrimination and stigma against people living with HIV serve as a double-whammy,” said Conde. Bill Casas

REMEMBERING BONIFACIO. Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan, Vice President Leni Robredo, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and other government officials lead the Commemoration of the 154th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio at Monumento Circle in Caloocan City Thursday. Andrew Rabulan

Maternal, neonatal deaths can be reduced, says DoH

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SINCE every pregnant woman and newborn baby is at risk of an infection that could lead to sepsis or even death, the Department of Health has collaborated with the World Health Organization on the Global Maternal and Neonatal Sepsis Initiative.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the intiative aimed to accelerate the reduction of preventable maternal and neonatal deaths related to sepsis.

Although sepsis is life-threatening, Duque said it could be stopped if identified early and treated promptly.

He said reducing maternal mortality and ending preventable deaths of newborns were essential to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 which refers to “Ensure healthy lives and pro-

mote wellbeing for all at all ages.”

“Sepsis is an ever-present challenge in every hospital and birthing facility...but we have the opportunity to save the lives of mothers and newborns in our care by working together to stop it,” said Duque “We are pleased to be partnering with WHO to tackle this life-threatening condition on a global scale. By participating, we will ensure that vital data from the Philippines are included in this important study,” said Duque.

Maternal sepsis continues to be a leading cause of death for women and newborns, according to the WHO. The Global Sepsis Alliance says sepsis can cause 100,000 maternal deaths and kills more than 1 million newborns.

In the Philippines in 2016, around

1,786 Filipino women died due to direct maternal causes; 10 percent of this or 179 women died of sepsis.

Maternal sepsis has been defined by the WHO as “a life-threatening condition defined as organ dysfunction resulting from infection during pregnancy, childbirth, post-abortion, or post-partum period.”

Accordingly, WHO has launched the Global Maternal and Neonatal Sepsis Initiative to address this critical condition and at the same time, foster alignment, collaboration, research, innovation and advocacy efforts globally.

A critical part of this collaboration is the Global Maternal Sepsis Study.

The study aims to test and validate this new definition in 54 countries around the world.

In the Philippines, eligible women will be identified over the course of one week (from November 28 until December 4, 2017) prompting a coordinated data collection effort in all the sites.

Data collected from this study will be used to assess the burden and current management of maternal and early neonatal sepsis.

Nine Manila-based hospitals are taking part in this initiative: Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Dr. Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Tondo Medical Center, Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center, Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital, Ospital ng Sampaloc, Ospital ng Tondo and Sta. Ana Hospital.

Nolasco High Class 1987 to celebrate 30th year THE Dr. Juan G. Nolasco High School Class of 1987 will be celebrating its 30th year dubbed “One Nolasco High Is Cool: Batch 87@30” on Dec. 30, 2017, 5 p.m. at the Garahe ni TJ Resto Bar (near Garden Plaza Hotel) 1107 Belen Street, Paco, Manila.

Century Park 2016 and 2011 Inter Nuwhrain singing contests champion Cesar Cenit and journalist and Cafe Finn Dott book author Gil Lamuzan, plus other celebrities will grace the occasion.

Spectacular and fun-filled production numbers will be part of the reunion with special participation of Class 87

Outstanding Students and Campus Crush ng Bayan Prof.

Ramil Correa of the De La Salle University, ABS-CBN News Network artist Paul Alfonso, school basketball star player Carlo Pineda and batch muse Glozelda Canarez.

The event is being led by Ramil Rumbawa, Salvador Almazan, Virgie Sacramento, Clarisse Cabral, Imelda Elizares, Judith Gatmaitan, Vilma Bautista and Joann Dy-Suriaga.

All the members of this class are invited to join the event.

For details, please contact: Vilma “Dang” Pador (Batch 87 over-all coordinator) 09335366325.

BODY CAMS. In compliance with the directives of the Chief PNP Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa to utilize the use of body cams, members of Eastern Police District of Pasig City equipped with newly acquired body camera on their left shoulder, man a checkpoint along Shaw Blvd., Barangay Oranbo in Pasig City. NCRPO Director Oscar Albayalde (left) inspects the body cam and supervises the checkpoint. Manny Palmero

MPD will probe own men in Tondo slays

By Bill Casas THE Manila Police District said it would investigate allegations their policemen executed three men in a recent police operation in Tondo.

“We will conduct an indepth investigation regarding the said incident but of course due process of law and presumption of regularity in the conduct of our police operational procedures will be followed,” MPD spokesperson Supt. Edwin Margarejo said in a press statement.

But Margarejo said the police officers involved would be charged if found liable.

“And if evidence warrants against those personnel involved, we will file the necessary charges against them,” he said.

“The MPD leadership, under Chief Supt. Joel Napoleon Coronel, assured our constituents that we will always continue to protect, respect, and fulfill our human rights obligation,” he also said.

Wire news agency Reuters reported they obtained security camera footage showing a different story on a police operation conducted on Oct. 11 in Barangay 19.

Reuters cited a report that stated Rolando Campo sold drugs to an undercover officer, who signaled for back-up.

Campo allegedly sensed the presence of the police officers and ordered Sherwin Bitas and Ronnie Cerbito to fire at the cops.

The three were fatally wounded and were immediately brought to the hospital, according to a police report.

But footage showed that Campo was talking with some people before the police arrived.

Bitas’ wife, Arlene Gibaga, who witnessed the incident, said the three men were unarmed when they were shot by the police, the Reuters report said.

Footage earlier aired by a television station showed a police officer reaching up and turning away the closedcircuit television camera during the operation.

DPWH to use durable polystyrene for embankment

By Vito Barcelo THE Department of Public Works and Highways will use a cheap but durable polystyrene, a “geofoam” technology, for various embankment materials for infrastructure projects.

Geofoam is a large block made from expanded polystyrene with enormous compressive strength that makes it ideal as a construction material, according to DPWH Undersecretary Dimas Soguilon.

“Successful research studies of DPWH Bureau of Research and Standards led the decision to utilize geofoam which was proven to be a very durable, lightweight, cost-efficient, and time-saving,” he said.

He said geofoam would be used in embankment projects until September 2022.

“The need is growing for alternative solutions to conventional embankments that take huge amount time to be accomplished especially during rainy season. We hope that with geofoam, these projects will be delivered to the public on time,” Soguilon said.

The DPWH will also utilize other nonconventional solutions for projects which include the use of coconet materials for slope protection, and gabions as both slope protection and river control projects.

Sports

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Rising stars battle in-form Tiger

W

ASHINTON—US PGA Tour player of the year Justin Thomas will have a ringside seat Thursday when Tiger Woods launches his latest comeback at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

The 24-year-old rising star is relishing the opportunity.

“He has 79 (wins) and 14 majors,” Thomas said. “I mean, I’m probably just as excited to watch it as you are.”

“I just get a front row seat to it on Thursday, but I’m also looking forward to

trying to kick his ass, to be perfectly honest.”

Thomas won five times on the PGA Tour in the 2016-17 season, nabbing his first major title at the PGA Championship and capturing the FedEx Cup crown.

Woods, meanwhile, spent most of the year recovering

from his fourth back surgery, in April.

Last month he pleaded guilty to reckless driving, following his arrest in May when police found him asleep in his car beside the road, and toxicology tests revealed an array of prescription medications in his bloodstream.

Now Woods says he is free of the pain he was trying to conquer with medications, and is “loving life.”

Woods says he doesn’t know just what to expect as he returns to competition for the first time since last February.

But Thomas says it’s natural that the 41-year-old superstar, owner of 14 major titles, still garners so much attention.

“The same reason that when Michael Jordan came back to play basketball,” Thomas said. “When you’re one of the greatest of all time to play your sport and just do things that people can’t and haven’t done before and you just have such a huge fan base,” he said.

“There’s nobody that moves the needle like him, even now.”

British Open champion Jordan Spieth says Woods

seems “more confident” than he did at this time last year, when he launched what proved to be an abortive return from injury.

“We’re all very interested, as we should be, in how it goes for him this week,” Spieth said, adding that golf’s young guns are hoping Woods will soon find himself among the game’s contenders again.

Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, the defending champion in the 18-man tournament that benefits Woods’ charitable foundation, would also like a chance to compete against

a player he once idolized.

On the eve of the tournament Matsuyama recalled watching Woods during his electrifying first Masters victory in 1997.

“Before school I would turn on the TV and watch and he would always be on,” Matsuyama said. “I never challenged for a championship or anything with him, but hopefully I’ll get that chance down the road.

“Justin and Jordan (and I), we haven’t seen his best golf.

But if he gets back to that point, every week he’ll be the favorite and he’ll win a lot of tournaments.” AFP

Close to 200 join Valenzuela netfest CLOSE to 200 entries fight it out for top honors and ranking points in nine singles categories as the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala tennis tournament winds up its four-leg Northern swing in Valenzuela City.

Five titles are also up for grabs in doubles play with new faces likely to emerge from the five-day Group 2 tournament, which got under way yesterday (Thursday) and hosted by the Valenzuela City Sports Club through chairman Elly Demafelis for the first time.

Francesca Cruz, from the Valle Verde Country Club, and Paula Uy from Quezon City banner the girls’ 18-andunder cast with the duo also seeing action in the 16-U side topbilled by Mikaela Vicencio and Miles Vitaliano while Manuel Balce III, Athan Arejola, Jules Lazaro and Chester

Tiongson gaining the top four seedings in the boys’ premier category of the event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger.

Davao’s John David Velez, on the other hand, looms as the player to beat in the boys’ 16-U side that also includes Arejola, Daniel Estanislao III and Loucas Fernandez with Velez also claiming the top ranking in the 14-U section that also drew the participation of Andre Jarata, Miguel Vicencio and Rafael Liangco.

Francine Dizon, Renee Esteban, Kyla Poon and Franchezka Malaki, meanwhile, headline the girls’ 14-U category with Dizon also leading the 12-U division of the event supported by the Unified Tennis Philippines, including PPSPEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg.

Tiger Woods of the United States plays a shot during the pro-am prior to the Hero World Challenge at Albany, Bahamas in Nassau, Bahamas. AFP

San Beda smothers Lyceum in football MARIANO Suba Jr. unleashed a seven-goal effort as reigning titlist San Beda College smothered a hapless Lyceum side, 10-0, and remained unbeaten in the juniors’ division of the 93rd NCAA football tournament at the Rizal Memorial grounds Wednesday night.

Suba went to work early as he knocked in three of his team’s four first half goals and remained in attack mode in the second half where he poured in four more to power the Junior Red Booters to their second straight victory.

Samuel Reuben Chavez, Christopher Villanueva and Roejen Josef Sermese accounted for the other goals of San Beda, which downed Perpetual Help, 6-0, in the opener last Monday.

Letran bested Perpetual Help, 3-0, to likewise nail its second win in a row and a share of the lead.

Nikko Palacio scored a brace, while Agustin Rafael Roa added one, all coming in the first half that was what the Squires, who escaped past the Emilio Aguinaldo Brigadiers, 2-1, Monday, needed to snatch the win.

St. Benilde-La Salle Greenhills came through with four late goals to edge EAC, 5-1, and register its first triumph.

After CSB-LSGH’s’ Vin dela Cruz and EAC’s Michael Gultiano exchanged goals on the 27th and 33rd minutes, respectively, to go into the break with the score knotted at one each, Loyd Solo sizzled by scoring three of his squad’s final four goals in the last 22 minutes to pull off the win.

Barangay Ginebra to hosts thanksgiving party today for fans Zarks takes on Baketech in LGR finals FOLLOWING their historic back-to-back championship win in the PBA Governors’ Cup, the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings will be holding a thanksgiving party for their die-hard fans this Friday at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Admission to the thanksgiving party is for free but

on a first-come, first-served basis. Gates will open at 11 a.m. However in the interest of safety, the company discourages pregnant women, elderly, persons with disability from attending. Children below 12 years old will be admitted if accompanied by parents or legal guardians.

“This is going to be our sec-

ond celebration and this one is for our fans. This is our way of giving back to them. They’re the ones who bring life to our team and we’re not going to be here right now if not for them,” said Ginebra head coach Tim Cone.

“Everyone knows that we have the best fans in the league and we want to do everything

we can to make them happy.

The team and I are looking forward to spending time with everyone,” says Mark Caguioa.

During a recent victory party at San Miguel Corporation headquarters in Mandaluyong City, SMC president and COO Ramon S. Ang also acknowledged the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel fans for their con-

tinued support to the team.

“Salamat sa lahat ng fans. Kayo ang patuloy na nag-iinspire sa team. Kundi dahil sa inyo, wala po tayo dito ngayon.”

For more details and updates, log on to www.ginebra. com.ph or check out the official Facebook page of Ginebra San Miguel www.facebook. com/barangayginebra.

Froome seeks Grand Tour slam in 2018 Giro d’Italia

Britain’s pro cyclist Christopher Froome is seen on a video screen during the presentation of the 2018 Tour of Italy (101st Giro d’Italia) cycling race in Milan. “Ciao (hello) everyone, I’m looking forward to seeing you all on the start line of the 2018 Giro d’Italia,” Froome said in a short video message played during the 2018 route presentation ceremony in Milan. AFP

MILAN—Tour de France champion Chris Froome confirmed Wednesday he will race in next year’s Giro d’Italia from Jerusalem to Rome as he targets a treble of Grand Tour wins.

“Ciao (hello) everyone, I’m looking forward to seeing you all on the start line of the 2018 Giro d’Italia,” Froome said in a short video message played during the 2018 route presentation ceremony in Milan.

The 32-year-old said that it was “a whole new motivation” to go for a third consecutive Grand Tour trophy after winning both the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana last year.

The four-time Tour de France winner has competed in the Giro just twice and not since his disqualification in 2010 for holding

onto a motorbike.

“It’s a unique situation for me, having won the Tour and Vuelta and now having the opportunity to go to the Giro and attempt to win a third consecutive Grand Tour,” said Kenyan-born Froome, attempting to become just the seventh man to win all three Grand Tours.

He would be only the third cyclist in history to hold all three titles at the same time, a feat previously achieved by Eddy Merckx in 1973 and Bernard Hinault in 1983.

The Briton claimed his maiden Vuelta a Espana title in September to become just the third rider, after Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil (1963) and Hinault (1978), to win the Tour and Vuelta in the same year.

Froome will also try to become the first rider since the late Marco Pantani in 1998 to achieve a Giro and Tour double in the same season.

“It’s really exciting to be able to take on a new challenge, to do something that perhaps people wouldn’t expect and to mix it up,” he said.

“It’s a whole new motivation for me to see if I can pull off something special next year.

“I feel as if my cycling career started in Italy in some ways. I lived there for three years when I began my career as a professional, so having the opportunity to go back to the Giro in the position I am now in, and with the opportunity I have, feels in some ways like completing a circle.” AFP

New York Knicks snap skid despite Porzingis injury scare NEW YORK—Enes Kanter had 22 points and 14 rebounds to help the New York Knicks down the Miami Heat 115-86 on Wednesday despite losing Kristaps Porzingis early to an ankle injury.

Courtney Lee added 17 points for the Knicks, who snapped a threegame losing streak.

Kanter and Lee stepped up after star forward Porzingis, the fourth-best scorer in the NBA going into the contest, hurt his right ankle less than three

minutes into the game.

Porzingis was scrambling for a loose ball when his right ankle buckled to a cringe-making angle and he hit the court, lying there for several minutes before being escorted to the locker room.

The Knicks said X-rays done on site were negative, and even added that he was available to return.

But New York quickly built a big lead and didn’t have to bring back the Latvian big man, who was reported by the team to be keeping warm pedaling

a stationary bike.

“After it happened, I was warming up,” confirmed Porzingis, who has already battled back and elbow trouble despite taking extra steps with diet and rest this season to keep his 7-foot-3-inch (2.20 meter) frame fit.

“My adrenaline was high, I wasn’t feeling it as much. I was actually pretty close to coming back in. We were going to re-evaluate at halftime and at halftime, the doctor recommended to stay out and we made the decision that I should not go

back out there.”

Turkish center Kanter, who missed the Knicks’ three previous games with back spasms, had 18 points and 13 rebounds in the first half as New York dominated. Six of his rebounds came on the offensive end as New York outrebounded the Heat 52-31.

The Knicks went on to lead by as many as 30 in the third quarter as they rebounded from a dismal offensive performance in their 103-91 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday. AFP

ZARKS will have a new opponent in the championship round of the Novice Plus Division of the LGR Hoops.

Baketech stunned heavy favorite Nougat with big baskets from Meljar Murillo in the last three seconds of the game before hacking out an exciting 93-89 win at the Gatorade Hoops Center.

Murillo capped his long-game brilliance with a triple plus a foul from Milan Vargas then completed a rare fourpoint play for the final tally of this event sponsored by Bugsy’s, Rain or Shine, Petron, Titan, NBA Store, Gatorade, BTV, Golds Gym, Zarks Burger, Kartilya, SYF and Ybalai.

Left with no timeout to call, Nougat rushed things at the other end but couldn’t get off a shot before the final buzzer sounded, sending Baketech in a head-on collision course in the finals against defending champion Zarks.

Baketech and Zarks square off in a winner-take-all championship game on Saturday, 8:30 p.m. at the Filoil Flying V Arena.

Also making it to the championship round were Wednesday Group’s teams in the Novice and 38-and-above divisions, Los Mexicanos, Nougat, and Zarks.

Wednesday Group defeated RJS Construction in the Novice Division, 76-72, to arrange a titular showdown with Nougat.

Collins Cardenas finished with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds to power Wednesday Group. He was backed up by Jun Fuentes, who had 14 and Jolan Barrios’ 11 markers.

Los Mexicanos repulsed Tiboli, 101-97, in their knockout semifinals match in the Neophyte Division as the power duo of Russell Marcelo and Rod Advincula combined for 48 points.

LOTTO RESULTS

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

Sports

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

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017

Quiban putts his way to top with a 66 TARLAC—Justin Quiban, due for a big win after a string of impressive finishes, put himself in contention again, using a hot putter to fire a six-under 66 and grab a onestroke lead over Clyde Mondilla and Joenard Rates halfway through the CAT (Central Azucarera de Tarlac) Open at the Luisita Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Quiban birdied the treacherous par-3 17th from 35 feet out, capping a pair of 33s fashioned out in ideal condition as erstwhile frontrunner Andrew Campbell (74) of Australia and Swede Oskar Arvidsson (76) fumbled despite the absence of the wind and tumbled down the leaderboard.

The 21-year-old Quiban, who figured in a final round duel in last two major tournaments at Southwoods and Wack Wack, also knocked down a couple of birdie putts from difficult lies and finished with eight to negate his double-bogey mishap on the par-4 No. 14.

“My putts on the sixth and seven were both from difficult downhill lies but I managed to get a nice read and made them,” said Quiban, who took charge of the elite field with an eight-under 136.

But lurking behind at 137 is the fancied Mondilla, who blitzed his way to joint second with a 67, sparked by a threebirdie binge from No. 3, with the unheralded Rates also pooling a seven-under total with his own version of 33-34 under preferred lies rule.

Mondilla actually tied Quiban at eight-under with a birdie on No. 15 but this year’s Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit winner threeputted No. 16, flubbing a five-footer for par.

“I had a long first putt (40 feet) and pushed it too hard and went past the cup,” said Mondilla, who nailed four PGT victories this year, including the Players Championship at Summit Golf last September.

Justin Quiban hopes to wield a hot putter in the last 36 holes

Big World Children’s Day PSC celebration in works

B

IG dreams, big goals for the Philippine Sports Commission.

A simultaneous playing of some 40,000 kids in one day is eyed as the PSC and the Philippine Sports Institute will bring the Children’s Games to 40 cities and provinces on Nov. 20, 2018 in celebration of the World Children’s Day. PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, at the sidelines of the second day of the PSI Coordinators’ Meeting and Workshop at the Multipurpose Hall Dorm G, PhilSports Complex here yesterday, said the plan is ambitious but they are more than willing to make it happen.

“Forty simultaneous Children’s Games with 1,000 children in each area, mabigat ito.

If we do this every year, we will reach 200,000 children in five years,” the PSC chief said,

although adding that the World Children’s Day event is aside from other Children’s Games that will be held in other areas in the countryside until every community in the periphery is reached before the term of President Rodrigo R. Duterte ends in 2022.

He said the Children’s Games, being at the heart of PSC-PSI’s grassroots sports program, meets the requirements of the United Nations’ medium development plan and

the Philippine Constitution.

The Children’s Games, which is also the core of the agency’s Sports for Peace program, has been cited by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) as the first to implement a program that meets its major themes. While other non-government organizations have implemented Children’s Games in other countries, only the Philippines has a government agency that implements it.

“Very important ito (Children’s Games). Others don’t understand why we are having Children’s Games. Ito lang ang programa ang na-recognize ng Unesco,” he said, adding that regular programs like the Batang Pinoy, Palarong Pambansa and Philippine National Games, which have been existing for quite some-

time, have not been given such recognition.

The Children’s Games, designed as a vehicle to promote peace, aims to bring Christian, Lumad and Muslim children 12 years old and below to play together, thus, eliminating barriers of religion and culture. Children from the marginalized sector including the children in conflict with the law, out-of-school youth, streetchildren, children displaced by war and abused children are also part of the program. Youth volunteerism is also being promoted in the Children’s Games through the Ate and Kuya sports volunteers program.

Ramirez added, “This is a legacy we want to leave, that we have supported the children’s right to play and helped in the formation of values and character of future mothers, fathers, policemen, leaders of the country.”

La Salle-Zobel wins 17-U title

LANCE Barcuma made 16 points for La Salle-Zobel as they turned back Chiang Kai Shek College, 58-43, to win the 17-under crown of the Milcu-Got Skills Elite Basketball Showcase at the Lyceum Philippines university last Nov 25.

Joshua Tolentino sank 11 points for the CKSC Dragons, who trailed by seven in the first period.

The Junior Archers were able to limit the Dragons by four in the second period, and this gave them a 28-11 halftime edge.

Meanwhile, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons will have a twice-to-beat edge over the Letran Knights in their coming under-25 semifinals encounter.

Don Bosco Technical Institute meets Passion Basketball in the under-12 semis action. Peter Atencio

Warriors outlast Lakers in OT

Lonzo Ball of the Los Angeles Lakers signals as he is guarded by Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors during a 127-123 Warriors win in overtime at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. AFP

LOS ANGELES—Stephen Curry scored 13 of his 28 points in overtime as the NBA champion Golden State Warriors edged the Lakers 127-123 in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Curry struggled from threepoint range for much of the night, going one-of-seven from beyond the arc before starting overtime with backto-back three-pointers.

That put the Warriors up 115-109, and two days after their shock defeat by the Sacramento Kings, they held on for the win.

The Warriors, who were without Curry and Kevin Durant in the loss to Sacramento, haven’t lost back-to-back games this season—but they were less than impressive in maintaining that record.

Head coach Steve Kerr admitted that after two titles in three successive trips to

the NBA Finals the Warriors aren’t always showing their “killer instinct”.

“Our guys are competitive, so when we lose we tend to get a little angry,” he said.

“It’s more challenging this year than it has been the last few years. They haven’t been getting quite as angry this year as they have in the last few years.”

The score was knotted at 8484 to start the fourth quarter, and the lead changed hands five times in the period.

Durant, who led the Warriors with 29 points, pulled Golden State level with a three-pointer with 46 seconds left in regulation and both teams missed shots as it went to overtime.

As the reigning champions clawed out their victory, the current Western Conference leaders Houston rolled to a sixth straight win, a 118-97

home victory over the Indiana Pacers.

James Harden scored 29 points with eight rebounds and 10 assists for the Rockets despite struggling early with his long-range shot.

Harden missed his first six three-point attempts before finally converting from beyond the arc in the third quarter.

Two more three-pointers quickly followed as the Rockets pulled away.

Houston finished November with a 12-1 record, with two six-game winning streaks bracketing a lone home defeat to the Toronto Raptors on November 14.

Harden said they don’t intend to let up.

“We’re never satisfied,” Harden said. “Right now we’re playing pretty well.

We’re going to go on the road and continue what we’ve been doing.” AFP

Back to the drawing board for Blue Eagles ATENEO Blue Eagles’ coach Sandy Arespacochaga said they had La Salle on its heels with their big lead in Game 2 of their UAAP Men’s Basketball best-of-three showdown at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.

But because La Salle is such a strong team, the Archers bounced back and were unable to keep them at bay when they began making their counterattacks.

“And we weren’t able to stop the run. The run started at the end of the second quarter, and it carried

over to the third,” explained Arespacochaga.

The Blue Eagles squandered a 21-point lead and bowed to the defending champion La Salle Green Archers, 92-83, in Game 2 of their best-of-three finals series at the Araneta Coliseum.

Arespacochaga said they were not able to play well defensively.

At this point, the Green Archers were doing a great job in containing the Blue Eagles during their transition plays.

The Green Archers focused their

defense on Matt Nieto, who had 10 points, and was held scoreless in the second period.

Because of the adjustments that La Salle did in Game 2, Arespacochaga said it’s back to the drawing board for the Eagles to figure out how they will be able to make necessary adjustments during their winner-take-all game on Sunday.

The way the Achers recovered from a huge deficit looked eerily familiar to the Eagles’ eyes. That’s because 30 years ago, it was Ateneo which rose from such a huge deficit

to win a game in the finals.

In 1987, the Blue Eagles rallied back from a 20-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win their first-ever title in the league with a 94-92 triumph over the University of the East Warriors.

At that time, free throw shots from Emilio Chuatico and Eric Reyes Jr. sealed the deal for the Blue Eagles.

Joseph “Jet” Nieto , the father of the twins Matthew and Mike, led a decisive run and sparked it with a triple in the beginning of the last period.

And it was baskets from Gilbert Reyes and Nieto that brought the Blue Eagles closer, 92-86.

Last Wednesday, with scoring ace Ricci Rivero shackled by four fouls in the first half, Andrei Caracut joined Aljun Melecio in helping the Green Archers turn the tables on the Blue Eagles.

Caracut, a third-year veteran of the squad, banged in 13 points, including seven crucial points that provided fuel for La Salle’s successful effort to tie their best-of-three title series at 1-all. Peter Atencio

Eaglets, Bullpups crush foes

By Peter Atencio THE Ateneo Blue Eaglets and the National University Bullpups stayed on the winning track last Wednesday, posting big wins over separate foes in the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines junior basketball tournament at the Arena in San Juan.

The trio of Enrico Manuel, SJ Belangel and Jason Credo led a strong start that saw the Blue Eaglets finishing with a 97-47 swamping of the University of the East Junior Warriors.

This allowed the Blue Eaglets and the Bullpups to remain in the lead with their fourth straight triumphs.

Manuel fired a gamehigh 15 points and had eight rebounds for the Blue Eaglets, who moved away in the first period on a 16-2 run.

Belangel shot 13 points, with six points in the first 10 minutes of play that allowed Ateneo to earn a 14-point cushion.

Credo also had 13, with his back-to-back triple in the last 5:10 of the opening quarter capping their initial salvo, which later helped Ateneo take a 24-10 spread at the end of the period.

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Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017

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SEC fine excessive—San Miguel IN BRIEF

By Jenniffer B Austria

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ONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. describes as “excessive and unreasonable” the P769.3-million fine slapped by the Securities and Exchange Commission against the company for the late filing of additional documents pertaining to the acquisition of shares in Manila Electric Company in 2012.

ABS-CBN sells over 4m set-top boxes ABS-CBN Corp. said it sold four million units of digital terrestrial television set-top boxes as of endNovember, surpassing its target for 2017.

“Just this week, we actually hit four million already. So, we were able to do a little earlier than Christmas. We are also now in more areas.

We are in Visayas and Mindanao.

Iloilo, Cebu, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro and Davao, the whole of Davao,” Chinky Alcedo, head of ABS-CBN’s DTT, said.

ABS-CBN’s DTT product TVPlus was launched in 2015.

Alcedo also said the company planned to offer TVPlus with built in Wi-Fi before the end of the year.

“It is something we are working on. We will actually have pilot in some areas not yet in Mega Manila but in Cebu and Davao. It’s just small scale just to make sure we continue to refine the product. So, we’re not making it a big launch yet. It’s really trial in those cities first to make sure before we roll out something that it’s really optimal,” she said.

“Those are areas where there are less choices for Kapamilya because you know in Mega Manila, everyone is competing. The telcos have their own broadband services, their own fixed broadband so, in those areas, there is still more need especially since we are targeting the broad C,” Alcedo said. Darwin G. Amojelar

Mercedes opens office in Clark THE Mercedes-Benz Group Services Philippines Inc., a shared service center of Daimler AG, established a facility in Clark Freeport in Pampanga.

Mercedes-Benz Group Services chief executive oHeiko Nitsche said the new office would further strengthen the company’s presence in the Philippines.

Mercedes-Benz Center Clark is the group’s second site in the Philippines. The company built the first office in Cebu City six years ago.

Nitsche said the whole Central Luzon is a strategic location for a new site because it offers a rich pool of talents as well as land appropriate for foreign businesses.

“We have now almost 40 employees here, and we will also grow over the next years,” Nitsche said.

He said the center would serve as a financial, accounting and consulting base for Mercedes-Benz Group.

It will also as a serve customer base in various continents. Othel V. Campos

PAL opens new routes out of Cebu PHILIPPINE Airlines said it will open new routes out of Cebu starting Dec. 1 to further enhance the Visayan hub’s connectivity with Northern Mindanao and the Bicol Region.

The new routes–which will utilize PAL’s Bombardier Q400 Next Generation turboprops are CebuSiargao, Cebu-Camiguin, CebuOzamiz and Cebu-Legaspi.

These are on top of the existing routes from the “Queen City of the South”, including Cebu-Bacolod, Cebu-Busuanga, Cebu-Butuan, Cebu-Cagayan, Cebu-Caticlan, Cebu-Davao, Cebu-General Santos, Cebu-Iloilo, Cebu-Kalibo, CebuPuerto Princesa, Cebu-Siargao, Cebu-Tacloban and Cebu- Tagbilaran.

Flights from Clark to Masbate Calbayog and Catarman will also be launched on Dec. 1. PAL’s 86-seater dual class Bombardier Q400s will serve the new domestic connections from the Pampanga, Darwin G. Amojelar

Zambales seen as major destination The entire province of Zambales is expected be the country’s major tourist and economic hub in the next 20 years.

Zambales Governor Amor Deloso said he is optimistic the province would not only dominate the entire region, but also rise as a global stage for tourism, trade and commerce.

Deloso said billions of pesos in investments and construction projects are set to be implemented by both local and foreign investors in the province over the next 10 years.

A part of the 10-year economic boost plan is the construction of Zambales Convention Center and the provincial capitol in January next year.

“The construction of this convention center will answer the needs of all sectors here for purposes of all sectors here for seminars and conventions of big groups,” Deloso said.

“We are strategically situated, we are only four hours away from Hong Kong and other Asian countries through navigation. The world is getting congested but here in our provice, there is a vast resource for land, seas and mountains and it’s about time we turn things around, said Deloso.

FILIPINO CONTRACTORS. President Rodrigo Duterte (center) offers strong support to the Philippine construction industry during the 2nd Philippine Construction Congress in Pasay City. The president urged local contractors to join the government in building massive infrastructure projects under the ‘Build Build Build’ program, creating more opportunities leading to ‘Jobs, Jobs, Jobs’ through Trabaho at Negosyo, or jobs and business opportunities for Filipinos. With Duterte are Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (right), Taguig City mayor Lani Cayetano (left) and members of the Philippine Contractors Association.

New commissioner vows to put ERC in order

By Alena Mae S. Flores NEWLY-installed Energy Regulatory Commission chairman Agnes Devanadera said she wants to put order in the commission and provide better service to power consumers.

Devanadera, a former Justice secretary, replaced former ERC chairman Jose Vicente Salazar who was ordered removed from of-

fice by Malacañang. She said her immediate action would be “to reinstate the synergy among the workers in ERC so that the institution can move faster and the institution can be part of the team in the energy sector.”

The regulator was hit by a controversy after the suicide of an employee in November last year after raising allegations of corruption in the agency. The death of Jose

Francisco Villa sowed distrust in the agency and cases were filed against Salazar and other commissioners.

The remaining four commissioners asked Malacañang to suspend and remove from office Salazar on several complaints.

The Office of the President issued a decision dated Oct. 6, which found Salazar guilty of two counts of simple misconduct and one

count of grave misconduct and “imposes upon him the penalty of dismissal from the service with all accessory penalties.”

“Put the house in order and so far as the public is concerned, the institution, the regulations, the regulatory body, they are always there not just to regulate but primarily, to do a balance and to protect the consumer,” Devanadera said.

San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said in a statement the company would contest in court the decision of the corporate regulator, saying there was no late disclosure technically considering the relevant information regarding the deal was provided and disclosed to the SEC and the Philippine Stock Exchange through the submission of SEC form 17-C. “As such, the public was adequately and properly informed of the details of the share sale transaction inclusive of the purchase price, number of shares, equivalent percentage shareholdings in Meralco [27 percent] and the terms of payment,” Ang said.

“The penalty is highly disproportionate to the infraction attributed to the company considering that the disclosures made by SMC to both SEC and PSE were extensive enough to prevent market speculation and other similar fraudulent acts,” he asaid.

The SEC in a decision dated Nov. 21 slapped San Miguel with P769.3million fine for late filing of reports regarding three transactions, reportedly in violation of Rule 23 of the Securities Regulation Code.

DTI asks large foreign firms to build factories

By Othel V. Campos THE Trade Department asked large foreign manufacturers and importers to set up manufacturing operations in the Philippines.

“There are some products we believe can be manufactured here. Right now, we’re having consultations to see if we can work it out with a foreign brand or a multinational corporation instead of them selling to the Philippines and us importing from them,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.

Lopez said these companies could establish up a plant in the Philippines and make it a hub for come of its products or create toll manufacturing agreements with potential partners.

The agency said manufacturing plants would have domino effect on employment and enhance the Philippine capability to

produce.

The Trade Department is initially looking at the pharmaceutical industry as a possible candidate for a newly proposed manufacturing strategy.

The Philippines is a net importer of medicines. It imports heavily from different sources but the bulk of them are sourced from India.

Lopez said industrial zones were important for manufacturing to move forward with the industry, academe and government sharing the brunt of work needed to revitalize the manufacturing sector.

“There is a need to incentivize research, development and innovation. Perhaps tax deductibility and other programs like technology matching and exhibits will help the manufacturing industry develop its potential,” he said.

Weak peso pushes up govt debt to P6.5t

By Julito G. Rada

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR. William Tiu Lim, president and chief executive of Mega Global Corp., one of the country’s leading manufacturers and distributors of canned goods, is awarded the Meralco Biz Partners Entrepreneur of the Year at the Asia CEO Awards at the Grand Ballroom of Manila Marriot Hotel in Pasay City. Accepting the award is his son and vice president for sales and marketing Marvin Tiu Lim. The award aims to recognize personalities who achieved success in the field of business, government and academics in the Philippines and across the Asia Pacific region.

Bankers support BSP’s plan to cut the reserve requirement ratio SEVERAL bankers expressed their full support behind the plan of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to cut the reserve requirement ratio, saying the move will allow more liquidity in the market.

BDO Unibank Inc. treasurer Pedro Florescio said lowering the RRR of 20 percent, one of the highest in the region, would be vital in improving the lending capacity of banks.

“Lowering the RRR will allow banks to boost its lending capacity provid-

ing a continuous supply of credit for consumers and businesses,” Florescio said in a statement.

He said reducing the RRR would allow banks to boost their lending capacity for consumers and businesses and bolster economic growth. He said this would also open more opportunities for the banks to reach to out to more clients and enhance financial inclusion.

Bank of the Philippine Islands treasurer Antonio Paner said banks were confident that the Bangko Sentral

The first was when SMC acquired the Meralco shares from state-run Government Service Insurance System on Aug. 5, 2011; the second, when SMC sold a portion of the said shares to subsidiary San Miguel Purefoods Company Inc. on Aug. 24, 2011 and; lastly, the supposed indirect acquisition of SMC of what it sold to SMPFC on even date, since 91.67 percent of SMPFC was owned by SMC. SEC Rule 23 requires directors, officers and principal stockholders of listed firms to file initial statement of beneficial ownership of securities within 10 days and to file statement of changes in beneficial ownership within 10 days after the close of each calendar month, if there is change in beneficial ownership.

San Miguel explained that the late filing was due to “inadvertence”.

The SEC said San Miguel’s excuse for the late filing of the said reports had no merit.

“Excuses such as inadvertence is self serving and unverifiable. If such excuses are allowed, then the reportorial requirements designed to ensure transparency and fairness in the securities market would be undermined,” the SEC said.

was “equipped to manage the impact on price changes as there are other monetary tools that can be used.”

The reserve requirement ratio is the portion of depositors’ balances that banks are required to safekeep with the BSP in the form of cash or other liquid assets.

The reserve requirement ratio currently stands at 20 percent which was set since May 2014, and is currently deemed as one of the highest RRR in the region.

Bangko Sentral Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. earlier an-

nounced the plan to gradually reduce the 20-percent reserve requirement ratio to a singledigit level. He said there was a need to inject more liquidity into the financial system to satisfy the needs of the national economy.

BDO and BPI said lowering the RRR would release around P700 billion of idle cash in the medium-term.

The International Monetary Fund said while it was supporting the move by the Bangko Sentral to reduce the reserve ratio requirement, this should be gradu-

ally done.

IMF country representative Yongzheng Yang said the reduction of the RRR should be a data-driven exercise. Espenilla assured that the Monetary Board would follow a game plan to avoid too much liquidity in the national economy.

“There are concerns that lowering RRR might lead to an inflationary effect in the long-run. Banks however, are confident that this can be proactively managed by the BSP,” the banks said.

Julito G. Rada

GOVERNMENT debt hit a record P6.5 trillion as of end-October, up by 0.9 percent or P57.19 billion from September’s level, on peso depreciation, the Bureau of the Treasury said in a statement Thursday.

“The effect of local currency depreciation on foreign currency debt considerably affected the end-month level of the national government debt,” the Treasury said.

Data showed that the peso depreciated from 50.830 per US dollar as of end-September 2017 to 51.686 as of end-October 2017.

The end-October debt was also higher than P6.069-trillion recorded in the same period last year.

The debt ratio stood at 41.7 percent of gross domestic product as of the end of the third quarter.

“This continues the downward trajectory for the year after the slight increase to 42.4 percent as of the second quarter 2017 from the end-2016 level of 42.1 percent,” the Treasury aid.

Domestic debt amounted to P4.216 trillion, a 0.7 percent or P27.57-billion increase from the end-September level.

Net issuance of government domestic bonds reached P27.15 billion while the P0.42 billion impact of currency adjustments on onshore dollar bonds added to the increase in domestic debt for the month.

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S. Korea raises interest rates

By Jiyeun Lee and Hooyeon Kim

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HE Bank of Korea raised its benchmark interest rate for the first time since 2011, marking a likely turning point for Asian central banks.

The region faces rising pressure to increase borrowing costs after the Federal Reserve began tightening at the end of 2015 and Thursday’s move in Seoul is the first hike of a benchmark rate by a major central bank in Asia since 2014.

Governor Lee Ju-yeol said during a news conference that the decision to raise the seven-day repurchase rate to 1.5 percent was meant to prevent financial imbalances.

One board member dissented, voting to hold the benchmark steady, Lee said.

Strong exports that have fueled profits at key manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics Co. are helping the economy toward projected growth of more than 3 percent this year. With this, and inflation near the central bank’s 2 percent target, room has opened for the central bank to begin normalizing policy.

With another rate increase by the Federal Reserve seen coming in December, the BOK would also want to avoid having higher US rates triggering capital outflows from Korea.

While the Lee and his board are wary of increasing repayment burdens for borrowers given the nation’s record level of household debt, the hike underscores their confidence in the economic recovery and inflation.

The move was forecast by 18 of 24 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg, with the rest expecting the central bank would leave the

rate at a record-low 1.25 percent, where it had been since June 2016.

Lee said the economy would continue to grow steadily at around the potential rate, with an expansion of around 3 percent expected in 2018. Inflationary pressures will increase as the economy continues recovering, with price gains gradually approaching the target, he said.

South Korea’s economic recovery has been driven by exports, especially of semiconductors, while domestic consumption remains modest. Lee said he expected the semiconductor growth cycle to continue for now.

The won weakened 0.9 percent against the dollar to 1,086.90 on Thursday as of 1:25 p.m. in Seoul. The yield on three-year government bonds fell one basis point to 2.1 percent.

Economists expect the BOK’s rate-hike

cycle to be shorter and more gradual than previous ones, ending at about 2 percent, according to a survey by Bloomberg.

The central bank said in a statement that it would maintain its accommodative policy stance, aiming at ensuring that inflation stabilizes at the 2 percent target over the medium term. Inflation expected to be in the mid-1 percent range for some time, it said.

Lee told reporters after the press conference that the rate hike doesn’t constitute tightening, stressing the need to reduce policy accommodation.

The International Monetary Fund said earlier in November that the BOK’s policy would remain accommodative even after two rate increases.

Expectations of a rate hike had been high since the board’s meeting in October, when one dissenter called for an increase.

Bloomberg

Asian stock markets tumble HONG KONG―Technology firms across Asia tumbled on Thursday, dragging most markets in the region into the red, following sharp losses on major US firms including Apple and Netflix.

The retreat is the latest to hit Asia as investors fret over a recent rally that has sent several indexes to record highs, though a surprise jump in a gauge of Chinese factory activity provided some support to Shanghai.

While Wall Street saw the Dow chalk up a fresh record following strong US economic growth figures, the Nasdaq took a hammering with analysts pointing to a technical shift ahead of a Senate debate on tax cuts this week.

“The prospect of US tax cuts actually being passed appears to have prompted a value rotation away from the FANG stocks and the tech-heavy Nasdaq and back toward financials and other sectors of the market that will benefit if the tax bill does indeed pass into law,” said Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader.

FANG refers to tech titans Facebook, Apple, Netflix and Google―which now trades as Alphabet― that have been at the forefront of a market surge in the sector this year.

The selling flooded through to Asia, where Samsung dived 3.4 percent and Sony lost 2.3 percent. Tencent―which recently joined the $500 billion market value club― was down three percent in Hong Kong, where AAC Technologies plunged 6.4 percent. AFP

BEEFING UP. Engineers inspect a Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330-300 aircraft inside a hangar at an engineering complex adjacent to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, outside Kuala Lumpur on November 30, 2017. The Malaysian flag-carrier on November 30 took delivery of its first Airbus A350 XWB aircraft, with another five aircraft to follow. AFP

US economy booked fastest growth in 3 years in the third quarter WASHINGTON―The US economy posted its fastest growth in three years in the third quarter, indicating a broad-based expansion is gaining momentum, according to official figures released Wednesday.

The revised data surpassed President Donald Trump’s three percent target for the second time in a row, showing that back-to-back hurricanes in late summer barely left a scratch on the world’s largest economy.

Third-quarter GDP growth was revised up to 3.3 percent, three tenths of a point higher than an initial estimate and the strongest performance since the third

quarter of 2014, according to the Commerce Department.

The news comes as Republican lawmakers in Washington enter a crucial phase in efforts to adopt a sweeping overhaul of the US tax code.

The White House and senior Republican lawmakers have argued that the $1.5 trillion package of tax cuts will pay for itself by spurring economic growth, but economists say there is little evidence to support this claim, especially in an already-growing economy.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday took credit for the rising growth rate even though the principal planks of his economic agenda have

yet to take effect.

Addressing supporters in St. Charles, Missouri, Trump said the growth rate was the “largest increase in many years.”

“Did you ever think you would hear that in less than a year?” he said of his achievements.

With growth at a 3.1-percent clip in the April-June period, the six months from April to October have seen the fastest expansion since 2014.

While visually a victory for Trump, the growth rate for the full year is likely to come in closer to 2.5 percent, in line with growth in prior years.

The higher third-quarter growth reflected upward revisions to business spending on computer software and transportation equipment, with investment in equipment hitting its fastest pace in three years at 10.4 percent.

State and local governments also appear to have spent more on buildings while manufacturing inventories were higher than previously estimated. That helped offset downward revisions to durable goods orders and services exports.

In congressional testimony on Wednesday, outgoing Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said the expansion was “increasingly broad-

based across sectors” as well as in much of the rest of the world.

She said she expected growth would continue and the job market would strengthen “somewhat further,” eventually causing wages to rise after a period of sluggish growth.

In a sign of persistent weakness, however, the numbers released Wednesday showed a downward revision to wages in the second quarter of the year.

The quarterly increase in consumer spending on services, a key driver of the US economy, was also unrevised at 1.5 percent, its lowest level in four years. AFP

Australia probing banks to quell public anger SYDNEY, Australia―A wide-ranging inquiry into the Australian finance industry will be held after an admission by the country’s top lenders Thursday that it was needed to restore faith in the massively profitable banking sector after a string of scandals.

The country’s “big four” banks―among the developed world’s most wealthy―have been under scrutiny in recent years amid allegations of dodgy financial advice, life insurance and mortgage fraud.

There have also been claims of anti-money laundering laws being breached and benchmark interest rates rigged.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has long resisted Labor opposition calls for a royal commission into misconduct, claiming it would be a waste of money, but mounting political pressure forced his hand with uncertainty over the issue hurting offshore investor confidence.

“The government has decided to establish this royal commission to further ensure our financial system is working efficiently and effectively,” he said.

“It will not put capitalism on trial... and we’ll give it a reporting date of 12 months.”

The big banks have previously been vehemently against any inquiry, arguing it would be an unnecessary distraction as they tackle This combination of photos taken in Sydney on November 30, 2017 show the signs of the “big four” Australian banks (clockwise from top left) National Australia Bank (NAB), Westpac, ANZ and global headwinds and disruption from technology.

Commonwealth Bank. A wide-ranging inquiry into the Australian finance industry will be held But in a letter to Treasurer Scott Morrison after an admission by the country’s top lenders on November 30 that it was needed to restore shortly before Turnbull’s announcement, the faith in the massively profitable banking sector after a string of scandals. AFP

chairmen and chief executives of ANZ, Commonwealth, NAB and Westpac admitted it was now in the national interest.

“Our banks have consistently argued the view that further inquiries into the sector, including a royal commission, are unwarranted,” the letter said.

“However, it is now in the national interest for the political uncertainty to end. It is hurting confidence in our financial services system, including in offshore markets, and has diminished trust and respect for our sector and people.”

The announcement sent bank shares tumbling, with the country’s biggest lender, Commonwealth, leading the falls.

CMC Markets chief analyst Ric Spooner said they could remain under pressure for some time.

“The commission process is likely to result in a significant increase in regulatory costs for banks and other financial sector companies over the next 12 months, putting further pressure on the profit outlook,” he said.

Last year Turnbull announced the big banks would have to face a parliamentary committee for an annual grilling to “drive cultural change”, in a bid to address public discontent about their behavior.

But pressure has since been building for a full independent inquiry, with a senator in Turnbull’s Liberal coalition partner, the Nationals, preparing a private member’s bill calling for a probe into the banks. AFP

Oil climbs as further production cuts loom OIL prices edged higher as investors closely watch for Opec’s next move on production curbs.

Futures rose 0.4 percent in New York after falling 2.8 percent in the previous three sessions. All Opec members and Russia are ready to extend cuts until the end of next year to ensure global stockpiles keep falling toward the five-year average, according to delegates in Vienna attending Thursday’s meeting.

Oil has eased this week from the highest level in more than two years on uncertainty about the outcome of the meeting by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. A year after Opec and its allies banded together in a bid to tackle a global glut and to wrest back control of the market from US shale producers, there’s consensus that the job’s not finished.

“The market has positioned for the most bullish outcome, which is for the deal to be extended for nine months,” said Ric Spooner, a Sydneybased analyst at CMC Markets. “Any outcome that is a bit shorter than that may just leave the market vulnerable to a bit of a pullback, but not a large one.”

West Texas Intermediate for January delivery was at $57.51 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, up 21 cents, at 7:50 a.m. in London. Total volume traded was about 35 percent below the 100-day average.

Prices lost 69 cents to close at $57.30 on Wednesday.

Brent for January settlement, which expires Thursday, climbed 29 cents to $63.40 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The global benchmark traded at a premium of $5.89 to WTI. The more-active February contract rose 22 cents to $62.75. Bloomberg

Bitcoin breaks $11,000 barrier NEW YORK―Bitcoin surged above $11,000 for the first time on Wednesday as it extends a stratospheric rise that has delighted investors but sparked fears of a bubble.

The virtual currency achieved its first landmark of a historic day early in the Asian trading session, breaching $10,000 for the first time, according to Bloomberg News figures.

The surged continued and it got as high as $11,434 before tumbling to $9,643 near 1930 GMT, a drop of 15 percent in just a few hours.

The cryptocurrency started the year at just $1,000, and as recently as mid-October was trading at $5,000.

The rise in recent weeks has been spurred in part by a late October announcement by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange to launch a futures marketplace for bitcoin. The tech-heavy Nasdaq exchange also is planning to launch bitcoin futures trading next year, according to press reports Wednesday.

With the latest rise, the overall value of bitcoin globally is 180 billion, according to the site coinmarketcap.com.

The breakthrough is the latest in a spectacular run for the online money dubbed “digital gold” by its advocates, which began life in 2009 as a bit of encrypted software supposedly written by an unknown coder with a Japanese-sounding name.

Bitcoin, which was valued at just a few US cents when it was launched, has no legal exchange rate, no central bank backing it and is traded on specialist platforms. AFP

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Sanctions are biting at the borders R

ASON, North Korea―At the northeastern tip of North Korea, where the isolated, nuclear-armed country meets its giant neighbors China and Russia, United Nations sanctions on the regime over its weapons programs are having an impact.

And with the North possibly facing further sanctions following its ICBM missile test on Wednesday, things are unlikely to get any easier for traders involved with the remote region’s Rason Special Economic Zone.

Rason is one of Pyongyang’s showpiece development projects, and is looking to exploit its geographical location between the borders with China and Russia and the Pacific Ocean.

Formally established in 1991, it was the first of its kind in the country and has only come up to speed in recent years, but officials are defiant about the setbacks.

Foreign firms are given tax, visa and legal concessions―they can set up wholly-owned units, rather than joint ventures―to lure them to the SEZ, as leader Kim Jong-Un seeks to pursue a policy of “byungin”, or “simul-

taneous development”, of both the economy and atomic arms.

But eight sets of UN Security Council sanctions have been imposed on Pyongyang over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

North Korean coal exports have been banned, leaving the material piling up on quaysides in Rason, as have iron ore and seafood.

The most recent resolution― passed in September after Pyongyang detonated by far its most powerful nuclear device to date― forbade trading in textiles and imposed limits on oil supplies to it.

“There is some impact,” said Han Yue, deputy manager of the Chinese-owned Rason Songsin

Building Materials cement plant.

“Many things can’t be imported from China anymore because of the UN sanctions, in terms of the transfer of funds from both sides you could say it has been cut off.”

Beijing―Pyongyang’s sole major ally―has long been accused of failing to enforce UN resolutions against its wayward neighbor, with US President Donald Trump constantly demanding it do more.

But Han-aged 43, who comes from Singtai in Hebei province, next to Beijing―said China’s actions had slowed development and construction in Rason.

“This is affecting our sales,” he said, with parts imports another

problem. “Because of the economic sanctions, so far this year we have only completed 70 percent of the output of last year.”

The company was seeking North Korean suppliers for the limestone and coal raw materials it has so far brought in from China, he said, and measures on oil and natural gas were affecting ordinary citizens. “We see fewer vehicles on the road.”

Cho Bong-hyun, director of the IBK Economic Research Institute in Seoul, said increasingly strong sanctions were likely to deal “a big blow” to the economy at Rason.

“North Korea’s plans for the development of these economic

zones will be hard to carry out for now,” he added.

There used to be more than 5,000 foreign businessmen in Rason, around 80 percent of them Chinese, but officials privately admit some have left.

Chinese trader Pai Yuenlong has been selling shoes in North Korea for a decade, and would also like to switch businesses.

“Of course there’s an impact.

People don’t have money, there’s little consumption,” he said. “But I have massive stocks, so I can’t change even though I want to.”

Even so, North Korean officials insist they will not be cowed―and are working on ways to minimize the effects of sanctions. AFP

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO

: NAIA Customs Bonded Warehouse Operators Council (NAIA CBW-OC) IMPORTERS EXPORTERS CUSTOMS BROKERS FORWARDING COMPANIES AND OTHERS CONCERNED

WHAT

: PUBLIC HEARING RE: PETITION OF NAIA CBW-OC FOR TARIFF RATE ADJUSTMENT OF WAREHOUSING CHARGES

WHEN

: DECEMBER 04, 2017 (MONDAY) 2:00 P.M. DECEMBER 05, 2017 (TUESDAY) 200 P.M. DECEMBER 06, 2017 (WEDNESDAY) 2:00 P.M.

WHERE : BOC-NAIA CONFERENCE ROOM 3RD FLOOR BUREAU OF CUSTOM BUILDING NAIA, PASA Y CITY

RAMON J. ANQUILAN, CESE, CSEE OIC, District Collector and cone OIC, Deputy Collector for Operations

(MS-NOV. 29,30 & DEC. 1, 2017)

InvItatIon to BId for the Procurement of vIP Bar manPower ServIceS under ITB No. PB17-010PAV-11 The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming public bidding for the Procurement of VIP Bar Manpower Services under ITB No. PB17-010PAV-11.

Brief Description Location Required personnel

One (1) Lot, Three (3) Years VIP Bar Manpower Services for CF- Manila Bay Rizal Park Hotel, Southdrive Road, Kalaw Extension, Ermita Manila Thirty-Three (33) VIP Bar Personnel consisting of the following: Requirement Bartender Bar Attendant Kitchen Staff Total

VIP Bar Personnel Shift Rotation

MASS. This handout picture taken and released by the Vatican press office (Osservatore Romano) on November 30, 2017 shows Pope Francis meeting the faithful at a mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Yangon. Francis spread a message of forgiveness in a historic open-air mass before worshippers in Yangon on on November 29, during a visit to conflict-torn Myanmar that has been framed so far by his public sidestepping of the Rohingya crisis. AFP

Dying alone in the most populous city TOKYO―The stench of flesh rotting on a sultry day fills the air as cleaner Hidemitsu Ohshima steps into a tiny Tokyo apartment where a dead man lay decomposing for three weeks.

The man, believed to be in his 50s, died alone in a city he shared with tens of millions of other people but no one noticed, making him the latest victim of “Kodokushi” or “dying alone”― a growing trend in aging Japan.

Decked out in a white protective suit complete with rubber gloves, Ohshima lifts up a futon mattress soaked with the dead man’s bodily fluids, only to uncover a writhing mass of maggots and black bugs.

“Ugh, this is serious,” he says.

“You wear protective suits to defend yourself from bugs that may or may not be carrying diseases.”

Kodokushi is a growing problem in Japan, where 27.7 percent of the population is aged over 65 and many people are giving up trying to find partners in middle age, opting instead for a solitary existence.

Experts say a combination of uniquely Japanese cultural, social and demographic factors have compounded the problem.

There are no official figures for the number of people dying alone who stay unnoticed for days and weeks but most experts estimate it at 30,000 per year.

Yoshinori Ishimi, who runs the Anshin Net service that cleans up afterwards, believes the true figure is “twice or three times that.” AFP

China reluctant to cut off oil to North Korea BEIJING―The United States has renewed pressure on China to stop crude oil shipments to North Korea to close a crucial economic lifeline to the regime following its latest missile threat.

US President Donald Trump personally appealed to Chinese leader Xi Jinping to turn off the oil tap during a phone call after nuclear-armed North Korea launched a new intercontinental ballistic missile.

“That would be a pivotal step in the world’s effort to stop this international pariah,” US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Wednesday.

China has gone along with a series of punitive UN measures against its Cold War-era ally, but it has resisted calls to shut

the “Sino-DPRK Friendship Oil Pipeline”.

Washington had already sought an oil embargo after North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test in September, but faced resistance from China and Russia.

Instead, the US settled for UN sanctions that limited exports of refined petroleum products to North Korea.

So why is China so reluctant to completely cut off the steady flow of petroleum into North Korea’s fuel tanks?

No one really knows. China has not published data on its oil exports to the North since 2014.

The US Energy Information Administration estimates that the country consumes only a small amount: around 15,000 barrels a day.

The majority of that likely comes from China. According to UN customs data, China sent 6,000 barrels a day of oil products to North Korea in 2016.

Crude oil flows across the Yalu River from the Chinese city of Dandong to the Sinuiju oil depot in North Korea through the 30-kilometer “Sino-DPRK Friendship Oil Pipeline”.

The pipeline went into operation in 1975 with a capacity of three million tons per year, but the China National Petroleum Corporation said in 2015 that annual capacity stood at 520,000 tons.

The majority of that oil, if not all of it, is used by the military and Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile program, according to Wang Peng, a Korea expert at China’s Charhar Institute. AFP

Stan Lee says ‘Spiderman’ nearly squashed at birth TOKYO―Spiderman, One of the most successful comic book characters in history, nearly didn’t get off the ground, 94-year-old creator Stan Lee admitted on Thursday.

Lee told reporters in Tokyo he came up with the idea while watching a fly climb a wall and wanted to create a superhero with the same abilities.

“Somehow calling him ‘flyman’ didn’t sound dramatic enough. What else could he be?

Mosquito man? Then I said: Spiderman. And it sounded so dramatic,” said Lee. Lee decided to make his new creation a teenager and give him “many personal problems”.

“He won’t have enough money, he lives with his aunt who is ill and needs medicine and he has to take care of her. And he’s also got

to fight the bad guys,” he said.

He took the idea to his publisher who said: “Stan, that is the worst idea I have ever heard.”

Superheroes have to be adults and cannot have any problems― that’s why they are superheroes, said his boss.

And another thing: “People hate spiders so you can’t call a hero Spiderman!”

Lee was nevertheless allowed to slip a Spiderman story into the last edition of a book and it became an instant hit.

“Just for fun, to get it out of my system, I put Spiderman in that last edition and forgot about it,” he said.

“A month later, after all the sales figures were in, my boss came running into my office and said: ‘Remember that charac-

ter Spiderman we both liked so much, let’s make him a regular feature’.”

“And that’s how Spidey was born,” said Lee to applause and laughter.

The energetic 94-year-old, who admitted to driving around the streets of Tokyo in a “Super Mario” drag car late the previous evening, was asked how he kept so active.

“Being busy is the best medicine there is. As long as you’re not busy being a villain,” he said.

As for how he came up with the idea of Spiderman, the answer was simple: “I’m very lucky. I’m brilliant.”

Lee was in Japan to promote the second edition of the Tokyo Comic Convention that opens on Friday. AFP

Number of Personnel Three (3) Twenty-Four (24) Six (6) Thirty-Three (33)

Personnel

1st shift (6:00 am to 3:00 pm)

2nd shift (1:00 pm to 10:00 pm)

3rd shift (9:00 pm to 6:00 am)

Bartender Bar Attendant Kitchen Staff

1 6 2

1 9 2

1 9 2

Working Hours: Six (6) days a week; nine (9) hours a day inclusive of one (1) hour break Contract Duration For a period of three (3) years from the date of receipt by the winning supplier/contractor of the Notice to Proceed Approved Budget The annual ABC is in the amount of Eight Million Eighty-Two Thousand for the Contract Six Hundred Eighty-Eight Pesos and 68/100 (PhP 8,082,688.68), VAT (ABC): Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction, while the total ABC for three (3) years is in the amount of Twenty-Four Million Two Hundred FortyEight Thousand Sixty-Six Pesos and 04/100 (PhP 24,248,066.04), VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction.

Source of Funds: Corporate Budget for CY 2017 Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) years before the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

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

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

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

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR. The schedule of bidding activities is listed, as follows: Activities 1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents

Date, Time and Venue December 1, 2017 to December 20, 2017

December 8, 2017 1:00 p.m, Conference Room Executive Office Second (2nd) Floor Casino Filipino-Manila Bay, Southdrive Road T. M Kalaw Extension Ermita 3. Deadline for the December 20, 2017, 1:00 p.m Submission and Receipt Executive Office Second (2nd) Floor Casino Filipino-Manila Bay, of Bids Southdrive Road T. M Kalaw Extension Ermita 4. Opening and Preliminary December 20, 2017, 1:00 p.m, onwards Examination of Bids Executive Office Second (2nd) Floor Casino Filipino-Manila Bay, Southdrive Road T. M Kalaw Extension Ermita 2. Pre-Bid Conference

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Procurement Section (PS), acting as the BBAC Secretariat, of Casino Filipino-Manila Bay and/or inspect the Bidding Documents at BBAC at Second (2nd) Floor Casino Filipino-Manila Bay, Southdrive Road T. M Kalaw Extension Ermita, Manila during office hours of PAGCOR from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Twenty-Five Thousand Pesos (PhP 25,000.00).

Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee of the Bidding Documents not later than the deadline for the submission and receipt of bids.

Prospective bidders should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier located at the Second (2nd) Floor Casino Filipino-Manila Bay, Southdrive Road T. M Kalaw Extension Ermita, Manila either the Bidding Fee Slip which may be secured from Procurement Section (PS) or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents.

Bidders shall bear all costs associated with the preparation and submission of his bid, and PAGCOR will in no case be responsible or liable for those costs, regardless of the conduct or outcome of the bidding process.

Bidders should note that PAGCOR will accept bids only from those that have paid the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents.

All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the venue of the bid opening. Late bids shall not be accepted.

PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - Tie-Breaking Method, the Casino Filipino-Manila Bay Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) shall use a nondiscretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidders have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having the LCRB, based on the following procedures: a) In alphabetical order, the bidders shall pick one rolled paper. b) The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

PAGCOR reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

Please address all communications to the Branch Bids and Awards Committee thru the BBAC Secretariat, Casino Filipino – Manila Bay, Second (2nd) Floor Casino Filipino-Manila Bay, Southdrive Road T. M Kalaw Extension Ermita, Manila Tel No. 804-8700 local Nos. 5021,5022 and 5024.

CORNELIUS M. GOZE (SGD) Chairperson Branch Bids and awards committee (BBac) casino Filipino-manila Bay

(MS-DEC..1, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

B4

Hearing aids to 40 Davao prisoners

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera

BRIGHT LEAF AWARDS. Senator Cynthia A. Villar leads the formal opening of the 11th Bright Leaf Awards for agriculture journalism at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati. At the event, she renewed her

call for the passage of the bill creating the Department of Migration and Development to protect the welfare of overseas Filipino workers and their families in the country. She said the creation of the department will not cost the government much as existing agencies involved in OFW affairs, such as those embedded in the Departments of Labor and Employment and Foreign Affairs and the Office of the President will be merged. Lino Santos

QC takes SGLG award

By Rio N. Araja

Q

UEZON City Mayor Herbert Bautista has personally accepted the Department of Interior and Local Government’s Seal of Good Local Governance award, the first such recognition for the city.

Bautista expressed his appreciation to “everyone who made the SGLG recognition possible.”

“Thank you to all department heads, rank-andfile employees of the city

government, barangay and legislative department of the city. This is all our effort. This (award) is for all of us for giving the best public service to the people,” he said.

A total of 448 local government units received this year’s SGLG award with eight LGUs from Metro Manila.

Quezon City will receive a glass plaque with the Seal of Good Local Governance and will have access to the P2-million DILG’s performance challenge fund.

Meanwhile, Bautista has directed the City Pride Council to include mandatory HIV-AIDS testing for all LGBTQI community

members in their plans and programs.

During the Pride Council meeting last Tuesday, Mayor Bautista stressed the significance of the rights of the LGBTQI sector and the need to formulate plans and programs that uphold their vision and mission.

“There is a strong rise of HIV in the Philippines particularly in Manila and more specifically in Quezon City. And HIV or AIDS is happening because of

MSM or male having sex with male,” the mayor said.

Quezon City has six sundown clinics that specifically caters to individuals vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases. The city has three sundown clinics: Klinika Bernardo, Project 7, and Novaliches, that are open from 3 in the afternoon to 11 in the evening; and three social hygiene clinics: Klinika Bernardo, Klinika Batasan, and Klinika Project 7.

IN BRIEF

5 kids, man perish in Quiapo night fire A FIRE that engulfed a residential area in Quiapo, Manila on Wednesday evening killed at least six people, which included five children and one adult.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection Manila Arson Chief Senior Inspector Reden Alumno, the fire reached the fifth alarm as it spread quickly because most of the houses along Arlegui Street were made of light materials.

“The fire came from the back area. Then it quickly spread that’s why it affected all units,” said Nadjera Guiling, a resident.

Asliya Dacu was emotional because her three children, namely nineyear-old Jamalia, eightyear-old Jamila, and twoyear-old Jamaica were missing. Bill Casas

These facilities offer counselling, free HIV testing diagnosis and treatment of other sexually transmitted infections, education, distribution and proper use of condoms, hepatitis B testing and vaccination, and anti-retro viral therapy.

While Klinika Bernardo in Barangay Pinagkaisahan offers free HIV testing.

“They should not be pushed away, they should be encouraged to be part of the society,” Bautista added.

DAVAO CITY—Forty detainees of Davao City Jail received hearing aids from Starkey Hearing Aid Foundation on Wednesday.

Dr. William Austin, Starkey Hearing Aid Foundation founder, said the detainees must be given equal opportunities regarding the gift of hearing that other people outside the detention cell receives.

“Though they are detained, they should still feel that we care for them. They should have the opportunity to hear things, that is the greatest feeling. To hear your loved ones say I love you,” Austin said.

Austin, said to be one of the top 500 richest men in the world, said that not hearing things is worse than being detained.

“It has always been our advocacy to help those people who cannot afford hearing aids. Imagine if you cannot hear things, it is worse than being detained. In America, the next worst punishment that you will receive is isolation, the deprivation to communicate,” he said.

Aside from the 40 detainees, the Starkey Hearing Aid Foundation also gives free customized gearing aid to more than 1,300 Davaoeños during their 3 days stay in the city.

All beneficiaries will have a continuing care, courtesy of the Starkey Hearing Aid Foundation, from replacement of defects hearing aids to lifetime changing of batteries.

Austin said that they want to ensure that the recipients will have an aftercare program to ensure that they can enjoy the gift of hearing.

85 ‘Gurong Iskolar ng Bataan’ lauded

FOOD PRODUCTION. In the town of Sta. Maria in Laguna, the Integrated Community Food Production program is in full swing.

Led by Mayor Tony Carolino, Municipal Chief of Staff Reggie Hernandez and the Municipal Agriculture Office, officers of the BNS, National Anti-Poverty Commission, and students from Laguna State Polytechnic University from the town of Siniloan are taught to produce fermented fruit juice, organic farming and natural farming inputs. Roy Tomandao

PGIN, MMSU partner for agro-biz, tourism devt THE Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte partnered with the Mariano Marcos State University to launch “One Town One Technology” (OTOTech), an innovative approach in managing technologies for business entrepreneurship.

OTOTech aims to benefit

local government units in Ilocos Norte through developing technologies for agroentrepreneurship, agro-tourism, fisheries, education, and business. It is a revolutionized research project designed to develop measures to address community concerns and aims to institute

techno-entrepreneurship excellence, strengthen local stakeholders for development, sustain production and profit, and address immediate development trends.

MMSU president Dr. Shirley Agrupis presented the OTOTech Action Development Plan at a meeting with

the League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP)Ilocos Norte last November 14 at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall.

“The objective of the OTOTech is anchored on the paspas dur-as (“rapid development”) of Ilocos Norte,” said Dr. Agrupis.

SBMA lauds top 10 workers SUBIC BAY FREEPORT— Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma has challenged outstanding workers here to lead the Subic workforce in caring for the Freeport with “malasakit” and passion.

During the recent awarding ceremony for the Ten Outstanding Freeport Workers at Cinema 4 of Harbor Point Ayala Mall here, Eisma encouraged the winners to cultivate and practice a sense of community, as they are considered model employees.

“You are the Ten Outstanding

Freeport Workers. I salute you,” Eisma said. “But, I challenge all of you to be the leaders to lead your people, to lead your company and co-workers to care for this place, to make us even better.”

The 2017 outstanding workers in Subic include Philip Villa, chef at Segara Villas and Hotel; Vergel Osorio, warehouseman at CRESC Inc.; Nilo Del Rosario, welder/pipefitter at Philippine Coastal Storage and Pipeline Corp.; and Engr. Marnue Veneracion of the General Facilities and Design Engineering Section of Nicera (Phils.). Butch Gunio

FARMER HEROES. Thirty-five vegetable farmers were recently hailed as

‘farmer heroes’ by leading tropical vegetable seeds company East-West Seed to commemorate its 35th Anniversary. Company co-founder Benito Domingo (center, bottom row) and other East-West Seed officials pose with the farmers in the event in Makati City.

BALANGA CITY, Bataan—Vice Governor Cris Garcia led the awarding of 85 teachers in the province as recipients of this year “Gurong Iskolar ng Bataan”.

“Seventy-five teachers were awarded scholarship for masteral degree and 10 for doctoral degree”, said Bataan scholarship coordinator Ramon Canas who was also present during the awarding held last week at Conference Room, DepEd Building, capitol compound.

“The late Gov. Tet Garcia hatched the scholarship program to empower you. Just like in Finland where all teachers have either masteral degree or doctoral degree”, he quoted the vice governor saying to teachers during the awarding.

The late governor hatched the scholarship for teachers in 2007 two years after he and Gov. Abet Garcia then congressman started the Iskolar ng Bataan for college students. Finland is known to have the best education system in the world.

“You cannot give what you don’t have”, Canas further quoting the vice governor as she recalled the words of the late governor to teachers.

Before becoming vice governor less than a year ago, Garcia was the original coordinator of the Iskolar ng Bataan and Gurong Iskolar ng Bataan.

She now serves as adviser of the scholarship program.

“Gurong Iskolar ng Bataan” is a full scholarship program of the provincial government in tie up with Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU) for Bataan teachers. Butch Gunio

Negros Occ. unveils P10.9-m road project BACOLOD CITY—A P10.9-million road in Murcia, Negros Occidental funded by the provincial government’s special local road fund was inaugurated Thursday.

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. led the inauguration and the unveiling of the marker of the 900-meter Murcia-Granada road project in Barangay Blumentritt to be officially called the Ming Yuan Avenue.

The area is the site of the Catholic Ming Yuan College in Hacienda Binitin donated by the family of Mayor Andrew Montelibano.

Marañon expressed his thanks to all who made the project possible as he urged those who will benefit from it to give thanks for all the blessings the province has received through the years.

He also hoped that the project will be put to good use especially for the students of Catholic Ming Yuan College.

Montelibano thanked the governor and the provincial government for the realization of the project.

Rev. Fr. Stephen Lu expressed his gratitude to both the provincial and municipal governments for the fulfillment of the project, and thanked the Montelibano family for donating the land. PNA

PPO goes to

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017

C1

Albay, Davao and Iloilo next year

Life CULTURE AND MEDIA

Maestro Yoshikazu Fukumura with PPO, performing a dazzling Rachmaninoff 'Symphony No. 2'.

PAGES

By Pablo A. Tariman

T

Empoy amuses book readers

HE new administration of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is determined to bring orchestral music to the provinces with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) scheduled to perform in Iloilo (March), Davao City (April) and Legazpi City (May) next year, CCP President Arsenio “Nick” Lizaso said during the opening season concert of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.

PPO—the new CCP president added—is one of the country’s living treasures that every Filipino must experience.

Earlier as member of the CCP board, Lizaso succeeded in bringing the PPO to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) to perform before cancer patients.

He said, “I believe in the healing power of music especially to the young kids who have cancer. I believe in bringing the performing arts closer to the people.”

Senator Franklin Drilon who attended the concert welcomed PPO’s visit to Iloilo, which just saw well-received performances of the Manila Symphony Orchestra.

Meanwhile, the latest PPO concert also showed a kind of programming meant to bring back the lure of classical music to Filipino audiences.

It featured pianist Yury Shadrin in Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and one concluded it was an auspicious way to start a season.

Shadrin is a prizewinner of several piano competitions but what he showed Manila audience during the season opening concert was a distinct musicality that often eludes competition prizewinners.

CCP president Nick Lizaso with Sen. Franklin Drilon and the author during the PPO opening concert. (Photo by Orly L. Daquipil) But in this Philippine debut, Shadrin made something genuinely appealing as he breezed through the four movements of the concerto with aplomb.

To this listener, the best moment of the concerto was in the slow quasi adagio movement where the pianist managed to impart something soulful and magical.

How he connected the notes from slow to fast and slow made you realize this is a true artist performing.

In the allegro marziale animato finale, both so-

loist and orchestra rose to the occasion and what came out is abandoned warhorse given a brand-new shining patina.

After two curtain calls, Shadrin obliged with an apt encore piece, Chopin’s Etude No. 1 Op. 25. He made the piano sing and what a beautiful way to end the first part of the concert. (One finds it strange and mysterious that this lovely etude was—according to music historians— dedicated to Franz Liszt’s mistress.)

EMPOY MARQUEZ takes a short break from his screen projects to put to pages never before shared anecdotes. The result is ABS-CBN Publishing’s Bakit Nakakakiliti Ang Bigote?.

The comedian is excited about his fresh offering as it showcases him in his full spontaneity. He said, “You’ll get to know the real Empoy here. And I hope to make you smile with my stories and knowledge for the brains found in this book.”

He revealed a lot of personal details in his first print venture like his daily rituals, stories about his friends, mentioned his “totga” (the one that got away) and many other tales from his younger years.

The book includes Empoy’s Words for the Day such as “once in a blue moon,” sharing in jest that when he was a kid, he only takes a bath once in a blue moon.

It also contains funny comics, booze drinking and taxi safety tips, graphs and connections, and more.

The Kita Kita actor even answered exciting questions and gave practical and sometimes hilarious advices.

Another interesting part of the book is the “Empotify” section or suggested playlist with songs such as “Estudyante Blues” by Freddie Aguilar for readers who got their bosses angry and those wishing payday is near, and “High and Dry” by Radiohead for those who are doing their laundry.

Bakit Nakakakiliti ang Bigote? is available at bookstores and newsstands for only P175.

Laguna artists in painting and sculpture exhibit

Baile Foundation, Inc. officers, trustees and members

BAILE FOUNDATION, Inc. and Shangri-La Plaza Corporation once again teamed up to present another exhibit for the public in conjunction with the Laguna Artists Guild and Kape Kesada Art Gallery of Paete at the Edsa Shang Mall Grand Atrium.

Baile Foundation is an organization founded by former members of the world renowned Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company, which is celebrating its 18th anniversary with a painting and sculpture exhibit/ sale called Sinaunang Sayaw at Sining featuring the works of popular artists from Laguna.

This is the 10th exhibit organized by Baile at Shangri-La Plaza Mall, most of them held during the last quarter of the year in time for the yuletide season.

Deriving inspiration from the theme, participants have come up with works that use various art media that excite art patrons and enthusiasts.

Sculptors included father and son Fred and Wilson Baldemor, Edward Dave, Ramon Cajipe, Glenn Cagandahan, Abe Acala, Felix “Kid” Baldemor, Peping Balquiedra, Luis Acac, Nilo Valdecantos and Ignacio “Bisoy” Iglesia.

Paintings exhibited were by Eric Masangkay, Ma. Lourdes Monfero, Melchor Sabariza, Zoerya Baldemor Abuel, Dominic Rubio, Ysa Gernale, Eman Santos, Henri Cainglet, Lamberto Acyatan, Imelda Endaya Cajipe, Paul John Galagar, Bayani Roy Acala, Louie Ignacio, Reynaldo Villarin Adea and guest painter, movie and TV actress Solenn Heussaff.

Empoy Marquez's 'Bakit Nakakakiliti Ang Bigote?'

Cabinet, Senate, Congressional spouses for Marawi THE Senate Spouses Foundation, Inc. (SSFI), chaired by Lourdes “Bing” Pimentel, mother of Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, in cooperation with the DU30 Cabinet Spouses (DCS) and the Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc. (CSFI), recently launched “Puso Para sa Kaunlaran,” an organization to help the victims displaced by the war in Marawi get back on their feet.

Along with Pimentel, Emily Alvarez, wife of House Speaker Alvarez and chair of the Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc., and Betty Medialdea, wife of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and chair of the DU30 Spouses Foundation, lead the group.

This is the first time that three organizations representing the spouses of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Executive branch banded together to help in the government’s efforts in rehabilitating provinces devastated by war or natural calamities.

“By banding together and pooling our resources, we hope that we can help the mothers who were affected by the armed conflict in Marawi relearn skills and get back on their feet,” Pimentel said.

The plan to put up day care centers in Marawi was first suggested by members of the DCS. Pimentel said that the SSFI thought of setting up an additional room in the center to be used for livelihood train-

ings and seminars.

“While the children are studying, the mothers can learn skills in the other room.

The aim is to make the center a place of learning for both mother and children,” Pimentel added.

Medialdea, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of preserving the culture and traditions of the people of Marawi in their efforts to rehabilitate the province.

Alvarez said the CSFI was more than willing to help craft projects and livelihood programs that could help enhance people’s skills.

“The Congressional Spouses have a project where we help the wives of inmates, and the inmates in the women’s correc-

tional develop skills through different livelihood projects, such as making rosaries,” said Alvarez.

“If we see a product, we do our best to match it with its target market,” she added.

Pimentel said the spouses would concentrate on raising funds and resources to help in the construction of the learning centers and tapping other government agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Education (DepEd) for the skills training programs.

“We all agree that we want to help in the redevelopment of Marawi. With our vast network of friends, and with the help of both the public and the private sector, we

can do that by building permanent centers.” Pimentel said.

“We also want to take this opportunity to spread the power of prayer through the Pasa Lord Movement. We want the people to know that although our goal is to help Marawi through our day care and livelihood center project, we are also there to help them rebuild their faith through prayers,” she added.

The Pasa Lord Prayer Movement calls all Filipinos regardless of faith to unite in praying for the country. It also asks for protection from foreign invasion, lawless acts, terrorism and war. It also seeks peace, unity, prosperity and transformation for the nation.

C2

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017 Isah V. Red, Editor • Nickie Wang, Writer

…are talking about

...are not talking about

Moira de la Torre

The Promise of Forever

Fresh from winning the top prize for the song “Titibo Tibo” in Himig Handog, millennials’ singer went viral once again when she uploaded a cover version of the popular Pinkfong song, “Baby Shark.” Netizens agree that you can give Moira any kind of song, even a telephone directory, and she can turn it into a sentimental piece. As of this writing, the viral song cover has been viewed more than three million times.

Popularity doesn’t equate to a good show, but this romantic drama, which has a touch of little fantasy, is not popular to begin with. No wonder the series only lasted two months on air. “The big-budget series” and its cliché ending just registered a TV rating of 4.7 percent, according to AGB Nielsen, or 1.2 points lower than the Rocco Nacino and Sanya Lopez- starrer Haplos, its direct rival. That figure was even way lower than the rating it got on its premiere. We guess it’s better to cut it short than giving it more time to humiliate itself in the numbers game.

Dingdong Dantes

GMA Network is calling him the Primetime King but people can hardly call him the same. Apparently, the few shows that he starred in didn’t make any ripple on primetime. We can’t even remember any series that he’s part of in the last few years that tickled televiewers’ interest. Take the book 2 of Alyas Robin Hood for example. The first season wasn’t a performer in the ratings game and the second season was a disaster. His mother network should come up with a better moniker fit for his stature and performance.

Anne Curtis

She is officially one of our favorite female celebrities because she’s one those few stars who put their fame and fortune to good use. In September, Anne, through her foundation Dream Machine, organized The Color Run Dream, the five-kilometer paint race attended by celebrities and sport enthusiasts. Last week, the actress and TV host donated the proceeds of this fun race worth P7.5 million to UNICEF. Now, she’s thinking of coming up with another project that could possibly allow her to help more people in need.

Rocco Nacino

Xander Ford

His appearance on the Bench Under the Stars stage will go down in history as one of the most daring acts in the biennial underwear fashion show, but despite the numerous memes his “nakedness” has created, his recent achievement in the academe overshadowed them all. Last Friday, Rocco graduated Cum Laude with a Master of Arts degree in Nursing. Little did many people know, while juggling his time between tapings and other showbiz commitments, he also went to school. He is truly an inspiration not just among his peers but also to everyone who wanted to pursue their studies.

WONDER BEKI. Paolo Ballesteros channels his inner superheroine in his latest foray into commercial films.

No, he wasn’t missing. The “internet personality” just wanted to have a time off after feeling exhausted in the past few weeks being in the limelight. It’s weird that a person who seeks too much attention now hates being in the public eye. In hindsight, this novelty “online star” should just savor this moment. Once a new social media name rises from obscurity, Xander will just be another face people see in Internet memes.

Paolo Ballesteros continues to mesmerize audiences PAOLO Ballesteros recommences his genius to create exact duplicates of celebrities worldwide.

This time at the premiere night of his own solo-starred movie Barbi:D’ Wonder Beki, he again awes his co-stars and fans.

Paolo’s talent to recreate himself as a dead ringer of top celebrities has made him a multi-media sensation and social media phenomenon His subjects acknowledge Paolo to have chameleon-like talents, the likes of Angelina Jolie, Beyonce… among others.

Biguel’s breakthrough nialish kilig” role in the Tony Y. Reyes’ directed movie coproduced by OctoArts Films, T-Rex Productions and M-Zet. Will they become lucky charms for Paolo Ballesteros’ first foray into a commercial movie?

Both have been quick to reply when visited on their movie set, “Hopefully. Sana nga!”

Will they replicate their “kilig” first kiss in their Wish I May on TV last year?

Since both are now grown up – Miguel is now 19, and Bianca will soon be turning 18 – are they ready for a more THE BiGuel loveteam of Bian- passionate kiss and not just a ca Umali and Miguel Tanfelix smack like what we saw on the will have two breakthroughs Miguel this month in their careers— Tanfelix and they will be headlining a TV Bianca Umali show with more mature roles in a romantic on GMA-7’s newest primetime scene from series tentatively titled Santa the comedy Santita film, "Barbie: They are also with Paolo D’Wonder Ballesteros in Barbie: Beki" D’Wonder Beki, showing in theaters now.

BiGuel, the most durable love team on the Kapuso Network or/and one of the most successful reel couples of their generation, has a very “mille-

boob tube?

Miguel is more definite with his answers. He is always handy when tackling any roles required, including a torrid kiss both on TV and movies.

But Bianca is still understandably hesitant, she being a minor. She’s giving the final decision making to her handlers over GMAAC. Aside from Paolo Ballesteros, internationally-andlocally-awarded in Die Beautiful, Barbi: D’Wonder Beki features Joey de Leon, the actor who played the Barbi originally, Kim Domingo and Ejay Falcon.

Those at the premiere of the film had a good time laughing at the scenes of Paolo and his costars.

Paolo pulled off his new antics with the help from his mentor, the tried-and-tested Joey de Leon.

The director who has assembled blockbusters for M-Zet Films of Vic Sotto, the versatile Tony Y. Reyes directed Barbi, D’ Wonder Beki in theaters now.

This time, T-Rex Entertainment, M-Zet and OctoArts of Orly Ilacad who was responsible for many sleeper films A scene from "Barbie: D' Wonder Beki" featuring (from left) Ejay Falcon, Miguel Tanfelix, Bianca collaborated on the film.

Umali, Paolo Ballesteros and Epy Quizon

Bernal, Araullo, Heussaff get their Walk of Fame stars

KAPUSO celebrities were among the media personalities who were honored with Walk of Fame stars on Nov.21 in Eastwood.

This year, the three honorees from GMA Network were Kris Bernal, Atom Araullo, and Solenn Heussaff.

Bernal, who plays a dual role in the top-rating afternoon series, Impostora, was inducted in the TV category.

In her Instagram account, she expressed her appreciation to all the people behind the Walk of Fame event. "God heard me and He responded. Another answered prayer. This is the 12th year of the Walk of Fame as propagated by Kuya Germs (Moreno). Thank you to the Walk of Fame members. I feel important and more inspired to do more great things in showbiz. I am greatly honored to be part of it. Thank you GMA Network and GMA Artist Center for making this dream a reality. I dedicate this to my family, friends, and supporters."

Araullo was also inducted as part of the Walk of Fame, joining other news and public affairs personalities. As the newest addition to GMA Network’s News and Public Affairs group, Atom will be part of the top-notch and multi-awarded documentary program I-Witness.

"The award itself is a big honor and I'm very happy to be part of an industrious group of awardees. It gives you a little bit of extra energy but we have a lot of work to do," he shared.

Heussaff was also one of the celebrity inductees for the TV category. Recently, she played two important roles in GMA primetime programs Encantadia and Alyas Robin Hood Book 2. She’s currently hosting Taste Buddies on GMA News TV. After receiving the recognition, Solenn looks forward to doing more of what she loves. “So honored to have my own star in the Walk of Fame! Thank you so much to all the people behind this! I’m inspired to work harder.”

Motoring

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017

C3

These are exciting times—HARI

C

OMING off from its successful run in the 50th Asean summit, Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. is aspiring for greater heights in 2018, showing continuous confidence in the potential of the Philippine economy.

Recognizing the remarkable contribution of manufacturing to third quarter GDP growth in 2017—up by 9.4 percent yearon-year to outpace services— Hyundai welcomes this structural shift for the Philippines going into 2018.

“Indeed, we live in volatile and complex times. On a positive note, we must also recognize that these are exciting and dynamic times, particularly for the automotive industry. As manufacturing has picked up the pace in the third quarter, we look forward to the opportunities it will open for the industry next year,” said HARI President and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, manufacturing grew by an average of 8.3 percent to-date, with nine out of the 22 subsectors recording double-digit growth, including transport equipment expanding by 16 percent as of the third quarter. One major factor for this development is the exports

sector, which exceeded its annual official target of five percent to reach 12 percent, making headway in more markets.

Parallel to this development is the creation of the first Hyundai Assembly Center (HAC) in the Philippines in 2017, fulfilling Hyundai Motor Company’s (HMC) goal to expand its presence in Southeast Asia. In its shift from distributor to assembler, HARI joins its counterparts in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam, to spur investment and develop human capital in the ASEAN region.

As the Philippines moves toward ASEAN Economic Integration, Hyundai is ready to face the necessary changes in improving its global value chain and parts manufacturing services, particularly for the EON and H350, its locally assembled vehicles. EON sales reached 5,903 vehicles as of November 2017, capturing firsttime car buyers or millennials – the segment poised to reshape and disrupt the Philippine economy.

A structural shift marked by manufacturing outpacing services is taking place in the Philippines going into the year 2018.

Meanwhile, the H350 served gaining a broader audience as a as the official mobility vehicle special commercial vehicle. in the ASEAN 50 and ASEAN “Our thrust is to go beyond Business & Investment Summit, mobility. While our participa-

Performance and drivers HYUNDAI Asia Resources, Inc., the official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines, has 3,266 unit sales for October 2017, a 33% year-onyear growth from 2,462 units in 2016. This made an impact to the 2017 January to October YTD sales of 30,717 units – a 12% growth from last year’s sales of 27,483 units.

The sales of Passenger Cars (PC) segment grew by 22% from 1,726 unit sales in October 2016 to 2,113 unit sales this year. The good performance of Accent, the top-selling model of this segment, contributed to this growth. Accent recorded an impressive sales growth of 88% from 758 units in October 2016 to 1,424 units in October 2017 – sales was nearly doubled for October year-on-

tion in the ASEAN summit strengthened our presence in the economic community; more importantly, it showed our resolve

Road therapy: Gear up for your holiday drive

year performance. Meanwhile, LCV grew from 736 unit sales in October last year to 1,153 units sales this year, recording a 57% growth. H-100, under the LCV segment, had a very significant growth of 117% from 169 units last October 2016 to 366 units this October 2017.

Sales and Economic Outlook The Philippines’ gross domestic product surpassed expectations as it grew by 6.9% during the third quarter of 2017. This

has been the highest growth among the past three quarters.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the main drivers of economic growth are exports and imports. The interplay of strong economic growth and competitive automotive industry continues to strengthen the consumer appetite for goods, such as vehicles. With this, HARI looks forward to achieving more milestones in its operations in the Philippines.

For over 100 years, Goodyear has created some of the world’s most innovative and categorydefining tire products, designed to help customers gear up for the drive and enhance their driving experience. The love of driving is an integral part of the brand’s DNA as it believes that driving goes beyond just physical transportation; rather, it is an emotional transformation, recharging the body, freeing the mind and boosting the spirit – what they call “Road Therapy.”

The idea of Road Therapy has become even more relevant for Filipinos today, with the rise

of both local and international tourism. In today’s busy and fastpaced lifestyle, a simple weekend road trip is a great way to relax, rejuvenate and share quality time with loved ones – and the upcoming Christmas season is the ideal time to make special memories with the family.

To ensure that your Christmas road trip is smooth and stressfree, get brand new tires at fantastic discounted prices at the Great Goodyear Sale. Among the great offers available are Buy 3, Get 1 Free (or Buy 1 Get 1 at 50% off) for most tires with rim size 16 and above and a chance to

Volkswagen PH holds ‘VWorld Weekend’ THE Filipino Christmas season is the longest Holiday celebration in the world. Volkswagen Philippines, the exclusive importer and distributor of the country’s bestselling European car brand, has chosen one weekend in December – the 2nd and 3rd – as the best two days to spend Christmas car shopping with the family.

The third edition of the “VWorld Weekend” will be held, this time, at the upscale leisure complex Uptown Parade on 38th Street corner 9th Avenue in Taguig City.

In store for families and car enthusiasts visiting the “VWorld Weekend” are displays of Volkswagen’s latest cars as well as test drive opportunities. Highlight cars are the Jetta sedan Comfortline and Highline variants, the Polo Hatchback, the Golf GTI with ABT kit, and the New Caddy multi-purpose vehicle (MPV).

The Jetta has sold over 14 million units worldwide in its six generations of production, making it among the most successful sedans in the German marque’s history. The Jetta is “Made for Everyday Driving,” with its stylish looks, feature-packed amenities, and remarkable comfort features. Powered by a 2.0-liter Turbo-charged Direct Injection (TDI) diesel engine mated to a 6-speed Direct Shift Gear (DSG) transmission system that generates 150Ps of power and a classleading 340Nm of torque, visitors who will test drive the Jetta will find the power and comfort more than satisfying. More importantly, the Jetta’s starting price is only at P1.1 million, a true value-formoney proposition.

to support the national agenda – to gain new ground and increase our overall competitiveness in the region,” the HARI chief said.

Meanwhile, the Polo Hatchback, a four-time winner of the World Rally Championship (WRC), comes at a starting price of just P858,000.

The Golf GTI, Volkswagen’s ultimate hot hatch, is the sports car with “style and performance”. The Golf GTI is offered with world-renowned ABT Power-Up Module for free. The ABT Power-Up Module increases the Golf GTI power output by 32 percent, to 290 Ps, and torque to 420 Nm. The “VWorld Weekend“ also offers one of Volkswagen’s versatile vehicles, the 7-seater New Caddy which is available in two variants: the Comfortline (CL) and Sportline (SL). Both are equipped with a 1.6-liter TDI diesel engine mated to a 6-speed DSG transmission that generates maximum power of 102 PS and maximum torque of 250 Nm, more than enough to efficiently transport cargo and passengers in its 7-seater configuration. The New Caddy is considered the ideal MPV for families with its gener-

ous cargo space, while optimizing safety features such as front, side, and curtain airbags, Hill Hold Control, and Cruise Control.

Pre-owned Volkswagen vehicles will also be available at special prices during this two-day lifestyle and sales event.

Visitors who test drive and make their reservations on the spot will be given special Volkswagen gift items.

The action won’t be limited to the test drives. All members of families who will visit the “VWorld Weekend” tent will also be treated to entertaining games, and a “meet and greet” with official Volkswagen mascot Wolfi.

The “VWorld Weekend” is an early Christmas treat for the family, allowing them that chance to be familiar with the Volkswagen driving lifestyle. Volkswagen Philippines has opened up opportunities for more Filipino families to experience what a truly worldclass vehicle brings not just into their garages, but into their lives.

Because with Volkswagen, It’s More Than Just A Car.

win a brand new Ford EcoSport and other exciting prizes.

And not only can families choose from a variety of high quality tires, they can also enjoy a safer drive through Goodyear’s Worry Free Assurance, which has a number of benefits to ensure peace of mind on the road.

Offered exclusively in all Goodyear Autocare outlets, the Worry Free Assurance Membership Card offers benefits such as a 5-year limited warranty, emergency roadside assistance like tire repair and free towing, and complimentary servicing. Drivers of the covered vehicle can even get up to Php 50,000.00 insurance coverage.

At the festive Great Goodyear Sale Kick-off at UP Town Center, families not only had the chance to win Goodyear merchandise but were also able to avail of great offers and free installation of their new tires during that weekend.

But the great discounts will definitely keep on rolling as the Great Goodyear Sale continues through the holiday season.

Buyers take part in several activities during the kickoff rites for the Great Goodyear Sale at UP Town Center.

The search for the most-seasoned Subaru MOTOR Image Pilipinas, Inc., the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in the Philippines, is tapping all Subaru owners for the Search for the Most Seasoned Subaru commences from November 19, 2017 to January 31, 2018.

Built to last and engineered to perform, Subaru vehicles are testament to craftsmanship that boasts of durability and longevity. This is the reason why Motor Image Pilipinas is launching the search for the Subaru Vehicle that stood the test of time, as this serves as proof of the superior quality and build of Subaru vehicles.

To be eligible to join, the baseline requirements are as follows: Subaru Vehicle At least 100,000 KM Mileage on Odometer Name registered in OR / CR must match name of Owner who submits entry Currently registered in LTO / Road Legal In Good Running Condition No aesthetic / exterior Physical Damage 100% Stock with No Tolerance on Minor Modifications If all requirements are met, aspiring contestants should log on to http://www.subaru.asia/sss and input all of the details in the microsite. Basic information and

data will be needed such as: Make / Model Model Year Actual Mileage of Car (must be 100,000km or more) Name of Owner (must match name in OR / CR) Scanned Copy of OR / CR Scanned Copy of Owner’s ID Photos of Vehicle (Front, Left Side, Right Side, Rear, Engine, Interior) Upon completion of the entry, all details will be submitted to the After Sales Department of Motor Image Pilipinas for screening.

The contestant will receive an acknowledgement e-mail if all requirements are met and received.

The final criteria will be as follows: 40% Truthfulness of Submit-

ted Information 60% Exterior, Interior and Running Condition Judging and deliberation will commence from February 1 to 8, and the winner will then be invited to an awarding ceremony by the 2nd week of February.

The winner will be entitled to the following prizes: Authentication Certificate from Motor Image Enterprises Travel GC worth P30,000 A half-page Testimonial Advertisement featuring the winner and his Subaru vehicle A year’s supply of V Power Racing Fuel from Shell So, do you think you own the Most-Seasoned Subaru in the country? It’s time to introduce your car to the world!

Motoring

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor DINO DIRECTO III Asst. Editor

C4

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017

Jaguar Land Rover finds a new home Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III

M

ONTHS of speculations were put to rest late last week with the recent contract signing event between Asia Pacific Importers and Coventry Motors Corporation, the new exclusive distributors of the Jaguar and Land Rover brands.

A contract signing ceremony was held at the Makati Golf Club with key officials from both companies in attendance. “This is a critical milestone for our growth in the Asia Pacific region,” says Robin Colgan, Managing Director, Asia Pacific Importers. “The Philippines’ robust growth of 6.9% in the last quarter – which has surpassed that of even China – is a clear indication that this is a market that holds remarkable promise and potential for quality premium cars that will meet the needs of a sophisticated and developed consumer base. To this end, we will be launching a series of award winning new models

that we know will resonate with the Philippine market. We are indeed very pleased to commence our formal relationship with Coventry Motors as we strongly believe in their capability to make incredible headway in growing the Jaguar and Land Rover brands and market share in the Philippines,” Colgan adds. The transfer of distributorship was fast in domestic industry standards, after the previous distributor shut down its doors last May after years of representing the brand in the country.

The new team which will push the business interest of the brand locally is headed by industry vet-

erans George T. Barcelon and Gerardo F. Alejandro, chairman and president respectively of Coventry Motors. “We are very excited to have been appointed

by Jaguar Land Rover to bring their business visions to life in the Philippine market,” states Barcelon. “Both the Jaguar and Land

Rover brands are taking the rest of the automotive world by storm with cutting edge technology and fresh, dynamic designs that have resulted in incredible year-onyear growth in sales. We believe that by working closely together with Jaguar Land Rover Asia Pacific, we can bring new life and

innovation to the Philippine automotive industry,” he adds.

A highlight of the event was the unveiling of the new Range Rover Velar, which brings a new dimension of glamour, modernity and elegance to the Range Rover family. “This variant will resonate with the Philippine market, as it

The Jaguar F-Type is among the exciting models that will soon hit the local market.

is designed to fill the white space between the Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Sport. The Velar offers levels of luxury, refinement and all-terrain capability never before seen in the mid-size SUV segment,” explains Alejandro. “Plans are also in the pipeline to open its first dealership by the first quarter of 2018.

The re-entry of Jaguar Land Rover in the country comes at a time when luxury car makers are digging in for the implementation of the comprehensive excise tax next year. Despite the impending adjustments in retail prices of luxury vehicles, Coventry Motors remains optimistic about the future of the brand in the local market. “It will obviously have an impact on the price of the vehicles, but we will make sure we have availability prior to the tax changes coming into effect. We feel that there is a demand here despite the tax increase issue.

You have to have unique products and a great support team in the country to address this and I am confident Coventry has a system in place already,” states Colgan.

Coventry Motors presents the new Range Rover Velar, a luxurious and high tech supercharged SUV.

MAZDA STAGES ROADSHOW AT THE FORT IN AN effort to highlight its technology and engineering philosophy known as Jinba Ittai which literally translates to horse-and rider-as-one, Bermaz Auto PH, distributors of the Mazda brand in the country recently held a public test drive at the open parking lot of the Uptown Mall at the Bonifacio Global City .

The four-day event provided access to the public, as Mazda presented its fleet of SKYACTIV models. Participants test drove the cars in a controlled environment and had a crash course in defensive driving which was prepared by Japan trained Jinba Ittai driving instructors and veteran rally drivers led by 10-time Philippine Rally Champion Vip Isada.

“Jinba Ittai is Mazda’s guiding principle in its quest to achieve heightened driving enjoyment together with a premium passenger riding experience,” shares Steven Tan, president and CEO of Bermaz Auto Philippines, the exclusive distributor of Mazda vehicles in the country. “Mazda brings the driver and his car together through this fundamental engineering philosophy so the experience behind the wheel can be fun while, at the same time, less tiring for all riding passengers. This unique feeling is what we want our customers to discover during their time at the Jinba Ittai Academy.”

Customers were also entitled to pro-

motions exclusive to the event, all of which were guaranteed to make purchasing a Mazda vehicle easier and more rewarding. On-site special deals were also available to those who made reservations during the four-day event.

Jinba Ittai Academy visitors were treated to a mini car show as various car clubs led by Mazdatech Philippines showcased their rides during the Mazda Revolution Car Show. A total of 70 various Mazda models spanning different generations from the Mazda2ners, Mazda3 SKYACTIV, CX-5 Club Pilipinas, Club Mazda Philippines and the Miata Club Philippines, were lined up along the Uptown Parade walkway providing spectators a one-of-a-kind overview of the rich heritage of the Mazda brand.

Bermaz Auto Philippines, Inc. is the exclusive distributor of Mazda vehicles and parts in the Philippines.

There are 19 Mazda 3S dealerships located across the Philippines and Metro Manila – Mazda Greenhills, Mazda Pasig, Mazda Quezon Avenue, Mazda North EDSA, Mazda Makati, Mazda Alabang, Mazda Otis, Mazda Cavite, Mazda Sta. Rosa, Mazda Pulilan, Mazda Pampanga, Mazda Dagupan, Mazda Cabanatuan, Mazda Tarlac, Mazda Negros, Mazda Cebu, Mazda Iloilo, Mazda Cagayan De Oro and Mazda Davao. Dino Ray V. Directo III

Mazda rolls out a fleet of SKYACTIV variants.