Manila Standard - 2018 January 15 - Monday

‘Impeach-CJ mere formality’ THE impeachment proceedings to oust Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno could be viewed as just a matter of formality, but the chairman of the House committee on justice, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, said his panel would need nine or 10 more hearings before voting on probable cause.

In an interview over radio dzBB, Um-

ali noted that Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has said that given the super majority of administration allies in Congress, the impeachment proceedings in the house could be a mere formality.

“Maybe. It is you who said that,” Umali said, referring to Alvarez.

The hearings in the House are an offNext page

VOL. XXXI • NO. 332 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Oil prices rise ahead of TRAIN

By Alena Mae S. Flores

WALK FOR A CAUSE. Around 20,000 autistic people, their parents and kin attend the Angels Walk for Autism to raise awareness on the disorder. They are joined by SM Prime Holdings president Hans Sy and other SM officials and officers of the Autism Society of the Philippines as well as several lawmakers during the event held at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. (Story on A3) Ey Acasio

Mayon eruptions raise alert level, danger zone

By Rio Araja MAYON Volcano erupted for the third time in less than 24 hours before Sunday noon.

In a bulletin issued Sunday at 3:30 p.m., the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said another steam-driven explosion occurred Sunday, 11:43 a.m. at Mt. Mayon in Albay and lasted about 15 minutes.

“The event produced an ash plume that was largely obscured by summit clouds.

Sulfuric odor was detected in and traces of ash fell on Camalig, Albay,” the report said.

Alert level 2 remained in

effect over the volcano, Phivolcs said, noting that magma could heat water beneath the ground or on the surface, causing more phreatic eruptions—or even magmatic eruptions.

“The public is strongly advised to be vigilant and desist from entering the sixkilometer radius permanent danger zone to minimize risks from sudden explosions, rockfall and landslides,” Phivolcs warned.

The agency said communities on the western and southwestern flanks downwind of Mayon’s crater should cover their noses and mouths with clean, damp Next page

DIESEL and kerosene prices may go up this week

by P0.45 per liter and P0.40 per liter, respectively, while gasoline prices could go down by P0.80 per liter, computations of the Energy department showed.

This computation, however, does not include the impact of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act wherein gasoline prices are expected to go up by P2.97 per liter, kerosene by P3.36 per liter and diesel by P2.80 per liter.

“The DoE observed that last week’s international oil trading may affect the domestic prices of gasoline, diesel and kerosene,” the department said. Next page

Senate’s abolition unlikely—Pimentel

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

S

ENATE President Aquilino Pimentel III allayed fears that the Senate would be abolished with the proposed shift to a federal form of government.

“Don’t worry... Actually because federalism needs federalism needs the Senate, an upper house to keep the

country together,” he said.

But Senate Minority Franklin Drilon said the abolition of the Senate is “certainly within the realm of possibility.” He said once a constitutional assembly is convened, anything and everything could be discussed.

He noted that the power will be in the hands of the House of Representatives

and the Senate could be left with a ceremonial function once the country adopts a unicameral Congress.

The chairman of the leftist group Bayan Muna, meanwhile, said the Charter change plans of the ruling party would abolish the Office of the Vice President but would allow the President to be reelected in 2002.

“Under the PDP-Laban Constitution, the office of the Vice President will be abolished by 2019 if they succeed in having the new Constitution ratified during the 2019 elections,” Bayan Muna chairman Neri Colmenares said in a statement.

Colmenares said that under the PDP-Laban Next page

Lawmakers lack time to impeach Ombudsman THERE is no longer enough time to pursue the impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales, who is about to retire in six months, the chairman of the House committee on justice said Sunday.

“As she approaches her retirement in July, impeaching Ombudsman Morales is no longer practical and realistic,” said Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali.

He said Congress would be too busy with the im-

peachment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and the effort to usher in a federal system of government.

“Let’s just wait for her retirement, especially now that we are very busy conducting

hearings on the impeachment complaint against the Chief Justice and of course, the push for federalism,” he said.

On Dec. 13, an impeachment complaint was filed against Morales, but not a Next page

Missile alert panics Hawaiians

VOLCANIC BOMBS. Mayon Volcano is blanketed with thick smoke following a series of steam-driven explosions. Phivolcs/Dost Photo

PH 10th ‘most attacked’ in cyberspace

DIGITAL technology experts say the Philippines is the most attacked country in cyberspace in Southeast Asia and the 10th in the world.

But they say the Filipinos are “quite not prepared” for cyber security threats as the country ranks 37th out of 193 countries in the recent

global security index report on cyber security preparedness.

These facts were revealed by digital technology expert Reynaldo Lugtu, a member of the advisory board of Global Chamber Manila, a business network focused on the growing cross-border trade and investment around twitter.com/ MlaStandard

the world.

Data from the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation showed that the Philippines is the 10th most attacked country worldwide on the Internet.

The list enumerated Canada as the most attacked followed by India, the United

Next page

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

HONOLULU, United States—An alert warning of an incoming ballistic missile aimed at Hawaii was sent in error Saturday, sowing panic and confusion across the US state— which is already on edge over the risk of attack— before officials dubbed it a “false alarm.”

Emergency management officials eventually determined the notification was sent just after 8:00 a.m. (1800 GMT) during a shift change and a drill after “the wrong button was pushed”—a mistake that lit up phones across the archipelago with a disturbing alert urging people to “seek immediate shelter.”

There were frenzied scenes of people rushing to safety—a bathtub, a basement, a manhole, cowering under mattresses.

Adventurer Alison Teal called it “the worst moment” of her life. Next page manilastandard.net

LUCKY CHARMS. As the Chinese New Year draws near, stalls in Quiapo are filled with good luck charms. Diana B. Noche

Pinay, 13, wins Readers’ Award

By Junex Doronio

ARSHAN BUCATCAT

A 13-YEAR-OLD Filipina has bagged the Readers’ Choice Award in a white-dominated literary journal of the Ilisagvik College in the northernmost town of the United States.

Arshan Bucatcat emerged

as the third Filipino to have won the award since the journal’s inception in 2012 in Barrow, Alaska.

A Readers’ Choice Award is given every year to a published material that merits enough votes from readers. Aglaun is Next page

Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net

A2

News

MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Sanofi Pasteur told: Pay cost of contract prove the use of the vaccine.

The Health department halted its dengue vaccination program after Sanofi Pasteur released an advisory on Dengvaxia, which indicates potential risk to those who have not been exposed to dengue prior to immunization.

“The risk benefit ratio of Dengvaxia has significantly changed as the risk caused by the introduction of the vaccine to seronegative people has greatly outweighed its benefits, if any,” Duque said.

“The Dengvaxia vaccine which Sanofi Pasteur aggressively promoted and sold to the Philippine government has undeniably failed to deliver its supposed clinical benefit and safety claims, hence is considered defective under Philippine civil laws.”

Duque said based on official data from the Epidemiology Bureau, four out of

the 17 deaths following the immunization of Dengvaxia were found to have died due to dengue shock. Other deaths were among children who had other illnesses and morbidities.

“Based on the Dengvaxia Surveillance Update on January 10, 2018 from the Epidemiology Bureau, four of the 17 cases being looked into identify dengue shock as cause of death,” Duque said.

The Health department said there was no conclusion yet on whether the administration of Dengvaxia caused the death of the vaccinees. A panel of PGH independent experts are now evaluating the clinical records of these cases.

“We cannot answer that as of now because our experts are still studying the clinical records,” Duque said.

“We welcome these investigations as complementary to our efforts in finding the truth about this matter.”

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III told dzBB radio that they were still waiting for the result of the evaluation of an expert panel from the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital on the deaths of 14 children who were vaccinated with the controversial dengue vaccine Dengvaxia.

He said the review results of the cases of 14 children might be released this week.

Pimentel’s statement came on the heels of the Health department’s announcement that it had issued demand letters asking Sanofi to refund

the ₱1.4-billion cost of the vaccines that remained unused and to test the children who were given Dengvaxia.

“All the vaccines were defective from the very beginning. Therefore, under our laws, we should demand the whole ₱3.5 billion we paid them and not just part of it,” Pimentel said.

And even if Sanofi paid the full amount, Pimentel said, that would not release them from any liabilities that might arise from putting more than 800,000 children at risk from the vaccine.

In a letter sent to Thomas Triomphe, head of Sanofi

Pasteur Asia Pacific, Duque laid down his demand for Sanofi to refund P1.4 billion that corresponds with the remaining unused vials of Dengvaxia.

His department has also sent another letter requesting Sanofi Pasteur to conduct serotesting of the more than 830,000 children vaccinated using a newly developed test to determine their pre-vaccination status at no cost to the government.

The department also requested documents on all the ongoing clinical trials and other studies involving Dengvaxia in the Philippines, including proof that they had passed ethics review standards of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development.

Duque said his department had yet to receive an official response from Sanofi Pasteur on the demand letters.

The Philippines was the first country in Asia to ap-

PH...

Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, China, Japan and the Philippines.

The countries listed as the 11th to 20th most attacked were Germany, South Africa, Turkey, Spain, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Singapore, Nigeria and New Zealand.

Lugtu says the behavior of Filipinos makes them very vulnerable to online attacks, and because many are unaware of the threats in cyberspace.

“In the legal aspect, we

are ahead of other countries because we have already passed the Data Privacy Act, the E-Commerce Law and the Anti-Wiretapping Law,” Lugtu said.

“However, we are low in the cultural aspect because we are not well-informed on the dangers lurking online, so that we easily open e-mails or click links without knowing the risks.”

Lugtu says the Global Chamber Manila is set to hold a one-day convention called “A Forum on Cyber Security and the Internet of Things” on Jan. 31, 2018, at the Enderun College on McKinley Hill, Taguig City,

which is aimed at making people aware of the dangers on the internet.

Colin Christie, executive director of Global Chamber Manila, says the forum will be top-billed by cyber security expert Marc Goodman, author of the best-selling book “Future Crimes.”

Goodman will discuss the many technological advances of the cyber world and its many pitfalls.

“Mr. Goodman is a global strategist and consultant focused on the profound change technology is having on security, business, and international affairs,” Christie said.

“He is the founder of Future Crimes Institute and Chair of the Policy, Law and Ethics at Silicon Valley’s Singularity University. Over the past 20 years, he has built his expertise in international cybercrime and terrorism, working with organizations such as the Interpol, the UN Counter-Terrorism Task Force, Nato and the US Government.”

The business group expects more than 250 representatives from both the public and private sector including government officials and members of the academe, to attend the event.

“We hope to use this occa-

sion to provide Filipinos with a better grasp of recent developments in the automated age, as well as the technologies and best practices, to help everyone protect themselves and their systems from attack and unauthorized access,” Christie said.

Global Chamber Manila is a thriving community of CEO’s, executives, professionals and students in over 500 metropolitan areas around the world. The group leverages technology and uses its collective networks worldwide to help member companies grow by reducing risks, become more productive and succeed faster. PNA

Pinay,...

Senate’s...

From A1

From A1

read by the eight villages in the North Slope Borough and elsewhere in the world where the Internet is available.

Arshan joined two other Filipinos who earlier received the award. Pamela Balanza was the 2015 Readers’ Choice Awardee for her article “The Role of Women in the 19th and 20th Centuries,” while former People’s Journal foreign affairs news reporter Romeo Morales, now a resident of Barrow, Alaska, was the first Filipino writer to be recognized as the 2014 Readers’ Choice Awardee for his essay “Living in the Cold.”

Born in Sta. Rita, Samar, and the eldest of three girls, Bucatcat had moved with her her mom, Rina, a former policewoman in Novaliches, Quezon City, when she was only nine years old.

Arshan got 76 percent of the votes for her non-fiction story “Best Friend” for the 2017 spring edition of the Aglaun journal.

Last year, Arshan, a sixth grader of the Hopson Middle School and a voracious reader, got the Readers Award from the Heritage Library in Barrow (now Utqiagvik) for having read 90 books in a span of one year.

A multi-talented student who plays the piano, saxophone, and the ukulele, sings in the church choir and plays hockey, Arshan loves reading and writing the most.

Aglaun, a journal that allows writers, authors and artists from all races and of all ages a place to publish their works, is edited by writer and English professor Paul Douglas McNeill. He is assisted by Moema Umann, a filmmaker from Brazil who has an M.F.A. in directing that she earned in New York, and Myrna Loy Sarren, a native American and the publication’s editor.

Constitution, it is the Senate President, then the Speaker, who will succeed President Rodrigo Duterte in case of death or removal from office.

“The vice president is not mentioned at all in the line of succession because, upon ratification of the new Constitution, her office no longer exists,” he said.

At the same time, Colmenares said, the proposed changes to the Constitution would allow Duterte to run for President again when his six-year term ends in 2022.

Also on Sunday, Senator Panfilo Lacson “apologized” to Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro for saying that lawmakers who sought to extend their terms through Charter change were “thick faced.”

“I apologize to Representative Castro if he was hurt when I said those who could not help themselves in using Charter change to extend their own terms and avoid elections were thick in the face,” Lacson said in Fili-

pino on his Twitter account.

“What I should have said was their faces are doubly thick.”

In an interview with MindaNews last week, Duterte said he was still vetting the 25 members of a constitutional commission that would study, conduct consultations and review the provisions of the 1987 Constitution and give him their recommendations.

The commission was created by executive order in December 2016, but so far, the President has not named its members.

The President said, however, that former Supreme Court Chief Justice was his “number one.” He also mentioned lawyer Randolph Parcasio, the spokesman of the Moro National Liberation Front faction led by founder Nur Misuari.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said he saw no need for Charter change, but only amendments to the Constitution if the country shifts to a federal system of government.

In an interview on radio

dzBB, Sotto suggested adding the phrase “as may be provided by law” to allow Congress to discuss the amendments as ordinary legislation.

Sotto also said a constituent assembly is the easiest way to amend the Constitution compared to constitutional convention.

“If full-blown, the constitutional convention may be for two years. Aside from being long, it’s costly. You will double the current budget of Congress and Senate to achieve a constitutional convention,” he said.

He also said there will be an election and delegates will be elected since all districts will be represented.

Sotto said a constituent assembly could finish Charter proposals by May this year.

“If they’ll talk about it, federalism will be included, the parliamentary form will also be included,” he added.

The Duterte administration has been pushing for a shift to a federal form of government as a means to address issues particularly in strife-torn Mindanao.

In an earlier interview,

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said that in order to do that, the Congress may decide to convene in a constituent assembly this month.

Buhay Party-List Rep. Lito Atienza, on the other hand, called for the election of delegates to a constitutional convention alongside the 2019 mid-term polls.

“Congress should waste no time in calling for a constitutional convention now, and forget about simply mustering itself into a constituent assembly to propose changes to the Charter,” Atienza said.

Atienza pointed out that the President himself strongly advocated a constitutional convention while he was still a runner in 2016 and immediately after he was elected into office.

“In fact, congressional records will show that owing to the President’s early pronouncements favoring a constitutional convention, many of us in the House and in the Senate scrambled in July 2016 to file bills and resolutions calling for a constitutional convention,” Atienza said.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

S

ENATE President Aquilino Pimentel III on Sunday called on the Department of Health to not just ask for a refund on the unused dengue vaccines but for the cost of the entire contract.

From A1

‘Impeach-CJ...

From A1

shoot of an impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Lorenzo Gadon on Aug. 30, in which Sereno was accused of betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption and other high crimes.

Umali said he saw an end to the hearings in February.

The panel chairman said his panel would decide Jan. 15 whether to summon Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who earlier refused to appear before the committee and testify against Sereno on the ground that he did not have any per-

sonal knowledge on the issued that would be asked of him.

“I will ask them [panel members] if they still have some questions to ask.

If there is, then we will invite him [Carpio] again,” he said.

Umali on Sunday said Sereno should attend the hearings to present her side.

“If there is nothing we can get from [her] to refute any of these allegations, then I think—and based on my conversation with the other members, and considering also that we have a super majority in the House of Representatives—I think there will be sufficiency of votes to impeach her,” Umali said on the ANC news channel. Rio N. Araja

and Corruption, represented by its lawyer, Manuelito Luna, filed the From A1 impeachment complaint against the Ombudsman for alleged betrayal of single member of the House of Repre- public trust, graft and corruption, sentatives endorsed the petition. and culpable violation of the ConThe Volunteers Against Crime stitution. Rio N. Araja

Lawmakers...

Mayon...

From A1

cloths in case of ash fall.

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden eruption could be hazardous to aircraft.

“Based on the seasonal wind pattern, ash fall events may most likely occur on the southwest side of the volcano,” the agency said.

The second phreatic eruption was recorded at 8:49 a.m. BS lasted about five minutes, while the first phreatic eruption was observed at 4:21 p.m. on Saturday that lasted an hour and 45 minutes.

In an interview with radio dzBB, Cedric Daep, head of the Albay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office said there was a possibility of raising the alert status to Alert Level 3.

This would raise the volcano’s danger zone to eight kilometers from the volcano, an area where 20,000 people live. With PNA

Missile...

From A1

The erroneous message came after months of soaring tensions between Washington and Pyongyang, with North Korea saying it has successfully tested ballistic missiles that could deliver atomic warheads to the United States, including the chain of volcanic islands.

“I deeply apologize for the trouble and heartbreak that we caused today,” said Vern Miyagi, administrator of Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency.

“We’ve spent the last few months trying to get ahead of this whole threat, so that we could provide as much notification and preparation to the public.

“We made a mistake,” he acknowledged in a press conference. “We’re going to take processes and study this so that this doesn’t happen again.

“The governor has directed that we hold off any more tests until we get this squared away.”

As social media ignited with screenshots of the cell phone emergency warning, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard quickly tweeted that it was a “FALSE ALARM,” with Hawaii’s EMA confirming “there is NO missile threat to Hawaii.”

US military spokesman David Benham later said US Pacific Command “has detected no ballistic missile threat to Hawaii. Earlier message was sent in error.”

The warning—which came across the Emergency Alert System that authorities nationwide use to delivery vital emergency information—read: “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.” A corrected message indicating that “there is no missile threat or danger to the state of Hawaii” was not dispatched to phones until nearly 40 minutes later.

“I know firsthand that what happened today was totally unacceptable,” Gov. David Ige said of the alert, which was also broadcast on some local television stations.

“I’m sorry for that pain and confusion that anyone might have experienced.”

In explaining the delay, he noted there was no automatic way to cancel the false alarm, so it had to be done manually.

Both the governor and Miyagi assured no single person would be capable of making such a mistake in the future, and the Federal Communications Commission said it was launching a

Oil...

From A1

US crude stocks fell for the eighth straight week while buying appetite from Chinese independent refiners seemed high at the start of the new year and could largely be attributed to the fresh spate of quotas allocated.

The DoE said tension with Iran has helped fuel an oil rally and the pending decision from the White House on Iranian sanctions continues to loom large over the market, partly pushing prices higher.

The gasoline market, on the other hand, remained calm as exports from China are expected to remain high throughout January and early February.

Last week, the country’s oil firms raised diesel prices

by P0.55 per liter and kerosene by P0.30 per liter but did not move gasoline prices.

As this developed, the DoE said the implementation of higher excise taxes on petroleum products would depend on the inventories of the oil firms.

“For the retail level, it would depend on the old stock depletion which has

“full investigation” into the incident.

The White House said US President Donald Trump had been briefed about the incident, calling the alert “purely a state exercise.”

Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii, echoing stances of outrage taken by several other of the state’s politicians, called the mistaken notification “totally inexcusable.”

Though the alert was quickly deemed false, many Hawaii residents heeded the nerve-wracking warning, scrambling to take refuge in hallways and basements.

Teal, the adventurer and Hawaiian native, said “everyone was in a panic.”

“Traveling the world as an extreme adventurer, I’ve been in very scary situations from snowstorms to sharks to hot lava. Nothing as terrifying as a missile coming to kill everyone you know and love,” she said.

Lauren McGowan, on holiday in Maui with family members and friends, was on her way to breakfast when her phone blared the alert.

She and her family quickly returned to their hotel, where staff ushered them along with some 30 people to a basement cafeteria and distributed water and food.

The alert and rush to shelter caused “confusion,” McGowan said, particularly for the children in the group.

“No one had any idea what was really going on,” the 28-year-old from New York said, explaining they had no cellular service underground.

“It was a bit jarring for sure,” she said of the experience.

Andy Priest said his parents thought they would die when the warning came.

“My mom started to get up to go, and my Dad told her that if it was their time to go, he wanted to be looking at the ocean and enjoying the view,” he wrote on Twitter.

Several golfers participating in the US PGA Tour’s Sony Open in Honolulu also reacted to the alarming episode.

“Under mattresses in the bathtub with my wife, baby and in laws,” American golfer John Peterson tweeted.

“Please lord let this bomb threat not be real.”

Tourists and residents received the false alert just one month after Hawaii tested its nuclear attack siren system.

The state will conduct the drill—the first of its kind since the Cold War era— monthly as part of its regular siren test, an emergency management spokesperson said.

Trump—who in the past has deployed bombastic rhetoric at North Korea and its leader Kim Jong-Un—had yet to react to the false warning. AFP not been charged with excise tax. Only the new stocks as of Jan. 1 has been charged with excise tax. Therefore, on the retail level, it will depend on the old stock and new stock inventories,” Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said.

The department has already asked retail gas stations to post in a conspicuous place a signage when the excise tax is being implemented at the retail level.

The department will also validate whether or not the implementation of the TRAIN is correct and fair to the consumers, retailers and oil companies.

“This will be done by randomly checking the gas stations and comparing the data that has been previously posted by oil companies and retail gas stations,” Fuentebella said.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi warned oil firms against profiteering from the imposition of the higher excise tax on petroleum products.

“As directed by President Duterte, the government taxes should not profit the companies, because these are all intended for the services of the government to the public and the public alone,” he said.

News

A3

MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

House:TRAIN unstoppable; opposition ‘wasting time’ GLASSES GALORE. Display stands for eyeglasses occupy a stretch of Carriedo in Sta. Cruz, Manila blocking the flow of vehicles and people. Lino Santos

Romualdez thanks House for approving ‘Yolanda’bill LEYTE Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez on Sunday lauded the House leadership and fellow lawmakers for the approval on third and final reading of her proposed law declaring Nov. 8 of every year as “Typhoon Yolanda Resiliency Day” in Eastern Visayas.

She said the solid support extended to her measure would show relentless malasakit (compassion) of Congress to the ‘‘Yolanda’’ victims.

“From the bottom of my heart, I thank my colleagues for their kindness and generous support in ensuring the passage of my measure,” she added.

Romualdez is the wife of Philippine Constitution Association president Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

“Thank you again for the sheer faith, diligence and hard work,” she said.

“Finally, we celebrate every November the strength and resilience of our people and not the tragedy,” she added.

She cited the resilience of the people from Region 8, especially Tacloban City for being able to recover from the tragedy.

Pangasinan Rep. Marilyn Agabas, House committee on revision of laws recommended the approval of House Bill No. 6591 substituting HB No. 4383 or the “Yolanda Commemoration Day” of Romualdez under Committee Report No. 450.

Moreover, the Leyte lawmaker, a registered nurse, said the measure would honor those who perished during ‘‘Yolanda’’ and recognize the dedication and commitment of volunteers after ‘‘Yolanda’’ flattened Eastern Visayas and killed over 6,000 people on Nov. 8, 2013.

The measure shall declare Nov. 8 of every year as a special non-working holiday in Region 8’s Tacloban City, Leyte, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Northern Samar, Western Samar and Ormoc City.

Rio N. Araja

World’s biggest party, PDP-Laban boost ties

By Rey E. Requejo

A

RANKING official of the Communist Party of China, the world’s biggest political party with more than 89.5-million members, has edified officials, cadres and members of the Duterte administration’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan about its party affairs, particularly the historic 19th National Congress of CPC held in Beijing last October, which laid down the blueprint for China’s development in the next 33 years.

During the PDPLaban’s gathering at Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Manila on Thursday, Meng Xiangfeng, a member of the CPC Central Committee and deputy chief of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, pledged to strengthen CPC’s bilateral and party-to-party relations with PDP-Laban chaired

by President Rodrigo Duterte, which was forged following the warming up of diplomatic relations between China and Philippines in 2016.

The successful visit of President Duterte to China in 2016 that marked a turning point in China-Philippines relations has paved the way for the establishment

of party-to-party relations between CPC and PDPLaban. The two parties signed a memorandum of understanding on strengthening party–to-party exchanges and cooperation.

The MOU resulted in various exchanges at different levels where many PDP-Laban members have visited China “where we have shared governing experience with each other, contributing to the fast development of our party-to-party relations,” said Meng, who also serves as executive deputy secretary of the Working Committee for Organs under the CPC Central Committee.

“With the direct care and encouragement from leaders of both countries, our relations have achieved positive turnaround. In the past year, political mutual trust has been deepened; practical cooperation in all fields has been flourishing, bringing tangible benefits to peoples of both countries,” the CPC official added.

“We hope to deepen

friendship and contribute to the good neighborliness and mutually beneficial cooperation between our two countries,” Meng told the PDP-Laban members led by party president, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. Nonetheless, Meng assured that while China will share its development experience with the Philippines, it will not interfere in the country’s internal affairs. “(It) will not export its social system and development model; will not impose its own will on others,” he said.

In giving thematic briefing on the CPC 19th National Congress, the CPC official enlightened PDP-Laban officials and members of the latest political developments in China and the world’s largest Marxist party, particularly the historic 19th National Congress of CPC that, according to him, provides an optimal window through which the world can see more of China, and know more about the CPC’s

achievements and future directions.

Meng explained that the 19th National Congress, which was convened on Oct. 18, 2017, was a meeting of great importance because it was taking place during what President Xi Jinping declared as “the decisive stage in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and at the critical moment as socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era.”

According to him, the party congress exhorted CPC officials, cadres and its 89.5 -million members to: “Remain true to your original aspiration and keep our mission firmly in mind, hold high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, strive for the great success of socialism with Chinese characteristic for new era, and work tirelessly to realize the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation.”

Protocol sought for 1.2-m Filipinos with autism

By MaconAraneta FROM awareness to inclusion, the Autism Society of the Philippines has called for a protocol for the 1.2-million Filipinos with autism in order to address their unique needs.

Speaking during the annual Angels Walk for Autism at the Mall of Asia Arena, Mona Veluz, National President of ASP, pointed out

that the protocol will provide the guidelines for parents, the government, the private sector, academic institutions, healthcare professionals and all stakeholders to address their needs and provide for the services for their full inclusion into society.

Veluz said ASP is pushing for the passage of a law that will provide for a protocol specifically for people with autism that will guide all

stakeholders on how to treat people with autism.

“We have already achieved awareness and now we are moving for full inclusion which includes a protocol,” she said.

She noted that people with autism have unique needs which are different from other People with Disabilities.

The Angels Walk for Autism is the biggest gathering for people with Autism, organized by ASP

and SM Cares at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

SM Cares is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. The gathering was attended by legislators led by Senator Riza Hontiveros, Akbayan Rep. Tomas Villarin, SM executives led

by Hans T. Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee of SMPHI, international organizations, cause-oriented

groups, people with autism, their families and people in support of autism.

Veluz pointed out that their employment initiative is in full swing with the employment of more than 200 people with autism in SM Savemore and other companies around the country.

She pointed out that there are around 1,000 in their autism database who have expressed their desire to work.

By Rio Araja A PETITION challenging the legality of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law before the Supreme Court was a futile exercise, House Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro of Capiz said on Sunday.

The petitioners— members of the Makabayan bloc in Congress, along with National Union of People’s Lawyers—made a “flimsy” argument, Castro said.

The lawmakers urged the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order stopping the law’s implementation, saying House leaders committed grave abuse of discretion for ratifying the bicameral conference committee report for TRAIN “despite glaring lack of quorum.”

Castro said that there was a presumption of regularity since the quorum during the session day being questioned had been declared, and that the “quorum is continuing until after that the quorum is declared inexistent.”

“Roll call and quorum was declared,” he told a radio interview over dzBB. “There is always a presumption of regularity in the exercise of official function. Unless, however, that you present a contrary evidence. Then that will only be the time that the presumption of regularity in the performance of official function can be overcome,” he said.

He said the petitioners—Alliance of Concerned Teachers Rep. Antonio Tiñio, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate and Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao, together with the NUPL counsel, have the burden of proof to substantiate their allegations.

“They could not just run and shout and say there is no quorum. Let us consult the minutes of the proceedings and that will be determinative of whether or not there was quorum,” he added.

On Dec. 19 last year, President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law package 1A of the TRAIN law under Republic Act No. 10963 for its Jan. 1, 2018 implementation.

NFA readies rice import to avert suppply shortage THE government’s rice stock has gone precariously low as a result of the recent typhoons that destroyed farms, according to the National Food Authority.

But the NFA was quick to point out that there was no cause for alarm as it was all set to bring in 250,000 metric tons of the staple grain to augment rice supply. The food agency did not say where the rice import would be sourced.

“It’s true NFA stocks are low right now not just because of the recent typhoons,” NFA spokesman Becky Olarte said in a statement.

NFA also released about

140k bags of rice for the Marawi victims, Olarte added.

The food agency unloaded 636,666 rice bags to victims of calamities and the Marawi siege from January to Dec. 31, 2017.

Last year, rice assistance in several areas devastated by tropical cyclones ‘‘Urduja’’ and ‘‘Vinta’’ were given to families displaced by the typhoons.

NFA assured the public that it has “enough stock to respond to any need for relief of calamity victims and to distribute through accredited retailers to give consumers alternative source of good quality but low-priced rice.”

RISK TAKER. Mother and son enjoy swimming in the polluted waters of Manila Bay despite a warning from Health authorities.

Lino Santos

A4

Opinion

MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2018

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Transparent as mud

T

HE solicitor general has decided to withhold police reports on the deaths of some 4,000 drug suspects from the Supreme Court on the grounds that making them available to the justices could compromise national security.

The decision flies in the face of the Duterte administration’s vow to bring transparency to government and strongly suggests, rightly or wrongly, that the powers that be have something to hide.

Earlier, the Court had asked the Office of the Solicitor General and the Philippine Na-

tional Police to produce documents related to the administration’s anti-drug campaign.

Last week, the Solicitor General Jose Calida told the Court it could not comply with its directive, because the documents “involve information and other sensitive matters that in the long run will have an undeniable effect on national security.”

Calida told the Court that producing so many documents would be “laborious” and that it could “spell the success or failure of follow-up operations of [the] police and other law enforcement bodies.”

He also took it upon himself to remind the Supreme Court justices that the right to information was not absolute, and that the Court, by asking for the documents, had “ventured into unwarranted factual inquiries” when it was not “a trier of facts.”

On the face of it, the arguments Calida presents seem patently absurd.

First of all, most if not all of the cases involve drug suspects and street crimes that have no impact whatsoever on national security. To argue that the activities of thousands of small-time drug pushers or drug addicts would have an impact on the national security strains credulity, to say the least.

Second, the voluminous nature of the work at hand is no excuse for failure to comply with a court order. We assume that the documents being sought have already been prepared, and must merely be retrieved to comply with the Court’s order. If they are stored digitally, that would be all the more reason to comply with the order swiftly.

Finally, Calida’s refusal to comply with the order is an admission that the administration has something to hide, which could damage the credibility of its anti-drug campaign. Perhaps the solicitor general needs to be reminded that the security of the admin-

istration is not the same as national security.

Administration ally Senator Richard Gordon is correct when he says that national security cannot be invoked because precedents have upheld the Supreme Court’s power to review executive decisions.

“If you refuse to give information, it means you are hiding something and that’s not good,” Gordon said.

One of the first executive orders that President Rodrigo Duterte signed was a document to institutionalize freedom of information among executive offices. The order was aimed at bringing greater transparency to the workings of government and to regain the people’s trust in their institutions.

Mr. Calida’s act of withholding documents from the Supreme Court flies in the face of that executive order and makes the police campaign against illegal drugs as transparent as mud.

Nothing is forever

ness, in every particular situation can be met or at least approximated in the measure that the judge or the arbiter is open to a host of facts and circumstances, modifiers and qualifiers that may not only produce a nuanced disposition but one markedly divergent from what is found on the printed page. A policeman who stops a motorcycle rider who does not have his helmet on has discretion whether or not to issue a violation ticket, and if he chooses not to, it should not be presumed that he was bribed. Unfortunately, we have a penchant for thinking the worst of others.

Rather, his effort at balancing equities, weighing circumstances and understanding the purposes

DURING the end days of March 2015, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of Davao was in Cebu to attend a reunion of the Veloso clan, to which the Dutertes of Danao, his paternal ancestors, were part of as well.

Duterte was at the time the political buzz leading to the national election of 2016. Two months before, in Butuan City, he had started a “listening tour” where he began preaching the merits of a federal system over our present unitary.

People speculated that the man was gearing up for a national position.

Less than two weeks after Butuan, he was in Manila to visit Camp Crame, the Edsa gate of which was converted into a commemoration site for the SAF officers and men killed in the infamous Mamasapano carnage.

Fast forward to the last days of March 2015, and that clan reunion at Cebu’s Casino Espanol.

A group of young social media enthusiasts who called themselves “Viners” approached this writer and asked if they could interview the Davao City mayor after his speech at the Veloso clan reunion. After checking with the everpresent Bong Go who whispered to the mayor’s ear, the request was granted.

The Viners wanted a short quip from the interviewee as response to their series of questions.

The responses were called “vines,” which was a hit with the youth, much like “tweets” which the Donald used effectively during his historic ascent to the presidency of the US of A. Then the kids popped a surprise.

“What can you say about Zayn Malik leaving One Direction?”

Duterte looked at me.

What the hell, he must have thought.

One of the Viners explained: Zayn Malik was the lead performer of the famous boy band One Direction, a UK rock band which was at the time the most popular in

Turn to A5

Turn to A5

Reticence about discretion MY FRIENDS and I checked in at Naia 3 yesterday morning. In my handcarried bag was a bottle of scent that bore the mark 125 ml. When it passed through the scanning device at the pre-departure area, I was told that I could not take it along and that I had a choice of either checking it in with the rest of my baggage or surrendering it to them. The first option was a nuisance. I had caused all my luggage shrouded in protective plastic, fully aware of the shabby treatment they receive at the hands of baggage handlers.

Getting the bottle of scent it

would have meant undoing the whole pack. The second was equally repulsive, because the item was by no means cheap! I argued that although the bottle did say that it was 125 ml, because I had used up much of it already, the contents certainly weighed less than 100 ml even, but all my logic was for naught.

The only answer I was given was scripted by Pilate: “What is written is written.” I was telling my friends that the purpose of the restriction was to prevent passengers from using prodigious amounts of alcohol or scent, or perfume to daze the flight crew, and so there was little point in insisting that the prohibition was “bottle-based” rather than “content-based.”

Surely, this was a matter

over which discretion could have been properly used to be reasonable.

But there was—and is, in our legal and administrative systems—reticence about discretion.

And the reason is not too difficult to fathom: Discretion has been frequently abused, as antibiotics have been abused without any sensible person urging that we refrain from taking antibiotics when the malady calls for their prescription.

The trouble with discretion is that it is the opposite of the mechanical application of formularies. “Dura lex sed lex” is a good principle, but it should never be the excuse for non-cogitation.

The law should be presumed to intend what is reasonable, because it is not

““Dura Dura lex sed lex” is a good principle, but it should never be the excuse for non-cogitation. worthy of human beings to hold them to what violates that which is most characteristic of us—thought and reason. And it certainly sets off alarm bells when we no longer trust ourselves to be reasonable. When books, tables, templates take the place of discretion even when they should not, then there is occurring an eclipse of reason that is reason

enough to beat gongs, set firecrackers of and raise a ruckus to frighten away the dragon of stupidity that threatens to devour reasonability!

The fact, as David, an American authority on administrative law , points out, is that most of administrative action is discretionary, what he calls “particular justice.”

And that might sound like an oxymoron for if justice were just, would it not be true to all? One needs discretion, however, for a rather straightforward reason: No matter the perspicacity and the foresight of a legislator, there is no way he can see the myriad constellation of facts to which the law is to be applied. And so the demands of justice, the ideal of fair-

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher can be accessed at: manilastandard.net Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandard.net

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager OIC-Ad Solutions Circulation Manager

Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua

Managing Editor Associate Editors City Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Romel J. Mendez Art Director Roberto Cabrera Chief Photographer

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion

MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2018

A5

More on Charter change SHOULD legislators, elected to office to pass laws, be allowed to tinker with the Constitution?

This was the question raised by Buhay PartyList Rep. Lito Atienza who maintained lawmakers were sworn into office to uphold and defend the Constitution, not violate it.

Atienza’s query becomes even more relevant in the wake of news report the Senate is open to a Constitutional Assembly proposal being pushed by the supermajority at the House of Representatives.

“I’m prepared to debate on the issue against House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Davao Rep. Karlo Nograles and other leading proponents of Con-Ass in the lower chamber,” said Atienza.

Nograles said the cost of holding an election for delegates to a constitutional convention—paying their

salary and allowances plus the cost of renting an appropriate venue—would run to about P7 billion.

Atienza disputed Nograles’ reason for a constituent assembly that the government would save a lot of money if the present members of Congress would just do the job of changing the Constitution.

Atienza said that lumped together the government wasted more than P7 billion in the purchase of the P3.8billion defective carriages for Metro Rail Transit Line 3, the P3.5 billion for the lethal Dengvaxia dengue vaccine and the frequent foreign travel expenses of government officials, including congressmen.

“There is indecent haste to revise the Constitution, but the people can see clearly the agenda of the Con-Ass proponents.

The congressmen want to skip the 2019 mid- term elections so they can stay on as holdover officials. I will also benefit from this arrangement but I cannot in clear conscience allow myself to be tainted by this patent violation of the Con-

stitution,” said Atienza who is one of the few remaining independent minded members in the House.

“Whether it’s Con-Ass or Con-Con, live television coverage of the major networks would expose those who are pushing for vested interests,” said Atienza, adding the people should know who are mangling the basic law of the land.

He said the academe, Lions Club, Rotarians, Gabriela and other civic groups must join forces to defend and protect the Constitution from being subverted by the politicians.

This early, Atienza said, the people cannot be passive; they must let Congress know that Charter Change done through Con-Ass will not pass in a plebiscite.

If he cannot stop Con-ass from being railroaded at the House, Atienza, a former street protester, said he would lead a nationwide campaign for a plebiscite to reject an anomalously revised Constitution. He urged his colleagues in the House to reconsider their position on Con-Ass. The revision of the

30-year-old Constitution and the looming impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno are converging events in May that have all the makings of a maelstrom.

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines maelstrom as a turbulent whirlpool or a violent movement of water current. I’m not wishing for a social upheaval but those whose hands are in the lever of power should not whip up a political storm of their own making. Tampering with the Constitution could lead to a political crisis that may be difficult to contain .

It’s better to be an alarmist now than regret being complacent later.

Let us pray for peace in our country and the enlightenment of our legislators to do the right thing.

Overfishing The Philippines as an archipelago is endowed with having the Pacific Ocean on its eastern side and the South China Sea on the western side. Because of this geographic advantage, Filipinos depend on fishing as a livelihood harvesting an estimated 4.7 million

tons of fish a year.. But this bounty from the sea might soon be depleted because of overfishing, according to an international study group.

Adding to the problem is the unabated poaching of fishermen from other countries like China, Vietnam, and Taiwan in our territorial waters. The poachers when apprehended by the Philippine Coast Guard are usually released by local authorities due to diplomatic intercession of the countries whose nationals were arrested The biggest violator of poaching in our waters are the Chinese who went even further by claiming waters within our 200-mile exclusive economic zone under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Using gunboat diplomacy, Chinese patrol boats shoo away Filipinos from their traditional fishing ground in Bajo Masinloc off Zambales. What a reversal of fortune! The Chinese grabbed Scarborough Shoal, other islets and reefs near our coastlines.

The poachers are now the enforcers.

Toward a new global compact on migration and lay out a common vision of how to make migration work for all our nations.

This is an urgent task.

We have seen what happens when large-scale migration takes place without effective mechanisms to manage it. The world was shocked by recent video of migrants being sold as slaves.

Grim as these images were, the real scandal is that thousands of migrants suffer the same fate each year, unrecorded. Many more are trapped in demeaning, precarious jobs that border on slavery anyway.

There are nearly sixmillion migrants trapped in forced labor today, often in developed economies.

How can we end these injustices and prevent them recurring in future?

In setting a clear political direction about the future of migration, I believe that three fundamental considerations should guide discussions of the compact.

The first is to recognize and reinforce the benefits of migration, so often lost in public debate.

Migrants make huge contributions to both their host countries and countries of origin.

They take jobs that local workforces cannot fill, boosting economic activity.

Many are innovators and entrepreneurs. Nearly half of all migrants are women, looking for better lives and work opportunities.

Migrants also make a major contribution to international development by sending remittances to their home countries. Remittances added up to nearly $600 billion last year, three times all development aid.

The fundamental challenge is to maximize the benefits of this orderly, productive form of migration while stamping out the abuses and prejudice that make life hell for a minority of migrants.

Secondly, states need to strengthen the rule of law underpinning how they manage and protect migrants—for the benefit of their economies, their societies and the migrants themselves.

Authorities that erect major obstacles to migration—or place severe restrictions on migrants’ work opportunities—inflict needless economic self-harm, as they impose barriers to having their labour needs met in an orderly, legal fashion.

Worse still, they unintentionally encourage illegal migration.

Aspiring migrants, denied legal pathways to trav-

el, inevitably fall back on irregular methods.

This not only puts them in vulnerable positions, but also undermines governments’ authority.

The best way to end the stigma of illegality and abuse around migrants is, in fact, for governments to put in place more legal pathways for migration, removing the incentives for individuals to break the rules, while better meeting the needs of their labor markets for foreign labor.

States also need to work together more closely to share the benefits of migration, for example through partnering to identify significant skills gaps in one country that migrants from another are qualified to fill.

Third and finally, we need greater international cooperation to protect vulnerable migrants, as well as refugees, and we must reestablish the integrity of the refugee protection regime in line with international law.

The fate of the thousands who die in doomed efforts to cross seas and deserts is not just a human tragedy.

It also represents the most acute policy failure: unregulated, mass movements in desperate circumstances fuel a sense that borders are under threat and govern-

of cologne to the airport authorities who seemed to have abdicated the use From A4 of all reason in favor of a of penal provisions make blue book to which they him deserving of accolade. clung with the fervor the I nearly surrendered same fervor as bible-totmy rather expensive bottle ing fundamentalists. And

that is what terrifies me most. As the world becomes more complex and facts are seldom simple, it takes discernment, reason and a studied consideration of circumstances to arrive at conclusions that

are fair. We have to be able to trust reason again, and because it seems like we do not, we keep talking, with disturbing excitement, if not anticipation, about robots and machines that can think

By António Guterres MANAGING migration is one of the most profound challenges for international cooperation in our time.

Migration powers economic growth, reduces inequalities and connects diverse societies. Yet it is also a source of political tensions and human tragedies. The majority of migrants live and work legally. But a desperate minority are putting their lives at risk to enter countries where they face suspicion and abuse.

Demographic pressures and the impact of climate change on vulnerable societies are likely to drive further migration in the years ahead.

As a global community, we face a choice. Do we want migration to be a source of prosperity and international solidarity, or a byword for inhumanity and social friction?

This year, governments will negotiate a Global Compact on Migration through the United Nations.

This will be the first overarching international agreement of its kind. It will not be a formal treaty.

Nor will it place any binding obligations on states.

Instead, it is an unprecedented opportunity for leaders to counter the pernicious myths surrounding migrants,

Reticence...

Nothing...

From A4

the world. Days before, he announced that he was leaving the band and striking out on his own.

Duterte got the cue. He waxed about the same thing happening to the Beatles, the Liverpool rock band that was the vogue in our generation. But the Viners requested him to please say something very, very short, a “vine” which was shorter than a “tweet.”

Gamely, the mayor did not show any irritation at the young guys cutting him short as he waxed nostalgic about John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Instead, he looked at the high ceiling of the Casino Espanol, and recovering his wit, said something I could never forget: “Nothing is forever.”

That was his “vine.” Nothing is forever.

I recall this episode in our “impossible” quest to get Rodrigo Duterte, the umpteenthterm mayor of Davao City, to seek—and finally win, the presidency of the land.

Because these days, the buzz is all about “No-El” and term extension juxtaposed into the revision of the present Constitution to trans-

form government from unitary to federal, and presidential to quasi-parliamentary.

Place these events against the latest survey findings that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte enjoys historically high public acceptance and trust ratings, and the speculation about his remaining in office beyond the presently-mandated single term.

Malacanang has repeatedly maintained that the popular President has no plans of remaining in office a day beyond his elected term.

And rightly so.

Believe in the sincerity of the man who on March 27, 2015, when he was yet unsure whether the presidency was an attainable quest, answered a group of kids after some reflection, that “Nothing is forever.”

Duterte is a man imbued with a mission, and he has a high sense of history. He is one who will always mind how history will judge him, because as he once said—nothing is forever. *** I wrote our publisher, Rollie Estabillo, in mid-December last that I would take a break from column writing and resume in January.

But the past two weeks have taken some toll on my health. After a bout with a severe cold

ments not in control.

In turn this leads to draconian border controls which undermine our collective values and help perpetuate the tragedies we have too often seen unfold in recent years.

We must fulfill our basic obligations to safeguard the lives and human rights of those migrants that the existing system has failed.

We must take urgent action to assist those now trapped in transit camps, or at risk of slavery, or facing situations of acute violence, whether in North Africa or Central America. We have to envisage ambitious international action to resettle those with nowhere to go.

We should also take steps—through development aid, climate mitigation efforts and conflict prevention—to avoid such unregulated large movements of people in future. Migration should not mean suffering.

We must aim for a world in which we can celebrate migration’s contributions to prosperity, development and international unity. It is in our collective power to achieve this goal. This year’s global compact can be a milestone on the road to making migration truly work for all.

The author is secretarygeneral of the United Nations.

better than we can!

It is this latter possibility that is disgusting—and, quite frankly, just absurd! rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

while in freezing temperatures elsewhere in the world, I simply felt “sick,” so to speak, my appetite weak, because of changes in temperature, from freezing to an uncharacteristic warm New Year in Manila, to single-digit lows here in Taipei. I am just recovering as I write.

Which made me perforce miss some milestones. One was the wake at Heritage Park for a great boss and even greater friend—Jake Macasaet of Malaya. It’s been a lingering illness for the last few years, and I was witness to how the naturally ebullient Jake transposed in illness to a physically weakened man, never losing his sharp wit, though.

I had to miss the wake of a dear friend, whom I first met at the residence of then UNIDO president Doy Laurel, later to become vice president of the land. Years later, Jake would buy Malaya from another friend, Joe Burgos.

And from 2004 to 2010, I wrote twice-a-week columns in his paper.

Hail and farewell, dear Jake. *** Missed also was the 60th birthday celebration of Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez in his native Tagum in Davao del Norte. He was one of a handful who convinced Mayor Duterte,

Tax anxiety BARELY two weeks after the effectivity of the government’s first package of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law, various sectors are worried about the anticipated price increases that will hit all consumers as a result of higher taxes on various products listed under the TRAIN. Analysts and consumer groups have warned that higher prices on prime commodities such as oil products will create a domino effect on all products and services.

According to Anti-Poverty Commission Chief Liza Maza, the TRAIN law will harm 21-million poor Filipinos who are living below the poverty line. True enough, the poor sector earning less than P250,000 a year will not benefit from the lower income tax scheme and will have to cope with the additional burden of higher prices.

Critics such as the nonprofit IBON Foundation say that TRAIN is designed to unburden the rich while increasing the burden of millions of poor Filipinos.

In the House of Representatives, three lawmakers from the militant Makabayan bloc have filed a petition before the Supreme Court to declare the TRAIN Law “unconstitutional” and stop its implementation. They argue that there was no quorum, a constitutional requirement, and no voting on the night the House ratified the bicameral conference committee report of the TRAIN bill. They claim that their objections were ignored when acting floor leader Deputy Speaker Raneo E. Abu moved for the ratification of the bicameral report with “barely 10 people on the floor.”

To allay the public’s concern on the inflationary effect of TRAIN, The Department of Trade and Industry assures that excise taxes on petroleum products and on sugar-sweetened beverages should not impact product inventories purchased before Jan. 1.

Typical of new policies that cause upward price adjustments, opportunities open for unscrupulous businessmen to take advantage by charging higher prices for remaining inventories acquired at lower prices.

The sheer volume and geographic coverage of enterprises that will need to be monitored for profiteering will be a huge logistical challenge for regulators.

Estimates from government show that price increases will be minimal and temporary with only a 0.73 percentage point rise in inflation in 2018 and will decrease in succeeding years. Electricity rates will increase by 0.7 percentage point, food products can increase of up to 0.73 percentage point and transportation by up to 2.8 percentage point.

These “manageable” figures give the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas a confident attitude and maintain its 2018 inflation forecasts at 3.4 percent.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue has started pub-

lic consultations on the Implementing Rules and Regulations for the implementation of TRAIN. Expectedly, many questions were raised on the implementation of the expanded withholding tax, excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages and cosmetic surgery.

The controversial SSB tax is seen as a challenge because it is a new tax levy and thus would need adequate inputs from the industry stakeholders to operationalize properly.

More revenue regulations will be issued on the withdrawal of some value-added tax exemptions, higher documentary tax, higher excise tax on mineral products, petroleum, automobiles, tobacco, coal, lower estate and donor taxes, etcetera.

This is just the first package of the comprehensive tax reform program envisioned by the administration and is expected to generate P130 billion in ad-

We hope TRAIN works.

ditional revenues. To quote the guidelines released

by Malacañang, TRAIN aims to reduce the poverty rate from 26 percent to 17 percent, uplifting about 10-million Filipinos from poverty and achieve middle-income status by 2020.

By 2040, the target is to eradicate extreme poverty, provide equal opportunities through inclusive economic and political institutions and achieve high income status.

Among the benefits committed from TRAIN in the next five years are: In Education, funding for 629,120 public school classrooms, or 2,685,101 public school teachers the next five years. In Health, 60,483 rural health units, or 484,326 barangay health stations, or 1,324 provincial hospitals. In infrastructure, 35,745 km of paved roads, or 786,400 km of temporary bridge upgrades, or 2.6 million hectares of irrigated land. War-torn Marawi will also be reconstructed.

Though the TRAIN took many months of debate before it was finally signed into law, ensuring that loopholes are removed in the culture of corruption still entrenched in the revenue collection agencies of government is the real challenge. The President’s political will, if need be and consistent with his style, to force accountability and transparency in the entire government will be tested.

Before even thinking of more taxes, the government should first prove its competence in collecting and administering the first tranche of TRAIN which has adequate administration measures that can set the stage for game changing reforms in revenue generation and budget spending.

How the TRAIN Law will affect all of us will be felt soon enough. We hope it works. If not, well, let’s see how we feel come 2019.

between 9 p.m. of Jan. 8, 2015 to the wee hours of Jan. 9 in the executive lounge of the Marco Polo in Davao City, to take a stab at the “impossible” dream.

Later, Alvarez bought us a round of scotch in the Marco Polo bar, which was where I learned that the mayor had become a teetotaler, drinking water while watching the handful of us getting giddy and a bit inebriated. “Bebot” said the night was quite memorable, and perhaps historic, happy that it almost coincided with his 57th birthday the following day. Now Bebot is 60, with all guns blazing.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Speaker!

A6

News

MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Ilocos Sur marks 200 anniversary th

By Rio Araja

T

HE province of Ilocos Sur is now preparing for its biggest celebration yet next month – its 200th founding anniversary.

Gov. Ryan Singson invited those who were born or who grew up in the province who have relocated to other provinces or who are now abroad to join in the celebrations for the bicentennial anniversary of Ilocos Sur. “Like the branches of a tree, our lives may grow in different directions yet our roots remain as one,” Singson said.

“Call it a clan, a tribe, a family, whoever you are, you still need to look back where you came from,” he added.

The provincial government began preparing as early as last year for the grand celebration in February.

“Hold the chain and be part in uniting every Ilocano in the entire universe to ride in a plane and land in the province. Rest assured that 2018 will be full

of fun and worth keeping memories,” Singson said.

According to the province’s public information officer Michael Escobar, the event highlight is the grand global reunion on Feb. 2.

He said the whole stretch of the activity coincides with the “Kannawidan” festival where the beauty and rich culture of the province are showcased.

The provincial government has uploaded a digital card on social media to invite natives of Ilocos Sur living abroad to attend the foundation day, dubbed as “Intayon 2018! Ilocos Sur.” “Intayon means let’s go back home. Come and visit us in February,” Escobar said.

On Feb. 2, 1818, a Spanish royal decree was issued declaring the separation of Ilocos Norte from Ilocos Sur.

FOR THE KIDS AND KIDS AT HEART. A week before the annual feast of Sto. Nino, small merchants have put up makeshift stalls outside the Sto. Niño Parish Church in Manila’s

Tondo district. Ey Acasio

Manila

Republic of the Philippines StandardENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

TODAY

13. The Connection Facility is required only for the purpose of connecting the Power Plant to the Narra/ Irawan Substation of NPC and will be used solely by DPC. 14. In June 2016, DPC through Power System Research and Consultancy Group conducted a Grid Impact Study to determine the impact of connecting the Power Plant to NPC’s transmission system. Further, during a meeting between NPC on the one hand, and various New Power Producers held on 12 August 2016, on the other hand, a bus-in or radial type of interconnection was recommended by NPC.

San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR AUTHORITY TO DEVELOP, OWN, AND/ OR OPERATE DEDICATED POINT-TO-POINT FACILITIES TO CONNECT THE BUNKER-FIRED POWER PLANT IN ABORLAN , PALAWAN TO THE PALAWAN MAIN GRID OF THE NATIONAL POWER CORPORATION (NPC) , WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY, DMCI POWER CORP. (DPC),

15. That the said Grid Impact Study was accepted by NPC is evidenced by the fact that NPC and DPC entered into a Connection Agreement dated 09 September 2016, which adopts the connection scheme agreed upon by the parties.

The Connection Agreement is attached and made an integral part hereof as Annex “F.”

ERC CASE NO. 2016-041 MC

16. Further, the design and configuration of the Connection Facility was accepted by NPC as evidenced by the document entitled, “Test and Commissioning Procedure for the Connection Point, DMCI Power to NPC 69kV Grid in Aborlan, Palawan” duly signed by NPC’s representative.

Applicant.

The said document is attached and made an integral part hereof as Annex “G.”4

x - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x

17. The Grid Impact Study is attached and made an integral part hereof as Annex “H.”

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

18. The total cost of the Connection Facility is equivalent to Twenty Million Nine Hundred Twenty-Eight Thousand Four Hundred Fifty-Six and 60/100 Pesos (P20,928,456.60). It should be emphasized that the switchyard on the high side portion of the Connection Facility is owned by DPC.

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 19 December 2016, DMCI Power Corporation (DPC) filed an Application for authority to develop, own, and/or operate dedicated point-to-point facilities to connect its bunker-fired power plant in Aborlan, Palawan to the Palawan main grid of the National Power Corporation (NPC), with prayer for the issuance of a provisional authority.

A copy of the Project Cost is hereto attached and made an integral part hereof as Annex “I.” Further, the Gantt Chart showing the timeline of activities is attached and made an integral part hereof as Annex “J.”

In its Application, DPC alleged the following: 1.

2.

3.

4.

19. DPC hereby undertakes to comply with the provisions of the Philippine Grid Code, where applicable in relation to the Dedicated Transmission Facility, and the Philippine Small Grid Guidelines.

DPC is a corporation duly organized and existing by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines with office address at 3/F DMCI Plaza Building, Pasong Tamo Extension 2281, Makati City.

20. In summary, DPC hereby submits a copy of the following documents which are either identified as Annexes above or are additional documents in support of this Application:

A copy of the General Information Sheet is attached hereto and made an integral part hereof as Annex “A.”

ANNEX REFERENCE

DOCUMENT

DPC may be served with orders and other processes of this Honorable Commission through the undersigned counsel.

“A”

General Information Sheet

“B”

Project Description

“C”

Single Line Diagram

“D”

Certification of Technical Capacity

“E”

DOE Endorsement dated 11 August 2016

“F”

Connection Agreement with NPC

“G”

Testing and Commissioning Procedure (as signed by NPC)

“H”

Grid Impact Study

“I”

Project Cost

“J”

Gantt Chart

This Application is submitted to this Honorable Commission pursuant to Section 9 (f) of Republic Act No. 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (“EPlRA’’),1 Rule 5, Section 5 (a) (i)2 of the EPIRA Implementing Rules and Regulations (“EPlRA IRR”), and Section 4.2 of Resolution No. 16, Series of 2011, or the Resolution Adopting the Amended Rules on the Definition and Boundaries of Connection Assets for Customers of Transmission Provider for its consideration and approval of DPC’s connection facility which is a direct connection to NPC’s 69kV transmission line, including one switch yard and substation near the connection point (the “Connection Facility”) which shall connect DPC’s 2 x 4.95 MW Bunker-Fired Power Plant (the “Power Plant”) to the 69kV switchyard of the Narra/Irawan substation of NPC. Further, Section 2.2 (g) of the Power Supply Agreement between DPC and Palawan Electric Cooperative dated 25 July 2012 obligates DPC to undertake the “(p)rocurement, construction, installation, control, and possession, operation and maintenance of the Connection Facilities.”

The foregoing provision is conferment by P ALECO-both in its capacity as offtaker and as system operator of the Palawan grid- of DPC’s authority to install and own the connection facilities necessary for DPC to dispatch the contracted capacity to the grid.

“K”

In consonance with the foregoing purpose, DPC entered into the development, construction, operation, and maintenance of a 2X4.95 MW Bunker-Fired Power Plant located in Barangay Iraan, Aborlan, Palawan. The project entailed the construction of two (2) Bunker-Fired generating sets completed in November of 2016.

7.

As agreed with NPC, the Power Plant will be connected to the Palawan Grid as connected to the Narra/Irawan substation of NPC. This project, subject of the instant Application, involves the construction of direct connection facility to the 69kV transmission line of NPC.

Affidavit in support of Provisional Authority

a.

The need for the electric power generated by the Power Plant is beyond question and a matter that this Honorable Commission may take judicial notice of. Thus, it is in the interest of the government to help DPC to achieve commerciality and commence operations at the soonest possible time.

b.

A copy of the Affidavit executed by Engr. Henry V. Alcalde in support of the prayer for issuance of a provisional authority is hereto attached and made an integral part hereof as Annex “K.”

23. In view of the foregoing, the Applicant respectfully submits the instant Application for this Honorable Commission’s urgent and utmost consideration.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed that the Honorable Commission: (a) Issue an order granting provisional authority for the implementation of the development, ownership and operation of the dedicated point-to-point facility by DPC to connect to the transmission system of NPC;

The connection point of the Connection Facility can be illustrated as follows:

(b) After determination/hearing on the merits, a Decision be issued approving the instant Application.

Other reliefs just and equitable are likewise prayed for.

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 29 January 2018 (Monday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.) at the ERC Hearing Room, 15th Floor, Pacific Center Bldg., San Miguel Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

9.

Below is the actual configuration of the connection point:

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1.

The petitioner’s name and address;

2.

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

3.

A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicant rests its case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1.

The name and address of such person;

2.

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

3.

The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicant that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

As shown above, a segment of the original 6gkV transmission line of NPC (in red) was modified so that the Power Plant could directly connect to the connection point. The modification was done by installing a new segment of the 6gkV line as shown in the illustration (in green), and deactivating the original segment (in red).

WITNESS, the Honorable OIC Chairman and CEO ALFREDO J. NON, and the Honorable Commissioners GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 21st day of November 2017 in Pasig City.

The Single Line Diagram of the Connection Facility IS attached and made an integral part hereof as Annex “C.”

This Notice of Public Hearing supersedes the 19 September 2017 Notice of Public Hearing issued by the Commission, pursuant to the Motion to Reset Hearing filed by the Applicant on 10 November 2017· FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION:

10. Based on the Asset Boundary annexed in the Connection Agreement, the new segment of the 6gkV transmission line falls within DPC boundary. Necessarily, DPC will own and operate the said segment of the 6gkV. As proof of DPC’s technical capability to operate the Connection Facility, attached and made an integral part hereof as our Annex “D” is a certification of DPC’s technical capability to operate a limited pointto-point transmission facility, and the curriculum vitae of DPC’s key technical personnel.

11.

The Department of Energy issued a Certificate of Endorsement dated 11 August 2016, certifying to the fact that the Power Plant, which includes in principle the related connection facilities, “is consistent with the Missionary Electrification Development Plan (MEDP) of the government pursuant to the provisions of the Republic Act No. 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA).”

JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal 1

EPlRA, Section 9(t) “ ... A generation company may develop and own or operate dedicated point-to-point limited transmission facilities that are consistent with the TDP: Provided, That such facilities are required only for the purpose of connecting to the transmission system, and are used solely by the generating facility, subject to prior authorization by the ERC: Provided, further, That in the event that such assets are required for competitive purposes, ownership of the same shall be transferred to the TRANSCO at a fair market price: Provided, finally, That in the case of disagreement on the fair market price, the ERC shall determine the fair market value of the asset.”

2

EPlRA IRR, Rule 5, Section 5 (i) “Subject to prior authorization from ERC, TRANSCO or its Buyer or Concessionaire may allow a Generation Company to develop, own and/or operate dedicated point-to-point limited transmission facilities: Provided, That: (i) Such dedicated point-to-point limited transmission facilities are required only for the purpose of connecting to the Grid which will be used solely by the Generation Facility, and are not used to serve End-users or Suppliers directly ... “

3

The DOE Endorsement certifying to the project’s consistency with the Missionary Electrification Development Plan is hereby submitted in place of the proof of the project’s consistency with the Distribution Development Plan.

4

The Grid Impact Study, Connection Agreement.

A copy of the DOE Endorsement (“DOE”) dated 11 August 2016 is attached and made an integral part hereof as Annex “E.”3 12. Accordingly, the Board of Investments approved DPC’s Application of the Power Plant as a project with pioneer status. A copy of the BOI (“BOI’) approval is submitted as part of Annex “C” above.

IT’S all system go for the Philippine Travel Agencies Association as it is set to open its 25th Travel Tour Expo on Feb. 8 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

“Preparations have started in April and we have been very meticulous at every step of the way.

This will be the silver anniversary of Travel Tour Expo and we want it to be something really special,” PTAA president and TTE organizing committee chairperson Marlene Dado Jante said.

Instead of the usual three-day expo, Jante said this year’s event

will run for four days.

“This will give all the exhibitors participating the chance to meet with members of the PTAA, our partners in the expo, government officials, and the diplomatic community,” she said.

Jante said the additional day will also give the PTAA and all the exhibitors a chance to do a test run on the technical aspect of the event.

“We want to ensure that there will be no glitches during the expo, specifically on all the exhibitors’ Internet access. Transactions have to be seamless during the expo and the public must be able to book their travels with ease,” Jante said.

22. Applicant DPC respectfully submits that the following facts and circumstances clearly warrant the issuance by the Honorable Commission of a provisional authority or interim relief in the instant Application.

The Project Description, with the Project Rationale and a summary of the result of the System Impact Study conducted for the project is attached hereto and made an integral part hereof as Annex “B.” 8.

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

21. Under Rule 14 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedures, the Honorable Commission is authorized to use a provisional authority or interim relief prior to a final decision in the instant Application, provided that the facts and circumstances alleged warrant such remedy.

DPC was incorporated on 16 October 2006. Under its Articles of Incorporation, as amended, DPC’s primary purposes is to “acquire, design, develop, construct, invest in, and operate electric power plants, and engage in the business of a Generation Company in accordance with Republic Act No. 9136 otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (the “EPIRA”); to invest in, operate and engage in missionary electrification as a Qualified Third Party under the EPIRA and its implementing rules and regulations; and to design, develop, assemble and operate other power related facilities. appliances and devices.”

6.

400 exhibitors to participate in PTAA’s 25th travel tour expo

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

STATEMENT OF FACTS 5.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

(MS-JAN. 15, 2018)

CHECKPOINT. Quezon City policemen check motorcycle riders passing through Agham Road on Sunday as part of Oplan Sita which aims to deter riding-in-tandem criminals. Manny Palmero

Nutritionists, dieticians combat fake news in annual convention THE country’s largest accredited organization of healthcare professionals in the nutrition and dietetics fields, the Nutritionist-Dietitians Association of the Philippines, will lead a series of scientific sessions that aim to address the most pressing issues impacting the profession.

NDAP vice president Eloisa Villaraza said the 63rd annual convention, set on Feb. 21 to 24 in Davao City, will focus on communicating the timely relevance of disseminating factual, reliable information on the latest health and wellness practices and products in this time of misinformation and rampant “fake news.”

“The organization is adamant in using digital technology to fight off false and misleading online content by spreading truthful, science-backed published information on health, wellness and nutrition,” she said of this year’s event which has the theme “Road to Excellence: Bringing Edu-

cation and Nutrition Together.”

“Apart from the publication of position statements in our website/ social media page and having a pool of reviewers for published content, NDAP is very active in offering seminars with speakers who are the best in their field of expertise and bringing these seminars to provinces so more research and development can be reached and updated,” said NDAP chairperson Nives Serra.

The three-day congress aims to engage and benefit registered nutritionist-dietitians across the country, including those from the hospital sector from both private and Deparment of Health-assisted hospitals; the food and food service industry; the academe; those in the hotel and restaurant business; various government offices involved in nutrition researches and food regulation; and drug companies.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

StandardENERGY Republic of the Philippines REGULATORY COMMISSION TODAY

FCPo

=

F

=

San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE POWER SALES AGREEMENT BETWEEN DAVAO DEL SUR ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. AND MAPALAD PARTNERS, INC., WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY,

The arithmetic average of the values as of the December 31, 2015 of the United States Consumer Price Index for all Items; as published by the International Monetary Fund, provided that if the International Monetary Fund ceases to publish such indices, the relevant indices as published by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics shall apply.

Outage Factor as derived using the following formula to be used.

Where:

ERC CASE NO. 2017-085 RC

DAVAO DEL SUR ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. AND MAPALAD PARTNERS, INC., Applicant. x - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- -- - - - - - - - - - - - x

F=

Where: TMED

=

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

F

=

If: ∑ED < ∑TMED,F < 1 1.2

Where:

3.

Joint Applicants may be served orders and other processes through the undersigned counsel.

FOMR CPIn

= =

4.

Pursuant to Rule 20 (B) of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, approved by this Honorable Commission on 22 June 2006 in Resolution No. 38, Series of 2006, this Application is submitted to this Honorable Commission for its review and approval of the Power Sales Agreement (“PSA”) dated 22 November 2016 between DASURECO and MPI.

CPIo

=

USDn

=

USDo

=

Fixed O&M Fee Rate of Php 194.3778/kw/month Consumer Price Index for Metropolitan Manila Area (National Capital Region), all items published by NEDA/NSO for the period of price determination Consumer Price Index for Metropolitan Manila Area (National Capital Region), all items published by NEDA/NSO for September 2013 (at 126.9, 2006 = 100) USD-Peso Exchange Rate for the period of price determination as published by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas USD-Peso Exchange Rate is at Php43/USD1

A copy of the PSA is attached hereto as Annex “B.”

The corresponding proofs of receipt are attached hereto as Annexes “C” and series.

6.

F= TMED

=

F

=

The First PSA is expiring on 28 December 2017, or until receipt of a provisional or final approval of the PSA from this Honorable Commission, whichever is earlier. Upon the expiration of the First PSA, DASURECO will immediately lose 15 MW of supply.

9.

33. The financial model discloses the basis for the tariff under the PSA. It includes all the formulas and calculations as well as the assumptions and values considered therein.

34. In accordance with Section 1, Rule 4 of this Honorable Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (“ERC Rules”), Applicant MPI respectfully moves that the financial model be treated as confidential information for the following reasons:

1 if the foregoing formula results in F being greater than1

34.1. The financial model qualifies as a “trade secret” as contemplated under existing jurisprudence.

34.2. In the case “Air Philippines Corporation vs. Pennswell Inc,”1 the Supreme Court defined “trade secret” as follows:

If: ∑ED = ∑TMED,F = 1 If ∑ED > ∑TMED,F> 1, excess will be carried over to the next year, if the excess is attributed to an event initiated by the Buyer calling for the dispatch of the Power Station to deviate from the agreed Dispatch and Nomination Procedures (Schedule D), and which applies only on to scheduled maintenance of these generating units.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

8.

MOTION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFORMATION 32. As mentioned above, the financial model attached as Annex “N” is hereby submitted under a motion to treat information confidential.

A summation of the ED & TMED for a given Contract Year shall be made to determine true F during the Contract Year. Such yearly F factor shall be basis for adjustment of the CRF for the Contract Year. The adjustment shall be guided by the following conditions:

Copies of the newspaper and the corresponding affidavit of publication are attached hereto as Annexes “D” and “D-1,” respectively.

Necessity for Power Supply. MPI currently supplies 15 MW to DASURECO under an existing Power Sales Agreement dated 16 October 2013 (the “First PSA”) from the generation facilities located in the premises of DASURECO in Brgy. Cogon, Digos City, Davao del Sur (the “MPI Power Station”).

A copy of the said analysis is attached hereto as Annex “V.”

Monthly Actual Energy Delivered TMED

Theoretical Maximum Energy Delivered being the Contracted Capacity multiplied by the hours in the relevant month, limitation due to dispatch order, Force Majeure of the Power Station, transmission line downtime due to Buyer’s fault, and non-generation due to a Buyer dispatch order, and any other hours as a consequence of Buyer’s failure to perform any of its obligations

Furthermore, Joint Applicants have caused the publication of the present Application in its entirety, excluding its annexes, in a newspaper of general circulation within DASURECO’s franchise area.

7.

Fixed Operation & Maintenance Fee (FOMF)

The Fixed Operation and Maintenance Fee (FOMF) covers the operating and maintenance costs of the Power Station. It shall be computed according to the following formula:

Mapalad Partners, Inc. (“MPI”) is a corporation duly authorized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal address at 4th Floor, Alphaland Southgate Tower, corner EDSA and 2258 Chino Roces Avenue extension, Makati City.

In compliance with Rule 6 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, Joint Applicants have furnished the legislative bodies of each of the local government units where they principally operate a copy of the present Application with all its annexes and accompanying documents.

31. The results of the said analysis are summarized in the table below.

If ∑ED > ∑TMED,F> 1, excess will be carried over to the next year, if the excess is attributed to an event initiated by the Buyer calling for the dispatch of the Power Station to deviate from the agreed Dispatch and Nomination Procedures (Schedule D), and which applies only on to scheduled maintenance of these generating units.

Copies of MPI’s Certificate of Incorporation, Articles of Incorporation (“AOI”), Certificate of Filing of Amended AOI with the attached Amended AOI, By-Laws, latest General Information Sheet, Audited Financial Statements, and MPI’s corporate structure are attached hereto as Annexes “A” and series.

5.

30. The procurement of additional supply from MPI will help provide much needed peaking power to DASURECO and, based on the analysis, will result in a downward adjustment of over 10 centavos per kWh in DASURECO’s total generation costs.

If: ∑ED = ∑TMED,F = 1

THE APPLICANTS

COMPLIANCE WITH PRE-FILING REQUIREMENTS

29. In order to determine the impact of the implementation of the PSA on DASURECO’s generation costs, an analysis was conducted taking into consideration DASURECO’s projected demand for 2017and available supply from other suppliers.

A summation of the ED & TMED for a given Contract Year shall be made to determine true F during the Contract Year. Such yearly F factor shall be basis for adjustment of the CRF for the Contract Year. The adjustment shall be guided by the following conditions:

Davao del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. (“DASURECO”) is a non-stock, nonprofit electric cooperative organized and existing under Presidential Decree No. 269, as amended, with office address at Brgy. Cogon, Digos City, Davao del Sur. DASURECO has a franchise to distribute electricity in Digos City and the Municipalities of Magsaysay, Sulop, Sta. Cruz, Hagonoy, Malalag, Bansalan, Padada, Matanao and Kibalawan in the province of Davao del Sur, and the Municipalities of Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos, Malita, Santa Maria and Sarangani in the province of Davao Occidental.

NATURE OF THE APPLICATION

RATE IMPLICATIONS OF THE POWER SALES AGREEMENT

1 if the foregoing formula results in F being greater than 1

DASURECO and MPI alleged in their Application the following:

2.

A copy of the COC and the application for its transfer are attached hereto as Annexes “U” and “U-1,” respectively.

Monthly Actual Energy Delivered TMED

Theoretical Maximum Energy Delivered being the Contracted Capacity multiplied by the hours in the relevant month, limitation due to dispatch order, Force Majeure of the Power Station, transmission line downtime due to Buyer’s fault, and any other hours as a consequence of Buyer’s failure to perform any of its obligations

Notice is hereby given that on 22 September 2017, Davao del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. (DASURECO) and Mapalad Partners, Inc. (MPI) filed their Application seeking the Commission’s approval of their Power Sales Agreement (PSA), with prayer for the issuance of a provisional authority.

1.

28. Certificate of Compliance. This Honorable Commission has issued the necessary Certificate of Compliance (“COC”) for the power station subject of the present Joint Application. The said COC was issued under the name of Mapalad Power Corporation (“MPC”), which previously had the rights over the power station prior to its assignment to MPI. Although a transfer of COC from MPI to MPC is not required under the 2014 Revised Rules for the Issuance of Certificates of Compliance, MPI nevertheless filed an application for the said transfer.

“A trade secret is defined as a plan or process, tool, mechanism or compound known only to its owner and those of his employees to whom it is necessary to confide it. The definition also extends to a secret formula or process not patented, but known only to certain individuals using it in compounding some article of trade having commercial value. A trade secret may consist of any formula, pattern, device, or compilation of information that (1) is used in one’s business; and (2) gives the employer an opportunity to obtain advantage over competitors who do not possess the information.

Generally, a trade secret is a process or device intended for continuous operation of the business, for example, a machine or formula, but can be a price list or catalogue or specialized customer list. It is indubitable that trade secrets constitute proprietary rights.”

If ∑ED < ∑TMED,F< 1 1.3. Variable Operation & Maintenance Fee (VOMF) The Variable Operation arid Maintenance Fee (VOMF) covers the cost of the use of, among other items, chemicals, lubricants and spare parts, that are directly related to the generation of the Power Station. It shall be computed according to the following formula:

Procurement Process for Supply. Thus, DASURECO executed efforts to procure the appropriate power supply to replace the 15 MW.

35. Also, the financial model was prepared and developed for the exclusive use of MPI, and is designed for the specific use of the company in its power generation business. Consequently, should the financial model be disclosed to the public, it could easily be copied or used by MPI’s competitors or other entities engaged in the power business for their own benefit, and to the prejudice of MPI. Thus, the commercial value of the said model will be diminished significantly.

10. In compliance with ERC Resolution No. 13, Series of 2015, DASURECO conducted a competitive selection process (“CSP”) in the procurement of its supply.

Copies of a write-up on the process and the relevant CSP documents are hereto attached as Annexes “E” and series.

11.

NPC Certification. DASURECO has formally requested the National Power Corp. (“NPC”) for a certification on whether it will have available capacity and energy to supply DASURECO during the term of the PSA. NPC has not yet formally responded to such request.

A copy of the said request is attached hereto as Annex “F.”

12. Supply from PSALM. DASURECO and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (“PSALM”) have a Contract for the Supply of Electric Energy (“CSEE”). The CSEE is in force until 25 December 2017 only based on the Letter of Agreement dated 1 December 2016.

Where: VOMF VOMFR ED USDn

= = = =

USDo CPIn

= =

CPIo

=

A copy of the said Letter of Agreement is attached hereto as Annex “G.”

16. Demand Side Management. A certification from DASURECO as regards demand side management is attached hereto as Annex “J.”

39. In accordance with Sections 3 and 4, Rule 4 of the ERC Rules, Applicant MPI reserves the right to use the financial model and its contents as evidence, and respectfully moves for the issuance of a Protective Order.

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY 40. As discussed above, DASURECO and MPI have an existing supply agreement dated 16 October 2013 for the supply of 15 MW from the MPI Power Station.

41. The aforementioned supply contract will expire on 28 December 2017, or until receipt of a provisional or final approval of the PSA from this Honorable Commission, whichever is earlier. Upon the expiration of the said supply contract, DASURECO will immediately lose 15 MW of supply.

AFC = FCR X Specific Fuel Oil Consumption x ED Where: FCR

=

Specific Fuel Oil Consumption ED

=

42. Hence, unless a provisional approval is received before 28 December 2017, DASURECO will immediately lose 15 MW of supply after the said date. Thus, in order to help ensure sufficiency of power supply to DASURECO’s customers, a provisional approval of the supply under the PSA must be already available before the said date.

Fuel Price of Diesel Fuel Oil based on the weighted average of all fuel delivered during the billing period. =

0.265 liter/kWh

kWh delivered during the billing period

43. Since the issuance of a final approval the Joint Application may take some time due to the time needed by the ERC in evaluating the said Application, it would be best for DASURECO to have an available provisional authority by the time the PSA expires.

1.5 Value Added Tax The relative Value Added Taxes (“VAT”) of the above fee payments 12% shall be computed as follows:

17. Under the law, no contract for the supply of power can become legally effective unless approved by this Honorable Commission. Hence, this Joint Application.

ABSTRACT OF THE POWER SALES AGREEMENT AND RELATED INFORMATION

38. Further, all parties furnished copies of the present Application are not furnished copies of the documents subject of the present motion.

The Actual Fuel Cost (AFC) is the fee paid to the Seller as payment for the procurement and delivery of the fuel oil (Diesel) used in the operation of the Modular Power Station. The Actual Fuel Cost shall be computed as follows:

14. Since the MPI Power Station is already existing and operating, it can readily supply power to DASURECO immediately after the expiration of the First PSA provided the prayer for provisional authority is granted.

Copies of DASURECO’s DDP and supply-demand projections are attached to the Application as Annexes “H” and “I,” respectively.

37. In accordance with Section 1 (b), Rule 4 of the ERC Rules, an electronic copy of the financial model is contained in one compact disc and submitted in a sealed envelope marked with the word “Confidential.”

1.4. Actual Fuel Cost (AFC)

13. Urgency of Supply. In order to help ensure sufficiency of power supply to DASURECO’s customers, the supply under the PSA must be already available at the expiration of the aforementioned supply agreement.

15. Demand Projections. Moreover, the supply from the MPI Power Station will help address the expected steady increase in the power demand in DASURECO’s franchise area. The expected increase is indicated in DASURECO’s Distribution Development Plan (“DDP”) and supply-demand projections.

36. Given the foregoing, the financial model qualifies as “confidential information” as defined under Section 2, Rule 4 of the ERC Rules.

Variable O&M Fee, in Pesos Variable O&M Fee Rate of Php 0.59/kWh kWh delivered during the billing period USD-Peso Exchange Rate for the period of price determination as published by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas USD-Peso Exchange Rate is at Php43/USD1 Consumer Price Index for Metropolitan Manila Area (National Capital Region), all items published by NEDA/NSO for the period of price determination Consumer Price Index for Metropolitan Manila Area (National Capital Region), all items published by NEDA/NSO for September 2013 (at 126.9, 2006 =100)

44. Since the MPI Power Station is already existing and operating, it can readily supply power to DASURECO under the PSA as soon as the prayer for provisional authority is granted.

VAT= (CRF + FOMF+VOMF +AFC+ Start- Up Cost) x 0.12 1.6 Start-Up Costs (SC)

18. The Generation Facilities. MPI shall supply power under the PSA using leased modular diesel-fired power generating plants with a total net output of fifteen (15) MW located in the premises of DASURECO in Brgy. Cogon, Digos City, Davao del Sur.

45. In view of the foregoing, Joint Applicants respectfully move for the provisional approval of the instant Application pursuant to Rule 14 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure.

The Buyer, on a pro rata basis of the capacity of the Power Station allocated to the Buyer, shall pay the Seller Start-Up Costs for the cost of starting up the Modular Power Station after a period of shutdown due to any reason attributable to the Buyer of the Seller. The Start-Up Costs shall be computed based on the prevailing price of diesel fuel at the time of the Start Up and paid in accordance with the following formula and schedule:

19. The MPI Power Station consists of 16 units of diesel generator sets and auxiliaries, with a total installed capacity of 1,070 kW per unit; 4 units of transformer package; 1 unit each of control room, switch gear, and oil water separator; diesel fuel tanks with auxiliaries and water tanks; 1 unit each of workshop and of office; and a transmission line from the MPI Power Station to DASURECO’s substation.

A copy of a sworn statement supporting the said motion is attached hereto as Annex “W.” INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS 46. Certain documentary requirements contained in this Honorable Commission’s Checklist of Pre-Filing Requirements for Applications for Approval of Power Supply Agreement are not applicable to the present Joint Application.

A written explanation on the inapplicability of the said requirements is attached hereto as Annex “X.”

A brief description of the technical characteristics of the MPI Power Station is attached hereto as Annex “K.” 20. The Specific Fuel Oil Consumption (“SFOC”) rate of the MPI Power Station shall not be greater than 0.265 liter/kWh at site condition of 32 deg. C ambient temperature, and is based on the Plant’s use of diesel fuel with a density of 0.85 kilogram/liter.

A copy of a certification on the MPI Power Station’s SFOC rate is attached hereto as Annex “L.” 21. Salient Features of the PSA.

Liters of Diesel Fuel Per Generator Set

Cold Start-up (more than 10 hours of shutdown)

60

Warm Start-up (less than 10 hours of shutdown)

40

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, Joint Applicants DASUERCO and MPI respectfully pray that this Honorable Commission: 1.

issue an Order declaring the financial model attached hereto as Annex “N” as confidential information within the purview of Rule 4 of the ERC Rules, as well as directing that the financial model be treated with confidentiality and be protected from public disclosure;

21.1. Supply of Power Requirements. Under the PSA, MPI shall make available, reserve, guarantee and deliver to DASURECO the contracted electric power (“Contracted Capacity”) of fifteen (15) MW and the Dispatchable Energy, as indicated in and subject to the terms and conditions of the PSA.

22.1. Sample computation. For reference, a sample computation of the rate is contained in Schedule C of the PSA.

2.

issue the corresponding Protective Order in accordance with Section 2 and 4 of the said Rule 4;

22.2. Equivalent PhP /kWh computation. A computation of the equivalent PhP / kWh for the fixed fees is attached hereto as Annex “M.”

3.

immediately issue an Order provisionally approving the present Joint Application; and

21.2. MPI shall have the option of supplying the Contracted Capacity or any part thereof, from other sources, provided that the cost of such supply is lower than or equal to the cost of supply from the MPI Power Station.

The cost of such alternative supply to DASURECO shall be a full passthrough cost to DASURECO.

4.

22.3. Basis for indexation. As indicated in the formulas above, the monthly fees to be paid by DASURECO are subject to adjustments based on various indices or factors in order to properly reflect the fluctuation of MPI’s costs in producing electricity.

after due hearing, render judgment approving the Power Sales Agreement subject of the instant Joint Application, as well as the generation rate and adjustment mechanisms indicated therein.

21.3. Commencement of Supply. MPI shall commence supplying power on the date designated by MPI to DASURECO in writing as the date on which the MPI Power Station is ready to commence supply (“Commencement Date”).

21.4. Term. The term of supply and purchase under the PSA shall be for ten (10) years from the Commencement Date, unless otherwise extended or renewed by mutual agreement of the parties in writing.

21.5. Effective Date. The obligations under the PSA shall become effective on the Effective Date, which shall be upon this Honorable Commission’s approval of the PSA, including the pricing structure therein.

21.6. Transfer of Ownership. Ten (10) years after the Commencement Date, MPI shall transfer to DASURECO, the ownership of the MPI Power Station, free from any lien or encumbrance.

22. Purchased Power Rate. For the capacity drawn by DASURECO to MPI, DASURECO shall pay the monthly payments based on the following formulae: 1.

Type of Start-Up

Monthly Payments The Monthly Payments shall be paid to the Seller on a monthly basis in accordance with the following formula:

Monthly Payments = CRF+ FOMF+VOMF +AFC+ SC+Taxes Where: CRF FOMF VOMF AFC SC Taxes

= = = = = =

Capital Recovery Fees Fixed Operation and Maintenance Fee Variable Operation and Maintenance Fee Actual Fuel Cost Start-Up Costs Value-Added Tax and other applicable taxes, if any 1.1 Capital Recovery Fee (CRF) CRF shall be computed as follows:

Joint Applicants pray for other just and equitable relief under the premises.

The components of the fees representing foreign currency-denominated costs are adjusted based on the foreign exchange rate and the appropriate price indices; those representing local costs are adjusted based on local price indices. The Actual Fuel Costs vary based on the cost of fuel purchases.

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 30 January 2018 (Tuesday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.) at DASURECO’s Main Office in Brgy. Cogon, Digos City, Davao del Sur.

22.5. Financial Model. A copy of MPI’s financial model for the tariff is attached hereto as Annex “N.” As discussed below, the financial model is the subject of a Motion for Confidential Treatment of Information.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following:

224.

23. Sources of Funds/Financial Plans 23.1. Cost of Equity. The project will be funded by equity. A breakdown of the cost of equity is attached here to as Annex “O.” 23.2. Project Cost. A breakdown of the total project cost for the MPI Power Station is attached hereto as Annex “P.” 24. Cash Flow.

24.1. Breakdown of Operating and Maintenance Expenses. A breakdown of the projected operating expenses is attached hereto as Annex “Q.” 24.2. Offtake Arrangement. Under the PSA, MPI shall make available, reserve, guarantee and deliver to DASURECO the Contracted Capacity, and DASURECO shall pay for such quantity of electric power. MPI shall utilize such Contracted Capacity to generate energy for DASURECO. 24.3. There is no minimum energy offtake under the PSA. As MPI will dedicate the Contracted Capacity to DASURECO, the Capital Recovery and the Fixed Operations and Maintenance Fees are computed based on the Contracted Capacity as well as on the proportion of actual energy delivered to the energy that could have been delivered.

24.4. Also, the capacity to be provided by MPI shall always be the Contracted Capacity. In case the actual capacity delivered by MPI, as per dispatch order or limitation of DASURECO for a given billing month is less than the Contracted Capacity, the difference between the actual capacity utilized by DASURECO and Contracted Capacity for that billing month shall be deemed delivered to and utilized by DASURECO. 25. Fuel supply. The fuel necessary for the operations of the MPI Power Station will be supplied by the supplier who offered the best terms after offers were solicited from reputable suppliers in the area.

1.

The petitioner’s name and address;

2.

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

3.

A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicants rest their case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1.

The name and address of such person;

2.

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

3.

The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicants that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicants are hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and CEO AGNES VST DEVANADERA and the Honorable Commissioners ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 11th day of December 2017 in Pasig City.

FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION

A copy of the relevant fuel supply agreement is attached hereto as Annexes “R.”

Where: CRFR CC USDn

= = =

USDo FCPn

= =

Capital Recovery Fee Rate of PHP 488.21/kw/month 15,000kW Average USD-Peso Exchange Rate for the month as published by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas USD-Peso Exchange Rate is at Php43/USD1 The arithmetic average of the values of the United States Consumer Price Index for all Items, as last published on or before the last day of such billing month by the International Monetary Fund; provided that if the International Monetary Fund ceases to publish such indices, the relevant indices as published by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics shall apply.

26. Environmental Compliance Requirements. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has issued the necessary Environmental Compliance Certificate (“ECC”) covering the MPI Power Station.

JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal Service

A copy of the ECC is attached hereto as Annex “S.” 27. DOE Certification. The Department of Energy (“DOE”) has certified that the capacity of the MPI Power Station is consistent with the DOE’s Power Development Plan.

A copy of the said certification is attached hereto as Annex “T.”

1

G. R. No. 172835, 13 December 2007.

(MS-JAN. 8/15, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

A8

MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2018

Sports

So splits point with Shakriyar

By Peter Atencio WESLEY So played to draw in 29 moves of a Sicilian Defense game with Shakriyar Mamedyarov on Saturday at the start of the 2018 Tata Steel Masters Chess tournament in Wijkaan Zee, Netherlands.

The game turned drawish following a queen exchange in the 22nd move.

So shares second spot with Gawain Jones, Fabiano Caruana, Bashkaran Adhiban and Sergey Karjakin.

On the other hand, GMs Viswanathan Anand, Anish Giri and Vladimir Kramnik scored openingday wins over their respective rivals.

The heavily favored Anand, fresh from a title win in the World Rapid Championships, survived a checkmate attempt from Maxim Matlakov to escape with a 53-move beating in their Ruy Lopez Game.

Giri prevailed over Yifan Hou in 63 moves of a Petroff, while Kramnik repulsed Wei Yi in 70 moves of a Neo Gruenfeld.

Anand, who is seeking his sixth crown just like world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway, entered into complications right from the start when he let Matlakov break through on the queen side.

Matlakov managed to weaken white’s king side and threatened a beautiful checkmate.

Anand lost a pawn in an attempt to keep Matlakov from checking him.

Paras-less AMA routs PATTS, 82-61 AMA University banked on its balanced scoring attack to clobber host squad, PATTS, 82-61, in the Sta. Lucia Land-NCRAA men’s basketball tournament at the PATTS College of Aeronautics Gym. Daniel Salonga scored 20 points and big man Owne Graham finished with a monster performance of 18 points and 22 boards as the Andre Paras-less Titans picked up their second straight win in this tournament supported by Sta. Lucia Land and outfitted

by LGR. Also winning over the weekend were Philippine Merchant Maritime School, National College of Business Administration and La SalleDasmarinas.

PMMS bounced back from an opening-day setback and turned the tide on Pamantasan Ng Lungsod Ng Muntinlupa, 89-73.

A dizzying 16-0 run in the third period enabled the Mariners to break free from a tight match, on their way to the win column.

Bryan Hilario finished with a double-double performance of 23 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks to impose his will on both ends of the court. Aaron Morante also played a solid game, hitting five triples on his way to finishing 20 markers.

NCBA outlasted Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite, 84-77, in an exciting game that went to overtime.

The Wildcats rallied from as high as 22 points down in the third period, 30-52, and forced overtime via a putback by Ferdan Guanzon with 2.9 seconds left in regulation, 69-69.

In the extra period, the Wildcats sustained their run and banked on crucial plays from Carl Manangkil and John Randolph Oriero.

Ronald Tubid of Kia tries to maneuver his way around Alaska’s Chris Banchero in a PBA Philippine Cup won by the Aces, 102-65, at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.

Alaska extends Kia’s nightmare to 16 losses

By Jeric Lopez

A

SMASHING display in the third allowed Alaska to massacre ailing Kia, 102-65, for its second straight win in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Star rookie Jeron Teng displayed his steady play once more, backstopping Alaska with a gamehigh 23 points and nine rebounds.

He got ample support as Carl Bryan Cruz scored 16 points, Chris Banchero had 11 points, and big men

Calvin Abueva, Vic Manuel and Jake Pascual each added 10 markers.

The Aces improved to 2-2 to move in the upper part of the standing while Kia fell to 0-4 as its nightmare continued.

The Aces had a dazzling show-

ing in a decisive third, where they exploded for 36 points, while holding the Picanto to only five points for the period.

Alaska mercilessly stamped its class over helpless Kia to break the game wide open emphatically.

That winning surge was led by Teng as the super rookie scored 13 of his total output in the third.

It was actually a competitive in the first half with the Aces only taking a 39-34 edge at the half.

The second half, however, was as one-sided as it can get. Alaska’s lead peaked at 38 points twice.

After tasting an abysmal 47-point drubbing at the hands of Magnolia

in its last defeat, the Picanto suffered the same fate once again.

Dating back to the Commissioner’s Cup of last season, Kia has now lost 16 games in a row.

The scores: ALASKA 102 - Teng 23, Cruz 16, Banchero 11, Abueva 10, Manuel 10, Pascual 10, Enciso 8, Thoss 5, Galliguez 5, Exciminiano 2, Potts 2, Racal 0, Casio 0.

KIA 65 - McCarthy 16, Camson 15, Tubid 13, Ababou 5, Reyes 4, Caperal 4, Celda 3, Cabrera 3, Yee 2, Galanza 0, Jamon 0, Paniamogan 0, Sara 0.

Quarters: 20-21, 39-34, 75-39, 102-65.

Federer: I’m too old to be the favorite

MELBOURNE—Defending champion Roger Federer says rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic should be seen as leading contenders for the Australian Open as he is too old to be considered favourite.

The 36-year-old is bidding for a record 20th Grand Slam title and is in form and fit, unlike the Spaniard and the Serb who enter the tournament under injury clouds.

But the father-of-four said at his age

and in his 19th Australian Open, he liked to play down his chances.

“With age, I feel like I play down my chances just because I don’t think a 36-year-old should be a favorite of a tournament, it should not be the case,” the world number two said Sunday.

“That’s why I see things more relaxed, you know, at a later stage of my career.

“I feel like maybe somebody like a Rafa, with the year that he’s had, and Novak with the six titles he’s had

here, even if it’s unknown how he’s feeling, they could very well be the favourites, too.”

But he added “at the end of the day, it’s all just talk beforehand. The draws are always tough”.

Federer, who had an incredible 2017 after returning from injury, winning not only a fifth Australian Open but a record eighth Wimbledon, opens his title defence against Slovenia’s 51st ranked Aljaz Bedene on Tuesday. AFP FEDERER

Perpetual guns for solo lead Games today

(Filoil Arena, San Juan) 9:30 a.m.- MU vs LPU (m) 11 a.m.- MU vs LPU (w) 12:30 p.m.- SSC-R vs UPHSD (w) 2 p.m.- SSC-R vs UPHSD (m) 3:30 p.m.- SSC-R vs UPHSD (jrs) LAST year’s runner-up University of Perpetual Help System Dalta guns for the solo lead as it takes on San Sebastian College today in the men’s division of the 93rd NCAA volleyball tournament at the Filoil Arena in San Juan City.

The Altas, who lost to last year’s champion College of St. Benilde, got off to an impressive start after waylaying the Lyceum Pirates, 25-19, 25-13, 25-18, last week and the San Beda Red Spikers, 25-12, 25-17, 25-23, Friday.

The pair of victories sent the Las Pinas-based squad to a three-way logjam at first place with its nemesis CSB and Arellano University on two wins apiece.

UPHSD will play an SSC team that is riding the crest of a come-from-behind 15-25, 2025, 25-2025014, 15-11 triumph over Jose Rizal Thursday to improve to 1-1 (win-loss).

Team SEA, PH begin Pradera Ladies 2 golf

Team PH co-captain Chihiro Ikeda with players Laurea Duque, Mikha Fortuna and Yuka Saso during yesterday’s preparation for the Pradera Verde Ladies Challenge 2.

LUBAO, Pampanga – Yuka Saso hopes to cap a brilliant two-week display of individual skills with a victory in team play as the Philippines seeks to equalize against Team Southeast Asia in the Pradera Verde Ladies Challenge 2 firing off today (Monday, Jan. 15) at the Pradera Golf and Country Club here.

Saso bolstered the hosts’ chances in the novel event by winning a pro tournament and the Philippine Ladies Open the last two weeks with the Fil-Japanese shotmaker brimming with confidence as she leads

the team out to avenge a lopsided defeat in last year’s inaugurals of the three-day championship.

“The battle cry is to win the championship. We will give them a very good fight given the depth of the team this year,” said Norman Sto. Domingo, one of Team Phl’s skippers who include Rolly Romero and Daisy Reyes. “We have beefed up our lineup and I’m hoping the girls all play 100 percent in all three days.”

But the visiting squad, led by the top players from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, also

toughened up its roster to underscore its readiness to duplicate its imposing 19 1/2-10 1/2 romp in the first Pradera Ladies Challenge pitting the country’s leading jungolfers and amateurs against the top players from the neighboring SEA countries.

“Of course, our goal is to retain the crown. We also have new players and we hope they will blend in well with those who played last year,” said Team SEA co-captain Phunampa Pornperapan of Thailand, the other being Jantsonn Kan of Malaysia.

Baby Falcons put away Jr Maroons, 76-58 THE Adamson Baby Falcons rode on the big plays of Adam Doria in the second period to put away the University of the Philippines Integrated School Junior Maroons, 76-58, Saturday at the Arena in San Juan.

Held scoreless in the first period, Doria hit eight of 14 points

in the last 10 minutes of the first half to help send the Baby Falcons to their fourth win in eight games in the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines Junior Basketball Tournament.

His brother Andrey Doria led with 15 points for the Baby Falcons, who went on to gain a share of fourth place.

earning a semifinal slot has improved after the National Univer(Filoil Flying V Centre) sity, behind Rhayyan Amsali’s 21 9 a.m. - UST vs UPIS points, regained solo second with 11 a.m. - FEU vs UE an 86-81 conquest of defending 1 p.m. - DLSZ vs NU champion Far Eastern University3 p.m. - AdU vs Ateneo Diliman Baby Tamaraws.

They now share the same slate The Baby Falcons’ chances of with the Baby Tamaraws, who got

Games Wednesday

21 points from LJ Gonzales.

The Baby Falcons started moving ahead in the first period off Jose Sabandal’s triple and Andrey Doria’s penetration attempt, 7-4.

Then, they gained a 14-4 edge off a basket from Patrick Santos in the closing minutes of the period.

Peter Atencio

Uy Group developing 2nd casino near Mactan airport B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2018

B

Peza, Iligan to revive National Steel

By Othel V. Campos

IN BRIEF

T

HE Philippine Economic Zone Authority said it is in talks with the local government of Iligan City to revive the Philippine National Steel plant and restart the local integrated steel industry.

PLDT watches frequency deal PLDT Inc. is lukewarm to the proposal of the Department of Information and Communications Technology to reallocate mobile phone frequencies to accommodate the entry of a new player.

“That’s a serious matter of public interest, right? And I think we should give careful attention to that particular subject matter,” PLDT chairman and president Manuel Pangilinan said.

“In so far as we are concerned, we are clearly using extensively the frequencies we have acquired from San Miguel. They’re actively, extensively used by Smart and Sun and Talk N’ Text,” he said.

The DICT is currently drafting a memorandum order for the reallocation of mobile phone frequencies, which is controlled by the duopoly of PLDT and Globe Telecom.

PLDT and Globe jointly acquired 100-percent equity interest in San Miguel’s Vega Telecom for P70 billion in 2016, which gave them access to 700 megahertz frequency held by Bell Telecom.

Pangilinan said his company was preparing for the entry of a new player and allotted a significant amount this year to further improve its network. “We welcome a third player, all we can do at this stage would be to prepare for that but also the main role is to really build a superior network for fixed and wireless to ensure that the service is world class,” he said. Darwin G Amojelar

Biomass, hydro perks extended THE Energy Department will extend the installation target for the availment of feed-in-tariff rates by biomass and run-of-river hydro projects for another two years, a top official said.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said he was verifying some numbers before signing the extension of the feed-in-tariff for the renewable projects.

“For biomass and hydro, we are positively looking at extension for FIT…for existing projects only.

New projects will not be able to make it anymore,” he said.

The installation target for two renewable energy technologies expired in December. “It’s in the table already, for signing. I just want to make sure that there is no misunderstanding,” Cusi said.

“We are tallying the numbers to make sure there is no misunderstanding. The remaining available capacity, I want to make it very clear to me and everybody,” he said.

Cusi said around 100 megawatts of the biomass installation target was still unsubscribed. “So I had it included in the DoE list. We have a very clear list for both biomass and hydro. Around two years extension.

We want to be fair to all,” he said.

Alena Mae S. Flores

SSS revenues rise 9% to P175b STATE-run pension fund Social Security System said revenues rose 9 percent to P174.94 billion as of end-November 2017 from P160.02 billion a year ago, driven by the aggressive collection efforts for members’ contribution, investments and other income.

“The growth in our contribution collection is primarily due to the collection drive of the current administration of the Social Security Commission along with the efforts of SSS employees who are in direct contact with our employer- and employee-members every day,” SSS president and chief executive Emmanuel Dooc said over the weekend.

Members’ contributions, which represent 82.5 percent of the total revenues, increased to P144.36 billion as of end-November from P131.28 billion a year earlier.

Investment and other income also increased to P30.58 billion from P28.74 billion, lifted by income from government securities, equities and salary loans which reached P11.04 billion, P8.15 billion and P7.61 billion, respectively.

Julito G. Rada

DBM to issue rules on grants THE Budget Department said it will lead a subcommittee of Task Force Bangon Marawi, along with the Department of Finance and National Economic and Development Authority, to formulate the guidelines on the donations, grants and assistance for the rehabilitation of the war-torn city in Mindanao.

The government agencies concerned agreed that all sources of funding for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the city should be cleared first by Task Force Bangon Marawi.

The DoF International Finance Group reported to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez that the ongoing post-conflict assessment in the area would be the basis for the preparation of the Marawi Comprehensive Recovery and Rehabilitation Plan.

The post-conflict needs assessment team, led by the Office of Civil Defense-Department of National Defense, was dispatched on Oct. 16.

The activities of the PCNA, which started in July, will culminate in a final report that is presently being done by OCD-DND. Dominguez said earlier it was too early to make cost estimates on the damage to the city, adding the reconstruction plan would be the basis of how much would be needed to fund Marawi’s reconstruction and rehabilitation. Julito G. Rada

PHILEX’S REFORESTATION. Philex Mining Corp. planted 144,714 trees and other floras in 110 hectares of land in Tuba and Itogon— the two municipalities that host its gold-and-copper operations in Benguet province—between July and October. Philex employees do their share in environmental protection.

Tax reform may force McDonald’s to hike prices

By Darwin G. Amojelar GOLDEN Arches Development Corp., the franchise holder of McDonald’s in the Philippines, said it may raise prices to lessen the impact of higher tax under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.

“We may have to raise beverage prices,” GADC president and chief executive Kenneth Yang told reporters.

“But what we try to do is

we balance everything out.

We continue to provide a lot of value for our customers,” he said.

McDonalds Philippines had 547 stores nationwide as of end-November 2017.

The company posted a net income of P977 million in the first nine months of 2017, up 19 percent from a year ago.

Systemwide same-store sales grew 13 percent year-on-year to P18.5 billion in January to September.

Several companies expressed concerns over the impact of Train on their profitability this year. “All of us, all the companies will be affected in some shape or form but I don’t think the effect would be significant,” Manuel Pangilinan, chairman of PLDT Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp., said.

Manila Electric Company, which is controlled by MPIC, said it could also increase electricity rates in February,

with the implementation of the tax reform.

Aside from Meralco, MPIC have interests in tollways, water, infrastructure and mining.

The Train law, one of the five tax packages envisioned to increase state revenues and make the tax system fairer and simpler, reduced income taxes, expanded the value-added tax base and raised taxes on petroleum products, automobiles and sugar-sweetened beverages.

Peza director-general Charito Plaza said the agency had serious negotiations with Iligan City, which hosts the steel company, over the back taxes the company must settle with the LGU. “We also talked with the banks and the previous operator. We wanted so badly to have an integrated steel sector to the point that we may be brokering the revival of National Steel,” Plaza said over the weekend.

Plaza said Peza would also negotiate the possible repackaging of the back taxes and bank loans to make the company more attractive to investors.

“We cannot attract new investors if they are to take on all the outstanding loans. We proposed to the LGU of Iligan that they can be a stakeholder in the company, with the tax collectibles as their equity,” she said.

Peza also asked related sectors to give National Steel a chance to be “restored back since this is an important step to industrialization.” Several groups also asked Peza to continue brokering for the revival of the company.

Real estate taxes owed by the mothballed facility ballooned to as high as P4 billion.

Presidential adviser for economic affairs Ramon Jacinto said earlier the reconstruction of the steel facility could cost about $3 billion for a 3-million metric ton plant.

Jacinto’s family previously owned National Steel before the government took over its operations.

The original facility could produce 1 million MT of long steel bars and other steel products annually.

International experts find Bataan Nuclear Plant repairable SSS wants

By Alena Mae S. Flores INTERNATIONAL nuclear experts found the mothballed 620-megawatt Bataan Nuclear Power Plant repairable, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said over the weekend.

Technicians from Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corp. and other international nuclear experts already presented to the department the results of their study on the 30-year old BNPP, according to Cusi.

“They [Rosatom] submitted that it [BNPP] can be rehabilitated. Korea also submitted that it can be rehabilitated but of course aside from that, I’m looking at the community and the people,” Cusi told reporters.

Cusi said the Energy Department was now finalizing the policy to support nuclear energy development.

“The bigger battle is the acceptance of the community. It’s the acceptance of the community…That’s why we are doing the national policy on nuclear, so how can I do that if the community doesn’t want it,” he said.

The energy chief said the public should be made aware

of nuclear power and the department planned to conduct public consultations once the policy was finalized.

“Look at France, they are pushing on nuclear and even work out a deal in China on the processing of spent fuel. What about us?” Cusi said.

“On rehab, that is within my control. I can do that. We need transparency to do that,” Cusi said.

The department’s Nuclear Energy Program Implementing Organization or NEPIO is tasked to produce a comprehensive study and prepare a national infrastructure for the first nuclear power plant.

“That’s why we have NEPIO that will coordinate with the community. So what we are saying, if the province will not agree to that, before I have to look at an alternative, because I have to put a closure to this thing,” Cusi said.

He said the government would look at options for BNPP if there was no social acceptability.

“My option here [is] if it is not accepted, I have to find a closure to this project because

all of us are paying for the cost. Let’s make it useful, maybe a tourist attraction, storage, whatever,” he said.

He said government should come up first with the nuclear policy, then conduct public consultations and determine the costing.

“We are just finalizing the policy.

The policy is for nuclear, not necessarily BNPP. We are looking at a floating nuclear or a maritime nuclear,” he said.

Cusi said the Philippines could bring in floating nuclear energy for island provinces with a capacity of 60 megawatts per facility.

TOYOTA SCHOOL. Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation welcomes guests from one of its institutional partners, Colombo Plan Staff College, for a study visit at Toyota Motor Philippines School of Technology in Santa Rosa City, Laguna. CPSC delegates were briefed on how TMP Tech’s curriculum, world-class facilities and strong academe-industry linkage provide quality education to students. Shown are CPSC visitors with school officials during the facility tour at TMP Tech.

PH joins elite group of countries with good banking data

By Julito G. Rada THE Philippines will become a member of an elite group of less than 50 jurisdictions worldwide which report cross-border banking statistics to the Switzerland-based Bank for International Settlements as a part of the global database.

Testing and validation showed that the cross-border banking data maintained by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas met the rigorous BIS standards for completeness and quality.

BIS general manager Agustin Carstens informed Bangko Sen-

tral Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. that “the BIS will formally add the Philippines as a reporting country for the locational IBS [international banking statistics] and start including Philippine data in the global aggregates” starting January 2018.

Carstens said “the participation of the Philippines in the IBS is a significant milestone [because] it confirms the international importance of the Philippine banking system. “ Espenilla said that “our inclusion into the elite group provides us with more granular cross-border banking data that would be

very critical in formulating wellinformed policies when and how they may be needed. The value to regulators of having such a view cannot be overemphasized in today’s market.”

Espenilla also said that “the benefits accrue the other way as well because our ability to provide high-quality data can only enhance the transparency of global transactions and funding flows. “ He said “the BSP is only too happy to contribute significantly to such an endeavor. “ Espenilla said “the BSP has been working diligently on instilling

high-quality banking data and our inclusion as a BIS-reporting jurisdiction validates our efforts in meeting the international standards.”

The Bank for International Settlements is an international financial institution owned by central banks which “fosters international monetary and financial cooperation and serves as a bank for central banks”.

BIS carries out its work through meetings, programs and through the Basel Process – hosting international groups pursuing global financial stability and facilitating their interaction.

seats in the board of PSE and Cirtek

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Social Security System said it plans to acquire more shares in the Philippine Stock Exchange and technology company Cirtek Holdings Philippines Corp. that will enable the state pension fund to get a board seat in these companies.

SSS commissioner Jose Gabriel La Viña said the pension fund was looking at the planned stock rights offering of the local bourse.

La Viña said SSS would be interested in acquiring a board seat in PSE because the pension fund had significant shares in several firms that were listed in the local bourse.

SSS has more than P100 billion, equivalent to about 23 percent of its investible portfolio, invested in the equities market.

The PSE is looking to raise as much P3.16 billion through a rights offering next month. It plans to sell 11.5 million common shares to eligible shareholders at an offer price of up to P275 apiece.

SSS is also looking to acquire more shares in Cirtek to take advantage of the potential growth of the company. SSS currently has about P400 million worth of Cirtek shares which it acquired from the open market.

The pension fund is in talks for possible acquisition of additional shares which will enable it to have one board seat in the company.

Cirtek raised $67 million in fresh capital in December from the issuance of dollar-denominated preferred shares which will be used to pay debt and fund strategic acquisitions.

B2

Business

MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Petron prepares capital securities worth $500m

By Alena Mae S. Flores PETRON Corp. will issue $500 million in senior perpetual capital securities on January 19 to refinance a previous $750-million, 7.5 percent undated subordinated capital securities.

The new offering carries a 4.6 percent rate a year, Petron said in a disclosure over the weekend “Further to our disclosure dated January 8, 2018 relating to the proposed offering by the company of US dollar-denominated undated unsubordinated capital securities, this is to advise the company has priced the offering today, with an issue size of US$500 million and expected issue date of January 19, 2018,” Petron said.

Early this week, the board of Petron authorized the company to issue US dollar denominated unsubordinated capital securities to refinance $750 million in outstanding undated subordinated securities.

Petron said it was embarking on a tender offer to holders of its $750 million, 7.5 percent undated subordinated capital securities.

“The tender offer is being made in connection with a concurrent offering of senior perpetual capital securities (the new securities) by the company,” the oil refiner said.

Petron used the previous debt of $750 million to partly finance the $2-billion upgrade of the Bataan refinery to make it at par with other facilities in Asia

Stock market tests 9,000 points; investors upbeat

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

HARE prices are expected to continue to test the 9,000-point level level as optimism about the positive results from the government tax reform agenda remains strong.

Philstocks Inc. research head Justino Calaycay said investors were still generally upbeat about the economy ahead of the third week of trading in the new year.

“Data shows the bulls are still in control of the market even as the bears attempt to take their share of the pie.

Thus far, the latter have not

had sufficient reasons to justify their stance except the valuation perspective.

Still, these voices are being drowned by optimists hanging on to the promise held

by TRAIN, in particular and the broad economy in general,” Calaycay said.

The Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law, or

TRAIN, is taking effect this month, assuring the government of additional revenues to fund the budget.

“The PSEI is still expected to test a breach of the 9,000 line even as we closely watch if it is able to hold support at the 8,750-8,800 range,” Calaycay added.

The PSEi last week rose 0.5 percent to 8,814.62 while the broader All Shares climbed 0.4 percent to 5,098.75.

Among the sub-indices, the financial posted the highest week-on-week growth of 3.2 percent, fol-

lowed by mining and oil which advanced by 1.32 percent. The services and holding firms increased 0.8 percent and 0.61 percent, respectively.

The property index, meanwhile, dropped 1.8 percent while industrial declined 0.25 percent last week.

Foreign investors were net buyers for the week at P2.5 billion, while the average daily value traded stood at P7.53 billion from the previous week’s average of P9 billion.

Weekly top price gainers were LT Group Inc., which

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

JANUARY 8-11, 2018 Close Volume

FINANCIAL AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources China Bank COL Financial Eastwest Bank First Abacus I-Remit Inc. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Union Bank Vantage Equities

3.18 59.85 164.90 116.80 3.90 1.94 37 15.6 31.05 0.7 1.7 0.580 109.7 1.18 12.8 56.95 88.95 240 55.6 255.4 90.05 1.24

INDUSTRIAL Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Basic Energy Corp.

Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Conc. Aggr. ‘B’ Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Eagle Cement EEI Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide MG Holdings Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Pilipinas Shell Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ SFA Semicon Shakeys Pizza SPC Power Corp.

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

40 10.78 0.65 1.35 17.7 0.219 120 19.50 5.27 15.5 54 61.8 83 62 1.91 5.4 11 11.660 15.5 12.88 7.87 5.60 1.66 15.92 62.95 28.25 10.04 18 2.000 255.00 58.25 4.13 3.28 20.15 28.25 18.1 17.94 0.203 331.00 9.37 2.25 4.97 9.25 5.01 8.30 1.78 12.42 64.05 6.35 4.82 2.07 4.13 557 1.77 14.06 5.5 0.134 1.19 163 2.85 2.05 0.82

HOLDING FIRMS Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp.

GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Keppel Holdings `A’ Keppel Holdings `B’ Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

Lopez Holdings Corp.

LT Group Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

MJCI Investments Inc. Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings PROPERTY 8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Anchor Land Holdings Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ CEB Landmasters Cebu Holdings Cebu Prop. `A’ Cebu Prop. `B’ Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Filinvest Land,Inc. Global-Estate Interport `A’ Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell

Value

1,833,000 37,670

5,684,890.00 2,247,964.00

9,929,300 521,000 2,138,000 5,662,300 24,600 13,420,300 36,236 131,000 1,271,000 12,170,740 61,590,000 355,000 875,100 15,300 58,040 927,140 6,066,250 379,830 1,619,000

1,148,765,380.00 2,042,570.00 4,146,940.00 201,344,540.00 384,002.00 2,684,066,420.00 2,978,330.00 226,180.00 730,020.00 1,313,477,548.00 70,750,370.00 4,503,472.00 49,855,066.00 1,359,788.50 13,928,016.00 51,538,235.00 1,547,390,878.00 33,465,782.00 2,031,230.00

5,463,100 1,478,200 4,033,000 1,830,000 77,500 2,580,000 2,640 21,300 31,108,600 6,273,300 3,826,900 -2,100 50 524,710 923,000 64,300 50,600 15,221,000 20,692,600 20,624,600 8,168,200 32,765,500 58,000 18,101,000 354,160 5,049,100 1,657,300 3,180,100 12,646,000 4,260,230 2,810 212,000 75,000 8,600 5,223,300 2,336,300 11,179,100 2,000,000 1,833,460 471,300 11,560,000 3,569,300 14,792,600 1,657,900 3,741,200 14,106,000 4,244,500 604,650 218,500 185,000

223,742,335.00 16,037,312.00 2,535,230.00 2,424,220.00 1,345,636.00 555,680.00 324,664.00 411,068.00 165,678,573.00 97,457,182.00 204,288,470.50 127,771.50 4,150.00 32,789,500.50 1,764,100.00 339,440.00 548,938.00 176,730,682.00 319,661,702.00 186,223,244.00 64,736,917.00 183,177,232.00 99,260.00 288,425,548.00 22,132,472.50 145,630,155.00 16,648,951.00 57,339,570.00 25,540,650.00 1,090,956,898.00 164,188.00 887,830.00 239,830.00 167,650.00 151,272,830.00 42,601,544.00 199,646,846.00 403,420.00 605,397,512.00 4,398,176.00 25,455,440.00 18,495,071.00 127,102,399.00 8,925,697.00 7,850,737.00 6203790+18846330 55,542,410.00 38,530,914.00 1,413,290.00 906,630.00

69,000 765,040 3,276,000 3,989,400 653,800 3,820,000 457,000 9,571,600 743,000 38,885,000 12,071,000

0.300 73.70 16.10 0.97 6.99 0.440 0.490 1065 7.68 14.60 5 7.60 1430 7.60 77.90 5.29 5.37 0.69 5.7 21.3 0.330 6.55 3.29 0.0440 1.260 2.060 2.50 129.00 2.53 1029.00 1.76 0.80 283.000 0.2320 0.1820 0.192 6.200 1.09 13.46 2.290 1.010 44.350 3.89 4.9 5.77 6.1 6.1 0.480 1.12 1.160 0.219 0.465 40.8 0.650 0.139 1.87 1.38 0.82 5.1 0.340 0.3600 0.590 5 21.05 2.11

JANUARY 3-5, 2018 Close Volume Value 3.4 60 160.00 113.80 3.89 2.00 33.35 15.7 32.3 0.71 1.75 0.580 106.8 0.99 12 56.95

139,000 40,030 11,923,450 5,646,850 270,000 1,768,000 878,500 58,500 5,826,300 550,000 236,000 973,000 12,980,240 1,628,000 390,700 166,790

467,840.00 2,397,736.00 1,917,280,697.00 631,644,812.00 1,050,200.00 3,528,650.00 29,260,710.00 917,250.00 189,143,880.00 391,000.00 406,400.00 569,030.00 1,375,593,565.00 1,594,320.00 4,890,210.00 9,509,869.00

240 55.9 246 86.90 1.26

103,200 338,680 7,351,130 90,590 1,002,000

24,490,718.00 18,843,130.50 1,836,427,394.00 7,876,844.00 1,254,910.00

292,690.00 413,114,580.00 5,945,500.00 55,242,060.00 15,385,717.00 509,860.00 533,280.00 1,611,741,260.00 2,171,070.00 79,760,670.00 10,399,740.00

41 11.44 0.62 1.34 17384 0.217 138 19.56 5.25 15.6 52.5 62 83.5 64 1.93 5.53 10.84 11.240 14.72 12.60 7.75 5.60 1.66 16.12 62.95 29.45 10.28 18.2 2.130 255.00 58.55 4.24 3.24 20.80 29.1 18.3 17.78 0.204 329.20 9.00 2.19 5.90 9.34 5.6 8.40 1.75 13.66 62.4 6.75 4.98 2.2 4 530 1.89 13.06 5.4 0.134 1.18 163.9 2.99 1.95 0.78

3,196,300 3,174,400 1,292,000 2,157,000 47,800 1,010,000 1,270 8,100 16,601,000 4,087,200 2,480,210 3,450 10 864,960 270,000 294,300 32,200 7,750,600 5,130,100 5,883,100 6,977,600 17,827,600 6,000 10,468,500 293,200 1,842,300 501,400 1,977,900 9,793,000 2,308,830 220 568,000 24,000 1,200 8,041,400 434,900 3,895,400 710,000 1,412,440 59,900 8,938,000 382,700 9,392,000 1,026,600 324,000 7,190,000 3,334,000 400,010 10,300 3,105,000 313,000 71,000 88,910 1,682,000 830,900 306,300 12,990,000 470,000 6,353,670 90,000 13,109,000 980,000

131,925,500.00 38,270,068.00 796,560.00 2,889,970.00 839,908.00 221,390.00 174,597.00 160,687.00 85,212,286.00 63,790,504.00 127,043,839.00 208,426.00 835.00 54,722,302.00 515,510.00 1,561,487.00 350,960.00 87,722,758.00 75,436,756.00 73,803,844.00 53,008,957.00 100,057,764.00 9,960.00 172,712,616.00 18,368,221.00 52,342,035.00 5,286,622.00 36,130,880.00 20,969,740.00 589,608,562.00 12,881.00 2,385,580.00 76,290.00 24,440.00 225,412,725.00 7,977,712.00 69,682,018.00 142,410.00 464,427,920.00 517,721.00 19,606,870.00 2,270,582.00 87,112,908.00 5,890,564.00 2,722,849.00 12,243,200.00 44,658,836.00 24,987,914.50 541,901.00 15,428,860.00 742,460.00 284,550.00 47,121,265.00 3,231,490.00 10,999,012.00 1,683,583.00 1,721,540.00 553,980.00 1,010,083,641.00 263,780.00 25,679,330.00 766,810.00

1,930,000 8,187,590 19,387,400 192,000 141,700 56,431,600 28,410,000 1,294,165 27,247,600 41,947,100 206,000 222,700 608,325 3,783,100 6,818,230 1,700 100 1,741,000 8,273,300 17,562,000 930,000 85,988,800 27,000 5,138,900 2,360,000 180,000 146,000 4,928,380 73,000 2,091,155 7,848,000 178,000 21,090 2,230,000 500,000 520,000

583,300.00 524,176,920.00 314,973,540.00 186,540.00 991,989.00 25,796,268.00 14,040,850.00 1,367,687,300.00 210,060,707.00 618,574,084.00 1,043,060.00 1,690,770.00 843,811,295.00 28,794,267.00 536,023,266.00 9,007.00 537.00 1,201,700.00 47,917,487.00 365,931,790.00 287,150.00 575,212,449.00 89,280.00 1,936,000.00 3,057,860.00 373,130.00 365,220.00 627,610,521.00 185,090.00 2,158,233,855.00 13,858,660.00 142,530.00 6,014,486.00 472,770.00 91,270.00 99,800.00

0.315 76.00 16.40 1.03 6.98 0.420 0.455 1065 7.68 14.72 4.52 7.64 1367 7.70 77.95 5.4 5.36 0.71 5.83 18.94 0.325 6.66 3.3 0.0450 1.190 2.070 2.51 120.00 2.57 1020.00 1.80 0.88 287.000 0.2200 0.1830 0.202

2,080,000 3,176,030 26,193,400 277,000 232,300 5,760,000 3,850,000 1,450,610 12,830,900 22,395,600 2,000 228,300 645,030 40,000 5,921,810 11,300 2,400 796,000 3,066,400 6,693,100 230,000 76,633,400 44,000 21,100,000 345,000 894,000 153,000 2,175,240 345,000 2,286,195 10,889,000 119,000 12,370 610,000 130,000 360,000

645,000.00 232,177,936.50 429,231,878.00 278,920.00 1,605,950.00 2,455,750.00 1,773,150.00 1,516,122,745.00 98,678,202.00 324,809,172.00 9,040.00 1,733,607.00 859,038,910.00 303,848.00 452,307,559.50 61,020.00 12,864.00 554,590.00 17,747,549.00 126,345,898.00 71,250.00 515,780,148.00 145,420.00 932,400.00 394,730.00 1,841,370.00 392,570.00 255,571,343.00 889,980.00 2,399,685,440.00 18,986,980.00 95,720.00 3,522,552.00 134,190.00 24,020.00 72,550.00

5,871,300 27,035,000 126,900 458,000 31,381,000 68,843,700 14,349,000 6,397,000 418,000 2,700 12,700 13,350,000 33,000 1,439,000 14,050,000 5,480,000 2,007,100 5,923,000

36,720,261.00 29,121,430.00 1,656,826.00 1,060,590.00 30,352,520.00 915,181,280.00 57,318,140.00 30,674,110.00 2,383,493.00 16,260.00 73,646.00 6,434,350.00 36,460.00 1,640,510.00 3,088,270.00 2,456,150.00 83,456,015.00 3,816,080.00

6.400 1.05 12.44 2.380 0.880 45.500 3.86 4.72 5.7

7,719,800 11,280,000 88,500 376,000 2,016,000 30,712,500 3,458,000 2,544,000 156,000

50,947,664.00 11,756,110.00 1,096,834.00 875,190.00 1,773,990.00 1,382,576,055.00 13,285,700.00 12,119,500.00 882,942.00

35,754,000 19,343,000 5,980,000 129,501,800 127,660,000 11,920,000 43,969,000 8,323,900 21,364,200 7,759,000

85,289,110.00 26,962,010.00 4,873,160.00 667,527,870.00 45,891,900.00 4,182,900.00 25,735,980.00 41,981,670.00 453,101,135.00 16,902,750.00

0.480 1.14 1.170 0.224 0.450 40.8 0.650 0.144 1.90 1.43 0.75 5.3 0.370 0.3550 0.610 5.59 21.40 2.12

13,150,000 177,000 227,000 23,170,000 1,000,000 1,245,100 1,017,000 330,000 40,904,000 7,572,000 1,684,000 91,293,700 151,120,000 4,500,000 18,674,000 1,766,400 10,918,100 3,674,000

6,401,800.00 193,380.00 266,150.00 5,243,360.00 450,050.00 50,569,040.00 659,590.00 46,770.00 77,512,350.00 10,884,270.00 1,248,050.00 482,876,939.00 53,506,850.00 1,587,200.00 11,409,210.00 9,831,841.00 233,889,235.00 7,648,720.00

STOCKS

JANUARY 8-11, 2018 Close Volume

JANUARY 3-5, 2018 Close Volume Value

Value

Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

3.18 38.90 1.04 8.1 0.860 5.950

688,000 35,205,200 4,333,000 63,800 173,600 21,907,000

2,199,540.00 1,361,465,830.00 4,468,740.00 124,142.00 182,060.00 130,754,728.00

3.21 39.35 1.03 8.95 0.850 6.040

971,000 41,745,200 5,563,000 26,100 275,000 3,617,700

3,110,020.00 1,633,274,410.00 5,626,340.00 238,815.00 232,420.00 21,703,483.00

SERVICES 2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Apollo Global Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

Chelsea DFNN Inc. Discovery World Easy Call “Common” Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp.

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Wilcon Depot

22.15 34.7 1.43 0.435 0.045 12 5.4 11.30 0.0710 98.95 8.8 8.36 7.35 2.32 22.70 1740 5.93 21.95 4.48 108.5 2.64 14.5 8.32 0.141 1.4100 3.16 15.2 3.89 1.13 22.60 18.78 0.530 4.37 8.2 3.68 2.950 10.94 11.36 2.9 107.50 7.31 1419.00 0.375 1.280 53.50 100.00 5.96 3.09 1.540 3.15 4.09 0.990 8.700

2,104,700 535,100 165,000 16,400,000 133,800,000 34,800 11,500 57,922,300 31,770,000 1,684,980 16,500 6,411,300 588,700 326,000 1,461,100 264,475 2,743,100 392,600 11,022,000 5,207,920 84,000 351,300 700,200 10,800,000 4,055,000 184,000 33,200 2,647,000 1,841,000 10,163,300 41,400 75,000 1,846,000 59,137,900 10,194,000 10,620,870 237,500 180,900 273,000 2,259,550 7,931,800 861,195 6,350,000 13,393,000 12,998,300 3,527,990 804,200 2,604,000 12,682,000 27,825,000 6,598,000 15,946,000 29,344,000

45,025,410.00 18,607,645.00 232,010.00 7,302,050.00 5,989,100.00 411,642.00 56,380.00 659,072,652.00 2,232,720.00 168,683,159.50 145,697.00 54,342,432.00 4,285,679.00 751,900.00 29,757,414.00 455,226,035.00 16,423,743.00 8,565,960.00 50,097,770.00 486,328,856.00 222,300.00 5,135,306.00 5,831,584.00 1,506,570.00 5,662,170.00 568,260.00 519,718.00 10,241,510.00 2,091,450.00 231,537,785.00 760,112.00 39,870.00 8,172,110.00 503,479,052.00 29,299,130.00 92,093,520.00 2,600,294.00 2,070,548.00 767,300.00 248,563,886.00 57,496,178.00 1,218,460,650.00 2,311,650.00 17,403,170.00 687,537,649.50 345,450,460.00 4,253,938.00 8,162,600.00 19,434,490.00 87,467,880.00 26,819,540.00 15,794,640.00 251,083,681.00

20.3 35 1.43 0.475 0.042 11.9 5.4 11.28 0.0710 100 8.81 8.65 6.68 2.37 16.30 1805 5.95 21.00 4.64 107 2.76 13.7 8.31 0.141 1.3700 3.17 15.8 3.94 1.18 22.70 18.20 0.530 4.61 8.01 3.82 2.910 11.1

483,600 118,600 455,000 6,670,000 81,500,000 7,200 414,100 39,375,300 13,020,000 573,050 600 3,472,900 11,500 356,000 291,300 89,190 605,000 568,800 11,217,000 4,338,040 59,000 87,900 413,400 6,180,000 726,000 81,000 20,100 7,731,000 395,000 8,163,000 181,000 68,000 9,058,100 42,118,100 1,938,000 69,643,000 1,500

9,621,705.00 4,169,815.00 632,780.00 3,075,400.00 3,395,400.00 85,380.00 2,522,940.00 449,319,804.00 921,770.00 57,279,955.50 5,313.00 30,014,846.00 77,504.00 847,760.00 4,802,794.00 164,084,405.00 3,564,216.00 12,393,330.00 52,349,330.00 469,625,194.00 157,180.00 1,203,608.00 3,438,095.00 867,110.00 999,150.00 251,470.00 319,958.00 29,791,330.00 463,040.00 187,355,355.00 3,730,906.00 37,680.00 44,804,189.00 331,333,278.00 7,475,400.00 208,881,490.00 16,650.00

2.78 112.00 7.50 1445.00 0.355 1.290 49.50 94.10 5.60 3.13 1.530 2.62 4.07 1.000 8.200

312,000 25,640 3,411,100 533,635 1,480,000 13,719,000 8,493,820 3,097,990 516,700 2,027,000 16,055,000 2,604,000 2,310,000 11,535,000 16,764,700

871,740.00 2,925,307.00 25,772,450.00 784,314,040.00 526,450.00 17,854,580.00 420,037,945.50 294,715,317.00 2,978,897.00 6,454,870.00 24,986,880.00 7,012,130.00 9,321,600.00 11,414,370.00 139,924,134.00

MINING & OIL Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ Benguet Corp `A’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Phinma Petro Semirara Corp.

United Paragon

0.0023 1.58 4.95 14.78 1.7400 1.7500 1.59 0.325 7.18 2.620 0.198 0.156 0.159 0.010 0.0100 1.69 6.59 1.48 0.4650 0.9200 0.0120 0.0120 6.59 8.05 0.0110 2.1000 37.00 0.0070

699,000,000 9,730,000 1,242,200 7,500 30,000 94,000 2,122,000 5,260,000 87,700 16,420,000 20,020,000 20,910,000 6,120,000 45,020,000 10,000,000 611,000 17,222,000 445,000 680,000 1,317,000 13,500,000 513,100,000 4,378,000 7,530,800 404,800,000 153,000 18,184,400 8,000,000

1,545,400.00 15,263,950.00 6,143,103.00 109,964.00 52,220.00 162,740.00 3,381,750.00 1,714,300.00 641,846.00 43,160,190.00 402,100.00 3,214,180.00 965,810.00 606,700.00 100,000.00 1,048,950.00 115,095,117.00 632,980.00 303,150.00 1,214,450.00 162,000.00 6,306,800.00 28,337,925.00 60,442,506.00 4,777,700.00 320,190.00 678,409,410.00 58,200.00

0.0023 1.55 5.00 14.98 1.7500 1.7400 1.62 0.335 7.20 2.660 0.207 0.154 0.158 0.010 0.0100 1.7 6.59 1.48 0.4400 0.9300 0.0130 0.0120 6.38 8.15 0.0120 2.2000 36.35 0.0075

389,000,000 10,840,000 396,400 6,600 9,000 46,000 2,435,000 9,100,000 1,700 7,027,000 2,665,000 23,230,000 9,710,000 135,000,000 11,100,000 2,140,000 8,149,300 356,000 70,000 321,000 46,500,000 149,700,000 9,175,200 5,006,100 76,300,000 61,000 2,840,700 45,000,000

871,800.00 17,061,040.00 1,976,244.00 91,308.00 15,750.00 80,460.00 3,913,410.00 3,052,300.00 12,237.00 18,865,560.00 731,050.00 3,558,350.00 1,523,530.00 1,269,500.00 110,390.00 14,705,520.00 53,639,366.00 506,780.00 31,300.00 298,910.00 590,100.00 1,799,200.00 58,428,188.00 40,931,069.00 909,200.00 135,260.00 103,633,530.00 334,800.00

33.8

29,583,180.00 1,756,440.00 1,912,010.00 1,007,430.00 9,151,782.00 1,875,403.00 2,216,132.00 162,535.00 18,070,957.00 22,588,815.00 1,342,630.00 4,147,732.00 2,868,420.00 297,344.00 26,750.00 12,041,275.00 5,535,040.00 274,805.00 17,392.00 2,673,670.50 9,149,795.00 4,150,611.50 13,948,587.00 7,165,549.00 11,185,201.00 12,076,643.00 23,267,015.00 40,990.00

34.8 107.1 528 511 104.5 111 110.3 523 5.75 1010 1020 102 1.05 106.1

94,000 71,150 90 2,600 61,320 680 780 2,200 13,335,500 40,040 1,000 2,120 235,000 10,000

3,289,050.00 7,632,705.00 47,520.00 1,347,540.00 6,402,221.00 74,990.00 86,034.00 1,150,600.00 73,410,652.00 40,440,440.00 1,029,650.00 215,590.00 244,710.00 1,062,064.00

1140 1002 103 112 76.6 80.9 76.5 76.55 78.55 77 78.6 77.5 2.1

25 14,085 3,000 100 49,940 44,850 23,090 7,020 22,090 15,380 14,550 61,140 11,000

28,300.00 14,124,030.00 309,000.00 11,200.00 3,820,527.50 3,592,973.00 1,754,885.00 2,341,153.00 1,797,895.50 1,191,760.00 126,645.00 4,774,894.00 23,100.00

PREFERRED ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Alco Preferred B Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ DD PREF First Gen F First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B House Preferred Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I Swift Pref

76.7 79.5 75.75 76.7 78.8 76.2 78.6 78 2.07

866,900 16,400 3,710 2,730 87,660 18,290 20,010 310 3,155,900 22,430 1,315 40,640 2,731,000 25,830 25 10,965 10,520 2,650 160 35,300 114,570 54,780 181,890 91,000 147,110 153,700 347,950 20,000

WARRANTS & BONDS LR Warrant

2.370

1,112,000

643,090.00

2.500

856,000

2,091,350.00

SME Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Philab Holdings Xurpas

2.81 7.77 3.53 5

2,000 15,724,400 311,000 7,833,700

5,630.00 122,160,938.00 1,112,380.00 39,706,454.00

2.8 11.2 3.62 5.07

44,000 11,514,300 160,000 16,963,000

123,600.00 131,282,719.00 574,590.00 89,407,065.00

111,520

21,605,656.00

133

62,930

8,315,008.00

13,640 59,200

79,011.40 602,520.00

10.1 10.1

22,000 92,520

224,610.00 41,756,768.40

513.5 512 104.4 105.8 110.5 525 5.64 1008 1025 102.1 1.04 105.7 2.07 103.7

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS First Metro ETF 133.3 DDOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2

10.1 10.1

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Oriental Pet. `B’ Philodrill Corp. `A’ Apollo Global Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

Melco Crown

VOLUME 699,000,000 513,100,000 404,800,000 133,800,000 129,501,800 127,660,000 85,988,800 68,843,700 61,590,000 59,137,900

STOCKS Eastwest Bank SM Investments Inc. Universal Robina Security Bank Ayala Corp `A’ SM Prime Holdings Metrobank PLDT Common Bank of PI Jollibee Foods Corp.

VALUE 2,684,066,420.00 2,158,233,855.00 1,611,741,260.00 1,547,390,878.00 1,367,687,300.00 1,361,465,830.00 1,313,477,548.00 1,218,460,650.00 1,148,765,380.00 1,090,956,898.00

rose 12.5 percent to P21.30, China Banking Corp., which gained 11 percent to P182 ,and San Miguel Corp., which advanced 7.5 percent to P129.

Top losers were PetroEnergy Resources Corp., which declined 10.5 percent to P4.97, Starmalls Inc., which dropped 9.5 percent to P8.10 ,and East West Banking Corp., which dipped 3.9 percent to P31.05.

Wall Street stocks, meanwhile, surged to another round of records Friday as earnings season kicked off amid optimism ignited by the US tax reform.

All three major indices again ended at records, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 0.9 percent at the closing bell to 25,803.19.

The broad-based S&P 500 finished at 2,786.24, jumping 0.7 percent from Thursday’s record, as did the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index which closed the week at 7,261.06.

Earnings from big banks were mixed, with JPMorgan Chase rising 1.7 percent after beating expectations, even as profits were hit by one-time effects of the tax law changes. But JPMorgan expressed confidence the tax changes would boost results long-term. With AFP

Meralco revives e-vehicle program MANILA Electric Co., the biggest retailer of electricity, revived plans to invest in the country’s electric vehicle industry through the deployment and manufacturing of e-vehicles for transport.

“I think for the longest time, we’ve been looking at EV. That’s why we have a prototype charging station here (in our headquarters) and we have it as early as 2011,” Meralco senior vice president and head of customer retail services and corporate communication head Al Panlilio said.

He said the company was opportunistic on certain projects because “this is income lucrative to Meralco’s future.”

“If adoption of EV becomes big, then it will be beneficial to Meralco... Of course, charging station is a basic entry for Meralco but we are looking if we can participate more in the entire ecosystem or value chain of EV,” Panlilio said.

He said Meralco would discuss projects with local government units such as Mandaluyong, with the focus on e-trikes or public utility EVs. “What we are doing is we are not going massively first. I think we are identifying two to three proof of concepts. One of them is Mandaluyong LGU. I think we are talking about 3,000 to 4,000 e-trikes,” Panlilio said.

He said e-trikes would be Meralco’s main focus for now because it they were the easiest to get into.

“It’s difficult if you go into e-bus and e-jeeps because it’s a total redesign of the vehicles,” the official said.

“We are even thinking of really creating what we call as M-Transport for electric vehicle. Even to the point of exploring (if) we should) get into manufacturing...,” he said. “We are exploring that whether that is something viable for us because there are also a lot of investments required to get into that. It’s too early to tell now whether it’s something that we will get into.” Alena Mae S. Flores

Business

B3

MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

(Fab) Four management insights from The Beatles PATRICK ADRIEL AURE

GREEN LIGHT ONE of life’s best pleasures is discovering The Beatles for the first time. The sheer volume of hits and hidden gems of the original Fab Four’s discography will delight casual listeners and music aficionados for many hours.

As a music fan, I marvel at the quality of the band’s songs that prove to be timeless and appreciated by many generations. Inspired by their success, here are four insights I uncovered from listening to their records and watching documentaries about them.

Insight 1: The beauty of coopetition One of the most fascinating things about the Beatles is the agreement of John Lennon and Paul McCartney to credit the songs to the Lennon/McCartney partnership even in cases when each wrote songs individually without the help of the other. This agreement gave birth to a circumstance that resembles coopetition (a combination of cooperation and competition),through which competitors collaborate due to an overlap of interests. John and Paul would individually write songs about the same themes (e.g. Revolution and Blackbird; Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane) that would push each other to elevate their creativity. They would strive their songs to be featured on the Aside of albums. However, in the end, both get songwriting credits and the entire band would gain success.

Managers can strive to create an environment wherein team members can both engage in healthy competition and helpful collaboration to push each other forward. Perhaps leaders can develop a rewards system that is “coopetitive”—a hybrid of both collective and individual rewards that can motivate team members to improve themselves while benefitting the team.

Insight 2: Individuality that complements the collective Although the Beatles gained recognition as a band, the members did not stop expressing their individual preferences and improving their musical prowess. John expressed his wit, experimentation and penchant for clever lyrics (I Am the Walrus, Strawberry Fields Forever, A Day in the Life); Paul explored instrumentations not typical of rock-and-roll (Yesterday, Eleanor Rigby, Blackbird); George embraced Eastern and Indian influences such as playing the sitar (Norwegian Wood, Tomorrow Never Knows); and Ringo reinvented expectations for drummers through iconic beats (Come Together, Ticket to Ride).

As such, managers must find ways to empower team members to express their individuality that complements the group instead of the traditional notion that members are there to merely follow orders.

Insight 3: Breaking the limits of established perceptions Although the original Fab Four started primarily as a rock-and-roll band, their evolution shattered notions of what genres a band must perform.

Eleanor Rigby does not a feature a single Beatle in its accompaniments and its darker themes are not what the audience would expect in pop music. Revolution experi-

mented with loops of tape recordings and is considered as avant-garde even by today’s standards. Studio experiments with tape recordings were also featured in Tomorrow Never Knows, Strawberry Fields Forever and A Day in the Life.

The Beatles did not limit themselves with the conventions of rock and pop music.

As the field of business and management evolved, new concepts and specializations emerged, such as functional areas (marketing, operations, finance, human resources, information technology, etc.) and industries (e.g. consumer goods, pharmaceutical, service, etc.).

Although labels can help managers focus, labels can also serve as artificial limiters that hamper creativity. We can learn from how the Beatles kept reinventing and shattering labels that would otherwise limit their creativity.

Insight 4: Relentless practice of profession despite difficulties The Beatles’ latter years saw increasing frustration and other negative experiences among its members’ personal lives. However, despite the difficulties, The Beatles still produced music.

John wrote the dreamy and mystical Across the Universe, while Paul crafted what would be a quasi-religious and widely-acclaimed song in Let It Be. What is more admirable is how George and Ringo were able to grow beyond the shadow of the Lennon/ McCartney partnership during the most tumultuous phase of the band’s life. George created Here Comes the Sun as an optimistic song that his personal life and the band’s difficulties will get better. Ringo composed Octopus’s Garden as a form of expressing his wanting to escape the increasing hostility among the bands’ members.

Managers can learn from how the different members of The Beatles still continued to create quality outputs despite setbacks and difficulties.

The best managers are able to march through challenges and still attempt to perform at a high level not only in times of stability, but more importantly in times of uncertainty.

A continued revolution and evolution in management As a management scholar and practitioner, I find myself in awe at how The Beatles were able to be so productive and creative in the way they write songs that gain both commercial and critical success. May the content of their songs, as well as insights from their songwriting process, provide lessons that can lead to the evolution of management.

As the Beatles sang in Revolution, “we all want to change the world”—and an improved practice of management can indeed change the world for the better.

Patrick Adriel H. Aure is an Assistant Professor of the Management and Organization Department of the DLSU Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business.

He is also a junior research fellow of the DLSU Center for Business Research and Development (CBRD). His business and research interests include social entrepreneurship, sustainability, innovation and new business models. You can reach him at aure.patrick@gmail.com and patrick.aure@dlsu.edu.ph.

The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty and its administrators.

US AUTO SHOW. The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado is unveiled during the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, on

January 13, 2018. AFP

Uy Group developing 2nd casino near Mactan airport

M

EGAWIDE Construction Corp. has chosen the group of Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy to develop a fourhectare property adjacent to the Mactan Cebu International Airport into a mixed-use real estate project with hotel and gaming components.

MR-Mactan-Cebu International Airport president Louie Ferrer said a formal lease signing agreement was scheduled this week to finalize the agreement.

The group of Uy plans to develop the property under a lease agreement lasting until 2038.

Uy’s group was one of the four companies that earlier expressed interest to team up with Megawide to develop the area. This will be the second casino project of Uy in Cebu.

Uy, through Udenna Corp., is building a $300-million integrated resort and casino on Punto Engaño peninsula in Mactan Island,

Lapu-Lapu City.

The development called Lapu-Lapu Leisure Mactan will rise on a 12-hectare prime beachfront just six kilometers, or 20-minute drive, from the airport. It will be the country’s first integrated resort and casino outside of Metro Manila.

Lapu-Lapu Leisure Mactan will have iconic modern buildings and infinity pools.

It will have a skydiving center on a pier, a retail complex, a convention center, luxury hotels and villas, specialty dining options, private residences and condominium-hotels.

The Uy group plans to complete the development in 2022, with the casino, retail complex and hotels scheduled to open as early as 2019.

The project is estimated to generate 4,000 employees during the construction period and 5,000 once the casino and hotel project become operational in 2020.

Udenna is considering tapping an experienced casino operator for the project. The two casino projects of Uy in Cebu are expected to complement each other.

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. allows casino licensees to open facilities in two locations, subject to clearance from the local government concerned.

Owned by Megawide and India’s GMR

Infrastructure, GMR-Megawide won the contract to expand and operate the Mactan Cebu International Airport in 2014.

It is transforming MCIA into a worldclass facility while boosting capacity to 12.5 million passenger.

The Uy Group lately has embarked on an expansion mode. Clark Global City Corp., an affiliate of Udenna, the holding company of Uy, plans to invest an initial P6 billion to develop a 177-hectare land in Clark Freeport Zone into a new central business district. “[We are initially spending] P6 billion on our side. This is for roads, drainage and other development,” Freddie Placino, vice chairman of Clark Global City Corp., said in December.

“What we will do is like BGC [Bonifacio Global City]. We develop it horizontally and let the other developers participate in developing vertically. Whatever mistakes in BGC [or] Makati, we’re correcting for [Clark Global City]. We will do [it] in phases over 10 years,” Placino said.

Placino said of the 177-hectare property of Clark Global City, 47 hectares were fully developed by the previous owner Global Gateway Development Corp. Jenniffer B. Austria

Cusi says 2 LNG bids rejected

by PNOC

By Alena Mae S. Flores

ALI TOPS SURVEY. Ayala Land Inc. topped several categories at Lamudi’s recently-conducted The Outlook nationwide survey. It ranked first in the Best Mixed-Use Developer, Best Condo Developer, Developer with Best Amenities, Best High-End Housing Development, Best Housing Architecture and Best Affordable Housing Project segments. At the awarding ceremonies are (from left) Lamudi global managing director Kian Moini, Avida president Chris Maglanoc, Amor Maclang, Ayala Land corporate brand marketing head Cathy Bengzon, Ayala Land Residential Business Group marketing head Eunice Acejo, Avida sales head Bing Gumboc, Avida head of marketing and communications Tess Tatco, Alveo marketing manager Shar Chua, Lamudi Group CEO Bhavna Suresh, Ayala Land Premier managing director Mike Jugo, and Estate Head for Makati and BGC Manny Blas.

Dominguez confident on PH achieving inclusive growth goal after TRAIN

By Julito G. Rada FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the government’s goal of an inclusive growth can be achieved in the coming years, especially after the passage of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act into law.

Dominguez said in a briefing the infrastructure modernization plans of the Duterte administration were starting to click into place with the rollout of the initial list of big-ticket projects, the early progress on the multi-year

tax reform package and negotiations on official development assistance.

Dominguez said the rollout of big-ticket infrastructure projects were proceeding as planned following the signing into law by President Rodrigo Duterte and the subsequent implementation of the TRAIN, which slashed personal income tax rates while raising additional revenues for infrastructure and social services.

About 70 percent of the incremental revenues from the TRAIN have been earmarked for infrastructure, and up to 30 per-

cent for social services, including unconditional cash transfers of P200 a month (or P2,400 per year) for the country’s 10 million poorest households for 2018. the subsidiy to the poor will increase to P300 a month (or P3,600 per year) in 2019 and 2020.

“The money is coming in from our taxes, the loans are coming in... . The implementing agencies are getting their act together. It’s coming together,” Dominguez said.

He said remarkable improvements in the collection efficiency by the Bureau of Internal Rev-

enue and Bureau of Customs, as reflected in their respective high accomplishment rates in 2017, was also a key factor in ensuring the government’s high-andinclusive growth agenda was on track.

The BIR in 2017 achieved 97.2 percent of its revenue goal of P1.829 trillion, collecting a total of P1.777 trillion. The BoC collected P457.553 billion in 2017 against a revenue target of P467.896 billion, representing an accomplishment rate of 97.7 percent in 2017.

BoC Commissioner Isidro

Lapena said in his report during a recent Executive Committee meeting of the Department of Finance that the customs bureau attained historical highs in monthly collections of P41 billion, P42 billion, P46 billion, and P44 billion in September, October, November and December, respectively, last year.

The BIR, meanwhile, said it also improved taxpayers service by streamlining processes and reducing the number of documentary requirements for taxpayers, which contributed to improving tax compliance.

PHILIPPINE National Oil Co. rejected two unsolicited proposals out of the seven groups that expressed interest in teaming up with the government to build the country’s planned $2-billion liquefied natural gas facility.

“There are seven partners who submitted. I think they (PNOC) are on the third proposal. The first two they found it unacceptable so they are in the third proposal,” Energy Secretary and PNOC chairman Alfonso Cusi said.

The unsolicited proposals, submitted to PNOC’s technical working group, include those of Korea Electric Power Co., Lloyds Energy Group, China National Offshore Oil Corp., First Gen Corp., Energy World Corp., PT. Jaya Samudra Karunia and PT PGN LNG Indonesia/PT Bosowa Corporindo with local partner MOF Corp.

Sources said PNOC rejected the bids of Kepco and Lloyds Energy. Kepco was asked to resubmit a proposal but did not.

“There is a PNOC board meeting on (January)16... There is a proposal from ADB (Asian Development Bank) to do project advisory,” Cusi said.

PNOC earlier declared its interest to tap ADB as consultant for the LNG unsolicited proposal evaluation.

“The PNOC is currently evaluating the proposals. So if all will fail, we may have to go to bidding,” he said.

B4

World

MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2018 Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

Trump quote denied WA SH I NGTON―T h e White House on Saturday denied and corrected a quote attributed to President Donald Trump that suggested he had a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim JongUn. “I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong-Un,” Trump was quoted as telling The Wall Street Journal in an interview on Thursday.

But Press Secretary Sarah Sanders insisted that Trump said “I’d,” not “I” as the newspaper reported.

Both The Wall Street Journal and the White House posted audio recordings of Trump’s remarks on Twitter. These, while not completely clear, appeared to support Sanders’ account.

Sanders had earlier tweeted a written message disputing the newspaper’s article.

“President Trump said, I’D probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un of North Korea. I’D―I’D―I’D. NOT I!” the message read, with “I’D” in red ink, under a red banner reading “FAKE NEWS.” AFP

Tunnel from Gaza destroyed J E RUSA L E M―I s r a el said Sunday it used a combination of air strikes and other means to destroy a tunnel stretching from the Gaza Strip into the country and continuing into Egypt.

Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricus said the tunnel belonged to Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and was intended for attacks as opposed to smuggling.

Such tunnels have been used to carry out attacks in the past.

He said he was not aware of any casualties from the destruction of the tunnel, which was still being built.

It ran underneath the main goods crossing between Israel and the blockaded Gaza Strip―known as Kerem Shalom―as well as gas and fuel pipelines, he said.

According to Conricus, Israeli air strikes late Saturday along with other unspecified means were used to destroy the tunnel. AFP

Murders at luxury HK hotel HONG KONG―A foreign man has been arrested for the suspected murder of a woman and a boy on Sunday at the luxurious RitzCarlton hotel on Hong Kong’s harbor-front, police said.

Officers rushed to the hotel after receiving a report on Sunday morning that a man and a woman were fighting.

The woman and a boy were found dead at the scene and the man was arrested on suspicion of murder and sent to a hospital.

Police did not confirm the relationship between the three people but told AFP they were all foreign nationals.

According to local news site Apple Daily, the couple, in their 40s, and their sevenyear-old son were of Korean nationality and had checked into the five-star hotel a few days before. AFP

Manning seeking seat in US Senate

SCREENING. This is a general view of the atmosphere at a screeening of ‘Maktub’ at the 29th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival on January 13, 2018, in Palm Springs, California. AFP

WASHINGTON―Whistle blower Chelsea Manning, jailed for leaking classified information, is seeking election to the US Senate in the state of Maryland, a document seen on Saturday says.

Manning has now gone from prison to US senatorial candidate in less than a year during which she often made headlines, as the fame and infamy she gained by leaking a trove of classified documents follows her after release.

The Federal Election Commission document, filed Thursday, lists Chelsea Elizabeth Manning of North Bethesda, Maryland, as a Democratic candidate for the Senate.

Manning, now 30, was an army intelligence analyst sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2013 for leaking more than 700,000 classified documents related to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The revelations by Manning, who is transgender and was then known as Bradley Manning, exposed covered-up misdeeds and possible crimes by US troops and allies.

Her actions made Manning a hero to antiwar and anti-secrecy activists but US establishment figures branded her a traitor.

Then-president Barack Obama commuted Manning’s sentence, leading to her release in May. AFP

Migrants have much to lose W

ASHINGTON―Two decades ago, Fatima Nolasco walked over the border into the United States in search of a better life, going on to build a successful business, and a new home

Now, after Donald Trump decided to end a program that has allowed her to work legally in the country, along with 200,000 fellow immigrants from El Salvador, she fears she is about to lose it all.

Unless Congress can find a long-term solution to replace the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program granted to Salvadorans in 2001 after two earthquakes devastated their country―Nolasco will lose her legal immigration rights in September 2019.

Under the plan’s protections, Nolasco started a small construction and home remodeling business with her husband Walter Dubon, a permanent legal resident.

Today, they employ 20 workers and pay up to $30,000 a year in business taxes, on top of individual taxes.

“We’ve been paying taxes for 16 years,” she said. “We never thought this would end like this. We always had hope that they would give us the opportunity.”

Nolasco notes that her family does not rely on any government aid. In fact, TPS recipients do not qualify for needs-based government programs, but do contribute to them through payroll taxes.

“We have given ourselves a decent life as a result of our work and effort. I hope they realize we are not a burden on the country,” she told AFP in an interview

at her home near the capital Washington, which hosts a large population of Salvadorans.

While Trump takes credit for solid growth and jobs gains during his first year in office, economists and business leaders warn that expelling immigrant workers wholesale would cause a major hit to the economy.

This would be especially damaging at a time when firms increasingly complain they cannot find workers, especially in fields like construction-sa particular concern for rebuilding efforts in hurricane-hit areas of Houston and Florida.

One analysis shows that if Salvadoran TPS holders as well as tens of thousands from Honduras and Haiti were removed from the labor force, the United States would lose $164 billion in GDP over the next decade -without counting $6.9 billion in lost contributions to Social Security and Medicare. AFP

‘Coco’ guitars are all the rage in Mexico PARACHO DE VERDUZCO, Mexico―Salvador Meza has been making guitars since he was a boy, but his leathery hands have never had to churn them out as fast as now―thanks to the hit movie “Coco.”

Meza, 41, is one of many renowned guitar-makers in the Mexican town of Paracho, which has been producing artfully crafted guitars since the 18th century.

But the sleepy colonial town has never seen a boom like this -- all because of “Coco,” this year’s Golden Globe winner for best ani-

mated film and a box office smash that has grossed more than $500 million so far.

Set in Mexico, the movie tells the story of Miguel, a young boy who secretly longs to be a musician but is growing up in a family where music is forbidden.

Fate thrusts into his hands a white guitar encrusted with mother-of-pearl, topped with gold tuning pegs and a stylized black skull.

The skull, like the film itself, is a playful tribute to Mexico’s Day of the Dead, a festival of color-

ful costumes, decorations and sweets during which, according to tradition, the dead come back to visit the living.

Director Lee Unkrich has called the film a “love letter to Mexico,” and Mexico loves it back: it is the country’s highest-grossing movie of all time.

The animators at Pixar, the studio behind the film, based Miguel’s guitar on a real-life version made by an artisan from Paracho―and demand for replicas now has the town’s luthiers working in overdrive. AFP

SHOW. Indian Bollywood actress Sridevi looks on during the ‘Umang Mumbai Police Show 2018’ in Mumbai in late January 13, 2018. AFP

Lensman accused of sexual harassment NEW YORK―Veteran photographer Mario Testino―a global icon in celebrity and fashion photography―was accused of sexual harassment by 13 people Saturday.

Fashion photographer Bruce Weber―already sued over harassment claims in December by model Jason Boyce―was also implicated in a New York Times article on allegations against both photographers.

The allegations are the latest in a deluge of accusations concerning influential figures in entertainment, media, fashion and politics, sparked by revelations about longtime film producer Harvey Weinstein.

Peruvian-born Testino, 63, has photographed dozens of campaigns for big fashion houses and seen his work published in the likes of Vogue magazine over his career, which has spanned four decades.

His photograph of tennis player Serena Williams and her baby daughter appears on Vogue’s February edition, unveiled this week― while his other works include the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s engagement photo and a series of images of Princess Diana in 1997 published in Vanity Fair.

Several models and exassistants of Testino accuse him of making increasingly

aggressive sexual advances.

“He was a sexual predator,” said Ryan Locke, a supermodel in the late 1990s.

Locke alleged that during a photo shoot on a bed, Testino asked his team to leave the room and then climbed onto the bed on top of him.

“I’m the girl, you’re the boy,” the photographer allegedly told the model, who said he walked out of the room.

A former photography assistant, Hugo Tillman, recalled a similar experience―while another, Roman Barrett, accused Testino of rubbing up his leg and masturbating in front of him. AFP

Social reforms announced after unrest

AWARDS. Alison Brie and LA Confidential Editor in Chief Spencer Beck attend the Los Angeles Confidential, Alison Brie and Cadillac celebrate annual Awards Event with Belvedere Vodka at The Jeremy West Hollywood on January 13, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. AFP

TUNIS, Tunisia―Tunisia’s government on Saturday announced an increase in aid to the needy and improved health care as part of social reforms following a week of unrest triggered by austerity measures.

Social Affairs Minister Mohamed Trabelsi told reporters that monthly aid to needy families would rise from 150 dinars (50 euros) to between 180 and 210 dinars (60 and 70 euros).

He said reforms which

have been in the pipeline for several months would guarantee medical care for all Tunisians, without elaborating, and also provide housing to disadvantaged families.

The announcement came after President Beji Caid Essebsi consulted with political parties, unions and employers.

The North African country has been shaken by a wave of protests over poverty and unemployment during which hundreds of

people were arrested before the unrest tapered off.

“It’s a very advanced legal project, which was submitted to parliament and will be discussed over the next week,” said a government source who requested anonymity.

At the opening of his consultations, Essebsi accused the foreign press of “amplifying” the social unrest and damaging the country’s image in its coverage of protests. AFP

DoE donates 200 e-trikes to Marawi

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor editor.lgustandard@gmail.com monday, january 15, 2018

c1

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Energy Department has donated 200 energy-efficient electric tricycles funded by a loan from the Asian Development Bank to the local government units of Marawi as part of its efforts to help rebuild the city.

The donation will be made through the Task Force Bangon Marawi with a memorandum of understanding to facilitate the turnover of the e-trikes.

A total of 3,000 e-trikes will be rolled out until June this year is key cities and municipalities. Funding from the e-trikes came from the ADB loan that was scaled down to P1.73 billion from the original project cost of P21.672 billion, which covers 100,000 e-trike units.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and TFBM Chairperson and Secretary Eduardo del Rosario signed the memorandum on Friday. The vehicles are expected to help displaced and affected residents in their livelihood and daily movement.

The e-trikes donation comes as Marawi City is rebuilding after the end of a fivemonth siege to retake it from terrorists that resulted in more than P17 billion in property damage and opportunities lost.

LGUs LocaL government units

CONCERT FOR MARAWI. Actress, model and host Daiana Menezes (third from left), DJ Nir Deutsch (center) and Pauline Laping (third from right), national pageant director and

CEO of Ms. Global Philippines, pose with models during a press conference in Makati City for the Ishin-Denshin International Music Festival in February at the MOA Concert Grounds in Pasay City. Proceeds from the festival will go to the Manny Pacquiao Foundation for the benefit of the people of Marawi City. Lino Santos

Road in peril of collapse

By Nash B. Maulana

D

ATU PAGLAS, Maguindanao―Fast riverbank erosion is posing a danger to thousands of highway commuters along the Buluan-Datu Paglas section of the Mindanao Road IV Project connecting five provinces.

Due to geological alterations of its contour, the northeast bank of the Alip River here is closing in on the edge of the busy national highway, a major route for commuter buses to and from Davao, Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat.

Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu said the downstream contour of the Alip River narrows onto the edge of the concrete road to only about 23 meters.

It is much like running water creeping over a large part of the national highway, Mangudadatu said, posing

a major economic setback to the area from its potential effect on the movement of goods and services to the connectivity of people across Central Mindanao.

The imperiled road section is part of the Mindanao Road IV Project under the Asian Development BankProject Management Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain, the top official in charge of foreign-assisted projects, told Manila Standard the department will promptly respond to

the provincial government’s request to Public Works Secretary Mark Villar for his department’s intervention “to prevent a collapse or cuttingoff of the road.”

Residents have largely blamed the engineered diversion of the river in the 1980s to serve the Alip River Irrigation Project for the current massive riverbank erosion.

Meanwhile, in Datu Piang, Maguindanao, some 3,000 farmers stand to benefit from two multipurpose solar drying pavements worth P400,000 each, which the autonomous regional

government provided to farmers’ cooperatives.

On Wednesday, the Humanitarian and Development Assistance Program— Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (HDAPARMM) turned over two of the post-harvest facilities for Barangays Poblacion and Dato, both in Datu Piang.

Sonora Dagadas, Datu Piang municipal agriculture officer, said the new drying facilities would directly benefit farmers not only from the town but from other areas in the province as well.

“All farmers can use this

facility, cost effective and helpful to small farmers.

Also, it would mean more profits,” Dagadas said.

The beneficiaries are members of cooperatives who own lands where the solar drying pavements are constructed.

“We used to go to other areas to dry our palay and corn crops, and that would mean more expenses. Now that dryer is here, we can save and increase our profit,” said Saida Ungkakay, chair of the Farmers Association Cooperative in Barangay Poblacion. With PNA

‘New Moro government needs competent leaders’

By Ayunan G. Gunting-Al-Haj THE passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law and the eventual establishment of a Bangsamoro government may finally put an end to the decades-old Moro struggle in Mindanao, particularly in the southern part of the island region, a regional lawmaker said over the weekend.

Assemblyman Abol Alam Padate, who represents the 2nd district of Lanao del Sur in the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly, however, said there may still be some remaining small armed groups that may crop up along the way.

That depends on how the new entity will be governed by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which Padate said will have the most nominees for positions in the new government, Padate added.

“In other words, if the MILF-dominated Bangsamoro Government would be able to establish and maintain a corruption-free government and deliver the Bangsamoro from poverty, as what they want the Bangsamoro to expect, I submit that all Moro arm struggle in Mindanao would finally be put to rest,” the assemblyman said.

“After all, what the Bangsamoro have been fighting for is to have a place of our own where

NEW YEAR’S CALL.

Calabarzon Regional Police Director Chief Supt. Ma. O Aplasca (left) leads the PNP New Year’s Call in Camp Vicente Lim to deliver his final instructions for 2018 to the City Chiefs of Police in Calabarzon, all wearing their formal ceremonial blue uniforms. With the Deputy Regional Director for Administration, Chief Supt. Israel Ephraim T. Dickson (right), Aplasca urged his men to continue their service to the people that is ‘God centered, service-oriented and family-based.’

Roy Tomandao

we can govern ourselves, with at least minimal intervention from the central government, according to our culture and tradition consistent with the tenets of our Islamic faith,” he added.

The failure of the MILF dominated Bangsamoro Government to govern and meet the expectations of the Bangsamoro would mean more Moro armed groups would crop up, and their struggle for self-rule will continue, the former public prosecutor said.

On federalism, Padate believes it is “the nearest thing” to realize the Bangsamoro’s desire for self-rule.

“Federalism is nothing but BBL. The two have lots in common. But, then again it will all depend on how the Moro people would choose the kind of leader who will take charge of having a peaceful, prosperous and developed Bangsamoro state or region free from corruption, and which will deliver the Bangsamoro from poverty,” he said.

The assemblyman strongly believes that having a new system of government alone, whether an autonomous government or a federal one, “without booting out incompetent and bad leaders will not deliver the change that we all desire.”

“Simply put, a new system of government needs new and competent leaders,” Padate said.

BAMBOO PROCESSING. Senator Cynthia A. Villar (right) tours the bamboo processing factory on C5 Extension

Road, Pulang Lupa Uno, Las Piñas City, after its inauguration. Villar, chairman of the Senate agriculture and food committee, wants to spur the bamboo industry’s growth and sustainability, and encouraged stakeholders to boost their output to augment the earnings from bamboo production. Lino Santos

QC Hall opens more parking for taxpayers

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City has temporarily opened the new parking building at City Hall to accommodate thousands of taxpayers during the coming peak season of tax payments.

Mayor Herbert Bautista ordered the opening of the ground floor of the new multilevel parking build-

ing from Monday to Friday at 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Vehicles of city hall employees and government offices are not allowed to use the parking space.

According to Bautista’s memorandum, a taxpayer shall present documents or any proof of tax transaction upon entry at the facility, then a car pass shall be issued.

After a careful inspection by the city engineering department, taxpayers can now use the ground floor level of the four-level parking building, which is still undergoing construction. It can accommodate up to 127 vehicles.

Once completed, the new parking building can accommodate up to 638 vehicles.

Valenzuela cops get cars, own K9 unit

By Jun David THE city government of Valenzuela has intensified its peace and order efforts with the turnover of a fleet of brand new patrol vehicles and the establishment of the city’s own K9 Unit and Kennel for the local Philippine National Police.

The 60 police vehicles are designed for increased mobility and visibility, to ensure the effectiveness of peace and order operations around the city, particularly in the fight against illegal drugs and the threats of terrorism, Mayor Rex Gatchalian said.

The city government allotted P1,017,740 for each police vehicle, amounting to P61,064,400 for all 60 units. Each patrol car is equipped with a global positioning system and dashboard cameras to ensure efficient and disciplined usage of the police cars.

These features also warrant transparent response operation by the local law enforcers, the PNP said.

Furthermore, the footage from dashcams are considered highly reliable evidence in investigating cases.

A conference room in the police station was converted into a command center to monitor the location of the vehicles and the footage of each dashcam in them.

Likewise, as fears of terrorism loom continually in the metropolis, the local government invested in the establishment of Valenzuela City Police Station’s own K-9 Unit and Kennel.

The city spent a P4 million for the renovation of a 400-square meter idle property into a more conducive home to the K-9 Unit and the pack of dogs. It also spent P2.1 million for the six K9 dogs of beagle, Belgian Malinois, Jack Russel, and Labrador breeds.

SN Aboitiz aids NV women’s sector

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—Officials of the SN Aboitiz Power-Magat, Inc. have given P700,000 to aid two women’s organizations in the province to jumpstart their livelihood projects.

The fund was given to the Federation of Barangay Nutrition Scholars for their food production project worth P600,000 and the Abot Palad Foundation, Inc. for their rice trading business worth P100,000.

The turnover program was done at the office of Governor Carlos Padilla within the provincial capitol in Bayombong with former Gov. Ruth Padilla, engineer Wilhelmino Ferrer, SNAP-Magat assistant vice president and plant Manager, provincial health officer Dr. Edwin Galapon, provincial nutrition officer Luzviminda Ragpa, and officials of the recipient organizations.

Ragpa said the fund assistance will also boost nutrition programs and activities in the province.

“The fund for the FBNS will be used to produce healthy foods for schoolchildren in various towns of our province,” she said.

Governor Padilla also thanked the officials of SNAP-Magat, Inc., saying the assistance will benefit the human resources of Nueva Vizcaya.

“This is a good investment for our human resources because it will provide them with proper education, nutrition, livelihood and health,” he said.

C2

PCSO 2017 aCCOmPliShment rePOrt

monday, january 15, 2018

PCSO posts record-high

P52.9-b revenue

By the PCSO Reportorial Team

T

HE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) earned a total of P52,986,520,391.00 from its lottery games in 2017 under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Record-high po ito sa kasaysayan ng PCSO [This is a record-high in the history of PCSO],” said PCSO General Manager Alexander Ferrer Balutan and Chairman Jose Jorge Elizalde Corpuz. Balutan is a retired general of the Philippine Marine Corps and a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Matikas” Class of 1983, while Corpuz is a retired general of Philippine National Police and a member of PMA “Sandigan” Class of 1982.

From its P52.9 billion profit, PCSO paid as much as P7.79 billion in taxes to the national government.

The agency also remitted P903.2 million to the Bureau of Internal Revenue to settle the outstanding debts of previous administrations.

A P13.4-B increase

“Sa taong 2017, mas yumabong pa ang PCSO dahil ang kita nito ay tumaas pa ng P13,422,313,631.00 kumpara sa 2016.

Walang labis, walang kulang po yan. Transparent tayo dahil ito ang panuntunan ng ating Pangulong Duterte [In 2017, PCSO flourished even more because it earned P13,422,313,631.00 more than its total revenues in 2016. No more, no less. We are transparent as it is the rule of President Duterte],” Corpuz said.

According to Balutan, last year’s total revenues is 33.93 percent higher than its P39.56 billion total earnings in 2016.

Of the figure, Lotto accounted for P31.85 billion (up by 10.74 percent from P28.77 billion in 2016), Keno (Lotto Express) at P5.35 billion (up by 24.04 percent from P4.39 billion in 2016), and Sweepstakes at P22.5 million (up by 80 percent from P12.5 million in 2016).

Small Town Lottery (STL) operations posted the biggest jump in revenues at P15.7 billion, or an increase of at least 143.68 percent from only P6.46 billion in 2016.

With these, PCSO managed to surpass its profit goal for 2017.

Balutan said the agency only aspired to collect P28.5 billion in Lotto and P4.9 billion in Keno.

“Sa STL, dahil pinarami natin ang Authorized Agent Corporations (AACs) at pinalawak ang area ng operasyon sa ating bansa ay noong una pinangarap natin na makapagsulpot ng P27 billion. Pero sa test-run ng STL ay nakita natin na hanggang P18.3 billion lang marahil ang mararating (In STL, because we created more Authorized Agent Corporations (AACs) and expanded the area of operation in our country, at first, we hoped to produce P27 billion. But we observed in the test-run of STL that we might only reach P18.3 billion],” Balutan said.

“At nakita naman natin, eto na at pumalo tayo sa P15.7 billion, short lang tayo ng P2.5 billion [And we can witness now, we have already hit P15.7 billion and we’re only short by P2.5 billion],” he added.

PCSO Fund

The PCSO Fund is not derived from the people’s tax through the General Appropriations Act. “Ang pagkakaalam kasi ng marami ay mula sa GAA ang pondo ng PCSO. Hindi po. Ito’y galing sa boluntaryong taya ng mamamayan na tumatangkilik sa mga lottery game ng ahensiya, [What many surmise is that the fund of PCSO comes from GAA. It is not true. It is from the voluntary bets of the people who patronize the lottery games of the agency],” Balutan explained.

Though its budget does not arise from the GAA, the earnings of PCSO becomes part of the public fund. Balutan said the agency is still under the Department of Budget and Management in terms of monetary expenditures and subject to auditing by the Commission of Audit.

#LabananAngScam. General Manager Alexander F. Balutan sharing light moments with officials and employees after a flag retreat at the PCSO headquarters in Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.

“Ang PCSO as nasa ilalim ng Office of the President at may sariling Charter ito, ang Republic Act No. 1169. Ang brand name ng PCSO ay charity, ibig sabihin, kawanggawa [PCSO is under the Office of the President and it has its own charter, Republic Act No. 1169. The brand name of PCSO is charity, meaning, kawanggawa],” Balutan said.

Of the funds generated by PCSO from its various lottery games, 55 percent is allocated to the prize fund, 15 percent to the agency’s operation fund, and 30 percent automatically goes to the charity fund.

“Ang pinakamahalaga po dito ay ang mapondohan ng PCSO ang programa ng ating Pangulo para sa libreng gamot at ospitalisasyon ng mga may sakit, pambili ng ambulansiya, tulong pinansyal para sa pabili ng gamot ng mga ospital na kailangang suportahan lalo na sa mga probinsiya. Iilan lamang ‘yan sa mga serbisyong kawanggawa ng PCSO [The most important here is that PCSO funds the program of our President for free medicine and hospitalization of the sick, procurement of ambulances, financial assistance for the purchase of medicine of hospitals that need support especially in the provinces. These are few of the charity services of PCSO],” Balutan said.

P60-B in 2018

“Ngayon pa lamang, dahil sa patuloy na paglobo ng kita ng natin sa nakaraang taon, sinisiguro ko na sa taong ito ay papalo ang kita ng PCSO sa P60 billion o higit pa [At this moment, because of the continuous escalation of our profit during the previous year, I am sure that this year, PCSO’s profit will reach P60 billion or more],” Balutan said.

Corpuz said newly-appointed Secretary of Department of Interior and Local Government, retired AFP chief of staff Eduardo Año, will work hand-in-hand with PCSO in executing the President’s campaign to make the country jueteng-free, pares-free, and swertres-free, in exchange for STL, the only legal numbers game in the country.

“Meron nang inisyal na pag-uusap sina Gen. Balutan at Gen. Año, mag-mistah o classmates naman sila sa PMA, hinggil sa mas pinatinding kampanya laban sa lahat ng klase ng illegal numbers game alinsunod sa Executive Order No. 13 o all-out war ng ating Pangulo. Nag-isyu na rin si Año na ang illegal gambling ang isa sa kanyang tutuldukan [There has been initial discussion between Gen. Balutan and Gen. Año – they’re mistahs or classmates in PMA – regarding the reinforced campaign against all kinds of illegal

numbers game pursuant to Executive Order No. 13 or all-out war of our President. Año has declared that illegal gambling is one of the things he will end],” Corpuz said.

Stronger PCSO Board

As Chairman of the Board of Directors, Corpuz said that it has become stronger since the arrival of Atty. Jesus “Bong” Suntay, former congressman of Quezon City, and Sandra Cam, the President’s newlyappointed board members.

This is despite the accusations of Cam pertaining to alleged irregularities in the agency which the PCSO leadership has flatly denied.

“Kami’y nagpapasalamat sa pagdating nilang dalawa lalo na si Dir. Suntay na talaga naming agad na nakipag-upuan para alamin at matutunan ng mabilis ang kanyang tungkulin para makatulong at epektibong opisyal ng ahensiya.

Nandiyan din si Dir. Marlon Balite na katuwang natin. At siyempre, ang ating napakasipag na si GM Balutan. Kung ano man itong ingay na nililikha ni Dir. Cam ay alam kong malalampasan din natin ito [We are thankful for their arrival especially Dir. Suntay who immediately sat with us to know and learn his role in order to help and (become) an effective official of the agency.

There’s also Dir. Marlon Balite who supports us. And of course, our assiduous GM Balutan.

Whatever noise Dir. Cam is creating, I know that we will surpass it],” Corpuz said.

Amid Cam’s persistent efforts to continuously rock the agency with baseless allegations, presidential spokesman Harry Roque has said that the President continues to have full trust and confidence in the leadership of Corpuz and Balutan.

“Sinisiguro ko po sa ating Pangulo na susuklian ko ng tapat na paglilingkod ang kanyang tiwala sa atin, kaya nga pinili tayo na maging Chief Executive Officer at General Manager ng ahensiya at katuwang nating ang liderato ni Gen. Corpuz sa board na dalhin ang ahensiyang kawanggawa sa tamang paninilbihan sa mamamayan. Eto po tayo, buong tapang na naninilbihan [I assure our President that I will repay his trust with loyal service as we are chosen to be the Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of the agency and we are supported by the leadership of Gen. Corpuz to the Board in leading the charity agency to the right service for the people. Here we are, bravely in service],” Balutan said.

Corpuz, however, has already tendered his resignation, citing health problems as reason for leaving the PCSO.

95 percent of Pinoys satisfied, trust PCSO By the PCSO Reportorial Team PCSO’s customer satisfaction rating is at 94.98 percent and it is expected to grow further under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, a survey conducted in 2016 showed.

The rating was up from the 86.51 percent posted in 2015.

“Naniniwala kami na mas lumakas pa ang kumpiyansa at tiwala ng mamamayan sa PCSO sa taong 2017 dahil napakalaki ang mga pagbabagong nangyayari bunsod na rin ng mantra ng Pangulo na palawakin at pasiglahin ang paglikom ng pondo para sa libreng medical services ng gobyerno para sa mamamayan lalong-lalo na sa kapus-palad nating mga kababayan [We believe that the confidence and trust of the people in us strengthened because the occurring changes are great that is also due to the mantra of the President to widen and enhance the collection of funds for the free medical services of the government for the people most especially the unfortunate],” PCSO General Manager Alexander Ferrer Balutan proudly stated.

With PCSO’s P52.9 billion earnings in 2017, the number of Filipino recipients also tremendously increased, especially for the Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP) of the agency. Patients with kidney problems, cancer, and other illnesses queue daily for the IMAP for their medicines, operations, and hospitalizations.

“Sa PCSO, panalo ang mamamayan at asahan niyo po na mas lalong pagbubutihin pa natin ang serbisyong kawanggawa, [In PCSO, it is the Filipino people who wins.

You can expect that we will better our charity service],” Balutan said.

The Board of Directors is under the leadership of Chairman Jose Jorge Elizalde Corpuz.

PCSO data showed the agency requested the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) to conduct the survey in 2015 pursuant to Republic Act No. 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007. The law aims to elevate the service and quality of all agencies of the government.

In the January-December 2015 Survey, 430 customers gave their feedback on the IMAP with an accumulated result of 4.05

(the highest score being 5.0). The survey was conducted in 11 PCSO branches.

The said survey became the basis to include the reaction of winners of the Lotto, Keno, Sweepstakes, and STL in the succeeding survey.

“Medyo atat na kami sa survey result ng 2017 na isinagawa mula Enero hanggang Hunyo [We are eager for the survey result of 2017 conducted from January to June],” Balutan said.

The survey covered the PCSO Main Office located at Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City, Lung Center of the Philippines, and nine PCSO branches. The survey focused on IMAP, especially the walk-in winners of Lotto, Keno, and Sweepstakes, and the recipients of medical assistance.

Walk-in clients were the only participants of the survey to ensure a face-to-face interview.

Balutan said that the results of the latest survey by DAP is highly anticipated.

“Kumpiyansa tayo na mas umangat pa ang rating. Hintayin po natin ang paglabas nitong unang yugto ng taon, [We are confident that the rating increased. Let’s wait for its release on the first quarter of the year],” Balutan said.

PCSO rOaDmaP By the PCSO Reportorial Team UNDER Republic Act No. 1169 or the PCSO Charter, the agency’s mission in the year 2018 is to broaden and strengthen its generation of funds for health-related and charity programs of President Rodrigo Duterte for the Filipino people, especially the poor through the effective implementation of the lottery games.

Balutan predicted that by 2022, there will be higher productivity of lottery games which in turn will effectively address the medical needs of the people and the office’s expanded charity service.

“Pangunahin dito ang madagdagan ang bilang ng ating empleyado lalo na ang mga regular at mabigyan pa ng sapat na kasanayan para sa epektibong paggampan ng kanilang tungkulin [First in line is to increase the number of employees, especially the regulars, and provide them sufficient training that will enable them to effectively perform their duties],” Balutan said.

Currently, the agency has 63 branches across the country with the opening of eight new branches last year in the provinces of Lanao del Norte, Catanduanes, Sultan Kudarat, Eastern Samar, Biliran, Davao del Norte, and Ifugao.

“Target nating ng taong 2018 na makapagbukas pa ng panibagong 8. Kung matupad natin ito ay sampu na lamang ang bubunuin natin sa mga susunod na taon at bago mag2022 ay nalatagan na natin ng branch ang 81 na probinsiya [Our target for year 2018 is to open eight new branches more. If we accomplish this, we only need to build 10 more in the coming years and before 2022, we would have established a branch in 81 provinces],” Balutan said.

If the layout of the organization is improved, better services to support poor families in the provinces will also become a reality, he said.

In cooperation with the National AntiPoverty Commission (NAPC), Balutan said a program is in the pipeline to give P50 million in support each to Lanao del Sur, Sarangani, Maguindanao, and Sulu for the procurement of new medical equipment.

The agency will give 80 high-end ambulance units and another 150 scoop and runtype ambulance units. PCSO provided 221

ambulances amounting to P171.7 million last year.

For the processing time of guarantee letters equivalent to the money given to patients in need, 90 percent of the received request must be processed within 45 days.

“Pagtutuunan din natin ng sapat na panahon na madagdagan ang mga ASAP (AtSource-Ang-Processing) desk ng PCSO sa mga ospital kung saan dito na mismo tinatanggap at pinoproseso ang Individual Medical Assistance Program o IMAP form.

Sa 2018, target natin na makapagdagdag pa ng 20 [We will focus on giving ample time to increase ASAP desks of PCSO in hospitals where the IMAP form can be received and processed. In 2018, our targer is to add 20 more],” Balutan said.

PCSO increased its ASAP desks by 50 last year, bringing the total to 57. Of the number, 42 are in Metro Manila and 15 are in the provinces.

“Lahat ng istratehiya nating ito ay kasabay ng ibayong implementasyon ng ating mga lottery game. Gusto rin nating makapagsulpot pa ng panibagong lottery game.

Siyempre, sa taong 2018, target din natin na makapagdagdag pa ng 400 na outlet ng ating mga laro, [All of our strategies are in time with the efficient implementation of our lottery games. We also want to produce a new lottery game. Of course, in year 2018, another target is to add 400 more lottery game outlets],” Balutan said.

He said one of the most important matters to address is the modernization of the Online Lottery Games in Visayas and Mindanao.

“Maliban sa mga nabanggit ay sinimulan na rin natin ang planong pagtatayo ng PCSO national headquarters o corporate center sa ilalim ng Public-Private-Partnership; ang magkaroon ng matibay na Information and Security Risk Management Plan and Information Security Policy; at hangad natin na makakuha pa ng ISO Certification [Besides the previously mentioned (matters), we have started with the plan to build PCSO a national headquarters or corporate center under Public-Private-Partnership; to have a rigid Information and Security Risk Management Plan and Information Security Policy; and we aim to acquire an ISO certification],” Balutan added.

PCSO General Manager Alexander Ferrer Balutan and Chairman Jose Jorge Elizalde Corpuz

STL trains guns on illegal gambling By the PCSO Reportorial Team

T

HE expanded operations of Small Town Lottery (STL) brought remarkable earnings at P15.7 billion last year, up by 183.63 percent from P6.46 billion in 2016.

It also gave employment to 280,722 Filipinos, of which 12,097 are organic employees; 19,874 are kabos (supervisor); and 248,000 are bet collectors.

“At least 106,861 people were new hires, including senior citizens with disabilities and out-of-school youth who want to earn honorably and avoid illegal activity and criminality. Because STL is the only legal numbers game in the country, STL employees are entitled to benefits such as SSS,” Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Alexander Ferrer Balutan said.

“For us, the meaning of STL is Serbisyo, Trabaho, Laro (Service, Work, Games),” he added.

According to PCSO Chairman Jose Jorge Elizalde Corpuz, the agency went through challenges to achieve initial successes against jueteng, pares, swertres, masiao, and all the other illegal games prominent in the country.

When STL was launched in 2006, its total earnings was fixed only from P4.7 billion to P5 billion.

“When we arrived in PCSO, there were only 18 operating Authorized Agent Corporations. The Board studied it and we determined why only 18 are operating and we found out that the system is controlled by big gambling lords,” Balutan said.

“Gambling lords penetrated the STL system that’s why it was stuck at 18 AACs. The gambling lords didn’t want STL to prosper because it will terminate their jueteng, swertres, masiao, pares and other facades of il-

legal numbers game,” he added.

But in February 2017, the agency launched its expanded STL – the 18 AACs became 56, and with even more AACs approved, the number now stands at 92.

There are also still government sectors that protect illegal gambling operators in exchange for bribes.

This prompeted the PCSO to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine National Police to boost its anti-jueteng campaign.

“Because the retired Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff General Eduardo Año is our mistah, it will be easy for our office to coordinate with their office regarding how to gear the police towards the right strategy against illegal gambling. The deception in the President’s battle against jueteng must stop. Our objective now is to expose the gambling lords’ identities who refuse to be legalized.

We will identify them, catch them, and file a case against them in the court,” Balutan said.

Año has recently been appointed by President Duterte as Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), which has supervision on the PNP. Balutan said the PNP must protect STL operations because these remit a substantial amount of revenues used to finance President Duterte’s priority projects.

“Many people also do not know that some government agencies benefit from the blessings of STL,” he added.

DRAW COURT. Authorized gent Corporations are required to have their own draw machines inside their facility and every draw is witnessed by representatives from the PCSO branch office and some selected persons with good reputation in the community.

Life food

F

ooD trends, as the word trend itself suggests, are fleeting. From ramen houses to Korean fried chicken, from salted egg chips to Japanese cheesecakes, the pickiest eaters with their complex palates are always eager to try something new. But trends also have the tendency to repeat themselves, running like clockwork every x number of years. Much like how we appreciate throwback photos on our social media accounts, we also go back to what we consider to be our comfort food, regardless of what is trending online and in real life.

To kick of the new year and the inevitable search for the next must-try ideas, San Miguel Pure Foods Culinary Center tapped some of the country’s most renowed chefs – Heny Sison, Emelita Galang, Rosemarie Lim, Sylvia and Ernest Reynoso-Gala, and Gene Gonzalez – to break down emerging food trends for 2018.

“We’re very much present throughout different segments of the food service industry, and as such, we’re always trying to stay ahead,” said Llena TanArcenas, culinary service manager of San Miguel Pure Foods Co. Inc. “For this year, we are seeing five major trends that we know will make for a very appetizing and appealing 2018 for food lovers, namely Extreme Indulgence, Ready-to-Eat, Global Flavors, Heritage Filipino Cuisine, and Artisanal Breads and Hybrid Desserts.”

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com monday, januaRy 15, 2018

C1

BEst food forward:

What to ExpEct on Your Plate this Year

2018 Food Trends

Extreme Indulgence Arcenas said this trend has been present as early as 2016, but it has since evolved, producing the likes of more extravagant, if not at times outrageous, dishes when it comes to flavor combinations.

The Culinary Center prepared a 12inch burger to represent this trend, using Angus beef burger patty, cheese spread, chicken nuggets and honeycured thick-cut bacon. It also served chili-infused honey-glazed chicken lollipops with sweet potato and peas paper tots on the side to showcase bold flavor combinations.

Heritage filipino Cuisine For mother and son chefs Sylvia and Ernest Reynoso-Gala, Filipino cuisine will gain even more prominence this year, with more restaurants offering their own rendition of traditional dishes and combining these with modern techniques. “Millennials have a thing for throwback dishes, for recipes from the past.

There is much love for history and for traditional food,” Chef Ernest said.

In response to this trend, San Miguel Pure Foods has rolled our its “Heat and Eat” products – Monterey’s lechon kawali and Purefoods crispy pata. And as a nod to our gastronomic heritage, the Culinary Center served these with three sauces representing Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, namely kare-kare, humba, and piyanggang.

ready-to-Eat “Traffic conditions in the Metro will lead to ready-to-eat food being patronized more. As more time is being spent on the road, there’s less time for food preparation. The trend is for food on the move, food that can be purchased online,” said Chef Heny Sison.

Chef Emelita Galang said with the fast-paced lives of most Filipinos and the rise of the so-called dashboard diners (what with the daily traffic woes in EDSA and in every other major roads in the metro), grab-and-go dishes will become not just convenient options but steady hits.

For this trend, the Culinary Center prepared grilled cheese and truffled caramel bacon in charcoal foccacia; spicy Korean pulled pork noodles; and roasted pimiento macaroni and cheese with truffle butter and candied bacon.

artisanal Breads and Hybrid desserts “We will see more colorful food preparations and the use of more organic ingredients,” said Chef Rosemarie Lim. The spread included matcha (green tea) croissants, Hokkaido bread (with a generous filling of ham and cheese), and three kinds of doughnuts (from the literally red-hot chili doughnut to the salted egg custard-filled variety).

For Arcenas, trends may change as quickly as they become viral, but the quality products of San Miguel Pure Foods will remain present in every Filipino kitchen. “our products are very versatile.

You are always assured of consistent quality and taste, and that is not a trend but a constant,” she said.

Global flavors With more people traveling to various parts of the globe, Chef Gene Gonzales predicted the popularity of exotic fruits and vegetables along with cooking methods that cross over from one culture to another. “Cooking techniques will merge together. We will see the rise of a global, borderless cuisine,” Gonzales said.

To exemplify this trend, the Culinary Center prepared African chicken Harissa (chili pepper paste) with bell pepper coulis and Moroccan pork belly, both cooked sous vide. Infused oils were also used to add flavor and aroma to the dishes.

Easy, tasty ways to stick to your healthy eating THE New Year signals a fresh start for everyone. This is the perfect time to achieve that better version of yourself – wiser, braver, and fitter. Always at

the top of our resolutions list is to shed when you’re always tempted to indulge off a few pounds or to eat healthier. and put off making a trip to the gym.

But sticking to that “become healthier” So, to ring in the new year and help resolution could be quite the challenge you realistically commit to being healthy, FamilyMart offers you nutritious dishes made specially by the students of Enderun.

Get your dose of protein, fiber, and calcium from a classic Caesar Salad with crisp romaine lettuce, croutons, chicken, and parmesan. You can also opt for something a little bit richer but still filled with vitamins and minerals like Kani Salad composed of crab meat, mayonnaise, and greens. For something more filling, go for the Cobb Salad with all that good stuff like cheese and bacon but heavy on the greens to make it guiltfree. Healthy eating can also be easy on the pockets because these salads are only for P89 each.

FamilyMart is also helping you get fit and fab with special offers from Yoga+.

With a minimum purchase worth P150 on FamilyMart’s Ceasar Salad comes with romaine lettuce, chicken, parmesan, and croutons Live Light, and Live Right participating items, you can avail of a Trial Drop-In class for only P100. You can also upgrade the offer to an unlimited 2-week package by adding P899. Just visit www.yogaplus. ph to find a Yoga+ branch near you and for more details on their rates.

Sticking to that being fit and healthy resolution could really be doable. So, commit to a better you this year by heading over to FamilyMart for light and easy meals plus great offers for your fitness goals.

For updates, exciting products, and awesome deals, like and follow FamilyMart Philippines on Facebook, @ familymartph on Instagram, and @ FamilyMartPH on Twitter. For store locations or more information on FamilyMart Philippines, log on to.

Cobb Salad, with its cheese, bacon, and greens, is a healthy and filling meal

The Seafood station at Cucina brings the true taste of the sea with its lavish spread of seafood selection

Catch of the Sea at Cucina

REDEFINE your seafood culinary experience with special and delightful catches, live at Cucina’s newly upgraded seafood station.

Bringing in new experiences to the table, the all-day dining restaurant, Cucina, elevates one of its most well loved live action stations, the Seafood.

Feast on the lavish seafood spread, bringing the true taste of the sea, at its finest. Start your journey with oysters. Have it as fresh, or request for the baked version by the restaurant’s expert chefs. A simpler, but still rich, clams are also part of the wide array of seafood selections, together with the delicious and prime mussels. Types of crabs such as the Blue Swimmer Crabs and Curacha are also featured. Enjoy their tenderness and juiciness with

prawns that are of perfection—truly are gourmet’s delights.

Cucina offers a versatile dining experience complemented by a wellcurated spread of international cuisine that are heavy on flavours and is made from superior ingredients. From the usual symphony of taste, it is consistently seen in bringing something new to the table with different station highlights. The talented kitchen team never stops in its pursuit on what the market wants when it comes to culinary cravings. With the new seafood station coming this month, make each celebration even more bountiful.

To know more about Cucina and the other signature dining outlets of Marco Polo Ortigas Manila, visit www.marcopolohotels.com.