Manila Standard - 2018 January 04 - Thursday

Church all set for Black Nazarene

By Vito Barcelo and Bill Casas THE Catholic Church said Wednesday it is hopeful that Filipinos will be bold enough in 2018 to do what is morally right.

“We pray and work for a Philippines prosperous in human and spiritual values, committed to eradicate poverty and cor-

ruption, dedicated in upholding human rights and the sacredness of life, unflinching in its fights against illegal drugs and human trafficking, enlightened to choose worthy leaders, and a Philippines proud of its heritage, yet open to the family of nations,” Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona, Next page

VOL. XXXI • NO. 321 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

House: No-El likely if Cha-Cha happens

By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Pantaleon Alvarez on Wednesday said it is possible that there will be no elections in 2019 if a federal system of government is installed as President Rodrigo Duterte wants.

He added that nothing is impossible if lawmakers work on it.

He said a proposed amendment to the Constitution by way of a constituent assembly could be submitted to a plebiscite simultaneously with barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on May 14, 2018.

The House is hoping to approve a resolution calling for a constituent assembly this month.

“If we can convene by January, we can submit that to a referendum during the barangay elections by May. If we work on it, nothing is impossible,” Alvarez said.

“Let us be practical. If we shift to a different form of government, unitary to federal, you need a transition government,” Alvarez said of a proposal that could lead to the abolition of the Senate.

Alvarez said senators worried about their political careers would run for election to the new legislature.

He said some senators’ terms expired in 2019 while other would do so in 2022.

“In fareness, maybe it would be better if they all expire in 2022,” he said in Filipino.

But Alvarez acknowledged that convening Congress as a constituent assembly would face rough sailing, particularly over whether the senators and congressmen should vote jointly or separately.

Alvarez said he believed the assembly should vote jointly, a move that would give the House more clout over Next page the Senate.

Most Pinoys having a good day—survey

By John Paolo Bencito MORE than half of Filipinos, or 53 percent of 106 million people, are likely to say they are having a particularly good day, the latest Pew Research Center report revealed Wednesday.

In its annual Global Attitudes Survey fielded among nearly 42,000 individuals worldwide—Filipinos were the fifth highest to view their day positively, with Nigeria leading at 73 percent, followed by Colombia at second with 61 percent, Ghana on third with 60 percent, Brazil on fourth with 56 percent, and followed by Peru at sixth spot with 50 percent.

Only 42 percent of Filipinos would describe their day as a “typical” one, while 5 percent said it was a “bad” day. Next page

HIGHER TAXES. A lowly worker

(above) agilely arranges cases of soda drinks at a warehouse along Kamias Road in Quezon City while workers from Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (left) troop to Mendiola Bridge near San Beda College and Centro Escolar University to protest against impending increase in the prices of basic commodities like gas and petroleum as the new tax measure signed

by President Rodrigo Duterte would be implemented before too long. Manny Palmero and Norman Cruz

‘Extend-Du30 tenure’ floated A must prior to shift to federal govt—Senate chief

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

S

ENATE President Aquilino Pimentel III said Wednesday the six-year term of President Rodrigo Duterte, which ends in 2022, may be extended “if really necessary” during the transitory period for the shift to a federal form of government.

The national president of the ruling PDP-Laban said a term extension will “depend on the transitory provisions.”

“Depends too on when we approve the new Constitution. If 2019, then the next three years will be the transitory period,” Pimentel said in a text message to reporters.

He said the term of the President can be extended based on the following conditions: If it is really necessary, if he is amenable to it, and since that extension will be part of the new Constitution, the new Constitution is approved by the people themselves.

Pimentel earlier said that PDP-Laban wants to adopt a “uniquely Filipino” federal model with two constitutionally established orders of government—a federal government and regional governments.

Furthermore, the Senate leader rejected the possibility that there would be no elections in 2019.

“We can shift to federalism and allow all scheduled elections under the existing Constitution to go on and be held,” he said.

“What is important are the transitory provisions which will govern the terms and duties of those elected in the last election under the 1987 Constitution,” he added.

“And before we can operate under a new Constitution, the provisions of the existing Constitution must be followed. Hence if there are scheduled elections under the existing Constitution, then this must be followed.”

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who sits as secretary-general of PDP-Laban, said it is possible that no elections would be held in 2019 if the shift to a federal form of government pushes through this year.

He said Congress can convene this month to discuss proposals on federalism, a priority of the Duterte administration.

Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the President would not stay in power a minute longer, after Pimentel suggested his term might be extended in the transition to a federal system of government.

“I can categorically state that PRRD does not want that. He wants to cut short his term rather than lengthen it,” Roque said in a text message.

CPP-NPA a terror group, DoJ task force head insists

Shaw cops too hot for PAO to handle

By Rey E. Requejo THE Public Attorney’s Office opted not to defend the 10 Mandaluyong police officers and three barangay watchmen involved in the fatal shooting believed to be a case of mistaken identity last week.

PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta revealed Wednesday her office would instead provide legal assistance to one of the two injured civilians during the incident on Shaw Blvd. last Dec. 28.

The agency usually would defend policemen in criminal cases.

But the office also has a mandate to provide free legal services to indigent citizens.

However, Acosta clarified it was not a matter of choice by her office to defend the victim instead of the policemen in the latest controversy against the Philippine National Police.

“It was the survivor in the shooting who was first to seek our assistance.

By Rey E. Requejo THE Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, New People’s Army, have been responsible for terrorist activities in different provinces, according to the Department of Justice.

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong, head of the panel tasked to seek before the regional trial court for declaration of the CPP-NPA as a terrorist group, disclosed they have gathered documents and evidence showing offensives committed by the communist group that might constitute as terrorist acts under Republic Act 9372 or Human Security Act. Ong cited military and police reports on various incidents, including the recent attack on rescue operations in Northern Samar during the Typhoon

Next page

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

Next page

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

Axed exec not from PCSO, ERC—Roque Speaker sees Sereno THE Palace spokesman on Wednesday said he had to delay the announcement of the firing of a presidential appointee, after saying a day earlier that he would do so on Jan. 3.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque again declined to identify the official, but said he did not come from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, which is under fire for spending more than P6 million for its Christmas party.

Despite these reports, Roque said Duterte continued to hold “in high esteem” general manager Alexander Balutan and director Sandra Cam. “I can make the confirmation that the official who I was tasked to announce and... belatedly told to hold in abeyance is not from the PCSO,” Roque said.

S

manilastandard.net

He also said the official was not from the Energy Regulatory Commission, even though the Palace is looking into the Office of the Ombudsman’s decision to suspend four of its commissioners for a year for giving the Manila Electric Co. undue advantage by exempting its power supply agreements from bidding.

Roque would only say that if the official is fired, it would be because of corruption.

“Like all presidential appointees he’s being sacked or I do not know if he’s still going to be sacked because of loss of trust and confidence,” he said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, mocked the administration’s practice of firing an official over alleged corruption, then appointing the official to another position.

Next page

ouster greatest feat

By Maricel V. Cruz

AS FAR as the House of Representatives is concerned, the ouster of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno will be its greatest accomplishment in 2018, along with other top legislative agenda of the Duterte administration.

This, as Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez urged Sereno anew to appear before the House committee on justice to defend herself, saying she could expect fair hearing from the House.

“We do not want to be flooded with impeachment complaints, but we cannot prevent filers from doing so... This Next page

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

News

A2

THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Labor mulls over wage hike

By Vito Barcelo, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Bill Casas

T

HE Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said Wednesday it will file a wage-increase petition nationwide if the prices of goods and services triggered by the implementation of the Tax Reform Inclusion and Acceleration law become unreasonably high.

“The situation warrants, we will file the petition for workers to cope with the rising cost of living even if the one year prescribed for the no-wage-increase period set by the wage board is still in effect,” ALU-TUCP

spokesman Alan Tanjusay said.

In other developments: • Senator Bam Aquino warned that the increase in the price of gasoline due to the TRAIN may have a domino effect on the prices

North Korea revives hot line with South

of goods and services in the market.

Aquino, who rejected the TRAIN’s ratification in the Senate, considered “alarming” the spike in the prices of goods due to the imposition of taxes on oil.

The TRAIN mandates the imposition of excise tax of P2.50 per liter of diesel and bunker fuel starting this year, P4.50 in 2019 and P6 in 2020. For gasoline, the excise tax will be increased from P4.35 per liter to P7 this year, P9 in 2019 and P10 in 2020.

• Militant workers welcomed the new year with protests at Mendiola Bridge after the prices of basic commodi-

House:...

From A1

He said convening Congress as a constituent assembly was a House priority and said he was confident the Senate would cooperate with the effort to advance the President’s legislative agenda.

Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, meanwhile, said the House’s hard work in 2017 has allowed it to focus on its mission in 2018 to adopt a federal system of government.

“The primary mission for us lawmakers in the 17th Congress is to usher in a federalized Philippines in 2018,” Nograles said.

“Over 16 million Filipinos gave

SEOUL―North Korea said Wednesday it will reopen a hot line with the South to discuss attending the Winter Olympics, forging ahead with peace overtures despite taunts from US President Donald Trump who said he had a “much bigger” nuclear button than Kim Jong-Un. The hot line, which was cut by the North in 2016, is to be restored at 0630 GMT after Seoul proposed high-level talks in response to an olive branch from the North’s leader ahead of next month’s Pyeongchang Games.

Kim’s overtures to the South marked a rare softening in tone, as the tensions over its banned weapons program have surged in recent months following a flurry of missile launches and its most powerful nuclear test yet.

Seoul responded with an offer to hold talks on Jan. 9—the first since 2015―to discuss “matters of mutual interest” including Kim’s suggestion that the reclusive nation could participate in the Olympics.

But Kim’s New Year address also included a warning to the US that he had a “nuclear button” on his table, prompting a furious response from President Trump via Twitter.

“North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Un just stated that the ‘Nuclear Button is on his desk

at all times.’

“Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!” he said.

Trump’s remarks came as his ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley dismissed Seoul’s offer to hold talks, calling it a “band-aid.”

US State Department spokesman Heather Nauert also warned that Kim “may be trying to drive a wedge of some sort between the two nationsbetween our nation and the Republic of Korea.”

But the rapprochement seemed to be moving ahead on Wednesday, with Kim welcoming Seoul’s support for his overtures, according to Ri Son-gwon, the head of North Korea’s agency handling interKorean affairs.

The two countries, which are divided by a Demilitarized Zone since the end of the 195053 Korean War, last held highlevel talks in 2015 to try to ease tensions.

The hot line, located in the truce village of Panmunjom, remained operational until February 2016, with operators from both countries checking it twice a day. AFP

Axed...

YOU’RE FIRED! To another corrupt official: YOU’RE HIRED!” Lacson had previously accused Faeldon of graft and economic sabotage, blaming him for the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of shabu through the Bureau of Customs.

chairman of the National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace said.

He said that alhough 2017 was full of challenges that almost divided the nation, there were many things for which to be thankful.

The archbishops statement came as the Catholic Church began preparations for the arrival of millions of pilgrims to the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9.

“An overnight vigil will be held at the Luneta evening of Jan. 8. A Holy Mass will be celebrated for the public morning of Jan. 9 followed by the procession of the image back to the basilica,” the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said in a statement.

The CBCP said the procession, or “Traslacion,” is

was also the case in the earlier criminal charges against Caloocan policemen for the killings of teenagers Kian Lloyd Delos Santos, Carl Angelo Arnaiz and Reynaldo “Kulot” De Guzman during anti-narcotics operations last August.

In the latest “mistaken identity” case, the 10 policemen and three watchmen involved had been charged with homicide before Mandaluyong City prosecutor’s office.

The Mandaluyong policemen charged were Senior Insp. Cristina Vasquez, Police Officer 2 Nel Songalia and PO1s Kim Tinbusay, Bryan Nicolas, Julius Livuen, Ariel Uribe, Jave Arellano, Tito Danao, Mark Castillo and Albert Buwag.

Barangay watchmen Wilmer Duron, Ernesto Fajardo and Gilbert Gulpo were also anyone to answer the accusation against you but if you’re hiding something and you know you have done wrong, naturally, you’ll be afraid [to face the accuser in a forum],” Alvarez said.

Alvarez said while he respected the decision of Sereno not to step down from her post, Alvarez said the testimonies provided by the witnesses buttressed the allegations raised against her in the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Larry Gadon.

“The public can see now that the allegations in the complaint are being proven one by one.

Various witnesses are testifying, even her fellow justices, to prove that the charges are true,” he said.

Alvarez also advised Sereno

From A1

Lacson did not refer specifically to fired Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon, who was recently appointed to the Office of the Civil Defense, but posted” “To one corrupt official:

Shaw...

From A1

Mr. Eliseo Aluad was referred to us by members of the media,” the PAO chief said.

According to the PAO chief, she would meet Aluad tomorrow to discuss the case against the policemen and watchmen.

Aluad is among the two civilians injured during the shooting incident.

The other one was identified as Danilo Santiago Jr. Acosta stressed that in cases of opposing parties both seeking assistance from her office, it would be whoever was first to make the request to be given PAO assistance.

“We cannot represent both parties in the same case because that would be conflict of interest on our part,” she said.

The PAO chief said this

Speaker... is a Constitutional process that we have to understand.[If anyone files any complaint], we have to process it, ” Alvarez told a television interview.

He said Sereno was refusing to participate in the hearings on the impeachment complaint against her because the allegations were being proven and solidified one by one by different witnesses.

“What is Chief Justice Sereno doing? She doesn’t want to confront the truth, she doesn’t want to face the committee on justice to explain her side.

Now, isn’t it true that if you’re innocent, you’re ready to face

ties were expected to spike as the new tax measure of the government took effect on the first day of the year.

The protest held by the socialist Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino denounced the TRAIN, saying the excise taxes on petroleum and energy sources would burden consumers, workers and other disadvantaged sectors since it was a pass-on tax.

“Contrary to what officials keep on reiterating that TRAIN is beneficial to the poor, it is all too evident that the capitalists shall simply pass their obligations to their clients―the lowly paid contractual workers, BMP presi-

Church...

dent Leody de Guzman said in a statement.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said the proceeds of the tax reform law would benefit everyone.

Those having an annual taxable income of P250,000 and below or at least P21,000 a month are now exempted from personal income tax.

Thirteenth-month pay and other bonuses amounting to P90,000 are likewise taxexempt,” Roque told reporters.

The TUCP also assailed the Department of Finance for failing to provide safety nets to the estimated 30.6 million vulnerable Filipino workers due to the expected high inflation

their stamp of approval to this endeavor when they elected President Rodrigo Duterte who has championed federalism since Day One,” Nograles added.

This developed as Camariñes Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte welcomed President Duterte’s completion of a 25-member constitutional commission that would propose amendments to the Constitution.

Villafuerte said Alvarez and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III were set to meet to decide when the two chambers of Congress could convene as a constituent assembly to draft a new Constitution for a federal system of government.

The committee on constitutional amendments of the Lower House of also recently created four technical

that might be caused by the implementation of TRAIN. “Millions of the poorest of the poor, the jobless, the underemployed and the workers in the informal economy will be hit by a category 5 tsunami instigated by TRAIN, Tanjusay said.

Based on the Philippine Statistics Authority survey released in 2017 says there are at least 3 million people considered as the poorest of the poor.

The same survey recorded at least 4 million jobless, 8 million underemployed and around 15.6 million workers in the informal economy. All have no government social

working groups that would draft a proposed Philippine Federal Constitution.

“All these positive developments mean that the process to shift to federalism is now in full throttle. As I have been saying all along, federalism will only fulfill its goal of redistributing wealth to the countryside if it is accompanied by moves to liberalize the Constitution’s restrictive economic provisions,” Villafuerte said.

Villafuerte also proposed that the Constitution be amended to remove limits to foreign ownership of various sectors of the economy.

Under a constituent assembly, the lawmakers would serve as delegates who will propose amendments to the Constitution. This is

protection insurance and benefits such as those accorded by the Social Security System, Employment Compensation Commission, Pag-IBIG and PhilHealth.

“Will also affect workers in the informal economy including jeepney, tricycle, taxi, UV express and pedicab drivers and all sorts of vendors,” Tanjusay said.

Roque earlier said the government was prepared to provide a P200 monthly cash voucher or discount voucher dole to the poor affected by the rising inflation brought about by TRAIN, but it is not clear how the dole is to be distributed.

in contrast to a constitutional convention in which delegates will be elected.

“This will save the government millions of pesos since we no longer need to elect delegates for the task of amending the Charter. And since we lawmakers have fixed terms, we will have a definite time period to finish the job. This means we will achieve our goal faster. Anyway, all the proposed amendments we will come up with will be subject to ratification by the people. It’s by far the less complicated method,” Nograles said.

“I am hopeful that 2018 would be the year that the Philippines begins its long-awaited journey toward progress via the federalism superhighway,” he added.

a reenactment of the transfer of the image of the Black Nazarene from Luneta to Quiapo, both in Manila, in 1787.

Quiapo Church rector and parish priest Msgr.

Hernando Coronel reminded the faithful with health conditions to stay home instead of joining the procession as it will be shown live on television and on the Internet.

The prelate also discouraged parents from bringing their children because they might get lost.

He urged children and teenagers not to climb on the Anadas, especially since a number of girls were recorded as suffering difficulty breathing during the thanksgiving procession held by Quiapo Church on Dec. 31.

Coronel also asked devotees to report anything suspicious persons to the police.

About 18.9 million devotees are expected to participate in the 10-day series of activities in observance of the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene this year in Manila, the Manila Police District said on Tuesday.

MPD Supt. Lucille Faycho said last year’s crowd of around 18 million is projected to increase by 5 percent this year.

The activities related to the feast started on Dec. 31, 2017 and will last until Jan. 9, 2018, ending with the procession for the Quiapo Church’s Black Nazarene or Traslacion.

Faycho said that while the MPD is on alert, they have not monitored any specific threat to the feast.

The crowd count started on Dec. 31’s thanksgiving procession, which kicked off Traslacion 2018’s activities.

The thanksgiving proces-

sion was immediately followed by nine-day novena Masses for the Black Nazarene, which will last until 5:45 p.m. of Jan. 8.

A procession of all replicas of the Black Nazarene from various parts of the country will take place on Jan. 7.

The Traslacion will start at 6 a.m. on Jan. 9.

Coronel said about 40 minor injuries were recorded during the thanksgiving procession.

Fr. Douglas Badong said an estimated 2 million devotees are expected to join the Traslacion, which will start from the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park and end in Quiapo Church.

Badong said the duration of the procession should not be a problem. He said they are most concerned about the safety of the devotees.

The Metro Manila Development Authority said it

will deploy a total 1,300 of its personnel beginning Friday this week in preparation for the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago said the agency personnel will be deployed around Quirino Grandstand, Quiapo Church, and along the procession routes to help in traffic management, public safety, and emergency response operations of the Manila city government and other concerned agencies.

The agency will also put up its emergency response tent at the Quirino Grandstand as early as Saturday.

MPD and church officials on Wednesday inspected the route that devotees would take.

A total of 5,700 police personnel will be deployed to provide security for the Black Nazarene Feast.

charged for the killing of Jonalyn Ambaon and Jomar Hayawon, the two civilians killed during the shooting incident.

Apart from the charges already filed against the respondents, Acosta said Aluad planned to file separate charges against them.

Ambaon was being rushed to the hospital after being shot during an earlier incident.

The policemen riddled the van with bullets carrying the victim, thinking—following what they claimed were tanods’ tip—the passengers were the suspects in the previous shooting incident.

The police officers have been disarmed and placed in restrictive custody following the incident while barangay watchmen who also fired shots against the victims have been ordered suspended by the local government.

CPP-NPA...

“Urduja” and other attacks in Surigao del Norte, Negros, Ozamiz and Bukidnon.

The DoJ official stressed the reports as well as affidavits of witnesses would be included in the petition to be filed by the DoJ this month before a regional trial court seeking to declare CPP-NPA as a terrorist group.

“They committed terrorist acts that will justify in designating them [CPP-NPA] as terrorist organization,” Ong told reporters.

According to him, the petition would also explain the history of the communist organization that would explain their tactical offensives, but said the petition would cover only incidents during the Duterte administration.

“There are incidents in the past showing a pattern of tactical offensives. I had to do some research and also look at affidavit of witnesses,” he said.

Ong admitted their investigation showed how the CPPNPA did not honor the good faith and sincerity extended by the Duterte administration and continued their offensives during the earlier peace talks.

But he clarified that the petition will target the organization and not its individual officials like founding chairman Jose Maria Sison.

“But there are implications once the petition is granted and they are declared a terrorist group. Under the Human Security Act, you can apply for judicial order for wiretapping against members of a terrorist organization. You could also apply surveillance of bank accounts or freeze their assets,”

Ong pointed out.

Ong is head of the team created by Aguirre to draft the petition following President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to issue a proclamation naming the CPP as a terror group.

Section 17 of Republic Act 9372 requires the DoJ to first seek clearance from the court before an organization, association or group of persons can be declared as terrorist and outlawed group.

Last November, the DoJ moved for the arrest of key leaders of communist group National Democratic Front— political arm of CPP—who were earlier granted provisional bail for their participation in the botched peace talks.

Prosecutors filed a motion before the Manila regional trial court branch 32 seeking cancellation of bail grant on 20 NDF consultants led by spous-

es Benito and Wilma Tiamzon.

The DoJ made the move after President Duterte canceled the peace talks and publicly branded the Communist Party of the Philippines as a terrorist group.

“In view of the cancellation of the peace talks, there is no more legal ground for the continuous provisional liberty of the accused. Thus, the immediate recommitment and cancellation of bail of all the accused should logically follow,” read the pleading.

The NDF leaders were granted bail upon initiative of the government last year for their participation in the peace process between the communist rebels and the government.

The Supreme Court, in its resolution in August last year, granted bail to the communist leaders for their participation in the peace talks in Norway under specific conditions.

and her lawyers to refrain from their alibis that those testifying against her, especially Associate Justice Teresita LeonardoDe Castro and her fellow justices, were merely blurting out personal grudges.

With the exhaustive hearings conducted by the House justice panel, Alvarez said the House would have solid body of evidence against Sereno if they eventually decide to bring the case before the Senate for trial.

The House justice panel, chaired by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, a former Liberal Party, will resume the Sereno impeachment proceedings when Congress resumes session on Jan. 15.

It is also expected to submit

an Articles of Impeachment to the Senate by February.

At the same time, Alvarez sounded upbeat about the good performance of the House of Representatives since its First Regular Session to date, giving it a rating of eight out of 10—the last number being the highest.

“Perhaps, objectively eight,” said Alvarez in a televiaion interview when asked to rate the performance of the House.

Official report of the measures passed by the Lower House of since it opened its session on June 25, 2016 up to Dec. 13, 2017 showed that some 6,911 bills and 1,517 resolutions were filed in the chamber.

Of this number, the House has processed a total 2100 meas-

ures, 518 approved, or an average of 14 measures processed per session day, 39 enacted into law, not including the 2018 budget and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion that President Duterte signed last month.

Alvarez cited the free college education and expanded access to health care laws as the most significant measures the House had passed for the period.

“I am happy about the quantity and quality of bills we have passed. But unfortunately, they are all pending at the Senate.

And so those signed into law are only few. But as far as the perfomance of the House of Representatives is concerned, we have passed so much,” Alvarez said.

Most...

Latin Americans (48 percent) surveyed said their day was particularly good.

Other regions—especially Europe (73 percent)—overwhelmingly described their day as typical, while only 22 percent of Europeans said their day was good.

Americans, meanwhile, stood out for their positivity among Western countries, with 44 percent saying their day was particularly good.

American conservatives (48 percent) and moderates (47 percent) were significantly more likely than liberals (34 percent) to describe their day as good.

From A1

From A1

From A1

The Center did not define what a good day was, a typical day or a bad day.

The global median of those who described their day positively was at 30 percent, while those who said it was typical was at 62 percent.

Worldwide, those having a bad day was at 6 percent.

The same survey revealed that people in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America were more likely to view their day positively.

Roughly half of Africans (median of 49 percent) and

News

A3

THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Storm ‘Agaton’ moves out of PAR—Pagasa ‘‘AGATON,’’ the first tropical storm to hit the country in 2019, left the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday.

The storm made a total of six landfalls in Visayas and Mindanao in nearly the same places where two storms, ‘‘Urduja’’ and ‘‘Vinta,’’ landed during Christmastime that killed nearly 300 people and flooded several villages, especially those near coastal areas.

Agaton was not as deadly, but it too caused landslides and floods, specifically in Palawan.

Weather bureau Pagasa said the eye of storm Agaton was seen 440 kilometers west northwest of Puerto Princesa City at 1 p.m., packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour with 85 kph gustiness.

The bureau lifted all tropical cyclone warning signals, as the skies began to clear.

Still, moderate to heavy rains are forecast over the Bicol region and in the provinces of Rizal, Aurora, and Quezon due to the tailend of a cold front, Pagasa said.

Traveling by sea remains risky especially off Northern and Southern Luzon, the eastern seaboard of

Central Luzon, eastern and western seaboards of Visayas, and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao due to the surge of the northeast monsoon or amihan.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said that the number of families affected by Agaton has climbed to 3,879 or 16,142 individuals.

NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad said these families are residents of 108 barangays in Western and Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and the Caraga regions.

Of the total, 1,435 families or 5,822 persons are being accommodated in 55 evacuation centers while another 367 families or 1,599 individuals are being aided outside evacuation centers.

Jalad also said that P859,510 worth of aid has been provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and concerned local government units to affected families in Western and Eastern Visayas and Caraga.

As of Wednesday, 4,549 families have been preemptively evacuated from Mimaropa, Western and Central Visayas, Zamboanga, Northern Mindanao and Caraga. With PNA

Another dismissal issued vs Iloilo City Mayor Mabilog THE Office of the Ombudsman has issued another dismissal order on Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog of Iloilo City for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service from the service.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales also meted out accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits and bar from taking the civil service examinations.

On April 8, 2014, the Sangguniang Panlungsod approved a regulation ordinance incorporating the use of a wheel towing clamp as part of its towing ordinance.

On Feb. 17, 2015, the SP approved a resolution authorizing Mabilog to sign a memorandum of agreement between the local government and 3L Towing Services for the implementation of the city’s clamping ordinance.

Under the arrangement, 70 percent of the fines collected would be given to the towing firm, while the

remaining 30 percent would be the local government’s share.

The 70-30 sharing scheme for the first five years would be followed by a 65-35 sharing scheme for the next five years.

On Feb. 25, 2015 or a week later, the city council passed a resolution, confirming the memorandum.

Three days later, Mabilog wrote an urgent letter to the SP and informed the body about the suspension of the arrangement due to “some technical issues.”

However, on May 19, 2015, the 3L Towing Services proprietor, Leny Garcia, wrote Mabilog and offered to withdraw from the agreement “amidst the legal issues confronting it and submit to legal processes prescribed by laws on government bidding and procurement.”

The complainant, Plaridel Nava II, the SP chairman of the committee on transportation, accused Mabilog of actually owning the tow company and claimed the mayor had a direct financial interest in the agreement.

Rio N. Araja

Scrutinize bidders on MRT related projects, solon says

By Maricel V. Cruz A PARTY-LIST lawmaker on Wednesday appealed to the Department of Transportation to stand its ground not to allow the Busan Universal Rail Inc. to bid on the three Metro Rail Transit projects.

At the same time, Anakpawis Party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao cautioned the DoTr to also scrutinize other potential bidders particularly the former MRT maintenance provider.

“The DoTR should learn from its past mistakes not only for the safety of the riding public but also to government funds that have not been maximized due to onerous contracts and rotten service,” Casilao said.

“We remind DoTR secretary Art Tugade that he only got five months to make the necessary improvement. If he fails, resigning should be on top of his option,” he added.

Casilao made the statement in response to the exposè of Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles that the Busan Transportation Corp. and Edison Development & Construction have been qualified as bidders for three major DoTr projects. This, despite the fact that its maintenance contract for Metro Rail Transit Line 3 has been terminated due to its sloppy services and alleged anomalous dealings with the government.

Nograles earlier said what is even worse is that the Busan Transportation Corp. and Edison Development & Construction— who should be held accountable and responsible in turning the MRT 3 into shambles, is the lone bidder for the maintenance of LRT Line 2.

Casilao maintained that the government should be the one which operates the MRT which includes its maintenance.

GUTTED. Photo shows the facade of Ka Freddie Aguilar’s house in Barangay North Fairview, Quezon City which was gutted a fire on Tuesday. Manny Palmero

Fire hits QC residence of music icon Aguilar

By Rio N. Araja

A

22-MINUTE fire hit the house of musician Freddie Aguilar in Barangay North Fairview in Quezon City late Tuesday night.

Damage to properties Eight people from the ported safe and unharmed. was estimated at P13 mil- family household, includAccording to fire problion to P15 million. ing Aguilar’s wife, were re- ers, the household members

Ex-SolGen rejects deal with Marcoses

By Rey E. Requejo FORMER Solicitor General Florin Hilbay has expressed objection to the proposed compromise agreement between the government and the heirs of the late President Ferdinand Marcos.

Hilbay also called on Filipinos to fight the reported proposal submitted by Marcos loyalist and lawyer Oliver Lozano to the Office of the President.

The former chief state lawyer noted that all three presidents in between the late former President Corazon Aquino and former President Benigno Aquino III—Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo —have tried to enter into a compromise deal with the Marcoses in order to recover the billions of their alleged ill-gotten wealth.

“All failed because Filipinos loudly resisted. We shouldn’t make Duterte an exception,” Hilbay said, in a post on his Twitter account last Tuesday.

The former Solicitor General made the statement after Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed that the Palace has received a copy of the draft agreement from Lozano.

However, Roque immediately clarified that no deal has been made yet with the Marcos family to facilitate the return of their ill-gotten wealth to the government. He said the Palace has not even acted on the proposal yet, including a creation of a legal team to study the compromise deal.

were all asleep when the fire broke out at 11:06 p.m.

Aguilar was reportedly at his bar in Timog Ave. when the fire broke out.

His pregnant wife, Jovie, who was on the second floor, jumped on the rooftop of a neighbor’s house.

The fire was put out at 11:38 p.m.

All of Aguilar’s prized possessions, such as records of his music and awards, musical instruments and antique collections, went into flame.

Aguilar was only able to save a guitar.

The fire started from Aguilar’s music room on the ground floor at about 11:06 p.m. on Tuesday.

Manila

Standard

Globe at Home launches unlimited plans with no lock-up!

Surf and stream all you want, no strings attached TODAY

Globe has heard the clamor of its customers thus Globe At Home is set to launch its unlimited broadband plans, but this time without the standard 24-month lock-up period.

“We are bringing you new and improved unlimited plans with absolutely no data caps and the first in the market to have no lock-up period,” says Martha Sazon, SVP for Globe At Home. “With our unlimited broadband plans that have no lock up, you will be able test both speed and service without being tied to a long-term commitment,” Sazon added.

These wired plans start at P1,699 a month, which come with unlimited surfing and streaming up to 5Mbps. Faster speeds are also available with the following plans: Plan 1899 for speeds up to 10, 15 or 20Mbps, Plan 2499 for speeds up to 50Mbps, and Plan 2899 for speeds up to 100 Mbps.

To avail of this offer, interested parties need only pay for a one-time modem fee of P2,500 or P4,500 depending on the chosen plan. Those who choose to discontinue their subscription within the first 15 days will get a 100% refund of their modem fee upon the return of the modem and telephone set provided during installation. For those looking for an option without modem fees, 24-month contract plans are also available.

All plans come with a free landline phone with unlimited calls to Globe and TM for 24 months, six months access Netflix and Disney Channel Apps for award-winning and child-friendly content, and two months access to HOOQ for local favorites.

“Introducing Filipinos to more and more legitimate content sources such as Netflix, Disney and HOOQ and campaigning against illegitimate content has enabled us to bring back our unlimited plans. Streaming is now becoming the new norm.” said Sazon. With customers now moving to content streaming, they can now enjoy unlimited access to their favorite shows at home, free from worries such as malware, viruses and identity theft,” Sazon added. “You can expect us to continue and put up a stronger fight against illegitimate content this year with #PlayItRight” said Sazon.

New customers can apply for the new Globe at Home plans online, in Globe Stores, at local activations and through accredited Globe sales personnel. Existing customers can also apply for an upgrade via the Globe At Home app. Customers of other broadband providers may enjoy zero monthly service fees for the first three months when they switch to Globe At Home. Simply apply for an unlimited plan, pay the one-time modem fee and provide proof of current billing from your current broadband provider.

Promo period is from January 8 to June 30, 2018.

To check the availability of Globe At Home plans in your area, visit https:// checkavailability.globe.com.ph. For more information on the new unlimited plans, visit the website at https://shop.globe.com.ph/broadband, call the Globe hotline at 730-1010, or visit any Globe Store.

A4

Opinion

THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

A soft spot for Stupid

T

HE chief of the Philippine National Police wants us to believe that as long as one has good intentions and no ill intent, it is all right to be stupid.

Director General Ronald dela Rosa made these stupefying statements as he defended Mandaluyong cops who botched an operation last week. The blunder cost two lives.

He pitied them, he said. They were only doing their jobs.

“It is better to be stupid with a clean heart rather than be smart but

with bad intentions, like shooting drug pushers with whom they used to do business. That I cannot accept,” Dela Rosa said in his usual emotive manner.

“But to shoot because they had wrong information, at least there was regularity in the performance of their duty.”

Regularity?

Where is the regularity, and the virtue, in acting on unverified information?

The Mandaluyong cops shot at a vehicle they believed were carrying suspects in a shooting incident. It turned out that the vehicle carried a shooting victim, instead, who was

being rushed to hospital. She never stood a chance. Another individual, a construction worker who was helping assisting the victim, also died from gunshot wounds.

According to Dela Rosa, the cops’ mistake could be traced to faulty training. He hinted too that they could have been equally wrong if they had not believed the “intelligence.”

“Damned if you do, damned if you don’t” was the term he used, without elaborating how cops should already have the skills to ascertain information passed on to them.

Again, Mr. Dela Rosa wants to distract the public from the real is-

sue at hand. Competence and good intentions are not mutually exclusive, and any attempt at diluting the accountability of erring policemen is just gross, criminal oversimplification—an insult to the mental faculties of the general public.

This soft spot for stupidity also sets a dangerous precedent: What if those with bad intentions, in an attempt to disguise their impunity, claim they committed an honest mistake? Will we be any less forgiving, then?

More ridiculous ideas are coming out of the PNP chief’s head. He really must be looking forward to his retirement.

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Why is there no campaign against jueteng?

WHEN President Duterte launched his war on illegal drugs, criminality and corruption, I distinctly recall that he said he would also go after those involved in the illegal numbers game.

Jueteng is one of these numbers games. It is a carryover from pre-Spanish times, when Chinese traders came here to trade with us. It became popular in Luzon, and even in Visayas and Mindanao under the name of masiao.

The game is illegal because the gambling lords who profit from it do not pay taxes. It continues to exist in central Luzon, Tagalog provinces, Bicol peninsula and even in Ilocandia.

Have the lords become that powerful?

Getting TRAIN going LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES THE Philippines, according to a recent worldwide Gallup poll, is the third happiest place on the planet. But if the government isn’t careful, that unusually giddy ranking could slide to more realistically despondent levels in the new year.

This year marks the first that the Duterte administration is implementing a painful but necessary tax reform program, known by its more easily remembered acronym TRAIN. And already, there are signs that President Rodrigo Duterte’s tax scheme may be headed for a bumpy ride.

The TRAIN program seeks to swap tax breaks for more Filipinos while raising

more revenues to fund the Duterte government’s ambitious multi-trillion-peso infrastructure program.

The first part is intended to provide relief to taxpayers who haven’t had their rising incomes adjusted for inflation in relation to the taxes they pay in two decades; the second is a lot more difficult to swallow, especially since more goods, like petroleum products, new automobiles and sugar-flavored drinks, will be slapped with more taxes.

I have no doubt in my mind that TRAIN is a needful piece of tax legislation that only a strong leader like Duterte can dare implement.

But the government, especially Malacanañg Palace, can do a better job of easing the pain that comes with new taxes if it isn’t always being sidetracked by issues that do not have as direct an

effect on the taxpayers.

This week, the first in which TRAIN would have gone into effect, Malacañang’s spokesman was still busy with non-essential

When is the presidential spokesman speaking for the President, and when is he speaking for himself? stuff, like parrying questions about a so-called compromise deal with the Marcos family, the lack of fitness of United Nations special rapporteur Agnes

Callamard and (most egregious of all) blind-item speculation on government officials who will reportedly soon be fired. As far as I could tell, from reading the newspapers, there was no all-important briefing on the effects of TRAIN for businessmen and wage workers alike, the people who are dying to know more about the new tax breaks and taxes.

My former colleague on this page, the current presidential spokesman Harry Roque, must take the blame for this. Roque, after all, runs the daily Palace media briefing—and all of the reactions of the palace to these aforementioned and ultimately unimportant issues lobbed at him by reporters came from his mouth.

I don’t understand why Roque would focus on these non-essential stories when

there’s a huge TRAIN threatening—if you believe the government’s critics—to run us all over in the new year.

But I have a suspicion that for the presidential spokesman, taxes are topics that are not “sexy” enough for Malacañang to expound upon.

Of course, it’s been long suspected that Roque agreed to leave his partylist congressman’s seat because what he really wants is to run for the Senate. And this gig as Duterte’s spokesman, by his supposed calculations, is going to get him there by raising his profile in the public’s and the media’s eye.

Like some observers of the Palace, I’ve also asked myself the question that must follow, if it is true that Roque is only using his position to get into the Senate: When is the presidential spokesman speaking for the

President, and when is he really speaking for himself? *** I am sure that Duterte— if he was still speaking for himself like he used to do early on in his administration instead of trusting Roque to do that job for him —would probably want the people to know more about TRAIN. The President, after all, called the passage of the law that enabled his tax reform package one of the most important pieces of legislation that he approved so far.

These days, especially, when every sort of business wants to take advantage of TRAIN by jacking up prices and pointing (most unfairly) to the program as the culprit, Malacañang and its propaganda arm must decide if they want to divert the people’s attention with

The reason it exists is that 30 percent to 40 percent of the profits also goes to local government units, police and barangay included.

Santa Banana, it goes all the way up to Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo, and sometimes to parishes!

My gulay, gambling lords even get elected to government positions!

Strangely, the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal gambling never came to pass. I wonder why. *** According to officials of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, the government struck hard against jueteng with the expanded and aggressive conduct of Small Town Lottery. It had revenues of

Turn to A5

Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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

ONLINE

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

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

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

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

Managing Editor Associate Editors City Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

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

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion

THIS year, don’t count on the social networks to provide its core service: An uncensored platform for every imaginable view.

The censorship has already begun, and it’ll only get heavier.

A 2017 law in Germany obliging social networks to delete hate speech as soon as it’s reported or face massive fines went into effect on Jan. 1—and immediately claimed its first “victim.”

On New Year’s Eve, Beatrix von Storch, a legislator from the far-right Alternative for Germany party, took issue with a harmless tweet in Arabic sent by the state police of North RhineWestphalia, which often communicates in ethnic minorities’ languages. “What the hell is going on in this country?” she tweeted in response. “Do you mean to soften up the barbaric, Muslim, group-raping male hordes in this way?”

On Monday, von Storch’s tweet was gone and her Twitter account briefly suspended. She posted a screenshot of the tweet on Facebook, only to see it struck down, too. Alice Weidel, an AfD co-leader, stood up for her comrade, tweeting, “Censorship!

Our authorities surrender to imported, marauding, grabbing, fighting, knifesticking migrant mobs.

Beatrix von Storch correctly criticizes German police for tweeting in Arabic—and is closed down.”

That tweet still survives, though, according to the AfD, Twitter has notified Weidel that it received a complaint about it.

If the deletions continue, the AfD is likely to fight them in the courts: Antiimmigrant messages on social media are the primary way the party sustains its support. Before they disappear from Germany’s national dialogue, they’ll shift their strategy to something more amenable to the networks, perhaps even the Aesopian language of Communist-era dissidents.

Von Storch is already testing the waters, tweeting sarcastically, “There are no barbarians among the group-raping male hordes.

Especially not when they’re Muslims. I find it fantastic that they feel good here and have fun. So?” This turned out to be too confusing for Twitter to delete.

In Germany, the social network censorship debate will be about the definition of hate speech, which the networks will almost certainly interpret as loosely as possible to avoid conflicts with the authorities. Even if forces such as the AfD manage to get their messages reinstated, new offenses are inevitable unless courts move against the law.

Censorship is by no means limited to Germany. In late December, Facebook banned Ramzan Kadyrov, the warlord

Getting...

From A4

political bread and circuses or if they must counteract the efforts to sabotage TRAIN even before it leaves the station.

No one is going to be happy about paying more if the government fails to explain that the new impositions will actually lead to a better life, because funding for all Duterte’s infrastructure and other vital projects will now be secured. No one gladly pays higher taxes to begin with—but informing them about the good that the money they are handing over to the government would certainly go a long way toward easing TRAIN’s early journey.

By the way, Roque had to backtrack on his striptease about top officials about to be fired by Duterte yes-

leader of the Chechen Republic, from its main service and from Instagram, where he alternated between workout videos and patriotic declarations. Facebook explained it had to do so because Kadyrov had just been added to the US government’s sanctions list —an excuse that collapses under the weight of all the sanctioned individuals who retain their accounts.

If US-based social networks expand this policy of shutting down individuals simply because Washington considers them toxic, journalists will have few reasons to applaud. Kadyrov’s Instagram account, for one, was a useful source of information for reporters covering Chechnya.

Of course, Kadyrov still posts on the Russia-based Vkontakte, a reminder that it will be nearly impossible to fully silence someone in the age of social media. But the platforms themselves lose their meaning in such a world. They make far more sense when literally anyone—a German racist, a Chechen near-feudal lord— can say whatever they want.

If there’s going to be author and message selection, why not just use traditional media, where the writing is better and professional journalists have already combed the different raw information channels? We’re definitely allowed to quote the AfD messages that Twitter and Facebook feels they must remove, and even US media can publish Kadyrov’s statements despite the sanctions against him.

As a media industry worker, I resent the unfairness of competing with social media. They seized the advertising market by making questionable promises about their audience size and by reusing and recycling our content without paying for it.

I welcome any development that levels the playing field.

But while censorship makes life harder for them and thus helps professional media, there are far better kinds of regulation.

There’s a growing body of research that shows the internet platforms’ business models are conducive to the spread of fake news, as well as hate speech. Regulators should resist the urge to waste time on individual cases in Germany and elsewhere and instead of strike at the fundamentals of the problem: anonymity. Without it, the Facebooks of the world would have a far more difficult time inflating user numbers, avoiding legal responsibility for published content, and continuing to make money off content they don’t help create. The limitations of selective censorship and the ability of paid trolls and dedicated activists to bypass it will become obvious this year —and so will the need for better ways to make sure the social media companies join the ranks of responsible media. Bloomberg terday, apparently upon receiving orders that the bloodbath wasn’t going to happen just yet. I’m still shaking my head because Roque found it of terrible importance to resort to showbiz-style blind itemmongering to begin with —and now he can’t even deliver on his plan to publicly declare the names that he promised to declare.

Roque may be many things and accomplished in a lot of them. But as a spokesman for the president, he still doesn’t know what he’s supposed to be doing—to set the agenda for the media in order to push the government’s important programs.

Until Roque understands that he is Duterte’s mouthpiece, he will never really get it. And that is sure to make a lot of people—perhaps even Roque himself, in the future—really sad.

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

A promising year ahead

The year of censored social media

By Leonid Bershidsky

THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2018

OVERSIGHT DANILO SUAREZ 2016 was a good year to us, as we transitioned into a new administration. It was a year that brought about “change” in our country in many aspects. Came year 2017, we continued to adapt to these changes. It was a year filled with unexpected events that challenged our nation, such as the Maute terror attack, which led to the loss of many lives, displacement of many residents, damage to property, and the President’s declaration of Martial Law to the whole of Mindanao.

Despite these challenges, we stood as one nation and were able to end the year on a good note.

The first package of the tax reform, also known as the “Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN),” and the 2018 national budget were finally signed by the President into law.

Many of us are wondering—how would our 2018 be? No one can really tell our nation’s fate right now; but at least we have good things to look forward to this year.

With the implementation of TRAIN, workers earning P250,000 and below are exempted from paying personal income tax; hence, minimum wage earners can now enjoy their full earnings. The increased excise taxes on automobiles, tobacco, coal, and sugar-sweetened beverages will generate more revenue for the government to finance its “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure development program. The Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs were also given higher collection targets this year.

We also look forward to an improved collection efficiency of these agencies, as Department of Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez promised to strictly implement RA 9335, or the Lateral Attrition Law. Similarly, we look forward to the Duterte administration’s Build, Build, Build infrastructure program. Starting this year, we would have to endure heavier traffic jams due to the construction of several roads and railways; but this is the bullet we have to bite if we want to harvest long-term results.

We expect the completion of the construction of the MRT 7 and the MRT Common Station by 2019; so this year, we will have to be more patient about the less tolerable metro traffic condition.

Before 2017 came to a close, the House Committee on Public Works and Highways approved two of my most important bills, which aim to improve road systems in the provinces to improve trade, and to provide the Filipino people better access to good paying jobs, and to provide for faster delivery of basic social services. House Bill 599, or “An Act Mandating the Construction of the Quezon-Bicol Expressway,” will connect the South Luzon Expressway from Quezon to Sorsogon. I am hopeful that the Department of Public Works and Highways will be able to make significant progress on this project starting this year. I am also excited about the construction of the “Pacific Corridor,” as all Committee members agreed to co-sponsor my bill, House Bill 3883 or, “An Act Providing of the Construction of the Pacific Palisades Superhighway Connecting the

Provinces of Bicol, Quezon, Aurora, Quirino, Isabela, and Cagayan.” The planning and execution of such an ambitious project is not easy, so I do not expect immediate results; but I hope the agency will soon take significant steps for the progress of this project.

The past two years of the Duterte government were also focused on the intensified campaign against illegal drugs. While we have seen significant improvement in the eradication of illegal drugs in the country, illegal drugs continued to proliferate.

Hence, with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) leading this campaign, we expect that they would go after the big drug lords and dealers, and get to the real roots of this illegal drug problem.

We are also looking forward to the rehabilitation of the battle-scarred Marawi City, which according to Task Force Bangon Marawi Chairperson Eduardo del Rosario, will start by the second semester of 2018.

Before 2017 ended, Congress voted for the extension of the implementation of Martial Law to the whole of Mindan-

ao for the entire year of 2018. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that, “remnants of (terror) groups continue to rebuild through recruitment, training and fundraising.”

Furthermore, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea stated: “There is still a state of rebellion ready to explode anew at any time.” The Martial Law extension is aimed at ensuring the safety and security of the Filipino people.

The government should learn from its mistakes from the previous years.

This 2018, it should cease its perpetual mistake of underspending, most especially because it was given a higher budget this year. I hope that the government agencies, as promised during the budget deliberations, will ensure the full utilization of their respective allocated budgets.

The government cannot do everything on its own.

We too have a responsibility to fulfill. As Filipino people, let us help the government in reaching its goals for the benefit of our entire nation. Together, let’s move towards a better Philippines. Happy New Year!

Dead in 25 years DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA A FEW weeks ago, President said Metro Manila would be dead in 25 years.

What he meant of course was that the Metropolitan area will no longer be a livable place. He stopped there and did not make any further statements as to what should be done to avert this impending environmental and social catastrophe.

This is perhaps because there are very few options he can see that could be undertaken to mitigate the urban decay now going on or simply because he is resigned to the inevitable.

This problem, however, is not only peculiar to the National Capital Region.

We see it happening in many metropolitan areas in countries around the world.

In fact, the urban problems in many Asian and African metropolitan mega cities are far worse than ours.

Throughout the world today, there are already 512 cities with more than 1 million people but only 31 are so-called mega cities.

Of the 50 most populated urban metropolitan areas, 18 are in China while five

Why...

From A4

P18 billion in 2017.

What PCSO officials are not saying is that the STL has also been dominated by gambling lords.

Amid all this, now comes the power struggle with Atong Ang and Sandra Cam in tandem against the PCSO. This erupted in the wake of Cam’s appointment as PCSO director and her exposé of the P10-million Christmas party at a posh hotel. The agency’s general manager denied this—the party only cost P6 million, he said.

So-called “Concerned PCSO Employees” came out with full-page advertisements saying they deserved

are in India.

Our own Metro Manila which comprises an area of 619.57 square kilometers is the 32nd largest city according to one study that I consulted, with about 13 million people.

It has a population density of about 19,988 people per square kilometer, which is sixty times higher than the national average.

The city of Manila, on the other hand, has a population density of about 46,000 per square km which has been adjudged as the highest in the world.

We know of course, that if we add the municipalities and cities within commuting distance of the NCR, the population balloons to about 24 million people which would put NCR in the top 10 of the most populated urban centers in the world.

Yet, the population increase in the NCR continues to outpace the national average and although we see a certain degree of government response, these are all inadequate to avert the scenario painted by the President from happening in 25 years.

This is also true in many cities all over the country because of our burgeoning national population.

Baguio, a city originally planned for 25,000 people has now a popula-

tion of about 350,000 and growing. This basically destroyed the beautiful landscape of the city but nothing or very little is being done to deal with this huge problem.

In fact, some aspects of urban life being projected 25 years hence are already being experienced during certain days by everyone.

Monumental traffic gridlock, environmental pollution, overcrowding, and diminishing open spaces because of population pressure are but a few.

If we go to other cities like Lagos in Nigeria, Calcutta in India or Metro Jakarta which is very near us, the situation in these places are worse than in the NCR. Today, of the more than 7.5 billion people who inhabit the planet, 50 percent live in an urban environment and this will go up to 60 percent by 2030.

There have been some proposals in the past to transfer our seat of government somewhere and leave Metro Manila as the economic center. I have not been hearing this proposal lately. But if ever this proposal is taken up seriously, where could the seat of government be transferred? We are after all a very small country and there are no longer plenty of open spaces left

large enough to develop.

We have seen this in some big countries like Turkey and Brazil. For Turkey, the seat of government was moved to Ankara and Brazil developed Brasilia to be its capital city.

In Metro Manila, we see reclamation projects being undertaken mostly be private companies in Manila Bay as new commercial centers but these activities are continuously being slowed down because of the opposition of concerned environmental organizations.

But if one looks at it, reclamation is probably the only viable option to find more land areas to satisfy the need for more spaces to expand. And whether some sectors like it or not, these reclamation projects will continue into the future not only simply because of the need but there is really no other area for expansion.

This is why the government should take the lead and come up with an overall development plan to avoid unplanned development that the government will regret in the future.

In fact, it is already happening in some of the areas that have already been reclaimed. A mixed land use is emerging simply because zoning is not being implemented vigorously

in the reclaimed areas.

As we all know, a wellplanned development always considers proportional allocation of areas for residential, roads, open spaces and commercial spaces to be able to come out with a well balanced growth that considers the impact of any future activity.

We need wider roads, bigger open spaces to constitute so called “breathing spaces” and recreational areas. If in the future the government would really like to move the seat of government, the area around Corregidor could be reclaimed with the island remaining undeveloped to be the forested and recreational area of a new city.

Of course, the reclamation effort of this nature has to be a gigantic effort because to build a new city to constitute a new seat of government, we are talking of an area of at least between 50 to 80 square kilometres and will take years to complete but if our timeline is 25 years before the metro “dies,” there is time.

That is if the government chooses this way forward.

But if the preferred solution is more of the same, then death, in the words of the President, is inevitable.

the P6-million party. They lambasted Cam’s exposé.

But who paid for those ads?

I am not taking the side of Cam. Far from it—I believe she has her own agenda.

Still, I think Congress needs to investigate this whole matter. *** If it is true that at least 10 associate justices of the Supreme Court are testifying against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, then there would be more than enough proof to establish probable cause against her and the impeachment case will be transmitted to the Senate.

The 1987 Constitution lists the grounds for impeach ment—bet rayal of public trust, treason,

culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery and other high crimes.

The most damning testimony came from former Solicitor General and now Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza, who said that Sereno made public a confidential document on the Philippine case versus China on territorial claims. Jardeleza said this was treason.

Since it’s a foregone conclusion that Sereno would be impeached and would be tried by the Senate, she still has the option to resign or retire.

A chief justice must have moral rectitude demanded of her position.

She has lost this. *** The reported compro-

mise between the Duterte administration and the Marcoses over the wealth of the late President Ferdinand Marcos raises a lot of questions.

I wonder—why did Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo accept the proposal of Oliver Lozano when the latter was not even representing the Marcoses?

At the rate the alleged deal is getting adverse reactions from many sectors, it may as well be headed to the garbage bin. *** The Commission on Audit has commissioners appointed by former President Benigno Aquino III. Their silence over the Dengvaxia deal is deafening.

In yesterday’s column

I wrote about the observation of a retired commissioner that the use of savings by ex-Budget Secretary Florencio Abad was legally infirm. The retired official said such use of savings is not authorized by the General Appropriations Act. The Constitution mandates that savings should revert to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund.

So why are incumbent CoA officials not saying anything on the controversial purchase of the antidengue vaccines?

I think they better speak up—or else we would think they do not want to touch the former president, his former Health secretary Janette Garin, and Abad.

News

A6

THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Justify taxi fare hike, operators told IN BRIEF

T

AXI operators should justify why a P10 additional fare increase from the current flagdown rate of P40 is necessary, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said Wednesday.

LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada said a petition should be filed for the Board to hear the operators’ views, as well as the side of the commuters that will be affected by the

fare hike.

“If there is a petition for fare increase by taxi operators or any transport group, they need to justify why the Board should grant a fare increase and

what services will be delivered. Likewise we need to hear the side of the commuters’ group before the Board issues an order,” Lizada said in a text message to reporters.

“If there is any request for a fare hike, it needs to go through a process. A petition must be filed by a petitioner,” she added.

In a radio interview Wednesday, Philippine National Taxi Operators

Association president Bong Suntay said they are asking for an additional P10 over the current P40 flagdown rate, P13.50 for every kilometer of distance travelled and P2.50 for waiting time to mitigate the impact on drivers and operators of the higher excise tax for oil products under the new Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.

The number of taxis

operating in Metro Manila has significantly dropped because of high operating costs, and will be further affected by the impact of the TRAIN law unless a fare increase is granted by the LTFRB, Suntay added.

The LTFRB last granted an increase of taxi fares in October with rates set at P40 for the flag down rate, P13.50 for every kilometer of distance travelled, and P2 per

minute of waiting time.

Under the TRAIN law, an initial excise tax of P2.50 per liter shall be imposed on diesel this year, eventually increasing to P6 per liter by 2020.

The Department of Energy has advised oil companies not to impose the new excise taxes to old stocks of petroleum products, as these are levied on importation and not at the point of sale to consumers. PNA

Senate proposals of quality —Pimentel

By Macon R. Araneta SENATE President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel exhorted his colleagues on Wednesday to focus on quality instead of the quantity of their legislative performance in Congress.

“We must all change our mindset—from quantity to quality,” said Pimentel, reacting to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s criticism of the Senate, calling it “mabagal na kapulungan” or slow chamber.

Pimentel told Alvarez not to judge lawmaking in terms of the number of laws passed, but on how the laws passed would improve the quality of life on earth in general and the quality of life of Filipinos in particular.

“Again I say: Change mindset. Quality not quantity,” said Pimentel, also president of the ruling Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino.

Speaker Alvarez sits as the secretary-general of PDP-Laban, whose national chairman is President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a text message to reporters, the Senate leader emphasized that quality over quantity has always been the mindset of the Senate on the deliberation and approval of proposed measures.

“The Senate is the nagaaral na kapulungan [the studious chamber],” said Pimentel.

He said it’s but natural for more bills to emanate from the House because local bills originate from the lower chamber.

“All bills renaming and or merging schools, increasing hospital beds, etc., must and do come from the House,” said Pimentel.

In a separate text message, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said their chamber acts “slow but sure.”

“May kasabihan: ‘Ang tumatakbo ng matulin, ’pag natinik ay malalim, [‘There’s a saying: He who runs fast gets deeper puncture wounds],” he added.

HAZMAT TRUCKS. Hazardous Material (HazMat) Apparatus Trucks are used in responding to emergencies that involve potentially hazardous materials.

To prepare for such emergency, the city set aside P3.3 million to purchase the truck, while P6.18 million was allocated for the accompanying Decontamination Shower System and additional equipment like the Hazmat suits (Level A, B and C). Rescue personnel will also undergo various HazMat skills training in 2018, to update their knowledge in scenarios that involve handling hazardous materials like chemical fires, toxic spills, or contaminated facilities. Andrew Rabulan

Inside job not ruled out in Mabuhay Manor robbery, say cops

By Joel E. Zurbano POLICE are looking at the possibility of an inside job on the robbery of the Mabuhay Manor Hotel in Pasay City, where cash and valuables of the establishment and its guests worth a combined P4 million were looted within five minutes at dawn after New Year’s Day. All possible angles are still being explored at this stage, according to Southern Police District spokesperson Jenny Tecson.

Tecson said an in-depth investigation is being conducted on the employees of the Mabuhay Manor. She added the Pasay City police is still looking at the inside job angle “since the management of the hotel failed to deposit their hotel income to the bank during a holiday season.”

“Right now, it is premature to conclude [that angle] and it is very early in investigations, but we are not ruling out the possibility. All angles will be taken into consideration by the Pasay police when carrying out investigations. We will keep you updated for the development,” said Tecson.

She revealed that a special team has also been formed to look into the case. “Composed tracker team from Pasay is now conducting follow-up investigation to identify and locate the whereabouts of the perpetrators.”

On Jan. 2, four men with short firearms barged into the hotel situated on the corner of Ortigas and F.B. Harrison streets, grabbed the .38-cal revolver service firearm of the duty security guard Jho-An Jabagat, and announced the heist around 3:19 a.m.

Pasay City police deputy chief for operations Supt.

Gene Licud said investigators are collecting footage from security cameras installed inside the hotel and on the roads and buildings near the scene to identify the suspects.

“We are collecting the needed information from security cameras from the nearby buildings and those operated by the barangays to determine their escape route.

They used the main roads when escaping from the scene, leading us to believe the entire robbery could have been plotted earlier,” he said.

Licud said at least seven statements have been recorded from witnesses at the scene to date. Police also invited hotel staff on duty at the time of the robbery for questioning, to shed light on the case.

“It seems the robbery took only five minutes,” he said.

“This is the first [incident of robbery] time that happened here in Pasay.”

Police sources said the robbers seemed to know who among the guests had a lot of valuables at the time of the heist.

One of the hotel guests, Dominador Castro, a 57- yearold Filipino-American and resident of 1062 Cuatro De Hulyo Street, Baclaran, Parañaque City, was robbed of cash and valuables, including one Presidente Rolex wrist watch (solid gold) valued at US$30,000, an iPhone 6S with Bluetooth headset valued at US$700, color red Adidas backpack worth US$5, gold necklace with pendant worth US$ 15,000, and a gold ring worth US$10,000.

Some relatives of Castro—

New NCR Army chief has eyes on Traslacion parade

By Francisco Tuyay THE Army’s top anti-terrorism official in Sulu has been designated chief protector of Metro’s Manila’s security, raising his responsibilities to include securing the seat of government against all forms of threats.

Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, formerly head of Joint Task Force Sulu, assumes office Wednesday as chief of the Armed Forces National Capital Region Command, with a mandate to ensure peace and order —the most urgent of which is the safety of millions of devotees gracing the Black Nazarene procession or “Traslacion” on Tuesday, Arrojado said although there’s no looming terror threat in the annual Traslacion, some 500 personnel under his command will be deployed along the entire route of the Black

Nazarene for a smooth and peaceful event.

“So far, as I assumed [command], I have studied updates and situations, we always consider the possibility of terrorism, but it is not as verified,” Arrojado said.

“Except for the usual criminality and other [petty crimes], so far, in my capacity as new chief, there has been none. Unless there is, then we will be prepared for it,” he added.

Millions of devotees of the religious icon are expected to participate during the annual procession that runs from the Luneta Grandstand to the periphery of the Quiapo District.

The 500 soldiers from the JTF NCR will augment the Philippine National Police, the lead agency tasked to institute peace and security to the devotees and the people gracing the religious event.

Josephine Tadoy and Roberto Castro—who accompanied him at the hotel, and other hotel guests were not spared by the robbers, who also took their cash, mobile phones, gadgets, jewelries and important personal belongings.

Police said the hotel’s cash register at the front desk containing its daily income of at least P53,000 and company phone worth P6,000 were also taken by the robbers.

Investigators initially described the robbers as armed males between 25 to 30 years old, three of them wearing face masks.

They said the robbers disarmed and took the firearm of the lone security guard, then went to the lobby of the hotel, declared the heist and divested the victims of cash and personal belongings for about five minutes.

Bill tags La Union as surfing capital

THE House of Representatives has submitted for Senate concurrence House Bill 6683, which declares the province of La Union a tourist destination and the “Surfing Capital of the North.”

The bill was authored

by Rep. Vini Nola Ortega of Abono party-list and approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives.

Ortega said the proposal aims not only to showcase the beauty and splendor of La Union’s beaches but to encourage sports, health awareness and true appreciation of nature, the environment, and the importance of its continued upkeep and development, among locals and tourists.

"The La Union town of San Juan attracts thousands of tourists every year during its two surfing seasons: July to October and November to March every year," Ortega said.

The local government also holds events, festivals, and even healthy competitions during the surfing seasons, Ortega added.

Under HB 6683, the Department of Tourism and other concerned agencies will develop La Union as tourist destinations.

Within one year after the approval of the Act, the DoT, in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and other concerned agencies, shall prepare a tourism development plan involving the construction, installation and maintenance of such appropriate facilities and infrastructure that shall develop and promote the beaches and surfing activities of the province.

Maricel V. Cruz

Standardized NFA TORs set THE National Food Authority is set to implement in 2018 a standard Terms of Reference for its contracted services such as security, trucking, hauling and warehouse handling, among others.

“The standardization of TORs for service contracts will realize a true, transparent and competitive bidding in NFA services. It is one of my priority reform measures since I assumed stewardship of the agency,” NFA administrator Jason L. Y. Aquino said.

A standard TOR for security services was recently finalized and will be implemented starting this month in all the agency’s offices nationwide.

During his first few days as head of NFA, Aquino noted that contracts, memoranda of agreement and memoranda of understanding entered into by NFA’s central and field offices varied in form and content, even if they were compliant with pertinent provisions of the law.

For example, every contract is covered by TOR, but TORs for similar contracts varied in the various offices of the agency.

CAAP issues temporary certification to Naia ops

HOLIDAYS END. The influx of travelers at the immigration departure area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 is a regular sight in the days after Christmas. Eric Apolonio

THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines on Wednesday issued a Temporary Aerodrome Certificate to the Manila International Airport Authority after meeting 81 percent of the requirements of the facility and its operation.

“It’s temporary because we have still five things to comply with. We are going to correct these five aspects, which is part of giving MIAA the final certification for the aerodrome,” airport general manager Eddie Monreal said.

Monreal described the items as: 1) leveling road mounds between Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals 2 and 4; 2) putting up maps to the airport’s runway coordinates; 3) the wildlife hazard management plans; 4) Facility operations manual; and 5) updated aeronautical information publication.

The MIAA chief is optimistic his office will fix all five items before June this year.

“It’s a big challenge, but we have to do it,” he said.

Eight years ago, the MIAA was told to resolve some of the requirements the International Civil Aviation Organization found lacking after its audit with CAAP. Although there was compliance of about 60 percent over the years, the MIAA was not given a chance to get the aerodrome certificate, the agency said.

Monreal said initially they had about 500 items to comply with. The number was reduced to 129 in 2010, and just 60 last year. Last September, the aviation regulator told MIAA that it was necessary to comply with the issues as part of the requirement based on the ICAO standard. Joel E. Zurbano

Sports

Manila

Standard

TODAY

Thomas debuts with 17 points as Cavaliers win L

OS ANGELES—LeBron James dropped in 24 points and two-time all-star Isaiah Thomas made his Cleveland debut as the Cavaliers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 127-110 on Tuesday night.

The Cavaliers had five players in double figures including Thomas who showed flashes of his offensive skill in a longawaited first game with his fourth National Basketball Association team.

Thomas tallied 17 points in 19 minutes of play as he embarks on a soft return to NBA action following injuries to his hip and shoulder.

“It was great see him get his

first basket and go from there,” James said of Thomas. “He is a spark and the jump we needed on our team right now.”

James also had seven assists and four steals while starters Kevin Love (19) and Jae Crowder (17) scored in double figures for the Cavaliers in the win.

Thomas and Dwyane Wade came off the bench to score 16 and 15 points respectively.

Thomas was traded by the

Boston Celtics along with Crowder, Ante Zizic and two draft picks to Cleveland for Kyrie Irving in the offseason.

Thomas’ last game was May 19, game two of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cavs. He played hurt through the first two rounds of the playoffs, then was furious that Boston traded him.

Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said earlier that Thomas would play restricted minutes on Tuesday.

Even though the Cavaliers’ next game is against the Celtics, Thomas already said he isn’t keen on facing his old teammates just yet.

“I can wait until February,” Thomas said when announcing

his return. “I think we play them in February again, so I can wait and put on a show then.”

Damian Lillard returned to the Blazers lineup from injury and finished with 22 points. Lillard missed five games with a sore right hamstring.

Jusuf Nurkic scored a teamhigh 23 points and CJ McCollum chipped in 19 in the loss.

Elsewhere, LaMarcus Aldridge scored 29 points and Kawhi Leonard had a season-high 25 to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a win over the New York Knicks 100-91.

The victory gave coach Gregg Popovich sole possession of fifth place on the NBA’s coaching wins list. AFP

ERRATUM

Advertising Department 832-5547

In the ORDER published last Dec. 7, 14 & 21, 2017 re: RTC-QC, Branch 100, Perlita O. Alvarico, Petitioner vs.

Yongdeok Lee, The Civil Registrar General, et.al., Respondents - In The copy furnished below the name was omitted and should have included: Yongdeok Lee, 61 Sungcheol-ri, Gojeonmyeon, Hadong-myeon, Gyeongnam, South Korea. Our apology.

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

EXTRA JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

This is to inform the public that Ma. Victoria M. Villarin is no longer connected with Cirrus Global, Inc. effective December 21, 2017.

Any transaction entered into by this person from this date thereafter shall not be honored by the company.

(MS-JAN. 4, 2017)

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE ESTATE OF THE LATE EDILBERTO M. BAUTISTA HAS BEEN E X T R A J U D I C I A L LY SETTLED WITH TRANSFER OF RIGHTS AMONG HIS HEIRS AS PER DOC. NO. 139, PAGE NO. 28; BOOK NO. XXIX; SERIES OF 2017 BEFORE ATTY. HERCULES P. GUZMAN, NOTARY PUBLIC PTR#3804147; 01-042017.

(MS-DEC. 21,28 & JAN. 4, 2018)

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting offers to buy through sealed bid in the auction/bidding of Two (2) parcels of land located at Central Business Park I – Islands B & C of the Bay City, Parañaque City under ITB No. BACD17-002(Re-bidding).

DESCRIPTION Item No. Item Name Item

Location Total Land Area Floor Price Land Title No/s.

Property Use and Encumbrances

By Jeric Lopez

LOT 1 Bay City Properties Two (2) parcels of land purchased by Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) from the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA): a. An area of 3,733 square meters (more or less) covered by Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) No. 010-2014000775 under PAGCOR’s name and a Deed of Absolute Sale dated 19 February 2013; and b. An area of 156,626 square meters (more or less) covered by a Deed of Absolute Sale dated August 16, 2017.

Central Business Park I – Islands B & C of the Bay City, Parañaque City 160,359 square meters (more or less) Php 37,233,130,000.00 (VAT Exclusive, Zero Rated) TCT No. 010-2014000775 is registered under the name of PAGCOR with an area of 3,733 square meters more or less; and TCT No. 010-2014003181 is registered under the name of PRA with an area of 156,626 square meters more or less The Properties are subject of a long-term lease initially in favor of Bloomberry Resorts & Hotels Inc. who built and operate the Solaire Resort & Casino thereon. However, the leasehold rights were later assigned to Sureste Properties, Inc. (“Lessee”).

The lease period is up to July 11, 2033 and is extendible for another term under certain conditions. The Lessee has a Right to Match the highest complying bid for the Properties. The Lessee has mortgaged its leasehold rights over the Properties. In the same vein, the title and rights over the buildings, structures and other improvements thereon were likewise mortgaged to various lenders.

I.

GENERAL CONDITIONS: Disposal of the Real Properties for auction/sale will be on “AS IS – WHERE IS” and on “CASH” basis. The bidder further acknowledges that he has been given every opportunity to investigate, inspect and verify the REAL PROPERTY offered to ascertain the actual conditions thereof as well as the status of the title/tax declaration. Bidder accepts PAGCOR’s disclaimer of any warranty, implied or otherwise, that the assets conform precisely to the description available in the invitation to Bid. Further, the bidder, knowing the risks and assuming the consequences of eviction, accepts PAGCOR’s absolute waiver of warranty therefrom.

2.

Prospective bidders must be Filipino citizens or otherwise authorized by law to acquire real property in the Philippines. In case of a corporation or partnership, 60% of its capital must be owned by Filipino citizens.

3.

Officers and employees of PAGCOR and their relatives within the 4th degree of consanguinity and affinity shall be ineligible to bid.

4.

No bid below the floor price shall be accepted.

5.

Bid shall strictly be in Philippine Currency.

6.

TCT No. 010-2014003181 is covered by a Deed of Absolute Sale between Public Estates Authority (PEA), presently known as Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), and PAGCOR. The land title is still under the name of the PEA, now the PRA. Expenses for the transfer of title from PRA to the winning bidder shall be for the account of the winning bidder.

PAGCOR shall thereafter deliver to the winning bidder TCT No. 010-2014003181 with the covering Deed of Absolute Sale between PAGCOR and PRA, and TCT No. 010-2014000775 free from all liens and encumbrances except the Contract of Lease (and its addenda) executed between PAGCOR and Bloomberry Resorts and Hotels, Inc. (formerly Bloomberry Investments Holdings, Inc.) and the Deed of Assignment between Bloomberry Resorts and Hotels, Inc. and Sureste Properties, Inc. It is expressly understood and agreed that the property shall be used exclusively for the purpose for which it was intended, i.e. that it serves as an integral part of the PAGCOR Entertainment City Project and is to be utilized for the purpose of developing and maintaining thereon a world-class integrated resort in accordance with the plans approved by lessee and PAGCOR. The winning bidder cannot use the property in any manner and for any purpose not consistent with PAGCOR’s Entertainment City Project and must conform to applicable zoning regulations and restrictions.

Furthermore, it is understood that the ownership of the property does not confer to the winning bidder the right to operate gaming facilities and business. A casino license or license to operate gaming operations is NOT part of the sale of the Property. Hence, the winning bidder of the Property shall neither have right nor authority to operate a casino or any other gaming operation. This paragraph shall be inapplicable should the Lessee be declared the highest bidder or is able to match the bona fide offer of the highest bidder.

7.

Pursuant to the Contract of Lease (and its addenda), the Real Property Tax, including arrears, penalties and charges, if any, shall be for the account of the Lessee.

8.

All other applicable taxes including capital gains tax, transfer costs, registration fees, documentary stamps taxes and other expenses incidental to the sale and transfer of the assets shall be for the account of the winning bidder who shall be responsible in causing the transfer/issuance of certificates of title under its name.

9.

The Contract of Lease (and its addenda) between PAGCOR and the Lessee shall be registered and annotated on the title of the subject property. The lease contract shall be binding on the winning bidder. As such, the Lessee’s security of tenure shall be respected and guaranteed.

10. Where a re-survey or re-location of the land applied for is necessary, all expenses therefore including the preparation of plans and other papers shall be defrayed by the winning bidder.

11. PRE-BID CONFERENCE DATE: January 15, 2018 TIME: 2:00 p.m.

VENUE: 5th Floor Meeting Room C, PAGCOR Corporate Office, AG New World Manila Bay Hotel and Casino 1558 M.H. Del Pilar corner Pedro Gil Streets ,Malate, Manila 12. INSPECTION OF PROPERTIES 12.1 Inspection shall commence on January 4, 2018 until January 25, 2018.

12.2 For schedule of inspection, please coordinate with Ms. Shalee D. Nacino, BACD Secretariat at Tel No. (02) 521-1542 local. 258.

13. BIDDING REQUIREMENTS 13.1 Inside a sealed envelope: 13.1.1 Articles of Incorporation / Partnership for corporation/s or partnerships, and proof of citizenship for individuals.

13.1.2 Latest General Information Sheet, if applicable; 13.1.3 Financial Statements, 2016; 13.1.4 Income Tax Return, 2016; 13.1.5 If with Representative, Special Power of Attorney (SPA) or Secretary’s Certificate.

13.1.6 6Terms of Reference and Bid Bulletin (if any) with all pages signed by the bidder or the authorized representative; 13.1.7 Sworn Statement that each of the documents submitted in satisfaction of the bidding requirements is an authentic copy of the original, complete, and all statements and information provided therein are true and correct; and 13.1.8 Photo copy of any government issued ID of the bidder or the authorized representative.

13.1.9 Duly accomplished Bid Form 13.1.10 Bid Bond - equivalent to 10% of the floor price in the form of Manager’s Check issued by any Universal or Commercial Bank payable to “Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation”.

Note: Bid Form and bid bond shall be placed inside a sealed A4 envelope 13.2 The following details shall be written in the envelope: Upper left hand corner: Name of Bidder Address Contact Number Fax Number Center: BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE FOR DISPOSAL (BACD) PHILIPPINE AMUSEMENT AND GAMING CORPORATION PAGCOR Corporate Office AG New World Manila Bay Hotel and Casino 1588 M.H. Del Pilar Street cor. Pedro Gil Streets Malate, Manila.

Name of Property: Bay City Properties ITB Number: BACD17-002(Re-bidding) Bottom: Do not open before 2:00 P.M., January 26, 2018.

13.3 Bid Documents shall be available at Room 202 Engineering Room (c/o Ms. Shalee Nacino) 2nd Floor, PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila (10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.) upon payment of a non-refundable Bidding Fee of P75,000.00.

14. BID BOND 14.1 Failure to post a bidder’s bond shall constitute a ground to reject the bid.

14.2 The bidder’s bond shall be forfeited in favor of PAGCOR in the event of any of the following: 14.2.1 Withdrawal by any bidder of his/her bid during the conduct of the auction, i.e. from 2:00 P.M., January 26, 2018 up to the time the highest and second highest bid has been declared; 14.2.2 Withdrawal by bidder of his bid after the same has been declared the highest bid; and 14.2.3 Refusal of the highest bidder to accept the award/contract for any reason after it has been awarded to him.

14.3 Bid bonds of bidder/s, except that of the highest bidder, shall be returned to them as soon as the highest and second highest bid has been declared or at a reasonable time thereafter and the waiver to file the Motion for Reconsideration/Protest has been signed by the respective bidder.

15. SUBMISSION OF BIDDING REQUIREMENTS 15.1 The Invitation to Bid shall form part of the Terms of Reference.

15.2 Submission and opening of bids shall be on January 26, 2018, 2:00 p.m. at Meeting Room C, 5th Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, AG New World Manila Bay Hotel and Casino, 1558 M. H. Del Pilar corner Pedro Gil Streets, Malate, Manila.

15.3 Bidder / authorized representative shall be present during the auction.

15.4 Bidders shall address and submit their sealed envelopes to: BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE FOR DISPOSAL (BACD) PHILIPPINE AMUSEMENT AND GAMING CORPORATION PAGCOR Corporate Office AG New World Manila Bay Hotel and Casino ,1588 M.H. Del Pilar Street cor. Pedro Gil Sts. Malate, Manila.

15.5 No bids shall be accepted after the scheduled opening date and time.

16. AWARDING 16.1 At least Two (2) bidders must submit a bid tender for the properties to be auctioned. If there is only one offeror then there shall be a failure of bidding.

16.2 The bidder who offers the highest bid (the Bona Fide Offer resulting from the successful bidding process) shall be declared as the highest bidder subject to the provisions specified in item 16.3.

16.3 After the declaration of the highest bidder, the Lessee, in case he participated in the auction but was not declared as such, shall thereat be notified of his Option to Match the highest bid (the “Bona Fide Offer”) within one hundred twenty (120) days in view of the provisions of its existing contract with PAGCOR. If the Lessee did not participate in the auction, it shall be notified in writing of the Bona Fide Offer and shall have a period of one hundred twenty (120) days from receipt of such written notice within which to match the Bona Fide Offer. In order for the Lessee to successfully match the Bona Fide Offer, full payment must be made within the one hundred twenty (120) day period as stated above.

16.4 The highest bidder, in case he/she is not the Lessee, shall be notified in writing in the event the Lessee exercises its Right to Match the Bona Fide Offer.

16.5 Post qualification for the highest bidder or the Lessee, as the case may be, shall be conducted to verify the documents submitted and to clear the bid bond.

16.6 Awarding to the winning bidder shall be subject to the approval of PAGCOR Board of Directors.

16.7 Notice of Award shall be issued after the Board has granted approval.

16.8 In the event of a failed public bidding, PAGCOR may resort to Negotiated Sale consistent with applicable laws, rules and regulations.

17. PAYMENT 17.1 Bid bond shall be considered as partial payment and the difference between the bid bond and the highest bid price shall be paid in the form of manager’s check from any Universal or Commercial Bank.

17.2 The remaining balance of the bid price shall be paid in full at PAGCOR’s Finance and Treasury Department (FTD) Cashier within five (5) calendar days (inclusive of 3 working days clearing of manager’s check) from the receipt of the Notice of Award.

17.3 Failure of full payment within the prescribed five (5) calendar days or withdrawal by the winning bidder of his bid offer/price shall mean forfeiture of his 10% bidder’s bond in favor of PAGCOR to be applied as liquidated damages.

18. PAGCOR reserves the right to disqualify any and/or all prospective bidder/bidders if found that they have submitted falsified documents and/or information, and the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to annul the bidding process, to waive any defects of formalities found therein and to accept such bid or a part thereof as may be deemed most advantageous to PAGCOR without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

19. PAGCOR reserves the right to change any of the rules as it sees fit. Revised Terms of Reference will be issued whenever applicable.

PAGCOR further reserves the right to amend the Terms of Reference any time prior to the submission of the sealed bids. If the amendments are of a nature that will affect the bids, PAGCOR will entertain request to reschedule the bidding.

20. PAGCOR reserves the right to reject any and/or all bids, or declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract, if there is prima facie evidence of collusion between relevant public officers or employees of the agency or between the Corporate Disposal Committee or between the BAC for Disposal and any of the bidders, or if collusions is between or among the bidders, or between a bidder and a third party, including any act which restricts, suppresses or nullifies competition, or if the BAC for Disposal is found to have failed to follow the prescribed bidding procedures, or for any justifiable and reasonable ground where the award of the contract shall not redound to the benefit of the government.

21. All documents submitted by the bidders are presumed to be legally in order, that the person signing and executing said documents is authorized to do so and that the signatures appearing thereon are authentic and not forged. Any material defect or misrepresentation on the documents which will invalidate or render unenforceable the bids submitted shall cause the rejection of the bid and the forfeiture of any amount tendered to PAGCOR. 22. All communications as regards the conduct of public auction shall be addressed to: 1.

Referee Steve Anderson listens to Isaiah Thomas of the Cleveland Cavaliers after the player was charged with a technical foul during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

Thomas scored 17 points as the Cavaliers routed the Blazers, 127-110. AFP

Big seeds tumble out of Qatar Open DOHA—The Qatar Open second and third seeds—Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta and Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic—crashed out of the tournament in the first round on Tuesday on a night of shocks in Doha.

Both seeds lost in third set tiebreaks.

Carreno Busta was beaten by Croatia’s Borna Coric, 7-5, 2-6, 6-7 (8/10) in an enthralling match lasting 2 hours 41 minutes.

And Berdych went down 4-6, 6-1, 6-7 (4/7) in the match on centre court which followed against his fellow 6ft 5ins opponent, Ger-

many’s Jan-Lennard Struff.

It means the tournament has lost two of its top-ranked players after having already being shorn of three major stars—Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga —before it began, as they try to recover from injuries.

To complete a bad night for the seeds, number six seed Filip Krajinovic of Serbia also lost, in straight sets to Germany’s Peter Gojowczyk.

Busta’s match with Coric was the game of the tournament so far.

The 21-year-old Croat, who beat Andy Murray last year at the Madrid Open, saved three match

points to progress and afterwards described it as a “huge win”.

“I think I played very good,” he told reporters.

“I didn’t know what to expect, it’s the first match of the year, it’s always a little bit tricky.

“But, I can say from the beginning that I was playing very good.”

He added that however precious the win, it did not compare to beating Murray.

Coric is ranked 38 places lower than world number 10 Carreno Busta but said it was his aim to be more consistent and break into the world’s top 20 this season. AFP

Arellano U parades almost intact lineup ARELLANO University seeks to jumpstart its titleretention bid as it clashes with Mapua, even as San Sebastian College opens its campaign against Emilio Aguinaldo minus threetime league MVP Grethcel Soltones at the start of the 93rd NCAA volleyball tournament at the Filoil Arena in San Juan City today.

The Lady Chiefs will be parading an almost intact lineup, spearheaded

Games today (Filoil Arena, San Juan) 8 a.m.- SSC-R vs EAC (jrs) 9:30 a.m.- SSC-R vs EAC (m) 11 a.m.- Opening Ceremony 12 nn.- SSC-R vs EAC (w) 1:30 p.m.- AU vs MU (w) 3 p.m.- AU vs MU (m)

by Regine Anne Arocha, Necole Ebuen, Andrea Marzan and Jovielyn Prado as they tangle with the Lady Cardinals at 1:30 p.m., while the Lady Stags will play the whole season with just nine

players starting with the 12-noon duel with the Lady Generals.

AU, which will be coached by Obet Javier, will try to ride on its magical season last year when they defied the odds and beat in three games a San Sebastian team that swept its way to the finals to claim the former’s second crown.

This time though, the tables are turned as AU will be the more favored team

compared to SSC, which will be left with just nine players, including an injured Julian Tiangco, who is expected to take up a bigger role following the departure of the veterans but hurt her knee recently.

SSC coach Roger Gorayeb, who is expected to rely heavily on veterans Alyssa Eroa, Vira May Guillema, Joyce Sta. Rita and Dangie Encarnacion, however, remained confident of their chances.

PH Amateur Golf Open unwraps in windy condition PREMIUM will be on club selection and ball control as the huge international field braces for a tough outing in the 2018 Philippine Amateur Open Championship which gets going today (Thursday, Jan. 4) at the Riviera Golf Club in Silang, Cavite.

Strong winds pound the par72 Couples layout the last couple of days, hinting at an exacting battle for top honors in both the men’s and women’s divisions in the next four days of the country’s premier amateur championship sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation.

But Tom Kim hopes to cash in

For fast ad results, please call

InvItatIon to BId through Sealed BId In the auctIon/BIddIng of two (2) parcelS of land located at central BuSIneSS park I – ISlandS B & c of the Bay cIty, paranaque cIty under ItB no. Bacd17-002 (re-BIddIng)

Rookies shine early in pro loop THE highly touted rookies from the 2017 draft class are living up to their hype thus far in the 2017-18 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. Top five picks Kiefer Ravena, Raymar Jose, Jason Perkins and Jeron Teng have all impressed so far early in the new PBA season., showing that the hype they carried are justifiable as their games speak for themselves.

Ravena, the No. 2 overall pick, is showing why he is dubbed as ‘The Phenom’ as his fine all-around play boosted NLEX to a rousing 2-0 start.

He was named as the first Player of the Week for this season after averaging an astounding 19 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2 steals in his first two games for the Road Warriors.

NLEX coach Yeng Guiao wasn’t surprised at all that Ravena is living up to the high expectations for him.

“I never had any doubt that he can make an impact right away and lead our team,” said Guiao of his new gem. “He will continue to be a special player in this league.”

After contributing 16 points right away in his debut game, do-it-all forward Jeron Teng, the No. 5 pick, further stepped up in Alaska’s last game, exploding for a season-high 28 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a remarkable showing that however went for naught in the Aces’ 98-106 loss to TNT KaTropa last Dec. 29.

Like Guiao, Alaska mentor Alex Compton is likewise thrilled by the play of his own super rookie.

“We got a gem in Jeron.

He’s a good and coachable kid,” said Compton.

Aside from those two recognized star rookies, big men Raymar Jose and Jason Perkins, the No. 3 and 4 picks, respectively, are also delivering well so far.

A7

THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

on his familiarity of the course he calls home as he seeks to rebound from his seven-stroke setback to absentee Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand last year. The young Korean, however, faces a slew of players also in hot pursuit of the coveted crown, guaranteeing a spirited title chase in the event serving as part of the PLDT National Amateur Golf Tour.

Rupert Zaragosa headlines the local challenge with the former national champion raring to snap a long spell while Aniceto Mandanas and Carl Corpus have both toughened up in a bid to accomplish an unfinished business after

placing fourth and fifth, respectively, last year.

Judson Eustaquio, who teamed up with Tonlits Asistio to win the first National Pro-Am crown last October, is also all primed up for the event along with Kristoffer Arevalo, Luis Castro, Aidric Chan, Weiwei Gao, Gab Manotoc, Paolo Wong and Don Petil among others.

Meanwhile, Hee Ji Kim, also of Korea, braces for a shootout with local ace and 2016 winner Harmie Constantino in the women’s side after the duo finished second and third, respectively, to Yuka Saso last year.

LOTTO RESULTS

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

BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE FOR DISPOSAL (BACD) Thru the Secretariat: Ms. Shalee Nacino 2nd Floor, General Services and Engineering Department (GSED) PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Blvd., Ermita, Manila Tel. No.: (02) 521-15-42 loc. 258 (Sgd) ATTY. ANGELINE PAPICA-ENTIENZA Chairman Bids and Awards Committee for Disposal (BACD) PAGCOR (MS-JAN. 4, 2018)

Sports

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

A8

THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2018

Federer cruises towards Aussie Open tilt PERTH—Roger Federer took another impressive step towards his Australian Open title defence on Tuesday with a straight-sets win over Russian Karen Khachanov at the mixed teams Hopman Cup, as many of his main rivals faltered due to injury.

Around the time Federer was warming up for his match with the 45th-ranked Russian, Andy Murray announced he was pulling out of the Brisbane International, while Novak Djokovic a few days earlier withdrew from his season opener in Abu Dhabi.

Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka, Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori are also under injury clouds, while world number eight Jack Sock succumbed to a hip problem earlier in the day in Perth, forcing him to retire from his singles match.

But there were no such dramas for the elder statesman Federer, who 12 months ago stunned the tennis world by ending an almost fouryear Grand Slam drought with a victory at the Australian Open, after also preparing at the Hopman Cup. The 36-year-old was too good for Khachanov, making it two straight-sets wins from as many singles matches this week as Switzerland beat Russia 3-0 in their Group B tie in front of a record Hopman Cup crowd.

Federer was stretched by Khachanov, particularly in the second set when the pair traded powerful groundstrokes.

The Russian held a set point in the tie-breaker and also saved two match points held by Federer, before the Swiss champion prevailed after Khachanov hit a forehand perilously close to the line.

It was called in by the linesman, but Federer challenged and was rewarded when replays showed the ball was out by millimetres, handing the 19-time Grand Slam champion a 6-3, 7-6 (10/8) win. AFP

PH riders dominate Tawau tilt

By Peter Atencio FILIPINO riders from the the Go for Gold Philippine Cycling Club dominated the recent Tawau International Cycling Challenge in Malaysia.

Ronnel Hualda led a 6-man Philippine team which ruled the Men Junior, Elite and Masters in the 108-kilometer race around Sabah.

Hualda, with support from Elite teammates Jay Lampawog and junior rider Luis Krog, broke away in the 50-kilometer mark for the Masters’ honors.

He was ahead of Malaysian SEA Games champion Muhammad Fauzan and Indonesian veteran Fito Baldo, who were second and third, respectively.

Lampawog shared the honors as Elite winner with Krog.

On the ther hand, Joshua Bonifacio, Ismael Gorospe and Jericho Lucero came up with a 1-23-4 finish in the junior side.

The nationals, handled

by Ednalyn Hualda, are getting ready to see action in the February Asian Cycling Championships in Myanmar.

Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a return against Karen Khachanov of Russia during their men’s singles match on day four of the Hopman Cup tennis tournament in Perth. AFP

‘Build’ PH program jibes with SEAG, FIBA hosting

By Randy Caluag

T

HE 30th Southeast Asian Games next year and the FIBA World Championship in 2023, which the Philippines is both hosting, will jibe with the country’s “Build, Build, Build” Program

“The plans, biddings, they are all ongoing. Parang nagkakatugma lang ito sa Build, Build, Build project in President Duterte,” said Foreign Affairs secretary Peter Cayetano, referring to the construction boom that the president initiated.

“The first six months, from January to June, we’ll have a lot of groundbreaking, the day you start working.”

Cayetano, who was appointed Chairman of the 2019 Manila SEA Games Organizing Commit-

tee, met with different government officials from the Department of Finance, Department of Transportation, Department of Public Works, Bases Conversion Authority and the National Economic and Development.

While some smaller rehabilitation projects have already started, the bulk of the tasks will take place in the next six months, including the construction of two giant bridges connecting the Pasig River.

Cayetano

“I saw the plan for the two big bridges sa Pasig river, napakaganda, they’re like those bridges in New York or sa London where you can walk, hindi ka lang magko-kotse but you can walk (through it),” Cayetano said.

Most of these projects will be ready by 2019 for the country’s hosting of the SEA Games, although the forthcoming Northrail project that will connect Manila to the main hub of the games in Clark Green City may not be finished yet.

Cayetano said the Philippines’ budget will be higher compared to country’s hosting of the biennial games the last time in 2005, but definitely lower than what Malaysia spent in the KL SEA Games last year.

“A lot will go to training centers and athletes, but we assure that every cent will go long-term, hindi ito ‘yung parang ito ang venue, then after 2019 wala nang gagamit,” said Cay-

etano, who will meet again with Philippine Olympic Committee president Peping Cojuangco and Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Butch Ramirez to finalize the working group for the hosting job.

Most infrastructure projects though will be ready when the country hosts the World FIBA tournament in 2023.

“Most infrastructures nag-tugma lang. With or without FIBA, gagawin naman talaga natin ‘yun, like the train going to the Clark. Ginamit na nating showcase to show FIBA na traffic won’t be a problem.

Kasi kung wala tayong gagawin between now and 2023, standstill ang Metro Manila, siyempre concern sa FIBA ‘yun,” he said.

Saso stumbles into 3-way tie with Thais CALAMBA, Laguna—Amateur Yuka Saso blew a hot three-under card with a wobbly stint in blustery condition midway through the opening round, enabling Thais Thanuttra Boonraksasat and Ploychompoo Wirairungreung to force a three-way tie for the lead at 72 in the ICTSI Ayala Greenfield Ladies Challenge here yesterday.

Saso bounced back strong from an opening hole bogey with four birdies in the next five, including three straight from No. 4, but the reigning national champion failed to sustain her charge in tough condition and closed out her frontside stint with back-to-back bogeys.

She birdied the par-5 No. 10 to go two-under again but dropped strokes on Nos. 11 and 13 before settling for pars for a 35-37 card that nevertheless put her in strong contention for another crack at the pro crown on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.

“The wind blew from all over.

It was so strong that I had to make a 3-club adjustment to play it through,” rued Saso, who quickly recovered from a three-putt mishap on No. 1 with that string of birdies but fumbled with missed green bogeys and another threeputt miscue on No. 11.

Boonraksasat actually gained on a two-shot swing with a birdie on the par-5 13th as she saved an even-par card and kept Thailand’s bid for a third straight LPGT crown after Renuka Suksukont and Yupaporn Kawinpakorn swept the last two legs of the record 11-stage 2017 season at The Country Club and South Forbes, respectively.

“I played relatively good except for my putting,” said Boonraksasat, who like Saso had a two three-putt bogeys, “The greens are tricky, some are fast, some are slow.”

Wirairungreung birdied the par-5 17th late in the day to match her compatriot’s 37-35

round as the troika posted a twostroke lead over Pauline del Rosario and another Thai Punpaka Phuntumabamrung after 18 holes of the 52-hole event kicking off the 2018 LPGT season put up by ICTSI. “It was really tough out there with the wind. But it’s not yet over and I hope to shoot a better score tomorrow (today),” said del Rosario, fresh from claiming the LPGT Order of Merit title on a four-victory romp in her rookie season last year. She hit three birdies but made three bogeys and a double-bogey on No. 4.

Thai Chonlada Chayanun, seeking to snap a string of runner-up finishes in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., also squandered a two-under card after seven holes with a triple-bogey mishap on the eighth and a double bogey on the next. She bogeyed No. 15 but got the stroke back with a birdie on the next to shoot a 75.

Thai Thanuttra Boonraksasat watches her drive on No. 1

Top seed Jarata leads net semis cast ACTION in the 29th Andrada Cup age-group tennis tournament resumed yesterday with top seed Marc Andrei Jarata leading the semis cast in the premier 14-under boys’ class at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Jarata, fresh from a development training camp in Thailand, scored a trouble-free 6-3, 6-3 win over Keno Enriquez to set up a semis duel with No. 5 Jude Hidaldo, a 6-1, 6-4 winner over Lucas Yupangco.

The other semis pairing in the 14-under class, where potential candidates to the national team come from, pits No. 2 Axl Lajon Gonzaga against No. 3 Exequiel Jucutan.

Gonzaga carved out a 6-4, 6-2 win over Samuel Rean Nuguit while Jucutan had an easier 6-1, 6-0 victory against Darwin Cosca.

In the finals of the girls’ 14-under of the event backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Altamar Shipping and Thadeus Sports are No. 1 Kryshana Brazal and No. 2 Angeline Alacala.

Quarterfinals matches in the other age groups will conclude today, leading to the semis and finals matches and the awarding ceremonies tomorrow.

In girls’ 12-under, top seed Angeline Alacala made it to the semis with a 6-2, 6-7 (5), 10-6 decision over Glydel Guevarra, and will face Airies Jean Tanawan.

In the other half, No. 2 Marielle Jarata will meet Krisha Mae Bolilan, a winner via walkover. Jarata had no problem beating Frances Susan Moncato, 6-0, 6-0.

Chronic underachiever PH tightens criteria for Asiad hopefuls FILIPINO athletes eyeing a spot at the 2018 Asian Games may have their work cut out ahead of this year’s regional Olympics in Indonesia after officials said only medal holders need apply.

The southeast Asian nation, which has never won an Olympic gold and is known as a chronic underachiever in international sporting competitions, made the announcement Wednesday as it

looks to boost the number of accolades it brings home.

“What is the use of sending young athletes without experience? We are sending possible medal contenders. This is not just for participation,” Julian Camacho, the country’s chief of mission for the Games, told AFP. Camacho said only those who won a medal at the 2014 Asian Games or a gold or silver at the

2017 Southeast Asian Games would be eligible for the 2018 event.

Medallists at regional-level tournaments or athletes who equal or surpass Asian records will also be considered, he added.

The decision comes after the Philippines won only one gold, three silvers and 11 bronze medals during the last Asian Games in South Korea four years ago.

It was the country’s worst showing since the regional competition began in 1951.

Philippine sports officials were also humiliated at the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia when athletes brought home only 24 golds after predicting a 50-gold haul.

But despite the higher standards, Camacho said the Philippines still expects to field around 200 athletes for the Jakarta-

Palembang Games in August, with “contact sports” like boxing, karate, taekwondo and judo their best medal hopes.

The total number of athletes will actually be higher than the 159 sent to South Korea and the 188 who competed in China in the 2010 Games.

However, Camacho declined to set a gold medal target this time.

“I do not want to make any predictions,” he said. AFP

Chelsea to increase holdings in 2GO Group

B2

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2018

B

Peso, stocks surge on 1 trading day st

IN BRIEF

Group pushes for price czar

CONSUMER advocacy group Laban Konsyumer Inc. asked the Trade Department to appoint a price czar to watch over the prices of basic commodities, determine if there is price fixing and act accordingly.

Laban Konsyumer president Victorio Dimagiba, a former Trade official, said the price czar would serve as a shield to convince consumers that the impact of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act on prices were justified.

“We appeal to the president and his economic team that a price czar be appointed to perform a specific work and mandate and lay the basis and foundation of an organized and reasonable implementation of the Train Act,” said Dimagiba.

The price czar would also have the authority to recommend charges against abusive businesses, he said.

“He should be able to direct government regulators to file charges against abusive industries and be someone without prior conflict of interest in business,” Dimagiba said.

Consumers need to know that the implementation of the Train Act is managed efficiently, judiciously and reasonably, he said.

Othel V. Campos

B

OTH the peso and the local stocks surged on the first trading day of 2018, following a record close on Wall Street and on optimism about the implementation of the first package of the government’s tax reform program.

The peso gained P0.12 or 0.2 percent Wednesday to close at 49.81 against the US dollar, its strongest level in six months, or since it settled at 49.63 a dollar on June 15, 2017.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said earlier domestic fundamentals remained attractive, and “lately reinforced by Train

[Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion Act] approval.”

Espenilla also said the stronger peso was due to a “combination of strong remittances and equity inflows as well as US dollar softness over uncertainty of impact of US tax legislation.”

Meanwhile, stocks jumped on the first day of

trading to set a new record.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, jumped 165 points, or 1.9 percent, to settle at 8,724.13, the first time it reached the 8,700-point level. The bellwether climbed 25.1 percent last year.

The broader all-share index gained 64 points, or 1.3 percent, to close at 5,054.65, also an all-time high, on a value turnover of P7.3 billion. Advancers outnumbered losers, 118 to 102, while 38 issues were unchanged.

Seventeen of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Bloomberry Resorts Corp. which advanced 5.9 percent to

P11.54 and Melco Resorts which climbed 5.7 percent to P7.85. SM Investments Corp., the holding company of the Sy family, rose 5.1 percent to P1,040.

Asian equities continued their positive start to the year on Wednesday following more record closes on Wall Street, but the dollar faced further selling pressure.

Analysts warned that global markets could face an uncertain year as Donald Trump’s tax cuts have already been priced into valuations, while central banks are on course to start winding back on years of cheap money.

Investors have kicked off 2018 off in buoyant mood

BSP auction oversubscribed THE first weekly auction of seven-day terms deposits conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas this year was highly oversubscribed amid investors’ strong demand for short-term instruments.

Data showed that total tenders for the P40-billion sevenday term deposits reached P95.55 billion. The deposits fetched a weighted average accepted yield of 3.36 percent and a bid coverage ratio of 2.388 percent.

The Bangko Sentral said despite the oversubscription, it would keep the weekly volume of P40 billion in the next auction on Jan. 10, 2018 and still without the 28-day instruments.

Previous undersubscriptions before the holiday season forced the Bangko Sentral to offer just P40 –billion seven-day term deposits as investors preferred the short-term instruments than the 28-day term deposits.

Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said that in reducing the weekly volume from the previous P80 billion to P40 billion, the regulator did not have to “mop up excess liquidity in the system in a big way.”

Julito G. Rada

put on 0.5 percent.

Seoul rose 0.3 percent, with investors given some cheer by North Korea’s promise to restore a hotline with the South and Kim Jong-Un’s softer tone towards its neighbor.

Wellington was 0.3 percent higher and Taipei jumped 0.9 percent. Tokyo was closed for a public holiday.

Tech firms were among the big winners, with AAC Technologies up one percent in Hong Kong, adding to Tuesday’s 7.5 percent jump, while Tencent rose 0.5 percent. Samsung climbed more than one percent in Seoul.

Julito G. Rada with AFP, Bloomberg

DoE warns oil firms against profiteering

By Alena Mae S. Flores

More millennials shopping online PAYMAYA Philippines Inc. said more Filipino millennials went online shopping and used cashless payments in the last two months of 2017.

PayMaya said the number of unique PayMaya account holders–majority of which belong to the ‘millennial’ category–who transacted online jumped almost three-folds in November to December from the same period last year.

This observation points to the growing number of Filipinos who are getting comfortable in digital commerce as a viable option for holiday shopping.

“While mall shopping is still the norm for most Filipinos, we saw a marked increase in online shopping among our mostly millennial user base during the 2017 holiday season,” Paolo Azzola, chief operating officer and managing director at PayMaya Philippines, said.

PayMaya is the digital financial services arm of Voyager.

He said that online transactions recorded by PayMaya account holders further rose when different online marketplaces such as Lazada, Zalora and Takatack launched their big online sales in November and December, where PayMaya also gave its account holders an added exclusive 20-percent discount.

PayMaya data showed that in the last two months of 2017, online transactions via retail merchants like Lazada topped the list for PayMaya account holders. Darwin G. Amojelar

as the world economy stirs to life and job creation, particularly in the US, picks up.

After Tuesday’s broad advances, Asia was given a strong lead from Wall Street where technology firms were the standout performers―with Apple, Amazon and Google-parent Alphabet all gaining close to 2 percent.

The tech-rich Nasdaq and the S&P 500 ended at alltime highs while the Dow ended just shy of a new record.

Hong Kong was up 0.1 percent in the afternoon, building on a six-day rally, while Shanghai closed up 0.6 percent, Sydney gained 0.2 percent and Singapore

Philippine Stock Exchange officials blow horns and ring the bell to mark the New Year during the first day of trading at the PSE in Makati City on Jan. 3. The bellwether PSE index, which climbed 25.1 percent in 2017, jumped 165 points, or 1.9 percent, on the first day of trading, to set a new record of 8,724.13. AFP

THE Energy Department on Wednesday warned oil companies against profiteering from the imposition of the higher excise tax on petroleum products under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act. “As directed by President Duterte, the government taxes should not profit the companies, because these are all intended for the services of the government to the public and the public alone,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

Gasoline prices are expected to go up by P2.97 per liter, kerosene by P3.36 per liter and diesel by P2.80 per liter because of the tax measures. Prices of auto LPG will also increase by P2.80 per liter and liquefied petroleum gas or LPG by P1.12 per kilo.

Cusi said the department was watching oil firms to prevent possible profiteering over the implementation of the new tax measure.

The energy chief said the additional excise tax on fuel under Train should not affect the prices of old stocks of oil firms, including their stocks under the 15-day minimum inventory requirement.

Cusi said oil companies agreed to submit their stock inventories as of Dec. 31, 2017 in a notarized document.

The oil companies also agreed to share their data on sales to the dealers/retailers to determine which stocks should be applied with the excise tax.

Cusi asks Duterte to name new commissioners of ERC ENERGY Secretary Alfonso Cusi asked President Rodrigo Duterte to temporarily appoint four members of the Energy Regulatory Commission in place of those whom the Ombudsman placed under one-year suspension.

“The secretary wrote a letter to the Office of the President to look into the possibility of appointing temporary commissioners and look into this also,” Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said.

The Office of the Ombudsman ordered a one-year suspension on four commissioners of ERC, including Josefina Patricia Asirit, Alfredo Non, Geronimo Sta. Ana and Gloria Yap-Taruc in December for allegedly giving power retailer Manila Electric Co. an undue advantage when it exempted it from the competitive selection process for power supply agreements.

With the order, only ERC chairperson Agnes Devadanadera was left to man the five-man commission.

“We also have a pending request with the Office of the President to put ERC under the administrative only supervision of the Department of Energy to ensure that what we are doing are aligned,” Fuentebella said.

Fuentebella also allayed concerns of a power crisis amid the ongoing issue at the ERC. “Secretary Cusi is ensuring that there will be no power interruption even if there will be delays in the release of decisions on the PSAs [power supply agreements],” he said. Alena Mae S. Flores

December inflation rate seen at 3.2%

ESSILOR’S PH HUB. Essilor, the world’s leading ophthalmic optics company, celebrates the inauguration of Essilor Shared Services Philippines Inc., a global information technology and finance shared services organization in Alabang, Muntinlupa City which supports Essilor’s global locations on a 24/7 capability. With over 160 employees, ESSPI is actively recruiting to ramp up its workforce in both IT and finance. Shown are (from left) Essilor Group chief information officer Bernard Duverneuil, Philippine Economic Zone Authority director-general Charito Plaza, Essilor Shares Services Philippines president Franck Carlier and Laurent Estrade, head of economic department of the Embassy of France in the Philippines.

Foreign policy rebalancing good for PH economy, says Dominguez

By Julito G. Rada Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said President Rodrigo Duterte’s foreign policy rebalancing toward Asia resulted in the improvement of the Philippines’ economic relations with its neighbors in the region, such as economic powerhouse China.

Dominguez said concessional financing and investment pledges made by China after its top leaders met with President Duterte in 2016 progressed into agreements, several of them to

help fund the government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure modernization program and its war against illegal drugs.

China was also among the first countries to pledge assistance in helping rebuild Marawi City in Mindanao after President Duterte declared it free of ISIS-inspired extremists in October.

“The unprecedented pledges of assistance from China that President Duterte had generated for the Philippines in 2017 make up the initial investment dividend

from his prescient foreignpolicy rebalancing toward Asia,” Dominguez said in a statement.

China is now among the Philippines’ closest allies, with the country delivering swiftly on its respective pledges of assistance to help fund the government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ and Marawi reconstruction programs, Dominguez said.

Premier Li Keqiang, who was among the world leaders who took part in the 31st Asean summit and its related meetings hosted by President Duterte in No-

vember in Manila, extended his stay here for an official visit, becoming the first Chinese premier in 10 years to visit the Philippines, after Premier Wen Jiabao who attended the Second East Asia Summit in Cebu in 2007.

President Duterte said during Premier Li’s visit that mutual trust and confidence-building led to increased interaction on many levels of the two governments. He said practical cooperation in many areas was bringing in an early harvest of tangible benefits.

According to the Inter-

national Finance Group of the Department of Finance, China so far committed $7.34 billion in soft loans and grants to the Philippines for the implementation of 10 big-ticket projects, the construction of two bridges in Metro Manila and two drug rehabilitation facilities in Mindanao and aid to rehabilitate Marawi City.

President Duterte in his four-day state visit to China in October 2016 raised $24 billion in investment and aid pledges. Of this amount, $9 billion were grants and other forms of assistance.

INFLATION rate likely eased further to 3.2 percent in December from 3.3 percent in November, on stable food prices and lower power cost, according to Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran.

Beltan, citing estimates from the Philippine Statistics Authority, said price increases of food and nonalcoholic beverages likely remained unchanged at 3.2 percent in December. Price increases of rice were also seen unchanged at 1 percent.

Communication, education, restaurant and miscellaneous services also likely stayed at their levels, he said.

Beltran said the low inflation was an indication that the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals remained strong.

“Solid fundamentals backed by Train 1 [first package of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act] implementation, rice sector reform and the ‘Build, Build, Build’ policy will push the country’s growth to 7 percent to 8 percent this year and sustain manageable inflation,” Beltran, who is also the DoF’s chief economist, said.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Train Act into law on Dec. 19.

The law, which takes effect this month, exempts compensation earners and selfemployed individuals with an annual taxable income of P250,000 and below.

Julito G. Rada

B2

Business

THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

SBS buys Coca-Cola’s Calamba lot for P520m

By Jenniffer B. Austria CHEMICAL trader and distributor SBS Philippines Corp. is acquiring a five-hectare property in Calamba City, Laguna owned by The Coca-Cola Export Corp. for P520 million.

SBS said in a disclosure to the stock exchange majorityowned unit Lence Holdings Corp. signed an agreement with TCCEC and its related parties to acquire warehouse facilities and a property lot in Silangan Industrial Park in Barangay Mapagong, Calamba City.

SBS said it could use the property as its logistics facility in the south of Metro Manila.

Lence under the deal will acquire buildings, property improvements and machinery, including warehouses, freezer and cold storage buildings and other facilities owned by TCCEC. “Given that SBS customers are looking for savings, the south depot will allow greater opportunities for customers to cut down on their logistics and sourcing organization, integrate the corporation’s procurement and logistic capabilities in their business processes, and promote collaborations for supply chain optimization to simplify their operations,” SBS said.

San Miguel scores initial victory over Ilijan dispute

By Alena Mae S. Flores

T

HE Court of Appeals affirmed the writ of preliminary injunction filed

by SMC Global Power Holdings Corp. against Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. on the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan natural gas power plant in Batangas province.

SMC Global said in a disclosure to Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. the appellate court denied PSALM’s appeal and affirmed the earlier orders is-

sued by the Regional Trial Court of Mandaluyong City.

The CA affirmed the lower court’s order granting the issuance of a writ

of preliminary injunction against PSALM and naming Manila Electric Co. as intervenor in the case.

PSALM last year elevated its case against San Miguel Corp.’s power unit to the Court of Appeals seeking the termination of the independent power producer administrator contract on the Ilijan natural gas power plant.

South Premiere trades the contracted capacity of the Ilijan natural gas plant in Batangas after posting the highest bid of $870 million

in 2010.

The dispute arose from the interpretations of certain provisions related to generation payments under the Ilijan IPPA agreement.

PSALM advised South Premiere on Sept. 4, 2015 that it was terminating the Ilijan IPPA agreement because of the latter’s alleged failure to settle outstanding generation payments.

The agency earlier alleged that South Premiere’s outstanding obligations had reached over P12 billion as of July 2016.

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.45 14,000 60 21,650 110 1,831,800 3.83 12,000 161 3,985,920 1.98 476,000 33.3 85,200 15.4 1,800 33 1,964,100 0.72 50,000 1.8 56,000 0.58 269,000 104.6 3,764,060 0.97 492,000 12.6 322,000 24.25 1,300 57.15 48,480 237 94,950 119.9 3,290 55.4 80,690 253.8 511,580 1,925 35 86.8 8,730 1.26 145,000

47,720 1,296,047 201,224,026 45,960 645,527,195 932,690 2,835,070 27,880 64,050,330 36,000 99,220 157,840 392,917,952 472,930 4,020,822 31,500 2,769,861 22,511,768 393,357 4,469,136 129,246,782 68,150 758,760.50 181,950

1,219,291 133,918,183 -124,962,833 -579,345.00 -20,941,300 -3,480 30,600,312 3,402,000 -1,891,024.50 -22,208,280 -336,951 -24,023,624 44,689 -94,250

41.1 12.14 0.61 1.33 17.28 0.217 139.1 4.85 15.96 165 46.5 19.82 63 60.5 83.5 1.9 5.2 10.8 11.06 14.58 11.9 7.35 5.59 1.66 16.86 62 26.4 10.62 18.2 2.07 253 58.55 4.15 3.2 27.4 18.24 17.88 328.2 0.2 8.2 2.18 6.05 9.17 5.83 8.4 1.58 12.68 61.35 6.5 527 4.97 2.25 4 1.92 13.36 5.5 0.131 1.18 149.5 2.85 1.92 23.05 0.77

INDUSTRIAL 41.45 1,023,300 12.38 517,700 0.62 242,000 1.34 122,000 17.38 15,500 0.22 590,000 139.1 140 4.86 2,251,000 16 324,700 165 10 49 628,500 19.84 5,700 63 427,810 60.5 1,060 83.5 10 1.9 28,000 5.27 234,300 11 15,000 11.1 1,304,700 14.58 377,300 11.9 895,700 7.55 2,716,200 5.6 8,593,900 1.66 2,000 16.92 896,100 62.55 35,370 26.6 234,700 10.62 134,300 18.34 570,200 2.11 3,888,000 255.4 745,780 58.55 200 4.15 12,000 3.2 3,000 27.4 3,018,600 18.32 49,900 17.9 2,093,600 330 597,570 0.204 120,000 8.69 1,400 2.18 5,346,000 6.06 59,100 9.23 4,358,700 5.9 215,400 8.4 97,000 1.63 1,428,000 12.78 157,100 62.5 119,610 6.75 81,000 528 32,260 4.97 67,000 2.6 149,000 4 36,000 1.93 452,000 13.4 199,000 5.5 153,600 0.131 3,260,000 1.19 172,000 154 1,149,900 2.85 33,000 1.93 1,584,000 23.05 100 0.79 394,000

42,356,130 6,361,500 148,090 162,860 268,740 130,130 19,495 11,033,210 5,200,990 1,650 31,040,865 113,743 26,986,086 64,157 835 53,600 1,238,229 162,848 14,558,438 5,510,328 10,944,964 20,303,994 48,361,432 3,320 15,159,822 2,212,440.50 6,245,375 1,441,418 10,440,138 8,259,760 190,253,754 11,710 49,800 9,600 83,824,305 919,330 37,583,120 196,872,966 24,080 11,843 11,742,360 359,302 40,235,289 1,275,083 815,730 2,300,510 2,026,232 7,452,159.50 527,051 17,099,735 332,990 366,370 144,210 889,070 2,669,680 846,590 429,670 204,160 175,900,259 94,050 3,059,040 2,305 309,260

13,747,700.00 255,020 13,400 1,907,720.00 3,359,920 1,093,820 9,550 8,656 1,699,556 1,961,062 4,940,998 4,946,127 -25,665,068 -162,788 -1,089,452.50 -935,130 -2,942,874 171,200 -6,171,952 9,285,335 331,660 7,758,936 65,189,912 24,080 844,660 1,383,478 1,892,875.50 -1,274,175 273,350 -195,770 536,378 27,500 3,990 48,892,770 198,760 -

0.315 74.7 16.5 0.99 7.05 0.43 0.48 1,041 7.7 14.64 7.8 1,297 7.36 76.5 5.88 5.4 0.72 5.73 19.02 0.305 6.91 3.32 0.045 1.13 2.06 2.64 114.8 2.64 1,048 1.72 287 0.22 0.191 0.205

0.3 73.9 16 0.94 7.03 0.41 0.46 1,015 7.6 14.04 7.7 1,285 7.36 72.1 5.76 5.4 0.68 5.58 18.74 0.305 6.77 3.31 0.043 1.11 2.04 2.51 111.6 2.59 990 1.57 279 0.217 0.191 0.205

HOLDING FIRMS 0.3 130,000 74.5 738,030 16.42 12,510,900 0.99 32,000 7.04 14,800 0.43 2,370,000 0.47 380,000 1,040 497,855 7.64 477,600 14.14 6,155,400 7.7 77,600 1,293 152,245 7.36 3,600 76.5 1,535,580 5.76 17,600 5.4 5,300 0.7 243,000 5.66 266,300 18.74 697,500 0.305 110,000 6.78 21,978,400 3.31 9,000 0.044 3,500,000 1.13 77,000 2.05 377,000 2.64 69,000 114.8 410,820 2.6 43,000 1,040 436,580 1.67 2,410,000 286.2 6,510 0.217 470,000 0.191 20,000 0.205 10,000

39,700 54,825,182 204,675,904 30,430 104,287 1,013,400 180,450 516,013,530 3,644,018 87,988,338 597,703 196,818,040 26,496 115,335,243 102,394 28,620 167,620 1,505,088 13,184,514 33,550 150,290,695 29,820 151,300 86,870 770,090 176,950 46,647,443 111,930 449,361,445 4,019,080 1,850,450 103,030 3,820 2,050

24,615,283 -27,093,552 -171,889,490 1,323,581 -3,519,532 23,093,700 54,290,521 48,960 708,272.00 945,096 -17,204,746 4,400 25,075,633 133,306,440 10,140 11,320 -19,800 3,820 -

6.73 1.04 13 2.38 0.9 45.5 3.89 4.85 5.82 0.49 1.17 0.233 0.455 41.3 0.65 0.147 1.93 1.47 0.77 5 5.33 0.35 0.355

6.65 1 12.6 2.29 0.88 44.6 3.79 4.7 5.43 0.48 1.17 0.228 0.445 39.7 0.64 0.138 1.88 1.43 0.75 4.98 5.16 0.335 0.35

10,285,952 2,944,060 454,092 57,390 293,690 452,383,045 7,441,070 5,762,740 304,708 4,586,200 17,550 2,657,590 45,000 14,009,415 290,170 22,540 34,446,040 3,416,530 18,950 9,980 179,489,846 11,285,200 631,100

-2,218,165 1,300 38,862 145,655,830 2,080,540 1,384,560 85,790 202,000 4,680 229,960 -323,045 -177,450 -7,920 18,774,830 -39,430,086 45,200 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

3.4 59.8 108.1 3.83 163.5 1.97 33.25 15.5 32.1 0.72 1.74 0.6 101.6 0.97 11.98 24 56.5 244 140 55.35 252 2,000 87 1.25

3.45 60 110.5 3.83 163.8 1.99 33.3 15.5 33 0.72 1.8 0.6 105 0.97 12.6 24.25 57.5 244 140 55.95 254.8 2,000 87 1.26

3.39 59.7 108 3.83 160.1 1.94 33.25 15.4 32 0.72 1.74 0.58 101.6 0.95 11.72 24 56.5 237 110 55.35 250.2 1,925 86.65 1.25

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

41.6 12.14 0.61 1.35 17.36 0.217 139.3 4.87 16.22 165 46.5 19.84 63.2 60.7 83.5 1.91 5.36 10.8 11.06 14.6 12 7.38 5.7 1.66 17 62 26.85 10.78 18.7 2.23 253.4 58.55 4.15 3.2 28.5 18.6 18.1 328.6 0.2 8.2 2.21 6.1 9.21 6.2 8.4 1.58 13 61.4 6.5 529 4.97 2.5 4.03 1.99 13.46 5.5 0.133 1.18 151.3 2.85 1.95 23.05 0.77

41.6 12.38 0.62 1.35 17.88 0.223 139.3 4.98 16.22 165 50 20.35 64 60.7 83.5 1.93 5.36 11 11.2 14.7 12.5 7.66 5.74 1.66 17.08 63.3 26.85 10.78 18.7 2.23 256.8 58.55 4.15 3.2 28.5 18.6 18.1 330 0.204 8.74 2.21 6.1 9.33 6.2 8.41 1.63 13.02 62.6 6.76 534.5 4.97 2.6 4.03 2.02 13.52 5.54 0.133 1.22 154 2.85 1.96 23.05 0.79

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

0.315 74.15 16 0.95 7.05 0.41 0.46 1,015 7.7 14.6 7.8 1,295 7.36 73.8 5.88 5.4 0.69 5.6 18.74 0.305 6.88 3.32 0.045 1.13 2.04 2.6 111.6 2.64 990 1.6 283 0.22 0.191 0.205

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

6.72 1 12.6 2.29 0.89 44.7 3.89 4.85 5.8 0.49 1.17 0.23 0.455 40 0.65 0.147 1.88 1.43 0.77 5 5.19 0.335 0.355

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

0.62 5.89 33.5 21.5 2.09 3.2 37.55 1.03 8.8 0.86 5.98

0.63 5.89 33.5 21.6 2.15 3.2 38.85 1.03 9.35 0.86 6

0.61 5.56 33.5 21.3 2.07 3.13 37.5 1.02 8.8 0.85 5.94

0.62 5.72 33.5 21.55 2.11 3.13 38.75 1.02 9.3 0.85 5.98

2,325,000 377,400 1,000 3,942,600 1,017,000 46,000 9,978,000 746,000 17,000 52,000 699,100

1,429,920 2,142,696 33,500 84,762,340 2,134,910 145,230 383,270,665 761,350 157,142 44,600 4,174,744

-54,420 97,247 -64,507,345 142,043,265.00 -1,802,368

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

18.48 35 1.41 0.475 0.042 11.86 4.83 11 0.07 99.95 8.81 8.78 7.01 2.39 18.46 970 1,900 5.85 21.85 13 4.55 2.64 106.5 13.1 8.33 0.141 1.38 3.07 16.8 3.98 1.2 22.9 0.58 5.02 7.44 3.9 2.82 2.88 8.89 120.1 7.73 1,500 1.34 0.355 50.1 96.2 6 3.28 1.63 2.67 3.98 0.98 8.26

19.2 35.1 1.41 0.475 0.042 11.86 6.3 11.54 0.072 100 8.81 8.8 7.01 2.4 18.46 970 1,900 5.9 22 13 4.71 2.64 108.3 13.1 8.33 0.141 1.41 3.15 16.8 4 1.2 23.2 0.58 5.2 7.85 3.95 2.93 2.88 8.89 120.1 7.73 1,515 1.34 0.355 50.5 97.35 6 3.28 1.65 2.85 4.05 1 8.3

18.48 34.9 1.36 0.455 0.041 11.8 4.83 10.9 0.07 99.8 8.81 8.65 7.01 2.38 15.98 970 1,860 5.84 20.4 12.98 4.53 2.62 105.5 13.1 8.31 0.14 1.37 3.07 15.12 3.8 1.17 22.4 0.58 4.78 7.44 3.83 2.8 2.8 8.4 114.5 7.58 1,495 1.29 0.355 49.25 95 5.55 3.22 1.59 2.64 3.91 0.98 8.24

SERVICES 18.98 35 1.39 0.475 0.041 11.8 6.3 11.54 0.071 99.95 8.81 8.68 7.01 2.39 16.9 970 1,875 5.88 22 12.98 4.69 2.64 108 13.1 8.32 0.141 1.41 3.15 16.48 3.8 1.18 22.55 0.58 5 7.85 3.83 2.85 2.8 8.89 114.5 7.71 1,497 1.3 0.355 49.25 97 5.78 3.25 1.59 2.75 3.95 0.99 8.3

48,500 30,100 222,000 5,210,000 44,800,000 6,000 375,000 20,145,900 3,960,000 145,120 200 987,100 1,000 203,000 145,000 70 22,170 188,000 144,000 300 5,199,000 32,000 1,154,010 5,000 140,000 1,780,000 200,000 37,000 14,200 3,511,000 210,000 1,251,900 4,000 6,025,400 17,866,300 600,000 4,141,000 44,000 23,700 3,200 791,700 99,810 8,138,000 190,000 4,104,220 1,060,310 364,000 453,000 3,822,000 725,000 574,000 2,809,000 1,344,500

910,930 1,053,315 306,190 2,401,850 1,871,600 71,100 2,310,600 229,483,334 280,550 14,505,392 1,762 8,615,590 7,010 484,270 2,436,966 67,900 41,621,840 1,103,675 3,124,960 3,898 24,241,790 84,310 123,982,680 65,500 1,164,745 250,110 275,720 113,830 227,292 13,605,210 246,070 28,567,335 2,320 30,254,219 138,663,949 2,331,580 11,854,590 123,310 209,968 370,506 6,064,629 149,953,975 10,660,290 67,450 203,047,395.50 102,082,377 2,125,868 1,469,050 6,156,640 1,970,740 2,288,380 2,773,800 11,113,296

-25,948 9,350 96,600 70,101,992 -35,000 2,406,554.50 764,086 -11,900 16,400 1,029,575 365,080 1,886,622 7,900 -3,409,110 -3,185,120 84,447,707 1,002,680 16,800 -40,356 -157,220 70,933,250 -2,377,830 -30,407,418 -40,362,960.50 -100,200 -473,390 -963,560 119,700 534,640 1,897,362

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

0.0022 1.57 5.17 1.75 1.76 1.61 0.325 7.34 2.63 0.21 0.151 0.158 0.0094 0.01 1.78 6.33 1.5 0.94 0.012 0.012 0.011 6.12 8.1 37 0.007

0.0023 1.61 5.17 1.75 1.76 1.64 0.325 7.35 2.73 0.222 0.156 0.158 0.0094 0.01 1.81 6.7 1.5 0.94 0.013 0.012 0.011 6.46 8.38 37.4 0.007

0.0022 1.57 5 1.75 1.75 1.6 0.31 7.11 2.63 0.203 0.151 0.154 0.0094 0.0094 1.76 6.33 1.42 0.93 0.012 0.012 0.011 6.12 8.02 36.05 0.007

MINING & OIL 0.0023 184,000,000 1.58 6,057,000 5 197,000 1.75 9,000 1.75 27,000 1.62 995,000 0.315 1,450,000 7.21 600 2.7 3,925,000 0.208 2,150,000 0.153 7,700,000 0.158 660,000 0.0094 29,000,000 0.0099 2,100,000 1.76 687,000 6.6 4,957,900 1.49 62,000 0.93 126,000 0.013 7,800,000 0.012 200,000 0.011 2,800,000 6.4 5,014,400 8.32 2,328,000 36.1 1,308,000 0.007 5,000,000

405,300 9,622,370 989,274 15,750 47,350 1,607,330 451,750 4,356 10,586,950 450,550 1,180,520 104,160 272,600 20,390 1,228,320 32,722,491 90,870 117,890 100,000 2,400 30,800 32,036,901 19,236,322 47,691,750 35,000

81,400 -9,450 820,730 4,740 -89,500 4,640,895 10,990,391 740,716 -14,559,210 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF PF PREF 2 SFI PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

34.9 528 529 104.5 5.68 1,030 102 1.04 1,004 2.12 76.5 80.1 76 77 81.5 77.5 79.5 79.8

34.95 528 529 105 5.8 1,030 102 1.04 1,005 2.12 76.75 80.1 76 77 81.5 77.5 79.6 79.8

34.9 528 529 104.5 5.46 1,030 100.9 1.04 1,000 2.12 76.5 80 76 77 81.5 77.5 79.5 79.8

PREFERRED 34.95 37,300 528 70 529 240 105 10,550 5.5 13,135,000 1,030 965 102 620 1.04 201,000 1,000 2,860 2.12 1,000 76.75 3,130 80 14,500 76 23,000 77 26,000 81.5 20,000 77.5 15,000 79.6 14,400 79.8 12,500

1,303,630 36,960 126,960 1,103,808 72,280,475 993,950 62,590 209,040 2,873,280 2,120 240,182.50 1,160,902 1,748,000 2,002,000 1,630,000 1,162,500 1,144,855 997,500

202,705 -72,028,080 50,450 -

LR WARRANT

2.47

2.5

2.41

WARRANTS 2.41 161,000

391,120

-

SME 10.86 2.83 3.57 5.13

28,518,369 34,000 260,600 45,207,920

-7,713,792 1,365,708

3,577,510

-

40,866.40

-

MS

PROPERTY 6.7 1.04 12.98 2.3 0.88 45.5 3.84 4.8 5.82 0.48 1.17 0.229 0.45 39.75 0.64 0.147 1.89 1.45 0.75 4.98 5.28 0.34 0.35

1,534,300 2,872,000 35,600 25,000 332,000 10,030,500 1,942,000 1,200,000 54,600 9,410,000 15,000 11,530,000 100,000 347,600 449,000 160,000 18,072,000 2,358,000 25,000 2,000 33,917,400 32,890,000 1,790,000

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

10.62 2.84 3.74 5.66

11.2 2.84 3.75 5.93

9.84 2.83 3.57 5.04

FIRST METRO ETF

130

131.9

130

USD DMPL A2

10.16

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

10.16

SHARES

14,831,346

INDUSTRIAL

52,507,572

HOLDING FIRMS

56,737,669

PROPERTY

149,637,117

SERVICES

156,975,928

MINING & OIL

271,123,798

GRAND TOTAL

712,828,397

10.1

2,749,000 12,000 71,000 8,154,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 131.9 27,190 10.1

DDS

4,040

VALUE 2,240.64 (up) 10.47 1,557,189,010.19 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,299.38 (up) 68.08 1,084,003,520.529 HOLDING FIRMS 8,870.39 (up) 253.88 1,887,928,301.38 PROPERTY 4,068.50 (up) 90.31 SERVICES 1,636.78 (up) 16.94 1,260,235,813.06 MINING & OIL 11,598.80 (up) 96.22 1,261,350,047.959 PSEI 8,724.13 (up) 165.71 159,113,054.3713 All Shares Index 5,054.65 (up) 64.68 7,287,425,124.14 Gainers: 118; Losers: 102; Unchanged: 38; Total: 258

PSALM earlier said it strictly followed the computations based on the IPPA agreement and maintained that its rightful claims were valid and not erroneous.

PSALM said South Premiere’s computation of payments “unilaterally and erroneously applied prices which were inconsistent” with the Ilijan IPPA agreement.

South Premiere filed a complaint before the court on Sept. 7, 2015 seeking to nullify the termination notice of PSALM and the drawing of the standby letter of credit.

PSALM called on the performance bond in the form of a stand-by letter of credit of South Premiere with ANZ Bank in the amount of $50 million.

The Mandaluyong City regional trial court issued a preliminary injunction in favor of South Premiere last year, stopping the government from further proceeding with the termination the IPPA contract for the Ilijan natural gas power plant.

San Miguel has said that it filed a case against PSALM “to seek justice from the court, clear the confusion and set the facts straight” on the claims of the government.

“We have been diligently paying PSALM what is due us. We do not owe PSALM a single centavo. SPPC has fully paid all its obligations under its Independent Power Producer Administration Agreement with government,” San Miguel said.

Chelsea to increase holdings in 2GO Group

By Darwin G. Amojelar CHELSEA Logistics Holdings Corp. said it plans to buy out minority shareholders of 2GO Group Inc. to increase its stake in the shipping and logistics company.

CLC president and chief executive Chryss Alfonsus Damuy said the company was on the process of acquiring minority shareholders with the Philippine Competition Commission looming as a hurdle.

“I think there are few items (being asked by the) PCC. So, once we get their nod, we will proceed with tender offer,” Damuy said.

He said the company was looking at increasing its stake in 2GO to 40 percent from the current 28.15 percent indirect economic interest.

CLC earlier informed the PCC that it was acquiring shares representing 50.37 percent of KGLI-NM Holdings Inc. from Negros Holdings & Management Corp. and 9.93 percent of KGLINM from ES Consultancy Group Inc. Chelsea is a whollyowned subsidiary of Udenna Corp., whose holdings include Phoenix Petroleum Holdings Inc. KGLI-NM holds 60 percent of Negros Navigation Co., Inc., a domestic shipping company in the Philippines. Nenaco has an 88.93-percent stake in 2Go Group, which is engaged in the transport of people and cargo through its shipping and logistics subsidiaries.

extrastory2000@gmail.com

Business/World

THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2018

B3

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Contrasting penalties for Metrobank, RCBC TWO of the nation’s biggest banks have received “huge” fines from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for internal fraud and involvement in a money laundering scam in a span of two years. But some bankers are puzzled over the contrasting penalties imposed on the two banks.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., the ninth largest lender in terms of assets, was slapped with a hefty P1-billion penalty for its unfortunate role in an $81-million money laundering scam in February 2016. RCBC owned up to its transgression and paid the fine.

The Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, meanwhile, approved sanctions on Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. over a P1.75-billion internal fraud. The penalties ranged from reprimand to suspension of directors and officers who failed to perform adequate oversight or have been remiss of their duties and responsibilities.

Metrobank was also ordered to allocate approximately P4.45 billion of its capital on a consolidated basis to cover for higher operational risk. The Monetary Board said the requirement was subject to periodic review and would be lifted “when the bank is determined to have put in place adequate risk control measures to address the weaknesses noted.”

Investigations showed Metrobank executive Maria Victoria Lopez allegedly forged signatures and breached protocols to defraud Metrobank. She was arrested on July 18, 2017 after she allegedly attempted to shift P2.25 million in interest from unauthorized loans.

Metrobank’s “penalty” of P4.45 billion, meanwhile, appears severe but the bank actually will not shell out a single centavo from its coffers.

The bank on a closer look was ordered to “allocate” P4.5 billion of its capital for “higher operational risk.” While the amount appears bigger than the P1-billion fine imposed on RCBC for the cyber heist episode with Bangladesh, Metrobank’s was actually a “non-penalty.” The fine was a mere accounting procedure and entailed no actual monetary pain on Metrobank.

Without going into technical details that involve computing Metrobank’s qualifying capital and minimum ratio, P4.5 billion is a mere drop in the bucket of the bank’s hundreds of billions or even trillions of pesos in loanable and investible funds. It is not an out-of-pocket expense that will hurt Metrobank in the same way RCBC parted with its own hard cash.

RCBC, it seems, did not get its fair share from the bank regulator. Thus, when should the Bangko Sentral come down hard or ease up on a bank? One banker naughtily noted that the Monetary Board had two members associated with Metrobank, including its former president, putting the Bangko Sentral and the MB in a bad light. To prevent such suspicions in the future, there must be a formal set of rules and penalties on erring banks and officials.

Bangladesh irresponsible Bangladesh’s finance minister should be sued for being too irresponsible―especially given his high position in government― for urging the “wiping out RCBC from this world.”

RCBC claimed that the theft of $81 million of Bangladesh’s Central Bank’s funds was clearly an inside job and that BB was engaging in a massive cover-up by maligning RCBC and refusing to divulge its findings.

RCBC said in a statement BB must be compelled to disclose its findings, which are crucial to the global fight against cybercrime.

BB had been asked to share the result of its investigation. BB, instead, has been coming out with empty sound bites like “wiping out RCBC” which, coming from a Bangladeshi finance minister, is “extremely irresponsible”.

“At least five reports―SWIFT, FireEye, an international cyber security outfit, Bangladesh’s own finance minister, its government-appointed panel and a Bangladeshi expert―point to a conclusion that somebody inside BB would have made the heist possible,” RCBC said.

BB reportedly had no firewall to protect its system and used second-hand $10 switches, making itself vulnerable to hackers.

The hackers in January last year did trial runs but apparently BB did nothing to protect its system.

“Bangladesh police investigated some BB people but only for negligence. Up to now, we do not know if anybody has been taken to court,” RCBC said.

“BB should stop making RCBC its scapegoat. RCBC has revealed everything it legally could to the Senate and to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. BB, however, has concealed everything it could. The contrast is telling,” RCBC added.

BB also wanted RCBC to return the stolen money. “If it was stolen by your own people, why ask us? We are actually a victim of BB’s negligence,” RCBC replied.

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

COLD DAY. An Indian man prepares to board a boat to feed seagulls on a foggy morning on the banks of the Yamuna River in New Delhi. AFP

US, others blamed for protests in Iran

T

EHRAN― Nine people were killed as fresh unrest hit Iran overnight, state television said Tuesday, with the protesters trying to storm a police station despite attempts to crack down on the biggest demonstrations in years.

The attack on the police station in the town of Qahderijan, in the central province of Isfahan, led to violence that claimed the lives of six protesters, the state broadcaster reported.

A young member of the Revolutionary Guards and a passer-by were also reported dead in towns near the cultural hub of Isfahan city, while TV had earlier confirmed the death of a policeman in nearby Najafabad, shot dead with a hunting rifle.

That brings the estimated death toll to 21 in five days of unrest that represent the biggest challenge to the Islamic regime since mass demonstrations in 2009.

Protests remain focused on provincial towns and cities, with only small and sporadic protests reported in Tehran on Monday evening where a heavy police presence was reported.

The latest violence came despite President Hassan Rouhani’s vow that the nation would deal with “rioters and lawbreakers”.

Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, described the unrest— the biggest challenge to the regime since mass protests in 2009—as a “proxy war against the Iranian people”.

“Hashtags and messages about the situation in Iran come from the United States, Britain and Saudi Arabia,” he told local media.

Iran’s intelligence ministry released a statement saying “instigators” have been identified “and will be dealt with seriously soon”.

The Revolutionary Guards have yet to fully intervene against the protesters, but published photos on Monday of three wanted people and called on the public to report any “seditionist elements”.

Rouhani has tried to play down the unrest, which began over economic grievances in second city Mashhad last Thursday but quickly turned against the Islamic regime as a whole with chants of “Death to the dictator”.

“This is nothing,” Rouhani said in a statement on the presidency website.

“Our nation will deal with this minority who chant slogans against the law and people’s wishes, and insult the sanctities and values of the revolution.”

Pro-regime rallies were held across several towns and cities —reflecting continued support among a large conservative section of society.

Reporting restrictions remained tight, but videos on social media continued to show widespread anti-government protests in many areas. AFP

India limits visitors to save the Taj Mahal AGRA―India is to restrict the number of daily visitors to the Taj Mahal in an attempt to preserve the iconic 17th-century monument to love, its biggest tourist attraction.

Millions of mostly Indian tourists visit the Taj Mahal every year and their numbers are increasing steadily as domestic travel becomes easier.

Experts say the vast crowds increase wear and tear on the white marble tomb, which already must undergo regular cleaning to stop it turning yellow from the polluted air, and could put pressure on its foundations.

In the future only 40,000 local tourists will be allowed to enter the historic complex per day, authorities said Wednesday.

“We have to ensure the safety of the monument and visitors as well.

Crowd management was emerging as a big challenge for us,” an official with the Archeological Survey of India which controls the

monument, told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The restrictions will not apply to foreigners, who pay 1,000 rupees ($16) to enter.

Indian visitors normally pay just 40 rupees, but will be able to buy the more expensive ticket if they want to get around the limit.

The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth in 1631.

Anyone wanting to see the main crypt, which houses the couple’s spectacular marble graves inlaid with semi-precious stones, will also have to pay for the pricier ticket.

The graves also date back to the 17th century but do not actually contain the bodies of the royal couple, who are buried under a separate lower chamber.

The decision to restrict visitors comes after five visitors were injured in the crush on the last day of the year, which often attracts

large crowds.

Daily visitor numbers to the Taj Mahal average 10,000-15,000 but can be much higher at weekends, going up to around 70,000.

Nearly 6.5 million visited the monument in 2016, according to government figures.

The Taj Mahal has attracted world leaders and royalty including former US President Bill Clinton.

Diana, the late British princess, was famously photographed alone on a marble seat there in 1992.

But the mausoleum faces an array of threats, including the yellowing effects of smog.

In 2016 green stains on its rear wall were blamed on excrement from insects.

Authorities have in the past covered the iconic monument’s facade with “mud packs” made of Fuller’s earth, which draws out the impurities, to restore its whiteness. AFP

When a tax reform program is not reformist SOME tax proposals are billed as reform measures, but not all tax proposals merit that characterization. A tax proposal cannot be termed a reformist measure if all that it does is tinker with some tax rates or change some definitions. A reformist tax package is one that (1) changes entirely or largely, the profile of a tax regime or (2) corrects, in broad fashion, the inequities or economic irrationalities of the regime.

A reformist orientation is not synonymous with economic rationality, and some economists may have objections to proposed tax changes that in their view fail the test of economic rationality. Cases in point are the tax packages signed into law last month by President Rodrigo Duterte (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion, or TRAIN) and President Donald Trump (Tax Cuts and Jobs Act).

During the 2016 campaign Republican candidate Donald Trump complained that the US tax system was causing American capital to leave the US and establish

business overseas—in the process depriving American workers of jobs—and he vowed that, if elected, he would propose legislation to bring the US’s corporate tax rate to an internationally competitive level. To keep his promise to his political base, the victorious Trump lost no time sending to the US Congress a tax measure calling not only for a reduction of the corporate income rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. Considering that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was touted as a measure intended to benefit the middle class, America’s economists were hardpressed to accept the Trump administration’s explanation for the inclusion, in the measure, of a personal income tax cut for the US’s richest taxpayers. They could understand that the US’s corporate income tax had to be made internationally competitive, but they had difficulty accepting the Congressional sponsors’ argument that America’s super-rich could be expected to spend their tax savings on investment-making and job creation activities.

The critics of tax relief for the richest

Americans directed tough questions at President Trump and his Congressional allies. The first and most obvious was, why do the super-rich need a tax break? Another question was, is there a certainty that the super-rich will not use their tax savings to increase their bank deposits and portfolio investments instead of establishing jobcreating enterprises? A further question was, why was tax relief not concentrated on the middle class which was the ostensible beneficiary of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act and which constitutes the backbone of the US economy? There have been no satisfactory answers to these and related questions.

Like its American counterpart, TRAIN has given rise to questions about fiscal-policy consistency. The flagship fiscal measure of the Duterte administration, TRAIN was touted as a measure that would bring relief to millions of Filipino middle-class taxpayers.

True to its billing, the measure that emerged from Malacanang exempted all Filipinos earning annually P250,000 or less—the Bureau of Internal Revenue says that that

covers around 99 percent of all income earners – from having to file an income tax return (ITR). But if they thought that they were now better off financially, those income earners were wrong. In classic retrieve-withthe-right-hand-what-you-give-with-the-left fashion, the Department of Finance (DoF) raised the taxes on sales of products which are major components of the cost of living of middle-class and poor Filipinos.

This has left economists asking themselves what TRAIN really seeks to achieve. What do the fiscal policymakers really want to accomplish with TRAIN? Do they want to give the middle class and the poor real relief from taxation? If they do, why raise, at the same time, the excise taxes on electricity and transportation, which figure importantly in their daily living expenses? Do the fiscal policymakers—DoF and Congress—really believe that the Filipino middle-class folk cannot see through what TRAIN is doing —simultaneously benefiting them (with an income tax exemption) and screwing them (with higher excise taxes)?

Cannabis to generate $40 billion, says study

LOS ANGELES―The legal cannabis sector is expected to generate $40 billion and more than 400,000 jobs by 2021 in the United States, according to a study released Tuesday.

The estimate by consulting firm Arcview includes direct purchases by consumers of $20.8 billion and indirect revenue for growers and various subcontractors as well as money spent with businesses not affiliated with the sector, such as supermarkets.

The projection would represent a rise of 150 percent on the $16 billion revenue recorded in 2017, according to the study, released the day after recreational use of marijuana became legal in California.

Arcview and its partner in the research, BDS Analytics, expect $4 billion in taxes to be generated within three years.

The new regime will lead to the creation of nearly 100,000 cannabis industry jobs in California by 2021, about a third of the nationwide figure and 146,000 jobs overall when indirect effects are considered.

Customers and operators in California have complained however about the punitive sales taxes to be applied to cannabis and its derivative products, which can hit 35 percent when state, county and municipal levies are taken into account.

California, the most populous US state, became the largest legal market for marijuana in the world on Monday, and public reaction to the law change has been enthusiastic, with long lines and stock shortages reported at clinics already licensed and open.

Berkeley mayor Jesse Arreguin hailed the reforms at a ceremony on Monday at Berkeley Patients Group, one of the oldest dispensaries in the United States.

“I’m stoked about this historic moment, not just for Berkeley, but for the state of California,” Arreguin said, praising the state for “embracing this new economy.” AFP

Questions have also been raised about the wisdom of deliberately reducing government income-tax revenue at a time when the Duterte administration is embarking on a very ambitious infrastructure program.

Considering that P3.1 trillion price-tag of “Build, Build, Build,” wasn’t it more advisable to concentrate on revenue-raising — yes, bring on the tax increases on motor vehicles and cosmetic repair jobs—rather than on tax-relief-giving?

This brings me back to the theme of this piece, which I laid down at the outset.

Labeling a tax program as reformist does not make it reformist. Whether or not it truly deserves to be called a tax reform program depends on whether it fulfills one of two criteria, or both. Those criteria, to repeat, are (1) whether the program changes, entirely or largely, the profile of a tax system and (2) whether the program corrects, in broad fashion, the inequities or economic irrationalities of the existing tax system. In my view, the newly approved “tax reform” program of the Duterte and Trump administrations fulfill neither criterion.

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

LGUs

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

B4

LocaL government units

thursday, january 4, 2018

DAVAO CITY—Indonesia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Retino L.P. Marsudi has arrived in Davao City for a two-day visit to formally announce the joint education program between the Philippines and Indonesia.

According to the Consul for Information, Socio-Culture Affairs of the Indonesian Consulate in Davao City Endah Yuliarti Farry, the program marks the opening of the Indonesian-Philippines Islamic cooperation.

She said the joint education program is a follow up of the discussion between President Rodrigo Duterte and Indonesian President Joko Widodo during the 50th Asean Summit in Manila in November.

Marsudi will also confer passports to Indonesian nationals living in Mindanao.

Earlier reports showed that persons of Indonesian descent can be found in seven provinces and two cities in Mindanao.

CLOWNING WITH NINOY. Kids play around a bronze statue of the late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. along Manila’s baywalk. Ey Acasio

6 NPA rebels killed in ‘17—AFP

By Dexter A. See TABUK CITY, Kalinga—Six members of the New People’s Army were neutralized by the military in Kalinga in 2017, leaving only 35 rebels operating in the province.

Lt. Col. Martin Daiz Jr., commander of the 50th Infantry Battalion, said of the 35 NPA members left, 14 are located in Balbalan, 13 in Pinukpuk, four in Lubuagan, three in Tinglayan, three in Tabuk City, and one in Tanudan.

On the top of the military’s list is Rudy Daguitan who has a bounty of P2.35 million, followed by Tomas Maggay with P2.2 million, Claver Bawit with P700,000, and Nora Miguel and Leonardo Manadao who both have a P400,000 bounty each on their heads.

Daguitan is located in Tanudan while the rest are holed up in Balbalan, Daiz said.

The militar y had engaged with NPA rebels six times last year and have managed to seize 20 f irear ms and recovered 15 encampments in Balbalan and Pinukpuk.

For his part, Col. Leopoldo Imbang, commander of the 503rd Infantry Battalion, reported 27 non-violent activities in the last quarter of 2017.

Imbang urged local government units to cooperate in efforts to f lush out NPA rebels following President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of the communist group as a terrorist organization.

‘Loakan to remain open’

By Dexter A. See

B

AGUIO CITY—Officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the local government here have agreed that Loakan airport will not be closed to air traffic while efforts are being done to look for airline companies willing to fly to and from the city.

Mayor Mauricio agreed to closely work toDomogan and CAAP direc- gether to sustain the operator-general Jim Sydiongco tions of Loakan airport.

“We agreed that Loakan airport will not be closed to air traffic while we will be closely working for the continued development of the facilities and addressing the problems on intrusions and animal and pedestrian traffic, among others,” Domogan siad.

He said CAAP was able to identify alleged intrusions made by residents in some portions of the Loakan airport.

CAAP will take charge of the improvement of the access road leading to the community on the other side of the airport. It will also convince residents to maximize the use of the access road from the Philippine Military Academy area to their houses.

Domogan said CAAP officials also assured him that once the local government is able to find an air-

line company to service the Bag uio-Manila-Bag uio, Baguio-Clark Baguio, and other destination routes in the Visayas and Mindanao, the agency will accomplish the requirements for its planes to fly the desired routes that use the Loakan airport.

Earlier, the Cordillera Regional Development Council passed a resolution requesting CAAP to fund the rehabilitation and

TABUK CITY, Kalinga— Governor Jocel Baac has formally resumed office recently after a six-month suspension.

Baac was suspended by the Ombudsman on June 9 upon finding merit on

upgrade of the Loakan airport amounting to at least P420 million to help convince airline companies to operate commercial flights daily.

In 2009, commercial operations of the Loakan airport were abandoned by airline companies that had been servicing the Baguio-Manila-Baguio route because of safety reasons, expensive air fare, and lack of demand.

Ilocos Norte assisted 2k scholars last year

AGAINST ALL ODDS. A family takes a wacky groufie while strolling around CCP complex in Pasay city. Despite disasters, calamities and conflict, the Philippines

ranked third among the happiest countries in the world, according to Gallup International’s 41st annual global year-end poll, with a +84 net happiness score. Ey Acasio

Bacolod eyes team-up with Palafox for city’s masterplan BACOLOD CITY—Mayor Evelio Leonardia is scheduled to meet with top urban planner Felino Palafox Jr. this month to discuss the development of a masterplan for Bacolod.

Before the New Year, Palafox called up Leonardia, who said Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez facilitated

his contact with the worldrenowned master urban planner.

The mayor said that during their meetings, Alvarez had consistently expressed interest to help Bacolod finance the hiring of Palafox’s services.

Palafox, president of Palafox Architecture and

senior partner of Palafox Associates, has done more than 1,200 local and international projects, including the master planning of more than 17 billion square meters of land area and the architectural design of more than 12 million square meters of building floor area in 39 countries.

Palafox is also one of the creators of the masterplan for Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

“Can you imagine if we can use his brains for Bacolod?” the mayor said.

For his part, Palafox, when informed that Bacolod would celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2018,

said the city should start thinking how it should be in the next 80 years.

“We could start re-thinking, re-imagining, re planning, re-engineering, re-architecture, remove, reduce, and recycle, re-develop and hopefully, we could have an urban renaissance,” Palafox said. PNA

After 6-month suspension, Baac resumes work as Kalinga governor

By Dexter A. See

Indon-PH launch education program

charges of abuse of authority and conduct unbecoming of a public official filed by the Provincial Board.

In 2015, he allegedly manhandled Provincial Board Secretary Matthew Matbagan after the former lost his temper over a resolution to close down the Ka-

linga Gabriella Mija Kim Medical Center.

In his speech on Monday’s flag-raising ceremony attended by members of the Provincial Board, heads of national-line agencies, and government employees, he called his suspension a “test of political endurance” that

at first was difficult to accept “because it was all the result of our personal dedication to serve the interest of our people, especially their health security.”

“But I have to take full personal responsibility because that is the nature of a servant fully accountable to my oath

of office,” Baac said.

He spoke of his “renewed vigor” in returning to public service.

“I have committed myself precisely for this purpose with focus and this will serve as my philosophy throughout my political career—a committed, dedi-

cated and responsible leadership that is accountable to reflect our peoples’ desire for a good government that is responsive to their needs and progress,” he said.

Baac praised the performance of Vice Governor James Edduba as acting governor in his absence.

THE provincial government of Ilocos Norte, through the Provincial Education Department and the Ilocos Norte Youth Development Office, has awarded a total of 2,224 scholarships last year.

The tally includes both the scholarships given during the second semester of academic year 2016 to 2017 and the first semester of academic year 2017 to 2018.

Evaluation for the second semester’s recipients will take place this month.

Of the total, at least 1,102 of the scholarships were sourced from the INYDO, including the Sirib Young Leaders Scholarship, Sirib Community Leaders Scholarship, and top five finalists of previous Miss Ilocos Norte pageants.

PED also shouldered a total of 434 scholarships in the technical-vocational category, a program aimed primarily toward the underemployed and out-of-school youth to ensure more equal opportunity for skills development and employment both locally and abroad.

Moreover, a total of 52 athletic scholarships under PED that were introduced

by Senior Provincial Board Member Matthew Marcos Manotoc were awarded last year.

“Lahat ay pwedeng mag-aral, Lahat, pwedeng mangarap. And now that we have free education, free tuition fees, nothing is impossible for poor yet deserving students,” Gov. Imee Marcos said.

W

hEthEr you’re visiting family in the East Coast, exploring the rugged beauty and Northern lights of Europe, or taking a stroll down the city streets of hong Kong, surplus has an exciting collection of coats and jackets for your winter getaway –and your Instagram.

Classic trench coats make a comeback with a contemporary refresh, reworked with modern cutouts, eccentric styling, and oversized shapes.

Faux fur is more versatile than ever thanks to the likes of UK-based brands shrimps and Charlotte simone. Faux fur touches in checkered coats or blazers will keep you snug and stylish.

Padded jackets have transitioned from ski enthusiast to street wear and this year, they are bigger and better this time. there are no rules with this one – printed, colorful, muted, patent, or velvet, there’s a quilted jacket for everyone’s taste.

Pops of color highlight the spirit of the season in this many hued and surprisingly wearable feast. layer these with sweatshirts, pullovers, long-sleeved shirts, f leece hoodies and even dresses. Complete your look with the whimsical and fabulous accessories. the winter collection and other great fashion finds are available at surplus stores located at most sM supermalls and Waltermart Makati and batangas.

Items may vary per branch.

Life

PARKA PLAY. Venture into a cold destination in a parka worn over beige sweater and black pants.

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

shopping

thuRsday, januaRy 4, 2018

c1

Cold play at Surplus

Surplus offers a wide range of winter outerwear, such as faux fur, bold-colored coats, fuzzy coats, and trench coats, among others

For every occasion, there’s My Diamond It’s true that diamond is forever—time cannot break its brilliance and elegance.

For whatever season or occasion, there’s always a reason to wear diamonds. As it lasts for a lifetime, the sparkling beauty of diamond jewelry can complement any outfit—for day or night; from casual to formal—adding flair and sophistication. since acquiring diamond jewelry is a precious investment, it helps to have a jeweler who understands your inclinations and personal style. My Diamond offers only the best quality pieces. Each of My Diamond’s exquisite pieces are

meticulously made by internationallytrained craftsmen using diamonds of top-tier cut, clarity, color, carat weight, and with the assurance of authenticity. there is surely a diamond perfectly suited to every woman despite varying interests, tastes, and personalities that is fitting for any celebration and activity.

For the dynamic individual to achieve an exceptional daytime look there’s the modish 18K yellow gold cocktail ring with 32 pieces .66-carat diamonds.

Complement this with the adjustable diamond bracelet, an 18K yellow gold adjustable tennis bracelet with 35 pieces

2.1- carat diamonds.

As you transition to evening and shift to dressier affairs, go with classic investment pieces that will elevate your look and put you in a festive mood. Pair a tennis necklace in 18K white gold with 70 pieces 6.15 carat diamonds with 18K white gold stud earrings with 2 pieces square emerald cut and 1.3 carat diamonds.

My Diamond jewelry polishes off any outfit, at every occasion, and season, adding sparkle and refinement to your wardrobe because you deserve to shine brilliantly everyday.

Globe Telecom CEO and President Ernest Cu, Mynt CEO and President Anthony Thomas and GCash CEO and President Abet Tinio with The SM Store President Chelo Monasterio and SM Retail EVP for Controllership Ricky Lim at the launch of GCash Scan to Pay feature at The SM Store

My Diamond’s exquisite pieces can be worn for casual, daytime affairs and dressy, evening events

Celebs and ‘it’ girls turn to jewelry choice CElEbrItIEs and “It” girls are turning to jewelry choices that are most distinct or personal, so sM Accessories brings on a bright spark with pendant necklaces to layer, gold hoops of all sizes, trendy tassel earrings, and statement rings that tell a story.

You’ll also find a lot of ladylike polish in classic pearls, stylish scarves, and chic bags. Metallic, velvet, fur, and sequined embellishments make a comeback with a modern twist; while beanies and earmuffs are perfect for global glam. there’s also a lot of headspace for hip guys with beanies, bucket hats, and baseball caps that will bring anyone out of a hat hiatus. there are also leather backpacks and character-printed bags, as well as braided bracelets and sporty watches for men.

Young girls can play princess with crowns and f loral diadems, or turn on that storybook charm with adorable headbands, necklaces, bracelets, and sunglasses from sM Accessories Kids.

GCash lets consumers simply scan the QR code for easy and cashless transactions

Shopping a breeze with GCash

SM Accessories provides young girls and grown women (and men) stylish accessories

SM Accessories is available at all SM SM Accessories through Facebook, TwitStores nationwide. Get connected with ter, and Instagram: @smaccessories.

No MorE long lines, no more waiting, no more hassle. shopping can be a breeze at the sM store as GCash, the mobile wallet application of Globe telecom, has promised to take the hassle out of shopping by eliminating the need to line up at checkout counters to pay. With just a simple scan, you’re good to go.

“We are happy that through GCash, we have taken another innovative step to serve our customers better,” says the sM store President Chelo Monasterio.

With GCash’s scan to Pay feature now available in the sM stores, customers only need to look for the “Mobile Pay lane” to enjoy the benefits of quicker, easier and safer cashless transactions by scanning the Qr code.

GCash users can just cash-in their GCash at the business Centers located at the sM store and then scan to pay

for all Christmas shopping needs. “our goal is to reach one out of five Filipinos in the next three to five years.

We can do that by enabling their lifestyle through their smartphones, a platform that is perfectly capable of adding convenience,” explains Anthony Thomas, president and chief executive officer of Mynt, the financial technology company of Globe telecom. “From there, we can enable other aspects of their lifestyle like going to the mall, the cinema or the food court and enable an even bigger set of the population. If you give people more reasons to use GCash in their daily lives, then you create adoption.”

“Ultimately, what we want to do is to provide a better life to Filipinos,” he adds.

The GCash App is available on Google Play and App Store. For more details, visit www.globe.com.ph.

Life

c2

thursday, january 4, 2018 isahred@gmail.com

Miniso now at SM Megamall

Multifunctional manicure set and nail polish

Actors Julie Ann San Jose and Jeric Gonzales join Mini Depato Corp. President Michael Hong and Vice President Mariano Guy, Miniso AVP for Franchising John Agner, Senior Operations Manager Khae Sumait, Senior Merchandising Manager Melody at the opening of Miniso in Megamall Hao and SM Megamall Assistant Mall Manager Jonathan Chua.

J

APAnESE brand Miniso opened its 35th store in the Philippines at SM Megamall Building A7.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Miniso was jointly founded by Miyake Jyunya, the chief designer, and Ye Goufu, the young Chinese entrepreneur.

To date, it has opened more than 2,100 stores around the world – the United States, Canada, Russia, Singapore, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, South Africa, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and the Phil Phil-

ippines. And it dedicates itself to providing customers with quality, creative, and low price products.

Likewise, Miniso always persists in selecting fine materials from all over the world. Over 80 percent of the brand’s product designs originated from Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, China, and other countries.

It offers a wide selection of quality

products which varies from creative home necessities, health and beauty products, stylistic gifts, digital products, jewelry series, seasonal products and even food and drinks with a Miniso promise – to give its consumers quality and creativity without having to spend much!

With its affordable and quality products, Miniso is also the place for those looking for great finds. There are various products for both men and women such as: perfumes, hair and beauty essentials, holiday plush toys and tech accessories perfect for gift ideas.

Nourishing and Repairing Essence Conditioner and Nutrition Repair Conditioner

Comfortable Headphones

Uniqlo shows its commitment to provide FIlipinos with quality apparel with the opening of its new stores

UNIQLO opens 2 more stores

JAPAnESE global casual apparel retailer, Uniqlo, opened new stores across the Philippines last month, adding a total of close to 3,000 sqm of new shopping space in three locations, bringing the Uniqlo shopping experience to even more Filipinos.

Following its successful expansion in Mindanao and the recent opening of its first store in Tacloban, the opening of the new stores marks the growing commitment and strengthening position for Uniqlo across the country. The expansion is made possible because Filipinos have shown a strong appreciation for Uniqlo’s signature LifeWear — innovative, high-quality clothing that is universal in design and comfort and made for everyone, everywhere.

“Since we first arrived in the Philippines five years ago, our commitment to provide high quality LifeWear pieces has always inspired us to push the boundaries of the innovation and design,” said Masayoshi Nakamura,

COO, UnIQLO Philippines. We are happy to announce the opening of three new stores to highlight our commitment to more Filipinos in time for the holiday season.”

The first new store opened in Uptown Place Mall in the Taguig area on Dec. 1.

Situated on the second floor of the mall with 1,662 sqm of new shopping space, the store is the third large store in the area. In addition, Uniqlo also opened in SM Podium on Dec. 8.

Following the opening in December, Uniqlo is also set to open its second largest store in Quezon City at Ayala Malls Vertis north this month.

The two new stores showcase a full and colorful line-up of Uniqlo LifeWear for men, women, kids and babies. Product offerings will include Uniqlo shirts, pants, jeans, denims, dresses and Uniqlo Sport items. Also available will be the full range of world-renowned Uniqlo proprietary technology clothing lines, such as AIRism and HEATTECH.

In THE eyes of a child, happiness comes and is expressed in various forms. But for PhilSeven Foundation, Inc. (PFI) – the corporate social advocacy arm of Philippine Seven Corp., the exclusive local licensor of 7-Eleven convenience store chain brand – the rewarding joy came in the fulfillment of its mission to be of service to others: a decade-long legacy that continues to inspire hope, bigger dreams, and sow meaningful positive outcomes, one community at a time.

Just recently, PFI officers, along with company volunteers and advocacy partners (Malolos City Social Welfare Office, Sta. Rosa City Social Welfare Office and Calamba City Youth & SWDO) brought holiday cheer to 40 street children as they treated them to a whole day of educational fun, laughter, and togetherness in celebration of the Foundation’s 10th anniversary at Kidzania Manila.

The kids, aged four to 12 years old, are beneficiaries of PFI’s most recent “Gulong ng Karunungan (GnK)” Project — a mobile school project for street children, a tie-up with select local government city Social Welfare Development from LGU partners in the cities of Calamba, Sta. Rosa, and Malolos. To date, GnK has helped augment the learning, supplemental feeding, and basic medical attention needs of around 2,000 disadvantaged youth, namely out-of-school kids/ street children/informal settlers from a PFI-identified city beneficiary.

Together with DSWD LGU representatives, PSC officials headed by Violeta Apolinario (HRAD Head and PFI ManCom Chairperson) and 7-Eleven employees who volunteered as “Parent for a Day”, the children enjoyed the entire educational experience as they tried out different reallife role-playing activities at Kidzania.

In commemoration of the foundation’s decade-long advocacy, Ella S. Ferrer-Lequin, RSW/Agency head of PFI, in her welcome speech, expressed heartfelt gratitude to all the partners, volunteers, and donors who contributed immensely throughout PFI’s humble journey.

“As we mark this historical event for PhilSeven Foundation, our 10th Year Founding Anniversary, I want everyone to be a witness on the life of these kids among us, even just for a day, to give these kids renewed hopes and faith in believing in their dreams.”

“Referencing the beautiful words of our late Chairman Vicente Paterno, volunteerism or active community involvement is crucial in making a difference in the lives of needy people and communities. Every one, in their own way, should take part in creating a nurturing and supportive environment especially for poor children. We should show compassion, give hope, and inspire them to succeed in life, to dream and create a bigger, brighter future for themselves through education,” Lequin said.

While the entire day may be tiring

A gift that inspires, renews hope

7-Eleven volunteers happily guided their young GNK pals as they tried out various roleplaying jobs at Kidzania

GNK kids learn the ropes the fun way at a fastfood station.

as it is filled with non-stop walking, strolling, and snacking, 7-Eleven employee volunteers were all smiles as they fulfilled their doting ate and kuya roles to 40 GnK kids.

Natallie Beduya, Public Relations Franchise Specialist-Business Development Division of PSC and first-time Parent For A Day volunteer, described the activity as an “amazing, humbling, and heart-warming experience.”

“I was assigned with two kids, Angelo and Mary Joy. As I get to know them more, they shared me their dreams, that they wanted to become a seaman and a chef, respectively. I made sure that they get to work or live out their dream professions while playing. They were really happy and in awe to try every role-playing jobs that we came across. It was such a nice thing to know that these kids are really doing their best in pursuing their dreams, and they were so happy and thankful that

they got to experience Kidzania. For them, it was a day of fun and discovery of the things they want to do when they grow up,” Beduya narrated.

In choosing the educational tour in crowning PFI’s milestone anniversary, Lequin said the activity reflected vividly the kind of future that the organization envisions for their beneficiaries.

She believes that the experience will open up the children’s eyes and minds to a world of happiness, imagination, and infinite possibilities.

“We chose to celebrate this way because we find this very meaningful and relevant to our cause. These children used to roam the streets, scavenging for food and begging to earn for a living. We are optimistic that the experience inspired them to dream bigger for a brighter future. And for our employees, to serve as an eye opener on PFI’s cause towards working on access to quality e ducation,” L equin c oncluded.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2018

Animation students bag awards in Animahenasyon XI

T

HE Grand Prize for the Short Animated Film – Student Category was recently awarded to Diskarte, during Animahenasyon XI, an annual animation film festival showcasing original Filipino works.

Organized by the Animation Council of the Philippines, the event featured outstanding pieces from students, enthusiasts, and professionals. Since 2007, the association hosted workshops and free screenings, providing excellent opportunities for industry professionals to TAKING on the role of real life heroes, Chris Hemsworth (Thor, The Avengers), along with Oscar nominee Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road, Nocturnal Animals), stars in 12 Strong, a powerful action-packed new war drama based on the best-selling book “Horse Soldiers,” from true events that unfolded a world away in the aftermath of 9/11.

12 Strong is set in the harrowing days following 9/11 when a U.S. Special Forces team, led by their new Captain, Mitch Nelson (Hemsworth), is chosen to be the first U.S. troops sent into Afghanistan for an extremely dangerous mission.

There, in the rugged mountains, they must convince Northern Alliance General Dostum (Negahban) to join forces with them to fight their common adversary: the Taliban and their Al Qaeda

network and students to improve their craft.

Diskarte by Jose Agustin Delfin Crisostomo and Michelle Allysa Cervantes, both Bachelor of Arts in Animation graduates of De La SalleCollege of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), is a satire on the deplorable state of public transportation in the country.

This production likewise won the top prize in the animation category of the Ika-29 Gawad CCP para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video (Gawad Alternatibo) in August 2017, and was screened at the recent Cinema One Originals shorts program.

Apart from Diskarte, works by Benilde students and alumni also took home prizes at Animahenasyon XI, to include Vaughn Bryner Tan’s Holy Dung (Best in Technical Prize), and Brighten Up by Jeremy Sanchez (Best in Narrative Prize)

in the Professional Category.

Mentored by a roster of award-winning practitioners, Benilde’s Animation program hones students in different skills, from traditional hand-drawn to digital two-dimension, threedimension and computer-generated imagery (CGI), and experimental stop-motion.

Benjamin Marasigan Jr., present chairperson of Benilde’s Animation Program and former president of the Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc. (ACPI), disclosed that an accomplished skill in drawing continues to be essential in animation, especially for those seeking to join international production companies, such as Disney and Pixar.

He added the program’s curriculum would be updated soon to include classes in virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and visual effects.

Chris Hemsworth in ‘12 Strong’

Chris Hemsworth makes for a solid horseman as Capt. Mitch Nelson in the war drama, '12 Strong'

allies.

In addition to overcoming mutual distrust and a vast cultural divide, the Americans—

accustomed to state-ofthe-art warfare—must adopt the rudimentary tactics of the Afghani

horse soldiers. But despite their uneasy bond, the new allies face overwhelming odds: outnumbered and

outgunned by a ruthless enemy that does not take prisoners.

Aw a r d - w i n n i n g director Nicolai Fuglsig directed the film, which is produced by legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer (of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, Black Hawk Down), together with Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill and Thad Luckinbill (La La Land, Sicario) under their Black Label Media banner.

Oscar winner Ted Tally (The Silence of the Lambs) and Peter Craig (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Parts 1 & 2) wrote the screenplay, based on the acclaimed book by bestselling author Doug Stanton.

12 Strong opens on Jan. 17 in cinemas from Pioneer Films.

Liam Neeson stars in ‘The Commuter‘ FOLLOWING the worldwide success of Unknown, Non-Stop, and Run All Night, Liam Neeson, known as the man with a particular set of skills, stars in the explosive thriller The Commuter. The movie is Neeson’s fourth collaboration with director Jaume Collet-Serra about one man‘s frantic quest to prevent disaster on a packed commuter train.

The screenplay proved irresistible to both the director and star, not just for the bravura of the action and the thrill of the suspense but for the moral conundrum the protagonist is faced with and the consequences it has on him, the passengers on the train and his family at home.

“The Commuter asks the audience, if someone asked you to do something that seems insignificant but you’re not sure of the outcome in exchange

for a considerable financial reward, would you do it?” says Jaume Collet-Serra. “That‘s the philosophical choice that our central character - a man of 60 who’s just been fired, has no savings and is mortgaged to the hilt - is faced with. Is he thinking just about himself or is he going to take into consideration the possible moral consequences of what he’s asked to do? That’s the question we want the audience to ask themselves.”

For Neeson, it was also the story’s real-time narrative that gives it a thrilling momentum.

“The story almost plays in real time,” says the actor. “The main character realizes what he’s set in motion and sets out to identify the person that holds the key to the conspiracy. So the tension cranks up at every stop at a station as new passengers get on, and another

clue is left for him. The danger gradually gets greater and greater and the film becomes this really fast-paced psychological thriller along the lines of a Hitchcock‘s Strangers on a Train or North by Northwest.”

The story centers on Michael MacCauley (Neeson), a middle manager at a faceless insurance company, who lives with his wife and son in Westchester in New York State. Like so many hardworking family men, he is facing financial breaking point, trying to make ends meet on a paycheck that is stretched to the rafters. His son is about to go to college and his wife doesn’t know how the family is living beyond its means.

Then one day, his situation suddenly gets so much worse: he goes to work and gets fired. That,

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, January 4, 2018

ACROSS 1 Golden Horde member 6 Ms. Paquin 10 AC supply 14 Utah canyon 15 Underground thing 16 Girl in “Dracula” 17 Prepared to fire 18 Mo. expense 19 Subj. of rollovers 20 Gym iteration 21 Rome’s river 23 Munchies 24 Fridge maker 26 Bedroom piece 27 Mild, as climate 29 Gale or squall 31 Literary work 32 Midwest airport 33 Crumple up 36 Event with crates (2 wds.)

40 Proposal response 41 Joyce Carol — 42 Tick off 43 Shirt alligators 44 Journalized 46 Historic shrine 48 Cloud the issue 49 Requires 50 Fleeting 52 Physics workplace

55 Spoken 56 Architect — van der Rohe 57 1980 Tony winner 59 Collapse 60 Potpourri 61 Hockey arenas 62 Kind of pearl 63 Vol’s state 64 Epics DOWN 1 Skier’s lift (hyph.)

2 Racer — Luyendyk 3 Eardrums 4 Crack pilot 5 Kind of sale (hyph.)

6 Island near Venezuela 7 Observe 8 Black, to Yves 9 Maj. ocean 10 Grammywinning rapper 11 Istanbul moolah 12 Pass legislation 13 Hogshead 22 Wayfarer’s refuge 23 Destroy documents 25 Japanese soup 26 Hayseed humor

27 28 29 30

Trunk or torso Fencing sword Jerks away New Mexico art colony site 32 Director — Preminger 33 Squirming 34 Ready and willing partner 35 Did batik 37 Weaving machines 38 Othello’s betrayer

39 Cogito — sum 43 Served soup 44 Kung fu expert Bruce — 45 Bids 46 Cliffside refuge 47 Depart 48 Plains browsers 49 Eggy drinks 50 Liver output 51 Curb, with “in” 53 Aleutian island 54 Game fish 56 Witty remark 58 Itinerary word

however, is not the only thing that‘s going to spoil his evening.

On the commute home at the end of the day, the passenger sitting opposite him introduces herself as Joanna and puts a proposition before him: find a passenger on board the train who doesn’t belong, in return for a handsome reward. An easy deal, you’d think. But, not if you’re an ex-cop who has a strong moral sense of right and wrong.

Michael eventually agrees to find the “suspect” amongst the sea of passengers, using his wit and skill to uncover their identity, but soon comes to realise that he is at the centre of a deadly conspiracy that will end in the murder of everyone on the train and he is the only person who can stop it.

The Commuter opens on Jan. 10 in cinemas, also from Pioneer Films.

Now on its 11th year, Animahinasyon is an annual an annual film festival that showcases original works of local animators

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2018

MOONSUN’S LIZA and

ALDEN

TechnoMarine's newest collection captures a youthful sophistication with Pambansang Bae Alden Richards (top photo) and the World's Most beautiful Face Liza Soberano as its celebrity brand ambassadors

Star Music’s YouTube channel hits 1-billion views STAR Music, ABS-CBN’s record label, has already generated one billion combined views on its YouTube channel, making it the first local recording company to hit the one billion mark with its continuing efforts to deliver fresh and heartwarming videos and promote OPM to Filipinos in different parts of the world.

Combining the total views of its official music videos, lyric videos, recording sessions and other exclusive shots released on the StarMusic channel, it has now reached one billion total views and counting.

A few weeks before the billion hits, subscribers and fans watched Star Music’s Himig Handog videos, led by the grand winner “Titibo-Tibo” song with Moira dela Torre’s official recording session gaining 5.2 million views. Adding to this success is her pre-finals video that has already gained 3.8 million views, and her grand finals and official music videos garnering 2.2 million views each.

Star Music now has 1.8 million subscribers and is included in the top 10 Philippine channels on YouTube based on the number of subscribers. It is the first Filipino music label to reach one million subscribers, its major feat achieved last year, and the third ABS-CBN channel to reach said milestone.

Among its videos with the most number of views are Yeng Constantino’s official music video for “Ikaw” now with 68 million views, and KZ Tandingan’s official music video for “Mahal Ko O Mahal Ako” with 47 million views.

Star Music’s online presence, through its YouTube channel, website and social media accounts, adds to the growing list of digital platforms of ABS-CBN, which is rapidly transitioning into an agile digital company with the biggest online presence among Filipino media companies.

Check out the latest videos in YouTube’s StarMusic channel, visit starmusic.ph, like Star Music on facebook. com/starmusicph, and follow it on Twitter and Instagram @ StarMusicPH for more updates.

T

ECHNOMARINE is proud to introduce MoonSun, its newest collection that presents a totally refreshing dimension to the luxurious Swiss brand watch.

Inspired by the lines and energy of urban landscapes, the collection captures a youthful sophistication, powered by a precision Swiss movement and superior craftsmanship that’s tailor made for one’s active yet chic lifestyle.

The collection offers incomparable motion in design of 40mm case size for women and 42mm – 44mm case size for men, with a wide selection of either all-steel, all-steel in black, in steel and gold, or a chronograph with leather strap, and with technical prowess and water resistance of 50 meters.

Possessing the very qualities that make the MoonSun collection distinct are the faces of TechnoMarine: Liza Soberano and Alden Richards – youthful and vibrant; stylish yet subtle.

With two of the hottest young celebrities today representing the collection – Liza, a gorgeous style icon who easily transitioned from the small screen to the movies as an A-list star; moves effortlessly from day to evening with MoonSun’s minimalist timepiece that is equally stylish and chic. And Alden, everyone’s favorite

leading man and ever the gentleman with his boy-next-door charm; lives through time in his charismatic way, whether hitting the gym during the day, then heading for an elegant dinner date – MoonSun is perfect for any adventure or occasion.

Indeed, with the MoonSun collection, you too can be the center of your universe like Liza Soberano and Alden Richards, defining day to night style through the allure that only TechnoMarine timepieces can bring.

Founded in Switzerland in 1997, TechnoMarine focuses on active luxury with its combination of quality, sophistication, and originality.

TechnoMarine constructs each watch with the highest of standards; each timepiece engineered using the finest materials to produce the balance of durability and elegance for which the brand is known.

TechnoMarine boutiques are located at SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, SM City Cebu, SM Lanang Premier, TriNoma, Greenbelt 3, Robinson’s Galleria, Robinson’s Magnolia, Shangri-La Plaza, and all MyDiamond boutiques nationwide.

One last chance to watch ‘Disney On Ice celebrates Everyone’s Story’ DISNEY fans, today is the last day you can experience Everyone’s Story in Disney on Ice at Mall of Asia Arena.

Produced by Feld Entertainment, fanfare production features more than 50 unforgettable Disney stars, a sing-along score of melodious masterpieces, stunning choreography, beautiful costumes, and intricate sets.

Mouse-ter of Ceremonies Mickey Mouse, sweetheart Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy take to the ice with their friends from beloved Disney movies that span decades from Pinocchio to Frozen in one sensational skating spectacular.

Travel to the heart of Africa with Disney’s The Lion King, come along for an adventure in friendship with the gang from Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story and watch in amazement as Belle breaks the Beast’s curse in the tale of Beauty and the Beast. Making their Disney On Ice debut, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde from Zootopia enlist the crowd to help solve an off-ice caper that must be cracked for the on-ice action to begin.

Guests will also enjoy a special appearance by royal sisters Anna and Elsa from the no. 1 animated feature film of all time, Disney’s Frozen. Enter the kingdom of Arendelle and journey up the North Mountain with hilarious snowman Olaf and rugged mountain-man Kristoff as they help the sisters discover that true love conquers all.

“This particular production is by far the largest Disney On Ice show we currently have touring bringing together everyone’s favorite Disney characters from Snow White, Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse to Elsa and Anna,” said Producer Nicole Feld. “Our vision is for audiences everywhere to dance and sing along to their favorite Disney songs, so we’ve included 30 tunes that they know and love.”

The collection of Disney melodies includes family favorites like “Hakuna Matata,” “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” and “Let It Go.” Rock out with Squirt and his rambunctious turtle friends from Disney•Pixar’s Finding Nemo with

Led by Mous-ter of Ceremonies Mickey Mouse and sweetheart Minnie Mouse, Disney on Ice brings happiness to kids of all ages

the original song “Turtle Rock.” Fall in love with a musical montage of dazzling prince and princess pairs skating to “At Last I See the Light,” “A Whole New World” and more.

To put together a captivating show with a cavalcade of Disney characters, the father-daughter producing duo of Kenneth Feld and Nicole Feld called on the best and brightest in the business.

With Director Patty Vincent leading the way and a creative team of choreographers and designers, Disney On Ice celebrates Everyone’s Story is sure to be a timeless favorite among all Disney fans.

Choreographers Cindy Stuart and Sarah Kawahara created breathtaking production numbers to showcase the magic of each Disney tale. Complementing the fabulous skating sequences are gorgeous costumes designed by Scott Lane and Greg Poplyk.

Disney On Ice celebrates Everyone’s Story would not be complete without the magnificent sets designed by David Potts and Robert Bissinger.

A theatrical ambiance is created on ice with an iconic castle that allows for a smooth transition throughout the narrative.

Tickets on sale at www.smtickets.com or in SM cinema ticket booths nationwide.