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Manila Standard - 2018 October 9 - Tuesday

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P1-b jackpot makes lotto history—PCSO THE Ultra Lotto 6/58 jackpot has breached the P1billion mark, the highest in lotto history, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Alexander Balutan said on Monday. Next page

VOL. XXXII • NO. 236 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Traders to import more rice NFA okays 350K tons, hikes palay buying price to P20.70/kilo

HARVEST TIME. Farmers in Carigara, Leyte, thresh newly harvested palay. Carigara town is considered as rice granary in Region 8. As an incentive to rice farmers, the National Food Authority Council approved an increase in the NFA’s palay buying rate effective Oct. 12, 2018.

Palace squashes rumor on Rody’s Hong Kong trip By Nat Mariano, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon RamosAraneta THE Palace sought to squelch rumors Monday that President Rodrigo Duterte had gone to Hong Kong for a medical checkup, and said he visited only to unwind with his family. “That’s just gossip. We saw his pictures roaming around and browsing for yellow clothes,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar told the Radio Mindanao Network. “I think, the President deserves some break, family time, given how hard he has been working,” he added, amid rumors that Duterte, who admitted undergoing an endoscopy for a growth in his digestive tract, had gone to consult a Chinese expert. Next page

Pageant veteran is Miss World-PH By Eton Concepcion MODEL and former video jockey Katarina Rodriguez will be wearing the Philippine sash in the Miss World 2018 pageant in China later this year after besting 39 other candidates in the national pageant held Sunday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Next page

Oil firms raise pump prices big time; diesel up by P1.45 By Alena Mae S. Flores OIL companies jacked up diesel prices Tuesday by a hefty P1.45 per liter to reflect the movement of oil prices in the world market. The oil firms also increased gasoline prices by P1 per liter and kerosene by P1.35 per liter. “We’re entirely dependent on the world oil price as we import 99.99 percent of oil requirements. Of course, the deterioration of peso [visa-vis the US] dollar contributed P0.18 per liter for every peso drop while VAT [value added tax] will be added. The higher the price, the higher the VAT since it’s 12 percent regardless of the base prices. Added is the ex-

cise tax in diesel, which used to be exempted,” Independent Petroleum Philippines Companies Association president Fernando Martinez said. Eastern Petroleum Philippines, Flying V, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Seaoil Philippines and PTT Philippines issued separate announcements of the latest oil price hike. Other oil companies are expected to follow suit. The oil companies encouraged consumers to take advantage of promos and discounts to mitigate the impact of the higher oil prices. Unioil Philippines urged consumers to take advantage of the new S&R savings and save P2.50 per liter on Euro 5 diesel and up to P5 on Euro 5 gasoline at participating stations. Next page

By Othel V. Campos

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HE National Food Authority Council on Monday approved the importation of 350,000 metric tons of rice by major retailers to form part of the country’s rice reserves.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the council adopted the proposal of the Department of Trade and Industry provided that “the DTI and its partners will not sell the rice beyond P38 per kilo.” The council also approved a national procurement program that raises the amount that the government will pay farmers for their palay or unhusked rice. “The NFA council will no longer tolerate a messy rice industry. We will have to put things in order, we will have to protect the consumers and at the same time, ensure that the farmers are also given their rewards if they produce good quality rice,” he said. The program, which will be launched Friday, Oct. 12, keeps the P17 per kilo buying price for palay, but adds incentives of P3.70 a kilo to bring the maximum buying price to P20.70 a kilo. Farmers who sell palay at 14 percent moisture content are entitled to the incen-

tive, while associations or cooperatives that bring in paddy rice will get machinery and farm equipment like tractors, harvesters and even solar powered irrigation systems as incentives, depending on the volume. “All these will be done in provinces where the buying price for palay is low to ensure that farmers will not be disadvantaged even when the government and private sector embark on a huge importation program to stabilize the price of rice in the market,” Piñol said. All palay procured by the government in 2018 harvest season will be used to beef up the government’s buffer stock for 2019 as part of the program to create wellstocked and stable rice reserves. During the Monday meeting, the NFA Council also approved the proposal of the Trade department to start a rice distribution program in partnership with the private sector. Next page

Top Metro cop upbeat on dialog with CHED over ‘Red October’ plot By Francisco Tuyay POLICE authorities on Monday expressed optimism over an eventual dialogue with officials of universities and colleges tagged to have been infiltrated by the communists for the supposed “Red October” ouster plot against President Rodrigo Duterte. Metro Manila police chief Guillermo Eleazar had a meeting with acting Commission on Higher Education chief Prospero de Vera III on Sunday and discussed the possibility of dialogues with the presidents of some universities on the matter. Next page

Kemberly Luna

Christine Puche

Recca Noelle Monte

Tanya Domingo

RED-TAGGED. The military released names and photos of several students who had allegedly joined the communist movement and were ‘killed in action’ to bolster its charges that several schools have become recruitment hubs for the NPA-CPP.

Du30 to join ASEAN summit in Jakarta

Roque goes on leave; Palace in the dark

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will fly to Bali, Indonesia on Wednesday to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Leaders’ Gathering, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday. “The President will be attending the meeting at the invitation of Indonesian President Joko Widodo,” DFA Assistant Secretary for ASEAN Junever Mahilum-West said in a Palace press briefing. West said Duterte will join other ASEAN leaders in the one-day event, where they will showcase the region’s

PRESIDENTIAL Spokesman Harry Roque on Monday went on leave and decided to skip Palace press briefings for a week after he thought about resigning for being out of the loop on President Rodrigo Duterte’s whereabouts. “Please be advised that the presidential spokesperson will be on leave starting today, Monday, October 8,” a Presidential Communications Operations Office official told reporters. The official made the statement even as former Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux Uson finally confirmed she

Next page

By Nat Mariano

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque

would run in the 2019 midterm elections. “Yes, I will run,” Uson announced at the Senate on Monday. The controversial blogger’s announcement came following a report that President Rodrigo Duterte had sacked her. The PCOO official, who was assigned to Roque, said Roque would be going on a personal trip overseas, adding Roque would not be able to join Duterte for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Leaders’ Gathering in Bali this week. Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go said Duterte was not told about Next page Roque’s sudden leave.


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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2018

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Fox runs out of argument to stay in PH By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Immigration has denied with finality the Motion for Reconsideration filed by Australian nun Patricia Anne Fox to extend her missionary visa, saying she failed to raise any new arguments to support her stay in the Philippines. The agency said in its order on Oct. 4 that Fox’s motion contained “merely a reiteration or rehash of [the] arguments already submitted, and found to be without merit.” Officials claim Fox has been joining demonstrations against the government, something she is not allowed to do because she is a foreigner. Immigration spokeswoman Dana Krizia Sandoval said Fox’s missionary visa expired on Sept. 5 this year. "She applied for an extension of her missionary visa which was petitioned by the Superior of the Religieuse De Notre Dame De Sion Inc., but was denied last Sept. 13," Sandoval said. "Approving her extension will be inconsistent with the findings cited in the deportation order against her. "Our Board of Commissioners saw that there is no valid reason to reverse the September 13 Denial Order. She presented no new arguments in her motion for reconsideration." Sandoval also said Fox was required to apply for the downgrading of her visa. “Downgrading is the process that will revert her status to a temporary visitor’s visa, and she will be given 59 days starting from the date of the expiry of her visa,” she said. "Non-compliance [with] the order may result in another deportation case against her.” Fox is also the subject of a separate Deportation Order from Immigration that she appealed to the Justice department.

Ozamiz judge handling drug cases shot dead A JUDGE handling the drug cases against the Parojinog siblings was killed in an ambush Monday afternoon. Ozamiz City Regional Trial Court Judge Edmundo Pintac was driving his car on his way home when he was gunned down by four men on motorcycles. The Supreme Court has condemned the killing of Pintac, who was handling the drug cases against Parojinog siblings Ozamiz Vice Mayor Nova Princess and Reynaldo Jr. Chief Justice Teresita Leonardode Castro urged authorities to resolve the case. “I’m calling on the Philippine National Police to exert all means and efforts to apprehend the perpetrators at the soonest possible time,” De Castro said. De Castro said she has also instructed Court Administrator Midas Marquez to “coordinate with all law enforcement agencies to bring to justice those responsible for this crime.”

Oil firms... From A1

Other oil companies implement fuel discounts to public utility vehicles to cushion the impact on consumers. Taking into account the latest increase, the year-to-date total adjustments stand at a net increase of P11.40 per liter for gasoline, P12.15 per liter for diesel and P10.70 per liter for kerosene. World oil prices have been on the upswing due to the US sanctions against Iran, which could reduce supply. There were also reports that global prices would go up last week after the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries did not increase output following an unofficial gathering in Algeria.

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Three days ago, Roque hinted he was considering quitting after he was “kept in the dark” on the President’s conditions and whereabouts, saying he could not be “effective” unless he knew everything about the President. Roque, who explained things including Duterte’s health and Duterte’s decision discouraging him from running for the Senate next year, appeared ready to walk out in his previous briefing. Roque then said he needed the weekend to think about his options following recent developments, assuring Palace reporters he would announce whatever his decision on Monday. But he skipped his usual briefings

Debate on federal shift begins By Maricel V. Cruz

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HE House of Representatives on Monday opened its plenary debates on the proposed federal Constitution being pushed by the Duterte administration.

Reps. Vicente Veloso of Leyte and Corazon Nuñez-Malanyaon of Davao Oriental, chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the House’s constitutional amendments committee, delivered their respective sponsorship speeches to the draft Constitution as contained in a resolution of both Houses of Congress in Committee Report 88. They delivered their speeches even as the spokesman for the Malacañangbacked group that studied and proposed a federal Constitution believes a House committee's version could be “even worse” than the 1935 Constitution and “very difficult to sell to the public.” Conrado Generoso of President Rodrigo Duterte's Consultative Committee on Monday expressed reservation about the draft Charter, introduced by Speaker

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, which lacks term limits for lawmakers and an antipolitical dynasty provision. “You remove the anti-dynasty provision, you remove the term limits―this could be even worse than the 1935 Constitution,” Generoso told ANC. Nuñez-Malanyaon stressed the need for Congress to introduce a "retrofitting" of the 1987 Constitution. Veloso, a former Court of Appeals associate justice, echoed the sentiment stressed in the committee report that “many provisions of the 1987 Constitution have already served, if not outlived, their purpose, hence the sustained clamor over the years for amendments to or revision of the Constitution finds justification in the need to provide, among other much-needed socioeco-

nomic reforms, a long-term solution to the decades-old conflict in Mindanao and regional economic development in the countryside.” The current composition of both Houses of Congress is reflective of the varied interests that their constituencies represent, so that whenever they propose amendments to or a revision of the Constitution, they already have the necessary background and corresponding insights on how to effectively introduce them accordingly,” Committee Report 88 said. The plenary discussions on the measure for the day was cut short after senior deputy minority leader and Buhay Party-list Rep. Jose Atienza questioned the quorum, saying the House was tackling the proposed revision of the Constitution without having it listed in the House's Order of Business or agenda for the day. “It is not right to begin tackling changes to the Constitution in that way. First of all, it’s not even in the agenda today,” Atienza said. This developed as Arroyo said nothing

was final yet on the draft federal Constitution adopted by the House constitutional amendments, which provides for the lifting of the term limits of legislators and local officials under the proposed federal Constitution. Arroyo said it would be up to the congressmen and senators if they will push for such. “It is really a collegial decision,” Arroyo told reporters when asked to comment on the House committee on constitutional amendments’ proposed draft federal Constitution, which does not have a provision setting the term limits of legislators. Under the House’s draft Constitution, the President and vice president will be elected with each other to serve four-year terms, subject to one reelection. Congressmen, who should be holders of college degrees, will also serve fouryear terms. The draft federal Charter also provides that the first election under the proposed Constitution will be held on the second Monday of May 2022.

Traders...

Du30...

In addition, the council also agreed to the proposed proper labeling of rice sold in the public markets, identifying “local rice” and “imported rice” and disallowing the use of fancy names like “Sinandomeng.” Piñol also directed inspection teams to monitor the pricing of rice in the market and check if rice sold in bags are consistent in volume as stated in sacks due to reports underweighing by traders by as much as 1 kilo for every 50-kilo bag of rice. During the same meeting, the NFA Council designated Deputy Administrator Tomas Escarez as officer-incharge of the NFA.

solid leadership and intensify cooperation in managing economic growth that will create better prosperity and equity as well as delivering meaningful progress in achieving the sustainable development goals. “On the part of the Philippines, the President would highlight the government’s efforts to improve its performance in achieving the sustainable development goals,” West said. West said Duterte will urge all parties to strengthen support for micro, small and medium enterprises and call for economic resilience amidst prevailing global economic uncertainties. Duterte will also encourage deeper cooperation between ASEAN, United Nations, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to implement the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. She said Duterte is also expected to emphasize the roles of the IMF, the World Bank and the ASEAN+3 (China, Japan and Korea) Macroeconomic Research Office in building the capacity of countries to reach their sustainable development targets. The ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering will be a two-hour informal roundtable, under the theme, “Achieving SDGs and Overcoming Development Gap Through Regional and Global Collaborative Actions.” West said the ASEAN leaders will affirm the region’s commitment to the IMF, the World Bank, and the UN’s role in “addressing development challenges.” “The ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering will serve as a platform at the highest levels for further engagement of the ASEAN leaders with the IMF managing director, the World Bank president and the UN secretary-general,” West said. Aside from ASEAN leaders, other participants to the meeting will be IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, World Bank president Jim Yong-kim, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi. The meeting, which will be co-chaired by Widodo and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, will take place on the heels of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with the UN Secretary-General last Sept. 28 in New York. During the New York meeting, the ASEAN and UN noted the importance of ASEAN-UN cooperation particularly in cross-sectoral areas to contribute to the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. “The areas covered include minimizing the adverse impact of climate change, alleviating poverty, tackling inequalities and promoting women’s empowerment, energy connectivity and technical solutions for energy efficiency, promoting and greening micro, small and medium enterprises, agriculture, education, health, food and nutrition, enhancing social security and promoting decent work for all,” West said. Nat Mariano, PNA

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P1-b jackpot... From A1

“This P1-billion jackpot prize is historic for the PCSO. Bettors are excited. Everyone wants to win. Whoever wins this prize will be the first-ever PCSO billionaire,” Balutan said. “Even foreigners can win the jackpot prize if they bought a ticket as long as they are 18 years old and above, which is the age requirement. As long the claimant has the winning ticket, he or she can take home the jackpot prize,” Balutan said. Balutan made the statement amid reports that even foreigners in the country were buying tickets, hoping to win the jackpot prize. The biggest jackpot recorded in the history of PCSO was the P741-million prize in the Grand Lotto 6/55, which was won by a lone bettor from Olongapo City, Zambales on Nov. 29, 2010. “Whoever holds the winning ticket is the winner. So sign your winning lottery ticket immediately and take extra precautions. If you can take a photo and video of yourself with the winning ticket, do it. But don’t post it publicly for security reasons,” Balutan added.

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Duterte on Saturday went on an unscheduled trip to Hong Kong with his family, three days after disclosing he had a medical examination. Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go took to Facebook to stem speculation about the President’s trip. Duterte’s top aide uploaded photos of the President along with his common-law wife Honeylet Avanceña and daughter Kitty, shopping for yellow clothes. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea also echoed Go’s sentiment about Duterte’s unscheduled trip to Hong Kong. “He has been working since June 30, 2016. Can they not allow him a weekend break?” Medialdea said in a text message. In a speech before doctors in Cebu on Sept. 21, Duterte first confirmed he underwent an endoscopy. Two weeks later, Duterte revealed before members of the Philippine Military Academy at the Palace later that day. Duterte had earlier advised Roque, a former congressman, to discontinue his desire for a seat in the Senate next year, stressing he would have a slim chance of winning. Roque has been offered a new post under Duterte’s administration. Go confirmed Roque was offered to be the next Press Secretary, adding he had not yet accepted or rejected Duterte’s offer. The Office of the Press Secretary does not yet exist, but the government seems to be working on its revival after Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Monday a draft executive order had already been handed down to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea. “Executive Secretary Medialdea now holds the Executive Order proposal returning the Office of the Press Secretary,” said Andanar in a radio interview with RMN.

BOWING OUT. Supreme Court Chief Justice Teresita de Castro waves to SC employees and colleagues after a flag-raising ceremony at the SC compound. De Castro retires as chief justice on Monday. Norman Cruz

During the nerve-wracking question and answer portion, the 26-year-old Davao City native was asked how she can change the opinion of people who see beauty pageants as an exploitation of women. Rodriguez responded eloquently: “One should live by example and not by opinion, and I would like to admit I was one of those before until I learned more about what beauty pageants are about.” “One thing I can tell you is that you may think this is very competitive, but in fact, you’ll understand beauty pageants when you know that it is actually not competitive towards the other women, it’s competitive towards yourself, and it’s all about women empowerment, and you can feel that in this group of girls, each girl knows that we are all individually beautiful,” she ended. Apart from winning the title, Rodriguez was also the pageant night’s most decorated candidate. She went home with the Best

in Long Gown, Miss Bluewater Day Spa, Miss Cosmo Skin, Miss Resorts World Manila, and Beach Body special awards. Rodriguez, an MTV VJ and model who spent half of her childhood in the United States, where she attended high school, has a degree in Business Management and Philosophy from De La Salle University. A cycling instructor and long-distance runner, she is a member of De La Salle University Women’s Track and Field Team, and finished second runner-up at Asia’s Next Top Model second cycle in 2014. Part of her pageant portfolio is her first runner-up finish at the 2017 Miss Intercontinental in Egypt in January this year, after taking the title of Miss Intercontinental Philippines 2017 at the Binibining Pilipinas the year before. Completing Rodriguez’s court were Alyssa Muhlach Alvarez (Miss Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas), Maureen Montagne (Miss Eco International Philippines), Kimi Mugford (Miss Multinational Philippines), Chanel Morales (1st Princess) and Pearl Hung (2nd Princess).

in Malacañang that he had a follow-up procedure to check “samples” taken from him. Aside from Barrett’s esophagus, the 73-year-old President also admitted suffering “perpetual pain” from other medical conditions such as Buerger’s disease, a complication of gastro-esophageal reflux disease, and a spinal injury, which he obtained from a motorcycle accident. In the House, Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said President Duterte’s health is not a cause for alarm unless the growth in his digestive tract is found to be life threatening. “I think he has been quite transparent,” Arroyo, former President, told reporters when asked about the health of President Duterte after he admitted that he went to Cardinal Santos Medical Center for a medical checkup last week. “Only if he says that it is serious because I have also had lots of growths in my time. They were precancerous polyps but they never ripened into cancer because timely removal was done with science and technology,” said Arroyo. Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said he

believed the President is in good health. “You can see in his public appearances that he is physically fit. I do not know why there is a big fuss about his health when you can see clearly that his actions are not of a sickly person but of a healthy person,” Pimentel said. Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III said he is confident the President is in the pink of health. “I pray hard that God would take good care of him until he finishes his term,” said Albano. “What is good for President Duterte would be good for the country.” But opposition and Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano said the health of the President is a “national security concern.” “I have been calling the attention of Malacañang to publish the state of health of the President especially now that he admitted publicly that he is sick. This matter is of national security concern. The people must know if the President is still fit to discharge the duties of his office. Anything that he does or fails to do will affect the whole nation,” Alejano said.

Pageant veteran... From A1

Top Metro... From A1

Meanwhile, amid the military’s red-tagging of several universities and colleges in Metro Manila, De Vera on Monday “frowned” at college and university professors over their biases against the government. The Armed Forces of the Philippines also released some of the names, photos and school affiliations of students who allegedly had joined the communist movement. They were Kemberly Luna of Misamis State University and three from the Univesity of the Philippines Christine Punche, Recca Monte and Tanya Domingo. All four were killed in different places and time, the AFP said. “I frown at professors who, under the guise of academic freedom, present only one side.

There are too many professors who are like that,” De Vera told dzBB radio. “For them, the government has done nothing good [for the people]. All they want is to topple the government. They are not doing the students a favor.” Before the conduct of the actual bilateral dialogue, Eleazar said De Vera would be having first an initial contact with some presidents of the universities mentioned in the red-tagging, though no time line had been allotted to the supposed meeting. After the initial contact, Eleazar said, Ched would notify them for the actual meeting between school officials and PNP officials to include PNP chief Oscar Albayalde. Albayalde had said the meeting with De Vera was “fruitful.” Earlier, authorities planned to conduct a meeting directly with school officials as a

result of the red-tagging, but that had been deferred. “It was a very fruitful meeting that we will have a close coordination with Ched,” Albayalde said. At least 18 universities and colleges had been tagged by authorities to have been infiltrated by the Communist Party of the Philippines in its attempt for prospective recruits to the “Red October” plot. Several students have voiced their dismay and denied the apparent recruitment attempt in their respective schools as government critics warned that government troops may suppress basic constitutional rights. But Eleazar quickly rejected it saying “the civil rights of students are clear. We and the state respect that. But we don’t want our youth to be abused because they are idealistic and emotional.” With Rio N. Araja


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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

TELCO BIDDER.

The Luis Chavit Singson group of companies, led by Luis ‘Chavit’ Singson (left) and the TierOne Consortium represented by Jonathan Bentley Stevens, are joining the bidding as partners for the right to become the third major player in the Philippine telecommunications industry. Singson and Stevens hold copies of bidding documents they obtained Monday (Oct. 8, 2018) from the National Telecommunications Commission. A battle royale is shaping up with regional players keen on gaining entry into the Philippine telecom business, among them PT&T, Easycall Communications, China Telecom, Surya Telecom of India, KDDI Corp. of Japan and Viettel of Vietnam, among others. Manny Palmero (Story on B1)

‘Provide salary tax breaks for polls teachers’ TEACHERS who will volunteer to supervise the conduct of elections in the country should receive tax-free compensation, Senator Nancy Binay said. Binay has introduced a bill in the Senate which seeks to exempt from income tax the compensation given to teachers whenever they serve as members of the electoral board during national or local poll exercises. “Teachers are often said to be heroes of every election season. They are often called on to be on the frontlines, serving as members of the Board of Election Tellers [BET] tasked with operating the Vote Counting Machine [VCM] and assisting voters on Election Day,” said Binay. Unfortunately, she said the election season is prone to incidents of electionrelated violence and deaths. She said the government should recognize the public service that teachers perform during national and local elections by at least exempting from income tax the compensation given to them. Under present laws, compensation for services in whatever form paid, including but limited to fees, salaries, wages, commissions and similar items are included in gross income and taxable. Macon Ramos-Araneta

DOTr urged to increase MRT train capacity A LAWMAKER from the Visayas on Monday called on the Department of Transportation to speed up the rehabilitation of more Metro Rail Transit-3 trains. Samar Rep. Edgar Sarmiento, vice chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Transportation, made the call because of the onset of the Christmas season which he said would create a drastic increase in the number of MRT riders. Based on experience, Sarmiento said traffic in EDSA and most of Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares are at its worst from November to December because of the Christmas rush. It is estimated that the Philippines is losing P3.5 billion in economic opportunities due to the Metro Manila’s “carmageddon,” he added. The DoTR earlier announced that it aims to have 20 operational trains at the MRT by yearend. Maricel V. Cruz

‘3rd telco player must comply with 60-40 policy’ FOREIGN companies can compete for the right to become the country’s third telecommunication player for as long as it complies with the constitutional 6040 percent equity requirement, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Monday. Guevarra said that foreign firms may vie for the slot that would break the duopoly of telco giants PLDT-Smart and Globe Telecom, and hopefully, to improve the services of the telecoms in the country. “Foreign equity participation in public utilities is allowed under the 1987 Constitution, provided it complies with the 60-40 equity requirement,” Guevarra said in an interview. The Justice secretary was referring to Section 11, Article XII of the Constitution, which limits foreign ownership in public utilities to 40 percent. The said provision states that: “No franchise, certificate, or any other form of authorization for the operation of a public utility shall be granted except to citizens of the Philippines or to corporations or associations organized under the laws of the Philippines, at least sixty per centum of whose capital is owned by such citizens; nor shall such franchise, certificate, or authorization be exclusive in character or for a longer period than fifty years.” Rey E. Requejo

JV unhappy he and Jinggoy both eye Senate seat in 2019 By Macon Ramos-Araneta

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EELECTIONIST Senator JV Ejercito on Monday said he felt bad that his father, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, for allowing his half-brother, former senator Jinggoy Estrada, to also run for senator in the midterm elections in May 2019.

“I feel bad because I’m a reelectionist. He should not have approved of Jinggoy’s Senate run,” Ejercito said in a radio interview over Radyo 5. Since the two of them are running for the same position, Ejercito said it doesn’t look good. He also admitted that this would weaken his chances of winning because votes would be divided between the two of them. In an earlier interview, Ejercito said that he does not have the benefit of name recall for using “Ejercito” and not Estrada. He noted this could be the reason for his non-inclusion in the “winning circle” of the senatorial candidates based on the latest Pulse Asia survey. “The Estrada factor is working against me this time,” said Ejercito, who carried the surname of his father, a former President and famous actor, when he first ran for senator in 2013. The senator’s rating dropped in the Sept. 1-7 survey to 26.7 percent from 35.6 percent in the June 15 to 21 survey. The Pulse Asia survey held from Sept. 1-7 showed that Ejercito landed between

11th and 17th spot among the senatorial preferences. His half-brother, meanwhile, ranked between 6th and 10th. He also remembered that during his first run, he didn’t get much help from his father. “Nagkaroon kami tampuhan dahil sa kapatid ko ‘nung time na yun, kaya di ako natulungan financially, even political machinery,” he said. “And then, this scenario would be repeated again. Hindi lang tampo, masama talaga loob ko. Di na ko natulungan noong 2013, ganito pa sitwasyon. Ako I have tried to keep my name clean, I have no issue.. I have no corruption,” Ejercito added. According to Ejercito, he and his father have not spoken for a long time now after his half-brother announced he would run again for senator in the coming polls. Admitting that he feels disgruntled, Ejercito said he has decided to bolt from the Partido ng Masang Pilipino, his father’s political party and is set to take his oath of office before the Nationalist People’s Coalition this week. Ejercito earlier took his oath as member of regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago,

led by presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. Senate President Vicente Sotto III, NPC senior party official, said the NPC is also considering to support Estrada in 2019. In a separate interview, Jinggoy Estrada refuted JV’s allegations that their father did not help the reelectionist senator when he first ran for senator. “I doubt it. My father treats all his children the same. No one is his favorite,” said Estrada. The former senator said he was a firsthand witness to that. “Our father helped him. It’s impossible that he did not help him.” He also rejected Ejercito’s claim that it won’t look good if siblings seek the same post. He said it would be the Filipino voters who will ultimately decide. With regards to the use of Estrada name, Ejercito said the use of Estrada during elections was legalized since the 1990s, when he first ran for San Juan vice mayor in 1988. “I am my father’s son. Since I entered politics in 1988, na-legalize na po yung apelyido ko. May court order po yan,” said Ejercitoi, the ex-President’s son with former actress-turned San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez. Estrada, who is out on bail for a plunder case, is Mayor Estrada’s son from former Senator Loi Ejercito. The animosity between the brothers started due to some political differences in the San Juan city government where they both served as mayor.

Drug lords, ‘pols’, behind ambush of agents—PDEA By Rio N. Araja PHILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency director general Aaron Aquino believes that drug traders and even politicians may be responsible for the killing of five of their agents in Lanao del Sur. He said that the deaths of agents Kenneth Tabulo, Kristine Mae Torlao, Lores Joy Amar, Binzo Dipollo and Diobel Pacinio could have been work related. Another agent—Rachel Gentapanan and a civilian—Normina Dicay—were

wounded during the ambush. Aquino said the attack on the five PDEA agents could not be the handiwork of terrorists since the victims’ high-powered firearms and personal belongings were left untouched/ In a radio interview, Aquino said one of two drug syndicates operating within the area could be responsible to the crime. “We already have the names of the primary suspects. Actually, more or less, 10 persons could have attacked them [agents],” he said. Five to six persons of interest,

including several politicians, are being investigated, he added. The victims had come from antidrug symposium in Tagoloan II town in Lanao del Sur when armed men attacked them in Kapai town last Oct. 5. A police vehicle tailing the victims’ van at the time of the incident sped past and overtook the agents’ van “without even any coordination” two minutes before the attack, Aquino said. He said the Philippine National Police is investigating the possible involvement of the police officers who volunteered to escort the PDEA agents.

Transport groups air appeal to LTFRB TRANSPORT groups on Monday appealed to the Land Transportaton Franchising and Regulatory Board to forego their plan in March next year to forfeit their franchise to operate if they fail to comply with the government’s modernizarion program. Leaders of the transport organizations based in the National Capital Region and other parts of the country said it would be impossible for them to comply with the program, citing the lack of time. They are appealing for a five-year period transition period to comply with the government’s modernization program. During Monday’s continuation of the Senate committee on public services’ hearing on the proposed public utility vehicle modernization program, the groups told panel chairman Senator Grace Poe that the program was designed for big corporations and not for small jeepney operators. Poe also questioned LTRFB Board Resolution 45 which provides new routes

for the transport groups after operators complained that they were unaware that franchises were being offered. LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra refused to answer Poe’s question, saying he has a pending case in the Ombudsman in connection with the matter. The senator also asked why LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada was barred from taking to the media. She urged that Lizada be reinstated as the agency’s spokesperson. Poe said the timing was very suspicious because Lizada was stripped of her post after the issue on new franchises came out. Lizada was among those who opposed LTRFB Resolution 45. Senator Bam Aquino, on the other hand, insisted that LTRFB should not prevent drivers from doing their job when they failed to meet the March deadline for a consolidated franchise. He said that operators and drivers should not be deprived of their means of livelihood. Macon Ramos-Araneta

De Castro set to retire as CJ leaving key reforms By Rey E. Requejo CHIEF Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro will retire from the judiciary on Wednesday after serving as top magistrate for less than two months. After her retirement rites last Friday, De Castro bid farewell to Supreme Court employees in her last flag-raising ceremony and thanked them for their support for her 10 years and 8 months in the 15-member bench. “I tried my best so that my presence will be most felt not only by the employees of the Court but also of our judges and justices nationwide,” De Castro said, in her speech. De Castro, the 24th and the first female chief justice of the country, was given citation for her 45 years of service in government—including 10 years and eight months in the High Court. Court personnel also greeted her with the Happy Birthday song for her 70th birthday tomorrow (Wednesday). In her 44 days as chief justice, De Castro was able to implement 32 judicial reform programs and projects. It was also under De Castro’s watch when the Court increased the monthly salary of first-level court judges all over the country. De Castro also implemented SC’s administrative order that increased the salary grade of judges in municipal trial courts, municipal circuit trial courts, municipal trial courts in cities and shari’a circuit courts, in one of the several judicial reforms implemented under the brief term as Chief Justice. The De Castro SC increased the salaries of judges in lower courts, from salary grade 26 and 27 to grade 28 through a resolution it issued last Sept. 11.

PH-Asean, China set to engage in maritime exercises By Francisco Tuyay

PROTEST RALLY. Members of the Power for People Coalition held a protest rally in

front of Congress to demand clean, affordable, renewable energy and stop the government’s support for coal-based form of energy. Manny Palmero

THE Philippines will engage China in a naval exercise between Asean member states, the first-ever military drill between the two countries locked in dispute over the West Philippine Sea. The upcoming military exercises slated on Oct. 22 to 29 will be held off the waters in Zhanjiang, China, outside of the disputed areas in the Spratlys, Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said on Monday. Andolong said that the upcoming naval exercise surfaced following China’s proposal which was submitted during the Asean defense ministers meeting that was eventually concurred by the body. “The proposal for a joint ASEAN and Chinese [naval] exercise was submitted in February of this year during the ADMM [in] Singapore or at the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting. It was proposed to the body and approved, so hence, it was scheduled,” he added.


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Opinion

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Right to know

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

lems now than President Ferdinand Marcos ever was in 1972. *** The Red October scare revealed by President Duterte and Armed Forces THE Constitution provides that in Chief of Staff Carlito Galvez makes case of serious illness of the Presi- us ask: Is it for real? I think the andent, the public shall be informed of swer is both yes and no. It is for real because the Communist the state of his health. The same provision adds that mem- Party of the Philippines and the New bers of the Cabinet in charge of na- People’s Army have a continuing tional security and foreign relations agenda to oust whoever the sitting and the Chief of Staff of the Armed president is. And since President Forces shall not be denied access to Duterte has declared an all-out war on the communist movement, the the President during such illness. Santa Banana, the President admit- communists can only retaliate by ted in a gathering last week that he looking at other sectors of society to was suffering from Barrett’s esopha- help them. But since it would be stupid for the gus and that there was a small growth opposition, particularly the Liberal on his digestive tract. In my language, cancer at whatever Party or even the military, to join the communists, stage is serious. many believe this For some, a canis a convenient cer diagnosis is way of distracting a death sentence. the people from But we also know In my language, the gut issues we that other cancer are all facing. patients live long cancer at whatever This is why enough and can stage is serious. I think the Red even have a reOctober scare mission. will die a natural This is why the death, as soon as public must be informed of what truly ails the Presi- election fever heats up. *** dent. This can only be accomplished In the light of so many sectors payby medical bulletins from the Palace. The recent Social Weather Sta- ing tribute to teachers, I recall my tions survey showed that six of 10 own time as a professor at the Ateneo. Filipinos think the people have to be I am now 91 and the kids that I taught informed of the President’s state of then are now in their 70s and 80s. I am proud of my students who health. Only two presidents have died in office—Manuel Roxas and Ramon have succeeded in their chosen field. Among them—Joseph Estrada, Magsaysay. What I admire about President Domingo Siazon, Mario Tiaoqui, Jun Duterte is his transparency. He told Cruz, Joe Facundo, Bobby Anonas, us that he was also suffering from Tony Co, Baby Perez and Nonoy Buerger’s disease, a complication that Alindogan. I am also proud of Rafael Buearose from too much smoking and a spinal injury from a motorcycle acci- naventura, Chuckie Arellano, Susing Pineda, Tony Lopa, Reli German, dent. For this, he takes a pain killer. We have also seen his disdain of Elpi Cuna. I blame my old age for not Vice President Leni Robredo, his remembering them all. My most memorable moment constitutional successor. Now we are wondering what will be done in was when my students Tiaoqui and the wake of gut issues troubling the Estrada challenged an American country—high prices and insurgency, student, Patrick Hilton, to a fistfight. When a Jesuit walked past the boys’ among others. All things considered, President room, he saw Estrada on the floor Turn to A5 Duterte is confronted by more prob-

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

I

National business

T DOES not matter whether or not the people believe President Rodrigo Duterte has health problems. What matters is the truth, not the belief.

That six in 10 Filipinos believe, however, that Mr. Duterte’s health is a public matter, and that the people should be informed of “eveything about this,” is something with which we agree. In fact we wonder why the number isn’t higher. The survey was conducted between Sept. 15 and Sept. 23, weeks before the public even knew about the latest development in the President’s condition. On Oct. 3, he missed a function,

and after his spokesmen said nothing was the matter, the President himself announced that he went to Cardinal Santos Medical Center for tests. Later we learned doctors were looking into an apparent growth on his digestive tract. The President’s candor was such that he said he would refuse treatment if it is discovered that he has third-stage cancer. The numbers appear to reflect common sense. Indeed a President’s health is a national concern. If he were Citizen Rodrigo Duterte, we would perhaps commiserate with him and wish him well, so that he could live long and fruitfully. But because he is

President Rodrigo Duterte, given a mandate to lead Filipinos for six years, his fate is our fate, too. At stake is the continuity of programs and priorities, and solutions to the ills that stalk us. We do not have reason to believe that Mr. Duterte himself would deliberately mislead the nation or obfuscate facts for political gain. The people around him, however, may have other ideas to hang on to power just a little longer. His enemies will certainly use the confusion to sow fear, uncertainty and doubt to their own ends. It’s a high-stakes conversation that must be had now, using plain facts— certainly not innuendo or speculation.

Presidential health and succession The same concern arose during the Marcos years. Pestering rumors hounded the presidency for a long time. Marcos, savvy as he was, consistently denied the rumors and took great pains to put up a healthy front— FOR quite some time now, rumor he did so until the very end. If not for mills have been on overdrive about the its tragic implications, it was comical state of health of President Duterte. to see the dictator, his face all puffed Sudden absences in official functions, up, being carried by his security detail postponement of Cabinet meetings to the stage to deliver his speech durwithout plausible explanation, and un- ing campaign sorties because he could announced trips to Hong Kong—these hardly walk. When the Marcoses left Malacañang Palace, one of the items are incidents that fuel the rumors. Things came to a head when the found by the people who raided and President was said to have gone to ransacked the palace was a dialysis Cardinal Santos Medical Center for machine, confirming the persistent rumors that he in a medical checkfact was suffering up in the middle from serious kidof the working ney ailment. Marweek. Secretary cos is the very Harry Roque and Sickness and death reason why the Special Assistant are not within our Constit utional to the President control as human Commission deBong Go, to discided to come up pel the rumors, beings. with a provision belied the specuto address this lation. They said very contingency. all was well and What does the there was nothing 1987 Constitution say in case of disto worry about. It took President Duterte himself to ability or serious illness of the Presicontradict Go and Roque, announcing dent? The pertinent provisions are before the members of the Philippine Sections 11 and 12 of Article VII. The controlling provision in case of Military Academy Alumni Association that his Barrett’s esophagus con- serious illness of the President is Secdition had gotten “worse,” but he was tion 12. It says that the public shall be still waiting for further information. informed of the state of President’s “So hindi ko pa masabi kung meron ba health. The members of the Cabinet in talaga akong tama o wala. But I have charge of national security and foreign this Barrett and it has been bothering relations and the Chief of Staff of the me since—ever since—dahil nga sa Armed Forces of the Philippines, shall inom rin,” Duterte said. In a fatalis- not be denied access to the President tic manner, the President remarked, during such illness. Section 11, on the other hand, “If it’s cancer, it’s cancer. And if it’s third stage, no more treatment. I will requires the President to transmit to the not prolong my agony in this office or President of the Senate and the Speaker Turn to A5 anywhere.”

Living by the bow and arrow in Bhutan By Abhaya Srivastava EVERY weekend Bhutanese Pema Dorji channels his inner Robin Hood and aims for the bull’s-eye, but not without generous sips of the local brew and a leg-kicking dance and song routine. The likes of Dorji make up the vibrant archery scene in the small Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan where the traditional sport is a way of life for its 800,000 people. Competitions are held across the country on various auspicious days each month before culminating in na-

tional championships attended by hundreds of raucous fans. “Alcohol and archery go hand in hand,” said Tashi Dorji, the research and development officer with the Bhutan Indigenous Games and Sports Association. “We drink to gain confidence. We have a belief that if we drink we can hit the target better,” the 25-year-old said, barely hiding a sheepish grin. The game they play pits two teams of 11 players each who try to hit the maximum number of bull’s-eyes on a fixed target a full 140 meters (yards) away.

A war cry rings out each time the target is hit. Players in traditional “gho” dresses dance and sing folk numbers— different ones for winning and losing. The crucial drink breaks see archers gulp down locally brewed whisky before locking horns again on the field where colorful flags flutter in the breeze. Poison arrows The beloved national sport is steeped in legends about how bows and arrows were used to hunt prey and destroy demons and evil spirits. Turn to A5

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Opinion Public sickness FORMATION GARY OLIVAR NO, I’M not talking about the public’s reaction to party-list Congressman John Bertiz’ recent antics at the NAIA security check-in, even as that video went viral. The poor guy later complained about chest pains from all the public opprobrium, but I think he’s recovered nicely enough, since I haven’t seen his obit yet. I’m referring to the concern felt by most of the public (at least according to SWS) over the state of the President’s health. After dropping out of sight one day last week, Duterte surfaced to confess that he had undergone a laparoscopy and colonoscopy at Cardinal Santos, my favorite hospital which I pass by every morning during my walks. These are routine procedures that can be done on outpatients. In fact, my favorite secretary of health, Pincoy Duque, vouched for Duterte’s health. Nonetheless, people are still waiting to see the definitive results of the diagnostic tests he’s still undergoing. There’s good reason for the concern. Speaking before PMA graduates—an audience on whom Duterte obviously has to depend for apres moi continuity—the President acknowledged being hospitalized for Barrett’s esophagus, an inflammation of the digestive tract. He also admitted to suffering from daily migraines and spinal problems, as well as Buerger’s disease, caused by his smoking. At 73 years old, Duterte would be closely watched even if he were in the pink of health. And he isn’t our first head of state to suffer medical problems, although different presidents were treated differently. His predecessor, PNoy, was medically found to suffer from a mild autistic disorder called Asperger’s syndrome. But the complicit media made sure it never became an issue even after one questionable judgment of his after another. These days we assume he’s happier back in his native element, behind his videogame console. At the opposite end was now-Speaker Arroyo, who was widely mocked for her neck brace and wheelchair even after undergoing three spinal operations that each lasted six, seven, and eight hours. That titanium plate is stuck inside her neck, and she still can’t fully move her head around. But now that she’s heavier and healthier— as one might expect after having been released from five years of jail—diehard yellows are saying this proves the whole neck brace thing was just an act after all. Tsk tsk. It isn’t surprising that where you sit, on a President’s politics, is also where

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of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. In this case, the Vice President as acting president shall discharge the powers of the president until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary. The Section continues: “The Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President whenever a majority of all the Members of the Cabinet transmit to the President of the Senate and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. The President reassumes the powers and duties of his office once he transmits to the President of the Senate and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists. Should a majority of all the Members of the Cabinet transmit within five days to the President of the Senate and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Congress shall decide the issue. In deciding, the Congress shall convene, if it is not in session, within forty-eight hours, in accordance with its rules and without need of call. If the Congress determines by a twothirds vote of both Houses, voting separately, that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of

you stand, on his or her medical condition. The opposition has begun wishful thinking about constitutional succession. But the yellow hyenas already circling what they imagine to be Duterte’s political carcass may be in for a nasty surprise. They may not know what else is out there in the woods that’s also circling them. *** A somewhat historic milestone occurred over the weekend that few noticed. On Saturday, a small contingent of Japanese soldiers joined US and Filipino troops in storming a Zambales beach during a military exercise. The Japanese limited their role to humanitarian support and weren’t actually involved in the combat activities. Nonetheless, that was the first time Japanese armored vehicles have rolled on foreign soil ever since World War II—an auspicious marker for greater Japanese involvement in regional security notwithstanding their pacifist constitution.

The opposition has begun wishful thinking about constitutional succession.

Times like this, when you’re being pushed around the sandlot by the second biggest kid on the block, it’s good to know that the biggest kid is ready to jump right in—not because he particularly cares about you, but simply because his own interests happen to coincide with yours. And if the third biggest kid is already practicing his moves right beside you, it becomes downright heartwarming. *** The gnomes at the BSP are telling us that the country’s gross international reserves (GIR) shrank to a seven-year low in the first nine months of 2018, due to outflows related to the BSP’s foreign exchange operations. As of September, GIR stood at $75.2 billion, lower than the $77.9 billion in August and the $89.9 billion a year ago, and the lowest GIR level since September 2011. Nonetheless, our favorite gnome, BSP deputy governor Diwa Guinigundo, assures us that the country’s external liquidity buffer remains “ample.” It’s still equivalent to 6.8 months worth of imports, 5.9X shortterm external debt based on original maturity, and 4.2X based on residual maturity. As the definition of the term implies, GIR is all about liquid reserves, and reserves are what you dip into whenever you’re short of cash, whether you’re a country or a sari-sari store. What really counts is what you do with the cash so that you can replace it quickly. On that score, our favorite grinch, DBM’s Ben Diokno—whose unenviable job is to say no to all those impossible spending proposals from politicians—has admitted that the country is likely to miss its 7-8 percent growth target this year, mainly because rising prices have cut into consumption demand. His revised forecast is 6.7-6.9 percent growth this year. Nonetheless, even Ben’s lower forecast will still be among the fastest in Asia. He added that inflation will slowly ease down to 2-4 percent next year. And if you ask the local bankers, a hundred fourteen of them think their industry will be stable or even stronger the next two years, although they privately forecast even lower economic growth rates of 5-7 percent over that period. It’s a bullish vote of confidence from the banks who still appreciate the country’s “strong macroeconomic fundamentals and adequate system liquidity.” And with employment rates also touching historic highs in recent months, it adds a whole new perspective to the issue of why the President’s health does, and should continue to, matter to us.

Unfortunately, despite non-combatant status, one Japanese soldier ended up getting killed, and another one injured, in—ironically enough— a traffic accident with a local vehicle. Which only goes to show that our best defense against foreign invaders is likely to be Manila traffic and Filipino drivers. Farther out at sea, the US Navy destroyer USS Decatur and the Chinese destroyer Lanzhou came within only 41 meters of each other last week in the course of a freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) being conducted by the American ship in the vicinity of the Gaven Reef in the Spratlys. These FONOPs are the Americans’ way of challenging what they see as China’s increasingly aggressive maritime posture, centered on its imaginary “nine-dash line” that seeks to project its territorial claims well beyond the bounds of historical legitimacy, legal acceptance, or even just plain common sense. Not surprisingly, the Americans aren’t taking this latest incident lying down. Right now the US Pacific Fleet is reportedly putting together an even more aggressive series of naval operations in the area. And with 200 vessels, almost 1,200 naval aircraft, and 130,000 personnel in the Fleet, that’s Readers can write me at gbolia lot of muscle to flex. var1952@yahoo.com.

his office, the Vice-President shall act as President; otherwise, the President shall continue exercising the powers and duties of his office.” While Section 11 is clear-cut as to the procedure to be applied in the event the President is unable to discharge the powers of his office, Section 12, which speaks about the requirement to inform the public in case the President is seriously ill, can be a little bit more problematic. The provision does not identify the person/s charged to provide the public the information or the individual to determine the severity of the President’s ailment. Should it be done through Secretary Roque, by the President himself, or by some other government official? I am of the belief that any information on the medical condition of the highest official should be provided by medical experts; hence, his doctors. That President Duterte may or may not be suffering from cancer is a matter of grave concern that may affect the national economy and security. The magnitude of the matter is such that not even the President himself, much less his spokespersons, are in a position to apprise the public of his state of health. This can be provided only by his medical team. Thus, a medical bulletin announced by medical doctors on the President’s health will not only dispel the swirling rumors and destructive speculation. It will also give the public the right information to properly assess the state of the nation. As the saying goes— forewarned is forearmed. As for who would succeed him, if in fact he dies, is permanently incapacitated, or resigns because of his illness, the succession is clear and un-

equivocal with Article VII, Section 7 providing: “In case of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of the President, the Vice President shall become the President to serve the unexpired term. In case of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of both the President and Vice President, the President of the Senate or, in case of his inability, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall then act as President until the President or Vice President shall have been elected and qualified. The Congress shall, by law, provide who shall serve as President in case of death, permanent disability, or resignation of the Acting President. He shall serve until the President or the Vice President shall have been elected and qualified, and be subject to the same restrictions of powers and disqualifications as the Acting President.” I must say now that the framers of the 1987 Constitution were truly wise men and women, having only the best interest of the country in mind. I do not wish ill of the President. I pray for his good health and long life. But sickness and death are not within our control as human beings. Precisely because I wish good things of the President, if in fact he is seriously ill, he should himself invoke Section 11 or perhaps resign and allow presidential succession unfold as the Constitution mandates. His supporters should want that. And for sure, that will be good for the country. Facebook: tonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Solar power: No justification for nationwide franchise palities in five provinces—Cagayan, Aurora, Masbate, Mindoro and Palawan—and have claimed that over 100,000 individuals have signed petiRUDY ROMERO tions supportive of H.B. No. 8179. Given the need to substantially inHOUSE Bill No. 8179 should not have crease the share of renewable energy become controversial. After all, it is in this country’s energy mix, SPSB’S part of the effort to raise this coun- operations are commendable. Even try’s renewable energy capability—and more commendable are the mini-grid thereby reduce its carbon footprint— projects that it has completed in the and all that it seeks is a legislative fran- provinces mentioned above. Leviste’s chise for Solar Para Sa Bayan (SPSB), company has become a major player a solar energy producer owned by Le- in the Philippine solar power industry. andro Leviste, a son of Senator Loren But a nationwide franchise? Why? Legarda. There is absolutely no need for SPSB The bill should not have attracted to be granted a nationwide franchise. controversy, but it has. Why? Be- The fact that the sought-for franchise cause of one word: Nationwide. The would be non-exclusive does not debill seeks a nationwide franchise for molish the unnecessariness of a nationSPSB. wide franchise. And it is gratuitous for Leviste and the bill’s principal spon- H.B. No. 8179’s proponents to say that sor, Rep. Arturo Yap— former Presi- anyway “other new players can apply dent Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s sec- for their own non-exclusive franchisretary of Agriculture—have sought es.” There is no need for them to say to counter the negative impact of the that, because other new players have phrase “nationthe right to apply wide franchise” for such franchisby emphatically es. Considering saying that the that the Philipfranchise would The Philippine pine Development be non-exclusive. Competition Plan accords high “(T)he bill clears priority to the dethe way for other Commission’s opinion velopment of the new players to ap- should be sought on this renewable-energy ply for their own issue. industry, obtainnon-exclusive ing congressional franchise,” Rep. franchises for Yap has said. It each of SPSB’s bears noting that projects cannot Yap speaks of be all that diffiother new players’ applying for their cult. I have a sneaking feeling that Mr. own non-exclusive franchise, not their Leviste fancies SPSB as becoming the own non-exclusive nationwide fran- Meralco (Manila Electric Co.) of the chise. That’s a glaring omission. solar-sourced electricity industry. To render acceptable SPSB’s quest Apparently, Mr. Leviste, Rep. Yap for a nationwide franchise, Leviste, and the other proponents don’t realize Rep. Yap and H.B. No. 8179’s other that the word “nationwide” is an aweproponents have raised the bugaboo some word and that any legislative or of “existing monopolies of traditional regulatory action of nationwide scope utilities,” which have allegedly “fallen has a fearsome impact. Nationwide behind in improving the quality and franchise may sound innocent today, cost of their service.” Leviste insists but there is no guarantee that a misthat the time has come to “end the chievous interpretation will not be existing monopolies on electricity be- given to “nationwide franchise” in the cause....consumers deserve new choic- days ahead. es for better service at lower cost.” A final thought given the potential As additional arguments for the impact of a nationwide franchise on grant of a nationwide franchise to competition in the solar power indusSPSB, Leviste and Rep. Yap have try, the Philippine Competition Compointed to SPSB’s having bought mission’s opinion should be sought on around-the-clock power to munici- this issue.

BUSINESS CLASS

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Stories also abound about how the Bhutanese fought the rifle-armed soldiers of the British army in the 19th century using arrows dipped in poison. Archery was popularised by the first king of Bhutan Gongsa Ugyen Wangchuk (1862-1926) and it continued to flourish under royal patronage through the years. But it suffered a decline after the reclusive nation decided to pursue economic development and open its doors to modernization, eventually allowing in television in 1999. “TV made modern sports available, sports like football and volleyball which are cheaper to play. Suddenly there was competition for our traditional sports,” said Kinzang Dorji, president of the BIGSA. “Children had a wider choice unlike the generations before them,” he told AFP. In addition, the advent of more advanced compound and recurve archery has meant Bhutanese archers used to traditional equipment made of bamboo reeds have struggled to find their feet in international competitions. Bhutan has sent archers to every Olympics since 1984 but a medal has eluded the nation. Rivalry and revelry Some say the Bhutanese, who will vote in only the country’s third elections later this month, lack the fiercely competitive streak needed to do well in the sport.

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beaten black and blue by the much taller American. I was made to testify that since Estrada was a good friend of Mario, he had to protect him. That spared Erap from being expelled—but he had to go to another school. I came from a family of teachers. My father was a district supervisor of

The likes of Ygyen Dorji beg to differ though. “The rivalry is quite intense. Opponents often plant women in the stands to distract the rivals,” said Ygyen Dorji, a mental health counsellor and archery enthusiast. “The ladies mimic you, try to pull you down and one has to concentrate hard as pride and honor are at stake.” Fellow participant Karma Tshering said Bhutanese archers were not aspiring to global acclaim. “Anybody can shoot with the sophisticated modern bows with the help of release aids and all,” said Tshering. “It’s the traditional archery which is more challenging, you have to focus on both your body and mind,” he said, adjusting the sashes on his waist which he won for scoring maximum points during a game at Thimpu’s national sports stadium. The Bhutan Archery Federation recently started a program to train and encourage children to take up the sport. In a shot in the arm for traditional archery, two Bhutanese athletes won gold medals at the historical World Archery championship held in August in Hungary. “It was a great experience to compete with some 300 archers from all over the world,” said gold-medalist Damcho Wangdi. “It showed traditional archery can be revived as many countries in Europe and Asia have some history of playing with bows and arrows. “And with our rich archery history and culture Bhutan can lead the way.” AFP schools in the province of Abra, and my mother was a teacher when she was younger. My late brother Desi was a professor in many law schools. *** President Duterte’s supposed shopping trip to Hong Kong with his partner Honeylet and their daughter was ill-advised. Why go shopping when the country is suffering from inflation? www.emiljurado.weebly.com


TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2018 Standard TODAY mst.daydesk@gmail.com

MMDA gains ISO 9001:2015 certification THE Metro Manila Development Authority is now International Organization for Standardization certified after AJA Registrars granted the certification on Monday for the agency’s compliance to quality management systems. MMDA chairman Danilo Lim received the certificate awarded by AJA Registrars president Paul Bagatsing and Development Academy of the Philippines project manager Cheryl Ortega. “This is a great day for MMDA having received this certificate. We acknowledge the efforts of the entire workforce in securing the certification. Congratulations to all of us,” said Lim, addressing agency personnel in a flag raising ceremony. According to Lim, having the ISO certificate has been a dream since he took over as chairman in May 2017. “Today is the realization of that dream after more than a year in office,” Lim added. This is the first time for the MMDA to be ISO-certified in a full scope. Lim is also planning to build a new headquarters for the agency and move out from the existing building that houses agency employees. “This building is not ours. I want us to have a place of our own and with our continued efforts we can look forward to a ground-breaking ceremony soon,” said Lim. Bagatsing reminded personnel that ISO certification “requires continual improvement because your test today is going to be tomorrow’s average expectations.” For his part, MMDA general manager Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. said the certification validates the agency’s commitment to efficient public service, under Lim’s leadership. “We always want the process to be transparent, ensuring that standardized processes are consistently followed,” said Garcia. The MMDA´s ISO 9001:2015 certificate is the latest version of the ISO 9001 standard, which is widelyknown and internationally accepted for quality management and acknowledges organizations that are able to provide effective customer and regulatory services. AJA Registrars is an independent third party registrar and certification body operating from a global network of offices providing third party registration and training services at a local level. Joel E. Zurbano

Malls to adjust business hours By Joel E. Zurbano

M

ALL and commercial center operators on Monday agreed with the proposal of the Metro Manila Development Authority to adjust business hours to ease road congestion in the metropolis during the holiday season. MMDA likewise secured the cooperation of the Department of Public Works and Highways and private water utility and telecommunication firms in carrying out traffic-alleviation measures in anticipation of monstrous traffic during the holidays. MMDA general manager Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. and concerned rep-

resentatives have agreed to implement from Nov. 5 to Jan. 14 next year the following action plans: - Shopping mall operators located on major thoroughfares in Metro Manila will begin their operations at 11 am, an hour later from the usual 10 am opening time, during weekdays, - Shopping mall operators will

Tobacco farmers blast unfinished convention center A GROUP of tobacco farmers in Ilocos Sur have sought the help of President Rodrigo Duterte and lawmakers to investigate the still-unfinished farmers convention building in Vigan. Members of the Federation of Tobacco Growers in Ilocos Sur said the Farmer’s Convention Center in the provincial capitol “is not even close to 10-percent completion” despite the contract being awarded in 2008. In an open letter to Duterte and members of Congress, the tobacco farmers moaned about the unfinished convention center despite Ilocos Sur having tobacco funds through the province’s share of excise tax. Under Section 2 of Republic Act 7171 and Section 8 of Republic Act 8240, which created the National Tobacco Administration, 15 percent of the incremental revenue collected from the excise tax on tobacco products shall be exclusively utilized for

InvItatIon to BId for the PROCUREMENT OF SECURITY SERVICES COVERING THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 01, 2019 TO DECEMBER 31, 2019 LTOR1-2018B-005 The Land Transportation Office - Region I, through the National Expenditure Program (NEP) CY 2019 intends to apply the sum of Ten Million Five Hundred Eighty Two Thousand Two Hundred Twenty One Pesos and 50/100 (P10,582,221.50) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payment under the contract for the Procurement of Security Services covering the period January 01, 2019 to December 31, 2019. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The Land Transportation Office - Region I now invites bids for the Procurement of Security Services covering the period of January 01, 2019 to December 31, 2019. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Land Transportation Office Region I and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on October 4, 2018 until October 24, 2018 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 Five Thousand Pesos only (P25, 000.00). It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

6.

The Land Transportation Office - Region I will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on October 11, 2018, 10:00 AM at Regional Office Conference Room, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 8:00 AM of October 24, 2018. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Bid opening shall be on 10:00 AM of October 24, 2018 at Regional Office Conference Room. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

9.

In consonance with the opinion of the Government Procurement Policy Board in NPM No. 120-2016, the minimum administrative fee of 20% of the total contract cost for Service Agreement for security services, as imposed by DOLE DO No. 150-16, shall not be observed for purposes of this procurement. Bids where the administrative cost is lower than what the DOLE order requires shall still be considered. The Land Transportation Office - Region I 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:

Memory C. Leonzon Marivic R. Gaerlan LTO-R1 Bids and Award Committee Secretariat Land Transportation Office - Region I Aguila Road, Brgy. Sevilla, City of San Fernando, La Union 2500 (072) 607-1826 / (072) 607-3249 ltoregion1@yahoo.com

(MS-OCT. 09, 2018)

deploy additional security personnel to facilitate the long line of vehicles entering mall parking areas that add to the traffic gridlock, - Obstructions on loading and unloading stations within the vicinity of shopping malls will be removed, - Deliveries of non-perishable goods will be done only at night-time or from 11 pm to 5 am, - No weekday sale policy, and - Moratorium on road works, including road diggings and repairs, except government flagship projects and/or during emergency cases. Garcia said these measures have been laid down to reduce the anticipated traffic

congestion, particularly along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, during the holidays. “Traffic is already bad and we expect it to get worse as the number of vehicles increases,” he said. Garcia said shopping malls are considered traffic generators during the holidays, and delaying their operating hours by an hour could help ease traffic situation in Metro Manila. There are at least 15 shopping malls located along EDSA alone. Among those who attended the meeting are representatives from SM Supermalls, Ayala malls, Robinsons, Meralco, Globe, PLDT, Maynilad, and Manila Waters.

GETTING GRILLED. Transportation Undersecretary Thomas Orbos (left) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Martin Delgra try to absorb a point from Senator Grace Poe (right), who speaks during the joint hearing of the Senate committees on public services, civil service, and government reorganization and finance on the issue of jeepney modernization on Monday in Pasay City. Lino Santos

(SGD) KATHLEEN DEANNA G. SALAYOG OIC-ARD/BAC CHAIRPERSON

programs to increase the income and productivity of tobacco farmers and to involve them in post-harvest and secondary processing such as cigarette manufacturing, the farmers noted. Though the group recognizes the health perils of the products they produce, they said the support fund they should receive, in the form of excise tax, is their “saving grace and safety net.” However, since the government wants them to shift from other equally or far more economically empowering agricultural produce and/or livelihood activities, the tobacco farmers badly need funds to assist them in such a transition. “Our livelihood and existence are now threatened by the stricter policies against tobacco products,” they said. The farmers also complained of the disinterest of local officials, especially the Office of the Provincial Governor, to

compel the contractors to finish the project or penalize them for the delay. “The funds used in Farmers Convention Center should have been allocated to projects that will benefit us directly,” they said. The group appealed to Duterte, lawmakers, and state auditors to look into the validity of project. “We are not well-schooled policy makers, but we know that the funding of these projects are grossly anomalous,” the group stressed. The farmers are optimistic they will be granted prompt and favorable intercession from the Duterte administration, which is known for its stern anti-corruption campaign. Stiffening policies on tobacco products are aimed to prepare the funding of health services under the proposed Universal Health Care Bill. Joel Zurbano

Ex-PSC chief seeks permission to travel abroad

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE Region I

1.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

News

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Manila

By Maricel V. Cruz FORMER Philippine Sports Commission chairman Harry Angping has sought permission from the Sandiganbayan’s Sixth Division for a four-day travel to Kuala Lumpur In his motion, Angping, who is facing graft charges, indicated that he will fly to Malaysia from Oct.11 to 14 for a “business meeting” with a certain Low Beng Chiu, president of Malaysia Softball Associate and SCA Softball Confederation Asia. Angping said his P60,000 travel bond guarantees his compliance to the conditions of the anti-graft court once his travel motion is approved.

NOTICE

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that Stock Certificate No. 1755 with 77 shares of Universal Motors Corp. in the name of Regina T. Mariano was declared lost in an Affidavit of Loss executed by Regina T. Mariano and recorded with notarial register of Atty Romualdo delos Santos of San Juan City on September 27, 2018 as Doc No. 349; Page No 71; Book 633; Series of 2018.

Notice is hereby given that Stock Certificate No. 1757 with 77 shares of Universal Motors Corp. in the name of Alexandra T. Medina was declared lost in an Affidavit of Loss executed by Alexandra T. Medina and recorded with notarial register of Atty Romualdo delos Santos of San Juan City on September 27, 2018 as Doc No. 351; Page No 72; Book 633; Series of 2018.

(MS-OCT. 2,9 & 16, 2018)

(MS-OCT. 2,9 & 16, 2018)

NOTICE

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that Stock Certificate No. 1754 with 77 shares of Universal Motors Corp. in the name of Rebecca Tanada was declared lost in an Affidavit of Loss executed by Rebecca Tanada and recorded with notarial register of Atty Romualdo delos Santos of San Juan City on September 27, 2018 as Doc No. 351; Page No 72; Book 633; Series of 2018.

Notice is hereby given that the following share certificates numbers 21801;23040; 24868 with total of 27 shares of Manuel L. Quezon University and stock certificate number 1753 with 388 shares of Universal Motors Corporation issued to Anna Tanada were declared lost in Affidavit of Loss executed by Regina T. Mariano and recorded with notarial register of Atty. Paula Mae Tanquieng of Pasig on January 5, 2012 as Doc No. 95; Page No 20; Book 1; Series of 2012.

(MS-OCT. 2,9 & 16, 2018)

(MS-OCT. 2,9 & 16, 2018)

Angping is facing a graft case for allegedly conniving with Philcare Manpower Services president Edmund Montanes for the hiring of 71 janitors and nine gardeners without having secured the “necessary requirements.” Angping allegedly gave undue advantage to Philcare when he signed an addendum to the contract of service of the firm without public bidding, Ombudsman prosecutors said. The prosecution said the government was deprived of the opportunity to be provided the most beneficial contract when the PSC paid the 80 personnel P15,324.42 per month from March 2009 to January 2011.

Sandiganbayan rejects motion of Villafuerte THE Sandiganbayan has affirmed its ruling denying Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte’s motion for a leave of court that would have allowed him to contest his case in the event that the anti-graft court junks his demurrer to evidence. Villafuerte is facing charges in connection with the allegedly questionable procurement of P20 million worth of petroleum products for the provincial government in 2010 when he was still the governor. In a resolution, the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division said it only made an “initial assessment of the evidence” against Villafuerte, contrary to his claim that the court has prematurely ruled on his criminal liability. The Sandiganbayan denied the same motion for reconsideration of Villafuerte’s co-accused, Jeffrey Lo. “The Court did not prematurely rule on their respective demurrers to evidence, but only made an initial assessment of the prosecution’s evidence for the purpose of determining if the accused should be granted leave to file their respective demurrers,” the Sandiganbayan said. In an earlier statement, Villafuerte said there was no irregularity in the procurement of petroleum products from the provincial government’s long-time supplier. “The provincial government, long before I was governor, was already procuring gasoline from Petron Naga,” Villafuerte said. “In fact, this company at that time had been supplying fuel to the provincial capitol for about 20 years already.” Maricel V. Cruz

NLEX expands 4 Pampanga toll plazas THE NLEX Corp. has undertaken several expansion works in the North Luzon Expressway by constructing additional toll lanes in four toll plazas in Pampanga. The San Fernando, Mexico, and Angeles toll plazas are being expanded to match the rapid pace of the province’s progress, said lawyer Romulo S. Quimbo, senior vice president for communication and stakeholder management. “Apart from increasing the service capacity, the NLEX enhancement projects will considerably bring relief to motorists by reducing transaction time at the toll lane,” said Quimbo. In Pampanga’s capital city, two more toll lanes at the San Fernando southbound exit and one additional toll lane at the SB entry will accommodate the increasing traffic volume in Pampanga. The total lanes of the SB entry and exit will now be six and five, respectively. Meanwhile, the Angeles toll plaza will be augmented with two entry lanes and one exit

lane, bringing the total toll lanes to 10. This move is expected to alleviate mounting traffic issues in Angeles City, which is also one of the busiest areas in NLEX. The NLEX Corp. will add another toll lane to the Mexico toll plaza exiting northbound to serve the growing number of motorists traveling in the area. Additional lanes will be constructed at the connecting ramps of NLEX and the SubicClark-Tarlac Expressway. All these enhancements are expected to be completed by the end of 2018. The City of San Fernando has been one of the centers of trade and commerce in Central Luzon, playing host to shopping districts and several business establishments. Its proximity and access to other provinces such as Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Zambales makes it a vital industrial corridor. Economic activities are also steadily rising in Mexico due to several housing developments in this first-class municipality.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK


Sports Bulacan Makabayan posts sweep BULACAN swept its matches held at the San Leonardo Gym in Nueva Ecija this weekend in the National Basketball League-Philippines. The Bulacan Makabayan beat the home team Nueva Ecija Go Bespren, 9486, last Saturday, and defeated the Rizal Spartans, 70-65, last Sunday to improve their record to 3-2 and climb to third place in the standings. Joseph Celso had 20 points, 16 rebounds, and two blocks in the Makabayan’s win over the Go Bespren last Saturday. He also contributed 10 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks during the match against the Spartans last Sunday. In other matches, Krushev Ferrer had 20 points as Nueva Ecija picked up the win on its home court last Sunday with an 84-82 win over the Paranaque Aces to improve its record to 2-4 after last weekend’s games. Noy Bermudes finished with 22 points, six rebounds, and four assists to give Paranaque a 76-68 win over Rizal last Saturday as the Aces (3-2) gained a share of third place with Bulacan and Taguig at the end of last weekend’s games. Rizal slipped to 1-5 after losing all its matches in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija, which also hosted a basketball clinic for kids presided by NBL commissioner Nandy Garcia.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2018

Must-win for Nayre in YOG meet

B

UENOS AIRES—Jann Mari Nayre split his two matches that put himself in a must-win situation in the table tennis competitions of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games at the Technopolis here. The 18-year-old table tennis wonder jumpstarted his campaign with a hardearned win over Nicolas Burgos of Chile in five sets, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8, to make a statement in the group stages of the men’s singles preliminaries. But Nayre, the first Filipino paddler who qualified in these Games, later dropped a surprising straight-set defeat at the hands of Austria’s Maciej Kolodziejczyk, 9-11, 8-11, 1-11, 6-11 in Group B of the men’s singles preliminaries of the tournament featuring the best under-18 table netters in the world.

“I’m not losing hope. Anything is possible. I’ll just show up at my best,’’ said Nayre, who represented the country in both the Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur last year and the Asian Games in Jakarta two months ago. Ranged against the 16-year-old Burgos, No. 27 in the under-18 world rankings, Nayre attacked the Chilean’s weak back hand and stay focused the rest of the way after giving up an action-packed exchange in the second set. A right-hander, Nayre struggled com-

pletely against Kolodziejczyk, who spent most of the match pouncing on the errors of the Filipino table tennis ace. “I haven’t met them before in any of the tournaments that I participated in,’’ said Nayre, who studied at San Beda University in Taytay, Rizal. Up next for Nayre is Rio Olympian Kanak Jha of the United States, the No. 1 paddler in the U18 world circuit. The 18-year-old Jha is the toughest possible competitor that top favorite and senior world No. 8 Tomokazu Harimoto of Japan can face in the medal round. “It gets tougher as we move into the succeeding rounds. I’ll just try the best I can not to get eliminated early,’’ said Nayre. Apart from Nayre, Filipino-Norwegian Christian Tio will start his medal bid in

Games Sunday

(Pasig City Sports Center) 2 p.m. – Senate vs DOJ 3:30 p.m. – Malacañang-PSC vs PhilHealth 5 p.m. – AFP vs PITC

Games today

11 a.m. – Army vs Navy 1 p.m. – Air Force vs Sta. Elena 3 p.m. – Ateneo vs IEM

Mark Pedroso starred for PhilHealth’s 122-99 win over Ombudsman in the UNTV Cup by posting 29 points, three rebounds and two assists.

Local, Thai aces brace for LPGT John Hay duel THE cream of the local crop and a slew of Thai aces gear up for three days of battle of shotmaking, iron play and wits when the ICTSI Camp John Hay Ladies Championship is fired off tomorrow (Wednesday, Oct. 10) at John Hay Golf Club in Baguio City. Former winners Princess Superal and Cyna Rodriguez banner the local charge along with Daniella Uy, Marvi Monsalve and Chihiro Ikeda while this year’s Ladies Philippine Golf Tour’s Mt. Malarayat leg champion Onkanok Soisuwan heads the 12-player strong Thai contingent in the P1.5 million event put up by ICTSI which serves as the second of the new LPGT season. That guarantees a spirited charge for top honors in the 54-hole championship which is making its return to the LPGT calendar after Rodriguez beat Thai Amolkan Phalajivin by 11 shots to win in 2014. Superal, then an amateur, humbled the local pros to rule the inaugural staging in 2013 with a record 17-under total at the par-69 up-and-down layout with the former US Girls Junior champion blossoming to become one of the country’s players. She hopes to figure in the early chase this week, eager to atone for her tied for 16th place finish in LPGT and Taiwan LPGA Tour co-sanctioned Party Golfer Ladies Open in Taiwan

last week where Soisuwan finished at joint 20th. But a slew of others are also tipped to contend for top honors this week, including TLPGA Tour campaigners Marvi Monsalve and rookie pro Daniella Uy and Ikeda, who won the LPGT Eagle Ridge title early in the season. Soisuwan, meanwhile, will be joined in by a crack crew that includes Supakchaya Pattaranakrueang, Jaruporn P Na Ayutthaya, Numa Gulyanamitta, Chakansim Khamborn, Chommapat Pongthanarak, Goonlacha Paiboonpong, Kamonwan Lueamsri, Chouvarest Chourkittisopon, Omicha Konsunthea, Patraporn Kratururk and Waralee Atcharerk. Other local pros vying in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by Custom Clubmakers, BDO, Meralco, Sharp, KZGm PLDT, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and K&G Golf are former LPGT winner Sarah Ababa, Alex Etter, Apple Fudolin, Gretchen Villacencio and Sheryl Villasencio. Joining the title hunt are 11 amateurs, led by The Country Club mainstays Sofia Chabon, Mafy Singson, Samantha Dizon, Eagle Ace Superal, Arnie Taguines and Laia Barro, Kristine Torralba, Marianne Bustos, Sunshine Baraquiel, Mariel Tee and Korean Lee Ji Hyeon

PH settles for 9th place in Fiba 3x3 U-23 By Peter Atencio THE Philippines, led by promising RJ Abarrientos, settled for a ninth-place finish in the 2018 FIBA 3x3 U-23 World Cup in Xi’An, China Abarrientos, nephew of retired Philippine Basketball Association cager Johnny Abarrientos, showed the way for the 19th-ranked Team Pilipinas when it upset third seed China, 21-15, to finish their campaign in Group C with two wins and two losses. China still advanced to the quarterfinals with Slovenia after finishing with similar 3-1 win-loss records in their bracket. The 18-year-old Abarrientos made 10 points, while Ricci Rivero contributed seven for the Filipinos, who handed the Chi-

kiteboarding on Tuesday, a new discipline under sailing in the YOG set to be held at the Club Nautico San Isidro here. This Wednesday is scheduled to become the busiest for the Philippines when fencer Lawrence Everett Tan, golfers Yuka Saso and Carl Jano Corpus and FilipinoAmerican swimmer Nicole Oliva begin their campaign. Saso, the Asian Games double-gold medalist, is entered in the women’s individual stroke play while Corpus will represent the country in the men’s side for three rounds at the Hurlingham Club. Tan will compete in the men’s foil while Oliva, a bronze medalist in the Kuala Lumpur SEAG, will make her debut in the women’s 100m freestyle. Oliva will also swim in the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle events.

Builders, Cavaliers whip foes in UNTV Cup

Eagles seek 2nd victory vs Volley Masters ATENEO—Fudgee Bar seeks to grab the solo lead in the early going of the Spikers’ Turf as it faces Instituto Estetico Manila today (Tuesday) even as four teams launch their respective bids in the Open Conference at the Blue Eagle gym in QC. The Eagles drew a combined 37-hit output from Tony Koyfman, Chumason Njigha and John Rivera as they swept newcomer Fury Blazing Hitters, 25-15, 25-17, 25-15, with Cignal and PLDT also coming through with a pair of 3-1 romps over Prima-FEU and IEM in last Saturday’s inaugurals of the tournament organized by Sports Vision in cooperation with television partner Cignal TV. Despite their big start, the Eagles expect a tough challenge from the Volley Masters in their 3 p.m. encounter with coach Tim Sto. Tomas hoping to draw sustained charge from his talent-laden crew, including Ron Medalla, Gian Glorioso and playmaker Lawrence Magadia. But IEM is out to bounce back from that setback to PLDT on a team built around power hitters Jason Canlas and Mark Enciso with Lorenze Santos, Ferdian Guanzon, Jonathan Sorio and skipper Jeffrey Jimenez eager to provide solid backup in a bid to get back into the mix. Army and Navy, meanwhile, try to get their campaign going as they tangle in the 11 a.m. opener of another triplebill that also features the Air Force-Sta. Elena duel at 1 p.m. With the format being a single round robin elims among 10 teams, every match counts, ensuring high powered action from the country’s leading and rising players. The league, where the members of the national team seeing action in next year’s SEA Games here will be culled from, airs two of its three matches live on Cignal TV on game days (Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday) as part of the new partners effort to give the sport a mainstream appeal.

A7

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

RJ Abarrientos holds his trophy

nese their first of two losses in the tournament. The Filipinos earlier took down no. 14 Turkmenistan, 21-8, for their first triumph. The 5’11” Abarrientos later took home the gold medal in the shootout contest, hitting 9 points in the final round. Russia’s Aleksandr Antonikovskii and Germany’s Laura Zdravevska settled for the silver and bronze medals, respectively. Russia went on two sweep the titles in both the men and women’s categories, coming up with immaculate 7-0 slates. The Russian men’s squad stood its ground against Latvia, 21-18, with 22-year-old star Alexander Zuev leading with a game-high 13 points. The Russian ladies won over China, 21-12.

Superal

NATIONAL Housing Authority weathered Department of Agriculture’s determined comeback and eked out a 75-73 win to claim the solo Group B lead, even as Armed Forces of the Philippines chalked up its second straight win in the 7th UNTV Cup held recently at the Pasig City Sports Center. The NHA Builders led by as many as 18 points in the first half, but needed a big defensive effort down the stretch to survive the Food Masters’ fightback and nail their third straight win in the annual tournament for public servants. Antonio Lustestica scored 23 points, while Marvin Marcado added 14 for the Builders, who are off to their best start in the event offering P4 million to the chosen charity of the champion team. Former UST star Emerson Oreta had 17 points for the Food Masters, who absorbed their first defeat in three games. The AFP Cavaliers tied defending champion Senate for Group A lead after downing Philippine National Police, 92-82, thanks to another inspiring show of former Letran star Boyet Bautista. The wily guard finished with 22 points after engaging former University of the East player Ollan Omiping in an early shootout. Omiping, who led PNP to the championship two years ago, led all scorers with 24 points. Meantime, PhilHealth, drawing a pair of 29 points from Mark Pedroso and Jonathan Aldave, finally barged into the win column by crushing Ombudsman, 122-99, in the other Group B match.

Early birds at Ironman, 5150 listup LOCAL triathlon braces for a bigger, more explosive 2019 season with IRONMAN 70.3 and 5150 events lined up in various championship courses in Davao, Cebu and Subic with all expected to draw the best endurance triathletes in the world. Thousands have in fact responded to the organizing Sunrise Events, Inc.’s simultaneous online and on-site list-up launch to all IRONMAN 70.3 and 5150 events last Oct. 1, underscoring the popularity of the ever-growing swimbike-run races that have become the main staple among the multi-sport racers, enthusiasts and wannabes. “On the morning of registration, the Regent Aguila IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines in Cebu already had more than a thousand participants registered while the Alveo Ironman 70.3 Davao drew 1,500 entries,” said SEI general manager Princess Galura. The Regent Aguila listup was held at Maayo Hotel’s grand ballroom where freebies, including in-training shirt, visor/cap, towel and Aguila drinks were

handed out and three Rudy Project helmets were raffled off. The SEDA Abreeza Hotel, on the other hand, hosted the Alveo IM 70.3 and Penong’s 5150 registrations where intraining shirts, Penong’s t-shirts, mugs, visors, caps and towels were also given out and three Rudy Project helmets were awarded to raffle winners. SEI, meanwhile, has added more slots for the Alveo IM next year after the 1,200 berths were sold out in the first day of listup in its inaugural staging this year. Next year’s riathlon season kicks of on March 24 for the Alveo IM 70.3 Davao, while the inaugural Sun Life 5150 race will be held in Cebu on April 25. Subic Bay will host the Century Tuna IM 70.3 on June 2 while the Penong’s 5150 Davao, another first, will he held on July 7. The Regent Aguila IM 70.3 Phl is set on Aug. 11 with the second Black Arrow Express 5150 slated on Nov. 3 in Subic Bay. For details, visit www.sunriseevents.com.ph.


IN BRIEF

Sy: SM Investments keen on minority stakes

SM INVESTMENTS Corp. of retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr. said it is open to taking minority positions on target companies for acquisitions. SM Investments vice chairman Teresita Sy-Coson in an interview at the sidelines of Sustainability Summit held in Conrad Hotel in Pasay City that the conglomerate was keen on acquiring minority positions in companies that needed help and letting the owners take management control. “What we will be doing is to do investment differently this time. For those (companies) that perhaps can grow with a little push then we will get minority positions instead of a majority where we we will run,” Sy-Coson said, “So most of the companies will be run by the main proponents,” she added. SM Investments earlier announced plans to acquire a 34-percent stake in bakeshop chain Goldilocks after initially intending to acquire a majority stake. “They are the ones running it. So we are okay,” Sy-Coson said. SM Investments is also purchasing a 35-percent interest in logistics firm Airspeed. Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

STAR road ready for RFID payment mode

SAN Miguel Corp. on Monday said motorists can expect seamless travel south of Metro Manila as Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) tollway becomes radio-frequency identificationready. Star Tollway Corp., the operator of the Star Tollway, said Autosweep RFID payment lanes, alongside regular cash lanes, are now operational at the toll plazas in the 42-kilometer toll road that stretches from Santo Tomas, Batangas to Batangas City. The addition of Star Tollway completes the list of San Miguel Infrastructure tollways with Autosweep RFID access, joining South Luzon Expressway, Skyway, and the Naia Expressway. To date, there are 58,000 vehicles traversing the Star Tollway, with 28 percent currently using Autosweep RFID as payment mode. The integration of Star Tollway into the Autosweep RFID system as well as the motorists’ increasing use of Autosweep RFID as a mode for payment are expected to reduce waiting and transaction times at the toll plazas. Darwin G. Amojelar

SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT. Key private and public sector leaders attend the first Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Summit at Conrad Manila in Pasay City. At the summit are SM Investments Corp. co-vice chairperson Teresita Sy-Coson (second from right) shaking the hand of Ayala Corp. chairman and chief executive Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (second from left), along with (from left) World Business Council for Sustainable Development chairman Sunny Verghese, SM Prime Holdings Inc. director Hans Sy and GRI board member Roberto de Ocampo. Inset shows the solar rooftop project at SM Mall of Asia complex, which manifests the SM Group’s commitment to environmental sustainability. See related story on B2. Bobby Cabrera

Singson, Uy join bidding for third telecom player C communications Commission commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba told reporters. The NTC identified the interested OMPANIES led by parties as the joint venture of Singson’s businessmen Chavit LSC Group of Companies and Davao Singson and Dennis telco operator TierOne Communications, Uy’s Udenna Corp. and Norway’s Uy are among the five Telenor Group. The agency did not name the two othgroups that purchased bid er bidders upon their request. documents Monday for the Other groups that are expected to purselection of a new major chase bid documents in the coming days are China Telecom, LG Uplus Corp., player in the Philippine Korea Telecom, Vietnam Telecom, Philtelecommunication sector ippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp., that are set to challenge the Converge ICT, Transpacific Broadband duopoly of Globe Telecom Group Inc. and EasyCall Communications Philippines Inc. Inc. and PLDT Inc. “We are very confident that we will fulfill the president’s directive on the “So far, we have five companies that entry of a new major player in the Philbought bid documents,” National Tele- ippines telecommunications market,”

By Darwin G. Amojelar

Court allows new management of The Medical City to remain in post THE Medical City said Monday its new board of directors and management team, who were elected and appointed by a majority of its stockholders, scored a legal victory against former chief executive Alfred Bengzon. Citing there is “no dispute that a special stockholders meeting took place on Sept. 13, 2018, where members of the board of directors were elected by a majority of the stockholders,” the court ruled that the new board and management should stay in place at TMC as they “appear to have a clear and unmistakable right that is entitled to protection.” “This is a clear victory for TMC stockholders, who have struggled to protect their rights against a former CEO who ignored the pleas of the majority of stockholders asking for better governance and more respect for shareholder rights,” TMC chairman Jose Xavier Gonzales said in a statement. “The by-laws state that stockholders have a right to vote, and Dr. Bengzon, by arbitrarily refusing to hold scheduled elections last June, took out that right from them,” he said. Gonzales said it was “worth noting that Dr. Bengzon owns 0.1% of TMC shares, but seemed intent on controlling the money and investments of shareholders who put in 99.9% of the capital of TMC.” The courtroom victory also gives momentum to a continuing series of reforms now being undertaken at TMC, he said. “There’s a sense of freedom in the air, and the previous atmosphere of fear has been lifted,” said newly appointed TMC chief executive Eugenio Jose Ramos. “More people are speaking up and contributing ideas on how we can improve, and that is the kind of collaboration that we are all hoping for,” he said.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2018

B1

ICTSI obtains approval to expand Manila container port

Chelsea Logistics offers to develop Davao Sasa

CHELSEA Logistics Holdings Corp. said it submitted an unsolicited offer to the Department of Transportation to develop, operate and maintain the Davao Sasa Port for P16 billion. “We already submitted a proposal for the development of Davao Sasa Port and we are waiting for the action of DOTr on that matter,” CLC president and chief executive Chryss Alfonsos Damus said. Damus said his company planned to spend P16 billion for the Davao Sasa Port in phases. “The phase one is rehabilitation of the existing port and the phase 2 is increasing the capacity, but it depends on the traffic,” he said, adding the company proposed a 25-year concession period. “If you look at the state of the port of Davao, it really needs a massive rehabilitation. There’s a lot of damaged areas that we have to rehabilitate and there is a limited equipment as to cargo handling. Those are the things that we wanted to do in the Phase 1 ,” Damus said. Darwin G. Amojelar

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor

Cordoba said. Singson, who owns LCS Group, said the purchase of the bid documents represented the first step in finally bringing much needed world-class telecommunications services across the archipelago. “The TierOne Consortium assures the Filipino people, especially those in areas outside the key cities of the country, that they will no longer be treated like second-class citizens when it comes to telco services. We will give everybody a better chance to enjoy the benefits that connectivity gives people in more advanced nations,” Singson said. Davao-based Jonathan Bentley-Stevens, a philanthropist and businessman, who owns telco-related companies in Australia, US, Malaysia and the Philippines said, “we are here, particularly for the underserved and unserved Filipinos.”

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monday, October 8, 2018

GLOBE-MMDA AGREEMENT. Globe Telecom signs an agreement with the Metro Manila Development Authority to speed up the deployment of over 120 cell sites along the major thoroughfares in Metro Manila. The additional sites are in line with the company’s efforts to further enhance wireless network coverage and improve customers’ internet experience. Shown during the signing ceremony in Taguig City are (from left) Globe chief technology and information officer Gil Genio, Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu, MMDA chairman Danilo Lim and MMDA undersecretary Frisco San Juan.

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

54.2810

Japan

Yen

0.008788

0.4770

UK

Pound

1.312600

71.2492

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127631

6.9279

Switzerland

Franc

1.007963

54.7132

Canada

Dollar

0.772439

41.9288

Singapore

Dollar

0.723223

39.2573

Australia

Dollar

0.705200

38.2790

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652661

143.9891

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

14.4741

Brunei

Dollar

0.720617

39.1158

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000066

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.030414

1.6509

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

14.7800 62.5589

Euro

Euro

1.152500

Korea

Won

0.000884

0.0480

China

Yuan

0.145507

7.8983

India

Rupee

0.013557

0.7359

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.241313

13.0987

New Zealand

Dollar

0.643800

34.9461

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032352

1.7561

DTI pushes probe on the use of induction furnace in steel making By Othel V. Campos THE Trade Department said it intensified its investigation on the use induction furnace by steel manufacturers amid reports of proliferation of substandard products that pose serious safety hazards to homebuilders and consumers. Trade Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said in a radio interview there would be no let-up in the investigation of steel companies using induction furnace, especially after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations advised its member countries to ban the use of induction furnace for steelmaking. “We confiscate substandard materials.

We test them on the spot, weigh them and measure their size. We also check on their labels…and issue notice of violation,” said Castelo who also heads the Trade Department’s Consumer Protection Group. “We have two procedures in our investigation. It could be direct from small retailer and then go up to its supplier or from the supplier to where they distribute…so we’re working on it as a whole approach,” she said, adding that she has even visited an induction furnace plant. Steel manufacturers using induction furnace formed the group Philippine Induction Smelting Industry Association which counts among its members Real Steel Corp., Wan Chiong Steel Corp.

and Melters Steel Corp. that are all based in San Simon, Pampanga; Metro Dragon Steel Corp. in Caloocan City; and Davao Mighty Steel Corp. in Davao City. The Asean Iron and Steel Council earlier issued a warning on member nations about the use of induction furnace which it called “obsolete and outdated machinery” as these have already been banned in China. It also raised concern that Asean would become a dumping ground of these equipment. AISC said that the adverse impact from the use of induction furnace could arise from “production of substandard quality steel products, which could pose safety hazard as construction materials.”

INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc. said it obtained an approval from the Philippine Ports Authority to expand the Manila International Container Terminal. The port operator led by businessman Enrique Razon said the first phase of construction of MICT’s Berths 7 and 8 would begin on Oct. 15, while the second phase would start in February 2019, pending final approvals. The company also plans to add full back up area for the future berths 9 and 10. ICTSI global corporate head Christian Gonzalez said the berth expansion, all with a controlling depth of 13.5 to 14.5 meters, would further strengthen MICT’s capacity to service the world’s larger box ships and the increasing volume that comes with them. “On top of our commitments, the construction of these berths is our response to the need for an increase in capacity and increased productivity over the longer term. We also need to accommodate system changes, such as the steady increase in vessel size, the consolidation of major shipping players, and the introduction of rail services,” he said. He said the expansion would also include the addition of yard space with the construction of the back-up area for berths 9 and 10. When completed, the additional area will give the terminal substantial flexibility to deal with the increasing impact of weather-related issues and changes in the regulatory environment. Complementing the capacity improvements are the upcoming arrivals of 16 new rubber-tired gantries in 2019, with the first eight RTGs available by April next year. Two more super post Panamax quay cranes are expected to be delivered at the quay by next year. Three QCs were delivered earlier in the year, and are already operational. The construction of berth 7 is part of ICTSI’s contractual obligations to upgrade, expand and develop the MICT under its contract with the PPA. Darwin G. Amojelar

Consumers get reprieve in terms of lower power rates By Alena Mae S. Flores CUSTOMERS of Manila Electric Co. will experience a reprieve after the power retailer announced a P0.0966per-kilowatt-hour reduction in power rates in October. Meralco said the overall electricity rates dropped to P9.9766 per kWh this month, from P10.0732 per kWh in September because of lower charges from power supply agreements. The P0.0966-per-kWh decrease will mean a downward adjustment of around P19 in the monthly bill of a typical household consuming 200 kWh. “We are pleased to announce that despite prices of other basic goods and commodities generally going up, Meralco customers can find some relief in the decrease of power rates these past two months, as this goes against the current trend that we see with other products,” said Meralco spokesperson and head of public information office Joe Zaldarriaga. Meralco’s generation charge for October declined P0.0811 per kWh to P5.1908 per kWh from P5.2719 per kWh last month. The company attributed the lower generation charge to the P0.2790-perkWh reduction in charges of plants under power supply agreements. Meralco sourced 36 percent of its power requirements from its PSAs. “Despite the weakening of the peso against the US dollar and the scheduled maintenance outage of Sual Unit 1 that started on Aug. 31, the cost of power from PSAs went down due to higher dispatch of Masinloc and Ilijan plants,” Meralco said.


B2

Business

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market extends slump; MPIC rises T HE stock market declined Monday taking its cue on Asian trading, as another strong US jobs reading further fanned expectations the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates at a quicker pace.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 27.38 points, or 0.4 percent, to 7,050.82 on a value turnover of nearly P4 billion. Losers beat gainers, 115 to 71, with 56 issues unchanged. Puregold Price Club Inc. of retail tycoon Lucio Co. dropped 4.1 percent to P42.20, while Jollibee Foods Corp., the biggest fast-food chain, slipped 1.6 percent to P243. Conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp., however, advanced 4 per-

cent to P4.95, while Globe Telecom Inc., the second-largest telecommunications company, gained 2.6 percent to P2,330. The rest of Asian markets fell on Monday, extending last week’s sell-off. Shanghai led the retreat as mainland investors returned from a week-long break, during which time China was accused of using microchips in computer equipment sold in the US as part of a drive to steal technology secrets. The losses in China also came despite a cut in the amount of cash the country’s commercial banks must keep in reserve, which its central bank says will pump more than $100 billion into financial markets. Dealers were given a negative lead from Wall Street, where all three main indexes ended with sharp losses following news that unemployment had hit a 49-year low and wages saw healthy gains. The report, which followed a slew of strong indicators on the world’s top

economy, saw yields on benchmark 10year Treasuries rise for the third straight day, hitting a fresh seven-year high with the Fed expected to stick to its rate hike drive. Analysts said the sudden surge in interest rates had deepened worries about higher inflation and an uptick in costs for loans and mortgages. Richard Jerram, chief economist at Bank of Singapore, said while the Fed would not be panicked by the increase in wages “evidence that tight capacity conditions—such as a low unemployment rate—are pushing prices higher will keep them on the current tightening path. “Another rate hike in December seems very likely, and we expect four more in 2019.” The losses in New York seeped into Asia, where Shanghai sank 3.7 percent, while Hong Kong lost 1.4 percent in the afternoon with property firms hit by ex-

pectations the city’s banks will lift mortgage rates again as they track a likely Fed hike. The Hang Seng has lost more than five percent over the past five trading days. Sydney retreated 1.4 percent, Singapore eased 0.5 percent, and Taipei and Seoul were each 0.6 percent lower. Tokyo was closed for a public holiday. Chinese dealers were playing catchup with sharp losses last week, when Bloomberg reported that Beijing inserted microchips into equipment made in China for Amazon and Apple, and possibly for other companies and government agencies. It claimed a unit of the People’s Liberation Army was involved in the operation that looked to steal tech secrets. Mainland tech firms tumbled across the board, while companies in Hong Kong and Taipei including Lenvo and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing also extended Friday’s sharp losses. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 58.95 8,560 81.9 490,600 2.58 12,000 114 1,438,080 1.36 6,000 28.65 46,800 15.9 7,900 12.34 85,300 4.25 38,000 1.72 10,000 0.51 125,000 66.2 1,487,070 0.91 459,000 11.6 15,100 24.7 100 42.95 9,500 184 1,280 101.4 40 74.9 200 25.5 10,900 144.8 773,450 1,866 75 65.95 6,610 1.17 10,000

501,166 40,173,821.50 30,840 165,780,243 8,170 1,342,975 122,578 1,055,018 157,470 17,120 63,770 98,652,114 414,370 175,248 2,470 406,400 237,528 4,056 14,839 277,940 112,264,218 139,950 435,962 11,700

318,399 7,266,481.50 5,120 -25,935,127 -6,800 -395,090 -420,542 -25,686,055 -47,065 56,970 750 -37,707,801 -152,931 -

33 18.14 0.9 1.26 0.22 90.15 2.16 13.5 33.7 17.04 37.2 65 1.7 6.57 9.96 15.12 8.28 6.96 7.07 16.28 63.4 25 6.62 12.3 1.84 243 41 4.8 3.28 25.5 11 14.08 341.6 0.18 1.77 4.07 8.5 4.52 9.04 0.95 10.44 52.9 4.82 2.38 2.8 1.62 11.6 91 5.18 0.12 0.9 133.9 1.84 2.07

INDUSTRIAL 33 1,090,300 18.26 690,200 0.92 17,880,000 1.27 147,000 0.22 730,000 90.15 10 2.21 5,689,000 13.5 30,200 34.5 354,600 17.76 10,200 37.2 1,200 65 50 1.7 26,000 7.3 3,700 10.08 3,498,600 15.14 199,600 8.28 67,600 7.01 330,000 7.08 4,569,200 16.3 359,900 64.55 6,530 25 56,600 6.65 109,300 12.3 282,800 1.85 94,000 243 927,610 41 200 4.8 50,000 3.4 28,000 25.9 694,600 11 186,400 14.6 8,416,000 341.6 94,220 0.18 30,000 1.77 90,000 4.14 22,000 8.56 155,900 4.7 71,000 9.04 500 0.95 225,000 10.78 36,400 52.95 60,110 4.84 8,450,000 2.4 195,000 2.8 20,000 1.63 25,000 11.72 29,100 93 482,950 5.2 349,100 0.12 30,000 0.91 81,000 134.5 531,360 1.85 1,294,000 2.08 2,533,000

36,153,740 12,595,588 16,514,540 185,640 157,780 901.5 12,759,440 407,706 12,216,780 180,406 44,800 3,250 44,300 25,868 35,269,642 3,022,790 561,250 2,310,903 32,355,517 5,868,088 420,992.50 1,415,980 725,955 3,500,296 174,690 227,524,624 8,200 240,000 92,880 17,963,055 2,054,790 122,296,462 32,683,222 5,380 161,760 89,910 1,332,346 326,480 4,520 215,780 390,576 3,190,690 40,897,630 465,210 56,200 40,880 338,748 44,681,392 1,818,362 3,660 73,930 71,473,554 2,406,390 5,316,600

-15,255,130 7,826,872 -34,800 -6,867,680 390,150 4,859,066 -1,367,680 -424,268 -1,038,900 -21,598,824 3,034,286 327,280 -745,654 -77,800 -137,317,730 -29,700 4,197,900 -122,896 -46,602,686 -6,168,930 -3,540 -133,180 -188,493 4,800 126,260.00 -325,088.50 -2,303,950 11,600 -9,993,153.50 5,180 -3,660 36,569,948 -57,240

0.42 46.95 11.76 0.88 6.14 26.4 1.17 1.18 921 5.9 11.8 7.05 5.74 0.2 740 47.6 0.54 4.42 13.9 0.55 4.78 0.04 2.36 169 866 0.83 1.35 320 275 0.24 0.15

HOLDING FIRMS 0.44 9,340,000 46.95 1,001,600 11.76 1,773,400 0.88 2,000 6.14 200 26.85 12,800 1.19 9,479,000 1.2 1,949,000 930 113,110 5.94 3,572,800 12.04 976,700 7.18 4,546,800 5.74 100 0.2 30,000 740 62,280 48.5 1,631,400 0.57 1,173,000 4.43 36,000 13.9 1,772,600 0.55 1,183,000 4.95 12,677,000 0.04 15,800,000 2.38 39,000 170 345,990 866 346,550 0.84 65,000 1.36 107,000 320 40 281 280 0.24 4,460,000 0.21 40,000

4,035,000 47,212,905 21,036,826 1,760 1,228 345,490 11,361,960 2,373,620 105,212,740 21,247,583 11,751,232 32,335,749 574 6,050 46,895,490 79,009,750 656,130 161,330 25,024,666 660,380 62,831,010 595,400 92,280 58,786,914 302,744,405 54,590 145,760 12,800 77,620 1,085,300 7,080

-4,300 -12,560,975 -15,594,616 -13,055 8,347,645 -514,447 -822,618 827,724 -4,020 -23,073,965 7,636,915 310 -5,216,268 263,450 26,460,220 -3,700 40,120 -13,644,222 -207,478,105 -2,720 -55,210 2,370 0

NAME

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HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

56.15 81.2 2.56 115.4 1.37 28.85 15.12 12.36 4.15 1.73 0.51 66.3 0.9 11.6 24.7 42.9 189.9 101.4 73 25.4 145.1 1,866 66 1.17

58.95 82.55 2.58 117 1.37 29 16 12.42 4.25 1.73 0.52 67.2 0.91 11.68 24.7 43.8 190 101.4 75 25.5 146.4 1,866 66 1.17

56.15 81.1 2.56 114 1.36 28.5 15.12 12.34 4.12 1.6 0.51 66.2 0.9 11.6 24.7 42.6 184 101.4 73 25.4 144.7 1,866 65.5 1.17

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

33.7 18.28 0.94 1.26 0.22 90.15 2.27 13.5 35.25 17.06 38 65 1.71 7.2 10 15.2 8.34 7 7.07 16.3 64.5 25.25 6.65 12.44 1.89 247 41 4.8 3.3 25.5 11.1 14.1 355 0.18 1.8 4.07 8.64 4.76 9.04 0.95 10.78 53.65 4.84 2.4 3 1.68 11.68 94 5.5 0.12 0.96 134 1.88 2.08

33.85 18.32 0.95 1.27 0.22 90.15 2.34 13.56 35.4 17.76 38 65 1.71 7.3 10.14 15.38 8.34 7.02 7.09 16.48 64.85 25.3 6.66 12.96 1.9 248 41 4.8 3.4 25.95 11.4 14.8 355 0.18 1.8 4.14 8.64 4.76 9.04 0.97 10.78 53.75 4.84 2.45 3 1.68 11.72 95 5.5 0.12 0.96 135.9 1.89 2.13

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ASIABEST GROUP ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FJ PRINCE A FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME ORION SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.42 47.25 12 0.88 6.14 26.8 1.24 1.24 930 5.92 11.8 7.2 5.74 0.2 797 49.05 0.57 4.66 14.3 0.55 4.84 0.04 2.36 172.8 870 0.83 1.37 320 280 0.25 0.15

0.44 47.65 12 0.88 6.14 27.35 1.24 1.25 935 5.96 12.16 7.2 5.74 0.2 797 50 0.57 4.66 14.38 0.58 5.02 0.04 2.38 173 879.5 0.84 1.37 320 281 0.25 0.21

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

7.04 0.82 2 0.62 39 2.39 4.42 5.16 0.44 0.9 0.23 0.4 8.34 19.54 0.55 0.11 1.45 1.12 2.5 4.23 0.6 0.45 0.43 3.96 31.4

7.22 0.83 2 0.63 39.5 2.41 4.42 5.16 0.45 0.92 0.23 0.4 8.34 19.54 0.55 0.11 1.46 1.13 2.59 4.23 0.61 0.45 0.43 3.98 31.4

7.04 0.81 2 0.62 39 2.37 4.35 5.16 0.44 0.9 0.22 0.4 8.28 19.36 0.55 0.1 1.44 1.1 2.44 4.15 0.58 0.43 0.42 3.89 31.4

VOLUME

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LOW

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VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

20 1.96 3.17 34 1.12 6.24 0.73 5.9

20.3 1.98 3.17 34.6 1.13 6.35 0.79 6.05

19.74 1.96 3.15 33.85 1.09 6.24 0.73 5.87

19.9 1.97 3.15 34 1.13 6.28 0.79 5.99

1,290,500 544,000 33,000 8,184,800 1,010,000 45,900 290,000 2,055,900

25,757,773 1,066,850 104,000 278,618,175 1,106,640 287,555 221,500 12,266,679

3,728,675 -88,180 -129,166,375 -10,377,917

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

10.34 21.5 0.47 0.04 13.86 1.86 8.25 0.06 67.35 8 4.99 8.97 20.1 2,264 5.3 312.2 2.6 95.45 11.62 7.65 0.12 2.46 3.18 15 3.41 0.95 17.1 5.82 7.05 2.3 1.52 15 7.3 8.6 3.02 100 4.22 1,399 0.85 0.38 44.8 78 7.6 2.47 0.81 0.52 5.19 0.67 10.6

10.62 21.5 0.47 0.04 13.86 1.86 8.51 0.06 68.5 8 5.07 8.97 20.6 2,380 5.34 312.2 2.69 95.45 11.62 7.65 0.12 2.55 3.19 15 3.49 0.95 17.16 5.82 7.05 2.32 1.52 15 7.49 8.6 3.28 100 4.22 1,448 0.86 0.38 44.8 78.35 7.6 2.55 0.83 0.52 5.2 0.67 10.94

10.3 20.9 0.46 0.04 13.86 1.82 8.19 0.06 67.25 7.03 4.88 8.97 19.08 2,244 5.24 305.4 2.57 94 11.6 7.6 0.11 2.41 3.18 15 3.31 0.91 16.72 5.65 7.01 2.3 1.5 15 7.2 8.5 3.02 98 3.98 1,381 0.85 0.37 42.2 77 7.43 2.32 0.79 0.5 5.18 0.65 10.6

SERVICES 10.32 20.9 0.46 0.04 13.86 1.85 8.35 0.06 67.45 8 4.88 8.97 19.12 2,330 5.25 312 2.65 94 11.6 7.6 0.11 2.42 3.19 15 3.35 0.94 17.06 5.8 7.02 2.3 1.5 15 7.27 8.5 3.28 100 4.07 1,415 0.85 0.37 42.2 77 7.43 2.36 0.8 0.51 5.2 0.66 10.9

12,700 26,000 3,450,000 8,500,000 900 2,256,000 6,331,600 11,910,000 29,230 111,800 3,538,000 200 126,700 115,550 134,100 1,010 1,197,000 1,022,640 7,400 13,000 390,000 2,662,000 3,000 1,400 549,000 43,000 285,600 8,600 8,256,500 376,000 2,000 200 735,400 2,100 2,000 54,100 462,000 162,010 1,057,000 430,000 1,387,100 1,214,250 2,900 26,012,000 4,895,000 23,692,000 471,000 352,000 536,000

131,980 549,710 1,583,650 336,200 12,474 4,136,780 53,140,446 706,720 1,971,588 892,945 17,415,350 1,794 2,443,708 269,927,710 707,377 313,012 3,159,980 96,607,816 85,854 99,050 44,470 6,587,510 9,550 21,000 1,842,600 39,940 4,868,130 48,722 58,085,008 867,650 3,020 3,000 5,364,147 18,050 6,300 5,355,850 1,881,780 230,191,630 903,750 157,950 59,341,270 94,384,923.50 21,580 63,726,560 3,983,740 12,073,210 2,446,853 232,250 5,835,216

22,750 -136,300 8,006,174 -3,600 -901,694 -8,630,570 136,003,890 -519,720 -465,621.50 -4,560 -50,800 -44,060 -270,816 -5,642,210 -6,910 -3,895 2,580 -15,680 -374,450 28,670,355 -128,390 -2,678,525 -14,088,190.50 -20,820 -3,195,430 -708,010 -746,490 -6,560 5,549,758

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

0 1.49 2.9 17.5 1.93 0.3 7.08 1.8 0.2 0.12 0.11 0.01 1.18 4.3 1.15 0.7 1.09 0.01 0.01 0.01 3.5 3.27 15.98 25.1 0.01

0 1.49 2.91 17.5 1.93 0.3 7.08 1.84 0.21 0.12 0.11 0.01 1.27 4.36 1.15 0.7 1.1 0.01 0.01 0.01 3.64 3.3 16.18 26 0.01

0 1.45 2.88 16.52 1.91 0.3 7.01 1.8 0.2 0.11 0.1 0.01 1.18 4.21 1.11 0.65 1 0.01 0.01 0.01 3.5 3.26 15.8 25.1 0.01

MINING & OIL 0 353,000,000 1.46 2,511,000 2.88 120,000 16.52 14,200 1.92 339,000 0.3 60,000 7.05 60,900 1.83 2,825,000 0.2 550,000 0.11 260,000 0.11 310,000 0.01 11,000,000 1.27 6,000 4.33 271,000 1.11 4,000 0.68 428,000 1.07 1,655,000 0.01 13,100,000 0.01 1,200,000 0.01 20,100,000 3.6 72,000 3.26 369,000 15.88 1,266,200 25.5 1,826,200 0.01 2,000,000

847,300 3,673,570 348,000 247,756 650,590 18,000 429,346 5,171,230 110,520 28,880 33,910 77,900 7,250 1,168,720 4,520 281,200 1,747,020 173,600 15,400 241,200 253,330 1,208,470 20,251,958 46,703,670 14,000

21,700 14,500 -23,160 776,470 -4,060 -20,810 4,800 -57,190 -3,600 -835,590 1,233,194.00 -2,851,610 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

19.2 480 502 100.4 102 490 5.06 964.5 98 1.03 101 102.9 103.1 983 76.45 76.3 75 73.5 75 75.2 74.5 74.7

19.4 480 502 100.4 102 490 5.06 964.5 98 1.03 101 102.9 103.1 1,000 76.45 76.3 75 75 75 75.2 75 75

19.2 480 490 100.2 100.5 490 5.06 964.5 98 1.03 99.8 102.9 101.3 983 76.45 76 75 73.3 75 75.2 74.5 74.7

PREFERRED 19.4 282,000 480 1,360 499 60 100.2 74,170 100.5 10,000 490 480 5.06 172,000 964.5 10 98 200 1.03 100,000 99.9 14,000 102.9 90 101.3 340 1,000 7,240 76.45 770 76.3 12,140 75 1,000 75 24,000 75 97,300 75.2 100 75 38,840 75 51,000

5,470,400 652,800 29,920 7,431,838 1,008,320 235,200 870,320 9,645 19,600 103,000 1,398,396 9,261 34,722 7,232,880 58,866.50 925,818 75,000 1,773,975 7,297,500 7,520 2,904,800 3,817,513

1,171,760.00 -870,320 -

LR WARRANT

2.31

2.35

2.3

WARRANTS 2.34 130,000

300,270

-

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.16 2.18

5.16 2.22

5.01 2.12

5.01 2.12

5,012,390 995,710

210,941 -86,010

FIRST METRO ETF

106.8

107

106.4

869,550

15,990

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 7.22 0.82 2 0.62 39 2.37 4.39 5.16 0.45 0.92 0.23 0.4 8.34 19.38 0.55 0.1 1.46 1.11 2.49 4.15 0.59 0.44 0.42 3.89 31.4

33,600 1,750,000 20,000 44,000 9,817,000 1,335,000 23,000 40,000 1,630,000 275,000 670,000 120,000 116,900 297,900 4,000 100,000 4,511,000 418,000 18,989,000 4,884,000 39,599,000 930,000 420,000 218,000 600

241,146 1,427,230 40,000 27,300 384,572,605 3,183,690 101,370 206,400 717,700 248,550 149,730 48,000 971,942 5,781,446 2,200 10,730 6,541,910 463,050 47,766,880 20,413,430 23,444,370 404,250 175,700 854,550 18,840

35,830 579,740.00 -28,831,625 -2,741,100 -4,420 26,700 -6,750 48,000 -9,936 -2,290,948.00 -1,100 -2,100 456,100 -3,734,650 -7,742,120 80,300 30,100 -250,030 -

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

5,042,141

INDUSTRIAL

63,177,885

HOLDING FIRMS

72,771,028

PROPERTY

99,796,330

SERVICES

113,586,712

MINING & OIL

413,364,349

GRAND TOTAL

769,203,250

SME

991,600 464,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 106.4 8,160

VALUE 1,573.45 (down) 1.51 422,310,009.62 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,331.90 (down) 73.25 788,320,885.076 HOLDING FIRMS 6,916.22 (down) 35.24 853,426,752.56 PROPERTY 3,478.45 (down) 9.52 1,507.34 (up) 3.51 824,741,475.27 SERVICES MINING & OIL 8,757.19 (up) 104.52 1,019,603,524.51 PSEI 7,050.82 (down) 27.38 83,721,642.73 All Shares Index 4,347.84 (down) 15.52 3,999,005,456.88 Gainers: 71; Losers: 115; Unchanged: 56; Total: 242

SM Prime set to invest P120b in the next 2 years By Jenniffer B. Austria SM PRIME Holdings Inc., the country’s leading real estate developer, plans to spend P120 billion over the next two years to fund expansion until 2020. SM Prime vice president and investor relations head Alex Pomento said in an interview at the sidelines of an economic summit sponsored by the SM Group, said the property firm would keep its P60-billion annual spending program to fund the expansion of core businesses, including malls, residential, office towers and hotels. The annual spending does not include potential acquisitions. SM Prime earlier disclosed a 2020 roadmap detailing the expansion of a number of shopping malls, hotels, residential and office buildings to sustain the company’s growth. Meanwhile, SM Prime president Jeffrey Lim said in a separate interview during the same event the company had not yet felt the impact of the rising inflation and interest rate as well as the depreciation of the peso against the dollar. Lim said the company’s third-quarter performance was “okay” and that growth was still “in line” with the overall target. “So far we have not seen the impact of inflation rate. I think consumption will continue given that we are going to the holiday season. I think the full effect of inflation rate numbers will probably be seen after the holiday season,” he said. The rate of inflation jumped to a nineyear high in September to 6.7 percent on rising cost of food and fuel. The inflation rate year to date reached 5 percent, or over the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent set by the government, which could lead to weakening of domestic consumption. Lim said company’s residential business had not been affected also by rising interest rates. “So far we have not seen it and we continue to do the development. So I guess it is still too early to say and I guess the Chinese market is also increasing the demand for residential projects,” Lim said. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas last month raised interest rates by 50 basis points to 4.5 percent amid the persistent threat of rising inflation. The 50-basis-point increase last month was the fourth upward adjustment this year, bringing the total rate hikes to 150 bps since May 2018.

Petron obtains nod to sell P20b worth of bonds By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Securities and Exchange Commission approved the request of Petron Corp. to sell P20 billion in peso-denominated fixed rate bonds. “We advise that the company received from the SEC the permit to offer securities for sale dated today for the offer and sale of the Series C Bonds and Series D Bonds of the company with an aggregate amount of P20 billion,” Petron disclosed Monday. Petron plans to issue the bonds on Oct. 19 to pay outstanding short-term loans and for general corporate purposes. Petron said it would use the net proceeds from the offer of approximately P19.77 billion, after fees, commissions and expenses, to pay the outstanding short-term loans extended by the Bank of the Philippine Islands and BDO Unibank Inc. “The offer bonds will be issued on October 19, 2018 and will comprise of fixed rate bonds due in 2024 (Series C Bonds), and in 2025 (Series D Bonds),” it said. Petron said it had the discretion to allocate the principal amount between the Series C Bonds and the Series D Bonds based on the book building process. It said the Series C Bonds would have a term of five ears and six months from the issue date, with a fixed interest rate equivalent to 7.8183 percent per annum. The Series D Bonds will have a term of seven years from the issue date, with a fixed interest rate equivalent to 8.0551 percent a year. The peso-denominated fixed rate bonds forms part of an earlier shelf registration worth P40 billion approved on October 12, 2016.


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IN BRIEF Indonesia quake death toll nears 2,000 PALU, Indonesia―Nearly 2,000 bodies have been recovered from Indonesia’s disaster-ravaged Palu city, an official said Monday, as the search for victims ended at a hotel destroyed in the powerful earthquake and tsunami. The death toll from the twin disaster on Sulawesi island that erased whole suburbs in Palu has reached 1,944, said local military spokesman M. Thohir. “That number is expected to rise, because we have not received orders to halt the search for bodies,” Thohir, who is also a member of the government’s official Palu quake task force, told AFP. Authorities have said as many as 5,000 are believed missing in two hard-hit areas since the September 28 disaster―indicating far more may have perished than the current toll. Hopes of finding anyone alive have faded and the search for survivors amid the wreckage has turned to gathering and accounting for the dead. The disaster agency said the official search for the unaccounted would continue until October 11 at which point they would be listed as missing, presumed dead. AFP

UN warns of global climate chaos I NCHEON, South Korea―Avoiding global climate chaos will require a major transformation of society and the world economy that is “unprecedented in scale,” the UN said Monday in a landmark report that warns time is running out to avert disaster.

Earth’s surface has warmed one degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit)― enough to lift oceans and unleash a crescendo of deadly storms, floods and

droughts―and is on track toward an unlivable 3C or 4C rise. At current levels of greenhouse gas emissions, we could pass the 1.5C marker as early as 2030, and no later than mid-century, the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) reported with “high confidence”. “The next few years are probably the most important in human history,” Debra Roberts, head of the Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department in Durban, South Africa, and an IPCC co-chair, told AFP. A Summary for Policymakers of the 400-page tome underscores how quickly global warming has outstripped humanity’s attempt to tame it, and outlines the options for avoiding the worst ravages of a climate-addled future. “We have done our job, we have now

passed on the message,” Jim Skea, a professor at Imperial College London’s Center for Environmental Policy and an IPCC co-chair, said at a press conference. “Now it is over to governments―it’s their responsibility to act on it.” Before the Paris Agreement was inked in 2015, nearly a decade of scientific research rested on the assumption that 2C was the guardrail for a climate-safe world. The IPCC report, however, shows that global warming impacts have come sooner and hit harder than predicted. “Things that scientists have been saying would happen further in the future are happening now,” Jennifer Morgan, Executive Director of Greenpeace International, told AFP.

To have at least a 50/50 chance of staying under the 1.5C cap without overshooting the mark, the world must, by 2050, become “carbon neutral”, according to the report. “That means every tonne of CO2 we put into the atmosphere will have to be balanced by a tonne of CO2 taken out,” said lead coordinating author Myles Allen, head of the University of Oxford’s Climate Research Program. Drawing from more than 6,000 recent scientific studies, the report laid out four pathways to that goal. The most ambitious would see a radical draw-down in energy consumption coupled with a rapid shift away from fossil fuels and a swift decline in CO2 emissions starting in 2020. It would also avoid an “overshoot” of the 1.5C threshold. AFP

FT journalist given seven days to leave Hong Kong

Mexican couple suspects in 10 murders MEXICO CITY―A Mexican couple arrested outside Mexico City while transporting human body parts in a baby carriage are now suspected of killing 10 women, prosecutors said Sunday. The man and women were detained on Thursday in Ecatepec, a crime-ridden northeastern suburb of the capital, prosecutors in Mexico state said in a statement. After searching two buildings, investigators found additional human remains in buckets filled with cement, and wrapped in plastic in a refrigerator, the statement added. A judge ordered the couple to remain in detention as the investigation proceeds. Forensics experts are attempting to identify the victims. Hundreds of people vented their outrage in the streets of Ecatepec on Sunday. Carrying candles and white flowers, they demanded justice and an end to rampant femicide in Mexico state. “Not one more! Enough is enough!” said their placards. Mexico has suffered for years from waves of violence against women and girls. More than 90 percent of crimes go unpunished in the country. AFP

B3

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

HONG KONG―A leading Financial Times journalist has been given seven days to leave Hong Kong as a backlash mounted Monday against an unprecedented challenge to freedom of the press in the city. Victor Mallet, the FT’s Asia news editor and a British national, angered authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong by hosting a speech at the city’s press club by Andy Chan, the leader of a tiny pro-independence political party. Chan’s party has since been banned as Beijing cracks down on any proindependence sentiment in the semiautonomous city. Last week it emerged Mallet’s application for a renewal of his work visa had been rejected by Hong Kong immigration authorities. On Monday the FT said Mallet had only been granted a seven-day visitor visa after returning to the city from a trip on Sunday. Sources with direct knowledge of the situation told AFP that Mallet was questioned at immigration and was refused automatic entry.

COMICCON. A fan

cosplays as Genji from Overwatch during the 2018 New York Comic-Con at Javits Center on October 7, 2018, in New York City. AFP

INVITATION TO BID

INVITATION TO BID

FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF RC PIER, PORT OF UBAY, BOHOL

British citizens are usually allowed into Hong Kong without a visa and are permitted to stay for 180 days under immigration rules. The FT said immigration officials had provided no explanation for the shortened visitor visa. “We continue to seek clarification from the Hong Kong authorities about the rejection of his work visa renewal,” said the paper, which has its regional headquarters in Hong Kong. The FT’s editorial board had earlier described the decision to refuse Mallet a work visa as sending a “chilling message to everyone in Hong Kong”. In a strident speech in August at the city’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC), where Mallet serves as vice president, independence activist Chan attacked China as an empire trying to “annex” and “destroy” Hong Kong. China’s foreign ministry had asked the club to pull the talk, but the FCC refused, arguing that all sides of a debate should be heard and that it hosted a variety of speakers, including Chinese officials. AFP

INVITATION TO BID

FOR THE BRGY. U-OG PORT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, BRGY. U-OG, INABANGA, BOHOL

FOR THE EXPANSION OF BACK-UP AREA AND RC WHARF, PORT OF CAGAYAN DE ORO, CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY

The Philippine Ports Authority, through the General Appropriations Act for CY 2017 (DOTR), intends to apply the sum of P 45,355,694.70 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Brgy. U-og Port Development Project, Brgy. U-og, Inabanga, Bohol (PPA-DOTR No. 012-2018). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2018, intends to apply the sum of P 523,195,772.85 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Expansion of Backup Area and RC Wharf (LFP MOC No. 037-2018). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Construction of Back-up Area and Causeway B. Port Lighting System C. Construction of Passenger Shed. Completion of the Works is required in 360 calendar days. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Construction of Backup Area (13,800.00 sq. m.) B. Extension of Wharf (3,000.00 sq. m.) C. RC Relieving Platform (2,700.00 sq. m.) D. Port Lighting System. Completion of the Works is required in 660 calendar days. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.”

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.”

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for Engineering Projects and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for Engineering Projects and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for Engineering Projects and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 09 October 2018 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 FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P 50,000.00).

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 09 October 2018 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 FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P 50,000.00).

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 09 October 2018 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 SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P 75,000.00).

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Philippine Ports Authority, provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Philippine Ports Authority, provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Philippine Ports Authority, provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 17 October 2018 at 10:0 a.m. at the PPA Function Room, 7th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open to all prospective bidders.

The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 17 October 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the PPA Function Room, 7th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open to all prospective bidders.

The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 17 October 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the PPA Function Room, 7th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open to all prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 9:00 a.m. of 30 October 2018. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the bidding documents.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 1:00 p.m. of 30 October 2018. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the bidding documents.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 1:00 p.m. of 30 October 2018. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the bidding documents.

Bid opening shall be on 30 October 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the 7th Floor, PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

Bid opening shall be on 30 October 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the 7th Floor, PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

Bid opening shall be on 30 October 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at the 7th Floor, PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2018 intends to apply the sum of P 97,084,311.28 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Construction of RC Pier, Port of Ubay, Bohol (LFP BHL No. 036-2018). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Demolition and Removal Works B. Construction of Pier Approach C. Construction of RC Pier. Completion of the Works is required in 420 calendar days. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.”

•

Required PCAB Registration: Medium A – Port, Harbor and Offshore Engineering

The Philippine Ports Authority 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. For further information, please refer to: BAC Secretariat, Philippine Ports Authority 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila Telephone/Fax No. 527-47-35 527-83-56 loc. 539 PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph

•

Required PCAB Registration: Medium A – Port, Harbor and Offshore Engineering

M. Standard – Oct. 9, 2018

Required PCAB Registration: Large B – Port, Harbor and Offshore Engineering

The Philippine Ports Authority 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.

The Philippine Ports Authority 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.

For further information, please refer to:

For further information, please refer to:

BAC Secretariat, Philippine Ports Authority 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila

BAC Secretariat, Philippine Ports Authority 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila

Telephone/Fax No. 527-47-35 954-88-00 loc. 539

Telephone/Fax No. 527-47-35 527-47-35 loc. 539

PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph

PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph

MARK JON S. PALOMAR Chairperson, PPA Head Office Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects (HO-BAC-EP)

MARK JON S. PALOMAR Chairperson, PPA Head Office Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects (HO-BAC-EP)

•

MARK JON S. PALOMAR Chairperson, PPA Head Office Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects (HO-BAC-EP) M. Standard – Oct. 9, 2018

M. Standard – Oct. 9, 2018

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK


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TODAY

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

B4

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2016

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

IN BRIEF Ex-Samar mayor shot; two killed

PETS OF THE WORLD.

A man and his puppy dress up for ‘Pets of the World’ a celebration of love for man’s furry friends while representing countries in a fun fashion show at the SM City Masinag in Antipolo City. October marks two global events — World Animal Day and the United Nation’s Day, and Pets of the World is one of the mall’s exciting petthemed events in partnership with Pet Express. Manny Palmero

TACLOBAN CITY―Ananias Rebato, the former mayor of San Jose De Buan, Samar, remained in critical condition while one of his bodyguards was declared dead after they were ambushed by unidentified gunmen while attending a fiesta celebration early morning Monday. Police identified Rebato’s bodyguard as Severino Tesoro, 24, who was able to retaliate and killed one of the four assailants before he died. A manhunt led to the arrest of one suspected gunman, while the two remaining assailants are still at-large, police said. The 57-year-old former mayor is currently undergoing necessary medical treatment at Eastern Visayas Medical Center in the City after sustaining several wounds in various parts of his body. Rebato, who is rumored to run in the 2019 local elections, served as mayor from 2007 to 2016. Ronald O. Reyes

CIAC chief to run for Angeles mayor

Senior citizen dies in Banaue landslide

By Romeo Dizon

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BAGUIO CITY—Another landslide in Ifugao province claimed the life of a 68-year-old man after it engulfed his house on Sunday evening, police said. The body of Felipe B. Patawon was retrieved by police and volunteers after the landslide buried his house in Sitio Panalngan, Bocos, Banaue, Ifugao at around 10 pm Sunday. Patawon is the second to die in the province following landslides in the wake of Typhoon “Ompong.” On Sept. 29, Jeffrey Calhi Bayawa died after the payloader the 47-year-old was operating fell into a 30-meter ravine in Eheb, Tinoc town. Rescuers took more than four hours to recover Bayawa’s body. The machine operator was clearing the slide at the barangay road when the road shoulder collapsed, causing the payloader to fall into the ravine.

LARK FREEPORT, Pampanga ― Clark International Airport Corp. president and CEO Alexander S. Cauguiran is resigning from his post to run in next year’s midterm elections for mayor of Angeles City, he announced Monday.

Cauguiran, who joined the CIAC in 2016, will be succeeded by Jaime Melo, the government firm’s vice president of airport operations. Cauguiran will resign on or before the filling of certificate of candidacy as mandated by the Commission on Elections on Oct. 16 to run as mayor of Angeles, which surrounds Clark Freeport. Before joining the CIAC, Cauguiran was the chief of staff of incumbent Angeles Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan. He also served as city councilor from 1998 to 2004. The airport chief will be running under Partido Abe Kapampangan, a local party he heads and is recognized by the Comelec. Cauguiran will be facing two incumbents, Vice Mayor Bryan Matthew Nepomuceno and Councilor Carmelo Lazatin Jr., for the mayoralty. Pamintuan will finish his third term or nine years of service as city mayor, which prohibits

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bataan City of Balanga BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE OFFICE InvItatIon to BId no. Goods-054-2018

him from running for the same position under the law. Pamintuan is planning to run as congressman of the 1st District of Pampanga, comprising the highly urbanized city of Angeles, Mabalacat City, and the town of Magalang with a total population of 775,580 based on the 2015 census. The incumbent mayor will be facing sitting 1st District Rep. Carmelo B. Lazatin II, the son of former mayor and congressman Carmelo F Lazatin, currently the barangay captain of Balibago village. Also touted to run in the same district is basketball coach and former congressman Joseller “Yeng” M. Guiao, son of the former Pampanga governor. Cauguiran holds commerce and public administrations degrees from Holy Angel University and Angeles University Foundation, respectively.

Republic of the Philippines CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF THE PHILIPPINES MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO.: 013-18 TO

: ALL CONCERNED

The Provincial Government of Bataan, through the Special Education Fund intends to apply the below listed procurement w/ corresponding Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected a bid opening.

FROM

: DIRECTOR GENERAL

Name of Project

REFERENCE:

054

Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC)

1. Purchase of Technical and Scientific Equipment for distribution =P=17,329,800.00 to Elementary and Secondary Schools in the Division of Bataan The Provincial Government of Bataan now invites bids for the above listed Procurement. Delivery of goods is required within 30 Calendar Days. Bidders should have completed, at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Interested bidders may obtain further information from Office of Bataan Bids & Awards Committeeand inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the same office. Bid documents will be available only to eligible bidders upon payment of a nonrefundable amount of using standard rates approved by GPPB as stated on their Resolution No. 04-2012 listed below. Approved Budget for the Contract 500,000 and below More than 500,000 up to 1 Million

SUBJECT : AMENDMENT TO THE PHILIPPINE CIVIL AVIATION REGULATIONS PART 6; 6.2.1.3 DURATION AND RENEWAL OF CERTIFICATE

1. 2. 3. 5.

Pursuant to the powers vested on the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines under Republic Act No. 9497, otherwise known as the Civil Aviation Authority Act of 2008 and in accordance with the Regulations AmendmentlRevision Procedure with Board Resolution No. 2012-054 dated 28 September 2012, I hereby approve the incorporation of the following amendments to the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations.

5,000.00

More than 5 Million up to 10 Million

10,000.00

More than 10 Million up to 50 Million More than 50 Million up to 500 Million More than 500 Million

25,000.00 50,000.00 75,000.00

The Provincial Government of Bataanwill hold a Pre-Bid Conference on October 16, 2018 at 10:00 A.MatProvincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan. Bids must be delivered on or before October 29, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated on IRR ofRA 9184 or Bid Securing Declaration in standard form.

(a) A Certificate or Rating issued to an Approved Maintenance Organization located in the Republic of the Philippines is effective from the date of issue until is valid for two (2) years from the date of issuance subject to the compliance with the Approved Maintenance Organization Procedures Manual and the provisions of PCAR Part 6, unless:

The Provincial Government of Bataanreserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. For further information, please refer to: Ms. Aileen C. Sagun Provincial BAC / PEO Bataan Provincial BAC / PEO Office, Capitol Compound, BalangaCity, Bataan 047-237-9316 bac@bataan.gov.ph

(MS-OCT. 9, 2018)

Email address: ambermachineshopacc@yahoo.com.ph Office address: #1271 Batangas St. Barangay San Isidro Makati City For inquiries call #0917-1034402 / 0909-8636029

MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO.: 28-18 TO

: ALL AGRICULTURAL AIR OPERATOR

The Authority may at any time access the Approved Maintenance Organization for the purpose of determining continued compliance with the PCAR.

FROM

: DIRECTOR GENERAL

SUBJECT : GENERAL OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS FOR R-985 ENGINES, VISUAL INSPECTIONS AND VFR ONLY OPERATIONS

DELETED REGULATIONS: PCAR PART 6 6.2.1.3 DURATION AND RENEWAL OF CERTIFICATE

DATE

xxx (b) A: certificate or rating issued to an approved maintenance organization located outside the Republic of the Philippines is effective from the date of issue until: (1) The last day of the 12th month after the date on which it was issued, (2) The approved maintenance organization surrenders the certificate, or (3) The Authority suspends or revokes the certificate. xxx “End of Text “

Repealing Clause - All orders, rules, regulations and issuances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Memorandum Circular are hereby repealed, superseded or modified accordingly. Determination Of Changes - To highlight the amendments and/or revisions in the Memorandum Circular, the deleted text shall be shown with strikethrough and the new inserted text shall be highlighted with grey shading, as illustrated below: 1. 2. 3.

(MS-OCT. 9, 2018)

Republic of the Philippines CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

Note: AMO certificates previously issued without an expiry date will remain valid until the last day of the 24th month after the date on which it was issued.

Text deleted: Text to be deleted is shown with a line through it. New text inserted: New text is highlighted with grey shading. New text replacing existing text: Text to be deleted is shown with a line through it followed by the replacement text which is highlighted with grey shading.

Effectivity - Fifteen (15) days after compliance with the requisite publication in a single newspaper of general circulation and a copy filed with the UP. Law Center - Office of the National Administrative Register, these amendments shall be incorporated to the Philippine CAR, series of 2018.

: 01 OCTOBER 2018

In the interest of aviation safety and in the light of the recent accidents involving RP-R2923 and RP-R3028, both AG CAT G164-A Type of Aircraft, all Agricultural Air Operators are hereby directed to strictly comply with the General Operating Instructions for R-985 engines on specific temperature limitations to reduce, if not eliminate, the issues related to cylinder head separation. Agricultural Air Operators are also directed to ensure that the visual inspections on the area of the cylinder head cooling fins for exhaust emission stains and exhaust carbon deposits are incorporated in preflight and post-flight checklists. Further, aerial spraying operations shall only be conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). The Authority will closely monitor the implementation of the abovementioned directives. This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately and strict compliance is hereby enjoined.

CAPTAIN JIM C. SYDIONCO Director General

Signed this 23rd day of MARCH 2018, CAAP, Pasay City

(SGD) ENRICO T. YUZON BAC CHAIRMAN

 BOOKKEEPER - accounting graduate & preferably with 2 years experience.  TECHNICAL SALES AGENT - knowledgeable with AutoCAD.  CNC MILLING PROGRAMMER & OPERATOR  TOOL MAKER (for PRECISION TOOLING)  MACHINIST  WELDER  AUTOMOTIVE (Fitter Machinist, Valve Seater, Crank Shaft Grinder, Reborer)

(3) (2) The CAAP suspends or revokes it the Certificate or Rating.

Separability Clause - If, for any reason, any provision of this Memorandum Circular is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other part or parts thereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

October 19, 2018 October 29, 2018

A well established company in Makati is in need of the following:

(1) The last day of the 24th month after the date on which it was issued.

In case of the above dates is declared a special Non-Working Holidays, it will automatically reset on the next working days.

Schedule October 9 - 15, 2018 Refer to date of Opening of Bids October 9 - 29, 2018

... WE ARE HIRING!

(2) (1) The Approved Maintenance Organization surrenders it; or, the Certificate or Rating; and

Editorial Note. - Adjust numbering.

Activities 1. Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid 2. Eligibility Check 3. Issuance and availability of Bidding Documents 4. Request for Clarification 5. Opening of Bids

tion,” Raquel added, recognizing the support of Ilocos Norte Governor Imee R. Marcos. Ilocos Norte is coming off two consecutive runner-up finishes in the Pearl Awards. For years, the province has been keen on implementing strategies for the protection and conservation of cultural properties, including the establishment of new venues and platforms for local artists, and promotion of the province’s cultural sites, products, and events. Finalists included the province of Samar and province of Davao del Norte, which placed third and second, respectively. In particular, Pearl Awards’ screening committee commended the INTO’s Summer Tourism Program. The program immerses both the young and elderly as tour guides in different museums and churches in the province. “This is the first effort in the country, specifically in the tourism sector, that employs senior citizens as tour guides in museums and churches,” Raquel said.

FOR INTERESTED APPLICANTS submit your updated CV/Resume to the following:

xxx

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

Other necessary information deemed relevant by the Provincial Government of Bataan

THE Province of Ilocos Norte recently won first place in the 2018 Best Tourism-Oriented Local Government Unit Category of the 13th Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines and Department of Tourism Pearl Awards at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City. The Pearl Awards for Best Tourism Practices of the Philippines was part of the ATOP National Convention, recognizing the efforts of LGUs in advancing the country’s tourism industry. “Since we started, we have accomplished the fundamental requirements for a well functioning LGU in terms of tourism. We have legislations such as tourism code, investment code, cultural code, and environmental code, and we have established permanent positions for local tourism officers,” said Aian B. Raquel, provincial tourism officer and head of the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office. “It’s important that the executives have significant accomplishments in terms of administration and legisla-

PCAR PART 6 6.2.1.3 DURATION AND RENEWAL OF CERTIFICATE

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a bill filed by Rep. Sandra Y. Eriguel that seeks to upgrade and expand the La Union Medical Center to serve more people of La Union province and Northern Luzon. Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11083 on Sept. 23 after Congress passed the bill on August 31 this year. Eriguel, who represents the 2nd District of La Union, filed the original measure, House Bill No. 606, on June 30, 2016. Eriguel said the new law will upgrade the services and facilities of La Union Medical Center in Agoo town by increasing its bed capacity to 300 from 100 and establishing a trauma center. “This would also mean an increase in the number of medical personnel and appropriating the necessary fund for expansion of La Union Medical Center, which is considered the premier medical facility in the province,” she said. Under the new law, Eriguel said the provincial government of La Union and LUMC should provide the funds from their respective budgets necessary for the upgrading and expansion of the facility. Eriguel said the Department of Health is also mandated to include in the agency’s program a subsidy support for the capital outlay requirements of LUMC.

Ilocos Norte tops Pearl Awards for LGU tourism

AMENDED REGULATIONS:

Maximum Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Peso) 500.00 1,000.00

More than 1 Million up to 5 Million

Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations Part 6 Philippine Airlines letter Ref. MV/0717/1215 dated 03 July 2017 Regulations Amendment/Revision Procedures Board Resolution No. 2012-054 dated 28 September 2012

Bill modernizing La Union Med Center enacted

CAPTAIN JIM C. SYDIONGCO Director General (MS-OCT. 9, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK


Life

health and environment

bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MstandardLIFe tuesday, october 9, 2018

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A yuppie’s favorite coffee

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inancial advisor Jose arsenio laurel knows what to do to keep himself alert and on top of his game at work.

The Equity investments advisor for the Private clients Group of cOl Financial drinks a cup of his favorite coffee in the morning and afternoon. laurel is one of the many who has found the ingredients of local healthy coffee brand Kaffea beneficial. He said Kaffea’s combination of glutathione, collagen, grape seed, and l-carnitine really helps with his overall well-being. according to Kaffea, glutathione whitens the skins, combats aging, and controls inflammation. While collagen improves skin elasticity, protects the brain, and helps prevent alzheimer’s, as well as helps treat heart diseases. Grape seed extract, on the other hand, reduces blood pressure. it likewise supports brain as it ages, improves kidney function, and protects the liver. l-carnitine increases endurance, enhances weight loss, prevents muscle damage, speeds up fat burning, boosts brain function, and regulates blood sugar. “What i like the most about Kaffea is that i can add it to a cup of brewed coffee to get the strong coffee kick and caffeine plus the added health benefits and great flavor. That would be my ideal morning and afternoon cup of coffee,” said laurel who graduated from De la Salle University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management major in Entrepreneurship. He was a part of the DlSU baseball team and competed in tournaments locally and internationally as well as in the UaaP. Today, golf is his sport. and drinking Kaffea is a part of his pre-golf routine. like most drinkers of the coffee brand, he was introduced to it by a friend who simply loved it. “The first time i tasted Kaffea was at Bada la’o’s house after her birthday dinner. She was telling us about this great coffee product that she takes, and that she’s lost a lot of weight and feels great overall because of it,” related laurel. He shared he loved the coffee at first sip. “My first impression was that it had a really balanced flavor, and what makes it distinct is the initial coconut flavor from the coconut sugar,” said laurel. coconut sugar in Kaffea helps regulate blood sugar level and helps in weight management because it has the lowest Glycemic index among all types of sugar.

MakatiMed Pain Management Services addresses chronic post-operative pain with the help of a patient’s pain history.

When pain is too much

Jose Arsenio Laurel drinks a cup of Kaffea coffee before he goes to work in the morning and as his pre-golf routine.

Kaffea is available nationwide at Shopwise, Rustan’s, SM Hypermarket Kultu Bazaar, SM Market Street, SM Kultura, CityMall GoLokal stores, and online at lazada.com.ph and beautymnl.com. Call (02) 477-9920 for more information.

Medical practitioners debunk myths on beauty fillers MErz, one the leaders in the field of aesthetics medicine, led a beauty agenda at the Grand Hyatt Manila recently to shed light on beauty fillers. The forum, dubbed “Merz aesthetics Beauty agenda: a Forum on Fillers,” helped debunk the different misconceptions that can possibly hinder women when it comes to getting beauty treatments.

Myth No. 1: You won’t look natural

Dr. Gio Dimayuga, an active consultant at the Makati Medical center and several clinics in Manila asserted, “There is what you call the ‘overfilled’ syndrome where lip and cheek injections can result in a trout pout or pillow face.” He mentioned that there are aesthetic companies that innovate to achieve as much natural-looking results as possible. With Merz’s 65 years of dedication to beauty since launching the first antiwrinkle cream in 1953, it has committed to deliver natural-looking outcomes while putting its patients as the focus of every product. This is particularly evident with the patented technology behind its Ha Filler, which is designed to integrate seamlessly into the skin tissue. caHa Filler, on the other hand, is considered as

more than just a filler with its power lifting and bio-stimulation properties that allow patients to naturally produce collagen and tighten their skin.

Myth No. 2: Anyone can do dermal filler treatments

The doctors in the forum stressed it is crucial to note that only doctors can administer dermal fillers as it is a medical procedure. Dr. Gerald Sy, the vice president of internal affairs of the Philippine association of Plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic Surgeons, inc. emphasized, “it is highly essential that prospective patients only look for experienced doctors who boast several years in the aesthetics industry for their treatments. This is how we can avoid the ‘horror stories’ that result from procedures such as the overfilled syndrome.” The medical practitioners said that though there are dermal filler “horror stories”, many of these are not based on facts and are just misleading information. They stressed that safety is of utmost priority, together with years of proven research and technological development, which is why it’s important to trust established aesthetics brands when it comes to choosing dermal fillers.

Medical practitioners shed a light on beauty fillers. and debunk myths that surround this aesthetics treatment.

Myth No. 3: Doctors can use any type of fillers on the patient’s face

“Only certain fillers for certain parts of the face have been approved by the FDa—so any type of filler in the market cannot be used on your face,” stated Dr. Gaile robredo-Vitas, resident expert at St. luke’s Medical center Bonifacio Global city and various clinics in Metro Manila. For safety reasons, the FDa recognition for fillers is an essential factor when deciding to opt for dermal fillers.

HOW do you know when pain is too much and needs a medical intervention? a person feels pain when something is not right with their body. Often, when caused by a minor accident or sports-related injury, it can be treated with proper rest and therapy. But pain caused by longstanding illness or conditions can become a permanent ordeal, hindering an individual from doing daily activities and achieving long-term plans. Dr. Merle Dela cruz-Odi of Makati Medical center’s Pain Management Services says acute pains are normal—this is a painful sensation after surgery, broken bones, cuts, burns, dental work, childbirth, and the like. On the other hand, chronic pain is pain that lasts more than 12 weeks, and may even persist for years. “chronic pain may be triggered by an injury or illness,” says Dr. Odi. “But it greatly varies from person to person, as some patients deal with fatigue, sleep disturbance, decreased appetite, and mood changes alongside chronic pain.” cases of chronic post-operative pain are largely addressed by the MakatiMed Pain Management Services. This type of pain is a poorly recognized potential outcome of amputations, thoracotomies (surgeries

to gain access to the heart, lungs, or esophagus), and breast surgery. it affects millions of patients every year. Dealing with chronic pain can affect a person’s quality of life, and compromise flexibility, strength, and stamina. Because pain is a highly subjective experience, doctors must base their course of treatment on the patient’s description of it, also known as pain history. “Pain history describes how the patient perceives pain as either sharp or dull, constant or on and off, and other descriptive factors to help us pinpoint the possible cause,” says Dr. Odi. She adds, “chronic pain may also be caused by multiple issues. The healthcare professionals from different fields sometimes work together to address the patient’s needs for pain management.” according to MakatiMed, understanding each patient’s needs as well as the capacity of their loved ones to care for them is crucial for doctors to recommend a course of treatment that will ultimately manage pain and improve the quality of life of the patient. Contact MakatiMed On-Call at (02) 8888 999, email mmc@makatimed. net.ph, or visit www.makatimed.net. ph for more information.

Chronic pain can affect a person’s quality of life, flexibility, strength, and stamina.

Myth No. 4: Any kind of fillers are good for you

There are many fillers that exist in the market: the Ha, caHa, and permanent or non-permanent fillers. Ha is considered as the most commonly used fillers by medical practitioners, but only doctors can recommend the best filler suited for each patient as it is a case-to-case basis.

Medical practitioners toast to Merz’s 110th anniversary during ‘Merz Aesthetics Beauty Agenda A Forum on Fillers.’


Life

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tuesday, october 9, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Manila Doctors Hospital brings to the country the first Mammomat Revelation whose 50-degree HD breast Tomosynthesis improves diagnostic results.

Manila hospital invests

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in premium mammography technology

he Philippines has the highest incidence rate of breast cancer in Asia. According to the 2015 Philippine Cancer Facts & estimates, it is the number one cancer found in women, with the occurrence rising steeply at age 30.

In a bid to help in early diagnosis and treatment, Manila Doctors hospital brings to the country and Southeast Asia the latest imaging innovation from Siemens healthineers, the Mammomat Revelation. Mammomat Revelation hD Breast Tomosynthesis system enables Manila Doctors to expand precision medicine, improve clinical operations, and increase patient satisfaction. “Breast cancer is the most common cancer women are diagnosed with. Being able to see breast tissues and malignancies clearly with accuracy makes the difference in early detection and treatment,” said Manila Doctors hospital president elizabeth Dantes. She added, “At Manila Doctors hospital, being equipped with the latest technological trends to support our medical team is our top priority—a testament to our commitment to providing world class care for our patients.” Studies have shown that Asian women are known to have a higher proportion of dense breast tissue, thus the need for improved screening accuracy in a mammography system is essential. The new Mammomat Revelation features a unique 50-degree hD Breast Tomosynthesis which allows physicians to achieve the highest depth resolution to get a more precise and clearer 3D view. Wider angle means more individualized compression tailored to the structure

In APRIl, the Department of health has already confirmed 19 f lu cases among the 40,000 f lu-like illnesses. Reports have shown that this count is higher compared with last year’s results. noting these rising numbers, former Pediatrics and Disease Society in the Philippines president Dr. May Montellano said during a talk that flu chooses no season and could occur any time of the year, especially in tropical countries like the Philippines. The prevailing assumption that one’s body can get over the common symptoms of flu leads to people taking this contagious illness for granted. Ranging from mild to severe, flu is caused by the influenza virus that infects a person’s upper respiratory tract. Runny nose, cough, fever, and malaise comprise the symptoms of mild flu, while severe flu symptoms include nausea, high fever, and upper and lower respiratory tract infections. The main difference between flu and common cold is that the former is usually accompanied by a high fever, followed by fatigue. These symptoms can persist for weeks. however, it’s still possible to have flu without symptoms and the only way to know for sure is to conduct special tests through a doctor. Often taken lightly, undetected and untreated flu can cause severe compli-

of each patient’s breast, making anatomical details clearly visible. Taking of tissue sample through biopsies can be performed using this wide tomosynthesis angle. Mammomat Revelation provides smart automated breast density measurements at the point of examination. This allows for personalized risk stratification, and necessary adjunct imaging exams can be triggered before the patient leaves. As tumor tissue can be difficult to distinguish from breast tissue, functional breast imaging with contrast enhanced mammography now expands the diagnostic options. Patients also get to feel at ease dur-ing exams with the system’s intuitive Personalized Soft Compression technology which allows the breast compression process to be softened and the compression force automatically and individually adjusted. “We are proud to be the first hospital in Southeast Asia to have Mammomat Revelation up and running. With the system’s innovative features combined with the comfort and ease it can give our patients, ospital is leading the Manila Doctors hospital way in the early detection breast cancer.” enthused Dantes.

The system’s intuitive Personalized Compression technology allows the breast compression process to be softened for the patient’s ease during the exam.

Oral capsule helps lighten dark spots

Understanding flu Flu, ranging from mild to severe, is caused by the influenza virus that infects a person’s upper respiratory tract.

cations that can lead to bacterial infections, pneumonia, hospitalization, and even death. As a highly contagious disease, the impact of flu on patients and his surrounding environment can be very detrimental. Flu can be unpredictable that recurring experiences are not enough basis to diagnose this deadly disease. As flu strains vary yearly, the World health

Organization advises the public to get flu vaccines annually and prevent the virus from spreading. The organization of health experts earlier issued a few recommendations on stopping flu, with vaccination at the top of the list. Doctors and medical professionals believe that immunization is the best first defense against vaccinepreventable diseases.

ORAl de-pigmentation capsule PynoPynocare is available at Mercury care helps individuals achieve brighter Drug, Watsons, Rose Pharmacy, South skin by minimizing melasma or dark Star Drug, St. Joseph Pharmacy, and spots commonly found on the forehead, all leading drugstores nationwide. cheeks, bridge of nose, shoulders as well as in other parts of the body. Dark spots are triggered by the overproduction of melanin pigments in the skin that is caused by many factors such as overexposure to the sun’s UV rays, hormonal imbalance, and harsh cosmetics. Pynocare contains MSCC (Melasma Skin Clear Complexion) Complex, a patented combination of powerful antioxidants such as Procyanidin and vitamins A, C, and e that effectively work together by acting deep within the layers of skin to help normalize melanin levels, resulting in light, spot-less, and radiant skin in eight weeks. For best results, Pynocare recommends taking one capsule twice daily after meals for two months. A capsule costs P67.75. Pynocare contains a patented combination of antioxidants that helps normalize melanin levels.


Entertainment

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extreme adventures

HIS October, action entertainment channel KIX premieres the brand new reality series Extreme Ends, to give audiences a glimpse of extreme opposite sides of the vibrant city, Hong Kong.

Featuring four celebrities from four Southeast Asian countries, popular actor and swimmer Enchong Dee represents the Philippines, taking on this adventure with his good celebrity friend, Ria Atayde. These two friends are adventurous travellers well-suited to the exciting contrasts selected for Extreme Ends, where each episode features a different celebrity and their special guests facing a different ‘extreme’ theme such as Day & Night and High & Low. In this way, viewers will see Hong Kong in a new light as each episode highlights extreme opposites to showcase the fascinating contrasts, nonstop intensity and distinctively trendy attributes of Hong Kong.

“We’re very pleased to be working with Hong Kong Tourism Board once more, and excited to give audiences a different perspective, showing them the contrasts and duality of Hong Kong. With each of the celebrities and their guests going through specially-selected activities, viewers also get to see a different side of their personality, revealing the relationships they share,” said Betty Tsui, Vice President, Programming – KIX and Thrill, Celestial Tiger Entertainment. “We are glad to partner Celestial Tiger Entertainment again, given the success of The Ultimate BROcation. Hong Kong remains as Southeast Asians’ destination of choice for its diversified dining options, shopping experiences,

nightlife and events; as well as thrilling adventures overseeing breath-taking natural sceneries,” said Raymond Chan, Regional Director, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong Tourism Board. “The celebrities from the different Southeast Asian countries in the series will definitely bring new insights and inspire the audience to create their very own authentic experiences when they visit Hong Kong, and discover Hong Kong like a local,” Chan added. Sharing his experience, Enchong said, “I was not expecting KIX’s Extreme Ends to take me on such an experience. Starring in this adventure reality show really gave me a chance to try new and exciting things. From playing my first virtual reality game to zip lining in Hong Kong, it really blew my expectations away.” Extreme Ends airs first and exclusively on KIX on Oct. 17, Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m.. KIX is available on Cablelink Ch. 31, Cignal TV Ch. 264, Destiny Cable Ch. 10, Gsat Ch. 117, and SKYcable SD Ch. 63 and HD Ch. 242.

FDCP leads Philippines as ‘Country of Focus’ at Busan Int’l Film Fest IN RECOGNITION and celebration of the 100 Years of Philippine Cinema, the Philippines has been announced as the Country of Focus of the 23rd BUSAN International Film Festival. As part of the official announcement by the organizers, Philippine Cinema will be highlighted in a number of activities and events during the Festival whose delegation will be headed by the Film Development Council of the Philippines. FDCP leads the country in one of the biggest film festivals in Asia and the world, bringing in a huge delegation composed of filmmakers and producers who will be participating at the film market, film exhibitions, special screenings and talks as part of the celebration. “We cannot stress how great of an honor it is to be selected as the Country of Focus in Busan just in time for our centennial. More than highlighting our cinema, being the Country of Focus means greater exposure for our filmmakers and more platforms for us to showcase this work,” said FDCP Chairperson Liza Diño during the agency’s send-off press conference for Busan delegates last week. “Our target for our next hundred years is to go global not just through the prestige of being in festivals but in

finding opportunities for coproduction and distribution, and Busan is the best place to start because it offers both when it comes to film market, festival, culture and industry,” Diño added. Busan’s Special Program focusing on the Philippines will feature ten Filipino classics in Retrospective. Entitled Cinema as a Response to the Nation, the lineup includes A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino directed by (1965), Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?

FDCP chairperson Liza Diño

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Tuesday, October 9, 2018

ACROSS 1 Observance 5 Faucet 10 Truckers’ radios 13 Exclaimed over 15 Internet note 16 Actor — Linden 17 Stone pillar 18 Complicated matter 20 Bunny feature 21 Be an omen of 23 Prodded 24 Defense ploy 26 Forceful removals 28 Elk 30 Shoppers’ bags 31 Interstate info 32 Focused 33 Turn to the left 36 Helm position 37 Lurid novels 38 Plow puller 39 Home, in the phone book 40 Lord Vader 41 Acclaim 42 Fizzy drinks 43 Popular hound 44 Skirt go-withs 47 Type of bean 48 Dishonest ones 49 Has a bite 50 Jets org. 53 Teetotaling

56 Leisurely walk 58 Kiki or Joey 59 Paranormal, to some 60 Goya’s home 61 Windy City trains 62 Interstates 63 Injection DOWN 1 Light pink wine 2 Greek letter 3 Remedial treatments 4 Conger 5 Opera composer 6 Marie’s companion 7 Drop behind 8 Zip 9 Slipped by 10 Constrict 11 Farm machine 12 Winter vehicles 14 Ledger entries 19 Spoils 22 Geisha’s accessory 25 Lo-cal 26 Get-up-and-go 27 Navajo foes 28 Put on 29 Wagon part 30 Slopes

32 Halos 33 Churchill’s waterfront (2 wds.) 34 Lotion ingredient 35 Left, on a map 37 Not tanned 38 Is obliged to 40 Spy’s file 41 Sunflower grower 42 Abrupt 43 Small amount 44 Cutting edge

45 Slander’s kin 46 Refuges 47 Gourmet appetizers 49 Novelist — Bagnold 51 Turn pancakes 52 News follower 54 Prefix for classic 55 Memorable time 57 Speed meas.

directed by Eddie Romero (1976), Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos directed by Mario O’Hara (1976), Ang Panday directed by Fernando Poe, Jr. (1980), Cain at Abel directed by Lino Brocka (1982), Moral directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya (1982), Himala directed by Ishmael Bernal (1982), Bayaning 3rd World directed by Mike De Leon (2000), Dekada‘70 directed by Chito S. Roño (2002) and Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria directed by Remton Siega Zuasola (2010). This program was curated with the help and support of National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Commission on Cinema, head of Subcommission on the Arts, Teddy Co, Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino member Tito Valiente, screenwriter, director and author Doy Del Mundo, and professor and film historian Nick de Ocampo of Center for New Cinema and UPFI. These films were provided through the assistance given by FPJ Restoration, ABSCBN Restoration, Cinema One Originals and Solar Films with special thanks to award-winning director, Mike De Leon. The 23rd Busan International Film Festival will run until Oct. 13 in Busan, South Korea.

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Vic Sotto in another sitcom anew

Enchong Dee is one of the four celebrities from four Southeast Asian countries featured in KIX's latest new reality series 'Extreme Ends.'

ENCHONG DEE’s

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2018

AFTER Hay Bahay, Vic Sotto will soon be back on the sitcom scene via his latest offering titled, Daddy’s Gurl in which Maine Mendoza and Wally Bayola are co-starring. “I felt I needed to take a break from doing sitcoms. If I were to do a new one, it should be something different. I’m proud to say that Daddy’s Gurl fits the bill, so to speak,” he says. According to the ace comedianhost, his new program is a step higher than his previous ones. “In terms of production and technicalities, this is really different. It’s not a studio sitcom like my past shows. We are on location. We have huge Manila scenes. It’s exciting because we’re shooting it like a movie. We have a Photography Director for the show. It’s a big-budget sitcom.” It took him some time to come up with a new sitcom because he was thinking of a new kind of entertainment that he could offer his audience. He’s also looking for the right people to work with and is glad that Chris Martinez accepted his offer to be the director. “He handled me in last year’s Meant To ‘Beh and I discovered his great comedic touch. As we brainstormed, we felt that it’s the right time to do another sitcom so we pitched it in with GMA and presto! Here we are.” How did Maine and Wally enter the scene? “They were cast after we finalized the concept. In the story, I’m Barak Otogan and Maine plays my daughter Visitacion while Wally is my wife Marikit.” So, Wally plays a woman character in here. How come? “When we were at the height of conceptualizing the show, Wally was very hot as Lola Nidora. I told my team that I wanted her to be my wife in the new sitcom. People already accept her in that role and he’s very effective in it.” It’s a must for Vic to be part of

Docu... From C4

Tears and tantrums Stressed out while solving complex Math problems or memorizing English words late into the night, Yun-yung often bursts into tears, throws tantrums and develops sudden headaches, while her mother either cajoles or berates her to make her keep going. The director, once a “gifted child” in science herself, clashes with her mother over how to raise Yun-yung, saying rote-learning and the blind pursuit of perfect test scores didn’t teach her how to figure out what she really wanted in life. Yun-yung also repeatedly talks about her dream to “become a gifted child” and to “go to the best university” but she is lost for words when asked why she wants this. “I could see my mom was trying to raise Yun-yung like she did me and my

the creative process of his sitcoms. “That’s why I always co-produce them through my M-Zet Production. This one, I’ve collaborated with GMA and APT Entertainment. I don’t want half-baked output in my programs so I have to be involved with the creative aspect to ensure that everything’s 100 percent. I feel responsible for that.” Apart from Maine and Wally, his son Oyo Sotto and comedian Benjie Paras are part of the cast. *** Asked about the possibility of doing a reunion project with perennial screen partner Judy Ann Santos, Piolo Pascual is optimistic that it will materialize eventually. “I already told Juday that I’m available anytime whenever she’s ready. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it will push through before we get really old,” he reveals. According to the actor, there are a few materials for their screen tandem to work on. In fact, Charo Santos is pitching in several materials which have interesting story lines. “There are really lots of exciting concepts out there. We are just waiting for the right time.” Meanwhile, it’s noticeable that in their weekly sitcom Home Sweetie Home, there’s a brewing love angle between his and Toni Gonzaga’s characters. It is public knowledge that he came into the scene after John Lloyd Cruz left the show to take an indefinite leave from the ‘biz. In the sitcom, Toni and Lloydie are a married couple. “This is the reason why we asked people, the viewers and even our friends who watch the show what their thoughts on such development. It can’t be that abrupt. Not because John Lloyd is no longer in the cast means a new love team will be established. We’re still considering the Filipino values we ought to impart to the viewers. At the end of the day, we still want to cater to the Filipino family. Senior actor and comedian Vic Sotto

sister being crushed under pressure and changing into an angry, harsh kid...I wanted to do something for her as well as mum,” Koo told AFP. “Mum was also eager to change...but it’s easier said than done if you live in this environment where all other parents and their children are racing full-speed to get ahead,” said the 26-year-old. A slogan inscribed in the playground of Yun-yung’s elementary school reads “Only those who endure pain can smile”, while most residential neighborhoods are packed with countless hagwons promising parents to make their children “more special than others”. Another of Koo’s sisters -- an elementary school teacher -- says most pupils in her class are even more miserable than Yun-yung due to the pressure to excel, with the top student in her class admitting to suicidal thoughts. A playground in the Yun-yung’s neighborhood is empty most of the week, with children busy hopping from one hagwon to another after school. AFP


Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

Entertainment

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2018

FIRST LOOK. An artist rendition of Dream Cruises’ new Global Class cruise ship unveiled during the the 'keel laying'ceremony in Germany which was livestreamed in Singapore and other key cities.

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

Big ship,

BIG

ENTERTAINMENT

The massive and luxurious cruise ship will feature a cineplex, a theme park – including a roller coaster, a waterpark, Asian spa, and multiple authentic Asian dining experiences and affordable shopping facilities in addition to luxury retail boutiques.

T

HE word big is actually an understatement if we are going to talk about Dream Cruises’ Global Class flagship. Once construction is finished, her amenities will include a massive theme park featuring a roller coaster with virtual reality, a cineplex, a spa, ample shopping facilities as well as authentic Asian and international dining experiences and fast food restaurants.

Her 2,500 cabins will be able to accommodate up to 5,000 passengers on a twin share basis and can cater for up to 9,500 passengers during peak holiday periods. And there’s no better way to mark the construction of the largest ship ever built in Germany, where Genting Hong Kong’s MV Werften shipyard is located, but to celebrate it with the world. It was a momentous occasion for Genting Hong Kong when it livestreamed the keel laying ceremony straight from its shipyard in Rostock, Germany last month. The livestream was made available in key cities where the leading company engaged in cruise, entertainment and hospitality business operates. In Singapore, media and other business partners from Malaysia, Philippines and other neighboring countries were invited to witness the special ceremony. Over 1,000 business partners, travel agents, media and special guests from Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Taipei, Tokyo and Sydney were able to witness the event via the Dream Cruises Facebook Page and Weibo in China. Approximately one thousand shipyard employees, partners, and guests from the worlds of business and politics accepted the invitation to the event as well. Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig, Minister of Economic Affairs, Harry Glawe, Genting Hong Kong’s Executive Chairman Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Group President Colin Au, Dream Cruises President Thatcher Brown and MV Werften’s CEO Peter Fetten placed the traditional lucky coins in the keel before the 95-meter high gantry crane lowered the section into place. “The Global Class is designed from the keel up for the Asian source market which requires more exciting public areas and larger cabins than traditional cruise ships. The new ship will also be supported by the world’s leading technology and digital systems catering to Asians who are more used to digital technology,” said Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay. “Ownership of MV Werften also means greater flexibility in incorporating the latest technical advancements for the shipyard to build the best cruise ship in the world,” he added. “This is a very proud moment for Dream Cruises. Building on the successful debuts of Genting Dream in 2016 and World Dream in 2017, the addition of two Global Class ships to the fleet will allow Dream Cruises to offer our partners and guests more itineraries worldwide,” said Thatcher Brown. “Expanding the Dream Cruises brand globally goes hand-in-hand with an aggressive new-build program that will more than double our capacity in by 2021 and help us realize our aspiration to be “Asia’s Global Cruise Line,” Brown further stated. Peter Fetten, Managing Director at MV Werften added: “We are creating something truly great. After an intensive engineering and design phase, today’s keel laying marks

Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (right) and Genting Hong Kong's Executive Chairman Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay (left) places lucky coins in the keel of Dream Cruises’ new Global Class ship.

the next stage of the manufacturing process of MV’s first mega-ship…its dock assembly. We would like to thank all of our employees and partners for the work already completed on this ambitious project and look forward to the continued successful collaboration with Genting and Dream Cruises.” Production of this 204,000 gross ton ship, which will measure 342 meters long and over 46 meters wide, will take place in parallel in Wismar and Rostock. The 220-meter-long midship will be manufactured in Rostock and will move to Wismar in 2019, where the bow and stern, as well as the superstructures, will be mounted. The 2,500 passenger cabins produced by MV Werften Fertigmodule in Wismar will also be installed in Wismar. A total of around 600 companies will be involved in the construction process. The Global Class ships are designed for the rapidly growing Asian cruise market and will join the Dream Cruises award-winning fleet, allowing Dream Cruises to offer cruises all over the world to become “Asia’s Global Cruise Line”. As a pioneer in the Asian cruise industry, Genting Hong Kong took on the bold initiative to grow the Asia-Pacific as an international cruise destination with the founding of Star Cruises, “The Leading Cruise Line in the Asia Pacific”, in 1993. To further expand its cruise portfolio in the region, Genting Hong Kong launched Dream Cruises, the first-ever Asian luxury cruise line to cater to the high-end market. Recognized as “The World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line”, Crystal Cruises extends Genting Hong Kong’s reach in the global up-scale market. The establishment of the German shipyard MV Werften in 2016 will capitalize on the growing demand for new cruise ships and realize the company’s global expansion plans for its three cruise brands. Meanwhile, initiating the Group’s foray into land-based attractions, Resorts World Manila was the first integrated resort in the Philippines when it opened in 2009. A onestop, non-stop entertainment and leisure destination, Resorts World Manila features world-class entertainment, unique events, and exciting lifestyle options throughout its extensive premises. Genting Hong Kong’s investment in iconic Singapore nightlife brand Zouk – a world-class entertainment institution and trendsetter in Asia’s dance music scene, and perennial top-ten fixture in the annual DJ Mag Top 100 Clubs global poll - further diversifies the company’s appeal to a younger and more dynamic clientele.

‘Ang Probinsyano’ breaks own record, hits all-time high national TV rating THE country’s most watched program FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano marked its third anniversary on-air by reaching another milestone and recording a new all-time high national TV rating on Thursday, Oct. 4. The series hit a national TV rating of 47.2 percent, or more than triple that of Victor Magtanggol’s 15.1 percent, according to data from Kantar Media. Viewers tuned in to the gripping struggle effort battle of Cardo (Coco Martin) to save former president Hidalgo’s (Rowell Santiago) daughter Aubrey (Ryza Cenon), the only person who knows that Lucas (Edu Manzano) is the mastermind behind the massacre of their family. Meanwhile, for September ratings data ABS-CBN recorded an average audience share of 44 percent, compared to GMA’s 33 percent, still according to data from Kantar Media. The Kapamilya network won in both urban and rural homes, particularly in Metro Manila where it registered an average audience share of 41 percent versus GMA’s 28 percent; in Total Luzon where it recorded 39 percent, compared to GMA’s 36 percent; in Total Visayas as it garnered 53 percent, beating GMA’s 25 percent; and in Total Mindanao where it got 51 percent, while GMA only recorded 26 percent. Multinational audience measurement provider Kantar Media

uses a nationwide panel size of 2,610 urban and rural homes that represent 100 percent of the total Philippine TV viewing population. FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano (43.3 percent) kept its throne last September as it celebrated its third anniversary, followed by the country’s most watched newscast TV Patrol (33.3 percent). Also part of the top ten are Ngayon at Kailanman (28.4 percent), The Kids’ Choice (26.7 percent), Meteor Garden (24.2 percent), Maalaala Mo Kaya (24.1 percent), Wansapanataym (23.8 percent), and Home Sweetie Home (22.0 percent). ABS-CBN was also victorious across all time blocks, particularly on primetime where it registered an average audience share of 47 percent, while GMA only got 34 percent. The primetime block is the most important time of the day when most Filipinos watch TV and advertisers put a larger chunk of their investments in to reach more consumers effectively. The Kapamilya network also led the morning block (6:00 a.m. to 12:00 nn) w i t h an average audience share of 41 percent versus GMA’s 32 percent; the noontime block (12:00 nn to 3:00 p.m.) with 44 percent, compared to GMA’s 32 percent; and the afternoon block (3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) with 43 percent, beating GMA’s 34 percent.

Coco Martin as Cardo in 'FPJ's Ang Probinsyano'

Docu on S. Korea’s obsession with education A YOUNG filmmaker has turned the camera on her own family to document South Korea’s obsession with education and the severe toll it takes on its children —including her sister—in the ultra-competitive society. Koo Yun-joo’s documentary Dear My Genius, which premiered at the Busan International Film Festival on Saturday, follows the director’s seven-year-old sister and mother—who has plans to turn the little girl into a so-called gifted child. Many education authorities and colleges in South Korea regularly test children on their ability in math, science and other key subjects and award those who excel with “gifted child” certificates— considered a big plus in future university applications. Young South Koreans devote most

A scene from the docu, 'Dear My Genius'

of their childhood and teenage years to studying—which involves lots of rotelearning—to earn a place in one of the elite universities seen as key to future careers and marriage prospects. The South’s education system is often held up by other countries as a model of rigorous meritocracy, but the pressure to score well has been blamed for teenage depression and suicide rates that are among the highest in the world. The documentary offers a rare glimpse into a real-life family dynamic common in South Korean households, and the cutthroat competition facing the country’s children likened by some to systematic child abuse. To reach child prodigy status, Koo’s sister Yun-yung spends hours after school at “hagwons”—private cram schools—to study subjects including Math, English, Chinese, computer and essay writing. Her mother keeps a detailed list of all the books the first-grader has read since the age of five, and borrows from a local library 26 books every fortnight—the bimonthly limit—aiming to make her read thousands of books each year. “I feel a sense of achievement looking at this,” the mother says proudly as she updates the list with titles ranging from self-improvement books for children to biographies of prominent figures. Continued on C3


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