Manila Standard - 2018 May 3 - Thursday

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VP POLL RECOUNT: ROBREDO LEAD NARROWS BY 21,000 VOTES

By Rey E. Requejo A MONTH after the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal began its official recount for the contested 2016 vice presidential race, the lead of Vice President Leni Robredo over her closest rival, former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been reduced by more than 21,000 votes.

A PET insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity for lack of author-

ity to speak for the tribunal, disclosed that as of Wednesday, the margin of votes between Robredo and Marcos of 263,473 in the official tally during the canvassing has been cut down to about 242,000.

Besides the 50-percent threshold for the recount that initially cost Robredo over 5,000 votes, the source said the significant deduction in her lead was attributed to “other votes deemed not acceptable under PET rules.” Next page

VOL. XXXII • NO. 77 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Dating game added to Facebook features SAN JOSÉ, United States—Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg announced Tuesday the world’s largest social network will soon include a new dating feature—while vowing to make privacy protection its top priority in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

Zuckerberg unveiled the plans as he addressed Facebook’s annual F8 developers conference in San Jose, California—emphasizing that the focus would be on helping people find long-term partners.

Next page

Pinoys buck Cha-Cha; Palace seeks info blitz

By Vito Barcelo, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon RamosAraneta

M

OST or 64 percent of Filipinos oppose amending the Constitution, the latest Pulse Asia survey released Wednesday showed, prompting Malacañang and its allies in Congress to commit to a sustained information campaign to educate the public on the proposed shift to a federal system.

MARK ZUCKERBERG

Rapper sparks outrage over ‘slavery’ remark NEW YORK, United States—Rapper Kanye West, on the receiving end of criticism in the music world after backing President Donald Trump, sparked fresh outrage Tuesday when he called slavery “a choice.”

The rapper, never shy about expressing himself, made the comments in passing during one of two free-flowing interviews he gave as he promotes Next page two upcoming albums.

KANYE WEST

“This implies there is still a lot of work to be done by the government in informing, educating and reaching out to our countrymen regarding constitutional reforms,” Presidential SpokesNext page man Harry Roque said.

Job security bill gets top priority; endo fears linger

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has urged Congress to give priority to a security of tenure bill following reports that showed the number of unemployed adults rising by more than 1 million, from 6.4 million in January 2017 to 7.5 million in January 2018.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said that government continues to address and improve the labor situation, including the recent signing of an executive order that bans the “end of contract” or 555 employment scheme used by companies to avoid giving tenure and benefits to their workers.

“While the number of underemployed and part-time workers grew in January 2018 compared to the same period last year, it is noteworthy to mention that the Next page

PEACE PLEDGE. Candidates for the forthcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on May 14 raise their right hands in a pledge for peaceful polls at the Jose Rizal Elementary School in Pasay City while candidates sign (inset) the peace covenant in the same school. Village officials will be elected in at least 42,029 barangays throughout the Philippines on May 14, declared a holiday by the government. Norman Cruz

Barangay narco-pols to be placed under PNP’s war on illegal drugs

By Francisco Tuyay THE Philippine National Police said Wednesday it might include the village officials mentioned in the narco-list in their anti-drug operations depending on the gravity of their involvement with illegal drugs.

Police Chief Oscar Albayalde said

they would not hesitate to conduct a case buildup against the elected officials found directly linked to the illegal drugs trade.

On Monday, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency revealed the names of 90 barangay captains and 117 village councilors tagged either as users or pushers while some were described as drug lords.

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P6-b shabu case haunts Faeldon, 4 Customs men

By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday recommended the filing of criminal charges against former Bureau of Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon and several other former officials in connection with the P6.4-billion shabu smuggling.

Its special panel of fact-finding investigators said Faeldon, ex-Import Assessment Service director Milo Maestrecampo, former Risk Management Office chief Larribert Hilario and former accounts Management Office chief Mary Grace Tecson-Malabed must face graft charges before the Sandiganbayan.

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2 Sereno staffers in IT hiring mess pray for dismissal of graft charges

By Rey E. Requejo TWO staff members of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno have asked the Department of Justice to dismiss the graft charges filed against them, in connection with the alleged anomalous hiring of an IT consultant for the Supreme Court computerization project.

During the preliminary investigation presided over by Assistant State Pros-

ecutor Gilmari Fe Pacamara, Sereno’s staff members—Ma. Lourdes Oliveros and Michael Ocampo submitted their counter-affidavits to the complaint filed in March by lawyer Lorenzo Gadon, the complainant in the impeachment case against Sereno before the House of Representatives.

The respondents sought the dismissal of the charges of violating the Anti-Graft Next page

Solons demand Tourism chief’s ouster

By Maricel V. Cruz OPPOSITION lawmakers on Wednesday called for the immediate resignation of Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo after the Commission on Audit tasked her department for paying a P60.01 million to a private media outfit owned by Ben Tulfo, Teo’s brother.

At the same time, President Rodrigo Duterte is also investigating Commu-

nications Secretary Martin Andanar for his possible involvement in the P60 million worth of advertisements paid by the Department of Tourism to a government television program, which has Ben Tulfo as executive producer.

Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go said the President would want to know the real score behind the CoA report.

The CoA audit of the state-run People’s Next page

SECURITY CHECK. Members of the Eastern Police District in Metro Manila start security inspections Wednesday along the vicinity of Ortigas Business District at the start of the Asian Development Bank’s Annual Meeting of Governors. Manny Palmero

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THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Infra plan to create jobs for OFWs J

OBS here await the Filipino workers in Kuwait―particularly in the construction sector—as a result of the government’s Build, Build Build Program, the Budget department said Wednesday.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the country needed more workers as the government embarked on its largest infrastructure program.

“We need more warm bodies given our Build, Build, Build Program. We

Broadcaster succumbs to wounds

A RADIO broadcaster from Dumaguete City died on Tuesday, Labor Day, a day after he was shot by unidentified motorcycleriding gunmen.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines confirmed that Edmund Sestoso, host of the program Tug-anan on dyGB Power 91, died in the afternoon of May 1.

The gunmen attacked Sestoso in the morning of April 30 while he was on his way home after work.

The motive for the attack has yet to be determined, but Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo called on the authorities to “go the extra mile” to ensure that perpetrators were “identified, tried and meted with the appropriate penalty.”

Sestoso, a former Dumaguete City chapter chairman of the NUJP, is the ninth journalist to be murdered during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, the group said.

His death came two days before World Press Freedom Day. “[The attack] underscores how deeply the culture of impunity has rooted itself in our country, emboldening those who wish to silence not only the press but to control civic discourse in general by stamping out critical and dissenting voices,” the NUJP said in a statement.

Dumaguete City’s press club condemned the attack and expressed fear that others could also be at risk.

“This is an affront to press freedom that everybody, not just members of the fourth estate, should be worried about because of its implications,” Dumaguete Press Club president Juancho Gallarde said in a statement.

“If we are silenced, who will take the cudgels of bringing to the fore the ills in government?”

Human Rights Watch said Sestoso’s death showed the continuing culture of impunity “that has forced journalists, especially in the provinces, to work and live in a climate of fear.”

“The Duterte administration may not like a free press very much, but it has the duty and responsibility to arrest and prosecute the killers of Sestoso and the many others who were murdered over the years,” said Carlos Conde of HRW Asia Division said.

Barangay...

From A1

Despite an inaccuracy in its narco-list, the PDEA on Wednesday maintained it had validated the involvement of 207 barangay officials in the illegal drugs trade.

Derrick Carreon, PDEA spokesman, said four member-agencies of an interagency task force composed of PDEA, the Philippine National Police, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines had validated the narco-list.

“As already mentioned by our director general Aaron Aquino, the validation was done by the four member-agencies,” Carreon said when asked to react that one of the barangay councilors in Batangas who died in 2017 was still on the list.

Meanwhile, for the national president of the Liga ng mga Barangay, Edmund Abesamis, it would have been better if at the time the narco-list of PDEA was released, charges were also filed against the barangay officials included in the list.

PDEA did not mention the names of the barangay captains and kagawads in the narco-list, but said those would be posted instead at the local government offices from the city and municipal levels down to the villages. With Rio N. Araja

Dating...

From A1 “This is going to be for building real, long-term relationships, not just hookups,” Zuckerberg said in presenting the new feature, noting that one in three marriages in the United States start online—and that some 200-million Facebook users identify as being single.

Under the new feature, users will be able to create a separate “dating” profile not visible to their network of friends, with potential matches recommended based on dating preferences, points in common and mutual acquaintances.

It will be free of charge, in line with Facebook’s core offering. The announcement sent shares in the online dating giant Match.com tumbling, finishing the formal trading day down 22 percent.

The 33-year-old CEO also said the dating offer was built from the ground up with privacy and safety in mind, as he underscored the firm’s commitment to boosting privacy protections. AFP

need more welders, we need more electricians, we need more engineers,” Diokno said.

Meanwhile, Senator Nancy Binay on Wednesday sought assurance from the Labor and Foreign Affairs departments that they would provide assistance to the Filipino workers affected by the diplomatic row between the Philippines and Kuwait.

“I am calling on the DFA, DoLE and OWWA to ensure that the Filipinos affected by the permanent employment ban on Kuwait will not have to come home empty-handed,” said Binay who heads the

Senate committee on social justice, welfare and rural development.

While hoping the rift between the Philippines and Kuwait would be resolved soon, Senator Richard Gordon on Wednesday said the government was duty-bound to give priority to the protection and safety of Filipino workers here and abroad.

The Duterte administration expects to spend some P8 trillion to P9 trillion for some 75 flagship projects under the Build, Build, Build Program before its term expires in 2022.

Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte

appealed to the Filipinos in Kuwait to return home as a result of the row between the two nations.

In a television interview on Monday, Labor Undersecretary Jacinto Paras said some 60,000 workers from Kuwait might heed Duterte and return home.

Diokno said the government could afford the transportation expenses of the Filipinos who were ready to return home.

“We can afford it. If they want to come back, we will provide the transportation,” Diokno said.

PNA, with Macon Ramos-Araneta

Pinoys...

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Knowledge about the Constitution remained low, with 75 percent of Filipinos having “little or almost no knowledge at all” about the Charter. Of these, 42 percent said they had little knowledge, while 34 percent said they had almost no knowledge at all.

Among the 25 percent who said they had at least enough knowledge of the Constitution, only 4 percent said they “know a great deal.”

These figures did not change significantly from July 2016, Pulse Asia said.

Almost half or 49 percent of Filipinos are aware of proposals to amend the Constitution. Only 23 percent are in favor of charter change now, the survey showed.

The survey, conducted from March 23 to 28, used face-to-face interviews with 1,200 respondents. The nationwide survey has a ±3 percent error margin at the 95 percent confidence level, while results for Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao have a higher ±6 percent error margin also at 95 percent confidence level.

Duterte and the ruling PDP-Laban believe a federal government will correct inequality nationwide, especially in Mindanao, and eventually make the country more progressive.

However, the survey showed Mindanao was the second most opposed to amending the Constitution next to Luzon.

For its part, the consultative committee tasked by Duterte to review the 1987 Constitution remained optimistic that public perception would change once they see the provisions in the new charter being drafted.

“The survey was taken at a time when the consultative committee is still formulating the proposed revisions. Once we are done and the proposed revisions are presented to the public, we are confident that the public perception will change,” ConCom chairman and former chief justice Reynato Puno said.

The Con-Com added that Pulse Asia’s presentation of the results was misleading because it counts in the “negative” those who say they are “not in favor of amending the Constitution now but at some time in the future.”

“In reality, these should be counted as ‘in

favor’ of amending the Constitution—only that it should be done sometime ‘in the future.’ To their mind, the future could be next year or it could be in 2019—when the proposed revisions may be ready for submission to them in a plebiscite,” Puno said.

Alvarez said while the House is already doing its best to explain to Filipinos the benefits of the federal system over the current unitary system, the big challenge is to make the information seep down to the grassroots.

“Our advocacy of the federal system is anchored on our firm belief that by giving the regions greater leeway in terms of powers and resources, we can unleash their potential to contribute to overall economic growth and social development for the long term,” Alvarez said.

Leftist lawmakers said the survey result was a wakeup call for the government to withdraw its Charter change efforts.

“It would be well for the Duterte administration and its allies to listen to the sentiments of our people and drop this anti-people Cha-cha project,” Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Carlos Zarate said.

Given the survey findings, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio urged the ConCom tasked by the President to review the 1987 Constitution to stop its work.

Representatives Alfredo Benitez of Negros Occidental and Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar said the survey results were premature.

“Let us wait for the final proposed amendments before we say we do not want [Charter change],” Benitez, chairman of the House committee on housing and urban development, said.

Evardone said the issue of rewriting the 1987 Constitution is a matter of explaining to the public what is it about and how it will benefit them.

“There is a need to intensify the information drive on Cha-Cha to make people appreciate it,” Evardone said.

But Akbayan Party-list Rep. Tom Villarin said the survey results reflected the sentiment of the people against charter change.

With PNA

He said the administration will work to promote the workings of a federal system, a campaign promise of President Rodrigo Duterte to bring government closer to the people.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez stressed the need for the entire national government to intensify efforts at explaining to the public the need to revise the 1987 Constitution and the proposed shift to a federal system of government.

“The survey tells us very clearly that we must come together and intensify the information, education and communication campaigns throughout the country to tell our people that we must revise the threedecade-old Constitution to make it responsive to changing times,” Alvarez said.

Of the 64 percent who are opposed the amending the Constitution, half said they are “open to Charter change sometime in the future but not at present,” while the remaining 32 percent said they are “completely opposed to any amendments, whether now or at any other time.”

The strongest opposition to Charter changes is in the balance of Luzon (75 percent), followed by Mindanao (65 percent), the Visayas (60 percent), and the National Capital Region (54 percent).

Among economic classes, Classes ABC mostly oppose the shift (71 percent), followed by Class D (68 percent), and Class E (60 percent).

A “sizable majority” or 66 percent are also against shifting from the unitary system of government to a federal system that the Duterte administration proposes.

Support for federalism is “more marked in Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao (33 percent to 42 percent)” compared to the rest of Luzon (17 percent).

Pulse Asia said support for Charter change fell 14 percentage points from July 2016. The decline, Pulse Asia noted, was strongest in Mindanao, at -23 percentage points, and among the more affluent ABC classes at -19 percentage points.

Job...

From A1

number of employed persons increased to 41.8 million in January 2018 from 39.3 million in January 2017. Employment rate rose to 94.7 percent in January 2018 from January 2017’s 93.4 percent. Unemployment rate dropped to 5.3 percent in January 2018 from 6.6 percent in January 2017,” Roque said Based on the latest the Social Weather Stations survey, there were now 10.9 million jobless Filipinos in the country.

“We take note of the latest Social Weather Stations [SWS] survey showing adult joblessness at 23.9 percent in March 2018 compared to 15.7 percent last December 2017,” Roque said.

“We remain optimistic that with the implementation of our Build-Build-Build Infrastructure Plan, we would be able to generate more job opportunities for many of our countrymen,” the Palace official said.

The Palace spokesperson also said the increase in adult joblessness was due to new college graduates looking for jobs as well as seasonal jobs from the Christmas

season.

Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said that while President Duterte signed an executive order, it did not end precarious work arrangements such as Endo and abusive contractualization.

“Nevertheless, we welcome his frank admission as to the limitation of his authority to issue an EO that will curb epidemic scale od abusive contractualization and his directive to certify the security of tenure [SOT] as urgent,” TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay told the Manila Standard.

For his part, Roque said that President Duterte has appealed to Congress to hasten the passage of the security of tenure bill to fully end all forms of contractualization.

The House of Representatives has already passed its own version of the bill but hopes that President Duterte will certify it as urgent so the Senate can act on it immediately.

Senator Francis Escudero, meanwhile, said the government, as the biggest employer of contractual employees, should lead by example and fix the problem of contractualization.

2...

From A1

procurement through direct negotiation instead of undergoing public bidding,” Gadon alleged.

Gadon also questioned Perez-Macasaet’s compensation, which was P100,000 a month under the first contract and P250,000 a month in the succeeding contracts, saying it “way beyond” the compensation ceiling set by a circular letter from the Department of Budget and Management.

“By reason of compensation alone, the contracts of service of Perez-Macaset… are manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the government,” he said.

Macasaet was named respondent in the complaint. She is set to submit her counteraffidavit in the next hearing set for May 9.

Gadon filed another complaint against other SC personnel, but in connection with the alleged delay in the release of survivorship benefits for widows of judges.

He also accused SC deputy clerk of court Anna-Li Papa-Gombio and Sereno’s staff Jocelyn Fabias of violating R.A. 3019.

Gombio is chairman of the SC’s special committee on retirement and civil service benefits while Fabias is chairman of the legal technical working group.

With Macon Ramos-Araneta

Rapper...

From A1

“We’re mentally in prison. I like the word ‘prison’ because slavery is too direct to the idea of blacks. Like Holocaust is Jews, slavery is blacks,” West said.

West’s remarks immediately sparked an uproar on Twitter, his favorite medium, and he was taken to task live by a TMZ employee who said he was “appalled.”

The 40-year-old rapper, designer and husband of reality television star Kim Kardashian reemerged last month after a year-

and Corrupt Practices Act, and the Government Procurement Reform Act for lack of probable cause.

But Oliveros and Ocampo avoided media interviews and refused to furnish the media copies of their counter affidavits.

Gadon filed the complaint in connection with the alleged anomaly in the hiring of former IT consultant Helen Macasaet by Sereno’s office—one of the grounds in the impeachment case against the Chief Justice.

He specifically accused Oliveros and Ocampo, for their part, of “manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence” in the performance of their administrative duties.

The complainant alleged that only two of the eight contracts of service of Macasaet to the SC passed the Bids and Awards Committee while the six others were renewed by Sereno without the knowledge and approval of the BAC. “The splitting of the contracts was meant to evade competitive bidding in violation of RA 9184. The mode of hiring of respondent Perez-Macasaet was a form of negotiated

“You hear about slavery for 400 years.

For 400 years? That sounds like a choice,” West told TMZ Live, the broadcast wing of the celebrity gossip site.

West elaborated little on his statement but appeared to be drawing a parallel to how he is presumed to hold certain views as an African-American artist.

VP...

From A1

Earlier, the PET denied the plea of Robredo for the 25-percent threshold to be applied in the revision of votes and instead set the threshold at 50 percent.

The tribunal has asked Marcos and the Commission on Elections to comment on Robredo’s motion for reconsideration.

The PET recount, which started April 2, has so far covered only one-sixth of the total precincts in the three pilot provinces after one month of the manuaal recount.

The revisors, in particular, completed the manual recount of votes in 16 towns of Camarines Sur, namely: Baao, Balatan, Bato, Buhi, Bula, Camaligan, Canaman, Ocampo, Gainza, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, Magarao, Pili, Presentacion, Sangay and San Fernando.

They have yet to complete the revision in 17 more towns and two cities in Robredo’s home province.

Apart from Camarines Sur, the two other pilot provinces identified by Marcos in his protest against Robredo were Iloilo and Negros Oriental. All three provinces cover 5,418 clustered precincts.

The results from the pilot provinces will help PET determine if the recount will proceed in other provinces contested

by Marcos.

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

The first month of the PET revision of votes has raised several questions.

Revisors have been finding wet ballot boxes, unused or excess ballots with shaded votes for Robredo, missing audit logs and missing voters’ receipts in Camarines Sur towns.

They also discovered ballots with what appeared to be cigarette burns on their edges and holes in the middle portion.

The same ballot box did not have accompanying election records like election returns, voter’s receipts and minutes of voting.

Last week, revisors found ballots that appeared to have been soaked in liquid chemical as well as jumbled election documents.

Marcos filed the protest on June 29, 2016, claiming that the camp of Robredo cheated in the automated polls in the May 2016 national polls. long absence that followed a purported mental breakdown.

He enraged many fellow artists—but was embraced by conservative commentators— as he praised Trump, who has since cited the rapper’s words as evidence of minority support.

In a separate interview with radio host Charlamagne tha God, West said he had not followed Trump’s policies but, “When I see an outsider infiltrate, I connect with that.” AFP

Cops rule out NPA hand in priest’s slay A TASK force formed to probe the murder of a young priest in Cagayan has ruled out an initial assessment that the New People’s Army could be behind the murder.

A police report released Wednesday said it was possible that hired killers were behind Mark Ventura’s death.

Ventura, 37, was gunned down by a helmeted gunman who had casually walked behind him while he was talking to choir members in a gymnasium in Tuguegarao City. He was shot a few minutes after celebrating Mass on April 29.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Archbishop of Manila, said the bells in the churches of Manila will continue tolling at night to express condemnation on Ventura’s killing.

He said the bells will toll at 8 p.m. each night in remembrance of all who were killed in the country.

“As we continue celebrating the victory of God over sin and death, we also continue witnessing cases of violent killing in the country, done for varying motives,” Tagle said.

“I am asking you to continue the practice and to invite our communities to pause, remember and pray.”

The police report said the manner and post- execution response characterized by NPA hits were not present.

Region 2 Police Chief Mario Espino said the victim might have been embroiled in a “serious personal grudge” that could be resolved with the digital forensic processing of his two cellphones.

Police said Ventura’s anti-mining advocacies, which could also be a motive for his killing, had also been eliminated since the black-sand mining in Cagayan was stopped four years ago and the people involved no longer had reason to pursue him. Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

Solons...

From A1

Television Network Inc. showed that there was no memorandum of agreement or contract between PTNI and Ben Tulfo’s Bitag Media Unlimited Inc. to air DoT advertisements in BMUI’s “Kilos Pronto” show.

“We are looking into it,” Go added.

PTNI is under the Presidential Communications Operations Office which Andanar heads.

Go did not detail the possible involvement of Andanar.

“Secretary Teo should resign if she continues to insist that there is no impropriety,” Akbayan party-list Rep. Tom Villarin said.

Based on a 2017 CoA report, Teo’s department allotted P60-million advertisement to People’s Television Network Inc. which placed the amount in the “Kilos Pronto” produced by her brother Ben’s Bitag Media Unlimited Inc. and co-hosted by her other brother, Erwin.

“In the CoA findings, there were four major violations found in the disbursement vouchers like no MoA between PTNI and BMUI, no certificate of performance, no duly approved budget utilization request, and detailed billing statements... What is clear is that a P60-million budget was released to her brother’s media production unit and that CoA should now issue a notice of disallowance,” Villarin said.

But the PTNI insisted the transaction with Bitag was aboveboard as it was supported by adequate documents.

Tulfo said on Bitag Live’s Facebook account that the ad contract was aboveboard and had necessary documents.

P6-b...

From A1

The complaints against former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte and lawyer Manases Carpio were dismissed for lack of basis.

The Ombudsman clarified Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales did not take part in the investigation.

Faeldon and other Customs officials— Joel Pinawin and Oliver Valiente—were also charged with administrative charges of grave misconduct, while Tecson-Malabed and Maestrecampo were also sued for gross neglect of duty and grave misconduct.

The panel also recommended the filing of usurpation of official functions under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code, and violation of Section 32 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 or RA 9165 against Faeldon, and violation of Section 3(a) of RA 3019 against Faeldon and director Neil Anthony Estrella.

The criminal and administrative charges will undergo preliminary investigation and administrative adjudication, respectively.

On May 26, 2017, joint operatives from the BoC-Customs Intelligence and Investigative Services, National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency conducted a raid on a warehouse owned by the Philippine Hongfei Logistics Group of Co. Inc. in Valenzuela City.

The raid involved the controlled delivery of a shipment declared to contain printing cylinders.

“The BoC later discovered and seized the shabu but the manner through which the discovery and seizure were made leaves much to be desired. Evidence suggests that numerous laws and administrative issuances pertaining to the proper search, seizure, handling and controlled delivery of drugs were violated by the public officers,” the Ombudsman’s resolution.

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THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Mariñas named as new deputy Immigration commissioner

By Rey E. Requejo JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra has appointed a new deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration.

In an administrative order, Guevarra named BI Port Operations Division chief Marc Red Mariñas as acting deputy commissioner to take the place vacated by lawyer Aimee TorrecampoNeri, who resigned from the post for personal reasons.

BI is under the administrative supervision of the Department of Justice.

Mariñas will serve concurrently in the two posts until Malacañang appoints a permanent deputy commissioner to replace Neri.

A seasoned immigration officer who has served the BI for more than 15 years, Mariñas has headed the POD since July 2016 and his office is credited with preventing the entry of thousands of undesirable aliens into the country.

As POD chief, he manages the bureau’s operations in the different international ports nationwide.

Mariñas has under his administrative supervision more than a thousand immigration officers manning the different airports and seaports throughout the country.

The POD has also been in the forefront of the BI’s campaign against human trafficking which is being done through rigid screening of departing Filipino tourists.

Records show that last year POD port personnel deferred the departure of more than 37,000 passengers on suspicion they could be victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment syndicates.

House panel backs bill on PCG General Hospital

By Maricel V. Cruz A PANEL in the House of Representatives has backed the proposed construction of the Philippine Coast Guard General Hospital in a bid to provide an efficient health care delivery system to coast guard personnel and their dependents.

The proposed “Philippine Coast Guard General Hospital Act,” said the bill’s author, Rep. Federico Sandoval II of Malabon City, shall ensure the availability, accessibility and affordability of quality health care services to all PCG personnel and their dependents.

The bill proposes a package of health care program to the PCG personnel and their dependents that includes preventive, promotive, diagnostic, curative and rehabilitative programs.

It also mandates the conduct of medical examination of all the trainees of the PCG to ensure their physical and mental capability, monitoring of the condition of patients, and generation of relevant information and date in aid of policy information.

Under the measure, the PCG general hospital shall be constructed at the Coast Guard Base Taguig in Lower Bicutan, Taguig City.

SENATORS’ MOVE. Members of the Coalition for Justice trooped to the Senate on Wednesday, urging senators to pass a resolution asking the Supreme Court to suspend the quo warranto petition filed against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. Ey Acasio

SSS offers emergency loan for ‘Bora’ workers T HE state-run Social Security System has opened an emergency loan window to more than 11,000 potential member-borrowers affected by the closure of Boracay Island last April 26.

SSS president and chief executive oficer Emmanuel F. Dooc said it is the pension fund’s duty to provide social protection to its members in times of contingencies like the temporary closure of Boracay Island in Aklan which may have displaced some 11,161 SSS members.

“At times like this, we would like to show our dear members that the SSS is there whenever they needed help the most,” Dooc said.

He said the SSS has allocated some P111.61 million for the Emergency Loan Assistance Program.

Potential qualified memberborrowers may loan from P1,000 to P16,000 depending on their monthly salary credit.

To avail of the program, a member must have 36 monthly contributions, six of which should be posted within the last 12 months prior to the month of filing of application; must be living or working in Boracay Island prior to

its closure; must be under 65 years old at the time of loan application; have not been granted any final benefit; must not have an outstanding Loan Restructuring Program or Calamity Loan Assistance Program; and have not been disqualified due to fraud against the SSS. Dooc said the loan is payable in 32 months, inclusive of eight months moratorium period. The member will start to pay his monthly amortization on the 9th month within 24 monthly installments.

“We have also waived the 1 percent of the loan amount for the service fee so the members will get their loaned amount in full,” Dooc said.

“When the loan application is finally approved, the generated emergency loan checks may be picked up by the member within 10 working days at the SSS branch office where the application is filed. After this period, the check will be forwarded through mail to the member’s mailing address indicated in

the form,” he added.

The application period for ELAP is from May 2, 2018 until Oct. 31, 2018.

Members may file their duly accomplished ELAP forms, which they can download from the SSS Website, at the SSS Service Office located at the 2/F Barangay Hall in Manoc-Manoc, Aklan or at the SSS booth at the One-Stop Shop of various government agencies at the Caticlan Jetty Port in Malay, Aklan.

As this developed, Department of Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno has announced that the national government is releasing P490 million for the rehabilitation of the Boracay Circumferential Road.

This is on top of the initial budget of P50 million allocated under the 2018 fund of the Department of Public Works and Highways for the same project.

“They already have P50 million in the budget, and that is what they are using right now. In a few days, we’ll release the P490 million. This is just for the road components,” Diokno told reporters during the “Breakfast with Ben,” a press event of the DBM chief. The Boracay Circumferential Road rehabilitation involves widening of road and improving the drainage system.

With PNA

SC stops Cebu City from dumping waste at Inayawan landfill

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court has directed the Cebu City government to permanently stop dumping or disposing of garbage or solid waste at the rate of about 600 tons daily to the city’s Inayawan landfill and then to undertake all measures to rehabilitate.

In an en banc decision penned by Justice Noel G. Tijam, the SC dismissed the petition filed by Cebu City Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña who assailed the 2016 Court of Appeals decision that granted the petition for Writ of Kalikasan filed

by Joel Capili Garganera, on his behalf, and for the people of the cities of Cebu and Talisay and the future generation.

The high court upheld the findings of the CA that based on government studies, “the continued operation of the

Inayawan landfill poses a serious and pressing danger to the environment that could result in injurious consequences to the health and lives of the nearby residents.”

The CA’s decision cited the 2016 study conducted by the Environment Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources which states: “The proper treatment of the leachate at the Inayawan landfill has not been complied with prior to its discharge to the Cebu Strait, there is no question that the scope of the possible environmental damage herein has expanded to encompass not just the City of Cebu but other localities as well that connects to such Strait. Since leachate is contaminated liquid from decomposed waste, it is not difficult to consider the

magnitude of the potential environment damage it can unleash if this is released to a receiving water body without being sufficiently treated first, as in this case,” the tribunal said, quoting the pertinent portion of the appellate court.

“The city government’s resumption of the garbage dumping operations at the Inayawan landfill has raised serious environmental concerns,” the SC ruled.

In 1993, DENR issued a permit for the Cebu City government to use the Inayawan landfill for its garbage disposal. But in 2011, the city government, itself, resolved to close the landfill. In 2012, the landfill was partially closed and all wastes from the city were disposed of in a privately operated landfill in Consolacion.

In 2015, the Inayawan landfill was formally closed.

Siargao Cloud 9 boardwalk reopens

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE iconic boardwalk at Cloud 9 in Siargao, alongside with ‘Jacking Horse,’ two of the most sought-after surfing destinations in the Philippines, is once again open to the public after weeks of repair and retrofitting to ensure the safety and pleasure of foreign and local tourists visiting the island.

Through the approved ordinance, the Municipality of General Luna will also charge non-resident surfers and tourists some minimal “conservation and admission fee” for the use, access, and entry at the Cloud 9 facilities.

“Management and regulation of tourism facilities is the primary concern of the municipality and reciprocal concern must be shared by all tourists, guests, and visitors in order to protect, promote, conserve and maintain the development that has been generated,” the Municipal Council said in the ordinance.

Under the “Cloud 9 Conservation and Admission Fee Ordinance of 2018,” stringent measures will be implemented including the limiting of the deck’s carrying capacity as well as the bringing in of food and drinks.

To ensure cleanliness and sound environmental surroundings, the ordinance will also strictly prohibit the bringing in of plastic bottles and smoking at the boardwalk and in the entire Cloud 9 facilities.

The ordinance also calls for “reciprocity” from the public by implementing a P50 fee for all nonGeneral Luna residents, foreign or local, who wants to gain entry to the 300-meter boardwalk and viewing deck.

The local council explained that yearly, the municipality has to shell out a huge amount for the maintenance and rehabilitation of the facilities and throughout the years, it has been free access to the public.

HEALTH FORUM. Allan Ancheta, Business Unit director for Diversified Brands/ Hospital & Specialty Care of MSD (center), Dr. Adrian Brink, clinical microbiologist of Ampath National Laboratory Services in Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa and Dra. Regina Berba, head of the DoH Antimicrobial Stewardship Steering Committee and chairman of the Philippine General Hospital Infection Control Unit lead the ceremonial annihilation of Pseudomonas during a forum entitled, ’Fighting Multi-Drug Resistant Infections’ recently held at Manila Diamond Hotel on Wednesday. Norman Cruz

May 14 non-working holiday—Palace MALACAÑANG on Wednesday declared May 14, 2018 a special nonworking holiday in connection with the holding of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation No. 479, declaring May 14, a Monday a non-working day to enable the people to fully exercise their right of suffrage.

The Commission on Elections said its all systems go for the barangay and SK elections on May 14, and banned on liquor starts at 12 midnight of May 13 up to 12 midnight of May 15.

The filing of Certificates of Candidacy for barangay and SK posts began on April 14 and will be on until the 20th.

The campaign period started May 4 and will end on May 12, the Comelec said.

The positions of punong barangay (village captain), 7 kagawads (members of the Sangguniang Barangay or village council), SK chairperson, and 7 SK members will be up for grabs.

Vito Barcelo

S&P rating shows PH on right track THE chairperson of the House of Representatives’ committee on appropriations on Wednesday said the improved credit rating of the Philippines based on the latest Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings research proves that the Duterte administration has implemented the correct economic and fiscal policies.

Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, the panel’s chairperson, was referring to the results of an April 26 S&P Global Ratings research wherein the Philippines’ long-term sovereign credit rating was revised from “stable” to “positive.”

At the same time, the New York-based financial services company affirmed its “BBB” long-term and “A-2” short-term ratings on the Philippines.

“The positive outlook reflects our view that improvements to the Philippines’ policymaking settings could support a track record of more sustainable public finances and balanced growth over the next 24 months,” S&P said. Maricel V. Cruz

Du30 to board PH warship in visit to PH Rise PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte might board the Philippine Navy’s biggest warship, the BRP Gegorio del Pilar when the Philippine chief executive visits Philippine Rise or Benham Rise next week to assert claim that the region is part of the county’s territory, a Palace source said.

In his speech in Mabolo, Cebu City, the President reiterated that he would sail to the Philippine Rise to announce to the world that the Philippine Rise belongs to the Philippines.

The President made the announcement in his speech during an assembly of free masons in Davao City, saying he would sail to the Philippine Rise to make known that the region is part of the country’s territory.

Philippine Rise is an offshore frontier facing the Pacific Ocean that is about 24 million hectares in size and is in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, an area where nations have internationally recognized the country’s exclusive rights to exploit fish and fuel resources, and the continental shelf further out in the ocean.

Vito Barcelo

A4

Opinion

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Not the best man for the job

A big challenge for Tourism head registration, it did not point out any particular “shenanigan,” trickery, or any other anomalous act employed by the SEC in choosing and implementing an online company registration system. Surely, full automation and online processing of registration of WITH the six-month rehabilitation of corporations cannot be considered a Boracay, we can expect a drop in tourist “shenanigan.” arrivals during these summer months.

In launching the Company RegThe drop will be a challenge to the istration System in late November Duterte administration, particularly 2017, the SEC was heeding the call to the Tourism Department. Now they of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to have to tap other destinations to fill the streamline government processes. gap.

The CRS was intended to make regTeo should concentrate on this chal- istration easier by making it availlenge instead of making ad placements able 24 hours day, seven days a at her brothers’ media company and week. The CRS was envisioned to taking clerks, drivers and utility work- make the registration process much ers with her in her many trips abroad. simpler as it would only entail a Is Teo still up to the task? registrant to access the CRS website and fill out the CRS applica*** tion form. The registrant need only The Securities visit the SEC and Exchange Comto claim the mission reacted to Certificate of my column on the Registration supposed shenaniand submit the Is Secretary Teo still gans there. Some original nobusinessmen had up to the task? tarized docucomplained to me ments. about the agency’s Verily, applifailure to process cations for regtheir registration istration of new papers so they could do business at corporations and partnerships have once. been successfully processed through I believe in presenting both sides of the online CRS. an issue, so I reprint here the SEC’s Moreover, through the CRS, the posletter in the interest of fairness. sibility of corruption is eradicated due “The Securities and Exchange to the cessation of face-to-face transacCommission takes exception to your tions and manual intervention. column item appearing in The MaUnfortunately, as in all transitions, nila Standard. The title, ‘Shenani- more so from manual to an electronic gans at the SEC,’ imputes anomalous system such as the CRS, initial strugacts and questionable practices to gles are inevitable. the SEC, running counter to the SEC Be that as it may, the SEC is not consistently being rated number one unmindful of the unintended delays in the fight against corruption per experienced by registrants using the surveys conducted in 2015 and 2016 CRS. Upon investigation into the matby the Social Weather Stations with ter, however, it was discovered that the support from the Australian Embassy delays experienced during the first few —The Asia Foundation Partnership months of implementation of the CRS in the Philippines, and the United had been caused by system slowdown States Agency for International De- during peak hours and registrants’ nonvelopment, in partnership with the familiarity and misuse.

National Competitiveness Council.

From its rollout, the SEC saw the need While the article expressed frus- to enhance the CRS to accommodate an tration over the perceived delays of Turn to A5 the new process involved in company

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

W

HEN you appoint an inexperienced, garrulous, publicity-conscious individual as the country’s top diplomat, blunders cannot be far behind.

Career officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs have supposedly written a letter to the President expressing their dissatisfaction with DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano. They want him out of his post for weakening the DFA’s role, responsibility and accountability in foreign policy making and execution.

Out of delicadeza, a ranking DFA official said, Cayetano should resign.

The incident that prompted this call was the rescue of distressed Filipino workers in Kuwait, which was filmed and released to the media and through the social media page of Cayetano’s consultant.

Even the Palace’s assistant secretary for communications, a blogger with millions of followers, was part of the rescue that portrayed the DFA as superheroes out to rescue the workers against all odds.

There is no question that the government should help our nationals in problematic situations abroad. What was unacceptable in this case was the self-glorifying manner in which the rescue was carried out.

As a result, and despite our qualified apology, the Kuwaiti government expelled Ambassador Renato Villa and ordered the arrest of DFA officials involved in

the raid.

At the DFA, especially, protocol exists to guide officials in performing their mandate and dealing with their counterparts.

There has to be some order in the way things are done. Foreign affairs is a sober area—heroics and sound bytes have no place here.

President Duterte’s confidence in Cayetano may have stemmed from the latter’s loyalty during the campaign season. Sometimes, however, loyalty is not the best virtue to consider.

These are tricky times with regard to our foreign policy, and the Philippines must assert itself as a country to be taken seriously. Few have the right qualifications and qualities to take on the top post at Foreign Affairs. Fewer still can inspire confidence and respect.

A reminder of the atrocities of war remember the past are condemned to repeat it, as Santayana said. We need to remember the comfort women and imagine the horrors they were subjected to, because it should not happen again.

And it is not an insult if it is the truth.

That women were raped and kept in THE removal of a statue commemo- brothels during the war is a fact. The rating Filipina “comfort women” from statue does not symbolize an insult, Roxas Boulevard is a disservice not but honors those who suffered and cononly to the women being remembered demns the atrocities of war.

That rape is a war crime was exbut also to the generations who have no awareness about the occurrences of pressed during the 1946 International Military Tribunal for the Far East. Also World War II. “Comfort women” is a euphemism known as the Tokyo Trial and the Tofor the women subjected to rape and kyo War Crimes Tribunal, it charged sexual slavery in brothels for Japanese 28 high-ranking military and political soldiers during World War II in the leaders of Japan for “Class A” crimes related to starting and waging aggrescountries occupied by Japan.

According to Manila city adminis- sive war and for conventional war trator Ericson Alcovendaz, the statue crimes.

Some 5,700 lowwas removed to er-ranking personmake way for a nel were charged flood control proin separate trials gram.

Where is the in various counPresident Rodtries including the rigo Duterte sup- statue now?

Philippines. The ported the recharges covered moval, saying a wide range of the statue is an crimes including “insult” to Japan.

“The Japanese has (sic) paid dearly for rape, sexual slavery, prisoner abuse, that. Iyung reparation started many and torture.

Perceptions of rape in war changed years ago. Huwag na lang natin insultuhin… It is not the policy of govern- in the 20th century. It is no longer seen as something inevitable when men are ment to antagonize other nations.”

He also said that remembering the deprived of female companionship for comfort women’s hardships would only prolonged periods. Rape is now recogcause constant pain. “Masakit kasi na nized as a weapon.

An article on the Office of the United ulit-ulitin and you start to imagine how Nations High Commissioner for Human they were treated badly.”

But this is exactly the reason we need Rights website quotes Major-General that statue, because those who do not Turn to A5

Speak truth to power, keep power in check Philippine Press Institute Pooled editorial RODRIGO R. Duterte’s presidency has altered and controlled the public discourse so radically in its favor in ways rude and bold. One tragic result: It has restricted and narrowed the celebrated freedom of the Philippine press and the people’s cherished right to know.

In his first 22 months in power, Mr. Duterte has earned the dubious honor of logging 85 various cases of attacks and threats on these dual values that the Constitution upholds as inalienable rights of the citizens. The number far exceeds those recorded under four presidents before him.

Separately and together, these 85 cases have made the practice of journalism an even more dangerous endeavor under Duterte.

From June 30, 2016 to May 1, 2018, these cases include the killing of nine journalists, 16 libel cases, 14 cases of online harassment, 11 death threats, six slay attempts, six cases of harassment, five cases of intimidation, four cases of website attack, revoked registration or denied franchise renewal, verbal abuse, strafing, and police surveillance of journalists and media agencies.

These cases project the force of presidential power dominating the political sphere, with zealous support from Duterte allies and appointees, and their sponsored misinformation army online

and off. They have hurled at members of the press insults and unfair labels, and allegations of corruption and misconduct without firm basis in fact or in law.

These cases linger amid effete efforts at solution by state agencies, and in the context of the hostile and vicious discourse against the administration’s critics and the critical media.

The President, Cabinet members, and the House of Representatives have imposed and proposed unprecedented restrictions on journalist access to official news events. Congress and executive agencies have denied or delayed the corporate registration or franchises required for operation of

Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018

Strong and steadfast OVERSIGHT DANILO SUAREZ IN LESS than three months, President Rodrigo Duterte will be delivering his third State of the Nation Address.

While many have been criticizing his leadership, we choose to focus on the better things he has done for our country.

I believe that President Duterte, being the most trusted and most approved chief executive, has not only gained popularity because of his campaign promises, but has also got the trust and approval of the Filipino people for actually being a man of action. It is too early for his critics to classify some of his promises as “stalled” because this administration has only been running for almost two years. There is time left for the other promises of the President to materialize. I must stress, however, that time cannot be wasted, every minute must be devoted to delivering goods and services to the Filipino people.

True to his word, the President launched an intensified anti-illegal drug campaign, According to the latest report of the Philippine Drug Enforce-

ment Agency (PDEA), 23,648 drug suspects were arrested out of 91,704 antidrug operations conducted from July 1, 2016 to March 20, 2018. The significant decline in the country’s crime rate may be attributable to the success of the campaign against illegal drugs. From 2016 to 2017, crime rate dropped by 21.8 percent, wherein 100,668 index crimes were recorded in 2017, while 128,730 index crimes were recorded in 2016.

Almost everyday, there are reports of drug labs and drug dens being closed,

There is no room for error here.

and millions worth of illegal drugs are seized.

The gains of the administration in other essential matters, such as underemployment, poverty reduction, education, health, agriculture, depend on the effectivity of his Cabinet members.

The President appointed his most trusted individuals to taking charge of their respective departments. In only

two years, the President had to let go of some of his appointees due to underperformance. Many have already been relieved from their respective positions; yet we can say that the President has been objective in reviewing the performance of his appointees, regardless whether one is his friend or someone who has contributed to his victory in his presidency.

The appointed officials should not rest on their laurels. I have constantly reminded the President to review the fitness of his appointees in holding their respective positions. The President must display strong political will and should be firm with his decisions.

There is no room for error here.

I look forward to the fruition of the President’s many promises—the projects under “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program, third telecommunications player in the country, better Internet connectivity in the country, Marawi rehabilitation, improvement of Metro traffic condition, and many more. Generally, the President appears to be moving towards the right direction. At this point, I advise the President not to look back. Instead he should just keep moving forward.

Let us keep working together in bringing our country to greater heights.

The fight over Burnham Park DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA A LOT has already been written about Baguio’s deteriorated environment and its disastrous urban development. Open spaces such as the botanical garden and the iconic Burnham Park right in the central business district are being slowly encroached upon and have now become the center of a bitter debate between environmentalists who want to keep the park as an open space and a city government determined to put up a multi-story parking facility combined with a shopping complex.

Yes, a mall right in Burnham Park.

This is quite a departure from the original plan which envisioned a parking facility only. This reminds me of the Center Mall located at the heart of the CBD along Magsaysay Avenue.

When construction was finished, it was discovered that about 100 meters of the city road has disappeared.

A case of graft was filed against certain officials but nothing came out of it and these officials got away with corruption. Burnham Park has in fact already been degraded. The area beside the Igorot garden is now full of eateries.

Part of the football ground is already a parking area. The old city auditorium where the parking facility will be constructed is now littered with small stores. So is that portion where the Lions club built a facility used as the campaign headquarters of a politician every election. There is now a police substation right at the northern edge of the park and the area beside the football ground along Harrison Road is now full of flower shops. There are also buildings located just as one enters the athletic bowl.

The reason that the parking facility is attracting controversy is its size and its negative impact on the park’s ambiance.

An open space right at the central business district is always tempting to local officials wanting to solve difficult prob-

lems like traffic with easy solutions.

Baguio is no different from other cities and municipalities willing to destroy open spaces and parks in the name of progress and development. The main reason of the city in wanting to construct a parking facility is to solve the worsening traffic problem.

But how bad is the traffic problem that the city government is prepared to destroy the iconic Burnham Park? Let

Let us not wait for the President to intervene.

us look at some facts. The total road system of the city is about 344.5 kilometers with 44,890 registered vehicles.

This gives the city a vehicle density of 130 vehicles per kilometer of road and even less if the Camp John Hay road system is included. This compares to Metro Manila’s density of about 500.

This kind of density is still very good and tells us many things. One is that the city traffic authorities are not competent or do not know what they are doing. If they do, traffic would not be as bad as shown along Session Road in front of and around the Post Office. Another is along Abanao Street fronting the Justice Hall at the entrance of Camp Allen just to name a couple. Compared to the National Capital Region, solving Baguio’s traffic problem is doable. Most of the traffic congestion is concentrated in the CBD because all the city roads are severely blocked by oversized jeepneys using the roads as permanent loading stations. This is illegal but the city allows it.

During long weekends, congestion develops at Mines View because of the stores along the road which affects Wright Park, the Baguio Country Club and John Hay

areas. Along the national roads like Session Road, seven out of every 10 vehicles are taxi cabs, many of them empty. If road usage in the CBD can be made more efficient, then traffic can be kept moving.

But the city seems to be only fixated on Burnham Park. One fundamental rule in traffic management is not to mix politics and traffic management but despite the worsening traffic situation in the city, this is exactly what is going on.

Another is that there must be an organization composed of competent people who knows and understand what has to be done. It goes without saying that corruption must also stop. Traffic rerouting, a favorite of traffic authorities to solve congestion, is no longer enough to do the trick because the problem is more complicated due to increasing motorization.

In all the attempts of the city to solve the traffic problem in the CBD, no major engineering proposal has ever been made. The time has come to think about this—and of a more efficient public transport system as a medium-term plan so that the public can be enticed to use public transport and leave their vehicles at home.

Like in Metro Manila, the city government must start planning the eventual phase out of jeepneys. The trouble is that city officials are not using their imagination hard enough in order to come out with some credible plans.

This is probably because there has been no scientific city traffic and transport study done by competent people since 1981. There are therefore no scientific data to be used in basing proper decisions on policies. Instead, city officials seem to think that through experience and the power of observation, it is enough to solve difficult traffic problems. Unfortunately, traffic management is a lot more complicated. If it is that simple, there would be no need for traffic and transport schools.

There are other solutions out there without destroying the only remaining open space in the CBD. Let us not wait for President Duterte to intervene.

A big...

From A4

ever-increasing number of applications.

The SEC is working round the clock literally with a new work-shifting scheme for CRS processors and implementing a stop-gap server infrastructure as a soft solution, while a more concrete systems upgrade is being laid out.

As of 19 April 20118, 14,200 (76.43 percent) of the total 18,578 applications in CRS have been pre-processed while 4,378 (23.57 percent) are pending final processing. The total number of completed registration from launching date of the CRS on 21 November 2017 to 19 April 2018 is 5,607.

The SEC cannot revert to an outdated system of paperwork, antiquated forms, and face-to-face transactions anymore.

Instead it has chosen a more efficient way of serving the public trough the CRS free of any shenanigan.” ***

You can never please everybody all the time.

This is precisely what happened to the executive order signed by the President which in effect put an end to “contractualization” or the practice of hiring workers for only five months so they cannot be eligible to benefits due regular workers.

The problem is that under the Labor Code, employers have the right to hire and dismiss workers and employees. As a result, there is a need to amend the Labor Code, which is outdated anyway.

The President was right when he said it is up to Congress to do the rest.

Contractualization exists even in government!

The problem now is how foreign investors will look at the end of contractualization. The cost of labor has a great

impact on how business is run.

If the cost of labor becomes prohibitive, foreign investors will go to other places. *** Some people think President Duterte should apologize to the government of Kuwait after the “covert” rescue operations that went viral. This prompted the Kuwaiti government to expel our Philippine ambassador and order the arrest of the embassy staff involved in the operation.

Both Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and Ambassador Renato Villa have already apologized while saying that a country is allowed to protect its nationals abroad.

For President Duterte to make another apology is too much.

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Half of Top Six world economies will be Asian China had elbowed Japan aside to attain a gross domestic product (GDP) higher than that of the Land of the Rising Sun. Germany had become the fourth largRUDY ROMERO est economy, followed by the UK and France. With the breakup of the USSR, Russia—now renamed the Russian FedTHE economy is so large and so vigorous eration—had moved several places down that the United States has always been the world economic ladder.

No. 1 in the ranking of the world’s econBut the remarkable rise of China and omies. Up to the early part of the post- Japan is not the end of Asia’s challenge World War II era, the other top places in to the West. Now there is India, with a the ranking were occupied by European population of approximately 1 billion countries—West Germany, Russia (then people, posing an economic challenge called the Union to the major Euroof Soviet Socialpean countries. ist Republic), the The 2018 World United Kingdom Economic League and France.

Table prepared And what about Then, as the by the Center for the Philippines? second half of Economic and the 20th century Business Research proceeded, the (CEBr) projects that ranking began to this year India will change—the rebecome the world’s sult, mainly, of economic-policy priority fifth-largest economy, overtaking France setting, technological advances and world and the UK. “Despite temporary setbacks, trade pattern changes. Asia was stirring India’s economy will still catch up with and Japan was the first non-Western those of France and the UK,” said a high country to challenge the pre-eminence of official of CEBr. The temporary setbacks Europe in the world economic ranking. included a new sales tax and restrictions With its industrial infrastructure virtu- imposed on high-denomination banknotes, ally decimated by World War II, Japan he said. had the advantage—as it did its wartime If CEBr’s forecast turns out to be right, ally Germany—of entering brand-new the world’s largest economies will be manufacturing plants run with the lat- the US, China, Japan, Germany, India, est technology. By the early 1970s, Japan France and the UK, in that order. Three was ready to claim an upgrade in the out of six: not bad at all for Asia. world economic ranking; by the start of The research institution expects that the 1980s, it had dislodged the revitalized Asian economies will dominate the list Germany as the world’s No. 2 economy, of the top 10 world economies by the end after the US. of the next 15 years. My guess is that the But the tale of Asia’s economic chal- South Korean and Taiwanese economies lenge to the world did not end there: It will join that list. The Singaporean econwas just beginning. omy would have been a candidate for inWhile Japan was savoring its status as clusion. Unfortunately, Singapore is but the world’s No. 2 economic power, China a city-state with a small GDP and small had been determinedly strengthening its production and consumption bases. economy, getting the maximum mileage And the Philippines? Will it ever be from its now-ideologically unshackled one of the Asian economies with gross economy. With pragmatic economic pol- domestic product deserving of inclusion icymaking and a market base of 1.2 bil- among the world’s largest economies? lion consumers, China rapidly and surely Given our present political situation and made its way up the world economic lad- national governance, I can only say, as der. Before the advent of the 21st century the wistful ballad suggests: “Dream On.”

BUSINESS CLASS

A reminder...

From A4

Patrick Cammaert, former commander of UN peacekeeping forces in the Eastern Congo, as saying that rape is used as a weapon because it destroys communities totally. “You destroy communities.

You punish the men, and you punish the women, doing it in front of the men.”

This, exactly, is often encountered in narratives of World War II experiences in the Philippines.

Rape is also now seen from the side of women: “Rape is always torture,” says Special Rapporteur Manfred Nowak. It is also accepted that rape causes lasting psychological harm on its victims. Croatian author Slavenka Drakulic, who has written about war crimes in the Balkans, calls it “a kind of slow murder.”

The brutality of rape at any time and in any place and its horrific consequences cannot be overemphasized. Its use as a tactic in conflict is particularly heinous and must be called out as a form of inhumane and savage treatment.

For the comfort women of that War, now in their senior years, to have survived their appalling ordeals is a testament to their strength and bravery.

They deserve the honor of awareness

and remembrance.

Just as importantly, the atrocities of war must be remembered so that they will not happen again. Some older Japanese who recall the War recognize this.

In a 2015 NBC News article, Japan’s Crown Prince Naruhito was quoted as saying, in reference to Japan’s World War II war crimes, that it was “important to look back on the past humbly and correctly” and that there is a need to “correctly pass down tragic experiences and the history behind Japan to the generations who have no direct knowledge about the war, at the time memories of the war are about to fade.”

Duterte said that the statue should be placed on private property where its presence cannot be perceived as an insult to Japan. Where is the statue now?

We call on courageous private property owners and developers to give this statue a home, and in doing so show honor to the comfort women and respect for historical truth.

Dr. Ortuoste is a writer and communication consultant. FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

Speak...

From A4

media companies.

Some journalists and media groups have also reported police surveillance of their movement and their places of work.

Attacks on press freedom diminish not just the news media. These weaken the capacity of the news media to sustain the people’s unfettered exchange of ideas about public issues. Presidential intolerance of criticism is now a well established aspect of Duterte’s leadership. While he is not the only chief executive who has become sensitive to press criticism, Duterte has made sure that everyone understands that misfortunes could hound and befall his critics.

And yet Duterte had promised change; his government should thus tell the people when and where change has come to fruition, and whether it has triggered better or worse results. By keeping citizens and voters fully informed about what and how those they have raised to power are doing right or wrong, a free press sustains and strengthens democracy.

That is not quite the situation under Duterte as yet. Intimidated, restrained, and threatened with consequences, the news media have been significantly constrained to report well and fully on

the war on drugs, the siege of Marawi, cases of alleged corruption in high office, questions about the wealth of the Duterte family, the public debate on Charter change and federalism, the shutdown of Boracay, and not the least significant, the incursions of China in the West Philippine Sea. Rodrigo R. Duterte has brandished the power of fear. His threats and attacks bear the full weight of his office, the highest in the land. No need to test constitutional limits. All he seems to want to do is to make enough journalists understand that they should be very afraid.

But, like fear, courage could be contagious. And unlike fear that disempowers, courage built on the power of truth and the unity of all in media is a force that empowers.

To stand firm and to stand united for press freedom and democracy, to speak truth to power and to keep power in check—this much the press owes the people. And whoever is president, the paramount duty of a free press in a democracy is to defend and uphold the people’s right to know, with unqualified courage and unity.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

News

A6 THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018 Standard Manila

TODAY mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Cops’ kidnappers demand P5m for quick release

By Francisco Tuyay

A

RMED kidnappers of two policewomen shortly after strolling at a famous beach front in Sulu are demanding P5 million for the immediate release of their hostages, police authorities said Wednesday.

DREAM CENTER. HARI president and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo (right) gave VIP guests a tour of the Hyundai Dream Center Philippines workshop area and a chance to interact with HDCP students. From left: Calamba City Mayor Justin Marc Chipeco, Hyundai Motor Group CSR Division Director Byung Hoon Lee, and Hyundai Motor Company Asia Pacific Regional Headquarters Head Yong Suk Lee.

Ombudsman files graft case vs Romblon mayor

By Maricel V. Cruz THE Ombudsman has filed a graft charge against a mayor in Romblon for his alleged questionable purchase of seedlings worth P550,000 in 2014.

Ombudsman lawyers charged Mayor Fernald Rovillos of San Andres, Romblon, with graft before the Sandiganbayan for the alleged one count of violation of Section 3(e) of the Antigraft and Corrupt Practices Act. Melinda Gaac, who was the municipal accountant at th etime of the purchase; Planning and Development Officer Mary Claire Mortel, Bids and Awards Committee Chairman

Caezar Valiente, BAC Vice Chairman Gay Tan, and BAC member Genny Rose Vergara were included in the charge sheet.

The Perlas Seed Growers proprietor, Reynaldo Perlas, was also charged.

Ombudsman investigators told the Sandiganbayan that Rovillos and his co-accused allegedly “wilfully, unlawfully and criminally give Perlas Seed Growers unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference” in the purchase of 10,000 pieces of Bitaog seedlings worth P550,000.

The prosecution said the contract was awarded to Perlas Seed Growers through direct contracting despite the lack of a certi-

fication from the Department of Trade and Industry that no other company offered the same seedlings at a lower price.

Perlas Seed Growers also received the full payment of the purchase price from the local government even if the delivery of the Bitaog seedlings was incomplete.

“The actions of Rovillos and his co-accused caused disadvantageous terms to the government and violated the Government Procurement Reform Act and Commission on Audit Circular No. 2012-001, according to the prosecution,” the investigators said.

A bail of P30,000 has been recommended for each accused in the case.

Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde said an initial P5 million and P300,000 ransom was being demanded by the kidnappers for the two policewoman but authorities were reluctant to give in to such conditions.

The P5 million was for the immediate release of the policewomen while the P300,000 was for the freedom of the civilians.

Albayalde, who ordered policemen in Sulu to track down the kidnappers, said there had been no deadline set for the compliance of the P5-million ransom.

“We will not give in to such demands.

That’s a terror activity, so we do not give in to these kinds of demands to those we consider terrorist,” Albayalde said.

At present, the whereabouts of the kidnap victims remained unknown.

An ongoing negotiations is progressing for the eventual freedom of PO2 Benierose Alvarez and PO1 Dinah Gumahad, both assigned at the PNP Crime Laboratory office based in Calarian in Zamboanga City.

The two policewomen, on board a motorcycle in the company of one Jakosalem Ahamad Blas and Faizal Ahidji, were on

3 cops-brothers sacked, charged

By Joel E. Zurbano METRO Manila police director Camilo Cascolan on Wednesday ordered the relief and the filing of criminal and administrative complaint against the three policemen-brothers who confronted a man in his house over a traffic incident in Caloocan City.

The incident went viral on social media and triggered a public outrage against the three police officers—PO3 Ralph Soriano, assigned at the Northern Police District, and his brothers PO1 Rendel Soriano and PO1 Reniel Soriano, both members of the Drug Enforcement Group based in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Supt. Chai Madrid, spokesperson of the National Capital Region Police Office, said Cascolan ordered Caloocan City police chief Senior Supt. Restituto Arcangel to relieve the policemen brothers immediately after watching the video.

“The Regional Director [was] also ordered to file charges administratively and criminally...a case for Violation of the Omnibus Election Code (Gun Ban) was already filed before the Prosecutor’s Office of Caloocan City with docket number: 02- INV- 18D- 01287,” said Madrid.

She also said the NCRPO was conducting fur-

ther investigation on the matter.

Cascolan has directed all district directors and police station commanders in Metro Manila to discipline and relieve their subordinates if found to be corrupt, abusive and remiss in their work.

“Director Cascolan’s priority program in morale and welfare is religiously being implemented but not to compromise as well the discipline and internal cleansing of the ranks and file of NCRPO,” said Madrid.

The video that went viral on Facebook showed that the three brothers, onboard motorcycles and carrying handguns tucked in their waistbands, confronted Ricardo Malaya over a traffic incident.

The Caloocan City police initiated a probe against the police officers who are now facing grave threat, grave oral defamation and alarm and scandal charges.

The brothers were also slapped with the gun ban being imposed by the Commission on Elections in connection with the May 14 village and youth council polls.

Just recently, the NCRPO ordered the relief of all five cops assigned to the Southern Police District Special Operations Unit after they got involved in alleged robbery extortion in Pasay City.

Manila traffic rerouting scheme up A TRAFFIC rerouting scheme will be enforced on major thoroughfares in Manila due to closure of Roxas Boulevard in connection with the Walk to Fight Poverty on Sunday, May 6, spearheaded by the Iglesia ni Cristo.

Frisco San Juan, deputy chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority, said the closure would cover both directions of Roxas Boulevard from Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue in Pasay City to Padre Burgos Street in Manila beginning 12.01 a.m. Saturday.

“The main road will be closed. The service road will remain open for motorists going to establishments in the area,” said San Juan.

Motorists are advised to take the following alternative routes: • From Radial Road 10 (R-10)/Anda Circle, vehicles should take Andres Soriano Jr. right at Gen. Luna Street, straight at Maria Orosa Street, turn right at T.M. Kalaw Street, left at M.H Del

Pilar Street to destination and vice versa • From A. Bonifacio Drive, left at Padre Burgos, right at Maria Orosa, right at T.M. Kalaw, left at M.H. Del Pilar to destination and vice versa.

• From A. Bonifacio, left at P. Burgos, right at Taft Avenue, to destination and vice versa.

• From P. Burgos, right at Finance Road, at left at Ayala Boulevard, right at San Marcelino, left at UN Avenue, right at President Quirino Ave., left at South Super Highway to destination.

• From P. Burgos, right at Finance Road, right at Taft Avenue, left at President Quirino Avenue, right at South Super Highway to destination.

San Juan said more than 500,000 individuals were expected to gather at the Cultural Center of Philippines and walk their way to the Quirino Grandstand during the event.

The charity walk will also utilize parts of Diosdado Macapagal Avenue, Gil Puyat Avenue, Taft Avenue and Road 10. Joel E. Zurbano

Graft court resets Floirendo’s hearing THE Sixth Division of the Sandiganbayan deferred anew the arraignment of Davao Del Norte 2nd District Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. after the solon filed another motion for reconsideration of the court’s earlier ruling that scheduled the formal reading of the graft charges against him today.

Floirendo is facing charges that Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez filed against him last year for alleged violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) over the land deal between the Floirendo-family owned Tagum Agricultural Development Co., Inc. and the Bureau of Corrections.

The Davao Del Norte lawmaker was supposed to be arraigned last April 18, 2018 but the anti-graft court reset the proceeding for May 2, 2018. This was based on the court’s five-page resolution dated April 12, 2018, which denied the lawmaker’s plea for the

court to direct the Ombudsman to complete the preliminary investigation of the case.

In view of Floirendo’s new motion for reconsideration, the court cancelled today’s arraignment and instead reset it for May 25, 2018, along with the pre-trial of the case.

To prevent another delay, court likewise ordered the lawyers of both parties to submit their pre-trial briefs and joint stipulation of facts on May 22, 2018.

Floirendo, accompanied by his lawyers, appeared before the ant-graft court but left immediately after the proceedings.

The Ombudsman indicted Floirendo for graft in September 2017 and denied the solon's appeal of the ruling.

In his earlier bid to defer his arraignment, Floirendo argued, among others, that the Ombudsman had not yet completed the preliminary investigation of the case.

their way back from the Quezon beach in Patikul Sulu, when 11 armed men led by Mukir Yada, an identified member of the Abu Sayyaf Group, flagged them down and forcibly took them to an unknown direction.

Albayalde, replying to questions, said the two policewomen were alive, adding “there is proof of life.”

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, said three battalions of troops were presently scouring the outskirts of Patikul town searching for the two women cops.

Sobejana believed the kidnappers along with their victims were still in Patikul and recovery efforts were underway.

The Abu Sayyaf Group members are still holding at least 14 hostages who include a European and Vietnamese nationals believed being kept in the hinterlands and coastal areas of Sulu, Basilan.

Meanwhile, the commander of the military’s 403rd Infantry Brigade scored the New People’s Army rebels for their unprovoked assault, which left an unarmed soldier dead and another wounded in Quezon, Bukidnon last April 30. With PNA

Balance Sheet As of MARCH 31, 2018

ASSETS

CURRENT QUARTER

Cash and Cash Items Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Due from Other Banks Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Available-for-Sale Financial Assets-Net Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets-Net Unquoted Debt Securities Classified as Loans-Net Investments in Non-Marketable Equity Security-Net Loans and Receivables - Net Loans to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Interbank Loans Receivable Loans and Receivables - Others Loans and Receivables Arising from RA/CA/PR/SLB General Loan Loss Provision Other Financial Assets Equity Investment in Subsidiaries, Associates and Joint Ventures-Net Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixture and Equipment-Net Real and Other Properties Acquired-Net Non-Current Assets Held for Sale Other Assets-Net Net Due from Head Office/Branches/Agencies, if any (Philippine branch of a foreign bank) TOTAL ASSETS

PREVIOUS QUARTER

7,755,168.99 5,869,160,178.09 265,740,840.46 59,037,213.52 4,712,600.00 11,730,610,517.52 5,242,080,000.00 883,710,834.10 5,638,913,344.00 34,093,660.58 10,477,897.66 8,000,049.75 21,468,329.31 -

9,983,760.18 6,761,958,706.56 183,391,278.44 24,191,598.92 4,712,600.00 10,116,385,783.05 4,983,014,000.00 2,121,951,154.05 3,039,120,625.00 27,699,996.00 14,679,223.85 9,071,107.86 8,916,343.11 -

17,976,962,795.30

17,133,290,401.97

57,943,236.58 14,409,576,812.86 2,800,730.06 486,944,835.76 159,377,405.27 764,284,077.58

22,944,184.67 13,434,801,671.08 1,794,534.04 438,780,810.85 545,112,157.93 593,821,346.20

15,880,927,098.11

15,037,254,704.77

PRINCIPAL OFFICERS VINCENT NOEL VALDEPEÑAS DIRECTOR COUNTRY MANAGER MARIA TERESA CECILIA BALITA VICE PRESIDENT COUNTRY COMPLIANCE MANAGER

LIABILITIES Financial Liabilities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Deposit Liabilities Due to Other Banks Bills Payable a) BSP - (Rediscounting and Other Advances) b) Interbank Loans Payable c) Other Deposit Substitute d) Others Bonds Payable-Net Unsecured Subordinated Debt-Net Redeemable Preferred Shares Special Time Deposit Due to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Other Financial Liabilities Other Liabilities Net Due to Head Office/Branches/Agencies (Philippine branch of a foreign bank) TOTAL LIABILITIES

STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY Capital Stock Other Capital Accounts Retained Earnings Assigned Capital TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

(25,508.00) 2,096,061,205.20

(25,508.00) 2,096,061,205.20

2,096,035,697.20

2,096,035,697.20

17,976,962,795.31

17,133,290,401.97

307,657,825.69 641,745.93 203,424,000.00 4,120,640,000.00 12,175,048.21

159,234,568.91 666,518.80 119,832,000.00 3,389,181,852.30 22,176,425.72

4,644,538,619.83

3,691,091,365.73

11,764,704,178.10 2,144,000.00 40,020,417.06 0.34

10,144,085,779.05 2,144,000.00 39,078,819.03 0.39

3.69

6.23

59.37 58.64 -

41.58 41.09 -

CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS Guarantees Issued Financial Standby Letters of Credit Performance Standby Letters of Credit Commercial Letters of Credit Trade Related Guarantees Commitments Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts Securities Held Under Custodianship by Bank Proper Trust Department Accounts a) Trust and Other Fiduciary Accounts b) Agency Accounts c) Advisory/Consultancy Derivatives Others

TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Gross total loan portfolio (TLP) Specific allowance for credit losses on the TLP Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) a. Gross NPLs b. Ratio of gross NPLs to gross TLP (%) c. Net NPLs d. Ratio of Net NPLs to gross TLP (%) e. Ratio of total allowance for credit losses to gross NPLs (%) f. Ratio of specific allowance for credit losses on the gross TLP to gross NPLs (%) Classified Loans & Other Risk Assets, gross of allowance for credit losses DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross allowance of credit losses Ratio of DOSRI loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses, to gross TLP (%) Gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables Ratio of gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables to TLP (%) Percent Compliance with Magna Carta (%) a. 8% for Micro and Small Enterprises b. 2% for Medium Enterprises Return on Equity (ROE) (%) Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR on Solo Basis), as prescribed under existing regulations a. Total CAR (%) b. Tier 1 Ratio (%) c. Common Tier 1 Ratio (%) 1/ 1/ Common Equity Tier 1 is only applicable to all Universal and Commercial Banks and their subsidiary banks.

I/We hereby certify that all matters set forth in this Published Balance Sheet are true and correct, to the best of my/our knowledge and belief.

_______________________________________ (Sgd) ALEX Z. IDIO VP - Finance

________________________________________________________ (Sgd) VINCENT NOEL VALDEPEÑAS Director - Country Manager

MEMBER: PDIC

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports Manila

Standard

A7

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

TODAY

Explosive 3rd quarter fuels GlobalPort past Blackwater

By Jeric Lopez

F

OLLOWING a lukewarm first half, GlobalPort exploded in a decisive third-quarter surge to dismantle woeful Blackwater, 117-106, for its second straight win in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City last night.

Sean Anthony flexed his muscles once again, producing monster numbers of 29 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in a near triple-double effort to lead the Batang Pier.

Likewise impressive, Malcolm White continued his steady play, helping out GlobalPort with 28 markers and eight boards, while Stanley Pringle also had a field day with 26 points, six rebounds and seven assists.

The Batang Pier found their

stroke uncorked a strong rampage in the third, heavily outscoring the Elite, 35-17, to turn the tides in its favor after trailing by double-digits several times in the first half.

GlobalPort opened up a huge 16-point cushion, 97-81, entering the final 12 minutes of play and never looked back.

As a result, this second win in a row lifted the Batang Pier to a 2-1 slate, putting it near the top

of the heap.

GlobalPort fired from all cylinders in the second half and the struggling Elite simply had no answer.

The woes continued for the Elite as they remained winless, staying at the bottom with an atrocious 0-4 card.

Jarrid Famous’ game-high 41 points went for naught as his squad was once again unable to list its first win.

Blackwater worked its way to an early double-digit lead, 28-18, 10 minutes into the game and took a 35-30 edge at the end of one.

The Elite then continued their ascent and established several 12-point leads midway in the second quarter to have a firmer grip on the contest.

However, GlobalPort ended the first half strong, unleashing an 18-8 run, to inch to within just two, 6462, at intermission to make it any-

one’s game heading the second half.

Both imports already hit the 20-point mark at the half.

Bong Ramos made his debut as the new Blackwater head coach.

Three days ago, Ramos was appointed after then mentor Leo Isaac was let go by the franchise.

He already had a previous PBA coaching stint with then franchise Air21 earlier in the decade.

The scores: GLOBALPORT 117—Anthony 29, White 28, Pringle 26, Tautuaa 14, Elorde 6, Grey 5, Araña 4, Guinto 3, Sargent 2, Teng 0, Gabayni 0, Viernes 0.

BLACKWATER 106—Famous 41, DiGregorio 19, Belo 11, Erram 11, Sumang 10, Sena 7, Maliksi 5, Marcelo 2, Cruz 0, Pinto 0.

Quarterscores: 30-35, 62-64, 97-81, 117-106.

FIVB Manila Open begins THE Philippines takes centerstage as first-time FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour hosts unveil the men’s division qualifiers at the Sands SM By The Bay starting at 8 a.m today (May 3).

Sisi Rondina, the three-time UAAP champion who played in last year’s 29th Southeast Asian Beach Volleyball Championships in Singapore, vows to make the country proud when the 16-team women’s draw blasts off tomorrow (May 4).

“It’s an overwhelming feeling.

First, because we’re hosting this world event. Second, because we are playing for the country. Sobrang nakaka-proud,” said Rondina, who will be paired with Dzi Gervacio in the one-star tournament organized by the Beach Volleyball Republic.

As the top Philippine duo wrap up their preparations today, Rondina and Gervacio are more than ready to face a tough international competition in the four-day event which has a $10,000 cash prize and ranking points for other FIVB beach volley tourneys.

“We’re training very hard. Since the league is the FIVB World Tour, we expect taller and really very strong competition. What we’re focusing on is how we can strengthen our bonds and connect with each other on court. So far, in training, we have developed good communication with one another and have started to jell,” Rondina added.

Maliksi wants to keep title ALLEIN Maliksi is not about to let his shooting woes get in the way as he seeks to retain his three-point title in the upcoming PBA All-Star game.

The Blackwater gunner faces stiff competition in the All-Star side event as he bids to become the latest two-time champion of the contest that features some of the league’s finest marksmen.

Out to challenge Maliksi for his crown are former champions James Yap of Rain or Shine and TNT Katropa’s Terrence Romeo, the back-to-back, two-time winner until Maliksi dethroned him in last year’s edition held in Lucena City.

Also listed in the shootout contest to be held in Batangas City during the second leg of the mid-season event—with Phoenix Fuel with Phoenix Pulse Technology as major sponsor and supported by PEAK sports apparel and PBA RUSH Cignal—on May 25 featuring the men’s national team against the Luzon selection, are Marcio Lassiter (San Miguel), Paul Lee (Magnolia), LA Tenorio (Barangay Ginebra), Stanley Pringle (Globalport), Matthew Wright (Phoenix), Larry Fonacier (NLEX), JVee Casio (Alaska), Ronald Tubid (Columbian Dyip), and Garvo Lanete (Meralco).

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE SALE OF VARIOUS SUB-TRANSMISSION LINES/ASSETS OF THE NATIONAL TRANSMISSION CORPORATION (TRANSCO) TO ISABELA II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (ISELCO II), AS COVERED BY AN AMENDED LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENT (LPA) DATED 20 MAY 2015,

ERC CASE NO. 2018-005 RC

NATIONAL TRANSMISSION CORPORATION (TRANSCO) AND ISABELA II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, (ISELCO II), Applicants. x---------------------------------------------------------------x NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 25 January 2018, National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) and Isabela II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ISELCO II) filed an Application dated 24 November 2017 (Application) for the sale of various sub-transmission Iines/assets of TRANSCO to ISELCO II, as covered by an amended Lease Purchase Agreement (LPA).

TRANSCO and ISELCO II alleged the following in its Application: 1.

TransCo is a government-owned and controlled corporation created and existing by virtue of R.A. No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), with principal office address at the TRANSCO Main Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City.

2.

ISELCO II is an electric cooperative (EC) duly organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at the Government Center, Alibagu, Ilagan, Isabela, Philippines.

3.

By virtue of Section 8 of the EPIRA, TRANSCO assumed the electrical transmission functions of the National Power Corporation, and the responsibility of the latter for the planning, construction and centralized operation and maintenance of high voltage transmission facilities, including grid interconnections and ancillary services.

4.

Section 8 of the EPIRA and RuIe 6, Section 8(e) of its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) also mandate the segregation of the transmission and sub-transmission functions and assets for transparency and disposal, and authorize TRANSCO to negotiate for, and to transfer such sub-transmission assets (STAS) and facilities to qualified distribution utilities (DUs).

5.

Pursuant thereto, this Honorable Commission promulgated the “Guidelines on the Sale and Transfer of the TRANSCO’s Sub-transmission Assets and the Franchising of Qualified Consortiums” (ERC Guidelines) dated 17 October 2003, as amended by ERC Resolution No.3, Series of 2005 dated 17 March 2005 which set forth among others, the standards to distinguish TRANSCO’s transmission assets from its sub-transmission assets and establish the approval process prior to the final sale and transfer of STAs to DUs.

6.

Consistent with the ERC Guidelines, TRANSCO adopted its own Guidelines on the Sale of Sub-transmission Assets (“TRANSCO Guidelines”) [Annex “A”] as approved by TRANSCO Board Resolution No. TC-2003-067 dated 28 November 2003 [Annex “A-1”], as further amended by TRANSCO Board Resolution No.TC-2004-009 dated 16 March 2004 [Annex “A-2”].

7.

On 16 July 2011, this Honorable Commission issued Resolution No. 15, Series of 2011 entitled “A Resolution Adopting the Amended Rules for the Approval of the Sale and Transfer of TRANSCO’s Sub-transmission Assets and the Acquisition by Qualified Consortiums.”

8.

In accordance with the aforesaid ERC Guidelines, and based on a thorough evaluation conducted by TRANSCO, it was determined that the following are sub-transmission assets: a. b. c. d.

Tap Gamu-Roxas 69 kV line; Tuguegarao-Cabagan 69 kV line; Naguilian-Gamu-Ilagan 69 kV line; and, Ilagan substation.

Copies of the Report on the Nature of the Assets, List of STAs for Sale to ISELCO II and the Single Line Diagram are attached as Annexes “B”, “C” and “D,” respectively.

9.

TRANSCO has clearly established that ISELCO II meets the financial and technical capability criteria under Article IV of the ERC Guidelines in acquiring, operating, maintaining, upgrading and expanding the said STAs. Attached are copies of the Financial Qualification Evaluation [Annex “E”] Technical Qualification Evaluation [Annex “F”] and Audited Financial Statements of ISELCO II as of 31 December 2012 and 31 December 2013 [Annex “G”].

10. ISELCO II is the only qualified EC that is directly connected to the subject assets, as evidenced by the attached List of Connected Distribution Utilities [Annex “H”].

11. On 15 February 2013, the ISELCO II Board of Directors issued Resolution No. 2013-016 [Annex “I”] relative to the desired acquisition.

12. On 29 March 2011, TRANSCO and ISELCO II concluded a Lease Purchase Agreement [Annex “J”] covering the subject sub-transmission assets amounting to Ninety Eight Million Six Hundred Forty Six Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty Two and Seventy Five Centavos, Philippine Currency (PhP98,646,752.75), plus interest thereon, which ISELCO II shall pay in two hundred forty (240) equal monthly instalments.

13. On 20 May 2015, TRANSCO and ISELCO II executed an Amended Lease Purchase Agreement [Annex “J-1”] in order to reflect the following changes: a.

A reduction of the cost of the Tap Gamu-Roxas 69 kV line, from that of Twelve Million Eight Hundred Thirteen Thousand Five Hundred Twenty Three Pesos and 11/100, Philippine currency (PhP12,813,523.11) to that of Nine Million One Hundred Thirty Four Thousand One Hundred Ninety Four and 73/100, Philippine currency (PhP9,134,194.73) owing to the NGCP-verified decrease of the line segment from that of 31.83 kilometers to that of 18.58 kilometers;

b.

An increase in the cost of the Naguilian-Gamu-Ilagan 69 kV line segment, from the amount of Three Million Five Hundred Fifty Seven Thousand Nine Hundred Seventy One and 22/100, Philippine currency (PhP3,557,971.22), to that of Five Million Five Hundred Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty Four Pesos and 59/100, Philippine currency (PhP5,500,924.59) owing to the NGCP-verified increase of the line segment from that of 9.69 kilometers to that of 14.85 kilometers; and,

c.

The imposition of a twelve percent value-added tax (12% VAT) on the cost of subtransmission assets and on the interest thereon, pursuant to the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s Memorandum Circular No. 66-2013 dated 30 September 2013, and Revenue Regulation No. 04-2007, dated 07 February 2007, respectively.

Blackwater’s Jarrid Famous is all set to charge into GlobalPort’s Moala Tautuaa in a PBA game won by the Batang Pier, 117-106.

14. With the above changes, the subject sub-transmission assets were valued at Ninety Three Million Seventy Thousand Five Hundred Twenty Nine and 25/100, Philippine currency (PhP93,070,529.25), net of adjustments and deductions, as per the Sinclair knight Merz (SKM) valuation (Annex “K’) pursuant to ERC Resolution No. 01, Series of 2009, as Amended.

15. However, the Honorable Commission issued a Decision dated 23 March 2015 under ERC Case No. 2014-086 MC, entitled “In the Matter of the Petition for Approval of the Reclassification of the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO)’s 69 kV GamuNaguilian Sub-transmission Asset to Full Transmission Asset,” the dispositive portion of which reads, as follows: WHEREFORE, the foregoing premises considered, the application filed by the Green Future Innovations, Inc. (GFII) for the approval of the reclassification of the 69 kV Gamu-Naguilian sub-transmission asset to full transmission asset is hereby APPROVED. Further, the Commission, motu propio, resolves to reclassify the other sub-transmission assets; the Santiago-Cauayan 69 kV line, the CauayanReina Mercedes 69 kV line and the Naguilian-Reina Mercedes 69 kV are hereby reclassified as transmission assets.

READY TO SPIKE AND DIG. The BanKo Perlas Spikers show off their new jerseys during the Grand

Fans Day at Trinoma Activity Center, kicking off the 2018 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference.

Led by Team Captain Sue Roces (leftmost), these volleyball players are ready to dig, set and spike for another chance at the championship after finishing 5th last year. BPI Direct BanKo, Inc., a subsidiary of the Bank of the Philippine Islands, began supporting the team last year to help propagate the sport and reach out to its clients nationwide. BanKo focuses on delivering financial solutions to the unbanked and underserved, thereby bringing the benefits of financial inclusion to many Filipinos. Other players are (starting second from left) Mae Tajima, Giselle Tan, Ella de Jesus, Amanda Villanueva, Joy Dacoron, Jem Ferrer, Amy Ahomiro, Fhen Emnas, Nicole Tiamzon and USA-import player Kia Bright.

PH Azkals in tough AFF Suzuki Cup draw

By Peter Atencio IT WILL be a tough draw once again for the Philippine Azkals men’s football team.

They will have another challenging campaign in the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup after they were put in a difficult group, which includes two-time champion Thailand, Just like in 2016.

Members of the team learned about result of the the draw after it was held yesterday afternoon at the Hotel Mulia Senayan in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The draw results were livestreamed online for each member country to immediately view.

The Azkals will also go up against Singapore, Indonesia, and the winner of the qualification round between Timor Lester and Brunei.

Malaysia is in a separate group (A) with Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.

As a result of the draw, Singapore and Malaysia will not meet this time.

That’s because the Singapore Lions were drawn into Group B with the Azkals, while Malaysia made it to Group A. The first game will be on Nov. 9 with Singapore taking on Indonesia and then on Nov. 13, with the Azkals clashing with the Lions.

“The long journey to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup has finally been accomplished.

We now look forward having a favorable draw in both the Suzuki Cup and the Asian Cup,” said Philippine Football Federation president Mariano Araneta Jr.

PH Cobras test mettle of Hong Kong, China THE Philippine Cobras national touch football developmental team will join a test series this weekend in Hong Kong.

Games will be played against Hong Kong and China at the King’s Park in Kowloon on May 4 and 5.

Matches in the men’s, women’s and mixed divisions will be held among the two nations.

Newly elected Touch Football Federation Pilipinas president Bianca Arco said the team is a good mix of young and old players.

“We have a good mix of players who are in their 20s and in their 40s. And they’re competitive,” said Arco during a jersey presentation on Monday evening at Gerry’s Grill in Glorietta 5.

Arco, who took over from Claire Barberis, said that for several players, this will be their first international competition that could get them ready for the 2019 Touch World Cup. Making up the men’s team are Tim Schenken, Rosendo Manucduc Jr., Luke Cecil, Kevin Monaghan, Allan Shine, Mark Cecil, Julius Casidlac, Nico Francisco, Ciaran Lawless, Andrei Blanco and Godfrey Redloblado.

The women’s squad is composed of Pia Galon, Megan Evans, Abigail Abrera, Shine Santos, Ansherina Awatin, Camille Cuadra, Martha Tan, Pauline Fernandez, Kayla Dionisio, Arlene Trinkler, Rachel de Guzman, Angelika Ami and Deanne Olave. Peter Atencio

Laurentes clinch YOG boxing slots THE Laurente brothers, Criz Russu and Criztian Pitt will see action in the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina later this year.

They earned slots to the YOG after they advanced to the semifinals recently in the Asian Youth Boxing Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.

Criz Russu made it after scoring a 4-1 decision over Indian Shagolshem Barun Singh in the light flyweight division.

On the other hand, Pitt won via referee-stopped-contest decision in the first round of his bantamweight encounter with Cambodian Bang Non. Another Filipino Milenio Anduyan bowed out of contention after he took a 0-5 loss to a more experienced Samandar Kholmudorov of Uzbekistan.

The Philippines is allocated seven slots in boxing in the YOG qualifiers.

Peter Atencio

LOTTO RESULTS

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

SO ORDERED.” 16.

With the reclassification of the Gamu-Naguilian line segment, only the portion from Upi to Ilagan of the Naguilian-Gamu-Ilagan 69kV line originally included in the Amended Lease Purchase Agreement retains its classification as a sub-transmission asset.

17.

Thus, from the original length of 14.85 km. for the Naguilian-Gamu-Ilagan 69 kV line valued at PhP9,029,977.86, the portion corresponding to the segment from Upi to Ilagan Substation has now been reduced to 5.903 km. with the present value of Three Million Five Hundred Eighty Nine Thousand Four Hundred Ninety Two and 21/100, Philippine currency (PhP 3,589,492.21).

18.

By way of adherence to the above-cited Decision, TRANSCO and ISELCO II executed on 20 October 2017 a Second Amendment to the Lease Purchase Agreement (Annex “L”)

19.

The contract price is now pegged at Eighty Seven Million Six Hundred Thirty Thousand Forty Three and 60/100, Philippine currency (PhP87,630,043.60), plus 12% VAT for the following sub-transmission assets: a. Tap Gamu-Roxas 69 kV line; b. Tuguegarao-Cabagan 69 kV line; c. Upi-Ilagan 69kVline, and, d. Ilagan substation.

Finally, herein applicants also respectfully submit the following documents in compliance with the Honorable Commission’s requirements: a. Draft of the Deed of Absolute Sale [Annex”M”]; and, b. Franchise Description [Annex “N”].

The proposed sale has satisfied all of the requirements and criteria set by the EPIRA and its IRR, as well as the ERC and TRANSCO Guidelines on the Sale of Sub-transmission Assets.

20.

21.

22.

The approval by this Honorable Commission of the instant Joint Application shall pave the way for the attainment of a reformed electricity industry under the EPIRA, which would ultimately best serve the interest of the consuming public.

PRAYER

WHEREFORE, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission that after due notice and hearing, a DECISION be rendered APPROVING the instant Joint Application for the approval of the sale of TRANSCO’s sub-transmission assets in favor of Isabela II Electric Cooperative, Inc. under the terms provided in the Second Amendment of the Lease Purchase Agreement dated 20 May 2015.

Applicants also pray for other just and equitable relief.

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 31 May 2018 (Thursday) at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.) at ISELCO II’s principal office at Brgy. Alibagu, Ilagan, Isabela.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: i. The petitioner’s name and address; ii. The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; And iii. A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicants rest their case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1) The name and address of such person; 2) A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and 3) The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicants that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicants are hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and CEO, AGNES VST DEVANADERA, and the Honorable Commissioners, ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 28th day of February 2018 in Pasig City.

FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION: JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal (MS-MAY 3 & 10, 2018)

Sports

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

A8

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors reacts after making a three-point basket against the New Orleans Pelicans during Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. AFP

Dubs win in Curry’s return L

OS ANGELES—LeBron James’s “worst” was too much for Toronto on Tuesday as the Cleveland superstar and his Cavs teammates rallied to stun the Toronto Raptors 113-112 in overtime in game one of their NBA playoff second-round series.

Petron’s Katherine Bell scores against F2’s Kennedy Bryan in Game 1.

Roman Prospero

Petron guns for PSL crown vs F2 Logistics Game Today (Filoil Flying V Centre) 7 p.m. – F2 Logistics vs Petron

PETRON essays a fitting climax to its championship journey when it clashes with F2 Logistics in Game 2 of their Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga best-of-three finals series today (Thursday) at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

Action starts at 7 p.m. with the Blaze Spikers vowing to go for the kill and knock the crown off the Cargo Movers’ heads in this prestigious women’s club tourney bankrolled by Isuzu and UCPB Gen with ESPN5 as official broadcast partner.

After blowing hot and cold in the classification round, Petron made a drastic move when it replaced tried and tested import Hillary Hurley with Katherine Bell.

Bell, who spearheaded University of Texas to the NCAA title in 2012, made her presence felt as she posted impressive numbers to guide the Blaze Spikers to back-to-back wins over Cocolife in the semifinals of this tourney that also has Senoh, Mikasa, Asics, LGR and Grand Sport as technical sponsors.

And in the finals late Thursday, Bell proved that she’s worth the gamble.

The hard-hitting spiker erupted for 36 attacks, four aces and two blocks to finish with 42 points to power the Blaze Spikers to a thrilling 23-25, 20-25, 2515, 25-22, 15-9 conquest of the Cargo Movers in Game 1.

It was such an incredible feat as the Cargo Movers were in control in the first two sets before Bell conspired with Lindsay Stalzer, Remy Palma, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and Rhea Dimaculangan to put the Blaze Spikers back in the match.

She was on a different level in the fifth set as she scored eight of Petron’s last nine markers that left Aby Marano, Cherry Nunag and other F2 Logistics’ defenders struggling for form.

“We know the quality of her game and tonight she showed that she’s up to the challenge,” said Petron coach Shaq Delos Santos, adding that it was Bell’s emphatic performance that kept them going down the stretch.

It was a heart-breaker for the Raptors, who led throughout regulation only to see James knot the score at 105-105 with 30.9 seconds left in regulation.

Toronto, the Eastern Conference top seeds for the first time in franchise history, missed their last 11 shots of regulation.

Cleveland’s Kyle Korver opened overtime with a three-pointer and the Cavs held on for the victory and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference set.

“It was an all-around team win for us,” James said after five Cavs players scored in double figures. “Everybody contributed tonight, and we needed it.”

After the high drama in Toronto, all eyes were on Stephen Curry in Oakland, where the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player scored 28 points in his return from a 16-game injury absence to help the reigning champion Golden State Warriors to a 121-116 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Warriors took a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Western Conference series, with Curry looking fit and confident as he came off the bench late in the

first quarter.

“Everything changed as soon as he walked on the floor,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of Curry’s impact.

Curry had not played since suffering a sprained left knee ligament on March 23.

But he got off to a confident start, quickly draining a three-pointer, and the Warriors, who trailed 18-11 when Curry entered the game, were up 58-55 by halftime.

“He was Steph,” Kerr said. “He doesn’t take long to warm up, that’s for sure.”

Curry connected on eight of 15 shots from the field and five-of-10 from threepoint range. He pulled down seven rebounds with two assists and three steals.

Kevin Durant paced the Warriors with 29 points, seven assists and six rebounds and Draymond Green fell one rebound shy of a triple double with 20 points, 12 assists and nine boards.

“Big win for us,” Curry said after a game that saw 13 lead changes, 11 of them in the first half.

Cavs play tough There was no such back-and-forth in Toronto, where the Raptors led until

James tied it up in the final minute of regulation.

Once Korver put them in front at the start of overtime, they wouldn’t relinquish the lead.

Kyle Lowry converted a three-point play to pull Toronto within 113-112 with 57 seconds remaining but Toronto’s Fred VanVleet missed a potential gamewinner.

James, who said he was “burnt” after the Cavs clinched a seven-game firstround win over Indiana on Sunday, made just 12 of 30 shots from the floor but still recorded the 21st playoff triple-double of his career with 26 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds.

“I definitely wasn’t as efficient as I like to be,” James said. “I missed a lot of open looks. It was probably one of my worst games of the season.

“But at the end of the day the only thing that matters is that my team-mates stepped up and got the win when I wasn’t at my best.”

JR smith scored 20 points and Korver added 19. Tristan Thompson came off the bench to add 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavs and Jordan Clarkson chipped in 16 points.

“We didn’t play great, but we played tough,” said Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue, whose Cavs trailed by as many as 14 in the first half. “We stayed the course.” AFP

Tonton, Jude eye repeat in pro-am golf FORMER national players Tonton Asistio and Jude Eustaquio hope to buck early pressure from a slew of crack tandems as they begin their chase for back-to-back crowns in the Delimondo National Pro-am at Splendido Taal Golf Club in Laurel, Batangas today (Thursday, May 3).

Asistio and Eustaquio, members of the bronze medal team in the 2009 SEA Games in Laos, nipped Jelbert Gamolo and Jolo Magcalayo in sudden death in last year’s inaugural staging of the event put up by ICTSI with the duo seeking to build early momentum for another shot at the title in the P2 million championship.

“Pressure is inherent in the game.

The expectation to do well certainly adds anxiety. But we are lucky that we are very comfortable with each other.

I just want us to have fun as we compete out there. It is always a privilege to play and compete together,” said Eustaquio, golf director at Forest Hills.

But they surely expect the rest to likewise dish out their best with some pros even tapping new amateur partners to bolster their respective bids for the top P360,000 purse in the 54-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. Gamolo has linked up with manytime amateur champion Rupert Zaragosa, Rolando Marabe Jr., joint fifth last year with Gary Sales, will now team up with Stephen Paduano, Elmer Salvador is now with Oliver Gan, Marvin Dumandan taps Rex Goquingco, Jay Bayron with Tony Olives, Jobim Carlos with DJ Padilla, and Clyde Mondilla now paired with Jeric Hechanova.

A confident Jude Eustaquio (left) and Tonton Asistio set out for another shot at the pro-am crown.

Lady Spikers complete volley 3-peat DE LA SALLE displayed tremendous composure to beat Far Eastern University, 26-24, 25-20, 26-24, and cement its status as the best UAAP women’s volleyball squad in the modern era last night before a 14,018-strong crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Lady Spikers ended the season with 11 straight wins, overcoming early season problems to be at the pedestal once more.

“Every practice, sinasabi ko sa kanila, all-out tayo,” said De La Salle mentor Ramil De Jesus.

Kim Kianna Dy finished her UAAP career with 19 points, including two blocks, while Majoy Baron and Aduke Ogunsanya each scored 10 points for the Lady Spikers, who in the process completed a three-peat.

Libero Dawn Macandili, one of the best in Asia, was named the Finals MVP after collecting 21 digs and eight excellent receptions in the titleclincher.

The third winningest program with 11 crowns, De La Salle swept the bestof-three series, 2-0, as it duplicated the feat of the equally successful 2003-05 and 2010-12 teams.

“Well, hindi ko na talaga binibilang iyon,” De Jesus told ABS-CBN S+A at the height of the celebration on the court.

The newly-minted national team coach, De Jesus is just all-business to make the school a force to reckon with.

Earlier, National University denied five-time MVP Marck Espejo a grand exit as it wrested the men’s crown from Ateneo with a 25-20, 31-29, 2225, 33-31 win.

The Lady Spikers found a much tougher Lady Tamaraws’ side in Game 2.

After putting De La Salle at set point with a kill, Dy’s block on Ced Domingo completed the comeback from a 21-24 hole and helped her team escape the opening frame.

Michelle Cobb’s ace put the Lady Spikers at championship point but the Lady Tamaraws saved four set points, with Jerrili Malabanan’s off-the-block kill tying the game at 24-24.

La Salle never flinched under pressure, as Dy’s go-ahead drop and Tin Tiamzon’s spike gave the Taft-based squad another crown to celebrate.

“FEU did not totally gave up,” said De Jesus, who now has 260 collegiate wins.

Santo Tomas, UP go for all the marbles Match today (Rizal Memorial Stadium) 3 p.m. – UP vs UST (Men Final)

UNIVERSITY of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas will leave everything on the pitch in the UAAP Season 80 men’s football final today at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Kick-off is at 3 p.m.

The last time the two teams crossed paths for the championship, the Fighting Maroons, with Jinggoy Valmayor leading the way, defeated the Growling Tigers, 1-0, in the 2011-12 season in a campaign where they conceded only a single goal all throughout.

“It has been a while. I’m very excited.

UST played so well in their game against Ateneo. I think it’s going to be an exciting match,” said coach Anto Gonzales after UP eliminated De La Salle in the Final Four.

Gunning for a record 36th championship, the Tigers are determined to regain their lost glory and give their seven graduating players, led by Steven Anotado and Gino Clariño, a grand send-off.

“I know UP is a strong team.

Kumpleto,” said coach Marjo Allado, who was then an assistant to Nonoy Carpio when the Tigers last won the crown in the 2006-07 season.

Behind King Miyagi, JB Borlongan and rookie sensation Fidel Tacardon leading the charge, the Maroons, with 11 wins and four draws have never lost a match this season.

“Kailangang manalo kami sa championship para maibalik agad ‘yun (glory). Kailangan kami ang mag-champion and then ma-improve ang program ng UST,” said Allado.

Team Pilipinas-SBC rules Pacific Rim NCAA cagefest AGAINST all odds in enemy’s territory, Team Pilipinas-San Beda reigned supreme as it outscored host Thailand Chulalongkorn, 50-40, in a closely fought one-game final of the 2018 Pacific Rim NCAA Basketball Championship held over the weekend at Chulalongkorn University Coliseum in Bangkok, Thailand.

Outmanned due to injuries of its three key players, the Filipino kids gallantly fought tooth and nail against much taller and heftier Thais and overcame the physicality of the game e nroute to a hard-earned victory in the prestigious tournament participated in by 16 team nations.

San Beda-Taytay’s frontliner Prince Ray Alao carried the offensive thrust in an almost no-relief job to defy all the defense thrown at him as he earned his first Most Valuable Player award as a bonus in his team’s triumph.

Spitfire Lanze Ronquillo ‘s ballhandling and playmaking ability also made the difference against their Thai counterparts, while Nathaniel Manarang’s offensive and defensive poise in the third canto helped stop Thailand’s attempt to break away from a see-saw battle in futility.

Carlo Bathan and Deandre Largueza conspired in controlling the Thais’ star player, while Yco Protacio, Tonchie

Conde, Dexter Alapar, Marlon Alcera, Red Caidic, Jabez Lirazan, Jomel Yap and Marcus Espiritu contributed to the cause.

“The boys gallantly neutralized the Thais’ strength at the paint area with speed, positioning, slashing, foulbating, determination and patriotism. I told them that they are playing not only for San Beda but for the Philippines. Now they are our new sports heroes. They deserve this victory,” said head coach Manu Inigo, who acknowledged his deputy mentor VL Sandalo and AndyMejos, San Beda University sports head Ato Badolato and COCOLIFE for the support.

IN BRIEF

Business

Smart to finish cell site upgrades in QC

SMART Communications Inc. said it is set to finish the first round of cell site upgrades in Quezon City this month.

“These network upgrades in Quezon City and in other parts of the metro and the country are part of our broader effort to deliver world-class internet service to our customers,” PLDT Inc. and Smart senior vice president for network planning and engineering Mario Tamayo said.

Recent internal tests showed LTE download speeds ranging from 29 Mbps to 224 Mbps in Quezon City areas like Batasang Pambansa and Quezon City Circle, as Smart expands its rollout of Long Term EvolutionAdvanced (LTE-A) and carrier aggregation (CA) technology across Metro Manila to provide better mobile data experience to customers. The speeds were reached using handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S5 and S7.

Average daily data revenue also increased in Quezon City by 23 percent, while LTE device usage was up 33 percent between September 2017 and March 2018.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Quezon coal plant faces 3-month delay

SAN Buenaventura Power Ltd. Co. led by Meralco PowerGen Corp. expects a two- to three-month delay in the construction of a 455-megawatt, coal-fired power plant in Mauban, Quezon.

Meralco PowerGen president Rogelio Singson told reporters Wednesday the construction at SBPL in Mauban was now on the 28th month of its 42-monthconstruction period.

“Our EPC work is estimated at about 84 percent accomplishment as of March. We are potentially looking at 2 to 3 months delay because of some late turnovers,” Singson said.

SBPL, a joint venture between Meralco PowerGen, a unit of Manila Electric Co., and New Growth BV, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Electricity Generating Public Co. Ltd. of Thailand, tapped Daelim Industrial Co. Ltd. and Mitsubishi Corp. as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor.

“In my discussions with Daelim, they were saying that they did not anticipate that the weather (in December) in that peninsula is different from the rest of Luzon,” Singson said. Alena Mae S. Flores

Senator warns vs monopoly in LNG sector

By Alena Mae S. Flores SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday cautioned the Energy Department against creating a monopoly in the country’s emerging liquefied natural gas industry.

“Inadvertently, we are creating a monopoly because we’re only allowing one entity to construct and to supply. In effect, he will now control the terminal. He will now control supply,” Gatchalian, head of the Senate energy committee, said in a recent hearing.

Gatchalian reacted to the department’s pronouncements that only one permit would be issued to an LNG project.

The department started accepting applications to develop the country’s first integrated LNG facility, estimated to cost around $2 billion.

“Why are we limiting it to one, creating a virtual monopoly? The end of the value chain should be the consumer. In effect, the consumer might be inadvertently penalized in just limiting it to one entity?” he said.

The department is presently evaluating 10 applications under the Philippine Natural Gas Regulation, created to ensure the successful implementation of the first LNG facility.

Energy Undersecretary Donato Marcos said the applications would be on a “first-come, first-served” basis and would include compliance to financial closing.

“The first one who gets the financial closing and all the compliance will definitely get the project,” Marcos said.

Gatchalian asked Marcos on the “limiting factor” if the investors were the ones taking the huge risk. Applicants need to put up an LNG facially with a minimum capacity of five million metric tons per annum.

“You open but you will only give one permit to construct…You’re creating a monopoly,” Gatchalian said.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018

B1

Investment pledges surge 53%

By Othel V. Campos

I

NVESTMENT pledges approved by the government’s two largest incentive-giving bodies jumped 53 percent in the first quarter from a year ago, on higher commitments in the energy sector.

Data from the Trade Department showed the Board of Investments and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority approved P182.83 billion worth of projects in January to March, up from P119.31 billion in the same period in

2017.

BoI contributed P152.12 billion or 83.2 percent of the total investment approvals in the three-month period, while Peza added P39.72 billion or 16.8 percent.

The biggest amount was committed to electricity, gas, steam and electricity supply sector with P104.35 billion, or 57.1 percent of the total investments in the first quarter.

Investments in the sector surged by more than 20 times from the amount approved in the first quarter of 2017.

Investments in the real estate sector reached P27.24 billion, or 14.9 percent of the total, while approved projects in the manufacturing sector amounted to

P23.85 billion or 13 percent.

Investments in water supply, sewerage and waste management accounted for P13.87 billion or 7.6 percent, while approved projects in transportation and storage hit P7 billion, or 3.8 percent of the total.

Japan remained the largest source of approved foreign investments, followed by the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Singapore and the United States.

Investments approved by BoI increased in the three-month period, while projects approved by Peza fell from a year ago.

The Trade Department attributed the exceptional performance of BoI to the sound policies of the government and

the strong investor sentiment that continued to fuel the growth momentum of the economy.

The agency said it expected BoI to reach its self-imposed target of P680 billion for 2018, or about 10 percent higher than the record figure in 2017. BoI approved P617 billion worth of investment projects in 2017, the highest on record.

The department said most investment approvals were related to the economy’s growing demand for infrastructure in support of the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program.

Investments approved by Peza, however, dropped as investors were still wary of the ongoing reforms in the Philippine taxation system.

Grab defends higher fares amid lack of vehicles

GMA-7 claims lead in nationwide ratings

GMA Network Inc. kept its strong nationwide ratings in April compared with those of rival ABS-CBN Corp. based on the latest data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

GMA, which airs on Channel 7 on free TV, registered an average of 39.7 percent total day people audience share in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement for the full month of April, ahead of ABS-CBN’s 38.6 percent.

The broadcasting network dominated NUTAM’s morning block with a people audience share of 37.9 percent, beating ABSCBN’s 33.4 percent.

GMA also led in the afternoon block with 41.6 percent against its rival’s 37.8 percent.

GMA, meanwhile, reigned supreme across all day parts in the viewer-rich areas of Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, which respectively account for 72 and 59 percent of all urban viewers in the country.

It maintained a double-digit margin in Urban Luzon with an average total day people audience share of 44.2 percent versus the competition’s 33.2 percent.

Darwin G. Amojelar

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

By Darwin G. Amojelar

ADB’S 51ST ANNUAL MEETING. Finance ministers, central bank governors, private sector representatives, development partners, academics, members of civil society, media and the youth from the Asia and Pacific region start arriving at the Asian Development Bank headquarters in Metro Manila for the 51st Annual Meeting of ADB’s Board of Governors. Over 4,000 participants from across Asia, North America and Europe are expected to attend the meeting on May 3 to 6.

Security Bank’s net income declined to P2.35b in Q1

By Julito G. Rada SECURITY Bank Corp., the sixth largest lender in terms of assets, said net income fell 16.6 percent in the first quarter to P2.35 billion from a year ago, on lower trading gains and higher taxes.

The bank said in a statement the lower net profit in the first three months was “primarily due to the decrease in trading gains by 50 percent or P416 million and the increase in provision for income tax

by P311 million.”

Security Bank said core revenues, comprising of net interest income, feebased income and trading gains attributable to customer flows, rose 15 percent or P797 million.

Net interest income grew 13 percent to P5 billion as the underlying customer business remained strong, with net interest income from customer loans and deposits increasing 43 percent to P3.6 billion.

Interest income from financial investments decreased as the bank reduced its securities portfolio by 11 percent year-

on-year through securities sale.

Service charges, fees and commissions rose 45 percent to P683 million.

The growth in fee income was broadbased, led by bancassurance, credit card and loan fees.

Loans increased 20 percent year-onyear to P367 billion. Corporate loan growth was 16 percent while the middle-market loan increase was 13 percent. Consumer loans surged 54 percent year-on-year.

“With the rollout of small business loans and personal loans in early 2017, Security Bank now has a full plate of consumer loan products consisting of home, auto, credit card, personal and small business loans, which helped net interest margin to be sustained at 3.3 percent in Q1 2018. This is higher than the 3.1 percent a year ago and same level as quarter ago. Consumer loans as a percent of total loans increased to 17 percent,” the bank said.

Deposits grew 11 percent year-onyear to P420 billion. Low-cost deposits

increased 20 percent.

Total assets reached P703 billion.

Asset quality remained healthy, with gross non-performing loan ratio at 0.7 percent, lower than 0.9 percent a year ago. The net NPL ratio was 0.27 percent while the NPL reserve cover increased to 269 percent.

Operating expenses rose 14 percent, excluding provisions for credit and impairment losses. The bank’s manpower climbed to 5,500 in as of March, supporting the growth in consumer finance, branches, digitalization and information technology transformation to serve the bank’s client base better.

Security Bank said capital position was stronger, with common equity tier 1 ratio at 16.5 percent and total capital adequacy ratio at 18.8 percent, an improvement from 15.5 percent and 17.7 percent, respectively, in the previous quarter.

Security Bank said it remained the best capitalized bank with the highest capital adequacy ratios among the top 10 private domestic universal banks in

GRAB Philippines said the overwhelming demand and severe undersupply of cars resulted in long waits and higher fares for passengers.

Grab said it received about 600,000 passenger booking requests each day, but only 35,000 vehicles were available to serve the riding public.

Country head Brian Cu said that before Grab’s acquisition of Uber in April this year, Grab, with 24,000 vehicles, served 60 percent to 65 percent of bookings, while Uber with 19,000 vehicles, had a success rate of 50 percent.

Cu said with the merger of the two transport network vehicle service providers, only 11,000 of the 19,000 active Uber vehicles moved to Grab.

He said the gap was represented by 6,000 Uber drivers who could no longer continue driving because they were not a part of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s audited masterlist.

Cu said as a result, only 53 percent of passengers were able to get a ride on their first booking attempt, but fell to as low as 37 percent on average during peak hours.

“Driver numbers continue to drop as uncertainty in maintaining sustainable livelihood increases.

With the recent suspension of P2per-minute fare, a lot of drivers and operators fear they won’t be able to provide for their families and car maintenance expenses,” Cu said.

“Majority of social media sentiment we monitor regarding the inability to get a ride is due to the perception of choosy drivers, but in reality this is because there are no available cars in the area. We are reassuring the riding public that we are addressing their concern regarding undisciplined drivers and we are thankful for their understanding of the current situation,” he said.

Group asks Supreme Court to strip Pagcor of powers over online gaming

AF PAYMENTS AND PRO-FRIENDS PARTNERSHIP. Developer Pro-Friends signs an agreement with AF Payments Inc. to provide the residents of the former’s flagship project, Lancaster New City in Cavite province with the LNC Link card powered by beep. The stored value smart card will be made available to over 40,000 residents of Lancaster New City. Shown during the signing of the partnership agreement are (from left) AFPI chief finance officer Chona Basilio, AFPI chief executive Peter Maher, Pro-Friends senior vice president and strategic business unit 1 head Juny Santillan and Pro-Friends vice president and estate and asset management head Terence Crisostomo.

A CAUSE-ORIENTED group asked the Supreme Court to issue an order restoring the right to grant online gaming franchises to economic zones and hold state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. in contempt for alleged usurpation of judicial powers.

The Anti-Trapo Movement of the Philippines Inc. said in a 14-page petition filed before the SC that Pagcor erred in arrogating upon itself the authority to “interpret and implement the law” hence giving itself the exclusive privilege to “centralize and integrate all games of chance” as defined by Presidential Decree No. 1869.

The group asked the high tribunal to issue a status quo ante order (literally meaning the way things were before) “restoring the regulation of internet/ online gaming to the economic zones that were created by special law for that purpose.”

The petitioner also claimed that in issuing the questioned regulations, “Pagcor has interpreted the law to include internet/online gambling” within its

authority.

Anti-Trapo Movement founder and chairman Leon Peralta, who filed the petition, described Pagcor’s argument as “an affront” to the SC. Peralta filed his plea in response to Pagcor’s comment to his earlier petition for prohibition seeking to disallow Pagcor from extending internet gaming franchises to private operators.

Peralta, who is not a lawyer, said the Supreme Court, and not a mere government-owned or controlled corporation, is the “true agency of the government with the authority to interpret the law.”

He cited as precedent the SC ruling on a case initiated by former Sen. Robert Jaworski rejecting Pagcor’s erroneous assertion that it could regulate internet/online gambling.

Pagcor, in its comment filed by the Office of Government Corporate Counsel, argued that Section 10 of PD 1869 cited jai alai as the only gaming activity expressly excluded from Pagcor’s coverage.

B2

Business

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market sinks; Ayala, GT Capital fall T

HE stock market fell Wednesday on profittaking and ahead of a key Federal Reserve policy announcement, with select blue chips paring their recent gains.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index sank 83.18 points, or 1.1 percent, to 7,736.07 on a value turnover of P6.5 billion. Gainers, however, beat losers, 117 to 87, with 43 issues unchanged.

Conglomerate Ayala Corp., which is into malls, banking, property development, telecommunications and water distribution, declined 3.7 percent to P930, while unit Bank of the Philippine Islands, the third-biggest lender in terms of assets, dropped 2.9 percent to P102.

JG Summit Holdings Inc. of industrialist John Gokongwei tumbled 5.2 per-

cent P60.60, while GT Capital Holdings Inc. of tycoon George Ty slumped 4.8 percent to P1,000.

The rest of Asian equity markets, meanwhile, struggled as investors returned from public holidays across the region.

Technology stocks were mixed, even after Apple released better-than-expected earnings that soothed worries about iPhone sales.

The Nikkei in Tokyo ended 0.2 percent lower and Hong Kong slipped 0.3 percent in the afternoon. Shanghai and Singapore were marginally down, while Taipei, Bangkok and Jakarta fell.

However, Sydney rose 0.6 percent and Wellington climbed 0.7 percent.

As trading floors reopened after the Labor Day break, attention was on the Fed’s policy decision later Tuesday.

While the central bank is not expected

to lift interest rates, its post-meeting statement will be parsed for clues to its plans and any idea of a timetable for future hikes with opinions split on whether it will announce three or four more this year. That is followed by the release Friday of closely watched US jobs data.

A broadly positive outlook for the US economy, along with easing geopolitical and trade worries, has provided some lift to the dollar.

The greenback is testing the 110 yen mark for the first time since the start of February while it has also surged against the pound as the Bank of England puts its own plans for a rate hike on the backburner.

It is also building on gains against higher-yielding currencies including the Australian dollar, Indonesian rupiah, Mexican peso and Thai baht. The South

Korean won was also in retreat after enjoying a rally on the back of Friday’s North-South Korea summit.

“The US dollar bulls continued to lead the charge as traders remain centered favorably on the entrenched US data flow... relative to that from other major economies that are cooling quickly,” said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trading at OANDA. “It’s now over to the (Fed policy committee) to hold up their side of the bargain as so far, the heavy lifting for the greenback has fallen on the global central bank community, which has turned dovish on the first hint of economic slack.”

Wall Street’s three main indexes ended mixed with analysts warning the strong earnings season could be be a high mark for the year. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59 15,790 102 1,295,090 3.05 84,000 132.3 3,118,160 1.45 115,000 34.9 100,600 7.39 4,500 16.74 179,500 17.2 651,700 3.44 38,000 8.78 35,000 1.53 1,000 890 50 0.56 563,000 86 2,229,310 1.12 122,000 12.2 400 22.65 500 52.5 56,110 219.8 5,000 110 580 86.25 10,200 38.5 1,394,700 207.6 545,650 1,900 115 91.4 39,770 1.2 40,000

930,693 133,636,843 257,310 411,935,044 165,670 3,511,480 33,257 2,976,164 11,237,622 128,510 294,048 1,530 44,500 315,520 190,971,584.50 135,750 4,996 11,345 2,942,934.50 1,099,940 63,800 877,237.50 54,361,425 114,223,420 218,550 3,618,149.50 48,000

583,689 -48,492,191 46,500 -6,909,691 1,019,080 -16,700 -1,860,432 15,099,353 -1,130 -73,246.50 -83,185.00 -19,127,780 224,511.50 -

38.2 14 0.59 1.27 19.76 0.225 113 3.5 16.5 50 24.1 61.95 69 81.7 1.92 10 10.7 15.5 12.12 7.14 5.38 1.65 15.42 64.2 21 9.39 15.5 2 283 55 5.1 3.27 27 14.44 23.5 319.4 6.76 2.55 4.75 9.22 5 7.99 1.48 11.9 52.4 5.95 1.85 3.5 1.84 14.26 64.9 5.46 0.133 0.98 138.4 2.52 2.96 0.88

INDUSTRIAL 38.7 1,458,200 14.18 831,000 0.6 1,062,000 1.27 152,000 20.25 24,700 0.23 2,400,000 113.3 260 3.6 4,981,000 16.52 1,754,800 51.65 489,430 24.35 2,600 61.95 20 73.5 860 81.7 20 1.92 101,000 10 3,200 10.7 2,690,200 15.5 1,251,800 12.24 1,703,100 7.2 2,801,200 5.39 1,039,400 1.79 2,000 15.58 535,900 65.15 26,380 21 52,500 9.39 8,200 16 1,399,400 2.06 822,000 283 439,510 55 210 5.1 3,000 3.27 1,000 27.15 584,200 14.46 130,600 24 3,989,300 329.8 489,800 6.76 4,700 2.6 9,909,000 4.75 156,000 9.28 571,800 5.1 20,800 8 3,400 1.5 322,000 12 833,300 53 2,501,760 5.95 7,700 1.98 124,000 3.5 6,000 1.99 572,000 14.42 89,500 66.6 250,380 5.48 84,100 0.133 320,000 0.99 106,000 139 1,884,580 2.6 208,000 3.18 21,791,000 0.9 9,611,000

56,337,075 11,791,864 633,370 193,350 491,966 543,730 29,479 17,821,130 28,961,280 25,248,442.50 63,290 1,247 59,441 1,634 196,300 32,000 28,875,650 19,447,380 20,851,016 20,163,026 5,602,719 3,440 8,340,032 1,716,814.50 1,123,040 77,050 22,350,186 1,691,880 124,750,010 11,750 15,500 3,270 15,856,915 1,897,178 97,397,475 160,332,030 32,631 25,473,020 744,720 5,303,961 2 105,866 27,189 480,670 9,923,790 131,394,067.50 45,815 233,200 21,090 1,120,620 1,283,912 16,635,763.50 460,225 42,560 104,860 265,272,390 526,610 68,252,460 8,674,790

12,544,815 -73,944 5,900 -16,950 -3,251,290 -531,206 -2,007,761.50 -4,388,576 677,950 11,658,014 -18,219,584 315,414 -3,448,156 1,167,604.50 9,852,342 -94,440.00 -36,969,842 -2,375,350 -110,208 -4,021,800 87,812,276 828,160 -119,040 ,111,292.0003 4,065,519 -446,862 7,590,262 10,940 7,980 -22,666,802 424,360 4,016,850 -81,270

0.29 67.7 13 0.88 6.45 0.66 0.68 930 6.64 10.7 7.55 4.97 0.212 1,000 6.85 60.6 0.63 4.34 19.74 0.57 5.12 0.04 1.12 3.21 139.2 931.5 0.79 1.65 545 260 0.24 0.246

HOLDING FIRMS 0.3 260,000 67.7 1,023,420 13.2 6,536,900 0.89 128,000 6.56 12,200 0.7 61,818,000 0.7 13,133,000 930 211,110 6.68 2,179,600 10.7 10,815,400 7.62 419,300 4.97 16,000 0.214 490,000 1,000 113,210 6.85 100,000 60.6 2,437,540 0.65 4,000 4.67 1,070,000 20.1 1,704,700 0.6 1,563,000 5.2 25,645,900 0.041 2,800,000 1.15 155,000 3.27 2,321,000 139.8 108,490 947.5 382,240 0.79 33,000 1.7 222,000 589 110 265 160 0.25 470,000 0.25 42,910,000

77,850 69,655,190 86,018,800(11 113,140 79,155 42,845,410 9,149,010 198,841,780 14,568,418 117,243,376 3,191,142 79,770 104,570 116,509,570 685,000 149,829,392.5 ( 2,560 4,693,690 34,246,563 13 929,390 132,827,140 113,300 174,090 7,578,380 15,171,239 362,310,905 26,130 369,580 60,610 41,740 117,150 11,260,750

2,950 -32,417,569 ,372,152.0002) 1,916,100 -53,342,545 404,425 -87,239,178 -9,384,310 685,000 67,288,826.5) -410,490 ,030,293.9996 21,000 18,406,150 851,920 3,965,567 19,573,310 -83,200

6,291,741 106,918,580 51,844 379,500 68,880 482,387,490 1,284,410 6,960,610 68,836 9,152,400 45,980 1,453,860 6,245,560 639,510 15,267,440 1,521,640 3,825,830 79,128,830 50,145,770 47,410,250 17,622,970

621,219 -125,790 108,788,650 514,400 -5,217,950 1,643,320 -634,230 -11,214,390 -9,030 93,960 17,127,850 -526,830 150,250 168,710.00

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 IREMIT MANULIFE MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK VANTAGE

58 104.6 3.1 131.7 1.44 34.95 7.4 16.2 17.38 3.3 8.41 1.53 890 0.56 85 1.13 12.78 22.7 52.5 220 110 86 39 209 1,900 91.25 1.2

59 104.9 3.1 133.4 1.45 34.95 7.4 16.74 17.4 3.45 8.78 1.53 890 0.58 86 1.14 12.78 22.7 52.6 220 110 86.25 39.95 219 1,905 91.5 1.2

57.55 101.3 3.05 130.8 1.44 34.85 7.39 16.2 17 3.3 8.4 1.53 890 0.56 84.75 1.1 12.2 22.65 52.15 219.2 110 86 38.05 204.6 1,900 90 1.2

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

38.2 14.02 0.61 1.27 20.5 0.227 113 3.63 16.52 51.9 24.6 62.75 69.05 81.7 1.99 10 10.84 15.7 12.38 7.2 5.4 1.65 15.58 64.75 21.45 9.4 15.5 2 286 56 5.2 3.27 27.3 14.6 24 320 7 2.62 4.82 9.27 5.11 7.99 1.48 12.4 52.4 5.95 1.86 3.59 1.84 14.38 65 5.47 0.133 0.98 140.5 2.57 3.13 0.91

38.8 14.36 0.61 1.28 20.5 0.23 114.1 3.65 16.6 52 24.6 62.75 73.6 81.7 1.99 10 10.84 15.76 12.38 7.2 5.4 1.79 15.8 65.3 21.55 9.4 16.32 2.08 287.6 56 5.2 3.27 27.3 14.86 25 329.8 7.1 2.63 4.82 9.3 5.2 8 1.52 12.4 53.4 5.95 1.99 3.59 2 14.48 67.35 5.48 0.133 1 144.5 2.6 3.23 0.93

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 LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA PRIME ORION SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID TOP FRONTIER UNIOIL HLDG WELLEX INDUS

0.3 68 13.04 0.9 6.46 0.68 0.68 950 6.69 11.1 7.62 4.99 0.212 1,050 6.85 63.95 0.65 4.34 19.74 0.58 5.17 0.041 1.14 3.23 140.4 940 0.79 1.66 545 262 0.24 0.275

0.3 69.85 13.28 0.9 6.56 0.71 0.71 968.5 6.71 11.2 7.62 4.99 0.214 1,067 6.85 63.95 0.65 4.67 20.2 0.61 5.29 0.041 1.15 3.33 140.4 960 0.8 1.7 589 265 0.255 0.285

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

6.85 1.25 13.9 2.1 0.84 41 3.36 4.54 6.16 0.455 0.97 0.244 31 0.66 1.67 1.29 1.02 4.5 0.6 0.495 0.57

6.9 1.28 14.8 2.1 0.84 41.55 3.45 4.58 6.16 0.47 0.98 0.244 31.5 0.67 1.7 1.3 1.13 4.55 0.62 0.54 0.59

6.79 1.15 13.64 2.04 0.84 40.8 3.36 4.49 6.1 0.45 0.97 0.24 30.9 0.65 1.66 1.29 1.02 4.47 0.58 0.475 0.56

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

4.14 17.98 2.1 3.2 34.3 1.04 10.4 0.82 6.5

4.14 18.32 2.12 3.25 34.75 1.1 11 0.82 6.75

3.99 17.98 2.07 3.2 33.7 1.04 10.3 0.82 6.5

4.1 18.3 2.11 3.25 33.7 1.09 10.96 0.82 6.75

272,000 2,261,500 815,000 336,000 4,103,300 12,854,000 275,200 121,000 3,116,700

1,103,950 ( 41,361,012 1,715,740 1,091,950 139,924,990 13,835,120 2,932,686 99,220 20,579,261

585,339.9996) -27,906,962 1,088,750 -6,893,325 -21,700 -14,486 5,337,850

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

16.4 27.65 1.34 0.47 0.047 12.6 5.39 12.32 0.053 88.6 8.9 6.97 7.58 25.35 940 1,520 5.6 302 4.1 2.28 84.6 13.3 0.114 1.37 3.25 14.98 4.55 1.02 25.85 0.53 4.26 6.83 3.16 16.42 7.75 11.7 9.79 2.95 128 5.99 1,418 1.02 0.435 47.3 88 6.66 2.43 1.32 0.415 5.05 0.87 10.82

16.6 28 1.34 0.48 0.048 12.6 5.39 12.96 0.055 88.6 8.9 6.97 8.05 25.4 940 1,539 5.6 305 4.24 2.28 86.95 13.3 0.116 1.45 3.4 15 4.55 1.04 26.35 0.53 4.3 6.83 3.21 17.98 8.18 11.8 9.9 2.96 129 6.12 1,425 1.03 0.445 47.5 91.1 6.78 2.47 1.32 0.46 5.2 0.9 10.82

16.1 27.65 1.34 0.47 0.047 12.6 5.39 12.24 0.052 88.4 8.71 6.74 7.58 22 900 1,520 5.55 301.6 4.1 2.28 84.55 13.02 0.114 1.36 3.25 14.98 4.39 1.01 25.8 0.52 4.24 6.73 3.15 16.42 7.72 11.7 9.79 2.9 127.8 5.86 1,387 1 0.42 46.4 88 6.65 2.41 1.3 0.415 4.75 0.87 10.7

SERVICES 16.4 27.8 1.34 0.475 0.048 12.6 5.39 12.8 0.055 88.5 8.71 6.94 8 22.9 900 1,525 5.57 301.6 4.11 2.28 86.95 13.02 0.114 1.43 3.39 14.98 4.5 1.03 26.15 0.52 4.24 6.8 3.21 17.98 7.99 11.8 9.9 2.9 127.9 6.1 1,387 1.02 0.445 47 90.1 6.69 2.45 1.32 0.45 4.82 0.89 10.72

27,500 39,100 40,000 520,000 7,400,000 100 200 10,492,300 26,550,000 51,760 4,500 182,400 357,500 97,200 250 15,395 118,100 6,360 326,000 11,000 3,365,710 5,000 950,000 677,000 6,000 7,200 4,964,000 250,000 868,900 11,000 89,000 299,100 103,000 300 4,430,100 13,900 200 47,000 209,440 7,899,700 61,360 1,063,000 2,420,000 385,000 207,920 59,800 716,000 506,000 36,200,000 8,017,000 3,411,000 1,747,300

449,822 1,086,325 53,600 246,600 352,000 1,260 1,078 131,720,872 1,400,150 4,580,339.50 39,296 1,246,552 2,840,639 2,231,110 231,080 23,477,250 657,396 1,923,908 1,348,140 25,080 288,887,732.5 ( 65,236 109,290 939,860 19,820 107,902 22,209,020 257,790 22,701,905 5,820 379,480 2,029,731 327,800 5,082 35,289,035 162,890 1,969 137,710 26,804,314 46,736,838 85,891,045 1,080,540 1,041,350 18,049,320 18,563,289 398,801 1,750,450 662,120 16,083,250 39,673,470 3,009,150 18,747,982

16,400 -4,636,368 5,300 -3,173,329.50 2,613 -233,595 811,866 2,360 -5,114,460 -107,780 18,597,040.5) -3,827,160 -106,510 220,834 63,710 -798,500 -19,479,123 -241,031 -54,052,700 314,100 -14,402,295 -1,274,822.50 -246,480 33,510 1,036,500 -4,536,250 49,280 -3,009,124

249,800 6,735,050 865,030 1,894 761,780 278,400 2,238 5,489,130 19,010 200,280 58,000 176,600 823,340 35,193,160 122,220 10,740 932,530 518,100 20,700 1,745,200 4,260 315,860 28,838,074 17,883,810

43,500 -30,010 -434,300 -265,680 -64,000 676,730 -13,261,371 -54,000 -23,578 -1,776,464 -11,632,155

MS

PROPERTY 6.8 1.19 14.7 2.04 0.84 40.85 3.38 4.58 6.15 0.465 0.98 0.241 31.5 0.65 1.68 1.29 1.05 4.52 0.61 0.475 0.58

924,100 88,386,000 3,700 186,000 82,000 11,760,500 377,000 1,528,000 11,200 19,940,000 47,000 6,020,000 199,900 969,000 9,087,000 1,177,000 3,550,000 17,548,000 83,195,000 93,980,000 30,753,000

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

0.003 1.71 4.32 18.94 1.62 0.32 7.6 2.4 0.217 0.138 0.145 0.0089 1.52 5.22 1.22 0.51 0.99 0.013 0.013 0.011 2.13 5.65 14.7 30.7

0.003 1.77 4.32 18.94 1.63 0.32 7.6 2.4 0.217 0.143 0.145 0.0089 1.52 5.4 1.22 0.54 1 0.013 0.013 0.013 2.13 5.75 14.7 30.7

0.0029 1.71 4.3 18.94 1.62 0.32 7.39 2.28 0.207 0.138 0.145 0.0088 1.42 5.22 1.2 0.51 0.93 0.012 0.012 0.011 2.13 5.64 13.8 29.75

MINING & OIL 0.0029 86,000,000 1.75 3,851,000 4.3 201,000 18.94 100 1.62 469,000 0.32 870,000 7.39 300 2.36 2,344,000 0.208 90,000 0.138 1,440,000 0.145 400,000 0.0088 20,000,000 1.5 573,000 5.37 6,608,600 1.2 101,000 0.54 21,000 0.99 950,000 0.012 39,900,000 0.013 1,600,000 0.013 145,900,000 2.13 2,000 5.75 55,700 13.96 2,010,200 29.9 596,000

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PNX PREF 3B SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2I

26.85 486 515 106 100.3 5.5 970 998 100.3 1.05 107.1 106.2 985 78 75.2 77 76

26.85 500 515 106 101 5.5 1,000 998 101 1.05 107.1 106.2 990 79 75.2 77 76

26.6 486 510 106 100.3 5.5 970 998 100.3 1.05 107.1 106.2 985 78 75.1 76.9 75.55

PREFERRED 26.6 110,400 500 530 510 30 106 2,000 101 590 5.5 2,000 1,000 5,300 998 330 101 730 1.05 1,000 107.1 90 106.2 5,700 990 3,350 79 27,740 75.1 3,000 77 5,000 75.55 13,400

2,943,675 259,960 15,350 212,000 59,464 11,000 5,141,600 329,340 73,233 1,050 9,639 605,340 3,301,500 2,190,460 225,400 384,800 1,013,135

-2,269,555 5,000 15,200

LR WARRANT

2.8

2.85

2.7

WARRANTS 2.8 501,000

1,386,000

-

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

5.7 3.02 3.29

5.7 3.2 3.3

5.35 3 3.23

5.41 3.19 3.27

842,600 380,000 635,000

4,609,724 1,166,980 2,072,010

-68,529 -15,600 -45,720

FIRST METRO ETF

120

120.8

119.3

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 119.7 14,060

1,684,228

43,200

USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

10.24 1.02

10.26 1.02

10.24 1.02

38,966.80 4,080

-

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

10,645,598

INDUSTRIAL

83,220,080

HOLDING FIRMS

179,208,899

PROPERTY

569,365,717

SERVICES

127,657,476

MINING & OIL

314,168,299

GRAND TOTAL

1,286,140,929

SME

DDS 10.26 1.02

3,800 4,000

VALUE 1,960.28 (down) 9.35 934,076,914.87 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,121.39 (up) 11.03 1,601,511,334.214 HOLDING FIRMS 7,780.69 (down) 127.81 1,388,536,135.19 PROPERTY 3,612.97 (down) 9.20 1,543.49 (down) 15.68 1,519,424,378.87 SERVICES MINING & OIL 10,476.01 (down) 85.55 972,692,861.69 PSEI 7,736.07 (down) 83.18 101,259,107.7175 All Shares Index 4,699.08 (down) 24.08 6,527,040,680.25 Gainers: 117; Losers: 87; Unchanged: 43; Total: 247

Manila Water, unit awarded 3rd Bulacan water project

By Jenniffer B. Austria MANILA Water Co. Inc bagged another water project in Bulacan that could potentially serve the water requirements of the airport project being proposed by San Miguel Corp. in the province.

Manila Water said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it and unit Manila Water Philippine Ventures Inc. received a notice of award from Bulacan Water District to develop a P400-million joint venture project.

Manila Water MWPV and BWD will form a consortium that will implement the project, which involves the design, construction, rehabilitation, maintenance, operation, financing, expansion and management of the water supply system and sanitation facilities in the municipality of Bulakan for 25 years.

The project is estimated to deliver a billed volume of 16 million daily by the end of the concession period. This will be the third water project of Manila Water in the province of Bulacan.

Manila Water and MWPV last week received a contract to develop a P400million water project in Balagtas, Bulacan.

MWPC in 2017 received a notice of award from the Obando Water District to rehabilitate, operate and provide water and sanitation services to the municipality of Obando.

Manila Water started to provide the water supply needs of subdivisions developed by Asian Land Strategies Corp., Solar Resources Inc. and Borland Development Corp. in Bulacan through operating unit Bulacan Water.

Manila Water holds the exclusive right to provide water and used water services to over six million customers in the east xone of Metro Manila and Rizal province, encompassing 23 cities and municipalities.

MWPV, meanwhile, was designated as the vehicle for expansion within the Philippines with focus on geographic expansion, new acquisitions and partnerships.

8990 says ‘17 profit increased 16% to P4.14b MASS housing developer 8990 Holdings Inc. said net income in 2017 rose 16 percent to P4.14 billion from P3.58 billion in 2016 on double-digit growth in revenues.

8990 Holdings said in a disclosure to the stock exchange revenues increased 10 percent to P10.1 billion, slightly exceeding the P10-billion target for 2017.

Net income margin also expanded to 41 percent in 2017 from 39 percent in 2016.

“We are extremely happy to end the year strong. We look forward to bringing 8990 to greater heights as we launch more large-scale projects that will surely strengthen our position in the affordable housing industry,” 8990 Holdings president and chief executive Willie Uy said.

Real estate revenues grew 12 percent to P10.17 billion from P9.11 billion in 2016, while rental sales stood at P10.9 million, slight lower than P12.2 million a year ago.

Gross income margins expanded 56 percent in 2017 from 54 percent in 2016 due mainly to sound internal financial planning policies with respect to land bank acquisition and project budgeting process.

The mass housing developer in 2017 delivered 7,348 homes, with Luzon contributing 54 percent of the total units, and Visayas and Mindanao adding 34 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

8990 also launched 23,661 units from seven projects across the country in 2017.

8990’s land bank as of end 2017 reached 510 hectares worth P52 billion and good for development over the next eight to 10 years.

8990 Holdings this year plans to launch five developments worth P60 billion across the country, expanding its geographically diversified real estate portfolio.

8990 Holdings plans to launch this year a P14-billion mixed-use residential and commercial development in Ortigas Extension.

Jenniffer B. Austria

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

B3

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

TODAY extrastory2000@gmail.com

French officials under fire after May Day chaos PARIS―France’s interior minister promised Wednesday to boost security at protests after hooded youths ran amok at May Day demonstrations in Paris, torching cars and a McDonald’s restaurant.

Police said 109 people were in custody after the violence, which has sparked criticism in the press that the government was unprepared for 1,200 blackclad troublemakers joining the traditional May 1 protests for workers’ rights.

“The authority of the state, reduced to statements of ‘strong condemnation’, has been tarnished once again,” read a column in the right-leaning Figaro newspaper.

Regional daily L’Est Republicain deplored “the sight of these 1,200 thugs dressed in black on the Austerlitz bridge”, while the L’Alsace newspaper declared: “Governing means planning ahead.”

Interior Minister Gerard Collomb pledged to look again at how to police protests given the rise of far-left “black bloc” protesters who turn up with the intention of attacking police or property.

“For the next demonstrations there will be even more security forces, this time with the intention of totally separating protesters from those who have come to smash things up,” Collomb told France 2 television.

But he defended the way police had handled the violence, saying little could be done to stop trouble-makers from infiltrating the crowds.

“We can only detain a certain number of people who turn up like you or I in civilian clothing and then suddenly are dressed in black bloc outfits in the middle of the crowd,” he said.

“We cannot keep up, even with 21 police units mobilized against movements which all of a sudden appear on a scale we’ve never seen before.”

President Emmanuel Macron, on a visit to Sydney, deplored the clashes in the French capital, one of several cities around the world where May Day protests turned violent.

“May 1 is Workers’ Day, not the day of the hooligans,” he told a press conference.

Shouting “Rise up, Paris” and “Everyone hates the police”, anti-capitalist protesters in black jackets and face masks had tried to hold up the Paris march.

They lobbed projectiles at security forces along the route, who responded with volleys of tear gas and water cannon.

Youths ransacked and then set fire to a McDonald’s restaurant near Austerlitz station, east of the city center, and torched vehicles at a car dealership, leaving smoke billowing into the air.

“We are sick of this capitalist system that destroys everything, of brutal police repression of those who oppose them,” one masked protester, identifying themselves as a 19-year-old student, told AFP. AFP

IN BRIEF

UN asked to verify closure of N. Korea’s nuke test site UNITED NATIONS—South Korean President Moon Jae-in has asked the United Nations to verify the planned closure of North Korea’s nuclear test site, a UN spokesman said Tuesday.

Moon made the request in a phone call to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday, a few days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told the South Korean leader he planned to shut down the test site in May. “The president sought the support of the United Nations to verify the imminent closure of the DPRK’s nuclear test site, as announced by the DPRK Chairman Kim Jong Un,” said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is North Korea’s official name.

Moon also asked for UN support to “transform the demilitarized zone into a peace zone” between the two Koreas, he added. AFP

US, Israel criticize Abbas over ‘anti-Semitic’ comments

LABOR DAY UNREST. A woman cries in front of a riot police line after being affected by tear gas that was deployed during a May Day protest against the pension cuts, school closures and slow hurricane recovery efforts in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on May 1, 2018. AFP

‘Nine out of 10 people breathing polluted air’

G

ENEVA―More than 90 percent of the global population is breathing in high levels of pollutants, the World Health Organization said Wednesday, blaming poor air quality for some seven million deaths annually.

Fresh data from the UN health body showed that every corner of the globe is dealing with air pollution, although the problem is far worse in poorer countries.

“Air pollution threatens us all, but the poorest and most marginalized people bear the brunt of the burden,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.

WHO’s study, which examined health-hazardous levels of both outdoor and household air pollution, found that “around seven million people die every year from exposure to fine particles in polluted air”.

More than 90 percent of the deaths linked to air pollution occur in low- or middle-income countries, mainly in Asia and Africa, it found.

“This is a very dramatic problem that we are facing,” Maria Neira, the head of

Arab states warned against complacency over high debt DUBAI―The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday warned Arab states against complacency over a looming debt crisis, urging continued economic reforms despite a rise in oil prices.

Crude prices have rebounded in the region thanks to a deal by producers to trim production, but the IMF said such a change in fortunes should not get in the way of overhauling state spending.

“Required reforms include further steps toward full elimination of energy subsidies, and changes to pension and social security systems―including revisions to retirement age and benefits,” the IMF said in its Regional Economic Outlook for May. Jihad Azour, director of the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia department, told AFP higher oil prices should spur change.

“We should not be complacent... oil prices are going up. That definitely does not mean that we should not introduce the reforms. On the contrary, the current environment offers the opportunity to accelerate some of these reforms,” Azour said.

Oil prices have reached around $75 a barrel from under $30 a barrel in early 2016.

Overall growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, which includes all Arab countries and Iran, was forecast by the IMF to reach 3.2 percent this year compared to just 2.2 percent in 2017.

The partial recovery in oil prices will be a boost for the Gulf Cooperation Council states―Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates―which supply almost a fifth of global crude oil.

After the GCC saw their economic growth shrink by 0.2 percent last year, impacted by a 0.7 percent contraction by the Saudi economy, their economy is expected to return to growth in 2018.

The Council’s economy is forecast to grow by 2.2 percent this year and 2.6 percent in 2019, the IMF said.

Following the oil price slump in mid-2014, GCC members undertook fiscal measures and reforms to cut public spending and boost non-oil revenues.

Azour said that Saudi Arabia’s economic consolidation measures to cut a persistent budget deficit and diversify the economy away from oil remains the correct policy.

“The current strategy that is based on reaching a balanced budget by 2023 is the right one,” he said.

Despite the improved economic forecast, the IMF estimated cumulative overall fiscal deficits in the region to be $294 billion in 2018-22.

Around $71 billion of government debt is expected to mature during the same period.

“The rapid buildup of debt in many of them (MENA countries) is a cause for concern. Debt has increased by an average of 10 percentage points of GDP each year since 2013, with countries financing large fiscal deficits,” the IMF report said. AFP

The use of dirty cooking fuel, like burning charcoal, is a major source of household air pollution, which is estimated to cause some 3.8 million premature deaths each year.

“It is unacceptable that over three billion people―most of them women and children―are still breathing deadly smoke every day from using polluting stoves and fuels in their homes,” Tedros said. the WHO’s department of public health Wednesday’s report said access to clean and environment, told reporters in a con- fuels was increasing in every region, but ference call. warned “improvements are not even keepThe data focused on dangerous partic- ing pace with population growth in many ulate matter with a diameter of between parts of the world”, pointing especially to 2.5 and 10 micrometers (PM10), and sub-Saharan Africa. particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 Outdoor air pollution was meanwhile micrometers (PM2.5). linked to 4.2 million fatalities annually.

PM2.5 includes toxins like sulfate and In around one million of those cases, a black carbon, which pose the greatest combination of indoor and outdoor polluhealth risks since they can penetrate deep tion was to blame, WHO said. into the lungs or cardiovascular system.

The report provides air quality data They can cause diseases like strokes, from more than 4,300 cities and towns heart disease, lung cancer and respira- in 108 countries, constituting the world’s tory infections such as pneumonia, WHO biggest database of ambient, or outdoor, said. air pollution.

Particularly worrying, the agency addWHO hailed that more than 1,000 more ed, was that more than 40 percent of the cities had been added to its database since global population still does not have ac- its last report two years ago, noting that cess to clean cooking fuels and technolo- monitoring can prompt action towards adgies in their homes. dressing the problem. AFP Republic of the Philippines PROVINCE OF QUIRINO Cabarroguis -oOoBIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

Scout Reyes Street, corner Panay Avenue, Quezon City Tel No. (02) 374-3987 Fax. No. (02) 374-2505

INVITATION TO BID SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF FERTILIZER REQUIREMENTS FOR IFOIGAP RICE - WET SEASON, 2018 (PB 2018-04)

May 3, 2018 The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino, through the Department of the Interior and Local Government – CMGP Program intends to apply the sum of P 48,844,470.30 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for PB-CW-2018-024 Rehabilitation of Diffun-Dumanisi-Magsaysay-Ifugao Village Road, Diffun, Quirino. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino now invites bids for Rehabilitation of Diffun-Dumanisi-Magsaysay-Ifugao Village Road. Completion of the Works is required by 95 Calendar Days. Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

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

1.

The NATIONAL TOBACCO ADMIMSTRATION (NTA), through the 2018 Corporate Operating Budget intends to apply the sum of PhP 15,462,230.00, being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the project: “Supply and Delivery of Fertilizer Requirements for IFOIGAP Rice Wet Season, 2018”. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The NTA now invites bids for the supply and delivery of fertilizer requirements for IFOIGAP Rice-Wet Season, 2018. Delivery of the Goods is required for a period of fifteen (15) days. Bidders should have completed, within a period of five (5) years, from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project.

The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

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

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

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 9:00 AM to 4:00PM.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from May 3, 2018 to May 23, 2018 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Twenty Five Thousand Pesos (P 25,000.00).

The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents at the BAC Secretariat, Capitol Hills, Cabarroguis, Quirino, upon payment of the applicable nonrefundable fee.

6.

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Provincial Government of Quirino will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on May 10, 2018, 2:00PM at Special Projects Unit Conference Hall, 2nd Floor, Commercial Bldg., Capitol Compound, Capitol Hills, Cabarroguis, Quirino, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

7.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before May 23, 2018, 2:00PM at Special Projects Unit Conference Hall, 2nd Floor, Commercial Bldg., Capitol Compound, Capitol Hills, Cabarroguis, Quirino. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

(i)

Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the BD’s in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman.

The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid. The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and the post-qualification.

The Provincial Government of Quirino reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: Engr. Dencio A. Pagbilao Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee Province of Quirino +639175007275 +639177756155 (SGD) ENGR. DENCIO A. PAGBILAO Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

(ii) Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the IRR of RA 9184.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from NTA and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on May 03, 2018 to May 23, 2018, from the address below; and upon payment of the bidding fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of PhP25,000.00.

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

6.

The NTA will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on May 10, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., at 3rd Floor, Training Room, NTA Building, cor. Scout Reyes Street and Panay Avenue, Quezon City., which shall be open to prospective bidders.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before May 23, 2018. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

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.

(MS-MAY 3, 2018)

STOCKHOLM—Russia’s military spending fell sharply in 2017 for the first time since 1998 as a slew of Western economic sanctions hit government coffers hard, a closely followed review said Wednesday.

Despite soaring tensions between Moscow and the West, Russia’s military expense last year came in at $66.3 billion (54.9 billion euros), 20 percent lower than in 2016, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said.

The last time Moscow was forced to cut spending was in 1998 at the height of a massive economic crisis.

“Military modernization remains a priority in Russia, but the military budget has been restricted by economic problems that the country has experienced since 2014,” senior SIPRI researcher Siemon Wezeman said, referring to Western sanctions imposed against Moscow over its annexation of the Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula. AFP

NATIONAL TOBACCO ADMINISTRATION

Rehabilitation of Diffun-Dumanisi-Magsaysay-Ifugao Village Road Contract No. PB-CW-2018-024

8.

Sanctions force Russia to cut defense spending

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

INVITATION TO BID FOR

1.

JERUSALEM—US and Israeli officials have condemned Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas over alleged anti-Semitic comments, after he suggested the “social function” of Jews in the banking sector had led to past massacres.

Israel’s foreign ministry on Wednesday accused him of fueling “religious and nationalist hatred against the Jewish people and Israel.”

David Friedman, the US ambassador to Israel, said Abbas had reached a “new low” while President Donald Trump’s envoy Jason Greenblatt said “peace cannot be built on this kind of foundation.”

The comments came after Abbas, who has faced accusations of anti-Semitism before, suggested in an address to a rare meeting of the Palestinian National Council on Monday night that Jews’ relations with banking had led to hostility against them. AFP

Bid opening shall be on May 23, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., at 3rd Floor, Training Room, NTA Building, Cors. Scout Reyes Street and Panay Avenue, Quezon 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.

8.

The NTA 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.

9.

For further information, please refer to: CRISTINA C. LOPEZ, DBA National Tobacco Administration Cors. Scout Reyes Street and Panay Avenue, Quezon City Tel No. 372 3188; cclnta@yahoo.com Fax No. 373 2095 Website Address:nta.da.gov.ph (SGD) CRISTINA C. LOPEZ, DBA Chairman, NTA-BAC (MS-MAY 3, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

B4

LoCaL goverNmeNt uNits

thursday, may 3, 2018

CHURCH PARTNERS.

As part of its corporate social responsibility program, the Masbate Gold Project takes part in the construction of the Sto. Nino Parish Church by transferring a 16,438 square-meter lot in Barangay Puro, Aroroy, Masbate to the Diocese of Masbate. Officers of the Filminera Resources Corp. and Phil Gold Processing and Refining Corp. hold the ceremonial signing to transfer the property to the diocese. Photo shows Filminera president Cris Acosta and Bishop Bantolo (seated) signing the deed of donation.

Behind them are Filminera director Pete Calleon, Filminera chairperson Gloria Tan Climaco, Phil Gold president Ray Mead, and Ambassador Henrietta de Villa.

In BrIef ‘Bidder to win old, new Clark terminals’ CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga— The Bases Conversion Development Authority said Wednesday the winning bidder will take over the operation and maintenance of both old and new terminals of the Clark International Airport this August.

Vince Dizon, president and CEO of BCDA, said the winning concessionaire will operate both the existing terminal and the one under construction that is expected to be operational in mid-2020.

“Upon its completion and successful commissioning, the P5.61-billion new passenger terminal will be included under the operation and maintenance of the concessionaire,” Dizon said.

According to Dizon, the BCDA in partnership with the Department of Transportation has started the bidding process for operation and maintenance of the next aerial gateway of the country and to Regions I, II, III and the Cordillera Autonomous Region. Romeo Dizon

NPD sets 1-month drug rehab program A OnE-mOnTh drug rehabilitation program is underway in the northern Police District launched under its “Kanlungan ng Pagbabago” agenda, in a bid to remove from the drug watchlist over 52,000 illegal drug dependents in the cities of Caloocan, malabon, navotas and Valenzuela City.

In the recent opening of the program, nPD Director Amando Clifton Empiso said it is a big challenge for police to change the ways of 52,292 drug surrenderers in the district owing to the national and local rehabilitation programs being unable to accommodate local governments. Jun David

For fast ad results, please call Advertising Department 832-5547 NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late HENRY W. CHANG who died intestate on 04 September 2017 at Quezon City, Philippines and left: (1) one half (1/2) conjugal share in the ownership of the property at Quezon City covered by TCT No. 004-2013004514 with improvement; (2) one half (1/2) conjugal share in the ownership of the property at Makati City covered by CCT No. 006-2017011625; and (3) one half (1/2) conjugal share in the ownership of the property at Makati City covered by CCT no.

006-2017011624, has been extrajudicially settled by and among heirs as per Doc. No. 203; Page No. 42; Book No. II; Series of 2018 before Notary Public Atty. Anne Loraine C. Garcia of Makati City.

(MS-APR. 19, 26 & MAY 3, 2018)

MMDA lauds Taguig’s anti-smoking strategy

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

hE metro manila Development Authority on Wednesday cited Taguig City for its unrelenting strategy against smokers in public places and conveyances, and protect non-smokers, particularly pregnant women and children, from second-hand smoke that can cause lung cancer and other ailments. mmDA chairman Danilo Lim said his agency recognized the effort of the Taguig City government under the administration of mayor Laarni Cayetano to contribute to health and sanitation of metro manila.

“We are glad that the 16 cities and one municipality in metro manila are one with the mmDA’s effort to provide a cleaner air for all living in the metropolis. Taguig is one of those cities which are leading the way towards a smokefree metro manila through their smoke free ordinance,” Lim said.

The Smoke Free Task Force of Taguig City has been established and the en-

forcers are undergoing training.

In July last year, local enforcers in Taguig started implementing the smoking ban in public places in the city in line with the government’s program to protect non-smokers.

“What we want is a healthier environment for everyone. Smoking has always been a risk to the health of not only the smoker but also to non-smokers. To make this advocacy effective, we are firmly implementing this policy to ensure that every life is protected from the hazardous effects of smoking,” said mayor Cayetano.

Cayetano reiterated the city government’s directive for the people to

Estrada salutes 39 graduates of 6-month rehab

rehabilitation program at the “Sagip Buhay, Sagip Pangarap ng manila” TreatmAnILA mayor Joseph Estrada vowed ment and Rehabilitation Center.

The former president and now manila to stop the proliferation of illegal drugs in manila, as he welcomed 39 former drug executive awarded certificates of comdefendants who underwent a six-month pletion to the first batch of former drug addicts at the manila City hall’s Bulwagan hall, where Republic of the Philippines INFRA 2018-004 he also encourages young Metropolitan Naga Water District Installation of Transmission Line at Carangcang II 40 J. Miranda Avenue, Naga City Pumping Station to Brgy. Sto. Tomas Magarao people to live a healthy lifeJR # 18-03-029 MNWD, Naga City styles and healthy life.

Republic of the Philippines The mayor was assisted METROPOLITAN NAGA WATER DISTRICT

by Committee on health 40 J. Miranda Avenue, Naga City chairman 3rd district CounInvItatIon to BId for fUrnISHInG of LaBor and MatErIaLS for tHE InStaLLatIon of tranSMISSIon LInE cilor maile Atienza, manila at CaranGCanG II PUMPInG StatIon to BaranGaY Sto. toMaS, MaGarao, CaMarInES SUr health Department head 1.

The METROPOLITAN NAGA WATER DISTRICT, through its approved Corporate Budget, intends Dr. Benjamin Yson, manila to apply the sum of TWENTY FOUR MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED SEVENTEEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE PESOS AND 35/100(Php24,817,365.35) only, being the Approved DILG district head lawyer Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the FURNISHING OF LABOR AND MATERIALS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF TRANSMISSION LINE AT CARANGCANG II Rolynne Javier, PDEA-maPUMPING STATION TO BARANGAY STO. TOMAS, MAGARAO, CAMARINES SURCONTRACT 2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

strictly comply with the Anti-Smoking Ordinance, which absolutely prohibits smoking in centers of youth activity; elevators and stairwells; locations in which fire hazards are present; within the buildings and premises of government institutions, offices, and units; public conveyances and places; and in food preparation areas.

In public areas where smoking is allowed in designated areas, establishments are required to put up signage delineating such restricted area.

The mmDA, for its part, will assist in training of enforcers, conduct communication development workshop, and other capacity building activities.

It will also help in enforcement of activities by providing technical support and manpower.

“They will also help in monitoring and evaluating of activities related to the [city] ordinance and provide technical support for the ordinance’s implementation,” said Lim.

By Vito Barcelo

REFERENCE NO.INFRA 2018-004. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The MNWD now invites bids for the FURNISHING OF LABOR AND MATERIALS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF TRANSMISSION LINE AT CARANGCANG II PUMPING STATION TO BARANGAY STO. TOMAS, MAGARAO, CAMARINES SUR Completion of the Works is required within Two Hundred Eighty Five (285) Calendar Days. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

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

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

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the MNWD and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below starting from 8:00 AM – 12:00 NN and 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders starting on THURSDAY, MAY 3 to22, 2018, from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (Php 25,000.00) only.

The MNWD will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on MAY 10, 2018 at 1:30 pm at 2nd Floor, Board Room, MNWD Building, 40 J. Miranda Avenue, Naga City, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before MAY 22, 2018, 1:30 pm. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid Opening shall be open on MAY 22, 2018, 1:30 pm. at 2nd Floor, Board Room, MNWD Building, 40 J. Miranda Avenue, 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 MNWD 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: ENGR. GILBERT V. ELEAZAR Water Division and Restoration Division MNWD Compound, 40 J. Miranda Avenue, Naga City Tel No.: (054) 473-7813 local 105 Fax No.: (054) 473-9288 E-mail Address: mnwdbac@yahoo.com Website Address: mnwd.gov.ph (SGD) ENGR. GILBERT V. ELEAZAR Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee

(MS-MAY 3, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

nila District Officer Sharon Omenga and manila Barangay Bureau head Arsenic Lacson.

The drug rehabilitation program was spearheaded by Dr. Yson, who likewise educated the young people on the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

Estrada said he fully supports President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs which he said continue to pose serious problem to the young people who are the future leaders of the country.

“In my many years in the government, since the Sixties [1960s], when I was still mayor of San Juan, I have supported the fight against drugs. I want to repress drugs and send all drugs lords and pushers in our communities to prison,” the mayor said.

Sofia Andres tops Makati’s Flores de Mayo Parade ThE makati City government has chosen celebrity model and actress Sofia Louise Andres as mayflower Queen in this year’s Flores de mayo procession to be held Friday afternoon at the city hall. mayor Abigail Binay will lead the coronation rites for the annual celebration set on may 4, 5 p.m. at the lobby of City hall Building II. Andres, a Andres young talented actress and commercial model, is best known for her roles in “She’s Dating the Gangster,” “Relaks,” “It’s Just Pag-Ibig,” “Forevermore,” “Pusong Ligaw” and “Bagani.” She is currently managed by ABS-CBn Star magic.

Romulo Salgado Jr., Officer-in-Charge of the city’s Information and Community Relations Department, said the coronation will be followed by a parade of floats toward the St. Peter Church and St. Paul Church in Barangay Poblacion.

Salgado said “Sagalas” (princesses) representing 28 barangays, 13 city hall offices and private companies will participate in the procession. he added other participants in the event include heidi Santos, ms. makati Tourism 2017 and 10 individuals from the persons with disability sector.

The sagalas and their escorts will be wearing traditional Filipino costumes as they parade on board floweradorned floats.

Last year, actress and celebrity model Kate Valdez also crowned as the mayflower Queen of makati City where mayor Binay led the coronation rites with her daughter martina as one of the sagalas.

The Flores de mayo (Flowers of may) Festival or Santacruzan is one of the most celebrated events in may in makati and throughout the country.

The procession of sagalas and their escorts depicts the search of St. helena for the cross of Jesus Christ and gives honor to the Blessed Virgin mary.

Joy puts up special care center for disabled kids

By Rio N. Araja QUEZOn City Vice mayor Joy Belmonte has put up a special care center for disabled kids, the first among local governments in the country.

She said the Kabahagi Resource Center for Children with Disabilities was conceptualized and funded by the Office of the Vice mayor with the support of the barangays and other concerned city hall offices, national government agencies, people’s organizations, medical professionals and the private sector.

“I feel we lack programs for children with disabilities. We seriously lack services that we should have long been providing to them so I thought of coming up with such facility,” Belmonte said.

The special care center located in Barangay Batasan hills is set to be inaugurated next month with former senator and now Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano, whose one of the advocacies is PWD welfare, as “ninang,” she said.

“We realized there are some problems like, for example, in terms of assessment, early intervention, treating the patients, they cannot afford to pay therapists and developmental pediatricians. That is quite expensive,” the vice mayor noted.

MANilA Mayor Joseph Estrada hands over the certificate of completion to the first batch of former drug users at the Bulwagang Villegas, Manila City Hall. The mayor was assisted by Committee on Health chairman 3rd district Councilor Maile Atienza, Manila Health Department head Dr. Benjamin Yson, Manila DilG district head lawyer Rolynne Javier, PDEA-Manila District Officer Sharon Omenga, and Manila Barangay Bureau head Arsenic lacson.

Life

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

household

thursday, may 3, 2018

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How young dads

bond with their families

FAMILY ROAD TRIP. Social media personality Chuckie Dreyfus (front, right) enjoys going on long drives with his family.

S

ummer offers the perfect time for families to share fun adventures and bonding moments together; it gives everyone the opportunity to get to know each other outside the comforts of home while exploring a new place.

Young dads Chuckie Dreyfus and Luke Landrigan believe that when it comes to going out on adventures and experiencing new things, family must come first. No matter how busy they get in their careers and business endeavors, they make sure they’re able to spend some downtime with their family— whether around the metro or miles away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Out of town with Chuckie

Off camera, former teen star and now social media personality Chuckie enjoys dining out and capping the evening off with a nice film at the movie theater with his wife and two teenage kids. He also makes it a point to take his family out on a trip away from the busy city and spend a few days at the beach or in nearby provinces like Baguio or Tagaytay.

A simple staycation, he says, also does the trick.

But for this blogger father, getaways considerably far from the city and those where he can bring his family along are the best.

Chuckie’s definition of an extraordinary adventure with the family is one of exploring the unknown. Specifically, he enjoys trips that they have never done before, especially when it pushes them out of their comfort zone. One of his most favorite family trips is when they went to Vigan. Despite the distance, they all enjoyed singing along to songs they love.

“One of the things that make a great difference in the whole experience is how you get from one point to the other, especially when a trip takes a considerable amount of time getting to a particular destination. So that means making travel as comfortable, stress-free, and enjoyable as possible,” he shares.

Chuckie looks forward to embarking on more adventures with his family.

“I’d really love to go hiking up a mountain with my family. Or maybe go skydiving,” he shares. “We also look forward to visiting Japan soon. I always tell my kids that through traveling, you gain so much insight and better understanding of the world around you.”

Keeping kids safe online takes more than limiting the time they spend on the Internet.

Limiting online access doesn’t shield kids from threats—study Surfer dad Luke Landrigan’s ideal destinations are those surrounded by nature. (Photo from @lukelandrigan on Instagram)

shares he loves long drives out of town, hiking, surfing, and simply hanging out by the beach. He prefers private destinations surrounded by nature.

“An ideal trip is somewhere where there are less people, like a quiet riverside or a remote beach. There’s just something about the rawness that attracts me,” he says.

Luke recalls that his most recent family adventure to date was when the whole family traveled with their new-born baby, which went smoothly and safely.

This surfer dad also looks forward to driving to the mountains, park the car, and camp out for a few days. “You camp, set a bonfire, and just watch the stars at night.”

Taking family adventures farther and further

Family is definitely top priority for young dads Chuckie and Luke when it Surfer and entrepreneur Luke en- comes to planning for and going out on joys going outdoors with his family. He life’s greatest and most memorable ad-

Nature trip with Luke

Chuckie looks forward to embarking on more adventures with his family.

ventures. Both fathers consider the Ford everest as the ideal partner in family adventures and road trips. They agree that it is the most capable and innovative SuV for the family, with its comfortable interiors and smart driver-assist technologies that make for a safe and relaxing driving experience.

“The absolute comfort of my family inside the Ford everest has greatly improved our disposition when stuck on the road. There’s more freedom to move and maneuver. Our experience with this vehicle has been so wonderful that we have become all the more excited for road trips and actually look forward to them,” shares Chuckie.

Luke adds, “I like how the Ford everest has options for mud, sand, and road.

We love going to spots that are least traveled to, so having those (features) gives me the confidence in the vehicle’s ability to handle any kind of terrain. I also liked how it is spacious and powerful, but still justifiably fuel efficient.”

THe risks associated with growing up in a hyper-connected world are giving parents a headache.

According to a recent research by Kaspersky Lab, one in 10 under18-year-olds are addicted to the Internet. The inability of children to distance themselves from the online world, alongside them viewing inappropriate or explicit content (36 percent) and communicating with strangers online (32 percent) are fast becoming the key concerns for parents.

With over half of parents feeling that online threats to their children are increasing, 33 percent of moms and dads resort in enforcing restrictions on how long their children can spend on the Internet.

But this move doesn’t protect kids from online threats, according to Kaspersky Lab, a global cybersecurity company.

“Parents want to keep their children safe, but simply restricting access to the online world isn’t necessarily the best way to do this,” says Dmitry Aleshin, vice president for product marketing at Kaspersky Lab. In a 12-month period, 44 percent of children faced at least one online threat, with one in 10 kids accessing inappropriate content or coming into contact with malicious software and viruses.

There are many risks associated with growing up in a hyper-connected world.

Therefore, the cybersecurity company posits that the best alternative option for parents is to concentrate on supporting their children in other ways, such as through education.

Aleshin says, “education and communication both play a huge part in ensuring children use the Internet responsibly and safely.”

Over a third of parents regularly talk to their kids to teach them about online threats while others try to supervise their children when they are online, potentially offering opportunities to highlight any threats that may appear and supplement the education effort.

But aside from education, Aleshin says using software to bolster defenses can help parents shield their kids from online threats.

“Technology can help reduce the risks, enabling children to safely explore all the positive aspects of the Internet and develop their digital skills without having to worry about cyber threats,” he shares.

The company offers Kaspersky Safe Kids which is designed to help parents take a more effective approach to shielding their children from the dangers that lurk online. Through the solution, parents can choose to either block children’s access to certain apps and websites, or to help kids become more aware of the dangers for themselves, by warning them that the sites or apps they are about to access are risky and may contain dangerous content.

Life

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thursday, may 3, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Kids can cook L

et your kids unleash their kitchen skills and whip up delicious meals by enrolling them in these young chef boot camps.

Young chefs boot camp at CCA Manila

Aspiring chefs can explore their kitchen skills at the Young Chefs Boot Camp.

The Center for Culinary Arts Manila, the country’s premier culinary institution, shares its passion for cooking with children as it cooks up another enriching summer learning activity in this year’s Young Chefs Boot Camp.

Open to budding culinary enthusiasts 7 to 16 years old, the CCA YCBC aims to hone the cooking skills of participants while encouraging them to explore their own kitchen creativity as well as expand their culinary palates.

Classes are to be held from Mondays to Fridays, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the CCA main campus in Katipunan.

In this fun, five-day workshop series, kids, tweens, and teens will learn and master essential kitchen fundamentals like knife skills, new cooking techniques, kitchen safety, ingredients, sanitation, and

Cooking series at The Maya Kitchen Kids and teens will enjoy preparing food as much as eating them at The Maya Kitchen’s Kids Can Cook classes. Aside from whipping up meals, the classes are also a great way to introduce them to healthy eating and taking on more responsibilities at home.

Classes for kids aged 6 to 12 years old will be held from May 15 to 18 and May 29 to June 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Registration is at P6,000 only.

The four-day Teens Summer Cooking Series, on the other hand, will teach participants how to whip up recipes perfect

a lot more as they work alongside trusted CCA chef-instructors.

For beginners aged 7 to 12 years, let them discover the joy in cooking their favorite dishes for the whole family through the Young upstarts course. Those 10 to 16 years old can choose between Asian Flavors and Western Flavors. Tweens who love to tinker with the oven will definitely learn the finer points of making well-loved pastries and other bakery treats through the Baking and Pastry course.

The fee covers the student’s essential classroom items like disposable kitchen uniforms, recipe manuals, handouts, ingredients and tools.

Application is ongoing. For inquiries, contact CCA, Manila Katipunan at (02) 2188566 or 426-4834, or e-mail talktoccamanila@gmail.com.

iphoto

for sharing with their friends and the family, from game night snacks to Italian dishes and even Samgyeopsal (Korean grilled pork belly).

This cooking class is open to aspiring chefs aged 13 to 18 years old. It will be held in May 22 to 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for P7,000 For more information, call The Maya Kitchen at (02) 8921185 or 892-5011 local 108, or log on to www.themayakitchen.com, or e-mail contactus@themayakitchen.com.

Kids aged 6 to 12 years old can learn how to prepare food at The Maya Kitchen Kids Can Cook classes.

Toyota recognizes top students of adopted school Toyota recognizes the graduates of Pulong Sta. Cruz Elementary School, its adopted school in Santa Rosa City, Laguna. During the Moving Up Ceremony, Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation awarded the top five graduates of the school with gift certificates and tokens. Toyota remains to be a staunch supporter of the school through sponsorship of various educational interventions and health services. In photo are the top graduates together with PSCES principal Dr. Nelia Tabuyo (second from left) and TMPF assistant vice president Ronald Gaspar (right).

Project supports senior high school students BPI Foundation teams up with consultancy enterprise YGOAL, Inc. and the Department of Education to launch the first year of BPI Senior High Acceleration Program for Employment and Entrepreneurship.

The project aims to boost competencies and create a conducive environment for senior high school students to go to work, start a business, or go to college.

BPI Foundation and YGOAL, Inc. designed the first BPI SHAPE to respond to current gaps such as capacity building for teachers, module development, student career readiness, and private sector awareness on internship and hiring of K-12 graduates.

Building on the success of its pilot run in Taguig and Laguna, BPI SHAPE will now be implemented in the cities of Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, Dasmariñas, Makati, Pasay, and Roxas and in the provinces of Capiz, Ilocos Norte, Misamis Oriental, and Quezon.

For its first year, the program will provide Values-Driven and Skills Development Entrepreneurship and Financial Management modules, teachers training sessions on the usage of the modules, online resources, digital professional development sessions, and private sector mapping. The mapping aims to secure company partners for internship and/or eventual hiring of senior high school graduates. This is done

Samsung Digital Appliances enables families to create meaningful moments together.

A family’s meaningful moments

From left: BPI Foundation executive director Maricris San Diego, Division of Taguig and Pateros schools division superintendent Romulo Rocena, and YGOAL Inc. president and chief executive Ireneo Demecais Jr.

through a partnership with Ayala Business Clubs, JCI, and Rotary.

For its second year, BPI SHAPE will conduct Social Mobilization Workshops for school heads and coordinators, crowd funding, internship matching through Internship Philippines (www.internshipph.org), a website that matches interns and companies, and a Business and Academic Fair as the culminating activity. In-depth monitoring

and evaluation will be done routinely throughout project implementation.

Since BPI SHAPE’s pilot run in 2016, it has already trained 153 teachers from Taguig-Laguna DepEd divisions and provided work immersion opportunities to 50 senior high schools. This 2018, the project aims to reach 204 schools, 816 teachers, and 12,200 students.

Go to www.bpifoundation.org to know more.

HOuSEHOLDS rely on appliances to meet our everyday needs, from keeping our living spaces comfortable and clean to ensuring we have tidy clothes to wear and fresh food to eat. But aside from fulfilling their duties these items also help families create meaningful moments together.

“It’s about having time for moments that truly matter,” says Ann Dy, marketing manager for Samsung Digital Appliances. “You can certainly express your love for your family by cooking for them and washing their clothes, but nothing can replace quality family time. Samsung Digital Appliances are engineered to help you do all that and more.”

Equipped with superior technologies and state-of-the-art features, the brand’s products deliver more than just a great user experience; they make room for life experiences.

The brand invites consumers to imagine these possibilities through a series of ads that depict the wonderful moments enabled by its products, as seen through the eyes of a child.

“Children have a natural sense of wonder. They look at you and believe there’s nothing you can’t do,” says Dy. “We at Samsung want to empower consumers to believe this is possible, too. Samsung Digital Appliances are here to help them achieve a more balanced life, so they can do more for their loved ones.”

The smart devices are designed to address common challenges faced by homemakers—like having to run multiple wash cycles for different clothing items and taking back-and-forth trips to the supermarket to get fresh ingredients—without compromising quality.

They are built to perform with maximum efficiency, so users can focus less on the house work and more on creating meaningful moments with their families.

The brand wants you to prepare delicious and nutritious meals every day, keep their favorite toys perpetually clean, their clothes ready to wear, and still have time to play with them without breaking a sweat.

Go to Samsung Philippines’ Facebook page to watch the brand’s latest ad.

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

‘DING, ANG BATO!’

brings Darna to the world of today Resorts World Manila is set to stage another epic production in July featuring an all-Filipino ensemble lead by Gian Magdangal, Jon Santos, OJ Mariano, Reb Atadero, Topper Fabregas, Boo Gabunada, Sheila Francisco and Tanya Manalang.

‘HULING EL BIMBO’

in a new different light T

By Marane Plaza

HERE’S no denying that the music of Eraserheads can give you goose bumps and instantly take you back to that fuss-free decade where everything was less complicated. No social media yet, no Spotify, and hit songs can only be listened to via radio or cassette tapes. Ah the good ol’ days!

Listen to Eheads’ “Ang Huling El Bimbo” and you’d either get that ‘90s nostalgia, or get a glimpse of that remarkable era on the Philippine music scene.

Now, have you ever wondered how would these Eheads’ hit songs be translated live, on stage, in a musical play?

You’re in luck because Resorts World Manila’s Full House Theater Company (FHTC) and Ultimate Shows Inc. is poised to capture that 1990s music vibe in its 9th theater production Ang Huling El Bimbo featuring of course the legendary music of Eraserheads.

Opening on July 20, the musical play will showcase the band’s hits songs in a totally new and unique light, as opposed to presenting a mere compilation of the band’s greatest hits in a play.

“What’s exciting about this is it is a totally new musical. It’s alive, and it’s so Pinoy. We saturate all the possibilities in every rehearsal so we can share a new narrative based on Eraserheads’ iconic songs with a plot driven by three-dimensional characters.

“The best part is it’s an original work that hopefully may resonate to our personal dreams. WE are not just slaves of the lyricsm but rather we are telling a story most and foremost, translating

the music on stage live, creating new contexts based on the lyrics and changing the dynamics of it,” said director Dexter Santos.

Santos shared how he has long been dreaming of directing an Eraserheads musical, from way back 2005 when he was teaching at the University of the Philippines.

“It’s been my lifelong dream to direct Eraserheads the musical, that the final exam of my class was a one-hour movement piece based on the music of Eraserheads. Eraserheads members Ely Buendia, Raymund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala and Marcus Adoro really wrote songs that resonate to us and immortalize our everyday lives. I am happy that my dream is finally happening,” said Dexter.

“We are all familiar with ‘that girl’. The girl who resembles Paraluman, that girl na naging taga-hugas ng pinggan sa Ermita, and supposedly, nasagasaan sa isang madilim na eskinita.

How do we go there? What’s going happen? That’s what you you’d have to find out,” he said.

The musical tells the story of three friends who have drifted apart in adulthood until fate reunites them to confront their haunted past. Headlining the musical are Gian Magdangal, Jon Santos, OJ Mariano, Reb Atadero, Topper Fabregas, Boo Gabunada, Sheila Francisco and Tanya Manalang.

Ang Huling El Bimbo: The Musical is the brainchild of producers Christine and Mark Manalang, who shared that they got in touch with the song publishers of Eraserheads, sending them a copy of script.

Writer Dingdong Novenario and musical director Myke Salomon also stated that the story of the musical tackles social issues such as economic hardships and gender inequality, but mostly about friendship and love and reconnecting to your friends in person, and not just through the computer. The musical is expected to unveil live interpretations of at least 35 to 40 Eheads songs in the production.

Tickets to Ang Huling El Bimbo are now available at the RWM Box Office and TicketWorld outlets. Visit www.rwmanila.com or download the RWM Mobile App for more updates.

Celebrate...

From C4

In Singapore, local event organizer Esprimo and Star Wars fans, with the support of Singapore Tourism Board, will come together as one and commemorate the second edition of Star Wars Day: May the 4th Be With You Festival starting on May 4.

Taking place at the F1 Pit Building, the two-day festival boasts a stellar lineup of activities that celebrates all things Star Wars. Fans can look forward to meet the founder of 501st Legion, Albin Johnson and his pink astromech droid R2-KT, band performances by fan group Dark Empire, costume fan appearances, movie under the stars, and much more.

The celebrations will also culminate with the Star Wars Run Singapore 2018 on the night of 5th May. Albin will be making his first ever appearance in Southeast Asia/Singapore, and will be roving around the festival grounds on 4th May from 4:00 p.m. and 5th May from 2:00 p.m.. Joining Albin is R2-KT, a stunning pink astromech droid

Get a chance to interact with R2-KT, a pink astromech droid, as well as the master creator behind it, Albin Johnson.

custom built by the founder himself.

The night run returns on May 5 at the F1 Pit Building and Marina Bay area.

Featuring three race categories this year – from the inaugural 540m Young Jedi Dash to the competitive 10km and noncompetitive 5.4km, there is definitely something for participants of all ages or

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, May 3, 2018

ACROSS 1 Prolonged cries 6 Strong brown paper 11 Thieves’ hangout 14 Ballroom number 15 Hang in the air 16 Big bird 17 Kind of stew 18 Words to the audience 19 Kind of club 20 Do lacework 21 Inquired 23 Zeno follower 25 Deft 27 Construction metal 28 Far afield 30 Files and chisels 32 Podium 33 Kind of design 37 Prince Val’s son 38 Vexation 40 “— So Fine” 41 Ginza purchase 42 Wizards 45 Picnic spoiler 46 Nostalgic fashion 47 Hair-care product 49 Unmanned spacecraft 51 Young child

53 Hoisting device 54 Gnat 55 Purse 58 Zig’s opposite 59 Horned animal 61 Dorothy, to Em 63 Fill with wonder 64 Lost cause 65 Not on all fours 66 TLC providers 67 Messy quarters 68 Floating platforms DOWN 1 Court order 2 Sight for a psychic 3 Copying 4 Freight amts.

5 Dune locale 6 Army wear 7 Ribbon ornament 8 Keen 9 Gave a meal 10 Sawhorses 11 Crusoe’s creator 12 Internet missive 13 Now, to Caesar 22 Nutritious bean 24 Kind of pilot 26 JAMA readers 27 A few

28 Actor — Sandler 29 First name in cheesecake 31 — and aahs 33 Paraphernalia 34 Baked cow meat (2 wds.)

35 Stork cousin 36 Movie 38 Broken-off glaciers 39 Formal observance 43 Magnets attract it

44 Candidate 45 Parisian street 47 EPA fuel concern 48 Kitchen gadget 49 Shrimp 50 Hits the ceiling 52 Bloodhound’s clues 53 Movie mogul 54 Dress style 56 Part of CPA 57 Obtains 60 Sizzling 62 Keogh relative

fitness level.

Participants will be able to choose one of two routes- to join the Rebellion on the Light side, or be called to the Dark side. Both routes will feature engagement zones that will bring the Star Wars experience to life. There will be members of the Rebel Alliance and soldiers from the Empire to flag off the Light side and the Dark side, respectively.

Runners for the non-competitive 5.4 km can also look forward to be part of a unique flag-off wherethe Light and Dark side participants will run in opposite directions, under the night sky lighted up with sensational pyrotechnics display.

For runners who are aiming for the stars—each of the top 3 finishers for both men and women participating in the 10km category, will be awarded a special trophy sponsored by the event partner Royal Selangor, Garmin Forerunner watch worth up to S$599 (PHP23,690), and prize money up to S$1,000 (PHP39,545) while the other finishers for the 10km and 5.4km categories will receive a commemorative medal unique to their category and a finisher t-shirt each.

Gawad CCP Para Sa Sining Awardee Denisa Reyes (left most) choreographs the dance movements of the students.

THE original Pinay superhero marks her return to the Philippine stage with a production that combines theater and dance. Ding, Ang Bato!, presented by the Arts and Culture Cluster and the Dance Program of the School of Design and Arts (SDA) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), goes onstage from May 15 to May 21 at the SDA Theater.

Adapted from Darna, the most enduring and iconic Filipino comics character from the classic Mars Ravelo komiks series, this collaborative effort between some of the country’s creative geniuses and outstanding students follow her heroic exploits as seen through the eyes of Ding, Narda’s younger brother.

Ding who was born deaf, goes with her in their journey of empowerment.

Described as a truly Pinoy production, Ding, Ang Bato! puts audiences in the middle of a strong theatrical brew of our nation’s pop culture, energetic physical theater, poetic syncretism of Filipino sign language, dance and inventive multimedia and scenic designs.

Highlighting the college’s visionmission of inclusion, this artistic innovation deepens the public’s understanding of the differently-abled and their viewpoint of the world.

Carlos Serrano, an alumnus of the Dance Program is the main character

to play the role of Ding, while Juner Quiambao and John Penaranda, students from School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS), will be the alternates.

Reprising Darna is Christine Crame, Benilde’s Dance Program Chair while Stacy Abarca, an AB Music Production (ABMP) student will act as Narda. Television and stage performer Natasha Cabrera will play the role of Valentina, the heroine’s nemesis.

The musical is directed and with libretto by Chris Millado, Cultural Center of the Philippine Vice President and Artistic Director. The dance is choreographed by Gawad CCP Para Sa Sining Awardee Denisa Reyes and Ernest Mandap. Music is arranged by Ejay Yatco.

Joining the creative team are arts professionals Tuxqs Rutaquio as Production Designer, Jay Aranda as Technical Director and Lighting Designer, Joee Mejias as Projection Designer, Aji Manalo as Sound Designer. Dr. Sunita S. Mukhi is the dramaturg and artistic producer.

Ding, Ang Bato! tickets are priced at P500. For inquiries, contact Kim Eneria at 0920-2992573, and Micca Aldover at 0955-1827445. For updates, visit facebook.com/dingangbato2018 and Twitter @dingangbato2018.

‘Cinderella and the Four Knights’ presents lovelier mornings on GMA NOT only one, not even two, but four dashing ‘oppas’ bring brighter mornings on GMA via Cinderella and the Four Knights.

High schooler Charlotte (Park So Dam) is a lively teenager who balances life in school and her part time jobs in order to provide for her needs. Ever since her mother died and her father re-married, she was never treated with love in her household.

With her lovely yet strong personality, she catches the attention of the owner of a big company who gives her the task to discipline his three heirs in exchange of her college tuition. She has to deal with Steven (Ahn Jae Hyun), the playboy and eldest of the three; Jerwin (Jung Il-woo), a rebel who grew up away from wealth, but is a loving son to her mom; and Colton (Lee Jung Shin), a famous idol and the warmest of the three. Joining them is Orson (Choi Min), their body guard whom they treat as family but hides a secret.

The catch of this deal is to not fall in love with any of them. Will Charlotte accomplish her task? Follow their story in Cinderella and the Four Knights from Monday to Friday after Fighter of Destiny on GMA.

The cast of the romantic drama, 'Cinderella and the Four Knights.'

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

C4

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018

‘EAT, BULAGA!’ scholars continue chasing dreams

A YEAR after receiving their college diplomas, scholars of longest running noontime variety program Eat, Bulaga! are forging ahead with their chosen careers.

Back in 2009, in celebration of its 30th anniversary, the show launched “Eat, Bulaga! Excellent Student Awards” or EBest Awards aimed to help less fortunate elementary and high school students from different regions to continue their secondary and tertiary education.

The program provided not only full scholarship grants, but also monthly allowances and cash assistance.

One of the scholars the show has helped over the years is Isah Clarise Lilia, an AB Political Science graduate from the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

A daughter of a carpenter and a housewife, Lilia finished her degree in 2017 with Latin Honors and is now a firstyear law student.

“Because of the show, I was able to continue my education without worrying where to get my tuition or my allowance.

I’m thankful that there’s an institution like ‘Eat, Bulaga!’ that is willing to extend help to students who are dreaming of finishing their studies,” she says.

Bulacan native Angelica Nieva also received her diploma last year from Bulacan State University. She said that by watching Eat, Bulaga, it inspired her to take up AB Mass Communication major in Broadcast Journalism.

“Even before I was given the scholarship grant, I was already fascinated with television production. Then, when I had the opportunity to watch the show live in Broadway, I said to myself that one day, I’ll work in the same industry,” Nieva reveals.

Nieva now works as an online English teacher and plans to pursue her media career in the future. She’s also the breadwinner of her family.

“It feels great that now, I have the means to support my parents and siblings.

I’m also grateful to the show because they chose me among the hundreds of applicants. It’s a big blessing to our family.”

Other EBest graduates who continue to strive to reach their dreams are 22-yearold Melvin Dugan from Taguig City and Grace Angela Pocyoy from Benguet.

Dugan, who graduated cum laude from Jose Rizal University with a degree in Business Administration major in Accounting, now works as a book keeper in a law firm while Pocyoy, who finished Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education major in Math, is with a BPO company while waiting for her licensure examination.

This year, Eat, Bulaga! is also celebrating the graduation of 18 EBest college scholars from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Each scholar showed that difficulties in life cannot hinder one’s desire to reach his/her dreams.

The 2018 EBest graduates are Jannelle Ivine Atencio (BS Elementary Education, Polytechnic University of the Philippines), Diana Lou Bautista (BS Secondary Education, Palawan State University), Justine Bulan (BS Information Technology, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa), Sheryl Calay (BS Secondary Education, Romblon State University), Mark Louie Castaneda (AB Political Science, Araullo University), Jerard Castro (BS Education Major in Math, Central Mindanao University), Kurt Hostallero (BS Secondary

Education, Batanes State College), Jason Intano (BS Accountancy, PUP).

Eries Isiderio (BS Education Major in Physical Science, Capiz State University), Marinel Moyo (BS Information Technology, Technological University of the Philippines), Jessica Olevo (AB Communication, Leyte Normal University), Jessa Ortega (BS Information Technology, Bicol University), Aldrin Punzalan (BA Public Administration, Bulacan State University), Edwin Salazar, Jr. (BS Education Major in Math, Mindanao State University), Rhea Kristine Santos (BS Accountancy, University of Immaculate Concepcion), Regine Talisayon (BS Nursing, Southern Luzon State University) Completing the list are Lemuel Butilla (BS Education major in Filipino) from Agusan del Norte, Eries Isderio (BS Education major in Physical Science) from Capiz and Zaldy Felisilda (BS Accountancy) from Bohol. All three graduated magna cum laude from Northern Mindano Colleges, Capiz State University and University of Bohol, respectively.

The EBest Awards is one of the many projects Eat, Bulaga! has introduced over the years. It also launched other campaigns such as EB Classroom Project, Isang Lapis Isang Papel Project, EB Heroes and the construction of AlDub public libraries nationwide.

Zaldy Felisilda, BS Accountancy graduate from Bohol

Lemuel Butilla, BS Education graduate from Agusan del Norte

'A triumphantly relatable tale for members of the LGBTQ communities,' 'Love, Simon' follows the story of teenager Simon Spier, who comes out in high school to his family and friends.

The music behind

‘LOVE, SIMON’

T

HIS year’s most talked about and conversation-starter YA (young adult) movie Love, Simon stars this generation’s coolest actors with Nick Robinson in the title role. Robinson’s recent films include Jurassic World, Everything, Everything, and The 5th Wave.

Along with Robinson, Katherine Langford also stars as Robinson’s best friend, she is best known for her role as Hannah Baker from the phenomenal Netflix show 13 Reasons Why. Completing the impressive young cast are Keiynan Lonsdale (CW’s The Flash), Miles Heizer (13 Reasons Why), Alexandra Shipp (X-Men: Apocalypse), Jorge Lendeborg Jr. (Spiderman: Homecoming), Logan Miller (Before I Fall), Talitha Bateman (Annabelle: Creation) with Jennifer Garner and Josh Duhamel.

Based from the globally-loved book by Becky Albertalli, Love, Simon revolves around sixteen-yearold and not openly gay Simon Spier who starts a secret email flirtation with another closeted schoolmate.

But when one of his emails falls into the wrong hands, Simon’s secret is at risk of going public. He finds him-

self being blackmailed by a socially awkward, yet overtly confident classmate. Worse, the privacy of ‘Blue’, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be public, too.

“The film is definitely centered around the character,” acknowledges Robinson. “His voice and his point of view. His comic sensibilities. I think that is what makes it unique for this genre. I also think that is where a lot of the comedy comes from because he can turn situations that might seem bleak to some and find the humor in them. That was something I found very appealing.”

Like many of the movies that inspired Love, Simon, music is an integral part of the film and the songs on the soundtrack were always going to be an important aspect of the production. To this end, the filmmakers appointed three-time Grammy®Award-winning singer,

songwriter, musician, and producer Jack Antonoff as executive music producer of the soundtrack.

Antonoff is probably best known for his work as lead singer and songwriter of the band Bleachers and lead guitarist of the indie rock band fun.

Although a few Antonoff songs have appeared in films before, the songwriter had never created music specifically for a film: “It was new for me and the only reason I felt okay about doing it is because I really felt got it. It really spoke to me. The first time I saw the film, the Bleachers song, ‘Wild Heart,’ played at the end and as soon as I saw that, I thought I could back up from there. I didn’t write that for the film. But it sits in so perfectly, so I know which pieces of that I could take and make new work.”

The final soundtrack contains 13 songs, including classic tracks from The Jackson 5 and Whitney Houston, as well as several Bleachers songs and new material from Antonoff—including the single “Alfie’s Song (Not So Typical Love Song)” performed by Bleachers.

“To me, that song is the feeling of Love, Simon—both extremely upbeat and extremely emotional all at once,” says Antonoff. “It’s a song you could put it on in a car with your friends or at a party but then the lyrics sneak in these moments that are very emotional. And that’s what the film did for me.”

Love, Simon opens May 9 from 20th Century Fox.

DIGITAL MEDIA

Smart, YouTube team up to connect Filipinos to the world of video Eries Isiderio, BS Education graduate from Capiz

Celebrate ‘Star Wars’Day in Singapore

Visitors can snap photos with the Star Wars lovers who wear their fandom loud and proud as they roam around the festival grounds.

SINCE its first movie in 1977, Star Wars: Episode IV—A New Hope, Star Wars has amassed a huge fan following from all over the world. As a tribute to the iconic brand, fans unite annually on May 4—a date derived from the iconic phrase “May the Force Be With You”—to celebrate Star Wars. Continued on C3

PLDT wireless arm Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) is giving Smart, TNT, and Sun prepaid customers free access for one hour daily to YouTube and soon to other online video services until July 15.

These subscribers can watch YouTube for one hour for free daily by simply registering to load packages like GigaSurf99, AllOutSurf99, GigaSurf 50, AllOutSurf 30, Panalo Data 30, Panalo Combo 30, Super Combo 20, and Big Time Data 70.

They can enjoy this special offer for the duration of the packages that they buy.

“Through this path-breaking partnership, many more Filipinos can pursue their passions like music and entertainment, and learn a wide range of skills, hobbies, educational material, news and information through the massive library of video material of YouTube. This service is something every Filipino should have access to,” said Oscar A. Reyes, Jr., SVP of Consumer Business Market Development for PLDT and Smart.

“With this new offer, mobile phone users now have everyday access to the richest video library with content from every corner of the planet—for free,” Reyes said. He added that this special promo will soon be available to postpaid subscribers as well.

“We are proud to partner with YouTube to bring the service closer to our customers. This is just the start of a fruitful partnership, and we are working on a lot of other exciting initiatives that will enhance the digital lifestyle of Filipinos,” Reyes said.

Aside from YouTube, another video service is also set to be part of the offer. Access to Smart360 (http://360.smart.com. ph), a web portal where Smart, TNT and Sun subscribers can access various digital content like live TV, movies, series, music and games, will soon be free for a limited time. Other video content providers are also eligible to be included in the offer, subject to mutually agreed terms with Smart.

Smart, TNT and Sun subscribers are now better able to

enjoy video streaming services like YouTube as a result of Smart’s massive network investments over the past several years which has enabled the mobile phone carrier to provide high-speed mobile data services via its expanded LTE and 3G networks throughout the country.

Oscar A. Reyes, Jr., SVP of Consumer Business Market Development for PLDT and Smart and Ken Lingan, Google Philippines Country Manager team up for #FreeYouTubeEveryDay for Smart subscribers.