Manila Standard - 2017 November 30 - Thursday

Nation pays tribute to Gat Andres

MURAL FACELIFT. Some employees of the Manila City Hall are giving a nose job Wednesday to the Bonifacio monument nearby, eve of Bonifacio Day, a holiday after the Philippine Legislature passed Act No. 2946, declaring Nov. 30 of every year as a national holiday for the commemoration of the birth of Bonifacio who started the Philippine revolution in 1896 to overthrow the Spanish colonial government on the islands. Norman Cruz

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has called on Filipinos to “never lose sight” of Andres Bonifacio’s vision for a better and more progressive Philippines—as the nation pays tribute today to the Great Plebian, whose armed revolt sparked the Philippine revolution which overthrew the Spanish colonial regime.

“As we strive to give a peaceful, orderly and comfortable life for all, may we never lose sight of our shared vision for a better and more progressive Philippines,” Duterte said in his message dated Nov. 30.

“Like Bonifacio, let us light the flames of change that will bring about real and meaningful transformation in our nation,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said it would release starting tomorrow new P5 coins with Bonifacio’s image.

The new coin will be released to coincide with the Next page

Senators okay P3.7-trillion budget

By Macon Ramos-Araneta VOTING 16-0, the Senate approved Wednesday night on third and final reading the proposed P3.767-trillion national budget for 2018.

Those who voted yes were Senators Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Gregorio Ho-

nasan, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Francisco Pangilinan, Grace Poe, Ralph Recto, Vicente Sotto III, Joel Villanueva, Cynthia Villar, Miguel Zubiri and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel.

The Senate approval came two months after the budget bill was passed by the House of Representatives last September.

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VOL. XXXI • NO. 286 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Sereno defied SC—De Castro Charges confirmed, complainant exclaims LAWYER Lorenzo Gadon, the complainant in the impeachment case against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, said Wednesday he felt vindicated by the testimony of Associate Justice Teresita de Castro.

“What Justice De Castro has said in her testimony confirmed everything that I have stated in my complaint,” Gadon told reporters.

“And not only that, she even clarified deeper into the incidents involving the creation of the RCAO [Regional Court Administra-

CJ accused of creating new office without en banc approval

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rey E. Requejo

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UPREME Court Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro on Wednesday testified that Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno created the Judiciary Decentralized Office and appointed its head without the required approval of the entire Court, then lied about it in a resolution.

Appearing before Sereno’s impeachment hearing at the House committee on justice, De Castro said the chief justice issued Administrative Order 175-2012 to create the JDO, which was inconsistent with the Court’s 2006 decision to create a Regional Court Administration Office in Region 7.

She also unilaterally appointed

Judge Geralding Econg as the head of the office, which was contrary to the en banc decision designating the court administrator as the chief of the RCAO. “When I compared the AO issued by the chief justice, it did not conform with the provisions of these administrative matters approved by the court en banc,” De Castro said.

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Suspected narco-cop faces graft

GADON

tion Office] and the JDO [Judiciary Decentralized Office],” he added.

De Castro’s testimony showed that Sereno had committed a culpable violation of the Constitution, Next page Gadon said.

By Rio N. Araja

15 rebels killed in battle after govt called off talks FIFTEEN suspected communist guerrillas including six women have been killed in a gunbattle, the Philippine military said on Wednesday, days after President Rodrigo Duterte called off peace talks and told security forces to “shoot” on sight any armed communist rebel.

Duterte last week vowed to go to war with the rebels and threatened to categorize them a “terrorist” group over deadly attacks against soldiers and police.

Late Tuesday residents

reported seeing armed men boarding a van and a truck in the town of Nasugbu 65 kilometers south of Manila, prompting authorities to send troops, said local military spokesman Col. Teody Toribio.

When soldiers tried to flag down the vehicles on a highway, a gunbattle broke out that left 15 suspected guerrillas dead, including a female university student, while five soldiers were wounded, added Toribio.

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PDEA apologizes for HIV gaffe PHILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency director general Aaron Aquino on Wednesday issued a public apology for disclosing that one of the 11 arrested suspects in a hotel buy-bust operation in Taguig City was living with the human immunodeficiency virus.

“PDEA has expressed regret in the inadvertent mention during a recent press conference that one of the suspects, though his identity

was withheld, is infected with HIV. We may have gone overboard by violating his right to privacy,” he said.

On Nov. 26, PDEA agents arrested 11 drug suspects in an operation inside Room 609 of Seda Hotel, Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig City that resulted in the seizure of ecstasy, shabu and gamma butyrolactone, a dangerous drug.

The group was reportedly Next page

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IMPEACHMENT HEARING. Associate Justice Teresita de Castro (right) Wednesday appears at the House of Representatives’ continuing impeachment proceeding against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. De Castro says she welcomes the opportunity to speak before the House panel to ‘explain to everyone the process that we follow in deciding cases in the Supreme Court.’ With her is Court administrator Midas Marquez. Ver Noveno

House dusts off bill empowering Du30 to solve traffic

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives has begun its plenary discussion on the proposed granting of emergency powers to President Rodrigo Duterte to address the ever

worsening traffic condition in the metropolis and several urban areas.

Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento, in sponsoring House Bill 4334 or the Traffic Crisis Act, stressed in his speech the need for Congress

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measure would pave the way for the creation of a single traffic authority headed by a traffic czar who will be appointed by Duterte.

“The traffic czar is expected to come up with a traffic Next page

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NoKor now a nuclear power, Kim proclaims

NUCLEAR STATEHOOD.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un says his country has achieved full nuclear statehood after his description of a successful test—its third successful ICBM test—of a new missile capable of striking anywhere in the United States. China, Pyongyang’s main ally, has pushed for a ‘dual track approach’ to the crisis—rejected outright by Washington. AFP

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to grant emergency powers to the President, through the Transportation department, to provide a solution to the traffic congestion which adversely affects the economy by making Filipinos unproductive.

Sarmiento maintained the

THE National Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday filed complaints of forfeiture, falsification of public documents, graft and violation of the code of conduct for public officials and employees against former Philippine National Police general Marcelo Garbo Jr. and his wife Rosalinda, and accused them of having P35.36 million in ill-gotten wealth.

“The NBI discovered assets, such as various vehicles and shares of stocks of retired general Garbo and his spouse, that were not declared in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth [SALN],” the complaint read.

Based on the NBI investigation, the couple amassed wealth that was well beyond their means, and that they failed to declare

SEOUL, South Korea— North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un said Wednesday his country had achieved full nuclear statehood after what he said was the successful test of a new missile capable of striking anywhere in the United States.

The intercontinental ballistic missile launch snapped manilastandard.net

a two-month pause in testing by the North and poses a new challenge to US President Donald Trump who has vowed such a capability “won’t happen.”

North Korean state television brought out Ri ChunHee, a star presenter who only appears for significant developments, to announce

the landmark.

“Kim Jong-Un declared with pride that now we have finally realized the great historic cause of completing the state nuclear force, the cause of building a rocket power,” she said.

“The great success in the test-fire of ICBM Hwasong-15 is a priceless victory

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Farmers fume over tobacco bill TOBACCO farmers on Wednesday slammed the proposal of Senator Manny Pacquiao to raise the tobacco excise tax by 100 percent.

“We have barely gotten back on our feet from the blow of RA 10351, and now Senator Pacquiao wants to deliver the knockout pinch to our poor farmers,” PhilTobacco Growers Association leader Saturnino Distor said in a letter sent to Senator Sonny Angara.

Angara is the chairman of the Senate ways and means committee, which is leading the Senate hearings on the imposition of new taxes.

Distor said tobacco farmers were still struggling with the fall in demand for tobacco because of the 340-percent excise tax introduced in 2013.

He said tobacco taxes would automatically increase by 4 percent annually.

With the huge increases, he said, tobacco production had fallen from 68 million kilograms in 2013 to 52 million kilograms in 2015 based on the report of the National Tobacco Administration.

In December 2016 the PTGA, which represents 50,000 tobacco farmers nationwide, opposed a move by the House to introduce a big increase in the tobacco tax through House Bill 4144.

But the bill did not advance when it reached the Senate.

“We trust that the honorable and learned members of the Senate are more circumspect in studying such proposal,” Distor said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Charges...

From A1 With De Castro’s testimony, he added, he was sure Sereno would be impeached.

Gadon again called on Sereno to resign and said he expect she will be under even more pressure when the hearings tackle her State of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth and charges of falsification.

“In fact, by this time, she might have a heart attack,” he said in Filipino.

Sereno’s lawyers sought to play down De Castro’s testimony as “nothing new.”

Sereno, who has stayed away from the hearings, continued with her speaking engagements.

In a speech before the Constitutional Fiscal Autonomy Group in Parañaque City, Sereno said the country’s system of checks and balances would become weak if the judiciary alone would be performing its mandate.

Sereno said the five constitutional bodies—the Commission on Human Rights, Office of the Ombudsman, Commission on Audit, Commission on Elections, and the Civil Service Commission— must also be given enough resources to ensure the stability of government.

Sereno said these agencies and the Supreme Court deserve to earn the public’s support against any measure seeking to weaken them.

Sereno declined to comment on De Castro’s testimony before the House justice committee.

“Talk to my spokespersons and lawyers,” Sereno told reporters.

Senators...

From A1 The bicameral conference committee will convene today, a holiday, in observance of Bonifacio Day, to iron out and harmonize disagreeing provisions.

The first bicameral conference will be held at the House of Representatives.

The final bicameral report will be sent back to the Senate and the House for ratification before it is transmitted to Malacañang for the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Legarda, chairman of the Senate finance committee, described the approved budget as “compassionate” which addressed the needs of the people like the military and uniformed personnel.

She said the budget would also give social protection through the CCT.

‘Help the poor cope with price rise’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

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ENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday reminded the Finance department to “keep its end of the bargain” in helping the poor families cope with the expected price increases of essential commodities.

Acceleration and Inclusion Act on third and final reading.

“The cash-transfer program that was promised must be ready for implementation on Day One of the effectivity of the TRAIN tax package,” Gatchalian, the chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, stressed the need to shield the low- income households from the expected increase in electricity rates due to the imposition of heavy excise taxes on fuels and minerals.

Noteworthy among these is

the staggered increase in the excise tax on coal from P10 to P300 per metric ton over the next three years, which the senator estimates will burden consumers with P10.5 billion in extra electricity charges.

Gatchalian opposed the tax hike during the floor deliberations but was ultimately outvoted by its proponents.

“The coal tax, along with the increased excise taxes on diesel and bunker fuel, is poised to make electricity more expensive at a time

He made the statement after the Senate approved the government’s tax-reform package.

“The government has promised to roll out an expanded cash transfer program to shield

10-million impoverished and poverty-vulnerable families from the inflationary effects of this measure,” Gatchalian said after the passage of Senate Bill 1592, or the Tax Reform for

Sereno...

From A1

her letter to the court, De Castro said.

On Jan. 22, 2013, the Supreme Court issued a corrective resolution creating a “Decentralization Needs Assessment Committee” to study and determine the necessity of decentralizing administrative functions, in effect overriding Sereno’s resolution.

De Castro, however, remained silent when Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said that what Sereno did was a culpable violation of the Constitution, one of the allegations in lawyer Larry Gadon’s impeachment complaint against the chief justice.

Quoting De Castro’s letter to Sereno, he said the chief justice “cannot deprive the High Court of its constitutional duty to exercise administrative supervision over all courts and their personnel and the Office of the Court Administrator of its statutory duty...”

“This is the view of some and the complainant, that the chief justice of the Supreme Court violated the Constitution because she took for herself the power that the Constitution bestows on the full Supreme Court,” Fariñas said in Filipino.

He also noted that under Presidential Decree 828, the chief justice can only appoint staff with the approval of the full Court.

He said by revoking Sereno’s

resolution, the Court had actually rebuked the chief justice.

The Sereno camp denied that the chief justice misrepresented the collegial decision of the Supreme Court in ordering the creation of the RCAO in Region 7 in 2012.

Lawyer Jojo Lacanilao, a spokesman for Sereno, said the statement of De Castro during impeachment hearing by the House committee on justice that Sereno issued Administrative Order No. 175-2012 without the approval of her colleagues as required in their internal rules was false.

“Precisely, the creation of said office, its budget as well as the designation of its staff, had already been approved and delineated in earlier resolutions of the Court,” Lacanilao said.

He said there was nothing illegal or irregular in the issuance of the order.

“The chief justice, after studying the problems besetting far-flung courts, simply implemented these earlier Court resolutions creating an RCAO in the seventh judicial region,” Sereno’s spokesman said.

Sereno’s camp also denied De Castro’s testimony that the Supreme Court reversed the chief justice’s order in a fullcourt resolution that nullified her administrative order.

Lacanilao dismissed the issue involving the RCAO as an “internal matter” that the SC

justices should “resolve among themselves internally.”

“The chief justice did not fake any resolution. The orders she drafted were according to her understanding of the decision on the RCAO,” he said.

De Castro was also expected to testify on Sereno’s actions involving the disqualification of the Senior Citizens partylist group in the elections, and her maneuvers to disqualify then Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza to the Supreme Court.

De Castro has also been authorized by the Court to discuss the merits of her separate concurring opinion in the August 2014 ruling that voided the JBC’s decision not to include the name of then Jardeleza in the shortlist of nominees for SC justice post.

De Castro was joined by Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez, who discussed the administrative process in the Supreme Court.

Apart from Justice De Castro, the House panel also invited Associate Justices Jardeleza and Noej Tijam, retired Associate Justice Arturo Brion, spokesperson Theodore Te, clerk of court Felipa Anama and chief judicial staff officer Charlotte Labayani. All of them skipped the hearing for various reasons.

The justice panel decided to invite Econg, now a Sandiganbayan associate justice, to shed light on the JDO.

ate response, as the UN Security Council agreed to meet in an emergency session.

“I will only tell you that we will take care of it,” Trump said at the White House. “It is a situation that we will handle,” he added, without elaborating.

It was the North’s third successful ICBM test.

David Wright, an arms control expert and co-director at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the flight parameters pointed to a missile with “more than enough range to reach Washington DC, and in fact any part of the continental United States.”

There were scenes of jubilation in tightly controlled Pyongyang, where residents gathered in front of a large screen to watch the news.

Jang Kwang Hyok, 32, said the test posed a question for the US president.

“I just want to ask a question to Trump: ‘Can you still dare to backbite about our country?’

‘Can you continue to do it even when Hwasong-15 is fired to the US mainland?’” he said.

While Pyongyang has yet to prove its mastery of the re-entry

technology required to bring a warhead back through the Earth’s atmosphere, experts believe it is at least on the threshold of developing a working intercontinental nuclear strike capability.

Wednesday’s statement from the North stressed the notion of its now being a fully-fledged nuclear power and offered language redolent of a “no first strike” doctrine.

Its weapons “would not pose any threat to any country and region as long as the interests of the DPRK are not infringed upon. This is our solemn declaration,” state media said.

Melissa Hanham, senior research associate with the East Asia Nonproliferation Program of the Middlebury Institute, said this could indicate a diplomatic off-ramp from the present standoff with the US. “Perhaps this is an out,” she wrote on Twitter. “A way to say they’ve achieved what they want, as long as we treat them the way they want to be treated.”

She urged the global community to seize the opportunity.

“Diplomacy is worth the risk

of failure, because to not engage them just gives them time to scale up.”

Tensions over the North’s weapons program peaked after Pyongyang conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test in September and then fired an intermediate-range missile over Japan.

China, the North’s main ally, has pushed for a “dual track approach” to the crisis which would see the United States freeze its military drills in South Korea while North Korea would halt its weapons programs.

Washington has rejected that approach, preferring a constant tightening of economic screws backed by dire threats of military destruction.

The Trump administration last week unveiled new sanctions targeting North Korean shipping, as well a number of Chinese companies doing business with the pariah state.

The US leader spoke by phone with both Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-In after Wednesday’s test to underline the global threat posed by

nist New People’s Army, saying they deserve to take a bullet for “destroying the country.”

“If there is an armed NPA there or terrorist who is holding firearms, shoot and tell any—I will answer,” Duterte said in a speech at Sual, Pangasinan.

The President said the armed communist rebels deserved the shoot order.

“And so? You are destroying my country and you expect me to pat you on the back and say, you go easy?” said Duterte.

The President also stressed he did not mind if there would be condemnation from human rights groups, saying he would claim responsibility for their actions.

“You just shut up. Do not answer if that issue of human rights [comes up]. You say, ‘You

go to Duterte. It is and was his order,’” he said.

In the same speech, he also told the military to re-arrest communist leaders, but he might allow old ones out, citing humanitarian reasons.

He also said he might exclude some elderly rebels from those to be sent back to jail, saying they no longer posed a threat.

“For one, those who were above 70 like me, it is like I am the one exhausted on their behalf. Although leaders, I say ‘You can go.’ Anyway, they cannot go far,” he said, adding old revolutionaries “cannot climb those mountains there.”

“You will find them in… hospitals or rooms where they are resting.” AFP, Francisco Tuyay, John Paolo Bencito

reading before Congress adjourns sessions in December.

The proposal was among the Palace’s priority measures.

But Duterte earlier said he would not exert pressure on Congress to oblige him to grant him emergency powers to speed up the implementation of key transportation projects intended to address the traffic problem.

Once the proposed emergency powers get enacted, Sarmiento said the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority would still play a

big role in terms of traffic management as they would be tasked to coordinate with the various local governments, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and other agencies.

The approved measure provides that the President, through the traffic chief, shall be authorized to enter into negotiated contracts for priority projects for the construction, repair, restoration, rehabilitation, improvement or maintenance of critical infrastructure projects,

Sereno said she could not do this without the consent of the full Court.

“She cannot do it by herself because she has only one vote.

And unless there is a delegation of authority by the court en banc, the chief justice cannot exercise the administrative supervision of all courts which is vested in the Supreme Court as a collegial body,” De Castro said.

De Castro said the full Court sustained her position that Sereno’s AO was contrary to the earlier decisions but so as not to embarrass the chief justice, the Court opted to create a study group. Sereno then promised to amend the questioned administrative order.

But De Castro said that to her suprise, a resolution issued on Nov. 27, 2012 said the Court en banc had ratified Sereno’s action and appointment of Econg.

Because of this, De Castro said she wrote another letter to the Court en banc.

“With due respect to the chief justice, to my recollection the resolution does not reflect the deliberation and consensus of the justices,” De Castro said in the letter.

But during the en banc deliberations, Sereno did not try to explain her actions nor attempt to answer the issues raised in

Nokor...

From A1 won by the great and heroic people of the DPRK,” she said, using the official abbreviated name for North Korea.

Wednesday’s missile was more sophisticated than any previously tested, state media said.

“The ICBM Hwasong-15 type weaponry system is an intercontinental ballistic rocket tipped with super-large heavy warhead which is capable of striking the whole mainland of the US,” the North’s official news agency KCNA said.

Pyongyang said the missile reached an altitude of 4,475 kilometres and splashed down 950 kilometres from its launch site.

At least one Western expert said the missile’s lofted trajectory suggested an actual range of 13,000 kilometers—enough to hit every major US city.

Trump, who recently announced fresh sanctions on Pyongyang and returned it to a US list of state sponsors of terror, was opaque in his immedi-

15 rebels...

From A1 One suspect was captured while an undetermined number escaped. Thirteen firearms were recovered, he said.

Regional military chief Brig. Gen. Ernesto Ravina said the operation was “anchored on the pronouncement of the president on the termination of peace talks.”

The Communist Party of the Philippines has been fighting since 1968 to overthrow a capitalist system that has created one of Asia’s biggest rich-poor divides.

In a related development, Duterte on Wednesday told security forces to “shoot” any armed member of the commu-

House...

From A1 management plan within 90 days that will harmonize and unify all existing traffic regulations in the affected areas,” Sarmiento said.

It took the Lower House to have the bill tackled in plenary session more than a year after it was filed in Congress in 2016.

Sarmiento earlier said the House expected to have the bill approved on third and final

Nation...

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when the Philippines already has the most expensive electricity rates in the entire Asean region,” Gatchalian said.

“Our estimates indicate that the increases in electricity rates are not negligible. These higher rates will be felt by Filipinos.”

Despite his reservations, however, Gatchalian said the Senate had “achieved much” to “soften the burden of the new taxes on underprivileged Filipinos,” such as the increase in the tax- exemption cap for

low income earners and the simplification of the tax filing procedures for SEPs, two ideas he championed during floor debates on the bill.

He reminded his colleagues that the work of the Senate on tax reform was far from over.

“The Senate must use its oversight powers to ensure that the tax reform package is implemented in an equitable manner, so that the most underprivileged sectors of our society will not suffer as a result,” he said.

Pay hike for military men clears Senate panel—Ping

By Macon R. Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz A JOINT resolution to increase the base pay of military and uniformed personnel starting next year passed the committee level in the Senate on Wednesday, according to Senator Panfilo Lacson.

“It’s done, it will be endorsed on the floor,” Lacson said after the joint hearing of the three committees on national defense, public order and dangerous drugs and finance.

He said the House of Representatives had approved the measure.

Meanwhile, the House is poised to adopt next week a resolution that seeks to double the salaries of police and military personnel.

This came after the House committee on appropriations led by Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles passed House Joint Resolution 18, or the “Joint Resolution authorizing the increase in base pay of military and uniformed personnel in the government and for other purposes.”

“The Lower Chamber will North Korea.

Trump is close to Abe, but relations with his South Korean counterpart—whom he has accused of appeasing Pyongyang—are far cooler, and there are concerns in Seoul that the US president might be considering military action against the North that could trigger a fullscale war.

Seoul is home to 10-million people and only about 50 kilometers from the border—well within range of Pyongyang’s artillery.

Trump and Abe warned North Korea that it is putting its own security at risk with its provocative missile test, according to a White House account of a crisis call between the two leaders Tuesday.

“The two leaders agreed that the North Korean regime’s provocative actions are undermining its security and further isolating it from the international community,” a White House statement said.

“The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to combat the North Korean threat.” AFP, with Sara Susanne Fabunan

120th anniversary of Bonifacio’s death and the 154th anniversary of his birth, the central bank said in a statement.

Thursday is a public holiday to mark the birth anniversary of one of the founders of the Katipunan, which fought for the Philippines’ independence from Spain in the late 1800s.

“Widely regarded as one of the Philippines’ greatest heroes, Bonifacio was a fearless leader who founded the Katipunan, the secret society that ignited the flames of the revolution which finally led to the declaration of Philippine independence in 1898,” the BSP said.

Bonifacio’s image is currently on the P10 coin alongside that of fellow Katipunan leader Apolinario Mabini.

Duterte lauded Bonifacio, the Father of the Philippine Revolution, for igniting the fires of revolt “that led to the foundation of our nation and brought freedom to our people.”

“As the heirs of his revolution, it is our solemn obligation to bring life to his aspirations and usher in an era of civic consciousness and nationalism,” he said.

He also called on Filipinos to join the fight to rid this nation of its present ills.

“At a time when the future of our country is at stake, all of us are called to become actively involved in nation building,” Duterte said. John Paolo Bencito

facilities and any directly related procurement of goods and services.

The traffic czar, under the bil, shall have the authority to “pass upon and approve or disapprove all plans, programs, and projects proposed by local government units, offices agencies within the Metropolitan Area, the Department of Public Works and Highways, public corporations, and private persons or enterprises.”

“Such approval by the traffic czar shall take the form of

a development permit that shall be issued prior to any land development and shall be in lieu of all other permits such as those issued by the Metro Manila Development Authority and the local government units,” Sarmiento explained.

The committee-approved measure also provides the President be given the discretion to create a separate and permanent Department of Urban Traffic Management within the last 12 months immediately preceding the lapse of the proposed law.

approve the resolution next week and it will be immediately transmitted to the Senate for its approval,” Nograles said.

Lacson said the approved measure in the committee will be endorsed to the plenary for discussion. Once approved in the Senate, the measure will be tackled at the bicameral conference committee and a final report will be transmitted back to the two chambers for ratification.

Once ratified, the measure will be transmitted to President Rodrigo Duterte for his signature.

Lacson said the base pay increase for the MUP was estimated to cost the government around P60 billion to P80 billion while the pension for retirees would cost P38 billion.

The fund, he said, could be sourced from the General Appropriations Act and the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund.

Based on the approved resolution, Police Officers 1 and those with equivalent rank could enjoy a 100-percent increase in their salary if Joint Resolution 9 is approved by both chambers of Congress.

Suspected...

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them in their SALNs in 2005 until 2015.

“In his SALN covering the 10-year period 2005 to 2015, General Garbo declared various real properties in different locations, vehicles, and other personal properties. However, the exact addresses of the real properties were not specified and plate numbers of [the] vehicles were not provided,” the complaint further read.

Moreover, the NBI said Garbo’s two daughters studied in the United States, adding Marianne Lynne Garbo and Margaret Lynne Garbo received degrees at the University of San Francisco and Cal Poly Pomona in California.

The government also communicated with the US Embassy and it was found out that Mrs. Garbo owned a real estate company there.

President Rodrigo Duterte named Garbo as one of the retired and active police generals accused of involvement in illegal drugs.

The NBI did not file any drug case against Garbo, however.

The bureau requested the US government to determine if the Garbo couple owned real estate in the United States “for their eventual forfeiture.”

PDEA...

From A1 caught while having a male-tomale sex party, Aquino said.

“During the operation, one suspect admitted that he is HIV positive after yielding to authorities a bottle of medication supposedly for treatment of the disease,” he said.

“In our ardent desire to issue a warning that organized passion parties spiked with illegal drugs and involving male-to-male sexual partners may contribute to the high prevalence of HIV infections in the country, we have disregarded the context of privacy.

It was never our intention to be insensitive and discriminatory against people with HIV,” he added.

Also on Wednesday, Commission on Human Rights Chairman Jose Luis Gascon said he hoped the number of killings in President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs would not rise again if the Philippine National Police resumes its role as the lead agency in the campaign. Rio N. Araja

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

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Family photo of SM Foundation proponents, members of the media, SM Lemery representatives, and the graduates of the 150th Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Rural Farmers’ Training Program

SM Foundation spearheads 150 KSK Project; eyes millennial farmers th

By Peter Paul Duran

T

RUE to their commitment in helping marginalized farmers, SM Foundation continues to uphold the backbone of the economy in increasing farmers’ income through sustainable farming.

Now on its 10th year, Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Rural Farmers’ Training Program celebrated the culmination of over a hundred farmerstudents as the 150th batch of the program ended their 12week course with a harvest festival on Nov. 21, 2017 in Lemery, Batangas.

This would be the last training program for the year and the Foundation is optimistic that they could entice the millenial future generation of farmers.

“We hope to reach more and more farmers and set up SM agri-center farms across the country,” said SM Foundation Assistant Vice President for Livelihood Projects Christy Angeles during the event.

“But more importantly, I guess, we would like to encourage the younger genera-

tion of farmers to continue and sustain the farming industry,” she noted as SM Foundation plans to add to their improved 30 sites visited this 2017.

Moreover, the Foundation continues to provide avenues for farmers to alleviate their lives in coordination with the help of stakeholders such as HarBest Agribusiness Corporation, Department of Agriculture (DA), local government units, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Started in 2007, the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Program is envisioned to empower small farmers and marginalized families to sustain their income and to venture into sustainable agriculture.

Batch 150 of the Kaba-

Around 20-30 varieties of fruits and vegetables were reaped during the event (left). A farmer presents her local produce.

likat sa Kabuhayan Program started its training last August 18 up to November 17 for a total of 12 weeks with practical farming technologies, capability building on entrepreneurship and lectures in Lemery, Batangas.

The training/ practicum were done every Friday where the farmer-trainees

Manila Standard OIC-Operations Anita F. Grefal receives a bundle of cucumber from a local farmer.

Members of the KSK batch 150 show their produce during the event.

were immersed on the principle of sustainable farming with the use of organic fertilizers and pesticides and the planting of high-value crops.

Around 20 to 30 varieties of fruits and vegetables were grown by the participants with the use of hybrid vegetable seeds like ampalaya, watermelons, eggplants, okra, bit-

ter gourd; bottle gourd (upo); cucumber; eggplant; finger chili (siling pangsigang); honeydew melon; luffa (patola); lettuce; squash; tomato; and Diana, yellow and green watermelon.

HarBest Agribusiness Corporation provided hybrid seeds and the technical skills to the farmer-trainees while the DSWD provided

entrepreneurial skills while trainings on values formation and entrepreneurship were conducted in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The newly opened SM Lemery will help these farmers to market the produce and reach more customers in the immediate future.

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Opinion

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

The Pope, the lady, and the elephant in the room

T

HIS week the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, flew to Myanmar and spoke with the leader of that country, Aung San Suu Kyi.

The pontiff acknowledged that conflict and hostilities “have lasted all too long and created deep divisions” in that country.

Pope Francis’ visit is likely occasioned by the fleeing of more than 620,000 Rohingya Muslims from the Rakhine state where they are said to face persecution from Myanmar

authorities.

Violence and unspeakable horror are said to drive out the Rohingya out of their land and into unknown land, even at the cost of their lives.

Many have died crossing the sea into Bangladesh. The United Nations has said what was happening in Myanmar was a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.

Thus far, however, Suu Kyi has not done anything for the suffering minority. The Nobel Peace Prize winner has reaped international criticism for her inaction, and in fact denial, or the situation faced by the Rohingya.

This week too she was stripped of

the Freedom of the City of Oxford, an honor she received in 1997. The Oxford city council, which also conferred her honorary doctorate five years ago, voted unanimously to strip her of the award because it did not want to celebrate “those who turn a blind eye to violence.”

Critics noted that the visiting Pope, while sharing a stage with the Myanmar leader, did not even mention the word “Rohingya” when he did so last year, referring to them as “our Rohingya brothers and sisters.”

But others believed a direct mention was not necessary.

The Pope and Suu Kyi may have their

respective reasons for not mentioning, in clear and unequivocal terms, what is happening in Rakhine state. Perhaps we only speak as outsiders, not aware of the context or the entire dilemmas they face, the nuances of the issue and the consequences of this or that course of action.

Still this is what the situation looks like to the rest of the world, and death from violence or from fleeing needs no explanation or merits any justification.

We are outsiders, mere observers.

But insiders—those who know what is truly going on—cannot be mere bystanders.

North Korea’s latest bait and switch

By Eli Lake

A matter of supply and demand TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

IF YOU read mainstream media and wonder why there seems to be an endless supply of illegal drugs here despite the aggressive campaign against it by the Duterte administration, the answer is right before our eyes.

The answer is simply that there continues to be demand.

According to the President himself, there are currently three million to four-million drug users all over the country.

In fact he sought an extension to end the drug menace; remember that

at the beginning of his term, he said he could end it between three and six months.

Previous administrations have missed or even tolerated this. But it is not only a peaceand-order problem. It is a health issue rooted in poverty.

Even if the last pusher were to be killed by the police, there will always be demand for illegal drugs. My gulay, it’s a $500-billion industry worldwide, and syndicates are fighting for turf and control.

I hate to say it, but the war on drugs is misdirected. The President does not seem to be able to control the sup-

ply of illegal drugs from abroad. And he knows why.

We have a Customs bureau that is corrupt to the core. Our borders are porous. Local gov-

The President must redirect his war on drugs.

ernment executives are also corrupt, cooperating with drug suppliers.

Mr. Duterte should redirect his war on illegal drugs to the rehabilitation of users.

This is why countries around impose the death penalty on those bringing illegal drugs to their country. Lest I am misunderstood, I am not advocating death penalty for drug mules. Only God can end a life. All I am saying is that strong measures must be adopted to prevent the entry of illegal drugs.

The problem will not be solved by killings and more killings. *** The plan to modernize the jeepney industry has divided people. The jeep has been called the king of the road.

Prototypes of the modern jeepney have been built, but these are ex-

pensive. Only big operators and businessmen can afford them.

It’s unfortunate that it has come to this—I myself have fond memories of the jeepney—but it has to make way for modernization.

The jeepney has served its purpose and everybody should accept this.

At the same time, efforts should be made so that the modern jeepney will not just be accessible to big businesses. *** There is a report from Beijing that China’s President, Xi Jinping, has launched a “toilet revolution” to clean up public bathrooms to improve quality of life and

boost tourism.

The so called revolution was launched two years ago, to create a more civilized environment.

A few days ago, Health Secretary Francisco Duque came out wth a finding from the Philippine Statistical Authority that says Filipino households have more mobile phones than functioning toilets.

I recall that the World Health Organization also found that among Southeast Asian countries, the Philippines is notorious for not having enough toilets for everybody.

I think this should be made a priority. It is the duty and responsibility of the government.

THERE are two ways to understand North Korea’s missile test Tuesday after two months without such provocations.

The first is through the lens of masochism. President Donald Trump has taunted North Korea’s leader, tweeting recently that he was fat, calling him “little rocket man.”

Trump’s government just added the Hermit Kingdom to the list of state sponsors of terrorism, 10 years after President George W. Bush removed the regime during negotiations.

We pressure. They escalate.

This was what Hillary Clinton was driving at this week when the former secretary of state told a conference in Beijing by video that both Trump and China’s leader, Xi Jinping, should refrain from tempting the North Korean tiger.

The other way to understand the missile tests is that they are North Korea’s way of extracting ever more from the West, while giving only moments of hope in return.

The kingdom has done this before. Bush famously removed sanctions on the eve of negotiations with the North in 2007. Despite Trump’s rhetoric, it’s been clear his diplomats were looking for an opening.

As the Washington Post reported this month, the US special envoy to North Korea, Joseph Yun, told experts at the Council on Foreign Relations that the US was looking for a 60day pause in missile tests as a sign to restart direct talks with Pyongyang. Is it surprising that North Korea strung us along?

The missile test is a part of a North Korean dance. The US quietly pursues negotiations, until it gets close. Then North Korea pulls out at the last minute. Classic Lucy and the football. The regime has been doing this for more than 20 years. The North agreed to a partial deal on plutonium in the Turn to A5

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Opinion China’s micro-lending mess

By Christopher Balding IN THEIR bid to reduce risk, China’s financial regulators are cracking down on a promising business: online micro-lending. Although the industry has some serious problems, killing it off would be a big mistake.

Last week, state media announced that broad changes were coming to the sector, on the orders of the State Council’s Financial Stability and Development Committee. Approvals of new lenders have been halted, and existing firms are likely to be severely curtailed.

To an extent, this crackdown reflects valid concerns. Growth in micro-lending has been explosive in recent years. Outstanding loans offered on peer-to-peer platforms ballooned by 256 percent from October 2015 to the same month this year, reaching a total of 1.2 trillion yuan. Although still small in relative terms —less than $150 billion worth of lending in a $40 trillion financial-services market—the industry presents some growing risks.

One is abusive lending practices. The official index rate for P2P loans hovers at about 10 percent, but many recently listed micro-lenders offer annualized rates approaching 40 percent, with some less scrupulous firms making offers that top 100 percent. The phrase “consumer protection” rarely enters the lexicon of Chinese regulators, but in this case they do seem concerned that too many people are getting in over their heads.

A related concern is loan quality. The proliferation of platforms and the enormous growth in balances suggest that some essential aspects of lending—due diligence, internal controls, credit checks—aren’t being carried out prudently. That’s all the more concerning given that most of the loans are unsecured. Stories of bike-sharing companies leaving users without their deposits and P2P platforms resorting to Ponzi schemes have become alarmingly common.

Given these risks, why are so many people looking for loans outside of the traditional banking system?

One reason is that China’s state-owned banks simply aren’t meeting consumer demand. With little real competition, they’ve tended to treat customers as captive deposits while lending mostly to other SOEs. In response, China’s rapidly growing consumer class has started turning to online platforms offering higher returns, while entrepreneurs have turned to micro-lenders when they need credit. New bank deposits are down 9.1 percent since October 2016.

This suggests that China’s regulators should proceed with caution: Micro-lending, for all its problems, really does have a lot of advantages.

Most obviously, it’s giving consumers greater choice in products that they want. It’s also a potential boon for small businesses that might have been shunned by the big banks. But the real benefits of micro-lending are likely in the future. Some Chinese fintech firms, for instance, are developing data analytics that would put banks in richer countries to shame.

A Chinese credit analytics firm accessing a typical WeChat profile will know what you spend, where you spend it, and who you spend it with, on top of being able to infer a wealth of other insights from the rich data available.

Given time, well-managed micro-lenders could make great use of such tools.

It would be a shame if regulators shut them down. But the government seems more likely to apply a sledge hammer to this industry than a scalpel. The plans announced last week imply that only lenders with significant financial backing will be left standing, likely meaning either state-owned firms or major tech companies such as Tencent Holdings Ltd. For all the government’s talk of promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, it is reverting to the familiar pattern of selecting favored firms and putting the rest out of business.

A better approach for regulators is to be precise about what practices won’t be tolerated, but to otherwise have an open mind.

Requiring audited financial statements, along with capital reserves to cover losses by investors, would be a good start. Encouraging fair competition between established lenders and startups should also be a priority. Stateowned behemoths aren’t responsive to market demand, use antiquated technology and generally interact poorly with their customers.

Smaller and nimbler private firms have revolutionized this landscape and should have the right to compete on a level playing field.

China deserves credit for trying to address serious problems in the micro-lending business. But by being too aggressive, it risks destroying a promising industry that’s filling a real consumer need. Put on stronger footing, micro-lending could have benefits no one has even thought of yet. Bloomberg

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

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A worthy salute OVERSIGHT DANILO SUAREZ EARLIER this week, the House Committee on Appropriations held a hearing to increase the salary of the uniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

I co-authored House Joint Resolution No. 18 which proposes increase in the base pay of military and uniformed personnel in the government. I strongly believe that this raise is justifiable given the nature of their jobs and the associated daily risk of injury and death.

Our uniformed men bat-

tled their way during the Marawi siege. While this is a military victory, it came at a cost of 165 lives.

In support of the proposed increase in the salary of the uniformed personnel of the AFP and the PNP, I recently filed a resolution that would look into excluding our uniformed personnel from the Salary Standardization Law, to allow them to have a significantly higher remuneration because of the notable difference in work conditions and hazards. I believe that this is a fair and just method of compensating our uniformed men.

Another subject of my concern is the mandatory retirement of the PNP and

AFP based on age or length of service. By virtue of existing laws, the enlisted members of the PNP and the AFP are forced to retire from service at the age of fifty-six (56) or after completion of a maximum of thirty (30) years of active service, whichever is later.

There is no single law that standardizes the retirement system of the PNP and the AFP. Pending in the House Committee on National Defense and Security is my proposed bill, House Bill No. 5027, also known as, “An Act Prescribing a Mandatory Retirement Age for All the Members of the AFP and the PNP.” This bill aims to maximize the productive years

of our uniformed personnel by providing for a standard retirement age of sixty (60) or after completion of a maximum of thirty-five (35) years of active service, whichever is later This bill, when approved, will benefit not just the uniformed men, but also the government.

Increased retirement age or length of service would provide for a longer term for return of investment on the part of the government, which spent a substantial amount on the schooling and training of these officials as they rise through the ranks. For the uniformed personnel of the PNP and the AFP, this will provide a fair opportunity for promotion,

investment, and skills development.

I hope that these proposed bills and resolutions for the benefit of the uniformed personnel of the AFP and the PNP will be prioritized by the Congress. The heroism and patriotism of our uniformed men are beyond measure. They dedicate their lives to a purpose higher than themselves.

Apart from the obvious risk to life and limb, they are separated from their families and constantly in challenging, if not hazardous conditions. It is only just that their welfare and that of their families be given due attention and importance. To me, this is a worthy salute.

Lessons on retirement DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA IN LESS than a month, Director General Ronald de la Rosa, the Chief of the Philippine National Police, will retire from service when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56.

Many would say that 56 is too young to retire but that is the law and will have to be followed unless amended.

His impending retirement comes when there is news circulating that the war on drugs will again be handled by the PNP. By the time “Bato” de la Rosa relinquishes command of the PNP, he would have led the organization for about 19 months. That is not really a very long time if we compare it to others who have headed the PNP, but in that short period of time, “Bato” de la Rosa has taken the PNP to dizzying heights—or abyss—depending on how one wants to judge his stewardship of the police organization.

In such a short time, thousands of drug suspects died. This dwarfs a similar drug war in Thailand

during the premiership of Thaksin Shinawatra. This one also resulted in the death of thousands of drug suspects.

There is no doubt therefore, that Dela Rosa’s leadership on the war on drugs will define his legacy in the years to come.

He has not yet made public his specific plans when he puts on a mufti but a few days ago, it was reported that he wants to lead a vigilante group against rogue policemen when he retires.

Perhaps he should not be rushing into such plans.

He should spend the few remaining weeks of his stewardship touring the different PNP commands to say his goodbye to the rank and file as is customary.

He might also like to visit his counterparts in the Asean region to bid them farewell. When he does retire, he will find out that life in retirement will be altogether a very different thing. This is because once retired from the service, his standing in the PNP will be dependent on how those still in the active service view his past leadership. How he will be treated in retirement might shock him.

I have seen many retired

senior officers who are shunned and completely ignored by those still on active service. This is why organizing and then leading a vigilante group, supposedly to go after rogue policemen, may not be such a good idea. Besides I am sure that there must be a senior government job waiting for him the moment he retires like General Eduardo Año of the Armed Forces. It is simply a question of what position.

There is also the possibility of him running for elective office like some former chiefs of the PNP. Of the three former PNP Chiefs who ventured into politics, one became a president, two others failed to be president but one is currently a senator.

Bato hinted in some past media interviews that he might throw his hat in the political arena and 2019 is probably what he was thinking as a good time to do it.

But unlike Harry Roque and Mocha Uson, his name was not mentioned in a prospective administration line up for the Senate. But it is still a bit early. If he wants to run for office, he should try spending time to polish and improve his image. He

should not put all his bets solely on his role in the war on drugs. *** If President Duterte indeed returns the war on drugs to the PNP as the primary implementing agency, this must be done after a thorough study to determine what the true state of the drug problem prevailing in the country is.

After 19 months of campaigning that resulted in thousands of deaths, we still have no reliable data on whether the situation has improved or not. The government is still using the figure of between three million and four million drug users. This is the figure that former Director General Dionisio Santiago used while he was head of the Dangerous Drugs Board.

President Duterte also used this. As General Santiago himself admitted, this figure was an educated guess and not based on any scientific study or survey. It was, however, based on calculations of available figures at that time. One figure coming from the PNP is that approximately 1.5 drug users have already surrendered together with the neutralization of some prominent drug lords. If we take

this figure as accurate, there should now only be around 2.5 drug users remaining. But the PNP is not saying that.

The truth however, is that we do not have any reliable figure to base government policy decisions going forward. This is why before the government returns the drug campaign to the PNP, the government must come up with credible figures to determine if the 19-month war on drugs succeeded in reducing the problem or simply worsened it.

Another problem is that the figures coming from the government and those from some independent entities like the United Nations Office on Drugs and Organized Crime.

The UN figure does not come anywhere near our government figures and is even below the world average benchmark. So, not just for the sake of all Filipinos but also for the purpose of sound planning and management of the next chapter of the drug campaign, let us first conduct a credible and scientific study of the current state of the drug problem that we can show to all the doubting Thomases and then decide on the best move forward.

Communication conference speakers score ‘fake news’ With some social media mavens having overturned the traditional rules of engagement in public discourse, Salvosa said, “The rules of civility and good conduct were discarded with the advent of the Internet… ‘Alternative facts’ and ‘fake news’ have replaced the search for truth.

Objective facts…have been superseded by virulence.”

“Sadly,” he said, “credible commentators and journalists are slowly being replaced by paid trolls…who put down institutions and individuals” who espouse opinions contrary to their agenda.”

In the hands of such, he added, social media has become “the tool of brainwashing and mind control…it has radicalized the way we communicate with each other…it allows bad elements of society to stalk” their adversaries “and infect the democratic space” with vicious and virulent content that pushes “the limits of decency.”

Salvosa said that the purpose of the NCRC should be to “reverse that trend.”

University of the Philip-

pines-Baguio Chancellor Raymundo Rovillos, who also delivered welcome remarks, pointed to the significance of communication and technology in the proliferation of ‘fake news’. We must “interrogate this technology,” he said, “because it is causing problems like ‘fake news,’” and that this “must be challenged by the academe.”

Keynote speaker Rep. Mark Go (Baguio City) said that the words ‘fake news’ “do not belong together. News needs to be true. If it is fake, it is not accurate and should not be called ‘news’ at all.”

“Misinformation abounds,” Go elaborated, “and people take action on erroneous frames.” He said that Congress will be looking into legislative measures to control the spread of ‘fake news.’

His challenge to the conference participants was to “help by educating people about ‘fake news’” and “rebuild faith in our media.”

The ‘fake news’ phenomenon and its alarming spread is a societal issue that also impacts the

communication and media community. Some communication researchers are presently studying its various manifestations.

In her opening remarks, NCRC Convenor and UPDiliman College of Mass Communication Dean Elena E. Pernia described the smartphone and Internet as “disruptors and innovations” that for millenials are “instruments of daily use” that have radically changed how we interact with each other.”

As Salvosa made clear in his remarks, these innovations can be used for both noble ends—learning the best and brightest ideas from around the world—and dishonorable purposes —such a spreading misinformation.

Misinformation, according to an online source, is “false or inaccurate information, especially that which is deliberately intended to deceive.” That definition describes a significant percentage of what we call ‘fake news’.

Using the Internet to disseminate lies and exaggerations to manipulate public attitudes is a misuse

of an innovative tool used daily by millions.

Is there a solution to the problem of ‘fake news’?

There will be communication scholars who will do their part by researching the phenomenon. However, propaganda has been around since man first created societies and developed opposing agendas.

Drawing from the messages of Salvosa, Rovillos, and Go, perhaps the answer can be found in one thing—education. Teaching the public how to discern fake from factual and why doing so is important would help, and so would further discussion about the issue in public discourse.

Academe is part of the effort. Everyone is part of the effort. Whatever is ‘fake’ is not the truth and so does not reflect reality and will not help people make good decisions. Ultimately, the fight against misinformation is also the fight for truth.

later the US discovers a parallel uranium From A4 enrichment program.

In 2007 the North went late 1990s. It hinted at down the road again with a willingness to discuss the six-party talks. The missiles too. A few years US lifted sanctions and

removed it from the terrorism list. Then the talks fell apart. Add to this that the Israelis and the US discovered a secret Syrian nuclear facility where North Korean engineers

had provided technical assistance.

The fact is that North Korea has no intention of negotiating away its nuclear deterrent. It never has. It does however have

an interest in extracting concessions and removing penalties by appearing willing to negotiate. That may sound crazy, but it’s been working for a quarter century. Bloomberg

“W E N EED to be connected in the right way, in the right manner.”

So said University of the Cordilleras President Ray Dean Salvosa when he delivered the opening remarks at the 5th National Communication Research Conference last Thursday at the UC Theater.

Salvosa addressed more than 700 students, faculty, and practitioners from all over the country, the United States, and Australia who converged in Baguio City for the Philippines’ largest communication research gathering.

Plenary and parallel sessions were held over two days (Nov. 23 and 24), with pre- and post-conference workshops held Nov. 22 and 25.

Salvosa pointed to the Internet as a tool that provides access to “the best and noblest ideas” of the world, but that has also “enabled people of ill-will to sow hate and distrust.”

North...

Dr. Ortuoste is a California-based writer. FB: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste

News

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Govt may retake lands for housing’

‘MRTC paid BURI Inc. despite glitches’

By Maricel V. Cruz

By Rio N. Araja DESPITE 3,265 glitches that beset its maintenance provider, the Metro Rail Transit Corp. still paid the Busan Rail Inc. (BURI) in 2016, according to IBON Foundation Inc. “The government’s assurance of private profits from day one has led to the MRT 3 woes that has put commuter welfare on the line,” the research group said.

“The latest series of train breakdowns and mishaps is but the tip of the iceberg and will persist under a privatized light rail system. By assuring corporate profits, the government has neglected to ensure efficient and affordable public transport,” it added.

The government still paid some private firms with public funds despite its failure to deliver effective maintenance services.

Citing a Commission on Audit report, IBON said the government paid P54.5-million monthly maintenance fee to BURI in 2016.

That same year, the MRT 3 experienced 2,619 incidents of trains being pulled out from their daily run, 63 service interruptions and 586 incidents of passenger unloading, or an increase of 20 percent, 26 percent and 164 percent respectively, compared to 2014.

“BURI also failed to overhaul old light rail vehicles [LRVs] and replace the signaling system,” the group said.

Moreover, the Department of Transportation also paid P527.76 million to Chinese corporation Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co. Ltd for useless LRVs that are incompatible with the power supply and signaling system of the MRT 3.

“Yet the public still pays despite such poor service,” the foundation said.

Duterte sends off five Vietnamese poachers

By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday has sent off five Vietnamese fishermen who were caught poaching in waters off Bolinao, Pangasinan last September. The incident resulted into the deaths of two of the five Vietnamese who were reportedly shot by state troops.

To be sent back home to Vietnam are Pham To, 34, the boat captain; Phan Lam, 34 ; Nguyen Thanh Chi, 49 ; Phan Van Liem, 41; Nguyen Van Trong, 41—also residents of Phu Yen province, Vietnam.

The send-off, held in Sual Wharf in Pangasinan, was in fulfillment of Duterte's promise to Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang during their bilateral meeting at the sidelines of the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit held in Da Nang, Vietnam earlier this month.

Tokens containing hygiene kits and basic goods were given to the f ive Vietnamese fishermen by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

In his speech, Duterte apologized for the deaths of two Vietnamese fishermen, identified as Le Van Liem and Le Van Reo, by state troops last Sept. 23.

“I hope it will not happen again,” Duterte said, as he affirmed the strong ties between Hanoi and Manila.

The two Vietnamese fishermen were killed when shots were fired from a Philippine Navy ship that chased their fishing boat for poaching last Sept. 23.

TURNOVER. PDG Ronald M. dela Rosa, PNP chief, and H.E. Koji Haneda, Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines lead the ceremonial turnover, signing and blessing of 100 patrol vehicles donated by the government of Japan at the PNP Headquarters Ground, Camp Crame in Quezon City. Lino Santos

THE House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading House Bill 159 which seeks to strengthen the right of the government to expropriate lands for the purposes of socialized housing.

The bill, with Reps. Alfredo Benitez of Negros Occidental and Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar, as one of its principal authors, seeks to amend Sections 9, 10, and 11 of Republic Act 7279 otherwise known as the “Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992.”

The amendment to Section 9, which is titled "Acquisition of Land for Socialized Housing," provides that the following lands may be acquired for socialized housing: (a) Those owned by the Government or any of its subdivisions, instrumentalities, or agencies, including government-

owned or-controlled corporations and their subsidiaries; (b) Alienable lands of the public domain; (c) Unregistered or abandoned and idle lands; (d) Those within the declared Areas for Priority Development, Zonal Improvement Program sites, and Slum Improvement and Resettlement Programs sites which have not yet been acquired; (e) Bagong Lipunan Improvement of Sites and Services or BLISS sites which have not yet been acquired; and (f) Privatelyowned lands.

Under the measure, the power to identify and to prioritize the particular area to be acquired shall be with the local government unit or the proper agency acquiring land for socialized housing. For this purpose, the enumeration in this section shall not, in any way, be interpreted as setting an order of priority, the amendment provides.

PNP chief defends AKG T

HE country’s top cop on Wednesday denied that they just made up the information on the alleged involvement of three National Bureau of Investigation agents in the kidnapping of a Korean businessman last week.

“I don’t want to cover up on anything. ’Yun ang lumabas sa investigation and we never made up that story,” PNP chief Ronald Dela Rosa told reporters at the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City, as he defended the PNP AntiKidnapping Group from the accusation of a coverup.

“Sinabi ko nga merong 3 alleged NBI. Bakit hindi ko sabihin ’yan, lumabas sa investigation namin. Gusto niyo

itago ko. Anong purpose nun itago ko?” he added.

Dela Rosa made the statement a day after NBI Director Dante Gierran announced that his agency was considering filing charges against the PNP for issuing a statement based on “unverified” information, saying it could “damage” the NBI’s credibility.

Last Monday, Dela Rosa relayed to the media the possible involvement of NBI agents

in the kidnapping of Lee Jung Dae, who was taken from Angeles City, Pampanga and was rescued in Manila last Saturday.

The PNP chief clarified on Wednesday that he based his information on testimonies from a victim and a suspect in the kidnapping.

“Sinabi na may NBI na kasama, 3 then sinabi ko pa nga na alleged NBI agents dahil hindi namin kilala pero that’s coming from the mouth of the victim and the mouth of the accused, suspect nangagaling yan,” Dela Rosa said.

When asked what he thought about Gierran’s allegations, the PNP chief said he had stomached situations wherein a police officer is involved in a crime.

“Wala akong problema kay

director Gierran. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, kung merong pulis na involved, hindi man ako nahihiya na may pulis na involved. Please, kung may pulis na involved sa kalokohan upakan nyo. After all we are after internal cleansing, after good governance na gusto natin maayos gobyerno na hindi masira. Hindi yung magkublihan tayo na ang purpose ko naman doon hindi ako naninira ng ahensya. Kung pulis, aminin ko man kung... corrupt na PNP, hulihin. Wala man tayo tinatago dito,”he said.

“We did not make up that story. Totoo yan. Sorry kung nasaktan sila. Ako rin, nasasaktan din ako kapag may pulis nai-involve sa krimen kahit na unverified basta lumabas ang pan-

galan ng pulis, well we have to accept that na may nangyayari talaga,” Dela Rosa added.

The PNP chief said he would speak with the NBI regarding their investigation.

Last Tuesday, the NBI defended its agents assigned in Pampanga, saying they had no participation in any operation involving a Korean citizen being apprehended or being forcibly taken into custody and detention, on the date of the incident where the victim was kidnapped.

On Wednesday, Senior Superintendent Glenn Dumlao, chief of the PNP-AKG, asked the NBI to prove the innocence of their Pampanga-based agents instead of threatening to press charges against the police.

“Once may allegation kahit

Federalism pushed THE Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Commttee has appealed to Congress to immediately adopt steps in the shift from a Unitary System of Government to a Federal System of Government, amidst the clamor of the Filipino people, in order to address the issues of poverty, insurgency, corruption, criminality and drugs problem that are bedeviling the Philippine society.

It said that the movement of some die-hard Duterte supporters, recommending a revolutionary government is a clear indication that the people are already desperate because of the snail pace implementation of the advocacies of the President.

The almost nil action of the Congress for the adoption of the Federal System have greatly resulted in an uproar amongst the people who are very expectant of the genuine change

as promised by the President in his electoral campaign. The President is very determined as shown by his iron will to initiate these changes, however, being in a Democratic society, the act of Congress is a requisite before all these political initiatives must be put in place.

The perceived inaction by Congress to act on this very vital program manifests the frustration of the sovereign people.

Hence, many sectors in our society are now determined to use their sovereign power to attain this change.

In the event that no action will be initiated to satisfy this clamor, the MRRD-NECC said it will not hesitate to manifest its support for future action to establishment a revolutionary government in order to attain this elusive goal to attain a lasting peace and a decent progress of the Filipino people.

BoC files smuggling raps vs importer

By Rey E. Requejo

RISK MANAGEMENT. United Nations Office for Disaster Response head Dr. Robert Glasser (left) and Hans T. Sy (right), chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings Inc., lead the 2017 Top Leaders Forum, an initiative to make the Philippines disaster resilient through government and private sector dialogues and coordination for the implementation of disaster risk management programs held at Conrad Hotel, Pasay City. Ey Acasio

Airport staff saves boy in Naia accident Two human rights probers ALERT airport personnel saved the life of a five-year-old Malaysian boy who accidentally fell off the ledge at the departure area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 Wednesday morning.

A team of medical and rescue personnel quickly responded and attended to the child identified as Muhammad Alif Bin Azizah, who was with his family and about to board Philippine Airlines flight PR 662 bound for Jeddah when the incident happened.

Officials of the Manila International Airport AuthorityMedia Affairs Division said the incident happened around 8:22 a.m. at the terminal’s pre-departure area.

Airport physician Denise Lauren Dalmacion said the boy was conscious when he was given first aid treatment.

MIAA chief information officer Connie Bungag said a video footage taken by the closed-circuit television camera in the area showed that

the child was standing, walkplaying on the ledge prior to the accident.

The boy slipped, went out of balance and fell.

Bungag said the mother was busy attending to a toddler, believed to be the boy’s sibling, at the time of the incident.

“Doctors from the [Airport] Bureau of Quarantine whose office was just across where the boy landed, initially responded. Shortly after, the MIAA medical team arrived at the scene and took over and attended to the boy,” Bungag said in a message sent via Viber.

Initial medical reports submitted to the office of the MIAA general manager, showed that the boy was found lying on the floor crying in pain.

“Physical examination conducted at the scene showed the boy to be coherent and responding. Blood was noted coming from his lower and upper lips, abrasions on the

konting allegation ’yan, it’s our responsibility as part of our accountability na [to] come forward makipagtulungan at prove otherwise. ’Yon ang tamang gawin, hindi iyong kakasuhan ang PNP,” Dumlao had said in a statement.

The AKG report said that the suspects had allegedly confessed they kidnapped Lee with the help of operatives from the Bureau of Immigration, as well.

As this developed, a suspected Korean drug dealer was immediately deported by immigration authorities who is wanted in his country for distributing Philipon drug, known as a “Japanese murder drug,” upon his arrival at the Mactan international airport in Cebu.

mid forehead and the chin.

He is able to move all four extremities,” the report stated.

It also showed that “there is no palpable gross deformity and tenderness over the head, trunk and extremities.”

After giving first aid treatment, the medical team rushed the child to the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Pasay City.

The boy was discharged later.

MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal advised passengers and nannies travelling with their kids to be alert and always be attentive to the children while at the airport, and even before or during boarding the aircraft to avoid any untoward incident.

“We remind passengers with small children to watch closely over them when traveling,” he said.

Meanwhile, Monreal offered a public apology after air travellers experienced poor ventilation at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. Joel E. Zurbano

killed in Negros province TWO members of a fact-finding mission in Negros province were killed and another wounded while on their way to investigate and validate complaints of human rights violation in the area.

“We condemn in the strongest terms this recent attack on human rights workers.

Even as human rights workers conducting fact-finding missions in Batangas, Negros, Mindanao and elsewhere are being subjected to attacks by state forces, we will never relent in struggling alongside with the Filipino people in contending against this murderous Duterte regime,” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said.

Unidentified men believed to be part of the private army of a mayor shot and killed Elisa Badayos, coordinator of KarapatanNegros Oriental, and Eleuterio Moises, a barangay watchman and member of the peasants' group Mantapi Ebwan Farmers Association Inc. Carmen Matarlo, 23, a

member of Kabataan Party-list in Cebu, was also reportedly wounded.

The 30-member team was in the area to respond to reports of human rights violations.

“The attack on human rights defenders are becoming more rampant, more brutal, more fearless. The perpetrators know they will be dealt with impunity, as human rights have lost force and meaning especially under this regime. Fact-finding missions are a mechanism for human rights organizations to confirm reports of abuses, and this incident has only proven how fascism works to outrightly kill those who dare to question,” Palabay said.

“The space for human rights defenders is fast shrinking as the Duterte regime is finding more and more ways to cripple defenders on the ground who voice out the real situation experienced by marginalized communities victimized by militarization, landgrabbing, and other forms of repression and oppression.” Rio N. Araja

THE Bureau of Customs on Wednesday asked the Department of Justice to prosecute the importer and a broker behind the two smuggled Mercedes Benz seized last September at the Manila International Container Port.

In a five-page complaint, the BoC Action Team Against Smugglers sought the indictment of Julius Catalig, owner of Juljerjac Trading, and customs broker Rodrigo de Guzman for violations of Republic Act 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act) for misdeclaring the luxury cars worth about P10 million.

BATAS executive director Yasser Ismail Abbas alleged that the respondents failed to pay a total dutiable value of P4,164,240.28 and an aggregate amount of customs duties, fees and taxes amounting to P3,641,762 or a total of about P7.8 million.

Abbas said that the importer and broker declared the shipment, which arrived from Hong Kong July 29, as “10 packages of auto parts including shock absorbers, bearings, sprockets and spoilers” with customs duties and taxes of just around P267,000.

The Customs official said the respondents may face imprisonment ranging from six to 12 years and a fine ranging from P1.5 million up to P15 million if found guilty of the charges.

BoC Commissioner Isidro Lapeña, for his part, has ordered BATAS to speed up investigations on erring importers and brokers and to file necessary criminal complaint against the culprits.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

Manila

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TODAY

Children’s Games lured 10k kids S

OME 10,000 children from 12 cities and provinces in the country participated in the Children’s Games, including internally displaced kids from war-torn Marawi City, spearheaded by the Philippine Sports Commission-Philippine Sports Institute starting May to November this year.

Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez yesterday bared this during the Coordinators’ Meeting and Workshop at the Multipurpose Hall Dorm G of PhilSports Complex here.

“We have 10,000 children playing with us since we launched the Children’s Games that has been cited

by Unesco. We made 10,000 children happy and Unesco appreciated us for that,”

said Ramirez. “Hindi lang ito laro-laro, may malaking implication sa values ng mga bata lalong-lalo na sa peacemaking.”

Children’s Games, the centerpiece program for grassroots of PSC-PSI, were held in Baguio City, Benguet, Laoag, Ilocos Norte and Bontoc in Luzon with some 3,500 participants.

They were also staged in Naga, Cebu, Carcar and mountain areas in the Vi-

sayas that drew around 4,200 athletes. Similar Games were conducted in Davao City and Iligan City in Mindanao, attracting some 2,300 children.

Ramirez shrugged off criticisms on the Children’s Games, citing that PSC gives value on the children as the United Nations also recognizes every child’s right to play.

“The Constitution also mandated us to nurture the children, promote values formation thereby improving the citizens’ quality of life.

Giving value to the children has an institutional foundation. The children are the future of the country,” Ramirez said, adding that the PSC’s focus on the children is anchored on UN’s medium development plan.

Twenty-three grassroots coaching seminars, on the other hand, were held since January in Basista, Pangasinan; Navotas City; Tagum City; Butuan City; Marawi City; Laoag, Ilocos Norte; Occidental Mindoro; Muntinlupa City; Vigan; Abra; Isabela, Kalinga, Ifugao; Dagupan City; Malolos, Bulacan; Quirino; Aurora; Abra; Cavite; Camarines Sur; Surigao del Norte; and Legazpi City.

Meanwhile, PSI held the Smart Mapping Action Research Talent (Smart) ID Train the Trainers program in Tagum City, Puerto Princesa City, Vigan and Cebu City.

The PSI also conducted six consultative meetings in Marawi City, Occidental

Mindoro, Surigao del Norte, Abra, Laoag and Cavite.

In line with President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s directive to bring grassroots sports development, the PSI also held a drug recovery program in Basista, Pangasinan; antidrug campaign in Navotas City and Palaro Kontra Droga at Smokey Mountain in Tondo, Manila.

Ramirez also urged coordinators to continue the good things that they have been doing, saying that, “You are all my extension.”

The coordinators’ meeting, also graced by PSC Commissioners Charles Raymond A. Maxey and Celia Kiram, will close today with another set of workshop and open forum on 2018 targets.

The Red Booters are currently tied with La Salle, a former member, with the most number of seniors’ title and would emerge as winningest in the league if they could win it all again this season.

St. Benilde, likewise, stayed unscathed in two games as it downed Perpetual Help, 6-0.

It was also the second triumph for the Blazers, who waylaid the Mapua Cardinals, 6-0, in the first game also Friday.

EAC, for its part, leaned on Marvin Lianza’s firsthalf goal as it turned back Lyceum of the Philippines University, 1-0, to barge into the win column and improve to 1-1.

PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez says giving value to the children has an institutional foundation and so they are focusing on Children’s Games as the centerpiece of the agency’s grassroots sports program.

VOLLEY PARTICIPANTS. Members of the Nazareth School of National University, De La Salle-Lipa and Holy Rosary College display their medals as they pose with Sta. Rosa Mayor Dan Fernandez and organizing Metro Sports president Freddie Infante during awards rites of the first 18-and-under Rebisco Volleyball League crown at the Sta. Rosa MultiPurpose Sports Complex in Laguna recently. NSNU downed DLL in four to capture the crown while host HRC upended Hope Christian High School to bag third place.

Garcia scores milestone squash win

Moneytyte shows way in national duckpin tilt PDBA-Moneytyte of Pampanga and CADBA-GIB 1 showed the way in the ongoing PHIDBC (Philippine Duckpin Bowling Council) National Open championships at the Marketplace Center along Kanlaon St., Mandaluyong City.

The PDBA bowlers rolled 1063 pinfalls to pace INCIRBA-VICE by 26 pins in the men’s team event while CADBA-GIB carded 974 lead D’Friendly Bells by 41 pins in the ladies’ division.

ARIBA Herglo 2 ranked third in the men’s competition with 1023, followed

by CADBA 1 (1012) and MTC DBC (1011).

PCBC posted 932 to check in third in the ladies’ event, followed by BIDBAANTHENA (926) AND TIGER lADIES (925).

Joebet Fajardo of D’Friendly and Ruby Villamil of INCIRBA set the pace in the men’s and ladies’ singles competition, respectively.

Fajardo tallied 441 to finish ahead of UPDBC’s Robert Arrobang (436) and Francis Tagura (414), BIDBA’s Floyd San Jose (407) and Raymond Certeza (400).

Villamil collected 395 pins to lead Lily Dino (374), Ayza Halabaso (374), Gemma Alcira (371) and Mai Acido (370).

Gift certificates worth more than P300 and trophies are at stake in the kegfest which ends on Dec. 3.

Robert Garcia (fourth from left) displays his gold medal and check for ruling the men’s singles of the 4th Nissan-PSA Open squash tournament at The Palms Country Club squash courts last Sunday. Flanking him are runner-up Valentino Bong (third from left) and third-placer David Pelino. Also shown are PSA president Robert Bachmann (right) and PSA secretary general Vince Santos (second from left).

ROBERT Garcia outsmarted Malaysian top seed Valentino Bong, 11-8, 6-11, 15-17, 11-8, 117, in a riveting marathon match of the men’s singles finals of the 4th Nissan PSA Open last at The Palms Country Club squash courts in Muntinlupa City over the weekend.

Blending guile and power, Garcia humbled Bong after one hour of nail-biting action for the inaugural victory by a Filipino player in a Professional Squash Association World Tour event in front of a small but delighted hometown crowd that witnessed the historic accomplishment.

“Binalikan ko lang siya. I just played my game and played it smart,” said the exhausted

but ecstatic Garcia of his well-earned win over Bong in pocketing the top prize of $500 on top of gaining 20 PSA ranking points after the five-set thriller.

“I made a lot of mistakes and I didn’t have my usual shot,” rued Bong, who is currently ranked No. 160 in the PSA world rankings, in losing to the hometown player, who, ironically, was one of his charges he handled on the national team that saw action in the 30th Malaysia Southeast Asian Games last August.

Bong, whose mother is a Filipina from Cavite, settled for the runner-up check of $300, plus 13 PSA ranking points in the three-day event supported by

Superliga to make changes in schedule Games Today (Filoil Flying V Centre) 4:15 pm – Petron vs Cocolife 7:00 pm – Generika-Ayala vs Sta. Lucia

San Beda smashes Mapua in football REIGNING titlist San Beda College continued to show solid form as it smashed a hapless Mapua, 10-0, to remain unscathed atop the heap in the seniors’ division of the 93rd NCAA football tournament at the Rizal Memorial Complex grounds.

Mark Anthony Magtoto unleashed a hat trick by scoring on the 45th, 46th and 76th minutes, while Adolfo Ababa and Aljo Paul Zabala each unloaded a brace to help the Red Booters nail their second straight victory following a 10-1 smashing of the Emilio Aguinaldo Generals in the opener Friday.

Jerome Marzan and Jegger Paul Alfuenter joined the scoring frenzy by contributing a rocket apiesce.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Nissan Motors Phils., which drew top players from South Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Pakistan, Russia, England and Australia.

In the battle for third place, David Pelino beat fellow national teammate Reymark Begornia, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9, and took home $200 in the threeday international competition also backed by Gatorade, ActiveHealth Carb-Gel and Enervon, Dunlop and The Palms and Country Club.

Philippine Squash Academy president Robert Bachmann, secretary general Vince Santos and The Palms and Country Club general manager and chef Hans Neukom awarded the medals and prizes to the winners.

IN COMPLIANCE with the new competition calendar of the International Volleyball Federation and the Asian Volleyball Confederation, the Philippine Superliga (PSL) will make significant changes in its own schedule for 2018.

From late October to mid-December, the most prestigious club league in the country will move its import-flavored Grand Prix as its season-opener from Feb. 17 to May 17, followed by the Challenge Cup beach volleyball tournament from May 26 to June 16.

The All-Filipino Conference will be held from July 28 to Nov. 15, but would take a break from Sept. 17 to 23 to give way to the 6th AVC Asian Cup for Women in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

The Invitational Conference is set from November to December, followed by another beach volleyball tournament to cap the year.

Also calendared is the AVC Asian Women’s Club Championship from July 11 to 18 in Oskemen, Kazakhstan, where the league is set to send its AllStar team anew.

The calendar, however, would be subject to minor revisions depending on the actual implementation of the new international rules.

PSL president Ramon “Tats” Suzara said the league made a bold move of tweaking its calendar in compliance with that of the FIVB and the AVC, making it easier for the league to attract the world’s best foreign players for the Grand Prix as well as make their players available for international tournaments.

“The PSL is a staunch supporter of the plans and programs of the FIVB and the AVC,” said Suzara, who is also an FIVB member and the chairman of the powerful marketing and development committee of the AVC. Meanwhile, Sta. Lucia Realty guns for a crucial win to improve its raking entering the quarterfinals of the Chooks to Go-PSL Grand Prix today at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Tourism department expects Fil-Am golf tourney to lure in more tourists BAGUIO CITY—The Department of Tourism plans to cash in on the Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament to help boost tourism for the Philippines when it partnered with the golf organizers this year.

With its newly revived “Bring Home a Friend” program to boost tourism, the DoT believes the FilAm golf as one of the events that will help highlight such.

With the partnership, the department is confident that tourism will surely spike up, said DoT— Cordillera representative Bayani Malicdem during a press conference for the 68th Fil-Am DoT Golf Invitational by San Miguel Corporation last Nov. 27.

The program was launched in 1994 by then DoT secretary Mina Gabor to boost tourist arrival in the country. Last October, the DoT revived and launched the program. To spice it up, the DoT included a raffle for tourists whose winners will bring home either a condominium unit in Magallanes, Makati, a brand new car and a P200,000 gift certificate from Duty Free Philippines.

The promotion will last until April 15 next year.

Camp John Hay Golf Manager and Fil-Am co-chair Tim Allen said that the idea to partner with the DoT, or golf tourism, was CJH Development Corporation president John Sobrepeña’s.

The Fil-Am golf will have 240 teams of which 68 will see action in the senior side or 55 years and older.

The senior Fil-Am, which was started in 2004 during its 55th year, will have flights for Championship, A, B, C and D for both the Fil and Am sides.

“This is up by 40 percent from when we started when we only had three flights – Champ, A and B,” added Allen.

This time, General Manager Anthony de Leon of co-host Baguio Country Club said the Fil-Am is also gearing up for the opening of a third category, the super senior competition for 70 years and older next year.

Meanwhile, the co-chair admitted that the delay in the start of the Fil-Am has greatly helped the event with players from the US able to celebrate Thanksgiving Day before flying to Baguio and play.

“It has been a long clamor by Americans or Filipinos living in the US to have a later start so that they can celebrate Thanksgiving with their families,” said Allen, an American.

“You know in the States, Thanksgiving is even bigger than Christmas,” he said.

“When we announced that it will start on the 29th, we received an unbelievably positive response,” he added. Dexter See

LOTTO RESULTS 6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0 M+ P0 M

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CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

Cavs survive James’ 1st career ejection

Sports

LOS ANGELES—LeBron James’s first career ejection was just a blip in his Cleveland Cavaliers’ ninth straight NBA victory on Tuesday—a 108-97 triumph over the Miami Heat.

Kevin Love was red-hot, scoring 38 points to lead the Cavs as James lost his cool and was tossed for the first time in 1,082 regularseason games.

James, convinced he was fouled on a drive to the basket, made a beeline for referee Kane Fitzgerald, shouting angrily.

Fitzgerald quickly whistled the superstar for a technical foul and then pointed to the exit with 1:59 remaining in the third quarter.

“I got fouled,” James said. “I showed my frustration to the ref and he sent me to the locker room.”

James, who had stripped the ball from Miami’s James Johnson at the other end, said he was “fouled all the way up the court, from the time that I stripped him all the way ‘til I got to the rim.

“I said what I had to say and I was moving on,” added James, who thought Fitzgerald had assessed a second technical foul when

in fact the ref had handed him a straight ejection after the single technical.

Fitzgerald, in his ninth NBA season, told a pool reporter the decision was “a culmination of a couple different acts.

“Immediately after the no-call, he turned and threw an air punch directly at me and then he aggressively charged at me and then he used vulgarity in my ear a few times,” Fitzgerald said.

“It is what it is,” said James, who scored 21 points with 12 rebounds, six assists and five steals.

“We got the win and that’s the most important.”

The Cavs were leading 93-70 at the time, and the absence of James for the final period didn’t stop the Eastern Conference champions from notching a ninth victory in a row.

Love’s 38 points were a season-high and Dwyane Wade added 17 off the bench against his former team.

The game marked the first time that Heat coach Erik Spoelstra went up against his former Miami stars James and Wade at the same time. AFP

Archers force a deciding Game 3

Azkals lead PH teams to Taiwan tilt

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

La Salle’s Ben Mbala thwarts the attempt of Ateneo’s Chiz Ikeh in Game 2 of the UAAP Finals at the Araneta Coliseum. The Archers won, 92-83, to arrange a winner-take-all game for the UAAP crown on Sunday. Ey Acasio

By Peter Atencio

E

VEN with foul trouble, the defending champion La Salle Green Archers found great answers to their dire situation.

on a putback that allowed La Salle to force the first of two deadlocks at 56-all, with 3:02 left in the period.

After that, MVP Ben Mbala, who was in foul trouble with teammates Rivero, Santillan and Abu Tratter, scored past Isaac Go to move La Salle ahead, 60-58.

The Rivero brothers, Prince and Ricci, then came in with baskets that widened their edge, 64-59.

Caracut’s two charities with 8:11 left then saw La Salle hanging on to sevenpoint edge, 70-63, for most of

Games Sunday (Araneta Coliseum) 11 a.m. NU vs UE (Women Game 2) 4 p.m. La Salle vs Ateneo (Men Game 3)

the last period. Ateneo never recovered from here.

“In the first half, gigil ‘yung mga players. So we realized that in half of the second quarter, we needed to contain them because almost all of their points were coming from transition. Nakinig naman ang mga players.

They really did well in containing them, lalo na si Matt

Nieto. Buti na lang, it went our way,” said La Salle assistant coach Miggy Solitaria.

The Archers and Eagles go at it again for one final time on Sunday at 4 p.m. with the title on the line.

Despite being in foul trouble, Mbala led La Salle with 20 points and 16 rebounds, while Thirdy Ravena tallied 20 for Ateneo.

Mbala, who had two fouls in the first period, got his second in the last 3:13 of the period off Ravena, who handed Ateneo a 24-9 spread Meanwhile, Trixie Anti-

quiera showed the way for the National University Lady Bulldogs as they smothered the University of the East Lady Warriors, 89-61, in Game 1 of the women’s finals.

Antiquiera sank 19 of her 30 points in the first half, including four treys that allowed the Lady Bulldogs to take control of the game.

NU will try to seize its fourth straight title and 64th consecutive win on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Mbala was named UAAP MVP for the second straight year pulling away.

They turned to an unlikely source for baskets in Andrei Caracut as La Salle got back at Ateneo, 92-83, to tie their best-of-three title series at 1-all in Game 2 of the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament last night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Caracut, a third-year vet-

eran, banged in 13 points, including seven crucial points that provided fuel for La Salle’s successful effort. He joined Ricci Rivero during a big run in the third period, knocking down a threepointer and three-point play that put La Salle to within 54-56, with 4:03 left.

Then, Santi Santillan scored

Tiger Cubs notch 3rd victory; Jr Archers win

Scribes honor PBA’s achievers of past season

Games Sunday

(Blue Eagle gym) 9 a.m. Ateneo vs UST 11 a.m. Adamson vs UPIS 1 p.m. FEU vs NU 3 p.m. UE vs La Salle Zobel

THE University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs relied on the heroics of Bismarck Lina and Rayjhun Baquial in the extra period to upset the defending champion Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws, 82-79, at The Arena in San Juan.

Lina’s putback in the last 20 seconds and a block by Baquial allowed the Tigers to escape with their third win in four games in the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines Junior Basketball Tournament.

The 6’4” Lina went on to finish with 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Tiger Cubs, who bounced back from an 85-89 loss to the Nazareth School-National University Bullpups over the weekend.

The Baby Tams had chances to still force a second extension after the Tiger Cubs nursed a three-point edge will less then 20 seconds to go, but LJ Gonzales bungled an attempt for FEU and Baquial got in the way of RJ Abarrientos’ followup try as time expired.

“Good thing about this team is its composure. Nakabalik ang FEU. Pero nakita ko ang puso ng mga bata. Talagang palaban,” said UST coach Chris Cantonjos.

The Baby Tams, who now have a 2-2 slate, drew 16 points from Abarrientos, who assisted Royce Alforque for a game-tying basket in the last 35.6 seconds, 73-all The game went into overtime when Tiger Cubs’ top scorer John Cansino bungled an attempt in the next play, and Abarrientos and JM Amendez missed their attempts as time expired. Peter Atencio

THE best of the last 42nd Philippine Basketball Association season will be feted in its own little way by the PBA Press Corps as it holds its Annual Awards Night Thursday at the Gloria Maris Restaurant inside the Gateway Mall at the Araneta Center in Cubao.

Leo Austria takes centerstage during the formal affair presented

by Cignal TV, as he is set to receive a third straight Coach of the

Year award and the distinction of being the first-ever mentor to be the recipient of the perpetual Virgilio ‘Baby’ Dalupan trophy held in honor of the late prodigious Filipino coach.

The perpetual trophy is handed out to the person who wins the Coach of the Year Award three straight seasons.

Austria, who steered San Miguel to two championships in the just concluded season,

including a third straight Philippine Cup title to bring home the Jun Bernardino Perpetual Trophy, has won the honor since 2015.

San Miguel Corp. President and Chief Executive Officer Ramon S. Ang will also be cited with a special honor by the men and women who regularly cover the PBA beat, bestowing on him the Danny Floro Executive of the Year award named

after the amiable big boss of the multi-titled Crispa Redmanizers franchise.

Rep. Mikee Romero of 1Pacman party list and Globalport team owner, is expected to grace the affair as the league’s outgoing chairman, and will be joined by his successor Ramon Fernandez of NLEX. The ceremony is going to witness the awarding of the PBAPC’s first-ever Game of the

Season to be bestowed on the Barangay Ginebra-Star Governors Cup duel held last Sept. 3.

The other regular awards will still be there such as the William ‘Bogs’ Adornado Comeback Player of the Year to Kelly Williams of TNT Katropa, the Mighty Sports Defensive Player of the Year on San Miguel’s Chris Ross, and Mr. Quality Minutes to Jio Jalalon of Star.

La Salle aims for 3rd cage championship SBP-PASSERELLE two-time defending SBP division champion La Salle Greenhills is determined to win a third consecutive championship title in the upcoming national finals of the 32nd (Small Basketeers of the Philippines)—Passerelle, the largest twin tournaments in the country, to be held on Dec. 2 and 3at the Cebu Coliseum in Cebu City.

The Greenies will face Berkeley School of Baguio from Luzon, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu from Visayas and Ferndale International School of Zamboanga from Mindanao.

La Salle Greenhills will have its hands full in the Vying for the Passerelle national finals of the SBP-Passerelle tourney in Cebu.

division championship are San Beda College from the National Capital Region, International School for Better Beginnings from Luzon, Hua Siong College of Iloilo from Visayas and Holy Child College of Davao from Mindanao.

Organized by the country’s premier sports clinic, Basketball Efficiency Scientific Training Center, the 32nd SBP-Passerelle Twin Tournaments is supported by MILO, in cooperation with Rain or Shine Elasto Paints, Chris Sports, and SKLZ. It allows teams of under 15 and under 12 age groups to apply what

they learned in basketball training and to showcase their skills.

BEST Center is a Hall of Famer of the Philippine Sportswriters Association for Grassroots Development and the only corporate recipient of the Olympism Award from the Philippine Olympic Committee.

For more information about BEST Center’s classes and tournaments, call the hotlines 411-6260, 3723066 and 3723065, email bestcentersports@ gmail.com or follow its official Facebook page at https://www. facebook.com/BESTCENTERSPORTS/.

FOUR squads, including the the Philippine Azkals national men’s team will take part in the Chinese Taipei Football Association International Tournament set from December 1 to 5 in Taipei, Taiwan.

The Azkals, led by the Younghusband brothers Phil and James, are playing against teams from Chinese Taipei, Laos, and Timor Leste in matches to be held at the Municipal Stadium in Taipei.

The tournament is outside the FIFA international match window and there is no mandatory release by clubs of players for national team duty.

Available players, who were called up include those from Philippines Football League clubs and several standouts from the U22 team Simone Rota, Angel Guirado, Ruben Doctora Jr. and Mike Ott are among the veterans available.

The tournament is seen as a good opportunity for the young players to experience being part of the Azkals.

Also listed with the squad are Nathanael Alquiros, Fitch Arboleda. Junell Bautista, Jaime Cheng, Justin Cheng, Julian Clarino, Reymart Cubon and Dylan de Bruycker.

Also joining the team are Javier Gayoso, James Hall, Christian Lapas, Ray Joyel, Kintaro Miyagi, Nick O’Donnell, Yannick Tuason, Adam Tull and Reynald Villareal, The Azkals will first meet Laos at 4 p.m. Friday, followed by Chinese Taipei on Sunday.

Timor-Leste will clash with the Azkals on Tuesday.

Peter Atencio

2-eagle feat nets Australian Tarlac Open lead TARLAC—Australian Andrew Campbell eagled two par5s and birdied the two others as he shot a seven-under 65 to wrest a two-stroke lead over Swede Oskar Arvidsson at the start of the $100,000 CAT (Central Azucarera de Tarlac) Open at the Luisita Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Campbell bucked the early morning gusts with his power drives and set up the eagle putts with superb iron play – the first from 20 feet out on No. 9 and the other from just about a footlength on No. 12. He added six birdies that more than made up for his three missed-green bogeys for a 32-33 card.

“I really hit good drives today (yesterday). The fairways

were in great shape and I was able to take advantage by placing shots where I wanted them,” said Campbell, out to snap a couple of mediocre finishes on the Philippine Golf Tour Asia.

But Arvidsson is just right behind at five-under 67, an impressive output for a player debuting on the region’s newest circuit put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. He rattled off three birdies in a solid backside start at the challenging par-72 layout then the winner of the PGM Kuala Lumpur Championship of the ADT last year rebounded from a bogey mishap on the tricky par-3 No. 2 with a stirring three-birdie binge to

close out his round.

The two foreign aces’ early surge also relegated the locals to the background in the circuit the latter have dominated with victories in the first four legs. And it took an unheralded troika of Rolando Marabe Jr., Kris Etter and Benjie Magada to take the cudgels for the hosts with 69s in tougher condition in the afternoon for joint third.

Tony Lascuña, winner of the last PGTA leg at Wack Wack, rebounded from a three-over card after three holes with five birdies and got back into early contention with a 70 in a tie with six others, including PGTA Riviera champion Clyde Mondilla,

who sizzled at the back with three birdies but fumbled with bogeys on Nos. 1 and 6 before hitting another birdie on the eighth.

Other two-under par scorers were Singapore’s Choo Tze Huang, Charles Hong, Justin Quiban, Joenard Rates and Gerald Rosales.

Thai Wisut Artjanawat hit four birdies but stumbled with three bogeys for a 71, dropping to joint 13th with Rufino Bayron, Michael Bibat, Paul Echavez, Jelbert Gamolo, Keanu Jahns, Rey Pagunsan, Nilo Salahog, Elmer Salvador, Andreas Gronkvist, also of Sweden, Dutch Guido Van der Valk, and Macedonian Peter Stojonovski.

Solid driving propels Andrew Campbell of Australia to the top of the heap with a 65.

SM Prime opens fourth Bulacan shopping mall B2

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

B

Cusi amends power competition rules IN BRIEF

Panda bond sale deferred to 1st quarter

THE government moved the planned Panda bond issuance worth $200 million in China to the first quarter of 2018 from the initial schedule of fourth quarter this year pending the approval from the People’s Bank of China, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Wednesday.

“The Bureau of the Treasury is awaiting final approval from the People’s Bank of China so the schedule for issuance has been moved to first quarter,” Dominguez said in a statement.

“Similar to other fund-raising activities, Panda bond offering is subject to favorable market conditions in the onshore RMB [renminbi] market and provides competitive pricing compared to other funding options,” he said.

The Philippines sent a delegation that conducted a non-deal roadshow in China in the third quarter where they met about 13 potential investors for the Panda bonds, a combination of banks and asset management corporations.

National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon said Chinese investors expressed interest in the planned issuance. “They are very enthusiastic about the growth narrative of the Philippines.... [They are] anticipating that eventually the Philippines would make its first footprint in the Panda market,” she said. Julito G. Rada

By Alena Mae S. Flores

E

nergy Secretary Alfonso Cusi signed a circular amending the policies on retail competition and open access in the power sector.

The circular now calls for the voluntary participation of contestable customers with an average peak demand of 750 kilowatt-hours and above in the retail market.

It also reversed the department’s previous position of a mandatory implementation of open access, which gives consumers the

power to choose their electricity suppliers.

The department said it issued the circular in the wake of a “compelling need” to provide immediate guidance to affected power industry entities in view of the temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court.

“The issuance of the circular is necessary to address policy and regulatory gaps resulting from and consistent with the abovementioned cases and the TRO,” the circular said.

The circular stated that the 500 kW to to 749 kW users would have voluntarily participated in the retail market by June 26, 2018.

It said that by Dec. 26, 2018 or an earlier date specified by the Energy Regulatory Commission, electricity end users within a contiguous area whose aggregate average peak

demand was not less than 500 mW for the preceding 12 months may aggregate their demand to be part of the contestable market.

The Supreme Court issued a TRO on Feb. 21, 2017 enjoining the department, the ERC and its agents from implementing the RCOA rules and regulations that mandateD the mandatory migration of contestable customers.

The department and ERC mandated that large power users choose their suppliers by Feb. 26, 2017, which became the subject of the

Consumers ask bicam for compassion

CONSUMERS and store owners vowed to intensify their opposition to the proposed excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages which they said will directly hit poor Filipinos.

Philippine Association of Sari-Sari Stores and Carinderia Owners president Victoria Aguinaldo asked lawmakers to spare the poor from the impact of rising consumer prices as a result of the proposed excise tax on sugarsweetened beverage.

“If the ‘sweet tax’ is passed, prices of our products will definitely increase, and our customers may not be able to afford them.

Our sales and income will drop, and many of us may be forced to close our stores,” Aguinaldo said.

Aguinaldo, whose group represents 1.3 million sari-sari store and carinderia establishments all over the country, said sweet drinks such as sodas, iced tea and ready-to-drink juice account for 30 percent to 40 percent of their total sales.

The Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente―an advocacy group defending the interests of Filipino consumers―has supported the campaign of Pasco in opposing the SSB tax which they said would would hit hard on class D and E consumers.

BK3 convenor Louie Montemar said his group supported Pasco’s actions because what is at stake in the issue is the interest of the poor consumers. He said the latest Senate version of SSB taxes was disappointing and “we fear that the bi-cameral might increase the final version of the SSB tax.”

“We appeal to our legislators to show compassion to the ordinary Filipino, enough with these consumer taxes,” Montemar said.

customer to have a license.

The policy also provides that distribution utilities may provide electricity services to contestable customers within its franchise area upon authorization from the ERC and compliance with the unbundling provisions of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act and its implementing rules and regulations.

“The DOE assures the public of its commitment in moving forward with RCOA for the benefit of the consumers,” Cusi said earlier.

Govt wants Sumitomo to rehabilitate MRT-3

By Darwin G. Amojelar MRT-3 – they designed and

Pag-IBIG posts record net income PAG-IBIG Fund said it posted a record net income of P22.41 billion in the first three quarters, up 14 percent over the same period last year.

The fund said the amount was only P2.72 billion shy of the fullyear income target.

Strong performance of PagIBIG Fund’s housing program led the nine-month income growth.

Loan releases from the End-User Home Financing program exceeded the nine-month target by P1.42 billion, and efforts to update past due accounts resulted in an additional income of P2.34 nillion.

These strategies allowed PagIBIG to earn P16.80 billion in interest income on home loans during the nine-month period, an 11 percent growth from a year ago.

“Pag-IBIG will play a very big role in achieving our target of having 250,000 housing units per year...Pag-IBIG will take care of the formal sector, which comprises about 60 percent to 70 percent of our housing deliverables,” PagIBIG chairperson Eduardo del Rosario said.

Pag-IBIG Fund chief executive Acmad Rizaldy Moti is optimistic that 2017 will be another banner year for the fund. “We’ve been hitting our quarter targets this year. I am confident that we will surpass our 2016 performance. This means that our members are assured that Pag-IBIG Fund remains very stable, and continues to become even stronger,” Moti said.

TRO. The Supreme Court issued a TRO on the DOE Circular No. DC2015-060010, Series of 2015 and ERC Resolution Nos. 5, 10, 11 and 28, Series of 2016.

The RCOA policy for retail electricity suppliers is for the generation company or its affiliate, an affiliate of a distribution utility, retail aggregators, independent power producer administrators, prospective generation companies, and other persons authorized by the ERC to engage in the supply business to the contestable

MICROENTERPRISE PROGRAM. Officials of Coca-Cola Philippines and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-National Reintegration Center for OFWs team up to help distressed and displaced women OFWs explore economic opportunities when they come home through the Women Reach! program. Shown are (seated, from left) Women Reach! lead convener and Coca-Cola Philippines sustainability and community affairs Manager Gilda Maquilan, Coca-Cola Philippines vice-president for public affairs Adel Tamano, OWWA deputy director Josefino Torres and NRCO director Jeffrey Cortazar.

PH investment boom leaves neighbors in the dust CAPITAL investment in the Philippines is surging past the rest of Southeast Asia as the government and firms ramp up spending.

In the first nine months of this year, net physical assets in the Philippines grew 10.4 percent from a year earlier. That compared with a 6.9-percent increase in Malaysia and 5.8-percent gain in Indonesia, according to data from statistics offices.

There’s reason to remain bullish on the outlook. Philippine government spending jumped 28 percent in October, the largest rise in almost a year, with another record budget planned for 2018. Companies are also joining in: Metro Pacific Investments Corp. plans to invest as much as $16 billion through 2022 on road, water and power projects, while Ayala Land Inc. is boosting capital spending to a record $2 billion next year.

President Rodrigo Duterte is building a network of railroads and highways across the archipelago in an ambitious $180-billion infrastructure program. Investment firing up adds another engine to the economy, headed for a sixth year of growth exceeding 6 percent and among the world’s best performers.

“The government is very committed to keep spending strong and that has maintained the robust momentum of the investment cycle,” said Eugenia Victorino, an economist at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. in Singapore.

“With growth firing on all cylinders, the Philippines is really standing out in a region where the outlook has turned more positive.” Bloomberg

Manufacturing sector seen growing over 10% in 2017

By Othel V. Campos TRADE Secretary Ramon Lopez said Wednesday the manufacturing sector is expected to grow by at least 10 percent this year, on strong economic activities across the country.

“After reaching 9.4 percent [growth] in the third quarter, I say, it is not a long shot to reach 10 or 11 percent,” Lopez told reporters at the sidelines of the Manufacturing Summit 2017 in Makati City.

The growth will be sustainable if supported by a set of policies and programs, he said.

The Trade Department said manufacturing would likely increase its share in the gross domestic product to about 25 percent this year.

The country is seeing a resurgence in the manufacturing sector, as more companies from other

countries such as China started relocating to the Philippines.

The Trade Department said it created a new industrial policy to make the local manufacturing sector together with agriculture and services globally competitive under the Inclusive Innovation Industrial Strategy or i3S. “With innovation at the front and center of the country’s strategic policies and programs, industries would be in a better position to face competition in both domestic and export markets. With accompanying measures to improve capacity to penetrate export markets, industries could take advantage of increasing returns to scale and market access opportunities especially those arising from free trade agreements and increasing regional integration in the Asean Economic Community,” Lopez said.

THE Department of Transportation said it is looking at official development assistance loans from Japan to maintain and rehabilitate Metro Rail Transit Line 3.

The agency said highlevel discussions with the government of Japan were ongoing to pave the way for the government’s direct engagement with Sumitomo Corp. and technical partner Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, under a government to government ODA platform.

It said once the G2G agreement for an ODA was signed, the maintenance and rehabilitation service contractor would be contracted pursuant to the government of Japan and Japan International Cooperation Agency rules.

“The joint venture of Sumitomo Corp. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is being closely considered due to their background and experience with the

built the system from 1998 to 2000, and maintained the system from 2000 to 2012,” the department said.

It said the maintenance and rehabilitation contract would have a term of three years and would include the rehabilitation and restoration of the system to its original performance standards.

The DOTr terminated the three-year maintenance contract of Busan Universal Rails Inc. on Nov. 6 because of its alleged inability to meet the performance indicators in the contract and failure to procure spare parts.

The DOTs said it was also pursuing an unsolicited proposal for the 30-year operation and maintenance of MRT-3. An original proponent status was given to the proponent, Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp., and the proposal would soon be endorsed to National Economic and Development Authority for further evaluation.

B2

Business

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Singapore fund gets shares of Emperador EMPERADOR Inc. will issue another 121.391 million new shares worth P832.26 million to Arran Investment Private Ltd., an affiliate of Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund.

The issuance of new shares represent the accrued interested due under its private placement in 2014. Under that deal, Arran Investments invested P17.6 billion in Emperador comprising of the purchase of common shares and equity-linked securities convertible to common shares.

The GIC affiliate agreed to buy 1.12 billion common shares in Emperador at P11 each―or for P12.32 billion, equivalent to a 6.95-percent direct equity stake.

It will have 9.64 percent holdings in Emperador by the time the brandy maker’s equity-linked securities are converted into 480 million common shares valued at P5.28 billion.

Arran Investment also has an option to invest an additional P4.4 billion in the listed liquor company.

The private placement transaction gives Emperador fresh capital that will help fund its expansions locally and globally.

Emperador is the world’s largest brandy company that owns Spanish brandy and sherry brands, namely Fundador and Scotch whisky led by The Dalmore and Jura.

Jenniffer B. Austria

SM Prime opens fourth Bulacan shopping mall

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

M Prime Holdings Inc., one of the leading integrated property companies in Southeast Asia, is set to open Friday its newest mall in Bulacan, SM Center Pulilan.

SM Prime said in a disclosure to the stock exchange SM Center Pulillan, the fourth shopping center to open in Bulacan, will enable the company to further expand its presence in the fast-growing Central Luzon area.

Situated along the Plaridel-Pulilan Diversion Road, SM Center Pulilan will have 27,000 square meters of gross floor area that will cater to the flourishing lifestyle of local resident and the economy of Bulacan.

About 80 percent of the three-level mall have been leased to several retail and food outlets, including anchor tenants like SM Hypermarket, Watsons, Ace Hardware, SM Appliance, Simply Shoes, Miniso, Surplus and BDO. “The opening of SM Center Pulilan is our followthrough to the success of our first three malls in Bulacan—SM City Marilao, SM City Baliwag and SM City San Jose Del Monte.

The notable development and growth of this province

gives us more reasons to keep on expanding in Bulacan while continuously providing utmost malling experience and convenience to more Bulaceños,” SM Prime president Jeffrey Lim said.

SM Prime to date has opened five new malls, namely SM CDO Downtown Premier in Cagayan de Oro, S Maison at Conrad Manila in Pasay City, SM Cherry Antipolo in Rizal, SM City Puerto Princesa in Palawan and SM Center Tuguegarao Downtown in Cagayan.

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.8 152,000 59.65 5,820 102.9 4,894,650 146 5,330,350 2.2 4,906,000 33.4 48,200 15.6 18,000 33.55 5,591,900 0.69 116,000 950 550 0.58 3,948,000 95.8 5,226,220 0.82 296,000 12.1 77,100 25.1 400 57.5 457,490 240 1,640 100 380 87.35 10 56.5 2,471,930 250 865,330 1,840 515 87 83,930 1.25 571,000

571,440 346,992 501,467,185 774,678,132 11,396,340 1,610,200 284,038 188,388,390 75,440 522,500 2,222,040 500,361,615 241,640 929,296 10,070 26,061,308.50 393,600 37,725 873.5 139,811,090.50 216,268,120 953,050 7,302,376 713,750

-3,640 170,894 -10,508,165 -98,112,139 -33,190 -518,795 -248,640.00 56,000 171,959,369.50 41,000 -11,814,900.50 -462,847.50 -52,402,368 185,500 -1,710,510 2,500

38.1 12.1 0.7 1.29 16.6 0.216 4.26 15.26 152 40.9 19.62 62.1 1.92 5.35 11.36 10.7 14.6 10.88 7.25 5.63 1.61 17.24 61.3 23.35 11.5 19.02 2.2 243.6 58.55 4.03 3.45 20 28.15 17.98 17.38 313 0.195 8.25 2.38 6 9.33 7.1 9.29 1.54 11.8 58 521 4.72 4.4 1.96 12.72 5.9 0.135 1.15 133 1.97 0.62

INDUSTRIAL 39.25 8,376,800 12.5 1,637,100 0.71 527,000 1.34 2,820,000 17.06 6,400 0.219 960,000 4.36 9,848,000 15.48 4,564,600 160 160 42.25 863,900 19.62 7,600 62.1 850 1.93 455,000 5.35 28,100 11.36 13,000 11.2 10,723,200 14.8 282,800 10.98 126,900 7.35 265,400 5.65 2,766,600 1.61 5,000 17.5 568,200 61.9 144,680 23.4 174,400 11.6 21,400 19.4 816,300 2.22 30,958,000 243.6 4,477,880 58.55 260 4.04 165,000 3.45 20,000 21.5 1,200 28.3 1,239,500 18.02 42,500 17.38 11,699,500 315 19,039,590 0.196 790,000 8.5 12,200 2.38 4,944,000 6.1 127,400 9.6 4,009,500 7.5 297,900 9.29 7,900 1.55 320,000 12 301,600 58.25 456,190 521 31,590 4.9 148,000 4.4 23,000 2 262,000 12.8 1,153,600 5.9 8,213,000 0.135 1,590,000 1.18 61,000 133 3,276,840 1.97 8,914,000 0.65 2,380,000

329,053,445 20,196,580 369,340 3,857,520 108,176 208,210 42,888,740 70,151,142 24,820 35,990,615 151,952 55,951 882,740 150,437 147,724 118,749,578 4,179,316 1,393,400 1,941,492 15,626,698 8,050 9,904,514 8,933,606.50 4,106,875 247,394 15,779,986 74,683,900 1,095,576,478 15,227.50 666,200 70,130 24,325 35,076,765 766,286 203,802,666 5,999,390,636 154,260 101,300 12,056,930 769,109 38,297,010 2,178,832 73,391 495,690 3,603,770 26,552,266 16,738,905 711,500 101,280 522,000 14,771,404 49,761,645 215,310 71,950 437,853,812 17,974,400 1,549,050

-82,014,065 206,824 -292,600 8,680 -51,700 4,148,232 -42,250 -12,000 33,441,316 678,290 -559,056 1,363,258 -12,195,679 170,678.00 -825,747.50 47,000 93,170 2,375,072 -6,214,120 -21,765,810 -4,336,865 68,712 43,169,628 2,184,958,570 -1,695,530 30,392 27,927,655 -110,850 -73,391 232,500 499,061 7,642,920 7,220,740 127,637 -28,124,844 -289,210 -

0.32 68.9 15.44 1 7 0.365 0.365 1,010 1,490 7.44 14.1 7.9 0.185 1,150 7.48 68 5.45 0.6 5.5 19.44 6.49 3.38 0.045 1.12 2.05 2.6 109.1 2.59 959 1.83 280 0.181 0.185

HOLDING FIRMS 0.32 120,000 70 5,011,850 15.64 6,172,800 1 2,000 7.05 24,700 0.375 9,300,000 0.365 1,210,000 1,020 442,215 1,490 30 7.45 2,045,200 15.04 12,428,900 7.97 16,900 0.185 80,000 1,150 254,660 7.48 111,000 68.8 6,392,700 5.45 100 0.62 498,000 5.75 1,862,300 19.48 3,915,400 6.7 28,312,500 3.38 39,000 0.046 8,600,000 1.2 547,000 2.05 446,000 2.6 2,000 111.8 419,570 2.61 36,000 970 643,650 1.85 10,616,000 285 2,390 0.182 180,000 0.185 10,000

38,700 350,596,064.50 96,433,018 2,000 173,112 3,494,150 448,800 450,599,710 44,700 15,236,575 184,450,590 134,701 14,800 294,639,000 830,280 440,444,245 545 301,770 10,517,955 76,405,388 188,136,301 135,310 396,100 644,990 914,860 5,200 46,572,469 95,850 623,871,600 19,875,410 675,798 32,630 1,850

-85,178,877.50 11,538,876 -110,107,545 -4,116,876 -29,325,748 -87,762 14,800 24,200,220 -123,807,750 1,225,423 33,604,478 9,962,209 -4,823,123 -152,071,940 9,661,400 16,980 -

1,656,671 17,002,910 13,490 39,700 736,940 1,001,998,700 995,060 14,986,450 205,444 22,733,350 66,320 32,760 4,188,120 508,400 24,042,980 2,650 33,790 9,603,450 56,129,700

61,264 131,830 -302,144,980 -76,580 -305,580 122,850 -2,105,700 85,200 8,305,640 -670 1,364,190 -9,854,280

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

3.84 59.75 102 144.8 2.38 33.25 15.6 34.35 0.65 950 0.56 95.85 0.82 12 25.25 56.45 240 99.05 87.35 56.2 252.4 1,865 87.15 1.25

3.93 59.75 102.9 146.4 2.4 33.5 15.9 34.6 0.69 950 0.58 96 0.82 12.2 25.25 58 240 100 87.35 57.5 252.4 1,865 87.2 1.25

3.43 57.9 101.5 143 2.16 33.25 15.6 33.55 0.65 950 0.55 95.25 0.81 11.92 25.1 56.3 240 99 87.35 56.15 247 1,840 87 1.25

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

40.2 12.12 0.71 1.3 17.36 0.217 4.41 15.3 153 42.35 20.5 64 1.98 5.43 11.4 10.7 14.8 11.1 7.25 5.64 1.61 17.24 61.7 23.9 11.8 19.02 2.38 252.4 59 4.1 3.59 20.05 28.25 18 18 316 0.196 8.5 2.43 6.16 9.44 7.39 9.29 1.55 11.82 58.5 539.5 4.9 4.41 1.98 12.92 6.75 0.137 1.15 135.1 2 0.62

40.4 12.54 0.71 1.43 17.36 0.219 4.45 15.5 160 42.35 20.6 70 2 5.43 11.4 11.2 14.8 11.1 7.35 5.72 1.61 17.5 62 23.9 11.8 19.48 2.61 252.6 59 4.1 3.6 21.5 28.5 18.1 18 318.2 0.196 8.5 2.46 6.2 9.6 7.5 9.29 1.56 12 58.5 541 4.9 4.41 2 12.92 6.8 0.137 1.18 137.2 2.04 0.67

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

0.33 73 15.5 1 7.06 0.37 0.375 1,016 1,490 7.45 14.4 7.98 0.185 1,170 7.48 70.35 5.45 0.63 5.5 19.7 6.49 3.39 0.047 1.24 2.06 2.6 111.5 2.6 959 1.83 281 0.181 0.185

0.33 73.45 15.64 1 7.06 0.38 0.38 1,020 1,490 7.45 15.04 7.98 0.185 1,179 7.48 71.55 5.45 0.64 5.75 19.7 6.7 3.55 0.047 1.24 2.06 2.6 111.8 2.83 975 1.92 285.8 0.182 0.185

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

5.47 0.93 10.18 2.33 0.92 43.95 3.73 4.8 5.36 0.47 1.12 1.17 0.218 0.465 37 0.66 0.136 1.76 1.49

5.59 1.01 10.98 2.42 0.92 43.95 3.73 4.95 5.46 0.475 1.12 1.17 0.221 0.475 38 0.67 0.136 1.82 1.49

5.44 0.92 10.18 2.33 0.9 42.8 3.66 4.8 5.36 0.465 1.1 1.17 0.212 0.46 36 0.66 0.135 1.76 1.36

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP PTFC REDEV CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

0.77 5.41 0.44 0.4 0.56 6.33 28.65 21.9 2.28 3.21 36 1.02 7.49 0.83 6

0.77 5.42 0.445 0.415 0.57 6.39 28.65 22.9 2.47 3.21 36.65 1.02 7.49 0.86 6

0.75 5.33 0.405 0.395 0.55 6.2 28.65 21.85 2.25 3.2 35.55 1.01 6.99 0.83 5.88

0.76 5.34 0.41 0.4 0.56 6.21 28.65 22.9 2.47 3.2 36.3 1.01 7.48 0.86 6

799,000 28,523,500 231,410,000 24,830,000 3,185,000 1,780,800 100 6,734,600 6,529,000 62,000 17,731,100 972,000 8,100 24,000 8,458,200

607,360 152,385,920 97,857,350 10,063,000 1,769,060 11,248,920 2,865 151,174,100 15,591,380 198,450 641,421,785 983,790 56,764 19,980 50,709,360

-22,730,487 382,150 81,000 82,050 825,030 140,160 -191,901,990 -32,200 -10,848,151

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

16.9 36.3 1.42 0.47 0.046 5.23 10.48 0.077 99.7 8.98 8.81 6.99 3.03 1,785 5.8 18.1 4.48 105.8 12.12 8.36 0.144 1.35 15.42 3.66 1.22 22.15 0.52 3.82 7.25 3.94 16.3 3.1 4.9 3.03 7.71 149 8.75 1,510 1.3 0.325 48.55 94 6.14 3.25 1.76 3.98 1.07 8.3

17.1 36.3 1.49 0.47 0.05 5.23 10.64 0.079 100.8 8.98 8.92 7 3.1 1,830 5.88 18.1 4.6 105.9 12.12 8.36 0.144 1.35 15.42 3.68 1.22 22.25 0.52 4.28 7.5 3.95 16.3 3.1 4.9 3.03 7.71 149 8.95 1,516 1.32 0.345 49.8 97 6.15 3.25 1.79 3.98 1.12 8.32

16.8 35 1.42 0.47 0.046 5.23 10.42 0.076 99.45 8.98 8.6 6.88 2.71 1,743 5.8 17.22 4.21 103.1 12 8.35 0.144 1.35 15.06 3.64 1.18 21.45 0.52 3.81 7.25 3.85 16.3 2.96 4.9 3.03 7.7 148 8.68 1,481 1.29 0.325 48.55 94 5.88 3.08 1.73 3.82 1.04 8.18

SERVICES 16.8 35 1.48 0.47 0.046 5.23 10.62 0.077 100.8 8.98 8.9 6.88 2.85 1,830 5.82 18.1 4.36 105.9 12 8.36 0.144 1.35 15.06 3.68 1.19 21.6 0.52 4.21 7.43 3.86 16.3 3.03 4.9 3.03 7.7 148 8.85 1,481 1.32 0.345 49 97 5.91 3.24 1.73 3.9 1.06 8.25

33,900 190,400 213,000 860,000 115,500,000 1,000 11,814,300 29,870,000 223,740 2,200 2,582,600 18,100 231,000 108,605 256,400 7,900 24,691,000 1,054,360 425,300 355,000 990,000 134,000 1,100 148,000 608,000 1,028,800 226,000 6,243,000 15,634,000 1,414,000 100 9,483,000 2,000 10,000 1,800 5,200 548,600 204,110 6,633,000 910,000 9,752,000 342,640 59,400 2,717,000 4,624,000 515,000 44,968,000 3,094,600

575,580 6,696,785 308,640 404,200 5,471,800 5,230 124,232,804 2,293,740 22,344,961 19,756 22,641,643 125,313 660,110 195,568,905 1,494,031 142,902 108,269,870 111,358,222 5,121,036 2,967,300 142,560 180,900 16,926 541,250 724,540 22,387,050 117,520 25,762,850 116,427,674 5,485,410 1,630 28,663,640 9,800 30,300 13,871 771,241 4,834,669 303,756,760 8,693,530 304,450 475,758,120 33,135,440 353,021 8,620,460 8,048,110 1,999,200 49,012,560 25,555,269

-35,700 30,690 -10,000 9,816,280 9,538,918 10,237,268 4,758,495 127,780 -3,829,526 367,000 -150,570 57,077,518 1,087,080 2,765,150 -248,632 -52,680 -97,802,980 -70,460 -15,381,125 4,503,917 311,033 -505,890 4,777,490 160,260 -37,910 10,918,463

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 OMICO CORP ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A PHILODRILL PHINMA PETRO PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING UNITED PARAGON

0.0023 1.66 4.8 13.72 1.7 1.72 1.6 0.34 7.8 2.65 0.221 0.15 0.15 0.01 0.011 1.71 6.09 1.53 0.45 0.91 0.012 0.012 2.15 6.27 10.98 35.6 0.007

0.0023 1.68 4.95 15 1.7 1.72 1.63 0.34 7.8 2.7 0.236 0.151 0.151 0.011 0.011 1.72 6.16 1.53 0.45 0.91 0.012 0.012 2.15 6.27 11.34 36.65 0.007

0.0023 1.65 4.8 13.72 1.7 1.72 1.6 0.34 7.6 2.62 0.22 0.15 0.15 0.01 0.011 1.65 6.03 1.5 0.45 0.85 0.012 0.011 2.15 5.72 10.58 34.7 0.007

MINING & OIL 0.0023 80,000,000 1.66 3,646,000 4.9 521,100 15 12,100 1.7 3,000 1.72 1,000 1.61 1,254,000 0.34 200,000 7.8 1,200 2.69 6,615,000 0.236 660,000 0.15 3,490,000 0.151 5,380,000 0.01 48,400,000 0.011 400,000 1.66 514,000 6.1 3,249,400 1.53 12,000 0.45 320,000 0.89 839,000 0.012 11,800,000 0.012 3,500,000 2.15 8,000 5.97 1,789,200 10.8 11,399,600 36 4,869,100 0.007 11,000,000

184,000 6,060,160 2,557,539 171,244 5,100 1,720 2,026,040 68,000 9,340 17,548,930 145,530 524,670 807,450 488,100 4,400 865,950 19,788,927 18,060 144,000 730,600 141,600 40,100 17,200 10,641,011 125,807,182 174,896,840 77,000

6,900 -166,000 -336,624 97,820 -76,430 110,000 85,120 -17,000 30,965 15,000 -1,535,389 1,284,098 -32,399,355 -

ABS HLDG PDR DD PREF FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR LR PREF MWIDE PREF PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G

35.55 105.5 115.6 5.7 1.08 106.3 1,002 103 77 82 80.05 78.95

35.55 105.5 115.6 5.7 1.08 106.3 1,005 103.7 77 82 80.05 79

34.1 105.5 115.6 5.41 1.08 106.3 1,002 103 77 81.25 80.05 78.95

PREFERRED 35 1,143,500 105.5 700 115.6 12,000 5.41 224,800 1.08 51,000 106.3 3,390 1,002 2,770 103.7 8,000 77 620 81.25 47,100 80.05 1,000 79 17,500

39,694,690 73,850 1,387,200 1,220,807 55,080 360,357 2,778,585 825,900 47,740 3,827,275 80,050 1,381,627.50

-4,743,945 0 -1,160,666 -3,624,000 -

LR WARRANT

2.37

2.37

2.25

WARRANTS 2.28 476,000

1,084,320

-

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

11.46 3.2 3.79

11.46 3.25 3.8

11 3.02 3.68

11 3.05 3.69

14,713,816 391,110 29,073,210

-10,160 -11,991,370

FIRST METRO ETF

125.4

125.6

125

1,526,464

-

MS

PROPERTY 5.5 0.97 10.98 2.42 0.91 42.8 3.66 4.91 5.46 0.465 1.1 1.17 0.212 0.46 37.45 0.67 0.135 1.82 1.4

303,500 17,327,000 1,300 17,000 815,000 23,322,100 270,000 3,063,000 37,900 48,450,000 60,000 28,000 19,480,000 1,100,000 646,400 4,000 250,000 5,324,000 39,344,000

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

35,064,691

INDUSTRIAL

151,233,607

HOLDING FIRMS

99,874,234

PROPERTY

496,074,455

SERVICES

301,727,212

MINING & OIL

200,128,348

GRAND TOTAL

1,293,420,137

SME

1,318,800 123,000 7,860,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 125.3 12,190

VALUE 2,100.91 (up) 10.34 2,374,826.50 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,740.34 (down) 104.91 8,797,463,361.59 HOLDING FIRMS 8,402.14 (down) 41.55 2,811,545,959.65 PROPERTY 3,867.92 (down) 36.94 1,610.40 (up) 5.08 2,513,891,181.93 SERVICES MINING & OIL 11,553.67 (up) 27.08 1,816,334,745.347 PSEI 8,254.03 (down) 37.85 363,808,711.346 All Shares Index 4,846.63 (down) 8.04 18,723,456,290.20 Gainers: 85; Losers: 104; Unchanged: 51; Total: 240

SM Prime currently owns 66 malls in the Philippines with a total gross flow area of 8 million sq. m.

SM Prime also operates seven malls in China with 1.3 million sq. m. of retail space.

The company plans to open nine new malls next year to meet its target of 75 outlets in the Philippines by the end of 2018 with a total GFA of 10.96 million sq. m.

SM Prime booked a net income of P20.05 billion in the first three quarters of 2017, up 15 percent from P17.45 billion year-on-year.

Nine-month consolidated revenues rose 12 percent to P64.69 billion from P57.78 billion on year, while overall operating income grew 16 percent to P30.14 billion from P25.87 billion on year.

Meanwhile, the group’s residential business, which accounted for 32 percent of the consolidated revenues, booked a 10-percent growth in sales to P20.5 billion from P18.66 billion a year earlier.

The increase in sales take-up of ready-for-occupancy units and construction accomplishments of SM Development Corp. drove the revenues higher.

Reservation sales in the first nine months also increased 18 percent to P42.08 billion from P35.52 billion, while unit sales rose 3 percent to 12,963 units from 12,579 units in the same period a year ago.

Other businesses, including hotels and conventions and office developments, registered revenue growth of 39 percent to P5.76 billion in the first nine months from P4.13 billion in the same period in 2016.

Market falls again; Jollibee declines THE stock market fell for the third straight day Wednesday on further consolidation, led by some blue chips.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index shed 37.85 points, or 0.5 percent, to 8,254.03 on a value turnover of P18.7 billion. Losers beat gainers, 104 to 85, with 51 issues unchanged.

Jollibee Foods Corp., the biggest fastfood chain, tumbled 3.3 percent to P243.60, while major property developer Ayala Land Inc. dropped 2.7 percent to P42.80.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., which is into power generation and distribution, banking, flour milling, infrastructure and ship building, sank 4.7 percent to P70, while JG Summit Holdings Inc. of industrialist John Gokongwei lost 2.4 percent to P68.80 Asian traders, meanwhile, stayed cautious Wednesday despite fresh records on Wall Street as Donald Trump’s tax-cut plans moved a step closer, while the pound extended gains on reports of a breakthrough in Brexit talks.

The weaker yen helped the Nikkei end 0.5 percent higher, while Sydney also added 0.5 percent. Wellington and Taipei also edged up.

Ongoing worries about China’s crackdown on risky and speculative trading dragged Hong Kong 0.1 percent down in the afternoon but Shanghai recovered from early losses to end 0.1 percent higher. With AFP

Business/World

B3

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Food and drug body gives teeth to RH law THE controversial reproductive health law has finally hurdled its vocal critics and the Supreme Court, thanks to the science community and the new leadership at the Food and Drugs Administration.

The FDA has just finished the recertification of some 51 contraceptive products ordered for review by the Supreme Court. Reevaluating the contraceptives was fraught with public debates, triggered by the stinging remarks made by President Rodgrigo Duterte during his last State of the Nation Address against SC Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno.

Duterte in his SONA accused Sereno of causing a serious delay in the implementation of the RH Program. He publicly called on Sereno to lift the temporary restraining order the High Court issued against the further certification and distribution of contraceptives by the Department of Health.

The TRO caused the program to languish in limbo for a good two years. Duterte’s call compelled Sereno to clarify that the TRO could be automatically lifted as soon as the FDA reevaluated the contraceptives concerned and issued a new certification attesting to their safety and that they did not induce unintended abortion.

The new FDA head, Director-General Nela Charade Puno, immediately embarked on the recertification process.

The move appeared to have stirred the proverbial hornet’s nest, and agitated several groups that have long opposed the RH program. Critics soon trained their guns on Puno, who they thought was vulnerable being young and new in the government, and with no political clout.

These groups, mostly Church-backed, underestimated Puno.

The new FDA head knew how to protect her back and make sure the the results of the recertification process was above suspicion. She quietly formed a second group to do a parallel technical reevaluation of the 51 contraceptives.

Puno tasked an “Expert Review Group” to check and validate the review done by FDA’s own group of scientists and researchers. She carefully vetted several medical practitioners who are respected by their peers and certified members of their respective medical associations. These doctors are specialists in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology.

The tack proved to be a bold stroke. Anyone who questions the results of the recertification process will have to attack the integrity and competence of the doctors who composed the ERG. They will have claim that these medical practitioners are corrupt or simply ignorant.

Medical profession in charge The accusers will have to say that the fellow doctors of the ERG members erred in giving the latter their respect and recognition as outstanding medical practitioners and academicians. In the end, the accusers will have to wage war against the entire medical profession and community of doctors.

The only way the bashers of FDA’s Puno can win in the fight is to assemble a similar group of experts who can dispute the results of the ERG’s work. They will have to do this using solid medical and scientific evidence.

Puno’s critics are mostly lawyers and moralists, instead of doctors and scientists. And Puno made sure that the recertification process remained within the realm of science and medicine, and beyond the reach of the hysterics of politics.

The recertification process will simply answer just one question: are the contraceptives safe and non-abortifacient as they claimed to be? This is a question best answered by using the sober and methodical tools of science. Scientific evidence is required here–not political or moral arguments.

The recertification process helped the country’s stalled RH program to get back on track. It is plain and simple a triumph of science over political hysteria. It also proved that it pays to have a scientist at the helm of the FDA. Meanwhile, Puno may have created more enemies in addition to the Church-backed anti-reproductive health groups. She appeared to have disturbed several powerful business interests after pushing for stronger law enforcement operations by the FDA. Just recently, the FDA Regulatory Enforcement Unit led by former Police Chief Superintendent Allen Bantolo raided and shut down a pharmacy in Cebu manufacturing counterfeit products and the Duty-Free Fiesta Mall outlet, which reportedly sold food items that are almost expired.

Puno should watch out. The big business interests behind these products will not take their losses sitting down and could get back at her.

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or business@ manilastandard.com.ph or extrastory2000@gmail.com

READY FOR CHRISTMAS.

Visitors gather at the Christmas market in front of Vienna’s City Hall on November 28, 2017 after Vienna officially lit up the city for the coming Christmas celebrations.

AFP

Landmark mass held in Myanmar

Y

ANGON―Pope Francis spread a message of forgiveness in a historic open-air mass before a sea of worshipers in Yangon on Wednesday, during a visit to conflict-torn Myanmar that has been framed so far by his public sidestepping of the Rohingya crisis.

Ranks of nuns sang in Latin, accompanied by organ music, as Francis-making the first papal visit to the mainly Buddhist nation-sdelivered a homily urging compassion, opening his speech with “minglabar”, Burmese for “hello”.

“I can see that the Church here is alive,” he said of a Catholic community numbering around 700,000―a tiny fraction of the country’s 51 million people.

Earlier, Francis smiled and waved as he moved through the estimated 150,000 faithful in his “popemobile”. Many worshipers held Myanmar flags and wore colorful costume from the country’s myriad ethnic groups.

“I never dreamed I would see him in my lifetime,” said Meo, an 81-year-old from the Akha minority in Shan state.

Like many others at the mass she hails from one of Myanmar’s conflict-riddled borderlands, where minority groups have long been marginalized by the Buddhist-dominated state.

In his homily, the pontiff noted that many Myanmar people “bear the wounds of violence, wounds both visible and invisible.”

But he urged his audience to forgo anger and respond with “forgiveness and compassion”.

The pope is set to hold a meeting with Buddhist leaders later Wednesday, on a visit that has strong political as well as religious overtones.

The pontiff arrived on Monday in a country on the defensive after an outcry from the international community over the plight of its Rohingya Muslim minority, who have been driven to Bangladesh in huge numbers.

He held private talks with both civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the powerful army chief Min Aung Hlaing, who are part of a delicate power-sharing arrangement as the country emerges from decades of junta rule.

Francis avoided mentioning the crisis―or the Rohingya―directly in a speech in the country’s capital Naypyidaw on Tuesday, calling simply for “respect for rights and justice”.

His caution so far on a four-day trip will bring relief to Myanmar’s Catholic leaders, who had urged the pontiff not to wade into the treacherous issue for fear of sparking a backlash from Buddhist hardliners.

Even the mention of the name Rohingya is incendiary to many among the majority-Buddhist population, who deny the group are a distinct minority and insist on calling them “Bengalis”.

Beijing alarmed by new missile

Reactions to the pope’s handling of the issue have been mixed, with some Rohingya expressing disappointment that he did not draw direct attention to their suffering as he had done in several appeals from abroad.

But Kyaw Min, a former MP and prominent Rohingya activist, said he understood the pressures the pope was under and the pontiff had managed to speak about the group’s plight indirectly.

“He said there were some people who have been bullied and need to get their rights ... this was about the Rohingya,” Kyaw Min told AFP. A military crackdown has forced more than 620,000 Rohingya over the last three months to flee their homes in northern Rakhine state to one of the world’s biggest refugee camps in neighboring Bangladesh.

The army has justified the campaign as a proportionate retaliation for deadly attacks by hard-line Rohingya militants in August.

But the UN and the US have labeled it ethnic cleansing and rights groups accuse the military of crimes against humanity, with refugees recounting consistent reports of murder, rape and arson.

On December 5 the UN’s Human Rights Council will hold a special session to discuss the Rohingya crisis.

There have been Catholics in Myanmar for over 500 years and they generally enjoy good relations with the Buddhist majority. AFP

BEIJING―China on Wednesday voiced “grave concern” over North Korea’s test of a missile capable of striking anywhere in the United States and called for talks to peacefully resolve the nuclear crisis.

Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Beijing’s proposal for North Korea to freeze weapons tests in return for the US to suspend military drills in the region was the best approach to ease tensions.

Washington has rejected that approach.

China hopes all sides will work on the “peaceful settlement” of the issue as a military option is not the solution to resolve the crisis, Geng told a regular news briefing.

“China expresses grave concern and opposition to the relevant launching activity,” the spokesman said.

Beijing “strongly urges” North Korea to observe UN resolutions and “stop actions that heighten tensions on the Korean peninsula,” Geng said.

“At the same time we also hope the relevant parties will act cautiously to work together for the peace and stability of this region.”

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un said his country had achieved full nuclear statehood after what he said was the successful test of a new missile capable of striking anywhere in the United States. AFP

Japan and China dominate list of world’s top restaurants PARIS―Japan and China have more of the world’s best restaurants than anywhere else, according to the La Liste ranking, which will be published next week.

Although the French-based list will declare Guy Savoy’s flagship Paris riverside restaurant the best in the world for the second year running―and French cooking dominates the top 100―the

big trend is the climb of Chinese haute cuisine.

“The rise and rise of China is the big story,” said Jorg Zipprick, who crunched the numbers for the “guide of guides”, which was set up as a “more scientific and reliable” rival three years ago to the British-based 50 Best Restaurants.

Japan still tops the country table with 138 restaurants in the

top 1,000 of the French classification―which aggregates reviews from guides, newspapers and websites including TripAdvisor―but China is closing the gap fast with 123.

“Up to now China has been one of the most difficult countries to get data from,” Zipprick told AFP, but a boom in local gastronomic guides has changed all that.

“Asia has a lot more restaurants than Europe and it is only logical that La Liste will reflect that,” he added.

Tokyo institution Kyubey, whose sushi is renowned for being both “extraordinary and reasonably priced”, took third spot after Le Bernardin, a New York fish restaurant run by Emmy award-winning US television chef Eric Ripert. AFP

List of history-rich buildings must be drawn up Filipinos who revere Jose Rizal and want their national hero’s final resting place treated with respect and dignity were shocked to learn that the Supreme Court had given its assent to the construction of a ‘photobomber’ – a structure that has the effect of disrupting or spoiling a view – in the vicinity of the monument in the park named after this country’s national hero.

In countries that value their historical legacies monuments as important as the monument to Jose Rizal are kept free of structures of the ‘photobomber’ kind. How did the Rizal Park monument – the most important monument to an individual in this country – get to have a ‘photobomber’ in its vicinity?

The answer is simple. The government institutions involved – the National Historical Commission (NHC), the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the cultural affairs office of the City of Manila – did not get their act together. They should have acted in unison from the moment that the building permits office of the City of

Manila received an application from the developer DMCI for a permit to build the 49-storey Torre de Manila.

The height of the proposed building and its location should have sounded alarm bells in the building permits office, which should then have alerted the city government’s cultural affairs office about the possibility of a controversy over the proposed building’s becoming a ‘photobomber’ vis-à-vis the monument to the national hero.

But that didn’t happen. Had it happened, the cultural affairs office should have forthwith informed the NHC and the NCCA, and the three bodies should then have jointly assessed the proposed 49-storey structure’s desirability vis-àvis the Rizal monument.

It was only when the Knights of Rizal raised its objection to the photobomber that the national government – the NHC and the NCCA – sprang into action, decrying the building project’s negative impact on the Rizal monument and questioning the process that made it pos-

sible for the project to proceed.

By then it was too late. The construction of Torre de Manila was well in progress and most of the floors of the structure were already in place. A judicial order – by now a case had been filed in court – would have entailed an enormous demolition job. In deciding in favor of DMCI and against the Knights of Rizal, the Supreme Court was almost certainly guided to a considerable degree by considerations of practicality.

It is not enough that government institutions concerned with historical matters do the right thing. They must do the right thing in unison. It is not only the Rizal Park situation that would have been prevented if the PHC, the NCAA and other related governmental institutions had operated in an in-unison manner; they would have prevented the destruction of structures of great significance for this country’s historical and cultural legacy.

A case in point – undoubtedly the most prominent case, is the demolition several years ago of Manila’s Jai-Alai

Building, which, because of its unique architectural design, was considered an iconic structure. Although the plan to demolish the Jai-Alai Building – a structure that not only was unique architecturally but had seen so much of Philippine social history – had been accorded much publicity, it was only when the demolition had started that the concerned government institutions proceeded to oppose the project. The opposition had come too late.

Can the Jai-Alai fiasco happen again?

It can because (1) the legacy-related government institutions have yet to get their act together and (2) there still are numerous historically significant structures that are being eyed covetously by property developers. Many of these structures are in danger of demolition in the near future, given the demand for well-located sites for high-rise commercial and residential buildings.

To prevent further erosion of this country’s historical and cultural legacy, I suggest that the NHC, the NCCA and

the National Museum draw up a list of structures deserving preservation for posterity – most of these structures would be located in Metro Manila and the immediately surrounding provinces – publish the list and invite reactions from the public as to the justification for the listed structures’ inclusion in the list.

Once the list is finalized and receives official sanction, the real estate development community will be on notice that the structures in the list are not available for redevelopment.

If this approach is not adopted – if the suggested list is not drawn up – one Jai-Alai Building after another will fall victim to the wrecker’s ball, lost to posterity forever.

E-mail: romero.business.class@ gmail.com

LGUs

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

B4

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

‘ANGKING GALING.’ Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary Guiling ‘Gene’ Mamondiong joins the Metro Manila Mayor’s Spouses Foundation Inc. headed by its president Janet Olivarez in congratulating 2,044 graduates of the ‘Angking Galing’ livelihood seminar and workshop, whose beneficiaries are out-of-school youth and young mothers, at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City. Manny Palmero

Erap, DILG stage brgy anti-drug symposiums

By Bill Casas PERSISTENT in his vision of a “drugfree” Manila, Mayor Joseph Estrada has initiated symposiums in the city’s barangays to educate residents about the adverse effects of illegal drug use.

Estrada has collaborated with the Department of the Interior and Local Government-Manila in this program, targeting to cover at least 90 of the city’s 896 barangays by Dec. 16.

“Drug addiction has serious health and psychological effects and often leads to crimes. It is important that as many people as possible are aware of this,” the mayor pointed out.

Meant as a drug use prevention strategy, Estrada said the seminars focus on the harmful effects of drug dependence not only to physical and mental health but also to the users’ families and to society and government in general.

“Here, we will project drug users as victims that need professional help and community and family support. We want them to realize that continued drug use won’t do good to them, and that it’s never too late to quit,” Estrada stressed.

Church hits Subic LNG work

By Fred Villareal

O

LONGAPO CITY—The Roman Catholic Church here is concerned that the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority has allowed ship-to-ship transfers of liquefied natural gas or LNG at the Port of Subic, which it noted can be a risk to the public if not handled with care.

Rev. Fr. Daniel O. Presto, administrator of the Diocese of Zambales, said the Church was completely unaware of the STS operations at Subic, and had they known, “they could have studied the issue well and their community could have

acted accordingly.”

Subic freeport officials, Presto added, “did not involve the Church” in the LNG transfer.

SBMA Chair Atty. Wilma Eisma previously said the Port of Subic stand to earn tens of millions of pe-

sos from this project from services, including tugboat services, port services and anchorage, chandlers, bunkering and food supplies.

Eisma said the port seeks more STS work in the coming months.

The diocese of Zambales has taken an anti-coal and anti-mining stance, Presto said, and sees the LNG operation as dangerous too.

“We champion the protection of the environment and actively campaign for public safety,” he said.

STS operations involve big oil tankers carrying

LNG, to be conveyed to smaller vessels bound to different ports for distribution to markets in and outside the country. Such operations address the shipping of petroleum and other energy products to ports that cannot accommodate bulk carriers because of depth issues, the Church said.

Last April 27, SBMA conducted an STS transfer of LNG at the freeport between the industrially-busy Hanjin Shipping complex in Subic town and a stretch where hotels, high-end restaurants and bars are lined up on the

Olongapo City side, it noted.

The 105,335-ton Malaysian-flagged Seri Bakti of Jovo Group Company Ltd. Guandong (JOVO) of China, anchored in Subic Bay, transferred an initial LNG load to feeder vessel S/S Polar Spirit, a 72,524-ton Bahamas-flagged vessel, the diocese’s sources noted.

The last transfer was done Nov. 19 with the Seri Bakti a lot nearer to the Hanjin shipyard, where welding and other “ignitable activities” are done practically nonstop, it added.

Seri Bakti’s operations in

Subic Bay are said to be a minimum of two transfers per month, and will increase to a maximum of six transfers per month toward the end of year, the Church said.

Zambales Gov. Amor Deloso, in a separate interview, said he wished his office were at least advised by the authorities beforehand, if not thoroughly consulted “on operations that are of public concern in the province.”

“My hands are tied on such issues, since the country’s law that governs freeports, Republic Act 7227 that created the SBMA, grants such

economic zones’ authorities a free hand to the use of the zones — too free for comfort,” Deloso said.

“Any intervention from me as the governor of the province to this LNG STS transfer, or any concerns at all, will just be dismissed as ‘politicking,’” he added.

The national government, through state-run Philippine National Oil Co., is looking at six proposals for an estimated $2-billion LNG terminal in Batangas that could break ground in 2018, the Department of Energy said previously.

NV mountain marked as protected area

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—Lawmakers here recently declared the Palali-Mamparang Mountain Range in this province as a critical watershed to ensure its security and protection as a conservation area.

Edna Willie, Department of Environment and Natural Resources information officer, said the declaration covers more than 12,000 hectares of primary and secondary forest areas.

“Its declaration as a critical watershed and protected area will result in the creation of a council, manual of operations, and funding requirement,” she said.

Willie also said the PalaliMamparang Mountain Range declaration will also reroute the

focus of the provincial government’s environmental protection and conservation programs, projects and activities towards the protected range.

She added the ordinance will ensure an effective management of the area to enhance habitat and diverse flora and fauna to provide ecosystems goods and services for human welfare.

The Palali Mountain Range also serves as an alternative attraction among mountaineers and trekkers from other provinces.

Ordinance No. 2017-138 declared the Sierra Madre’s PalaliMamparang Mountain Range as local conservation area for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services, further providing funds and penalties for violators.

It was declared as Forest Re-

serve in 1968 through Presidential Decree 573 but has not been listed under the National Integrated Protected Area System act.

Board member Flodemonte Gerdan, chairman on the SP committee on environment, natural resources and climate change mitigation said the forest cover of the Palali-Mamparang Mountain Range has been greatly reduced, making it an ecological hotspot.

“Natural occurrences and human activities continue to threaten its resources as an ecosystems provider. It serves as an ecological bridge between the Sierra Madre on the East and the Cordillera Mountains on the West, allowing movements of wildlife along these corridors,” he said.

IN BRIEF Filipino miners top Asean Mineral Awards TWO mining companies operating in the Philippines received accolades during the 17th Asean Senior Officials Meeting on Minerals held at the M Gallery Hotel, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on Tuesday.

Rio Tuba, a nickel mining operation in Bataraza, Palawan operated by Nickel Asia, gained the Asean Mineral Award for Mining while the OceanaGold’s Didipio Gold-Copper mine, operating between Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya provinces, grabbed the Asean Mineral Award for Processing.

Nickel Asia’s Jose Anievas, chief operating officer, and OceanaGold’s Jose Leviste Jr, Chairman of the Board, were present to receive the awards.

Other OceanaGold officials present in the awards were Didipio operations manager David Way, senior metallurgist Hilbert Cardenas and community relations manager Nericel Langres. Abe Almirol

CHAMBER ANNIVERSARY. The Filipino-Chinese General Chamber of Commerce Inc. celebrated its 113th

anniversary and 71st Induction of Officers and FCGCCI Youth Induction of Officers with Executive Secretary Atty.

Salvador Medialdea (third from left) as guest of honor and speaker. Also in photo (from left) are FCGCCI president Jose Castañeda Jr., Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jian Hua, FCGCCI chairman emeritus Dr. James G. Dy, FCGCCI immediate past president Antonio Tan, and PCCAI chairman Dr. Benito Goyokpin. Lino Santos

CDO elementary school gets new building SBMA takes CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—A new two-story four classroom building was turned over by SM Foundation to the Macasandig Elementary School in Cagayan de Oro City.

Constructed by SM Prime Holdings, its formal turnover came two days after its blessing, which coincided with the monthly Eucharistic celebration in the school. Intentions for SM Group of Companies were offered during the Mass in thanksgiving for the generous donation. Rev. Fr.

Janusz N. Burzawa, SJ officiated the blessing ceremony.

The fully furnished school building comes with student desks, blackboards, teachers’ tables and chairs, electric fans and toilets. It has specially-designed armchairs for left-handed students. The classrooms will be used by 200 Grade 3 students. Among them are 20 lefthanded students who were overjoyed with the innovation.

Prior to the blessing and formal turnover, GPTA officers and parents, mostly of Grade 3

students helped clean the new classrooms despite the rains brought about by a low-pressure area. They were led by school principal Rosemarie Dullente.

Coincidentally, the Department of Health and the local government of Cagayan de Oro also scheduled a thermal fogging and indoor residual spray. Dr. Josie Ibalio, Regionall Head of DOH’s Vector-borne Diseases Program who led the Dengue-Free team was overheard saying “That’s a beautiful building.”

Cavite hosts 1st Regional Children’s Month confab TAGAYTAY CITY—Cavite province recently hosted the 1st Regional Children’s Month Celebration in Calabarzon held at the Development Academy of the Philippines here over the weekend.

The event, initiated by the Regional Sub Committee for the Welfare of Children and chaired by the Cavite Provincial Government through the Provincial Council for the Protection of Children, was a huge success.

Elma Patawe, Tagaytay City Social Welfare Development Officer welcomed all the guests and participants on behalf of the City Mayor Agnes Tolentino.

Likewise, Cavite 7th District Board Member Reinalyne Varias, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Chair of the Committee on Women, Children, Family and Social Services gave a short message on behalf of Cavite Governor Boying Remulla.

Children’s Month celebration is being done to commemorate the Philippines’ adoption of the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Jacob Taguinod, Regional Coordinator of the Council for the Welfare of Children explained the story behind this year’s theme, “Bata: Iligtas sa Droga.”

He said the role of the Councils for the Welfare of Children is to manage the welfare of the child, saying that every child must be protected, has the right of provision and the right for participation.

A teacher instructs her class in the newly-built classroom, with new chairs and ventilation to boot, at the Macasandig Elementary School in Cagayan de Oro City recently turned over by SM Foundation.

over school for P19-m rent debt

By Butch Gunio SUBIC BAY FREEPORT— The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority has peacefully taken control of a secondary and tertiary school here after it failed to settle its financial obligations to the agency amounting to P19 million.

The SBMA’s Legal Department, assisted by personnel from the Law Enforcement Department, entered the premises of Comteq Computer and Business College at about 6:30 a.m. and informed the school’s personnel of the takeover.

Atty. Melvin Varias, leader of the SBMA takeover team, said that although Comteq shall be closed to its students and personnel, students and faculty of the nearby UP Extension Program in Olongapo shall be allowed to enter the complex and use the facilities it has been sharing with the computer school.

Life

W

HAT to wear for the festive season? Shangri-La Plaza sent the latest trends we should all have in our closets down the runway of Holidaze, the shopping mecca’s annual Holiday Fashion Show.

The two show segments, presented recently at the Grand Atrium, put together the sartorial choices we need to be making as the Christmas season rolls in, and the festivities begin.

Top fashion labels at the Shang – Rustan’s Department Store, Adora, Joe Fresh, Debenhams, Old Navy, Porsche Design, Paul & Shark, Repetto, British India, Stradivarius, Zara, Gap, Marks & Spencer, Arrow, K & Company, Daniel Hechter, Anne Klein, Van Laack, Brooks Brothers, Mico Boutique, Styled and The Park showcased their best holiday pieces at the style spectacle.

Dress to impress for the holidays by giving a nod to diversity. Take cues from a myriad of cultural influences, and pair them up for contrast.

Clashing patterns are pulled together by harmonious colors – think Grecian blue and white mixed with Chinese porcelain details or Indonesian ikat with Mexican prints.

Bold prints are definitely back. You can experiment with animal, geometric, abstract, cultural, and floral prints and patterns. The key to pulling

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

SHOPPING

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

C1

CELEBRATE the season’s fashion

at the Shang

Kids apparel from Old Navy

Ultra luxe pieces from K & Company that highlight rich fabrics, textures, and details

Relaxed denim from Daniel Hetcher

off these looks is complimentary colors. Pick pieces in silk, chiffon, satin, and chartreuse for chill chic looks that make a statement.

Denim never dies. Singer Bing Crosby’s fashion “invention”, the Canadian tux is enjoying its time in the spotlight with tone on tone matching and a silhouette that’s more relaxed than its skinny predecessor.

Look polished for those holiday parties with updated classics in a neutral color scheme, and minimalist boxy cuts that make these style staples very ‘now’. Or go ultra-luxe with pieces that are

all about volume, rich fabrics, textures, weave and details – from lace, fringes to feathers.

And finally, turn up the shine. It is Christmas after all. Put on pieces that focus on glitter, sequins, beads, and metallic, in light-reflecting materials from leather to latex. Get all high glam with looks that reference the maximalist fashion of the 80s, but styled with modern flair.

For inquiries, call 370-2597/98 or visit www.facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficial. Follow the Shang at @shangrilaplazaofficial on Instagram.

Adora’s flowy dresses best worn on the holidays

3 shopping splurges to gift yourself this Christmas with Mastercard

THE holidays are often called the season of giving, but it’s important not to forget to treat yourself to something you’ll truly enjoy and remember. Mastercard has partnered with Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI) to bring you fashion and beauty brands from around the world that offer timeless style, premium quality, and an overall rewarding shopping experience.

Update your wardrobe with the season’s trendiest pieces. Shop the season’s finest from brands such as Zara, Juicy Couture, and Calvin Klein to keep your closet on point, or get ready for an upcoming winter escapade with a stylish new coat from Burberry. Why not indulge on a killer pair of heels from Prada or Jimmy Choo, and swap out your handbag for a new one from Tory Burch or Michael Kors? Whatever your style, you’re sure to find something perfect for your taste.

Refresh your beauty essentials.

Find your beauty haul favorites from

MAC, Clinique, and Beauty Bar, or track down your signature scent at Estee Lauder. You might even discover new shades and swatches to welcome the New Year with! Either way, you’ll get even more rewards when you shop with your Mastercard because until Jan. 15, 2018, the Swipe to Shop Raffle Promotion could win you the chance to shop to your heart’s content.

Every P3,000 single receipt purchase at participating SSI stores using a credit, debit or prepaid Mastercard gives shoppers the chance to win the grand prize of one SSI Purple Gift Card worth P500,000. More shopping dreams can come true with nine other prizes of SSI Purple Gift Cards at P100,000, P75,000, and P30,000 that can be used in any SSI store.

Go jet setting across the world.

You can’t put a price on new experiences, and travel allows you to be immersed in different cultures, meet new people, and explore places you’ve

Mastercard and SSI partner for Swipe to Shop and Swipe to Travel raffle promotions

never been to. Your holiday splurging could give you the chance to fly to one of three different destinations as every shopper’s card of choice and Singapore Airlines bring you the Swipe to Travel Raffle Promotion.

Your purchases just might land you a Priceless Travel Package to Paris or London for two or a Travel Package to Singapore also for two, all via Singapore Airlines, plus a SSI Purple Gift Card worth P200,000. Every P30,000 single receipt purchase at participating SSI stores with your Philippine-issued Mastercard gives you one e-raffle entry.

Cardholders also get double raffle entries when shopping at Central Square stores. To join either raffle, simply visit www.swipetoshopandtravel.com to register your purchases.

The card for all your lifestyle pursuits is always looking for ways to give you the best possible shopping experience. This season, use your Mastercard to indulge and treat yourself—you deserve it.

Caltex to pick 150,000 easy and instant lucky winners in Caltex Fill Up with Chow Promo

150,000 easy and instant lucky winners in Caltex Fill Up with Chow Promo

CALTEX, marketed by Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), is making sure customers will have a chance to win instant prizes each time they gas up in card-accepting Caltex stations nationwide through its Caltex Fill Up with Chow promo.

Until Jan. 15, 2018, a total of 150,000 customers can win delicious Chowking food products for a minimum fuel purchase of P1,000.

Customers will quickly know if they won through the VX680 terminal wherein they will be prompted to enter their mobile number when they win. Winning customers will receive an SMS containing the Bcode in their inputted mobile number. The lucky customer will present the SMS with the Bcode at participating Chowking stores nationwide to claim their free meal. They can choose to redeem any of the following meals: a regular SuperSangkap Halo-halo with Ice Cream, one-piece Chinese-style Fried Chicken or one Pork Siomai Chao Fan. Each coupon can be used only once,

but redemption of multiple e-coupons per transaction is allowed. Transactions using HappyPlus, Robinsons Reward Cards, Gas Up Save Up and SavePlus discounts cards are also eligible to join.

Redemption of Chowking e-coupons is valid until March 16, 2018.

Caltex will be provide a weekly update on the number of FREE Chowking meal winners on the Caltex Philippines Facebook page.

CPI Country Chairman Louie Zhang, said, “This is one of the ways we fulfill our promise to customers that they will enjoy the journey. Not only do they fill up with our best fuel yet in Caltex with Techron Clean and Glide technology, they also get a chance to win scrumptious Chowking products. Through this promo, customers now have a hasslefree way to win and redeem their prizes making their drive more enjoyable.”

For promo details, terms and conditions, visit www.caltex.com/ph or www.facebook.com/CaltexPhilippines/.

Life

C2

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

SMARTER REASONS

to get your latest iPhone from Smart E

XPERIENCE Christmas like never before with a brand new iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus as Smart Communications offers the new generation iPhones.

“We’re excited to offer iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, which takes mobile innovation to new heights with a powerful chip, advanced camera, and cutting-edge augmented reality support. It only gets better with our unbeatable postpaid plans, which make it easier for you to get hold of your preferred iPhone, and optimize it with data-packed of offers powered by our newest and fastest Smart LTE connection - all for a mobile experience like never before” said Patrick Tang,, VP and head of Smart & Sun Postpaid Marketing.

Smart subscribers started owning the latest Apple mobile device on Nov. 17. iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are a new generation of iPhone featuring a new glass and aluminum design in three beautiful finishes - space gray, silver and a new gold - made with the most durable glass ever in a smartphone, Retina HD displays, A11 Bionic chip and is designed for the ultimate augmented experience. The world’s most popular camera gets even better and wireless charging brings a powerful new capability to iPhone. iPhone 8 Plus features dual 12-megapixel cameras and introduces Portrait mode with Portrait Lighting, bringing dramatic studio lighting effects to iPhone, allowing customers to capture stunning portraits with a shallow depth of field effect in five different lighting styles.

Smart’s unbeatable offers are especially designed to keep up with subscribers who have very active mobile lifestyles from working on the fly and immersing in their dose of mobile entertainment on the go. Moreover, Smart’s newest and fastest LTE network empowers subscribers to optimize the new iPhones and experience superfast and reliable Internet that suits their fast-paced lifestyle. Make this Christmas memorable with the latest iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus and upload your best yuletide photos and videos online.

If you are still undecided, here are five reasons to get your new iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus from Smart: 1. Charge to bill – While competitor

Smart offers the new generation iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus

From left: Mynt President and CEO Anthony Thomas, Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu, Ant Financial CEO Eric Jing, Alibaba Group Founder and Executive Chairman Jack Ma, Ayala Corporation President and COO Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Land President and CEO Bobby Dy, and Ant Financial Senior Vice President Douglas Feagin

Cashless shopping at Ayala Malls

requires a cash-out payment worth P20,999, Smart lets consumers to include the device cost into their monthly bill. With this, payments for the devices under plans 1499, 1999, 2499, and 2999 can be paid monthly for 24 months.

2. Maximized iPhone features with more data – The company offers more data to better optimize the new iPhone.

Subscribers will also be given a free VAS/app that’s interchangeable monthly, which won’t consume your monthly data volume allocation. On top of that, some mainstream apps get unli data in volume, too. These apps include FB, Messenger, Waze, Whatsapp, Line, and Viber.

3. Lower handset cost – After 24

months, consumers would just pay for the monthly service fee. For example, the customer simply has to pay an affordable P1,999 per month after 24 months.

4. Powered by fastest LTE – Recently, Open Signal recognized Smart for having the fastest LTE Network. So, what’s wiser than gearing your iPhone 8 with the country’s fastest LTE? 5. Gadget Shield – Smart is also giving one month free gadget shield against accidental damage or theft.

For the complete pricing details, visit smart.com.ph/iPhone8. For more details on iPhone please visit www.apple.com/ph.

LEAVE the bulky bills and heavy coins—even your entire wallet—at welhome as GCash and Ayala Malls wel come the Yuletide season with the newest, most exciting innovation in shopping. Say goodbye to cash, and say hello to the modern cashless experience.

This developed as Eric Jing, CEO of Ant Financial Services Group together with Globe President and CEO Cu, Ayala Corporation PresiErnest Cu dent and COO Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Ayala Land President and CEO Bobby Dy, Dy and Anthony Thomas, Mynt president and CEO opened the Philippine retail industry to electronic payments through GCash.

GCash is a real game changer in the world of shopping. With the GCash scan to pay feature, customers with the GCash app on their phones could pay for goods and services, by simply scanning the QR codes displayed in different establishments. For consumers, there’s no need to worry about having enough cash on hand or a credit card. For the merchants, there’s no need for expensive machines to process mobile money transactions securely, only the QR code linked to the GCash wallet.

As an innovator in retail and shopping, Ayala Malls made the exciting

acter figures and colorful learning toys. Boys and tech-savvy kids, on the other hand, can have a fun and action packed Christmas with the character inspired gears, carts, autobots and home video games.

Top toys for Christmas are available

For more information regarding GCash, visit www.gcash.com.

For more information about Ayala Malls, visit Ayala Malls on Facebook at facebook.com/AyalaMalls360; Twitter at @AyalaMalls; and Instagram at @ iloveayalamalls.

CASHLESS.

GCash scan to pay at Glorietta’s various shops and restaurants including the SSI Group, Bench Group, Bistro Group, Max’s Group, among others; as well as at the Glorietta Cinemas, Timezone, and The Movie Snackbar

Amazing holiday picks from Toy Kingdom IF YOU, like Santa are making a list and checking it twice, Toy Kingdom has amazing finds to make your kid’s wishes come true.

Bring a bright smile to your girls with doll houses inspired by their favorite characters, fun play sets, char-

leap forward and adopted the GCash payment system in Glorietta. Experience the convenient cashless lifestyle at Glorietta’s various shops and restaurants including the SSI Group, Bench Group, Bistro Group, Max’s Group, among others; as well as the Glorietta Cinemas, Timezone, and The Movie Snackbar.

Aside from Glorietta, expect the new GCash payment system to roll out in other Ayala Malls such as Greenbelt, TriNoma, Alabang Town Center, Market! Market!, UP Town Center, Ayala Malls The 30th, Ayala Malls Vertis North, Ayala Malls South Park, and Ayala Center Cebu in the coming weeks.

If you want to get your own GCash scan to pay experience just download the app on Google Playstore or the App Store. For your cash-ins, you can look for the GCash kiosks around Glorietta, or visit any Globe store and over the 13,000 partner outlets, including all 7/11 branches.

at all Toy Kingdom Express outlets in The SM Stores and Toy Kingdom Stores in most SM Supermalls.

Visit www.toykingdom.ph and follow ToyKingdomPH at Facebook for more updates.

Power Mac Center boosts customer care

with new Service Center mobile app

Fun, action-packed, and educational toys for boys and girls are available at Toy Kingdom

AS PART of its commitment to provide premium service every day, premier Apple reseller Power Mac Center is launching PMCService, a new mobile app with essential service-related features that gives customers full access to any of its Service Center offerings online anytime.

Now it’s all easy. With the new PMCService app, users can easily book an appointment on their preferred schedule and track their device’s repair status online and in real time, giving them hassle-free updates on their device. This eliminates the need to personally check up on the repair or be in constant communication with the service providers.

Additionally, the mobile app has provisions for checking of warranty coverage, navigating the list of repair services covered and available in Power Mac Center service centers, and locating the nearest branch, making it a one-stop shop for information on service center offerings. With a user-friendly interface, even non-techie customers will appreciate the ease of use, navigability,

and accessibility the app provides.

“There is rising demand for real-time access to services and other information among our customers. Power Mac Center wants to provide complete care to the Filipino Apple market so we created the PMCService app, which is the first of its kind, yet to be offered by other Apple Authorized Service Providers in the Philippines,” said Power Mac Center Marketing Director Joey Alvarez.

The PMCService app is available for download in the App Store. Customers may ask for assistance on downloading the mobile app by visiting the Power Mac Center Apple Authorized Service Provider at The Annex at SM City North EDSA, Northeast Square, SM Megamall, SM Aura Premier, Glorietta 5, SM Mall of Asia, Festival Supermall, Cebu Business Park, Abreeza Mall Davao, or KCC Mall De Zamboanga.

For more information, call the service center hotline at 725-4PMC (4762) or email serviceupdate@powermaccenter.com.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

TODAY

JOWAPAO relishes back-to-back television, movie projects JOSE Manalo, Wally Bayola and Paolo Ballesteros are continuously proving that their wit and comedic chemistry go beyond Eat, Bulaga! as they headline their own talk show and top billing a new movie project.

For over a month now, the three television hosts/comedians, collectively known as JoWaPao to their millions of fans, are reliving their Kalyeserye days as they put on once again Tidora, Nidora and Tinidora’s quirky outfits armed with the characters’ old-aged humor in late morning program The Lolas’ Beautiful Show.

Airing weekdays before Eat, Bulaga!, the viewers are treated to 30 minutes of fun talk about life and love and everything in between.

“The show, in a way, is an extension of what we’ve done in Kalyeserye. Same characters but here, we try to interact with different people from all ages. What we really offer is pure fun and laughter every morning to all dabarkads. We also try to impart life lessons to the viewers,” said Bayola.

Admittedly, The Lolas’ Beautiful Show came as a big surprise for all three of them. Ballesteros revealed they were only given two weeks to prepare for their pilot episode, which aired on Sept. 25.

He added that even with the

success of Kalyeserye and their regular appearances in Eat, Bulaga, it never dawned on them that they would someday have their own program.

“We’re very happy with this opportunity but at the same time, we feel that we have bigger responsibility to the audience. We try to study everything. We discuss what we’ll feature in every episode because we only want to give them the best. It’s not every day that the bosses will gift you something this big,” he says.

Manalo is thankful. Two years since the three lolas were introduced in the Kalyeserye segment of “Juan for All, All for Juan,” viewers are still hooked on their characters.

“This is no ordinary talk show because it’s not often that you’ll see three men dressed up as our beloved grandmothers. But we’re grateful for the love and support shown not only by the viewers, but also by our Eat, Bulaga! family.”

Right now, the three are grateful for the same support from moviegoers for their first major film together entitled Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs Zombies produced by APT Entertainment and M-ZET TV Production, Incorporated.

In the said flick, JoWaPao are still in their lola costumes, but this

JoWaPao puts on their quirky Tidora, Nidora and Tinidora’s outfits once again for late morning program "The Lolas’ Beautiful Show"

time fending off zombies with costars Miggy Tolentino, Kenneth Medrano, Caprice Cayetano, Shaira Mae Dela Cruz, Taki Saito, Arthur Solinap, Angelika dela Cruz, and Ryzza Mae Dizon.

“This project is different from Kalyeserye and Lolas Beautiful Show’because this is an action/ adventure movie. We’ve never done one together,” Bayola explained.

“They will see our characters’ personal adventures and we want to show through this movie that despite the age, our grandparents still have that sense of adventure in them,” Manalo added.

Meanwhile, in spite of their busy schedule, appearing daily in The Lolas’ Beautiful Show and Eat, Bulaga! and busy promoting their movie, the three said they wouldn’t wish it any other way.

They all agreed that it’s not like work when you’re having fun.

“We work every day but we don’t complain about it because we like what we do. We love our job and the people we work with. We’re just grateful for the outpouring of love from everyone,” Ballesteros said.

As for those comments that they could be the next well-loved trio, TVJ (Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon), the three said that they still have a long way to go.

“Madami pa kaming kakainin na bigas,” says Bayola.

Manalo added that whatever joke they come up with, the style of hosting they’ve adopted over the years and the way they interact with the audience, these are all products of years of training and guidance of TVJ. “We’re happy and flattered when we hear that, but we are far behind.

No one can surpass what TVJ have achieved over the years and what they are continuously contributing to the industry. What we can only do is be inspired by them and to remember why we are working in front of the camera – to provide entertainment for everyone,” he ended.

Kaladkaren dares celebrities ONLINE sensation Kaladkaren gets up close and personal with celebrities, challenging them to spill their secrets while performing funny dares in her very own show, Kikinangkinang Kasama si Kaladkaren, on ABSCBNmobile Exclusives.

The show features writer and producer Jervi Li as KaladKaren with ABS-CBN stars such as Ogie Alcasid, John Pratts, Sue Ramirez, Andrea Brillantes, Teddy Corpuz and JC De Vera among many others, in interviews with a twist. The show was inspired in part by Karen Davila, who is a veteran news anchor and journalist known for her indepth interviews with highprofile personalities.

Catch celebrities Sue Ramirez showing off her hula-hoop skills, Ogie Alcasid sharing what makes his wife mad, Andrea Brillantes talking about her ultimate celebrity crush, Teddy Corpuz divulging his biggest fears, John Pratts talking about dad bods, and more, as guests gamely participating in more of KaladKaren’s challenges.

Viewers can also catch up with past episodes anytime, anywhere.

New episodes of Kikinagkinang Kasama si Kaladkaren are uploaded on www.abscbnmobile.com/ exclusives every Tuesday.

KaladKaren shares that the

new show will be light, focusing on the entertainment genre as a way of spreading good vibes, especially for Filipinos stuck in the daily grind of traffic and commute.

“Since there are so many triggers these days—traffic, long commute lines, and so many different situations, we wanted to spread good vibes.

We came up with the concept of interviewing famous celebrities and getting them to do challenges and show a side their fans don’t always get to see.

This is also very different from a TV show in that the episodes are made short so you can finish a whole episode in 15 minutes or less,” said KaladKaren.

“This is just the start,” said KaladKaren. “We have challenges like tongue twisters while eating polvoron; “Shot up”—a Q&A with two shot glasses of patis and iced tea; on-the-spot trivia test, and more, and with all your favorite artistas. There’s so much more to come!”

The show is among the roster of new exclusive shows now available for ABS-CBNmobile subscribers.

ABS-CBNmobile Exclusives adds to the list of everexpanding services available to ABS-CBNmobile subscribers, as ABS-CBN rapidly transitions into an agile digital company with a growing list of digital platforms and the biggest online presence among Filipino media

‘THE GREATEST SHOWMAN’ in theaters next year

HUGH Jackman stars as the legendary P.T. Barnum in The Greatest Showman, a heartwarming musical film inspired by the life of the man who invented show business. Magical and moving, it’s a rags-to-riches story about a visionary who transformed entertainment with his legendary circus. Michelle Williams stars as Barnum’s wife, Charity. Zac Efron plays his protégée and business partner. The film also features compelling performances

by Rebecca Ferguson and Zendaya.

Directed by Michael Gracey, with soaring music from Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the movie is infused with strong themes about imagination, acceptance, and family.

The Greatest Showman opens Jan. 31, 2018 n cinemas from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Zac Efron goes back to his dancing roots in the upcoming musical drama

companies.

To access ABS-CBNmobile Exclusives, ABS-CBNmobile users must have an active SIM with Internet connection (3G/ LTE). Subscribers can subscribe to KSURF promo loads to get value for their money. ABS-CBNmobile

load is available in all SM branches, 7-11, Puregold, Ministop and Globe Load Retailers.

ABS-CBNmobile Exclusives can be accessed on the website via a smartphone, PC, laptop, or tablet.

Visit www.abscbnmobile.com to find out more.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO

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

WHAT

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

WHEN

: DECEMBER 04, 2017 (MONDAY) 2:00 P.M.

CERTIFICATE OF DECREASE IN CAPITAL STOCK KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That, we, the undersigned, the Chairman and the Secretary of the stockholders’ meeting and majority of the members of the Board of Directors of Tanay Rural Bank, Inc., do hereby certify: 1.

2.

That at the special meeting of the stockholders of the said corporation held on June 26, 2015 at Sacramento Bldg, F.T Catapusan St., Plaza Aldea, Tanay, Province of Rizal, at least majority of the directors and the stockholders representing at least two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding capital stock, or 1,167,748 shares, approved the decrease of the corporation’s authorized capital stock from ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY MILLION PESOS (Php180,000,000.00) to EIGHTEEN MILLION PESOS (Php 18,000,000.00); That the total decrease in the capital stock amounts to ONE HUNDRED SIXTY TWO MILLION PESOS (Php 162,000,000.00). As a result thereof, the capital stock will be at EIGHTEEN MILLION PESOS (Php 18,000,000.00). It shall be composed of 1,800,000 shares of common stock with a par value of TEN PESOS (Php 10.00) each;

3. That out of EIGHTEEN MILLION PESOS (Php 18,000,000.00) representing the decrease in the capital stock, the amount of SEVENTEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED SIXTEEN THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED TWENTY PESOS (Php 17,516,220.00), has been subscribed, and of the amount subscribed SEVENTEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED SIXTEEN THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED TWENTY PESOS (Php 17,516,220.00), has been actually paid in cash.

DECEMBER 05, 2017 (TUESDAY) 200 P.M. DECEMBER 06, 2017 (WEDNESDAY) 2:00 P.M. WHERE : BOC-NAIA CONFERENCE ROOM 3RD FLOOR BUREAU OF CUSTOM BUILDING NAIA, PASA Y CITY

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

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

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

Roxas Boulevard Corner Pablo Ocampo, Sr. Street Manila 1004 Request foR expRession of inteRest foR tHe PROCUREMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS (ISC) CONSULTANCY TEAM 1.

The Department of Finance (DOF), Government of the Philippines under the General Appropriations Act for CY 2017 intends to apply the sum of Fifty One Million Four Hundred Eight Thousand Four Hundred Sixty Seven Pesos and 77/100 1 (Php51,408,467.77) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for International Strategic Communications. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of the financial proposals.

2.

The Department of Finance (DOF) now calls for the submission of eligibility documents for International Strategic Communications. Eligibility documents of interested consultants must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat on or before December 8, 2017, 9:45 am at 7th Floor, Procurement Management Division, EDPC Bldg. cor. P. Ocampo Sr. St., Malate, Manila. Applications for eligibility will be evaluated based on a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion.

4. That no bonded indebtedness of the corporation has been created, incurred or increased; 5.

That the purpose of the decrease in capital stock is in preparation of the bank’s application for SPRB Plus with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

3.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Department of Finance (DOF) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

6.

That the requirements of Section 38 of the Corporation Code of the Philippines have been complied with.

4.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on December 1, 2017 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Twenty Six Thousand Pesos (Php26,000.00).

30 September 2015 _______________________ (Date)

Tanay, Rizal _________________________ (Place)

(SGD.) RUBEN Y. LUGTU JR. Director

(SGD.) RUBEN Y. LUGTU III Director

(SGD.) ROBERT B. JORDAN JR. Director

(SGD.) ROBERT L. JORDAN SR. Director

(SGD.) MICHAEL A. BAUTISTA Director

(SGD.) RAFAEL A. BAUTISTA Director

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Department of Finance (DOF), provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

5.

I. Applicable Experience II. Qualification of Personnel III. Job Capacity Total

(SGD.) RAY ANTHONY F. FAJARITO Independent Director

(SGD.) ROLANDO A. POCO Corporate Secretary Stockholders’ and Directors’ Meeting

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me this _________day of September 30, 2015 at ____________________, affiant exhibiting to me his/her Community Tax Certificate No. _______________, issued at _________________in _______________________.

Doc. No. 266 Page No.55 Book No. 1 Series of 2015

- 60% - 30% - 10% 100%

The minimum passing score is eighty percent (80%).

Countersigned: (SGD.) NARCISA A. SALGADO Chairman Stockholders’ and Directors’ Meeting

The BAC shall draw up the short list of consultants from those who have submitted Expression of Interest, including the eligibility documents, and have been determined as eligible in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The short list shall consist of at least one (1) prospective bidder who will be entitled to submit bids. The criteria and rating system for short listing are:

(SGD.) ATTY. DENNIS ALDRICH C. DEL ROSARIO Notary Public Until Dec. 31, 2016 IBP No. 1001209, 06/16/15, Rizal PTR No. 0797762, 06/16/15, San Juan City N.C No. 15-17; Roll No. 51921 MCLE Compliance No. IV-0013588, March 18, 2013

6.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the IRR of RA 9184.

7.

The Department of Finance (DOF) shall evaluate bids using the Quality-Cost Based Evaluation (QCBE) procedure. The Department of Finance (DOF) shall indicate the weights to be allocated for the Technical and Financial Proposals.

The criteria and rating system for the evaluation of bids shall be provided in the Instructions to Bidders

8.

The contract shall be completed within twelve (12) months.

9.

The Department of Finance (DOF) reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

10

.For further information, please refer to: Ms. Liceria A. Te BAC Secretariat Procurement Management Division 7th Floor EDPC Building, BSP Complex Cor. P. Ocampo Sr., Street Roxas Boulevard, Manila Telefax No.: 526-4786 (SGD) GIL S. BELTRAN Undersecretary and BAC Chairperson

(MS-NOV. 30, 2017)

(MS-NOV. 30, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

ISAH V. RED

‘DEADMA WALKING’

makes it to the 2017 MMFF

Joross Gamboa (left) and Edgar Allan Guzman elevate gay comedy in the upcoming MMFF entry "Deadma Walking"

"Deadma Walking" is a film about two gay bestfriends and their amazing ride in staging a fake funeral

I

AM glad Deadma Walking has been accepted as an entry to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.

Now, Rex Tiri will stop saying he should stop producing movies. And perhaps I’d hear him say more often about the new projects his film company (T-Rex Productions) has on board.

Deadma Walking, a comedydrama-musical about two gay best friends who mount a wake, death, and funeral for one of them who’d like to know how his would be received by friends, family, and neighbors, has gone through an amazing ride, from its screenplay winning the Palanca to being accepted into the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival.

The journey began in 2014 when screenwriter Eric Cabahug had ans wrote the script in early 2015. He gave it to the Palanca Awards for Literature in 2016 and won second prize.

Shortly after, it found its way to T-Rex Productions, which underwrote the 2017 hit, Patay Na Si Hesus. Executive Producer Rex Tiri said he found the screenplay worthy to be brought to the big screen. He greenlighted the project immediately and the casting proceeded with Joross Gamboa and Edgar Allan “EA” Guzman earning the nods of the writer, director, and producer.

While principal photography was ongoing, the award-winning screenplay was published as a paperback by VRJ Books and launched at the Manila International Book Fair in September, landing on National Book Stores’ Top 10 Bestsellers list for Philippine fiction books in October. It has been called “entertaining,” “rollicking,” “beautiful,” “witty,” and “a rollercoaster of feels” by readers.

“Isang maagang pa-birthday sa akin ito ni Lord,” said EA who celebrated his birthday on Nov. 20. “At blessing din kina

Joross, Dimples (Romana, costar), Sir Rex (Tiri, the movie’s executive producer), and Sir Eric (Cabahug, the movie’s writer and one of two producers) na November birthday celebrants din… Simula nang natapos kaming mag-shooting, araw-araw pinagdarasal ko na makapasok ang Deadma Walking sa MMFF. Eto nga, natupad na.”

“Sobrang thankful kami na napili kami… Bonus ang makasali sa MMFF,” said Joross. “We already had a good feeling about it pagkatapos namin panoorin. Excited kaming i-promote. Sana suportahan ng mga manonood.”

Directed by Julius Alfonso, it also stars Candy Pangilinan and Vin Abrenica, with the special participation

by Gerald Anderson and Eugene Domingo, plus a host of celebrities in cameo roles including Piolo Pascual and Iza Calzado.

Many netizens have been waiting for the release of this movie ever since its trailer was posted on social media, producing what seems to be a “Deadma” craze. *** For Derek Ramsay’s fans,

here’s a bit of good news. Your idol will be back on the ABSCBN lot after him and the Kapamilya management settled their differences and issues that led the hunk to move to another TV station (TV5) five years ago.

He should be working soon on Star Cinema’s Kasal with Bea Alonzo and Paulo Avelino. *** A push-and-pull love story is the hook of GMA Network’s newest Korean drama deries that began airing last Monday.

In My Secret Romance, the shy and conservative personality of Yumi (Song Ji Eun) will be broken down under the influence of alcohol when she spends the night with the easy-going and playful heir Gino (Sung Hoon).

They are brought together by their misfortunes, and after numerous encounters, they effortlessly find comfort in each other.

After spending a promiscuous night together, Yumi realizes what had happened between them and couldn’t believe it, driving her to escape the morning after.

This leaves Gino dumbfounded and taught with a lesson, making his personality shift from being prickly to being serious and levelheaded. Three years later they meet again, and initially reject the idea that they know each other. But they couldn’t deny their attraction, which grows more intense as they try to hide it. When will they break down their walls?

Follow their roller coaster ride of a relationship Monday to Thursday after My Korean Jagiya, on GMA. *** GMA Network congratulates Sunshine Dizon for winning Most Outstanding Filipino Actress in Television at the 2017 Gawad Amerika Awards on Nov. 18 at the Franklin Avenue Celebrity Center in Hollywood, California.

Sunshine was recognized for her exceptional performance in GMA Network’s highest-rating daytime drama series Ika-6 Na Utos as Emma. She personally

flew to California to accept her award.

Sunshine posted on Instagram post, “Thank you very much Gawad Amerika most specially to the Filipino Community for this recognition. I would also like to share this recognition to all our hardworking cast members, production staff, and crew of Ika-6 Na Utos, as well as to director Laurice Guillen for her guidance. It is ultimately a group effort to give our audience the best.”

She also expressed her gratitude to the network and the show’s loyal viewers. “To my home network, GMA, thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part of memorable shows that honed me through the years to be where I am today as an artist. Sa lahat din po ng taga-suporta ng show, maraming salamat sa inyong pag-

tangkilik at pag-subaybay sa amin,” she says.

Gawad Amerika Awards recognizes the excellence of individuals and entrepreneurs who have gone above and beyond in their area of specialty. It is an independent award-giving body mainly composed of newspaper publishers and selected reputable community leaders.

Organized by Gawad Amerika Foundation (GAF) in California, it aims to create an environment where Filipino-Americans can validate their importance in the American society and construct innovative projects to continually endorse fresh ideas and talents.

Sunshine Dizon shows off her Best Actress award courtesy of the Gawad Amerika for her exceptional performance in "Ika-6 Na Utos"

SM celebrates a ‘Disney Christmas’

From left: Minnie Mouse, Mr. Jonjon San Agustin, Senior Vice President for Marketing of Shopping Center Management Corporation (SCMC), Mr. Steven Tan, Senior Vice President of Mall Operations for SCMC, Ms. Veronica Espinosa- Cabalinan, Country Manager for the Walt Disney Company South East Asia, and Mickey Mouse.

SM IS currently Disneyfied as all 61 malls across the nation are embellished in a wide range of Disney and Pixar movies, shows, and characters.

With a grand welcome at SM North EDSA by no less than Mickey and Minnie Mouse, you can now take your family on a trip to your favorite SM Mall and spend a day with the adorable Disney Tsum Tsums; grab a bite and hang out with Mickey Mouse and the gang; go shopping with the classic Disney princesses; and learn and play with characters from Disney Pixar’s Cars, Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, and Sofia The First.

As part of the SM-Disney partnership through entertainment arm SM Cinema, the SM Group continues to bring the world-renowned Disney brand closer to the hearts of Filipino families this Christmas by interactive exhibitions and immersive activities every weekend. As each shopping center offers a different theme, families can be assured of a one-of-a-kind bonding

experience in any SM Mall. Toy Kingdom and the SM Store will also offer their most extensive collection of Disney merchandise items to match the varied mall themes.

Bringing Disney to life, SM Cinema is featuring the movie Coco this moths; to cap the year with an unforgettable Disney experience at SM, SM Cinema will launch the highly anticipated movie, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, through a life-sized display of the X-Wing and a 60 percent scale model of the Tie Silencer at select SM Malls as the film will be available in SM Cinema and IMAX all throughout the Christmas season.

Experience the magic of Disney with the entire family this Christmas at SM Supermalls. Visit your favorite branch until Jan. 8, 2018 and be immersed in the season’s best movies at SM Cinema.

For more details follow @SM_Cinema on Instagram and Twitter, and like SMCinema on Facebook and @SMSupermalls.