Manila Standard - 2017 November 25 - Saturday

MUTUAL SALUTATION. President Rodrigo Duterte gets a gracious gesture from former President Joseph Estrada (left above), now mayor, which was immediately reciprocated (right above) before the two began their meeting Thursday at the official riverside office of the incumbent chief of state. No details of the meeting were disclosed by the Palace.

Malacañang Photo

VOL. XXXI • NO. 281 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Aguirre links Singson, Abad to P8.7-b fraud

By Rey E. Requejo

TWO secretaries of former President Benigno Simeon Aquino III and a close friend face investigation for involvement in the alleged P8.7-billion road right-ofway claims anomaly in General Santos City, an official said Friday.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said former Budget secretary Florencio Abad and former Public Works secretary Rogelio Singson will be investigated for possible criminal liability for their alleged role in the anomalous acquisition of “ghost” road right-ofway for government projects involving billions of pesos in public funds.

Citing the testimony of a witness who is now under the custody of the Department of Justice, Aguirre said it was Singson and Abad who approved the payment of the fake RROW claims.

“Based on their signatures in the documents submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation and on Next page

Insider named poll chief, ex-SolGen to ERC post

Aquino probed over DAP mess

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Justice department has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate former President Benigno Aquino III and two other former officials, in connection with the alleged misuse of discretionary funds, particularly the multibillion-peso Disbursement Acceleration Program during his term.

Duterte: I’ll quit if drug war derails ABAS

By John Paolo Bencito missioner Christian Robert PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday has named an insider from the Commission on Elections as the new head of the poll body.

Commissioner Sheriff Abas replaces former Comelec chairman Andres Bautista, who resigned after his estranged wife publicly accused him of amassing illgotten wealth.

Abas’ appointment papers were signed Nov. 22 and he will serve the remainder of Bautista’s term until Feb. 2, 2022.

After Bautista left, Com-

Lim was named the agency’s acting chairman.

Abas is a nephew of Moro Islamic Liberation Front chief negotiator Mahagher Iqbal. He is a law professor, and previously worked as acting assistant regional director of the Civil Service Commission in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao until his appointment to the Comelec in 2015.

The new Comelec chairman finished his undergraduate degree in philosophy at Notre Dame University, Next page

rio Relampagos, including the disbursement of DAP funds to senators and members of the House of Representatives.

“The NBI, through Director Dante A. Gierran, is hereby directed and granted authority to investigate the complaint filed by Coalition for Investigation and Prosecution represented

by Greco Belgica, et. al. against former President Benigno Aquino III et. al. for malversation,”Aguirre said.

The DoJ also directed Gierran to form a special task force to investigate the complaint and submit

periodic reports to Justice Undersecretary Antonio T. Kho Jr. In September, Belgica’s group submitted to the Justice Department evidence allegedly showing misuse of the DAP funds.

The DAP, the brainchild of Abad, sought to speed up government spending, but the Supreme Court ruled parts of the program unconstitutional.

Belgica wants an investigation on the alleged discrepancy of P2.6 billion from the

By John Paolo Bencito and Francisco Tuyay

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said he would consider resigning if he fails to control the spread of illegal drugs despite a bloody campaign to do just that.

“If I cannot control drugs, then maybe it is time for me to think about resignation,” Duterte told members of the First Scout Ranger Regiment at Camp Tecson in San Miguel, Bulacan.

“If I can’t hack this, I will leave,” he said in Filipino.

Duterte, 71 in many of his speeches, said he entertained thoughts of leaving the presidency. Next page

A FIFTH round of talks with communist rebels was supposed to start quietly today, Nov. 25 in Oslo, Norway, but the meetings were scrubbed following President Rodrigo Duterte’s abrupt decision to

permanently terminate negotiations immediately.

On Thursday night, Malacanang announced that the President has already signed Proclamation No. 360 to formally terminate peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the PhilippinesNational Democratic Front of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New Peoples’Army.

Sources confirmed to Manila Standard that there were already “substantial” discussions between several reciprocal working committees in the past few weeks—working on drafts expected to be agreed upon leading to the fifth round of talks in Norway, including the long-awaited Comprehensive Agreement on Social and

Roa Duterte met with the families of the victims in Malacañang, where he assured them that justice will be delivered under his watch,” Roque said.

Meanwhile, now 18 years old, the son of a journalist who was killed with 31 other media workers and 27 more people in the massacre eight years ago on Thursday asked the soldiers to use the martial law in Mindanao to arrest the twitter.com/ MlaStandard

remaining suspects who are still at large.

At the commemoration rites on Thursday at the site of the massacre on Nov. 23, 2009, Mark Jhoy Duhay, son of the late Jhoy Duhay of the Mindanao Gold Star daily, pleaded for justice and asked the soldiers and policemen joining the commemoration rites to use the opportunity offered by martial law to bring about justice for all the victims of the bloodbath. Next page facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

Economic Reforms—touted by the communist rebels as the “root” of their armed struggle in the country.

Other matters to be discussed in future rounds of talks were the release of all political prisoners and even a “coordinated unilateral ceasefire” between state forces and the NPA. Next page

Politics stalls govt’s family plan efforts

Du30 vows justice for 58 massacre victims PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to deliver justice for the victims of the Maguindanao massacre and their families, Malacañang said Friday.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte had a “cordial, candid and impassioned” meeting in Malacañang Thursday night with the relatives of some of the victims.

“President Rodrigo

DAP spending, and pursue cases of malversation of public funds with aggravating circumstances against Aquino, Abad and Relampagos.

The documents also showed that P6.5 billion from the P144 billion in DAP funds of the previous administration was allocated to various local projects that were not itemized in the budget.

Belgica said the evidence they gathered were a result of years of investigation as part of their advocacy against pork barrel in government.

‘Coalition govt’with Reds led to termination of peace talks

By John Paolo Bencito DEVANADERA

Aquino is already facing graft and usurpation of authority charges at the Sandiganbayan for his role in the January 2015 Mamasapano massacre in which 44 police Special Action Force commandos were killed.

In a department order released Friday, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II directed the NBI to investigate the complaint filed by Coalition for Investigation and Prosecution led by Greco Belgica against Aquino, former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and former DBM undersecretary Ma-

CONTRACEPTIVE PLATE. This photo, taken Oct. 10, 2017, shows a mother (left) filling up

forms as a medical worker looks at a contraceptive user’s guide at a clinic run by the non-government organization Likhaan in Manila’s slum district. The Philippines, a largely Catholic nation of 106-million people, has one of the fastest growing populations in the world. AFP

‘Unwarranted’charges on water services bucked

TACLOBAN Union of Barangay Officials and Alliance of Water Concessionaires are warning residents of Tacloban City against groundless charges with the entry of Manila Water in their area: manilastandard.net

being charged with rates in Metro Manila.

The warning was issued Friday after Manila Water took over Leyte Metropolitan Water District.

Metro Manila Water-

works and Sewerage System had underlined the past expenses and expenditures of Manila Water for operations done outside their concession areas in Metro Manila.

Next page

AT AGE 33 and raising six children in a slum named “Paradise Village,” Myrna Albos is Exhibit A for the Philippines’ serial family planning failures.

The plumber’s wife already had four children by the time a family planning law was passed in December 2012, but she had two more after opponents blocked it and the government health center near her shanty ran out of birth control pills.

“I don’t want any more [children]. Sending all of them to school is an effort.

One more and I may no longer have time for myself,” the former department store clerk told AFP. Albos and her family live on her husband’s $10-a-day wage in a dirt-floor home in Paradise Village, tucked Next page

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

A2

News

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

P90b eyed for new Marawi

By John Paolo Bencito

A

T LEAST P90 billion will be needed to rebuild Marawi City after it was ruined by the nearly five-month siege of Islamic State-inspired terrorists, its mayor Majul Usman Gandamra said Friday. Gandamra said the amount needed to rebuild a “better” Marawi was based on the government’s “consolidated master plan” that was completed several weeks ago.

Aguirre... tas Dumlao and Nelson Ti. Our witness further revealed that Mr. Nelson Ti, the financier of the group, is a close relative of Domingo Lee, Philippine Envoy to China, and is supposedly close to former President Benigno Aquino III,” Aguirre said.

“I was also informed that for the syndicate to accomplish these apparently criminal acts, several public officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways, Bureau of Internal Revenue, the City Assessor’s Office of General Santos, the Registry of Deeds, the Commission on Audit and the Regional Trial Courts have been identified by the said witness as having participated in the processing, approval and eventual release of payments to cover these dubious claims.”

Aguirre said that, based on the initial reports submitted by the NBI, the criminal syndicate purportedly submitted fake titles in the name of non-existent people to allow them to claim from the DPWH just compensation from the expropriation of land which would be supposedly occupied by government projects.”

Du30...

From A1

“To our brave soldiers, since martial law is still active, can we use that power to capture the remaining at-large suspects who killed our love ones,” Duhay said.

While Duterte said the right of the accused to be heard as “sacred,” he also “expressed optimism” that the case would lead to a verdict favorable to the victims Roque said Duterte instructed Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, who is also chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security and Task Force executive director, Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, and the state prosecutors handling the case “to see to it that a convic-

compensate doon ho sa nangyari sa Marawi City.”

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had earlier said the Budget Department had allocated “about P5 billion” as initial funding to rebuild Marawi.

The P10 billion would be allocated next year to restore the city, he said.

But Gandamra said an initial proposal of at least P30 billion

was being considered for the start of Marawi’s rehabilitation in the first quarter of 2018.

The amount would not only be used to rehabilitate structures and restore economic operations in the city but also to launch “peace-building” efforts, Gandamra said.

“Because as a result of this siege, almost 100 percent of our economic operation totally collapsed,” he said.

‘Coalition...

From A1

From A1

the statement of our witness, some high-ranking officials of the previous administration may have potential liabilities like former DPWH secretary Rogelio Singson who apparently approved and requested the release of payment of fake RROW claims,” Aguirre told reporters.

He said Singson and Abad “may face potential criminal liability” for the scam that had defrauded the government of at least P8.7 billion, covering more than 300 folders, based on the testimony of a witness “who is personally involved” in the syndicate.

He said it was Abad who apparently approved the release of payment for the illegal RROW claims as requested by Singson.

Aguirre said a witness came forward and gave the names of those allegedly involved: Wilma Mamburam, Col. Chino Mamburan, Merceditas Dumlao and Nelson Ti, who is the group’s financier and a close friend of former President Aquino.

“Some of the persons named by our witness as being involved is a Wilma Mamburam, Col. Chino Mamburan, Mercedi-

“Kung meron po akong authority na magbigay ay initially meron ho tayong an amount of P90 billion,” Gandamra told reporters.

“Kung aayusin po natin ang Marawi City ay hindi po natin―hindi lang ho ibabalik natin sa dati. But of course, we will make it better than it was before. ‘Yun po ang ating gusto. And of course, no amount of money that can

tion would be handed down to the principal accused the soonest time possible.”

Thursday marked the 8th anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre that left 58 people dead, including media workers.

Duterte, according to Roque, also instructed Special Assistant to the President, Secretary Christopher Go, to arrange employment, scholarships and financial assistance for the families.

“In return, the families expressed their profound gratitude to the President, who responded by saying that he is just fulfilling his duty as president to meet the ends of justice,” Roque said.

Insider...

From A1

Cotabato City, in 1999. He obtained his law degree from the Ateneo de Davao University in 2004.

Also on Nov. 22, Duterte named former solicitor general and Justice secretary Agnes Devanadera as the new chairperson of the Energy Regulatory Commission.

Devanadera, who first served under the Arroyo administration, will serve the remainder of the term of Jose Vicente Salazar, who was dismissed on corruption charges. The term expires in July 2022.

Devanadera served as solicitor general during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. She also served as Arroyo’s acting Justice secretary when then Justice secretary Raul Gonzalez was on medical leave.

ERC officer-in-charge Alfred Non said the commissioners welcomed Devanadera’s appointment and said the industry would benefit from her extensive experience.

Also this week, former presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella appointed as undersecretary at the Department of Foreign Affairs, and will head a new communication office apart from the existing Office of Public Diplomacy.

“Undersecretary Abella will be in charge of strategic communications,” said DFA spokesman Robespierre Bolivar. He added that Abella could begin at any time since his appointment papers have already been issued.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said Abella will be an asset to the DFA, as there is much work to be done in the international community and the Filipino communities around the world. With Sara Susanne D. Fabunan, Vito Barcelo

The Norwegian government, which has facilitated the peace negotiations since the early 2000s, has already prepared in detail the visas, return air tickets, and hotel accommodations for most of the NDF negotiators from Manila who would participate in the next round.

Described by some observers as the “farthest advance” in the often-tumultuous peace negotiations, the fifth round was kept under under wraps to prevent possible spoilers from hobbling the peace talks.

In his speech at Camp Tecson in San Miguel, Bulacan on Friday, Duterte hinted that among his reasons for terminating the talks was the communist rebels’ goal to form a “coalition government”—an idea he himself had floated earlier in his presidency.

“As it was shaping up during our talks, I already noticed the trend of the thought of the other side and when I summed it all, reading from all previous working papers, it would sound like a coalition government,” he said.

“That is why I said in the previous days, I cannot give you what I don’t own and certainly a coalition with the Republic of the Philippines is pure nonsense.”

Duterte, who claimed he was a leftist himself, had sought to end the nearly 50-year communist insurgency led by his former professor, Jose Maria Sison.

Reiterating his threats to tag the entire progressive movement as a “terrorist organization” — he even called on National Democratic Front onsultants who were granted temporary liberty to join peace negotiations, to “surrender.”

“I am ordering those I have released temporarily to surrender or face again punitive actions.

You have to go back to where you belong.”

Sought for comment, Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza declined to “disclose internal matters” but only said that the government peace panel “work as a team with the President as Team Captain.”

He implied that the President is aware that negotiations were taking place in Oslo when he decided to issue Proclamation No. 360.

“We are all in the loop,” he said.

It remains unclear if the administration will continue to recognize all other previosly signed agreements with the left, including the Jasig or the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees, which guarantees the immunity and safety of individuals involved in the peace talks.

In a statement late Thursday night announcing the termination of the peace talks — presidential spokesman Harry Roque said that Duterte had already directed the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and the government peace panel to cancel all future meetings with the communists.

“While we agreed to resume peace talks with the aforementioned group and exerted our best efforts to accelerate the signing and implementation of the final peace agreement, the NDFCPP-NPA has engaged in acts of violence and hostilities,” Roque said.

“We find it unfortunate that their members have failed to show their sincerity and commitment in pursuing genuine and meaningful peaceful negotiations,” he added.

Saying that the President has walked “the extra mile for peace,” Roque insisted that Duterte wanted to leave a legacy of peace under his administration. With Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

‘Unwarranted’...

From A1

Last 2013, MWSS rejected a total of P85.7 million in media and other expenses proposed by Manila Water for their expansion areas outside Metro Manila.

Expenses like these, outside concession areas, are illegal, the two groups said.

In Manila Water’s website, they have ongoing projects outside Metro Manila particularly Laguna, Boracay, Clark, Cebu and Zamboanga.

Manila Water currently provides water and waste water services for the East Zone of Metro Manila, which covers Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Pateros, San Juan, Taguig, Marikina, Manila, Quezon City and Rizal.

TUBO and ALWACON are crying out that this is indeed a clear violation of the concession agreement between Manila Water and MWSS. To charge project costs, project development studies,

DoJ asked for basis in clearing Faeldon THE Senate wants Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre to explain why his department dropped drug charges against former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon and other officials over the 600 kilos of the illegal drug shabu worth P6.4 billion that slipped past the Bureau of Customs last May. However, Aguirre on Friday clarified that he has nothing to do with the findings of the panel of prosecutors that recommended the dropping of charges against Faeldon and his Customs staff.

“As of this stage, the case is still in the preliminary stage and the Office of the Secretary has still nothing to do with the proceedings there. As a matter of fact, I have not yet read the resolution of the National Prosecution Service,” Aguirre said in a text message.

Most senators were dismayed and disappointed, and some were enraged when Aguirre said Faeldon and the other custom officials linked to the smuggling of shabu from Xiamen, China, were cleared of the charges. They also expressed their continued incredulity over how the shipment slipped through the BOC without connivance from its personnel.

“Those charged were only private citizens. How did that happen since the case involved 600 kilos? It is hard to believe that this happened without the cooperation from inside,” said Senate President Aquilino

“Koko” Pimentel III. The DoJ found probable cause to charge several others for importation of dangerous drugs, including Richard Tan, owner of the Valenzuela warehouse where the shabu shipment was found; businessman Kenneth Dong, Manny Li, admitted Customs fixer Mark Ruben Taguba II, EMT Trading owner Eirene Mae Tatad, broker Teejay Marcellana, Chen Min, Jhu Ming Jhun and Chen Rong Huan, and other unidentified individuals known only as John Doe, Jane Doe, and George Doe. Aside from Faeldon, also cleared of the drug charges were Customs intelligence officers Joel Pinawin and Oliver Valiente, lawyers Jeleena Magsuci and Philip Maronilla, and BOC personnel Alexandra Ventura, Randolph Cabansag, Dennis Maniego, Dennis Cabildo, and John Edillor.

The Senate blue ribbon committee, chaired by Senator Richard Gordon, had recommended the filing of charges against Faeldon and other BOC officials.

Pimentel said they will give the Department of Justice the chance to explain, formally or informally, how the situation developed.

“Maybe, I should just talk to Secretary Aguirre for an explanation because he’s also a party-mate. First of all, why was Faeldon not included and many of the other subordinates of Faeldon?” Pimentel said. Macon RamosAraneta and Rey Requejo

‘Tugade doesn’t have to say why Chavez quit’

travel expenses, and other related expenses like media placements and advertising as part of recoverable expenses is a clear violation by Manila Water of their concession agreement with MWSS, the two groups said.

They said: “If Manila Water is doing this to its Metro Manila costumers, what will stop them from doing this to its Tacloban costumers? Why will we be paying more for water so we can pay the bill of their expansion projects in Boracay and Clark or even outside the country?

“Why would the consumers from Tacloban spend for services intended for costumers of other areas?”

The concession agreement with Manila Water requires that its earnings from concession areas should be used only in their respective areas, and stops them from using the said funds in other parts of the country and

elsewhere in the world.

Despite the agreement, Manila Water announced it would be borrowing P650 million to fund its expansion program in Boracay.

They have loaned a total P4 billion to fund their expansion in Boracay and other projects in Laguna, Clark and Cebu, the groups said in their statement.

They added: “This juggling of funds is unfair, unjust and should be acted upon by the national government regulators.

“Furthermore, it should be blocked by the LMWD and most importantly the Local Government Units.

“With this, LMWD should be more careful and thoroughly review its recent dealing with Manila Water, if it is to uphold its mandate and protect its consumers and concessionaires from the abovementioned wrongful effects.”

SENATOR Grace Poe, chairman of the Senate committee on public services, on Friday stressed that Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade cannot be forced to explain the reasons cited by his Undersecretary Cesar Chavez in tendering his resignation from the department on Thursday.

Chavez said he quit his job at the Department of Transportation due to the lack of teamwork, indecisiveness, and lack of support from the DoTr leadership on programs and reforms to rehabilitate the Metro Rail Transit 3 train line.

“We cannot compel Secretary Tugade to clarify matters on the resignation of Usec. Chavez unless it is during a Senate hearing, which we will conduct after priority bills in the Senate are passed this year,” said Poe. On the other hand, the senator said Chavez’s reasons, if true, are worrisome.

“If there is no harmony or clear leadership from the top in the DoTr, how can we expect them to deliver on all their proposed projects, upgrades and development plans?” asked Poe. She said Chavez is instrumental in bringing to light many maintenance issues of the MRT. Compared to other DoTr officials, particularly Tugade, Poe said Chavez reached out to them and patiently explained matters about the MRT maintenance and operations.

“He had a better understanding of the situation. His resignation is truly unfortunate and a loss for the riding public,” said Poe. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Asian bastion with 80 percent of the nation’s 103-million people are Catholic. The power of the Church has helped to ensure that abortion and divorce remain illegal.

The country’s fertility rate slowed to 2.33 births per woman in 2015 from a runaway six in the 1970s, United Nations data show, but it remains an outlier.

The number of Filipinas who die from complications of giving birth also remains high, according to the UN figures.

However, the legislation turned out to be only the start of another long battle.

The law itself did not come into force untilApril 2014, as it was de-

layed by legal challenges.

While the Supreme Court ruled the legislation was constitutional, it defanged the law by removing penalties for officials and workers who refused to provide contraceptives.

It has since been weakened further after some conservative legislators gutted its funding.

“We have not taken off.

We’ve been taxiing for the last five years,” Health Undersecretary Gerardo Bayugo told AFP in an interview, when asked to assess the program.

He said the Supreme Court’s removal of the penalty provisions had rendered the law “basically toothless”, while a

lack of funds meant the government could not buy enough contraceptives.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who took office last year, has followed in his predecessor’s footsteps in trying to get contraceptives to the masses.

His Food and Drug Administration this month ruled that dozens of contraceptives, including implants and pills, were not abortion inducing and thus the government could distribute them for free.

Condoms were not subject to the challenge but only two percent of Filipino men use them, according to the health department. This is partly due to men

not wanting to use them, and their expense. Church-backed groups filed a case with the Supreme Court in 2015 insisting the implants and other contraceptives were abortifacients, and thus unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court then ordered the government not to distribute those contraceptives until the FDA made its own ruling on the issue.

Bayugo said the government had started to deliver 500,000 implants, the vast majority of its stocks, following this month’s FDA ruling. But he said it was not nearly enough to tackle the problem. AFP

on drugs, sidelining the PNP. “I have not yet signed the executive order but I am inclined to call back the police and (make them) join again the drug war,” the President said.

The Palace earlier said the drug problem could worsen if anti-drug operations are not returned to the PNP, which Duterte once tagged as “cor-

rupt to the core.”

Also on Friday, the Palace accused three United Nations human rights rapporteurs of “bullying” the Philippines after they renewed its calls for the Duterte administration to carry out “prompt, impartial investigations” into the high number of killings that had

seen thousands killed since the President took office last year.

In a statement, Palace spokesman Harry Roque decried what he called “negative assumptions” about the country when it asked the government to thoroughly review its current policy in this regard with a view to

stopping further attacks taking place.

“Even as we continue to respect the UN Special Procedures mechanism, we will not allow these biased individuals parading themselves as human rights experts to abuse such a mechanism to bully states by concocting falsehoods,” he said.

With Macon Ramos-Araneta

Politics...

From A1

behind a smelly open sewer in the north of Manila, the nation’s capital where millions live in brutal poverty.

The law was meant to provide free condoms, birth control pills, implants and other family planning methods to couples in poor communities, while protecting mothers from death and other health risks associated with pregnancies.

The law was hailed then as a big victory for the rights of the poor, finally overcoming the powerful Catholic Church and their socially conservative allies in Congress.

The Philippines, a former Spanish colony, is the Church’s

Duterte:...

From A1

In the same speech, Duterte reiterated that he is “inclined” to bring back the Philippine National Police into the campaign against illegal drugs.

Amid a public outcry against the police killing of several minors in anti-drug operations, the President put the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in charge of the war

News

A3

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

NGCP provides P10-m assistance

Court nixes injunction order vs PCSO

By Alena Mae S. Flores NATIONAL Grid Corporation of the Philippines, operator of the country’s power grid, is providing P10-million assistance to recovering drug users through its Bukas na Pintuan Tungo sa Pagbabago (“Open Door Towards Change”) program that will provide skills training and employment opportunities to former users and dependents.

“Everyone deserves a second chance. We believe in the willingness to change and strong potential of former drug users to join or rejoin the workforce,” said NGCP in a statement.

NGCP cited the finding of the National AntiPoverty Commission, based on figures from the Dangerous Drugs Board in 2015, that around 26 percent or one in four of the 2.3-million drug users in the Philippines are unemployed.

“A productive and effective way to wage war on drugs is to provide adequate training and employment opportunities to former drug users, so that they can turn their lives around and provide a better life for themselves and for their families,” it said.

To date, information from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency reveals that there are already 1.2-million drug users who have voluntarily turned themselves in for rehabilitation.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, however, pointed out that former drug dependents still need assistance to obtain decent jobs.

SKETCHES ON THE WALL. Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte views the art exhibit of students from different schools in the former capital during the formal launching Friday of Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week and Children’s Month celebration at the Quezon City Memorial Circle. Manny Palmero

POEA to address reports on illegal recruitment

By Vito Barcelo

T

HE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration will reshuffle its top officials to address persistent reports on illegal recruitment activities and other anomalies at the agency.

Labor Undersecretary Dominador Say said an investigation at the POEA was looking into reports on illegal recruitment by unscrupulous individuals victimizing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), including direct hire workers.

“Last January, senior officials were

Bongbong tells Leni BEIs are listed voters

FORMER Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos told the camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday the Board of Election Inspectors were not expected to be registered voters to the precincts they were serving or had served.

Through his spokesman lawyer Vic Rodriguez, Marcos said all BEIs were only required to be registered voters.

Rodriguez issued the statement after the camp of Robredo, whose victory in the 2016 elections Marcos is contesting, questioned the list of witnesses from Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Basilan submitted by Marcos for a recount of the election results.

Last Tuesday, Robredo’s lawyers claimed some of the proposed names on Marcos’ list were “not registered voters of the precincts” and some were “not even registered voters during the May 2016 National and Local Elections” at all.

Marcos’ lawyers said the argument was “erroneous.”

On Friday, Rodriguez said Robredo was “assuming” that the poll officers they presented on their list were “not qualified.”

“Robredo should present proof that those whom she claims to have served as BEI’s are disqualified instead of just resorting to the spread of fake news and making irresponsible, false statements,” the lawyer said.

DENR cites schools

By Rio N. Araja AS PART of the celebration of the National Environmental Awareness month, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has cited “most sustainable and eco-friendly schools of 2017.”

Metodio Turbella, DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau director, said the search was part of the Philippine initiative in support to the Association Southeast Nations 50th year celebration with the theme “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World.”

The National Environ-

mental Awareness Month this November 2017 with the theme “Kilos Para sa Klima: Building Climate-Resilient Philippines” and EMB will recognize the national winners of the 2017 national search for sustainable and eco-friendly schools in awarding ceremonies set at the SM City North Edsa in Quezon City.

The competition that started in 2009 and currently in its fifth leg as an every two year activity is organized by the EMB, along with the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education and the private sector partners.

reshuffled . But now, this is a more in-depth reshuffling and revamp. We are doing this top to bottom and there will be some officials who will be removed from their posts while they undergo investigation,” Say said.

Officials and employees at the agency who are directly involved in the processing of OFWs’ documents will be temporarily removed while the probe is underway, he added.

All security guards and janitorial staff at the POEA will also be replaced as majority of them were reportedly being used in the anomalous activities, particularly in processing and issuance of Overseas Employment Certificates, a major requirement needed by OFWs for deployment.

DoLE also ordered the installation of

CCTV cameras in all offices and other areas of the POEA, except in comfort rooms.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III earlier suspended the application and processing of OEC to all OFWs, including direct hires, from Nov. 13 until Dec. 1 to give way to the investigation.

Meanwhile, Undersecretary Bernard Olalia, also the OIC of the POEA, clarified the coverage of the suspension of the application and processing of OEC. “Balik-Manggagawa and workers who already have stamped working visas are exempted from the suspension, including workers who are being hired by international organizations, members of diplomatic corps, and members of royal families, as well as seabased OFWs,” Olalia added.

A PASIG City court has denied an injunction order against the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office filed by the Global Mobile Online Corp.

(Global Tech) in connection with its controversial operation of the “Peryahan ng Bayan,” a court document showed.

The PCSO, in a statement, said the order was penned on Oct. 13, 2017

by Nicanor A. Manalo Jr., Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 161.

“All told, the Motion for Issuance of Writ of Injunction is denied for lack of merit and the parties are directed upon receipt of order to arbitrate pursuant to the Special Rules of Court on Alternative Dispute Resolution,” Manalo stated.

“Going into the merits of the instant case, it appears that the court has already issued an order partially granting PCSO’s Motion for Reconsideration and directing the parties to submit the issue for arbitration only after Global Tech’s posting of a surety bond.

With the said directive and posting of the bond, the parties could now proceed to arbitration,” Manalo added.

Asked to comment, PCSO general manager and chairman Alexander Balutan and Jose Jorge Corpuz, respectively, confirmed the court order but did not issue any more details in deference to the next legal moves by both sides.

The charity officials, however, welcomed the court order.

They also confirmed that the agency still has a pending petition before the Court of Appeals.

Erap: MPD deserves high marks for securing Asean Summit

By Bill Casas IF MANILA Mayor Joseph Estrada had his way, the Manila Police District deserves more than an “A” grade in helping secure the recently concluded Asean Summit hosted by the country.

Estrada commended the performance of the city police force, especially with what he called their efficient handling of various protest rallies in the streets of Manila that reports said had caused injuries to at least 28 policemen.

“They deserve more than an ‘A’ for exercising maximum tolerance during those street rallies and protecting the foreign dignitaries who stayed in the City of Manila. Job very well done,” Estrada said amid persistent criticisms from militant groups that police employed excessive force in dispersing the demonstrations.

“At the risk of their lives and limbs, they stood their ground, preventing the protesters from reaching the Asean [Summit] venues. They are indeed the

2 foreign-owned firms told: Regularize workers THE Department of Labor and Employment ordered the management of two Japanese-owned companies in Laguna to regularize the employment status of over 1,000 workers after they were found to be engaged in labor-only contracting activities.

DoLE Regional Director Zenaida Angara-Campita directed the Terumo Philippines Corp. and its three contractors to regularize 1,048 workers because the contractors did not have substantial capital and the employees used the principal’s equipment and tools in performing their outsourced services.

Other findings include the non-compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Standards with the contactors lacking with trained safety personnel.

The principal also does not have the permit to operate heavy equipment, including crane, internal combustion engines, pressure vessel and power piping.

Meanwhile, the Toyo Seat Philippines Corp. and its 14 contractors were ordered to regularize 284 of their workers after being barred from engaging in labor-only contracting and subcontracting activities.

DoLE has also ordered the cancelation of the Certificate of Registrations of seven of its contractors and removed from the rosters of legitimate contractors.

The Terumo Philippines Corp. is a manufacturer of syringe and medical equipment while the Toyo Seat Philippines Corp. is an automotive interior parts related business, both employing thousands of Filipino workers. Vito Barcelo

‘Manila’s Finest’,” Estrada added.

MPD contributed 2,800 policemen to the 60,000-strong Asean Security Task Force, most of whom were assigned to civil disturbance management units and in area security.

MPD director Chief Supt.

Joel Coronel attested to the Manila policemen’s adherence to the maximum tolerance policy along with their counterparts from other units.

“We did our part in managing and controlling the rallies, in securing

the summit venues and maintaining peace and order. Yes, we observed maximum tolerance,” he said in an interview.

Coronel said that aside from the rallies, they also secured hotels in Manila, more particularly those where the foreign delegates were billeted.

“In (sic) the part of Manila’s Finest, we did our share in the National Organizing Committee and the Asean Security Task Force in securing the different delegates who stayed here in the City of Manila, par-

ticularly in the major hotels―Manila Hotel, Manila Diamond Hotel, New World Hotel, Pan Pacific Hotel and Century Park Sheraton Hotel,” the MPD chief said.

As to the violent dispersals of the rallies, Coronel pointed out that “we cannot avoid it.”

“If you noticed, during the last days of the summit, there were a lot of rallies. We cannot avoid it.

There was some shoving between rallyists and the police,” he said.

HUMAN RIGHTS.

Commission on Human Rights chairman Jose Luis Gascon gestures as he answers questions during a human rights summit Friday in Manila.

Gascon, better known by his nickname ‘Chito,’ heads the CHR, an independent government agency that has been at the forefront in criticizing President Rodrigo Duterte and his bloody ‘war on drugs’ that has claimed thousands of lives. AFP

A4

Opinion

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

‘Not bad’

W

HOEVER thought of making Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque take the Metro Rail Transit 3 and Light Rail Transit on Thursday could not have been more unoriginal, uninspired and downright deceitful.

It’s unoriginal because other public figures have pulled the same stunt before, in varying degrees of sincerity and success.

Former Transportation and Communication Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya attempted the same gesture, but he did so with aides protectively around him and during not-so-hectic hours. The result? Railway woes persisted well into the next administration and now he faces graft and plunder charges on allegations of irregularity in the maintenance con-

tract. The letter “P” was attached to his name—“pabaya,” or negligent, and he will never be able to recover from this infamy.

Senator Grace Poe did so, too, and much more quietly. She braved the lines and brought herself to the sea of bodies of commuters. At that time she was preparing to lead a committee hearing on commuters’ woes.

Hardly calling attention to herself, Poe came across as more believable in the role of wanting to put herself in the shoes of the

long-suffering people.

Another lawmaker, Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, also took the train from his southern city to the north, so he could attend sessions at the House of Representatives.

He often posted his pictures on social media, and offered interesting first-hand accounts of what it was like to be caught in a rail mishap while rushing on the way to work.

Now the Palace spokesperson said he would do the same so that he could experience what ordinary commuters felt like, every day, and so he could talk to transport officials about his observations.

What a patently belated move. If transport officials felt they needed a Palace official to convince them that there was a problem, then they

are indeed delusional. Was not the August 2014 derailment near the Taft Avenue station, where several passengers were injured, enough?

Was it not clear there was a problem when queues extended for hundreds of meters during rush hour, when it was too crowded a young woman fell ill, lost her balance and subsequently her arm, or when a coach decoupled from the rest of the train?

Media friends in tow, and reportedly inconveniencing regular passengers who were prevented from boarding the train—however late they might be for their appointments—Roque then issued his verdict: “Not bad.” He also dismissed the problem as only being due to the lack of carriages.

What is important, he said, is

that the President is consciously trying to get to know the sentiments of the people.

We suggest no more similar acts be contemplated in the future.

It looks contrived and artificial, purely for cosmetic purposes. If our officials really want to know how we feel, they would subject themselves to the awful public transport system, not only on days when there are cameras around, but every day, giving ample allowance for travel time so that their actual working hours would not be shortened. Moreover, if they want to do something, they should have started doing so upon assuming office, more than a year ago.

We agree with Roque, though.

The train situation is “not bad.”

It’s very bad.

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

SLEX anomalies

The one and only Christine Herrera POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO SADLY, this one is for my dear friend Christine, the hard-hitting, exposé queen of this paper. I say sadly because Christine, true to character, shocked everybody when she suddenly passed on. Family and friends could not believe the news because we all knew that she was in Thailand with friends for fun and some business. She even posted on Facebook a happy photo of herself in a red silk kimono the night before she suffered a fatal cardiac arrest.

To many, Christine was Mamu, a term of endearment meaning mother. To me, Christine was and is,

a very good friend. It took me days before I could accept that my vivacious, live wire friend has indeed gone ahead of us. We exchanged messages regularly. We discussed all sorts of things from political controversies, personalities, and off-the-record chismis to food, places, and what we call ‘wala lang’ topics.

Her sentences, depending on her mood were always punctuated with ‘hmph’, ‘kainis’, and ‘hihihi!’ She used colorful words. For instance, she would refer to discussion about controversial figures as ‘wakwakan’ sessions. She was so full of life.

In sadness, I reread many of our messages to each other and could not help asking why she went too soon. She was too young and was only turn-

ing 50 years old next January. Now she is gone.

As a journalist, Christine was feisty, fearless, thorough, and uncompromising. As another journalist put it, Christine ate libel suits for breakfast. Her

She was feisty, fearless, thorough, and uncompromising.

pieces were always headline, or at least, front page material. She was a class A journalist who would not compromise her sources.

It will be remembered that she herself became the news in 2015 in relation

with her pieces on the alleged pay-off to legislators for the passage of the then Bangsamoro Bill. Representative Elpidio Barzaga, Jr. was pressuring her to name her sources but she stood her ground.

I met Christine at the House of Representatives many years ago during the advocacy for the passage of the reproductive health bill. I was not yet writing for this paper and Congress was her beat. We hit it off instantly because according to her, “pareho tayong mataray!” The father of the RH law, Albay Representative Edcel Lagman, credits Christine for the initial public attention that the bill enjoyed. Edcel said that of the so many provisions of the bill (and indeed, the bill was long), Christine latched onto the

one saying that the ideal family size is only two children. She called the bill a “two-child policy,” a tag that caught on. Since then, the RH bill attracted attention and was covered more by media. The said provision was deleted from the bill towards the end of the legislative process.

We were always present at the HoR whenever the RH bill was calendared.

During the intense plenary debates, we were joined by hundreds of advocates from poor communities.

Christine was also always there to cover the proceedings. Many times before the plenary would start, she, in her usual “siga” posture would, in a loud voice, say, “Hey, Angsioco! Nasaan ang mga tao nyo? Dapat lagi ninyong punuin ang plenary!” This

would then be followed by her usual giggles.

Christine would always ask me for quotes whenever she wrote about the bill.

After the bill passed and other problems cropped up, she would tease me and say, “Baby mo yan, noh?!

Dapat lang na ituloy mo ang trabaho!”

Our friendship was borne out of the RH bill but extended beyond it. I came to know her family as well and she, mine.

As a person, Christine Herrera, her katarayan aside, was actually a very kind, helpful, and protective person. One time during our usual chika moments, she mentioned something about me targeted by some people in power because of my pieces critical of government.

THE South Luzon Expressway or SLEX is a big disappointment. It’s operated more as a business enterprise rather than as a means of public service and convenience.

This major roadway dates back to 1967 during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos. Back then, land travel to southern Tagalog was through Cavite, or through Antipolo.

Because these routes were inconvenient, President Marcos created the SLEX, which was called the Manila South Diversion Road during those times. The MSDR started at the Nichols area and ended at the Alabang-Zapote Road.

Construction was completed in 1968, and toll collection began in 1970.

The expressway was world-class, toll fees were minimal, and tollway personnel were courteous.

An advertisement of a new memorial park along Sucat Road in Parañaque described the MSDR “a ten-lane superhighway.”

The MSDR was managed first by the Construction and Development Corporation and later by the Philippine National Construction Corporation.

By the end of the Marcos regime in 1986, the MSDR had already expanded as far as Calamba, Laguna. It was eventually renamed the SLEX. Under the administration of President Corazon Aquino, the SLEX fell into disrepair. Many of its segments had potholes and poor lighting. Signages were dilapidated.

When Fidel Ramos was president, management of the SLEX transferred to a foreign corporation through a supplemental tollway operation agreement (STOA) approved

by Ramos himself. An elevated skyway from Nichols to Alabang was also constructed over the SLEX. Toll fees began skyrocketing when the SLEX management went

Turn to A5

Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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

ONLINE

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

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

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

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

Managing Editor Associate Editors City Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

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

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion SLEX...

From A4

to foreigners. Although the expressway was repaired and usable again, the toll fees were very expensive.

Sadly, the toll fees constantly increased through the years. When the Carmona to Santa Rosa segment of the expressway was under construction, traffic was rerouted and motorists drove through muddy, rough roads. Despite the delay and inconvenience the construction caused to motorists, the toll fees were still collected in full.

Everyday, SLEX road personnel create a counterflow at the segment between Sucat and Alabang to accommodate northbound vehicles, especially whenever a powerful politician is expected to head north from Alabang. Naturally, this measure reduces the road space available to the southbound traffic at that segment. Traffic inevitably accumulates on the southbound lane and delays those heading south.

That counterflow is anomalous because motorists who use the southbound lane of the SLEX pay their toll fees in full, which thus entitles them to the full use and enjoyment of the entire width of the southbound lane. Why charge these motorists full toll when they end up squirming in reduced road space?

True, there are motorists on the northbound lane of the SLEX rushing to their respective destinations in the north, but they are not the only ones in a hurry.

Motorists on the southbound lane are likewise rushing to their respective destinations—office work at Alabang, court hearings in Laguna and Batangas, classes in Los Baños, etc. Manifestly, therefore, the special treatment the SLEX management affords to northbound motorists is unwarranted.

Try complaining to any SLEX toll plaza employee about a traffic grievance; she will recite a mantra to the tune of “complain to the management, not to me.” When a complaining motorist is persistent, armed security guards rush to the scene in an obvious attempt at visually intimidating the motorist.

Don’t they know that the SLEX is supposed to be operated for the benefit of the motoring public?

Decades ago, signages on the SLEX were clear and reflectorized. Signs at toll plazas were adequately lit for motorists who use the expressway at night.

Last October, however, many of the signs along the northbound lane of the

The one...

From A4

SLEX are no longer readable at night. Over at the toll plazas at the Asian Hospital and at Nichols, there are no lights to illuminate the signs, thus making nighttime driving confusing at best, and risky at worst.

The approach to the SLEX entrance near the Asian Hospital has missing signages. Motorists not familiar with the area often end up on the wrong side of the expressway.

The electronic collection system of toll fees at the SLEX is supposed to speed up the processing of toll payments. Under this scheme, an electronic sticker affixed to the windshield of a vehicle that is subscribed to the electronic collection system is supposed to be read by a computer at the toll plaza.

After a few seconds, the vehicle is allowed to proceed. An electronic monitor at the toll plaza tells the driver the amount of credit left in the electronic sticker.

Vehicles subscribed to this electronic system must follow certain rules.

If their electronic stickers do not have enough credit for the toll, the driver concerned is penalized with a traffic ticket. The said vehicles must use the electronic lanes designated at the toll plaza. Vehicles which are not subscribed to the electronic system are not allowed to use the electronic lanes. Erring drivers are made to pay a fine.

Lately, the rules on electronic toll payment are breached. Many drivers of vehicles owned by politicians, especially local government officials, who do not like lining up at the cash payment lanes of toll plazas insist on using the electronic lanes even if they do not have any electronic sticker. Instead of penalizing these inconsiderate parties, SLEX personnel accommodate them. This special but anomalous accommodation is unfair for motorists who are compelled to line up at the cash payment lanes, and for the other motorists delayed at the electronic payment lanes because of politicians demanding special treatment at the toll plaza.

Franchises may only be issued by the legislature.

Therefore, a franchise may be amended only through another legislative act. The franchise of the PNCC over the SLEX is a presidential decree which, under the 1973 Constitution, is a valid legislative act. It appears, however, that the transfer of the management of the SLEX from the PNCC to another entity was made through a STOA—a mere executive agreement. That’s another anomaly. that Christine put “buntot pague” in Nikki’s room to ward-off “aswang.”

When I asked about this during her last birthday party, she said, “Aba! Wawakwakin ko kapag may lumapit na aswang!”

We all laughed but I knew she was serious.

Christine was very happy when her grandson was born. She even had her house renovated so the baby would be more comfortable, she said. She was very excited and was intending to be the best grandma in the world.

Sadly, she had to leave.

It will be hard to find another like her. Her daughter Nikki was correct in describing her as “THE ONE AND ONLY CHRISTINE HERRERA.” I already miss her.

She will not be forgotten.

May she now rest in peace.

She said that it was over and has been taken care of. I pestered her for details but she only said that it was about my previous political life which linked me to others who happened to be considered enemies by some of those in position. I wanted more but she said, “Tapos na yun.

Kukunsumihin mo lang sarili mo!” This is how she was. She would do things for her friends even without being asked to.

Her public persona notwithstanding, Christine was a loving, doting, and protective mother. She was very proud of her daughters and always had stories about Nikki and Abby. Her messages were screaming with bethangsioco@gmail. delight each time Abby accomplished something com @bethangsioco on in school. When Nikki Twitter Elizabeth Angsiowas pregnant, we learned co on Facebook

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Talking about peace in Urios University EARLIER this week, I was in Butuan City at the Father Saturnino Urios University to give a keynote address in the Peace Studies Conference the university was hosting. I accepted the invitation because I know three of the top administrators of the university well—its president Fr. John Young and two of its vice presidents Fathers Randy Odchigue and Kits Butardo, and its law school dean Atty. Josefe Ty. I have seen how dynamic FSUU has become.

The topic of peace is timely, given the challenges to peace this country and the island Mindanao (where I hail from) confronts. In fact, while I was in Urios, President Duterte for the nth time terminated once again the peace process with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). This is a sad development. In my view, as I told my audience in Butuan, we need a revolution in this country but a revolutionary government is not necessary for that.

What the country need is a comprehensive agreement on socio-economic reforms (Caser) that addresses effectively the roots of our social conflicts. The NDFP talks was the best chance for that. In any case, as my friend and favorite living martial law hero Antonio Arellano posted in Facebook - the door to peace may be closed but it is not yet locked.

How do we open the door?

In Butuan, I reiterated my long standing propos-

al: the only way the peace process with the national democrats can succeed is if the parties accelerate the negotiations and achieve quickly the agreements on socio-economic reforms (two one week marathon talks with a one month break for consultations is enough) and political reforms (process should start in parallel and conclude two months after Caser is agreed). A ceasefire and release of political prisoners can be agreed immediately upon the initialing of Caser. Overall, six months should be the timeframe to finish everything. Protracted talks is like protracted war—it will only result in stalemate and the same old thing, failure to achieve peace with justice.

But the door will remain closed if hearts are not open. That is why, in Urios, a Catholic university, I invoked words of Pope Francis from several World Day of Peace messages he has delivered in the last four years. His insights and exhortations about fraternity, solidarity, and non-violence are particularly inspiring.

Pope Francis proclaims fraternity as an essential human quality, a consequence of our nature as relational beings: “A lively awareness of our relatedness helps us to look upon and to treat each person as a true sister or brother; without fraternity it is impossible to build a just society and a solid and lasting peace.” But this vocation to become a community “is still frequently denied and ignored in a world marked by a ‘globalization of indifference’ which makes us slowly inured to the suffering of others and closed in on ourselves.”

Quoting Benedict XVI, Pope Francis observes that globalization “makes us neighbours, but does not make us brothers.” “The many situations of inequality, poverty and injustice, are signs not only of a profound lack of fraternity, but also of the absence of a culture of solidarity,” he continues.

For Pope Francis, peace is the outcome of a culture of solidarity, mercy and compassion. We must work for this culture, developing solidarity, “as a moral virtue and social attitude born of personal conversion, calls for commitment on the part of those responsible for education and formation.”

Finally, Pope Francis promotes active nonviolence as “a way of showing that unity is truly more powerful and more fruitful than conflict”. Indeed, “Everything in the world is inter-connected.” And while differences cause frictions. we should face them constructively and non-violently, so that “tensions and oppositions can achieve a diversified and life-giving unity,” preserving “what is valid and useful on both sides.”

In Uriios University, owned by the diocese of Butuan and named after a great Jesuit missionary, it seemed right to start my keynote address by sharing my forty one years of experience as a peace and justice worker, motivated mainly by my Christian faith as passed on to me by my family and my Jesuit formators.

I was 16 years old, a senior in Xavier University High School, when war erupted in Mindanao and my hometown Cagayan de Oro was flooded with refugees from nearby Lanao provinces fleeing the hostilities battles between the

Moro National Liberation Front and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. I became active in our school’s relief efforts for those refugees, a job which included ministering to the sick and burying the dead, mostly children. Since then, I have told myself that war is wrong and never justified, and that I will do my best to work for peace.

That same year, I also got exposed to many social ills of the country, land, labor and environmental issues for example, the latter because of the proposal to build the Phivedec industrial park in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental. Thanks to a Jesuit scholastic the late Alex Benedicto, I also got conscientized about martial law and the Marcos dictatorship. Clearly, even then, I knew that working for peace was intimately related with working for justice.

Consistent with these early insights I became first a social activist fighting the Marcos regime to a human rights and environmental lawyer representing indigenous peoples and local communities in many of the great forest, land, and environmental battles in the last thirty years.

When I became an environment undersecretary in 1996, I discovered I was a good consensus-builder (negotiator and mediator) and assisted in the final stages of the negotiations between the MNLF and the Ramos government in 1996. Later, in 20092010, during the Arroyo administration, I became a member of the government peace panel in the negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, helping get the peace process back on track after

the fiasco resulting from the Supreme Court declaring the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain unconstitutional.

During the Ramos administration, I also helped our peace panel, led by Ambassador Howard Dee, negotiating with the NDFP. More recently, I was part of a University of the Philippines team, headed by Dr. Edna Co, that has been assisting the Philippine panel in the same negotiations.

I have come to believe, from these more than four decades of experience, that peace based on justice is possible, that mercy and reconciliation must accompany accountability, that the work never ends and must be constantly renewed, that intellectual discourse and ideas are critical for that renewal to happen, and that hope is always the final word in the work for peace.

For those who ask how long will we have to wait for peace and justice to descend permanently in our land, the soaring words of Martin Luther King assure and comfort: “How long? Not long, because no lie can live forever. How long? Not long, because you shall reap what you sow. How long?

Not long.

Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne, Yet that scaffold sways the future, And, behind the dim unknown, Standeth God within the shadow, Keeping watch above his own.

“How long? Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

And if I may add, peace.

Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

Contrasting approaches to global economic development BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN Part II IT IS quite hard to think how the US, the most powerful country in the world, can claim of being unfairly treated when practically it sets the policy of the trade organizations and often imposes sanctions to any violator. The US, through these regional economic blocs, vigorously sought to enforce the “most favored nation clause” doctrine in international trade which provides that a country will extend to another country the lowest tariff rates it applies to any other country.

All contracting parties are obligated to apply such treatment under Article I of the GATT, now WTO. Following the conventional approach of bilateralism, the US was able to secure the most advantaged position. It sought to enforce compliance to trade agreements like prohibiting subsidy, dumping, countervailing, imposed restrictive quota on certain products, and imposed penalties to what is perceived as infringement of patents and international copyrights complained of as outside the scope of the WTO. The US also holds the record in seeking trade sanctions just as it also holds the same for defying many of the terms of the agreement.

According to Khor Martin, Executive Director of the South Center and author of a book, “How the South is Getting a Raw Deal at the WTO, “the WTO … has a systematic bias toward rich countries

and multinational corporations, harming smaller countries which have less negotiation power,” like: Rich countries are able to maintain high import duties and quotas in certain products, blocking imports from developing countries (e.g., clothing); The use of non-tariff barriers, based on the amount and control of price levels has decreased significantly from 45 percent in 1994 to 15 percent in 2004, while use of other NTBs increased from 55 percent in 1994 to 85 percent in 2004.

Anti-dumping measures was allowed against developing countries; The maintenance of protection of agriculture in developed countries, while developing ones are pressed to open their markets; Many developing countries do not have the capacity to negotiate and participate actively in the Doha Round; and The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights agreement, which limits developing countries from utilizing technology that originates abroad in their local systems (including medicines and agricultural products).

Multilateralism has become irreversible. Aside from enjoying lower prices on imports, tariff has become more or less uniform although most regional economic blocs are racing for the complete elimination of tariff by their forging of free trade agreements. The US cannot now ignore this approach all for the baseless accusation that it has been unfairly treated or for the political slogan of “America first.” Economic analysts believe it would be disastrous for the US to ne-

gotiate trade on a one-andone basis.

First, it is only through multilateral arrangements where countries could obtain a better price for their exports. Volume-wise, they could secure best their interest under this arrangement.

Second, the US no longer holds the distinction of being the biggest importer of minerals and exporter of agricultural products to allow it to dictate prices of specific products. China, the European Union, Japan and many of the newly developed states are now competing by offering better prices for their goods.

Multilateralism has become irreversible.

Third, the debilitating effect of maintaining a strong currency and resorting to various forms of manipulations and machinations like pressuring countries to devalue their currency or by resorting to “quantitative easing” by flooding financial institutions with money supply to increase lending and liquidity to lower interest rates.

Artificially maintaining the strength of the dollar against other currencies has eroded its own international market. Such policy sometime called “currency mercantilism” has become a jingoistic obsession. It is most debilitating to the economy which unrealistically force production cost and wages to increase much that the valuation of the currency

determines inflation.

That in turn increased budget deficit that has to be patched up by further borrowings.

This explains why President Trump’s slogan of “America first,” is seen as dangerous. It lays down the predicate that there is practically no room for others to negotiate with the US unless it is accorded preferential advantage. The US economic model has gone awry. Charles Derber, in the book, Hidden Power, said the US today has evolved to become one of corporatocracy, a system of government ruled by big corporations. Sovereignty no longer resides in the people but in big corporations and people could hardly distinguish the role of the State from that of big business. US democracy today is the truism of the General Motors’ slogan that “what is good for General Motors is good for America.”

China no longer follows the stereotype doctrine of regimented Marxism but prefers to call their model “socialism with Chinese characteristics,” or as one would put it conversely, “capitalism with Chinese characteristics.” There remains a system of central planning for the next five years, but the details are left to the people to sort out the best way to achieve it.

Business is recognized as an integral component to development, but it remains under the control and guidance of the state to synchronize it with the economic development plan. This is attributed to what President Xi envisions of “building of a community of shared future.”

On the other hand, the US today is not the ideal

model we were thought in school—one that is democratic and faithful to the system of free enterprise where everyone has a chance to climb his way to success. It is for this why bilateral trade agreements are most precarious much that countries will be dealing directly with the US which has already manifested its position to be on top which means lower prices for their exports they could otherwise sell at higher prices if channelled through the regional economic blocs. Besides, for the US to insist on bilateralism will wreck havoc to the time-honored principle of “most-favored nation clause” because countries are duty bound to offer the same prices for their exports under the WTO. As stated, the world no longer looks at ideology as model to economic development. People are striving to improve themselves on the basis that “there is only one Earth in the universe and mankind has only one homeland.” Multilateralism today is carried out and economic cooperation remains the framework to achieve this endeavour.

As President Xi laid down China’s four commitment in his speech at Davos, Switzerland on June 18, 2017: First, China remains unchanged in its commitment to uphold world peace; Second, China remains unchanged in its commitment to pursue common development; Third, China remains unchanged in its commitment to foster partnership, and; Fourth, China remains unchanged in its commitment to multilateralism. (r p k a p u n a n @ g m a i l . com)

News

A6

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IAS fails to finish probe on Kian slay T HE Philippine National PoliceInternal Affair Service failed to finish its investigation on the death of Kian delos Santos after the Office of the Ombudsman took over the case.

According to IAS Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo, he was supposed to give a recommendation on the administrative liability of Caloocan police officers involved in the case in October as he

promised the Senate.

“Dapat ang Kian case tapos na noong October pa. Hindi ako tinigilan ng Ombudsman na kunin nila ‘yun kahit anong explanation ko na nauna kami at tapos na ang hearing,”

Triambulo explained.

He said the PNP-IAS had already received the position paper of the accused and he was supposed to draft his recommendation that he would submit to PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa.

“Oct. 20 tapos na ang position paper. Pinangako ko kasi sa Senate na bago matapos ang October tapos na,” he said.

The Ombudsman, however, insisted on taking over

the case.

“Sinulatan ako nang sinulatan pinatawag pa ako doon. Pina-subpoenahan ako, wala akong magawa binigay ko na,” Triambulo said.

“Ang pinagtataka ko sila ay mag-imbestiga pa, ako gagawa na lang ng resolusyon kasi tapos na hearing at position paper. Wala pa nga sila, tapos na ako.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang interes nila. Bigyan lang daw sila kaya ibinigay

ko ayaw ko ng away,” he added.

He said under the law, when a disciplinary authority has taken over the case, other agencies should respect it.

“Kapag nadocket ng isang diciplinary authority hindi na dapat makialam ang iba,” he said.

Triambulo said the Ombudsman told him that they would be the one to dispose of the case.

“Kinuha nila lahat kasi

sila daw ang mag-dispose.

Pinagbigyan ko na sila.

Sinulatan ako una noong Aug. 25, sinagot ko ang kanilang fact finding. ‘Yung deputy ombudsman na mismo ang sumulat, nag subpoena, at nagpatawag sa akin sa office nila kaya binigay ko na,” he said.

He said they are mandated to cooperate with other investigating bodies but it should be limited to the criminal aspect as IAS is tasked to handle the ad-

Taguig City hikes cash gifts to seniors

Cebu City LGU registers with Uber THE Cebu City Hall will initially register six of its vehicles on the Uber platform for official and exclusive use of its employees to find out if the pilot would make the city government more efficient in the use of its resources, save on expenses, reduce its carbon footprint, and help ease city traffic.

The program, named uberGOV, will not be available to the general public.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Uber Philippines general manager Laurence Cua launched the partnership on Nov. 24 in Cebu City Hall.

If the uberGOV pilot delivers on its objectives, more city government vehicles might be added and other government units and agencies will be encouraged to follow.

If one car makes three to four trips during the day instead of just being parked and their drivers idle, the pilot program theoretically

Navotas City govt holds jobs forum

THE Navotas City Government has conducted an employment forum to equip Navoteños with knowledge on labor rights, recruitment issues, and other matters pertaining to working here and abroad.

Some 250 students from the Navotas Polytechnic College and Navotas Manpower Training Center, together with Navotas residents, participated in the forum.

Participants learned about labor and occupation safety standards from the Department of Labor and Employment, programs and services of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and the anti-illegal recruitment campaign from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

Some also applied for and secured employment from local companies as well as the Philippine Navy.

Mayor John Rey Tiangco, for his part, shared the city government’s dream for every Navoteño.

“We want Navoteños to have decent livelihood. We want you to earn enough for yourselves and your loved ones,” he said.

Tiangco also reminded the participants to take advantage of the upcoming programs of the city government.

The mayor also urged the participants to enroll at the NMTC for free Technology Skills and Development Authority courses on welding, automotive servicing, ref and aircon servicing, bread and pastry production, dressmaking, cosmetology, and others.

Tiangco added that the city government is working on the construction of two additional training centers to provide more opportunities for Navoteños to earn Tesda certifications and secure gainful employment.

Businessman and author Eduardo Roberto Jr. will speak on entrepreneurial mind-setting in the Entrepreneurship Summit on Nov. 30. Jun David

should make unnecessary the purchase of 400 cars, for instance, for the exclusive use of 400 individual government officials only.

“Easily, those 400 government vehicles can do 3,500 official trips for the day. This means the government does not have to procure, maintain, and insure as many vehicles for the use of its employees.

More government employees can enjoy the use of these government vehicles.

“With fewer and better utilized vehicles on the road, traffic in the city could improve,” said Cua. Uber has been in Cebu since December 2015 and has 700 drivers in the city to date, mostly part-time.

Through this partnership with Uber, the Cebu City government can digitally audit and review the trips that the registered vehicles have taken, track their location, and manage both the drivers and the vehicles in real time.

RICE-CORN COMBINE. (From left) University of the Philippines-Los Baños director Dra. Wilma Hurtada, National Corn Board executive director, Roderico Bioco and National Corn Board chairperson, Doris Magsaysay-Ho introduce the 'Bigas Kamais' of National Food Authority and NCB, which intends to improve on the country's food chain and food supply under the Duterte Rice Corn blend program to ensure national food security in yesterday's National Corn Congress at the PICC. Ey Acasio

Makati City mayor cites most child-friendly barangays

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Makati City government on Friday named this year’s Five Most Child-Friendly Barangays in the city.

Mayor Abigail Binay congratulated and urged officials and leaders of the five winning barangays—Poblacion, Guadalupe Viejo, Carmona, Southside, and San Lorenzo—to continue their initiatives in promoting the holistic growth and development of young residents.

At the awarding ceremony held at City Hall, Mayor Binay handed a P200,000 check to each of the winners.

“Congratulations to the

ministrative liability.

“Sa aming rules sinasabi na makipag coordinate kami pero criminal lang sana sa kanila hindi ‘yung admin,” he said.

He believed their case against the cops involved in Kian’s death was strong with the admission of the cops that they were indeed the ones seen on the closedcircuit television.

Kian was killed in an Oplan Galugad operation in Caloocan in August.

winning barangays. We thank you for your laudable efforts to ensure that your communities are highly responsive to the needs of children, and to provide them an ideal environment enabling them to fully realize their potential,” said Binay, who also chairs the Makati City Council for the Protection of Children.

She also called on the other barangays of the city to come up with innovative ways to help their young constituents develop into “well-educated, responsible and productive members of society.”

Aside from cash, the winners also received plaques of

recognition and “Certified Child-Friendly Barangay” metal seals for their respective barangay halls.

Meanwhile, the barangays hailed as 1st and 2nd runnerup in each category were also given plaques of recognition.

Named 1st runner-up were West Rembo, Pembo, South Cembo, Kasilawan and Dasmariñas. On the other hand, Pitogo, San Isidro, Sta. Cruz, Pinagkaisahan, and Bel-Air placed 2nd runner-up in their respective categories.

Makati Social Welfare Department chief Ryan Barcelo said the 33 barangays in the city have been grouped into five categories (A to E) based

on their similarity of potentials and capabilities in order to level the playing field. They were assessed by a selection committee using the tools designed for each category.

In addition, items evaluated during the on-site assessment included the barangay’s Situationer on Children, Threats to and Issues of Children; enacted Resolutions and Category A is composed of barangays with both elementary and high schools.

They are Bangkal, Cembo, Comembo, East Rembo, Pio del Pilar, Pitogo, Poblacion, San Antonio and West Rembo. In Category B are barangays with income of

P26 million and above, with either elementary school or high school: Guadalupe Nuevo, Guadalupe Viejo, Olympia, Palanan, Pembo and San Isidro.

On the other hand, barangays with income of P25 million and below and with elementary school but without high school fall under Category C, namely, Carmona, La Paz, Singkamas, South Cembo, Sta. Cruz and Rizal. While barangays without elementary and high schools make up Category D: Kasilawan, Pinagkaisahan, Post Proper Northside, Post Proper Southside, Tejeros and Valenzuela.

Bill declares QC barangay a disposable asset for housing

By Maricel V. Cruz A PANEL in the House of Representatives has passed a bill declaring a portion of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, Barangay Krus na Ligas as a disposable asset for housing and urban settlement.

The House committee on housing and urban development, chaired by Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez, passed House Bill 165 or “An Act Authorizing the Sale of Barangay Krus na Ligas to its Legitimate Residents, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act 9500, Otherwise

Known as the University of the Philippines Charter of 2008.”

The bill provides for the qualifications of beneficiaries who can be covered by the proposed amendatory statute.

The bill defines qualified Krus na Ligas residents as “only those who by themselves, or through their predecessors-in-interest, have been in continuous possession and occupation of the same in the concept of owner since time immemorial, or for a period of not less than 30 years immediately preceding the approval of the Act, and uncontested by any other resident of the same parcels of

land, shall have the option to secure title under the provisions of the Act.” The bill amends Section 23 of Republic Act 9500 or the “UP Charter of 2008” so that the preservation of the value of the assets of UP shall be of primordial consideration.

It provides that the sale of any existing real property of UP shall be prohibited provided that the UP Board of Regents may alienate real property donated after the effectivity of the Act if the terms of the donation specifically allow it.

The bill provides that as a matter of specific exception, Krus na Ligas is declared

as a disposable asset of UP subject to the provisions of RA 7279, or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992.”

The bill mandates an inter-agency committee headed by the local government of Quezon City and composed of the University of the Philippines, the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the Act, including the determination of the actual metes and bounds and the process of valuation of the area of Krus na Ligas.

THE city government of Taguig announced on Friday it has increased the birthday cash gifts being given to senior citizens in the city.

Under city ordinance 25, series of 2017, elders in the city will be receiving P3,000, P4,000 and P5,000, depending on which age bracket they fall under— the 60 to 69 bracket, 70 to 79 bracket, or 80 to above bracket respectively, beginning January 2018.

The increase is the second since the City Council made mandatory, through City Ordinance No. 09, the distribution of P500 monetary gifts to each of Taguig's elderly on their birthdays in 2008.

In 2013, the local council also adjusted each senior citizen's birthday cash gift to P1,000.

“In Taguig, we believe that if we have enough resources and capability to provide better services to the people then we do it,” said Mayor Laarni Cayetano during the flag raising ceremony last Monday.

Explaining the rationale behind the increase, Mayor Cayetano said she wants “our second parents to feel that they are part of a city government which includes them as one of its priorities since we understand the medical needs and expenses that come with old age.”

Eligible for the birthday cash gift are senior citizens who are residents of Taguig for a minimum of five years and are registered voters of the city.

To claim the birthday cash gift, an elderly resident should present his or her Senior Citizen ID card that can be processed at the Office for Senior Citizen Affairs located in the city hall, and a signed photocopy of the said ID. Representatives tasked to claim the gift should present an authorization letter, the senior citizen card of the beneficiary and a photocopy of the representative’s valid ID. Under the administration of Cayetano, the welfare senior citizens has always been a priority. Aside from the birthday cash gift, the elders are given a P1,500 social pension which is distributed quarterly.

Joel E. Zurbano

CJ Sereno inaugurates new courtrooms

By Jun David

STRIKE THREE. For a third straight year, the City of Bacoor receives the Seal of Good Local Governance from the Department of the Interior and Local Government yesterday. Shown in photo during the awarding are (from left) DILG OIC Catalino Cuy, DILG Secretary Francis Tolentino, Bacoor City Mayor Lani Mercado, Bacoor City Rep. Strike Revilla and Regional Director Manuel Gotis. Lino Santos

VALENZUELA City Mayor Rex Gatchalian is joined by Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno, Valenzuela City Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Maria Nena Santos, Vice Executive Judge Emma Matammu, and City Administrator Alan Roullo Yap during the inauguration of the newly constructed 3,009-square meter structure which boasts of seven new courtrooms and other mandatory amenities of a modern hall of justice.

According to the Valenzuela government, the new edifice is one of the first Information Communication Technology Office-integrated halls of jus-

tice in the country. Aside from being WiFi ready, it has a family court where CCTVs will be mounted in hearing sexual aggression cases and in documenting testimonies of victims to avoid face-to-face confrontation with the suspect. It is also one of the firsts to have a digitization room where court records shall be maintained electronically to better deliver justice and address the delay in the resolution of cases.

Gatchalian pledged to support the implementation of e-Litigation system locally. It is an electronic case management system that organizes cases digitally, from filing of complaints to resolution and enforcement. The local government shall compliment the

software of the judiciary with necessary hardware to uphold transparency in local court decisions.

The new Valenzuela Bulwagang Pangkatarungan Regional Trial Court Building will become the landmark of fast and efficient judicial system in the city of Valenzuela, and would serve as an inspiration for Valenzuelanos in striving to live lives that are just and fair to all, its marker says.

According to Sereno, the structure is “the most dignified” of all halls of justice she has visited so far. “I am confident that Valenzuela will not only be famous as the gateway to the north, it will also be known as the gateway to justice,” she said.

Sports

A7

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Magsayo defends WBO crown M

ARK Magsayo wants to make his homecoming count when he defends his WBO International Featherweight title in front of his family and friends in “Pinoy Pride 43: Battle for Bohol” this Saturday, to be telecast live at 6 p.m. via SKY Sports PayPer-View and aired the following day on free television on ABS-CBN at 3:30 p.m., and on primetime at S+A and S+A HD at 6:30 p.m

Magsayo (17-0, 13KOs) hopes to put on a show for his fellow Boholanos at the Bohol Wisdom Gymnasium in Tagbilaran City, Bohol against Japanese challenger Shota Hayashi (30-6-1), who looks to shrug off the hometown disadvantage

and shoot for a victory that will propel the former champion again in the rankings.

Veteran sports anchor Anton Roxas and boxing historian and analyst Atty. Ed Tolentino both believe that the Filipino fighter, who is ranked num-

ber two by the WBO in the featherweight division, has what it takes to put the Japanese veteran to sleep. They also see a very explosive fight between the two, whose primary style is a straight-up brawl that Filipino fans will appreciate.

“Magsayo reminds me of a young Pacquiao as he brings two things to the ring: charm and harm. He has a nice story but when he’s in the ring, the kid throws punches with bad intentions. He brings in brutal raw power,” said Tolentino.

“Hayashi, being a veteran, uses his height and body to bully in his opponents to bury his short right punch. His style

is actually tailored for Magsayo, who wants his opponents to come to his punching range.

This is what makes the fight a very explosive one,” Tolentino said about the visiting Japanese fighter. Roxas added that while Hayashi may have logged more fights than the 22-year old pride of Tagbilaran City, Bohol, he has not been outside of Japan, and will be hard-pressed to nullify the energy from the crowd.

Magsayo, for his part, vows to display everything he has learned in previous fights and trainings so far to meet the expectation of the home crown. “This has been a longtime dream for me, to be able

to fight in front of them and make them proud that I am from Tagbilaran,” he said.

If “Magnifico” ends up successfully defending his title this Saturday (November 25), he can look forward to a world title fight against the best in WBO Featherweight lynchpin Oscar Valdez from Mexico, who has been dubbed as the most complete fighter in his division by fellow analysts.

“If he gets past Hayashi here, there will be talks of him going after Valdez and being World Rank 2, he should. I also believe Magsayo has a chance against him thanks to his punching power, after seeing Valdez get

knocked down by Servania, who, no offense to Genesis, is more known for his cerebral method of fighting,” Roxas said.

“That’s my dream fight for Magsayo. And I think that is also the fight “Magnifico” is looking forward to after seeing former stablemate Genesis Servania, who is not considered as a power puncher but more of a boxer, put Valdez down to the deck, he knows that Valdez can go down, and he’s also the best featherweight. So to be the best, you have to beat the best. And also, if I might add, there can be an angle of revenge for his former stablemate in Servania,” Tolentino added.

La Salle-Lipa, HRC book Rebisco semis DE LA Salle-Lipa and Holy Rosary College of Sta. Rosa pulled through with a pair of tough victories to top Pool B and join fancied Nazareth School of National University and Hope Christian High School in the Final Four of the 18-and-under Rebisco Volleyball League at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Laguna last Thursday.

The DLL spikers hung tough then outhit the Bacolod Tay Tung girls at the finish to post a 25-18, 2519 victory while host HRC held off FEU-Diliman in the second set for a 25-19, 25-23 win, netting them the top two spots in their side of the tournament sponsored by Rebisco with 4-0 slates.

Mirgie Bautista led DLL with 12 points while Alleiah Malaluan added 11 markers for the Lipa City-based school, a perennial title contender in the country’s longest talent-search organized

by Metropolitan Sports and Events Group, Inc. headed

by Freddie Infante.

“It was a close match but I don’t mind because it helped the girls’ nerves and confidence,” said HRC coach Lerma Giron, who drew nine points from Aliah Marce.

NSNU and HCS also came away with 4-0 records in Pool A with the former, with Faith Nisperos firing seven hits, routing Koronadal National Comprehensive HS, 25-11, 2514, and the latter, behind Mycah Go’s 10 markers, turning back Holy Family Academy of Pampanga, 25-18, 25-17.

The unbeaten teams were disputing the seedings in the crossover semis at the close of the single round elims at presstime. The Final Four is set at 5 p.m. today (Saturday) with the classification matches firing off at 12 noon.

In other results, University of Mindanao-Tagum edged Leyte National HS, 25-21, 1825, 25-18, for a 2-2 card while University of San Jose-Recoletos snapped a three-game skid with a 25-17, 25-9 victory over Angelicum Learning Center of Cagayan de Oro.

Nazareth School of National U top hitter Michaela Belen hammers in a kill against Chariz Layo and Bea Legado during their Rebisco Volleyball League clash at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Laguna Thursday.

PH rugby exec gets seat in world body PHILIPPINE Rugby made history twice as it got a seat for the first time on the World Rugby Council, with the council’s first ever female member, Philippine Rugby’s Secretary General Ada Milby.

World Rugby is the international governing body for the sport of Rugby Union and is one of the leading sporting federations that supports a Gender Balance policy across all levels of governance.

Milby made her international rugby debut in 2012, and was selected as the Team Captain for the National Womens Rugby Team the Lady Volcanoes later that year.

She served as the Head of Development for grassroots rugby in 2013, launching the Get Into Rugby program in the same year and was later nominated for the Philippine Rugby Board of Directors.

Since 2013, Milby has continued to make waves across Philippine Rugby and Asia Rugby, she is now looking to represent not only gender equality, but Philippine Rugby on the global stage.

“I’m so honored and humbled to be the first woman council member appointed for World Rugby Council following the strong support for Gender Inclusion at the highest level. Not only does it create the space for more women leadership to be accepted at all levels of the Game for Rugby but it is a strong statement and call to action for other sporting codes to show that when you are fully committed to Gender Inclusion, the solutions may manifest in ways not previously considered. I applaud World Rugby and its commitment to continue building a Game that is truly a ‘Sport For All’” Milby shared.

Sepak chief to ask POC if it’s forming a Chinlone association ABS-CBN brings

By Lito Cinco EVEN as the Philippine Olympic Committee, headed by president Peping Cojuangco has yet to resolve pending leadership disputes in several National Sports Associations like tennis, volleyball and swimming, among others, a looming battle in another NSA looms, this time in sepak takraw.

The sport is led by feisty president Karen Tanchanco Caballero, who just had her NSA re-incorporated with the Securities and Exchange Commission as the Pilipinas Sepak Takraw Association.

Sepak Takraw has been growing with a nationwide developmental program put in place by Caballero, fueled by the fact that the sport has delivered a gold medal in a world championship, with chinlone under the wing of the NSA officially.

The brewing conflict is due to a recent organizational meeting last Nov. 15 in Myanmar, where the sport of chinlone originated, hosted by the Asian Chinlone Federation. As previously discussed with Caballero by federation officials, chinlone, since its debut in the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmar, is under sepak takraw.

“I was just shocked to know

that the meeting had pushed through with Steve Hontiveros attending on behalf of the POC and the POC did not even have the decency to inform me being the president of the NSA responsible for the sport,” said Caballero, adding that she heard the POC will set up a separate NSA for chinlone here.

“To think that their plea was to even borrow athletes from my NSA, to which I will not agree. In fact our plan is to boycott the event if ever it is included in the 2019 SEA Games, which we will host here,” added Caballero citing the fact, too, that in the last SEA Games in

Kuala Lumpur, her NSA sent sepak athletes for a monthlong training in Myanmar as the Philippines participated in the discipline for the first time and bagged a silver medal.

In the coming POC General Assembly on Nov. 29, Caballero intimated she plans to confront Hontiveros and ask if he really wants to head chinlone, aside from heading two other sports—bowling and netball.

“If so, I am willing to give it to him but he should come up with his own developmental program for the sport and deliver in 2019 as we did this year.

He has to source out his own

athletes in that case, but I heard, too, that he may end up using out of school youth to be trained in the sport,” she said.

Hontiveros confirmed that chinlone is still under sepak takraw, but that it was a temporary arrangement only and that his getting invited and attending the recent meeting was an NOC matter and not an NSA case.

He posed his own question as to why Caballero was not invited by the organizers.

Caballero, on the other hand, in follow up talks with the organizers, was told they were surprised at her absence from the meeting.

Kamao tries to regain winning ways

Malacañang-PSC Kamao’s Narayan Das Javier (30) and Eric Dela Cuesta (21) try to stop DA Food Masters’ Julito Comerciase from scoring in the UNTV Cup Season 6.

COMING off a tough loss to the Judiciary Magis last time, the Palace’s basketball team Malacañang-PSC Kamao looks to regain its winning ways in the UNTV Cup Season 6 this Sunday when it takes on the Ombudsman Graft Busters at 2 p.m.

Though still having the best record in the league, 4-1, the Kamao wants to improve on their performance every game.

“Siguro, as a coach, sa akin magsisimula ‘yun. I need to start siguro ibahin ang approach sa practice plan. Nandito na tayo sa middle ng season going to the next round, medyo malalakas na ‘yung kalaban.

Hindi puwede na mag-slow start kami. I need to address that problem,” Coach Luie

Games on Sunday

(Pasig City Sports Center) 2 p.m. Malacañang-PSC vs Ombudsman 3:30 p.m. Senate vs DOH 5 p.m. Judiciary vs DA

Gonzales said.

On the other hand, the winless Ombudsman Graft Busters have yet to figure out how to overcome their challenges as a team.

Former professional basketball player Noynoy Falcasantos has not seen action yet for the Graft Busters, who were just relying to their organic players like Lumague, Lasam, Palacio, Baldonado and others.

In their previous battle, Ombudsman bowed to the PDEA Drug Busters by a huge 32 points, 109-77.

In the second game of a t r iple - h e a d e r, t h e S e n a t e D efenders will face the DoH Health Achievers at 3:30 p.m.

The Senate basketball team (3-1) is coming off a sweet victory over the defending champions PNP Responders (3-1) in a game, where Jeffry Sanders, Harley Ng, Marlon Legaspi and Garry Sevilla led the team.

The Health Achievers (13) badly need to win to improve their record , especially after coming from a 10-point loss to the GSIS Furies.

In the main game, the Judiciary Magis will try to stretch its winning streak as they face the Jimwell Torion-led DA Food Masters at 5 p.m.

Otico, Pantino storm into Phinma net semifinals; Rivera falls TOP seed Bryan Otico moved two wins from adding the Phinma-PSC Juniors Tennis Championship to his growing list of victories as he toppled Indonesian Odeda Arazza, 6-4, 6-1, yesterday to advance to the Final Four at the Manila Polo Club in Forbes Park yesterday.

Barely holding off the game Arazza in the opening frame, the 18-year-old Otico settled down and

imposed his will and strength in the second, yielding just one game to complete his third straight-set romp in Week 2 of the annual Group 4 ITF (International Tennis Federation) 18-and-under event sponsored by the Philippine Investment Management Consultants (Phinma) and Technifiber.

The Philippine Tennis Academy standout, however, will have his hands full against No. 4 Taiyo

Yamanaka, who also kept his run with a 6-2, 6-2 demolition of compatriot Kei Manaka in the upper half of the 32-player draw in the event sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta).

Third seed Arthur Pantino, meanwhile, survived Japanese Ryota Ishii, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-3, to get another crack at Shunsuke Mitsui, who stayed on track for a sweep of the two ITF Phinma

titles with a 6-0, 6-3 romp over local bet Michael Eala.

Mitsui swept Pantino to claim Week I title which Otico skipped to compete in the PCA Open where he upended veteran PJ Tierro to rule the country’s premier tournament.

But while Otico sustained his form, Shaira Rivera’s surge in the girls’ side ended in a 3-6, 1-6 setback to Week I champion Nicole

Hammond of the US. Aussie Lisa Mays ousted last week’s runner-up Elizabeth Stevens, also of the US, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, to seal a Final Four duel with second seed Punnin Kovapitukted of Thailand, who held off Japanese Yuna Ohashi, 7-6(5), 6-2 in the other quarterfinal match.

Hammond will tangle with Japanese Saki Oyama, who downed Chinese Li Jingyi, 7-5, 6-1.

Euro football action to PH fans

By Klyde Manansala

THIS December, Filipino football fans are set to receive an early treat as they can finally witness live broadcast games of the best European football clubs on free television via ABS-CBN Sports and Action.

ABS-CBN Integrated Sports partnered with Hong Kong-based holding company Triple CH to bring to the country the mostwatched premier football leagues—La Liga, English Premier League, and UEFA Champions League, where football greats like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo shine.

“The time has come to let the excitement and the bigness of the game of football that has taken the world like a giant tsumani, to come to the shores of the Philippines,” Head of ABSCBN Integrated Sports Dino Laurena said.

With this new development, Triple CH Chairman Bernard Sumayao, a Filipino football fan himself who have resided in Thailand in the last 30 years, shared his dreams about the state of the football in the Philippines.

“I always had this dream that one day in my mind I would like to see football getting closer in the popularity of basketball,” Sumayao said.

Fortunately, ABS-CBN Sports Integrated has expressed its full support of Sumayao’s advocacy by distributing the programs and projects they are set to do in the coming years.

“It’s not much for business, for me it’s personal. I needed to find the most ideal and strategic. I thought that ABS-CBN, with all the resources it has and what it can do, I don’t want to be partner with anyone else except them,” Sumayao said.

The partnership will further upheave the two organizations’ common advocacy: To promote sports development in the country and of Filipino athletes, especially in football.

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

Sports

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

A8

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017

Jalalon, Pingris, Cone to be feted by scribes

Star Hotshots Jalalon (left) and teammate Marc Pingris (inset) and champion coach Tim Cone (inset) of Barangay Ginebra share the limelight when the PBA Press Corps honors the season’s best in its 24th Annual Awards at the Gloria Maris Restaurant on Nov. 30.

Archers, Eagles start UAAP’s dream finale

By Peter Atencio

P

LAYING smart against the Ateneo Blue Eagles will help the defending champion La Salle Green Archers win Game 1.

Coach Aldin Ayo said this as the Green Archers battle the Ateneo Blue Eagles at the start of their best-of-three finals series in the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

The Green Archers,

Local bets seek PPS spotlight JOEWYN Pascua and Exequiel Jucutan hope to get some push from the hometown crowd as they slug it out with the regular campaigners in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Urdaneta leg tennis tournament which got under way yesterday (Friday) at the Urdaneta Tennis Club in Pangasinan.

Pascua and Jucutan actually primed up for the Group 2 tournament with big reversals in the last PPS-PEPP leg in La Union last week with the former clinching the boys’ 12-and-under crown against top seed JT Bernardo and the latter frustrating No. 1 Andre Jarata for the 14-U title.

But they will be up against a host of talented rivals also out to gain ranking points in the five-day event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop headed by president/CEO Bobby Castro and presented

by Slazenger, including Justin Erpelo, Prince Lim and Thomas Gabuat (12-U) while Jarata is raring to rebound together with Eric Bajet in the 14-U side.

Raymond Gabuco, on the other hand, eyes a sweep of the boys’ 16- and 18-U plums while fellow Pangasinense Anna Demyer is also fancied in the two premier divisions in the girls’ side of the tournament serving as the third of the four-stage Northern swing of the country’s longest talent-search supported by the Unified Tennis Philippines, including PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg.

who were the first to reach the finals after beating the Adamson Falcons, 82-75, last week, are set to face Blue Eagles at 4 p.m. today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Not just relying on big man Ben Mbala, but plays initiated by the rest

of the players will be the key and the game changer for the Archers in the finals series.

And Ayo took note of one of their veterans, Abu Tratter, who went out of his way to set plays for teammate Jolo Go. “I always tell my players that we might not ask for it.

But you might have to do it. If you want to win, you have to do things that are not asked of you,” said Ayo. The Green Archers are meeting the Blue Eagles in the finals for a second

Games Saturday (Game 1 at the MOA Arena) 11 a.m. UE vs UST (women) 4 p.m. vs La Salle vs FEU (men)

straight season.

Ateneo needed an overtime period to defeat the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 88-84, and set another dream duel with the Achers.

Two days before Game 1 may not give the Blue Eagles enough rest and be in shape.

“We have to find a way to overcome that (fatigue). We

can’t enjoy this game (win over FEU) too much because there’s a next game,” said Ateneo coach Sandy Arespacochaga.

This will be the sixth finals showdown between Ateneo and La Salle since their first championship meeting in the league way back in 1988.

Back then, Jet Nieto, father of the twins Matthew and Mike, along with Danny Francisco, Alex Araneta and Jun Reyes led Ateneo to a 73-72 squeaker over La Salle.

JIO Jalalon, his Star teammate Marc Pingris, and champion coach Tim Cone of Barangay Ginebra share the limelight when the PBA Press Corps honors the season’s best in its 24th Annual Awards at the Gloria Maris Restaurant inside the Gateway Mall on Nov. 30.

Jalalon is the consensus choice as Mr. Quality Minutes, while Pingris and Cone are at the forefront of the AllInterview team to be recognized by the group of sportswriters who regularly covers the PBA beat during the formal affair presented by Cignal TV. The star point guard bested the likes of Kelly Williams (TnT Katropa), Reynel Hugnatan (Meralco), and Sol Mercado (Barangay Ginebra) for the award given similar to the Sixth Man Award or to the player who contributed the most coming off the bench. Jalalon averaged 9.3 points in his rookie season with the Hotshots.

Past Mr. Quality Minutes winners include Olsen Racela, Bong Alvarez, Rodney Santos, Ronald Tubid, Peter June Simon, RenRen Ritualo, Jayson Castro, Jervy Cruz, Larry Fonacier, among others.

Meanwhile, Pingris and Cone will be joined in the All-Interview team by Ranidel de Ocampo (Meralco), Castro (TnT Katropa), Beaue Belga (Rain or Shine), and LA Tenorio (Barangay Ginebra). The award is in recognition for players, coaches, and personalities who churns out juicy quotes and make themselves available for interviews with PBAPC members.

Tenorio, meanwhile, will also receive the Order of Merit honor for emerging with the most number of Player of the Week citation last season.

Globalport’s Terrence Romeo is again the Mighty Sports Scoring Champion for the third straight time, even as top rookie Roger Pogoy leads the year’s All-Rookie team, which he shares with Jalalon, Matthew Wright (Phoenix), Kevin Ferrer (Barangay Ginebra) and Reden Celda (KIA).

The highpoint of the awards night is the presentation of the Virgilio ‘Baby’ Dalupan Coach of the Year award held in honor of the prodigious late mentor, who scored the league’s first ever grand slam with Crispa in 1976.

Also on tap are the Danny Floro Executive of the Year award named in behalf of the former Crispa team owner and the Bogs Adornado Comeback Player of the Year being held in honor of the league’s former three-time MVP and part of the PBA’s 25 Greatest Players.

Greenies capture 1st-ever jr crown GUARDS Joshua David and Joel Cagulangan came up with sizzling plays in the endgame to lift La Salle Greenhills to a 75-74 win over Malayan High School yesterday at The Arena in San Juan.

Joshua David led with a season-high 27 points and came off with a big steal in the remaining four seconds to power the Greenies to their first-ever championship in the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) junior basketball tournament.

The 6’0” David made up for two missed free throws in the last 14 seconds with a steal off a fallen Warren Bonifacio, forcing a turnover with four ticks to go.

Cagulangan, who is the

finals’ MVP, delivered 19 points, including two charities in the final 37.3 seconds off Carl Lacap’s foul allowing the Greenies to finalize the count and overtake the Red Robins for the last time.

“We had high expectations. We had high hopes. Going into the season, we were looking for a championship.

But it was a long way, and we were hopeful all throughout,” said Greenies’ coach Marvin Bienvenida.

Clint Escamis banged in 21 points for the Red Robins, with his drive past forward Inand Fornilos shattering a 70-all deadlock with 2:43 left, 72-70.

But David’s triple 30 seconds later kept the Greenies in front, 73-72.

Peter Atencio

Askren wants to retire from MMA on a winning note

By Reuel Vidal SINGAPORE—Win, lose or draw; Ben Askren will end a stellar career at ONE: Immortal Pursuit in a battle against Japan’s legendary grappler Shinya Aoki at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, Friday evening. (The fight between Askren and Aoki as well as the undercards were ongoing as we went to press.)

The undefeated Askren—considered the best in the world in his weight class—walks away from the cage after winning welterweight titles both in ONE Championship and Bellator.

“I plan to retire on a high note.

When I turned professional I had a game plan. The great fight champions always had two things in common. They always stay too long. They always end up broke.

That has always been my game plan. Don’t stay too long. Don’t

Ben Askren

end up broke,” said Askren.

“I said from day one that I am the best in the world at what I do, and this is what I am going to do every single time. I have been

saying that since I started my career, and I believe it more strongly than ever because I have proven it 17 times now.”

Askren represented the USA in

the Olympics at the 2008 Beijing Games. In 2009 he won the FILA World Grappling Championship in the 84 kg no-gi division.

After turning to professional MMA he captured the Bellator Welterweight Championship where he was unbeaten in nine fights. He joined ONE Championship late 2013. He defeated Nobutatsu Suzuki for the ONE Welterweight World Championship in April 2015. He has been dominant in three successful title defenses since.

“Shinya is a really good opponent. Obviously, he is a legend of the sport, and he is a really big challenge on the ground, which is where I like to compete, personally. I am excited for this bout. He is a grappler and has a great skill set that I respect, so I think it will be a great battle,” said Askren.

Aoki is one of the world’s most decorated MMA athletes. He was

the DREAM Lightweight Champion, former Shooto Welterweight Champion, and the former ONE Lightweight World Champion. He is called the Grand Master of Flying Submissions because of his electrifying finishes.

“Ben Askren is a spectacular martial artist. He is an athlete that I really respect. He has his own goal for his career, and I have mine as well. I am here to win another belt in ONE Championship and redeem myself in front of the world. I want to win again. I am not satisfied yet. I am very determined to win this next bout of mine. I never turn down a match. I am here to face the best,” said Aoki.

The 34-year-old Aoki holds a black belt in both judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has won multiple grappling tournaments all over the world. He is considered one of the best pure grapplers in professional martial arts competition today.

Clash of titans: Foton takes on F2 Logistics BATANGAS CITY – A clash of titans happens as reigning champion Foton takes on undefeated F2 Logistics today in the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Grand Prix at the Batangas City Sports Center here.

Action starts at 6 p.m. with the Tornadoes looking to come up with a moraleboosting win and a share of leadership in this prestigious club tourney sponsored by Mikasa, Grand Sport, Senoh, Mueller, Island Rose, Cloudfone and UCPB Gen. Also seeing action in this

tournament that also has Gerflor and Gold’s Gym as technical sponsors and ESPN5 as official broadcast partner is another heavyweight in Petron, which will battle Iriga City in the 4 p.m. appetizer.

The Cargo Movers remain on top of the team standings with an immaculate 6-0 win-loss card followed by Foton and Petron, who are just one game behind entering the final stretch of the single-round eliminations.

Finishing on top will be very crucial as the highest-

Games Today

(Batangas City Sports Center) 4 p.m. – Petron vs Iriga City 6 p.m. – Foton vs F2 Logistics

ranking side will take on the eighth seeded team.

The second seed will clash with the seventh seed; the third seed will battle the sixth seed; and the fourth seed will face the fifth seed in the sudden-death quarterfinal encounter on Dec. 5.

The survivors in the quarters will move on to the semifinals to determine the protagonists in the best-ofthree finals showdown.

F2 Logistics coach Ramil de Jesus admitted that while emerging on top of the eliminations is their ultimate goal, he knows the road will be tough, especially with the two-time champion Foton blocking their path.

“Playing Foton will be very tough,” said de Jesus, admitting that their early peak might be counter-productive to their title campaign.

“I’m quite worried because we’re always winning.

I’m not saying that we want to lose, but losses will bring out the character of my team.

Saam Miyagawa (left) of Iriga scores against UST’s Boom Pacres and Shannen Palec in a PSL game on Thursday.

Roman Prospero

We haven’t experienced that. we will have time to recover So if we’re going to lose, I and make some adjustments want it to happen early so right away.”

Chinese firm, MRC signs LNG agreement

B4

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017

B1

BSP won’t follow Fed rate hike

By Julito G. Rada

B

ANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said local monetary authorities will not necessarily move in sync with the US Federal Reserve if the US regulator decides to raise interest rates in the coming weeks.

Fed officials in an earlier meeting this month favored increasing interest rates, according to the minutes of the Oct. 31 to Nov. 1 gathering released in Washington Wednesday.

Reports said policy makers opted to keep rates unchanged

during the meeting but are expected to hike them in December in line with a gradual tightening policy.

“Our monetary policy is independent of what Fed does.

We’re not obliged to follow since we don’t have fixed

exchange rate. Instead, our primary focus is on the inflation outlook relative to our target,” Espenilla said in a statement.

Local monetary authorities during the last Monetary Board meeting on Nov. 9 kept the benchmark interest rates steady on account mainly of because of a manageable inflation environment.

The interest rates of 3.5 percent for overnight lending, 3 percent for overnight borrowing, and 2.5 percent for overnight deposit facility were left unchanged. The reserve requirement ratios

were also maintained.

The Monetary Board’s decision was based on its assessment that the outlook for the inflation environment remained manageable. While inflation trended higher [in October at 3.5 percent] due mainly to higher utility rates and fuel prices, latest forecasts showed the future inflation path staying within the government’s 2 percent to 4 percent target range for 2018 to 2019.

Espenilla said inflation expectations also remained anchored close to the midpoint of the inflation target

range over the policy horizon. He said the balance or risks to the inflation outlook continued to lean toward the upside due to possible higher crude oil prices.

The board also kept the average inflation forecast at 3.2 percent both for 2017 and 2019. But the forecast for 2018 was raised to 3.4 percent from 3.2 percent made on the Sept. 21 meeting.

Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said the board in raising the forecast for 2018 took into account the possible higher crude oil

utilities and fuel products.

This brought the average inflation in the first 10 months to 3.1 percent, slightly higher than the midpoint of the government’s official target range of 2 percent to 4 percent this year.

The October inflation was the fastest since the 3.7 percent recorded in November 2014, confirming the earlier projection of the Finance Department that consumer prices likely peaked for the month. It was also significantly faster than 2.3 percent a year ago.

Moody’s upgrades PNB, RCBC ratings

FDA WARNING.

Food and Drug Administration director-general Nela Charade Puno (right) inspects some of the counterfeit products seized by the FDA worth over P10 million. With her are FDA regulatory enforcement unit head Gen. Allen Bantolo (center) and PNP Chief Superintendent Jose Espino. Puno asked the general public to be more conscious about buying and taking counterfeit products, citing health risks.

Puno said the FDA received reports that unscrupulous traders are flooding the local market with unregistered and untested food, drugs, toys and cosmetic products in time for the holiday season.

BPI issues P12.2-b long-term certificates of time deposits BANK of the Philippine Islands, the fourth-largest lender in terms of asset, on Friday issued P12.2 billion in long-term negotiable certificates of time deposit to support its aggressive expansion plans.

BPI said in a statement to the stock exchange the issuance was met with strong demand, prompting the bank to increase the offering to P12.2 billion from an initial P5 billion, making the transaction the largest single LTNCTD

prices next year as member states of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries were planning to cut oil production, a move backed by non-Opec producers.

Guinigundo said the decline in commercial oil stock was going to affect the supply of petroleum products in the world market.

Inflation in October accelerated to 3.5 percent from 3.4 percent a month ago, the fastest in almost three years, driven mainly by higher annual increases in the prices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco,

issuance thus far.

The LTNCTDs were also listed on the same day at Philippine Dealing Exchange Corp., the first instrument listed by BPI in the fixed-income exchange.

The listing allows investors to negotiate the instrument in the secondary market.

Bank president and chief executive Cezar Consing said the strong demand for the notes reflected the confidence of investors in BPI. “The success of this offer

will help us in our expansion plans as we continue to focus on shareholder value by pursuing sustainable growth and profitability,” Consing said.

The issuance was the first tranche of the P30-billion LTNCTD issuance program approved by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for BPI. In addition to supporting the bank’s expansion plans, the issuance will diversify the bank’s funding sources while offering investors an attrac-

tive investment instrument.

The LTNCTDs have a tenor of five-and-a-half years maturing on May 24, 2023 and an interest rate of 3.75 percent per annum payable quarterly.

LTNCTDs are pesodenominated certificates of time deposit with a minimum maturity of five years and are negotiable in the secondary market.

LTNCTDs historically offer higher interest rates than regular deposits.

LTNCTDs are also insured with state-run Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp.

ING Bank N.V., Manila branch was tapped as the sole arranger for the issue and also acted as selling agent along with BPI Capital Corp. and BPI. BPI plans to put up 20 to 30 more branches next year in a bid to widen its coverage nationwide and seize growth opportunities amid the growing economy.

Julito G. Rada

IN BRIEF Globe’s Mynt, Ministop team up MYNT, a subsidiary of Globe Telecom Inc., has teamed up with Ministop to accept cashless payments using QR codes.

“We are excited over this partnership since Ministop is the first convenience store in the country to embrace e-payment via QR code. This will be good for the larger population because of the ease, convenience, and security that e-payments provide both to the consumers and merchants,” Anthony Thomas, president and chief executive of Mynt which operates Gcash, said.

The convenience store chain has developed products and services that cater to the consumption profile of the Filipino market with its wide assortment of merchandise and an extensive selection of ready-to-eat products which are mostly patronized by employees and students. Darwin G. Amojelar

Mass housing still VAT-exempt MASS housing projects worth P2 million and below outside of Metro Manila will continue to enjoy value-added tax exemption under the Senate version of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) bill.

The Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council estimated that the total housing needs of the country would reach 6.58 million between 2017 and 2022.

“The Senate opted to keep the VAT exemption so as not to exacerbate the housing problem of the country,” said Senate ways and means committee chairman Edgardo Angara Jr. The original proposal of the Finance Department sought to remove the VAT exemption of both socialized housing, which is priced at P450,000 and below, and of low-cost housing as part of c a move to broaden the VAT base.

The Senate version retained the VAT exemption of all socialized housing both in and outside Metro Manila. Othel V. Campos

Meralco digital transformation MANILA Electric Co., the biggest electricity retailer, is set to undergo a digital transformation as it prepares for the next generation of power customers.

Meralco chief technology advisor Gavin Barfield said during a recent summit the company was adopting new technologies to deliver enhanced customer experience and improve grid reliability.

“Meralco has invested heavily in new technologies as we undergo a digital transformation of our company. We will soon be launching a whole new digital customer experience more suited to the next generation of customers—the digital natives,” Barfield said.

“We are also developing mobility solutions and adding more sensors, automation, and smart meters to our network to improve reliability and enable the integration of renewables,” he said.

Alena Mae S. Flores

PRU LIFE SUPPORT. British life insurer Pru Life UK, a wholly-owned unit of British financial services giant Prudential plc, supports the European Union (EU)-Philippines Business Summit 2017, a trade forum held in celebration of the EU-Philippine trade and investment ties, in Parañaque City. Joining the forum are Pru Life UK senior vice president for legal and government relations Em Vallente (second from right) and (from left) life insurance agent Louie Andrew Gimenez, assistant vice president for government relations Maricel Estavillo and life insurance agent Cindy Oquias.

GLOBAL debt watchdog Moody’s Investors Service has upgraded the ratings of Philippine National Bank and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., two of the largest lenders in the country, taking into account the stable operating environment for banks in the Philippines.

Moody’s said in a statement it upgraded the foreign currency deposit ratings of PNB and RCBC to Baa2/P-2, or medium grade, from Baa3/P-3. Moody’s also upgraded PNB’s local currency deposit rating to Baa2/P-2 from Baa3/P-3.

In the case of RCBC, Moody’s upgraded the bank’s senior unsecured debt and senior unsecured medium-term note program rating to Baa2 and (P)Baa2 from Baa3 and (P)Baa3, as well as the bank’s other short term rating to (P)P-2 from (P)P-3.

Moody’s also upgraded their baseline credit assessments and adjusted BCAs to baa3 from ba1.

“The upgrade of PNB and RCBC’s deposit ratings to Baa2 takes into account the one-notch upgrade of their BCAs to baa3, and a one-notch uplift to reflect Moody’s assumption that the banks will receive support from the government of the Philippines [Baa2 stable] in times of need,” Moody’s said.

“The upgrade of PNB and RCBC’s BCAs also takes into account the stable operating environment for banks in the Philippines, supported by a strong economy, and the private sector’s benign leverage and stable debt servicing metrics,” it said.

Moody’s said Philippine banks showed strong funding profiles that were dominated by deposits, and demonstrated little reliance on short-term wholesale funding.

These factors were incorporated in Moody’s assessment of the macro profile of the Philippines of moderate(+).

For PNB, Moody’s said the upgrade of its baseline credit assessments to baa3 from ba1 reflected the bank’s improved financial profile since its merger with Allied Banking Corp. in 2013. The bank’s asset quality and capital buffers as a result have become comparable with those of its peers in the Philippines.Julito G. Rada

Robinsons Land bares plan to raise P20b from share sale

By Darwin G. Amojelar 8.5-hectare residential venROBINSONS Land Corp. is raising up to P20 billion through the sale of new shares from existing shareholders and use the proceeds to acquire more lots nationwide.

RLC said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange its board approved in principle the rights to offer its common shares with a target gross proceeds of up to P20 billion.

The number of shares to be offered is about 950 million to 1.1 million.

“RLC intends to use the majority of its net proceeds from the offer to finance the acquisition of land located in various parts of the country for all its business segments,” Robinsons Land earlier said it awarded the construction contract for the development of an

ture in Chengdu, China.

The property, which was acquired by Robinsons Land from the government through a public bidding, would involve a residential project, with a small portion for commercial development.

The project will have a total gross floor area of 220,000 square meters.

Robinsons Land acquired the property in 2015 for $222 million.

The development―the company’s first venture outside the Philippines―will target the upper to middleincome market in China.

Robinsons Land added it planned to open four malls and expand two existing ones this year. It will also open three new hotels― Summit Galleria Cebu, Summit Tacloban and Go Hotel in Iligan―and two office developments, in Naga and Davao this year.

No reserve requirement on repo transactions, says BSP

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas assigned a zero reserve requirement on repo transactions under the government securities repurchase program.

The regulator said in a statement Friday the move was in support of the comprehensive initiative to develop the domestic local currency debt market.

“The Monetary Board approved the issuance of a circular assigning a zero-percent reserve requirement [RR] on repurchase [or repo] transactions under the government

securities repo program [program). This responds to the industry request to minimize the friction cost on repo transactions that conform to international best practices,” Bangko Sentral said.

“This complements the earlier issuance of the Bureau of Internal Revenue providing exemption of repo transactions under the program from documentary stamp tax,” it said.

A repo allows a dealer to sell and repurchase short-term government securities such

as treasury bills to a lender at a specified future date and an agreed price. Repos are said to provide lenders low risk and are usually used to raise shortterm capital.

The new Bangko Sentral circular will amend the provisions of the BSP Manual of Regulations for Banks and Manual of Regulations for Non-Bank Financial Institutions.

The central bank said the establishment of an organized inter-dealer repo market would aid the development and deepening of the domestic financial

market. This will give eligible participants the ability to quote two-way prices, thereby enhancing price discovery and market liquidity.

The Bangko Sentral has encouraged industry participants to adopt prudent governance standards in line with international best practices pertaining to trading and settlement, documentation, accounting, and market and regulatory disclosures as well as to establish appropriate safeguards to address risks such as counterparty and settlement risks. Julito G. Rada

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, November 24, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.6140

Japan

Yen

0.008992

0.4551

UK

Pound

1.331100

67.3723

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128023

6.4798

Switzerland

Franc

1.018953

51.5733

Canada

Dollar

0.786473

39.8065

Singapore

Dollar

0.743384

37.6256

Australia

Dollar

0.762500

38.5932

Bahrain

Dinar

2.649147

134.0839

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

13.4963

Brunei

Dollar

0.740631

37.4863

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000074

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.030600

1.5488

UAE

Dirham

0.272301

13.7822

Euro

Euro

1.185400

59.9978

Korea

Won

0.000923

0.0467

China

Yuan

0.151860

7.6862

India

Rupee

0.015491

0.7841

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.243605

12.3298

New Zealand

Dollar

0.689100

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033363

34.8781 1.6886 Source: PDS Bridge

Republic of the Philippines Department of Health FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION FDA ADVISORY No. 2017-273 TO: GENERAL CONSUMING PUBLIC SUBJECT:

3

02 OCT 2017

Public Health Warning Against the Use of Unnotified Cosmetic Products (Batch 64)

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises the public against the purchase and use of the following unnotified cosmetic products whose particulars/details are provided in the attached annex: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

31.

32.

33.

34.

35.

36.

37.

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN LIPSTICK (02) THE QUEEN’S SECRET EYEBAG CREAM CRYSTAL INFINITY BEAUTY PRODUCTS BODY BUTTER FRAGRANCE & WHITENING LOTION SPF 40 SKIN MAGICAL REJUVENATING FACIAL TONER 2 DIFRESH LADY DEODORANT STICK FRESH FLOWER LUCKY SUPER SOFT® MOISTURIZING CREAM CREAMY PETROLEUM JELLY COCOA BUTTER TENCEL® SOOTHING RELIEF VITAMIN B5 VELVET MASK J.CAT BEAUTY ETERNAL SHINE LIP GLAZE FRENCH ROSE OILIM OIL HAIR CARE SERIES MOISTURIZING OILWAX NUANCE ARRANGE WAX OILIM OIL HAIR CARE SERIES MOISTURIZING OILWAX MOIST MILKY WAX SNOW® SKIN WHITENING LOTION WITH ELITE SEVEN SKIN WHITENING ACTIVES CURATIO MELIPOX TOUCH FREE MOISTURISER PERVIL MAGIC® CREAM SOAP VIRGINITY SOAP A NATURAL HYGIENE BAR (RED) PEMPEM SOAP VIRGINITY BY PUCA (LEMON GREEN) PEMPEM SOAP VIRGINITY BY PUCA (DARK BLUE) PEMPEM SOAP VIRGINITY BY PUCA (LIGHT BLUE) CANMAKE GLOW FLEUR CHEEKS A BONNE’ HAIR SPA MILK PROTEIN INTENSIVE NOURISHING TREATMENT FOR DRY AND DAMAGE HAIR KOJIC LEMON ORIGINAL SOAP LE EINBO HOUSE GARDEN NUTRITION HYDRATEZ CREAM DE SOIN LE EINBO HOUSE GARDEN LAIT REPARATEUR LE EINBO HOUSE GARDEN NOURRIR REPARATION CREAM DE SOIN LE EINBO HOUSE GARDEN ECLAT COULEUR MASQUE REPARATEUR CREAM DE SOIN LE EINBO HOUSE GARDEN HYDRANT APAISANT CREAM DE SOIN MENGDIE NEWTREND STREAM HAIR MASK PROTEIN PAK CONDITIONING R.C.S. INTELLIGENT SERIES MENGDIE NEWTREND STREAM HAIR MASK LSECITHIN AND COCONUT R.C.S. INTELLIGENT SERIES MISS BEAUTY MOIST BODY CARE NATURAL EXTRACT BODY WASH STRAWBERRY MISS BEAUTY MOIST BODY CARE NATURAL EXTRACT BODY WASH AVOCADO TRI & 1® PROFESSIONAL HAIR COLOUR NATURAL AND EASY H821 (GOLDEN BROWN) NUTRICOLOR SHINE BRILLIANCE INTENSE ENRICH SHEA BUTTER 5.4 (CHESTNUT BROWN) KC.B CARE SYSTEM BOJAZZ PROFESSIONAL ULTRA BLUE DECOLORANT MINISO BROWLASH PERFECT WATERPROOF EYEBROW PENCIL MINISO 1+1 MATTE LOOSE SETTING POWDER MINISO INTENSIVE HYDRATION MOISTURIZER ENRICHED WITH YEAST AND ALLANTOIN EXTRACT MINISO DEEP CLEANSING LOTION MAKE-UP REMOVER W7® ARGAN OIL LIP BALM

FDA post-marketing surveillance (PMS) activities have verified that the abovementioned cosmetic products have not gone through the verification process of the agency and have not been issued the proper authorization in the form of acknowledged cosmetic notifications. Pursuant to Republic Act No. 9711, otherwise known as the “Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009”, the manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale, distribution, transfer, non-consumer use, promotion, advertising or sponsorship of health products without the proper authorization from FDA is prohibited.

4

In light of the above, the public is advised not to purchase the aforementioned violative products. Moreover, the public is also advised to be vigilant against cosmetic products that might not be duly notified with FDA. Always check if a cosmetic product has been notified with FDA before purchasing it by making use of the embedded Search feature of the FDA website accessible at www.fda.gov.ph.

All concerned establishments are warned not to distribute the aboveidentified violative cosmetic products until they have already been covered by the appropriate authorization (cosmetic notification), otherwise, regulatory actions and sanctions shall be strictly pursued.

All Local Government Units (LGUs) and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) are requested to ensure that these products are not sold or made available in their localities or areas of jurisdiction.

For more information and inquiries, please e-mail us at info@fda. gov.ph. To report continuous sale or distribution of the above unnotified cosmetic products, utilize our online reporting facility, eReport, at www. fda.gov.ph/ereport, or e-mail us via report@fda.gov.ph, or call us at the Center for Cosmetics Regulation and Research (CCRR) hotline (02) 8571979 or (02) 857-1984.

Dissemination of the information to all concerned is requested.

NELA CHARADE G. PUNO, RPh Director General ANNEX Details on the Unnotified Cosmetic Products

1

PRODUCT NAME CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN LIPSTICK (02)

PRODUCT DETAILS Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated Address: Not Indicated

2

THE QUEEN’S SECRET EYEBAG CREAM

Country of Manufacture: Not Indicated Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated

PRODUCT IMAGE/S

PRODUCT DETAILS Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated

5

Country of Manufacture: Not Indicated SKIN MAGICAL Local Company REJUVENATING Responsible for FACIAL TONER Placing the Product in the Market: 2 Skin Magical Products Trading

Country of Manufacture: Not Indicated DIFRESH LADY Local Company Responsible for DEODORANT STICK FRESH Placing the Product in the Market: FLOWER UQlean Incorporated Address: State Center Bldg., 333 Juan Luna St. Binondo, Manila Country of Manufacture: Not Indicated

6

7

LUCKY SUPER SOFT® MOISTURIZING CREAM CREAMY PETROLEUM JELLY COCOA BUTTER

TENCEL® SOOTHING RELIEF VITAMIN B5 VELVET MASK

PRODUCT IMAGE/S

PRODUCT NAME 13 PERVIL MAGIC® CREAM SOAP

Address: Not Indicated

Address: 820 Tomas Claudio, Brgy. San Pedro, Morong Rizal

Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Japan Home Inc. Address: #21 Panay Ave., Quezon City Country of Manufacture: China Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated

Country of Manufacture: Korea

8

J.CAT BEAUTY ETERNAL SHINE LIP GLAZE FRENCH ROSE

Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated Address: Not Indicated

9

Country of Manufacture: U.S.A. OILIM OIL HAIR Local Company CARE SERIES Responsible for MOISTURIZING Placing the Product in the Market: OILWAX Not Indicated NUANCE ARRANGE WAX Address: Not Indicated

Country of Manufacture: Japan 10 OILIM OIL HAIR Local Company CARE SERIES Responsible for MOISTURIZING Placing the Product OILWAX MOIST in the Market: Not Indicated MILKY WAX

11 SNOW® SKIN WHITENING LOTION WITH ELITE SEVEN SKIN WHITENING ACTIVES

12 CURATIO MELIPOX TOUCH FREE MOISTURISER

PRODUCT DETAILS Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Pervil Cosmetics Phils., Inc. Address: Cabanatuan City Country of Manufacture: Philippines

14 VIRGINITY SOAP A NATURAL HYGIENE BAR (RED)

Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated Address: Not Indicated

Country of Manufacture: Not Indicated 15 PEMPEM SOAP Local Company VIRGINITY BY Responsible for PUCA (LEMON Placing the Product GREEN) in the Market: Not Indicated Address: Not Indicated Country of Manufacture: U.S.A. 16 PEMPEM SOAP Local Company VIRGINITY BY Responsible for PUCA (DARK Placing the Product BLUE) in the Market: Not Indicated Address: Not Indicated Country of Manufacture: U.S.A. 17 PEMPEM SOAP Local Company VIRGINITY BY Responsible for PUCA (LIGHT Placing the Product BLUE) in the Market: Not Indicated Address: Not Indicated

Address: Not Indicated

Accordingly, because unnotified cosmetic products have not gone through the verification process of the FDA, the agency cannot guarantee their quality and safety. The use of such violative products may pose potential health hazards to the consuming public.

Potential hazards may come from ingredients that are not allowed to be part of a cosmetic product or from the contamination of heavy metals such as mercury especially in whitening cosmetic products. The use of substandard and possibly adulterated cosmetic products may result to adverse reactions including but not limited to skin irritation, itchiness, anaphylactic shock and organ failure.

PRODUCT NAME CRYSTAL INFINITY BEAUTY PRODUCTS BODY BUTTER FRAGRANCE & WHITENING LOTION SPF 40

18 CANMAKE GLOW FLEUR CHEEKS

Country of Manufacture: Not Indicated Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated Address: Not Indicated

Country of Manufacture: Japan 19 A BONNE’ Local Company HAIR SPA Responsible for MILK PROTEIN Placing the Product INTENSIVE in the Market: NOURISHING Not Indicated TREATMENT FOR DRY AND Address: DAMAGE HAIR Not Indicated Country of Manufacture: Thailand

20 KOJIC LEMON ORIGINAL SOAP

Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated

Address: Not Indicated

Address: Not Indicated

Country of Manufacture: Japan Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Vida Nutriscience Inc.

Country of Manufacture: Not Indicated Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated

Address: Mindanao Ave., Q.C. Philippines 1106 Country of Manufacture: Not Indicated Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Curatio Inc.

Address: Not Indicated

Address: Unit 2114 Cityland 10 Tower 2, 154 H.V. Dela Costa St., Brgy. Bel-Air, Makati City, Philippines

Country of Manufacture: Not Indicated

Country of Manufacture: India

21 LE EINBO HOUSE GARDEN NUTRITION HYDRATEZ CREAM DE SOIN

Address: Not Indicated Country of Manufacture: France

22 LE EINBO HOUSE GARDEN LAIT REPARATEUR

Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated

Address: Not Indicated Country of Manufacture: France

PRODUCT IMAGE/S

World

B3

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Pope heading for the minefield V

ATICAN CITY―Pope Francis plunges into a diplomatic minefield next week with visits to under-fire Myanmar and neighboring Bangladesh amid mounting outrage over the plight of persecuted Rohingya Muslims.

Some 620,000 Rohingya, more than half their total number, have fled from Myanmar’s Rakhine state to Bangladesh since August as a result of violence that the UN and the United States have described as ethnic cleansing.

Most of the refugees, a third of them children, have ended up in squalid refugee camps in impoverished Bangladesh, where they have given consistent and harrowing accounts of murder, arson and rape being used as part of a

military-orchestrated campaign to force them out of mainly Buddhist Myanmar.

The Myanmar military insists it is engaged in counter-insurgency operations. But rights groups dismiss that slant on recent events.

Amnesty International said this week the treatment of the Rohingya was racial discrimination on the level of apartheid South Africa while US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned that “no provocation can justify

‘Explosion’ dashes hopes for missing Argentine sub MAR DEL PLATA―Argentina’s navy confirmed Thursday that an unusual noise heard in the Atlantic near the last known position of a missing submarine appeared to be an explosion, dashing the last hopes of finding the vessel’s 44 crew members alive.

Relatives of the missing sailors reacted with grief and anger to the news after holding out hope since the sub was reported overdue at its Mar del Plata base on November 17, two days after the explosion.

“An anomalous, singular, short, violent and non-nuclear event consistent with an explosion,” occurred shortly after the submarine’s last communication, navy spokesman Captain Enrique Balbi told a news conference in Buenos Aires.

After days of false hopes, some of the relatives said the navy had withheld information about the sub and lied to them over the past week.

“I feel cheated,” said Itati Leguizamon, whose husband German Suarez was a sonar operator on the ARA San Juan.

“They did not tell us they died. But they tell us they are three thousand meters (9,800 feet) deep,” added Leguizamon

as other family members shouted angrily around her.

“They lied to us,” said Leguizamon, a lawyer.

A sobbing Jessica Gopar, whose husband was an electrician aboard the San Juan, said “they just told us that the submarine exploded.”

She spoke as she came out from the sub’s base.

“He was the love of my life, engaged seven years before we got married,” Gopar said of her husband, Fernando Santilli.

“And how can I tell my son that he no longer has a father?”

Underwater sounds detected in the first days of the search by two Argentine search ships were determined to originate from a sea creature, not the vessel. Satellite signals were also determined to be false alarms.

The San Juan, a 34-year-old German-built diesel-electric submarine, had reported a battery problem on November 15 and said it was diverting to Mar del Plata, but did not send a distress signal, according to the navy.

Balbi admitted on Wednesday that the situation for the sub and its crew appeared to be worsening. AFP

the horrendous atrocities” perpetrated in Rakhine.

Church officials say the Argentine pontiff will seek to use his trip to encourage reconciliation, dialogue and efforts to alleviate the crisis.

Hopes on that front were bolstered on Thursday when Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed to start repatriating some of the refugees in two months time.

However, rights groups have raised concerns about the repatriation plans, including questioning where the minority will be resettled after hundreds of their villages were razed, and how their safety will be ensured in a country where anti-Muslim sentiment is surging.

Many of the refugees say they PRODUCT NAME 23 LE EINBO HOUSE GARDEN NOURRIR REPARATION CREAM DE SOIN

US senator apologizes after fresh groping claims WASHINGTON―US Senator and former Saturday Night Live star Al Franken, accused of groping women, issued a fresh apology Thursday after new complaints of inappropriate behavior emerged this week.

The case of the Minnesota Democrat, who faces a potential Senate ethics investigation, is the latest in a series of sexual assault complaints against prominent American men in the entertainment, sports, political and media worlds.

Two women have anonymously alleged that Franken touched their buttocks at two separate political events in 2007 and 2008, the Huffington Post reported on Wednesday, taking the total number of accusations against him to four.

On the United States holiday of Thanksgiving, Franken wrote that he “feels terribly that I’ve made some women feel badly,” the Star Tribune newspaper in his

home state reported.

The former comedian, writer and liberal talk radio host described himself as “a warm person” who likes to hug people when they’re being photographed with him, but clearly, his embrace “crossed a line for some women,” his statement said.

Franken vowed to move ahead with an effort to regain the trust of his constituents, the Star Tribune said.

Sports broadcaster and former model Leeann Tweeden was the first alleged victim to come forward, accusing Franken of touching her while she slept and kissing her without her consent in 2006.

A second woman, Lindsay Menz, then told CNN that she took a photograph with Franken at a Minnesota fair in 2010, and that he “pulled me in really close, like awkward close, and as my husband took the picture, he put his hand fullfledged on my rear.” AFP

PRODUCT DETAILS Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated

Address: Not Indicated Country of Manufacture: France

24 LE EINBO HOUSE GARDEN ECLAT COULEUR MASQUE REPARATEUR CREAM DE SOIN

Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated

Address: Not Indicated Country of Manufacture: France

25 LE EINBO HOUSE GARDEN HYDRANT APAISANT CREAM DE SOIN

27 MENGDIE NEWTREND STREAM HAIR MASK LSECITHIN AND COCONUT R.C.S. INTELLIGENT SERIES

28 MISS BEAUTY MOIST BODY CARE NATURAL EXTRACT BODY WASH STRAWBERRY

PRODUCT IMAGE/S

chief was organized on the recommendation of Charles Bo, the archbishop of Yangon, who also advised the pope not to use the term “Rohingya”.

Vatican officials played down suggestions the outspoken pontiff was being gagged but indicated that he would likely follow Cardinal Bo’s advice to avoid any unnecessary inflammation of tensions.

He is due to meet a small group of Rohingya refugees on the second leg of his trip, in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka on Friday.

The visit to Myanmar will be the first by any pope to the country formerly known as Burma.

Pope John Paul II visited Bangladesh in 1986 and Paul VI visPRODUCT NAME 30 TRI & 1® PROFESSIONAL HAIR COLOUR NATURAL AND EASY H821 (GOLDEN BROWN)

31 NUTRICOLOR SHINE BRILLIANCE INTENSE ENRICH SHEA BUTTER 5.4 (CHESTNUT BROWN)

32 KC.B CARE SYSTEM BOJAZZ PROFESSIONAL ULTRA BLUE DECOLORANT

Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated

Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated Address: Not Indicated Country of Manufacture: Label is in Foreign Language

Country of Manufacture: Label is in Foreign Language

Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated

33 MINISO BROWLASH PERFECT WATERPROOF EYEBROW PENCIL

Country of Manufacture: China

PRODUCT IMAGE/S

Address: Not Indicated Country of Manufacture: Not Indicated Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated Address: Not Indicated Country of Manufacture: Not Indicated Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated

Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated Address: Not Indicated

Country of Manufacture: China 34 MINISO 1+1 Local Company MATTE LOOSE Responsible for SETTING Placing the Product POWDER in the Market: Not Indicated Address: Not Indicated Country of Manufacture: China

35 MINISO INTENSIVE HYDRATION MOISTURIZER ENRICHED WITH YEAST AND ALLANTOIN EXTRACT

Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated Address: Not Indicated

Country of Manufacture: China 36 MINISO DEEP Local Company CLEANSING Responsible for LOTION MAKE- Placing the Product UP REMOVER in the Market: Not Indicated Address: Not Indicated

Address: Not Indicated

Country of Manufacture: China 29 MISS BEAUTY Local Company Responsible for MOIST BODY CARE NATURAL Placing the Product in the Market: EXTRACT Not Indicated BODY WASH AVOCADO Address: Not Indicated

PRODUCT DETAILS Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated

Country of Manufacture: Label is in Foreign Language

Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated Address: Not Indicated

ited what was then East Pakistan in 1970, a year before the mostly Muslim country gained independence.

Due in Yangon on Monday, Francis will meet Burma’s civilian leader and Nobel peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi in the capital, Naypyidaw, on Tuesday.

Suu Kyi has been widely condemned for a perceived lack of sympathy towards the Rohingya and her unwillingness to condemn alleged atrocities by the army.

But Francis, who met the former dissident at the Vatican in May, when the Holy See established diplomatic relations with Myanmar, is understood to be sympathetic to the difficult position she finds herself in. AFP

Address: Not Indicated

Address: Not Indicated Country of Manufacture: France

26 MENGDIE NEWTREND STREAM HAIR MASK PROTEIN PAK CONDITIONING R.C.S. INTELLIGENT SERIES

ACTIVE MT. AGUNG. A farmer works in a field as Mt. Agung volano looms in the background in the Rendang sub-district of Karangasem Regency on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali. AFP

are reluctant to return to Myanmar unless they are granted full citizenship.

Francis will however have to tread extremely carefully in Myanmar, where the Rohingya are widely detested and officials even refuse to use the term, insisting instead on the minority being classed as illegal Bengali immigrants.

Francis arrives in Myanmar on Monday and will spend three days there. In a last minute change to his programme he now plans to have a private meeting with the head of the country’s army, General Min Aung Hlaing.

“It is going to be very interesting diplomatically,” said Vatican spokesman Greg Burke.

The meeting with the military

37 W7® ARGAN OIL LIP BALM

Country of Manufacture: China Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated Address: Not Indicated Country of Manufacture: Not Indicated

Standard – Nov. 25, 2017

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

B4

Chinese firm, MRC sign LNG agreement

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017

By Alena Mae S. Flores

MANILA STANDARDF BUSINESS D AILY STOCKS REVIEW ,N 24, 2017 RIDAY

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

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

3.42 59.8 101 3.89 146 2.14 33.45 15.78 35.15 1.79 0.61 94.1 0.81 12.04 57.2 240.2 99 87.7 56.6 251.2 1,950 86.9 1.3

3.42 59.8 103.9 3.89 146.1 2.14 33.5 15.9 36.1 1.79 0.61 95.2 0.82 12.04 57.2 243.2 100 88 60.05 254.4 1,950 87 1.3

3.42 59.25 100 3.89 145 2.02 33.45 15.78 35 1.62 0.59 93 0.8 12.04 56.7 238 99 86.8 56.6 250.6 1,880 86.9 1.27

FINANCIALS 3.42 136,000 59.8 18,290 103.9 1,392,770 3.89 5,000 145.1 861,930 2.05 443,000 33.5 129,100 15.78 3,200 35.6 2,590,600 1.79 22,000 0.6 3,931,000 95.2 1,593,880 0.82 318,000 12.04 19,500 56.7 175,260 238 1,360 99.1 310 88 1,940 59.05 1,613,850 254.4 342,120 1,880 330 86.95 34,830 1.29 81,000

465,120 1,091,001 141,824,583 19,450 125,471,918 907,970 4,319,770 50,538 92,548,040 36,750 2,334,550 150,991,416 258,920 234,780 9,973,199.50 324,748 30,900 169,321.50 95,098,375.50 86,535,328 626,550 3,027,490 104,420

535,409 23,586,502 -38,648,020 -54,610 50,175 28,322,225 68,577,933.50 -7,653,954.50 56,420 44,165,362.50 -18,574,750 9,750 -

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA 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 MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHIL H2O PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP PUREFOODS RFM CORP ROXAS HLDG SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

40.6 12.32 0.71 1.34 17.5 0.221 4.12 15.5 42.9 19 1.88 5.37 11.02 10.78 14.76 11.22 7.29 5.77 1.63 17.16 61.4 25.15 11.82 19.94 2 253.2 58.5 4.1 3.5 28.9 18.16 18.46 323.8 0.2 8.23 2.45 6.38 9.41 7.5 9.68 1.58 11.88 58 6.9 580 4.95 4.5 1.99 12.9 6.75 0.137 1.19 137.2 3.17 1.98 0.65

40.6 12.6 0.73 1.35 17.5 0.226 4.15 15.5 43 20.2 2.11 5.46 11.3 10.82 14.88 11.22 7.32 5.78 1.75 17.18 61.6 25.65 11.9 19.94 2.08 258.4 60 4.15 3.69 28.9 18.36 18.5 323.8 0.201 8.49 2.5 6.45 9.42 7.66 9.68 1.59 12.2 58.15 6.9 585 5 4.5 1.99 12.98 7 0.138 1.21 138.9 3.17 1.99 0.65

40 12.3 0.71 1.33 16.94 0.22 4.11 15.3 40.5 19 1.88 5.37 11.02 10.6 14.6 11.14 7.2 5.75 1.63 17.02 61.3 23.8 11.8 18.5 2 252.8 58.5 4 3.5 28.6 18.1 18.22 316 0.2 8.22 2.45 6.15 9.16 7.3 9.5 1.57 11.88 58 6.42 530 4.9 4.5 1.95 12.84 6.75 0.137 1.16 136.6 3.17 1.91 0.6

INDUSTRIAL 40.5 1,195,800 12.38 1,100,900 0.71 134,000 1.35 185,000 17.18 24,600 0.22 1,060,000 4.11 5,583,000 15.32 124,200 42.35 1,091,300 20.2 13,600 2.05 3,166,000 5.46 18,300 11.1 600 10.68 1,934,900 14.7 537,600 11.2 1,529,800 7.23 86,800 5.77 2,057,300 1.75 2,000 17.1 3,069,100 61.5 39,440 24 914,300 11.8 31,200 19.2 4,661,200 2.05 1,493,000 258.4 568,850 60 2,080 4.03 769,000 3.6 107,000 28.8 717,100 18.12 216,600 18.38 1,065,700 319 1,117,910 0.2 120,000 8.49 14,700 2.49 296,000 6.4 226,200 9.16 7,724,500 7.59 266,700 9.66 53,600 1.58 993,000 12 242,800 58 131,270 6.88 21,300 534 93,590 5 145,100 4.5 69,000 1.95 395,000 12.9 276,800 6.82 1,898,000 0.138 430,000 1.18 110,000 138.9 1,284,470 3.17 14,000 1.97 6,341,000 0.65 189,000

48,277,295 13,700,436 97,260 248,190 419,148 234,200 22,999,220 1,903,572 45,573,755 268,408 6,396,630 98,748 6,648 20,685,940 7,944,200 17,122,656 626,955 11,862,620 3,380 52,346,254 2,422,087 22,511,575 368,848 88,455,926 3,042,570 144,713,772 124,680 3,088,660 381,200 20,642,190 3,925,502 19,643,912 357,270,188 24,010 121,235 736,650 1,427,852 71,563,666 1,994,401 514,961 1,565,570 2,926,628 7,618,289 138,416 52,551,735 720,934 310,500 777,960 3,567,818 13,097,886 59,010 128,620 177,091,609 44,380 12,329,740 117,690

-7,428,075 34,356 13,500 -16,680 -193,080 -6,269,420 293,160 -2,592,218 1,738,760 -10,127,628 -97,891 -1,217,509.00 3,188,928 -765,162 24,000 23,600 -19,561,050 -270,800 26,988 288,720 262,330 1,805,224 3,872,790 80,498,784 -639,860 187,355 -32,151,887.00 -290,400 471,000 5,637,433 -57,600 153,000 530,376 -214,182 1,062,148 -70,240 -

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

0.34 70.3 15.68 7.06 0.36 0.375 1,020 7.53 14.7 7.9 0.183 1,182 7.55 72 5.07 0.67 5.59 18.96 0.355 6.67 3.34 0.047 1.07 2.06 112.9 2.64 971 0.83 1.72 280 0.24 0.185 0.19

0.34 71.45 15.7 7.06 0.37 0.375 1,024 7.53 15 7.99 0.199 1,195 7.93 72.3 5.07 0.67 5.59 18.98 0.355 6.67 3.34 0.047 1.12 2.06 113.4 2.94 983.5 0.83 1.8 287.4 0.24 0.185 0.19

0.315 70.1 15.48 7.06 0.36 0.365 1,015 7.42 14.46 7.85 0.182 1,160 7.5 70.95 5.07 0.63 5.49 18.6 0.355 6.6 3.3 0.046 1.05 2.06 111 2.64 960 0.83 1.69 279 0.227 0.184 0.19

HOLDING FIRMS 0.33 900,000 71 1,366,110 15.6 5,442,400 7.06 800 0.37 720,000 0.375 100,000 1,020 429,705 7.47 3,164,400 15 4,079,500 7.95 54,700 0.199 190,000 1,195 33,585 7.92 49,300 71 1,852,960 5.07 100 0.66 1,965,000 5.51 43,300 18.98 2,497,500 0.355 20,000 6.61 28,617,400 3.3 28,000 0.047 13,200,000 1.1 371,000 2.06 50,000 112.9 308,690 2.84 153,000 983.5 342,250 0.83 15,000 1.76 10,370,000 286 1,920 0.23 900,000 0.184 200,000 0.19 350,000

286,150 96,872,999 84,789,050 5,648 261,150 36,700 438,133,325 23,647,303 60,838,850 435,168 34,830 39,901,190 372,001 132,316,956 507 1,253,420 238,379 47,108,518 7,100 189,368,383 93,070 616,200 398,630 103,000 34,561,463 420,510 332,535,960 12,450 18,250,710 538,762 210,370 36,820 66,500

32,582,560.50 -20,851,066 -216,052,885 -3,287,289 -13,077,896 -404,550 -64,234,784 22,672,352 20,851,926 6,739,201 -128,143,075 16,992 9,600 1,900

Republic of the Philippines Department of Health FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION FDA ADVISORY No. 2017-278 TO: GENERAL CONSUMING PUBLIC

OVEMBER

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

05 OCT 2017

SUBJECT:

Public Health Warning Against the Use of Counterfeit Cosmetic Products (Batch 5) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises the public against the purchase and use of the cosmetic product, NIVEA BABY SOFT-CRÈME WIPES whose particulars/details are provided below: PRODUCT DETAILS PRODUCT IMAGE/S Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Not Indicated Address: Not Indicated Country of Manufacture: Made in the Netherlands FDA, in coordination with the Market Authorization Holder (MAH), Beiersdorf Philippines Inc., has verified that the aforementioned cosmetic product is a COUNTERFEIT. According to the MAH, the artwork seen in Figure 1 is the only artwork used by Nivea for Nivea Baby Soft & Cream Wipes.

Below is a comparison of the authentic Nivea Baby Soft & Cream Wipes vs. the counterfeit product whose product name, Nivea Baby Soft-Crème Wipes, is slightly different from the real product.

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

5.7 0.95 10.22 2.39 0.92 42.8 3.72 4.72 5.46 0.48 1.13 1.15 0.208 0.475 38.5 0.66 0.138 1.8 1.5 0.78 5.62 0.39 0.38 0.58 6.71 24.6 1.94 3.21 36 1.03 0.84 5.74

5.7 0.96 10.4 2.4 0.94 44.7 3.72 4.75 5.46 0.48 1.13 1.15 0.213 0.475 38.5 0.66 0.138 1.84 1.54 0.8 5.62 0.435 0.385 0.59 6.83 24.65 2.08 3.21 36.2 1.03 0.87 6.1

5.5 0.93 10.02 2.36 0.91 42.75 3.68 4.69 5.34 0.47 1.13 1.15 0.206 0.47 37.95 0.66 0.138 1.8 1.5 0.76 5.48 0.38 0.37 0.54 6.62 20.4 1.92 3.16 35.65 1.01 0.84 5.71

PROPERTY 5.5 0.95 10.34 2.4 0.93 44.5 3.69 4.72 5.46 0.47 1.13 1.15 0.211 0.47 37.95 0.66 0.138 1.82 1.5 0.78 5.6 0.43 0.38 0.56 6.64 21 2.07 3.16 36 1.03 0.87 6.1

277,000 1,917,000 25,400 55,000 2,961,000 13,550,000 128,000 900,000 32,000 4,700,000 9,000 20,000 13,480,000 270,000 170,300 86,000 800,000 1,664,000 5,910,000 785,000 25,502,200 407,000,000 1,340,000 16,478,000 3,466,900 10,842,700 3,339,000 252,000 6,871,500 290,000 13,000 2,557,500

1,547,474 1,802,310 258,700 130,530 2,715,770 595,906,645 472,220 4,239,710 173,585 2,229,250 10,170 23,000 2,829,450 128,000 6,493,710 56,760 110,400 3,016,600 8,962,930 603,260 141,676,405 169,022,550 504,900 9,246,940 23,405,830 232,959,830 6,760,390 808,070 246,972,160 296,240 10,980 15,038,828

84,904 44,160 295,886,835 -69,750 -18,950 122,762 -126,450 -104,000 193,955 1,433,660 -75,000 -26,046,977 -850,600 -11,100 -228,501 -54,833,760 376,180 4,852,205 -158,709

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

16.7 36.2 1.4 0.475 0.047 12.1 4.61 10.16 0.079 101.4 9.12 7.12 2.95 1,869 5.85 17.5 3.29 2.34 104.5 8.34 0.145 1.37 3.08 15.9 3.7 1.21 23.2 3.65 6.65 3.92 2.91 11.1 4.83 146 8.98 1,639 1.3 0.335 48.05 94.75 5.66 3.35 1.73 3.71 0.99 8.12

17 37 1.45 0.475 0.047 12.1 4.61 10.3 0.081 101.4 9.12 7.12 3.34 1,869 5.9 18 3.95 2.38 106.9 8.36 0.145 1.38 3.22 15.9 3.7 1.22 23.25 3.79 6.87 3.95 2.95 11.1 4.83 155 9.08 1,639 1.31 0.335 48.15 96.5 6.34 3.4 1.74 3.77 0.99 8.14

16.6 36 1.36 0.475 0.046 11.98 4.61 10.14 0.076 100 9 7.06 2.95 1,780 5.8 17.02 3.18 2.33 102.8 8.3 0.143 1.36 3.07 15.2 3.63 1.18 21.8 3.54 6.5 3.88 2.86 11.1 4.8 146 8.6 1,570 1.3 0.325 47.95 94 5.59 3.2 1.7 3.7 0.96 8.1

SERVICES 16.9 36.15 1.36 0.475 0.047 11.98 4.61 10.14 0.08 100 9.02 7.06 3.19 1,780 5.9 18 3.93 2.37 106.9 8.36 0.144 1.37 3.22 15.2 3.65 1.2 22.3 3.6 6.7 3.9 2.94 11.1 4.82 150 8.87 1,586 1.3 0.335 48.05 96.5 6 3.2 1.72 3.75 0.96 8.14

23,000 17,300 857,000 700,000 31,000,000 1,800 1,000 13,299,800 89,420,000 58,740 966,900 17,900 1,273,000 133,735 431,200 12,600 72,292,000 11,000 653,190 340,000 1,070,000 112,000 64,000 2,000 268,000 419,000 5,063,800 2,209,000 3,741,000 963,000 5,591,000 100 10,000 10,250 1,354,000 210,885 405,000 390,000 2,188,600 507,490 2,096,000 3,612,000 6,388,000 189,000 5,272,000 1,648,800

386,300 631,245 1,187,330 332,500 1,450,900 21,758 4,610 134,942,614 7,097,270 5,913,077 8,728,074 127,106 4,101,410 242,355,070 2,513,612 218,154 260,973,280 25,950 69,212,202 2,835,740 153,590 153,080 197,860 30,820 984,360 501,290 112,774,815 8,054,730 25,045,121 3,757,510 16,192,010 1,110 48,130 1,542,793 11,982,206 335,163,145 527,100 127,450 105,120,640 48,601,509.50 13,082,055 11,821,770 10,967,290 709,350 5,106,270 13,409,128

78,970.00 354,570 -78,200 1,549,390 -240,000 -84,867 25,244 152,080 -80,904,000 26,803,230 53,316,443 15,220 -166,600 -35,344,115 8,128,638 1,924,250 950,150 4,820 -824,032 -54,083,960 -20,800 -60,230,115 2,487,842 -6,079,080 2,252,330 139,140 116,400 10,136,776.00

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

0.0024 1.7 4.88 15.98 1.71 1.71 1.6 0.34 7.13 2.91 0.239 0.149 0.152 0.01 0.011 1.8 6.67 1.43 0.93 0.012 0.013 0.011 2.16 6.91 10.66 37.05 0.0071

0.0024 1.73 4.9 15.98 1.71 1.71 1.63 0.36 7.88 2.91 0.239 0.15 0.152 0.011 0.011 1.86 6.67 1.5 0.93 0.012 0.013 0.012 2.17 6.99 11.12 37.05 0.0071

0.0023 1.66 4.73 15.98 1.7 1.67 1.6 0.34 7.11 2.83 0.238 0.149 0.151 0.01 0.011 1.74 6.54 1.42 0.88 0.012 0.013 0.011 2.11 6.88 10.2 36.15 0.007

MINING & OIL 0.0023 466,000,000 1.67 8,207,000 4.8 245,000 15.98 200 1.7 3,000 1.67 83,000 1.61 3,752,000 0.36 170,000 7.8 3,300 2.88 2,188,000 0.238 30,000 0.15 8,420,000 0.152 780,000 0.01 202,400,000 0.011 6,800,000 1.85 990,000 6.61 4,909,600 1.5 388,000 0.9 920,000 0.012 15,100,000 0.013 100,000 0.012 56,800,000 2.11 194,000 6.88 492,800 10.24 18,912,000 36.5 2,243,500 0.007 32,000,000

1,106,400 13,823,520 1,189,450 3,196 5,120 139,420 6,039,300 60,700 25,053 6,254,500 7,160 1,259,730 118,050 2,025,000 74,800 1,766,260 32,410,121 560,960 827,630 181,200 1,300 625,400 418,910 3,401,316 201,362,514 81,648,690 224,100

6,900 -334,000 -498,100 -131,310 -10,270,001 67,310 -1,499,018 1,869,292 -46,900,720.00 -

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

36 520 107.5 108 521 5.55 1,012 1,040 1.06 1,049 1,150 1,003 103 76.05 81.35 76.5 80.4 77.3 79.5

36 520 107.5 108 521 5.55 1,050 1,040 1.06 1,049 1,150 1,003 103 77.5 81.35 76.5 80.4 77.3 79.5

35 520 107.1 108 521 5.43 1,012 1,020 1.06 1,049 1,150 1,001 100.1 76.05 81.3 76.5 80.25 77.3 79.5

PREFERRED 35.5 800 520 1,770 107.1 20,000 108 20 521 2,000 5.43 2,592,800 1,050 875 1,030 1,260 1.06 50,000 1,049 1,070 1,150 10 1,002 12,625 100.1 3,200 76.05 3,040 81.3 13,400 76.5 2,400 80.25 35,240 77.3 580 79.5 67,000

28,650 920,400 2,145,680 2,160 1,042,000 14,192,282 885,690 1,285,350 53,000 1,122,430 11,500 12,649,920 323,080 232,105 1,089,520 183,600 2,831,834 44,834 5,326,500

-21,600 -3,072,993 -

LR WARRANT

2.25

2.29

2.24

WARRANTS 2.25 325,000

737,680

-

67,831,524 711,780 3,575,490

-215,504 154,480

8,953,156

-

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

12.66 3.16 3.91

13.3 3.4 3.92

11.38 3.16 3.81

FIRST METRO ETF

127

127

125.5

11.56 3.3 3.88

SME

5,457,600 216,000 928,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 126 71,320

Harbor diversifies into power generation

Republic of the Philippines Department of Health FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION 29 SEP 2017

FDA ADVISORY No. 2017-272 TO: GENERAL CONSUMING PUBLIC

SUBJECT: Public Health Warning on Art Coloring Products with Detected Levels of Lead (Batch 2)

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns the public against the purchase and use of the art coloring product MPC CLASSIQUE WATER COLORS which has been verified to contain lead beyond the maximum allowed limit of not more than ninety (90) parts per million (ppm).

Lead is dangerous even at low exposure levels. It produces a spectrum of injury across multiple body systems. In particular, lead affects children’s brain development resulting in reduced intelligence quotient (IQ), behavioral changes such as reduced attention span and increase antisocial behavior, and reduced educational attainment.

Children, because of their physical and mental immaturity has always been considered as a high-risk population. Their hand-to-mouth behaviors as well as their innate curiosity predisposed them to put objects in their mouth resulting to unintended exposure to multiple hazardous substances such as lead. Accordingly, to protect them from unnecessary hazards, parents, school teachers, and guardians are strongly advised to strictly monitor the children especially when they are engaged in activities wherein adult supervision is required.

Figure 1. Artwork of the Authentic Nivea Baby Figure 2. Artwork of the Counterfeit Nivea Baby Soft & Cream Wipes Soft-Crème Wipes Counterfeit products, not having gone through the required safety assessment and the verification process of the FDA, pose potential health hazards to the consuming public since their safety and purity cannot be guaranteed. The dangers/hazards may come from ingredients that are not allowed to be part of a cosmetic product or from the contamination of heavy metals such as lead and mercury. The use of substandard and possibly adulterated cosmetic products may result to adverse reactions including but not limited to skin irritation, itchiness, anaphylactic shock and organ failure.

In light of the above, the public is advised to be vigilant against buying and using the aforementioned counterfeit cosmetic product. Moreover, the public is also advised to be vigilant against cosmetic products that might not be duly notified with FDA. Always check if a cosmetic product has been notified with FDA before purchasing it by making use of the embedded Search feature of the FDA website accessible at www.fda.gov.ph.

In light of the above, the public is advised not to purchase and use the aforementioned product.

All concerned establishments are warned not to distribute the above-identified product. Moreover, all Local Government Units (LGUs) and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) are requested to ensure that the above-identified product is not sold or made available in their localities or areas of jurisdiction.

For more information and inquiries, please e-mail us at info@fda.gov.ph. To report continuous sale or distribution of the above-identified products, utilize our online reporting facility, eReport, at www.fda.gov.ph/ereport, or e-mail us via report@fda.gov.ph, or call us at the Center for Cosmetics Regulation and Research (CCRR) hotline (02) 857-1979 or (02) 857-1984.

Dissemination of the information to all concerned is requested.

NELA CHARADE G. PUNO, RPh Director General ANNEX

All concerned establishments are warned not to distribute the above-identified violative cosmetic product, otherwise, regulatory actions and sanctions shall be strictly pursued.

All Local Government Units (LGUs) and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) are requested to ensure that the product is not sold or made available in their localities or areas of jurisdiction.

To report any suspicious and/or illegal activity involving the said product, the public may contact FDA through its online reporting facility, eReport, at www.fda.gov.ph/ereport, or e-mail us at report@fda.gov.ph, or call the Center for Cosmetics Regulation and Research (CCRR) hotline (02) 857-1979 or (02) 857-1984.

Details on Art Coloring Products with Detected Levels of Lead PRODUCT NAME PRODUCT DETAILS 1 MPC CLASSIQUE Manufacturer: Not Indicated WATER COLORS Country of Manufacture: Not Indicated Local Company Responsible for Placing the Product in the Market: Multiline Products Corp.

Dissemination of the information to all concerned is requested

Address: Manila, Philippines

NELA CHARADE G. PUNO, RPh Director General Standard – Nov. 25, 2017

Standard – Nov. 25, 2017

PRODUCT IMAGE/S

MRC Allied Inc. said Friday it signed an agreement with China Energy Engineering Group Guangdong Power Engineering Co. LTD. to explore the possibility of building and operating liquefied natural gas projects in the Philippines.

MRC Allied and GPEC also recently signed an agreement on the possibility of developing renewable energy projects in the country.

GPEC is a foreign company based in Guangzhou, Guangdong engaged in the business of exploration, development and construction of energy projects. Under the agreement with MRC Allied, GPEC will conduct a due diligence for one year after the signing of the deal.

“The purpose of the due diligence is to allow GPEC to make a decision to pursue LNG projects with MRC,” the listed company said.

MRC Allied has signed an agreement with China Energy Engineering Corp. Ltd. on the possibility of developing LNG. CEEC, a company incorporated in Beijing, China, is into exploration, development and construction of energy projects.

HARBOR Star Shipping Services Inc. has diversified into power generation through the acquisition of a 60-percent stake in Astronergy Development Gensan Inc., which is developing a solar project in General Santos.

Harbor Star Shipping said in a disclosure unit Harbor Star Energy Corp. signed an agreement to purchase of 45 percent of the issued capital stock of Astronergy from existing shareholders and subscribe to primary shares for $6.3 million equivalent to a combined 60 percent of Astroenergy.

Astroenergy has permits, licenses and entitlements to operate a 25-megawatt, and expandable to 75 MW, solar power plant in General Santos.

“The entry of TUGS in the energy sector is pursuant to its strategy to diversify its business interests focusing on core industries. By investing in solar power and General Santos City, TUGS positions itself in the energy sector of the future and a territory where major development will be seen in the next 10 years,” Harbor Star Shipping said.

Along with Astronergy Development Group, which will maintain a 40-percent stake, Harbor Star Shipping’s entry into Astronergy Development Gensan Inc. “will provide a new steady income stream and, necessarily, increase shareholder value.”

Astronergy has received a certificate of commerciality from the Department of Energy and has power purchase agreement with South Cotobato II Electric Cooperative Inc. Under the PPA, Socoteco II will buy all the energy output from the project. The construction of the initial 25-MW solar power plant will be completed by the second quarter net year.

Alena Mae S. Flores

5

praCtiCal

Life

HealtH and environment

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com satuRday, noVemBeR 25, 2017

C1

tips

to drive cough away

F

OR many of us, the rainy season offers relief from the long spell of oppressive heat and humidity we’ve just endured in the past months. While it’s true that wet weather banishes much of the discomforts wrought by a tropical summer, it also brings with it common ailments like colds and cough.

It doesn’t help that intermittent rains and sudden changes in temperature render us more vulnerable to bacteria and viruses.

The inconveniences—flooding, heavy traffic, longer commutes—add to the stress of daily living, which, in turn, could weaken our immune systems.

While we can’t do much about the weather, we can help our bodies prevent cough or soothingly relieve it once it sets in by observing healthful practices even at the comfort of our own home, and when needed, taking a natural remedy like Ascof Forte Menthol (Vitex negundo L. Lagundi Leaf).

Here, Ascof shares five easy and practical steps on how to avoid and relieve cough this rainy season:

Eat nutritious food

A healthy and balanced diet provides nutrients, such as anti-oxidants, that help fortify the body against stress. Eating fruits and vegetables improves the body’s defense against cough-causing infections and boost the immune system.

Drink plenty of liquids

One of the simplest and most effective ways to relieve cough is to drink plenty of water, at least eight to 10 glasses a day.

This helps ensure proper hydration and expel wastes from the body. Water also helps soothe an irritated throat by thinning out the mucus in the post-nasal drip and keeping the mucus membranes moist. Gargling warm salt water if you have sore throat and drinking natural fruit juices also help.

Get enough rest, sleep, and exercise

Getting enough rest and sleep is an effortless way of strengthening your immune sys-

tem. A good night’s sleep helps regenerate your body and recharge it after a stressful workday, helping you resist infections that cause cough. Also, don’t give up on your exercise, even indoor, because it does not only make you feel good about yourself but also helps boost your immune system.

Maintain good hygiene

Some viruses and bacteria spread faster during the wet and cold season, thus making infections and common diseases like cough and colds easily transmissible. That is why even if you are staying indoors, it is of utmost importance to practice good personal hygiene habits such as washing your hands frequently to help prevent the spread of diseases and minimize your risk of infection.

Keep your surroundings clean

One of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses is to maintain a clean environment—keep your house neat and tidy at all times, change sheets regularly, avoid leaving stagnant water, clean your waterways, and dispose waste properly. When sneezing or coughing, always remember to cover your nose and mouth with tissue or clean cloth to prevent germs from spreading through the air.

When cough already sets in, take Ascof Forte Mentol for a safe and natural remedy that provides a “hagod-mentol” soothing effect to your irritated throat. Ascof is made from 100 percent organically grown lagundi leaves, making it a natural, safe, and effective remedy for cough and bronchial asthma.

Pascual Laboratories, the manufacturer of Ascof, has its own lagundi farm in Nueva Ecija that uses a GMP-certified production

RELIEVED. Simple lifestyle changes, such as drinking plenty of fluids and getting enough rest, can help avoid cough and colds. process to cultivate the traditional herbal plants. Ascof Forte Menthol is a product of scientific research and clinical studies.

Charming collection of themed homes

For inquiries and more details about Ascof Forte Menthol, visit their official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ASCO-

FLagundi or their official website at www. pascuallab.com/index.php/ascof.

FFCCCII, ABS-CBN donate public school buldings ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. President Carlo Katigbak and other top executives recently held a meeting with Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) led by President Domingo Yap. The meeting is in line with the the ethnic Chinese minority’s centuries-old tradition of socio-civic charities, hence FFCCCII promised to donate five public school buildings to rural areas in the country in partnership with ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc. Among many recent charities of FFCCCII include its July 25 giving P100,000 for each of the 101 government soldiers and police killed in the Marawi conflict.

In December 2016, FFCCCII donated 15

public school buildings in Sulu province in response to President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s call to assist that region.

FFCCCII has also donated drug rehabilitation centers in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao as well as support the idealistic Chinese-Filipino volunteer fire brigades nationwide.

Katigbak was accompanied by Broadcast head Cory Vidanes, News & Current Affairs head Ging Reyes, Public Service head Jun Dungo, Chief of Staff Linggit Tan and Corporate Communications head Kane Errol Choa, while yap was accompanied by EVP Henry Lim Bon Liong, VP Mary Ng, VP Jeffrey Ng, Welfare Committee Chairman Bonifacio Lui, Asst. Secretary-General Reynard Hing and Media Committee Chairman Wilson Lee Flores.

Each residential units in Tagaytay Highlands carries its own character and style, designed for upscale and refined individuals TAGAyTAy Highlands surely boasts an extensive residential portfolio like no other.

In this 1,200-hectare mountain resort community are themed homes that carry their own unique character and style. Ranging from premium log cabins to homes inspired by the tropics – all master planned and designed for upscale and refined individuals and families. Each residential community has been meticulously thought of, putting into careful consideration its location, topography, and the lifestyle choices of its future residences. Most of all, each home speaks of an intimate oneness with nature and its lush environs and the year-round weather Tagaytay is known for.

On top of the list of Tagaytay Highlands’ residential developments is its signature log cabin homes. Nestled on one of the highest elevations in Tagaytay, the rustic charms of Woodlands Point’s homes share the landscape with Norfolk Pine trees and

lush mountain ranges. Each log cabin is enhanced by Western red cedar accents and elegant detailing of glass and stone along with awe-inspiring panoramic views of the Highlands golf course, Laguna de Bay, the Canlubang countryside and the lush, verdant mountain making it the perfect weekend getaway.

Inspired by the elegant Colorado Rockies mountain resorts, Woodridge Place belongs to Tagaytay Highlands’ portfolio of worry-free condominium communities.

What set this apart from the others is the rustic mountain retreat experience and the conveniences of modern living it presents along with perpetually unobstructed views of the lush landscapes and mountains of Tagaytay, the Highlands fairways, and Laguna de Bay. One of the premium locations in Tagaytay Midlands, Sycamore Heights offers grand view of the Taal Lake and Volcano,

Midlands Fairways, and the mountainside.

Complementing its scenic vistas, homes feature a balance of contemporary and traditional Asian architecture. Earth tones resonate the entire community through modern elements of natural stone and wood.

Situated on the scenic slopes of the Greenlands, the Parks offers Americansuburban living fused perfectly with the warmth of the countryside through homes clustered into four to ten units of landscaped courtyards or garden style parks.

This unique setting fosters a congenial lifestyle through lush pine trees and fragrant herbs and flowers that surround the homes.

The Parks offers a variety of contemporary American-inspired architectural designs for each lot type.

Tagaytay Highlands continues to evolve into a township—where important moments are cherished in homes built to stand the test of time.

From left: Woodridge Place, a community inspired by Colorado Rockies; log cabin house at Woodlands Point; The Parks at Tagaytay Greenlands

FFCCCII president Domingo Yap and ABS-CBN president Carlo Katigbak with a scale model of a public school

FFCCCII and ABS-CBN officers

C2

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017 Isah V. Red, Editor • Nickie Wang, Writer

2017 MBC National Choral Competition semifinalists T HE best choirs from local schools, parishes and community groups nationwide will engage in a grand musical showdown on Dec. 5 to 9 at Aliw Theater when Manila Broadcasting Company and Star City mount this year’s MBC National Choral Competition.

Ateneo de Iloilo Treble Chorus

Kinaadman Chorale

UE Chorale

Following rigorous regional eliminations conducted by its stations Love Radio, Yes-FM, and Easy Rock in Cauayan, Iloilo, Laoag, General Santos City, Lucena, and Metro Manila, 44 choirs qualified for the semifinal rounds scheduled on the first four days of the competition.

A total of 60 choirs from all over the country participated in the nationwide audition legs, which yielded a bumper crop of entries from the provinces, and equally outstanding participants from MegaManila.

In the children’s division, Boscorale opens its title defense as it goes up against Bitik Children’s Choir, Junior St Paul College Pasig Chorale, and Himig ni Juan. On day two, Manresa Grade School Glee Club is bracketed with Pasig Catholic College, Araulolo High School, and Bacarra Young Voices. The third day features Ligao National High School Children’s Chorus, Ateneo de Iloilo Treble Chorus, San Nicolas National High School Serenata Chorale, and the Corpus Christi School Children’s Choir. Public high schools slug it out when last year’s second placer from Isabela - -Cauayan National High School’s Himig Cauayeño - - sings against Pavia National High School of Iloilo, Tarlac National High School, and Iloilo City National High School.

For the open category, the University of the East Chorale will see action on day one against Far Eastern University Chorale, Letran Singing Ambassadors, Coro Obcento, St Paul College Pasig High School Glee Club, ICP Charismatic Chorale, and Kawit Singing Ambassadors.

Day two will feature St. Scholastica’s Academy Marikina, Coro Regina Coeli, the RD Choral Ensemble, EARIST Amang-awit, Adamson University Chorale, Coro di Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae, and Bulacan Master Chorale. On Day three, competitors include the Oratory Boys Chorus, Tarlac Chamber Choir, Musica Paulinos, Second Chronicle Singers, Wesleyan Chamber Singers, PUP Bagong Himig Serenata, and the Avant-Garde Singers. The fourth semifinal round will have the South Cotabato Chorale, Kinaadman Chorale, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-South La Union Camerata, Koro Dabawenyo, Quezon Science Madrigal Virtuosos, Himig Rizalia, and the Nueva Ecija Singing Ambassadors.

The 2017 MBC National Choral Competition is made possible with the generous support of Columbia International Products, Inc, Sosro Fruit Tea, 555 Tuna, JRS Express, and Dunkin’ Donuts.

Winners of the semifinal rounds will compete in the grand finals on Dec.9, with the champion choirs taking home over P100,000 in cash and kind.

The public is invited to watch on all five days. Showtime is at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

FEU Chorale

Corpus Christi School Children’s Choir

South Cotabato Chorale

iNBiTuiN to represent the Philippines in 3Style Global Finals CHARLES Angeles Jr. (iNBiTuiN) was crowned as the Philippine Red Bull 3Style National Champion in Valkyrie at the Palace, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The 38-year-old DJ will now advance to the 3Style Global Finals in Krakow, Poland.

Red Bull 3Style has given DJs all over the world an opportunity to showcase their skills, creativity, and ability. Aspiring participants uploaded a five-minute performance video showcasing three different genres of music, with the finalists being Katsy Lee, Kouta Kutsuma, Jan Musa (D’Mad Tweaker), Charles Angeles Jr. (iNBiTuiN), Novel Fortich (Short), and Gary Bonita (DJ GFlip).

Each DJ was given 15 minutes to impress judges DJ BYTE (Red Bull 3Style World Champion 2015), DJ Carlo Atendido (2x Red Bull 3Style Philippine National Champion), and DJ Hedspin (2011 Red Bull 3Style World Champion).

Valkyrie at the Palace was packed with a crowd of nearly 1,000 in support of the 3rd Red Bull 3Style National Finals in the Philippines, with DJ Roy de Borja starting off the night.

The evening saw intense back-to-back competition between the finalists. Each of them showcased their unique knowledge & skill in music, their innovative techniques, and their ability to keep the crowd moving – but in the end, iNBiTuiN overcame the competition with Kouta Kutsuma and Jan Musa as first and second runners-up, respectively.

Second-runner up Jan Musa (D’Mad Tweaker) was the first to spin among the finalists. “At first I was nervous but I got a hang of it right away. Plus, I actually prefer performing first!” said Musa. “The

Comedian, showbiz radio anchor and talent manager Ogie Diaz debuts as an author with the book “Pak! Humor”

Laughter and inspiration from Ogie Diaz’s Philippine Red Bull 3Style National champion Charles Angeles Jr. (iNBiTuiN) (center) with the competition’s other finalists

crowd was also engaging, so that helped me loosen up a bit”.

Musa incorporated hiphop, dubstep, funk, and rock during his set, which definitely worked and instantly got the crowd hooked enough that they started singing along at one point! He also included a lot of Filipino touches to his set, such as the song “Bebot”

by The Black Eyed Peas and selected statements from President Rodrigo Duterte.

“This is what I do everyday – almost the same techniques, same genres – so I felt pretty good about my performance earlier,” said Musa.

The returning Japanese/Filipino DJ Kouta Kutsuma ended up as first-runner up this year. His set included 90’s hip-hop, modern

Philippine Red Bull 3Style National judges DJ Carlo Atendido, DJ Bye and DJ Hedspin

hip-hop, and a few hints of funk, which got the crowd pumped up throughout his upbeat, diverse set.

“I use a lot of wordplay. As I grew in the industry, I discovered that this is what works – so I stuck with it,” Kouta said. “Setting a vibe that people would love and having diversity at the same time… That’s the point of Threestyle.” iNBiTuiN, 3Style National Finals’ Champion, wowed the crowd with his astounding skill and energy on stage.

He showed off his turntable skills with a mix of rock, mumba, OPM, and hip-hop to keep the crowd going.

What made his set unforgettable was when he climbed up the table while he played the portable electronic keyboard on it. “I just enjoyed my set. I wanted to pass my energy to the crowd, and I think I was successful in doing so.”

Now that the national champion has been declared, iNBiTuiN speaks about how he feels about participating in the 8th Red Bull 3Style World Finals and potentially being recognized as the 2017 World Champion.

“Finally – I‘m going back to Poland!” said iNBiTuin. “I’m excited because it’s always like a reunion. Seeing all my heroes there and most importantly, competing and representing the Philippines!”

For more information, visit www. redbullthre3style.com #redbull3style #playwithmusic

‘PAK! HUMOR’

HIS COMIC flair has made him popular in both the movies and TV, and now his no-nonsense quotes are also making waves on social media. Comedian, showbiz radio anchor and talent manager Ogie Diaz is all set to make readers laugh this time with his funny remarks in his first book Pak! Humor (ABSCBN Publishing Inc.).

The book’s subtitle, “Life Is Short. ‘Wag Kang Nega,” gives reader’s a glimpse in what the book is all about and it’s Diaz’s way of sharing positive vibes.

He said, “The book is all about good vibes.”

It is highlighted with the numerous jokes included in the collection as well as inspiring tales about his life.

Readers will laugh out loud with his short, witty anecdotes lifted from his experiences while doing errands, his musings and daily encounters as a talent manager, and his stories as a gay father to five girls.

Aside from his funny narratives, Ogie’s book will also serve as an inspiration to many who are struggling to

achieve their dreams. He shared how he started a career as an entertainment writer, how he faced insecurities as a stand-up comedian, and how he faced various life roadblocks.

He talked about handling Liza Soberano as a talent, sharing his advice to the Kapamilya actress when she was just starting out in her career. “Liza, use the rejections you experienced when you act. One day, we’ll have our chance,” he wrote in “Papa Ogie says,” one of the portions of the book with his meaningful quotes.

He also wrote an ode to her mother who raised him along with his seven siblings, and shared snippets of his life with his father, a taxi driver who died after getting robbed.

The book aims to raise funds for cancer patients and survivors of the Philppine Foundation for Breast Cancer Inc. Part of the book sales proceeds will be used to help the beneficiaries of said foundation.

Be amused with Ogie’s Pak! Humor, exclusively available at all National Book Store branches nationwide for only P185.

Home / Design

C3

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017 Joel D. Lacsamana,, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

A walk through the clouds Anvaya layout: environmental getaway for the seasoned player, weekend duffer

GREENS SANDWICHED BETWEEN MOUNTAINS, SEA. Amid clear skies over azure waters, check out the breathtaking view as your golf ball sails through the air after a good (or bad) connection.

W

The Toyota Altis 1.6V gets to Bataan in a breeze

HEN it comes to patches of green, golf courses are usually above par.

It used to be that golf courses were low on the eco-friendly list since the manicured greens required everything from herbicides to fungicides to keep them pristine, while land clearing for courses were blamed for the ruin of ecosystems.

Not any more.

The push now is for greener fairways with water conservation, as well as the formation or preservation of natural habitats.

Anvaya cove golf and country club is one such mountainside, and seaside residential resort.

Complete resort Anvaya cove itself is an exclusive, non-profit membership club featuring, among others, a worldclass resort, an 18-hole allweather golf course, nature grounds, and an extensive sports complex.

It sits not too far from Subic Bay in a distinctive natural setting in Morong, Bataan, some 130 metres above sea level. It has a 3.5-km coastline with two private coves.

The championship course is designed to be environmentally sustainable through minimal earth works, saving mature trees. It boasts landscaping with endemic flora fairways and tees designed so that the course feels like “it has always been there”.

Developer Ayala Land Premier (ALP) made a painstaking effort to preserve the area’s natural ecology while

retaining its inherently lush terrain. Roads were built to follow the natural contour of the site to preserve the ecosystem.

Green protectors For centuries the area where Anvaya cove now sits has been a sanctuary for migratory birds and other wildlife. For example, it serves as a nesting place for the pawikan (pronounced pahwee-khan) or Olive Ridley sea turtles.

Having traveled the seas for over 100 million years, sea turtles have outlived almost all of the pre-historic animals with which they once shared the planet, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

The pawikan make an annual visit to Anvaya cove’s shore to nest and lay eggs.

Protecting these critically endangered marine turtles is therefore key to the survival of the eco-system. ALP made it a priority to safeguard the pawikan along with other resident and visiting wildlife when it built Anvaya cove in Morong, Bataan.

But back to the greens and fairways….

Interesting challenge Spread across approximately 82 hectares, there are a pair of nine-hole courses that promise to be challenging for the seasoned golfer, and yet kind to the high handicappers. In all, there are 7,200 yards in the par 72 championship course to

Takes 2.5 hours journey, 96 kms of highway, with aplomb

POOLSIDE CHILL. For the non-golfer, Anvaya cove offers resort-like amenities, events, services geared toward the mountain experience, as well as beachside pleasures. conquer amidst breathtaking scenery. Each hole generously offers five tee placements, including junior tees.

Designed by American golf course architect Kevin Ramsey of Golfplan USA, the front nine plays out a mountain course while the back offers play on the seaside nine.

The mountain nine (holes 1-9) tees off from a scenic elevated green, with the rest of the course offering challenges from woody groves.

Expect high grasslands atop the ridges and tropical rainforest at the inland portions.

With play situated at or near the peaks and ridges of the development there are views of the sea as well as the Zambales and Bataan mountain ranges.

The seaside nine (holes 10-18) is reminiscent of popular seaside courses. This is a slightly more challenging course, but also the most

scenic. The layout combines panoramic sea views and nature preserves with play towards, and even right on the beach.

Each hole has its own character and names, such as Resilience, Discipline and Composure.

Still, nothing gives better inspiration than a stupendous view. These include holes perched on a cliff above the sea, or set high atop the rolling hillsides with wraparound views of the West Philippine Sea and the mountains across the bay to the Bataan peninsula.

The mountains frame everything, yet the ocean is so close—visible from everywhere on site.

No golf widows There are no golf widows, and orphans in Anvaya cove, which offers a beach and nature club, and a residential community.

New kid on the (Ortigas) block INTERNATIONAL service residence operator Ascott Limited recently set up shop in the northern part of Manila.

Citadines Millennium Ortigas, aptly named since it is just a few steps away from Ortigas’ corporate row, offers 293 contemporary apartments that cater to young business executives and couples on holiday exploring the city.

It also lays out various choices of units ranging from studio to one-, two- and three-bedroom serviced units.

Citadines Millennium Ortigas Manila is managed by The Ascott Limited.

Giddyap, Hoppler!

THREE years since it first broke into the local property industry, online real estate brokerage company Hoppler, launched this week its capabilities in digital technology with the aim of making buying and selling property easier by combining online property listing, and brokerage services in one complete digi-

tal ecosystem.

Hoppler’s official website (http://www.hoppler. com.ph) and the mobile app give access to the main ecosystem where brokers, buyers, and sellers initially connect, interact, and ultimately close deals. “We’ve been carefully building up our system and, right now, Hoppler already has a grow-

Anvaya is a Sanskrit word for ‘family’. True to its word, ALP designed Anvaya cove with “resort lifestyle” in mind. Appealing to those who want privacy and exclusivity, it offers an abundance of activities that encourage family bonding.

The property—covering 470-hectares—offers the best of both worlds: the golf course and sports club, as well as the beach and nature club.

The exclusive beach and nature club features two restaurants, a spa, a nature camp, a pool complex and a pristine beach, all to ensure you won’t have to leave the property to relax and be entertained.

Although there are essentially two clubs in one location, members of the golf & sports club can also enjoy the amenities at the beach & nature club, including more than 40 guest cottages or casitas. ing network of over 600 real estate professionals, plus an affiliate marketing program that reaches an estimated 1,500+ more real estate professionals,” Ramon Ballesca Jr., Hoppler CEO told the media (Seen here in photo).

Hoppler’s “Partner broker program” aims to support the company’s mission of connecting buyers and sellers with an online network of real estate professionals. Partner brokers can list properties with exclusivity on Hoppler’s system on a “first come, first served” basis. They can upload all the properties they manage whether residential or commercial without any upfront fees. Hoppler also provides the partner brokers free and exclusive access to the company’s deal management system, aptly named “Kumita.”

COOL VALUES. The 1.6 V is backed up with all sorts of goodies you won’t come to expect in a car at this price point: push button engine start/stop: automatic climate control; USB audio with bluetooth hands-free; rear sunshade; backup sensors, among others.

GETTING to Anvaya cove means travelling through a breathtaking backdrop of the Silangin and Bataan mountain ranges amidst the waters of Subic Bay. The roads are superb, but ostensibly challenging due to the long straightaways and tortuous hairpin curves and steep climbs.

For this trip, Manila Standard opted for the Toyota Altis, 1.6 V, a compact sedan which was more than equal to the challenge of navigating though Metro Manila’s traffic snarl, the ultra-modern tollroad system of the NLEX and SCTEX, and the country roads leading to Bataan.

The Altis balances elegance with sportiness. Look hard and you’ll see bits of Camry, RAV4, and 86 thrown in.

Inside, the Altis 1.6 V does luxury, instead of going sporty.

From a monotone black interior, the 1.6 V swaps it for a twotone black-and-beige number. The color palette does wonders in creating a much airier feel and makes the 1.6 V feels homey and welcoming. It also visually enlarges the already cavernous cabin making it look even bigger.

No pretense The entirety of the Altis 1.6 V driving experience is best summed in two words: small Camry . While the 2.0 V, with its sporty body kit and 17-inch alloy wheels, may create expectations of a four-door 86, the 1.6 V doesn’t have to deal with such pretense.

The 1.6 V feels responsive from the get-go. A bulk of the credit goes to Toyota’s unique CVT transmission that integrates a torque converter that keeps the engine at optimal revs during take-off. There’s absolutely none of the rubber band-like sensation commonly associated with CVT transmissions.

Though the 1.6-liter engine and CVT transmission combo has little problem cruising on NLEX at a steady pace, overtaking requires more careful planning as top-end power just isn’t there.

But for as long as you’re driving relaxed rather than attacking corners, the power is more than enough. As for fuel economy, the 1.6 V does 10.75 km/L in city traffic.

The rest of the Altis package falls among similar lines: it’s a relaxed, smooth, and quiet cruiser. The steering is precise; the brakes bite well but require some pedal force; and there’s pronounced body roll through corners.

On the flipside, it manages to soak any sort of road undulation, big or small, low speed or high speed. The Altis 1.6 V behaves squarely in line with the traditional sense of what makes for a great ride.

Best of the best

Best practices shared CONCEPCION Industrial Corporation’s (CIC) commercial division, Alstra, recently brought together business partners and clients to thank them for their support in helping them bolster the building solutions industry.

At the appreciation night, Alstra showcased its

achievements with key business partners: Bank of the Philippine Islands, Rockwell Land, Ayala Land Premier, and De La Salle Santiago Zobel-Vermosa Campus, among others. CIC CEO Raul Joseph Concepcion highlighted Alstra’s brands Carrier, Toshiba, and Otis, and end-to-end solutions

“that make the building process seamless and efficient.”

Alstra group director Rajan Komarasu shared EvoSolution, the organization’s advocacy program where engineers, architects, and consultants learn industry best practices focused on climate control and vertical transport solutions.

‘OUTLOOK 2017’ kicks off on November 29. Property website Lamudi will kick off The Outlook on November 29 at the Marquis Events Place, Rizal Drive, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

Aside from recognizing the industry’s best of the best (based on results of a 10,000-property-seeker survey), The Outlook will preside over a conference of the real estate industry’s top experts and leaders to discuss what’s next for the real estate sector, including trends in mixed-use developments, housing backlog, evolution of residential condos across the Philippines, details that go into building

new cities, provincial expansion and its significance, and the importance of building green, among others.

“The event will gather together the industry’s thought leaders for a day of discussion and knowledge sharing on what drive the real estate sector,” said Lamudi CEO Bhavna Suresh Chathambeth.

“These will include toplevel representatives from real estate players specializing in mixed-use or township developments; leaders of organizations advocating more cohesive and comprehensive affordable housing programs; and key officials from the public sector.”

Dino Ray Directo III, Editor

C4

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017

Audi's Plan B truck is a glimpse into how trucks might look like

Silicon Valley firm Otto has three working selfdriving trucks

A closer look at TESLA’s Semi

Text by Dino Ray V. Directo III

WHEN it was unveiled last week, the design of the Semi had the stamp of Franz von Holzhausen all over it and from afar, the truck was unmistakably a TESLA. Elon Musk, CEO of TESLA described it as the beast, and despite its mass, the Semi shares a number of parts with the Model 3, including the motor, handles and the display screen.

In a press brief from TESLA, the media were given a first hand look of how future rigs will look like. The can has an angled windshield with a singular wiper which is similar with the Tesla Roadster prototype which was unveiled also during the event. The shiny door handles of the Semi can also be found on the Model 3. Unlike conventional trucks with built in steps to enter the cabin, the Semi’s door is long and low and steps are revealed once you open the massive doors. A long handle helps you up the cabin which is essentially divided into two areas. What sets this Semi apart from the current generation of commercial vehicles is the cabin space, with the ceiling high enough for a person to stand upright. Towards the front of the cab is a central captain’s chair that is flanked by two display screens, one on each side. The screens are the same as the one inside the Model 3.

The captain’s chair has air suspension, giving it a bouncy feel. Sitting the chair you immediately become aware of how forward you’re sitting. Designers were able to push the seating area forward in this cab because there is no engine, transmission, and other traditional diesel truck bits to get in the way. The result is similar to what it feels like to drive a VW bus. Another feature of this Semi are the numerous cup holders around the cabin area and storage space all around even on the doors. Behind the captain’s chair, and to the right, is a secondary seat that is stiffer and without the bounciness of the main one. In the back there are two overhead compartments that are similar to what you might find in an airplane.

Before selling your truck and planning to acquire a Tesla Semi, better hold on to your horses because the ones unveiled by Musk were working prototypes. Refinements in both the interior and exterior will likely be implemented before its actual production. Industry insiders say that it’s possible that production of the Tesla Semi will be delayed, or fail altogether. The company at present is facing enormous challenges as it tries to work through production issues with its mass-marketing passenger vehicle, the Model 3, and the growing list of other projects the company is pursuing.

Tesla is will also have to fend off rival companies in trying to develop electric semi-trucks and smaller delivery vehicles. Other potential rivals include DAF, Bosch, Cummins, and Daimler. A number of companies such as Siemens have pilot programs already in place to test the viability of electrifying commercial trucks.

Tesla's Semi takes commercial trucking a step further

Trucks &Buses

Are self-driving trucks the future of commercial trucking?

A S Tesla unveiled its e-truck, its rivals are a step ahead in terms of developing new technology that might put the human element out of the equation. Industry insiders predict that self-driving vehicles are not just exclusive to cars, because truck manufacturers are currently testing and developing autonomous commercial vehicles.

Audi and Mercedes Benz are aggressively pushing the envelope of self-driving truck technology with fully functional units and is boldly stating that this technology can be realized within the decade.

Mercedes Benz is ironing out the kinks of its self-driving truck unit

In the United States, self-driving truck technology is already being explored by a Silicon Valley start-up company and is optimistic that with the availability of talent, technology and a strong financial investment, self driving technology is the future for the commercial trucking industry.

A company established by two former Google employees involved in the software giant’s selfdriving car project is currently developing a selfdriving e-truck. With a manpower complement of 41 individuals, the Otto Company is testing their technology on three Volvo big rigs equipped with cameras, radars, and spinning laser sensors. As of the third second quarter of last year, they had already logged over 10,000 miles on their selfdriving technology truck.

The future of trucking is already moving at

a rapid pace, as the trucking industry is seeing more and more automation on the “back end”— scheduling, planning, all the logistics that go into getting loads from point A to point B. The biggest positive change that self-driving technology could bring is to improve the safety of truck drivers and reduce trucking accidents.

Automated features might include a programmed “end of day” that pulls the truck off the road after the driver has reached the legal limit for hours logged.

With the advent of new technology, truckers are keeping their cards close to their chest and naturally resistant to change. “If that happens, it means zero jobs for people like me, which is not good actually,” says one trucker. Their fears are not without good reason, driving a commercial truck requires extensive training and involves a great deal of skilled multi-task-

Metal FRESH

Landing Gears for trucks by JOST JOST landing gears are extremely versatile and have proven themselves time and again in daily use.

Virtually any customer specification can be satisfied thanks to the flexible and modular design of the Modul series. The range includes landing gears both for standard applications (Modul B) and for special applications (Modul C).

All landing gears in the Modul series have a patented drive whose internal design provides optimum protection, eliminates the need for maintenance and offers many

other advantages during operation. For example, the large lift by one turn of the crank with a low cranking force makes operation easy and convenient. Switching between high and low gear is quick, easy and safe. The modular design also allows a variety of versions with different mounting and bolting heights, crank and connection shaft lengths, and foot types.

All Modul landing gears are protected against environmental influences and falling rocks by a high quality powder coating.

JOST regularly tests the high stability and safety of the landing gears during series production based on the strict AAR standard.

JOST truck parts are exclusively distributed by Pioneer Truck Parts and Equipment Corporation. For more information, visit their showroom at 341 G. Araneta Avenue, Bgy. Santol, Quezon City, Philippines or call (02) 7131998/7882190 or log on www. pioneertrucks.ph

ing. In other words, it’s no small matter to introduce a new element into a commercial truck driver’s protocol.

Recent changes such as GPS technology and electronic log books have met with a great deal of grumbling from veteran truck drivers. But in recent years, the industry has had an influx of younger drivers, for whom this new technology is already second nature.

The biggest fear, of course, for truck drivers is that self-driving technology could make their jobs obsolete. But industry veterans and experts agree that it’s unlikely you could ever completely eliminate the driver from the truck.

“A fully automated truck technology will probably be realized a decade or two from now.

There are too many factors to consider before it becomes a reality,” says Bill Watson, a trucker from Texas. Dino Ray V. Directo III