Manila Standard - 2018 January 26 - Friday

PEACE ADVOCATE.

24-year-old Katarina Sonja Rodriguez of the Philippines is first runnerup in the 46th edition of the Miss Intercontinental beauty pageant in Egypt.

She is the granddaughter of Judge Joaquin Rodriguez, one of the early law practitioners of Davao City and a close friend of Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison

VOL. XXXI • NO. 343 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Ex-CJ heads Cha-Cha team

By Vito Barcelo, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte appointed 19 of the 24-member consultative committee on amending the 1987 Constitution, with former chief justice Reynato Puno as its chairman.

at the Sunrise Garden Beach Resort in Hurghada, Egypt.

Mexico’s Veronica Salas Vallejo won the title and was crowned by Miss Intercontinental 2016 Heilymar Rosario Velazquez of Puerto Rico.

Duterte said the 24 commissioners to be led

by Puno will draft a Constitution that would shift the country toward federalism and end the Moro secessionist rebellions in Mindanao.

Appointed as commissioners are: Aquilino Pimentel Jr; Randolph Climaco Parcasio; Antonio Arellano; Susan Ubalde-Ordinario; Arthur Aguilar; Reuben Canoy; Roan Libarios; Laurence Wacnang; Ali Pangalian Balindong; Edmund Soriano Tayao; Eddie Mapag Alih; Bienvenido Reyes; Julio Cabral Teehankee; Antonio Nachura; Rodolfo Dia Robles; Virgilio Bautista; Ranhilio Aquino and Victor Serna.

The President earlier said that if the country does not move to federalism, the conflict in Mindanao would only worsen, especially with Islamic State-inspired militants active there.

He said if Filipinos will not reconfigure the unitary type of government, there will be no change in Mindanao, and “there will be no peace until the end of time for the Philippines.”

Puno on Thursday warned lawmakers that wanted to tinker with the Constitution’s Bill of Rights.

In an interview with the ANC news channel, Puno said these rights under the 1987 Constitution are natural rights that preceded even the making of constitutions of different states.

“Regardless of its source, we should bear in mind that you cannot tinker with the Bill of Rights… These rights are innate to man.”

Puno added that lawmakers should not forget

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Peace advocate pageant’s second best

By Nickie Wang MODEL and peace advocate Katarina Sonja Rodriguez won first runner-up in the 46th edition of the Miss Intercontinental beauty pageant held Wednesday night (Thursday morning in Manila)

The 24 members of the Charter consultative committee include former Supreme court chief justice Reynato Puno as chairman (left) and Manila Standard columnist Ranhilio Aquino.

India vows to kick in $1b; PH to buy arms, warships

By John Paolo Bencito INDIA has made more than $1.25 billion in investment pledges to Manila that are expected to create more than 105,000 jobs, as the Philippines considers the acquisition of weapons and warships from New Delhi, Malacañang said Thursday.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday evening (New Delhi time) met Indian Prime Minister

Narenda Modi for the second time at the Hyderabad House—where the two vowed to strenghten ties between the two countries through “trade and investment, defense and security, education and people-to-people cooperation,” their Ministry of External Affairs said.

“Delighted to meet Mr. Rodrigo Duterte, President of the Philippines. The vigor and momentum in India-Philippines ties

Homicide raps vs Aquino pushed to mark M’sapano

By Rey E. Requejo THE Office of the Solicitor General on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to order the Office of the Ombudsman to charge former President Benigno Aquino III with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide for the death of 44 members of the Special Action Force in Ma-

Arrest order out vs 2 cops in Caloocan teens’ slay

masapano three years ago.

In a manifestation, Solicitor General Jose Calida expressed his support for the petition filed by two relatives of the slain police commandoes.

Calida also sought the inclusion of former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima, and former Special

By Rey E. Requejo

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US, Japan, South Korea join bids for Benham Rise study South Korea to conduct scientific research in Benham rise or Philippine Rise, contradicting allegations the Duterte administration favors THE Philippine government China to explore the disputapproved the applications ed sea bed, an extension of of 26 research firms from the Philippines’ continental Next page the United States, Japan and

By Vito Barcelo, John Paolo Bencito, and Macon RamosAraneta

SUCCESSFUL SUMMIT. President Rodrigo Duterte (left) and india’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi meet media after signing their joint statement following what Malacañang says is a successful bilateral meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Wednesday. Presidential Photo

Forced evacuation of Mayon holdouts mulled; residents defiant LEGAZPI CITY―The authorities who have declared a no-go zone around Mayon volcano said Thursday they will remove all holdouts, by force if necessary, to avoid casualties after tens of thousands of other residents fled

to safety.

There have been no deaths in the 10 days since Mt. Mayon began belching flaming lava, superheated rocks and ash, causing 75,450 residents to flee surrounding farms and communities,

civil defense officials said.

However, they said people have been leaving the shelters in daytime to tend to their farms and livestock inside the danger zone that now extends to nine kilometers from the crater.

Maria Evelyn Grollo, who runs a grade school-turned shelter for more than 4,000 people on the outskirts of Legazpi, said some are defying the city mayor’s order to stay away from their farms on Mayon’s lower slopes. Next page

From Clinton to Trump: Sex scandal rocks White House CAT’S CHATTER. Grumpy cat, the moody-looking mouser at the center of a copyright infringement case in a California federal court, and has become an Internet meme has won $710,000 in court. twitter.com/ MlaStandard

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WASHINGTON, United States—Two decades ago this week US President Bill Clinton declared that he “did not have sexual relations with that woman.”

As it turned out, he did— facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

and he was impeached for lying about his trysts with Monica Lewinsky.

Today, another US president is accused of sexual impropriety—specifically of paying off a porn star one

manilastandard.net

month before the November 2016 election to keep their adulterous liaison quiet.

Such a bombshell allegation would be the kiss of death to most political careers.

But Trump is no normal politician and in his tumultuous administration, “it’s not even the biggest story of the week,” wrote Aaron Blake in The Washington Post.

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THE Caloocan City Regional Trial Court has issued a warrant of arrest against two policemen charged for their alleged involvement in the killing of Carl Angelo Arnaiz and his companion, 14-year-old Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman, in August last year.

Caloocan City RTC Judge Georgina Hidalgo ordered law enforcers to arrest PO1s Ricky Arquilita and Jeffrey Perez.

“You are hereby commanded to arrest the following persons who have been charged with the offense of murder,” Hidalgo said in her order dated Jan. 23.

No bail was recommended for the temporary liberty of the two policemen.

The two are also facing charges for planting evidence for the recovered sachets of marijuana and shabu on Arnaiz’s pocket as well as a .38 cal. revolver near his body.

They are also accused of violating the Anti-Torture Law after examination showed that Arnaiz and De Guzman sustained blunt injuries in their bodies.

The Justice department earlier indicted the two policemen, giving credence to the testimony of “Joe Daniel” who told the authorities Next page

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Abra blast kills 4, hurts 12 L

By Dexter A. See and Francisco Tuyay

A PAZ, Abra—Four people, including two policemen, were killed while 12 others, including a congressman-ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, were injured when a hand grenade exploded Tuesday dawn during the fireworks display sponsored by the local government in celebration of the town fiesta.

There was no immediate claim tives for Abra, an impoverished of responsibility for the blast that province notorious for political wounded Joseph Bernos, who violence. sits in the House of RepresentaAt least 12 people were wound-

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the Philippines is a signatory to the universal declaration of human rights, and these rights are commonly accepted by all civilized nations.

“I’d like to underline the descriptive word ‘universal.’ In other words, these are rights commonly accepted by all civilized nations,” he said.

Lawmakers earlier said they want to amend the free speech clause in 1987 Constitution and protect only the “responsible exercise” of this freedom.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who has been behind the House push for Charter change, said the May 2019 elections will push through as planned, contrary to his previous proposal to scrap them to give way to a transitory government on the way to a federal system.

“The May 2019 elections will push through,” Alvarez told a radio interview.

Under heavy fire for suggest that the House can amend the Constitution alone without the Senate and for proposing changes to the Bill of Rights free speech protection, Alvarez said congressional leaders have agreed to shift their attention to the less contentious issues, such as the general features of the envisioned federal government.

The House and the Senate have taken opposing views on the procedure of proposing amendments to the 1987 Constitution for a shift to a federal form of government.

Alvarez said the compromise was reached during his meeting Wednesday with Senate President Aquilino Pimentel, III. Also present during the meeting were House Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas and Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III. “We agreed to talk about voting later,” he said in Filipino. “We well first discuss the details, for example, of the structure of government while we are drafting a constitution.”

He said there was a consensus on the need to shift to a federal form of government.

Despite heated statements on both sides in recent days, Alvarez also said there was no animosity between the two chambers of Congress.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III also announced the agreement to set aside their differences in a meeting Wednesday night.

Instead, Pimentel said they have agreed to focus on a comprehensive, consultative review of the 1987 Constitution and the finalization of specific constitutional amendments or revisions that will be proposed and presented to the people.

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shelf, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

In a statement, Roque also clarified he never said Filipinos ccould not conduct research in Benham Rise nor had the capability to do so, saying there were fixed guidelines to follow and, so far, China, for the moment qualified.

Roque’s remarks, made on Tuesday during a regular Palace news briefing, drew widespread condemnation, saying it was “completely wrong,” “based on ignorance,” and a “serious disservice” to Filipinos for the Palace to follow Beijing’s line.

In a statement sent to reporters on Thursday, Jan. 25, he asked the public to understand the “entirety” of his remarks on Benham Rise.

“I was referring to China when

“We have decided to focus on the revisions that have to be made rather than how these changes will be effected,” said Pimentel.

But opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said the agreement forged Wednesday night was covered only those who attended the meeting. He said the other senators have yet to agree to anything.

Pimentel said the differing legal views on how to amend the Constitution should not distract them from the crux of this exercise: To make revisions to the Charter that will help improve our people’s lives.

“I believe it is abundantly clear that a review of our Charter is long overdue, as repeatedly stressed by the resource persons at the Senate hearing tackling constitutional amendments,” said Pimentel, the President of PDP-Laban.

“But we need to determine first what exact amendments or revisions will benefit the people.”

“After this we can tackle how we will go about enacting these amendments in a manner that maximizes citizen involvement and is consistent with the law.”

Legal experts at the Jan. 17 hearing of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes said it was high time to review and make changes to the over three decades-old Constitution.

Retired Supreme Court justice Adolfo Azcuna, a member of the 1986 Constitutional Convention, pointed out that the present Constitution “is the longest running Constitution of the Philippines unamended; not a single comma has been changed. Should you amend or revise the Constitution? Yes, because it’s already 30 years.”

Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno echoed the sentiments of Azcuna, saying the world has changed since the Constitution was drafted 31 years ago.

“I would like to think that it is time to give the ’87 Constitution a look over, a no-nonsense review,” he said.

“Conditions have changed.

The political, the social and the economic configuration, not only of the Philippines, but the whole world have changed. We now have globalization. We now see the effects of the revolution caused by technology.”

Also on Thursday, the associate dean of law at the University of Manila asked the Supreme Court to rule on how the House and the Senate must vote on constitutional amendments, whether jointly as congressmen want, or separately as senators want.

Arturo M. de Castro, dean of the College of Criminology and associate dean of law at the University of Manila said in his petition for declaratory relief that the question on voting, if not settled, could lead to a constitutional crisis.

I said ‘no one has applied and no one can do it, because, apparently, it’s capital-intensive.’ Earlier, I responded, and I quote, ‘Because only China has qualified so far.

There are other applicants, unfortunately they did not qualify according to fixed guidelines already set by the government’,” he said.

Filipinos, Roque said, were free to do research in the Philippine Rise since the country has sovereign rights in the area.

“It is obvious that my statement pertains to China and not the Philippines. As Filipinos, we do not need consent to conduct scientific investigation in Benham Rise because it is subject to our sovereign rights which includes the right to conduct scientific research,” Roque said.

“To reiterate, I never said that Filipinos cannot conduct research in Benham rise. On the contrary, only Filipinos can do so even without express consent of our state.”

ed including Bernos’ wife, the La Paz town Mayor Menchie Bernos, in the explosion that police said occurred as the couple watched a pre-dawn fireworks display in La Paz, 415 kilometers north of Manila.

Both the congressman and his wife were treated for minor injuries before being sent home, while two wounded police officers died in hospital, said regional police spokeswoman Carolina Lacuata.

The congressman’s office in Manila said it would issue a statement later Thursday, while declining to discuss the attack.

Bernos belongs to Duterte’s

ruling PDP-Laban party, the congressman’s aides said.

The wounded included the La Paz police chief and one other police officer, Lacuata said in a statement.

She said police investigators found two hand grenade levers at the crime scene, though it was unclear if there was more than one explosion.

A study conducted by Manilabased Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism listed 31 Abra politicians murdered allegedly by gunmen hired by rival politicians in a six-year period between 2001 and 2006.

The most prominent of the victims was Rep. Luis Bersamin, whose House seat Bernos now holds.

Bernos’ older brother, Ysrael Bernos, was also assassinated in 2006 while sitting as mayor of La Paz. Rep. Bernos beat three rivals for the House seat in the 2016 elections.

Initial police investigation showed thousands of residents and visitors were enjoying the celebration of the town fiesta when the grenade exploded simultaneous with the town plaza’s fireworks display. With AFP

SAF 44 remembered. Members of the PNP-Special Action Forces commemorate the third anniversary of the Mamasapano incident during a ceremony held at Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan in Taguig City on Thursday. The SAF 44 were killed during a special mission to capture terrorists in Maguindanao on Jan. 25, 2015. Norman Cruz

Action Force director Getulio Napeñas Jr. among the accused for 44 counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.

The solicitor general also asked the Court to stop the Feb. 15 arraignment of Aquino, Purisima and Napeñas before the Sandiganbayan, while this petition is pending.

The Ombudsman has charged Aquino, Purisima and Napeñas with charges of usurpation of official functions and violation of the AntiGraft Law, but the anti-graft body dismissed the case for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.

“The act of public respondent Ombudsman in the case of dismissing the case for reckless imprudence, however, is a wanton disregard of the sufficiency of evidence to form a belief that a crime for reckless imprudence has been committed,” Calida said.

Calida said Aquino allowed Napeñas to push through with the operation under Purisima, who was suspended at the time.

“As the PNP [Philippine National Police] is under the DILG,

the President, as the Chief Executive, exercises supervision and control over it. Thus, given that the President gave the policy direction to arrest Marwan and Usman, and that he approved Oplan Exodus with full knowledge of its operational details, the Chief Executive is ultimately responsible for the success or failure of the mission,” Calida said.

The 44 SAF members were killed in an operation to neutralize Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and his righthand man, Abdul Basit Usman.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice said it will pursue the prosecution of the perpetrators behind the killing of more than 60 people, including the 44 members of the SAF, during the 2015 Mamapasano clash.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre stressed that justice will be attained for the families of the victims of the Mamasapano encounter, while the Supreme Court has yet to act on DoJ request last year to transfer the trial venue.

Aguirre said the DoJ will continue to prosecute the Mamasapano case now pending before the Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao

Regional Trial Court, Branch 15, despite security risks facing the prosecutors.

“While mindful of the security concerns involved in the trial of the case, we will pursue the quest for justice with dogged determination and perseverance,” Aguirre said.

“While we await the resolution by the Supreme Court of our request for transfer of venue to Metro Manila, you have our solemn reassurance that wherever the trial maybe, your prosecutors will comply with their duties and responsibilities zealously,” he added.

The DoJ filed the complaint after finding probable cause in March 18, 2016 to indict 88 respondents for 35 counts of direct assault with murder.

In a case status update submitted to Aguirre, Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rosannie Elepano-Balauag, said then-Prosecutor General Victor Sepulveda wrote a letter to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Jan. 12, 2017 requesting the transfer of the trial to Metro Manila from the Shariff Aguak Maguindanao Regional Trial Court Branch 15.

With Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

India..

Peace...

augur well for our nations and the Indo-Pacific region,” Modi said in a tweet.

Before Duterte’s trip to India to participate in the ongoing Association of Southeast Asian Nations—India Commemorative Summit—the Trade Department has already finished negotiations for multi-milliondollar investments from private Indian firms, expected to spur the Philippine economy, Palace spokesman HarrySRoque said.

Two memoranda of understanding aimed at strengthening the economic cooperation were signed between the two countries, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez added.

“The truth of the matter is even before the start of the Asean–India (summit), DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) has already facilitated $1.250 billion in new investments in the Philippines and they are expected to generate 105,500 jobs,” Roque told reporters in a news briefing.

The bulk of $1 billion in investment pledges would come from Adani Green Energy, India’s leading solar power generation and manufacturing company, which is planning to expand its operations in the country.

“We met Adani Green Energy. Their plan is to expand its operation to the Philippines in particular focusing on the renewable energy, building solar panels. They are the biggest in India…So they are now looking for sites for the solar and the wind-based power generation,” Lopez said. With Vito Barcelo

The other winners were The Netherlands’ Cathelijne Heppenhuis (2nd runner-up), Brazil’s Amanda Cardoso (3rd runner-up), Colombia’s Lizeth Villanueva (4th runner up), and South Korea’s Lee Su Jin (5th runner-up).

The 24-year-old Rodriguez, the last Binibining Pilipinas 2017 queen to compete on the international pageant stage, was also named Asia and Oceania Continental Queen for being the best- performing Asian delegate.

She is the fifth Filipina to walk home with this title.

Rodriguez, a former MTV VJ, grew up in Antipolo, Rizal, and finished a degree in philosophy and business management at the De La Salle University. In 2014 she placed 2nd runner-up

in Asia’s Next Top Model, a reality modeling search that aired across the region.

During the crucial questionand-answer round, Rodriguez was asked about the most important thing she had learned in joining the pageant.

“The most important thing that I have learned in joining Miss Intercontinental is an Arabic word named after one of the Sunrise Resorts and that is Meraki. It means to do all things with passion, soul, and creativity,” the 5-foot-7 Filipina said.

“When I heard of this word and its definition, it resonated with me until now and I think it will for the rest of my life. Therefore, that is the most important thing I learned while participating at Miss Intercontinental―to do all things with soul, passion and creativity.”

With Eton Concepcion.

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Political analysts are scratching their heads to explain why-when it comes to Trump--such a revelation barely elicits a collective shrug.

Clinton, of course, was president at the time and some of his assignations with Lewinsky, a 22-year-old intern, took place in a secluded study by the hallowed Oval Office.

Trump was a private citizen when the 2006 sexual encounter with adult film actress Stormy Daniels was alleged to have taken place.

He was, though, married at the

time and his wife, Melania, had given birth to their son less than four months earlier.

Tobe Berkovitz, an associate professor of advertising at Boston University, said Trumpdisplays an uncanny ability to sail past scandals.

“Trump is an anomaly,” said Berkovitz, who has served as a political consultant on numerous political campaigns in addition to teaching.

“Look at the litany of other politicians, celebrities and journalists who have just had the trap door open out from under them for behavior that might not be as egregious or as bad as Trump’s,” Berkovitz told AFP. AFP

Uber seeks higher fare, cites pump price hike

By Darwin G Amojelar UBER System Inc. has filed a petition before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board asking for a fare adjustment due to higher fuel prices.

In a statement, USI wants to increase fare per kilometer for uberX to between P9 and P12 depending on the time of the day from P5.70 per kilometer.

The base fare of P40 and time charge of P2 will remain the same.

USI blamed the fare adjustment to the requirements under the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines to further improve safety and quality of service, increasing fuel prices, and new excise taxes on petroleum.

“We are doing this to ensure driver partners earn sustainably.

We are committed to investing in the business in the Philippines so riders and drivers continue to get the service they are accustomed to,” USI said.

Earlier, Grab filed a fare increase petition before the LTFRB—between P10 and P13— amid higher excise tax for petroleum products under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.

The new law, one of the five tax packages envisioned to increase state revenues and make the tax system fairer and simpler, will lower income taxes, expand the value-added tax base, raise taxes on petroleum products, automobiles and slap taxes on some sugar-sweetened beverages, among others.

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how the accused shot Arnaiz who was on his knees with arms raised in surrender.

The witness also said that one of the policemen took a firearm inside the mobile patrol car and placed it on the hand of the male victim.

He also testified that he saw a ‘‘smaller person’’ fitting the description of De Guzman seated beside Arnaiz in the same police car. Arnaiz and De Guzman went missing on Aug. 17.

Arnaiz’s body was found at a morgue by his family 10 days later while De Guzman’s body was found on Sept. 6 in a creek in Gapan, Nueva Ecija.

De Guzman was the last person seen alive with Arnaiz in Cainta, Rizal. The two police officers claimed they were forced to fire at Arnaiz after Arnaiz fired at them when they responded to a call for help from cab driver Tomas Bagcal, who they said were robbed by the former UP student.

The Justice department has cleared Bagcal of involvement in the crime.

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“In the mornings they go home, especially the men. But in the evenings they are here,” she said, adding they easily cross into the danger zone on their motorbikes.

“They just rush back to check their houses and their property,” Grollo told AFP. Akim Berces, operations officer of the regional civil defense office in Legazpi city, told AFP the local authorities have sent police patrols to guard the abandoned farms and homes, so people should not go back.

There have been no reports of looting to justify the evacuees’ actions, he added.

A number of residents with homes just inside the declared danger zone were also refusing to leave, Berces said.

“There are some people who don’t want to leave but the local governments are forcing evacuations,” he said.

“The security [officials] are already talking about it, how they will ensure that it should be a no-man’s land.”

Berces said the authorities wanted residents in the vacated high-risk areas to move their cattle, pigs, goats and chickens to a separate evacuation centre for livestock. AFP

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Revilla trial put on hold

By Maricel V. Cruz

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HE Sandiganbayan First Division on Thursday partially granted the request of former senator Ramon Revilla Jr. to suspend his plunder trial pending his petition for certiorari at the Supreme Court.

But the anti-graft division said the suspension of the trial was only only until Feb. 15, 2018, while Revilla awaits to secure a

temporary restraining order from the high court.

A petition for certiorari is a writ or order by which a higher court reviews a de-

cision of a lower court.

The former senator and movie star has been detained for nearly four years at the Philippine National Police custodial center in Camp Crame for his alleged involvement in the billionpeso pork barrel scam.

Despite the prosecution’s objection, Associate Justice Efren dela Cruz, Sandiganbayan chairperson, canceled the defense’s presentation.

Citing alleged violation of his fundamental human

rights, Revilla filed the petition for certiorari before the SC to stop the Sandiganbayan proceedings with a request for an injunction, bail, and a setting of oral arguments.

“We will give accused Revilla time to work on the TRO,” said Dela Cruz.

Lawyer Estelito Mendoza, Revilla’s lawyer, said they are optimistic the high court will issue the TRO hopefully before Feb. 15.

“I am an optimist and I hope the Supreme Court

Standard scribe gains S. Kudarat award MANILA Standard news correspondent Nash B. Maulana is among 16 recipients of the 14th Sultan Kudarat Awards, being one of its two awardees for Journalism.

Annually given by the Federation of Muslim Students and alumni of the Mindanao State University in General Santos City, the Sultan Kudarat Awards started as an academiabased recognition named after the Muslim hero Sultan Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat (1593-1686).

Organizers said the SK awarding tradition has evolved from one bestowed for students’ achievements in the past, to now honoring individuals in their own fields, and ones performing their endeavors with the most community or social impact.

The awarding ceremonies at the Green Leaf Hotel in General Santos marked the 14th anniversary of the Sultan Kudarat Awards.

T h e Mikhail other SK Ting KuAward for sain, an Journalalumnus ism and of MSUthe Media General went to Santos Princess City and Habiba awards Sarip-Paudirector, dac of the said the P e o p l e ’s o rg a n i z Television NASH B. MAULANA ers enNetwork in visioned Manila. the Sultan Maulana has been a con- Kudarat Awards “to serve sistent finalist in Humani- as an avenue to recognize tarian Reporting Award the Bangsamoro’s excelgiven by the International lence in the academic field, Committee on the Red peace and leadership, volCross (2010); the Euro- unteerism, community serpean Union Peace Jour- vice and other noteworthy nalism Award (2015), and endeavors that help propel the Catholic Mass Media our nation towards univerAward (2017) for stories he sal cooperation.” has written, mostly for the Aisha J. Midtanggal-IbraPhilippine Daily Inquirer. him, chairperson of the 14th He was recognized for Sultan Kudarat Awards, his contribution in advoca- said it is the organizers’ cy and practice to the devel- avowed mission to “recogopment of peace journalism nize Outstanding Muslim in his areas of coverage as a or Moro individuals in their print journalist. fields of expertise and are

making huge contributions to the Bangsamoro Society”—although not all the awardees are Muslims.

Non-Muslim honorees included Governor Steve O. Solon of Sarangani and Vice Mayor Shirlyn B. Nograles of General Santos.

Topping the list of wardees are Atty. Guilail R. Kanda of General Santos, Sultan Kudarat Kampilan Award; Sultan Pax S. Mangudadatu, Governor of Sultan Kudarat, for Leadership and Good Governance; Prof. Macrina Adjerol-Morados-Manila, for Madrasah and Secular Education; and Dr. Mary Joy Guinto-Sali Chancellor of MSU TawiTawi.

Other honorees are Aisha Flores-Malayang of Manila for Public Service as a government employee; Dr. Abdul-Aziz Dialo Ontok of Quezon City for Medical Practice; and Timothy A. Ijiran of Zamboanga City for Community Service and Volunteerism.

will act on our prayers for the issuance of a TRO,” Mendoza said.

The Sandiganbayan First Division earlier denied with finality Revilla’s request for permission to file a demurrer of evidence intended to dismiss his P224.5-million plunder case.

The ruling sustained the special appellate court’s decision last Dec. 7, which junked Revilla’s request to be allowed to challenge the sufficiency of the prosecu-

tion’s evidence.

Revilla surrendered to the Sandiganbayan in June 2014 as the court issued warrants of arrest for the senator and over 30 others for the pork barrel scam.

Janet Lim Napoles has been pinpointed as the supposed mastermind of the scam that has defrauded the government of an estimated P10 billion from the congressional Priority Development Assistance Funds and the royalties from the Malampaya natural gas field.

Show proof and I’ll resign, PCSO GM dares STL critics PHILIPPINE Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Alexander Balutan on Thursday offered to resign as he challenged anyone to produce proof he was shortchanging the government with the agency’s seemingly low monthly gross revenue from its Small Town Lottery operations.

“Now, I pose this challenge to everyone. If anybody can produce the STL (Small Town Lottery) P6.5-billion monthly gross revenue as being taunted by the genius of Senate and Atong Ang, I will resign as GM today,” Balutan said in a statement in reaction to the recent Senate hearing where he was being accused of corruption.

“I was accused of shortchanging the government of the revenues supposedly earned from STL with the insinuations that I benefit from it,” he added.

Balutan said records

show that PCSO-STL made history by generating P15.7 billion in revenue for 2017, or about P1.3 billion a month, from a mere P4.7 billion in just one year “during his watch and with strong support, unflinching loyalty and dedicated service of the PCSO’s workforce.”

To underscore his integrity, Balutan said it can be recalled that he was still a Marine colonel when he testified in the Senate on alleged cheating during the 2004 presidential elections.

“I have spent more than 37 years of my adult life in the Marine Corps, twothirds of it in the battlefronts. I have survived more than 50 combat encounters and four ambushes against the enemy of the state that most of my detractors never experienced in their lives—in my solemn oath to protect our motherland,” he said.

‘Miners must address negative perception’

By Rio N. Araja ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu on Thursday said the negative public perception on mining needs to be addressed.

Cimatu called on mining firms to get their acts together to counter the public’s leery views toward mining activities through the promotion of responsible mining, challenging the companies to ensure their operations have minimal impact on the environment and local communities.

Instead of focusing on profits, Cimatu said the mining industry should promote environmental protection and sustainable development, and look after the welfare of people affected by mining operations.

In a consultation with members of the Chambers of Mines of the Philippines, the secretary told mining operators their payment of higher taxes was not enough to improve public perception toward the industry.

“It’s not about money.

It’s about the attitude of the mining company to show that you are doing something, not only in greening, but also with your water discharge and tailings disposal,” he told CoMP. In response, miners agreed to undertake “progressive rehabilitation” in order to accelerate restoration of disturbed areas.

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Opinion

FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

ERC vacuum

T

HE effective suspension of four commissioners of the Energy Regulatory Commission this week left the agency immobile and unable to decide on pending issues concerning electricity supply and investments in the power sector.

ERC chairperson Agnes Devanadera had no choice but to implement an order of the Ombudsman suspending commissioners Josefina Patricia Asirit, Alfredo Non, Geronimo Sta. Ana and Gloria YapTaruc for allegedly

Adelle Chua, Editor

exempting Manila Electric Co. from the so-called competitive selection process in power supply agreements.

Devanadera earlier held in abeyance the implementation of the suspension order pending a direc-

tive from the Office of the President, but she had to enforce the Ombudsman decision sooner or later. She was was left alone to man the commission, leaving the agency “paralyzed” in issuing crucial decisions in the energy sector.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, meanwhile, wanted to prevent a vacuum in ERC and asked President Rodrigo Duterte to appoint temporary commissioners in

the body pending the resolution of the case filed against the four.

But no new appointments were made.

The impasse has alarmed companies in the power sector, which have committed to invest a combined P1.59 trillion to support the growing Philippine economy.

A fair and functioning ERC is critical for the energy sector to work, according to one power executive.

A working regulato-

ry body balances the welfare of the paying consumers, interests of the private investors, and the government’s desire for reliable and ample power, he adds.

The Philippines cannot afford to let the stalemate go on.

The ERC has the responsibility of approving the capital expenditures of power companies, retailers and the grid operator. It pegs the rate charged by solar,

wind power and other renewable companies to customers to make clean and alternative energy a viable business.

At stake are numerous power plants in the pipeline and the fate of the economy as a whole. A growing economy needs all the energy supply it can get to power industries and consumption. And it needs an effective and fair regulator to get the job done.

PENSEES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO

What is wrong with the 1987 Constitution?

The Thomasian Way LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES

OVER at UST, they will virtually lynch you for having the “wrong” politics. But they will turn a blind eye, it seems, if you use your high university office to cover up the killing of one of its own students.

I watched with some amusement as various sectors within the University of Santo Tomas community outdid themselves in making a big deal about the award given by the school’s alumni association to Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson.

My amusement turned to anger when the same university community fell silent after the Senate recommended the disbarment and resignation of UST law school dean Nilo Divina, for his fraternity’s killing of Aegis Juris neophyte Horacio “Atio” Castillo III. Divina, of course, is practically the mascot of UST. Not only does he serve as dean of its Faculty of Civil Law, he is also titular head of Aegis Juris and his firm Divina Law serves as counsel of the university. Uson, who “only” graduated from UST as a medical technician before leaving its medical school because of financial reasons, is nowhere

near Divina’s league as how can UST get so het far as representing the up over Uson’s supposed university is concerned. failure to live up to the And yet, this week, the supposedly high moral Senate issued a damning values of the school for 33-page merely recommitceiving an tee report award that after thorshe had I don’t know oughly innot solicwhat values vestigating ited, while the hazing UST is trying to Divina – death of show the world the conC a s t i l l o , not just in the t r ove r s i a l u r g i n g and Uson case but in lawyer Divina to frat head resign his Divina’s case, as – did not d e a n s h i p well. merit even and reca small anommendnouncement from ing to the Supreme the alumni Court that it disbar him who forced the pro-Duand a bunch of other terte blogger to return lawyers linked to the her citation? neophyte’s death last The university comSept. 17. I asked myself, munity, it seems, would

rather humiliate and slut-shame Uson than hold its law dean liable for the killing of one of its own students, as no less an authority than the Senate recommends.

There is simply no explaining the school’s strange and distorted value system, which was on full Jekyll-and-Hyde display in the span of only one week.

Understand that Uson was only given her award for outstanding public service last Sunday. On that same day, the anti-Uson factions in the school immediately started making all the noise they could—in social and traditional media, through their school paper, in official press releases sent out by eve-

ry group associated with UST that saw the awarding as symptomatic of the declining values of society and government under President Rodrigo Duterte, who was the real target of the campaign.

By Tuesday, the Senate released its report on the Castillo killing, advising Divina to “humbly resign” as dean and calling on the Supreme Court to disbar the lawyer and 18 other fratmen involved in the student’s hazing death. Not a word was spoken, in favor or against the Senate report, from a university that moved heaven and earth to recall a worthless award from a nonessential association.

REALLY, nothing is wrong with the 1987 Constitution.

There are ambiguous provisions to be sure —and the example that immediately comes to mind is the dispute over which the Senate and the Lower House have locked horns: How do they vote on amendments to the Constitution? Such slips of mind and pen however of themselves do not warrant a rewriting of the Constitution. The 1987 Charter remains a model of a charter zealous in its vigilance of civil and political rights and uncompromising in its commitment to the principle of checks and balances.

However, it established a unitary government, although it did provide for autonomous regions, a presidential form of government and a bi-cameral legislature. Obviously, if we want to try out a federal configuration, then the 1987 Constitution will not do. Similarly, if we want a change from a presidential to a parliamentary system, then Articles VI and VII will have to be re-written thoroughly. So it really all depends on what we want a change of the Constitution to bring about. It is regrettable that the issues are muddled these days. Many advocates of a federal system speak for it as if a parliamentary system were a necessary concom it a nt—wh ich is patently false. The United States is a federal republic—and its Executive and Legislative branches are separate and coordinate, its Congress, bi-cameral.

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Blink

What...

From A4

we can do the people towards cultivating a mature choice—when the time does come for them to choose—is to desist from confounding issues!

I also hope that we resist the temptation to “personalize” the issue. It does the President a disservice to label those who oppose federalism as “enemies” of the administration or obstructionists. If this persists, the equation soon becomes federalism = President Duterte, and then we will have citizens voting for federalism not because they think it helpful to the country (or, more basically, understand it) but because they recoil from being ostracized as foes of the administration. We will also very well expect that many who would otherwise be supportive of federalism will oppose it because of their dislike for Duterte.

Once more conf lating issues of political and juridical theory with personalities does our Republic no good at all—although this has always been our brand of politics.

Should it be a “talkative” Constitution— which is what the late, revered Justice Isagani Cruz called the 1987 Constitution of which he was not particularly fond? Modern constitutions are seldom as laconic as the US Constitution—and even the US Constitution has several amendments appended to it now. I do not worry about whether the Constitution will be

FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018

wordy or not. I would like it to say what government needs to know to be sure about how the Philippines is structured as a bodypolitic, and for this, many words might be necessary. At one time the 1987 Constitution was also faulted for bearing the phrase “as may be provided for by law” repeatedly. I will not hesitate to suggest that the phrase be used when necessary because a Constitution is different from a statute, and the Constitution was not meant to pre-empt all statutes, nor make them superf luous. There is a necessary hierarchy between Constitution, statute and subordinate legislation or administrative regulation.

Where the 1987 Constitution left to Congress a task the latter refused to perform, this time the Constitution must itself lay down—such as an operative prohibition against dynasties.

My name, I am told, is on the list of those chosen to constitute the Consultative Committee. The very first word puts us in our places immediately— we do not write the Constitution. We do not even draft it. We are only consulted.

But so that our labors may all be worth it, I fervently pray that our consultative positions may not be trif led with. rannie_ aquino @ c su . edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_ aquino @outlook.com

The Thomasian...

From A4

I don’t know what “Thomasian values” UST is trying to show the world outside its gates here – not just in the Uson case but in Divina’s case, as well. I never attended UST, so I am not aware of what values it teaches its students.

All I know is, this week, the school that takes an awful lot of pride in being the only pontifical university in Asia, which proclaims that it teaches Catholic values such as “truth in charity,” unmasked itself as a thoroughly hypocritical, bigoted and poisonously partisan community. And unless UST acts with even a fraction of the outrage that it showed when it forced Uson to return an award she never sought, fires Divina and disowns his homicidal Aegis Juris frat brothers, that opinion will not change.

I went to a public school that never presumed to teach its students moral and Christian values like UST does. This week, I realized that I’m so glad that I did. *** I commend Solicitor General Jose Calida for asking the Supreme Court yesterday to order the Ombudsman to charge former President Noynoy Aquino with homicide in connection with the Mamasapano Massacre in January 2015. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales earlier declared that Aquino should be charge with mere usurpation of authority and graft for his role in the killing for 44 elite police commandos by Moro rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Aquino must not be allowed to make a mockery of the search for justice of the relatives of the 44 members of the PNP’s Special Action Force who were butchered after right after the implementation of Oplan Exodus, the Aquino government’s covert operation to capture Malaysian bomb-maker Marwan. Morales has no right to make Aquino get off the hook even before he has a chance to prove in court that he did not abandon the SAF 44 to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front after Marwan had been neutralized. That would be committing a new injustice on the relatives of the slain commandos after they had been left behind to die.

If Aquino is truly blameless, as he says, let him get exoneration from a court of law. If he is not, then he must suffer the consequences of sending his men to get massacred in a one-sided battle without lifting a finger to help them.

FORMATION GARY OLIVAR FOR many Duterte supporters, the Social Weather Stations fourth-quarter survey conducted last December may seem to be like a gift that goes on giving.

In my last piece, I reported that 31 percent of the respondents said they had “escaped poverty” within the last four to five years.

This was measurably higher than the 26.6 percent reported the previous quarter, in September.

This time around, I had to blink at the latest, confoundingly positive poll results: The number of “job optimists,” or those expecting more jobs in the next 12 months, outnumbered the number of “job pessimists”—those expecting fewer jobs—by +41. This “net optimism” rating exceeded the previous high of +37 recorded in December 2016, and is actually the highest ever registered since SWS began tracking it way back in 1998.

In addition, average adult unemployment also dropped, from 18.9 percent in September to 15.7 percent in December. This is the lowest unemployment recorded by SWS since March 2004.

[Note that SWS unem-

ployment differs from the official definition in several important respects. We happen to agree with the SWS definition, but what’s important is that the same definition be used from one survey to the next, and that any changes be disclosed to the public.]

So it seems that job optimism is being driven, not by any halo effect from Duterte’s enormous popularity, but from actual, real improvements in the employment situation.

Since it’s jobs—even more than prices—that most worry the poor, this has got to be good news for the President. With tax reform putting more money in people’s pockets as well as funding massive job-creating infrastructure projects, people will be expecting him to top this act, again and again, in the coming months. *** Over on the diplomatic front, the grand poohbahs of the European Union ended up blinking—not just once, but three times—in their continuing attempts to stare down our supremely insouciant President.

Blink one: The new EU Ambassador Franz Jessen had to confirm that the Philippines was rejecting P2.6 billion of European aid directed towards sustainable projects as well as rehabilitation in Mindan-

ao. The newcomer to Manila admitted he was “still struggling a bit to understand how the EU is interfering in” the independence of our foreign policy.

Blink two: As we intimated also in our last piece, the European Commission decided to retain preferential GSP+ status for most of our exports to that continent, despite their reservations over alleged EJK’s.

This decision still has to be ratified by the European parliament, though, and if the new ambassador can help out with this, it will certainly endear him a lot to us natives.

Blink three: Duterte will be invited to attend the next Asia-Europe Meeting in Brussels this October, which will bring together 51 heads of state together with European and Asean leaderships.

Jessen hopes this will “develop the President’s understanding of Europe”. That’s OK by us, since it looks like the Europeans are now finally beginning to understand our President. *** Unfortunately, the blinking game doesn’t always go to the good guys. After receiving a lot of flak, Assistant Secretary “Mocha” Uson—Duterte’s number one blogger—decided to return a government service award given to her by the alumni association of her

alma mater, UST. The feisty young lady accused her critics of bullying, judgmental and sanctimonious behavior. The dust-up unfortunately also claimed the alumni association president, Henry Tenedero, who had to resign his position— after heaving, we’ll bet, a very long sigh of relief.

There seem to be three distinct but often overlapping groups of hyenas who ended up braying for Uson’s blood.

The first were the incorrigible ideological and political critics of Duterte, like Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin who earlier returned his own reward. Uson was just too tempting a cut-out target for them. If God Himself were to descend from heaven and anoint Duterte as His chosen (albeit very blunt) instrument to reform the country, the Akbayan types would be rallying against Him too, even if they don’t believe He exists anyway.

The second were the press freedom mavens, who’ve been raising a fuss over Uson as the leading purveyor of “fake news” on social media—even if Uson herself keeps saying she’s not a member of media and that her blog, by its nature, contains only opinion, not news.

These mavens are chasing their own tails: The number of readers who may believe in someone’s opinion doesn’t operate to qualify that opin-

ion as “news”, whether genuine or fake. Come to think of it, where were these mavens during the glory years of the PNoy administration, when the country’s biggest morning paper and biggest broadcast network were leaders of what former Press Secretary Tatad charmingly calls the conscript media? *** The third and, to my mind, most odious group were the moralizers, those who objected on lifestyle grounds to Uson, an exotic dancer who, I’m told, still practices her occupation.

In a country whose Catholicism is distinguished as much for its nominality as for its numbers, we can’t help but maintain a working distance between public sins (those against the law) and private sins (those against God). It’s not ideal, of course, but in a country whose leaders like to flaunt their philandering ways, we might otherwise never get anything done.

In the end, only one Person has the right either to highlight or to erase the debits and credits on the ledgers of our personal morality, because it is only He who’s authorized to make the entries in the first place.

That’s something you don’t have to be from UST to understand.

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

PH economy slows down VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ THE Philippine economy slowed down in 2017, the first full year of the Rodrigo Duterte administration.

Growth was 6.7 percent, slower than the 6.9 percent of 2016, which year was split as the last six months of the BS Aquino and the first six months of Duterte.

My conclusion: The hugely popular Duterte administration has yet to deliver on the economic front.

Why the slowdown when there was supposed to be the Build, Build, Build Super Infra program of Duterte, less corruption, less red tape, and bullish attitude of investors?

Well, government economists led by Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia blame the May 2016 elections.

Growth was high in 2016 because of robust election spending. In 2017, there was no election, so growth slowed down.

Actually, to put it bluntly, the economy was in slowdown mode even before the 2016 elections which took place in the second quarter of that year.

Consider the quarterly growth rates of the 2016 Q1 6.9 percent; Q2 7 percent; Q3

7.1 percent; and Q4 6.6 percent. 2017: Q1 6.4 percent; Q2 6.5 percent; Q3 6.9 percent; and Q4 6.7 percent. So if you graph the quarterly growth rates, you will see a sliding pattern, from 7.1 percent in Q3 of 2016 to 6.6 percent in Q4 2016; 6.4 percent in Q1 2017; 6.5 in Q2; 6.9 in Q3, and 6.6 in Q4 2017.

Note that in the whole of 2017, the Duterte administration spent P450 billion on infra alone; that’s probably five times more than the total election spending that accounted for the 6.9-percent whole GDP growth in 2016. That 6.9 was the highest growth rate in three years. The P450 billion was the biggest ever infra spending by any administration in the history of this country. So why didn’t growth perk up?

Secretary Pernia insists the 6.7-percent economic growth of 2017 was a “strong finish that keeps our position as one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia after China’s 6.9 and Vietnam’s 6.8 percent.”

He also insists on blaming the no-election spending theory of 2017 to account for the slower growth. He explains: “Let me give you some more comparisons with recent election and post-election years in our recent economic history.”

“Look at the performance

in 2005, which was a postelection year. After an election year, a deep dive, and even deeper was the case in 2011, which was a post-election year after the 2010 election year.

“And you can see that our decline is really very moderate at 0.2 percent of 1 percentage point. To me, this is a good performance, given the fact that it is already normal for post-election years to witness a decline in economic growth.

“Growth in the fourth quarter was backed by robust growth of 14.3 percent in public spending—that was really the main driver, public spending—which was an increase from 4.5 percent in the previous year. This is very much in line with the government’s commitment to timely delivery of public services and social protection programs, including assistance to victims of typhoons as well as in the Marawi conflict, public scholarship programs, and health expenditure programs.

“Also on the expenditure side, external demand improved with growth in exports of goods bouncing back to 20.2 percent in the fourth quarter from 17.2 percent in Quarter 3. This offset the services exports sector’s slowdown of 12.6 percent from 19.9 percent in the previous quarter.

“We must note that a ma-

jor contributing factor to this decline was miscellaneous services, which includes the BPO industry—business processing outsourcing. We can take this as an indication that the current market profile of the BPO sector is ripe to move into higher value added services. Domestic demand growth also strengthened to 7.3 percent in the fourth quarter from 6.4 percent in the third quarter. Fixed investments growth remained positive and accelerated to 9.3 percent with growth in durable equipment improving further to more than 12.1 percent. This is indicative of businesses’ continued confidence in the long-term prospects of the Philippine economy.

“We also recorded stronger public construction spending at 25.1 percent that offset the 2.9-percent contraction in private construction. This keeps the overall construction growth in positive territory, which is a boost in line with our Build Build Build program.

“On the supply side, we recorded improvements in utilities and mining.

“Growth in services was supported by transport and communications, trade, and public administration, defense, and social security.

“Agriculture recorded 2.4percent growth in fourth quar-

ter, having recovered from the decline of -1.3 percent in the same period last year.

“With these developments, we move forward in 2018 with even stronger determination to accelerate growth to hit our target range of 7 to 8 percent. We are, of course, coming from the steady growth streak of 6.9 percent growth for full-year 2016 and 6.7-percent growth in 2017. Both are well within our growth range targets.

“For 2016 and 2017, economic growth has been strong and steady. Our hope for 2018 and in the medium-term is to shift the trajectory upwards some more.

“The Build Build Build program, of course, will continue its momentum in providing more opportunities to our country such as investments, job creation, connectivity, and dependable delivery of public services.

“At the core of the program are 75 high-impact Infrastructure Flagship Projects that represent the major capital undertakings of the government, which will implemented within the mediumterm. This includes transport, energy, irrigation and water supply projects to promote growth centers outside the urban-industrial region centered around Metro Manila.”

EVERYMAN

Capitalism’s myths and lies

By Eric Jurado Here are five myths about free enterprise.

Myth Number One. Free enterprise hurts the poor.

Since 1970, the percentage of the world’s population living on the equivalent of less than a dollar a day has fallen by more than 80 percent.

This was not the result of foreign aid or UN development projects. It was the spread of free enterprise that achieved this miracle. In China alone, free trade and foreign investment—investment, not aid—lifted 400-million Chinese out of abject poverty in just the 20 years between 1981 and 2001.

There has never been a force for helping the poor that has come close to free enterprise.

Myth Number Two. Free enterprise is driven by greed.

If entrepreneurs were all about money, they’d be far better off getting a secure job in civil ser-

vice. According to recent global career surveys, small-business owners made 19 percent less money per year than government managers.

Entrepreneurs are driven by a fierce desire to control their own destiny. They strive for something called “earned success.”

For some people, earned success means business success; for others, it means raising good kids, building a nonprofit, or making beautiful art —whatever allows people to create value in their lives and in the lives of others.

Only free enterprise gives them the personal freedom to do that.

Myth Number Three. Free enterprise breeds envy.

Since 1973, the General Social Survey has asked Americans whether they believe good luck or hard work is more important in getting ahead. For over 40 years, between 60 and 70 percent of Americans have chosen “hard work.” In a recent poll, the Pew

Research Center found that 88 percent of Americans said they admired people who get rich by working hard.

This view is unique to the United States. According to the World Values Survey, Americans are more likely than those of other nations to attribute success to hard work. Americans are twice as likely to do so than the French.

In a society that rewards initiative and offers opportunity, free enterprise fosters aspiration and ambition. It is in societies that have much less economic freedom and far fewer entrepreneurs, and therefore, economic stagnation, that you find envy, resentment, and often unrest. This is the case in Europe, where people demand more and more government benefits instead of demanding to keep more of what they earn.

Myth Number Four. Free enterprise caused the Great Recession.

It wasn’t free enterprise that

was at fault; it was the lack of free enterprise. Statism and its co-dependent spouse—corporate cronyism—melted down the global economy.

Two decades of misguided government policy created the conditions that led to the housing bubble. When housing prices collapsed, so did the whole financial system. And who showed up first in the bailout line? Large corporations, including car companies, big banks, and the American government-backed mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This isn’t the free market at work —not even close. It’s a toxic mix of big government and its corporate clients. The solution is more free enterprise: where entrepreneurs put their money on the line and earn a profit or suffer a loss.

Myth Number Five. Free enterprise is unfair.

When I was a business school student, my classmates would sometimes argue that it was “not fair” for the rich to have so much

more than the poor. So halfway through the economics course, the professor proposed that a quarter of the points earned by the top half of the class be passed on to the students in the lower half, to improve grade equality.

All of a sudden, discussion about fairness ended.

We all acknowledge that some income redistribution is necessary to pay for government and to finance a social safety net. But as long as people are free to earn money, some will earn more than others. For a majority of freedom loving people, fairness is not redistributing wealth; fairness is rewarding merit—and that’s what free enterprise does.

Free enterprise—like freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion—makes a nation fairer, not less fair.

Eric Jurado is a hedge fund manager. He covers economic and political issues with liberty as his guiding star.

News

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

P5.6-m illegal drugs destroyed

By Rio N. Araja

T

HE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Thursday led the destruction of illegal drugs worth P563.46 million in Malabon City.

Director general Aaron assumed office on Sept. 12 Aquino said the destruction last year. was the third time since he Destroyed through ther-

mal decomposition were 112,078.28 grams of shabu worth P560,391,400, 181.77 grams of cocaine worth P763,434, 340.64 grams of marijuana worth P34,064, 375.59 grams of ecstasy worth P2,271,713.71, 0.38 gram of ephedrine worth P15.20, 1,536.60 grams of nitrazepam

and 5,000 grams of expired medicine at the Clean Leaf International Corp. in Barangay Maysilo, Malabon.

He cited the efforts of various courts in Rizal's Antipolo City; Pangasinan's Dagupan City; Metro Manila's cities of Las Piñas, Makati, Manila, Mandaluyong, Manila, Parañaque,

Pasig and Quezon, and Bulacan's Malolos as well as the Court of Appeals for the expeditious prosecution and disposition of drug cases that led to the prompt destruction of illegal drugs.

The first destruction of illegal drugs worth P10,671,263 took place on Oct. 12, 2017, folloewd by the second one

on Nov. 10, 2017 involving P6,001,826,947.80.

“The destruction of seized illegal drugs is in accordance with the provisions of the law and will eliminate any misconception that these items are being recycled and peddled back into the streets,” Aquino said.

DOTr told to submit report on VLUs

By Maricel V. Cruz THE Department of Transportation was asked to submit its final report on the vehicle logic units that manage the safety features of the trains of the Metro Manila Transit Line 3.

The House committee on good government and public accountability, chaired

by Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel made the request to the Transportation department as the committee resumed its inquiry into the alleged P4-million purchase and installation of fake train safety equipment for the MRT 3, which is under the direct supervision of the DOTr. During the hearing Wednesday, Rep. Jericho Nograles of PBA party-list asked the DOTr to submit to the committee as soon as possible its final presentation on the status of the VLUs of MRT 3.

Earlier, the lawmaker alleged that based on his information, only one of the 73 trains of MRT has the original VLU and the rest were replaced with fake, or unauthorized and mismatched VLUs. “This issue must be resolved immediately,” said Pimentel, adding the DOTr report is crucial in its effort to bring normalcy in the MRT 3 operations for the benefit and safety of the riding public and help as well address the issue of traffic in Metro Manila.

MRT 3 has been plagued with frequent stoppages often blamed for faulty equipment.

Nograles also maintained that the supplier of the VLUs, which he earlier identified as Diamond Pearl Development and Marketing Corp., has no valid contract because the authorized signatory, who was supposed to be then DoTC secretary Emilio Abaya, did not sign the contract at all.

“He [Abaya] illegally allowed then Undersecretary for Operations Edwin Lopez to sign the contract in his behalf which is contrary to law,” Nograles said.

DOTr Undersecretary for Rails Timothy John Batan told the committee that its important for any replacement VLUs to come from its original supplier, Bombardier.

“We are on a Bombardier system. Meaning, our different signalling sub-components have to be Bombardier in order to ensure that everything is compatible and we are able to deliver a safety integrity level that is expected of our system,” Batan said.

ARRESTED. Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña (left) and PDEA Director General Aaron N. Aquino present to the media the P34 million worth of shabu seized during controlled delivery operation conducted by PDEA authorities in Trece Martirez, Cavite City last Jan. 24, 2018 which resulted to the arrest of the two suspects identified as Mauricia de Padua and Suriong Taib, both residents of Timalan in Concepcion, Naic, Cavite. Manny Palmero

Lawmakers mull over amendments to Peza law A PANEL in the House of Representatives is considering the inclusion of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and Bases Conversion Development Authority under the control of the Bureau of Fire Protection on the matter of fire suppression and containment, through a bill amending Section 9 of Republic Act 7916, otherwise known as the Peza Law. At a congressional hearing, members of fhe House committee on public order and safety asked the Peza represented by Mary Harriet Abordo, deputy director general for operations, to explain why the agency has been

adamant in refusing to accede to the Fire Code of the Philippines which the BFP is trying to enforce.

The rift between Peza and BFP on the question of who is in charge of fire suppression and containment surfaced during the initial investigation conducted by the committee right after the fire incident at the Resorts World in Pasay City in June last year, when a lone gunman terrorized the Resorts World Casino and set it on fire, killing 38 civilians and injuring hundreds of hotel and casino guests.

Peza officials insisted that their office, by virtue of the

1995 Peza Law, has the sole power to enforce firefighting and fire containment in all Peza-administered economic zones in the country, and that BFP has no authority over them in spite of the signing into law in 2008 of RA 9514, otherwise known as the Fire Code of the Philippines. The law put the entire country under the direct supervision of the BFP. Abordo said it was the opinion and influence of former Justice secretary Leila de Lima that gave Peza the authority to refuse BFP to handle fire cases in economic zones and for Peza to handle it on its own.

Rep. Romeo Acop, the committee chairperson and a lawyer, said this was the reason why the issue created a humungous problem among several agencies because the Fire Code had been defied in the Peza-controlled areas. He explained that a law could not be superseded by a company or agency implementing the rules and regulations.

In order to address the problem, Acop, along with Reps. Leopoldo Bataoil of Pangasinan, Gus Tambunting of Parañaque City, Gary Alejano of Magdalo partylist, Rozzano Rufino Biazon of Muntinlupa City and Raul

Tupas of Iloilo authored House Bill 6372 that aims to harmonize the functions of government agencies concerned in the implementation of RA 9514 in economic and tourism zones in the Philippines.

Subsequently, HB 6354 was filed by Rep. Cristal Bagatsing of Manila. The bill aims to institutionalize the enforcement of the Fire Code of the Philippines in the economic zones and automatically instituting the Crisis Management Council in a given crisis situation, thereby amending Section 9 of RA 7916, otherwise known as the Peza Law. Maricel V. Cruz

I-ACT expands operation outside MM

By Joel E. Zurbano THE government continues to intensify its campaign against dilapidated public utility vehicles as it expands operations within the peripheries of Metro Manila beginning today (Jan. 26), an official of the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic said Thursday.

Areas within Mega Manila such as Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, and Antipolo in Rizal will now be subjected to the council’s “Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok” campaign, the on-road inspection of PUVs. “These areas affect traffic in the metropolis as most commuters coming from these provinces are working in Metro Manila,” I-ACT Task Force Alamid chief Manuel Gonzales said.

He said the expanded operations will be headed by 120-strong I-ACT composite team consisting of personnel from Metro Manila Development Authority, Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Police - Highway Patrol Group, and Joint Task Force-National Capital Region, in close coordination with the respective local government units.

“The primary concern of the council’s expansion of operation is to ensure the safety of riding public not only in the metro but in other areas of the country, as well, as it is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to modernize the public transport system nationwide,” Gonzales said I-ACT chief and MMDA general manager Thomas Orbos have likewise received requests from Cebu and Davao for the council to bring its operations in their cities but it has yet to commit as it is still strengthening its forces by adding logistics and manpower from member agencies.

2 aliens arrested for estafa

By Bill Casas

THE National Bureau of Investigation on Thursday said operatives of the NBI-National Capital Region arrested on Monday two foreign nationals in Makati City, for syndicated estafa and illegal possession and use of false treasury/bank notes.

NBI Director Dante Gierran identified the suspects as Leon Chambers and Victor Benjamin CAMP Pag-ibig is a day camp It provides an opportunity for Miendje, both citizens of set up by the JCI Quezon City special children to interact with Cameroon, South Africa.

Capitol led by EVP John Ray- each other and with others in The case stemmed from mond Fullido as the appointed society in a fun and supportive a complaint filed by a JorCamp Pag-Ibig 2018 chairman environment. danian national, Thamer Altogether with JCI Quezon City This year’s Camp Pag-ibig radaideh, on Dec. 27, 2017, Capitol president Glen Jude event marks the 42nd Year of regarding the alleged scam Rufino, in partnership with the the program with the theme committed or being commitCamp Director Jorge Banal “Pagtutulungan Tungo sa Mated by certain foreign nationSr., president of Philippine As- laya, Maligaya at Marangal als against him. sociation for the Intellectually na Buhay.” We are expecting According to the comDisabled, Department of Edu- to exceed the usual attendance plaint, other foreign nationals cation NCR, Manila Water Inc., of two thousand (2,000) particiwho are part of their group, Metropolitan Waterworks and pants and more than six hunnamely: Suspects Martin Sewerage System and Quezon dred (600) organizers, teachers Ndang, Ngwa Dako Brown, City Government. Held during and volunteers.

JCI Quezon City Capitol Executive vice president and Camp Pag-Ibig 2018 chairman John Mary Joseph, and an alias the second week of February to Camp Pag-ibig is an ad- Raymond H. Fullido continues the advocacy in providing diverse social opportunities to 2,000 Clinton, have fraudulently coincide with the National In- vocacy dedicated to helping PWD students as it marks its 42nd year. obtained money from the tellectual Disability Week. The people with disabilities. It is complainant by persuading camp bridges the gap between designed to provide children and cooperation as exempliJCI Quezon City Capitol important details. The chapter him that piles of banknotechildren born with handicaps with disabilities opportunities fied by the participation of takes the lead with regard or- also takes care of soliciting sized paper in a safety box and their mainstream peers. The to enhance their socialization both government and non- ganizing all of the stakehold- funds and items for operational were actually currency notes project reaches out to the men- skills paving the way for full government organizations for ers in the program. The chap- expenses, snacks and meals, that have been dyed to avoid tally and physically challenged integration and participation in a common goal of providing ter sets the meetings for all of drinks, materials, sound sysdetection by authorities. children from various schools the community. The project is better lives for people with dis- the stakeholders to discuss the tem, venue, giveaways and The victim, on separate in NCR and regions III & IV. also an exercise of teamwork abilities. program of activities and other other necessary items. occasions, has already given the group a total of P1.2 milCYAN MAGENTA YELLOW lion allegedlyBLACK used in buying chemicals for the cleaning up Manila NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION Standard of said US dollars. The comTODAY plainant added, that he had Notice is hereby given that A MILLION VOICES PHILIPPINES “AMV” – Branch Office with principal transparency and easy recording.

APPARENTLY stung by the news portation Secretary Arthur Tugade saksak,” he said. been persuaded to pay fees place of business at Rm. 210 De Villa Bldg. 1153 M.H. “There are the things which we Tugade also banned airport perof a baggage pilferage incident at said in a televised interview. and purchase chemicals to Del Pilar Street, Ermita, Brgy. 667, Manila will be filing Part of micromanaging the se- sonnel from wearing jewelry and are doing. I have begged the ground Clark International Airport and remove the dye with a proman application for dissolution with the Securities and Exchange Commission, effective October 01, 2016.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s warn- curity, according to Tugade, is the from bringing their mobile phones handlers and the service providers— ise of a share in the proceeds. manage your people,” he said. banning of wearing clothing with to their work stations. ing, Transportation Secretary ArTwo days prior to the filing of Any person having claim against this company The new measures will be in“No [jewelry]. When you enter thur Tugade said on Thursday that pockets, or even loosely-fit garments a complaint, the complainant is requested to present the same at Blk 14 Brgy. 649 Baseco, Manila; Attention: MartePocholoLacson, for work wala ka namang [jewelry]. stituted after the Manila Internathe agency would start ‘microman- such as boots. and his friend, Shyra Michaela immediate settlement.

“I prohibited pockets. Walang ’Pag labas, meron... Para wala tional Airport Authority dropped aging’ the security in airports, inBrian Capistrano contacted a Miascor Groundhandling Corp. as bulsa maski saan, kasi doon sinisi- nang diskusyon, bawal,” he said. cluding the CIA. member of the group, Martin This announcement will serve as a notice to all concerned of the legal dissolution and cessation of the The DOTr secretary also in- the service provider of the Clark “We micromanage. Sometimes lid ’yan. ’Yung botas na maluwag, Ndang, who attempted to beoperations of the Company. it is over simplistic, some people bawal. Kailangan ho ’pag mag- structed the security service agen- International Airport on orders of guile Shyra thru the same mo(MS-JAN. 19, 26 & FEB. 2, 2018) will say, but that is needed,” Trans- botas ka masikip, kasi doon sina- cies to start using body cameras for the president. dus operandi.

Quezon City JCI puts up Camp Pag-Ibig for PWDs

We will ‘micromanage’ security in airports—Tugade

Sports

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Ababa, Paez seize Pradera lead L

UBAO, Pampanga—Jhonnel Ababa recalled his fierce form and shot a bogeyfree 68 to tie American Nicolas Paez at the helm as two of the erstwhile leaders melted in the heat at the finish halfway through the ICTSI Pradera Verde Classic here.

Sustaining his backside charge in the first round where he gunned down two birdies to save a 71, Ababa hit three birdies in the same side yesterday then added a birdie on No. 5 while rescuing a couple of pars to preserve a spotless 35-33 card at the long Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club layout.

That kept the Davaoeño shotmaker on track for a

second straight crown on the Philippine Golf Tour Asia after scoring a runaway seven-stroke triumph at Eagle Ridge last week as he pooled a five-under 139, the same aggregate assembled by Paez, who endured steamy condition to string a four-birdie, two-bogey card for a 70.

Rufino Bayron and Aussie David Gleeson, who shared the first round lead

with Andrew Campbell, also of Australia, and Lexus Keoninh of the US with 68s Wednesday, actually held sway majority of the way with the former even coming through with an eagle on the par-5 No. 12 to negate a bogey on the 11th. But after hitting another birdie on No. 15, Bayron wavered and closed out the frontside with a horrible 40, marred by a double-bogey on No. 5 and a bogey on the closing par-5 ninth.

He wound up with a 74 and tumbled to joint sixth with Gleeson, who fell with three closing bogeys at the front, and PGTA Riviera leg winner Clyde Mondilla, who carded a second 71, at 142,

now three strokes off the new joint leaders heading to the last 36 holes of the $100,000 event serving as the seventh leg of the Philippine Golf Tour Asia.

Meanwhile, Tony Lascuña rebounded from a mediocre 72 start with a late charge of three birdies in the last four holes at the front, his 69 and a 141 putting him in joint third with American Josh Salah and Jay Bayron, who fired a 70 and 72, respectively, as they assumed the challenger’s role in the event sponsored by ICTSI. Campbell dropped off the lead first with a 43 start marred by a 9 on the par5 No. 3 but put on a fiery windup of 32 spiked by an

eagle on No. 12 to salvage a 75 although he slid to a share of ninth at 143 with Frankie Miñoza, who also broke par with a 70.

Keoninh barely kept his spot at the top with a 37 at the back but faltered with a 39 for a 76 that dropped him to joint 11th at 144 with Zanieboy Gialon, who shot a 71, James Ryan Lam and Dutch Guido Van der Valk, who both had 75s in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and M.Y. Shokai Technology Inc. Fifty-two players made the cut at 150 with Thai Parama

Chansue, Eric Gallardo, Cookie La’O and Joseph Suarez all carding 74s to join Erwin Arcillas (75), Kris Etter (75), Omar Dungca (77), Jobim Carlos (80) and amateur Jolo Magcalayo (76) at 44th.

Young Justin Quiban, who scored a breakthrough in the PGT Asia fifth leg in the CAT Open at Luisita last month, limped with two double bogeys and a triple bogey on a flat course and missed the cut with a 152 after a 79.

Others who failed to advance were National Pro-Am winner Tonlits Asistio (76-152), CAT Open runner-up Joenard Rates, who also made a 70 for a 155, Ferdie Aunzo (78-156).

Ancajas flies to US to train at Wild Card FILIPINO world boxing champion Jerwin Ancajas flew to the United States yesterday to continue his training at the Wild Card gym for his f ight on Feb. 3 at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Ancajas was accompanied by his trainer-manager Joven Jimenez, whose partnership in training at their home gym in Magallanes, Cavite has done wonders for the Panabo native.

“Handang-handa na po ako,” said Ancajas, who will defend his International Boxing Federation junior bantamweight title for the first time in the US territory against Israel Gonzales.

The 26-year-old Ancajas has completed 90 rounds of sparring under Jimenez and will have a light work-

out at Wild Card, owned

by Manny Pacquiao’s longtime trainer Freddie Roach, before flying again to Texas on Jan. 28.

Anjacas, who weighs 121 pounds upon leaving for the States, is confident though that he will make the 118-pound limit for the division.

“Kayang-kaya na po ‘yun. Ensayado po ako,” added Ancajas, who has a fight record of 28 wins, with 19 knockouts, against a loss and a draw.

Gonzales has 21 wins, eight of them via knockout, against a single loss.

Fellow Filipino fighter Mark Anthony Geraldo dealt Ancajas his only loss during their fight for the World Boxing Organization Asia Pacific Super flyweight title bout in 2012 in Cebu. Randy Caluag

American Nicolas Paez checks his putting distance on No. 18.

Sports scribes confer President’s Award on Pangilinan FOR his relentless efforts to keep the Philippines on the basketball map, business tycoon and sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan will be bestowed with the President’s Award during the SMC-PSA (Philippine Sportswriters Association) Awards Night on Feb. 27.

Pangilinan, chairman emeritus of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, is the man behind the country’s successful bid to host the 2023 FIBA World Cup, a prestigious event that gathers the world’s top 32 basketball-playing nations.

The SBP partnered with Japan and Indonesia to win the hosting rights over Argentina and Uruguay down the stretch.

Sixteen nations will see action in the Philippines, and eight each in Japan and Indonesia.

It’s the first time the Philippines will host the FIBA World Cup since 1978.

Along the with the country’s finest athletes for year 2017, Pangilinan will be honored and feted in one glittery affair set at the Maynila Hall of the historic Manila Hotel and presented by Milo and Cignal TV. Dodo Catacutan, PSA presi-

dent and editor of sports portal SPIN.ph, said there’s no better person who deserves the award this year than Pangilinan, who has thrown in millions of pesos behind the ambitious Gilas program.

Aside from the President’s Award, the PSA-Tapa King Athlete of the Year will also be handed out to deserving recipients Jerwin Ancajas, Carlo Biado, and Krizziah Lyn Tabora during the affair which has the Philippine Sports Commission for major sponsor and supported by the Philippine Basketball Asso-

ciation, Mighty Sports, Rain or Shine, and GlobalPort.

“This hosting is for the country. It’s a great honor.

The Filipinos deserve it,” said Pangilinan.

“If there’s anything, any legacy I’d like to leave to the sport of basketball, it’s that the Philippines, after so many years, will be at the center of the world in the sport of basketball,” said the 71-year-old Pangilinan, more known as MVP. This year, the Philippines through the SBP, will also host the FIBA 3x3 World Cup.

In 2016, Gilas 3.0 also received the President’s Award from the country’s oldest media organization for its surprising silver medal finish in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship, falling one victory short of the elusive slot to the Summer Olympics.

Past awardees include UAAP basketball champions Ateneo Blue Eagles and National University Bulldogs, cue artists and billiards champions Rubilen Amit, Dennis Orcollo and Lee Van Corteza and slalom racing champion Milo Rivera.

Broadcaster wins SMC media golf DZBB radio broadcaster Orly Trinidad emerged as overall champion at the recent San Miguel Corporation Media Invitational Golf Tournament at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.

Trinidad’s gross score of 75 turned out to be the best at this year’s edition.

Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Musong Castillo and The Philippine Star’s Mary Ann Reyes both ended with a net of 69, but the former’s lower handicap gave him the title for Class A. Besides finishing second, Reyes also won the Most Accurate Drive award. DZBB’s Joel Reyes Zobel, with a net of 70, placed third in

the division.

Father and son Rey Langit and Rey Langit Jr. tied with a net of 70 but the latter’s lower handicap won him first place in Class B. Nilo Paurom of the Philippine Daily Inquirer came in third with a net of 72. Paurom also went home with the Longest Drive award.

Meanwhile, Waylon Galvez of Manila Bulletin clinched the Class C title.

Business Mirror’s Al Mendoza and Manila Standard Today’s Jojo Robles both scored a net of 75. But Mendoza, at 35-36, scored better in the last six holes leading the two to finish second and third, respectively.

COOK Magazine’s Dino

Datu won the Nearest to the Pin award. The tourney, organized by San Miguel Corporation, gathered over 50 reporters in the print and broadcast industry.

The tournament was supported by SMC business units led by Petron Corp., San Miguel Brewery Inc., SMC Infrastructure, Makati Diamond Residences, San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp., Northern Cement Corporation, San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corp., Transaire Development Holdings Corporation, Ginebra San Miguel Inc., San Miguel Pure Foods Co. Inc., and San Miguel Properties Inc.

Overall champion Orly Trinidad of radio station DZBB (3rd from left) and SMC Media Affairs Group Head Mary Jane Llanes (left) are joined by the division champs and Class A winners at the annual San Miguel Corporation Media Invitational Golf Tournament. Also in the photo (from left to right) are Rey Langit Jr. (DZRJ), Musong Castillo (Philippine Daily Inquirer), Mary Ann Reyes (The Philippine Star), Waylon Galvez (Manila Bulletin), and Joel Reyes Zobel (DZBB).

Cebuana net tournament kicks off 52-leg circuit in Cebu THE Cebuana Lhuillier agegroup tennis tour reaffirms its commitment to develop and support youth tennis as it kicks off its 52-leg circuit today (Friday, Jan. 26) in Cebu.

Fifty-one other age-groupers are spread out for the year, including 21 each in Luzon and Mindanao while Visayas will be staging 10 tournaments, including the season-opening event at the Citigreen Tennis Resort.

Cebuana Lhuillier president

and CEO and Unified Tennis Philippines (UTP) president and founder Jean Henri Lhuillier launched the nationwide tennis circuit to help grassroots level players improve and later on be sent to high grade level tournaments.

“With the Cebuana Lhuillier age-group program, we are giving the underrated Filipino athletes a chance to shine and develop their potential to be at par with the world’s best,” said

Lhuillier. “Most importantly, more than a sports avenue, the circuit also advocates the total human formation of young tennis players by helping them reach their tennis career dreams.

We hope to make them not just be champions in sports but also be champions in real life.”

Held in various parts of the country, the circuit reaches out to young tennis players, giving them equal chances and opportunities to showcase and hone

their skills and talent.

Throughout its run, the program has endorsed over 50 scholars who were given access to better education, both here and abroad, and more support for their training.

They include Roxanne Resma, currently under a tennis scholarship in the University of Hawaii.

Other program standouts are Philippine Davis Cup member and Pepperdine University tennis scholar Casey Alcantara, world

junior rank 52 Alberto Lim Jr., 2015 Southeast Asian Games men’s doubles silver medalist Jeson Patrombon, Oklahoma State U tennis scholar and International Tennis Federation rank 55 Jurence Mendoza, Philippine Columbian Association Open’s youngest title holder Marian Capadocia, Khim Iglupas, Phinma-PSC International Juniors 2 champion Arthur Craig Pantino, and Bryan Otico, the reigning PCA Open champion.

Martinez headed back to Olympics

By Randy Caluag FIGURE skater Michael Martinez and Fil-American alpine skier Asa Miller will represent the Philippines in next month’s Pyeong Chang Winter Olympics.

“Michael is in,” said Team Philippines Winter Olympics chef de mission Tom Carrasco in a text message following the confirmation made the International Skating Union on Wednesday night.

Martinez is going to the Winter Olympics for the second time since becoming the first Filipino to ever compete in the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia in 2014.

Although Martinez missed the qualifying by a hairline, he was picked to compete in Pyeong Chang after another qualifier from Sweden backed out due to injury.

Martinez will join the 17-year-old Miller, who passed the Olympic standard during a recent ISUbacked giant slalom event.

Her Olympic slot was confirmed last Tuesday.

The Pyeong Chang Olympics is set Feb. 9 to 25 in South Korea.

Pain-free Tiger ready to get back in swing

LA JOLLA—Tiger Woods, confident that debilitating back pain is behind him, tees off at the Farmers Insurance Open on Thursday aiming to build himself into a contender once again.

“To be honest with you, I just want to start playing on the Tour and getting into a rhythm of playing a schedule again,” the former world number one said as he prepared to play his first US PGA Tour event in a year—and just his second since August of 2015.

Last year’s much-anticipated comeback ground to a halt in February, and Woods had spinal fusion surgery in April.

He says this year’s return is different, since instead of managing his pain he is now playing pain-free for the first time in years.

“It feels good to go out there and practice, it feels good not to have a burning sensation going down my leg into my foot or collapse when I’m walking, things of that nature,” Woods said. “I haven’t felt this good in years.”

Woods tees off at 10:40 a.m. (18:40 gmt) alongside Charley Hoffman and Patrick Reed on Torrey Pines’ South Course.

That’s where he claimed the most recent of his 14 major titles, at the 2008 US Open.

Since then his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 majors has stalled, and even if his health holds up it remains to be seen if he will have the game to beat the young stars who have risen in his absence.

That includes 23-year-old Spaniard Jon Rahm, the defending champion who supplanted Jordan Spieth as number two in the world with a win on Sunday in the CareerBuilder Challenge and could replace Dustin Johnson as world number one with a victory.

“A lot of names I haven’t seen, I haven’t played with, I haven’t seen their games,” Woods said. “We’ll see.”

Woods said he’s been able to play six days a week at home.

But tournament play on the North and South courses at Torrey Pines, where dense rough lines the fairways and the greens were already firm early in the week, will be a different challenge, even for a player who has won eight times at Torrey. AFP

LOTTO RESULTS

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

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

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Sports

FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018

Barangay Ginebra battles Phoenix STRUGGLING teams plunge back to action in hopes of ending their respective droughts as the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup continues.

Barangay Ginebra (2-2) and Phoenix Petroleum (2-3) test each other out at 7 p.m. tonight even as the NLEX Road Warriors (23) and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (2-3) do battle at 4:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

All four teams are coming off losses and most of them are carrying losing streaks as well.

The Gins Kings, after starting their campaign at 2-0, have lost their last two games while the Fuelmasters are likewise on a similar slump as they face each other to see who gets back on the winning track.

Ginebra suffered a tough 83-97 setback to the Alaska Aces last Sunday.

On the other hand, Phoenix bowed to the Magnolia Hotshots, 91-97, last Saturday as well.

The Gin Kings continue to be hampered by injuries as star big man Greg Slaughter was sidelined against the Aces due to a hamstring injury. He remains questionable against the Fuelmasters.

Ginebra will also continue to miss the services of recovering big men Joe Devance and Art Dela Cruz, giving Phoenix a chance to match-up better upfront with all those absences.

The Road Warriors and the Elasto Painters are also bound to miss key players in their respective rotation in their tussle.

NLEX will miss Michael Miranda while Rain or Shine will be without Raymund Almazan. Both will serve similar one game suspensions following separate on court altercations last week against different foes. Jeric Lopez

Ramirez identifies SEAG venues ASIDE from ongoing construction activities inside New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, there are no plans to build more venues that will be used for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez said there other available venues that can be used for events in the biennial meet.

“We’re just building two or three facilities, and then discover and identify facilities in Clark (Field) and in Subic,” said Ramirez.

Ramirez was with presidential adviser on sports Dennis Uy when he visited the groundbreaking ceremony at NCC the other day.

He said it was the initial plan of the SEA Games 2019 Organizing Committee to have most of the events in Capas, Tarlac.

But, doing so will prove costly for the government.

The events of the Games will be spread out to the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, aside from venues inside Clark Field in Pampanga and inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Work on track oval and an Olympic-sized pool, that will be located inside the Aquatics and Athletics Center, only started last Tuesday.

And that’s after heavy equipment began moving soil off the ground that will be used during the Games for swimming and athletics. Peter Atencio

Barangay Ginebra big man Japeth Aguilar (25) slams the ball through the hoop even as Phoenix Fuelmasters defenders look on helplessly (above). PBA Chairman Ricky Vargas congratulates new PBA Commissioner Willie Marcia shortly after his appointment by the league’s Board of Governors (inset). PBA

Marcial named new PBA Commissioner

By Jeric Lopez

T

HE Philippine Basketball Association finally has a new commissioner and there’s little surprise as to who it is.

The league formally appointed longtime member and erstwhile Officer in Charge (OIC) Willie Marcial as its commissioner yesterday.

With the board’s familiarity with him and his healthy relationship to every member team, league officials found it easy to name Marcial as the new man in charge of the PBA.

The PBA board came up with the decision to elevate Marcial as commissioner in its first monthly meeting of the year in the league office.

Marcial was given a three-year term to serve as the chief of Asia’s first playfor-pay league.

Marcial is the tenth PBA commissioner, following Leo Prieto, Mariano Yenko, Rudy Salud, Rey Marquez,

Jun Bernardino, Noli Eala, Sonny Barrios, Chito Salud and Chito Narvasa.

The board did away with a tedious search process, deeming it better at this time to appoint Marcial as permanent commissioner of the league in a “healing process” after going through a difficult situation at the end of the previous PBA season.

“He’ll help us through.

He’ll be the healing commissioner,” said PBA chairman Ricky Vargas on the appointment of Marcial.

Marcial, 56, is from Batangas City Vargas said no member

of the board stood against Marcial’s appointment.

“It was an appointment without any objection. The PBA board gave that gosignal without objection,” said Vargas.

“As you know the PBA board has gone through a very difficult time before the opening of this season. And we’re looking for somebody that can put it together and help us heal the process as there will be a lot of changes as we move along.”

The PBA chairman said it was important to select someone from within the PBA family.

“At this time, it’s important to give it to somebody who grew up in the PBA, who understands the PBA, the by-laws; who has been mentored by many PBA commissioners in the past.

He’s one who has learned over the years in the PBA,” said Vargas.

Marcial has been part of the PBA management team from the time of Eala. He rose all the way from being a statistician during the time of Prieto then floor director with TV coveror Vintage Enterprises from the tenures of Salud to Bernardino. With report from the wires

Wozniacki advances to Australian Open final

Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki celebrates her victory against Belgium’s Elise Mertens during their women’s singles semifinals match on day 11 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Jan. 25, 2018. AFP

CAROLINE Wozniacki is one match away from ending her Grand Slam title drought after overcoming a late wobble to beat unseeded Elise Mertens and reach the Australian Open final Thursday.

The Danish world number two won 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) in 1hr 37min after almost allowing the world number 37 a way back when serving for the match at 5-4, and seemingly in complete control.

Two double faults enabled Mertens, in her first semifinal at this level on her Australian Open debut, to level at 5-5.

Serving to take it to a tiebreak at 5-6 Wozniacki then needed to save three sets points before sealing the match in the tiebreak.

“It means so much to me.” she said after reaching her maiden Australian Open final and her first Grand Slam decider since 2014, where she will play

either top seed Simona Halep or the 2016 Melbourne Park champion Angelique Kerber on Saturday.

“I got really tight at 5-4.

I thought ‘calm down it’s all good’. It wasn’t good anymore after I served a couple of double faults.

“Normally I am really calm so once I started feeling really nervous, it felt like my legs were shaking a bit.

“I just took a few deep breaths and once she had set point, I said: ‘Well, I guess it is a third set. Just need to go forward’.”

Wozniacki has never quite lived up to the hype in the majors – this will be just her third Grand Slam final appearance, nine years after her first at the US Open in 2009.

The 27-year-old rose to the top of the world rankings in 2010 but has only made the title match at a Grand Slam once since then, also at Flushing

Meadows in 2014.

Mertens, in only her fifth Grand Slam appearance and Australian Open debut, signaled her intent to attack from the start, standing inside the baseline to receive Wozniacki’s second serve.

It was a high-risk strategy and with Wozniacki repelling all the Belgian’s aggressive overtures, the errors began to flow at regular intervals from Mertens’ racket.

Serving at 1-3, 15-40, a netted forehand, her fifth unforced error on that wing, gave the Dane, back in a semi-final at Melbourne for the first time since 2011, the first break.

Mertens, seeking to become the first Belgian since Kim Clijsters here in 2011 to reach a Slam final, kept up the attack and fashioned a break point in the next game but Wozniacki stood up to the challenge and held for 4-1. AFP

Carlsen beats So at Tata Chess

By Peter Atencio NORWEGIAN grandmaster Magnus Carlsen showed why he’s the no. 1 player in the world.

Carlsen developed four passed pawns in the middle game and threatened to promote two at endgame to defeat Filipino GM Wesley So in Round 10 of the 80th Tata Steel Chess Masters Tournament.

The black-playing So managed to capture one of Carlsen’s pawns before he gave up in 74 moves of a Queen’s Pawn Game at the end of a marathon encounter in Wijk Ann Zee, Netherlands.

Carlsen, who is on his 14th Tata Steel stint, claimed a share of first place with Anish Giri and Shakh Mamedyarov after posting his fourth win against six draws.

So, who won Carlsen’s admiration for being a strong player, struggled to find a chance to draw the game after his Norwegian rival pushed his rook to c6 to support his pawns at queenside on the 46th.

So made it difficult for Carlsen as the Filipino GM was able to stand his ground for 28 more moves.

“I think he played a little too passively. He certainly gave me a pleasant initiative which I didn’t think he needed to do. He should have had comfortable equality there,” said Carlsen in an online interview with Chess.com.

The loss cost So his unofficial live world ranking of no. 3 as he slipped to no. 5.

“I was always kind of pressing but I allowed too much counter play. I had to give up the bishop. Then he should have had excellent drawing chances I think.

Although I am certainly the one who is pressing there still. But he certainly misplayed it,” said Carlsen.

Irving shines as Celtics halt losing streak LOS ANGELES—Kyrie Irving scored 20 points as the Boston Celtics snapped their four-game losing streak with a convincing 113-102 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.

The Eastern Conference leaders have struggled on offense during their minislump, but found their scoring touch to secure a comfortable road victory at the Staples Center.

Irving had eight rebounds and seven assists while Jay-

son Tatum had 18 points on a night when five Celtics players posted double-digit scores.

The win saw Boston improve to 35-14 at the top of the East, and ensured they will head into Saturday’s marquee match-up against the NBA champion Golden State Warriors on a winning note.

In Dallas, James Harden scored 25 points as Houston tightened their grip on second place in the Western Conference with a 104-97 win over the Mavericks in

the all-Texas derby.

Trevor Ariza added 23 points while Clint Capela, Chris Paul and Eric Gordon all made double-figures for the visitors, who improved to 34-12 after what was a sixth straight win over the Mavs.

Harden finished with 13 assists and five rebounds while converting six of 10 threepoint attempts.

San Antonio remains in third place in the West after a 108-85 mauling of the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Spurs, fresh from victory over Cleveland on Tuesday, showed no ill-effects from their road trip in a onesided win.

Once again the Spurs’ formidable scoring depth proved decisive, with eight players making double figures.

Spanish veteran Pau Gasol had 14 points 11 rebounds and 15 assists as the Spurs improved to 32-18. Gasol’s brother Marc led the scoring for the Grizzlies with 18 points and seven rebounds. AFP

Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving (11) tries to drive past a pair of LA Clippers defenders at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Business

Stock market rallies near 9,000 points; Jollibee up

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Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018

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Calata’s initial coin offering stopped IN BRIEF New hydro plant starts operations SN Aboitiz Power-Magat Inc. said Thursday it successfully commissioned the 8.5-megawatt Maris Main Canal Hydroelectric Power plant in Ifugao province.

The Maris hydro plant taps water coming from Magat hydro that goes into the Maris re-regulating dam located downstream of Magat, before flowing into the Maris Main (South) Irrigation Canal.

Construction of the P2.15 billion runof-river hydro plant took about two years.

SNAP-Magat president and chief executive Joseph Yu said the commissioning of the project was a celebration of the partnerships that made the project possible.

“This was truly a collaborative effort – and will continue to be – as we work together to power positive change for our country, our host communities, and our team,” Yu said.

The Maris hydro is the first power plant constructed by SN Aboitiz Power Group since it acquired the 380-MW Magat hydro in 2007 through privatization.

It is composed of two Kaplan generator units with a nameplate capacity of 4.25 MW each. Unit 1 was commissioned on Oct. 24 while Unit 2 was commissioned on Nov. 6, 2017. Alena Mae S. Flores

The SEC, which issued the order on Jan. 23, said there was substantial evidence that thee Calata-led firms including HE Securities and Exchange Commission Black Cell Technology Inc., Black Sand Capital Inc. and Black Cell Technology said Thursday it Limited Krops were selling or offering seissued a cease-and-desist curities in the form of Krop Tokens and/or KropCoins to the public without license order to stop businessman from the corporate regulator.

Joseph Calata and his three It said this constituted a violation of companies from selling the Securities Regulation Code.

“The continued public offering and unregistered securities to the sale of Krops Tokens and/or KropCoins public in the form of Krops without the required license from the Tokens or KropCoins through commission makes the public offering and selling a continuing illegal act an initial coin offering. which makes it imperative and necesAn ICO is a fund-raising activity usual- sary that a cease and desist oder be imly by a start-up company that issues cryp- mediately issued,” the SEC said.

The SEC said that based on its investocurrency or virtual coins to investors.

By Jenniffer B. Austria

T

tigation, the there firms were engaged on offering Krops Tokens and/or KropCoins via its official website, which constituted a public offering under SRC and therefore should be subject to strict registration requirements.

Black Cell said in its website there was an ongoing pre-sale of Krop Tokens and/ or KropCoins at a pre-sale price of $0.70 per token, with more than 2 million tokens already sold out of the 6.4 million tokens being offered to the public.

The SEC said Black Cell claimed to be the “world’s first agricultural marketplace crypto equity ICO.” The regulator said its investigation also showed that these firms were headed and founded by Calata, who was recently permanently disqualified by the Philippine Stock Exchange from being a

director or officer of any listed company after his firm Calata Corp. was delisted from the exchange because of non-disclosure of material information.

The SEC said that as a general rule, securities could not be sold or offered to the public without a registration statement filed with the corporate regulator.

The three companies and its officers, directors, agents, representatives were also ordered to cease their internet presence relating to the sale and offering of Crops Tokens and/or KropCoins.

“The commission will institute the appropriate administrative and criminal action against any person or entities found to act as solicitors, information providers, salesmen, agents, brokers dealer or the like for and in behind of the subject corporations,” the SEC said.

Indian companies coming to invest $1.2b

Moody’s sees PH standing out in Asia DEBT watcher Moody’s Investor Service said Thursday it expects the Philippines to continue outperforming most of its peers in the region this year.

Moody’s said in a report “the Philippines and Vietnam will be the standouts among Asean economies in terms of economic performance.”

“We expect the strong growth to be sustained, driven largely by the private sector.

We expect remittances from overseas Filipinos to benefit from the ongoing recovery and stabilization in growth in the US and Asia, balancing out some of the weakness from parts of the Middle East,” it said.

“Improved execution of government spending could also improve economic growth toward the government’s target range of 7 percent to 8 percent,” Moody’s said.

It said downside risks could stem from a possible worsening of domestic political risks that, if left unchecked, could pose more significant threats to the effectiveness of governance, consumer and business sentiment and ultimately, economic growth.

Moody’s earlier upgraded the Philippines credit score to “Baa2,” with a stable outlook. Julito G. Rada

By Othel V. Campos

Manila hosting ADB annual meeting in May FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the agenda of this year’s 51st annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank in Manila will focus on programs that the institution will carry out in the next 50 years to further reduce poverty and attain inclusive growth in communities left behind in Asia’s economic boom.

Dominguez, this year’s chairman of the ADB board of governors, said the bank was extremely successful in improving living standards across Asia-Pacific, but had to contend with new problems arising from the region’s economic resurgence.

“As you know in the last 50 years the ADB has been very successful in improving the standard of living among its members. However, when you have successes like that you create new situations that have to be addressed,” Dominguez said in a statement.

The Philippines will host the 51st annual meeting of the ADB board of governors on May 31 this year with the theme “Linking People and Economies for Inclusive Development.” Manila has been the home of ADB’s main headquarters for more than half a century now. Julito G. Rada

BDO set to complete switch to EMV cards BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s biggest lender in terms of assets controlled by tycoon Henry Sy, is on track to complete by the end of January the shift to the safer Europay Mastercard Visa cards from the magnetic stripe cards for retail clients.

BDO said in a statement that by Feb. 1, 2018, the bank would have completed the shift to the EMV debit card for customers.

“As a result, the magnetic stripe currently found at the back of the old ATM debit card will be disabled, therefore clients will no longer be able to transact on any ATM and point of sale terminal,” the bank said.

The bank advised clients to get their EMV debit card which became available as early as the third quarter of 2016.

BDO said it made all its ATMs nationwide EMV-certified last year. PoS terminals found in supermarkets, restaurants, shopping malls and other establishments are also converting into EMV. The regulatory requirement to shift to EMV is a part of the banking industry’s move to provide clients wider protection against fraudulent activities usually carried out in electronic banking channels. Julito G. Rada

MANILA-CAVITE FERRY. The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission teams up with the Intramuros Administration and the local government of Noveleta, Cavite to launch the ‘Cavite-Manila Super Ferry Transport System’. At the launching of the new ferry system at Plaza Mexico in Intramuros are Noveleta mayor Dino Reyes Chua (third from left), Intramuros administrator Gueller Asido (third from right seated), PRRC executive director Jose Goitia (left) and other officials of Noveleta.

Vehicle sales exceeded half a million units for the first time TOTAL vehicle sales exceeded the half-a million mark for the first time in 2017, after a group of importers said newly purchased units increased 14 percent from 2016 on strong demand.

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, a group led by Hyundai Asia Resources Inc., said sales rose 14 percent to 106,268 units

in 2017 from 93,192 units delivered in 2016.

Industry groups Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and Truck Manufacturers Association earlier reported that combined sales jumped 18.4 percent in 2017 to a record 425,673 units from 359,572 units in 2016, ahead of the implementation of new excise tax rates on vehicles this year.

This means that total sales of Avid, Campi and TMA reached 531,941 units last year, up by 17.5 percent from 452,764 units in 2016. It also exceeded the industry sales target for 2017 of 450,000 units.

Avid attributed the strong sales performance in 2017 to the pressure from the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law that took effect on Jan.

1, 2018. Automotive buyers took advantage of the remaining days in December to buy new vehicles ahead of the imminent tax hike on automobiles.

“Avid sales capped a banner year in 2017 at 106,286 units sold, 14 percent higher than the 93,192 units sold in 2016. For the year ahead, we remain optimistic as we expect short-run market adjust-

ments resulting from the Train,” said Avid president Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo.

“The new automotive landscape opens waves of opportunities for the luxury, e-vehicles and hybrid vehicles market. Thus, Avid will continue supporting efforts to sustain inclusive growth and build a positive environment for business,” Perez-Agudo said. Othel V. Campos

Govt secures $380-m ADB loan to improve Mindanao roads

By Darwin G. Amojelar the construction of eight ects of the government,” the first quarter.

THE Department of Public Works and Highways said it secured a $380-million loan from the Asian Development Bank to improve road networks in Mindanao.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said the project to be implemented from 2018 to 2023 would cover

roads in Zamboanga Peninsula with a total length of 277.23 kilometers and additional three bridges in Tawi-Tawi province with a total length of 775 lineal meters.

“The whole project costs P25.257 billion. With the ADB loan, we can utilize more of our budget to other key infrastructure proj-

Villar said.

Under the project, three core projects including the 23.69-kilometer Alicia-Malangas Road; 17.1-kilometer Tampilisan-Sandayong Road; and 37.49-kilometer LutimanGuicam-Olutanga Road with 440-lineal meter Guicam Bridge would undergo the procurement process in

Consumer groups back US FDA policy on vaping VAPERS in the Philippines supported a recent policy paper from the US Food and Drugs Administration stating that nicotine, although not totally risk free, is not directly responsible for fatal lung and heart diseases.

The US FDA, in a recently published Strategic Policy Roadmap, said “it is the other chemical compounds in tobacco, and in the smoke created by setting tobacco on fire, that directly and primarily cause the illness and death – not the nicotine.

As FDA moves forward with its comprehensive new approach, the agency must also take a fresh look

at products that can delivery satisfying levels of nicotine to adults who want access to it without burning tobacco.”

Vaping or the use of e-cigarettes is increasingly getting popular in the Philippines. E-cigarettes deliver nicotine through liquid heated in a device that releases vapor or aerosol.

Unlike smoking, there is no burning of tobacco and no smoke released.

“By following the evidence and adopting this new policy direction, the US FDA joins the growing number of governments that are adopting the use of less harmful nicotine products, particularly e-cigarettes,

as part of their national tobacco control program,” said Tom Pinlac, president of The Vapers Philippines.

“Kudos to the US FDA for keeping an open mind and objectively considering the scientific evidence showing e-cigarettes are a less harmful alternative to tobacco and a viable smoking cessation tool,” said Edward Gatchalian, president of the Philippine E-liquids Manufacturers Association and HS Liquids Inc. Gatchalian said “nicotine is the addictive chemical in cigarettes that makes people hooked to smoking, but it is the toxic gases in cigarette tar that kills smokers.

The detailed engineering design of five more projects including the 55.25-kilometer R.T. Lim-Siocon Road; 40-kilometer Lanao-Pagadian-Ipil-Zamboanga Road and Curuan-Sibuco Road; 34.5-kilometer Siay-Gapol Road; and the 27.76-kilometer GutalacBaliguian Alternative

Manila

Standard

TODAY

Road, was now 80-percent completed.

Bridges in Tawi-Tawi including Malassa-Lupa Pula; Tongsinah-Paniongan; and Nalil-Sikkiat will also be covered by the project.

The project is ADB’s first support for a regional project in the ‘Golden Age of Infrastructure’ under the Duterte administration.

THE Philippine government secured $1.25 billion worth of potential investments from nine letters of intent signed at the sidelines of the Asean-India Summit in New Delhi.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the investment commitments would help lift the Philippine economy and create more jobs.

“These LOIs will translate to about $1.25 billion of investments and 105,500 jobs for Filipinos,” he said Thursday.

He said among these investments was a government -to-government memorandum of understanding between the Philippine Board of Investments and Invest India for direct investment facilitation providing practical investment information to enterprises on both sides, visitor assistance and investments promotions.

The succeeding LOIs are business-to-business led by the potential collaboration of the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines and the National Association of Software Services Companies, India to promote and develop the growth of the IT and business process management industry.

The collaboration will create a joint NASSCOM and IT BPM council to address common challenges in the sector.

Another B2B is a commitment from Adani Green Energy Ltd. to expand operations in the Philippines’ renewable energy sector.

Interglobe Air Transport, a general sales agent in India, plans to represent the Philippine Airlines and promote tourism in the Philippines

NOTICE OF SALE OF OFFICE FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT OF VENTECH PHILS. INC.

Notice is hereby given that in accordance to Section 13.3 (D) of the Contract of Lease with Insular Life Assurance Co. Ltd., the personal properties of VENTECH PHILS., INC. located at 23/F Tower 1, Insular Life Corporate Centre, Insular Drive, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City will be placed in public bidding. All interested bidders may call Lester or Carol at 582-1818 local 2331, Monday-Friday, 7:00 am – 4:00 pm, or email mljacinto@insular.com.ph for the walkthrough, registration procedures and requirements.

Schedules of Walkthrough: • Jan. 31,2018 - Feb. 2, 2018 • Feb. 7, 2018 - Feb. 9, 2018 • Feb. 13, 2018 - Feb. 15, 2018 Sealed bids will be accepted on or before February 23, 2018, Friday until 4:00 pm.

OFFICE FURNITURE, FIXTURE & EQUIPMENT (1 lot): Minimum Bid Price is P2,581,000.00 Arm Sofa Digital Biometric Machine Phone Receiver Visitor Chairs Executive/Staff Arm Chair Mobile Pedestals Desktop Computers & peripherals Printers (Brother, Kyocera) Corkboards Wooden Shelves/Cabinets Paper Shredder (Dahle) Office Tables Binder Machine (DSB) Paper Cutter Push Cart Executive Table MagazineTable Personal Refrigerator

Mobile Pedestals Stand/Floor/Tower Fan Lateral Cabinets Papertrays Electronic Typewriter (Brother) Foldable Table Partition Whiteboard Fire Extinquishers UPS-APC LED Monitors Storage Rack Trash Bin Central Processing Unit (Acer) Scanner Safety Vault Refrigerator Contoured Folding Chairs File Cabinets

Laptop (Lenovo, Aces, Toshiba) Wifi Extender Computer Server Server Cabinet Locker Cabinet Conference Table with Chairs Conference Telephone Video Conferencing System HDD/DVD Player TV Stand Projector Screen Coffeemaker Ethernet Desktop Switch Photocopying Machine PABX System AVR Video Splitter Working Table Wide Format Printers (Kyocera) Mobile Compactor (Moem, mechanical type, 6 bays) (MS-JAN. 26, FEB. 2 & 9, 2018)

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Business

FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Robinsons pegs rights offering price at P18.20

By Jenniffer B. Austria ROBINSONS Land Corp. of industrialist John Gokongwei has pegged the final price for planned stock rights offering at P18.20 apiece, a 16-percent discount from the stock’s weighted average price over the past 45 trading days.

The final price is at the low end of the P18 to P20 per share indicative range set by the company and 12.5 percent lower than the stock’s closing price of P20.80 on Wednesday.

Robinsons Land president and chief operating officer Frederick Go said in a letter to the Philippine Stock Exchange eligible shareholders as of January 31, 2018 would be entitled to subscribe to one common share for every

3.7217 stocks held.

Robinsons Land is offering 1.1 billion common shares to raise as much as P20 billion to finance land banking activities.

The property firm company identified properties in Pasig City, Pampanga, other areas in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao for potential acquisition in all its business segments.

Robinsons Land is looking to acquire a 22-hectare lot in Pasig City worth P12 billion and plans to purchase a 177-hectare land in Pampanga worth P2.25 billion.

Robinsons Land said acquisitions in the two lots began in the last quarter of 2017 and that negotiations were ongoing to buy other parcels.

Stock market rallies near 9,000 points; Jollibee up

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HE stock market advanced Thursday, nearly touching the 9,000-point market again, as investors shrugged off the weak dollar and a more belligerent US trade policy.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index climbed 78.94 points, or 0.9 percent, to an all-time high of 8,999.17 on a value turnover of P8.9 billion. Gainers beat losers, 116 to 105, with 41 issues unchanged.

Casino operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp. jumped 8.1 percent to P12.82, while Jollibee

Foods Corp., the biggest fastfood chain, rose 3.9 percent to P293.

Robinsons Land Corp. of industrialist John Gokongwei gained 3.9 percent to P21.60, while Now Corp., controlled by the Velarde family, surged 5.5 percent to P5.60. Now has expressed interest to bid for the third telecommunica-

tions slot to challenge the duopoly PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc. “Definitely, we will participate. That’s for sure,” Kristian Pura, head of business development of Now, told reporters Wednesday at the sidelines of the preliminary conference and consultation for selecting a new major telecommunications player.

The dollar, meanwhile, took another beating on Thursday after two of Donald Trump’s top cabinet members talked down the currency and hinted at

a more belligerent trade policy.

The sell-off in the greenback especially hit exporters on Japan’s Nikkei index, which tumbled for a second straight day, although dollar-priced oil and gold extended gains.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 ended 1.1 percent lower, having fallen 0.8 percent Wednesday from a 26-year high.

Hong Kong fell almost one percent, with profittaking adding to the selling pressure after the Hang Seng Index chalked up a

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.5 282,000 59.7 7,650 117.9 2,311,500 3.8 392,000 157 2,732,620 1.93 430,000 36.8 251,900 9.8 100 15.4 10,800 30.35 1,531,900 9.22 1,200 0.65 81,000 1,000 10 0.56 327,000 103.7 2,281,580 1.15 4,671,000 13.7 21,800 57.4 19,680 241 13,330 104.2 220 89 430 55.5 79,270 251.8 731,920 89 27,710 1.23 73,000

948,360 453,168 272,604,107 1,490,700 429,197,420 833,520 9,270,420 980 167,350 46,663,395 11,064 52,790 10,000 183,200 233,857,307 5,397,780 296,542 1,129,140.50 3,214,652 22,924 38,281 4,366,532.50 183,999,312 2,466,648 89,790

270,335 -33,580,559 -73,543,959 1,584,375 3,100 -2,601,640 6,834,513 34,500 -27,000 278,369.50 -2,355,660 506,552 -10,485,550 -1,191,741 -

41.3 10.8 0.61 1.3 17 0.216 112.1 4.68 16.1 54 18.58 64.9 58 1.89 5.61 10.72 12.16 15 12.86 8.57 5.57 1.67 15.9 62.5 31 10.62 17.9 1.85 282 54.65 4.07 3.24 20.85 28.3 18 20 332.8 0.202 8.88 2.78 5.1 9.15 6.3 8.22 1.72 12.1 64 605 4.72 3.85 1.53 14.98 5.4 0.131 1.13 168.6 2.9 2.01 25.8 0.82

INDUSTRIAL 41.4 1,459,000 11.2 1,162,400 0.62 592,000 1.31 154,000 17.24 7,900 0.22 4,490,000 125 210 4.7 3,933,000 16.12 1,378,700 54 749,240 19 9,200 64.9 70 58 2,190 1.89 308,000 5.61 100 10.9 15,000 12.3 1,056,300 15 683,400 12.9 900,400 8.64 1,326,600 5.6 3,497,400 1.67 3,000 15.98 1,425,900 62.6 54,010 31.15 307,600 10.78 361,400 18.14 2,383,200 1.87 1,539,000 293 491,640 54.65 11,520 4.19 139,000 3.25 22,000 20.85 100 28.5 1,362,900 18 443,300 20.6 6,577,600 337.6 241,300 0.202 10,000 9.33 15,700 2.85 4,293,000 5.11 268,300 9.2 2,899,800 6.45 258,100 8.22 95,000 1.74 1,176,000 13 1,957,600 65 240,630 619.5 147,490 4.79 77,000 3.85 6,000 1.54 3,683,000 14.98 1,969,600 5.4 207,100 0.131 3,170,000 1.16 118,000 169.7 1,130,180 2.96 491,000 2.03 9,289,000 25.8 100 0.82 98,000

60,432,800 12,849,524 363,010 201,340 135,602 982,190 25,220 18,485,930 22,254,346 41,204,336.50 174,380 4,543 128,450 582,800 561 162,410 12,989,518 10,271,906 11,630,710 11,473,336 19,581,859 5,010 22,754,000 3,382,604.50 9,638,380 3,888,338 43,181,828 2,896,740 143,135,990 629,568 570,840 71,590 2,085 38,870,990 7,981,322 133,660,465 80,879,890 2,020 146,058 12,222,770 1,395,360 26,626,605 1,647,716 786,850 2,066,930 24,873,780 15,645,303.50 91,132,095 367,640 23,100 5,726,430 29,792,852 1,123,362 416,300 135,640 191,591,989 1,447,350 19,102,500 2,580 80,360

8,723,170 -2,868,190 -35,960 5,289,820 20,022,912 -557,192.50 1,946,070 2,252,036 -1,553,270 2,698,652 12,681,098 -1,833,698 1,167,839.50 -314,500 -141,540 -26,011,918 71,577,904 -4,731,635 22,722,120 12,388,868 5,596,690 6,471,375 34,861.00 -1,204,442 1,851,422.50 -17,443,510 287,260 -3,497,470 5,563,704 6,415,290 1,297,180 2,244,020 -

0.295 75.3 15.76 0.95 6.9 0.43 0.47 1,030 1,450 7.47 14.54 7.5 4.62 0.186 1,338 7.49 76.5 5.58 5.81 5.96 0.67 5.56 22.4 0.31 6.65 0.039 1.3 2.5 2.52 138.1 2.54 1,061 1.6 180.1 277 0.235 0.18 0.195

HOLDING FIRMS 0.3 490,000 78.5 1,170,850 15.8 21,383,200 0.99 78,000 7.05 31,900 0.43 17,920,000 0.48 14,890,000 1,034 342,525 1,450 5 7.49 3,613,900 14.66 4,110,000 7.6 209,100 4.62 32,000 0.186 50,000 1,344 218,130 7.5 6,800 79 1,588,780 5.59 700 5.81 100 5.96 800 0.68 584,000 5.64 176,600 23.8 5,637,900 0.31 60,000 6.7 14,224,500 0.041 36,100,000 1.36 1,172,000 2.57 5,594,000 2.52 5,000 141 713,080 2.6 22,000 1,100 254,320 1.62 760,000 180.1 40 282 9,000 0.235 110,000 0.18 930,000 0.195 780,000

147,800 89,765,498.50 338,461,944 74,260 221,259 7,993,850 7,254,800 354,307,045 7,250 27,108,512 60,300,092 1,578,187 147,840 9,500 293,395,470 50,973 123,473,438 3,907 581 4,768 393,880 988,687 133,048,395 19,900 94,933,149 1,445,900 1,616,320 14,688,410 12,600 100,602,398 56,660 276,735,330 1,226,410 7,204 2,509,858 25,850 168,130 156,710

44,983,637 -57,428,430 -619,900 -230,777,570 7,250 378,318 4,311,284 -34,650,245 -8,774,667 715,701 72,950 -7,447,408 56,000 8,899,822 30,246,755 -1,500,730 -2,060

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

3.38 58.6 118.1 3.81 157.9 1.94 37 9.8 15.4 30.75 9.22 0.66 1,000 0.58 102 1.18 13.5 57.65 238.6 104.2 89.1 54.4 252 89 1.23

3.57 59.8 118.4 3.82 158 2.02 37 9.8 15.5 30.75 9.22 0.66 1,000 0.58 103.8 1.2 13.7 57.9 243 104.2 89.1 55.85 252 89.7 1.23

3.28 58.5 117.5 3.8 156.5 1.93 36.65 9.8 15.4 30.35 9.22 0.65 1,000 0.55 101 1.14 13.42 56.8 238.4 104.2 89 54.4 250.8 89 1.23

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

41.75 10.8 0.61 1.3 17.56 0.217 112.1 4.76 16.1 56.6 18.58 64.9 58.4 1.9 5.61 10.72 12.16 15.12 12.88 8.6 5.57 1.67 15.9 62.9 31.6 10.64 18.18 1.9 282 54.65 4.08 3.25 20.85 28.7 18 20 332.8 0.202 9.48 2.96 5.2 9.2 6.6 8.3 1.72 12.1 65.2 606 4.72 3.85 1.61 15.32 5.47 0.132 1.14 169.5 2.9 2.04 25.8 0.82

41.75 11.2 0.62 1.32 17.66 0.223 125 4.76 16.18 56.7 19 64.9 60 1.91 5.61 10.9 12.36 15.18 13.16 8.7 5.65 1.67 16.08 62.9 32.2 10.8 18.18 1.94 293 54.65 4.19 3.26 20.85 28.7 18.08 20.6 337.6 0.202 9.48 2.96 5.34 9.2 6.6 8.3 1.81 13 65.25 620 4.79 3.85 1.61 15.56 5.48 0.132 1.17 170.5 2.96 2.07 25.8 0.82

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

0.305 75.3 15.98 0.95 6.98 0.45 0.48 1,035 1,450 7.5 14.54 7.6 4.62 0.2 1,338 7.5 79.2 5.58 5.81 5.96 0.68 5.56 22.5 0.335 6.65 0.041 1.41 2.68 2.52 138.9 2.54 1,071 1.64 180.1 283.8 0.235 0.181 0.206

0.305 78.5 15.98 0.99 7.05 0.46 0.51 1,040 1,450 7.55 14.84 7.6 4.62 0.2 1,355 7.5 79.2 5.59 5.81 5.96 0.69 5.64 24.25 0.34 6.7 0.041 1.5 2.73 2.52 143.8 2.6 1,100 1.64 180.1 283.8 0.235 0.182 0.214

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

6.28 0.99 12.86 2.23 0.92 46.25 3.83 4.87 5.84 5.84 0.47 1.12 1.11 0.237 0.445 40.4 0.63 0.145 1.86 1.38 0.74 5.04 0.31 0.35 0.55

6.33 1.01 16.5 2.23 0.93 47.3 3.87 4.9 5.84 5.86 0.485 1.13 1.13 0.237 0.47 40.4 0.75 0.145 1.88 1.38 0.77 5.13 0.32 0.35 0.55

6.18 0.98 12.8 2.16 0.9 46.25 3.83 4.82 5.75 5.84 0.47 1.12 1.1 0.232 0.445 39.5 0.63 0.145 1.84 1.35 0.74 5.04 0.305 0.345 0.52

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

PRIMEX CORP PTFC REDEV CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

5.34 40 20.8 2.03 3.21 38.9 1.03 29.25 0.82 5.9

5.34 59.9 21.8 2.06 3.24 39.15 1.04 29.25 0.9 6

4.98 37.05 20.75 2 3.2 38.4 1.03 18.06 0.82 5.82

5.04 42 21.6 2.05 3.23 38.5 1.04 18.5 0.86 5.88

2,170,700 85,300 14,564,200 698,000 53,000 10,428,500 213,000 3,619,400 1,526,000 6,663,700

11,013,800 4,490,330 309,829,040 1,409,110 170,500 402,063,410 221,510 82,385,319 1,342,990 39,215,821

277,763 -62,621,120 -64,300 -127,970,715 182,850 -24,443,483

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

23.05 33.65 1.38 0.435 0.047 11.58 11.9 0.07 100.4 9.14 8.79 8.12 2.7 52 980 1,745 5.93 63.95 4.5 3.1 110.1 12.6 8.32 0.143 1.45 3.19 15.74 4.06 1.12 24.1 5.15 9.14 3.7 5.84 10.66 10.5 2.8 9.49 116 7.39 1,507 1.27 0.355 53.95 97.2 5.7 3.4 1.57 3.19 4.11 0.98 9.52

23.45 33.7 1.38 0.45 0.049 11.8 12.86 0.07 100.6 9.14 9.01 8.35 2.86 52.95 980 1,750 5.95 75 4.55 3.35 113.5 13 8.32 0.144 1.48 3.43 15.74 4.06 1.15 24.1 5.15 9.17 3.71 6.1 10.66 10.6 2.8 9.49 117 7.41 1,509 1.27 0.355 55 100.9 5.79 3.4 1.57 3.28 4.15 0.98 9.92

21.8 33.6 1.35 0.435 0.047 11.58 11.9 0.069 99.7 8.99 8.76 8.01 2.68 42 980 1,730 5.92 50 4.33 2.91 109.5 12 8.32 0.14 1.41 3.16 15.2 3.97 1.12 23.2 4.71 8.9 3.64 5.55 10.58 10.5 2.76 9.49 113 6.84 1,502 1.26 0.355 53.9 97.2 5.6 3.28 1.53 3.11 4.07 0.95 9.52

SERVICES 21.8 33.7 1.37 0.45 0.048 11.8 12.82 0.07 100 9 9 8.1 2.71 44.1 980 1,735 5.92 75 4.46 3.1 113.5 13 8.32 0.14 1.42 3.31 15.2 4.03 1.13 23.2 4.88 9.12 3.69 5.6 10.6 10.6 2.76 9.49 113 7 1,508 1.26 0.355 53.95 100 5.79 3.31 1.54 3.16 4.12 0.96 9.79

468,700 32,700 392,000 630,000 39,600,000 2,000 46,042,700 8,410,000 796,000 9,200 3,456,100 450,400 312,000 633,550 1,070 32,200 585,100 1,212,950 3,205,000 363,000 798,170 5,700 8,400 3,800,000 935,000 184,000 6,500 922,000 277,000 2,823,300 1,149,300 6,040,100 843,000 88,354,800 53,000 5,800 26,000 300 8,690 3,089,900 83,305 1,126,000 150,000 2,572,130 367,840 116,400 1,406,000 1,316,000 2,093,000 369,000 8,765,000 14,449,700

10,476,145 1,100,170 532,960 278,800 1,901,000 23,248 579,180,148 580,310 79,670,508.50 82,786 30,893,968 3,652,664 858,350 29,341,340.50 1,048,600 55,817,940 3,466,979 83,361,322.50 14,144,130 1,147,290 89,422,133 70,152 69,888 539,400 1,332,860 614,080 99,972 3,705,740 313,210 66,345,095 5,576,032 54,865,917 3,091,650 516,392,211 562,300 61,370 72,580 2,847 1,001,931 21,627,113 125,560,030 1,420,310 53,250 139,061,573 36,590,461.50 667,430 4,695,570 2,032,040 6,665,360 1,513,470 8,409,730 141,333,059

112,010 221,881,720 69,000 -14,079,964.50 45,000 32,520 620,240 -2,621,920 -939,825 228,290.00 -23,076,154 -3,328 30,800 -844,555 1,008,779 833,500 2,472,503 2,780 -293,306 -859,338 64,805,525 129,780 8,332,416 -10,862,736 -279,310 586,210 894,580 -8,300 -287,030 37,673,528

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

0.0022 1.52 4.91 1.69 1.71 1.6 0.325 7.25 2.49 0.198 0.153 0.157 0.0095 0.0095 1.67 6.28 1.44 0.94 0.012 0.012 0.012 2.35 6.85 8.91 38.15

0.0023 1.59 5 1.75 1.71 1.61 0.33 7.26 2.67 0.198 0.155 0.159 0.0096 0.0095 1.72 6.82 1.45 0.98 0.012 0.012 0.012 2.35 7.16 9.78 39

0.0022 1.52 4.91 1.68 1.71 1.58 0.325 7.22 2.49 0.196 0.153 0.157 0.0095 0.0095 1.67 6.23 1.38 0.92 0.012 0.012 0.011 2.25 6.85 8.77 38.15

MINING & OIL 0.0023 368,000,000 1.59 5,996,000 5 577,000 1.7 84,000 1.71 97,000 1.6 2,068,000 0.33 180,000 7.26 19,700 2.66 4,833,000 0.197 510,000 0.154 7,630,000 0.158 230,000 0.0096 9,000,000 0.0095 1,000,000 1.69 224,000 6.64 13,393,800 1.43 131,000 0.96 364,000 0.012 100,000 0.012 6,100,000 0.012 168,200,000 2.25 78,000 7.13 2,050,400 9.6 10,278,600 38.7 1,248,600

827,600 9,317,300 2,884,660 141,770 165,870 3,295,780 58,900 142,522 12,629,510 100,140 1,172,630 36,150 86,100 9,500 378,040 88,844,962 184,130 347,540 1,200 73,200 2,007,300 179,300 14,532,052 96,523,110 48,383,405

-317,000 -204,990 47,400 21,054 162,260 42,809,629 -2,880 5,500 618,061 891,374 -5,431,870

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 DD PREF GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF PCOR PREF 2A PCOR PREF 2B PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A SFI PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

33.2 528 104.5 527.5 5.67 1,015 101.2 1.05 1,065 1,160 1,005 103.1 2 76.75 81 75.8 79 76.3 76.7 77.85

33.2 528 104.5 527.5 5.68 1,020 101.7 1.05 1,065 1,170 1,009 103.1 2.01 76.75 81 75.8 79.95 76.3 76.7 77.85

33.2 528 104.5 523 5.65 1,015 101.2 1.05 1,065 1,098 1,005 103.1 2 76 81 75.8 79 76.05 76.7 77.85

PREFERRED 33.2 200 528 120 104.5 20,210 523 330 5.65 512,600 1,020 985 101.7 1,770 1.05 26,000 1,065 5 1,098 285 1,009 12,900 103.1 2,020 2 64,000 76 310 81 44,100 75.8 6,010 79.95 6,700 76.05 1,000 76.7 160 77.85 12,970

6,640 63,360 2,111,945 172,725 2,900,395 1,002,200 179,379 27,300 5,325 318,250 13,006,500 208,262 128,060 23,597.50 3,572,100 455,558 530,250 76,162.50 12,272 1,009,714.50

52,800 -2,808,060 5,325 -1,522,800 -

LR WARRANT

2.39

2.39

2.33

WARRANTS 2.36 375,000

885,650

-

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

8.7 3.55 4.64

8.98 3.78 4.64

8.4 3.45 4.49

8.8 3.7 4.5

20,125,716 388,450 9,358,110

-68,000 3,500 95,450

FIRST METRO ETF

135.5

135.8

135

1,315,788

-

76,447 4,000

-

MS

PROPERTY 6.3 0.98 14.5 2.17 0.91 47 3.86 4.82 5.84 5.86 0.47 1.12 1.13 0.234 0.465 39.7 0.71 0.145 1.85 1.37 0.75 5.08 0.31 0.345 0.55

5,967,200 3,477,000 72,700 264,000 2,452,000 16,623,300 529,000 800,000 16,200 7,800 6,660,000 24,000 837,000 23,510,000 600,000 113,800 19,847,000 30,000 9,715,000 1,447,000 85,000 36,014,300 52,550,000 530,000 13,356,000

37,033,218 3,418,170 1,059,674 571,540 2,216,780 780,415,980 2,041,140 3,866,930 94,529 45,648 3,143,200 26,890 920,960 5,505,030 278,800 4,514,875 13,862,200 4,350 17,993,860 1,971,750 63,270 182,667,611 16,445,900 183,800 7,137,700

-32,784,965 -172,800 219,793,215 1,036,470 171,900 43,216 -199,750 4,500 1,154,920.00 -1,225,460 -2,900 -14,576,500 -34,250 57,638,880 -5,185,300 -

USD DMPL A1 USD TECH B2

10.3 1

10.3 1

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS

SHARES

16,281,075 69,284,395 133,494,526

PROPERTY

237,579,568

SERVICES

251,874,617

MINING & OIL

602,798,907

GRAND TOTAL

1,315,830,349

10.2 1

SME

2,328,500 109,000 2,060,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 135.7 9,710 10.2 1

DDS

7,490 4,000

VALUE 2,265.11 (up) 1.36 1,196,802,096.14 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 12,050.75 (up) 114.4 1,242,289,795.034 HOLDING FIRMS 9,257.77 (up) 121.33 1,939,729,853.3 PROPERTY 4,091.82 (up) 14.56 SERVICES 1,696.34 (up) 20.85 2,027,610,752.03 MINING & OIL 12,283.04 (up) 472.22 2,158,808,466.335 PSEI 8,999.17 (up) 78.94 282,359,999.526 All Shares Index 5,245.25 (up) 39.56 8,878,832,809.86 Gainers: 116; Losers: 105; Unchanged: 41; Total: 262

succession of records since last week.

Shanghai ended down 0.3 percent, while Sydney fell 0.1 percent and Singapore eased 0.9 percent.

Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok also dropped.

However, the strong growth data helped Seoul rise one percent while Taipei, Wellington and Mumbai were also up.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, speaking at the Davos gathering of the political and business elite, said: “Obviously a weaker dollar is good for us, it’s good because it has to do with trade and opportunities.”

His comments sent the US unit, which was already under pressure, tumbling with analysts suggesting it could be a part of the Trump administration’s America First policy to help its own exporters.

They came days after the US announced stinging tariffs on imports of solar panels and large washing machines, angering China and South Korea.

US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross defended those tariffs and warned Washington would be prepared to fight back in future against countries it felt had flouted the rules.

The developments ramped up fears of a global trade standoff and worries about their impact on the world economy, which is finally moving on track a decade after the financial crisis. With AFP

PNOC-EC hiked profit to P1.17b last year

By Alena Mae S. Flores STATE-owned PNOC Exploration Corp. recorded a net income of P1.166 billion in 2017, up 15 percent from P1.017 billion in 2016.

PNOC Exploration in unaudited financial statements reported higher revenues of P4.261 billion in 2017, up 10 percent from P3.872 billion in the previous year.

Gross profit stood at P2.336 billion from P1.9 billion in 2016, while other income was significantly higher at P109.59 million from P19.576 million a year before.

PNOC Exploration president Pete Aquino said other income came from “the operation of the Energy Supply Base in Batangas and foreign exchange gains.”

The ESB is a private commercial port in Mabini, Batangas, which offers pier services, warehousing facilities, cargo handling, equipment rental, manpower services, bunkering and water services.

The company spent P409.7 million in administrative expenses last year, lower than the P422.424 million in 2016.

Profit before tax reached P2.03 billion last year compared with P1.627 billion in 2016.

PNOC Exploration derives the bulk of its income from the Malampaya gas project in northwest Palawan, where it owns a 10-percent stake .

The company also hold several oil and gas and coal service contracts and is looking at overseas prospects in Iran and Russia this year.

World

B3

FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

#MeToo movement tests censors in China

OFFICIAL VISIT. US Secretary of Defense James Mattis reviews an honor guard with Vietnam’s Defense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich during a welcoming ceremony at the Ministry of Defense in Hanoi on January 25, 2018. Mattis is on a two-day official visit to Vietnam. AFP

BEIJING―Former doctoral student Luo Qianqian was “amazed” that her sexual assault story went viral in China, inspiring other women to denounce rampant harassment on campuses and unleashing a #MeToo movement in the country despite censorship challenges.

Before she accused her professor of assaulting her, under the pretense of asking for help watering his plants, #MeToo had been slow to catch on in China.

Activists say efforts to unmask sexual abuse have faced government apathy or even resistance. This time, however, Luo’s New Year’s Day post on the Twitter-like Weibo platform received three million views within hours.

Ten days later, Beijing’s Beihang University stripped computer scientist Chen Xiaowu of his position as vice-director of the graduate school after an investigation established he had sexually

harassed multiple students.

The hashtags “Me too” and “Me too in China” quickly became trending topics on Weibo, with many more people speaking about their assaults.

But while Communist authorities have allowed the movement to emerge, they have done so within limits―as they often do with hot social issues―censoring some content as the topic spread on social media.

Collective action is risky in China, where courts have sentenced signatories of petitions calling for legal reform to years in jail for crimes like “subversion”.

But in a rare show of solidarity among intellectuals, more than 50 professors from over 30 colleges have signed an anti-sexual harassment manifesto.

Amid the uproar, the education ministry said it had a “zero tolerance” policy and will establish a new mechanism to prevent sexual harassment. AFP

‘Last hope’ Syria peace talks set

V

IENNA―The UN will make a fresh push from Thursday to jump-start Syrian peace talks, as violence continues to rage in a seven-year-old war that has killed more than 340,000 people.

The two days in negotiations in Vienna come after eight previous rounds in Geneva, the last one in December, that failed to get the different parties even to talk to each other.

They stumbled over the fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has

taken the upper hand in the conflict since Russia began backing him militarily in 2015.

Representatives from Assad’s government have refused to meet the opposition directly until they drop demands that he leave office.

The UN special envoy, Staffan de Mistura, said on Wednesday that the negotiations in Vienna involving “full delegations” of the opposition and government come at a “very, very critical moment”.

Nasr al-Hariri from the main opposition group, the Syrian Negotiations Commission (SNC), said that the next two days would be “a real test for all the sides”.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said meanwhile in Paris that the talks are the “last hope” for reaching a political solution.

Le Drian also highlighted

a “considerable worsening of the humanitarian situation” in Afrin, as well as in Idlib and in Eastern Ghouta.

In the Afrin enclave in northern Syria, Turkey on Saturday launched an offensive with Syrian rebels to oust the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia.

“Until the last terrorist is neutralized, this operation will continue,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.

Meanwhile Russianbacked Syrian troops have been carrying out an offensive since late 2017 in the northwest region of Idlib, the

Envoy slammed for ‘attack’ on Suu Kyi YANGON―US diplomat Bill Richardson was accused Thursday of a “personal attack” on Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi after an excoriating criticism of the former darling of the global rights community as he resigned from a panel on the Rohingya crisis.

One-time Suu Kyi ally Richardson was one of five foreign members hand picked

by Myanmar’s civilian leader to serve on the committee.

But after a three-day visit to Myanmar, Richardson struck out at his hosts, saying he could not in “good conscience” sit on a panel he feared would only “whitewash” the causes of the Rohingya crisis.

He lambasted Nobel Laureate Suu Kyi for an “absence of moral leadership” over Rakhine and described her “furious response” to his calls to free

two Reuters journalists arrested while covering the crisis.

A Myanmar government spokesman hit back Thursday, accusing the former New Mexico Governor Richardson of over-stepping the mark in his stinging resignation letter.

“He should review himself over his personal attack against our State Counselor,” government spokesman Zaw Htay told AFP. “We understand his emotion about the two Reuters correspondents. However, he needs to understand rather than blaming the Myanmar nation and the State Counselor.”

Zaw Htay said the issue of the arrests was not in Richardson’s mandate and he should not have brought it up at his meeting with Suu Kyi. Myanmar nationals Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo,

27, face a possible 14 years in prison under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly possessing classified documents that they say were given to them by two policemen.

They are waiting to hear whether they will be granted bail in a protracted case that could take months to even get to trial.

It is thought they had been reporting on atrocities committed by security forces in Rakhine.

Troops backed by hard-line Buddhist mobs have torched hundreds of Rohingya villages, forcing nearly 690,000 to flee over the border into overflowing camps in Bangladesh.

They have brought with them consistent testimony of murder, rape and arson in violence the UN and US have condemned as ethnic cleansing. AFP

Queen film opens amid violence threats NEW DELHI―Thousands of police in riot gear guarded cinemas across India on Thursday amid threats of violence

by Hindu hardliners opposed to the release of a movie about a legendary Hindu queen and a Muslim king.

Some schools near Delhi closed after an attack on a school bus while distributors in several states have said they will not show “Padmaavat” because of fears of violence.

The Bollywood epic still opened in nearly 5,000 cinemas across the country early Thursday under heightened security.

Paramilitary forces and police in riot gear manned barriers around cinemas in New Delhi, Mumbai and other main cities.

Radical groups say the film falsely portrays Queen Pad-

mavati. The producers vehemently deny the claim while most historians doubt that Padmavati even existed.

Fanatical groups belonging to India’s Rajput caste, who revere Padmavati, have led protests against the film for nearly a year. They have been supported by other Hindu groups since the film was cleared by the state censor this month.

Dozens of school children ducked inside a bus that was pelted with stones by anti-Padmaavat protesters in Gurgaon, a satellite city of Delhi. Another bus was set on fire.

On Tuesday, several hundred people attacked shops, set alight dozens of motorbikes and damaged more than 150 cars across Gujarat state’s main city Ahmedabad.

Nearly 250 accused have been arrested over the rampage, Gujarat state home minister Pradipsinh Jadeja said late Wednesday.

In Mumbai―the home of India’s Bollywood film industry―police rounded up 50 people affiliated with a hardline Hindu group after protesters set car tires ablaze during a demonstration late Tuesday.

The film drew few spectators at early morning screenings in New Delhi as police erected iron barricades outside theatres that did not display promotional posters to avoid any backlash.

Sanjay Bhargava, manager at a New Delhi cinema, told AFP there was an “atmosphere of fear” due to the threats but he still expected a busy weekend. AFP

last province still fully outside government control.

This has forced tens of thousands of people to flee.

On Sunday the Syrian army said it had captured the vital Abu Duhur military airport.

In Eastern Ghouta, a besieged rebel stronghold outside Damascus, at least 21 people suffered breathing difficulties on Monday, a monitor said, in a suspected chemical weapons attack.

Russian-backed Syrian forces have also dealt severe blows to the Islamic State group, whose self-proclaimed “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria has largely collapsed.

The Vienna talks come ahead of a “Congress of National Dialogue” peace conference in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi backed

by Russia, Iran and Turkey on January 30.

The three key regional players have been sponsoring parallel peace talks since the start of last year that have looked to still the fighting.

Sochi is part of a broader Russian push to start hammering out a path to a political solution to end the war, sparking concerns that the Kremlin is looking to sideline the UN. The focus in Sochi will

be on hammering out a new constitution, according to the opposition, something that the UN’s de Mistura also wants discussed in Vienna.

While Assad’s government has said it will come to Sochi, the SNC has not yet decided, even after a recent visit to Moscow.

Expert Firas Modad from IHS Markit said that progress in Vienna “seems unlikely”, and that Moscow, Tehran and Ankara “are the ones driving the negotiation process”.

“Assad is focused on total victory, with no interest in compromise,” he told AFP. AFP

Parade kicks off Ilocos Norte bicentennial

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

B4

FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

CROWDED BEACH. Tourists swarm the white sands of Boracay on Jan. 18 as sailors offer their colorful boats for a tour around the island, with fees ranging from P2,000 to P8,000 per person. PNA

QC boosts fight vs smoke belching

By Rio N. Araja THE Quezon City government on Thursday said there would be no let-up in its fight against smoke belching vehicles.

Rolando Tomalon, team leader of the Environment Protection and Waste Management Department’s anti-smoke belching unit, said he has been tasked to pursue an intensified campaign against smoke-belching.

In compliance with Ordinance 2350 of 2015, the Quezon City Environmental Protection and Waste Management Code, and Ordinance 1958, the Anti-Smoke Belching Ordinance, the city government has been conducting daily emission tests and awareness campaigns.

“Every person has the right to breathe a clean air. Because of smokebelching, we are being deprived of that. Our roads are no longer safe for all of us because of air pollution. [About] 80 percent of the [air] pollution comes from vehicular gas emission. If we cannot totally wipe out pollution, at least we can be able to lower the level [of pollution],” Tomalon said.

Anti-smoke belching operations are necessary to remind drivers and operators to have their vehicles checked and maintained, he said.

In another development, the 37-member Quezon City council passed Resolution No. 7246 extending financial assistance to victims of Typhoon “Lawin” in the provinces of Apayao, Cagayan, Isabela and Kalinga.

“Lawin” was the strongest typhoon ever to hit Region 2 in October 2016.

THE Bicentennial Edition of Ilocos Norte’s “Tan-ok ni Ilocano Festival of Festivals” will be preceded by a dance parade in Laoag City and San Nicolas today, with an estimated 7,000 participants from both the public and private sectors.

According to Ilocos Norte Tourism Officer Ianree “Aian” B. Raquel, the provincial government has preparations “in full swing” for the 200th founding year celebration.

The Bicentennial will be launched with the “Tan-ok” on Feb. 2, a provincewide dance showdown featuring the native festivals of the different municipalities and cities of the province.

Though largely a lowland and agricultural province, Ilocos Norte is also home to Cordillerans and coastal communities, with a history rich with communal faith and revolution against oppressors. Such stories are told the on “Tan-ok” stage.

“We and the other sectors are hard at work now that we are starting the celebration of the bicentennial year of our province,” Raquel said.

Street dancing will highlight the parade, providing a glimpse of the upcoming “Tan-ok” performances from the 21 towns and two cities of Ilocos Norte.

Manila eyes investors

By Bill Casas

M

ANILA’S Bureau of Permits and License Office said on Thursday that, with the implementation of the shorter and efficient processing of licenses and permits, the city government expects to attract more investors this year.

BPLO chief Lawyer Fortune Mayuga said that, last year, about 60,000 new and old business establishments had applied and given their business licenses and mayor’s permits.

The increase in investments, Mayuga explained was due to the fast and efficient issuance and payments of business taxes.

“Once all the taxes have been paid, licenses and

permits will be released,” said Mayuga.

In the new system, the number of requirements to be submitted is reduced to a minimum of about five documents: fire safety inspection certificate, zoning permit, sanitary permit, garbage fees and other fees.

It was January 2017 when Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada ordered the BPLO to reduce to the minimum the documents for the renewal and new application for business permit for those who wants to do busi-

ness in the city.

Mayuga said that in 2013, Estrada started to reduce the number of documents and papers needed for investors to establish businesses in Manila.

“We don’t need to give prospective investors in Manila a difficult time. That’s why last year I ordered to shorten and expedite the processes for permits and licenses for investors,” Estrada explained.

Because of the new system, in 2015, Manila was recog-

nized by National Competitiveness Council as “the most competitive highly urbanized city” in the country In 2016, more investors put up their businesses in Manila, Mayuga said.

“That’s right, we reduced the documentation needed to be submitted to us, and fixers in city hall have been removed,” the BPLO head said.

The new system reduce the cost and time to apply and get the certificates and permits.

Estrada said that investors

coming to Manila now find it easier to register and operate their businesses in the city.

“We want the investors to be happy. This is also the fulfillment of my promise to transform Manila into a dynamic business hub in Metro Manila,” Estrada said.

Data showed that in 2015, more or less 7,000 new businesses were put up in Manila, and in 2016, the number increased up to 9,165.

Last year, old and new businesses increased up to 60,000.

Zubiri to file Cordillera autonomy bill in Senate

By Dexter A. See

REHAB CENTER. Candelaria, Quezon Mayor Macky Boongaling (fifth from left), flashes his fist beside Federation of Filipino-

Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. director Nelson C. Licup (fourth from left) during the inauguration and turnover of the Drug Rehabilitation Center in Barangay Pahinga Sur. A donation from FFCCCII president Domingo Yap. The rehab center is one of the priorities of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Also in photo are (from right) Barangay Capt. Estilito A. Sulit, engineer Reyanato S. Atienza, Henry Licup, Edward Sy, FFCCCII director Enrique Chua, Carlos Licup and FFCCCII’s Regie Tantuco. Benjie A. Antioquia

SENATOR Juan Miguel Zubiri assured Cordillera autonomy advocates that he will personally file the Senate counterpart bill of House Bill 5343, which seeks to establish the Autonomous Region in the Cordillera, to allow its simultaneous deliberation with the Palace version of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Zubiri discussed this with regional media via speakerphone with Presidential Adviser on the Peace process Jesus G. Dureza during Wednesday’s 1st Congressional Forum on Cordillera Autonomy spearheaded by the Cordillera Regional Development Council, in partnership with the Cotabatobased Institute of Autonomy

and Governance and the Congressional Policy and Budget Reform Department.

The senator admitted that various autonomy advocates from the region had visited him previously regarding the matter.

Zubiri said he will eventually file the counterpart autonomy bill in the Senate once he gets a copy of the similar bill filed by all the Cordillera lawmakers.

Aside from awaiting the certification from President Rodrigo R. Duterte that the Cordillera bill is one of his priority legislative measures, Dureza asserted that autonomy advocates from the region must sustain the strong lobby in both chambers of Congress to have the bill discussed in the committee level.

MTRCB, SM Cares stage special movie screening for blind, deaf students SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna―The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board joined forces with SM Cares and San Pablo City to hold an audience-empowering event―a special movie screening for blind and deaf students.

The special movie screening took place at Premiere Cinema, SM City San Pablo last Jan. 23, attended by more than 350 participants, mostly students from the the Pagibig at Pagasa and Arc Angel Intervention School. The blind and

hearing-impaired children and special kids were treated to an exclusive cinema experience.

The participants, many of whom were accompanied by family members and teachers, enjoyed the animated film “Frozen,” which was present-

ed with both closed captioning and audio descriptive features.

Key visual elements were supported by detailed audio narration, while sound was mirrored by text lines of both dialogue and scene description.

MTRCB chairperson Toto Villareal emphasized that through the special event, the second in three years, “our blind and hearing-impaired brothers and sisters are given equal opportunity and access to media content.”

The initiative, he added, comes at the right time due to the recent passage of the closed captioning law for television championed by former MTRCB chairperson and now Senator Grace Poe. Roy Tomandao

SNAP gives gifts to 1,500 kids

By Brenda Jocson RAMON, Isabela―Some 1,500 children recently benefitted from the annual gift-giving drive by SN Aboitiz Power Group in its host communities in Benguet, Isabela and Ifugao provinces.

Joseph Yu, SNAP Group’s president and chief executive officer joined other executives and volunteers in handing out umbrellas and other items to 122 grade school students at Ambuklao Elementary School in Bokod town, Benguet.

About 1,100 students from General Aguinaldo Elementary School here and Santo Domingo Elementa-

ry School in Alfonso Lista, Ifugao also received their share of gifts during a visit led by SNAP assistant vice president and plant manager Willy Ferrer.

The “Tsinelas Project” of SNAP employees, also an annual outreach on its fourth year, distributed slippers to 438 children of Ambatali Elementary School in Ramon town in Isabela.

SNAP Group is a joint venture between SN Power and AboitizPower. It owns and operates the 360-megawatt Magat hydroelectric power plant on the border of Isabela and Ifugao, the 105MW Ambuklao hydropower plant, and the 140-MW Binga hydropower plant in Benguet.

RICE FUND. Senator Cynthia Villar, chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Food, discusses with Mercedita A. Sombilla, Assistant

Secretary for Policy and Planning, National Economic Development Authority, and Diwa C. Guinigundo , deputy governor, Monetary Stability Sector, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the proposal to create the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund during the hearing on bills lifting the quantitative restriction on rice imports. Villar said the tariff collected from the importation of rice will go to the fund and will be spent on programs such as mechanization and better seeds. Lino Santos

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

Culture and media

fRIday, januaRy 26, 2018

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Festival of Architecture and the Arts 'Second Goetheanum' by Rudolf Steiner is on display during Artkitektura's International Exhibition on Living Architecture

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HIS 2018, Artkitektura is holding the Festival of Architecture and the Arts to celebrate holistic approaches to architecture and the built environment. Starting Feb. 3, world leading designers and creative thinkers will engage the public and share ideas on design process, heritage, urban renewal, and life enhancing architecture.

The 2018 theme of Movement and Flow in the Built Environment will be explored through exhibitions, talks, workshops, artistic presentations, and study tours.

One of the highlights of this year’s Artkitektura is the International Exhibition on Living Architecture, opening on Feb. 3 at 5 p.m. at the Vargas Museum, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Commissioned by Iona Foundation based in the Netherlands, this rare exhibition tours the Eng-

lish-speaking world for the first time with the Philippines as its first Asian destination.

Curated by Pieter van der Ree, the exhibition is intended to raise awareness of the relationship between architecture and the natural, social and cultural life of which it is part and to stimulate the creation of buildings that support these life-processes.

This raises an important question: How can we create

Arkitektura features a Living Architecture exhibit curated by Pieter van der Ree

buildings that truly serve our physical and spiritual needs, enhance our lives and are in accordance with nature?

Artkitektura lecture series and workshops will be on Feb. 3 and 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The lectures will be held at the Aretè, Ateneo de Manila’s newest building dedicated to the arts and innovation, while the workshops will be at the UP Vargas Museum.

The Feb. 3 speakers and workshop leaders include world leading environmental engineer Patrick Bellew who led the design team of the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore; award-winning Australian architect Gregory Burgess, notable for his organically designed buildings and participatory approach; and Filipino architect Jason Buensalido, whose experimental designs seek to contemporize the bahay kubo.

On Feb. 4, the lectures will be led by Richard Coleman, a British architect specializing in heritage and townscape design; Colombian bamboo and timber engineer Luis Lopez; and Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte.

Different passes are available for the Festival. Regular Festival Passes, which cost P5,500 and P2,500 for students, and get you access to lectures and the exhibit, a festival kit, and workshops. A Regular Lecture Pass is valid for only one-day and costs P2,500 and P1,500 for students, which gives you access to all activities during that day. All workshops are on a first-come, first-served basis. Both Festival and Lecture Passes are available only over-the-counter. You have to present an ID to purchase.

The Partner Pass is available only to members of United Architects of the Philippines (UAP). For P4,500, you get a festival kit and access to lectures, the exhibit, and workshops that come at a first-come, first-served basis. Make sure to present your PRC ID upon purchase and at the venue.

For more information about the lectures and workshops, go to www.artkitekturafestival.com

'Sagrada Familia' by Antoni Gaudí (Barcelona, Spain, 1883 to present)

Winter Wonderland Dochula Pass, Bhutan by Patrick Uy

Mt. Everest Base Camp 1 by Carina Dayondon (top) and icefjords, Greenland by Jorge Buenaventura

A COLLECTION of winter landscapes from Bhutan, Japan, China, Norway, Greenland, Iceland, and Russia by Filipino travelers who dare venture to parts unknown have been collated and now known as Winter Wonderland.

The vivid landscapes are presented using one of the new technology printing on aluminum plates using Chromaluxe.

The photographers are composed of CCP members and other photo enthusiast testing the physical boundaries of images and technology, like the rare red crowned black neck cranes in a love dance in Hokkaido, Japan; snow monkeys bathing in an onsen in Nagano, Japan; icefjord in Greenland; the mountain

landscapes of the Swiss mountains of Interlaken; and the Himalayan range - Mt Everest base camp 1.

Photographs are meant to be printed and appreciated and shared.

Proceeds are ear marked for the Chosen Children Village and Project Seven Summits.

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 Isah V. Red, Editor • Nickie Wang, Writer

Kim, Gerald save child from Jake and Coleen in ILAI finale T

HE troubles in Bianca (Kim Chiu) and Gabriel’s (Gerald Anderson) lives are far from over as their newborn child is abducted by Carlos (Jake Cuenca) and Isabel (Coleen Garcia) in an act of revenge in the final week of Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin.

Carlos is set to face the consequences after getting exposed for his transactions with the syndicate that tried to kill Gabriel, and his involvement in the death of Bianca’s mother Maila (Bing Loyzaga).

But, even if he had been found guilty of committing the crimes and sentenced to lifetime imprisonment, he remains vindictive and connives with his wife Isabel to kidnap Bianca and Gabriel’s child. In exchange for the kid’s safety, Bianca and Gabriel must return everything that Carlos believes he rightfully owns.

Bianca and Gabriel, however, will fight together to rescue their precious child.

Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin has consistently led in national TV ratings with 18.9% last Monday, against The Lolas’ Beautiful Show with only 6.3 percent (data from Kantar Media).

The show also received thousands of praises from netizens, leading the list of trending topics on Twitter.

Today, the popular daytime pre-lunchtime soap ends it runs with an explosive finale.

Don’t miss the finale of the series that shows how people fight for their love and their dreams on ABS-CBN and ABSCBN HD (Sky Cable ch 167). *** John Lloyd Cruz’s work in Lav Diaz’s revenge drama Ang Babaeng Humayo continues to wow audiences overseas.

Recently, the actor won a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the 15th International Cinephile Society.

The film is also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay

John Lloyd Cruz gets an acting nod at the 15th International Cinephile Society awards for his performance in Lav Diaz’s ‘Ang Babaeng Humayo.’

‘Ikaw Lang Ang Iibigin’ cast members (from left) Jake Cuenca, Gerald Anderson, Kim Chiu, and Coleen Garcia prepare for an explosive ending of the top-rating drama.

and Best Film (not in the English language) iat the same awardgiving body.

These nominations came almost two years after the film won the top prize at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival in 2016.

John Lloyd, in the film, plays the role of Hollanda a transvestite whom Horacia eventually takes under her wing.

The actor is in the same league with American actors Willem Dafoe known for his role in Spiderman, Armie Hammer who recently starred in The Long Ranger, and Michael Stuhlbarg (from the series Boardwalk Empire, and Dunkirk Irish actor Barry Keoghan and BPM French actor Arnaud Valois.

The winners of the 15th ICS Awards will be announced on Feb. 4. ** *

‘Sarap Diva’ host Regine Velasquez welcomes Gladys Reyes (third from left) and her kids in today’s episode of the cooking talk show.

It’s going to be a fun Saturday morning in Sarap Diva (GMA Network) as Team Sommereux crashes the Diva’s house.

Gladys Reyes (Sommereux) with her kids Kristoff, Grant and Aquisha makes cooking their family bonding time with la Diva.

Also, Mommy Gladys and theSongbird will share mommy tips with the audience, like allowances of the kids, budgeting for the house and financial management, puberty among others.

The show will also have art and baking lessons for the kids.

All these only in your Saturday companion, Sarap Diva after t h e

long-running drama anthology Maynila on the Kapuso network. *** Also on the Kapuso network, Stories for the Soul, the inspirational anthology tackles a story about forgiveness entitled “Kasama Mo Ang D i yos” on Sunday.

Starring Benjamin Alves, the narrative is inspired by the early years of Joseph The Dreamer who at a young age was subjected to a number of painful events in life, brought about by his family.

In the story, Benjamin is Erick who suffered maltreatment from his family when he was young.

Because of some circumstances, he is found by a doctor who eventually adopts him. Time went by and Erick is now known as Dr. Luis Dela Merced.

He then meets his dad’s family who is now bankrupt and is in a miserable situation as one of his half siblings is now suffering from a kidney disease.

With what he has experienced with them years ago, will Erick be able attend to his profession to save a life and muster the heart to forgive his family?

Presented by Sen. Manny Pacquiao, find out what happens in Stories for the Soul this Sunday 11:30 p.m., after Bossing and Ai. *** Spend this Valentines Season with love and the smooth sound of Grammy Award winner Peabo Bryson as he returns to Manila to headline Love Rocks!

For one night only, fans can catch Peabo Bryson, “The King of Balladeers,” live in concert, Feb. 13, 8 p.m. at Resorts World Manila, New-

port Performing Arts Theater.

International recording artist J Michaels also returns to NPAT as co-headliner and host of the ongoing Love Rocks! concert series. Former Miss Saigon Jenine Desiderio will complete this fantastic lineup as special guest artist, all backed by the J Michaels Band under the direction of Maestro Danny Favis. The theme for the evening will also include a tribute to the music of Burt Bacharach, with each artist performing his favorite Bacharach tunes.

Peabo Bryson has established a career as one of the premier male vocalists in contemporary music of the last quarter century. Possessing a beautifully rich, almost operatic voice, this two-time Grammy® Awardwinner has survived and prospered despite the passage of time

dous crossover success, Peabo has transitioned into a world of international acclaim. Peabo Bryson is, at his intimate best, a legendary vocalist offering a timeless mix of pop and soul as only he can. Bryson has amassed a loyal fan base, critical acclaim and an avalanche of awards by being one of the “truly best friends” a song could ever have.

As lead Vocalist and Host of Love Rocks!, Manila-born J Michaels is an international recording artist and longtime showman who effortlessly shows incredible versatility in musical styles accompanied by some of the most talented musicians and backup singers. J Michaels has shared the stage with legendary rocks artists like Ambrosia, John Ford Coley, Dan Hill, Jimi Jamison, Terry Sylvester of the Hollies, Yvonne Elliman,

American R&B and soul singer-songwriter Peabo Bryson is going to serenade his local fans in a pre-Valentine concert at Resorts World Manila.

and changes in popular musical trends. With twenty albums to his credit, Peabo Bryson has enjoyed an unprecedented acrossthe-board level of international success. He has the distinction of being the first artist in music history to have separate records topping four different charts.

Bryson was among the premier silky-voiced soul artists who emerged as the softer, more sophisticated urban contemporary sound became dominant in the ‘70s and’80s. He made hit duets with Natalie Cole, Roberta Flack, Melissa Manchester, and Lea Salonga. Bryson enjoyed more success with “If Ever You’re in My Arms Again,” “Can You Stop the Rain;” “Through the Fire” and “Unconditional Love.”

He won his first Grammy® Award in 1992 for his performance of the song “Beauty and the Beast” with Céline Dion. His second Grammy was awarded the following year for “A Whole New World” (Aladdin’s Theme) with Regina Belle, being the only Disney song to make it to the Billboard top 100, and topping it at no.1. With his tremen-

Gary Puckett, Stephen Bishop and more. His online music videos, filmed on location in various countries, have quickly gained popularity with over two million new views in 2017, earning him fans worldwide, including many in Philippines.

Love Rocks! is a trademarked concept show that has had great international acclaim and success. Each show is hosted by J Michaels and features one or more Multi-Platinum and Grammy® headline artists. The J Michaels Band has served as backup band for the Love Rocks! concert series pairing world-class concert and touring musicians with incredible guest headliners. 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of Love Rocks! concerts, fans can look forward to multiple shows an more great artists in the coming months.

This Love Rocks! Concert is presented in cooperation with Grand Leisure Corporation and Events by WEG Inc. Tickets are available now at all TicketWorld outlets, Resorts World Manila Box Office, and online at www.ticketworld. com.ph

Motoring

FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018

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Driver-less in Dubailand S

ELF-DRIVING vehicles will soon be spotted in Sustainable City in Dubai as the United Arab Emirates pushes through with its ambitious bid to convert 25 percent of public transport services to driverless means by 2030.

Authorities said these self-driving vehicles will be tested next month in Sustainable City in Dubailand.

The Dh1.2 billion Sustainable City development in Dubailand features 500 villas and town houses, and has already implemented sustainable elements such as solar panels, LED lighting and green appliances to reduce the level of energy consumption.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the Sustainable City Project have signed an agreement for self-driverless vehicles to operate on Al Qudra Road from February 2018.

Abdullah Yousef Al Ali, chief executive officer of RTA licensing agency and deputy chairman of Autonomous

Vehicles Committee, said they are still studying the location for operating the autonomous vehicle in the Sustainable City project in Dubai Land, Al Qudra Road, so the needed infrastructure would be developed.

The Dubai government is planning to transform 25% of its public transport means into driverless modes by 2030.

“The integrated efforts of public and private sectors, and the exchange of experiences in support of sustainable development that conserves the environment will serve the joint interests of making Dubai the best destination for living and business,” said Faris Saeed, chief executive officer of Diamond Developers.

Sustainable City in Dubai tries hand at self-driving vehicles.

FASTLANE Aston Martin Track Day a first for PH enthusiasts

Racing technology for the road WITH years of research and technology derived from Motor Racing, KYB’s SR Special is a premium direct replacement shock absorber that’s designed with greater durability ensuring the quality, structural reliability and safety of a genuine KYB shock absorber. With years of experience in manufacturing shock absorbers, KYB engineers obtained the most optimal damping characteristics through constant research and development, plus

actual suspension tuning. This allows the New SR Special to enhance the basic performance of any car. Most especially in everyday driving situations we normally encounter such as, accelerating, turning and stopping.

More importantly, using the New SR Special will not only make your car perform better, but safer as well. Gen Leong, the Marketing Manager, of Massiveparts Inc. “The KYB NEW SR is for those who would like

to upgrade their daily drive. This works well with those who like to do long distance driving (like a sports car) on weekends and yet able to drive around in traffic and uneven roads comfortably on a daily basis. The New SR Special offers a comfortable ride, stability, better handling and cornering plus reduced braking distance.”

The New SR Special was developed based on motorsports technologies based on inputs from popular Japanese D1 drift

and Super GT racecar driver Nobutero Taniguchi aka “NOB” or ‘No One Better’ to test the New SR Sports. I recommend the New SR for drivers who like a comfortable ride in town who ride with family or want to improve performance without sacrificing comfort,” says Taniguchi. “ We have fitments for most sedans, compact cars , SUV’s and tuned cars from brands such as Subaru, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Honda, Ford and Suzuki,” adds Leong.

TRUE to the ethos of delivering unrivalled quality service and expertise, Aston Martin Manila organized the inaugural Aston Martin Track Day for the Aston Martin Owners Club – Manila (AMOC-Manila) members at the Clark International Speedway.

The quintessential luxury sports car brand treated the guests to a unique blend of performance and dynamism for a memorable driving experience. The Rapide S, Vanquish, and the existing Vantage line-up from the British luxury car maker turned up the heat and delivered the most visceral yet engaging sports car experience on the track.

Co-hosted by multi-award winning race driver and avid Aston Martin car enthusiast JP Tuason, guests experienced the vehicle dynamism in braking and acceleration on a timed slalom course that was concluded with a “Follow the Leader” activity.

“AMOC-Manila is here to ‘promote the sport and pastime of motoring, develop interest in the Aston Martin brand’ and to encourage social engagement among owners,” shared Bryan Ang, AMOC-Manila President. arc Tagle, Aston Martin Manila Chairman and President said: “We are committed to supportall the needs of our Aston Martin clients to give them a complete ownership experience and pride ourselves in providing a firstclass service in Sales, Aftersales, and Ownership experience.”

All Aston Martin owners are invited to become members of the club. Future club activities include scenic long-drives to experience and enjoy the cars’ dynamic potential, a whisky appreciation night to nurture camaraderie among members, and other lifestyle activities that will pave the way for a deeper connection to the revered Aston Martin brand.

Eco-friendly transport: PUV upgrade gets a boost THE Filipino’s dream to have an eco-friendly transport is still alive.

The PUV Modernization Program of the Department of Transportation mandates that the modern PUV must have either a brand new Euro 4 compliant diesel engine or an electric motor. It must therefore have less of the toxic exhaust fumes or none at all.

Preparatory to this, the InterAgency Council for Traffic (IACT) composed of the DOTr, PNP Highway Patrol Group, Metro Manila Development Authority, Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board are now busy taking out non-roadworthy jeepneys off the road. In its Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok campaign, about 80% of the jeepneys tested failed either due to excessive exhaust fumes, tires with no more tread at all, lights that are not functioning, poor brakes, rusted and poorly painted bodies and unsafe electrical wirings.

Rommel Juan, president of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines says that EVAP is working closely with the DOTr to provide the electric vehicle solution component of the program.

“We are now waiting for the release of the Route Rationalization Plan of the DOTR which will become the basis for implementing its Omnibus Franchising Guidelines. This is so that we can

determine where electric vehicles, particularly EJeepneys, will be applicable for deployment”.

“Electric vehicles are perfect for those last-mile trips” he says.

“After commuters hop on the train or the bus to get out of the city and head back home, EJeepneys are the perfect vehicles to transport them to the last mile to get them nearer to home. In residential areas where a quiet environment is a must, electric vehicles are the perfect mode of transport”.

“Under the PUV Modernization Program, the DOTr plans to upgrade some 200,000 old jeepneys which are more than 15 years old with the modern PUV. It will also determine what type of vehicles will ply on particular roads and how many of them will be granted franchises to operate.

In the process, there may even be new routes in the cities or provinces that will be identified”.

Juan reveals that EVAP members are now gearing up for the impending increase in the demand for EJeepneys in the next three to five years. “The EV industry has been with us for about eight years now and there are already proofs of concept for electric jeepneys and tricycles that have been and are still operational. These are in the Alabang area particularly the Filinvest 360 loop, the Muntinlupa LGU and in certain universities and resorts with large premises.

But now, it is time to roll out EV applications nationwide”.

EVAP is now in full support of the DOTr in its PUV Modernization Program, developing and exhibiting two EJeepney protototypes at the Eco PUV Showcase during the PhilApex 2017 Show last October where 16 modern PUV prototypes were presented to the public for the first time. Public response was positive even to the more modern look of the Jeepneys that veered away from the iconic look of the Jeepneys of old. It has side doors instead of rear doors, no hood and a higher

ceiling height that allows for standing passengers. Emergency exits are mandated and some units will even have provisions for PWD passengers. It has also been designed to be airconditioned. The modern PUV even has a either a brand new Euro 4 compliant diesel engine or an electric motor, brand new parts and components from bumper to bumper and an automated fare collection system, CCTV, GPS, wifi and speed limiter to boot!

All these are in consideration of the environment and of the safety and convenience of the riding public.

Lift up your business with Bishamon lifters CONSIDERED as the backbone of automotive repair and maintenance centers, car lift systems are a crucial element for efficiency and fast after sales service of any car dealer or repair shop. With reliability and dependability as the key element to sustain profitability, investing in the right equipment can make or break a company.

For decades, Bishamon automotive lift systems have been the standard and the preferred brand of lift systems in both the international and domestic auto industry. Bishamon lifters dominates 75 percent of the Japan automotive services industry and has been ISO 14001 certified since 2003. It is Japan’s most trusted brand due to its safety and build quality and is the only “made in Japan” car lift system in the country today.

For decades, car dealers such as Toyota, Mitsubishi, Honda, Isuzu and Mazda dealers have been using Bishamon lifters

due to its reliability. “It carries a lifetime warranty, plus the availability of parts and after sales service means a lot to our business. We have been using Bishamon lifters for the past 37 years and it needed servicing once only in 2011. All you do is take care of the grease for the moving parts and the lifters just keeps on going without any hassle,” explains Jason Dipasupil of Baguio City, owner of a popular car shop. Bishamon quality has been tested to still work despite being subjected to natural calamities such as floods, earthquakes and even zero maintenance.

Founded in 1949 by Yasuo Sugiura of Sugiyasu Iron Works, Bishamon Lifters is Japan’s number one car lift system and is a globally recognized brand for its reliability and build quality. Bishamon is exclusively distributed by Emicor Incorporated since 1980 and is the choice of car dealers nationwide.

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor DINO DIRECTO III Asst. Editor

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018

Motoring

PIAA at the forefront of lighting technology Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III

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UNMA, Japan-As you open your headlamps at night, have you ever wondered about the research and technology that goes into that LED bulb?

This writer got to answer that question during a guided tour at PIAA’s Studio, as a side trip to the Tokyo Auto Salon. It was a special privilege because not everyone is allowed access to this hallowed ground for lighting technology.

With PIAA Ph officials led by Edbert Tiu, Eddie Beh of PIAA Malaysia and Masashi Otsuka, Assistant Manager, Global Business Development of PIAA Corporation, I was fortunate to have been accorded the honor of visiting PIAA’s research and development facility in Fujioka-Shi, Gunma, about two hours drive from the Tokyo train station. Gunma is one of Japan’s central prefectures and our group took the Kan-etsu Freeway direct to Fujioka-Shi. Prior to our plant visit, our gracious hosts took us to one of Gunma’s popular Udon shops for lunch, to stock up on energy because it was going to be a walking tour.

With the scenic countryside of Gunma as backdrop, we were at PIAA’s R&D Studio in ten minutes. I was taken aback by the

simplicity of the facility, because we were expecting the typical factory with large gates, a security gate and walls all around. There was none of that and it was in fact open, without any security except for the CCTV cameras. We were greeted at the door by the head of the PIAA Studio and were led into the showroom. Here, the RP contingent got the chance to see the early designs of PIAA’s array of products like wipers, bulbs, fog lamps and some merchandise from Nakajima Racing. It was a walk through time, in seeing the first fog lamp up the present LED bars.

From there, we were ushered into the studio’s development facility where the fog lamps and wipers are subjected to stringent testing for hours on end until its

PIAA lighting systems are tested in this oven, which replicates an environment of extreme heat and humidity.

SHANGHAI—The Ford Ranger pick-up truck achieved all-time record sales across Asia Pacific in 2017 – cementing its place as a leader in the region’s highly competitive mid-size pickup truck segment – with retail sales increasing 22 percent from the prior year to 134,100 vehicles.

“The toughness, capability, smart technologies, design, fuelefficiency and comfort of Ranger allow it to continue setting the industry benchmark in the region, and globally, for mid-size pickup trucks,” said Mark Ovenden, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford Asia Pacific.

The milestone year was driven by record full-year Ranger sales in Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Ranger also finished 2017 as the best-selling pick-up truck in Vietnam, Taiwan, Cambodia, Myanmar and New Caledonia, and was the top selling vehicle overall in New Zealand for the third consecutive year.

In the Philippines, Ranger remained the country’s second bestselling pick-up truck.

“The Ranger is so integral to our business in the Philippines and across the ASEAN region,” said Yukontorn ‘Vickie’ Wisadkosin, president, Ford ASEAN. “The versatility and durability of

Masashi Otsuka, Assistant Manager for Global Business Development of PIAA, demonstrates how to adjust the “cutline” of a PIAA headlamp system

breaking point. High technology and specific test machines were spread strategically around the area, and one can see LED bulbs, fog lamps and wipers being subjected to weather, salt and endurance testing. “Every product has to go through this facility before actual production. Here is where we iron put the kinks and problems of the products,” explains Otsuka. “PIAA lenses are computer designed for optimum performance to withstand the rigors of off road racing and normal highway hazards. PIAA’s lamps feature a specially designed housing making it possible for the lamps to operate using higher wattage bulbs without sacrificing bulb life,” says Otsuka.

After a 30 minute presentation of the testing area, our group went up to the studio’s lighting test room, where the bulbs, fog

lamps “cutline” and brightness are tested. “This is our darkroom, and here is where we adjust the cutline of the headlamps, or the amount of brightness and direction where the light emanating from the lamps are tested,” adds Otsuka. He also revealed that race teams such as NISMO, TOM’s, STi, Ralliart go to this darkroom to adjust their lamps prior to actual racing at the track. “There are different modes/ levels of lighting required by each team, like it is different for the Super GT cars and different for the WRC cars,” he adds. PIAA is currently working on laser light technology, which they say is the future of automotive lighting.

Research and Development is at the heart of what PIAA does, and we take it very seriously. PIAA’s R&D technicians continually raise the bar on visibility products.

The PIAA Studio is where it all

begins the company. PIAA Corporation designs, manufactures, and distributes automotive products.

The company offers head lights, fog lights, daytime lamps, and lamps; and wipers, oil filters, radiator caps, and horns. It provides its products for automotive, pow-

PIAA is the preferred lighting system of OEM and race teams such as Toyota Gazoo.

Ford Ranger chalks up record sales in Asia Pacific

this segment-defining pickup continues to attract a wide range of loyal Ford Ranger customers.”

2017: Year of the Ranger Thailand led Ford’s Ranger sales in Asia Pacific with sales rising 44.5 percent to a record 44,452 vehicles, helping drive its segment share up 3.0 percentage points to 12.2 percent.

In Australia, sales increased

by almost 16 percent to a record 42,728 vehicles, continuing its position as the best-selling 4x4 vehicle in the country.

Ranger led Vietnam’s pickup segment for the fourth consecutive year – taking 56 percent of the segment – with sales rising 6 percent to a record 14,926 vehicles.

In the Philippines, Ranger captured more than 25 percent of the

segment to remain the second best-selling pick-up truck, as sales increased 31 percent to a record 10,658 vehicles. The Ranger’s exceptional year was capped by its best-ever month in December with sales increasing 87 percent year-over-year to 1,433 vehicles.

In New Zealand, Ranger was the country’s best-selling vehicle overall for the third consecutive

ersports, and motorsports applications. The company was founded in 1963 and is based in Tokyo, Japan with branches in Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka. PIAA Corporation operates as a subsidiary of Ichikoh Industries Ltd.

year, capturing 26 percent of the segment on sales that rose 11 percent to 9,428 vehicles.

In Taiwan, Ranger maintained its leadership in the pick-up truck segment with sales rising 44 percent to 1,263 vehicles, as customers are increasingly looking for a highly versatile pickup to handle both work and recreational purposes.

Ford Ranger also maintained

segment leadership in various emerging markets, ending the year as the best-selling pickup in Cambodia, Myanmar and New Caledonia.

The Next Chapter of Ranger in Asia Pacific A pioneer in the evolution of trucks, Ford reached a historic milestone in 2017 when it celebrated 100 years of making trucks. When first introduced, Ford trucks helped farmers, soldiers and construction workers get things done. Over the years, they have evolved into exceptionally versatile vehicles that appeal to a wide range of work and lifestyles the world over.

Two actions will add to the ongoing evolution and excitement of the Ranger in the Asia Pacific region in 2018.

This year, Ford will introduce the Ranger to China, the fourth largest truck market in the world.

China represents a tremendous growth opportunity for Ford as it enters the market to meet the growing demand for tough, stylish and refined pickup trucks.

Ford also confirmed that the first-ever Ranger ‘Raptor’—its new performance truck—will be launched across Asia Pacific markets this year. Inspired by extreme desert racing trucks, the Ranger Raptor will offer consumers an unparalleled off-roading experience.