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UN lists rapporteurs to probe rights abuses

10 Aegis frat men indicted

MALACAÑANG on Thursday welcomed the United Nations’ offer to provide the Philippines a list of special rapporteurs that will probe the government’s war Next page VOL. XXXII • NO. 26 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice has approved the indictment of 10 members of Aegis Juris Fraternity, in connection with the death of University of Santo Tomas law freshman Horacio “Atio” Castillo III from hazing last September.

In a 46-page resolution, the DoJ prosecutors led by Assistant State Prosecutor Susan Villanueva found probable cause to indict Arvin Balag (Grand Prefectus), Ralph Trangia (Sgt. at arms), Oliver John Audrey Onofre (treasurer), Mhin Wei Chan (Secundus Internus), Axel Munro Hipe (Master initiator), Danielle Next page

Enrile joins House panel of prosecutors PROBABLE CAUSE. The 38 members of the House Justice Committee stand up Thursday to vote yes on the existence of a probable cause—as against two—in the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. Quezon City Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte and Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-Ao (seated foreground) said there was no probable cause to impeach the 57-year-old appointee of then President Benigno Aquino III. Ver Noveno

House votes vs Sereno

Justice panel finds ‘probable cause’ for impeachment trial

‘‘

I’m sorry that the chief justice has taken this opportunity to discuss a matter that is sub judice. We have given her all the courtesy and I sincerely hope that she should not have dealt with a matter that is pending with the court.

—Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, publicly slamming Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno for discussing her impeachment case during the annual convention of the Philippine Women Judges Association

Amazon to prevent Alexa from cackling AMAZON on Wednesday promised to keep virtual assistant Alexa from spontaneously cackling, giving people eerie feelings about what the artificial intelligence might be plotting.

Users of smart speakers with Alexa assistant software have comically expressed their fears in recent weeks on Twitter, even posting video snippets of speakers infused with the software laughing menacingly afor no apparent reason.

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By Maricel V. Cruz and Vito Barcelo

C

HIEF Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno vowed to fight “bullying” and save judicial independence as President Rodrigo Duterte’s congressional allies found probable cause Thursday to send her to an impeachment trial before the Senate.

Voting 38-2, the House of Representatives justice committee said there was probable cause to impeach Sereno, in a move critics allege is part of wider efforts

by Duterte to destroy foes and usher in one-man rule.

An impeachment trial in the Senate will follow if the House adopts the committee report, focusing on allegations Sereno failed to pay about P2 million in taxes.

“All kinds of lies, threats, harassment and bullying have been thrown my way but I will not yield,” Sereno, the country’s first female chief justice, said at an International Women’s Day event in Manila.

“I am fighting for our future as a freedom-loving nation,” the 57-year-old said, framing the case against her as an issue of “judicial independence.”

BANDUNG, Indonesia—Indonesia can now add a smoking orangutan to its roster of nicotine addicts.

A video taken on Sunday shows the beast picking up a cigarette butt that was flicked into its zoo enclosure by a visitor and then puffing away on it like a pro.

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Aside from the impeachment case, the government’s chief lawyer on Monday asked the Supreme Court itself to oust its chief justice, citing her alleged failure to disclose assets as required of candidates for her post.

Justice committee chairman Rep. Reynaldo Umali said his panel will ask the House, dominated by Duterte allies, next week to send the case to the Senate for trial.

The committee also accused Sereno of falsifying and tampering with court resolutions, excessive spending by buying a luxury official vehicle, staying in “opulent” hotels and flying business class.

Duterte and Sereno first crossed swords in 2016 when the newly elected President demanded that judges he linked to the illegal

BESIDE EACH OTHER. Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno (right) stand next to Associate Justice Teresita de Castro during the annual convention of the country’s judges in Manila on Thursday. Sereno vowed to fight ‘bullying’ and save judicial independence as President Rodrigo Duterte’s congressional allies launched an Next page impeachment process on the same day to remove her from office. AFP

‘Du30 package’ seen leading to CPP-NPA collapse

By Vito Barcelo

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Durerte predicted that the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army will soon collapse as hundreds of communist rebels and sympathizers are giving up their arms in exchange for a better life and integration into the society.

The President said that with more rebels surrendering, he hopes that the Armed Forces can quash the rebel group soon.

“We are trying to really go out and just

PERSISTING POVERTY.

Smoking orangutan a nicotine addict

FORMER Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile, who served as the presiding judge in the impeachment trial of the late Chief Justice Renato Corona, will join the House prosecution panel if Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno goes on trial before the Senate, Manila Standard learned Thursday.

The prosecution team, which will include House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas and House justice committee chairman Rep. Reynaldo Umali, is expected to benefit from Enrile’s experience as an impeachment judge and his knowledge of the law and court procedure.

Also on Thursday, Vice President Leni Robredo assailed the attempt to remove Sereno through a quo warranto petition before the Supreme Court as unconstitutional.

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Members of the Metro Manila chapter of the women’s group Gabriela march in front of the Department of Labor building in the capital Thursday during International Women’s Day to decry what they claim is persisting poverty, mass killings and violence against women under the Duterte administration.

Norman Cruz

embrace them as brothers… If they [the NPA] become decimated by the number of surrenderees, maybe the Armed Forces can finish them off next year,” Duterte said in a meeting with the local chief executives of Luzon at the Royce Hotel in Pampanga.

The military said more than 2,000 NPA fighters, militia members and mass supporters have given up this year alone.

The President lauded the joint efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and the local

government units for the increasing number of surrendering rebels.

Dutere said surrendering rebels are given livelihood opportunities and housing units.

“We are about to complete many—in Davao City we will have 1,000; in Tagum about 700. Then Surigao and in Zamboanga. Here in Bulacan we have also completed many units,” he said in Filipino.

“It’s a matter of how to talk to them sincerely and if they want to surrender, Next page

Chief Justice, De Castro lock horns at forum

By Rey E. Requejo CHIEF Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno crossed swords with Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro Thursday in a public forum for women judges.

In a speech before the annual convention of the Philippine Women Judges Association, Sereno scored her critics for resorting to “gossiping and innuendos” in their efforts to oust her as top magistrate, but vowed to fight until the end.

After the speech De Castro quickly approached the podium and slammed Sereno for tackling her impeachment case at the forum.

De Castro cited the sub judice rule, which prohibits members of the Court as well as lawyers from discussing merits of a pending case before any public venue.

“I’m sorry that the chief justice has taken this opportunity to discuss a matter that is sub judice. We have given her all the courtesy and I sincerely hope that she should not have dealt with a matter that is pending with the court,” she said.

The comment from De Castro, president of the PWJA, silenced the venue.

Justices were surprised by Sereno’s speech because organizers had asked her not to tackle the impeachment case Next page

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FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘It’s up to Comele to probe fraud’ P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will leave it to the Commission on Elections and the Senate to probe the alleged fraud in the 2016 national elections, his spokesman said Wednesday.

“The President has allowed the Comelec to investigate and we’ll see from there if there are indeed election violations that took place,” Harry Roque told reporters in Palawan.

“I hope the Comelec will investigate this and the Senate can also conduct its own investigation.”

Roque made his statement even as Senator Nancy Binay on Thursday appealed to Malacañang to fill the three vacancies in the Commission on Elections to ensure smooth preparations for the May 14 barangay and Sangguniang

Kabataan elections.

“The barangay elections have been postponed several times, and our office have been receiving doubts that the barangay election will push through with the vacancies in the Comelec,” Binay said.

Roque made this statement after Senator Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday urged the Senate to conduct a probe into the country’s automated election system.

In a privilege speech, Sotto said a “concerned and impeccably reliable source” handed him confidential infor-

mation regarding the irregularities that took place in May 2016 that allegedly altered the results.

“If we don’t do anything to clear the doubts as to the legitimacy of the previous election, then we put at risk the accuracy of the 2019 elections,” Sotto said.

He asked the Senate to subpoena the Comelec and automated election provider Smartmatic to shed light on the issue.

Roque, however, said he would ask Duterte if he intended to ask the investigative branches of the government to conduct their own investigations into the issue. ”Let’s just let them investigate and we’ll see if the President will order the investigative branches of the government to conduct their own probes,)”

Roque said.

“But at present it is within the exclusive jurisdiction of the law department of the Comelec to conduct a preliminary investigation.”

Previously, the camp of losing vice presidential candidate and former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the fraud in the counting of the votes allowed his rival Leni Robredo to win the vice presidency.

Former Metro Manila Development Authority chairman and now Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino also cried fraud against former Justice secretary and now detained Senator Leila de Lima.

Tolentino placed 13th in the senatorial race behind De Lima. PNA, with Macon Ramos-Araneta

I’ll open my bank accounts to probers, not to Trillanes’ PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday he was willing to open his bank accounts to the members of the anti-corruption body but not to opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. Trillanes, one of Duterte’s staunchest critics, claims that he amassed more than ₱200 million in ill-gotten wealth, but Duterte denied him and said his bank account would not hold more than P40 million “You want to know my bank accounts? I’ll give them to you right now. I am not kidding; just write me,” Duterte told the members of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission at their oathtaking in Malacañang.

He challenged the people with connections to the central bank to open his bank accounts and promised he would not hold it against them.

“I will give you the authority, [but] I assure you that you will not get anything. If it [the money] exceeds ₱40 million, that includes my inheritance,” Duterte said.

But he said he would give the details of his bank accounts to his political enemies.

“They can go to hell,” he said.

The PACC is led by Dante Jimenez, who was appointed by Duterte in January. Vito Barcelo

Enrile...

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“The quo warranto [petition] is outside the Constitution. Under the law, any impeachable officials can only be removed through an impeachment,” she said at a women’s symposium at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City Thursday.

Robredo said the impeachment process should be allowed to take its course instead and decide on Sereno’s fate.

“If [Congress] elevates the impeachment to the Senate, we should wait for the proceedings there since all of us would want the truth to come out,” she said.

Despite the constitutional objections raised about the quo warranto petition, legal experts agreed that the Supreme Court will have the final say on Sereno’s fate.

“The Court is the final arbiter of the Constitution, they have the final say.

You might want to disagree with the Supreme Court but they have the final say,” said former solicitor general Florin Hilbay on ANC’s Headstart.

Rio N. Araja

UN...

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on drugs in which thousands were said to have been killed―but not Agnes Callamard.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the Philippines welcomed any investigation provided the UN sent a “credible, objective and unbiased” rapporteur who was also “an authority in the field that they seek

By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to arrest any local official who will not cooperate in the government’s efforts to clean up Boracay island, a tourist resort famous worldwide.

He made the warning in his speech at the 145th founding anniversary of Tarlac and the Second Kanlungan ng Lahi or KanLAHI festival late on Wednesday.

He cited the government’s right to intervene to promote public health, public interest and law and order. “[The] time will come when it [Boracay] is so polluted it can no longer be of use to the next generations,” Duterte said.

“It is in our interest to preserve its pristine state just like before.”

Duterte slammed the people operating resorts on the island who, he said, were nonchalant and uncooperative.

“You are responsible for the damage all these years, including some local officials,” Duterte said.

“And if you put up a fight then I’ll charge you for sedition, preventing government to do what is good for the Filipino people.

“I’m here to protect my country. I believe that if I stop this crusade, it would have compromised the country and the next generation because I did nothing.”

House...

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PRESIDENTS ALL. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte shares a light moment with former president and Incumbent Manila City Mayor Joseph Estrada, former president and Incumbent Pampanga Second District Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the sidelines of the meeting with local chief executives from Luzon at the Royce Hotel in Clark, Pampanga on March 7, 2018. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Ex-Defense chief, actor-director pass away FORTUNATO Abat, the former Defense secretary and Philippine Army commander, passed away on Wednesday night, the Department of National Defense announced Thursday. He was 93.

“The DND mourns the loss of former Defense secretary and Commanding General of the Philippine Army, Fortunato Abat. He passed away last night at 7 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center. We [thanked] him for his service to the nation,” Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said.

Abat was born on June 10, 1925 in San Juan, La Union. Before becoming Defense secretary, Abat served for exactly five years as the Commanding General of the Philippine Army from March 28, 1976 to March 28, 1981.

Starting as an enlisted man on April 15, 1944 during World War II, he received various medals and decorations for acts of conspicuous courage and gallantry in the conduct of the pacification campaign in Central Mindanao, and for distinguished service in various positions in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

After the war, Abat entered the Philippine Military Academy as a cadet in 1947 and graduated in 1951. He was part of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea and a veteran of the Korean Campaign.

He was first appointed as the Administrator of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, a DND-attached agency, after the EDSA Revolution in 1986. Later on, he was named Undersecretary during the

term of Defense Secretary Rafael Ileto.

He also served as Undersecretary during the term of then-Defense Secretary Fidel V. Ramos, but he left the DND and was designated Deputy Director General to Ileto, who later headed the National Security Council.

Also passing away Thursday was veteran actor and director Bernardo Bernardo, who was suffering from a lingering illness. He was 73.

Bernardo’s demise has left local celebrities in shock, with many of them expressing their grief on social media.

The news about Bernardo’s passing spread on Thursday morning when his niece, Susan Vecina Santos, revealed the actor’s death on his Facebook page.

Nickie Wang with PNA

Chief...

Sereno and De Castro have clashed before, with shouting matches during their sessions being reported in the media. In one instance, De Castro confronted Sereno in front of their colleagues and told her to “stop lying” in her dissenting opinions.

De Castro earlier testified in the impeachment proceedings against Sereno before the House justice committee.

In the hearings, she raised questions on validity of Sereno’s appointment due her failure to comply with the 10-year statement of assets, liabilities and net worth

requirement for the chief justice post.

De Castro believed that it was “great injustice” for other nominees for the chief justice post knowing that the one appointed by then President Benigno Aquino III was actually not qualified due to incomplete requirements.

She even suggested that the Judicial and Bar Council regular members could be held liable for violation of Republic Act 3019 or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for including Sereno in the shortlist for the Court vacancy.

they will have their own houses then we can give them money in the transition,” Duterte added.

Rebel returnees can also be trained by the Technical Education and Skills

Development Authority, Duterte said, noting that the country is in need of more skilled workers.

“There are construction [jobs] in Manila, Davao, and Cebu that have temporarily stopped because of the absence of skilled workers,” he said.

The Army, meanwhile, said it is open to settling the conflict with the NPA

peacefully.

“We are the forces on the ground.

We’re always interested in reaching a settlement,” said Army spokesman Lt. Col. Louie Villanueva.

“In the first place, it’s always us who are [on] the verge of conflict, we are the ones who are always affected by this conflict,” he added in Filipino. With PNA

to investigate,” but not Callamard.

He said Callamard, the UN’s Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, did not fit that description.

He said UN Secretary General António Guterres and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano had already had a communication over the matter.

“I have already withdrawn my plan to recommend a rapporteur to the President, and we are just awaiting the list of

possible names to be given by the UN Secretary General,” Roque said.

Human rights groups claim that more than 4,000 Filipinos have been killed by the police during the war on drugs, and possibly hundreds and thousands more by unidentified armed men.

Roque also responded to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein’s comment criticizing Duterte’s order to the police to ignore any human rights probe.

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in deference to the other justices present.

Also in the event were acting Chief Justice and Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr., Mariano Del Castillo, Samuel Martires, Noel Tijam, Diosdado Peralta and Estala Perlas Bernabe. Only Velasco applauded after Sereno’s speech.

‘Du30...

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This is not the first that a zoo orangutan has been caught sneaking a smoke From A1 in Indonesia, which has aan abysmal record of animal protection and one of The images of 22-year-old Bornean the world’s highest smoking rates. orangutan Ozon at the zoo in Bandung, In 2012, a great ape at another zoo became about 150 kilometers (93 miles) south- a nicotine addict after picking up butts, and east of Jakarta, promptly went viral. had to be forced to quit cold turkey. AFP

Smoking...

Boracay’s erring LGUs face arrest

11...

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Hans Matthew Rodrigo, Joshua Joriel Macabali, Marcelino Bagtang, Jose Miguel Salamat and Robin Ramos for violation of Republic Act 8049 or Anti-

drug trade hand themselves in to authorities as part of his crackdown on narcotics.

The chief justice rebuffed him, citing rule of law and separation of powers between the executive and judicial branches of government.

The antagonism between the two mirrors a similar relationship between Duterte’s predecessor, former President Benigno Aquino III and the sitting chief justice at the time, Renato Corona.

Sereno, who replaced Corona, said nothing to protest Aquino’s efforts to destroy his foes, including the jailing of his predecessor, former President Gloria Arroyo.

After Thursday’s vote, Umali’s panel created what House majority leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodoldo Fariñas called a “small working body” to prepare the committee report, including the Articles of Impeachment for approval by the committee March 14.

ABS Party-list Rep. Eugene Michael de Vera, a member of the minority bloc, moved for the panel to find probable cause in the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Larry Gadon.

Umali, in his opening statement, predicted a full-blown impeachment trial at the Senate.

“Sooner than later we will embark on a new chapter in the impeachment proceeding as prosecutors before the Senate as an impeachment court,” Umali said.

“Throughout the probable cause hearings, this committee has gathered sufficient evidence to provide us with the ammunition to prosecute this case toward victory,” he added.

Gadon accused Sereno of “culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, corruption, and other high crimes” for her alleged lapses, including the alleged untruthful declaration of her wealth in the Statement of Assets, and Liabilities and Net Worth.

The two lawmakers who voted against the finding of a probable cause were Reps. Jose Christopher Belmonte of Quezon City and Arlene Bag-ao of Dinagat Island. With PNA

“If Alexa is laughing at you to your face, just imagine what it says about you behind your back,” read a quip posted at Twitter by @mattblaze.

Darker posts wondered playfully whether fears about artificial intelligence turning on humans were coming real.

“Every time Alexa laughs, an angel dies,” entrepreneur and innovator Elon Musk joked in a Twitter exchange on the development.

Tesla co-founder Musk is among high profile figures who have called for vigilance to ensure artificial intelligence doesn’t turn on humans.

Amazon told AFP it looked into what was going on and found that sometimes Alexa mistakenly registers the phrase “Alexa laugh” and obeys. AFP

Hazing Law. The DoJ panel also dismissed all charges against respondents Nilo Divina and Arthur Capili in their capacities as the Dean and Faculty Secretary of University of Santo Tomas-Faculty of Civil for lack of evidence.

The panel recommended no bail for

all the accused.

In related developments: - UST Law dean Nilo Divina expressed elation over the dismissal of charges against him, saying “I am very happy and relieved to finally be cleared of any wrongdoing in the Atio Castillo hazing case.”

Amazon...

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News

‘143 village officials involved in drugs’

By Rio N. Araja AT LEAST 289 barangay officials are involved in illegal drug activity on the list of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said Thursday.

In a radio interview over dzMM, director general Aaron Aquino said out of the 289 narco-politicians, 143 of them are barangay executives, while 146 are barangay councilors.

“But the number could be more than that based on our own watch list, the so-called national drug information system,” he said.

Most of those involved are from Mindanao, he said.

He said 30 percent of the more than 42,000 barangays in the country do not have a barangay anti-drug abuse council.

While 70 percent of the 42,000 barangays have their own BADACs, many of them are “non-functional,” he told the interview, referring to the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council.

“Those from Mindanao have been saying they could not create the councils because their place was a war-torn area, and that there were chaos [everywhere], and had no peace and order,” he noted.

Citing a series of previous buy-bust operations in various places on different occasions, the PDEA chief said they uncovered the remittance of drug money through a commercial bank account of a business company.

“Our assessment here is that the drug activity is being run by a big-time narcopolitician in Mindanao. He is also, at the same time, considered a narco-terrorist,” he said.

He said the government had not been remiss in advising the local officials to help fight illegal drugs.

“We cannot blame ignorance of the law as an excuse why there is failure to activate the anti-drug abuse council.

There are directives and [even a] memorandum [to create such]. There is a [deliberate] effort not to do so over the [possible] involvement of a barangay chairperson or a councilor [in the illegal drug activity],” he said.

According to Aquino, he and the officials of the Department of Interior and Local Government met last week and came up with a “challenge” to order all of the 42,000 barangays to activate anti-drug abuse councils and reactivate “non-functional” ones within 30 days.

He called on Undersecretary Martin Diño to suspend those officials who would continue to ignore the order.

Aquino earlier vowed to wipe illegal drug trade by 2022 in all barangays.

Palace ‘to dissect plunder of MRT’ Fire razes iconic M UP landmark ALACAÑANG vowed Thursday to “dissect the plunder of MRT [Metro Rail Transit]” after two self-confessed whistleblowers came forward to reveal allegedly anomalous activities of former government officials.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said two unidentified whistleblowers he claimed previously were directly involved in the MRT operations had volunteered to reveal alleged corrupt practices in the management of the mass transit system along Edsa.

Roque earlier said new charges might be filed against former Transportation secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and former Interior secretary Mar Roxas.

He also indicated the government might take action against its private sector partner in the MRT 3.

“I have documents already. I’m just giving notice to NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] and DoJ [Department of Justice] before I go public with the documents,” Roque told a Malacanang news briefing.

“I promise this will be a continuing activity that we have here, and that is dissecting the plunder of MRT.” Roque said earlier said the whistleblowers claimed a certain “Pangasinan Group” and a “political machinery” pocketed two-thirds of the

THE leader of the organization which recruited and installed Department of the Interior and Local Government undersecretary Martin Diño as a Philippine Coast Guard “official” is not yet off the hook.

Coast Guard-Public Affairs Office commander and spokesperson Armand Balilo said the agency had formed a team to investigate Winefredo Villanueva, the reported leader of Manila Yacht Club 101st PCG Auxiliary Squadron, the group that recruited Diño and made him Coast Guard Rear Admiral.

“We are conducting an investigation and looking into the filing of a case against Villanueva, whatever it is, it depends on the evaluation and investigation of the legal service. The investigation has no deadline because this is an important issue. It involves PCGA, the country, their time, treasure and talents,” said Balilo.

Balilo said Villanueva was doing a malpractice and misrepresenting himself using and operating under the name of the 101st PCG Auxiliary Squadron.

“He [Villanueva] even has the temerity to say they are legit organization. They are saying we are PCGA, he is promoting himself as vice admiral, by my authority, by myself. We don’t understand why they are saying they are functioning or organizing outside the PCG. Where they got the authority? If

payment given to the MRT’s former maintenance provider, Filipino-Korean consortium Busan Universal Rail Inc. The Department of Transportation last November terminated its maintenance contract with BURI, which was tapped by the administration of then President Benigno Aquino III. Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian asked the Department of Transportation to determine if the 48 Dalian trains, bought for P3.8 billion from a Chinese supplier— CCRC Dalian Co.—were suitable for use on the Metro Rail Transit 3 rail line.

He noted the controversial Dalian trains that had arrived two years ago had remained in limbo.

He said the DoTr should take immediate action based on the findings and recommendations of the independent auditor, expected to be released later this week.

“I urge DoTr and the MRT 3 management to act on the recommendations of the audit as soon as they are released, so that we can bring the suffering of MRT 3 commuters to an end,” he said.

In the event the 48 Light Rail Vehicles are

assessed as unworthy for use on the MRT 3 line, Gatchalian said the DoTr should return the units and demand a total refund.

“It’s a question of suitability. If it is found that these trains aren’t right for the system, the government needs to get our money back. We cannot rely on trains that don’t match the specifications agreed on by the parties in the first place,” the senator stressed.

In January 2018, the DoTr and the MRT 3 management tapped the German firm TUV Rheinland to be the Independent Audit and Assessment Consultant that would evaluate and submit recommendations on issues concerning the unused LRVs. The report on their assessments are expected to be released on March 10.

The DoTr said the Dalian trains weighed 49.7 metric tons, which exceeds the maximum allowable weight of 46.4 metric tons found in the contract, making them unsafe to use on the exisiting MRT 3 rails.

The transportation agency also claimed issues in the compatibility of the LRVs with MRT 3’s maintenance facilities and signaling system.

“The constant ailments of the MRT 3 have left it on life support. The usual medicine won’t be enough to save it. It needs a lifesaving treatment. Hopefully, the independent audit will give the government the information it needs to make the right diagnosis and, ultimately, revitalize its operations for the benefit of the commuting public,” Gatchalian said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

By Rio N. Araja A FIRE broke out at the iconic University of the Philippines shopping center in Diliman, Quezon City Thursday at 7:14 a.m., drawing mixed reactions from students reminiscing hours spent there.

Damage to property was estimated at P500,000.

The center, a university landmark, housed, among others, restaurants (e.g. Rodic’s) and small shops offering reasonably priced printing and binding services.

Some students expressed concern over destroyed research papers and theses.

Supt. Manuel Manuel, the city’s fire marshal, said a stall owner noticed a thick smoke was coming out from the ceiling of the shopping center, “an indication that there was already a big fire caused by an electrical wiring.”

He said three other fire incidents had razed three other facilities of the UP Diliman—the faculty center on April 1, 2016, College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Association Food Center in June 2015 and Alumni Center in July 2015.

GUTTED LANDMARK. The iconic University of the Philippines Shopping Center, which houses several canteens and printing shops and serves as the go-to place for many

students’ academic and personal needs is a frame of destruction after fire sweeps through it Thursday. UP alumni, state scholars, and even students of neighboring schools took to social media to share their fondest memory at the shopping center, pushing the keywords ‘UP Shopping Center’ to the top of trending topics on Twitter as of 12 p.m. on Thursday.

Manny Palmero

Diño not off the hook yet, says Coast Guard

By Joel E. Zurbano

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FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

they want MYC [Manila Yacht Club] Auxiliary, so be it, but not Coast Guard,” he added.

He said: “They can use MYC but they could not use PCGA. They can’t use our ships as background during their induction, not logo of PCG and PCGA.” Balilo also debunked the claims of Villanueva that the group was a legitimate organization.

“But the legitimacy comes from the mother organization which is the PCG. We are the ones who will recognize.”

He must remember that 101st PCG Auxiliary of MYC was not designed as a stand alone organization. “It was designed to help the PCG not for him.”

In an interview with ABSCBN News, Villanueva introduced himself as Admiral Fred Villanueva of the 101st Manila Yacht Club Squadron.

He said his group was the first PCGA organized in the country.

He added his group was established on March 10, 1973 and was not a bogus organization.

Villanueva said about eight years ago, documents of the 101st MYC Squadron were “stolen” by the current PCGA National Director Valentin Prieto, who he said was a former member of their group.

“They stole it and they organized Cultural Center of 101. This is a personal matter because they were kicked out of the Manila Yacht Club as members,” he said.

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

Enrile in prosecution panel IN MY column last Wednesday I mentioned a certain legal luminary who would join the House prosecution panel in the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. I said that I could not come out with his name then as I had given my word not to until he gives me clearance.

Well, former Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile yesterday gave me clearance to announce that he is joining the House prosecution panel in Sereno’s trial in the Senate. Enrile is remembered as the presiding judge in the impeachment trial of the late Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Using his deep knowledge of the law and court procedure, Enrile masterfully steered Corona’s impeachment trial which ultimately resulted in a guilty verdict that removed Corona from his post. With Enrile in the House prosecution panel are House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas and House justice committee chairman Rep. Reynaldo Umali.

With the top three prosecutors— Enrile, Fariñas and Umali—it will be tough going for Sereno and her defense team. The charges against the chief magistrate include betrayal of public trust—she failed to submit a truthful Statement of Assets , Liabilities and Net Worth and also an income tax return when she taught law at the University of the Philippines.

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Regional airports

HE upgrade of major regional airports in the Philippines is a must if the government wants to sustain the robust economic growth rate in the last few years. Airports, like railways and roads, transport people and goods, and open economic and trade opportunities. They promote tourism that directly translates into more job opportunities.

One conglomerate has just offered under an unsolicited proposal to modernize four airports in Visayas and Mindanao for P148 billion over a 35-year concession period. The Aboitiz Group says “sustainable airport facilities” are needed to reflect and support the tremendous economic and tourism potential of the Philippines’ regions and provinces.

It noted that four regional gateways—Iloilo International Airport, Bacolod-Silay Airport, Laguindingan Airport and New Bohol International Airport in Panglao—are key entry points

into Visayas and northern Mindanao.

The number of local and foreign travelers in the four regional destinations has increased by leaps and abounds in recent years, with the four airports struggling to keep pace with the rapid economic development in the four regions.

The Iloilo and Bacolod airports, for one, have been operating for 10 years, while Laguindingan opened in 2013 but has been operating over its capacity since its opening year. The three can no longer meet increased tourism demand and require

PENSEES

urgent rehabilitation. New Bohol, meanwhile, needs an upgrade to accommodate the influx of more tourists into the island.

Building more and modernizing airports are critical infrastructure projects that the government canceled in 2017.

President Rodrigo Duterte and the Cabinet, thus, should revisit the regional airports modernization program in step with the country’s tourism roadmap.

The Philippines has the fewest visitor arrivals in Southeast Asia because of poor airport facilities, notably the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and inadequate road and rail networks.

But more foreign tourists will soon discover and visit the Philippines as a result of an aggressive marketing pitch. The Philippines by that time should be ready with modern regional airports to accommodate the rising tourism demand.

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Proposed provisions in our Bill of Rights THE human rights guaranteed by international covenants to which the Philippines is a party as well by the generally accepted principles of international law shall form part of this Article. Parliament may not derogate from these rights nor denounce these covenants.

The Philippines is a state-party to numerous human rights covenants that cover a variety of subjects: from international humanitarian law to the treatment and care of children and discrimination against women. The present provision is consistent with Philippine jurisprudence. In reference to the binding force of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Supreme Court, through Justice Antonio Carpio in Republic of the Philippines v. Sandiganbayan, G.R. 104768 (July 21, 2003) held that even in the absence of constitutional provisions, the rights guaranteed by human rights treaties and customary law continued to be demandable rights.

Why do these norms continue to bind despite the absence of constitutional guarantees?

The former Senate president will be part of the team against Sereno.

Betrayal of public trust is encompassing. It is an element that an official could be culpable of for not serving the country well, with integrity and loyalty. The Philippine Constitution provides: “Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency and with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.”

Failure to meet these guidelines places the official on soft ground. We are not going say Sereno failed to meet these standards set by the Constitution. I will leave that to the lawyers in the Senate impeachment trial. The most serious legal issue against Sereno , it seems is the alleged discrepancy in the submission of her SALN. This was what dealt CJ Corona his fall from grace. His conviction on this ground has set a precedent.

One of the crucial questions that could be asked of CJ Sereno would probably be: Did you willfully and knowingly submit a false SALN ? The verdict of the case will surely depend on her yes or no answer.

Greed The greed of some people knows no bounds. I refer to merchants who repackage National Food Authority stocks into commercial retail rice and sell them at higher prices. Thousands of sacks containing NFA rice were confiscated during a raid on a warehouse in General Santos City. This nefarious practice is without doubt going on in other parts of the country.

The rice imported by the government from Vietnam and Thailand was meant to augment the supply in the market at lower prices. But many merchants in their greed created an artificial shortage by hoarding supply.

The establishment owners in the island resort of Boracay are the same ilk

FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO

EVERYMAN

Do you believe in a powerful government?

By Eric Jurado ONE of the most important differences between the Left and the Right is how each regards the role and the size of the government.

The Left believes that the state should be the most powerful force in society.

Among many other things, the government should be in control of educating every child; should provide all health care; and should regulate often to the minutest detail how businesses conduct their business. In Germany, for instance, the government legislates the time of day stores have to close. In short, there should ideally be no power that competes with Government. Not parents, not businesses, not private schools, not religious institutions—not

even the individual human conscience.

Conservatives, on the other hand, believe the government’s role in society should be limited to absolute necessities such as national defense and to being the resource of last resort to help citizens who cannot be helped by family, by community, or by religious and secular charities.

Conservatives understand that as governments grow in size and power, the following will inevitably happen: 1. There will be ever-increasing amounts of corruption. Power and money breed corruption. People in government will sell government influence for personal and political gain. And people outside government will seek to buy influence and favors. In Africa, Latin America, and the Philippines, govern-

ment corruption has been the single biggest factor holding nations back from progressing.

2. Individual liberty will decline.

With a few exceptions, such as an unrestricted right to abortion in America, individual liberty is less important to the Left than to the Right. This is neither an opinion nor a criticism. It is simple logic. The more control the government has over people’s lives, the less liberty people have.

3. Countries with ever expanding governments will either reduce the size of their government or eventually collapse economically. Every welfare state ultimately becomes a Ponzi Scheme, relying on new payers to pay previous payers; and when it runs out of the new payers,

Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno provides the answer in his Separate Opinion as to why these norms continue to bind despite the absence of constitutional guarantees: It is human reason that makes them concomitants of our humanity—and compromising on them is compromising our humanity.

Article 56 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties is clear that the general rule is that there is no denunciation of treaties on human rights law: “Article 56. DENUNCIATION OF OR WITHDRAWAL FROM A TREATY CONTAINING NO PROVISION REGARDING TERMINATION, DENUNCIATION OR WITHDRAWAL 1. A treaty which contains no provision regarding its termination and which does not provide for denunciation or withdrawal is not subject to denunciation or withdrawal unless: (a) It is established that the parties intended to admit the possibility of denunciation or withdrawal; or (b) A right of denunciation or withdrawal may be implied by the nature of the treaty.”

Aside from the fact that there is generally no denunciation of human rights treaties, is likewise true that many human rights treaties codify jus cogens or peremptory norms of international law from which there may be no derogation at all.

The rights under this article are demandable against the State. When violated by private persons and nonState agents, demand may be made on the State for redress.

Ever since People v. Marti, G.R. 81561 (January 18, 1991), it has become “settled jurisprudence” that “[i] n the absence of governmental interference, the liberties guaranteed by the Constitution cannot be invoked against the State.” This new section proposes to strengthen the rights of citizens against their transgression even by non-state agents.

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Opinion Women with disabilities: Why they are abused was given proper treatment and medication and in late 2017 was able to get a job as a janitor and has been earning a living, supporting herself.

Studies have shown various reasons why WWD are three times more likely to be raped or sexually abused. The more common scenarios include: 1. The victims think the abuse or violence is normal. Because they grow in an environment of indifference, the girls with disabilities are most likely attacked by their own caregivers and family members who socialize with them on a daily basis. The PWDs are not taught the difference between appropriate and abusive sexual behavior.

2. WWDs are not usually taken seriously. This is a problem common in the provinces where the patriarchs easily dismisses complaints from the PWD family members as idle gossip. If a PWD is sexually assaulted by a family or community member who is not disabled, chances are the PWD will dismissed as lying or making trouble.

3. WWD usually have problems communicating. Especially those who were denied basic education, the woman with disabilities will most likely have limited vocabulary and will not have access to an interpreter.

4. Local law enforcement have no training in dealing with issues surrounding WWD. So when a PWD tries to report an abuse, the police or barangay officials will automatically send them back to their abusers without much thought. Many provincial law enforcers would not see a woman in a wheelchair as someone “sexual” and would most likely disbelieve a report of rape or sexual assault, especially when the alleged attacker is someone known to be in good standing with the community, with a wife and children.

In the Philippines, being disabled is highly misunderstood. In 2010, the statistics for persons with disabilities is at 1.7 percent of the population. In the most recent survey of the WHO, it is now known that one out of every five persons in the world suffers from some form of disability. In a 2015 study commissioned by the WHO, it has been revealed that women have a life expectancy of 72.50 years compared to the males at 65.68. The WHO experts believe that Filipinos will spend between six to eight years of their life living with a disability. This is like saying that all of us are on our way to disability whether we like it or not.

If we want to achieve gender equality and women empowerment, we must first institute reforms that will change the mindset of the next generation of citizens.

We must teach the next generation that it is not OK to bully or maltreat those who have diminished mental capacity to fend for themselves. We are no longer in a society of the survival of the fittest but in a benevolent society where gender equality and observance of the rights of persons with disabilities is part of the recipe for success and economic growth.

MARCH is International Women’s Month and for the PWD community, women have a special place in everyone’s hearts. This year’s theme is all about making change work for women.

Thus it is this writer’s sentiments that part of empowering women in the Philippines is to give attention to the women with disabilities and how “empowered” have they truly become through the years.

In 2000, 189 countries signed and endorsed the Millennium Development Goals as drafted by the United Nations. One of the goals stated that by 2015, there should be gender equality and women empowerment. While this has remained a goal as in many Middle Eastern countries, Filipino women have managed to make some headway.

However, for WWD, empowerment has affected just a selected few. Education and jobs have remained so elusive for them. This can be seen in the number of employed WWDs who have had a good education; in 2016 the number is at a dismal 3 percent of all women who were born with disabilities.

Women with disabilities are often victimized twice over; cultural and institutional barriers make women and girls vulnerable to abuse because of their gender, and even more vulnerable to abuse because of their disability.

In a 2011 study commissioned by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, it was revealed that 25 percent of female rape victims are women with some form of disability, most often intellectual disabilities.

This is a grim picture that only accentuates our inability, or most likely the unwillingness, to empower women in general. The Filipino male ego has been reinforced with the belief that they are superior to their female counterparts in many ways in that even as persons with disabilities, the women and girls are often the target of sex fiends and criminals who decide to inflict harm because the perpetrators believe they can get away with it.

It all begins with education, or the lack of it. Some parents, who have daughters disabled since birth, have been known to be indifferent to their daughters’ situation. The lack of education makes the situation worse for those living in poor provincial areas.

In May 2017, a woman in her early 20s was rescued by social workers after a concerned citizen reported that the woman had been held in a cage and was chained there since as far back as the neighbors could remember. After she was rescued and brought to the DSWD shelter, it was found out that the woman was suffering from schizophrenia. Her behavior was misunderstood by her own parents and she was placed in cage since she was 12 until the day she was rescued, all 11 years being treated like an animal by the very family who was supposed to protect her. The parents believed that their daughter could have Arpee Lazaro does reputation manbeen possessed by evil spirits and that there was no other choice but to keep agement, brand development, social her chained. At the DSWD, the woman advocacy and political campaigns.

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the scheme collapses. All the welfare states of the world, including wealthy European countries, are already experiencing this problem to varying degrees.

4. In order to pay for an ever-expanding government, taxes are constantly increased.

But at a given level of taxation, the society’s wealth producers will either stop working, work less, hire fewer people, or move their business out of the country.

5. Big government produces big deficits and ever increasing—and ultimately unsustainable—debt. This, too, is only logical. The more money the state hands out, the more money people will demand from the state. No recipient of free money has ever said, “Thank you. I have enough.”

Unless big governments get smaller, they will all eventually collapse under their own weight—with terrible consequences socially as well as economically.

6. The bigger the government, the greater the opportunities for doing great evil. The twentieth century was the most murder-

Enrile...

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as the rice merchants who are repackaging NFA rice into commercial variety for immoderate greed. Boracay hotel and restaurant owners are no different. They installed illegal connections to sewage system to turn Borcay into what President Duterte called a cesspool. Because of their greed for profit they didn’t pay for the legal sewage connection and instead clogged the pipeline to loosen garbage including human waste to pollute the once pristine waters of Boracay.

Some of the illegal establishments, how-

ous century in recorded history. And who did all this killing? Big governments. Evil individuals without power can do only so much harm. But when evil individuals take control of a big government, the amount of harm they can do is essentially unlimited.

The Right fears Big Government. The Left fears Big Business. But Coca-Cola or SM can’t break into your house or confiscate your wealth—only Big Government can do that. As irresponsible as any Big Business has ever been at times, it is only Big Government that can build concentration camps and commit genocide.

7. Big government eats away at the moral character of a nation. People no longer take care of other people. After all, they know the government will do that. That’s why citizens of freer countries like America give far more of their money and volunteer far more of their time to charity than do Europeans at the same economic level.

Without the belief in an ever-expanding government, there is no left. Without a belief in limited government, there is no right.

Eric Jurado covers economic and political issues with liberty as his guiding star. ever, were built by small businessmen who wanted a share of the revenues generated by the world-renowned island resort. But because of this wanton disposal of waste, Boracay was placed in a state of calamity.

Its closure in the next three months now means zero income for every one earning from the bounty of Boracay.

Greed was also the driving force that attended the irregular procurement of the lethal Dengvaxia vaccine that took the lives of several children. The same appetite for money was the reason for the anomalous purchase of equipment and award of service maintenance contract in the Metro Rail Transit Line 3.

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RP is vulnerable to climate change

EVERYMAN

By Arpee Lazaro

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ Today I adapt the article of my daughter Ivy on climate change at risk: IN THE last 20 years, the Philippines suffered the most catastrophic events (289). It’s the fifth most vulnerable to climate change with its recurrent catastrophes in the long term and yearly risk indexes. (Global Climate Risk Index 2018).

“This is due to its high exposure to natural hazards (cyclones, landslides, floods, droughts), dependence on climate-sensitive natural resources, and vast coastlines where all major cities and the majority of the population reside,” according to USAID. Global warming has changed Earth’s climate. Extreme temperatures lead to extreme weather like longer heatwaves and droughts, heavier but shorter rainfall, rising sea levels, worse flooding, more frequent and harsher typhoons.

Countries near the equator and in Southeast Asia will suffer the most, particularly poorer developing countries.

“The Philippines lies in the world’s most cyclone-prone region, averaging 19–20 cyclones each year, of which 7–9 make landfall. Sea levels in the Philippines are rising faster than the global average, increasing the hazard posed by storm surges and threatening permanent inundation of low-lying areas.”

Under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Philippines pledges to reduce 70 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 to abate global warming to 1.5°C. Other laws and local government initiatives have been proposed. But so far, very little has been actually and immediately done to meet the oncoming onslaught of climate change.

The most important action for the Philippines is to set a long-term goal and make the first step to alleviate global warming, according to The Lancet.

“A new momentum is needed. Dramatic technological change, steadfast and visionary political will, and international cooperation are required to change the trajectory of climate change and to protect people and ecosystems,” according to the World Bank.

Earth is too hot. The last two years were the hottest in world history and temperatures are still rising unabated.

By 2100, Earth’s temperature will rise by 2.2°C. How critical is a few degrees?

Average body temperature is 37°C. If it rises by one degree, you have a fever from an infection or illness.

Under a business-as-usual scenario, Asian summer temperatures will rise by 6°C. Average Philippine tempera-

ture is 27°C, but there will be days it exceeds 35°C, according to the Asian Development Bank.

By 2100, 73.9 percent of Earth will have at least 20 days per year of deadly heat and humidity. Under a worst-case scenario, the Philippine southern region of Mindanao could experience year-long heatwaves by 2050. Unusual summer temperatures can become the new norm from 2070 onward.

“In such contexts, each national authority is required to plan and carry out multidimensional countermeasures to this imminent issue, and the Philippines is no exception,” according to The Lancet.

Heat waves also bring drought and water shortage. Climate change will seriously threaten food security in SEA. Without adaptation or technological improvements, rice yields in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam will halve by 2100, relative to 1990 levels. Low rice yield correlates to higher general Filipino migration.

Under a worst-case scenario, the Philippine southern region of Mindanao could experience year-long heat waves by 2050.

RP’s archipelago has the world’s fifth largest coastline of 36,289 km (22,548 miles) with hundreds of beautiful beaches.

Southeast Asia’s coral reefs is the world’s richest center of marine biodiversity. The Coral Triangle, a marine region spanning the tropical waters of the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste, hosts 30 percent of the global coral stock and 76 percent of all known coral species. Over 100 million people who live on the coast directly rely on its ecosystem services worth $3.5 billion.

But warmer oceans kill reefs and SEA waters are warming at twice the global average. Even if we limit global warming to 2°C, all the world’s coral reef systems will collapse from mass bleaching. Now, 95 percent of the Coral Triangle is degraded, which results in less biodiversity as species die or migrate to cooler waters. This destroys coastal livelihoods, like fisheries (worth $57.98 billion in Southeast Asia) and tourism (worth $204 billion in the Coral Triangle). Coastal food supply will halve by 2050.

Global warming of 1.5°C can prevent the complete loss of corals and allow the reefs to regenerate.

Cities have twice as many hot days than coastlines. If we do nothing, hot days in the city will be 10 times higher by 2100, the ADB said.

Urban heat island (UHI) effect is caused by an increase in waste due to rapid urbanization. This is usually characterized by increased sealed and artificial surfaces, increased population and build-up density, basements, sewage and water systems, private transportation, and air conditioners.

Fast-growing Asian cities like Manila suffer the most from global warming but they are also part of the problem, as they emit a disproportionate amount of greenhouse gases but do not alleviate its effects. Its 44 percent residents in informal settlements do not have access to clean water and basic services which will exacerbate pollution and health risks.

Poor city planning does not allocate enough green spaces nor plant trees to help reduce carbon dioxide, give oxygen, provide shade, hold moisture in the ground, and prevent erosion. Greenery provides much-needed cool spaces in cities and shade feels 15 degrees cooler than direct sunlight. By 2030, Metro Manila will be 91 percent built but will only have 8 percent of green space.

“In Southeast Asia, the relatively weak structure of urban policy poses challenges for the adoption of appropriate urban management strategies.

Uncoordinated master planning strategies often lack information on the past, present and future changes to the urban and green space structure,” according to Ecological Indicators.

Fortunately, the UHI effect seems to be cooled by sea breeze since temperatures are lower near the shore.

As Earth heats up, it warms the waters which then expands the volume of the ocean and melts glaciers. Also, the loss of inland water and groundwater pumps have shifted more water to the ocean. All these result in higher sea levels worldwide.

Scientists predict a global mean sea level rise of 7.87 inches (0.2 m) to 6.6 ft (2.0 m) by 2100.

From 1901 to 2010, global SLR was 7.4 inches, or a rate of .067 inches a year over 109 years. Since 1993, SLR doubled, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

RP is most vulnerable to SLR since 60 percent of its municipalities and 10 of its largest cities are on coastlines; 60 percent of the population reside here and will double by 2060 and will tax the cities’ resources for power, water, food, shelter, and security, which are all vulnerable to extreme weather. biznewsasia@gmail.com

Blazing a trail in men’s jobs IN THE ring, battling flames or lifting off into space, women have entered professions generally considered to be men’s jobs.

Firefighter in Turkey “In the beginning, my family told me: ‘Stop, you won’t succeed, this is a job for men’,” says Devrim Ozdemir, who did not heed the advice.

In 2008, she became one of the first women to put on a firefighter’s uniform in Turkey.

“Today, everyone supports me, they have confidence in me,” says the 37-year-old.

Assigned to a fire and rescue brigade in the western city of Izmir, she has started a trend. Now there are 51 women firefighters, though they are still a small portion of the 1,200-strong force.

“Today I am a firefighter who stands beside people in their difficult times,” she says, of her motivation.

And sometimes the firefighting itself can be physically tough.

“It has been difficult at times, for example on interventions that require physical strength. I also faced challenges in carrying all our equipment, but apart from that, I never had any trouble.”

Ozdemir encourages young women to persevere in the male-dominated profession and points out that there is pay equality.

“For me it is important, we could have received less money for the same job, but no, we have the same salary.”

Her enthusiasm, determination and

pride in her profession also inspires youngsters, like her six-year-old son— instead of reading him bedtime stories she tells him about her work.

“I’m a heroine to my son, it’s an incredible feeling,” she says, smiling, and adding proudly: “He, too, wants to become a firefighter.”

South African fighter As the first woman amateur champion in mixed martial arts in South Africa, Shana Power defies the stereotypes about women in a combat sport with her ferocity in the ring. She was nicknamed “Titanium.”

Born in Johannesburg, the 25-yearold blonde was first attracted to MMA by such star fighters as American Holly Holm and wanted to do the same in her homeland.

“When I was growing up I was very athletic, I’ve always been sporty. So I understood that the mind was as important as the body... if you can unlock the mind and build the mind then your body will be an unstoppable force.”

Power says she was supported by the people who trained her in MMA and now trains and inspires others herself.

“In my profession I’ve actually been quite fortunate. I haven’t faced many challenges, for example, being a woman in a male-dominated sport. I’ve actually had a lot of positives from it.”

Except perhaps for the money.

“I don’t think we get offered the same,” admits the champion, now a MMA professional. But she adds that “in terms of the personal training and

coaching, yes,” it’s the same as for men.

US astronaut “I was 10 years old when Apollo 11 landed on the moon and that was my ‘aha’ moment as I like to say.

“I looked at Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walking on the moon and thought that’s what I want to do when I grow up: ‘I’m gonna be an astronaut and I am gonna fly in space’,” says Wendy Lawrence, 58, a former Nasa astronaut.

A trained Navy helicopter pilot, she realised her dream becoming an astronaut with four flights onboard a Nasa space shuttle between 1995 and 2005.

She grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, not far from Cape Canaveral, the launch pad for the space shuttles.

“I think especially here in the United States, we like to say ‘Well you throw like a girl or you run like a girl’ and historically that’s not been a very positive thing.

“So I suspect that in the minds of some of my male colleagues, especially when I was going through flight school, they probably thought I was gonna fly like a girl,” she recalls.

That meant she had to “work harder to be perceived as better... I was willing to buckle down and be focused for a long period of time cause my mindset was: ‘I’m gonna prove you’re wrong’.”

Lawrence retired in 2006 and says her advice is to avoid preconceived ideas about what women can do.

“So I’d say give women an opportunity to try. You might be surprised at what they bring to the table, what they’re capable of.” AFP

Proposed...

directly as indirectly. While in the former case its officials or agencies violate them, in the latter it may let them be violated by others either through its inaction or active connivance. The latter violation may be as injurious as the former. In such cases, the State cannot escape its responsibility or liability for

the protection of fundamental rights, on the plea that they are the actions of private individuals and not of the State.”

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In a every insightful treatise on the Constitution of India, Mahendra Pal Singh writes: “Fundamental rights may be violated by the State as much

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FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018

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BIR files tax evasion charges vs Rappler

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Bureau of Internal Revenue has asked the Department of Justice to prosecute Rappler Holdings Corp. and its officers for tax evasion.

In a complaint, the BIR accused RHC and its president, Maria A. Ressa, and its treasurer James C. Bitanga of violating the National Internal Revenue Code, specifically for willful attempt to evade or defeat tax and for deliberate failure to supply correct and accurate information in its annual income tax return and value added tax returns for 2015.

The complaint alleged that RHC purchased common shares from Rappler Inc. worth P19, 245,975.00. Then, it issued and sold Philippine Depositary Receipts to two foreign firms worth P181, 658,758.67.

The BIR said RHC used the same common shares it purchased from Rappler Inc. as the underlying share of the PDRs for profit and transmitted economic rights to the PDR holders.

The bureau said that RHC is subject to income tax and VAT, being a dealer in securities.

However, the annual ITR and VAT returns for 2015 does not reflect any IT and VAT from the PDR transaction, the BIR said.

“As consequence of its acts and omissions, the aggregate tax liability of RHC amounted to P133,841,305.75 broken down as

follows: IT-P91,320,481.08 and VAT-P42,520,824.67,” the BIR alleged.

Aside from tax evasion charges, Rappler is also facing a cyber crime case filed by the National Bureau of Investigation.

According to NBI Director Dante Gierran, they filed the complaint last Friday, March 2, but declined to give further details.

Instead, he directed reporters to refer to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, whose office will evaluate the merits of the complaint.

Earlier, the NBI said the cyber libel complaint filed by businessman Wilfredo Keng over an article published in 2012, had no basis since the one-year prescription for the case had already lapsed and the publication of an article cannot be considered as a continuing offense because the original posting is deemed as a single offense.

Rappler’s problems started when the Securities and Exchange Commission revoked the news agency’s incorporation papers in January for alleged violation of foreign ownership restrictions in the Constitution.

Rappler, however, is questioning the SEC decision before the Court of Appeals.

ROGUE COPS. Officials of the Quezon City Police District led by District Director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar talk to the arrested suspects, including an active 2nd Lieutenant of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, while inspecting the seized firearms and illegal drugs during a press conference at the Camp Karingal in Quezon City yesterday. Suspects Army 2nd Lieutenant Hamel Samsodin (middle), Aslimah Aliba (left) and Mohamir Masicuin (not in photo) were arrested in a buy bust operation with 25 grams of Shabu and numerous firearms including a hand grenade. Manny Palmero

Manila court dismisses West POEA warns vs domestic helper jobs in Russia Tower complaint vs Shell Corp.

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Office of the City Prosecutor of Manila has dismissed the complaint of West Tower Condominium Corp. against Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. and its officials due to the leak of petroleum products from the white oil pipeline of First Philippine Industrial Corp.

West Tower had filed last Oct. 15, 2011 a complaint for violation of Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code against several directors and officers of Pilipinas Shell in connection with the leak of petroleum products from the FPIC white oil pipeline.

Pilipinas Shell used the said pipeline to transport its products from its 110,000 barrels per day Tabangao Refinery to its former Pandacan terminal.

Pilipinas Shell, a customer of FPIC, was not involved in the day-to-day operations of FPIC. “In the resolution dated February 22, 2017, which was received on March 7, 2018, the Office of the City Prosecutor of Manila dismissed the Complaint for lack of probable cause,” the oil refiner

said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

The Pilipinas Shell resolution stated that the directors and officers of the corporation were not under obligation to operate and maintain the pipeline belonging to FPIC. “Hence, they are not personally liable for negligence,” the company said, citing the decision.

Residents of the West Tower were evacuated due to health and safety concerns due to the leak in 2010 after it was discovered as the source of the oil that had been leaking into the basement of West Tower Condominium in Barangay Bangkal, Makati.

Prior to its closure, the 117-kilometer Batangas to Manila white oil pipeline supplied more than 50 percent of the petroleum products for Pandacan, considered as the largest and most important depot in the country.

This depot was also ordered closed by the local government but previously supplied fuel to 459 stations in Metro Manila and about 1,800 gas stations in Regions 1 to 4.

POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia has warned Filipinos against taking up offers to work as domestic helpers in Russia.

He said no working visas for foreign domestic helpers are being issued at the moment by the Russian government.

This means Filipinos cannot stay and work legally as domestic helpers in that country.

“There are currently no jobs for Filipinos as domestic helpers in Russia,” Olalia said, adding that OFWs who now work in Russia as domestics are using commercial visas which do not really allow them to work legally as domestics in that country.

He made the remarks at the Global Online Conference of Overseas Filipinos

held at PTTC in Pasay city by the Alliance of Overseas Filipinos, a Hong Kongbased NGO. Pagcor, Stradcom Corp., PLDT and Maynilad sponsored the conference shown live and watched by more than 22,000 overseas Filipinos in Hong Kong, Singapore and other countries in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America.

AOFC is holding on July 2 a follow-up Global Online Conference of Overseas Filipinos and information is available from Linkpad, Inc. at 0908-6199582, 0917-5932000 or globalonlineconference@gmail.com Jeffrey Valdez, vice consul at the Philippine embassy in Moscow, said the Phil-

Lotto, other games up by 2.81% in first 2 months LOTTO sales and other games posed a 2.81-percent increase with reported overall sales of P5,384,844,980 in January and February compared to the sales in the same months last year, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Alexander Balutan said on Thursday.

“Of all number games, Ultra Lotto 6/58 had the highest reported sales at P861,377,840 with 83.91 percent increase, followed by Super Lotto at P454,712,080

sales with 25.78 percent increase in two months,” Balutan said.

Grand Lotto 6/55 similarly increased at 2.92 percent with P401,667,840 reported sales.

Lotto 6/42 and Mega Lotto had P388,657,760 and P428,712,080 reported sales, respectively, but they were down by 14 percent and 28 percent. “’Yung lotto games kasi are jackpotdriven sales. Ina-associate kasi natin ’yan sa jackpot prize natin. Kapag mataas ang

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 03 SERIES OF 2018 SUBJECT : TRANSITORY GUIDELINES PENDING ACTION ON ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 5, SERIES OF 2017

By Maricel V. Cruz

Administrative Order (A.O.) No. 5, Series of 2017 was issued primarily to repeal Section 29 of A.O. No. 7, Series of 2011. Under the said previous rule, the LAD process shall only proceed until the issuance of the Memorandum of Valuation (MOV) in the event that there is a pending protest action. Under A.O. No. 5, Series of 2017, the LAD process shall continue up to the issuance of the CLOA even in the presence of any protest action.

A.O. No. 6, Series of 2017, on the other, hand was issued, to suspend the operation of Pars. IV-B, IV-C, IV-E and IV-G of A.O. No. 5, Series of 2017 and to subject such provisions to further studies by the Policy Review and Formulation Committee.

The provisions under review by the PRFC shall not be enforced unless the suspension is recalled by the Secretary. The other provisions of A.O. No. 5, Series of 2017 remain in force and effect.

Thus, pending the completion of the review of the aforesaid provisions of A.O. No. 5, Series of 2017, any and all on-going LAD processes shall continue despite the presence of any protest action. It shall no longer stop until the issuance of the MOV, but shall proceed up to the issuance of the title in the name of the Republic of the Philippines.

This Administrative Order shall take effect ten (10) days after its publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Diliman, Quezon City, 14 February 2018.

ATTY. JOHN R. CASTRICIONES Secretary

M. Standard – March 9, 2018

jackpot natin, malaki din ’yung nagiging sales,” explained Maritess Jose, Division Chief of the Product Research and Development of PCSO Gaming Sector.

Lotto 6/58 had a jackpot prize of P331,971,464 when it was won by two.

Jose said jackpot prizes increase after several draws without a winner; while the jackpot prizes of Lotto 6/42 had P49,659,101 and Mega Lotto 6/45 had P45,394,304 only when they were won.

More liberal Charter provisions on economy sought

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM Tunay na Pagbabago sa Repormang Agraryo

The partial suspension of A.O. No. 5, Series of 2017 notwithstanding, there is a need to clarify on the effect of any protest action on the LAD Process.

ippines has had talks with Russia on the proposed issuance of working visas to Filipino domestics in that country. But it remains unclear when these talks will produce concrete results, he said.

In the meantime, unscrupulous Filipino nationals in Russia, Hong Kong and Manila are illegally recruiting OFWs to work in Russia with promises of salaries as high as US$2,000 a month, according to Nhie Lopos, an officer of OFWs in Russia Support Groups.

“Life and work as illegal workers in Russia are very, very hard so OFWs should not come here. OFWs should not believe recruiters because they just collect money, but they don’t provide employers and working visas,” she warned.

FLOWER CELEBRATION. Navotas City Mascot Avot John gives flowers to all Navoteñas at the city hall in celebration of International Women’s Day. Andrew Rabulan

Poe warns against relocation of flights in terminals SENATOR Grace Poe yesterday warned that the problems hounding the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, including congestion, will be aggravated with the relocation of flights from one terminal to another.

In her report to Senate

President Aquilino Pimentel III and members of the Senate panel after she wrapped up hearings on airport concerns, Poe emphasized that congestion will still exist even after the Manila International Airport Authority implements its rationalization plan at the pin-

gey’s main gateway.

With the pending proposals of interested parties to expand Naia, Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, said the MIAA should endeavor to assess these submissions. Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE constitutional commission must look into the protectionist economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution that have been blamed for the relatively “anemic” foreign direct investment inflows despite the Philippines’ credit rating upgrades and new status as among Asia’s fastestgrowing economies, a House leader said on Thursday.

“It is the constitutional provisions: One, putting a 40-percent cap on foreign ownership and second, barring foreign participation in certain sectors such as the media that have been a deal breaker for prospective foreign investors,” Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte, one of the lead proponents of Charter change in the Congress, said.

Villafuerte made the statement following reports that the Con-Com plans to also consider recommending amendments to the Constitution in a bid to liberalize the economy.

Arthur Aguilar, chairperson of the Con-Com’s economic reforms and fiscal administration sub-committee, the body would gather inputs from business chambers and advocacy groups in crafting the recommendations.

Sports

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FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Bayron bucks frontside meltdown to lead by 1

SMASHED. Kennedy Lynn Bryan of F2 scores against Sanja Trivunuvic and Maureen Penetramte-Ouano of Smart in the Chooks to

Go-Philippine Superliga Grand Prix today at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan. F2 Logistics played defense to perfection as it stopped power-spiking Gyselle Silva en route to a 25-22, 25-18, 25-17 win over Smart. Roman Prospero

Big net guns stamp class THE big guns in the region took over at the recent Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis Championship Series leg in Maranding in Lanao del Norte, where a total of 142 young players joined the competition with the series now on its 12th straight year, making it the country’s longest-running grassroots tennis developmental program.

Local bet and many-time leg winner Heinz Asian Carbonilla led the way with three titles under his belt, the boys’ 12-under and 14-under plus a share of the boys’ 14-under doubles’ event with John Steven Sonsona. He blanked Abdel Qadzri Matarul from Pulacan 6-0, 6-0 for the 12-under and had a similar straight set 6-0, 6-1 win over John Christopher Sonsona in the finals of the 14-under in the competition backed by Dunlop Sports as official ball.

Another perennial winner Stephen Zion Guia won the boys’ 16-under though he was extended to three sets by finals opponent Eric Jay Tangub from Tukuran, 7-6, 5-7, 10-8.

Andrei Cuevas from Baroy, Lanao del Norte continued Tangub’s frustrations when he beat the latter anew in the finals of the boys’ 18-under, 7-5, 6-4.

Cuevas added another title when he and partner Geo Serino ruled the boys’ 18-under doubles’ category.

“Over the years, we have seen the development of young champions like Carbonilla, who started in younger categories and moving up and winning the older categories, clearly showing the development in the skills level of players who regularly join our series,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, President/CEO of the sponsoring Cebuana Lhuillier Group.

In the distaff side, Ozamis City bet Carmeville Gervacio stamped her class again in the girls’ 18-under with a victory over another Ozamis City native Jan Marie Anghag , 6-4, 6-7, 10-4. The two teamed up to clinch the girls’ 18-under doubles’ championship.

DanceSports tilt on Saturday THE DanceSport Council of the Philippines will hold the 2018 DSCPI 1st Quarter Ranking and Competition at the Ballroom Hall of Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City on Saturday.

DSCPI President Becky Garcia said there are 302 participants that will compete in the event supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Board, GNK Ballroom, C+H Multimedia Solutions Inc., Flawless, Retro DCG-FM 105.9, Studio AK and The Greenery Bulacan.

The World DanceSport Federation licensed adjudicators are Cristian Gheorghe Parnescu from Romania, Marcel Keijzer from Netherland, Yen-Ming Peng from Chinese Taipei, Tin Hung Po from Hong Kong, Peck Hoon Sim from Singapore, Sow Yeng Loo from Malaysia and Keiji Ukai from Japan.

Tickets for the 2018 DSCPI 1st Quarter Ranking are available at the DanceSport Training Center, Philsports Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City and at the entrance of the Ballroom of Valle Verde Country Club on March 10.

For other inquiries, please call Anna or Lorien at 637-2314.

GEN. TRIAS, Cavite—Jay Bayron took charge despite a frontside meltdown, carding a second straight 71 then holding off a late assault by Tony Lascuña to lead by two halfway through the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Challenge at the wind-raked Faldo course here yesterday.

Bayron, a multi-titled campaigner seeking to snap a long spell on the Philippine Golf Tour, rattled off three straight birdies from No. 13 to move from third to the top but fumbled with a bogey on No. 16 and dropped two more strokes Nos. 3 and 6 against a birdie on the first hole.

But he held sway at 142 as the rest failed to mount a charge in another challenging day although Lascuña fought back late with birdies on Nos. 5 and 6 after a run of pars at the back and in the first four holes at the front. But he failed to move within one with a bogey on the seventh, finishing with a 71 for a 144 and putting

himself in the title chase in the P2.5 million event put up by ICTSI. Another stroke back at 145 were Paul Harris, Toru Nakajima of Japan and Dutch Guido Van der Valk, who moved to joint third in varying fashions. The American rallied with a 70 to stay in contention, the Japanese, who shared the first round lead with Ira Alido at 70, hobbled with a 75, while the Dutchman, who placed third in last week’s Solaire Philippine Open at The Country Club, had a two-birdie, three-bogey stint at the front before parring the backside for a 73.

Dino Giacommazi also charged back late with a three-under card with six holes left at the front. But the American shotmaker, a qualifier in the PGT Q-School at Splendido, stumbled with a bogey on No. 4 and dropped another stroke on the seventh before holing out with a birdie for a 70. He tied compatriot Nicolas Paez, who turned in a second 73, at 146.

Carino scores 1st-ever stage win

S

AN JOSE, Nueva Ecija— El Joshua Carino reaped the fruits of his hard labor as he was gifted

by Navy-Standard Insurance teammates Ronald Oranza and Jan Paul Morales the Stage 5 victory in the Ronda Pilipinas presented by LBC that started in Echague, Isabela and ended in front of the San Jose City Hall here yesterday.

Carino, 24, towed the first group that broke away early and was the same person who instigated the action in the final six kilometers allowing Oranza and Morales to go into the final 2-km stretch on top, but waited for the former to catch up and get the lap win approaching the finish line as the three all clocked four hours, six minutes and 58 seconds.

The All-Navy podium finish kept Oranza comfortably perched on top with an aggregate time of 17:40:13 and Morales, the defending back-to-back champion, a little less than five minutes off the pace at second with a total clocking of 17:45:12.

Jay Lampawog of Go for Gold Development is at No. 3 in 17:48:56, Cris Joven of Army-Bicycology at No. 4 in 17:51:16 and Ronald Lomotos of Navy-Standard’s Ronald Lomotos at No. 5 in 17:51:35.

Rounding up the Top 10 were CCN Superteam’s Irish Valenzuela (17:52:34), Go for Gold Developmental’s Ronnel Hualda (17:52:34), Navy-Standard’s John Mark Camingao (17:54:26) and Rudy Roque (17:55:04) and Team Franzia’s Leonel Dimaano (17:55:10).

El Joshua Carino wins a stage, finally.

It also kept Navy at the helm in the overall team race with 70:54:59, almost half an hour ahead of Go for Gold Developmental team with 71:24:25 in the race presented by LBC and supported by MVP Sports Foundation, Filinvest, CCN, Petron, Versa.ph, 3Q Sports Event Management, Inc., Boy Kanin, Franzia, Standard Insurance, Bike Xtreme, SH+, Guerciotti, Prolite, Green Planet, Maynilad, NLEX Sports, Lightwater, LBC Foundation and PhilCycling.

Army-Bicycology was at third with 71:41:45.

For Carino, a strong mountain-climber, it was his first lap victory in this edition and fourth overall in Ronda.

He also became the third Navy to win a stage this year after Oranza topped the first two stages and Morales Stage Four. Army’s Cris Joven ruled Stage 3.

“They (Oranza and Morales) already have lap victories, while I just won one now,” said Morales, a proud son of Mangaldan, Pangasinan.

Oranza, for his part, was just glad to play domestique for most part of the 179.4-km stage for Carino and Morales.

“If it’s for the good of the team, I don’t mind doing it because I know they will also help me if I need it,” said Oranza, who is seeking his first-ever Ronda title after coming close to winning two years ago when he wound up second to Morales.

Oranza will continue to don the red LBC leader’s jersey in the 111.8km Stage 6 today starting at the San Jose City Hall and ending at the Tarlac Provincial Capitol.

MercedesTrophy braces for 13th staging THE MercedesTrophy Golf Invitational, one of the longest, most exclusive invitational golfing events in the country, gears up for its grand 13th staging on March 19 with another huge elite field seeing action at Sta. Elena Golf Club.

Over 200 players are tipped to vie in the competitive but fun 18-hole tournament that mixes sport, lifestyle and luxury, this being participated in by Mercedes-Benz owners and golf enthusiasts.

The countdown to the blue-ribbon event, which also stakes berths in the Asian Finals set in Brisbane, Australia in August, actually kicked off last March 1 with Auto Nation Group, Inc., the exclusive importer and distributor of Mercedes-Benz in the Philippines, hold-

ing the MercedesTrophy Sponsors and Champions Night at Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

Gracing the event were officials and representatives of platinum and gold sponsors, including Makati Shangri-La Hotel, Philippine Airlines, PLDT Alpha, QBE Seaboard Insurance, Inc., Shell Philippines and TW Steel. Other backers of the event are Boysen, Business Mirror, Remy Martin and Security Bank.

Three division champions and their respective runners-up along with the winner in ladies play will represent the Philippines in the MercedesTrophy Asian Finals via Philippine Airlines.

Aside from the rare chance to play with other regional champions, participants in

the Asian Finals will also be treated to an experiential drive that will showcasae the world-class performance and dynamic handling of Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

Winners of the Asian Finals will then meet other champions in the prestigious International MercedesTrophy Tournament in Stuttgart, Germany in October.

What makes the upcoming staging of the annual event special is that it is also held to raise funds for a charitable donation to the Cardinal Medical Charities Foundation, Inc. as part of MercedesBenz’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. The CMCF is a non-government organization that grants medical care and financial subsidy to disadvantaged patients.

NU jins keep PH League overall championship NATIONAL University’s fighters produced another impressive performance to emerge as overall champion anew in the 2017 Smart/MVP Sports Foundation Philippine Taekwondo League held in various SM Supermalls.

The NU jins dominated the 57-team competition by winning the gold medals in the senior men, senior women and junior men’s events.

San Beda College topped the junior women’s division while Diliman Preparatory School and Emilio Aguinaldo College took the Cadet boys and Cadet girls titles, respectively.

Makati Congressman Monsour del Rosario and Stephen Fernandez, the tournament’s Commissioner and Tournament Director, respectively said the Philippine Taekwondo League was organized to give future Olympians a venue to showcase their skills and techniques.

Each team in the tourney supported by PLDT, Meralco, Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee was composed of 15 to 20 jins.

Other teams which bagged runnerup

Velez, Madis eye twin-kill JOHN David Velez and Tenielle Madis from M’lang hope to come out strong coming off a brief break as they head the huge cast vying in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Tagum leg age-group tennis circuit unfolding today (Friday) at the Tagum City Tennis Club in Davao del Norte.

Velez, one of Davao City’s rising stars who has posted a number of victories in the circuit sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop, gains the top seeding in both the boys’ 14- and 16-and-under divisions but faces a slew of equally talented rivals out to foil his bid.

They include Michael Padao, Karl Palo and Cedric Pamplona in both categories along with Rayman Saldivar and Al Anana, who are competing in the 14-U play of the Group 2 tournament presented by Slazenger with Dunlop as the official ball which drew over 200 entries vying in nine singles and five doubles events.

Madis, on the other hand, hopes to stamp her classes again in girls’ 12and 14-U sides with Jillian Manangking, Angelie Ripdos, Jasmen Kadalum also seeking to score a “double” in the week-long event sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines, made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg. “While these two rising young stars have proved themselves in past tournaments, we expect them to face stiff resistance from a host of others who have trained to get a crack at the crown and ranking points,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

NCRAA finals on Game today (Olivarez College) 10 a.m. -- De Ocampo vs Olivarez College DENIED a championship last season, De Ocampo Memorial College takes another crack at the crown when it starts its bid against Olivarez College at the beginning of their Sta. Lucia Land-NCRAA men’s basketball tournament championship duel at the PATTS Gym today at the Olivarez Gym. De Ocampo and Olivarez clash in Game 1 of their best-of-three finals series at 10 a.m.

Led by Dahrell Caranguian, the Cobras made a return trip to the finals by outlasting the Andre Paras-less AMA Online Titans, 108-106, in the semifinal round of this tournament presented by Sta. Lucia Land and supported by Bread Talk and Max’s with LGR as the official outfitter.

LOTTO RESULTS

The NU senior men’s team members display their medals after the awarding ceremony. Seated, from left, are: Alfred Avila, Jack Daclan, Diether Baylon, Nigel Buan and Noel Sabillano. Standing, from left, are: Raymond Cano, Joseph Chua, Jhon Lim, Jeffrey Figueroa, coach; Dave Cea, Arven Alcantara and Keno Anthony Mendoza.

honors were: Senior men -- University of the East, second; De La Salle University, third.

Senior women -- De La Salle University, second; Ateneo de Manila University, third Junior men -- University of Santo Tomas, second; Ateneo de Manila University, third.

Junior women -- Arellano University, second; Diliman Preparatory School, third.

Cadet boys -- San Beda College, second; De La Salle Araneta University, third.

Cadet girls -- De La Salle Araneta University, second; Diliman Preparatory School, third.

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

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

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FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018

Sports

Taisei Shimizu blasts out of a bunker to power Southwoods into the lead of the 71st PAL Interclub Regular Men’s Championship at Marapara in Bacolod. Lino Santos

SMB, Ginebra renew rivalry

By Jeric Lopez

T

HE grudge match is on .Top seed San Miguel Beer and No. 4 Barangay Ginebra renew their heated rivalry as they embark on another chapter in their storied journey in the opening of their best-of-seven semifinals in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.

Drawing first blood will be the priority of both squads as they open hostilities with Game 1 tonight at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

This colossal battle ahead will serve as a rematch of last season’s Philippine Cup finals and Governors’ Cup quarterfinals.

While San Miguel claimed its third straight All-Filipino trophy last year at the expense of Ginebra, the Gin Kings bounced back in the third conference and eliminated the Beermen, denying them of a coveted Grand Slam.

Now, it’s a new story to be written and both teams are looking forward to another exciting playoff.

“It’s the semifinals and it will always be tough, especially against Barangay Ginebra,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria. “They beat us last conference and we’re hoping to be better this time for us to get to the finals.”

Building of SEAG facilities in progress

By Peter Atencio THINGS are falling into place and according to schedule.

Newly appointed Philippine Olympic Committee spokesman Ed Picson said this after POC president Ricky Vargas had an initial meeting with Foreign Affairs secretary and 2019 Southeast Asian Games organizing committee chairman Allan Peter Cayetano Wednesday evening.

“It was a just a briefing from the organizing committee. It was good. Everything is rolling,” said Picson.

The meeting with Cayetano came two months after backhoes began digging soil from the ground inside a property in Capas, Tarlac to start the groundwork on facilities that will be built and used for the SEA Games.

During the briefing, Cayetano told Vargas that work is now in progress on venues that will be used for the Games, which are set to be held from Nov. 30 to Dec. 6.

The venues are part of a P13.6-billion project, known as Phase 1A of the New Clark City (NCC).

This will include a track oval and an Olympic-sized pool that will be located inside the Aquatics and Athletics Center.

The athletics stadium will have a seating capacity of 20,000 while the aquatics center can accommodate 2,000.

Aside from this, Vargas, who also remains a top executive with PLDT and First Pacific, was told that the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan is also available.

Next, Cayetano told Vargas that they have plans of holding the opening ceremonies in Metro Manila.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez was also present at the meeting at Hungry Hound Restaurant inside the Bonifacio Global City.

“We’re looking for ward to have a great series. San Miguel will always be great and will always be tough to play but we’re looking for ward to the challenge,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone. “We’re looking forward to having a good series with them and see how we do.”

Both teams were impressive in the quarterfinals. They look ready for their heavyweight match ahead.

Only needing a win to get to the final four, San Miguel routed TNT KaTropa, 106-93, last Tuesday. Ginebra defeated Rain or Shine three straight times in a span of one week to make it this far.

Loaded with talent from top to bottom, expect a barn-burner of a series as the four-peat seeking Beermen and the aspiring Gin Kings are expected to go far in this round.

Barangay Ginebra guard Sol Mercado (3) protects the basketball against San Miguel Beer counterpart Brian Heruela. PBA

Shimizu powers Southwoods to golf lead BACOLOD—Despite its top gun jamming in the back nine, Manila Southwoods yesterday still had too much in its arsenal and opened a 12-point lead after the first round of the 71st PAL Interclub Regular Men’s Championship at the Marapara layout here.

Taisei Shimizu of Japan took over the spearhead’s role when his fancied countryman Yuto Katsuragawa couldn’t get going, shooting an eagle-spiked threeunder-par 68 worth 38 points as Southwoods tallied 140 and threatened to complete its date with history in blowout fashion.

“That was actually our target, to shoot 140, which I knew would give us the lead,” Southwoods’ non-playing skipper Thirdy Escano said after Shimizu completed a routine par 5 on the 600-yard 18th.

Chepe Dulay birdied the closing hole for a 37, the veteran Jun Jun Plana accounted for 34 and Jama Reyes’ 31 counted as the last score for Southwoods after Katsuragawa bogeyed his last five holes and threw away an otherwise good round for a 30.

“We really weren’t mindful of what the other teams were scoring,” Escano added. “I just asked the players for a 140 and they gave me that. We have the same target (in the second round tomorrow) and we’ll see where that takes us.”

Southwoods is seeking to become the first team to win this event three straight years, and the Carmona-based squad’s overpowering opening round performance even with Katsuragawa not counting has certainly given Escano’s players even more confidence.

It was surprising enough that Katsuragawa finished on a limp, but also unexpected was Luisita emerging as the chief threat after Canlubang’s first round team struggled big time to trail by 21 in third spot.

Leandro Bagtas scored a level 36, Dan Cruz and Rodel Mangulabnan accounted for 31 each and Don Petil fired 30 for Luisita, which has also started a grassroots program to be able to contend in this division in the years to come.

The Sugar Barons couldn’t do better than assemble a 119 after their own anchor, many-time national champion Rupert Zaragosa, struggled to post 29.

Lester Lagman had 31 points and Gido Mandanas 30 to make for the bulk of the Canlubang score.

IN BRIEF

LBC allots $8.55m to buy 4 US affiliates LOGISTICS company LBC Express Holdings Inc. said Thursday its board approved the acquisition of four affiliate cargo and remittance companies operating in California, New Jersey, Saipan and Hawaii for $8.55 million.

LBC Express said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the acquisition four affiliates would benefit the company by contributing to its global revenue stream. nder the plan, LBC Express will pay $6.86 million to acquire LBC Mundial Corp., $1.4 million for LBC Mabuhay Hawaii Corp., $342,000 for LBC Mabuhay North America Corp. and $207,652 for LBC Mabuhay Saipan Inc., The Philippine Stock Exchange implemented a trading suspension of LBC Express shares as the acquisition is covered by rules on disclosure of substantial acquisitions and reverse takeovers.

Share price of LBC Express closed at P15 Wednesday. Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

Malaysia to hold promotion program THE Malaysia Promotion Programme will take place in Manila on March 11 to 18 March 2018 under the theme “Choose Malaysia”.

MPP aims to promote greater trade, investment and tourism activities between Malaysia and the Philippines. Previous editions of MPP were held in London and Sydney. Manila was chosen for the 2018 edition.

Trade between Malaysia and the Philippines in 2017 reached $5.93 billion, up 21.4 percent from 2016. Malaysia’s exports to the Philippines were valued at $3.84 billion, while imports accounted for $2.09 billion. Malaysia had a $1.75-billion trade surplus in 2017.

About 70 Malaysian companies and government agencies in various industries such as ICT, construction and building materials, furniture, food and beverages would be in Manila to meet with their counterparts during the holding of MPP. In conjunction with MPP, Malaysia External Trade Development Corp. will organize the Malaysia Business Forum on March 12 at Makati Shangri-La Hotel with the theme “Leveraging Partnership: Asea and Beyond.”

PLDT’s profit falls a third on big investment PLDT Inc. said Thursday net income dropped 33 percent in 2017, after it made large investments to modernize its network.

The country’s largest telecom company said net income reached P13.4 billion last year, down from P20.16 billion in 2016.

“This was mainly due to non-core capex [capital expenditures]-related expenses of P16.7 billion in connection with our transformation initiatives, including accelerated depreciation and loss due to a swap of network elements in certain part of the country, resulting from PLDT’s aggressive network upgrade aimed to achieve dramatic improvements in customer experience,” PLDT said.

PLDT said in the fourth quarter alone, it incurred a net loss of P8.51 billion, wider by 11 percent than the P4.14-billion loss a year earlier.

Revenues fell 3 percent last year to P159.93 billion from P165.26 billion in 2016. Revenues in the fourth quarter rose to P40.86 billion from P39.88 billion a year ago.

PLDT’s Home and enterprise business groups reported revenues of P33 billion and P34.1 billion, respectively, posting growth rates of 13 percent and 11 percent from a year earlier.

Revenues of the wireless consumer group retreated 11 percent to P58.9 billion.

PLDT said expenses increased 7 percent to P150.42 billion last year from P140.56 billion in 2016.

Darwin G. Amojelar

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018

B1

ICTSI spending $212m to expand 4 container ports

By Darwin G. Amojelar

Jollibee plans to raise $80m for Smashburger RESTAURANT chain operator Jollibee Foods Corp. said it plans to tap the debt market to refinance the $80-million maturing obligation of US-based burger chain Smashburger.

Jollibee said in a disclosure to the stock exchange that amending Smashburger’s debt structure would be one of its top priorities as soon as it finalized the acquisition of additional stake in Smashburger to ensure the long-term growth of the company.

Jollibee said it was expecting the acquisition of additional stake in Smashburger to 85 percent from the current 40 percent worth $100 million to be completed in one or two months subject to government approval in the United States and meeting certain closing conditions.

Smashburger through parent company Smashburger Master LLC has $80 million in debt maturing on May 15, 2018.

Under the plan, Jollibee will borrow long-term loans from banks or issue loan guarantees to banks on behalf of Smashburger in order to implement the refinancing plan. Jenniffer B. Austria

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

STRONGER PH-RUSSIA RELATIONS. Trade Department officials meet with delegates from Russia to discuss trade and investment cooperation as the Philippines looks to strengthen economic relations and increase bilateral trade and investment between the two countries. The meeting also discussed Russia’s pitch for hosting the 2025 World Expo, a global event which aims to educate the public, sharing innovation, promoting progress and fostering cooperation. Shown are (from left) Export Marketing Bureau director Senen Perlada, Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev, Russia World Expo 2025 bid committee director general Svetlana Sagaydak, Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya, Philippine commercial counsellor in Moscow Kristine Umali, EMB assistant director Agnes Legaspi and Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions officer-in-charge for special project division Eva Mariquina.

Ayala Land buying 290 hectares in Luisita estate P

By Othel V. Campos

ROPERTY developer Ayala Land Inc. obtained a clearance from the Philippine Competition Commission to buy a 290-hectare lot from Central Azucarera de Tarlac.

Central Azucarera de Tarlac, which operates a sugar mill and refinery, distillery and carbon dioxide plants in Tarlac City, also owns Luisita Land Corp. which is engaged in developing, leasing and selling real properties and other ancillary services in the former Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac province.

PCC, the country’s anti-trust body, said in a decision signed on March 6 that its Mergers and Acquisitions Office found that the acquisition by Ayala Land of a 290-hectare property from Central Azucarera de Tarlac would not result in substantial lessening of competition in their respective relevant markets.

Share price of Central Azucarera de Tarlac jumped 36.4 percent Thursday to P46.85, while Ayala Land rose 0.1 percent to P41.50.

Documents from PCC showed Ayala Land wanted to buy the large property in Barangay Central, San Miguel, Tarlac City. PCC said the parties were not operating in the same geographic market, rendering the deal as not anti-competitive.

Ayala Land is primarily engaged in the planning and development of largescale and integrated estates, property management, construction and other businesses like retail and healthcare.

Central Azucarera de Tarlac is also a publicly-listed corporation engaged in the manufacturing of sugar and all its by-products.

Meanwhile, PCC said it also approved the acquisition by Fullerton Healthcare Corp. Ltd. of 60 percent of the issued and outstanding capital shares in Asalus Corp., Avega Managed Care Inc. and Aventus Medical Care Inc. which are related domestic corporations.

The agency’s Mergers and Acquisitions Office said there would be no overlap between the parties in the domestic geographic market in health maintenance organization, third-party administration products and clinical and drug testing laboratories.

Fullerton, the acquiring firm, is a foreign corporation whose subsidiaries are engaged principally in the provision of enterprise healthcare services and specialty service in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Australia and New Zealand.

Asalus Corp., which is operating under the trade name “Intellicare” is into the business of developing, maintaining, and promoting integrated medical and health maintenance services. It offers HMO products and standard full HMO services.

Avega is engaged in the business of developing, maintaining, and promoting integrated medical and health maintenance services through the accreditation, integration and professional maintenance of the services of healthcare facilities and providers.

INVESTMENT HUB. First

Metro Securities Brokerage Corp., the stockbrokerage arm of Metrobank Group, recently inaugurates the First Metro Investment Hub, a learning center for beginner and expert investors.

The hub is in line with FirstMetroSec’s advocacy to promote financial education and improve financial literacy in the country.

Shown during the launch are (from left) Fr. Rannie Geraldino, FirstMetroSec president Gonzalo Ordoñez and FirstMetroSec chairman Rabboni Francis Arjonillo.

Excess power supply expected to moderate electricity rates

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Philippines is now experiencing an ‘oversupply situation’ in the power sector which is expected to last five to seven years, a top executive of Aboitiz Power Corp. said Thursday.

“Based on our analysis, we are in an oversupply situation, which is a common theme in the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao grids for the next five to seven years,” Aboitiz Power president Antonio Moraza said in the company’s internal paper He said an oversupply would be good for the consumers as the improved supply situation led to low selling prices at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market and open access regime.

“However, this poses tremendous

pressure on private power players.

Competition is very tough, prices are declining resulting to lower margins.

Our generation and distribution groups continue to look for ways to improve efficiency, reliability and availability. We simply have to compete smartly by being the best operators in this low-margin environment,” Moraza said.

He said Aboitiz Power aimed to have 4,000 megawatts in net attributable capacity by 2020.

“As of end 2017, we are almost 3,000MW strong and, this year, we expect to add 536 MW more into our generating portfolio with our hydro plants Maris Canal and Manolo Fortich plus our baseload plants Pagbilao 3 and Therma Visayas coming online,” he said.

“Based on our project pipeline, we are

confident that we will hit our 4,000-MW goal by 2020,” he said.

Moraza said open access, which gives customers the power to choose suppliers, remained a big challenge but “our portfolio has given us a distinct advantage alongside the relationships we have built with our customers.”

“Our distribution group is, likewise, riding on the economic growth of their franchise areas. We are constantly looking for ways to improve how we are doing things so we can serve our customers better,” he said.

Moraza said that being an essential utility, “we expect public and government focus and scrutiny, we must continue to operate responsibly and be conscious of the impact we have on people and environment”.

PORT operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. said it allocated $212 million to expand the main port in Manila and three other projects overseas.

ICTSI, led by billionaire Enrique Razon Jr., said in a disclosure to the stock exchange, it would use unappropriated retained earnings of $212 million for capital expenditures for new and existing projects in Manila, Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana S.A. de C.V. in Honduras, Basra Gateway Terminal in Iraq and Contecon Manzanillo S.A. in Mexico.

The company programmed $380 million in capital expenditures in 2018, up from $240 million it spent in 2017.

The capex for this year is mainly allocated for the capacity expansion of its terminal operations in Manila, Mexico and Iraq; continuing rehabilitation and development of the company’s container terminal in Honduras; procurement of additional equipment and minor infrastructure works in its newly acquired terminal operations in Papua New Guinea; and the completion of a new barge terminal project in Cavite City.

ICTSI earlier reported a net income of $207.7 million last year, up 7 percent from $193.5 million in 2016.

Gross revenues reached increased 10 percent in 2017 to $1.24 billion from $1.13 billion in 2016.

ICTSI handled consolidated volume of 9,153,458 twenty-foot equivalent units in 2017, or 5 percent more than the 8,689,363 TEUs handled in 2016.

The company said the increase in volume was primarily due to continuing improvement in global trade activities particularly in emerging markets; continuing ramp-up at ICTSI’s operations in Basra, Iraq; new services at Manzanillo, Mexico; and contribution of new terminals in Matadi, DRC and Melbourne, Australia.

SEC finalizes ruling against cryptocurrency plan of Calata

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission en banc denied the appeal of businessman Joseph Calata to lift the cease and desist order against his four firms engaged in selling unregistered cryptocurrency in the forms of Krops Tokens or KropCoins.

The SEC also made permanent the cease and desist order against Black Cell Technology Inc., Black Sand Capital Inc. and Black Cell Technolgy Limited and Krops.

“Krop Tokens/and or KropCoins are being offered and/or sold within the Philippines through the joint effort of respondents,” the corporate regulator said.

The SEC said in an order dated March 2 that it rejected the arguments raised by Calata-owned firms that the corporate regulator had no jurisdiction over them because Krops was a software application owned and maintained by Black Cell HK, a company incorporated in Hong Kong.

“The CDO does not restrain Black Cell HK from owning and maintaining Krops as an application. What the CDO restrains is the act of publicly offering and selling of securities in the Philippines through initial coin offering of Kropcoins,” the SEC said.

“Respondents are attempting to evade an obligation to register with the commission by claiming that that initial coin offering is the sold act of Black Cell HR. Piercing the corporate veil is thus proper and the respondents may be held liable,” it said.

Calata group said Kropcoins were not securities but a primary medium of exchange where a holder of Kropcoins could use the token to purchase commodities within Krop ecosystem.

The SEC, however, said Krop Tokens and KropCoins satisfied the description of “securities” under Section 3.1 of the Securities Regulation Code.

“The terms commercial enterprise or profit making venture as well as common enterprises are descriptive of Krops, an unincorporated ‘start-up’ company as shown by respondents’ own admission,” it said.

B2

Business

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market dips; SBS tops gainers S TOCKS fell Thursday amid thin trading, as investors stayed on the sidelines, continuing a week of volatility sparked by fears of a global trade war.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, shed 22 points, or 0.3 percent, to close at 8,381.85, as four of the six major sectors declined.

The heavier index, representing all shares, rose 9 points, 0.2 percent, to settle at 5,065.48, on a value turnover of P5.8 billion.

Advancers outnumbered losers, 118 to 85, while 61 issues were unchanged.

Eleven of the 20 most active

stocks ended in the green, led by chemical trader SBS Philippines Corp. which surged 50 percent to P9 and sugar producer Central Azucarera de Tarlac which jumped 36.4 percent to P46.85.

Property developer Ayala Land Inc. obtained a clearance from the Philippine Competition Commission to buy a 290-hectare lot from Central Azucarera de Tarlac. Ayala Land rose 0.1 percent Thursday to P41.50.

Meanwhile, most Asia stocks rose Thursday. Equities have swooned since Donald Trump last week unveiled the levies as part of his “America First” agenda, which were met with anger across the world and from leaders in his own Republican Party.

European Union officials outlined planned retaliatory measures on targeted American exports to be rolled out if the US makes good on its threat, while China said it would make “an appropriate and necessary response”.

This week has seen sharp swings in stocks from positive to negative as predictions the measures will not be as bad as feared were offset by news Wednesday the president’s protrade top economics advisor Gary Cohn had resigned.

But for globalists, Thursday was positive after White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said there were “potential carve-outs for Mexico and Canada” and other countries based on national security. And Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross

insisted: “We’re not looking for a trade war.”

A final decision on the tariffs is expected soon.

“There is a feeling that President Trump may be toning down his protectionism push,” said Makoto Sengoku, market analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Centre.

“Things may not turn out as bad as we feared before,” he told AFP. Regional markets were mostly higher, with Tokyo climbing 0.5 percent, helped by figures showing the Japanese economy grew at a faster pace than first reported in the final three months of 2017.

Hong Kong added 1.6 percent and Sydney climbed 0.7 percent, while Seoul surged 1.3 percent. Singapore,Wellington

and Taipei were also sharply up.

Shanghai gained 0.5 percent as a report showed Chinese exports surged a blistering 44.5 percent in February but imports were up a disappointing 6.3 percent.

The country’s trade surplus with the US, a key touchstone with Trump, also narrowed monthon-month but is still double last February’s figure.

World markets were already in flux since the start of last month on worries about the impact of rising US interest rates, though analysts pointed out that the global economy remained on a healthy track.

“If you look at the global economic backdrop the world still looks relatively good,” JPMorgan Asset Management Australia CEO Rachel Farrell told Bloomberg TV. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59.6 1,980 117.8 1,933,480 3.2 61,000 150 1,301,580 1.72 156,000 35.1 99,300 8.5 2,700 15.5 29,300 29.9 979,100 3.39 143,000 8.65 3,300 900 20 0.55 493,000 95.95 1,698,520 1.41 1,327,000 12.88 30,300 24 5,600 56.9 180,690 248.8 20,870 165 93,300 85.25 700 46.85 16,300 250 474,320 1,925 410 90.7 96,790 1.21 53,000

117,819 227,788,169 196,000 195,842,481 267,700 3,477,770 22,950 453,926 29,710,930 479,470 28,545 18,000 271,320 163,125,358.50 1,885,860 386,712 138,960 10,297,991 5,191,210 14,621,502 59,695 764,080 118,037,964 789,250 8,802,493 64,130

106,609 -170,728,193 16,000 -125,440,069 122,935 3,699,160 9,900 59,969,558 -42,080 5,160 533,310.50 4,976 248,900 -51,580 5,258,680 7,350,743.00 -

38.8 13.16 0.55 1.27 18.82 0.22 146 3.63 16.86 351 51.15 29.9 61.55 56 83 1.9 5.3 10.48 11.7 14.18 11.02 7.48 5.55 1.73 14.52 62.8 27.85 9.5 19.3 2.51 295 51.15 4.75 18 26.4 16.56 20.25 328 0.193 7.6 2.54 5.02 9.14 6.36 8.3 1.56 12.4 54.55 6 617 4.86 2.6 3.35 2.34 15.5 5.21 0.132 1.03 149.8 1.91 24.5 1.11

INDUSTRIAL 39 1,479,100 13.44 2,924,600 0.58 39,000 1.28 107,000 19 24,800 0.22 1,150,000 179 18,350 3.72 3,192,000 17.2 2,829,400 398 1,720 51.5 494,180 46.85 2,133,300 61.55 30 79.65 119,210 140 21,860 1.92 72,000 5.3 50,000 10.48 106,000 11.8 976,900 14.38 376,800 11.06 182,100 7.48 178,200 5.65 3,837,100 1.73 34,000 15.5 4,989,900 62.8 53,050 28 138,700 9.85 14,200 19.6 1,069,600 2.51 12,945,000 295 367,970 51.15 10 4.8 249,000 18.78 5,700 26.6 78,200 16.58 329,600 20.9 1,724,200 331 227,730 0.193 250,000 7.65 9,200 2.71 605,000 5.09 282,400 9.18 771,100 6.39 376,300 8.3 47,400 1.58 542,000 12.42 39,200 54.85 193,050 6.1 200 626.5 23,110 4.88 53,000 2.77 517,000 3.37 33,000 2.52 4,764,000 15.6 332,200 5.38 22,900 0.139 3,410,000 1.05 14,000 150 633,770 2.1 40,367,000 25.85 800 1.18 40,442,000

57,689,010 38,988,200 21,930 136,600 468,892 253,300 3,356,252 11,717,520 48,098,316 684,178 25,649,753 95,605,780 1,846.50 8,653,444.50 2,484,137 137,840 265,000 1,112,920 11,633,742 5,392,996 2,014,738 1,348,101 21,493,917 58,820 76,268,570 3,343,210.50 3,884,415 140,215 21,042,395 34,051,710 110,192,940 511.5 1,207,470 104,690 2,080,815 5,467,192 35,626,895 75,263,186 48,270 70,377 1,625,720 1,436,975 7,068,457 2,466,383 393,440 852,980 487,944 10,598,653 1,210 14,458,035 258,210 1,398,510 117,110 11,773,800 5,194,780 122,863 455,060 14,720 95,169,769 81,914,580 19,915 48,369,220

-39,319,635 4,022,824 -6,450 3,796 -4,263,780 22,616,390 459,523 -2,651,950 -497,140 -13,440 1,887,870 4,583,070 121,474 -76,540 -12,454,617 5,190 35,647,254 -1,116,217 96,030 -7,805,252 52,510 -37,114,910 -1,270,955 2,220,782 -3,204,920 -1,543,660 793,770 4,015,717 -481,030 -9,976,031 -244,175 189,930 13,900.00 2,477,370 -118,930 47,900 -39,918,468 -2,823,320 -50,230

0.31 72.45 14.3 0.93 7.48 0.65 0.67 1,036 7.15 13.06 7.5 5.48 0.194 1,296 7.24 65 5.13 0.66 5.14 20.05 0.315 5.75 3.49 0.043 1.12 3.47 2.55 139.5 2.56 941 0.79 1.64 665 279 0.245 0.185 0.2

HOLDING FIRMS 0.32 4,240,000 73.25 2,017,250 14.64 3,198,300 0.93 46,000 7.52 142,900 0.66 8,042,000 0.68 1,209,000 1,038 143,645 7.17 8,588,500 13.28 3,692,500 7.59 600 5.48 600 0.205 880,000 1,320 40,770 7.24 2,100 66 784,520 5.13 14,000 0.68 519,000 5.18 1,959,800 20.1 2,248,700 0.315 1,000,000 5.79 38,876,000 3.5 7,000 0.044 6,900,000 1.12 10,000 3.54 20,011,000 2.65 10,000 141 65,710 2.56 301,000 958 124,880 0.84 881,000 1.77 20,092,000 780 23,320 280 3,870 0.245 650,000 0.191 5,710,000 0.22 4,910,000

1,354,850 147,814,098 46,407,360 43,480 1,074,286 5,310,790 819,210 149,358,740 61,622,502 48,726,092 4,519 3,289 174,360 53,567,490 15,204 51,436,638.50 71,820 346,440 10,151,213 45,332,680 325,400 227,058,393 24,440 300,200 11,200 71,324,790 26,300 9,242,925 771,370 118,850,705 777,680 36,706,420 20,051,805 1,082,646 166,550 1,095,620 1,045,650

15,750 -38,027,484 -535,858 -312,104 433,460 -100,589,990 -540,408 -9,740,288 -9,187,820 -15,621,374 4,506,539 3,679,420 -93,656,753 450,940 3,166,964 -28,380 -59,862,480 4,350 126,330 -343,450 -

4,996,840 13,617,850 141,414 133,160 2,123,880 313,650,025 1,225,830 5,112,570 471,098 188,970 3,000 8,675,400 1,356,450 31,820 14,737,050 290,200 11,774,600 3,121,330 74,090 7,637,170 17,847,460 169,740 34,320

-1,447,106 -28,460 -131,746,900 -22,700 14,300 0 248,300 165,000 518,570 -1,469,000 -3,984,960 -20,710 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO LEASING BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK CITYSTATE BANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FERRONOUX HLDG FILIPINO FUND 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

59 117.8 3.37 154 1.75 35.1 8.5 15.5 30.25 3.4 8.65 900 0.56 97 1.47 12.9 24.95 56.65 249.2 111.9 85.35 47 249.6 1,925 90.6 1.21

59.6 118.5 3.37 154 1.75 35.1 8.5 15.5 30.75 3.7 8.65 900 0.56 97.05 1.47 12.9 25 57.25 249.8 165 85.35 47 250 1,925 91.5 1.21

59 117.2 3.18 149.9 1.7 35 8.5 15.36 29.9 3.28 8.65 900 0.54 95.95 1.4 12.62 24 56.65 248.6 111.9 85.25 46.8 244.6 1,925 90.5 1.21

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CONCRETE B CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT EUROMED FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR LMG CHEMICALS 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 VITARICH VIVANT VULCAN INDL

39 13.16 0.55 1.28 18.98 0.225 189 3.63 16.9 419 51.15 34.3 61.55 57 99.9 1.9 5.3 10.5 12 14.2 11.12 7.6 5.66 1.73 14.52 63 28.05 9.97 19.6 2.78 303 51.15 4.79 18.12 26.55 16.62 20.6 330 0.194 7.7 2.65 5.02 9.23 6.79 8.3 1.59 12.5 54.8 6 626 4.87 2.78 3.6 2.5 15.5 5.4 0.134 1.06 149.8 1.94 24.5 1.16

39.2 13.44 0.58 1.29 19 0.225 200 3.73 17.2 419 52.95 51.2 61.55 79.65 149 1.93 5.3 10.5 12 14.38 11.14 7.6 5.66 1.73 15.76 63.2 28.05 9.97 20.15 2.78 304 51.15 4.9 19.4 27.25 16.62 21 333 0.194 7.7 2.75 5.19 9.23 6.79 8.31 1.6 12.72 55.2 6.1 630.5 4.88 2.84 3.6 2.6 15.8 5.4 0.139 1.06 151.9 2.1 25.85 1.27

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 FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV MJC INVESTMENTS PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA PRIME ORION REPUBLIC GLASS SAN MIGUEL CORP SEAFRONT RES SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID TOP FRONTIER UNIOIL HLDG WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.335 73 14.36 0.94 7.6 0.67 0.68 1,060 7.26 13.08 7.5 5.49 0.209 1,296 7.24 65 5.13 0.7 5.14 20.8 0.38 5.75 3.49 0.044 1.12 3.5 2.55 140 2.58 946.5 0.8 1.64 1,098 280 0.255 0.189 0.2

0.335 74.45 14.74 0.95 7.6 0.68 0.68 1,060 7.26 13.28 7.59 5.49 0.209 1,320 7.24 66 5.13 0.7 5.2 20.8 0.38 5.91 3.5 0.045 1.12 3.65 2.65 141 2.58 958 0.97 1.92 1,100 284 0.265 0.204 0.223

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

7.1 1.08 15.5 2.19 0.89 41.95 3.79 4.8 6.29 6 6 0.46 1.1 1.06 0.295 0.48 30.9 0.64 0.129 1.82 1.33 0.7 4.3

7.1 1.14 16.26 2.19 0.93 41.95 3.82 4.88 6.29 6.05 6 0.46 1.18 1.07 0.315 0.485 30.9 0.66 0.139 1.83 1.44 0.74 4.3

6.99 1.07 15.5 2.06 0.88 41.3 3.77 4.79 6.02 6 6 0.435 1.07 1.06 0.295 0.46 30.55 0.63 0.127 1.78 1.33 0.69 4.28

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

4.74 0.75 0.38 0.54 4.08 36 19.86 2.01 3.24 35.85 1 23.5 0.83 6.35

4.9 0.78 0.41 0.56 4.3 42.8 20.85 2.01 3.24 35.85 1.02 23.55 0.91 6.36

4.74 0.75 0.375 0.54 4.07 36 19.7 1.95 3.21 35.3 1 22.7 0.83 6.24

4.8 0.75 0.39 0.55 4.3 42 20.65 2.01 3.24 35.4 1.02 22.9 0.83 6.35

11,363,000 120,731,000 16,820,000 4,036,000 3,453,000 23,300 3,581,500 237,000 308,000 2,097,200 740,000 504,100 3,263,000 4,747,600

54,736,830 92,135,980 6,633,150 2,208,220 14,795,670 939,240 73,662,295 471,670 996,860 74,477,995 748,410 11,610,195 2,865,980 29,982,796

-16,818,220 529,660 155,630 -12,110,610 91,340 418,430 -24,672,235 185,865 -6,778,225

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 LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY MELCO RESORTS METRO RETAIL MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PAXYS PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

18.7 29.9 1.36 0.6 0.059 11.92 4.86 14.5 0.068 99.05 8.71 7.4 9.54 2.41 41.6 1,685 6.42 320 11.34 5.07 2.68 107.6 13.28 8.31 0.13 1.48 3.4 5 1.04 28.05 0.51 5.53 7.7 3.27 17.8 15.38 10.4 10.6 2.99 116 6.74 1,530 1.19 0.39 52.8 92.85 5.8 2.7 1.46 0.54 3.41 1.02 11.02

18.7 29.9 1.38 0.61 0.061 11.92 4.86 14.64 0.07 100 8.8 7.5 9.78 2.5 42.9 1,708 6.44 332 11.34 5.31 2.72 110.1 13.3 8.31 0.131 1.54 3.82 5.33 1.04 28.35 0.51 5.53 7.97 3.3 17.9 16 10.4 11 3 117 7.73 1,575 1.2 0.41 53.95 94.9 9 2.7 1.48 0.55 3.49 1.07 11.7

17.8 29.6 1.36 0.57 0.058 11.92 4.86 14.34 0.067 99.05 8.7 7.35 9.44 2.41 39 1,685 6.39 315 11.34 5.03 2.62 107.6 13.28 8.31 0.129 1.48 3.17 5 1.01 27.7 0.51 5.3 7.58 3.25 16.32 13.54 10.4 10.6 2.97 110 6.63 1,520 1.17 0.39 52.8 92.05 5.8 2.67 1.45 0.51 3.41 1.01 10.9

SERVICES 17.84 29.75 1.37 0.57 0.06 11.92 4.86 14.48 0.069 99.95 8.8 7.48 9.7 2.41 40.45 1,690 6.43 327 11.34 5.15 2.67 109.9 13.28 8.31 0.13 1.5 3.4 5.26 1.02 28 0.51 5.4 7.97 3.26 17.86 13.7 10.4 10.6 2.97 110 7.1 1,560 1.18 0.395 53.95 94 9 2.69 1.47 0.51 3.48 1.02 11.3

49,100 89,100 97,000 23,895,000 35,510,000 1,100 2,000 11,570,600 23,380,000 47,000 5,500 425,000 1,882,300 39,000 231,400 44,510 535,800 51,830 100 2,988,000 13,000 624,340 35,300 30,500 2,510,000 596,000 3,788,000 12,204,800 1,075,000 956,200 110,000 1,433,500 922,000 1,048,000 7,200 33,205,800 5,100 5,600 16,000 8,970 9,350,600 180,655 2,569,000 970,000 2,034,420 736,750 15,980,900 1,813,000 1,858,000 22,608,000 69,000 21,875,000 8,488,800

880,200 2,652,210 132,810 14,002,770 2,127,600 13,112 9,720 167,359,866 1,606,240 4,693,634.50 47,910 3,165,802 18,119,693 94,470 9,486,470 75,337,930 3,440,676 16,816,424 1,134 15,492,050 34,820 68,458,989 469,090 253,455 326,280 887,090 13,702,020 63,574,130 1,092,610 26,719,925 56,100 7,682,919 7,174,526 3,419,990 126,572 484,260,852 53,040 60,040 47,830 1,042,187 68,189,802 278,620,010 3,019,290 382,600 109,212,140 69,345,759.50 128,936,672 4,879,230 2,709,910 11,870,260 236,820 22,648,610 96,591,586

2,950 -18,000 46,867,004 1,644,691.50 8,710 -94,063 18,900.00 -53,685 -63,320 263,870 275,190 41,579,853 6,550 -85,590 8,438,787 24,530 -3,923,080 202,143 -813,490 1,869,030 -6,131,292 13,780 194,152 -12,325,159 39,717,405 -153,120 84,522,652 -41,692,697.50 651,587 1,664,310 665,490 345,660 123,020 184,400 40,147,950.00

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK BENGUET A 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 ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL PHINMA PETRO PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING UNITED PARAGON

0.0029 1.75 5.01 16.3 1.73 1.68 0.31 7.39 2.43 0.25 0.152 0.153 0.0091 1.48 6.05 1.4 0.455 0.92 0.012 0.013 0.012 2.32 6.05 15.5 33.8 0.0068

0.0031 1.81 5.02 18.32 1.73 1.7 0.31 7.39 2.48 0.255 0.153 0.153 0.0091 1.52 6.09 1.4 0.46 0.92 0.012 0.013 0.012 2.32 6.12 15.8 33.85 0.0068

0.0029 1.73 5.01 16.16 1.73 1.67 0.305 7.2 2.4 0.237 0.149 0.153 0.0091 1.46 6.02 1.29 0.435 0.87 0.012 0.013 0.011 2.31 6.02 15.2 33.45 0.0068

MINING & OIL 0.003 1,004,000,000 1.78 12,796,000 5.01 181,200 18.32 4,700 1.73 10,000 1.7 1,005,000 0.31 110,000 7.2 5,600 2.4 3,761,000 0.237 870,000 0.151 2,880,000 0.153 80,000 0.0091 5,000,000 1.52 192,000 6.09 540,100 1.29 590,000 0.44 690,000 0.91 53,000 0.012 800,000 0.013 500,000 0.012 95,900,000 2.31 43,000 6.04 499,600 15.2 2,429,100 33.8 2,148,200 0.0068 5,000,000

3,008,600 22,710,630 907,942 78,606 17,300 1,683,760 33,900 40,339 9,106,950 209,420 433,350 12,240 45,500 283,130 3,266,101 770,680 305,950 46,540 9,600 6,500 1,135,300 99,410 3,023,748 37,586,918 72,443,965 34,000

1,697,100 59,745 42,000 36,000 22,190 -5,880 635,440 14,740 4,550 -2,500 48,640 4,671,172 -48,690,595.00 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF F FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2I

29.9 504.5 514 108.9 102 107.9 111 6.18 1,000 100.4 1.07 106.1 1,100 80 75.7 76.9 77.1

29.9 504.5 514 109 102 107.9 111 6.23 1,000 100.4 1.07 106.1 1,100 80 75.7 77.1 77.1

29 504.5 514 107 101.5 107.9 111 6.17 1,000 100.3 1.04 104.5 1,100 79.95 75.7 76.5 77.1

PREFERRED 29.45 1,100 504.5 1,000 514 100 107 14,330 101.9 4,830 107.9 40 111 200 6.23 397,300 1,000 510 100.3 20,000 1.04 3,000 104.5 100,150 1,100 30 79.95 2,110 75.7 5,300 76.5 103,940 77.1 36,000

32,575 504,500 51,400 1,535,923 491,713 4,316 22,200 2,460,786 510,000 2,007,363 3,180 10,465,915 33,000 168,785 401,210 7,953,550 2,775,600

0 144,923 -310,200 1,365,440 144,800 -

LR WARRANT

3.69

4.09

3.64

WARRANTS 4 5,874,000

23,057,420

199,500

12,814,895 558,810 73,298,180

-2,463,223 -59,887,770

808,624

-

33,190.80

-

MS

PROPERTY

7 1.1 16.24 2.06 0.9 41.5 3.82 4.86 6.05 6.05 6 0.435 1.07 1.06 0.295 0.475 30.55 0.64 0.139 1.78 1.37 0.74 4.28

710,900 12,369,000 9,000 62,000 2,355,000 7,557,800 323,000 1,056,000 78,000 31,400 500 19,780,000 1,205,000 30,000 48,450,000 610,000 383,100 4,819,000 580,000 4,256,000 12,844,000 237,000 8,000

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

5.8 3.6 3.37

5.9 3.6 3.64

5.69 3.41 3.36

FIRST METRO ETF

127.8

128

127.7

USD TECH B2

1.02

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

1.02

SHARES 9,342,056

INDUSTRIAL

136,423,410

HOLDING FIRMS

139,988,954

PROPERTY

289,731,516

SERVICES

254,258,220

MINING & OIL

1,140,727,565

GRAND TOTAL

1,993,387,456

1.02

5.75 3.41 3.6

SME

2,221,200 161,000 20,520,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 128 6,320 1.02

DDS

32,540

VALUE 2,186.40 (down) 19.84 803,799,981.00 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,442.52 (down) 85.92 1,002,624,346.00 HOLDING FIRMS 8,394.30 (donw) 9.57 1,166,433,806.765 PROPERTY 3,747.23 (down) 7.71 1,762.28 (up) 18.08 777,835,824.745 SERVICES MINING & OIL 11,538.19 (up) 11.66 1,837,188,700.61 PSEI 8,381.85 (down) 22.84 157,327,201.944 All Shares Index 5,065.48 (up) 9.61 5,832,717,725.13 Gainers: 118; Losers: 85; Unchanged: 61; Total: 264

Del Monte posted $40.4-m net loss in 9-month period

By Jenniffer B. Austria DEL Monte Pacific Ltd. registered a net loss of $40.4 million in a nine-month period ending January 2018, a turnaround from a net income of $21.5 million a year ago, following one-off expenses for DMFI’s plant closure and the write-off of deferred tax assets.

The fruit producer said excluding the one-off expenses, mainly the $39.8-million write-off of deferred tax assets in the US due to new tax rates, the group would have generated a net income of $14.9 million.

DPML in a disclosure to the stock exchange that despite the poor nine-month performance, it was expecting to be profitable in the fiscal year 2018.

Consolidated revenues in the ninemonth period reached $1.7 billion, down from a year ago, as higher sales in Asia were offset by lower sales in the US. DMPL’s second largest subsidiary, Del Monte Philippines Inc., generated sales of $420 million, up 8 percent in peso terms and 2 percent in US dollar terms from the same period last year.

DMPI’s sales comprised Philippine sales and exports under the S&W brand and private label.

The Philippine market sales in the first nine months went up, as the group continued to invest in driving inclusion of Del Monte products in consumers’ weekly menu behind 360-degree campaigns across brands.

Foodservice sales in the Philippines also continued to expand, riding on the rapid expansion of quick service restaurants and convenience stores.

DMPL managing director and chief executive Joselito Campos Jr. said the company was making strategic investments in trade spending and marketing to strengthen its core business in the US. The group is also focused on reducing debt and streamlining operations to become more competitive.

“Such measures are geared to work in tandem with revenue-enhancing initiatives to ensure a profitable and sustainable business in the long run,” Campos said.

NLEX plans to raise P25b from bond sale NLEX Corp., a toll road operator formerly known as Manila North Tollways Corp., filed an application with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a P25-billion bond shelf registration.

NLEX said it would issue an initial tranche of P4 billion with an oversubscription option for another P2 billion.

The bonds will have tenors of seven and 10 years.

The company tapped BDO Capital and Investments Corp. and First Metro Investments Corp. as underwriters for the planned bond offering.

Subject to regulatory approvals, the offer period will be on April 23 to April 27. The bonds will be listed with the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.

Net proceeds from the bond offering will be used to finance capital expenditures of the company, based on the filing.

NLEX is owned by Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., which is the tollway unit of infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

It is primarily engaged in project development, design, construction, financing, operation and management of toll roads. It holds the concession for North Luzon Expressway, the largest toll road in the country, The tollroad firm earlier budgeted P19 billion in capital expenditures for this year to build new expressways that will help ease Metro Manila’s traffic bottlenecks.

The bulk of the company’s 2018 capital expenditure would be used to construct the urban portions of NLEx such as the Harbor Link Segment 10 (including the R10 Section in Dagat-Dagatan, Navotas City) and the NLEx-SLEx Connector Road project.

The tollway company said the planned investment assumed the satisfactory resolution of the tariff adjustments. It was still subject to review and adjustment depending on the results of the discussions on the tariff, it said.

Harbor Link Segment 10 is a 5.7-kilometer elevated expressway traversing NLEx from Smart Connect Interchange and crossing over Mac Arthur Highway in Valenzuela City with down ramps along C3/5th Avenue Interchange in Caloocan City. Jenniffer B. Austria

Standard

TODAY

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018

World

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CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Veterans call for gun reform

MICKEY IS 90. Disney kicks off ‘Mickey the True Original’ campaign in celebration of Mickey’s 90th anniversary with a fashion show featuring a Mickey-inspired collection by Opening Ceremony at Disneyland on March 7, 2018, in Anaheim, California. AFP

Plastic trash choking sea on Bali island NUSA DUA―Millions of tourists are drawn to Bali’s palm-fringed scenery and rich marine life, but there is a danger lurking beneath its famously crystal-clear waters: a wasteland of plastic rubbish.

An underwater video shot by British diver Rich Horner this week showing a sea overflowing with plastic and other garbage at Manta Point, a well-known diving site near Bali’s main island, has highlighted the trouble in paradise.

The holiday island has become an embarrassing poster child for Indonesia’s trash crisis.

The problem has grown so bad that officials in Bali last year declared a “garbage emergency” across a six-kilometer stretch of coast that included popular beaches Jimbaran, Kuta and Seminyak.

“The ocean currents brought us in a lovely gift of a slick of jellyfish, plankton, leaves, branches, fronds, sticks, etc.... Oh, and some plastic,” the diver wrote on his Facebook account.

His video, which has been viewed more than a million times, shows a diver swimming through a torrent of rubbish―including bottles, cups and straws―at Manta Point about 40 kilometers from Bali’s main island.

“Plastic bags, more plastic bags, plastic, plastic, so much plastic!”

Horner said.

Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, is the world’s second biggest contributor to marine debris after China, and a colossal 1.29 million metric tons is estimated to be produced annually by the Southeast Asian nation.

The waves of plastic flooding into rivers and oceans have been causing problems for years, clogging waterways in cities, increasing the risk of floods, and injuring or killing marine animals who ingest or become trapped by plastic packaging.

“Microplastics can contaminate fish which, if eaten by humans, could cause health problems, including cancer,” I Gede Hendrawan, an environmental oceanography researcher at Bali’s Udayana University, previously told AFP. Bali’s rubbish problem is at its worst during the annual monsoon season, when strong winds push marine flotsam on to the beach and swollen rivers wash rubbish from riverbanks to the coast.

“It tends to accumulate [at Manta Point] and the very large amount of rainfall probably has increased the level of garbage because it’s all swept from the mainland out to sea by the rains,” said Iwan Dewantama, a researcher at NGO Conservation International.

As part of its commitment under the UN Environment’s Clean Seas campaign, Jakarta has pledged to reduce marine plastic waste by 70 percent by 2025, through recycling, curbing the use of plastic bags, cleanup campaigns and raising public awareness.

Still, the scale of the problem facing Indonesia is huge, due to its population of more than 260 million and poor waste processing infrastructure. AFP

WASHINGTON―Dave Baril has served in the US Marine Corps fo over 18 years, deployed twice to Iraq, and is a gun owner.

But after a teenager killed 17 people in Florida last month―the deadliest school shooting to hit the country in over five years―he took his personal AR-15 rifle to a local police station and turned it in for destruction.

Baril is one of a group of US military veterans calling for tighter firearms regulations in an effort to reduce gun violence in America, bringing their knowledge of weapons and war―and accompanying credibility―to the contentious debate.

The shootings at a Las Vegas concert last year and at the Parkland, Florida high school “really woke me up the most,” he said.

The 42-year-old said he is “all for the 2nd Amendment” to the US Constitution, which guarantees the right to bear arms.

“But that doesn’t mean that... we should all be driving around in tanks just because... the military has tanks,” he said.

And without changes to current gun laws, Baril believes the current pattern of mass shootings will continue―or get worse.

“The definition of insanity is doing the

same thing over and over again and expecting a different result,” he said.

Both the Las Vegas and Parkland shootings were carried out with AR-15style rifles, which are similar to militaryissue M4s but lack a burst-fire mode.

“If I’m gonna say that... we shouldn’t have these things out there, I can’t have one myself and say, ‘Well, I’m special,’” said Baril.

So he decided to turn in his rifle.

After the Parkland shooting, Baril started the Twitter hashtag #VetsForGunReform and asked a few other veterans if it was something they would support.

They said yes, and it has since taken off, becoming a rallying point for likeminded veterans on social media.

“This has really coalesced the group, and the reach that it’s gotten has been incredible,” Kyleanne Hunter, one of the primary Vets for Gun Reform organizers, said of the hashtag.

“Right now, we’re just sort of a little bit of a ragtag group of volunteers who also all have other jobs, and so we’re getting this going as we can,” said Hunter, a former Cobra helicopter pilot who served in the Marines for nearly 12 years, deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and is a gun owner. AFP

Suu Kyi stripped of rights award W ASHINGTON―The US Holocaust Memorial Museum said Wednesday it was stripping Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi of a prestigious human rights award, accusing her of doing little to halt the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims.

Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her long campaign against the country’s military dictatorship, was awarded the Holocaust Museum’s Elie Wiesel award six years ago “for her courageous leadership and great personal sacrifice in resisting tyranny and advancing the freedom and dignity of the Burmese people.”

But the Museum said it was rescinding the award due to her inaction over what it called “mounting evidence of genocide” committed by Myanmar’s military against civilians from the Rohingya mi-

nority in Rakhine state.

“As the military’s attacks against the Rohingya unfolded in 2016 and 2017, we had hoped that you―as someone we and many others have celebrated for your commitment to human dignity and universal human rights―would have done something to condemn and stop the military’s brutal campaign and to express solidarity with the targeted Rohingya population,” the museum said in a letter to Suu Kyi. Instead, it said, her political party, the National League for Democracy, has re-

fused to cooperate with UN investigators and added to the anti-Rohingya rhetoric.

The party has also obstructed journalists trying to report on the mass murder and expulsion to Bangladesh of the Rohingya.

“The military’s orchestration of the crimes against Rohingya and the severity of the atrocities in recent months demand that you use your moral authority to address this situation,” they said.

In November a joint report by the Museum and Southeast Asia-based watchdog Fortify Rights―based on testimony they gathered in the field―documented “widespread and systematic attacks” on Rohingya civilians.

The award was named after Elie Wiesel, a survivor of the Nazi genocide against Jews who spent much of his life campaigning for human rights, himself winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986.

Suu Kyi, the country’s symbol of democracy for decades, has come under heavy criticism for her refusal to stand up

Inventor on trial for reporter’s murder COPENHAGEN―The high-profile trial of Danish inventor Peter Madsen, charged with murdering and dismembering Swedish journalist Kim Wall aboard his homemade submarine, opens Thursday, with the proceedings expected to shed light on the circumstances of Wall’s grisly death.

The case against the 47-year-old self-taught engineer begins at 9:30 am (0830 GMT) at the Copenhagen district court, attended by Wall’s family and scores of reporters from Danish and foreign media.

Prosecutor Jakob Buch-Jepsen has already said he will call for a life sentence, which in Denmark averages around 16 years.

An eccentric, semi-celebrity in Denmark who built submarines and rockets and dreamed of developing private space travel, Madsen faces charges of premeditated murder, desecrating a corpse, and aggravated sexual assault.

The case, which will run through to April 25, is expected to clarify how Wall died on board Madsen’s Nautilus submarine on August 10, 2017, when she went for an evening sail with him to interview him for an article.

He has changed his version of events several times.

He has denied murdering her, saying her death was an accident but providing no explanation. He has, however, admitted to chopping her up and throwing her remains overboard.

His lawyer, Betina Hald Engmark, has re-

mained tight-lipped and has not revealed what he intends to tell the court.

Divers combed Danish waters in the weeks following Wall’s disappearance, ultimately recovering all of her remains.

An autopsy was unable to determine the cause of death, nor has a motive been established.

But prosecutors have said they believe Madsen killed Wall as part of a sexual fantasy.

They believe he bound the 30-year-old freelance reporter by the head, arms and legs before beating her and stabbing her repeatedly in her genital area.

They said he then killed her―probably strangling her or slitting her throat―and cut her up with a saw, stuffing her torso, head, arms and legs in separate bags weighed down with metal objects, and dumping them in Koge Bay off Copenhagen.

Madsen has denied any sexual relations with Wall.

He said he panicked after her death, and dismembered her and threw her remains overboard.

According to the prosecution, investigators seized a hard drive in his workshop containing fetish films in which women were tortured, decapitated and burned alive.

Madsen said the drive was not his.

Wall was reported missing by her boyfriend after she failed to return home from her trip on the 60-foot vessel on August 10. AFP

RALLY. South Korean demonstrators hold banners during a rally to mark International Women’s Day as part of the country’s #MeToo movement in Seoul on March 8, 2018. The #MeToo movement has gradually gained ground in South Korea, which remains socially conservative and patriarchal in many respects despite its economic and technological advances. AFP

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

for the Rohingya.

About 700,000 Rohingya have fled over the border to Bangladesh since August, with horrifying testimony of murder, rape and arson by soldiers and vigilante mobs.

In January US diplomat Bill Richardson resigned from a Suu Kyi-appointed panel set up to ease tensions with the Rohingya, assailing her for an “absence of moral leadership.”

Various organizations have taken back honors bestowed on the onetime human rights icon, but Myanmar has rarely responded to the moves.

In a statement posted by a government spokesman on Wednesday, however, Myanmar’s embassy in Washington said it regretted that the Museum had been “misled and exploited by people who failed to see the true situation” in Rakhine.

It added that the decision will have no bearing on local support for Suu Kyi but that it would “redouble its efforts in finding a lasting solution” to the crisis. AFP

DISSOLUTION NOTICE

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.

NAME

: BENTLEY CCY EXCHANGE INCORPORATED

ADDRESS : 11F APPLE ONE EQUICOM TOWER, CEBU BUSINESS PARK BO LUZ, CEBU CITY, PHILIPINES 6000 (MS-MAR. 1,9 & 15, 2018)

Republic of the Philippine

CITY OF NAGA BIDS & AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF VARIOUS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS The City Government of Naga intends to apply the total amount of NINETY SIX MILLION FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY EIGHT THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED (P 96,438,200.00) Pesos being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABCs) to payment for the construction of the following infrastructure projects: Contract of Project No. Reference Name and Location Number Sanitary Landfill (SLF) 1 0060542018-01 Embankment at Bgy. San Isidro Sanitary Landfill (SLF) Base 2 006052and 2018-01 Preparation Earthfilling at Bgy. San Isidro Sanitary Landfill (SLF) Retaining 3 0060552018-01 Wall at Bgy. San Isidro Resurfacing of Athletic Track Pad at Metro 4 0059492017-01 Naga Sports Complex, Bgy. Pacol

Approved Budget Contract Duration for the Contract (calendar days) (ABC)

Equipment Required

Source of Fund

Cost of Bid Documents

30,875,500.00

180

road roller Local (10-12T), Development road grader Fund (LDF)

25,000.00

25,398,400.00

90

road roller (10-12T), bulldozer (D-8)

Local Development Fund (LDF)

25,000.00

12,830,400.00

180

concrete Local mixer, water truck, Development Fund (LDF) backhoe

25,000.00

27,333,900.00

150

payloader (1.50cu.m.), motorized grader (140hp)

25,000.00

Special Education Fund (SEF)

(Note: For project number 4, interested contractors should have completed projects such as, Installation of Rubberized Track Oval, still in good condition within 8 years, and, certification regarding said related completed projects should be submitted.)

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The City Government of Naga now invites bids for the Construction of Various Infrastructure Projects.

Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from City Government of Naga and inspect the Bidding Documents at the City Planning and Development Office (BAC Secretariat Office), 2nd Floor City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, J. Miranda Avenue, Concepcion Pequena, Naga City during 8:00AM to 5:00PM. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on Friday, March 9 to April 4 , 2018 from the City Planning and Development Office (BAC Secretariat Office), 2nd Floor City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, J. Miranda Avenue, Concepcion Pequena, Naga City, and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount stated above, and an Annual Registration Fee of Three Thousand (P 3,000.00) Pesos. Please present your Document Request List (DRL) from PhilGEPS showing your company name.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. Official receipts should be presented during dropping of bids and enclosed in the bid documents (first envelope).

The City Government of Naga will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on Monday, March 19, 2018, 3:00PM at City Procurement Office, City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, J. Miranda Avenue, Concepcion Pequena, Naga City, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the City Procurement Office, City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, J. Miranda Avenue, Concepcion Pequena, Naga City on or before Wednesday, April 4, 2018, 3:00PM. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security, either in the form of: cash or cashier’s/ manager’s check issued by a universal or commercial bank (2% of ABC), or, Bid Securing Declaration (BSD).

Bid opening shall be on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, 3:00PM. at City Procurement Office, City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, J. Miranda Avenue, Concepcion Pequena, Naga City. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The City Government of Naga reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: MR. FLORENCIO T. MONGOSO, JR. Acting City Administrator, Office of the City Administrator 2nd Floor City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, J. Miranda Avenue Concepcion Pequena, Naga City 4400 bac@naga.gov.ph/junmongoso@naga.gov.ph/www.naga.gov.ph (SGD) FLORENCIO T. MONGOSO, JR. BAC Chairperson

( M S - M A R . 9 , 2 018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

B4

LocaL government units

friday, march 9, 2018

Costa Atlantica ship returns to Subic Freeport

By Butch Gunio SUBIC BAY FREEPORT―The Italian-flagged cruise ship MV Costa Atlantica returned to the Port of Subic Thursday after its successful maiden port call here last month, marking its second in a series of 13 trips here that are scheduled until August this year.

The 85,619-ton, 292.56-meter cruise ship docked at Subic’s Alava Pier early in the morning, bringing its 2,500 passengers and crews for a one-day tour of the Freeport and neighboring communities.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, who led employees and residents in welcoming the tourists, said the return of Costa Atlantica only manifests the capability of the SBMA to handle cruise ships and the vibrancy of local tourism.

“We have been dreaming of becoming the next cruise ship playground in Asia, and we can see that the dream is being realized right now,” Eisma said.

“We are hoping that this initiative by the SBMA to attract cruise ships would further boost the development of the Subic Freeport and the communities around it,” she added.

Most of the cruise ship passengers were taken by buses to various tourist destinations in the Freeport, including the Ayta indigenous park in Pamulaklakin, Ocean Adventure and Zoobic Safari.

Some of the passengers, meanwhile, preferred to walk around the Freeport area, and venturing as far as the souvenir shops and public market in Olongapo City.

SBMA Cruise Ship Committee chairman Marcelino Sanqui noted that while the Subic agency merely earns a pinch compared to what it spent to ensure that cruise ship passengers would have a safe and enjoyable stay in Subic, it makes sure that the businesses inside and around Subic profit from the ship arrivals.

“It is not our business to make profit from what we do; our mandate is to give business to our stakeholders,” said Sanqui, citing the beneficiaries as the local restaurants, hotels, souvenir shops and even vendors and taxi drivers.

“If one cruise ship passenger would spend just US$10 while in Subic, that would mean a total income for Subic of US$25,000 or P1.25 million for just one day,” he stressed.

FOR EMPLOYEES. A volunteer doctor checks out a patient, a relative

of an SM employee, during a medical mission staged by SM Foundation and its partners for workers of the mall giant and their dependents as SM Fairview in Quezon City. Later, officials of the Foundation led by Connie Angeles and Chito Macapagal (inset, second and third from left) sign the agreement with their partners that guarantees a regular quarterly healthcare program for the tens of thousands of SM Group’s employees and their dependents. (See story at right)

City ready to give out 1,000 Makatizen Cards

By Joel E. Zurbano

O

ne thousand residents of Barangay Rizal in Makati City will be the recipients of the first batch of Makatizen Cards to be distributed by the city government led by Mayor Abigail Binay on Saturday.

The Makatizen Card is a multipurpose card, which can be used by half a million residents and city hall employees for official, personal and financial transactions.

Binay will lead the ceremonial launch and distribution of the ready-to-use card to be held at the covered court of Barangay Rizal in Floraville Street at 10 a.m.

The first batch of Makatizen Cards will be distributed to residents of the said village who have passed pre-

Manila

Standard Hotel Sogo and PNP sign MOA TODAY for PNP Heroes Assistance Program

Hotel Sogo and the Philippine National Police (PNP) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) at the PNP National Headquarters for the launching of PNP Heroes Assistance Program. The Assistance Program seeks to recognize and boost the morale of PNP personnel through financial assistance.

Hotel Sogo, through its Sogo Cares Program allocates a monthly fund of 200,000 pesos to be given to the qualified recipients, specifically to wounded, injured, disabled and deceased police personnel in the course of police operations. 10,000 pesos shall be given for the injured, 20,000 pesos for disabled and 30,000 pesos for the surviving heirs of the deceased.

The MOA was signed by PNP Chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Hotel Sogo Sector Head Mr. Mariano De Jesus, representing Chief Executive Officer Mr. Augusto Corpus.

Hotel Sogo CSR Manager Bae Jennifer Sibug-Las, Hotel Sogo PR Manager Mr. Eugene Santos, and Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) Director Rene Aspera witnessed the MOA signing.

“I want to assure the Sogo family that your national police force will continue to strengthen its operation to protect, safeguard and maintain peace and order in our communities which of course including the areas where Sogo Hotels are located”, Gen. Dela Rosa said in his speech. He also added that partnership with private entities like Hotel Sogo are among the sources of inspiration and encouragement for police personnel who continue to render their duties with utmost dedication to the point of sacrificing their own lives for peace and security in the country.

Mr. De Jesus meanwhile said that the success of Hotel Sogo inspired them to give more assistance to the PNP that showed relentless bravery in the service of the Filipino people and commitment in maintaining peace and order in the country.

The MOA will cover uniformed police officers of the PNP in all police stations and district units within the area of responsibility of the 35 Hotel Sogo branches.

To find out more about this and other Hotel Sogo events and promos, like / follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/hotelsogo), Twitter (#hotelsogo) and Instagram (@hotelsogo).

screening and successfully registered for the program.

Romulo Salgado Jr., officer-in-charge of the city’s Information and Community Relations Department, said the merchants, including fish ball vendors and GCash outposts, will be on hand to allow the new cardholders to experience the Card’s efficacy in real-time.

The Card is a public private partnership project of Makati and G-xchange and iBayad Online Ventures Inc. It is a

comprehensive universal card system which offers residents, students and city government employees expanded and improved access to government services.

The card allows recipients to receive cash allowances, stipends, and other cash benefits, including those provided under the Makati Health Program (Yellow Card), Senior Citizens program (Blu Card), PWD card and Solo Parent Card, among others.

“Aside from making day-to-day tasks much more convenient for Makatizens, the project also allows greater transparency in the implementation of the city’s various social welfare programs, thereby ensuring that the right people receive the right benefits in the most efficient way,” Binay explained.

SM Foundation inks healthcare pact for mall workers, kin SM FOUNDATION and its partners in the recent medical mission at SM Mall Fairview have signed a Memorandum of Agreement that guarantees a regular quarterly healthcare program for the benefit of tens of thousands of SM Group’s employees and their dependents.

The medical mission gave thousands of SM employees and their family members the opportunity to avail of free medical consultation, laboratory tests, prescription medicines and vitamins, even as they opened the comprehensive healthcare services also to residents in the surrounding communities.

Statistics showed that 1,117 employees including their relatives availed of the different medical health service providers while 293 came from surrounding communities. Foundation staff and volunteers made the process systematized and orderly.

As Connie Angeles, executive director for SMFI health and medical program, said: “We had to launch this service for the employees because most of them have already used up their HMO allotments for the year and have barely completed their check-ups and health services for themselves with nothing left for their family members or dependents.”

“Since we have been making our monthly medical and dental outreach programs for the communities where SM is located, why not for our own employees. This is the true meaning of charity,” Angeles explained.

Partners in the endeavor included the International College of Surgeons (its first time to get involved with SMFI’s healthcare activities) led by Dr. Gil M. Vicente; International Academy of Medical Specialists, Inc. with Dr. Federico A. Malubay, chairman, Medical Outreach Program; Dr. Frederick D. Francisco, who signed for Dr. Wilfredo S. Tagle, co-chairman, Medical Outreach Program; SM Fairview employees as volunteers, the Quezon City government; the Red Cross Quezon City chapter; Philippine Normal University; Multicare; Gx and Wilore.

Joy to women: Be beautiful and happy

By Rio N. Araja

AS THE world celebrated International Women’s Day on Thursday, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte advised women to “be beautiful and happy.”

Belmonte said it is every woman’s right “to dress up and be beautiful as long as it makes her happy,” citing the need to correct the age-old perception CYAN MAGENTA BLACK that womenYELLOW exist to satisfy men.

“You can be beautiful, too and all, if it’s for yourself as long as you are happy,” she said.

“You cannot be measured depending on whether men like you or not, but because of the inner satisfaction that you feel about yourself. That is what we wanted to spread,” the vice mayor added.

Under Belmonte’s leadership, the city council in 2016 passed the Amended Gender and Development Code, making Quezon City the first local government in the country to penalize street-level harassment of women.

As Metro Manila’s biggest city with a population of over three million, three in five women in Quezon City were sexually harassed at least once PACT FOR POOR. Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada shakes the hand of Social Welfare OIC-Secretary in their lifetime, according to a Social Emmanuel A. Leyco (fifth from right) after signing an agreement for the implementation of the Lingap Weather Stations report. at Gabay Para sa May Sakit (LinGap sa Masa) program, which aims to provide free medicines, laboratory In barangays Payatas and Bagong services to indigents and needy government workers, on Monday at the Manila City Hall. Also in photo Silangan, 88 percent of respondents are DSWD-NCR Director Vincent Andrew T. Leyson (fourth from right), NCR-CIU Officer-in-Charge Marlene aged 18 to 24 have experienced street Guzman (third from right), City Administrator lawyer Ericson “Jojo” Alcovendaz, Ospital ng Tondo director harassment at least once, the SWS reDr. Isaias Cando, consultant on Hospital Admin and Service Dr. Regina Socorro Bagsic, Tommy Co, Gat port added. Across all ages, 12 to 55 Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center director Dr. Ma. Luisa Auino, Ospital ng Maynila director Dr. and above, wolf whistling and catcallRachael Marinas, Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital director Dr. Merle Sacdalan-Faustino, Sta. Ana ing are the most experienced cases.

Hospital director Dr. Clara Reyes, and Ospital ng Sampaloc director Dr. Leonora Pascual.

NV pushes people’s development council

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The provincial government here is expected to create a people’s council to rally participation and partnership towards effective local governance.

The creation of the People’s Council of Nueva Vizcaya was contained in the recently approved “The Nueva Vizcaya Peoples Participation in Governance Ordinance” by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Vice Gov. Lambert Galima Jr. said the ordinance seeks to promote the establishment and operation of people’s and non-government organizations as partners of local government units in pursuit of local autonomy.

The PCNV is the general assembly of all accredited Civil Society Organizations and all duly registered CSOs in the province, Galima added.

MEDIA SEMINAR.

Manila Standard correspondent Roy Tomandao (right) receives a certificate from Undersecretary Jose Joel M. Sy Egco, head of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, after the seminar on the implementation of operational guidelines and introduction of the PTFoMS Protocols at the Amazing View Mountain Resort in Mabitac, Laguna. Other speakers at the seminar were lawyer Jay C. de Castro, lawyer Abraham A. Agamata, Col. Rechie Duldulao, Melchor Cayabyab of CHR, National Press Club president Paul Gutierrez, NPC directors, Philippine National Police members in Calabarzon, and the Camp Vicente Lim Press Corps.

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @mStandardLifE

culture and media

friday, march 9, 2018

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Inscriptions

from Minette de Joya’s heart VISUAL artist Minette de Joya mounts her collection of paintings inspired by nuggets she picked up on her personal journey. The exhibit, entitled “Inscriptions from the Heart” runs until March 15 at the Sunshine Place in Makati City.

According to De Joya, translating her impressions into art work was very challenging.

“What I’ve found most challenging and gratifying, at the same time, is translating these impressions and unlocking the creative beauty that lies beneath each stroke ...

Ilonggo instructor vies for global teacher prize English and Creative Writing teacher Jesus Insilada is named one of the 10 finalists in the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2018.

J

ESUS INSILADA, a teacher from Caninguan National High School in Lambunao, Iloilo, has been named by philanthropist and billionaire Bill Gates as one of the 10 best teachers in the world.

Insilada is one of the 10 finalists in the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2018, which recognizes exceptional teachers who have made outstanding contributions to the profession. The winner will win US$ 1 million.

In the announcement video, Gates said, “Finalists were selected based on a rigorous set of criteria, including their proven effectiveness in inspiring students and helping them learn.”

Insilada is an English and Creative Writing teacher who uses culture-based approach in his instructions to make students become more engaged in their education and more appreciative of their Panay Bukidnon culture.

Insilada was recognized in 2013 Teachers together with Ramon Magsaysay awardee Randy Halasan, Dr. Teodora Balangcod of Baguio City, and Julieta Serrano of Iloilo. Dubbed by the program as the

“instructional archivist,” Insilada shone for his passion in teaching and writing in Hiligaynon and Kinaray-a and for making the preservation of these local languages his bigger responsibility.

The Ilonggo instructor is also a multiawarded Hiligaynon poet, a short story writer, and a novelist, with four Palanca awards to boot.

Insilada and the other finalists have been selected from over 30,000 nominations and applications from 173 countries around the world. The 10 finalists were chosen from the 50 teachers in the shortlist, that included another Filipino educator, Ryan Homan of San Jose Elementary School, Donsol West District.

Both Insilada and Homan are honorees of Bato Balani Foundation’s The Many Faces of the Teacher.

The other nine finalists for the Global Teacher Prize 2018 are Nurten Akkuş

a pre-school teacher and principal at Ayvacık Pre-School, Samsun, Turkey; Marjorie Brown, who teaches history at Roedean School, Johannesburg, South Africa; Luis Miguel Bermudez Gutierrez, a social science teacher at the Colegio Gerardo Paredes IED, Bogotá, Colombia; Glenn Lee, an engineering and technology teacher from Waialua High & Intermediate School, Waialua, Hawaii, United States; Diego Mahfouz Faria Lima, director of Darcy Ribeiro Municipal School, in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil; Koen Timmers, a lecturer at PXL University College in Hasselt and a computer science teacher at CVO De Verdieping school in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium; Eddie Woo, a mathematics teacher from Cherrybrook Technology High School, Sydney, Australia; Andria Zafirakou, an art and textiles teacher from Alperton Community School, Brent, London, United Kingdom; and Barbara Anna Zielonka, an English teacher at Nannestad High School, Norway.

The winner will be announced at the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai on March 18.

in every color that’s intuitively chosen ... and in the magic that eventually unfolds as I express that which is in me at a particular moment,” she relates.

Her heart and soul’s revelations reflected in the complex interplay of colors, where one blends into another.

De Joya is grateful to Sunshine Place for providing the platform and the support to cultivate her artistic talent and hone her skills in expressing ideas and emotions in the visual language.

The artist credits Maestro Fidel Sarmiento (AAP President) who conducts art classes at the Senior Hub for his tireless mentorship.

“Having hibernated from this hobby for nearly three decades, there was literally a considerable amount of “brushing up” that was done,” shares De Joya.

Minette de Joya mounts her latest paintings for 'Inscriptions from the Heart' exhibit

‘Terra’ special screening at SM Mall of Asia

MALLGoERS had a glimpse of the commitment of France not only to culture but also to diversity and protection of the environment during the special screening of the documentary Terra at the SM Mall of Asia Cinema.

A joint project of the Embassy of France in Manila, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Biodiversity Management Bureau, and SM, the film Terra by Yann Arthus Bertrand and Michael Pitiot, explores the rich diversity of life. It shows how people are still capable of changing the future just by looking differently at life.

Terra is a moving documentary that captures the essence of humanity’s interdependence with living nature. It tells the story of life and the incredible saga of our living planet with breathtaking shots that take viewers from the first lichen to the gigantic forests, from monkeys of the jungle to the mythic animals of the savannah.

The screening coincided with the 12th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals in Manila, whose delegates attended the film screening.

French Embassy cultural attache Diane Roblin and Cultural Affairs counsellor Yves Zoberman French Embassy Charge d’affaires Laurent Legodec, Cooperation and Cultural Affairs counsellor Yves Zoberman also graced the occasion together with African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement executive secretary Jacques Trouvilliez, Presidential Communications Operations Office undersecretary George Apacible, and DENR undersecretary Analiza Rebuelta-Teh.

Buensalido Architects wins two awards LEADING Filipino architectural and design laboratory Buensalido Architects was recently recognized for its work on APT Studios headquarters and Terraces at Dao office.

The architectural firm received the top prize in the Culture Category of Kohler Bold Design Awards for its design of the headquarters of APT Entertainment, Inc. The APT Studios, which houses the production of one of the country’s biggest daily noontime shows, was designed to reflect its output: a respite from life’s daily challenges.

By incorporating elements such as theater curtains and drapes into various aspects of the design, the structure better displays the studio’s commitment to bringing uplifting stories to audience’s screens.

The APT Studios designed by Buensalido Architects

Buensalido Architects principal architect and chief design ambassador Arch. John Patrick Anthony Buensalido (third from left) received the Kohler Bold Design Award together with (from left) Arch. Martin Mendoza, Arch. Larry Espino, Arch. Bayani Dela Passion, Arch. Michael Germino, and Arch. Mark Arocena.

The Kohler Bold Design Awards is a new architectural and interior design competition in Asia-Pacific held in collaboration with Design Anthology and ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc. Buensalido Architects was also lauded for its work on the Terraces at Dao office in the Commercial Category of the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence Anthology Architecture Awards.

The MADE Anthology Architecture Award is given to architects or firms responsible for designs with the most significant architectural or social impact of the year.

For more information on Buensalido Architects, email design@buensalidoarchitects. com or visit www.buensalidoarchitects.com.

Documentary film 'Terra' is a journey through the history of life forms and the incredible saga of our planet.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018 Nickie Wang, Issue Editor

nickie.standard@gmail.com

The brightest Kapuso stars wholeheartedly sing the GMA jingle.

‘Bagani’ starts pilot week with controversies MEMBERS of the Manobo tribe appealed to the production team of Bagani, ABS-CBN’s newest primetime series, raising their concern of improper use of term “Bagani.” They feared that the term might be misused and be given an entirely different meaning as the show progresses.

“Bagani,” as Manobo people claimed, refers to great warriors in their tribe who are able to kill at least four ruthless people or animals in defense of their customs and tradition, people and values.

The issue even reached the office of a Commissioner from CHED (Commission on Higher Education), who sought for a meeting with ABSCBN production to clear the air and ensure that proper measures are implemented.

However, ABS-CBN management quickly issued its official statement that it’s never their intention to malign or disrespect the historical concept of “Bagani.”

“To be clear, the Bagani fantaserye does not purport itself to be a historical account of Philippine history and culture,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, Sofia Andres, one of the show’s main stars, figured herself in another bashing incident from netizens.

In a related bloggers’ conference for Bagani, Sofia was reported to have displayed quite an attitude especially when she answered questions from a Mangyan blogger.

Sofia allegedly pouted her lips and raised her eyebrows which were interpreted by the bloggers in attendance as “rude and nasty.”

When Sofia w a s bombarde d with similar comments

and remarks on her social media account, she just replied, “Too tired to be too nice.”

We don’t want to believe what others are calling it as her moment of proving her being a star, but there were blind items alleging her as one “angelic face with an attitude.” *** It is Glaiza de Castro’s shining moment now.

We are happy to know that she is headlining the new soap, Contessa.

De Castro feels grateful that GMA gave her the role of Contessa/Beatrice “Bea” Resureccion, who is accused and imprisoned for a crime she did not commit and later tries to seek redemption.

“I’m so honored and thankful. This is another challenging project so I need to step up and be responsible. I never want to fail GMA for their continued trust and confidence in me,” said Glaiza during the show’s grand presscon.

In the series, she is paired with Geoff Eigenmann and Jak Roberto.

The cast includes Chanda Romero, Tetchie Agbayani, Gabby Eigenmann, Leandro Baldemor, Bernadette Allyson, Melissa Mendez, Tanya Gomez, Karel Marquez and Lauren Young. Portraying a very special role is Mark Herras.

The series is airing on March 19, right after Eat Bulaga. *** John Pratts is another talented artist who wants his share of “shining moment,” too.

According to him, his time for reinvention has come and he is very grateful to Cornerstone for allowing him to do it.

“Ang bilis. I simply presented myself and told Erickson Raymundo (the company’s owner) that I wish to venture into concert directing. Tapos eto na,” said John, who is still seen in Ang Probinsyano, ASAP and Banana Sundae.

To improve his craft, John said that he does a lot of observation and research specifically about the technical aspects of the job.

“I am not going to venture i n t o

something without any proper knowledge.

Syempre may baon naman ako kahit paano. Cornerstone is so accommodating, so I’m obliged to level up,” he remarked.

Among the concerts Cornerstone has assigned him to direct are the shows of Erik Santos, Richard Poon, and K Brosas, to name a few.

Good luck direk John!

‘Bagani’ lead cast member Sofia Andres

GMA network unveils

NEW STATION ID

G

MA Network pays homage to its roots while embracing the future in its new station ID (SID) airing tonight after 24 Oras.

As a tribute to its beloved viewers, GMA proudly presents its new SID dubbed, “Buong Puso para sa Kapuso,” featuring moments in GMA Network’s history and personalities (past and present) that have touched Filipinos’ lives for decades.

The SID shows the Network’s journey from a small radio station founded by Robert “Uncle Bob” Stewart to one of the country’s most respected, most trusted, and recognized media network.

Moreover, it highlights what being a Kapuso truly means—pouring your whole heart into everything you do for the people you love because they deserve nothing less.

“We celebrate our success story and our shared values with our viewers who have been with us through the years. I hope our story serves as an inspiration to every Filipino striving to succeed in life and provide a better future for the people they love,” said GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon.

Also making the SID more colorful are the biggest Kapuso celebrities and the Network’s employees who came together and took part in the production of the SID, wearing vibrant outfits and

GMA Network officers and employees come together to express their gratitude to the Kapuso viewers.

beaming with smiles.

Internationally acclaimed broadcast journalist Jessica Soho takes to heart the true essence of being a Kapuso.

“Bilang Kapuso, isinabubuhay namin ang aming panatang magbigay ng tapat na balita at impormasyon sa ngalan ng Serbisyong Totoo,” said the seasoned broadcast journalist.

Kapuso Primetime King Dingdong Dantes shared why he does everything for the viewers. “That’s the essence of being a Kapuso, ‘yung pagpapakita ng warmth sa isa’t isa. It only happens once and we all do it for the viewers,”

Dingdong said.

Primetime Queen Marian Rivera, on the other hand, showed appreciation for the time she spent together with her fellow artists. “Ang saya na makita ko muli ang mga kapwa ko artista na nagsama-sama para sa mga Kapuso natin,” Marian said.

Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez shared her experience in recording the SID jingle with new Kapuso talents. “I am always excited to sing with other artists. I am flattered how these young talents look up to me,” Regine said.

‘ANG PROBINSYANO’

remains most-watched nationwide ACTION HERO.

Coco Martin as Cardo in ABS-CBN’s top rating evening drama, ‘FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.’

FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano continues to thrill viewers every night and remains as the number one weekday program in the country.

On March 5, the series recorded a national TV rating of 41.8 percent, or 27 points higher than that of Sherlock Jr.’s (14.8 percent) according to the data from Kantar Media. The show also led the list of most-watched programs in February garnering an average national

TV rating of 41.2 percent.

Meanwhile, as the saga continues in the top rating series, the cold weather of Baguio will not hinder Cardo’s (Coco Martin) flaming grit to finish Don Emilio (Eddie Garcia) and De Silva (Joko Diaz) as he travels all the way to the north to fight his opponents.

A blazing battle is about to engulf Baguio as Cardo and his group Vendetta

join forces to hunt down their enemies and stop them from wreaking havoc in the city.

However, along with the celebration of Panagbenga Festival, Don Emilio and De Silva will deploy their men to plant bombs in the most densely populated areas of the city to harm thousands of innocent lives.

Can Cardo stop Don Emilio and De Silva’s plans?

Motoring

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018

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Mitsubishi

lineup expands

A

fter the phenomenal release of the Mitsubishi Xpander in Indonesia just last year, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. took its turn to unveil its multi-purpose, sport utility vehicle in the country.

The Philippines is the second country to launch the new Mitsubishi XPANDER after its world premiere at the GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show in Jakarta, Indonesia in August 2017.

The Mitsubishi Xpander which perfectly suits the most versatile lifestyle of every Filipino will be offered in four (4) variants starting off with the GLX Manual Transmission (MT), GLX Plus Automatic Transmission (AT), GLS AT and top of the line GLS Sport AT. This all-new model is produced at Mitsubishi Motors Corp.’s new factory in Bekasi Prefecture, Indonesia.

The overall exterior communicates an adventurous and futuristic style. It flaunts Mitsubishi Motors’ Dynamic Shielddesign concept with a luxurious front grille, which will be available in chrome with clear smoke coating for GLS Sport and GLS variants and gloss black for GLX Plus and GLX variants. The new model was given an advanced look as it features a LED position lamps arranged in a crystal-like blocks and a unique headlight design with a lamp layout that improves visibility for both pedestrians and oncoming vehicles. This unique lamp layout also prevents the blinding effects of headlight glare. It also flaunts a distinctive L-shaped LED Tail Lamps with the rear combination lamps extending onto the tailgate which is a first for this class.

To give the model a touch of sportiness, the all-new XPANDER is equipped with 15-inch Alloy Wheels for GLX variant and 16-inch Two-Tone Alloy for GLX Plus, GLS and GLS Sport variants.

Convenience MMC Corporate Vice President for Design, Tsunehiro Kunimotosaid that the XPANDER’s design was a product of putting together customers’ thoughts, needs and desires. The XPANDER offers a dynamic and highly functional interior features.

The 4,475 mm long overall length of

the XPANDER blends a stylish and roomy character lines with tough and dynamic SUV looks. A class-leading interior length 2,840mm provides a comfortable space for maximum of seven adults. It also features a layout that lets passengers enter and exit the vehicle with ease. Access to third row seats is also made easier with the tumbling system for folding the second row seats. For an even more comfortable ride, the armrest in second row is a part of seat back which can be utilized as a large armrest to accommodate two passengers’ elbows or center space which can be used to load long items.

The XPANDER provides not only comfortable seating position for passengers, but also excellent visibility and comfort for the driver. With its high 205mm ground clearance which results in a high seating position, the body is optimized for clear visibility with reduced blind spots. The front windshield with ample vertical and horizontal spacing also provides clearer forward visibility. The XPANDER’s front pillars are positioned wider to provide more visibility while the side mirrors ensures a clearer rear view.

For luggage capacity, the XPANDER is the only vehicle in its class that has a flat luggage floor without bumps and gaps. Its maximum cargo capacity is 1,630 liters when both the second and third row seats are folded. The seats can be arranged in various combinations to accommodate different type of cargo. For normal luggage space, it has enough space to hold four gallon bottles even when passengers are seating on the third row seats.

The XPANDER is equipped with a *2DIN 7-inch capacitive touchscreen which has *GPS Navigation System, MP3 player / Tuner with Auxiliary-in, USB port, Bluetooth connectivity and Easy Link feature. The steering wheel is also equipped with Audio Remote Switch and Cruise Control for easier control during driving.

New MPV in town: The Xpander boasts four-star safety rating in the Asean NCAP.

Apart rom outstanding interior roominess and comfort, XPANDER also offers superior convenience to its passengers by providing several storages / pockets for valuables and various small items. 12V power outlets are also readily available for first, second and third row passengers for more convenient trips.

Engine and Performance The XPANDER is equipped with a 1.5L 4A91 MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control System) DOHC 16-Valve engine which churns out a maximum output of 105PS / 6,000rpm and maximum torque of 141Nm / 4,000rpm. The 4A91 engine enables the XPANDER to have less vibration and less noise for smooth and quiet driving performance. Its engine capacity has good balance between performance and fuel consumption which makes it an ideal vehicle for the Philippine market.

Safety The XPANDER features Mitsubishi Motors’ proprietary RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) body which is reinforced to absorb the impact of a collision. It is also equipped with ABS (Anti-locking Braking System) to help keep the driver in control of the vehicle when braking on slippery surfaces. When the driver brakes hard or activates ABS, the ESS (the Emergency Stop Signal Sys-

tem) activates and automatically flashes the hazard lamps to warn the drivers behind to help prevent rear end collision.

The top of the line GLS Sport variant is also equipped with Hill Start Assist and Active Stability Control. The Hill Start Assist feature automatically maintains the brakes to prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards when driving on a steep slope.

Meanwhile, the Active Stability Control automatically apply brakes and suppress the engine output at the same time in order to stabilize the vehicle during sudden maneuver on slippery surface conditions.

Provided with these top-of-class safety features, XPANDER gained a four-star safety rating in the ASEAN New Car Assessment Program (ASEAN NCAP).

Roomy interior

PUV modernization plan: Not just about the vehicle

POWER UP. Charging stations for the modern public utility vehicleswill also change the complexion of the energy business.

Four jeepney charging stations in place FOUR charging stations for modern public utility vehicle will see completion in various locations in Metro Manila by the first quarter of 2018, according to Swiss technology firm ABB. The first three charging stations will be deployed in Shell gasoline stations - one on C. Raymundo Avenue, Pasig City; one at 5 E Rodriguez Avenue, Bagumbayan Libis, Quezon City; (Shell C5 Eastwood Northbound) and another at the SM Mall of Asia, Seaside Blvd., Pasay City. The fourth location is still being undergoing discussions. The entire initiative is expected to save over 350 million liters of oil per year, or 3 percent of total imported crude.

ABB is providing 200 Terra 53 multistandard electric vehicle DC charging stations over the next three years in support of the country’s modernization program for public utility vehicles (PUVs) and in partnership with local e-

mobility start-up firm QEV Philippines.

As QEV Philippines’ technology partner, ABB will support the venture’s mission to provide greener mobility solutions with its fast-charging technology for all current and next-generation vehicles. Both companies see this partnership as an important step in improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions on Manila’s congested roads.

“ABB is delighted to be involved in bringing game-changing technologies to the transportation landscape of the Philippines. This is an important step in moving away from fossil fuel-dependent vehicles to cleaner, more sustainable options.” said Head of ABB’s Global Business for Electric Vehicle Charging Frank Mühlon.

ABB will supply Terra 53 chargers as part of a broader cloud-enabled network. As part of the ABB Ability™

portfolio of connected solutions, the network gives users access to internet-based connected services such as remote assistance, tailored diagnostic troubleshooting and repair, and remote updates and upgrades.

“Together with ABB, QEV is in full support of the Philippine government’s Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) modernization program. Our vision to convert some 20,000 jeepneys into cleaner EVs will help operators reduce energy and maintenance costs,” said QEV Philippines General Manager Audrey Penaranda.

ABB is a leader in all aspects of the EV value chain - seamlessly managing the flow of electricity from grid to vehicle, and integrating service information and payments. ABB has already installed more than 6,000 cloud-based charging solutions across more than 55 countries.

The government’s PUV Modernization Program is not only about the vehicle alone, according to resource speakers who attended a recent public hearing conducted by the House committee on Metro Manila Development.

Transport Undersecretyary Tim Orbos and Rep. Winston Castelo, committee chairman, are one in saying that the modernization plan encompasses a range of issues.

“It extends up to the way the drivers drive with discipline, the welfare of and social support for the drivers, the way the PUV fleet will be deployed, operated and managed, the way routes will be rationalized based on passenger density and driving conditions, the way vehicles will be locally built to conform to government standards to ensure safety and convenience and a package of incentives and financing that is aimed at making the modern PUV affordable”.

Bimbo Mills, president of the Automotive Body Manufacturers Association of the Philippines says that the PUV Modernization Program being implemented by the DOTr is not only good for the health of Filipinos and the environment but also upgrades the overall refleeting of the transport sector.

“To participate in the PUV Modernization Program of the DOTr (the demand side) and the Eco-PUV Program of the Department of Trade and Industry (the supply side) and avail of whatever incentives will be made available, the modern PUV must either be compliant to the Euro 4 emission system or be powered by an electric motor. So it will be generating less pollution or none at all as required by the Clean Air Act. This will help reduce air pollution and make the air we breathe cleaner”.

The Truck Manufacturers Association that will provide the light commercial vehicle platforms for the PUV Modernization Program explains that the Euro 4 emission system is not just about a change of engine alone. “It is a complete emission system that measures not only the quality of the exhaust fumes but also the performance of the engine, fuel system, air intake and exhaust systems, engine management, performance feedback system, does on-board diagnostics and many more. Even the fuel will be at Euro 4 level. Therefore, a Euro 4

compliant vehicle performance cannot be met by merely replacing a used surplus diesel engine with a Euro 4 diesel engine. It is not as simple as this as some groups have proposed. As such, it will not work as the vehicle will not pass the Euro 4 certification process of various tests”.

“These conversions and reconditioning of diesel engines for jeepneys have all been done in the past but have failed.

One by one, the other second hand parts would break down, the operating time is reduced as the downtime increases and soon enough, the jeepney driver is no longer able to earn enough to pay his monthly amortization. Under the PUVPM, with brand new parts and components, a brand new vehicle from bumper to bumper and a body built and assembled in conformance to the standards of the Bureau of Philippine Standards, the PUV driver and operator will enjoy the standard product warranty of the automotive industry. This will reduce his downtime and increase his operating hours thus resulting in reduced operating costs and increase income”.

Edmund Araga, Vice President of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines reveals that EVAP fully supports the use of more environment-friendly solutions for the PUV Modernization Program. “Not only will the powertrain be a brand new and efficient but ecologically friendly as well.

This is the shot in the arm the domestic EV industry has been waiting for to jumpstart the sunrise EV industry”.

The Philippine Parts Maker Association is very grateful to the government for prioritizing local production and assembly of the modern PUV. PPMA President Ferdi Raquelsantos explains this will provide employment opportunities and incremental income for the local auto parts makers, most of whom are now operating at below rated plant capacities. “It will also provide business opportunities for the SMEs that comprise the majority of the supplier base of the domestic auto industry, in both downstream and upstream support industries. This will be good for the local economy. This is why the DTI calls its vehicle solution program as the Eco PUV Program. It is not just ecologically but economically- friendly as well”.

Motoring

RAMON L. TOMELDAN EDITOR

C4

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018

WORLD PREMIERE. The new Lexus crossover stands wheel to wheel with other luxury cars that had their debut in Geneva.

Lexus UX debuts at

Geneva Motor Show

A

new genre of crossover, an “Urban Explorer”, the Lexus UX hosts held its world debut at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. It is being bruited about as a free-spirited crossover crafted for the modern urban explorer who seeks a fresh, contemporary and dynamic take on a luxury lifestyle.

Chika Kako, Chief Engineer of the UX said: “Right from the start, I focused on the target customer – mid-30s, millennials, men and women – and tried to understand how they would expect a luxury compact vehicle to change their lives and enable new experiences.

That’s what led us to the basic vehicle concept for the UX of Creative Urban Explorer – a new genre of crossover.

“Design is still the main purchase reason for every car, it is the design that promises to the customer what the car can deliver. With the UX the design team have created a style which delivers the strong safe feeling that sets crossovers apart from hatchbacks, but combined it with a very dynamic dimension.

“We also focused on giving the UX a distinctive driving feel that would resonate with the customer. I wanted to overturn the image of a crossover with a high body that requires careful manoeuvring and offer a car with nimble performance and excellent manoeuvrability that make it as easy to drive as a hatchback.”

The UX is a new gateway vehicle for Lexus, it is rich in the qualities that define the brand: brave design, exhilarating performance and imaginative technology.

Led by Chief Engineer Kako and Chief Designer Tetsuo Miki, the development teams have worked closely to produce a car in which the exterior and interior appear almost seamlessly linked. Powerful bodywork, notable for its impressively flared front and rear wings, clothes a cabin that provides a driver-focused cockpit and an open, re-

laxing space for passengers. While still offering a commanding view from the steering wheel, the UX offers a driving position that makes the crossover feel more like a responsive hatchback to drive, rather than an SUV. The UX further marks a series of technical innovations, including the first use of the new global architecture platform named GA-C, which delivers fundamental high structural rigidity and a low centre of gravity, thus securing excellent ride quality and stability.

New powertrains are also deployed for the first time: a new 2.0-litre petrol engine that reaps the performance and fuel economy benefits of high thermal efficiency; and a new mid- power, fourth generation self-charging hybrid system.

Lexus has produced a design for the UX that expresses the sense of security that is expected of a crossover, but which equally communicates agility and a fun-to-drive quality with sleek, attractively condensed appearance. The result is a model with a unique identity in its segment that makes a strong and appealing design statement. There was close collaboration among all team members, resulting in a harmonious shape that almost seamlessly links the inside and outside of the car.

Exterior design At the front, the arrangement of the headlights and the spindle grille are incorporated into a deep, strong shape created by the hood and bumper to generate a sense of security. At the rear, a condensed styling treatment contrasts sharply with the flared wings to em-

Star cars to watch phasise the UX’s dynamic and strong crossover qualities.

Details include daytime running lights, arranged in an arrowhead motif above the headlights to emphasise the Lexus L-shaped illumination signature.

The spindle grille has a new blockshape mesh pattern with individual elements that gradually change in shape as they radiate out from the central Lexus emblem, giving a three- dimensional look that changes according to the angle of view.

The rear combination lamps have an original and advanced design that is not only eye-catching but also aerodynamically efficient while improving vehicle handling.

Four new aluminium wheel designs have been produced for the UX, with 17 and 18-inch diameters. The fivespoke 17-inch wheels have a worldfirst aerodynamic design.

The UX measures 4,495mm long, 1,520mm high and 1,840mm wide and has a 2,640mm wheelbase. An 870mm couple distance ensures ample space for rear seat passengers, while the load area is a generous 791mm long.

The car’s proportions allow for excellent manoeuvrability, with a bestin segment 5.2m turning radius. For the driver, a reduced distance between the hip and heel points gives the feel of driving a hatchback rather than an SUV-type vehicle.

Interior design The smooth leather upholstery available for the UX is inspired by sashiko, a traditional Japanese quilting technique that is also used in the making of judo and kendo martial arts uniforms.

The quilted leather is decorated with new perforation patterns that form mathematical curves and gradations in perfect alignment, enhancing the appearance of the seats.

The UX’s sweeping instrument panel covers a large area, connecting the driver and passenger sides of the vehicle. This provides an opportunity to accentuate the atmosphere of the cabin using fine-quality ornamentation, with a choice of two grain patterns and four colours.

The UX is the first Lexus model to offer a new trim grain finish that’s

inspired by the grain of Japanese paper,known as washi, familiar in traditional Japanese homes. Created using slush-moulding and a carefully chosen surface finish, it evokes a calm and warm feeling.

A leather grain finish is also available, shared with the LC coupe and LS flagship sedan and building a consistency of quality across the Lexus brand.

Two new powertrains make their debut: a new, fourth generation selfcharging hybrid system with 178 DIN hp/131kW1 and the choice of front wheel drive or E-Four in the UX 250h; and a new 2.0-litre petrol engine with high thermal efficiency, available with a new Direct Shift continuously variable transmission in the UX 200.

Suspension, steering and tyres have also all been developed to support Lexus’ dynamic and performance ambitions for the UX.

THE Geneva International Motor Show in Switzerland -- open to the public from March 8-18, 2018 – saw a host of global premieres, from sedans and SUVs to supercars and all kinds of concepts.

The show’s most eagerly awaited global premieres include the Jaguar I-Pace, the brand’s first fully electric SUV, promising a range of almost 500km per charge.

Lamborghini will also make a splash in Geneva, presenting its Urus SUV to the public for the first time. Lexus will unveil the UX, and Hyundai won’t go unnoticed with its Kona Electric SUV and Nexo hydrogen crossover.

BMW will be presenting its new BMW X4 at the Swiss show, as well as the restyled i8 and its Roadster version. Other new-gen versions of star models heading to the show include the new Audi A6, Jeep Wrangler, Kia Ceed, Mercedes A Class, Toyota Auris and Volvo V60. Honda will reveal its European version of the CR-V hybrid SUV and Bentley will showcase a hybrid rechargeable version of its Bentayga.

As for French manufacturers, the main attraction will be Renault’s new EZ-GO concept-car, representing its vision of shared urban mobility, as well as the Alpine A110 Pure and Légende versions of the sports car. PSA will reveal its new Peugeot 508, as well as the Peugeot Rifter leisure activity vehicle and its cousin the Citroën Berlingo.

Over the years, the Geneva Motor Show has become an unmissable event for supercar fans. This year will be no exception, with various models expected, such as the Ferrari 488 Pista with its 720HP V8 biturbo engine. Revealed at the end of 2017, the McLaren Senna (paying homage to the Brazilian driver, triple F1 world champion with McLaren) is expected to go on public display with an exceptional visual carbon fiber exterior. Lamborghini could unveil a Spyder version of its Huracan Performante and Porsche may present a restyled 911 GT3 RS. Curiosities include Croatian car-maker Rimac’s new supercar, and the mysterious “Missile”

by Corbellati, billed as the world’s fastest hypercar with its 1,800HP V8 biturbo engine and a top speed of almost 500km/h!