Manila Standard - 2018 February 23 - Friday

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Alvarez pushes divorce proposal

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By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta SPEAKER

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Alvarez on Thursday appealed to the Catholic Church to respect the obligation of the government

Pantaleon

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Billy Graham, preacher to millions, dies at 99

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He is the closest thing to a national pope that we shall ever see,” journalist Garry Wills once wrote in the Washington Post. WORLD B3

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VOL. XXXII • NO. 12 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

In fact, it will strengthen marriage because when both parties could no longer work it out, the possiblity of divorce would be there.

— Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez

UNKNOWN SOLDIER. Former President Fidel Ramos leads the wreath-laying ceremony before the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as part of the ‘Edsa 2018: Effecting Change Toward Strengthened Democracy’ at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Thursday. Norman Cruz

Davao mayor, Speaker clash Word war erupts as Sara resents Alvarez yarn on ‘power to impeach’

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera and Maricel V. Cruz

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AVAO CITY—Mayor Sara Duterte tore into Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez Thursday after she heard that he had accused her of being part of the political opposition and said he had the power to impeach her father, President Rodrigo Duterte.

“What did you say to the crowd? ‘The gram account. “Somebody should really President is different, me, I’m the Speak- tell the President… the truth. Just wait, er and I can always impeach him!’ And tomorrow I will have another story.” you call me opposition?” she said in a Commenting on the mayor’s move to Next page mix of Filipino and English on her Insta-

Slain OFW’s Lebanese employer hunted

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday visited the wake of Joanna Demafelis, the Filipino worker whose body was found in a freezer in Kuwait two weeks ago.

Duterte spoke with members of the Demafelis family, including her parents, Eva and Crisanto, in their home in Sara, Iloilo, and vowed to give the slain worker justice.

The Kuwaiti authorities said they are looking for Demafelis’ employers, a Lebanese man and his Syrian wife.

Duterte, who had announced a total deployment ban of workers to Kuwait, said he is considering expanding the ban to other countries where Filipinos are abused.

Kuwaiti Ambassador to Manila Musaed Saleh A M Althwaikh said that President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks against his government will not affect the diplomatic relationship of both countries.

In an interview, Althwaikh said he is also hopeful that the problems that they are facing will soon be solved.

“We want to take it to another stage of cooperation… Every problem between

our two countries will be solved,” he said.

He believed that the tension between the Philippines and Kuwait, caused by the growing violence against Filipino workers, was just temporary.

On Jan. 19, 2018, the Philippines Department of Labor and Employment ordered a temporary ban on Filipinos seeking to migrate to Kuwait for work, pending an investigation into seven deaths of domestic workers in the country.

On Feb. 12, the Philippines, on orders from the President, imposed a “total ban” Next page

Sanofi faces civil suit for its refusal to refund

By Macon Ramos-Araneta HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday said he had ordered their Legal Department to file a civil case against Sanofi Pasteur after the French pharmaceutical giant rejected for the second time the Department of Health’s refund request for the used doses of the antidengue vaccine.

“I have forwarded the letter to the Legal Department and ordered that a civil suit be instituted against Sanofi Pasteur,” said Duque.

Duque was referring to the letter dated Feb. 15, 2018 from Thomas Triomphe, head of Asia-Pacific Region, Sanofi Pasteur, declining the DoH’s demand to refund the P1.6 billion for used doses of the anti-dengue vaccine and to set up an in-

demnification fund that would be used for the benefit of the Dengvaxia recipients.

As per the Terms of Reference on the procurement of the dengue vaccines, Duque said the DoH made it categorically clear that it intended to use the dengue vaccine in a school-based immunization program for students regardless of whether they have been infected by the dengue virus or not.

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PH among ‘worst offenders’ in AsPac

By Vito Barcelo

SARA DUTERTE

maker against her.

In a two-page resolution, the PET required both the protestant and protestee to observe the sub judice rule, which restrains them from discussing in public the ongoing judicial proceedings on the election protest against Robredo.

“Considering that the revision process is about to commence, the Tribunal

THE Philippines has slid in the global Corruption Perception Index 2017 as it ranked 111th place out of 180 countries, from the previous 101st in 2016 and was tagged as among the “worst offenders” in the Asia-Pacific Region.

The 2017 Corruption Perceptions Index clearly shows that corruption remains a global disease, the organization said.

The Philippines scored from 35 in 2016 to 34 in 2017. The last time the country scored as low was in 2012.

The organization also noted a “slow, imperfect progress” across the Asia Pacific Region, and called the Philippines, India and Maldives among “the worst regional offenders” in terms of threatening

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PANTALEON ALVAREZ

High tribunal ‘gags’ Leni, Bongbong

By Rey E. Requejo THE recent tit-for-tat between the camp of former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Leni Robredo has prompted the Supreme Court, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, to issue a gag order mandating both camps from making further comments on the pending election protest filed by the law-

WITH BUSINESSMEN. President Rodrigo Duterte, with businessmen Lance Gokongwei (left) and Lucio Tan Sr., during a photo opportunity with top executives from various companies during the courtesy call of Philippine and Japan conglomerates on the President in Malacañang Wednesday. Also in photo is Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.

Malacañang Photo

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

A.I. lumps Duterte with Trump, Putin

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta HUMAN rights watchdog Amnesty International has named President Rodrigo Duterte, US President Donald Trump, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping, and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt among the leaders “callously undermining the rights of millions.”

This marks the second consecutive year that Duterte has been identified with the worst performing leaders in terms of their record in upholding human rights, according to Joel Noel Olano, AI section director.

Amnesty International secretary general Salil Shetty said hatred and fear had become visible and widespread in world affairs.

But Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Thursday the US Intelligence report tagging Duterte a threat to democracy in Southeast Asia was a plot by the Central Intelligence Agency to overthrow the Duterte administration.

Duterte has been waging a bloody war against illegal drugs and forging closer ties with China, a country claiming ownership of virtually all of the South China Sea. Roque made his statement in a radio interview after Duterte was listed by the Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community as one of the Southeast Asian leaders that pose a threat to democracy and human rights.

The US Intelligence Community is a federation of 16 government agencies that work separately and together to conduct intelligence to support the foreign policy and national security of the US. Senator Risa Hontiveros said the report saying Duterte is a threat to democracy was not surprising.

“What does the Duterte government expect from the international community, accolades?” Hontiveros said.

She said the report merely confirmed the growing isolation of the country from the international community and the already prevalent global opinion that Duterte’s governance is contrary to the generally accepted principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Alvarez...

From A1 to protect the welfare of all Filipinos and desist from obstructing efforts in Congress to enact a law on dissolution of marriage and divorce.

Last Wednesday, the House of Representatives’ committee on family relations approved the substitute bill on dissolution of marriage and divorce.

Alvarez, estranged from his wife, is one of the principal authors of the dissolution of marriage bill.

Alvarez earlier said he expected the dissolution of marriage and divorce bill to reach the plenary by next week and approved by the House before they adjourn on March 23.

In a related development: • Senator Francis Escudero said he favored making the existing process of annulment under the Civil Code and the Family Code more affordable and accessible instead.

He said this was much better than expanding the grounds provided therein via a new law on “divorce.”

But Senator Joel Villanueva, son of Jesus Is Lord founder Eddie Villanueva, and Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said they opposed the House-approved measure on divorce.

“I am strongly against divorce; instead I am pushing to make the country’s annulment laws be simplified and not anti-poor,” he said, “No idea. Definitely not I,” said Sotto.

Senator Win Gatchalian, the only bachelor among the senators, said he did not believe in divorce and likened it to a drive through in American marriage.

“I don’t believe in no full divorce which means, ayoko sa mukha mo ayoko na. What we need is a clear process and reasonable process for our constituents to follow because the process now, it’s very expensive for our countrymen who will be separated.”

Sanofi ...

From A1 Duque said Sanofi Pasteur’s labeling did not qualify the recommended use or risk on the serostatus at baseline of the intended recipient of the vaccine.

Prior to the Nov. 29, 2017 announcement, he said Sanofi Pasteur never issued a warning nor precaution regarding the vaccine’s use among individuals who have had no prior dengue infection.

“It was only on this announcement that Sanofi Pasteur revealed that Dengvaxia poses a heightened risk of contracting severe dengue to seronegative individuals,” he said.

“It is regrettable that this crucial information was only made public by Sanofi Pasteur after the DoH has implemented the vaccine program to about 837,000 children,” he added.

Duque assured the general public it would exhaust all legal remedies against Sanofi Pasteur and would bring its misrepresentations to justice.

Sanofi said it responded to the DoH’s second request “that we refund the government for the used doses of Dengvaxia® and financially support an indemnification fund.”

“As we did in our previous reply to the DoH on 5 February, 2018, we respectfully declined both requests,” said Sanofi.

Scrap UN, end West meddling—Alvarez

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F SPEAKER Pantaleon Alvarez had his way, the United Nations should be abolished and a United Nations of Asia be established instead to protect, in his view, the interest of Asian nations, including the Philippines, from Western intervention.

Alvarez made the remarks Wednesday night as he commented on the US intelligence report naming President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs and pronouncements on revolutionary government and

nationwide martial law as among “regional threats.”

Alvarez, who also comes from Mindanao like Duterte, insited in a radio interview that it was the US which actually posed threats to the entire world.

Alvarez said there was nothing to worry about the US intelligence report as the threat really came from the US, not from Asia.

“Now, for me, let us just be here in Asia—United Nations of Asia, right? And we can take care of our interest in the region and we don’t need Western nations to interfere in our internal affairs,” he said in Filipino.

Alvarez did not say how the United Nations of Asia would work as a group, who would be included and did not provide any clue if Asian countries already in the United Nations—like Japan, People’s Republic of China, India, Vietnam—would be included even

if they would not cease membership in the United Nations, where the Philippines is a co-founding member.

Alvarez noted that while the US and the Philippines have forged a strong diplomatic relationship, there was still a need to create an allegiance with other Asian nations to protect their interests.

Alvarez called on the Department of Foreign Affairs to act upon the interference of the US in the country’s sovereignty.

But Alvarez was silent on what China was doing in the West Philippiner Sea and in the Benham Rise east of Luzon.

Sought for comment, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said the Palace respected Alvarez’s position.

Lawyer threatens to sue SC execs

By Rio N. Araja

GRIEVING KIN. President Rodrigo R. Duterte commiserates with the parents of the slain Filipino worker Joanna Demafelis during the wake at her residence in Barangay Anoring in Iloilo on Feb. 22, 2018. Presidential Photo

Davao...

From A1 create a regional party in Davao called the Hugpong ng Pagbabago, Alvarez reportedly said it “shows how political dynasties are in the Philippines.”

But on Thursday, Alvarez denied accusing the mayor of being part of the opposition, and told a news conference that somebody must have fed her the wrong information.

In a text message, he also said he respects the decision of the President’s daughter to form another political party.

The mayor said the new party, which she heads as chairperson, had the blessings of the President.

She bristled at Alvarez’s comment about political dynasties, saying if he felt strongly about it, he should help pass the Anti-Political Dynasty Law. “If you’re an asshole in Congress, don’t bring that to Davao. Leave it in Manila,” the mayor said in a separate post on Instagram. “Somebody should tell the President what you are doing. How dare you call me part of the opposition. Kapal ng mukha mo. You messed with the wrong girl.”

She also said the “country would be a better country if Alvarez [were] not the speaker” and that “the President would be a stronger President” if Alvarez was not

Slain...

From A1 on new workers migrating to Kuwait.

On Wednesday Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed invited Duterte to visit after he made scathing remarks about Kuwait and Arab employers.

“We proposed to the Philippine authorities to resolve and contain these issues and not to escalate them in the media,” Kuwait’s deputy foreign minister Khalid Al Jarallah said.

The ambassador here said that the Kuwait government is still waiting for Durerte’s confirmation.

The Philippines is currently speeding up the repatriation of 3,000 undocumented and illegal workers in Kuwait before it cracks down against illegal workers or aliens.

On Wednesday, the Kuwait government extended the deadline for its amnesty program to April 22.

Althwaikh said the extension was the most “humane” thing that the Kuwait government could do.

He said the extension of amnesty program reflects the good relationship between the two countries.

PH...

From A1 —or in some cases, murdering—journalists, activists, opposition leaders and staff of law enforcement or watchdog agencies.

“These countries score high for corruption and have fewer press freedoms and higher numbers of journalist deaths,” said the report, adding that in the last six years, 15 journalists working on corruption stories in these countries have been murdered, as reported by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

The index, which ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption according to experts and businesspeople, uses a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean.

The index found that more than two-

with him.

She urged her father’s allies to change the speaker.

“I said that the members of Congress should not keep quiet because somebody should tell the President about the truth of what is happening in Congress. And I said that it is within their power to change the House speaker since I am not a member of the Congress.”

She also accused Alvarez of spreading rumors that she had a bad relationship with her father, the President.

The Hugpong ng Pagbabago is led by Mayor Duterte and four governors of the Davao region—Antonio del Rosario of Davao del Norte, Tyrone Uy of Compostela Valley, Nelson Dayanghirang of Davao Oriental and Claude Bautista of Davao Occidental. Only Gov. Douglas Cagas is not a member.

The mayor said HNP, which launches in Davao City today (Feb. 23), does not wish to compete with the ruling PDPLaban, which her father chairs, since it is only a regional party.

During the City Peace and Order Council meeting Thursday afternoon, Sara opened her statement by calling Alvarez an asshole.

“Sorry I am late. I’m late because of Alvarez, he is an asshole,” she said in front of the members of the police and military here.

There are 10,800 Filipinos believed to have overstayed their visas or have run away from their employers.

The DFA however said, out of the total number, there are only 3,000 Filipinos who applied so far.

Human Rights Watch called on Kuwait to agree to greater protection for migrant workers as a Philippine delegation was due in the emirate Thursday to discuss an outcry over alleged abuses of Filipinos.

But the New York-based watchdog also criticized a ban imposed by the Philippines last week on migrants leaving to work in Kuwait, saying it was likely to increase the number resorting to unregulated channels that exposed them to a greater risk of abuse.

Te President triggered a diplomatic row with Kuwait by alleging that Arab employers routinely raped their Filipina workers, forced them to work 21 hours a day and fed them scraps.

“Kuwait should confront the outcry over deaths, beatings and rapes of domestic workers by taking immediate steps to reform the kafala system, which traps workers with abusive employers,” HRW’s Middle East women’s rights researcher Rothna Begum said in a statement late Wednesday. thirds of countries score below 50, with an average score of 43. “Unfortunately, compared to recent years, this poor performance is nothing new,” the report read.

This year’s Corruption Perceptions Index highlights that the majority of countries are making little or no progress in ending corruption, while further analysis shows journalists and activists in corrupt countries risking their lives every day in an effort to speak out,” it said.

New Zealand and Denmark rank highest with scores of 89 and 88, respectively.

Syria, South Sudan and Somalia rank lowest with scores of 14, 12 and 9, respectively.

The best-performing region is Western Europe with an average score of 66.

The worst-performing regions are SubSaharan Africa (average score 32) and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (average score 34).

LAWYER Lorenzo Gadon on Thursday threatened to file cases against Supreme Court officials if Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno will not step down from her post by March 1.

At a weekly forum in Quezon City, Gadon, who filed the impeachment complaint against Sereno, again called on her to resign.

“I’m urging you to resign by March 1 because, if you will not resign by March 1, I will file cases against Supreme Court officials,” Gadon said.

But a Sereno spokeswoman said Gadon’s threat to file cases against several Supreme Court officials if Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno refused to resign

by March 1 was “just another dud” as far as her camp was concerned.

“Like a firecracker that didn’t explode, Atty. Gadon’s ultimatum to the Chief Justice and certain court officials is just another dud,” Josa Deinla said in a statement.

“Once again, the Chief Justice cannot be hostaged to bombastic threats that are built entirely on lies.”

Gadon said even if the other Supreme Court officials were only forced to obey orders from Sereno, they must also be held liable.

“With news reports that the Supreme Court has required Sereno and the regular members and officials of the Judicial and Bar Council to comment on her inclusion in the shortlist for the position of Chief Justice in 2012, despite her failure to submit the required number of sworn Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, I have

likewise finally decided to file appropriate criminal charges against Supreme Court officials who allowed themselves to be used and committed various irregularities just to bow to the wishes of Chief Justice Sereno,” Gadon said in a statement.

He said he knew “fully well that these criminal cases I am filing could end the careers of these public officials in the Judiciary, [but] I am giving them one last chance before I actually file these cases.”

“I am urging Chief Justice Sereno to resign not only to save these official she ordered to commit crimes, but also to save the Supreme Court from further decline

by March 1, 2018.”

If Sereno does not vacate her post, Gadon said, he would file charges of violation of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act and RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against Sereno, retired deputy court administrator Thelma Bahia, assistant chief Maria Carina Cunanan of the Office of Administrative Services, chief Corazon Ferrer-Flores of the Fiscal Management and Budget Office, and court attorney VI Michael Ocampo of the Office of the Chief Justice for the illegal purchase of a Toyota Land Cruiser van.

For the supposed illegal hiring of the information technology consultant, Gadon identified those liable as Sereno, deputy court administrator Raul Bautista Villanueva, Cunanan, Ferrer-Flores, Chief Justice Staff head Maria Lourdes Oliveros of the Office of the Chief Justice, Ocampo and former IT consultant Helen Perez-Macasaet.

P41-m tax saves day for Uber—BIR UBER Systems Inc. has paid P41.15 million in deficiency value-added tax to the Bureau of Internal Revenue to avoid the suspension or closure of its business operations here, officials said Thursday.

The payment was the culmination of the audit of UBER’s VAT compliance for the period July 1 to Dec. 31, 2016, conducted by revenue officers in Makati City.

UBER is registered with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board as a Transportation Network Company with a pool of Transportation Network Vehicle Service operators and drivers who use its transport system to transport passengers from one place to another.

The company provides prearranged transportation services for a fee using an internet-based application or digital platform to connect passengers with the drivers using personal vehicles.

All of UBER’s earnings are derived from the transportation services made by its TNVS operators and drivers within the Philippines. Hence, its gross receipts from such services is subject to the

12-percent VAT and not to the 3-percent common carrier’s tax.

Although UBER has religiously filed its VAT returns on time, it declared its sale of services rendered within the Philippines amounting to P413.85 million as zero-rated sales, contrary to the “cross border doctrine.”

The doctrine basically means that no VAT will be imposed to form part of the cost of goods destined for consumption outside of the territorial border of the taxing authority. Conversely, those destined for use or consumption within the Philippines will be imposed with the 12-percent VAT. Officials said the act of UBER of declaring its sale of services as zero-rated and not paying the VAT due thereon is a clear violation of the Tax Code which is one of the grounds for its suspension or temporary closure.

Revenue District Officer Florante Aninag recommended the suspension of UBER after it failed to pay its VAT liabilities despite the service of the required notices.

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From A1

all the motions they had filed before PET to speed up the revision of contested votes in the vice presidential election in 2016.

The PET has resolved to start the revision proceedings next month, covering three pilot provinces of Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental, which were chosen by Marcos to prove his allegation of irregularities in the 2016 polls.

Robredo’s counsel, Romulo Macalintal, said the recount covering the three pilot provinces of Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental would commence on March 19.

Marcos filed the protest on June 29, 2016, claiming the camp of Robredo cheated in the automated polls in May that year.

In his protest, Marcos contested the results in a total of 132,446 precincts in 39,221 clustered precincts covering 27 provinces and cities.

In his preliminary conference briefing, Marcos also sought a recount in Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental.

Robredo filed her answer in August last year and filed a counter-protest, questioning the results in more than 30,000 polling precincts in several provinces where Marcos won.

She also sought the dismissal of the protest for lack of merit and jurisdiction of PET. The PET dismissed Robredo’s plea and proceeded with the case after finding the protest sufficient in form and substance.

Robredo won the vice presidential race in the May 2016 polls with 14,418,817 votes or 263,473 more than Marcos’ 14,155,344 votes.

directs both protestant and protestee to observe the sub judice rule,” stated the resolution dated Feb. 13, 2018 signed by Felipa B. Anama, Clerk of the Tribunal.

Marcos counsel Vic Rodriguez said they already received the copy of the PET resolution and vowed to comply with it.

Rodriguez, in a text message said: “Yes we have received our copy of the PET resolution.

“Essentially it is just a reminder from the Tribunal for the parties to observe the sub judice rule which restricts litigants and their lawyers to make comments and/or disclosures on a pending judicial proceedings so that the case be decided upon evidence presented before the court and the determination of such facts should be uninfluenced by bias, prejudice and sympathies.

“Fair and accurate reporting of what actually took place in open court are excluded from its coverage.”

The PET also ordered Marcos to comment on the motion filed by Robredo to “withdraw any and all pending motions which may delay recount proceedings.”

“Based on the records of this case, the Tribunal finds that there are no such pending motions from protestee. Accordingly, the Tribunal resolves to note the motion and require the protestant to submit his comment thereon and inform the tribunal if he intends to file a similar motion as that filed by protestee within 10 days from notice hereof,” PET said.

Both camps earlier agreed to withdraw

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PDP-Laban member named as new PCUP chairman

Zambo City local officials surrender 157 loose firearms

AFTER firing Terry Ridon, who was sacked by President Rodrigo Duterte for traveling abroad for “unnecessary junkets,” the President appointed as new chairman of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor a partymate, Noel Felongco.

Felongco, whose appointment papers were signed on Feb. 1, is a former undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and once served as president of PDPLaban Central Visayas chapter.

Also appointed to the same agency was Romeo Jandugan as PCUP commissioner, two months after the President fired four PCUP commissioners for allegedly failing to meet as a collegial body.

Meanwhile, Ferdinand Bocobo was named as a member of the consultative committee that will review the 1987 Constitution.

By Francisco Tuyay

Passengers told not to bring firearms to airports

By Joel E. Zurbano AIRPORT authorities on Thursday urged passengers not to bring firearms and other prohibited items to avoid flight delays, especially this coming summer vacation period and during Holy Week next month when the number of air travelers are expected to increase.

The Aviation Security Group also reminded the people traveling by air to secure documents, particularly a permit to transport from the Philippine National Police, when bringing guns and ammunition during their trips.

The Avsegroup made the reminder on the heels of the recent apprehension of a male passenger who was caught carrying one piece .9mm caliber pistol and one magazine loaded with 10 live bullets at the north wing of Ninoy Aquino International Airport-Centennial Terminal 2.

Passenger Romeo Salvador Jr. was about to board his flight bound for Los Angeles around 8: 55 a.m. on Wednesday when Office of the Transportation Security personnel discovered the gun inside his luggage.

The authorities immediately confiscated the gun and placed Salvador under investigation after they found out that his permit to carry firearms outside residence has already been expired.

Salvador was later turned over to the Avsegroup’s National Capital RegionIntelligence and Investigation Section along with the recovered evidence for proper disposition.

Avsegroup director Dionardo Carlos said he instructed his men to enforce strict screening procedure at all airports in the country in line with the implementation of Oplan Sandigan, the intensified anticriminality campaign of the PNP under the leadership of its Director-General Ronald dela Rosa.

Carlos advised air travelers to be more extra careful in handling their baggage and ensure they are not carrying security risk and prohibited items that would prevent them from boarding their flights.

FARMERS CARAVAN. Farmers from Eastern Visayas Caravan troop to Mendiola, Manila along with a ‘scare crow’ on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018 to call on the government to pass genuine reforms in the agricultural sector. Norman Cruz

Du30 vows free housing, jobs for rebel returnees

By Vito Barcelo

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte vowed to provide free housing, livelihood, free education and allowance to the children of the New People’s Army who will surrender and put down their firearms.

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Duterte made the assurance in front of the 238 rebel returnees in Malacañang last Wednesday where he slammed Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison for brainwashing and using poor people to fight for the NPA cause.

Duterte added that when he was still young, he and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III used to listen to Sison.

He however said that since several former communist countries like China and the Soviet Union had turned its back against communism and embraced capitalism and became progressive, the President said he had an awakening.

The President also did not mince words when he said that most of the NPA members do not even know what they are fighting for and are just brainwashed by the passé Marxist ideology.

The Chief Executive, meanwhile,

welcomed the rebel returnees and told them that the government is doing its best to address the root causes of the armed struggle such as lack of education, lack of job opportunities, and landlessness of farmers, among others.

As regards his resolve to provide free housing to the former rebels, the Chief Executive said there are 1,000 housing units in Talomo and Bangkal in Mindanao.

“There are around 1,000 units, some are in Talomo and some are in Bangkal.

It’s almost done. It’s supposed to be given to the military and police, but I’ll give them to you instead,” Duterte said.

“Get yourselves enlisted now because I’ll give the 1,000 units to you. You will have a house that comes complete with everything. There is a school as well. College education is free. So I will just give you your allowance,” Duterte added.

Duterte clarified though that he would look for an alternative housing for the military.

As to the education of the former rebels’ children, Duterte reiterated that public universities and colleges now offer free education. Hence, they can enroll anytime.

The President also said the rebel returnees could avail of training from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Duterte, meanwhile, advised the rebel returnees not to go back to the mountains anytime soon since they are in the hotlist of the NPA for turning their backs against the movement.

“To those who surrendered their guns, please be cautious. You know how it’s going to be. So it’s best if you stay here. You know that you will really be killed,” Duterte said.

“So I suggest that you stay with the Armed Forces and be a Cafgu. You should be given that first so that you can go back to your hometown. You can’t go back to the mountains anymore unless you kill them all,” the President added.

The former rebels, mostly from poor families and who barely finished schooling, came from the provinces of Compostela, Agusan del Sur, and Davao del Norte.

NFA council urged to stop letting traders import rice ‘Entry of third

By Maricel V. Cruz telco player may be delayed due to lack of bidders’ A HOUSE leader on Thursday appealed to the National Food Authority Council to discontinue its longstanding policy of allowing private traders to import rice, given that certain unscrupulous traders have cashed in on the system to corner the bulk of domestic supply and unduly jack up prices of this staple at the expense of ordinary Filipinos.

Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte made the call amid the current “artificial” supply problem.

At the same time, Villafuerte urged the NFA Council to put up a separate body that will monitor the supply and prices of rice, with the end goal of imposing a price ceiling.

“In the same way that there exists regulatory control on the cost of electricity, there should also be

regulatory control on the price of rice to prevent the profiteering schemes of unscrupulous traders from upsetting the supply of the staple in the domestic market,” said Villafuerte.

Villafuerte earlier filed House Resolution 993 last May 2017 amid the then-unstable rice price and supply scenario in CamSur, or several months before the current situation has become a nationwide problem.

“We need to fix the existing system to shield both farmers and consumers from the shady practices of private traders that have left the NFA helpless in carrying out its primary task of ensuring the stability of the price and supply of rice in the market,” he added.

“Clearly, the present setup doesn’t work, as greedy grains traders have managed to game the system by cornering domestic supply through

imports and heavy purchases of locally produced stocks and, in the process, managing to influence and dictate retail prices through a seemingly ‘artificial’ supply deficit,” he said.

Under the current system, the NFA has the sole authority to import rice, but the NFA Council allows private traders to similarly purchase stocks from abroad through the NFA. Villafuerte said the NFA Council, chaired by Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr., should do away with the current system of allowing private traders to facilitate rice importations as “this setup obviously does not work in the face of the recent price spike of the grain in the retail market, which could apparently be traced to the hoarding done by unscrupulous businessmen that has created an artificial supply shortfall.”

Crocodile kills fisherman in Palawan A CRAB fisherman was killed and half-eaten by a huge saltwater crocodile, the latest in a growing number of attacks on a remote Philippine island, police said Wednesday.

The family and neighbors of Rebente Ladja, 37, launched a search after he failed to return home Monday from setting crab traps at a mangrove forest on the coast of Balabac, off the main southwestern island of Palawan.

“They found his mangled remains at the swamp that night, with a huge crocodile beside it. The crocodile had consumed the upper half of his body,” Balabac police officer Allan Vic Macasil told AFP. He said it was the fifth crocodile attack in Balabac in less than six years.

A 12-year-old niece of Ladja was dragged away by a crocodile at a

THE government’s intensified campaign against the proliferation of unregistered and loose firearms, particularly in Mindanao, continued to gain ground after local officials in Zamboanga City surrendered 157 loose firearms to the military.

No less than Zamboanga City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar led the hand-over of the high-powered firearms to Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., in simple rites in Camp Navarro, Calarian town at about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson of Western Mindanao Command, said the firearms were part of the guns from four village officials in Zamboanga City whom they turned over to Col. Leonel Nicolas, commander of Task Force Zamboanga.

“Barangay officials from Arena Blanco, Tigtabon, Mercedes, and Cabaluay yielded the said firearms to military and police units as an offshoot of the sustained campaign against the proliferation of unregistered and loose firearms,” Petinglay said.

Pentinglay said turned over were 29 firearms composed of 16 caliber of 30 Garand riles, 8 M1 Garand rifles, 4 M1 Garand rifles and a 66MM rocket launcher.

“We are just here to show our commitment and support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

This turnover only showcases the success of the cooperation between the military and the police,” said ClimacoSalazar in her short message during the turnover rites.

“On behalf of our barangay officials, I want to extend my gratitude to Lieutenant Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. for ensuring the security of Zamboanga City,” ClimacoSalazar added.

For his part, Westmincom chief Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez lauded the mayor’s commitment and support to the AFP to stop the proliferation of loose firearms within her jurisdiction.

“The Western Mindanao Command extends its sincerest gratitude and compliments to the local officials present here today, headed by Hon. Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Zalazar, for putting their trust in the armed forces as the Westmincom seeks to neutralize loose firearms and disarm armed groups in Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu and Tawi-Tawi [ZamBasulTa] area,” Galvez said.

The surrendered firearms brings to 257 the total number of loose guns recovered by the military in joint operations from January to February this year.

nearby village three months ago and had not been found, Macasil added.

A crocodile bit a Balabac woman last October but she survived, while two other residents of the mainly fishing island had been killed by the reptiles since 2012, he said.

The last crocodile attack in the region was near the town of Bataraza, on the southern tip of Palawan, last December.

A 53-year-old man was fatally attacked while securing his boat as Tropical Storm ‘‘Tembin’’ closed in.

Palawan province, which includes Balabac and Bataraza, is often called the Philippines’ “last frontier” and is one of the few areas in the country where crocodiles are still common.

Hunting and habitat loss have seen their numbers plummet in other parts of the Asian archipelago nation. AFP

PH-JAPAN COOPERATION. Lawyer Aniceto Saludo (right), chairman of the Philippine-Japan Economic Coorperation Committee, confers with Teruo Asada (left) chairman of the Japan-Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee during The 36th Joint Meeting of the Philippines and the Japan Economic Cooperation Committee on the ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure plan for Sustainable Growth of the Duterte administration at the New World Hotel in Makati City. Lino Santos

BECAUSE of lack of bidders, President Rodrigo Duterte’s earlier directive setting the deadline for the entry of the 3rd player by next month may not be met.

“It would now be physically impossible to meet the deadline to set up a third telecommunications firm in the country because the government has been overtaken by events,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in press briefing.

Department of Information and Communications Technology officer-in-charge Eliseo Rio, in a statement, said that they are pushing to move the deadline to May 2018 as there may not be any bidders if they force President Duterte’s original deadline.

Earlier, the President did not approve the new deadline to give the Filipinos a better telecommunication service which he said was being monopolized by giant telco firms Globe and PLDT. “However, due to recent events, we may not make the move necessary,” Roque said.

“Maybe we are overtaken by events.

From how I understand it. OIC Rio has moved the deadlines because it is physically impossible to meet them,” Roque said.

“While the President did not approve of the extension, I think the turn of events will eventually make it necessary to move the deadlines,” he added.

The DICT earlier set a target to accept bid documents from participating telecommunication companies for March 27 and announce the winning bidder by April 2. Vito Barcelo

A4

Opinion

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

Desperation THAT Filipinos are still bent on going to Kuwait despite all the abominable work conditions is a sign of desperation. It also reflects the unavailability of decent paying jobs in the country. The government of President Rodrigo Duterte did the right thing in imposing a total ban in the deployment of our overseas Filipino workers in the oil-rich Middle Eastern country.

Duterte went a step further by ordering the dispatch of government teams to check on all Filipino workers in the Middle East. Another fallout from the death of Joanna Demafelis prompted the Department of Labor and Employment to recall two more officials from Kuwait for failure to monitor the whereabouts of Joanna. DoLE labor attaches should really be coordinating with Philippine embassies abroad in tracking Filipino workers from their arrival to their departure to make sure no one is missing. This was the sad case of Joann. No one in the DFA and DoLE knew she was missing and was frozen to death for a year.

Mercy flights by national flag carrier Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific ferried home some 800 undocumented Fili-

T

Workers’ protection

HE murder of Joanna Demafelis whose body was found stuffed in a freezer in Kuwait this month is just one of the horrible tales often heard from Filipino maids working in the Middle East. Similar complaints of migrant Filipino maids being abused by their employers as evidenced by body contusions and other injuries have been heard before by authorities and relatives here.

Some of the victims are lucky and creative enough to retell their stories through emails and the social media, and plead for help. But they cannot easily leave their employers and workplace to escape the inhumane treatment—their cellular phones and passports are held by their employers.

Moving away from their employers will make them undocumented Filipinos and an easy prey to the police.

Government officials may have heard enough. The Philippines sent a team to Kuwait to seek greater protection for migrant workers after a dip-

of abuse.

The plight of the migrant Filipino workers, of course, could have been avoided had local authorities been vigilant in the deployment process.

Senator Franklin Drilon, a former labor secretary, noted that the deployment should only be in countries that have existing labor laws or those that are signatories to international conventions protecting migrant workers, or have bilateral agreements with the Philippine government for the protection of the workers.

The labor arrangement with Kuwait, meanwhile, must be reviewed amid the 185 deaths recorded in Gulf nation in the last two years alone. Workers’ protection should be top priority in the negotiations to prevent abuses and inhumane working conditions.

lomatic row over the alleged mistreatment of Filipinos in the Gulf state. Topping the list are demands that Filipino workers be allowed to keep their cellphones and passports, which are often confiscated by their foreign employers.

Labor Undersecretary Ciriaco Lagunzad, who led the delegation, received instructions from President Rodrigo Duterte to ensure that the passports of Filipino workers are deposited with the Philippine Embassy. The chief executive also wanted Filipinos to have access to cellphones so they can call for help in case

This present lower chamber will be long remembered for an alltime low.

pinos workers. This, after the gruesome death of Demafelis. Her remains have also been flown home and she has gotten a decent burial.

But despite the shocking news of Joanna’s death, Filipino workers affected by the deployment ban demonstrated demanding Duterte lift the embargo. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the ban stays until the Kuwaiti government signs an accord guaranteeing the safety and protection of Filipino workers there.

Kuwaiti authorities have so far hedged in signing the bilateral agreement for the past 10 years.

Filipino workers in Kuwait are not only household helpers. Many of them are skilled workers like engineers in the oil fields. This is a field where there are not many Kuwaitis who can do the job which is why a group of Kuwaiti officials came calling on President Duterte to lift the ban.

Someone put it aptly when he said that God is all-knowing when he did not gift the Middle East people brains because He already gave them oil. *** After the Reproductive Health Law comes now the divorce bill approved by the House committee on family and population. Expect the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines to oppose this latest legislative attack on family values.

This present lower chamber will be long remembered for an all time low.

The RH Law, more known as the legalization of abortion, and now the divorce bill. Let us not forget that the House also wants to convene itself into a Constituent Assembly instead of the more acceptable Constitutional Convention. The House Con-Ass advocates clearly want to revise the 1987 Constitution without setting certain basic amendments like the anti-dynasty clause. But of course they want a status quo wherein political dynasties can be perpetuated.

Con-ass under the present House leadership of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez wants a federalist/ parliamentary form of government that would technically abolish the Senate. The Senate, of course, is visceral against the parliamentary form as it would practically decimate their ranks and existence.

The senators are girding for the midterm elections next year. Seeking reelection are Senate president Koko Pimentel. Senators Migz Zubiri, Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Paulo “ Bam” Aquino, Turn to A5

EVERYMAN

We are hopelessly pessimistic

By Eric Jurado IS life getting better or worse? What is the real state of humanity in the Philippines? Let’s consider the changes that have occurred in the country over the last half-century.

In the 1960s, average life expectancy was only 58 years. Today it’s 68. That’s an increase of 18 percent.

Out of every 1,000 infants born, 68 died before their first birthday. Today, only 22 die. That’s a reduction of 67 percent.

Median income per person rose from around $2,700 to around $7,200, or by 163 percent—and that’s adjusted for inflation and purchasing power.

The food supply rose from about

1,800 calories per person per day to over 2,500 calories, an increase of 44 percent, thus reducing hunger.

The length of schooling that a Filipino could typically expect to receive was 3.5 years. Today, it’s 9.1 years—a 164-percent increase.

The country has become significantly less authoritarian, with the level of democracy rising from-9 in the 1970s to 8 on a scale from -10 to 10. That’s an improvement of 850 percent.

The constant stream of technological, scientific, and medical breakthroughs have also been improving the lives of millions of ordinary people. Given all this good news, the real question is why people are so unbelievably pessimistic.

Judging by a 2016 poll of close to

20,000 people in some of the world’s richest countries, you could barely overstate the extent of the gloominess.

In response to the question, “All things considered, do you think the world is getting better or worse, or neither getting better nor worse?,” just 10 percent in Sweden, 6 percent in the US, 4 percent in Germany, and 3 percent in France thought things were getting better. Why? Because, it turns out, we are pessimists by nature.

Over the last 200 years or so, the world has experienced previously unimaginable improvements in standards of living. The process of rapid economic growth started in Europe and America, but today some of the world’s fastest growing countries can be found in Asia

Turn to A5

Ease of doing business must lead to easy-onthe-pocket expenses

By Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto I AM voting in the affirmative, Mr. President, with the manifestation that to further improve the bill, three provisions should be addressed in the law’s IRR, or if not feasible, the subject of a separate legislation.

First, there should be a no price increase provision for fees of permits and licenses, or at least a lock-in period when charges should not be adjusted upward.

The driving logic behind this proposal is that if red tape will be cut, there will be less paper work and fewer signatories, then the cost should remain as it is, if not go down.

It will be the height of absurdity if efficiency will be penalized with a higher price, considering the fact that in computing the cost of licenses issued by the government, the guiding principle is the mere recovery of the cost of preparation and not to profit.

In short, ease of doing business should lead to easy-on-the-pocket expenses. It can even be argued that if we cut the process, then we should also cut the price, or at the very least keep the status quo.

Second, Mr. President, is the plight of single proprietors, such as knowledgebased workers, creative people, artists, non-PRC registered professionals in one-man firms, and one-person e-commerce owners who work on their own, whose portable office is their laptop, and who hold office in WiFi hotspots with hot cups of coffee, but are required to get a business permit for BIR purposes.

The problem they confront is that they have to secure a Fire Safety Inspection Certificate even if in reality they do not have a physical office. Kung writer ka at bedspacer ka lang, kailangan bang dumaan sa inspection ang kamang inuupahan mo?

They are required to buy fire extinguishers when there is no place to install them. Why should a work-at-home millennial who bunks at his parents’ house secure a fire clearance?

A good anti-red tape law, therefore, should exempt these tax-paying entrepreneurs from the hassle, and sometimes the harrows, of getting a fire clearance.

Third, my dear colleagues, is that in my view, a responsive anti-red tape law should contain an anti-epal provision when it comes to the design of permits.

One ludicrous imposition in many areas today is for business owners, be they grocery owners or ukay-ukay sellers, to buy every year as a business permit a thin metal or hard plastic plate featuring the name and the likeness of the issuing authority.

Sa bayang ito, walang plaka ang mga sasakyan, pero ang mga sari-sari store mayroon. Hindi lang iyon— taun-taon pa itong pinapalitan.

Hindi naman nabubulok ang plaka.

Hindi naman naagnas ang bakal, bakit kada taon ay kailangan bumili ng bago ang business permit holder?

Why can’t we just adopt the same practice in registering cars and just plaster a sticker on the plate or permit as proof that it has been registered for the year?

Why can’t we design a politics-neutral, politico-blind plaka that will last long and will not be wasted if the head of the LGU, whose face and name are displayed on it, will not be re-elected?

Or better still, honor the receipt as the permit itself and do away with burloloys.

Let us go for institutional instead of personalistic permits that have long expiration dates and will last for years. In this age when recycling is encouraged, why should we adopt a throw-away mentality on a document that does not need to be discarded annually?

Just the same, Mr. President, I vote yes to this Bicameral Conference Committee Report in the hope that it is the cure to a disease which has metastasized all over the bureaucracy, as proven by our worsening score in ease in doing business.

In the 2017 Edition of the Global Competitiveness Index of the World Turn to A5

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Opinion From A4

Villar might make another run for the presidency in 2022. If so, we don’t think he would accept a parliamentary form wherein he would have more rivals for the post of Prime Minister. But then, you never know. The man to watch here is House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez whose political moves betray an ambition to succeed President Duterte. But Duterte has recently made clear he was determined to serve his full six-year term after he himself said he might resign before his term ends.

Ease...

From A4

Economic Forum, we rank 137th out of 138 economies in the number of procedures to start a business.

In the 2017 ranking by World Bank, we are 171st in starting a business, 85th in dealing with construction permits, 112th in registering a property.

In many of these metrics, failed states, like Afghanistan, are ranked higher than us. The ugliness of our system is captured by this set of vital statistics: 34-35-36. 34 days to start a

business, 35 days to register a property, 36 days spent in a year to pay taxes.

So what’s the culprit of all of these?

The byzantine maze of regulations in a balkanized bureaucracy.

To end this, we have to shorten the process, shrink the number of requirements and signatories, and speed up the delivery.

The above is Senator Recto’s explanation of vote for the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018

We are...

From A4

and Africa—lifting billions of people from absolute poverty. Historical evidence, therefore, makes a potent case for optimism. Yet, pessimism is everywhere. As the British author Matt Ridley noted in The Rational Optimist: “The bookshops are groaning under ziggurats of pessimism. The airwaves are crammed with doom. In my own adult lifetime, I have listened to the implacable predictions of growing poverty, coming famines, expanding deserts, imminent plagues, impending water wars, inevitable oil exhaustion, mineral shortages, falling sperm counts, thinning ozone, acidifying rain, nuclear winters, mad-cow epidemics, Y2K computer bugs, killer bees, sex-change fish, global warming, ocean acidification and even asteroid impacts that would presently bring this happy interlude to a terrible end. I cannot recall a time when one or other of these scares was not solemnly espoused by sober, distinguished and serious elites and hysterically echoed by the media. I cannot recall a time when I was not being urged by somebody that the world could only survive if it abandoned the foolish goal of economic growth. The fashionable reason for pessimism changed, but the pessimism was constant. In the 1960s the population explosion and global famine were top of the charts, in the 1970s the exhaustion of resources, in the 1980s acid rain, in the 1990s pandemics, in the 2000s global warming.

One by one these scares came and (all but the last) went.”

Ridley raises a more specific point about general pessimism: Why are we as a species so willing to believe in doomsday scenarios that virtually never materialize?

The Chairman of the X Prize Foundation, Peter H. Diamandis, offers one plausible explanation. Human beings are constantly bombarded with information. Because our brains have a limited computing power, they have to separate what is important, such as a lion running toward us, from what is mundane, such as a bed of flowers. Because survival is more important than all other considerations, most information enters our brains through the amygdala—a part of the brain that is “responsible for primal emotions like rage, hate, and fear.” Information relating to those primal emotions gets our attention first because the amygdala “is always looking for something to fear.” Our species, in other words, has evolved to prioritize bad news.

The Harvard University psychologist Steven Pinker has noted that the nature of cognition and nature of news interact in ways that make us think that the world is worse than it really is. News, after all, is about things that happen.

Things that did not happen go unreported. As Pinker points out, we “never see a reporter saying to the camera, ‘Here we are, live from a country where a war has not broken out.’” Newspapers and other media, in other words, tend to focus on the negative. As the old journalistic addage goes, “If it bleeds, it leads.”

To make matters worse, the arrival of social media makes bad news immediate and more intimate. Until relatively recently, most people knew very little about the countless wars, plagues, famines, and natural catastrophes happening in distant parts of the world.

Contrast that with the 2011 Japanese tsunami disaster, which people throughout the world watched unfold in real time on their smart phones.

The human brain also tends to overestimate danger due to what psychol-

A5

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Threats

Desperation...

Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, Cynthia Villar and J.V Ejercito. Will these eight reelectionist senators push their candidacies or will they settle to run in the House of Representatives which will be the fait accompli members of parliament?

Of the eight, we can only see Senators Poe and Aquino who will be steadfast to keep the Senate intact. The others can be swayed to take the path of parliamentary form because of certain political agenda.

Speculations are rife that former House Speaker and Senate President Manny

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2018

ogists call “the availability heuristic” or a process of estimating the probability of an event based on the ease with which relevant instances come to mind. Unfortunately, human memory recalls events for reasons other than their rate of recurrence. When an event turns up because it is traumatic, the human brain will overestimate how likely it is to reoccur.

Consider our fear of terror. According to John Mueller, a political scientist from the Ohio State University, “In the years since 9/11, Islamist terrorists have managed to kill about seven people a year within the United States.

All those deaths are tragic of course, but some comparisons are warranted: lightning kills about 46 people a year, accident-causing deer another 150, and drownings in bathtubs around 300.”

Yet, Americans continue to fear terror much more than drowning in a bathtub.

Moreover, as Pinker also points out, the psychological effects of bad things tend to outweigh those of the good ones. Ask yourself, how much happier can you imagine yourself feeling? And again, how much more miserable can you imagine yourself to feel? The answer to the latter question is: infinitely.

Psychological literature shows that people fear losses more than they look forward to gains; dwell on setbacks more than relishing successes; resent criticism more than being encouraged by praise. Bad, in other words, is stronger than good.

Finally, good and bad things tend to happen on different timelines. Bad things, such as plane crashes, can happen quickly. Good things, such as the strides humanity has made in the fight against HIV/AIDS, tend to happen incrementally and over a long period of time. As Kevin Kelly from Wired has put it, “Ever since the Enlightenment and the invention of Science, we’ve managed to create a tiny bit more than we’ve destroyed each year. But that few percent positive difference is compounded over decades into what we might call civilization… [Progress] is a self-cloaking action seen only in retrospect.”

In other words, humanity suffers from a negativity bias or “vigilance for bad things around us.” Consequently, there is a market for purveyors of bad news, be they doomsayers who claim that overpopulation will cause mass starvation, or scaremongers who claim that we are running out of natural resources.

Politicians, too, have realized that banging on about “crises” increases their power and can get them re-elected.

It may also lead to prestigious prizes and lucrative speaking engagements. Thus politicians play on our fears—whether it is a worry that crime is caused by playing violent computer games or that health maladies supposedly caused by the consumption of genetically modified foods.

The negativity bias is deeply ingrained in our brains. We play tricks on ourselves, which undermines our happiness. It cannot be wished away.

The best that we can do is to realize that we are suffering from it. So we really have a simple choice: do we focus on the good things, the improvements in our lives, or do we focus on the bad. To a large extent, the answer to that question will determine how happy you will be.

Eric Jurado covers economic and political issues with liberty as his guiding star.

FORMATION GARY OLIVAR

MUCH has been made of the latest worldwide threat assessment report by the US intelligence community, which—according to CNN—singled out President Duterte as “one of the leaders in Southeast Asia who pose a threat to democracy and human rights in the region”.

It was a comment that gladdened the hearts of Duterte’s critics, such as Senator Trillanes, who called it a “warning.” The senator must have been overjoyed that his recent barnstorming tour of the US to incite the natives against Duterte paid off so early.

But is this in fact what the American spooks had to say? Here’s the actual text from the report, prepared by former US Senator and now Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats: “Democracy and human rights in many Southeast Asian countries will remain fragile in 2018 as autocratic tendencies deepen in some regimes and rampant corruption and cronyism undermine democratic values.

Countries in the region will struggle to preserve foreign policy autonomy in the face of Chinese economic and diplomatic coercion.” ………………

“In the Philippines, President Duterte will continue to wage his signature campaign against drugs, corruption, and crime. Duterte has suggested he could suspend the Constitution, declare a “revolutionary government,” and impose nationwide martial law. His declaration of martial law in Mindanao, responding to the ISIS-inspired siege of Marawi City, has been extended through the end of 2018.”

It’s clear that the sober language above has nothing at all to do with the sensationalist interpretation of CNN, the news-TV pioneer which many may remember as the brainchild of ultra-liberal tycoon Ted Turner (exhusband of “Hanoi Jane” Fonda) that now helps lead the leftist-liberal American mainstream media against upstart right-wingers like Fox News.

We hope this evident mis-reportage

by CNN on a senior US official like Coats will be corrected in due course by the US Embassy here. If it isn’t, then we’ll have to start wondering why the mis-reportage was so conveniently timed together with renewed attacks on Duterte by Human Rights Watch and various UN rapporteurs; the start of a “preliminary assessment” by the International Criminal Court into our human rights situation; and the continued attacks by anti-China groups here and abroad on Duterte’s foreign policies.

*** A different kind of threat is now hogging the headlines, this time the threat to our environment in various well-known tourism resorts.

It started with the iconic Boracay island, where DENR inspectors discovered that out of 150 beachfront establishment inspected, only 20 had bothered to connect their sewer lines to the island’s sewerage system. Many of the rest were simply dumping their waste products directly into the island’s pristine waters.

According to a former Boracay resort owner, former Agriculture Secretary Orly Sacay, a large number of mostly smaller resort owners get away with environmental non-compliance because they’re related to local officials (Boracay is part of the Aklan town of Malay). Orly has since transferred his resort to Coron, Palawan.

A furious President Duterte gave the island residents six months to comply with environmental rules or else he will close down the island. DENR’s regional director complained that “it is as if there is no government in Bo-

The furor over Boracay has been infectious.

racay,” adding that “if the local government unit will not participate or cooperate, I will ask the police to do it with us.”

We crowd-sourced ideas from online friends, leading to the following recommended policy package: Immediately charge and/or close down blatant violators, e.g. establishments whose sewer lines do not connect to the island’s sewer system.

These violators number over 100, which should be large enough to put the fear of God into others.

Create a Boracay Sustainable Development Council, including local government officials and businessmen as well as national agencies concerned, first by Presidential executive order and then by enabling legislation.

Come up with a three-year sustainable development plan that includes strict sanction policies and mechanisms.

One of the more interesting solutions suggested is for the different resort islands of the Visayas to barge their solid waste to a centrally located mass-burn plant that will burn the waste and produce electricity in the process.

The furor over Boracay has been infectious. Local officials of Siargao are

starting to meet about their own prospects. And DENR Secretary Cimatu has already put the resort destinations of Panglao and the Puerto Princesa underground river within his cross-hairs.

One has to wonder if the problems in Boracay might have been handled better, or prevented earlier, if the island was being managed by a State of Western Visayas rather than from far-away Manila.

After all, tourism is by definition a larger and more pressing concern for the local economies involved rather than the entire country.

That’s something that may be worth chewing on in the ongoing debate over shifting to federalism. *** Proponents of a divorce law took one step closer to their goal after a House committee voted to send to plenary a substitute bill that integrates various bills seeking to introduce divorce into our country.

If this bill ever makes it into law, we would no longer have the distinction of being the only state in the world—outside the Vatican City—to outlaw divorce. We would no longer be able to claim that we are as popish as the Pope, notwithstanding the rampant male philandering, spousal abuse and neglect, and terminally unhappy marriages that we’ve come to take for granted in our oh-so-nominally Catholic country.

We can expect the usual resistance from Catholic conservatives who will attack the divorce bill as a threat to the Filipino family and morality. It’s a point of view that mistakenly conflates the religious sacrament of marriage with the secular institution of civil marital union—the latter simply being a contract that both parties ought to be able to terminate, just like any other contract, when both parties want out.

The Church does in fact allow annulment of marriages where one or more grounds for “free and informed consent” to marriage of husband and wife are found to be absent, based on the findings of a duly constituted diocesan marriage tribunal. Such cases presumably can’t be described as marriages “that God hath put together,” thereby allowing “man to put [them] asunder.”

Perhaps if the proponents of civil divorce try to mirror in their bill the rigorousness applied by the Church to its annulment process, we can avoid yet another church-state disagreement and find some way to a compromise, if not outright collaboration. *** Let me close by greeting this fine and upstanding newspaper, the Manila Standard, a happy 31st anniversary!

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

Somalia’s first forensic lab targets rape impunity THE new freezers at Somalia’s only forensic laboratory can store thousands of DNA samples, although for now there are just five.

The big hope is that they could be the start of a revolution in how the troubled Horn of Africa country tackles its widespread sexual violence—provided some daunting hurdles are overcome.

The first sample arrived at the start of the year taken on a cotton swab from the underwear of a woman, a rape victim from the village of Galdogob.

It was wrapped in paper and driven 250 kilometres (155 miles) to the Puntland Forensic Centre in Garowe, capital of semiautonomous Puntland, slipped into a protective glass tube and placed in one of the three ultralow temperature fridges.

If DNA ID can be teased from the sample, this would be a crucial step in convicting the woman’s rapist.

No longer would it be a case of he-said-she-said, in which the survivor is less often believed than the accused. Two decades of

conflict and turmoil have made Somalia a place where lawlessness and sexual violence are rampant.

“Now, people who have been raped hide because they don’t have evidence,” said Abdifatah Abdikadir Ahmed, who heads the Garowe police investigations department.

But with the lab, he said, “it’s a scientific investigation. There are biological acts you can zero in on.”

Challenges Not yet, however.

Abdirashid Mohamed Shire, who runs the lab, has a team of four technicians ready but is awaiting the arrival of the final pieces of equipment.

Their work to provide the evidence that might convict or exonerate is yet to begin.

And the pressure is on. The freezers mean the DNA samples can be safely stored for years but Somali law allows a rape suspect to be held for a maximum of 60 days. Shire needs the analysis

and identification machines urgently so that, as he put it, “justice will be timely served.”

The laboratory, partly funded

by Sweden, was launched last year after the Puntland state government enacted a Sexual Offences Act in 2016, which criminalized sexual offenses and imposed tough penalties.

But technology alone will not solve Somalia’s many judicial weaknesses.

The DNA sample from Galdogob, for example, was stored in unclear and unrefrigerated conditions for five days before being sent to the lab, meaning a defence counsel could potentially argue the DNA evidence had been tampered with.

Human rights lawyers worry the new lab might backfire for this reason.

“A lot of thought needs to be given to how the chain of custody can be preserved in these kinds of cases,” said Antonia Mulvey of Legal Action Worldwide, a Kenya-based non-profit organization. AFP

News

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Teves grills Cam: ‘Why do you have 8 bodyguards?’

NEGROS Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. is asking Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office director Sandra Cam to provide certification that the Police Security and Protection Group has indeed allocated her eight bodyguards.

Teves said he was surprised that Cam had that many bodyguards when his own office requested the PSPG, a unit under the Philippine National Police, for just two bodyguards, which the lawmaker said was the standard for all congressmen asking for protection.

The Negros solon asked Cam about her bodyguards last week during a hearing of the House Committee on Government and Public Accountability.

The PSPG is mandated by law to provide security to government officials, foreign dignitaries, private individuals authorized to be given protection, and key government installations.

The PNP’s elite counterterrorist Special Action Force is also tasked with “very important person” protection.

However, the national police has maintained its policy of allowing up to two bodyguards for local officials and other VIPs. “So it appears you are more VIP than us congressmen, who only get two [bodyguards],” Teves told Cam’s group. “I’m not saying PCSO is less worthy than Congress, but we hope everybody gets issues just two bodyguards.”

Cam explained she was given the privilege of having six police bodyguards when she was having a rift with detained Senator Leila de Lima.

Cam noted she was also instrumental in the arrest of suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, as she tipped his whereabouts to the PNP. She claimed that President Rodrigo Duterte “knows that her life is at risk, including her kids, and for her, that it’s only fair” to be given six bodyguards.

But Teves cut off Cam, saying it didn’t matter if she had six or eight bodyguards.

“As long as the PSPG does not certify that you receive six guards, it means you’re lying ma’am, I’m sorry,” the solon said.

Meanwhile, Teves refuted notorious gambling lord Charlie “Atong” Ang’s declaration that the PCSO’s Small Town Lottery, mean to supplant the illegal numbers game “jueteng” in the countryside, was designed to fail.

Immigration foils another try at human smuggling

IN REMEMBRANCE. Juliette Gomez-Romualdez (left) commemorates the 6th death anniversary of her husband, former ambassador and Leyte governor Benjamin ‘Kokoy’ Romualdez, during a Mass celebration at her residence in Makati City. With Romualdez are retired Palo Archbishop Emeritus Pedro Dian (second from left), former Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See Maria Mercedes Arrastia-Tuason (second from right) and Fr. Anwar Marie Adona, as they stand in front of the icon of Our Lady of Hope, patron of Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ victims in Leyte. Ver Noveno

Manila rakes in P4.61b in taxes despite refunds

By Vito Barcelo

T

HE Manila City government on Thursday reported it earned P4.61 billion in taxes in January this year, exceeding its collection of P4.53 billion for the same month last year despite giving refunds of around P200 million in realty taxes.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said the Office of the City Treasurer collected the most revenue for January 2018, earning P2.5 billion, P400 million more than what it earned in the same period in 2017.

The amount is more than half of the OCT’s target of P4.87-billion tax collection this year, Estrada said.

The City Treasurer attributed the higher tax collection to their intensified campaign against erring taxpayers.

For his part, Estrada expressed his gratitude to the residents who dutifully paid their taxes for 2017.

“The city government was able to meet its performance target set by the Department of Finance. And because of this I would like to extend my apprecia-

tion to all Manileños for their support,” Estrada said.

The former President was optimistic the City of Manila will be able to reach its target revenue of P14.8 billion for 2018, as many of its departments continue to post higher collections.

According to Assistant City Treasurer Ma. Jazmin Talegon, the city of Manila already met 100 percent of its Bureau of Local Government Finance total locallysourced income target for 2017.

As an attached agency of the DoF, the BLGF is mandated to assist in formulating and implementing policies on local government revenue administration and fund management.

It is also tasked to exercise administrative

and technical supervision and duty coordination over the treasury and all assessment operation of local government.

According to Estrada, the OCT’s improved overall collection efficiency from last month is a major factor in city’s tax gains.

“Of course, we cannot achieve this significant increase in collection without the full cooperation of our city taxpayers,” Estrada said.

The taxes are “very vital in the accomplishment of our programs and projects for the benefit and satisfaction of our citizens,” the mayor added.

The City Treasurer said they will deduct the “overcharged” tax from the billing of the affected taxpayers.

Second on the earnings list was the Department of Assessment, which collected P1.3 billion last month.

Estrada also said he decided to extend the deadline for business taxes, permits and licenses from January to Feb. 9 in consideration of establishments who were unable to pay their taxes.

IMMIGRATION authorities on Thursday held three foreigners who tried to leave the Ninoy Aquino International Airport with fake travel documents in what appeared to be another foiled human smuggling operation by an international syndicate.

In a report to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente, immigration officers said they intercepted Njang Simon Egbe from Cameroon and Bangladeshis Sayedul Haque Bhuiyan and Md Sakhaowat Hossain Sohag at the Naia when they presented bogus travel papers.

BI Port Operations Chief Marc Mariñas said these passengers were clients of an international human smuggling syndicate that manufactures and sells fraudulent and counterfeit travel documents.

All three aliens are detained at the BI detention facility in Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.

Egbe was reportedly caught attempting to leave Naia 3 with a tampered French passport to enter France, while the Bangladeshis were about to depart for Toronto, Canada when they were intercepted at the Naia 2 terminal.

The African presented his passport, but the immigration officer who examined it noticed alterations in the bio-page of the document, which was later confirmed as counterfeit by BI antifraud specialists.

Meanwhile, the Bangladeshis aroused suspicion after they presented an approved electronic travel authority to Canada.

Verification with the Canadian embassy revealed that while the said ETAs were genuine, they were fraudulently obtained due to misrepresentation.

The embassy also said the Bangladeshis could not possibly enter Toronto, as they did not have visas to enter Canada.

Vito Barcelo

DENR joins I-ACT in chasing smoke belchers THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Thursday partnered with the Department of Transportation’s Inter-Agency Council for Traffic to go after dilapidated and smoke-belching vehicles within and outside Metro Manila.

DENR is the newest member to join the I-ACT, which was created to address traffic congestion and remove old and dilapidated vehicles and smoke belchers under the council’s “Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok” campaign.

Undersecretary for Field Operations-Luzon and DENR task force Metro Manila head Juan Miguel Cuna will lead the department’s contingent to the I-ACT. The agency’s anti-smoke-belching unit under the Environmental Manage-

ment Bureau is also a member of I-ACT. Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said they are more than willing to lend to the I-ACT its expertise and experience in the crackdown against smoke belchers.

“The DENR joins other government agencies in the effort to not only rid our already clogged streets with vehicles that are not road worthy, but are also persistent air pollutants,” he said.

He took pride in saying that DENR’s Task Force Metro Manila has the equipment and manpower to conduct smoke emission tests even on the roadside.

“This capability improves the standard I-ACT practice of issuing subpoenas to substandard vehicles prior to testing,” he said.

A recent EMB study showed 80 per-

Ombusdman orders NIA manager fined for not replying to complaint

By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman has found an official of the National Irrigation Administration guilty of violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and simple neglect of duty for failure to reply to a complaint on a compensation claim.

The Ombudsman ordered NIA Administrator Ricardo Visaya to immediately implement the penalty imposed on Region 12 manager Ali Satol.

Satol was ordered to pay a fine equivalent to one month of his salary.

The Ombudsman maintained its decision is final, executory and unappealable.

Satol's administrative liability arose from his failure to promptly reply to the June 20, 2016 letter of complainant

Abdullatip Asim regarding just compensation claims on a property that was appropriated as a main canal by NIA. Satol received the letter three days later.

"There was no written report whatsoever on the adverse findings, which surfaced during the field validation and the corresponding actions taken on the matter," the Ombudsman's decision read.

“Respondent was duty bound to comply with Section 5(a) of Republic Act No. 6713. The provision must be faithfully observed. It is founded on the principle in government service that the public must be served with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency. Respondent failed to live up to this norm when he did not respond to complainant’s request."

cent of air pollution comes from motor vehicles, while 20 percent comes from stationary sources, including factory smoke stacks and open burning.

According to Cuna, air pollution is the cause of one out of four deaths in the country.

“This highlights the health risks brought about by smoke belching and the importance of aiming for clean air,” he said.

The I-ACT is also composed of the Metro Manila Development Authority, DoTr, Department of Public Works and Highways, Philippine National Police’s Highway Patrol Group, Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and local government units. Rio N. Araja

IN BRIEF Maynilad plants 130k trees across watersheds AT LEAST 130,000 trees have been planted

by Metro Manila west zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. in 2017 as part of its “plant for life” program designed to save vital watersheds from denudation.

In support of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System’s “annual million tree challenge,” the “plant for life” program has tapped volunteers to do reforestation and afforestation activities.

In 2017 alone, over 1,463 volunteers from Maynilad and its partner organizations planted a total of 116,000 indigenous trees at the Ipo Watershed in Bulacan, 2,000 saplings in Muntinlupa, and 12,000 mangrove propagules along the Manila Bay coastline in Cavite.

“Our plant for life program seeks to protect forest cover so that the watersheds, which sustain our water supply needs, will stay healthy and balanced,” Maynilad president and chief executive officer Ramoncito Fernandez said in a statement.

“This year, we’re looking into expand-

TATTOOS FOR SALE. A vendor displays various kinds of temporary tattoos worth P50 each along a street in Binondo, Manila on Thursday. Lino Santos ing the program’s coverage to other areas, particularly in Malabon City where we target to plant about 50,000 mangrove propagules,” he added.

Since the program’s inception in 2007, Maynilad has already planted over 436,000 saplings, using indigenous trees like narra, cupang, camachile and acacia, at the Ipo watershed.

Maynilad welcomes volunteers who wish to plant trees in watershed areas, saying they may call the company’s environmental management department at 9813484. Rio N. Araja

DENR forms probe team for Panglao TO PREVENt a similar dilemma now confronting the world-famous Boracay Island in Aklan, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has formed an investigation team to address the environmental issues in another top tourist destination, Panglao Island in Bohol.

Secretary Roy Cimatu said team would determine the compliance of Panglao’s resorts and commercial establishments in ac-

cordance with the Clean Water Act and Solid Waste Management Act. He urged the local government of Central Visayas to make the discharge permit a requirement for the issuance of a business permit.

“We have learned our lessons in the problems concerning Boracay. We have to strictly enforce environmental laws in order to protect the country’s tourism sites so that the future generations will be able to enjoy them as well,” he said.

The department’s technical personnel from the Environmental Management Bureau in Region 7 and provincial environment and natural resources office in Bohol comprised the Panglao investigation team.

Cimatu asked the investigation team to find the establishments in Panglao that are not complying with the Clean Water Act and the Solid Waste Management Act, and businesses that are encroaching on the timberland areas that are no-build zones.

“We will comb through all the establishments in Panglao and impose a crackdown on environmental violators.

What happened to Boracay is a wake-up call to others,” he said. Rio N. Araja

Sports

Tabuena sets sights on 2nd PH Open title

Miguel Tabuena

DESPITE strong finishes in two Asian Tour events and a runner-up effort in last week’s The Country Club Invitational, Miguel Tabuena still feels the need to get better to bolster his bid for a second Solaire Philippine Open crown in four years.

In fact, the Rio Olympics veteran said he’s going back to the basics and work on his game in anticipation of a tougher, more challenging battle for golfing supremacy in the country’s premier championship which unfolds Feb. 28 at the wind-raked Tom Weiskophdesigned layout.

“My game has to be ready. So I have to go back to the drawing board and play better because that’s (Philippine Open) more of an international field,” said Tabuena after falling short of his title-repeat drive at TCC, losing by one to KoreanAmerican Micah Shin.

The 24-year-old former Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit champion joined the elite roster of Phl Open winners with a victory at Luisita in 2015 when the event was reduced to 54 holes to due weather condition.

FEU whips Adamson in football Matches Sunday

(FEU Diliman pitch) 9 a.m. – UE vs Ateneo (Men) 1 p.m. – DLSU vs UST (Men) 3 p.m. – FEU vs NU (Men)

RICO Andes finally overcame his scoring woes as Far Eastern University overpowered Adamson University, 7-0, to gain its first win in the UAAP Season 80 men’s football tournament yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Scoreless in the first four matches, Andes was on target in the 41st, 79th and 88th minute to help the Tamaraws move up at five points in the table.

Andes, who had six goals last year, tallied the tournament’s second hat trick after University of Santo Tomas’ Marvin Briceno in the season opener against FEU last Feb. 4.

Earlier, De La Salle nipped University of the East, 3-2, in a five-goal thriller to move up to solo third with nine points.

Substitute Paolo Perez netted the 49th minute strike which turned out to be the winning moment for the Green Archers.

FEU scored two goals near the end of the first half, with Andes and Marole Bungay finding the back of the net.

Alex Rayos Jr. tapped in the ball for another goal in the 58th minute, while Audie Menzi scored a header seven minutes later that opened the floodgates for the Tamaraws.

Andes found an empty net in the 79th minute, followed by a goal by substitute Harold Alcoresa six minutes later to make it 6-0.

Momentum on NU’s side Game Today

(The Arena in San Juan) 4 p.m NU vs Ateneo (Game 1)

By Peter Atencio MOMENTUM will be on the side of the Nazareth School-National University Bullpups.

This is what’s going for them when they meet a well-rested Ateneo Blue Eaglets in Game 1 of their best-of-three finals series in the in the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines junior basketball tournament at the Arena in San Juan.

“In a way, mahirap matigil ito. Sila rin naman, they [Ateneo] did something about it,” said Bullpups’ coach Goldwin Monteverde.

The twice-to-beat Bullpups reached the finals after Terrence Fortea took charge in the first three quarters and led them to a 91-72 smothering of the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs last Tuesday in their stepladder semifinal playoff.

Monteverde believes that they will be up against a tall and talented Blue Eaglets’ side, which has three talented cagers to watch out for—SJ Belangel wreaking havoc with his scoring, Sean Ildefonso making things happen with his defense and Kai Sotto protecting the shaded lanes.

“They are definitely taller than us.

Definitely, we have to be with our hearts out there on Friday,” added Monteverde.

The 16-year-old Fortea tallied 16 points in the three quarters he played in before he was pulled out in the last period.

The Blue Eaglets are coming off a long layoff after finishing the elimination round with a 14-game sweep.

They finished the eliminations unbeaten after they pulled off 78-68 triumph over the Bullpups.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

He believes he’s ready for another shot at the crown – via full route – when the $600,000 event, backed by title sponsor Solaire Resort and Casino, is held at the exacting TCC course in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

“I’m actually happy overall with my game. I’ve been playing solid,” said Tabuena, who placed eighth in the Singapore Open and ended up tied at 14th in the Myanmar Open last month.

But while he believes he’s got what it takes to get another crack at the Phl Open title, Tabuena stressed the need to be well prepared against a best-assembled field ever to play in the fabled event.

Six former champions, a slew of foreign and local aces have confirmed participation in the blue-ribbon tournament, all chasing for a record title as Centennial champion of Asia’s first National Open co-organized by National Golf Association of the Philippines and Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. and sponsored by ICTSI, Meralco, PLDT, Smart, Bulgari, Diamond Motor Corp., BDO, Central Azucarera de Tarlac, Amon Trading, Dynamic Sports and

Custom Clubmakers.

“I’m sure all the players would prepare better, too. Most have an idea of the course and what the winds will do. I have to prepare better,” said Tabuena.

Meanwhile, last year’s Phl Open champion Steve Lewton of England, who nipped American Johannes Veerman in a playoff, will lead the stellar cast although local fans are hoping for a Filipino victory in the event’s Centennial staging.

Mardan Mamat won the Phl Open at Wack Wack in 2012 at 44 with the veteran Singaporean campaigner back in the Phl Open mix next week, together with fellow 2014 titlist Marcus Both of Australia, along with Thais Pasavee Lertvilai and Wisut Artjanawat, Americans Seungjae Maeng, John Michael O’Toole and Nicolas Paez, Indonesians Andrew Wireman and Ian Andrew, and Aussies David Gleeson, Andrew Campbell and Nathan Park and Singapore’s Choo Tze Huang and Dengshan Koh and the rising Shin.

Perpetual nails men’s, juniors’ volley crowns P

ERPETUAL Help overcame the injury to setter Warren Catipay and seven-point deficits in the fourth set to turn back Arellano University, 23-25, 27-25, 25-19, 25-23, last night and crown itself champion in the 93rd NCAA men’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan City.

Reigning rookie MVP Joebert Almodiel fired 19 points, 16 came on attacks and the other three on blocks, while Rey Taneo did most of the work as he not only contributed 11 hits and seven digs, but also filled the vacuum left by Catipay with 22 excellent sets to power the Altas to their 11th crown.

It appeared like though that the game was heading into a fifth and final set after the Chiefs posted leads as big as seven points, the last at 19-12.

But the Altas persevered with Taneo on the forefront of the attack.

Taneo was later awarded Finals MVP for his Herculean effort.

It was double victory for Perpetual Help as its juniors’ team booked its 10th

crown after smashing Letran, 25-17, 2517, 25-17.

Ivan Encila and Noel Michael Kampton led the attack by firing 16 and 15 points, respectively, while Jody Margaux Severo did most the dirty job with nine digs and 15 receptions to help the Junior Altas sweep the Squires in two games.

It was the Las Pinas-based school’s fourth straight title and 11th overall, which put it three behind Letran as the league’s most titled high school team with 14.

“We’re so happy that all the hard work, sacrifices we’ve done have finally bore fruit,” said Perpetual Help coach Sandy Rieta said in Filipino.

In contrast to its 25-16, 25-15, 20-25, 25-20 win in Game 1 Monday, Perpetual

Help gave Letran little hope as it dominated from start to finish with a lethal combination of unstoppable attacking, near impenetrable net defense and superb court coverage.

And Severo was the heart of it as not only did he contributed in scoring, he also led his team’s floor defense with nine digs and 15 receptions, enough to earn him his second Finals MVP trophy.

Severo, however, has played his final game in Perpetual Help uniform as he and eight others are graduating.

“I will lose nine players including him (Severo) next year so it will really be tough for us,” said Rieta.

Rieta, however, could console himself with the fact that he will retain Kirth Patrick Rosos, the reigning season MVP, and the power-hitting Kampton, who averaged an impressive 18.5 points in the series.

“That’s my next goal, to find and train players the whole of this year to fill the spots left by my graduating players,” he said.

PBA holds logo sketching contest A CHANCE to become part of this year’s PBA All-Star week awaits the winner of a logo sketching contest to be launched in time for the league’s mid-season spectacle this summer.

The competition runs from Feb. 23 to March 9 and is open to all PBA fans and artists.

The lone winner earns an all-expense paid trip for two to any of the three legs where the All-Star week will be held, namely Digos in Davao, Batangas City, and Iloilo from May 23 to 27.

Manila though, will be the point of origin should the winner opts to join the All-Star delegation that will play in either Davao or Iloilo.

Mechanics of the contest include the logo should be an original work of the artist in high resolution digital medium.

The winning logo does not become a property of the PBA as the owner retains all copyright and may reuse or repurpose their work as they wish.

However, the artist grants the league right to use the image online (website) and across all official PBA social media platforms and merchandise in perpetuity.

Participants may send their entry/entries at the PBA office or thru contest. pba.com.ph The winning entry will be posted on the PBA website and all official league social media accounts.

BASKETBALL, VOLLEY TOURNEYS. President Rodrigo Duterte’s son Paolo appointed Coach Mark Herrera to head the “Tapang at Malasakit National Basketball and Volleyball Tournament” set in summer. The sportsfest is open to players born from 2002 onwards in basketball and 1999 onwards in volleyball. For more information, call Coaches Edwin and Benjie or Anne at tel. nos. 09213143333, 09272993778, 09165250515 for more details.

Ateneo-National U battle to air live on ABS-CBN S+A

TOP high school recruits are ready for the big stage as the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eaglets and the National University Bullpups go all-out in their quest for the UAAP Season 80 Juniors basketball tournament title this Friday live on S+A, S+A HD, LIGA, LIGA HD, and via livestream on sports.abs-cbn.com from the San Juan Arena at 4 p.m.

Eaglets SJ Belangel, Kai Sotto, and Dave Ildefonso and Bullpups Terrence Fortea, Miguel Oczon, and Rhayyan Amsali lead the young stars that will be duking it out for school pride and glory when they take the floor for Game 1 of their

Best of Three Finals series.

Ateneo had the easier route of the two when it came to reaching the Last Dance.

They swept the eliminations in dominating fashion, including a come-frombehind win against NU during their last game. NU on the other hand had to go through the stepladder, but easily took out the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs and Juniors MVP CJ Cansino in their game last Tuesday, 91-72.

Expected to lead the charge for the blue side is Belangel, Ateneo’s spitfirish floor general who had a supernova explosion in the team’s last game against NU where he

scattered 16 points in the final quarter to finish with 31 markers in a huge comefrom behind 78-68 win. Helping him out is 7’2 Sotto, who towers over everybody else and remains to be the deciding factor for each team as he is a problem both offensively and defensively.

On the other side of the fence, the Goldwin Monteverde-mentored Bullpups hope to sustain their momentum from their big win against the Tiger Cubs behind Fortea and Oczon, who combined for 33 markers, and versatile bigs Paolo Javillonar and Amsali, who helped the squad to a 27-11 offensive rebound advantage.

After two big victories in the last four months, Micah Shin sets his sights on the country’s most prestigious crown—the Solaire Philippine Open.

Shin ready for bigger challenge MORE than his ever-improving game, Micah Shin will be bringing in a large dose of confidence when he sets out against a crack international field in the country’s premier golf championship two weeks from now.

But while Shin bested the cream of the local pro plus three other fellow foreign bets in the just-concluded The Country Club Invitational, the lanky KoreanAmerican admits it will be tougher and doubly challenging as the stakes go higher in the Solaire Philippine Open firing off Feb. 28, also at the TCC. For one, the field will be aiming for a record title as Centennial champion of Asia’s first National Open and the organizing National Golf Association of the Philippines and Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and the sponsoring Solaire Resort and Casino are guaranteeing no less than a blockbuster staging of the 100th edition of the blue-ribbon event by assembling a cast of former champions, a slew of foreign aces and the leading and rising Filipino shotmakers.

“It’s Asia’s oldest National Open and this one is special because it’s the 100th tournament,” said Thomas Arasi, president/CEO of Solaire Resort and Casino.

“That’s what Solaire is all about— creating meaningful events and milestones,” added Arasi of the upcoming event which offers a total pot of $600,000, a big jump from last year’s $400,000 purse, making it the richest Open in history.

Still, for the way he tamed the dreaded Tom Weiskoph-designed layout last week makes Shin, who scored a breakthrough in the 2016 CAT Open at Luisita then won an Asian Tour crown at Southwoods last year, one of the early marked players in the event steeped in championship lore and tradition.

“I’m looking forward to the Philippine Open. I really feel confident,” said Shin, 21, who became the youngest and first non-Filipino winner in the TCC Invitational by edging last year’s champion Miguel Tabuena by one last Saturday.

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

Sports

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

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Beermen try to move closer to no.1 or Top 2 finish

By Jeric Lopez

Foreign sailors join new class in Subic regatta SUBIC, ZAMBALES--Six foreign and local sailing teams will be competing in the new class known as the FarEast 28R during the four-day Subic Bay Regatta Cup set Feb. 26, in this freeport zone, the organizing committee announced yesterday.

Event administrator Zed Avecilla said the new six FarEast 28R boats were recently acquired abroad by Standard Insurance Inc. and donated to the Philippine Sailing Association to promote keelboat sailing in the country and in preparation for coming international regatta competition.

Avecilla said FarEast 28R racing keelboat combines the experiences and accumulated techniques of European Design Office Simonis Voogo and Far East Boats. It is a well-designed, easy to handle and high performance uniform class racing sailboat.

FarEast 28R was shown in the Dusseldorf Boat Show, Helsinki Boat Show, Stockholm Boat Show and Amsterdam Boat Show, receiving praises from many sailboat enthusiasts.

“This is the first time that this sail boat will be introduced in the Philippines. With displacement of only 1200 kg. and lifted keel, the FarEast 28R is fit for various regattas,” said Avecilla.

For racing, a crew of 4-5 is ideal with a maximum weight of 47 kilograms, he said.

“If you like a fast but easy to manage and control boat, look no further, the Fareast 28R offers it all,” he added.

FarEast 28R’s hull is adapted from new fiberglass reinforced composite material, using foam sandwich structure and resin vacuum technology which ensure a light and rigid hull. The keel boat has only top of the range deck gear and spars for top-level racing.

Team Tortoise of Japan helmed by Yuki Ikawa was the first foreign team to arrive the country and enlist in the regatta races, according to Standard Insurance marketing head Jie Comablicer.

Next to register in the four-day regatta grand prix is the favorite Singapore Sailing/Singapore Maritime University, to be skippered by Bernice Foo. All participants will be recognized Friday night during a welcome party at the The Lighthouse Marina Resort.

The Keelboat Association of Taiwan captained by Richard Lin the first FAREAST 28R class presented by Standard Insurance Inc., and backed by Tanduay Rum, Pepsi Cola, Broadwater Marine, Nano Fixit and JC. This year’s regatta is organized by Subic Sailing Club.

Adamson edges Malabon, 61-56 ADAMSON nipped a tough Malabon BC squad, 61-56, in the continuation of the Milcu Hard To Guard 14-under division at the Philippine Buddhacare Academe Gym. Led by high-scoring Carl Miranda, the Bably Falcons were able to outlast their rivals bannered by three players who tallied double-digit scores.

But the nearly unstoppable Miranda carried the team on his shoulders and his 20-point output, including a near perfect shooting from the charity stripe, was enough to carry the Baby Falcons to victory.

Miranda hit 10-of-11 shots from the free throw area and capped his impressive performance with six rebounds and three assists.

Malabon BC was paced by Aldous Torculas, who had 15 markers while John Carlo Sison and Jordan Fernando tallied 10 apiece.

In the 17-under division, Angelicum defeated Lourdes School of Quezon City, 68-44, in this tournament presented by Got Skills, which is now in Season 5 and Season 13. The event is also sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and supported by BTV, Gerry’s Grill, LGR, Clyde Shoe Cleaner, FMR and Gatorade.

A FarEast 28R racing keelboat combines the experiences and accumulated techniques of European Design Office Simonis Voogo and Far East Boats.

Fate of Vargas in hands of POC election panel

By Peter Atencio

A

LLOWING Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines president Ricky Vargas and PhilCycling chief’s Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino to run for posts in the Philippine Olympic Committee elections is the right thing to do.

Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said that by doing this, the POC will allow change to happen from within their ranks.

“It’s an election. Let them run. Whoever wins, we support. Let us not divide sports.

Let us not divide the POC,” said Araneta, who is one of seven NSA leaders openly supporting the bids of Vargas and Tolentino.

Araneta, who was once part of the good governance task force of the Asian Football Confederation, said there is a need to have accountability in the POC. The election proceedings in the POC for president and chairman start at 11:30 a.m. today with registration of voters at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City.

But there are worries that Vargas and Tolentino will not be allowed to run and be disqualified again.

That is because the POC is again leaving the fate of the two to a three-member election panel, headed by Frank Elizalde, who may have softened on his earlier stand when he led the group in disqualifying Vargas and Tolentino during the 2016 POC polls.

Elizalde was said to have indicated that Vargas can run for the POC presidency, but his stand may still need the approval of the two other members of the election panel, according to Vargas’ spokesman Ed Picson.

Vargas said he is relieved at the development.

“Naturally, I am relieved that Mr. Elizalde has seen it fit to comply with the

Court Order. At the end of the day, we all need to act as responsible and lawabiding citizens who respect the rule of law. Otherwise we will have chaos,” Vargas said as he hopes the other two Comelec members will follow Elizalde’s example.

“Let us have elections, not dissensions.

Our athletes are closely watching us. We need to act as mature leaders. Let us give the voters a chance to choose,” added Vargas.

The boxing chief and Tolentino were disqualified by the election panel during the polls in 2016, allowing Peping Cojuangco to run unopposed and secure a new term as president.

But the Pasig Regional Trial Court ruled in favor of the complaint filed by Vargas.

Judge Maria Gracia Cadiz-Casaclang of Branch 155 declared the election for the position of POC president and chairman on Nov. 25, 2016 as null and void, ordering new polls on Feb. 23.

The POC appealed the RTC decision but was denied by the Court of Appeals.

Gilas PH falls to world-class Australians

Team USA celebrates winning after a penalty shootout in the women’s gold medal ice hockey match between Canada and the US during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the Gangneung Hockey Centre in Gangneung on February 22, 2018. AFP

USA ends 20-year hockey drought PYEONGCHANG—America’s women broke an ice hockey gold medal drought stretching back 20 years on Thursday as a Russian curler admitted doping and was stripped of bronze at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

American skier Mikaela Shiffrin was denied gold in the women’s combined, while veteran team-mate Lindsey Vonn disappointingly bombed out of the same event—her final Olympic race.

In the ice hockey, USA edged fierce rivals Canada 3-2 on penalties, celebrating ecstatically when goaltender Maddie Rooney saved the decisive attempt from Canada’s Meghan Agosta.

America’s hockey win snapped a 24game Olympic winning streak for Canada, the four-time defending champions. It also edged USA 12-11 ahead over their major rivals in Olympic and world titles.

But away from competition, Russia’s Alexander Krushelnitsky was stripped of his mixed doubles curling bronze medal after testing positive for meldonium, an endurance booster.

The 25-year-old was one of 168 Russian

athletes who passed rigorous testing to compete as neutrals in Pyeongchang, after Russia were banned over a major doping scandal.

“The athlete has admitted the anti-doping rule violation; he is disqualified from the mixed doubles curling event,” the Court of Arbitration for Sport said in a statement.

Krushelnitsky’s case comes as the International Olympic Committee ponder whether to lift Russia’s suspension in time to fly their flag at Sunday’s closing ceremony.

In skiing, Shiffrin was restricted to second place in the women’s combined, meaning she ends the Games with one gold and one silver—a far cry from the potential five titles she had targeted.

“I came into these Olympics knowing I could be a medal threat in multiple disciplines. I didn’t even know how many I would ski,” the 22-year-old said.

“After the gold in the giant slalom, I was really hopeful and positive. Then I had a tougher day in the slalom (when as defending champion, she lost her title) but it still feels good.” AFP

GILAS Pilipinas played decent basketball until the third quarter, but succumbed to the might of its world-class foe Australia the rest of the way as it absorbed an 84-68 drubbing in their qualifying game at Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne Thursday for the 2019 FIBA World Cup. The Filipinos were in it until late in the third, where they trailed the Aussies by just six points, 48-54, on a basket from four-time PBA Most Valuable Player JuneMar Fajardo.

But with four fouls, the San Miguel Beer star rode the bench from there, and somehow, the hosts suddenly erupted, taking advantage of a tired Andray Blatche and unleashing a 9-1 salvo to break away for good at 63-49.

The reigning Asian regional champions were not threatened from there.

The Australians came prepared for the former NBA star Blatche, who was limited to just eight points on 3 of 11 shooting, to go with seven rebounds, As a result, the Aussies were on a roll in the fourth behind Cameron Gliddon’s hot shooting and inside incursions from Angus Brandt, who finished with 13 points.

Without top playmaker Jayson Castro because of an injury, the Philippines dropped to 2-1 in Group B, as Australia hiked its record to 3-0.

Fajardo scored 15 points, while Matthew Wright added 9 for the Philippines.

Shooting guard Cameron Gliddon led Australia’s balanced show of force as four players submitted double-digit scores.

Gliddon had 16 points on 4-of-6 3-point shooting, while Mitchell Creek added 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Gilas Pilipinas tries to recover lost ground against Japan on home turf at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.

LEAGUE-LEADING San Miguel Beer looks to tighten its grip on the top spot and move closer to securing the top seeding in the resumption of the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. The Beermen (7-2) can move closer to securing the no. 1 seed or a top two finish with another win as it will be heavily favored against already ousted Kia (1-9) in their 4:30 p.m. tiff at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today.

Currently, San Miguel Beer is halfa-game ahead of Magnolia (7-3) for first place and it can extend its lead to a full game if it takes its second straight win.

Clearly, the Beermen know what they are chasing after.

“Our goal is to finish in the Top 2 and this next game will help us a lot to get there,” said San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria.

The Beermen muscled their way to a statement 109-96 drubbing of Alaska last Saturday in Batangas.

On the contrary, the Picanto suffered its fifth straight loss at the hands of GlobalPort, 108-91, just last Wednesday.

In the nightcap, a critical tussle takes place as Alaska (6-4) and Rain or Shine (5-3) collide at 7 p.m.

The Aces, currently in fifth, are already through to the quarterfinals but want to bid for the highest possible finish they can get.

The Elasto Painters still need one more win to formalize their entry into the Top 8.

A loss for Rain or Shine will put it in the danger zone in a snap.

The Elasto Painters are the hotter team coming in, having won three in a row while the Aces have dropped two straight after racking up six in a row.

Triathlon is NSA of the Year NOT only is triathlon gaining popularity in the country, the sport is also beginning to become a gold mine for the Philippines.

For the second straight time since competing in the Southeast Asian Games, triathlon completed a golden sweep for the Philippines courtesy of Nikko Huelgas and Kim Mangrobang to provide one of the highlights of the Filipinos’ campaign in the biennial meet held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last year.

The special feat and the continuous growth attained by the sport have earned the Triathlon Association of the Philippines the National Sports Association of the Year honor in the coming SMC-PSA (Philippine Sportswriters Association) Awards Night at the Maynila Hall of the Manila Hotel on Tuesday.

TRAP is considered one of the most active NSAs today, which provides country-wide competitions, all-year round under the leadership of president Ramon Marchan and secretary general Tom Carrasco, one of the prime movers of the sport from the very beginning.

But as early as the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore, the Filipino triathletes already proved they can be a force to be reckoned with after sweeping the men’s and women’s events for the very first time behind the heroics of Huelgas and Marie Claire Adorna.

“No other federation deserves the NSA of the Year award from the PSA more than triathlon, for its unwavering campaign to promote the sport and help Filipino triathletes compete against the best the world,” said PSA president Dodo Catacutan of SPIN.ph.

Triathlon will be among the individuals and sports bodies numbering 105 overall, to be recognized by the country’s oldest media organization during the traditional rite presented by MILO and Cignal TV. On top of the list are world champions Jerwin Ancajas, Krizziah Lyn Tabora, and Carlo Biado, who will all be bestowed the PSA-Tapa King Athlete of the Year honor.

The Philippine Sports Commission serves as the major sponsor of the event also backed by the Philippine Basketball Association, Smart, Mighty Sports, Globalport, and Rain or Shine.

TRAP is in good company.

Previous winners of the NSA of the Year award includes the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association, Philippine Taekwondo Association, Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines, Wushu Federation of the Philippines, and the Dragon Boat Association.

IN BRIEF Prefab home builder clinches $115-m deal REVOLUTION Precrafted, a company led by Robbie Antonio that constructs and supplies prefabricated homes, said it signed a deal with Central Country Estate Inc. for the construction and delivery of precrafted homes and retail stores in a 70-hectare prime development in Lakeshore, Pampanga.

Revolution Precrafted said in a statement the project would involve the construction and supply of 7,100 prefabricated homes and pop-up retail stores within the master planned community in Pampanga.

“This is another landmark project that will put Revolution Precrafted at the forefront of global architecture and innovation. We will supply $115.4 Million to build more than 7,100 carefully curated prefabricated homes that will soon rise on a lush space in The Lakeshore in Mexico, Pampanga, situated at a mere stone’s throw away from an existing manmade lake lake,” Antonio, the founder and chief executive of Revolution Precrafted, said.

Antonio said the company expected to generate more than $345 million in revenues from the sale of the precrafted homes and pop-up retail stores.

Revolution Precrafted said the prefabricated homes to be shipped and installed in the community would feature 48-square-meter townhouses priced at an introductory price of P1.8 million; 60-squaremeter single-attached units priced at P2.16 million; and 72-square-meter origin squared units priced at P2.52 million. Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

Creba to open real estate course

THE Chamber of Real Estate & Builders’ Associations Inc., in consortium with De La Salle College of Saint Benilde School of Professional and Continuing Education, will open the certificate course “Financial Planning & Analysis of Real Estate Projects,” on Feb. 24, 2018.

The course is the last of five modules under the Executive Diploma Program in Real Estate Management which has been offered by the two leading institutions since 2002.

Classes will be held at the ninth floor of the CSB School of Design and Arts Campus located at Pablo Ocampo Street, Malate, Manila from 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and will run for four Saturdays: February 24, March 3, 10 and March 24, 2018.

Creba is the Philippine umbrella organization of the real estate and housing industry composed of property developers, builders, contractors, suppliers and manufacturers of construction materials, real estate service practitioners and other professionals and entities engaged in over 70 allied fields.

Topics are Preparation of a Feasibility Study, Tools for Investment Analysis, Real Estate Taxation, Asset-backed Securitization, Development & Buyers’ Financing through Banks, other Private Institutions, Pag-IBIG Fund and other GFIs, BoI Incentives for Housing and Credit & Collection Management.

BDO Leasing posts P570m in net profit BDO Leasing and Finance Inc. registered a net income of P570 million in 2017, marking a steady performance versus year-ago.

Gross revenues rose 11 percent to P3.2 billion, with gross lease and loan portfolio climbing 9 percent to P34.3 billion. Higher funding and operating costs tempered bottom line performance.

BDO Leasing ended last year with an asset base of P42.8 billion, an increase of 10 percent year-on-year.

The company said it would continue to leverage on its parent Company’s extensive market reach and intensify its provincial thrust to tap fast-growing and rapidly urbanizing areas outside Metro-Manila.

MB member, banker Valentin Araneta dies SEASONED banker Valentin Araneta, one of the members of the policy-making Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 69.

Prior to becoming a member of the Monetary Board, Araneta held various positions both in the public and private sectors.

Araneta has been the chief executive of staterun Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. since June 1, 2011 and served as its president until November 2011. He also served as the president and chief operating officer of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. from July 2000 to June 2003 and its executive vice president and treasurer from July 1999 to July 2000.

He also served as vice president and general manager of the Philippine National Bank’s International Department and Finance Management Office in 1982.

OIL refiner Petron Corp. plans to put up electric vehicle charging facilities in its retail stations, officials said Thursday.

Petron president Ramon Ang confirmed the company’s interest, as conveyed to Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi. Petron owns the country’s biggest oil refinery in Bataan with a capacity of 180,000 barrels per day with around 2,000 stations nationwide.

“Petron is also interested,” Cusi told reporters. It became the second oil firm after Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. to express interest in e-vehicle charging stations.

Cusi said the department was supportive of the modernization of the country’s transport sector, including the development of e-vehicles.

“For charging stations, we have already planned that out. Shell is already [starting]…Petron also is interested,” he said.

Shell signed an agreement with QEV Philippines to put up an e-vehicle fast charging infrastructure network in the country.

QEV, a partnership between Endika Aboitiz and and Spanish businessma Enrique Banuelos, signed the agreement with Pilipinas Shell president and chief executive Cesar Romero.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2018

B

By Julito G. Rada

7-ELEVEN IN AURORA. Philippine Seven Corp., the exclusive licensor of global C-store chain giant 7-Eleven, expands its retail

presence in Central Luzon with the landmark opening of its first store in Aurora province. Welcoming guests and customers are store franchisee representatives Roy Angara (sixth from left) and Ariel De Jesus (fifth from left), along with PSC’s start-up officers, area managers and operations field consultants. PSC now operates 2,287 7-Eleven stores in the country.

Ayala Land, Royal Asia to develop big Cavite lot P

By Jenniffer B. Austria

ROPERTY developer Ayala Land Inc. is forming a joint venture with Royal Asia Land Inc. for a 936-hectare mixed-use estate development in Silang and Carmona, Cavite.

The Philippine Competition Commission recently approved the planned joint venture.

Ayala Land and Royal Asia will set up a joint venture to acquire, own and develop a 936-hectare mixed-use project with commercial and residential components in Cavite.

Both firms intend to subscribe to shares of the joint venture company, with each party owning 50 percent of

the outstanding stock.

Royal Asia, which is owned by PCO South Frontier Holdings Inc., will receive a consultation fee of 2 percent of the joint venture company’s gross revenue for its participation in the planning and development of the property.

Ayala Land, the property’s project and development and sales and marketing manager, will receive a development management fee of 12 percent and sales and marketing fee of 5 percent of the joint venture company’s gross revenues.

“The transaction does not result in the substantial lessening of competition because it will not have a structural effect on the market,” the PCC said in approving the Ayala Land-Royal Asia deal.

Ayala Land currently has several estate projects in Cavite and plans to capitalize on the upcoming infrastructure projects including the Southwest

Integrated Transport System terminal, Cavite-Laguna Expressway, Cavite C5 Southlink and LRT 1 Cavite extension.

Among Ayala Land’s estate projects in Cavite are the 700-hectare Vermosa and 250-hectare Evo City.

Meanwhile, PCC also approved the joint venture between Markham Resources Corp. and Alternergy Mini Hydro Holdings Corp.

Under the plan, both parties will invest in three companies that will operate, develop and maintain run-of-river mini hydro projects along the stretch of the Asin, Ibulao, Hungduan, Lamut, and Panubtuban rivers in Ifugao province.

PCC said it found that there were enough competitive constraints by other players in the relevant market.

“The transaction also does not appear to create or strengthen the ability or incentive of the merged firm to engage in withholding capacity,” PCC said.

Petron plans to put up EV charging hubs

By Alena Mae S. Flores

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

Land Bank’s income rises 4% to P14b

Hyundai’s sales up 3% in January HYUNDAI Asia Resources Inc., the official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines, said automotive sales in January rose 3 percent to 2,903 units from 2,817 units in the same month in 2017.

Hari president and chief executive Ma. Fe Perez Agudo said the January sales could be considered quite a feat considering it is the initial month when automotive taxes were restructured to accommodate higher excise tax.

“January’s performance provides a jumpstart to 2018. Though faced with a tougher business landscape, we expect this year to bring us on higher grounds as we continue to level up our commitment in providing the best products and services to our customers,” she said.

The passenger cars segment sold 2,036 units in January, down 8 percent from 2,223 units sold in the same month in 2017. While Accent and Eon still hold the largest share of the company’s passenger cars segment, Elantra substantially grew by 113 percent with unit sales of 219 in January from 103 units a year ago.

Meanwhile, the light commercial vehicles segment drove the growth for Hyundai’s January sales.

Sales from the segment rose 46 percent to 867 units in January from 594 units sold a year earlier. Othel V. Campos

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

FREE MEDICAL CHECKUP. SM Foundation Inc. signs a memorandum of agreement with the International College of Surgeons and the International Academy of Medical Specialists Inc. for a medical and diagnostics mission to provide free medical checkups and minor surgeries to all SM employees and their immediate families. Signing the agreement at SM Fairview are (from left) SM Foundation senior project manager of health and medical programs Dr. Ma. Blesilla; SM Foundation trustee Ramon Gil Macapagal; SM Foundation executive director of health and medical programs Connie Angeles; Dr. Gil Vicente of International College of Surgeons; Dr. Federico Malubay, chairman of medical outreach programs of International Academy of Medical Specialists Inc.; and Dr. Frederick Francisco of infectious integrative medicine of IAMS. Manny Palmero

Cost of Metro Manila’s heavy traffic rises 45% to P3.5b

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE daily cost of heavy traffic to Metro Manila residents jumped 45.6 percent this year as vehicle congestion in the metropolis got worse, the Japan International Cooperation Agency said Thursday.

Susumo Ito, chief representative of Jica Philippines Office said during the 36th Joint Meeting of the Economic Cooperation Committees of the Philippines and Japan that the updated daily cost of traffic in Metro Manila was P3.5 billion in 2017, higher than the estimated P2.4 billion based on the previous transport roadmap.

Jica said with the estimated 12.8 million population of Metro Manila

as of 2015, the cost would amount to P273 for each resident a day, up from P187.5 for each resident in the previous roadmap.

It said without intervention, the daily cost traffic would increase to P5.4 billion in the coming years.

Ito said Metro Manila’s traffic situation was getting worse as traffic demand reached 13.4 million trips a day.

He said the government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program “is in right direction, but even with BBB, bottlenecks will remain in outer areas. Therefore, additional projects should be implemented.”

By 2035, the daily cost of traffic will is seen doing down to P3 billion with the government BBB program. It said with

additional projects, the impact would be further reduced to P2.4 billion.

Manuel Pangilinan, chairman of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., said the real answer to traffic problem was an efficient transport system ― a combination of buses, light rail and urban subway.

“These also have added benefit of pushing population out of Metro Manila to suburbs,” Pangilinan said.

“That is why the solution offered by various Japanese-funded rail projects, such as the 160-kilometer Clark to Los Baños Commuter Line and the Mega Manila Subway are projects we support. We are prepared to participate meaningfully in these projects,” he said.

STATE-RUN Land Bank of the Philippines, the third-largest lender in terms of assets, said Thursday net income rose 4 percent in 2017 to P14.05 billion from P13.58 billion in 2016, on the strength of core businesses.

Core revenues increased at double-digit rates, with income on loans growing 12 percent to P26.8 billion from P23.9 billion in 2016. Gross loan portfolio surged 30 percent to P674.3 billion.

Income from investments also expanded 28 percent to P21.17 billion in 2017 from P16.49 billion in 2016.

Investments portfolio increased 25 percent to P580.65 billion in 2017.

“With our solid performance in 2017 further reinforcing the bank’s foundation, we are confident with sustaining growth in 2018,” LandBank president and chief executive Alex Buenaventura said in a statement.

“Our core objective is to continuously grow the net income in order to expand support to our priority sectors, especially the farmers and fishers, cooperatives, microenterprises and SMEs,” he said.

Return on equity in 2017 was at a high 14.8 percent. Total capital climbed 23 percent to P104.59 billion.

Deposit base grew 15 percent or P189 billion to reach P1.42 trillion, as both government and private sector deposits increased.

The bank added new branches and ATMs and expanded the enrollment of its internet banking and mobile banking subscribers last year.

LandBank is the largest provider of loans to small farmers and fishers, cooperatives and local government units.

LRMC signs P450-m deal to repair LRT 1 LIGHT Rail Manila Corp., a joint venture led by Ayala Corp. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp., said it signed a P450-million contract with Voith Digital Solutions Australia GmBH and Co KH to rehabilitate and upgrade the trains of Light Rail Transit Line 1.

LRMC president and chief executive Juan Alfonso said Voith would reengineer 24 generation-2 light rail vehicles into six train sets over the next two years.

“The rehabilitation of the 24 LRVs will expand capacity which should result in faster travel time because of reduced train headway and queueing time,” Alfonso said.

“This is another step that will significantly improve our passengers’ daily commute,” he said.

The project will be the first overhaul of the Generation 2 fleet’s propulsion system since the Philippine government bought the generation-2 trains from Hyundai and Adtranz Sweden in 1999.

The current fleet of LRT-1 includes 51 generation-1 LRVs bought in 1984, eight generation-2 LRVs bought in 1999 and 44 generation-3 LRVs bought in 2007.

The Department of Transportation signed last month the procurement of 120 new LRVs for delivery in 2020.

LRMC already completed the P1billion rehabilitation program on Generation 1 LRVs, resulting in the increase of the fleet from 77 to 109 LRVs and the number of daily trips from 498 to 554. As such, the interval between trains and queueing time were reduced.

LRMC said in less than two years since assuming management of LRT1, it was able to improve efficiencies that increased the number of trains and trips, reduced passenger waiting time and increased ridership.

LRMC won the bidding for the 11.7-kilometer Cavite extension project and took over the operation of LRT Line 1 on Sept. 12, 2015. The Cavite extension will connect into the existing system immediately south of the Baclaran station and will extend to Niog, Bacoor, Cavite. Darwin G. Amojelar

B2

Business

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market sinks; PXP, Ayala decline T HE stock market sank along with most of Asia, fueling fears of fresh volatility after Federal Reserve minutes fanned expectations US interest rates would rise further.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index tumbled 98.08 points, or 1.1 percent, to 8,515.57 on a value turnover of P10.4 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 136 to 77, with 49 issues unchanged.

PXP Energy Corp., a unit Philex Mining Corp., slumped 11 percent to P16.02, while conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. lost 3.8 percent to P5.63.

SM Investments Corp. of retail tycoon Henry Sy dropped 3.6 percent to P950, while conglomerate Ayala Corp. fell 2.5 percent to P1,053.

The much-anticipated notes from the Fed’s January policy meeting, mean-

while, showed the board thought Donald Trump’s sweeping tax cuts would fire up the already humming economy, pushing inflation higher.

Analysts speculate that the Fed will lift interest rates at its next meeting in March but there is debate about whether it will carry out three increases—as many have predicted—or four, in light of the recent spate of strong data.

“Our take is that the minutes reflect events prior to the jump in hourly earnings seen in the January jobs report and also prior to the extra spending bill passed by Congress early in February,” said Rodrigo Catril, senior forex strategist at National Australia Bank.

“This would suggest that there is a good chance that the current FOMC thinking has evolved towards a more hawkish tone since.”

Wednesday’s news saw the key 10year US Treasury yield hit a four-year high and boosted the dollar but sent US equities into reverse with all three main indexes ending in negative territory.

Investors have been on edge since the start of this month when global markets were sent spinning by a strong US jobs and wages report that fueled talk of tighter borrowing costs.

Equities around the world have surged to record and all-time highs thanks to a years-long rally built on cheap credit from crisis-era stimulus.

But with economies globally improving, central banks are beginning to wind those policies in.

Tokyo ended 1.1 percent lower, Hong Kong fell one percent, and Singapore was off 0.5 percent. Seoul

shed 0.6 percent and Taipei was off 0.5 percent. Jakarta and Bangkok both fell.

However, Shanghai jumped more than two percent as mainland traders returned from a week-long break for the Lunar New Year celebrations.

There were also gains in Sydney, Kuala Lumpur and Wellington.

“The market is pricing in the possibility of a tighter Fed over time,” Evan Brown, director at UBS Asset Management and former New York Fed employee, told Bloomberg TV. “You’re going to see volatility, you’re going to see equities get a little skittish when yields are rising, but as you look over the long term, fundamentals on the economy are very strong.”

With rates expected to rise, the dollar rallied against its main peers on Wednesday and extended gains against the pound and euro in Asian business.

With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59.5 7,530 119.5 1,639,830 3.74 57,000 150 3,088,030 1.7 31,000 35.4 358,400 15.3 13,100 27.3 416,000 3.7 112,000 9 1,200 1.65 83,000 900 900 0.53 379,000 96.65 3,162,900 1.85 31,524,000 13 3,100 25 7,100 57.8 1,800 238.2 29,840 103 1,230 85.25 160 46.45 62,200 255 341,750 1,940 15 90 18,160 1.2 32,000

448,029 196,333,877 213,350 461,274,242 52,770 12,725,685 200,632 11,436,310 415,670 10,800 134,870 810,000 201,030 306,073,257 55,869,420 40,308 175,745 103,164 7,118,742 126,690 13,640 2,887,855 87,377,978 29,100 1,635,586 38,400

441,500 -18,874,865 -39,067,709 4,834,290 1,175,490 -49,560,569.50 -1,974,360 12,771 6,441,982 381,210 11,727,080 -113,184.50 -

39 12.64 0.57 1.28 18.02 0.215 108 3.82 16 190 51.2 18.4 62.05 56 1.88 5.3 10.3 11.58 14.32 10.86 7.37 5.51 15.16 62 28.65 9.96 18.8 2.01 280 4.03 3.05 19.98 27.6 17.18 19.3 320.2 0.19 7.8 2.66 4.6 9.14 6.06 7.8 1.54 12.52 56.55 6 625 4.8 3.85 3.57 2.17 16.02 5.45 0.13 1.03 145.6 2.7 1.84 25.95 1.53

INDUSTRIAL 39 1,915,400 12.74 1,227,400 0.59 1,469,000 1.28 657,000 18.12 152,900 0.22 4,200,000 108 230 3.86 13,823,000 16.16 1,110,400 230 2,510 51.6 587,910 19.9 27,800 62.05 3,350 56.5 2,670 1.88 366,000 5.34 35,800 10.6 40,900 11.64 2,567,000 14.36 277,600 10.88 4,648,700 7.69 600,300 5.51 2,996,200 15.2 2,420,900 62.05 22,760 28.9 119,800 9.98 57,200 19 2,125,600 2.03 1,968,000 282 602,290 4.03 401,000 3.05 35,000 19.98 200 27.9 533,500 17.26 291,100 19.7 1,031,900 320.2 256,020 0.19 880,000 8.24 157,000 2.8 2,963,000 4.7 135,000 9.18 2,310,900 6.68 2,332,800 8.28 86,000 1.6 334,000 13 152,100 57.35 598,710 6.05 163,100 636.5 50,570 4.81 29,000 3.85 3,304,000 3.77 85,000 2.24 4,145,000 16.6 1,247,200 5.46 74,400 0.131 4,020,000 1.08 239,000 146 2,484,480 2.7 303,000 1.86 3,080,000 25.95 300 1.6 17,925,000

74,833,290 15,621,744 849,220 843,580 2,785,810 909,860 24,928 53,983,610 17,912,718 542,110 30,296,612 533,460 217,265 152,523 689,330 190,202 430,304 29,842,984 3,992,074 51,216,334 4,472,002 16,535,782 36,843,842 1,414,794 3,450,530 576,604 40,193,432 4,005,180 169,788,234 1,622,010 107,280 3,996 14,889,810 5,028,122 20,212,048 82,640,886 167,840 1,243,722 7,998,790 627,490 21,300,739 15,733,616 686,871 517,570 1,936,950 34,521,498 982,525 32,190,255 139,430 14,064,040 316,180 9,244,630 20,385,266 406,104 531,020 250,340 363,496,829 820,670 5,742,970 7,785 28,836,850

-23,173,040 2,710,718 190,920 -2,150 -6,133,210 8,538,284 2,023,743 -30,240 4,240 24,364,018 2,587,864 -1,925,982 2,449,109 -9,254,132 2,857,900 316,749.50 37,600 -13,370 20,771,838 65,910.00 5,054,164.00 -4,070 3,996 -73,365 -18,706 -884,876 -29,288,630 1,227,900 56,900 -9,570,937.00 -19,050 -3,082,406.50 288,645 1,121,575 110,630 35,400 154,250 2,848,034 12,190 -47,655,002 333,540 -20,570 5,190 -73,890

0.305 76.9 14.8 1.01 7.9 0.6 0.62 1,081 7.52 13.9 7.62 4.56 1,360 75.6 5.95 5.22 5.39 0.69 5.3 22.9 0.335 5.87 0.04 1.14 3.44 2.57 144.6 2.67 987.5 1.66 281.6 0.238

0.295 74 14.56 0.91 6.85 0.57 0.6 1,030 7.45 13.54 7.45 4.56 1,310 73.85 5.28 5.22 5.39 0.66 5.23 22.1 0.305 5.63 0.039 1.11 3.15 2.55 140.8 2.67 935 1.63 276.2 0.225

HOLDING FIRMS 0.305 300,000 76.9 1,217,410 14.62 8,570,400 0.92 803,000 7.85 649,200 0.58 18,668,000 0.6 8,332,000 1,053 401,895 7.5 1,367,000 13.72 2,146,100 7.6 16,000 4.56 4,000 1,320 77,345 74.55 1,253,920 5.28 35,000 5.22 2,000 5.39 500 0.69 757,000 5.23 3,033,200 22.85 3,237,100 0.335 340,000 5.63 48,798,800 0.039 31,000,000 1.12 302,000 3.26 7,970,000 2.55 6,000 144 437,810 2.67 1,000 950 454,280 1.65 785,000 281.6 1,090 0.237 1,080,000

89,900 92,029,734 125,545,396 754,780 4,849,573 10,888,750 5,028,810 424,749,685 10,232,022 29,403,232 120,223 18,240 102,129,280 93,453,352.50 204,550 10,440 2,695 505,960 15,907,693 73,001,660 106,050 278,010,739 1,209,600 337,030 26,037,970 15,360 62,570,806 2,670 432,630,860 1,295,330 303,974 247,930

7 0.97 16.06 2.19 0.88 44.95 3.7 4.44 6.12 0.43 1.08 1.09 0.255 0.465 35.9 0.64 0.135 1.83 1.35 0.71 4.76 0.42 0.31 0.52 5.04 34.95 20.1

6.85 0.94 15.02 2.15 0.85 43.75 3.64 4.33 5.9 0.42 1.08 1.04 0.238 0.455 34.2 0.62 0.135 1.76 1.31 0.7 4.72 0.385 0.3 0.5 4.3 32.05 19.9

4,117,408 3,934,690 617,506 734,230 2,176,230 581,886,830 1,609,820 8,437,740 1,839,039 8,336,550 3,240 15,920 30,671,250 1,584,600 28,022,110 697,910 4,050 36,070,160 1,950,340 106,730 87,812,070 124,306,650 219,350 1,235,300 27,096,440 97,990 24,193,047

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59.6 120.5 3.76 150 1.77 36 15.4 27.85 3.81 9 1.62 900 0.53 97.4 1.68 13.02 24.7 57.95 239 103 85.25 46.85 250 1,940 89.9 1.2

59.6 120.5 3.78 150.5 1.77 36 15.4 27.85 3.87 9 1.68 900 0.54 98.25 1.85 13.02 25 57.95 240 103 85.25 46.85 258 1,940 90.5 1.2

59.3 119.5 3.7 148.5 1.7 35.4 15.3 27 3.59 9 1.61 900 0.53 96 1.64 13 24.3 57 238.2 103 85.25 46.35 250 1,940 89.9 1.2

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 CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHIL H2O PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL 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

39.15 12.86 0.59 1.29 19.5 0.215 108.6 4.01 16 190 51.5 18.62 63.15 56 1.9 5.38 10.5 11.7 14.6 11 7.51 5.51 15.4 62.5 29.5 10.28 19 2.07 283.4 4.07 3.1 19.98 28.4 17.5 19.6 329.8 0.191 8.11 2.76 4.62 9.37 6.19 8 1.56 12.82 58.3 6.15 644 4.8 4.45 3.57 2.39 16.42 5.48 0.13 1.05 147.6 2.73 1.88 25.95 1.61

39.5 12.86 0.59 1.29 19.5 0.223 108.6 4.01 16.18 230 51.9 19.98 67 58.5 1.9 5.38 10.68 11.72 14.6 11.06 7.69 5.56 15.4 62.5 29.5 10.3 19 2.08 289.2 4.07 3.15 19.98 28.4 17.5 19.72 329.8 0.191 8.25 2.8 4.75 9.4 7.1 8.28 1.6 13 58.3 6.15 659 4.81 4.89 3.8 2.4 16.6 5.48 0.138 1.09 150 2.74 1.88 25.95 1.67

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

0.305 74 14.8 1.01 6.9 0.6 0.62 1,080 7.45 13.9 7.62 4.56 1,360 74.55 5.87 5.22 5.39 0.67 5.3 22.3 0.31 5.87 0.039 1.12 3.44 2.57 144.6 2.67 985 1.66 279 0.234

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

6.9 0.97 16.06 2.18 0.88 44.95 3.69 4.4 6.09 0.43 1.08 1.09 0.24 0.46 35.85 0.63 0.135 1.83 1.33 0.71 4.72 0.395 0.305 0.52 4.8 32.05 20.05

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

1.93 3.19 35.95 1 23.8 0.83 6.54

1.94 3.2 35.95 1.01 32 0.83 6.56

1.9 3.18 35.1 1 19.5 0.8 6.34

1.93 3.18 35.95 1 25.85 0.83 6.5

561,000 39,000 12,014,200 35,000 11,127,000 56,000 12,856,900

1,070,810 124,330 427,985,935 35,100 299,752,995 45,960 83,254,688

286,820 -90,137,945 24,645 -7,784,357

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 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 MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PAXYS PHIL RACING PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

17.52 32.4 1.3 0.44 0.06 11.58 5.26 14.1 0.066 100.1 8.91 7.81 8 2.43 46.5 1,809 6.25 279 11.1 5.5 3.1 111 12.9 8.3 0.135 1.47 3.25 14.98 3.99 1.04 28.55 0.5 4.82 7.91 3.45 16.72 15.1 10.02 11.9 3.1 8.64 108.4 8.5 1,570 1.18 0.35 51.15 94.75 5.9 2.85 1.48 0.52 3.55 0.93 11

18.48 32.5 1.31 0.445 0.061 11.58 5.26 14.18 0.067 100.8 8.91 7.95 8 2.5 47.45 1,809 6.25 380 11.1 5.6 3.58 111 13.2 8.31 0.136 1.56 3.29 14.98 4.08 1.08 29.25 0.52 5.45 7.91 3.45 17.48 16.24 10.08 11.9 3.1 8.64 108.4 9 1,572 1.2 0.355 51.5 94.75 6.1 2.9 1.5 0.53 3.55 0.93 11

17.52 31.9 1.3 0.435 0.055 11.58 5.26 13.82 0.065 99.95 8.91 7.61 7.88 2.42 44.25 1,746 6.18 251 11 5.38 2.92 108 12.9 8.25 0.134 1.46 3.19 14.5 3.9 1.03 27.7 0.5 4.75 7.5 3.31 16 14.6 10.02 11.14 2.82 8.64 108.3 7.6 1,553 1.18 0.35 50.4 94 5.85 2.81 1.45 0.5 3.4 0.9 10.5

SERVICES 18 31.9 1.31 0.445 0.056 11.58 5.26 13.98 0.066 100 8.91 7.61 7.89 2.44 45 1,760 6.18 290 11 5.45 3.08 109.9 13.2 8.31 0.135 1.54 3.29 14.5 3.9 1.05 28.1 0.5 5.28 7.65 3.31 17.48 15.04 10.06 11.22 2.83 8.64 108.4 7.76 1,570 1.18 0.355 50.5 94.15 5.88 2.9 1.45 0.5 3.47 0.92 10.86

82,000 48,800 26,000 1,640,000 361,940,000 67,800 2,000 10,885,600 12,510,000 159,620 100 3,252,800 234,100 62,000 137,500 24,910 130,000 845,580 2,300 5,427,000 1,265,000 1,284,710 159,500 32,000 4,610,000 600,000 134,000 2,000 1,907,000 319,000 3,741,500 33,000 4,596,000 5,088,900 2,694,000 6,600 34,653,000 15,000 58,700 18,000 2,300 202,830 29,033,200 126,090 1,884,000 620,000 2,108,940 1,379,630 37,000 1,573,000 6,288,000 47,775,000 1,149,000 5,492,000 6,229,300

1,474,000 1,570,245 33,850 726,250 20,699,070 785,124 10,520 152,288,394 820,490 15,965,130 891 25,377,127 1,852,081 152,710 6,212,910 43,918,320 804,409 269,175,838 25,350 29,587,795 4,105,900 141,070,329 2,077,342 264,620 621,370 899,730 430,660 29,910 7,626,220 333,300 106,789,175 16,600 23,792,860 38,969,841 9,051,530 110,488 535,887,854 150,732 666,168 52,100 19,872 21,986,566 236,748,424 197,896,510 2,229,020 218,850 106,690,370 129,840,648 217,490 4,509,010 9,277,510 24,288,980 3,994,580 5,010,060 66,621,530

-41,004 -2,059,110 -32,424 93,682,112 -1,876,294.50 157,600 -24,387,055 1,046,664 -1,094,924.00 49,152,655 951,600 40,750 59,360.00 17,355,515 -1,850 2,865,580 -455,710 -4,729,838 0 -3,714,721 41,768,895 -131,250 8,223,139.50 -26,973,011 2,814,050 3,044,580 1,447,470 786,520 34,640 -10,427,702

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

0.0025 1.87 4.91 20 1.7 0.305 7.27 2.39 0.227 0.146 0.152 0.009 1.47 6.27 1.4 0.44 0.89 0.012 0.012 2.35 6.41 18 36.85 0.0068

0.0025 1.93 5.01 20 1.84 0.31 7.46 2.44 0.227 0.147 0.152 0.009 1.47 6.35 1.4 0.44 0.94 0.012 0.012 2.35 6.45 19.42 36.85 0.007

0.0024 1.69 4.91 17.62 1.7 0.305 7.23 2.37 0.21 0.146 0.152 0.009 1.45 6.16 1.37 0.44 0.89 0.011 0.011 2.1 6.37 15.9 35.8 0.0068

MINING & OIL 0.0025 1,235,000,000 1.69 52,553,000 4.99 171,000 17.62 34,100 1.84 10,324,000 0.31 290,000 7.3 25,700 2.4 2,827,000 0.227 1,370,000 0.146 2,760,000 0.152 260,000 0.009 70,000,000 1.47 139,000 6.19 1,907,300 1.4 18,000 0.44 30,000 0.93 292,000 0.012 16,200,000 0.011 15,600,000 2.24 334,000 6.38 857,700 16.02 49,401,000 36.65 2,196,500 0.007 5,000,000

3,004,000 94,823,490 852,770 641,416 18,642,620 89,200 186,581 6,770,150 293,040 402,980 39,520 630,000 202,120 11,843,260 24,750 13,200 265,470 194,300 174,400 741,300 5,482,009 878,726,644 80,080,875 34,800

-418,100 3,796 -207,710 -4,760 1,152,637 128,011 -1,290,392 -35,296,320 -

-1,618,152.50 -1,135,760 -176,000 2,179,640 25,406,440 4,825,255 -16,238,226 -13,632,965 -27,472,771 3,378,361 1,168,280 -77,302,222 39,000 3,360 1,208,360 -1,090,826 -195,319,555 -28,100 -

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

31.95 509.5 517 108.9 104.1 103.5 520 6.01 1,006 1,008 101.3 1.05 106.1 1,035 957 102.5 109 76.2 80.05 75.7 77 78 78.05

31.95 509.5 518 108.9 104.2 103.5 520 6.16 1,006 1,008 101.6 1.05 106.1 1,035 990 102.5 109 76.2 80.05 75.7 77 78 78.1

31.5 509 516 108.9 104 103.5 520 6.01 1,006 1,005 101.3 1.03 106.1 1,035 957 102.5 109 76.2 75 75.7 75 78 78

PREFERRED 31.5 1,445,500 509 180 516 5,040 108.9 30 104.2 47,160 103.5 180 520 4,200 6.16 3,100 1,006 5 1,005 700 101.6 71,030 1.03 84,000 106.1 700 1,035 4,500 990 100 102.5 20,000 109 10 76.2 17,810 79 389,000 75.7 4,400 75 19,100 78 17,400 78.1 38,400

46,115,590 91,630 2,608,550 3,267 4,911,610 18,630 2,184,000 18,676 5,030 703,560 7,203,889 86,590 74,270 4,657,500 97,350 2,050,000 1,090 1,357,122 29,899,317 333,080 1,464,720 1,357,200 2,998,015

-964,145 -91,630 -6,040 0 395,000 -624,000

LR WARRANT

2.29

2.33

2.26

WARRANTS 2.29 518,000

1,186,240

-

PHILAB HLDG ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

3.85 6.9 3.03 3.83

4 6.91 3.03 3.83

3.8 6.39 2.81 3.57

3.99 6.39 2.81 3.63

3,059,930 37,144,430 83,160 8,174,220

-186,710 -5,141,180

-129,170 -187,547,450 -87,790 3,494,350 -19,490 8,400 6,975,010 13,800 -9,783,285 -10,482,800 -391,390 9,926,920 -2,051,950 353,430 3,250 -5,644,797

FIRST METRO ETF

129.8

130

129

1,340,946

-238,788.00

412

-

MS

PROPERTY 7 0.96 15.8 2.15 0.86 44.25 3.69 4.33 6.07 0.425 1.08 1.09 0.255 0.465 34.2 0.62 0.135 1.76 1.34 0.7 4.75 0.39 0.3 0.5 4.69 34.95 20.1

594,700 4,118,000 39,600 339,000 2,549,000 13,163,700 439,000 1,936,000 303,100 19,680,000 3,000 15,000 122,800,000 3,440,000 810,500 1,110,000 30,000 20,319,000 1,466,000 152,000 18,506,000 309,230,000 720,000 2,435,000 5,660,000 3,000 1,211,300

USD DMPL A2

10.3

10.3

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

43,772,974

INDUSTRIAL

93,747,083

HOLDING FIRMS

142,766,206

PROPERTY

567,999,004

SERVICES

570,525,849

MINING & OIL

1,468,257,692

GRAND TOTAL

2,963,085,109

10.3

SME

779,000 5,667,700 28,000 2,236,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 129.4 10,360 10.3

DDS

40

VALUE 2,201.45 (down) -17.51 1,413,657,160.44 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,245.09 (down) -76.93 1,256,868,461.926 HOLDING FIRMS 8,623.05 (down) -143.63 2,061,798,844.15 PROPERTY 3,862.19 (down) -41.3 1,745.6 (up) 0.16 1,802,388,578.88 SERVICES MINING & OIL 12,098.54 (down) -231.52 2,511,289,985.92 PSEI 8,515.57 (down) -98.08 1,104,231,907.04 All Shares Index 5,087.19 (down) -34.98 10,455,761,133.74 Gainers: 77; Losers: 136; Unchanged: 49; Total: 262

Metrobank board okays 5% cash dividend

By Julito G. Rada METROPOLITAN Bank & Trust Co., the second-largest lender in terms of assets, will declare a 5-percent cash dividend to stockholders after sustaining growth momentum in 2017.

Metrobank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Thursday its board of directors approved the declaration of cash dividend in an earlier meeting.

“This is to inform the exchange that the board of directors of Metrobank approved the declaration of a 5-percent regular cash dividend to be paid to all stockholders as of March 8, 2018 record date, with March 16, 2018 as the payment date,” it said.

It said the source of the cash dividend payment was the “unrestricted retained earnings as of Dec. 31, 2017.”

Metrobank in 2017 posted a consolidated net income of P18.2 billion, almost unchanged from P18.1 billion a year ago.

Metrobank president Fabian Dee said in a statement the strength of deposit franchise continued to support loan growth, particularly in the commercial space as the bank helped finance the expansion plans of its customers.

“Our momentum continues to build up, and we are well-positioned to accelerate our growth plans moving forward,” Dee said.

Total resources reached a new high of P2.1 trillion. Metrobank ended the year with total deposits of P1.5 trillion, with low-cost deposits increasing 12 percent to P950 billion for a 62-percent CASA ratio.

This provided the stable low-cost funding to fuel its healthy loan expansion. Sustaining the momentum from previous quarters, the loan portfolio expanded 19 percent year-on-year to hit P1.3 trillion.

The commercial segment, mainly the middle market and small and medium enterprises, led the growth with 20 percent, while consumer loans increased 17 percent.

Metrobank’s net interest margin has been steadily moving up to 3.75 percent or 21 basis points higher from last year, mainly driven by improving asset yields. As a result, net interest income increased 16 percent to P61.4 billion, accounting for 73 percent of the bank’s P83.6 billion total operating income.

BPI ranks 20th in global project finance deals BANK of the Philippine Islands, the fourth-largest lender in terms of assets, has earned the 20th spot in the global rankings for project finance deals in 2017 and the sixth spot in the AsiaPacific region, according to the latest Thomson Reuters Project Finance International report.

Thomson Reuters said BPI, a newcomer in the rankings, was among the top banks in the world that arranged the biggest project financing deals. This is the first time that a Philippine bank made it to the top 10 in Asia Pacific, besting other strong Asian and foreign houses.

“One surprise (is) the appearance of a Philippine bank in the top 10. Bank of the Philippine Islands, with its investment arm BPI Capital, is ranked sixth (in Asia Pacific), with six deals worth $2.8 billion. The bank, possibly the oldest lender in the country, is part of the huge Ayala conglomerate,” the report said.

Project finance refers to the long-term financing of infrastructure, industrial, and other big projects where the debt and equity used to fund the project are paid back using cash flow from the project itself.

BPI ranked 20th globally and sixth in Asia Pacific by acting as lead arranger of six project finance deals amounting to $2.8 billion.

These deals include AC Energy Holdings Inc. (Philippines, $437.1 million), Angat Hydropower Corp. (Philippines, $263 million), Atimonan One Energy Inc. (Philippines, $1.056.3 billion), SMC Consolidated Power Corp. (Philippines, $880 million), Star Energy Geothermal (Indonesia, $156.3 million) and Unisys Managed Services Corp.

(Philippines, $15.0 million).

“Our global ranking says as much about the strides our country is making in power and infrastructure as it does about BPI’s capabilities. We are very pleased to be an active and meaningful partner in nation building,” BPI president and chief executive Cezar Consing said in a statement.

World

B3

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Manila

Standard

TODAY

‘Politics of hate’ slammed

Arm teachers, says Trump, but he's ignored

L

ONDON― The “politics of demonization” provided fertile ground for human rights abuses in 2017, exemplified by the response of Europe and Donald Trump’s US to the refugeecrisis, rights group Amnesty said Thursday in its annual report.

The British-based group took particular aim at the US president’s “transparently hateful” executive order banning entry to citizens of several Muslim-majority countries.

“Throughout 2017, millions across the world experienced the bitter fruits of a rising politics of demonization,” said the report, which was launched this year for the first time in the United States.

It accused the leaders of wealthy countries of approaching the refugee crisis “with a blend of evasion and outright callousness”.

“Most European leaders have been unwilling to grapple with the big challenge of regulating migration safely and legally, and have decided that practically nothing is off limits in their efforts to keep refugees away from the continent’s shores,” it added.

Amnesty Secretary-General Salil Shetty singled out Trump for criticism, saying the travel ban “set the scene for a year in which leaders took the politics of hate to its most dangerous conclusion”.

He also condemned his decision to keep the US camp at Guantanamo Bay on Cuba open, and his ambivalent attitude to water boarding and other harsh interrogation techniques.

“You can imagine what this means for governments across the world who are extensively using torture,” he said.

He noted that US attitudes had an impact across the world.

Tirana Hassan, director of crisis response at Amnesty International, said: “When it comes to conflict, crisis and mass atrocities we have seen zero moral or legal leadership coming from the international community.”

Amnesty said Myanmar’s military crackdown on Rohingya insurgents, which prompted an exodus of nearly 700,000 Rohingya people into neighboring Bangladesh, was the “ultimate consequence of a society encouraged to hate, scapegoat and fear minorities”.

“This episode will stand in history as yet another testament to the world’s catastrophic failure to address conditions that provide fertile ground for mass atrocity crimes,” said the report.

It highlighted recent elections in Austria, France, Germany and the Netherlands, where “some candidates sought to transpose social and economic anxieties into fear and blame”, as evidence that the “global battle of values reached a new level of intensity” in 2017.

The report also accused governments of exploiting national security and terrorism concerns “to reconfigure the balance between state powers and individual freedoms”.

“Europe has continued to slip towards a near-permanent state of securitization,” it warned.

“France, for example, ended its state of emergency in November, but only after adopting a new anti-terror law.”

However, Amnesty said that it was possible for “ordinary people” to take back the initiative, noting the Florida students demanding more gun control after the Parkland school massacre.

“There is no better example of that than what we’ve seen with the kids in this country standing up against gun violence in the last few days,” Shetty said.

The report also praised the #MeToo campaign for drawing attention “to the appalling extent of sexual abuse and harassment”. AFP

WASHINGTON―US President Donald Trump suggested arming teachers to deter mass shootings as he faced broken voices, tears and demands for action at a meeting Wednesday with survivors of the gun rampage that killed 17 people at a Florida high school.

Trump also promised “very strong” background checks on gun owners during the poignant “listening session,” in which he heard first-hand accounts from bereaved parents and friends, and schoolchildren who narrowly escaped with their own lives.

But his proposal to arm educators received a cool response from a teacher who survived the shooting as well as the local sheriff at a town hall meeting in Florida.

“A gun-free zone, to a maniac―because they are all cowards―a gun-free zone is ‘Let’s go in and let’s attack,” Trump said.

“If you had a teacher who was adept at firearms, they could very well end the attack very quickly,” Trump said, suggesting that 20 percent of a school’s teachers could be trained to carry concealed weapons.

“This would only be obviously for people who are very adept at handling a gun,” Trump added.

The televised White House meeting came as students staged street protests across the country to demand stricter gun laws following the murder of 14 teens and three teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Holding signs reading “Never Again” and “Be The Adults, Do Something,” teenage survivors of last Wednesday’s shooting rallied outside the Florida state Capitol in Tallahassee.

“No longer can I walk the halls I walked millions of times before without fear and sadness,” Stoneman Douglas student Florence Yared told a crowd that included thousands of supporters.

The White House meeting was attended by Stoneman Douglas students, their parents and also the parents of victims of the Columbine, Sandy Hook and other shootings. AFP

FESTIVAL OF HOLI. An Indian worker packs eco-friendly colored powder for the coming festival of Holi at the campus of the College of Home Science in Hyderabad on February 22, 2018. The Eco Holi Colors are made with annatto seeds, beetroot, marigold flowers and Indigo, which are skin friendly and safe for children to play with, and can be washed off easily. Holi, the popular Hindu spring festival of colors is observed in India at the end of the winter season on the last full moon of the lunar month, and will be celebrated on March 2 this year. AFP

Billy Graham, preacher to millions, adviser to presidents, dies at age 99 WASHINGTON―Billy Graham, the influential Southern preacher who became a spiritual adviser to several US presidents and millions of Americans via their television sets, died Wednesday. He was 99.

The one-time backwoods minister, who eventually became the world’s foremost Christian evangelist, spread a message of spiritual redemption at tent and stadium revival meetings, in a career that spanned decades.

“The GREAT Billy Graham is dead,” President Donald Trump tweeted in tribute. “There was nobody like him! He will be missed by Christians and all religions. A very special man.”

Trump ordered American flags to be flow at half-staff at the White House and other US public buildings and facilities on the day of Graham’s interment.

The Southern Baptist preacher was close to the family of President George W. Bush, who once said that a private meeting with Graham in 1985 helped him quit drinking.

More recently he was portrayed in the Netflix drama series “The Crown” as giving counsel to the young Queen Elizabeth II as she confronted the burdens of rule.

“Billy Graham is the closest thing to a national pope that we shall ever see,” journalist Garry Wills once wrote in The Washington Post.

His death was confirmed by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, the religious organization headed by his son.

Graham was a pioneer of “televangelism” to convert souls to Christianity as television got off the ground in the 1950s.

Born on November 7, 1918, he was raised

as one of four children on a dairy farm in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Graham had a spiritual awakening in 1934 that changed the course of his life. He subsequently attended the Florida Bible Institute, now Trinity College of Florida, and was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1939.

In 1950, he founded the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) in Minneapolis, Minnesota and launched a weekly “Hour of Decision” radio program.

His ministry led him to preach the gospel around the country -- and the world.

Over the course of his career, he was consulted by presidents Dwight Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. For a time he was Richard Nixon’s chaplain and golf partner. President George H.W. Bush invited him to pray at the White House in 1991 for guidance through the first long day of the Gulf War. But of all the US leaders -- almost all of whom have described themselves as practicing Christians -- Graham found only Jimmy Carter to match him in dedication to his faith.

“Carter alone among the presidents... taught the Bible throughout his life, wrote books of religious meditations, and needed no help with Scripture or its challenges,” wrote authors Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy in a Graham biography, “The Preacher and the Presidents” published in August 2007.

Graham also has been credited with helping hasten the end of segregation in his native south by refusing to preach to segregated audiences after 1953.

Graham and his wife Ruth Bell Graham― the daughter of a missionary surgeon who grew up in China―had five children. AFP

Aging symbol of Singapore's growth faces demolition SINGAPORE―The looming demolition of a horseshoe-shaped tower block that symbolized Singapore’s growth from a port town to an affluent city-state has sparked soul-searching about whether enough is being done to protect the country’s recent history.

Pearl Bank Apartments, on the edge of the business district, was groundbreaking when it was completed in 1976―at the time it was the tallest residential building in Singapore, and it became a model for high-rise living in the country and across cities in Southeast Asia.

It was a turning point for the city-state’s Chinatown, as it was the first skyscraper in an area dotted with low-rise buildings.

But the 37-story, 280-apartment block has seen better days, with residents now complaining of leaking pipes and aging lifts.

Earlier this month it was sold for S$728 mil-

lion ($550 million) to a developer, who plans to construct a modern, high-rise residential building on the site.

The block was constructed in a 1970s style that has now fallen out of fashion, and lacks the colonial-era charm of buildings from British rule, many of which enjoy official protection.

But Pearl Bank and other buildings from the era are held dear by some Singaporeans as they are a reminder of the country’s blistering development after independence in 1965.

“The buildings that were built just after independence were a reflection of the aspirations and hopes of a new nation,” said photographer Darren Soh, who has been documenting Pearl Bank and other buildings from the same period.

“If we tear all these down, there will be

nothing to remind us of the era.”

Some publicly-owned buildings from that era, including a town hall and a conference hall, have been listed as national monuments, which should protect them from the wrecking ball.

But Ho Weng Hin, from architectural conservation consultancy Studio Lapis, said there were no cases of privately-owned residential blocks from that period being conserved and there was a “real threat” to such buildings.

However, the residents of Pearl Bank who backed the sale said that conservation was not practical due to the high cost.

“A lot of the people calling for conservation are outsiders looking in, but if you live here yourself you’ll understand the difficulties,” resident Marie Lim, a 68-year-old retiree, told AFP. AFP

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that FARM MASTERS REALTY, INC. (FORMERLY: FARM MASTERS, INC.), with office address at Suite 501 Legaspi Towers 200 Paseo De Roxas, Legaspi Village, Makati City, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as an expanding developer of economic and low-cost housing project (Farm Masters Village II) with a capacity of 211 house and lot units on a nonpioneer status with project site at Pulong Bayabas, San Miguel, Bulacan.

Any person with valid objections on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(SGD) ANGELlTA F. ARCELLANA Officer-in-Charge Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-FEB. 23, 2018)

ERRORS & OMISSIONS In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published. We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

Republic of the Philippines) Makati, Metro Manila…….) s.s AFFIDAVIT OF SELF-ADJUDICATION OF SOLE HEIR I, MARIA RINA SANTIAGO SCHOELLEN, of legal age, Filipino-American with dual citizenship and a holder of a Philippine Passport, single parent and a resident of 20 Milestone, Irvine, California, United States of America, and at No. 25 Derby Street, White Plains, Quezon City, after having been sworn in accordance with law, hereby depose and say: That I am the only child and sole and only surviving legal heir of the late VIRGINIA M. SANTIAGO who died on January 25, 2018 at Makati City, Metro Manila leaving without any will or debt that has not been settled up to the present; That to the best of my knowledge the deceased at the time of her death left the following parcels of residential land more particularly described to wit; 1. A parcel of land located in the City of Parañaque covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. (S-36508)) 96182; 2. A parcel of land located in Quezon City covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. RT-76907 (280074); 3. A parcel of land located in City of Parañaque covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. (275497) S-30387 (17042-A) 85534.

Also, to the best of my knowledge, the deceased left the following bank deposits: 1. BPI Family Savings Bank Account No. 005997-2855-75 TD#050411, 35 days, renewable Php 100,000.00 2. BPI Family Savings Bank Account No. S/A No. 005993-3677-63 Php27,802.29 3. Metro Savings Bank Account No. 362-3-362-10541-3 Php3,216,097.15 4. BPI FCDU Account No. 2104-0056-94 US $1629.27 Likewise, to the best of my knowledge, the deceased has certificate of stocks on the following: TELECTRONIC SYSTEMS, INC. (TSI) Stock Certificates 1. Cert. A-11 116,666 shares 2. Cert. B-030/B033 533,812 shares 3. Cert. A-627 32, 369 shares 4. Cert. A-624 83,013,162 shares Total 83,696,009 shares PHILIPPINE TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP. (PT&T) Stock Certificates 1. Cert. A-00010037 729,926 shares 2. Cert. A-00036279 36,666 shares Total 766,592 shares JLS, INC Stock Certificates 4,000 shares PSVSIA Stock Certificates 1. 025-A 2. 045-A 3. 052-A 4. 063-A 5. 067-A 6. 100-A 7. 103-A

6 shares 2 shares 9 shares 4 shares 13 shares 5,593,256 shares 6,796 shares

GVM SECURITY AGENCY, INC. Stock Certificates-500 shares 1. 009 250 shares 2. 022 250 shares EL JOVIR Stock Certificates-490-187 shares 1. 0049 490,187 shares Pursuant to SEC. 1 Rule 74 of the Revised Rules of Court of the Philippines, I hereby adjudicate unto myself the above described parcel of lands, bank accounts/investments and stock certificates without judicial proceedings as prescribed by the aforementioned Rules of Court.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of February 2018 at Makati City.

MARIA RINA SANTIAGO SCHOELLEN Affiant SUBSCRIBED SWORN to before me this 1st day of February 2018 at Makati City.

Affiant exhibiting to me her USA Passport No. 559347163 issued on May 11, 2017 at Manila, Philippines

Doc. No. 164 Page No.34 Book No.472 Series of 2018

LGUs

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

B4

Aguilar orders Las Piñas cops, village tanods to boost patrols

LocaL government units

friday, february 23, 2018

Belmonte: QC could give out more help for city’s indigent

By Rio N. Araja BARELY 15 months before the 2019 local elections, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte on Thursday said she would focus more on improving the plight of the city’s three million residents.

Despite the city’s rising income over the past few years, Belmonte said it “does not trickle down to the people who deserve it more.”

“I think there are many other areas wherein we have to pour in our money,” the vice mayor said, continuing to lay down her platform for her run for the mayoralty next year.

“We just have to go down to the communities to see what our constituents badly need,” she added.

With a population of 2.94 million as of the 2015 census, Quezon City has the highest population in the National Capital Region, and 23 percent of Metro Manila’s total population.

The city’s being the biggest in land area and its huge population have been major factors affecting the delivery of basic services to its 142 barangays, Belmonte said.

“For me as an administrator here inside, I think the quality of life for the people is more important,” she said While it cannot be denied that Quezon City “has made great economic strides over the years,” the vice mayor said the city “is not the richest local government per capita.”

“In terms of per capita, we are not yet [that rich]. We still have so many poor residents in the city. I’d like to be realistic about it,” she said.

Lucio Tan eyes flying school for PAL at Subic

By Butch Gunio SUBIC BAY FREEPORT―Dr. Lucio Tan, chairman and chief executive officer of Philippine Airlines, is looking at putting up a flying school here under the flagship airline’s brand.

Tan flew into the Subic Bay International Airport for an inspection of its airport facilities, and was welcomed by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma.

During the visit, the tycoon inquired about the state of facilities at the airport terminal, as well as other business potentials and tourism facilities that would complement an aviation-related trade. “he was all smiles since the moment he landed at the SBIA on board his helicopter,” Eisma said. “The SBMA technical working group made a presentation showing the full potential of the Subic airport and I believe he was very much impressed.”

The PAL chairman and his entourage, looked closely at the Subic airport terminal, and asked for areas that could possibly be used for restaurants or passenger lounges.

Eisma briefed Tan of the design and purpose of the terminal, and pointed out that it used to accommodate local and international flights.

“Despite not being fully utilized, the SBIA equipment all work properly.

We have kept them in tip-top shape,” Eisma pointed out.

The SBIA, which was completed in 1996 in time for Subic’s hosting of the Apec summit, boasts of a 10,000-square meter passenger terminal that has two gates, two jet ways, a closed-circuit television system, and a 9,000-foot runway.

It also has a military ramp at the southwest area, which is used by US Air Force planes under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and the United States. Meanwhile, its midway ramp is being utilized by a flight school here for aircraft parking.

Tan’s group also went on a rolling tour of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, and looked into areas such as the Alava Wharf and the Cubi residential area.

BARANGAY POWER. Baranagay Don Bosco in Parañaque City is the winner in the ‘Barangay Power’ contest as the ‘Cleanest and Greenest’ in District II during the celebration of the 20th Cityhood Anniversary recently held at the city’s multi-purpose gym. Barangay Don Bosco chairman Chona Navarro received a cash prize of P150,000, trophy and a plaque of appreciation from Mayor Edwin Olivarez and his wife Janet, chairman cleanliness, beautification and sanitation department. Barangay San Isidro emerged as winner in District I, receiving the same prize.

Makati’s ‘Mardi Gras’ unfolds this Sunday

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

hE city government of Makati announced on Thursday it is preparing for this year’s Caracol Festival, the Philippines’ version of Rio de Janeiro’s Mardi Gras.

The festival, to be held on Feb. 25 at the Globe Circuit Events Grounds in Barangay Olympia, will highlight the beauty of nature and the importance of conserving and protecting natural resources.

“Caracol, now on its 32nd year, is a significant annual event for Makati. It serves as a constant reminder to our people, especially the young ones, that despite our highly urbanized landscape, we must strive to take care of the environment because our lives and our future depend on it,” said Mayor Abigail Binay, who urged the public to

come and join the revelry.

She said that even as the city government has resolved to embrace technology and has taken major steps towards a “digital Makati,” it remains firmly grounded on its commitment to remain at the forefront of global efforts to promote sustainable and highly resilient communities.

“Caracol Festival is not a mere display of merriment, but an effective tool to heighten public awareness on the urgency of getting our acts together to heal the earth, and to motivate residents and visitors alike into taking an active

role in building a healthy and sustainable environment,” Binay said.

A Spanish term for snail, Caracol alludes to the shell people use as shields to life’s harsh realities. During the festival, revelers are encouraged to discard their “shells” and join in the merrymaking and to rejoice in the bounty of Mother Earth.

Binay thanked the city’s constant partners in the private sector through the years for consistently supporting the event, namely, Ayala Land, Circuit Makati, and Make it Makati.

Museum and Cultural Affairs Office officials confirmed that the festival will begin with a parade of participants, barangay officials and residents, city employees, private sector representatives, senior citizens, and students at 4 p.m., which will be followed by a dance competition.

LAS Piñas City Mayor Imelda Aguilar has ordered City Police Chief Marion Balonglong to intensify 24/7 visibility to ensure the safety of residents and foil attempts of criminal elements in the city.

Aguilar issued the order following the recent raid of the National Bureau of Investigation on the alleged drug den in barangay manuyo Uno, and the reported incidents of robberies and petty crimes in residential areas.

She likewise directed barangay officials to mobilize their barangay tanod or watchmen in coordination with the city police force to conduct surveillance and monitoring in their respected areas.

In a related development, Senior Supt. Balonglong reported the reshuffling of the city’s Police Community Precinct commanders.

PCP2 (Zapote and Pulanglupa) and PCP7 (Almanza Uno and Pilar) were reshuffled to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Las Piñas City Police Station, Balonglong said.

The mayor said that police presence had become a key factor in crime prevention.

“Police visibility and accessibility on the streets and communities through police patrols, especially fixed and foot patrols, are the best options because the bedrock of proactive policing patrols is to deter and prevent the crimes from happening rather than waiting for it to occur,” she said.

Police presence in various areas will also reassure residents of safe environment, Aguilar added.

She specifically ordered city police officials to work out more planned crime prevention projects and a higher crime detection rate.

Aguilar also appealed to homeowners association to coordinate closely with their respective barangays to deter any suspicious elements in their areas.

“All communities are safer when citizens act together and crime rates decline or remain low,” the mayor said.

“Neighborhood safety is a shared responsibility, in which both citizens and police have important roles. Small steps are often the best way to start building a community, which could involve such simple things as alerting neighbors,” Aguilar said.

“It forges bonds among area residents, helps reduce burglaries and robberies, and improves relations between police and the communities they serve,” she added.

PLDT, Smart train 24 LGUs with Synergeia ‘Seal’ in personal devt REPRESENTATIVES of the 24 cities and municipalities that received the Synergeia Foundation’s Seal of Good Education Governance recently underwent a two-day personal development training from PLDT and Smart Communications.

Mayors, vice mayors, councilors, Department of Education officials, and school principals, among others, learned about developing a power personality, emotional quotient, financial literacy, customer service, and an innovative teaching method.

The training is part of the incentive package given by PLDT and Smart to the Synergeia seal recipients, who have been recognized for their outstanding efforts in delivering basic education.

Each package, worth up to P1.5 million, is customized based on the local government unit’s respective circumstances and needs.

Among the incentives are the installation and maintenance of Wi-Fi

Representatives of the cities and municipalities that received the Synergeia Foundation’s Seal of Good Education Governance smile after one of the sessions in their two-day personal development training from PLDT and Smart Communications.

hotspots in public areas and the Smart bile devices, curriculum-based educaSchool-in-a-Bag for LGUs in remote tional content, teacher training, moniareas. This contains a solar panel to toring, and evaluation.

Established in 2002, Synergeia is a serve schools without electricity, mo-

coalition of individuals and organizations working closely with about 400 LGUs to improve the delivery of basic education to Filipino children.

Lady Legislators, DILG, NCWP team up for Asean women’s confab

Signing the agreement for the Asean+2 Conference for Women Leaders to be held in Manila in March are 4L president and Masbate Vice Gov. Kaye Revil (seated, second from left), DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero (center) and NCWP board member Dr. Amelou Benitez-Reyes (right).

ThE Lady Local Legislators League (4L) of the Philippines, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the National Council of Women in the Philippines recently signed a tripartite memorandum of agreement on the nationwide advocacy for women.

Under the MOA, the DILG will encourage participation of women legislators across the country to take part in the Asean+2 Conference for Women Leaders to be held in Manila from March 21 to 23.

The three-day conference will gather all women groups and affiliates in Asean member countries in government service, private sector and non-government organizations. The meeting will also launch awards for women all over the country.

Signing the MOA were 4L president and Masbate Vice Governor Kaye Revil, DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero, and NCWP board member Dr. Amelou Benitez-Reyes.

Life

bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLife

culture and media

friday, february 23, 2018

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Caisa Borromeo as Margaret Leavitt

‘Silent Sky’ on REP stage RElIvE the story of 20 th century astronomer who mapped the stars, as Repertory of the Philippines stages the science biodrama play Silent Sky from March 2 to 25 at the Onstage Theater in Greenbelt 1, Makati City.

Playwright lauren Gunderson’s Silent Sky is based on the true story of Henrietta Swan leavitt who, together with a group of female scientists, was working as a “computer” (data entry clerk) at Harvard Observatory College. Despite women being forbidden from using the observatory’s telescope, this brilliant but unsung pioneer made astonishing discoveries as she mapped the distance between the stars, the earth, and other galaxies.

As a result, leavitt paved the way for other known astronomers like Edwin Hubble (the man said to have discovered the cosmos) to succeed in their own research.

Cathy Azanza plays the lead role of Henrietta leavitt. She is joined by Caisa Borromeo as Margaret leavitt, Naths Everette as Williamina Fleming, Shiela Francisco as Annie Cannon, and Topper Fabregas as Peter Shaw.

Silent Sky is directed by REP artistic director Joy virata.

For tickets and inquiries, call REP at (02) 843-3570 or Ticketworld at (02) 891-9999, or log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph.

Cathy Azanza plays Henrietta Leavitt

Animahenasyon 2017's Grand Prize winners, Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc., and Game Developers Association of the Philippines Board of Directors with DOST-ICT executive director Mon Ibrahim

Festival promotes

Filipino animators

T

HE Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc., in partnership with the Game Development Association of the Philippines, recently held “Animahenasyon 11:2017 Philippine Animation Festival” at the Samsung Hall in SM Aura Premier.

A joint project of ACPI and SM, the festival aims to promote the country’s animation industry and to showcase the exceptional talents of professional, as well as young and aspiring Filipino animators both locally and internationally.

Several professional and up-and-coming Filipino animators from different universities and colleges around the country that offer animal and digital art courses participated in the competition. Among the participating schools were the University of Makati, and De la Salle-College of St. Benilde, Asia Pacific College, and De la Salle University.

The best of the best were cited during the festival’s awards night.

“Playground Beyond” by Paolo Joaquin of Go Motion Productions category and “Diskarte” by Jose Agustin Crisostomo and Michelle Cervantes of Benilde, won the Grand Prize in the professional and student categories, respectively. Cinema’s “Cine Tala” by the Nick Deocampo Center for New Cinema was honored with a Special Jury Award and Best in Production Design in professional category; while Gehashi Hino’s two-dimensional traditional handdrawn animation, “Half Past Nine” won the John Martin Award.

Meanwhile, the Best Animation Made for Children Award was given to Mc Marvin Daisog of University of Makati for his short film, “Daisy.”

Jovanni Tinapay’s “Sierra Madre” was truly a standout, receiving many awards during the evening: Best in Narrative and Best Regional Entry in student category, and Hero Tv’s Choice Award.

The Best in Production and Audience Choice Award was given to “2:55” by victorino Sarmiento and Mark Ryan Casuyon from University of Makati; while “UNOS” by John Arthur Mercader and “Holy Dung” by vaughnbryner Tan won the Best in Technical.

Game animators, on the other hand, were honored by GDAP. In the student division, the College of St. Benilde won big: Best Mobile Game for War Tactics AR, Best Screenplay to Responsum, Best Game Art for Santelmo, Best Narrative and Public

Choice Award for Tear of the Forrest, Best Innovation for Morpheus, and Game of the Year for Into the Light. Not to be outdone, students from University of St. la Salle Ba-

A 19th century heavily-carved oak hunting buffet with display shelf from France

Unique pieces up for auction at Harringtons Sierra Madre bagged three awards

Holy Dung won the Best in Technical award

HARRINGTONS lifestyle Auction, an auction event for unique furniture and vintage collectibles, will put close to 300 lots under the hammer during “Uncover the Unique” on Feb. 24.

“We chose this title because there are a lot of unique pieces that will be part of this auction. [We have] sourced items from different parts of the world and brought [them] to the Philippines so that we can offer something unique to our bidders,” said general manager Cila Chua.

Among the items that will be auctioned off are a n

Abstract, a metal sculpture by Arturo Luz furnished in rose gold Squeaky Wheel's Academia won The Game of the Year and Best Educational Game awards

Topper Fabregas as Peter Shaw

Naths Everette portrays Williamina Fleming

colod won the Best Educational Game for Skip Trash.

In the professional division, The Game of the Year and Best Educa-tional Game was awarded to Squeaky Wheel in Academia: School Simulator.

Simulator The Best Mobile Game, Best GameGame play, and Best Game Art was given to Mayari by Ingenuity Games while Yangyang Mobile’s The Letter won the Best Narrative.

Yangyang Mobile's The Letter game won the Best Narrative award

illustration titled “Mangaawit” by Manny Garibay and an Abstract metal rose gold sculpture by National Artist Arturo luz.

Other sought-after local artists that will be featured in the auction are National Artist vicente Manansala, Onib Olmedo, Cesar Buenaventura, and Rene Robles to name a few.

To join a Harringtons auction, bidders may fill up a registration form or call the Harringtons Showroom for further arrangements. For the latter, bidders will be given a registration form, which will be sent through e-mail if the bidder will not be able to visit the showroom. Harringtons also accepts absentee biddings and phone biddings as per request of the bidders. Bidders are expected to pay a P5,000 refundable bidders deposit, which can be either refunded or may be deducted from their payable.

Winning bidders can claim their items at the Harringtons Showroom after payment has been settled within seven days. Harringtons also accepts consignments from local and international consignors.

The Harringtons Showroom is located inside the HMR Compound at Km 21 East Service Road, South Super Highway Sucat, Muntinlupa City. To know more about Harringtons, call (02) 548-6986 or visit hmr. ph or follow Harringtons Lifestyle Auction and Showroom on Facebook.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2018 Nickie Wang, Issue Editor

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Vice Ganda attempts to reconcile Maymay and Kisses fandoms VICE Ganda did well what other TV hosts or even popular idols failed to do.

In his top rating show, Gandang Gabi Vice , he had Kisses Delavin and Maymay Entrata as main guests.

Since these two young artists’ days at the PBB House, they developed good friendship and sisterhood that even at the outside world and them being successful in their individual careers, nothing breaks that tie.

But their fans and supporters are selfish. Some of them want to break and put trouble to their relationship and wish them to be foes.

When one group bashes, the other one responds and so on.

And since Vice had similar experience within his own groups of supporters, he did what he thought could give light to these young stars’ supporters.

He made an appeal to these young people whom he called “feeling too entitled,” not to be too knowledgeable on their idols’ whereabouts and even on their private lives. Aptly he said, “You should put a boundary to your being supporters. If you love them, you won’t give them any reason not to befriend you or also love you back.”

“Don’t feel too entitled because you exert money and effort to supporting us in general. It should be a two-way thing. The social media is already full of trolls, don’t be with them. Set a difference and live to the core of real adulation and patronage,” adds Vice Ganda, as he calls some representatives of these fan clubs.

To which both Maymay and Kisses end, “Let’s live a happier life. We are true friends in the real sense of the word. If you can’t agree on things that we do, just let them pass. At the end of the day, we vow not to get affected by those ugly bashing and namecalling. And we wish, sana the day won’t come when we choose our friendship over those who want us to be enemies. And to those who understand us and continue to love us, we thank you and we promise to always be with you.” *** How true that the famous doctor of celebrities when it comes to beauty enhancement and being sexy, that is Dr. Vicky Belo is

into “loyalty check” nowadays?

Since the controversy on the reported no BFAD permits to some of Belo’s beauty products, particularly in that branch in the South, rumors are spreading that Dra. Belo wants to see how her showbiz friends would support her.

According to our “ambusher” source, the famous doctor now monitors the showbiz artists and celebrities who either act as her endorsers or regular Belo baby/ patron.

Said our source, “Ang chika, lagi itong nanunuod ng mga live shows.

May mga regular kasi siyang on board clients/endorsers na dapat ay ina-acknowledge siya o kahit mention lang ng name niya. At sa gitna ng controversy ngayon na lagi siyang nasa news na hindi maganda. She is checking kung consistent pa rin sa pagsuporta at pagpapalutang na bonggang bongga pa rin at Belo pa rin ang beauty doctor ng mga stars.”

Hmmm...would this answer some loyal ABS-CBN live shows’ viewers if Dra. Belo is an advertiser of those shows or simply too popular among celebrities as most of them seem to be obliging themselves to “acknowledge” her? *** I’m thanking Dr. Jerome Laceda, President of Marikina Doctors Hospital and Medical Center and my internist, for being too attentive and nice during my three nights and two days confinement at the hospital due to bronchitis, acid reflux and over fatigue. My son Neeyong was also admitted in the same hospital (but on longer dates) due to pneumonia.

His attending physician-pedia Dra. Rosario Manuel Lu is likewise very accommodating and nice to my son. All of its staff members, nurses or resident doctors and even their technical people treated us like king and prince. But don’t get us wrong, we are a paying customer though our health cards and my Philhealth membership made our bills very affordable. It’s the way we were treated and taken care of, that we wish to thank Dr. Laceda and company! Ciao!

Please follow me on Twitter @ambetnabus, Instagram ambetnabus and in CHISMAX every Sunday on DZMM Teleradyo (7:00 to 8:00 p.m.) with my partner Gretchen Fullido.

Characters in ‘The Innocent,’ Netflix’s new 8-part series, are thrown into an extraordinary journey of self-discovery that derails their innocent dreams.

Cast of supernatural teen series

‘THE INNOCENTS’ REVEALED S

TREAMING service Netflix has announced the production of its new series The Innocents along with the cast in a sneak peak teaser.

Sorcha Groundsell, 19, scores a leading role in Netflix’s latest supernatural teen drama.

In the upcoming British supernatural drama, teenagers Harry and June run away from their repressive family lives to be together then are thrown into an extraordinary journey of self-discovery that derails their innocent dream. Secrets kept from them by their respective parents test their love to breaking point; and the extraordinary gift they possess unleashes powerful forces intent on dividing them forever.

The series stars Sorcha Groundsell (Clique, Iona, Sleeping Lions) as June, Percelle Ascott (Wizard vs. Aliens, The Weekend Movie) as Harry and Guy Pearce (L.A. Confidential, Memento, The King’s Speech) as Halvorson.

The Innocents is produced by UK-based New Pictures, led by Charlie Pattinson, Elaine Pyke and Willow Grylls. The series is created by Hania Elkington and Simon Duric. Chris Croucher serves as producer.

Farren Blackburn is executive producer of the series (alongside Charlie Pattinson, Elaine Pyke and Willow Grylls) and director of 6 of the 8 episodes.

Plot thickens in ‘Asintado’

BOSOM BUDDIES. Kisses Delavin (left) and Maymay Entrata remain good friends amid their warring fandoms.

FATE made its way to reunite estranged lovers Ana (Julia Montes) and Gael (Paulo Avelino) when he found out in an unexpected encounter that his exgirlfriend is still alive in the Kapamilya afternoon series, Asintado.

Ana’s plans of revenge almost got botched as she crossed paths with the love of her life Gael, who is now married to Samantha (Shaina Magdayao), after attending a masquerade party to expose the vicious deeds of the del Mundos.

Despite Ana wearing a mask, Gael still recognized her and forced her to talk to him about their past, causing a commotion in the event. However, just as her identity was about to get exposed to everyone, Xander (Aljur Abrenica) came to the rescue and introduced himself as Ana’s husband.

This marks the start of a new chapter in the lives of the former lovers, who are moving on as enemies who are both determined to take each other down.

What will happen now that Gael knows Ana is still alive? Will their love for each other prevail in the end? Find out in Asintado on ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167).

Paulo Avelino and Julia Montes in the latest episode of ‘Asintado.’

Motoring

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2018

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Centro C-Van:

Logistics industry gets a boost

A

RECENT study by transport industry analysts shows that the logistics industry in the Philippines is expected to generate an annual growth rate of 10 to 16 percent from 2013 to 2020.

launches diesel system cleaner

Analysts believe that the domestic contract logistics market will expand from 478M Euro (Php 30.8 Billion) in 2013 to 1,412M Euro (Php 90.9 Billion) by 2020.

This upward swing will represent a compounded annual growth rate of 16.7 percent over the said period.

The Philippines may be dubbed as the rising tiger of Asia in the logistics sector, ranking 71st among 160 countries worldwide. In the ASEAN region, Malaysia is at 32, Thailand at 46, Indonesia at 63 and Vietnam at 64.

“We need to play catch up because we are far from our full potential”, says Jerryme Garcia, CFO of truck body builder Centro Manufacturing Corporation. “And to support the country’s rapid growth in logistics, Centro has introduced the C-Van”.

He explains that the C-Van is Centro’s top of the line aluminum logistics van with double stainless steel lock rods, stainless hinges, aluminum claddings and more durable components such as checkered plate flooring, EPDM door rubber seals, marine plywood interior panels and LED lights. “With these features, it is expected to last longer. Thus, our C-Van is becoming more and more popular among logistics companies who are now increasingly looking for higher value for money and giving more importance to quality and durability”.

The World Bank says that the Philippine economy grew by 6.7 percent last year, making it the 10th fastest growing economy in the world. The growth can be partially attributed to President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to increase the infrastructure-to-GDP ratio to 7.4 percent, which will usher the golden age in infrastructure. It has also benefitted from a stable macroeconomic environment of low inflation and low debtto-GDP ratio.

“With the expected improvement in infrastructure, the logistics industry is also predicted to take advantage of the demand for bringing raw materials, finished goods, various other products and even passengers to markets faster and easier across the archipelago than ever before. Naturally, this serves to stimulate Philippine growth further and Centro will be there to support it with the C-Vans of various sizes and other required vehicle solutions”, Garcia said.

Chevron launches Techron diesel system cleaner DIESEL car, van and SUV owners can now clean and keep their diesel injectors working like brand new with the new Techron D Concentrate, ultra-highperformance diesel fuel system cleaner.

Launched by Chevron Philippines Inc., marketer of Caltex brand of fuels and lubricants, Techro D Concentrate is a premium diesel fuel additive that deep cleans in one tankful. It cleans diesel injector deposits across a range of injector technologies and comes with Cetane Improver.

One 16-oz. bottle of Techron D Concentrate treats up to 80 liters of diesel fuel every 5,000 km. Users will quickly restore lost engine power; improve engine responsiveness, drivability and engine noise reduction; maximize fuel economy and remove carbon deposits in the entire fuel system. It also has cetane boost that improves cold starting and combustion, and reduces emissions.

Techron D Concentrate is effective in older engines and the latest common rail diesel engines. It can be used with all types of diesel fuel including ultra-low sulfur diesel, bio diesel and bio diesel blends.

Techron D Concentrate will not harm after treatment devices such as diesel

fuel and particulate filters.

Each time owners drive their diesel vehicle; carbon deposits can build up in the fuel system and suppress the engine’s performance. These deposits are found on the exterior tips of the injector, which affects the spray pattern of the fuel into the cylinder; and inside the nozzle spray channels which reduces the flow of fuel.

Diesel vehicle owners who experience loss of power, increased fuel consumption and higher emissions may have inefficient fuel delivery because of deposits in the fuel injection system.

Techron’s Precision CleanTM Technology targets and removes stubborn deposits from the darkest corners of the engine’s fuel system. Its unique formula bonds with and breaks apart carbon leftovers such as harmful nozzle deposits, internal diesel injector deposits (IDID), indirect injection (IDI) and high speed direct injection injectors.

In tests, Techron D Concentrate restored injectors that had only 20% flow remaining to 99% flow. The additive is also effective at removing internal diesel injector deposits, as shown in engine testing and collaborative work with OEMs.

Phoenix upgrades fuels INDEPENDENT oil company Phoenix Petroleum has launched its upgraded fuels powered with Phoenix PULSE Technology.

Available in all its fuel products, Phoenix PULSE Technology is an innovative formulation with advanced cleaning and protection properties for enhanced power and acceleration. It is made with cutting-edge fuel technology by world-class fuel experts, exclusively for homegrown brand, Phoenix Petroleum.

Phoenix PULSE Technology was launched in time for Valentine’s Day as it aims to bring pulse-racing excitement to Filipino drivers by giving more life to their everyday drive.

The upgraded fuel products promise three main benefits. It avoids fuel filter blockage in diesel-powered vehicles, removes deposits from fuel injectors, valves, and piston surfaces, and provides engine protection. Phoenix PULSE Technology also helps result to better fuel economy when used continuously.

“The launch of Phoenix PULSE Technology is in fulfillment of our goal to be the most credible alternative to the major brands. We enhanced our fuel products and improved our formulation not only to be able to compete with bigger players in the oil industry, but more importantly, to add value to every peso fueled up at Phoenix,” said Phoenix Petroleum Chief Operating Officer Henry Fadullon.

Young actress Rhian Ramos is the face of Phoenix PULSE Technology―an apt choice as Rhian represents adventure and high-energy sports such as car racing. “Phoenix Petroleum’s PULSE Technology-powered fuel is the perfect fit for me as I’m always on the go. I like adventure and living life with excitement and to the fullest, which is why I recommend Phoenix to every millennial who, like me, likes to get more for what they pay for,” said Rhian.

In just 15 years, Phoenix Petroleum has grown from five stations in Mindanao to 530 nationwide, establishing its reputation as the fastest-growing oil company in the Philippines. Just last year, the company broadened its portfolio to include LPG with the acquisition of Petronas Energy Philippines, Inc., now Phoenix LPG Philippines, Inc., and convenience retailing with the purchase of Philippine Family Mart. It will soon venture into the bitumen business.

“As a homegrown brand, we aim to be the Filipinos’ top choice not only for their fuel needs, but also for fueling their dreams and aspirations.

We work hard and continue to grow our business not only so we can bring our vision of being an indispensable partner to life, but also because as the next generation company, we want to provide this generation with the best products and services at the best value,” said Phoenix Petroleum President and CEO Dennis Uy. Phoenix PULSE Technology is available in all Phoenix stations in all fuel grades. These next generation fuels are suitable for Filipino drivers looking for a connection unlike any other. Drive to the nearest Phoenix Petroleum station now to experience Phoenix PULSE Technology.

Actress and car racing enthusiast Rhian Ramos: The face of Phoenix Pulse Technology

Hyundai kicks off 2018 with modest growth “JANUARY’S performance provides a jumpstart to 2018. Though faced with a tougher business landscape, we expect this year to bring us on higher grounds as we continue to level up our commitment in providing the best products and services to our customers.”

- Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo, HARI President and CEO Performance and Drivers Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines, started 2018 with a modest 3% growth from 2,817 units sold in January 2017 to 2,903 units in the same month of 2018. The Korean brand’s performance can be considered quite a feat considering it is the initial month since automotive taxes

have been restructured.

The Passenger Cars (PC) segment had 2,036 units sold for January. While Accent and Eon still uphold the largest share of HARI’s PC segment, Elantra substantially grew by 113% with unit sales of 219 this January from 103 units sold last January 2017. The PC segment is HARI’s top segment with 70% contribution to HARI’s sales this January 2018. Meanwhile, Light Commercial Vehicles segment drove the growth for HARI’s January sales. It recorded 867 units from 594 units sold last year of the same month – this is a substantial growth of 46%. Grand Starex is the top-selling brand for the LCV segment, which also grew at a record-high of 184% this January with 329 units sold. Moreover, Tucson and

Grand Santa Fe are also upbeat with its sales growth of 104% and 279% respectively.

Sales and Economic Outlook The economy continues to grow with government spending as the primary growth driver due to its infrastructure drive. The improvement on highways and structures opens more opportunities for the automotive industry. Moreover, opportunities also arise from the the increased Disposable Income of individuals brought by the recently implemented tax reform. Strong consumption and growing economy positively affect the industry in general. This progress is an opportunity that HARI seizes to further grow its business and continue getting good numbers for the year.

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2018

Motoring

Honda issues safety recall H

ONDA Cars Philippines, Inc. will voluntarily replace Takata passenger front airbag inflators of 10,461 vehicles of 2013 model of City, Jazz and Pilot sold in the Philippines from 2012 to 2015 as part of Honda’s precautionary global recall campaign concerning Takata front airbag inflators.

Affected Vehicles City: 8,520 Jazz : 1,769 Pilot: 172 The campaign is Honda’s proactive effort to continuously ensure safety of the owners in order to avoid any unfortunate circumstance in the future, a company statement said. The affected Takata airbag inflators might deploy with excessive internal pressure when activated. In such case, the inflator casing might rupture, which could cause serious injury or death in the worst case to vehicle occupants, it said.

HCPI President and General Manager, Noriyuki Takakura, urged Honda customers to take action and have their vehicles checked right away. “Safety is always Honda’s top priority and we urge the affected customers to have their vehicles checked at any of Honda Car dealerships, as soon as possible.”

Replacement of parts for this voluntary recall is FREE OF CHARGE and will take about one (1) hour in any of the 37 authorized Honda Car dealerships and three (3) authorized service outlets nationwide.

Customers can check if their Honda vehicle is affected through the recall webpage at hondaphil. com/services/vin-search.

The website has a Chassis Number / Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Check Tool to enable customers to validate if their vehicle is included in the recall.

The 17-digit Chassis Number or VIN can be found on the Certificate of Registration (CR).

Customers can also call the dedicated Honda hotline numbers at 1-800-1000-HONDA (46632) or (02) 857-7240 between 8am and 5pm from Monday to Friday. MS

Another banner year for Mitsubishi

PIAA is Gazoo Racing partner AFTER a successful run last year at the World Rallye Championship, Toyota Gazoo Racing, renewed their contract with PIAA to be its official lighting partner for this year.

Backed up with research and development gained from motorsports campaigns such as being the official lighting system of Team Mitsubishi Ralliart; Team ADVAN-Tein Subaru, Nakajima-Epson Racing and a domineering presence in the Paris-Dakar and Japan Super GT, PIAA upholds the knowledge gained by combining market driven concepts with the latest technology to make night, inclement weather, and off-road driving as safe as possible. PIAA technicians continually raise the bar on visibility products whose lamps take their styling and lighting performance cues from the popular PIAA 1100x lamps, which have been a staple of the PIAA line up for years.

Aldrich Sacdalan of PIAA Ph explains that PIAA developed the LED driving and fog lamps as a quality alternative for those

vehicle owners who are attracted to the visual appearance and low-heat attributes of LED lighting. Sacdalan says, “With the introduction of PIAA 1100LED driving lamps, we’re now offering vehicle owners the convenient choice of outfitting their vehicles with high-quality LED lamps, because the PIAA bulbs and fog lamps fit into the exact on OEM bumpers or custom brackets,” PIAA has always been committed to providing quality products that drive customer satisfaction with their line of LED headlights and fog lamps. A special beam “cutline” is what differentiates PIAA technology from the competition. The beam of light is clear; and a directional frontal burst is engineered to not inconvenience oncoming motorists.

Illuminate your driving lifestyle with PIAA at these dealers: Autoplus EDSA, Atoy Bodykits in West Avenue Q.C., BLADE, CKT Autoshop in San Juan, Roadstar BGC and at 199 Offroad House.

THE past year has been another banner season for Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation as it sold a total volume of 73,590 units – its highest annual sales volume in its history.

This record-breaking sales reflected a remarkable growth of 19.9% compared to its 2016 sales of 61,400 units, Mitsubishi Motors said in its assessment update.

This is also MMPC’s 11th consecutive year of sales growth pulled up to some extent by its trucks and buses division, which chalked up a whopping 34.8 percent in sales growth.

The whole automotive industry, in fact, enjoyed a buoyant 2017 as the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) & Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) also recorded a significant growth of 18.4% with its 425,673 units.

Given this industry figures, MMPC said it remained to be the second bestselling brand in the local automotive market with its 17.3% market share (CAMPI & TMA’s total sales volume).

MMPC’s continuous sales growth can be attributed to the steady growth of Passenger Car (PCar) segment and significant increase on the demand for Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) and Truck & Bus (T&B) segments. PCar segment recorded a modest growth of 0.6% compared to 2016 after selling 20,690 units. Last year, MMPC commenced the local production of the Mirage models which improved the overall supply of these models thus improving it sales as well. Another driver for the improved sales in 2017 was the

advanced purchases generated by the new excise tax which prompted the customers to purchase vehicles before the end of the year. This worked for the LCV segment of MMPC as it posted a remarkable improvement of 29.3% with its total volume of 50,311 units in 2017. Meanwhile, the T&B segment also exhibited notable growth of 34.8% with 2,589 units sold which is attributable to more companies that are now investing on brand new trucks to cater to their business requirements.

MMPC said it was optimistic and continued to aim still for double digit growth and higher market share in 2018, in spite of the very modest to minimal growth for industry demand brought about by the impact of new excise tax implemented at the start of the year.

Despite the challenges that the whole automotive industry may face this year and the obstacles that might come along the way, MMPC is keeping a cautiously optimistic outlook. Froilan Dytianquin, MMPC First Vice President for Vehicle Sales and Marketing said that the company is looking forward that the much awaited introduction of the all-new XPANDER this year will help boost MMPC’s sales and attain its target sales.

“Apart from the new model, MMPC will also make the best out of our current model line-up by providing upgrades”, Dytianquin added. Along with its expanding line-up, customer satisfaction will remain to be MMPC’s overall commitment for this market to achieve continuous growth and success, he said. MS Motoring